Two years after the events of defeating Galvatron in Hong Kong and the last time Optimus Prime was scene, the rest of the Autobots and their human allies took refuge far into the dry lands in America. South Dakota, Badlands Junkyard. It wasn’t luxury but it was safe, away from human government agents and lurking Decepticons.

Crosshairs gave himself the title of “leader” but that role was more suited for the human inventor, Cade Yeager, as he was the one responsible for everyone’s safety. Nonetheless, Crosshairs didn’t change from his asshole and lone elf attitude, acting the same towards humans and his Cybertronian comrades.

The junkyard itself was boring and pretty self explanatory. Old, rusted and used vehicles all piled up in rows, at least 5 acres or more. Crosshairs had rarely anything to do - either sleeping, standing from afar or just… nothing. He was so bored! So when Cade asked him to come on patrol with him one night, he reluctantly agreed behind enthusiasm.

The location wasn’t that far from base, only a couple miles which was populated town but rare to find any suspicious Decepticon activity. It was dark, no one around expect for them and their potential target.

The Decepticon was a lone scout, abandoned by its leader Megatron but no less a threat to human kind. Cade and Crosshairs took care of it quickly but causing some structural damage in the midst of the fight. Once defeated, Cade insisted on looking around in case the Con’ came with a twin, leaving Crosshairs by himself to check the other side of town.

Even for a large Cybertronian, Crosshairs was light on his metal feet as he walked around with a sharp optic, keeping his guns locked and loaded for any sudden attacks. But a sudden movement and rustling caught his attention and audio receptors.

The noise came from a large tree that has fallen down Primus knows when, overgrown with leaves and other sorts of Mother Nature as the humans called it. Crosshairs took the chance and stored his guns away into his sidearms where he usually kept them, his metal servos gripping onto the large and heavy bark and lifting it up.

What Crosshairs originally thought would have been an organic animal running around or another Decepticon, but he didn’t think of finding a human who he assumed was hiding away from his earlier battle with that Decepticon scout. Crosshairs froze, unsure how to react to see a human here and the way they looked up at him. Think, Crosshairs. Think!