Code 10-00... Officer down...

It was something anyone hoped to never utter. Ever.

Chase felt his spark drop in pulse when he heard the shot.

They had been pursuing a suspect in a tech robbery that late morning when they cornered the miscreant in an abandoned house, most likely used as a temporary base of operations. Chief Charlie Burns ordered Chase to cover the back door in order to block any and all escape routes while the rest of the team were on their way. Griffin Rock was a fairly peaceful place, Charlie assumed the robber would give up as soon as it was realized he was surrounded. He was wrong... dangerously wrong. The suspect fired a round from some sort augmented shotgun through the screen front door. The shot blew out a huge hole in the middle of it and caused the Chief to go flying backwards onto the lawn, sending his communication pin tumbling onto the sidewalk, while the perp rushed over his groaning body to escape down the street.

Upon hearing the loud sound, Chase rushed around the back, "Chief!" and knelt beside him, his hand supporting the man's back. His partner was holding his stomach which was starting to bleed out red into his uniform. The bot read enough to know what this meant for a human, ::Officer down, the Chief is gravely injured, he requires an immediate evacuation! I do not think I can move him... the perpetrator is still at large, armed and dangerous!:: he spoke into the communication link quickly, trying to remain calm.

The responses he got back were filled with underlying panic, though they were trying to keep up their determined work tones. Chase could understand, he too felt a fear that he may lose one of his closest friends... His only relief that Cody was at school and not witnessing this event. He bent over the Chief, "Help is on the way."

"Good to know, partner... Ngh..!" Charlie responded, grunting in extreme pain, and it looked like his eyes were drooping closed and his movements were slowing down.

"Chief..." the police bot was too distraught to do any scans, using his metal fingers to try and stem the flow of the red liquid the best he could.

"Chase... listen to me... I need you to..." He tried talking to Chase but could not quite catch his breath. "I need you... I need you to... look after..."

The sirens of Heatwave approaching was what made Charlie trail off and Chase turn his attention up as Kade frantically jumped out of the firetruck, pulling out a first aid bag. Chase called out, "He is losing consciousness!"

"Don't worry Dad, I've got you... You need to stay awake for us, c'mon." Kade was coaching his father as he packed the wound with gauze, sweat pouring down his face... Or it could be tears, Chase was never quite certain at times. But he had seen field medics wrap up wounds the same way Kade did now, who then unfolded the portable flat board, "Dani is gonna be here any second, we're gonna airlift you to the hospital."

Heatwave transformed and helped Kade move the Chief onto the flat board and secure him just as Blades and Dani arrived by air. They wasted no time in lowering the winch line and hook towards those on the ground.

Kade tugged on the straps that held his dad in place while Heatwave pulled the line and hooked it to the rigging on the flat board, opening communications to Blades, "He's secure, go go go! He doesn't have much time!"

"You can count on us!" was the response as the 'copter-bot pulled the board up and rose into the sky, taking the Chief with him.

Staring after them with evergreen optics, Chase seemed frozen on the spot; only to be startled when Heatwave placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke, "You did the best you could."

"I fear it was not enough..." Chase shut his optics tightly as his face place contorted with regret.

Heatwave glanced away with a pained look and fists clenched tightly, he too hoped his and his partner's efforts were enough...

Speaking of... Kade finally approached the two, his voice seemingly numb, "Graham is on his way to the hospital, we have to go pick Cody up from school." was all he could say.

Heatwave took his hand from Chase's shoulder, "Go to the firehouse... clean up and get some rest." before transforming and opening his cab door for Kade.

Chase furrowed his brow as he watched them go. The silence that followed was unsettling, the onlookers' expressions even more so. He failed his partner, failed his team, and looking at those who gathered, he felt he failed the town too. He bent over and picked up Charlie's discarded comm pin then started to walk down the street towards the fire house, barely keeping up the robot persona, just as Huxley's news van pulled up to do his news coverage of the incident.

Dark clouds started slowly rolling over the island as the entirety of Griffin Rock held its breath as they willed their best wishes for their beloved chief of police.