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Bumblebee winked out of recharge for the fifth time that night. Checking his chronometer to find it was nearly five in the morning, he noted a Comm from Optimus had been filed away. He waved it aside, pinching the bridge of his nose. Later. Stretching his sore frame out, a satisfying pop to his spinal strut made him sigh out loud. The Terrans were still out like a light, sprawled over their beds. Whatever that energy wave had been, it had healed the physical damage, but not the mental exhaustion of the day’s battle. The Malto family had stumbled home and gazed wearily out at the wrecked farm, before retreating to beds and berth to deal with it in the morning. Quietly, Bumblebee rose to his pedes and slipped outside.
The sky was still dark. Stars had begun to wink out of visibility, the only sign of the impending sunrise a faint golden-green glow on the horizon. It was a muggy midsummer morning, and mist curled languidly on the ground. Cows milled on the pasture, tails whisking over their backs and haunches. Bumblebee envied them. Not a care in the world for what had happened. Propping his servos on his hips, Bumblebee surveyed the damage with less recharge-deprived optics. The charred husk of the G.H.O.S.T semi was easily the most impressive leftovers. It’d long since burned itself out, all twisted metal and the acrid smell of burnt rubber. Littering the ground and pasture was all manner of shrapnel. From broken glass to twisted propellers and smatters of energon, and grass scorched by blaster fire. Part of the pasture fence, too, had sustained damage in places. Optics settled on the form of a heifer who’d hopped the broken post, grazing in the middle of the wreckage.
“Oh, no.” Bumblebee said aloud, closing the distance quickly before she could lick up spilled energon, or metal bits, or who knew what else he wasn’t spotting in the dark. “Not for cows.” It took the entire Malto family to move a stubborn cow- but Bumblebee simply scooped her up by the middle. She let out an alarmed bray, thrashing in shock at the sudden sensation. The other cows lifted their heads, tossing horns and stomping the ground unhappily. Stepping over the fence, he lowered her back to the ground, where she pronked away indignantly from him.
He snorted. “You’re welcome.” Kneeling to lift the fence post back into place, Bumblebee’s audials picked up the telltale creak of the screen door opening. He looked up to see Dorothy and Alex meandering their way to the pasture. They both nursed a cup of coffee, looking as sleep-deprived as Bumblebee felt. Dorothy passed her cup to Alex as she ducked under the fence.
“Hey, you guys ought to sleep in.” Bumblebee tried to protest. “I got it covered.”
Alex passed Dorothy her coffee back into her waiting palms. He shrugged. “Oh, we couldn’t sleep.”
“Might as well leave the sleeping to the kids.” Dorothy sighed. She turned towards the heads of cattle, one finger dancing in the air as she counted them. She had a knack for telling apart the sea of brown and white.
“Oh,” Bumblebee watched her for a moment, then tapped his Commlink. Might as well see what Optimus had to say.
I hope this message finds you well, Bumblebee. There’s going to be a rejoinder at Noon, between us remaining Cybertronians and Jon, and if you and Ranger Malto would come, I would appreciate it. We’ll be discussing our moves for the future.
Bumblebee hummed quietly. “Optimus called. There’s gonna be a conference today. Noon. He, uh, wants us to show.” He gestured between himself and Dorothy, whose brows had screwed together tightly. He assumed it was because it was Optimus. Instead, Dorothy remained silent and swiftly re-counted the cattle.
“I can certainly give him some choice words,” she muttered. Then, “Bad news. I don’t see Fluffy Ears.”
Optics flying open wide, Bumblebee scanned the herd. Slag, he hadn’t even noticed. “Scrap. Scrap, the kids are gonna freak .”
“ I’m gonna freak, it’s not cheap to have your cows bred, you know.” Dorothy ran a hand over her locks, humor offsetting the fear.
“I’ll take a look around the property!” Alex piped up hurriedly, throwing back the rest of his coffee and jogging off. Dorothy strode towards the cows with purpose, eyes scanning the fence for any other breaks. Bumblebee peered into the pine barrens. Where on Earth could a calf even run off to? Frustration mounting as he scanned the forest floor, his spark gave a small flip when he spotted tiny hoofprints in the dirt.
“Dot, I found hoofprints.” Lifting her head, she nodded and hurried after him. Ducking beneath the canopy, he knelt to crawl through what appeared to be a small wildlife path. His knee struts complained at him all the while. Yeah, yeah, just deal with it, he thought. Battering a errant branch away, Bumblebee squeezed his optics shut as brambles irritated his paint. He hoped the kids appreciated this.
“So you’re coming to the meeting?” Bumblebee asked through grit dentae, dusting off his chestplates. Dorothy sighed.
“You know, G.H.O.S.T dragged me into this mess. I’d really rather not have to clean it up. I’ll do it as Ranger Malto; not Lieutenant. ” Grimacing, Bumblebee deflated.
“Yeah. I can’t blame you."
He rose to his pedes as the forest finally opened enough for the minibot to stand in, looking about the clearing frantically. There, staring at him without a care in the world, was the very Fluffy Ears. She moo’d and wiggled happily.
Bumblebee exhaled in relief. “Oh thank Primus. What on Earth are you doing out here?” He asked even though she couldn’t respond. Reaching out for her, she dodged his grasp with a bawl of mischief. Problem with calves, they were so much more nimble than the adults. He heard the crunching of understory as Dorothy jogged into the clearing. “Come on, kid, we’ve got to get you back.” She stood stubbornly, brown wet eyes darting around. Had all the chaos gotten her spooked? Bumblebee crept closer, keeping his frame still and low, arms spread to corral her. Fluffy Ears bounced from hoof to hoof, crying out again. Bumblebee frowned. A static tingle arced down his neck cabling and he jumped back the moment before a large purple pede crushed the ground in front of him. Falling on his aft, Bumblebee scrambled to his pedes quickly and readied his blaster.
“Dot! Watch out!”
Out from the trees strode Shockwave’s lanky form, Fluffy Ears prancing between his pedes. It was unclear if Shockwave was avoiding stepping on her, or if she was getting very lucky. Bumblebee aimed for the chestplates as the old Decepticon rose his helm.
“Put your weapon away.” He droned irritably. “I’m far too low on energon to quarrel with you.”
Bumblebee frowned. He lowered the blaster, but didn’t transform it away. “You almost stepped on me.” He narrowed his optics.
“I thought you meant harm.”
“What do you want?” Dorothy challenged, jabbing a finger at the purple mech. “You helped my family, and we’re grateful. But we’ve had enough fighting for a lifetime.”
Shockwave’s helm tilted to the side. Was he… smirking? “I want nothing.” He stated simply. “Except for you to take me to this conference. That is all. I have relevant information that I will not share unless I’m given a seat at the table.” Fluffy Ears stood between the trio, tail wiggling happily. Bumblebee could hardly believe his optics as Shockwave casually reached down to pat the calf fondly. He exchanged a glance with Dorothy. She shrugged incredulously. Relenting, Bumblebee transformed his blaster away. Stomping out of the forest and into the field, he shook his helm.
“Fine.” He drawled, squinting while the herd of cows came to investigate the Decepticon. Shockwave had no expression to read, kept his EM Field tightly wrapped around himself, yet Bumblebee thought he looked pleased. “Dot is right- you helped us out. Thanks, I guess.”
“It was only logical.” Shockwave said simply. “There were other matters at servo than unkind sentiments.” The thudding of shoes made Bumblebee look over his shoulder, Alex running towards them out of breath and frazzled looking.
“Dottie, I couldn’t- Oh.” He blinked a few times at the scene of the old Decepticon swathed by cows on either side. He waved sheepishly. “Hello, Shockwave. I… see you all found Fluffy Ears.”
The Terrans were, of course, thrilled. Besides Thrash, who eyed Shockwave suspiciously, he was swarmed by exuberant sparklings. It wasn’t long before Nightshade and Hashtag had dragged him off temporarily, back to tamper with the makeshift communications system they had whipped up the previous day. Bumblebee crossed his arms and leaned against the barn, watching as they muttered over the mishmash of Cybertronian and Organic technology.
“Hey kids, we’ve got to get going.” He called, waving Shockwave over. Hashtag pouted.
“What? C’mon Bee, we’re gonna make a breakthrough!”
“You’ll be back, right?” Nightshade tilted their head expectantly. Bumblebee shook his helm, overcome with fondness. Shockwave seemed unsure of how to proceed. He glanced between the two of them, finials twitching subtly.
“Yes, I… suppose it would be of use to finish my work here.”
Hashtag’s fist pumped the air. As Bumblebee turned, Twitch flew before him, arms crossed.
“So, we’re coming, right?”
Shaking his head, the drone slowly lowered herself to the ground with a frown. “No, and it’s not because we don’t trust you, or because you’re too young.” Bumblebee said as Twitch opened her intake to interrupt. She crossed her arms. “It’s because we want to handle this. You guys have been cleaning up our messes this whole time, but you need to get to act like Sparklings for a while. It… it can’t make up for making the five of you have to grow up so fast,” Bumblebee’s doorwings fell, “but let the adults handle this. Because you guys deserve a rest.” He patted her shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. Twitch pursed her lipplates, kicking a pede in the dirt.
“Understand?” Bumblebee prompted. She nodded slowly. “We’ll be back soon.” Bumblebee gave her a reassuring smile, before he headed out to the driveway.
Shockwave strode outside, ducking beneath the barn doors, before transforming into his Cybertronian altmode. Scuttling across the ground with surprising grace, he paused by the pleasantly yellow Malto house. “They are incredibly illogical. They all should fear me. As that one does.” The head of the insectoid mech turned towards Thrash. The Terran’s arms crossed over his chestplates, optics narrowing.
Bumblebee shrugged, transforming. “Yeah, well, they’re kids. They should know better, but they want to believe in you anyway.” He turned his tires to face Shockwave. “They gave you a second chance. Maybe you should take it.”
Shockwave hummed quietly. Bumblebee hoped that was an affirmative. Dorothy stepped outside, patting Bumblebee’s hood before hopping into the passenger seat. He sped off down the dirt road, Shockwave keeping pace easily. The alien altmode offered more mobility than a simple vehicle did; Bumblebee found himself swerving to avoid rubble left by the battle, while Shockwave clambered over it. He clattered over potholes and felt a sting in his suspension and jostled Dorothy in the front seat, Shockwave stepped easily over them. Bumblebee eyed the mountain that had risen the night before. It shot through the sky like a scar, pulsing faintly with green energy. He didn’t trust it. Dormant, sure, but its core of raw energon made it a threat regardless. Turning into the rangers station, a cluster of mechs stood talking idly. Optimus, Elita, and Megatron stood shoulder to shoulder in one corner, Jon at their pedes. Soundwave observed quietly from the other. Bumblebee wasn’t surprised at the thin turnout, as he transformed after Dorothy hopped out. The Seekers left soon after the battle had ended, checking in briefly with the Terrans before they were gone in the blink of an eye. Too bad , Bumblebee hummed as Shockwave rose to his pedes, if they’d stuck around the whole gang would be back together. Better for it, though. Megatron was looking lousy enough as it was and he doubted Starscream’s presence would have improved matters. Megatron seemed like he’d aged a few million years in one night. As his ruby optics settled on Dorothy, alarm flickered across his faceplates before he turned away. He shuffled behind Optimus, helm hung between his shoulders.
“Megatron.” Her tone was gentle, purposefully walking towards him.
Bumblebee rubbed the back of his neck, shuffling a pede. This was definitely out of his depth. He busied himself with hoping to spot Breakdown among the mechs as Optimus rested a servo on Megatron’s arm.
“Dorothy, I-”
She held up her hand. He snapped his lipplates shut. “Don’t apologize to me.” She said firmly. He knelt, shame radiating across his faceplates. “Apologize to the kids.”
“I- I almost killed her.” His voice was staticky and thin, threatening to break.
Dorothy reached out with her comparatively tiny hand and rested it against one of Megatron’s dark grey digits. She gave it a gentle squeeze. “She was asking about you this morning.” Megatron blinked rapidly. Something did break that time, and a low and mournful noise reverberated from deep inside his intake.
“What’d I do to deserve that?” He asked aloud.
Shockwave stood beside Bumblebee and gave a disapproving noise. “He’s worried about nothing, sentimental fool.”
Crossing his arms, Bumblebee sidled nearby Elita-1 while Shockwave inclined his helm curiously in Soundwave’s direction and approached his former comrade.
“Where’s everyone else?” He whispered as Megatron got to his pedes.
Elita-1 pursed her lipplates. “Grimlock is resting. Arcee’s already started cleanup in town with Wheeljack.”
Grimacing, Bumblebee felt a pang of sympathy towards the dinobot. He wouldn’t blame him for wanting to take a nice, long nap after what he’d been through. Optimus, then, took a step forward with outstretched palms. “Today, we are no longer agents of G.H.O.S.T.” He began. “But in its wake, we are unfortunately left to clean up its messes. Jon has offered his assistance in human-Cybertronian relations for the time being.” He gestured to the dark-haired man. Jon nodded curtly, in spite of a dubious grunt from Megatron. “As well as give us access to G.H.O.S.T’s entire building. We intend to make sure no Cybertronian is going un-fueled any longer.”
“Since any incarcerated Decepticon had their subspaces raided for… evidence, we’re also prioritizing making sure any lost items are returned to their owners.”
Dorothy flagged her hand in the air, attention turning to her. “G.H.O.S.T was also dumping energon refuse.” She informed them with a deep frown. “It has unpredictable results on wildlife; with G.H.O.S.T no more, I’m just a wildlife ranger now, which means this,” She gestured to the forest that surrounded them, “is my jurisdiction. I’d like some help making sure no more animals have to suffer.”
Elita-1 nodded. “Of course, Ranger Malto.”
“And,” Shockwave’s even vocaliser causes helms to snap towards him, “we are forgetting the Space Bridge, it seems.” He gestured his spear-servo towards the mountain, where the now half-broken Space Bridge sat like a crescent moon. “Access to Cybertron is a possibility for us.”
A silent ‘if’ hung heavy in the air between them. “If mere Organics are able to repair a Space Bridge, then we have nothing to worry about. Soundwave?” Shockwave glanced at him. Soundwave ejected Ravage, who leapt gracefully to the ground. She wound between Soundwave’s pedes before unhinging her jaw, a projection beaming in the air. They were schematics for a Space Bridge, Bumblebee realized quickly. “This was found in G.H.O.S.T’s database.” Shockwave gestured with his spear. “I trust we can utilize this for our own purposes.”
Megatron shuffled his plating. “It was to be used as a weapon against us.” He pointed out, vocaliser still rough. “How are we to know if it isn’t intended to cause harm to Cybertronians when passing through?”
“I went through it. As a Ground Bridge, I mean.” Bumblebee pointed out quickly.
“A logical concern, regardless. It is why I am offering my expertise.”
Optimus frowned. He and Elita-1 passed glances at one another. “And we can trust you, Shockwave? What about you, Soundwave? Remember, the war is over.”
Soundwave’s visor glinted. “I have no loyalty to Megatron. Shockwave, I trust.” He intoned simply.
“Since I assisted the Terrans in bolstering their communication systems,” Shockwave continued with a grateful nod towards Soundwave, “I will continue to work with them as they are… better equipped with understanding Organic technology.” To admit they may have more knowledge than him was a tough pill to swallow, his tone strangely strangled. “Open communications with Autobot and Decepticon alike will be the goal. So as to take advantage of G.H.O.S.T’s absence of course.”
Optimus’s finials twitched just slightly. “Of course.”
There were other concerns; after the battle, the Sharkticons had disappeared. Not a bot had seen them since. Bumblebee hoped they had flown far, far away. Luck had not been so kind lately, though. When the meeting adjourned, Dorothy was deep in conversation with Optimus. Bumblebee found his thoughts drifting elsewhere. Turning to face where the ruins of town remained, he crossed his arms.
“Bumblebee? You ready to head back?” Dorothy’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Uh…” He pursed his lipplates, “I think I’m gonna take a drive through town. Just real quick.”
Optimus inclined his helm. “No worries. Ranger Malto, can I assist you home?”
She sighed, turning first to face Megatron. “Megs? You want to come with?”
The old warlord’s faceplates creased. “No. No, I- I need some time.”
“Don’t make me come get you.” Dorothy gave him a strained smile. Megatron’s shoulders sagged, staring off into the forest bleakly. “Alright Prime. Let’s go.”
Bumblebee rolled down the mountain at a leisurely pace, spotting signs of battle everywhere he went. Uprooted trees, pedesteps crushed into concrete, overturned cars. Town wasn’t looking much better. Arcee and Wheeljack were picking among the rubble and avoiding craters blasted into the asphalt. Witwicky felt like a ghost town. Maybe literally. Tooling past formerly bustling streets past the outskirts of town, his attention was drawn to another car which began tailing him.
Breakdown honked.
Bumblebee kept driving. Not content to be ignored, the Stunticon began driving lazy circles around him, making it look like it was easy. Rolling his optics, Bumblebee transformed and found himself staring optic-to-optic with Breakdown. Greeted with a lazy smirk, the racecar cocked a brow as he looked Bumblebee up and down.
“What’s with that face?”
Bumblebee crossed his arms. “Thought you’d left town already.”
Recognition flickered across orange faceplates. “You’re still mad about me ditching? Listen- it worked out. I saved your tailpipe, didn’t I?” Breakdown spread his servos with a look that might have been apologetic. “Swindle ‘n Hardtop already left. Asked me if I wanted to come with, but I told ‘em I was gonna hang around…” When Bumblebee was not immediately moved into a melty, doe-eyed puddle, Breakdown approached with a playful shimmy of his shoulders and bumped their frames together.
“Beeeeee.” He whined as Bumblebee rebuffed, turning his back to him. Looping arms lazily around his midsection, Breakdown rocked them back and forth. “Bee, listen…” Thumbing lazily at the space where glass met hipplates, Bumblebee felt ex-vents against his audial. Persistence was rewarded by leaning just slightly into the frame pressed behind him.
“Whaaat.” He replied in a mockery of Breakdown’s needy tone.
Relenting in the back-and-forthing, Breakdown rested his chin on his shoulder. “I was hoping to catch you alone, actually.” He mumbled in a voice that betrayed very little. His EM Field had been drawn tightly to his frame, causing Bumblebee to frown. “Since G.H.O.S.T is kaput, we don’t gotta worry about scurrying around in the shadows anymore. I was thinking we blow this joint. You know, the two of us. Street race, see the planet without worryin’ about squishies or energon or anything like that.”
Bumblebee’s tank sunk. He spun to face the Stunticon, frowning. “Breakdown, you know I can’t. I told you, I have a family.”
Breakdown chewed on the inner cheek mesh of his intake. “I mean- yeah, but that was a mission. You don’t have to worry about it anymore. I’m sure they’d understand you takin’ a break, Bee.”
Sliding servos to Breakdown’s chestplates, he gently pushed him away. Bumblebee pursed his lipplates, scowling. That… wasn’t what he’d wanted to hear. “It’s not about taking a break, I… Listen. I’ve been running around and almost getting myself offlined. I can’t just ditch them; they need me right now. Not as a teacher, but as a part of their family.” Breakdown stared disquietly at him. Bumblebee felt exasperation leech into his vocaliser. “Breakdown, I’ve been chasing after you for years.” He spread his arms. “All across the planet. Why can’t you stay this time?”
Breakdown’s shoulders shrugged. “I didn’t ask you to do that.” Petulance furrowed his brows and tugged at his lipplates. There it was, the stonewalling.
“Don’t pull that scrap on me.” Bumblebee bristled. “What, was I supposed to not worry about you doing reckless things? Getting yourself caught and vivisected or something?”
“I did just fine out there. Remember Optimus is the one who made that deal with G.H.O.S.T in the first place. He sent you out there for how many years by yourself?”
Throwing his hands up in the air, he spun on his heel and buried his faceplates in his servos. “This isn’t about Optimus, it’s about us!”
Breakdown was silent. He tapped the ground with his pede and sighed. “I’ve told you, Bee. I’m a Stunticon.” Wanderlust. Ambition. A distaste for consistency. It came with the Combiner description. Bumblebee turned halfway. The air sizzled between them.
”Listen,” Bumblebee took a pleading step forward, “you should come back with me.” He gestured up the mountain. “The kids would love to meet you. I mean; I want all of you in my life.” His optics searched the orange faceplates before him for a flicker of… something. Breakdown swallowed, seeming suddenly off-balanced by the request. To Bumblebee’s dismay, he took a step back.
Shoulders sagged, Breakdown gave him a regretful smile. “Listen, I’ll be in town for a few days. I’ll think it over. You can, too.” If you want. Breakdown transformed and sped away.
Bumblebee groaned. Watching until the racecar’s taillights had turned a corner, Bumblebee turned and sharply kicked a bit of rubble into the forest. He transformed and sped off towards the farm, EM Field twisting. Stupid Stuticons. Stupid Velocitronian games. Stupid stupid stupid-
X
As an adult Cybertronian, Bumblebee really didn’t need to recharge very often. He could get by on one nights cycle for a few weeks if he really wanted to, unlike the Terrans’ smaller frames which required more frequent resting. Sometimes, though, curling up by yourself and drifting off to think about a whole lot of nothing was preferable. Much more preferable than his processor churning furiously over his conversation with Breakdown. Unfortunately, Bumblebee had found himself short on luck in recent times. Tossing and turning in berth, his processor racing, Bumblebee found frustration mounting. Why was failing to recharge so anger-inducing?! He sucked in an in-vent. Rubbing his face with one scarred servo, he glowered at the ceiling of the dugout. Fine. Fine, he’d be awake and angry.
Practiced, silent pedesteps took him back outside the barn. He stretched an arm out, deciding a drive around the perimeter would do him good, before a familiar shape caught his eye, curled up by the side of the barn door. Thrash had drawn his knees up to his chestplates and wrapped his arms around them, staring at nothing in particular.
“...Thrash?” Bumblebee’s irritation melted away, replaced by concern. The Terran jumped. He stared blearily at Bumblebee for a moment before he resumed sulking at his pedes. “Thrash, what’s up?” Lowering himself to the ground nearby, he tilted his helm in his direction.
“Couldn’t sleep.” Thrash mumbled.
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that, buddy.”
Thrash was mum. A few klicks ticked by, before he turned to Bumblebee uncertainly. “Do the nightmares ever stop?”
Bumblebee’s spark sunk. “Oh, uh…” He sighed. He stared at his servos for a moment. “They… they get better in time. Are you having dreams about…?”
“About Twitch. And Mandroid. And- and I think I was offline. Wasn’t I?” Thrash’s vents hitched. Bumblebee shuffled closer, wrapping an arm around the Terran to soothe his frenetic EM Field. He pulled him close to his frame, rubbing his side. He remembered that sudden darkness. That had been no Well of Allsparks. It left a frozen pit in his tank- like it was a reminder that perhaps Cybertron was no more.
“We’re here right now, aren’t we?” Bumblebee stared quietly at the pasture. “I’m sorry you’re… You shouldn’t be the one dealing with nightmares.”
Thrash harumphed. “But we saved the world. We saved everyone .”
“Yeah… But it was scary. You went through so much. If you want to talk about ‘em, I’m here.”
The Terran was quiet. He in-vented deeply, and Bumblebee glanced down after several moments had passed. Thrash’s optics had flickered offline, tucked against Bumblebee’s arm, back in recharge. Bumblebee swallowed thick oil and gently brought Thrash closer to his frame, feeling a surge of protectiveness. He would keep sentinel for the rest of the night. Maybe, just maybe, he could try and make up for putting so much on their small shoulders someday if he stuck around.