Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Optimus didn’t think that today, of all times was going to grant surprises, but here we are. The Autobots were currently in Jasper, Nevada, being hidden away by the human government and working directly with their liaison Agent William Fowler. It had been a little three years since they had last confronted the Decepticons, but that wasn’t what his mind and eyes were focused on at the moment. 

This was …different, something he hadn’t seen in a long time, an Autobot distress signal coming from a short distance from Earth, passing through Jupiter’s orbit, that had been lost for such a time that the bots inside had been in stasis since the Great Exodus. He didn’t even think it could be possible for a bot to sleep that long, much less four in such a compact ship. Ratchet was checking the command center to figure out more of these newcomers as they drifted closer to Earth.

“We don’t exactly have the resources to handle four more bots on the field, we don’t even know who they are yet. But they should arrive within a week or two.”

Optimus stared at the screen as Ratchet spoke, seeing the schematics of the ship and the status conditions of the pods. It was a Sigma Rayon model 4V, a rescue response transport vessel, a model that was wiped out early in the war, and the few saved were used by rescue teams on both sides. The Autobots only had five at hand, and three were destroyed before they were even able to get off the planet during the war on Cybertron. The one they knew of that survived was piloted by the Protectobots, who were battling the Decepticons on a moon the last time they had contact with them. The second was a mystery as no one knew who operated that ship, but it was thought it had been destroyed mid-launch by Decepticons. Looks like theory was false as both ship and the crew were staring them in the face, operational on the lowest amount of energon.

“…Is there any way to get in contact with the crew?” Optimus questioned as Ratchet tried pulling up as much information as he could.

“No, their stasis pods are in full lockdown mode, no way to contact them. But I will be able to take control over the ship’s navigation once it reaches Mars, so we don’t have to worry about it landing in any human city and scaring the lifeforms of this world.”

That was at least good news to hear, but still more information had to be gathered to deduce what to do with them. Just as Optimus pondered, Ratchet received information about the passengers on board, or more accurately, the bare bones files of each.

“The on-board crew are named Heatwave, Chase, Boulder, and Helix. All Autobots, so no interference with their distress signal as a ruse. Firefighter, officer, engineer, medic, nothing truly notable about them besides the fact they acted as a rescue crew during the war, called themselves the Sigma-17. None had prior connections with each other until forming the team, and... that’s it. 

With our current connections and resources, I’m unable to pull any more files about each specifically. Nothing notable in terms of combat or weaponry, Primus …what are we gonna do about them Prime, because from what I'm reading, these bots are not equipped for the battlefield in any way. Considering our options, bringing their ship here will only give our location away, and we don’t have the energon to supply ourselves fully, much less four noncombatants.”

Optimus was left staring at the screen once more as he looked at the vitals of the four bots, each in rest mode and sleeping away as they drifted. Their status as a rescue response crew drew his attention. After living on this planet for some time, he had grown fond of the organic life of this world, especially human life. They seemed so different and yet so much like Cybertronians in ways difficult to describe. His connections have primarily been with governmental officials and personnel, but never civilians, never the common folk of this world. He sees this crew, different in ways he doesn’t even know yet but can feel, bound together by the same goal of rescuing all they could back on Cybertron during its worst days. His thoughts collide as he remembers something, an island, a very, very special island off the coast of Maine. Walking away from the screen as he comes up with something new, something bold, something potentially disastrous …and something potentially wonderful.

“Optimus, where are you going?”

“You want to do what?!!”, Fowler exclaims loudly in a meeting with Optimus. He paced on the platform that was granting him eye level with Optimus, from the expression on his face that he thought this was a bad idea. “Optimus, we can’t just place a group of you guys in a civilian population! Do you know how much chaos could happen if we do, the PR disaster, the cons are gonna want to tear them apart and use us as hostages to draw you out!”

“Which is why we won’t place them in a city or town, they will be on an island.”

“What island!? Any island with a population enough to be considered in need of rescuing is either a tourist attraction or so much media coverage hiding isn’t an option! What island would even be possible for this experiment of yours?!”

“Griffin Rock.” And just with those two words, Fowler shut up. He grabs the guardrails, and he rubs his face with his hand over his mouth, as his eyes shift to the floor and back to Optimus.

“…No, no we can’t do that.”

“We can. I’ve mapped out all the details, looked over the information, and it could work.”

“No, nuh uh, there’s a reason why only you, me, Ratchet, and the higher ups know that it exists. If this information left this room-“

“It won’t, trust me, Agent Fowler, I know how it sounds, but it’s the only place where we can even see if it’s possible.” He guides Fowler to a screen, showing him the Sigma-17 along with Griffin Rock. “You and I both know how dangerous Griffin Rock can be.”

“Yeah, over a hundred years of semi-isolation with access to Cybertronian tech right under the island with no limits or governments taking notice. It’s practically a death trap that somehow keeps a steady population and its tech hidden whenever outsiders come. The only reason we even figured out about the tech is because of you, this island gives more energy output than the Pentagon due to the energon underneath.”

“Which is why it’s perfect. Anywhere else, they would have to stay hidden away in their vehicle forms. Here, the populace won’t even question alien origin as their standard of technology is higher. You said it yourself, Agent Fowler, the island is full of dangerous hazards that can bring harm to its residents if nothing is done. We have a crew of Autobots that made it their entire purpose in the war, to save and protect everyone they could, and we lack the capacity to have them and their ship touch down near the base.”

Fowler looks to Optimus before beginning to pace once more. He rubs his forehead as he tries to think of something, anything to say right now.

“…Why? Why even try this?”

“…Because you and your race have given us protection and a place of rest while we battle the Decepticons. We can protect you from our conflict, we can not protect you outside of it. We can not exist alongside you in our natural forms and grow with you in relations beyond professional. ..But these bots can. No one but you, I, and Ratchet know that these bots are alive and traveling in the direction of Earth. They are not combatants, I will not force them to be what they are not for the sake of conflict.”

“..So what’s the plan?”

“They are to be placed on Griffin Rock, hidden away from the war so as to not draw the Decepticons to the island. They are to work alongside the designated human family, I’ve checked.”

“The Burns? They have a big presence on the island.”

“Indeed, they’re the best rescue operatives one can ask for on Griffin Rock as well. If the bots were to partner with them and assist on missions, I believe that the island will be increased in terms of safety and protection.”

“But to leave them alone, let them roam about with civilians.”

“They will remain in disguise. No one except the Burns family will know of their true nature, and if the time were to come that their real origins were to be revealed, Primus hopes that the humans are ready. Your race has done enough for us, perhaps this shall be the moment we return the favor.”

Fowler left standing, pondering, wondering about the ramifications, the possible disaster, and the potential it has. He just has one question.

“What’s the mission they’ll do?”

Optimus straightens himself out as he delivers the mission, one that would form into something beyond what he originally thought that could achieve.

“Learn from the Burns family, learn from the humans, serve and protect the citizens of the island, live this world, on this planet, and earn your respect beyond our war. That is what their mission shall be, no outside interference except when necessary, no heavy communication to ensure the secrecy of the island, and no interference in terms of relations. They must be allowed to grow and develop their relationships with humans at their own pace, not forcing it.”

“The higher ups aren’t going to like this hands-off approach to it, especially when it’s Griffin Rock and cybertronians mixing together.”

“Griffin Rock is already a paragon of what humanity can achieve with our assistance, our technology, not our interference. While it has its darker moments and creations, those are in the past. They are the most ‘stable’ they’ve ever been in the past century, if these ..rescue bots were to be stationed, I believe that Griffin Rock will achieve its full potential with their protection.”

“I’d have to bring this up to the board, we only have what? A week until these guys are close enough for you to bring them here? Not a lot of time to discuss whether to put Autobots on what’s experimental tech hell we’ve tried to keep hidden for the past two years.”

“I understand, Agent Fowler, our time is short before their arrival. But I do believe that this is the next step forward. Perhaps, if this war ever is to end, humans and cybertronians can find peace with one another, and work together beyond war, beyond conflict. And these four could be the start of that, the potential to be more than soldiers, the potential to be true partners with your race.”

“…..I’ll see what I can do. Let’s not get hopes up, I can already hear all of the paperwork that’s gonna be made because of this.”

“Thank you, Agent Fowler. I shall wait for the response.” With that, Fowler leaves the base to talk with his bosses about this. Optimus was left alone with a flickering screen of a ship drifting ever closer to its destination. He doesn’t know what these bots hold, or what shall come from this experiment, but Primus helps that this works. That humans and Cybertronians can truly understand and see each other as full equals.

Chapter Text

The sounds of blaring alarms circulate the compact ship as it begins its descent through Earth’s outer atmosphere. It descends the Atlantic in the dead of night, away from civilian sight and major governmental bodies, as its route changes from simply wandering in the cosmos to being piloted from the middle of the desert to be sent to a small island off the coast of Maine. Four bots in stasis, each unaware of the pressure of the cockpit lessening and gravity returning as their ship touches ground a short distance from one of the strangest places on Earth.

Optimus stands in a military base about 430 miles from where the most fascinating and dangerous places he’s ever encountered reside. Through Fowler, he was able to have direct communication with Chief Charlie Burns, which was a …conversation indeed. Though much calmer than his first time speaking with humanity, he remembers that when he first spoke with American governmental figures, it did not go well. At least Chief Burns was given the heads up that he was to be part of something big, along with how his home functions well. Thankfully, Optimus’s appearance didn’t cause him any concern. 

He paces in the shadows as he looks upon the vessel before him, energon being fueled to the Sigma to provide enough power to the stasis pods within which took hours resulting in night becoming day. Ratchet was able to find more information on the crew, their physical conditions, and their ages. Unfortunately, like before, much of their data was corrupted due to time and inaccessibility to the central database back on Cybertron. The ones registered as Heatwave and Chase were born during the Golden Age, a few hundred years apart, with Heatwave being the elder one. Boulder seemed to have been forged during the Age of Rust, from when it began. Helix was the youngest of the crew, exactly a thousand years older than Bumblebee, making him one of the last generations born before the Well of Allsparks extinguished. 

All of them are perceived to be in stable condition, though the youngest seemed to have gone through a T-Cog replacement surgery before being placed into his stasis pod. His original designation was that of a grounder, but with the scans it shows that he carries a flier T-Cog within his chassis, which will be a tough adaptation for him once he and the rest awaken. Not only that, but all of them have a spark signature indicating that they were each outliers, which was extraordinary given how rare outliers were due to functionalism, much less a full team of them. Speaking of which, the sounds of four stasis pods clicking open and gas expelling from them to the entrance of the ship spill out in a thick fog. 

Four very different bots exit from the ship, each of different sizes, shapes, and colors, each disoriented and confused about what has just occurred and where they were. Each looked to their new surroundings, bright green foliage unlike anything they had seen back on their home world, a blue sky with white swirling shapes flying through it, and the sounds of a large mass of dihydrogen monoxide, or more accurately known as water, crashing against the rocks near the base. It was …overwhelming to say the least, each had their unique perspectives of this place.

Helix was practically terrified; the last memory he had before being placed in stasis was him going into surgery after an ambush by Decepticons left him in critical condition. So, an unfamiliar environment after Primus knows how long unconsciousness puts strain on the young mech. 

He hides behind Chase, who, unlike Helix, shows little of his emotions and keeps a steady hand on his firearm as he scans the area. You couldn’t tell he was stressed if not for the electricity coming from his palms when his processor tried to comprehend the unfamiliarity with racing thoughts. 

He wasn’t the only one with his hand on his weapon, Heatwave practically doubled down with his axe fully charged and held close to his chassis. He wasn’t just gonna let anything catch them unguarded; that’s what happened before they managed to get off Cybertron. 

Boulder, though, seemed to be the only member of his team not reacting in fear or aggression; he looked around in sheer awe. He’s read about organic life and planets, but never having been to one himself until now, the colors and sounds are more beautiful than any mechanical and metallic structure back home. He’s the first to speak out loud about their situation, his voice filled with pure joy.

“What is this place?”

On cue from the shadows, Optimus Prime calmly walks towards the frazzled crew.

“Earth, and I am Optimus Prime. Lower your weapons, you are among allies here.”, his deep voice practically echoing within their audio receivers. His voice has instant authority with Heatwave and Chase as both sheathe their weapons upon hearing the voice of the Prime. Helix stops cowering and comes from behind Chase after hearing the older voice. They all collectively look towards the Autobot leader, who removes his battle mask as his form is fully covered in the light of the sun. Heatwave steps forward to be the first to speak, though the crew had no designated leader. From the files, it seems that Heatwave took the position as such for multiple missions.

“Rescue Team Sigma-17, sir.”

“I was unaware that any rescue teams were still active.” Given how long it had been since they had been in contact with the Protectobots, and how few rescue teams there were to begin with, it wasn’t hard to think they were all wiped out during the exodus. Plus, with how little information there was on this specific team to begin with, no wonder they slipped through the cracks of thought. Helix stood up in anxiety, though due to his shorter frame, it wasn’t as noticeable as it would be.

“W-why wouldn’t there be? …We’re, ..we’re not the only rescue team left, are we? I mean, a bunch of bots got off of Cybertron, did-didn’t another one come with you? Or maybe some are still there, if we call back to HQ maybe-“, Optimus cuts him off right there, hearing the growing fear in the young mech as he tries to grasp the situation he was currently in.

“That will not be possible. While we are not 100% certain that you are the last rescue bot team alive, you are the only active rescue bot team within this quadrant. Cybertron is no more, the few that stayed we’ve been unable to contact, but hopefully they are making leeway in this war on their front.”

All four process the news they had just been given about the full fate of their old home and now having to deal with the fact of having a new home. Optimus watches their expressions as he decides the next move. 

“…I have something to show you, …as well as someone to meet.”, he gestures to the bots to follow him into one of the hangars. With no other options, minds still trying to comprehend the gravity that they are dealing with, they follow.

When Charlie received that call it was unlike any he ever had before. Griffin Rock has always had its fair share of strange things. But this was different, possibly bigger than the Project Blackbird incident, if he could even remember what really happened back then. Just remembers pulling Ezra out of the rubble of his lab missing an arm, before and during it, no idea. But now isn’t the time to reminisce about the past, he has some present that he has to take care of.

He talked with government officials the moment they discovered Griffin Rock’s technology. It was already known as a hotspot for experimental work but over centuries it became a taboo to ever show outsiders the true extent of what Griffin Rock could actually make. Finally got flagged when the power they drew from under the island actually had alien origin, which now after almost two years in the know, felt nice to hear the voice of a leader from said origin. Still freaked out when he first saw him face to face but it was easy to get used to when you live in technological chaos your whole life. Sure he feels bad about keeping this from everyone, it’s just ..bigger than anything Griffin Rock has gone through, the very beings who’s technology that had gotten them to where they were today. He and his family were going to be working with them, living with them, with robotic aliens, robotic aliens who from what Optimus said have the same drive in rescuing as the Burns do.

Now he’s taking his old patrol car out for one true final drive to the hangar base after getting off the ship before he meets his new partner. Optimus told him one of them was a cop back on Cybertron so at least they’ll have something in common, his name is Chase from the files sent. His kids are probably gonna have a harder time accepting this, or even trying to perceive the gravity of it, alien partners in rescuing. He can just feel the insanity of those words circling his head as he rubs his forehead, the insanity of his own home turned his hair white, but this just feels like the cherry on top.

He arrives at the base, getting out of the car as he sits down and looks to the sky thinking about the future. He hears Optimus briefing these bots on their new mission and status when it comes to their species war. The sounds of footsteps come near as Charlie turns to see Fowler staring at him with tiredness as he sits down right next to him.

“Can’t believe you agreed to this?” 

“…Can’t believe you offered.” 

“When you only have a week to figure out what to do with a ship and four extra robots, you have to think fast about offers. This is still under discussion, some even wanting to pull from it entirely if it goes horribly wrong on the first day.”

“Well it’s Griffin Rock, going horribly wrong is what we've known for decades.”

“…Have you told your kids yet?”

“…No. …Not yet. Kinda hard to break the ice on something like this.”

“Yeah I know. Wasn’t exactly thrilled when I got told I was gonna be the babysitter of alien robots in millions of years of war, but here we are. You’re getting lucky not having to deal with that part.”

“..This plan is supposed to be protection for us or protection for them?”

“…Both. I got a look at them, the red one, Heatwave I think, looks like he could handle a brawl easily. But Optimus has this whole idea of us, humanity, finding this ..balance with the bots. To have a focus on something other than war, just so happens your island is the best spot to test it out on.”

“A lot is going to change, especially if they ever get found out.”

“Which is why you’re gonna help them not get found out, or else my bosses will pull this away like the drop of a hat. Unless the person is credible as hell and can be trusted with that level of information to not spread it around, no one can find out about this.”, Fowler pulls out for a handshake. “Last chance to call this off, you in or are you out Charlie?”

Charlie thought about all of the options, the future, the present, this was going to change everything. He firmly grabs Fowler’s hand and shakes on it.

“I said I was going to do it, and I will. I’m all in Bill, I’m all in.”

Fowler looks at him for any signs of dishonesty, but he sees none as he sighs. He stands up and goes to walk off, right before looking at Charlie.

“..You’ve got some bots to see.”

Chapter Text

Optimus paced back and forth within the hangar, in front of him were the four bots standing before the great Prime. They spent the first few hours of their arrival being briefed on the species of this world, and provided a language mode that granted them the ability to speak Earth languages, though it would take time to be even able to speak anything beyond English for quite some time.

No one speaks as Optimus continues to walk, collecting everything he was about to drop upon the newcomers. Optimus finally stops and looks at the team in the optics, causing them to stand even straighter than they already were.

“Heatwave, Chase, Helix, Boulder. After careful consideration during the week before we gained access to your navigation, I had chosen your new mission.”, Optimus addressed.

“Nice!” exclaimed Heatwave, as can be seen in the excitement in his voice. From the files, it appears that he is more inclined to aggression, yet still, he had a brilliant number of rescues and saves on Cybertron. 

“We’d be happy to join the battle, sir.” Chase stepped forward and saluted the Autobot leader. While Chase did not possess the same energy for combat as Heatwave did, the two had formed a duo before the other two joined the team. Explains why they already have the wrong idea about their new assignment. Though from the look in Helix's eyes, it seems that he doesn’t have the same interest in the mission. Boulder shared that same hesitation, not from fear but from something else, the desire not to cause harm.

“So when do we roll out?” as Heatwave crossed his arms, confident and ready to take on what he presumed was an upcoming battle. Which was immediately broken by what Optimus revealed next.

“You do not.”, Optimus with a clear tone as he walked down the line. “As perhaps, the last rescue team that we know exists, you are uniquely suited to help the people of this planet. As well as learn from them.”

Boulder walks forward frantically when Optimus reveals their assignment. There was a tinge of fear yet excitement that the Prime could hear from the green mech, 

“You mean we’ll interact with humans?”

“You will be ambassadors to the people of this planet. The first autobots to live with a human family, study their customs, obey their rules, and work together to keep this planet safe. During this mission you four will appear to the humans as machines, robots in disguise.”

“What?” Heatwave exclaimed with hints of frustration as more information was given to them.

“While the people of this island are comfortable with advanced technology, the idea that alien beings are living among them will undoubtedly cause panic.” 

“So we can help the humans as long as we hide our true selves.” The snark emanating from the red bot showed the fire that wouldn’t dare be put out by anything. That fire, passion for rescuing, and what little information Ratchet was able to pull about his record showed his capacity in highly dangerous environments, adaptability, and refusal to back down were the reason why Optimus had high hopes for the mech.

“You are right to question what is best for your team Heatwave. That is why I am asking you to lead this mission.” Optimus extends his hand out towards the fighter to accept this task. It’s silent for a bit as Heatwave looks towards the Prime’s hand. His mind is filled with pros and cons, possible reasons to deny and join the fight once more, …but also quiet tones, old desires, the feeling of possible redemption for eons of war. He looks back to Optimus, looking at him straight on, dead in the eyes, and shakes his hand.

Optimus was happy to see Heatwave was in, though only time will tell if this experiment truly holds merit. The other three shared the same consensus as their leader and followed along with their new mission status. Optimus walked to the other side of the hanger, pressing a button that opened up to display four brand new vehicles, each unique compared to standard ones. These were custom built with the bots sizes, similar functions as their original modes, skill sets, old professions, ..and T-cog requirements. It was required to ensure no outside forces knew about the bots arrival, and to make the transition for the humans of Griffin Rock were more comfortable seeing vehicles as advanced as their standard of technology would be seen. 

“You each will adopt a vehicle mode based on Earth technology.” After Optimus proclaimed it, Boulder was again the most enthusiastic about the change and already was eyeing his chosen vehicle.

“Woah, look at those lines. This thing’s a powerhouse.” Boulder loved the piece of machinery before him, a shining clean solid green, brighter than busted up armor he was wearing. Optimus with his head held high, putting his arms at his back, a match made in the Allspark it seems for engineer.

“Boulder, do you wish to scan first?” Without hesitation, Boulder’s eyes lit up a bright green as he began to scan the bulldozer in front of him. The sounds of circuits and pistons firing as his body morphed and shifted. A shadow casted over the wall of the hangar as he transformed into his brand new vehicle mode, his engine revving in delight of his new appearance. Heatwave walked up next to the large fire engine before him. It almost looked like his usual form, though like Boulder’s vehicle, brighter, cleaner, untouched by brutality. This thing requires water, something he never saw before today, firefighting back home was always with foam so this was gonna be a new one for him.

“Heh, primitive, but apparently they use this one for what I did back home.” Heatwave’s eyes shone a vibrant red as he scanned the actually very advanced vehicle by human standards. His body morphed and shifted as he transformed, his plating getting a fresh coat of paint and dents buffed out as he became the fire truck. He could feel something in him when he finished the transformation, the hose and pump system of the engine. He hadn’t even seen water until he came out of the ship, never even visited Aquatron before the Rust Plague happened and the space bridges were cut off. Now he has to use a material he’s had no prior knowledge of or its properties, he’s glad he’s used to thinking on the fly, once he actually starts working he’ll get the hang of it. 

…Still he can’t get over this weird feeling in his spark. He’s had this for as long as he could remember but never understood it. It always felt like he was meant to do something, but didn’t have access to ..a resource, an item? He wasn’t sure, but now's not the time to worry about trivial things, Chase and Helix still needed to scan their vehicles. …Wait does the orange one has rotor blades-

“Is this what Earth authorities use for rule enforcement?” Which ended Heatwave’s train of thought as his friend and teammate asked the Prime about the car before him. Just like Chase to ask if it was used for the law, though Chase gave a calm and collected mannerism, Heatwave could see right through him. While he was eager to return to the battlefield, his eyes lighting up and pupils dilating only by the smallest margin, but it was enough for Heatwave to understand the moment for his fellow rescuer. 

Now he had a chance to return to his old profession after millennia in combat, it’s something he only dared to dream of, and now it's time. He transformed, his plating cleaned up just like him, and shone brighter than it ever did when they first met. All that was left was the kid, …wait isn’t that a flying type vehicle?

“Well then Helix, it is your turn now.” The youngest of the group began to scan his vehicle mode, but it felt wrong. Everything about how his body was moving was wrong, it wasn’t until he finished transforming that he truly understood what was different. As he tried to rev up his engine, he felt his body hover into the air a few feet before falling back down.

“THIS THING CAN FLY??!!” Helix shouted at the top of his vents, the others surprised as well since they’ve only known him as a grounder. Optimus was surprised by their reactions as he was under the impression they knew he had the T-cog of a flier now.

“From the medical report we had on you, you had to get a cog replacement surgery before you were placed into stasis. We prepared the helicopter as we thought you all already knew of this change.”

“NO I DIDN’T!” It’s clear that Helix was not having a good time adjusting to his new vehicle mode unlike the others. Boulder provides some context to Optimus about the young bot’s reaction beyond just losing his original mode type.

“He doesn't like heights.” Ah, …well that wasn’t a good thing for someone now meant to be high in the air constantly. He knows that Helix will have a difficult time physically adjusting to his changed body, but he hopes that with time that the mechling could find peace with his form. They didn’t have the time to unpack all of that though as a door opens revealing a gray-haired human dressed in blue approaching Optimus before standing in front of the bots.

“This is Chief Charlie Burns, he knows our secret and will help you keep yours. He and his family will be your partners for as long as your mission holds. Rescue Bots, good luck.”

“It is an honor and a privilege.” Charlie exclaimed to the vehicles behind him.

“Over here.” He turned around to see the actual bots after Heatwave spoke, what a great first impression that was. 

“Eh hum, as I said it is an honor to meet and to work with all you on Griffin Rock. Tomorrow is a big day, you will be presented to the townspeople on stage. As Optimus has explained, no one can know your identities, so when you’re up there, don’t move a muscle, understand?”

“Yes Chief Burns.” The only one to acknowledge Charlie’s presence and order immediately just so happened to be the very bot that was going to be his new partner. The others followed, agreeing just a few moments after, but something about how Optimus barely had any information to tell him about their personalities or even pasts, Charlie had every right to be worried. He knows that these bots were a rescue team, …but he also knows they were at and in war before all this. He’s met enough veterans to know not all is what it seems in mind and body. He’s putting faith in Optimus’s judgment, but only time will tell if these bots are a good fit for the island. 

For now, it was time to get ready for tomorrow, cause things were only just beginning.

Chapter Text

The low light filling the room was not ideal, but it wouldn’t be long until the grand entrance. The four bots stood below the stage, hearing as the crowd above listened to Chief Burns making his speech. None of them, with the exception of Boulder, particularly liked the new situation they were assigned to, each dealing with their grievances in different ways. Given their new position their weapons had to be taken and stored safely within the garrison of the Sigma. Their integrated weapons were allowed to stay though, but only to be brought out under the most dire of circumstances. 

“This is torture! How long does he expect us to stay down here?” Heatwave paced as he grew more frustrated by the mission they now had to follow. It’s been years since the last time he was this bright red, the scars and dents of his frame now buffed out making him feel naked. “Urrgghh, I can’t be the only one hating this right?” He exclaimed as he turned to his teammates who were lost in their own thoughts.

“At least you got a mode that is on the ground! How could none of you have told me it was a flier t-cog!?” Helix yelled at his fellow bots as the helicopter blades on his back perked up in anxiety and anger. He pushes the blades back down, the fact that he can’t hide his emotions even more now with these blasted things, not like he could hide his emotions in the first place, with this new kibble moving at any shift in emotional state.

“We did not know that at the time Helix. You were injured and we were under fire, there wasn’t enough time to comb through all the t-cogs the medics had on hand to find a perfect match.” Chase who had been feeling so off no longer carrying his weaponry that he’s had for years.

“Well maybe you could’ve taken a few extra seconds to see if it was A GROUNDER T-COG!”

“Okay okay, we should all just sit and quiet back down. Shouting will just get us caught before we even see the humans.”

“I’d prefer that over having to work with …organics. We barely know a byte about the partners we’ll have except Chase.”

“I must say for myself that Chief Burns has proven to be a very capable leader. He’s treated us with a high level of respect for the work we had done back on Cybertron. This could be the start of a wonderful partnership.”

“And how does it feel like not having your phaser on you ever cycle?”

“…I will not answer that.”

“Spark of a glitch you hate this as much as I do.”

“Do we want to go back?!” Boulder, having gotten tired of the arguing, raising his voice before pulling himself back. The others looked towards him, it’s not common that Boulder gets angry, he usually tries to be the mediator in the team. “Sighs, look, we have a chance to not go back to the fighting. We’ve already gone through too much, and now we have the chance to do something better.”

“Better than fighting for a cause?”

“Come on Heatwave, you know you missed this. You and Chase, you’re getting handed the chance to do your old jobs again. No war, no battles, no extra energon that has to be spilled. Primus, you two are the reason me and Helix got into rescuing, and you two are the reason why OUR mission was to have the least amount of energon on our hands. So don’t lie to me and say this isn’t the thing you were wishing for so long.”

Both Chase and Heatwave shut up after that as the crowd above them murmured about what they were about to see. Helix looked down to the floor as his blades twitched from the future that would unknowingly change them all.

“…I want to do this too.”

“Hel-“

“Let me finish. I don’t know what is going to happen, none of us do. Maybe it’ll be the worst thing that we ever do, …but it can’t be any worse than feeling like we could be dead at any moment, worse than having to carry our weapons like there will never be safety. As much as I hate this form, I want to at least try this mission.”

“…Chase?”

“I’m on board if you are.”

“…Sighs, fine.”

A buzzer sounds indicating that it was time. Each of them go to their designated spots, transforming into their vehicle modes as the stage slowly starts to lift them up to the surface. 

Primus, it was worse than what Heatwave could’ve ever imagined. Trying to keep his cool while in public gave back so many bad memories when he was a newbie firefighter. Added with this, …water flowing through his frame gave him a sickly feeling. Every ounce of this grinded his gears more ways than he could ever say. He and the team had begun to settle with the Burns family within their home after their reveal. But it didn’t mean that he was happy with any of it.

The others seem to have started to truly settle in with their partners and this new lifestyle. Meanwhile he was stuck with an ego ridden human who doesn’t know how to shut his trap. It’s only been a few cycles, well days on earth, but not as long as it would’ve been back home. May have only been a short time they’ve been here but it’s so tiring and everything hitting his processor like it’s been weeks. 

He paced deep into the forest right next to one of the tunnels as he tried to calm his fried processor down. Clutching his fists as he delivers a jab to the tough oak tree before him, splintering it in half from his pure wrath. He should be doing something greater, not babysitting a bunch of fleshies who can’t give him the credit he deserves due to having to hide their true nature. Can’t even shout at them without giving the whole team away and causing problems back to Optimus and the rest of the Autobots.

“Errraaagghhhh!” The birds scattered from their nests when he yelled, practically shaking the surrounding trees as he punched the ground in anger. When he lifts himself back up, he notices the vents of his protoform opening up and releasing …steam? He’s never seen his frame do this before, not when he was working before the war, definitely not when he was tearing through cons with his axe. His servo brushed through the steam as it swirled around him as more continued to form.

“The frag?” He felt something bubbling in his lines, getting hotter and hotter as he lifted his fists to the air on instinct, in just a second a spray of pressurized water burst forth at scalding temperatures. The rock that was in its line of sight was practically obliterated by the spray. Heatwave stood completely in silence as his body finally cooled down. He walked to where the rock was, seeing the shattered fragments all around it with the heat still giving off. “…Well, …isn’t that something.”

Never really gave Mount Magma much thought after its malfunction. The lava was collected, streets repaired, and the volcano returned to its regular state. It’s a wonderful sight really, one of the first grand creations of Griffin Rock, a fully operational volcano, the flow magma from the Earth’s core at their disposal. Too bad none of its creators lived to tell the generations after of the warning signs that this was. The start of ..many many works that would be deemed …dangerous to be conducted anywhere else.

The eruption brought chaos all over the island, but especially to an abandoned facility right under the volcano’s base. A bunker filled with lost works, wires sparking from the limited electricity that still allowed some lights to be on, and a grand beautiful machine at its center. On the wall, fades yet still vibrant, ‘Operation Site Alpha 26’, below holding the symbol that held both no memories and too many, Project Blackbird.

Nothing was supposed to occur here, all thought that the experiment was lost. But the eruption brought forth energy to its magma converters after years of disuse. This resulted in the generators engaging rapidly, its power outputs increasing beyond its threshold. It was just enough to cause a rift once more, a rift not made since 2000, light bursting forth as it expanded, opening after so long. The generators broke upon their own input, shattering into pieces as the portal consumed the machine whole and imploded. But not before …someone came through.

A thin man wearing clothing of time long passed, his eyes blackened with glowing pink pupils, and teeth, a terrible sickly pick that stained them whole. He breathed, well he attempted to breathe as his lungs filled causing him to cough up a strange viscous fluid that disappeared after only a few seconds. He stood up from the ground and stared at what was once a terrible machine.

“…I’m back. …I’m back.”

Chapter Text

It was a quiet night for a patrol on Griffin Rock, Chief Burns was inside Chase as they drove the quiet streets. It already had been about a month since the bots were sent here by Optimus and placed under his family’s care. For the most part it’s been stable, Graham seems to be the one connecting the most with Boulder, the two share a lot in common. Dani and Helix are their own can of worms, falling between calm friendship and arguments, mainly when Dani wants to be more daring in the air and Helix would rather die. And Kade, …Charlie was the most worried about his eldest son’s partnership. 

Given what Optimus was able to gather about Heatwave, it was like putting fireworks in a room and lighting them. Heatwave didn’t like being told what to do, and with what he knows, Heatwave was the equivalent of being in his 30s, the dynamic was doomed from the start. Charlie was only hoping that with time the two could connect. Kade never really liked working with others, not family, and definitely not strangers. He did tell his son that he could move into the Brook firehouse with the rest of the firefighters, he didn’t have to stay and it would be better if he lived and worked with the full fireteam.

But he always refused and practically avoided being around any other firefighter. He loves his son but …always been tough to figure out what was really going inside his head. Well for all his children in fact, it has been years since he could actually read their minds. There he goes overthinking his own life again, he really needs to stop doing that. 

“Chief Burns, are you alright? You seem to be carrying more weight than usual in your demeanor.”

“Huh, oh, it’s nothing Chase. Just thinking about when we’re gonna get home. Also I thought I told you, you can call me Charlie.”

“My apologies Chief Burns, I …do not feel comfortable yet to refer to you as your designation.” Right, it has only been a month and for a species that have lived literally millions of years this probably is only a blip for them, getting comfortable would be something in the long run. He had the easiest time connecting with his partner, or really Chase defaulted to listening to him as his boss and not truly as a partner, an equal yet. 

“It’s fine Chase, I get it. You don’t have to use it yet, just ..wish you would.”

“…Chief Burns”

“Yes Chase?”

“If I may ask what happened to your sparkl-, childrens’ sec-, mother, mother?” Chase was a bit tongue tied when it came to differentiating human and cybertronian terms but the basic thought came out regardless. It was silent for a while as they were driving, this silence caused Chase to pull over and stop himself as he looked at Charlie. “I am sorry if that was too personal of a question, I completely understand if you don’t wish to-“

“Chase it’s fine, it’s fine. …Honestly I should’ve figured at one point one of you was going to ask. ..Her name was Lorraine, Lorraine Barnes, she was from off island. Prior military service, when she came she joined the firefighters and when I became chief she did too.”

“She sounds like a remarkable human. ..Is she still here or-?”

“No, no, she uh, …she died ..years ago. …It was an accident. Big storm, she was helping some people get out of a jam on a bridge when a branch hit her and…”

“I’m sorry that I asked you that. I did not wish for you to relive such a memory.”

“Chase Chase, it’s alright. I’m fine now, I’ve ..processed it. It took a long time but I found a way to continue, making sure I live for the kids, giving them what I could.”

“…How old were they when it occurred?”

“…..Cody was barely over 1, Graham was ..12, Dani …was 15, …Kade was 16. It was difficult for them, we fought, we yelled, we cried, …sometimes it feels like we haven’t fully recovered from it.”

“I ..am having a difficult time finding a way to connect with what you have gone through. I am ..ashamed to admit that I do not truly understand the structure that is your assembly, family. Even to the closest thing I can think of similar to bots I have a ..gap of knowledge in that area.”

“You don’t have families?”

“Well no, we have something almost one to one with your term of family, both by energon or by spark. But I never experienced such a situation, the only close contact I’ve made has been with my team.”

“When Optimus was talking about you guys and telling me the basics, he referred to you as a cold construct? Not sure what it means but, was that a part of it?”

“Not necessarily. Being a cold construct means that my body is not the one that I would’ve had if I was born the way the majority of bots were. Most gain their physical forms once they reach a hotspot, resulting in the frame they will carry as their own. Cold constructs are taken from the river directly before they are able to reach and are put into storage until an artificial frame is made or found that would put a bot in a certain position of work. There were lines as well, there were many that were created alongside me that carried the same frame structure.”

“So they took your ..spark, and placed it into a premade body?”

“That is the summarization, yes.”

“Did, did it hurt?

“No. At that stage you have no physical body and are not conscious. It wasn't until I woke up that I felt every ache in my joints and wires from being placed.”

“…Does it?”

“No. I’ve gotten over that many vorns ago. I did not care much for physical appearance as I did for functionality. They made my specific frame unique as to channel my outlier and utilize to the best of my abilities.”

“You know I’ve never seen you use it yet.”

“That’s because it’s very dangerous for humans and was mostly focused on combat instead of rescuing. Using it will cause more damage to protection, and therefore I don’t.”

“..You know it’s almost funny how I can almost forget you all are or were part of a war.”

“I do not see how it can be humorous.”

“No I mean, …nevermind. …It was ..intense seeing all of your weapons. Having them stockpiled in the bunker making sure the kids don’t see them.”

“…Why do you not wish to tell them our identities or the war?”

“Because they’re still processing that you guys are aliens in the first place and having to work with you. If I told them that there’s been blood on your hands that’s not exactly a fun conversation to have or explain.”

“But they are my team’s partners and your sparklings. If they are not told by you and figure this out on their own, they will carry more frustration and possible fear of us if not told early.”

“We already live on an island where almost every piece of tech has the chance to kill someone. I don’t need to tell them that the alien partners they’re working with have killed their own in a large scale war that killed their planet as well. I don’t want to scare them, I don’t want them to see you guys as monsters.”

“…Do you? ..Do you see me as a monster?”

“That’s not what I, …..when I first learned about bots and came into contact with the Autobots it was ..terrifying. More scary than anything that could’ve been made on Griffin Rock past or present. Seeing Optimus was eye opening, you guys are one of the most terrifying concepts that I ever saw. …But I also saw how gentle you could be when on Earth. And with time and understanding that fear lessened to the point I see you as one and the same as humans. So for now I just want them to live without knowing about it, I will tell them but not now. Not while your arrival is still fresh.”

“Okay. Thank you for answering me Chief Burns. That gives me clarity.”

“Anytime partner. Anytime.”