Chapter Text
“Good work today everyone!” Bee grinned as he closed the lid on the stasis pod. “We’ve been on a good roll lately, and I’ve got to say I’m really proud of all of the teamwork that’s been put forth. Enjoy the night off, and Sideswipe, remember that you have morning patrol!” Bee called out, shaking his head as the speedster jumped up and ran off before he could get the sentence out. A chuckle came from his right as Grimlock shifted his weight, lifting the stasis pod onto the specialty rack for loading later that night. “I’m just glad we actually have a full shipment for Jazz this time. He’s definitely appreciative of all the extra criminals off the street!” The green mech replied, stretching after placing the pod in its spot. “That’s because his lover’s a cop and Jazz benefits from a happy Prowl.” Bee said with a playful hip-bump to the larger mech. “Ohhhhhh, Jazzy’s gonna have a good night then!” Grim joked playfully, bumping Bee back and almost knocking him off his feet. That garnered a laugh of its own as Bumblebee stepped up to the command console. “I bet. Give me a minute to call him up and get the transport ready. This all should be over within an hour or so, and we can start fresh tomorrow!” With a grin to the mech beside him, bee fired up the communication line to meet with a familiar visor and beaming smile. “Already full mah mech?!”
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A sharp click sounded through the SUV, the recognizable sound of shaking hands setting a gun’s ammo chamber as the young soldier looked up at her commanding officer. “Remember that contrary to the government’s beliefs, most Autobots don’t want to hurt humans. However, they will if pressured to. We don’t even know if this group is military or civilian, because of the actions of a few. I can say that with some authority, considering I’ve served with them before. They will try to spook you into running, they will try to look intimidating, but they WILL NOT hurt you unless it’s an accident. Moving parts are kinda hard to stop. SO, spatial awareness and courtesy are how we’re actually gonna go at this, and if the boss asks, it was guns and yelling all the way!” Lennox grinned, nodding at the troops before him. They were his hand-picked squadron, all known for contempt towards the way their government treated the Autobots, and all trusted with the secrets that Lennox himself knew. “I knew Bee very well, and I know his spark. He won’t let us get hurt, but I have to get his attention before this all calms down. Watch for my commands and hand signals.” He finished, gripping the door at the back of the transport Jeep as it quickly approached the Junkyard that Bee’s team was confirmed to be staying at. The car rolled to a stop, and all six people quickly jumped out with guns leveled, while the driver followed as close as he could.
“GET ON THE GROUND AND WE WON’T SHOOT!” Lennox yelled, startling the man who quickly shoved a younger boy behind some garbage. “Whoa! What’s with the guns!?” he yelled back, putting his hands in the air. “Russell, stay!” He glanced towards where the younger boy had fallen, and Lennox lowered his gun a bit. “Okay sir, where’s the Autobots? Yes, we know they’re here, so cut the playing stupid part out. I need to have a few words with Bumblebee.” Denny’s eyes widened, and before he could open his mouth a strange whir filled the air. Lennox turned his head to see a yellow mech leveling an arm cannon at his team. The mech’s battle mask was in place and a dangerous look glimmered in his eye. The recruits visibly startled as they each turned, taken by surprise by the stealth of such a large being.
“You certainly have my attention. Point the weapons away from the Clay’s and we can talk peacefully.” Bumblebee said, his voice as solid as a rock. The soldiers looked towards Lennox, who simply nodded. The guns lowered, and the cannon powered down. Bee’s battle mask snapped back, and he gave the group a once over. “Seven people? This isn’t a strike force is it?” Bee asked, looking at the commander of the group with an increasingly confused look. “Government says yes, but you should remember that I’m not good at taking orders.” Lennox said with a chuckle, watching as the man in front of the building relaxed. “Also, sorry for the scare there. Its best to come out with the guns pointed than getting shot ourselves, ya know?”
Denny shrugged a bit and hesitantly looked over the Colonel. “Uh, you’re not gonna hurt us though, right?” He asked, his quivering hands still in the air. “Nah man, you’re good. Is the kid okay? Marie here is a medic if he got hurt in that fall.” Lennox gestured to the woman beside him, who nodded in greeting. Russell crawled out from behind the metal…artwork? And dusted his pants off, shaking his head. “I’m good. Lost a year of my life or so though.” He said with a shy grin, hiding behind his dad a little. Denny slipped an arm in front of his child, adjusting his stance to better cover Russell.
Lennox turned back to Bee, who was giving him the most confused look. “I should re… WILL?!”He shouted, his optics spiraling wide with shock. “Heya bee. Been a bit huh?” Lennox grinned up at the bot, watching as a grin broke across the grey faceplate. “Slag it has! How’s Annabelle?” Bee shifted his weight as his arm transformed back into a hand, and Lennox signaled for guns to return to rest. “She’s doing great. Got a good job, and dating a good man. Can you believe it’s been 30 years already?” Will smiled, shouldering his own gun as he looked bee over.
“Speaking of growing up, look at you young man! Voice and everything!” This drew a laugh from Bee, who looked towards the rack of toasters in embarrassment. “Yeah, I’ve grown a lot since we last saw eachoth- GRIM NO! BAD!” He suddenly yelled, easily clearing the group of soldiers as a growl permeated the air. Blue optics glared from around the corner as a large muzzle suddenly appeared. The sight of the fangs set into those jaws made several soldiers back up, and Bumblebee quickly stepped in front of the Dino’s path. “Easy Grim. They’re not here to hurt anyone. It was a misunderstanding!” The lieutenant’s panicked tone and his servos out to stop the t-rex from advancing further seemed to be enough for the Dino to lean up with a cautious look. “Good guys don’t point guns at kids.” Will blinked once in surprise, watching how Bee’s wings almost instantly set into a far more relaxed pose. “Yeah, but they’re military. You kinda get used to being shot, remember?” Bee softly rubbed his helm, shaking his head as Grimlock grumbled an understanding tone. He stared at the group of soldiers for another moment or two, and then moved to lie down and curl around the Clays.
The commotion from Grimlock’s arrival seemed to be enough to warn the others, as a bouncy red mech, a stern blue mech, and the calm orange one rounded the opposite corner. “Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh….” The red one froze dead in his tracks, staring directly at the group of militants in the middle of the scrap yard. “Beep boop?” He said, earning a face palm from the blue one. “Sides, if the lieutenant is in full bot form, I’m assuming our cover is already blown.” The blue bot had a surprisingly feminine voice, and ‘Sides’ gave her a dirty look. “Well how am I supposed to know? It’s not like I have telephonic powers.” The group gave him a mildly confused look, before the orange one quirked a brow. “Telepathic?” “Yeah that one. Close enough!” Sideswipe grinned, sitting down just to the left of the middle of the walkway. The glare from the other two was near simultaneous, and Bumblebee just shook his head and shot Grim a look out of the corner of his eye. A soft thump of his tail was the response. Bee grinned slightly at Will, and rolled his shoulders.
“Well, might as well give introductions. This is Strongarm, Sideswipe, Drift, Grimlock, Denny Clay and his son Russell, and fixit is on his way. We also have Slipstream and Jetstorm, who are the little bumps on Drift’s wrists. However, they’ve been asleep for about two hours and I doubt a bomb could wake them.” Bumblebee gestured to each of them in turn and took a seat beside Grimlock’s tail with a chuckle. “I’m bumblebee, as I’m certain you’ve guessed. You call me Bee though, as any friends of Will’s are friends of mine.” The soldiers glanced to Lennox, who went and sat between bee and Grimlock with a grin. “Well, I’m Colonel William Lennox, but you all can call me Will or Lennox. This is Marie, Daniel, Chris, Evan, Michael, and Anna. They’re all members of my personal team, and they’ve covered my ass more times than I can count.” Lennox watched as each member of his team nodded with their introduction, making themselves comfortable wherever a spot was available.
“So, how’s ‘hide?” Will asked with a beaming smile. “He’s been great. Ratchet’s been keeping his aft in line, like always.” Will laughed at that, listening to Marie and Anna strike up a conversation with Strongarm, whom had sat beside Sideswipe. “So, what did you guys come over for? I’m assuming it wasn’t a social call.” Bee leaned onto his knees, letting his servos hold his helm’s weight while he waited for Lennox’s response. “Ugh. Well, the pieces of shit that run NEST now are on your guy’s afts because of that stupid law that was passed, and we were technically sent out to bring either you or data. And no, we’re not wired. I wouldn’t allow it.” Bee made a displeased face, before giving him a bit of confusion. “What law? OH, is it that stupid “guilty till innocent” thing?” Will nodded, and Bee rolled his eyes. “And they wonder why we never apply for visas. You said they knew were we were hiding?” Lennox glanced over at the Clay’s, and shook his head. “Lie. They think you’re up the mountains about 60 miles. I told them to expect radio static because of minerals, so they won’t get answers from me. It’s abandoned after all.” He said with a wink, lightly jabbing an elbow into bee’s knee.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how…how’s Sam?” Bee asked quietly, leaning forwards a little so he could speak in a more hushed tone. “He’s been okay. Misses you a lot, and regrets ever letting you walk out of his life. But, he’s married with kids of his own, and he’s healthy. He got that normal life he wanted.” Bee smiled softly, nodding his approval. “Good. I’m really happy he got what he wanted, even if I wasn’t there to watch him get it.” Bee said, leaning back on his hands. Will smiled and patted Bee’s hand, taking a second to stare at the young mech. “You act more like Optimus every day Bee. How’s the big bot doing?” Will asked, eager to hear about the Semi’s antics. That grin fell quickly though, when Bumblebee took in a breathy chuckle. “He’s had an adventure, that’s for sure. He actually died for a bit, but came back. Yes, again,” laughter chimed out at Will’s exclamation of ‘again?!’as the colonel fell back onto Grim’s tail with laughter. Bee softly shook his head as Sideswipe suddenly yelled “RED IS TOTALLY A RACING COLOR!” Russell couldn’t help but laugh, shake his head in disagreement, and yell back "Yellow is though!”- earning a horrified look from Sideswipe. Russell freed himself from the tangle of Grimlock’s haunches, jogging over to join the side conversation.
Bee smiled with Lennox, listening to a quick story about how sideswipe reminded him of Annabelle. Will’s smile starting to hurt his cheeks as a very, VERY tiny orange bot came wheeling around the corner. “I’ve a Drive- a Pie- ARRIVED!” the little bot finally spit out after receiving a sharp whap in the back from Sideswipe, which almost sent Fixit careening into Russell. Quick thinking from Strongarm saved the boy from a rather nasty bruise, but Denny still rose to check on his son. All was forgiven with a quick, sheepish look from Sideswipe as Fixit rolled over to Bee, parking himself on the other side of Grim’s head, giving the mech an affectionate snoot rub as he was introduced to everyone. “Yeah, Lil' Fixit is the best mini to glitch a command control! He’s saved our sorry aft’s more times than I can count!”
“I highly doubt that is an accurate numerical system Sideswipe. We would have lost count cycles ago!” Strongarm interjected, grinning slightly at the red mech beside her. Sideswipe threw her a pout, yelling out “So mean!” and falling back with a dramatic flair. However, he misjudged the distance between him and the shelving, knocking his helm on the metal. Naturally, this caused a cascade of items, and one of them just happened to be an old trans-warp drive stripped from the Alchemor. The broken piece of junk had been frustratingly disobedient until that solid impact with Sideswipe’s faceplate and lit up into a graceful blue glow as it bounced into his lap. “Ouch! Slag that stupid thing…” Sideswipe murmured, leaning up just in time to see the drive flash a brilliant blue. Bee and the rest of the crew, however, got a perfect view of the surprised faces of Sideswipe, Strongarm, Denny, and Russel as they disappeared into a flash of blinding blue light.
“……oh slag.” Grimlock muttered, rubbing his eyes. Bee immediately jumped up, looking at the warp drive and seeing that it was now fully active. “Slag it to the pits!” he exclaimed, reaching down and carefully picking it up. A set of coordinates bunked up innocently at him, and Bee groaned. “Well, looks like they’re gonna have an adventure. This thing just blasted them back about 10,000 vorns …” Bee muttered, looking to the shell-shocked group around him. He barely managed to sigh before the screaming started.