Payback Time

SUMMARY: Barricade decides he's going to get his own back on Bumblebee for the aft-whupping he was given when he first menaced Sam. He decides Bumblebee would be most hurt if Barricade hurts Sam. To get close to Sam, he needs a new alt-form. The same one as Bumblebee…..

SETTING: Movieverse

RATING: T for language

PAIRINGS: None

"Sam?"

Sam turned as Bumblebee spoke. He had just gone in to let his parents know that they were back from shopping, and would go out for a quiet drive after he'd done his chores, and come back out to let Bumblebee know.

"What is it, Bumblebee?" asked Sam.

"I've received a call from Optimus. He wants to speak to me. Want to come? He said you could, but it didn't matter if you didn't."

Sam pulled a face.

"I can't, Bumblebee, I've got to do my chores. You go, and once we're both back, perhaps we can go out for that drive we discussed. We can swing by and pick up Mikaela on the way back or something."

"Okay." said Bumblebee. Sam watched Bumblebee pull out, and then turned back into the house.

Neither realised that two pairs of unfriendly optics had been watching their every move.

Ten minutes later, Sam heard Bumblebee pull back into the drive. Huh? Optimus must have radioed in to tell Bumblebee to wait, for the Autobots' hiding place was at least twenty minutes from Sam's house. Sam quickly finished his chores, and went out.

"Okay, I'm ready, did Optimus call off your meeting?" His query was met with silence. Whatever had happened, it must have really annoyed Bumblebee, for Bumblebee was not prone to sulks. Sighing, Sam said "Okay, I won't ask. Let's drive." Bumblebee popped open his driver's door, and Sam got in.

He immediately noticed that Bumblebee didn't shape the seat to fit him, and hoped that it wasn't him that Bumblebee was pissed at. He knew that Bumblebee was his guardian and an Autobot, so wouldn't harm him, but still, the idea of a sixteen-foot robot being pissed off with you wasn't reassuring. Even if it wasn't, this sulk could make this into an uncomfortable journey.

Bumblebee slammed the door shut as soon as Sam got in, and Sam had to get his seatbelt on fast. 'What on earth has gotten into Bumblebee?' Sam wondered. 'Has Optimus chewed him out about something?'

Then he spoke.

"Vocal processor…playing up."

He certainly didn't sound normal. The voice was deeper, and almost a whisper. His vocal processor had sounded fine earlier, but then Sam didn't know how much damage the original injury had inflicted, perhaps the repair had been temporary.

"Well, let's go see the others. Ratchet can fix it for you."

"No…..later." came the odd voice. "Can't…talk…much."

"What about the radio? Worked before."

"Yeah….radio." whispered Bumblebee.

Sam fell silent after that, worrying about his friend. Unnoticed by Sam, Bumblebee sent a coded message in Cybertronian. Then he headed for the most isolated and out of the way place he could think of.

He would soon be needing it.

"So, what did you come here for? The view?" asked Sam. Bumblebee blinked a headlight at him in assent.

Sam had to agree the view from this empty place, near a convergence of roads, was nice. He leaned back on Bumblebee's hood. He couldn't see the roads leading up and away from here, but he could see the town, and the sky. The sunset, he reflected, would be nice.

He looked at the CD player he was holding.

"I guess Mom or Dad must have left this in here." He put it on the ground nearby. "No power cord though. I hope they've still got one for it." He looked at the view again.

"I should bring Michaela here later." he murmured. "She'd love this.

Suddenly, Bumblebee moved back from under him, and he fell, sprawling in the dirt. Sam yelped.

"Ow!"

As he rolled over, Sam saw Bumblebee move back forwards, towards him. Bumblebee's bumper knocked painfully against his knees. Still he pressed forwards.

"Ow! Bumblebee, what are you doing?" said Sam. He knew Bumblebee was his guardian and an Autobot. He knew Bumblebee wouldn't hurt him.

So why was he so scared?

As the pressure on his legs from Bumblebee's bumper increased, Sam scrambled backwards.

"Bumblebee! What have I done! Why are you mad at me? Please! You're supposed to be my guardian! Stop it! Please!" The panic had entered his voice and Bumblebee suddenly stopped.

Then Bumblebee laughed.

The tone of it chilled Sam's blood. It didn't sound like Bumblebee at all. He wondered if Bumblebee's processor clusters had short-circuited, and if his vocal processor failure had been the first sign. Abstractly, he heard the sound of engines. Bumblebee noticed too, and Sam crawled backwards while he was distracted.

Then Bumblebee's attention switched back to him, and he revved forwards, crashing into Sam's knees again. He spoke, not deep and softly, but deep and loudly.

"Stay exactly where you are, fleshling!"

Sam froze.

What?!

The car engines grew louder as a yellow Camaro and a black Topkick sped into the area. Sam did a double take.

A yellow Camaro?

Bumblebee?

But Bumblebee was in front of him! How…?

Then he heard the familiar voice of his guardian from the Camaro that had just turned up.

"Get away from him, Sam! Run!" He saw his friend stop ten metres away, and begin to transform, while still shouting.

"That's Barricade!"