Title: Flesh and Energon
Chapter: 1
Author: SomethingIDontknow
Rating: M (For violence, technically gay romance, and mentions of rape and imprisonment.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers, that's Mr. Michael Bay's. Lucky.
Author's Note: Finally! This is the rewritten version of the original Chapter 1. (Each redone chapter will be noted as such.) I really hope all you original readers will approve and any new readers will be willing to let me continue. There's a lot more to this story than I had planned, and I hope you'll all hang around to let me tell it. So far, here's what we've got: OptimusxBumblebee (both in mech and humanoid forms), RatchetxIronhide, ProwlxJazz, SideswipexSunstreaker, and (though you may not see it until I get to the sequel) CodebreakerxSoundwave. This one will be based in Movieverse, for sure this time, no changing 'verses. Okay, here we go…
Summary: A young fugitive from Megatron's wrath brings some new technology the bot had been developing for the warlord. All he asks is shelter, safety. In return, he'll share his tech with the Autobots. The possibilities for his technology are endless, but are they worth the danger of keeping a bot with a lot of secrets?
It was a beautiful summer day, a cloudless sky with a high, hot sun. The wind was cool despite the heat of the afternoon and it was a blessing on the hot asphalt. Bumblebee sped along a mountain highway, scanners sweeping the area for signs of Decepticon activity. Finding nothing, he commed into base.
/:Bumblebee to Optimus: All's clear in my sector.:/
Optimus responded immediately, /:Good work, Bumblebee. Jazz and Ironhide say they're all clear. The 'Cons must have moved out of the area by now. Come on back now.:/
/:Yes, Sir!:/
The yellow 'bot pulled into a roadside park, turning a full circle, about to head back the way he came when his sensors lit up. There was a strange energy signature nearby, somewhere in the woods.
/:Optimus, there's something out here. I'm gonna go check it out.:/ Bumblebee commed in, transforming and creeping across the crunchy gravel to the tree line.
/:Should I join you?:/
Bumblebee's spark jumped at the suggestion.
/:No! I mean… um, I should be fine. The signature is very weak, probably just a fallen drone. I'll report back when I've found it.:/
/:If you're sure. We'll be waiting.:/
Bumblebee left the comm line open as he pushed tree branches out of the way, ducking low as his scanners swept the area. There was an energy spike just a few meters ahead and he slowed, moving forward with the utmost care.
Pushing aside two heavy branches just a few feet, he froze as his scanners alerted him to the presence before him.
There was a mech half sitting, half lying in a small clearing just a few meters ahead of where Bumblebee hid. He was smaller than Bee, but appeared just a bit bigger then Jazz. All white, except for a few pieces of scuffed black trim, the mech was scraped and dented and was currently focused on pulling at a knee plate that was bent in so far it had locked his leg out straight.
Every so often, he would pause and glance around, but Bumblebee couldn't feel any scanners touching his EM field and the mech never reacted to his presence. He couldn't help but notice the little mech's optics, or optic. One was smashed out, as evidenced by the shards of glass like material left around the optic socket that was sealed shut with some type of adhesive. The remaining optic was a brilliant violet color. Neither 'Bot nor 'Con. How strange.
/:Optimus. It's a mech. He's really small, maybe just a bit bigger than Jazz. He doesn't have any markings as to his affiliation, and his optics are violet, not red or blue.:/
/:How unusual. Is he armed?:/ Optimus asked back sounding very intrigued.
/:Not that I can see. He looks injured though. One of his optics is broken, sealed shut. His knee plate is smashed and it's locking his leg out straight. Doesn't look like transformation is going to be an option until he fixes that plate.:/
Ratchet broke into the communication. /:Do I need to meet up with you?:/
/:It doesn't look dire.:/
Optimus 'hmm'ed and spoke after a short pause. /:Find out what he's up to. If you think he's just a refugee, patch him up as best you can and bring him back with you. We don't want the Decepticons finding him in such a state.:/
/:Affirmative. I'll initiate contact and report back as soon as I can.:/
/:Be careful, Bumblebee.:/
Steeling himself, Bumblebee ducked under the tree branches and moved into the small clearing as slowly as he could, both hands raised, but ready to form cannons at a moment's notice.
"Well hello there." Bee called though his radio, using a clip from an human children's movie, hoping it sounded friendly enough.
The white mech leapt to his pedes, or attempted to. His leg was still locked with a dented knee plate and he barely managed to stagger to his pedes before falling against a nearby tree. "Stay back!" He shouted, holding out a trembling hand. Bee couldn't help but notice it was empty.
"I'm not gonna hurt you." Bumblebee assured, showing his own empty hands, "You're not armed? Me either. But you're hurt! And I want to help." Each part of his statement was spoken in a different voice, a different tone.
But the smaller mech seemed to understand. "A- Are you an Autobot?" he asked, hands lowering a fraction, "I need to find the Autobots."
"I am. My name is. Bumblebee." Bee said reaching out slowly and taking the white mech's shaking hand lightly. "I can take you to the others. But. We'll need to fix that knee. If you're gonna. Transform."
"Bumblebee? Yeah. Yeah! He said I could trust you! I'm Codebreaker." With a sudden change of mood, the little mech was holding tight to Bumblebee's hand, pulling himself up off the tree and nearly tumbling forward into the taller mech, "I- I was a prisoner. And I just escaped. But I'm scared now, they'll know I'm gone and I'm sure they're after me and I fell down a ravine and my knee isn't working so I cant transform and-"
Bee raised a hand and pressed a digit to Codebreaker's lip plates. "If you need refuge. I'll help you fix. Your knee. And you can. Follow me! Back to base!" He explained, gesturing down to a fallen log that looked sturdy enough to take his weight.
Codebreaker nodded eagerly, easing down onto the log, his leg stuck straight out. Bumblebee crouched down and traced a finger over the dented plate, examining it carefully before slipping one finger of each hand under it and pushing up as slowly and carefully as he could. The little mech gave a gasp, hands clenching into fists as the plate gave a horrible popping sound and the big dent smoothed enough to let his leg bend freely.
He gave it a few careful bends before standing again, putting weight on it slowly before smiling weakly. "Thank you." he murmured, offering Bee a hand to help him stand, "For helping me."
"It's my job. As an. Auto. bot. To help those in need!" Bumblebee smiled, his optics squinting to compensate for the fact his circular vocalizer couldn't technically smile. "Now, follow me. We're still a ways out. But it wont take too long. Do you have enough fuel?"
"I should." Codebreaker looked aside as he spoke, "I saved up fuel for my escape."
"That's good." Bee assured him with a hand on his shoulder, "You're so brave. For escaping. Even braver. For seeking help." He turned the mech to face him gently, meeting their optics. "Optimus. Will be so proud of you."
"Proud?" Codebreaker asked, voice suddenly soft with wonder, "Of me?"
"Of course." Bumblebee squeezed Codebreaker's shoulder once more, before giving him a tug toward the road, "Come on. You'll see for yourself. When we get home."
Codebreaker nodded following closely behind the taller yellow mech.
At the roadside park, Bumblebee waited for the other mech to transform, watching to be sure no transformation seams caught on his various dents and dings. Bee was surprised as the sounds of transformation faded. Codebreaker's altmode was an much older model vehicle. A quick internet search found a matching car: a 1990 model Ford Mustang. He had a black, soft convertible top that was terribly faded and worn thin in some places. Codebreaker flashed heavily oxidized headlights to indicate he was ready. Bee nodded and transformed.
He took the lead, keeping his scanners trained on the mech behind him, to be sure he was okay. Only once, he wavered as a passenger jet passed overhead, swerving suddenly before correcting back onto the road. Reaching out to find the little mech's comm frequency, Bumblebee was surprised for what seemed the hundredth time that day when he found that Codebreaker didn't have a close range comm frequency. Talking about his reaction would have to wait until they reached base.
The drive was uneventful past that single incident and they made good time as the road was clear. As they neared the base, Codebreaker began to slow a bit, trailing behind as he felt scanners move across his EM field. Growing more and more frightened, he clamped his field down, trying to block out the uncomfortable sensation as much as possible.
Bumblebee was getting nervous for another reason. /:Optimus, we're about to clear security. Make sure Red Alert knows he's with me, please. ETA: 4 minutes.:/
/:We're ready, meet us in the main hangar bay.:/
Codebreaker crept back up as they entered the military instillation, tailgating Bumblebee all the way to the largest hangar on base. The massive doors were open just enough to admit the two small cars and creaked shut behind them as they entered. In the center of the huge hangar space, Optimus stood in the center of a half circle composed of the rest of the earth team. Sideswipe, Ironhide, Jazz, Ratchet, and a newly arrived Prowl all stood behind him in line, watching the new arrivals with interest.
Bumblebee transformed first, standing aside, waiting for Codebreaker to join him. The little mech shifted to root mode a little more slowly, lifting his white blast mask manually as he looked to the gathered group while trying to keep his helm down as much as possible.
"Optimus. This is. Code. Breaker. He's escaped. Decepticon. Imprisonment. He says he would like to stay here. With us. To keep him safe." Bumblebee explained aloud, gesturing with one hand to the smaller mech, at the same time offering the hand in comfort.
Codebreaker took the offering and stood as close to Bee as he dared, hardly breathing as he waited.
"Is this true, Codebreaker?" Optimus asked once it was obvious the little mech wasn't going to speak without being asked.
He jerked his helm, surprised as the gentle tone, despite the situation. He peeked up at the much taller mech, saying softly, "It is, sir. I… Megatron kidnapped me from my lab back on Cybertron. He's forced me to develop weapons and technology for him." Pausing, he looked up at Optimus and began babbling. "It's not how it sounds, I swear! I didn't want to, but I didn't want him to kill me and I was so scared. And he was so vicious, I didn't want to die. Please, I'll give you what I have, I'll help you counter all of my inventions, I'll tell you everything I know, just don't send me back there!"
"Hush, young Codebreaker." Optimus interrupted him, reaching to rest one hand on narrow white shoulders as gently as he could, "We'd never let them take you, or send you away. Don't worry, we want to help you in any way we can."
"How did you escape?" Jazz asked, stepping up and peering at the little mech.
Codebreaker shied away, looking up at him. "I…" He paused, "I'd been preparing for a long time. I- I just needed a moment. There was a security lapse, I ran. I was hiding in the woods until Bumblebee found me."
The taller yellow mech glanced down, unsure why Codebreaker hadn't mentioned someone telling him about who Bee was.
"Before this turns into a full blown interrogation, Bumblebee said you were injured, and I don't like the looks of those patches. Would you mind if we took this to the med bay?" Ratchet asked, using a tone softer than the others were used to hearing from the green mech.
"Good idea, Ratchet." Optimus agreed, "Only if you agree, Codebreaker."
The little mech nodded. "Ratchet? Yes, please. I…" he paused, "There… there's a tracking device… on my spark chamber." Codebreaker explained, looking pleadingly between Ratchet and Optimus. "I disabled it as much as possible in my lab, but my resources are limited for a reason. I can't remove it myself without passing out. Please… don't let them find me." The last phrase was spoken at a bare whisper, a frightened plea.
"Of course, mechling." Ratchet assured him, offering a hand in the most non-threatening way he could, "Just come with me and we'll get you fixed up."
Codebreaker reached for him, pausing as he realized Bumblebee was not following. Glancing back, he looked between the two, uncertain.
"Bumblebee can come with you, if it'll make you more comfortable." Ratchet added, quickly comming Optimus. /:This mech's suffered some serious trauma. If I'm reading the damage to his frame correctly, there's sexual, as well as the more apparent physical and psychological.:/
/:I'll have Prowl join us in talking with him. I want as few bots in the room as possible.:/
/:Understood.:/ Ratchet agreed, and Prowl gave his affirmative.
Codebreaker gazed up at him a moment, before slowly releasing Bumblebee's hand as he took hold of Ratchet's. He glanced back at the yellow scout, who gave him a smile and a friendly wave as Codebreaker followed the medic out of the hangar.
Optimus watched him go before turning to Bumblebee. "Bee, we need to talk." he said softly, beckoning the smaller mech with a hand.
Prowl turned to a data pad in his hand, Sideswipe began bothering Ironhide as to what he thought of the new mech, and Jazz watched the door Ratchet had just led the refugee though with a contemplatitive look on his faceplates.
Bumblebee glanced around a moment and sighed, resigning himself to following his Prime, and secret crush, out of the hanger and to his primary office.
