~Some scenes in the flashback have several days, years, or even decades between them. In my dream they actually weren't in order at all, so be glad I do that at least for you guys!~
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"Bee! Come're! Some Elite Guard are on the news!" called Sari from down the hall. Bumblebee blinked and then quickly skated over, "Blurr's there too!"
"Several of the bots were seen earlier today having some form of meeting," said the news reporter as a helicopter shot showed several bots, all with red Elite logos, "Here with a theory on what the meeting was about is political analyst Samuel Wise."
"Were you told about this meeting?" asked Sari from where she sat on the couch. She scooted over to give Bee room to sit, but the yellow bot stayed standing.
"No... no I wasn't," Bee replied, his expression was on of confusion. He had one optic brow raised and his mouth a bit open. It didn't make any sense they would leave him out of an important meeting.
"From what our local hero Sari Sumac has told us, the robots are in a civil war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. The 'Elite Guard' as the call them were the Autobots military and government of sorts," the political analyst explained. "From what we know, the Autobots that have been defending Earth are stray refugess from their home planet. They aren't 'Elite' at all. The Decepticons mostly wiped out the Elite Guard. While the Autobots have been helping us, The Elite Guard has been staying at the sidelines, sometimes backing up 'Earth's Autobots.' However, the Elite Guard has clearly separated themselves from the Autobots."
"What does this mean to us 'Earthlings' Sam?" asked the reporter on television.
"How could they have a meeting without us?" asked Bumblebee, he crossed his arms and looked annoyed at the TV screen, "We've been sending out our bots to protect all the major space bridges. We've kept Megatron from getting AllSpark fragments, and-" Bumblebee was cut off by Sari shushing him, she turned up the volume on the TV more.
"This meeting had three Autobots present. However, Bumblebee was not there. He is the Autobot that works in conjunction with our military." spoke the man on the news. Bumblebee saw Wheeljack and two other bots on his team in the discussion with Blurr and other Elite. Three of his teammates were there, but he was not told about it. It was Blurr being there that upset him most.
"Why didn't Blurr tell me!" Bumblebee became noisy again. "Don't I get any intel benefits by being his.... friend?"
"SHHHH! Bee! This is just as good as having a spy on them, if you pay attention!" The young woman reprimanded him. Bumblebee sighed and sat on the couch.
"While they have a damping field to keep anyone from overhearing, we can be certain that it was to discuss combining forces more readily," The expert on the news concluded. Bumblebee still pouted at being left out.
"I can't believe none of them told me!" Bee still complained. He crossed his arms and pouted.
"Maybe because they wanted to talk about us?" speculated the redheaded teen. Bumblebee blinked and took the statement the wrong way.
"I don't think... our relationship.. thing... that would be... important enough for-" Bumblebee was then interrupted by Sari.
"Not 'US US' silly, I mean all the work we did while the Elite Guard was out of commission... Maybe they want us to join officially or something," suggested Sari as she turned away from the T.V. She looked over at Bee from the back of the couch.
"Maybe...." faded Bee. He knew he would find out from Blurr soon enough.
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"Ican'tbelieveit! He charged me twice as much as he did thelasttime! It was the same part he repaired thelasttimetoo!" Blurr complained at his fast speed talking. Sari was bargaining with the mechanic in the background. The young woman was good at intimidating a man four times the size of her.
"Well... you did drive on it for a week without repairing it," replied Bumblebee as they walked away from the garage. They left the redheaded teen to yell and haggle with the garage owner. The two bots walked towards the overlook of the broken overpass. Bumblebee had seen many broken roads in his time. This was the first time there wasn't construction work started to fix it. The humans were going to leave it broke.
"Iknow,Iknow," Blurr replied, "Primus, when are they get back with the Key. I'm sure if we get all the shards together we would need it to combined them to be the AllSpark again."
"Is that what the meeting the other day about?" Bumblebee slipped in. Blurr was so comfortable talking to his fellow speed bot he didn't think twice about the question.
"No... themeetingwas-" the blue bot then stopped, "Ohfrag."
"Yeah. You guys need to remember human technology isn't that far behind. And since no one makes TV shows anymore the news is the most exciting thing on," explained Bumblebee, "Why didn't you tell me! I thought we were friends!"
"Weare! But there is a good reason we had to meeting without you," replied Blurr. He lowered his optics from looking at Bee. As an Elite Guard he completely understood why things had to be secrets but did not know how to explain it to his friend.
"Then why? Please tell me?" Bumblebee begged in his usual childish manner. He pouted with his big dow optics.
"We are.... discussing.. makingyouleader," said Blurr, finishing that sentence with a speed faster than he normally talked. He hoped Bee wouldn't catch it.
"No really, what were you guys talking about?" Bumblebee asked sincerely, being able to understand Blurr's words at his fastest speed. The yellow bot believed Blurr was joking.
"That is what it was about," Blurr repeated. Bumblee's jaw dropped. Blurr tried to make it clearer, "There is no figurehead at all. We need someone to combined both groups against the Decepticons."
"I CAN'T be leader.... and Sari helps me a lot, its not just me!" Bumblebee protested. His expression was one of slight panic with his hands in fists at his sides.
"Yes, we know that, but you have natural leadership skills. You easily convinced the Elite Guard to help you on many occasions. You kept a team of refugees under your leadership when everyone thought the Elite Guard had been completely wiped out," explained Blurr, "And you won't be alone even as leader. It will be the same as things are now except the title and you'll carry Prime code."
"Prime code? I... wow. A Prime..," Bumblebee said softly to himself, still finding this hard to believe. His panic about being leader seemed to melt away with the thought of being a Prime.
"We would give you Ultra code but it was lost with Ultra Magnus' death. Prime is the highest code we have in tact now..." Blurr faded off as he spoke at his usual speed.
"So its already decided? I guess I can't turn it down," replied Bumblebee as he rubbed the back of his head nervously. He found it surreal that he would be leader of all the Autobots.
"Notyet, there is one more meetingwithavote," explained Blurr. He knew he shouldn't have been telling Bumblebee this. However, Bee's friendship meant a lot to him. He would found out sooner or later.
"Are you sure? I mean, about me being leader of all Autobots?" Bumblebee reworded this question one more time, "Are you sure I'll be a good leader? It seems like too much."
"I think you'll be a great leader," smiled Blurr. "We all considered you as an option."
"So... I'll know tomorrow then? I'll try to look surprised," replied Bumblebee with a smile of his own. He then laughed softly.
"Yes, tomorrow..." repeated Blurr, smiling at Bumblebee's laugh.
"How many Elite Guard is left?" asked Bumblebee, "Some of the refugees on my team say the Decepticons had most of the control over Cybertron," spoke Bumblebee softly. He realized he changed the mood to a darker subject. It was though is processors switched to wanting to know what the leader should know.
"Its not good at all...." sighed Blurr. "Jazz is currently watching over Cybertron... what'sleftinourcontrol," he explained, "After this last meeting I'll have to go back there."
"I know," said Bumblebee. Even if he was leader he wouldn't order Blurr to stay on Earth. His skills were needed more on Cybertron at the moment.
"You could of called or sent a postcard that whole time we though the WHOLE Elite Guard was wiped out!" half joked the yellow bot. Blurr chuckled softly.
"Sorry, if it makes you feel any betterwethoughtthebotsherewereallofflinedtoo..." Blurr wanted to joke like Bee but it just could not come out as such.
"Blurr... we'll have no worries now! We'll be best buds forever, right?" chuckled Bee to lighten up the mood. Blurr smiled. Instead of saying a high speed yes in agreement he just nodded his head. The two bots talked about more uplifting things as they waited for Sari.
"We have it on good word that you compromised the situation with Bumblebee," stated Perceptor, who wore a red Elite Guard symbol.
"I told him what the meeting was about! He had the right to know we were considering to make him leader!" said Blurr in his fast fashion. Other Elite overhearing the conversion had a hard time understanding.
"However, you are the deciding vote. We can't have you compromised at all. The choice of leader has to be an infallible choice. They are not only responsible for helping defeat the Decepticons, but also to keep the Autobots from separating. You know what happening around us. You know the politics of it all," explained Perceptor.
"Hedoesn'tknowIamthedecidingvote!" complained Blurr in his annoyed tone, which only made his talking faster.
"You can no longer be the deciding vote. But you should be glad to the the task has been given to Jazz. He also knows Bumblebee. I'm sure he will make the right choice," explained Perceptor. Blurr sighed but nodded. Jazz could make an indisputable neutral choice. He had faith in his old co-worker.
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"Who did you vote for Jazz?" Blurr asked his old friend. Blurr knew he shouldn't be asking but it had been after the voting meeting. There was no way to influence him now. Jazz paused and then replied softly in his com.
"I voted for you man," the ninja bot replied quietly. It seemed as though there was others in the room that he did not want overhearing him.
"WHATWHATWHAT!?!?!?!" Blurr's voice as almost at panic, "Iknownothingaboutdirectingpeopleandbattleplanning!"
"Ah, from what I understand your main role would be keeping us together. You understand politics and whatever better than any bot I know. And a lot of the old bots don't want to follow someone as young as Bee. You were constructed right after the Great War," Jazz went on, "Bee can still do his thing, and would respect orders from you. That would work towards the whole 'keeping together' plan."
"OhJazz, Ihopeyou'reright," Blurr had an ache in his circuits. This wasn't right. It felt like Bee should was destined to be leader. Something was off. Something was wrong. There was a human phrase Sari's father said once, 'Good intentions pave the way to hell.'
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"Well, at least we get to see each other more! If I were leader you'd have to be an intel bot on Cybertron," spoke Bumblebee. He was relieved that he didn't have the responsibility of being leader of all the Autobots. He was content with protecting Earth with his army of misfits. Blurr's response was unusually slow and dark.
"Something is going to go wrong," was all Blurr could say at what could be considered a normal speed.
"What are you talking about? You'll do great as a leader! And you know Megatron won't get back to Cybertron with me in charge of Earth!" stated Bumblebee in his normal ego spouting self.
"Yesthatstrue," Blurr smiled back lightly. The yellow bot could always cheer him up.
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"I've been hearing some disturbing news from the warfront," said Blurr to Jazz as they walked down the hall of an Elite Guard ship.
"Everything's been cool. What's the matter?" asked Jazz concerned. He could not think of any Deception's uprisings that would of cause something disturbing.
"I heard some of your bots are equipped with arm canons that can desinagrate sparks in one hit. Is that true?" asked Blurr calmly but still fast.
"We have a few soldiers armed with that. Its for worst case scenarios only," spoke Jazz. "Just a few."
"It needs to cease. That is not what Autobots are about," stated Blurr as he had his hands folded behind his back as he talked.
"I understand," replied Jazz in his leadership voice. "I would then be concerned with the Earth front. I've heard rumors of Bumblebee working with Decepticons. Even working with Starscream."
"Bee knows what he is doing. I trust him," Blurr replied at a normal pace. There was no way of convincing the blue bot otherwise.
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"Congratulations on twenty five years as leader of the Autobots!" smiled Sari as she placed a wrapped gift on the table. Bumblebee had walked in behind her with a big smile on his faceplate.
"Youguys.... didn'thavetogetmeanything!" said Blurr to his friends. He kept his arms folded across him. One thing he had to learn about smaller human spaces was not to talk with his hands like he did. It often lead to breaking something in small quarters.
"Well, I wanted to invite EVERYONE, but Sari thought with you're work and everything you'd like a more quiet party... of just us," explained Bumblebee. Sari was right though. After being around everyone while being leader, a party with two people was just the thing needed. Blurr smiled at the pair, not wanting to bring up any war business till later.
"Bumblebee tried to make oil cake. Eat at your own risk," warned Sari as she set the table.
"HEY!" Bee turned to Sari and spoke in his defense, "I think I got it right on the third try!"
Blurr and Sari both chuckled. The Elite bot never teasingly made fun of Bee. But, he did enjoy Sari and Bee's back and fourth banter when visiting them. The red head then turned to the blue bot.
"Go ahead and open your present!" Sari commanded with a grin.
"Youreallyreallydidn'thavetogetmeanything!" Blurr spoke again. Despite his denying of needing a present he gave it a small shake while talking. His audios did not pick up any sound of movement at all.
"Just go ahead and open it already!" Bumblebee joined in on the egging on, "For the fastest speed bot there is you're sure taking your time."
"Finefinefine! You can be fast and stillbepatient," Blurr said while giving Bee a familiar all-knowing look. The blue bot then looked away to open the gift. He ripped off the red wrapping paper to uncover the box underneath. The blue speed bot then opened the box, "Could you two make this any more difficult to open?"
The duo smiled as Blurr finally pulled out the gift. It was a framed picture that was taken the last time he visited. The frame was ceramic with race cars, a style meant for a human child's room. The picture was the three of them in Chicago. It had been some meeting with humans on how to handle the increasing Decepticon threat. The Chicago skyline was in the back of the picture as the trio stood for the picture. Sari sat in Blurr's hand, to be brought up close to the bot's faces to be in the picture. Bee had his arm around Blurr and had his usual cheesy photo grin. It had been the only photo that turned out decent. Many others taken at that time had silly faces from Sari and Bee. At one point Bee had tried to put 'bunny ears' on Blurr. He couldn't because of the blue bot's head design. Blurr smiled at all the memories that came with the picture.
"Thankyoubothverymuch," the blue bot smiled at his friends.
"Sorry it isn't much, you know with planet Earth being post apocalyptic and all," Sari said in a joking tone. The term was an exaggeration but Blurr knew what she meant.
"Itsperfect," Blurr still smiled. He looked over at Bee and Sari. Truth was, it was the best gift he could ever receive.
"Yeah! You could put it on your office desk, or whatever you have back on Cybertron. Be right back with the cake!" smiled Bumblebee as he raced off. In a moment he rushed back with the now lopsided Cybertronian treat, "Eh.... it doesn't look so good, but I swear it tastes great!"
"Ha.... this is your last chance to bail out now," Sari said, "My excuse is I'm too 'human' to digest that stuff."
"Hahaha," Blurr laughed, "I'm sure its great if Bee put all his spark into making it."
"See! Blurr trusts my cooking," said Bee while turning to Sari. The yellow bot then immaturely stuck out his tongue at Sari. The reheaded woman returned the gesture.
"Besides, I'm sure Primus has too much planned ahead for me to be killed off by oil cake," smirked Blurr.
"Et Tu Blurr?" the yellow bot looked over to the Elite bot with his not amused face. Sari giggled and grabbed Blurr's fork. The fork was a much larger fork meant for a barbecue, but it did the trick. Without cutting a slice she just dug out a big scoopful with the fork and put it up to Blurr's mouth.
"I'm actually sure its great. Just have a taste and tell him its good before he leaks from his eyes," Sari said, teasing that Bumblebee would be sensitive enough to cry if Blurr didn't like the cake. Blurr chuckled and took a bite off the forkful Sari offered.
"Itisgreat!" said Blurr in all honestly. On the other hand, it had been a very long time since Blurr had oil cake. He kept that comment to himself however. It was edible and sweet, thats all that mattered.
"Awh, a domestic bot back on Cybertron could do much better," said Bumblebee, "I'm sure you have bots back there that can cook way better too."
"Well, you'rebetterthanallofthem," smiled Blurr. He didn't correct Bee on saying he had bots to cook for him. The truth was he didn't. For some reason Bumblebee had his notion that Cybertron was luxurious despite the war going on there. He didn't want to spoil those thoughts for his friend. Bumblebee smiled at the complement, proud he did a good job.
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"Primus!" cried Bumblebee as he rushed to a fallen organic bot. He saw Blurr a short distance away incapacitated. An Elite Guard med bot along with two others were already at their leader's side, trying to keep him functioning. The boy bot in front of Bee no longer had a spark. He took a quick glance around the forest for the guards that were there as well. He saw pieces of the guards spread all around. What was worse, Bee saw pieces of Blurr on the forest floor as well. Confirming the organic bot had no spark he would have to grieve later. The yellow bot then went to Blurr's side, pushing one of the non medical bots out of the way.
"Bee...." from Blurr's one functioning optic he saw his friend. Bee tried not to be shocked at Blurr's condition. The blue bot had half his face torn off, along with one arm missing. One of his legs was gone from the knee down. The other looked like the delicate tire structure was ripped about just to be cruel. Sparks danced everywhere over his armor. Energon and oil had already leaked horribly. Puddles of it mixed curled around the blue bot's body. Blurr smiled softly and was barely able to get his hand to Bumblebee's cheek.
"Don't worry Blurr, I'm sure the med bot can fix you," said Bee with a sad look on his face. He knew what he just said was a lie. Blurr's spar chamber was burned out of him, but left his spark in tact. THe spark was not supported by anything at all. It was centered in the gapping hole in Blurr's chest. It floated there and was fading fast.
"Did the others make it? The little troublemaker did so . . well . ," said Blurr, his speaking was slowing down to a normal speed. He was unable to keep his hand up on Bee's cheek. As it began to slide Bee put his hand over the over Blurr's white hand to keep it held up. The yellow bot looked over the damaged bots again. His gaze paused at the young bot's body. As much as he tried to hold back, it hit him in the processors. The boy was gone, and Blurr soon would be.
"They're fine, They're all fine,' Bumblebee lied again. If he were human he would have tears starting up in his optics. Blurr's spark faded more and more. It would flicker and light up a bit more when Blurr tried to speak. It was as though if the speedster kept talking he could live longer. The med bot did his best to keep him running but there was literally nothing to work with.
"Don'tbe...so....sad. Idon'twant you frowning be the last thing I see...." Blurr still smiled so relaxed. Even though oil, energon, and sparks accumulated around him he wasn't in pain. Bumblebee chuckled softly at the request and tried to smile, his audio let off a sob sound he tried to hold back.
"It'll be alright buddy, I'll- " before Bee could finish the hand Blurr had on Bee's cheek gained strength and moved up to the top of Bee's head. He moved the yellow bot's head down to his shoulder, "Blurr... what are you doi-"
Blurr's pointer finger converted into a small data plug. His hand moved to the back of Bumblebee's head. A receiving port opened in the yellow bot and the finger pressed in. Bee watched Blurr's spark fade as the dying bot downloaded information into his processor. The three other bots stood there and watched. Bee had long tuned them out and only focused on Blurr.
Bumblebee stood still with his head on Blurr's shoulder until the blue bot finished. The younger had heard stories about how dying bots without thinking would try to download their memories to another. It was some form of 'survival instinct' some bots had. The blue bot's hand then tumbled like dead weight down the back of Bee's head. It lay limp on the ground as Blurr tried to raise it again. The joints on it sparked. Bumblebee raised his head and took his struggling friend's hand.
"Blurr.....," as all Bumblebee could say. He tried to still smile for Blurr. The blue bot's in contact eye faded to black. Bumblebee felt Blurr's hand go cold in his own, "NO NO NO!"
The three other bots watched as the yellow bot grieved. It was not only Blurr he had lost but the boy the leader had been taking to 'safety.' The realization hit Bumblebee hard. The yellow bot still held Blurr's hand as he rested his head back on the blue bot's shoulder. As he felt his friend's spark shrink away an idea maddened him. The only reason the spark was dying was the lack of any robot being connected to it. There was no longer a power source for it. The medic and one of the other bots left to check for the guards.
Bumblebee raised up his head. Blurr was slowly turning gray. The yellow bot paused, watching his speedster friend have life slip away so slowly. The yellow bot hesitated at the idea that boiled in his processors. The fingers of his free hand crept up the side of Blurr's spark casing.
Bee grabbed the fading spark. It sent a shock through his body but he still managed to pull it out. The other bot would of said a, 'wait, what are you doing?' but Bee was already gone.
He was faster in car mode. The spark rested on his passenger seat. It started to melt the faux leather. It felt like forever until Bumblebee reached his destination. All he saw was smears of colors as he rushed, but luckily he knew how to navigate the bright streaks as though they were clear as day.
"Bee? Whats wrong?" Sari asked as she stood in front of an Autobot scout ship. One of Bee's refugee members had brought it form Cybertron years ago. Sari, Bee and other bots had lived there since the secret base was compromised. Sari could tell something was wrong even though Bee was in vehicle mode. She didn't need his robot mode expressions to know. He zoomed past Sari while holding the dimming spark.
In a flash he was at the ships power core. He changed out of car mode and held the spark in his hands. Bumblebee could barely see it now. He only new it was in his hands because of the heat and sparks of shock in his fingers.
Bumblebee pried open casing doors, causing alarms to go off. The fading ball of light was now baseball sized as he shoved it above the power source. The spark lighted up with the surge given by the core. Energy flickered from the core to the spark like a small lighting storm. For a moment the power cores controls lighted up as well.
The glow reminded Bumblebee of when the key was used on a machine. However, the glow was not followed by a sign of life. Instead the glow faded and everything seemed normal. The alarm still blared. All that mattered to Bee in that moment was Blurr's spark still being alive. Wheeljack rushed in with Sari on his shoulder.
"Bee! What happened?" Sari asked again. She saw the spark in the power core before Bee slammed the doors shut on it. "What is going on?!?!"
Bumblebee turned around from the power core. The alarms slowly faded. The look on hs face was so forlorn. His mission of speeding here was done. He practically collapsed into a sitting position on the floor. His knees were bent in front of him, almost like he could curl up in a ball.
"Honey Bee?" Sari questioned again as Wheeljack's hand placed her on the ground. The mad scientist stayed quiet as Sari went to Bee's side.
"They're all dead.....," Bee said softly, counting Blurr with that statement. He had saved the blue bot's spark but doubted if that really saved his friend.
"Who's all dead?" replied Sari, wanting a clear answer from her sparkmate. Bumblebee looked directly at the redheaded woman. He opened his mouth but his audio refused to speak. he then turned his sad optics to Wheeljack as though expecting him to explain.
"Bumblebee left to answer an Elite call for help. Blurr's group that was leaving for moon base three was attacked," Wheeljack explained what he had knowledge of. Sari's mouth dropped open in shock/ She was silent when taking in the information. She didn't ask any details as tears ran from her eyes. Sari hugged Bee's arm, almost matching the height of the elbow on the appendage. Wheeljack stayed silent as well, knowing what the information meant.
"The were leaving to go to safety zone! They were leav-," Sari started to repeat herself between sobs when Bee interrupted her.
"Wheeljack," Bee started as he stood. Sari let go of his arm before he was fully standing, "I just overhead an Elite Guard distress call. If Sari wonders where I am tell her I'll be right back."
What the yellow bot had said confused the two in the room. Bumblebee turned into car mode and zoomed out, almost hitting Wheeljack. The science bot then changed to car mode as well. There was no hope of him catching up to the speed bot but he had to try. Sari was left behind with tears still in her eyes.
"Bee! Whats going on!" the redhead spoke into a watch like communicator on her wrist.
"Oh Sari! I received a distress call from Blurr... kind of... I'm going to check it out!" explained Bumblebee, still confusing Sari. The redhead then called Wheeljack. Even before she could ask the science bot answered the question on her mind.
"He's in a rut. He's running the same processor cycle he had moments before. It happens to some bots when they have a traumatic experience. Speed bots are more prone to it," explained Wheeljack as he tried to pursue the yellow bot. Bumblebee was no longer in front of him so he was left to chasing his signal. On the opposite direction of traffic Wheeljack could see three Elite Guard vehicles go by.
"I can get Cliffjumper to take me where Bee's going," offered Sari. Her voice held back sobs from the incident going on around her.
"No, your presence might confuse things more. Also, there are Elite Guard heading to the ship. They probably want to talk to you and Bee," explained Wheeljack.
"They're... really... gone....," faded Sari, her 'organic' emotions being not too different than a processor in a rut.
"See what you can find out, and I'll do the same," Wheeljack's voice showed concern for his friends' and teammates' emotions. Sari silently hung up the call. She didn't mean to be rude, she just didn't have anything left to say.
Wheeljack came upon the woods that Bee had entered. He had to go to bot mode to get between the trees. Bee would have to do the same. The engineer hoped that would slow down the yellow bot as well. It was strange for hm to see the organic landscape. he was suddenly felt that he rarely ever left the ship. He supposed the main reason was that he missed Cybertron and didn't feel like making "human friends" if he was just going to go back someday.
The science bot came upon Bee in a clearing. The yellow bot was on his knees mumbling something. He appeared to be leaned over where a bot's body had been. The Elite Guard would have already taken the bodies. Wheeljack approached carefully. Despite his younger behavior, he was old enough to have seen the Great War. Being a science bot, he had seen and taken care of many processor glitching bots. Medbots cared for bodies while he took care of minds.
Wheeljack stayed back and silently watched Bee. The best way to do this was to let the speed bot run through a few glitched cycles before stopping him. Wheeljack would just have to chaperon Bumblebee while his processors ran through the fried motions.
The lights on the sides of the bot's head flickered as he sighed. It was in that moment he heard a rustle in the trees above him. The science bot clearly saw purple optics glowing back down at him. Wheeljack almost jumped out of his armor. In a flash the usually non-combat bot had an arm blaster pointed at the figure. The bot in the tree did not make any move to attack. Wheeljack still kept his weapon pointed at the purple optics. One of the optics twitched before the bot they belong to spoke.
"Puh, Wazzzzzp not here to hurt Glow-bot. Wazzzzp izzz here to watch what izzzz going on," the green bot in the tree muttered. He looked over at Bumblebee's strange behavior while raising an optic brow. His turning away showed he did not find Wheeljack a threat at all. This frustrated the scientist who just pointed the arm blaster with more determination. Wasp let out a noise that could only be described as a chuckle.
"You Decepticreeps killed th-" Wheeljack was about to throw insults instead of attacking. He found himself unable to fire upon a Decepticon that didn't have weapons pointed back at him.
"Dezzzzepticonz may have ztarted thizzzz fight, but Dezzzzzepticonz did not finizzzzh it. Wazp waz zent to zee what happen' to our team that wuzzzzz here," Wasp said, strangely sharing this information with an Autobot.
"Heh, didn't send their brightest little spy, did they?" mocked Wheeljack while still holding the gun at the Decepticon. Wasp rattled in the trees as he turned to peer down at Wheeljack. His purple optics narrowed as he still didn't show any weapons. He leaned downward some while preparing an insult back. His limbs made twice the sound they needed for the small motions. They were strange little ticks and squeaks from gears that just moments before had been silent. Anger seemed to make his servos noiser. The green bot then paused, as though he heard something over some internal audio.
"Wazzzzzp will be right therezzzz," He replied to the party on the other side of his silent com. Wasp then shifted in the tree, carefully climbing to a lower branch before contemplating the jump down.
"What makes you think I'm going to let you leave?!?!" complained Wheeljack as his arm blaster followed Wasp when the green bot jumped down from the tree. At first the bug bot shrugged arrogantly, but then came up with a verbal answer.
"Becauze, Glow-bot needzzz to make zzzure Bumble-bot doez not turn out like Wazzzzzp," the green bot replied with his back turned to the scientist. Wheeljack was then just reminded that he had to keep his eye on Bumblebee. The inventor frantically turned his attention back on the team leader of the Earth Autobots. Wasp went to car mod and drove off.
"No no no!" cried Bee as he repeated through memories he had went through moments ago. The yellow bot just watched the ground, as though Blurr's body was still there. Wheeljack looked back at where Wasp would of been if he had not driven off. He turned back to Bee. He couldn't help but wonder what the crazy Decepticon had meant by what he said.
Bumblebee surely wouldn't become a Decepticon because of the events that happened today. Wheeljack watched the yellow mech curl up on the ground as though resting his head on the nonexistent bot's shoulder. The science bot waited for when Bee would go back to the base. He would have to let the yellow bot run about maybe two more times before taking him down.
Then Wheeljack's mind wandered to what Wasp said again. If a bot had no one to take them out of a rut cycle, what would happen to them? Their body would eventually exhaust and no longer able to repeat the cycle. If they were fortunate enough to have a clean reboot after that, there would still be permanent damaged. It would lead to small glitches in motor skills and processor to audio damage. These were all symptoms Wasp had shown.
"Primus.... I wonder if Preceptor ever had an orbital cycle like this on Cybertron," Wheeljack said, commenting on his scientist friend who was stationed back on their home planet. At that moment Bee went into car mode. Wheeljack followed, going with his plan to repair the yellow bot.
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Wheeljack had an arm around the half offlined mech to help walk him into the base ship. Sari rushed up to the pair.
"Bee? Are you alright?" She then looked to Wheeljack like she didn't expect a response from Bee, "Is he going to be alright."
"I'm fine babe...." Bumblebee replied, moving with Wheeljack's help to the nearest seat in the ship. He put his hand on his forehead to try to comfort his aching processors. Wheeljack lifted Sari to the yellow bot's shoulder, where then then sat and hugged his head.
"You had me so worried! After losin-" she stopped talking once she saw Wheeljack shaking his head out of Bee's line of sight. It wasn't best to bring out the bad things again. Bumblebee put a hand up on Sari's back to return the hug as best as their size difference could.
"Its good for Bumblebee just to relax a while. No sudden stresses would be best," suggested Wheeljack. With Bee's luck the Elite Guard solider and med bot bursted into the room. He had been borrowing their med bay to do an autopsy on Blurr.
"Blurr declared you leader of the Autobots," The Elite Guard soldier announced. Sari had to hold onto Bee's shoulder for dear life when the yellow bot stood quickly in surprise.
"Wh-what?!" Bumblebee stuttered and then leaned back on the chair. Sari had a look of confusion, Blurr had not been alive when they brought his body here, how could he have declared anything?
"He downloaded the modified Prime program into you," the solider added. Wheeljack glared at the Elite Guard bot, like he should of known better than to bother Bee with this information now.
"Hot Shot! He needs his rest," Wheeljack complained, his side lights flickering madly as he talked.
"This needs to be handled now... Autobots on Cybertron are already claiming that Jazz has the Ultra code somehow, and he should be leader," explained Hot Shot.
"Oh Slaggin.... I do not want to hear this now, my processors are still buzzing from running here and back several times," muttered Bumblebee. He was slightly embarrassed by the rut cycle he had just been in, "Whatever 'Civil War' is starting will have to wait till tomorrow."
"You don't understand...," faded the Elite Guard Med bot that had tried to save Blurr. He decided to speak up, "In the next few mega cycles there is going to be chaos. There have been bots that want to come to Earth post... and bots that want to leave here. If anyone feels a divide is going to happen they're going to move around quick."
"Leave?!?! Who would want to leave Earth?!? Who would want to leave my team?!?" Bee replied in out of character anger. They all knew that was not a normal reaction for the yellow bot. Sari hopped down onto the chair Bumblebee was leaning on.
"I'll handle things while you take a long power down honey," Sari smiled and patted the mech on the shoulder. She smiled lightly, but there was still sadness behind it. Sari could of used a 'power down' too but at least the logic systems her organic bot body had still had their sense. Bumblebee just nodded, not going to argue with his human formed mate. He hobbled off to power down in their room.
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Bumblebee woke up feeling like he had been in recharge for several mega cycles. He saw Sari nestled against him. She was wrapped in a comforter as always, with a pillow between her head and his chest. He smiled lightly. In that nanoclick it felt like nothing was wrong. Nothing had gone wrong. But in another moment he knew it wasn't true.
He silently slipped away from Sari and got out of the berth. He headed to the command room and was surprised by all the new bots he saw. He saw First Aid, the Elite Med bot that spoke to him earlier. Bee thought he should be the first bot to speak to. A few familiar faces smiled as Bee walked by to show they were glad their Earth leader was up and about.
"First Aid, what's gone on?" asked Bumblebee. He looked at the Elite med bot with a dazed feeling still in his processors.
"A lot of changes," First Aid sighed, hoping the bot's human would of told him by now, "You had some people leave... like Wheeljack, but some people came as well."
"Wait... So Sari and Wheeljack weren't able to convince our groups to stay together?" asked Bumblebee. He was surprised since Sari was so good at delegating.
"They didn't even want to talk to us. At all. Wheeljack went back because he wanted to find out more from Preceptor," explained First Aid, "My team is staying... you need a med bot. Hot Shot couldn't believe you bots on Earth survived with Wheeljack being your only acting med bot."
"Heh.... so I wasn't declared leader of the Autobots while I was asleep, was I?" Bumblebee said half jokingly.
"If you power downed any longer we would of given it to the red topped human ," First Aid joked, "But yes, every bot on this planet that is Autobot recognizes you as leader... Cybertron is another story. Only time will tell with that...."
"So I'm leader just because Blurr gave me the code? I don't want to be leader! Sure I can plan some things and lead a small group but I can't do the big picture," explained Bee exasperated. Before First Aid could speak a bot overhearing butted in.
"You gotta be kidding me!" a bot as yellow as Bumblebee stopped carrying some boxes past the two. He had overhead the conversation, "My brother and I heard all the stories about you. You're amazing!"
"Yeah! After Jazz announced Blurr Prime offlined he commanded all the bots on Earth to report back to Cybertron. We found that kinda odd," said the red bot carrying boxes as well behind his yellow brother.
"We heard all the stories of you and everyone fighting Megatron here. Why leave the planet where the Decepticon leader is stuck at? It doesn't make sense!" the yellow twin added.
"Even if Jazz wasn't acting weird, we would of come to Earth. Everything we heard about it! Did you really jump off a building onto Megatron when he was trying to escape a fight?" asked the red bot like he and his brother were Bumblebee's greatest fans.
"Yeah.....," faded Bumblebee. He normally liked the attention but felt awkward with all the information these two bots gave.
"Wow! You had to time that perfectly huh? I mean to get on him and not get hit by the helicopter blades!" said the yellow bot excitedly.
"I bet he didn't expect that at all!" added the red bot excited as ever.
"Yeah.....," Bee faded off again. The phrase, ' he didn't expect that at all,' hit him in a strange way. All his and Sari's plans to fight Deceptions were about doing what they did not expect. He pulled a deeper meaning from that. That was what it meant to be leader in these times.
"You two... go back to work. I' sure you'll get a chance to talk to him later,"" said First Aid. The twins pouted and went back to their 'chores.'
"So.... who's left?" asked Bumblebee, suddenly feeling more confident in being leader. First Aid picked up the change in tone and smiled lightly a moment. His face then went back to serious as he explained the situation.
"Younger bots. Mostly older bots that have seen the great war left. Most of them had sparkbonds on Cybertron and were anxious to return to them," explained First Aid.
"Then why did your team stay?" asked Bumblebee. He suddenly felt suspicious of the med bot although he had no reason to.
"in Jazz's announcement he said any bots not coming back to Cybertron would be treated at traitors," spoke First Aid softly, "Many of the bots that just left Cybertron know this."
"Wha- You- They-," Bumblebee as at a loss of words. These bots were so impressed with his leadership they were willing to be banished from their home planet. Not only that, but Jazz giving such an ultimatum was unheard of.
"So do you accept being leader? You could just give the code to someone else," said First Aid. The thought made Bee's memory processors go back to Blurr. The last thing his dying friend had done was to put the Prime code in his systems. The young bot remembered his friend's touch as it downloaded. Bumblebee then recalled how Blurr wanted him to be leader to begin with. Blurr's confidence him permeated his processor.
"I accept," replied Bumblebee with a slight smile.
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"Wow....thats a lot to happen....," faded Bulkhead, "But I'm confused, who was the other bot?"
"What other bot?" asked Goldbug Prime as he looked away from the window and at his friend. He raised the brow on his good optic confusedly.
"The one you mentioned you went to check on first. The one you and Sari were as upset about as Blurr....." clarified Bulkhead. Goldbug didn't even realize those details had slipped in.
"Oh. Thats a whole other story," Goldbug muttered. It was another subject he wanted to avoid, ".... So thats why I'm leader...."
"Well... that means Jazz IS the bad guy!" stated Bulkhead. He green bot quickly covered his mouth with his large digits as he realized what he said.
"Wait.... what?" Goldbug raised an optic brow at his old buddy again.
"Uh... Oh....," Bulkhead only knew it was a matter of time before he slipped. Before Goldbug could question the olive bot a beep came on his com.
"What is it?" Goldbug spoke sternly, feeling like he had been interrupted.
"Ah- heh heh... remember you said to get our guests whatever they wanted? Well our guests wanted a shuttle...," faded Cheetor over the com.
"You let them leave the ship?! We need them to get back to their time! If one of them gets-" Goldbug started to yell at the younger bot, but was cut off.
"Don't start yelling yet, it gets worse," Cheetor nervously explained, "I did put a tracker on the shuttle and they went to meet.... Ultra Jazzimus."
"WHAT?!?!" Goldbug screeched over the coms. He quickly commed his second in command into the conversation.
"Wheeljack... I need you to send soldiers to the coordinates I'm making Cheetor give you," commanded Goldbug Prime. Cheetor didn't wait to be told to send them all the information he had. Goldbug turned and glared at Bulkhead.
"So.... aheh," was all the big green bot could say while he tapped his large metal digits together.