Sorry for the delay on this new chapter, but the holidays and health issues have prevented me from tackling this next one as quickly as I had hoped. I hope you enjoy this one between Bumblebee and Raf. Gregg.
Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Bumblebee was unsure of what to do in this situation. He was angry at the 'Cons for involving the children in the whole debacle on Cybertron. He was sad that Raf was now having to see the full extent of what this war cost in terms of real loss and anguish. He was relieved that Optimus had sent everyone out so that they could all fight the 'Cons sometime in the near future. But he was scared that their leader may not even be online still given that someone would have to make sure that no trace was possible of where everyone had been sent. For now he drove silently along a back road, putting as much distance from the drop off point as he could. His internal GPS made sure he never strayed too far from where he needed to end up.
Raf was also silent. More than anything he was scared. For the first time since all this had began, even more than some of the more dangerous situations that he had been in since meeting the Autobots, he understood that this was incredibly real. And deadly. All it would have taken was one crack in the container that Soundwave had him in on Cybertron and he would have been dead. Jack had been brave and defiant, and so had Miko, but he hadn't been able to do more than gulp at the idea of suffocating in the deadly atmosphere. What good was he? He couldn't even voice support for his closest friends and allies when the chips were really down.
"Where are we going, Bee?" he finally asked when he couldn't take the silence anymore.
Bumblebee responded with his chirps and whistles.
Someplace safe.
"But what about the others?" Raf questioned. Maybe if he asked questions it would settle his mind down.
When the time's right we'll be in contact.
"My Mom's going to freak," Raf commented.
We can't risk contacting anyone yet.
"Do we really have a chance at winning?" Raf finally asked the question that had been plaguing him since they had left the base.
Bee was silent for a bit and then gave a clipped reply, the tone very morose.
I don't know.
When Bee came to the location he was heading for he sent out an encrypted low band signal. A shimmer became visible and he drove right through it, heading along a metal tunnel to a main command and control center. He came to a stop and transformed when Raf had gotten out. He went right over to the control consoles and powered up the auxiliary base, the many consoles and features lighting up, the script of the Cybertronian language flowing across the screens, along with visuals and scans too numerous to count. When he finished he noticed Raf has made his way to the level that was built for their human friends and had seated himself at one of the stations, looking with rapt attention at the information scrolling across the screen in front of him.
Raf was in awe. This was Cybertronian tech. The stuff that he had seen glimpses of, and that Ratchet had described on occasion. It put what had been at the previous base to shame.
"What is this place?" he asked.
One of the secondary bases we built this past year.
Raf nodded and looked around. A sense of purpose and hope surged through him. This was what he was good at. He allowed his mind to ignore the fear, and the pain of not knowing what was happening with his parents who were no doubt worried sick about him, focusing instead on what he could possibly do with all this at his disposal. He turned in his chair and looked at his best friend.
"We need a plan, Bee," he said, a little fear slipping into his tone considering that they would need to be in this war soon. The idea of dying scared him, but the idea of his own planet dying, too, scared him more. He was beginning to understand what Jack and Miko had been subtly saying on Cybertron.
Bee considered the young human in front of him. Something had changed in a few short moments. He nodded and spoke again.
First you need to have something to eat and then get some sleep. Then we can work on what we can find out about the others under the radar, and also begin working on how we can fight this war without seeing Earth ending up like Cybertron.
"Things are different now, aren't they, Bee?" Raf asked. It seemed a ridiculous question, but he wasn't asking about the immediate situation. He was sure Bee understood what he was really asking. The threat that Bee had issued Soundwave had been full of venom, and it had given Raf some more things to think about. You will DIE for this. He knew that Bee was a soldier and had killed before in the war, but this had been the first time that he had witnessed the hard, stern reality of that, in addition to the selfless loyalty to his friends.
Optimus never wanted humans to be a part of this war. Now you are. Megatron changed everything, and we need to deal with the 'Cons once and for all.
He paused, then he hardened, despite wanting to remain positive for his friend.
Even if it means sacrificing all like Optimus did on Cybertron.
Somehow, some way, that harsh reality made Raf feel a bit better. He saw that his friends were not going to give up, and would work on saving Earth from the now very real threat that Megatron posed. His Dad watched boxing and a phrase came to mind that fit what Bee was saying. The gloves just came off. He looked earnestly at the Scout. "They won't know what hit them," he said confidently. He may need some reassurance now and then in the coming days and weeks, but he was sure that they would come out on top. But there was one thing that he wanted to make clear. "Soundwave is my problem, Bee. I want to be the one to out do him and take him out of the equation," he said, showing that he considered the Decepticon spymaster a personal issue. "With all this," he said with a wave of his arm at the tech they had, "he won't stand a chance."
Bee looked at Raf intently and then nodded. He needed to keep Raf's spirits up and his mind focused on the issues at hand. When they all regrouped he was sure that Ratchet was going to need Raf more than ever. Bee was going to make sure that his best friend was ready for that. He issued a few directions to let Raf know where food and supplies were, as well as quarters, and then shooed him from the center, knowing his friend really needed some rest. After Raf left the room he contemplated the resiliency of all their human friends, and was glad that Raf was with him. As much as he would be helping Raf, Raf was just as helpful in reverse, keeping his attention focused and ever mindful of the real purpose that motivated himself and the other Autobots. Turning, he continued to monitor the sensors and made minute adjustments as needed. Somehow things didn't seem as lost as they had just a few short hours before.
A/N: This, I must say, has been the most difficult chapter to write, as it is difficult to try and see what a 12 year old would be thinking and wondering about. I tried to blend his mature genius and young fears that all 12 year olds would have. I hope it worked and you all enjoyed this new chapter. Happy New Year. Gregg.
