Hotshot: Not a great chapter but hey, what can ya do? Enjoy!

Transformers Prime
Eternal Flame
Chapter 6

Autobot Base, Outside Jasper, Nevada, Earth

*FLAMEBURST*

After a few days, I was finally allowed out of the heating chamber. Carrier made sure that he had scolded me about what I did but luckily, he wasn't too harsh, he just made me promise him that I won't do it again- which I did promised. Now, I had just walked into the main room, listening to Bulkhead speak to Miko, when carrier spoke up, making the others walk closer to him and the monitor.

"Optimus, I'm receiving a signal on a restricted band. It appears to be coming from a star ship inside this solar system." Carrier pressed a key. "It's an Autobot identification beacon."

"So, there are other bots out there?" Jack asked from his spot on the platform in front of carrier.

"The masses are scattered to the galaxies when Cybertron finally went dark." Arcee explained. "But cons have been known to bait traps with false beacons."

"Unknown vessel, this is Autobot outpost omega-1. Identify yourself." ordered Optimus.

"I've had warmer welcomes from the Decepticon combat barcades." A voice came from the monitor.

"Wheeljack?!" Bulkhead walked closer. "You old con crusher! What are you doing all the way out here?"

"Bulkhead? That you? What's with all the security?"

"The rock we're on is crawling with cons. How soon can you get here and even the odds?"

"Sometime tomorrow if I put metal to the pedal."

"Another bot's coming here. How cool is that?" Miko grinned.

"Wheeljack, I know of him by reputation only. Can you verify his voice print?" asked Optimus.

"He is one thousand percent the real deal, Optimus." Bulkhead assured him.

"We will send landing coordinates, Wheeljack. Safe journey."

"See ya soon, buddy! I'll make sure you'll get a proper welcome."

"So, who's the boyfriend?" Arcee questioned after carrier cut the commlink.

"Me and Jackie go way back," Bulkhead chuckled. "We were part of the same warriorhood- The Wreckers, which means the cons are gonna wish they never found us."

I rolled my eyes before walking out of the room and towards mine. I settled down on my berth and closed my eyes. It couldn't hurt going into recharge early since I'm usually a night owl. I kept myself relaxed and soon enough, I was in recharge.

The next day, I was with the others in the main room, waiting for this Wheeljack to come.

"Wheeljack's ship is approaching the landing zone." Arcee stated.

"You think he's here to visit?" questioned Raf.

"Maybe he'll stay!" Miko said happily. "Hm... gotta find his own human though."

"Ground Bridge cycling up." Carrier piped up, making us look at him before the control panel for the bridge suddenly sparked. Carrier slammed his fist against it. "Blasted scraplets! The equipment hasn't been the same since the infestation."

"So, Wheeljack's gonna land halfway around the world and then you'll bridge him here?" Jack asked.

"We can't risk revealing the location of our base, just in case the Decepticons are tracking Wheeljack's ship." Optimus explained.

"Dude, I've never seen you so stoked!" Miko stated as she walked towards the end that was closer to Bulkhead.

"Oh, you're gonna love Wheeljack! We were like brothers and tonight, we are gonna party!" Bulkhead raised a fist.

"Sweet!"

An alarm ruined their good mood as we looked and saw red dots on the screen.

"Bogies." Arcee stated. "Closing fast on Wheeljack's position."

"Con scum!" Bulkhead growled before he walked to the offlined ground bridge with Bumblebee and Arcee. "Open the bridge, Ratchet. We're missing all the action!"

"I'll prepare sickbay." Carrier said after he turned the bridge on.

"Who for, the cons?" Bulkhead chuckled. "This is Wheeljack we're talking about."

I watched as the three run through and it didn't take long for them to come back with the mech that was Wheeljack.

"Jackie, come here. Meet my other best buddy, Miko!" Bulkhead wasted no time in introducing his human. "She can wreck with the best of us."

"Hiya." Miko waved.

"You keeping Bulkhead outta trouble?" Wheeljack took a few steps forward.

"I try, but trouble finds us anyway."

"We're gonna get along just fine." Wheeljack turned and walked to Optimus, who was walking towards him. "Optimus Prime. It's a privilege."

"Likewise, soldier. What have you to report from your long journey?"

"Been bouncing from rock to rock, searching for signs for friend or foe. Now. I find both."

"We are few, but strong. We had suffered losses but had grown, and we would relish welcoming a new member into our fold."

"I would be honored."

"Then let's get this party started!" Bulkhead exclaimed before hitting Wheeljack and the bot turned and they chest bumped.

"Ooh joy." I heard carrier huff.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Bulkhead nudged Wheeljack towards me. "This is our resident Creacon, Flameburst."

"A Creacon, huh? I thought they were…"

"So did we until Ratch found her."

I took this time to sniff this new bot and he smelled...weird. I couldn't explain how but he did.

"It's nice to meet you." Wheeljack smirked.

"Likewise." I mumbled before skittering to and standing beside Carrier.

After the sun had set a few hours later, I could see Optimus getting ready to go out, so I went up to him. "Optimus?"

He paused and looked down at me. "Yes, Flameburst?"

"Can I come with you? I don't feel like listening to Miko's…'music'."

"Of course." Optimus chuckled. He transformed into his alt mode and I jumped on back of it. I looked at Carrier, who was seeing where I was, and waved at him. He rolled his eyes but gave a halfhearted wave back and Optimus sped down and out of the tunnel. I gripped onto his smokestacks as he drove, keeping my flame between me and the back of his cab so it would be partly protected by the wind.

We drove for about an hour until he stopped at the edge of a cliff, allowing me to jump off. He transformed a minute later and knelt down beside me. I looked out from the cliff and into the area below, which was littered with large rocks and rock towers.

"Much better than Miko's music." I mumbled, making Optimus chuckle. "...Optimus?"

"Yes?"

"I... there's something...weird about Wheeljack. I can't explain it, but he smells...off."

"Off?"

"I don't know how to explain." I sighed. "I just hope the others will be smart about this."

"I'm sure they will, little one." He brought a finger down rubbed my back, careful of my flame. "Now relax and don't stress."

I nodded and sat down, enjoying the scenery.

After a few hours later, we returned to base and Bulkhead explained everything that happened with a bot called Makeshift who was pretending to be Wheeljack. The next day, Wheeljack had left, wanting to see what else was out there.

At least we now know that we have an ally out there that we can count on if we need him.