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Reinforcements

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Arcee eyed the ship warily. So far, the crumbling hulk had remained quiet for the most part, but Arcee wasn't buying it. For all she knew, there could be a whole batallion of Decepticons inside, just waiting to hack off a few limbs.

"Keep your optics sharp, Bee," said Arcee, "I think I see the loading hatch."

/ Yeah, I think I see it too / said Bumblebee. His weapons were drawn, lest he need them, and he too threw occassional glances at the ship's hull for any signs of the enemy. So far, nothing had appeared, but Bumblebee wasn't going to let his guard down just yet.

The two scouts cautiously approached the loading hatch. The hatch was circular, heavily reinforced, and recessed into the hull of the ship. Like the rest of the ship, it was scarred by dents and scorch marks, and it looked like something written in cybertronic symbols was supposed to be stencilled on the hatch, but had long been scraped clean.

/ Maybe we should knock? See if they're home? / asked Bumblebee.

Arcee looked at him, and was about to tell the scout, that politely walking up to a ship that was possibly stuffed to the gills with Decepticons was probably not the best idea, when the hatch shuddered and jerked forward, sending metal flakes floating to the ground.

"Shit," hissed Arcee. " Bumblebee, get ready. Don't fire until I say so."

Bumblebee sent his affirmative, and took up positions next to Arcee. The hatch groaned as it slowly rotated, sparks flying as metal grated against metal. There was a loud clunk, as the hatch ceased movement, followed by more groaning, as the hatch suddenly depressed, and swung inward, revealing nothing but blackness.

/ Hellooo!...Anybody home? / called Bumblebee.

Arcee slapped her helm, and was on the verge of giving the yellow scout a reprimand, when a crimson blur burst forth from the entrance and tackled Bumblebee. Arcee swore, and swung her blaster around to deal with the new threat.

Her weapon, and her jaw, dropped, when the attacker's face came into view, and she had to blink her optics a few times, to make sure she was not going mad.

There on the ground, playfully wrestling with Bumblebee, was a gleaming red mech, all thick muscle and smooth surfaces, and there was no mistaking the lopsided grin he wore on his handsome face.

"Sideswipe?" whispered Arcee.

"How's my Ro-Bro doin'?" hooted the red warrior, as he held Bumblebee down in a headlock. Both of them were laughing themselves silly.

"Are those two morons at it again?"

Arcee looked around to see a gleaming yellow mech. He was identical to Sideswipe, save for the color, and he scowled at the dry landscape, as if he had discovered something particularly unpleasant on his pede. Arcee recognised him as well.

"Sunstreaker...It's been a long time..."

"Arcee! How you doin' baby?"

The blue femme yelped, as Sideswipe's arms wrapped themselves around her, in a tight bear hug. Sunstreaker rolled his eyes,and muttered something that sounded like 'childish idiot'.

"Sidewipe, let me go, right now!" snarled Arcee.

The red mech laughed and let go of Arcee. "So it's a yes, then; you're as bitchy as ever!"

Sunstreaker looked around the desolate landscape with a look of irritation, and his optics narrowed in suspicion as he spotted the two small figures hurrying towards them. "What are those...thingies over there?"

Arcee smiled. "Those two 'thingies' are Jack and Raf...They're called humans."

Both boys slowed down in front of the group, their eyes wide, as they took in the two mechs. Sideswipe blinked. "They're...tiny..."

"You guys are twins?" said Jack, as his gaze switched back and forth.

"Yes, we are," scowled Sunstreaker, "Isn't it obvious?"

Sideswipe cocked his helm to one side, as he kneeled down for a closer look. "Wow...these little guys look...wierd...and squishy," he said.

"They're organics," grumbled Sunstreaker, "Keep them away from me; they'll mess up my bodywork"

Raf frowned. "Wow, that yellow guy's a jerk," he mumbled.

Jack was too preoccupied with the two mechs to listen.

Sideswipe was a vivid blood red, with bright silvery chrome on his legs, arms and chest. Small battle scars, scratches and other slight imperfections told Jack that this was one mech who was a little too eager to get into a fight.

Sunstreaker, on the other hand, was an image of absolute symmetry and perfection; he was a brilliant golden colour, with black in the same places as Sideswipe's chrome. Jack would have tried to find at least a minor imperfection, but he somehow knew it would be a fool's errand.

Both were exactly identical, with narrow waists, long legs, round optics and handsome faces. They were a perfect balance of raw muscle and aerodynamics, built for maximum speed and optimum strength.

"Woah..."

/So is it just you guys? / asked Bumblebee / Or are there more?/

Sunstreaker smirked. "Of course there's more," he said, "Elita One's here as well."

Jack blinked. "Who's Elita-"

"Arcee...It's been too long..."

A femme emerged from the depths of the ship, and to Jack's astonishment, Arcee snapped to attention. It was the sort of thing she only did around Optimus. "Arcee, Lieutenant and acting second-in-command-"

"At ease, Arcee," said the femme, waving her servo. And then she wrapped her arms around Arcee, making Jack cough nervously.

Her sleek frame was a deep, shiny pink colour, almost maroon, with dabs of bright silver, and she held herself confidently, the way Optimus would have. Her face plate was longer, narrower, and it looked very aged; the sort of face that had seen too much.

But the most striking feature was how large she was. She towered over Arcee, nearly approaching the twins in height, yet she was as slim as any other femme.

"I'm glad you've managed to keep yourself safe, child," said Elita, smiling warmly as she withdrew. "Bumblebee...I see you're as spry as ever..."

The yellow scout puffed his chests plates proudly. /You know me, Elita / he chirped, / Oh! I'd like you to meet someone...Hey, Raf! Come over here and meet Elita! /

"Hi there," said, the boy, smiling, as Bumblebee scooped him up.

Elita raised a delicate brow. "What's this, now?" she said, leaning forward.

"They're humans," said Arcee, "That's Raf, and this is Jack...Listen, I'm going to contact base, see if I can arrange a Bridge."

Elita simply nodded, too preoccupied with the two humans.

"Are those actual mammals?" said a cultured voice. Jack peeked around Elita's leg, and found another mech disembarking the battered ship.

"Yes, Perceptor, they're squishy, smelly, and have poor dental hygiene," sneered Sunstreaker, "Are you happy now?"

The mech ignored him, and kneeled down to look at Jack more closely.

He was a bit more heavily built, and he had a liberal amount of paint applications; mostly red and white, with some black and greenish-blue mized in. He had a cylindrical device mounted on one shoulder and, the most striking feature of all, a single oversized optic, which buzzed and whirred, as it focused on Jack.

The boy let out a cry, as a blu-ish beam flashed forth from the optic, and ran over his body.

"Hmmm...very curious," said Perceptor. He had an English accent. "It appears your evolutionary pattern is derived from a simian life form." The optical scanner winked out. "You're a primate of some sort...very interesting..."

Jack scratched the back of his head. "Umm...thank you?"

There was another scuffle, and yet another Autobot walked out. Or more accurately, stumbled out. He let out a curse, as he landed face first onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, and then he picked himself up.

Jack's eyebrows shot up in surprise, as the mech stood up to his full height. He was short, shorter than Bumblebee, yet he looked to be about the same age as the twins.

He was a dark blue in colour, with white in some places, and probably the most extraordinary thing about this mech was how ordinary he was. His face plate was completely forgettable, his frame had no distinguishing characteristics, and his optics were an unremarkable blue.

Elita noticed the newcomer, and said, "That is Roller, our pilot, and an experienced one at that."

"Not the easiest of landings, Elita," said Roller, as he stepped forward. Even his voice was very ordinary. "Hey, who're these little guys over here?"

"I just got off with Ratchet; Optimus is coming to meet us personally," announced Arcee.

Elita's helm snapped around to look at Arcee. "Orion's coming as well?"

Jack's brow knitted at the obvious disrespect, but strangely, Arcee didn't protest. "He's on his way right now."

No sooner had she finished speaking did the Ground Bridge crackle to life, a few feet away from the ship. The assembled fell into silence, as Optimus Prime strode out of the vortex, accompanied by Ratchet.

The medic was carrying a wide eyed Miko, whom he carefully set down on the ground. Arcee raised a brow plate, and Ratchet shrugged. "She wanted to come along..."

Sunstreaker cringed, and muttered, "As if two of them weren't bad enough..."

The girl whirled around, trying to take in all the Autobots at once. "Woah...," she breathed, "This...this so awesome! Wait 'til Soundwave sees this!"

At the mention of the name, all activity ceased, to look at the girl. "Soundwave?" asked a wide-opticed Sideswipe, "Did that fleshy just say Soundwave?"

Arcee looked to the heavens, Bumblebee fidgeted, Jack and Raf groaned, and Ratchet suddenly went slack jawed.

Optimus sighed wearily and resisted the urge to massage his aching helm, which was gearing up for a real migraine.

And the discussions have not even begun yet...