Longest chapter I have ever done! O.O Phew, nine pager. I'm sure some of you may have done more, but for me, xD that takes too much time. But, hey! I've never had so much fun writin' a chapter before! I hope you all love it as much as I did/do! x3 Wellll, go enjoy and review pleaseeee my lovely viewers.
Chapter Nine –Scarlet Orbs in the Shadows of the Night
At the Autobot Base
Optimus' Quarters
Optimus shifted his mighty form onto the metal berth with a quiet sigh from his intakes, letting the tiny form slip from between his hands onto his stomach plating. Bumblebee tumbled to the mech's lap with a quick chirp, and then sat himself upright as Optimus leaned against the wall. The mech cupped a hand around the mechling's body whilst stroking his tiny head with his thumb. His optics warmed to a deep blue as they stared into Bumblebee's wide ones, but no smile curved his metal lips. He kept his optics warm and his faceplate against the devotion they showed, his facets shifting to a serious and concerned manner.
Bumblebee blinked at him and smiled as he hinted nothing, whirring as he looked around the quarters. A tiny breath of awe shuddered from his intakes as he giggled at the monitors. Pointing a yellow digit at the screens, he asked, "What're those?"
Optimus gave each monitor a quick glance before he gently turned Bumblebee's head away, lifting the bot's chin with one finger so his optics fixed into his. Bumblebee stared innocently, whirring softly in confusion.
"Huh?" he twittered.
Optimus frowned deeper. "Youngling, what was upsetting you earlier?" he whispered, thumbing slowly over Bumblebee's cheekplate ridges. "Why were you crying?"
Bumblebee froze. That topic, right now?
His spark shook inside him.
The mechling choked back a sudden sob in his throat, shivering as he did. His optics dropped to the floor and Optimus shook his head, giving his cheekplate a tap. Bumblebee returned his gaze.
"Bumblebee," the mech sighed. "You can tell me anything and everything."
Bumblebee's optics drooped.
"You know that, little one…"
The mechling shut his optics, trying to force the energon tears that welled in his ducts away as they threatened to spill. He whimpered as he felt Optimus hand ease him against the towering mech's stomach plating, and his wide optics opened to dump tears onto his cheekplates.
Bumblebee sniffled and managed to choke out through tears, "M-My parents…"
Optimus stroked his little body slowly, reaching his fingertips through space between the yellow armor plating. He softly tussled the wires in their reach, back and forth, brushing some against the mechling's protoform body that lie beneath his armoring.
"Your parents," he whispered. "What of them?"
Bumblebee sniffled again before going on. "I-I miss them, Optimus," he stuttered out. "I w-wish they didn't have to go…"
Optimus optic ridges slowly angled, brow furrowing. He was silent for many astroseconds, watching the mechling's frame quake with every sob that sputtered from his modulators. Tears shook of Bumblebee's chin and his little form buried itself into Optimus' stomach plating. The mech eased Bumblebee deep against his plating, gently stroking the yellow door wings that fluttered on the youngling's back.
"Shhh," was all he managed to say before his processor drifted away. "Quiet…"
"M-Mmm…"
Optimus remembered back to when the youngling had been found, crying in sheer devastation in the complete loneliness and hopelessness he had been in – Sobbing for a miracle to somehow show itself, to fall out of the sky. How Optimus had found the youngling in his despair struck an alarm in his central processor. The bot had been alone, isolated from any mech or femme figure.
That loneliness had to mean something.
Death of his creators…
"Bumblebee," he started in a gentle tone, optics watching the crying youngling. "You were alone when we found you…" He didn't know how to continue without wrenching the little spark, and he sighed. "…Where were your creators?"
The answer was evident, but Bumblebee had to say it. He had to admit it.
Bumblebee shook his head quickly, refusing to answer with a tiny whimper.
"Little one, you must get this off of your processor," coaxed Optimus in the most comforting tone his rumbling voice could muster. He thumbed over the small yellow head, between the drooped antennae until his thumb fell over the Autobot insignia. He traced the little symbol, listening as Bumblebee's cries calmed to sniffles and whimpers.
Optimus' finger stroked over the youngling's yellow chest, patting it twice. "Control yourself," he murmured, lifting the bot into his arms. Bumblebee instinctively snuggled into the warm spark that thrummed oh so invitingly, letting his own beat against it. Soon, the youngling's hummed in sync with the mech's, calming him down to a collection of indistinct murmurs.
"Shhh, shhh," the mech cooed again. "Relax further."
Bumblebee took in a deep breath through his intakes, letting the air out against Optimus as his frame shivered. The mech held the bot tighter, swaying.
"Now," he began. "Tell me what happened to them, little one."
Bumblebee's optics focused on the wall aimlessly. "Th-The bad people took them away," quaked the mechling's modulators. "A-All of them."
Optimus' optics slitted slightly. "Who, Bumblebee? Your two creators?"
Bumblebee nodded whilst a tear trickled. "A-And my brother…" His tiny cries began to worsen. "Sp-Sparkfire…"
"Sparkfire," Optimus echoed. Three robots lost from the youngling's life, so quickly, too quickly. The amount of sorrow constricting and twisting Bumblebee's spark had to be severe to the point of utter depression.
How the youngling could even muster a smile was a wonder in itself.
Bumblebee cried out suddenly, burying his head. The words in his processor just refused to come out of his mouth, getting to his throat only to be choked back with sobs. Helplessly, he let himself go, sobs bawling out. Every cry resembled the pain housed in his spark, the fear of loneliness overwhelming his every circuit.
Optimus shook his head at the mechling with a quiet sigh. Thick digits brushed over the youngling's frame and the mech forced his spark to beat stronger, warmer, and richer in its hums. Bumblebee, again, quieted, but said nothing.
Optimus opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself with a grunt. He didn't feel the time was right, that any further questions would only prod the mechling into another fit of sobs. The questions would have to hold until the time was right.
"Quiet, Bumblebee," he whispered, leaning down to press his lips against the bot's head in a soft, fatherly kiss. "I will not interrogate you any further, little one."
Bumblebee whirred, as if to give thanks for the mech's decision.
"I-I'm sorry," he whimpered.
"You did nothing wrong," Optimus corrected him almost too quickly. "Nothing wrong at all..."
Bumblebee laid his receptor against Optimus' spark, melting into the embrace the mech had around him with a soft purr. Though his processor was alive with memories of his creators and Sparkfire, alive with memories that would ever haunt him, they seemed to be absent. The war hardened Optimus Prime, excluding how rough and aged his outer casing may make him appear, could comfort a youngling like magic, in the blink of an optic even.
Especially this little one.
Bumblebee would always feel safe in such arms, by such a spark cased by such a mech as Optimus Prime.
No other robot in the universe could show as much love for one little mechling.
/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
Unknown Location
A Few Miles Away from a Recently Destroyed District
"How much further until we reach the base?" droned Barricade's rumbling voice, his scarlet optics giving the second in command a slightly skeptical glance. "Surely we should be nearing."
Starscream groaned at the scout's impatience and continued walking, his footsteps soft against the dirt ground. Barricade blinked his optics twice. Surely Starscream wasn't that glitched in the processor to not have heard him.
"Starscream…"
"Five Earth minutes, you impatient moron," barked the jet. "Must you ask every mile?!"
Barricade sighed. "With all due respect, Sir," he growled. "You're wrong. I have not asked every mile, according to my calculations."
"Perhaps you should check again, scout."
"I have," he replied boldly. "It's you who needs to check again, if anyone. You've reported to me saying we were five Earth minutes away from our base about four miles ago. Are you certain this time?"
Starscream released a heated sigh. "Another comment like that and I'll have your aft in detention for an entire stellarcycle."
Barricade snorted quietly under a sigh from his intakes. He turned his red optics to the still dark sky, watching as the rain continued to fall. He frowned. "Permission to advise?"
"What is it this time?" groaned Starscream.
"It would be wise if we took on our alternate forms," the scout said. "It would be - "
"Walking is perfectly fine," snapped the jet.
"As I was saying," Barricade continued.
"You were advising…"
Barricade sighed and continued. "…It would take less time, considering that I can travel speeds three hundred miles per Earth hour. And you, Sir, can easily reach Mach 3."
Starscream kept walking, pushing past trees and struggling to manage his wide frame between them. He snarled softly.
Barricade frowned deeper. "Sir - "
Starscream cut him off and transformed in the matter of astroseconds, his main engines roaring as his jet form blasted to the skies, ascending higher until leveling out at a moderate, yet fast speed. Barricade, with a small sigh, transformed into his alternate mode, chasing after the jet.
"Why Megatron chose you as his second in command," he muttered under his purring engine. "…Will always be beyond me."
/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
Nightfall at the Autobot Base
Bumblebee's wide optics drooped at their corners as they stared ahead of him, scanning silently in the pitch black night that engulfed every square inch of Optimus' quarters. The only light that shone was the dim glow of the monitors mounted on the wall and the radiance of the Cybertronian moons.
The mechling whirred to himself softly before he opened his mouth to yawn, sprawling his little form out on top of Optimus spark. A massive hand covered him like a metal blanket, curious and gentle fingers soon following with incredibly light touches along his frame. Bumblebee enjoyed every astrosecond of it, his wings moving out and in, out and in with his satisfaction.
He yawned again, then chirped in surprise at a sudden clap of thunder and bolt of lightning. Optimus made a low sound of protest, stroking Bumblebee's head in his recharge. He managed to murmur, "It's okay," in a voice barely over a whisper. "Recharge, little one."
Bumblebee hummed nervously. He wished the never ending storm would stop. The crackles of thunder and striking lightning only made him remember the death of his creators. Closing his optics, Bumblebee tried to remember something peaceful, something that would ease him toward recharge…
Cut to Flashback
Over One Earth Year Ago at Bumblebee's Unit…
"There ya go, Bee! You're doin' it!"
A gentle hand pushed up against the youngling's bottom, easing him up on the berth and completely supporting his little form. Bumblebee's tiny yellow hands sat flat on the metal before their digits dug in, and the youngling grunted as he pulled himself onto the berth. Sprawled out on his tummy, he looked up as a young mech sat beside him, his own wide, baby blue optics staring into a deep blue pair.
"Good, Bee," a voice cooed.
The young mech was fitted in yellow armoring with certain plates accented white and black, two qualities he had inherited from his creators. His faceplate was well structured with curved cheekplates and angular facets, along with a pair of deep blue optics that sat drooped slightly on his young face. He had door wings like his brother, his obviously larger and a little more curved in shape. A yellow hand fell against his little brother's back, and his metal lips curved into a smile as Bumblebee hummed happily.
"I knew you could do it, Bee," he whispered, his voice smooth, but only at the tenor tone. The young mech was not fully fledged, nor was he a complete youngling, but somewhere in between. He could be considered the equivalent of a human preteen and he was already a recruited soldier.
Bumblebee purred, wide optics upturning as his little form swayed in time with the massive hand's strokes against his body. The yellow digits brushed against him in ways that made him chirp and twitter in a delight he hadn't felt in too long. The mechling pressed his form against his brother's side, tiny arms wrapping as best they could around it.
"Sparkfire," the little mech cooed with a small giggle.
Sparkfire's optics warmed even deeper, glowing softly in a brilliant imploring blue through the dark shadows of the night. He scooted further back on the recharge berth as he took his little brother in his hands, cradling him in his arms.
"I'm right here, Bee," came the soft reply. "What is it?"
"Can we go outside tomorrow?" asked Bumblebee quietly. His words faded off with a yawn, and his tiny form squirmed as he stretched. Little limbs creaked and yellow digits separated on his small hands. Sparkfire melted at the faceplate that scrunched in the mechling's exhaustion, oh so cute, oh so innocent.
Bumblebee was the most precious mechling he could ever behold.
Sparkfire gave Bumblebee's fuel tanks a soft pat, then began rubbing circles into them. The little mech instantly quieted, giggling underneath his brother's fingers.
"We'll see. It could rain again," Sparkfire grinned. "How 'bout we sleep on it?"
Bumblebee whirred, burying his head against the warm spark that beat beside his audio receptor. The way it thrummed was too inviting, keeping a steady rhythm. The tiny blue heart of the mechling shifted into a synced rhythm, thrumming and humming along with his brother's. Sparkfire felt this through the close bond he had with Bumblebee, leaning down to plant a kiss against the bot's foreplate. His metal lips kissed softly against the Autobot insignia and he grinned wider in the dark.
"That's my little Bee," he whispered, leaning back against a wall. His optic lids fell and his internal systems quieted, working under less stress and pressure as he began to slip into recharge. "Sleep well, okay?"
Bumblebee whirred, then twittered to himself as he remembered something. Sparkfire felt the tiny form shift and wriggle against his spark chamber, a little hand prodding him to open his optics.
"'Fire," squawked the mechling in a small voice.
"Hmm?"
"S-Song," was the one worded reply.
Sparkfire opened his optics slowly with a wide grin highlighting his faceplate, and he took the bot in his hands, raising his knees before he sat Bumblebee in his lap. Instinctively, Bumblebee laid his receptor against his brother's spark, listening to it hum. He then heard the smooth voice of his brother as he began to sing to him softly, Sparkfire's fingers brushing to and fro against the mechling.
Bumblebee melted instantly.
The way the young mech's voice slid into the bot's audios was sensational, not only to the receptors, but to the spark as well. His lifesource beat against and with his brother's as the melody slid under the night with liquid grace, every pitch perfect, every note a song in its own. It was a lullaby and it calmed the mech to a state of complete relaxation.
Sparkfire was the best brother a bot could have.
Bumblebee closed his optics as the soft song ended. Metal lips returned to his foreplate and held there, murmuring words in Cybertronian the young one couldn't understand.
But, then, he heard the familiar, "Lavesho'aii arderyi," feeling his spark thrum happily in their bond. Sparkfire pulled away and gave the bot the perfect time to hop up, planting a kiss on his brother's cheekplate. The young mech laughed, embracing the little life in his arms.
Bumblebee's tiny hands latched to his brother's arms. "Lavesho'aii arderyi…" he whispered, nuzzling his head into the warm spark that beat nearby. "'Fire, don't leave me."
"You know I'll never leave you, Bee," the young mech said back with a smile. "I'm your brother, and brothers are forever, you know."
Bumblebee whirred. "I didn't know that," he said innocently. "…But, I like it."
Sparkfire chuckled. "Me too."
A single fingertip ran over his brother's spark chamber and gave it a few quick taps before lying there, feeling the tiny hums of the little spark that beat inside the mechling. "And I'll always be in here, Bee."
Bumblebee looked down to his brother's finger, blinking at it. "How…?" he murmured.
Sparkfire grinned. "I just will," he told his brother, rubbing circles into his spark. "Don't worry. Whenever you need me to stand with you, just talk and listen to this little heart, you got that?"
Bumblebee grinned in return. "Okay…" he whispered. "Then…" He wriggled around and set both of his tiny palms against Sparkfire's spark, feeling it beat with an even wider smile. "I wanna be in yours too."
The young mech laughed, rattling his mechling brother. "You will," he cooed. "Our bond is inseparable, Bee. No one can get between us, ya got that?" He nuzzled his foreplate against his brother's. "Never, ever."
Bumblebee squealed happily, giggling. "I like the sound of that," he replied, smiling from receptor to receptor.
A single kiss to his cheekplate was the young mech's answer, followed by, "Me too, Bee," in a whisper.
He pressed Bumblebee against his spark, shutting his optics as he began to sway.
"Me too…"
End Flashback
The shifting of the mighty form beneath Bumblebee shook him from his daydream. Optimus hummed to himself softly in his recharge, keeping his massive hand over the mechling like a giant blanket. Bumblebee cuddled under it, wide optics focusing on the small window fixed high on the wall. He stared at the orbs in the sky, the Cybertronian moons, letting his processor wander off again.
"'Fire," he whispered under his breath, feeling tears begin to sting his optics again. Bumblebee set a tiny hand over his spark, feeling as it pulsed along with Optimus', but yet, it felt so alone. Sure, Optimus' spark was warm, inviting, and just like his creators' and Sparkfire's combined to one. But, no matter how exact it came to be, no spark would be like his brother's. Sparkfire's heart was irreplaceable.
Bumblebee sighed, shifting into a curled form on top of Optimus' spark. The silence was getting to him, and a craving for sweet energon nagged at his emptying tanks. He whirred and shifted again, staring up at the window.
And the, he saw it…
Two bright scarlet orbs stared down into his optics, piercing him to the very lifesource. They blinked, then disappeared in an astrosecond.
"Huh…?!"
Bumblebee was left disarrayed, his little form sitting up immediately with a tiny chirp quaking in his throat.
Had he seen them? Or was his processor just initiating his over reacting imagination…?
He shuddered.
What were those?
Bumblebee cried out in fear as the door of Optimus' quarters hissed and pulled away. The mechling scurried off of the mighty mech's chest, crawling down onto the berth and huddling beside Optimus' faceplate. His tiny form pressed against one of the gallant mech's cheekplates and he dared not to whimper, blinking through blurring vision. Footsteps sounded and approached, and soon, the form revealed itself. Bumblebee looked up…
Only to see the welcoming figure of the second in command, Jazz.
Jazz leaned down, blinking at the mechling. "You alright, kid?" his deep, mellow voice asked in a smooth tone as a single claw prodded gentle stroked against the bot's form. "Ya look quite shaken…"
Bumblebee whimpered and shook his head. He didn't want to talk about what he had seen, he chose to ignore it and pay no mind to it. Jazz's optics drooped in concern, then shifted to the recharging form of Optimus that lay on the berth. He prodded the commander's side.
"Sir," he whispered. "Optimus, wake up."
Bumblebee watched as Optimus' optics lids slowly raised and his optics came online with their deep blue hue, each blinking twice to sharpen his vision. They turned to Jazz as he slowly sat up, straightening his posture on the berth with a quiet sigh from his intakes.
"Where's Bumblebee?" the commander asked, voice modulators crackling quietly online.
Jazz pointed at his side.
Optimus looked down at the mechling at his side, then gently took him into his hands, cradling him against his stomach plating. He shifted before holding the bot in his arms and drawing the little frame against his chest. Bumblebee snuggled without a word, only purring to himself. He listened as the mighty commander's air intakes worked behind the red and blue armor that covered his chest, along with a spark that beat oh so greatly.
Thick fingers danced along his frame and Bumblebee listened as they spoke, wide optics looking from one mech to the other as each one conversed.
"Optimus, we're getting these strange readings from outside the base," the second in command reported. "Radars' tellin' us we might have 'erselves a lil' company."
The commander sat up straighter, brow furrowing as he donned a more serious faceplate. Decepticons attacking at this hour? A wise choice indeed on their part. Optimus had to take great heed of what the radars had perceived. He would not let the enemy attack and frighten Bumblebee again; it was his promise to the mechling.
He sighed again. "Give me a moment…"
The commander nodded once to Jazz, dismissing him. The silver mech walked off, ambling once he reached the door and looked over his shoulder at the two.
Bumblebee whimpered as Optimus lowered him to the berth. "D-Don't go…"
Optimus rose to his feet slowly, then turned his deep blue optics to the tiny mech on the berth, reaching down to slowly cup his hand around the mechling's back. Bumblebee's little head nuzzled into its palm, but his wide optics refused to part away from Optimus', and they began to glimmer with energon tears.
"Pw-Pwease…"
The sight was truly spark wrenching to the mech, for he knew almost every component of the energon that shone in those wide optics. The horrible fear and longing to never be alone again, the wanting to be secure and protected from the Decepticons who had taken away every mech and femme he had ever known. Optimus had to attend his matters though; They were a part of his duty.
He didn't want Bumblebee to see the monitors and radars, fearing it would only heighten the feelings of fright in the mechling. But, leaving him in the quarters, would that be any better? He would be alone…Solitary from him in the dark with the storm going on just behind the base walls.
He had a decision to make, and Primus was it difficult.
Optimus lowered himself at the youngling's side, easing the tiny form against his thigh.
"Prime, ya comin'?" came Jazz's voice as Bumblebee crawled into the commander's lap.
Optimus didn't answer for astroseconds, his optics drooping as they watched the mechling's form quake with each sob of despair. Oh, how the sympathy wrenched his spark to the point of pain – Throbbing dully in his entire chest. He looked away when he felt tears well in his own optic ducts, and he sighed through his air intake valves.
"I will be with you all momentarily, Jazz," was his murmured reply. He looked back to Bumblebee who continued crying against his stomach plating, the fine movements of his shaking body only adding to his sympathy each time. "Let me attend to this little one first…"
Jazz watched with a frown at the crying young one, then turned on his heel and departed from their presence. Optimus and Bumblebee were like Creator and Creation. Inseparable mech and mechling.
Optimus swayed the bot back and forth once he was cradled against his spark, patting his little back to quiet his cries. Bumblebee shivered and Optimus shook his head, creating a low sound in his throat. Bumblebee pressed his head against Optimus' throat, whirring at the noise.
"D-Don't leave me here," quaked the little mech. "Pl-Please. I-I don't…" His words were choked in his throat, and he couldn't manage to get them out. Optimus understood with a single nod, his fingers coaxing the bot to relax.
"I know your pain, little one. I'm aware of it all," he sighed. "I will not leave you."
Bumblebee smiled faintly in relief, nestling him form perfectly against Optimus' spark. "Th-Thank you," he sputtered out through his cries. "I just didn't - "
"I understand, youngling," whispered the mech, shaking his head. "Do not be afraid." He planted a soft kiss against the bot's receptor. "I will not let the Decepticons hurt you."
"Thank you…" was the tiny reply.
Little did Optimus know that Bumblebee would be in danger in a matter of breems…
Astroseconds of silence passed by and as Optimus stood, Bumblebee spoke again.
"Optimus…?"
"Yes, little one."
"Can I call you, 'Daddy?'"
Daddy…
The word echoed. How one simple name could soften a spark that had lived through numerous battles, one that was hardened from the terrible war, it was truly amazing. Optimus smiled from receptor to receptor, knowing the answer the instant the innocent little bot looked up at him with those wide optics.
How could he say no to such a face?
"Of course you may," Optimus cooed, planting a kiss against Bumblebee's cheekplate.
Bumblebee giggled and hugged Optimus' spark with his tiny arms. "Thanks," he giggled again, propping his chin against the mech's chest to look up at him. "…Daddy."
Optimus grinned. "You're most certainly welcome, my little one."
/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
Less than a Breem Later.
In the Autobot Base…
Optimus stepped into the room, his optics immediately taking note of the many monitors that hung on its walls and radars that beeped and twittered on desktops. Bumblebee's wide optics soaked everything in. He watched as the mechs worked professionally, then all looked up in unison as their leader entered the room. Respectful nods were given and soon Jazz was at the commander's side.
"We're still getting' those signals," he sighed, shrugging. "They're foreign…Could be unidentified Autobots 'er…"
"Decepticons," finished the commander. He moved over to a desk and sat the youngling on it, patting the back of the little one's head before he gave him a reassuring smile, optics warming. "Don't worry. I'm not going to leave you."
Bumblebee nodded with a smile in return, then watched as the mech moved to the center of the room. His wide optics continued to look at the monitors and radars, a giggle of awe hopping from his modulators. His gaze fell over a single window and he blinked.
They were there again. Staring right at him.
Two scarlet orbs in the night.
Bumblebee's optics widened and he stared right back. They didn't scare him anymore. No…They were inviting, warm…Friendly. Bumblebee wanted to go closer to them and he started to stand. No one noticed him looking at the window.
The mechling gasped softly as he saw a claw shine in the light of the Cybertronian moons, behind the glass. It curled inward, then out, inward and out again, coaxing him to come outside.
"Come here, little one…" It seemed to say.
"Ohhh," Bumblebee breathed.
Outside…Bumblebee's processor knew the aftermath of going out there…Discovery.
He wanted to see those orbs, how intriguing they were to such a bot. Bumblebee giggled quietly and the two orbs disappeared. He frowned.
"Nooo," he whined softly to himself.
Bumblebee whirred under a sigh from his intakes. He had to go outside. Something in his spark was nagging him to find out what those two red orbs were.
The mechs turned their backs and began conversing with one another, giving this little bot the perfect time to sneak out. Bumblebee hopped off the desk and scurried from the room, peeking his head back in. No one had noticed him and, chirping happily, the little bot tottered down the hall, not knowing the slightest bit of the danger he had just gotten himself into.
/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
Ten Earth Minutes Later…
Bumblebee stepped one foot into the sloppy mud ground, shivering as he noticed light rain still falling from the sky. His wide optics looked up and down, left and right, desperate to see those brilliant orbs again. He stumbled forward, his little frame wobbling out into the night.
So vulnerable, he was…
He meandered for astroseconds, but then, a raspy voice halted him instantly.
"Come over here, little one," it said in a forced, coaxing tone. "Right here…"
Bumblebee looked to where the voice had sounded. His optics fell over a collection of trees. Could someone be hidden in them? It was so dark…
"Over here…"
The questions in his processor only pushed the youngling's curiosity further and in these situations, such things could be potentially threatening to his well being.
"Huhh?" Bumblebee breathed, easing toward the tree. "Wh-Who's there?"
"That's right, little one," the harsh voice came again in a whisper. "Look what I have for a special little mech like you."
Suddenly, a cube of energon appeared before Bumblebee, the liquid glowing brightly in a blue color. It looked amazingly delicious to his hungry tanks and he giggled in excitement, tottering toward the sweet fuel. His little hands reached up as the cube lowered, and Bumblebee noted two claws holding it oh so delicately. He didn't care. He wanted the food, and that's all his processor focused on.
It fit between his hands perfectly and the mechling fell back on his aft in satisfaction, grinning before his tilted his head back and began gulping down the liquid. A hiss emitted from the dark and the tip of a claw stroked the bot's throat to coax the liquid down, followed by a quiet snicker in the shadows. Bumblebee suspected nothing.
"Good, good, that's right, little one," the voice spoke again. "Drink up…"
The scarlet orbs appeared in the dark and stared at Bumblebee, coaxing him closer. Bumblebee stood with a big gulp of energon, and the claw slowly wiped away the blue liquid that stained around the bot's mouth.
A hoarse cackle of laughter followed and suddenly, the youngling was clutched in the mighty claw. The cube of energon fell from the bot's hands and spilled on the mud ground, pale liquid trickling.
"Ahhhhh!!"
Bumblebee cried out, but the noise was stopped as the claw's tip sat over his mouth. Deep laughter resonated from the darkness engulfing the trees, but it wasn't one mech laughing, there were more.
Decepticons…
Another pair of red orbs revealed themselves and each of the two stared down at Bumblebee, upturning at his fear.
"Excellent technique, Sir," said a deep voice. "How I had doubted you…Such a mistake."
A pleasant shriek struck the air. "I might as well appoint myself as leader of the Decepticons," snarled the harsh voice. The mech pet the youngling's head, laughing as tears poured from his wide optics. "He's defenseless…What a pathetic excuse for a mech."
"I do agree. Shall we bring him to the base?"
Bumblebee tried to scream, but each cry was only an attempt. The claw covering his mouth muffled him, and pretty soon, the Decepticon was becoming angered.
"Mute it, you incompetent swine," growled the mech. "Or I shall destroy your modulators with the tip of my own claw!"
Bumblebee whimpered, but immediately shut his voice processors off temporarily. A roar of laughter shook his frame and he tried to think of a way to contact Optimus, contact any source of help. Tears flooded and dumped from his optics. He regretted leaving the base, the security of being near Optimus Prime…
"D-Daddy," he managed to sputter.
Daddy…
The laughter echoed around him, and soon, he felt his tiny form being drawn deeper into the shadows. Darkness swallowed him up in an astrosecond. He wanted to scream, cry for help. The scarlet orbs continued to stare at him, and he realized.
These orbs were not inviting, they were not warm, and they certainly were not friendly.
He was raised into the air and he heard the roar of an engine below him. Whatever held him hissed in great excitement, clutching his little body tighter. It walked in massive strides and passed over puddles of muddy water, puddles that continued to grow with the rain that still fell. Bumblebee looked down in them…
And he caught a glimpse of the monster that had him.
The light from the Cybertronian moons struck the puddles and radiated light up at them, striking the huge body of the Decepticon. Bumblebee saw that the mech's reflection. He had a wide pair of broad shoulders, taloned, bird-like feet, and a faceplate as cold as ice itself, and those piercing red orbs…
No, they weren't orbs. They were optics. Horribly colored optics.
Bumblebee turned and watched the Autobot base grow faint in the distance, the claw sliding away from his mouth. The overwhelming sense of loneliness fell over his spark and constricted it yet again, and here he was – Alone. For all he knew, that could have been the last time Optimus would have held him, and the first and the last time Bumblebee would have uttered the word, "Daddy," to him.
Tears spilled. He was hopeless.
Was there any hope?
Yes, there was.
The mechling shut his optics and buried his head into his palms, shivering. Primus had heard his little prayer before, maybe he would hear it again…
"P-Primus, help me," he quaked through tears. "I-I…I-I don't wanna die." The claw tightened around him and he squeaked, then regained his concentration to begin again. "D-Don't let th-them hurt me, please. D-Don't let the bad people g-get me…"
He looked up at the sky, optics tear-glazed. "'Fire, if you're up there and you see me…" he whispered. "Could you help me like you helped me onto that berth?" He smiled faintly. "Pl-Please, 'Fire. I n-need you…Please…"
His optics fell over his own tiny spark, and he clutched it with both hands, shutting his optics in a whimper.
"I kn-know you're here, 'F-'Fire…H-Help me…"
Mwuhahahahhaaaaa. Will Bee be saved?! Find out! xD
