CHAPTER 10
The Arrival

The next months passed with much awkwardness. As Hound had thought he would, he fought back and forth with social services. Who often stated that he had no right to raise someone outside of his species. But he never gave in or up, even when they constantly tried to say "no", he went to all his classes, he put NEST through the home study, which was overseen by Colonel William Lennox, which they barely passed due to the chaos on base, but still managed to none-the-less. And while all this happened, and he received his license, Hound waited for the okay to bring Mark back to the NEST Base they now called home again.

Around three-thirty one afternoon four months after the process started, Hound's comm beeped. "Ms. Walsh, always a pleasure to hear from you." He spoke into his comm link "Were you calling to give me a progress report on how Mark's doing? He hasn't skipped any more classes, has he?"

"I was actually calling to congratulate you, Hound." Hound immediately stood from his seated position at his post in the communications bay "I've just been given the OK to place Markus Franklin Savoy into the care of one: Autobot Hound." He was nearly ready to rush out at that moment "But hold on before you get too excited. Given your... Unusual circumstances, I have been told to visit you twice every two weeks." Hound nodded, he could do that "And what's more... This is on a very trial run basis for my boss, and as such, at the first sign this new "alien" environment is becoming detrimental to his health..."

"He'll be removed, I understand your concern." Hound nodded his head "What put me over the top? Just last week they were saying that-."

"My recommendation and that of his CASA worker." Dana replied calmly "You're the most persistent prospect I've seen in years, and Markus has continually voiced his desire to live with you." Hound smiled a little at that "As far as I'm concerned you've earned this on a trial basis and we'll see how well it goes." She explained.

"Thank you." Hound replied "When can I-?"

"You don't come to him, he comes to you. Please tell Colonel Lennox that Markus and I will be arriving around six o'clock in the afternoon." Hound nodded his head, it only gave them a short amount of time, but they would make it work "I'll see you then."

"Alright."

The moment he cut out on the comm link, the base became a whirlwind of panic. Lennox had labeled this moment "Code: Purple", in order for all the higher members of the NEST hierarchy would be there. While most everyone else was allowed to go about their day as they normally would, it went without saying that their best behavior on-base was appreciated. They finished gathering who they needed within five minutes of when Lennox got a call. "Yep, that's her, send her through to the main hangar." Hound heard him speak before he quietly turned to him "Nervous?" Hound could only nod "Don't be. It's going to be fine."

"I haven't been a father since before this planet was out of the ice age." Hound replied.

Lennox laughed in response, shaking his head and looking up at him. "You'll be fine."

A moment later, Dana Walsh stepped into the hangar with her arm around Mark. Hound's spark nearly leapt out of his chest in happiness at the sight of seeing the young human again for the first time since he was released from the hospital. He carried a black duffle bag that seemed to contain his wordily possessions, and seemed to be much better groomed, including having had a much-needed hair cut since he last saw him. "Hound!" He shouted happily "Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes."

"You're looking well yerself." Hound crouched down as Mark broke from Dana and made his way over "Primus, it's good to see you." He noted, running his hand along his hair "So, are there more forms for me to sign before I get Mark acquainted with his new home?" He questioned, eyeing Dana calmly.

"Yeah, you'll have to sign a few forms, and I'll need to see his living arrangements one more time before I leave." Dana nodded "If you'll bring your holoform, and show me to the nearest desk and pen, we can get the paperwork part of this settled."

As Hound did as requested, Mark turned to face the man that stood beside Hound. He was greeted by a warm smile from Lennox and an outstretched hand. "It's nice to finally get to meet you, Mark. I'm Colonel Lennox, and I run NEST Operations here." He explained "But you can call me Will, there's no real need for you to call me anything else if you're going to be living here."

Mark tentatively outstretched his hand and shook his. "It's nice to meet you too." Mark shifted nervously "Thanks, y'know for doing this. I know a base like this isn't exactly meant for kids like me." He rubbed the back of his neck lightly "I hope I'm not causing too big a ruckus."

"Hey, you need the 'Bots protection, and we have the room." Will explained, patting Mark's arm "As long as you let us do our jobs, and let the Autobots do theirs too, we won't have any problems. You're old enough that I kinda figure you can do that much." Mark gave a small half-smile in response "There are some serious rules if you're going to be living here, especially on the 'Bots side so I'm gonna need you both to follow me. And you to pay attention."

"They have their own side of the base?"

"The perks of a new HQ." Will replied "Wait until you see it."

As Will started off, Mark looked over at Hound with a sheepish grin. Hound smiled a bit, and picked his young foster son up off the ground. "It feels good to have my little buddy back where he belongs." He stated calmly, setting him on his shoulder "Don't worry, bud. You're gonna fit right in."

Mark hoped he was right.

...

The new NEST base of operations was huge. With two sides to it, one for the Autobots (and now, for Mark too) and one side for the humans armed forces. Lennox explained that he was allowed most everywhere on the human side without asking permission, other than the command center, and any rooms now marked "PRIVATE". So long as he agreed to keep what he saw and heard to himself, there was not much else that would be Earth-shattering if he saw, after all, he already knew the robots. The Autobots side was mostly regarded as the same, with Hound pointing out that if he ever needed to get into his office, that was never off limits.

Both sides were filled with different technology, human and Autobot-made alike. And both were almost entirely made of metal, reinforced to protect them from most anything, or so he guessed. But the Autobots side was especially awe-inspiring in that it had the brunt of the Cybertronian technology. The floor was decorated with an Autobot shield and the words: "NEST OPERATIONS" and the main room itself was circular. Lastly, after Dana had left, Will broke off from the two of them, and Hound led Mark to his bedroom.

One of the cooler features he noticed was that the large Transformer-sized door opened simply by thumb recognition on a pad. (Hound noted it was made to read his and the other Autobot's signatures, as well as Mark's fingerprint, and Will's for good measure) On the inside, the room was large, with a big, soft queen-sized bed covered with sheets and blankets that seemed to be Autobot colors. The colors of the bedroom matched one of the colors, being a deep blue. There was a TV near the bed, a desk in one corner with a laptop on top, a bookcase, and a built in closet for storage of his clothes. Finally, there was a large Autobot shield on the floor. "Wow, this is all for me?" Mark asked quietly, looking around "You guys didn't have to go all out for me like this. You know that, right?"

"This is your home now." Hound replied as he leaned against the wall "We wanted you to feel at home and safe here." He then added "After all, we all know growing up on a military base won't be very easy as it is."

"So this isn't a temporary thing until Cyclonus is caught?" Mark asked.

"After all of that work?" Hound snorted "Youngling, they'll have to pry you out of my hands before you leave here." Mark let a smirk spread across his face "Don't be silly about this stuff, of course yer here to stay." He noted "I thought we agreed that we were going to try and fill each other's voids." Mark nodded his head "You seem nervous..."

"A little." Mark admitted as he sat on the edge of the bed "That and trying to take it all in. When you told me you were going to take me in... I couldn't believe it at first. But then Dana would tell me about your talks and..." He paused again, putting his hands on the bed "Now I'm actually here, and I don't know... I'm kinda excited and scared at the same time."

Hound was thankful that he wasn't the only one feeling that combination of emotions at all of this. He stepped forward, and nodded, crouching low enough to look Mark in the eyes. "I feel the same way if it makes you feel any better. I still have a hard time comprehending that I'm a father again..." He explained, looking down "But I think we will fall into the roles pretty easily. I already took pretty good care of you a few months ago."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"So, speaking of taking good care of you..." Hound raised an optic ridge.

"Oh, the Martins? They were fine, really nice people..." Mark replied with a shrug "Matt was a pretty cool guy, and Jane was an awesome cook. But they were hella strict, so I'm kinda glad to be out of there too." A second shrug followed "What can I say really, they didn't beat me or lock me in the closet. So you don't have to get your guns out or anything if you're asking."

"I'd have a rocket launcher ready if they had." Hound replied bluntly.

Mark laughed a little, though by the look on his face, Hound wasn't joking in the least. Mark almost smirked at the fact that Hound had a similar "I'd murder someone" look that his own dad had about stuff like this, almost. He pushed the thoughts of his dad away for a moment as Hound started for the door. "Anyway, I'll let you unpack your things." He told him "I have some work to finish." He then added "We put you right near both my office and quarters. My quarters are the door right to the left of yours. And my office is a few doors down from that, you'll see a sign." He noted "And-."

"Hound?" Mark interrupted, as the mech stopped "I'll be fine, don't worry. The only person off-base now that Sideswipe is back from protecting the Martins and I is Bee, right? Since he stayed with the Yaegers?" The mech nodded "If I get lost, I'll just ask one of the others. You should get to work."

"Right." Hound rubbed the back of his neck "Sometimes I forget how self-reliant you are." He stood there for a long moment "Well then, like I said, if you need me, I'm only right down the hallway."

Mark nodded as Hound started for the door. It was a long moment before Mark chewed his lip, and then looked up. "Hey, Hound." The mech stopped, and looked back at him "Thanks... Y'know, for not giving up on me. For doing this..." He looked down at the ground "I'm really... Glad you kept me around after all." He explained.

Hound smiled at that, his optics softening. "I am too, Mark." He replied "Be sure to at least find one of us when you're hungry. We'll take you to the mess hall."

And with that, Hound was out the door, leaving Mark alone in his new bedroom. He opened up his bag of things carefully, and began to remove them one-by-one until he finally came across the one he'd almost forgotten he had. A picture of himself, and his father, from a fishing trip that they had taken a few years earlier. Silently tracing the frame of the picture with his fingers, he thought about what he would do with it carefully. Finally deciding, he carefully opened the top drawer of his nightstand, and placed it inside before closing it.

He still wasn't sure if he was ready to forgive his father. Especially not now that the Autobots had gone as far as to give him a new place to call home. But until he figured it out, it needed to be in the back of his mind, it all had to be in the back of his mind. After all he'd gone through, he deserved time to settle into this new life while putting his old one behind him for now. And that much, he knew he could at least try and do.