Chapter 10

The Diary

"Here we go." Sideswipe stared at Rachel's door, his optics flashing brightly. "You ready?"

Sunstreaker, who still had Bumblebee firmly in his grasp, nodded and grinned. "You bet. Open it!"

"Okie dokie!" Sideswipe fiddled with the door controls until the hissing of hydraulics could be heard. "Sweet! We're in!"

"Guys, I... I really don't think this is a good idea." Bumblebee attempted to wriggle free from Sunstreaker's grasp, his optics whirling around nervously.

"Shh! Stop being such a scaredy-bot." Sideswipe clapped his servos together as the door whooshed open, the lights inside the room automatically flickering to life.

"Yeah. Shh. Come on." Sunstreaker dragged the poor, yellow bot inside the room, as Sideswipe followed close behind, the door hissing shut again.

"So then," sighed Sideswipe, "Where do you think it is?" He looked around the room. It was different to any other quarters he had seen before. Rachel had hung pieces of material over the metal walls in an attempt to hide them. She had also hung up various pictures, some drawn by her own hand.

"What's that smell?" Sunstreaker's head darted around.

"That's some of that purr-fyoom stuff, I think. Yeah. She wore it last week, remember?" Bumblebee smiled to himself at the memory, which made Sunstreaker yank his arm again, dragging him further into the room.

"Oh hey look!" Sideswipe pointed to a picture of himself on the wall that she had drawn. "I look so AWESOME!" He attempted to copy the pose, his face plate contorting in a very silly manner.

"Hmph. I bet I'd look better in that pose." Sunstreaker stuck his nose in the air.

"Yeah, bro. She doesn't have one of you."

"HMPH!"

"HAHAHA! Told ya she liked me more."

Bumblebee was busy staring at the picture of himself that he had spotted, his smile from earlier growing wider.

"Snap out of it Bee," shouted Sunstreaker upon noticing what he was staring at, "It's not as good as what a pic of me would look."

Sideswipe set about searching for the diary, looking on and under various furniture in the room. "Nghhh. I can't find it!"

"Try un... No, I won't get invovled!" Bee clasped his free servo over his mouth before he could say anything else.

"What was that?" Sunstreaker peered down at him, an optic ridge raised.

"Yeah, man. Try where?" Sideswipe walked over and leaned down to look him straight in the optics.

"No. I will not suggest anything. I'm not being a part of this!"

"TRY WHERE!" Sunstreaker's grip tightened.

"Ow, ow, ow! OK already! Try under her bed..."

Flailing slightly, Sideswipe dove for her bed and reached his huge hand under, taking what was underneath. "AHA! JACKPOOOOT!" He held the diary aloft, jumping around with excitement.

"READ IT!" Sunstreaker let go of Bumblebee's arm, much to his delight, and dashed over, staring at it.

"I'm... I'm not having anything to do with this!" Bumblebee dashed out the door as quickly as he could.

"Stop him! Ahhhh!" Sunstreaker pointed at the door, only to be shushed.

"Nevermind him, Bro, it..." Sideswipe opened it, only to stand there squinting. "It's too... I can't read it! The writing's too small."

"PRIMUS HATES UUUSSS!"

"Wait! Perceptor's back from that stupid mission today right!"

Sunstreaker rubbed his servos together. "Yeeeeaaahhh. You're right."

After exchanging knowing nods, the pair dashed out towards Perceptor's lab.

Starscream had decided to sit at a table at the other side of the hall, sulking over his public shaming. Megatron was sat at the same table as Thundercracker, downing his energon while eyeing Rachel.

"Today is the day, so I need to know everything in your puny little brain." Megatron's optics narrowed.

"I pretty much told you everything I know. Although, I'd suggest you watch your backs. I recall hearing something about a surprise attack from the rear and from the side of the canyon." Rachel was sat on the edge of the table, her legs dangling over the edge.

"The rear and side, eh?" Thundercracker sat upright from his slouch and looked Megatron in the optics. "Us Seekers will only be able to see so much. there are a lot of trees."

"What do you mean by 'us', Thundercracker? You are going to be staying here guarding our guest."

"WHAT! You can't be serious!"

"Oh, but I am."

A small growl echoed from his vocal processor. "Can't she come with us?"

"What!"

"Just sayin'. You need all your Seekers there, right?"

"And where would she be placed? If she was harmed, we would have no bargaining chip, or informant. Do not argue with me, Thundercracker, or you will face the same punishment as Starscream. A swift servo round your throat."

"Yes, Megatron."

"Seriously, guys. Fighting over me again. Tsk tsk." Rachel grinned over at the two, swinging her legs playfully.

"Silence. Unless you have something useful to say, I suggest you keep quiet." Megatron's optics narrowed even further.

A few minutes of silence later, Soundwave walked into the mess hall and walked up to Megatron's table. "Megatron. The Autobots ar..." He noticed Rachel sat on the table and automatically swung for her.

"Soundwave!"

Upon hearing Megatron's voice, he instantly stopped and stood upright again.

"She is of use to us. There is no reason to harm her. I know how you hate humans and, honestly, I can understand your outlook perfectly, so... Pretend she doesn't exist."

"Affirmative."

"Oooh. Pretty voice!" Rachel leaned over and stared at Soundwave, who was already ignoring her. "Say something else. Go on!" He remained silent. "COME ON!"

Megatron laughed loudly over her frustration. "You won't get him to take orders from you, human."

"Just thought I'd try it."

"Anyway, you were saying Soundwave?"

"Megatron, Powerglide has been spotted flying close."

"Anything regarding todays battle?"

"Negative."

"Go back out. Let me know as soon as you see movement near the canyon."

"As you command." Soundwave turned on his heels and stomped out the door.

"He's... interesting." Rachel raised a brow.

"Soundwave is a loyal Decepticon."

"Certainly seems so." She chuckled to herself. "I take it he's your main recon guy?"

"He and his cassettes are very useful." He glanced over at Starscream over on the other side of the room. "At least I can trust them to do a good job, unlike some of my other subordinates."

Starscream overheard his comment and pulled an almost hurt expression. "Megatron! I will have you know I have ALWAYS served you to the best of my ability."

"Then, your best must be really poor then."

"Oooooh, eat it, Benderjet!" Rachel waved a hand sarcastically at the wing commander.

"SILENCE!"

"Bite me!"

"No thanks, bad meat."

"No, I'm just too clean for your filthy mouth." She stood up and wiggled her hips, as Starscream, once again, stomped over.

"You? Clean? Hah!"

"Cleaner than you."

Megatron linked his fingers together under his chin, leaning on them as he smirked. It was an interesting sight to see. Normally, he would have squished any human who had the nerve to talk in such a way around him and his troops, but Starscream had been annoying him. "Why, Starscream. Having trouble again?"

"Do not insult me! Of course I'm not."

"Is that why your wings are shaking with anger?"

"Starscream!" Rachel scooted to the edge of the table and whispered. "He's looking at your wings! You are SO in!"

"Wh-wh... You disgusting little..."

She pouted up at him sarcastically, amused by his extreme reactions to everything she said. "Awww, there there, hotwings."

Starscream flinched a little. "I... I... You be quiet!"

Her grin widened. "Nah, I don't feel like it."

Megatron casually sipped his energon, glancing from Rachel, to Starscream and back again, while Thundercracker hid his head in his servos.

Perceptor was busy unpacking the equipment that he had taken on the mission he had just returned from. All the tools were neatly in a row on the table in front of him, as he scanned them with his shoulder mounted scope to make sure they weren't damaged, or dirty before he put them away.

"Ah, yes. Perfect."

He opened a storage unit and placed each tool inside, one by one. Each of them having it's own special place.

"That's another mission out of the way. Perhaps now I can return to my personal experiments in peace." Suddenly, his train of thought was violently halted, as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe bombed into the room, almost knocking over several of his projects in the process.

"Dude! Perceptor! We need your help, yeah!" Sunstreaker, after tripping over another project, shoved the diary in the now very displeased Autobot's servos.

Perceptor's scope focused on the diary, as he frowned at the two. "Boys, you cannot just simply barge in here, I am very busy."

"Please Percy!" Sideswipe walked closer and put on a pleading expression, as Sunstreaker clasped his hands together under the irritated mech's nose. "PRETTY PLEASE!"

"What is it that you want?"

"YES! ALRIIIIGHT! Go Percy!" Sunstreaker struck a victory pose before grinning back down at the diary.

"Stop calling me that, wh-what is this?" His scope focused more on the cover.

"It's a... Book."

"Yes, I can see that."

"We, er... Can't read it. Writing's too small. Can you read it to us?"

Perceptor read the title. "Rachel's Diary..." An optic ridge raised. "Why do I get the feeling that you two are up to no good?"

"No, that's er... Just the title of the, er..." Sunstreaker fumbled for a decent excuse, but was thankfully backed up by Sideswipe. "It's the title of it. I heard it's some earth persons writings. Something they call fanfiction. Pretty slaggy title if you ask me."

"I will thank you to keep your language to a minimum in my lab, thank you very much." His head lowered once more, as he returned to scanning the diary. His fingers carefully opened the cover and skipped the first blank pages. "Hmm..."

"What! What's it say!" The brothers leaned forwards with anticipation, watching Perceptor reach a finger to his chin and scratch at it.

"Today I met Bumblebee. A cute little guy. Well, I say little, he is taller than me. I also met Sideswipe. He has very cute face on him..." Perceptor looked up at them again, only to see Sideswipe doing a mini victory dance. "This is a fanfiction, you say?"

"Y-y-yes." Sunstreaker stuttered. "It, er... It's about us! Yeah!"

"Very well..." He lowered his head once more and continued his reading. "March 17th. Mood, interested, but irritable. Today I met Sideswipe's brother Sunstreaker. He is a sweet Mech, but his colour hurts my eyes."

"HAH!" Sideswipe pointed a finger right at Sunstreaker, only to get it slapped away angrily. "SHUT UP!"

"Am I reading this, or not?"

"Yes, continue!"

"Bumblebee has been looking out for me since I have been here. I do not like being away from my home. I know my mother is happy now that she has married Prime, but I can't help but feel angry. Angry that I have to go along with all of this, even though I do not want it. Why did Prime have to take us away? This stinks." Perceptor paused and raised his head, the two brothers leaning over, listening intently.

"C-c-continue, dude!"

"This is really starting to sound like a diary, what with the date formatting and all and awfully familiar..."

"Shh, it's just how it's written! Continue!"

"Fine." Perceptor's head lowered once more, as he skipped a few pages forwards. "May 4th. Mood, better. My mom is happy. That's what I have to keep reminding myself. But, in all honesty, the only things that would keep me here if I had a choice to leave would be Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Jazz and Ratchet. Nothing else really."

"Skip a bit further!"

"Boys. I will read this how I want to, if I am to read it at all."

"Please?"

"OK!" His fingers turned more pages. "November 5th. Mood, secretly happy. Bonfire night. I was pleased that Prime agreed to at least let me and mom celebrate it. A lot of the Autobots couldn't really understand the tradition, but I know a lot enjoyed it. Some of those fireworks Wheeljack made were spectacular. I sat with Sunstreaker and Sideswipe watching them from the cliff overlooking Autobot HQ. Sidewipe certainly has a nice looking aft. I probably shouldn't say that though. I'm glad that this is a secret diary, or I'd be in trouble. Naughty Rachel." Perceptor's optics flickered.

Sideswipe was doing another victory dance, distracting him from his reading.

"Will you stop that!"

"Sorry."

"I do admit, I find him pretty hot, for a mech, (Yes, I am one of those scary humans attracted to mechs. Agh!) but... He's far too immature for me really. He flirts with anything female, so I don't really think that I would ever try anything anyway. Besides... I'm not ready for that sort of crap yet. Mom marrying Optimus is all the romance anyone needs... THIS IS OUR RACHEL'S DIARY!" Perceptor had finally figured it out.

"What?" Sunstreaker was too busy grinning over at Sideswipe, who's face was now a foot long as well for hearing the comments she had written.

"You bad Mechs! Why have you made me read out her diary! These are her private thoughts!"

"But, come on! More!"

"No! Prime will hear of this!" Perceptor started to walk out of the room, only to have the brothers scoot round and stand in front of him, blocking his path.

"Ah, no! Don't!"

"Get out of my way." Perceptor was one of the smallest Autobots, so the two were quite taller than him, but it didn't stop him from trying to push by them.

They grabbed hold of his arms and held him tightly so that he couldn't get away. "Please, don't tell Prime! We just wanted to know if..."

"If what? Let go of me at once, do you hear!" Perceptor wiggled frantically in an attempt to free himself, but failed miserably.

Sideswipe tightened his grip. "We wanted to know if she was a Mech fancier."

"What foolishness!"

"C'mon, man. It's important." Sunstreaker yanked him closer.

"It's silly. What would it matter if she was anyway?"

"It's a matter of pride and... All that junk." Sideswipe's optics flickered proudly, as his nose rose in the air slightly.

"Love?"

"Yeah, gotta be. Or somethin'." Sideswipe grinned.

"Nothing of the sort."

"Maybe a smidge." Sunstreaker's optics whirled around in an attempt to try not to look too soft.

"You say that about every femme you interface with, Sunstreaker."

"I do not!"

"Yes you do. You boys are incapable of love, it would seem. Merely lust and..." He dragged them down to frown at them directly in their faces. "Petty competition!"

"No! Not this time, man." Sideswipe stuck out his tongue.

"You not only stole her diary, you violated her trust. And, I am only going to assume her diary was in her room, so breaking into her room on top too. That, my fellow Autobots, is no where near love."

"Psssh. Fine. What do YOU know about love anyway, geekazoid?" Sunstreaker released him and slapped him on the shoulder, before turning on his heels and stomping out.

"More than you, obviously." He rubbed at his shoulder, the frown on his face making tiny wrinkles on the bridge of his nose.

Sideswipe did not leave, however. He released his grip on the scientist and stood staring at him.

"What?"

"What DO you know about love? Now I'm just curious."

"Why is this relevant in any way to your actions?"

"I... I want to know, is all. You ever been in love?"

"No."

"Then, how do you know about it?"

"I am aware of the theory behind it. The basic and the complex emotions. Chemical changes and whatnot."

"But, you've never actually... You know?"

"What?"

A silly grin formed on Sideswipe's face. "You knoooow. Done it."

"If I knew what 'it' you were referring to, I might have some clue and be able to give you a satisfactory reply."

"Interfaced!"

"WHAT! NO! I mean... It's none of your business!" Perceptor shoved Sideswipe as hard as he could in an attempt to get him out of his room, but only caused him to wobble a bit as he stood there giggling away.

"Heeeeeee Perceptor's not interfaced!" His grin grew wider.

"GET OUT!"