World Beyond Time

Reminisce

It was awkward. Very awkward. Hot Shot sat between Side Burn and X-Brawn while a stare down between them and the three Autobots opposite them occurred. Names hadn't been exchanged yet, and it didn't seem like they would any time soon. Arms were folded and optics refused to meet. Hot Shot sighed, glancing at everyone slowly. One of the bots opposite him met his optics, though quickly turned away. Hot Shot sighed again, standing up.

"Where are you going?" whispered Side Burn.

"Out! Anywhere! Somewhere where I don't have to worry about the tension killing me!" howled Hot Shot, marching away.

Soon enough Hot Shot found himself outside the makeshift base and back into the dull, life-stricken world. He crossed his arms, sighing for the third time. Looking out at the world, he realized how far from home he was. This wasn't Cybertron. This wasn't even his dimension. This was something completely new, and yet…familiar and satisfying. He smiled.

"Hey."

Hot Shot turned around, watching one of the unknown bots coming over to greet him. The bot came over, stopping beside Hot Shot with crossed arms. The two of them looked out at the destroyed town. The buildings were falling to pieces, some were even spouting smoke. Hot Shot knew the damage to be at least from some sort of war or battle. He knew it from the many he'd seen on Cybertron.

"What's your name?" the bot beside him asked, glancing over.

"Hot Shot. You?"

"Bumblebee…"

"Hmm."

"Where are you bots from?" Bumblebee gasped, turning completely to Hot Shot.

"Hard to say anymore. The others know more than me. Saved my life from some crazed Con."

"Hmm."

The two stood in silence for a moment, avoiding optic contact. Hot Shot wanted to ask so many questions. Where? Who? What the scrap is happening! Well, the last one he'd been thinking since the so-called Optimus saved his spark. He owed that one bot more than anyone here.

"You know you four don't make any sense," Bumblebee sighed. "Especially…"

"Optimus?" Hot Shot finished. "He looks like Optimus. He sounds like Optimus. Primus, he acts like him too!"

"Huh?" Bee mumbled.

Hot Shot perked, blushing lightly. "Sorry. My own train of thought."

"You bots aren't from around here, are you?"

"I don't even know where I am anymore," smirked Hot Shot. "Like I said the others know what's happening more than me."

"Then I think a conversations in order," nodded Bumblebee, walking inside. Hot Shot perked, chasing after.

Bumblebee and Hot Shot came in, finding nothing different. Side Burn and X-Brawn were back to back while the others were facing opposite ways. Bumblebee glanced at Hot Shot before continuing into the room. He came up behind the two, placing arms around them. Hot Shot stood beside Side Burn, smiling lightly.

"Now, now. The quiet game is over! Sorry for the late introductions but…I'm Bumblebee, this here is Prowl and the big lug is Bulkhead. You two?" Bumblebee winked.

"X-Brawn."

"Side Burn."

"Good to hear," nodded Bumblebee, standing up straight. "And your fourth?"

The three exchanged glances, debating among themselves. Hot Shot sighed. X-Brawn and Side Burn nodded at each other, turning to Bumblebee and shaking their heads. Bumblebee frowned, crossing his arms.

"Oh?" he hummed.

"We figure you already have an idea," smirked Side Burn.

"One that's probably correct," nodded X-Brawn.

"Optimus Prime," whispered Bumblebee.

"He's dead though," offered Prowl.

"Way to join the conversation, Prowl," sighed Bumblebee. "That's not Optimus Prime. It can't be."

"It is," assured X-Brawn.

"How?"

"Time and space and junk like that," shrugged Side Burn.

"Explain!" ordered Bumblebee.

"Something is wrong with time and space. Four very important bots were killed and Prime's trying to prevent it but he's barely intact with time and space as it is," rambled Side Burn.

"What Side Burn is trying to explain is there used to be a group of four bots that were taken from their dimensions to stop a Decepticon. This Decepticon came back, went to the past and eliminated those who stopped him. This included Optimus, which is why you think he's dead," explained X-Brawn.

"Then why isn't he?"

"This bot called Vector supposedly helped him," shrugged Side Burn.

"He gave him this special medicine to keep him alive in the destroyed time and space," X-Brawn nodded.

"Interesting," sighed Bumblebee. "We're left with a broken world full of Decepticons!"

"That's not Prime's fault," snapped Hot Shot.

"Prove it."

"He's your leader!"

"He's a space bridge repair bot!"

Silence fell. The Autobot brothers exchanged glanced quickly, glaring at Bumblebee shortly after. Hot Shot sat down.

"Left that part out, huh? Prime was only in charge of the four of us. We lost him and Ratchet," snapped Bumblebee. "He's nothing special."

"Lair!" howled Hot Shot.

"Prove it!" ordered Bumblebee. "You can't prove that he's some special leader that you claim!"

Bumblebee stormed out, soon followed by Bulkhead and Prowl. Hot Shot looked over to the Autobot brothers. They didn't meet the glance. They held sour looks of disbelief and horror. Hot Shot frowned, cursing as he stood up, finally catch their attention.

"Who cares what that so called Autobot says!" he snapped.

"What you don't even have a little doubt about this whole thing now?" Side Burn asked.

"No, and I've known this bot less than you have," grumbled Hot Shot, folding his arms.

"Why?" X-Brawn hummed.

"Like I said to Bumblebee, he looks like Prime, he talks like Prime and he certainly acts it. You can't say you don't feel the security around him? Or the hope…" argued Hot Shot. "I don't care if he's broken down old craft shaft, a Prime's a Prime."

"What a wonderful speech," shrugged Side Burn.

"He saved my life, I owe him that much," sighed Hot Shot, walking away. He stopped in the doorway, looking back. "You know I'm right. It doesn't matter what position bots say he's in. He's got the spark for leadership, and you can't even keep the doubt alive in you."