Author's Notes: More fun and a rapid update. Why Annabelle is central I have no idea. Blame my muse. Onward to the best intentions that go wrong in unexpected ways.

Drabble 183

Annabelle paused, seeing Wheeljack sitting on the pavement, his helm resting on his crossed forearms.

"Are you OK?"

"Resting from med bay repairs. The new prototype exploded."

"I'm sorry you suffer a lot to make us safer," Annabelle patted his leg armor.

The inventor's sidebars flashed pink with embarrassment while carefully wrapping his hand around her. "Things happen. Want to go for a drive?"

"Only if we have fun. Sideswipe said you are better on acrid? Accurate? Acrimonious?" The young girl struggled for the right word.

"Acrobatic?"

"Acrobatic driving. Can you teach me?"

"Prowl's rules?"

"Not on science."

"Transforming now."

Drabble 184

"He he he." Childish laughter sounds had both soldiers turning around as their teammate flushed red in embarrassment.

"Sorry, my wife is texting me. That's our son's laughter. Kid is getting big," he admitted, setting the phone down as he poured another cup of coffee.

The Klaxon alarm had them responding, their items forgotten phone included. Another false alarm, they continued onto other duties. The next soldiers using the kitchen never saw the phone. But they heard it.

"Again? This is ridiculous!" Major Lennox exclaimed, taping a note to the cupboard.

"Quit shooting the toaster. It is not a Decepticon!"

Drabble 185

"I got this," Sergeant Epps reassured Major Lennox, pointing at the small white square by the power box. "Installed a sound sensitive override. Clap your hands and the lights turn off without crossing the hangar. What could go wrong?"

Booming vibrations had them bracing as Grimlock, in his Dinobot T-rex mode, stomped in carrying Annabelle in his open jaw. The heavy mech's steps echoed.

Lights off.

Lights on.

"Epps?"

Lights off.

Lights on.

"I'll fix it."

Lights off.

"Look daddy, the ceiling is covered with pretty stars."

"Actually that's low-level radioactive particles from a weapons misfire sweetie."

"Still pretty. "

Drabble # 186

Annabelle cheered as Wheeljack flew above the lake, her small body perched on his neck. The solid fuel rocket jets in his forearms kept them aloft, the mini forcefield anchoring her as he weaved and bobbed.

The inventor rolled onto his side, trailing one hand through the water to splash her and missed the latch on his hip grenade unbuckling. Righting back prone, he sped ahead to surprise her. And the grenade slid, falling into the water.

"Tsunami? Where and why are they late returning again?" Prime questioned hours later.

"Crater Lake. Acrobatic water skiing mishap, engine flooded," Prowl repeated.

Drabble 187

"Wheeljack's inventions are more than objects," Annabelle told her dad as he tucked her into bed.

"They're dangerous. Blow him and his lab up."

"They are hundreds of hours of errors and experimentation. Frustration and happiness working and they represent his spark. He wants us stronger and better. Can I be a scientist when I grow up?"

"Not a soldier like Prime or Ironhide?"

"All Autobots fight and destroy."

"Ratchet?"

"Ratchet fixes and makes. He is post battle. Inventions help you win. And winning means coming home. Always come home, daddy, you and Ironhide."

"I promise."

"Pinky promise?"

"Pinky promise."

Author's Notes: Drabble # 184 refers to the joke: Why do you wear a gun inside? Decepticons. I laughed, you laughed, and the toaster laughed. I shot the toaster. It was a good time.