Ultra Magnus turned away from the monitor screen to face Ironhide and Prowl, who sat in front of his desk. Ultra Magnus, who was in charge of evaluating the training progress of new recruits, was reviewing a video of Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Bumblebee's training progress.
"They've come a long way, you've done well with them". Ultra Magnus said. "I don't think it will be long before you'll be able to take them out into a Decepticon battle. However, I feel there is one area of their training that needs to be addressed. Have they had any survival training yet?"
"No, not yet". Prowl replied.
"I think you should consider giving them a wilderness survival course, other than that, they're doing well". Magnus stood and shook hands with Prowl and Ironhide before they left his office.
"I should have already given them a survival course". Prowl said as he and Ironhide made their way back to the Autobots' base.
"I guess I felt Bee was still too young". Ironhide said.
"How do you feel about taking the three of them out to the Cybertronian Wilderness tomorrow?" Prowl asked. "We'll all go together".
"Sounds like a plan to me".
"Sideswipe, that's cheating!" Sunstreaker complained as the twins and Bumblebee sat in the rec room playing video games.
"Is not!"
"Having fun?" asked Ironhide as he and Prowl entered the rec room.
"We were, until Sideswipe started cheating!" Sunstreaker said, giving his twin a shove.
"It wasn't cheating!" Sideswipe said. "It's not my fault you two don't know how to play!"
"Ironhide and I would like to talk to you three", Prowl said. "Could you turn that off for a few minutes?"
"Sure". Bumblebee said, turning off the game.
"The three of you are doing great with your training", Ironhide said. "But we realize we haven't given you any survival training. So we're taking you on a trip into the Cybertronian Wilderness tomorrow to teach you how to rough it".
"What does roughing it have to do with fighting Decepticons?" Sunstreaker asked.
"You never know when you might find yourself without resources' '. Prowl said. "The other Autobots - most of them, anyway - have taken survival training, including me and Ironhide. And it's a good thing we did. A few years ago, Ironhide, Jazz and I got stranded on Jungle Planet for five days before a rescue team found us".
"Well, none of us have any wilderness experience, so you'll go easy on us, right?" asked Sunstreaker.
Ironhide and Prowl just smiled.
"I think that means 'no'". Said Bumblebee.
Prowl leaned his head out the door of Jetfire as the carrier jet flew them over the Cybertronian Wilderness.
"You sure you don't want me to land?" Jetfire asked. "That's quite a drop".
"We'll be fine". Prowl said. "If we're not back at the base in four days, come get us".
"Will do. Careful out there".
"Let's go!" Prowl motioned for the others to jump out the open door.
Sideswipe and Bumblebee were all for it, but Sunstreaker hung back. He stood and watched as Sideswipe, Bumblebee and Ironhide jumped out.
"That's a long drop", Sunstreaker said, looking down. "What if I land on something that scratches my paint?"
Prowl looked down. "See that pool of water right there? Aim for that".
"Then I'll get mud all over me!" Sunstreaker argued. "You're the trainer, you're supposed to help me".
"I did, I told you what to do".
"That didn't help me".
Prowl sighed. "Alright, I'll help you".
Without warning, Prowl shoved Sunstreaker out the door.
"PROWL!" Sunstreaker yelled.
"You are in big trouble, Prowl". Jetfire chuckled.
"He'll get over it". Prowl said before jumping out.
"Man, that was awesome!" Sideswipe exclaimed as he, Ironhide and Bumblebee landed in the woods. "What a rush!"
In a moment, Sunstreaker landed in a nearby pool of water and came up sputtering.
"Prowl, that was not funny!" he yelled.
Prowl landed in the pool and playfully splashed water on the younger mech before climbing out. "Beats landing on a pile of rocks doesn't it?"
"So what do we do?" Bumblebee asked. "Camp out for a few days then call for pickup?"
"Nope, we're gonna live off the land while we make our way back to Iacon". Ironhide replied.
"You mean we're going to walk all the way back home?!" Sunstreaker exclaimed. "That will take days!"
"About two and a half days to be exact". Prowl said.
"Why can't we just call for pickup?"
"Communication doesn't work out here". Prowl answered. "You're going to learn how to survive using what you have around you". He started to walk off. "Let's get started".
After a few hours of hiking, Sideswipe spoke up. "I'm starving. When do we stop for lunch?"
"I think we should stop here". Ironhide said.
"Great, who's got lunch?" Sideswipe asked.
"We didn't bring any". Ironhide answered.
"What?!" Bumblebee and the twins yelped.
"What are we supposed to eat?!" asked Sideswipe. "We'll starve out here!"
"No we won't". Ironhide said. "We'll find food out here".
"Where, exactly?"
Prowl walked over to an old tree and began pulling chunks of bark off. "Right here".
The younger Autobots gathered around him and looked into the hole Prowl had made. Inside were hundreds of Scraplet larvae. Prowl reached in and pulled out a handful.
It took a moment for Bumblebee and the twins to realize what the second-in-command had in mind.
"Oh my gosh, Prowl! No!"
"That is disgusting!"
"I am NOT doing that!"
Prowl shoved the larvae into his mouth to the gags and yelling of the younger bots.
"Plenty to go around". Prowl said, a few of the larvae hanging out of the side of his mouth.
Sunstreaker passed out, Bumblebee was trying to keep from throwing up and Sideswipe just stared, disgusted but unable to look away.
"Why couldn't we just bring food?!" Bumblebee asked. "Talk about being unprepared!"
"When your stranded out in the wilderness, you're more than likely without resources". Said Ironhide. "What are you gonna do? Order takeout?"
Sunstreaker sat up, looking quesy.
"Come on Sunstreaker, they're not that bad". Prowl said.
"Which means they're not that good either". Sunstreaker said.
He and Bumblebee turned to look at Sideswipe.
"What?" Sideswipe asked.
"You first". Sunstreaker said.
"Why me?"
"Because eating bugs is more in your department. Besides, you're the one complaining about being hungry".
Sideswipe examined the wriggling Scraplet larvae in the hole. Prowl and Ironhide were reaching in and grabbing handfuls.
This was just not right.
"Come on, Sideswipe", Prowl encouraged. "Out here, you never know where your next meal is coming from".
Sideswipe closed his eyes, grabbed one of the larvae and trying not to think about it, threw it in his mouth.
"Well?" Bumblebee asked. Sunstreaker had turned away, gaging.
"They're actually not that bad", Sideswipe said, reaching in for a few more.
Night had fallen, and Ironhide declared it was time to make camp.
"Where's the tent?" Sunstreaker asked. "Or did you not bring one?"
"That overhang is going to be our cover". Ironhide said, pointing.
"We're roughing it, remember?" Prowl said, kicking a few stones out of the way before laying down.
"I don't like roughing it". Sunstreaker grumbled.
"And I'm still hungry". Sideswipe complained.
"Those larvae don't hang on too long do they?" Prowl asked. "We should be able to find some Skitter tomorrow".
"Skitter?!" Sunstreaker exclaimed. "We're going to eat rodents?!"
"Think of them as energy". Ironhide said, laying down.
"Oh my gosh…" Sunstreaker mumbled, rubbing his face and sitting down next to Prowl. He then laid down and imagined he was back in his quarters polishing his paint job.
Early the next morning, Sunstreaker was woken up by Prowl nudging him with the bottom of his foot.
"Get up, we need to get started". Prowl said.
"The sun isn't even up yet". Sunstreaker complained.
"This is the best time to find Skitter", Prowl explained. "Besides, the sooner we get started, the sooner we get back to base".
Now that, Sunstreaker could agree with.
The five Autobots made their way through the thick brush, Ironhide poking around in the bushes as he led the way. There had been no sign of Skitter.
"We're going to starve out here!" Sideswipe groaned.
"We'll find one", Ironhide said. "There's one now! Grab it!"
The small creature ran out from under a bush and zipped in and out of the brush. Prowl and Ironhide started after it. The Skitter suddenly changed direction and ran toward Sideswipe who lunged for it, but missed. The Skitter headed toward a river with Prowl and Ironhide right behind it. Suddenly, Prowl slipped in the mud and fell flat on his face. Ironhide, unable to stop in time, tripped and landed right on top of him.
"Get off me!" Prowl yelled.
"Sorry". Ironhide said, standing up.
Sunstreaker walked up to Prowl, who was sitting up and wiping mud off his face.
"We're not going to have to eat grubs again are we?" he asked.
"Uhh…"
"I got one!" Bumblebee yelled.
"Great!" Sideswipe said. "I'm so hungry I could eat a rodent!"
"Which is exactly what you'll be doing". Sunstreaker quipped.
Later that day, the Autobots found themselves crossing a deep river, with Prowl leading.
"We'll be able to wade across", Prowl was saying as he waded into the river, the water reaching his chest. "Be careful, these rocks are - ah!" Prowl slipped and fell into the river.
"Slippery?" Ironhide guessed.
"Look! He caught a fish!" Bumblebee exclaimed as Prowl's head popped up out of the water. Clenched between his teeth was a large techno-trout.
"How did you do that?!" Ironhide asked.
"I have no idea". Prowl said, taking the fish out of his mouth. "Just be glad I did. This means we get lunch".
"Prowl is freakin' awesome!" Sideswipe said, nudging Sunstreaker.
Prowl gave Ironhide a superior look as he handed him the techno-trout. Ironhide just rolled his eyes.
The next day, Prowl decided to give the young Autobots a demonstration on making a stretcher out of things found in the woods. Bumblebee and the twins watched with interest.
"And that's how you make a stretcher out of branches". Prowl said. "Now we just need a volunteer to try it out".
Prowl and Ironhide stood staring at each other with their arms crossed. Prowl cleared his throat and gestured to the stretcher.
"I feel it may be too small for me", Ironhide said.
Prowl sighed and laid down on the stretcher. "Alright, Sideswipe, you pull first".
After a few minutes, Sideswipe started grumbling. "I'm tired! It's someone else's turn!"
Bumblebee took a turn then Sunstreaker, who wasn't happy. "Are you enjoying yourself, Prowl?" he asked.
"Not really, you're hitting every bump you can find". Prowl said. Suddenly, the stretcher hit something and refused to move.
"It's stuck". Sunstreaker said, tugging.
"Put your back into it, Sunny!" Sideswipe said.
"Well he's too heavy!" Sunstreaker complained.
"I am not heavy!" Prowl said. "Here, let me get off and - "
"No, I see what's wrong", Ironhide said, taking the stretcher from Sunstreaker. "It's just hung on a root. Hang on''.
"Just let me get off first".
But Ironhide was already yanking on the stretcher. Prowl gripped the sides to keep from being thrown off.
"Man, you are heavy", Ironhide said, tugging harder.
"I am not! Let me get - "
Prowl's words were cut off by a hard tug by Ironhide that released the stretcher. Unfortunately, Ironhide lost his grip and the stretcher - with Prowl still on it - started sliding down a steep hill at rocket speed and into a ditch full of mud.
"Ironhide, for cryin' out loud!" Prowl shouted as he climbed out of the ditch, completely covered in mud and vines.
Ironhide, Bumblebee, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe stood at the top of the hill, doubled over with laughter. When Prowl reached them, he took a wad of mud from his shoulder and flung it at Ironhide.
That evening, the Autobots had finally reached the base, with Prowl leaving a trail of mud wherever he went, much to Tracks' dismay.
"Okay, you three are free to enjoy civilization again". Ironhide said. "While I go hide from Prowl for a few hours".
"Video games!" Bumblebee and Sideswipe exclaimed, racing to the rec room.
"I'm heading to the wash racks". Sunstreaker said.
"So am I". Prowl said. "This stuff is everywhere".
As Prowl and Sunstreaker entered the wash racks, Sunstreaker turned to Prowl.
"Prowl, I hated the idea of 'roughing it', I hated the food, I hated going without a wax job for three days, and I didn't appreciate being pushed into a pond", Sunstreaker was saying. "But…I kind of had fun. We couldn't have a better trainer than you. Thanks, Prowl".
Suddenly, Sideswipe came out of nowhere and tackled Prowl in a hug. "We love you, Prowl!" he exclaimed, sending the second-in-command ramming into Sunstreaker and covering him in mud, too.
"Sideswipe!" Sunny yelped.
Sideswipe laughed and took a wad of mud from Prowl and hit Sunstreaker with it. Soon, the wash room floor was covered in mud as Prowl and the twins started throwing it at each other.
"Prowl!" Tracks yelled, standing in the doorway. "You three are cleaning that up right now!"
Tracks was rewarded with a splatter of mud in the face.