Chapter One: Home
A subtle chirp woke the femme from her stasis. Rising from the metal berth, the Autobot strode to the console on the other side of her quarters. Thin, silver digits caressed the side of the panel before her tired optics read the Cybertronian symbols. It was Optimus. Flicking her silver tail in curiosity, the femme answered the call.
"Yes, sire?" she managed through a yawn. Prime chuckled lightly at this, adoration evident in his laugh. "You'll be late for your patrol shift, young one," he chastised. Rolling her optics at the statement, the femme cracked a smile that barely revealed her pointed canines.
Everything about her was feline. From the self-controlled ears on her head, to her slender body. Despite her car model making her legs thick with tires at her heels and on her shoulder pads, the fembot was still very slim compared to her boulder-body mech counterparts. Her armor was midnight black, her body a silver contrast. With icy blue eyes, the Autobot was quite mysterious looking.
"On my way," she replied eagerly, knowing her adoptive caretaker would most likely join her on the patrol. Afterall, the femme was the newest addition to Team Prime on Earth, and she was not yet familiar with the terrain. Bumblebee had offered to take her shift so she could get more rest, but she declined.
Ever since she met the young Autobot two weeks prior, she knew she had to stay away from him.
As the Autobot gracefully walked into the main area of the abandoned missile silo, she was greeted by Optimus. The mech was always up early, getting a head start on informing himself of any Decepticon activity or updates from their human allies. He turned his helm towards her, a warm smile on his faceplates.
"Good morning, Echo," came his deep, yet gentle voice. The femme dipped her helm out of respect, returning the courtesy, "Good morning, Optimus." Her tail waved about, expressing her joyous state at being reunited with her adoptive father.
It had been many years since they parted, her going on to join the Elite Guard while Optimus stayed to fight the Great War. When Echo heard Prime's signal calling all Autbots to Earth, she wasn't able to start her ship's engines fast enough. With the last of the fuel she had left on the damaged Soul Hunter, the Elite Guard's fastest patrol vessel, the femme set course through the Milky Way.
After her escape pod got shot down by a squadron of Decepticon Seekers, the former Guardsman was saved by the Autobots and brought back to their humble base. Echo was introduced to Agent Fowler and given clearance to stay. Optimus was ecstatic, happy to finally have their little family back together again.
"Perhaps you should have allowed Bumblebee to take your place," the leader joked, seeing how tired Echo appeared. She huffed and flashed him an unamused stare. Prime internally laughed at this and smirked. "You're intentionally pushing him away?" he half-asked. His brow was quirked inquisitively.
Echo tensed up and folded her servos over her chassis, a pout on her face. "Yes," she admitted. "I cannot allow him to get close to me," her declaration came out bland, as if it sounded fake and forced. Optimus, having known her since she was a sparkling, could tell she was trying to convince herself of something that was not true.
"It's not his fault his memory processor was damaged," Optimus countered, "Bumblebee is a good bot."
His charge sighed and looked elsewhere, though was not able to focus on anything else. "I do not want to get hurt again, sire," she muttered. Her tail twitched as it dragged slightly on the floor. Optimus took in her solemn posture and decided not to press the issue further. Echo had a tendency to build walls around herself if one were to aggravate her, all thanks to her haunted past.
"Patrol ends at 1400," Optimus said, switching topics. Echo seemed grateful for this and immediately perked up. "When you're finished, report back here to get some energon. 'Bee will take over for the rest of the day."
Even more relief rushed through the female Autobot. The yellow mech would be gone likely until later in the night, allowing her to relax without his infatuated eyes watching her every move.
From the very moment Echo laid her optics upon the scout, she could feel his attraction for her like a blinding light. It was obvious to everyone, as the mech continuously attempted to befriend her. The femme, not wanting anything to do with him, constantly shut him down. Yet, as per Bumblebee's notoriously cheerful personality, he didn't seem to get disheartened or any less motivated for her attention.
It pained Echo to have to ignore him, to treat him this way. In her though process, it was better for the both of them if they never got close. The first time was already hard enough to say goodbye to, the femme didn't want to have to do it a second time.
"Are you coming with?" Echo asked, noting how Optimus said "you're" instead of "we're". The Prime shook his helm and frowned. "I have meetings to attend today, unfortunately," he said, "But feel free to contact me if you need assistance."
The bot could handle herself. Throughout her years as a warrior, she had to learn how to memorize plans quickly and adapt in unfamiliar environments. She had to learn somehow. "No worries," came her nonchalant response. As she made way to the exit tunnel, Optimus shifted back towards his computer.
"Be safe," he ordered in his leader's voice, delving into his work. Echo chuckled to herself and transformed into her car model. The black Corvette Stingray's engines roared as it took off down the tunnel.
The Nevada desert offered a place for Echo to contemplate all that had brought her to where she was. Everything was so different after war. Though they were technically rebels living in hiding, all seemed tranquil in comparison to the chaotic and bloody life war had cast her into. Up until a couple of years ago, Echo had known nothing outside of battle and death.
Now, she had the opportunity to enjoy a more reserved lifestyle. Stealth was her forte, therefore the sergeant could see herself thriving in her situation….
If it were not for the presence of Bumblebee.
Echo waved away the smoke in her escape pod as she tried to maneuver around debris. Outside she could hear a conflict and the familiar sound of gunfire. Grabbing her rifle, the femme rushed towards the exit, prying open the metal door as it only slid halfway.
Blue and purple flashed in her view as the Cons were fought off by whatever force had come to her aide. Echo peered beyond the overwhelmed Seekers to see none other than Optimus Prime. Her spark stopped pulsing for a moment as she laid optics on the mech who was her sire by claim. It had been so many years since they had parted, her joining the Guard.
Planting her focus back on the battle at hand, Echo raised her rifle and aimed at the Cons. Her shots were precise and clean, each finding their way to the spark chambers of each enemy. The femme took out the remaining Decepticons with ease, years of training kicking in.
The Seekers now in a pile of metal, the Guardsman stepped out from her vantage point. Optimus halted in his tracks, his optics wide with shock. As he and the fembot regarded each other, his companions looked back and forth in confusion.
"So she's not a Con?" Echo could hear the large green mech asking. He seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't recall his name. Beside him was a pink and blue femme, small and slender. She grimaced at Echo, her body language screaming skepticism.
"I guess not," the small Autobot replied, glancing up at Optimus. The Prime had started to relax, though he was still stuck on his words, not able to fathom that his daughter was here, or alive for that matter. He had thought her dead when he heard word that the Soul Hunter was destroyed by Megatron.
Echo was about to say something to him when her optics spotted something yellow and black to her left. Her rifle nearly slipped out from her grip when she recognized the paintjob and innocent-looking optics. Bumblebee. Echo didn't believe what she was seeing. The mech still couldn't recognize her, his optics rotating as he analyzed her form in awe.
The scout's doorwings were raised up in alertness, his helm titled to the side. Echo could see that rush of heat coursing through his metal as he found himself attracted to her immediately. It was a sight she had seen in many mechs throughout her years. But coming from him, it was a punch to her spark chamber.
"Echo," Optimus's shaky voice came. It pulled the femme from her staring at 'Bee. She snapped her gaze to her father figure, tail twitching. "You're alive," he said in disbelief. The green mech and fembot accompanying him seemed to relax at this.
"You know her?" the mech asked. Prime nodded, his optics still glued to the femme he raised since she was very young. "Who is she?" Echo could practically feel the ice heartedness coming from the smaller female Autobot.
"Arcee," Optimus acknowledged her, "This is my daughter."
Echo remembered their faceplates. Arcee had take a step back, her contempt for the black femme gone. Bulkhead's jaw dropped. And Bumblebee...well he looked embarrassed. Embarrassed that he was drooling over his leader's daughter. His cooling fans had nearly gone off, his optics fluttering as he tried to cover his blush.
After a strong embrace from Optimus, Echo was introduced to the Team, reuniting with Ratchet as well. She got to meet the human children the bots had come to protect. Miko was fascinated with Echo's appearance and her many tales of battle as an Elite Guard member. In fact, all three children sat down with her for hours as she reminisced on the glorious parts of the Great War, skipping over the hardship and losses she endured.
As Echo looked to the future with her new family, she couldn't help but glance at the rising sun. Her sleek car model raced through the dusty desert road, the femme looking on at her new home.