Queen's note: This is based on a RP with a friend when the Age of Extinction movie came out, and I'm taking it over to make an story. So this chapter and many of the following are co-written with Fatala.

Added Notes: There's a LOT more communication chatter in this chapter, mostly because no one wants to wake the kiddo up. Grumpy mechs being nice to tiny kid makes my day, I'm not sorry in the least.

::Cybertronian communication dialog looks like this.::

Just A Stray, Just A Cover

Chapter Two

Now what?

The trip had taken longer than Crosshairs originally calculated; then again he had not figured a young human would need to stop so much. About twenty miles ago they had gotten off the main highway and since then had been going from one small desert road to another; until they got on to the one they were currently following. It winded through narrow canyons and around towering plateaus; no wonder Hound and Drift hadn't been found yet. They were also doing a good job of hiding their energy signatures; though they couldn't hide them completely from him.

It was a good thing Crosshairs' passenger was better insulated from the bumps than she would have been in a normal car. It was just enough that Amy could still dose, curled up sideways in his seat, hugging herself and one strap because of how it was around her. Just a little while before he'd turned off she just couldn't stay awake any longer, tired and hurt, but getting some rest... and no this was not kind of cute, no sir, it wasn't...maybe a little bit.

Crosshairs would not admit that he was trying to make the ride a little less bumpy, even if he was failing. At least the human was still asleep. Soon a second engine could be heard from somewhere ahead, though the source became clear when he passed the next plateau. Out from behind the plateau came a military truck; which pulled in front of him.

::Took you long enough.:: Hound's voice came over Crosshairs comm. and he chuckled deeply as if mocking the other mech. ::So much for being fast.::

"Shaddup, I had to make a few stops." Crosshairs said, shifting to not be crowded by the bigger mech.

::Oh? Had to make a pitstop? Get your 'oil changed'?:: Hound laughed at his own joke.

As Hound passed the smaller mech to take the lead while he spoke, the other hidden mech could just see something moving in the green car. That tint really only worked for humans after all.

Inside Amy had jumped, pressing into the seat for the first few moments of confusion as she remembered where she was. Amy did try and get closer to the mech by scrunching down some at seeing the big rough and a bit more scary looking truck. Jumping again at the loud laugh in and outside of the corvette.

"What do you have in there?" Hound asked, not just on the communication lines as the jolliness in his voice was slowly draining.

"I found somethin' on my way over. A human youngling." Crosshairs switched his comm back over to his private ones right before Hound's response.

::A human!? Are you insane?!:: The military mech yelled.

::A human youngling; she's harmless.:: Crosshairs said, hoping it would calm down the other mech. Doubtful but he could try. ::It was either bring her or let her wander the streets. Innocent little thing doesn't even know what's been going on between mechs an' humans.~

The girl tilted her head, and peered over the edge of Crosshair's door, "Is that one of your friends?" She asked shyly, and then squeaked as something swept past over, the girl ducking in reflex not just that but a loud horn blare from the truck. Then her eyes widen in little green pools of awe at the light frame helicopter that swung around the two full grounders before pacing a little too close to Crosshairs as it got a good look inside him before speaking himself.

"Yes, they both are." Crosshairs told Amy as Drift flew over him.

::Hey! Back off Drift, I don't need yea hovering over me like an earthen vulture.:: Crosshairs sent back to Drift, his engine roaring a little in irritation. Drift moved closer despite the yell, until Amy hunkered down before slowly moving away to the side, then sped up to take the lead,

::Hound stop blaring your horn like a fool.:: The flier spoke up, but sounded thoughtful.

Hound's horn blared again in protest. ::Am I the only one who is concerned that Crosshairs brought a HUMAN with him?!::

::Yes. Yes, yea are.:: Crosshairs replied, his voice dry as he shifted lanes to dodge the bigger truck, feeling the human in question ball up again

::Take a good look at that human.:: Drift said, his rails hitting the truck and lifted, showing the way to their current hide out. ::Very... small, very colorful where there shouldn't be colors I think.::

The little human optics had his attention to, and knew that it would soon have Hound's as well, once the older mech settled down. The helicopter transformed, splitting and reforming to a mech that at first did not seem much bigger, if at all then Crosshairs. Drift crossed his arms as he peered to the far side of the overhanging plateau- that was more cavern, and to where a black muscle car was hunkered low to the ground, facing outward. He frowned as waited for the other two, and noted that the fourth Autobot hadn't moved in the last week.

Hound still grumbled to himself even as he transformed. "I still don't trust them." He huffed under his breath, watching Crosshairs pull up. The green and black mech opened his passenger side door and retracted his seatbelt.

"Alright, need yea to get out so I can transform." Crosshairs said urging the young girl to get out. After a moment he could just feel her wariness and felt like he needed to reassure her, though not sure why. "They may seem gruff but they won't hurt yea."

A rock hit Hound in the back of the head as Drift moved a few paces away, and farther away there was a subtle shifting from Bumblebee as he stirred at last out of his grief. He was watching too as Amy came half way out, clutching the chip bags and empty juice bottle against her chest, looking up at the near mountain of metal that was Hound. She moved back as soon as she saw his face, at first against Crosshairs' side, the girl then looked about to go hide back inside or under him again.

Hound's glare turned to Drift, cursing something in Cybertronian before turning back to see Amy coming out of Crosshairs. Drift was right. While he wouldn't admit it to Drift, Hound's face did soften slightly at seeing the innocent eyes of the girl.

Before Amy could think about hiding back inside of him Crosshairs transformed, his hand coming out to reassure the girl. "Easy. They ain't gonna hurt you." He said, his duster coming around so she could hide in it if she wanted to.

In the background the scout was paying attention now, though still didn't move except the slight crunch of the front tires moving as he too spotted the human. Watching as Amy lost her nerve and hid behide Crosshairs' right leg, vanishing behind the over armor.

"Hey there small spark..." Hound crouched down closer to Amy, the military mech tried his best to sound gentle; even if it was a challenge.

"Yea don't need to worry about Hound." Crosshairs said before he added with a chuckle.
"He's all bark an' no bite."

The girl peeked out behind the inside part of Crosshair's leg, hesitating before a just as little voice spoke, "Hi... I'm Amy."

She was almost lost from sight, as the desert moonlight was blocked by the green mech and his over armor, but she could very easily see the blue optics. At least she was calming down now- if nothing else Crosshairs was providing a feeling of protection.

It was a good thing the mechs didn't need light to see; despite the darkness they could see just fine.

"Amy? That's a nice name." Hound commented trying to sound gentle. "So how did you end up with this miscreant of a mech?"

"Momma's gone, I got away from the basement." Amy said slowly, starting to come out from her hiding spot and standing between Crosshairs' legs. "He found out and chased me, then I hid under Crosshairs..." She paused and realized that she was back to hiding under the mech, though he was standing up this time. Amy tilted her back to look up at the green and black Autobot above, "And he took me here I guess."

"Youngling had no place to go, so why not join our misfit group of vagabonds?" Crosshairs said with a shrug.

::So you just so randomly brought her here?:: Hound asked over the open commlink.

::It's better than leaving her there.:: Crosshairs said, his optics glancing down at Amy. ::I didn't give her those bruises; some other human did. I don't think humans are suppose ta' have those marks.::

::I do not either.:: Drift said, coming slowly back over, ::Or so thin.::

::...no.:: the barely there, and broken voice was almost missed by the other mechs.

In fact Drift was just starting to kneel down when he realized a fourth had spoken up, and he glanced back at the still muscle car in the dark. "Bumblebee?"

Both Crosshairs and Hound looked over towards where Bumblebee was still sitting.

"Look who finally decided to speak up. Mr. human-lover himself." Crosshairs said he snorted and then leaned down to Amy, his hand first ushering to Drift. "That's Drift..." Then to the parked car. "An' that's Bumblebee."

Something... painful was heard from the scout, and it became clear why he now spoke with all the thousands of human sound clips. That sound in their privet comms and audios from the car itself wasn't something a mech should make, horrible, and then melting into something that must have been grief.

Amy had jumped, pressing against the inside of Crosshair's right leg again, almost up on his foot as she started into the dark, unable to see where Bumblebee was. She looked at Hound and then Drift, who had turned away again from about to extend a hand to coax the human closer.

"And that's our rag-tag gang of misfits. At least all of us that remain." Crosshairs said.

"At least those of us who are left," Hound added, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"...did they leave?" Amy asked, quietly, not sure as she thought about the few things Crosshairs had mentioned, and then that haunting sound. "The other Autobots will come back? Right?"

"If we're all lucky, then they're just hiding." Crosshairs started only to be finished by Hound.

"More likely they've become victims of the hunts." Hound grumbled, adjusting his helm. "Small spark, we might be the only ones left. Especially with Prime's last transmission; nearly three years and not a single peep."

The girl looked around before she whined softly, not pain for her but hugged the green and black's leg, "I'm sorry... I hope they come back?" She still was not sure how anyone could even hurt these giants of metal, so was still grasping the whole concept of them being hunted.

"I do not think we have anything to fear from this human Hound." Drift said softly, looking up at the warrior.

"Yah...I doubt the youngling could hurt anyone." Hound agreed as he settled then sent over the comms. ::Though now what do we do with her?::

"We appreciate it Amy. Don't worry your little head about it. We're warriors, we'll make it." Crosshairs reassured her, shifting his leg, that ankle just a little bit.

Drift paused and asked, "Has she been fed and watered?" The blue mech asked, tilting his head at the faint giggled against Crosshairs' leg, and really... he was surprised the paratrooper and gunner was tolerating holding still for this long. ::She might be a use for cover. Holos, even hard light only go so far.::

"Of course... Not the healthiest stuff, but it worked." Crosshairs shrugged standing up all the way before folding his arms across his chest. He couldn't really move too make with her all but clinging to him.

A soft musical note came from Bumblebee's frame, ::She needs rest.:: He sent the text ping to the others, mostly to Crosshairs, ::Falling asleep on your leg. Look down.::

Drift arched and optic ridge and looked again, snorting as he found it true. "Looks like she's yours now gunner."

The mech looked down to see Amy nodding off. "Yea humans do like to sleep alot." Crosshairs said to himself as he knelt back down, carefully, in order to scoop Amy into his hands. Blunted claws wrapping around the small frame, though at hearing Drift's comment Crosshairs gave him a look like 'oh?'. As far as he was concerned he hadn't said he'd keep the human or not; taking her was just easier than leaving her there.

"Its dark, and late." Amy said, jarring back awake at the motion, fumbling until she wrapped her arms around a few of Crosshairs' fingers to try and feel secure. Shivering a bit now that he had her up and out of the wind break of the duster like over armor.

Crosshairs' other hand came around to act as a barrier against the small bit of wind. The gunner started to walked towards the overhanging plateau. "Yah can go back to sleep then."

"Where?" Amy asked looking around, and blinked because Drift had asked the same thing.

Crosshairs didn't answer, then again he wouldn't need to in a moment. Once he was under one of the overhanging plateaus, the green and black mech pushed back his duster before sitting on the ground. As he sat Crosshairs adjusted it just slightly before lowing the hand that held Amy down to the side where the duster laid against the ground.

"It's at least better than the ground." At least with the way he had adjusted it Amy could easily curl up in his duster using it as a makeshift blanket.

Amy shifted, holding her little bundle of trash, scrunched together to be smaller. The girl reached out with her free hand, touching the softer flex-metal lining of the mech's over armor. Amy looked up and moved to try lean against the green mech's side more, but was really a warm ball against the side of his thigh, with a faint feeling of bio-energy as the girl soon gave in and was asleep.

In the background, Drift smirked, glancing at Hound before moving to be the first sentry. Hound shared the glance with Drift before walking over so he was between Crosshairs and Bumblebee.

::So...what's your plan?:: Hound asked Crosshairs.

::I'm making it up as I go.:: The gunner looked over with a cocky glance. Like usual; Crosshairs never planned ahead.

::Really?:: Hound asked raising a optic brow at the other mech's answer before venting a sigh and running a hand over his face and 'beard.' ::You don't have a plan...slag it Crosshairs.::

To the other side of Hound, there was soft mechanical sounds as Bumblebee transformed, light blue optics looking over in the dark. Watching the green mechs and then the spot where the human was half hidden intently.

::We have no experience with human sparklings.:: Drift pointed out, starting to sharpen one of his swords, though he wasn't aware of the time their scout and 'leader' had spent with human, or how it was spent other than with those Nest humans that at least Hound had met before the attack on their shared base.

::Exactly.:: Hound agreed with Drift, nodding as he sat his bulk down as quiet as possible, though he froze as the rattling of equipment made the youngling stir. The big mech eased back to lean on the wall. ::At least human adults are self-reliant, this youngling still need care. Though she obvious had not received it from her human sire.::

::From what Roadbuster an' the others told me, yea should know something useful.:: Crosshair's optics glanced over to Bumblebee who had finally decided to transform. Crosshairs pointed a blunted talon at Bumblebee. While he had been late to rejoin up with the other Wreckers, he had learned some things from them before they had been forced to split up.

The black and yellow mech buzzed, then warbled a soft song over his speakers, using human instruments to weave together into a Cybertronian lullaby as he walked over. There was something brown colored in his hands, pulling it out of subspace as he passed, walking over Hound's stretched out legs. Then the scout reached out and offered what looked like a polishing cloth to the newer mechs.

::She'll get too cold tonight, pull your over armor up to.:: Bumblebee sent the text, not really looking up from the human.

Both mechs watched as Bumblebee came over. Crosshairs moved the upper part of his armor, so he could lay the polishing cloth over the human. Then he hocked the over armor back into place against his front, it would make the space a little tighter but he was sure the flex metal would not hurt the human. ::Knew yea had to know of something about these little things.::

"I miss the lazy days. I miss seeing my son- my family." The human singer's words came from the scout, reaching up to rub one hand over his retracted mask. ::She's going to need water in the morning, lots in the day. Hot here. Food too.::

::Well the vending machine did have these things.:: Crosshairs held up a bag of chips and a juice drink that he pulled from subspace and dropped into his palm. ::Though from my scans only the drink seems to have any sort of nutrition in it. Still it did also have human currency stored in it.::

The black mech made a negative buzzing, poking one of the bags in the silver palm, ::Bad.:: He texted, ::Its junk food, bad for little humans that are growing.:

::Then what would you suggest? Not like we have any supply of human food.:: Crosshairs snorted, re-subspacing the junk food, his right hand reflexively moving to where it felt different under his over armor, but making himself pause.

Bumblebee rapped one hand against his own armor, pacing as his door-wing sensors twitched. The mech shook himself, and then dug into his subspace for a klick or two. He than looked in the direction of the nearest human town.

"Oh no." Drift said from above, watching from his vantage point. ::We are not going anywhere near the humans, Bumblebee!::

Bumblebee buzzed up at him, angry, and then produced a small, half full bag of apples, holding them out to Crosshairs.

::Looks like we're gonna have ta' go on a raid.:: Crosshairs commed with a large mischevious grin on his face. The green wrecker gestured with his hands as he described a raid from memory, ::Just like back on Cybertron. Busting our way into a Decepticon stronghold, shooting everythin' in sight; setting a charge and blowing the place skyhigh!::

::While I wouldn't mind blowing some shit up. That would give away our position!:: Hound growled at Crosshairs and smacked a waving hand before he looked to Drift. ::And you can be trigger happy.::

::No shooting humans.:: Bumblebee said, adding an glyph to enhance the others, ::No killing or hurting unless no other choice. We have holos, and it's easy to make a credit card that can't be traced.::

::I am not.:: The blue mech protested from his perch, and then paused, ::Wait... Make?::

"Humph, spoilsport." Crosshairs huffed aloud, in a low grump as he crossed his arms.

Hound though seemed interested as he shifted in his spot, looking at the scout frame. ::You mean those tiny card humans use to keep their credits on?::

::More you hurt, more they hate, better they look.:: Bumblebee 'said' as firmly as he could, glaring back at Crosshairs. He did not want any of the three Autobots hurt or lost- even if they treated him like slag. The scout nodded to Hound, producing something small and white between two fingers, coming back to show the warrior class.

::Flimsy little thing.:: Hound commented at the small thing Bumblebee was showing him. ::So we use that little thing, get the youngling some human food?::

::Works like gift card.:: Bumblebee slipped the card away after Hound leand back again.

Hound hummed aloud, reaching up to scratch at his neck cables, pulling a shard of rock out of his beard. He flicked it off into the distance as the oldest of mech started going over the basic plan...if one could call it that. ::What do we do with the organic stuff once we get it?::

::Sub-space works like fridge for a bit, not long.:: Bumblebee pointed at the apples he held, then he pointed at Crosshairs' side, then at the green gunner, ::You need to learn hardlight holos, how to act. Pick one then let Amy get used to us here before using elsewhere. She won't jump at seeing 'someone strange.'::

::Me?:: He asked with a scoff as Crosshairs gave Bee an incredulous look. ::You expect me, to go hardlight holo around humans? Only reason you ever catch me near one of their cities is if I wanted to slagging mess with them.::

"You brought her; you are the one responsible for her." Hound growled at this, getting up easier then he sat down, and he walked over and stab a finger into Crosshairs chest. Using his build to his advantage as he switched back into the silent comms so not to wake the topic of their active dissustion, ::If you try to push her off on us and disappear again, I swear to Primus I'll take this gernade and shove it down your throat.::

::Up the aft?:: Bumblebee offered, with a little smiley human style in the text, getting a laugh from above, Drift approved of that idea after all.

"There's an idea." Drift laughed again.

::All learn.:: Bumblebee added, ::You didn't before, time to now. It'll help you hide too.:"

::Try it an' that's where my blaster's gonna be going-:: Crosshairs said pulling out one of his guns from his left leg, all ready to get up and shove it in Bumblebee's face. He stopped as Bumblebee pointed to the over armor that opened and there was a soft sound from inside, making Crosshairs look back down at Amy. All the mechs seem to pause as only Cybertronians could, the wrecker he wouldn't be able to get up without awakening her any more.

Slowly, with a grumble Crosshairs put his gun back away in its holster, still glaring at Bumblebee. He leaned back ::Fine. But I'm gonna drag you slaggers with me.::

::You couldn't handle it alone.:: the scout fired back, crossing his arms and arching an optic ridge. He had been on this planet for a long time, longer then the humans he used to work with and protect had realized.

::I never needed it before; I've been fine on my own.:: Crosshairs said indignantly, moving the sleeping human and cloth up higher where she would not slide under his leg. More near his hip.

::You're not looking after only yourself right now.:: Hound reasoned, the military mech pointing to Amy's sleeping face. ::You better start looking at her as your youngling; she basically is now.::

Crosshairs looked down at her. What the slag had he been thinking when he picked her up?

The girl shifted as the mech did, snuggling against both the warm living metal and the blanket around her, even as the edge of the duster like over armor settled over her. It was a good thing that the mech had a thick layer of flex metal between the armor and his frame, meaning even if Crosshairs shifted the weight of his arm on that spot his cuddlier was protected.

...oh yeah, scared, little, innocent human tugged at his spark strings for pity.

::She likes you.:: Bumblebee gave a crooning sound.

::Great. Just what I need. Fine, whatever. I'll worry about that in the morning.:: He wasn't giving in; he was just making and excuse to give him more time to think of a way out. That's at least what he told himself. Crosshairs sighed to himself, and it was his turn to run a hand over his face.

::No, you need to make a hologram.:: Bumblebee said, making Crosshairs twitch, and reached over to poking Hound too as the older war frame started to move away. Bumblebee crouched down between them to hold out his left hand as he projected his own holo-form, looking like and unlike his charge had been before. It was a soft light hologram so that flicked, but moved like a human under his hand.