Chapter 2: Wishful Thinking

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 tail, to her slender body. Despite her new Corvette car model making her legs thick with tires at her heels, the fembot was still very slim compared to her boulder-body mech counterparts. Her armor was now midnight black, her body a silver contrast.

"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, of course, had offered to take her shift so she could get more rest but she declined out of pride. She didn't want his help or his attention.

Echo had been ignoring him in the three weeks she had been on Earth. Every time he approached her to casually chat or invite her for an activity she made up an excuse or plainly pretended she didn't hear him. It hurt her to dismiss him so but the idea of having to be friendly or even get close to him with their past hurt even more. If it were possible to snap her digits and make his advances disappear it would've been done the moment she set optics on him in Germany.

As the Autobot gracefully walked into the main area of the abandoned missile silo, she was greeted by Optimus. 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 and said, "Good morning, sire." Her tail waved about expressing her joyous state at being reunited with her family. Whenever duties permitted the father and daughter had taken the time to catch each other up on their years apart.

"Perhaps you should have allowed Bumblebee to take your place," the leader chuckled upon seeing how tired the young bot was. The night before she had stayed up to help Ratchet with base repairs. Earth and Cybertronian technologies were more like oil and water, thus it seemed like there was always something to fix. Having another bot in addition to Ratchet proficient in tech was a huge help to the team.

Echo huffed in annoyance and flashed him an unamused stare. Prime internally laughed at her demeanor and smirked. "You're intentionally pushing him away, aren't you?" he asked. His optic brow was quirked inquisitively, curious to hear his daughter's reasoning.

The femme tensed up and folded her servos over her chassis, a pout on her face. "Yes," she admitted plainly, "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 in a serious tone, "Bumblebee is a good bot and will understand if you explain to him what happened." Prime had been tempted to sit the scout down centuries ago to tell him the truth but he knew it wasn't his place to meddle in his sparkling's "marriage". All he could do was guide her and pray she made the right choice.

His charge sighed and looked elsewhere, though was not able to focus on anything in particular. "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 lightened 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 likely be gone 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. A light that refused to dull despite her many attempts to snuff it out.

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 me?" Echo asked, noting how Optimus returned to his work. 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. "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's engines roared as it took off down the tunnel.

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Echo was wiping off the grime from her rifle two days later when Bumblebee approached her. Yesterday they had fought off a group of Cons at an energon deposit, scoring a significant amount to fill their reserves. It was the first time Echo had engaged in a skirmish since arriving on Earth, having enjoyed peace for a few weeks in between; peace that wasn't existent during the Great War.

Peace that Bumblebee was currently disrupting.

"Yes, Bumblebee?" she spoke, hiding any emotion. The scout seemed hesitant at her tone but advanced regardless. "Raf wants to know if you're interested in racing cars," he beeped, helm tilted as he considered her. Raf hadn't exactly sent his guardian to speak with the femme but Bumblebee wanted to see if her mind had changed this time. He hoped that she would eventually warm up to him and say yes.

Echo had been shocked to find that his voice box was replaced with a synthetic modulator. It was the best replacement Ratchet could possibly build that communicated through a series of beeps and whirrs. Still, the femme could hear her sparkmate's true voice in the back of her helm everytime Bumblebee talked to her.

Despite Echo not wanting to spend any time with the scout, she couldn't find it in herself to say no to the children. They reminded her of little sparklings running around and since her people have not reproduced in decades she saw the human children as their charges. Echo had given up the urge to be a carrier, a mother, years ago but treated the kids like her own. It gave her some relief.

"Very well," the femme said, setting down her rifle. She internally cringed at seeing Bumblebee's unabashed excitement. Echo could practically feel his spark throbbing in joy at her acceptance. Her own was still yearning for his weeks later but the female was able to ignore its persistence at least temporarily.

With a concealed sigh she followed Bumblebee out to the main area.

There the kids were racing their remote controlled cars. Echo had learned that young humans often occupied their free time playing video games or playing with toys. By the time she was born there were no such luxuries. When Optimus found her wandering the streets of Praxus, looking for her parents who had been killed, she was taken into a world filled only with combat training and exercises.

"Echo!" Miko called out enthusiastically, waving her hand at the fembot. Jack smiled at her and Rafael stopped his car to gawk in surprise. "You said yes?" he asked rhetorically. His eyes darted between the black and yellow Cybertronians with a giant grin. Of the three children he was the most excited to see the young bots together.

Beside Echo 'Bee chirped happily, making the sergeant roll her shoulders uncomfortably. It didn't help that Rafael clearly tried to get her to interact with his guardian just like Ratchet and Optimus.

Tail flicking gently Echo grinned back at the children. "I wouldn't miss it," she managed, forcing her voice to sound eager. The kids shouted in excitement and began explaining the rules of their racing game to the femme. She wasn't really able to participate other than to root for whoever she wanted. While watching them play Echo felt Bumblebee's optics shifting to her every now and then.

A part of her wanted to go back to the old days between them - if that was even possible - but her stronger half knew that the mech she once loved was gone. This Bumblebee was more timid and shy. A far cry from the aggressive, dominant scout he was before Tyger Pax. Echo didn't view him as weaker, just different. Before he would have been hollering or offering to sneak the kids out of base to go racing for real. Now he just stood there and gently encouraged his charge.

Bumblebee's participation was revoked, however, when Ratchet found an anomaly while searching the database. He had been filling in at Optimus' station while the Prime was away on patrol. The medic called over the scout who buzzed dejectedly and brushed past the femme. Echo listened in to their conversation, her dish-like cat ears very sensitive to sound and movement.

"There's a strange object in the Arctic that showed up on our scanners," Ratchet said, gesturing towards a screen with coordinates on it. Bumblebee shrugged at this and asked what the medic needed him to do. "Take Bulkhead with you," Ratchet started, "He's patching up an energon leak in the back storage room."

'Bee didn't seem too happy about this, wanting to stay and play games with Raf. The children rarely got to spend a whole day at base due to school and avoiding suspicion from their parents. Ratchet, on the other hand, didn't much care for these "playdates" and wished for peace and quiet. The older mech grunted and waved off the scout's pouting. "Echo can take them home," he muttered, "Go get Bulkhead."

The yellow bot rolled his optics and stormed away with his doorwings lowered. Echo found herself feeling sympathetic towards him and watched him leave with soft optics. Just because she was ignoring him didn't negate her feelings for him. Ratchet caught this and cleared his voice box, earning her attention. The femme glanced at her old friend only to see him smirking at her and nodding his helm towards Bumblebee. She hissed and glared at Ratchet, ears scrunched in irritation.

Ratchet, like Optimus, was insistent upon her telling Bumblebee the truth. It was a daily occurrence for the medic to pull her aside and ask whether or not she found the courage to inform the poor scout they were sparkmates. A daily occurrence.

When the yellow Autobot returned with Bulkhead some minutes later he took a scanner from the medic. As the groundbridge hummed to life 'Bee took one last longing look at an oblivious Echo before disembarking. Ratchet bid them good luck and shut off the bridge once they were gone.

Echo laughed when Raf's car cut off Jack's, the older human huffing in defeat. Miko taunted him and shoved his shoulder in a sibling-like way. With a playful roll of her optics Optimus's daughter rose to her pedes.

As the children lightly bantered over who really won, Echo waltzed towards Ratchet's desk to see if he needed any assistance. If she was being honest with herself she also wanted to see why Bumblebee's vitals were displayed on the computer. Worry flashed through her until she remembered that the scout and Wrecker were headed to subzero terrain. The medic was keeping tabs on them to make sure their temperatures didn't drop too low.

"You should tell him."

"Oh my Primus, Ratchet," Echo groaned, leaning against the wall, "When will you and Optimus drop it?" Her voice was laced with agitation but deep down the fembot knew they would never let it go. They both had seen the life she and Bumblebee lived before, how close they were. The older Autobots were their biggest supporters when they had decided to become sparkmates and start a family. Optimus had given 'Bee his blessing and kept them together on assignments whenever possible.

"When you tell Bumblebee the truth," the mech said as expected. Echo scoffed and allowed herself to smirk out of frustration. "Yeah and confuse the poor mech," she chuckled darkly, "The scout doesn't even know who I am. Didn't even recognize me after all we've been through."

"Maybe he'll remember someday," Ratchet stopped reading the charts and looked to Echo with a genuine smile. He frowned, however, when she shook her helm in disagreement.

"That's wishful thinking, Ratch." Her optics were sullen and glued to the floor, lubricant tears threatening to break free.

"Maybe," the Autobot mumbled, returning to his work to give her space.

Checking the time, Echo hummed and strode away, her tail dragging. "Alright, kids," she purred, "Time to go home."

"Awww," Miko called out per usual, trying to convince Echo otherwise with a puppy dog face. Rafael started collecting his things while Jack did the same. They were more obedient than the human female who would live at the base if it was allowed. She stomped her foot on the ground and crossed her arms like a sparkling throwing a temper tantrum. "You can't make me," she tried, pouting.

Echo laughed and loosened up. "I'll take the long way back, how's that?" she offered. Miko immediately jumped in joy, clapping her hands, "Okay! I call the driver seat!" Raf and Jack grumbled about how everyone had to ride up front since the femme didn't have a back seat in her vehicle mode. Anytime she had to take more than one child there was a fight over who got to hold the steering wheel even though they wouldn't actually be driving.

Behind the black Autobot, Ratchet snorted and shook his helm. To the sergeant's observation the mech didn't like the children all too much, viewing them as a burden. She looked back fondly to when she was sparkling, running around the medical bay causing a ruckus. Optimus was too helpless to control her back then.

"Echo, get back here please!" Prime shouted after his daughter, watching her rush through the medbay doors. He politely ushered himself past fellow Autobots as he approached the door. Once inside, all he could see was the many empty berths and Ratchet working at his station.

"Lost her again, have you?" the medic's tired and grumpy voice said. Optimus sighed in defeat and nodded his helm. "Yes, she's being reckless today," said the Autobot commander.

The Prime caught a glimpse of a tiny tail flashing under one of the berths. With a smile, he crouched down and scooped up the young sparkling in his servos. Echo giggled and tried to squeeze out of his grip, the mech laughing as well and looking at his charge with love.

The young femme stopped squirming, allowing Optimus to see what was in her grip. Her tiny digits were clutching one of Ratchet's wrenches. "What do you think you're doing with that?" Prime asked humoredly, attempting to pry it from her small servos. She laughed and held it closer to her chassis.

Ratchet, noticing what she was holding, huffed and walked towards Optimus. Reaching up, the medic grabbed the tool from the sparkling, making her pout. Prime rolled his optics as Ratchet went back to his desk, setting the wrench down.

Everything was so easy back then. Optimus would take her along with him to meetings and trainings, letting her get involved as she grew older. They laughed and played tricks on one another as they didn't have much entertainment beyond spending time together.

Other times, Prime would have to leave his daughter in Ratchet's care. She had to sit on a berth and watch the medic perform his duties all day long. The femme had found it quite boring and wished to be with her father training recruits. She fussed a lot and got on Ratchet's nerves in her search for something to do around the medbay; it often led to something being broken or the mech tripping over something.

Now the femme was far more tame and readily aided Ratchet in his daily projects. Her days as a rambunctious youth were far behind her but it was nice to see that playfulness through the humans.

Echo could see a lot of herself in the children, thinking of this as she dropped them off at their houses. Miko was her rebellious and reckless side, always looking for an adventure. Rafael was her intelligence and perceptiveness which she got from Ratchet. Jack was the Optimus in her: calm, collected, and brave. They were amazing beings and a great addition to the team Echo now couldn't see them being without.

When the femme returned to base she was met with Bulkhead and Bumblebee dragging something through the groundbridge. It looked to be a large metal sphere of some kind, Cybertronian markings on the sides that didn't translate to much. At first she thought it might be some sort of escape pod like the one she came to Earth in but it didn't appear to have any life support systems or viewports.

"What in the AllSpark is that?" she asked as she transformed back into her bipedal form. Bumblebee sent her a reply explaining how he and Bulkhead found it in an ice lake and had to haul it back. Echo heard him but didn't respond, opting to speak to Ratchet instead. 'Bee's wings lowered in dismay. He knew she had heard him since her ears had turned his way. Why was she still so hostile towards him? Had he not proven to be just as friendly, if not more, as the other bots?

"We don't know what it is," the medic answered, "We'll have to wait until it thaws out so we can inspect it." Echo watched as the scout and the Wrecker continued to drag it towards the storage room.

"And come back for repairs!" Ratchet sounded, earning groans from both mechs.

"Where's Optimus?" Echo asked, looking around the silo. He and Arcee should have been back from their patrol by now. "On his way," Ratchet stated, checking one of the computers.

Around fifteen minutes later the mechs returned, exhausted from dragging the heavy object. Ratchet had them sit down by the medbay berth so he could run diagnostics on their repairs. Thankfully they hadn't been in the Arctic for too long but the cranky bot wanted to err on the safe side. He called over Echo to help, of course having her work on Bumblebee.

She refused to meet the yellow scout's optics as he considered her. It was already bad enough that she would have to be up close and touch him.

"This is pointless, Ratchet," Bulkhead declared as the older bot started working. This generated a lengthy lecture from the medic about the consequences of freezing temperatures. The Wrecker let the words go in one audio receptor and out the other.

As the femme attached the hoses for defrosting their systems she noticed the scout was shifting uncomfortably. His metal was hot to the touch considering he had just come from a sub zero environment. Odd. Echo tried not to react when his cooling fans activated but everyone else did. 'Bee was stuck in place, completely embarrassed and flushing a deeper color. Bulkhead chuckled darkly while Ratchet rolled his optics and vented.

The two older mechs decided not to torment the young bot and kept to themselves. Echo, on the other hand, was trying not to walk away from the situation knowing it would scar him further. She pretended she hadn't even heard his fans and continued working, ignoring how his metal seared her own and made both bots jolt.

As Ratchet began his duties Bulkhead grew impatient, fiddling with the medical equipment on his chassis. "I told you, doc," he groaned, "We're fine!" He ripped off one of the tubes and tried to stand before the red and white Cybertronian forced him back down.

"You need to endure standard defrosting procedures to ensure you're fine!" Ratchet explained, his lingo being lost on all but Echo. Having grown up listening to his lectures and medical speak the femme was all too familiar with what he was saying.

"You know prolonged exposure to subzero temperatures can cause system damage." Bulkhead raised a brow. Echo smirked and turned to the Wrecker as she heard the sound of engines coming through the tunnel. "He means you'll die from the cold," she said, making Bulkhead scoff in annoyance. Ratchet groaned and shooed her away now that Bumblebee was cleared.

Optimus and Arcee sped into base, the former transforming and immediately rushing over upon seeing his scout and warrior in the medbay. "Is everything alright?" he asked, looking down at his charge. She gestured towards the sitting mechs and then the computer. "Ratchet found something in the Arctic. Bulkhead and 'Bee went to go get it and had to be defrosted."

Bumblebee seemed to blush at her use of his nickname. The femme herself was surprised to hear it escape her metal lips as she hadn't said it in so long. It felt foreign to her now.

"I see," Optimus said, taking in the view of the medical equipment. "Any significance of our Arctic find, Ratchet?" His old friend vented and shook his helm. "We'll have to wait until it isn't frozen solid. Then we can open it to take a look," he replied.

"Very well," Prime said, facing the team. He took note of the tired faceplates and checked the time. "Everyone should go get some recharge. We'll continue our investigations tomorrow morning."

A round of affirmations were sent out from all the subordinates before Prime turned to his work station and Arcee left. Ratchet directed Echo to put away the equipment attached to Bumblebee while he took care of Bulkhead. The femme kept her nonchalant attitude as she disconnected the first tube. Then, she felt it.

Her spark was beating harder, trying to push her closer to the scout. Echo cleared her voice box casually and reached for the second tube. A faint electric charge passed from Bumblebee to Echo, startling both of them.

The fembot raised her optics and met her mate's. He was already staring at her in shock and embarrassment, metal cheeks flushed and optics rotating in terror. Echo held his gaze, unable to escape the thick tension forming between their bodies. Quickly, she disconnected the last piece of equipment and hurried out of the medbay towards her quarters.

Bumblebee looked after her in bewilderment. Whatever charged air he had been feeling while around her she was feeling too. His cooling fans deactivated once she was out of eyesight but the pulsing of his spark remained.

"You are in deep, kid," Bulkhead chuckled. He stood up from the spare medical berth and dodged an angry swipe from the scout. It was then that 'Bee realized there were still bots around that had witnessed that entire encounter.

Including Optimus.

Bumblebee slowly glanced up to see that Prime had been watching the whole thing. His stoic stare moved from his daughter back down to the yellow Autobot.

Ratchet, now being the only other bot left in the medbay, flicked his gaze between the mechs with an amused grin. "I'm headed to recharge. Goodnight," he said. Optimus didn't break his optics from Bumblebee as the medic passed, merely mumbling a reply.

Bumblebee gulped, not knowing what Prime was going to say.