Chapter 179 - Rendezvous

(SePOV)

Sentinel was doing his absolute best to not laugh, he really was. As such no more than the occasional snort emerged from him as Lena proximitied Ratchet, peppering the old Medic with questions.

Not that Ratchet really minded. He just sounded like he did. Lena had cottoned on to that, far earlier than most mechs tended to. But then never once did Ratchet tell the little femme to be still, as he tended to do when he wanted some peace and silence.

No, Ratchet grumbled, and Ratchet groused, but never once did an earnest question put to the medic go unanswered.

Particularly since Lena was peppering the medic with every question she could think of in the categories of Cybertronian anatomy, medicine, basic first aid, advanced first aid...

That had been a joor ago, now the two of them were debating the best way to provide life support for a bot larger than the femme's frame in the middle of a battle situation.

::. So seeing as I don't need to worry about the lubricants in a severed servo turning toxic and causing more damage the second they're re-introduced into the bot's main systems...::

::. Is still why I wouldn't suggest re-attaching it in the field, it's better to close up the systems with a temporary patch and get them into the med-bay.:: Ratchet continued for her with his trademarked grumble. ::. If you re-attach it incorrectly, the nanites will begin integrating it that way and it is a far more complicated mess to repair.::

::. Gotcha.:: Lena was nodding seriously. ::. Here's my only problem-.::

::. You're a small femme, therefore you are worried about your ability to manoeuvre a larger bot off of the field and into the medical complexes?.:: Sentinel rumbled serenely.

::. Pretty much yeah.:: Lena stated with an audible nod.

::. We'll show you how to use levitation fields.:: Arcee chuckled.

::. And if you suck at using them-.:: Flare continued cheerfully.

::. Then I will build you some grav-clamps.:: Sentinel rumbled patiently.

::. Grav-clamps?.::

::. They are a clamp system whereby handles magnetize to your patient's frame.:: Sentinel answered patiently. ::. When switched on they produce an anti-gravitational field separate from your own systems.::

::. Okay, but how the slag am I supposed to carry them around? I mean, I have never seen any of you carrying so much as a standard chest rack!.:: Lena stated in a confused tone.

::. What the slag is a chest rack?.:: Sentinel snorted.

::. It's a harness the humans utilize to carry extra weapons and materials against their torsos while keeping their hands free.:: Bumblebee supplied cheerfully.

::. You should have seen Lena in her chest-rack.:: Jolt added with a smirk.

::. Jolt!.:: Lena squeaked indignantly.

::. You looked incredible in your warrior's armour!.:: Jolt protested innocently.

::. Well... okay yeah I did...:: Lena muttered.

::. Share!.:: Bumblebee demanded indignantly.

Silence for a moment, without a doubt the silence of Jolt asking his mate permission to share his memory logs of her human form. Then a still clip. A photograph of the human Lena had been.

Sentinel nodded musingly. The chest rack of which the femme had spoken was indeed an interesting piece of engineering. In her human armour, the femme had looked much the same as the rest of the human soldiers. She did not stand out in particular.

Except for one thing.

The femme in her armour stood, poised for the attack, everything in her stance, in the motion captured by the still photograph screaming the stance of a killer.

Of one without fear. Her optics were the most noteworthy. Without doubt the technician himself had snapped that photograph, her optics were filled with gentle humour, love and kindness.

But beneath those eyes, the sharp watchfulness of the huntress.

The Banshee-hawk.

::. Wow I never saw you like that Lena!.:: Bumblebee chirped the next second. ::. Jolt's right! You are totally badass in your armour!.::

::. Do you have any femmes you can introduce me to?.:: Mirage's voice asked over the Primary.

::. She wouldn't curse one of her friends to a lifetime with you.:: Ratchet shot at the mech with a snort.

::. Okay I told, now will somebody tell me how I'm supposed to carry around anti-grav clamps?.:: Lena snorted.

::. You put it in your subspace.:: Bumblebee shrugged.

::. My what?.::

::. Subspace.:: Sentinel rumbled patiently. ::. Essentially, it is a trans-dimensional wormhole generator which allows you to store materials in the seventh dimensional space, the amount of which is governed by your own physical presence in this dimension.::

::. You can do that!?.::

(JaPOV)

Jazz lounged comfortably around the human's farm, observing the mechs around him. Soundwave and Ironhide were bringing Lugnut up to speed. Little Wingnut was plastered to her mech creator's chest-plates, recharging with her brother watching her with a smile.

"Final question," Lugnut was growling softly. "What the slag is this that I've made me alt-form?"

"The humans call it a combine," Bolt piped up calmly, looking up. "You took a real fascination with cutting down the ripe human crops for a while, Papa."

"Hmnph, well just so long as I were cuttin' somethin' down," Lugnut grunted. Ironhide was snorting in amusement at that. "Welp, lessee abou' a new alt-form for me an' we'll get tae them rendezvous co-ordinates with me fellow Wreckers."

Jazz noted an HNS (Human's non-sentient vehicle) driving toward them then. Behind his visor, he narrowed his optics, systems quietly preparing for battle mode. But the human made no move to try to sneak or go on the offensive. He drove up, parked, and got out; striding without a care in the world toward the gathered mechs.

"Lugnut?" he asked curiously.

"Jackson," Lugnut stated gravely.

"Holy crap you actually recognize me now!?" the human stated in shock.

"Aye, me processors 'ave bin unlocked," Lugnut stated gravely.

"Good. Mean's y'ain't gonna be runnin' 'round my fields no more."

"Did I not do a sufficient job?" Lugnut asked darkly.

"Oh y' did fine Lug, but y'ain't no farm-bot now are ya. Yer kids here needja more'n I do." Jackson stated firmly, glaring at the bot.

Jazz blinked somewhat. This human seemed far more observant than his occupation suggested.

"Y' gonna go say g'bye t' Sim 'fore ya go?"

Lugnut nodded. Jazz frowned somewhat. Sim?

"Sim?" Ironhide rumbled curiously.

"Symphony, she's the blind girl in town there, comes out here quite a bit, says she likes the quiet out here for when she's playin'." Jackson explained patiently. Jazz nodded somewhat, he was certainly a flexible human, didn't so much as flinch when talking to beings so much larger than him.

"She's a good human," Wingnut murmured, not bothering to online her optics. "She has a really kind spark."

"You just like her because she sings with you," Longbolt teased his sister gently. Wingnut onlined her optics and shrugged somewhat.

"She knows what it's like to be sad..." Wingnut murmured softly, looking down. She smiled somewhat when Lugnut cuddled her a little bit closer.

"Well let's get to it then," Ironhide rumbled finally.

"Thank ye for yer kindness an' hospitality, Jackson," Lugnut stated firmly, rising and nodding to the farmer.

"Get on wi' you," Jackson grumbled, "If y' want anything t' scan fer that transformin' thing y' do you know where the rest o' the stuff is."

Lugnut nodded and began striding toward one of the hangars... barns on the premises.

"Recommendation:" Soundwave began. Jazz smirked, waiting for Ironhide to tell the mech to speak like a normal person again. Except he didn't speak again.

"Yes Soundwave?" Lugnut rumbled patiently, looking over his shoulder.

"Lugnut use vehicular form to visit with human femme, then return to flier form for rendezvous. Time: running short. Flying: faster means of travel."

Jazz couldn't help but snort as Ironhide began looking irritable. Lugnut was nodding musingly as he continued into the barn. A few minutes later a truck obviously designed for hauling minute things in bulk rolled toward them, Lugnut's creations taking the lead as they rolled out again.

Jazz pondered for a second then grinned, folding into the banshee-hawk form Soundwave had provided him.

::. Get a lift there Soundie?.:: Jazz sent cheerfully. Soundwave looked at him for a second then nodded, leaping into the air himself and transforming. ::. Oi!.:: Jazz called out irritably, watching as the flier-form disappeared for a moment.

::. Saboteur: prepare for liftoff.:: Soundwave sent back with an absolutely placid tone.

Jazz glanced up just in time to see Soundwave swooping down at him, catching a spare bit of armour with a binder cable and hauling him into the air.

To be perfectly honest? It was kinda fun...

(OPOV)

Optimus patiently kept his vectors steady, idly watching the road as he listened to the discussions of the bots proximitying him. It was one of the things that he actually enjoyed about his size, he was a good target for a bot's scanners to latch onto, and long distances were simply what he did.

Lena however, had grown quiet, the little technician femme sending out the appearance that she was mulling over the multitude of answers she'd received.

Optimus wasn't fooled. She was still incredibly young, her frame barely five orn in age.

Her tires had to be killing her, they'd been driving for just over two joor now, fifteen of the human's hours.

Not even Bumblebee could keep a running commentary for that long. Bumblebee, Ratchet, Jolt, Sentinel, Mirage and he himself had long grown accustomed to driving such distances. But as yet, Lena had not driven continuously for more than one of the human's hours. The inevitable happened, finally, the lull of conversation.

::. Lena.:: he sent gently.

::. Yes Prime?.:: she sent back immediately. Anybot could hear the light tone of strain in her voice.

::. How are your tires holding up?.:: Optimus sent gently.

::. They're okay, I've got tons of tread still.:::

Optimus snorted. Behind Ratchet, Mirage was snorting back his own laughter for all he was worth.

So was Sentinel.

::. I don't believe it!.:: Bumblebee chirped then.

::. What?.:: Lena asked curiously.

::. You've officially driven double what I did before Prime had to carry me on my first long-haul! How the slag are your tires not killing you!?.::

::. They are, I'm trying to ignore it.:: Lena sent back with a grimace. ::. I'm gonna go stand on the moon if I have to leave all my rubber on the road to do it!.::

::. Your mate is adorable, Technician Jolt.:: Sentinel rumbled cheerfully.

::. I know, she still won't believe me when I tell her that Optimus doesn't generally mind one of us grabbing a break in his trailer either.::

::. Your mate cannot lie to you, Lena.:: Mirage piped up in amusement.

::. Optimus shouldn't have to pull my fat ass to NASA!.:: Lena immediately protested. Optimus burst out laughing, he simply couldn't help it.

::. Or you could rest your tires in my trailer and keep me company.:: Optimus sent to the femme cheerfully. ::. My Kae is not riding in my trailer, nor is her holoform available to direct my vectors when I grow bored with them.::

Silence.

::. You're sure you don't mind?.:: Lena's voice finally asked quietly.

Optimus laughed softly and scanned ahead, getting into the correct lane to pull off of the road so that the femme could load up into his trailer. A rest stop proved convenient, and immediately he pulled to a stop, his holoform coming online to 'attend' to the trailer.

He lowered the ramp and lightly waved the little femme into his trailer, and smiled when she heaved a relieved sigh.

::. If you think that's good.:: Bumblebee chirped with a low snort ::. Wait until he's actually got you trailered up.::

::. What?.:: Lena asked curiously.

Optimus chuckled and lightly reached for the femme with aspects of the trailer, gently taking the weight off of her tires with the primary lift spots on her frame.

::. Oh god that feels good.:: she moaned the next second.

::. Room for one more.:: Optimus rumbled cheerfully. ::. Do you wish to ride with your femme Jolt?.::

::. Thank you, no.:: Jolt chuckled. ::. I will proximity you, however.::

Optimus nodded and beamed as Lena's holoform onlined and walked shyly toward him. He opened the driver's side door for her and waited patiently for her to climb up.

"Okay I can totally see why you were always transforming around Kae," Lena snorted aloud, hauling herself up into his driver's seat. "She was shorter than me!"

Optimus laughed and looked back at the bots waiting to roll out again.

::. Does anyone require refuelling?.:: he rumbled patiently. A chorus of negatives and he nodded, swinging his holoform up into the passenger's seat and lightly getting into gear.

Lena sat in silence for a long moment before her holoform glanced at his.

::. I'm gonna get weird looks on Cybertron when I'm speaking English, aren't I...::

::. Oh now there's the bot to ask for language instruction!.:: Ratchet laughed behind Sentinel.

::. Really?.:: Lena asked curiously.

Optimus smiled and blinked his human holoform offline.

::. ∂Space∂ means Space.:: he began with a gentle smile.

(SwPOV)

Soundwave cycled a bit more air through his systems and took another scan of the area.

Everything was clear, and it had been so a breem ago, when he'd scanned the area previously.

To be honest he just felt like scanning. Jazz was riding his tail-feathers, so to speak, the Saboteur had taken to the Banshee-hawk form with great alacrity. So now Soundwave was towing the mech through the air, although it did not require much in the way of excess output on his part.

Jazz was rapidly becoming a highly proficient glider, if not flier.

Ironhide however, was still growling, dangling beneath Lugnut as the massive cargo chopper carried his creations and the Weapons Master.

Soundwave scanned the area and noted a lovely piece of flat ground beneath them.

::. Saboteur: wish to attempt landing once more?.::

::. Yeh jus' wanna see meh fall on mah faceplates agin.::

::. Negative: Flyer frame highly efficient mode of transportation-.::

::. For slag sake talk like a normal bot!.:: Ironhide snarled at him. Soundwave thought about that for a second and shrugged. True, the Weapons Master did not truly need more aggravation at this moment.

::. Flier frames are a highly efficient mode of transportation. Landing simply requires practice.:: Soundwave informed the mech being towed behind him.

::. Run it pas' meh agin.::

::. First, drop your altitude, when you are one unit from the ground, flare your tail rudder to catch the air, it brings your back end down.:: Soundwave stated patiently. Again.

::. A'righ' then, le's try'ah out.:: Jazz nodded with a frown. Once again, Soundwave released the mech from his cables and circled, watching the saboteur critically as he tested out the banshee-hawk frame.

::. Ah b'lieve Ah'm actually gettin' the hang of this.:: Jazz stated finally, swooping and circling over the flat landing grounds.

::. Affirmative.:: Soundwave nodded patiently. ::. Now attempt landing once more.::

Silently, Jazz dove, flared his wings and forgot his tail again, landing beak first on the ground.

::. No, Saboteur, like this.:: Soundwave stated patiently, he lifted up in the air somewhat more and did a rapid transformation, directly from his own flier frame and into a modified banshee hawk.

Jazz was watching him now as he circled, decreasing his altitude somewhat more before diving and flaring his wings and tail.

As he had from the day he had learned the skill, Soundwave landed on whatever extension he sent out, this time, it was on the clawed pedes of a banshee-hawk.

Jazz-hawk was blinking at him.

::. Seriously? The tail does thah!?.::

::. Affirmative.:: Soundwave nodded cheerfully. ::. Again?.::

::. Agin.:: Jazz-hawk nodded firmly. Soundwave transformed into his bipedal form, stretched for a moment then leapt into the air, transforming into his preferred flight frame and circling around. Once again, he caught Jazz as the mech hopped into the air and pulled him aloft, releasing the mech at a good altitude and watching critically as he circled and dove once more.

::. He landin' better yet?.:: Lugnut sent with a snort.

::. Learning.:: Soundwave replied critically, then smirked as Jazz finally remembered his tail, he bounced a few times on his clawed feet before the wings folded.

But he was on the ground now, and not with his faceplates in the ground.

::. One mo' tahm an' Ah'll have it.:: Jazz sent the next second with a smirk.

::. Coming down.:: Soundwave chuckled, diving and catching the saboteur as he hopped in the air again. ::. It would be best, Jazz, to practice further while we await the arrival of the Primes.::

Over the open comm link, Soundwave could feel the mechs accompanying him grin as he towed the saboteur back into the air and picked up his airspeed somewhat, catching up to the Wrecker again.

::. For?.:: Ironhide rumbled. Soundwave could feel the mech smirking in spite of himself.

::. Presentation of Banshee-hawk frame to Banshee-hawk femme.:: Soundwave sent innocently.

(LPOV)

Lena sat silently in the Prime's alt-mode and just steered, the quiet was nice, it gave her time to digest the massive amount of information the mechs had imparted on her. Optimus was idly flicking through radio frequencies, but was very obviously more interested in whatever he and Kae were talking about across their sparkbond.

Jolt, Ratchet and Sentinel were catching a half-charge.

Apparently they could proximity Optimus and just sleep on their tires, and Bumblebee had informed her that Ironhide did so a lot.

The justification? They were already on their tires, Ironhide had been known to jerk awake at the tiniest divergence and woe betide the bot that had caused it.

Bumblebee and Mirage were already at NASA. They'd been bored so they had raced the last fifty miles.

Backwards.

Then again at three in the morning the roads were practically deserted. Optimus just told them to avoid crashing and not to damage anything.

Lena smiled.

∂Silly afts∂ she murmured fondly in Cybertronian, Bumblebee was boasting of his tailpipe win.

∂Still practicing, Banshee-hawk?∂ Optimus rumbled to her with a smile.

Pure coincidence, but a coincidence she'd put up with. The Prime had pronounced her name as La-ee¡-nah. Banshee-hawk.

∂Yes Prime∂ Lena responded cheerfully. Optimus had sent her essentially, the entirety of the Cybertronian Common language to store in her processors.

Then, they'd both gone back and he had explained and translated every term she could come up with. That was logged into her memory banks now, the only thing left to practice?

Letting the language flow properly.

::. ∂Are you close yet?∂.:: Jazz's voice called out.

::. Fifty miles.:: Optimus sent back patiently.

::. ∂Good. Don't tell Lena we have a surprise for her here∂.::

::. ∂What surprise?∂.::Lena asked, wide eyed.

::. ∂Slag.∂.::

::. ∂What surprise!?∂.::

::. ∂Informing Banshee-hawk of surprise, nullifies surprise∂.:: Soundwave stated in an amused tone.

::. ∂Is it a good surprise or a bad surprise?∂.::

::. It's a surprise!.:: Bumblebee chirped gleefully.

Lena scowled, she couldn't help it, unconsciously pressing down on the Prime's gas pedal to get a bit more speed.

::. Such moments are anticipation, enjoy it.:: Optimus rumbled with a low chuckle. Lena pouted, she couldn't help it, but regardless, the Prime picked his pace up a little bit.

At least, a little bit until she glanced at his speedometer.

::. Just how fast do you go!?.:: Lena demanded in shock, the needle was indicating a hundred and forty miles an hour.

::. The speedometer is simply cosmetic, I can go far faster than that two forty it indicates.:: Optimus rumbled in a somewhat deprecating tone.

::. Youngling rip just got into the habit of dawdlin' wherever he goes.:: Ironhide rumbled with a snort.

::. Unless he is chasing you down.:: Sentinel snorted.

::. Mmnph, don't remind me.::

::. Remahnd yah of wha' 'Hahd?.:: Jazz asked cheerfully.

::. Nothin'.::

::. Oh come on 'Hahd, remahnd yah of wha?.::

::. Like as not one of the multitude of times he goaded Optimus into actually picking up his pace.:: Sentinel snorted. ::. Or is it the time that you raced ahead, intent on reaching Iacon before him while he was dozing on his tires?.::

::. That youngling woke up, raced after me and passed me in a dust storm, he got there a joor before I did.:: Ironhide rumbled grumpily.

::. And yet you have made it to NASA before I.:: Optimus rumbled benignly.

::. That wasn't my decision.:: Ironhide grumbled irritably.

::. What?.::

::. Yeh'll see when you get here, femme.:: A stranger's voice rumbled.

::. Lugnut!?.:: Sentinel demanded in shock.

::. Aye, now get yer aft tae base, we got work what needs doin!.::

Prime finally pulled into the gates, the posts that had been holding her weight off of her tires receding. Lena wriggled somewhat then backed out of the trailer as Optimus opened the gate for her. Immediately she transformed and stretched, looking around and spying Ironhide.

No Jazz.

Or Soundwave.

::. Where'd you go Jazz?.:: she sent curiously, automatically tucking herself into Jolt's arms as he came up behind her.

::. Ah'm righ' heah!.:: Jazz's voice grinned as a bot swooped down and landed in front of her.

It was a bird frame. A gorgeous bird frame! Jazz transformed into his bi-pedal frame and smirked at her.

"That form! Can I be that form!?" Lena demanded with a broad grin, looking first at Jazz then at her mate as Jolt laughed gently, cuddling her a bit more tightly.

"Are you sure you want to be a banshee-hawk my Lena?" Jolt murmured in her audios.

"That's a banshee-hawk!?" Lena demanded, grinning, suddenly very okay with her namesake. Soundwave was chuckling off to the side, an info packet lightly offering itself to her from him.

The specs for her namesake, and the coding to allow her to change from form to form.

That was just cool.