I'm glad people are still enjoying this fic!

I hope everyone had an excellent New Years Eve and New Years Day, and that you're all ready for 2022.


Bulkhead fiddled with his paintbrush as he eyed his canvas. He was trying to relax, but it was hard. They hadn't heard anything back from Optimus' fleet, at least, nothing the military was sharing.

Bulkhead missed Optimus. He was their leader, and he was

the one they all followed.

The large youngling stood up and started to pace. He was worried. Optimus was full grown now, and Bulkhead wasn't- he wouldn't be for several more stellar cycles- but he wished he was. If he was, he'd be able to be there with Optimus, and be able to help.

He cleaned up- he wasn't going to paint anything like this- and headed out. "I'm going to go see Bumblebee," he said.

Cyclonus looked up. "Be careful," he said calmly.

Bulkhead smiled at his creator. "I will," he promised.

Once outside, he transformed and made his way to Bumblebee's home.

Bulkhead could appreciate that it was a nice enough day that he could travel outside. There was no acid rain in the forecast- though that was becoming more and more rare- and they were even passing near enough to a star to warm up.

Bulkhead pulled up as he nearly drove past Bumblebee, going the opposite direction. Bumblebee did the same and they both transformed and got out of the travel lanes.

"I was just going to find you," Bumblebee said.

"I was, too!"

Bumblebee lowered his voice. "Shockwave told me some news. It's not much."

"Better than nothing," Bulkhead replied.

"Yeah. Let's go to the nearby arcade. They have those private booths, we can talk there."

Bulkhead sat back as Bumblebee finished talking. He took a sip of the energon he'd ordered. "So. Boss is out there, still out of contact, and we don't know how the fight went," Bulkhead summed up.

"Basically. Of course, they probably totally destroyed the attackers," Bumblebee said with a grin.

Bulkhead nodded. "Yeah, it's Optimus. He's really good at tactics. And he has Strika with him." He looked down. "I'm still worried. I mean. It's Optimus. Our Optimus."

Bumblebee nodded. "Yeah. He's our boss. Yeah, he's the Prince, but…"

Bulkhead nodded. "Have you told Prowl and Ratchet yet?"

"Shockwave said that Lugnut would tell them," he said. "I figured Cyclonus hadn't heard yet, so you'd need to know. But I want to find them next," Bumblebee added.

Bulkhead nodded.

Bumblebee took a drink. "Any ideas where they are?"

"Ratchet's probably studying, you know he's got those medical exams coming up."

"He's going to be fully of age soon," Bumblebee grumbled. "And then he'll get to take the brand, like Optimus."

Bulkhead sighed. "We'll get there," he said.

"Easy for you to say, you're older than me," Bumblebee responded. "I'm going to be the last one."

"Bee," Bulkhead started. He paused. "You've always known that," he finally said. "Why are you complaining?"

Bumblebee paused. "I… want to be out there, with the Boss," he said. "Optimus is our leader- even when we were sparklings, he's been our leader. I… I remember a bit, before we were picked up on Earth. He kept us safe, even when he had to be panicking- remember how he changed, after we were rescued? He remembered until then. And I want to help him. But the Allspark made me so young, I still have so long before I can."

Bulkhead sighed. "I'm only a stellar cycle ahead of you," he pointed out.

Bumblebee took another drink and sighed. "I know. I'm worried," he finally said. "We don't know how he's doing, and we can't help him."

"And if we were there, he'd just be worried about us, so we can't even…"

"Yeah," Bumblebee agreed. "It stinks. I want to be able to help him, be of age and actually start doing what we planned."

"I think we all do," Bulkhead said. "I have plans for the Space Bridge Network, and I know Optimus will listen to me."

"And people already underestimate me, because I'm young and small, and Shockwave has taught me how to use that, and I want to use that to help keep Optimus safe…"

They glanced at each other and laughed. Their plans- the five of them were ready to be part of the high court, and they all knew it. And they'd make their creators proud, as Decepticons.

Bulkhead drained his cube. "Let's go find Ratchet and Prowl," he said. "I bet we can come up with a good welcome back for when Optimus gets back."

Bumblebee smiled and nodded. "I bet he'll have lots to tell us about," he said.

"And he'll be fine,"

"Yes, of course," Bumblebee added. "Probably won't even have a scratch on him.

Bulkhead nodded. Optimus would be fine, of course he would.


Yeah, the sparklings have big plans. Big plans that... might be a little bit disrupted once they come of age, if they remember like Optimus did.