They say never judge a book by it's cover. Well, you'd be more than dead if you tried to judge me by my appearance. I maybe small, but I pack a mean punch if you mess with me and my team... Oh, I'm sorry. That was rude... hey there! I'm Windswept! And boy, have I got a story to tell you. Well, what are you waiting for?! Get over here and get ready for my adventures on Team Prime!
It's a miracle! There's progress being made on this story! ...Albeit, very slowly... but still!
- Transformers Prime does not belong to me. All rights go to the people and brands who were able to create this show.
- Windswept and the slowly growing list of OC's belong to me.
(Chapter Title: Scrap Attacks and Chilly Expeditions)
NO ONE'S P.O.V
In order to be the best and do the best they can, sometimes people had to do things they didn't want to do or were way out of their comfort zone. But they would have to push through it. They would have to be strong and determined to push through their task in order to complete it.
In this case, in the white snowy land known as the Arctic, a trio of Autobots had to brave the sub-zero conditions and the snow lightly dusting their armour in order to find what Ratchet had sent them to find.
Bulkhead, as the head of the pack, stopped to check the scanner he had been provided with, making sure the co-ordinates were sending him the right way. Bumblebee and Starlight paused behind him, the lone female wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm while Bumblebee held his arms out to stop the cold wind breezing through them.
"Are we there yet?" Bumblebee asked through his bleeps when Bulkhead changed the direction.
"No! We're not there yet!" The former Wrecker answered with a look at the scanner, "But it should be just past this ridge, Bumblebee!"
"Oh good!" Starlight sighed in relief as they continued their walk, "N-Not much further to go then."
The trio of Autobots reached the ridge of a cliff face and immediately jumped down, sliding on their feet down to the bottom. Landing safely, Bulkhead checked his scanner again, becoming slightly concerned about where it was taking him.
"I don't get it. These readings are off the meters!"
"Well, i-if we don't find anything soon, we can go s-straight home, r-right?" Starlight questioned in a stutter, finding herself becoming colder and colder.
She looked around, finding something to distract herself from the cold breeze that was blowing right through her frame. That's when she spotted it, something large in the ground that didn't look normal.
"Hey guys, check it out!" She motioned the two male Autobots, walking over to the sight she had found.
The three Autobots approached the find buried deep in the snow where a Cybertronian pod was buried deep within the ice
Starlight whispered in disbelief, "Holy scrap..."
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
"I told you, doc. We're fine!"
"The only way to be certain you're fine, Bulkhead, is to endure standard defrosting procedure!"
The second Starlight, Bumblebee and Bulkhead had returned home, Ratchet had each one of them hooked up to machines to help the defrosting procedure. It was standard to do this as it was needed if they didn't want anything to go wrong within their systems in the future.
I watched in amusement when Bulkhead pulled off the cables connected to his chassis, standing up to full height. Frustrated by the lack of cooperation, Ratchet sat the Autobot back down on the ground.
"You know prolonged exposure to sub-zero conditions can cause permanent system damage!"
"Ratchet, have you learned anything more about the arctic find?" Optimus asked as he and Arcee approached.
"Not yet," Ratchet answered simply, looking at the computer screen recording the room that was currently holding the ice-coated pod, "The pod can't be opened while it's frozen solid."
NO ONE'S P.O.V
The still ice-covered pod continued to thaw in the containment room, having the warm, orange heaters helping the thawing process. Already, a huge section of the pod had been thawed out, the ice melting into water and beginning to flood that section of the room.
Inside the pod, its' contains were already awakening and were already scuttling to try and break free from its' pod that would've become its' home for many many years while it rested in the frozen white lands of the Arctic.
Suddenly, the creature inside the pod began breaking through the pod. The hole it created continued to get bigger and bigger, now able to stick a claw out from its' home...
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
The Saturday drive from Carly's place to base was peaceful. The sun was still rising, the air was cool but crisp and there was nobody in sight between us and Autobot base.
It was perfect.
"Arcee to Windswept, do you read?"
... Yeah, I may have spoken too soon.
"Loud and clear Arcee. What's up?"
"Optimus and I are going to the Arctic to search for anything that might give us clues about the pod Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Starlight brought home last night."
I knew where this was heading.
"Ratchet's currently providing us with sensor lights on our insignias to help let us know when its' time to return to base and-"
"And you want me and Carly to go pick up Jack for you," I interrupted to confirm.
Because we weren't using the private link, the radio we were using allowed everyone in close range to hear the conversation. So when Carly's grip tightened on the handlebars suddenly, I knew exactly why.
"If you're able to."
"Of course, Arcee," I answered happily, "We'll see you back at base. Windswept out."
I skidded to a halt and performed a quick U-turn to begin the drive back into Jasper, Nevada. We weren't close to base anyway to be honest. We had just gotten on the lone road to itwhen Arcee commed. So she was lucky that she radioed in when she did.
"What did Bulk, Bee and Star find last night?" Carly asked.
"A Cybertronian pod buried deep in ice," I replied, "It's currently thawing out in a containment room back at base."
"Do you guys know what's inside it?"
"We won't know anything until the pod is properly thawed out. While the process continues, Optimus will probably be wanting to know how the pod got to the Arctic in the first place, hence why he and Arcee are going there."
"So, you guys have to search for anything OR everything just to find more traces about things like this?"
"Like I said, we won't know anything until the pod is thawed out."
In my rear-view mirror, I could see Carly nod in understanding before stopping and looking down, "Hey, uhhh, you do know where you're going right?"
I answered straight away, "Nope."
"Do you want me to tell you where to go?
"Please?"
Carly laughed and began talking about where Jack's place was, quickly disappearing off track and discussing how it was just him and his mother at home. Apparently, Jack's father mysteriously left when he was at a young age and his mother was left to fend for the pair of them. She also told me about how Jack's mom and her and Raf's mother are close friends, the latter having provided help with Jack whenever his mom needed it.
That's kind of sweet. And kind of cute actually.
"So, is that when you started developing a crush on Jack Darby?" I asked her cheekily.
Her cheeks flushing red, Carly began stuttering immediately, "Ha, uhhhh...you're pretty funny, 'Swept... ahhh. Hmmm, what crush. Ha...ha..." Then she paused, her grip of the handlebars tightening, "How obvious is it?"
"Quite obvious, Carly."
She groaned loudly, "Ohhhh man... You won't tell anyone will you?"
"Of course I won't, Carly. Who am I gonna tell anyway?" I asked her rhetorically.
"Oh phew... thank y-"
"But that doesn't mean that I won't tease you about it."
"Ughhhhh, seriously?"
"More than dead serious, my favourite human."
Carly perked up a little at that comment, but it did nothing calm her about the fact that I was going to begin teasing her about her crush on Jack. I twisted my rear-view mirrors upwards to see the helmet-covered head of Carly.
"So how long have you had a crush on him for?" I asked her curiously.
"It's uhhh, complicated, 'Swept," she sighed, her grip loosening as we neared Jack's place.
I went to asked her about how it was complicated, but I had to quickly shut my mouth as we pulled up beside the walkway in front of Jack's property. He was waiting beside the letter box with his phone in one hand and his helmet in the other. Arcee probably rung to let him know she wasn't going to be picking him up today.
Jack looked up and chucked his phone into his front pocket, walking up to us, "Hey Carly."
"Morning Jack," Carly greeted back with a smile.
"I suppose Arcee's already messaged you about the news?" I wondered knowingly.
"Yeah, though she didn't exactly say why. She just said that you guys were going to be picking me up," Jack answered as he placed his helmet over his head and began getting on my motorcycle form behind Carly, "Which is cool, by the way. Thanks for the ride."
"No problem, Jack." With that, I quickly began our drive back towards Autobot base.
Carly tightened her grip on the handlebars when Jack wrapped his hands around her waist. I smirked instantly.
Ahhh, I do love a good romance.
"Arcee and I will search for any clue that will explain the origin of our arctic find."
Hearing Optimus' voice at the other side of tunnel told me that he and Arcee were just about to leave base for the Arctic. I quickly kicked up a gear to make sure Arcee and Jack got to say goodbye to each other before she left for the day.
Throughout the entire ride here, Jack and Carly were talking about how they were thankful it was the weekend and what homework they had been given that needed to be completed before Monday. I picked on a few things during their discussion.
They had a small number of classes together, one of them was called a 'home-room' - I wasn't going to ask questions, I didn't want to butt in. I picked on them knowing each other for quite a number of years. I knew this, but I didn't realise they had known each other for that long. I also picked up that Jack wouldn't let the conversation end straight away. He always had something to say and when the conversation came close to finishing, he immediately changed the subject to continue their chat further.
Hmmm, maybe the romance wasn't one-sided. Why did Carly say it was complicated in the first place?!
"Only until your sensors sound. Remember, once your core temperature drops into the blue zone, system failures aren't likely. They're imminent."
We drove into the Autobot base with Bulkhead and Bumblebee behind us just as Ratchet had finished his warning to Arcee and Optimus. We stopped just at the tunnel's entrance and quickly, the four humans started dispatching themselves from us.
"Miss us, Doc Bot?" Miko asked the medic with her head out the passenger side of Bulkhead.
Ratchet moaned, probably at the thought of having the humans spending the entire day with him, "Shouldn't they be in school?" I don't think he's fussed about having them around still.
Tough luck, Ratch. I like them, and so does everyone else. They're staying!
"On a Saturday?" Miko scoffed in disbelief as Bulkhead, Bumblebee and I transformed out of our vehicle forms, "We have the whole weekend off to spend with you!"
"I wasn't expecting to carpool. What gives, Arcee?" Jack asked his guardian when he and Carly began approaching her and Optimus.
"Tag team, Jack. It's my turn for exploration duty," She answered.
"Too bad," the boy remarked, "It's a beautiful day for a ride. Would hate for you to feel guilty for leaving me indoors!"
"ARCTIC exploration duty."
"Indoors where it's warm," Jack immediately decided and walked away with a smirking Carly beside him.
"The Arctic? I've always wanted to see snow!" Raf gushed excitedly as he approached Optimus and Arcee.
"I would invite you to join, Rafael. But the conditions are much too extreme, even for we Autobots," Optimus sighed.
"I…understand," Raf nodded in understanding and in hidden disappointment.
Now with his mouth guard activated, Optimus nodded at the small boy before he and Arcee turned to walk away into the Groundbridge. They didn't get very far when Optimus turned back to Raf, "But I will bring you back a snowball."
"That would be awesome!"
The excitement of that prospect on his face brought a smile to my own - it was cool that despite Optimus' strict and sometimes distant nature, he still had a kind spark. Unlike you Ratchet...
Without another word, Optimus and Arcee began their walk into the Groundbridge. In a quick flash, the two had disappeared through the portal, preparing for their scouting of the Arctic.
"Transportation complete," Ratchet announced as he went to switch the Groundbridge system off.
Before he had to chance to, the controls sparked with electricity, shutting the Groundbridge controls off for him,"By the All-Spark!"
I shared a look with Starlight - that didn't seem good...
"So…what do you guys think we should do today?" Miko asked when she and the rest of her friends had reached the top step of the balcony.
Bumblebee instantly began whirring and making signals with his hands, trying to get Miko and Jack to understand. But his charge and his charge's older sister were able to figure it out pretty quickly.
"Video game tournament!"
"Last one standing wins!" Raf laughed, knowing that he was the last one to sit on the couch.
"YOU LOT! HERE! NOW!" Ratchet called out to us desperately.
The four of us exchanged a disappointed, but concerning look as we made our way over to the Groundbridge controls. Since Starlight and I saw the Groundbridge controls sparking as soon as Optimus and Arcee left, I could only presume that that was why Ratchet was bossing us over to him.
NO ONE'S P.O.V
As Raf waved goodbye to his guardian for the moment, who was bleeping his apologies for having to leave him, he began reaching out towards the small table for the couch where one of the controllers were resting. He went to grab it, but missed as Miko snatched the controllers away and held one of them out tauntingly towards Jack.
"Prepare to be destroyed!"
"Uh. Yeah. Not really my thing, Miko," Jack declined with a yawn.
"Oh? Scared of losing to a girl?" Carly tormented Jack, leaning against the couch behind him.
Jack sighed, snatching the controller unknowingly off Raf, "Bring it!"
"No mercy!"
Raf watched his friends play the video game with a glum expression. He wasn't so surprised that they were already ignoring him. Most of the time, he was always ignored at home – he'd even shout to the rooftops and most of them still wouldn't take a second glance at him. Most of his siblings were older than him and they were more concerned about things teenagers were always concerned about. He wasn't even thirteen yet. And his parents only noticed him when they were checking up on his grades. Even then, they still ignored him because they're was nothing in his excellent marks that sparked concern.
Noticing the glum look on the younger boy's, Jack held out his controller towards him, "Hey, Raf. You wanna take on Miko for me?"
"Nah," Raf shook his head, "I have stuff to do." With that, he slipped off the couch and began walking to the stairs.
Miko and Jack shrugged at one another, continuing their racing game.
"Hey Raf." The small boy turned around at his name, looking up and finding his older sister looking at him with a comforting look. "Let's leave these 'mature teenagers' alone and go play Arctic Survival in the hallways!"
Almost everyone ignored him except for his sister Carly.
The grin appearing on Raf's face went from ear to ear. Arctic Survival was one of the first games he and Carly played together a few weeks after Alejandro's death. It was the game that saved Carly from her spiral downwards. Looking over at everyone else, the two slipped out of sight and into the hallway.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
As we made our way over to Ratchet, I noticed him fiddling with the Groundbridge controls that were still sparking and cackling with blue electricity. He kept pulling the lever up and down like he was opening a Groundbridge... only the Groundbridge wouldn't open.
Uh-oh.
"You can't boss us around when the boss is out!" Bulkhead began arguing behind us.
"I need some heavy lifting. The Groundbridge is down!" Ratchet announced.
Bulkhead quickly stopped in his argument at the words while Starlight gasped and brought a hand to her mouth.
"Oh no!"
"What about Optimus and Arcee?" Bumblebee quickly asked.
"Optimus and Arcee made it through just fine. It's bringing them back that concerns me," Ratchet answered before looking at us and pointing to the panels near the Autobot logo, "Now remove those panels. Chop chop!"
Better get to work!
NO ONE'S P.O.V
Meanwhile, deep within the corridors of the base, the sounds of gushing wind rushing through the tall hallway, and light, but struggling footsteps were the only noises being made through the back of base.
Well, the gushing wind noises wouldn't be happening if Raf wasn't making them.
"…Temperatures sub-zero and dropping," Carly groaned in fake struggle, holding her arms out in front of her to block the faux wind breezing past the siblings.
"…Gotta…get back…to base…!" Raf yelled as the 'wind' pushed him back a few steps.
Carly looked behind her and went to reach out to Raf to help him when the sound of metal clanging halted them in the middle of their game. The two stood to full height and spotted a loose screw lying on the ground. Curious, the teenage girl walked over to the screw, kneeling down to pick it up, "Now you weren't lying here before..."
Looking up at her brother, the two instantly heard a similar metal sound high above them. They looked up in curiosity, but found nothing to place the sounds to. Carly pushed the screw through her belt loop, grabbed Raf's shoulder and guided him slowly down the corridor in fear.
The metal sound appeared again, this time scuttling in front of them. Carly missed whatever it was that had gone past, but Raf caught sight of it, adjusting his glasses, "Hello?"
The metal sound appeared once more, this time from behind them. Carly looked but found nothing. Now things was getting a little freaky.
Raf walked backwards, deciding that it was time to end the game there and head back to the main room, where he knew he was safe. Spinning around, he screamed as he tripped forwards suddenly.
His sister looked behind her and found her brother on the ground. Quickly, she raced to his side, checking him over, "Raf! You okay?" Instantly, she found her little brother distracted by something in front of him. She looked up, finding a small metal creature peering at them curiously and shyly, blinking its' eyes.
Raf screamed again, leaping away from it in fright as if it was going to attack him. He shielded his eyes for the moment, still keeping an eye on the creature, who just stood there and looked at him curiously before scuttling towards him.
"Where did you come from?" The boy asked nervously, laughing at the cuteness coming off the creature, its' big eyes watching him stand up.
"Windswept and the rest of the bots' never mentioned anything about pets," Carly cooed, her attentions locked on the small creature. Remembering the screw on her belt loop, she pulled it into her grasp.
"You wanna play fetch?" Raf offered as his sister passed the screw over to him. He began waving it in the air, watching as the little machine jumped and began running around, squealing happily at the sight, "Good boy! Go get it!"
The two watched as the little metal creature ran towards the screw that Raf throw. With skill, he managed to grab the screw the second time it bounced... and quickly began sawing it away, eating at it.
"No! Don't eat that! You're gonna..." Carly trailed off when the little creature turned back around unharmed and quickly ran back over to them. The brown-haired girl looked at the metal creature in confusion, "Choke?"
"Or not." Raf laughed as their new pet nuzzled itself against his jeans.
The siblings exchanged a happy smile and began walking back to the main room of the base with their new friend in tow, excited to possibly meet more of their friends. However, they failed to notice the wires that had been torn apart, cackling with blue electricity, as well as the switch that had been completely eaten through behind him...
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
"Come on. Come on. You want some?!"
While we were pulling the tiles up off the floor of the base, Jack and Miko were continuing their racing on the gaming console we had acquired for them with the help of Agent Fowler. We also got them that couch and that little table as well.
I looked up once to see how Carly and Raf were but they had disappeared, the other two humans had said they had gone down the corridor. I had shrugged it off - they were probably better off going to create their own fun in the corridors then watching Jack and Miko play video games all day without giving them a chance to play.
"In! Your! FACE!" I could hear Jack dancing around in victory. I think he was proud to have finally won a race against Miko.
The power flicked out suddenly. I looked around to see if it was any one us that had accidentally pulled out one of the components in the ground that powered the electricity.
"WHAT THE? Great! Power failure!"
"Awwww…it wiped out our game!"
"But…I was winning!"
"Bummer..."
Jack was the only one whining about his game as Miko was smirking in fake disappointment. He was whining so much because he was finally winning something against the girl for the first time ever. They had only known each other for two weeks - Carly said to me once she hates playing games with Miko. Mmm, I'm starting to figure out why. Miko's a a fierce competitor who hates losing with a passion. The crashing video game was probably her saving grace.
I looked back at the sparking Groundbridge components hiding underneath one of the tiles on the floor. Ratchet slipped one out of its' socket, and what he showed us of it caught our attention. The component was half destroyed and black around the edges... Well, that's not good...
"We most definitely have a problem."
Really Ratchet? I hadn't noticed...
"What could have caused this?" Starlight asked with concern as Jack and Miko joined us on the ground.
The electricity flickered above us again, causing Bulkhead to continue from Starlight, "Or that?"
"Might be the main grid. Hopefully, it isn't a substation malfunction," Ratchet hoped.
My eyes narrowed at the component, seeing how weirdly damaged it was. Starlight grabbed it off Ratchet when he held it out for her to take off him. I looked over at it in her servo.
"This isn't just an ordinary damage," Starlight whispered in realisation, "These are bite marks."
Bite marks?! ... Where's Raf and Carly?!
"Hey, guys!"
"Come check out what we found!"
Oh thank Primus!
"We're busy!" Ratchet shouted.
We looked up to see Raf and Carly walking in from the corridor, unharmed and looking a bit too happy than normal.
Ratchet began screaming in terror suddenly at Raf. My optics looked down at what he had...
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
That's why Ratchet had begun screaming...
We immediately stood to full height, activating our weapons and taking a few steps back from the humans. Bulkhead started screaming while Bumblebee had an arm in front of Starlight... A protective arm, I may add.
"Hey! Hey!" Miko screamed at the sight of our weapons, her and Jack rushing to protect their friends from our weapons, "What's with you guys?"
"Scraplet!" Bulkhead immediately cried in answer, "SCRAPLET!"
"What's a Scraplet?" Raf asked innocently, trying to see over Miko and Jack's shoulders.
"The most dangerous vermin ever to crawl upon the face of Cybertron," Ratchet growled in answer.
"This?" My charge quickly began to scoff in disbelief. Jack and Miko exchanged a look and moved aside while Carly motioned to the little metal creature in Raf's arms, "You've gotta be kidding me!" Then her disbelieving eyes meet my ones that were full of fear, and her expression immediately changed, "Right?"
"You're giant robots!" Miko argued, motioning her hand towards the little piece of scrap, "Scrappy here is…teeny."
'Scrappy' maybe teeny, but they pack a literally mean bite!
"You have no idea the damage that teeny thing could do!" Bulkhead retorted fearfully, taking more steps towards the tunnel.
Raf shook his head, "Aw, he wouldn't hurt anything."
That was when the Scraplet awoke in his arms...
... And spotted us...
Probably, its' first proper meal was standing right before him.
The little metal creature opened its' mouth in hunger, showing us the rows of razor-sharp teeth just waiting to chomp down on some metal. Snapping its' jaws, it broke free of Raf's arms and immediately charged its' way towards us. Apart from Ratchet, we all immediately began firing desperate blaster shots at the creature. It did nothing to distract Scrappy, who leaped onto Bumblebee and began chomping up the armour on his ankle.
Our teammate fell down to the ground in sudden pain - this, Carly, Jack, Miko, Raf - is what your 'teeny' creature can do!
'Bee pulled the Scraplet off his knee armour in anger, getting ready to throw it away. But the Scraplet was too smart and leaped out of his hand, starting to chomp away at his wrist. Starlight suddenly grabbed a hold of the little piece of scrap and threw it away from us angrily.
I couldn't help but hid behind Starlight - I know, I'm a coward - when the Scraplet started scuttling towards us to make its way to us again to get revenge on Starlight…only to be smacked dead by Raf using a crowbar, continuously hitting him and hitting him until Jack grabbed a hold of the weapon just as the younger boy was ready to give the Scraplet another hit.
"Easy there, killer," Jack joked, taking the crowbar out of the boys' hands.
While he began taking deep breathes, Carly placed her hands on his shoulders to comfort him. She had only just done so when Raf decided to race away from her and towards the downed Bumblebee.
"Whoa, I did not see that coming!" I heard Miko remark to Jack.
We crowded around Bumblebee as Ratchet checked over the wound he got from the Scraplet. Starlight rubbed his shoulder comfortingly as I bent down to get a look at the wound with Ratchet. Bulkhead joined us at the medic's other side.
"I'm sorry, Bumblebee!"
'Bee quickly began bleeping to Raf about he was fine and didn't want him to be worried.
"Is he gonna be OK?" Carly asked Ratchet worriedly when she came over to us, "Is he? Is he? Is he?"
"Only a mesh wound. He'll live."
"Now do you believe me? All Scraplets do is dismantle machinery and eat anything metal! Especially living metal!" Bulkhead exclaimed.
"Well…bug squashed," Jack began, him and Miko joining us.
"Game over…right?" Carly asked nervously.
Oh I wish.
"No. When it comes to Scraplets, there's never just one," Ratchet retorted darkly, looking down the corridor behind us, "And I fear I know how they got in here."
I widened my optics in realisation.
The Cybertronian pod!
We raced to the containment room holding the Cybertronian pod as quickly as we could with our human friends. The room was still warm thanks to the heaters Ratchet had set up to help speed up the thawing process.
But I don't think that pod needed that much thawing after all...
The massive hole in the pod was made from the inside, kind of like Starlight's when we first found her escape pod. But she didn't gnaw her way out of hers like the Scraplets have...
"It's a trap," Ratchet proclaimed, using his handheld torch to get a better look at the inside of the pod, "A Scraplet trap."
"Uh…can I add that it is a..." Starlight trailed off to gulp in fear, not moving anywhere away from Bumblebee, who was hiding behind Ratchet and the humans, "Empty Scraplet trap."
"Most likely ejected into space aeons ago," Ratchet summarised.
"Only to end up in the Arctic where the freezing temperatures there kept them in stasis," I added, looking at the pod. Behind me, Bulkhead continued to shake in fear. Poor Bulk...
"Until we brought the thaw," Jack realised.
"And now they're wide awake..." Miko began, looking at Carly.
"And ready to brunch."
"So…how many are we talking about?" Raf asked nervously.
I looked down at the humans. Each of them were now equipped with a pipe, ready to attack any Scraplets that came our way. Except for Raf – he was still equipped with that crowbar. I don't think he was too keen on the thought of NOT having it in his hands.
"Thousands," Ratchet answered gravely, transforming his torch back into his servo, "And the power malfunctions and the Groundbridge damage are sure signs their infestation is well underway."
I hope Arcee and Optimus are doing okay in the Arctic. 'Cause if not, well... we're gonna have a lot of big problems...
No! Think positive, 'Swept! Arcee and Optimus are doing okay, Arcee and Optimus are doing okay! We'll beat these Scraplets, we'll beat these Scraplets!
... I hope...
NO ONE'S P.O.V
In the cold Arctic storm that had begun during his time scouting, Optimus scaled down the icy cliff in front of him, trying to not let the cold get to him. Covered in nothing but the white fluffs of snow, he held onto the cliff with one hand while he he took a look at his scanner in the other, figuring out where to head next.
Before he got a proper look at the scanner, his sensors began to beep and the Autobot logos on his shoulders began to flash blue, notifying him that it was time to return to base.
"Arcee," The Prime began speaking into the comm-link, not being close by Arcee to properly speak to her.
He hoped Arcee was faring better than he was but with her small size, he suspected that she would probably be faring a little bit worse than him. Arcee was a strong two-wheeler however; she won't allow the cold to get to her that easily.
"What's your status?"
Arcee had been looking around on top of a different cliff face when her sensors started to go off and the Autobot logo's on her winglets began to flicker too.
"My sensor's going off. Guess we should call for pickup before things get chilly."
Optimus nodded at her statement in agreement, knowing that they needed to get back home for Ratchet to put the machines on them to help the defrost process of him and Arcee before the cold did any serious damage to their systems.
"Optimus to base. Core temperature readings have reached the blue zone. Prepare to activate Groundbridge."
He was more than just surprised when he got static in response. It concerned him. Ratchet always replied to him when he commed in. Always. He starred out at the white land before him, his optics trying to figure out an answer.
What was going on back at base?
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
The first thing Ratchet tried to do when we returned back to the main room was to try and contact Optimus and Arcee to let them know what was happening here in base. The screens above us were flickering, trying to stay alive and alert as the profiles of our teammates came up, showing us where in the Arctic they were.
"Ratchet to Optimus, do you read me? We have a situation!" Before he could fully explain the situation, the radio died and the screens went blank.
Well scrap.
"The Scraplets have gotten into the com-link system!" Ratchet yelled in frustration, slamming down on the controls and turning to us, "If we don't eradicate these creatures immediately, they will reduce this entire base to a scrapheap!"
"Well, I say we bug out of here and let them keep it!" Bulkhead decided in a panic. Beside him, Bumblebee whirred and Starlight nodded quickly in agreement.
"Evacuation is not an option!" Ratchet told them.
I moved beside the medic in agreement, "We need to get that Groundbridge back online stat. We'll lose Optimus and Arcee if we don't get them out of the Arctic."
Yes, I was frightened, terrified, every single word that meant scared! But I'm not leaving a teammate behind no matter the situation, especially since Optimus was our leader and Arcee was the closest thing I have to a sister. Knowing all that was giving me more courage than I should've had.
Jack gasped worriedly, "They will?" I think he was realising the true extent of how bad the situation was becoming.
Miko's hands curled into fists, storming up to the protective bars of the balcony, "Bulkhead, you never run!"
"Miko, you haven't seen a swarm of these things devour a bot! I have. They pick you apart from the inside-out! Going for the small juicy bits first, fuse by fuse, circuit by circuit till there's nothing left! And I mean NOTHING! Not even your optics."
... Thanks Bulkhead... I felt super positive about the situation now...
Starlight shivered in fear opposite me, causing Bumblebee to rub her arms comfortingly.
There's been a lot of servo contact between those today...
"You have to let us help," Jack begged.
Raf nodded behind him, "We're not made of metal!"
"Yeah. Those Scraplets can't hurt us," Miko piped in, pointing her thumb at herself.
"Typically, I find your fleshiness you be your least engaging quality," Ratchet began. I rolled my optics at his smart comment as he continued, "But it would appear to provide an advantage under these extremes."
"OK good. So we team off?" Carly suggested, "Two bots, one human. Or two humans, one bot."
"I'll watch your back while you repair the Groundbridge, Ratchet," Jack proclaimed.
"Count me too," I decided immediately.
Scrap all that 'no matter the situation' nonsense! Come on! These are SCRAPLETS we are messing with here! SCRAPLETS!
"And we go on a bug hunt," Miko decided.
Behind her, Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Starlight exchanged nervous glances. Bulkhead groaned in fear, Bumblebee whirred while his frame shaked, and Starlight's winglets twitched rapidly.
NO ONE'S P.O.V
Because no one replied to their desperate pleas to return to base, Optimus and Arcee knew they had no choice but to brave the cold and worsening storm. The Prime was walking ahead, attempting to get a better signal to be able to contact base. Arcee struggled behind him, the bitter winds chilling her joints and armour.
"Optimus to base, do you read?"
Behind him, Arcee fell to the ground, struggling to survive the current situation. The Prime turned around at the sound his teammate made upon contact with the snowy ground. Quickly, he progressed back towards her to help her up. He was well aware of the fact that she was much smaller and also weaker than him in strength.
As Arcee began climbing to her knees, she became painfully aware of the fact that she was slowly growing weaker and weaker due to the bitter storm rushing through her. She knew that if the Groundbridge never came, or if the storm didn't let up, then things would slowly get worse.
Optimus' large servo appeared on her back and another wrapped around her arm, helping her to her feet. Optimus Prime was always the gentleman, no matter the situation.
"Are you sure a nice long drive wouldn't help? I hear that Miami's beautiful this time of year," Arcee joked, brushing the snow off her arm.
"The nearest temperate climate is too dangerous. Attempting to reach it would expend too much energy and hasten the freezing process. Until Ratchet sends for us-" The Prime cut himself off, looking at Arcee before she could protest, "And he will – our best option would be to seek shelter and insulate ourselves."
If only they knew what was happening back at their home. Maybe the Arctic wouldn't be so bad in comparison.
Meanwhile, the bug hunt at Autobot base began. Exploring deep in the corridor where the first Scraplet had been found, Miko and Bulkhead were slowly, but steadily, walking down the hallway with Carly as their guide. She and Miko were walking in front of the Autobot, their weapons in their hands ready to be thrown around if need be.
"I get to be your bodyguard for once. How cool is that?" Miko gushed excitedly, wrench in hand.
Bulkhead swung his blaster in one servo and the torch in the other around behind her, looking through every gap in the wall just in case a tiny, cute Cybertronian-eating piece of scrap was waiting to collect its' dinner, "Carly, you and Raf found the first one here…right?"
Before said human could answer, the lights flickered off suddenly. The girls exchanged a worried look before they heard what they thought was the most girlish scream they had heard in their life. As the lights flashed back on, they exchanged a knowing look. Neither of them made that screaming noise.
But rather, the Autobot behind them.
"Did you just scream like a little girl?" They asked in unison, looking behind them at the former Wrecker.
"No!" Bulkhead shook his head in disbelief at first, then looked away for a moment, "Maybe…can we talk about this later?"
The girls shrugged before they and Bulkhead continued. As they turned the corner for the next corridor, Carly found it surprisingly weird they hadn't come across any Scraplets. Didn't Ratchet say there was more than just one Scraplet travelling around the base?
When the sound of metal clanging with metal high above him, Bulkhead immediately whipped around at the noise.
"Take 'er easy, Bulk. Just stay focused Everything is going to be-"
Miko's attempt to reassure her guardian was cut off by him when he heard more metallic clanging and allowed his fear to get the better of him, shooting at the walls suddenly.
Miko and Carly raced ahead of Bulkhead as he started up his girlish screaming again. They turned around with their weapons at the ready... when they discovered the Autobot covered in cables dangling from the roof that he had shot at it. Their mouths hung open in disbelief.
"OK. Wish I hadn't seen that," Miko whispered to Carly before trying to calm down her guardian, "Bulkhead! You're fine!"
"It's just a bunch of cables!" Carly reminded, pointing at them with her pipe she was using as a weapon.
That stopped Bulkhead's screaming and his arm waving immediately. Grabbing at one of the cables, he pulled himself together, laughing awkwardly, "Oh. Right. Cables." He tugged down one of them.
But the second he did so, the sphere-shaped pieces of metal known as Scraplets suddenly flew down around him, charging at the Autobot from all directions...
In a different part of the base, Raf was protecting not only his guardian, but his guardian's new friend in Starlight. They stood in a defensive position when they turned the corner, ready to attack at whatever came their way when they found something interesting in front of them.
Bumblebee looked down at his charge, bleeping his concerns about the Scraplets being close by.
"Don't these things ever stop eating?" Raf asked in annoyance, running to the other side of the corridor.
"The amount of times that question has been asked before..." Starlight shook her helm at the thought.
At the other side of the hallway was an air vent that had been chewed through by the vermin. Bumblebee took one nervous glance behind him before joining Starlight and Raf. Moving their young friend out of the way, Bumblebee and Starlight ripped open the remainder of the vent. The young boy guarding them let out a warrior cry, ready to attack anything waiting on the other side.
Thankfully, nothing was waiting for them, but the sound of metal clanging soon got their attention. Nervously, they looked behind at a floor drain where the noise was coming from. The nerves inside each of the trio turned into fear as the Scraplets appeared from the drain, leaping up and heading to the Autobots to begin their attack. Bumblebee and Starlight began shooting almost immediately at the vermin, despite knowing that they were fighting a losing battle.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
Ratchet and I were desperately at work, trying to repair the Groundbridge to bring Optimus and Arcee back from the Arctic. Or to at least contact them and let them know what was going on here.
"How's it going over there?" Jack nervously asked nearby, playing bodyguard to us for a change.
"I've repaired the damage conductors and re-routed the central conduits. But the Groundbridge still won't receive power!" Ratchet reported in anger, punching the floor beside him.
I wanted to get angry at the medic's frustration, but I took a breathe instead and spoke as calmly as I could, "Ratchet, Calm down. Doing that won't get you nowhere. You have to keep trying!" I failed miserably at the end when my fear took over.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of metal scuttling. Metal scuttling that was very, very close by. Jack must have heard it too as he held up his metal pipe to ready himself for an attack. I looked at the air vents high above and found our worst fears all huddled up and climbing the wall.
Maybe if we stay quiet enough, they won't notice we're here...?
Then they spotted us.
I gulped and whispered, "Ratchet..." I swallowed away my fear briefly and stood up, activating my blaster at them.
Come at me you little pieces of scrap!
The Scraplets bared their snappy and razor-sharp denta, leaping off the wall towards us!
On second thought... GO AWAY YOU LITTLE PIECES OF SCRAP!
"Whoa!" Jack yelled out, obviously not prepared by this development.
Didn't we tell them that they could fly?
"They fly? YOU NEVER SAID THEY COULD FLY!"
Whoopsie.
Ratchet and I were backing away helplessly from the swarm and towards the Groundbridge tunnel. I briefly considered the thought of just fleeing the base and coming back another day. I pushed those thoughts away when they little scraps began their attack, knocking Ratchet down. I flipped to the side to escape the first swarm. But these things aren't stupid and they immediately got to me, beginning their attack. I fell onto my hands and knees, screaming to get them off.
"RATCHET! WINDSWEPT!" Jack yelled, beginning to swing his metal pipe around at our enemies.
There's too many of them. Swinging around a metal pipe wasn't going to do anything!
Think Windswept think! What do Scraplets hate the most?
... Cold... they hate the cold!
"JACK! THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER!" Ratchet and I exclaimed.
Jack immediately ditched the pipe, running to grab the fire extinguisher beside the ladder. Quickly, he got to work and began spraying the foam over Ratchet and I to kill the vermin that were feeding off us.
The Scraplet's lifeless bodies soon began falling onto the ground around us. Thank Primus!
... Though, that didn't mean that they weren't any more. I heard the familiar whirring above me. I chose not to look up. I knew what was up there.
Death.
The severely weakened Bulkhead arrived in the room first, followed by the also severely weakened Bumblebee and Starlight, who were helping each other walk. I automatically knew they had been attacked by the little pieces of scrap.
"Ratchet, get the patch kit. We're leaking Energon like-WHOA!" Bulkhead didn't even get a chance to finish what he was saying when he saw the next wave of Scraplets above us. They must have seen him, Star and 'Bee too - they must've considered it as fresh meat - well not so fresh but still, - 'cause they began their attack on them.
Bumblebee and Starlight shot at the little scraps. When they got too close, they shielded each other to protect themselves from the attack. Bulkhead used his mace to hit some of the Scraplets.
"EAT THIS!" But when the bulky green mech saw one of the little menace's gnawing at his hand, he began screaming like a little girl...
... Oh yeah, did I tell you that Bulkhead screams like a little girl?
Raf and Miko immediately began to help as they began to keep the Scraplets off their Autobots while Carly grabbed another fire extinguisher and ran to help Starlight. Scraplets were still attacking us and we knew that it still wasn't over. Even after we destroyed the ones that were attacking us.
Oh Primus please! Make this nightmare stop!
NO ONE'S P.O.V
Unknown to what was happening back at their base, Optimus and Arcee were successful in finding a sheltered place for themselves. They would have to stay there until they were able to call back to base or the base called to them. Whichever came first.
A few minutes after finding and sheltering themselves in the small cavern, Optimus looked over to the curled-up Arcee with her helm on her arms resting on her knees. The Prime was immediately worried. He knew she was weaker than him and he feared that the cold was starting to get the better of her already.
"Arcee, wake up."
"Ughh. Just resting my eyes," Arcee whispered an answer, lifting her helm up and resting the side of her face on her arms to face Optimus.
"The longer we remain alert, the longer we remain alive," Optimus reminded her.
"What do you suggest?" The two-wheeler asked, trying to find a way to ignore the cold, "Wait... how about a game? Let's play 'Who screwed things up back at base'?"
"Our predicament could be the result of a simple malfunction," The Prime insisted.
"Caused by Bulkhead," Arcee decided, "Let's see. No com-link. Maybe even no power. The big lug probably tripped over a cord. He's never been too graceful. I remember when we first arrived on Earth and Bulkhead walked into those power lines." She began to laugh at the memory, "Who knew he could dance like that?"
"Bulkhead may be…too large for this world," Optimus agreed, "But his inner strength is without bounds. One should not be measured by size alone."
Nothing else was said. The two stared into the white land known as the Arctic, waiting for rescue…
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
"We get them all?" Jack asked nervously as Miko and Raf finished off the last few Scraplets.
I looked up at Carly weakly, watching her spray the last of those piece of scraps that were at my torso. Her eyes glanced at mine and gave me a shaky smile. I knew that she must be scared - all of them probably were They had to watch us be gnawed to death by creatures that they probably knew they couldn't stop. I'd be traumatised by something like that if I was in their position.
We needed some sort of miracle. Anything please, Primus!
Starlight was falling in and out of consciousness beside me. 'Bee and I had to keep nagging her to open her optics. We, as well as Ratchet and Bulkhead, were all huddled up near the Groundbridge controls, reeling after the latest attack.
We could hear more humming from the Scraplets down the corridor, up in the ceiling, in the air vents... Ahhh forget it, they were everywhere!
"I doubt it," I struggled to whisper out.
"These were just scouts," Ratchet sighed sadly.
Bumblebee bleeped at the thought that the attack wasn't over, slamming his helm down near a crate.
"So the rest of them know we're in here?" Bulkhead questioned fearfully.
"I think so," I answered.
"And if we allow ourselves to become their next meal, Optimus and Arcee will never make it home. We must get the Groundbridge operational," Ratchet decided, fully determined.
"Then we can use it to send the Scraplets anywhere on Earth!" Raf realised.
"Why not back to the Arctic?" Jack suggested.
"Well, we already know that these little guys don't do cold!" Carly smirked as she patted my arm lightly before walking over to her friends.
"Sweet! One-stop shopping!" Miko remarked.
"Given the body mass of the Scraplets, sub-zero temperature should freeze them on contact," Ratchet thought aloud, "So think, Ratchet. THINK! ... If the Groundbridge is still down, then there must be a breach in the Energon fuel line!"
Bumblebee attempted to get up, wanting to go fix the Energon line, but whirred as he realised that he had lost too much energy, falling on the ground beside Starlight, who had fallen into unconsciousness when Ratchet decided that we needed to get the Groundbridge back online.
"If WE weren't breaching, one of us could get back over there and fix it," Bulkhead remarked.
"Where do we find it?"
We looked up at humans standing before us, Miko with her wrench, Jack and Carly with the fire extinguishers, and Raf with his crowbar. I smiled proudly.
Our little heroes.
"And how do we fix it?"
NO ONE'S P.O.V
With the instructions of how to fix the Groundbridge, the humans set off down the corridor, determined to fix the portal to help their friends get home and to send the vermin out of base for good.
The four humans tiptoed past the Scraplets that quite literally walked past them on the ground, baring their razor sharp teeth at them. Jack carried a metal tool box full of tools that would help them repair the breech in the Energon fuel line.
"Remember. We're OK. We're not metal," Jack reminded his friends.
Carly nodded as she continued to tip toe over the vermin. Less than an hour ago, she thought these little guys were the friendliest, and the cutest, little creatures she had seen on the planet.
Oh how wrong she immediately became.
Her eyes lightened up when she spotted the small drops of blue Energon leaking out of a tube nearby, "There's the breach!"
Racing towards it, Jack placed the tool box by the metal tube, "Come on! We have to work fast!
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
"So if we get-"
"When!" I growled.
Think positive Bulkhead!
"WHEN we get the Groundbridge open, we send the creepy crawlies out or bring out bots in?" Bulkhead asked what probably was the million dollar question.
"Optimus and Arcee will be fresh meat!" I pointed out weakly.
"If we bring them in first, the Scraplets will have no reason to leave! We'll need bait," Ratchet realised.
"Where are we gonna get bait?" Bulkhead questioned angrily, "Those Scraplets have already helped themselves to everything in here!"
Not everything, Bulkhead.
I chose not to answer. Instead, I was saving my strength to prepare using MYSELF as bait to chase those pieces of scrap out of base before Optimus and Arcee would return to base. I hope they're doing okay. They must be getting cold out there...
NO ONE'S P.O.V
The humans had nearly completed the fuel breach repair. They had worked as a team to speed up the progress with the thoughts of their Autobot friends pushing them to swiftly repair the Energon line. Just as Jack finished drilling the patch on, thousands of Scraplets flew by at rapid speeds, their razor sharp teeth showing and ready to feed as they flew into the air vent above the humans.
"They're getting ready to feed!" Raf cried as Carly helped him down from the top of the pipe.
"Come on!" She yelled, racing down the corridor with her friends behind her.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
I hope the humans were doing okay repairing that breach. I was starting to get a little concerned of the fact that if weren't able to get this 'Bridge up and running, then we wouldn't be able to Optimus and Arcee home in time to save their frames from sustaining internal damage that could affect them for the rest of their lives.
The doors to the air vents suddenly rained down around us. I groaned.
The Scraplets were back for yet another round.
Bulkhead, who had gotten mostly back on his feet to go check up on the kids, jumped back on his backside in fright as we all shivered in fear of what was coming next.
NO ONE'S P.O.V
With the snow storm getting worse and worse, Optimus and Arcee weren't faring any better since finding the cavern they were using to shelter themselves. They had sprawled out beside each other in the snow, their bodies having become severely weakened from the bitter winds and the cold snow.
"You know the worst part?" Arcee asked, choosing now to speak as if it was going to be the last time she would ever speak to the Prime beside her, "After battling 'Cons all these years, getting smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?"
"Arcee, this may not be the finish we had planned. But if this is indeed the end, if we are to become one with the All Spark…"
Arcee didn't know what Optimus saying. She didn't want to hear him say whatever he was going to say. But she didn't know what to do to stop him. That's when she spotted his large servo resting not to far away from her. She reached out, her servo landing on top of his.
Optimus slowly turned his servo over so it engulfed hers. It was a moment he would like to cherish. But Arcee... she was so weak at this point. He would live just a little longer because of him being a much taller, stronger Autobot than the petite femme. Arcee would perish in any moment.
And he would have to bare witness to the scene.
"It's been an honour serving with you, Optimus Prime," Arcee whispered, looking up at her leader.
Optimus could only nod at the quiet words spoken to him.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
We watched the Scraplets above us fly around, preparing themselves for their meal, waiting for us to prepare ourselves for the last time that we would ever see them.
"RATCHET! ALL SYSTEMS GO!"
I sat up weakly, watching Jack and Carly race into the room with Miko and Raf trailing after them. I sighed in relief.
"FIRE IT UP!" Miko instructed, pumping her fist into the air.
Ratchet struggled to a stand, "Groundbridge...activated..." He was able to flick the Groundbridge on just in time before he collapsed on the ground.
I held my breath...
The Groundbridge tunnel came to life before us.
The humans had done it!
NO ONE'S P.O.V
As Optimus prepared himself for the end, he could feel the faint sparkbeat of Arcee running through her arm, through her hand, into his own. He knew she was close. It wouldn't be long now.
It wouldn't be long before her spark finally gave out. It wouldn't be long before he would his would soon join hers to become one with the AllSpark.
A familiar noise made their way into his audio receptors before a blinding light appeared before him. Looking up weakly, Optimus saw the familiar green and blue swirls and widened his eyes.
It was a Groundbridge, arriving just in time to take him and Arcee back to their base. Back to their friends and teammates that were slowly becoming their family. Back to their home.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
With Ratchet now joining Starlight in unconsciousness, and Bumblebee not far behind him, it was now up to Bulkhead and I to find the piece of bait that would send the Scraplets into the Arctic and would freeze to death.
Little did Bulkhead know, the piece of bait was about to stand to full height before him.
My footing stumbled slight when a piece of the ceiling collapsed near us. But nonetheless, it wasn't going to stop me from sacrificing myself for the people that were quickly becoming my family. Both on this side and on the other side of the Groundbridge.
Clutching the crate desperately, I managed to get onto my two small feet, looking up at the swarming Scraplets above.
"Bait, huh?"
I looked down at Bulkhead, who was starting to get himself up with a smirk. I smirked back, stumbling over to him and reaching out my servo, "Need a hand?"
Using all the strength that I had, which wasn't much to be honest, I helped Bulkhead up to his feet. We stumbled over to the Groundbridge and began waving at the little scraps to gain their attention. Only one saw us, but in all honesty, we only needed one to see us anyway.
"Ready for the main course?" Bulkhead asked. The scraps bared their razor-sharp denta at us in response, "Come and get it!"
"It's gonna get a little chilly though," I smirked weakly as we began limping through the Groundbridge, the familiar humming of the Scraplets flying behind us.
They instantly caught up, beginning to gnaw at our frames once more. Bulk and I weren't going to let them stop us again. So we pressed on, leaping into the portal...
NO ONE'S P.O.V
Upon discovering the Groundbridge, Optimus used all the strength he had left to help the weak Arcee to her feet. Groaning at the cold, the two struggled to the green and blue swirling portal, desperate to get to the warmth's of their base. Letting go of the hold her had on her back, the red and blue snow covered Autobot struggled to stand on his feet.
Arcee, meanwhile, collapsed after him, bending slightly to catch her energy as she pressed a hand to her hip.
As they paused, Optimus looked up and saw that someone was coming through the Groundbridge. Too weak to activate his weapons, he watched as the figures appeared before them.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
We limped through the 'Bridge portal in time to find Optimus and Arcee barely being able to stand. The poor things were covered in snow and struggling in the cold bitter winds around us.
With Scraplets chomping away at our frames, Bulkhead and I pushed on enough to warn Optimus and Arcee.
"DOWN! DOWN!" Bulkhead collapsed to allow the little scraps to fly past, pulling me down with him.
I watched as the Scraplets instantly found fresh meat within Optimus and Arcee, flying at high speeds to reach them. Optimus held out his large arm in front of Arcee to protect her, who was kneeling in the snow and watching the little enemies come towards her and Optimus.
The cold Arctic weather took hold of the Scraplets. They began falling in stasis all around Optimus and Arcee, half of them hitting my teammates as they fell to the ground.
Frozen.
Dead.
Finally.
With all of them now frozen beyond bringing them back to life, Optimus and Arcee looked over at us. Bulkhead began brushing off some of the frozen Scraplets that had landed on him before looking up.
"I'd invite you in. But the place is a mess."
I doubt that he and Arcee would really care about that, Bulk.
Our teammates only exchanged a look, probably now understanding why we took so long to bring them home. As I got onto my knees, I looked up to the sky, seeing the clouds break apart and revealing a small patch of blue sky.
Seriously? Now the sun begins to shine just as the horrendous day we all endured comes to a close?
Yeah, that does sum up our luck...
Out of everyone of us, Starlight and Arcee were the ones that were desperately in need of medical attention. I gave up one of the medical berths for Starlight while Optimus gave up his one for Arcee, despite Ratchet's protests. But he didn't argue with us much, his strength having been depleted to the point where he just needed to sit and rest.
Optimus rested beside him while I rested on the floor nearby, cross-legged and just simply looking around at everyone. Bulkhead was resting near Bumblebee's medical berth, just chatting away to him and asking how he was doing. Arcee was not too far away from Optimus and I, unconscious but resting comfortably. I couldn't help but find Optimus' optics wander over to her frame from time to time I think to make sure she was okay.
Starlight was resting in the medical berth behind me with Carly resting at the edge of the berth, putting the GlassPad that she had created for the science fair at the start of the week to good use and using it to keep track of Starlight's status.
Bulkhead wasn't wrong when he said the place was a mess. There were dead Scraplets everywhere! It as going to be fun cleaning up tomorrow! Kicking them around and squishing them till they were out of sight.
... Oh, I'm not joking by the way.
"Report bio-circuitry status," Ratchet requested.
"Levels are rising!" Jack answered from his laptop.
"Excellent. Rafael, Carly, keep a close watch on Bumblebee and Starlight's electro-pulse monitor. Miko, check Bulkhead's interface patch," Ratchet instructed.
"It's steady!" Raf and Carly announced, the latter leaping off Starlight's berth and heading over to her human friends.
"Looking good!" Miko observed looking away from Raf's laptop briefly to hold a thumbs up to Ratchet.
"Perhaps you should get some rest yourself, old friend. You saved quite a few lives today," Optimus advised.
"It wasn't all my doing," Ratchet pointed out as we looked over at the kids, "We're just fortunate this infestation happened on a Saturday."
"Our human friends may be small. But they are strong," Optimus complimented.
Suddenly, an audio receptor-curling scream was heard. A girly one at that. I went to look at Bulkhead, but almost instantly, I realised the scream wasn't coming from him.
But Bulkhead's own charge Miko?!
"Scraplet?" Jack asked as he, Carly and Raf stood in front of her with their weapons ready.
"SPIDER!" Miko screeched fearfully, causing the boys and Carly to give her a weird look, "Is it on me?" Continuing her screaming, she ran off, her arms going around her entire body to ensure she didn't have the 'spider' on her.
"…Did she just scream like a little girl?" Bulkhead asked.
Ratchet and Optimus shared an amused look while Jack dropped his weapon and crossed his arms in disbelief.
"Yes Bulkhead. I believe she-"
When Carly stopped talking suddenly, I instantly knew something else was wrong. She had gone frozen, even when Jack and Raf were poking her to get her to move.
Then she screamed like a little girl.
"A RAT! EWWWWW!" Dropping her weapon on the ground with a loud clang, she instantly took off after her friend, "MIKO! WAIT UP!"
Bulkhead's jaw was literally hanging from his helm, turning back around to face me.
"...Did she just scream like a little girl?"
I had no answer for him. I shrugged in amusement of my human friend running off in fear of a little rodent. She was certainly Miko's friend alright.
But it reminded me of the fact that I still had so much to learn about her. Just like she had so much to still learn about me too. Maybe sometime in the distant future, we'll know everything there is to know... That's how friendships continue to evolve, right?
School starts up again tomorrow right through to end of next month. So progress will probably slow down again... I can't guarantee any promises regarding on when the next chapter is going to be. This year has been so unpredictable and I don't think that it'll stop. I guess you guys will just have to be patient and wait.
Follows/favourites/reviews tell me to get writing when I get the email about them... A few of those, and maybe you'll get the next chapter sooner than expected. ;)
Thank you for reading.
(Last edited: 11/07/2019)