Author Note: Ironhide reflects on the humans of this planet and after all they have done for them, sacrificed for them, they view them with suspicion, fear and at times, utter vehemence. What is the point? Should they just leave them to their fates? Some swearing.

Ungrateful

Ironhide

A primitive and violent race.

That's what they are. That's all they will ever be these - humans!

I feel the corners of my dermas curve into a sneer as I watch the son of a glitch Galloway speak with haughty contempt towards Optimus. Waves of disgust and anger roll off me and I fight the urge to raise my cannon at him.

To his credit, Prime manages to speak civilly, if not coolly, towards this irritating and sniveling specimen. /Perhaps that's why the Matrix didn't choose you 'Hide, you'd have blasted the bastard by now!/.

Galloway continues in his fear fueled rant. ''If we ultimately conclude that our National Security is best served by denying you further asylum on OUR planet,'' my optics snap towards him and then to Prime, ''will you leave - peacefully?''

I feel my right servo come to rest on my left forearm, a physical deterrent to unleashing my cannon. /How dare he! After all we have done, all we have suffered, for this country, this planet and its pathetic species!/. I turn towards Prime once more awaiting his reply, though I know what he will say.

Prime shutters his optics as he seems to be ''digesting'' the unpalatable request. ''Freedom is your right. If you make that request, we will honour it. But before your President decides, please ask him this.'' A small amount of satisfaction snakes through me as I watch Galloway shrink back when Prime leans down to question him. ''What if we leave - and you're wrong?''

/Then they will get what they deserve!/, the thought crashes though my processor unchecked as I scowl at the irritating man before. /I for one have no desire to put my spark on the line for such ungrateful and arrogant pricks like Galloway!/.

Above me I notice Lennox lean conspiratorially towards Galloway before he whispers, ''That's a good question.'' A small amount of my anger and loathing fade as I take in the expression on Lennox's face. He too seems to be frustrated and annoyed by this man's dismissive and ignorant stance on all we had done in the past two years on this wretched planet.

For a moment Galloway pauses, a flicker of uncertainty upon his face before he narrows his eyes and stares defiantly at Prime. ''Then that will be on your head too Optimus Prime, for bringing the Decepticons here in the first place!'' Prime flinches at his words and I feel my servos clench by my sides. /Arrogant fucking prick!/. Prime already bears such a heavy burden and this slagger goes and blames him for all the Decepticons have done! I shift on my pedes agitatedly, as I try to control the raging anger inside of me.

Galloway turns to walk down the gangway. The meeting, it would seem, was over. However, after a few paces he stopped and spared a glance back towards Optimus. ''And I am rarely wrong.''

I take a step forward. My very form radiates utter contempt. /I wish I could terminate him!/. But I do not make the request. Prime has made it clear since we arrived here, that is something we are not meant to do. Besides, I do not want to give this pile of scrap any excuse to grill Prime more than he has/. Optimus silently gestures for me to hold, and I obey – just. He did not speak he merely narrowed his own optics in disdain, his dermas a thin line of barely veiled annoyance. It would seem Prime feels he is not deserving of a reply anyway. I feel the corners of my dermas curve into a smile.

''That man is a asshole!'' The man known as Epps, comes to stand beside me, glowering at Galloway's disappearing form.

I find myself grunting in reply. ''Agreed. I so wish I could terminate him.''

Epps snorts out loud and pats my pede. ''Get in line brother. I am sure it starts behind Prime!'' I nod my helm in agreeance as I look down at my comrade in arms. Epps smiles up at me. ''Still, can always live in hope can't we 'Hide?'' He pats my pede once more and walks off to where Sideswipe and Arcee are standing.

I watch him walk away and once more, some of the anger and resentment I felt boiling away in my energon lines is subdued. For two years we have fought side by side as part of N.E.S.T. For two years we have bleed, been injured and suffered losses alongside each other. For two years those humans who fought alongside us, like Epps and Lennox, have never shied away from a fight with the 'Cons, despite the overwhelming size difference. I find myself shaking my helm in surprised confusion. The fragile forms of the humans seem to belie their capacity for endurance, bravery and strength of will.

I find myself ex-venting loudly as I fold my arms across my chest and track the movements of the various humans around me. A range of thoughts and emotions swirl through me as I watch their various interactions. The humans of this world are indeed capable of great violence, greed, hatred, and ignorance. They can reach out imploringly with one hand, begging to be saved, all the while the other seeks to stab you in the back with their deception and lies.

A smirk crosses my features as I once again shift on my pedes. /Perhaps it would be most fitting it the Decepticons overran this planet. The humans tend to have much in common with them!/.

''Hey 'Hide, how's it going?'' A familiar voice interrupts my reverie and I lower my gaze to take in the sight of the owner.

I feel a smile form on my dermas as the sight of OC comes into view. I nod my helm at her in greeting and give a small grunt as I allow some of my former irritation to spill out. ''Hmmhph… Apparently there is a new Senior National Security Advisor – name's Galloway.''

OC jumps up onto a pile of boxes containing various rounds of ammo. ''Oh yeah,'' she brings one of her legs up to tuck under her chin. ''What's he like?''

I groan and growl at the same time. ''I wanted to shoot him with my cannons.''

OC laughed out loud before looking up at me with a large, teasing smile on her face. ''Sounds like a lovely guy then.''

I narrow my optics at her and send a low, warning growl her way.

''Face it 'Hide, you usually want to shoot most people with your cannons anyway. Or had you forgotten the first night we met?'' OC arched her eyebrow at me interrogatively, her smile widened.

I shifted on pedes, unfolded my arms from across my chest and took a great interest in what was happening on the gangway above me.

OC sighed out loud. ''To be honest 'Hide, there are some people I come across that I would cheerfully choke if given half the chance.'' I turned my helm back towards her. ''It's just the way it is. There are always going to be people, or bots, that are a pain in the arse.''

I grunted derisively at her comment. ''What? Don't tell me there aren't some Autobots amongst you that shall we say, piss you off?'' OC folded her arms challengingly.

/Damn it to the pits!/. She was right. ''Perhaps, there might be some,'' I replied reluctantly in a low gravelly voice. The thought of two such annoying twins, Mudflap and Skids, flashed across my processor.

''Ha!'' OC burst out triumphantly. ''Ya see 'Hide, ya can't let a few bad apples…''

I raised an optic ridge at her.

OC snorted, ''Okay a few hundred million bad apples ruin the whole bunch. Most humans,'' OC gestured to herself, ''present company included, are pretty decent, honest, caring and kind beings.'' I simply grunted in reply.

She jumped down off the pile of boxes and walked over to my pedes, placing one of her hands there and gently giving me a comforting pat. ''Okay, so this Galloway character is an asshole and an example of the kind of human I also wonder what the hell we are doing risking our lives to save,'' I tilted my helm as I studied her, ''but for every prick like him 'Hide, there are a handful of other humans that are worth it.''

I continued to stare at her as her words echoed in my processor. Slowly, the tension in my frame began to lessen as I considered her point of view.

She continued with her arguments, ''And remember, you aren't really meant to exist so it's not like everyone is aware of what it is you do or have done for them. I am sure if most people knew what Optimus Prime and you guys have done, most of them would be grateful that you saved them.'' She snorted before giving a small laugh, ''Freaked out as fuck, but grateful that you helped them.'' I found a small smile spreading on my dermas in reply.

OC smiled brightly up at me once more and rubbed my pede reassuringly. ''I know I for one am very grateful you guys came here and saw fit to protect us. Not a day goes by ''Hide that I don't appreciate how lucky I am to be able to call you guys my friends.''

The anger and frustration in my spark began to fade away as I gazed down at my human friend OC. While the thought of that arrogant prick Galloway still made my circuits sizzle, he was but one human that chose to act in such a manner. At the thought of OC, Lennox, Epps and my N.E.S.T commrades, I realized there were far more humans that did appreciate us and were grateful for our presence than there were who arrogantly dismissed us and regarded us with fear. /Perhaps I shall reserve judgement - for now/.

''Anyway, tough guy, I gotta go. I've decided to take some leave after all and go visit Sam, Mikaela and Bumblebee before Sam starts college.'' OC sent me a brief, sad smile as the reason behind her leave must have flashed through her mind. A spark beat later her smile brightened. ''Shall I tell Sam and Mikaela you said hello or they on the shit list too by virtue of being human?'' OC smiled mischievously up at me.

I grunted as I lowered myself to be closer to her. ''Be careful OC or you may find yourself on that list too!'' Though it may have seemed a threat, there was a warm tone in my voice as I regarded my friend. I smiled at her fondly. ''I would, appreciate it, if you could pass on my greetings to Sam and Mikaela and of course Bee.''

OC nodded her head and tapped my once more on the pede. ''You got it tough guy. I'm sure they'll be happy to hear you said hi.'' OC sighed out loud. ''Well, I better head off, cya 'Hide.'' She sent me a final smile before she turned to walk out of the hanger.

I watched her depart for a moment. ''OC!'' I called out after her.

She stopped in her tracks and turned towards me. ''Yeah 'Hide?''

I looked away for a moment. Being vulnerable wasn't really my thing. You don't get the name ''Ironhide'' for nothing. I forced myself to look back at her, dipping my helm in acknowledgement. ''Thank you for choosing to be my friend. I… I am grateful you found your way into our lives too OC.'' I grunted once more. ''Even if you can be somewhat strange and annoying sometimes.'' I smiled at her.

OC laughed out loud. ''Only sometimes ''Hide? I mustn't be trying hard enough.'' She winked at me, waved and walked off.

I found myself smiling at her disappearing form. While a part of me was still angry at Galloway and the way he treated Prime and us, I chose not to let him completely ruin my perception of all humans. I rose back to my full height and turned to take in the scene before me. Prime was talking to Lennox, who looked upon him with respect not arrogance, and Epps was sharing a joke with Sideswipe and Arcee who laughed good naturedly with him.

I felt a smile spread across my dermas as I shook my helm and ex-vented. While Galloway was no doubt one of many humans on this planet who were ungrateful, there were humans that appreciated us, accepted us and saw us as friends.

It was for those humans that I would keep fighting.

It was for those humans that I would stay.