What Makes No Difference Is No Difference (WMNDIND 2)

-0-At base

Raf stood beside June and Jack Darby watching the swirling energy of the bridge. Bee, Arcee and Ratchet watched as well. Agent Fowler stood beside Ratchet watching expectantly as the sound of running footfalls could be heard. When the four burst into the room, they were the strangest sight any of the humans had ever seen. The four Autobots were in their original protoform format.

They halted to look at the group, staring at everyone silently. They were tall and made of a copper or bronze colored liquid which appeared fluid, a roiling metallic material that didn't seem to need a container as it held its shape on their bodies. It was fluid, dense and seemed to be the thick layered outer cover for an interior angular skeleton. Their faces were distinctive from each other but oddly alien, their blue optics highly shiny against the duller color of their bodies.

Ratchet stepped forward toward them, halting before the group. He talked to them in their language and the group listened. Turning back to the computer, Ratchet called up a number of files and fed them to the protoforms before them. They stood quietly as if internalizing something. Then they began to change. Metal shifted, some of it flowing and other parts moving here and there. They began to shift and color appeared as they chose their personal appearance modes trans-scanning the files internally.

The first to appear was a very tall powerful bot with a green and yellow color scheme. His expressive face was handsome, his optics piercing. His tattoo for the Autobots was matched by another slightly different one. It was the same one that Wheeljack had sported and signaled that this mech was a Wrecker.

Standing next to him was a bot his size and height. He was angular, wore mostly a white scheme with different markings of red here and there. His Autobrand he wore in the center of his chest in the older fashioned manner while sword handles for three blades, two short and one long appeared over his broad shoulders. He looked warily around but stood quietly.

A bot about Bumblebee's size appeared before them, his helm black and his body black, white and blue. He wore a different kind of optical device, a blue visor that hid most of his expressive and handsome face. He was powerful and looked incredibly fast even in repose. He grinned at Ratchet. "Hi, Ratchet. Long time no see."

Ratchet grinned. "Welcome to Earth, Jazz."

As he said that, the last format changed into his Earthly mode, a solid black bruiser with piercing blue optics that bore a scar over one of them. He wore his Autobrand in plain sight and looked ferocious. He looked at Ratchet with an intense gaze and the medic returned it.

"Hello, Ironhide," Ratchet said quietly.

The big mech nodded as they all turned for the approach of heavy treads. The elevator nearby opened as Bulkhead and Wheeljack stepped out expectantly. Everyone looked at everyone as Arcee and Ratchet bent down to retrieve humans. June and Jack Darby, Rafael Esqueval, Miko Nakadai and Agent William 'Bill' Fowler would stand on the mezzanine nearby to watch.

The conversation was in Cybertronian as acquaintances were made, then switched to English as Prime noted the humans watching with deep abiding interest. He looked at them, then the newcomers. "I would like you to meet our new Autobots," Prime said as he glanced at the four new troops. "I would like you to meet our human allies as well. This is June and Jack Darby, Rafael Esqueval, Miko Nakadai and Agent Fowler of the United States Government who we assist through treaty agreements." He looked at them. "They may look small but they are our greatest friends and allies here. They are also among the few that know about us. We are robots in disguise here and no one is allowed to know we exist."

The four looked at the little organics, then Miko stepped forward gripping the bar. "What was it like out there? Did you run into any 'Cons? Bulk and Wheeljack slag them all the time. I help them, too."

Bulkhead grinned. "She wrecks with the best of them."

"It would appear to be so," the mellow voiced yellow and green bot said nodding to Miko. "Nice to make your acquaintance."

Prime turned to the humans. "This is Springer. He was and still is Chief of the Wreckers."

Miko blinked. "Really? Awesome!"

Springer grinned at the sassy mite, then glanced at Prime

"What she lacks in stature, she makes up in spark." Prime looked at the others. "This is Drift, a former Decepticon who is an Autobot now."

"He came to his senses," Bulkhead said with a grin.

Drift nodded. "I did."

"This is Jazz, our special operations and intelligence officer. He is one of my first lieutenants," Prime said nodding to the smiling bot who was being hugged half to death by Bumblebee.

"This last but not least is my weapons specialist and Master of the Autobot Army, Ironhide."

The big black bot nodded, his dark paint scheme and pointed finials giving him a slightly demonic expression. He didn't speak but kept his gaze focused on Ratchet.

"Four new bots. Awesome!" Miko said.

"You vouch for all of them, Prime?" Fowler asked.

"With my life, Agent Fowler," Prime replied.

"Good enough for me," Fowler replied. "Welcome to Earth," he said looking at the four. "You aren't supposed to be in robot form unless Prime orders it. Our population on this world doesn't know about you because even though we like stories about aliens, we're mostly not ready for the real thing yet. It would complicate things a lot if they saw you. We're the only ones allowed to do that."

"Those three are children, right?" Ironhide finally asked nodding to the three kids on the mezzanine. "I would think that would be unwise to involve infants."

"I'm no infant," Miko said folding her arms across her chest. "We've infiltrated Megatron's ship and created mayhem all over the place. We're small but we're tough."

"Truer words never spoken, Ironhide," Wheeljack said with a grin. "Don't let their size or age fool ya. They're tougher than they look."

Ironhide nodded without comment.

Prime turned to them. "I need to talk to you about space beyond Earth and anything else you may know. If you will follow me," he said, then began to walk into the base's interior. Three mechs turned to follow. Ironhide stared at Ratchet. Then at last, he walked away, disappearing into the tunnel beyond.

It was quiet a moment, then Raf turned to Ratchet. "What was that bot doing staring at you, Ratchet? Are you two friends or something?" he asked with his twelve year old naivete.

Ratchet looked down and flustered a moment. "Yes. We were. Are. We're friends." He then turned back to the console and began to busy himself.

The humans looked at each other, then walked to the seating area to unwind. Miko watched them go, then ran down the steps. Heading out, she disappeared into the base, too.

-0-In the conference room

They sat and talked discussing the situation beyond the solar system and all that had happened to everyone on the way to Earth. They discussed their stories and told their intel in their own language.

Prime sat and listened, his handsome face serious and attentive. He was filled with joy at their presence, these mechs who knew how to fight and brought great skill to the table. It had been a long time since he had the pleasure of their company and the sense of being among his own people to this degree. They talked about the 'Cons, about the Empire beyond breaking into factions as each area struggled to maintain itself without Megatron's iron grip.

It was a long hard journey for all of them as they searched for the AllSpark. Others were out there, some of them forming bases and helping refugees. They had the unifying factor of the Omega Beam to bring them all together. It was the hope. Until then, they would maintain here.

Miko stood by the door watching them. She knew a lot more about them than most of them understood. She could read their moods and body language. She even knew what some of their strange language meant. She loved Bulkhead fiercely and now Wheeljack, too. They were warriors, Wreckers together, and she pulled her own weight.

The conversation would continue and she would wait. When it was over, they would go on a drive together and she would wheedle details out of Bulkhead that no one else could ever hope for. He told her because he loved and trusted her. She asked for the same reason. They were one.

-0-Ratchet

He stood by the computer working on this and that thing. The humans minus Fowler watched him. Agent Fowler had gone home as all of them would eventually. Until then, they sat quietly watching Ratchet as he buried himself into busy work.

June Darby knew the signs. She was a nurse and understood when someone was under stress. One of the newcomers had affected him. Which one it was she could only guess. The big black mech named Ironhide had stared at him a lot. Maybe it was him. She didn't dare ask. Ratchet was formal and dignified. Only Miko needled him and got away with it. She couldn't. Glancing around, checking her watch, she stood. "I have to get ready for work. Do you want to come now or have Arcee drop you off? What about you, Raf?"

Both demurred, so with a kiss and a 'good night, Ratchet' that was barely reciprocated, June Darby got into her car and drove off to town. The two boys sat watching Ratchet. They also watched when Bulkhead came out, transformed and drove off with Miko. Springer and Drift walked out with Wheeljack to go up the elevator to work on the Jackhammer. That left Bumblebee who went up with them, Prime who was working elsewhere and Arcee who was still in the conference room catching up with Jazz. They sat back and glanced at each other just as the big black Autobot walked into the room.

He didn't see them so they sunk even lower in their chairs. Ratchet had his back to the menacing looking bruiser. Whether he saw Ironhide or not, they couldn't tell. They just felt like they were intruders spying on someone.

The big bot walked closer and halted clearing his vocal capacitor, a wholly unnecessary thing.

Ratchet paused slightly. "I know you're there. You don't have to do that."

"I thought I did. You didn't exactly seem happy to see me," he replied in a deeply masculine voice.

"I am," Ratchet said noncommittally.

"I can see that," Ironhide said with a slightly snide tone.

Ratchet turned to look at him. "What do you want me to do in a midst of personnel?"

"A simple hello might be nice," Ironhide said, his big servos resting on his hip assemblies. They glared at each other.

"Hello," Ratchet said grudgingly.

It was silent a moment, then Ironhide looked at the mezzanine. "We aren't alone."

"I am aware of that," Ratchet replied.

"We can go," Jack said sitting up straighter.

"No," Ratchet said. "You're fine where you are."

Ironhide looked at Ratchet then frowned. "Since when do you need protectors?"

"I don't."

"Could have fooled me, old mech," Ironhide said crossing his arms over his broad chassis.

"Old mech? Who are you calling 'old mech'?" Ratchet replied testily.

Ironhide nodded. "You. Its been a while and when I show up, you grumble. You act like it was my fault that we were separated," he said with a slight growl.

Footfalls sounded as Arcee stepped out pausing before the two irritated behemoths. The two glared, then Ratchet walked off muttering to himself into the corridor. Ironhide watched him, then turned to follow.

Arcee wavered, then turned pointedly to the elevator.

"Arcee!" Jack called but it was too late. He glanced at Raf, the two staring a moment at the other, then as one they stood up and ran down the stairs. Across the big room they went. Running down the corridor, Jack paused in uncertainty. Raf slammed into his back, then stumbled. Jack backed up pushing Raf with him. Then they both peered around the corner.

Ratchet and Ironhide had paused. They were hugging together. Ratchet's peds were completely off the floor. It was silent. The emotions were heavy. There was no one else around but the pair of bots and the two boys.

The two boys beat a hasty retreat out of there.

-0-TBC 4-16-13 edited 1-16-17 01-23-2021