A/N: This is it, the final chapter before the finale of the Darkness Rising episodes, can't wait! I'll let you know the release schedule for the future chapters of both stories in the next chapter but for now, enjoy this little snippets of Bulletta's time with the bots!

Chapter 7-Bonds between Bots

I drove along the road at a steady pace, with no traffic around me and my tag along we could drive side by side. That being Bumblebee, who decided to come with me when heading out for my first patrol.

"You didn't have to come with me, you know?" I asked.

Bumblebee chirped happily, "I wanted too, besides, I needed it."

"Why's that?" I asked giggling to myself at his cheery attitude.

"I've known the twins for sometime, and I once got caught up in a prank...it didn't end well for me." Bee chuckled nervously.

I revved my engines in curiosity, "What happened?"

"Well...lets just say Optimus does not look good in pink." Bee said, snickering to himself.

"W-Wait, you painted him p-pink!" I said cackling.

"No! I just...gave his door code to the twins. After that I wasn't trusted with that kind of info and...I had to wash the floors with the twins as punishment."

I kept laughing before coming to stop near a cliff edge, I transformed as I calmed down. Bee transformed beside me, a guilty look on his face.

"Sorry, sorry, I shouldn't be laughing so much." I said apologizing to him.

"No, it's alright." He said rather quickly.

We fell into a small silence, I looked out from the cliff to the maze of mesa's in the desert beyond. The sun was slowly starting to set making the sky ablaze with colors of the coming night.

Looking back to Bee he seemed to be enjoying the sunset, I researched a bit in my Atheneum and it turns out on Cybertron, there was no atmosphere and thus no sunrise or set with amazing color, it was just the inkiness of space with the stars and their sun just another blazing light.

"What's your favorite thing about Earth, Bumblebee?" I asked out of the blue.

He looked surprised before he shrugged it off, "There's a lot of things that are cool on this planet, it's hard to pick one. But I think my favorite part are the humans."

I sat on the ledge and he sat next to me.

He explained, "Humans are so...weird. They aren't united like we were back on Cybertron, from what I've been told, and they have such a unique look on life. I think they have something we Cybertronians don't have, the concept of humanity, of themselves. They are aware of their place in the universe, and they can show compassion even if all hope seems lost."

"Hmm, very true. I think what I like about the planet is how much yet little it reminds me of home." I said, my tail swished around and it wrapped around my arm as I thought back to home, "I still remember what it was like before...well, that isn't important. What I mean to say is that all of this reminds me of home, even the humans."

Bee looked perplexed, "I'm not sure I get it, what did the Countless Lands look like?"

"Well," Something popped up from my Atheneum and I began to recite it, "It's a mixture I suppose, organic and metal molded into one. There were trees, grasses, mountains, valleys, all made of techno-organic materials. Oceans and bodies of water could be found. We even had sky similar to Earth's but with the faint outline of the ceiling of our caverns."

"But how's that possible?!" He asked, looking at me like I was a wonderful jewel, it was a nice feeling that came from it.

"The Gods and Goddesses, they were shunted from their realm, a realm similar to this one, filled with organic life. Seeing as we were willing, they made us a land out of the materials they had so that we may praise them." I explained, Bee seemed completely enraptured with the story and I was really happy to entertain him.

"Wow, that sounds so cool, but you sort of look like us, I mean you are made of pure metal, how could you survive in that world?" Asking another thoughtful question.

"Ah, Bee, I didn't always look like this. I was gifted this form after...well, after my death…" I said, my yellow optics hardening as flashes hit me again of the moment.

A servo clasped my shoulder, I looked up to worried sky blue optics. Silently, he encouraged me to go on. With a deep vent, I collected my thoughts and spoke.

"I...was fighting in a great battle...the gods were at war...and I was defending my goddess, Ioun. I remember...losing track of my friends...and of her...then...it appeared...a being made of ice and dark magic...it shot an icy blast from it's hand...it hit me in the chest ...a-and I-I…" Tears were streaming from my optics, I couldn't hold back the flood of stress and fear.

I felt something warm wrapped around me, I knew it was him and I buried myself into his neck cables, sobbing uncontrollable. I don't know how much time passed, it seemed like a blur, but when I grew tired and could no longer cry I checked my internal clock.

8:30 PM, we've been here for several hours.

I opened up my optics and slowly let go of Bee who still held a worried look in his sky blue optics.

"S-Sorry, I didn't-" I was cut off.

"No, it's alright. I think you needed that." Bee said, with what could be described as a genuine smile.

"M-Maybe...I've been told I tend to bottle things up…" I said sheepishly.

He chuckled, "Clearly they were right." He jabbed.

I softly laughed, I now noticed how close I was to him, with his arms still loosely wrapped around me and my tail absent-mindly had found itself wrapped around his torso. I suddenly felt very...weird...I could feel the heat rising throughout my frame and I shuddered slightly, silently my internal cooling systems kicked in and I was suddenly aware that I was producing a soft sound of fans….

...My connections to past events were made quickly, causing the heat to rise faster and my fans to kick in more.

"U-Uh…" Was all I could say.

It seemed to click in his processor at the moment and he quickly let go, my tail retracting immediately and swishing behind me. I could hear his cooling system kick in as well.

"A-Ah, I'm s-sorry Bulletta! I d-didn't-what I mean is, uh…" He trailed off, his excuse lost on his glossa.

"M-Maybe we should r-return to b-base." I said quickly, I stood dusting the sand off of me and transforming, him quickly behind me.

"Y-Yeah...they might be w-worried…" Bee added quickly and we sped down the road in a silence filled with tension.

"Bulletta, could I have you for a moment?" Ratchet said as I rounded the corner into the main hall.

I looked up at the mech in curiosity, "Is something wrong?" I asked.

"N-No, I just...need your opinion is all." He said, looking nervously around the empty main hall.

I smiled reassuringly, "Of course, Ratchet. What's the matter?"

He motioned for me to follow him, I walked the strange mech into the Med-Bay where he promptly shut the door and locked it. Nervously my tail shifted behind me, twitching for something to happen.

"Tell me, Bulletta, is there a way for you to create a code of some sort to keep would-be hackers from getting into your files?"

I looked at him oddly, "Isn't this a question for Raf, from what Sierra told me his a good hacker."

Ratchet closed his optics and sighed, "This is...out of his depth, what I am asking for only a Cybertronian could do."

I frowned, "But, I'm not a Cybertronian."

"I know, I know. But, this is something only you can do, because you aren't keeping computers out, you are keeping out Cyberology."

"Cyberology, you mean I have to keep literally Cybertronians out of your data?" I was starting to see the picture, even if Ratchet sounded like a maniac.

He began to pace, "Yes, exactly. I don't know what it's like in the Countless Lands but where we are from mechs and femmes can easily hack data and other bots as easily as looking at them. It's a rare trait these days and most pull it off with a direct link from Bot to Computer."

"Okay," I said, "First off, Cyberology I assume is the study of Cybertronian's make-up if I'm correct?" He nodded his head, "Well, I'm not a Cybertronian so you'll need a different word to describe me."

"Do you have one?" He asked, he was definitely studying me while I talked to him.

"Technically, no. But if I were to call it something I would call it the study of Tieflings, so...Fiendology I think is best. Now, back to the subject on hand, who exactly are you trying to keep out?" I asked, in the back of mind I was excited I got to name a new field of science.

"Right, right. Well...to put it plainly I'm trying to keep everyone out, but these days, it's mostly to keep the twins out." He said as he wringed his servos nervously.

"The twins, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. I haven't properly met them yet, but they seem to bring trouble wherever they go. So, what could they possible do with you're data that you are so afraid of?" I asked, leaning against a berth.

He started pacing once more, "That's the issue, it isn't just data but personal data. My own journals of events that have happened since we arrived here. They could blackmail me for all I know o-or use something in their to pull a prank!"

I straightened up and stepped in front of Ratchet, making him stop, "Okay, now I get it. You want to protect your personal data...so what's on there? Gotta crush or some dirty secret?" I teased slightly, he groaned, "Sorry, sorry, couldn't resist, I'll help you though."

He looked surprised, "Really?"

I waved him off, "Yeah, besides, we can't have the twins messing with the computer systems. That would be a disaster waiting to happen."

He seemed to release all of his tension at once, sighing heavily and leaning against a counter like he had just stopped lifting weights.

"Thank you, Bulletta." He said with a tired smile.

"All you need do is ask, Ratchet. And while I'm at it, I'll write a couple of documents on my species as well as some others from the Countless Lands, okay?" I said, patting his slumped shoulders.

He simply nodded and we made our way to the physical dataframe to set up the Cyber-Defense.

I yawned to myself as I made my way to my quarters, I had just finished my task for Ratchet and was headed for a good long recharge. It felt like an eternity to get to my room but before I could make it I stopped.

Well, more like I ran into something large due to me being so tired.

"Ow." I groaned, rubbing my helm and looking up only to stop.

"Are you alright, Bulletta?" Optimus Prime asked.

I know literally nothing about the mech, heck, I knew more about the twins and I had yet to really interact with them. Optimus Prime was a mystery, one that made me feel like a deer caught in the hunters line of fire.

"I-I'm fine, Optimus. Are you alright?" I asked as he helped me up, me having no choice in the matter as he was way bigger than I was.

A faint smile appeared, "Quite fine, but it seems I need to watch where I'm going." He glanced at a datapad in his other servo.

"N-No, I need to, or I just really need to recharge." I said sheepishly, "What is that anyways?"

Lifting it slightly, he said. "A report to Agent Fowler that I'm about to send, it details recent events while excluding the children. I don't want to tell him over a report about them, I want a face to face meeting about that."

"Right, right. Well, I best get to recharge…" I said, trying to scoot around him.

I managed to get by and was in reach of my door when he asked. "Bulletta, I actually wanted to discuss something with you." I froze, slowly turning to the Prime.

"And that might be?" I asked, nervous of the answer.

"I wish to discuss of your world, if you so wish. And if so, I wish to tell you of ours." He asked, seemingly trying to gently bring it up as to not stirr darker memories.

"You...want to know more about the Countless Lands?" He nodded, "...I would love to tell you about our lands, but, I am exhausted. How about we make a deal, sometime in the future you can call on our little info exchange and I'll drop whatever I am doing and go with you? Does that seem alright?"

He smiled more brightly, something else buried deep inside seemed to surface if only for a moment.

"I accept, Bulletta."

I nodded, "Alrighty then, just let me know when it's time." And with that I headed into my room and crashed.

I had woken up to a horrible sight, a terrifying sight.

My guns, Betrayer and Veracity, were gone.

MY BABIES WERE GONE!

I ran out of my room, blazing dark fury I hadn't felt in years coursing through my veins. I could hear all the voices of the Autobots and the kids, surprisingly.

Someone must of pick up Sierra for me.

Anyways, back to more important things, like gutting those who took my babies.

I slowed down as I approached the main hall, growling like an animal, my tail violently swishing back and forth, my yellow optics blazing with fury. I stopped near the doorway, cloaked in shadow staring into the room in front of me, everyone was there, including the kids with Miko and the twins snickering to themselves in a corner.

"What are you guys doing?" Bulkhead finally asked, tired of snickering apparently.

Miko giggled, "Oh, nothing. But if you really wanna know, me and the boys did our first prank together."

All the Bots stopped and looked to the three, Arcee asked, "What did you do?"

"Oh it was harmless enough, something small that's not a big deal." Sideswipe said, giggling.

"Guys, seriously, what did you do?!" Cliffjumper asked, afraid of what they may say next.

Sunstreaker smirked, "We may have taken two things and hidden them away."

My optic twitched, my claws flared, my fangs glinted in a snarl.

"YOU!" I growled out.

Bee looked at me, "Bulletta, are you alright? What did these three do?"

I stood there, seething in the shadow, before stomping out.

"YOU TOUCHED MY CREATIONS, I'LL GIVE YOU TEN NANO-KLICKS UNTIL I START SUCKING YOUR LIFEFORCE FROM YOUR BODIES UNTIL YOU ARE NOTHING BUT PILES OF SCRAP!" I screamed at them, dark energy rising off of my ashen grey protoform in dark wisps.

Everyone was in complete shock, Miko whisper yelled, "Maybe we should give them back…"

Sideswipe looked to Sunstreaker panicked, "Where did you hide them, Sunny?!"

"10"

"U-Uh, I-I don't remember!" He screamed, trying to remember where it was.

"9"

"Well think harder!" Sideswipe yelled at his brother.

"8"

"Uh, uh…" He gasped suddenly, "I-I remember! Hold on!" He ran off into the halls.

"7"

"SUNNY, HURRY!" His brother yelled, the darkness was colessing around my arms.

"6"

Another moment passed, no sign of Sunstreaker.

"5"

My optics go completely black as the necrotic energy build up in my frame.

"4"

"SUNSTREAKER!" Miko yelled, the Bots looked ready to intervene.

"3"

"Hey, you can't kill a human, it's against the code right?!" Sideswipe asked.

"No..I'm gonna kill you, red. 2." My voice was low and demonic sounding, I raised my arms, the darkness coming together in a ball of dark energy.

I could hear footfalls getting closer but I ignored it.

"1"

I was about to fire when Sunstreaker yelled.

"WAIT!" He slid forward, holding delicately in his servos my two guns. He was on his knees, his head bent down holding up the weapons to me.

I gasped, the dark energy dissipating as the necrotic energy became dormant again. My optics returned to normal and I snatched up my babies.

"Oh my darlings, I'll never let any of these barbarians touch you again." I said, cooing over my creations and sitting down on a nearby crate, looking for any imperfections.

After some silence, Optimus spoke. "Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Miko, with me in the Med-Bay, now." He spoke with a commanding voice, all three guilty walked behind him and into the Bay.

"Bulletta?" I looked up at Bulkhead who asked, "What was that?"

"The darkness you mean?" He nodded, "It is my form of Hellish Rebuke, like every other Tiefling we can release a wave of magical energy to damage our foes. Mine just happens to be necrotic, meaning it would steal their life force and kill them by rotting the metal from within."

"Wait, you were going to kill them?!" Cliffjumper asked, terrified.

"If I aimed for the spark, then maybe, I however was aiming for less...killable areas." I said, satisfied with my babies in good condition I put them away.

I stood and Sierra said, "Note to self, never touch your weapons."

"Damn right." I said before turning and walking away.

I was training in the hall with some melee weapons for a change, I still kept up my original training before I had become a Gunslinger. So, it was like dancing with an old partner, refreshing and nostalgic.

As I trained with a spear a voice caught my attention, "Those are some nice moves you got there."

I looked to the door to see Bulkhead, Cliffjumper and Arcee standing there.

"I may not use melee weapons anymore, but I know how to use them." I said as the entered the arena.

"Does that mean you are rusty?" Arcee asked with a smirk.

"By no means, though, my hand to hand combat could use work. Bee's been teaching me a little." I said, thinking back to when we first met, it brought warm bubbles to my frame.

I shrugged it off as Cliffjumper asked, "You want new sparring partners, Bee's relatively young so we could show you stuff he may not know."

"Hey, I'm young as well I'll have you know." I mocked, Cliffjumper smiled.

"Alright then, one on one?" Bulkhead asked, pounding his fists together.

I smirked, "No, all at once." They seemed shocked.

Cliffjumper asked carefully, "Are you sure, Bulletta?"

"The enemy won't be fair, Cliff, if anyone knows that it's you. No blasters, just melee." I said, switching the spear for a halberd. "Ready when you are…"

Arcee smirked, taking out her wrist blades, "Alright then, game on."

Cliffjumper took a sword as he had no melee weapons and Bulkhead his round hammers. There was a pause, before all three lunged at me at once. Going for Cliffjumper first I blocked his slash and roundhouse kicked him away, I ducked as Bulk went in for a swing before jabbing the end of the halberd under his chin making him stumble back.

Arcee was quicker than I thought, jumping and slashing at my armor, careful to miss the sensitive tires on my back. I turned to meet her head on but she backflip away running in a circle waiting for an opening.

Cliff came back this time ditching the sword in favor of his fists, I swing the halberd around with all my might, smacking him the helm with side of the blade knocking to the side while a charging Bulkhead came at me again.

This time I sidestepped him and slashed his armor in the back with blade, before quickly turning to catch Arcee from slashing my back again. Pushing her back I stabbed forward, she dodged but I kept slashing and stabbing until connection with a stab to her chest armor, pushing her back.

But I was caught off guard when Bulkhead slammed into my back, dazing me for a moment. I could see Cliffjumper running toward me ready to pin me as soon as I hit the ground.

I swung the halberd up making him stop but giving enough time for Arcee to kick the halberd out of my hand and for Bulkhead to pin me to the floor.

"I yield, I yield." I said with a sigh.

Bulkhead got off of me and helped me up.

"Not bad, not bad at all." Cliffjumper said impressed.

"Thanks, even if you lose, you always learn something." I said, something my mentor always told me.

Bulkhead laughed, "I was expecting less but you proved yourself, you were able to take on three and managed well on your own."

"Well, it would've been better with my guns." I said, retreating them from the space off to the side where I had temporarily stored them.

"Clearly needs more work though." Arcee said, retracting her blades with a smile.

"Maybe another day, for now, I'm gonna lay down for a bit." I said before waving at them and walking out.

It seemed like over the course of these days I was getting closer with Team Prime in more ways than one. Maybe after everything in this major event is over I can just hang out with Sierra, wouldn't that be nice?