Oh my God! I am so sorry that took so long! I swear I was writing whenever I had the time, but man, my semester was hard! And immediately afterward, I started renovating (I better have a six pack with all the painting I've been doing…), and then my 20th birthday! Jeez, I'm old… I've just had a lot going on, and that's not including my summer school schedule. Hey, at least this chapter is huge, right?
Enough about me, though. Can I just say that you are all amazing? I used to roll my eyes at the ass-kissing some authors did for their fans, but you guys are seriously one of the best things about writing this fic! Your reviews honestly make my day, don't think I don't read every single one and seriously appreciate the love. And not one of you complained about the wait- really, I couldn't ask for a better audience.
And can I just say HOLY CRAP? 100 reviews for one chapter? Seriously blew my mind!
-You what?-
-I-I'm so-ory. I don't…I didn't mean...-
The sparkling jerked like Megatron had pulled on invisible strings, wide green optics shuttering fearfully up at him.
Don't shout at an anxious sparkling, he coached himself, don't shout at a sparkling. But the black, hazy rage and frustration were so hard to swallow down. All Megatron's plans, all his sacrifices, and Haeree makes contact with an unknown cybertronian that is currently inside the human cave with them, throwing his entire gambit into jeopardy. He'd literally destroyed cybertronians over lesser offenses.
-Be still…- He began hoarsely, but no matter how he tried, no comforting words could make it past the alarm blaring within his helm.
If he couldn't scream at the sparkling, and he definitely couldn't, then he would just have to take it out on the blasted pile of scraps that made it to Earth before Megatron's finest seekers.
-You.- Megatron growled ferally, zeroing all his pent up rage on the stranger. The briefest of scans reported a definite scout class comm unit, and the odd fluctuations in energy readings and pathetic wailing probably meant he was being kept mobile by the wretched worms armed with liquid nitrogen. He hoped it hurt.
-State your designation.-
The scout's response was lightning fast. -What happened to the sparkling? Are you its creator? What the actual slag?-
Megatron's patience had dwindled centuries ago. If he could, he would've already removed this nuisance before he could become a security risk. -Your designation. Now.-
There was a contemplative pause, one in which Megatron took advantage to check on the sparkling. He was huddled in clear distress but wasn't making an attempt to contact either of them so he would have to stay put until Megatron handled their unwanted guest.
-Fine, whatever. My designation is Bumblebee, my faction is Autobot. Now I want to speak to that little sparkling again.-
An Autobot, Megatron grit his denta. Of course he was an Autobot, no Decepticon would've allowed themselves to be captured by humans like this wastrel.
-Little one. Don't contact the other cybertronian- Megatron instructed Haeree shortly, watching the little creature straighten immediately after being addressed. He would have to reassure Haeree that he wasn't angry with it, those ancient caretaker protocols could sputter that much into his processor. But he would do so later, he would not further compromise his charge by ignoring yet another threat in the meantime.
-What happened? Do you not like him?- Haeree warbled cautiously.
-Of course not. He is an Autobot, our enemy.- Megatron huffed, silently he was pleased with the sparkling's recovery. There were many reasons to fear him, but none of them were because he'd intentionally damage an infant, and his own charge should trust that.
-Enemy? But he's being nice.-
Megatron scoffed. -Autobots are talentless defects, kindness is the only thing that permits them to justify existence.- He certainly didn't think it was a coincidence that the self-righteous Autobots were filled mostly by second-class citizens and charity cases.
He checked back on the Autobot scout. -Cease contact with the sparkling.- He commanded.
-Why the frag would I stop communicating with a Primus-damned sparkling? Who died and made you leader?- The Autobot demanded harshly, and the ill-hidden pain warping the message was all that kept Megatron from sinking further into senseless violence. He dearly hoped the ice hurt.
-He's hurt too. Bumblebee is stuck just like us.- Haeree whined sympathetically unknowingly echoing Megatron's thoughts, though coming to a completely different conclusion. That gentle personality matrix Megatron was becoming familiar with rearing its ugly head, no doubt.
Megatron's sparkling was affectionate and sweetly dependent on him for guidance, most likely a survival mechanism to endear it to parental units. Of course, Haeree's disposition was effective and Megatron approved, but it meant introducing more...uncaring concepts would be difficult.
-Yes, but because he's an enemy, he won't help us.- Megatron explained.
-Oh. Well, um, what if we ask him? Maybe he'll change his mind. There's nothing to lose, right?- Was Haeree's naive response.
-Ha! An Autobot changing their mind, hm? That's a- Megatron stopped abruptly, an idea forming.
Autobots were always searching for ways to help weaklings and make themselves feel stronger. He was almost certain that Prime would take the humans under his wing as helpless alien pets to defend against Megatron's inevitable justice, that sort of disgusting idealism was rife through all Autobot troops. But a sparkling...a sparkling was the ultimate creature in need of cybertronian protection, every single one of them, no matter how refigured for war, held an innate need to care for their previously extinct children. If he was careful, if he was focused, than maybe…
-That's an acceptable idea, Haeree. Good work.- He praised, watching contentedly as the sparkling beamed like a star under his praise. Yes, this could go nicely.
-Autobot.- Megatron began. -Remain silent and listen closely and perhaps I won't drain you of every drop of energon in your tubing before feeding you to a black hole.-
-Like hell- The Autobot began angrily, but Megatron used his command class comm unit to transmit directly over the scout's message, a good indicator of just how greatly the puny cybertronian was outmatched.
-I am Lord Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. The sparkling is in my possession and will only respond to you if I allow it. So you will communicate with me first, and me alone. Do you understand?-
Megatron continued before the scout had any time to recover. -The sparkling's creators are offlined. These humans captured it and have been experimenting on this sparkling ever since.-
He allowed that sentence to sink in, he needed his words to be heard clearly. The wailing had trailed off again, the scout no doubt struggling to picture the cruelties Megatron alluded to.
-The humans are hostile to the sparkling. It is being held in a tiny glass box with only a scrap of cloth to assist in regulating its core temperature and has been purposefully damaged numerous times during its captivity. Currently, the sparkling is recovering from its last test session, it has only just come off of a recovery stasis.-
Megatron fell silent again, his processors held tightly together and whirring to the point of being audible. His system may crash soon but not before he put things back into his favor, as they should be.
-W-what….No, that's n-not….Megatron?...No way...And what?….You're lying…- The Autobot rambled, overwhelmed. Perfect.
-What reason would I have to lie to an inconsequential Autobot lackey? You've already made contact with the sparkling, and it is being held by the same creatures immobilizing you at this very moment.-
That got just the reaction he was aiming for. -They wouldn't! They aren't spraying the sparkling down with this shit, I would know! You- you're just lying to keep me from the Allspark! There's no way- They can't!-
-Lord Megatron? Is he okay?- Haeree warbled, sounding alarmed at the new streak of silence from the tortured Autobot.
-Everything's fine, little one. Wait a moment longer, we're communicating.- He instructed, and went back to the now silent scout.
-If you don't believe me, why don't you ask the sparkling?- Megatron dared. Honestly, Prime should be ashamed at how easily lead his troops were. If one of his Decepticons found out they were speaking to Prime, they would've stopped listening then and there. Of course, none of his Decepticons would ever be in this scout's position, seeing as they would not be captured so easily in the first place and their first objective would've been to rescue the sparkling upon discovery.
-I- what?-
-So long as you include me in your transmission, you may ask whether or not the humans have done what they are doing to you at this very moment. Unfortunately, I didn't record the sparkling's…screams...so you'll have to content yourself with its words alone.- That was a lie. Haeree's cries would never leave his memory banks, but he didn't dare risk complicating his programs further, already stretching himself so far.
-I- I don't- The Autobot hemmed for a while longer, shrieking bits and burbles echoing through the facilities in an odd rhythm. Of course he caved eventually.
-Hey, y-you still there, little guy?- Came the strained transmission.
Haeree remained quiet, wings twitching uncomfortably from under its cloth.
-Little one, why don't you respond?- Megatron asked and was immediately faced with round, conflicted optics.
-You said not to...so I don't- What do you want me to do?- It chirruped, stress in every gaunt angle.
Megatron felt a growl reverberate in the very depth of his spark, though it would never get out of his frozen frame. He had made a mistake and the sparkling had needed to correct him, the indignity burned like a wound. Megatron had forgotten his command too quickly. He needed to convince the Autobot soon, a crash was definitely eminent.
-I give you permission to respond. Do you notice the difference in the Autobot's transmission compared to my own? It is meant for both of us to transmit and receive data upon the same frequency.- And before he forgot. -Waiting for confirmation before responding was a wise choice.- He praised and enjoyed the excited flutter of the sparkling's wings. He used to think the ever-spastic servos of seekers to be irritating distractions full of pompous and exhibition. But now he was hardpressed to find them anything but charming when fixed to a tiny infant.
-Hello? Sparkling?- The scout called again, a little stronger.
The sparkling remained facing Megatron's profile, staring as though it could pick up cues from his still form. -Y-yes? Um, sorry for not answering before, sir.- It squeaked back.
-No, no, it's fine.- The scout soothed, probably on an automatic impulse. -And just call me Bumblebee, I'm not an officer or anything.-
-Oh, okay sorry. My na- designation is Harry.-
-Harry, huh? Odd choice for a cybertronian, but then again my unit's lieutenant changed his designation to Jazz almost as soon as we touched down, so it's not like I can judge.-
Revulsion twisted in Megatron's fuel tank, to actually adopt a human word as a designation...The Autobots have only grown more unstable in the past millennia, it seemed.
-Really? So there are more of you? Do you think they might help us get out?- Haeree burst excitedly, its chatter childish and full of hope. Megatron wished he could've pulled his facial plates into the hungry grin that tugged on his wiring.
-Er, um, slag I don't know. Probably not.- The Autobot admitted.
Megatron watched the disappointment and despair crash onto his charge's unarmored shoulders, anger pressed like a searing clamp around his helm. The scout came with an entire unit that had yet to be discovered, it would've been pathetically easy to defend against captivity and even more so to remove their comrade from the human's clutches. But of course they wouldn't, not if it meant squishing a single disgusting worm from this horrid planet.
-W-why not?- Haeree cried out. -Is it because you're A-Autobots? But the people here are mean to all of us! Don't t-they care? Don't you want to leave too? Why won't they- why wouldn't they-
-Haeree, be still.- Megatron rumbled in his softest voice, the sparkling was starting to tremble. He had every intention of using his charge against others, but that would never be at the cost of Haeree's wellbeing. Megatron was the best at whatever he pursued, and the role of caretaker would be no different.
-Even if the Autobots refuse to help, my Decepticon troops would never abandon us. We'll get out soon and these insects won't ever come near you again.-
-Now wait just a fragging second!- The Autobot protested. -The Autobots don't abandon sparklings! They just don't know you're here! If my unit knew what the humans were doing with a sparkling, they'd- they'd…- He trailed off uncertainly, leaving the air uncomfortably open.
-Harry, do you mind if I ask you what these humans have done to you so far? Megatron transmitted something ridiculous and since it's Primus-damned Megatron, I'm sure as frack not gonna believe it. So…- The Autobot already knew what Haeree would say, he couldn't be so defected to not catch on to how the humans have responded to their kind thus far.
The sparkling straightened from its little nest, optics flashing. -D-don't say that about Lord Megatron. H-he's not a liar!- His little infant snapped, ferocity roiling just beneath the frightened stutter.
Megatron almost felt warm in his icy prison, surprised by his sparkling's protective response and absolutely smug about it in turn. -Peace, little one.- He murmured, watching Haeree slowly melt back under its covers, shoulders still hunched. -I couldn't care less what Autobot thinks of me, or anyone for that matter.- What were cannon fodder to a lord?
-But he is!- The Autobot yelped indignantly. -He's a fragging- Whatever, we'll talk about it later.- It took the scout long enough to realize there was no way he could turn Haeree away from its sole guardian while said guardian was monitoring their communication, the scrapheap.
-So the humans just found you, right? They didn't...You're fine, right?-
Haeree shifted grudgingly, a suspicious warble ringing from its vocal processors that seemed to go entirely unnoticed by the sparkling. Still, it obediently answered. -The scientists here are really mean. I don't know what I did, I wished they told me so I could fix it. B-but they did that awful ice thing to me too, and t-they cut me, and use these big prongs- I don't know if they'll use them on you, but if they do you should try to lay down or something so they don't use them so roughly.- Haeree advised, servos rubbing at what might be a scrape, Megatron couldn't see it clearly from his angle of vision. -Lord Megatron got frozen solid by them and that looks really, really painful, so hopefully you'll be put in a box like mine.- It seemed to have misinterpreted the question as a request to comfort the newly captured scout. -The box itself isn't that bad, it's just really cold. Hey!- Haeree perked. -Maybe with all three of us here, these scientists will leave us alone for longer? At least until we get out, it would be great if they were too busy to keep coming back. I don't want to do another test.- As if the note of sincere hope wasn't lethal enough, Megatron could only have been prouder of that sly reference to experiments done to Haeree if the sparkling had done it on purpose. The Autobot didn't stand a chance.
-Frag.- The Autobot spat, somehow sounding just as pained as he had when all he had spewed were screams. -Fragging frag. Fine, I'll help.- He caved. -Harry, I'll help you get out. No Primus-damned way I'll leave you to these slaggers.-
Megatron wished he could've taken more time to gloat, but with the euphoria of victory his grip on his overworked processors became even more precarious. He was going to crash and reboot soon.
-I'll accept your assistance, Autobot. Now be quiet, I have other matters to attend to.- He sent hurriedly over the three-way transmission, letting the foul-mouthed scout curse out his frustrations as he personally messaged his sparkling.
-Haeree, a reboot is eminent. While I am preoccupied you are to limit any information shared with the Autobot, refrain from telling him what will happen to me. Remain under your cloth and do not move, you are still recovering.- He rushed out and waited just long enough to catchHaeree's rapid nod before he finally dropped all his programs and let his field of vision crowd itself in black errors.
Harry would've been more stressed about Lord Megatron leaving him again, but Bumblebee served for a welcome distraction.
Though Harry wasn't sure how long it had been since Aunt Petunia had dragged him to the Hoover Dam tour, it had felt like ages since he'd spoken to anyone besides his new guardian. He considered it no small miracle that both cy-cybertronians also didn't hate him on top of that, a rare attitude that never existed in Surrey for longer than it took Dudley to find them in a playground.
Harry tucked the electric blanket around his neck, covering himself as Lord Megatron had told him too, the snuggly warmth as comforting as the routine. He didn't mind following orders, it was his main interaction with the Dursleys after all, and the praise he got in return made it more than worth the effort.
-on't ignore me! You arrogant, defected pile of junk! Fragger! Hey!- Harry tuned back into Bumblebee, task accomplished. He was still shouting all those funny-sounding words that didn't mean anything to Harry. That wasn't new, he had been learning an awful lot about both his new robot body and Megatron over the past few days, but Bumblebee brought it up much more frequently.
-E-Excuse me, Mister Bumblebee? Sorry to interrupt.- Harry broke in timidly, unwilling to direct the strange Autobot's excitement toward himself. -But, um-
-Harry! Frag, sorry! None of that was for you! I should've messaged Megatron separately, I didn't scare you, right?- Bumblebee burst out, his tone falling into a hush that was far less intimidating.
-No, sir. I'm fine. I just wanted to tell you that Lord Megatron can't respond right now, he's busy.- Harry explained.
-Just Bumblebee, little sparkling, remember? I'm just a scout.- Right, Harry scolded himself, he'd forgotten that Bumblebee didn't like that kind of address. He hoped the other wasn't too offended he hadn't remembered. -And what do you mean Megatron can't respond? What could possibly keep him busy while he's frozen solid in this Primus-damned disaster?-
Harry worried the cotton of his dog bed between claws- no, servos. What could he say that wouldn't make Bumblebee angry?
-Er, I'm not allowed to say.- He mumbled lamely.
-What? Did he tell you not to? What the frag could he hide in here?- Then his transmission became strained. -There aren't more of you down here, are there?-
Harry couldn't bite back a giggle, Bumblebee sounded so distraught. -No, no. Just me and Lord Megatron. No one else looks anything like...us, I guess.-
-Oh, thank Primus. I don't know what I could've told Prime if I found more than one down here. I mean even that- holy frag. This will change everything! I mean, I still can't believe it and I'm talking to you!-
Harry frowned, Bumblebee had completely lost him again. It didn't help that he spoke so much faster than Lord Megatron, none of the gravity or deliberation in his delivery. -Can't believe what?-
-You! That there is a fragging sparkling sitting here, on the same planet as me, in the same galaxy as me! I've only heard about you in old stories and slag. I never thought you'd exist again, even if we got the Allspark in my lifetime.-
Harry didn't like where this was going, he felt his wings brush against the blanket as they sank. Even among giant robots was Harry a freak? Would the Dursleys' words always ring true? He dearly hoped not, shrinking into his bed.
-Are sparklings...rare?- Harry asked, the words like ash on his glossa. He had gathered from how Bumblebee had addressed him that Harry was one of these sparklings, whatever it meant, so he didn't bother to confirm his suspicion. He could ask Lord Megatron about it later if he wanted.
-Are they rare? Has anyone told you about the war? What it cost? Why do you think we're on Earth?- Harry had no response for Bumblebee's rapid-fire questions. He remained silent, too uncertain to admit his ignorance. Harry wished Lord Megatron would reboot already, he would've explained to Harry everything Bumblebee found lacking.
Thankfully, Harry's prolonged muteness was swallowed up in the other's chatter.
-I was one of the last cybertronians with enough available energon to graduate to my final frame, so I wasn't really around for the biggest death tolls, but I pretty sure there hasn't been a single successfully sparkling for almost as long as I've been functioning.-
For as long as Bumblebee's been alive, Harry's chest ached. Was this why Bumblebee thought he was a liar before? Was it really so freakish to be a sparkling? Lord Megatron had brought hope that though Harry might've been twisted into something even freakier than before, at least he wouldn't be completely alone. But Bumblebee has dashed it mercilessly in a single blow, ripping to pieces any certainty in his existence.
-H-hey, is that noise you? Did I screw up or something?- Bumblebee sounded panicked,
-N-no! I'm f-fine! I'm fine!- Harry could barely understand his own transmission, it was so warped. His head was ringing and he knew that stupid shrieking noise was coming from him. But Harry was already freaky enough without losing complete control of himself. He needed to calm down.
-Frag frag frag! What did I do? What did I do? It's okay! I'm sorry!- Bumblebee babbled, but Harry could hardly hear him when he was trying his best to disappear into his dog bed and stop the awful shaking. A freak, of course he was a freak. But when even a robot in an underground American laboratory knows it, then there really was no hope of belonging anywhere.
-Primus all-mighty! Where the slag is Megatron? Look, you gotta calm down! I don't know what happened but I swear you're going to be fine. I'm right here! Megatron will be back, probably! Just please don't cry!-
-I-is it really just me?- Harry couldn't help asking, his ringing sobs sinking deeper into his chest. Would he really be alone for the rest of his life?
Bumblebee took only seconds to respond, but there was no doubting the sincerity in his transmission.
-Hey, hey, there. You're going to be alright. I wish I could tell you there are more sparklings you could play with and shit, but there aren't. You're the only sparkling in existence, but that's no reason to be scared! It means you're fragging special! One of a kind! And we are gonna love you so much- you'll be absolutely sick of us in no time, I'm sure! I'm talking super clingy, hovering mechs everywhere. If Prime's reaction to little humans means anything, then he's gonna spoil you rotten!- Harry couldn't hold back a slightly hysterical giggle at that. Just trying to picture someone resembling the massive, deadly presence of Lord Megatron fussing over him like Aunt Petunia did with Dudley was absurdly difficult. And...it would be nice if Harry could be special instead of strange.
-Yeah, that's it! What's there to cry about when you've got people just dying to meet you? You might be the only sparkling around but you're definitely not gonna be alone anytime soon.-
Harry finally fell silent, Bumblebee's warmth touching him like a ray of sunlight and helped beat back his fears. He was still scared and lost, so very lost. But Bumblebee was right, with Lord Megatron and maybe even this newcomer, he wasn't alone.
-What, were you really worried about being all alone? I promise that's not gonna happen, not a chance. In fact, I don't think I have a single memory byte of being alone for more than a click when I was a sparkling, drove me up the wall!-
-Wait, y-you were a sparkling too?- Harry asked, confused.
-Was I a- of course! Did you think mechs just popped out of the ground fully armored? We were all sparklings once upon a time, even Megatron. The only difference between you and me is that I'm fully grown, no matter what Ironhide says.-
Harry mulled over this latest news carefully. He was tired and stressed, but this was all so important it made his head spin.
Were sparklings...robot children?
Harry glanced at his still silent protector, how could Megatron ever have been as small as Harry? He was a little skeptical, but it did make sense…
-So one day I'll grow up and be like you?- He guessed tentatively.
-Frag, what did you think would happen? Of course! You've got your whole life ahead of you, little guy!-
Harry let out a deep exhale of relief, slipping back against his dog bed and pulling the blanket over his head. The fear drained from his body like poison in a wound, leaving him weak and flimsy. All he wanted to do was nap and marinate in knowing a place he could belong. He was already so tired from that agility course earlier, maybe Lord Megatron wouldn't mind if he fell asleep before the other reboot?
-Harry?-
-Thanks, Bumblebee.- Harry murmured tiredly, a slow croon falling off his mouth plate like sweet syrup.
-Aw...no problem! You come to me for anything, okay? I got your back.-
-Autobot scum.- Megatron suddenly roared, blasting onto the three-way transmission with a fury that nearly sent Harry tumbling onto the floor.
-What did you do to my sparkling? Report this instant and I might be persuaded to send a portion of your mangled remains to your precious unit after I'm finished with you.-
-Holy frag! What the hell is your problem, you glitch!- Bumblebee sounded just as bewildered as Harry felt.
-Answer me now. How did you cause Haeree distress?- Lord Megatron didn't communicate raised volume in his transmission, but the absolute command was plain to see.
-Wha- you mean the crying thing? It was a Primus-damned misunderstanding! Haeree, will you tell this psychotic scrap heap that you're fine?-
Harry didn't pull himself out of his blanket, much too comfortable. Though it was unreasonable, he also felt as though the extra layer might protect him from Lord Megatron's wrath.
-Um, Lord Megatron, sir?- He began.
Lord Megatron's transmission came from an alternate frequency. -Speak, sparkling. That filthy junkyard reject won't listen. What did he do?-
Harry felt guilty now, it was all his fault Bumblebee was in trouble. He shouldn't have cried like that, and he should've figured out what a sparkling was before then. He curled his servos into balled up fists, he had to be brave and explain his stupid mistake.
-I-it wasn't Bumblebee's fault. I w-was just being thick and I f-freaked out over nothing. Bumblebee was really nice and explained how I was wrong. I'm fine.- Harry stuttered.
-What did you react to, then?- Lord Megatron sounded a little less feral, perhaps because Bumblebee hadn't interrupted their private conversation apart from the audible groans from wherever he was being kept.
-It's dumb.- Harry admitted shamefully. -I didn't know what a sparkling was and thought it was some kind of…- Some kind of what? He hadn't known even as he was crying over it, that sort of behavior would've had him tossed into the cupboard by a horrified Aunt Petunia in a heartbeat.
-Not one of you, I guess. And I got scared of being the only one of anything. But he explained that I'm like you, I-I'm not alone like that.- It was hard to part with those words, it felt like a gamble. Would Lord Megatron refute Bumblebee's claim? It would be so easy to swat Harry's reality down like a fly.
-Hmph. I'm surprised that Autobot knew even that much.- Lord Megatron sneered. -But if that's all, then I suppose I'll allow him to remain functioning for now.-
-Thank you. Sorry for the trouble.- Harry said meekly, and received a wordless grumble.
-Acknowledged. I will continue your education at a greater pace in order to avoid any other misunderstandings, it appears you did not learn all immediately necessary information during our first session.-
Harry felt his face move in what might've been a smile, though it was undetectable under his mouth plate. -Yes, sir.-
-Haeree has vouched for your life, be grateful that I have decided to spare you for the time being.- Lord Megatron announced to Bumblebee over the three-way connection.
-Frag that! I'm in more danger of being bored to death waiting for you to defrost than you actually getting out!- Bumblebee snarled brashly.
Lord Megatron's response was as frigid as his prison. -Be glad I believe you are of use to me now. That privilege won't exist for long.-
Bumblebee didn't reply, and the conversation ended on an odd note.
Harry relaxed in the silence, though he wasn't sure where it came from, and deactivated his optics. The fatigue hadn't stopped pulling on him, a welcome fuzzy darkness just waiting to descend.
After a couple of minutes of drifting, Lord Megatron spoke. -Haeree, are you in stasis?- He sounded aggravated. It occurred to Harry that he and Bumblebee might've simply switched to a private line to continue their argument, but he didn't care to pursue the thought.
-Mhmh. Goodnight.- He sighed into the dog bed, heavy and hanging by a thread.
-...Goodnight.-
Megatron watched the tiny cybertronian slip into stasis intently, noting every shift and twitch until it lay completely still under its cloth. When they freed themselves he would have to produce something similar to Haeree's current nest, it was clear the sparkling favored the thready softness of the bedding.
Satisfied, Megatron shifted back to the scout being tortured a few rooms over. That the loudmouth Autobot was waiting for him to respond was a fantastic indicator of how uncertain he truly was of the situation.
-Your Autobots aren't good enough to get the job done. They won't believe you, and then they'll want to play nice with the humans, and then Haeree will be offlined in order to hide the humans' error before the Autobots are allowed an inch underground.- Megatron continued darkly.
-Just because we aren't fragging monsters doesn't mean we're stupid!- The Autobot cried. -My unit leader will believe me, and they'll drop the Allspark search in a nanoclick to rescue Harry!-
-Suppose you manage to convince your comrades that you're not spouting lies out of insanity or desperation to be rescued, however unlikely that may be. How do you think they'll get to Haeree? They didn't even risk distressing the humans with their presence to save you, what will they do with human property? These humans tagged a sparkling as an object to be owned, so would your unit be willing to steal from a poor, weak, 'sentient race'?- Megatron spat. He was guessing at what had actually happened for the scout to wind up a human experiment, but if it resembled any of the Autobot's other expeditions into alien systems then he couldn't be far off the mark. Prime's rhetoric has seeped deep into the processors of his moronic followers.
-That was different!- He protested, and the smirk failing to shift on Megatron's faceplates was actually beginning to itch. -I let myself be taken for the good of the mission! Retrieving the cube undetected was the most efficient strategy.-
-Don't waste that drivel on me. Even a unit of pathetic Autobots has enough firepower to destroy a human obstacle before it can alert others. You all came to the conclusion that human life is more valuable than Cybertronian, and so you will be assisting Decepticons in our retrieval.- Megatron snapped.
-You don't know anything! You weren't there! Some of those humans were risking their lives to help us, so of course- Never mind, frag! Let me finish! It was different, since Harry is in human...custody...my unit will definitely switch strategies and confront the humans head on!- So this Autobot's unit has yet to discover that the Allspark is also in 'human custody', where exactly were they searching then? The frozen tip of the planet where Megatron had crashed? At this rate it was nearly impossible for his Decepticons not to be in the lead.
-Once my Decepticons discover my location, they will destroy this place. They will remove any power supply in the process, freeing us of the blasted ice. I will kill any humans in my way before withdrawing with Haeree. The entire operation will take a breem in estimation. Can you say as much for your comrades own solution?- In truth Megatron knew that his Decepticons' first priority would be retrieving the Allspark, the troops may be completely unaware he was even housed in the same facility. It didn't matter so long as his prediction came true and they submit themselves to his will once more.
-You can't just kill the humans!- Was the scout's immediate and disappointing outburst.
-Why not?- Megatron enquired coolly. -Do you believe they deserve to live after imprisoning me in ice and profiting off my capture for centuries? For torturing you without cause right at this moment? Would you ever spare a cybertronian for kidnapping, harming, and tormenting a distressed sparkling the way these plagues have done to Haeree?- By his last word, Megatron throbbed with anger, his claws ached deeply to sink into filthy human flesh and tear. He wanted to set the planet's atmosphere on fire and watch it burn.
-Not- The Autobot croaked. -Not all of them are like that. These humans...aren't good- aren't worth-...Not all of them do these things. Sam wouldn't do these things. He fought for me.-
Megatron mulled over the disjointed retort, the aforementioned torture might be getting to the Autobot's head. Regardless, the turmoil and vulnerability could only help Megatron sway the Autobot to fight for the Decepticons.
-Then you can keep 'Sam' as a pet,- He said carelessly. -Any humans that may be a centimeter above maggots aren't here. This cave is filled with creatures that willingly made Haeree bleed energon and wrote down the results like it was a maintenance check. Sam isn't here.- It was frankly disturbing that a member of his own species could find a single mite living on this planet worthy of affection, but he would endure the revulsion if that's what it took to get his plan back on track.
-Now do you think your unit will form a better plan than my own? Faster? More efficient? Less risky for the sparkling?- He pushed.
The Autobot didn't respond for the longest time, it was dead air for what felt like a cycle. Megatron wasn't concerned, the humans were doing the work for him, blasting their self-assigned protector full of liquid nitrogen and caging an infant a few hundred feet away.
-...No.- The Autobot finally admitted in a deadened tone. -My unit would...care too much about the humans...Harry would be put in danger.-
-Correct. You will adhere to my plan, then.- It wasn't a question.
-When my Decepticons stage the initial attack, you will be the first to be freed in your current state. Once mobile, destroy as much as you can. But be careful to keep it short range, Haeree is housed nearby. Your objective is to cripple the humans from within, aim for primitive machines and storage to erase salvageable data. Once I am out I will take the sparkling and rejoin my Decepticons. From there you will be given a grace period of half a breem to leave under truce, and that will be the end of it.- Megatron explained concisely.
Millennia ago, he would've taken the opportunity to make a traitor out of the scout, it wouldn't be the first time or the hardest sell. But millennia ago he wasn't trying to claim a sparkling and the Allspark all in one chaotic gamble. Knowing he had weakened an Autobot unit would have to be enough for now. -Do you understand?-
-...Yeah, I got it. Sounds fair, I guess. For a Decepticon.- The Autobot mumbled, sulky and pained all at once.
Megatron shut down his comm unit with a proud snap, settling back into silence. He was deeply appreciative that his task was now nearly complete and communication with an Autobot scout was no longer necessary, he could practically feel his programs slow to match the other's while receiving feedback.
While the Autobot busied itself with his ongoing torture, Megatron followed Haeree's lead and allowed himself to rest for a while, centering himself and preserving his energy for when he needed it most.
It was boring, but still better than talking to a mech named Bumblebee.
Megatron jerked back to full alert with the tickle of a cybertronian scanner prickling against his ped.
Bewildered, he glanced down to find the tiny infiltration specialist Frenzy examining him. He was crouched in the shadow of Megatron's pedestal, gleaming optics the only steady focus among the twitchy, spastic angles of his frame.
Megatron's spark soared, Frenzy was incapable of working alone, which meant there was a coherent team on the planet that chose to employ him. His Decepticons must be closing in and fast. Megatron was getting out.
-This is your leader Lord Megatron, report.- He greeted eagerly, too pleased to even care that his most undetectable troop nearly jumped a foot in the air out of fright.
-M-my Lord Megatron! Hail Lord Megatron!- Frenzy chattered, twisting and twitching away from any humans who passed by. -The Allspark is undetected. Not here. Not here. You're here.-
Megatron was perplexed at this, how could Frenzy not find the Allspark? It was no longer so easy to reach, as the humans had moved it soon after Haeree's arrival, but there was no mistaking the hum of life-giving energy that remained close.
Upon further inspection, the little scrapling was in ragged shape, clearly missing parts and more chipped than not. Perhaps he was incapable of searching? Without proper functions Frenzy could hardly improvise, lacking the processor power and versatility of the other Decepticons. It was worthy of note that he had yet to detect Haeree either.
-The Allspark is still here, I can sense it.- Megatron corrected. Frenzy spluttered confusedly in response.
-No matter, I'll look for it once I'm free. Your main objective is to remove this ice corroding my systems. Who is in your unit?-
-Barricade, Bonecrusher, Blackout, Devastator, Frenzy, Starscream. All enroute.- He reported.
Megatron hummed thoughtfully. Starscream was a black mark on his lineup without a doubt, but mechs like Barricade and Blackout were capable examples of Decepticon prowess. Not the worst to respond to his message, though he could've done better. Hopefully some of his allies from so long ago yet lived, he would need their support later.
-Instruct the troops to avoid attacking the facility directly and get to work.- Megatron commanded, and it felt good to give an official command again. Like a healing stroke of the Allspark, it soothed him to watch Frenzy scramble to fulfill his orders.
Still, he couldn't get too excited. With Starscream in his new unit and with Soundwave absent, he wouldn't risk announcing the sparklings presence until Haeree was sitting safely in his servos. His Decepticons would never damage a sparkling, but stealing certainly wasn't above his best and brightest.
It wasn't long after Frenzy ducked out of sight that human scum began to swarm his icy prison, shouting and sweating disgustingly close. They knew he was coming loose, he could feel gears that hadn't turned in thousands of years begin to hum harmoniously with his spark. The ice was melting slowly, dripping and slipping off his circuits away from where humans could re-apply manually. It was almost time. Megatron felt a giddiness that he hadn't experienced since finding the cube's location on this planet so many cycles ago, it was maddening in a wholly different way from his deep freeze.
It was almost time.
"They didn't hurt you right?" Sam asked, reeking of fear and stress, but concerned nonetheless.
Bumblebee straightened from the fragging nightmare of a torture-pedestal and slammed his mask down. Sam was different, Mikaela was different, kind and compassionate. The others, however…
He activated his cannon, the heaviest of his artillery, and aimed for the fleshy humans in black. The ones that belonged to this hellish facility, absolute monstrous scum. They stank of fear too, but there was nothing to temper it, not one of the soldiers dropped their weapons as per their orders.
"Listen to me, the cube is here and the Decepticons are coming." Sam warned, not making any move to avoid crossfire if Bumblebee shot. Did he honestly believe Bumblebee wouldn't attack?
Then his words connected, the slagging Allspark was there too? Did these evil creatures even understand that they held Cybertron's engine and spark in their grasp?
Bumblebee wobbled back onto his peds, every inch of him hurt, right down to his tubing. His vocal processor throbbed a heady beat below his helm, a dangerous reminder of how much damage he had accumulated just screaming during the past cycle.
It wasn't a conscious decision to hike the power up in his cannon, but he didn't diminish it either.
"No, no, don't worry about them. They're okay. Right?" It was almost amusing to see his little human sent a fierce glare at the others, as if he could threaten the agents into submission. "They're not gonna hurt you."
Destroy the facility from the inside, that was what Megatron had told him to do in return for his release. It made sense, it would keep the humans from benefitting off whatever slag they had committed against Harry during its capture.
It...hadn't been easy to agree, but now it was even harder with Sam's trusting optics squarely on his own.
Bumblebee had to make a choice.
"Just back up a little bit. He's friendly. He's fine. Okay, come on. Put the guns down. They're not gonna hurt you." Sam continued, exuding an atmosphere of peace where Megatron emitted chaos.
Both wanted him to do something, both were right to want it. This horrible place needed to be wiped off the fragging universe, but was an Autobot scout the one to do it?
Sam extended a tiny, soft servo up to him, up to the cannon burning like a sun at his side. "Come on, I'm gonna take you to the Allspark." He promised.
Bumblebee shuttered his optics for a long moment, and deactivated his cannon. He couldn't kill the humans, not like that. But that wasn't the only thing he set out to do upon his escape.
In one fluid motion he snatched up both Sam and Mikaela, away from the villains still clutching their guns. His humans shrieked, clinging to his digits and scrambling for purchase. Bumblebee tightened his grip to the slightest degree and looked down at their pale, flesh faces.
"There's something happening here.~"
Then he took off, transforming into his alt-form to speed past the floundering soldiers and agents with his humans safe in the backseat.
"What just happened? What is it? What happened? The cube isn't this way!" Sam protested, throwing himself against the right window, which faced a long hallway to where the Allspark must be. But that wasn't his destination.
Sam came back for him, Bumblebee was freed ahead of schedule and before the Decepticons arrived and he needed to use every nanoclick to his advantage.
"Trapped it a box-/Breaking News: Missing woman found after having been kidnapped five y- /I think we have an emergency!~"
"Slow down, slow down!" Sam protested, breath picking up in tempo as Bumblebee barely missed a scientist in a swerve. He didn't know where exactly he was going, but he could guess from the equipment coming into view.
"Did they take something from you? Is it in storage?" Mikaela guessed.
Bumblebee didn't respond, picking up speed to squeal down hallways on hairpin turns in order to lose the tag along humans still chasing after them. None of them had taken a shot yet, so he ignored them otherwise.
Megatron had told him it was nearby…
"Why are we going back to Megatron?" Sam demanded, leaning hard against his car seat. "The Decepticons are coming, Bee, we gotta get out of here!"
"There's something there that wasn't there before!~" Bumblebee blared, skidding into a hangar with a vaulted ceiling and a spark-jolting amount of ice.
Both his humans quieted when Megatron came into view, even bigger than he remembered and just as menacing. A quick scan told him the evil mech was warming up and fast, the Decepticons must already be in the facility. He needed to get out of there as soon as possible, he could practically feel every second lost like a weight added to his back.
Bumblebee wheeled past the Decepticon leader, peering deeper into the warehouse.
There!
-What do you think you're doing here? I told you to leave, you glitch!- Megatron growled over Bumblebee's comm unit, a little odd now that they were face-to-face. He could swear Megatron's frozen optics brightened menacingly with his words.
Bumblebee transformed, carefully cradling Mikaela and Sam during the more awkward jostles since he didn't dare stop moving, not with his goal so perfectly lined up in his viewfinder.
A glass box to the right of Megatron, easy to miss among the heavy equipment and the colossal overlord himself, just as it had been described to him. He sprinted over and peered inside.
-Autobot, back away from my sparkling this instant.- Megatron gravelly pitch darkened further, promising the brutality he was infamous for.
-An Autobot will never take orders from a fragging Decepticon!- Bumblebee roared, screwing up all of his bravery for this do-or-die, breathlessly foolhardy endeavor. -Especially one defected enough to think I'd allow a sparkling to go with the likes of you!- He muted the link immediately afterward, he didn't have time for all the things he wanted to say to the slagger.
An orange scrap of cloth in the corner of the cage shifted as he reached it, minuscule silver servos darting out to tug the cover down. -I don't- what? W-what are you- Harry's little lisp stammered in his helm.
"W-what the hell is that thing?" Sam shrieked, backing up in the flat of Bumblebee's servos until he was a little too close to the edge, Mikaela not far behind. Bumblebee curled his hand a fraction tighter to keep a good grip on his humans.
"Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak!/Come with me if you want to live." Bumblebee urged, reaching out with his free limb to pry the box open without shattering it all over the sparkling.
-Wait, no- stop! What about Lord Megatron? He's still frozen! D-don't leave him!- Harry only grew more panicked, no doubt warned by Megatron of Bumblebee's betrayal. -Wait no!-
Bumblebee's spark ached to see the little infant shrinking away from his touch, but it was for Harry's own good. No sparkling should be with the pack of lawless murderers that Megatron called soldiers, their cruelty would snuff the little guy out in a click. Hopefully, Harry would understand once he was away from Megatron's influence.
"Oh my God, what's that sound? Is it dying?" Mikaela hissed fearfully, the warbly ring of distress Harry was giving probably a frequency above human comfort.
-Harry, don't be scared. You're gonna be fine, okay? No one's going to hurt you anymore.- Bumblebee murmured, lifting the box and scooping the little sparkling, blanket and all, into his spare servo. A lot of the older Autobots were designed with specific chambers to hold sparklings safely, but this would have to do since they were obsolete by the time he was at the correct stage for modification, and therefore didn't have one.
-Let me go! Please! I want to stay with Lord Megatron! Please!- Harry cried, squirming in his grip and scratching whatever it could catch. It was a little ticklish, but nowhere near sharp enough to scratch his paint.
Bumblebee made shushing sounds, running a digit down Harry's thin back in hopes of calming the infant. He knew there were legitimate programs that creators used to use, but all he had were awkward comforting tactics appropriate between soldiers. The scratching ceased, but Harry didn't stop struggling away from the contact.
"We're taking it with us?" Sam yelped incredulously.
"Who cares? We have to get out of here now!" Mikaela shouted, a new wave of fear wafting from her alien skin. It didn't take a command-class bot to see what was freaking her out, Bumblebee could hear the ice cracking off Megatron too.
Bumblebee took a step forward and crushed the box into tiny splinters, grinding it into dust on the cement. It wasn't nearly enough, but he didn't dare touch a computer when even one could be controlling Megatron's frozen state.
He spun on a ped and sprinted into his transformation, cracking the cement on impact and rattling his charges.
-No! No! Go back! Megatron!-
Sam and Mikaela immediately threw themselves into the front seat and away from Harry, who was still wrapped up in the orange electric blanket. Why electric? Had that been part of some bizarre test? Bumblebee shook himself from distraction- Megatron was melting, the Decepticons had infiltrated the building, and he still needed to get to the cube. Where was his unit right now?
"T-there! The cube is down there!" Sam pointed to a right corridor, even with all the unexplained and frightening crap Bumblebee was putting them through, his charge was still so willing to help. No matter what he felt for the garbage working underground, he was never more sure of his decision to fight for humanity, not when Sam was in their ranks.
Speaking of garbage, when he sped deeper into the facility, past the populated hangars, and into the deeper storage, he found the humans he had ditched on his way to find Harry. They had gathered around what was unmistakably the Allspark.
Big, even for cybertronians, grand and absolutely ancient, the relic so many of his brothers had died for sat right before him.
Bumblebee's optics swept across the engraved sigils, the golden gleam it held even under fluorescents, the barest of memories he still held of seeing it for the first time swam to the forefront of his processor. He had been just as awed then, too.
Harry whimpered, a shaking servo rising to press against its softly glowing spark. -The cube…-
Bumblebee shook himself from his stunned reverie to check on the little sparkling. -Hey, you okay?-
-I didn't think I would see it again.- Was Harry's cryptic response.
"Bee!" Sam's voice was so strained it sounded close to breaking. "We need to get out of here, yesterday! Did they actually hurt you before? Why aren't you moving!"
"Hurry it up! Do you get how many laws I'm breaking with every passing second?" An older agent echoed Sam, shuffling nervously before the cube. "This thing isn't safe to be around."
Bumblebee hastily threw his front doors open for Sam and Mikaela to get out before shifted back to his bipedal form, Harry back in his fist.
"Why does he have the NBEP-00? You said he just needed the cube!" Another agent demanded, everyone else taking a step back upon spying the addition. Bumblebee pinned the human with a glowing glare, a rumbling growl in his chest. These horrible humans actually thought Harry belonged to them, just as Megatron had said. This place needed to be wiped off the face of the Earth. If his humans hadn't been there, Bumblebee can't say he wouldn't step on the humans looking so angry they couldn't hurt Harry anymore.
The agents took a step back as one, the shiny sweat on their bodies increasing copiously.
"He just took it, I don't think it's a Decepticon." Mikaela shrugged.
"It's a crucially important test subject, you're stealing government property we will never be able to replace." Agent Simmons huffed rudely.
Bumblebee revved his engine to a deafening level, making optic-contact with that human in particular. Very deliberately, while he watched in fearful silence, Bumblebee let his battle mask slide over his face plates. He was not playing around now, not with a sparkling.
Simmons didn't speak again.
Harry didn't struggle this time, obviously recognizing the uniforms below and apparently preferring Bumblebee's capture to their own. That was progress, right?
Bumblebee approached the cube and trailed a servo across its cool exterior, feeling for the pulse of godlike warmth beneath.
-Careful!- Harry trilled in alarm, but nothing happened. Nothing at all.
Bumblebee reared back, the cube felt...powerless, dead. Where was the rhythm of power that vibrated so subtly alongside his own spark? The unique signature of utter potential that sent everyone pouring into the limitless sky to recover it?
"Simmons said it hasn't been working right for almost a week," Sam explained, reading Bumblebee's expression. "But we can figure out why later, okay? If we don't get out in, like, ten seconds Megatron is gonna-" A distant crash shook the ceiling and Bumblebee knew his time was up.
Sam was right, he would problem solve later, right now he just needed to make sure later existed for him.
He dialed the prehistoric commands that were thankfully ingrained in his programming, for he would never have memorized it otherwise, shifting the cube down to a more manageable size. Harry trembled but remained completely silent, his spark-beat thrumming so hard Bumblebee could feel against his wiring.
Tucking it under his arm, Bumblebee looked down at the humans. He didn't like how close Sam and Mikaela, hell, even the soldiers, were to the scrapheap agents. What other lows were they capable of if damaging a child wasn't worth a single ounce of contrition?
"Message from Starfleet, Captain./Let's get to it."
"He's right. We stay here, we're screwed with Megatron in the other hangar. Mission City is twenty-two miles away. We're gonna sneak that cube out of here and we're gonna hide it somewhere in the city." The leading soldier planned frantically.
Bumblebee didn't like where the plan was headed, but there was no time to argue. He transformed back to his alt-mode and let Sam and Mikaela reluctantly climb into the same cab as Harry. They didn't look like they would hurt each other or anything, both Harry and his humans were equally terrified of each other, so Bumblebee prioritized.
He pulled out with the military escort, praying for all he was worth that, Primus willing, Optimus Prime and the others would be waiting for him in Mission City. The pressure of carrying the two sole stars of hope for his entire species was a force sending him into hysteria.
As it was, he could only watch the facility shrink behind him, woefully intact. The quieting shudders under tire told him it wouldn't be for long, but he dearly wished every inch of it crumbled. Maybe after all of this was over Bumblebee could return and char the rubble, it would make for good therapy after the utter shit he went through in there.
"So, um, are you a friend of Bumblebee's?" Sam asked Harry tentatively, the tension dropping a bit as they flew further and further from Megatron and his goons.
Harry chirped noisily, a wordless chatter Bumblebee had never heard. Was that normal for sparklings?
"Oh, you can't speak either?" Mikaela asked sympathetically, and Harry actually gave an answering croon.
"Can you talk through the radio like Bumblebee?" Sam shifted from the front seat to stare at Harry. Bumblebee listened for the response, for he didn't know either.
Harry shook his helm and made another sad sound.
"Well, maybe Rachet can fix you? He's helping Bumblebee, right?"
Bumblebee winced, the medic would be furious at the damage he'd taken while being tortured. At this rate there was a real possibility that the Autobots wouldn't have the resources to fix his injury.
-Please, take me back to Megatron.- Harry begged softly, sounding resigned. Bumblebee wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not, he really had no idea what cybertronian children were like, for all his memory bytes of being one himself.
-Harry, I know you don't understand right now, but Megatron is bad news. He's pure evil! I'm going to take you someplace safe.-
"Can you tell us your name?" Mikaela asked next, oblivious to their conversation.
"And before we forget, today was Harry Houdini's birthday! So there some random trivi-/Harry Styles was spotted at the park today-/-na's nephew, Prince Harry of Wales-." Bumblebee scanned helpfully.
"Harry? That's a...huh. Okay." Neither of Bumblebee's humans seemed to know how to react to such a human name on an alien. He supposed he understood.
-I h-hate you.- Harry choked out, and then fell silent.
He supposed he understood that too.
Aaaand that's a wrap! Attention ladies and gentlemen, we are finally out of the lab! '
(For those invested in the scientists figuring out Harry subplot, that's not over just yet.)
Can I just say that writing Bumblebee's dialogue was way harder than I thought it would be? All those song lyrics and movie quotes, ugh! Do I have to list the ones I used? That looks so exhausting in TF fics I don't think I'm gonna…
If anyone's curious why I made him such a potty mouth, I had to build all his speech quirks from scratch and decided to spin it my way. I figure a guy raised from childhood to be a soldier by soldiers is going to swear a LOT, especially one still young and immature like Bumblebee. He wouldn't have bonded with teenage Sam so closely if he weren't similar in maturity, in my opinion. So I made him a loudmouth, cursing teenager/early 20s type. Seemed to fit okay to me.
I put the last bit in Bee's perspective so you would understand what happened, but for those who weren't sure- he was just going along with Megatron to get closer to Harry. Not that he doesn't agree those humans deserve a good squishing (and we'll get to that), but he definitely wasn't going to hand Harry over to Megatron without a fight, Sam's rescue or no.
Okay and on to questions/responses!
Remember if I didn't answer one of your questions, it was either already answered or plot related.
AresLaw asked if Harry will be able to cloak. That's a really good question, but I don't think this fic is going to go on long enough for Harry to develop to the point where that could be a usable perk.
Dieter17 had a few criticisms, and while I do agree that I use plot convenience for certain aspects of story, I use them to further the plot. It would be way less impactful for Megatron to find out that Harry was human when they just meet and neither give shit about the other. Probably more realistic, but that kind of early climax just isn't entertaining to read or write. had a few criticisms, and while I do agree that I use plot convenience for certain aspects of story, I use them to further the plot. It would be way less impactful for Megatron to find out that Harry was human when they just meet and neither give shit about the other. Probably more realistic, but that kind of early climax just isn't entertaining to read or write.
For the first part of the review, which was about how suspiciously human the transformers are, I also agree. That is some seriously lazy writing and I don't honestly consider these 'aliens' eligible for most introspective looks into alien characters. They weren't written as aliens, that aspect is only for plot convenience and backstory. But...I didn't create Transformers? I mean, yeah, valid opinion. But I'm not sure what you want me to do about it, recreate the entire species for this fic? I gave Harry human weaknesses because transformers don't have inhuman weaknesses.
Rasdra asked what transformers 'eat'. It isn't really specified in the Bayverse, so I kinda fudged my own explanation. Sparklings and adolescents require constant, refined sources of Energon because they can't maintain themselves properly. Once they're adults, they still need Energon, but can maintain themselves without it. They just degrade slowly over time since they can never improve or really 'heal' from simple things like wear and tear.
Okay, thanks for reading! I hope to update sooner than last time (though I'm still super busy), but I'm glad with what I've got done!
Please leave a review on your way out!