Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers
Wearily, Bumblebee trudged back into the Medbay to ask Ratchet about the plan of attack concerning the energon storage.
Ratchet couldn't help but notice Bee's sadness and asked gruffly, "Did Magnia leave so soon?" Bee nodded glumly, and Ratchet sighed, "Bumblebee, I hate to ask, but how exactly did you know that femme? You're not going 'Con on us are you?"
"Of course…not," Bee whirred. "We were…sparkhood…friends. Before the war…was so…intense."
Ratchet nodded and patted Bee on the shoulder, "The war has wrought much pain, Bee. I once knew someone who at one time I would have called a...friend. But once the war started they were on the other side." Ratchet glanced at Bumblebee, "I guess what I'm trying to say here Bee is don't get involved with bots from the opposite side. It never ends well."
"You're probably…right," Bee sighed. "When are we…attacking the…energon storage?"
"Probably in a few Earth days," Ratchet waved his servo. "I'll let you know."
Bumblebee left Ratchet to sort his medical files, and went to find Optimus.
The leader of the Autobots was in the east hangar when Bee found him, attempting to break up another scuffle between the twins, Skids and Mudflap.
"Come 'ere ya little frag!" Mudflap yelled, struggling against Optimus. "Ima beat the scrap outta you!"
"Come and get me, glitch!" Skids yelled back, worming out of Optimus' grip.
They both shoved Optimus to the side and tackled each other, punching and swearing.
Bumblebee quickly intercepted, grabbing both of them by their necks, bashing them together, and then tossing them out of the hangar.
"Thank you, Bumblebee," Optimus sighed as the twins complained about their sore afts. They sulked away, their differences forgotten as they plotted a way to get back at Bee later.
"No…problem…boss bot," Bee whirred. "Ratchet…managed to…get intel…from the…femme."
"Really?" Optimus said, intrigued.
Bee nodded, "She knew…location…energon…storage…Ratchet says…a few…Earth days."
"Good," Optimus nodded. "I will begin organizing an attack team." He began to walk away, but paused and turned back to Bee, "You are not going to see that femme again, correct?"
"No….sir," Bee said firmly.
"Well that is a relief," Optimus began walking away again. "Good work, Bumblebee. Now we will have more much needed energon."
Bumblebee beeped a reply and once Optimus was gone, headed for his quarters for a good recharge. He had a feeling Optimus would be including him in the attack team, and he wanted to be at full strength.
However, try as he might, recharge wouldn't come. Bee lay awake in his berth, staring at the ceiling, wondering (and hating himself for it) about Magnia. Who had hurt her so badly that she had nearly offlined? And what had happened to his once lighthearted, carefree friend, who was now a war hardened femme soldier? He supposed war changed people, but did that mean he himself had changed as well? He certainly didn't feel much different, other than no longer being a sparkling. Frag it, Bee groaned to himself; he was never going to get a blink of recharge!
Bumblebee was in a foul mood the following day, which unfortunately was the day Ratchet had planned the attack on the energon storage. It was planned earlier because Ironhide was leaving for a mission the following day, and he was an essential part of the attack team.
So it was Ironhide, Jazz, Bulkhead, Mirage, and an extremely tired Bumblebee that approached the energon storage cautiously. The coordinates were a small cave in the Gobi desert, and there were two brutal looking Decepticon soldiers posted guard outside.
Jazz and Mirage leapt at the two guards, drawing their fire and attempting to lead them away from the cave, while Bee, 'Hide, and Bulkhead hung back, waiting for an opportunity to rush the entrance.
As soon as Mirage and Jazz had the guards' backs turned, the three rushed through the cave. 'Hide took down two more 'Cons, while Bee and Bulkhead ran ahead to the center of the cave, where the energon crystals lay waiting.
Ironhide kept the remainder of the 'Cons at bay with his cannons, while Bee quickly began loading the crystals into Bulkhead's alt form. Jazz joined Bee soon and began helping load the energon, while Mirage helped Ironhide with the 'Cons.
Bumblebee finished loading Bulkhead and quickly commed Ratchet to open the ground bridge, realizing with a sinking feeling that they would have to make two trips to get all the energon.
"Unload…and come…back," Bee told Bulkhead, who sped through the bridge, with Jazz running after to help unload.
Bee joined Ironhide and Mirage, slashing and punching various 'Cons. He shouted to 'Hide, "Need…to make…another…trip…How long can you…hold out?"
"Long enough," 'Hide replied, but Bee could tell he was beginning to tire. "Just hurry up." The ground bridge opened just then, and Bumblebee rushed to help Jazz reload Bulkhead again.
Once they finally had him loaded, Bee opened the ground bridge and signaled to 'Hide and Mirage, who backed quickly away from the attacking 'Cons towards the ground bridge, still firing.
'Hide was almost to the bridge when one of the 'Cons lunged forward suddenly, slashing him across the chassis with a blade. Ironhide collapsed, bleeding energon profusely, and Bumblebee swore under his breath.
"Cover…me," he said to Jazz, and leapt at the 'Con, blasting him with his cannon, while Jazz fired at the other one, keeping him at bay. Mirage and Bulkhead had already gone through and the ground bridge was beginning to close.
Bee quickly ripped off the 'Con's helm and scooped up Ironhide, rushing through the bridge, with Jazz following closely behind. They burst into the Medbay and Bee laid 'Hide on a medical berth for Ratchet to examine.
After a few agonizing minutes, Ratchet finally grumbled, "It looks worse than it is. The cut wasn't very deep, but it struck a major energon line, which is why he lost so much energon. I should be able to repair it soon." Ratchet glanced up at all the concerned Autobots crowded in the Medbay, "But not with all of you venting down my neck; everyone out!"
Disgruntled, but satisfied 'Hide was in good care, everyone filed out of the Medbay and went about their business. Bumblebee went to help Wheeljack unload Bulkhead and store the energon in the storage vault.
"This energon should last us for a while," Wheeljack said. "Good work, Bee."
Bee whirred unhappily, "Wish…'Hide…hadn't gotten…hurt."
"He's a tough bot; I think he'll be alright," Wheeljack shrugged. "Plus, Ratchet is a very talented medic."
Bee caught the admiring tone in Wheeljack's voice and couldn't help but smile a little. Wheeljack had a small crush on the medic, who was of course too busy to notice the tough wrecker.
"Do you…still like…Ratchet?" Bee teased.
"Keep your voice down, Bee!" Wheeljack hissed, cuffing Bee on the audio receptor. "Of course I don't!"
Bee emitted his strange laughing noise again as Wheeljack glared at him, "Can't…lie to me!"
Wheeljack sighed, "I can't, you're right. I can't stop thinking about him, Bee! It's annoying, and it's distracting me."
Bee hmmd sympathetically, wondering if how he couldn't stop thinking about Magnia was the same as Wheeljack's predicament. Of course not, he chastised the thought immediately. He couldn't have a crush on Magnia; he barely even knew her.
"What should I do, Bee?" Wheeljack asked.
Bee shrugged, "Try to…ignore it…I guess."
"Great advice," Wheeljack said glumly.
"Sorry…." Bee finished stacking the energon and waved. "See you later…Wheeljack.". Bee headed back to his quarters, ready to again attempt at recharge. It came easier this time, probably because he was already very tired, but it was still a restless recharge.