Wolfimus Prime and Guest Mariah are behind this one shot. Mariah wanted Charlie to meet Optimus Prime, and Wolfimus Prime wanted Charlie to be smuggled in with Bee to meet the Autobots. This takes place after the first one shot.
I am also going to put in a few new rules when it comes to requests:
I will NOT write a story that has suicide. I know that some people find it therapeutic to read stories that cover that topic, but I am not a good enough writer, nor well versed enough on the subject to write about it.
I will NOT write a story that has rape or sexual assault in it. This is a T-rated story because I have a tendency to swear without realizing, and maybe some fight scenes later on.
Any requests that include those two/three things will be ignored for this story.
Bumblebee definitely knew that what he was doing was against the rules, and so did Charlie. Perhaps Sam's teenage rebelliousness was rubbing off on him, and Charlie's general disregard for authority that she had kept since the yellow mech had last seen her was influencing his actions, but he found himself sneaking the woman onto the base.
When the base had first been created, strange rules about tinted windows and lack of plates caused the Autobots a lot of trouble, racking up the government thousands of dollars in tickets. Eventually, NEST adopted exemptions for the Autobots, as most of them kept their windows dark to prevent humans from seeing inside their cabs, and they had no need for plates. As such, Bumblebee wasn't expecting to be pulled aside as he pulled up to the gate.
Charlie ducked down inside his cab, even though she couldn't be seen, while he played confused music at the NEST soldier on gate duty.
"Sir, this is just a routine check. We are training a few new soldiers and needed to show them the proper procedures for an unfamiliar vehicle that we are unsure about," the senior soldier explained, a younger watching a little further back. Bumblebee relaxed. It wasn't ideal, but at least he hadn't been caught with his stowaway.
Charlie seemed to have realized that she could make faces at the soldiers, faces that Bee could only see through sensor inside his cab that he used to ensure that any precious cargo he carried was safe.
He jostled her seat playfully as he was finally let go and he crept forward. Despite their best efforts, the bots were still confined by a speed limit. It irked him, and it made him more wary that he would be caught. If only he could speed to his quarters! He wanted to show Charlie his own music collection! Maybe she would like some of it, like he liked her own taste in music?
Despite worries of being discovered, Bumblebee made it to his quarters without incident, opening his door and bouncing on his axles as Charlie climbed out. She was barely a touch away when he transformed, letting her get a good look at his upgraded form. He couldn't wait to show her the best thing since the Battle of Mission City.
"Hello, Charlie," he greeted. She stared up at him in shock, then smiled bright.
"You can talk! How long?" she demanded, reaching up to gently touch his cheek plate. She and Sam both did that when they talked to him, as if reassuring him that they knew he wouldn't hurt him.
Flashes of the past flashed across his HUD; Charlie yelling in pain and his battle protocols and memory core activating all at once to attack sector seven agents to protect his comrade… even if said comrade had been a scrappy young adult that had never been in a fight before.
His doorwings fluttered on his back as he leaned into the woman's touch. He pulled away to slowly hold his servo out for Charle. She trustingly climbed onto his servo and stepped off as he brought her up to a table.
"Only for- it's just a little bit longer- connection's shot, captain- His vocalizer was damaged in battle, I'm still working on it," Bee admitted, resorting to his radio again. He coughed out a few blats of static before the glitching vocalizer resettled. Charlie started reaching for his sparking neck cables and he flinched back.
"Oh, right, sorry, big guy. I won't touch. Promise. Is this your room?"
Bumblebee nodded in excitement, letting her look around. He pulled a datapad from subspace, full of his music, and set it down in front of her. Sam had helped him make the playlist he was going to show Charlie. Apparently, some of Cybertron's music was too painful for human ears to go through. The music on the pad was within a range that wouldn't make all the humans on the base bleed through their ears.
"For me? What is it?" Charlie asked, fumbling to hold the Cybertronian sized tablet. Bee wilted a little, hurrying to take the weight from her. Maybe he should have listened to Sam and downloaded the files to a more human friendly device.
Bee pressed play, letting the mechanical music play. Charlie flinched back, looking at him. She started to grin as he danced around his room, bright and cheerful. "Is this… is this music from your home?"
"Ding ding ding, we have a winner!"
Bee stopped dancing and watched her reaction to the music. After a few minutes, she also started dancing. It was probably as jarring to hear music from a place where strings and wood didn't exist as it had been to hear music from a place where it did exist. Oh, Jazz had instruments in his quarters! Maybe Bee could sneak in and borrow a few to show Charlie! The mech was still recovering from being brought back from the Allspark- after having been sent there by being torn in half. Charlie would be long dead before she'd be able to meet Jazz…
Bee pushed that thought out of his processor and looked back down at Charlie, who was exploring his quarters, taking in the alien tech and giant furniture.
Before Bumblebee could explain that he wanted to leave to go grab something to show Charlie, Skids and Mudflap broke through his wall, tussling as they were wont to do. They froze, staring at Bumblebee in shock before their optics slowly lowered to the shell shocked woman that was standing there.
Bee bolted forward, not sure if he was going to kill the twins or just toss them out. The two scrambled to get away, shouting at the top of their capacity, "BEE HAS AN UNAUTHORIZED HUMAN! BEE HAS AN UNAUTHORIZED HUMAN!"
Bee played what Sam called his 'dangerous' playlist- heavy bass and drums as he gave chase, trying to shut them up before he got caught. He was too late as Optimus himself came around the corner of Bee's warehouse, faceplates already set for a disappointed lecture. Bee wilted, knowing he was caught.
"Skids, Mudflap, are you two not supposed to be training with Ironhide? He commed. me to help search for you," the Prime rumbled, crossing his arms over his chestplates and glaring down at the two small bots.
Bee snarled as the two looked at him, wisely making use of the Prime's 'out' and fleeing. Training with Ironhide had nothing on a ticked off Bee that didn't fear Ratchet's wrath. Bee stared after them for a moment, stalling facing Optimus. Of course, this left plenty of time for Optimus to catch sight of the woman still just standing just past the wreckage that had been Bee's room.
"Bumblebee-" Optimus began gravely, shifting his stance. The Prime was acutely aware that he was intimidating to humans, and did what he could to mitigate their fears. Bee sent out a hastily put together data pack to his leader, explaining who the woman was and why she was there. The young bot's plating slicked down to his frame and he stared up at the larger Autobot with huge optics.
Optimus' field washed over him in indulgent acquisition and Bee trilled happily. The Prime turned to face the woman, kneeling so as to not stand quite so tall over her.
"Greetings, Charlie… I am Optimus Prime."
Charlie stared up at him, recognition flashing across her face. "Hey- Bee, isn't he the one from your projector? From when you didn't have your memory?" she asked hesitantly, looking to the yellow bot. Bee nodded eagerly, calling up the file and playing it. Optimus looked different with his Earth design rather than his Cybertronian one, but it was still close enough to recognize the Autobot leader. Optimus looked at him in surprise. Oh, right, Bee hadn't told his leader that he had lost his memory, only that he had gotten a name.
"Yes. I understand that you are the one that gave my scout his name. B-127 is what he was called before, but I believe that Bumblebee suits him much better…" Optimus said, grin in his voice and field as his tone lowered. "It is considered an honor to name another Cybertronian in our culture. I have been wishing to meet you to thank you for taking care of my youngling and helping to protect your planet."
Charlie looked between the two of them, faced flushed with embarrassment. "I- uh, well… he saved me, too," she finally said. "We took care of each other."
Optimus nodded sagely. "Humans like yourself and Samuel Witwicky give me hope for your species, Charlie Watson. Please, allow me the honor of introducing Bumblebee's Name Giver to my mechs."
Charlie didn't know what the title meant, clearly, but she stepped onto the offered servo, nonetheless. Bee's spark soared. A Name Giver was the title given to a highly respected bot that watched sparklings and younglings grow up, and eventually gave them names that fit them. Sometimes a bot, later in their life, would change their names, to fit with what they were in life at that time, but the first name was always the most special. It was a sign that you were an adult, a member of society, and that you actually had worth. Bee was so proud of his friend.
The Autobot General Comm. Frequency lit up with Optimus' signature, the great mech gathering his mechs and some of the trusted humans that were 'honorary' Autobots to meet the remarkable human that was Charlie. Bee kept pace beside his leader, playing clip after clip to explain as best he could why what was happening was a big deal.
They walked to a warehouse that was used as a recreation room, already full of the summoned bots and humans. Ratchet, Mudflap, Skids, Ironhide, Arcee in her singular form, Sideswipe, and Jolt. Jazz couldn't leave the med bay, but Bee was sure that he was watching it being streamed live. The humans that were there were Lennox, Epps, Graham, and Sam. Sam trotted over and Bee let him climb up to his shoulder to have a better view. Lennox and Epps were on Ironhide's shoulders, and Graham was leaning against Jolt.
Optimus started off in Iaconian, saying ritual glyphs that couldn't be translated into any human languages, bestowing the status of Name Giver to Charlie before his mechs. He moved onto English once more cultural aspect was over.
"Autobots, this is Charlie Watson, the brave human that save Earth and named gave Bumblebee his name. She protected Bumblebee from both Decepticon bounty hunters and Sector Seven Agents alike, and risked her life to keep the Decepticons from discovering this planet far sooner than they did. She also nursed Cliffjumper back to health when he crashed onto this planet, close to extinguishing. Charlie Watson, you have our thanks, and our indebtedness to you. You are welcome upon any outpost that Autobots may create on this planet, and any other if your people's technology advances to that point."
Charlie gaped at Optimus, then looked down at Bumblebee while the gather mechs and femme clapped and whistled in congratulations. Bee gave her a thumbs up at the same time that Sam did the same, making a funny sight for the older human. Optimus gently set down the female allowing everyone to swarm her and ask for the story of her time with Bumblebee.
::Don't think that you're not still in trouble, Bumblebee. You did break protocol in bringing an uncleared, civilian human onto base. I think that a few weeks on Jazz-watch will do you just fine.:: Optimus informed Bee over the comm. Bee sent back his acceptance. He had just been granted free reign to have both of his favorite humans on base whenever they wanted, and he'd definitely take advantage of that!
He should ask if he could bring Memo along, too. Perhaps take the drive out to the ranch that Agent Burns had, though the man was elderly, now. Perhaps that was a good thing, though. There was less chance that the man would call the police on him that way…
Bee crouched and scooped up Charlie when she made her way back over to him, doorwings fluttering in excitement. Sam spoke up before Bee needed to, "Hey, did Bee finish showing you his music collection?"
"No, I only got to hear one song!"
"You're missing the best one, then! There's a song in the middle of the playlist that I think you'd really like!" Sam proclaimed, the two humans talking animatedly as Bee walked back to his quarters. It was a good day.