Disclaimer in Chapter one


"Normal Talk"

"Bee's Talk"

"Bee's Talk Holoform"

"Bee's Text-To-Talk"

"Other Side Over the Phone (Comms)"

'Thoughts'

~Bond communication~

~Telepathic communication~


7th Grade

August 18, 1994, 6:00 am, Ratchet's pov

"Dada! Dada! Up, up, up!"

I groan and sit up. "Good morning, Little One."

"Mo'in'! Wan' baba! Ge' num-num! Bumbee ea'!"

I sigh as I shift to holoform and get her out of her crib before chaning her. "Bee's not getting up for over an hour yet, Little One. We don't have to get his lunch yet."

"Oh… P'ay?"

"Yes, we can play." I turn and pull out her clothes for today—a yellow sundress with bumblebees on the skirt and black and white striped tights, with black Mary Janes—then grab a pacifier before stepping into her pen with her in my arms. I hand her the pacifier, which is quickly stuck into her mouth, then reach over to grab her blocks.


7:15 am

I walk down the hall with Mariposa in one hand, and knock on the door. "Bumblebee, it's time to get up."

He opens the door. "Morning."

"Good morning."

"Are you going to get me up every day? If so, I'll start leaving my door unlocked."

"Nope. Just this week. I got you an alarm clock yesterday. I just figured I'd get you into the habit of waking up this week."

"Alarm clock?"

I nod. "Shaped like a bee. Figured you'd like it."

"Cool." He ducks back into his room. "I need to get ready."

"I'll go get your lunch together then." I sigh. "Are you nervous?"

"Sort of… First day of seventh grade…"

"You'll be fine, Bee." He smiles. "I'll go get your lunch ready."

"Why is Mari still in her pajamas?"

"I didn't want her to get dirty."

"Okay?"

"I'm putting her in a dress, and I didn't want her getting dirty before we leave. I'm getting her dressed after I pack your lunch."


Kitchen

I carry Mariposa into the kitchen and set her into her new toddler bouncer, which I have hanging from a bar on the ceiling, then pull out the supplies necessary to get Bumblebee's lunch ready. I quickly pack the containers in his lunch box before turning to pick up Mariposa.

I lay her down and change her, then dress her in a yellow sundress with a black and white bow on the left shoulder and three bumblebees dangling from black fabric at the waistline, black and white striped tights, black Mary Jane shoes. Once she's dressed, I return to my normal form and carry her, the backpack diaper bag, and Bumblebee's lunch into the main room.

"Good morning, Ratchet. Enjoying your time off?"

Morning, Optimus." I smile. "Yeah. I'm getting to spend more time with Mari, and it's been helpful to get Bumblebee settled in at school." I sigh softly. "But, I'll be ready to return on Monday."

"I can take Bumblebee into school if you need."

I shake my head. "Actually, I've got a plan for that, but I may have you take him or pick him up if it rains."

"Bulkhead?"

I sigh softly. "A bike, and a secret pick-up point. June said her kids bike to school, then meet a sitter at her house. It won't be too hard to have someone drop him a safe distance from the school, then pick him up at the same place. Sometimes, we could send Mari too, and they could go to the park."

"Go pawk?"

"Not today, Sweetspark. We still have a few things we have to do."

"We go?"

"We have to get Bee a bike, remember?"

"Bumbee go!"

"Yep." I turn to find Bumblebee in his holoform behind me. He's wearing a yellow short sleeved T-shirt with three skateboards and "TOTALLY BOARD", blue jean shorts, a yellow, blue, and white plaid short sleeved collared shirt, white socks, and his new black and yellow tennis shoes. "Ready to go?"

"Yep!"

I point down to the smartphone in his hand. "Phone."

"I know! I know! I just thought…since we're still on base…"

"You need to get into the habit of using it, Bumblebee."

"But everyone here can understand me…"

"I know, Son, but you have to use it. Trust me, I don't like it either, but you have to." I sigh before handing him Mariposa and her bag, then transform before opening the back doors. "Get in. I can't have you being late." I wait for him to get Mari settled, then buckle himself before taking off.


We pull up outside the school. I activate my holoform before opening the back doors. Several kids are walking to the building, most of them paying little to no attention to us. "Have a good day, and try to behave." I pull out a hundred dollar bill and hand it to him. "This is for your gym uniform. You need to buy it at the bookstore before you have Gym."

"I will, Dad."

"Now, go on."

"All right. Love you."

I watch him until he's inside the building, then pull out and head to the bike store in Tranquility.


Bumblebee's POV

I walk into the office as I had been told yesterday, so I can get my schedule. When I step back out, I glance down to the map and schedule in my hand. 'High School Algebra, room 104…and room 104 is…' I turn to the left while still staring at the map. 'That way, and my locker is…next door. Good.'

I start walking, weaving in and out of the crowd and trying not to get trampled. Once I reach my locker, I set my backpack down and run through the combination twice before getting the door open. I take my new school supplies out and stack them on the floor, then stick my backpack and lunchbox inside. I grab my books with my phone on top, then start inside.

"You must be Bailey. I'm Mr. Davis." He grabs a book and scribbles something inside it before handing it to me. "Here's your math book. We'll be going over an assignment off page 3. You can look it over if you want. I won't make you do yesterday's assignment, since you weren't here."

"Thanks, Mr. Davis."

"You're welcome." He smiles. "The other students might try to get you to "follow the rules". Don't mind them. Mr. Jameson you under special accomodations because of your accident, so you can use your phone in class, while the others have to leave them in their lockers."

"I understand. They're going to be jealous. I'll try to use this only when I need to speak, but I may want to check up on my baby sister…"

"Do that on breaks."

"I know. That's what I did yesterday. The app has to stay active for the whole class, every class I have."

"Hope you have a charger…"

"I do. Dad made sure I'd be able to keep talking…so to speak."

"That's good. You glad to be in school?"

"I guess…"

We both look up when kids start walking in. "I have to start getting the room ready for our lesson. Find a seat, and look over last night's assignment."


Bike Store, Ratchet's POV

I pull Mariposa out of my vehicle mode before sticking her into her stroller, then head inside. "Welcome."

"Hey. I'm looking for a bike for my ten-year-old, but we'll need a baby seat on the back so he can take his little sister to the park at times. We live close to the park, so I let them go from time to time."

The salesman leads me to their kids bikes. "You'll want something about 20", and sturdy. I'll show you to the child seats once we've picked a bike."

I search through the bikes before selecting a black one, then push it over by the salesman while pushing Mariposa with one hand.

"Good choice. The child seats are this way, Sir."

"Thank you." I follow the man to a rack full of white child seats with colored cushions. It's not hard to pick the one Bumblebee would want on his bike, though. I step over and grab a white and yellow seat, then follow the man to the checkout. I pay for the bike and child seat, as well as two helmets—one for Bumblebee, and one for Mariposa.

"Your total is 247.09."

I swipe the card, then sign the receipt. "Hope your son likes his new bike."

"I'm sure he will."


Jasper Middle School, Bumblebee's POV

My first four classes have gone by without too many problems, and it's almost time for lunch. I know Ratchet's good at fixing a healthy meal—and not just because he's a medic—but I'm not sure it'll be for the best. I've been teased all morning for not being able to talk, or for being the youngest in the building. Either way, at least I get to go to school, and I can ignore the bullies if I have to. Soon enough, I'll get a chance to prove myself to them, so for now, I'll just wait it out.

The bell rings, causing everyone to stampede out with their books, leaving me behind in the dust. One girl, who looks like she's about my age, stops at the door and turns back to me. She's wearing a polo and plaid skirt, all in pink. "You coming, Bailey?" She steps over. "I'm Katie. How's your first day going?"

I shift my books to one arm. "It's okay, I guess… It'd be better if they didn't pick on me…"

"Oh… Don't let Amy and Juan get to you, B."

"Bee?"

"You don't mine that I call you that, do you?"

"No, you're fine. Mari calls me that too. She's my little sister."

"Anyway. Juan and Amy are just jerks. They'll cool it once they realize you won't react."

"I'll remember that."

"Good." She giggles. "So, you ready for lunch? I think Mom made me tuna fish!"

"Yep. Dad's been sending me turkey and cheese, and PB&J."

"Sounds like a great guy…wish my Dad was…"

"He is. What happened to your Dad?"

"He and Mom are divorced. He won't even call…"

"It'll be okay, Katie. It'll get better. Mari was abused before Dad adopted her…"

"Dad did me too…" She scoffs. "Don't know why I miss him so much…"

"It's a good thing he's gone, if he was hurting you." I wait until we're sitting before I continue. "I've seen some of the things Aaron's done to Mari, and I really don't want to meet him any time soon…" I set my phone down and pull out my lunch.

"Trust me, my Dad wasn't a walk in the park either. Landed me in the hospital at least once a year!" She takes a bite of her sandwich before continuing. "At least he seemed proud when I graduated from Elementary."

"He was still around then?"

"Yep." She sighs heavily before taking a drink from a juice box. "At least now he's in prison." I perk up when I recognize some signals nearby. "B? What's wrong?" She looks to where I'm staring. "Oh. That's just Riley and Freddy. They're part of the bad crowd."

I know that's not true, because I know their signals well. That's Rumble and Frenzy, Soundwave's minicons. If there's cons here, then they'll be everywhere in Jasper. "I'll be sure to avoid them, then."

"Good idea. Juan and Amy are nothing compared to those two." I quickly finish my lunch, and stand to leave. "Where you going?"

"Bathrooms. I'll see you."

"Language Arts next?"

"Yep."

"I'll see you there!"


I duck into the bathrooms and check for anyone before calling the base. "Bumblebee? You are supposed to be—"

"I am. I'm in the bathroom. Optimus, you have to listen to me. Rumble and Frenzy are in my school—like, in my GRADE at school."

"It sounds like they are laying low, as are we. We cannot afford to have the Decepticons attack while there are sparklings in the crossfires."

"That's why I commed, Optimus. They're HERE, and if they hear about Mari…"

"I will alert Ratchet to the danger, and we will increase surveillance on and off the base."

"That's a start…"

"You have already been talking about her around the school?"

"Only to teachers and a few of the students, but not directly to Soundwave's minions."

"You are afraid they will hear about her and tell Megatron."

"Optimus, we already know what Megatron would do to his own femmeling. Think about what he would do to Mariposa!"

"I do not want to imagine such a horror. Mariposa has yet to reach her Cybertronian frame, Bumblebee. He could harm her with a touch. That is why we have to keep strict security. Try to be more careful."

I sigh heavily and put the phone in my pocket. While I'm glad Ratchet synced it with the computers at base, it's really only a start. I'm still pretty anxious for Mari, but there's nothing I can do until I get home. Either way, I need to get ready for my next class, so there's no time to worry now.


Unknown Nevada Highway, Ratchet's POV

"Ratchet."

"I'm here, Optimus. What's wrong?"

"Rumble and Frenzy are in Bumblebee's grade at school."

I barely manage to stay in my lane. "The FRAG!? Optimus, we have to get him out of there! If they learn he's—"

"Bumblebee knows to lay low. That is not why he commed."

"Optimus…"

"He has told a few humans about his little sister. He is worried they may have overheard, and will alert Megatron to her presence on this planet."

"We're on our way back."

"Get away from humanity, and comm back. I will send a ground bridge. We have to get Mariposa back to base now. I cannot allow the risk to my sister."

"Optimus… That's the first time you've admitted…" I sigh and pull onto a dirt road. "I'm in the clear."

"She is descended from Solus—"

I pull through the ground bridge and transform, causing Mariposa, her things, and my purchases to end up in my hands. "I'm well aware of that, Optimus. Is Mariposa still safe here?"

"We will increase security, but she should be. I recommend you be careful with Mariposa outside this base."

"I plan to be, Optimus." I sigh and start for our room. "I need to get Mari fed and down for her nap."


Jasper Middle School, Bumblebee's POV

I sigh and turn to the next question on the workbook page right as the bell rings. 'Slag it!'

I gather my books and head out the door toward the science room, when I get bumped by someone. I turn to look and find Rumble and Frenzy. "Where do you think you're going, punk!?"

Rumble. I pull out my phone. While I prefer to keep it in my pocket while I'm going between classes, I need it now. "Science."

"Wrong answer. Let's get 'im, Riley."

"Right behind ya, Fren."

'Fren. Probably want information about Mari, but they aren't getting it from me.'

"What's the matter, Bug? Ravage got your tongue?"

"How's your sister? Bet she's cute, ain't she? Got any pictures on that phone? The boss'll need ta see her." He makes a grab for my phone, causing me to push him back. 'I have to defend Mari. Her life depends on me.' The next think I know, they're diving at me, fists ready. I fall back and hit my head on the wall, doing my best to avoid them.

"RILEY! FREDDY!" Two step back, but keep glaring at me as a man with gray hair steps over and pulls me up by the hand.

"Thank you."

"Name's James. Ain' seen you 'roun' here before."

"I'm new. Name's Bailey."

"I've gotta take these two to Mr. King. Ya better get ta class 'for ya'r late."

"Thanks…"


3:15 pm, Bumblebee's POV

I gather my things and head out the door before looking around for Ratchet's vehicle mode. I can see a red Aston Martin, and a Holoform of someone who has to be Soundwave walking into the building, while a man looking like someone squished Ratchet and Sunstreaker together waits beside the car. 'Knockout.'

"Bailey!"

I turn to find Ratchet's holoform leaning out of the passenger side of Bulkhead's vehicle mode. "Dad!" I run to him and hug him. "Primus. You wouldn't believe the day I've had!"

"Does it have anything to do with the call I got about you fighting?"

"Um…" I climb into the back seat and buckle up before letting out a heavy sigh.

The three of us watch as the two boys who attacked me climb into the Aston Martin with the older man from before. "It's definitely Soundwave, Bee. Good call."

"Thanks, Bulkhead. Ratchet…"

"I'm not mad, Bumblebee. I'm just glad you're okay. I got a call saying you'd been attacked in the hall, and I was scared. Optimus told me about your finding Soundwave's minions undercover here, and…" He sighs. "They know, don't they?"

"They were trying to grab my phone so they could take it to Megatron!"

"Either way, you've probably seen the last of them…" he turns to me as we start back to the base. "If not…"

"Then Mari's life is in danger…"

"Maybe not."

"Bulkhead…"

"Megatron has mostly seekers, and seekers are extremely protective of sparklings. At least one of them would get their hands on her, and wouldn't let anyone hurt her until they could get her to safety."

"Meaning back to you, Ratchet." I sigh softly. "So, where is Mari?"

"I left her with Arcee. I wasn't about to take any chances."

"I'll take you to your drop off point tomorrow, and you'll ride your new bike to school, then meet me back at that point after,and I'll bring you home."

"Thank you, Bulkhead." Ratchet sighs. "We've got to be careful over the next several weeks, Bumblebee. We can't let them get Mari."

"I know."

We pull into the base, and Ratchet and I climb out before returning to our normal forms.

"DADA! BUMBEE! HOME!" Arcee sets her down, and she runs to us, not noticing Bulkhead right where he could step on her.

"Watch your step!"

"Careful!" Ratchet kneels and scoops her up when she reaches him.

"Dada!"