Conflict of Interest

AB- I'm back with the second chapter. I realized after I posted it that I forgot a description and a few other things, I guess it has been longer since I've done this than originally thought. Without further ado, I do not own TFA or SU but I just love this idea. Peace and Love.

2

Bumblebee was shocked to see that the gem stayed close to him until he opened his optics in the morning. Sari sat still as a statue, she seemed froze in place until Bumblebee moved and then she sprung to life keeping her distance as if she worried he'd step on her or something. "Today we are going find a new place to hide out for awhile," Bumblebee spoke earning a look of confusion from Sari. Still she walked next to him back toward the camp he set up after she emerged. It was only when Bumblebee began packing up or discarding what he didn't need, that Sari understood the strange mech planned on leaving. She even began to help him, hiding debris from one of his fires and handing Bumblebee things which seemed important to her.

Bee assumed Sari would tag along with him instead of staying here on her own. When the mech began to walk away from her heading in the opposite direction. "Sari." Her brown eyes looked up at him. "Come with me." He knelt, holding a servo out to her. To add emphasis he pointed at her and then himself. Sari looked at him skeptically before charging at him, coming to a stop in front of him just out of reach. "Are you going to come with me?"

The gem uttered something else before nodding curtly. Bumblebee stood to his full height noticing how Sari moved to his side. They walked together, Sari matching Bumblebee's pace. As weird as it was having Sari follow his lead it seemed natural and it felt right. He shook his helm, not allowing himself to indulge in that train of thought, Bumblebee's job was to find her a permanent place not fantasize about keeping her at his side long term.

Travelling became second nature, being on the move, leaving little trace of himself behind and hiding out filled his time. Sari fit in with him quite well, she stayed low but obviously enjoyed seeing and experiencing a new place even if it was only for a day. The two of them developed a system, a type of normalcy that was all their own. They began to speak in their own language built of gestures, facial expression and quiet noises, no one else seemed to understand the near silent communication but Sari seemed to grow with every day they spent together.

Bumblebee planned on taking Sari to meet a friend of his that had helped hide him during the first part of this exile, without their guidance Bumblebee knew his capture would have been an immediate inevitability. Heading back to the huge seller's market felt like a huge risk but at this point the mech hoped this trip would lead to one of two things, either opening a line of actual communication between him and the gem or giving her a place with one of her own.

This line of thought lead Bumblebee back to the crowded walkways of the shop keeps, who either were running from the law themselves or decided to live off the grid making what they could selling goods in a way forming a community all their own. He motioned for Sari to stay in front while the mech searched for someone he knew. Where they were surprised him, she was moved from where her table was before to the far end of the row and in her old place was a huge tent at least three or four table lengths long and big enough to park a reasonably sized spaceship in it. The mech could feel eyes on him and Sari as the past the gaudy display and he sped up unconsciously wanting to get out of sight quicker. Bumblebee waited for her to finish with her customers before approaching keeping Sari close at his side.

"There's my second bodyguard." Milan smiled up at him, craning her head toward the inside of her small booth. "I'm guessing this isn't a social call big guy, so what can I help you and your friend with?"

"I need to find Peach. I only came back here because I found another gem. She was on a remote planet by herself and thought she could stick with Peach since they might understand each other better than I ever will," Bumblebee explained slowly.

Milan's three eyes widened and her wrinkled face sank in a frown. She ran her hands through her bright red hair and leaned in toward Bumblebee's audio receptors so only he could hear her. "I haven't seen Moonstone in awhile, they went off to help the new guy set up and after that it was a few rises until they outright disappeared on me," Milan muttered nearly trembling as the emotion of what she said hit her again.

"You think someone nabbed them?" Bumblebee spoke in pure disbelief. The mech remembered Peach, they were well liked by the patrons and sellers of these parts; they often looked out for everyone. Just like most of the others Peach did not want to be found, Homeworld may not actively be seeking them out but if somehow Peach was discovered they would be destroyed.

"They wouldn't have left without telling me goodbye first," Milan began, "Moonstone camped with me since you left and stuck close to me most of the time. Bumblebee you need to take your friend and get out of here now, it's not safe. If you are staying till rise, camp with me, it'll keep my old hearts from worrying too much."

"We're catching a ride out of here in the morning. There's a shipment heading out and I asked if they could take me and Sari with them along for the ride, offered ourselves up to unload and fight back if we have any problems along the way," Bumblebee answered smoothly.

"Be a dear and watch my wares. Me and your friend are going to have a chat," Milan stated, giving Bumblebee the no-nonsense look. The elderly woman left no room for argument, when she pushed Bumblebee out and slowly spoke to Sari in her language. He handled all of her sales, chatting up with the regulars while the hushed conversation carried through the divider. The mech knew Milan and Peach used gem to speak regularly in private to keep what they knew a secret, since it was a language no one else around them seemed to know.

By the time darkness settled in Milan appeared with Sari in tow, who helped with closing up the elderly woman's shop quickly and made sure everything seemed secure before rejoining Bumblebee. Whatever Milan told her seemed to change the air about her, the gem seemed lighter and almost glided after the slender elder, while Bumblebee took up the rear just in case someone gave them any trouble on the way to their camp.

While Bumblebee had his energon and Milan ate a sandwich silently, Sari seemed to be resting under the canopy of the small shelter. "Just because she doesn't need sleep, does not mean that the girl never needs to rest for a while," Milan broke the silence, seeming to read the mech's mind.

"She's sleeping? Sari never told me," Bumblebee responded immediately regretting never making the gem "sleep" part of the night while he stood watch.

"She told me that feeling tired didn't really bother her. Whether you believe this or not, Sari could see you needed to rest way more than she ever did," Milan argued.

"Why would she care?" Bee questioned before thinking about it.

"Since you've looked out for her; she has looked out for you."

"I thought she would be completely terrified of me. I wouldn't blame her, I just never meant to do it. I can't even tell her that in a way she understands. Peach could've helped her, even if it was just giving her a real designation," Bumblebee muttered.

"Fire Opal," Milan stated. Bumblebee's blue optics searched hers for meaning. "Her gem type; she is a Fire Opal. I know that because she told me, but I think she prefers Sari."

"Thank you."

"No worries. Just promise me the two of you will get out of here in the morning," Milan pleaded.

Bumblebee nodded, "First thing, our ride is leaving before sunrise. You might not be up when we have to go."

Instead of telling him to wake her up, Milan looked at Sari and then Bumblebee before uttering, "Be safe" in gem like she had to Peach and Bumblebee every night when they camped together. Milan kissed the side of Bee's helm before heading into her tent. "You're a good mech Bumblebee."

Bumblebee joined Sari under the canopy, propping himself up slightly keeping watch for awhile before falling into a light recharge next to his companion. Sari did not stir, when Bumblebee approached so he assumed it was alright. The two were not touching and Sari had plenty of room to scoot away from him if she wanted to. Part of the mech had a bad feeling about sleeping out in the open, but he chose to rest some before they had to move in the morning. This campsite had been safe the last time he came here, so Bumblebee put himself at ease and relaxed a little.

Milan woke Bumblebee up after sunrise with a shrill cry, he had missed the way out. He looked next to him searching for Sari who he knew would be close by, but the gem was nowhere to be seen. "Have you-"

"No." Milan allowed a few tears to roll down her cheeks.

She's had no idea where Sari had gone, the gem had vanished just like Peach Moonstone had. The young gem had been taken from under their noses.