Conflict of Interest

AB: Back again with Chapter 3. I do not own SU or TFA. Read and Review if you please. Peace and Love to all.

3

Bumblebee stood like he was in stasis and he felt there was ice running through his veins instead of energon. Why would anyone take Sari? The gem was just barely coming into herself the past few cycles and now he might never find her again… Bumblebee's spark sank but he quickly shook his helm and a swift motion, he couldn't think that way, not when Sari needed him.

"Which guy do you think took Peach?" Bumblebee pleaded with Milan urgently, hoping the woman would give him the information quickly.

"The new guy, he is in my old spot. AND I don't think he took Moonstone, I know he did. I told them before they went to offer him assistance, all of us are here for different reasons whether it is because we broke the law one too many times or just need to hide somewhere among the unsavory sort that turn up here… He is shady even by criminal standards. His name is Klem but a better name would be scum," Milan spoke venomously. Bee stepped back and let her continue on her rant, "If I find out he hurt Sari and sent Moons away, I will turn him in myself and have this place ripped apart in the process."

"What did he do? You ran his record didn't you?" Bumblebee questioned trying to urge his friend on.

"It would be easier and faster to list out the things he has not done," She responded curtly.

"I'm going to go find Sari," Bumblebee stated. Finally taking low steps away from the campsite he once called home to confront someone that could harm him in more ways than he could fathom.

"He's not going to cooperate. Not if keeping Opal is beneficial to him." The words struck him from behind, but he could sense his friend meant no malice by them, Milan was on stating something Bee already understood.

"I don't plan on asking nicely. If Klem has my friend, I will be bringing her back with me," Bumblebee promised grimly, knowing full well he did not have the means to guarantee anything other than his whole sparked effort.

Klem sat outside of his tent drinking a foul smelling liquid in a transparent cup leaving little to the imagination. When he sensed the yellow mechs approach he looked up and narrowed his black eyes. "What can I do for you?" Brown goop gushed out of is mouth as he spoke, "I'm not set up yet but I have just about anything you might want, even if I don't I can get it for a price."

Bumblebee forced a smile. "Glad to hear it, I don't have much in way of payment but I need to ask you about a friend of mine, Peach Moonstone."

Recognition crossed the man's rotting green face before he stood up and got in Bumblebee's face. "Don't know them and if I did, they are not here. If you just came over here for that crazy old coot then you can leave, I'm done talking about this."

"The only reason I ask about them is because my friend disappeared from our camp last night and I'd give you whatever I can for her return to me," Bumblebee spoke calmly, knowing he struck a nerve, if he doubted Milan before he didn't now. This man turned Peach in for a bounty or worse, he needed to get Sari back quickly.

"The gem? What is she to you? Your type does not usually associate with them since your war, especially not ones that never allied with your planet," Klem spoke regaining his calm demeanor taking another long slurp of his sludge.

"She has been keeping me company since I found her. Her allegiance to Cybertron does not matter to me either way, I can't ever go back-" He stopped talking realizing who he was speaking to.

"You're a wanted criminal. Wonder how much the Elite Guard would offer for you? If you want the Opal, it better be enough to cover the both of you." It was a blatant threat. Klem opened the tent, motioning Bumblebee in and glared at him when he hesitated. "She is in here, you don't come in here now the gem will not be here when you return."

Once Bumblebee stepped into the tent his entire body tensed as he saw and fully understood the danger they were in. Weapons littered the wall behind Klem and the being had an intimidating looking blaster pointed at him. From where he stood as still as a statue, his optics searched for Sari, sporadically glancing between Klem and the area around him. Eventually his optics met the gem's and even though she couldn't move the sheer terror washed off her in waves. Bumblebee grew angrier as the image of Peach sitting there helplessly being terrified flooded his processor, only cementing his resolve. "Make one wrong move and I'll start blowing holes in your metal plating or I'll break the gem right off her physical form. We could watch her shatter together. After doing this so many times the screams become amusing," Klem laughed with glee as if he made a joke instead of threatening their lives.

"Don't," Bumblebee gulped finding his voice, "Neither of us want any trouble."

"Well you've found it," Klem screamed.

"I have something worth more money than either or us combined, it is yours if you let us go," Bumblebee tried to hold his composure but it took a lot of effort to keep his entire body from shaking from the tension and fear.

"Where?" Klem barked. He walked toward Sari keeping the gun pointed at Bumblebee while he ran a hand against the gem's smooth face in a caress. "Hand it over."

"I can't. Not if the gem can't come stand next to me," Bumblebee explained.

"You think you have the right to make demands?"

"It isn't a demand, just you coming through on your part of the bargain. Let her come to me and I will give you a hunk of asteroid which I've held onto for a long time."

"Fine." Klem undid whatever contraption held Sari frozen and the Fire Opal collapsed to the floor. Bumblebee moved to help her up but had the shaft of the gun shoved at him. Sari heaved and tried to lift herself up but it took her too long to regain her composure. "NO funny business, you move an inch and she gets it. The gem goes to you, not the other way around." Klem shoved her down harshly to remind her how below him she was.

Even after Klem's power play, Sari got up slowly and tried her hardest not to shake like a leaf but couldn't help it. Bee shot her a reassuring look and she quickly made it over to his side taking cover behind him. Bumblebee consciously shifted his body to obstruct Sari from view and to use his body to block her from damage.

"Now the asteroid." Klem held out his wrinkled mit and waited finally setting the gun down.

Bumblebee looked at Sari, held out his servo and made a gesture to indicate taking. Sari nodded in understanding and produced the rock, placing it in the mech's waiting servo. The mech let Klem step towards them to take it and examine it for a second as he backed up towards the exit of the tent, never taking his optics off Klem for a nanoklik.

"Where do you think you two are going?" The trigger of the gun clicked, as the three of them stepped out into the open.

"Wherever they please," it was Milan's voice that spoke from behind them. A crowd of other seller's began to gather around with various weapons and differing levels of anger on their faces. "Go on and pull the trigger, it'll be the last move you make. I decided to let everyone know what happened to Moonstone and I'll say between the two of us, that we don't like when people mess with one of our own. Every one of us knew them or had been helped by them, to me that gem was family so don't think I'll let you do what you've done again." Murmurs of agreement echoed through the crowd of misfits, many of which held their weapon tighter or pointed at Klem preparing or even considering taking the shot. "Take Sari and go, he's lost this one." She smiled at the two of them sadly, Bumblebee nodded and glanced at Sari before cutting through the crowd.

Sari stuck closer to him than before and Bumblebee thanked Primus she could keep up with him since he nearly ran out of there. He could tell she was still completely shaken so once he felt like they were far enough away Bumblebee stopped to check on her. "Are you alright?" He spoke quietly hoping the tone of his voice helped Sari understand him. She completely froze and looked up at him, Bumblebee knelt to avoid looming over her. Sari began to nod in response but stopped suddenly. "Sari," Bumblebee said it how she did the day the gem finally decided to come out of her stupor and confront him. The mech considered what to say to her next but as he thought Sari moved suddenly, for a second Bumblebee believed she was going to attack him but instead her slender arms wrapped around his neck and she hugged him as best as she could. His arms wrapped around Sari gently, holding her until she calmed down.

"You saved me," Sari spoke in shaky Cybertronian. It seemed to be Milan's doing, since most of their communication was nonverbal. The elder seemed set on their friendship so teaching her some cybertronian seemed like a logical choice.

"Of course I did," Bumblebee responded nonchalantly, "After everything I've been through I refuse to let someone like Klem hurt you."

Sari stepped away from him and finally nodded, giving Bumblebee the signal for them to keep moving. Their short conversation seemed to be finished and the normal space between them returned like it was a law that Sari refuse to break again.

Bumblebee watched their surroundings as they continued on leaving the market far behind them and hoping to find an easy way off planet. Sari glanced behind them every so often to make sure they weren't followed. Bee understood she would feel safer once they left the planet and the danger behind them.