Bumblebee looked up with a frown, noting the darkening clouds forming in the sky. His steps slowed, but he did not come to a complete stop as he did not want to hold up the others that were behind him. Selected Autobots and a handful of Selected Decepticons were in the group with him in the field, all being led by a senior Decepticon officer.
"Now," the Decepticon officer announced, coming to a halt. "Here the hunt will take place, and we have a superior officer to thank for this experience and the organization of this entertaining event."
"Which superior officer was that?" Smokescreen muttered, the white mech standing next to Bumblebee.
"Sentinel," Bumblebee replied automatically. He already new all the senior officers by name and could recognize them by faces, so the response came to him rather quickly.
"Though it confuses me as to why a superior Autobot officer would partake in a Decepticon matter," Firestar commented, folding her arms as she tilted her helm.
Bumblebee frowned at her comment. He was not willing to tell Firestar, or anyone for that matter, that Sentinel had been under suspicion for treason against the Autobots during the war for Cybertron. Though investigations had gone underway, Megatron still refused to release the names of his double agents, just as Optimus was withholding the names of the Autobot spies. So a grudging understanding had been made between the two leaders in order to allow the agents to have a chance at a new life, just as everyone else on the planet. But Bumblebee knew full well that all double agents on both sides were watched crucially. Traitors were always watched with wary optics.
"It does not look like this hunt will last long," Firestar commented, looking up at the darkening sky with a small frown.
"Want to bet that it is acid rain?" Smokescreen grinned.
"What else would it be?" Firestar asked with a quirked optic ridge.
His grin grew wider, and Bumblebee recognized the sudden challenge in his friend's optics. "Fine, then want to bet that I can shoot more turbofoxes then you before the rain hits?"
"If you shoot as bad as you place bets, then I think I've got this," Firestar said. She holstered her gun. "However, I refuse to partake in such a childish bet with you on the matter. I have enough to worry about as it is."
Smokescreen shrugged before turning to look at his yellow companion. "Hey, Bee, you alright?"
Bumblebee looked at the white mech. "Huh, yeah, I'm fine. Why?"
Smokescreen stared at him before shrugging. "I don't know. You just seem out of it."
"I do not particularly like hunting turbofoxes," Bumblebee admitted. "It seems pointless." While that was partially true, he was mainly thinking about Arcee. He hadn't seen her join the hunt, and he hadn't heard from her in a while. But he was also dwelling on how to approach Optimus Prime about his relationship with Arcee.
The road to the future was uncertain. In fact, it hadn't even occurred to him that he and Arcee might not even continue with a relationship that would make them sparkmates, even though that was what he wanted. It was all new to him, but he did know one thing, he was pursuing Arcee in the hopes that she would be his future sparkmate. After all, that was the whole point of having a relationship in the first place.
He still felt worried about approaching Optimus. Could the Prime order him to still go through with the Selection? And if he did, what would Bumblebee do then? Could he defy the Prime and still stay loyal to his duties of governing Cybertron? He had never seen Optimus truly enraged, but there were those who spoke of Optimus's uncharacteristic moments of anger during the war. Such tragic events would trigger an emotion; the death of a comrade, a loss in battle, a fallen city. Would the sudden defiance of the Autobot Heir trigger that? Would Bumblebee witness such anger?
What of Arcee? How would she react to him being an Heir? Knowing her, she would not be pleased that he had kept something so important from her. But he hoped that she would see his reasoning behind it and understand his actions.
Somehow, he knew Optimus would be mostly disappointed with him, then angry. But it was the disappointment that he feared.
He shouldered his gun with a sigh, giving Smokescreen a small grin. "It'll be fine, Smokes. Let's get going before the officers decide to send us back to the city."
Smokescreen watched his friend thoughtfully as Bumblebee jogged ahead. He frowned, thinking deeply on what was possibly weighing the yellow mech down.
Was it about Arcee? If the Twins were right, how exactly should Smokescreen handle such a situation?
Should he try to convince Bumblebee to abandon such a hopeless pursuit? Should he warn him about the recklessness of it all?
But then again, who was he to get in the way of Bumblebee and Arcee? Who was he to tell them how to feel? He had no right to forbid them from identifying their feelings. And if he should try to sabotage this attraction that was blooming between the two, then he would be no worse the the scum that lived in the Pits of Kaon.
He felt guilty for even entertaining such a thought. Such an action would harm Bumblebee and damage the friendship he had with the yellow mech.
He had known Bumblebee at such a young age, and there was something that just drew Smokescreen in. Bumblebee was friendly and outgoing, a smile on his face at all times. They trusted each other and always got into mischief as younglings, and even bigger trouble as gown mechs.
No, he would not destroy such a friendship that had been built for years. Such damage could never be repaired, and he would not betray Bumblebee's trust.
All he would do was offer his support and insight, not that he knew much about love in the first place, but he would do what he must.
He frowned, recalling the Twins words and encouragements. Their outlandish ideas seemed pointless, and he knew he could never pull off creating a romantic atmosphere.
No, he would do things his own way. He would help Bumblebee and Arcee out, the Smokescreen way.
Arcee braced herself for the impact of harsh words. She was expecting two things that would fit with Megatron's attitude in such a situation. One was a fit of rage, but it would start off as silence before erupting into harsh yelling and something being thrown, possibly broken. The second was the deadly silence, but she was leaning more towards the outburst.
She could only stare at the images on the desk in front of her, optics never leaving them as her spark sank. She knew she was caught, she knew it would only spell as trouble for both her and Bumblebee.
But she also knew that she could not back down. Too much rode on this. She would own up to her actions, but she would not acknowledge them as a mistake.
"Starscream already filled me in," Megatron said simply, his tone natural and casual.
"No doubt with the aid of Soundwave," she couldn't help but bite out, the sting of betrayal all too fresh for her.
"Soundwave reports to me, Arcee," Megatron said simply. "You would do well to remember that. He remains loyal to me, and only to me." He raised an optic ridge. "I do not think I need to remind you what we have been through during the war, and how it it hard to break such devotion."
"Of course not," she said dully.
He leaned back. "Good," he said. "Now, about this Autobot mech."
"He is a member of the Selection," she said. "He is loyal to his Prime and is a formidable soldier with a clear helm on his shoulders. His academic skills are higher than most." She finally looked up into Megatron's red optics. "But, you already knew that."
"I knew that," he agreed. "And more." He folded his arms. "What I would like to know is how you could be so careless."
"I have presented my terms," she said with narrowed optics. "I clearly explained the situation to you, and have made you aware that I will not abandon my duties to the Decepticons, and as your Heir."
"If what you say is true regarding your duties," he said. "Then you would not have gone this far with this mech."
"I will agree to govern Cybertron on my terms and my terms alone," she said. "You know full well that I am loyal and will do all that I can to lead Cybertron. But I will do it with my chosen mate. Bumblebee is an Autobot, the fact that he is not the Heir should not change anything He can perform his duties just as well as the Heir."
"How can you make such an argument when you do not know the Heir?" Megatron asked.
"I know Bumblebee," she said. "And I would rather trust someone I know, then govern an entire world with a stranger." She quirked an optic ridge. "I like to know my allies, and who I am dealing with."
Megatron leaned back. "So why him?" he asked, nodding to the pictures. "What makes him so special? What makes him stand out to you, and how can you deem that he would be an honorable mech like his Prime?"
"I could list all his qualities, the good and the bad," she said. "I could argue and point out his talents and abilities, yet it would do nothing to change your mind. You are a mech who is impressed by actions that displays results." She leaned into the desk. "Then let me show you what mech I see when I look at Bumblebee. Let me prove to you that he is worthy of being my Selected mate."
"You are asking me to abandon a treaty that I have forged with the Autobots, and endanger the peace we have strived to build," he said. "You are also willing to place the entire fate of our world into the servos of one mech."
"Not abandon the treaty," she said. "Just alter it. I will work with the Autobot Heir, but not as his mate. I will not endanger peace, but only build and preserve it with Bumblebee. He is already involved in the military and politics; you need only observe his records in Iacon. And the fate of our world would not just be in Bumblebee's servos, but in mine as well, and in the countless other mechs and femmes you and the Prime have deemed worthy to govern Cybertron."
Megatron's face was impassive. "Optimus Prime will not like this is you have chosen a mate who is not a Selected," he stated.
"I will speak to the Prime myself on this matter," Arcee said.
"Oh, I intend for you to speak with him," Megatron said. "What I do not understand is how careless you could be. I am morse disappointed with the Autobot himself. I thought he was raised to be alert and responsible."
Arcee frowned at the odd statement.
"After all," he continued. "I did know his carrier and sire, or at least, the carrier and sire who found and raised him. Well known public figures, they are. Such a scandal would affect them negatively."
Arcee's mind came to a screeching halt, and her optics widened for just a fraction.
His loyalty to Optimus Prime and the Selection. His deep knowledge and insight about the Primes and his dedication to Cybertron. His closeness to Elita-One and Optimus Prime.
His mysterious history, and his vague answers about his guardians.
A distant memory came back, one of a recent discussion she once had with the mech that know consumed her thoughts.
"Do you know the Heir?"
"Sometimes I think I do, and sometimes I'm sure I don't."
Such a vague and simple answer that should not carry much meaning, until now.
It couldn't be, it couldn't be that simple, that easy. It was all too good to be true, and she dared not hope.
Yet, she was hoping, willing to hope and reach out for such an easy escape. But she treaded with caution.
She let out a shuddering breath, servos clenching as she took one, bold step into her future.
The age old game she would play with Megatron; he had promised to tell her the name of her mate, if only she could provide him with the right name.
Well, she was holding him to such a promise.
"Bumblebee," she said suddenly, looking Megatron in the optics.
Megatron grinned triumphantly, optics flashing as the truth in his gaze was all the answer she needed.
"This is crazy if he wants us to stay out this late," Smokescreen grumbled, looking up at the dark sky. "I mean, what if we get caught in the acid rain?"
Bumblebee chuckled. "We call for a groundbridge," he answered, rolling his optics. "Duh."
Smokescreen just grumbled, curling into himself with a scowl as he folded his arms.
"What's up with him?" Firestar asked, gesturing towards the sulking white mech.
"Smokescreen is always like that," Bee said. "He gets really moody when it rains."
"I am not moody!" came the indignant shout.
Bumblebee was about to reply back with a snippy reply, but the sudden, startled screams cut him off and wiped all joy he previously felt from his spark. He looked up with wide optics to see large shadows descending from the sky. Fire rained down from the clouds, screams he could not identify filling the air.
Bumblebee snapped into action when an armored, winged beast flew down, snatching mechs and femmes before vanishing into the clouds. The same mechs and femmes that were taken fell to the ground, their terrified screams cutting off at the impact of the ground.
Bumblebee broke out into a run, trying to avoid the talons and claws that were so eager to grab at any victims. Bumblebee stumbled to a halt, letting out a horrified gasp when a femme in front of him was snatched, her screams cutting off as he body was snapped.
"Smokescreen!" Bumblebee screamed, looking for his friend in all the chaos.
Someone grabbed him roughly by the shoulders, causing him to stumble forward. "Move!" a familiar voice shouted.
Bumblebee looked up to see Smokescreen running alongside him, keeping to the ground to avoid whatever winged monsters were flying above. Bumblebee regained his senses, running with Smokescreen. Running where, he did not know.
"Rookies!" a voice shouted, catching their attention. Both Bumblebee and Smokescreen looked up to see the senior Decepticon officer taking cover, firing his guns at the shadows that could be spotted.
"What's happening?" Bumblebee demanded as he and Smokescreen took shelter with the mech.
"Don't know, don't care," the mech snapped, firing off another round before letting out a curse as he ducked back down. "And I don't know what those things are."
"They're dropping Cybertronians from the sky!" Smokescreen exclaimed in horror. Bumblebee tried to block out the dying screams of his comrades and fellow Selecteds, but it was impossible over the roars of the monsters that were committing such acts.
"It's like they're looking for something!" the mech shouted, red optics narrowed. He let out another curse. "Primus! Where is that groundbridge?" He put a frantic servo to his comm link, harsh voice coming out clear, yet urgent. "I need an emergency ground bridge now! We are under attack! Repeat, under attack!"
The possibility of living, of surviving, seemed so certain, until Bumblebee felt Smokescreen being ripped away from him. Bumblebee screamed as clawed talons lifted Smokescreen away, the white mechs screams of terror fading into the thick cloud as he was carried away.
Acid rain started to fall, but Bumblebee barely felt the sting of the acid as his pedes started carrying him in the direction Smokescreen was taken, ignoring the officer's startled calls. A small part of him hoped that he could still save his friend. Yet a part of him feared witnessing Smokescreen falling to his death as the creature let him go.
Bumblebee let out a pained yell as something sharp wrapped around his waist. His pedes left the ground as he was carried upward, the beat of large wings all that he could hear as the ground grew smaller. He had no more screams to unleash, the terror and horror of what was happening consuming him as he was carried into the clouds.