The whole experience had been a nerve wracking one for Elita-One. She had faced down many battles, tortures, death and pain in her life. She had been forced to make dreadful decisions for what she told herself was the greater good. She knew when to give and receive orders. She knew how to follow those orders through. Yet even now, being forced by her Prime, by her mate, to stay and monitor the systems with a slightly injured Soundwave was pushing her to the brink.
She wanted to be there, to search for Bumblebee, to rip out the spark of the very one who had taken and tortured him. She understood that Soundwave required assistance as he was still suffering from the recent predacon attacks. If, by recent, then a few hours ago, then yes, very recent.
But still, Soundwave seemed to be holding up fine enough. He was monitoring the security systems and staying alert to ground bridge requests. He and Elita-One worked in sync, as if they had worked together before. The lives of others resided on them, and they thrived under the pressure.
All had been quiet, until the screams for a ground bridge had pierced through the comm link systems. Soundwave had reacted quickly, and Elita immediately recognized the voice belonging to Arcee. She had rushed over to Soundwave's side, prepping the ground bridge. Soundwave was still as he tried to locate the flickering life signature that was Arcee's.
Elita realized with growing dread that the only reason for Arcee's life signature to be moving in such a way meant that she was falling from a great distance at a rapid pace.
Yet Soundwave positioned the coordinates beneath the life signature, and the sound of the ground bridge coming to life had never felt more rewarding. Elita-One rushed into the room, only to stop and stare at the sight of Arcee and a mech on the floor, clinging to each other as if they were afraid to be broken apart.
She recognized this mech instantly. She had held him when he was a sparkling, comforted him when he needed it. Her spark leaped at the state he was in right now. Despite the ruined, yet different armor, she knew who he was. She was rushing forward without hesitation.
She fell to her knees, uncertain where she should touch him, yet wanting to cradle him all the same. Arcee looked up at her with tired optics. "He needs a medic," Arcee said, her voice worn, yet heavy with relief.
Elita-One nodded as she cradled Bumblebee's helm, his optics shut as his body finally succumbed to recharge. With his helm on her lap, she rubbed the side on his helm like she did when he was a sparkling.
"Get a medic," she ordered, glancing up at Soundwave when she noticed the gaping wound on Bumblebee's chassis. Arcee, though not as seriously injured as Bumblebee, still needed medical attention as well. But Elita's primary concern was Bumblebee.
"Quickly," Elita said, finally staring at Soundwave. But the silent mech did not move. He did not need to do anything, as he had already contacted Ratchet who stormed into the room, brisk and quick with his medical kit.
"It will be alright, Bumblebee," Elita said, convincing both herself and the mech she had raised from sparklinghood. "It will be alright." In that moment, utter relief crushed her at the sight of Bumblebee safe at last.
Moonracer shifted uneasily, watching the medics come and go. The flow of those entering and exiting did not slow down, and she did not know if that was a bad thing.
She bit her lip, her spark tearing up with worry. They would not let her in, not even to see Bumblebee. She had only caught a glance of him, and that had been with his chassis torn open and his voice box exposed.
The worry increased, and she feared the worse as her mind came up with worse case scenarios. She did not even know what Firestar's condition was, but to her immense relief, she had found out that Smokescreen was among the survivors. He was unconscious, and had yet to awaken, but he was alive.
Yet her spark clenched at the very thought of all those she knew who had lost their lives at the hunt. She closed her optics, trying to remind herself that she should be grateful that her friends had survived, if it was only three of them.
Yet she still grieved for those who did not come home to the expectant families. But even now, she could catch sight of Prowl hovering over Smokescreen with worry. The relief he displayed was the most emotion she had ever seen on his face before.
Strong, warm arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. She leaned into his embrace, feeling the warmth of her beloved's spark as he held her. His presence brought both a comfort and a feeling of pleasure to her worried state of mind.
"You waiting on someone?" Mirage asked, his voice light, yet there was a note of concern in his tone.
Moonracer nodded. "They won't let anyone see him." She did not have to say his name. Mirage knew how close she and Bumblebee were. She had already made it clear when she had decided to step out of the Selection to bond with Mirage that she was going to inform Bumblebee of her decision. While informing Bumblebee had made Mirage uneasy, he had reluctantly agreed that it would be for the best.
She was still eager for Bumblebee to meet Mirage. Already, her mind flashed back to her last, civil conversation with Bumblebee.
"I found someone, Bee. I found someone who I want to be my sparkmate."
Then, he had been shocked, worried, and almost hurt. But he still supported her then, just as she knew he supported her now. And she was sure there would be many more moments to create in the future. She hoped so.
"He will pull through," Mirage said. "He's a tough little springer."
Moonracer chuckled, knowing full well that when Bumblebee awoke, he would give the medics a hard time.
"When we were sparklings," she said softly. "More like, younglings actually, Bumblebee would recite the entire covenant of Primus to the medics. It would drive them crazy. Then, he would shout at them that Primus himself had stated in his covenant that 'thou shalt not provoke thy sparklings to wrath!'"
Mirage grinned. "See? Tough little springer."
Yes, Bumblebee was tough. But that was when they had been young and sheltered. The only medical visits they required were for checkups and spar injuries. Now, though Bumblebee was stable, his injuries might just cost him.
She looked up at the approaching mechs that rushed down the halls. Their optics were alight with concern as they stopped before Moonracer.
"How are they?" Hot Rod demanded as he stopped, breathing heavily. The Twins stopped behind him, anxious looks on their faces
"Stable," Moonracer assured them, trying to hide the tight worry she was feeling. "But he and Smokescreen haven't awoken yet. Out of the three of them, Firestar has the minor injuries."
"And that is saying something," Mirage commented.
Hot Rod glanced at the closed medical doors with concern. "Can...can we go in?"
Moonracer shook her helm regretfully. "They won't let us-" She stopped when the med bay door was open, and a worn out Red Alert looked at them all. Her optics fell on Moonracer, and she smiled softly. "Bumblebee is asking for you," she said.
Moonracer's spark skipped. "He's awake?"
Red Alert nodded and stepped aside as Moonracer rushed forward. Mercifully, the mechs let her through first as she hurried into the medical room.
"His injuries are quite...severe," Ratchet said finally, glancing at Optimus who hovered near the med table that Bumblebee rested on. "His voice box…" Ratchet sighed, shaking his helm. "We will not know if he will be able to speak properly until a few days have passed."
Optimus nodded grimly, optics downcast. "Understood."
"Had I seen him sooner," Ratchet continued, his optics heavy with regret. "I would have certainly been able to have repaired his voice box in no time."
"You did all that you could," Elita-One said from the other side of the med table. She was clutching Bumblebee's scarred and damaged servo, her optics never leaving his peaceful, resting face. "And for that, we are grateful."
Grateful did not even describe how Optimus felt. "How are the others?" he asked.
"Firestar's voice box needed only minor adjustments," Ratchet said. "Though I am glad you removed the slave chip when you did. She would have damaged her voice box had you not ripped it apart. Though she will have difficulty talking for the next few days, and her energon will be served to her as a softer, liquid formula." He sighed as he flipped through the data pad. "Smokescreen has suffered a broken leg and a fractured servo. He will be confined to bed rest, and his throat is damaged from the electric shocks from the slave chips." He grumbled under his breath. "Don't even get me started on the damage done to their armor."
Placing the datapad down, Ratchet straightened up. "The point is, the near death experience is over, but the med bay visits are not."
Optimus nodded once more. "Thank you, old friend." He glanced back at Bumblebee's who's optics blinked open. He looked around in confusion before his optics rested on those surrounding him.
"Hello little one," ELita said, her voice cracking slightly and thick with emotion as she brushed a servo down his cheek. He leaned into her touch, sighing and content. He finally looked up with worry. "A...Arcee?" he choked out.
"Ep, ep!" Ratchet snapped. "You are not to speak, got it?" At Bumblebee's hurried nod, Ratchet sighed. "Arcee is fine and confined to her own spot in the medical wing. She would not stop asking about you though, more concerned about your health than anything else."
A look of relief flashed over Bumblebee's face, and he looked around to make sure that, yes, Smokescreen was passed out to his right, and Firestar was resting to his left. He looked at Optimus, opening his mouth to inquire more when the Prime stopped him. "I will summon the others for you," he said with a smile.
Bumblebee sighed. "Moonracer," he said softly. Elita squeezed his servo. "She is waiting for you," she said with a smile.
Optimus turned, only to stop when Bumblebee reached out and grabbed his servo. Though he was forbidden to speak, the gesture and the look in his optics spoke volumes.
Optimus smiled down at Bumblebee, squeezing his servo back. Then, in a quick decision, Optimus went back to Bumblebee's side and gently rubbed his helm. Bumblebee's optics closed, content with the feeling that was so familiar to him.
"I am proud of you," Optimus said softly. "And I am glad to have you back." Out of the corner of his optic, he saw Red Alert scurry away, no doubt to summon those awaiting to see Bumblebee so that Optimus did not have to leave his side.
Optimus cherished those next precious few minutes had had, because in a blur, he had to move out of the way as Moonracer rushed forward. With a cry, she rushed toward Bumblebee who barely caught her with open arms. She crashed into him while avoiding his injuries, wrapping her arms around him.
"I missed you," she sobbed, clinging to him. "So much."
"Moony," Bumblebeee said as he held her close.
"Hey," a tired voice protested. "Why aren't I getting all the love?" Smokescreen slowly picked himself up, blinking his optics as he scowled at everyone. "I almost died too!" He optics flickered over. "Oh, and Firestar too." She scowled at him. "But I had more near death experiences!" he continued.
Arcee watched mutely as the nurse went about checking her wounds. She had not been permitted to move from the med bay, nor had she been allowed to see Bumblebee, a fact that irritated her to no end at all.
Out of the corner of her vision, she saw Ark approaching her. The dark femme had said nothing at all as the medics repaired her arm, the one that had been torn apart. While Ark had given Megatron a full report on what had happened, she had yet to inform Arcee.
"You will be cleared soon enough," the nurse stated dully, her red optics done examining the datapad before her. She bowed her helm before scurrying away.
Arcee just nodded, though her optics drifted to the far side of the med bay where the exit was. They had placed the Autobots and Decepticons in separate med bays, and though she knew where the med bay Bumblebee was in, she was not permitted to see him. She gripped the side of the med bay table in frustration.
"Go," a sudden voice said, and she looked up to see Ark examining her. She inclined her helm toward the doorway. "Soundwave has bypassed the security systems. I will be here to explain your absence." She paused. "And keep KnockOut from trying to change your paint job."
Gratitude showed on Arcee's face as she slid off the med berth. She had faced down predacons, uncovered traitors, and survived a collapsing mountain. One med bay was not keeping her from Bumblebee.
She nodded her thanks to Ark, brushing past her and squeezing Ark's shoulder with a small smile. Ark simply nodded, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward as Arcee scampered away.
As Arcee kept her helm down as she hurried down the halls, she glanced up briefly at the security camera that was watching her. "Thank you," she said, knowing full well that Soundwave could hear her and see the small smile on her face.
Meanwhile, alone and in the dark rooms, a very satisfied, faceless mech sat back as he watched the small blue femme make her way to the med bay.
It was only because Firestar had been ordered to save her voice that Smokescreen was spared from the scathing comments that were no doubt building up inside of her. Smokescreen himself had been escorted to a different, private room, leaving Bumblebee alone with Optimus and Elita-One. Ratchet had kicked out the others not too long ago, which Bumblebee was grateful for as the Twins had started to drop hints that they wanted to know about his 'relationship' with Arcee. Despite everything that had happened, the Twins still had a one track mind. Bumblebee had been reluctant to see Moonracer leave, but he had been curious about the unknown red mech who had stayed a good distance from them. Moonracer had shot Bumblebee a look before Ratchet pushed her out, mouthing 'we'll talk later.'
He could not wait to hear what she had to tell him. In the meantime, he was going to gather every single intel he could on this 'Mirage' character and see if he met the required standards for Moonracer.
Though Bumblebee knew Optimus and Elita did not want to leave him, he could tell that there were many duties they were ignoring for his sake. But before they left, there was one thing he wanted to get off his chassis. He wanted to tell them about Arcee, about his true feelings for her. As if being able to sense his turmoil, Optimus simply smiled at him. "Later," the Prime had said simply.
Bumblebee nodded in relief as Elita kissed his helm before leaving his side. "La-later," he said.
Now, alone in the med bay with only the machines keeping him company, Bumblebee became aware of every little thing around him.
Like the shadow for instance that approached him carefully.
Soft servos gently touched his own, searching and hopeful. Bumblebee just turned his helm to meet Arcee's worried gaze. With a smile, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her small waist, pulling toward him.
Arcee snuggled up next to him, holding him as she settled down with his arms around her. He placed a soft kiss to her helm, content with having her here with him.
"I love you too," she said softly, kissing him lightly before resting her helm on his undamaged shoulders. He smiled as he rubbed her back, transing circles on her armor which made her shiver slightly, her breath hitching up. He hummed in delight, finally at peace in the moment he had with her.
And if Ratchet came in to see Arcee asleep in Bumblebee's arms in the medical bay, so what?
Three lone beasts dug at the ruined rock that was once a mighty mountain, their sharp servos clearing much away. One beast pulled back, letting out a roar that alerted his comrades. The two beasts came forward hurriedly as a battered and wounded mech was pulled from the ruble. Clutched in the injured mech's servos was a ruined replica of the Key, destroyed like the fake it was.
Sentinel looked up, spitting out a mouthful of energon. He glared up at the predacons that towered over him. "This is not the end," he growled shakily.
"It is for you," Predaking said simply. Though Sentinel could not understand what he had said, his widened optics indicated that he picked up on their true meaning as the fire of the three predacons descended down on him with all of the Pits fury.