Chapter 8: Trouble with one another

Prowl looked over the group from his position by Perceptor. Carly was sitting alone, watching the fighting between the others. Ironhide and Sam had been fighting from the second they exited the car it seemed. Freddie was trying-and failing-to fix the problem. Prowl was left to care for Perceptor, who'd still not waken up. Bumblebee was elsewhere and hadn't shown up yet.

"You'd know how to fix this, wouldn't you?" Prowl commented, looking at Perceptor's unconscious being.

"He'll be okay, right?"

Prowl turned. Carly had come up from behind him. She looked worried, even homesick maybe. Prowl gave her a light smile but did not answer. He wasn't sure he had an answer. They both turned to face the arguing three. Freddie was being pushed back at forth by Ironhide and Sam.

"Help!" he pleaded.

"Shut up, Fredward!" ordered Sam, pushing him to Ironhide.

"Stop that, kid!" ordered Ironhide, pushing Freddie back to Sam.

"Guys," groaned Carly, realizing Freddie's pain.

Prowl looked back at Perceptor. Perceptor had turned his head and placed both hands to his chest. Prowl smiled, knowing Perceptor was watching the fight. Prowl looked over at Carly. She was now part of the mess also. Now, it was up to Prowl to fix it. He walked to the group, hesitantly. He, like Carly and Freddie, was soon being pushed around. He groaned, wishing he'd stayed by Perceptor.

"Can't you guys…come to an agreement?"

The fighting stopped and everyone turned. Perceptor was stumbling to keep his balance as he stood, looking to the group. He gave a weary smile. Prowl smiled brightly, pushing from the group. Ironhide also separated himself from the others, a smile on his face. Perceptor choked a soft chuckle, but winced under his own pain.

"Need help?" Freddie offered, getting a glare from Ironhide.

"I'm…I'm fine," Perceptor lied. They knew in his fib.

"What happened?" Ironhide asked.

"Just…an overload," answered Perceptor, slipping down to sit. He smiled, feeling much better in his new position.

"We're sorry, Perceptor," Sam whispered.

"Did you just 'sorry'?" Carly gaped.

"She said it to me too," Freddie added.

"Why are you sorry, Sam?" questioned Perceptor.

"It's our fault you wasted your energy," Sam explained, looking at his sheepishly.

"Don't be sorry," nodded Perceptor, "The Decepticons would have found me and a way to make me do that anyway."

"Do what?" Prowl asked.

"This…" Perceptor whispered, lifting his hand.

In his hand, small, blue electrical waves jumped around. Prowl stared at it. Perceptor groaned, dropping his hand. His eyes fell to the floor. He panted hard.

"He has a hard time controlling it," Freddie offered.

"How did you do that?" Prowl gasped.

"I was the closest to the vortex and the first affected. I, as the Decepticons do, believe that I was given a little extra than everyone else," Perceptor whispered.

"Primus, that's awesome!" cheered Prowl.

"So…there's four of us. We still have a few more to find," Ironhide nodded.

"Optimus, the twins and Ratchet," Perceptor inferred.

"Yes, Bumblebee's elsewhere around here. He's enjoying himself though," Prowl offered.

"I think I'm going back to sleep," Perceptor whispered, closing his eyes.

"And waking up who-knows-when, I don't think so!" snapped Ironhide, pulling Perceptor to his feet.

"I missed you Ironhide," Perceptor smiled, "You know that Sam reminded me of you."

"Speaking of these humans, they need to go!" screamed Ironhide, looking at Prowl.

"No!" shouted Perceptor, snapping out of Ironhide's grasp.

"What?" everyone-Autobot and human alike-gasped, looking at Perceptor.

"These…these human children are a part of this momentarily. The Decepticons know that I'll protect them which makes them targets without proper guarding by an Autobot," explained Perceptor.

"Still, they're only human. They don't have really any safety among us," Prowl added.

"I've learned things from these humans that I've never learned in Ark!" Perceptor shouted.

"Stop acting like a human and start acting like yourself, mister scientific," hissed Ironhide.

Perceptor glared at Ironhide, startling Ironhide slightly. Ironhide, thinking Perceptor wouldn't do anything, smirked. He countered Perceptor's glare with stone, cold glare. Perceptor groaned.

"Why don't you just get back in your corner," hummed Ironhide.

Prowl gaped after seeing Perceptor punch Ironhide of all people. Sam cheered, enjoying the fight. Carly and Freddie stood wide-eyed. Perceptor stood with his arm out in a punch follow-through. He panted but had a smile on his face.

"Did you punch me?" Ironhide snapped, looking back at Perceptor.

"I'm tired of being in the background! I'm tired of being unnoticed!" replied Perceptor.

Ironhide kicked Perceptor, knocking him down. Ironhide took this moment to tackle the fallen scientist, sending the two into a battle on the floor. Carly covered her eyes. Freddie covered his ears and shut his eyes. Sam cheered both on. Prowl, finally having enough, peeled the two apart.

Perceptor was bleeding from his mouth and still had his hand wrapped in wrist. He panted hard, still eyeing Ironhide. Ironhide had a bruise around his right eye and under his chin. He panted equally as hard as Perceptor. The two gave continuous glares. Perceptor felt his mouth only once, touching the blood.

"Ironhide! Perceptor!" Prowl called, releasing the two, "Behave."

"Not the word that comes to mind," whispered Perceptor.

"What's the word that comes to mind?" Freddie asked after a moment of hesitation.

"Leaving," Perceptor answered, marching out of the warehouse.

Prowl stared at the door, watching Perceptor disappear into the world again. Prowl turned to Ironhide. Ironhide, having no regrets, turned and left for a different room. Prowl looked at the three children. They exchanged glances but soon left, following Perceptor out. Prowl stood alone in the room. He groaned, collapsing to his knees.

"Have you noticed, Prowl…"

Prowl looked up to see Bumblebee coming in. Bumblebee had blond hair and bright blue eyes. He wore a yellow hat, containing his wild hair, which had a miniature Autobot sign and small horns on the top. His tee-shirt, from mid chest down to waist was yellow and brown above that, had an Autobot symbol in the center. Yellow cloth like bands wrapped around his elbows before his wrist. He wore brown gloves without fingers. He had the traditional Autobot belt sagging slightly against his brown pants. The pants had yellow near the bottom, close to his yellow and brown shoes.

"Notice what?" Prowl whispered.

"The three children. They follow Perceptor and his weakness is for them. One in the same. What if…" Bumblebee paused.

"What?" mumbled Prowl, looking away, "They were affected from the vortex also?"

The two jumped, quickly looking at one another. 'What if' was pretty big all of a sudden. The two scrambled to go grab Ironhide and head after the scientist quickly.