Chapter Twelve: Freeloader
Recovery went faster than I'd expected. Airachnid did a number on me, but Ratchet wasn't the Autobot's Chief Medical Officer for nothing. Within a lunar cycle, I was back on my pedes and racing Bumblebee through the halls, lobbing with Wheeljack and Bulkhead, and sparring with just about anyone who'd take me up on it. I was getting a little restless in the base, but the Jackhammer was fully repaired, and there was just one thing left that Wheeljack wanted to stay for before its departure. Finally, that day rolled around.
The day of Upwash's Autobrand ceremony.
Arcee, 'Bee, and Bulkhead brought their little human partners to the base for what was apparently the first time since my capture. They were nice enough for organics, but Arcee's partner kept shooting me suspicious looks, and Bulkhead's was infinitely curious. Actually, the latter was okay. Miko had an over-the-top, insensitive attitude, but I kind of liked the blunt honesty she spoke with. Bee's human was by far my favorite. Rafael was just so tiny—even for a fleshie—and unassuming in appearance, and that contrasted so hilariously with my mental images of the hacker Soundwave considered a rival that the human had my respect from the start.
The scout's excitement to introduce us to one another didn't hurt matters, either. He'd been prepping both of us for the last week at least. If he thought we'd get along, then who were we to prove him wrong?
We all stood witness as Optimus Prime spoke of the "new leaf" the flier had turned over. He spoke of her dedication to and belief in the Autobot ideals. He praised her contributions to their cause so far and charged her with continuing on her path as one of their own. We watched as she took the Oath of Peace, swearing her loyalty to the Prime and all he stood for, and we all applauded as he carefully affixed the shiny red badge to her chestplate. Ratchet would weld it on more firmly later. Apparently, among the Autobots, celebration came before follow-up duties.
I'd never been to a "party" before. At least, not like this. The Vehicons sometimes held ten-mech get-togethers on the lower decks, and Knock Out had once started a dance-off with Breakdown and a few drones in the med bay, but the Nemesis just wasn't a partying kind of environment. When word got around to Soundwave, mechs scattered to all ends of the ship.
In sharp contrast, human music blasted from a set of speakers that Miko and Bulkhead had set up along one wall while everyone milled around, talking and laughing and dancing as if the war wasn't going on. Bee pulled me into the middle of the floor to "teach me some moves." Needless to say, I failed miserably. If Knock Out, Breakdown, and a squad of Vehicons couldn't put the rhythm in my pedes, neither could the scout.
He didn't see it that way.
/Come on,/ he beeped, tugging on my servos, /you can do it! We just have to find a style that fits./
"But—"
/Please try?/
Oh, those big, round, Autobot blue eyes. I caved like Knock Out confronted with new wax.
"Fine."
I still felt like I was making a fool of myself, but at least I wasn't the only one. Bulkhead, 'Jack, Upwash, and the three humans joined in, too. The dance-offs between Bee, Raf, 'Jack, and Arcee's human—who was also called Jack—got pretty intense.
Eventually the party started to wind down. I was drinking my energon ration on the sidelines when Wheeljack motioned me over to where he was speaking with Optimus Prime. I tossed back the rest of the fuel and hurried to join them. 'Jack patted my shoulder as I stopped next to him.
"Having fun, short stuff?" A little hesitation in his tone said he was trying to get a read on me about something.
"Yeah," I answered. "Are you going soon?"
"Yeah." He rubbed at the back of his helm, avoiding my optics. "Listen, Optimus and I have been talking, and…"
"I don't think I'm ready to get the Autobrand yet," I said quickly. "I haven't been with you all for anywhere near as long as Upwash has, and I've barely helped at all so far, but don't get me wrong, 'cause I do want to help—"
Prime smiled down at me. He dropped to one knee to get closer to my level. "Do not fret, Freeloader. You choose your own path and the pace at which you continue on it. We were merely discussing what your living options will be now that your assigned supervisor is departing again."
"Oh." I hadn't thought about how Wheeljack's leaving would affect me. "So… what are my options?"
"You may choose to stay on base and be assigned a new supervisor, which Bulkhead has expressed his interest in should it become necessary, or you may—"
"Or you can come with me," Wheeljack interrupted. "On the Jackhammer. There's room for two mechs. If you want. Uh..."
I looked from him to the rest of the base. Bee and Raf were playing the racing game at the catwalk. Arcee and Jack were having a conversation with Ratchet and Upwash by the control center. Miko was demonstrating some form of musical instrument for Bulkhead. Everyone here, every Autobot under Prime, had a partner. And then there was Wheeljack. Really, the choice wasn't difficult.
"I want to go with 'Jack."
"You do?" Guess 'Jack really hadn't been expecting that.
"Yeah. Exploring Earth, getting into scrapes along the way, sounds just about right." I offered him my fist. "Wreck and rule, right?"
He bumped it with his own fist, grinning. "Wreck and rule."
