Chapter Eighteen – Reincarnated
Optimus stepped through the hole that Bumblebee had made through the wall of the cell, his optics scanning the interior of the dark-purple room slowly. His optics fell over Barricade and Starscream, then to a dead Bumblebee lying unmoving against the wall.
The commander froze, his optics drooping. The remaining crewmembers entered and stepped around him. Each one of them froze immediately as they saw their youngling comrade.
Dead.
"You're too late," mumbled Darren, lying in the crook of Bumblebee's arm. "He's gone."
"Dear, Primus," breathed Optimus as he moved to the young mech's side. He took Bumblebee's hand, its yellow metal cold and smothered in pale blue blood. For the first time in a while, tears stung the old mech's optics. "Bumblebee…"
The youngling was unresponsive; he didn't even make the slightest sound. Optimus wrapped his arms gingerly around the young mech's frame, drawing him against his body. He used a hand to cradle Bumblebee's head, and a thumb to stroke his curved cheekplates. Optimus shook his head slowly.
"My little one…" He whispered, lying Bumblebee's head against his shoulder. "You didn't deserve to endure so much anguish…"
Jazz and Ironhide towered over the lifeless mech in their commander's arms. The second-in-command's faceplate was drenched in sorrow, as was Ironhide's.
"Mmm," Ironhide shook his head, his cold optics for once softening. "Bumblebee…"
"C'mon, kid," Jazz said, kneeling at Bumblebee's side. "You ain't dead, right…?" He shook Bumblebee's shoulder, and the youngling's head fell to another side. Jazz made a face. "Damn, kid…C'mon."
Ratchet stepped at his side. "My scanners tell me," he sighed. "…His spark's extinguished. His body took too many injuries for his spark to handle…"
Ironhide grunted in a sigh. He scanned over the youngling's body, mourning without any tears. "Ya think Starscream and Barricade killed 'im? Slaggin' Decepticons…" He started to whip out one of his cannons, but paused.
"N-No," came the human's small voice. Darren creeped out from the nook of one of Bumblebee's arms, his eyes tear filled and puffy. He sniffled. "B-Bumblebee killed them both."
Lying Bumblebee on the ground slowly, Optimus then leaned down and took Darren in his palms, lifting the boy to his chest. Darren hugged his knees to his chest, closing his eyes.
"Can't you fix him?" He asked to the medical officer.
Ratchet shook his head. "Unfortunately, I cannot, Darren. Without a spark…" His voice trailed away, and he sighed, hanging his head. "He's finished..."
Ironhide shook his head and folded Bumblebee's hands against his yellow chest, above the spark that used to bring them such joy through their bonds.
"Why'dja go, kid…?" Muttered the dark mech.
Optimus cradled Darren against his chest, stroking him with sensitive fingers. He nodded slowly at the boy's whimpers, swaying him against his spark.
Darren held back a sob. "Had you came sooner…"
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\
The Well of Allsparks
Bumblebee's Point of View
I opened my optics slowly to find myself in a humongous room, and it was rather noisy. It was so loud, that my antennae lied flat against my head to block any more noise, and my receptors' wiring got an awkward jolt. Monitors, screens, and collections of them that reminded me of human television sets were mounted on the walls. They were colorful, beeping syncopated rhythms and quick paced tunes. They were almost threatening…
My optics wide, I scanned over everything. Then, I looked down at my own self, looking at my rejuvenated body. I was a new robot again, without my yellow and black armor, without the wounds. I was in my natural protoform body. It sure had been a while since I'd donned this Cybertronian skin.
"Bumblebee!" thundered a booming voice from all around me. "Come forth now!"
I looked ahead of me and saw two towering double doors, mighty and grand in their structure alone. I stepped forward and the doors parted away with a sharp hiss, giving me access to enter. I finally did, after hesitating with a pounding spark, and ended up before a God.
Literally.
"Primus…?!" I gasped, taking a step back. "I-Is this…"
"Yes!" Primus answered me. "The Well of Allsparks. Welcome, Bumblebee."
He knew my name.
Primus was nothing, but a head, a huge one, stuck against a wall. He had electric eyes that petrified any youngling like me, and they were intimidating, watching you every second, scanning your every move. I crept forward towards him with slow steps. I chuckled weakly when I saw his mouth curve up into a smile. I felt my body start to shake in his almighty presence.
"There, there, young one," his voice was calmer now, soothing. "There's nothing to fear here."
I stood straighter, my optics still wide.
Primus smiled wider. "It seems your spark had extinguished after you battled Starscream and Barricade on Earth."
I gulped. "How did you know that?"
Primus chuckled, his laughter rumbling under my feet. "Bumblebee, you are my creation," he grinned. "I built you before you landed in your mother's body. Before you even existed, my child."
My spark fluttered. "Y-You created me?"
"That, I did, son."
I smiled as if he were my father. "Why did you call me to here?" I looked about the golden room, my innocent optics scanning excitedly. "It sure is grand, Sir…"
Primus made a sound of agreement.
"Your accomplished such a great feat, my son. A deed that could not be accomplished by just any ordinary youngling, but I young mech like yourself."
I blinked at him, a little embarrassed. "O-Oh, Sir, it really wasn't that much…"
I knew I was lying.
"Ha! Not much?" Primus mocked me lightly. "You sacrificed your life for a human boy, son. Your life, Bumblebee! Does that not strike your receptors as heroic?"
I mused. He was right. I did die for Darren. I could have chose not to…Could have given up and ran from the battle. But, I didn't.
"You're right," I said softly.
"I am," Primus replied. "You have such a big spark, little one. Full of courage and love."
I smiled widely.
"Yes, child, and for doing such a heartfelt endeavor, I am granting you a new life, my son."
I widened my optics. "A-A new life?" I couldn't believe my receptors. "S-Sir, I am not worthy of anything such!"
"Ohh, but you are! You are, indeed, Bumblebee," He smiled wider. "You have been granted another life, son, but not only your old life as a Transformer, no! The life of a human man."
I froze. What?
"…A human? Forever?" I wasn't disgusted, but appalled. A human…forever? I couldn't even put on clothes, to say at the least. And now, he expected me to be one forever?
"Son, your main form will be a man."
"I will be able to be a robot? And my Camaro?"
"Yes, you will. But, only on proper situations."
I furrowed my brow. "Like...mating n' stuff?"
He laughed at me. "Yes, son. Such as those. But, around your friend, do not be a robot. Be a human."
I understood. I had to appear like Darren's father. "Yes, Sir."
A moment of silence as I thought.
"How will I function as a human?" I asked, tilting my head.
"You will still be slightly robotic," he answered in a thoughtful voice. "Your eyes will have scanners, and the ability to zoom in and out. Moreover, you will have the ability to see in both infrared and color."
I nodded.
"Your internal systems will be organs, and the bodily systems of a human," he told me. "However, since you will be granted eternal life, your spark will remain inside you."
I blinked. "I won't have a heart?"
"No, Son."
I twisted my lip, then nodded.
"I understand, Primus," I acknowledge.
"Remain aware that you are more vulnerable in this form. Too much damage will only cripple your spark, and lead to death." He smiled. "And we wouldn't want that, would we, youngling?"
"N-No, Sir. I will remain conscious of that, Sir." I smiled.
"That is all, my child," he grinned at me. "Now, return to life on Earth amongst your people." He nodded at me. "Go and serve the Autobots with joy, determination and pride, 'till all are one."
I bowed at him slowly in respect, flashing him a grin. "'Till all are one."
And, in an instant, I vanished from his presence.