Before we get started on this last chapter of Beast, I want to thank all of you for stumbling across this fic and reading it through to the end. You guys have written over a hundred reviews, and I've read them multiple times because you guys are such awesome people and make me feel better after a hard day. THANK YOU!

A Captured Beast Within a Human Skin

By Uniasus

Chapter 17 – Changing Alliances

It had been so easy to forget the world outside of their mourning circle. It was hard to ignore the effects of a battle, the structural damage of the city around him and the pain in his body spoke of that all too much. But it was easy for Beachbreak to forget that it said battle was still on going, that drones were still marching through the city, Autobots were fighting, and Starscream was flying around the sky somewhere nearby. After all, those fighting were no longer near him and the sounds of battle were ever so far away.

But the real world caught up to him in the sound of heavy metal footsteps, a shout of ::Bumblebee!:: over public comm frequencies, and the approach of Cybertronians broadcasting their Autobot IDs.

Beachbreak stirred, struggling to get up, but in the end Dundee had to help him. Bee seemed startled by the movement, but then he acknowledged the approach of the rest of his team. The scout stood up and turned toward their approach, but Beachbreak started slowly backing away. Dundee, Kiwi, and the third sparkling who decided to name himself 'Sam' after his fallen Creator moved with him.

It was a failed attempt to leave, for Prime's team came at them from multiple routes, weapons engaged and pointing at the sparklings. They all froze on the spot. "They're sparklings," Beachbreak hastened to say. Ratchet, whom he was facing, gave a start and lowered his saws. But, the quad bike noted, didn't put them away. The other Autobot's weren't so quick to take his words as truth.

"It's true," Bee choked out, "Sam…made them." He trailed off and adjusted his arms to display Samuel's body to Prime who was standing in front of the scout. Prime probably knew he was there, but Beachbreak was grateful for Bumblebee's bulk blocking him from the Autobot commander's optics.

Prime released his own mourning note and as if on cue his subordinates put away their weapons. Beachbreak took advantage of the situation to continue his edging away. He needed to retrieve Fizz, Dagger, and the other new sparkling, not to mention Cade and Scorponok. They shouldn't be left out where humans could get at them. And he had to protect Dundee, Kiwi, and Sam. He had failed so many today. He didn't want to fail another.

They made it half way to the alley where Fizz lay before Prime turned his attention to them.

"I am relieved to see you well Beachbreak. I hope you will be joining us?"

Beachbreak paused and took the time to review his cache of memories to find out what the Autobots had been talking about. Ah, returning to the United States.

"No, I won't." His feelings towards Optimus Prime were bittersweet. He was a great commander and while he used to install a feeling of loyalty in Beachbreak, that feeling had faded as he found himself abandoned beside a river. A Con had come back for him before an Autobot had, or rather a Neutral as Cade had defected by that point. He was hesitant to once again align himself with such a group of mechs. Especially with his charges. "But we'll be there for Samuel's funeral."

Prime looked shocked, as did Bumblebee. "You don't wish to come back with us?" his friend asked. "Why not?"

How to put that delicately?

"My…priorities have changed. I'm sorry Prime," Beachbreak turned toward the Peterbilt, "I no longer want to fight."

Prime gave him a long look, but thankfully didn't press for more information. "At least travel with us back to Samuel's home. After the ceremony we will give you a ride to where ever you chose."

"And my family?" He choked on the last word. "I would like to give them a ceremony. Cade and Scorponok included." Beachbreak stood tall, he wouldn't give on this point. They didn't have to participate.

Ironhide shifted irritably and shared a look with Sideswipe. Prime swept his gaze down the street, tallying up the bodies.

"It would be best if the Japanese have as minimal access to our technology as possible. They already have claimed a couple of drones, and I see no reason to allow them control of anyone one of our kinds considers family. I will see if I can have them shipped back to the United States with us Beachbreak. They can share a location with Jazz."

That was good enough for him.

The funeral was not as grand Bumblebee thought it should be. Sam deserved something more. Something that matched his deeds. Not something quiet. But he understood the need for it. Sam's deeds were secret. And his human acquaintances small in number.

It had been the first time he had seen Mikaela in a while. He wished it had been under happier conditions.

Having the ceremony at the Nellis Air Force base had been easier for everyone. All the Autobots (and Beachbreak's unique band of Neutrals) were there, and as Sam had worked for the Air Force so had his friends from work so the location did not seem terribly odd.

But even so the personal ceremony Beachbreak held was quieter. It had consisted of Beachbreak sending silent prayers up to Primus and keening while kneeling before Barricade's body. Bumblebee had somewhat participated. The idea of his friend mourning alone had disturbed him, so he had stood silently and awkwardly behind his friend while cried for a variety of times beside each fallen mech. Prime too had spent some time in the empty hanger, tucked away in the corner and watching Beachbreak. Bee didn't think the neutral even noticed him. When Beachbreak finished, the Camaro helped him over to the medbay. The small mech had refused medical assistance until his family had been laid to rest.

The other bitter result of the latest escapade was cutting ties with the Americans. They couldn't dissolve NEST, it was an international organization and one that was still needed. But they switched allegiances. Ignored anything that came from the United States. NEST had bases in other countries: Italy, Peru, India, England, Australia. When the Autobot's made their choice, there had been talk of the Americans pulling out of the union all together. For the mechs who had cultivated friendships with the American soldiers, it was a bitter feeling. Bee felt it less than others; he never really connected with anyone besides Sam.

Seeing as Diego Garcia was already set up, and not fully owned by the Americans, the Autobots decided to move their headquarters there for the time being. The planes had stopped at a base near Dubai to fuel up for the last leg of the journey and under the cover of night Beachbreak and his crew disembarked.

"You sure you don't want to come with us?" Bee asked.

They were in their alt forms, getting over the cramped quarters of the planes as well as they could while restricted from transforming.

"Yes."

They sat side by side for a few moments and Bee didn't push. He had seen how edgy his friend had been around Prime and he himself was angry over the events that led to Prime telling him Beachbreak was dead. But Beachbreak was alive, next to him, and Sam was dead, buried across the world. Being mad at Prime didn't really seem to matter to him.

"You'll comm, right?"

"Only if you visit."

"So you decided on a place to stay then?"

"No," Beachbreak wiggled his handle bars, "We're going to hang out a round here for awhile, but it'll be safer if we don't stay in one place too long."

Bee gave a hum of acknowledgement. Barricade and Scorponok may have been okay, though the thought still seemed wrong in his processor, but there were plenty of other Decepticons who had not, nor seemed likely to, have a change of spark.

"I'm surprised you haven't done anything to the Swiss," Beachbreak ventured.

Bee changed his EM field to give off a smirk as well as he was able to in his Camaro guise. "It's in the works. Sideswipe's going to take down their entire government network and making all the data available to the public. I'm going to destroy that hospital."

Cora came walking over, the heart rate monitor from the hospital. Spidey was riding on top, beeping in happiness. As the sparklings came closer to the two mechs, the spider bot leaped and landed on Bee's hood.

"You sure you want to stay with me?" He asked.

Spidey nodded. Cora knelt down so the top of her monitor came just under Beachbreak's handlebars and then rubbed it on the bottom of the rubber grips.

WILL MISS she sent at Spidey. The small bot gave a little whine, a sign the feeling was mutual, but still tapped on Bee's windshield to get him to unroll the passenger window.

Most of the sparklings had decided to go off with Beachbreak: Kiwi, Dundee, Jr (for while Sam was a good name it was still hard to say), Cora, and the other sparklings from the hospital – Hinge (the TV), Broadband (the radio) and View (the video camera). Lilith, much to Spidey's disappointment, hadn't lived much past her rescue. Her spark had faded away and Spidey had clung almost obsessively to Bumblebee after that.

The planes behind them roared to life. Cora started at the sound, smacking her top on Beachbreak's handle. The small mech crooned to her in sympathy.

"They're lucky to have you," Bee offered.

"I'm lucky to have them. They…give me a reason, something I haven't had in a long time."

"Yes." Bee understood. Sam had played a similar role in his life, still did. And while Bee may not have been able to protect the human himself, what Sam gave him was still on the table. Lessons, light, love. And a small charge nestled in his cup holder.

A/N: And there we go, this story is finished! It certainly took me long enough.

I am planning on rewriting this, to get in good editing practice to be a published writer, and would welcome any input you guys have. I do already have a beta, so I don't need one of those. But just let me know if there were parts you found hard to follow, that you think didn't fit, or parts you'd like to see added. I think there was talk about one of Wheeljack's experiments on Sam...even if some of those ideas don't make it in the rewrite, I might be able to do a couple of side stories.

And again: thank you all you wonderful readers for following this story!