Hey, sorry if it's bad, but I'm in a hurry. I want to get this chapter done before my grandmother comes back. I have to go somewhere then. I hope you like it. Oh, next chapter I start the conflict!

(Few more years again)

Sam's visions had stopped months ago, he had been very upset when he found out he died only a year after the battle where he had brought Optimus back to life, but he wasn't as upset as when Optimus died. I smiled, realizing he was more upset when one he loved died, he thinks of us all as family, than when he did.

Today, I planned to take him to start target practice. Ironhide asked him if he wanted to and he agreed. So now I had to deal with the fact he was old enough to actually join us as an Autobot.

"How are we doing practice?" Sam asked this morning.

"I think Ironhide has pre-warned Ratchet and found the twins' full schedule. He thinks you should start off with moving targets." I smiled, they would only try that until he would be able to hit them once, but Ironhide thought they were wonderful target practice, and they wouldn't shoot back at the youngling.

"Cool, I get to try and shoot Mudflap."

"And Skids." I reminded him.

"Oh, yeah. And him." I smiled fondly; Mudflap had played a trick on Sam recently, so he was eager to pay him back. I picked him up, sensing through the link he was excited. He had been getting more and more anxious as he approached the age he would be allowed to kick Decepticon aft. Of course this age was set by Optimus, our leader, but I had to agree. I had refused at all his suggested ages until he asked me what I thought was a good one. I thought I would get at least close to my suggested age, Optimus's, until he shook his head and went back to around the age the youngling was now.

"Hello Sam." Ironhide smiled at our approachal.

"Hey 'Hide. When do I get to shoot Mudflap?" He chuckled and healed out a hand. I handed my youngling over so he could learn how to kill. I frowned at that.

"Oh, lighten up Bumblebee, he's not going to get hurt just practicing on the twins. And after that, if there's time, I'll take him to the 'range." That was a spot in the training room. I nodded, accepting this.

"Hey, Bee. Go talk to, uh, Sideswipe or something." Sam suggested. I smiled and nodded, leaving the two to bond. I sat down in the rec. room, challenging the mentioned mech to a game. Every once in a while, I seen one of the twins sneaking around or Ironhide following them, with Sam trying to get good aim.

I realized how bad the Decepticons were getting, attack after attack. They seem to be defending something, their plan maybe? I hadn't taken Sam out of the Ark for so long, worrying we might be attacked. And I was his guardian, it was my job to be protective.

But I guess I could live with him going on missions with us, as long as I was there with him. And I knew Optimus wouldn't send him on one without me, out whole link was because I was his guardian; I was supposed to protect him. He would be able to defend himself, but I'm still going to be there.

"Bee! Incoming!" I only just jumped out of the way before Mudflap fell where I was, enabling Sam to shoot him in the arm. Sam was small, but his cannons were just as dangerous as ours, so he didn't want to shoot the annoying mech where it would cause too much damage. He stood up on Ironhide's shoulders and cheered. "Whoa! Yeah, did you see that?" He asked who ever was listening. Sideswipe was grinning, not letting Mudflap up; Ironhide was trying to make sure Sam wouldn't fall, I was smiling and walking over to them, which was on the other side of the room and not right next to Mudflap, which was even more of an accomplishment.

"Sam, that was great." I healed out my hand and he jumped on. "I have a feeling you'll be best on a long range."

"Really? What are you?" He asked.

"I'm not a worrier, I'm a scout. But I usually fight however is needed." I set him on my shoulder. "Sorry, there's no time for the range today. It's time to get some recharge."

"Aw, but we haven't been practicing that long." I could feel his systems wanting to power down through the link.

"Sam, you can practice more with Ironhide tomorrow. I know you need to recharge your systems." I turned to Ironhide, who also looked put out with his time with the youngling getting cut short. "He'll be back tomorrow." I promised.

"Alright. I'm in need of a recharge myself." his optics dimmed a bit. I walked off with Sam tucked up against my spark, his systems quickly going off line.

By the time we were back into our quarters, and I lied down to recharge myself, he was already off line. I smiled fondly and stroked his back. He relaxed subconsciously and I allowed myself to join him.

Hey, it was a pretty useless chapter. But I needed this chapter to set everything up. Sam finished his flashbacks, getting old enough to fight. Decepticon activity getting suspicious. I think it's short, and I apologize profoundly for not getting it out yesterday. But I was forced to go to sleep early because I had to get up by a certain time, even though I usually go to bed at about midnight and get up around nine.

R&R