Bumblebee

Bumblebee drove past traffic, simply passing as an ordinary yellow, black-striped Camaro. As he constantly switched lanes, horns honked and driver's yelled. But none of that fazed Bumblebee in the slightest. Not when he was six miles away from the one person he cared about. Who cared if he was a robot? He still cared about that one person, enough to go against the worst of enemies just to save that person.

In this case, that wasn't the scenario. The scenario was a long stretch of hot pavement, a blazing sun up ahead, and the determination to reach one person, and that person alone. South Gate, California was a long way from Texas, a long way from when he communicated with Cade Yeager. But it didn't take long to reach the sign that welcomed millions of people each year to South Gate.

But out of the hundreds of thousands of people who live here, and those who don't, Bumblebee could only focus on one thing. Reaching that one house, in that one neighborhood, for that one person. It was just a matter of time and speed.

Bumblebee couldn't help but wonder if that person had heard about the war with the in Chicago. He could only wonder if that person was relatively safe. If anything were to happen to that person. . .

Bumblebee's thoughts came to a screeching halt when he reached the familiar neighborhood sign. Avoiding close calls with a bunch of angry drivers, Bumblebee easily drove into the neighborhood. He scanned left and right, looking for that one house.

And there it was.

The house was like it had always been. The same green grass, the same trees, and the same driveway that Bumblebee drove into. He drove past the house and into the backyard, parking near one of the windows. Bumblebee, still in his car form, revved the engine a few times and let the tires squeal against the grass and dirt. He could hear yelling from inside, and he perked up. As much as a robot could perk up. Perhaps he was just excited. We may never know.

"Bumblebee?"

The boy, or man now, was staring down at him. He was much older and grown. He still looked like the teenager that he had been a few years ago, but his face and eyes showed he had aged. He was more muscled now, like he had been working out since Bumblebee left. But it was still him, and Bumblebee was surprised to see a blonde walk up beside his former friend.

Bumblebee remembered the girl, but couldn't place a precise name to her face.

"Bumblebee?" The man said again.

Bumblebee abruptly turned into his normal robotic self, and stared at the one person he had worried about in the years before. The man before him that he had known and protected for such a long time, through a lot of hardships and struggles.

The man before him was Sam Witwicky.

Bumblebee used his radio to communicate the words, "Hello, Sam."

Sam Witwicky looked stunned, almost blown away. He gripped the blonde girl's hand and Bumblebee pondered over her name. Familiar face, he thought, so he had to know her. But as much as he tried, Bumblebee couldn't find the name. Bumblebee bent down so he was lower, not as noticeable in the quiet neighborhood; he looked around cautiously.

Sam stepped up, still loosely holding the blonde's hand.

"Hello, Bumblebee."

If robots could possible smile, Bumblebee would have.

Carly was her name. Bumblebee had finally figured it out. Her name was Carly, and she was Sam's girlfriend. He remembered her face, and it was almost hard to believe that he had forgotten her name. But after so long of disappearing off the map and then reappearing, perhaps it was excusable.

"I can't believe this." Sam paced on the stone pathway. "I come for one weekend to see my parents, and then. . . then he comes."

Bumblebee knew Sam wasn't angry that he came. More shocked to the core in a way. Bumblebee had disappeared from Sam Witwicky's life after Autobots and the Decepticons had raced against each other to reach the Cybertronian spacecraft on the moon. Was it possible that Sam was angry? Upset over having just been abandoned?

Bumblebee wondered if that was possible. After all, Sam looked plenty happy with that girl of his. He knew that Sam hadn't let the sudden disappearance of the Autobots affect him too much. He hoped.

"I think it's great," Carly said. Sam didn't seem to hear her and in return, Carly rolled her eyes. Bumblebee made a few whirring noises, happy that Carly wasn't as shocked as Sam.

"Where did you go!" Sam walked up to Bumblebee. "Nevermind," he said, waving his hand. "Wait, yes, I want to know!"

Carly rolled her eyes. "For God's sake, Sam, calm down!"

Sam glanced at her from his peripheral vision. "I just want to know! Is that bad?" Sam looked at me. "Ugh, what does it matter."

"You're just confused," Carly said, "Maybe even a little surprised."

Sam stalked over to Bumblebee, his hands on his hips. "Bumblebee, I want - no, I need an explanation."

Bumblebee was about to say something, but Sam cut him off.

"How. . ." Sam trailed off. He opened his mouth to try again, but failed all the same. On the third try, he said, "How are you here? Why are you here?"

Bumblebee knew that he should be hurt that Sam held some emotion in his voice that showed he wasn't completely happy about Bumblebee's return. Or perhaps Sam was just too stunned to show any other emotions. Humans were strange that way.

Bumblebee wanted to explain everything. Why the Autobots left. Why he left. About Optimius Prime, the Yeager family. The war in Chicago. It was a long story, but where else did Bumblebee have to be? So, once again he looked around to make sure no one was near, and he spoke the next words, using the built-in radio to communicate:

"I will start from the beginning."

When Bumblebee finished his story, of everything that had happened, he realized that the Witwicky boy still hadn't spoken. The girl beside him, Carly, as Bumblebee had remembered, was whispering quietly to him. Bumblebee didn't worry. Sam was just shocked, surprised at Bumblebee's abrupt appearance. It was so completely out of the blue, it was expected.

"And you're okay?" Sam finally spoke, looking up at the Autobot with sincere worry. It reminded Bumblebee of the day when he'd first met Sam. A teenager, a little immature, but still, a good kid.

Bumblebee nodded, Sam nodded, and again there was silence.

Bumblebee had left out the part about him running off from the other Autobots without telling them anything of his plans or where he was going. He pondered whether or not it were a good idea to explain now. At the time it was a good idea, leaving the Autobots, Bumblebee thought. This was his business to deal with, this was Sam. The friend he had left behind, abandoned, disappeared. He wanted to give an explanation that was from him and only him. Was that so bad?

Even so, Bumblebee knew the other Autobots were tracking him down now. He would have to return to them sooner or later. Bumblebee rather preferred it be sooner, so that the Autobots didn't know what he was doing. It was something very personal to Bumblebee, not to them.

Knowing that Sam now understood why he had left so abruptly, Bumblebee said, "I am going now."

"Wait!" Sam screamed as Bumblebee turned away from the two humans below and before him. "Don't leave yet. . . You just got back. I still have questions, and. . ." Sam looked at the alien robot in front of him, his mouth agape. "Can't you stay?"

Bumblebee hesitated. Could he? With the Autobots not too far behind, could he stay? He couldn't stay forever. He preferred to stay off the radar. At least until Optimus Prime came back. . . From wherever he is now.

"I have questions, too." Carly stepped up, giving him a bright and sincere smile. "After all, you just got here, and I - we - just want to understand what's going on. You know, since the war in Chicago."

If Bumblebee were human, he would be an exasperated one. But slowly, and hesitantly, he nodded.

Carly smiled. "Good," she said.

Bumblebee couldn't help but notice the slight smirk of relief on Sam's lips.

Bumblebee nodded again. Just for a little while. He would stay just a little while. He would continue to explain his actions, the Autobots, and where Optimus Prime was. It wouldn't take long. He no longer cared if the Autobots came and found him.

Let them, he thought. It no longer mattered. The personal part is over. This, now, was just him catching up with an old friend of the Autobots'. And especially to him.

Especially to Bumblebee.

Author's Note: Just to clarify things, Transformers: New Life will be a short story.