Smugglers 3: The Beginning Is The End

Chapter 4: Flashbacks: Trial & Escape

A/N: Despite the fact that I did not receive all 15 reviews that I asked for I decided to go ahead and post this chapter anyway.

Trials weren't fun Bulkhead decided. He had almost blown a gasket when he had been called on to testify but one look at Bumblebee who had smiled at him encouragingly and he had been fine after that. Nervous but fine. Although he had almost fallen asleep during the closing statements. The jury had been out for almost an hour now and Bulkhead had to wonder how long it took to decide whether or not someone was guilty. As far as Bulkhead was concerned it was open-and-shut but it wasn't up to him. He sighed and shifted in his seat, tempted to get up and stretch his joints. In fact he was surprised that Bumblebee hadn't already left as the little bot didn't like to stay in one place for long periods of time; especially if he happened to be surrounded by lots of other bots; it made him jumpy and a jumpy Bumblebee was not a good thing. Bulkhead was distracted from his thoughts by the sound of a door opening and he looked up hopefully and was relieved to see the jury re-entering the room.

"Jury, have you reached a verdict?" the judge asked.

"We have your honor. We find the defendant, Wasp, guilty."

Bulkhead grinned then turned to Bumblebee who grinned back. "You did it, Bulky."

"Yeah, I guess we did," Bulkhead said then impulsively picked up Bumblebee, hugging the small bot to his spark. Bumblebee looked surprised then awkwardly returned the hug, a strange look on his faceplate. After a few minutes Bulkhead put his friend back down and they turned to watch as the guard bots came to escort Wasp out of the courtroom.

"You'll pay," the green minibot hissed. 'You will pay for this. No one puts Wasp in jail and gets away with it. No one!" he yelled as the guards forcibly dragged him out of the room.

Once he was gone Bulkhead looked worriedly at Bumblebee. "What did he mean by 'you'll pay'?" the large green mech asked nervously.

"It's something every bot yells when they go to jail," Bumblebee said, trying to reassure his friend. Bulkhead still looked worried so Bumblebee tried to think of a way to cheer him up then brightened as he thought of something. "Hey, Bulky, wanna go do something fun?"

Hearing the tone of the little bot's voice Bulkhead immediately grew suspicious. "Like what?" he asked warily, not entirely sure if he wanted to hear the answer. If Bumblebee used the words 'crazy' or 'fun' one had to be cautious; very cautious.

Bumblebee's grin grew as he whispered something in Bulkhead's audio sensors. Bulkhead's optics grew wider and wider and he looked horrorstruck. "That's not crazy; that's illegal!" he protested, earning some very strange looks from bots as they made their way out of the room.

"Shh!" Bumblebee hissed. "Not so loud, we're still in the courthouse or did you forget? Now what do you say, Bulkhead? Up for a little action?"

Bulkhead hesitated and looked at the eager faceplate in front of him. Bumblebee didn't have to come yet he had and even waited with Bulkhead for the verdict. So Bulkhead nodded reluctantly and felt oddly warmed inside when Bumblebee smiled at him; not grinned but smiled. It wasn't a fake smile either like some bot's but was a genuine smile and Bulkhead knew without a shadow of a doubt that he had made the right decision.

"Let's go!" Bumblebee cried, tugging impatiently at Bulkhead's much larger servo.

"I'm coming," Bulkhead said with a laugh. "I'm coming."

Once they left the courtroom Wasp went limp and stopped struggling. He walked quietly down the halls, stopping only when the guard bots ordered him to do so. He did not try to make a break for it but was docile and silent. The guard bots thought nothing of it but were relieved to have a cooperating prisoner for once. Had they known what Wasp was really up to or were smart they no doubt would have been very worried and kept a closer optic on him; but they didn't. So Wasp watched them, mentally pinpointing potential weak spots and carefully storing them for later. He didn't protest even when they shoved him in the van that would take him to jail a little more roughly than necessary. He merely climbed in and sat down. as they were shutting the doors he happened to glance up just in time to catch sight of the stupid green mech and his little yellow companion as they exited the courthouse. His mouth pulled into a snarl as a feral look of rage crossed his faceplate however it did not stay long, leaving as quickly as it had appeared. His faceplate was blank by the time one of the guard bots climbed in the back to keep an optic and weapon trained on him.

The ride was a long and very bumpy one as they were taking him a maximum security prison. He wasn't worried; give him enough time and he could break out of anywhere. The only problem was that he didn't want to wait any longer than absolutely necessary to have his revenge. He wanted it and he wanted it now. However he was forced to conceded that it would be best to wait; for another twenty minutes at least. By then they should by in the Wastelands; a large rocky section of Cybertron where some rather unscrupulous characters resided and where no police bot dared go near. It would be the best place for Wasp to escape; until then he just had to be patient. Unfortunately patience was not a virtue Wasp had ever desired or tried to attain. But even he could wait just a few more minutes…couldn't he?

Within ten minutes (although far too long in Wasp's opinion) the transport vehicle began bouncing up and down, a sure sign that they were now entering the Wastelands. Wasp waited, his very frame quivering with eagerness. The guard didn't noticed as he turned to yell at the driver. Seizing his chance Wasp leapt forward, grabbing the keys to the cuffs then crashed into the door cuasing it to open as it had been jarred due to the bumpy road. He jumped out, landing in the middle of the road. Quickly he rose to his pedes and ducked behind some rocks.

The van stopped and both police bots climbed out and stood next to it.

"Should we look for him?" the one who had been riding with Wasp asked.

The driver shook his head. "Nah," he said. "He'll be dead in a day, two at the most. Now let's get going, I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to."

"I'm with you," his companion agreed and they laughed as they climbed back in the vehicle before driving off.

Wasp rose from his hiding place and watched until they were no longer visible then began trying to unlock the energon cuffs. "I hope you're ready, Bulkhead, 'cause here I come," he said with an evil laugh as the cuffs fell to the ground. "Here I come."

A/N/N: 15 reviews again please. I know I'm asking for a lot of reviews but I'm the one working overtime to get this story written before school starts and then I'm writing another story after that! Reviews keep me going and I'm pretty sure that no one wants me to stop right here, do they? So please review.

A/N/N/N: You'll find out what Bumblebee talked Bulkhead into doing in chapter 6.

A/N/N/N/N: I am planning to make this story as long as the first Smugglers story if I can. The next chapter will be posted tomorrow around 5 pm if I remember.

Thanks for all the reviews so far!