Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Triple Changing. Enjoy the 3000-word chapter. I do not own Transformers, Hasbro does.
(USS Supercarrier Caminus)
Fuse knew lives had been lost and he was not amused at all. He knew they were not Autobot but the humans were allied with them, they both had shed energon and he respected them.
Fuse looked at Sandstorm's pod. It made him question if someone had died to get him back to Omega One. How many would have died then? Would have given their lives so he would survive?
Fuse did not know this. He did not wish to lest he go insane with grief.
"How long ago did the war carry to Earth?" Fuse questioned Arcee as the others gathered around the pod.
"A few years ago… I did not meet Jack until a few months ago." Arcee stated.
"It should not have been like this…" Fuse said.
"No, it shouldn't," Arcee said.
Arcee watched Fuse walk away from the edge of the carrier. It was a good thing that the humans from the navy had not seen them. They had also gladly averted a war and they knew it… Starting another war on Earth was the last thing Optimus wanted and it weighed on him the same way anything else did.
It was not to be judged in any sort of way when push came to shove.
"Did the humans manage to talk down war?" Optimus heard.
"Agent Fowler has assured me that an airstrike by a single American plane does not mean the war is the only option…. Considering an American plane also attacked them." Optimus stated.
"I was just stopping them from taking more lives," Fuse stated.
"An admirable quality," Optimus stated as he turned to the pod. "You had spoken of the Triple-Changers… But they are not the only goal on Earth. There is a much larger cache of Cybertronian technology upon Earth as well." Optimus stated.
"That is understandable because there were only three pods as only three Autobot Triple-Changers existed to my knowledge and I do not believe the third one was intact… Me and Sandstorm might be the only remnant of the project." Fuse stated.
Fuse had been quiet. He had been very quiet at the end of the day as he was silent because he respected those soldiers who had died in the line of duty, Autobot and human alike.
"You are different somewhat from when you came to Earth," Optimus stated.
"I was acting like a soldier who wanted revenge and to die fighting for the cause, Optimus… The cons killed plenty of good Autobots, it angers me a LOT to know plenty of people were dead because of them." Fuse stated with a sigh.
Optimus was silent, knowing that he would not be the same soldier he was today, knowing what would become of such a thing was beyond it to the end of the day.
"This is a new start for us, Fuse… A new home for the Autobots." Optimus stated.
"Yes. It is… This is why I am going to shed energon to defend them as they would for us… Still? I know Megatron. He would not have missed a chance to sow deceit and chaos." Fuse stated.
"Megatron would not have deployed Soundwave unless it was a vital operation… Soundwave scarcely is deployed into combat." Optimus stated.
The look on Fuse's faceplate behind his mask told him that the Autobot soldier was far too interested in the future.
(2 hours later)
Fuse and Bulkhead carried the pod through the ground bridge after it was cleared by the American military. It was quite clear that today was a new day for now.
Fuse and Bulkhead set the pod down amid the base. They had been silent before Fuse backpedaled.
"It's like opening a giant metal toy!" Miko yelled.
"Yeah, one that can shoot your legs off," Fuse stated, crossing his arms. "Optimus, may I… Go on patrol with the others? I want to get to know the team a bit more and… Do something that is not combat related for a change." Fuse stated.
Optimus wanted to disagree as Fuse's alt mode was not suitable for relaxing… But he could tell that Fuse was sincere and he wished to be out and about.
"Be and me can go with him… Or you not up with another team-up, flyboy?" Arcee joked.
"Long as you don't make my engines overheat," Fuse stated before looking over to Jack. "Bring your friend as well. I do not plan on anything crazy, just a lap around the area, make sure my systems are up." Fuse stated.
"Fine…" Arcee said with a snort.
Fuse hit the button for the elevator as Arcee and Bumblebee transformed into their alt modes.
"Maintain formation. The humans have had enough violence between our species." Optimus stated.
"We're keeping him out of trouble," Arcee stated.
"Very funny, Cee," Fuse said before the lift hit the top. "Rev your engines a bit when your outside, I'll wait," Fuse said.
"Are we all right with deploying several Autobots onto the frontlines while we are busy reactivating another?" Rachet asked.
"We must be willing to adapt and grow and ease our new allies into the goal. Denying them the chance to adapt to Earth is not something we can afford to pass up." Optimus stated.
Optimus was silent for quite a few moments following this. He knew that his Autobots required rest, relaxation… A moment of peace and serenity that had been denied to them since they had come to this planet.
Thus? He saw no real reason to withhold a scouting run as Fuse had yet to get used to Jasper… Plus? He saw it in a manner of two siblings bonding in one way or another at the end of the moment.
He seemed to be dealt with before she cracked her fingers and then looked into the eye before she managed to relax.
(With 2 minutes)
Arcee seemed to watch as Fuse transformed into his F-14 mode and fly over the roads with Bumblebee and Arcee below him.
Fuse hummed to try and rev his engines but did not outfly them before swooping over them.
Arcee seemed to be too amused with the triple changer as he followed them for now. Arcee seemed to be too interested as she clicked her gears into place.
"You, ok?" Fuse asked, worry crossing his features as the jet slowly flew overhead.
Fuse was too interested in the next move. She knew him and he was beginning to know her. That alone was helping them bond to a degree that had made it harder than possible to try and deal with for now and for good reason.
Too many soldiers had been harmed in life. She paused to think of what she seemed to be dealing with for now and then looked upwards into the sky at Fuse.
Fuse was bored as he slowly started to slow down to try and keep pace with the two Autobots.
Both soldiers were fascinating to him and he knew more and more with time and effort they would be relaxed until then.
(With Sandstorm)
Optimus looked at this tan robot, stripes covering his armor. This Autobot was big but it seemed like he was smaller than Fuse and Bulkhead.
Perhaps more work to be done once more as Optimus seemed to be too interested in the next movement. He cracked his fingers and leaned on the wall next to him, tired and unable to reconcile with what had been occurring every few days.
This war? This war had taken a lot more soldiers from the Autobots than possible, he clicked his fingers with too much anger as he snapped his fingers.
Optimus was too curious and he looked around the room before he sighed, thrown off for now.
"Optimus? Sandstorm is slowly waking up; his systems have sustained minor danger." Optimus heard as he nodded.
"Sandstorm was one tough wrecker during the war… I almost did not think he would get more powerful like this." Optimus heard as he paused to take it all in.
Another triple changer would turn the tides of the war… But he also had to recall the other relics of Cybertron which had been sent to the planet at the time being.
There was a reckoning to be had which he would soon remember. Still? They had rules, they had morals which he would hold his men to even if they did not want it.
Perhaps he was insane to think such a thing was possible, Optimus knew he was the one who valued peace the most above all. Yet? He was no fool, sometimes peace was never going to be within reach no matter what was going on and what would be driven that way now.
Slowly, Sandstorm stood up, his optics flaring blue and his armor flaring with energon as the massive transformer looked around.
His armor flared orange and with crimson… With bits of black, the Autobot crossed his arms as he paused his arms.
"Relax, Autobot. You are among friends." Optimus stated before he sighed as Bulkhead moved forwards.
(With Fuse and the Autobots)
Fuse landed on a plateau with Arcee next to him as he paused, thinking of it for now. He clicked to himself before he seemed to keep thinking of it in whatever he would deal with for now…
Fuse hummed and chuckled as he transformed and stood up.
"I haven't had a fly by like that since Cybertron… This was fun." Fuse stated before he sighed.
"Big baby," Arcee said as she shifted to her robot form.
"Oh, like you and Bee decided to speed ahead of me without a purpose? I know what you two did." Fuse stated.
"Bwoo…" Bumblebee stated.
"No, you're good, Bee… She cheated, and just revved up while we were flying… What happened to low profile?" Fuse asked. "Well, that was fun… There was a lot of the desert to explore. There's a lot of dust to go." Fuse stated.
Fuse watched Arcee snort before she seemed to liven up for a moment, knowing what she could have done next. She was too differently dealt with for now as she seemed to keep thinking.
She was too amusing as he looked over to Jack. The quartet stood overlooking the sunset before Jack spoke up with a few seconds of silence.
"Uh… My mom is going to be coming to the base if that's all right." Jack said.
"Cool… Your mom is the other human whom Arcee and I saved?" Fuse stated.
"Wait, why is June coming? She wasn't… Oh…" Arcee stated.
"To be fair, M.E.C.H. did kidnap her before. It makes sense." Fuse stated.
"Optimus is going to be thrown off by more people at Omega One, Rachet isn't going to like it," Arcee stated.
"When does the old man like anyone? Last, I've known Rachet before Earth? He was still grumpy and still didn't like things he couldn't handle." Fuse stated.
Arcee wanted to object but she had to admit there was at least a small point. Fuse wasn't wrong that Rachet had been one to try and deal with measures in his way, he was an odd warrior and a leader whom he had dealt with it in his little way.
Still? It did not manage to relax, not as he was… Lest he fall apart. Every single little moment on the mind seemed to be dealt with, he would continue to let it all come to an end sooner rather than later.
All of it displeased her but it was clear that she would need to deal with it for now, knowing what he would be dealt with for now as she paused to think of it.
She had been giving off the vibe she had known what had happened but something was bothering him.
"Should we go back?" Jack asked.
"Not yet… This is nice." Fuse stated before he sighed. "This planet isn't so bad if we didn't need to hide? I'd be willing to call it home." Fuse stated.
"With or without Decepticons?" Arcee questioned.
"Beelp." Bumblebee started to say.
"We can handle them. The Decepticons are dangerous… But it's all for one with them, Autobots are a team." Fuse stated.
"I'd argue with that but the Decepticons have Starscream," Arcee stated.
"Hey, Jack? I know we haven't talked… Like once since I showed up… But you got guts, I respect that." Fuse stated.
"Uh, thanks," Jack said.
"Careful, that modesty is going to rub off on you." Arcee teased.
"The kid blew up a Decepticon warship and managed to grab a radio from a human insurgent… He's got guts." Fuse stated.
(With Optimus and Sandstorm.)
"Sandy!" Bulkhead yelled at the top of his audio vocalizers.
"Great… Another wrecker." Rachet muttered for which he snorted and then looked to the side.
He continued to look over data as the two wreckers chuckled. Bulkhead beamed with pride.
"I haven't seen you since the siege of Chaar," Bulkhead said.
"Yeah… Well, they haven't stopped hooking up wires to me last time, they were busy trying to fix me up." Sandstorm stated.
"Bumblebee? Sandstorm has properly regained control of his systems. Please return to base with Arcee and Fuse." Optimus ordered.
"Aw, we're busy living with the trench boys?" Sandstorm asked.
"Wreckers haven't been around for a long time, Sandy," Bulkhead stated.
"No way the cons wiped out the Wreckers. I don't believe it." Sandstorm stated to which he got a sigh.
"Yes, the Wreckers have not been active for several decades," Rachet stated before he seemed to keep growing onwards.
There was a roar of engines as a thud came to the roof. Sandstorm morphed his right hand into a canon.
"Friendly," Bulkhead stated.
Arcee and Bumblebee roared up and then transformed as Fuse slowly stepped off the lift behind him.
"Ok… Oh, he is up already…" Fuse stated before he looked to Sandstorm. "We really should have gotten him an alt mode before he got here… Looking like that is fine on Cybertron." Fuse stated before he sighed.
He hummed once more and he clicked his fingers. A metallic clang seemed to echo through the room.
Fuse looked at the other triple changer, too interested in this creature, this Autobot that he had found him interested in what he did next.
Still? This Autobot was part of a team and he knew more and more he was fascinated for now before he clicked his fingers.
"Heh, I'll find an alt mode… I already have an idea for that." Sandstorm stated before he turned and went to leave.
Fuse snorted and sighed before he watched the Autobot slowly start to leave. He wanted to speak before he slowly started to try and grow more and more exhausted.
He was going to be tired. This was going to be a long day but he seemed to try and deal with it.
"Well, looks like we got ourselves a vintage here…" Sandstorm said.
"As vintage as you are, old timer…" Fuse said, crossing his arms.
"Bulk, walk and talk… I couldn't see worth a frag but I could tell there was something else here." Sandstorm said before he sighed and went to turn on the ground bridge.
"I cannot simply…." Rachet went to yell before the Wreckers vanished.
"So… Am I still the problem child?" Fuse asked as Rachet sighed.
"Great… Two troublemakers." Rachet stated.
"Hey, I am MAKING an effort…" Fuse said before he turned to Optimus.
"Whatever happened since the mission bothers me… Two cons and some foot soldiers attack us and we don't have a single sign of Megatron or his warship. Either he was not trying to attack us or…" Fuse stated before he sighed.
"Or Megatron has devised a smokescreen for his true objective," Optimus stated. "I fear you may be correct in your details," Optimus stated.
"Then what is the next move? If there's me and Sandstorm, Megatron has to have another Triple-Changer. He has a big gun pointed right at us." Fuse stated.
"And it's ready to fire," Arcee said as she shook her head.
"We will do what we believe is the best. After Sandstorm secures his alternate mode? We will begin operations against the Decepticons and M.E.C.H in earnest." Optimus stated before he sighed and then looked to the side at such a thing.
He knew that such operations would be harder to deal with as he clicked his fingers and then looked to the side with such a moment.
He hadn't been able to try anything for fear they'd be discovered. He knew what was going on and the next move would be obvious for the time being.
"We need to relax. Then? We attack." Optimus heard.
"Now you are thinking like an Autobot." Fuse heard from Arcee.
"Very funny, Cee," Fuse said before he hummed. "Can we please go back to the mountainous area where we were relaxing?" Fuse asked.
"You mean the plateau?" Jack asked as Fuse nodded and kneeled.
"Yes. I want to go there. Relax, maybe think about something that is not trying to kill us." Fuse stated.
"Perhaps today is an event for relaxation and preparing for the next phase of operations," Optimus stated. "Fuse? Can I ask you not to be discovered?" Optimus stated.
"I will attempt to the best of my ability… If I am allowed to?" Fuse questioned before looking to the side.
Fuse looked anxious and not for action but for the chance to relax, to find some small comfort in what was going on as he paused, considering the option, and guessing what needed to be best dealt with for now, too unsure and unable to manage.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be delayed. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will be 900-6500 words and will show more of both the next episode and more of Fuse and Sandstorm bonding with the Autobots. Until then, Lighting Wolf is out!
