AN: Don't yell at me. I know this chapter is short, but I made the ending kinda weird, because I can! Ha! Silver is going to be so mad!
Autobot Base:
"No."
Bumblebee beeped another pleading note.
"No," hearing Bumblebee beg for over an hour left Arcee quite annoyed. "Optimus told us to stay here," she turned around, waiting for him to ask again.
But this time, she heard nothing, except for the faint hum of an engine as Bulkhead came in with Miko.
"Thirteen minutes," the Japanese girl shrieked excitedly. "Another record!"
As if on cue, Bumblebee buzzed loudly. He wanted to get into the action and find out what was going on.
"No, 'Bee," Arcee replied firmly, focusing on the steady beeping coming from the screen. "I do not want to find out what Ratchet is up to."
A series of varying beeps answered her.
"Maybe a bit. But it doesn't matter! Optimus told us to stay put, and that's what we're going to do."
"Um... what did he say?" Jack had been listening interestedly to the dispute, and couldn't understand Bumblebee.
"He wanted to know if I was curious as to what was going on with Knock Out and Ratchet."
"Does it matter?"
A certain scout threw his hands in the air indignantly. He buzzed rapidly, each note rising in volume and pitch. A string of irritated beeps quickly turned into what could almost be mistaken for yelling.
Raf looked up from his video game. "I actually didn't understand that," he sounded somewhat confused, given he was normally able to translate everything his guardian said.
"Now that was uncalled for," Bulkhead glared down at his friend with anger visible in his pale blue optics.
"You should know better," Arcee reprimanded her yellow compatriot.
"Well?" Miko looked anxiously at the Autobots. "What'd he say?"
Bumblebee glanced nervously at the wall, keeping silent for once. Arcee awkwardly checked the screen for any incoming messages. Bulkhead opened his mouth to reply, but promptly snapped it shut, uncomfortable with giving an answer.
"Alright, I'm starting to get the feeling you're not going to tell us," Finally, Miko caught on.
Jack shrugged, climbing up the ladder to play video games with Raf. "If they don't want to tell us, then it's not our business."
"No," Arcee said quickly. "It's not that. If I understand English properly, what Bumblebee said translates to some words your mother wouldn't be too happy about you hearing."
At that the room went silent.
The Nemesis:
"I told you, I don't know where he went," The Vehicon in charge of the GroundBridge insisted, backing into the corner.
"You better not," Breakdown turned, about to storm away. But he paused, his hand transforming into his signature hammer; he attacked without warning, slamming the drone into the wall.
"Ohh… my head," The unlucky Vehicon clutched at the gaping wound a futile effort to stop the precious energon from dripping down his faceplate.
"Guess you wish you knew where Knock Out was now, don't you?" Breakdown kicked the already incapacitated soldier as hard as he could – which, by the way, could've probably floored Optimus Prime – leaving him in front of the access panel.
He was about to check the comm station when he heard something moving behind him. Soundwave. Breakdown halted, turning to see what the reclusive 'Con had to say – well, not say, actually. "The Vehicons don't know anything," he grumbled.
Nothing – not even a single beep. The unwieldy warrior didn't know what it was, but Soundwave creeped him out.
Still the Nemesis:
Breakdown was a fool. Anyone could see it, especially Soundwave. Knock Out was smart enough to mask his energy signature before he left – so of course the Vehicons wouldn't know anything – and to see that he wasn't followed.
But Soundwave knew there were other ways to track a Transformer. For instance, the vehicle mode used energon instead of whatever power source the humans designed, and that could be traced. Another way was to monitor the trail left by the GroundBridge, and if wherever they bridged to, the mech was sure to be close by. Simple, really.
Autobot Base:
"I'm telling you, it's not our business!"
"He could've at least told us!"
"Ratchet shouldn't have to!"
"Then what do we really know about him?"
"He's the medic!"
"For all we know, he could be collaborating with Knock Out!"
Bumblebee stood between the two arguing 'Bots, pushing them apart. It was most certainly a good thing the children had gone home, or else they would've seen their bigger friends yelling at each other. Straining, the scout managed to keep Arcee from tackling Bulkhead. He beeped sharply, and they seemed to snap out of their 'conversation'.
"We were at it again, weren't we?" Bulkhead asked.
Bumblebee confirmed it with a single beep.
"I'm going to find out what Ratchet is up to," Arcee hissed under her breath.
Undisclosed Location:
"Good to see you, old friend."
Old friend? Ratchet and Knock Out were friends? Soundwave would have to record their conversation.
The more he listened, the more Soundwave learned. Once the medics had left, he transformed and flew back to the Nemesis. Poor Knock Out had no idea he'd revealed enough to get himself in a lot of trouble.
One thing was certain: Megatron was going to enjoy listening to the conversation. Yes, Megatron was going to enjoy this…
AN: Sorry this didn't shed any light on the last chapter. I'm cruel, leaving you to wonder, aren't I? Whaddya think?