RID: Guess Who

Thanks to Grimlock being so big and all we have to wait until the effects of the skunks spray wears off of Grimlock so that we can head back to the scrapyard. There just aren't enough of us to carry both the skunks and Grim. "I hope I never get sprayed by a Skunkticon again." Grimlock groans as we make our way back to the scrapyard.

"You and us both big guy. So are you alright?" I ask.

"Besides my processor poundin' I'm good. I'm one tough Dinobot after all." He replies with a grin.

"That you are. The toughest I've met." I say.

"Aww shucks your just sayin that." He replies with a huge grin.

When we make it to the scrapyard Bee stops us from going in further. "Hold up team...somethings not right. It's too quiet. Proceed to the command center, but stay quiet." We quietly make our way towards the command center while keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. It doesn't look as if anything has happened and nothing is out of place. "I think Bee was sprayed one too many times." I comment to Sideswipe.

"Your tellin me. Nothin's been messed with. I think hes finally lost it." Sides replies.

I end up running into Bee, whom has suddenly stopped. "What's wrong Bee?"

"Oh, I'm so scrapped." He groans.

"What do you mean?" I ask looking around him. I freeze when I spot what he's looking at. "Carrier? Sire?" I ask in shock at the sight of my creators.

The pair immediately turn their attention to me. "Hope!" Solarstorm exclaims as she rushes over to her daughter.

I meet her halfway and practically melt into her hug that she gives me. "Carrier, I can't believe you here!"

"Of course sweetling. We came as soon as we found out you were here. So how are you? Are you okay? Have you ran into any trouble out here? Have you been hurt at all?" She asks while frantically looking me over.

"Give tha kid some space would ya babe." Wheeljack says to his mate as he walks over to the two most important bots in his life. "Hey darlin'." He says softly to me.

I get out of my carriers grip and into the arms of my sire. "I missed you sire!"

"You too darlin. Like ya wouldn't believe." He says while hugging me back.

I see Bee walk up to us out of the corner of my eye and everyone else standing back behind him observing our interaction. "Hey Storm, Wheeljack. It's good to see ya." Bee says nervously.

"What do you sound so nervous for Bee? Were ya afriad I'd come in guns blazing?" Carrier asks him with a smile.

"I was just preparing myself for all possible outcomes." Bee replies.

"Don't worry I'm not angry with you. After Jazz explained everything we were good. We're just glad Hope's alright." Carrier replies.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble and worry we've caused." Bee apologizes. "Wish we would have been here when you arrived."

"No worries. Fixit has been very informative and helpful." Carrier states.

"Looks like you've got your own little team goin on. How about introductions." Sire suggests.

"I've gotcha." I announce. "This is Strongarm."

"Its an honor to meet war heroes such as yourselves." She sayys with a bow.

"Well aren't you a polite little thing." Carriers says with an approving smile.

"Give it time and you'll change your mind." I tell carrier.

"Hey!" Strongarm protests.

I laugh and then point to Grimlock. "Thats Grimlock."

"A dinobot who loves smashin stuff." He adds.

"Well, stick with what your good at right?" SIre comments in amusement.

"Apparently you've already met Fixit."

"Yes, and he was a very helpful host." Carrier replies.

"We haven't been properly introduced yet." Denny says.

Sire and Carrier kneel down next to him and Russell. "Hi. Denny Clay. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too. Has our little girl been behaving herself?" Carrier asks.

"Like a gem. She's a real treat." Denny replies.

"Of course she is. She's my kid after all." Sire replies with a grin.

"Don't forget about me!" Russell exclaims.

"Awww, and who might you be?" Carrier coos over Russell.

"I'm Russell. So your Hope's mom and dad?" He asks.

"Sure am." They reply.

"Cool. You two even look epic!" He adds.

My creators laugh. "Well aren't you just too cute for words." Carrier gushes.

I look off to the side and see Sideswipe standing by himself. I go over and tug on his arm. "Come on. I've gotta introduce my mechfriend."

"Yeah, I'm not sure thats a good idea." He replies nervously.

"Why not?"

He shuffles his feet and says, "I don't think they'll like me."

"Are you kidding me? They'll love you. Just be your usual sweet and awesome self." I reply lovingly.

Sides nods and gives a smile as I lead him over to my creators. "Carrier. Sire." I say getting their attention. "I'd like to introduce you to someone special. This is Sideswipe and he's my mechfriend."

Its dead silent.

"Mechfriend huh?" Sire asks.

Sides stands straight and says, "Yes sir I am and I like your daughter very much."

"That so?" Sire asks while crossing his arms.

"Ease up Jackie. Its our daughters first relationship so be nice." Carrier soothes sire.

"Alright alright." Sire walks up to Sides and claps him on the shoulder a little too roughly and making him stumble. "So you like my little girl huh? Figure since theres no other young mechs around to snag her attention you might as well go for it?"

Sides immediately starts waving his hands around. "No. No sir- It wasn't like that. It just sort of-happened. I didn't intend to start a relationship with your daughter."

"Oh so it was a spur of the moment thing then? Not a lot of choices so you figured-why not? My baby girl not good enough for ya?" Sire asks.

"No, she's perfect-better-no, more than I deserve. I'll never be good enough for her." Sides says trying to pacify my intimidating sire.

"Ya got that right. So how'd you two meet anyway?" Sire asks.

"Sire!" I exclaim to him at the way he is treating Sides.

"What? I just wanna knwo more about the kid." Sire replies in mock innocence.

"Keep it to an introduction not an interogation please." I request.

"Shes right Jackie. Be nice to the kid." Carrier repremends him. She walks up to Sides, whom flinches and she notices. "Theres no reason to be so nervous. I promise his intimidation factor is just for show."

He nervously chuckles, "Finding it hard to believe ma'am."

"Ma'am? Well you certiantly have manners don't you?" Carrier states approvingly.

"Believe me ma'am thats not a regular occurance." Strongarm adds.

"Your not helping." Sides hisses at her.

"So lets go back to my question...how did you two meet?" Sire asks.

"Jackie." Carrier warns him.

"I'll be nice darlin'. Don't tell me your not curious."

"I think we better give them some space team. Need to get these SKunkticons in stasis pods anyway." With that said Bee ushers everyone away, although Strongarm is very reluctant to leave.

"Sire please be nice. He's a really great mech." I beg.

Sire rubs my helm and says, "I am being nice. I jsut wanna know more about the mech who snagged my daughters attention."

I turn to Sides and say, "Like I said just be your usual sweet and awesome self and you'll be fine."

"You sure?" He asks nervously.

"Come on kid you got nothing to be worried about...unless your a no good punk, but I'm sure your not." Sire states seriously.

"Jackie lighten up." Carrier warns him. She turns her attention to Sides. "Well Sideswipe its nice to meet you. Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself."

"Its really great to meet you too. Hopes told me a lot about you, plus your war heroes so I already knew you were awesome." He replies shyly.

"Well thats very sweet of you to say so you two must not have known each other long because shes never mentioned you." Carrier states.

"Actually we met like right before we ended up on Earth." He replies.

"Oh really? Where'd you two meet?" She asks curiously.

Sides and I share a look because our first meeting consisted of him causing a public disturbance...this should be interesting.

"Well, we ran into each other by the statues of the Primes and we-

"Stop Hope." Sides interrupts me. "We won't get anywhere by lying." He turns to my creators. "Ma'am? Sir? You wanna know who I am? Here it is...I'm a punk, a rebel, and an immature bot who has a real problem with authority. I'm no good for your daughter and I know that I'll never be good enough for her...we met because her and Bee were called in to handle a public disturbance...me. We didn't get together until after we had been on Earth a little while, and I have never been happier than when I'm with Hope. She's the greatest thing thats ever happened to me and despite being a punk I hope you'll let me stay with her."

My creators and I are stunned into silence. Hearing Sideswipe speak so honestly and passionately about wanting to stay with me makes my spark flutter.

Carrier and Sire share a look before they both smile. "Well, any mech that feels that strongly about our little girl and is even willing to be that honest about himself...hes good in my book." Sire says before clapping Sides on the shoulder.

"Seriously?" I ask hopefully.

"Of course sweetspark. Honesty goes a long way and he seems like a good one." carrier replies.

"But that doesn't mean I won't shove a grenade down your throat should you ever hurt her." sire threatens.

"DOnt worry sir. I don't intend to." Sides says seriously.

"See that you don't. Now, how about we all get to know one another." Sire suggests.

We all spend the next few hours sitting and talking and the others even join in after a while. Stories are shared about what we've been through since coming to Earth...but we make sure to leave out the whole kidnapped by Steeljaw thing.

"Well, it sounds like ya'll have been doing good for yourselves." Carrier comments.

"We try. It was a rough start but we're getting better at the whole teamwork thing. Optimus make leading look so easy." Bee states.

"No offense but he was a Prime...their special cases.' Carrier states.

"Thanks for the pep talk Storm." Bee replies sarcastically. "Well everyone its getting late so we better get some rest. You never know what we'll encounter tomorrow."

Soon enough everyone goes to their rooms until me, Sides, and my creators are left. Sides shuffles his feet and asks, "Can I hug you goodnight?"

I laugh. "Just because my creators are here doesn't mean you have to be so nervous."

"He can get into the habit if he wants to though." Sire says somewhat playfully.

I ignore him and hug Sides, whom hugs back. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Ok. Night." With that its just me and my creators.

"How long are you guys stayin?" I ask.

"We can't stay too awfully long. Have jobs to get back to after all. We just had to come and see you for ourselves. We put out a reward when you went missing and when Jazz came and told us where you were we left for Earth as soon as we were able." Carrier replies.

"I really am sorry I worried you. I didn't mean to." I say regretfully.

They hug me and Sire says, "Its okay darlin. We know you didn't mean to. We're just glad your okay...so what does this mean for when we leave?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean when your carrier and I go back to Cybertron in a few days will you be coming with us?" He asks.

I go silent at that. I've passed the chances I've had to go back home because I couldn't leave everyone behind...but now that its my creators asking me could I turn them down? Could I watch them leave and go back without me if they asked me to go with them?