Heartlines

A/N: Hello everyone. It's been almost a year since my last update on Heartlines, and I apologize for this. I'd completely given up on writing for a while, and was dealing with a lot of things that needed to be sorted out. But I'm so much better now.

In a nutshell, I am back and I am 100% ready to get back into this one. With that being said, I've gone back and updated each chapter, so if you want to see everything in it's prime (no pun intended), go check it out, and catch up here, with chapter 5.

Lot's of love, thank you to everyone who kept this story alive, and those who are just joining.

Oh, and PS. Flare-Up is still here, but don't think Elita-One won't show up, because fuck Michael Bay.

CHAPTER 5. CONVERSATIONS

[four days later: 0600 hours]

"Alright, Rosette, we're going to try this one more time. Slowly, so you don't screw up again." Stressed Lennox carefully, shuffling up all of those pesky documents in his hands. He removed the cup of steaming coffee from between her fingers, and handed the reports back to the Weapons Specialist instead. Her dead expression raised from her normal boredom to extreme, intense boredom in a heartbeat. Her air supply left in one big exhausted huff, ruffling her bangs around her face. After all, it was six in the morning, and they had given her sleeping rights for the last few days until whenever the sounds of the base had awoken her.

Now, it was in vain - only to rip it away.

If one was to look from her point of view, to the Autobots in the hanger, their faceplates and optics cried of the same emotion present in Skylar's attitude. Clearly the only one who wanted to continue this little experiment was Lennox, but there was no stopping him once he'd begun.

From her position high on top of the tall, looming metal catwalk designed to bring humans closer to the height of the Autobots, Skylar began to fan herself with the paperwork between her knuckles. It had been 4 days, living here with the knowledge and understanding that not only was she working and training with a species of a different galaxy, but they were 'autonomous robotic organisms' that had the sole purpose of protecting and safe-guarding the end of their species and her own.

That, and if she wasn't careful where she stood, they had the ability to squish her underneath their clunking, chunky feet in a simple accident.

It had been a lot to take in all at once, and her first two days had been almost completely lived in denial. But, after a long, serious conversation with Lennox about their destructive arrival, to Mission City and Egypt on a long, midnight walk that had chilled her to the bone for hours after, she had been compelled to give meeting them a second shot.

The truth is, she found that their intense dedication and loyalty to be a matter of good nature and commitment. She was a purebred soldier, and qualities like this impressed her. Especially in all they had sacrificed in the cause to save the planet and the human race.

From the exposure, on, hours ticked by and they were free to roam out of alternate mode and into bipedal as they pleased. It was then she had started to get to know them. They each left a tiny imprint on her mind already. Some of them were naturally funny, some were strong - in mind, spirit, or mechanical muscle. Serious or protective, proud - they were as emotional and human as gigantic aliens could be. In that, she had found what she needed to feel comfortable enough with the situation to continue to ponder learning about each Bot and their lives before, during and their plans for Earth, and the N.E.S.T. War in the near and distant future.

24 hours later, where she sat now, Lennox was testing her. Already, Skylar would entertain him, Epps, and the Autobots with what she had retained and knew about her fierce co-warriors. And despite her cooperation as she tried to be friendly with the Autobots, it was still very little she understood about them besides the basic facts she had read about in files slapped on her desk. Or, what she had heard by ear. It was not enough.

"This is very serious, Specialist."

She mocked William under her breath as she began to read the sheets in front of her once more, indulging in the same information she had already gone over for the last day. She tsked when he did, wincing as her tongue burned from the coffee; it had scalded her, and she rubbed it against the rough roof of her mouth.

"Honestly, take your time trying to remember what you've seen. If you do this right, you get a 'good job' sticker and permission to leave base for the day. If you do it wrong, you're going to have to wait another full day to get out of here and I don't think you wan -"

"- alright, I've got it." She said suddenly, slapping down the reports into Lennox's hands. She stood in the next moment, despite his whine of protest, and cracked her shoulder, shaking out. Like a boxer preparing herself for the ring.

Her Captain, of Major, she should say, sighed loudly, dramatically, in a way that only Lennox could do when he was frustrated (or already done with her bullshit. As the hours with her ticked by, he finally understood her report from her last commanding officer about her 'attitude problem'. A flaw they deeply reflected on and tried to drill out of her over at Boot's Sniper Camp). He took the paperwork from her, stood back, and let her try for the grand prize - her freedom.

Skylar placed her fingers on the cool, metal bar dividing her from a concrete grave. She palmed the hard material and gazed upon her new teammates with a thoughtful expression. She was mentally attempting to resurface every fact about the Autobots in front of her that she had processed in the last few days. She studied them all with her olive eyes, and they watched her back. Some annoyed from being confined to the less than spacious hanger, some excited for her last attempt of the day.

Finally, she opened her mouth -

"Optimus Prime is leader. To some, he was once also known as Orion Pax, back on the Autobot's home planet of...Cyberton - Cybertron. Last of the Primes."

Her pupils looked to Lennox for approval. He nodded softly, a turn of his chin up and down. Skylar now progressed onward confidently, feeling a bit better about what she had to do. The history of the big man with a plan had been the first of many things she had to intake, and seemingly the hardest to remember. And if she had already gotten through that, she would hopefully do fine.

"Under N.E.S.T., he was, as they explained it, 'offlined' for a short period of time, but with the help of Sam Wilkickity," Lennox winced. She'd screwed up the boy's last name. If he had been there, Sam would have tossed a fit, and everyone minus Skylar knew that, "and the leader thingy - fine, fine, the 'Matrix of Leadership', happy Will? - he was revived. He, and the rest of the Autobots have diplomatic immunity to execution."

Optimus shifted, impressed with the human femme. She had exceeded strikingly so.

"Ironhide is the team Weapons Specialist, like myself, just quite larger and non-human. Over 100 moving battle parts, stocks of ammo that literally rotate infinitely through his body, or so I've heard, and has a functioning 'brain' the size of a human peanut."

Ironhide barked in sarcastic laughter for a moment, before stopping short. Skylar slyly turned her lip and looked to continue on.

In the day she had spent getting familiar with the Autobots, Ironhide and Skylar had been the two to truly bump heads, grind gears, show least compatibility between human newbie and Autobot. Not in a way that would make working together too difficult, but in the way that Will feared for the integrity of a normal, working relationship between the very capable weapon welders. He had a sense that at some point, some heavy backlash from placing one with the other would be brought to light. A dangerous sibling relation, if he had to classify it.

"I'm kidding, kidding - kind of - but his ego is as big as his chestplates, and none of you, not even you, Ironhide, can argue. Moving on, there is Sideswipe, who prefers Sides to any other nickname. He is an Autobot Warrior, and as he likes to tell me, a 'damn good one'. He has a twin, Sunstreaker, but he has not found his way to Earth yet from the stars. He, Sideswipe, that is, is very egotistical as well, a reoccurring theme here..."

Lennox snorted under his breath despite himself, crossing his arms over his chest. Epps whistled at her sass.

Out of all the Autobots, only Optimus seemed to find the amusement as well, his mechanic mouth turning in a way that looked like a huge smile.

"He's very proud of his paint job, and is skilled at high speed combat, however, then there is Bumblebee - the scout Bot with a better paint job than Sides on any given day, and usually kicks his ass at racing."

Bumblebee whirled in appreciation for her kind compliments, playing something like, "I'm Sexy and I Know It" throughout his speakers. But then there was some debate. Bumblebee and Sideswipe found themselves bickering away quicker than Skylar could open her mouth to continue her analysis. Sides giving a couple dirty swears, and Bee searching the internet for the greatest insults. Lennox eventually got Ironhide to shut the two up, but not without at least one snickering Autobot. It was entirely too funny for Skylar to ignore as well, but only internally did she laugh. If she wanted off base (and boy, she did), she would have to earn her way out in the eyes of Lennox. And God, she needed new clothes very, very badly.

"He is the guardian to Sam Witwitty," still wrong, Lennox rubbed his nose in thought, "and unfortunately, Bumblebee's vocal processors has been severely damaged in combat, but it is apparently capable of repair. Ratchet, who currently resides off base, agreed to work with me to figure out how to fix that quicker than just one mind. He is the medical examiner and field mechanic, and, along with Ironhide, will be present at all weapon design days for chemical and bio input. Clearly, he is the head brain of the group."

"Imma also excuse da't insult to say: do us next!"

"Nah, lil' thang, just do me."

Bang. One of the brother's slapped the other across the back of the head.

"Twins - are idiots." She paused. "Must I really have to say anything more about them?"

After a moment to think about it, William shook his head and that was that. There was protest from the two brothers, but she followed her command to ignore them and continue.

"Then, there is Arcee, Chromia, and Flare-Up. They are referred to as the Triplets more often than not. I've been told that they are extremely dangerous, not, that I've been able to actually spend some time with them one on one to make an opinion for myself. Sorry girls. Not to be tinkered with by untrustworthy men. Retreat at all costs."

"We're not that terrifying, are we?" Chromia wondered aloud, the second-in-command behind Elita-One. Since the female leader was not present at the time, she took top position. She would admit through her mental comm. link to her sisters, and her sisters only, that she was a bit shocked at what has been said. She trained her optics to her sisters for their ideas.

"Speak for yourself." Whirled Arcee, the vicious warrior femme, with a sinister laugh. And that was all that was said between the three before reaching an unsettling silence. Flare-Up was surveying the current situation, not entirely keen on leveling herself to speak. She left her thoughts for her siblings to hear, and her siblings alone.

There was an awkward pause, and Ironhide whistled to clear the air, flaring his cannon once.

"Jolt, also intelligent, is off on combat with Ratchet. I have been told that he has a keen sense of dignity and pride, and a habit of getting into trouble. He sounds like a pretty chill dude - er, Bot." Fixed she.

And that was that.

But, she wasn't done.

Skylar looked to Optimus for his approval to speak, ignoring as Lennox began to praise her for her excellent work. She had met the end of the main group of Autobots she had heard or come in contact with, this was clear, but it appeared that she had more to say. Prime nodded his head, permission ringing in his stance for retribution by Captain Lennox if for some reason Will found this shared intelligence inappropriate. With that in mind, she turned to her Captain softly and began what else she had been given insight on.

(Will found that Skylar must have spent alone time with Optimus at some point or another without his knowing. He let it slide, just to see how much she really did understand about the N.E.S.T. War.)

"Though I do honestly feel a bit better about these...Autobots, there is the opposition. There is always opposition. Megatron, for instance."

The Autobots shifted uncomfortably at how loudly and blandly she spoke his name. She did not seem to fully understand the blow that the Decepticon army had left on the team for the magnitude of years fought in this never-ending battle. Optimus let his optics gaze to the ground in thought of his Brother and his cruel nature that had torn apart many lives.

"I was told upon contact or in radius, until I am trained enough or have acquired the right weaponry for battle, to retreat at all costs. He is unauthorized for combat and - well, anything else about him is classified, classified, and this -" She grabbed a paper from her pocket that Will attempted to reach for, "says something about his information being classified?"

"Obviously." He took the paper from her fingers, her stolen knowledge. She frowned. "Skip it, Skylar. We're done here -"

"Starscream." She started again from muscle memory. "Second in command. There's a note on that says he's a little weasel and that if I really want to, I can -" At this point, she said something very inappropriate for the naked ear. Sideswipe, Bumblebee, the Twins and Ironhide could no longer hold in their laughter, and let it go from deep in their chestplates. Even the Bot with no vocal processors chipped and whirled, holding himself as he chortled. Optimus cleared his throat, honestly trying his best not to show his amusement in her words as well.

Skylar tucked a piece of hair behind her ear sheepishly, and felt Lennox place a hand on her shoulder.

"These are highly classified? Where did you get -" He noted the HTML pattern at the bottom of the letter, a code thumb print, so to speak. Though Lennox was no brainiac or expert tech addict, he'd been around the Autobots to know their symbol signatures at the bottom of all contracts and documents that were produced and transmitted for human eyes to debrief in meetings before combat. "'Hide - !"

"You said we could brief her on the enemy eventually! It would be best that she understands now versus when she's in a war -"

"It is not eventually! She's just joined the team, and is nowhere near ready for her normal job, let alone field work. She's going to be a hanger-junkie for the next year if I see to it -"

"Okay, before you women start going at each other like two bra shoppers on Black Friday, did I pass the memorization test or not?"

Lennox pinched the bridge of his nose tightly when most of the Autobots shut up immediately, and researched what Black Friday was in the back corners of their minds from the World Wide Web. Except for Bumblebee, who made thoughtful noises at the remembrance of Judy Witwicky during the all day 'sale' she had raved about for a good month in advance. She had come home with a warrior look in her eye that would have made even the Decepticons cower, and bag upon bag of useless human outerwear.

Skylar's Major released all the air in his lungs, and waved his hand.

Alas, she was free to go.

15 minutes later, she was packing her bag up and giving Joey an idea on how to carefully care for Maxwell in her all-day absence.

The upside: she was free for an entire day. At 6:30 in the morning, it felt good to know that her day was filled with possibility and shopping and freedom.

The downside: she had to have a babysitter come with her.

"Is it, I don't know - weird? For me to sit inside? Can he feel it?"

Skylar whispered this, nervous and quiet under her breath to the broad form that was Lennox. He was noticeably silent at first, standing still as a statue to her left. His hands were tucked behind his back, just as she did; the natural rest position for the working army man or woman. She gazed at the sleek form of Bumblebee from beneath her sunglasses, watching his arrival in yellow and black and new tires and a sleek wax, who entered the hanger in alternate mode a few minutes after her arrival there herself. She could smell the rubber he burned as he showed off to Sideswipe, who only muttered and walked away in response.

The silver Bot was still annoyed with the paint job debate from earlier.

With her black backpack slung over her shoulder, some of the soldiers around center base began to look away from Bee's show, to the newest female addition to the team. Weapons Specialist Rosette felt their eyes pelting at her from all angles. They noticed that she never went anywhere too far without her pack on her back. Many rumors ensured, from her braid of long, stretching hair, to her cracking shoulder, to her bag of secrets, to her association with the Autobots around her - and someone even questioned her dog.

Lennox was used to intense scrutiny, and ignored the itching feel on his back he got from being looked at for too long. He started to shrug at her questionnaire. His mouth opened, but it was Optimus, who had towered behind the pair, that answered her question delicately.

"You, little Skylar, are not the first human we have had ride inside of our interior chambers. When in alternate mode, Autobots are designed to feel only the whiplash on the exterior and keep control of our steering to reach point A and B. Not to mention, we keep up shape and façade to not alert humans of our presence here on Earth, even if as of recently, our presence may already be speculated. With expressed internal permission, can we allow for human interaction. Or, in other words, he does not feel a thing, unless he let's you drive manually."

Skylar nodded a little to herself, finding all of this more than strange, but in a whole: interesting. She was open to continue understanding, it would just take some time to get used to it.

Bumblebee, with his tires squealing, pulled up and purred next to her in half a second, waiting for their departure. His optimism for the adventure made her cautious. She inched forward and peeked through his tinted window glass, curious, only to have her eyebrows crease in displeasure.

"I can't drive stick."

"Then he'll drive. Less chance for accidents anyways. Less paperwork." Will said this cheerily, opening the front door, practically pushing her inside. He closed it right behind her too. She barely had a clear moment to adjust to being so forcefully shoved around, or to take her backpack off and sling it into the backseat, before a grey seatbelt came crashing down across her, restricting her airflow and keeping her pressed against the leather chair. Her head rocked back and she wheezed.

The belt retracted a bit.

"Alright there, Rosette?" Lennox knocked on the window. As it rolled down, she shook her head and tried squeaking out that she wasn't sure this was a good idea.

But did he listen? Frightfully not.

"No? Okay, well, too bad - debriefing has to be fast, as I have a plane to catch. You are to stop only where important for your hygienic needs. Obviously, there is no speaking of your duty, status or - just, anything having to do with Bumblebee and his normal self in general, got it? Now, he's a nice vehicle in alternate mode, clearly, so don't be surprised or taken aback if someone mentions something about his make or model. Just roll with it. Play the dumb girlfriend to a rich boyfriend who got her this car or something - whatever. Also, I ask that you stop by this address," he handed her a post-it note, "and talk to her. Give her this."

She was handed an enclosed envelope as well. Skylar briefly looked at it - it was addressed in all-caps to a woman named SARAH.

"She'll give you some insight into all of this Autobot stuff without completely frazzling your brain - it should help you come to terms, yeah? I won't see you for another week, therefore either Optimus or Epps will see to your basis training. Stay safe, kiddo."

Skylar didn't realize he'd just given her a new nickname, but she would in time when it would become a repeated call for her. As she adjusted to her seat, feeling the leather stick to the back of her legs, the heat and roar of the vehicle - robot? - beneath her, she felt a pang of awkwardness and squeezed her eyes together tightly. She hoped the Autobot wouldn't notice her discomfort, and the truth was, he had not the slightest idea of her thoughts. Deep in the mentality of the Bot she sat within, a different form of communication was transpiring.

[Bumblebee; though Skylar's instructions from Major Lennox were clear on her end for extreme safety cautions due to the nature of her new job and status, and the prospect of letting the secret slip, you must be vigil for any hidden dangers. The rise in Decepticon activity across the globe increases as the hours pass by. She is new, and has yet to understand the lurking problems that follow humans every day. It would be best if we take it a step at a time. Fair traveling, Scout.]

[Understood, Optimus.]

With that, the pair was off.

The first few minutes were sat in complete silence, awkward enough that Bumblebee didn't even make his normal attempts at turning on the radio to finding something to ease the mood like he would have with Samuel. Skylar, to his start up and speed away, had clawed her nails into the seat, leaving crescent moon marks on the leather. He did not mind too much; as long as she was eventually going to relax and become more and more comfortable, and less and less claustrophobic, he would not think about the prospect of gently misused seats to calm her nerves.

The steering wheel shifted from left to right, maneuvering skillfully through the base, clearing soldiers, until in front of them, was an open, deserted desert road, and a sun-pelted array of sand, sand and more sand. They were fast - faster than Skylar would have liked, and only slowed briefly a few miles out of the black paved path to pass through a large gate, with bright, yellow and red lights aimed at his hood. Two men with guns larger than Skylar Rosette herself checked and cleared Bumblebee, then her and her papers. Nothing suspicious was found, so they were granted access to proceed further.

A part of her was in fear for herself, she realized. She tucked her hands under her armpits, curling into herself in the front seat.

(Bumblebee noticed that she at least wasn't clutching on for dear life anymore.)

Even if she was trained expert in all things like this situation, as she'd ridden in on tank for action once, long ago, and many army cars since, being in a technologically conscious inorganic (in Earth terms), that had an real mind and drive of its own, a thousand moving parts and a vast array of advanced, accelerated weaponry hidden in the nooks and crannies brought on dark, bothersome feelings inside her.

Worse, unfortunately the other half of her was completely engrossed and in awe as the car drove on just beneath her fingertips. Bumblebee was one of the soldiers she would be designing those same weapons for, her life's work - able to be used and seen! And, his sole purpose was to protect her, and the people of Earth from Decepticon destruction.

She was beginning to relax. This was going to be the new normal for her, and she had to warm up some time didn't she?

Bumblebee kicked up the speed to 70 miles an hour, and shot like a bullet in the light of the rising sun. It loomed overhead like a lamp, heating up the vehicle fast enough that Skylar rolled the windows down, and let the wind cool her - no, them - off. While his stereo made a clicking and whirling noise (he appreciated the feeling just as much as she had), the dry air of Nevada pulsed through her hair, sending it into a flurry all around her face. She did not mind. It felt fantastic.

"I'm guessing they want us alive then, huh, buddy?" She said quietly, reaching her fingers out to pat the dashboard with the edge of her palm, delicately as a flower. It was a few moments after she decided to just let go of all her worries and try her best to befriend the Autobot, and she had felt the need to break the silence sooner than later. Which, was the weirdest emotion she had ever experienced; ergo, she was talking to a car.

No - Autobot.

"That, uh - that debriefing left no room for fun, you know?" She snickered a little. "Lennox is like a scary, brooding daddy."

"It would seem that on the horizon we've got - warm hugs and - something or someone out there looking out for us - yeah?"

She was slightly surprised over Bee's communication system, but it did not completely shock Skylar. This was not the first time she had heard him speak using radio waves. Yet, even if she expected him to respond in this format, she still silently marveled in the mental capacity and advancement it would take to surf all the broadcasting radios of the entire world at once to produce the perfect alignment of words to form a coherent sentence for her to understand.

With a pop in the corner of her lips, forming a baby smile on her teeth, she adjusted in the seat. Silence loomed for them again, but not one like before that was unbearable. Bumblebee eventually found his way to the main road, following an off-ramp from the dessert that connected with a freeway littered with cars so, so unlike hers. She briefly wondered if any of them could be Autobots, but then retracted that thought. The only Autobots on her Earth, minus 2 on leave, and the one she rode in, were back at base in the center of Nevada.

(It had taken her about an hour after getting the news of the Autobots to realize she was in Area-51. She had wanted to laugh, but it freaked her out more than made her jubilant at the time.)

They took to the traveler's traveled road as the sun reached 8 A.M. And by 9, Skylar had been in a car for 3 hours, and was ready to kick her way free if she needed too.

Sensing her agitation as she fidgeted with her fingers once again -

"We are currently - 48 miles 'til we get - your all access destination vacation!"

Startled by the sudden explosion from the radio, Skylar couldn't help but laugh a little at the squeaky female voice that boomed from the speakers. In the process, her soft giggling huffed air up at her bangs until they settled neatly across her forehead. She stretched out a bit with the happy thoughts of 48, 47, 46 tumbling through her brain, faster than the lines on the street beneath them. It felt good to extend. She could not feel Bumblebee watching her, but he was, and rumbled excitedly to find she was much more comfortable than where they had begun the journey.

Proudly, he scanned the radio for something good and from this, they began to reach the end of their epic ride.

The address Lennox had given her, she realized, was to a small house quite far away from the civilization they wanted to find. Bumblebee told her this, so Skylar decided that she was visit there last. For now, she asked Bumblebee very politely to pull into a local mini-mall off of the strip, where she was sure she could find cheap, but dependable clothes. All she needed were t-shirts, a few tank-tops for when it got too hot, and some sort of shorts, even if she just found one pair.

"So," Skylar stated as she grabbed her bag from the backseat, slinging it over her shoulder. When she shut the door to the driver's seat, she blinked at the front of the store, then back to Bumblebee (who ceased the purring noise he previously had been making), "what now? I mean - well, do I leave you here? Or - I mean - I guess you can't follow me inside but -" She was stuttering through thoughts, not sure what to say or do. Did she tell the Autobot to wait in the car - or to stay like a car?

"It is alright - I will wait, I will wait for you!"

"Okay then." She nodded her head once, tightening the straps on her shoulders to hold her tightly. "You know . . . I feel like I should spend some time figuring out some sort program or something like it that'll make you a projection, or, you know. Like a hologram. Perhaps it'll help with stealth, or just blending in."

"Actually, if you don't mind me saying - there is already something just like it! - unfortunate, really. I don't possess that - glory! Power!"

She pat the hood of the car.

"I can fix that."

"What did she have to say?" Bumblebee whirled through the radio as Skylar shuffled back into the front seat of the Camaro, tossing her bag into the passenger seat with a little more force than she meant. Slamming the door shut behind her, watching it lock automatically, the Weapons Specialist huffed out with wounded lungs. She was irritated. She gazed forward at the Lennox house in front of them with dark cheeks, blushing a bright red that didn't go unnoticed by his scanners as he tried to detect what could have caused her less than pleased nature.

"Nothing." She went quiet for a moment. "Well, alright - if I knew I was going to be meeting Lennox's wife and that Lennox would be handing her a love note through me that she would proceed to open and coo at with her baby, I maybe would have been more cheery. Sure, she told me a bit about what having Ironhide around was like - which, God help me if I ever had to live with him - and she let me know that I'll soon be used to it, the whole, Autobot/Decepticon thing. The whole alien thing. Either way - just, just - remind me to bop him in the face, will ya?"

"You're amusing," He told her, tearing out of the driveway as safely as the Bot could when she was forcefully telling him to drive hard, and drive fast, "for a small weakling."

"Wait - hey," Skylar pursed her lips, sniffing from distaste at his choice of words, "who are you calling 'small weakling'?"

Reaching out, she smacked the center of the steering wheel, forcing the Autobot's horn to honk.

"I would advise - against that." Ms. Rosette snorted once at his reaction, satisfied.

It took her only a minute to yawn. She attempted to hold it in from somewhere deep in her chest, but was unsuccessful. She murmured senseless words.

"Are you tired?" He inquired, turning onto a road that would lead them back to the main highway for departure.

"No." She lied, placing her forehead on the glass gently. The cool feeling of the on-coming night calmed her considerably so, enough that she brought her knees to her chest, resting the front of her legs against the wheel. It was nearing 8 P.M., and she had been on her feet from the time she'd gotten up, to the Mini-Mall, to the Lennox house, where she had spent an hour chasing around the little Annabelle. Outside, underneath her hooded eyes, the night sky took hold of the dusk, stars twinkling away like city lights from afar. For a moment, she thought about the prospect of more of these...Autobots, looming beyond that star, or that star. That there was a planet out there, crafted just like her own, that held Cybertronians.

Or, what used to be.

She thought the same for Decepticons, how their venture brought them from that star, to that star, to Earth's shores already. Their plans of destruction.

She decided to stop thinking.

"Major - warned us that we have found our - own little spitfire. One who won't let you get away with nothin' - you are not a very good liar!"

She ignored that with a question.

"So what shall I call you? Bumblebee? Buddy? Bee?" She pondered each.

"Bee! - is fine."

"Okay, then, Bee." She yawned again, shuffling further down on the side door, thinking very little about the fact that only a few 12 hours earlier, she was terrified to touch the exterior of the vehicle she rode in. Bumblebee contemplated it instead, but said nothing, "I'm going to go to sleep now."

Somewhere in her consciousness before she went under, she thought she heard him call her a squishy weakling again.