I know I just finished one story and have plenty of others to work on, but I came up with this idea that now suddenly appears a lot dumber on paper (or, err, computer screen) than in my brain. Hopefully you'll like my attempt to give the poor lonely Dinobots some more love. (There are hardly any stories about them that are more than one-shots or don't involve Ratchet/Wheeljack in some way). There will be no pairings in this, and if you 'see' any, those are just there to poke fun.

Dinobot characterizing is mostly based off of the oneshot Vigil. I suggest you go read it.

Now, let Dinobot need Friends begin! Mwahahaha!

"Grimlock not listen!" "Grimlock!" "NOT LISTEN!" "GRIMLOCK!" Half of the denizens on the Ark winced, foreseeing worse to come. And sure enough, they're not wrong.

Ratchet made his way towards the Dinobot in front of him, waving a wrench in the air. One of the warning signs. Then it happens. "GRIMLOCK! YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME, PRIMUS SO HELP ME, OR I WILL REFORMAT YOU INTO GLITCHING TOASTER!" The metal T-Rex stared wide-eyed at the Autobot medic, a rarity. "Grimlock listen now." He growled, clearly convening he's not happy with it. "Good. It's time for your check-up." "Grimlock no like stupid check-ups." Ratchet scowled, going over to the counter to examine a few tools. "I don't care if you like them or not, you're going to have one. The rest of your team has already done so. Now it's your turn."

"Ha. That why Slag so mad." Ratchet turned, holding out a scanner. "Just stay still, Grimlock."

Later...

Grimlock stomped back to the Dinobot part of the ship. Already angered about the check-up, his mood was further worsened by the various insults and jokes flying around about how a Dinobot is comparable to a Decepticon. Yet somehow, he managed to get back without destroying anything or anyone on the way. A nice achievement that most mechs on the Ark would think is impossible for him to accomplish.

Inside, Snarl and Slag are fighting. Again. Loud roars and growls echoed throughout the area. Grimlock was no mood to deal with it. Coming into the fight, he used his body mass to knock the two away from each other. Snarl wnet off by himself to go sit next to Sludge, watching the entire situation. Even Slag backed off, recognizing that the Dinobot leader is in a mood. Only one Dinobot ignored the warning signs, flying down from his perch above. Swoop.

Grimlock snarled at the flyer, but was ignored yet again. "Don't worry, one day Swoop find nice human." The Dinobot promised. "Soon."

"Swoop stupid. Why find human?" Slag growled. Swoop didn't answer for a second, bending back to 'preen' his wings. Then the answer came. "Autobots need see Dinobots not bad. Think bad, but not bad. Finding nice human mean not bad to Autobots." "Why care?" "Cuz mean Dinobots not made fun of." Swoop looked up with a pleading look in his optics. "Please?"

Grimlock thought about it. He finally consented. "Fine. Swoop can find nice human." Of course, the Dinobot leader didn't really believe that the flier would find such a thing. But then, he had underestimated the determined Dinobot in the past. Still a big maybe, though...

I frowned at the contrite computer screen in front of me. No matter what I tried, it only kept blaring warnings. Finally I threw my hands up in the air and turned to my father sitting next to me.

"Fine, I give up. What 'd I do?" He looked at me, his blue eyes full of unreadable emotion. "It's easy. All you do is-" I tune out the rest of his explanation, knowing I wouldn't understand it anyway. I was no computer genius, despite various attempts made by my family members to teach the way of the hard-drive.

I watched my father as he waved a hand at various things on the screen, black hair falling over into his eyes. I may share the black hair the rest of the family has, but I'm the only one with brown eyes. I smirked a little at that thought. Great, another way I can stand out, I think sardonically to myself.

"-and then you- are you even listening?" "Huh?" I shot up, almost falling over. Dad chuckled at the sight. "I guess not, huh?" "Sorry Dad, but it sorta put me to sleep." I attempt to explain my not listening. "I can see that." He looked me up and down. I kept quiet, not sure what to expect at the moment. He gave a final nod to something only he can see, and says, "Go ahead and mess around with your brother." A disbelieving look showed up on my face and he laughed. "I know Alec's been dying to show you his newest Pokemon card."

That's all I need. I take off down the hallway, giving a cursory glance back at my father still at the computer. From what I can see in the reflection, he seems...disappointed. I feel a twinge of disappointment myself. You'll never be a computer geek like everyone else in your family is and has been for generations, A small spiteful voice whispers in my mind. I shake it off. I can still do it. Still try.

"Sis! Hey sis!" Alec, my adorably annoying little brother showed up on the scene. Another smile graced my lips and this time it's a real one, determined to stay. I attempted to it form into a frown, but it's already too late. Alec caught sight of it and his grin grew even wider, if that's possible. "Lookit, lookit! I got a Mew card!" I knew what that is (Alec is a huge Pokemon bluff, making sure the rest of us know it too), but attempted to play dumb anyway. "Really? Is that the fire dragon one?" "No, that's Charizard. Mew's the little pink cat." He informed me, in a slight pout.

The smile snuck its way back to my face. Alec gaped at me, bright electric blue eyes wide. "You knew!" "Sure did." I started laughing, finally giving in to that fatal urge. "Attack!" He leaped on top of me on the floor, small fingers seeking out my ticklish spots. "HahahahaPleaseStop!" I beg. "Never!" "ButICan'tBreathe!" I gased desperately for breath. "Really?" My brother paused in his mad tickling. That's when I struck, turning the tables on him in a quick instance. "Now I'm the Tickle Monster!"

An Hour Later...

I was out of breath. But that's ok, cuz Alec was too. We laid next to each other like dying fish. "Dinnertime...what are you two doing?" My mother walked in. Well, I couldn't really see her face, but I could tell by her pointy black heels next to my head. "Tickling each other." Alec piped up first. "Hmm. It's time to eat."

We raced to the table, Mom close behind. Never mind she's not running, she moves pretty fast in her long stride. Dinner is a simple chicken salad. I paused before taking a seat. Uh-oh. Chicken salad, in our house means bad news. Well, bad news for me usually. Not sure about everyone else.

"So, Mom...what's the news?" She looked surprised. "How can you tell, Kendra?" I gestured to the table. "Chicken salad." "Ah." She nodded, fully aware of my phobia of the creation. It took a while, but eventually we are all seated around the chicken salad. For a while everything was normal. Alec chatted Dad's ear off about his Mew card while Dad checked the newest texts on his phone, only half listening. Mom stabbed one of the chicken pieces on her plate with the precision of a surgeon. I, well I just stared at my plate, waiting for the dreadful news to be given. Sure enough, I wasn't disappointed.

"Well..er..." Dad cleared his throat, before glancing over at Mom. She rolled her eyes. "Kendra, I will be gone for a couple days on a business trip. Since yor father will also be gone and Alec will be over at a friend's house, you will be coming with me." I sat there in silence. "Well?" "Why do I have to come? I'm way older than Alec and can stay home by myself." "You are coming and that's that. You might need it for future job experience." Mom tried appealing to my better nature. Too bad, because at the moment I didn't have one. What I did have, however, was desire to not get grounded when I got back. I would cooperate, I decided.

"Where are we going?" Mom flinched. I knew she was expecting me to argue and was shocked that I didn't. "We're going to a new dam that's been built up north. Pack for a few days because the programming for it might take longer than usual." Hooray.