== Sweet Vibrations ==

By Ayngel

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers and I absolutely positively definitely will make no money out of any stories about Transformers

Now to Bumblebee!

Author notes: The following becomes self evident, but just to clarify - all Cybertronian sparklings and mechalescents have a cover rivoted over their interface components called the Phase 1 Primary Interface Component Cover. Later, when the mech's programming deems him "ready" to interface, the cover comes off. This normallly happens soon after the coming of age, but for some, it takes longer. Officially, the process is known as "PICC Detachment." More usually, it is simply referred to as "popping."

Still *c-r-a-c-k* :-) Set in G1 Series 2.

Warnings: Smex, nothing explicit in this chapter but there will be. Adult themes, course language.*Slash* gets*sticky*

Chapter 2

The day was warm and sultry. The Earth sun burst out from behind the clouds, shining brightly on the group of humans and Autobots assembled in the small park.

Optimus Prime glowed with pride as the important human – a Government representative of sorts – went on about the exemplary behavior of the minibots in rescuing some humans who had got lost in the desert. What a courageous little lot they were, and how pleased he was that he had brought them to Earth! Even though it was really Hound who had found them - and done most of the rescuing - Prime had been adamant that the minibots get some recognition. They were, as he knew, sensitive little critters who developed fierce inferiority complexes far too easily. And when that happened – well, they could make life less easy than it could be.

The Tracker had understood fully, happy to stand aside while his collection of little friends had due honors bestowed. He had, however, turned up for the occasion along with Jazz and Prowl - and Mirage, who was somewhere around - and all of them were now enjoying the warm weather, and the sight of the small ones getting the human attention.

The minibots, however, were less than rapturous. "That darned sun is doin' unspeakable things to my paintwork," growled Gears on a secret frequency. "I wish they'd just dish out those medals so we can get on with it and go home!"

"Yeah!" agreed Windcharger. I'm starving! How long before we get some energon snacks?"

"We didn't do anything anyway!" growled Cliffjumper. "This is all just a excuse for Prime to get more "in" with the humans!"

"It's all a waste of time," sighed Huffer. "The Cons will kill us anyway. We're doomed!"

"Shut up the lot of you!" growled Brawn. But the others knew perfectly well that he was not having a good time either.

Bumblebee said nothing. Vaguely aware of the human talking and the voices of the others, he was doing everything he could to stay focused. For Bumblebee had a problem today which made the petty concerns of his fellow minibots pale into insignificance. Today was the day - of all days – oh the shame of it - that his Phase 1 Primary Interface Component Cover had chosen to start working loose. Some time before the day was out, the Minibot was going to join the ranks of his fully fledged and interface ready companions. In other words – he was going to "pop."

Feeling heat rising inside – and knowing it had virtually nothing to do with the Earth sun - Bee thought of the conversation with Ratchet soon after they arrived. "Sure, you're a little younger than most of the mechs here, but you're well and truly of age. I woulda thought youdda popped by now!" he had said, his usual level of tact radiating forth. "I guess you're just a late developer. Don't worry - You'll pop eventually! " Then he'd poked and prodded at the cover. "Thing's pretty firmly riveted down there though – I doubt if you'll be popping for a while!"

Bumblebee had barely hidden his disappointment. He didn't want to be an unpopped mech! Especially an unpopped minibot! He wanted to swagger around like the others with a nice big flashy codpiece to accommodate his new fully developed interface components – the sort they made for you specially to replace the small, boring Phase 1 cover. He wanted other mechs to eye it off enviously, and wonder what was underneath. He wanted to brag about it – and to join in the dirty conversations in the rec room – not only be included as a spectator when they were too drunk to remember he was still there.

"Hey," Ratchet had said. "Enjoy life! It's a lot more complicated once you've popped. Trust me!"

Bumblebee hadn't cared that it was more complicated. He just wanted an end to being treated like a sparkling, to being regarded as nothing more than a 'happy little chappie!' He wanted to know what it was to seethe with desire for others, and have them seethe with desire for him; wanted to fully understand what all those terms– 'facing, fragging, fucking, spiking, valving, plugging, overloading, multi overloading ... Etcetera – the list went on – really meant. For whilst he did, of course, know technically what an interface entailed, he suspected there was very much more to it, and longed to know what. Especially when the mere saying of those words, which evidently titillated his peers beyond all reason, raised not a ripple in his own circuits.

Until today! Now, at the mere thought of such terms, a hot flush swept through the minibot and he felt his components – hitherto small and sheathed behind the Cover – swell and surge with readiness.

And he should have been delighted. But why, oh why, did it have to be today?

As yet another human took the podium and started expounding minibot virtues, Bumblebee gave an agonized inward groan. He couldn't even stop thinking about those terms now – and every time he did, things happened! It wasn't just that his temperature soared. Energon rushed around his conduits, especially those which traveled on a direct route to the Cover and his components. Behind it, he could feel parts moving around, as though bits which had been hidden deep inside for aeons now struggled to find a way out. Meanwhile, an excited buzz echoed through his circuits, so loud within Bee's audials that he half expected a halt to be called to the proceedings and one of the humans to ask what the din was.

The human on the podium said something funny and everybody laughed. Nearby, Jazz shifted his stance and said something to Prowl. Bumblebee noticed the firmness of Jazz's thighs, the subtle movement of his pelvis, and another furious heatwave swept through him. This time, the Cover gave a little rattle, and - with a twinge of alarm - he felt rivets loosen. It wasn't just those terms which were setting him off! Suddenly, the mechs he'd worked with for Aeons had taken on a whole new perspective. Prowl moved this time, and now Bee imagined he felt something straining against the Cover and with a mixture of excitement and horror, realized it was his newly charged spike. Shuttering his optics, he willed himself to be calm and to not think smexy black and white or doorwinged type thoughts.

But it was almost impossible! His circuits shuddered afresh at the memory of the Special Ops team meeting that morning. It had been agonizing! Never before had he been so aware of Jazz 's intense black and whiteness, his perfectly proportioned body, the way he moved, the bulge which covered his interface panel. Then there was Prowl, all huge and well built - with an even bigger bulge - door wings stiffening and unstiffening sporadically. Bee had never even noticed how exciting that was! His circuits had burned – literally – and he'd been unable to tear his optics away.

As for Mirage – when his slender form had oozed through the door and Bee had caught sight of the alluring breast plate, the well proportioned thighs, had smelt the high quality alloys, that had been it! The minibot had beaten a hasty retreat, excusing himself and standing in the corridor outside and taking in great intakes. He'd told them he thought he'd had too much high grade last night. They probably didn't buy it – Primus, he didn't even drink! But it had got him off the hook. And he had managed to settle his systems down – for then.

Now, Bee wished that he had popped this morning. Right there in front of them at the meeting! Then he could have gone to Ratchet and said - triumphantly - "it's happened" and asked what to do next. Even the medic's likely callous response would have been better than this – situation! Unshuttering his optics, he caught a movement in the front row of humans and, looking across, saw Spike beaming happily at him. The human gave a little wave. Ah - that was what he could do – concentrate on the humans! Relieved that at least his friend was unaware of his predicament, the yellow minibot tried to smile back. But as Cliffjumper shifted beside him and he heard a grumbling pass between his minibot cousins again, he felt everything boil up with renewed urgency. Primus, even his relations were affecting him!

The sun burned and the minibots complained and the humans shifted in their seats. Then, suddenly, there was a change in the proceedings. The human on the podium stepped down and took his place among the others, and all the humans stood up – all except Spike's friend Chip, the one who couldn't because he was in a wheelchair. Prime's large form took the podium, and his voice boomed forth. "We thank you Mr Senator for your kind words," he said. "Know that they mean much and will be appreciated by all Autobots, most of all our fine young warriors here ..." Cliffjumper and Huffer preened themselves. " Did you know that that there minibots come from Gard Nordic, a harsh place near the polar caps of Cybertron. Now I can tell you a little story ..."

Gears groaned. "Get on with it!" he growled.

"My processing chamber – it thinks my main line's been cut!" wailed Windy

Brawn said nothing, but let out a deep sigh.

And Bumblebee despaired! Prowl's wings twitched and a sizzling sensation zapped all through him. His spike gave an almighty throb, the Cover shuddering dangerously.

"... the Minibots have made an invaluable contribution to our campaign here," Prime was concluding. And it gives me great pleasure to present to them today the gold medals kindly donated by the people of Oregon .." He paused. "Prowl , if you please ...?"

Striding forward, the black and white Datsun picked up a large collection of bright objects on ribbons from a table near the podium and slung them over his arm. Prime beamed. Bumblebee gasped, burning up like a furnace, everything throbbing. A hush fell over the crowd. Prowl stepped up on the podium, his powerful body flexing. Tall and magnificent, his door wings spread proudly, he turned his face – now the most handsome face Bee had ever seen – to the minibots. "Gears! Please step forward!" he said. Energon seemed to rush from Bee's head and for a moment he very nearly passed out.

"About bloody time!" muttered the little red mech. He strutted up to the podium. Prowl reached over and dropped the medal over his head so that it fell around his neck. There was a deafening applause. "Thank you, thank you!" said the little red mech, nodding curtly at the humans. "Windcharger?" said Prowl.

Later, Bumblebee always thought it was the way the cords in Prowl's neck and shoulders moved and his door wings glinted in the sun that did it. To his horror, his circuits began to spark across the synapses and the whole Panel Cover start to vibrate, the metal literally warping over his swollen, emerging components. Heat swirled and he felt energon vapour burst out on to his surfaces as a rattling sound erupted in his groin.

Embarrassed beyond all reason and not even wanting to imagine what might happen next, Bee cast a wild glance around. Amazingly, nobody seemed to have noticed! Everyone was watching Windy! Just then, applause broke out again, drowning the rattles, and humans and bots smiled around at each other. Bumblebee made a last attempt at control, struggling to appear as if nothing was amiss. To his relief, the vibrations died down. Spike gave him another wave and Chip beamed up from the wheelchair. His face set in a grim mask of agony masquerading as a smile, Bee waved back.

The calmness did not last long. "Come forward - Cliffjumper!" Bee heard Prowl say and there was more applause as his red cousin strode importantly to the podium. The rattling started again and it felt as if the Cover rivets were barely holding it in place. And it was then, as his core temperature soared way beyond acceptable limits and the vibrations reached a crescendo, that it happened.

Prowl went to take the medal from his arm to give to the minibot, but he dropped it, his finger unaccustomed to the slippery ribbon. Jazz moved swifly across to pick up the medal, his movements fluid and sensuous. Then he was bending over, and his aft and the backs of his thighs were directly in line with Bumblebee's line of vision. What with Prowl gleaming in the background and Jazz just being in that position it was all just too much, the Minibot felt as though he exploded and a bolt of pure energy fired through his circuits. There was a loud bang and the entire Phase 1 Primary Interface Component Cover came rocketing off in all its glory.

It happened so fast that nobody had time to do anything. The Cover smashed into the stony ground at speed, bounced, and spun through the air like a Frisbee. It headed straight for the wheelchair, sliced across the top of Chip Chase's head and careered into the crowd behind. The humans screamed and scattered. Chip gave a stifled cry and clutched at the place where it had struck. When he took his hand away, there was blood on his fingers. The computer genius took one look and passed out in the wheelchair.

There was uproar. A throng of humans converged on Chip, whilst others were fleeing, still screaming. Somebody was yelling about an ambulance. Prime was talking frantically with the Senator and the other officials and then somebody had a megaphone and was yelling "ladies and gentlemen please! There is no cause for alarm! Please keep your seats!" But the terrified flesh creatures continued to scramble away, falling over one another and knocking chairs flying as they did so. Prowl said something to Jazz before they both transformed and took off in pursuit.

Bee stood there with the rest of the minibots, who gazed around at the fleeing humans, mystified and aghast. He could barely take in what was happening. All feelings of arousal had dissipated like a cloud of gas, and, instead, a sensation of sharp, painful rawness erupted where the cover had been, and he was aware, to his horror, of components hanging out. Ashamed beyond imagining, he threw his hands over them. He had never felt so - exposed - in his life! Then he became aware of Brawn, hands on hips, glaring at him furiously and of the wide open mouths of his other cousins.

As the park emptied, there were sirens and an ambulance – a real human one, not Ratchet – came flying towards them with Jazz and Prowl to either side. The Autobots transformed and some men in white clothes leapt from the ambulance and ran towards the remaining small crowd. The man with the megaphone yelled some more, and the humans moved back. It was then that Bee caught sight of Spike's horrified face bent over Chip, and that was so much worse than anything else that had happened so far.

Then he heard the sound of suppressed laughter. Cliffjumper had gotten over his shock and had started to titter and, to Bee's horror, Huffer and Windy's faces were breaking up. They were pointing at his hands over where his cover had been and laughing! Meanwhile, Gears - his gold medal gleaming - looked furious and Brawn, absolutely livid. "Minibots, transform and prepare to roll out!" Brawn thundered. But his other cousins were too engulfed in mirth. CJ fell sideways into Windy and they both fell on the ground, laughing hysterically.

Bee despaired, unable to believe that his cousins, his kith and kin, could be so – sparkless. His uncovered components were now throbbing wildly in pain and he did not even know if he could walk, let alone transform. Besides, he needed his hands free to transform and that would – expose him! In front of the humans! Again! The shame of it!

He caught sight of Brawn's furious face once more and opened his mouth to convey his immobile status, but no words came out. Over by the podium, he could hear Prime still trying to reassure the Senator, joined now by Jazz and Prowl. Glancing across, he saw that a collection of human heads were turned in his direction and that Chip was being loaded into the ambulance on a trolley, with Spike close beside.

At that moment, despite his pain and the horrendousness of the situation, all Bumblebee could think of was to get across to Spike. But before he could put this into operation, he felt himself grabbed from behind and hauled backwards, and then the scene went hazy and he knew he was under Mirage's electro disruptive shield.

"Come here!" The Spy hissed. "And stand still!" Bee felt himself in a vice grip. The aroma of superior alloys surrounded him, which now did nothing for him but fill him with dread as to what their owner might do. Then the grip relaxed and he felt his hands getting pulled away from his newly emerged components, and something being clipped on to his metal where the cover had been. All at once, the raw sensations dulled. "What are you doing?" he gasped.

"It's a temporary codpiece. It will tide you over," said Mirage, his voice steady. "Now come – we need to get out of here. Walk – slowly!" And Bee felt a firm hand on his arm and allowed himself to be led away, feeling that that strange sensation of mechs and humans alike looking straight through him – as he always had when subjected to this situation – but unable to take in anything this time but his terrible shame and the dull throb in his components.

"I take it you didn't intend to present in - that condition?" Mirage said when they had left the city limits behind and were headed back to the Ark in their alt modes, no longer invisible and Bumblebee having undertaken the most uncomfortable transformation of his life. The spy sounded faintly amused. "You haven't made Prime and Jazz very happy," he said. "They've been working on this human relations thing for ever. And Gears and Brawn are ready to permanently deactivate you."

Bee glowed hot with embarrassment, his components - now hidden in a new alt sheath - still aching uncomfortably. "I didn't know it was so close," he said miserably. "Ratchet said it wouldn't – happen for a while."

Mirage snorted. "Blasted cowboy medic wouldn't know a loose panel from a broken knee joint!" he muttered.

Bee said nothing. He was already dreading the forthcoming attendance with the medic. He was bound to get a dressing down. And it was probably justified – seeing as how he should have seen him when the symptoms started this morning. He followed the racer forlornly across the desert. All he wanted to do was curl up somewhere and disappear. Right then, he couldn't have cared if he never made it into the Ark again – for he was certain by now the others would know all about what had just happened and were consumed by the hilarity of the episode and his circuits shuddered. He thought of what the Twins would make of today and winced. Worse, he could never face Spike again.

Even worse, there burned another horrible truth. None of them would ever want to interface with him now! He was worse than what he had been before – worse than something akin to a sparkling. He was a laughing stock! It was just as well that the lustful sensations of earlier had so well and truly gone. His 'facing career was over before it had started!

Suddenly overwhelmed and not caring if it annoyed Mirage, Bumblebee stopped rolling and performed another painful transformation. Then he sank down on the ground and started to cry, filled with anguish, and unable to imagine a more disastrous scenario. Aeons of hard work and expectations seemed to be dissipating before his optics. He might as well go back to Cybertron! In fact, later on he would go and see Prime and ask to do that. Yes, he would! If they hadn't decided to get rid of him there already. Dimly, he was aware of Mirage pulling up ahead of him and doing a one eighty degree turn.

"Bumblebee!" He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Pull yourself together! This isn't the end of the Universe! "

"Yes it is!" wailed the minibot.

"We can't afford to hang around here!" Mirage's voice was firm but gentle. "I've just had word of Decepticon activity"

"I don't care!" bawled Bumblebee. "I'll never be able to look anyone in the optic again! The Cons might as well just take me! Why don't you just go and and leave me here and let them take me? You don't care anyway!"

"Bumblebee! Stop this melodrama!" The voice took on a sharper edge, and he felt a hand grip his shoulder. Bumblebee looked up and into the spy's piercing blue optics. "Listen to me!" Mirage said. "Jazz has obtained the footage from the incident. It won't go on TV, and the humans were all too busy looking at Cliffjumper getting his medal to notice where that – cover – came from. I know, I was watching them! Now take some deep intakes!"

Complying, Bee felt a little better. "Now think about it!" said Mirage. "Your cousins won't say anything – it will bring shame on your clan. Jazz, Prowl and I are sworn sworn to secrecy and Prime has told the humans that what fell off you was a piece of rogue metal which must have attached to sombody during an attack by the Decepticons. The human on wheels is going to be all right and I gather the other humans are more disappointed than anything that they didn't see you get your medal. So stop fretting!"

Bee looked at him, relief flooding his systems, but unable to completely believe it. "But my – components!" he whispered. "The humans saw it all ..."

"Mirage pulled away from him. "Don't be silly!" He said. "As if humans know what those are! It's not like they have anything similar themselves!" Bumblebee stared at him. He thought of that day Spike went swimming at the dam and forgot his trunks and did not entirely agree. But he suddenly felt so much better that he was not inclined to argue.

Mirage looked him up and down and smiled. "We can discuss other aspects of your new state later, if you wish," he said. "For now - we have to go!"

Neither of them saw Lazerbeak, delighted by the footage just obtained from the presentation but less impressed by this emotional scene in the desert – unfold her wings and rise silently, heading in the direction of the Decepticon base, clucking happily to herself as she went.

I had to make it all right for poor Bee after that terrible ordeal. next: how do the Bots deal with Bumblebee? Plus - lovesick Rumble. LOL