Key:

Bumblebee = BB

Knockout = KO

Moonracer = MR

Shockwave = SW

Starscream = SS

Steeljaw = SJ

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MR: "I can't believe it! You guys are finally taking me to Earth!"

BB: "We promised, didn't we?"

MR: "I know, but considering how busy we've been, I didn't think it would happen so soon."

KO: "By the way, what did the clinic have to say about you running off again?"

Moonracer huffed and rubbed the back of her helm, embarrassment written all over her faceplate.

MR: "Yeah… They weren't exactly happy about it. I'm going to have to work overtime when I get back. I'd like to think my overall competence is what's giving me some leeway with the managers."

KO: "Well, if you ever need any help, just call! You know I'm always there for you!"

MR: "Thanks, doc."

Knockout smiled and skipped a step. The doors just a few meters away opened and revealed the outside world. Nova Terra, or New Earth, is what Steeljaw has named the planet, for it's obvious likeness to that of its elder cousin from the Milky Way galaxy. The main communications building that the bots are in sits upon a plateau among a sea of rolling green hills and miles on end of forest. The sky is bright and the atmosphere is clear.

BB: "It really is peaceful here. Steeljaw chose a good planet to call home."

KO: "You're just glad he won't be bothering your Earth anymore. And at least here nobody has to deal with fleshies."

BB: "Humans."

KO: "Whatever."

Bumblebee sighed and shook his helm. Knockout was just one of those mechs you had to deal with, quirks and all, unless you want to go insane trying to oblige to his word.

BB: "Fair enough. I mean, you guys aren't the biggest fans of humans…"

KO: "Especially when compared to you Autobots."

Bumblebee wanted to retort, saying something along the lines of…

You switched sides, remember?

But kept his mouth shut, especially since he didn't know where Starscream was.

Neither the silver Seeker nor the red medic liked it when that part of their past, a betrayal of their friendship, was brought up, and Bumblebee would much rather not go down that road.

Besides, Knockout almost immediately switched to Neutral after "joining" the Autobots anyway, so that argument wouldn't exactly count anymore.

MR: "So… Where are the others?"

BB: "Good question."

Bumblebee reaches for his commlink and turns it on, switching to the crew's joint frequency.

BB: {Hey, Steeljaw, Starscream, this is Bumblebee. I'm at the meeting point with Knockout and Moonracer. Where are you guys?}

The line is silent for about a minute before a crackling of static alerts them to someone responding.

SJ: {Lieutenant? You arrived earlier than expected, although I guess I shouldn't be surprised.}

BB: {And here I thought you knew me.}

SJ: {Don't push it. I'm just waking up. Had a long, busy night.}

KO: {Oh? Doing what?}

Knockout's teasing tone and conniving smirk weaseled its way through the call, making Bumblebee and Moonracer roll their optics.

SJ: {Knockout… How shall I say this? There's this human expression… ah, yes! Get your mind out of the gutter!}

Knockout flinched from the unexpected answer. Bumblebee and Moonracer just laughed.

SJ: {Anyway, I'll be there soon.}

BB: {And Starscream?}

The line fell silent, again, for a few seconds.

SJ: {Last I remember, Starscream and Shockwave were staying the night to do some extra work on the bridge. I'm hoping they didn't kill each other.}

BB: {We'll check on them. Thanks, Steeljaw.}

Once the call was dropped, Bumblebee immediately turned to face Knockout.

KO: "What?"

BB: "You just had to go that extra step with Steeljaw, didn't you?"

KO: "Hey, I can't help wanting to know more about what's been going on between those two! Don't tell me you aren't just as curious!"

BB: "Well I certainly wouldn't outright ask him about it!"

KO: "So you would rather what? Stalk them? Spy on them? Getting in, grabbing information, and getting out discreetly is something you're good at."

BB: "Steeljaw already has enough problems with the other Cons poking their noses into his and Ramulus' business. I am not getting involved and adding onto it!"

Knockout puts his servos up and backs away, still wearing that smug-eating grin of his.

KO: "Okay, okay, point taken. Now, how about we go bother Screamer and Shockwave instead?"

Knowing that one of Knockout's absolute favorite things to do is annoy the Pits out of Starscream, Bumblebee and Moonracer opt to ignore their need to stop the red medic and just quietly trail after him.

The trip doesn't even last five minutes before the trio takes a turn down one of the first floor corridors and hears the tell-tale screech of a riled Seeker.

SS: "I know how to work a bridge, dammit! Just let me at the controls!"

SW: "And risk you screwing something up? Absolutely not!"

The trio shared a knowing look of amusement and exasperation and followed the ruckus to a partly open door. Knockout hooked his talons in the small gap and ever so gently slid the door aside. Their presence has yet to be noticed by the two occupants.

SS: "At least you didn't say logical or illogical. That really pisses me off."

Shockwave was silent for a moment. He cocked his helm, as if contemplating something.

SW: "Logically speaking…"

SS: "Frag you! You did that on purpose!"

Shockwave huffed, but it didn't sound like he was annoyed. Rather, he seemed to be amused.

KO: "Well would you look at that? Shockers can laugh!"

The pair of mechs immediately turned around. Well, technically only Shockwave turned around, as Starscream was latched onto his back.

SS: "Knockout! How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling Shockwave by those absurd nicknames?"

The red medic wasn't paying attention, however, as he was too busy laughing.

Moonracer appears just as amused, but is better at hiding it, keeping a servo plastered over her mouth as she circulates her vents to calm herself down.

On the other hand, Bumblebee is astonished by how well the former work rivals are getting along, in their own way. Starscream is, well, Starscream, but he hasn't tried to do anything traditionally deceptive or traitorous to Shockwave…

And despite his rather cold demeanor towards everyone else, Shockwave has become slightly more open and casual around Starscream.

SS: "Stop laughing, Knockout! What's so funny?"

KO: "You are, Screamer! You're so fun to mess with, I love it!"

Starscream gritted his jaws, flared his wings, and lunged at Knockout. The red medic barely had enough time to see the silver frame and dodge the attack. Starscream tried again, and just like last time, Knockout moved out of the way at the last second. They chased each other around the room, while Shockwave looked on with…

If Bumblebee had to guess, either disappointment or embarrassment. Either way, he's not sticking around to find out.

BB: "Hey, Moonracer, I'm gonna go wait for Steeljaw by the entrance. Mind keeping an optic on things here for me, please?"

Moonracer had to choke back a laugh before answering.

MR: "Of course! I'll make sure nothing disastrous happens!"

Bumblebee nods his approval, and his optics glint in relief. He makes haste and exits the room, retracing their steps back to the building's lobby. He is just about to open the front doors when something outside catches his attention.

Steeljaw and Ramulus, having what can only be considered a private moment.

Bumblebee backs away and hides in the corner. As much as he wants to, he can't take his optics off the scene. Knockout was right, he is way too curious to know about the intricacies of this particular relationship.

Especially since they are conjunx-endura.

SJ: "And if Thunderhoof happens to ask you for Clampdown's location one more time, then you have my permission to shoot him! Just don't kill him!"

And with that, Steeljaw closed the doors and headed in the direction of the others, passing Bumblebee's hiding spot.

SJ: "You can come out now, Lieutenant. No point in hiding."

Bumblebee didn't immediately move. How did Steeljaw know he was there?

BB: "I didn't think you saw me."

The yellow and black mech removed himself from his hiding spot and joined Steeljaw on their short trek.

SJ: "I didn't."

BB: "Then how did you know I was there?"

SJ: "My brother's been teaching me a few things. Turns out he can be quite helpful when he wants to be."

Bumblebee laughed, glad that the subject isn't veering into Ramulus.

BB: "How is Phantomjaw?"

SJ: "Driving everyone insane, as per usual. Which wouldn't be such a big deal if he didn't choose Thunderhoof of all mechs to antagonize on a daily basis, and you know how temperamental Thunderhoof gets."

Bumblebee hums in agreement.

BB: "I can only imagine. Then again, I do have to deal with Strong Arm and Sideswipe constantly being at each other's throats."

Steeljaw chuckles.

SJ: "True."

The conversation cuts short once they rejoin the others.

Moonracer is the first to notice their arrival.

MR: "Steeljaw! By the stars, it's so good to see you!"

Beaming, Moonracer runs over and gives Steeljaw a great big hug. The blue/gray Lupicon returns the favor.

SJ: "I'm happy to see you, too, Moonracer. It's been a while."

MR: "I would visit more often, but the clinic's been keeping me busy since I got back."

SJ: "It's alright. I understand."

Moonracer detaches herself just as Shockwave walks over to them.

SW: "Steeljaw."

SJ: "Shockwave. I presume everything is ready?"

SW: "Yes…"

Shockwave pauses and turns to the side. He points to the far end of the room where Starscream is in the process of trying to strangle Knockout.

SW: "However, it would be logical to get those two under control first."

Steeljaw releases a tired vent.

SJ: "Why am I not at all surprised?"

Bumblebee and Moonracer laugh while Steeljaw and Shockwave pull apart Starscream and Knockout.

KO: "Oh, hey, Steeljaw! Thought you would take longer to get here."

SJ: "Let's just say the thought of you and Starscream together doesn't exactly put my processor at ease, even with others around to break up the fight."

KO: "Eh, fair point, I guess."

The red medic wriggled out of Steeljaw's grasp and skipped over to the bridge.

KO: "What are we waiting for? Let's get moving! We don't have all the time in the universe, you know!"

Moonracer and Bumblebee shake their helms, amused, and join Knockout. Shockwave passes a still pissy Starscream off to Steeljaw and retakes his spot at the console, running one last set of diagnostics before activating the bridge. A portal appears a few seconds later.

KO: "Sweet! Race you, Screamer!"

With a confident grin, Knockout transforms into his vehicle mode and drives off.

SS: "Oh, I am so not losing to a grounder, least of all you, Knockout!"

The silver Seeker pushed away from Steeljaw, transformed, and jetted after the red medic.

MR: "Well, can't let those two get too far ahead."

BB: "Agreed."

The two transform and roll out, leaving Steeljaw and Shockwave behind.

SJ: "Thank you, Shockwave. We won't be long, I promise. If you need anything, just call Ramulus, or Phantomjaw, if you're desperate."

The Lupicon is just about to enter the portal when a servo on his shoulder stops him.

SW: "Steeljaw…"

Yellow optics meet a single red one.

SW: "Keep an optic on Starscream. I don't want him getting into trouble and coming back in pieces."

Steeljaw scanned the mech before him. Shockwave sounded genuine, but Steeljaw already knew that. Since Starscream didn't want to go back to Cybertron, and Shockwave is still technically in-hiding from the authorities, Steeljaw allowed them to take up residence on Nova Terra. They have been living together since, and everyday, they grow closer. Everyone has seen their relationship develop, and none more so than the bonded couple of Steeljaw and Ramulus.

SJ: "I retook my vow to never leave a pack mate behind. That courtesy extends to both you and Starscream, as well as the others. I promise to keep them in line and out of harm's way."

Shockwave nods, silently accepting the answer. He releases Steeljaw from his hold and steps away. Steeljaw gives Shockwave a reassuring smile and walks through the bridge. Just before he disappears, he hears the other mech say something.

SW: "Let them take care of you, too."