Disclaimer: Transformers: Animated and everything related belongs to the rightful company Hasbro. I am in no way shape or form making money off this.

Author's Notes: The Dinobots are not the bad guys! You don't care what anybot says, and you were going to find out why they took Sari, or offline trying.

"Survival of the Fittest"

Written by: BelovedShadow

Headcannon Idea by: decepticonnilingus

It had been several solar cycles since you befriend the newest trio of bots called the Dinobots, and each day you were learning something new about them. And they were learning more from you as well. The leader of the small group, Grimlock, so far was the only one who had given himself a designation. In fact, Grimlock was the only one who really spoke but it didn't matter to you. The more you spend around them, the more you saw them for who they really were. You were also the one to give the other two Dinobots their own designation, as well.

You shuddered your optics as a shadow flew over your helm, causing you to look up. You smiled when you saw who it was and waved at the flying Pteranodon. "Looking great up there, Swoop!" you called out. You weren't sure if he heard you but he was definitely enjoying himself. Choosing his designation had been easy after watching him fly, like he belonged in the clouds. Sometimes you wished you could fly like him, but you were fine with your tires on solid ground. Still smiling you turned your attention back to your data pad. You swiped your digit over the screen, categorizing your entries and adding in a few notes you had made through your observations. While not many bots cared for anything organic, your grandsire would no doubt like to know what you had found. He was the only one that supported your thirst for knowledge, and had tried to convince your creators to let you apply for the Autobot Ministry of Science. They were welcoming of the idea, until you had explained you didn't want to build weapons but to go off-world exploring and study new lifeforms on other planets. Organic lifeforms at that. The next thing you knew you were entering Autobot Academy where you would be molded into a bot worthy of the Cybertron Elite Guard. Just like your siblings, just like your creators.

"Just like them." The smile faded and you slowly lowered your data pad, until it was dangling at your side. For as long as you remembered, your creators had put a great deal of emphasize that one had to be strong and skilled to survive, to fight anything that stands in your way, to be an Elite. But you had never wanted that, you were content with your data pads, studying and always asking questions. Maybe that's why you cringed whenever Optimus went on with his speech "we're all cogs in the great big Autobot machine." You didn't want to be a cog, obeying every order and doing what you were told. Your digits tightened over your d-pad, trembling slightly. "I… don't want to be a cog… I… want to be… me…"

A branch breaking caused you to start, whirling towards the sound you shuddered your optics as you watched something big emerge from the shadows of the trees. You vented softly, fear leaving you as you recognized who it was. "Grimlock!" you exclaimed, pressing your servo to your chassis. "You startled me there, big guy. And I thought Prowl was light on his peds, but you're a close second." The large t-rex didn't say anything as he stepped closer, lowering his great helm down to your level but the way he was staring at you was making you a bit nervous. "What's wrong?"

"Why optics leaking?" he asked after a short klik.

Confused, you reached up to touch your faceplates only to realize there was indeed optical fluids running down your faceplates. You were crying and you didn't realize it. Ashamed you turned your backplates to the great metal king, scrubbing at your optics to wipe away any remaining fluids. "I-It's nothing. I'm fine." Great, here you are bawling like a weak little sparkling. Primus, you could hear your brothers picking on you for aways crying over the smallest thing.

As you tried wiping your faceplates, you felt a nudge at your back and turned only to get another nudge from the large mechanical dinosaur. He didn't say anything, but he wasn't pulling back either. You were at a loss but slowly your servo came up, hesitating you placed it atop his nose. He didn't say anything, but as your servo began rubbing he seemed to relax, which made you relax as well.

'He may be simple, but he seems to know what I need before I do,' you smiled to yourself. After stroking the warm plating some more, you gave his nose a fond pat. "Thanks Grimlock, I really needed that." He didn't say anything but lifting his head he growled lowly, moving in front of you protectively. "Grimlock? What's wrong?"

A branch snapping caused you to face the same direction the dinobot was looking, seeing a shadow just beyond the tree line. Had somebot from your team had found you? Were they going to disassemble the dinobots? You didn't have the ability to breathe like the organics, but you felt your vents cut off, waiting anxiously.

Movements and a slender mech stepped forward, nodding to the duo. "It's just me, and I'm alone," Prowl said calmly, holding his servos out to show he meant them no harm. Grimlock growled lowly and moved towards the other bot, but making sure he was alone slowly stood to his full height. "But what are you doing here?"

"Me?" Oh, right. You had told Optimus you were "exploring" and that's what he told everybot else. "I'm not doing anything wrong, Prowl. I just want to see how the Dinobots are doing. and I am exploring, look at what I discovered!" Moving around the large t-rex, you activated your data pad and showed the Cyber ninja your findings.

While not amica endura, you two were still friends and you both agreed on certain things. Prime example, the Dinobots had a spark and a right to live their own life. You pointed out to some of your latest entries but stopped when Grimlock leaned over your shoulder pauldron to look at the small screen. "Look Grimlock, here's you with Swoop and Snarl from the other day."

"Me Grimlock look good," he said with a low rumble, leaning into you when you reached up to pet his nose.

"Yes, you do. Hey, where is Snarl? I haven't seen him all day." That wasn't too odd, but the three of them usually stayed together.

"… Grimlock, can you give us a klik?" Prowl asked, lowering the pad down. The Dinobot growled lowly, but stopped when you gave his nose another gentle pat.

"Why don't you find the others, and I'll tell you some more stories about Cybertron. Please?" The dinobot snorted, but after getting pat, walked off. Though his tail did try swatting at the ninja only for the slender mech to duck under it. Watching him go, you vented softly and turned to the ninja. "Okay, why am I suddenly not allowed to come here alone? You and Bulkhead come here and don't tell Optimus!"

"Ever since you helped us relocate the Dinobots here, you have been spending almost all your free time with them. No one has said anything, but it's only a matter of time before somebot finds out where you're going," he brought up, making you groan. "You know I'm right."

"Yes, as you've told me every time you find me here by myself," you replied. "Prowl, you said it before: the Dinobots have sparks, just like us. This isn't Cybertron, but they're happy here, and they aren't hurting anyone. Even with me around I'm not the least bit afraid or in fear of my safety." He still didn't look convinced but you also didn't want to stop visiting them. "Prowl… I-I'm not like you or the others. I never wanted to be an Elite Guard, and I'm not a fighter. Here, doing this, this is what I've wanted to do and I don't have everybot telling me its dumb or pointless or a waste of time. Please, let me have this as long as possible?"

For several long kliks, the silent mech didn't say anything, processing your words but as he handed your data pad back to you, he caught your servo before you could pull it back. "I won't say anything, but you must prepare yourself if and when they are found out. And… I want you to be careful."

"I promise, and thank you." You couldn't help it as you wrapped your servos around him in a quick hug. He looked taken back but you just couldn't stop from smiling. "You don't have to worry about me, I'm not a reckless mechling like a certain minibot we know." Just seeing the small smirk he was trying hard to hide made you smile bigger. "So, care to join us for another story about our home world?"

"Maybe next time. I'll let Optimus know that you're still exploring if he asks." With that he left as quietly as he appeared. Maybe if Prowl had been one of your siblings, things might have been different. Oh well, you were grateful you could call him a friend. You headed to a small clearing where you found the Dinobots waiting. You greeted them each in turn by name and a fond pat or rub, smiling as they leaned into your touch before sitting down in your spot, watching as the others sat/laid down, watching you with interest. Reaching into your subspace, you withdrew another data pad and activated it, projecting an image of a metallic planet into the air. "This, is Cybertron…"

Cycles later you bided the Dinobots a good-bye and promising to see them soon, headed for the small boat you used. Sometimes you wondered what it would be like to fly, or travel across water. Oh well, you were happy to be able to travel on your own four wheels. By the time you reached the docks of New Detroit, the sun was beginning to set which meant you had better start making tracks back to the warehouse. Once you were certain you were alone, you transformed and drove off. Just before arriving you noticed Bumblebee driving out as you were entering, Sari sitting in the front. Giving him a honk, you drove inside and transformed, seeing everybot gathered in the main room.

"Good to see you back with us, how was your exploring?" Optimus asked once he saw you had arrived.

"Oh, it went very well. It's amazing how many different species of organics there are, I wish I could explore the entire planet and show Cybertron that there is nothing to fear from organics." Well, maybe some organics but overall, they were relatively harmless. "What happened while I was gone?"

"Prowl thought, in his infinite wisdom, it would smart to teach Sari to protect herself. And Optimus agreed," Ratchet grumbled as he made his way to the medbay. "And of course, no one thought to ask the medic his opinion on the matter!"

"But I already said why she needs to learn-!" but the young Prime was ignored as the old medbot continued to grumble how no bot listened to him and he was too old for all of this.

"Okaaay… does that explain the mess?" you asked as you pointed to a pile of crushed boxes that bulkhead was finishing picking up. The large mech seemed to shrink in on himself, hunching slightly.

"W-Well, Sari was having some trouble with some of the moves, and I thought I'd help by pretending that it hurt." Oh, his spark might as well be called the AllSpark with his pure and innocent intentions. You surprised said bot when you went over and leaning up, pressed a gentle peck to the side of his jaw plate.

"I know it did." You tried very hard not to giggle when his cooling fans clicked on with a low whirl, cheekplates heating up.

The rest of the evening passed on quietly, sharing your findings with Prowl and Bulkhead who seemed to find some of your studies on organics as inspiration for his art, that even when Bumblebee came back and made fun and calling you 'Prowl Jr.' you ignored him. Now in your own room you quietly reviewed your time with the Dinobots and couldn't help but think what Prowl had said.

He was right, you could not keep this a secret forever. For all that everybot knew, the Dinobots had escaped and hadn't been heard from. And really, even if you could send them somewhere else, there was a chance some random human could stumble across them or something terrible could happen. They were fierce, territorial, and tended to fight first, ask questions when they remembered, but they were your friends.

"Friends…" For some reason your processor turned to your familiar unit and you set your data pad down to pick up another. This one was a slightly older model, but it didn't take much for it to power on and you were greeted with an image capture of his familiar unit. Your creators were standing in the back, standing tall and straight, not smiling as were most of your siblings, looking so serious and stern. But your optics fell to you, so small compared to them even with everyone polished to a flawless finish, you had a weak beginning of a smile on your lip plates but even in the image you had a look of uncertainly there. You hated these group images, you tried to be like everybot else but you couldn't. Swiping to the next you smiled in both happiness yet a bit of sadness. An older mech was standing, polished but not to a brilliant shine as the one before and clearly an older model, a kind smile seen even in his optics. You looked much more relaxed, smiling happily you could even see yourself leaning slightly into the other mech with his servo on your shoulder pauldron, clutching a digital archive you had just been gifted. All of Cybertron knew Alpha Trion as a very wise mech, if know the wisest, as well as some other rumors relating to the Original Thirteen Primes, but you knew him as your grandsire and the only bot in your familiar unit who encouraged your studies no matter what. He had even tried to get you into the Autobot Ministry of Science but your creators had put their ped down and he, reluctantly, backed down. You missed him a great deal.

'I wonder… does he worry about me?' you asked yourself. When you and your team awoke from stasis fifty solar cycles after crash landing on Earth, Optimus has sent a report that you were all alive but there had been no report since. You tried not to let it get to you but you knew he was busy with the High Council. Maybe later, you could send your own message, just to let him know you were doing your best to become an Elite Guardsmech like your creators wanted you to become.

… a dream that you never wanted to be a part of. With a low groan you fell back on your berth, staring up at the ceiling of your berthroom.

'Primus, if you really exist, I wish I knew why you put me on a path I never wanted to begin with,' you processed quietly to yourself. The rest of the evening (and thankfully, your processor) was quiet until Optimus received a distressed call from Professor Sumdac. Sari had gone missing! No bot said anything as you all wordlessly transformed and rolled out, sirens blaring loudly. You don't know why, but you had a terrible feeling and you hated it.

By the time you all arrived the cityscape Enforcers were already there but you all still entered Sumdac Tower, witness the organic known as Captain Fanzone yell into his communication device, highly irate and agitated—his usual demeanor.

"This is why I hate machines!" he said angrily.

"No need to be such a technophobe, captain," Prowl said calmly. You resisted the urge to say anything as he turned to look up at you all, clearly annoyed just by your presences.

"… A technophobe is someone who fears technology. Does this look like FEAR TO YOU?!?!" he shouted, angrily throwing his still beeping device to the floor with such force, it scattered, making you jump ever so slightly.

"Um, my mistake." You wisely chose not to point out that the term extended to those with an intense hatred towards machines, not just fear.

"Any news on Sari?" Optimus asked.

"Huh. Sumdac says she spent the day with you guys yesterday, anything out of the ordinary happen?"

"Hanging out. Teaching her ninja nerve blows. Watching cartoons," Bulkhead said as he idly scratched the side of his helm in remembrance.

"Woah, back up. What was that?" Fanzone asked with a raised optical ridge.

"Watching cartoons?"

"No, before that."

"Ninja nerve blows?"

His servo covered his faceplates as he sighed heavily, meaning once again we had done something that was clearly frowned upon in the optics of the lead Enforcer. "You're teaching an eight-year-old to do nerve blows?"

"You want her to pick it up in the street?" asked sarcastically.

"This is part of every protoform's elemental programming," Prowl tried explaining.

"Say what?"

"Yeah, it's not like we're having her fight Decepticons."

"Yet."

Once more his servo came up to his face as Fanzone lamented, "Has it occurred to you that hanging out with Autobots is maybe, I don't know, dangerous for a little girl?" When Bulkhead looked at Ratchet who shrugged, he was not impressed with his response "Define dangerous." That's when you noticed something flash across the security monitor behind Fanzone and froze.

"Um, excuse me," you said, moving closer to the receptionist bot seated behind the desk and crouched down a bit. "Would you play playback this video feed once more, please?"

"Sure thing, sweetheart." Clicking several keys, the video replayed and you caught a glimpse of something flying across the screen but the image was too dark and blurry.

"What is that, some kinda organic creature?" Ratchet asked as he and the others moved in closer to see.

"Looks too big," Bumblebee added. "And what's with that thing it's carrying?"

"Can we get a better look at whatever this is?" Optimus asked.

"Sorry, doll face, that's all I got."

"I think I can help." One of your protective plates pulled back and a data cable emerged. Silently it weaved around your frame and hovering over the desk, the clamps opened and allowed smaller cables to emerge and dig into the circuitry underneath. Locating the file was so easy and it didn't take long before you all had a crystal-clear image of Swoop, in his Dinobot mode flying off, with Sari Sumdac held securely in his talons. The good thing was she appeared unharmed, but the bad news was now everyone knew he was still very much active.

"Is that one of the Dinobots?"

"The robot dinosaurs? Impossible," Ratchet scoffed but Optimus wasn't deterred.

"We never did find out what happened to them after they escaped."

As they talked about the possibilities of it being the same Dinobots you wordlessly recalled your data cable, thanked the receptionist-bot and moved back. You could tell Prowl and bulkhead were speaking quietly among themselves but seeing you approach them they fell silent.

"Swoop has no reason to come to New Detroit, and certainly none to take Sari," you immediately said in a low tone. "It doesn't make any sense, I know them."

"I still say we should tell Prime," Bulkhead said but before you could argue why it was a terrible idea Prowl said he would go as it was his responsibility. You normally didn't like to confront anybot, but this was different as you held up your servo to stop him.

"First, this is our responsibility, not just yours. I also know the Dinobots and I call them my friends, so if you're going to Dinobot Island, so am I."

"Count me in, too," Bulkhead said firmly.

"Fine. We'll head to the island after dark." What none of us failed to notice was that someone had seen us talking, away from the others in lowered tones. But we were too worried about what reasons the Dinobots would want with Sari. She barely interacted with them, even after their massive upgrades. You tried to pass the rest of the cycle as normal but it was so hard. Optimus had everybot scour New Detroit for anywhere Swoop could have taken her but you three knew it was useless. Soon it was night and as soon as you were certain that everyone was in recharge, the three of you transformed and headed for the dock. "Borrowing" a cargo ship, you once more used your data cables to hack into the ship's computer and take you to Dinobot Island.

You rarely used your data cables because they were never intended for fighting. Sure, they were very flexible and could extended to great lengths, and the outer plating was durable, but they were only used for data collecting and occasionally getting items out of your reach. For that matter, you could connect yourself to other bots but you would never do that unless you had permission and if their processor was strong enough, they could sever the connection themselves. Bumblebee had remarked that they reminded him of an Autobot he had meet during Boot Camp, a mech called Longarm, but other than that you kept them hidden. A lot of bots who had seen them tended to stay away from you, making you self-conscious. By the time the planet's star was beginning to rise, you had made it to the island and brought the ship to the dock, tying it down so it didn't float off, and disembarked.

"I don't understand why the Dinobots would abduct, Sari," Prowl voiced the main concern he had been processing all cycle. "They only want to be left in peace."

"When I'm done with them, they're gonna be left in pieces," bulkhead said as he pounded his servo with a fist.

"Oh no you don't!" you exclaimed, frowning at the green mech. "You will not attack them, either of you. First, we find them. Second, we make sure Sari is safe. Third, we talk with them and find out why they took her. I will not stand idly by as my friends fight each other like-like brutes! I get enough of that with my siblings on Cybertron, I don't need it here as well!" Both of them looked surprised at your outburst but you didn't care. You continued walking the trail but stopped when you all noticed a set of unusual tracks on the ground, tracks that didn't match your peds nor that of the Dinobots. When prowl remarked that someone else had been on the island, you silently agreed. But what kind of being could melt solid stone like that?

When you arrived to the top of the crater you were pleased to see that that the hologram projector was still there and still working, but as Prowl reached down to turn it off you felt fear start to overwhelm your processor. There was no sign of the Dinobots anywhere in the clearing down below. They were all gone.

'Grimlock… why did you leave?' you asked silently. You turned when you felt a servo on your pauldron and looked at Prowl.

"Don't worry, we'll find them." You could only nod silently and follow your teammates as the three of you began searching the island for the missing mechanical dinosaurs. Bulkhead kept complaining about how they should have let Professor Sumdac melt them down, and Prowl defended them by saying they had a right to live, but you were too worried to agree with him. You knew them or at least thought you did. You called them your friends, and yes you were worried about Sari but trouble tended to follow her like Bumblebee. They wouldn't hurt her. So why were you beginning to have doubts about the integrity of their character? Pausing, you shook your helm.

"Stop that! You should know better than to judge a bot by their plating," you scolded yourself.

Bulkhead, who was above to stop over a log, paused when he heard you mutter turned to look at you. "You say something?" he asked.

"Just talking to myself." Venting softly, you made to go around the log but shuddered your optics when he held his servo out to you. Smiling, you allowed him to help you over the log before continuing your search, neither of you noticing as said log went rolling down the steep incline with a loud rumble.

So far there was nothing amiss, but there was also no sign of the Dinobots. But thanks to your repeated trips to the island, you knew how to keep out of danger such as a large section of quick sand that easily be overlooked, smiling as Bulkhead remarked that one had to be a real glitch head to get caught in it. You wonder if Bumblebee would fall into that category when the three of you heard someone shouting for help. A klik later you all heard something struggling in said quick sand, calling for help. Imagine all your surprise when you realized it was Fanzone who had been apparently been following you since last night. But things just grew worse when the Dinobots found you, only to start attacking, calling you all intruders.

"No, wait! Please, don't fight!" But no one was listening and you were forced to go on the defensive, Bulkhead on the offensive, and Prowl keeping Fanzone from being eaten and/or chewed alive. It was risky and stupid but still you dated to try and once more moved into Grimlock's path, pleading with him to stop. "Grimlock, its me, your friend! Don't you remember?" he growled lowly, peering at you closely but watching as he opened his jaws wide it was Bulkhead's wrecking ball that kept them from clamping down on your helm. "No, no no no! Why are you doing this?"

Bulkhead grunted as he pulled as hard as he could, swinging the tyrannosaurus like an over-sized wrecking ball so he collided with the fire-breathing triceratops. "They're doing it 'cause they're mean and dumb and we should have never helped them escape!" he exclaimed as he pulled up a large section of hardpacked Earth and dropped it atop of them, complete with uprooted trees.

"You help them escape?!" Fanzone accused.

The fighting was getting none of your questions answered, and with the added danger of Fanzone seriously getting hurt, you all followed Prowl's example and transformed, speeding out of the area. Your alt-mode wasn't built for rough-terrain like the others but you knew the island very well so you were able to keep ahead of the rampaging Dinobots. But it hurt that you were still being chased by them, being called intruders and that you had to be destroyed. Had you been paying attention to where you were going, you would have realized that Prowl had been heading for a dead-end canyon. The walls were too smooth for any of you to climb and the only way out was the way you came in, which was now blocked by the Dinobots. But it was also revealed why they were acting the way they were.

Prometheus Black, now know as meltdown, made Fanzone's technophobe of machines seem childish but he was also dangerous to you and your team as his touch could melt through your protective plating straight to your protoform. Something Prowl had deduced when he had noticed acid burns on Swoop earlier. Even the mighty Grimlock seemed to cowed down at the sight of the failed science experiment and it was then you noticed discolored patches on their plating.

"Me Grimlock, sorry. Meltdown hurt Dinobots," he finally spoke up, refusing to look anybot in the optics, especially you.

It took a lot to make you mad, you were happy alone with your data pads and studying organisms from a distance, but the Dinobots were your friends and you were not going to let some-some technophobic monster torment them! And hearing that he planned on using Sari as part of his experimental project? You didn't even try stopping Bulkhead as he rushed towards the madman, anger halting your logical components you had forgotten that Meltdown could shoot his corrosive acid from a distance and the Autobot was hit.

"Bulkhead!" Prowl and Fanzone ran to help but a trap door opened and the two fell in but your data cables saved you from a similar fate.

"You won't get away with this!" you yelled and extended your cables towards him, ensnaring him tightly but even though the plating was more durable than your plating, his acid ate through it so easily you screamed in pain as you released him. You couldn't even retract them completely, struggling to keep the acid from eating through them completely. Oh, it hurt, it hurt so much you didn't care that your optics were leaking as you fell back.

"Sorry, I have other plans for you," meltdown smirked, holding a remote that obviously controlled the trap door. Looking over you and Bulkhead, he smirked but turned and left. You knew he didn't see you as a threat, but you ignored that and rushed to Bulkhead's side. His outer had been completely eaten away, revealing the internal circuitry but some of the acid had made it inside. You knew a little about chemistry, but this was more along the line of Ratchet's expertise and you couldn't call him and the others for back-up. You tried to force back the tears as you fixed what you could, ignoring the sting of your own injuries.

"I'm sorry, Bulkhead… no one was supposed to get hurt… please, just try to hold on," you begged. You had done what you could and even your own injuries needed a medic's touch, but hearing movement you looked up and could see the Dinobots hovering just out of reach, still cowed, helms lowered. It would be so easy to lash out at them, to get angry and let them have it, but they were just as much a victim as you all were. Taking a few steps away from bulkhead, you stood before Grimlock. He whined lowly, looking away and it was then you noticed burns in the shape of servos along his side. Slowly, you reached out and just brushing the tips of your digits around the unscared plating made him flinch with a whimper.

"Sorry, it must still hurt," you said softly. You looked at the others and winced at the damage done. They were surface wounds, but no less painful. And they were terrified. Shaking your helm you had to ask why they didn't say something, why didn't they tell you? You would have helped; it's what friends did!

"Meltdown say, he hurt car robots. Me Grimlock, me king! You, you friend." He slowly turned to look at you, and gently leaned in to pressed his large helm against yours as gently as he could. "Me Grimlock, not want you to get hurt."

"Grimlock…" You wanted to scream and cry, call him names, berate him and the others, but instead you wrapped your upper stabilizers just behind his head and hugged him. That was something your creators didn't understand, how something as simple as a hug could calm you instead of being told to act like a proud member of the Elite Guard. Your grandsire understood and didn't hesitate when he could, even if it was a comforting servo on your pauldron. You felt Grimlock start but soon he leaned into you. It was only for a klik or two before you pulled back and wiped away evidence of your crying away.

"I know you're afraid of Meltdown, so am I, but I need to help my friends. I need you to please, watch over Bulkhead until I return." You really could use their help, but you didn't want them to get hurt either. Even though your data cables were damaged, you were able to trace the electrical current from the main computer and found what looked like the main entrance to the research facility you remembered being here. You ran forward, hoping Prowl had been able to find Sari only to smile in relief as you saw them running down the hall towards you.

"Sari! You're alright!" you exclaimed, relief filling your frame but you look up as you heard alarms going off, and watched as the door you were standing in was beginning to close. You refused to move and tried to keep it open but once more you realize your frame was not designed for this type of work but you didn't care. However, you knew your human friends would never make it in time. Realizing this was going to hurt, you extended your cables and wrapping around them, pulled them out to safety. Prowl was also running but you weren't certain if you could keep the door open for much longer.

"H-Hurry Prowl!" you grunted, ignoring the strain you were putting on your hydraulic joints. But the Cyber Ninja said nothing as he activated his jetpack, increasing his speed and saving you from being crushed by the door. You were all safe but you were far from where you had originally left Bulkhead.

"Quickly, Bulkhead needs help," prowl said, helping you up you were ready to transform but stopped when you heard something coming towards you and found the Dinobots rushing up to you, carefully carrying a barely functioning Autobot with them. "What-But how did you find us?"

"Um d'uh! They brought me here, remember?" Sari pointed out but rushed towards them as Bulkhead was gently placed on the ground, climbing up on him and inserted her key into a slot that revealed itself. No matter how many times you witnessed it, it was still a wonder as you watched as the injury was healed. You all waited with vents stalled as he groaned and his optics came online.

"…S-Sari… you're okay…" he smiled softly as she returned his smile with one of her own. "I found you… how'd I do that?"

The little girl giggled, answering, "You're the best."

"How touching. I do love happy ending," meltdown proclaimed as he stood from the melted remains of the door you had all escaped from, the melt still smoking. "It melts the heart, along with other body parts." Sari surprised everyone when she charged forward, aiming to kick at Meltdown but clearly missed when he easily side-stepped her attack, causing her to land in the dirt with a small "oof!" The madman was not impressed, turning to her he asked what that was about only to leave himself open for a successful attack from Prowl which enabled Fanzone to tie him up in a protective suit he managed to grab on the way out.

"That, is what we call a distraction and you fell for it," Sari said as she stood, dusting the dirt from behind. Despite being tied up, the material from the suit was burn-resistant, which meant he was trapped and unable to harm anyone else.

"Rrrr Dinobots, attack!" he ordered to the dinosaurs. The Dinobots seemed hesitant as they growled lowly, taking a step forward but Prowl held his servo out to them.

"Stop! You don't have to do this," he said calmly as you helped Bulkhead to his peds. "Look at him, he has no power now. He cannot hurt you."

"Meltdown not hurt Dinobots; Dinobots hurt Meltdown." With said realization, the unexpected sound of transformation was heard and you were surprised to watch as plating folded away to reveal the three Dinobots now standing in what would have been their primary forms had they been created on Cybertron. You had just witnessed Grimlock, Swoop, and Snarl transform for the very first time!

"What that…?!"

"What…!"

"Uh… they couldn't do that before. Right?"

You just shook your helm slowly, unable to take your optics off them.

Meltdown looked downright terrified as he squirmed to get away from the advancing mechs, begging you all to keep them away from him. Even Prowl revealed his slightly sadistic side as he gave the villain a choice of either prison or leaving him with his "overqualified watchdogs." You would later admit, in private, that you liked seeing this new side of your amica but would not mind if he kept that side hidden for a bit longer. Even when Colossus Rhodes and the two mutated experiments arrived to help meltdown out, they were more than willing to surrender in the face of the now transformed Dinobots, each wielding weapons that literally lit up in flames in their servos. Of course, they still had to be put in their place for the damages they had done thus far.

While Prowl and Fanzone made sure the bad guys were locked up in the cargo hold of your borrowed ship, and Sari tended to all your injuries (Dinobots included), you quietly asked Grimlock when he had learned to transformed. He admitted that he had been able to do it the day he had first arrived here on the island and later, Swoop and Snarl learned to do it as well. He had been nervous to tell you and admitted he liked it when you gave him pats and felt like he could protect you better.

"Grimlock… you still protected me, even now," you said, reaching out and taking his servo in your own. He was so big, bigger than Optimus! But being close to him like this, it made your spark do funny things within its casing. You knew you were blushing, and when the great king leaned down, ready to ask why you were trying to hide your faceplates you gave into the impulse and threw your servos around his pauldrons and hugged him tightly. He froze, of course, but after a klik his own servos came up and wrapped around your much smaller frame, careful not to hug you too tightly but enough that you were certain he could feel your spark vibrating through two layers of plating. "Thank you," you whispered, and pressed a quick kiss to the side of his helm.

"!" Grimlock didn't say anything, and his temperature was sky-rocketing but other than looking like a statue he seemed fine. Promising to see them later and to be careful around any new strangers to the island, you left. Fanzone spoke to professor Sumdac via his communication device, only to accidentally drop it into the waters when it went over the railing. Sari practiced her kick on Bulkhead, who once more played it up only to fall into the cargo bay with a loud crash but was otherwise unharmed.

"So, does that mean we're going to tell Optimus about the Dinobots?" you asked softly. Wouldn't it be better if no one else found out, for their own protection?

"Hey, I don't get a problem as long as they stay outta my city," Fanzone commented. "And maybe you machines aren't so bad."

"I could say the same about you," the ninja said with a small smile. Looking at you, he gestured to the island. "Just be careful when you come back to do some more exploring."

"I think I'll be fine, afterall, I think the island is in the good servos with the Dinobots," you smiled.

Author's Notes: Chapter 2 is done! And thank you for the likes and reviews! It's been fun writing this and developing this reader insert a bit more. I hope you, the reader, don't mind but I picture the reader as a small femme. Not minibot, but not a big warrior one since its clear their interest lies in biology and the sub-branches that fall under it. So, the stereo-typical type: small, over-looked, nerdy, and yes, I did borrow the idea of the data cables/tentacles from Soundwave of TF Prime (I love that series, and I freaking adore Soundwave is nearly ALL the multiverses!). And yes I did mention something about siblings because next chapter brings... … … (dramatic drumroll) … … … the Elite Guard! Yes, the Elite guard make their appearance and with it, the one bot reader really does not wanna see again. So, read, review, let me know what you like, don't like, and drop a comment if you like! (waves) Thanks for stopping by! And thanks again for the permission and shout out, decepticonnilingus!