Receiving a yes and a no as a singular answer cannot be good. Still, Thunderhoof wants to know what is going on. He stays quiet as he waits for Bumblebee to continue.

"Thunderhoof, you may not believe me, but trust me, you're going to have to if you and the sparkling are to stay safe."

The Cervicon blinks his optics, confusion written all over his faceplate.

"Okay?"

Bumblebee vents and looks down at his twiddling thumbs. He vents again and looks back up.

"There are bad humans that have technology advanced enough to neutralize us. When I was on Optimus' team as a scout, we had to face the threat of a whole organization. They were called MECH, and they targeted both Autobots and Decepticons. They captured some of us, tortured us, and even used the remains of a deceased Con to…"

Bumblebee's vocalizer clenched. Even around Thunderhoof, he couldn't bring himself to reveal everything he had seen and experienced. Both he and Starscream lost their T-Cogs to MECH, and Breakdown was captured and tortured by them.

What they did to Breakdown's corpse after Airachnid had killed him, though?

It was so heinous, no Cybertronian – Autobot or Decepticon – would have even considered crossing that line. Except maybe Airachnid, but that's beside the point.

"Listen, I'm not saying that the Rescue Bots haven't had their fair share of human threats, but at least they know where those humans are and how to deal with them. They don't know about MECH, and I hope and pray for their sake that they never find out."

"I'm failin' to see what's got you so conflicted," Thunderhoof said. "Seems pretty simple to me. If they're as bad as yous claim them to be, why not warn your fellow 'Bots?"

"Because MECH is supposed to be dead and gone!" Bumblebee hissed.

Thunderhoof raised an optical ridge and leaned over.

"Supposed to?"

"They were destroyed when their leader went mad. We figured, at the time, that MECH was no more. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't others operating behind the scenes. As far as we were concerned, they no longer posed a threat…"

"So yous stopped searching based on assumptions?" Thunderhoof interrupted, incredulous. "Just 'cause the leader is dead don't mean there ain't someone else to take their place. Believe me, it's just as important as it is dangerous to have a successor on the side with their own group, just in case. Don't matter how or why they do things if their ways are different, which they would be, so long as the core ideals remain the same. That way, the organization will continue to run despite differences in leadership."

Bumblebee just sat there, staring at Thunderhoof with wide blue optics.

"What?"

"I, uh, nothing!" Bumblebee stammered, startled out of his stupor. He cleared his vocalizer and settled back down in his seat.

"I'm just surprised. I didn't expect you to say any of that."

"Ey, when I see an opportunity to mock some bot for bein' stupid, I take it," Thunderhoof shrugged, grinning as he watched Bumblebee's expression turn into a scowl.

"This is serious, Thunderhoof! MECH could still be out there, and they're a danger to all Cybertronians! If they could take down both Autobots and Decepticons during the War, what do you think they would do to you? Or the Rescue Bots?"

Bumblebee hesitated to say what came to mind next.

"What about Steeljaw's daughter?"

Thunderhoof felt his Energon go cold. He wasn't too concerned until Bumblebee mentioned Steeljaw's daughter. His gaze shifted to the ball of white curled up against his abdominal plating, fast asleep in the warmth and safety of her guardian's being. If her small smile was anything to go by, she was content.

She felt safe, and the Pits be damned if Thunderhoof isn't planning on keeping it that way.

"Alright, I'll be careful," Thunderhoof vents, gaze softening the longer he looks at Steeljaw's daughter.

"And to think you didn't want anything to do with her," Bumblebee said, smiling. He had to bite back a laugh when Thunderhoof's helm swung around to face him.

"Who told you that?"

"I was there the first couple of days, Thunderhoof, and I can assure you, everyone else saw what I did. You weren't interested in the sparkling. You were just there to keep tabs on Steeljaw for his brother. Rumor is you and Phantomjaw are quite close. You've started courting, yes?"

"We're way past courting."

He was so pissed that his feelings were so obvious that he forgot to shut his mouth before he said something worse, which he just did. Realizing what he just admitted, Thunderhoof slapped his other servo across his mouth and looked away from Bumblebee. He didn't have to look to know that the yellow and black mech was grinning from audial-to-audial.

"Really, you are?" Bumblebee purred, taking a page out of Knockout's book. "Well, which stage are you two at, then?"

"None of your business!" Thunderhoof snarled.

Frag, I can't believe I admitted it!

He turned to Bumblebee and poked him in the chassis, his servo pushing not-so-gently and making the other lean backward.

"Yous tell anyone what you heard and you're dead!"

Bumblebee raised his servos in a placating manner, grin lowering to a gentle, albeit teasing, smile.

"Hey, it's none of my business to go around spreading rumors about private matters!"

"Says the Autobot who was pushin' not even a minute ago!"

"Sorry. I guess I couldn't resist."

Thunderhoof growled. He wanted to punch the Autobot, but restrained himself. Even if it's becoming more clear to him that he won't be punished for leaving Nova Terra, he knew better than to push his limits in such a delicate situation.

Punching Bumblebee is not a good option.

There's a knock at the door. Bumblebee rises to his pedes, walks over to the door, unlocks and opens it. Standing on the other side is Heatwave, and behind him, his team-mates.

"Sorry for interrupting you, Bumblebee, but we were just about to settle down for the night and were wondering what the plan is with you and the… I mean, Thunderhoof," Heatwave grunted out, forcing himself to say the Ex-Con's name. "What is the plan with the two of you?"

"We already went over this," Bumblebee vented. "Thunderhoof and the sparkling are staying here…"

"But what about you? Are you staying the night or leaving now?"

"I'm leaving now."

The Rescue Bots exchanged concerned glances with one another.

"What?" Bumblebee asked, tone firm.

"Um…" Blades hummed nervously as he leaned to the side, looking at something behind Bumblebee.

Or rather, someone behind Bumblebee, and Blades isn't the only one.

Bumblebee followed four pairs of optics and turned to look at Thunderhoof. At first, he seemed confused. The moment it clicked, he grinded his jaw and rolled his optics.

"Of course. Listen 'ere, I ain't gonna harm any of ya. There ain't a point in doing so. If yous don't believe me, that's fine by me. If the roles were reversed, I wouldn't believe me, either."

To absolutely no surprise, the Autobots didn't seem convinced by his words, but either they were too tired to care right now or they had other things on their processors because their collective guard lowered.

"So, what do we do?" Boulder asked. "Do we lock him in here?"

"Right now, it is the only option," Chase replied. "At least, until we can figure something else out."

"Or we could just strap him down for the night," Heatwave suggested.

"Heatwave!" Blades gasped, elbowing his leader. "We are not doing that!"

"And why not?"

"Because, if he's trusting his own safety to us, then the least we can do is believe that he'll keep his word and not hurt us!"

"Blades makes a good point, Heatwave," Boulder said.

"And don't forget about the sparkling!" Chase added. "Remember, she is under the care of Thunderhoof. For her sake, bearing him ill-will is highly advised against."

Heatwave scanned his team, then turned to Bumblebee, and soon shifted to Thunderhoof. The Cervicon stiffened under the hard, amber optics of the Rescue Bot leader. His servo on Steeljaw's daughter stilled, and his digits curled around her small frame. She whined when he pressed her against his plating as he leaned forward, blocking her from view. Red optics narrowed, daring anyone to try and get close.

"Fine, we'll lock the door," Heatwave vented, giving in to his team-mates, if only due to the sole fact that he's too tired to argue further.

Blades, Boulder, and Chase were all relieved that Heatwave decided not to continue. So was Bumblebee, but just like Heatwave, he's too tired to care, and his work is far from done.

"Well, I should be going," Bumblebee said. "You guys need some sleep, and I have a ton of work to get to."

The Rescue Bots agreed and started to leave. Bumblebee was just about to follow, but paused to look back at Thunderhoof.

"I promise, I won't stop looking until I find them."

Bumblebee shuts the lights off and closes the door. The tell-tale click of a lock sounds, leaving the Ex-Con and his charge alone in peaceful darkness.

"I know."