N/A 01/01/25 happy quarter of a century B)
New Arrivals (Age 7)
Many months had passed, Ellen was feeling more like herself again, the nightmares were still there but very rare now, she was coming along for exploration missions, with the least likely possibility of danger, and when there was she was to return to base. This turned into a new routine and made her feel like she belonged with the Autobots instead of feeling like a relic they put in their storage hangar. She was glad to get away from base, see new places, sometimes people, even if there was never time for her to speak to any.
She was sat on a bench in a national park, Optimus had dropped her off there so he could investigate something close by. She waited, watching the parking lot and surrounding area. Noting groups of humans, having a picnic, walking dogs, families laughing, friends arguing. She found herself staring at a fenced in park nearby as she stared at a swing. She saw a young boy and presumably his father pushing him as he had a wide smile on his face. She fiddled with her fingers, feeling jealous and picturing herself on there instead, sometimes the serious atmosphere on base, meant no one or bot had much to smile about. she did wonder what the Autobots would do if they had free time.
"Ellen."
She fell forward off the bench, "I-I'm okay." she brushed herself down, in her thoughts too deep to notice the huge truck parked in front of her.
"I do not wish to you pry you from your thoughts, but we are on limited time." Optimus said.
She shook her head looking back, "Limited time? Um do you think- uh..."
"Yes?" he pressed lightly.
"Do you think..." she sighed lowering her voice. "Do you think the others found anything?"
He paused thinking on her tone, noting she was looking behind her a few times. "Perhaps." He replied. "Let us return to base, we will find out."
"Nothing to report for sections GB11 to GB15." Ironhide said leaning his weight up against the hangar wall to rest for a moment.
"The distress beacon I investigated? I was too late, about hundreds of years too late." Bulkhead said lightly slapping his helm to keep him alert.
"That leaves only Jazz." Ratchet said, who was just tired all the time. "We can only wait."
Optimus nodded at him, he looked down to Ellen as she stared into space. "Is something troubling you?"
"Mm? Nothing, just dumb little human things."
"Hmm. Human things you say?" Knowing her well enough now, she was scared to ask for certain things, she had this perception that some of her concerns were trivial compared to theirs. Perhaps it was because of all that she had witnessed. Or she was becoming too involved with adult matters. she was never hesitant in asking for video games or movies, so It was odd to him how indifferent she was.
He allowed her to be a part of their debriefings to keep her mind occupied and less alienated. She would watch how the Groundbridge worked on the command terminal, she had a small ear piece that could be tracked if she needed ground bridging. She was slowly finding her footing again.
Jazz eventually returned, he was coming back from a mission from the deepest of caves, he was covered in dents and dings, "Checked the beacon. Not goods news I'm afraid, the bots there were..." he looked down acknowledging the small child in the room, then gave the others a grim knowing look.
"That's the third distress beacon this month and nothing." Ratchet sighed tiredly.
The discussion turned to white noise to Ellen as she was in a world of her own until she saw shiny glints of blue patches on Jazz' shoulder. "You're hurt." She spoke up loudly, retreating into herself after realizing that.
Jazz chuckled softly, "It's nothing, just a scratch from climbing those tight cave walls." he reassured wiping the energon away leaving a smudge behind.
"Cave? Was it dark?" she asked.
"And full of bats. This big." He added grinning.
Ellen hummed to herself admiring him. "Cool."
"Well then, If you're finished Jazz." Ratchet said diverting their attention to his screen. He started discussing certain areas of interest on the planet worth investigating next.
Ellen watched Jazz as he loosened his shoulders, brushing them off and acting as if his day was only beginning.
"Speak your mind." Optimus spoke quietly to her noting her swaying and fixation on Jazz.
"Jazz is brave huh?" she whispered.
"You wish to strive for that?" he whispered back.
She turned shy. "I don't think I can."
He raised an eyebrow, "Your past actions say otherwise, you have merely 'stumbled' as humans say." He said.
She shrugged unconvincingly.
"Well If its to learn from experience, you fortunately have many role models." He gestured to the room full of bots.
She acknowledged them all, then looked herself over. "Y-You guys are all cool, I'm a J-Jitter bug."
With a thoughtful look he said, "You believe Jazz has never been afraid? Ironhide? Bulkhead?"
"No. Maybe? No?" She said. "Wait. what about you? You're never scared."
He looked at her with a resting expression, neither confirming nor denying. "Bravery is a response to fear. For yourself, for others, as you know. However courage comes in many forms, not only from perilous situations, sometimes it can be simply jumping from a great height, doing right when nothing is done, or simply doing nothing."
"Doing nothing?" she said unconvinced.
"You simply lack the context and experience, you will understand one day."
"Mmm. 'One day'." She huffed being given similar answers many times before involving statements such as, 'when you're older', 'more experience', 'too young'. "Where is Will?" she said getting off the subject, "There is only two people here and their sitting drinking dirt water."
"They are currently dealing with their own conflicts here on Earth. Which is why we must operate covertly, even more so, in order to not course further friction with our allies."
"Further friction?" she asked wrinkling her nose.
"Nothing of concern." He assured, in reality it was because Optimus was pushing for every opportunity to investigate Decepticon activity, something was strange. They encountered a small unit of Vehicons now and then, but they were no where near an Energon mine or excavation site. It was as if they were purposely placed here and there as a decoy to keep the bots distracted from their real intentions. Which concerned Optimus greatly, but these constant missions meant more resources from the humans but with no solid proof that they were actually making any progress in ridding them from this planet, their allies trust was beginning to waver.
"Now pay attention before Ratchet scolds us." Optimus noted said medic giving a hard stare in their direction.
"As I was saying their have been some interesting activity in this area, possibly a Cybertronian signature. We cant be sure if its Autobots or Decepticon related without a beacon, but it could give us a lead." he said.
"I might be able to pick up a trail." Jazz said.
"Either one would be beneficial. I would be reassured to hear of some Decepticon activity rather than none at all." Optimus said.
"Its me and you right big guy?" Jazz knelt down, "You coming with us this time small fry?" he asked as she nodded. "This will be a possible encounter, not your usual Energon or Cybertronian history trek, you get me?"
"I know. I'm learning practical." She said putting on a tiny one strapped backpack and holding a notebook in her hand.
"Protocol." Optimus corrected.
"That's what I said." she lightly dismissed.
Jazz gave a reassuring smile at her knowing her problems, "Maybe I'll be able to help you with a few things too."
"Remember to observe and listen to instructions." Optimus reminded.
She performed a wobbly little salute dropping her pen, "Sure thing Dad Prime."
"Heh. Cute." Jazz sung.
Ratchet activated the Groundbridge as the usual formalities were performed.
The other side was a mostly barren land, sandy colored ground and ferns. "Are we on the moon?" she asked.
They both exchanged glances, "No, because you'd be dead." Jazz teased poking her forehead.
"O-Oh yeah..." Ellen blushed then awkwardly pretended to collapse to the floor.
Jazz looked around, "But we might as well be. Makes sense if any faction came here." he knelt down to observe a lizard, "Only even smaller creatures here. Well maybe a little bigger than you kiddo."
"Hey." Ellen whined trying to follow the lizard that went under a rock.
"This area is what your kind call the great basin, just west of here is the area of contiguous endorheic watersheds." Optimus explained, sounding enthusiastic - in his own way, about the natural formations of the planet.
Ellen frowned looking at Jazz, "A crater in the ground that holds water." He explained in blunter terms.
Optimus shook his head lightly to the casual disrespect of his educated explanation, "Regardless, be on your guard." he knelt down next to her. "Anything you notice that could put us in potential risk?"
Ellen played with her fingers anxiously to the sudden quiz, looking around frantically. "U-Umm. Its big?"
"We are exposed in this vast area, no places for cover." He explained as she started writing notes in her journal as best as she could.
"C'mon Prime let her take in the area first at least before you start schooling her." He transformed speeding around the area in sixty seconds and coming back, kicking up a dust storm. "Got some good traction here."
She smiled at him, despite the potential dangers Jazz really threw himself into everything. "You're so brave Jazz."
He lightly scoffed, "Nah this ain't nothing, I'm flattered but honestly I'm just showing off." he stroked his chin, humming as he looked her over. "Hey, come here a sec."
She looked up at Optimus warily.
He was pleased she was approaching situations with caution. "You are more self aware since we first met; are you beginning to think of the consequences?" he asked.
"I didn't think things wanted to hurt me then." She said meekly.
He gave her a sad smile before resuming her lesson. "In that you gained wisdom, made it a part of your character, however you can still be bold, simply approach the situation differently."
"Differently. So instead of rushing in I..." She thought, "Um, why do you want me to go to you Jazz?"
"Acceptable approach, always question someone's intentions If it does not feel right." He said looking Jazz up and down half seriously. "Who knows what sinister purpose Jazz has in mind." he quietly said, the booming vibrations from his voice making her eardrum itch, making her snicker unintentionally.
Jazz scoffed "Even I'm not brave enough for that stare." he stated playing along but noting how forced he made it sound, Optimus may excel in speeches but his ability to loosen up needed much more practice, but at least he was trying.
Ellen sniggered into her hands, watching the two weird aliens.
"It's nothing that sinister." Jazz chuckled offering a cupped hand to her as she cautiously approached. With a hand around her waist he picked her up and placed her behind his head. "Here, hold onto my finials." She liked how shorter and leaner he was, she was almost able to put her legs around his neck. She held onto his finials like two large levers.
She grinned; It was weird that this was almost a perfect piggy back. "Look at me Dad."
Optimus acknowledged this contently, Jazz had this natural way of including others, be they the size of a titan or microscopic. He looked over his own hands, though by now it came naturally to him how to interact with her, but Jazz treated her both carefully and inclusively with no restrictions. "Jazz you may need to share your 'innovative' tactics with me."
Jazz grinned, "Its all about being loose Prime."
"What we doing?" Ellen asked Jazz, resting her chin on his helm.
He started walking, "Prime was telling me you got a bit of a confidence knock." Her face fell at the statement. "Three con encounters, gets anyone spooked, it stays with you. Ask anybot, they have all had a time they feared for their lives And I don't necessary mean during the war either."
Ellen murmured, "How...how do you, know what to do...after?" she asked.
"It's hard to explain but anticipating danger, being cautious and think about what you can control in that situation. Be ready before you have to get ready." Jazz said as Ellen merely nodded. "Another one is exposure."
"Exposure?"
"Sure, I heard a human saying, do something every day that scares you." He said.
"So...I-I have to go to a con and say you don't s-scare me?" she said befuddled.
"Jazz." Optimus murmured behind them almost making them jump.
Jazz waved his hands around in front of him, "Scrap no. I'm talking something small, I ain't gonna throw you at a con straight away and don't you either alright? Like say Megatron?"
Ellen turned embarrassed, though the memory of that time in Mission City was starting to go fuzzy.
"You're not getting a grillin', we know you meant well, from what I heard anyway...Megatron would never see humans being as any kind of potential threat, that's probably how you got so close to begin with. Its just funny when it's a little fella like you."
"I don't think its funny." She argued feeling mocked.
"Jazz." Optimus murmured again.
"Welp, before I put my foot in it again let's get off the subject for now. Best hold on tight." He placed a leg behind him, bending slightly, then dashed forward as Ellen held on tightly squeaking to the sudden force that felt like winds of high speeds pulling her head back. "How about a race Prime?"
"You are welcome to it Jazz. I will continue to trace the signal at this pace." He replied scanning the area.
"By your orders big guy." Jazz casually saluted jogging on the spot.
"Pfft. Big guy." Ellen sniggered.
Jazz started sprinting again before she could take a breath, "Pop quiz kid, you seem more like a visual learner. I'm running at a considerable speed, I need you to be my spotter? Look for any potential danger okay?"
"Anything dangerous." She told herself looking ahead. "H-Hole in the ground!"
"What should I do?" Jazz asked playing dumb.
"U-h—uh. Jump it?!"
He did, but not before tossing Ellen up in the air and performing a back flip. Like time was frozen in place she felt her breath leave her and saw only clouds overhead, whenever she was off the ground was whenever she was in danger but this felt different...she kinda liked it. Then as time hit the play button again, Jazz caught her. "See? You saw the potential threat, assessed it and made a decision." Ellen's hair looked like lightning struck it as she tried to comprehend what happened or even remember what she was supposed to be doing.
She then grinned kicking her feet in the air as he held her their with two hands, "Again!" she cried with her arms in the air.
He placed her on the ground, looking at Optimus who gave him a straight disapproving stare, his pose suggesting he had lunged forward in response to his human being tossed into the air. "Anyway, you'll get a hang of assessing situations, when you come out with us on these exploration missions, someday reconnaissance."
He said this but she didn't really listen at that point, her adrenaline was spiking.
"Until then, please refrain from taking off into this planets stratosphere." Optimus said.
"I wanna do that again." She grinned looking like a crazed maniac.
Before either could reply to her, Optimus looked at his scanner with a concerning look. "I am receiving a faint trace of Cybertronian matter." He pointed it towards a butte. "in that direction."
"On it." Jazz said sprinting on ahead.
Keeping up, Optimus hovered the scanner in a circular motion. "The signal is strongest here." He said pointing it to the ground.
"No escape pod. No crash site." Jazz noted glancing around.
"The evidence may merely be minuscule." He said looking down at Ellen.
"What you looking for?" she asked.
"Traces of evidence that a Cybertronian was in this vicinity, tiny metal fragments or shrapnel. You have shown to have the best optical vision for small details, would you mind taking point?" He encouraged.
"Like splinters?"
"kinda." Jazz shrugged.
"The equivalent would be a mesh sample." Optimus added.
"Ew." Ellen recoiled.
"Let's just, stick to splinters." Jazz suggested as Optimus tilted his head, unsure of the disgust.
She knelt down brushing away at the dirt; working vigorously as she felt helpful for once.
Jazz and Optimus watched patiently, the scanner then started responding to something else. He looked at it, then hovered it above him, the dial seemed to go off the scale, "Hmm."
"Picking up something else?" Jazz asked.
"In this space between us, see how it responds to this circular motion above us?"
"Someone groundbridged here maybe?" Jazz theorized.
"Same energy signature but the signal is too strong."
They locked eyes, both looking hesitant to their thoughts, "You don't think it could be...that they Spacebridged here? Impossible, their existence was before even our time."
Optimus shook his head, "Nothing is impossible, Decepticon Scientists will perform anything to achieve such feats, no matter what questionable tactics."
Jazz bared his weapons, "They might still be in the area."
"Unlikely. However the Decepticons may be alerted to a recent activation of their Spacebridge, our time will be short before they descend upon us."
"Then these are Decepticons?" Jazz said.
"Not necessarily."
"Dad look it." Ellen called holding a handful of shrapnel in her hands. "Is this it?"
"Good job." Jazz praised.
Optimus nodded in agreement.
"Ratchet reopen the groundbridge." He knelt to her level, "Take these to Ratchet, he can analyse them and possibly identify the owners."
"Then come straight back." Jazz added. Optimus raised an eyebrow at him. "What? She's safe with us, she needs the exposure to normalize these situations."
He sighed in agreement, "If you wish to proceed further, you can."
She nodded. "I can keep going."
Ratchet spoke through their comm links when Ellen came back through. "It will take a while to be ready, as you well know." Ratchet grumbled 'Earth tech' as he trailed off.
Jazz clasped his hands together, "While we wait for that, we should get a head start on tracking. If that's cool with you Prime?"
"So long as we follow at a safe distance, you may proceed."
He knelt down observing the ground, hovering a finger over certain parts of the Earth "tracking?" Ellen asked leaning a hand on the bots knelt down leg.
He beckoned her closer to the area. "Looking at the disturbed ground, certain things can give you a clue into who, how tall and how long ago they were here. We'll show you eventually but let's not overwhelm that tiny processor of yours." He said poking her temple.
"Can I watch?" she asked rubbing said temple.
"Course you can." He took the scanner from Optimus, "luckily a scanner moves things along ten time faster. So you can skip steps one and two." He said following a certain route, she pulled a face at him as she learnt nothing of tracking other than with the right advanced tech you can just cheat. "Whoever was here went west, that was a day ago...they stopped here, by the freeway, disguises perhaps?" he looked at the sign above. "Then headed into the city."
"Ba-ker...Baker." Ellen said reading the sign.
"We heading out?" Jazz turned to Optimus.
Optimus opened his comm link, "Ratchet what's the status on the identification?"
"A few moments, just wait." he replied impatiently. Ellen swung on her heels, Jazz had his hands behind his back as they waited with baited breath...
...
...
They heard a slight sigh through the comm link before Ratchet spoke with a promising tone. "Optimus, they are Autobots."
"Autobots? Plural?" Jazz said excitedly.
"I'm still trying to access their bio." Ratchet replied.
"They will not know how to navigate this world, we must locate them." He turned his gaze to Ellen, she could go a little further but he decided to let her choose. "Would you prefer to return to base?"
She glanced between the both of them, Jazz produced a thumbs up, while Optimus was still hard for her to read from his neutral expression alone. "I-I wanna come, I-If I'm allowed?"
He nodded, "Ratchet contact Major Lennox, we may need the area evacuated, there may be Decepticons tracking as well." then pointing towards their intended route. "Jazz, rollout."
It was a twenty minute drive, cars were leaving the city rather than entering, easing congestion for them. "Ooh new place." Ellen said sticking her head out the window, even making eye contact with a couple kids and waving at them. "Optimus look at all these people leaving."
Optimus murmured concerned, "Hmm, the evacuating is still taking place, prepare yourself." He slowly rolled his window up, hinting her to get her head back inside.
She sighed feeling her excitement fizzle. "Okay...is it cons?"
"The possibility is likely. Do not worry, if you carry out my instructions you will not face them. Jazz, we'll circle around a few times to ensure the humans have vacated."
Ratchets voice came in over the comms suddenly. "Optimus, we have their identities, Arcee and Cliffjumper."
"Acknowledged."
Jazz hummed, "I remember Cliff. Cocky, talks allot to the point of overheating, medium frame build, his vehicular mode will probably reflect that. Don't know the other one, I heard they had been captured for intel but I heard nothing after that. What's this Arcee look like?"
"Small frame build, nimble. She was known for her stealth, tracking, resilience and target accuracy. She took on many missions and was rarely ever seen, carried much Intel through the battlefields during the war." Ratchet explained.
"Something small and medium sized." Ellen pondered to herself looking at every vehicle parked on the curb. A few laps around the smaller streets and the two bots felt two vehicles following behind, baring Decepticon insignia's.
"Optimus." Jazz warned.
"I know."
"I'll try to get them to follow me. Lead them away from here." He said falling back behind Prime and going between the vehicles, "Hey how you doin'?" he said to them, then bumped in the side of each of them and took a hard right down a street baiting them into following him.
"Ratchet I need a bridge for Ellen." Optimus said.
"Drop her on the corner of this street, there's an alley way just around there." he replied.
Optimus halted at the curb as he assisted her out by manipulating certain parts of his cab door, she smoothly slid down the steps."Contact Ratchet when you reach the alleyway, do not stop for anything."
"Okay. Be careful please." he drove off at the exact moment she finished her sentenced with such haste. She looked around the corner she was left at, one path led to her destination. But looking down the other path she saw two more Vehicons, easily recognizable by the fact that they all had the same but unique alt mode. They were headed down another street at high speeds, nowhere near Optimus or Jazz. "Huh." she turned a corner hiding behind a car counting the growing number of clone cars. "Three, four, five?"
Her eyes caught the glint of the sun reflecting off this tiny patch of liquid no bigger than a pebble, she squinted trying to make out what it was. Blue? shiny? Energon. She made a soundless gasp impressed with herself. "tracking." She whispered following it, trying to ignore the loud sounds of what could be described as a wrecking ball knocking down buildings and the floor rumbling beneath her. Eventually it led into an alley way just on the edge of the city centre. She gasped jumping back behind the wall, then peeked around the corner. Looking for and noticing the Autobot insignia, she breathed a sigh of relief.
A red Autobot sat up against the wall, his shoulder had been shot at and was leaking Energon as the smaller blue one examined it. "Arcee I'm fine." He said.
Ellen put her hands on her head in earnest, "Their here, I-I uh, w-what do I?" she heard the sounds of blaster fire coming from where she, Optimus and Jazz had been. "They are busy." She concluded.
"We could have gave them the slip, but you had to engage them." Arcee scolded, cauterizing his injury as he hissed to the sting.
"What about the distress call? Is anyone receiving us?" he asked.
"No. I'm not sure if our communications fried during transport or this weird planet is blocking the signal." Arcee deployed her weapons to the sound of burning rubber heading down the alleyway.
"Looks like we're taking these guys down ourselves." He said confidently, despite the energon that smeared over his Armour.
"You mean me, you're in no state." Arcee reprimanded pushing him back down to a sitting position.
Cliffjumper felt a knocking on his leg, turning his head both this small creature and him locked eyes with the same dumbfounded expression and blinking in unison. "Uh 'Cee?"
Arcee turned pointing weapons, then lowered them slightly, "It's just another indigenous, just ignore it." She said focusing her attention back down the alley.
"Are you- uh-uh-" Ellen stuttered as Cliff mouthed her words trying to translate.
"I think it's glitched." He said humorously.
"Now's not the time for your stupid jokes!" Arcee scowled as the Vehicons had transformed and began firing upon them. "Frag it all!"
"C-C-Cliffj-Jumper? Are you Cliffjumper!" Ellen frantically spat out, taking cover behind his leg.
The bots exchanged glances, Cliffjumper more intrigued than the cautious Arcee who was preoccupied at the moment, taking out three hostiles.
"U-Uh R-Ratchet?!" Ellen yelled.
"Ratchet?" Cliff said.
"Scrap!" Arcee announced continuing to shoot down the alleyway as more vehicles sped down to their position. "They just keep coming, I can't keep them off us if we're cornered!"
"Stop yelling! You're damaging my audio receptors!" Ratchet called back. "About time you answered me, I've been waiting at the console-"
"Can you-can you find where I am?!" Ellen replied.
"Your location? Why aren't you-"
"Those Autobots are here with me, their hurt."
"The—understood! I'm activating the Groundbridge."
Cliff sighed as a portal was opened, "Arcee! Let's book!" He called rising to his feet slowly.
"Keep going! I'll keep them off our back!" Arcee called back.
Ellen went first, as Cliff dragged himself through, Arcee slowly backed up into the bridge covering them. On the other side Arcee almost collapsed, taking a seat wherever she could as Ironhide took a hold of Cliffjumper supporting his weight on him. "Easy soldier." He said propping his arm around his shoulder.
Cliff looked around relieved, "Its nice to see some other Autobots for a change but uh...what are these strange looking creatures?"
"Never mind that. Into med bay, both of you." Ratchet said. As they were given assistance with walking, Ellen tried to blend into the background. "Hold it right there." Ratchet held a hand in front of her path like a stop sign.
"U-Uh..."
He looked her over, then knelt down looking over her face, and then rotated her at a 180 degree angle. "Any damage to yourself?"
She looked herself over, "I'm ok."
"Well then..." he stood up, brushing himself down, "What in the allspark were you thinking?!" he barked, receiving a few head turns and then pretending they didn't hear anything. She flinched, starting to play with her fingers. "Going into a battlefield scenario with no protection, no weapons, were you really wanting to turn yourself in powder?"
Her mouth hung open as she tried to speak, "I wanted to...wanted to..."
"To?!"
"Not leave them!" She tried explaining, attempting to raise her voice level to match his overwhelming one.
He sighed exhausted, "You know what? I don't have time for this right now, I have patients to attend to. But don't think for a minute that this conversation is over." He stomped off grumbling to himself.
"Optimus and Jazz are coming through." Bulkhead said, manning the console.
Jazz came speeding in, transforming into a mid cartwheel, "Good mission today." he said.
Optimus came in closely behind making a beeline for Ellen. "Are you alright?" He asked taking in subtle changes in her clothing, notably concrete dust.
Her eyes glanced to the ground as she gave a hesitant. "Yes." She then pointed at Cliffjumper and Arcee before he could respond to her.
He set his gaze on them as Cliff grinned like a madman and Arcee stood with her arms to her side taking in his presence. "Cliffjumper, Arcee. We are fortunate to have you here and that you otherwise arrived worse for wear."
"Optimus Prime. We received your message. Here we are." Cliff said gesturing to himself.
"How is it you arrived here?" he asked.
Arcee and Cliff exchanged grim glances. "By a, Spacebridge. Constructed by Shockwave on Cybertron. We barely made it out before it was destroyed and him alongside it." Arcee explained.
Ratchet looked unconvinced, "Pfft. They constructed a spacebridge? Impossible, the technology has been lost for megacycles." he scoffed.
"That's what I said." Jazz said.
"Well how else do you think we got here? No ship, no pod. I don't know how to open the fabrics of reality and traverse the universe, unless Arcee is holding out on me." Cliff ranted.
"We're just reporting what we encountered." Arcee said putting a hand over Cliffs mouth.
"Nonetheless, I am relieved that the transmission was able to reach you. This planet is small but brimming with life and a safe refuge for now. What of your struggles on Cybertron? Are their others?" Optimus asked, a tinge of desperation with the last question.
"Looking worse each time you stop to look at it, if you had time that is. Decepticons still heavily occupy it." Cliff said.
"We couldn't find anyone on Cybertron, when we did it was very short lived." Arcee explained closing her eyes to push back certain thoughts to the back of her mind. "We figured that everyone by that time had evacuated the planet on the ARK, or…never had a chance to get that far." She added solemnly.
Cliff looked to the hangar entrance, feeling a slight breeze, he thought to try and lighten the tone. "So er, this is where Megs is stashing the Energon? Kind of a weird looking planet isn't it? Why does the ground move when you walk on it?"
"Appearances can be deceiving as history has shown." Optimus told him. "You will adjust to the terrain eventually."
"I guess. But I'll see for myself when I get a good look around." Cliff replied struggling against Ratchets repairs on him.
Arcee looked to the ground level as she had just noticed the natives walking around, "And they would be…the occupants?"
"Humans, our Allies and friends." Optimus said glancing down. "And the natives we must protect from the same tyranny that befell Cybertron. This Planet is one of the largest storage of Energon depositories in this section, and would take many cycles to fully clear its sources. In our short time here, It has become a new home."
Arcee shuddered slightly to the thought of remaining here that long.
"So we're going to be here for a while I take it?" Cliff said.
"Get comfortable." Ratchet said wearily, "but I'd advise against engagement with the natives." He said finishing up on repairs.
"little anti-social." Cliff said looking around to a bunch of soldiers laughing it up, "These natives don't seem all that bad." He said taking a step forward.
"Don't swap stories Cliff." Arcee said as she looked down to Optimus' foot, "Sir? The smaller one-" she said pointing her optics to the floor.
He noted casually, "My charge." He informed, "I am her guardian now after her own were…met with an unfortunate encounter." He nodded hinting the obvious perpetrator.
Both new bots looked on with a slight knowing expression, Arcee a little more stung as she battled a still very fresh pain of her own. Cliff spoke up first with no hesitation as he knelt down. "So she's like a little spark?" he said poking her in the stomach as she swatted at his hands.
"D-Dont. That's rude." She announced.
"First impressions are important Cliff." Arcee said. "You ruined yours."
"Whoa my bad." Cliff said, Ellen watched him warily, he made a slight wave to try and save face, "Sorry uh... what do they call you?" he asked as she slightly shuffled back behind Optimus' leg, "I know you can speak." the familiarity in his tone made Optimus tilt his head curiously as Ellen felt herself physically sweat.
Optimus looked down, "Are you not going to respond?" he asked her though with a quick response shook her head wildly as he calmly explained, "She possesses a lack of certain social confidence. It is unpredictable at times." He told him.
"Shy sometimes. Got it." He said looking around.
Ellen breathed a sigh of relief as Optimus raised an eyebrow at her, she grinned widely, saying nothing. "Does he know?" she thought.
Cliffjumper continued, "These humans are they soldiers? All of them? Should we be careful or-?"
"They are aware of the surroundings, just be aware of Ellen, she knows not to get in either of our paths but she tends to be more interested with only what she chooses to be focused on."
"watch for…Ellen? Right got it, not too many rules here…I like it." Cliff said leaning back on a railing...and bending it. "Oops."
Arcee looked concerned. "Humans seem fragile, they look...squishy. Not my place to ask Optimus but is this really safe for them?"
"We have been here nearly three years, of which safety has been the highest priority here. We have learned to adapt as have the humans. In time you and Cliffjumper will follow too." he explained.
Arcee looked to the floor, still quite unsure.
"Cliff!" came Bees voice as he came bounding in to greet his friend.
"Bee? Kid! You're a sight to see." He said as Bee pulled him into a hug. "W-Whoa easy champ. I don't want to start leaking energon again."
"O-Oh sorry! Its just been...so long." Bee looked as though his optics were about to leak, "I'm here to show you and Arcee your quarters." He said excitably.
"Our own rooms too? Color me impressed, I thought we were going to have to recharge in the mud." Cliff joked as Bee lead the way, almost skipping with glee to the arrival of his friend.
Arcee looked at Bee curiously, "I remember you." she said in an almost forgetful way or at least something she wished not to remember, "You were with Cliffjumper when you came to my aid with-" she held a hand over her helm as though a migraine had just formed.
"Easy Cee', lets just check our quarters yeah?" Cliff said.
"I remember." Bee said quietly. "I'm sorry about...Tailgate."
Arcee took a step back, her optics trying to find a point of focus, "Mm-hmm." she mumbled.
Ellen looked on curiously at Arcee, "Dad?" she whispered.
"Hm?"
"Is that a, femme?" She asked.
"Yes." He told her.
"She's small huh? Are all Femmes small?"
"We all range in size, Femme or otherwise. Any size has their benefits, perhaps in future you can observe her tactics." He looked at Jazz who was signalling for his attention. "Will you be alright if I attend to my duties?"
"U-huh."
He turned taking a step forward and then stopped as though he forgot something, "You were very focused today." He noted and then walked off again.
Ellen felt a fuzzy warmth in her chest, starting to recognize that some of his forms of praise were not a pet on the head or a tender word of encouragement, but this translated as praise nonetheless, although her favorite was a pet on the head...or chocolate...it was never chocolate. Though she felt a little bad, if he found out she didn't listen to instructions, what would he say? What would he do? She knows she had to do as instructed but she couldn't help it.
Ellen started walking outside with her journal in hand, starting to over think many scenarios.
"A word." Ratchets voice came from behind, quieter than usual but somehow made that more intimidating.
Ellen clasped her hands together praying and bowing her head a little, "Please don't yell at me again a-and please don't tell dad."
Ratchet looked around to how loud her voice was, "And why shouldn't I?" he continued in a whispered hiss.
"H-He'll get worried again and stop me going out at all, maybe put me in a cage! please, please Ratchet. I'll do anything." She pleaded.
Ratchet sighed, "Hmph. You understand what could have happened? To you? To him?"
"Yes." She flatly said.
His optics flared, "Then why? Why do you still not listen? Still not understand? Optimus puts his-"
"Everyone who saves me, leaves me." She said in a defeated tone, her eyes shiny from a glaze of formed tears.
He looked up to the ceiling, "And you think your direct intervention equates to ones fate? That is the poorest hypothesis I have heard yet. Optimus is not so easily defeated, I've told you this already."
"But he might die, I'm not dumb." she frowned, "He says he's experienced and done all this loads of times, but everyone can die, so don't try to lie to me that none of you won't." She rubbed her face looking to the side, "I...I don't want any of you to die."
Ratchet rubbed a hand down his face, "And what if you were to die? To replace your pain and to give it to someone else? To give it to Optimus? To Me-e-ajor Lennox?" She looked up at him as he got flustered, then pointed a stern finger in her face. "What I mean is, you need to focus on keeping yourself alive as well, help if you can safely! But stay alive for Primus sake."
She frowned, that answer wasn't satisfactory, "But why do I-"
"Because I said so!" he interrupted, "Children don't take bullets for their elders, maybe that's a rule on this planet but not on ours!" he shut his optics briefly, thinking of his hands stained with Energon of young bots about Bumblebees age, clinging to his chassis as they begged for his help. He couldn't save them all, he knew this, but the young ones affected him the most. Then in a hushed, tired tone, he said. "I cannot..."
Ellen watched him stare at his hands for the longest time, she could his age showing, he looked...scared. "I-I'm sorry I worried you Ratchet"
He snapped out of his thoughts looking disturbed before he scoffed looking away, "P-lease." He pinched his forehead shaking his head. "I won't mention this, I can't speak for the other two but I shall keep this confidential, I won't pretend that what you did wasn't, well...it produced results, It seems. this time."
He then stomped over to her, so that his shadow engulfed her.
"But It was foolish bravado! Dumb luck! Reckless! And disobedient! And Optimus could have easily produced the same result if you had just trusted him!" She turned to start walking away as he gripped her by her shirt collar lifting her up to face him, he looked her over again seemingly double checking she was indeed unharmed. "Not so fast, there is consequence to your actions, therefore for the next month you will clean my work tools every morning and every evening, I expect to not see a single smear on them. Is. That. understood?"
She nodded frantically, "Yes sir."
"Good. You could do with learning some discipline." He set her down, "Now, off you go." then shooed her away.
She backed away; still watching him intrigued and confused about the type of bot Ratchet was, before darting off to finish her journal.
Ratchet shook his head as he watched trip over air again and immediately got up, he rolled his optics non-maliciously, it was not the case of being careful she was just a klutz. "Primus give me strength." He looked at his hands, clutching them slightly, it scared him how he could barely feel any weight to her. "Primus give me less strength." He turned back to focus on his patients.
A/N Arcee and Cliffjumper are coming in a bit early then I wanted, buts its all good, please R+R gently ;)