CHAPTER 16
Welcome to Diego Garcia

Moving to Diego Garcia was both exciting and nerve-wracking. It took longer to pack given Trevor had accumulated some things during his time with the Lennox's. But now, a few hours after they had gotten onto the military transport, here they were. Trevor clutched his backpack slightly as he observed the large island base, their new home. Around him, he saw many military members, who had been in Lennox's group in Mission City, had already arrived, dressed in their new NEST Uniforms. While he himself didn't get the uniform, Lennox had ordered him his own official "NEST" gear so he would not look out of place. Which was mostly non-military articles, consisting of several official t-shirts, a couple of jackets, and (the only military article) a set of dog tags with his name and with a rank listed as: "THE KID". For his first day he'd simply dressed in one of the t-shirts, and his dog tags.

While he was officially the "ward" of the group, and Bumblebee's son for that matter, Lennox had secured him a role. He was to help with introducing the new recruits to the Autobots when they came in, something which he was happy to do. After all, he felt as though he undoubtedly had to do something around here other than be tutored, and grow up among the Autobots. He watched quietly as Bumblebee drove off the transport, transforming as he stared down at Trevor. "Home sweet home, I guess," Bumblebee nodded his head towards the base. "You look like you're going to lubricate yourself."

"I'm nervous," Trevor muttered, looking up at his father quietly. "I mean, seriously, Bee," He began, chewing his lips nervously as he did. "Who wouldn't be? I'm the only civilian on an island base filled with military personnel," He explained.

Bumblebee rolled his optics as they began their walk towards the actual base itself. Once they were inside, Trevor found that the base was even bigger on the inside. The main hangar was huge, with a long walkway overhead and sleek metal floors and walls. All around him, people helped to set up different parts of the base, moving past them in a hurry. "Hey," Trevor turned his head as a voice spoke up. "What's a kid doing here?"

The man who approached them was tall, with a bad haircut and glasses. His eyes met Trevor's with a glare of suspicion as he stared at him with his own look of confusion. "Mr. Galloway," Lennox spoke up as he walked over, having entered before them. "This "kid" is Trevor Prime, the son of Bumblebee," He pointed at Bumblebee. "And the grandson of Optimus Prime."

"He looks human," The man, Galloway, crinkled his nose in suspicion.

"I am human," Trevor replied dryly, almost amused. "He adopted me last week, per an agreement with the government." He smirked a bit. "It's nice to meet you Mr. Galloway," He held out his hand with a smile, in an attempt to be friendly.

Galloway looked down at Trevor's hand, and merely stared at him after a few moments. "Yeah, well, make yourself useful and help out around here," Galloway grunted as Trevor noticed Bumblebee's doorwings quiver a little in dislike. "You get in the way of these troops and their job? And I don't care who you are, you'll be on the next plane back home."

"This is his home," Bumblebee spoke up. "Or did you not hear correctly? He's my son, it's legal, and I have the papers to prove it," Galloway frowned a bit at the aggressive way in which Bumblebee said this. "So I'd appreciate it if you treated him with a little more respect. As an Autobot, he has just as much of a right to be here as anyone else."

Galloway stared between the two of them, then at Lennox. By the looks of it, he could already tell the now named "Major" was on their side. He grimaced a bit, and nodded his head, going back to a straight face. "Very well, as you were then," He started off, but gave Trevor a look in the eyes. "I'm still watching you, kid. Just remember this isn't a playground," He added.

As the man walked off, Bumblebee had to resist the urge to flip him off. "What a wonderfully charming man he is," Bumblebee scoffed.

"And he's supposed to be our liaison to the President," Lennox groaned. "Figures we'd get stuck with a jerk."

Trevor tensed, not liking the idea of having a guy like that around. What if he caused trouble for him? He'd just been adopted, and the thought of anyone stepping in and taking him away from his new family scared him. "Hey," Bumblebee tapped his son with foot gently. "Why don't we go see your room? I got pictures and all, and I think you're really gonna like it."

Trevor simply nodded and followed him deeper into the base, waving goodbye to Lennox. It was a long walk to the room they were looking for, and they passed many hallways, and asked for many directions before Bumblebee stopped in front of one door. "Yep, this number matches the one I was emailed," Bumblebee nodded, stepping aside and activating his holoform before pushing open the human sized door. "I hope you like it, I tried to give them some ideas based on what I learned, but..." He stated as he started to take Trevor's boxes out of his subspace. "If you hate it, we can change it."

Trevor stepped inside slowly, taking in the sight of the room he entered. It was a rather mature room given his age, but it did, none-the-less, have a theme. Racing stripes ran around all four walls. His bed was normal, as was most of the furniture (though he also noticed a brand new laptop on the desk, and a TV on the wall) but a few personal touches were put in too. A couple of model racecars decorated the desk, and several shelves on the wall. A sign above the doorway read "PRIME RACEWAYS" (which actually made Trevor grin), and by far, the coolest part, was the giant Autobot shield that made up the headboard of his bed.

"Bee, this is awesome," Trevor finally spoke up, his eyes bugging. "You guys did great, seriously. It's even cooler than my old bedroom."

"I'm glad you like it," Bumblebee replied as he set the last of the boxes on the ground. "My quarters are going to be right next door. So we can help each other find our way around," Trevor nodded, knowing that that was going to be a hard task. "So, I'll let you get unpacked, and then we're expected in the briefing room," He explained.

"Alright," Trevor nodded. "I'll be done soon, you know I don't have much."

Bumblebee nodded before his holoform disappeared and he walked towards his own room. Trevor sighed, and began to unpack what little possessions he had. Taking special care to take the now framed picture of him, Bumblebee, and Optimus from the day of his adoption on his nightstand. The second, also framed, was his parents, something which made Trevor smile. It was a cell phone picture, from his own phone, that had needed to be blown up, but at the very least, he now had two pictures of both his families to look at and smile at the memory of.

For a moment, he carefully ran a hand along the photo, and nodded. "I love you mom and dad," He muttered, hugging the picture frame close. "But I promise, I'm gonna be okay."

As he set it down beside the other picture, he sighed. He remained standing and looking at the pictures for a moment before starting off to continue unpacking. He knew this was a new, fresh start for him, and one he would be ready for.

...

In the briefing room, Trevor was immediately greeted by the remainder of the Autobots. Ratchet ran a scan over him, and commented on how he seemed to be in good health. Jazz gave a greeting, and then bumped knuckles with him as gently as he could. Ironhide on the other hand, having just seen him a few hours ago, only gave a curt nod. While Optimus crouched down, and brought him up to his chest plate for a brief hug, having not seen him in a week, before setting him on the ground. "Awwwwww," Jazz cooed at Optimus's action. "Ah haven't seen Prime give out hugs since li'l Bee was waist-high to a minibot."

Ironhide jabbed Jazz with his elbow, as if to remind him that they were here on business. Optimus simply smiled, and took his place at the head of the table of Autobots. Bumblebee scooped Trevor up almost at once, setting him onto his shoulder before taking his seat. "Now that we are all accounted for," Optimus began. "I will begin our meeting by opening the floor to any questions that any of you have. Given we have only now settled into our home, I am sure there are many."

"Like what I'm doing in an official Autobot meeting?" Trevor raised his hand, his eyes lifting to meet Optimus's. "Like, I get being on base, but I don't really have a big part in all of this. So-."

Ratchet snorted, turning to the boy as he crossed his arms. "You're an Autobot now, younglin', despite your age," Ratchet explained for Optimus, who simply nodded in agreement. "And given your relation to Optimus, you'll probably be asked to sit in on more meetings. As all creations and grandcreations of the acting Prime are required to learn how the elected Prime works." He then added. "Should the time come that they are chosen as a successor."

Trevor would have nodded, but felt confusion. A human could not become a Prime, he figured. So why did it matter if he learned about how Optimus's job work. "And yet considering your nature," Optimus cleared his "throat" and looked at his grandson calmly. "It is our way of learning our means of diplomacy. Should the time come that, as my grandcreation, and the human in my family, you are asked to speak on my behalf," Trevor tensed up visibly at the thought. "Don't worry Trevor, it will not likely be anytime soon. But many will be afraid of us and thus, we must have all of our bases covered."

Bumblebee shot a look that Trevor took meant they would talk about it later. As Ironhide cleared his throat next, Optimus inclined his head in a nod. "I'd like to ask how our time here will effect those of us with charge's," Ironhide explained. "This troubled me long before I left. We leave families like the Lennox's and the Witwicky's who helped house us even for brief periods in danger. At least while we are in the middle of the ocean."

"You think Starscream or Barricade would go after them?" Trevor asked nervously.

A silence fell over the room, and hit Bumblebee like a wave. In another life, he was supposed to have been the guardian to the Witwicky's. But they were mostly sure that Sam and his family were no longer targets, not with the Allspark gone. Yet, what if they became targets? What would they do then? "Maybe Bee and I should go back and move into a house," Trevor explained, looking at them. "We could at least keep an eye on Sam and his parents."

"Bad idea," Ironhide crossed his arms. "Especially with Barricade out there. It would be one thing if we just sent Bumblebee out there," He explained. "But no doubt the Decepticons know about the adoption now. If we put you both over there then Barricade would waste no time," He pointed at Trevor. "After all, don't forget, he never finished the job he set out to do."

Trevor felt a chill run up his spine at the thought of that. Would Barricade really ever go after him? The idea terrified him, considering the fact that he had been inches from death if his dad hadn't gotten in the way. "Ironhide," Ratchet growled warningly. "You just made his stress levels sky rocket! Are you trying to give him a panic attack?"

"What? The boy needs to know the truth," Ironhide grunted. "This isn't all fun and games. This is a war," He explained, and crossed his arms with a firm nod. "Now as for protection detail. I say the first new arrivals to Earth we get we send them stateside," He explained. "Give the Lennox's a guardian for when I am overseas, and the Witwicky's their own guardian."

Optimus stroked his chin, as Bumblebee spoke up for the first time. "You still didn't have to scare the slag out of my son like that," He said, rather tense. "I love ye like an uncle, 'Hide. But Trevor's still trying to get past the nightmares of his first encounter with Barricade," He then added, with narrowed optics. "So can we keep the mentions of a second encounter to a minimum?"

Catching the look of weariness that crossed the youngest Prime's face, Ironhide frowned. He hadn't meant to scare the young human, far from it. "Sorry, bitlet," Ironhide offered, his optics softening. "One of these days I'm going to have to learn when to keep my mouth shut," He grumbled under his breath.

Trevor shrugged, smiling a bit. "I know you didn't mean it, 'Hide."

"None-the-less, Ironhide is correct," Optimus nodded his head. "Once the first batch of Autobots arrive, we will do as he has requested," There was a universal nod from everyone. "Is there anything else that any of you wish to discuss with me at the present?"

Trevor frowned a bit, and slowly raised his hand. It seemed by the way everyone stared at him that they were surprised he had something more to add to the conversation. Optimus however, simply nodded as Trevor put his hands on his knees. "So what exactly do you want me to do until they actually get new recruits?" Trevor asked. "I'm going to feel like one hell of a worthless Autobot if I don't do anything else before that."

"Besides your private tutoring," Ironhide stepped forward again. "You'll be starting your training with me," Trevor's eyes widened. "I trained Optimus, and Bumblebee when they were young. Part of the whole reason I was named Optimus's bodyguard to begin with," Trevor only realized now that it meant that he was older than Optimus, which surprised him. "So the only other duty you've got other than your tutoring, and the recruits? Is to keep up, and let me whip you into shape."

"Do I get to fire one of your cannons?" Trevor asked, with a hint of excitement.

Examining the one on his left forearm, Ironhide began to think it over. "Give it a few months, then we'll talk," Ironhide replied, though Bumblebee's looks told him it was a bad idea. "Primus, who knew you'd be overprotective? It's not like I outright said yes!"

"Now, is that all?" Optimus interjected in order to avoid a fight. "Good," He responded after several moments of silence. "Then let us begin with the rest of our meeting."

Trevor slumped a bit, and began to listen as intently as he would allow himself to. It was going to be a very interesting first few months at Diego Garcia were going to be anything but boring. But at the present time, he wasn't sure whether to consider that fact a good or bad thing yet.

...

Trevor woke up the next morning to news that Bumblebee had apparently been dreading: Ratchet was making his first medical inspection. He'd often heard these days joked about by Ironhide and Bumblebee while they were on the Lennox farm, but he didn't know why. Or at least, he didn't know until he passed the medical bay that had been set up for him for the first time that day. The first thing that he was greeted by a flying wrench, and a shriek. "AND DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT TO ME AGAIN!" Trevor watched as the man, a private, came running out the door.

"Holy crap, did Ratchet just throw a wrench at that guy?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yep, that's Ratchet for ya," Trevor turned around as Jazz approached him from behind. "What's going on shortstack? Where's your papa bear at?"

Trevor shrugged, Bumblebee had led him to the hub of activity: the center of the base. But after that, he had gotten a communication from Optimus and had to head out for the time being. "Off with Prime," Trevor replied, crossing his arms, and looking up at the first lieutenant. "So should I be afraid? I think I heard someone tell me he was coming for me soon."

Jazz rubbed the back of his helm slightly, looking a little nervous. "Truthfully?" Jazz questioned. "I'd spin around and run like Unicron, or the devil were after ya," Trevor turned back as Ratchet stepped out, looking over at Jazz with a frown. "Uh, hey doc bot, sorry, I was just talkin' to the kid about how excellent yer-." He began, but was quickly cut off.

"You, mute it before I throw my biggest wrench at your head," Jazz gulped as Ratchet then turned his attention to Trevor. "You, your physical is next, so get your skidplate in here," He explained. "Bumblebee knew you were supposed to be first. Apparently he wanted to spare you," He snorted. "Mech needs to learn that my medical check-ups do not work like that."

Trevor shot Jazz a nervous look, but the mech had already turned and began to leave. Sighing, he entered the med bay without complaint, examining his surroundings for a sign of what he was in for immediately. It looked a lot like a human doctor's office, with several medical berths, and beds lining each wall. On one side of it, tools, medical equipment, tables, and schematics were present. "Alright, Trevor," Ratchet offered gruffly. "Roll up your left pant leg and show me your prosthetic, so I can make sure it is functioning properly."

Trevor gulped, seating himself on one of the berths, and slowly doing as he was told. He was still not used to the sight of the state-of-the-art leg, so used to the usual model. But he was quickly brought out of his thoughts as Ratchet began to scan it over. "So why did you throw a wrench at that guy?" Trevor questioned, though Ratchet never looked up at him. "Wouldn't that, y'know, hurt?"

"I didn't aim to hit him," Ratchet grunted. "Only to scare him, being my wrenches would crush him," Finishing his scan, he began to examine other parts of Trevor's body. "As for the "why", if you must know, the man had the nerve to call me," He growled a little, and muttered in a way that was barely audible. "A machine." He added.

"But aren't you guys?" Ratchet's body quivered with anger. "Technically?"

Ratchet crouched low at that point, making sure Trevor could see his face. "It is an insult for us to be called "machines"," Ratchet told him bluntly, his optics narrowing. "It implies we have no sentience, no FEELINGS. That we are no different than your computers, or calculators, or artificial intelligence," He tried to keep himself calm. "Inventions devoid of thoughts, feelings, and emotions," He paused a moment. "And you should know better than anyone that this is far from the truth."

Trevor's face fell at that, getting where he was coming from. When he thought about the use of the term in that light, it disturbed him. Especially because it was a term used towards the Autobots. Who were, by far, some of the greatest people he'd ever met. "Right, I'm sorry," Trevor told him quietly. "I get it, I really do. I just hadn't thought of it that way."

"You soon will," Ratchet replied. "The first time someone calls your father a "machine"," Trevor actually felt a slight bit of anger at that, now that Ratchet had pointed this out to him. "I will let the use of it from you pass. If only because as a child you are mostly ignorant to how derogatory the term is to us," He grabbed a wrench and held it up, waving it warningly. "Do NOT let me hear you calling anyone here that again."

Trevor nodded as Ratchet returned to his work, looking over his vitals quietly. Trevor sighed a bit, shivering as a full-body scan was performed. "So, how am I looking, doc?" He asked,, gulping a little bit. "I don't look too bad, do I? I mean I know I'm really scrawny. But hopefully with Ironhide's training, I'll get a little muscle on me."

Ratchet actually chuckled at that, meeting the boy's eye. It was clear that he was scared, but then again, who wasn't on their first meeting with "Ratchet the Hatchet"? "Well, you're in very good health, I will give you that," He began, then frowned a bit. "But there are very many trace amounts of junk food and candy in you," His optics narrowed again. "Lay off so much of it, it's supposed to make you humans gain too much weight."

"Bee says it's okay," Trevor shrugged.

"That's what I get for letting the sparkling at heart have a sparkling," Ratchet groaned, his overprotective side clearly showing. "In moderation you'll be fine. But daily, as I can tell you have consumed?" He snorted a bit. "Need I tell you some of the horror stories?" He then added. "Right up there with soda. Did you know that Coca-Cola could strip a penny bare?"

"Uhhhhhhhh," Trevor stuttered. "Is that it?"

Ratchet grunted, knowing that his warnings were falling on deaf ears. After all, when did a teenager listen to something like that? Most "teenage" equivalent younglings barely listened to any logic you gave them. "Fine, do not heed my warnings, it's your health and body," He commented as he used a small device to tap each of his knees twice. "Yeah, you're good to go, mostly. Though if I see so much as ten more pounds on you when you get back here. It's either a strict non-junkfood diet," He then waved his wrench in Trevor's face. "Or one of these to the head for you."

"I see you've gotten a taste of Ratchet's berthside manner," Trevor turned as Bumblebee entered the med bay. "Seriously, Ratch, kids should just be kids. Let him eat the junkfood now. He can worry about having a "super model figure" later," Trevor laughed a little at that. "Is he done yet? I was planning to take him down to the beach."

Ratchet looked over his list with a devlish smirk. And when it was after a comment like Bumblebee had made, the scout had learned to fear that look. "Very well, he can "just be a kid"," He began coyly. "But I do wonder how YOUR health is doing Bumblebee?" The scout backed up a bit. "I think I might need a full body inspection to make sure that your voice box is working properly."

"Ratchet, you're kidding," Bumblebee stated as he backed up.

"Of course I am," Ratchet snorted, shaking his head. "I'm a medic, not a barbarian. But it is time for your check-up, voice box and all," Bumblebee groaned, letting his doorwings droop in response. "The beach will still be there when you get back. We're SURROUNDED by it," He then added. "And you know what happens if you fight me on this," He added, picking up another wrench.

Bumblebee turned to Trevor, and in a half-joking way, played a sound clip. "Johnny! JOHNNY HELP! I'm too young to die!"

"Get in there you big baby," Trevor rolled his eyes teasingly.

"Some right hand man you are," Bumblebee snorted, as Ratchet began to drag him towards a berth. "If I don't come back from this battle, think of me fondly!" Another clip, this time with overdramatic music in the background came out.

Trevor laughed, and leaned against the wall to watch his further antics. Oh yeah, being on the base with the entire Autobot team was going to be fun. Very fun indeed.