Chapter 2 - An Unlikely Connection

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(Autobot Base – A Few Minutes Later)

The Autobots soon pass through the ground bridge with their former team member Cambo in tow, the humans welcome back the Autobots but are curious to see Cambo.

"Who's this?" Raf asked, adjusting his glasses.

"Everyone, this is Cambodious, he was a former member of the Autobots" Optimus Prime explained to their human companions.

"Former?" June asked, piping her curiosity.

"More like a traitor" Arcee spoke while glaring at the silver former Autobot, "He abandoned us, cause he's a coward" she adds with spite.

"And how many partners have you gone through due to this war?" Cambo asked unapologetically, making Arcee almost lunge at him, but Bumblebee held her back and shook his head, knowing that as much as they're not happy about Cambo, it wouldn't be a good idea to subject their human companions to a brawl in the base.

"So, Cambodious huh?" Miko piped in, "So where were you hiding all this time?" she asked, giving a snide tone, attempting to provoke the former Autobot.

Cambo turns to the humans and was not pleased, "So you turned to using the locals as shields? I knew you were desperate, but not that desperate, I guess the mighty truly have fallen" Cambo spoke plainly without care.

Taken back by Cambo's response, the humans felt a huge pinch, despite everything they had done to this point, however Cambo felt Bulkhead's hand turn him around, the heavy fighter glared his face at Cambo, invading his personal space.

"They've done much more than you have, coward!" Bulkhead roared, Arcee and Bumblebee also seemed to join in with intense glares. Knowing a brawl could come, Optimus steps in and separates the Autobots from Cambo.

"That is enough Autobots, we have had enough disagreements for today! I won't have you three tear Cambodious apart" Optimus ordered and the Autobots stood down.

"The name's Cambo, Prime" Cambo reminded Optimus with disapproval, the silver former Autobot had refused to use his original name since the war.

Optimus turns to Cambo and sighs, before turning to their human companions, "I believe it's best you head home for today, your guardians will escort you and will remain with you till the afternoon" he tells June, Jack, Miko and Raf. The humans all nod and soon; Jack, Miko and Raf board their Autobot guardians while June got into her car.

However, as Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee head off, June's car again refused to start up properly, "Oh for the love of..." June groaned, however Cambo looked over her car and did a quick scan, much to June and even Ratchet and Optimus's surprise.

"Loose spark plugs" Cambo stated, June got out and looked at Cambo with a surprised look, "Two of them are loose, just re-screw them for now and get it checked" he tells June and she nods before opening the bonnet and quickly sees the loose spark plugs, after a quick screw, the car starts up.

"Thanks.... Cambo" June smiled before she drove off, Cambo nodded and even waved a bit.

After June had left the base, Optimus attempts to reconcile Cambo about returning to the cause, "I know you desire a different path Cambodious, but you still have a place among us, you may believe the war is lost, but as we stand together, hope will always remain" Optimus spoke, attempting to appeal to Cambo's honor.

However, Cambo sighed, "Hope? Hope died out long ago Optimus, I'm done with the vicious cycle of war, that's why I left, I'd rather live in exile than deal with it all again, just for your supposed 'noble' cause" Cambo replied, it was clear the scars of the war had left its mark on Cambo.

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