bumblebee's journey (book 1)

53

optimus pov:

We finally reached the cave rainshot told us bee and jazz were in. I transformed and stood at the front. I was about to continue in when I heard the ped steps of someone coming up out of it. I braised for scrappets but none came out. Finally I saw the yellow outline of bumblebee holding something I couldn't distinguish. "Bumblebee" I said as he walked fully out. I saw what he was holding or more so who. Jazz was lying limp in his arms and I could only fear for the worst. ::h-hes gone:: bumblebee stuttered out not looking up but I could tell he was crying. Cascade reached out and took hold of jazz corps from him. I started to reach out to bumblebee but instead he just brushed past me and continued on walking. "Bumble-" I started but Cascade cut me off. "Optimus he. . . . Needs time" Cascade added and I nodded.

I accepted this because they knew bumblebee better than me. I watched as he slowly transformed and started off. There was no engine revving only a low pitiful growl. I gave a sigh and looked back to cascade who was just looking down at jazz. "what did he do to deserve this" he muttered and I could see he was shaking. I took jazz from him and I could see he was grateful for not having to carry his fallen comrade. I gave a sigh and  started off. we never should have come here I should have been smarter this is my fault. But I couldn't begin to imagine what bee was feeling to have to watch another bot in he cared for die. I had broken what I promised him. I told him I wouldn't let anything hurt him again and here we are. After a while we finally made it back to the ship. Ratchet was fixing up rainshot and bee but his face was cold with grief. 

ratchet looked up at me for a moment then down at jazz and his face was saddened. He looked away and continued working on patching bumblebee. Bumblebee was just looking down, a lifeless expression on his face like there was no one behind those blue optics. I knew this hurt him more to lose someone like jazz so soon after we lost highfire. Eventually bee got up and headed back into the ship. I followed and set jezz down in one of the spare berth rooms. I I walked back out to see bumblebee just sitting there staring at nothing. I walked over and sat down beside him and he still seemed like he was unaware of my presents. "bumblebee" I called as I set my servo on his shoulder. he flinched and looked up at me. "yes Optimus" he asked, he was pretending like nothing was wrong. "I know what you saw was tough, it is for every bot" I started and he just continued to look at me. 

::I know, it's war, things happen:: he replied, his face barely showing emotions. my suspicions were true, he's trying to convince himself that it doesn't hurt. "but that was not war" I added and turned completely towards him. ::someone I knew died what's the difference:: he said his face growing a angry look that told me to back off, but I wasn't going to. "but jazz wasn't just someone you knew, you cared for each other" I added. his optics betrayed him and showed the hurt he was feeling. ::yes but everyday bots I 'care for' don't come back:: he insisted, pulling away from me. "bumblebee your not ok" I replied as he stood up. I got up to and faced him trying to keep him here. I didn't want to have to stop him if he decided to walk off. ::Optimus. . . I'm fine:: he said in a cold clear tone. I knew I wasn't going to get through to him here now. "very well" I said and he walked around me and back out of the ship. he rudely brushed past ratchet on his way out. 

ratchet turned to talk to him but I waved him off. "he's taking it hard isn't he" ratchet asked me. I nodded but slowly turned to him. "he is trying to deny the pain he feels" I added and ratchet looked at me pulling his gaze from the door. "why does all of this have to happen, how many more innocent bots have to have there lives torn apart like bumblebee, just because of Megatrons stubbornness" he said and balled his servo into a fist. "I do not know old friend but I have some dier new I need to share with you" I said and looked around to see if anyone else was with us. "the time is not right to tell the others but I am in need of a different perspective on our situation" I added. "whatever you may need Optimus I am right here" he replied. I looked around and realized it should wait until we were back on Cybertron. "I will tell you when we are back home but first we must get our solders home" I said and he nodded. 

"then I shall wait" he replied and turned walking back out the door to gather bumblebee and rainshot. "were heading home" i heard him call form outside. i gave a sigh and walked to the front of the ship. i would have to fly it since jazz is no longer with us. the others got on and sat down and it wasn't too long before we reached cybertron but it felt like decades in the silence. we got off and explained what had happened. finally i walked over to ratchet who seemed like he was nervous. he looked at me then behind me to where rainshot, bumblebee, and cascade were standing. "what troubles you old friend"  I asked him. he looked back to me. "if this is as dire as you are letting on than I think you should get more bots you trust more than just me" he said firm and clear. I thought about it for a moment then came up with my answer. "I believe you are right, someone like ultra Magnus or if I can contact alpha trion" I said and his face grew conflicted but he looked at me again.

"I was talking about bumblebee" he answered. I looked back at bumblebee who also looked like he was in deep thought. "sure he might just be a scout but think about how much he has done for this planet, for you, its not my decision but in my opinion there is not better bot to ask him" he finished and I smiled warmly at him. "I had a feeling you would volunteer him" I said and thought once more. "I will get bumblebee and his friends, we will meet on top of the building tonight" i commanded and ratchet gave a swift nod before walking off. . . . I walked on top of the building under to cool night sky waiting for them to join me. I looked up and saw the twinkling stars but most of them were covered by the thick cloud of smoke that covered the sky. I heard ped steps and turned to see everyone I had called walk up. they were all dead silent as  came around. "Were here what do you need to tell us" cascade broke the silence.

"cybertron if facing dire times that may require complex and hard decisions but first you must know the problem at servo" I started and that all listened on, intently waiting for me to continue. "without the allspark at cybertrons core we no longer have a way to create.new life but worse yet we no longer have a way to keep cybertons volcanoes inactive" I said and there optics went wide with surprise and fear. "B-but those volcanos have been inactive for centuries why are they starting now" Rainshot asked as I turned back to her. "The allspark emitted a shielding radius around the volcanos to keep them from becoming active" I continued and they all looked deep in thought. "and now that its no longer here we have no way of keeping them inactive" ratchet said but mainly to himself.

 ::optimus what are we going to do we can't stay here well burn to a crisp and we can't just ask the deceptions for there help and we especially don't have the numbers to do this on our own, what are we going to do:: bumblebee looked at me and asked. His optics were wide open with fear. Everyone else turned to look at me there optics betraying the same emotions. I took a deep breath into my vents and let it out slowly. I looked at all of them standing tall trying to seem confident. I looked at each one of them in turn and my gaze landed on bumblebee. He stared up at me with big watery blue optics willing to follow me anywhere. I looked off out wards as far as I could see. "We have to abandon cybertron"