Bumblebee's Tradition (Complete)

Sneaky Cadets

I just realized I've been calling this Bumblebee's Day Off, when it's actually called Bumblebee's Tradition...

Whoops

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"Fixit, open the bridge again." Strongarm walks up to the groundbridge portal. "Same coordinates."

The mini-con stares at her. "But, Lieutenant Bumblebee said-"

"That I was in charge. And I'm telling you (as the one in charge) to open me a groundbridge to the same place that Bumblebee went." The cadet crosses her arms at him.

Fixit sighs. "Alrighty then." He types in the coordinates again, and the bridge opens.

Strongarm smiles at him. "You're in charge while I'm gone." She transforms and drives through the bridge.

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Bumblebee is driving at the back of the group, Skyfall behind the wheel in her human form. Suddenly he groans. "No way."

His sparkmate glances out the back window and laughs. "Hey, it's Strongarm! I haven't seen her since you took off for Earth without saying goodbye."

"She never gives up. Never. If I follow her on patrol, she gets so mad. But she followed me on the one day. The one day!" Bee speeds up slightly, and Sky laughs.

She rubs his steering wheel gently. "Can I tell her off? I really want to put her in her place."

Bumblebee sighs. "Flip, I've got to deal with her myself. I'm the leader. I can't let my bonded deal out punishments to my team members."

Skyfall thinks for a moment. "Lead her to somewhere we can transform. I'll let Skid know we're going to be a little late."

He complies, taking the turn that leads to the old Autobot base. "What do we tell her?"

"I'm going to tell her off once you're done scolding her." Sky grins, "But remember, you used to do the same thing to Optimus."

He chuckles, "I guess teenagers will be teenagers. But disobeying orders is what caused me to wind up losing my voice box in the first place."

Sky nods. "I wish I had been there for you." She hums, tracing abstract patterns on his dashboard. "Maybe you should tell her that story."

He almost swerves off the road. "WHAT?"

"Not in complete detail! Just the part about obeying orders." Sky puts her hands on the wheel, just to let him think for a bit. "She barely knows you, Buzz."

They pull up in front of the pile of rubble that used to be the base. "Aww, nostalgia. Remember when your brother gave Megatron the Omega keys?"

Skyfall smacks him as she steps out. "He had to get back into the Decepticons to protect Soundwave!" She sighs, "But yeah... I wish he had chosen another way."

They both transform, crossing their arms as Strongarm drives up. "Um... I had an important question for you?"

Bumblebee sighs, pinching the bridge of his nonexistent nose in frustration. "Cadet, how often do I tell you that you need to obey orders?"

She transforms, a sheepish look on her face. "I... um..."

"Wanted to see where he was going?" Skyfall narrows her optics.

Strongarm's optics widen. "Princess Skyfall! I um... it's an honour."

Sky laughs slightly. "You need to loosen up a bit. However, that doesn't mean blatantly ignoring orders." As an afterthought she adds, "It's an honour to meet you as well, cadet. I've heard great things from Bumblebee."

Bee raises an eyebrow. "Is now really the time, Flip?"

She chuckles, then stiffens slightly. "I need to take this. Have fun, you two." Walking away, Skyfall presses her comlink.

Bumblebee sighs. "The point is, Strongarm, I gave you that order for a reason. I get that you're curious, but couldn't you have just waited to ask me when I got back?"

The cadet blushes slightly, "I suppose..."

He shakes his head. "StrongArm, this is the hardest day of the year for me. And if I need to take a break, I need to take a break."

She winces. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant... I was worried about you."

Bumblebee stares at her in surprise. "Worried about me? Why?"

"The past couple days you have been so distant. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." StrongArm sighs, looking at her pedes.

Skyfall walks back over, a distant expression on her faceplate. "So instead of asking him over the comlink, you followed him against orders?"

The cadet blushes again, turning away from them. "I..."

<Flip, she's just a kid.> Bumblebee sighs over the bond with his sparkmate. "Cadet, I admire that you wanted to ensure I was alright. However, disobeying orders... can get you into a lot of trouble."

Skyfall winces as her comm starts up again. "You'd think he'd know how to take no for an answer... he did serve under Megabolts." She mutters under her breath as she excuses herself again.

Bumblebee looks after her, concerned. "StrongArm.. when I was around your age, I disobeyed a direct order from Optimus, and broke away from our detachment to go on an unauthorized rescue mission. I may have saved Ratchet from a bad interrogation, but..." he looks away sadly from the teenager, "I paid a drastic price. Megatron... tore out my voice box."

StrongArm stares at him in shock. She knew that Bumblebee had suffered from a disability for most of his life, but nobot had ever told her what it was or why.

He sighs, "StrongArm, my point is, I give orders for a reason, and if you blatantly disobey them, you could get hurt, or someone else could."

The femme winces, "So I have to go back now?"

Skyfall turns off her comm and joins them again. "Actually, I think she should join us for lunch. Do you have a holoform, cadet?"