“Bee…” Smokescreen’s bottom lip protruded as his optics began to collect coolant. Arcee leaned down to pick him up, but as she was about to reach her hands beneath his arms, he slapped them away. He quickly made a beeline for the sparkling beds in the Med-Bay.
Arcee made to run over to the sparkling, but Optimus’ arm blocked her path. “Arcee, perhaps it is best to let Smokescreen settle down.”
She nodded reluctantly.
Wheeljack stepped out of the Med-Bay, looking very confused as he stared at where he had come from. “What’s his issue?” Wheeljack asked referring to Smokescreen and his temper.
Ratchet sighed. “While you were unconscious, Bumblebee used the distraction to activate the ground bridge and leave the base.”
Bulkhead looked over at the controls. “I can’t imagine how he managed to activate it. He’s so short, y’know?”
Ultra Magnus walked over. “Sparklings can sometimes amaze us- sometimes in the good way and sometimes the bad way.”
“Ultra Magnus is correct. Bumblebee is quite clever, even in his… ‘possessed’ state.”
“Who cares how he did it?” Ratchet snapped. “We need to be figuring out how to know where Bumblebee bridged himself to!”
“Well…” Bulkhead started. “Couldn’t we just track the bridge coordinates…?”
Ratchet looked startled for a moment, as if stunned that Bulkhead was showing more than a micron of knowledge. He slapped his hand to his forehead and muttered to himself about how stupid he was.
Optimus rested his hand on the medics shoulder and said, “You’ve been stressed lately. Do not blame yourself.”
Ratchet nodded and walked over to the monitors and began tracking the coordinates Bumblebee entered. A large error message popped up in his face. He turned around, his faceplate showing a depressed expression.
“I can’t pinpoint the location. It’s scrambled.”
Arcee stood up as tall as she could (which, in comparison to the male bots, was not tall at all) and said, “I’ll search for Bee by foot if I have to.”
“That is not-” Ultra Magnus started, but was cut off by Wheeljack.
“Commander, I’m afraid this time we’re gonna have to ignore your ‘advice’ and get into the action.”
If he had been human, Ultra Magnus’ faceplate would have been beet red both in embarrassment and anger.
“Autobots,” Optimus Prime settled down the team with his deep commanding voice. “We must not let our anger affect the way we take care of this situation.”
“I say we make a deal,” Bulkhead said his opinion.
“With who?” Wheeljack asked. “Starscream?”
“That is both unlikely and unnecessary, soldiers.” Ultra Magnus was quick to use his high rank to input.
“But it may be our best option,” Optimus said. “Ratchet, can you send a live transmission to the Nemesis?”
Ratchet looked hesitant but he obeyed. Soon, a large screen was showing the Cybertronian word for ‘waiting’.
“Perhaps it is best for me to be the only one the Decepticons see,” the leader said to his teammates, who were now trying to all crowd into the small screen area. They backed off immediately.
A small ding reached their audio receptors. The screen flickered and suddenly the bots could see the majority of the Decepticon army. Starscream liked to use numbers as intimidation.
“Ah, Optimus. Come to make a deal? You aren’t… missing something, are you?” Starscream sneered. Knockout was soon seen walking into the view with a little blur of yellow. Bumblebee was sitting on the medic’s hip. Bumblebee’s red optics still disturbed the Autobots, and his face showed an unnatural sneer, identical to Knockout’s.
“Hello, Autobots!” Bumblebee screeched. Knockout laughed.
“It seems your little one has switched sides. Oh, but not by his choice, of course.”
Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus, and Bulkhead, who had migrated back into the screen’s sights, were murmuring and giving each other questioning looks. They did not know about the dream.
“Oh, haven’t told your trusty pals what happened yet?” Starscream smiled evilly.
“I am seeking a deal with you, Starscream.”
“That was a not-so-subtle change of subject, but I’m listening.”
Optimus’ face stayed straight. “What would you ask in return for Bumblebee?”
Starscream’s optic-brows raised. “Hmm. I would ask for your entire energon stockpile, but you seem very desperate for the sparkling.” Starscream appeared to be thinking. “I ask for your spark.”
Team Prime immediately rushed forward, warning Optimus not to fall for Starscream’s deception. They all knew that Optimus would gladly lay down his life in order to save one that was so much younger than his.
The Prime pushed them away from him.
“Optimus, there must be something else. Accept energon! Accept giving up the location of our base! Accept anything but that!” Ratchet pleaded.
Optimus stared at Starscream and started, "Starscream, I am afraid-"
He immediately quieted when Knockout activated his buzzsaw and held it to Bumblebee's neck. The sparkling's optics widened. His face showed how terrified he was. His optics flickered to blue for a millisecond.
Starscream waited in anticipation.
Bumblebee began to fidget as his optics tinted blue.
Knockout pushed the buzzsaw further into the sparkling's neck, drawing energon, and smiled maniacally.
Bumblebee whimpered.
And…
Optimus slowly nodded his helm in agreement, his optics closed in defeat.
“I accept your terms.”
YOU ARE READING
Sparkling Troubles
Fanfiction[ CANCELLED - sorry i'm not gonna be updating this anymore ] While on a mission, Bumblebee and Smokescreen are turned into what they never thought they'd be again... SPARKLINGS! How will the Autobots cope with two troublesome sparklings on their te...
