I've Found You

Chapter 17: The Rookie

I watched as Raf, Jack, and Miko went through the photos on a conspiracy website. 

"Hey, look. It's Bee.", Raf pointed out and scrubbed the photo with the tap dancing monkey.

"Tap dancing monkey strikes again.", Jack said and high fived Miko.

"Guys, this is serious. One of these days, someone could get a photo of Bee in his robotic form.", I sighed, "Wait-stop! Sire, you may want to look at this."

"What now, Silver? Can't you see I'm- by the Primes. It's a Cybertronian escape pod.", sire said, catching the attention of the bots in the room.

"Autobot?", I asked.

"I can't tell due to the image resolution.", sire said.

"A Autobot may be in distress. Ratchet, bring your medical kit.", Optimus said as I walked over to the kids.

"I need you three to take care of MagnaBlade again. Bulkhead can help if he'd like. Magna is recharging right now though he might wake up.", they nodded and the five of us left through the bridge.

When we made it to the other side, a single pod sat in the middle of everything. We walked up to it and Arcee slid her servo over the symbol to clear the dirt from the impact. The Decepticon symbol showed proudly.

"It's a Decepticon escape pod.", Arcee growled.

Moments later, several cons appeared.

"All those cons came out of one escape pod?", Arcee asked as we started fighting.

"The humans refer to the phenomenon as a clown car.", sire said over the noise of gun fire.

"Down in front!", a voice yelled, one I recognized immediately.

"Smokescreen?", I looked up and sure enough, the silver, blue, and red bot was dogging gunfire left and right as if dancing.

"Friend of yours?", Arcee asked Bee.

"I don't know him.", Bee said, shaking his helm.

Smokie accidentally shot the Energon.

"Fall back!", Optimus ordered, we ran behind a large boulder.

Optimus shielded me from the debri. When the explosion was finished, we all stood up. Blue flames were on trees and on thand ground.

"Too hot for you cons? Whoooooo!", Smokescreen cheered, I walked over to him and set a servo on his shoulder.

"Calm down, kid.", I said, catching his attention.

"Silver? Silver!", he launched at me, hugging me tightly, "I was so scared. I thought you died."

"Come on, me? I'm a wrecker. I don't go down easy.", I laughed, "Uh, Smokes? A little tight!"

"Sorry!", he let me go, afraid he'd hurt me.

"Come on, I'll introduce ya.", I grinned.

"Ok.", he followed me to the others.

"Everyone, this is Smokescreen my friend.", I said sensing Optimus' jealousy, "I met him back on Cybertron when I visited the Academy. Smokescreen, this is Ratchet, Arcee, Bumblebee, and my sparkmate-"

"Optimus Prime!", Smokscreen yelled excitedly, "He's Optimus Prime! Wait- he's your mate?!"

I nodded with a smile, "Yep and I'm glad he is."

"This is so cool! My bestfriend's mate is a legend!", he grinned.

"Yes, he is.", I chuckled, "So, where did you end up going after you graduated?"

"I worked in the Hall of Records.", Smokescreen said, my optics widened.

"Smokescreen, what was your job inside the Hall?", Optimus asked.

"Guarding Alpha Trion during what turned out to be the final days of the war.", Smokescreen answered, "Y'know, I never did get a proper ceremony."

"There was a war going on.", Arcee snapped.

"You served under the master archivist?", Optimus asked, dismissing Arcee's comment.

"Yeah. I wasn't thrilled at first watching the back of an old bot instead of kicking con tailpipe.", he grinned and looked up at Optimus, his smile disappearing, "Sorry. The big "A" turned out to be a great leader....and a...true friend. I mean, he was the one who pottitioned Halogen and the High Council to make you a Prime."

"Rafael, open a groundbridge.", Optimus said into the com link, Smokescreen smiled at me.

Arcee glared at Smokescreen who just smiled back. We walked through the bridge and the bots immediately started questioning Smokescreen's loyalty to the Autobots. He told them his story as to how he came to Earth in a Decepticon escape pod. 

I looked up and seen Bulk. Smiling, I walked over to him.

"Hey, Bulk. How've you been?", I asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Peachy.", he answered, "Who's the newbie? My replacement?"

"What?! Bulk, no! No one can replace you. I've known you a lot longer than I've known that bot. We were partners back in Cybertron. You and me with Wheeljack. He can never replace you. You're my partner. You and Jackie both.", I assured, "Now, come on. Let's go continue working on that leg of yours so you can get into battle. Come on, Bulkie. Smoke is a new recruit, a rookie."

I helped him to the training room where he and I worked on building up his strength. We worked for a few hours and I let him rest in his berth. I made my way back to the main room which held few bots since most of them were going to berth.

"Hey, Silver?", I looked over at Smokescreen, "Could we take a walk for a bit? Around the base?"

"Yeah?", I asked as we walked.

"I overheard you and Bulkhead talking about me. Is that all you really think of me? A rookie?", he asked, betrayal and fear in his optics.

"No. Smoke, you're one of my best friends. I've known Bulkhead a lot longer than I've known you. He me my brother are the best of friends. I was introduced to Bulk just before I joined the wreckers. The day I left, I lost a close friend. One I've known since I was just beginning to walk. It was the hardest thing I had to do. Leaving him behind as well as my brother and sire.", I explained, "I never told anyone this but I didn't leave because of the war. I left because someone was and still is after me. This con is unpredictable and can get quite annoying at times."

"Starscream?", he asked.

"Soundwave. Ever since the war started, I've had a price on my helm. I was wanted by Arcee's sire who turned Decepticon. Now, I'm wanted by Megatron and his goons. If Soundwave gets me, he receives the second in command position, full access to the ship, and if he gets me alive, he might even rule alongside Megatron.", I answered, "I knew that if Soundwave found out who I am connected with, he'd kill them and torture them until he got my position. Soundwave isn't doing this for the rank or special access. He's doing this for loyalty. Now that I have a sparkling to worry about, I fear him even more."

"Sparkling?", Smokescreen's optics widened.

"His designation is MagnaBlade. Because Optimus and I are Primes, the matrix gets passed down to him. Once he is worthy, the matrix will activate. Soundwave is slowly turning me into a con. I can feel it. I have received many wounds from him. I even had to get surgery done recently to remove my pedes.", I  said and stopped in front of Smokescreen's room. 

"I guess I'll see you in the morning.", Smokescreen smiled.

I smiled back at him and left once his berthroom door closed. Hopefully things will get easier for him while he is here....