Hope's Return

Drifting

Landing on the ground, she was engulfed in Bumblebee's arms. Leaning back, she ran her servo up his face plate.

"You've changed so much since I last saw you."

"How is it possible that you're here? You were dead. I saw you off-line myself."

"Geez, you sound like Knockout, it's really me Bee. It takes a lot to heal a planet. I was just in a deep stasis until it was done."

"You were healing Cybertron? Wait, Knockout?"

Hope laughed at the direction the conversation had taken. Perhaps there was more to this story than he had let on all those years ago. So much interest after all this time couldn't be a coincidence. 

"Yes Knockout. He was one of the first bots I encountered upon returning to Earth. The real question, is what are you doing in a scrapyard?"

The young mech had the grace to look embarrassed but quickly explained the situation he had found himself in though he omitted the fact that Optimus had been instrumental in sending him. He had no desire to raise her hopes that Optimus may still be alive when he wasn't sure about it himself.

"So let me get this straight. You commandeered a space bridge on a hunch that there was trouble on Earth. Red and rookie followed you here and now you're trying to capture rouge Decepticons that escaped a prison ship?"

"Well, when you say it like that, it sounds kind of crazy."

She shook her helm in good humor.

"Trouble always did follow you. I may have met a few of them on the way here. Smooth talking wolf mech? He tried sweet talking me before ordering his crew to attack. I left them blocked by a rock slide. It will be a while before they dig themselves out and cause trouble again."

The orange and black mech who had been sitting quietly with his mini bots finally spoke up.

"You are fortunate to have evaded capture. Though perhaps you are being too hasty in your judgement of the situation."

"Uh Drift, I wouldn't..."

Hope rose from the ground where she had been sitting and approached the warrior. She met his gaze with her own.

"I think you underestimate my abilities."

"Nevermind. We'll just be back here."

Finishing his sentence,  Bumblebee quickly joined Sideswipe who had already backed away to the other side of the lot. Sensing a strategic retreat, Strongarm and Grimlock joined them.

The samurai warrior sniffed disdainfully at the femme. She continued to hold his optics.

"Commander? What's going on?"

Sideswipe answered for him. He could feel the inner rage through the bond and grinned. His little sister was ticked.

"Drifts going to get his aft handed to him."

Strongarm looked to Bumblebee who nodded in agreement before returning her attention to the standoff. 

"You do not appear to be a warrior."

"Than you wouldn't mind a sparring match."

"If I must, than it will serve to put your mockery in its place."

"Very well smug one, then let us begin."

The others watched as Drift and Hope bowed to each other. The larger bot swung his katanas forward only to discover Hope was no longer there.

Searching quickly, he spotted her out of the corner of his optic.  Swiveling around, he lunged towards her only to have her slide between his peds and kick out his knee joints.

Tumbling to the ground, he roared and jumped to his peds before attacking again. Hope stood there and watched him come closer. Her servo's twitching with power, she brought them up and before Drift could comprehend the movement she slammed them down hard on his chest plate.

Sparks flew and Drift was propeled into the yard wall behind him. Still lit up with power, Hope turned to Bumblebee.

"Do you think he'll underestimate me again?"

A hasty shake of his helm was her answer. Amused, she walked over to the now stirring Drift and held out her servo. Pulling him to his peds, she beamed an innocent smile.

"Truce?"

"Truce. You have proven yourself. I apologize for my earlier assumptions."

Grimlock studied the new femme with a touch of unabashed adoration.

"Hey Bee?"

"Yes Grim?"

"Can we keep her?"