How To Catch A Bumblebee

Chapter Eleven

A/N: Sorry about the wait, guys. I really struggled with properly expressing the utter distress and heartbreak in this chapter, and I had a bit of writer's block. But now I'm back, and I cannot thank you enough for all of the wonderful comments that you guys have given me. You all really helped me push through! Not super happy with this chapter, and it's a bit shorter than the previous one, but I hope you all enjoy it! Love you all, and stay safe. <3

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Oh, scrap.

Bumblebee thought that now was a completely appropriate time to panic, but forced himself to outwardly exude calm. It's not like he had been dreading this moments since the day he had escaped, and now all of his worst nightmares were coming true and Shockwave was right there and oh Primus he was screwed-!

"Transform to your bi-ped mode and do not attempt to resist," Shockwave repeated, sounding not at all in a hurry. "Or we will have no choice but to use force." 

Seeing no point in refusing Shockwave's order to transform, Bumblebee did so, standing tall when inside he was mentally screaming because no, no, he had escaped, he had left and he was never supposed to go back!

Shockwave stared him down, his blood red optic just as piercing as it had been over a stellar cycle ago. And, as it had been a stellar cycle ago, Bumblebee was rooted to the ground under his gaze, unable to do anything but stare and hope he didn't look as afraid as he felt.

As discreetly as he could, Bumblebee unshielded his spark signature and sent a distress signal to the Autobot base. Hopefully they would arrive before— 

One of the vechicons grabbed his elbow joint in an attempt to cuff Bumblebee's servos behind his back, and the scout finally moved, tearing himself out of the other bot's grip and taking a defensive stance. 

Guess the party's starting a little early, Bumblebee thought to himself, and prepared to take down twenty-odd vechicons, plus Shockwave. 

It wasn't the vechicons he was worried about.

In all his time training with the scientist, Bumblebee had never been able to win a single fight against him.

There's a first time for everything, Bumblebee thought grimly, and threw himself at the nearest vechicon.

He took down the surprised bot with a fast, sharp punch to its throat and threw its limp form at another group of nearby Decepticons, dazing them. The rest of the bots finally shook themselves out of their shocked stupor (had they really thought he would go with them without a fight?) and began shooting at Bumblebee, forcing him to dive behind a nearby rock formation. The scout attempted to return fire, but was forced to duck when a laser grazed his plating. 

Where were the Autobots? Had Bumblebee truly offended them by running off like that? Oh Primus, he knew he should have- 

The sound of a ground bridge opening and familiar blaster fire cut off Bumblebee's frantic train of thought, and the scout slumped his shoulder plating in relief. Mentally preparing himself, the young bot vaulted himself over the rocks he was hiding behind and opened fire on the vechicons. Shockwave was nowhere to be found, and Bumblebee didn't have the time or energy to listen for the sound of the Decepticon's spark beating, let alone discern it from the many others nearby.

"Bee!" Arcee called, glancing over her shoulder plating as she shot at two vechicons with her blasters. "I'm glad you're alright. You really scared us, especially when Ratchet couldn't find your spark signature."

:: Sorry about that. :: Bumblebee replied, delivering a sound kick to a vechicon's torso. :: I just... remembered something from a long time ago. ::