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Chapter Text

                                                                               ~Abandoned Industrial Zone - 21:17 p.m.~

-"If we get out of this alive, Sideswipe, I swear I'm going to punch you in the face with a single punch!"

A group of bots were running down some corridors of what appeared to be an abandoned building, while being chased by other slightly larger bots.

-"Give that anibot back!" - shouted one of the bots chasing the group.

The young bots were carrying on their backs, covered with some dirty cloths, what appears to be a small fawn, a strange mix between what is considered metallic and biological. Some would say it is an abomination of nature. But for what is now Neo Cybertron, this creature is one of what is called protected. Its mere capture should be announced immediately for severe punishment.

-"Don't argue, Strongarm!” yells a young bot, whose yellow paint and black lines is scolding a young girl in mostly blue paint with white accents.

-"We're almost to the ship, hang in there,” - says one of the reddish-painted bots as he helps the yellow-painted bot to load the strange anibot.

The entire group manages to get into the back of the ship, while the group of adult bots chase them, shooting at them. One of the group, a huge, greenish bot, grabs a huge, empty tube with his jaw, hurling it at those who were shooting at them, all the while protecting the younger bots he was with. He lets out a roar that would make the bravest bot seen on Neo Cybertron rumble.

-"Grim, don't fight them, get in, hurry up!” - the young yellow-painted bot shouts worriedly.

The green paint bot changes to its bipedal form and climbs up, while the rear of the ship closes its hatches to take flight to the safe zone.

-"Bee, what are we supposed to do now?” - asks Grimlock, the green paint dinobot, a bit nervous as he sees the little anibot fawn squealing with sheer fear.

-"The only thing we can do,”- the young yellow paint bot looks at the rest of his companions. -"Is to get out of this place, put the fawn in the hands of the authorities and above all.... Don't let those guys kill us!”- he indicates outside, where more bots can be seen.

Sideswipe, the red-painted bot, sits in the pilot's aisle, activating the control panel as fast as he can afford.

-"Come on, let's go!” - He lifts the control handle and the ship quickly takes flight.  -”Hang on, we're going for a ride!" - the young bot pushes the throttle to full back.

-"WOAAH!" -The other bots in the group almost flew out of position as Sideswipe pushed the throttle to the floor. The ship simply flies out of the abandoned area, where the reddish bot begins to dodge the buildings and towers in the area.

Before they could even breathe easy, Strongarm realizes that other raptor ships are chasing them. The young woman takes a breath, comes up behind Sideswipe, and calmly grabs his shoulders, in a calm voice:

-"TAKEAWAY THAT ACCELERATOR!"- The young blue-painted skin femme bot shakes the reddish bot as calmly as she can. No... well, yes, she's screaming, much to Bumblebee's annoyance, covering the ears of the other little bot with them.

-"Are we in trouble?” asks the little orange bot.

-"Yes... Well, not so much, if we are under control, Fixit"- Bee smiles at the young orange bot, and then looks at Grimlock, who was behind him. -"Grim, keep an eye on the fawn, and take care of Fixit,” - the yellow paint bot hands the older one to the little orange bot.

-"Wait, both of you, wait a second! BEE!?"

Bumblebee approaches the co-pilot to help Sideswipe drive the ship. Wich is difficult due with Strongarm still shaking Sideswipe like a little practice dummy, they try to dodge some buildings while try not to crash in any of them.

-"Wait, Strongarm,” - Sideswipe tries to keep control. -"I can't drive like this, we'll crash!"

-"Then drive!"

-"THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING, YOU BRUTE!"

Bumblebee looks at the duo. -"Strongarm, raise the ship's shields and try to talk to some cops for help... and you, Sideswipe, drive!"


(~BGM: Terraria - Empress of Light Theme [Remix] - Kuudray~)

Sideswipe nods, pressing some commands to push the gas pedal to the metal with the help of Bumblebee. The duo drive, dodging and trying to miss the ships of what, you might say, are the bad guys. Drug dealers, for the sake of argument. Meanwhile, Strongarm activates, from a panel in the ship's control and mapping area, the electromagnetic shield. You can tell it's one of the older ships, some that many might consider a piece of junk that should be dismantled. Finally, Grimlock and Fixit were taking care and keeping calm the biotech fawn, which was still crying of pure fear. It can be seen that said fawn is just a very young baby, which makes anyone think that: Either it was stolen... or they killed its mother and were going to sell it to the highest bidder, which, as noted, is illegal.

The traffickers' ships were following them quite closely, as they were more powerful ships than the group of bots could have expected. Finally, within the maneuvers that Bee and Sideswipe could do in the abandoned sector, Strongarm manages to connect with the main police of Chilix, trying to keep calm.

-"Hello! I request police assistance, please,” -says the blue-painted bot, in a firm manner. -"We are being chased by a group of traffickers!"

On the other end of the line, a policeman responds to what Strongarm has said.

-"Excuse me, miss, did you say drug dealers?"

-"Yes, there are several of them following us!"

-"Miss... "-The policeman sounds a bit... not surprised. -"Is it Strongarm, by any chance? If this is a joke..."

-"If this were a joke, I wouldn't be calling!" -she screamed at the panel. -"We're in the abbandoned industrial zone, northwest of the fusion power plant area!"

The cop hangs up.

Bumblebee knows this will get him in trouble in a little while, but right now, the priority is to get to the fusion power plant area, even though he knows how dangerous this could really be. But right now, they have no choice.

-Guys...

-"Easy, Bee... We're going to dodge these guys" - Sideswipe sounds pretty confident that they can get out of this one. The yellow bot agrees with his partner.

Both bots press the gas pedal to the metal, maneuvering to avoid hitting the last towers in the abandoned sector. Some of the traffickers' ships are not so good at maneuvering, to some of them crash into the towers, exploding with their occupants. They appear to be a massed group of drones, so their loss does not appear to be that significant.

Finally, the group manages to get out into stable airspace, but the problems are far from over. The drones continue their pursuit, finally opening fire on the young group's craft. Sideswipe knows this will be a problem.... Especially since they're going to hurt his baby!

-"Not with my ship, you damn scrap!”- Sideswipe turns the ship against the drones, raising his weapons so he can attack back.

-"Sideswipe!"

-"They won't leave us alone, Bee... and by the time the guard or the police arrive, we'll be done with them...”- Sideswipe presses a button, with which he starts shooting at the drones, not to kill, but to stun them or shoot them down. -"And to be honest... I was already getting bored of running."- Sideswipe smiles at the yellow bot. Bumblebee also return the smile and get  ready to shoot, too.

If a bot was on the surface watching, it would see how the drones are falling one by one, with the precision of the old jalopy that Sideswipe has as transport. Not for nothing, even though it's junk and doesn't go so much with his style, the reddish-painted bot takes care of it as one of his greatest treasures. It is his pride and joy. Not even a dealer is going to stop him and his friends from doing what he believes is the right thing to do.

After a few minutes, the police and guards arrive in the immediate area between the melting generators, as well as the abandoned industrial sector. By now, it was 23:09 p.m., looking for signs of activity, in case there were still traffickers in the vicinity. Many drones were on the ground, knocked out by the hits and shots received by Sideswipe's ship, which is actually named “Liberte”.

-"WHAT THE FRAG WERE YOU THINKING, YOU BUNCH OF MORONS?!"

A guard, head of the policemen, was scolding the group that had saved an endangered species, but put their integrity at risk. It's not the first time they've been scolded like that, but it had never gone to this extreme of them fighting directly... not that the guards knew about it.

- "W-Well, that's a funny thing to say, sir..."- Bumblebee was trying to calm the situation, while the rest of his group was hiding behind him.... shivering before the police leader.

-"Bumblebee, you better shut up and let me give you and your buddies a good lecture..... Who in their right mind would pick a fight with drug dealers?!"

The group could do nothing but listen to the scolding of the lead guard, while the other policemen watched the situation. Some of them were giggling and others had already gotten used to the nonsense like trouble that this group of bots tend to get into. The scolding went on for quite a long time, but finally, the leader calms down a bit, looking at the group with concern... but at the same time, gratitude.

-"This time you guys did well... not only that, but y'all rescued an endangered anibot from their clutches. It will be sent to a rehabilitation center to see if it can be integrated into a conservation center, where it will be safe until its release"- The leader looks at them once again, and gives them a smile. - "You've done well this time, you pieces of metal."

Bee smiles slightly and looks at his group. -"With friends like these, who wouldn't be sure of getting things done?"- and accordingly, Bee hugs Sidewsipe and Strongarm, laughing.

Strongarm smiles back, but Sideswipe gets embarrassed, saying between whispers that he's not a little boy to be hugged. Finally, Grimlock ends up hugging the whole group, while Fixit is holding onto the big bot's head. The other three bots groans slightly at Grimlock's tight hug.

-"We are the best team, Team Bee, Team Bee!"- Grim jumped with his teammates in his arms, to the protest of his young friends, complaining about the grip of the big guy, but at the same time, feeling relieved that, always at the end of the adventures, it is always Grimlock who relieves the situation, even though he is considered as the real responsible adult for all of them. It seems more like the youngsters are looking out for him.

The police leader can only laugh at the situation, but he coughs slightly, returning to his serene face, with a serious tone.

-"Still, I must report this to the authorities... and in the case of you two,”- the leader looks at Bumblebee and Strongarm. -"I must report it to your parents, once again."

Both Bumblebee and Strongarm freeze, little more losing the vibrant color of their paints. To their parents? Oh no...

-"Wait, wait, there's no need to say it was us, is there?"- Strongarm waves her arms, a little nervous that only Primus will know what her parents could tell her.

-"That's right, they don't have to know we were here."- Bumblebee adds, a bit nervous, about the whole being "reported to his father" thing.

-"It's the rules, kids... you know I can't fool Captain Arcee when it comes to trafficking, and she's the one who's the most direct with..."

-"We know, she controls the Northwest sector..."- Bumblebee turns his optics in an annoyed manner. He knows what Arcee is capable of. As well as, he knows that if she's not the one who finds out and tells his father and guardian... things could get ugly. -"I'd rather Arcee be the one to tell Da- I mean, General Prime."

-"Bumblebee... you know this could affect your father's reputation... we can continue to cover his activities, but the day someone will find out. It won't just affect the great general... and the same goes for you, Strongarm... your father is second in command."- The leading guard crosses his arms.

-"Haa... I know, sir. We... know"- Strongarm folds her arms, lowering her optics gaze.

-"I'll turn a deaf audial and the ones who took out these drones were the police on an anonymous report... but the real report will come from Arcee. You may leave the scene... calmly and quickly, before the reporters arrive."

The lead guard gives a formal salute and withdraws, leaving the group to get the hell out of there as quickly as possible. It's true that, if they get caught, this could be a media story all over the city. And personally, it's not something either Bumblebee or Strongarm could afford for now. The group climbs back into the ship, to retreat from there.

After a few minutes, the group makes a quick retreat, by a route where they won't be seen by possible loudmouths who might have a news story for the next day.

A group of policemen look at the ship leaving, to which one blurts out a comment from his habit of seeing these guys here and there.

-"Haa... just another normal day in Chilix, I'm guessing?"

-"Tell me about it... When will we see them again?"- one of them answers.

-"Hmm... two days."

-"Nah, I think tomorrow night."

-"What if we'd better bet on which of you will finish your work first?!, you loose nuts, GET BACK TO WORK!!"-shouts the lead guard, crossing his arms in front of the two policemen.

-"S-SIR, YES SIR!"- The police duo run to their posts, looking for clues.

-"Haa... just another day in Chilix, I guess."-finally says the leader. The police continue their work, under the protection of the guards.

Right now, it is 23:27 at night. This has become routine for everyone. You can consider this: This is just a normal day in the great southern city of Neo Cybertron, where you never get bored or anything happens that makes it monotonous. The group of young bots, known as Team Bee, pass through the great gate of the city. Where they are greeted by the large city welcome sign, discussing if they should go get some drinks before heading back. The sign reads:

                                                                            ~ Welcome to Chilix, Mystic Torch City of Neo Cybertron ~

-End Chapter 1.-

Chapter Text

01:27 a.m. - Florida Residential Zone

-Are you sure it won't be too much trouble, Bee? - Sideswipe asks the young yellow autobot.

-Look, if I don't make a single noise, I'm sure that da... I mean, I'm sure Ratchet won't even notice me come and go... he might spare me the lecture he's going to give me. 

-But Bee... What if it's not just Ratchet?- Grimlock adds, obviously worried about Bee, since he can, at this point of being his partner, how the former lieutenant behaves.

-...- Bumblebee hadn't thought about the possibility that "HE" might also be in the house. That makes the young yellow bot metal frame shudder much deeper into the co-pilot's chair where he was sitting. Clearly, the thought that not only could it be Ratchet who was in the house right now, but none other than his other father, had him a little, not to mention, scared to his spark. He had confronted and argued with this bot before, but it was not something he was happy to do, especially....

When that bot is none other than Optimus Prime, his former leader and, even if he deludes himself, his father. While Prime was not the one who spawned him, he knows that he considers him to be his offspring, also one of his most precious allies. Bumblebee understands that if anyone needs to get really angry because he constantly puts his life at risk, it's Optimus.

-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put any more pressure on you!- Grimlock clasps his sharp hands together in a sign of apology.

- No, no! It's not that, Grim... just... ugh, I have to think of a possibility that Optimus is home, too... after all, he's already in a formal relationship with Ratchet.- Bumblebee looks up at the ship's roof for a few seconds. - It just makes sense that he's back home... maybe he's been gone for two days...

-Don't stress, Bee- Sideswipe taps the yellow Autobot's shoulder. -We know Ratchet is strict, but I don't think he's going to break you into small parts, so don't be afraid of him, hahahaha.

-What the... Sideswipe, Ratchet is not a violent doctor, what's wrong with you?

-Yeah, yeah... but gossip travels fast.

-Of all the bots and terrans that know him, you know he's only concerned that we don't hurt each other again! Ratchet, as well as Optimus, also wishes for peace... for us to live in peace...- Bumblebee rises from his seat, grabbing Sideswipe's shoulder, then reaches over and gives a warm kiss on the cheek to his beloved Dinobot -Please take Grimlock home safely... and good night, big guy- Bumblebee bids farewell to Grimlock, before stepping off the ship.

Grimlock touches his cheek where he received the sweet kiss. He can only let out a giggle, while his air tubes release a few smokes of embarrassment and love. To this, Sideswipe just gives a thumbs up to Bee, saying goodbye.

Bumblebee finally descends from his partner's ship, only to retreat just five blocks away from his own home.

The residential area where Bumblebee now lives with his “parents” is one only for Cybertronians. It's not something that pleases him, but at least they won't be crushing innocent Terrans in their midst as they pass through, unlike the big city and near the Costa-Nera Tower area: The largest observation tower in the city of Chilix.

Bumblebee watches as the great tower rises toward the stars. For a moment he thinks: What will it be like to go beyond these city once again?

Will there be more planets like Neo Cybertron? What would be like an alliance with the other planets and their regent governments look like?

Bumblebee shakes his head. He knows what the answer is and he knows that there are both good races and malevolent races. He knows what the answer is and he knows that there are both good and evil races. It is not unlike the typical story that is read to Terrans per se. Alas, Bumblebee has the honor of meeting excellent races that are willing to help them, when they ever need support again. But at the same time...

He doesn't understand why he misses the fire and chaos of war. It's too much for his spark. Something he can't shake off, no matter how peaceful it is, sometimes he finds it a little... suffocating. A sparkling, born in and for war, an Autobot who fought metal and servos for the cause, against the Decepticons. All these memories flood his digital memory as he heads home, silently. But it burns. The peace, the quiet... it's not right for him.  He doesn't understand, he should be happy, yet always, ever since they saved Cybertron from the control of the Decepticons and Cyclonus, he feels like things were never the same again. Then to see Earth and Cybertron merge into one world because of a bad space bridge connection.... but most of all... Why was he thinking about Megatron when he started his-?

-AH!- Bumblebee punches himself. His metallic body, every circuit and drop of energon in his figure was burning as much from anger as fear itself.  Of all the things the young autobot could think right now, did it have to be the most painful memory that suddenly popped into his recollections? That memory... that damned memory.

-Calm down, Bee... It's nothing, it's nothing, it's nothing.... You're just tired, you're just tired, that's all. I'm fine! I'm perfectly fine! hahaha!- Bumblebee was trying to contain himself. The last thing he wanted to do now was to cause trouble in terms of his emotions. He was a full-fledged bot now, dammit! And he knows he has to govern himself, he's an adult from whom new things are expected. He resigned from his position as Lieutenant, as he wanted Ratchet and Optimus to be more relieved about their welfare, so he decided to devote himself to the study of new life forms. 

As the Terrans would say, he is in the cycle of being a university student, studying something that would be considered a career, but for a Cybertronian, it is only a branch of reconnaissance research, which Bumblebee wants to specialize in: Study of the new techno-organic specialties or metal and flesh organisms that began to be born since the union of the two planets: the so-called Anibots, races that although they are more durable than a flesh organism, they are still affected by age. Bumblebee has become truly fascinated by these creatures and knows that their rarity is worth weight among the interstellar black market. As a researcher - and in a sense, his duty as a former lieutenant - he must care for these protected races, to provide an explanation for their existence.

After a few minutes, Bumblebee begins to take lighter steps, trying to make his metallic weight go unnoticed by the auditory channels of any bot that would or could hear him. Turning one of the corners of some walls, a two-story house comes into view, with several expanses of windows, as well as a large front yard with some bushes of Vos Creepers and Datura Cybertronica, known as Dulcamara or Cybertronian Mora. Bee walks through the courtyard carefully, looking at the details of an energon fountain that illuminates the courtyard a bit, made of limestone and lapis lazuli, which makes the energon glow a more powerful blue than usual. Bumblebee looks around the yard, admiring the flowers in his yard a bit. He knows that Ratchet and his little sparkling girl take good care of this yard. Bumblebee walks slowly to the gate, turning his back to open it... until he feels other, smaller fingers on the handle as well.

-EEK!- The yellow autobot exclaims, trying not to scream.

-HII!- answers a young and smaller autobot when she sees the yellow one.

-... H-Heelie?- Bumblebee blinks a couple of times when he sees the little bot in front of him.

It is a young bot, within the same Autobot category as such, of a pure cyan color, something close to aquamarine cyan even, with orange details, as well as the most remarkable, the orange cross on his forehead, a kind of three-pointed trident on his helmet and a slight detail of deep reddish color.She wears a kind of backpack with several buttons and glitters of different types, and on her left side she has a small dark gray antenna. Only on its right side does it have audibles and antennae that resemble the gills of an axolotl, but more pointed. However, on her left side she seems to lack these same details, which makes her a bit more remarkable among some Autobots. Not many might know this, but in fact, her backpack is the box that houses her engine that keeps her alive and moving constantly, where her energon and circuits are deposited to keep her stable. The little bot lets out a sigh of relief at the sight of Bumblebee. The little cyan Autobot's name is Healwheel, none other than the daughter of Ratchet and Optimus; and therefore, oddly enough, Bumblebee's little sister.

-Bee... Oh, by Primus, you scared me...- Healwheel looks more relaxed.

-Heelie, what are you doing out so late?- Bumblebee asks, concerned for his sister.

-I... amm... I was at... a party?- Healwheel lifts his shoulders, trying to lie. But she is just like her father Optimus: Lying isn't exactly a strength they both have, and Bumblebee could see right through that lie.

-You... at a party... really?- Bumblebee laughs a little at Healwheel's obvious lie.

-I... Well, what are you doing out so late, big Bee?- Healwheel rejoins, crossing her arms.

-Me? Well... studying. Obviously.

-... you're a bad liar, Brother.

-I was with the others... saving an anibot- Bumblebee can't lie either.

-Oh, brother- Healwheel smiles at her older brother, knowing he can't lie to her either. -I... went into the archaeology area.

-You what?!- Bumblebee screams, but both he and Healwheel cover the yellow autobot's mouth.

-Don't shout, fool!- Healwheeel tells him, giving him a little whispering shout.

The brother and sister duo glance nervously at the door and move to another area to re-enter the house at once. They go stealthily, trying not to make any noise. The duo look nervous and notice that one of the sliding doors to the main living room is half open. It really wasn't that unusual, as it rarely happens that unwanted people arrive in the neighborhood where they live. Healwheel and Bumblebee look at each other and nod. They move slowly, very ninja-like, although to be honest, Healwheel isn't the most athletic in the neighborhood. She has a hard time not being so quiet, but at least she tries to be, and it's something Bumblebee appreciates, even if his sister's footsteps attract more attention than he'd like to admit. Finally, the duo makes it into their home, crawling and walking slowly across the floor of the break room, where they occasionally share with their parents.

Bumblebee looks at Healwheel, to which the young bot nods and they both agree in silence: they didn't see each other and neither of them saw the other if anyone or anyone would ask them. The stairs were in front, they only had to climb slowly and quietly without disturbing a single spark. Everything was in order, a little rest-

-And may I ask where you were, couple of troublesome brats?

Oh Primus, no.

Healwheel and Bumblebee slow down and shiver. That voice, so raspy, angry, grumpy and caring they know, waiting for them in the darkness of the stairs, sitting, only his light blue optics glowing in the dark, watching them, reading a data pad. 

-H-Hey... Hi, Ratchet- Bumblebee seems to sweat oil at the mere sight of the old autobot doctor's optics.

-D-Daddy...- Healwheel, little more feels like she almost disarmed to see her father standing in front of her, annoyed. 

Ratchet, the old Autobot medic, the “Doctor of Doom” and nothing more than the Autobot leader's closest confidant, as well as his current Conjux, with those creamy white and dark orange paints, a little unpolished, but still in good shape... Ratchet and the other, younger duo of Autobots are moving down the stairs, as the other, younger duo of Autobots are moving backwards, and cornering themselves in a section of the hallway that leads only to the entrance of one of the restrooms, if you can call it that. Ratchet just pulls one of his daggers out of his arms and smiles at the duo of autobots.

-R-Ratchet, wait a second...-  Bumblebee looks fragging nervous.

-D-Daddy... l-listen to Big Bee... okay?- Healwheel was already crying.

It was inevitable, nothing was going to stop him, no matter how much they implored him. Ratchet was upset. He was fucking pissed off. Alone, from outside the house, you can hear the scream of fear and despair of the two autobots, but it's something that by now, even their neighbors were used to at a certain point. After all, it's something Ratchet has to put up with most of the time. The only bot, however, was caught flying low was a certain Autobot sleeping in the master bedroom, coming out of his recharge bed, rubbing his eyes as he heard the scream of the young Autobots.

-Ah, they have arrived- Optimus yawns a little, rubbing his exhausted optics, as he walks toward the second floor. He knows that if he doesn't intervene, things may get even more out of control. The autobot leader just smiles, because even though these are things that his little ones shouldn't do, he is happy that, at least, they are still young people enjoying their lives... although he knows that this brings more stress to his current conjux. -Ratchet, don't go killing the children.

The Autobot goes down to the second floor, to see the doctor running around the young duo of autobots, trying to run away from the doctor's wrath, while the old bot only launches one or two incoherent sentences due to the fatigue and stress that their sparklings cause him from time to time. Optimus, rather than saying anything, lets out a chuckle as he waits for the trio to get tired of chasing and starting. The huge autobot goes to the kitchen to prepare some energon snacks for when they need a little recharge, before returning to his recharging and stasis stations drowsily.

It goes on for quite a while, but it has become commonplace in this house. The days and weeks that this is repeated, it only brings more joy and color to this little family of four. Even if it is late, it is a small stay that they can be together. In a particular way, but together.

-End Chapter 2-

Chapter Text

After a few good smacks that the old Autobot gave his troublesome duo, they gather in what is the kitchen of the house. Apparently, it could be long explanations and deep down, Ratchet hoped his little ones weren't lying to him.

-”Then we found the cells. They were all but empty, but only that little fawn remained.”

Bumblebee takes some energon and hot oil, once Optimus spreads the titanium cups in front of the young yellow autobot. Right now, it's 02:30 in the morning. It's not something that pleases Ratchet, but he understands that the report Arcee sent to both him and Optimus only explains the technical things observed... and the damage done by the ex-Lieutenant's group.

-”Really, Bumblebee. One of these days, you and your friends could get severely hurt. I fully understand that you want to help others, but if you're going to keep doing these risky things, you should go back to being a lieutenant”- Ratchet gives his opinion while sipping some hot oil.

-”I understand, Ratchet. I know I shouldn't act all heroic when I no longer belong to the Cybertron forces.... I just…”- Bumblebee sighs heavily, staring into his mug. He contemplates his old adventures, but he loves his new lifestyle, that much he can't deny, and he's not looking to replace it anytime soon under any circumstances.

-”I know... You don't have to explain, Bumblebee.” Ratchet smiles at him, somewhat wearily, then looks at Optimus and Healwheel. -”After all, Optimus is the same in that aspect, if I do say myself.”

At the other end, Healwheel was cleaning Optimus' helmet a bit, who could barely stay awake. Apparently, the previous Autobot leader had a pretty heavy day to be this tired, even if he has had some rest. This causes both Ratchet and Bumblebee to let out a faint chuckle as they watch the blue and red Autobot nod a little more.

-”Daddy... Daddy, you should go to sleep”- Healwheel moves Optimus gently, so as not to disturb the older one, in case he should suddenly become frightened. Luckily, it's not something that happens often to the old autobot.

-”I'm sorry, dear... I'm not asleep, I...”- he gives a slight yawn. -”I swear... oh, I'm sorry.”

Bumblebee and Ratchet try not to laugh any harder, as they find the other duo's little interaction adorable. If the two had to compare, Healwheel and Optimus are, to say something, good at sleeping in their own style, but become very diligent when time warrants it when faced with their tasks. But it's adorable to see them when they're tired or low on energy.

-”Optimus, you should go to sleep if you can't stand up”- Ratchet was about to get up, but Optimus lifted one of his hands, stopping him.

-”Easy, Ratchet... Once the kids explain why he was out so late, which would be a good idea for them to start explaining”- Optimus looks at both Bumblebee and Healwheel.

Bumblebee let a little vent from his air chest, and started to sum up his adventure by saying that, by chance, he saw a very suspicious guy. The suspicion grew because they weren't smarter... and offered the fawn to Grimlock. When Grimlock refused, he just happened to tell his group, which Bumblebee - with his sense of honor - would not let happen under any circumstances. Quietly, they followed this mysterious group of people, until they were led to the abandoned industrial area. They entered the area, finding many cages for the anibots.

Both Ratchet, Optimus and Healwheel listened to what Bumblebee had to say, impressed, but worried about how dangerous their group made it. Bumblebee kept telling how he had seen along with Strongarm and Fixit completely empty cages, but that they had recently been vacated, most likely with anibots already pre-sold. It was Grimlock and Sideswipe who found the fawn, but as they were pulling it out, the evil guards - who Bumblebee can't explain what they were or exactly what they looked like - noticed the group. After that, the chase of the ships through the abandoned industrial area began. As they did not lose the traffickers and guards, they decided to confront them with “Liberte”; which caused a direct confrontation with the group of villains, but this generated an internal curiosity in the yellow autobot: How is it that they were so weak? It wasn't your typical con, nor were they or showed signs of being a Decepticon and even less were they related to the Autobots. What were those things?

Anyway, by the time the fight was over, in less than 10 minutes, they had defeated a large portion of those guys. Which surprised Bumblebee, considering he and his team were out of shape. This also worried Optimus, who had been getting reports of strange guys who have been making illegal sales of either substances or, just what Bee is talking about, trafficking in endangered species.

-”I understand now. Several reports have said something similar. Still, Bumblebee... What you and your friends did was very dangerous. I understand and trust your ability to be a leader now, but you know that was risky. You don't know how or what you could have done to them”- the autobot leader added.

-”You don't have to say it, Optimus.... We knew what we were getting into, but... I know it was risky”- Bumblebee took his cup and gave it a little squeeze.

-”But I'm glad you still have your sense of justice intact... before you arrive and initiate a rescue operation, you should call for the next one, okay?”- Optimus puts his hand on the young autobot's shoulder.

-”Yes... Thank you, Optimus”- Bumblebee smiles happily at him, and to some extent, also calmed by the older man's response.

Now, the three adult autobots turn their gaze to the little mint-colored bot. Healwheel knows it's her turn to speak, but she wasn't sure whether to tell everything 100%... or omit some details of what she did today, which can be considered equally as dangerous or what Bumblebee's group was doing.

Healwheel begins her narration. While she was in class, her human teacher and the bot that supported  them were talking about the ancient writings of the Terrans. The Terrans in her class seemed to be somewhat confused by their teacher's explanation, but Healwheel was struck by this. It was impressive to her that the Terrans believed in forces beyond what they could access, something that even the Transformers themselves could not explain without a logical reason: ‘Gods’, supernatural beings passed down from generation to generation. The concept of ‘Magic’ was something fantastic and illogical to Healwheel, yet it held her attention in a way she could not deny. She wanted to know more of what the previous Terrans believed, their culture and mysteries; what lay deep within the ancient civilization. Would this affect a Transformer as well?

Healwheel needed to know, and so, she made the sneaky entrance from the watchful eyes of the guards, to the archives area of the school and discovered that there would be an expedition to the area near the great Andes mountain, an ancient formation and set of mountains that makes the shape of a natural column of rocks and other minerals, where a lot of frozen waterfalls in the form of small balls of different patterns. Sneaking around, he made his way to the land bridge area and started his little sightseeing trip. Basically, she just admitted to sneaking out of class and school to go exploring in a dangerous area all by herself. To Ratchet's pain and nervousness, he listens as calmly as he can, but his spark is tighter than iron ropes because of what he's hearing: His little girl, who doesn't have a good defensive armament and could have had an accident as such, listens to this story with the most stoic face possible, but it costs him a lot, and this itself doesn't go unnoticed by either Bumblebee or Optimus.

Optimus decides to approach Ratchet and takes his hand, intertwining their servos and rests the old doctor on his chest, nodding for him to listen quietly. The old doctor lets out a little air from his vents and a faint wheeze from his engine, in turn, Bumblebee just listens to his little sister tell her story, but equally concerned about the risks Healwheel tends to take when one is not on her or being watched. Optimus is in the same position as the other two bots, obviously not wanting his young and crazy -in a way- little daughter and treasure to get hurt or have anything happen to her and none of them can get to her, being too far away, always in case of emergency. Healwheel can see her family's concern and can only smile at them, as she bows her head in a sorrowful manner.

-”I'm sorry, I really couldn't hold it in... I really needed to go to the expedition area.”

-”But you know it was very dangerous, what if something happened to you and we couldn't find you”- Ratchet replied, completely nervous about the situation.

-”Dad, you know I'm always careful–”

-”IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO BE CAREFUL!”- Ratchet raises his voice, to the shock of his family.

-”Ratchet...”- Optimus hugs him and comes over, giving him a kiss on the left cheek of the old bot, who obviously looked very nervous about the situation.

Healwheel flinches over this. If there's one thing she hates it's making her dad Ratchet go into panic mode or being over stressed about her because of her well being, or anything related to her health. She understands that she is not strong like many, but she also wants to show what she is capable of, which frustrates her in not being able to do many things, either alone or with someone who wants to be her friend in the future. Bumblebee decides to break the ice a bit, taking some energon from his titanium cup.

-”I understand your concern, Ratchet... but Heelie is fine here, isn't she?”- the young autobot smiles warmly, trying to lower the old doctor's nervousness.

-”... Haa... I guess so... “- Ratchet averts his gaze, implying that if anything happens to his little pebble, he would never forgive himself. Not him or whoever did anything to him; and the whole family group knows it. Healwheel stands up and hugs her old dad tightly, as she had no desire to cause him any real discomfort, to which the old doctor agrees and hugs her too, sighing and stroking her head. -”I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to you, Heelie... I understand that you want to prove to yourself that you can do everything and more, but you must think of your health in the same way.”

-”I know, Dad...I'm so sorry, I really am”- Healwheel got a little sad.

-”But... go on telling, what you did once you arrived.”

Healwheel nods and coughs a little, to continue with the story. Once he arrived at the area where the excavation would be.

- Cave Y-67, Andes Mountain Zone. -

(BGM: Days in the Sun - Kevin Penkin)

Healwheel arrives at the zone from a terrestrial bridge, observing that he arrived at the zone Y-67, 570 kilometers away from Chilix, observing that the turn of the expedition group had already finished. In a moment he turns to see how the bright solo is falling into the void, giving the beginning to the night in the southern sector of the planet. As that faint and already low reddish bathes in the distance the city where he has grown and lived for much of its activity as the bot that was born, admiring the small beauty of what nature offers, as well as the huge city that imposes itself before it. Healwheel feels small next to all this, since, in itself, she is smaller than her age peers; but her desire to know, to understand the world in which she is constantly growing wins over her small size. Something like this will not stop her from doing anything.

-”Well, I've arrived, let's see what we can find!”-  said the young cyan bot.

She takes some materials as exploration equipment left behind by the research team to go in search of oddities she wishes to add to her crazy antique collection. Summoning up her courage, she grabs the ropes and paintbrushes from a table, entering the excavation area. Healwheel reaches the area of the small chasm, throwing the rope down and tying it tightly, she begins to descend into the excavation area slowly so as not to generate any lacerations or bumps on her figure that might draw someone's attention, the descent is slow and safe for her managing to reach the area safely.

-”It's easily a 40-meter descent into the cave... now–”- The young fembot looks around with her backpack ready, lighting the other helmet with special flashlights, recharged with direct sunlight. She walks around the sector, seeing small shingles like ancient potsherds of even smaller size. It is definitely an excavation with Terran settlement and presence, ancestors of today's living among the Transformers. Healwheel sets about exploring and collecting some of the potsherd-like tablets in the best possible condition.

-”Look at this... it's an almost lost language of the Terrans... I wonder, what language is it?”

The young fembot walks a little distracted, until she finds something fascinating. She knows and understands that with the collision of the two planets, many things changed places, as they were mixed with objects from both planets and generated new components, such as figures or objects without registration. She kneels down in front of the object and takes it carefully, observing it. It is a gem of two different colors: Blue and Purple, dancing between the two inside what looks like a crystal sphere. He has never seen anything like this before: it looks like those lava lamps that Miko, a terran friend of her parents and brother, has told her about from time to time, since she likes these kinds of things that seem a bit psychedelic. Though not much is to be expected from an honorary Wrecker, Healwheel likes how they take life, but wouldn't see herself as a member of the Wreckers for many eons to come. She takes the sphere and puts it in her backpack, continuing to search for other assorted objects, making the hours pass without her noticing two things: The passing of the hour, where it was getting very late... The fact that someone was watching her from the darkness.

-”And that would be all...”- Healwheel held the strange sphere in her hands. To the surprise of the group of autobots, they had never seen anything like it before. Nor did there seem to be any information about the sphere.

Ratchet sighs -“It really is a dangerous thing, Healwheel. I've never seen anything like it before, and we don't know exactly what it is”

Optimus, for his part, taps the sphere, curious about what he sees. Really, this is something really new. He doesn't know if what's inside is a strange mixture of Energon. It looks like it, but at the same time it looks like an even more particular substance, because of how it doesn't mix at all, inside what seems to be a much more resistant crystal than what they already know.

-”If I throw it on the ground, will it break?”

-”Optimus, please, we don't know if he has any contaminants. We'd better take him somewhere where he can be tested.”

-”Not a bad idea, Ratchet”.

Before they could do anything or put the sphere away, Healwheel takes it from them. -”But this orb is mine, I found it!”

-”We know, dear”- Ratchet approaches. -”But it must be studied”

-”No! It's mine!”- The young autobot pouts. -”I know they won't give it back to me when they take it to that place!”

It looked like father and daughter were about to argue, until Bumblebee stepped in between them, telling Ratchet to let Healwheel interact with her little treasure, which calmed things down a bit. Ratchet eventually complies with the sibiling's request, knowing that Healwheel risked her life for that mysterious little orb for a reason or not. Optimus obviously tries to relax his conjux, giving them affection and many kisses, to the small but not negationist position of the old robot, who already, seeing the time it is, sends the whole group to rest, not wanting to hear a single complaint in the morning that they are all tired, only for Optimus to tell him that today was a weekend day. This caused the old autobot's circuits to get confused and he saw his arm transmitter, only to let out an “oh” in surprise. Sleeping in late today - much to the relief of Bumblebee and Healwheel.

As the family group talks some more about their day and some other small things, Healwheel doesn't notice that the sphere also reacts to the warmth of their home, as if it's searching for something... or just reacting to the warmth of the family moment. As if... it has a life of its own, somehow.

The sphere may, though the group doesn't know it, bring some future problems… or solutions.

End Chapter 3