Chapter Text
Blurr had noticed a change in Longarm Prime. It was subtle and likely unnoticeable to the others but Blurr would not have his position if subtlety was all that was needed to obfuscate information. Since the repair crew on Omega Supreme went radio silent Longarm Prime has been… efficient for lack of a better word. The rumors of Optimus Prime having taken down Megatron must have some truth to it as the Decepticons are shattered, acting out without plans and unable to fight back against the coordinated Autobots.
Longarm Prime doesn’t go out in the field himself. Any outsider would assume that it was his subordinates that did all the work but that was what made it subtle . The Prime did not take any glory, he simply suggested things. In what area of space to look, what motives or abilities the Decepticons might have. He trained those under him how to fight those they met without ever mentioning their name.
When Blurr asked about it, if he has an inside source or anything of the like, Longarm simply said that he should give himself more credit. This was all his work, they couldn’t have done this without everyone working together. If one person was the source of their information, wouldn’t it be precarious if that fact were to be known?
Blurr took the hint to shut up about it. So far it was of use to the Autobots and he didn’t have proof anyway that it was Longarm’s doing. What would he do anyway, tell him ‘stop being good at your job’? But he did note it and got back to work.
-
50 Stellar cycles . That’s how long it took to get word of what had happened that fateful day. No time at all yet unbearable in its yawning void. Shockwave knew he hadn’t died, it was why he couldn’t act out in the open, but still he released a hiss from his vents.
“Lord Megatron, you have returned,” Shockwave shifted into his true form, his joints creaking from disuse in his time of having to pretend to be Longarm without pause.
“Was there ever any doubt?” Megatron said, “how have the Decepticons held up in my absence?”
“Badly, my liege,” Shockwave’s voice was cold, “without a leader they turned to infighting, splitting up into smaller groups to be picked off by Autobots. While I have attempted to hold them together until your return, few listened to me.” A lie and a truth, Shockwave had only decided to lead those who had a high chance of making it through the power void. Such they could testify to Shockwave's loyalty. The rest were to be picked for parts.
Megatron narrowed his optics and for a moment Shockwave feared the ruse was up. “Disappointments, all of them,” Megatron hissed, “this does not set back our victory over Cybertron. Our victory is all but assured.”
“What has led you to this conclusion?”
“We’ll have the Allspark in due time, my loyal subordinate.”
Shockwave froze, “I overheard on the coms a reparation team had found the Allspark before the signal was lost. Does that mean…?”
“The autobots still have it for now, but they are fresh faced and young. It’s only a matter of time until it is ours .”
Bumblebee lived. He lived and Megatron hadn’t snuffed his spark yet. Inside of Shockwave’s chest burned his spark brighter and he could only hide his trembling servos, not control them. “Indeed, my liege, what do you command of me?”
“Gather the troops, the more frontiers the Autobots have to face the less aware they’ll be when we strike .”
“Understood, my liege.”
-
Longarm’s steps echoed through the hallway as he chased after Ultra Magnus and Sentinel Prime about to board their ship. “Wait!”
“Longarm Prime, is something the matter?” Ultra Magnus asked while Sentinel growled at the interruption.
“My liege, if it may not be too forward I wish to join you on your excursion for the Allspark,” Longarm bowed, “and to get back the lost Autobots.”
“We don’t need you, we can do it perfectly fine on our own-” Sentinel began before Ultra Magnus held up a hand.
“Your former sparkling, Bumblebee, was on that ship, wasn’t he?” It was said softly yet Shockwave couldn’t help but flinch at his attachment being laid bare.
“... Yes,” Shockwave clenched and unclenched his fist.
“Very well, you are welcome to join us, Longarm Prime.” At Ultra Magnus' words both Longarm and Sentinel looked at him with surprise. Sentinel sputtered, unable to come up with an argument but Shockwave only stared because he knew there were plenty of reasons Longarm shouldn’t come with.
Was it just because of sentimentality? How was that enough for what was clearly a security risk should the ship enter conflict or worse yet be destroyed. Still… “Thank you, I won’t forget this,” Longarm bowed again before following with. Ignoring the glares from the other Prime.
-
Earth turned out to be a very small planet in the middle of nowhere teeming with organic life. A hard sell for any self respecting Cybertronian. Not that Shockwave spared any room in his processor to contemplate when he stared at where his sparkling stood with his team.
“You destroyed the Allspark?!” Sentinel exclaimed once they got the report from Optimus Prime and for once Shockwave agreed with him.
“We didn’t destroy it, it just kind of… Dispersed?” Optimus himself seemed to realize how improbable it sounded.
Sentinel cackled, “likely story, Optimus, as likely as there being Decepticons on this planet! We checked the parameter and not the slightest sign that any Decepticon activity so pray tell did you lie in an pathetic attempt to be seen as a hero-”
“Silence!” Ultra Magnus slammed the hilt of his hammer down, making Sentinel shut up. “Optimus Prime, you shall lead Sentinel and I to where you fought the Decepticons. Longarm, Jazz, stay here and watch the rest of the team.”
“Yes, sir!” With that the three rolled out, leaving the rest behind. At this point Bumblebee was nervously shifting on his feet under Shockwave’s gaze.
“Jazz, do you believe you can watch them while I talk to Bumblebee privately?” Shockwave said at last.
“Of course, I’ll keep an eye on them while you talk to the kiddo,” Jazz gave a smile and a lax salute that did not reassure Shockwave the slightest but Longarm returned his smile still.
“Longarm I-” Bumblebee began but Longarm held up a hand to stop him. Walking to a separate area of the ship, hearing Bumblebee’s small pedesteps follow him.
“Could you explain why you couldn’t contact me?” Shockwave’s voice was cold, colder than Bumblebee had ever heard it before. He gulped.
“Well you know- I um, couldn’t exactly access the coms when we crashed and after being in cryo stasis a time things kind of slip your mind! And, um, oh yeah it was a security risk! Wouldn’t want any Decepticons to know where the Allspark was, that’s now gone, dispersed,” while talking Bumblebee couldn’t keep his hands from moving like the gestures would add credibility to his excuses. It was so familiar it felt like Shockwave’s insides bruised.
“I’m not angry at you,” Longarm kneeled down, embracing Bumblebee, “I was worried .”
For a moment Bumblebee was frozen before melting into the hug, not hugging back yet, not yet. “Oh, I thought- I thought you wouldn’t…”
“Care?” Longarm pulled back.
“No! Well, yeah, you’re always so busy and I’m hardly a sparkling anymore. You don’t have to take care of me like you did when I was little,” Bumblebee looked at the floor.
“You will always be my sparkling, Bumblebee,” Shockwave said, his true voice leaking through with the intensity which he spoke, “you are mine .”
Surprise colored his sparkling’s optics for a moment before Bumblebee smiled, hugging him back. “I love you too, pops.” Warmth, how Shockwave hadn’t noticed how cold he’d been all these stellar cycles he’ll never know.
“‘Pops’?” Longarm asked and Bumblebee laughed.
“It’s an earth term! It’s kind of like a caretaker but more familiar, y’know? Same thing with dad,” Bumblebee scratched the back of his neck as his fans kicked in, “it’s supposed to mean… someone who’ll always be there for you and love you.”
Ah. Longarm’s lips twitched up before Shockwave followed the impulse and smiled. “Is there an equivalent word for sparklings?”
Bumblebee’s optics widened before his grin lit up the room. “Yeah! Daughter- wait, Sari said that’s only for fembots… sun- son , that’s the word.”
“Son,” Shockwave forgot what he was going to say. Staring at the yellow bot that was here, in his arms, “my son.”
Bumblebee pushed away from him fans blaring, “yeah, yeah don’t wear it out!” Shockwave felt a stab of something, remembering how the sparkling had been when he was young. Being away from Shockwave back then was met with begging and resistance while now it was barely a thought.
Not that he could ponder on it as a tiny organic opened the door followed by the rest of the Autobots. Bumblebee smiled in delight at them so reluctantly Longarm rose.
“Dad, let me introduce you to my friends: The old grumpy one is Ratchet,” a medical droid from the war, cynical but competent, “that long one in the back is Prowl, he likes things like… being still and nature,” dropped out from his cyberninja training and went AWOL. Bumblebee gave a ‘ isn’t he weird ’ grimace at ‘being still’. “You know Bulkhead, right? From my academy days, he’s my bud,” Bumblebee’s smile twitched as he remembered how he treated the large bot like an inconvenience back then.
“Yes I know him,” Longarm turned his gaze to Bulkhead, “Bumblebee used to talk about you a lot.”
Bulkhead scratched his head, “only good things, I hope?”
Before Shockwave could answer, Bumblebee burst between them, “and lastly this is Sari, my other best bud.” He held up the small organic like an object for show-and-tell, “she’s taught us a lot on how things work here on Earth.” She gave a wave.
“I see,” Shockwave didn’t understand, “would you be upset if she went offline?” He calculated the force that would cause her to burst would be very low in comparison to a Cybertronian.
The Autobots gasped and Shockwave realized he’d made a mistake when Ratchet looked like he was going to punch him and Bumblebee quickly put Sari down for the human to hide behind Bulkhead. “Of course I would, don’t joke about that- the rest of the team don’t know your jokes!” Bumblebee laughed nervously as he gestured for the rest to calm down.
How troublesome , Shockwave thought. “Yes a joke, haha, of course you’d all care and feel protective over this organic. She is… very small.”
“Thanks?” Sari said looking mightily uncomfortable before putting on a look of determination, “Bumblebee! We have to go, there's something going on at my dad’s factory.”
“Right on it!” Bumblebee transformed into an Earth vehicle and put the organic inside him before looking back at Longarm, “we can go… right?”
Longarm looked at Jazz and saw the other bot shrug with a smile, Shockwave had to ex-vent. “Only if I follow with.”
“Yes! Earth mission with Longarm let’s go!” Bumblebee punched the air.
With that all of them transformed and rolled out into the city of Detroit. Longarm not even bothering with a disguise. Not wanting to change his frame nor needing to as the Autobots might as well had sent a signal to the whole world that Cybertronians existed.
Sari, now safely seated inside Bumblebee and not within Longarm hearing range, lets herself lean back into the seat and sink low into it, “Bee, your dad is kinda… creepy.”
“Yeah he can be kind of intense at times, but I promise there’s no better bot out there! He’s just extra intense today because he’s worried,” Bumblebee said with a smile. Honestly, the intensity was somewhat nostalgic from their space bridge days.
“If you say so,” frowning, she cast a glance back at the tank following behind them, shuddering imagining it actually firing on something.
“I second that opinion, there’s not something quite right with that bot,” Ratchet interjected.
“Of course you’d think that, I’m sure a bot can blink and you think there’s something wrong with them,” Bumblebee hissed, suddenly feeling defensive, “just trust me on this.” Effectively killing the conversation, for now.
In the ensuing fight against the out of control police bots put the concerns to rest as well. Longarm was a competent fighter which was all he needed to be when the enemies were nothing more than mindless drones.
But it wasn’t that which earned him respect, no, it was the simple act that when Sari was in danger -Sentinel not even bothering to care with the organic (or more accurately, repulsed. by her)- Longarm came to her rescue. Picking her up and shielding her from stray blasts like it was second nature.
Winded by the near death experience Sari could only stammer out a, “thank you,” before noticing her key glowing and getting on track, jumping down to get to Optimus so they could find out what was the real cause behind the incident. Longarm covering them as they made it inside.
It had been an easy choice for Shockwave. Bumblebee was his and what was Bumblebee’s he would protect. Though his processor must be glitched as for a moment he saw the organic as a sparkling . How illogical.
It didn’t take long for Optimus and the organic to find the problem though it’s cause was not something Shockwave had expected: The Allspark. If he had counted on making this visit to Earth a private matter it was entirely shattered by the findings. Excusing himself from the team and finding a nook at the docks where there was no surveillance. Keeping aware of his surroundings at all times when he contacted Megatron.
“Shockwave, what a pleasant surprise, anything to report?” Megatron asked despite his optics lighting up in recognition of Shockwave's surroundings. Signal clearer than it had in stellar cycles.
“The Autobots have sent an envoy to Earth in order to pick up the Allspark. The Envoy includes: Ultra Magnus, Sentinel Prime, Jazz, and Longarm,” Shockwave stated matter of factly.
“Have they found anything?” Megatron asked, optics lighting up in interest.
“A fragment, with this they have confirmed the Allspark’s destruction though they have not yet expressed a plan to get more pieces,” Shockwave’s voice almost held a smile, “they have bigger problems to occupy their processors.”
“Are you able to get me that fragment?”
“No,” at Shockwave’s response Megatron frowned.
“Explain yourself.”
“At present it is in Ultra Magnus’ possession and as far as they are aware there are no Decepticons on Earth,” Shockwave held out his claws to better articulate his thoughts, “they cannot spend resources to stay if there is no threat. In time they’ll leave and take the rest of the Autobots with them, it will all be yours then.”
Megatron barked out a laugh, “I see, a waiting game then? Very well, I can be patient. Keep an eye on them, Shockwave, and report to me if they happen to find any more of the Allspark. As well as when a decision has been reached.”
“As you wish, my liege.” When the communication stopped Shockwave took a moment to be. Looking around at this strange alien planet with sky and liquid turning from blue to dusty oranges, listening to the rumble of the primitive automobiles.
Soon, he shall have what is his in his grasp. He just needs to wait a little bit longer. Then… then.
-
“This is our little hideout! It’s not a looker but trust me it has everything one could want,” Bumblebee showed off his home to Longarm, head held high. To Shockwave it looked like a defunct factory with crude unsafe technology but he held back from saying it in face of the fact that his sparkling was happy. He would have to do a more thorough sweep while the Autobots weren’t around.
Bumblebee jumped on the sad excuse of a couch, picking up a small device and starting up the screen. “Here I’ll show you- Earth has all these things that those stuck ups on Cybertron could never even have thought of and this is the greatest of all,” he shook the controller with a smirk, “video games.”
The screen started up and showed a number of humans, showing hairs and styles that Shockwave had not seen outside (Though he did not know enough about organics to dispute them for being inaccurate). “They are… colorful.”
“You bet! But that’s not everything, c’mon sit down,” Bumblebee patted the place beside him before throwing his head back to shout to the back, “Bulkhead wanna get your butt kicked over here?”
“I win sometimes ,” Bulkhead grumbles lightheartedly. Before the big bot could take a seat Longarm took the seat beside Bumblebee, landing in the middle of the two Autobots. Bulk raised an optic ridge before grabbing the other controller, “you’re on.”
Longarm locked his limbs so he wouldn’t be pushed around as the two got into the game, having to dodge being smacked in the face by a controller or elbow as they forgot he was there. On screen the colorful humans kicked, punched and used different abilities on each other. It wasn’t dynamic enough to be a learning simulation, the movement connecting to the controller button presses and rigid in the combos they could do. Very primitive in its work.
The bar on top seems to show the mission progress as when it was depleted one of the humans fell and the screen filled with KO as Bumblebee began cheering and Bulkhead sulked.
“I believe I know the rules now,” Longarm stated. Bumblebee blew air before pushing his controller into Longarm’s servos.
“It’s not about the rules, it's about winning. Also allegedly having fun but winning is the fun part,” Bumblebee said grinning, “c’mon beat up Bulkhead for me.”
“If you can,” Bulkhead winked. Despite being an obvious ploy to get Longarm to give in it was a respectable one as he could feel his emotions rise and make him more inclined to agree.
“If it’s what you wish,” he said. And then proceeded to lose 0 to 5 against Bulkhead.
At some point during these consecutive losses Longarm had begun lean forward and gone dead quiet as he tried to figure out how to maximize the effective combo to beat Bulkhead’s human but despite how many humans Longarm tried it was simply not enough. It was like Bulkhead was an oiled up protoform, simply sliding out of any combo and then trapping him in an unwinnable combo before using his flashy ‘ult’.
“This is illogical. Poor balance,” Longarm glared at Bulkhead without moving his face, “designation: No fun.”
“Awh, don’t be a sore loser, Longarm, you’re still new at this,” Bulkhead smirked. It was only by the grace that his Bumblebee was smiling like he both couldn’t believe what he was seeing and that it was great that Shockwave didn’t attack Bulkhead. He needed to pry open his plating and look at his processor on how these things were encoded in him.
“Hah! I knew I made this look easy but I still didn’t manage to expect you to-” Bumblebee held back from finishing when Longarm glared at him too, “well now I can say there’s one thing I’m better than you at.”
“Yes. Though not applicable to real combat in this scenario you are better than me if you can beat that ,” Longarm would’ve sneered if Shockwave wasn’t too high strung to focus on moving his fake face like he should.
Now however Bumblebee’s smile turned from holding back laughter to fondness. Longarm’s humiliation apparently had become an important memory that held sentimental value, Longarm scowled at him without any real heat behind it.
If he was honest, it was nice. An inconsequential activity that won’t affect his standing nor risk deactivation. Asking for a rematch he still lost but he was getting better. Chipping away at the wall that was Bulkhead. Not noticing the time had passed until the others began yawning. Bumblebee turned off the screen before Longarm could insist on one more game.
“Well I’m spent,” Bulkhead yawned, stretching, while Bumblebee nodded, barely able to keep his optics open.
With reluctance Longarm rose, “it seems it is time I head back to the ship. I'll see you after your rest.”
“Wait,” Bumblebee stumbled on to his pedes pulling Longarm into a hug before letting go and giving a sleepy smile, “there, now you can go.” The Prime could only watch frozen as they went to berth, standing alone for sometime before he could will himself to move again.
Numb Shockwave went to the Autobots hub of access, pulling up everything that had happened in his absence. All the news the human caught, the files Optimus dutifully kept organized, as well as the cameras within their own hideout had seen. Everything. He needed to know, he needed to see.
His optic caught on small moments of Bumblebee being frustrated, smiling, bragging, doing illogical emotional things. His processor took note of the Decepticons seen on Earth, the new bots that had been created. He filed the destruction of a blue and yellow Decepticon away for later.
It was not fifty stellar cycles of information. Nothing to replace the time lost. The Autobots would not let him stay here and the Decepticons wouldn’t allow Shockwave to do something so useless.
So he connected himself to the machine and began to code. Program to keep Bumblebee safe and within Shockwave’s sight.
“And what are you doing?” Prowl asked, like it was a simple curiosity. Shockwave paused for a second, the only sign of his surprise, before continuing his work.
“I am scrambling your intercom signals so there should be a harder time intercepting it. This place lacks any security standards of Cybertron.” It was a trojan that would allow Shockwave to know all their communications.
“Fascinating,” Prowl stroked his chin, “though I recall you were one of the people insisting there were no Decepticons on this planet.”
Shockwave stalled for a moment before continuing his coding, “you can never be too careful about these types of things.”
“I suppose,” Prowl didn’t sound entirely convinced, but Longarm didn’t know much about him to conclude what the best course of action would be. Let him be suspicious then, Bumblebee didn’t care much of his opinion anyway.
“You can see for yourself if it works, I haven’t had time to test it,” Longarm disconnected himself from the machine. Finally turning to meet the cyberninja’s optics as Prowl stood in a dark corner with his arms crossed. Confident it would just appear a normal program exactly as Longarm described.
“Perhaps I will,” Prowl said, making no move to do so, keeping far away and his optics on Longarm. A dismissal Shockwave accepted, leaving with his processor running the program in the background. Watching Bumblebee sleep.
-
The council hadn’t made a decision yet but it was only a matter of time. Until then Longarm Prime had some time to move. Approaching the little human sitting on a bench in a park while the others did combat training.
“I’ve seen these ‘human’ news,” Shockwave took a moment to recall her name, ”Sari.”
“Yeah?” She raised an eyebrow, still miffed about the whole ‘not being strong enough to fight’ thing.
“This… Soundwave. Who was he?” Longarm tried to sound casual, curious.
“Just a birthday present gone horribly wrong! My dad made me a robot and I was being stupid and kept using my key on it and then,” Sari let out a deep soul searching sigh only an 8 year old can do, leaning back into the bench, “it became evil! And I just didn’t believe Bulkhead when he told me and even believed it when it tampered with the phones! Well, maybe that you can’t blame me for but I should have realized that bots going out of control around it was a problem.”
“How… Interesting. How did you defeat him with all that power?”
“Well it kidnapped me to the sewers and then Bulkhead came and saved me and beat it up to tiny bits and pieces! Still glad he forgave me after all that. I was a really lousy friend to him,” she brought her knees to her chest.
Longarm reached out and gave her a pat, though with her size it was less a head pat and more a gentle squish of her entire person. “Everything turned out alright in the end, did it not? No need to carry guilt over things that have already reached their conclusion.”
Sari blinked up at him before giving him a weak smile. “Thanks.”
“No, thank you for telling me, Sari.”
-
It took a while to track down the right sewer. Scraps of metal littered the floor, analyzing its components showed its compounds were of Earth make yet there was something distinctly Cybertronian about it. Collecting the pieces took time and was hardly worth it, scraps nowhere near enough to be able to patch together its processor.
That was until he found a cassette, glowing weakly with red light. Quickly Shockwave picked it up and searched for damage. A low powered mode, too small for a spark to be held, but held it did . He could feel it humming with life. Shockwave carefully turned it around for damage, finding it miraculously intact. Seemed like Soundwave had the foresight to eject his most sensitive parts before being shattered.
“I knew you were up to something,” Prowl said. Longarm quickly turned around, clutching the cassette close. Spotting Prowl hanging from the ceiling. “Though I can’t say I suspected you would try to aid a Decepticon so soon.”
Longarm scowled with righteous fury, “a Decepticon?! You think I’m here to help them ?” Shockwave was unused to projecting strong emotion into his voice, but it was important to catch the cyberninja off guard, “I thought you’d know better, Prowl, to recognize when you see a Sparkling .”
“No,” Prowl’s eyes widened, subconsciously drawing deeper into the shadows, “it couldn’t be. Dr Sumac created it and it was corrupted by Megatron, it shouldn’t be feasible for it to have a spark.”
He’d won. “Do you really believe that, Prowl?” Longarm glared.
For a moment they just stared at each other. Unwilling to make the first move. Prowl broke the stand off, lowering his head along with his body from the ceiling. Longarm made a show of taking a step back so Prowl held up his servos. “I just want to see him.”
Longarm narrowed his eyes but held out Soundwave still. Prowl reached forward, hesitating, then touched the cassette. Shockwave watched his optics widen with satisfaction. “I won’t allow Soundwave to stay on Earth. He will have a better life on Cybertron- so long as no one finds out he once called himself a Decepticon,” Longarm said.
Prowl drew back. “It is a Cyberninja’s sacred duty to protect protoforms and sparklings, it is a shame that I’ve seen to have forgotten it with time away,” he made his servo a fist and hit his chest, “I won’t say a word.”
“Good,” Shockwave opened his subspace and put Soundwave inside, feeling the slow hum of a spark next to his own, “then we’ve reached an understanding.”
-
“What?! We have to leave?” Bumblebee shrieked when he heard the Council’s decision. Voicing what the other Autobots had the self control not to.
“With all due respect, Ultra Magnus, but our duty is here, to this world. We can’t just leave it,” Optimus Prime said, ever the leader, but he cowed when he met his superior’s optics.
“No, your duty is with Cybertron, it is high time you’re reminded of that fact,” Ultra Magnus was unyielding in his command. Sentinel Prime by his side smiled at seeing the others looking so crushed, Longarm Prime watched with apathy. “The Decepticon have become far more active in recent times, we cannot spend our forces on a planet that might have Decepticon when our fellow men are fighting at the front lines.”
“And the Allspark?” Optimus asked, downcast.
“It would take too much time and resources to collect all of it. It’s best to cut our losses, Optimus,” it wasn’t said cruelly but it ripped morale as well as an attack. Ratchet touched Optimus’ arm, shaking his head.
Optimus couldn’t meet their gazes. “Understood. We shall… Prepare for take off.” The others met him with similar crestfallen expressions- except Bumblebee who hadn’t taken his optics off Longarm. Shaking off Prowl when the others transformed and headed out for their last dues.
Magnus and Sentinel headed back in and Longarm attempted to join them but was pulled back when his servo was grabbed. Son and father staring at each other as they were left behind.
“You could have talked to them,” Bumblebee said, the unsaid question of ‘ why didn’t you? ’ hanging in the air.
“The faith you have in my abilities is flattering, Bumblebee,” Shockwave met his accusation steadily.
“No, I know you could have. Just like what you offered when I was kicked out of the academy. Heard you talking about Sari about Soundwave- you know there’s Decepticons here!”
When the apathy broke it was like a floodgate, “and you want me to leave you here with them?” He hissed, leaning in with a frown and pupils nothing but slits.
For a moment Bumblebee was surprised by the intensity before recovering. “Yes! We’ve been handling them on our own so far. If we leave, what will happen to Earth?”
“What will happen to you is the better question!” Shockwave’s eyes glowed, “Do you think you can handle Megatron? That anyone on your repair team can?”
“We’ve done so before,” Bumblebee pushed with determination, “we can do it again. These people need us, we can't let them down! We’ve already sworn to Sari we shall help her get her father back-”
“I need you!” Shockwave’s voice broke to his true one, static lasing his words, “ I lost you . Fifty stellar-cycles not knowing where you were or if you lived! I will not leave you behind again- I will not repeat the biggest mistake of my life.”
Bumblebee’s optics widened and Shockwave could see his reflection in them, wild with his dentas bared like an animal and optics shining red, unrecognizable even to himself. With a great tug Shockwave wrenched himself free, trying to school his expression back into something like Longarm. “You cannot convince me otherwise, Bumblebee.”
When Shockwave turned and stalked back to the ship Bumblebee didn’t stop him. Staring at his back servo still in the air. The doors shut and Shockwave tried to erase the sight out of his memory cache. He should’ve walked away from the beginning, not even entertained the conversation.
Maybe then he wouldn’t have to see Bumblebee looking at him like he didn’t know who he was.
-
When Bumblebee came home the first thing he did was throw himself on the couch and not move. Only Ratchet stood by and tinkered while the others had left to spend their last day on Earth meaningfully. Trying to ignore the yellow bot despite feeling the signals of ‘ ask me how I’m feeling ’ as he continued to lay down on his belly.
“I can’t believe he’d do that,” Bumblebee said at last when Ratchet wouldn’t play along on his own.
Ratchet grumbled. “Who did what?” Covering his audio receptors in preparation for the rant. When it didn’t come as expected, I slowly uncovered them and actually looked at Bumblebee.
Bee had curled up on his side staring at the black screen of the TV, opening and closing his mouth before managing to get out the words. “Longarm. He… he lied to the Council. Just to get us to leave.”
Ratchet held back ‘ he did what?! ’ as he actually used his processor to think about his words before he spoke them. “So what?” he cringed immediately upon saying it adding hastily, “what are you gonna do about it?”
“It’s just unfair! Like he knows better than me and I’m just a-a protoform to him!” Bumblebee gestured with his arms, rolling over onto his back. “WE need to stay here on Earth and he doesn’t get to decide!”
Ratchet leaned over the couch looking down at Bumblebee, “kid, I don’t know how to say this but he’s your superior officer. He does get a say in what you do.”
“Well,” Bumblebee’s expression pinched, “still unfair.”
“Not a lot of things in life are, kid. Now what are you actually upset about?”
“I am really upset about this!” Bumblebee insisted, crossing his arms.
“Yeah, yeah, I wasn’t born yesterday. If it was just that you wouldn’t be looking like a kicked puppy left in the rain,” Ratchet jabbed his finger at Bumblebee, “now tell what’s eating you on the inside.”
Bumblebee’s glare faded as his gaze drifted upwards into memories, frowning. “I’ve never seen him that upset before. Longarm, being selfish? What a joke! I wouldn’t have believed it in a million years,” he covered his face with his servos, “but now he’s keeping the Decepticons a secret because he can’t. Can’t just leave me.”
“So he disappointed you, that’s it?”
“No! Well yes, he did. I just didn’t think he would! This is Longarm we’re talking about!”
“Who’s a bot just like us. Look kid, it was only a matter of time you learned this so it's better you learn it now,” Ratchet said sternly but not unkindly, “people aren’t perfect. They’re gonna mess up in huge inescapable ways but that doesn’t make them strangers. Longarm probably just tried his best to only show you his good side, much to your detriment .”
Bumblebee scoffed, “how can it be to my detriment if he’s cool and awesome all the time?”
“Because it leaves you unable to deal with when he’s not,” Ratchet flickered Bumblebee’s forehead which earned him an ‘ow’. “Be glad he disappointed you because he cared and not something like he’s a Decepticon spy.”
At that Bumblebee cracked a smile, “yeah, it could always be worse. I suppose.”
“Now I’ve been getting an Allspark signal for a while now, want to gather the team and roll out?”
“You bet!”
-
“Megatron the Autobots have a signal on a fragment, they’re heading towards the site now,” Shockwave cursed his luck. The last day, the very last day they had left stuck on this stupid rock, “withdraw the Decepticons.”
“Getting feisty are we?” Megatron smiled, “I have to say sorry for the bad news but this is all Starscream’s doing. A ploy certainly to get my life again, see to it that he is properly put out of commission this time.”
“As you wish, my liege.”
-
A hopeless endeavor in the end, as always, Shockwave wasn’t built for fighting, he wasn’t built for speed. He could extend his arms into the sky but Longarm didn’t have his blasters to fight. But he still tried. Starscream cackling at how pathetic he was all the way.
The Autobots arrived and Starscream thrust himself out of his grip. The fight was a sure victory but he had already lost . Ultra Magnus brought down lightning on Starscream and the Decepticon fell but it was evidence. He couldn’t look at Bumblebee with the others, didn’t want to see his realization at Shockwave’s stupidity.
“You didn’t call for backup, Longarm prime, I hadn’t expected such a blunder from you,” Ultra Magnus poured salt into the wound and Shockwave had to remind himself that Longarm was obedient and caused no trouble.
“A miscalculation on my part, I thought if I took him on my own I could avoid escalation of Starscream’s tactics,” he closed his optics, the excuse was weak and without reliable evidence the scenario could’ve happened.
“He’s right- Magnus sir,” Bumblebee added and Shockwave’s head snapped up, “we’ve dealt with Starscream before and he-he has always been very slippery and quick to run away when outnumbered, sir.” He could see Bumblebee trying not to tremble under Magnus’ scrutiny but it didn’t change Shockwave’s amazement that Bumblebee had lied . For him .
Shockwave didn’t catch what Ultra Magnus had said next, his emotions reaching out and deafening the world to all but Bumblebee. Seeing him stare gave him a small smile and a wink. I forgive you , is the logical conclusion from such a gesture. Yet the malfunction persisted even as his sparkling turned to gloat to the stasis cuffed Starscream.
Only when he felt something tap him on the pede did Longarm move again. Turning his optics down to see Sari waving her key. “Hey, looks like you could use a pick-me-up and lucky for you I got just the thing. Now pick me up.”
Longarm did as she said and to his surprise when she brought the key closer his chassis opened up automatically for a space where it fit. The moment she turned it his chipped armor closed up and his leaks stopped, a warmth pouring in and touching even the places he hadn’t known were damaged. And he felt the being in his subspace stir as well.
“The Allspark?” He asked and she shrugged, he dragged a servo over his arms that had gotten the most damage in the fight and felt that they were just as they once had been, “thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said and then leaned in to whisper, “you’re not gonna let them go back to Cybertron now, are you?”
His gaze fell on Bumblebee’s smile again. “No, I won’t.” Perhaps it’d be alright this time.
She grinned, “good.”
-
With the proof of Decepticon activity in their holding cell Ultra Magnus were more inclined on listening to Optimus Prime about the importance of their work on Earth. Allowing them to stay, an inevitability. It was time to say goodbye.
Awkwardly Longarm and Bumblebee stood facing each other but not moving. The only two close enough where a goodbye was needed yet neither knew how to bring it to a close. Bumblebee looked up twice before getting the nerve to say something.
“I’ll call,” Bumblebee said trying to smile but it came wobbly. The memory of I need you replaying in his processor.
“It won’t make me stop worrying,” Longarm said quietly before Shockwave willed his body to move, embracing Bumblebee. A bad sentimental choice that had a high likelihood of making Megatron suspicious that Shockwave’s affections were more than a lie. But it was needed. “Stay out of trouble, if a Decepticon comes for you, never face him alone. Run as fast as you can if things take a turn for the worst.”
Like this Longarm didn’t see how Bumblebee rolled his eyes before patting him on the back. “Yeah, yeah. Run away when things get dicey, have a team if it’s Decepticons, I got it.”
Longarm gave one last squeeze before letting go, turning his gaze to Sari, “take care of him.”
“Will do, sir!” Sari gave a salute ignoring Bumblebee’s indignant ‘ hey! ’. Longarm nodded then reluctantly turned to leave. Only looking back when he was on the ship and the gate was closing, seeing Bumblebee waving and giving a small wave back.
Then it was over. The doors are closed. He won’t see Bumblebee in person until the battle on Earth is won.
Shockwave goes back to work.
-
“So what did you think of Longarm? Cool, right?” Bumblebee crossed his arms looking at the others expectantly.
“Yeah he’s pretty cool,” Sari said with feigned nonchalance, “but I thought Autobots didn’t have parents and yet Longarm is a real mother hen.”
Optimus leaned down to Sari to explain, “it is true that Cybertronians don’t have parents in the way humans do. For one it’s not hardcoded in for us to care for a sparkling, caretakers are traditionally those who have that programming to take care of the sparkling until they can be assigned to another bot for further training. But there are always those like Longarm that develop a bond with their assigned sparkling.”
“Well that’s what’s so cool about him! He wasn’t even assigned to me, he picked me up out of a dumpster and decided right then and there that I was his sparkling,” Bumblebee spoke the words with the confidence of a story told many times, “and I wouldn’t leave him alone for anything! Couldn’t even let him leave my sight the first few cycles without crying. Can’t imagine how annoying that was, like, sheesh I was a real handful.”
Everyone’s optics turned to him. Bumblebee chuckled nervously. “What? It was fine.”
“You know I’m starting to see why Longarm is so protective of you.” Sari said plainly.
“Agreed,” grumbled Bulkhead.
Bumblebee just looked at them confused, “was it something I said?”