[ti]Ep 3.5[/ti]Fossils Hunt

[Raf Esquivel]

Week 1, Day One

"There, that should do it."

The youth gave the straps on his backpack one extra tug before securing them tightly. Looking everything over, Raf nodded at his handiwork. His backpack was done up a lot tighter than normal, but he wanted to be certain nothing was going to come tumbling out.

As usual, his laptop was in there, along with a portable power bank, a large spill-proof water bottle, several books, and a few odds and ends.

Unlike his usual clothing, today Raf was wearing shorts and t-shirt, and a baseball cap pulled down over his wild head of hair. The T-shirt was black, with a neon green image of a keyboard on it, shorts also black. The baseball cap looked a little tattered, and was a dusty navy blue.

Pale arms and legs was testimony the youth didn't go out in the sun very much - or if he did, he wasn't used to wearing sporting gear.

Normally, Raf wasn't all that comfortable with wearing that sort of clothing, but sometimes the situation called for it, and today was one of those days.

Raf was taking Bee fossil-hunting.

He needed something for a school project he was working on, and had decided on taking some pictures of Trilobites to add. At first he had been going to ask his father to take him on a weekend, but suddenly had an idea.

He could ask Bee!

Bee had told Raf so many things about Cybertron, Raf wanted to share something cool about Earth with Bumblebee. So this was the perfect chance.

Raf readjusted the baseball hat on his head for the tenth time, backpack on the floor by his feet, and waited for his friend; small figure with an oversized backpack, standing near large machinery of alien technology capable of creating a portal anywhere on Earth.

[Bumblebee]

Bee found himself pacing his quarters. He wasn't quite nervous, though his thoughts seemed to be everywhere all at once to the point he couldn't really focus. The mandatory meeting earlier today with Optimus and the rest of the Autobots had… well, it'd been bleak.

They weren't really a team anymore. When it was just the five of them (six if you count Cliffjumper) they were close-knit, standing against the almost impossible odds against them to get through anything.

Now, though…

It was depressing, in a way. Though Bee tried not to focus on that. He'd been given a task by Optimus, and instead, his thoughts had shifted on how to go about that. Working with Nathan and Petrichor could be fun, though he wanted to try and teach the human some simple words in Basic before they headed out. It could be the difference between life or death, especially when out on a mission such as that.

With everything that'd happened in recent days, too, he was especially nervous about seeking out MECH. The human enemy had hurt both Ratchet and Neon, and even he hadn't walked away unscathed. His chassis crushed by a giant, weird robot that was still out there somewhere. He and Neon had been lucky, all things considered, and a less unified team meant that should something ever happen? It'd be a mess trying to communicate and make it out alive.

But he couldn't dwell.

He'd asked Bulkhead to pick Raf up today, and while his attention had been on his thoughts of the meeting, he hadn't lost track of time. Seeing his best friend would cheer him up, and he found himself excited to hear about Raf's day at school - and then of course getting to hang with him for a bit, even if it was just asking a billion questions while homework was done.

Straightening his spinal strut and shaking out his arms – he didn't want Raf to catch on that he had been overthinking things – Bee made his way from his quarters and down the small corridor that led to the Control Room.

He saw Raf – and his cool new outfit – immediately, and was quick to make his way over to him, if only so the tiny human didn't have to yell.

--Hey, Raf!-- he chirped. --I like your hat!-- one servo would raise to tap at his own helm as he spoke.

It was a little… odd, seeing the tiny human in something a little different from what he normally wore, but Jasper wasn't exactly a cold place, and so sometimes shorts were needed!

[Raf Esquivel]

If Raf had felt awkward wearing the new clothing – something his mother insisted on, in the blind hopes her little boy got a little stronger, a little less pale – it vanished once Bee spoke. Raf knew Bee wouldn’t come out and say anything if he looked stupid, but the compliment made him feel better.

“Hey Bee! Thanks...Momma wants me to wear it so I don’t get sunburned.” He gave a faint shrug in a “What-can-you-do-you-can’t-argue-with-Mommas” sort of way, then readjusted the hat again as he looked up at the yellow scout.

“Hey, I want to show you something really cool. Can...are you allowed to leave the base and go for a drive? It’s not really far – it’s outside Jasper but it’s close enough you can see it, so it should be ok.”

Raf was more than aware of the happenings at Omega. Being a very small human child was very helpful when it came to gossip. Large Cybertronians hardly ever noticed the quiet youth scrunched up on the sofa near the main monitor, playing video games. And they talked. And Raf listened.

He had learned a long time ago you find out way more by not being seen and being quiet, than by asking questions. Adults never gave kids honest answers.

So Raf was aware of how tense things were. And while he hadn’t been there personally for the very important meeting all the Autobots had, he had certainly picked up enough that it hadn’t been a pleasant one. People were talking about M.E.C.H., and Ratchet, and that….thing Bee and Neon had encountered.

He could even see it in how Bee held himself as he had walked forward. Raf was developing a very good ability to read Cybertronian body language – at least the body language of friendly Autobots – and everyone was clearly unhappy.

Well, hopefully, Bee would find this as cool as he did!

[Bumblebee]

--Aw, well, your momma is right! She's looking out for you even when she's not here!--

It showed a lot of who Raf was. Most kids would've agreed to wear the hat, then taken it off the second they were no longer in view, thinking it was lame or uncool. But Raf listened to and, more importantly, respected his mom to the point he was still wearing it, even while inside.

Though he assumed that there was a reason for that, and the next words were met with a gentle tilt of his helm as he listened, before nodding as he chirped back.

--I can leave the base, yeah! We'll just have to check in which is no biggie!--

There was technically no buddy system in place, even with what had happened to Ratchet - though they did have to be extra careful when out and about. It did mean checking in more often with whoever was at the Control Panel, but that wasn't a huge deal!

--Did you wanna drive or bridge? We can do whichever you want!-- tapping a thumb to his chassis, he adjusted his weight just slightly - almost bopping from pede to pede. He hadn't been on an adventure or really done much with Raf in a while, and his eagerness to leave the base was showing - though not quite to the point he wanted to ask what the cool thing was, after all, surprises were way more exciting.

The drive might be nice - it'd mean extra time to hang with Raf, for one thing, but it would also be a way to clear his head a little bit after the meeting this morning. Not that he'd let his weird headspace get in the way of anything fun with Raf, of course!

Though on the other side of that coin, if it was really cool like Raf said – and he had no reason to doubt him at all – bridging a little closer would mean more time with whatever it was the tiny human wanted him to see.

The fact Raf was standing kinda near the bridge itself was telling, though he wouldn't push for either outcome. He was happy with whatever option, as long as he got to hang out with his best friend for a bit after a troubling morning.

[Raf Esquivel]

(I've never been able to find a map that shows where Omega is in relation to Jasper, so Raf's directions are just random directions I've picked.)


Raf had thought about how they were going to get there as well. And while Bridging would be faster, it would take more energy, and Raf knew the Autobots were trying to conserve energy. Unlike the Decepticons, they didn’t have a lot of energy to waste.

Besides, driving would mean getting to spend more time with Bee just hanging out, not really doing anything other than being together. And Raf really liked being in Bee’s back seat when he was driving. The seats were comfy, and Raf loved to feel the wind in his hair.

He couldn’t wait until he was old enough or just tall enough to be able to sit in the front seat. Or even better yet….when he was old enough he could sit in the driver's seat!

He wouldn’t be driving, of course. Bee was a person, not a car, but it would make it so much easier for Bee to go out and about, not having to worry about anyone seeing him without a driver, or having to worry about talking with his holoform. It would look like Raf was driving, so they could go anywhere, without any worry!

That day was years in the future yet, though.

“Let’s drive! It feels like forever since we’ve been driving somewhere. I can tell you where it is – just instead of going into Jasper, we head West, and drive for about an hour.”

Raf subconsciously adjusted his large glasses on his face, and did the same with his hat. He wasn’t used to wearing a hat, and it sort of felt strange.

He paused, then spoke, “Or...do you think it’s better to bridge? Maybe Optimus would rather we bridge, so nothing happens. Do you think M.E.C.H. might be hanging around close to the base?”

Despite assurances, Raf was still worried about his best friend. He knew Bee had encountered something bad, and he was worried that Bee might run into something like that again. He didn’t know what he’d do if Bee got hurt because of him. Hurt….or worse.

[Bumblebee]

--It has been forever, yeah!--

He was honestly kind of sad that they hadn't got to hang out much outside of Omega One lately, though with everything going on what with Ratchet and Patch, things had been kind of tense around base. It was still awesome to hang out and help Raf with his homework, but there was nothing like getting out and going on an adventure with just the two of them.

An hour away wasn't too bad – and was plenty of time to spend hanging with Raf – though he wasn't sure if he could wait that long to find out what the surprise was!

He'd try his best though.

Raf seemed pretty certain in his choice, until he wasn't - and Bee would tilt his helm, offering a thumbs up. He understood the reasoning why the tiny human seemed unsure, though he hoped they'd have enough fun to forget about the horrors of MECH, at least for a little while.

--We can drive, it's okay. We'll bridge back when we're done though, don't want you being late so your momma starts worrying about you, y'know? As for MECH? Nahh… don't you even worry about them.--

He would be, deep down, then again he always did. After what happened to Ratchet he was especially wary, though with Raf with him he would be especially careful, making sure to check in more than was needed just to let everyone know where they were, and that they were safe.

Nothing would happen to Raf while he was there.

Carefully moving forward toward the large Autobot symbol on the floor, Bumblebee was quick to shift forms in a flurry of parts. Now in his altmode, the door would fling open as an invitation to the tiny human.

--Lets go!--

[Raf Esquivel]

It didn’t take long for Raf to take the invitation.

When the door opened, Raf was already on the move, a broad smile on his face. It felt like forever since he had ridden with Bumblebee!

Ducking under the front passenger side seat belt, Raf shoved his backpack into the back seat pushing it over to the far side, before slipping in himself. Once he was seated, and properly buckled up, the youth pulled off his hat, resting it on the seat beside him. His wild hair poofed up even more wild than normal.

“Alright, Bee, let’s go!”

Although the place they were headed wasn’t overly familiar to him, Raf had looked over the map again and again, to the point he had easily memorized the way out and back, figuring out the time taking into consideration if traffic would be light as normal, or heavy. He had even checked that day’s weather several times to make certain they wouldn’t be rained out.

He wanted everything to be perfect.

It felt so right to be back in Bee again. It was like his butt had settled back into the perfect place, like always. Like coming home.

[Bumblebee]

They'd done this probably hundreds of times now - yet Bee still found himself as excited as the first time he'd ever picked Raf up from school, and no sooner was the tiny human seated safely and buckled in – Bee wouldn't go unless he was! – did the passenger door close.

Honestly, he missed this. Even if they weren't going anywhere in particular, it was just nice to hang out with Raf again. The meeting earlier had sent his thoughts into a bit of a spiral, as he tended to over-worry at times - and this was almost exactly what he needed.

Only once Raf gave the okay did Bumblebee set off - slowly at first as he made his way down the tunnel and toward the outside world. Sunlight flooded into the space as the door spiraled open in front of them, before plunging the base into darkness once more as they moved through.

--Man, it's nice out today! I'm glad we decided to drive.--

The warmth of the sun hit him immediately, and while they still had heaps of daylight left, he felt like they should make the most of it. He didn't speed, never would when he had Raf in the car, though sat comfortably at the speed limit as he pulled onto the road.

--Just tell me where to go, okay?--

Part of him wanted to ask for a hint as to where they were even going, though that'd totally ruin the surprise!

[Raf Esquivel]

Raf closed his eyes for a minute, letting the wash of air flow over his face and hair. Even that felt like home – feeling the air coming in Bee’s window.

He was suddenly reminded of a time back when his and Bumblebee’s friendship was new. Bee had picked him up at school and was bringing him back to the base. It had been such a hot day in the class, Raf had been sleepy, drowsy from the heat. And being in the soft seat, the air on his face, he had fallen asleep.

For a few seconds, he had had a dream where he was driving with his family going somewhere on vacation. As Bee had pulled into the base, a gentle bump of tires going over a small ridge on the floor had gently woken him up.

Still too drowsy to realize he had been dreaming, he had looked around the car, and suddenly thought that he was still in his family car – only no one was actually driving and the car was moving.

He had jerked awake so violently his backpack had thumped to the floor and both oversized sneakers had thumped a heavy impact against the back of Bee’s front passenger seat. While Raf was a small youth, his yellow guardian had still easily felt his charge give a harsh jerk, both feet smacking into a seat.

Trying to convince Bumblebee that, yes, he was ok, he had just been dreaming...no, he wasn’t hurt or anything, that wasn’t why he jumped….yes, he was sure….yes, he’d tell Bee if anything had happened….had all been so embarrasing. Now he just smiled at the memory. It was a time when the two of them were still feeling each other out, learning each other’s ways, body languages and personal tics.

I feel like I’ve known him all my life now, he thought.

Opening his eyes, looking forward, he spoke, “Head as if you were going to go to Las Vegas. Only, when you get to the first off-ramp for Exit 52A, take it and keep going.”

After a few minutes, Raf spoke again, this time his voice subdued. He spoke hesitantly, uncertainty suddenly staining the tone. The young man had wanted to talk about this with Bumblebee, but hasn’t been sure how to bring it up, and now that he was going to try, he realized he wasn’t really sure how to do it.

“Um….Bee? Can….is it ok….can we talk about what happened? With you, I mean? And that thing you encountered?”

[Bumblebee]

Just as Raf's thoughts wandered some, so too did Bumblebee's. Oh, he was paying attention to the road - he always did, doubly so in fact when the tiny human was with him, but he couldn't help but mull over the countless drives they'd had together. Most of them were pretty much the same - with Bumblebee sitting in the same space outside the school, picking up Raf and hearing all about his day, then the short and familiar drive back to Omega One.

Not much really changed, ever. The weather was usually pleasant - warm, but still nice enough to have the windows down for some fresh air. The desert unchanging aside from the occasional tumbleweed that rolled through, or the sighting of a vulture overhead. The conversations usually followed the same sort of path as well, talk of schoolwork, and what Bumblebee had done that particular day.

Yet even with things unchanging, it was the favorite part of his day and something that he looked forward to. Oh, missions and patrols were fun and all. But getting to spend some one-on-one time with Raf - a moment where it was just them? He felt lucky indeed. The base was loud, with lots of Cybertronians moving around, folks coming and going from their assigned patrols and chores, and while his quarters were quiet? It was nothing like the drives to and from Jasper.

Then, after a few hours at Omega One – usually spent catching up on homework or simply hanging out, he would drive Raf home. He wasn't sure if Raf's parents had ever noticed the yellow Camaro that was a constant, familiar presence in their son's life, nor had he ever really asked. They seemed like busy people, and were probably simply thankful that they didn't have to worry about him too much. Always home for curfew, never causing a fuss. He was a good kid, and Bee would do absolutely anything he could to keep him safe.

Something that he would continue to do for as long as he was able.

He noticed that Raf had closed his eyes, and he realized just how lucky he was to have a friend like him. The road was smooth, so there were no jostles of potholes - and he wondered for a second if the tiny human had fallen asleep.

Ah, but then - words and directions that were easy to follow.

--Easy enough!-- he chirped. --Thanks!--

Then, there was silence. It was comfortable, then again it always was with Raf, but he could tell that something was bugging the youngster. He wanted to fill the quiet with a question of his own, to ask his friend about his day, as he hadn't gotten a chance to do so yet - but felt like he should wait a moment longer.

He was right in his assumption, and a quiet, beepy hum followed Raf's words. Ah, the monster that MECH had made. The reason Neon had been moved to another location, and uh, part of the reason he'd found himself unable to slip into a peaceful recharge more than once in recent days.

He was okay- he'd lived. They'd both lived, but he couldn't help but replay things over and over sometimes, thinking about what he could've done differently if he'd had another chance. He hadn't really talked about it before, aside from the formal stuff with Optimus.

He knew Raf had heard about it - how could he not? Bee's frame was evidence enough that something had happened. But he hadn't wanted him to worry, but now, here they were. Just them, in one of those moments where they could talk about anything. Maybe it was time to talk about it, and even though it was such a lot for someone so small, maybe Raf could help ease his mind some. He was good at that.

--We can talk about it, yeah, that's okay! What did you wanna know?--

[Raf Esquivel]

When Bee said it was ok to talk, Raf felt a hundred pounds lighter.

He hadn’t known how Bee would feel. Maybe it had been really frightening, and Bee just wanted to put it out of his mind. Raf could certainly understand if that were the case.

But at the same time, his Momma said sometimes scary things only stopped being scary if you talked about them. Sometimes talking about things helped you see what they really were, what they really looked like. So you stopped thinking about them and making them bigger and scarier in your mind.

He had so many questions, though. He had heard so many things being talked about in Omega, and had no idea what was real and what was gossip.

Raf leaned forward a little, hands on his knees, and tried to find a point to start from. But every question that came to his mind had one that needed to be asked first.

“How did….where was….what did it…..”

Frusterated, he shook his head, and tried again.

“What happened, Bee? You and Neon….you were in a wrecking yard or something? Did it just show up and start attacking? What was it? Where did it come from?”

He leaned back in his seat, but kept his eyes fixed on the steering wheel and the dash area right around it – the place where he felt “Bee” was when he was in his car form.

[Bumblebee]

Continuing down the road, taking care to stick to the speed limit just as he always did, Bumblebee carefully took note of how Raf leaned forward. He knew the tiny human probably had a million questions about what happened, and knowing Raf? He knew that there would probably be a struggle in trying to find the words, and the right way to ask.

Sometimes it was better to simply blurt things out all at once, he did that sometimes - in the hopes that the other person would understand and simply work through it all in one go. It did help, occasionally, for those moments where he didn't know where to even start.

Despite this, he was patient. He wouldn't rush Raf, nor try to push him into asking anything too specific. The event with MECH had happened a while ago now, and while he was sure Raf had found out some details from Optimus or others, he'd not heard it from the one mech who was there.

Bee understood completely. He would've been scared to ask, too. Having someone relive that moment? Well, it was scary, and could bring up a lot of bad memories. Luckily, though, he'd had time to sort through his own feelings on the matter, and while he was still haunted by things? He knew Raf was a safe person to talk to.

So he waited, listening to the first few words. Raf was so like him, and he related so much to the struggle in finding the best way to approach this.

After a moment, there were further questions - ones that he expected. Ones he'd explained to Optimus when he'd asked. This felt different, though, in that it was his best friend, and while he didn't want to hide any details or facts, he didn't want him to worry.

Though it was probably too late for that.

--Okay, let's see…--

A beepy hum followed his words. It was his turn to struggle over working out how to start this.

--For a long time, I thought it was my fault.-- Optimus had thankfully explained otherwise, and gotten him to realize that it wasn't, and had simply been a lot of bad luck - that there was always the possibility of MECH finding them whenever they left Omega One, and unfortunately that day they had.

--I took Neon to a place I'd been to many times before. An old warehouse! It'd been abandoned, but there was heaps of cool stuff left behind. I'd go there to shadowbox and explore, and had the idea to take Neon just to get him out of the base for a bit to maybe see if there was anything cool.--

Being careful to remain at the same speed he was going, Bumblebee continued on. He knew Raf would let him say what was needed, and so he spoke further.

--It still seemed pretty abandoned, but in one of the buildings, there was a Vehicon. Uh. It was…-- his beeps trailed off some. The image still haunted him. So many Cybertronians, including himself, were used to the sight of death. But this'd been something else entirely. It hadn't been done by another of their kind, the trooper hadn't been a victim of war. He'd been gutted, torn open - then posed in a way that seemed like, for a moment, that he was still alive. Badly injured, but alive.

--It was a trap.-- he spared Raf the details of how they'd been lured by a horrific recording, drawing them closer and toward the Vehicon itself, nor did he mention anything about the mangled form of the trooper.

--When we went to check it out, that's when the monster came out.--

He didn't have another word for it, that was how he'd described it to Optimus, and that was how he would describe it to Raf or anyone else that asked.

--We heard it first, footsteps. Patrolling outside, waiting for us to leave. But we didn't. We hid. It didn't matter, though, as it tore through the building with a beam like it was nothing.--

He'd run. Yelled at Neon to run - the words coming a fraction of a second too late. But- the other mech wasn't as fast as he was. Couldn't keep up. The panic, the noise of the thing- it was too much.

He hadn't realized it as he drove, but he'd slowed down - quite considerably. Luckily there was nobody else on this portion of the road, but being there - back in that moment? It's all he could think about.

--After that, I stayed to try and distract it and to disable the comm blocker. It was fast, weirdly fast, and it managed to knock me down, crushing and trapping me with a pede.--

That explained the injury to his chassis that looked like he'd been partly crushed.

--Uh, anyway- that's basically what happened.-- There was more, of course, though he didn't want Raf to worry more than he probably already was. 

--Neon is okay, he's alive. Just not at Omega One right now while he recovers, and I'm okay too. That thing though? The monster? It's still out there, somewhere. I don't know who they offlined to get that cannon, but it was from someone.--

He hoped it wasn't an Autobot, stranded and alone- their first interaction on this planet being one of pure horror and pain at the hands of MECH. But it did not matter, even if it was a Decepticon? He wouldn't wish that fate on anyone.

--I don't think it just showed up, I think- I think that MECH had been watching for a while and knew I'd come back. It was already there, in another building that I know for sure had been empty last time I was there.--

Finally realizing that he'd slowed to an almost crawl, Bumblebee would speed up again - right on the speed limit.

--I'm okay though. I'm okay. I don't want this to ruin our day, yeah?-- he chirped hopefully.

((Brief mentions of the conversation with Optimus done with permission, as it happened mostly offscreen.))

[Raf Esquivel]

Raf remained silent while Bumblebee talked, taking in every word. Raf was a quiet child, an “old soul”, some liked to call him. He’d always listened, even as a very young child, learning more about how people said things than what they actually said, sometimes. He knew that the more someone repeated something, the less likely it was. Someone who kept insisting they were alright? Weren’t. It was like they were trying to convince themselves, by convincing someone else.

The fact that Bee started off the whole thing by saying that he’d felt it was his fault told Raf that that was something his friend was still dealing with, maybe. It was the most important thing, so it was said first.

Raf listened, and let Bee say what he wanted to say, and how he wanted to say it.

When stopped talking, Raf remained silent for a few more minutes, digesting everything his friend had said, head down a little, as if gazing at his sneakers. Organizing the story. Taking bits apart and putting it into places in his mind to be recalled later.

After a few minutes, he lifted his head, and spoke.

“There’s no way it’s your fault, Bee. Not unless you somehow knew that monster was in that other building. And if you had known, you wouldn’t have taken Neon there. And the fact you stayed and tried to distract it? That cancels out anything you might have been feeling bad for. I think most people would have just run. They wouldn’t have really thought about it – they just would have been scared. But you didn’t run. You were able to stay clear headed and help Neon as much as you could. That’s more important than you know.”

The image that remained with Raf, however, after Bee told his story, made Raf feel sick to his stomach. Bee, trapped under the foot of some monster, big and strong enough to be able to crush and dent him.

“How did you get away, Bee?”

[Bumblebee]

Just as Raf had given him the moment of quiet to speak, Bumblebee would offer that same silence in kind to the tiny human. It didn't feel like a comfortable quiet like normal, if only because he wasn't sure if Raf was okay after hearing what'd happened, though he didn't want to cut into things with a question to double-check.

Raf would tell him if he wasn't okay, that much he knew, but wow those few minutes where nothing was said seemed to drag on, even if it wasn't really very long at all.

His thoughts drifted back to that moment with the monster, though he wouldn't dwell too long. There'd been no point in dwelling- it was something that Optimus had said a few times to him over the years, because what was done was done, and it was something that Bee tried to think back on and remember in those moments when his thoughts became almost overwhelming.

Thoughts like… Could he have done anything differently? Should he have done anything differently?

He found himself keeping a careful watch on Raf, trying to keep himself grounded in noting how he seemed to be lost in thought as well. It really was a lot to take in, even if parts had been left out on purpose, and he knew the little guy was probably trying to make sense of it all.

Then, after a few moments- there were words. Even though Optimus had said pretty much the same thing, it felt all the more true coming from Raf.

--Thank you… It means a lot to hear, coming from you.-- his beeps were quiet.

He was ready for more questions, and wasn't surprised in the least when Raf had another. Again the silence would hang, though it was only for a few seconds before another beepy hum sounded.

--Luck, mostly? I think.--

The monster itself was absolutely gigantic. Far bigger than Optimus, bigger than Megatron even, and even if he had mostly moved on from what happened, he would never, ever forget peering up at the thing when he'd been trapped beneath it. Far too many thoughts and regrets had gone through his processor in that moment, knowing full well it could've ended him in an instant should MECH have wanted him dead, and he wouldn't have been able to do anything to stop them.

--It… didn't really have much interest in me. After it managed to knock me down, it didn't do anything. Just crushed me a little, but then it just sorta gave up, I guess, and went after Neon.--

Maybe it was because MECH knew about him, whereas Neon was new to Earth and they hadn't seen him before. Fresh arrivals meant weapons that they hadn't gotten to reverse engineer into their own monstrosities, or simply steal.

--He ran. Or uh, drove. It was fast, really fast, but super top-heavy. Once Neon was far enough out I told him to come back toward me, knowing it'd follow him - which it did, and I managed to trip it up! Then we bridged back to Omega One.--

He should've stayed to make sure it couldn't ever get up again, but the most important thing had been to get away from it completely. Neon had been badly hurt, and his own injuries were nothing to scoff at - tempting fate and risking another few seconds wasn't worth it.

Pulling onto the main road then, Bee would speed up just a little.

--It's scary to think that it's still out there, though hopefully we never run into it again.--

Save that mess for the Decepticons - because as much as he hated to admit it in thoughts he'd never say aloud, the fact the majority of the enemy faction could fly meant they'd probably have a far easier time in taking down the monster.

[Raf Esquivel]

Raf listened to every word Bumblebee said, absorbing them the way a sponge absorbs water.

He was a youth, and like many human youths there was only so much his brain could take in, only so much it could know. Things like being naïve, or having no experience in many situations. These things came with time, no matter how much the youth thought otherwise.

But Raf had been through things that would have left some adults trembling in a corner. Sometimes being a youth was an advantage. Because the young human mind was built with one strength adults minds seemed to lack; an ability to adapt to new situations.

Raf had gone from being a quiet, shy, introverted youth who spent much of his free time alone, to being a quiet, shy, introverted youth who spent most of his free time with friends who were literal aliens of a completely foreign lifeform, who were involved in an actual war. As a result, while Raf’s first thoughts were fear and worry, his second thoughts were to immediately start processing what his best friend had just said.

“So you said that when the monster had you trapped, it lost interest, and then went after Neon…..” here Raf squinted slightly, a perfect copy of his father when trying to puzzle something out..”Do you think it went after Neon for a special reason, or just because he wasn’t caught?”

Raf tried speaking his thought process out loud to Bee, to try and explain what he was thinking. He wasn’t used to actually verbalizing it, and it was coming out tangled.

“I just mean like how predators do. Chase things, I mean. Like, ok, there are some animals….at least animals here on earth, I don’t know about animals on other planets...I guess there are animals on other planets, right? Nevermind, that’s not important right now….so some animals, predators, have a really strong chase instinct. So strong that sometimes they stop chasing something they actually caught to chase something they haven’t caught yet. Like house cats. So do you think it was like a house cat, and went after Neon because it had already caught you but hadn’t caught him yet? Or do you think that there was another reason? Because if there was another reason, then that means that this monster was thinking. Not just reacting like a house cat. And if it was thinking, then….then that’s way worse. Because that means it was a lot smarter.”

Raf broke off, slightly winded. A youth of few words, the sudden explosion of words that tripped over each other in the rush to get out of his head, through his mouth, and into the air, seemed slightly shocking. Raf’s mind was used to running a thousand miles a second, but trying to speak them aloud was difficult.

“Did that make any sense, Bee?” he asked, softly.