“SPARKS” TFP AU-slide 2

Instructions

A few days had passed since Arcee had extinguished Starscream. Knowing still that only Bumblebee knew about it, she grew ever so closer to him, telling him her feelings, asking him if maybe, just maybe, what Cliffjumper might have done. And the greatest part about it was that Bumblebee always gave honest-sparked answers, even if it meant that it was opposite of what Arcee was expecting. Yet every time she left the same room as Bumblebee, either Optimus was lingering by and asking her to help him with a recon or mission, or Bulkhead was just... there. What she was talking about with Bumblebee now was just a relief one. They were asking each other what felt most important to them, or what.. or who, they missed the most. “You asked me questions, now’s my turn. Okay, what is one thing that you miss the most back on Cybertron?” She asked, enjoying the lightness now as she spoke with Bumblebee. Bumblebee’s optics, which were bright and lively a moment ago, dimmed. He slightly looked away, lowering his helm. My... voice. He beeped quietly, turning back to Arcee without meeting her gaze. “Oh, I’m sorry... I didn’t mean..” Arcee caught onto what she had just said, merely forgetting about how back on Cybertron in the Great War, Bumblebee had been caught by Viacon troops and was taken to Megatron. As the warlord tried to extract information from the scout, Bumblebee refused, thus causing Megatron to rip out his voicebox and leave him for scrap. I know you didn’t mean it. Do you want to see what the other bots are doing instead? Bumblebee asked, switching slowly back to his old self. They left the room they were in, reaching the main control room of the Autobot base. As soon as they entered the main control room, a small alarm went off and Ratchet switched the screen on the control panel. “Optimus! An Energon vain has been located in a nearby valley.” Ratchet called, as the Autobots entered. Optimus looked at the screen. “Could be a new Energon mine. Ratchet open a groundbridge, we shall investigate.” Optimus, as well as the rest of the Autobots, transformed into their Alt.modes and waited for Optimus’s command. “Autobots, transform and roll out!” Ratchet watched as his comrades entered the groundbridge, the bright yellow and green tints of the portal illuminating the walls around him. “Our Energon stocks are running low, but pray to Primus none of them end up hurt.” He wished them good luck, closing the groundbridge. As the Autobots reached the other side, a massive terrain of deep valleys and sand covered plains greeted their optics. The heat was unbearable, the scorching sun high above their helms. “How in Cybertron did the Decepticons find Energon here?” Bulkhead muttered, covering his optics with his servos as a gust of wind sent sand at their heads in all directions. Let alone a mine! Bumblebee added unbelievably. A Viacon appeared from behind a rock formation, looking around with their blaster out. The Autobots ducked and stayed out of optic-sight of the Viacon. “That must be where they are hiding their mine.” Optimus whispered, “We shall infiltrate. But remember, proceed with uttermost caution.” The Autobots crept towards the Decepticon mine, splitting up into different directions. No signals were passed through comms, partly because they were scrambled by the Decepticons. I wonder if the Decepticons are running low on Energon for their troops too. Arcee wondered as she snuck over to the door of the mine. Hiding behind a rock, she awaited the signal from Optimus, who was constantly giving hand signals to his Autobots to guide them. Suddenly, a commotion was heard from the opposite side of the mine, and Arcee saw a dozen or more Viacons flood out from the mine, their blasters glowing and ready. One of the Autobots had been spotted, raising the alarm for the other Decepticons. Arcee went stiff as she heard the deep pounding of stabilizer-servos reach the entrance of the tunnel. It could not possibly be, she recognized the stabilizer servo steps immediately. Megatron.