TFP- Of Sparks and Hearts

_{Part 5/8 of a Transformers: Prime fanfiction based after the events of episode 13 "Sick Mind"}


Optimus and Arcee stepped smoothly out of the swirling green vortex that was the GroundBridge, finding themselves on the outskirts of a desert town far from Jasper. The Bridge closed behind them with a swift flare of energy, leaving no trace of its existence.

Optimus cast his troubled gaze over their run-down suburban surroundings, before raising a hand to press two digits over his audio receptor. "Ratchet," he began, opening a channel back to base. Arcee stepped off the road, facing away from him with one servo drawn up to her chestplate, and stared around at the dilapidated buildings. "We have arrived at the designated coordinates, but there is no sign of Bumblebee as of yet."

Partially-hidden in the crook of Arcee's arm, Raf stared apprehensively up at the female Autobot. "Do you think he's gonna be okay?" he whispered. Arcee cleared her vocal processor, signalling for the human to be quiet, but shrugged her shoulders discretely in response. Raf's expression darkened into anxiety and he shrank back against her metal, already regretting breaking Optimus' request that he stay back at base.

"My scans indicate that he is approaching your position from the southwest," came the medic's voice over the comlink. "He should be within your sights shortly."

As if on cue, the distant sound of a powerful engine rose above the silence of the desert night. Arcee and Optimus turned to face the noise, spotting a growing cloud of dust on the horizon. Rafael found his heart in his mouth, watching with bated breath as his partner's vehicle form materialised through the shimmering heat-haze.

Bumblebee glimpsed his fellow Autobots across the desert as he tore along the dirt road, but seeing his comrades didn't stir the usual rush of glee. On the contrary; his spark sank a little deep inside his chassis, and – for a split second – he considered veering off-course to drive around them. He knew they'd give chase, and that Optimus wasn't fast enough to keep pace with him. Arcee was, however – but it wouldn't be overly difficult to shake her. He braced himself to go off-road, but suddenly found his steering wheel locked in place as a soft breath of laughter sent shivers through his superstructure.

Ah…well if it isn't my old nemesis, Optimus Prime. How fortunate…

They've got nothing to do with this, Bumblebee pleaded. Try as he might, he couldn't turn the wheel an inch. His route was set – directly over the top of his teammates.

Oh, they have everything to do with this. Do not change your course. Run them down!

Arcee took a shocked step backwards; Bumblebee wasn't slowing down. For the second time that day, she found herself staring into the scout's rapidly-approaching grille. The Autobot commander, on the other hand, stood his ground, watching with narrowed optics as the yellow muscle car charged directly toward them over the bumpy terrain. Was he asleep at the wheel? It didn't look like it – but something told Optimus that Bumblebee wasn't the one in the driver's seat.

Less than a nanoklik before the speeding scout was in servo's reach, Optimus and Arcee threw themselves in opposite directions – leaping off the dirt road as their comrade ploughed clean through the space they had occupied mere moments before. Arcee's momentum carried her several metres; flipping upright, she deposited a rather shocked Raf on the ground behind a beat-up old pickup. "Stay here and hide," she hissed under her breath, glancing at Optimus. The commander was crouched in the dirt, thankfully still unaware of the human's presence.

Bumblebee found himself screeching to a spinning halt, despite never touching his brakes for fear of castigation. The next thing he knew, he was watching Arcee and Optimus rise to their feet through his windshield. Scrap, he thought; what am I gonna do now?

"Are you out of your fraggin' processor?" Arcee demanded, brandishing her fist. Not for the first time today, the scout was glad that his vehicle mode lacked a face as he cowered under the weight of her scowl. "What's wrong with you lately?"

"Stand down, Arcee," Optimus rumbled, stepping forwards. The cycle Transformer seemed to calm down some, but Optimus' stare on the scout's hood was far heavier than hers could ever be. "Bumblebee…what do you mean by charging at your friends in such a dangerous manner?"

He said nothing, wishing a ravine would open in the ground and swallow him whole. The thought shattered, however, as the sound of an icy sigh swept over his frame.

The quality of your aim appears to be nothing close to your obedience, scout. But no matter…I've heard that your melee skills are fractionally more impressive.

Melee skills? repeated Bumblebee. Optimus and Arcee exchanged curious glances, but the scout didn't have chance to dwell on his mistake of replying aloud. He suddenly found himself thrown upright – forced into robot mode with no recollection of initiating his transformation sequence. He staggered forward, surprised – but caught himself as he realised what was being asked of him. He shook his head frantically, stepping back – soon flinching as a sudden pain slashed across his chest.

What are you waiting for, you fool? Attack them!

I won't! he thought desperately, trying to turn away from his comrades – but the pain swiftly deepened and locked his servos in place. Bumblebee panicked, fighting for control, as his body doubled over of its own accord.

As you wish, you gutless little Autobot. But hear me – if you won't attack Optimus Prime, I will!

Heat surged through the scout's circuits like wildfire, constricting his vision to a narrow tunnel swamped by darkness. He'd lost the ability to breathe, to move – and yet, it felt like he was moving. He heard Optimus grunt in surprise all of a sudden; struggling to clear his optics, he could just make out his commander's unnerved faceplates through the agony. There was pain in his body now, a different kind than before – physical hurt. He could see something else too, something swiping back and forth so fast and erratically that it blurred. The glass in the panes before Optimus' chestplate shattered, and Bumblebee felt a hot wetness on his knuckles. With a horrified start, he realised that the blurred objects were his own fists – leaking energon from repeated contact with the glass.

"What're you doing?!" he heard Arcee cry from somewhere behind him. He felt her seize his servos – the servos that no longer responded to his commands but to the will of another – though her grip didn't last long. Whatever wavering vision he had abruptly flipped before Arcee slammed down in front of him, on her back in the dirt, as though wrenched clean off her feet.

Interfering cretin…finish her!

Bumblebee felt the panels of his arms shift and redistribute as he found himself looming over her, and the sight of his own forearm-blasters soon swam into view. They were aimed directly at Arcee's head – she was staring down their barrels, into the charging blue glow of energon, in shocked disbelief. Her expression, those betrayed optics as she looked up at him, tore at his spark more than the nightmares or pain combined. Disregarding the burning resistance, he clawed desperately for control over his own body. Not Arcee…not anyone! He couldn't pull away, able to feel his servos shaking with the effort – but he wouldn't let Megatron pull the trigger on his friends.

"Bumblebee!" yelped a small, terrified voice.

He forced his dilated optics away from Arcee, peering through the darkness for the source of the sound. It was Raf – the tiny, spectacled human was sprinting across the rocky ground towards him, tears streaming from his eyes. Optimus called the human's name, warning him back, but Rafael kept running straight for his partner. He flung himself against Bumblebee's shin, staring fearfully up at the struggling scout.

"Let him go!" Raf demanded, forcing anger into his eyes. Bumblebee gawped down at the human, unnerved. Did…did he know? "Hear me? You leave my friend alone!"

Hah! Pitiful human – you think you can challenge me?

He doesn't have to, Bumblebee thought angrily. He shuttered his optics, vividly aware of Raf's hands on the metal of his lower leg. His spark felt hot, but the cool sensation of feeling and control began to seep through his systems – originating from the soft warmth of Raf's skin. As he forced his shaking arms downward, the scout heard an astounded exclamation in the depths of his mind.

What…what are you doing?!

Rafael watched his partner grapple with himself, too focused on the scout to notice Optimus helping Arcee carefully to her feet behind him. "You can do it, 'Bee," he encouraged quietly, forcing a smile. "I'm right here."

All of a sudden, the components of Bumblebee's forearms snapped back into their original formation. The abrupt movement made the human jump, but he didn't lift his hands from his partner's shin. Bumblebee's shoulders slackened as he let out a fatigued sigh and opened his optics, one slightly more slowly than the other as though waking from a dream, and stared, gasping for air, down at Rafael. After a moment of silence, Raf's smile became genuine; and he let out a tiny breath of laughter.

Bumblebee sank to his knees in the desert dirt, exhausted but in full control of himself. Rafael climbed up onto his lap as Optimus began to approach them; Arcee made to help the commander walk, but he denied her efforts with a simple raising of the hand. "Arcee; assist Bumblebee to his feet," he said. As she turned reluctantly away from him, Optimus reactivated his comlink and gazed sadly down at the youngest member of the Autobot Earth team. "Ratchet; prepare to Bridge us back to base. We have located our scout…but I believe he requires immediate medical attention."

Arcee crouched in front of Bumblebee, a mixture of emotions clashing on her faceplates. The scout couldn't bring himself to look her in the optics at first, but gave a start as she extended one slender hand before his face. "Let's get you home, partner," she smiled.

How touching. Too bad this won't save you in the long run.

Bumblebee ignored the voice; he took Arcee's hand and allowed her to help haul him upright, but found himself too tired to stay on his feet. He fell against her, unable to support his own weight – but she supported it for him. The GroundBridge burst open beside them as Raf secured himself on Bumblebee's shoulder, granting a safe passage home.

You may have won this battle, Autobot…but your strength will not last forever. Sooner or later, your nerve will fail – and when it does…I will be ready.