Bumblebee woke the next day feeling like he hadn't eaten anything in weeks. His stomach growled and groaned loudly as he sat up, shaking his head a little, which only reminded him that he was still concussed. With a tiny sigh, he looked up and saw that Wheeljack and Bulkhead were chasing after some kind of ball, yowling and laughing in glee all the way. Arcee was relaxing above him on a crate, her tail flicking back and forth as she watched them play in slight amusement. Cliffjumper was nowhere to be seen, neither Optimus and Ultra Magnus. Bee turned his head and saw that Ratchet was still hovering around the computers, also noting that one of them was actually on now. The older cat looked quite annoyed at the noise as he tried to get the other ones to work, constantly looking back and shooting them glares that they couldn't see. The kitten sniffed a little laugh as he got to his feet slowly. No dizziness washed over him and he beamed brightly, his tail high.

Hey, can I play, too? he called as he hurried over to where Bulkhead and Wheeljack were fighting over the ball. The two cats paused, a little surprised to see him up. Before either of them could answer, they heard Ratchet roar from his station.

"Of course not!" he shouted loudly, flicking his tail back and forth as he glared at the young kit. "You needn't be doing something so strenuous right now!"

While Bumblebee shrank a little and flattened his ears sadly, Wheeljack came to the kitten's rescue. "Ah, come on, Doc. We ain't doin no harm," he mused, shooting the cat a teasing grin.

The medic scoffed loudly. "Roughhousing will most certainly do him harm," he growled as he leapt down from the console and began to make his way over.

"We weren't roughhousing!" Bulkhead defended, pawing at the ball a little, anxious to get back to chasing it.

It's okay, Ratchet, really! Bee mewed, lifting his ears and giving him big, happy eyes. I'll be careful, I promise! I just don't want to sit around all day.

The white and orange cat narrowed his eyes as he sat down. "You must have a headache already. You don't mind making it worse just to play with these ruffians?" he asked skeptically with a flick of his tail.

Bumblebee nodded, ignoring the throb that came to him. Yeah! It's fine, don't worry! He walked up to the bigger cat and rubbed his head against Ratchet's chest with a purr.

After a few moments, Ratchet finally seemed to give, deflating a little as he avoided Bee's pleading gaze and smile. "Alright, fine. Don't come running to me when your head starts giving you problems," he huffed, standing up quickly and hurrying back to the console.

Thanks!! Bee mewed after him, his entire body jittery with excitement. He turned to the two bigger cats, bending his front legs with a playful expression. Alright, it's on!

Bulkhead and Wheeljack were frozen for a moment, their blue eyes blinking a few times in surprise. Then, with a big laugh, Wheeljack pounced on the ball, sending it flying with his paw. Bulkhead cheered and raced after it, his ears up high. The young kit meowed excitedly and did the same, bursting past the bigger cat with a giant rush of speed. He stopped in front of the ball and pounced on it, rolling over it as he batted it playfully with his paws.

"Hey, no fair!" Bulkhead laughed, coming up and rolling over the kitten. "No ball hogging!"

Wheeljack pushed the bigger cat over playfully. "Move, ya big lug!" He then jumped onto the ball and Bumblebee, the young kit yowling cheerfully. The ball burst from everyone's grip and bounced away. The three got up and bounded after it.

Over and over again, the ball would be thrust away, the three cats playfully chasing after it, pawing each other and shoving gently. Bee's head did hurt, but it didn't stop the thrill of running after the ball at top speed. He almost always made it to the ball first, and he felt proud that he was beating the bigger cats in something. Eventually, the two older ones took a break as Bumblebee swatted the ball back and forth.

"Man, you're fast, Bee," Bulkhead panted with a shake of his head.

Wheeljack was also panting deeply as he scratched his head for a second. "No kiddin. Don't think any one of us is that fast."

"Wait, what?" came Ratchet voice from the computers, a hint of curiosity edging into it as he jumped down and hurried over to them. "What are you talking about?"

"Weren't ya watchin?" Wheeljack said, looking over to where the kit was rolling on the ground with the ball. "That kit is lightning fast."

Bulkhead nodded. "Not even Cliff has speed like that."

"Well, that's saying something," Arcee called from where she was sprawled out, her ears pricked up. "But I have been watching. Bee is pretty fast."

Ratchet cocked an ear before turning to look at Bumblebee, who was watching them all talk about him now, feeling a bit embarrassed. The ball forgotten, he sat up quickly and lowered his head a little as he smiled nervously. He hadn't really been trying, he had just been playing. The medic stared at him for a little longer, before he stood up and padded over to him. To Bee's surprise, he came up and swatted the ball as hard as he could, sending it flying across the room, and turned his head back to the kit quickly, all with a straight face.

"Bumblebee, run after it," he said simply.

Bee blinked at the older cat in surprise, holding back a snicker at the fact that Ratchet had just smacked the ball. He did as he was told a second later, bounding after the still rolling ball as fast as his legs would carry him. An excited rush burst through him as he ran, reaching the plaything in seconds and pouncing over it. He skidded to a stop and looked up, his head pounding a little bit, but his cheerful face showing every bit of excitement he was feeling.

The others were all gaping after him, hardly able to believe he had made it all the way across the room that quickly. Ratchet's ears perked up and a rare smile fell upon his muzzle. "Very good, Bumblebee," he called after him, his tail raised high. Bulkhead and Wheeljack beamed at him, and even Arcee smiled a little from her perch.

Bumblebee meowed a cheer as he slapped the ball again with his paw, sending it bouncing back to the others. He hurried after it, his big blue eyes excited. Come on, you guys! he called as he raced past them and after the toy.

Bulkhead and Wheeljack gave each other a look before bounding after the young kit. Ratchet shook his head, getting back up and walking away, although this time he did watch, sitting off to the side and flicking his tail back and forth every now and then as he watched them go to and fro.

"That looks like fun!" came Cliffjumper's voice as he, Optimus, and Ultra Magnus all came inside through a crack in the door, the latter sure to make sure it was shut when he finished.

The three that were playing stopped when they saw them coming. Hi, Optimus! Bee called, jumping to his paws and running up to the bigger cat. Did you see me? I'm really fast!

Optimus chuckled ever so slightly as the others all went to greet them. "Yes, I did, little one. You indeed are very quick." He smiled down at the excited young cat and tapped his chest with a paw gently. Bee beamed happily, purring as he rubbed the leader's chest.

"Did you find anything?" Arcee asked her partner as she jumped down from the crate.

Cliffjumper purred cheerfully and walked up to her, rubbing against her. "Nothing much, just that this town isn't that big of a city, and the humans here are pretty scarce."

"Then why do you seem so cheerful?" the female said dryly, inching away from him slightly.

The red cat puffed louder. "Is it bad that I wanted to see you again?" he asked with a mock pout.

Arcee sniffed and rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide the bit of a smile that fell to her muzzle. "Fine then, partner. Next time, bring me with you and you won't be so lonely."

Cliff laughed. "You got me. Sorry." He flicked his tail with a cheerful smile and the two walked off, starting a new conversation.

Ratchet walked up to the leader, his tail swishing back and forth as he came. "Optimus. Did you discover anything important about the others?"

The bigger cat shook his head as Ultra Magnus padded up beside him. "As Cliffjumper said, we did not find much that was off use to us. There was very little activity that needed to be taken into account."

Just what are we looking for? Bee asked with a small mew, cocking his head as he sat down.

"While Ratchet works on restarting the human machines," Ultra Magnus started, "the rest of us will monitor what we can here on patrols."

The little kitten perked up, standing up again and raising his tail high. I want to help, too!

The three older cats looked at him for a few moments, their expressions clearly saying that they were skeptical about such an idea. Bee only deflated for a second, raising his head higher and hardening his eyes.

I can fight! I'm part of your team now, which means I'm here for a reason! he meowed. So I'm going to do what I can to help, too, just like everyone else.

They watched him for a few moments longer, blinking a few times. Finally, Ratchet turned to his leader. "Bee May be young, but I don't doubt that the white coat's created him just like us. He can fight."

Ultra Magnus glanced away, unsure, but Optimus nodded. "Then we will have you scout with us, Bumblebee. However, for the time being, I would remain out of any oncoming fights until need be."

The young cat did his best to hide his slight disappointment. It was better than nothing. So I'm a scout! he said with a beam, raising his tail high and proud. Happy to help!

Optimus smiled softly, purring gently as he licked the top of Bee's head. "Very good."

Ratchet shook his head slightly as he stood. "I need to finish working on this ridiculous tech." He walked off with a huff, Optimus right behind him. Ultra Magnus said nothing as he watched them go, his gaze falling to Bumblebee briefly.

Um... is there anything you need me to do, sir? Bee asked nervously.

"Not at this time, soldier," the sky blue cat said, turning tail and walking away quickly.

Bee deflated a little, looking around for something to occupy himself with. The ball had been forgotten; Bulkhead and Wheeljack were now walking out of the base, heading on their own patrol. Arcee and Cliffjumper had gone atop the crates, Arcee curled up against the red cat as the two rested. Ultra Magnus had walked off, and Ratchet and Optimus were now both busy with the human computers. Sighing, his attention wavered over to the hall he had yet to explore. Seeing nothing better to do, he began to head that way.

There wasn't much to the hallway. Bee felt his excitement beginning to droop even more as he continued looking around. Several empty rooms occupied the corridor, doors all open and full of dust. Obviously, no one had touched this place in years. The young cat sneezed when dust filled his nose, stopping at the end of the hall. There was one last door, and from the smell of it, it led back outside. Bee was about to turn and leave, bored and unimpressed, but the shine of the door handle caught his eye. Now that he looked closer, this door was in much better shape than the others. The hinges looked like they had been repaired a few times, maybe even oiled. Bee raised his tail to closer examine it more, seeing that it was better polished as well.

Just when he was about to go tell the others of his findings, the door handle turn. Bumblebee's hackles raised and he jumped back as the door slowly opened. A dark skinned man slowly walked in, looking down at several files he was holding in his hand with a grim expression. He didn't look up as he shut the door behind him and began to walk down the halls. Bee raised his hackles more as the man approached him without realizing.

Don't come any closer! he hissed, flailing his tail in warning.

The man stopped short, looking away from the files and down to the cat with surprised eyes. "What in..." he started. He scowled and waved some of the papers at him. "Go on, shoo!"

Bee hissed again, his ears flat against his head. I said stay back! he yowled, not backing down. He slowly placed a paw forward, bending his hind legs if he needed to pounce.

The dark skinned man backed away slowly, surprised. "You are one brave cat..."

Bee felt a bit of panic raise into his heart when he heard some of the others running up to him from the back of the hall. He turned his head quickly, his eyes begging for them not to come. If they came now, their secrets would be discovered.

"Bee, what's wrong?!" Bulkhead shouted as he hurried along, a little slower thanks to his injured paw.

Ratchet and Optimus were leading the front. "Bumblebee, what have you-" Optimus cut himself off, skidding to a stop behind the kitten as he looked up at the man. All the other cats stopped as well, eyes wide as they stared up at the human before them.

He, of course, was flabbergasted, his entire face showing complete and utter shock. "What in the Sam Hill?!" he shouted, backing away a few steps.

Bulkhead and Wheeljack hissed, while Arcee raised her hackles and growled low in her throat. Ratchet had just flattened his ears when Optimus sat down calmly, giving the others a look that said to stay still. A little surprised, they did as they were told, though Ratchet's glare and flicking tail remained the same. Bee, seeing Optimus' coolness, sat down as well, looking nervously up at the human.

"We are sorry to have startled you," Optimus began. "It seems we have much explaining to do."

~

Yay.