"A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you."

"If you wanted to replace me, you should have called Wheeljack," Bulkhead grumbled out, "I could have lived with that."

"No one is replacing you, Bulkhead," Arcee said, her tone exasperated, "For one thing, Smokescreen's too green."

Miko's head titled as her eyes widened in confusion, "Well, Bulk's as green as they get."

Hana looked at her student, slightly concerned for the girl as Raf sighed with Pan face palming and rolling her eyes.

Ratchet shook her head at the girl, "What Arcee means is Smokescreen still has a great deal to learn."

"And once you got him trained, then what, huh?" Bulkhead snapped, "He's in. I'm a doorstop."

"Bulkhead," Optimus finally stepped in, looking weary, "Your place with us is not in jeopardy, but there is no dispute that we have long required additional firepower. It is essential that our team learns to work with our new recruit, not against him."

"Better hope the hotshot's blasters are as big as his mouth," Bulkhead scoffed.

"Hey, everyone," Raf called out, "Check this out."

"Don't tell me it's another Bumblebee sight-" Ratchet sighed turning around before his optics widened in surprise and amazement, "Oh my-"

"Red Energon. Here on Earth?"

Raf and Pan shared a look as Jack piped up, "What's Red Energon?"

"An extremely rare and volatile form of Energellum," Ratchet explained, "Refined into fuel, it provides the power of hyperspeed."

"We must have Agent Fowler clear the dig site of all human presence in the event we are not the only ones who have discovered its location," Optimus said.

"Now you're talking," Smokescreen grinned, "Let's scramble up some Cons' circuits!"

Optimus shook his helm, "Given your limited field experience, I believe further training is required before you are battle-ready-"

"Optimus, with all due respect-" 

"Furthermore," Optimus continued, "We Autobots live on this planet as robots in disguise. You will need to obtain an Earth-based vehicle mode. In order to maintain a low profile."

Arcee scoffed, "If that's possible for you."

Smokescreen was a literal teenage kid that got the best birthday present ever as he lit up, "If you're talking wheels, bring 'em on!"

The medic looked like he was going to do something he would later regret when Pan’s eyes lit up as she looked at her guardian, “I know the best place,” she grinned.

Ratchet rolled his optics, not even trying to fight her, and letting her put in the coordinates for the location she wanted.

The ground bridge fired up and Pan smirked up at Smokescreen, “Coming, Smokey?”

Smokescreen was hesitant, but he followed after her as Jack and Hana followed after them.

🌟

“Welcome to Utah Motorsports Campus,” Pan grinned, “Home to my cousin’s uncle’s famous career.”

Hana blinked in surprise as Jack gaped.

“How-?”

Pan grinned as she skipped among the cars inside the massive warehouse they were in. 

Smokescreen was grinning, “Now this is my type of crowd.”

Pan paused in front of a car and immediately scowled at it, “That’s “Fighter”’s car, right?” she asked.

Liege nodded, “The she-devil herself.”

Pan wrinkled her nose before moving on.

Jack shook his head, “I shouldn’t be surprised, but I still am,” He muttered before calling out to Pan, “How the slag do you have all these connections?”

Pan grinned, her hands signing effortlessly, 'My family and Logan's can be found almost everywhere. It's surprisingly not that hard to find one of us.'

Jack couldn't help but smile as he shook his head at his sister-like-friend while Hana was just in amazement as her eyes jumped around the warehouse filled with cars.

🌟

"Optimus, is something wrong?"

:[Starscream has come for the Red Energon, and I fear he will not be deterred in his quest]:

"Starscream?" Smokescreen echoed as he, Pan, Hana and Jack came back through the groundbridge, "I heard stories about that stiletto-heeled creep back on Cybertron," Smokescreen said, his face looking eager as he looked at Ratchet, "Send me in, Doc."

"Reminds me of Alik," Hana muttered, grinning slightly when Jack's cheeks reddened at the name of his boyfriend.

"When Optimus requires backup, he will ask for it,"  Ratchet told the young Cybertronian through gritted dentas.

"Aw, come on," Smokescreen protested, "I got my V-mode and everything. I'm souped up and ready to roll."

Pan counted down on her fingers to Hana with an amused grin, confusing the teacher, until the medic's loud voice snapped at the Newbie.

"Eh! Eh! Eh! What part of "further training" did you not understand?"

Hana rolled her eyes, "I'm beginning to think you need a better judgement in boyfriends," she muttered under her breath.

Pan narrowed her eyes at her teacher, then elbowed her roughly in the ribs.

Hana chuckled as Pan scrunched up her nose at her.

"Optimus, what is your status?"

"Ratchet, they need me," Smokescreen insisted, "I can do this."

"Arcee? Bumblebee?" 

"Did you hear what I said?"

Ratchet scowled, "I heard, and I'm ignoring you."

"Is he always like this?" Hana wondered.

"Yes," Jack and Miko said instantly.

Raf shrugged, "Most of the time," he agreed.

Hana looked at Pan who just smiled, 'Everyone has "masks",' was all she signed.

Ratchet turned around to look at the newest Autobot, "This may be your opportunity after all, Smokescre-" his optics widened when he only saw the five humans, "Where is Smokescreen?!"

Ratchet looked at the five humans, the woman and three of the teens shrugging as Pan's eyes twinkled.

'Doing something that may or may not piss you off,' Pan signed causally before pointing in the direction she could feel the youngest Cybertronian.

The orange and white mech's optics narrowed at his charge/girlfriend before moving though the base the way she had pointed.

"What in the name of the Allspark do you think you're doing?"

Pan sighed as the other four humans turned to look in the general direction the two Cybertronians were.

🌟

Smokescreen was rather smug after he had returned with Team Prime, detaching the Phase Shifter, "Told you I just needed to borrow it for a while," he smirked as he looked at Team Prime, "Doc here thought I was trying to steal your relics."

“Within good reason,” Pan muttered, only to get elbowed both mentally(by the Primes) and physically(Hana and Jack from each side).

Ratchet's optics hardened, "Only until you explained your plan, which I then sanctioned," he snipped, "It's called protocol."

"Ratchet is correct," Optimus said, the Newbie's shoulder pads dropping slightly in disappointment, "Standard procedure must be observed by every member of this team."

"However," Optimus said, making Smokescreen look up hopefully, "I believe we must also commend Smokescreen. You have proven to be a quick study by choosing to place strategy above bravado."

Arcee sighed, shaking her helm, "There is gonna be no living with him now."

"While this may lack the pageantry of a proper elite guard ceremony," Optimus continued, "I wish to welcome you to team Prime.

Bulkhead watched sorrowful from a hallway, "The Newbie did all right."

"Don't worry, Bulk," Miko told her guardian instantly, "He's got nothing on you. Seriously, once we get that leg of yours back in shape, old Smokey's gonna learn real quick who the top wrecking ball is run here."

Miko's eyes watered slightly as the ex-wrecker walked off, not even turning around to acknowledge his charge, "Bulkhead?"

Pan inwardly groaned, knowing that the green mech's actions would cause Miko to be coming over to her house tonight.

🌟

Pan was right.

Miko had tagged along with her and Ratchet to the Bishop/Hammer household where she had gone in search for her boyfriend, leaving Pan to explain to her mother as to why the other girl was there.

(In "human" terms, idiots.)

Let's just say that it was a night filled with laughter as the Hammer and the Bishops cheered up the Nakadai girl.

Here's Chapter Fourteen.

Wow, took me long enough to finally finish this chap.

Hope you enjoyed!
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