Adventure never seemed to leave him alone for very long.

Of course, that had been one of those things he'd sought after for most of his life. The wilds of the world had been his backyard his entire life, wild animals his playmates and over time, his lifestyle.

Hard times fell on everyone eventually, and the boy of the wilderness now found himself in an entirely different jungle...A concrete one. Finding someone to take him with his particular skill set was tough, especially when he had a record. His previous adventures hadn't always gotten him on the right side with the law.

The ship he was working did nothing involving animals, but instead was bringing in building materials for housing. It was tedious and boring, but it was money, which was something he was short on at the moment.

But their voyage had been cut short by something slamming into the ship from somewhere off the harbor. Now, it was not only late on its course, but it was on the verge of sinking.

He was on the lower level, treading water in a pocket of air that was steadily getting smaller as more water filled the compartment he'd been sent to close when a wave had washed him in. His limbs were tiring, his oxygen was running out, all he could see was darkness in all directions. The metal moaned loudly in his ears, the occasional splash of water.

Was this it? Was this how he would spend his last few moments...?

A loud clang and the ship shuddering told him something else had hit the ship, but then came loud screeching of metal against metal, and then the top of the compartment was ripped open, and he winced at the bright light as he looked up.

"Primus, where's Seaspray when you need him...!?" Came a hissing voice, and then a claw of some sort reached in and clasped around the marooned worker. "Hold up, Tiny. I've got you."

The man was yanked free of the water and into the air, flying up and out of the doomed ship by what he guessed was a crane, until he looked up again.

It was no crane. It was a giant robotic pterosaur, flapping its wings and gliding over to shore before dropping him gently down on the docks with the rest of the crew of the ship. He dropped to his hands and knees, panting and enjoying his new freedom.

"At least you humans float somewhat..."

The man watched as the pterosaurian form of the robot shifted, pieces of metal and joints moving around until it was no longer a pterosaur, but a giant humanoid robot. "...We're not that lucky. You all might wanna just sit here and avoid the rest of town... it's kind of a mess."

The man nodded, a smirk of his beginning to form. "...Right...Thanks for the help, Mate."

The robot gave a nod, and then hurried down the docks and back into the city itself.

"You good, Quarry?" The captain asked.

"Fine."

Quarry got up onto his feet, rubbing his chin with a grin. So...Those bots back on Griffin Rock weren't Doc Greene's creations after all... Interesting...

___________________________________________________________________________________________

"Come on out and play, Autobots!"

Bumblebee growled from his hiding spot. This Decepticon seemed to have no soft spots on his armor, and was just taunting him and Strongarm now. He adjusted his pistol, eyebrows furrowing. "I'm starting to wonder if I should just play dirty and aim for the optics." He muttered.

"It's not like you'd be frowned on." Strongarm encouraged, "Arcee and Cliffjumper did the same with Shockwave back during the war, right?"

"Well yes, but that was under different circumstances." Bumblebee peeked back over the wall they'd been using for cover, studying the Decepticon's framework, his height, his build... "...You know what? I just got an idea... Cover me."

Strongarm nodded, jumping out of hiding and firing at the Decepticon's faceplate. He dodged the shots, but his attention was then on Strongarm as she dashed from debris pile to debris pile, keeping his attention off of the Lieutenant.

Bumblebee transformed into vehicle mode, "Let's just hope this works as well in vehicle mode...!" He hissed, and then he tore off in the opposite direction as Strongarm, his Decepticon Hunter at the ready. With a brief thought, it shifted into a grappling hook, and he fired at their adversary's legs, watching it catch on his leg armor before driving around in a circle. "BATTLE OF HOTH, DON'T FAIL ME NOW!!!"

The Decepticon turned back to the Lieutenant and fired at him, knocking Bumblebee off-course, but his grip stayed on the decepticon hunter, allowing him to yank the decepticon over as he spun out. "NOW!"

Strongarm rushed forward and cuffed the decepticon on both his arms and legs, even planting a kick his helm once she was certain he was down. "That was for Sideswipe." She hissed, "You're under arrest."

Bumblebee retracted the grappling hook and then transformed back into bot mode, grimacing as he rubbed his back. "Ah...! I'll be feeling that tomorrow...!"

"What in the Allspark made you think to do that?"

"An old Earth film...Raf had me watch it one time as part of my Earth Culture Training..." He then tapped his comm. link, "Grimlock, what's your status?"

Gimme about two more punches and I'll have this one! Grimlock alerted with a triumphant tone.

We are being victorious as well! Jetstorm announced.

"Swoop, Sunstreaker, how are rescue efforts going?"

Making my way back from the docks right now, Bumblebee. No casualties on my end. Swoop reported.

A little battered from having a ceiling fall on me, but otherwise fine. Sunstreaker admitted, I can confirm that the Clays have been rescued and are in a safe location.

Bumblebee gave a sigh of relief. "Thank the Allspark...Keep me posted."

"Sounds like everyone's got it covered for now." Strongarm informed.

"Agreed. Stay here and make sure this one doesn't go anywhere. I'm going to start clearing roads."

Bumblebee transformed back into vehicle mode and took off into the streets, listening for any signs of trapped humans along the way.

A cry brought Bumblebee to a halt, and he shifted his mirrors to look around. "Hello!? Is someone there!?"

"We're stuck!"

Bumblebee looked up, seeing a crowd of humans standing in a building where part of the wall had collapsed; about forty feet up. "Stay away from the edge!" He hollered, transforming into bot mode once more and then turning as he heard sirens: The First-Responders were finally getting through. "The fire department's on their way!"

He blasted a few large pieces of debris clear of the path, and then stepped back as a firetruck came rolling into the clearing. "There's humans up on the fourth level."

"We're on it!" One of the responders replied, "Get the ladder ready!"

Bumblebee stepped back further, and once he'd made sure the situation was under control, he transformed back into vehicle mode and headed down the road.

Drift to Bumblebee: Fracture and his minicons have been apprehended.

Same here, Bee! Grimlock hollered into the comm. This guy's not goin' anywhere!

Get off of me, you oversized-

Bumblebee didn't hear the rest of the bounty hunter's complaint, but he transformed into bot mode by the bridge. "The first-responders are already getting to work on rescue operations, great job everyone... Bumblebee to Fixit, we've apprehended the remaining bounty hunters. We could use a groundbridge."

There was no response, only static.

"Fixit?... Fixit, come in!"

Ratchet to Bumblebee. That fourth signal Optimus and I were pursuing is a fake! Shockwave isn't in the city with his underlings.

Bumblebee looked back at the other side of the bridge, his optics wide as he realized his message wasn't getting through to the command center, and if Shockwave wasn't here-

"No...No no no no-"

Go, Lieutenant! Strongarm barked.

Bumblebee didn't need to be told twice before he transformed into vehicle mode and tore across the bridge and down the road. "Sideswipe, Transmutate, anyone! Please answer me! Primus no...!"