One-Shot: Set at the beginning of the Autbots on Earth, before they knew the kids and the cons weren't active. Bumblebee and Cliffjumper find themselves out of base to explore the world that they would call their home. The one that may forever keep their sparks. 

Requested by: Mystic_Shadowsecrets 

:.:Comm Link:.:

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Bumblebee chuckled as he watched Bulkhead miss the lob ball yet again. Cliffjumper groaned as the makeshift hunk of scrap metal slammed into the big rock they called base. Their home for the past two years. 

Arcee shook her head as she stood next to Bumblebee, her arms crossed. "Any second now I'm sure Ratchet-"

"Will you two PLEASE quit throwing that piece of scrap around!" Ratchet hollered from the command system as he turned around, servos throwing up in the air dramatically. Bulkhead rolled his optics as he picked the lob ball up from it's fallen spot.

"Sure thing, Ratch," chipperly said Cliffjumper who sent a wink towards both Arcee and Bumblebee. The young scout smiled wide under his mask at the mischevious deep red one. Arcee smiled lightly before she sauntered off. 

"Hey kid, wanna go for a quick drive? I'm sure Ratchet wouldn't mind the silence," Cliffjumper suggested. Ratchet mumbled to himself as he typed away at a data pad he held, glancing at the main systems every once in a while. Optimus was attending a meeting with a military general so Ratchet was on edge. The Decepticons were still nowhere to be found. 

"Not to bother you too much, but would you mind bridging us out somewhere? Nothing much to do in the desert. Such a wasteland," Cliff complained as he stepped closer to Ratchet. Bumblebee beeped in agreement as he poked his pointer digits together in eagerness to explore the planet. Ratchet looked up from his work to see the two younger, eager bots at his mercy. 

The old medic felt a small smile creep onto his faceplates, so he turned quickly back around to the main communication systems. "Fine. But remember, robots in disguise. The last thing I want is for Optimus to attend another military base meeting because of a certain red and yellow bot," Ratchet fakely grumbled to them. 

"Thanks Ratchet, we'll try and bring you something back," Bumblebee beeped to the medic. Ratchet smiled to himself again as he kept his faceplates hidden. 

"You do that, Bumblebee."

The groundbridge swirled to life in front of the two Autobots. "Transform and roll out, or whatever," Cliff called out to his companion who chuckled in response. The two transformed before racing out of base and into the portal. Racing straight into a groundbridge was the worst idea the two could have had as they were met with an almost immediate rock wall covered in voyage. Breaks squealed as the two vehicles stopped. 

The horned mech spoke up as the portal closed behind the pair, "I swear that old mech does that to us on purpose because he knows we speed out of there." 

"Sometimes I think he has a soft spot for us and then he does this," the younger mech agreed. With a quick scanning of their surroundings, the bots transformed as the coast was clear of any life forms other than animals. 

The younger of the two turned around from the tall rock wall. His optics spun as he took in the beautiful view before him. He noticed the great big rocks covered in earthly foliage as mountains. He had read about them in the datapads Ratchet had given him. Being a young bot cooped up in a base on a foreign planet became very boring. So, Bumblebee filled his time with learning about the foregin planet that was growing on him as he was growing on it. 

"What the heck are these?"

"Mountains. Two continental plates of the Earth collided and pushed each other into an upwards point," Bee described. Cliff turned to the bot beside him in confusion. 

The horned bot rose an optic ridge to his companion, "you have got to get out of the base more often. You should not know that much sciency crap. Leave it to Ratchet." The Team Prime's scout chuckled at the antics of the warrior. Though Cliffjumper was still in awe at the youngest bot, he decided to explore. Trees that were much much taller than him or even Primus himself displayed themselves along the forest. It was beautiful. Everything looked as though it was untouched. The red Autobot frowned to himself. His planet was this breathtaking once. It was one of his favorite past times on his planet. To be able to step from within his own home and take in the wonderous sights of Cybertron. Now, that was all a memory. Decepticons developed a war that ruined the entire planet of Cybertronians. Offlining many. 

The red chassied mech hadn't realized he was staring off into the distance just thinking until his comrade was waving a servo in front of his optics, "Cliff?"

"Sorry, Bee. I was just . . . thinking."

"About?"

Cliff sighed as he turned to Bumblebee. The young, innocent blue optics focusing in on the elder's. "Cybertron. I know you never got to experience it like I did, but I am telling you it was all of this and more. I wish you could see it, Bee."

A low whirr met Cliff's audio receptors. The yellow scout's doorwings were drooped as they both stood on the edge of a mountain. A waterfall below with birds flying over it. It made the red bot upset that although how amazing this all was, it wasn't the same. It wasn't their place to call home. "I've seen pictures. Heard the stories. I wish I could have seen my birth planet the way everyone else has. Though, I know one day I will get that chance if I keep fighting. We all will," Bumblebee assured. He perked his wings slightly. 

"I know. We'll get through this. We always do." 

An hour passed as Bumblebee searched the area around them for something interesting to bring the old medic at base. Cliffjumper continued to stand at the edge of the mountain side. He watched as the sun had begun to set behind a mountain in the distance. Animals had begun to reside to their homes. Bumblebee whirred as he picked up a larger stone. A few carvings were etched into it. 

"Hey, I think is what the humans call an artifact. You think Ratchet would like to decipher it?" Cliff laughed at his friend. 

"I think it's perfect to bring back- WOAH!" 

Cliff's optics caught sight of a bug crawling on it. The bug had horns that looked much like his own. "Look, Cliff! He gets it, you mess with him and you get the horns."

"That's exactly right, you get it Bee," the red bot agreed as he very carefuly allowed the bug to crawl onto his digit and placed it on the ground. Bumblebee watched intently, but his attention was drawn to a flying insect. 

"Hey! And that one copied me!" The warrior's attention was drawn to where the other mech pointed. A yellow butterfly practically floated through the air as it made it's way through the forest that reseted upon the side of the mountain. 

Maybe they did belong here. Maybe, just maybe they would fit in. 

:.:Cliffjumper? You and Bumblebee are needed back at base. An energon beacon is in need of scouting. Optimus' orders:.: The horned Autobot sighed at the transmission. Bumblebee frowned under his semi-permanent mask but moved to follow the orders. 

"Send a groundbridge at our position. We'll be there." Cliff turned to Bumblebee as a large green and purple laced portal opened in front of them. It covered their main view of the beautiful area. "Don't worry, Bee. One day."

"Yeah, one day."

The pair walked, for once, through the groundbridge. Bumblebee hauling the artifact against his hip and underneath his arm.