TF-He's Gone

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Transformers, or any of the song/movie quotes used in this story.  However, the idea for this story does, indeed, belong to me.

NOTE: DO NOT READ THIS FIC UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE VEILED THREAT, OR DO NOT MIND SPOILERS FROM SAID BOOK!!! MAJOR SPOILERS ABOUND!
Writing Prompt #14/50
Title: He’s Gone
Rating: T (Just to be safe)
Words: 1,444
Takes Place: After the Events of Chapter Seven of The Veiled Threat
Teaser: Bumblebee gets some sad news about one of his best Autobot friends, and Sam is there to help him through it.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

EVEN THOUGH HE HAD ONLY BEEN INVOLVED IN A FEW scant battles alongside the NEST group, Bumblebee had to admit that the quiet life around the Witwicky household was preferable to chasing down rogue Decepticons and beating the slag out of them, even if he sometimes missed the said slag beating.  He still had to keep his optics peeled for Decepticons who might want to take a shot at the human he was protecting (his and Sam’s recent encounter with Barricade proved this), but other than that, there wasn’t really much action to be had.

Not that Bumblebee was complaining.  He was glad to have the chance to, as Sam called it, kick back and relax.  And when Sam wasn’t around, Bumblebee did most of his “kicking back” in the garage, which had more or less been converted into his room.

It was in the middle of said kicking-back one day when Bumblebee received a transmission from the rest of the Autobots that were working with NEST, requesting that he contact either Ironhide or Optimus as soon as he possibly could.  And, seeing as how he wasn’t doing anything at the moment (Sam was inside working on something, probably chores), he went ahead and sent a long-distance uplink request to both Optimus and Ironhide.

It was Ironhide who answered first.  Good, you got our message. I was beginning to wonder if it would reach you so soon, since we’re so far away.

It got through, no problems, Bumblebee responded. Why? Where are you?

Zambia, Africa.

Decepticons are all the way over there? Bumblebee mused. Huh. What’s up?

Ironhide didn’t say anything.  After a few moments had passed, Bumblebee began to wonder if their transmission had been broken off for some reason.

Ironhide? Are you still there?

Yes. The answer came back.

Bumblebee was beginning to feel that something was wrong.  What was it you wanted to tell me?

Another pause.  Then, It’s Beachbreak.

What about him? Bumblebee asked.  Has he been complaining about not being as tall as everyone else again? Even though he said this, Bumblebee was only teasing.  Beachbreak was one of his best friends; the two of them were almost the same age and had fought many battles together.  What’s he up to, then?

Once again Ironhide paused for a while before continuing.  Bumblebee, he’s…gone.

Gone? Bumblebee repeated.  A feeling of great unease began to fill him. Even though he had a feeling that he knew exactly what Ironhide meant, he couldn’t help asking, What do you mean, “gone”?

We were crossing a river, Ironhide continued.  I was carrying him across on my shoulders.  Starscream came and knocked him off.  We were right next to a waterfall, and the current was too swift…there was nothing any of us could do.

Bumblebee was silent.  Beachbreak was…dead? It didn’t seem possible.  They had been through so much together-Autobot training, fighting Decepticons, tracking down the All Spark…and now, Beachbreak was gone.  They were never share another adventure.  He would never see his friend again.

Bumblebee? Ironhide questioned. Are you all right?

The question wasn’t necessary. Bumblebee wasn’t all right, and Ironhide knew it.

I’m fine. That was an outright lie, and Ironhide wasn’t the only older Autobot who identified it as such.

Bumblebee. This time it was Optimus Prime transmitting to the youngest Autobot. I know that this news has hurt you terribly. Beachbreak died a hero-he saved my life.  If it wasn’t for his quick thinking I wouldn’t be talking to you right now.

Bumblebee stayed quiet.  Even though he felt he should say something, that he knew Beachbreak had died after doing something worthwhile and that he was glad of what Beachbreak had done, he just couldn’t bring himself to do so.  The shock of the death of his friend was too strong.

Please, sir, I think…I think I need to be left alone for a little while. I’m sorry.

I understand, Optimus replied. Take as much time as you need.  We won’t bother you, but if you want to talk, just send a transmission. I’ll be here.

And so will I, Ironhide sent back.

The two older Autobots broke off communication, and Bumblebee was left alone in the garage with his thoughts…and his sadness.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Finally finished with his chores, Sam exited the house and made his way over to the garage, or as he now called it, “Bee’s Room”.  It had taken a lot of convincing on his part to get his parents to agree to let Bumblebee stay in the garage.  He had finally accomplished it (after telling his dad that if Bee couldn’t use the garage as his room he’d just have to stay on the lawn, which had immediately made his dad realize that the garage was indeed a very good place for Bumblebee to stay) and had fixed up the building to suit Bee’s needs.  It was now a lot roomier than before, to give Bee space to transform into Robot Mode if he wanted to, and Sam had even placed a TV on one of the shelves so that his friend wouldn’t get bored when he was in there for long periods of time.  It was a pretty cool room for an alien robot that could change into a car at will, and Bumblebee had been really happy when it was finally finished.  Bumblebee liked to spend time in the garage watching TV, and was overall very cheerful about his place in the family.

Opening the door to the garage, Sam stepped in and greeted his friend. “Hey, Bee.  So, I’m done with my chores for today, do you want to come with me and Mikaela to the-“Sam broke off his question when he saw Bumblebee.

The yellow Autobot was sitting in Robot mode, shoulders hunched, head down, and unusually quiet. Even though Bumblebee’s voice capacitor was still badly damaged and he didn’t speak much as a result, he always greeted Sam with a movie quote or a clip from a song when the boy entered the garage. His silence combined with his posture and the fact that he looked at Sam before quickly looking down at the floor of the garage was more than enough to convince the teenager that something had badly upset his friend.

“Bee?” Sam approached the Autobot uncertainly.  “What’s the matter, big guy?”

Bumblebee turned his head away, but otherwise gave no response to Sam’s question.  

“Hey,” Sam had reached Bumblebee’s side.  “Come on, Bee, what’s wrong? You can tell me-maybe I can help.”

Not unless you can bring Beachbreak back from the dead, Bumblebee thought, then immediately felt terrible about thinking such a thing about his human friend. He paused for a moment, and then responded to Sam by cobbling various soundbytes together to form a sentence.

“A good friend-he gave his life to protect-the captain-of this family.”

Sam understood almost at once.  “One of the Autobots…died…saving Optimus?”

Bumblebee nodded, and made a low, choking warble, which sounded exactly like a human crying.

“Bee…” Sam moved closer to his friend and placed his hand on the Autobot’s cheek.  Bumblebee looked at him, still electronically crying. “I’m so sorry…who was it?”

“You don’t know him,” Bumblebee quoted an Indiana Jones movie this time, then attempted to say his friend’s name so Sam would understand. “Name is-B…B…Beach…br…break.”

“Beachbreak…” Sam repeated.  “So…you two were good friends, then?”

Bumblebee nodded again.

“I’m sorry, Bee…” Sam looked up at him. “I can’t say I know what you’re going through, ‘cause I don’t.  But, Bee, I know how I’d feel if you were gone, and that lets me know just how sad you are right now. So…I understand.”

“I miss him.” Bumblebee once again replied with his radio, as his voice capacitor was aching from saying Beachbreak’s name and he was still “crying” too much to attempt to speak in his own voice once more. “And I’ll never see him again.”

Sam looked up at the yellow Autobot. “It’s okay, Bee. I know you miss your friend, and I’m sorry for what happened, but I’m here for you.  You ever feel the need to…um, talk about it, I’ll always listen.”

Bumblebee looked at Sam; he was still upset over Beachbreak’s death but Sam’s words had, surprisingly, made him feel slightly better.  He still had his human friend, but that could change; hopefully it wouldn’t. He used his radio to convey this to Sam. “Just don’t you go anywhere.”

Sam smiled, and hugged the Autobot. “I’m not going anywhere, Bee. You’re my brother, as far as anyone can be. And brothers stick together, not matter what.”

He pulled back and looked Bumblebee in the eye.

“I promise.”