TransWarped (An Animated/Prime Crossover)

Chapter 4: Questions and Answers Part 2

Bulkhead had a terrible processor-ache.

Actually, his whole body hurt - like he'd just been hit by a train then zapped with Bumblebee's stingers. The energy blast the BUTT released had been powerful and left him calibrating his systems for several minutes. He hadn't moved since he'd woke up, both because of his aching body and because of the bands currently around his forearms. He was grateful he was already sitting on the ground because he probably would have fallen over if he was able to move freely.

Ratchet was seated beside him, faring worse than he was. The mech had been uncharacteristically silent since he'd come online, the Autobot could only hear him taking deep inhalations and letting out staticky sighs. Neither he nor Bulkhead had said anything to each other since they'd come online, their systems were too frazzled to allow them that luxury. Instead, they listened to Sari try to explain to these strange Autobots how they'd ended up in their base.

It wasn't going great so far.

"I'm telling you guys it makes perfect sense!" Sari flailed her arms in frustration. She was currently standing in front of Bulkhead and Ratchet, serving as their barrier from the other Cybertronians while they recuperated.

"Saying that over and over doesn't make us understand your story any more than the first time, pipsqueak. None of it adds up. A ground bridge malfunction is one thing, but a parallel universe?" One of the mechs, an Autobot with a white paint job and green and red detailing, shook his head. He leaned against the wall across from them and pinned Sari down with a cold glare.

The other six Autobots stood in a large semi-circle around them, all of them on guard for any sudden or suspicious movements. They made the occasional side comment among themselves or interrupted with a question, but for the most part, they were quiet. Four humans stood behind Bulkhead and Ratchet on the cement platform they were leaning against.

Bulkhead had yet to learn most of their names but he had caught a few. He remembered hearing the names Arcee, Bumblebee, Agent Fowler, and Prime. It was pretty easy to assign Bumblebee to the yellow muscle car who, by the way, looked nothing like the Bumblebee he'd known since Boot Camp. Arcee was the blue femme and was one of two Autobots to see Bulkhead, Sari, and Ratchet arrive as well as watch their friends disappear. Agent Fowler was one of the four humans situated on the cement platform he was leaning against.

And then there was the Prime.

The Autobots of this world were big, bordering Decepticon size, but this mech was massive. He shook the floor as he walked and his voice reverberated throughout the room. He probably could go pede-to-pede with Megatron and win! Bulkhead thought back to who this mech could be in his universe and drew a blank. Maybe this was some different version of Ultra Magnus but as a Prime? Whoever he was, this mech was clearly the one in charge.

All of this was so weird.

"I mean-" Sari gestured to her two friends as if their presence was proof enough. "-what else do you want us to say? These two aren't the Bulkhead and Ratchet you know and you're not the Autobots I know, especially that Bumblebee."

Bumblebee let out a short affirmative beep. It surprised the green bot to hear the mech speak in basic beeps and clicks. Normally the only bots who spoke in that language were fresh off the assembly line and couldn't use their vocalizers properly. It took him a few seconds before he could translate the beeps and realize Bumblebee said, [That's true.]

"For one thing, our Bee can talk!"

[Hey! It's not like I have a choice!] Bumblebee responded bitterly and crossed his arms. His response was lost on Sari, who couldn't understand him and only cocked her head in confusion. Bumblebee's words didn't need to be translated because his teammates came to his defense quickly.