-The most important skill for a new recruit in war will be the ability to learn.-

~~|||~~

Optimus:

"... Stop staring at me."

The Prime's charge demanded, giving a brief scoff as Optimus continued his work again with the Iacon database. It was not his fault that Amy had been more in pain for the past few days. He just wanted to see was she making okay with the unborn children, Megatron's encountering, her depression, her homesickness and with her eating. There had been resently more signs of them coming back, and Optimus was enough busy to just be as the Leader of the Autobots and concentrate to win the war, but at same time trying to protect and keep his carrying Sparkmate hidden, away from the Decepticons and especially from Megatron's grasp. Now when he intends to turn Amy and their children as Cybetronians.

Optimus if anyone, couldn't absolutely in any means nesecarry accept that.

Amy turned again to the book resting on her lap. Not really into reading, neither in a mood.

"-- The tap dancing monkey strikes again." Amy saw Jack and Rafael clap their hands as they once more replaced Bumblebee's picture out of the web. Replacing it with a dancing monkey. Amy chuckled, changing her book's page.

"Bumblebee sightings on the world- wide web is not laughing matter." Ratchet stated yet again, ruining the fun atmostphere there was seconds ago.

".. 8.. 9.."

"Ugh, why can't I just drive from now on?" Bulkhead groaned, he had woken up almost immediately since Miko's and Wheeljack's little 'revenge' trip, when Miko let her quitar hear around the main hanger.

"Because your legs will atrophy if you choose not to use them." Ratchet stated, turning towards the excercising Miko and Bulkhead. The wrecker have grunts at this, both of them once more starting to do their practise.

"Wait--" Amy begun, stopping Rafael who was scrolling down on the page beside her on the couch. She lent her book down on the table, sitting more forward as she leaned closer. "What's that?" Rafael took it open, then zoomed and bam. There seemed to be somekind of box-thingie.

"A Cybetronian escape pod?" Rafael questioned, earning even the Prime's attention by this.

"Here in Earth's atmostphere?" Ratchet asked, his hopes high up. Rafael tapped few times, until connecting his computer to Ratchet's monitors and showed the picture.

"Autobot or Decepticon?" Arcee came out of nowhere, wanting to know which sider it was.

"Impossible to tell, given the image resolution." Ratchet said, not managing to zoom this time.

Damn, I'm good.

"In any event, this merits investigation." Optimus reported, watching the screen also.

"Could be a trap and we're down one Bot." Arcee was serious. "Should we reach out to Wheeljack?"

"I can hear you!" Bulkhead yelled as Amy, along with Jack and Rafael stood up and walked over to the railing. This time, Amy didn't feel quite the desire of accompanying Optimus and others.

"I don't care if Bulkhead isn't combat-ready." Ratchet said. "After that revenge stunt he pulled with Miko he can stay rogue."

"Autobot may be in disstress, Ratchet--" Optimus turned around. "Bring your medical-kit."

Amy exhanged looks with Jack and Rafael.

What's gonna happen now?

Bot, or Con?

~~|||~~

Amy:

"-- We haven't had somebody new here since Wheeljack!"

Miko run up the stairs, her all over questiongs starting as she ran over to Amy, Rafael and Jack. The two teenagers watched also the approaching new Autobot, who had been called Smokescreen. He was quite young looking, concidering him as Bumblebee's somehow friend. But the Insignia on his shoulders told Amy at first sight that he worked in Iacon. Her taughtings from Optimus became handy once more.

"What's your story, Smoke? Where'd you come from? How'd you get here? How many blasters you packin'?" Miko required even more, but had Amy to place her hand on her shoulder.

"Easy, let the poor 'Bot answer."

".. So, these are the life-force we're supposed to protect?" Smokescreen spoke up for the first time, since Optimus did all the introducing to the humans. "Are they all like this?" He looked back at Arcee, Ratchet and Optimus.

"Fortunately not.. but I too share Miko's fascination with how you came to arrive on Earth." Ratchet demanded, having Amy quietly sigh in defense.

I know that one 'Con disguised himself as Wheeljack, but here's all different Bot!

"In a Decepticon escape pod." Arcee questioned also.

"Still got trust issues, huh?" Amy had to hold down her giggle of Smokescreen's statement. "Tough crowd.. the main thrurst of combat operations was at least 20 clicks from the hall of records, so things had been pretty quiet. But the situation went downhill fast." Smokescreen frowned, before continuing. "The 'Cons launched a massive surge that wiped out the last line of defenses surrounding Iacon. I was the only thing left to hold them back, and, let me tell you, I was pumped." Amy smiled sadly. "I mean, this was my chance to see real action for the first time-- to prove myself... until everything went black."

Jack and Amy exhanged looks, same as the carrying girl with the Prime.

"Cons took me prisoner and dumped me onto a transport ship. But I managed to give a guard the slip and hopped in an escape pod. Apparently, it was a long-distance pod, 'cause it knocked me into stasis." Smokescreen looked around the room at everyone. "Next thing I knew, I'm hitting solid ground-- hard."

"The Decepticon warship must have picked up pod's beacon and guided it to Earth." Ratchet explained.

"Which would explain Smokescreen's welcoming committee." Arcee gave scoff afterwards. "Bet those 'Cons were disappointed not to find one of their own inside."

"Smokescreen." Optimus begun, the new recruit turning to the Prime. "Do you know of Alpha Trion's fate, after the fall of Iacon?"

"I wish I did.. but that was the last time I ever saw of him." Smokescreen looked down in deep sympathy, the Prime looking away also. Amy had so lack of information of Alpha Trion, and after this time had to know more. "That's it--" This caused everyone's attention. "My life story. Not exactly the glory I envisioned for myself.. until now." This went so akward for Amy, that the girl had to rub her eyes. "Being here with Optimus Prime, I knew I was destined for great things-- I mean, now that you have help, how hard it could be to end this war?"

But the grunts of familiar 'Bot earned most of the looks, everyone turning to see Bulkhead barely dragging himself up and onto the eye-sight of everyone.

"Take a good look, newbie." Bulkhead groaned, his right ped still too painful to stand. "This is how hard."

.. Well.. he has a point.

"Smokescreen, I would suggest that you take some time to become acclimated to your new surroundings." Optimus stated. "A tour of the base would be an excellent start."

"Sure thing!" Miko yelled, but frowned as Bulkhead looked at her with side-glance. "I mean.. Jack and Amy here offers a very informative tour." The both teenagers exhanged quickly looks, until looked at Smokescreen with face 'well.. let's do this'.

"Okay then.." Amy climbed the stairs down, seeing the face Optimus made down towards her. Careful. Amy winked back at him, until Jack walked beside her, Smokescreen quickly on their heels.

~ Time skip ~

".. Phase shifter.. spark extractor.. immobilizer.." Amy introduced, showing each of the relics coming up along the hall they walked upon of.

"This is where we store the Cybetronian relics we found buried on Earth." Jack added, both of them exhausted by all talking. The tour had been on already two hours since the base was much larger to show than neither of them realized. "And talk about a small universe, 'cause most of them came from the--"

"The Iacon hall of records." Smokescreen finished Jack, both he and Amy turning around to see him staring inside one room. "I remember these." The recruit soon continued after the shrugging teenagers, until they got startled as he suddenly said 'woah'. "What kind of relic is she?"

Airachnid.

"The kind of you don't want to mess with." Jack stated, continuing. Amy exhanged looks with Smokescreen then, until both of them continued.

"So, let me ask one thing--" Smokescreen begun, walking now beside Amy who looked up at him. "If there are four humans.. who has each of you being assigned to be guarded?"

Hmm.. pretty fast to learn.

"Easy, I'm for the head-shot." Amy answered, watching as Smokescreen firstly stumbled to stand, until he quickly ran after her. "And since no secrets seems to be hidden for now, I can tell you that this bump ain't just any bump--" Amy looked up at him with grin. "I carry for Optimus. And just to let you know, there's two, one.. mistaken, the other regular."

"Woah, so you're saying.. that Optimus Prime waits sparklings from a human? From you?" Smokescreen questioned.

"Better get used to it." Amy suggested. They already approached the main hanger. "And for others; Arcee is Jack's partner, Bulkhead would be Miko's.. but he's too weak for now to look after her. Bumblebee watches over Rafael, and have to tell you--" Amy turned the corner. "We all are quite the team."

"-- 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 it's location." Optimus' voice echoed through the room. Even by long-shot Amy saw somekind of Energon on the screen, everyone remaining to watch it.

"Now you're talking!" Until Smokescreen showed up. "Let's scramble up some Cons' circuits." He smashed his palm and fist together, as Amy gave sigh in defense. The girl walked right between Optimus' peds, the Prime notifying that she's okay with Jack until he turned for the new-recruit.

"Given your limited field experience, I believe further training is required before you are battle-ready." Optimus said coldly, but even Amy knew from experience if you run up to Megatron without battle experience.. you're as good as dead.

"Optimus, with all due respect-!"

"Furthermore, we Autobots live on this planet as Robots in disguise. You will need to obtain an earth-based vehicle mode." Optimus added, keeping his firm stare down at him.

"In order to maintain a low profile.. if that's possible for you." Arcee challenged.

"If you're talking wheels, bring 'em on!" Smokescreen yelled out loud. He turned to look at Amy then on the platform, who almost were coming with in all excitment.

"Jack shall provide you the hand you need, while I require Amy to remain back in the base." Optimus stated, noticing the look between both of them. Amy went to argue, but went quiet as Optimus stumbled towards the bridge.

Ohh~? I guess he's jealous.

"Okay Jack, you're on again."

~~|||~~

"Optimus, is something wrong?"

Amy waited eagerly for his answer, as Ratchet required it also. Since they got through, their static had been numberous. They all did notice Smokescreen and Jack's return back to base.

"Starscream has come for the red energon, and I fear he will not be deterred in his quest."

"What!?" Amy yelled.

"Starscream!?" Smokescreen replied. "I heard stories about that stiletto-heeled creep back on Cybetron. Send me in, Doc."

"When Optimus requires backup, he will ask for it." Ratched argued.

"Aw, come on! I got my V-mode and everything." Amy didn't even want to know what. "I'm souped up and ready to roll."

"Ep! Ep! Ep!" Ratchet protested quickly, Amy remaining to watch Optimus' life signal static. "What part of 'further training' did you not understand?" But she couldn't unnotice Ratchet's funny arm-moves.

.. Be okay.

It didn't took long as Ratchet questioned again what was going on. But there came only static for all three of them.

"Ratchet, they need me." Bulkhead said. "I can do this!"

"Arcee? Bumblebee?"

"Did you hear what I said?" Bulkhead demanded.

"Send Smokescreen out of Christ's sake!" Amy pleaded, grabbing the railing harder. But the girl froze of the sight not to see Smokescreen anywhere.

"I heard, and I'm ignoring you." Ratchet went towards Bulkhead. "This may be your opportunity after all, Smokescre--" The Medic looked around to not see Smokescreen anywhere. "Where is Smokescreen?"

".. Frag." Amy spit, biting her lip. ".. Then send me out--!"

"That's not even a suggestion, Amy!" Ratchet argued quickly, and noticed Miko's pointing finger up. "None of you is! If Starscream manages to get his fingers around that Energon--"

"-- I'm ready."

Amy glanced back quickly, narrowing her eyes.

".. Be fast."

~ Time skip ~

"I told you I just needed to borrow it for a while." Smokescreen said proudly. "Doc here thought I was trying to steal your relics."

"Only--" Ratchet took the phase shifter from him. "Until you explained your plan, which I then sanctioned. It's called protocal!" He were treatenly close Smokescreen's face.

Some good use of the newbie!

"Ratchet is correct. Standard procedure must be observed by every member of this team." Optimus stated. Amy narrowed her eyes to Optimus, crossing her arms. "However.. I believe we must also commend Smokescreen. You have proven to be a quick study by choosing to place stragedy above bravado." Optimus placed his servo on Smokescreen's shoulder, a smile tugged on Amy's face.

That's more like it.

"There's gonna be no living with him now." Arcee sighed.

"While this may lack the pageantry of a proper elite guard ceremony, I wish to welcome you to Team Prime." Optimus showed everyone in the room with wide smile, each of the humans exhanging looks also.

What. A. Day!

《~~|||~~》

Liked it enough? I had to do long one, 'cause I somehow like Smokescreen's personality also.

~keep reading.