A Glitch in Time

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Ships Hinted
Wreck-Gar x Ratchet
Prowl x Jazz
Starscream x Skywarp

Ships Serviced
Bee x Blurr
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Prowl and Bulkhead looked uneasy at Starscream and Skywarp. Bulkhead gave Optimus a, 'shouldn't we be... attacking him?' look. Optimus gave a small shake no as he turned his attention back on Goldbug. Starscream however noticed the silent exchange and smirked. The old seeker's body language gave off his feeling of superiority in a ship filled with Autobots. Even with supposed allies he was still the wolf among sheep. Starscream was about to open his mouth with a sarcastic comment but his aura of dominance was quickly broken by his clone hugging around his waist tight.

"You idiot! Let go of me!," Starscream pushed the younger seeker face away from him. Skywarp clinged to him like a scared child.

"We- we're on an Autobot ship!" the younger seeker cried, making any dark ambiance Starscream had flutter away. Goldbug half smiled at the scene and turned back to Optimus.

"Walk with me, we need to talk," Goldbug Prime said to Optimus as he turned down the nearest hallway. "You can fill in the others later."

"Is Starsc-," Optimus started to ask if it was fine to leave him and Skywarp in the docking bay.

"Its fine. We have an alliance with him and his," Goldbug paused like he didn't take the title seriously, "Superiorns, or Superiorions... he changes it every megacycle. But thats not important. Our first objective is to get you and the crew back to your time."

"What exactly happened? We went to confront Swindle after he... well, kidnapped you." Optimus faded off as he explained what Goldbug had seen, being that he was there. The truck bot looked at how Bumblebee changed physically. He had already noticed the horns missing, but took in the fact the yellow bot's head gear looked like an earth spartan helmet. It lacked the nose guard, but defiantly had the plates that curved down around Goldbug's cheeks. Instead of having the yellow armor that outlined down his face he had just a chin guard. It looked much like Blurr's but yellow.

"Swindle created a time device that he needed Skywarp's warping ability for it to work. When the device was turned on and he tried to warp away, that is what causes the portal. We're pretty certain Swindle will sell Megatron the device to change history so there is no Autobots at all. He needs Skywarp for it to work however... and we need the device to get you bots home," Goldbug Prime explained as abridged as he could.

"Who has control of Cybertron?" asked Optimus. It was the first question that would come on any academy bot's processors.

"Decepticons.... but this doesn't matter. If we get you back to your time this won't happen at all," Goldbug stated as the end of the hall reached a window gazing down at the space below. "They will be looking for us. They need Skywarp to time travel."

"Then, what do we need to do?" asked Optimus, acknowledging Goldbug was the leader in this situation.

"We keep out of their reach until we come up with a plan. I want them to come to us... and after that I got nothing," Goldbug's sentence ended in a younger tone he had not used since he was Bumblebee.

"I see," replied Optimus while resting his hand contemplatively on his chin. The taller Prime took in the information and ran it across his processors.

"Here is my personal line if you need to contact me," Goldbug touched his own com and within a moment Optimus' com beeped with the received address. "You should get the Key from Prowl. You should carry it incase anything happens," Goldbug said almost cryptically. It was as though he had a prophesy of things to come. Since the Key was mentioned, Optimus took the opportunity to ask about one more thing.

"Sari?" the red and blue bot was going to word the question as a sentence but only the girl's name stumbled out. She was part bot so there was a possibility she would have lived four hundred years. Goldbug let out a sigh that trailed bad news.

"She's gone.... over two hundred stellar cycles ago," replied Goldbug as he looked down, away from the window.

"I'm sorry....," faded Optimus. The speed bot's optics softened as he looked back out the window, resting his arm on the glass above his head. He gazed out into space, ignoring the reflection of his face in the glass. The blue dot of light in Goldbug's damaged eye tried to spread out more from its fixed spot as he spoke.

"You should of seen her. She was amazing. Her strategies always had us one step ahead of the Decepticons," Goldbug paused a moment, looking out at a sun in the distance, "Kind of funny the second in command of the Autobots was a human.....sort of," he added. Optimus was left to speculate if when Sari was older there was something between Bumblebee and her. He felt he was reading too much into Goldbug's words.

"I'll return to the dock and inform the others of what is going on, unless you want to tell them?" asked Optimus. He had notice how quick Goldbug was to avoid the others.

"No, I don't want to talk to them right now," replied Goldbug. The fire truck bot raised an optic brow at the strange response. Goldbug opened his mouth to say more but was interrupted by a voice on his com.

"Sir, Starscream is requesting the best guest room that this 'decrepit ship' has to offer since it looks like he may be 'forced' to stay here a megacycle," said the voice of a young bot.

"Place him in one of the grunt bunks, the 'best' one you can find," replied Goldbug. Optimus didn't know if he should show amusement over the exchange he was overhearing. There was a silence over the com a moment and then a response.

"He says that he has accessed the schematics of this ship. He knows there is an ambassador's guest room available," the young bot replied. Goldbug made an annoyed noise and turned away from the window. In Goldbug's turn Optimus noticed thrusters much like the ones Sari had given him in the past. They were smaller and partly hidden by the yellow bot's car door 'wings'.

"Rrrrrrr... that arrogant - FINE, but say he has to share it with his clone. He's not getting a separate room," replied Goldbug. A frustrated noise expelled from his his audio. "Go back to the dock. I'll have someone lead you to rooms. You'll probably have to stay in what would be considered grunt quarters. We don't have much space here," explained Goldbug.

"I understand," replied Optimus as he headed to where he was ordered He found it odd how easily he took orders from a bot he was just rescuing in the past moments ago. Goldbug Prime was not Bumblebee however. The yellow bot had a commanding air about him. The yellow bot had not become a leader because of being trained at the academy. Rather, he had earned it by decades of trial and error.

--------------

The young half organic bot led Starscream and his clone to the room requested. While the old seeker was allied with the Autobots, he had never been this deep in their main ship before. This was also the first time Starscream had seen an organic bot in Goldbug's ranks. Skywarp stayed close behind his creator. Starscream took in every nook and cranny of the area as he was being lead down the hall. The older seeker then looked to the young bot leading them.

"You must of been with The Elite.... why did you leave them for this?" Starscream voiced gave way that he was disgusted by his meager surroundings.

"Huh?" the organic yellow bot was confused be the old seeker's question. He was more focused on just leading the former Decepticon to his room and then getting out of there.

"You were an 'Elite,' weren't you? Only Decepticons and 'The Elite' have experimented with half organic bots," explained Starscream in a tone that would make any bot feel stupid. The knowledge he was sharing would be something anyone should know.

"Oh... yeah... I was," replied the organic mech. His form was obviously that of an Earth cheetah.

"Then why did you leave? The Elite are more powerful and they have hideouts on Cybertron itself," questioned Starscream again. He was fishing for information in frustration. Goldbug had not shared any information with him on The Elite. What he said to the young bot was all he knew.

"Because Goldbug is right?" the young but ended in a question. He did not question Goldbug, but what Starscream was expecting him to say. He knew there was some things Goldbug didn't want to share. The organic bot was relieved when they finally came to the door of the guest quarters. He hoped to run off and avoid the conversation going further.

"Hmph. Autobots and your blind trust in your leaders," muttered Starscream, "Tell me.. is the leader of The Elite the same bot that started the idiotic faction?"

"Ah... here's your room! I have to show the others to their room now.... I better go!" with that the organic speed bot zoomed off on his feet wheels.

"Great," the seeker followed the single monotone word with a sigh, "Skywarp! Get in there!" Starscream commanded as he shoved the younger seeker out from behind him and into the guest room.

"Eek!" Skywarp reacted to the shove and found himself alone in the room. His creator was busy spying down the hallway. The Autobots seemed to have left him completely alone. He could take this opportunity to explore what they had. It was strange, since he was somewhat loyal to their alliance. The information gathered wouldn't be used against the Autobots. At the same time he did not like things being kept from him. Old habits die hard.

Starscream sighed as he could hear Skywarp whining like an Earth puppy through the door. As he was concluding that leaving the bot for ten minutes would not hurt him, the seeker's com then beeped. Primus seemed against him searching the ship today. The old seeker stepped into the guest room and the automatic door shut behind him. Skywarp jumped at the sound of the door closing but saw it was Starscream that had entered.

"What is it?!?!?!" growled Starscream into his communicator. He expected on of his troops to be asking where he had disappeared to. Instead he was surprised by the voice on the other line.

"Vhere iz Lugnut?" Blitzwing's Icy voice said at the softest tone his audio's could allow.

"What in the pit are you doing calling me?!" growled Starscream. He didn't want any contact with the Decepticons, especially while on an Autobot ship. The Autobots could trace it and question their truce. "Why would I know where that slagging oaf would be?!?!"

Icy paused on the line. The triple changer did not want to give the trader too much information. It was hard enough to convince Hothead to let them make the call in the first place. However, Random had the least loyalties to the Decepticons and quickly took over.

"Megatron waz zo uuuupset when yah all got away from uz! He vent crazy like he doez and banizhed Lugnut!" explained the spastic Random voice.

"Banished? Lugnut?" Starscream questioned both words. "The stupid bot is his most blindly loyal subject. And just banished? What happened to his 'kill all traitors?' Starscream waited for a response but first heard Hothead yelling.

"Vhy did yah tell him zat?!?! HE DOEZN'T NEED TO KNOV VAT!!!!" Blitzwing's Hothead yelled. The red faced personality always seemed the most loyal to Megatron.

"Quiet! You don't vant uz to get caught, do you?" Icy replied smoothly. "Vhat iz done iz done. Ja, he haz only been banizhing zo called traitorz ever zince the lazt time you betrayed him."

"Vhat vas it? The vifth or zeventh time? I've lost count!" Random laughed as quietly as the noisy personality could.

"How is this my problem?" The old seeker replied to the banter annoyed. Thankfully Icy responded next.

"Uzually banizhed or traitorouz Decepticons join your.... Superionz..." Icy said back with a slight annoyed tone of his own. He was disgusted he had to contact a traitor like Starscream, but he was the only bot that could know Lugnut's whereabouts.

"Its Superiorions!" growled Starcream. "And no he hasn't. Even if he did why should I tell you?" Starscream heard the whirl over the com as Blitzwing's faces switched. Random's wavery voice was heard next. Instead of his normal spastic tone he replied with much concern.

"Ve're vorried.... vat he might of permanently offlined himzelf," Random sad unusually mellow. Another whirl was heard.

"That zlagging dummkopf took his loyalty to Megatron very zeriouzly," added Hothead with unneeded anger. Starscream was about to be finished with the triple changer but then saw this as an opportunity. Megatron's most loyal officer had been banished, while now his third in command was communicating with him, the Superiorion leader. This would prove to be an way to recruit more on his side once rumors were spread.

"He was just banished nanoclicks ago. Don't fret yet. Give it a megacycle. If I hear of anything I'll let you know," Starscream's voice mirrored Blitzwing's concern. Skywarp decided to be a little brave and leave his creator's shadow to cautiously explore the room.

"I am zending you hiz personal frequenzy. Perhaps you can contact him? If I do zo Megatron'z intel botz could trace it," explained Icy. He became suddenly giving of information, probably influenced by Random's concern. Starscream grinned wide. This was better than he could imagine. The seeker then processed what the multi bot had said.

"Wait, what are you doing calling me then?" the old seeker grumbled. He hoped the german accented bot was not stupid enough to get himself in trouble.

"Yah just come up az an unaffiliated. If vey find out ve'll just say ve vere talking to Lockdovn," Random said followed by a giggle. Starscream erged at being reminded that Superiorions was in name only. They were not a format. Part of his truce with the Autobots was for Wheeljack to make them a custom format. It was only a matter of time before he would be recognized.

"I received the frequency. I will call him. You call me the next time you can, since Megatron's intel bots sound like a problem," Starscream replied.

"OH! Goody goody gumdropz! I knew you would help us! Danke Danke!" Random chirped happily and changed to Icy.

"Let it be knovn that vis doez not mean ve are betraying the Decepticonz. Ve are juzt vorried about our friend," Icy cleared up anything the old seeker was thinking.

"Friend. Right," Starscream replied as he then disconnected from Blitzwing.

"So.... so.... the future huh?" Skywarp carefully questioned, "But it will be fixed once the Autobots and I go back to the past?"

"Ha ha.... not quite," replied Starscream with a smirk. The former Decepticon had a plan on his mind.

-----------------
"Sorrysorrysorry that took so long," the young organic bot apologized. "He wouldn't stop talking."

"Ha, now that sounds like the Starscream we know," replied Ratchet. He decided not to comment on the different appearance of the young speed bot. This was the future, and there would be many things different. It seemed organic bots were now a more common thing, and not just mistakes.

"I've informed my team of what is going on. We could use some R and R before more action happens," stated Optimus, knowing that the bot was going to lead them to bunks.

"You mean more calamities happen," added Bulkhead, seemingly to replace Bumblebee as the bot to make wise cracking comments. Optimus gripped the Key tighter in his hand at Bulkhead's comment.

"Goldbug sounded certain that getting us back would prevent a Decepticon controlled Cybertron," replied the fire truck bot as he followed the young organic bot leading them, "What is your name?"

"Oh, uh Cheetor!" the young bot smiled. His attention never seemed one hundred percent there, as though his mind was going a mile a minute.

"It seems hard to believe that the four of us will prevent the Decepticons from taking over Cybertron," Prowl said in his normal observing way.

"I'm sure there is more to it than that," replied Optimus. Prowl hoped this would not lead to another 'cogs' speech. Luckily Cheetor turned around and still moved towards the bunk while wheeling backward on his feet. What Cheetor was about to say would catch Optimus Prime by surprise.

"Well actually, Goldbug is certain that you'ld be the leader of all the Autobots if you were there when the Elite Guard was wiped out," the young bot spoke at a speed slower than Blurr, but faster than the Bumblebee they knew. What he said was clearly understood by the party. "I mean, Goldbug is a great leader now, but back then there was some crucial choices he thought you would of made better."

"What?!?" Optimus's optics widened as he stopped in place walking. "The whole Elite Guard?!?"

"Well, not the whole... youknowwhatIshouldn'tbetalking. Lets go to to your bunks a little faster now..." Cheetor found himself having the same nervousness he had with the former Decepticon moments before as he hurried down the hall.

As the group walked quickly behind the organic bot Ratchet spied what would normally be the Prime's room on this small armada ship. Instead it had been turned into a large makeshift med room. This conversion made sense to the old bot, since a small ship like this only had a very small med bay. Ratchet was pretty certain that the Autobots in this time were fighting some form of guerrilla warfare with the Decepticons, and a larger med room would be needed. He tried not to fall behind while curiosity got the best of him. As the party cleared past the med bay a cry voice familiar to Ratchet was heard.

"Ratcheeeeeeeeeet!" came a fumbling cry as the med bot walked by the makeshift med bay. The old med bot found himself almost jumped by the junk bot. The force of the bot's hug pinned Ratchet against the wall.

"Hello.... Wreck-Gar....," Ratchet said as monotone as he could while pinned in the hug. He was surprised Wreck-Gar was alive but curbed his enthusiasm. It was not hard for him to do. Wreck-Gar's physical body had changed a lot in four hundred years but Ratchet would always recognize his audio.

"I'm the ship's med bot! Aren't you proud?" asked Wreck-Gar He waited expectantly for an answer. Ratchet noticed his team was stopped and watching the scene unfold.

"Ah, yeah kid. sure," Ratchet with a confused look on his interface and optics. He had only know the kid for a few hours, but Wreck-Gar's reaction to him was like they had been old friends.

"Did you miss me I was in the lake! Goldbug found me when the Decepticons were draining it," explained Wreck-Gar with Ratchet still hugged close to him. The old bot didn't reciprocate the hug but Wreck-Gar didn't mind. "Did you meet Goldbug Prime? he's so much like that yellow bot that you were friends with!"

"Uh... look- I'll come by later and talk more," said Ratchet to his own surprise. Wreck-Gar pouted at not getting attention right away, but then smiled happily again. He let the old bot out of the hug. Ratchet was then able to see all of Wreck-Gar's new form. He was still his unmistakable gray, red, and orange. He lacked his trash bin. While his head was still a clunky box his body seemed more built for fighting than Ratchet last remembered. In the place of his dumpster on the back was an orange and red panel that sat like a large backpack. It was probably the roof to his vehicle mode.

"Okay," Wreck-Gar replied cheerfully. Ratchet muttered as his team started heading to the bunks again. The old med bot followed.

"Here we are!" smiled Cheetor as he directed them to an empty grunt bunk. The space was small with bunk berths bolted to either sides of the room. The space between the bunks was a very tight squeeze for Bulkhead.

"Wow, Its like the bunks back at Autoboot camp. I call for top bunk!" called Bulkhead as he flopped on one of the upper bunks. THe berth then dented inward at his weight, "Oops."

"Sorry about the space... or the lack there of," Cheetor apologized while looking at Optimus. "We're using an armada scout as a command ship, so space is tight. Even our leader shares a grunt buck with two officers," explained the organic bot.

"No need to apologize. We understand," replied Optimus.

"Uh, if you bots need anything you can call me," the young organic bot rubbed the back of his head nervously," I'm kinda the cabin boy around here, aheh...." Cheetor used an earth term but the other autobots understood what he met. Optimus nodded acknowledging what the speed bot had said.

"You're dismissed...," Optimus added as Cheetor seemed to pause and stand in the doorway awkwardly. He seemed to have not heard the Prime speak to him right away.

"Oh, yesh! Um, have nice status naps!" stumbled out Cheetor as he zoomed away.

"That was.....interesting," spoke Prowl softly as he sat on the bunk below Bulkhead. Since the green bot had already bent down the upper bunk, Prowl knew he was the only bot able to fit on the lower one now.

"Which part? Starscream working with the Autobots? The resistance lead by Bumblebee? Or the fact all the Elite apparently get wiped out?" Ratchet expelled all he had taken in.

"Actually, I'm not surprised Bumblebee is the leader," stated Optimus, "I believe all three of you young bots have the potential for leadership."

"Awh, thanks boss bot!" smiled Bulkhead as he looked over the the edge of his upper bunk and down at Optimus.

"Don't you find it strange that he didn't want to talk to all of us" questioned Prowl. "He was very quick to take you aside alone."

"I think he's been through a lot," Optimus quickly sided with Goldbug. "Remember, back in our time he's the only Autobot on Earth at the moment."

"He can always call the Elite Guard for help," suggested Bulkhead.

"But then- Cheetor said the Elite Guard was wiped out...." faded Ratchet. The med bot was glad this would all go away once they went home.

"Lets not speculate anything. This will all be fixed when we return, hopefully soon," said Optimus as he hoped for the best. Prowl was still uncertain. Something did not feel right to the ninja bot.

"I'll stay online while the rest of you powerdown," stated Prowl as he then stood up. He was careful not to bump his head on the dented bunk about him.

"We ALL need our rest Prowl. We don't know what to expect," replied Optimus in his commanding voice.

"All the more reason to stay alert," replied Prowl. "I could call Cheetor back and see if he could give me a tour of the ship."

"Thats not necessary. Goldbug is not the enemy," Optimus said with his optics narrowing at Prowl. It bothered the fire truck that Prowl would question Bumblebee's motives. The two other bots in the room decided it would be wise to stay out of this argument.

"With all due respect, we can't ju-" the ship gave a sudden shake before Prowl could finish his words. It was not the shake of being hit, but a sudden turn and speed up. Optimus Prime put his com onto Goldbug's personal line.

"What was that?" asked Optimus Prime as he stepped out of the bunk room and into the hall.

"That was us avoiding a conflict," answered Goldbug Prime over the com.

"Decepticons?" asked Prowl who had followed Optimus. His question was not heard by Goldbug. From the hallway window both Prowl and Optimus saw a ship in the distance trying to pursue. Though it was far away, it was clearly an Elite Guard command ship. The stars around them quickly became a blur from the speed as the ship then disappeared from sight.

"Is it Decepticons?" Optimus repeated Prowl's question as though he had not seen the Elite Guard ship. The fire truck looked to the ninja as he asked Goldbug the question. This was the moment of truth for them.

"Just as bad," was Goldbug's evading response. He was telling the truth but also wanted to avoid telling more.

"Call for me if anything else happens. I want to be any help I can," offered Optimus.

"Sure thing!" Goldbug replied in his at east Bumblebee tone before closing off the call.

"See? There is something more going on here!" Prowl said accusingly.

"He didn't lie...er..exactly," defended Optimus.

"He's working with a Decepticon and an Elite Guard ship attacked us," the ninja bot spoke all the evidence that made him even more suspicious.

"I know Goldbug is not the bad guy here. He did not ask for the Key. His only want is to have us go back to the past," replied Optimus calmly. He did always listen to Prowl's input. The black and gold bot was the closest thing he had to a second in command. If Optimus' repair crew had been an official battle team Prowl would hold the title. The red and blue bot let out a sigh. "I will be more cautious, but I am not going to distrust Bumblebee," the truck bot seemed to switch between the names Goldbug and Bumblebee often.

"That is just it, he's not Bumblebee. Four hundred stellar cycles have gone by," Prowl repeated information Optimus knew, but apparently needed to be drilled into his helmet again.

"We need to just hold tight for now. I will talk to him again," Optimus planned another face to face with the speed bot leader.

-----------

Goldbug Prime left the bridge after the conflict. He headed back to his bunk while he could. He knew it would be one calamity after another now that the past Autobots were on his ship. 'My ship,' Goldbug thought to himself with a light yet sad smile. As he walked to his room he extended his hand and gently stroked against the hallway wall.

There had been several times the ship had jumped into speed without anyone pressing a button. This first time it happened there was no trouble to be seen. Only after the speed jump did the sensors show a delayed response to picking up cloaked Decepticon ships. Goldbug's first thought was the life the ship's energy source contained.

The room Starscream had demanded to have was empty for a reason. There was a rumor among the troops that the room was haunted. Though the Autobots did not have the same concept of ghosts as humans did, there was still not something right. Some bots did believe that energy remnants of a destroyed spark could leave some sentient interaction in the immediate area.

Only Goldbug an a few other bots on the ship knew that these two things had something in common. While it wasn't a destroyed spark causing the disturbances, it was the room below the Ambassador's guest room that was causing the trouble. An Autobot's spark rested in the ships power chamber.

The leader bot thought back to old memories in his processor. It was a struggle when the Elite Guard was first taken out. The lack of the Key among other things became too much. When he saw his lover's destroyed body and the spark it contained fading inside of it, he had to do something. The small ship was never made to transform or contain a bots spark, but the power core was the only way to keep him alive.

Goldbug had realized soon after the spark was put in that he had put his companion in a frozen prison. He imagined it might be like how Swindle was left when frozen by Slo-mo's device. Even worse, perhaps the spark would be like humans have people in comas or a vegetable state. In the early days he considered offlining the spark, to end what suffering he had cursed his lover with. He never had the heart to do it though.

And then the first time the ship jumped on its own, he knew. His friend was not able to talk or transform, but Goldbug knew he was there. As the leader bot entered the room the hand that had been gently running across the wall now ran his pointer finger up the doorway right before he entered.

~~~~~~~

The jumps were not enough proof for Goldbug though, he had to be certain. One night stellar cycles ago leader bot went into the ambassador's guest room and opened the panel that would be right above his friend's spark. The large bundle of wires right beneath the panel were almost directly attached to the unseen bot spark below. If there was any way Goldbug's friend could directly speak to him, this was it.

"Please, if you are there, give me some sort of sign....," pleaded Goldbug. He knew he could not get a direct verbal answer. He gripped his hand around the bundle of wires. "How about, one shock for you are there, and two if you're not," said the yellow bot, not noticing the comedy of him giving an option to show the bot was not there. The dead silence and the coldness of the wires seemed to last forever. As Goldbug was about to give up and release the wires a strong vibration was felt through them. It wasn't a shock, but Goldbug realized that was a stupid thing to ask his friend to do in the first place.

"Oh Primus.... I'm so sorry!" expressed Goldbug with such sorrow. If he were human his optics would be leaking. He absentmindedly stroked up and down the wire bundle that had moved for him. After a pause the ships wires vibrated harder before being a steady rumble. He felt as though his old love was trying to talk to him.

Goldbug Prime tried to think some ways to talk to him. Humans had morse code but Cybertronians had nothing of the such. They had something like binary, the old ancient language. However that couldn't be given through vibrations in wires. Bumblebee's old love would have to make data files in the computer some how, and if he could do that, he would of done it by now.

The rhythm of the wires then changed to something that made Goldbug raise an optic. It was his boyfriend's 'flirting' rhythm. He recognized the vibration in the wires that would come directly from the spark below.

"You HAVE to be joking," Goldbug Prime said outloud, wondering why the ship's mind would be on that one thing. He soon realized it was his processors that went to the scrap heap before his friend's did. Perhaps through sparks they could talk to each other. Goldbug could not directly connect to his lover's spark, since it was resting right above the ship's power source. It would burn him out till he offlined. Through the wires though there was a chance. He carefully stripped the plastic coating on the bundle of wires, exposing enough to connect with.

Sparkbonding would still not be clear communication. It wasn't even guaranteed to have any communication at all. Goldbug would be lucky to even see some dream like memories in parts that would not make sense. He would have to try though. Goldbug needed to express how sorry he was for keeping the bot's spark alive in the ship. The leader bot always felt guilty that his actions were out of selfishness, not love.

It would be awkward, he would have to press his spark into the wires where they rested in the floor. The yellow bot carefully pulled back a few more panels around the wires he had to focus on. Before Goldbug opened his spark chamber he thought it wise to lock the guest room door. Before he could get up he heard the door click with the sound of locking. Goldbug Prime smirked lightly. Even though this bonding was for communication there was no reason for them not to still enjoy it.

Goldbug stood over the hole made by removed panels. He ran his fingers over his chassis and down to where his back window rested low on his chest. With a stroke what would be the roof of his vehicle form slide open like doors, right down the middle of his Autobot symbol. The doors pulled back far enough to rest at the window sides of his chest, being out of the way of any spark play.

His spark was not exposed yet, still behind another panel of metal. The yellow bot kneeled down on the ship's floor. He was a distance from the wires that if he laid down his body his spark chamber would touch the wires. Goldbug gripped the edges of his spark's casing and slowly opened. A white glow of light filled the dimmed guest room.

Goldbug leaned over the opened floor panels. He used his left arm to support himself on the floor while his right hand gripped the bundle of wires once again. As leaned over the gapping hole in the floor he slowly put the wires to this spark.

The energy was overwhelming. The wires Goldbug held were not only to his lover's spark, but also to the ship's power source. It would not be enough to kill him. At that moment he knew he may need a visit to the med bay after this.

Goldbug's optics half offlined as he tried ignore the pleasant feeling a moment. He had to get information to his friend in the ship. The yellow bot held back and tried to focus his apologizes for his selfish acts. The ship seemed frustrated with his withholding as the wires then vibrated hard against. The ripples of energy through his spark caused him to let go the wires. In half a second that hand was now on the floor as well. The leader bot had his whole spark pressed in whole, touching that bundle of wires. He let out a whimper as he lost control of his body, he just wanted to press the wires as far as he could inside his spark.

The yellow bot said his lover's name only to have it drowned out by the white noise that came from audio. His optics closed as he pressed on farther. The feeling went from his spark and started to spread throughout his body. He panted static but was too much in ecstasy to logically know to pull away. Goldbug tightly gripped onto the metal flooring. His tightened fists crumpled up where he grabbed like paper.

The ship realized too much power was being put into his little lover and started to divert some power into unused systems. The power surge became somewhat weaker, allowing Goldbug to gain his senses. Goldbug pulled back a little from the floor, straining to bend his arms straight. His audio was clearing up from being static filled. He pulled up enough for his spark to just hover above the wires in the floor.

"that was way too intense," gasped Goldbug. "I uh, underestimated how the power source was close to you..," the yellow bot then remembered the ship probably couldn't hear him. He had noticed the power being pulled away near the end. The ship knew it was intense for him and tried to balance it out. Against his better judgement Goldbug leaned into the wires again, hoping this time it would be safer. While energy was still there, it was something Goldbug's body could become used to. With the power surge over he could focus on the bot's spark inside again.

The yellow bot took in the pleasure, finding that holding back was keeping him from 'file sharing.' He gripped back where he had already dented the floor. He wondered if his lover's spark felt anything in return.

Goldbug's circuits tingled at the contact with his spark. As he closed his optics he received a sudden rush of visions. The spark in the ship could not hear or listen as Goldbug thought it was. But, his sensors were his way of 'seeing.' That was why in battle the ship moved without being made to do so. Moving the the ship and small things like locking the door were hard. With proper concentration he could. With the security system the ship could sense everyone's spark. He had comfort in 'watching' Goldbug sleep at night.

Goldbug Prime wanted to send a hundred apologies if he could. He bit his lower lip as a tingling rush came into his spark at the ship's thought of watching him. The yellow bot had received feeling that there was no reason to apologize. The spark in the ship had adjusted to his new life. He was surprisingly accepting of his predicament. He was actually more worried about Goldbug. The ship hoped his lover had moved on.

The yellow bot grinded his crouch hard against the metal floor as the spark information changed from receiving to giving. Sparkbonding without any touching was starting to make Goldbug's lower servos ache for attention. He did not know how much longer he could take it. Since his lover didn't want an apology he just released the feeling of hope he had now the others had been found. Everything would be back to normal. Everything would be okay. A feeling of peaceful ecstasy.

As Goldbug half onlined his optics he saw all the lights in the room were as bright as they could go. Every bulb working at full capacity. He smirked lightly while feeling waves of pleasure over his circuts. He was certain the ship felt the same. He hoped the night shift didn't think anything of the spike of energy. Goldbug kept his spark on the ship's wires while one of his hands strayed down to rub his own crouch plate. He didn't dare do any more than that. He gasped as he started to overload. His spark was buried deep in the floor, the wires almost in his spark case. His hand rubbed furiously at his crotch plate, rubbing the important sensors beneath it. The yellow bot's optics turned off again as his hydraulics stiffened. He crashed into an overload that felt the same as when he had contact with the ship's power source moments before.

This time it was not overpowered enough to hurt him. The slight smoke that came out of Goldbug's mouth was probably left over from the previous overpowering. A few bulbs in the guest room broke at the heat of how bright they were glowing. That was the closest the ship could signal its own overload. The yellow bot's final thought before climax was not the pleasure but that his lover was indeed alive. Since that night, the leader bot always knew that one of his best friends was still with him.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Good night old buddy," smiled Goldbug as climbed up into his upper grunt berth. The battered yellow bot curled up and powerdowned, comforted by the fact Blurr would keep watch over him.

----------------
Soon after witnessing the Elite Guard ship Optimus and Prowl both received a simultaneous call on their coms. Prowl instantly recognized the smooth voice on the com.

"Hey cats, how are you too doin'?" said Jazz's voice over the com. It was his normal cheerful voice. It was the first thing Prowl had noticed. The ninja bot compared it to how Goldbug's sounded darker, like he was half a step away from being a Decepticon.

"Jazz, is that you?" asked Prowl before Optimus could. The black and gold bot was glad to finally be in contact with something familiar to him in this bleak future.

"Not exactly, name's Ultra Jazzimus now," the voice paused a moment. It was like he was waiting for the two bots to assume he was the one in the Elite Guard ship. "Goldbug has not been entirely truthful I can assume. I would like your whole team to meet with me if possible."