Chapter Thirteen

There was a soft whirr as his system rebooted. Then, his vision turned from black to blue, shining brightly until a shiny metal ceiling could be seen from above. Bumblebee groaned, optics adjusting to focus, and rubbing a throbbing helm.

.

He slowly sat up. Taylor was sitting on the other side of the room in a chair, reading a book. She looked up and closed the book.

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Bee.”

She stood up and walked over to him.

“You feeling better?” she asked, putting her hand gently on his leg.

Bumblebee groaned. “Yeah, my axles ache a little, but other than that, I’m good.”

“Good…”

.

Taylor sighed again.

“You know, you can’t keep doing this.”

Bumblebee paused. “Doing what?”

“Putting yourself in near-death situations.”

Bumblebee chuckled. “Well, that’s part of the job.”

Taylor raised her eyebrows, no other feature in her face altering. Bumblebee was a bit puzzled by her reaction.

.

Taylor rubbed her temples, then ran her fingers through her hair.

“What were you thinking, Bee?” she finally asked.

“What?”

“Causing that cave-in! You put our entire team in danger! Did you not stop to think how much you were putting their lives at risk!?” Taylor exclaimed.

Bumblebee scoffed. “Knightingale, we can handle a little rockfall.”

“Well what about our human teammates, huh? Did you not realize how fragile they were and how low the odds were of their survival!?” Taylor hissed angrily, “And what do you mean ‘we can handle a little rockfall’? Cybertronians are not invincible Bee!”

“There was nothing I could do! We could do! Those Decepticons were going to take the energon we needed! I couldn’t let them have it!” Bumblebee rebuttled, hostily.

“You could’ve given them a chance to retreat into the caves! You could’ve at least sent your human partners away or give them some of that energon to escape with!” Taylor listed, “There were many alternatives you could’ve chose from!”

Bumblebee was furious. “Oh, so you’re implying I’m incapable of making good decisions?” He huffed.

“That’s not what I said-”

“No, I get it! I’m incapable of making decisions since I got my aft handed to me in Kaon!”

.

Taylor retorted.

Bumblebee had hit a soft spot and he knew it. 

“That has nothing to do with this-!” She started.

“You’ve been treating me like a sparkling ever since!” Bumblebee snapped, “I’m capable of being a leader and a competent soldier, but you never give me the chance!”

“Well I gave you one today didn’t I?”

“Only to criticize and rebuke me and remind me of my place!”

Taylor stamped her foot. “I GAVE YOU THE CHANCE BECAUSE I TRUSTED YOU!”

.

Bumblebee stopped. Taylor’s heart had raced from all the anger and it caused her to shake. She threw her fist down into the air.

“I gave you the opportunity because…I knew you were capable!”

Her eyes bore anguish and heartache.

“Do you really believe I think so little of you, old friend?” She asked.

Bumblebee held his tongue. If he were human, the color would have drained from his face. His bit his lip, unable to answer. Taylor looked down at the floor, a lump building up in her throat. Then, without another word, she exited the room.

.

A team had been sent to the caves to fully extract the Energon with professional equipment for the job. Soon enough the plane carrying the precious cargo had returned. Perceptor had run few tests with the limited quantity he had, and was delighted when the Energon arrived. Now all the rest of the Red Delta Squadron could do, was wait.