A/N: So not dead. I'm still dabbling. He's a new interview! I struggled with this one a little bit. Okay. I struggled with this one a lot. Hope you like it!

Interview with an Autobot
Bumblebee

Bumblebee: Is that seat taken?

Ray of Starlight: (I smiled brightly and looked up towards the entrance of the hanger.) Hi, Bumblebee. Come on in.

I was actually very excited for this interview. Bumblebee was polite and very friendly and even though he was a lot older than me, he seemed more around my age then the others. I felt very comfortable around him. He was like a down-to-earth kinda guy, no pun intended. He wasn't intimidating at all.

He sat down in front of me, curiously looking down at me. He did that a lot and I wasn't really sure why. I figured he was just curious about everything on this planet. He, like the other Autobots, knew very well what I was doing here. He was probably one of the few that actually wanted me here. Not that everyone wanted me gone. Some were just indifferent and it felt nice to feel wanted around here.

I could write to my heart's content about the Autobots and their contacts, but no matter what, it didn't matter what they told me, I would never fully understand their experiences and their feelings on them. I could only imagine and try my damnedest to get an idea, but never fully understand. I knew this coming in, but hoped for a more of an insight when I finally had one-on-one discussion with these guys.

I honestly figured that Bumblebee had a lot to say. I knew he still had a hard time with his voice. Having used the radio for so long, he had become accustomed to it, but I think I would be able to get by. Bee had been captured by humans and even tortured before Sam managed to get him released. Sam was probably someone we were going to discuss a lot about. The kid was younger than me and had already been through so much, more than I could imagine and he handled it all.

When Sam was captured by the Decepticons a little while back and was used to revive Megatron I had a hard time trying to convey what Sam had gone through. I didn't feel I did it any justice, but I tried my hardest. Sam refused to read that part. I didn't blame him. But Bumblebee had deliberately disobeyed his orders from Optimus to go after Sam himself. Bumblebee had gotten hurt really bad in the end.

RS: How are you today?

BB: I'm walking on sunshine!

RS: (I laughed.) Cute.

BB: How you doin'?

RS: I'm good. Still having problems with your voice?

BB: No, not really. I just think it's fun.

RS: (I sighed and shook my head.) UghI You have no idea how hard it is to write that for you! I never know what songs or movie lines to pick.

BB: (He laughed.) Oopps! I did it again!

RS: (I stared.) …Really?

BB: (Makes an awkward clicking sound.)

RS: (I shrug.) Well, it really isn't your fault, I guess. It's just hard. (I glared at him, mockingly.) But just so you know, you've put whole chapters on hold because I don't know what to write for you.

Bee looked innocently down at me, teasing me.

RS: (I roll my eyes.) Don't even give me that look, dude, seriously.

BB: I feel bad…that I don't feel bad…

RS: (I gasped jokingly.) You jerk!

Bee's speakers erupted into thunderous applause as he mocking wiped a tear from his eye as it he was so funny it brought him to tears.

RS: You are lucky that you are so damn cute. If you weren't I think my readers would kill you. (I lifted my notebook.) Let's do this interview.

BB: Bring it.

RS: So how's Sam doing? And don't sugarcoat it. I can't even begin to understand what he's going through, but what do you think, from your perspective?

BB: (He whirled quietly as he slouched a little, his door-wings drooping behind him.) He acts brave, that he's okay with everything that's happening to him, but I wouldn't be much of a guardian if I didn't know the truth. He's scared.

RS: I bet. (I nodded agreeably.) But he's hanging in there?

BB: As best he can. There's still a lot we don't understand. Sam's already gone through a lot of biological changes, but we don't know where…or if it will stop.

RS: Sam's a tough kid. (I said this as encouragingly as I could.) He'll get through this.

BB: (His blue optics perked up a little as his door-wings twitched.) I'm confident that he will as well.

RS: How is his training going? You helping him out at all?

BB: (Bee actually looked like he would have smiled if his faceplates would have allowed such a motion.) Ironhide pretty much keeps me out of it. Says that I'm too personally involved. Sam says the training is torture. I'm taking that as a sign that it's going well. Sam is not one for vigorous physical activity.

RS: (Yeah, I could see that. It amazed me how fast the kid could run considering he liked to spend most of his time playing video games and what not.) I can't imagine Ironhide or Will going easy on him. (Then I wondered why the hell I didn't ask Ironhide about Sam's training. Damn.)

BB: Tha-that don't kill me can only make me stronger.

RS: (I smiled.) Good song.

BB: I aim to please.

RS: So is Sam managing to adjust with his new powers?

BB: (Bumblebee nodded slowly.) I think so. He's seemed to have accepted it. The training has helped, even if Sam doesn't think so.

RS: (It wasn't hard for me to tell that continuing to talk about Sam's situation brought Bumblebee down a little.) Alright, we can move on. So I have a very personal question. I don't know if any of the readers have thought of it, but I have. (Smiling at his nervous expression, I leaned forward.) What in the world possessed you to try and hook up Sam and Mikaela at the park? You didn't know either of them back then.

BB: (Bee's blue optics lit up at the memory.) Cause that's what friends dooo!

RS: (I rolled my eyes.) That's from Sponge Bob Square Pants, you know. And you guys weren't really on speaking terms yet. In fact, you had yet to be referred to as (finger quotes here) Satan's Camaro.

BB: True. Alright, but you didn't hear this from me.

RS: (I leaned forward eagerly) Tell me.

BB: (He scanned the area quickly before leaning towards me as well.) It wasn't like Sam had any…game back then, am I right?

RS: (I shrugged agreeably.)You're not wrong.

BB: I wanted Sam to like me. I thought that if I tried to set the mood for him and the girl he liked he'd be more inclined to trust me.

RS: Good point. Don't you think you came on a little strong though?

BB: (If he had been capable, I'm sure he would have blushed.) Maybe. But I still reserve the right to take a little credit in their relationship.

RS: (I laughed.) And credit is due…Yente.

As soon as the music started, I was waving my arms, practically squealing. When the singing started I just covered my ears like a child.

RS: No! Not the matchmaker song! Please!

The music cut out like the needle had been lifted too quickly on a record player. Bee's laugh was a little maniacal, but then I realized that he was using Dr. Evil from Austin Powers. He even did the pinky thing.

RS: You're adorable.

BB: (He shrugged, looking a little smug.) Boom baby!

RS: So how about the two way telepathic communication thing? Is it weird?

BB: A little. I'm used to having a similar form of communication with the other Autobots, but I believe it's weirder for Sam, considering humans aren't capable of it.

RS: Wait, so, the Autobots communicate telepathically?

BB: No, but I suppose, by human definition, it is similar. It is merely com-links or radios in our processors that we can broadcast to.

RS: So what you and Sam do is different.

BB: Yes.

RS: I gotcha now.

We talked a little bit more about his ability to communicate with Sam with their minds. Apparently it was a bond that was growing in strength over time. What once only worked in proximity to one another could not stretch growing distances. I tried to steer clear from anything involving the war more than necessary. It was probably foolish, given that Bumblebee was counteless centuries older than me, but he seemed like such a big kid that I didn't want to bring up any more negative topics. I even went as far to ask him his favorite movie he had seen since coming to Earth. He had a hard time picking…

But it turns out he's really into Star Trek and the movies that accompany the show. I guess I couldn't really be surprised. Stick to what you know I guess and Bumblebee sure did know about space.

RS: But…isn't it all, I don't know, inaccurate?

BB: (He laughed.) Of course, but it's still fun.

RS: What about Star Wars? Do you like that?

BB: (His optics narrowed at me.) Are going to have that debate?

RS: (I narrowed my eyes right back at him.) Are we?

A stare down ensued.

BB: (He shrugged.) Nah, I like Star Wars too. (He started to play the opening theme.)

RS: Okay, I was about to say, "We can't be friends anymore if you don't like Star Wars."

BB: It's inaccurate too.

RS: (I smiled teasingly.) Of course, but it's still fun. (I glance down at my notebook and my sloppy notes.) Well, that's all I have. Thanks a lot, Bee.

BB: Oh, you are welcome!

RS: Do you have any idea who's out there to go next?

BB: (He played Beethoven's 5th Symphony in C Minor)

RS: (I bit my bottom lip) It's Ratchet, isn't it?

BB: (He shrugged apologetically.) Sorry.

RS: No, it's fine, really. He just…

BB: Tends to ask very personal questions?

RS: (I nod and sigh.) Well, alright send him in.

BB: (Holding up the Vulcan salute) Live long and prosper.

RS: (I laughed because he used Leonard Nimoy's voice, but I returned the gesture.) Thanks. And I'll probably see you around later.

BB: (He waved as he backed out of the hanger.) Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say good night till it be morrow.

RS: But it's not nighttime!

I snickered as he rounded the corner. Count on Bumblebee to go as far as quoting Juliet from Romeo & Juliet to get a laugh. I flipped the page in my notebook and looked at all the questions I had listed for Ratchet, but honestly, I had a feeling I was going to be answering more questions than asking them. Ratchet sometimes seemed to forget, or maybe he didn't care, about personal boundaries. He had virtually no filter and said whatever was on his mind. At times, it was a redeeming quality, but at others, it ventured in to awkward.

He means well, I reminded myself.

That's when heavy footsteps entered the hanger.

?: Have you been eating? You have lost weight since I last saw you.

RS: (I sigh.) For someone that's technically overweight, that's probably a good thing right? Normally, I would take that as a compliment.

?: Ah, yes, the admiration from peers for losing weight. I find it interesting that in this country, the citizens have a problem with overeating and yet in other countries, people are malnourished, live in poverty, and starving.

RS: (I flinch.) And now I'm depressed. Geez, Ratchet, can we please talk about something a little more…upbeat? (I said this hopefully.)

Ratchet: (He lifted a single metal brow at me.) You are conducting interviews pertaining to individuals fighting in a war that's duration far surpasses the existence of your species. Now, I may be new to Earth's cultures and language, but if my definition of "upbeat" is correct, this will not be an "upbeat" conversation.

My head dropped forward as I whined pathetically.

A/N: And that's Bee's interview. Hope it made sense. I wrote it after I started reworking The Ties that Bind. Here are some references to what audio clips and songs Bee's using I had in my mind if you're curious.

"Is that seat taken" from Congratulations by Blue October
"I'm walking on sunshine" from I'm Walking on Sunshine by Ally & AJ
How you doin?' – Audio clip from Joey from F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
"Oops I did it again" from Oops I Did It Again by Brittney Spears
"I feel bad that I don't feel bad" from I Feel Bad by Rascal Flatts
"Bring it" – Audio clip from Bring It On
"Tha-that don't kill me can only make me stronger" from Stronger by Kanye West
"Boom Baby!" – Audio clip from The Emperor's New Groove
"That's what friends do" from Sponge Bob Square Pants
"Oh, you are welcome!" from Darrel on Mad-TV
"Live long and prosper" – Leonard Nimoy as Spock from Star Trek
"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say good night till it be morrow" from Romeo & Juliet

Feel free to review! :)

-Ray