Smugglers

Chapter 15: Aftermath

One week later things still hadn't calmed down. Cybertron had been stunned and horrified to learn of Sentinel's death. Ironhide had informed them by showing them Sentinel's head then tendered his resignation. He wasn't as bad as Optimus originally thought. In fact he was actually rather…nice. At least as far as the twins were concerned. It hadn't taken long for Optimus to realize that he absolutely doted on them. Which was good because they definitely needed someone to keep an optic on them. The twins plus Bumblebee was something that Optimus knew he would never forget.

The past week had been one of the best in his life, yet it was also one of the saddest for he had known that this day was coming. He found himself, once again, getting ready to say goodbye to Bulkhead and Bumblebee.

All of them, including Ironhide and the Jet twins, were down at the Elite Guard outpost where the ships were.

"I guess we better get going," Ironhide sighed reluctantly.

"I forgot, what happened to the Decepticons again?" Bumblebee, who had been sound asleep when Ironhide told them, asked.

"They escaped on the way to Cybertron. They were last seen heading for the triple planetoids," Ironhide reminded him.

"Oh yeah. Well good luck."

"Thanks," Ironhide didn't think he'd ever get used to the fact that knew and actually tolerated two smugglers.

"By the way," Ironhide to look at the little bot perched on the massive green shoulder strut. "If I were you I'd start exploring in the Orion Galaxy. I hear they have some particularly vicious smugglers there."

Ironhide frowned then his optics brightened as comprehension dawned. "Thanks for the tip. Come on, twins, time to go."

A chorus of "Goodbye" and "Good luck" was exchanged as the three boarded The Elite and soon disappeared from view.

"I guess you'll be leaving next?" Bulkhead questioned, trying (and failing miserably) to sound as if he didn't care either way.

"I don't have a ship anymore," Optimus said with a pointed glance at Bumblebee. Omega Supreme had, unfortunately, suffered irrepairable damage both from the Decepticons crashing it and Bumblebee's great 'plan'.

Bulkhead winced. "Oh yeah that's right. I kinda forgot about that."

"I didn't," bumblebee announced proudly then hesitantly, "I happen to know a couple of smugglers could really use, oh I don't know, maybe three new partners?" he and Bulkhead looked hopefully at them.

"Well," Optimus said slowly. "I happen to know three ex-Elite Guard members who are looking for a highly illegal job that is very dangerous."

"Highly illegal," Prowl added.

Bumblebee grinned. "Well you certainly came to the right place. Although," he said thoughtfully "it's not usually this dangerous but it is highly illegal."

"You're right. It does sound like the perfect job for us."

"Well let's go," Bumblebee said excitedly. "Explosives are selling like crazy right now and I need some more. I used up most of them blowing up that stuck-up aft."

"Uh-oh," Bulkhead muttered. "We might need to stock up on some more paint and extra armor," he whispered loudly.

Bumblebee made a face at his friend who ignored him while Ratchet muttered, "Good thing we got plenty of room for it."

Optimus chuckled and looked around at the other four bots and decided that maybe being a smuggler wasn't so bad after all.

To be continued after…

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