Ruby (TFP)

Chapter 1

"I don't know what kind of base Fowler has planned for us, Prime. Seems to me there is only red dust and rocks all over the place out here!" Optimus sighed as he listened to the complaint of the red autobot, Cliffjumper who was clearly taking a good look at their surroundings. "This human better pull through. I really need to rest my engine."

"We are all in need of rest, Cliffjumper. You don't need to make that loud and clear. I just hope it is a hidden enough base for us to utilize and build upon. Especially since we are going to need a ground bridge to get around this planet." Ratchet, who was driving just behind Optimus, was eager to see this base too. But mostly to ensure they could survive on this world. "At least Fowler didn't make a decision that might have landed us on a dissection table."

"Agent Fowler is not that kind of warrior, Ratchet. He was rightfully alarmed by our presence when I had stopped after detecting some energon. No human expects a truck to transform, and he nearly crashed because of that. We owe a lot to him, Ratchet." Optimus was curious about the base they would likely live in, and he trusted Fowler would give them a decent place to stay in. "We all need to be grateful that the human has given us this opportunity."

Cliffjumper huffed as he was not sure how much he trusted the human. With the location they were at currently, he was still unsure about the surrounding. "Still...we are very close to that little, human town and I am not sure if that is even a good thing, Prime. I don't want to complain, but I am not optimistic about this." They make a right turn, and there was a large, red, rocky formation ahead of them. "That had better not be the location. That huge rock in front of us seems to be the coordinates!"

"Hush, Cliff!" Arcee hissed in irritation. "I am not sure about this either, but clearly this Agent Fowler believes he has found a place for us to call home. I think at least checking it out is a good thing to do. If it is not up to our standard, we can tell him, and Fowler can show us some other location that might work for us."

"Arcee is correct. We need to keep all our options open. Even if it seems strange, which it does, as Cliff is also right of the location ahead of us." Optimus could not see a point of entry. However, if the entry was secret, that would be even better. "It might seem like nothing, but that could easily house something inside the rock, Cliff."

"True..." Cliff stared at the formation ahead of them. "Ugh...and we will be doing a lot of work to the place..."

"Personally, I'm looking forward to it," Bulkhead said enthusiastically. "It has been a long time since I've been able to build anything. So I'll definitely have a good old time building it up so we are all very comfortable."

"We will certainly be busy for a while. Hopefully, we will be able to source materials for the base. I am not sure if Fowler will help with that completely, but he might." Bumblebee was very intrigued about the rock formation ahead of them. It was the location of the coordinates that they had been given, and he hoped it would be good. "Does Fowler know we are nearing the location?"

Optimus did not respond and opened his com link to Fowler phone, as the man had given him the number. He soon heard Fowler answering. "Yes, Prime? I see you bots are nearing the base."

"We are, Agent Fowler, but we are not sure how to enter the base. We are looking at a very large, rocky formation and nothing else. These are the coordinates you sent us." The autobots slowed as they approach the end of the road. "Will we need to turn left or right?"

"Neither, Prime. Drive straight off the road, and you will see first yourself." Optimus did not respond, though he was unsure as they reach the end and Optimus drove off the road first. "I promise that I am not pulling anyone's leg." Optimus rolled forward a little more before halting as he was surprised by doors opening automatically in front of him. "I am sure you will appreciate that this rock will not look out of place."