Transformers Prime - Stay

2. Preparations

        Five days later, we were back at the Autobot base. Optimus was out on recon, and Bumblebee was back in town, watching over Jack and Raf.

        Miko and I stepped out of Bulkhead's vehicle form after he'd pulled into the base. I was laughing at the conversation that had developed during the ride with Miko. Somehow, we had this habit of indulging in some odd laugh-based 'disagreements'.

        “Okay Miko, you’re right. Bulk’s the coolest truck ever . . . well, off-roading truck, anyway. I think Optimus takes coolest truck title.” It was pretty much the biggest concession I was willing to make. Optimus was, well, Optimus.

        “Pfft, no way. Bulk’s the best," Miko insisted. I expected as much from her. She was as stubborn as I was, honestly. It was one part annoying, one part fun and a dash of hilarious because we never took these situations too seriously.

        The large mech I'd come to know as Bulkhead transformed once we'd exited hjs vehicle mode and gotten a safe distance away. “Miko, I think you’re more than a little biased, but I can live with best off-roading truck, Optimus is our commander.”

        “Awwww, Bulkhead. You’re supposed to argue that you’ll always be the coolest truck ever!” She exclaimed, slouching in disappointment as she looked up at her guardian.

        “Well I’m not the only living truck out there," he reminded her. I tried not to snicker.

        “Told ya so.” That, however, I couldn't resist, and grinned when Miko loosed a groan, sounding a bit angry, but she had a hard time keeping a smile off her face. When I raised an eyebrow to question her reaction, she merely stuck out her tongue. I shrugged a response and walked over to Ratchet's work area. “Any progress?”

        “Actually, yes. Unfortunately Arcee’s been here for days now and Bumblebee’s been doing double shift, so Raf and Jack have been having sleepovers each night to make easier.” Well, that was fairly comical. I wondered what their parents thought of this. Of course, Ratchet's news was still good news.

        “Sorry, Arcee," I told her softly, feeling a bit bad about her being confined to 'guinea pig duty'. She sat up on the 'table' she'd been stuck on during the preparation period at the sound of my voice, or more likely, my apology.

        “It’s fine," she assured. "Bumblebee can handle it, besides, it’s good to have a break once in a while.” That much I could believe. From what I'd gathered, being an Autobot was no easy task.

        “So what’s the progress?” I asked, turning my attention back to Ratchet.

        “We nearly have the shell ready," he informed, still staring at his screens. Was it just me or did he really like those screens? They must be good company or something. "Since this is a constructed Cybertronian, I’ve altered it so that you have several options for your vehicle mode. You will be a bit taller than Arcee and you’ll have a bit more bulk, but nothing too noticeable.”

        Well, that seemed a tad concerning. "Uh . . . when you say ‘a bit taller and a bit more bulk,’ how much height and weight are we talking about here?” I asked, my head gaining a slight tilt.

        “Approximately five feet eight inches, and a few hundred to possibly a thousand of your human pounds," Ratchet informed. Well. More than my height and up to the weight of a small car was 'a little extra height and weight'.

        “Ho-ly scrap. And how is that going to give me ‘options?’” Hey, it was a fair question to ask, right?

        He didn't seem pleased to answer me, like the answer should be obvious with the way he groaned, but he did anyway. “With the alterations you’ll be able to choose from a bike like Arcee, a small car or even a form of air travel.”