The sun had barely dipped behind the treeline when Bumblebeeโs engine purred to a low hum. His scanners flickered with traces of energon โ faint, but fresh.
โ โSignalโs weak, but itโs definitely energon,โ Rafael said through the comm, tightening his backpack straps as he climbed down from the passenger seat. โMaybe another deposit.โ
โBee chirped in response โ short, cautious tones. Something about this signal feltโฆ off. The bot transformed, staying beside Raph and scanning the scrap yard with his optics.
โThe scrap yard stretched across acres of rusted metal and shadows. Towering heaps of crushed cars, old machines, and broken girders made the place feel like a maze. Bee scanned again โ the readings were scattered, moving, like something alive.
โRaf frowned at the monitor.
โโBee, itโs shifting โ... thatโs not normal.โ
โBee motioned with a beep for Raf to stay close. Then he rolled forward, headlights dimmed, as the boy followed. The faint blue glow of energon pulsed from deep within a pile of scrap.
โBut when they reached it โ the source moved.
โA shadow darted between the stacks. Metal rattled. Something โ someone โ was running.
โโHey, wait!โ Raf called out, darting after the movement.
โBee turned sharply, sensors flaring, but Raf was already weaving between piles of junk. The yellow Autobot beeped a sharp warning โ "Stay back! "โ but the boy didnโt hear.
โRaf caught a glimpse of him โ a short, chubby, rough-looking teenager, hoodie torn at the sleeves, baggy jeans patched over, a mask covering the lower half of his face, two long strands of greasy hair falling over it. His eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, almost reflecting the blue shine of the energon clutched in his hand as he was about to pull his mask down. His free hand stopped midway as he heard the voice.
โโWhatโ โ Raf gasped.
โThe stranger froze. His gaze darted to the Autobotโs silhouette in the distance, then back to Raf. For a moment, something feral flickered behind his tired eyes โ and then he bolted.
โRaf sprinted after him โ too fast, too focused โ until the ground trembled. A tower of metal shifted above him, groaning. He looked up just in time to see a cascade of heavy scrap breaking loose.
โBee beeped in distress, rushing forward.โBut before the Autobot could reach him, a blur moved through the shadows. A hand grabbed Raf by the back of his hoodie, yanking him clear. The entire pile came crashing down where heโd stood, the noise echoing through the yard.
โWhen the dust cleared, Raf sat on the ground, coughing. The masked boy stood a few feet away, watching silently. His hand โ the one that had saved him โ was smeared faintly with blue. Energon.
โTheir eyes met. For a heartbeat, Raf saw it โ the faint shimmer of veins in his eyes glowing the same blue.
โThe boyโs voice was hoarse, quiet.
โโYou shouldnโt be here...โ
โThen he was gone โ disappearing between the heaps like a shadow swallowed by the night.
โBumblebee rolled up seconds later, weapons deployed, scanning the area with tense chirps. Raf shook his head, still catching his breath.
โ"He saved me, Bee, I...I don't know who he is...but we need to tell the othersโ Raf said, slowly getting up.
โBeeโs optics narrowed, focusing on the faint blue traces left on the ground.
