[And so they became an unlikely, but entertaining duo.]

[The window? It smashed into tiny glass cubes from a single blow of the Insecticon’s thick forearm.

The bright light made Bombshell dim his optics. What was the tiny shard doing in there?]

[Bombshell transformed and sat up, interested in this mysterious field Soundblaster described]

I want to find out!

[He got ready to follow the other youngling]

[The Insecticon didn’t look directly at Soundblaster’s uncovered face. He saw that sort of thing as private]

Maybe… We can find something else to do, together. We can go racing, or exploring in nature.

Are you sure your problem is nothing? Kickback doesn’t want me to find him

…No. I think, that he doesn’t like that I am younger than him, but I am more powerful than him. But, I just ran away to your house. I wanted to go with Kickback. We were supposed to stick together.

He ran away. I don’t want to tell my creator.

[He flops on the ground in bug mode]

I’m tired of my creator…

Oh. I… don’t know about that, either. It might be… something like what happened to Kickback, or maybe you are missing something? Are you sure you checked on all your everything?

[Bombshell waited by the truck, but was growing impatient. Soundblaster was trying to teach him to show restraint, it seemed, but this truck would be so easy to tear apart… It was really tempting.

He barely listened to what the shard said]

[Annoyed bug sounds]

Do you want a useless hug and nothing that helps whatever the problem is? Tell me about the problem.

What? Why do you risk emoting to everyone but you don’t want help? I think you do!

It’s better to hide vulnerable emotions… But why are you sad?

Why are you showing that you’re sad?

@kickbacktfa.bsky.social

Kickback. Our Queen is searching for you. …If you’re hiding from her on purpose, respond to me.

[It was kind of hard to grab the shard with his mouth while trying not to actually hurt the shard.

When #3 managed to get away and slip inside the car, Bombshell made a noise of frustrated disbelief, and looked over at Soundblaster as if for guidance.

Should he try to eat through the car, or not?]

It will be for me to decide. You are an enemy of Insecticons.

You need to kiss a bug to make amends. It is the only way.

Heh. I need his head to make him dance

I will keep my optics open for him. All I will need is to see his forehead.

[Bombshell didn’t have controls out in the open like Soundblaster. He wheeled around over the motorcycle’s path, then dove from the air at the shard to try to pounce on it]

Look, Mother.

bsky.app/profile/offi...

Insecticons, return to Cybertron?

[Buzzes up his wings and thrusters to follow the little snack]

Soundblaster, come in from the right. We will corner it.

I smell the little shard…

@soundblasterr.bsky.social

Yes.

Yay! We will plot more soon.

Humm… As long as we remain on the planet after eating, the mass will remain. It will be within us.

But, Soundblaster: Wise. This is why you will be at my side.

Everyone does as I say. Except for you, and other Insecticons. I will need to amplify my power. Also, we will eat the Earth from the inside.

Home planet. It belongs to me. It belongs to you, too.

I want to rule this planet.