The sudden alert that someone or something was approaching the camp pierced the stillness of the night, rousing every sleeper from their dreams. When Hound and his entourage finally returned, they were met not by a camp of weary survivors but by a sea of vigilant faces, every person and Autobot wide awake and prepared for battle. The memory of the recent Cobra attack loomed large at the forefront of everyone's mind, casting a shadow of anxiety in the minds of all present. The threat of another assault sent a rush of adrenaline coursing through the veins of the humans, igniting a fire of determination as they prepared to defend their fragile sanctuary.
Dusty's story made its way around camp, washing away the tension that had marred the night and leaving in its place a sense of hope that had been waning for far too long.
Big Brawler found himself repeating his introductions of Dusty again and again. When the Joes - Doc, Wolf Spider, Breaker, Sparks, Wreckage, and Night Fox caught wind of Dusty's arrival, they eagerly made their way over to welcome him.
Nearby, Brawn spotted Ultra Magnus, who stood just beyond the flickering light of the campfire and made his way over to him. "We need to debrief the team and this newcomer," Brawn stated firmly, gesturing toward Dusty, "We must find out what he knows about the attackers we faced."
Ultra Magnus gazed at the exuberant group, watching as laughter and relief poured forth. "There will be time for that later," he replied a hint of nostalgia and longing to find his missing comrades plain in his voice. "For now, let the humans celebrate this reunion," Ultra Magnus replied, never taking his eyes off the group. "It's not every day they find a lost friend."
Throughout the night, sentries stood vigilant around the perimeter, the quiet shuffle of guard shifts rotated, and the night continued as it had all previous nights.
As dawn's first light began fighting back the darkness, illuminating the world in warm hues of gold and orange, the camp buzzed with excitement over Dusty's astounding survival tales in the harsh, unforgiving desert that surrounded them. When the sun finally broke above the distant horizon, Ultra Magnus stepped forward, "Dusty, may we speak?"
Dusty looked to Big Brawler, who hadn't left his side all night.
"It's okay," Brawler reassured him. "We wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for Ultra Magnus and his Autobots."
Ultra Magnus gestured for Dusty to follow him, his giant frame casting a long shadow over the sun-baked ground. After walking for a minute, Ultra Magnus paused and turned to look down at Dusty, the newest member of their convoy. "You survived a long time out here," his deep voice resonated through the dry air.
"Yes. I did." Dusty replied cautiously.
"How did you manage to evade the Cobra troops?" Ultra Magnus probed.
"The same way anything survives in the desert: I hid, moved under the cover of darkness, and stayed cautious."
"Do you know where they come from?"
Dusty shook his head. "They don't have a base of operations," he said as he extended his arm, pointing out the endless sands and scrub. "They are nomadic, drifting like grains of sand blown by the scalding wind."
"And somehow, you avoided them," Ultra Magnus' voice began to betray his suspicion.
Dusty took a deep, exasperated breath. "There are thousands of miles of desert out here. Even before the fall, a person could get lost out here and never be found, their bones swallowed by the sands and forgotten to time," Dusty turned and looked up at Ultra Magnus' imposing figure. "Just ask what you need to ask."
"How do we... How can I be sure you aren't working with them."
"You can't," Dusty replied simply, a look of defiance in his eyes.
With that, Dusty turned and walked back to his friends. Leaving his answer hanging in the still, hot air to linger long after he was gone.
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