(Apologies if the formatting comes across badly.  I've tried to fix it,
but moving things from Simpletext to pico doesn't seem to be a good idea.)

First Impressions
by Mischa Gelman

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION:  Transformers belong to Hasbro, as do some of the
other characters here probably.  Several others, like Carly or Spike, may
be property of someone who worked on the TV show.

Timeline:Set after 'Search for Alpha Trion' in G1


Odd.  That was the word that she thought best suited them.  Them being the
little organisms native to this planet, the ones Optimus Prime seemed to
deem so worthy of saving.  Why he had chosen these little beings from the
wide array of life forms here she did not know.  The very fact that there
was so much life though was we she found truly important.  On Cybertron,
everything had been dead, save a few warriors on each side who kept up the
war.  And the future of life was something neither side really se emed
ready to consider.  Here,though,here there were hundreds of life forms. 
True, they all seemed puny or witless, amoral or ignorant, often all four
combined.  But they were life, and life was something she had learned to
cherish on Cybertron.  Were the lives of such creatures truly worth our
energon, though, she wondered.  With all the energon present we may be
able to finally wipe out the Decepticons.  Was that not more important
than protecting such beings?  She looked back down at one of the organisms
that had taken up residence in the base here.  It was able to communicate
at least, unlike the other forms of life here, though often what it had to
say was best left unsaid. 

"This is the newest hit from Morphine," it was saying, seemingly referring
to some rather loud and annoying sounds emanating from a nearby device. 

And Blaster just nodded to this being!  He seemed to be enjoying this
noise.  Then again, this was Blaster..he had always had such odd tastes
back on Cybertron.  Certainly not as sensible as Sideswipe or Inferno or
Prime..but Prime accepted these creatures too.  That was perhaps the most
annoying part of it. He seemed to treat them like equals, when they made
so little sense.  The observing robot felt a slight impact against her
foot, as if a small metal beam had hit against it. She turned around and
saw yet another of these organisms there, sitting in some form of
miniature chair.  The being inside looked up to her and not showing the
slightest gratitude for their presence, not even showing any bit of
veneration, said "Sorry. Didn't mean to hurt you." as if the little being
could have hurt her in the slightest. The very nerve to think like that!
"Say, you're new here, aren't you?" it queried, showing at least a tiny
smidgen of intelligence.  It extended one of its upper limbs and said,
"I'm Chip.  I help out with Teletran and assist Wheeljack with some of the
research." 
 Right. As if these hew-mins could ever manage such work. Honestly, she
would have talk to Prime about humoring these animals so.  Oh well, we
were ordered to be civil. Might as well give this thing the pleasure of
being around a superior for some time. 
 "Greetings, Chip" she responded, ensuring to keep her tone slow so as to
be understood by the thick-skulled creature, "I am called Firestar."  She
even extended the courtesy of reaching down to shake its hand (well,
shaking his hand with her finger).  Hopefully that would suffice.
 A  moment later, she realized her error.  These beings seemed to rant on
at the slightest thing (much like Blurr in that mannerism) so this one
persisted to speak to her. Now that she had extended a great courtesy, she
would have to sacrifice some useful time in engaging this critter in
conversation. Primus, whatever was she thinking!  The being was now inquiring
as to her job here.  She dutifully responded rescue operations. It then was
bombarding her with even more questions. 
 Did she know Inferno and Red Alert? "Of course".  Did she do any neat
tricks like Hound or Mirage? As if those are "tricks"!  Those are tools of
battle, as is all we do..but she had to be civil. No, she didn't, she
said.  What was with her tone of voice? 
 Why was it so different than that of the others? Now that quite shook
her.  She answered, "It is how I was made".  Or that's what she would have
answered.  But she didn't.  Is that it? she wondered to herself.  She
hadn't really noticed it herself but when they had once again made contact
 with the other Autobots after thousands of years in hiding she had
started to pick up differences, in tone of speech, in general manner even.
Like...like..the female Autobots were different than the others.  How odd
a concept.  Really something she must think over.  The little creature was
still looking up at her through its glass headgear, obviously in poor
imitation of the superior Autobots.  "Because I'm a female Autobot" she
said, hoping that would finally settle the critter's curiosity.
But it still persisted!  "Female?" the one called Chip said, "Huh. Didn't
think you folks came in genders.  Optimus had never mentioned any such
thing." As if Optimus would waste time so much on these pests!  "In what
ways do you happen to differ from the, shall we say, male Autobots?" it asked.
Now, Firestar had really not wanted to converse with this simple being in the
first place. She did not like answering its silly questions nor did she like
the idea she was even here to protect it.  But she found that what she hated
even more than answering its silly questions was her not being able to answer
 them.  She especially didn't like that it was asking her questions that
she had never considered and ones she really hadn't thought about
answering ever.  She would have to say something, but what? 
 "Well, it's like this" Blaster was saying, as if she was incapable of
answering for herself.  How long him and the other fleshling had been
listening, she had no idea.  "The female Autobots are a separate group but
they're still part of us, like the Protectobots.  Just like the Protectobots
each have a similar approach and color scheme, the female Autobots have a
similar approach and voice tone.  They have the same sense of comraderie as
the Protectobots but just like them enjoy the company of all Autobots..well,
except Bumblebee. None of us really enjoy being around him..not even Spike
here, who he considers a friend..we just don't want the little dude to feel
sorry for himself, that's all.  I mean would you be mean to a guy who's so
obviously clueless.  I mean, like he should have starred in Clueless, he 
fits the role so well"
 "Blaster," she interupted before he made the natives think that they were
simple-minded, "You should have stopped while you were making sense." She
looked down at the little creature called Chip and said, "Blaster probably
summed it up best actually.  We are simply another sub-group of the
Autobots.  I am as different from Moonracer..she is another female
Autobot..as I am from Trailbreaker, one Chip called a male." 

	The little hew-min seemed to consider this, with its minimal
intellectual capacity, and said, "Interesting." as if this was such an odd
concept, "I really must chat with you more after Wheeljack's experiment.
He's working on a new device to overrun Decepticon visual systems.  I
better go over there before he winds up destroying the lab in the
process."  The critter wheeled away its movable miniature chair and was
gone.  She looked back over at Blaster and the other fleshling whom he
labeled Spike, once again engaged in listening to that horrid noise from
the metal device by the wall.  Might as well say hi to Red Alert, she
thought, before he imagines a Decepticon squadron has snucken past his
security systems and kidnapped me.  If he didn't see you for more than a
few cycles, he would develop the oddest notions.
----------------

Protectobots.  First Blaster had mentioned them and then in her talk with
Red Alert, they had come up again.  They sounded like decent folks from
what he was saying and maybe she should meet them.  After he gave her the
location for their base, she transformed into her red transport mode and
headed over.  A nice place they had, devoid of any of the noise Blaster
was enjoying back in the Ark or the explosions sounding from Wheeljack's
lab on a regular basis.  Even here though she wasn't safe from these
little native beings, she quickly realized.  One of them was scampering
along the floor, playing around with an open scanning device.  Primus, she
thought, was any Autobot safe from indulging these hew-mins?  Letting them
work with top Autobot scientists? 

Let them send loud noise throughout the base? Let them play with a
scanner?  This HAD to stop.  She reached down to take it away from the
human. 

"Hot Spot" it shouted, "Intruder!"

An Autobot with a blue color scheme walked into the room from a nearby
chamber and looked over at her. "This isn't an intruder, Carly" he said,
"This is Firestar.  She's an old friend and associate of Inferno."  He
grinned a bit as he noticed her shock at recognition. "Oh, Inferno talked
about you all the time.  Nice to have you drop by..I'd give Carly that scanner
back, though.  She's fixing it up for us."
She should have been immune to shock by then at what they let humans get
away with.  But repair. Honestly.  That really struck her, shocking her so
much she dropped the scanner with a loud CLUNK.  The little fleshling
called Carly walked calmly over to it, glared (glared!) up at Firestar, and
 once again began to work with.  She turned towards the blue Autobot and
said, "Fix? These things can comprehend Cybertonian devices, let alone fix
them?" 

Another grin. What an awful habit.  "Well, Firestar, I think you're in for
a surprise. These humans are very capable.  Prime says we can learn alot
from them, and frankly I think he's right."  He probably noticed her deep
frown as he added, "Most of the a rrivals from Cybertron are the same way,
you know.  They really don't understand how a being with a limited natural
lifespan, without great strength, often with morals as low as those of the
Decepticons, how such a being can be of value. But Carly here, w ell she
knows how to fix devices as well as Wheeljack.  That is, she either fixes
them in no time flat or causes a fire."  The hewman looked up to frown
briefly at Hot Spot, then made a sort of laughing noise and went back to
work. 

Something that he had said a few times prevented her from another outburst
about hewmans setting things on fire.  Hot Spot had called this "Carly" a
she as if it was a female Autobot.  And just because its voice was closer
to hers than to that of the othe r Autobots.  Now this was something that
REALLY upset her.  "SHE?" she said, "SHE?  How dare you call
a..a..creature like that a she.  That is a term reserved for us, Hot Spot.
Maybe since you're obviously new you didn't know that but I'll have Prime
corr ect you at first chance he gets.  We do not call anyone but a female
Autobot a 'she' and certainly not..not a human!"  She turned quickly and
turned around before either could get in another word. 

-----------------------------

"We most certainly call half of the humans 'she', Firestar" responded
Prime in his usual calm, controlled tone.  "It is what they have referred
to themselves as for thousands of years, before we were awakened on their
planet.  And it is theirs.  They have controlled it for some time now
before we arrived and are quite capable of controlling it if we are not
here as long as the Decepticons are not here either.  We must cooperate
with them,work with them, just as we must respect them.  The one called
Chip is far more intelligent than any Autobot save Perceptor.  The one
called Sparkplug can repair as well as Ratchet.  The one called Spike,
well we like to think of him as the human equivalent of Bumblebee.  As we
respect their talents, we also must respect t heir language.  You may even
come to think of Carly as a sister-in-arms with time, as a substitute for
Moonracer and Chromia while you are here.  So please treat her and all of
them with respect." 

"Yes,sir," Firestar responded, "I will try.  That is all I can do.  I do
not think you are capable of judging them wrongly to any great measure but
I cannot come to accept them as equals.  It will take time." 

"I understand", said Prime, "I am sure that given the effort you will come
to accept them.  Now, I'm sure Inferno and Groove would love to fill you
in on rescue operations on this planet.  It was a tough decision to move
you here, but I think your presence is needed. Primus knows Inferno has
requested your assistance with rescues enough times." 

-------------
 Carly watched the robot stomp off with quite some confusion.  She looked
over to Hot Spot, "The Scanner's fixed, sir." 

"Thanks, Carly" he replied, taking the machinery in hand and placing it
over on First Aid's supply shelf.  "You can go back to the Ark now.  Spike
said something about 'dinner and a movie'?" 

She nodded briefly but something stuck in her mind.  "Hot Spot, why was
the Autobot Firestar so mad?  And why did she call herself 'she'?  I mean,
you folks don't have any gender terminology..or none that I knew of.  The
idea of you..well..in those terms. .it's unsettling, to say the least."

He laughed quite a bit at this.  "Well, Carly, you shouldn't try to employ
human definitions to Autobot terms.  With us, it only is a separation like
oh, like between us and the Aerialbots.  They can fly and have bad
attitudes and are generally dim-witted and we stay on the ground mostly,
try to help out and are more on an average keel inteligently. What we call
female Autobots simply are Autobots who speak, well, with a tone close to
yours, and they generally are vehicular in mode and serve less in direc
t-combat roles, more sneaking, more recon..that kind of thing.  Why she
was upset..well I think she was shocked I called you a 'she'..you see
that's what they call themselves." 

"You know what?" said Carly, "Everytime I think I finally understand you
Autobots something else comes up." 

------

One thing Firestar had to be thankful for while hear on Earth was her
vehicular mode. Unlike the earlier arrivals, she thankfully had not been
asked to adapt a mode similar to that of the natives' transport devices.
Prime's reasoning was that the Autobot symbol was easily identifiable, and
that the opinion of the natives (or "our fellow sentient and moral
beings", as Optimus called them) would not be changed by the Autobot
acceptance of appearances palatable to the humans.  The fleshlings had
already made up their minds as to the value of the Autobots and
Decepticons...while the Cybertonians were considered a change for the
worse by most of the world, many had come to accept their presence and get
on with their lives, to deal with the newcomers.  While some still blamed
the Autobots for each episode of destruction, the majority had come to
realize what a ruin their world would be without them.  The Decepticons'
mercy and caring had already been shown to be minimal to non-existant. 
Yet, to Firestar at l east, the humans seemed rather violent and
inconsiderate.  The rocks they threw at her as she drove did no damage
physically and the insults hurled only reinforced her belief that these
beings were simple.  How Prime had come to accept them, to ally himself
with them, she had not a clue.  The humans (she had finally gotten the
pronounciation down-packed) should be grateful for their Autobots'
assistance and protection. Yet did any of them stop to thank her as she
drove by?  Not a one.  Honestly, Optimus must have lost it in the past 4
millenia, she thought.  What had he said? "Given the effort, she would
come to accept them". Hah!  That was as likely as Megatron donning an
Autobot insignia and atoning for his sins and misdeeds. 

-------

On the radio, station WQIK was cranking out some Cannonball Adderly, the
great saxophonist.  On the roads, not a red light had interfered with his
drive.  And his pocket, the money to buy his daughter Gina a fancy Lego
set for her birthday.  As far as Les ter Davidson could tell, all was
right with the world this day. That is, until the driverless red truck
nearly slammed into his Chevy Caprice as he crossed 6th Avenue.  The
symbol on the door said it all. Autobot.  No wonder the reckless disregard
for traffic rules. No wonder the seeming carelessness for human life, for
a possible collision.  The robots had come to their world and had helped
protect them from a menace, true.  But they were wrecking the planet in
the process, they were causing havoc.  Only two he'd met had shown the
slightest of manners. Simply, they showed no respect for the people who
had made the place work (more or less) for thousands of years.  To match
his mood, the radio stopped Adderly's masterful works and started on John
Coltrane's "Om". Yep, the day was going from perfect to horrid in no time
flat.

-----

Inferno really thought this was THE place to relax.  Never mind the hectic
lifestyle. He loved that personally..he would be totally unnerved and
unable to relax if things weren't hectic.  The teamwork he witnessed could
serve as a role model for the Autob ots.  And the guys and gals who worked
here were his kind of folks. After all, they worked the same trade. 
Whether natives of Earth or Cybertonians, the firefighters just plain got
along.  At the moment, Inferno was seated in a corner of the Olympia,
Washington Fire Station #3, on Hedley Drive.  Seeing a familiar vehicle
arrive, he waved, smiling. "How's it going?" he called out as the
vehicle's driver appeared.

 "It's going to be one of those days," said Lester Davidson in a voice
that showed his annoyance at the world this day, a friend of Inferno's
like all the firemen and firewomen here. The 36-year old man had the brown
color scheme of some of the humans and was already putting on his uniform,
preparing for the day's work.  "Just hope I can make it till tonight. My
girl's 6th birthday..she wouldn't want her pop all worn out and upset for
the party after all." 

Inferno nodded, having learned something of this human 'birthday' ritual,
one of the many extravangancies of the beings.  "What is troubling you,
Lester?" queried the Autobot. 

The human made a 'hmph' sound and responded, "Just about everything. 
Another of your Autobot friends ruining my day though this morni - ". 

Inferno turned to see whatever made Mr. Davidson stop and stare (and frown
even more if his optics could be trusted).  Turning fully, he saw Firestar
drive into the station, nearly crashing into Lester's Caprice. 

"YOU!" shouted the middle-aged man, "Came here to ruin my day s'more, huh?"
-------------------------

Firestar transformed into her robotic mode, showing the human no heed at
all, not even bothering to answer the question. She waved at Inferno,
smiling, "Nice to see you again....is something the matter?  You don't
seem too thrilled to see an old friend." 

Inferno certainly did not seem the least bit happy. He was frowning quite
deeply and asked, "Firestar, will you answer the man's question?  It is
nice to see you again, but I expect my old friends to treat my new ones
with courtesy." 

She looked down at the tiny little fleshling then back at Inferno and back
down again. "Err..hello, human" she began, wondering why the heck Inferno
would be friends with such a grumpy little critter. 

"Hello?" asked the still fuming Lester Davidson. "Is that the way you're
defending yourself?"  He looked at Inferno, "Nice company you keep." 

Now that just wasn't fair, thought Firestar. She hadn't done anything to
this human and she didn't deserve to be treated meanly by it (he, she
corrected herself. They thought of themselves as hes and shes also) and
Inferno certainly didn't deserve the rude remark.  She tried to collect her
 thoughts to formulate a response to the inconsiderate person but at the
moment a loud noise, bell-like, starting going off.  A bunch of other
little humans started running about, making all sorts of fuss, ruining her
concentration.  Inferno was transforming and starting to drive off..he was
going to leave her here with the scurrying creatures!  Then she noticed
that they too were entering vehicles (that very much resembled her
friend's new form).  FIguring it best to follow and see what the excitement
 was, she too transformed and starting to drive after.
-------------

"A four-alarm fire is being fought by the city crews on the corners of
Grant and Watters this evening.  The cause is still unknown, but the
firemen are having trouble controlling the blaze.  Some say the
Transformers are to blame for this menace, but most likely the cause was
bad wiring says the city's fire commisioner, Charles McLane."  Chip looked
over at the television carrying the news, the young anchorman (were there
old anchormen? he thought idly) reporting the details as they arrived. 

"Now down to Jessica Anderson, down on Grant, with a live report." The camera
 shifted and Chip grinned. Of course Inferno would be there to help battle
the blaze as usual.  He just couldn't keep himself away from work ever. 
The newcomer Firestar was there as well, helping to fight the fire but
seemingly paying more heed to the buildings than the humans, even the
firefighters!  As if she didn't care about their welfare.  A human
firefighter was calling for help, plainly visible from the camera angle,
as part of a nearby wall started to collapse.  She wasn't moving to help
him..he would be.. "And it looks like we have a fatality," reported the
anchorman in his bad-news voice (the one he used for rainy days or
baseball losses), "No identification yet of the fireman who just got crushed
 but it is doubtful he could have survived."  Chip couldn't see the
television camera zoom in on the scene as the tears from rage and sadness
at the tragedy and the Autobot's blindness and unconcern filled his eyes. 

-----------

This planet was not making much more sense, thought Firestar.  Even her
fellow Autobots seemed to have changed since they had arrived..or were her
memories that poor as to how they had been back on Cybertron?  The only
time she had truly felt at home here was when she had been battling that
fire - that was something she understood - no complex issues to deal with. 
But this crazy world was just to much for her.  If Optimus Prime hadn't
felt she could contribute more to the Autobot cause here she would have
immediately requested a return to home.  She continued her path down the
hall of the Ark, which certainly did not feel the least bit like home to
her.  Looking into one of the side rooms, she saw Inferno.  He did not
look like he was in the best of shape, odd since usually helping quench a
fire and the thrill of action cheered him up.  She walked over into the
room and blinked.  Inferno was shaking, whimpering a bit.  She had known
him thousands of years.  Inferno did not whimper.  This planet was not
making any sense. 

"Inferno?" she called out, walking over towards him, "What is the matter?"

He glanced over at her, then looked away again, probably ashamed she had
found him in such a state. "It's Les," said Inferno, "He's dead." 

And...? thought Firestar.  Out loud, she commented, "What's the big deal? 
He's only a human.  There are hundreds more where he came from."  As soon
as she noticed him cringe at this she realized it was not the right thing
to say. 

"The big deal is that he meant alot to me.  And to many others.  His
family.  His friends.  His coworkers.  His daughter's birthday would have
been today.  What memories she'll have now, her old man dying on such a
special occasion for her," replied Inferno.

Dotter? Burthday?  Huh?  "How could he mean so much to you?  Like I said,
he was only a human" argued Firestar, a bit less emphatically than last
time. 

"You don't understand, Firestar, do you?" asked Inferno, looking her
directly into the optics now.  She took a step back.  He almost seemed
angry at her.  What had she said? 

"No..no..I don't think I understand" said Firestar, sitting down nearby,
"Try to explain it" 

"They're just like us" explained the other Autobot, "How many times do we
have to tell you that?  They think like us.  They behave like us.  They're
as smart as us and want peace the same way.  Stop looking at them like,
like, objects. Please.  I know this is hard for you to understand but Mr.
Davidson..Lester..he was a friend of mine.  Not as close as you, but
closer than most Autobots. Wouldn't you grieve if Sideswipe fell in
combat?"  Seeing her nod, he finished off, "It's the same way here." 

She nodded again, fidgeting slightly, wondering if she should tell Inferno
she had a chance to save this Lester.  No, she thought.  All this time
they've been telling me to treat the humans well and I haven't learned.
Hopefully this will help.  If I tell them now about it they'll think I
haven't learned.  They'll send me back to Cybertron and then I can never
repay the human and his friends and dotter, whatever that was.  Inferno
was getting up to go now. "Inferno?" called out Firestar, "I think I
understand.  Is there anything I can do to help his humans?" 

----------------

"...Then they lowered the casket into the ground.  His daughter, she's a
nice little girl but she seems like an Autobot who has seen their first
death ever, she was crying.  That's something humans do when they get sad" 
explained Firestar to her listener, busilly recounting her few weeks on
Earth, who was looking a bit confused but seemed interested. 

"Can you go back a bit, sis?" asked the listening Autobot, "You said you
had a chance to save this little life-form, this Les-tor?  Why didn't
you?" 

Firestar looked down, still a bit ashamed.  She had explained herself to
Prime (how he found out she had no clue) as well as the human called Chip
but she still had trouble defending herself.  "I..uh...you see, Moonracer,
what happened was that when I got there I wanter to help these humans. I
really did.  I just thought that, that we knew better than them how to do
things, that they had no reason to ever question us.  I made some bad
assumptions.  That's why Prime sent me up here.  To make sure you don't do
the same thing. When you come down.  Don't judge the humans on your first
glance.  They're too complex...they're like miniature, fleshy Autobots
almost." Noting a hint of doubt creep into Moonracer's expression, she
grinned.  She would have acted the same way before. "Just remember what I
said, okay?" she asked again, "Don't judge them on your first
impressions."