Hi! This is my first Transformers fic, so I hope you like it. This is loosely based in the G1 universe although there is no particular episode it takes place around.
Pairings: Optimus Prime/Ratchet, Sideswipe,/Sunstreaker, Jazz/Prowl, Megatron/Starscream
Main focus pairing is Optimus Prime/Ratchet, others are briefly seen or mentioned slightly
Summary: After an assault on the Autobot base while most of the Autobots are gone, Ratchet is assumed to have been killed in the battle. The devastated Autobots grieve over the loss of thier friend while planning on striking back at the Decepticons for what they've done. Unknown to them, Ratchet is alive and a captive of the Decepticons!
Warnings: slash/ mechpreg
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Transformers!
Chapter 1
Optimus Prime and the main contingent of the Autobots were once more locked in a battle with Megatron and his Decepticons. The Decepticons were trying to raid an oil plant. The oil plant falling to the Decepticons would severely damage the oil industry for Earth.
"Autobots, don't let the Decepticons get any closer to the plant. We can't afford the possibility that the Decepticons might get to the plant or that our battle will destroy it." Optimus told his teammates.
"Not a problem, Prime." Jazz replied. He was firing at the Decepticons with everything he had.
"Yeah. They aren't getting any further." Ironhide added.
Megatron was firing at the Autobots as well. He had told no one, not even his second-in-command, Starscream, that this was merely a distraction. The Constructicons were carrying out the real plan. However, Megatron was going to make a good show of it. "Decepticons, turn those Autobots into scrap metal! No prisoners!" After all, if a few Autobots were taken out during this distraction, then that was just better news for him.
"Then allow us to handle this." Starscream said. He transformed into his jet form and flew up into the air.
Thundercracker and Skywarp followed their trine leader's lead and transformed as well, flying after Starscream.
The three Seekers then started to fire down at the Autobots.
One blast hit right behind Mirage, throwing him forward into the rock in front of him. "Those slaggin' Seekers! Can't stand 'em." He then started firing up at the Seekers.
Ironhide and Hound joined Mirage in firing at the Seekers.
"Keep firing!" Optimus ordered. He as well as Jazz, Prowl, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Skyfire continued to fire at the Decepticons remaining on the ground. Optimus turned to Skyfire and said, "Skyfire, transform and get Starscream off our backs."
"Yes, sir." Skyfire then transformed and flew up. He got behind Starscream and his Seekers, firing at them.
Thundercracker was hit in the wing and started to veer. "Fraggin' Autobot! I'm hit."
"Leave it to me, TC." Skywarp turned in midair and fired at Skyfire.
Skyfire veered off and avoided being hit while he continued to fire at the three Seekers.
Megatron was getting a little testy. He knew that this was a distraction, but he hated the fact that they were losing. Decepticons should never lose to a faction as inferior as the Autobots. He transformed into his gun form before going to Soundwave.
Soundwave then used Megatron to fire at the Autobots.
One blast hit the mountain behind the Autobots, and several large boulders tumbled down the mountain toward them.
Prowl, unable to move out of the way in time, became trapped under it. He tried to get up, but found that he couldn't move all of the boulders off of himself. "I'm pinned!"
"Hang on!" Jazz ran toward him, but had to duck for cover as more fire came down at him.
Optimus continued to fire at the Decepticons. He knew that his soldiers had to be growing weary as he was. This battle had been going on for a few hours, and they were all getting tired.
Meanwhile, back at the Autobot base, Sparkplug and Spike were getting worried about their Autobot friends.
"I don't like this. It's been way too long since Optimus Prime and the others contacted us. Do you think they're all right?" Spike looked up at Bumblebee.
"I wouldn't worry about them. They can take care of themselves just fine." Bumblebee assured him.
"Yeah. We're probably in more danger with Wheeljack working on another one of those inventions of his." Ratchet added.
"I resent that!" Wheeljack called from across the room.
The group turned to where Wheeljack had shouted.
"You can't blame us for feeling that way, Wheeljack. Nine times out of ten, those inventions of yours explode and anyone near you can get hurt." Sparkplug pointed out.
"Well, I haven't blown anything up in a few cycles." Wheeljack retorted, continuing to tinker with his invention.
"Exactly! You're due for an explosion, which means more work for me." Ratchet stated.
"Well, I-" Wheeljack started.
The alarm went off.
"What's going on?" Spike asked.
They all ran to Teletraan 1.
"Danger. Decepticons approaching base." Teletraan 1 informed them.
On the screen, the five could see that the six team Constructicons were heading right for them.
"Oh no! It's the Constructicons!" Wheeljack shouted.
"That means that Devastator is here. If they combine, anyway." Bumblebee stated.
"And whenever the Constructicons come after us, they always combine." Ratchet stated.
On the screen, the Constructicons fired at the Autobot base.
The force of the attack had the entire base shaking, knocking everyone off of their feet. Thankfully, the Autobots didn't land on their human friends.
"Base under attack." Teletraan 1 informed them.
"Thanks for stating the obvious, Teletraan." Ratchet said sarcastically, pulling out his blaster and he climbed to his feet.
"Sparkplug, Spike. Contact Optimus and tell him that we're under attack and need reinforcements." Wheeljack told them.
Ratchet and Wheeljack headed for the entrance to the base.
Spike started to follow.
Bumblebee's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Spike, you can't come this time. With only three of us, we have to be careful. You and Sparkplug are going to be safer in here."
"But-" Spike started.
"Son," Sparkplug started, placing a hand on his son's shoulder, "I know how you feel, but they need to handle this. We'll only get in the way out there."
"Yeah. You're right." Spike agreed.
Bumblebee then took off after his fellow Autobots.
Spike and Sparkplug ran over to Teletraan 1.
"Teletraan, contact Optimus Prime now." Spike ordered.
The battle at the oil plant raged on.
"Normally the Decepticons have given up by now. I wonder why the change." Jazz stated, firing.
Prowl was still struggling to get out from under the boulders.
"Hold still, Prowl." Ironhide then aimed his gun and fired at the boulders that held him captive.
Now in pieces, Prowl was able to stand up and rejoin the fight. "Thanks, Ironhide."
"Sure thing." Ironhide then returned to firing at the Decepticons.
Optimus then received a call from Teletraan 1. "Teletraan, what is it?"
"Optimus, you need to get back to the base as fast as you can." Spike told him.
"Spike, we're a little busy." Optimus told him.
"It's the Constructicons, Optimus! They're attacking the base. There's no way that Wheeljack, Ratchet, and Bumblebee are going to be able to stop him without help." Sparkplug added.
"Constructicons! That's not good." Jazz stated.
"Does anyone else get the feeling that this battle has absolutely nothing to do with the oil plant and everything to do with getting us on the other side of the planet, away from the base?" Sunstreaker asked.
"He's right. Megatron hasn't made a true push to get to the oil plant. He wants us distracted. We have to end this and get to base now." Optimus told them.
"Then it's time for us to push." Jazz stated.
"Autobots, move!" Optimus ordered.
The Autobots jumped from behind their cover and charged at the Decepticons.
"Decepticons, attack!" Megatron, returned to his robot form, ordered.
The Decepticons then jumped out of hiding and charged as well.
Wheeljack, Ratchet, and Bumblebee arrived outside to find that the Constructicons had just gotten to the base.
"We need to take at least one of them out of commission. They won't be able to form Devastator if we can manage that much." Wheeljack said.
The three then started firing at the Constructicons.
"Constructicons, combine and form Devastator. We will complete the mission Lord Megatron has given us!" Scrapper ordered.
The six Constructicons then combined and formed Devastator.
"Too late." Ratchet stated.
"Well, we can hope that Optimus and the others will get here, but we all might want to be ready because we're probably going to be meeting Primus very soon." Wheeljack said.
The three Autobots then took cover among the rocks and started firing at the towering Devastator.
"You Autobots will never defeat Devastator." Devastator then stomped down on the ground so hard that the three Autobots were knocked of their feet.
Bumblebee looked up and nearly had spark failure at what he saw. "Move!"
Devastator then fired at them.
All three Autobots managed to get themselves out of the way of the attack, but the recoil sent them all flying in different directions.
Ratchet slammed down into the ground before he skidded backwards, making a ditch. "My alternate form is not an airplane for a reason. I hate not having my feet planted on solid ground." He got up and looked to see that Devastator was heading right for him. "Not good." He raised his blaster and started firing.
"Bumblebee!" Wheeljack shouted.
The yellow bot saw what Wheeljack was looking at. He then raised his weapon at the same time Wheeljack did before the two started firing at Devastator, trying to give Ratchet time to get away.
Devastator turned toward where the fire was coming from. "Annoying pests." He then fired up at the two Autobots.
Bumblebee was sent flying backwards from a direct hit. He slammed right into the mountainside before he slid down. "Man. Devastator is virtually invincible. I hope Prime and the other get here soon."
Wheeljack had managed to dodge the attack, but the recoil had caught hi again and slammed him right through a boulder. "Not good. I hope Ratchet was able to get away."
Ratchet had transformed into his car mode and was busy driving, trying to get away from Devastator. He knew that Wheeljack was right. If they could at least hold out until Optimus and the others got there, then they might have a chance at getting out of this alive.
Devastator was chasing Ratchet. He fired down at the ambulance several times. Ratchet swerved out of the way of each blast, but one blast caught him and sent him flying. Ratchet managed to land on his tires and continue driving. Devastator fired at Ratchet once more and hit him directly. Ratchet went flying through the air before he crashed into a ravine.
Ratchet groaned in pain before he transformed back into his robot mode. "Fantastic. I'm going to have to do some major calibration to my systems. Not to mention the injuries I'll have to take care from the main Decepticon attack at the oil plant." A loud step caught Ratchet's attention. He looked up and then raised his blaster at the sight of Devastator.
However, Devastator swiped a hand at Ratchet and hit him directly. Ratchet was thrown backwards into the wall. Before anything else could be done, Devastator sent rapid fire at Ratchet.
"AHHHH!"
Optimus swung out at Megatron who dodged the attack. He then kicked Optimus in his chest plate, sending the red and blue Autobot crashing down.
"What's the matter, Prime? Losing your touch?" Megatron taunted.
"Hardly." Optimus then blasted Megatron in the chest plate, throwing the Decepticon leader crashing backwards right into his second-in-command.
"Get off me!" Starscream growled.
"Can it, Starscream." Megatron told him.
Skyfire, flying overhead, fired down at the Decepticon leader and second and managed to hit them both.
"Thundercracker! Skywarp! Bring that Autobot down!" Starscream ordered.
Thundercracker and Skywarp both transformed before they flew up after Skyfire. Both Decepticons then started to fire upon him.
Skyfire started to maneuver in an attempt to get the two Decepticons off his tail wings, but was finding it hard to do. "I could use some help here! I can't shake them!"
"Hang on, Skyfire!" Mirage then started to fire up at the two Decepticons.
Megatron had formed his chain and spiked ball and slammed to down at Optimus, who used his axe to stop it.
"What is your real plan, Megatron?" Optimus demanded as he forced Megatron back.
"Now that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?" Megatron asked as twirled the ball around before bringing it down at Optimus.
Optimus jumped backwards before charging forward at Megatron with the axe.
"Lord, Megatron. Mission accomplish. Returning to Decepticon headquarters." Devastator told him over the com link.
Megatron couldn't stop the cruel smirk from spreading across his lips. "You win this battle, Optimus." He then flew up into the air. "Decepticons, retreat!"
All of the Decepticons then followed their leader as they fled the battlefield.
"Good riddance, I say." Ironhide said.
"No time! We have to get back to base and help the others with Devastator! Autobots, transform and roll out!" Optimus told them.
All of the Autobots then transformed and started back for their base.
Wheeljack peered over the edge of the rocks and was surprised to see that all was quiet. He looked around and noticed that there was no sign of Devastator. He scanned the area just to make sure that he hadn't split back up into the Constructicons and were hiding. He didn't find them. "That's odd. I thought that Devastator would have stayed until he destroyed all three of us." Wheeljack then got up and started to search for his friends. "Bumblebee!"
Bumblebee looked over at Wheeljack. "Is it over?"
Wheeljack knelt down by the smaller bot. "Yeah. It's over. Can you get up?"
"I'll try." Bumblebee struggled for a few moments, but was able to get back onto his feet.
"Come on. We have to find Ratchet." Wheeljack then turned and ran off, searching the area for the medic.
Bumblebee also looked, but couldn't find Ratchet anywhere. He was rather surprised that Devastator had left. With only three Autobots there, there wasn't much of a chance that Devastator would be defeated. He continued to search.
"Over here!"
At Wheeljack's shout, Bumblebee ran over and stopped in shock at what he saw.
Wheeljack was knelt down by a pile of rubble, holding Ratchet's blaster.
"Where is he?" Bumblebee asked.
Wheeljack held up the Autobot insignia that had been on Ratchet. He then glanced down at the few metal parts that were in the area. "Kid, I don't think he made it."
"No. That can't be possible. Ratchet couldn't have been destroyed by Devastator. He just can't be." Bumblebee had seen Ratchet in several battles, and he had thought that Ratchet was indestructible.
"Contrary to what most mechs believed, Ratchet wasn't immortal. He's come out of a lot of scraps, but Primus must have decided that his time was up." Wheeljack said.
"What are we going to do without him?" Bumblebee asked.
"Keep fighting. We have to. There's nothing else to do." Wheeljack replied.
However, Wheeljack was more worried about something else. He didn't know how he was going to tell Optimus Prime that Ratchet was gone. It wasn't a widely spoken about deal, but was something well known amongst the Autobots. Ratchet and Optimus had been bonded for quite some time. Long before they had ever left Cybertron. With Ratchet gone, it would badly affect Optimus, and Wheeljack wished that it wasn't him that had to tell Optimus that his bonded had been killed in a battle.
Bumblebee and Wheeljack heard the sound of approaching vehicles.
Bumblebee then turned to look at Wheeljack. "How do we tell Optimus?"
"I'll tell him, and I'll tell him the only thing I know of. That Ratchet's gone." Wheeljack replied.
The two climbed out of the ravine and went to meet their allies.
Optimus and the rest of the Autobots transformed back into their robot forms.
"So, where's Devastator?" Jazz asked.
"He's gone." Bumblebee replied.
"How did you three manage to defeat Devastator?" Prowl asked.
"We didn't. He retreated on his own. For whatever reason. We were pinned down." Wheeljack answered.
Optimus glanced around. It didn't take much for him to realize that Ratchet, his bonded, was nowhere in sight. He knew Ratchet well enough to know that Ratchet would have been out with Wheeljack and Bumblebee to fight Devastator. He would have defended the base. "Where's Ratchet, Wheeljack?"
At that question, Wheeljack became uneasy. He knew that he had to answer, but the truth was very painful. "Optimus, he's gone." He then held up the badly damaged blaster and the insignia. "We couldn't hold off Devastator, and-" He trailed off. The point had gotten across. He could see it in all the Autobots' optics.
"No! There's no way that Ratchet was destroyed in that battle!" Ironhide was angry. Seething. He refused to believe that his old friend was gone. He had known Ratchet longer than any of them, and he wouldn't believe something like that. "You have to be mistaken."
"Ironhide, I'm not." Wheeljack said. He wouldn't lie to them, and they all knew it.
"Then where's the body?" Jazz demanded.
"It's all that was left." Bumblebee told them quietly.
Silence overtook the Autobots. No one knew what to say. There were no words to express the agony that each Autobot felt at the loss of an Autobot who had fought so long and hard against the Decepticons. An Autobot who all of them had come to see as a good friend and respected as well.
Optimus, of all of them, felt the most agony. His bonded, his stronghold, his rock, was gone. Whenever everything was going wrong, Optimus could always depend on Ratchet to keep him grounded. He knew that whatever happened, he would have Ratchet there to reassure him that everything would be all right.
Optimus felt the agony in his spark at the mere thought that he was never going to see his medic again. He'd never see him or hold him again. The thought that their home planet was in danger of dying paled in comparison to the pain he now felt with the knowledge that his bonded was gone.
However, Optimus was the Autobot leader. He had to force his pain, his grief aside for the time being. He had to be strong for the Autobot. He had to make sure that they kept their processors right. He had to keep them focused on their cause. He couldn't let it turn into a fight fro revenge or allow it to fall apart.
That's what Ratchet would want.
Wheeljack had stayed silent, watching his leader with sympathy and concern. He didn't know how badly this was going to hurt Optimus, and he was worried about how it would all turn out in the end.
Slowly, Optimus reached out and took the blaster and the insignia from Ratchet. "We've lost a great ally today, but we can't allow ourselves to get lost in our grief. We have to stay focused."
"Prime, we can't let them get away with this." Ironhide protested, slamming his fist into his metal hand.
"We're not going for revenge, Ironhide. That would dishonor Ratchet memory. We all know that Ratchet believed in our cause, but he did not believe in revenge. We will honor Ratchet's memory by continuing to fight the Decepticons and not allowing thoughts of anger and revenge to take command." Optimus told them.
Each mech knew that Optimus was right. They knew that that is truly what Ratchet would want.
"Come." Optimus told them.
All of them headed back toward the base, their sparks heavy with the grief they felt at losing such a great Autobot.
"That attack made no sense, Megatron. We didn't even get close to the oil plant, and we didn't even take out one Autobot." Starscream said.
Megatron said nothing.
"Megatron, that was a waste of time and energy. We were completely humiliated out there." Starscream continued.
Megatron turned to face Starscream. "Enough, you fool. We weren't meant to get to the oil plant or defeat the Autobots."
Starscream looked surprised. "Then what was the point?"
Megatron allowed the malicious smirk to cross his lips again. "Because that was merely a distraction to get the majority of the Autobots away from the base. Only three were back at the base, which is where Devastator was."
Starscream wasn't sure what to think of this. "And what did Devastator do?"
Megatron motioned for Starscream to follow him before he left the control room and headed down the hallways of the Decepticon base.
Starscream followed his leader. He had no idea what his leader had done, but he wanted to find out. After all, he needed to see what this brilliant scheme their leader had concocted was about so he would understand why the Decepticons were humiliated by the Autobots.
Soon, Megatron reached the area that designated for Decepticons who had stepped out of line. The cells were used to punish Decepticons at Megatron's order.
"Why are we here?" Starscream asked.
"Because this is where you'll understand my plan." Megatron then reached one of the cells before keying in a code.
The doors slid open, and the two stepped into the room.
Starscream started at the sight before him. Of all the things that he had expected to see, this was not one of the things that he thought he would see.
On the wall, hanging so that his pedes did not touch the floor, Ratchet was chained to the wall with stasis cuffs. His white and red armor was damaged, and he was not online at the moment.
"Why is the Autobots' medic here?" Starscream asked, turning to face his leader.
"It's simple. While we kept most of the Autobots distracted on the other side of the world, Devastator went to the Autobot base and attacked them. He then kidnapped the Autobot medic." Megatron explained.
"For what purpose?" Starscream still didn't see the point.
"Think about it, Starscream. Who would know more about the Autobots than their medic? He knows everything about them, about their based, about their plans, all of it stored in his memory processors." Megatron said.
"How do you plan to get him to tell you? No Autobot would willingly help us." Starscream pointed out.
"That may be true, but that's where we differ from the Autobots. I have no qualms about torturing him until he tell us." Megatron stated.
"If Optimus Prime and those blasted Autobots don't get here and rescue him first." Starscream pointed.
Megatron started laughing. "Oh, they won't. Devastator made sure to make it look like he destroyed the medic. As far as those simpletons are concerned, Ratchet was destroyed by Devastator in battle. They won't come looking, meaning that we have all the time in the world."
Starscream was starting to see the brilliance in the plan. "This is one plan that has worked."
"Indeed. Now, come with me, my Seeker. It's time to celebrate this victory." Megatron said.
The two then left the room.
"When will you try to get the information about the Autobots from him?" Starscream asked.
"Tomorrow. For now, we enjoy our moment of victory." Megatron replied.
Within his cell, Ratchet had heard everything that Megatron had said. While he had made it appear that he was offline, only a medic would have known that he was online.
Hearing what he did, Ratchet felt his spark clench painfully at the thought of what his fellow Autobots were going through. Here he was, alive and a captive of the Decepticons, while the Autobots, his friends, were mourning what they believed was his demise.
And Optimus. Great Primus, Optimus would be in so much pain. If all of the times that he had nearly lost Optimus made Ratchet hurt so much, then he couldn't imagine what Optimus was feeling now. He knew that his bonded was in a great deal of agony now, even if he allowed no one to know how much he hurt at the thought of all this.
Ratchet felt a fine hatred of the Decepticons start fill him. He hated them for what they were making his bonded go through. He hated what they were doing to his friends. He wished that he had a way to let them know that he was alive and that he wasn't going anywhere.
Ratchet had also made the choice that he would not tell the Decepticons anything that they wanted to know. He didn't care what they did to him, he wouldn't reveal anything. He knew that what Megatron really wanted was the information on each of the Autobots' systems. With that Megatron could easily find weaknesses that would allow him the chance to defeat the Autobots once and for all.
Ratchet was determined not to let that happen. He might be killed in the end, but it was much better than the thought that his friends would be destroyed because of what he knew.
Ratchet just hoped that Optimus would be able to keep himself together enough to not want to get revenge himself as well as not let the others get revenge. They had to stay focused on the Autobot cause, regardless of what it meant for him.
Ratchet resigned himself to the fact he would never see any of the Autobots again. He just hoped that they would be able to end this war.
Let me know what you think!