Disjointed:
Chapter one: We run.
MAJOR TRANSFORMERS PRIME SEASON 2 ENDING SPOILERS. If you do not know what happened or are not caught up and do not wish to know PLEASE TURN BACK NOW! If you are caught up and would like to read this please by all means do, and REVIEW! I'll be working on Darkest Days and Consort more in the coming days and getting updates to both up hopefully soon, but this was flowing, and I had to let it come to me. Something I wrote on Friday night to get the ITCH out, I'm still very upset about the last episode to season two. I'm so scared of it. …And I can't bring myself to watch it again.
This will have more depending on Reviews I suppose…. Depends on what you all want out of this. Mostly it's Ratchet I'm concerned with. Defusing him is a priority.
SEASON 2 - DARKEST HOUR SPOILERS START NOW :D
The Autobot Medic's focus shifted slightly as he shook his helm. "We're abandoning the base?" Ratchet's disbelief echoed throughout the room.
Optimus didn't have time for pleasantries. "Wheeljack and Agent Fowler can only buy us time to escape. Bumblebee, Rafael; you will depart first."
Rafael shook slightly. "You're splitting us up?" Optimus could hear the tremble in the youngest voice; Rafael had been emotionally tested today, and it was almost too much for their youngest charge to bear.
"Shouldn't we stick together?" Jack asked leaning down over the rail. He didn't take his eyes off the Prime.
""All for one and one for all?" Miko asked trying to hold back the emotion, the fear, that was creeping in as the base rocked around them. She was attempting levity; hopefulness.
"We must disperse to avoid capture." Optimus stated calmly; his heir of command not once wavering. He had to break his optics with the humans to keep his composure. "Until we can regroup and launch a counter attack. Survival is our only priority now." His voice droned solemnly.
Ratchet's spark fluttered and he lowered his optics to the ground. Turning he activated the ground bridge and nodded to Bumblebee who transformed opening his door. Rafael entered and buckled up. "I'm scared." He admitted, and the blips and beeps his guardian sounded to him that the yellow muscle car felt no better. Bumblebee pulled the seatbelt tightly and drove headlong into the bridge.
"We haven't much time." Optimus stated as the next bridge was opened. Miko climbed into Bulkhead's passenger side; unusually quiet as her guardian tightened the seatbelt around her body comfortingly and tore into the bridge without a word.
Miko stifled her sobs as she watched Jack and Arcee fade into nothingness behind her; as she and Bulkhead were dumped outside Kansas City Missouri.
Once these they were safely away Ratchet reactivated the bridge again. This time for Chicago Illinois; turning he waited as Arcee sped through with Jack.
Smokescreen waited as the bridge was reset. "This is all my fault." He uttered to himself below a whisper. He felt guilt that Megatron had stolen their bases location through the cortical patch, but there was no time for guilt now. Turning the elite guard soldier saluted Optimus before speeding off.
"What about you?" Ratchet asked.
"I will ensure the Decepticons cannot follow." Optimus stood stoic waiting for Ratchet to take his leave. He didn't make optic contact, looking at the medic would break his composure.
Ratchet approached the gateway and sighed. He turned back his optics pleading. "I never…. imagined it would end like this." He murmured dejectedly before walking through the bridge.
Coming out on the other side Ratchet looked around. He wasn't sure of his exact location but he had hoped he'd put himself somewhere close to the coordinates that Wheeljack had slipped him.
He hoped the wrecker was all right; they hadn't spoken in months. Now, the wrecker was trying to buy them all time to get out, he just hoped Optimus would be able to get out as well. He looked back as the bridge closed down; stranding him here.
Turning Ratchet pulled a scanner from his side compartment, shaking his helm he tried to get decent enough readings. "It's got to be here somewhere." He murmured stepping up to the rock face of the wall he ran his hand along it. "Where is it?" He shook his helm. He was racked with emotions and this search seemed all but futile until he found the hidden switch. The rock face gave way, and he entered the tiny base of operations for the wrecker. Sealing the door Ratchet collapsed inside and put a hand to his chest. "Primus why?" He sealed his optics for only a moment; brought out of his reverie by this small stronghold coming to life.
The motion sensors pinged and the lights began to flicker on around him. "Well done Wheeljack." He said calmly as he pushed up to stand. Ratchet shuffled over to a primitive communications console. "Lets see what we can make of you shall we?" Ratchet placed his hands on the keyboard; typing on the rudimentary keys. "Wheeljack?" Ratchet activated the communications relay. "Wheeljack do you read? This is Ratchet broadcasting from Wreck central." Static was the medic's only response.
"Perhaps I can boost the signal feed." He told himself softly and knelt down to begin his work. He began pulling a few major wire clusters and smiled. "Huh it appears he took my advice about the grounding issues." He sighed and settled down to work, talking himself through it, because he couldn't handle the impending silence he felt right now.
The silence that seemed would never leave him now.
Four days; Ratchet had been hunkered down in Wheeljack's base for four days. His recharge had been off and on but never restful. Finally he'd succumbed to the void that was recharge, finally he was getting rest; but the cost was high.
Wheeljack Shifted the Prime in his arms. "Gotcha...the Doc should be inside; at least I hope he is if he's still mad at me we're both in trouble." He said calmly lifting the body up slightly. "And I'll come back for you." He said to the body of the seeker on the floor of his ship; the deceased seeker didn't move.
He'd found Prime, pinned in some rubble, and the Decepticon seeker's body some ways away. Though Wheeljack had reservations about bringing Dreadwing's dead body back with him, he knew Prime might need the parts, and so would he.
Wheeljack half drug the Prime down the Jackhammer's loading ramp to the entrance to his home; he had to get them inside. Wheeljack pressed the door code and it opened. Before him his communications console had been completely rewired. "The Doc's here boss…easy." He said to the unconscious mech as he half dragged him into the main hallway. "RATCHET!" Wheeljack called out.
A shuffling from the side room as the ambulance appeared just out of Recharge. "By Primus." Ratchet muttered and ran forward helping the wrecker support the Prime's leg. "Where's his arm?"
"Didn't have time to grab it." Wheeljack shook his helm. "I had to get him out of there and that limb was pinned, so I …I cut it off to get him out." Wheeljack grunted as the two of them pulled the Prime farther in his legs dragging behind.
Ratchet nodded. "A necessary sacrifice." He frowned. "I just wish we had parts for him."
"I may be able to help with that." Wheeljack grit out as he helped Ratchet lay the prime out on the Large berth in the middle of the command room. "Easy there Boss." Wheeljack grabbed his lopped over arm and lifted it to his torso slowly.
"You said you might be able to assist with parts?" Ratchet inquired. "How is that?"
"Yeah; I found Dreadwing's body he was killed dumped off the ship…lots of impact damage but I'm pretty sure you can sort out some things from him. " Wheeljack stated.
"He gave us the Forge of Solus Prime." Ratchet sighed. "He was killed for treason most likely." He shifted. "Where is the seeker's body now?"
"Still outside." Wheeljack motioned to the door. "Want to help me haul him in? He's bulkier than Prime is…"
"Of course." Ratchet said softly. "Wheeljack…" Ratchet paused and tried to think of something relevant to say, "It's good to see you alive." His voice was on the cusp of a whisper. "I regret what was said between us I didn't mean to be so hard on you."
Wheeljack nodded "I'm happy to see you too Doc." He let it slide, and it felt good to do so, he couldn't imagine that Ratchet felt so horrible, but it was evident he did.
As Wheeljack stood Ratchet noted the deep gash in his torso armor. "Is your chamber?" Ratchet touched the Lancia's chest.
"No it didn't pierce." He smirked. "I'm just lucky like that." He smiled.
"Lucky indeed." Ratchet nodded. "Once we bring Dreadwing in I'll weld you shut." He stated softly. "The mesh will hurt for a time, but you should be fine…clean pierce like this."
"Thanks Doc you always know how to make a mech feel …alive." Wheeljack nudged him. "Come on lets get the seeker's body before it gets too dark." He ushered the Medic to the door. "And doc?"
"Yes Wheeljack?" Ratchet looked up.
"Thanks for remembering where to park." He smiled and turned exiting the cavern.
Ratchet stalled a moment looking back at Optimus sadly. "I never forgot these coordinates and the passcode, but never in my life did I ever feel I might have to use them." Ratchet turned forward pressing to follow the mercenary.
"I understand Ratch, it's fine." Wheeljack smiled as he keyed open the door moving outside; Ratchet followed him into the evening. "Energon?"
"I'm rationing your supply…I was trying to make it last."
"I have plenty …and more in the ship." He stated motioning a hand to the critically damaged shuttle. "We need to get ourselves back on our feet."
"I think Prime was right." Ratchet said hoarsely. "We need to survive right now…" He shook his helm. "Optimus destroyed the Omega Lock that would have restored the planet." He looked to one side as the mercenary turned to him. "He did it to save earth, though I fear he merely postponed the inevitable here, and doomed our planet." He looked up at the foreign stars of earth and shook his helm.
"Were you there?" Wheeljack stepped forward. "When the lock was destroyed? You don't leave home often."
"No I was not, but I fear that a lesser of two evils could have been chosen." Ratchet murmured numbly.
"You don't mean that." Wheeljack uttered coming to stop behind his ship's ramp.
"Don't I though?" Ratchet scoffed looking up to meet Wheeljack's gaze. "Without the planet no more Cybertronians will exit the core." He stated, "We're an endangered species."
"Look I know you're upset." Wheeljack walked forward pulling the Medic into his arms with a sigh. "We need to get the body inside before it's dark, and we need to hide my ship." He frowned down at the medic's saddened optics. "We'll worry about the rest later alright?"
Ratchet nodded and put his forehelm against the wrecker's shoulder for a moment to compose himself. "I'm sorry I just…"
"You're still in shock." Wheeljack nodded releasing him back slightly to look him in the optics. "We'll be alright."
"What about the others?"
Wheeljack nodded. "They're dispersed aren't they?" Ratchet could only confirm with a nod. "We'll get ourselves situated first, then we'll look for the rest of our side." He smiled. "Come on…this con is a heavy aft, and I've got a hole in my chest so come help me already."
Ratchet had to smile, Wheeljack could always defuse him like this; no matter how badly he wanted to Strangle him sometimes.
She sobbed into her knees that were brought up to her chest. "Miko?" Bulkhead murmured to her softly.
"Yeah?" She asked looking up and wiping her nose with her sleeve sniffling.
"Look, I know it seems bad right now, but things will be fine. I need you to reach under your seat and pull out my data-pad." Bulkhead pulled off to the side of the road.
Miko sniffled and leaned forward letting her legs fall as she leaned down more to reach below the seat to pull out the device. "It's way bigger than an ipad that's for sure." She said sniffling again.
"Ok there's a button on the left can you click it. Power on the pad?"
Miko found the button on the right and turned the device over in her hands. She pressed the button and the device fluttered to life. "Got it."
"Okay now there's a button at the top …looks like a pentagon can you touch that with your finger?" Bulkhead's voice was quiet as he requested of her.
Miko nodded as she pressed the orange glowing button that opened a new window. "Oh …internet." She smiled. "Looks like we found some signal finally."
"Yes Internet, look up an image of a man, who could be related to you." Bulkhead said softly. "Asian…something…I need to see the image…I need to be able to copy the image."
"Why?" Miko asked as she entered 'Asian Men' into an image search engine.
"Because Miko you're too young to be out here on your own and you need food and shelter. I need to be able to provide those things for you, and can; I have some human currency on me. However you won't be able to get a hotel room like I can."
Miko nodded. "So you'll look like the person I pick?"
"Yes." Bulkhead explained. "It's very similar to how Arcee can make a driver for herself."
"Oh a hologram; she told me about it." Miko nodded. "Will I be able to touch you?" She asked. "Hug you?"
"I sure hope so." Bulkhead said softly. "Just find me something…anything so I can take you into a diner and get you something to eat, and get you to a proper bed."
Miko smiled. "I think I have something." She smiled and turned the data-pad to the dash.
"Give me ten minutes." Bulkhead said. "I need to work some graphical magic."
Jack turned his head and sighed. "I can't get through." He shut his phone and sighed. "It's giving me a busy signal."
"I suspect that they've killed cellular communications around the Nevada." She said softly. "There's signal here but it may not be reaching there." Arcee tried to be optimistic. "Perhaps we just need to bunker down we'll hear something soon." She suggested.
"Okay." Jack sighed. "We need to make contact with someone. It's been four days Arcee." Jack turned around to their little campsite in the woods and sat down on a log.
Arcee gave a long slow nod and came to sit on the ground near him. "I know this is tough, but we have to carry on as best we can." She looked up. "I attempt to contact agent fowler every 8 hours as instructed. I'm sure everything's fine. He evacuated the town I'm sure your mother is safe." She stated. "However we must also face the fact that he may not have survived the assault after the evacuation." She frowned, "Though I hope he did. This was always just a contingency plan Jack." Arcee sighed as Jack's gaze pierced her. "However I don't like it any more than you do." She smiled at him and fished in a compartment on her arm. "Pop-tart?" She asked and offered him the small box.
"Thanks." He said taking the small box as he scooted closer to her. Laying against Arcee he shook his helm and pulled one packet out of the box. "I hope Miko and Rafael are okay."
"They left first …they are fine." She nodded. "We just have to have faith."
Jack looked up at her. "You've never been so Optimistic before."
"Perhaps Prime is rubbing off on me." She said calmly and put her arm around him as best she could. "I heard Wheeljack say once he use to hole up in the rocky mountains somewhere."
"That's a big area to search Arcee." Jack shook his head. "I hate to be the pessimist here but we're lost, and alone."
"Not if you have the right scanner." She said and opened her forearm compartment showing him the scanner she held. "We'll search for energon and maybe we'll find Wheeljack's hideout in the process…I have a feeling Ratchet's there." She said warmly.
"Why do you think that?" Jack asked finally opening his pop-tart.
"Because…he and Wheeljack are close. Wheeljack would have given Ratchet that location." She nodded. "It's our best lead."
"Fine, we'll head out in the morning." He looked up. "It's already getting dark." He looked up and shook his head, they were lost, and nothing was getting rid of the sickening feeling in his heart.
Reviews will decide weather or not this series of one to two shots will continue based on POST season 2 writing. Thanks for reading and spending time with me tonight :D