I was lazy so I asked Mrs. Optimus Prime for helping coming up with a name. I kind of hope you get a laugh out of what it is. Cybercookie for any one who can find it! Here are the times I'll be using from now on in this story.
Astro-second- 0.25 of a second
Nano-klick- one second
Klick- one minute
Breem- one hour
Jour – one day (36 Breems)
Deca-Cycle – one week (10 Jours)
Orn – one month (50 Jours)
Vorn - one year (14 Orns)
Ratchet handed Ironhide a blanket and directed him how to pick Optimus up properly. Ironhide wrapped Optimus up gently and held him close to his chest. Ratchet closed up his center, and they walked to his home. He had Ironhide put Optimus into a crib Ratchet had used when he was a sparkling. "So you're going to stay here instead of at your house?" Ratchet asked.
"I not returning to a place where I'm going to be beaten," Ironhide replied. He nearly walked into a wall and Ratchet grabbed onto him.
"Sorry I didn't finish. I just didn't want to wake him."
"I know. I'm going to get some recharge."
"Couch or berth?"
"Couch. Near Optimus if possible."
"I kind of expected that," Ratchet grinned. Ironhide settled in and Ratchet went to his own room.
They slept for about a breem before Optimus woke up screaming. Ratchet nearly fell off his berth, while Ironhide actually did. They were both up and checking on Optimus in a nano-klick flat. "Are you alright?" Ratchet asked. Optimus nodded. Ironhide picked him up, rocking him slowly. "What happened?"
"Just a bad dream," Optimus replied softly. He rubbed his optics. "I can go back to sleep now."
"You sure? You can stay up for a little while."
"You'll hit me," Optimus muttered. Ironhide and Ratchet exchanged a glance.
"We'll never hit you. Who would?"
"N-n-no one," Optimus stuttered. He pulled away from Ironhide and tried to get back into the crib.
"Optimus, calm down. Tell me, who are we?" Ironhide asked. Optimus froze. He looked at them for a klick or two.
"Ironhide and Ratchet," Optimus replied as he started to relax.
"You sounded like you were afraid of us," Ratchet said. Optimus looked away and drifted into recharge in Ironhide's arms. "That didn't sound like a good thing."
Things only got worse in fact. Every time they had Optimus have Energon, with in a breem or two he'd lose it. Optimus couldn't hold down any type of Energon and Ratchet and Ironhide were starting to get worried. Optimus never said any thing about it. He would even clean up any mess he made if one of the other two didn't clean it up before he got a chance. When ever Optimus did some thing wrong and either Ironhide or Ratchet moved towards him, he'd flinch and stay in that position for a little while. They were both worried about him to the point Ratchet got Optimus ready, and the two set out to a nearby Med center.
Ratchet held on a little tighter to Optimus. The sparkling still thought Ratchet didn't like him but was now willing to let Ratchet hold him or simply be near him. Ratchet had brought Optimus to a center with the main medic by the designation of Guard. Guard was famous for his work with sparklings and younglings. Ratchet walked up to a desk on the first floor where an orange femme was seated. "Can I help you?"
"My name's Ratchet. I'm here to get this sparkling look at," Ratchet replied. The femme rolled her optics.
"A parent or guardian of the sparkling has to be present," she replied. "Wait, you're the medic from a center on the north side right? You used to work with your father till he off-lined for good right?"
"Yeah," he replied. His voice took a sadder tone. "The sparkling's name is Optimus. He doesn't have a family." She typed for a second before looking up at him.
"There's no Optimus on any record. We have every Cybertronian listed. How about this, I can make a file on him, listing you as his brother," she offered.
"Ironhide as well. I can't believe Optimus isn't listed!"
"You can go up to see Guard now," she stated. Ratchet nodded before walking from the desk. "Third floor," she called.
"Thank you," he replied. Ratchet boarded an elevator. Optimus shifted to look at him.
"Is what that femme said true? Your daddy died?" Optimus asked. Ratchet sighed but nodded. Optimus snuggled into him. "I'm your brother now?"
"Yes, Optimus you are. I'm sorry you felt I didn't like you. It's just the last time I worked with a sparkling was when my father was still alive," Ratchet replied. Optimus smiled as he snuggled into Ratchet's frame.
The feeling was eerie when Ratchet stepped out of the elevator. He entered a room that was painted a simlpe white. If it weren't for the areas of red and gray on his frame, Ratchet would've been hard to see. Optimus shivered slightly. Another mech was across the room from where they were standing. He walked over. He had green, red, and white colouring. On either side of his head, there were two panels. When he spoke, they would light up. "Medic?" The mech asked.
"Name's Ratchet. This is Optimus," Ratchet replied. The mech nodded.
"I'm Guard's assistant. My name is Wheeljack. Nice to meet you both. Optimus you look like a big strong mech," the mech stated. Optimus giggled before a shudder ran through his frame. Wheeljack's optics dimmed before pointing to a chair for Ratchet who nodded. "Guard'll be here soon."
"Thank you Wheeljack," Ratchet said as he lightly rocked Optimus. Wheeljack nodded. Just then a mech with dark green armour and a heavy frame walked in.
"Name's Guard," he introduced him self in a deep gravelly voice. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Optimus can't hold any Energon down. It's up and on the floor within a breem," Ratchet replied. Guard looked at him with uninterested optics.
"Give him here, and I'll see what's wrong," Guard replied. He was gently handed Optimus who was sleeping. Guard left the room leaving Ratchet and Wheeljack alone. The latter busied him self by cleaning tools and shelves.
"Sorry about him coming here in the first place," Wheeljack said to fill the silence. "When did it start happening?"
"About a deca-cycle ago," Ratchet replied.
"I have an idea, and if I'm right, you won't like it. Guard's not a good medic. I don't care if I get fired. Guard doesn't save half of his patients. He reports the ones he saves to the public,'forgetting' how many he loses. I don't want you to lose your sparkling either," Wheeljack informed. Ratchet's optics widened.
"He's not even related to me. Me and my friend adopted him. He's our brother now I guess," Ratchet corrected. Wheeljack nodded. Both mechs jumped when the door swung open. Guard stepped forward handing Ratchet a crying Optimus.
"I'm sorry to tell you, but Optimus has Cybertronian trojen virus. You know what that is right?" Guard asked pointing to the sheet for Wheeljack to fill out.
"Remind me please," Ratchet mumbled. He already knew.
Wheeljack sighed before telling Ratchet what it was, "It's a disease that makes a Transformer purge any Energon before they can take any energy from it. It's fatal..." Ratchet was in tears a second later.
"There's nothing wecan do. It'll have to run it's course. Here," Guard said with no care in his voice. He just handed Ratchet a bill. "You can pay at the front desk. I have other patients." Ratchet stood and grabbed the bill before heading down stairs.
"Ratchet, sir!" Wheeljack called out. Ratchet turned. Optimus had gone back to sleep. "I want to help. I'm going to try to come up with a cure. This virus takes to many lives. I don't want to add your brother's to that list. Can I have your adress to bring my findings to you?"
"Sure I guess. Don't you have to be at work right now?" Ratchet asked.
"Nope, I quit," Wheeljack replied. Ratchet grinned. He motioned for Wheeljack to follow.
"I'll show you where I live on one condition. You work for me," Ratchet offered. Wheeljack paused.
"You have your own center?"
"Yep. Eventually, I want Optimus to be able to visit to help, not be a patient," Ratchet answered.
"A few drops of normal grade Energon helps them keep it down long enough to give them some power. By the way, thanks," Wheeljack informed.
"For what?"
"A job, and a chance," Wheeljack replied.