"Prime," Megatron called when he entered the surgery room and saw his Autobot brother working along side Rachet to save Bumblebee.
Hating himself for not noticing Megatron's dark presence sooner, Optimus glared silently at his brother and waited for what ever the Decepticon's next action would be.
"You are wasting valuable resources on such a pitiful thing. Why don't you let him go?" Megatron asked, truly confused as to why they were trying so hard to save a mech that was insignificant when it came to fighting. The Decepticon leader normally would not have given something so small and weak a second glance, but it did not seem the case now after the encounter in the hallway. The Decepticon leader could not deny the connection to the youngling's spark and it had forced him to pause and think rationally for a chance. Normally, Megatron couldn't break out of his anger once it started until it fully played out. Having his rage end so suddenly when he saw Bumblebee in the hallway, with Sunstreaker and Blur, had disorientated him. Megatron had been additionally surprised when he spoke calmly, rationally to Bumblebee and never fired a shot at the other two Autobots. Now he stood in Rachet's surgery room, looking down at the dieing youngling, his emotions in constant flux as he waited for one of the Autobots to give him an answer that might possibly shed light upon his internal dilemma.
However, neither Autobot answered Megatron's question knowing full well why they were putting such dedication into saving Bumblebee. They had no need for an answer and did not realize Megatron's true reason behind the questioning. For an Autobot to ask such a question gave the possibility that maybe he was in the wrong faction since the answer should have been automatically known and never requires an explanation. It was unsaid Autobot requirements that no mech was abandoned, small or large, no matter the situation. It was this single thing that clearly separated the two factions from each other.
Instead, Rachet worked in silence, giving Megatron a few hesitant glances out of the corner of his optics, fearing what the Decepticon was planning to do. Despite what the CMO had heard from the horror stories of other mechs who had been witness to those who were unfortunately at the mercy of Megatron, none of it was enough to give reason for Rachet to abandon Bumblebee unless the Decepticon himself ripped the medic Bumblebee's frame.
"Leave Megatron. You have failed your mission, there is no need to take innocent life," Optimus said, finally breaking the tense silence that had settled on them, his voice deep and commanding, and successfully hiding the same fear Rachet was clearly expressing.
Meanwhile, oblivious to the tense atmosphere from the three mechs above him, Bumblebee lay in a foggy haze of pain, only aware of Optimus' tight hold on to his spark. He had tried his best to return the favor to the Autobot leader but instead had to concentrate all the will he had to keeping Optimus' connection alive as darkness pressed down and surrounded him. Staying on the edge sharp edge of living and dieing for longer than he could tell, Bumblebee could slowly feel another presence coming closer and realized it was Megatron. Forcing his vision to come back online and focus, Bumblebee looked around at those surrounding him before his optics finally found the reason why he had done such.
A tug at his spark drew Megatron's attention away from Optimus and he looked down at Bumblebee, the confusing mixture of emotions rising up again before he could suppress it. Megatron was too focused on the youngling to realize that his quick internal fight had made its appearance on his face and Optimus and Rachet shared a brief confused look.
"Megatron," Bee said then coughed roughly, trying to speak but he couldn't get a grip on his systems quick enough and they jerked and spasmed painfully.
The two Autobots were shocked again when they watched and saw Megatron's emotions appear again this time lingering for a moment on his face before changing slowly with the Decepticon's reactions. First they saw the confusion before it melded into sorrow and finally his emotions slipped back into the hardened hate that all knew on the Decepticon leader so well.
"Maybe you are right, brother. Why should I waste my time on some thing so insignificant that will surly die anyways?"
There was no warning for Optimus and a surprised gasp slipped out when he felt a sensation he had never felt from his brother before. Megatron was lying. The Decepticon leader was actually hesitating at the thought of killing Bumblebee and seemed repulsed by such an idea. Optimus could only stand, frozen in shock, as he felt the interaction through their bond as Megatron reached out and comforted Bumblebee for a moment before his brother's spark faded back to it's dark solitude.
"Brother," Optimus said quietly speaking a title he had never again said to Megatron since before the beginning of the war.
Optics wide in surprise at his own reaction, Megatron turned his concerned gaze to Optimus. Seeing a different emotion other than hate or rage last on his brother's face for longer than an astrosecond filled Optimus with a glimmer of hope. The hope that his pleas to Primus had been answered, his brother had finally returned to him, and the war was now over.
But such hope was not possible when Megatron pressed his emotions back down, deep into his dark spark and fixed Optimus with a deadly glare and raised his powerful cannon.
Optimus could not move with Bumblebee's main line in his hands. If he released it the youngling would be drained of the last of the energon he had. There was no doubt in Optimus' mind that he was willing to give his life in exchange for Bumblebee's chance at living for a few more moments longer, possibly giving Rachet the time he needed to save him.
Highly expirenced and trained fingers worked quickly as the CMO raced against time to finish what he was doing quickly and give himself the opportunity to jump in and take Optimus' place so that Bumblebee might have a chance at living if Optimus were taken from Bumblebee's frame without a choice by Megatron's doing.
"No!" Bee cried feeling just what Megatron was planning to do, "No, please."
Looking down at the small mech, Megatron didn't move his cannon but didn't fire either, waiting for what he was going to say.
"Please, don't hurt him."
The slight lowering of Megatron's cannon shocked Optimus but he said nothing, also listening in at what Bumblebee was going to say to the Decepticon that he believed could possibly have an impact at changing Megatron's mind.
"Please, big brother, please don't hurt Optimus."
Frozen in shock, Rachet stopped working and watched what was happening, and his spark nearly failed as Megatron lowered his cannon slowly, optics locked onto Bumblebee's not seeming to notice the two Autobots anymore.
"Rachet," Optimus said gently to bring the medic out of his shock and Rachet snapped out of his surprise, quickly going back to work but jumped in alarm when Megatron was suddenly at his side, kneeling down next to Bee.
"Relax, little one. I will leave and harm no more. Rest and recover," he said quietly, his hand rubbing the youngling's sensors soothingly.
Bumblebee only whimpered in pain as his response and Megatron's body tightened at the noise.
"Who did this?" Megatron asked, his voice clearly promising a painful death to the one who hurt Bumblebee.
"Doesn't matter," Bumblebee whispered, "I killed them."
Megatron's optics flashed with surprise as he tried to process the image of the much smaller mech taking on a large ruthless Decepticon.
"I'm sorry," Bumblebee apologized quietly the next moment, his optics beginning to fade, "Starscream is still alive."
"Starscream," Megatron growled at the name.
"I'm sorry," Bee gasped and finally, after all the stress his frame had been subjected to, collapsed, falling offline for the first time since the start of the battle.
Groaning quietly, Megatron seemed to be in pain but regained control of himself and stood.
"Rest and we will meet again," the Decepticon leader whispered to the youngling but the others didn't hear his last words to Bumblebee.
Looking up from Bumblebee's still form, Megatron saw that Optimus was now concentrated on the youngling. The Autobot leader was clearly worried as he stood by and watched Rachet work against time to save Bumblebee. Taking the opportunity, Megatron slipped back out into the battle without a sound.
"Decepticons, fall back!" he yelled after closing the med bay's door, "We have completed our mission."
A the few Autobots outside the med bay looked at the Decepticon leader, horror clear on their faces after just having seen Megatron leave the room. They all knew well that in the past the Decepticon had made it his personal mission to kill Optimus or kidnap the youngling in previous encounters, both mechs who were inside the very room Megatron had just exited.
The Decepticons were more than happy to comply with their leader's orders and quickly retreated, taking their wounded with them.
"Wait out here," Sunstreaker said once the Decepticons were gone, putting his hand up as the Autobots rushed to the med bay's doors. Sunstreaker knew that if their fears of what had happened were true it wouldn't do any one any good to see such horrid sights. Quickly explaining such to his fellow companions, Sunstreaker gave Sideswipe a pat on the shoulder and entered the med bay swiftly, taking note to lock the door to prevent any from following him.
Inside it was quiet and no mech was in sight. As he moved toward one of the many curtains that served as privacy shields, Sunstreaker had to catch his balance when he slipped on a small pool of energon causing his optics widen in fear. However, he reminded himself to not jump to conclusions and continued on his way to the closest area. Pulling the curtain back he saw Ironhide, offline and badly damaged, and still covered in energon both his own and the enemy's, but the discovery gave Sunstreaker hope one mech was alive. Letting the curtain fall back into place, hiding Ironhide from view again, Sunstreaker heard a soft whirring and clicking of a mech's struggling systems coming from the back where Rachet held his surgeries. Darting into the room without a second thought, he slid to a half fearing he had found what every mech outside feared.
Rachet was leaning up against the table, head down and not moving while Optimus was slouched back in a chair his optics dark and staring up at the ceiling. Between them, Bumblebee was laying on the energon soaked table unmoving, optics also dark. However, before Sunstreaker could rush away as a sickening feeling creeped into him, Optimus lifted his head and his optics flickered back on to look at the new entry.
"Optimus, sir?" Sunstreaker asked, fearing to look at Bumblebee's and Rachet's still forms.
"Hello Sunstreaker. Is it over?" he asked, tiredly.
"Yes. Megatron left saying he had completed his mission and we all feared the worst. Is…is Bee…Rachet?" he finally managed to voice.
Looking over at the small mech before answering, Optimus turned back to Sunstreaker and gave his soldier a small smile. Then Sunstreaker realized that the sounds he had heard earlier were coming from the mech on the table. Rachet lifted his head and smiled at Sunstreaker too, causing the Autobot to jump in shock. He had been sure that there would have been some sort of horrible discovery after the Decepticon leader's departure from the med bay.
"It was close," Rachet said, "Very close but he's fine at the moment. Still in critical condition and needs to be watched closely for the new few orons but if Bumblebee could survive what most older seasoned mechs could not then I believe he is in for a full, yet long recovery."
Knees buckling with relief, Sunstreaker sighed and let the tension flow out of his frame.
"Go tell the others he will be fine and that Ironhide is out of commission for a few orns as well and needs a replacement. Don't let anyone in. They don't need to see him like this," Optimus said.
Sunstreaker nodded, knowing the sight of what the decepticons did to the youngling sickened him and made him want to rush out and hunt them all down, and some mechs would not have the will power to resist.
The mechs jumped back from the doors as he exited and many were relieved at the smile on his face.
"They are fine. Bumblebee pulled though but will need a long recovery. Optimus needs someone to step up to Ironhide's job. He's out for a few orns."
"Can we go in?" Sideswipe asked his twin.
Sunstreaker shook his head.
"No…you…you don't want to see him like that," he said quietly to the mechs and their sparks twisted painfully at the thought of what horrible image could shake the tough mech before them so badly.
"Are you sure?" Jazz asked quietly.
"Trust me," he said shakily, trying to get a hold of his emotions, "it's not good. It makes me want to hunt down each and every fraggin decepticon and rip their sparks from their chests as they watch."
The mechs looked at each other in concern. Bumblebee had to be a complete wreak for such a reaction.
Sunstreaker pushed past them, walking down the hallway to begin assessing the damage and getting rid of the dead decepticons. What he didn't notice was that he left behind a large energon foot print from walking in Bee's pool of energon earlier.
It shook all the mechs to their cores.
Optimus remained with Bee as did Rachet for another joor. They were exhausted and only wished to hold to the young mech after having such a short brush with the matrix.
"Optimus," Rachet called, breaking the silence, "what was that? I thought we were all dead."
"I honestly don't know. I think Bee has connected with Megatron in a way I never thought possible."
"How though? He called Megatron brother…he can't be…"
Optimus nodded slowly.
"He is. Bee is my brother and is Megatrons in return. He is bonded to the decepticon as well but I never thought the decepticon would be affected."
"I honestly thought Megatron would kill us, if not just me at that moment. I think Bumblebee is a light he has not seen in a while and it draws his old self out, frightening him. But, he doesn't expect the little ones influence to his decisions. I think it is only that that saved us."
Rachet shook his head, it was hard to process.
"I'm sorry, my friend, I should have told you. Ironhide had learned it many vorns ago when the first time Megatron saw Bee and the sparkling told him he could feel the decepticon."
"I can't believe it but I am sure you are right about that being the reason we are still standing here."
"Bee?" a rough, weak voice asked and Rachet looked over and saw Ironhide had stumbled over to them, opening the solder in the process and energon was free falling down his left side.
"Ironhide! Get back in bed! You need to rest. You're systems will have a hard time with only one reserve working. If you stress it you can over work your reserve and shut yourself down."
"First tell me," Ironhide gasped, looking at the tortured frame of Bee.
"He's fine for the moment. The surgery was successful because of you. Now lay back down so he has a guardian when he wakes."
Ironhide looked at Bee once more before giving in and allowing Rachet to steer him to a closer bed and going back to work.
"Optimus?" Bee's called out softly, his optics barely lit and his gears working hard.
"I'm here little one. Just stay calm."
"I'm tired," he said, his voice even softer.
"It's alright. I won't leave you. Slip into recharge," he said, rubbing the bot softly with his finers.
Bee was about to say more but he whimpered as he coughed, more energon coming up, already spilling out the transfers Rachet had hooked up to the bot. There wasn't much left on board and the shipment was running late. It was not a good combination. The mechs on board could go a few more orns before their systems began giving them complications but Bee needed more than that. Rachet had said he had lost over four fifths of what his frame held, which was far below the critical limit for a bot, and needed much more since he had a leak in the internal system some where and needed to be repaired with surgery but Rachet was missing a few valuable items that were expected to come with the shipment and they had to wait, keeping Bee filled at all times and comforting him through the pain.
Finally, Rachet finished, after a few short angry hits to Ironhide's think head with his wrench before coming over and assisting Optimus to move the small bot to a clean soft bed for a comfortable recharge. He winced as Bee continued to choke on the energon, wishing there was something he could do but he was soon in a bed and Rachet left him under Optimus' eye as he went to clean up.
"Rachet!" First Aid gasped, running in with the two there medics on his heels.
"We were trapped by the decepticons in an abandon hanger after we stopped to help a few down decepticons, retreating there for cover. We heard what happened to Bumblebee, is he alright?"
"He is fine," Rachet said, straightening and then they noticed him cleaning up the massive amounts of energon.
"Primus, that is all from him," First Aid asked in shock.
"Yes, he nearly didn't make it. In truth, that much energon gone from his system should have killed him or put him in stasis but he was wake most of the time."
"Tough little bot," one of the medics said and they winced when they heard the frail coughing from behind one of the curtains.
"He's far from being completely stable. It will be orns till the shipment arrives. Only what I have there will be able to save him. I fear we will be hard pressed with the energon shortage we're having now since Bee will need a lot till then."
"We will begin looking immediately for donors and give ourselves. I think you will be hard pressed to not fine willing mechs."
"Remember, do not drain more than is needed and more than the minimum. Also, go around the base, help the badly injured here."
"Wheeljack has been taking them, saying your hands were extremely full and didn't need inconveniences to distract you. He said he would take care of everyone else and send on the serious to you."
Rachet nodded, expecting just the very action from Wheeljack if the mech wasn't hurt too badly in the fight.