30: The Adventures of Little Riley!
Chapter 30 - Sick Mind
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Transformers Prime or the franchise. All characters (except Riley/Raina) belong to Hasbro.
::Hello:: - Bumblebee Talking
"Hello" - Normal Talking
'Hello' - Thoughts
*Hello* - Cybertronian Talking
=Hello= - Over the phone or comm
—
"Optimus, you're not going to believe this. I've just pinpointed the location of the Decepticon Warship." Ratchet called out.
It was another day at Base except the kids were pretty bored. Seeing as they were banned from all their fun activities, they didn't have much to do. Raina came to save today though, she brought Uno from home.
Raf was mostly winning, cause he's smarter. Everyone else just loved trolling Miko, whether that be blocking, reversing her turns, or making her pickup.
But when Ratchet mentioned he found the Decepticon Warship, the kids stopped playing to listen.
"How did you penetrate their cloaking technology?" Optimus asked, wondering what the Medic has been doing in his spare time now.
"I didn't. I was experimenting the variable frequency wavelengths when I stumbled upon it. Even still, their ship must be experiencing some kind of electromagnetic breach." He explained.
'Wow, Ratchet must've been pretty bored to do that' Raina thought.
"With Megatron deceased and the element of surprise..." Arcee began.
"...We could cause some serious damage." Bulkhead finished, suggesting what he wanted to do with his fists.
Then Ratchet pulled up something else on the screen. Another signal appeared but this time, with an Autobot symbol.
"Also on the same frequency, an Autobot Emergency Beacon." Ratchet mentioned.
"The Decepticons can wait. There may be Autobots in distress. Ratchet, bring your medical kit." Optimus announced.
Arcee fired up the groundbridge for them as they left through it.
'Yeah, please leave us alone for a while' Raina thought tiredly as she and the kids went back to playing Uno.
"Miko, draw 4." Jack said, placing the card down. "Change it to blue."
Miko picked up her 4 cards and seeing as she picked up, she was skipped. Raina was next, as she placed down a blue 2. Raf then placed a 2+. Jack added on and Miko just gave up. She has been picking up cards and barley placing them down the whole time.
"I quit." Miko grumbled, throwing her cards down. The three kids laughed as she went to the rolley chair at the monitors, sitting down with a pouty expression and crossed arms.
"Miko we're sorry, please come back." Raina pleaded playfully.
"No I'm always picking up!" Miko shouted, looking the other way.
"What if we showed you our cards, that way you have an advantage." Raina offered. The girl thought for a moment.
"And we if draw a pickup card, we'll put it back and draw again." Jack added.
Miko came back, sitting down stiffly and reclaiming her deck. "Fine, start showing your cards."
After a few mins, Jack ended up wining...somehow. No one had anything that could stop him so the victory got handed to him.
"Guys...I'm going to sneak up top." Raina informed, getting up.
"Just cause Optimus is gone, doesn't mean you should." Raf told her.
"There's no bars down here though and I wanna text my friends." Raina pouted.
That's all she did since she moved. Usually she would text them. She didn't want to lose her connection to them in the slightest bit.
"Surreee, your 'friends'. You sure you didn't mean to say boyfriend~?" Miko teased, making kissy lips at Raina.
Raina blushed hardcore at Miko's actions, not cause of her having a boyfriend. She didn't and wasn't planning to have one anytime soon. It was just because of Miko.
"I don't have a boyfriend. I'm still 14 remember? Isn't that a bit young?" Raina said defensively.
"Your going to be 15 next week." Miko continued teasing.
"Yeah, a whole week is going to change my maturity and my love life status." Raina told her friend sarcastically.
Just then, Ratchet's panicked voice rung out. He was speaking too fast for anyone to hear but he didn't sound to relaxed either.
Arcee opened the groundbridge and saw Ratchet helping a weakened Optimus walk through.
"What happened?!" Bulkhead asked, assisting the medic.
"Get him to the berth. I'll be able to examine him there." Ratchet ushered.
They placed Optimus down, him groaning in pain. The kids and other bots waited as Ratchet did his scans, confirming his suspicions.
"Cybonic Plague" he announced out loud, reading the scans results.
"It's only contagious if contact is made with the infected energon." Ratchet explained to the others, sensing slight panic.
"What was a plague doing in an Autobot Spaceship?" Miko asked.
"It's passengers were infected. The virus wiped out millions on Cybertron during the Great War." Arcee explained rather calmly.
"Cybonic Plague was engineered in the Decepticon's Biological-Warfare Program. By Megatron himself." Ratchet grimly explained.
"You...have a cure, don't you?" Raf asked worried.
Optimus groaned, answering Raf's question with the strength he was slowly losing.
"No...cure."
"Optimus please, save your strength." Ratchet calmly told his friend, almost soothingly.
"Would Megatron create a disease without having a cure? I mean, what if he caught it by accident?" Jack mentioned, questioning it himself.
"It would be rather stupid if he didn't." Raina stated.
"It's not like we can ask Megatron, Jack. He's pushing up lugnuts." Bulkhead reminded them.
Raina felt a sudden urge to tell them he wasn't. Maybe cause deep down, she cared for Optimus and the others. This was a do or die situation, literally. Ratchet suddenly interrupted her train thought.
"But we might be able to access the Decepticon Database. For the moment, we still have a fix on their warship's location."
Raina felt relieved after that. She didn't have to spill some beans after all.
"Bumblebee, come with." Arcee ordered the scout.
The two started to walk towards the groundbridge when Ratchet spoke up.
"Arcee, quickly." He pleaded, sitting next to his dying friend.
The two bots left immediately as everyone else was left with Optimus.
"Ratchet...how's Optimus doing?" Raina asked.
"He's getting weaker and his vitals are getting low as well. Hopefully he will be better after we get the cure." Ratchet reported in a soft tone. Almost like he could start crying due to the worry and panic he currently had. He also had a slight doubt, like Arcee and Bee wouldn't be able to find the cure.
"Raina, go down there and work your charm." Miko said, pushing the girl slightly.
"My charm?" Raina questioned raising an eyebrow at Miko, Jack and Raf doing the same.
"I've seen you when others are upset. You can light up a room!" Miko explained.
"Yeah but those people are just sad or hurt...not dying." Raina said nervously, looking down at Optimus.
"Just try!" Miko said, shoving her now. Raina sighed and made her way down the ladder.
Then Arcee spoke up through the comms. =I'm in the network.=
"Ratchet...were...you..." Optimus strained talking, barley being able to speak.
"Infected? No." Ratchet answered. Optimus laid his helm back down after.
Everyone was worried more now. Not even 10 minutes ago he was just barley able to walk but now he could barley speak.
=If it's here I don't see it.= Arcee suddenly reported.
"Are you certain Arcee?" Ratchet asked.
=I searched every file. Nothing.=
"Well search again! Clearly you missed something!" Ratchet yelled, sounding a bit panicked.
=I scanned the entire database!= Arcee hissed.
"Did you use a redundant quantum algorithm?" Ratchet asked.
=Don't tell me how to research.= Arcee replied stubbornly. She didn't understand what he said nor would be able to do what he suggested anyway.
=You think you're the only one who cares about Optimus?= Arcee coldly told Ratchet.
Then Arcee fell silent before asking 'what is it' to Bumblebee. Then it was silent again.
"What is it? What's going on?" Ratchet asked.
=It's Megatron. He's...alive.= Arcee said, shooken by the discovery.
'Cats out of the bag' Raina thought as she made her way on to Optimus' berth.
"What?" Jack said. Miko and Raf gasping.
"That's not possible." Ratchet said, choosing not to believe it.
=Well, I'm staring right at him. The good news is, Megatron isn't exactly staring back.= Arcee reported.
"Megatron?" Optimus barley speaking a whisper.
"Optimus, what did Ratchet say about saving your strength." Raina reminded him gently, kneeling beside his helm.
=He's critical, hooked up to life support.= Arcee continued to report.
=Time to finish this once and for all.= Arcee said, her blaster firing up in the background.
Ratchet quickly thought and stopped her, thinking of a plan. "Wait! Don't!"
=One good reason. Fast.=
"Megatron might be Optimus' only hope for survival." Ratchet explained calmly.
Arcee's blaster can be heard powering down. =What are you talking about?=
"Does he display brain-wave activity?" Ratchet asked.
=Spiking hard. His sick mind still at work.= Arcee replied. Her cold stare at the mech could be felt through the comm.
"Perfect. If a cure exists, Megatron may be the only one who knows it. You must enter his brain...and find it." Ratchet explained to the two bots.
=Enter Megatron's brain? Ratchet, are you out of your fragging mind?= Arcee asked dumbfounded.
"Geez, language." Raina said to herself, even though Optimus could hear.
"The Decepticon laboratory should contain all the equipment you need for a cortical psychic patch." Ratchet continued explaining.
=No way. Have you ever performed the procedure?= Arcee asked.
"No." Ratchet replied straight up.
"That's comforting." Jack said sarcastically.
Ratchet glared up at them before explaining himself.
"But I have thoroughly studied the theoretical literature. Invented by Decepticons, outlawed by Autobots."
=Whoa. Can't we just haul Megatron through the groundbridge, buy us some time to figure this out?= Arcee said almost rapid fire.
"Time is one thing that Optimus does not have!" Ratchet snapped. "One of you must try this! I will not allow Optimus to pass knowing that Megatron will outlive him!" He finished, basically yelling like an angry mother.
=Ratchet, I would lay down my life for Optimus. Anytime, anywhere. But a mind/body split...= Arcee slightly worried.
=::I'll do it!::= Bee chirped up.
=You will?= Arcee asked, making sure he was on board.
"Are you...sure Bumblebee?" Raf asked worryingly for his guardian.
"Bee's the best scout there is." Bulkhead reassured the young boy.
Miko and Jack both lowered down and gave Raf hopeful looks. Comforting him in anyway they could.
"Raf, Bee is gonna be fine. Optimus is gonna be fine too. This will all be a bad memory, maybe even one to laugh at. But for now, we've got to be there for Optimus. And Bee knows what he's getting into. He will be fine, I promise." Raina spoke up, looking at Raf with reassurance. He smiled a bit after that.
"Ratchet, should Optimus be staying awake right now? Or resting?" Raina asked the medic.
"Try and keep him awake." Ratchet instructed. Raina nodded her head and looked back at Optimus' flickering optics.
She laughed slightly to herself. Earlier this month, she had hated everything about the Autobots. Now she felt like they were second family. More so than the Decepticons. How people changed so fast.
"Optimus, I know right now your probably scared, upset, and worried. And now that you know Megatron lives, your negative emotions doubled. But know it's ok to be afraid, upset, and worried. Your always so caring towards the team, even on your deathbed. Now it's time we bring that to you. Right now, focus on the good things in life, don't worry about what's going on around you." Raina spoke softly to him, letting her words seep into his audio receptors.
Optimus' stiff body relaxed a bit, his breathing slowing. Not in a bad way, but a relaxing way. Raina placed her hand on his helm, softly humming. This was what Miko called her 'charm'.
Raina didn't know where the melody came from and often forgot if she tried to hum forcefully. It just came naturally and out of nowhere. But she knows that the melody calms her and others down.
Optimus' optics opened a bit more as he slowly moved his helm to look at her.
"Do you feel any better Optimus?" She asked, her face filled with warmth and kindness.
He smiled in response, basically saying he felt somewhat better.
=Ratchet, we're ready.= Arcee suddenly commed.
"Initiate cortical psych patch." Ratchet told her.
After a few seconds, a video feed popped up on Ratchet's screen.
"Communications downlink activated. This will allow us to see and hear everything Bumblebee does while within Megatron's subconscious mind." Ratchet explained to the group.
"Whoa." Jack said, the other kids having the same reactions.
"That's so cool" Raina breathed excitedly. She turned her attention back to Optimus, continuing to comfort him as Bee made his voyage.
"Where's that?" Jack asked, staring at the screen.
::Looks like Kaon:: Bee answered sourly. Raf then translated it to everyone else.
"The Decepticon capital back on Cybertron." Raf said, remembering what he's been told about the subject of Cybertron.
"Smartie pants." Raina complimented, keeping a bright smile on her face.
She's heard about Kaon too, being some really cool place for Decepticons. Well they took it over apparently. Megatron said he had too or Cybertronians would still have been imprisoned. Slowly, she's been doubting Megatron's words but she blamed it on the Autobots. Having been told a different perspective messes with your own.
Bulkhead then walked over and looked at Optimus' vitals. Worry flashing across his optics.
"Ratch', Optimus' vitals." Bulkhead warned the Medic.
"I know." Was all Ratchet could reply back with.
"Optimus, just keep your optics open and your hopes up. Alright? The team needs you, your family needs you. We are doing everything we can, Bee is gonna get that cure. I'm sure of it." Raina said hopefully to the ill leader.
"Raina...I...know...about..." Optimus tried to speak but Raina shushed him softly.
"Don't speak, just relax. Everything is gonna be fine." Raina said, placing her finger over Optimus' intake (mouth). She removed it after she was done talking.
"You're...one...of..." Raina shushed him again, panicking about what he was about to say.
"Optimus, you can tell me after your feeling better ok? If you keep talking, I'm going to get Ratchet to personally shush you." She threatened playfully.
Then Ratchet started to instruct Bumblebee.
"Quickly Bumblebee. I know you're in unknown territory but you must figure out where information might be filed in Megatron's mind."
Everyone watched as Bumblebee finally climbed the top of the steps and saw Optimus. Obviously not him but it was still weird.
Bee slightly panicked, running up to him.
"Bumblebee, that is not Optimus but a figment of Megatron's mind." Ratchet told him definitively. "It cannot see or hear you."
Then Megatron's wicked laugh could be heard. Raina has never seen Megatron's true nature...until now. And that laugh didn't settle right with her. Optimus noticed Raina's sudden uncomfort, wishing he could talk to her but his strength was leaving.
Everyone payed close attention as Megatron appeared in view.
"Optimus Prime, your Autobot armies are defeated. Bow before your new master." He declared evilly from a perch higher up.
Raina couldn't believe what she was hearing. This didn't sound like Megatron. Not the one she was led to believe.
"Never Megatron. One shall stand, One shall fall." Optimus repeated from his last encounter with Megatron. Pulling his sword out, ready to fight.
Optimus stirred slightly, hearing his own voice being broadcasted in Megatron's mind. Raina quickly spoke soft and comforting words to him. She turned her attention back as Megatron hopped off the high perch and ran at Optimus. Then when the swords should have clashed, Megatron stabbed right through Optimus, making him fade to dust.
"That never happened." Bulkhead recollected.
"It's not a memory. We're seeing Kaon as Megatron has re-created it in his darkest dreams." Ratchet explained a bit grim and disgusted.
Raina was wide eyed. Megatron said he was going to try peace with Optimus but this whole time...he wanted to kill the leader.
"Raina, you've never seen Megatron like we have...is that why your reacting this way?" Ratchet asked, looking at the girl.
All eyes and optics laid on her for a second as she nodded, still shocked. Optimus knew Megatron had lied to her, it boiled anger inside of him. Megatron, lying and manipulating a child for his own gain.
Then Optimus reappeared from a rock, getting up and fading into the red and blue colour scheme.
"Megatron. Your treachery ends here." Optimus spoke up, equipping his blade again.
Megatron turned around, deactivating his own before charging his blaster and aiming at Optimus. Bee freaked and jumped in front, only for the shot to hit Optimus, making him into dust once more.
"The Autobot scout. The punishment for trespassing in my domain is your destruction!" Megatron said, raising his blade above his helm, ready to swing down.
Raina let out a small but quiet whimper as he said those words. It couldn't be true, this had to be fake. Megatron wouldn't ever do that!
Megatron swung down only for the blade to pass through Bee. Bee let out a confused beep as Megatron looked absolutely confused. He swung several more times, each passing through the scout.
"Megatron can't touch Bee?" Raf asked hopeful and relieved his guardian was safe.
"Because he's not a creation of Megatron's mind, Bumblebee is immune to his physical attack." Ratchet concluded.
Raina and the kids all sighed in relief. At least Bee couldn't get hurt while in Megatron's head. Well not get hurt by Megatron, who knew what other damage could or couldn't be done while venturing in the mind of the warlord.
Megatron then started to circle Bee, trying to figure out why he couldn't kill him.
"You're not wearing phase-displacement armour. Your eyes track my movements so you're not a hologram. And I do not believe in spirits." Megatron stated, listing off things that wouldn't work as an explanation.
"Megatron doesn't believe in ghosts? Seems like a mech who would. Considering he stabbed himself with dark energon to raise and control an undead army while also wanting close ties to Unicron himself. The god of destruction basically. But this man does not believe in ghosts...huh." Raina whispered to herself, though she was sure Optimus could hear. He most likely already knew about her deception, why not throw herself deeper into the water.
"So tell me scout, what are you?!" Megatron confronted directly in Bee's face.
"Megatron" Optimus voice called out. Bee and Megatron both looked up and saw him, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee walking up to them.
"Uh-oh. Special guest stars." Miko announced, leaning over the railings.
Bulkhead didn't know whether to be honoured or worry Megatron had created a figment of him.
"This is not good." Ratchet added, staring at the screen.
Bee then looked at Megatron then the fake bots before running over to them. He looked at Optimus and Bulkhead, amazed how they looked so real. Then he went in front of himself, waving happily at it.
Then Megatron roared in pure anger and shot the three figures. Each disappearing into dust. Everyone watched in horror as they did.
But a small little scream followed after that. Bumblebee looked down and saw a sparkling, staring in horror at Megatron. The warlord laughed maniacally as he walked up to her.
He knelt down, causing her to back up a little in fear.
"What did your sire call you? His little star? Well, now he's gone now because of how weak he is. But I can show you how to become a Decepticon." He got up and lent out his servo.
"No! Sire said your a bad mech! I'm not gonna join you!" The little femme screamed at him.
That's when everyone but the kids recognized who it was.
"Silverstar" Ratchet breathed (rather than say) in horror.
"Who is she?" Miko asked, the others looking at Ratchet expectantly.
The medic looked at Optimus, unsure whether to say it or not. "Someone once close to us all...especially Optimus." Ratchet replied sadly.
"But why is Megatron making a fake her? She's been gone for eons. She didn't do anything to him personally." Bulkhead questioned very confused.
"Well, if you wanted to cause your enemy great pain and you knew they had a kid..." he sighed. "What do you think Bulkhead?" Ratchet spoon fed the answer.
Bee on the other hand/servo was trying to see if the figment could see him. But to no luck of course.
The only thing the bots could do was watch helplessly as Megatron raised his blade and kill the little femme. She turned into dust like the others did. The bots looked away while the kids were uneasy and horrified. They didn't know the kid but the fact Megatron would kill one was just...sick.
Megatron proceeded to look at Bee who was deeply hurt by the sudden event. Megatron laughed as Bee angrily whirred, trying to hit Megatron only to phase through him.
"You are real, they were not." Megatron finally concluded, walking away for a moment.
Then he chuckled to himself, knowing how Bee did it. "The Cortical Psychic Patch, how unexpected."
Ratchet looked worried at that. "We've stirred Megatron from his oblivion. He is becoming self-aware."
"If this is my subconscious...what are you doing inside my head?!" He shouted right in Bee's face.
Then Arcee commed base after a long silence.
=Ratchet, are you hearing this?= She asked.
"If Megatron perishes, Bumblebee's mind will remain separated from his body, forever." Ratchet explained grim.
Everyone instantly became worried again.
"We'll lose Bumblebee and Optimus?!" Jack freaked.
"Ratchet get Bee to hurry up!" Bulkhead hurried the Medic.
"Already on it." Ratchet said, typing away to go back to communicating with Bee.
Megatron was still speaking to Bee, figuring out how Bee got in and what had happened.
"The only way you could have entered my mind is via Cortical Psychic Patch. But the question remains, what happened to me?!" Megatron aggressively asked the scout, staring deep into his optics.
Bee just stood there, frozen, scared. Then Megatron started to remember, how the space bridge blew up as his army came through. His optics widened, realization hitting his processor.
"The space bridge explosion. And yet if...if you're inside my head, I am not one with the allspark. So tell me scout, do I still function?" He asked.
Ratchet was finally able to activate the comm link. "Bumblebee, we are running out of time!" Ratchet told him urgently.
Bumblebee quickly thought and began to speak to Megatron. How ironic, Bee is 'speaking' to the guy who ripped out his voicebox so he couldn't in the first place.
::Yes but I came because of the Cybonic Plague:: Bee told Megatron.
"Cybonic Plague? Someone besides myself is...is unwell?" Megatron pondered but knew the answer right away.
"Optimus!" Then he began to laugh evilly at the sudden turn of tables. Everyone in the room felt uneasy when he laughed and figured it out so quickly.
Raina could tell Optimus was hurt by this. His arch nemesis taking comfort in knowing that he could die. So she started to hum again, placing her hand on his helm and reassuring him through her eyes. If he was going to die, which she didn't want happening now, he was going to offline in comfort and peace.
"Such Irony!" Megatron pointed out amused.
"But after ages of endless battles, the mighty Optimus Prime, is felled by a simple virus from the distant past." Megatron further explained, even saying Optimus' name mockingly.
Raina hummed louder, trying to drown out Megatron's taunts and amusement. She felt helpless as Megatron bullied Optimus and she was unable to stop him. If he ever came back, she was going to have a 'nice' private chat. He had lied to her, showed his true nature, even bullying a dying mech for Primus sake!
"And what makes you think I would save the life of my oldest enemy?" Megatron asked the scout, as if what he said was stupid.
"Megatron, your treachery is-" The fake Optimus suddenly got shot by Megatron, who didn't even look when he did. Completely annoyed by those at this point.
::I know what you want most Megatron:: Bumblebee told the warlord.
"Oh. And just what is it that I want most, scout?" Megatron asked tauntingly.
::To kill Optimus by your own hand and watch as you do:: Bumblebee said, raising his fist up in the air.
"Did you not see? I do slay Optimus by my own hand, at will. Whenever I desire." Megatron mentioned plainly to Bee.
::If the Cybonic Plague kills the real Optimus, you won't get to see or do it yourself:: Bumblebee pointed out to him.
Raf translated what Bee said to the others. "Bee told Megatron if he lets the Plague Virus destroy the real Optimus, Megatron will never get the chance to do it himself."
"Smart" Jack complimented.
"Twisted" Miko added.
"Well played" Raina finished.
Then Megatron thought over Bee's words. "After our deep history together, to not watch the spark ebb from Optimus' eyes with my very own..."
::You see? If Optimus dies now, you'll never see the finish you've fought so long for:: Bee added in, just to spruce it up a bit more.
"Well played scout." Megatron admitted before opening his servo. Revealing a cube shape, imbedded with codes.
Bee looked in shock, his face saying 'actually?'. He was just truly amazed how Megatron gave in that easy.
"The chemical formula for the cure you seek, not that I expect you to know how to read it." Megatron said calmly, throwing an insult in.
"Rude." Miko piped up.
Then as Bee reached out for it, Megatron snapped his servo closed, the cure vanishing.
::Wait what?:: Bee beeped confused.
"Not yet." Megatron said.
::What now?:: Bee beeped again.
"And how am I to accomplish terminating Optimus as you propose, while I'm trapped here in a perpetual daydream." Megatron asked, looking around at the world he created.
"Once you release me from this prison, you will have the cure." Megatron told Bumblebee like it were a promise.
Of course, no way a deal was going to be one sided. Plus, he's too smart to know he can't actually witness Optimus' demise if he's still there.
"You must guarantee my recovery or Optimus will fade to gunmetal gray. The REAL Optimus."
Ratchet suddenly cut the screen, rewinding back to the moment Megatron showed the cure. Then he quickly commed Arcee.
"Arcee, we have the formula! Disconnect Bumblebee now!" Ratchet commanded her.
"See I told you we would get the cure. Your going to be fine Optimus." Raina told the mech.
His optics continued to flicker but they were darker now, barley producing light. Then he went into a small coughing fit. Some energon escaping his mouth.
Ratchet quickly stepped in and cleaned it away without touching it himself. He would later dispose of it but right now, it was cure making time.
Bulkhead went to ready the groundbridge and activated it. Arcee and Bumblebee ran through, and immediately started asking about Optimus. Bulkhead closed the groundbridge and informed them of everything. Arcee told them what she did as well. Raina decided to finally leave Optimus' side so Ratchet could do his thing.
She hopped off and walked away, heading back to where the kids were. Once she got up, she noticed something on her arm. It was the energon Optimus' coughed up. She used her shirt to wipe it off, planning to thrown it out later.
Except the energon left a mark on her skin, a nasty looking one too. She didn't notice though. (And since y'all know she is basically filled with Cybertronian everything except blood, she's screwed :D).
The kids waited around till it was night, waiting to know if Optimus would be ok.
Eventually, they all watched as Optimus was helped up by Ratchet, still regaining his strength.
"That's it. Steady." Ratchet told him, careful of Optimus' movements.
Everyone clapped as Optimus was able to stand after nearly dying. Well, Bee was cheering him on rather than clapping.
"Please. Reserve the hero's welcome for my physician...and my scout." Optimus said, gesturing to Ratchet then Bumblebee.
Bee shyly rubbed his helm and beeped as everyone clapped to him now. Raina stopped to turn around at Optimus.
"You sound and look much better Optimus." She said, smiling at him.
Then he took a step forward, with Ratchet's help, and lowered himself.
"Raina, your positivity helped me a lot. Thank you." He thanked the girl.
"Anytime Optimus, after all, it's my 'charm'." She said, quoting with her fingers.
"What were you saying earlier?" She asked, remembering when Optimus was trying to tell her something.
"We can save that for tomorrow. It's nothing too important." He said smiling. He was confident that after today, she wasn't much of a Decepticon anymore.
Bee started to bow down, like he finished giving a good show. Everyone eventually settled down as the kids had to get home.
The next morning, Raina didn't feel to good. She felt super duper weak and her throat felt too dry to speak.
She stumbled her way to the bathroom where she saw herself. She could have cosplayed as Wednesday Addams perfectly. Her skin was deathly white, her eyes looked dead, and the mark on her arm got worse.
It looked like what Optimus had except no rust (obviously), just blue looking crack marks with bruising all around. She panicked and could only think of one thing, that Plague. But how? She was human (not), could the Plague affect humans too?
She went downstairs, trying not to fall down. She was extremely fatigued, pale, and speechless. Literally and figuratively. She got a glass of water and downed it, but her throat still felt like it couldn't speak. Like all the muscles just stiffened up or disappeared all together.
She didn't go to school, just stayed home with her dog, who didn't act much different. Tired, quiet, and lonely. That's what her parents came home too. Worried of course but she assured them it would get better. Luckily for Raina, she didn't have codes like the bots, she had an immune system that would hopefully fight this off.
The next morning was definitely better from the last. She was getting better but she had a gut feeling this wasn't going away.
She definitely wasn't missing going to base today. And it was a good thing she didn't miss out since someone special was taking over a scout's body.
—
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