Author's notes:

This chapter picks up again from the end of chapter 40 where OC was fighting a losing battle for her life. If you haven't read that chapter yet, or indeed the subsequent chapters, this one might seem a little out of place. Sorry if I mucked up the timeline for you all. I am just seeing if you are all paying attention. 😊

Reminder:

::Denotes comm link communication::

/Denotes recalled conversations/

/denotes internal thoughts/

This chapter was hard to write trying to explain what is happening to OC in a technical, jargony way, (yes, I just used that word). I am sure I have made some sort of error in my explanations… just go with it people. Please. 😊

Chapter 43 – Rage Against the Dying of the Light

Optimus P.O.V

''OC! Don't leave us! STAY. FIGHT! Don't leave ME!'''I could feel the terror and the desolation welling up inside of me.

Seven million years. Such an extraordinary amount of time when said out loud, and yet, there is no time! WE have no time left as I watch OC slip away from me, her fragile human body convulsing as pain tore through her body. I am vaguely aware of myself yelling at Rachet to, ''DO SOMETHING!'' and he ushers me out of the way. I will not leave her side.

Since the plane touched down early Thursday evening and they brought her down the ramp, I have been beside her, hoping in some small way she can sense my presence and know that I have kept my promise to her. She had said she was afraid of losing me that day before the plane took off and she did not know what she would do without me. Now, as I watch Rachet and the team of doctors and nurses fight to save her life, I want desperately to be able to say the same thing to her. I amafraid of losing herand, after last night's very confronting talk with Rachet, I truly do not know what I would do without her. It is all at once a sobering, comforting and confronting thought.

My optics never leave her as Rachet says the words I had dreaded to hear, ''Optimus, we're losing her.'' My spark is torn in two all over again, as the same pain I felt when I lost Elita comes flooding back. ''No,'' it is barely a whisper because it is all I can manage to raise. ''No Rachet, this can't be it. No.''

I am forcibly shoved out of the way by Rachet as he moves around to oversee the nurses and doctors. There is a flurry of activity, but I do not see it. All I can see is OC, looking so very fragile and so very small.

All I can hear is the horrible sound of the heart monitor indicating OC's heart has failed. That constant beeping sound, grates at my nerves and tears at my sanity. /No. Please. Primus, hear me. Not like this. Not now. Please!/ I close my optics for a moment to try and centre myself. I am falling into an abyss.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. And a deep gasp for air. My optics fly open. OC is surrounded by nurses and doctors. She has a mask quickly placed over her mouth and her eyelids briefly open, searching for something, then they flutter closed. /She is ALIVE!/. I take a step away from the abyss and walk back towards my light. Another needle is administered into her arm. /A sedative?/.

''That was too close,'' one of the doctor's spoke up. ''If that happens again, we will lose her. I dare not give her anymore adrenaline. God alone knows how her heart has already been affected, not to mention the possible long-term effects to the brain.'' He turns to face Rachet. ''She has been given a strong sedative and the anaesthetist has put her under. She should be stable and relatively comfortable for at least 8 hours. After that, it is hard to say what will happen. She may make a full recovery; she may take a turn again.'' He paused a moment and eyed both Rachet and then me carefully. ''I do not know what has happened to her, but I do know this is rapidly advancing out of human science and expertise. You said she had a cut from something metal?'' He eyed us suspiciously.

I could not speak at present; all I could do was look from Rachet to OC and the steady beeping image on the screen that assured me she was here with me.

Rachet spoke up. ''Yes. She did. We are uncertain as to the origin of this metal at present and, as such, the full ramifications of her contact with it.'' He lied to the doctor.

The doctor shook his head. ''In all my years of practising medicine I have never seen a patient vomit blue liquid that has not been drunk on blue curacao.'' He gave a light laugh before he grew serious again. ''Her right hand, where she was cut. It's changing. It is not wholly a soft tissue, flesh and skin. It is turning into something else. I can't be sure...'' At this he shook his head and let out a huge sigh of disbelief, shock and frustration. ''As I said before, this is becoming a matter beyond what I can treat and understand.'' He fixed both Rachet and me with a serious stare, ''I just hope you are able to take over from here or that poor girl's life is as good as over.'' I flinched and Rachet set his dermas in a thin, irritated line.

''Thank you, Dr Andrews. We appreciate your support and the support of your staff at this time. If there is nothing further you can do to aid OC, I suggest you leave and get some much-needed rest.'' Though it seemed Rachet was being polite, those who knew him would have detected the barely restrained hostility bubbling away.

Dr Andrews took one last look at OC and then smiled and nodded towards us both. ''I believe there is nothing further I can do. Some of the nurses will take it in shifts to assist you and help monitor her progress. I wish you all the best of luck,'' and with that he strode out of the room to clean up and move on.

Rachet watched him go with no small amount of displeasure. He then turned his optics on me, and they softened. ''Prime. Are you okay?''

I had somehow knelt beside her and was staring at her intently. ''I thought we lost her,'' I closed my optics.

''We nearly did old friend, we nearly did. She is a fighter. She is fighting for something, or someone,'' I felt his optics stare intently at me as he spoke.

I opened my optics and let them rest on OC's sleeping form again, choosing to ignore Rachet's pointed comment. ''Is what Dr Andrews said true Rachet? If OC has that, ''episode'' again, will we lose her?'' My own voice, normally steady and commanding, was now laced with fear and uncertainty. Though I felt myself cringe inwardly, I could not bring myself to care too much at this point in time.

Rachet ex-vented heavily. ''I don't know Prime. Though it would seem likely.'' He cast his optics about. ''Nurses, thank you for your help, it is greatly appreciated. She is sedated for now and I can take it from here for the moment. Would you kindly give us a moment?'' The handful of women had simply nodded or made a simple comment and left the room.

After they had gone, I asked the question I had wanted to ask since Dr Andrews made his observations known. ''Rachet. What do you think has happened to OC? Her hand, her, ''purging''. Combined with what we know happened to her, what she touched. What does this mean and what do we do from here?'' I gave Rachet my full attention now.

Rachet once again ex-vented and pinched the place where his nose and his optical ridge met, it would seem Rachet had also picked up a few human habits. ''Prime, I have several ideas and theories, but they are just that. I have never had this happen before. This will be a ''wait and see and roll with the punches'' case scenario. Not ideal I know, but unavoidable.''

I nodded my understanding but made no move to interrupt or question him further.

''We know both OC and Sam touched the Allspark shard. It is possible, possible that when that happened, some of the knowledge contained in the Allspark was absorbed into them both. ''Transformed'' so to speak.'' I felt my optics widen in shock before Rachet continued in his explanation, ''Before you ask, I do not know the effect this will have on an organic human brain! It would at the very least have caused significant pain and headaches for them both, not to mention some sort of seizure as their brain tried to ''process'' the alien information at rapid speed.''

Rachet paused a moment, considering to himself, ''Perhaps that is why Samuel's grandfather Archibald went mad?'' Rachet then physically shook himself out of his own train of thought. ''However, OC was cut by the shard of the Allspark, Sam was not. This means that OC's reactions and the effect of her contact will be more significant and, likely harmful than Sam's exposure. Somehow, in some bizarre twist of fate or cruel joke, there was some energon on or in that shard. Be it from the cube or…'' Rachet's voice trailed off.

Realisation slammed into me, ''MEGATRON!'' the energon in my lines seemed to freeze. ''Rachet, does this mean..'' I could barely bring myself to say it, ''OC will become… she will..''

''NO! OC is in no danger of ''turning into Megatron,'' any more than you are when some of his energon is splashed onto you in battle, or a human has of turning into their blood donor during a transfusion.'' Rachet quickly expelled my fear on that matter and I visibly relaxed. ''What it does mean, I think, remember this is a theory, a hypothesis, is that when OC closed her fist around the shard and it cut into her skin, the energon on the shard, not to mention miniscule fragments of the shard itself containing Transformer CNA, seeped into her and entered her blood stream. At the same time the remnants of the ''the cube's'' transformative properties within that shard, ''set off'' some sort of ''transformative reaction'' within her as her blood and organic tissues were mixed with and exposed to our alien CNA and energon. Her bodies' natural defence systems, immune systems, will try to combat it and see it as a threat that has to be gotten rid of and it will send antibodies to ''attack it''. What this will do I have no idea.''

I pressed Rachet further, ''That is an interesting theory Ratchet, but what do you think will happen?''

Rachet turned his optics to take in the resting form of OC. My own optics followed his, and I felt a faint stirring in my spark as I took in OC's comatose form, though I fought to ignore it. ''Usually, a person will be sick for a period of time while the body tries to heal itself and repair. They may develop fevers, nausea, dizziness and various other symptoms, all of which OC his displayed, and then they often make a full recovery and have developed some immunity to that "threat''. However, this is no common cold or viral infection she is fighting here. She has an ''alien, alien'' substance invading her body and, coupled with her ''gift'', I have no idea of knowing what will eventually happen.''

He walked around to her right side and carefully lifted her right hand. ''It would seem Prime, that OC's body may be undergoing some kind of ''transformation'' the likes of which I am unsure will be the result, both as to the end result and the likelihood of her surviving. And that is the honest truth.'' Rachet ex-vented deeply and fixed me with an exhausted stare.

It was while Rachet was holding OC's right hand that I noticed something, apart from the very bizarre physical change taking place. ''Rachet! Where is OC's ring?'' I yelled out in slight alarm. I knew how important it was to her.

''It's ok Prime. Apparently, the nurses took it off as she was being prepped. Human patients usually don't wear any jewellery when entering such medical situations. It is removed and kept safe.'' Rachet indicated some human sized drawers off the side of the room. ''It is in the top drawer on a chain. It is safe.'' His optics shone with compassion. I relaxed my frame a little and nodded my understanding and appreciation.

I Looked at OC again. Such a remarkable woman in so many ways. /If anyone can fight this and survive, it has to be her/ I thought to myself determinedly. ''Rachet, old friend, I am so very thankful to have had you here tonight fighting for OC. You have done me, and OC, proud, we are truly thankful.'' At my words the veteran medic seemed to radiate pride and a little embarrassment.

''Happy to help Prime. OC means a lot to me too. I am just grateful we were able to stabilise her. The next 12 to 24 hours will be critical for her. That is the danger period where it could go either way.'' At my tensing frame Rachet continued, ''Rest assured I am going nowhere during that time and beyond if need be, until I am satisfied I have done all I can for her. You have my word.'' Rachet's optics shone with determination.

I nodded my understanding and my thanks. ''Thank you. That provides great comfort. I know she is in the best servos.'' I looked back up to Rachet. ''And Rachet, thank you for earlier. Your ''talk''. While it may not appear to be the case, I appreciate your honesty and your support.'' I tore my gaze away from him and shuttered my optics, ''You have given me much to think about.''

Rachet merely nodded again, ''you're welcome Prime,'' before he allowed a small smirk to spread across his faceplates, ''Just don't think too much and over analyse it. It really is quite simple.'' With that he turned and walked over to check some equipment he would likely need later.

I knelt there a moment longer taking in the small, pale and exhausted figure of OC as she lay wrapped in white blankets on the gurney, various lines and tubes going into and out of her body. I tilted my helm as I quietly considered her. So fragile, yet so strong. So brave yet so vulnerable. So full of love, yet so full of sadness and loss. OC was indeed an enigma, but one I wanted to spend whatever time I could getting to know and understand.

I felt a small smile form on my dermas. /Perhaps, perhaps it really IS simple? Perhaps… in time we could…/. I was torn abruptly from my silent reflections by my comms line beeping.

::YES!?:: I barked down the line.

::Prime. It's Jazz. Sorry to interrupt ya, I hope OC is okay?:: I could hear the worry in his voice.

::For the time being Jazz, she is:: It was the truth. ::What is it?:: I fired more tersely than was necessary.

::Sorry Prime. I thought I should inform ya of a situation we have brewin'. That Allspark shard that was stolen in the Decepticon attack here, well, Lennox was just informed by Morshower that there was a confirmed hit by the various nets protectin' NBE 1 that an initial five, then six hostile bogey contacts made their way into and then out of theLaurentian Abyss just now. Significant damage sustained ta one of the submarines::

My spark stopped.

::Prime. I think..:: Jazz started to voice what my processor and my spark already knew and feared.

::Megatron. He's back!:: The words were fairly spat out of my dermas. I felt white hot anger quickly replace the cold wave of fear. We trusted the humans to protect our Allspark shard and now… look what has been allowed to happen! This would NEVER have happened if we had taken custody of our own property instead of trying to appease and maintain relations with the humans. I could not help the poisonous thoughts and my disappointment in the humans – in me - for allowing this to happen, from tearing through my processor. I felt my fists clench by my side as I looked at OC. /How many more lives must be lost as a result of our war, and my mistakes?/.

::Prime?:: Jazz inquired tentatively. :I understand I'm in acting command at present and I will gladly assemble all available Autobots and act in your stead. But I thought ya should…:: Again, I interrupted my Second in Command.

I closed my optics briefly, though all I wanted to do was stay by OC's side, I knew that was not possible. I was Prime. It was time to act like it. ::No Jazz. That will not be necessary. If Megatron is indeed back, he will likely be seeking revenge:: Galloway's words echoed in my processor, /''What is there to hunt on earth except you!''/.

::Jazz we must locate Sam and speak with him. I fear the Autobot/human alliance is in a fragile state, especially now with recent events unfolding. We must remind our human allies of the trust we share in each other. Sam is key in that:: /And… if he did touch the Allspark, he is likely a target/, I thought silently to myself. ::Jazz assemble all Autobots in active duty for immediate departure. Rachet is exempted. Inform Bumblebee once we land, he is to retrieve Sam. I will send coordinates for our meeting location after he has Sam in his possession::

::Affirmative Prime:: Jazz responded.

::Jazz, I need you to contact Lennox and arrange transport to Washington DC right away. If there are any issues, patch him through to me:: I commanded.

::Yes Prime, right away:: he replied. The line went dead.

I closed my optics momentarily again and ex-vented heavily. /Some days it just doesn't pay to wake up from recharge!/. I opened my optics and focused on OC again. She had not moved, her face expressionless and pale. I reached out a digit and gently touched her face. ''I'm sorry OC. I wish I could stay here with you, but I have to go. My duty as Prime demands it''. I allowed my digit to remain against her face. ''But know you come with me, wherever I go, you are in my spark, always.'' For a brief moment I thought she would open her eyes and smile at me, but it was only wishful thinking. She remained motionless.

I reluctantly removed my digit from her face and stood up. ''Rachet?'' I turned to try and locate him.

''Yes Prime?'' Rachet strode over from the other side of the room.

''I have just received a distressing communique from Jazz. It would seem the shard that was stolen from here not long ago by the Decepticons - has been used to revive Megatron.''

''Slag it to the pits!'' Rachet growled his optics flashing with fire.

''I know, my thoughts exactly.'' I turned to look at OC. ''Rachet I have scrambled the Autobots for an immediate departure to Washington DC. As I am sure you would agree, you are to remain here and watch over OC.'' I felt my spark twinge at the thought of leaving her in such a state, but I had no choice.

''Of course, Prime. I will stay by her side come what may,'' Rachet stared solemnly at me.

''I have a feeling Sam's life is at risk too. If I stay with OC, Sam may be lost. If I go to see Sam, OC may well die in my absence. Either way Rachet, I lose someone I care about..'' the tone in my voice was cold.

''Not on my watch you won't Prime!'' Rachet's voice had a determination burning within it I had never heard before. ''I will do whatever must be done to save OC, I swear to Primus. Go, find Sam. I will protect OC.''

I nodded slowly, as I looked at OC's sleeping form one more time. ''Thank you Rachet.'' I paused a moment. ''If she wakes up tell her..''

''Tell her yourself when you get back! Now GO! The sooner you leave, the sooner you get back!'' Rachet began to usher me towards the door.

''Very well. You are to comm me if anything happens, that is an order,'' tearing my eyes away from OC, I turned and walked towards the doors of the Med Bay.

''Understood Prime, see you soon,'' I heard Rachet call out to my departing form as I strode towards the doors, ''We'll be waiting for you.''

I couldn't bring myself to look back because if I did, I knew I would not have the strength to leave. I kept walking and shoved the doors open roughly, allowing some of my frustration and sorrow some release.