TFP: Youngling

Ch.39~ Synth En Part 1

I added something to my latest test sample of a possible finished version of the synthetic energon to the test engine. I smiled as the engine ran, seems I was making some headway at last. I will have to conduct another test, perhaps I can try it with another machine.

A cry broke me from my thoughts, I spun to see Stargazer writhing on the medberth under her thermal blanket. Racing to her side I put a servo to her forehelm, she was overheating again. I carefully pulled off her blanket and grabbed a cloth. Reaching into the small cooler I dipped the cloth in cold coolant and carefully placed the cloth over her forehelm. She whimpered a bit before setting as the coolant-cooled her overheated systems.

"Ca…" she began her optics onlining.

"It's alright, I'm right here." I hushed; she turned her gaze to me.

"Ca…" she repeated, I nodded and brushed her cheekplate soothingly.

"Yes little one, you're Carrier's right here," I assured, she smiled before her vents kicked back on. "Good feme, keep those vents going."

She weakly made grabbing motions to me, I leaned over her, she grabbed my faceplate. I let her lead me helm toward hers, she pushed our nasal ridges together. I smiled and nuzzled her faceplate affectionately. She chirped a bit at my nuzzles, it was nice to see her happy like this again.

"Full of smiles today aren't we." I cooed, she nodded but her vents sputtered.

I hushed her as her faceplate began to contort, her vents hiccupped more. The last few days she's lost the ability to keep her temperature regulated, her vents struggled to keep her frame cool and hiccupped or stalled often. Her vents seemed to calm as I gently wiped the tears from Stargazers optics.

"Ca!" she wailed; I kissed her cheekplates soothingly.

"I know, I know it hurts, but you'll be okay. Carrier's working hard to get you feeling better." I hushed, she continued to cry.

I was so close; I can feel it. I'm so sorry Stargazer, I'm working as fast as I can.

I carefully maneuvered myself onto the berth so I could pull her to my chestplates. Her small servos clutched onto my armour as she buried her faceplate over my spark. I held her close as her vents roared trying to cool her frame and her sobs rocked her small frame.

"I've got you, Carrier's got you." I hushed.

I am so sorry…

(Later)

I looked at the sample batch of energon. It could run my test engine with no issues. I cast a gaze to my now sleeping creation. She needed me to finish the formula. I clenched my servo tightly as I stared at the green liquid in the test tube. It would take so long to test this on more machines.

I placed the tube in the injector and looked at it a moment, this was terrible scientific method. Turning back to look at my creation, I felt my resolve solidify. Frag the scientific method, there was one sure-fire way to see if this would work. Please let this work. Quickly I injected myself with the formula. My helm felt light and the world drifted away.

I onlined my optics and I felt my frame booting up faster than normal, my frame hurt a bit. Onlining my optics I found myself gazing at the ceiling in the main room. What happened? Turning my helm, I saw a shattered test tube sitting in the injector.

Right, I injected myself with my synthetic energon sample. Sitting up I felt the pain fading, seems it was just from my sudden collapse. I pulled up my diagnostic screen, I felt giddy as I looked at the result. Efficiency was up to thirty percent; motor functions were optimal. I'd done it.

'Ratchet, lock onto Arcee's coordinates and prepare an emergency groundbridge.' Orion commed, I hopped to my pedes and got to my controls.

"Locked on, Arcee decelerate and prepare to enter base," I ordered to Arcee over the console comm.

"Save it Ratchet, I'm too close." Arcee insisted.

"Don't be a fool," I argued, I heard her comm cut. "Frag."

(Optimus' POV)

I looked around the scene before me in shock, at least ten vehicons lay offline around them. Ratchet was kneeling next to Arcee tending to her injuries. His optics now had a green hue, it was not normal, even his field felt different. What had happened here?

"Wow, nice work Cee." Sideswipe chimed as he looked at the vehicons.

"It wasn't me." Arcee argued, "How did you do that?"

She was gazing directly at Ratchet as she asked that, did she mean he did this? While Ratchet certainly did have combat experience this was beyond his abilities. At least it should. Sideswipe raced to Ratchet's side with an excited expression.

"Whoa! They really must have pissed you off huh Hatchet." Sideswipe chimed leaning his faceplate toward Ratchet.

"I'm working bratlet." He huffed shoving the young mech's helm back.

"Why are you optics green?" Sunstreaker questioned, seems he noticed that as well.

"There, be careful with that wrist component for a few days." Ratchet lectured, Arcee nodded and he rose to his pedes.

"Don't ignore me." Sunstreaker huffed.

"It's nothing for you to worry about." He insisted, Sunstreaker folded his servo over his chassis.

"Like slag it is," Sunstreaker growled, I walked and placed a servo on Sunstreaker's shoulderplate.

"Optic colour change is rather drastic, and this is normally beyond your skills," I added, I heard a bridge open.

"Let's go." He huffed and headed into the portal.

I patted Sunstreaker's shoulderplate and follow directly behind Ratchet, this wasn't like him. I saw him go to the med-berth and gently pet Stargazer's helm. I stepped toward him; I need to know what is going on. I felt something bump my pede and I saw his injector with a broken vial in it. I did not like this.

"What happened?" I demanded gently picking up the injector.

"It's fine, just testing something." He insisted, I gripped the injector tightly.

"You tested something on yourself?" I questioned, he gently scooped up Stargazer.

"I did, my current trail of Synthetic Energon. It seems to be working, does it not?" he answered turning to me with a determined expression.

"You did what?!" Sunstreaker screamed, I turned to see the golden mech looked furious.

"Does that mean, all we needed was more energon, and Star would be feeling better?" Sideswipe stated, he looked hurt. "Me and Sunny could have…"

"Done what, something reckless and got yourselves slagged." Ratchet argued.

"It'd be better than this, you don't even know what that stuff could do to you!" Sunstreaker hissed, he began to march forward but I put a servo to his chestplates.

"I questioned the wisdom of using yourself as a test subject," I stated, he scoffed.

"Please, we do not have the luxury of testing something like we could before. If it doesn't work, a simple systems flush will get it our of my lines." He argued.

"Stupid idiot!" Sunstreaker yelled.

"I mean it kinda did make a better tough guy than I did a smart guy." Bulkhead stated, Sunstreaker turned to the big mech practically snarling.

"Shut it Tiny!" Sunstreaker hissed, Sideswipe grabbed onto his twin.

"Sunny calm down." Sideswipe urged.

"I hate to say it but I agree with Bulkhead, you two didn't see him out there. This stuff could be the real deal." Arcee added.

"Even if it is, any further test should be conducted on machines, not Autobots. Am I understood?" I ordered, Ratchet grit his denta.

"This is your problem; you never can bend your ideals to do what needs to be done." Ratchet argued.

I stood frozen as he glared at me, but tears filled the corner of his optics and he quickly ran off. I went to give chase but I felt a servo to my wrist, turning I saw Sideswipe looking up at me shaking his helm. I sighed; he was right if I followed now, it would just lead to an argument. He needed time to calm down.

"What's happening to Star?" Sunstreaker demanded, he moved to stand before me. "Why do we need more energon? That's why he's acting like this, isn't it?"

"Her systems are failing…" I stated, his optics widened. "Her time in stasis, the death of Jazz… She wasn't able to get the things she needed for her development in that time. Her frame ran out of mineral deposits and can no longer keep with her growth."

"But we can help her, right?" he questioned, I nodded.

"She needs Ratchet to become a surrogate, but we don't have the energon to support that," I answered, he bit his lipplate.

"So, he's using himself a subject to test the synthetic energon to speed up the process in hopes that he can help Star." Sideswipe summarized I nodded. "Primus…"

"Let's go," Sunstreaker stated, but I caught his wrist.

"What are you planning?" I questioned, he tried to pry his wrist free.

"What do you think." He huffed.

"I can't allow that," I stated, he spun to glare at me.

"Sides and I can handle this, we're Wreckers we do the impossible missions no one else will." He argued.

"You both are talented warriors but if we even knew where the Decepticon mines were, we do not have the firepower to take one. Fighting in a mine will only lead to an explosion." I countered; he slumped and I let go of his wrist.

"Yeah, both of you are staying here," Arcee stated, Bulkhead nodded in agreeance.

I heard an engine and I saw Bumblebee driving in from his patrol, he quickly transformed and looked at us. He was always one to read a situation quickly, he ran to the twins. I sighed and looked to where Ratchet had runoff. He needed time, but I couldn't let this sit. I began to head to where he was. We needed to talk.

(Ratchet's POV)

I leaned against the wall cradling a still thankfully sleeping Stargazer. He didn't understand, this was the only option. If I could prove this worked now then I could help Stargazer faster. I need to help her as soon as I can. If not…

I pulled her closer curling around her; I didn't want to think of what could happen if I didn't help her. She was already suffering; I didn't want her to suffer like this. She's been through enough as it is. I don't care if this could have ended badly. I just want to help her. Please let this work…

"Love," Orion stated, I slowly raised my helm to look at him. "Can we talk?"

"I had to do this," I argued, he knelt down before me.

"I know you feel that way." He acknowledged, but he didn't agree…

"Orion look at her." I pleaded showing our daughter to him.

"I see her." He assured, why isn't he getting it?!

"How long has it been since you've seen her smile?" I questioned, he cast his gaze down. "When was the last time you came home to her racing to hug you?"

"Longer than I care to admit." He answered.

"If this works, she can do all that again," I explained, he raised his gaze to look at me.

His optics were full of emotions and his stoic expression was turning into a face of heartbreak. He carefully reached a servo and cupped my cheekplate and brushed it with his thumb. Was he finally understanding?

"I understand that, but I cannot lose you." He admitted, I teared up at his broken tone. "I want our daughter to feel better, I want that so much. But I cannot bear the thought that in doing so it could cause you harm."

"I don't care about me!" I screamed, he looked hurt. "I'd gladly suffer through anything to save her. Why don't you understand that?"

"Because I love both of you too much, I cannot choose between the two of you." He stated.

"I can." I hissed getting to my pedes.

I turned and left him; I can't deal with him right now. He's always been far too soft; he can't bend those stupid fragging morals of his. Sometimes you have to sacrifice things for a better outcome. But he refuses to see things rationally.

Not just on this, this whole fragging war no matter how many opportunities he was given. He still can't end Megatron, he can't do what needs to be done. He keeps holding on to sentiments for a mech who threw our whole planet into an endless war. For a mech who took so many of our friends and allies. For the mech who took away our first creation…

Stepping into our room I sat on the berth, how had I never thought on that. This feeling of betrayal, that he couldn't hate Megatron for what he took from us. Did he not feel that loss as much as I did? He took away our creation, and he very well could indirectly do the same to Stargazer. This will never end unless he dies.

I looked down at Stargazer's recharging faceplate, she doesn't deserve this. Carefully I laid her down on the berth, kissing her helm crest I rose to my pedes. If he can't do it, then I will. I picked up her datapad and activated a bridge. Setting it down again I took a deep vent before walking through the portal. I will end this.

(Optimus' POV)

I took a deep vent as I stood before our room, he must have retreated here. Stepping inside I felt my spark drop, Stargazer was laid on our berth and her datapad was on. Walking over I picked it up and felt my spark skip a pulse. He had called a groundbridge from here to the last Decepticon mine we found… No.

Dropping the datapad I raced down the halls, upon entering the main room I ignored the others as I tried to trace his energy signature. Nothing; had the synthetic energon scrambled his signature?! I could hear yelling but I couldn't focus on it as I stared at the screen. I need to find him, now.

(Stargazer's POV)

I awoke to what sounded like running, I pushed myself up. My frame felt so heavy, looking around I saw I was in our room. Where were Sire and Carrier? Carrier usually lets me stay in the main room. Slowly I crawled to the edge of the berth, when did this feel so high?

I want to know what's going on. Come on, please body let me move. Turning around I slowly lowered myself over the edge of the berth. I felt my pedes touch the ground. Letting go of the berth I crashed to the floor, I gritted my denta in pain. I can't stand!

Tears of frustration filled my optics, now I can't walk. I felt my vents sputter painfully, I wanted to scream and cry. My frame won't listen to me. Why?! I want Carrier! I want Sire! I want brothers! I want Bee! Bulk, Cee, anyone!