Ack, so sorry I took so long to update this, I had a lot going on with life and stuff and had some trouble with inspiration. But here's the next chapter finally! XD I had a bit of a hard time figuring out how I was gonna do the medical part for Optimus and everything, but thanks to a friend of mine who helped me I got it done. :) Anyways, enjoy! :D
"What happened?" Fowler asked as Ratchet set Optimus on a med berth and got to work on his injuries, never minding his own.
"We were attacked by Arcee." Bulkhead replied as he helped Bumblebee over to another berth.
"She's still under Megatron's control?"
"She was, but we managed to destroy the chip. But the Decepticons came and took her before we could get her." Ratchet explained quickly as he tries to stop the Energon flow coming out of Optimus' neck and chest, "I need your help Bulkhead!"
Bulkhead looked at him in shock, "Are you s-?"
"OPTIMUS' LIFE IS HANGING IN THE BALANCE RIGHT NOW AND THERE'S NO ONE ELSE TO HELP, SO GET OVER HERE!" Ratchet yells, interrupting him.
Bulkhead ran over to help, "What can I do?"
"Put pressure on the wounds!"
Bulkhead adds pressure as Ratchet goes to get some Energon and sets up the Energon machine, he then hooks up the machine to Optimus, along with an IV. He then transforms his servo into his welder and started welding together the wound on his chest since it's the most critical. By now Optimus had passed out from pain and Energon loss. The others looked on as Ratchet frantically tried to save Optimus.
After over an hour of pinching circuits and welding metal Ratchet finishes fixing up Optimus and Bumblebee and is now finishing up fixing himself, with Bulkhead's help, as he leaned against a wall feeling exhausted. Optimus is still unconscious and Bumblebee had slipped into recharge, Ratchet was ready to slip into recharge as well but he had to finish up.
Fowler and the kids looked at the bots as they recovered from their encounter, they wished they could help but they knew nothing about Cybertronian medicine or their bodies, "Is Optimus gonna make it?" Fowler asked as he looked at Prime on the medical berth hooked up to machines.
"He's stable but it's uncertain right now, we'll have to see after we all got some rest."
"What do you think they'll do to Arcee now that the chip is destroyed?" Jack asked with worry.
"Not sure, no doubt Megatron will put her under his control again." Ratchet replied.
"Is there another way?" Miko asked.
"They could have another chip or they could use another way, there are a few ways to control a bot's processor." Ratchet explained as he welded up the last bit of his armor.
As soon as he finishes the alarm goes off alerting them of 'Con activity, "Guess I'll be taking care of this on my own." Bulkhead said as he walked over to the controls to open the groundbridge.
"I don't think that's wise." Ratchet protests.
"I'm the only one who can." Bulkhead says just as more alarms go off to inform them of more 'Con activity, "They're busy today."
"Of course, because they know we're in no shape to stop them. What are they after?"
"Energon crystals it seems."
Ratchet lets out a deep sigh, "We'll have to let them have it this time..."
Bulkhead just sighed as he headed to his room, he knew arguing with Ratchet was pointless and he was exhausted. Fowler and the kids just watched the bots with worry, the fight with Arcee paid a heavy toll on them, both physically and emotionally.
:: Lord Megatron. :: One of the Vehicons speaks over the commlink.
:: Do you have the Energon? ::
:: Yes, and no sign of the Autobots. ::
:: No show up at all? ::
:: No my lord. ::
Megatron let out a dark chuckle, :: Excellent. Get the Energon back here asap. ::
:: Yes sir. :: The Vehicon said before the comm closed.
Once the comm ended Megatron let out a dark, hearty laugh, "Arcee has rendered the Autobots useless, they can't even fight right now. Thanks to her things are starting to go our way." Megatron then turned around to face his crew, "Knockout, go see to Arcee and make sure she has no serious injuries, and make sure she has plenty of Energon. She has proven to be an excellent weapon against Prime and his team and I don't want to lose her."
"Yes, my liege." Knockout said with a bow before leaving.
"But, my lord, how will you control her with no chip?" Airachnid stepped forward and asked.
"There are other ways and I'm sure I will find a way which will give me full control, without any mishaps."
"Not to question your judgment sir, but I think I would suit better than that worthless -" Airachnid started saying when Megatron interrupted her with a growl.
"You and the rest of the Decepticons have been proving to be no match for the Autobots, none of you have been able to take them down! But Arcee has beaten them down and rendered them useless and helpless! So don't second guess my judgment again Airachnid!"
Airachnid flinched back, "S-sorry my lord."
"With all due respect Lord Megatron, I have extinguished the Autobot Cliffjumper." Starscream pipes up, bragging as always.
"Yes... How could I forget?" Megatron says sarcastically as he rolls his optics, "But have you been able to do any damage to the Autobots since? Better yet, to Optimus Prime?"
"Well, I was about to kill him off that one time before you..." Starscream started but then trailed off as he realized his situation.
Megatron glared at him, "Please continue Starscream. Before I what?"
"Uhh... Nothing, you're right like always my lord. Arcee has been an excellent weapon against the Autobots and we must be sure to keep her well." Starscream responded as he shrunk before the warlord. Megatron just scoffed as he turned around towards the monitors again.
Arcee sat in the brig still going over what Megatron had told her. What makes her so special? Why wasn't it one of the others? She wouldn't wish this on any of her teammates but she couldn't help but wonder why her and not one of the others. She then started thinking about her teammates, her friends, and she wondered how they were fairing. She wondered how badly she had injured them.
She couldn't remember much of the fight just that Optimus, Ratchet and Bumblebee were injured pretty badly, Optimus especially, and by her own blades. She feels just horrible for what she did but she knows she wasn't acting on her own accord, and her team knows it too. How badly injured are they? Are any of the injuries fatal? Questions just keep running through her processor and it's starting to irritate her, mostly because she can't find out the answers as long as she's locked up. All she can do is pray that her friends are okay and aren't injured too badly.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the cell door open and she looked and saw Knockout standing in front of her with medic supplies and Energon in his servos. Arcee looked at the Energon with hungry optics as she hadn't had any in a good while and was needing some, but at the same time, she was weary. She doesn't trust the Decepticon medic or any of the 'Cons, the Energon could be poisoned for all she knows. She vows never to take any Energon from them, not only because she's wary of it but because she doesn't want to give in to them, to not show she's weak and need their help. She just watches the medic as he approaches her, "Hello, Arcee. How are you feeling?" Knockout asks as he squats down right in front of her.
Arcee glares at him, "Why do you care 'Con?"
"I'm the medic, I'm supposed to care." Knockout responds trying to sound sincere, but Arcee wasn't buying it and she just hardened her glare. Knockout rolled his optics, "Lord Megatron wanted me to see to you and make sure you are fine. Which you are by the way." Knockout confesses, saying the last part with a smirk as he looks over her frame.
"Watch it Knockout or I'll mess up that finish of yours." Arcee threatened.
Knockout laughed at that, "How? You're chained up!"
"I'm sure I'll find a way."
Knockout just laugh some more, "St-stop it! I-I can't t-take anymore!" Knockout says as he continues laughing. Once he stops he wipes some lubricant from his optic, "You're funny. Were you the comedian of your team?"
Arcee just glares at him and growls. Knockout then moves closer to her and she tries to pull back but to no avail, "Stay away from me!" She growls at him.
"You know, I liked you better when you were under Megatron's control. Well, he'll have you under his control again soon."
Arcee tried to hold her glare but it started to falter as fear started taking over at hearing what he said, "He won't, I won't let him!"
Knockout just laughs again as he reaches to run a digit down the side of her faceplate, "There's nothing you can do."
Arcee pushed his servo away and scowled, she wouldn't admit it but she knew he was right and it scared her a bit. She really needs to find a way to escape. Knockout just chuckled as he scanned her, "Nothing serious, just some scratches and small dents, easy fix."
"You're not touching me!" Arcee spat out venomously.
Knockout just sighed and shook his helm as he placed some Energon in front of her face, "Drink. Lord Megatron wants you fit and healthy."
Arcee grabs the Energon cube, but instead of drinking it, she throws it at Knockout making it shatter and leaving small scratches over one side of his chest and his shoulder and Energon dripping off his frame. Arcee smirked, "Told you I'd find a way."
Knockout started fuming, "HOW DARE YOU!? YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" He said as he got out his electric rod and got ready to strike. Arcee's smirk went away as a twinge of fear hit her for a moment but then left, she just closed her optics and prepared herself for the shock... But nothing happened. She opens her optics to see the rod an inch from her frame and a tentacle wrapped around the medic's arm. Soundwave had stopped him from striking her.
"That's not wise." Soundwave says as he pulls the medic back.
Knockout growled and put away his rod, "I shall inform Megatron of your disobedience!" He says to Arcee before leaving the cell.
Once Knockout was gone Soundwave turned to Arcee, "You shouldn't have done that."
"Why? If I don't want any Energon I'm not gonna drink it and it served him right!" Arcee snapped back, "I don't want any Energon from you 'Cons." She tried to sound harsh like she was with Knockout but for some reason, she couldn't and her tone came out softer than she wanted, but there was still some bite in it.
"Why refuse and fight when Megatron's just gonna force you to drink it?"
Arcee just scoffed as she turned away from him and Soundwave just watched her, Good thing she can't remember anything from when she was under Megatron's control because it means she can't remember me telling her my feelings. Which is both good and bad in a way, but since she can't remember this situation is less awkward. Soundwave said to himself as he continued to look at Arcee, it pains him to think that she doesn't remember but at the same time is relieved.
It's also paining him to think of what Megatron will do to her after Knockout tells him about what just happened, he's gonna beat her until she submits. It hurts his spark to think about but there's nothing he can do, she's doing it to herself, "You're only making it harder on yourself... You're not affecting us in any way, only hurting yourself."
At that Arcee looked back up to him and he looks into her optics, the same blue and lavender color optics that mesmerized him the first time he saw them. He looked into them and felt relief and happiness that she has them back instead of the colorless and soulless optics she had before. Arcee scoffed again which brought Soundwave out of his trance, "Why do you care what happens to me?"
Soundwave just stayed silent, he's not gonna reveal his feelings again until the right time.
Megatron was still on the bridge looking at the monitors, watching out for the Vehicons getting the Energon so he can get them back to the ship when they're done retrieving it, when Knockout walked in, "Knockout, how is Arcee doing?"
Knockout growled, "She has no serious injuries, just some scratches and dents which I can fix. But she's refusing medical care and she refused the Energon I was giving her! She threw it at me and wasted it all over me as well as scratch my paint!"
Megatron turned around to look at him with rage in his optics, "She what!?"
"You heard right, she refused medical help and the Energon!" Knockout repeated as he looks at the scratches in his paint job with disgust.
Megatron let out an enraged growl as he walked past Knockout to head off the bridge, "She's trying to be disobedient I see, well I'll show her!" He says as he walks off the bridge and heads to Arcee's cell.
After a moment of watching Arcee Soundwave turns to leave the cell. He walks out and closes the door behind him then heads up the corridor, he then comes across Megatron heading towards the cell. Soundwave watched him as he passed then went to walk behind him, he knew this was gonna be bad.
Arcee looks and sees the two mechs walk into the cell and she feels a chill run over her body as fear engulfs her when her optics lay upon an enraged Megatron. The warlord walks over to her then kicks her in the chest, then he bends down and punches her before grabbing her by the throat and lifting her up. He jerked her towards him with her body coming forward and her arms stretching out behind her, the chains rubbed against her servos as her wrist and arms started hurting, feeling like they were about to be ripped out of place. But she bared the pain as she looked into Megatron's red optics with fear in her own,
"What's the meaning of this disobedience!? You dare refuse the offer of help I provide!? You will take the medical treatment and you will drink the Energon we give you even if I have to force it down your throat!" He then slams her into the wall and releases her throat and lets her slide down to the ground, but then he slammed his foot against her frame pinning her to the wall, "I will beat you to scrap every time you refuse and I will force you to take the Energon whether you like it or not! Keep in mind just because I see you as a valuable weapon and I don't want to lose you doesn't mean I won't kill you if you push me too far, because I will still kill you if you push it!" He shouts as he looks down at her as he adds pressure onto her frame making it hard for her to function.
She felt like her body was gonna burst, as though her spark was gonna pop out of her chest with as much pressure that was being applied to her body. Errors and system failure warnings started popping up as she tried to keep her body functioning and tried to stay awake. Megatron then stomped on her, moving her body down to a laying position on the floor as he kept his foot on her body, "Do I make myself clear!?"
Arcee looks up at him as things started getting blurry as her vision started fading, her body was going into shut down. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't get anything to come out, she couldn't get out any response to his question as her body started fading out and shutting down. Then darkness, nothing but darkness...