Hey there readers! So I know in the episode, Jack and Miko are playing some sort of PS or X box, playing a racing game, and the Nintendo Switch wasn't invented yet during TFP. But I felt like it would be fun to add it in!
Hope you enjoy!
It was very late, way past my bedtime, not like I ever followed curfew rules. We got a scan of a Cybertronian pod that had been found in the arctic, Bulkhead and Bumblebee had to retrieve it. I offered to go along, but was immediately told no, with a list of things that could happen to my Techno-Organic body in sub-zero weather. So Ratchet put me to work, setting up the core-temperature generator for when the bots return.
"Nora, hook up the hose to the generator," Ratchet pointed, while typing away at the monitors.
"Alright," I tugged the giant hose over my shoulder. It was a good thing I had super strength, because not even the strongest human on earth could lift something this heavy. As I screwed the hose on the generator, I asked, "When do you think they'll be back?"
"Soon, Autobots can't be out in sub-zero conditions for too long." Ratchet explained.
"But, I thought Cybertron didn't experience weather like on earth?"
"No, but during the war, Autobots and Decepticons had to relocate across the universe, staying on whatever planet that was safe."
"So then... were there aliens?" I smiled.
Ratchet turned to me, looking unamused, "If you are referring to the ones in those movies you watch with Miko, then no. I've seen things that not even the most sick minded humans could ever imagine."
I giggled, "Cool, maybe my next trip into space, I should meet one."
"Not if Optimus, myself or the others have anything to say about it." Ratchet quickly shot me down.
But just before I was about to argue back, the ground bridge opened, Bulkhead and Bumblebee came through, pushing a giant metal pod, frozen in ice.
"Whoa. It's bigger then I thought," I said, rushing over to them, "You guys need any help?"
"We're fine Nora, but thanks for asking." Bumblebee buzzed.
"Put it in the storage room," Ratchet ordered, "Nora I still need your help."
walking back over, I plugged in the generator. Once Ratchet had set everything up, Bulkhead and Bumblebee came back, "Have a seat boys," I joked. The generator was unfortunately small, only 15ft tall, and they had to sit on the floor. Ratchet hooked up two hoses to Bulkheads chest-pate, and I did the same for Bumblebee. But as soon as I touched my bare hand on his metal chest, I pulled away, "Ah! Bumblebee, you're freezing!" I got shocked from the frozen metal, I felt a tingle go up my spine.
"Sorry Nora. Guess it was a good thing you didn't come along."
Once Bulkhead and Bumblebee where hooked up, Ratchet started the generator, and proceeded the long healing process. I decided to go to my room and grab my heating fan, and turn it on in front of the freezing bots, thinking it might work. After about 45 minutes, Bulkhead groaned from waiting.
"I told you doc, we're fine," He pulled one of the hoses off his chest, trying to stand up. But Ratchet stopped him, pushing him back down.
"The only way to be certain you're fine Bulkhead is to endure standard defrosting procedure. You know prolonged exposure to sub-zero conditions can cause permanent system damage."
Just then Dad and Arcee walked in after their patrol, "Ratchet, have you learned anything more about our arctic find?" Dad asked.
"Not yet," Ratchet walked over to the monitors, looking at a picture of the pod he took before moving it to storage, "The pod can't be opened while it's frozen solid."
"Well, whatever is in there, it's got to be useful right?" I asked.
"Let's hope so."
The following morning, after breakfast, Dad and Acree decided to go back to the arctic to find out more about the mysterious pod. I watched from the railing as Ratchet set the coordinates, and opened the ground bridge, "Arcee and I will search for any clue which might explain the origin of our arctic find." Dad said.
"Only until you sensors sound," Ratchet said, looking at his hand-held Autobot-signal monitor, "Remember, once your core temperature drops into the blue zone, system failures aren't likely, they're imminent." He warned them.
I frowned, not liking the idea of them going out in the freezing cold, "Please be safe." I asked, leaning over the railing.
Dad and Arcee smiled, "Don't worry Nora, will be in and out, quick." Arcee assured me.
Bulkhead and Bumblebee drove in, and Jack, Miko, and Raf jumped out of the vehicles. "Miss us, doc bot?" Miko asked, smiling up at Ratchet.
Ratchet let out a groan, "Shouldn't they be in school?"
"On Saturday?"
"I invited them." I smiled, which made Ratchet frown even more.
"We have the whole weekend off to spend with you," Miko grinned, walking up the stair next to me, "I brought Super Smash Bros. Ultimate~"
"Nice." I grinned, we rushed over to the tv, to turn on my new Nintendo switch. While setting up, I overheard Jack talking to Arcee.
"I wasn't expecting to carpool. What gives, Arcee?"
"Tag team Jack. It's my turn for exploration duty." She told him.
"Oh, too bad. It's a beautiful day for a ride. Would hate for you to feel guilty for leaving me indoors." He joked.
"Arctic exploration duty." Arcee clarified, to which Jack replied.
"Indoors where it's warm," He headed over to the railing. Once up the stairs he saw both us girls cat grinning at him, "What?"
"Worrying about your girl hu?" Miko joked, which made me giggle.
"Ugh, shut up!" Jack frowned, but couldn't hide his embarrassment.
"it's cool Jack, who wouldn't want to hang out with Arcee?" I shrugged, while grinning.
Jack crossed his arms, "Alright, so then which bot is your favorite, Nora?"
"All of them." I quickly clarified, wanting to avoid the topic. I was hopping the Autobots didn't hear.
"Oh no, I'm curious as well," Miko added, "Who do you spend more time with?"
"I spend equal amount of time with each of them. And I haven't played favorites with them since I was eight." I said, trying to act adult. Thankfully Raf came upstairs with Bulkhead and Bumblebee along side, "SO! What would you guys like to do?!" I slightly shouted getting their attention, and getting out of the awkward conversation with my friends.
"How about video games! Nora just got that new 'switch thing'." Bee suggested, using his fingering he mimicking playing a controller.
"Super Smash Bros!" Raf said, liking the idea, "Last one standing wins!" We all sat on the couch, while the bots stood behind us.
Turning on the game, we each grabbed a controller, and was about to play when Ratchet shouted, "Bulkhead, Bumblebee! Here! Now!"
The two bots glanced at each other before heading over. Bumblebee shrugged at Raf, adding, "Worst timing."
Miko grabbed the four controller and waved it in Jack's face, "Prepare to be destroyed."
"Yeah, not really my thing Miko." Jack said, trying to act grown up.
"Oh? Scared of losing? To a girl~" Miko teased, which worked.
Jack sighed out, before snatching the controller, "Bring it!"
"No Mercy!"
"Alright, pick your fighter!" I grinned, choosing Samus. Jack picked Captain Falcon, Miko chose Sheik, and Raf was Pikachu. Like Miko said, we showed no mercy; It was a constant fight grabbing items and trying to get the smash ball. Jack kept yelling at me saying, "Nora, stop throwing poke'balls at me!" But as we were playing, Raf seemed to be having a hard time. I noticed this after our last game, and he came in 4th again, "Hey Raf, you want to team up against Jack and Miko with me?" I smiled asking.
"Um, no thanks," He got off the couch, "I'm gonna take a break." He lightly smiled, walking towards the stairs.
I frowned, watching him leave, but I figured he wanted to be left alone. The three of us continued with the game. After about 5 more rounds, Jack won, "Yes! In! Your! Face!" he shouted at us, while doing the cabbage pack dance. Miko and I rolled our eyes. Suddenly the lights went off, as well as the tv. It only lasted for a a few seconds before everything turned back on, "Great, power failure." Jack groaned.
"That was wired." I blinked.
"Oh no, It wiped out our game." Miko faked whined, knowing that now Jack couldn't brag anymore.
"B-but, I was winning!" Jack protested.
"Bummer." We shrugged not caring in the slightest.
Get up from the couch we decided to ask the Autobots what was happening with the power. Walking down stairs, We saw Ratchet pull out a busted green chip from under the floor panel, "We most certainly have a problem," He frowned, "But what could have caused this?"
The lights flickered again, "Or that?" Bulkhead asked.
"Might be the main grid," Ratchet thought, "Hopefully, it isn't a substation malfunction."
Just then, we heard Raf walking up to us, "Hey guys. Look what I found."
Ratchet growled, his patience wearing thin, "We are busy here!" He shouted, but as soon as he turn to Raf he screamed, "AAHH!"
We all turned around, and saw Raf, holding something in his arms, that looked like a mini robot with a chibi body and head. Immediately, Ratchet, Bulkhead and Bumblebee, stood up, pulled out their blasters and backed away. I was shocked, I had never seen them so scared. Their reaction reminded me of humans that have arachnophobia. Jack, Miko and I backed up in front of Raf, as if to protect him, while we tried to calm the bots down.
"Hey, hey! What's with you guys?" Miko asked
"Scraplet! SCRAPLET!" Bulkhead screamed at the top of his voice-box.
"What's a scraplet?" Raf asked.
"The most dangerous vermin ever to crawl upon the face of Cybertron," Ratchet explained, before turning to me, "Nora, get away form it!"
We all raised our brows and turned to the sleeping robot in Raf's arms, "This? Really?" Jack asked, trying not to laugh.
"You're giant robots. Scrapy here is teeny." Miko added.
"You have no idea of the damage that teeny thing can do!" Bulkhead's hole body trembled in fear.
"He wouldn't hurt anything." Raf smiled, petting the scraplet's head. It started to wake up, showing its big purple optics.
"Aw, it's kinda cute." I cooed, smiling down at it.
But then I noticed it's focus on the bots. Without warning it's mouth opened, and showed off hundreds of razor sharp teeth that made a drilling sound. It jumped out of Raf's arms and serried over to the bots like a creepy windup toy. Bumblebee tried to shoot at it, but it was fast, dodging the blasts. It then leaped into the air, grabbing onto Bee's leg, and started eating at it! Leaving a trail of where it ate. "Bee!" I screamed too shock to know what to do! Bumblebee tried to grab it in his hand, but it chomped his fingers and kept eating away on his arm. Bee then flicked it off with his other hand, but the scraplet got back up and headed back to bots. But suddenly Raf grabbed a crowbar, (not knowing where he got it) and smashed it on its head. He kept hitting it, till it was dead.
Jack grabbed the crowbar in mid-air pulling Raf out of his rage, "Whoa, easy there killer." He half joked, but it helped.
Raf took some deep breaths, before remembering Bumblebee. We both ran over to him, "I'm sorry Bumblebee." Raf whimpered close to crying.
"Hey, don't worry Raf, nothing serious." Bee buzzed, reassuring his friend.
I reacted my hand out and gently touch the chew marks on his leg. I frowned, turning to Ratchet, "Will he be okay?"
Ratchet got down on his knee, examining the damage, "Only a mesh wound. he'll live."
"Now do you believe me?" Bulkhead said, "All scraplets do is dismantle machinery and eat anything metal - especially living metal."
Now I get why Ratchet told me to get away from it. I thought, shivering just thinking about it.
"Well, bug squashed, game over, right?" Jack asked.
"No. When it comes to scraplets there's never just one," Ratchet frowned, looking down the hall where the storage room was, "And I fear I know how they got in here."
We all cautiously walked down the hall. I transformed into techno-mode, without my helmet or face-mask on. I gave Jack, and Miko a metal-pipe and a wrench as weapons. Once we were inside the storage room, we saw that the ice had melted off the pod, and there was how a giant hole in it.
"It's a trap, a scraplet trap." Ratchet frowned, using his torch gun, as a lighter to look inside.
"Uh, an empty scraplet trap." Bulkhead reminded, he and Bumblebee nervously hid behind Ratchet.
"Scraplet trap?" I asked.
"During the war Cybertron thought that using them was a good idea to bring down the numbers of enemies." Ratchet explained.
"That's messed up." I cringed.
"The pod was most likely ejected into space eons ago, only to wind up in the arctic where the temperature kept them in stasis."
"Until we brought the thaw." Jack said.
"Now they're wide awake and ready to brunch." Miko added.
"So... how many are talking about?" Raf asked.
"Thousands," Ratchet narrowed his optics, "And the power malfunctions and ground bridge damage, are sure signs that their infestation is well underway."
That when I suddenly realized a new emergency, Dad and Arcee were still in the artic! "Ratchet, if we have no power- then Arcee and Dad- they'll-"
Ratchet's optics widened understanding my fear, and ran to the bridge. I flew after him, with everyone right behind. Turning on Dad's and Acree's life-signal, Ratchet tried to comlink, "Ratchet to Optimus, do you read me? We have a situation," The monitor screens started to static, "The scraplets have gotten into the comlink system!" Ratchet growled, turning to look at the rest of us, "If we don't eradicate these creatures immediately, they will reduce the entire base to a scrap hear!"
"I say we bug out of here and let them keep it!" Bulkhead argued.
"I second that!" Bumblebee nodded.
"Evacuation is not an option. If we don't get the ground bridge back online stat, Optimus and Arcee will perish." Ratchet frowned.
My eyes widened more, I hugged myself, shaking in fear. They can't die! I couldn't go on with losing more of my family...
"They...will?" Jack asked, not even thinking that cold weather could kill an Autobot.
Miko frowned, and glared at her bot, "Bulkhead, you never run!"
"Miko, you haven't seen a swarm of these things devour a bot. I have," Bulkhead said, then went into graphic detail, which didn't bother Miko, but it sure bothered me, "They pick you apart from the inside out, going for the small juicy bits first - fuse by fuse, circuit by circuit, till there's nothing left. And I mean nothing... not even your optics."
"OK! We get it Bulk!" I had to cover my ears in hope to stopping listening.
"Sorry Nora," Bulkhead apologized.
Jack then stepped forward, "You have to let us help."
"We're not made of metal." Raf said.
"Yeah, the scraplets can't hurt us." Miko smiled.
"Typically I find your fleshiness to be your least engaging quality," Ratchet remarked, which made me frown, before he added, "Besides you Nora. But it would appear to provide an advantage under these extremes."
"Ok, good. So we pair off, one bot, one human." Jack suggested, "I'll watch your back while you repair the ground bridge." Jack said.
"I'll help you with the repairs as well." I added, "The more help the faster we are to getting Dad and Arcee home."
"Then we'll go on a bug hunt." Miko smirked, pointing at Bulkhead and Bumblebee who both shivered in worry.
We pared up; Miko with Bulkhead, and Raf with Bumblebee. They headed back down the halls, hoping to find the scraplets and exterminate them. While Ratchet and I started working on the repairs, Jack was our spotter from behind.
"How's it going over there?" Jack asked.
"We've repaired the damaged conductors, and rerouted the central conduits. But the ground-bridge still won't receive power!" Ratchet growled, punching the floor.
"Maybe we need to check the fuel line," I suggested. Suddenly a high pitch scream echoed through the base. I raised my brow, "Was that Bulkhead?" Didn't know the guy had a horror scream.
Jack shrugged, and we went back to work, "Mind if I ask, how you know how to do this, Nora?" Jack asked me. I turned and showed off a proud smirk.
"I have been Ratchet's assistant since I was six. Fixing ground-bridges and rebuilding Autobot organs is as easy as riding a bike to me."
But as we were beginning small talk, we all heard a horrible rustling sound, like something metal was crawling through the vents. I pulled out my arm-blasters, and stood next to Jack, looking all round to find the source of the sound. Looking up, we saw to our horror a huge group of scraplets, crawling all over the wall, it really did look like an infestation! Each one turned their attention to Ratchet, and opened their mouths. They jumped off the wall and flew towards us.
"OH FRAG!" I cursed out, and started shooting.
"They can fly?! You never said they could fly!" Jack yelled.
They flew past me and Jack and latched onto Ratchet. He stumbled back, and fell to the floor, screaming. I watched in horror as they started eating him alive!
"Ratchet!" Jack and I screamed, running towards him. Jack used his metal-pipe to knock them off Ratchet's body, as well as hitting any in mid-air. I kept firing, killing some, but their numbers seemed endless.
But as I was firing them from the air while picking some off Ratchet, one of the scrapets actually turned it's attention on me, and attacked when I wasn't looking. It bit my calf, through my armor. I screamed out in pain, feeling its shark teeth in my skin, but as soon as it bit me, it stopped and went back to attacking Ratchet. I held back the tears, thinking that this must be what a shark bite feels like. I glared at scraplet, replacing my right arm-blaster for my forearm master-blade, "What? Don't like the taste of Techno-Organic?!" I yelled and stabbed it through the head, killing it.
Out of the feeding frenzy, Ratchet yelled to Jack, "The fire extinguisher!"
Jack quickly grabbed it, and starting spraying all over Ratchet's body. The cold temperature of nitrogen, made the scratlets shut down. Very quickly they dropped dead off Ratchet. But there were still more flying in the air. Bad timing for Bulkhead and Bumblebee to showed up, with bite marks all over them.
"Ratchet get the patch kit," Bulkhead said, not noticing our problem, "We're leaking energon like-"Finally looking up they saw the swarm. They spotted the two other Autobots and and dove after them. Firing at them did little help as they quick grabbed onto Bulkhead and Bumblebee's bodies. Now all three Autbots were at the mercy of these parasites! Raf, Miko and Jack kept on attacking getting them off their bot's, and I ran to grab extra fire extinguishers.
"HERE!" I tossed one to Miko. I ran over to Bumblebee and started spaying him down, while Miko helped Bulkhead, who was screaming for his life.
NO POV
Far away in the arctic, Optimus and Arcee were seeking shelter in a small ice cave. Their core temperatures had drop from blue zone, and their systems were slowly shutting down. They tried calling to base but got no reading, which was very odd. Something must have happened.
huddling down, Optimus glanced down at Arcee who was slowing falling asleep, "Arcee, wake up." He ordered, getting her to wake.
Arcee groaned, "Just resting my eyes."
"The longer we remain alert, the longer we remain alive."
"What do you suggest? Wait, how about game? Lets play, who's Nora's favorite bot," Arcee suggested, while shaking in the cold, "Ok...when she was...two, Bumblebee would mostly spend time with her... Then Bulkhead and Cliffjumper started to get her to play favorites against the three... And she would automatically say it was you." She lightly chuckled, which made Optimus chuckle as well.
"Though she spent a lot of time with them, she always wanted to spend equal amount of time with everyone... And wanted to do things as a family..."
"Remember when she was only a few weeks old...? She would get fussy if we weren't giving her our full attention... Even if our backs were turned for a second," Arcee chuckled again, then hugged her legs to her body, "I remember that when the rainy seasons would come, and you could hear thunder and lightning... she'd sneak into my room, and asked if she would stay with me... Because I was the bravest she said..." Acree then frowned, the image of four year old Nora standing at her door, in her pjs, clutching a bee plush, with tears in her eyes, "I only wished I had started to care about her sooner..."
"It was hard those first few years... but as the they went by, and she grew, her strength, determination, and spark... I wouldn't trade it for anything..." Optimus smiled through his mask, "And I thank each of you for your help."
Acree shivered, but smiled, "She's worth fighting for."
Nora's POV
It took us a while but we finally managed to kill every single scraplet. Jack and I sprayed them down with the fire extinguishers, Miko and Raf broken them down to size, with their wrench and crowbar. The poor Autobots groaned in pain, leaning their bodies against the railing wall.
"We get them all?" Jack asked, but he spoke too soon. The sounds of drilling and clanking echoed down the walls and through the vents.
"Hardly, these were just shouts." Ratchet frowned.
"Oh scrap..." Bumblebee buzzed, slumping down the wall.
"So, the rest of them know we're in here?" Bulkhead asked.
"And if we allow ourselves to become their next meal, Optimus and Arcee will never make it home. We must get the ground bridge to operational." Ratchet said.
"Then we can use it to send the scraplets anywhere on earth." Raf suggested.
"Too bad we can't send them to the Decepticon's war ship." I frowned, now understanding the purpose of a scraplet trap pod.
"Why not back to the arctic?" Jack suggested, holding the fire extinguisher, "We already know they don't do cold."
"Sweet! One-stop shopping." Miko joked, liking the idea.
"Given the body mass of the scraplets, sub-zero temperature should freeze them on contact," Ratchet thought for a moment, "So think Ratchet, think! If the ground bridge is still down, there must be a breach in the energon fuel line."
Bumblebee tried to sit up, but slumped back down, buzzing in agony. I frowned at the sight of my family, the scraplets did a lot on their bodies.
"If we weren't breaching, one of us could get back over there and fix it." Bulkhead groaned, feeling Bee's pain.
"Where do we find it." Jack volunteered. we all looked at the three humans.
"And how do we fix it?" Raf asked.
"It should be very simple." I said, "Do you know how to use a torch gun?" Jack nodded, "Ok," I flew over where Ratchet keeps all his tools and medical equipment, and grabbed my tool box. Landing in front of my friends, I handed it to Jack, "Follow the pipes down the tired hall," I pointed down the hallway, "The breach should be there."
"You're not coming?" Jack asked, making me glanced down at the bite mark on my calf. Looking down they finally took noticed and cringed.
"Probably not a good idea. Being half human didn't stop one from taking a bite. I'll stay and keep them safe. It's up to you guys now." I smiled, believing in my friends.
"We'll be quick." Jack nodded, and the three rushed off.
I quickly headed back medic corner, I started grabbing the patch kit. Sense our only medic was down, I now had to take the rule as doctor. Working as fast as I could, I over heard Bulkhead say, "So, if we get- when we get the ground bridge open, do we send the creepy-crawlies out or bring our bots in?"
"Optimus and Arcee will be fresh meat," Ratchet frowned, "If we bring them in first, the scraplets will have no reason to leave. We'll need bait."
"Where are we gonna get bait?! The scraplets already helped themselves to everything in here!"
I flew back caring the large Autobot size kit, "Well... maybe we have to use live bait?" I shrugged, getting an 'are you kidding me' look from the three bots.
"Not happening." Bumblebee buzzed, barely able to sit up.
"Not a chance." Bulkhead added.
"Out of the picture." Ratchet grunted.
I narrowed my eyes, "Well, you guys got a better idea?" I snarked, flying next to Bumblebee, I started patching up his bite-marks. Suddenly the vent screens from the ceiling and walls bust opened, and swarms of scraplets flew in, looking for more metal to feed on. Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Ratchet all dunked down, trying to stay low and not move. I hid next to Bee, taking out my blasters, ready for the feeding to happen.
Optimus' POV
Our ice shelter did little help, the harsh blizzard blew right in. Acree and I were frozen from the inside, unable to move, snow slowly covered our bodies. I tried to stay awake, thinking of my daughter, how I couldn't leave her. But... as our bodies were slowly shutting down, I knew that this might be the end.
"You know, the worst part...?" Arcee said, leaning against my side, trying to stay awake by talking, "After battling cons all these years... getting smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?"
"Arcee, this may not be the finish that we had planned, and leaving behind everyone... but if this is indeed the end, if we are to become one with the allspark..." Saying that tore me. My final thoughts going back to Nora, "My biggest regret is not telling Nora the truth. Now I will take this burden with me..."
Arcee reached her hand out to mine, holding it, "It's been an honor serving with you, Optimus Prime... And Nora... will become an amazing leader... She will lead the team to victory, and end this war..."
I smiled under my mask, her words gave me comfort, in these last moments.
Nora's POV
I watched in worry, we were all sitting ducks, just waiting for one scraplet to notice us, before the others follow. Please tell me they did it...! I begged.
Thankfully Primus was listening, because Jack, Miko and Raf ran towards us yelling, "Ratchet, all systems go!"
Ratchet, using what little strength he had left, pushed himself up and grabbed the lever, "Ground bridge, activated." flipping the switch, he collapsed.
"Ratchet!" I cried in worry, but I wasn't able to get to him with the scraplets hovering over us.
They ate at a metal beam from the ceiling making it fall, crashing next to Bulkhead. I noticed him glared up at the swarm, "Live bait uh?" He pushed himself to stand, and started waving his arms, trying to get their attention, "Ready for the main course?"
Following his lead, pulling on my helmet and face-mask. Grabbing two pieces of the metal beam I started banging them together over my head. The scraplets turned their head at us, "That's it, come get some nice tasty Autobot!"
Bulkhead glanced at me, "Hey, who's side are you on?"
"You volunteered, I'm just ringing the dinner bell!" I smirked, while still glaring at the scraplets.
Bulkhead let out a sigh, but it was too late for backing out, the scraplets flew right at us, "Come and get it!" Moving as fast as he could, Bulkhead power walked through the ground bridge, with me flying next to him. They started to latch onto him, and my metal rods, but we kept pushing.
Making it through the ground bridge I was instantly struck by the harsh cold winds of the arctic. My hole body shuddered even through my armor, I had to squint my eyes, in order to see. I spotted Dad and Arcee trying to make their way to the ground bridge, till they noticed us.
"DAD, ARCEE, GET DOWN!" I screamed, Bulkhead grabbed me in his hand, covering me, and fell down low. The scraplets, flew right over us, now taking notice of Dad and Arcee. My eyes widened, "Please, please let this work!" I pried. And thankful it did, the scraplets instantly froze, their dead bodies falling on Dad and Arcee like pellets. The ones stuck to Bulkhead also froze and fell off him. Sighing in relief, he let me go, knowing it was safe.
I quickly flew over to Dad, hugging him around his neck, not caring if he was frozen solid. He gently placed his hand over me, returning the hug, "I thought I wouldn't see you again." I whimpered, trying not to cry.
Even after the horror we all just went through, Bulkhead thought it be funny to joke, "I'd invite you in, but the place is a mess." Which made me laugh.
Back at base, all the Autobots needed serious care, and since Ratchet wasn't in good shape as well, I took over. Luckily Jack, Miko and Raf were fast learners and gave me a hand. We all checked on the monitors, on each Autobot, "Report boi-circuitry status." I ordered.
"Levels are rising." Jack gave me a numbs up.
"Great. Raf, keep a close watch on Bumblebee's electro-pulse monitor. Miko, check Bulkhead's interface patch."
"it's steady."
"Looking good."
Bulkhead turned to Ratchet who was watching me take charge, "Must be proud of your little assistant hu?"
I turned over at the two. Ratchet looked down at me, and smiled, "I am." I smiled right back.
"Perhaps you should get some rest yourself, old friend," Dad suggested, "You saved quite a few lives today."
"It... wasn't all my doing," Ratchet look at the three humans and smirked, "We're just fortunate that this infestation happened... on a Saturday."
"Our human friends may be small, but they are strong."
Suddenly, Miko screamed at the top of her lugs. Jack, and Raf quickly grabbed their weapons, while I pulled out my blaster. "Scraptlet?!" Jack asked, as we looked around.
"SPIDER! Is it on me?!" She shrieked, trying to find it and get it off her body, while running off.
We all looked at her with disbelief, "Did she just scream like a little girl?" Bulkhead asked.
Later that night, after everyone was patched up, and my friends went home, I needed some R & R, which was wearing my baggy sweats and reading manga on my bed. I heard a knock on my door, looking up, it opened, and Arcee leaded against it, arms crossed.
"Hey."
"Hey...?" I replied back, not sure what was going on, "Um... is everything ok?"
"Yeah... I just- ...I wanted to see if you're okay." She walked in getting down on her knees on the side of my bed.
"Besides the horrific sights of Bulkhead, Ratchet and Bumblebee's brutal mauling, while you and Dad almost died from hypothermia, I'm good," I tried to joke about today, but I felt my grip tighten on my book. Arcee frowned, seeing right through me. I sighed, "I'm... still a little shaken up..."
"Do you... want me to stay?" She asked, for which I nodded. She smiled, "So, interesting book?"
I smiled back and started tell her about it. As we enjoyed our time together, I started to remember something. This scenario felt very familiar, though it was years ago... I couldn't remember the full memory, but I do know, that Arcee stayed with me, until I woke up the next day.