Ratchet's P.O.V.
I can't believe I failed to protect her. Sunstreaker may have been her guard, but I should have stayed with her. Jolt could have talked about the recruits we've helped this week and Jasmine's mental state.
"Call a medevac," Optimus orders Lennox.
"No, Jolt, and I can help them."
"You are not in the right state of mind."
Now I'm failing these three soldiers.
Optimus takes me away from the scene to the lake. It's a beautiful full moon shining on the lake, just like the night before we left for the training camp, even if that night was at the pond in the park. The sound of crickets fills the air until the medical helicopter arrives.
"I failed her; now I'm failing them."
"They'll be fine," Lennox says, "they are seriously injured, but they'll be in good hands. What's the plan?"
"There's nothing we can do if we return to the base; training camp will continue. Inform Red Alert and Prowl what happened; they can try to track Jasmine down," Optimus explains.
"Sir, I suggest Ratchet go back to the base," Jolt adds.
This troubles me; even my partner in the field thinks I won't be able to continue my job here. I don't think I'll be able to argue he's wrong.
"I agree with Jolt; I'm sorry, Ratchet."
Without further argument, I open a ground bridge for myself.
How could back at the base be any better?
I look around the room, dreading Jasmine isn't here; I can't sleep here tonight, unless...
Jasmine's P.O.V.
I wake up, tied to a metal table, in a dark room. The only light is above the table, but I don't think I'm in an operating room.
"Ah, finally."
That voice...
Two figures stand beside the table. I don't know who's with Yazmine.
"Don't worry, we will not kill you, we can't since you have Energon in your blood," Yazmine says, "from what our insider has told us; all we have to do is keep you in a dark room for a few weeks, and you'll be a mess."
"But that's not all we're going to do," the other woman says with an evil grin. She has a lighter tone than Yazmine and me, and paradiso green eyes. She gives me the feeling she's been torturing people for years; I'm screwed.
Optimus Prime's P.O.V.
"Sir, I believe you and Lennox need to go back to the base and work on tracking down Jasmine," Ironhide insists, "we can handle things for thirty-six hours."
It is good he's not letting the situation affect the rest of the recruits' training.
"Very well, we will leave tomorrow morning."
Everyone goes to their cabins, but who can sleep after what happened?
Everyone is on edge the next morning, even though most didn't see what happened. It's quiet in the mess hall.
"It's good training for them, though this is a kidnapped soldier rather than dead," Ironhide says.
"The three soldiers are going to be fine," Jolt says as he sits down, "they worry about Jasmine than their own injuries."
Lennox and I worry about how Ratchet is doing.
"... a guard found him passed out at the gate," Red Alert explains.
It's been so long since Ratchet had a sparkmate, and she was killed in battle. He took this route when he got the news. It's no surprise he did this even though Jasmine is likely still alive.
"Leave him alone," I tell the others, "tell all the guards to let me know if Ratchet tries to leave again."
Lennox and I struggle to get in touch with Jasmine's parents. We fear they are also targets.
"Damn, she's as bad as Megatron," Lennox says, banging his hand on the table.
Ratchet's P.O.V.
This hangover isn't as bad as my heartbreak; the feeling my girl is being tortured and probably killed soon if we don't find her. With everyone at boot camp, I don't have to worry about going to the medbay. I can sleep this hangover off, but I can't sleep until my girlfriend is found.
"Wake up, my love."
I wake up, seeing my love, Compass.
"Did I seriously drink enough to offline myself?!"
"No, my love; I am here to guide you. I watched you suffer through my death, and I can't let you do it again."
"I shouldn't have let myself fall in love after your death, but—."
"You know I would want you to find someone. I have been watching you from the Well of Sparks. I know this human, Jasmine, is right for you."
"She's gone."
"No, my love; she's ok. Believe you'll find her quickly. She's tough; believe she'll be tough enough to endored what she will face."
She kisses me before disappearing.
"I'll always be with you, Ratchet."
I look around the room before crying.
Jasmine's P.O.V.
They threw me in a cell. I don't know if their plan is to leave me in here or not. I get my answers ten minutes later as two crab-like robots, though they don't walk sideways, drag me out of the room.
"Consider yourself lucky, sister; we haven't decided if we want to kill you or not."
"What do you...?"
I see our home on the monitor.
"Did you know mom is pregnant? She told me when you were in the medbay."
"Y-you wouldn't?"
I'm glad I'm already on the floor; otherwise, I think I'd be falling to the floor.
Please, Autobots, save our parents and the baby.
"And you get to watch."
I'm dragged into a chair and tied up.
"We're ready for phase two," Yazmine tells the person on the other end.