Chapter Six

Ratchet heaved a heavy sigh as his weary gaze swept over everything that was in his office: the plain metallic walls that held no life within, the spark monitor that had been hooked onto one-too-many mechs, the five large, crudely put-together examining tables, and of course, the slumbering femme. He sluggishly made his way to the old chair that had been pulled out next to his large medicine cabinets. Cumbersomely, he sat himself down. Before he could lose himself in his own thoughts, the sound of the doors to the med bay lifting up brought him to attention. His helm snapped upward to view the small, silver mech that walked elegantly into the room and stood before him. The mech before him stood roughly at fifteen feet in height. Out of all of the autobots Jazz and Bumblebee are one the most understanding of human culture.

"How's it crankin' Ratch?" Jazz's deep voice bellowed throughout the med-bay, causing the tired and somewhat haggard-looking Ratchet to wince in surprise. Ratchet turned around and glowered at Jazz. He crossed his arms and looked at his uninvited guest with a pursed-lip frown.

"If you aren't injured, you have no business with me." He said sourly.

"Oh c'mon Ratch, you know I'm just worried about'cha. Think about it now—when was the last time you slept or drank your rations, huh?" Jazz asked in his sincerest tone.

"That is none of your concern, Jazz." Ratchet grumbled as he sighed and leaned back in his seat, "I know full and well when I am in need of rest or rations."

"But it is my concern, ..." Jazz stopped his argument short when he felt Ratchet's irritated glare burn into him. He sighed and quickly changed the subject by saying, "I came because I was curious about the new recruit. How is she?"

Ratchet's expression lightened a little, but not much as he said, "The femme is ... doing alright, all things considered. She will need to be careful for the next few days. She's young and in desperate need of guidance. If I am correct, Optimus will be having a meeting regarding her status within the next day or so—"

"How young are we talkin', Ratchet?" Jazz interjected in a more serious tone.

"It will be explained when Optimus speaks with all of you." Ratchet answered bitterly.

"Where is she from?" Jazz continued as he looked over at the slumbering femme worriedly.

"I will not be answering these questions, Jazz! This is for Optimus to explain!" Ratchet growled angrily as he rose from his chair.

Jazz shied back a bit and whimpered, "B-but ... Ratch, what about—!"

"But nothing! These are not questions for me to answer. You will wait for Optimus to inform you, just as everyone else will!" Ratchet's words came out venomously as he directed Jazz to the door, "If that is all you came here for, then see yourself out, Jazz."

"Ratch, what's wrong?" Jazz questioned seriously.

Ratchet heaved a sigh through his nasal plates and turned to peer at Jazz. "I…apologize for my behavior, but I had just recently talked to Optimus about the youngling and I worry for her future. I will inform you that this youngling knows nothing about our history and has not been around many Cybertronians before and will need guidance as she adjusts through this." Ratchet mumbled.

"She knows nothing? She hasn't been around many Cybertronians?" Jazz questioned as he dropped his accent.

"Nothing Jazz. Absolutely nothing." Ratchet affirmed.

"Slag." Jazz cursed under his breathe.

"I can't answer anymore of your questions you are just going to have to wait for Optimus to explain everything to you." Ratchet explained.

"Alright Ratch, I gottcha." Jazz stated.

"If that is all, I need to be by myself." Ratchet grumbled.

"Alright Ratch. I will comm you later. Catcha on the flip side." Jazz yelled out as he made his way out of the med-bay.

Ratchet slowly meandered his way back over to the chair sitting next to his cabinets.

MARIE'S POV

I opened my eyes slowly. Having expected to see the ceiling of the med-bay, or perhaps the grumpy, careworn face of Ratchet, I was surprised to see that all I saw was a thick, white fog. I was quick to get up and onto my feet and look around. Through the fog, I could just barely make out the shapes of what appeared to be ragged metal spikes. They formed large, foreboding structures overhead. I felt a shiver trail down my spine as I nervously took a step forward. How did I get here? What was going on? Where was everyone? My mind was full of unanswered questions. I paced aimlessly until a voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Child," A deep voice bellowed around me. Through the dense fog, I looked up and only just began to notice the form of a massive, colossal being staring down at me. I couldn't help but cower.

"Do not fear child. I mean you no harm. I only wish to converse with you." The deep voice echoed towards me.

I suck in a quiet breathe to soothe my rattle nerves and straighten my back out and pull my shoulder back. I falteringly take a step forward to the gigantic Cybertronian.

"How can I not fear someone when I can not even see them nor know their name?" I questioned hesitantly.

The large creature paused, as if in thought. After a long period of silence, it stepped towards me. Its massive footsteps resounded throughout the area, and each step nearly caused me to lose my balance as it drew closer. I looked up, finally able to see its face. Before me stood an enormous Cybertronian, unlike anything I had ever seen. What I had originally assumed to be a monster looming in the fog revealed itself to be a truly grand, graceful-looking extraterrestrial. The way it carried itself held power and emitted an undying confidence. His large, broad shoulders bore a beautiful, golden trim to it which complemented the white coating that adorned the rest of his body. At the center of his chest laid a circlet that held a vibrant, pulsating orb. There was one thing about this figure that my eyes were particularly drawn to—his face. It wasn't the golden pike that protruded from the top of his head, nor the way his lips were set in a firm, straight line. It was his eyes which drew me in. They showed a bright white, and radiated nothing but warmth and kindness. I found myself taking a step closer without realizing it.

"Let me properly introduce myself," He spoke in a formal tone, "I am Vector Prime—one of the original thirteen Primes. I am the guardian of time and space. It is a pleasure to finally meet you here, Marie."

My eyebrow ridges furrowed together as I realized that he knew my name before I even introduced myself and the fact that he has been waiting to meet me.

"How do you know my name? And what do you mean by 'it is a pleasure to finally meet you here'?" I questioned seriously.

"We have been watching you for a very long time young one. You have a very important destiny to fulfill." Vector replied.

"Woah. Wait up! You have been watching me? And what do you mean by 'we'!" I rushed out.

"'We' meaning the original thirteen, young one. We have so much to discuss, and so little time to do so." Vector spoke solemnly, "You becoming a Cybertronian was no accident. Within you lies an allspark shard, which grants you the abilities that even I could never hope to comprehend. You are here to help restore Cybertron to its Golden Age once again and to form a bridge between our worlds. I cannot tell you of what lies ahead, nor of what the future holds. This is something you will have to accomplish on your own, and I just implore you to trust in your spark."

"So you're telling me that I have the weight of two worlds on my shoulders?" I spoke glumly as my heart sank, "How could I, someone who has no understanding of this species, nor anything of their war, be chosen to fix their problems? I can barely keep up with my studies, and you expect me to unite two worlds together?"

"You are much stronger than you give yourself credit for young one. As not knowing the species you now are, it is a matter of learning. You have a one in a kind of perspective that helps you to understand both species." Vector calmly spoke.

"Learn? The people I am currently with. Can I trust them?" I spoke.

"I can assure you that you can trust them with your very life. Some of them might need time to trust you, but once you have gain their trust they will guard you with their very lives." Vector assured me.

"What if I have questions that they themselves can not answer me?" I questioned.

"Then you merely need to ask me. I have been appointed your guardian from the moment of your birth." Vector said.

"What about me going back to being human?" I gazed up at him in question.

Vector's eyes suddenly became saddened and his mouth turned into a frown. He turned his massive head away from me and let out a quiet sigh.

"I am afraid young one that your human body can no longer sustain your soul." Vector murmured.

"What exactly does that mean?" I questioned quietly.

"It means little spark that you can never become a human again. I am terribly sorry." Vector spoke solemnly.

I felt my heart dropped to the bottom of my chest when I heard what he had to say. In the back of my mind I had assumed; from the moment I came to realize what I now was, that there was no hope for me to ever return to my human body.

"Can you give me sometime to think of all of the things that have been discuss here today? I just need some time to come to terms about what has been done to me." I muttered.

"Take all of the time you need young one." Vector responded, "I will be here waiting for you when the time is right. All you need to do to converse with me is to put yourself into a meditative state and think of me. For now it is best if you get a peaceful recharge before you have to deal with the rest of the world. Good recharge cycles young one."

After Victor muttered those words to me all went black and I felt myself succumb to peaceful slumber.