Parings:
OptimusxMegatron
Child(s):
Ratchet
Child(s): Raf
WheeljackxBulkhead
Child(s):
Knock OutxBreakdown
Child(s):
Ultra MagnusxOC
Child(s): Strongarm, Chase
Warnings: Character death, revival, fluff, talks of interfacing, sparking, mpreg, father/son bonding, growing up, and anything else I forgot.
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. Only Hasbro. I only own my characters.
Ratchet straightened up as he finished with the last solar panel. Raf sat at the computer that would control the network for the Energon converter. Raf pushed a button and entered in a few codes. The machine whirled to life, the clear lines running blue with the Energon being made. It went to a large tank that ran to different parts of the base. A sensor would stop the machine when the tank reached a certain capacity.
"Looks like everything is running perfectly," said Raf.
"That is good. Now we can have the Energon run to where it is needed, such as the medibay," said Rafchet.
~~~000
Raf waited patiently with Jack and Miko for a pickup to the base. Jack had even tried to call, but Ratchet said that they were all busy. Raf stood to get feeling back in his legs just as Soundwave landed in front of them. The Communications Officer grabbed Raf first and the other two with his tentacles. A groundbridge opened up and Soundwave walked through.
He deposited the children into three glass tubes that were sealed shut. Starscream chuckled at his genius plan that he came up with.
"Soundwave, Knock Out, it is time to depart for Cybertron. Our Lord and Master awaits us," said Starscream, picking up the tube with Jack. Knock Out grabbed Miko and Soundwave took Raf.
Soundwave opened up the spacebridge, walking through with the children. Raf really wished that Ratchet was there. He was scared. The threat of being killed slowly or quickly didn't seem pleasant.
~~~000
"The children?" Ratchet gasped, checking over Raf from where he stood. "Optimus what happened?"
"The Decepticons captured the kids and used them to get the Omega Keys," said Arcee.
"Optimus... destroyed the Omega Lock," Bulkhead finished.
"What? Optimus... we needed that," Ratchet said.
"Hey he saved our planet," Miko defended.
"What about our planet?! All the Energon spilt and lives lost," Ratchet mumbled. He vaguely felt Raf touch his servo.
"It wasn't your call to make," Smokescreen added in.
"I do believe I have a say in it. That was our one chance Smokescreen! A chance that may never come again!" Ratchet shouted, closing his optics tightly to block the tears.
Ratchet went off to his room with Raf hot on his heels. The young boy slipped inside and watched as Ratchet sat on his berth, hunched over and servos covering his face. He could hear the quiet sobs as the medic cried over the loss of the revival of his home planet. Raf managed to climb up onto the berth and to Ratchet's side.
The boy hugged Ratchet's thigh as much as he could. The old mech continued to cry as he received comfort from the much younger being. After an hour or so, Ratchet calmed down and picked up Raf.
"Thank you Rafael," Ratchet mumbled.
"I'm sure there's another way to bring back your planet," Raf said hopefully.
"I do so hope there is a way," said Ratchet.
"And if nothing else, you'll always have a home here on Earth," said Raf.
~~~000
Optimus lead the charge in battle against Megatron. He grunted as a solid punch almost knocked him off his pedes. Megatron snarled as he continued the battle. Both had wounds, but Optimus had way more than Megatron did. Optimus tried to communicate through the bond he shared with Megatron, but it was blocked off by the dark Energon. A dark presence entered through the bond, making Optimus gasp and grab his chest. It was as if Unicron was inside of him.
The Decepticons' fortress towered in the background near Jasper. They hadn't found the base thanks to Ratchet's hologram to disguise the base and a two mile radius to look normal. The rest of the Autobots fought hard, even Ratchet. The humans had stayed at the base to watch what was going on. A sharp cry pierced through the air. Optimus looked to see Ratchet clutching his chest. Four long, deep gashes bled from where Starscream had gotten the medic. The distraction gave Megatron the perfect opportunity to strike. Well it was mainly Unicron. Megatron fought the control, not wanting to kill his bondmate.
Optimus screamed, the battle stopping to see what was going on. Megatron's servo wrapped around Optimus' shoulder as he drove the blade all the way through before withdrawing. Smokescreen phased in and grabbed Optimus, giving him some protection from any more attacks. Ratchet called Raf for a groundbridge, all the Autobots retreating into it.
"Smokescreen get him over here now!" Ratchet shouted from the medibay.
Smokescreen got a better hold of Optimus, Wheeljack helping by grabbing the Prime's legs. They set him down carefully before stepping away. Ratchet hooked up a monitor and cursed when he saw the low readings. He grabbed the energon lines and held them together as he clamped them shut. Various times his fingers slipped from the energon. Optimus was barely conscious, energon filling his mouth and streaming out. He coughed roughly, energon splattering against and around his lips.
Ratchet managed to stop the bleeding, but he knew the wound couldn't be fixed. He sighed in defeat, knowing full well that the rest of the team gathered close by. He turned to them.
"I fear the wounds are... fatal," Ratchet said gravely.
"Prime, you can't die," Miko said, her voice choking up a bit as she fought tears.
"Do not grieve. Soon... I shall be... one with the Matrix," Optimus said, looking to his family. "Smokescreen... it is to you now. In my... spark I know... you are the next Prime."
"Whoa, I know who wouldn't be a Prime Optimus. But I'm not ready yet," Smokescreen said, suddenly fearful of such a great responsibility.
"Nor was I... but one will rise... and light our darkest hour," Optimus gasped out, his spark growing ever weaker. "The Matrix... will present itself... to who's spark is worthy."
"I don't know! You aren't supposed to die!" Smokescreen panicked.
"The Matrix... will lead you," Optimus whispered. "Until that day, 'til all are one."
The once bright optics flickered once... twice... three times before going out. The monitor next to Ratchet beeped a few times before it all went flat. Miko shook her head as she cried, lunging herself at Wheeljack and Bulkhead. Arcee shut her optics and looked away, the pain of losing her leader hitting hard. Jack hugged her leg in his way of comforting his bigger partner. Ratchet sighed in failure before he shut off the monitor and going to Raf, who now started to weep. Bumblebee got close to where Optimus lay, his helm resting on the once bright red armor, which had dulled as the nanites died. Smokescreen shook his helm, not wanting to believe what had just happened.
"This isn't how the story's supposed to end," Smokescreen said.
"There's nothing more we can do. I'll start preparations now," Ratchet said. He had Raf on his shoulder as he walked to a drawer. He grabbed a large bowl and a cloth.
The old mech filled the bowl with warm water before walking back over. He respectfully and reverently dipped the cloth into the water before wiping away the blue life force. He cleaned the wounds first, then around them. He dipped in the water again before finally cleaning his mouth and closing his optics. The medic patched up the wounds and made them look like they were never there, erasing it from the body. Finally, he placed Optimus' servos on his abdomen, placing one on top of the other. He stayed silent for several minutes before speaking.
"Goodbye old friend. May you finally receive peace," Ratchet mumbled in Cybertronian. He looked to the mourning team and let them say their own goodbyes. The medic took Raf and held him to his spark, rubbing the small back with a finger. "Shh… shh... shh... let it out Rafael. I'll be right here. I promise not to leave you."
"I'm not letting him die like this!" Smokescreen suddenly said, running down the hallway. He went to the relic room and grabbed the Forge of Solus Prime, dragging it back to the main room. As he approached, the Matrix presented itself to Smokescreen. The rookie placed the handle on Optimus, stepping back as a sudden light filled the room.
When it disappeared, Optimus looked new and bulked up, but the Prime remained motionless. Smokescreen slumped over, his idea failing. Soft systems whirred on from the corpse. The rookie looked hopeful, willing for the Prime to wake up. Optimus drew in a sharp breath, sitting up and looking around. He was confused as to where he was.
"H-how?" Optimus stuttered out.
"Something told me to use the Forge," said Smokescreen. "I didn't know why, but I listened. I'm glad I did."
"Thank you Smokescreen. I am in your debt for saving my life," said Optimus.
"Hey it's no problem. We still need you to lead us," Smokescreen shrugged.