Ch. 50

Ratchet sighed heavily, looking over Breakdown's chassis. The mech's spark monitor kept a steady, rhythmic beat, and his intakes were cycling normally.

"Finally stabilized," the medic murmured, looking to Arcee, "You did very well."

The femme shrugged and used a rag to wipe energon from her servos, "We did good, Ratchet... Now, what about...?" she looked down the hallway, deeper into the base.

The mech sighed, "I'll have to look him over too. If anything, I need to make sure he hasn't sustained any mental damages..."

Miko popped up from behind the couch, "Uh, hello? You left us here!"

Ratchet smiled softly, "Oh yes," he chuckled, "you three. I have to say, that is the quietest you've ever been. It's good to know you're capable of it."

Jack sighed tiredly, "We have to get home-"

"No way! I want to hear Starscream confess what he knows, spill his robot guts!" Miko smiled, "You know, tell the truth!"

Raf yawned, "It's been a long enough day already. Optimus can fill us in tomorrow."

The girl frowned at them, "That is so not the same as hearing it from the Screamer's mouth. Where's your curiosity?"

Arcee smiled gently, "The boys are right, Miko. We should send you home."

Miko groaned loudly, plopping back on the couch, "Well... then send them home and let me interrogate him! If he won't crack, me and Bulk can get him to talk."

Ratchet went to the ground bridge, charging it up, "Bulkhead was already sent with Optimus and Bumblebee to get Starscream to talk. If they can get him chatting, he's not likely to stop."

The ground bridge opened and the medic pointed to Raf, "You first, Rafael. I'm sure your mother is worried."

Raf nodded and yawned, going through the bridge tiredly. When he disappeared, Ratchet reset the bridge and typed in more coordinates.

Miko frowned at Jack, "So, you're going to leave, too?"

The boy shrugged, going down the steps, "Course I am. I have a test tomorrow and I don't know about you, but I think handling Starscream is best left to the 'Bots."

The ground bridge opened and Jack smiled back at Arcee, "Check in later?"

The femme smirked, "I'll call your phone if anything comes up."

The boy walked through the bridge and Ratchet reset it again, typing in another set of coordinates.

Miko whimpered, putting her hands together, "Please? I'm begging you! I have to stay and hear him tell you guys what's been going on!"

Arcee gently patted Ratchet's shoulder to stop him from activating the bridge again, "Alright, Miko. Why do you want to stay so bad?"

The girl smiled and ran down the steps, "He transforms into a JET. That means Autobot aerial support. And not only that, do you know how fast a jet can go?"

Arcee smirked, "Really, really fast?"

"Exactly!" Miko walked up to Arcee, "Before, we didn't have a chance to get him to join us. And I thought if anyone could convince him to stay, to help fight with you guys, it'd be Jack, Raf and me... Guess it's just up to me now."

Ratchet rolled his optics, "Puh-lease, what makes you think Starscream would join because of you?"

Miko frowned at him, "He doesn't like humans. So, introduce him to humans he could get to like," the girl crossed her arms as the medic grumbled, "Well, it's not like you could get him all paly-waly with Agent Fowler."

Arcee smiled, "Miko, it's not the safest place being around him. If he gets upset, he could hurt you."

Miko shook her head, "Not with you guys around, he won't. Please?"

Ratchet grumbled, throwing his servos up as he started down the hall, "I don't have time to argue! If she's coming, she's your responsibility, Arcee."

The girl pleaded with the femme with a big smile and Arcee relented, sighing, "Alright, Miko. But stay near me. We don't know what kind of condition he's in."

"We'll be fine!" Miko cheered, running after Arcee and Ratchet, "You two just saved his friend, he has to be in a good mood!"

"He does not appear to be in the best mood," Optimus informed Arcee and Ratchet as they approached the showers, "and I do not believe interrogating him with questions would be in our best interest, let alone his own. I can only recommend a quick physical exam before giving him time to rest."

Arcee stepped forward, "Optimus, with all due respect, he owes us."

"No, Arcee. Starscream owes us nothing."

"We just spent hours putting Breakdown's scrapped chassis back together and giving them both a safe haven," the femme continued, "the least he can do is talk to us."

The Prime looked from her down to Miko, "And you brought Miko for...?"

Miko smiled, "Human to bot relations. If he's gonna be air support for Team Prime, he's gonna have to get to know us."

Optimus hummed lowly, "I am not so sure about this."

"Optimus," Ratchet said gently, "while I'm looking him over, we should ask him what's going on. How he found Breakdown in that state, how he managed to get caught by MECH with Bumblebee. And, from what Bumblebee was able to tell us about the experiments MECH wanted to run on him..."

"Yes, I know... but we should give him a day to settle. Time to acclimate will help him feel more at ease and he will be less likely to continue omitting the information he has been giving us..."

Miko frowned, disappointed, "So, we're not going to get him to tell the truth?"

Optimus looked down at her, "Not today, Miko... But if you would like to talk to him about other things, I do not see why that would be a problem. Just try not to overwhelm Starscream with too many questions. I am sure he would appreciate thinking about other matters right now."

The girl cheered excitedly, "Woohoo, sweet! Do you think he'll mind if I ask about his air speed? What about how high he's flown? How long it would take for him to go around the Earth?"

Ratchet shuddered as Miko continued to rattle off questions, muttering quietly, "Optimus, is it wise to allow Miko to talk to Starscream? I was hoping you'd agree with me when I say she should go home."

The Prime smiled, "Starscream is not ready to divulge what he knows. I feel that he is ready to stay, but not to tell us everything. Finding a friend in one of us, even if it is Miko, will help relax him and make him more confident."

The medic blinked, "Even Miko?"

"Any of the children," Optimus explained, "Miko is correct when she says she needs to establish human to bot relations," he smiled down at the girl, who smiled back.

"You totally get my way of thinking!" she squealed, "And if Screamer likes me, then he'll definitely like you guys. Easy!"

Ratchet grumbled, "Fine, fine... just try not to give him any questions that are too hard for him to answer. Be... gentle."

Miko giggled, "Please, Ratchet. 'Gentle' is my middle name. I'll make sure he's totally comfortable. Promise."