Transformers Dawn
Revelation
Weeks passed as Hound remained stasis-locked on his medical berth, showing no signs of recovery. Crashes such as the one he experienced often left Cybertronians in a near lifeless state, from which they had very little hope of awakening from.
Ratchet watched over his patient every day, waiting for any sign of life and hoping that he would one day wake up. But as the weeks passed, Ratchet began to lose hope and believe that Hound was about to be another Autobot Cybertron had lost to the Decepticons.
Young bots such as him were lucky to even be alive, let alone regain consciousness, proving that the resilience that comes with age, is sometimes better than the vulnerability of youth.
But Hound would not remain this way for long, as he suddenly regained consciousness and slowly opened his optics. He felt tired and weak, the room in which he found himself in was unfamiliar to him. The lighting was dim, making it hard to see within the room. What Hound could see from his surroundings looked bleak, grey and unappealing.
He groaned softly as he stretched his limbs a little and felt the weeks of inactivity in his circuits. Ratchet who was in the laboratory nearby, heard the quiet noise and came over to his patient's medical berth and asked gently, "How do you feel Hound?"
"Not too bad." Hound replied with a smile and straightened himself out on the medical berth, trying to rid his body of weariness.
"Good. Your nervous system doesn't seem to have taken any permanent damage." Ratchet informed his patient, relieved to know that Hound's unfortunate accident would not have any major consequences for him.
"What happened to me? I can't remember anything!" Hound asked his physician, intrigued by the state in which he found himself in, with no clue as to what had happened to him.
"Airachnid is what happened. When your ship approached Cybertron, Airachnid must have seen it and attacked it. I don't know how she came to be on Cybertron, but when I heard your ship crash I came as fast as I could." Ratchet told him.
"Thank you Ratchet, if it wasn't for you I would have been a goner!" Hound expressed his gratitude.
"And it wouldn't be the first time either. When you first started out as a soldier, you often came back to me battered from breaking up fights during the war." Ratchet recalled the old days of his acquaintance with Hound.
Hound had been an eager soldier during his first years of training. Perseverant and nearly fearless, Hound gave all he had during training. Always willing to help and to protect his comrades; Hound was often the first to be injured as a result of his selfless nature and desire to help others in need, at the cost of his personal safety.
"They got lucky those times, but we'll see how those Decepti-creeps like it when I get back on my stabilizing servos!" Hound exclaimed with surprising vigour.
"Cybertron may have changed, but you haven't changed a bit Hound." Ratchet told Hound. It was a spirit such as Hound's that could cheer even the grumpiest of bots. Full of cheer and eagerness, but loyal and forgiving when it was needed most. Hound was an amiable Autobot to be around with.
"Speaking of Cybertron, I've been a little bit out of touch with Cybertron lately. Care to fill me in?" Hound asked Ratchet. The only news from Cybertron that Hound had received during his travels back to Cybertron, was a message addressed to the Autobot and Decepticon refugees, declaring the war to be over and their home to be safe to return to.
Ratchet sighed and paused before giving Hound a reply.
Hound watched quietly as Ratchet's face contorted with pain and finally said, "Many things have changed while you were gone Hound, some for the better and others…"
Ratchet's sentence trailed off, as he struggled to finish it and felt the grief of Optimus' absence in his spark once more. Although the pain lessened as the months passed, there was an ever present sadness in Ratchet's spark that could not be eased and a grief that would emerge when Ratchet was reminded of Optimus.
Hound's optic's softened as he listened to Ratchet's voice, filled with obvious grief. Hound was a very empathic and sensitive Autobot and could sense that something had troubled Ratchet deeply, something very personal.
"Our leader… Optimus Prime is gone." Ratchet finally spoke.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Hound gave Ratchet his sympathies. Although not knowing Optimus Prime personally, Hound knew of his mission of peace, to liberate the people of an oppressive caste system and to lead Cybertron to a better future. He was the kind bot whose presence would be missed on Cybertron by many.
"I know you are Hound." Ratchet replied gratefully, slightly cheered by Hound's kindness.
But that moment of happiness quickly faded away, as Ratchet realised that there was no reason to prolong the conversation any longer and decided to get straight to the point.
"Now that you've recovered, there's no reason for me to remain on Cybertron anymore. I'll be going back to Earth soon. I'm needed more over there."
"Why? What's more important on Earth than Cybertron?"
If Ratchet had been asked this question when he had been stranded on Earth for the first time, he would have struggled to find the answer, but after all he had been through with his human allies. Ratchet knew the answer in a nano-klik.
"My human friends." Ratchet answered.
"They must be pretty special." Hound remarked, realising the strength of Ratchet's friendship with the humans, if Ratchet was choosing his friends over his home planet.
"They are, most of the time" Ratchet replied with a small smile and made a suggestion.
"You could come with me if you want. I could use a scout back on Earth if the computer picks up an energon signature."
And some company, Ratchet thought quietly to himself.
"I'd like that." Hound replied with a smile.
"Then let's get going." Ratchet announced.
After summoning his friends to the Nemesis, Ratchet stood by an active ground bridge, medical kit in his servo, ready to give his goodbyes, with Hound by his side.
"I'm returning to Earth now, for good I hope. The children will be waiting for me…"
Arcee approached Ratchet and placed a servo on his shoulder and said, "Don't forget to call once in a while, we'll be here if you need us."
"Thank you Arcee."
Bumblebee also approached Ratchet and shook his servo and said, "Goodbye Ratchet, tell Raf I miss him OK?"
"Oh! And tell Miko I miss her too!" Bulkhead cried out from a distance.
"Yes Bulkhead." Ratchet patiently acknowledged, amused by Bulkhead's change in priorities.
"See you later Doc!" Smokescreen waved at Ratchet, eliciting a wry smile from the grumpy medic.
Ratchet turned towards Hound and asked him, "Are you ready to go Hound?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." Hound replied enthusiastically, excited to travel to a new world.
Ratchet and Hound then entered the swirling green ground bridge and disappeared from sight.
They emerged from the ground bridge and entered the Autobot headquarters on Earth, when Jack was alerted to their presence from the vantage point of one of the platforms in the base.
"Ratchet's back!" Jack rushed over to the railing on the platform in excitement and pointed in Ratchet's direction. Ratchet had been gone for weeks while supervising Hound and Jack was excited to see Ratchet again.
"And he's got a new Autobot with him!" Rafael with a sharp eye added, noticing the dark green Autobot quickly.
But before Rafael and Jack could even reach Ratchet and this newcomer, Miko ran towards them and was the first on the scene.
Ratchet was startled by Miko's sudden entrance, not used to having someone suddenly run towards him, causing him to make a rushed introduction.
"Uh… Hound this is Miko." Ratchet said hesitatingly and gestured to Miko.
Miko stared at Hound and upon hearing the Autobot's name, smiled profusely.
"You ain't nothin' but a hound dog!" Miko burst into a song, singing into an imaginary microphone.
"Uh…" Hound uttered, confused by Miko's singing. He recognised that what she had vocalised was music, but was unsure why she had communicated in such a way.
Ratchet pinched his faceplate in embarrassment. He had looked forward to introducing his associates proudly to Hound, when he had seen that Hound held them in such high regard, but now that Miko had embarrassed him in front of Hound, Ratchet began to regret bringing Hound along.
"Do humans always communicate this way?" Hound asked, surprise clearly in his voice. When he had said that the humans were 'special', he hadn't thought they'd be special like this!
"No Hound, they don't. Not if you're lucky anyway." Ratchet informed him and muttered under his breath.
"What? You don't listen to Elvis on Cybertron?" Miko asked, not seeing what the problem was. Everyone knew about Elvis right? He was one of the most famous singers in Earth history!
Jack and Rafael arrived just in time to hear this and laughed at Miko.
"No we don't, but I know one bot who certainly would." Ratchet said knowingly.
"Who?!" Miko asked.
"Jazz." Ratchet answered her.
"On Cybertron before the Great War, Jazz was one of the bots responsible for cultural observation and analysis. Then one day he found out about Earth's culture and he's been completely engrossed with it ever since."
"A bot who loves Earth culture? Sweet!" Miko exclaimed, rejoicing at the fact that there was a bot out there on Cybertron who shared the same interests as her.
"Something tells me you would get on with him well." Ratchet said. With a shared interest in Earth, Ratchet had a feeling that Miko and Jazz would be able to talk about Earth culture for hours.
"Why didn't you bring him with you? I want to meet him!" Miko asked, disappointed that she missed the chance to meet someone like herself.
"Oh no! So you could play loud music together? I don't think so. I would never get any peace!" Ratchet protested.
It was bad enough when Miko used her amplifier to play her guitar, but if Jazz joined in the racket with his sonic speakers, Ratchet feared it would drive him mad.
Hound laughed at Ratchet's protest, making Ratchet frown in return. Ratchet's frown eased when he heard a series of beeps coming from the computer screen, a red square flashed on and off on a location on a map of Earth.
Ratchet rushed over to it and said, "I'm detecting a fresh energon pulse, from the nation called Morocco. It has quite a rugged terrain I believe."
"It's the ideal location for you Hound, your vehicle mode is perfect for the terrain." Ratchet noted, fully aware of Hound's four wheel driving capabilities.
"Uh… sweet!" Hound said, quickly getting the hang of Earth slang.
"Oh yeah! High five!" Miko held her hand up in the air for Hound to slap.
"Excuse me?" Hound asked, confused yet again at this strange Earth custom.
"Oh yeah I forgot. On Earth when we celebrate something we slap our hands like this." Miko demonstrated the gesture with Rafael.
Hound observed this and nodded.
"Now it's your turn. Just do it with one of your fingers. Gently." Miko held her hand up and cautioned Hound.
Hound moved one of his fingers carefully towards Miko's hand and gently tapped Miko's hand.
"You've got it!" Miko cheered for Hound, making Hound smile.
"A-HEM!" Ratchet not-so subtly called for Hound and Miko's attention. He was crossing his arms and waiting impatiently.
"Energon signature. Right, sorry." Hound responded, quickly remembering his duty.
Ratchet set the co-ordinates for the ground bridge and pulled the lever for the ground bridge, making a swirling green vortex materialize.
"So who's coming with me? I've only got one seat." Hound asked the three children.
Miko and Jack looked at each other, while Rafael stepped in and said, "You guys go. I'm happy to stay here."
While often happy to explore new places, Rafael was perfectly content staying with Ratchet and using his laptop.
"You go have some fun Miko, I'll stay here with Raf." Jack generously offered his place to Miko.
Miko grinned, Hound transformed into his vehicle mode and she entered it.
"Hang on to something and get ready for the ride of your life!"
"May I remind you Hound? That this is a field mission, NOT a joy ride!" Ratchet reminded the young Autobot sternly.
"Got it Ratchet." Hound reassured him.
Ratchet rolled his eyes, as Hound raced towards the ground bridge.
Hound drove at an exhilarating speed through the narrow, twisting paths of Moroccan terrain sending rocks flying as he passed over them. Miko whooped and held on to her seat with one hand and held the other up into air, as if she was in a roller coaster ride.
Around a tight corner, Hound lost his balance and leaned to the right, making Miko scream.
"Hang on!" Hound slowed down and quickly recovered his balance, his wheels making a crunching sound as they came back into contact with the ground.
After driving at a much safer speed for while Hound arrived at his destination. A small cave, up a hill covered with rocks.
Miko got out the car, her legs wobbling a little bit. Hound transformed out of his vehicle mode.
"Where did you learn to drive like that?!" Miko demanded to know.
"I'm sorry Miko." Hound apologized sincerely. Deeply regretting frightening her.
"That was AWESOME!" Miko praised Hound, completely surprising the Autobot with the reaction he least suspected.
"Thanks! I think…" Hound thanked her, a little unsure of himself, but pleased that Miko was happy and had forgiven her.
Hound and Miko walked up the hill covered with small rocks, until they were right in front of the entrance to the cave.
"It's in a cave?" Miko asked slightly anxious, remembering her unpleasant experience with Bulkhead and herself trapped in a cave with Starscream. Although she had recovered from her experience, a part her was still wary of caves out of fear that another unfortunate event would occur.
"Are you OK?" Hound asked, the concern for his human companion evident on his face.
"Yeah." Miko answered with a smile, once she saw the caring look on Hound's face.
Hound bent his legs and lowered his head and barely passed through the small entrance.
The cave was cramped and dark, but with enough light for Hound to navigate through it without difficulty. Miko followed Hound closely.
After walking for a while, Hound noticed a white glow emanating from a rock. Hound went closer to it to get a better look and what he saw astounded him.
When Hound realised what the source of the white glow was, his optics widened and he immediately called Ratchet with his com-link.
"Ratchet you're not going to believe what I found!"
"Try me." Ratchet said with an irritated tone, annoyed that Hound had infuriatingly refrained from telling him the information he needed to know straight away.
"White energon!" Hound said excitedly.
Ratchet gasped and terminated the transmission.
Rafael noticed this and asked, "What is it Ratchet?"
Too stunned to speak, Ratchet remained silent…
Thanks for reading my story guys. Please tell me what you thought of it, thank you.
I wonder what that white energon does? Care to take a guess? ;)