You guys are the sweetest ever, the reviewers I mean. I wasn't going to post today because of some tech issues I'm having, and are getting fixed tomorrow by reloading my computer completely, but I got reading the reviews. I couldn't just leave you guys without an update! So I grabbed my notebook and typed up this chapter. I'm going to try to update this daily or every other day. That's how happy I get with reviews (which will be answered at the bottom, its like fanmail! It's gonna be answered publicly!)

The paperclip beta'ed again. He turned into reading glasses and just went to work, my favorite type of beta. He no longer wants to spell Stars Cream. Now only if he would get it right with the rest of the names.

Anyway, enjoy and remember to review! Also, I own nothing, so no sueing the poor Socks.

Chapter oo3

She turned into the room with that mischievous grin but soon found herself frozen in the doorway. Her eyes widened and she stared at the scene before her, body stiff and fear racing through her very being. Her fingers twitch and lips curling into something between a frown and gasp, her mind trying to wrap around what was there. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, what they had done to the hero of her tale.

Lying on a berth was her savior. His chest open and a glow (his very spark) could be barely seen from within. Various wires and cords hung from his chamber, she was surprised to see some of them burnt while others seemed to link into a computer system nearby. His optics were dim, no crimson showing in the endless darkness. His remaining armor was caked with dried energon and had not been cleaned yet. She felt her breakfast threatening to make an unscheduled appearance.

"Starscream," she whimpered and stepped forward. She thought they were supposed to be helping him, not ripping him apart piece by piece. She felt guilty. Would it have been better to just leave him to die in that field? Would all had been better to just allow him to drift away, then leave? She shook her head (no, it wasn't right to think like that) and quickly made her way over to the seeker, eyes trailing his chipped and filthy servo. Her hand wrapped around one of his talons; she tried to smile (tried so hard). "What happened to you?"

He didn't answer, not that she expected him to. The normally bouncy little girl placed her forehead against the talon she held, forcing back any sobs that threatened her. This was all her fault and she knew it. She shouldn't have been out there; she should have just stayed back at the base. If she wasn't so stubborn (and stupid, she reminded herself), he might not be laying here looking like a broken toy. She was sorry (so guilty). She told him that, she told him all of it and begged for forgiveness. All the while (and unknown to her while in this trace), tears fell from her eyes and began to stain her cheeks.

"He can't hear you," came an annoyed voice from behind her. It startled her enough for her to spun around, eyes widen and frightened. There stood the medic, frowning as she quickly wiped off her face (since she was no longer in her trace, realizing they were there). He ignored her cringing form as he stepped farther into the room, making it over to her in approximately ten steps. "He's in Stasis Lock, he can't see or hear anything. His systems are shut down."

"He's alive," she questioned more then actually said.

"Correct," he replied with a scowl. "For now that is. You weren't supposed to see this, we knew you wouldn't handle it well and look at that, you're not."

"Shut up," she hissed. "I'm not a baby, you—"

"But you are young, too young to see something like this," Ratchet glared. "You shouldn't have to see this. We told you that he was alive and you should have been happy with that but, like normal, you can't just listen to us. You have to run around and cause trouble. What would have happened if you knocked something out? I was clear in the main room, I wouldn't have gotten the distress signal, and his spark probably would have—"

"I had to see him," she broke in, her voice shook with anger and tears. "He saved my life. I know that doesn't seem like much to you, but I almost died. I would have too, if it wasn't for him, and now he's hurt. It is entirely my fault, but that's not the worst part! You all look at him like he's a big jerk but you didn't see what I saw, heard what I heard!"

Ratchet frowned deeper, "Miko."

"You're the best there is and I know you can save him. I already owe him, I don't mind owing you too," she paused and looked down at her shoes. "Please Ratchet?"

Ratchet stared, his glare softening with each second of silent between them. His processors must have fired because his head turned away from her, his vents in taking air, and he said something he normally wouldn't to this particular annoyance. "You don't owe me anything. I'm a medic, and it's my duty to heal."

"Uh," she stared at him for a moment. Realization hit her like a ton of brinks; the girl couldn't stop the smile twitching at her lips. She shot the short distance that separated them and hugged his ankle. "Thank you Ratch'! You won't regret it."

"I think I already do," he murmured. He managed to win the battle against his smile and produced a scowl, "Now enough of that. Get off of me."

"Oh," she whined teasingly before releasing him. All seemed well now, she could swear that she saw Ratchet nearly smiling and the guilt she felt was fading. Ratchet was the best robot medic she knew (okay, he was the only robot medic she knew but that was besides the point) and he could fix the seeker. All would be good again but like always, the moment didn't last long. The sound of beeping filled the air, she was startled for a moment and tried to figure out where it was coming from. Well, she almost became a pancake thanks to a concerned Ratchet, who raced over to the computer system and nearly stepped on her. "Whoa! What's going on?"

Ratchet didn't answer her. He only typed quickly into the computer system, staying as calm as possible. Miko wasn't so lucky; he would have noticed if he wasn't so focused on what he was currently doing. By the time he had stopped the noise (and stabilizing the seeker), he realized that the puny organic was grasping the still talon of the Decepticon. However that wasn't what surprised him the most.

"What are you doing," he questioned, startling the girl. She released the alien and turned, staring up at the medic with surprise. He scowled for a moment, once he did realize what she was doing, "were you singing to him?"

"Err," she rubbed her cheek and kicked the air, "yeah."

"He can't hear you, Miko," Ratchet muttered and turned back to the computer. "You're just wasting your breath."

"But what if he can," she countered, "what if he just needs someone to talk to him?"

"Hn, let me show you something," he lowered his head and motioned for her to get on it. She didn't need to be asked twice and hopped onto the servo offered to her. She swayed as he lifted her up and held her towards the large screen. "What do you see?"

"Bunch of words and symbols," she answered slowly. Soon she cringed, under the look that the medic gave her (clearly telling her to be serious), and looked closer at the screen. "Oh! There's one that shows up a lot too. What does it mean?"

"The closest word to your language is shut down or offline," he answered. "Those other symbols are his systems, which means they aren't working."

"You mean, that one wound did all of that," she whispered in wonder, eyes wide. "I thought it was bad and all, but this…"

"Not just that wound. The loss of energon and the pain of it sent him into stasis lock, Miko, which shut him down in an attempt to save him. Even still, he's been nothing but a ticking time bomb," he murmured, "As you humans say."

She blinked, "What?"

"For a rather young creature his form is outdated, so are his systems. This can explain his lack of medical care to an extent, but it seems a lot of old wounds just weren't treated. He has multiple viruses running about and destroying his systems," the medic turned and began to carry the girl over to the seeker's body. "Wires and energon lines are in need of being replaced all together, but… I don't have that kind of technology at this base. It's too dangerous to try, so I keep doing what I can, seal everything up ad pray to Primus that it stays."

"Why would Megajerk just let this happen," Miko questioned as they hovered near the seeker, slightly angered by the thought.

"Because he doesn't care," he answered, shuffling a laugh at Megajerk. He motioned with his head towards the Decepticon's spark, "That cursed thing is the only reason I know he's alive."

"Cursed thing," she blinked and leaned over to see it, grasping the Autobot's finger for balance. Her eyes settled on the glowing soul of the Decepticon. Golden mostly, she noticed, but a purplish blue color seemed to be taking over it (as if it was rotting). "Whoa, what is that thing? Why does it look like that?"

"Its his spark, Miko, and it looks like that because of Dark Energon," Ratchet answered while placing the girl on the floor. "Do you remember that?"

"Of course," she piped up and took a cautious step back. "It's what made those zombies!"

"Yeah," he replied slowly, rolling his optics. "Anyway, we've never been entirely sure what it does to an actually living spark, but it appears to have mutated his."

She gasped, "His a mutated zombie?"

"What," Ratchet jumped slightly at the outburst. He shook his head and placed a servo on his helm. "No! He's not a mutated zombie."

"Are you sure," her eyes narrowed at the Decepticon. "What if died, and now he's going to come back as a zo—"

"Agh, Miko," the medic groaned and rubbed his helm, losing his temper with her (like normal). "I have repairs I need to finish on him, go out with the other kids and play video games or whatever you three do all the time."

"But—"

"I will tell you if there is any change," he grumbled, "and if he is zombie-free."

"Promise?"

The Autobot glared, "Yes."

"Alright," she nodded and turned. "But don't say—"

"Will you get out of my sight," he glared at the child. She flashed him a smile over her shoulder and took off, leaving the medic alone with the seeker. Once he was sure that she was gone, he turned his gaze to the jet. He scowled, "You just saved her so she could annoy me more then normal, didn't you?" He hmph'ed and snatched up one of his tools. Out of the corner of his optic, he could have sworn he saw the jet's mouth twitch, as if he was attempting not to smirk. "Fragger."

Answered Mail

Starfire201: Thank you! I'm hoping it will become more interesting soon!

Silverfire's Shadow: Exactly! We don't need the plot of the entire thing running away and hiding under my bed. We'll never find it under there, just like my cute rainbow sock. :'( R.I.P.

Gelly619: First off, your name makes me giggle, and I don't know why. Anyway, up there -jabs finger at the story above- is more for you! :D

FoghornLeghorn83: Your name and icon got me grinning madly, just so you know, and your review was awesome! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

DarkButterfly128: I'm so glad you decided to continue to read it! Groovy ain't it? (don't ask.) You know what? I hope he regains conciousness soon too, I'm tired of him just sitting on his aft doing nothing. Lazy slagger. On a serious note, I should have his lazy aft up soon and making fluffy moments of (kinda) angst with Miko. ;D