Chapter 18: Comatose

"Kira, hold still so that I may finish washing your armor."

Grabbing the washrag off the floor, Optimus carefully put soap on Kira's armor and rubbed it in, letting the soap fall to the floor with the drizzling mist from the overhead spigot in the wash racks.

Sitting on the floor, Optimus looked her over and sighed, instructing her to lift her arms up. In doing so, Kira smiled, squeezing her optics shut. Optimus chuckled shaking his head, turning her around to get every inch of her armor clean.

Looking over at Cole Optimus motioned to the washrag next to him. "Cole, make sure you get in between the cracks on your leg armor. Dirt often easily can get caught and cause sore muscle cables."

Walking over beside Optimus, Cole sat down grabbing the rag and proceeded to wash his armor.

Gazing up at Optimus with a scowl, Kira huffed. "Daddy, why can't I wash myself like Cole does? I'm big enough!"

Smiling, Optimus put the rag over Kira's head. "Because my sweet, when you wash yourself you tend to miss a few specks of dirt; when I wash you, you get clean."

Peering out from under the rag, Kira smirked playfully. "But what if I don't wanna be clean?"

Kneeling to be face-to-face, Optimus returned the gaze with a smirk of his own. "It does not matter whether or not you want to be clean; I want you to be clean, thus…it will be so."

Smiling mockingly Kira huffed. "What if I just go get dirty again?"

Dumping warm water over Kira's head, Optimus laughed. "Then I guess I'll just have to wash you again."

Spitting and sputtering the water from her mouth, Kira scoffed. "I don't wanna be washed again."

Leaning forward to look past Optimus over to Kira, Cole huffed. "Then it's easy ding-dong, don't get dirty again. Besides, I thought you liked bath-time?"

Whining Kira sank to the floor in Optimus lap and sat still, letting Optimus continue to wash her armor. "This isn't like normal bath-time. There's no bathtub, no bubbles, no toys; just daddy, a washrag and soap."

Running a rag over his own armor, Cole shrugged. "Well, dad can't help it that there's no bath tub in the base, and we have to be clean so…we just have to settle with what we've got."

Turning slightly, Optimus smiled warmly looking at Cole. "Cole, let me help you. You've got a patch of dirt on your back plating that you haven't quite gotten."

Cole sat still with his eyes closed as Optimus carefully massaged his back plating, cleaning it.

Whimpering, Kira shoulder's sagged as she fell back against Optimus. "It's just no fun washing up like this."

Looking down at Kira and then at Cole Optimus smiled and sighed. "Now there's only one more thing that needs to be cleaned."

Gazing up at Optimus from his lap, Kira smiled. "What's that daddy?"

Smiling Optimus gently set the rag in her lap and kneeled. "Me."

Grabbing the rag Kira jumped up suddenly with a beaming smile and immediately started cleaning Optimus' armor. Chuckling, Optimus sat still, smiling the whole time as Kira busily brushed the soapy rag over Optimus' shimmering red armor of his chest and the gleaming blue armor of his head.

Looking out of the corner of his eye at Cole, Optimus smiled then closed his eyes again as Kira continued washing.

Laughing softly, Cole grabbed the rag he had previously been using and started to help Kira.

Optimus just sat there on the floor for the longest time just letting them wash his armor, as he had done to them.

"Optimus! Optimus where are you? I need to talk to you…Optimus Prime where—?" Walking into the wash racks, Ratchet suddenly stopped.

Looking up, Optimus expression remained unchanged for the longest time and his expression was that of surprise and awkward concern.

Cole and Kira simply looked at each other and started to giggle quietly. Chuckling himself, Ratchet smiled. "I'm sorry Optimus, am I interrupting?"

Smiling sheepishly, Optimus quickly stood clearing his vocal processor. "No Ratchet, y-you're fine." Clearing his vocal processor again, Optimus sighed. "What is it?"

Putting his hand to his mouth Ratchet groaned softly, then looked Optimus in the optic. "Can we speak privately?"

Looking down at Kira and Cole; then again at Ratchet, Optimus nodded. "Yes, of course."

Slowly moving out of the wash racks behind Ratchet, Optimus suddenly stopped feeling something cling to his stabilizing servo. Looking down, Optimus was met by Kira who solemly stared back. "Daddy, can't I come? I wanna be in part of 'grown-up' talk too."

Smiling gently, Optimus shook his head. "I'm afraid not little one. You're not old enough to understand some of what we will discuss. You stay here and finish cleaning your armor. I will return in a short time."

Looking at Cole, Optimus motioned to the rags on the ledge of the stall. "Make sure Kira cleans herself Cole. When I return I will rinse the soap off of both of you."

Nodding Cole grabbed the rag instructing Kira to come back so he could clean her.

Groaning, Kira reluctantly did as she was told, and the whole time doing so made a fuss.

Following Ratchet out of the wash racks and shutting the door behind them, Optimus sighed lowering his voice. "What is it Ratchet?"

Folding his arms nonchalantly over his wide orange and white chest, Ratchet sighed. "There's been something I've been meaning to ask you, and it's been nagging at my processor for a while."

Resting his hands on his hips, Optimus tilted his head to Ratchet slightly. "And what is it exactly that you have been meaning to ask?"

Looking away from Optimus for but a split moment, Ratchet gathered his thoughts and groaned. "when you and Megatron where fighting, before you were cast through the malfunctioning ground bridge vortex into the alternate dimension, you had something in your hand. You had a relic that Megatron desperately wanted to get his greasy servos onto…"

Nodding Optimus waved his hand. "Yes, what about it?"

Shrugging Ratchet huffed knowing he should just stop the small talk and get straight to the point. "What ever happened to the relic? Ever since you first initially went through the ground bridge and even now as a few short weeks ago as you returned, we haven't had any indication of the relic's location. So I want to know, where is it? What happened to it?"

For many moments, there were no words passed between the two staggering mechs until finally Optimus released a pronounced sigh from his intakes. "The relic is gone Ratchet."

Furrowing his brow plates at Optimus, Ratchet scoffed. "What? What do you mean the relic's gone? How could it just simply be 'gone'? Optimus, the relic can never simply be gone. Do you know what the relic was?"

Shaking his head, Optimus watched Ratchet closely, knowing full well he would tell him what the relic was without him needing to ask. Resting his thumb and index digit just between his optics Ratchet sighed. "The relic that you and Megatron were fighting over was one of the most formidable relics to ever leave the Iacon Hall of Records. The relic in question was so mysterious to Autobot scientists that it never really was given a name. All that was really known about it was that it was a device created by ancient Autobots that allowed whoever possessing it to open a rift in the space time continuum, enabling said user the ability to open a gateway between two opposing dimensions from which he or she could travel through at will."

Taking his hands off of his hips, Optimus scowled slightly. "Wait a moment Ratchet, are you now telling me that my accidental endeavor to an alternate dimension was indeed NOT caused by a space bridge malfunction, but in fact this relic?"

Nodding slowly, Ratchet groaned. "That's exactly what I'm saying. In fact, we know that this relic is still in existence because the relic is unlike anything we've encountered before. In harbors its own unique ability to pull and store energy from an invisible plain of sub space. So in essence, it alone harbors a never ending supply of energy from which it fuels itself."

Folding his arms over his chest, Optimus sighed. "What does any of this have to pertain to the situation we now face?"

Turning ever so slightly, Ratchet motioned casually with his arm. "Come with me to the main terminal and I will show you."

Following Ratchet down the hallway, both their voices slowly began to disappear.

Opening the door very slowly, Kira peeked out and remained still, simply watching in the direction at which Optimus and Ratchet had disappeared.

…

…

"This is a reading of the normal energy output from an incoming and outgoing space bridge vortex. As you can see, the energy output is about the same across the entire measurable spectrum-."

Pressing a few buttons on the main terminal's control pad, Ratchet pulled a new image. "This is a reading that we received from the space bridge vortex the last time we infiltrated the Decepticon Space bridge command, when you returned—."

Pressing a few more buttons, Ratchet stopped. "And THIS is a reading Smokescreen managed to get just recently while he was scouting the sight of the Decepticon's new Space Bridge. As you can see, the energy output is not the same as what it would be on normal circumstances, however it does coincide with ever time the space bridge has been linked to the alternate dimension in which you resided for some time."

Looking to Optimus, Ratchet continued. "This can only lead us to assume that it was never the space bridge responsible to your…venture…to an alternate plain, but rather it was the unpredictable aftermath of the relic's energy output feeding back on the space bridge's energy loop."

Pointing to the screen, Ratchet continued as his conversation; one of which seemed to draw the attention of Bulkhead and Arcee.

"You see Optimus, as long as the relic resides in an alternate dimension, the dimension you traveled to, it allows for a link of energy between the two dimensions that cannot simply be severed by a deactivated space bridge or deleted coordinates. The energy trail can always be traced back to our dimension because this is the plain on which the device was created."

Groaning loudly, Bulkhead huffed. "Ratchet, speak plain English so we all can understand what you just said!"

Looking at Bulkhead, Ratchet scowled. "The energy that the relic is emitting is like dark energon, no matter how hard you may try to hide it, it cannot be masked. The Decepticons will eventually figure this out and use the energy being emitted from the relic through the ground bridge to bridge to locate said dimension."

Looking at the screen and then at Ratchet, Smokescreen scowled. "So Megatron will be able to travel to alternate dimensions, what's the big deal?"

Not even turning to look at the naive, young mech Optimus shook his head groaning softly in concern. "If Megatron where to somehow harness the abilities of this relic for himself, there is no doubt that he would more than likely use it for his own twisted use."

Shaking his head, Smokescreen furrowed his brow plating. "I don't get it."

Looking at Smokescreen, Bulkhead huffed. "Kid, think about it, in these dimensions like the one Optimus traveled to; he became human."

Shrugging, Smokescreen shook his head. "Yeah, so?"

Growling, Bulkhead smacked him on the backside of the head. "SO…when Optimus came back he brought with him Cole, Kira and Melody. Three humans who BECAME Autobots."

Folding her arms over her chest, Arcee stood with uneasy stance. "Meaning that all Megatron would have to do is go to these realities to recruit new Decepticons to further amass his already large armies."

Bulkhead nodded, also with uneasy optics. "All he'd have to do is go to earth's prisons and other detention centers and promise convicts the life of freedom and revenge in exchange for unquestionable loyalty to him, no questions asked."

Sighing, Ratchet nodded in agreement. "There's no telling just how many humans or other possible sentient beings from these alternate realities he could convince and or force to join his ranks. Not to mention the untold amount of realities there are out there for him to rule and control."

Beeping solemnly, Bumblebee nodded, shuddering at the thought.

"Then there really is no question about it," Optimus said as he reached the center of the conversation. "We must retrieve the relic before the Decepticons do as so to insure the safety of this, or any world."

Turning to face Ratchet, Optimus lowered his gaze. "Ratchet, do you still have the location of the new space bridge sight being built by the Decepticons?"

Nodding, Ratchet motioned to the ground bridge control terminal. "I do Optimus."

Looking from Ratchet to the other Autobots, Optimus raised his voice. "We cannot allow Megatron the opportunity to lay conquest on other worlds outside our means of protection. This war shall remain in this reality and will be ended in this reality. Ratchet, set coordinates for the site of the Decepticon space bridge and activate the ground bridge."

Nodding Ratchet did just that, making the ground bridge fire to life in all of its green and blue glowing glory.

Transforming in mid stride, Bulkhead, Arcee, Bumblebee and Smokescreen within moments disappeared through the ground bridge.

Stopping just beyond the portal hemisphere, Optimus turned to Ratchet who stood idly by the control module.

"Ratchet, may I ask a favor of you?"

Looking at Optimus, Ratchet nodded. "Yes, of course."

Smiling ever so slightly, Optimus activated his battle mask, letting it quickly slide over his face. "Given the current situation, I will be unable to finish cleaning my sparkling's armor. Will you assist me this one time by rinsing them off and seeing that they dry themselves properly?"

Growling, Ratchet grabbed the first throw-able object and pelted it at Optimus who was already in mid transformation disappearing through the ground bridge vortex. "What do I look like Optimus, your sparklings' nanny?!"

…

…

"What in the world are you talking about Kira?"

Grabbing the wash rag from his younger sister's hand, Cole rubbed Kira down making her squeak.

Looking up from under her brother's rough washing techniques, Kira huffed. "I heard Ratchet and Daddy talking about something important. Something about a relic thingy that made it possible for daddy to come to us!"

Shaking his head, Cole groaned loudly rolling his optics. "Now you're just talking 'crazy-talk'."

Scowling, Kira wheeled around grabbing the rag from her brother's hand, using it to hit him with. "I am not! I know what I heard and I know it's important! I may be only six but I'm not stupid!"

Lowering his voice, Cole looked away and huffed. "That's a matter of opinion…"

Growling loudly, Kira started hitting Cole more vigorously. "You take that back you big meanie!"

"What in the name of the All Spark do you two think you're doing? Shouldn't you two be cleaning yourselves instead of fighting?"

Looking up, Cole and Kira were met with the disapproving optics of Ratchet who stared down at them waiting for a response. Crossing his arms, Ratchet waited for said response, tapping his digits on the armor of his arm. Staring at each other, Cole and Kira remained silent, simply watching the medic and his movements.

Sighing softly, Ratchet moved between the two of them making no noise as he grabbed the nozzle from the wall, taking it and it's corresponding hose with him as he kneeled to better match the two sparkling's heights. Grabbing Kira by the arm, Ratchet gently pulled her up so she was standing.

"Hold still so that I may rinse you off."

Watching Ratchet turn on the water, Kira looked at Ratchet with curious optics. "I thought daddy said he was coming back to finish cleaning us?"

Looking at Kira and then back at the task ahead of him, Ratchet sighed softly. "Your sire had something rather important arise and he needed to see to it as quickly as possible. So for the time being, I will finish the task of getting you and your brother clean." Looking over at Cole, Ratchet motioned with a nod of his head. "Cole, come stand beside your sister so that I may rinse the both of you off simultaneously. I would rather this be finished quickly so that I may return to the main terminal and monitor the situation."

Rinsing the both of them off, and then carefully inspecting the two, Ratchet stood putting the shower head back in its brace then looked at the two dripping wet sparklings watching him. Grabbing a couple of dry polishing towels off the counter, Ratchet again kneeled drying Cole vigorously and then Kira.

Staring up from out of the towel Kira fluttered her optics. "When is daddy coming back?"

Without looking at Kira, Ratchet answered simply. "When he retrieves the relic."

Tilting her head, Kira chimed. "What relic?"

Grabbing her chin in his hand, Ratchet huffed. "Hold still and stop asking so many questions."

Scowling, Kira huffed. "I only asked two questions!"

Taking his hand away from her chin, Ratchet scowled at Kira. "Yes, that's two too many."

Jutting out her bottom lip, Kira huffed looking away.

Looking to Cole, Ratchet sighed. "Where is your youngest sister, where is Melody?"

Shrugging Cole rubbed his arm down with the towel and then let it drop to the floor. "Dad put her down for a nap in our quarters a little while ago. She won't wake up for another hour or so."

Glancing the other way Ratchet nodded. "I see."

Looking up to Ratchet through his peripheral vision, Cole could easily see that there was something on the grouchy medic's processor, something that was forcing his attention to be elsewhere instead in the wash racks.

"Ratchet, are you okay? Is something bothering you?"

Looking to Cole with a bit of surprise, Ratchet remained silent. It never ceased to amaze him just how tentative Cole was becoming to body signals and gestures ever since his little venture with the Decepticons. The young was becoming increasingly aware of watching, observing others. He was becoming more and more like Optimus with every passing day. Cole was young, naive, and a little immature at times, but recently he was becoming more reserved and level-headed…much to the personality of his adopted sire.

Shaking his head, Ratchet smiled vaguely. "Nothing is wrong with me Cole. I'm fine. It's the Autobots whom my current concerns are about."

Upon standing, Ratchet sighed softly gesturing to the towel in Cole's hands. "Finish drying yourself and then see that you put these where they belong."

Grabbing the towel from the now dry femme, Ratchet stared down at Kira, pointing a careless digit at her and then at Cole. "The both of you should find something to keep yourselves occupied while I attend to the communications hub."

With that, Ratchet turned on a heel and left the room with rather haste. The room fell eerily silent until Kira sighed loudly. "Cole, Ratchet's acting funny."

Looking at Kira, Cole shrugged feeling all doubt at her earlier statement fade somewhat. "I might actually have to agree with you on that. He is acting kind of different."

Picking up the towel, only to throw it back into Cole's face, Kira beamed moving toward the exit. "Come on Cole, let's go see what Ratchet is doing!"

Throwing the towel covering his face to the floor, Cole growled. "Kira, what if Cole doesn't want us in the command center? What if he gets angry?"

Turning around and walking backwards with Cole in a haste pursuit, she smiled and shrugged. "That's why we make sure he doesn't see us silly! What he doesn't know won't hurt us!"

Groaning loudly, Cole followed. "Kira this is not a good idea. Ratchet told us to find something to keep ourselves occupied he never said we could be in the main command center!"

Yelling over her shoulder, Kira beamed. "He never said we couldn't be in there either!"

Yelling for Kira to stop, Cole growled loudly continuing his pursuit. "This is going to end very badly I just know it."

Catching up to Kira and hiding around the corner, Kira giggled. "What? Are you scared of Ratchet?"

Scowling Cole huffed. "NO. I'm scared of Ratchet's wrench having a formal introduction with my behind if we get caught."

…

Peering around the corner of a storage container, blasters armed at the ready, Arcee sighed and whispered to the party behind her. "Clear."

Following quickly behind Optimus who lead the way, each Autobot was careful and agile, being sure to watch for possible enemy movement.

Stopping short of the main space bridge control terminal, Optimus held his blaster up, ready to gun down any opposing threat. But upon looking around, something just did not seem right.

There were no guards, no minors, nothing…

The entire operation seemed at first glimpse…abandoned.

None of it made any sense, and every Autobot in proximity new it.

"This doesn't make any sense, why would the Decepticons abandon a perfectly good space bridge?" Smokescreen huffed out loud.

Looking to Optimus slowly, Bulkhead spoke softly. "Maybe Megatron pulled his forces out for a bigger conquest or something."

Looking at Bulkhead and then at the now empty space bridge, Optimus narrowed his optics, his processor humming with possibilities.

Activating the blaster on his right arm to accompany the one already present on his left, Optimus moved forward slowly. "Autobots, Practice extreme caution. This could very well be a Decepticon trick…"

"Oh how right you are Optimus!"

Looking up suddenly, Optimus was met with the face of a familiar foe, emerging from the shadows, laughing at the current circumstances. "I was wondering how soon you Autobots would come back for another battle, given how you knew the location of our second ground bridge."

Growling with her blasters at the ready, Arcee took a glimpse to Smokescreen, the only one of them who had actually breached the stronghold. "Megatron knew we had been here? But how?!"

Shaking his head only slightly, Smokescreen quickly looked between his fellow Autobots and Megatron. "I don't know! I was the only one here and I was extra careful in not getting caught!"

Laughing smugly at the Autobot's frivolous antics, he gestured to a figure emerging from beside him in the shadows. "I assure you, Autobots, Soundwave is more than capable of keeping a close eye on my operations."

With a motion of his hands, Megatron called forward several vehicons and eradicons standing at the ready, blasters armed. Even behind the Autobots a group of Insecticons blocked their escape.

They were completely surrounded.

Chuckling loudly over the sound of Decepticon blasters being armed, Megatron roared with greedy pleasure. "It seems as though, Optimus, you have become increasingly more…predictable."

Scowling Optimus growled low enough for only himself to hear, clenching his fist.

Megatron was no fool. He saw this in Optimus and roared with laughter in delight at his enemy's expense. "To be perfectly honest Optimus, I was certain that you would have come sooner. I was under the assumption that you'd come inquiring a fight, especially considering what happened to your…precious little mech…"

Optimus' fist ground tighter, causing the metal armor of his hand to creak and groan under the stress.

He knew what Megatron was doing…he was trying to elicit a rise out of him; he was trying to make his anger of what happened to Cole get the better of him and cloud his judgments. He was not going to allow that to happen. No matter what, he had to keep his emotions in check.

Jumping off the ledge from which he spoke, Megatron hit the ground hard, his weight reverberating through the ground they stood on. With a wicked, ill-intentioned smile, he held a strange device in his hand for every bot present to see.

It was the very same device that Optimus and the other Autobot's seek.

"Looking for this Autobots?" Megatron snarled, the question reverberating heavily through his chest.

Tossing it effortlessly into the air and then catching it again, Megatron's attention was torn between the relic and his enemies in front of him. "It would seem as though you are too late, Optimus. I found the relic and I know just what it is capable of. To think, I cannot only conquer this world and Cybertron, but also every world within space and time!"

His voiced echoed endlessly through the cavern as he raised his voice. In response, the Decepticons present erupted in loud cheers and ovation of victory as if Megatron had already won the war.

Looking around at the loud roar of applause seeping from every crack and crevice of the cavern, Optimus let his attention fall ominously on Megatron. "You know I cannot allow that Megatron."

Huffing in laughter, Megatron motioned to the vast amounts of Decepticons still at the ready to fire. "What makes you think I'm giving you a choice Prime?" Megatron's voice hissed out Optimus' title with loathing contempt. "Do you not see that I have already won?!"

Holding his blaster at the ready, aimed for Megatron's spark chamber, Optimus growled. "As long as there is a Cybertronian who holds the name Autobot, your war will never be over."

Laughing with a hand waving dismissively, Megatron rolled his optics aimlessly. "You still believe, even now as you stand on the brink of defeat, that you can defeat me with you monotonous cries for equality and freedom of every sentient being?"

Optimus narrowed his optics quickly, activating one of his blasters back into a hand only to replace it with a blade.

Megatron grinned in sheer delight, seeing just how…eager, his foe was for a fight. However, instead of him crossing blades with Optimus, he had a far more…intriguing…and…delicious idea fabricate within his processor. Oh how revenge would be so bitter sweet…

…

…

"What is Ratchet doing?"

"How in the world should I know? I'm just six, remember…what do I know?"

"You're never going to let that go, are you?"

"Nope."

Peering around the corner, the two sparklings watched with some ounce of fascination at the Autobot medic as he steadily worked at the main communications terminal.

The two had been sitting there for quite some time…simply watching.

Speaking into the main terminal Ratchet's voice seemed to emanate concern. "Optimus, please respond."

For the seventh if not eighth time now, there was no answer…just static.

Sighing Ratchet shook his head, speaking only for himself to speak. "This was predicted. Given their subterranean location, more than likely communications will be down. It's happened before…"

"Ow, Cole!" Hissed a voice quietly from behind on of the storage containers.

Glancing casually over his shoulder, ratchet shrugged and looked back to the monitor.

He knew the sparklings were there, watching his every move. They'd been there now for little over twenty minutes and had not moved or made a sound up to now.

"You two do know that I can hear you, right?"

There was another long, drawn out moment of silence before both Cole and Kira peered out of their hiding place.

Cole was the first speak with almost an apologetic tone.

"I'm sorry ratchet, we just wanted to see what you were doing, and we didn't want to disturb you."

Nodding Kira sighed. "Yeah…we thought you'd get mad."

Sighing heavily through his intakes, Ratchet scoffed with a gentle scowl. "I thought I told you to find something to do?"

Shrugging Cole looked away as to avoid Ratchet's optics. "You did. But we wanted to know what was going on. You're acting really weird and…well…"

Groaning softly, Ratchet rested his digits on the bridge of his olfactory sensors, nestled between his optics. Looking at the two at his feet, he blew air out of the corner of his mouth. "I understand that the two of you may be curious. It's understandable. But you two really DO need to keep out of the way until this whole ordeal is over. Do you understand?"

Nodding Cole stared up pleadingly. "Yes but-?"

Waving the two of them away, Ratchet returned to his initial stance at the communications monitor. "Then I suggest that the two of you find something more constructive to do rather than spy on me."

Groaning loudly on purpose, Cole groaned. "Come on Ratchet, why won't you tell us what's going on?! Is it because you think we've too young to understand? Is that it?"

Looking Cole straight in the optic, Ratchet spoke. "Yes."

Suddenly Cole and Kira both fell silent.

Kneeling slowly to meet the height of the two sparklings, Ratchet groaned softly, not so much out of annoyance but more so in submission. "The gravity of the current situation is hard to understand, even for adult Autobots. I cannot expect you two to understand upon an explanation. All you two need to know is that your sire and the other Autobots are retrieving a very important relic so that Megatron does not get it. Do you understand?"

After looking to one another for conformation both then looked to the medic and nodded slowly. Ratchet nodded with a somewhat small, relieved grin on the corner of his mouth. "Good. Now that that's out of the way, will you let me return to monitoring the mission?"

Slowly both sparklings nodded.

However upon standing, Ratchet was bombarded by his name being called for from Kira. Groaning, Ratchet huffed in annoyance. "What?"

Smiling sheepishly, Kira beamed her bright blue and purple optics up at Ratchet, trying to look as adorable as she could possibly muster. "Can Cole and I at least watch, Pleeeaaaassssee? We won't make a peep, and we'll stay out of the way. We promise!"

Groaning Ratchet couldn't help but roll his optics then look back down at the child; trying hard to resist the large glistening optics looking up at him pleading for approval.

Now he understood why Optimus was wrapped around her dainty little digits. No mech, no matter how hard their armor and spark were…could resist optics like that…

…

…

"Seeing as how your given…predicament…amuses me so, Optimus. I will make a little wager with you."

Optimus watched cautiously as Megatron slowly approached; waiting for him to do something.

Growling, Optimus' optics followed him. "What kind of illusion are you trying to pull me into Megatron?"

Chuckling, Megatron paced in from of Optimus, taunting him, baiting him. "No illusions. If you can defeat an obstacle of my choosing, you and your Autobots can leave unscathed."

Huffing, Arcee readjusted her blaster aiming higher that her shot would hit Megatron dead center between the optics. "What kind of sick joke is this? You expect Optimus to do something for your own twisted amusement, and if he wins we all leave without so much as a dent or a scratch?"

Aiming his blaster at the Decepticon leader, Bulkhead growled. "Never trust a Con'. Come on Prime, kick Bucket Head's bucket."

Looking at Bulkhead out of the corner of his optic and then back at Megatron, Optimus sighed ominously, finding this whole situation being eerily familiar to the time when Arachnid attempted to put Megatron offline, nonetheless, there were definitely noticeable differences.

"And the conditions?"

Smiling broadly, Megatron's spark thrummed against his chest at the fact that Optimus was falling in right where he wanted him to. "The conditions are simple Prime," his voice trailing with loath for the Autobot standing in front of him. "Think of it as though, this now is the reincarnation of the Gladiator arenas of Kaon. Two warriors enter…one warrior leaves."