CHAPTER FOUR

The Alternative

***

Meg: I just had to drive out to Armadale. I have a job interview tomorrow. *Is scared*

Bianca: I'm scared too. But for a different reason.

Meg: Oh?

Bianca: The twins just pranked Ratchet – again. But, this time, I think they went too far.

Jazz: As if they hadn't gone too far all the other times! But, come to mention it…this time…

Meg: O_o What did they do?

Bianca: Wellll…

***

I couldn't believe that Zikya was gone. I looked up at Wheeljack, ignoring everything that was going on around me, and said: "How did this happen?"

Wheeljack didn't answer but Bee, who had come up behind me, did. He knelt down by my side, and said quietly: "She placed herself in front of a shot, to protect Wheeljack."

I closed my eyes. "What was she thinking?"

But, I didn't need an answer. I knew exactly what had been going through Zikya's mind, because it went through my mind every time I watched Bee fight. But, unlike me, Zikya didn't have the All-Spark to protect her. Slag it, she wasn't even part robot like I was!

And now she was dead.

It was so unfair, so unjust, that humans had to die in our war.

Primus…All-Spark…whoever or whatever…please…there has to be a way to bring her back…Zikya can't die, she's like a sister to me!

I heard the voice in the back of my mind. I didn't realise it then, but later Bee told me that my eyes glowed blue, and I was holding my hands in a diamond shape (like kids singing Intsy-Weensy Spider).

*

Bumblebee's P.O.V:

"Em?" I whispered, because her eyes had suddenly glowed, and she placed her hands in front of her in a diamond shape. She didn't respond, but she appeared to be murmuring under her breath to someone…or something.

"Exactly…" I heard her murmur. She placed her hands on Zikya's chest, just above where the girl's heart used to beat, and then her hands began to glow blue.

Ratchet had come up, and was examining Zikya's body. His optics suddenly widened. "H-her heart is beating again!" He exclaimed. "It's a very faint heartbeat, but I can read it!" He then glanced at Em, whose hands were still in place. Her eyes were closed now, and she appeared to be chanting.

"It's the All-Spark…" I whispered.

"Yes," Ratchet looked worried, though. "But…I don't think it can keep Zikya's heart beating for very long…it's only a stopper for death, to buy us some time…"

"There's the alternative Zi and I were talking about…" Wheeljack muttered.

Em opened her eyes, and turned her head to face Wheeljack with a snap. "What's the alternative!?" She demanded to know. Her green eyes glittered strangely. I had a feeling she already knew the answer. I was right, because she turned to Ratchet and said: "Do it…do it now…"

Ratchet hesitated for a fraction of a second, and then he nodded to Wheeljack.

The two of them set to work, doing what needed to be done.

Em suddenly jumped up, ran for a few steps, and then jumped into the sky.

I didn't have to be a rocket scientist (whatever one is) to know that something was wrong.

Which was maybe why I followed her.

***

Meg: See – Zikya's not dead. She'll be fine.

Sideswipe: Do you think they'll be able to make her less crazy?

Zikya: I heard that! I'm not dead anymore, I have ears!

Sideswipe: Audio receptor, Zikya. Audio receptors.

Zikya: I…what?

Ratchet: Slag it! They're not working!

Zikya: They are so! So could everybody just shut up…for one moment please?

Meg: *Nods*

Bumblebee: *Comes in to the room playing Original Prankster, reeeaally loudly*

Zikya: -_-*