For those of you wondering, yes Starscream is still blind I just forgot to mention. Thanks to everyone who pointed it out!
Ratchet and Optimus drove through the countryside, snow falling silently to the ground. They stopped once they came to a fork in the road, and transformed. Ratchet looked around, and saw the red car coming towards them, "You're late," he said, arms crossed. The red car transformed, and brushed the snow off of him.
"Sorry," Knock Out said. Optimus looked over at Ratchet, but Knock Out was the one who answered the question, "Starscream is still a Decepticon, and just because you're keeping him in your base doesn't mean I can't help," Ratchet nodded in agreement.
"Alright," Optimus said, and they looked around, "Which direction Ratchet?" Ratchet took out a device, and pointed it in the center of the fork.
"Right," he said, and they began walking to the right.
After a few miles of walking, they came to a set of train tracks that led to a brick building with arches. Ratchet looked up, "The reading's are coming from inside," he said, and they began walking along the tracks. Knock Out looked around, feeling uneasy.
"I don't like the look of this," he said, as they made their way towards the brick building, "It feels like suffering and death," Ratchet looked back at him, "Hey, I'm a Decepticon. That's what we mostly see," Ratchet rolled his optics, and they stopped once they walked past the building.
Optimus looked around, and spotted a metal gate with words above it, "Ratchet," he said, and they turned in that direction. Ratchet squinted, "What does it say?"
"Arbeit Mach Frei," Ratchet read off the sign, and frowned, "That's weird."
"What?" Knock Out asked, looking at the sign.
"Work makes free," Ratchet said, "Interesting choice of words," They turned away from the gate, and made their way towards another part of the grounds.
Optimus stopped, and looked down over the edge. Ratchet walked up behind him, "Ratchet, what is this place?"
"I'm not completely sure, but I have a hunch," he said, and looked down, "I think...it's...some type of former camp," Knock Out walked up slowly behind them, a smile across his facial plating.
"A camp for what?" Ratchet didn't get to answer him because they were both pushed forward and fell down into the giant hole.
Optimus opened his optics, and looked around. Ratchet was lying a few feet away from him, and he opened his optics as well, "What...just happened?" Ratchet asked. Optimus felt something slick on his hands, "What is this?"
"I tricked you, that's what happened!" They looked up, and saw Knock Out standing over the hole, "Sorry Optimus, but Megatron can't allow you to find the cure and cure Starscream. He wants the rest of the Autobots to get infected while you and Ratchet rust. And with the distributor, that's a lot easier said than done," he sneered, and kicked some dirt down, "Oh, and did I mention that in a few hours, that stuff below, oil, will be set on fire and you will melt into nothing! Ratchet, thanks again for helping me find where the cure is located. I guess this is the last time I'll see you alive Optimus Prime. So long!" he laughed, and walked away from the hole. Ratchet looked over at him.
"Any ideas Optimus?"
Starscream heard footsteps by him, then they stopped, "Um, Starscream?" He didn't respond, "Oh, right. Um, it's Raf," Starscream turned his helm towards the direction, "Arcee wanted me to check up on you. How are you?"
"Well, I'm blind, I can't fly, and I'm basically falling apart. How do you think I'm doing?" he snapped. Raf took a step back.
"Oh, so basically the same," he said quietly. Starscream sighed, "I..." He heard Raf sigh, "I really don't know what to say to make you feel better, but... I'm sure that Optimus and Ratchet will find the cure and you'll get better," Starscream could hear the innocence in his voice. He didn't respond, "Well, I'll leave you alone. Oh, Arcee wanted me to give you more energon," he said, and Starscream held out hos hands. He felt the cube of energon being placed in his hands, and heard Raf's footsteps walk away.
"Thank you," he said quietly, and brought the energon to his lips.
"You're welcome," came Raf's voice. Starscream took a sip of the energon, then spat it out. He dropped the cube, and felt his spark speed up drastically. Starscream clutched his chest, and stood up, reaching for something to hold on to. His legs were wobbly, and he felt his spark keep speeding up.
Starscream's breathing grew rapid, and he grabbed onto something, holding himself. He needed help, he needed that medic. Starscream opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out, "Ah..." he wheezed, "Hel..." he coughed, "Hel..." Starscream felt his spark stop, and he fell forward, his helm slamming against whatever he was holding on to.
Jack looked up from his book, "What was that?" Arcee stood up, and motioned for Bumblebee and Bulkhead to follow her. Miko stood up on, leaning over the rail.
"Starscream's the only one in there, isn't he?" she asked. Raf nodded, and the three got up and followed their guardians into the hall.
Arcee knocked on the door, "Starscream, you ok?" she asked, but heard no answer. She looked at Bulkhead, "Bulkhead, break it down," He nodded, and punched his fist through the door. Bulkhead looked in.
"Uh-oh."
"Starscream!" Arcee screamed, and rushed over to him. Bumblebee followed her. Arcee bent down, and gently rolled him over, "Starscream can you hear me?" The Seeker lay unconsicous on the ground, a large gash in his facial plating. Arcee moved her hand over to the cut, "Primus..."
"Arcee! Don't touch the energon!" Bulkhead yelled, lunging forward. He bumped into Bumblebee who fell forward. Bumblebee knocked Jack down, who's hand landed on Starscream's bleeding helm.
"Ah!" he cried, and pulled his hand away. Arcee's helm jolted up.
"Jack!" Jack was holding his hand, as his skin began to turn black. He took a step back, as the energon began to spread up his arm, "Bulkhead, contact Ratchet now! Tell him Jack got infected!"
"I can't reach him. The com link is jammed," Arcee looked down at Starscream, then at Jack. Miko walked over to him, "Miko, don't touch him!" Miko took a step back, Raj standing behind her. Arcee looked walked over to him.
"Jack, how do you feel?"
"I don't know," he said, still looking at his hand. The skin was black up to his elbow, "I can't...I can't feel anything."
"What do you mean, you can't feel anything?" Raf asked.
"I can't feel anything. Like, I should be freaking out and panicking, but I don't feel any emotions," he said. Arcee looked over at Bulkhead.
"You're sure you can't get a hold of Ratchet?" Bulkhead shook his head, "Well, I guess we're on our own."
Dun dun dun! What are Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee going to do? How is Jack going to react to the tainted energon? Stay tuned for the answers!