Stronger, Faster

Bulkhead and I were talking in the main area.

"Now do you wanna race cops?" he asked me.

"No thanks Bulkhead, besides," I jested, "You'd probably lose anyway."

"What, no? I'm a great racer!"

"Yeah, no. If I wanted a good tag team for racing, I think I'd pick Striker."

"Why? You don't think I could beat a cop?"

"You sure as scrap couldn't beat that laser fire."

"Come on! Those were vehicons!"

"Yep… That those were."

"Talking about yesterday… did you ever teach Ratchet how to get the formula out of the storage device?"

"I explained to him that I honestly didn't know how to. I told him that Shockwave designed it, so it would probably take another scientist I.E. him to do it."

"So, you basically captured the info in a device that we can't transfer it from?"

"Well Bulkhead, we could always transfer it back to another cybertronian, but both Ratchet and Optimus were completely against that idea."

"So then," he pointed to Ratchet, "What has the doctor been up to?"

"He's been trying to complete the formula. He kind of gave up on trying to find a way to get it out of the device."

"And the device itself?"

"In storage. Prime fears that the cons could probably find a way to obtain the data from the device."

"Do you think they can?"

"Who do you think advised Prime about the dangers of the Decepticons' ability to retrieve the data? Megatron could do it with a 5% chance of failure, Knockout with a 30% chance, and Shockwave with a 0% chance."

"Good thing we have it in storage right? Hahaha… and that Shockwave's dead."

"Yeah, about that… There's no proof that the scientist is actually dead. Starscream was the last con to see him, and you know how bad Starscream is at killing his comrades."

"Yeah, good thing—"

Alarms sounded.

Arcee walked up to the screen, "More energon on the move."

"Again?" Bulkhead complained.

"Their recent activity suggests a familiar pattern." Optimus announced, "The Decepticons are desperately scouting for new deposits to mine. Autobots—"

"Optimus," Ratchet interrupted, "If one of you comes back injured this time, well, our energon reserves are nearly depleted."

"Understood." Optimus said in a grave tone. "Activate the ground bridge. Autobots, Roll out!"

Ratchet opened the ground bridge. We transformed and drove through. It was dark. A full moon hung in the sky. The ground bridge brought us to a narrow path in a valley. On both sides, rock walls stood extremely high. In front of us, Breakdown and Knockout drove through the valley. We followed. As we got closer, I noticed that Breakdown was carrying a large energon cube on his jeep form's roof.

"Optimus," I called, "Can I transform into my jet form? I think it's the best way to catch up."

"No Shadow," he ordered, "That would expend more energon. And we cannot allow our current reserves to go to waste."

The chase went on for several more minutes. I sped closer to the Decepticons. I was close enough to hear them speak.

"Knockout!" Breakdown called, "can't we just bridge out of here? This cube is putting some serious drag on me!"

"The more we give the Autobots a work out, the more fuel they burn, and we win the energon race! Besides, here comes air support."

A squadron of vehicons flew right on top of us. They fired missiles at our group, but they missed. Instead, the missiles hit the sides of the valley, dropping rocks between the cons and us. Arcee sped up to try to get on the other side of the rocks before they created a barrier. She used the current fallen rocks as a ramp, then jumped and transformed, then started to jump atop falling rock to falling rock in order to dodge the enormous pieces of earth that rained from the sky. Arcee transformed again into her vehicle form, drove off of a fallen boulder and landed on the ground on the other side. I transformed into my jet form and flew over the forming wall. Optimus, Striker, Bee, and Bulk, transformed into their bipedal forms and climbed the wall. The squadron was on Arcee and my tail.

"Arcee! Fall back!" Optimus commanded.

"Hahahaha you heard him Arcee."

"Shadow! You too! You're both outnumbered!"

"Frack! Okay Arcee, let's follow orders." I said.

"We're always outnumbered," Arcee argued, "We need that energon!"

"Ratchet," Optimus COM'd, "lock onto Arcee's coordinates and prepare an emergency ground bridge."

"I'm locked on," Ratchet confirmed, "Arcee, decelerate and prepare to return to base!"

"Save it Ratchet, I'm too close!"

"Are you crazy Arcee? Don't you see that squadron behind us? Just follow orders!"

"Don't be a fool!" Ratchet yelled.

Arcee sped up toward the Decepticons. I, of course followed her. The squadron fired missiles at us. Arcee dodged the best that she could on the ground, while I maneuvered like crazy in the air.

Not going to lie, this is really fun! Wheee! Barrel roll! I'm ruling it! Oh frag! Arcee was hit!

A missile collided with Arcee's back tire. She started to flip out of control. I decreased my altitude in order to get close to her. Arcee transformed in order to stop her flipping. She skidded and fell head first at 65 mph against the stone. I went to her side and transformed back into my bipedal form.

"She's hurt." Ratchet stated.

"No scrap Ratchet. Could you please bridge us back?"

The squadron of eleven landed and transformed in a circle surrounding us. I drew my mask and swords. The vehicons started to walk towards us. I was ready to kick some aft!

A ground bridge appeared some fifty yards above us. Ratchet jumped out of it with both of his swords extended. Ratchet… dominated. He was so cool! He lunged at one vehicon, and then threw it at another. He cut off their blaster arms, dodged their laser fire, and quickly ended any con that got within a length of him. Once he was done with one side, he sprinted to the other. He dodged laser fire; and roundhouse kicked about three of them into the valley's sides.

Arcee asked me, "Ratchet?" as if she didn't know which bot was doing the fighting.

Ratchet dodged more laser fire, and then jumped three lengths, when falling; he grabbed a vehicon's head and forced him to the ground. He then jumped again and knocked another vehicon the frag out with a bullet punch.

"Our doctor can really fight! He is being so cool right now Arcee!"

Ratchet then finished off the remaining four with kicks, punches, and jumps, all while dodging laser fire. Optimus, Bee, Striker, and Bulkhead had climbed to the top of the barricade. They fired at Breakdown and Knockout. The two drove off. I was in awe of Ratchet's skill. Almost too surprised. Oh frag, I realized that he was killing them. What he had wasn't skill, whatever it was; it was characterized by a lack of restraint. It would have been skillful if he left the enemy knocked out. Bumblebee picked up Arcee. The rest of the group stood by me. I lowered my mask. Ratchet was just about done.

Ratchet placed one ped atop a dead vehicon and looked really badass! A vehicon tried to sneak up behind him. Ratchet punched him in the face without even looking. Then he exclaimed, "Hoo-hah!"

He looks so cool! … But he also just murdered all of those Decepticons. Why didn't I stop him? My spark hurt, and I felt full of guilt.

Arcee started to explain what had just gone down. Raf opened another ground bridge. This time, we all went through.

Raf asked, "What happened?"

Bulkhead replied, "I only saw the gory aftermath, but I hear that doc was a one bot wrecking machine!"

Ratchet picked up Raf who screamed "Whoa!" as Ratchet bounced him in the air, and then put the boy down.

"Hey little fella," He said.

Arcee kidded, "Alright, what's your secret?"

"No secret," Ratchet reached for a container of synthetic energon, "Just a little something I like to call Synth En." Ratchet tossed Arcee the container filled with neon green liquid.

Arcee and Bee looked like kids in awe. Arcee passed the container to Bee.

Arcee asked, "From the data Bulkhead transcribed? I thought the formula was—"

"Incomplete?" Ratchet finished her sentence. He laughed, "Not anymore."

Bee beeped, "This green stuff makes you stronger than Bulk!" He passed the container to Bulkhead.

"So," Bulkhead asked, "Ratchet makes a better tough guy than I do a strong guy?" Bulkhead gave the container to Optimus.

"Ratchet," Optimus stated, "I question the wisdom of using yourself as a test subject."

"Optimus," Arcee defended, "You didn't see Ratchet out there. He was in overdrive! We should all try this stuff."

"Umm, Arcee," I said, "I'll pass. And I think we all should. The 'Synth En' heightens a lack in restraint."

"Or," Bulkhead offered, "give Ratchet more so we can take a vacation!"

Did no one hear me? I looked at Optimus. Optimus?

Optimus concluded, "I agree that the initial results seem promising. But I recommend that further testing be confined to machines, not Autobots." Optimus handed the synthetic energon back to Ratchet. "Outnumbered though we may be old friend," he put his hand on Ratchet's shoulder, "We need a warrior in the laboratory right now, more than we need another in the field."

Ratchet glared at the ground. I walked up to the mech.

"Hey Ratchet, you killed a lot in the field. Maybe you can show some control next time. Don't get me wrong, you were amazing out there, it's just that it's much easier to kill than disable, and we should only kill when necessary."

Ratchet looked up at me, "Fine," he said, "If it's so hard, we can go train to improve my 'skill'."

I backed up a bit. Ratchet was kind of acting like an overconfident Starscream. I turned back to my teammates, "Hey, Striker, Bulk, wanna train?"

"Sure!"

"You know it!"

Why didn't I ask Optimus? Him, me… Metal on metal… Stop! Seriously, stop it brain. Just stop.

The three of us walked to the training room. It was a bit smaller than the one I liked to use on the Nemesis, but it was still about the size of a soccer field or a large human gymnasium.

Ratchet asked us, "Okay then, which one of you wants to take me on first?"

"Bulk?" I asked, "Can I go first?"

"No!" Striker yelled, "We should do tag teams!"

Bulkhead held back the enthusiastic femme. "Hold on there Striker, wouldn't you want to see what we're up against, before we go in head strong?"

Striker growled.

I turned back to her, "Don't worry Striker," I kidded, "We can fight after I take down the Doc."

"And what makes you think you can beat me, little lady?"

"I've sparred with Megatron before. And just to clarify, I'm not trying to beat you, just not die."

We both got into fighting stances. I lowered my mask and drew my blades. Ratchet's eyes glowed a brighter green and he signaled for me to 'bring it on'.

I ran at him, he punched high; I ducked low and moved around him. He kicked low; I jumped over it. He punched again; I put one ped on his arm, and kicked his head with the other. I back flipped off of him and he took a step backward.

"Sorry!" I screamed, remembering I was fighting an aged physician, "I didn't mean to hurt you, I swear!"

"Barely tickled," he taunted, "You have something real to show me?"

Ratchet drew his swords and sprinted at me. He swung at my torso; I dodged quickly, as I moved backward. He tried to slash at my head; I rolled between his legs and turned to face his back. I kicked, but he turned too fast for it to hit. He punched with his sword, but I sidestepped away from it. Then, when he was off balance, I quickly sweep kicked at his feet. Ratchet fell. I retracted my swords and lowered my mask to show that I was done.

Ratchet is fighting extremely hostile. I cannot do this.

I offered Ratchet my hand, but he denied it. He angrily shook his head and got up on his own.

"What, are you done already?"

"I just feel really threatened Ratch. I feel that your 'Synth En' is clouding your judgment."

Ratchet scuffed, "Ah, weak." He turned to Bulkhead, "Wanna know how I defeated the cons?" He asked.

Through being an unrestrained glitch?

Bulkhead nodded. Ratchet told his story, demonstrating the action with jumps, kicks, and punches, "…And then he came right at me and I… Well, come on Bulk, come at me."

Bulkhead took a step back, "I don't wanna hurt you Ratch."

Ratchet slapped Bulkhead's face. "I said come at me!" Ratchet yelled as he got into a fighting stance.

Bulkhead growled as he glared at the doctor. He got out one of his wrecking balls and ran at Ratchet. Ratchet grabbed Bulkhead, and threw him through the wall, as if the wrecker weighed nothing. "Hoo-hah" Ratchet said.

"Vector sigma!" I yelled as I ran to Bulkhead's side.

Yeah, I definitely pissed him off earlier.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"What are you talking about?" Striker asked from beside me, "Bulk just got thrown through a wall!"

Arcee and Bumblebee rounded the corner. "What was that?" Arcee asked in a panic.

Bulkhead moaned, "Ahhhhhhhh."

Ratchet appeared in the hole in the wall, "You have new competition Bulk. I'm a bit stronger than I used to be. Also a bit faster," Ratchet quickly punched the air in front of Bee's face, "Fooom" and he laughed, "Hehe, think you can take me, muscle car?"

Bee waved his hands in front of his face and beeped, "I don't want to."

Ratchet walked past him and said, "Wimp." He then walked past Arcee and flirted, "ch-ch, How's it humming?"

Arcee gave him a disgusted look. She asked, "Did he just?"

Bulkhead rubbed the back of his head and said, "Stronger, faster, studly-er."

"Yeah," Striker added, "Not to mention he's acting like a big jerk!"

Ratchet was gone. We walked to the main area. Alarm sensors went off.

"Looks like the cons hit another vein," Arcee stated.

"Autobots, Roll out!" Optimus commanded.

Bulkhead stopped him, "Oh hey-hey, well, shouldn't we wait for our secret weapon?"

"This mission is unlikely to require medical expertise," Optimus said.

Ratchet retorted, "But ya never know if it may require additional firepower." He walked closer to us and said, "Bumblebee can handle groundbridge duty."

Bee complained, "But I don't wanna."

Ratchet walked up to the ground bridge and said, "Time to put some hurt on those Decepticons!"

Bee opened a portal and we ran through it. The Portal transported us to the top of a hill. We ran down it. Ratchet led the pack. I could have been up there too, because of my speed boosters, but whenever I ran down slopes, I have the fear that I might somehow fall on my face. So, I ran with the rest of the group. Ratchet slid down the side of the rock face and hopped from one spot to another. We all reached the bottom. We saw a bunch of Decepticon miners.

Bulkhead looked down at his scanner. "Uh, signal's weak. They may have hit a vein, but they won't find much of an energon pulse. Not here."

"I take some comfort in the fact that Megatron's as desperate to find the stuff as we are." Arcee said.

"Well," I added, "He's only desperate to find it, because he doesn't want us to have any of it."

"Good," Striker said, "Gives us more of a chance to find 'em and strike."

Ratchet said annoyed, "Do you always talk this much during these missions?"

Ratchet jumped off of the cliff ledge, and drove down the Cliffside. We followed.

"Autobot!" A vehicon yelled. The armed miners pulled out their blasters and fired at Ratchet. Ratchet dodged their laser fire, drove off the mountainside into a vehicon and proceeded to fight.

Ratchet exclaimed, "It's alright! I'm an emergency vehicle." Ratchet then pulled out both of his swords and started to slice apart his opponents.

Ratchet's murdering those miners!

Striker, Arcee, Bulk, Optimus, and I ran down the side of the cliff. The four fired, while I put down my mask and drew my swords. My teammates knocked down the miners in a stun-like fashion. I looked back down at Ratchet's handiwork.

I felt a chill down my spine. Ratchet's murdering those miners.

"Vector Sigma! He's fragging murdering them!" I yelled at Prime.

A miner saw Ratchet coming and tried to escape by climbing the adjacent rock wall. Ratchet followed him. I helped my friends disable the miners, and then raced after the murderer. I heard screams coming from the doctor's position. I flew up the wall, and landed near Ratchet. I transformed and ran to the sadist.

The con Ratchet worked over screamed, "Well, that's all I know, really!"

Ratchet blowtorched that miner's face.

"Now, was that so difficult?" Ratchet asked. He changed his blowtorch into a sword. He was going to kill the con he tortured. I tackled the piece of slag. I moved him a couple of lengths. The doctor glared at me. His extended sword started to slash down on me.

Optimus grabbed Ratchet's arm, "Ratchet!" he yelled, "What are you doing?"

I backed up, the vehicon fled, Optimus let go, and Ratchet pulled away.

"Getting results," Ratchet answered.

"And breaking protocol," Optimus boomed. "That was a Decepticon miner! Servant class! Not warrior class."

"Oh, and let me guess," Ratchet said sarcastically, "I'm just the medic."

"Autobots do not inflict harm unless all other options have been exhausted!" Optimus both frowned and glared, "It is what separates us from the Decepticons."

Ratchet laughed, "Heh, is this really the time for another lecture Optimus? You didn't just so happen to discover Megatron's current location, did you? Well I did! And do you happen to know where there is a stockpile of energon ripe for the taking? I do!"

Bulkhead tried to calm the doctor down, "Come on Ratchet, calm it down!" But, yelling did no one good.

"Calm is the last thing we need!" Ratchet screamed, "Calm is what lost us Cybertron!" Ratchet started to walk away from us. "The cons have a warship, an army, all this energon scouting, you think Megatron isn't gearing up for something big? We're squandering our resources! Chasing after his crumbs! When we really need to be hitting him hard, and hitting him now! Precisely where it hurts!"

"A direct assault on the Decepticons would only provoke retaliation," Optimus explained, "and lead to incalculable losses. I will not endanger innocent human lives."

"Yet you seem to have no problem endangering ours! Just ask Cliffjumper! Oh, I forgot, he couldn't be here today!"

"Too soon Ratch," Striker mumbled besides me.

Oh yeah, Cliff Jumper went in without backup. I… will probably learn nothing from that.

"That's it!" Arcee screamed.

Bulkhead grabbed her arms, so that she couldn't fight Ratchet.

Ratchet turned back to Optimus, "You know what your problem is Optimus? For such a big strong bot, you're soft! You didn't pound Megatron into scrap when you had the chance! Many chances in fact!"

That's not a sign of weakness. I could have killed all of you. I've had multiple chances to. Yet, you're all still here. I muttered under my breath, "It's a sign of strength."

Optimus closed his eyes for a brief moment. He looked sad. "I am afraid that the synthetic energon has impaired your judgment, old friend."

"My judgment? You're the one who keeps a pet Decepticon around!"

Oh, sick burn, I thought… Wait a second. Did he just call me a pet?

Striker bawled up one of her hands into a fist.

Do not kill him. Do not attack him. Don't even acknowledge him. He isn't himself; it's the synthetic energon.

I nudged her and she stood down.

"She's mine."

A rival or a pet… neither is good.

"I am confining you to base until further notice." Optimus commanded, "Bumblebee, bridge us back."

Bulkhead let go of Arcee as she tore from his grip. I looked away from Optimus.

I'm not a pet.

The portal appeared behind Bulkhead.

Ratchet sighed, "Huh, Fine." Ratchet started to walk through the portal. We followed behind him, Bulkhead walked in front. Ratchet ran out of the portal yelling, grabbed Bulkhead, and threw him at Optimus. Ratchet transformed and drove away. I got a running start, transformed into my jet, and flew after him.

Optimus opened a communications link. Ratchet declined, and I accepted.

"Optimus, I can track him, I can chase him—"

"No Shadow, he's too dangerous."

Not a pet. Not again.

"You know what Optimus, I'm not gonna let him murder and torture my kind! I meant Decepticons. Vector Sigma you know what I meant!"

"Shadow—"

Never again.

"You know what Optimus? Maybe Ratchet is right. Maybe all I am is a fragging Decepticon pet. But do you know what? If I'm a Decepticon, and Decepticon's stand up for their own kind… Well then, I can't let that synthetic energon drinking scrap-heap murder innocent defenseless miners!"

"Shadow, you need to return to base. Your emotions are getting the best of you."

"Prime, I understand that I'm angry. And I understand that Ratchet is not himself right now. But, if he doesn't have a fragging babysitter he will get his slagging self killed."

"So… You plan to facilitate his attack?"

"No, I plan to stop casualties from occurring."

"On both sides?"

"I don't know. I just don't want anyone to die."

Frack.

"Good luck." Optimus signed off.

I took a deep breath and continued to follow Ratchet. Ratchet stopped at the entrance to a mine. He transformed and looked at me. I flew down, transformed, and followed from a distance.

"Are you coming or what?"

"You want me to come?"

"Decepticon or not, you had the guts to keep on my tracks. That takes courage."

I walked behind Ratchet and followed him through the mine. We saw Breakdown talking to a miner up ahead. I was about to ready myself for battle.

Ratchet said, "Mine."

I said, "No killing."

"I'm saving that for Megatron."

Megatron gave me freedom.

I didn't want to argue with the deranged mech.

Ratchet whistled to grab the Decepticons' attention.

Breakdown got out his hammer and said, "I was wondering when you might show."

Ratchet smiled and proceeded to sprint at Breakdown. The doctor dodged Breakdown's swing, allowing the miner to get hit with it and be knocked out. Ratchet destroyed Breakdown; it was one of the quickest takedowns I had ever seen. I feared for Megatron's life. Ratchet then grabbed Breakdown and had him walk ten paces, before dropping the mech at Megatron's feet.

"Hoo-ah!" The doctor exclaimed. Knockout took a step backward, behind his lord.

"Megatron run." I said to my self.

"Well, uh," Knockout pointed to Ratchet.

"That is your fearsome new adversary?" Megatron asked, "Hehehe" he laughed, "He's Optimus Prime's Medic."

"Megatron run! " I yelled.

Ratchet glared at me before he went right back to look at Megatron.

"Oh no Megatron," Ratchet stated, "I am your doctor of Doom."

Ratchet ran at Megatron, jumped, and punched Megatron's face. Sparks trailed his fist. Megatron was pushed back into a wall four lengths away. Knockdown backed up. Megatron felt his face with his claw like hands, and looked surprised. My gaze shifted down to the ground. It was almost as if I had felt his pain. A look of hurt was plastered upon my face. I could feel Megatron observing this. He looked back to Ratchet and curled his servo into a fist.

"Alright then," Megatron said.

Ratchet ran at Megatron again. This time he yelled, "For Cybertro—" Megatron grabbed Ratchet's fist and clamped down. The doctor let out screams of pain. "Ah, ah—," Megatron rotated Ratchet's fist, and arm, completely around, causing shrieks of pain to split the air, "Ahhhhhhh!"

Megatron said to Knockout, "Ratchet is rather more spirited than I recollect."

"Chemical enhancement perhaps?" Knockout questioned.

Ratchet continued screaming.

Megatron clenched his other claw into a fist, and then back to its clawed form. He swiftly stabbed it into Ratchet's chest, right of his spark chamber, and then removed it. Ratchet started to leak energon. Megatron threw the doctor to the ground.

I ran over to Ratchet and bent down next to his level.

I should have battled.

"Ratchet," I called out, "You know earlier when I told Megatron to run. I meant that in a 'run into the light' type fashion, you know, to save him the pain of being ripped into shreds by you." I tried to laugh, "Heh. Yeah, you won't tell Optimus right? I mean, I swear I that I did not want, uhm you know, what is happening right now."

"I understand Shadow. And about earlier, I wasn't myself. I'm sorry for trying to, well, you know, it was because of how riled up I got. And also for calling you Optimus's Decepticon pet. That was uncalled for."

Megatron glared at Ratchet. "There's your laboratory sample doctor. Find out if a chemical can do this for Optimus Prime's' lapdog," he chuckled, "Hehe, Imagine what it could do for our troops."

Megatron walked over toward us. He grasped my shoulder with his sharp claw of a servo. I drew my sword with the arm he held the shoulder of. His grip grew stronger and his claw dug into my synthetic flesh. The pain caused me to drop my sword at Ratchet's side. Megatron lifted his servo upward, forcing me to my peds.

"Come along Shadow," he said. I tried to resist, but that only made the pain worse. I gave up, and walked at his pace, like a human pet, or respected equivalent.

"I'm sorry Optimus, I've been a fool," I heard Ratchet say behind me in the ever increasing distance.

I then heard rapid laser fire off in the mine. Megatron noticed it as well.

"It is so like you not to call for backup."

I didn't respond. His grip increased.

"You know it's rude not to speak when you are being spoken to."

"I am not a pet."

"Hmm?" Megatron chuckled, "That's what the lap dog said, right? You… a pet? Ha! I don't think I've ever heard of anything more absurd. Other than your comparison of my job to that of a pet sitter."

"You've heard of that?"

"You think I haven't? Amusing and accurate. Soundwave is the apt parrot you take him to be."

Which telling of that, did Soundwave record?

"Starscream is out of your equation now," I said.

Why am I talking to him?

"Yes… So, what exactly was it the doctor was referring to? The you-know thing?"

"That? Attempted murder, nothing more."

Why did I just give him the correct answer?

"How many times?"

"Three within the last hour."

Seriously, I don't have to give him the truth… lies wouldn't even suffice. I shouldn't be speaking to him at all… But, why do I feel comfortable enough to involuntarily do so? Why? It's almost as if I'm being compelled.

"And, Optimus? Why was he calling you the Prime's pet?"

"Optimus has kept a tight watch on me. If I am somewhere, he watches, if I am alone, he comes over and talks, If I go, he follows, and as of late, he has had me under a tight keep because I…"

Megatron is my enemy. Why can't I remember that?

"Yes?"

"Almost died protecting you."

Well, not exactly protecting you. I just want to see your reaction to that.

Megatron released his grip and looked at me. "You- you almost died?"

Ha! He didn't want to let me go. How sweet.

"One percent battery power. If our energon reserves had been a single cube lower, I would not be here right now. Scrap, Megatron," I joked, "with our current supply being so low, I could just as easily die from bleeding out of this wound."

I smiled. I really want to see your reaction to this.

Megatron took a step back. I tried to read his face. I heard Optimus in the distance; he would see us in a moment. He was coming from Ratchet's position. I drew my other sword with the arm that wasn't in pain, and held it to Megatron's symbol. Megatron immediately saw Prime and the other Autobots, as they saw him.

"Megatron!" Prime yelled.

I looked towards Prime. Megatron knew that I was allowing him to escape. He knew it was because this was my way of thanking him for not killing Ratchet. While I was 'off guard' Megatron pushed away my sword, and took a step back.

"Decepticons," he called out, "Retreat!"

Why does it feel like this is rehearsed? I don't know. For some reason, I only think he's letting us seize this energon, because he… Maybe he pities me and doesn't want me to die of such a small wound? Maybe… Pity is definitely possible. But then, why didn't he ask me to rejoin the Decepticons? I mean, if he knows me so well? Maybe he knows that I wouldn't rejoin. Maybe…

Optimus ran to my position and Megatron transformed. Megatron watched as Optimus pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Don't do anything like that again," he whispered into my audio receptor as he held me against his chest.

Megatron accelerated away. It was similar to something he would do in anger.

I pulled away, "Optimus, I'm getting energon on you."

"Y-you're hurt?"

"One-on-one with Megatron. You don't think I'd come out of it scratch-less?"

A half-lie. I'm getting better.

Optimus handed me my other sword. I put both of them away.

"I didn't know what to think. I had feared for the worst when you didn't call for backup."

"I'm sorry Optimus, I kind of just forgot."

"It's fine, as long as you aren't… we should get you back to base. Bumblebee, Striker, Arcee, and Bulkhead can do the heavy lifting."

We walked to the portal.

"How's Ratchet?"

"He's stable. He's currently resting at his medical station."

"That's good."

"We should tend to your wound."

"I can wait for Ratchet…" I wanted something to fill the silence. I cheerfully said, "Isn't it great that our supplies are restocked?"

We walked through the portal. I went to Ratchet's side and waited. The doctor slept. Prime stood next to me.

"Optimus, I can tell you anything, right?"

"You know you can."

"Well, there is something I should have told you earlier."

"What is it?"

"I knew you from before the war, you were a historical archivist named Orion Pax. I used to call you OP as a nickname."

"You knew me? I'm sorry but I don't remember you."

"That's okay, I have a different paint job now. It does make me look very different. Besides, it was a very long time away from now."

"Can I have a hint?"

"A hint as to what?"

"Who you were."

"Hmm… Let's see. I studied in the Library -Iacon Hall of Records- most days out of the week."

"That's not much of a hint."

"It'll come to you eventually. Would it help if I told you that we had regular chats about morality and theories offered up by different great Cybertronian thinkers?"

"That sounds like something familiar."

"Is it okay if I call you OP?"

"I don't have any problem with it."

"Well OP, I was with you when you became a Prime. Not the ceremony, just the naming part."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"It'll come to you eventually. Things like this always do."

"Really?"

"Yeah, truth be told, I'm awful at memorizing certain pieces of information."

"Like names and faces?"

"Exactly that."

"How did I know… that?"

"You used to help me learn mechs' names and associate them with their images."

"That seems like a long time ago."

"So, you do remember?"

"No, it just rings a bell."

"It'll come to you eventually."

"You could tell me now."

"Where would be the fun in that?"

It would ruin everything.

…..

He held his helmet in his hands. He sat back next to me against the wall in my cell. My spark beat faster being so close to his own. My audio receptors were missing every other word that left his lips. I was placing too much of my energy into my sight. I couldn't stop staring at him, the part that was new -no longer concealed- his face, His face was… was nice, kind-looking, calming. He spoke on. His optics were warm, inviting… Their glow shone off the side of his polished helmet. He was tapping his helmet with his digits, gripping it, toying with it, his digits looked soft.

"… and that's how I found my way here –onboard the Nemesis- not here, here, with you." St3ve shut himself up and sighed.

I nodded.

"I guess you could say my entire life was just like that: Just a series of mistake after mistake, until I finally found something good -something that stayed- something like you."

The edges of my mouth perked, and my face felt hot. I had to fill the silence. "Good thing I can't leave, then. St3ve, you're stuck with me."

I made the silence worse. He didn't seem phased by it. The metal on his chest rose and fell in perfect harmony with the calming melody that he breathed. Zen. He was the embodiment of it.

St3ve handed me his helmet, and my fingers shakily latched on to it. He stood up, and looked out, away, through the bars. I don't think he was looking at the bars, or the terminal between them, or the wall far out in the distance. He seemed too fixed with something in the distance, something not there.

I would've reached out for him, but my hands were wrapped around his helmet. His head stood level on his shoulders. I waited.

"My carrier," he started to speak again, "Disowned me before I was old enough to become a scout. Even before then, I had trouble trusting others. My carrier, she slept around with many mechs. I had a lot of half siblings, none of which looked like me. I was alone. For so many years, I was alone." St3ve laughed, "They all ganged up on me, call that irony! My own brothers, and they treated me like I was an enemy. They took what energon I was rationed; they probably even stunted my growth, but, look at me now! Just look. Drone height. I don't need to worry about looking like a target. I don't need to worry about going out and dying in battle. I'm me. Sure, I took on a new name. Sure, I wear this conformist uniform. Sure. Just, sure. But, do you know what?"

St3ve turned around to face me. His bright warm eyes shone, they practically glowed, standing out from his gun-metal gray armor and his deep black scar that ran down south-west, from above his left optic, through where a human nose would have been, and trailed down along his jawline. His optics twinkled.

"I'm me!" He said loudly, with pride strumming the chords of his voice. "I'm me. I'm St3ve. I like the color green. I like the bright oranges this world's sun sends across its skies before dusk." He kept his smile, closed his eyes, and shook his head back and forth between his left and his right. "I don't care if I don't get to fight." He stopped shaking his head, and said in a strong voice, "No, I prefer not doing it!" He opened his eyes again. "I like working at my terminal, and I like being able to fade into the crowd, and I like that I'm here, I like that I'm alive!" He held one of his servos on the metal that covered his chest, gripping the armor that protected his spark chamber. "I am alive, and- and, and as far as I know, they aren't. And- and I'm here, and I'm good, I'm good! I-I do good! I did well enough to get promoted here to watch you. Imagine that, me, here, doing this, away from battle, here."

He liked to use that word a lot. 'Here'. Almost as if he didn't believe it. 'Here'. 'Here'. 'Here'.

"And I drive. I like to drive. I like to go off roading sometimes. I like just to go. Sometimes just to see how far away I can get. See how far away I can get from all the conformity, and the rules, and our Lord's iron fist, and I'm fine to do it. And I like to do it! You hear that Ghost? I like to do it! I'm me! I'm me. I'm me… I'm different."

He took in air powerfully. He sucked it in, and panted it back out.

"I know," I said. "You're St3ve."

"St3ve," he repeated, "St3ve. St3ve. That's me. That's my designation. My name."

His breathing steadied. He walked back towards me. I offered his helmet back to him, and he took it. He held it in front of his face -staring at it- staring at his reflection in it. I guess I never really realized how much someone like him would even want to look at his reflection. I guess he never really did. None of them ever really did. I wondered if any of them ever forgot what it was they looked like. I never even considered that if it wasn't for my sire, I could've ended up just like him: Scout-class, a drone: Another individual wearing the armor of conformity. That's just what a lot of them were. Drones. They were labeled that. But, down underneath, they were different. Each one of them was different. And this one liked to call himself St3ve.

"I like, what was the word you used?"

"Music?"

"What the humans play." His smile returned. "The other day I saw this small hairy feline-creature on one of the flesh-creature's screens. It was dressed in green, the feline-creature was. It banged its paws on keys, and it produced 'music'. There was a flesh-creature—"

"Human."

"Human voice speaking over it. It was trying to sell something wonderful."

Wonderful… Pistachios?

"An advertisement? They play on the radio all the time."

"Do you like the radio? Being out, I'm running into more human things all the time."

"The radio is good."

"Maybe some time," St3ve paused, "Maybe I can take you out off-roading. And we can listen to the human channels you like on the radio."

"I'd like that."

"I think I would too."