When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

by LuvMiddleEarth

A seemingly orphaned girl who has misfortune for the majority of her life, with only a special crystal as the only connection her birthparents, learns that she is not all as normal as she thinks. And when she tries to find a good life somewhere else, her world comes to a crashing renewal as she is set upon by decepticons. And she does not know why, until she meets the autobots.

37. Chapter 37

Azura didn't really know how long she had remained underneath Ratchet. She moved around quietly, sticking close to him as she gazed around the lobby nervously. He worked on fixing the ground bridge as quickly as he could, though Ratchet's expression was far from pleased as Azura didn't know if he was successful in fixing the bridge or not. Time really was against them as far as she knew. She didn't actually know how much time has past at the time moment either. She was hoping it was just a half hour, but she feared it was possible that it was over that time. Everything just had gone by too quickly.

Jack was walking around the lobby, carefully scanning the room for any sign of the scraplets. So far there has not been any. But that did not mean nothing was happening. That pod wouldn't have had such a huge hole in it otherwise if it was only a single scraplet. Even though it was very quiet, he was still on high alert. He was hoping Ratchet would fix the ground bridge quickly as well. His mind was on Arcee, even though he was also worried for Optimus. Jack glanced at Azura few times as he knew that she could potentially die or lose her father today, or both. He didn't like that she was in that predicament.

After ten minutes, Jack looked over to Ratchet and Azura curiously. "How's it going over there?" He asked in a worried, uncertain tone. He had not wished to bother Ratchet, but he was still worried about how things would go today.

Ratchet grumbled in irritation, it was clear her was trying to figure out how to fix the bridge and he narrowed his optics as Azura looked up at him while he responded to Jack. "I've repaired the damaged conductors, and rerouted the central conduits. But the ground bridge still won't receive power!" He punched the ground to the side of the panel, making Azura yelp in surprise and clutch his leg tightly. Ratchet looked down as he realized he had scared. "Oh, sorry, Azura. I didn't mean to startle you." He rubbed the back of her head gently as she looked at him with a smile. "You are being brave, and I am proud of you."

Azura's smile widened, only for it to fade as she turned her head upon hearing the dreaded sound of screwdrivers. She looked around before glancing up, gasping as she saw a swarm of scraplets. And they were flying! Azura held her weapons fearfully as she stared up at the vermin, stepping back as Ratchet stood up, staring up at them in surprise.

"They fly?!" Jack exclaimed in shock as the scraplets made a beeline for Ratchet. "You never said they could fly!"

Azura shrieked as the scraplets swarm Ratchet's body, making him back up and fall. She ran to the side and yelped, swinging the hammer and pipe at scraplets that began to swarm at her. She was successful hitting several as most seem to be focused on Ratchet. The bot glanced at her as she saw the scraplets eating into his body. Jack ran over to hit off as many of the scraplets from Ratchet's body as he could.

However, as Ratchet tried to hit off the scraplets from his body, he widened his opens and slammed his fist beside Azura, making her scream and duck away, only to realize he had smashed some scraplets. "Watch your back, Azura!" He shouts, making her turn and scream as she felt something bite through the skin of her lower back. "JACK!"

Jack ran over to Azura, hitting off the scraplet and widening his eyes as he saw a flood of energon spilling from her wound, and he could also see her protoform skeleton. "Oh…" He gasped and swung the pipe around some more while Azura also swung her weapons, but her movements had slowed extremely now that she was injured. "There's too many!"

"Ugh, ah! The fire extinguisher!" Ratchet shouts, slamming his fists on several more scraplets and widened his optics as Azura fell onto the ground as several scraplets began to eat through the thin metal on her right leg. He swiped off the scraplets from her leg and pulled Azura closer to him. "Oh, Azura…" She hit off more scraplets, though she was already losing a lot of energon.

Jack grabbed the nearby fire extinguisher and rushed back, pulling the pin from the handle and spraying the cold chemical from the nozzle. He sprayed at the scraplets near Azura before spraying all over Ratchet. Azura was not convinced that it would work, but as the scraplets began to fall and their systems shut down, it seemed they didn't do cold very well. Which made her wonder how they survived in the Artic, unless the pod itself somehow kept them alive.

But it seemed to be enough. She whimpered as she looked down at her right leg. She widened her eyes as she saw her knee and calf flesh had been eaten, she still had the membrane covering her foot, but it felt loose…which was strange to her. But energon was bleeding out from her wound and she was terrified. And she could not see the wound on her back, but she could really feel it. It hurt a lot! And she couldn't help but cry as Ratchet held her.

She looked at him, and he had dozens of mesh wounds, and several deeper wounds as some of the scraplets had already tried to go after the smaller bits first. Energon was seeping out of those wounds, but he wasn't as bad as her. Ratchet was looking at her with worry and he knew he needed the patch kit as she needed to have the wounds patched up to prevent further energon from leaving her body, but as Jack was able to get the scraplets off his body, he heard the sound of more flying into the lobby.

At the same time, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Miko and Raf walk into the lobby. The two bots looked like they also had a heap of mesh wounds on their bodies with energon bleeding from their wounds. Their wounds seem a little worse than Ratchet's, though this was likely because of the fact that Miko and Raf only had single weapons, and not an extinguisher like what Jack had. If she had the strength, Azura could try to replicate the extinguisher to eradicate the creatures through the whole base.

"Azura…" She looked up at Ratchet as he rolled over. He was weakened and he was intaking and exhaling heavily. He was looking at her with extreme concern. "I am so sorry…" He glanced up as the bots approach before looking back down. "Your injuries need attention as soon as we can."

Azura just nodded silently as she let out some sobs. "Ratchet, get the patch kit," Bulkhead said desperately, holding his arm as the injuries through and energon leaked onto the floor. "We're leaking energon like…WOAH!" He glanced up as soon as he spotted the next swarm of scraplets above them.

The scraplets began to dive towards them and Ratchet placed Azura underneath him suddenly. "Remain under me, it will be safer," Ratchet ordered, grimacing as the scraplets began to swarm his body again. "Argh, gah…oh, scrap!" He widened his optics as several scraplets fly under him and attempted to swarm Azura. She managed to hit two away, and shrieked loudly as one jumped onto her stomach and took a single bite through her stomach. "Oh, no you don't!" He swiped off the scraplets and slammed his fist on them. Jack resumed spraying the scraplets with the extinguisher as Ratchet stared at Azura. The scraplet had bitten a chunk out of Azura's stomach, and he could see her delicate, vulnerable systems within. "Scrap…"

"I'll make sure that they do not get her again," Jack promised as he continued to spray the scraplets. He was noticing how the scraplets behave when they notice Azura, and he targeted them more than the others. "I'll see if I can get the patch kit and bring it to you when we can!"

Ratchet just nodded as he kept his body over Azura. She weakly pushed herself against his leg and huddled against it as she trembled, watching as the scraplets were still swarming the bots. She screamed as she felt a bite on her arm and slammed the hammer on it. She couldn't help but sob and sob from fear, pain and just the shear need of wanting Optimus to be right by her side at this time. She needed him right there with her.

Ratchet himself felt very unhappy and angry with himself that Azura had been severely injured by these vermin. He made sure to smash whatever scraplets that tried to get near him, Azura's life was at stake now. He was happy that the children were actually destroying the scraplets. With the extinguisher and Miko and Raf hitting the scraplets, it seemed they were going to beat them. But Ratchet knew these weren't the last of the scraplets, and that was what was concerning him a lot.

Bumblebee and Bulkhead do their best to fight of the scraplets that were swarming them. Both of them fell onto their backs as the kids hit the scraplets from their body. Both Bulkhead and Bumblebee were determined to not let the scraplets win. They both had noticed that Azura had been swarmed, and they allowed themselves to be targeted to ensure she was safer, but it didn't always help. Several more scraplets went for Azura and she almost lost her right foot because of it, but Ratchet and Jack were doing their best

It took five minutes before the scraplets were all down. Raf and Miko were hitting several of the scraplets to make sure that they were indeed destroyed, and Jack was still spraying the scraplets on the ground. He was glad they got most of them, and turned as the bots managed to pull themselves up into a sitting position. He widened his eyes as he saw Azura. She had severe injuries, and energon was leaking from her body. She looked very weak as she dropped the hammer and pipe when Ratchet picked her up, and she seemed to be very limp.

"Ratchet…" Jack ran over to the medic with a worried expression. "Where's the patch kit? I know you, Bulkhead and Bumblebee need it, but I think Azura needs it more."

Ratchet groaned as he forced himself to sit up more with a grimace. "The patch kit is up on my desk…" He gestured towards his desk by the platforms. "You do not need to go to the medic bay at the moment." Jack nodded and ran to the stairs, placing the extinguisher down as he ran. "It might be a bit heavy, Jack, but if you can bring it here…" Ratchet paused as he gasped and punched one of the last few scraplets trying to go for Azura. "Frag these scraplets!"

Jack ran up the stairs as fast as he could and rushed over to Ratchet's desk. "What does the kit…" He paused before he saw a large case with a medical symbol on it. "I hope it is this case with the medical symbol on it."

"It is, bring it over quickly!" Ratchet ordered, looking down at Azura worryingly. She was struggling to keep herself alert and he opened the panel on his chassis. She turned her head when she noticed and frowned at him in confusion. "You need to drink the low-grade energon, Azura. You are bleeding too much, and you need to resupply your body. Or you will not make it."

Azura whimpered softly. She was not aware that her right leg was exposed as the membrane had been eaten through, along with her lower back, her leg arm and her right cheek. She looked at the fuel line as Ratchet placed the tip against her mouth. She tried lifting her arms, but she failed as they hurt while she tried to move them. "My arms hurt…my legs hurt…"

"I know, I know…" Ratchet clenched his optics shut as the fuel line filled with low-grade. Jack watched curiously as he ran down the stairs and ran over to him. "I am sorry you had to experience that. Now take a hold of the fuel line with your mouth and drink."

Azura wished Optimus was here, but she made sure to keep a good grip on the fuel line with her teeth and weakly began to drink the energon. She watched Jack bring over the large case and Ratchet grabbed it with his right hand, and opened it. He pulled out some strange tube and he opened the tip. When he squeezed and began to apply ointment to her exposed protoform, Azura whimpered suddenly as the lotion stung.

"Sorry, Azura, but this will help stop the energon from bleeding," Ratchet reassured her gently. "It shouldn't take long for you. I won't be able to see if I can repair the membrane on your body until I can get on my feet and bring you to the medic bay."

Azura listened to him and understood what he was saying, but she was still extremely uncomfortable. But once it was applied, Ratchet grabbed out bandages. These bandages were not made from cotton, but a material not found on Earth. He wrapped her leg, arm and around her stomach and back to ensure that the energon would not seep out. It made her feel better, but she still felt weak and awful.

Jack looked around at the scraplets with a frown. "I hope we got them all. Did we?" He glanced at the bots curiously before he tensed.

The bots and Azura all tense as they heard the sound of screwdrivers echoing through the base. Azura had hoped that there were no more scraplets, but there were still more, and she hated it. Ratchet grimaced with a groan. "Hardly…these were just scouts."

"Wonderful…just wonderful!" Bumblebee commented, laying back down with a grimace as he tried to rest and recover his strength.

Bulkhead grunted in pain at the very thought of more scraplets being in the base. "So the rest of them know we're in here?"

Ratchet nodded weakly. "And if we allow ourselves to become their next meal, Optimus and Arcee will never make it home. We must get the ground bridge operational." He glanced down at Azura and widened his optics slightly when he noticed her eyes closed. But Azura was still conscious, she had just closed her eyes and she was weakly drinking the energon. "It is imperative that we do not lose another sparkling to these vermin."

"I cannot imagine what it must have been like to feel like you failed protecting your offspring from these things," Jack commented gently as he gazed at Azura sympathetically. "I wish I could have done more."

"You and me both, Jack," Ratchet said in agreement. "But there is still something we must do. Get the ground bridge back online, and bring this sparkling's carrier home and proceed to the med bay."

Jack frowned a little when Optimus was referred to as Azura's carrier, but he said nothing as Raf spoke up. "Then we can send the scraplets anywhere on Earth."

The sixteen-year-old smiled slightly as he realized that was a good idea from Jack. "Why not back to the Arctic? We already know they don't do cold." He gestured to the extinguisher as he suggested the idea.

"Sweet!" Miko exclaimed with a big smile, also agreeing with the idea, even though her tone regarding it seemed to be a little annoying. "One stop shopping."

"Given the body mass of the scraplets, sub zero temperatures should freeze them on contact," Ratchet said thoughtfully as he listened to the idea given to him by the children. "So think, Ratchet, think!" Azura opened her eyes slightly, looking up at him as she listened quietly. "If the ground bridge is still down, there must be a breach in the energon fuel line."

"That's just great!" Bumblebee complained immediately, even though he simply laid back down at the very thought of going to fix the fuel line.

"Ugh…if we weren't breaching…" Bulkhead grunted, looking at Ratchet with a worried frown and gesturing to the energon running down his body from his wounds. "One of us could get back over there and fix it."

"Where do we find it?" Jack asked suddenly with a confident frown on his face. This surprised the autobots as the kids automatically were offering to help.

"And how do we fix it?" Raf added.

Ratchet was impressed by the bravery these children were showing. "I guess we no choice but to put the lives of autobots your hands." He groaned a little and rubbed the back of his neck. "You should be able to find a set of tools, including a welder, and sheets of metal on the top platform. Fowler had left some stuff here sometime ago. It should give you the necessary tools for the job." Jack nodded and proceeded to run back up the stairs to get the tools and metal. "As for the fuel line…" Ratchet points to the left. "You should be able to spot the pipe leading into the lobby in that hallway. It rises out of the ground and leads all the way back to the fuel processor. You'll need to follow it to locate the breach."

"Understood!" Raf said affirmatively as he and Miko ran over to the hallway. They stop and turn. "We will make sure we will get it fixed as soon as possible." He glanced at Azura and softened his gaze. "And…I-I hope it will not be too late."

Ratchet smiled kindly at the boy, appreciating his concern. Ratchet did not like how weak Azura felt in his hand. Her spark pulse was erratic, and she needed to have a heap of energon to replace what has been lost. She's lucky she hasn't already fallen into unconsciousness, as that would make her situation even more dire. He looked at Jack as the boy ran by, though he slowed down to give the medic a sympathetic expression. The two said nothing as Jack nodded and ran after the other two to fix the breach.

Ratchet could only hope that the breach was an easy fix, and not something that required the bots to fix it. It really was a terrible situation. But he had to remain here with Azura. Moving her to the med bay may not be ideal. He needed to check on the equipment, and she also needed to remain with them so that the scraplets could be distracted by the adult autobots and leave Azura alone. He was just glad that not all the scraplets noticed her. But given the scraplets there were dead on the ground were scouts, the others could go after her. And he was terrified of that idea.

He looked at the ground bridge tunnel, hoping that Optimus and Arcee were able to find shelter from the weather. He knew that Optimus was going to be feeling panic. While Optimus didn't normally express his feelings, the fact he could be freezing to death at this moment likely would make him emotional. Especially as Optimus and Azura have yet to fully bond properly, and now with Azura's systems exposed, he was considering the idea of Azura undergoing a process to ensure she has all of her systems, and strengthen the ones she currently has.

"At least you were able to help her, Ratchet," Bumblebee commented gently as he looked at Ratchet. The medic looked at the scout with a smile. "She's strong, stronger than any sparkling I know. But her life experience has made it that way."

"It most certainly has. For something so small, she is strong." Ratchet smiled at Azura as she gazed at him, and he noticed that the membrane over her optics had torn. "Oh, Azura, are your eyes irritating you?" She frowned and shook her head. "Alright, good. The membrane over your optics just tore, which means the rest of the membrane will follow within a week or two."

Azura didn't care right now. She glanced towards the tunnel, wondering how Optimus was. She had no way to communicate with him, and no way of knowing if he was even alive. She let out some more tears, sniffling and wanting to spit the fuel line out. But Ratchet held it and she knew he wanted her to keep drinking, even if she did feel too upset. She really did not feel like ingesting a heap of energon right now, despite it being necessary.

Bulkhead grunted again as he gazed at the ground bridge before looking back at Ratchet. "So if we get…" He paused as he realized what he was about to say, and quickly changed his words so he wouldn't scare Azura further. "When we get the ground bridge open, do we send the creepy crawlies out? Or bring our bots in?"

Azura glanced at Bulkhead weakly as she listened, also curious about how this would play out. "Optimus and Arcee will be fresh meat." She grimaced and whimpered softly as she listened. Ratchet rubbed her back gently as he continued to speak to Bulkhead. "If we bring them in first, the scraplets will have no reason to leave. We'll need bait."

The wrecker frowned as he didn't believe what he was hearing. "Where are we gonna get bait?! The scraplets already helped themselves to everything in here."

The girl whimpered some more and huddled against Ratchet, making him glance down at her. "Hush, Bulkhead. Please don't cause any further distress for Azura than she is already under." The wrecker sighed and kept quiet as he listened to him. "We will need to think of something if we are to bring our bots home. We are not going to allow them to make us their meals, and we are not losing any other bots today. I hope you understand."

"I do, Ratchet, I do. I just…" He glanced around the lobby in frustration and shrugged. "I don't see anything in here that we could even use as bait. And I hope you have an idea of what exactly we can use."

"Bulkhead, I am afraid it will need to be a bait that will entice them to follow. A metal beam or rod won't chase them out, one of us will." The wrecker widened his optics and hummed thoughtfully. Ratchet softened his expression and relaxed slightly. "It has to be done. I am afraid I cannot do it. I need to ensure Azura is well enough, and I need to have the strength to even help her once the scraplets are gone."

"Ugh…if I could even sit up properly, I might do it," Bumblebee said grumpily. He exhaled deeply and looked at Azura. "Hopefully Jack, Miko and Raf have found the energon breach by now. It has been about five minutes…"

Ratchet was also hoping that they had found the breach. The scraplets were currently leaving them alone, but he knew that they would swarm the lobby very soon and go after them. He made sure to keep her covered with his arm while she kept drinking the low-grade energon. He noticed some of the energon was spilling out of the sides of the line and running down her cheeks and chin, making him smile and slow the flow even further. She clearly wasn't feeling strong enough to drink it.

Another five minutes pass as the bots try to comfort Azura to make her feel better, but they soon hear the frightening sound of the scraplets swarming through the vents. They all glance at each other and Azura stopped drinking the low-grade, looking around with wide eyes and yelping as vent covers were smashed open as the scraplets fly into the lobby. She heard the crash of the vent covers falling to the ground, and Ratchet covered her with his hands, watching them fearfully while Bee stared as he trembled and Bulkhead pressed himself against the platforms to try and remain as hidden as possible.

"Ratchet!" Azura jumped when she heard Jack's voice. She turned her head slightly to see the three kids running back into the lobby. "All systems go!"

"Fire it up!" Miko screamed, glancing up at the scraplets and scooping up the metal pipe to use in case they had to.

Azura tensed as Ratchet forced himself to his feet. He held her against his chassis firmly with a groan. He managed to reach up to the ground bridge lever, and she stared at it hopefully. "Ground bridge…" He grunts as he was unstable on his feet. "Activate…" She yelped as he fell forward onto the ground, but he thankfully did not land right on her. "Sorry, Azura." She took deep breaths and gasped when she heard the bridge activate. She smiled a little when she saw the vortex open. "It works…thank the All Spark."

But even though the ground bridge was indeed on, the scraplets were still flying around above them. And they seemed to have chewed through one of the metal beams above as it fell and hit the ground hard, making Azura tense and the three kids jump back in surprise, widening their eyes as the base appeared to be falling apart. And this was not good at all. Azura hoped that Optimus and Arcee at least saw the vortex and were on their way to it.

Bulkhead forced himself to his feet and stumbled closer to the vortex. Azura watched him curiously as he turned and waved at the scraplets, getting their attention. "Ready for the main course?" She widened her eyes as she heard the screwdriver sounds from the scraplets and they sounded like they were diving. And this was confirmed as Bulkhead backed towards the bridge while Ratchet kept her underneath his chassis. "Come and get it!"

He turned and limped quickly into the vortex as the scraplets swarm towards him. Bumblebee tried to sit up, but Ratchet forced him to remain down while they watch Bulkhead use himself as bait to lure the scraplets into the vortex. And it seemed it was working as all of the scraplets flew through the vortex and disappeared, making Ratchet sigh in relief and move to sit up with a groan. Azura was staring at the vortex, ignoring the fuel line at this point. Ratchet stopped the flow as she was not drinking, and only making a mess and pulled the line away from her. He watched the vortex quietly as time ticked by.

Azura felt like it was hours that were going by. There was no sign of Optimus or Arcee walking through that vortex. Tears well in her eyes and she trembled, fearful that she was going to learn she would be an orphan today. She didn't know if she could handle that, even if Ratchet would likely be the one to step up and raise her. But as Bulkhead did not return yet, there was still hope, and she was clinging to that hope with all her might. And it would soon pay off.

Azura widened her eyes as Bulkhead walked through the vortex. In his arm, he carried Arcee who was covered in ice and she was extremely weakened. The femme looked ahead and saw the scraplet bodies all over the ground of the lobby, and a beam on the floor. Leaning on Bulkhead for support, was Optimus. He too was covered in ice, and he was weakened as well. However, that did not stop Optimus from gazing down at Ratchet and widening his optics when he saw the state of his daughter.

Ratchet smiled as he forced himself to stand as Optimus walked forward quickly, limping slightly as he got closer. "It is alright, Optimus. She is alive, I made sure of it."

Azura held out her hands towards Optimus desperately. "Y…You're alive!" She let out tears of joy and some sobs. "You're alive!" She broke down into sobs and Optimus reached out to take her. "Daddy…" Optimus froze and widened his optics, shocked that she finally called him dad. "I…I thought…I thought…"

Optimus glanced down at the kids in surprise and Jack smiled at him. "It is okay. Things were forced to be said today. We know she's your daughter. Go and take her if you can. I hope your body isn't too cold to take her."

Optimus looked at his hands as he knew that his body would be too cold. Azura looked up at him and he saw that the membrane covering her optics had split, and will likely fall off with a simple tug. "My daughter…Azura, I am so sorry." She frowned as she wanted him to hold her. "My body is too cold for you to touch me. But I promise I will hold you soon."

Azura's frown deepened, but she did not argue. Bulkhead helped Bee to his feet and they proceeded towards the med bay. "Let us all go and get check up," Ratchet said firmly before glancing down at Jack, Miko and Raf. "It would be very much appreciated if you three come and help. I am afraid I need to pay attention to Azura."

"We're on it!" Jack said affirmatively as they run towards the med bay to be there to help.

Optimus walked right beside Ratchet. He gazed around at the scraplets on the ground, and he could not believe it. He guessed the pod they found contained the scraplets within, and they were the reason why communications and ground bridge was down. And definitely the reason why Azura now had severe injuries. Optimus was so grateful to be alive. While he and Arcee were laying in that snow together, all his thoughts were on Azura. His spark hurt knowing that he could have perished, and she would have truly become an orphan.

Upon arriving in the med bay, Ratchet proceeded to place Azura onto a berth. She tried to get up, but she was too weak from the injures, and Ratchet had her lay down and not move. Optimus remained by the berth so she could see him. Ratchet instructed the children on what to do with Bulkhead, Bee and Arcee while he worked on Azura. He removed the bandages to inspect the injuries further. Especially the one on her stomach.

Optimus had a hard time watching this unfold. Seeing how damaged she was hurt him. He also saw that her vulnerable systems were almost chewed upon, and it seemed like the membrane covering her whole body seemed to be weakened. This meant it will fall off, but Ratchet felt that it should be removed fully now. He wouldn't be able to do anything to repair it now. Knowing this, Azura and Optimus allowed for Ratchet to put her under stasis so Ratchet could carefully remove the membrane around her protoform.

During this time, Jack, Miko and Raf got to see what Azura truly looked like. Miko and Raf had been sceptical, but after seeing her injuries and that she was drinking energon, they believed she was indeed Optimus's daughter. Or at least, someone's sparkling. It didn't take long for Ratchet to remove the weakened membrane. Underneath, her protoform was silver and her shoulders were somewhat wide compared to Optimus's shoulders.

Optimus noticed that there were some differences between himself and his daughter. She did possess his face structure, along with her chassis, but the silver wasn't his. Optimus's protoform was a dark silver, not a light silver. This would be similar to Megatron's protoform. At this point, Optimus had not considered the possibility of whose CNA would have been used with the device. But he also didn't like it. Even Ratchet commented on it, but they agreed to not think too far into it.

Ratchet did have to place a plain, silver covering over Azura's chassis, back and stomach as her systems needed to be covered. They both were just happy that her golden hair wasn't attached to the membrane. She still had it, and Optimus was thoroughly pleased. And Optimus wasn't aware, but Ratchet was planning on the procedure that would make Azura's life as an autobot much easier and ensure all of her systems were strong, and that she received new systems that were essential to her body.

When this was done, Ratchet checked Optimus's system before allowing him to hold Azura. Optimus begrudgingly listened to his friend as he wanted to hold his daughter. But he remained in the med bay as the kids were a big help to them, and he was glad that they were listening to Ratchet. Bulkhead was not on a berth anymore, he was simply sitting down at the moment. It was more comfortable for him than being on the berth. Arcee and Bee were on berths, hooked up to machines while they recover.

"Report bio circuitry status," Ratchet ordered as he gazed down at Jack who was typing on a laptop.

Jack turned his head to give the medic a thumbs up. "Levels are rising."

"Excellent." The medic smiled and looked at the other two. "Rafael, keep a close watch on Bumblebee's electro pulse monitor. Miko, check Bulkhead's interface patch."

"It's steady," Raf reported affirmatively.

Miko smiled and gave a thumbs up as well. "Looking good."

Ratchet was pleased things were going well. "Perhaps you should get some rest yourself, old friend," Optimus suggested gently. The medic turned his head and smiled at him, glancing down at the recharging sparkling in Optimus's arm. "You saved quite a few lives today."

"It…wasn't all my doing." He turned his head slowly, gazing down at the three humans as he was happy that they had been here today. "We're just fortunate that this infestation on a Saturday." He sighed deeply as his expression softened some more. "Things could have turned out very differently otherwise."

Optimus nodded in agreement. "Our human friends maybe small, but they are strong."

Both Optimus and Ratchet were startled by a sudden, loud scream from Miko. They did not see what had startled her, and both Raf and Jack grab a metal pipe each. "Another scraplet?!" Jack asked, glancing around with a frown.

"SPIDER!" Miko screamed, making both boys look at the girl in irritation. "Is it on me?!" She turned and ran away while checking her body for the arachnid.

Ratchet raised an eyebrow and glanced at Optimus in amusement while Bulkhead leaned slightly, watching Miko run away. "Did she just scream like a little girl?"

Optimus just hummed in amusement and looked down at Azura. He knew when she would wake up, she was going to have to learn to accept that she could no longer look like a human. He felt awful for her, having been through a lot. But there was little choice. He was just glad he was back. And he was not going to waste another chance to get close with his daughter. He loved her too much. And she finally acknowledged him properly as her father, and that made his spark surge with happiness. He kissed her forehead gently and Ratchet checked her energon levels before Optimus was allowed to leave the med bay to take Azura to her room where she would be more comfortable. At least, he hoped.