(Please see all previous disclaimers)
Still back in the past, after what seemed like many hours, Optimus watched as Ratchet repaired the young femme. Granted, she looked more mech like than femme like but she was still a bot and didn't deserve to be treated like this. Ratchet worked hard to repair the femme. Soon enough, she came to. And while she recognized Ratchet, she was terrified of the unknown mech and began to flash in and out of visibility. Ratchet was a bit caught off guard, but realized she was scared. "Aquaformer, this is my friend, Optimus. He won't hurt you." Ratchet tried to reassure the scared young femme.
Aquaformer trusted the medic, but still was extremely nervous. Every mech she had ever met so far, with the exception of Ratchet had either hated her or hurt her badly and so she carefully moved away. Optimus didn't like seeing this. "Aquaformer , is this the first time someone hurt you?" Optimus asked carefully. Aquaformer shook her head no. "Was it the same bot who hurt you this time?" Aquaformer didn't respond, as she felt like she couldn't trust anyone to take her side.
"Aquaformer, Optimus is trying to help. Please, talk to him" Ratchet encouraged, though he knew he could no more force her than Optimus could.
Aquaformer was hesitant, not really trusting other mechs. "I can't say" she finally answered. She was still scared.
"And why is that?" Optimus asked, concerned. He didn't like where this was headed.
"Because if I answer and it becomes known, I'm as good as dead. No one cares about a beaten up femme who looks more like a mech than a femme. And I'd rather remain online" Aquaformer answered, unknowingly telling the two mechs more than she realized. She basically told them her life had had been threatened if she told and had been told no one would believe her anyway. It was not obvious, but Optimus saw red at that. No bot deserved to be treated like that.
"Hang in there, Aquaformer. I feel that Primus has wonderful plans for you" Optimus offered up, trying to encourage the broken femme.
"Primus is the only reason I haven't ended this suffering myself" Aquaformer answered honestly. He faith kept her going even when she wanted to quit.
"Ended it yourself?" Optimus asked, hoping she didn't mean what he thought she meant.
"Yeah, but offlining would mean they win, and I can't allow that" Aquaformer stated, showing just the slightest bit of her determined personality. Ratchet was stunned, as he had never gotten this much out of the young femme.
"Don't give up, Aquaformer. I have a feeling that you will find what you seek, just maybe not in the place you think" Optimus offered up, wanting to hug the young femme but was pretty sure she was too skittish.
Aquaformer finally smiled as what Optimus had given her hope. "Alright, Optimus, sir. I won't give up" Aquaformer offered up and it was the last thing Optimus heard as he was pulled back into his correct time. Only now did Optimus realize that his mate was more tortured as a young bot than most bots knew. And Optimus knew what he now needed to do – go to the brig and show that he loved and accepted his mate just as she was. And Stealth would have a heavy price to pay, but that could wait for now. Optimus headed to the brig, hoping that his mate was still there and ready to talk. Only time would tell.