(Please see all previous disclaimers)
Aquaformer was still out cold as Ratchet and the others who had infiltrated the con base took her back to the Autobot base. Ratchet could only hope two things – that Optimus could keep Megatron busy until Aquaformer was safely back at the base and ratchet hoped he could save her. Otherwise, Ratchet knew the whole little family would be lost.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Optimus and the other Autobots were fighting hard against Megatron and his foul Decepticons. Optimus was worried, but he refused to let it show. He knew it would do no good for his processor to be elsewhere as he knew if he went, she would likely go as well, killing the developing little ones inside her.
"Your aim is pathetic, Prime" Megatron bellowed as he attacked the Prime.
"And you couldn't hit the broad side of Cybertron" Optimus responded, blasting his foul nemesis. Megatron cursed as he was hit, but then suddenly cursed louder. Optimus wasn't sure what happened, but Optimus kept firing until Megatron finally fled in defeat. Optimus had planned to destroy the con leader, but a sudden comm made Optimus change his mind.
"Ratchet to Prime, come in Prime" Ratchet said over the comm.
"Prime here, go ahead, Ratchet" Optimus answered, hoping to hear good news.
"Aquaformer has been rescued and is now back at base" Ratchet replied, his voice indicating this wasn't completely good news.
"We will head back to base, but I expect you to tell me more when we get back" Optimus replied before ending the comm. He didn't like the tone of Ratchet's voice, as it indicated more was wrong than was being said. "Alright, bots, back to base" Optimus said to all the bots and they headed back to base, each hoping that Aquaformer was okay. True, she could be a difficult bot to deal with, but they had grown to think of her as one of them, even if they didn't say it.
It didn't take long for Optimus and company to return to the Autobot base where Ratchet was working hard to try and save Aquaformer. And while the others headed to other places, Optimus headed towards the med bay. He knew that him still being online was good, but something didn't feel right. He just hoped he wasn't too late.
Ratchet didn't see the Prime enter as the medic was busy hooking up energon drips and checking on things, hoping to find a way to save Aquaformer and her precious sparklings. Optimus could see what Ratchet hadn't said over the comm but had indicated by his tone. "How is she, Ratchet?" Optimus asked, needing to know.
Ratchet sighed. "I am not sure if I can save her. But maybe now that you are, you can help save her"
Optimus was caught off guard by that, but wanted to help. "What can I do? I am no medic."
"I need you to release your spark. Yours is needed to strengthen hers" Ratchet replied. He figured it was the only way to save Aquaformer at this point.
Optimus, thinking back about how Aquaformer has saved him, quickly released his spark, hoping it would call out hers and strengthen hers by bonding with it. Ratchet was hoping the same thing, it was all they could do for now.