In the Autobot base.
Ratchet was currently examining a green metallic substance through a microscope.
"Hmm. Surprisingly stable." Ratchet said to himself.
"Hey, Ratchet." Vee greeted as she and Hunter were watching the Autobot medic from the platform. "Is that Synthetic Energon?"
"Well, yes. In fact, I'm preparing to test a sample." Ratchet replied, loading a tube of green liquid into an injector. "I can see that neither of you are wearing safety goggles, but I'll make an exception."
"We're allowed to watch?" Hunter asked with a smile, earning a chuckle from Ratchet.
"We just add some to this test engine." Ratchet told them before injecting the Synthetic Energon into a Cybertronian engine.
The engine began powering up and it's light-blue lightings changed to green before it became fully active, much to Hunter and Vee's amazement.
"It works!" Vee remarked. "Hey, Jazz! Come and take a look!"
"Dat dat dat, this iteration of the formula requires further trial before we can even think about using it for fuel, ammunition or first-aid." Ratchet explained. "Which is rather unfortunate since our own Energon reserves are at an all-time low. Our severely outnumbered warriors have been rapidly burning through our stockpile of late, as the Decepticon army continues to run us ragged and grind us down. Natural Energon is in such short supply on this world, and Megatron seems to have his oily claws buried deep in all it's deposits. But, if we can successfully produce a Synthetic form, we can manufacture all the energy we'll ever need."
Just then, everyone heard a beeping noise and the other Autobots approached the main console to see what was going on.
"More Energon on the move." Arcee said.
"Again?" Bulkhead asked in complaint.
"That's gotta be the fourth one this week." Jazz admitted.
"Their recent activity suggests a familiar pattern. The Decepticons are desperately scouting for new deposits to mine." Optimus theorised. "Autobots…"
"Optimus." Ratchet said, approaching his leader. "If one of you comes back wounded this time… well, our Energon reserves are nearly depleted."
"Understood, Ratchet." Optimus replied with a nod. "Activate the Ground Bridge."
Ratchet then approached the controls and turned on the Ground Bridge.
"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered before he and the other Bots transformed and drove into the Ground Bridge, while Ratchet sighed to himself.
"Sometimes… I wish I could do more." Ratchet said depressingly, until he came up with a pretty bad idea that could work.
He then grabbed the injector that was holding the can of Synthetic Energon and took a small look at it before injecting the green liquid into his arm. As Ratchet's eyes began to glow green, he suddenly dropped the injector and the grass shattered on the floor before the Autobot medic fell back in an unconscious state.
"Ratchet! Wake up!" Vee's voice called out as Ratchet could see nothing but darkness right now.
"Come on! Say something!" Hunter's voice stated.
Ratchet groaned as his green eyes began to open and he saw Hunter and Vee standing ontop of him. When they saw he had woken up, Hunter and Vee quickly jumped off Ratchet.
"How is it that such small beings can be so loud?" Ratchet questioned, standing up.
"You fell down and weren't responding." Vee told him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm… more than fine." Ratchet said while checking his arms before he looked at a vital screen on his right arm. "Huh, energy efficiency is up by thirty percent? Motor functions optimal? Haha. Any word from the others?"
"Not yet. They've been gone for about fifteen minutes, now." Hunter said.
Elsewhere
the moon was shining down on a deep rock canyon as Knock Out, Breakdown and Wildrider were driving through the path with Team Prime hot on their tails. The reason for this was because Breakdown had an Energon cube strapped to the top of his vehicle mode.
"Knock Out! Wildrider! Can't we just Bridge out of here?!" Breakdown questioned desperately. "This cube is putting some serious drag on me!"
"Don't ask me! Knock Out's the one in charge, here!" Wildrider retorted.
"The more we give the Autobots a workout, the more fuel they burn and we win the Energon race." Knock Out explained before noticing a squadron of Vehicons led by two familiar Seekers started flying above the Autobots. "Besides, here comes air support."
"Alright, boys, open fire!" Thundercracker ordered before he, Skywarp and the Vehicons fired a huge wave of missiles.
The Autobots quickly drove to the sides and avoided the missiles, but they all hit the canyon walls and caused a massive explosion that made a bunch of huge rocks collapse down. Knock Out, Breakdown and Wildrider managed to drive past the collapsing rocks before they could fall on them, while Arcee increased her driving speed and rode up a large boulder before transforming. The female Autobot skilfully jumped from boulder to boulder in midair and transformed again, driving down a rock slope and landing back on the ground. The other Autobots immediately transformed and skidded across the ground before stopping in front of the rock wall before they noticed Thundercracker, Skywarp and the Vehicons flying over the wall to pursue Arcee.
"That's not good." Cliffjumper said in concern.
"Arcee, fall back!" Optimus ordered on his com-link. "You're outnumbered!"
"We're always outnumbered, Optimus! We need that Energon!" Arcee protested as she kept chasing the Cons.
"She's gonna get herself fragged!" Jazz scowled.
"Ratchet, lock onto Arcee's coordinates and prepare an emergency Ground Bridge." Optimus instructed.
Back at base
"I'm locked on." Ratchet replied while activating the Ground Bridge controls. "Arcee, decelerate and prepare to return to base."
"Save it, Ratchet! I'm too close!" Arcee stated.
"Don't be a fool!" Ratchet demanded.
with the others
As Arcee kept chasing Knock Out, Breakdown and Wildrider, Thundercracker and Skywarp were right behind her with their Vehicon squadron in tow.
"Looks like we've got easy pickings, now." Skywarp snickered.
"Blast her!" Thundercracker called out.
The two Seekers and the Vehicons fired another barrage of missiles straight at Arcee, who saw them coming and began steering around the path to avoid them. But then, some of the explosions managed to hit her and Arcee immediately transformed before crashing across the path, laying down in an injured condition.
At the base.
Ratchet saw Arcee's condition on the main screen.
"She's hurt." Ratchet said before activating the Ground Bridge and turning his attention to Hunter and Vee. "Man the Ground Bridge."
"What're you going to do?" Vee asked.
"What I must." Ratchet answered, transforming and driving into the Ground Bridge as the young Witch boy and the Basilisk were left surprised.
With arcee
Arcee sat up weakly as she saw Thundercracker, Skywarp and the Vehicons transform and land around her, surrounding the female Autobot.
"You should really listen to your commanders, two-wheeler." Skywarp said with a smirk as he and the others approached Arcee.
"One of you can have the honours. She's not worth out time." Thundercracker told the Vehicons.
One of them approached Arcee and aimed his weapon at her, but then a Ground Bridge appeared in the air and driving out of it was Ratchet. He transformed and brought out both his blades before landing on the ground, leaving a dust cloud in his position. Ratchet suddenly tossed a Vehicon at another one and then kicking him away, while other Vehicons fired their blasters at him.
"Is that the Autobot medic?!" Skywarp asked in surprise. "Where did he learn that move?!"
"Who cares?! Just attack him!" Thundercracker ordered, launching a missile at Ratchet.
Ratchet immediately saw the projectile and leaped over it before landing a kick on Thundercracker, making him fall to the ground. Skywarp used his teleportation ability to get behind Ratchet and he attempted to strike him with his claws, only got the Autobot medic to swiftly move out of the way and elbow the purple Seeker in the face, making him fall down. The other Vehicons tried to hit Ratchet with their blasters, but he proved to be far too formidable as he began punching, kicking and slicing them apart as if he was an entirely new Bot.
"Ratchet?" Arcee asked quietly, watching the Autobot medic take down the Cons as if they were malfunctioning probes.
As Ratchet was taking down Vehicons with spinning kicks and swift blade slices, Knock Out, Breakdown and Wildrider drove up to the scene.
"Looks like the Autobots brought in a ringer." Knock Out said.
"And he's already taken out Thundercracker and Skywarp." Wildrider added.
"Well, then I'll ring his bell." Breakdown replied as he prepared to get involved in the battle.
But then, some blasters shots began raining down in front of them and they saw the Autobots climbing down from the rock wall.
"It'll have to wait!" Knock Out stated before he and his teammates drove away.
When Ratchet knocked down a Vehicon and kicked his head off, he used his blade to slice up another one and kicked him and a second Vehicon multiple times, making them fall down. Thundercracker and Skywarp groaned painfully as they both stood up and saw their last Vehicon troop get grabbed and broken apart by Ratchet, now knowing that he was too much for them.
"Forget this! I need to stay finding safer jobs to do!" Skywarp exclaimed before he transformed and flew away.
"Wait for me, coward!" Thundercracker called out, doing the same thing as his partner.
Bumblebee and Cliffjumper helped Arcee back on her feet before they and the others turned to Ratchet, who was standing over a pile of destroyed Vehicons.
"Okay… what just happened?" Jazz asked, very shocked by what he was currently witnessing.
One remaining Vehicon snuck up behind Ratchet, only for the Autobot medic to knock him down without even looking.
"Hooah." Ratchet said with a proud smile.
later
Hunter and Vee saw Team Prime walking back into the base from the Ground Bridge.
"What happened?" Hunter asked.
"I only saw the gory aftermath, but I hear the Doc was a one-Bot wrecking machine." Wheeljack explained, impressed.
Ratchet then hoisted Hunter and Vee in his hand, making them yelp in surprise.
"Hey there, kiddos." Ratchet greeted with a laugh settling them down.
"Well, that was a bit unexpected." Vee admitted, earning a nod from Hunter.
"Alright, what's your secret?" Cliffjumper questioned.
"No secret. Just a little something I like to call… Synth-En." Ratchet answered, grabbing a container of Synthetic Energon and tossing it to Arcee.
"From the data Bulkhead transcribed?" Arcee asked as she handed the canister to Bumblebee. "I thought the formula was-"
"Incomplete? Ha, not anymore." Ratchet said.
"I can't believe something like this made you into a warrior." Bumblebee admitted, giving the Synth-En canister to Bulkhead.
"So Ratchet makes a better tough guy than I do a smart guy?" Bulkhead asked before he gave the canister to Optimus.
"Ratchet, I question the wisdom of using yourself as a test subject." Optimus admitted.
"Optimus, you didn't see Ratchet out there. He was in overdrive." Arcee told him.
"Maybe we should all try this stuff?" Jazz suggested.
"Or give Ratchet more so we can take a vacation." Cliffjumper added.
"I agree that the initial results seem promising, but I recommend that further testing be confined to machines, not Autobots." Optimus said, approaching Ratchet. "Outnumbered though we may be, old friend, we need a warrior in the laboratory right now, more than we need another in the field."
later
Bulkhead and Ratchet were seen in a large training room.
"And then, he came right at me. And I… well, come on, Bulkhead. Come at me." Ratchet said eagerly.
"I don't wanna hurt you, Ratch." Bulkhead admitted, only for Ratchet to suddenly slap him in the face.
"I said come at me." Ratchet replied as he got into a fighting stance.
Now agitated, Bulkhead pulled out his wrecking ball and swung it at Ratchet, who immediately dodged it and tossed Bulkhead away. The dark-green Wrecker ended up crashing through the wall and landed in the main halls, laying upside down.
"Hooah." Ratchet said as Arcee,chrioma,drift,blurr,hot rod,Bumblebee, Cliffjumper,Wheeljack and Jazz arrived at the scene.
"What was that?!" Arcee questioned in shock, earning a groan from Bulkhead.
"You have competition, Bulk. I'm a bit stronger than I used to be. Also, a bit faster." Ratchet boasted as he walked out the hole and thrusted his fist at the other Bots, chuckling. "Think you can take me, muscle cars?"
"No thanks, Ratchet." Cliffjumper answered.
"Yeah, we're okay." Bumblebee said worriedly.
agreed blurr said.
Same hot rod said.
I'm good drift.
"I'm not really in the mood, Doc." Wheeljack added.
"I second that." Jazz said in agreement.
"Wimps." Ratchet said as he walked passed Arcee and chromia giving them a wink. "How's it humming?"
"Did he just…" Arcee asked, feeling a bit weirded out right now.
"It's like that Synth-En stuff turned him into a whole new Bot." Cliffjumper commented. "I barely recognise him."
something feels wrong drift said.
"Stronger, faster, studlier." Bulkhead said as he recovered from his crash.
Ratchet soon opened a door to a nearby vault and found another injector containing a tube of Synthetic Energon.
"I need to be at the top of my game. Our survival depends upon it." Ratchet said to himself before injecting the Synth-En into himself, causing his green eyes to glow brighter.
At the main room
Team Prime saw the main console was beeping again to show that another Energon signal had been found.
"Looks like the Cons just hit another vein." Jazz said.
"Autobots, roll out." Optimus ordered, preparing to head off on their next mission.
"Hey hey, shouldn't we wait for our secret weapon?" Bulkhead questioned.
"Yeah, we could definitely use the new and improved Ratchet for this." Wheeljack admitted with his arms crossed.
"This mission is unlikely to require medical expertise." Optimus replied.
"But you never know if it may require additional firepower." Ratchet said as he was shown to be leaning against the entrance and walked up to the group. "Bumblebee can handle Ground Bridge duty."
"Really? Why me?" Bumblebee asked in disappointment.
"Don't worry, Bee. You'll be fine." Cliffjumper reassured.
"Time to put some hurt on those Decepticons." Ratchet said determinedly.
later
Team Prime arrived at the location in a desert wasteland, where Ratchet began sprinting down a mountain with the other Bots close behind him. The Autobot medic was showing off his brand new agility by skilfully leaping from rock to rock, while Optimus, Arcee,chromia,drift,hot rod,blurr,Bulkhead,Cliffjumper, Wheeljack and Jazz simply ran after him in a straight line.
"Man, I can barely keep up with him, now." Wheeljack sighed.
"I'm actually starting to miss the old Ratchet." Jazz replied.
The Autobots soon took cover behind some boulders and they saw a bunch of Vehicons standing near a cliff wall, where a Vehicon miner was using a drill to pierce through it.
"Ugh, signal's weak." Bulkhead muttered while holding a scanner device. "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 seems as desperate to find the stuff as we are." Arcee joked.
"Still, it's not like he's just gonna share any of it with us." Cliffjumper reminded.
"Do you three always talk this much during these missions?" Ratchet asked annoyingly before he jumped over his rock and transformed, driving down the hill as the others quickly followed.
"Autobots!" A Vehicon exclaimed as he quickly spotted Ratchet.
The Vehicons began shooting their blasters at Ratchet, who drove right around them with ease and then rammed into one of the Vehicons before transforming and landing on him.
"It's alright. I'm an emergency vehicle." Ratchet said, bringing out his blades and engaging his enemies.
The rest of the Autobots soon arrived and they brought out their blasters, shooting down numerous Vehicons in the blink of an eye. As Ratchet managed to take down another one, he quickly saw the Vehicon miner jumping off his drilling machine and climbing up the mountain in an attempt to escape. The miner quickly reached the top and started running away, but Ratchet soon climbed up as well and grabbed a nearby boulder before tossing it with his enhanced strength. The boulder hit the miner on his head and he collapsed down for a bit before attempting to get back up, only for Ratchet to suddenly pin him down with his foot.
"Why the big rush?" Ratchet asked with a glare.
"Just trying to get away as far as I can from the Autobot stink." The Vehicon miner said insultingly.
"Does your boss know you have a potty mouth? Maybe I should pay him a visit and tell him." Ratchet said.
"Get melted, wheel grinder!" The Vehicon miner stated in anger.
"Melted? Now there's a concept." Ratchet commented before he shifted his hand into a blowtorch, intending to use it for something bad. "I won't ask you a second time. Where. Is. Megatron?"
Down bellow the cliff, the rest of Team Prime had destroyed the rest of the Vehicons, until they all heard a scream of pain coming from above and they all climbed up the cliff to see what was going on.
"That's all I know! Really!" A voice yelled beggingly.
Once they reached the top, the Optimus and the other Bots were horrified to see Ratchet torturing the helpless Vehicon miner by burning his face with the blowtorch, causing him to groan in agony.
"Now, was that so difficult?" Ratchet questioned before switching his blowtorch to his blade with the intent to finish him off, only for Optimus to immediately grab his arm.
"Ratchet! What are you doing?" Optimus demanded as the Vehicon miner quickly ran away for his life.
"Getting results." Ratchet answered firmly, moving his hand away.
"And breaking protocol. That was a Decepticon miner." Optimus told him. "Servant class, not warrior class."
"Oh, and let me guess. I'm just the medic." Ratchet retorted.
ratchet that was dishonorable drift said.
"Autobots do not inflict harm unless all other options have been exhausted." Optimus said. "It is what separates us from the Decepticons."
"Ha! Is this really the time for another lecture, Optimus?" Ratchet asked with a scoff. "You didn't happen to discover Megatron's current location, did you? Well, I did! And do you happen to know where there's a stockpile of raw Energon right for the taking? I do!"
"Come on, Ratchet. Calm down." Bulkhead replied as he placed his hand on the Autobot medic's shoulder.
"Calm is the last thing we need! Calm is what lost is Cybertron!" Ratchet stated aggressively, taking his hand off him. "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 and lead to incalculable losses. I will not endanger innocent human lives." Optimus proclaimed.
"Yet you seem to have no problem endangering ours." Ratchet argued. "Just ask iron hide. Oh, I forgot, he couldn't be here today!"
"that's it." Arcee growled as she was about to attack ratchet but both her arms was by bulkhead.
"You know your problem, 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!" Ratchet berated.
Optimus knew that Ratchet wasn't acting like himself, but those words still hurt him as he closed his eyes for a bit.
"I'm afraid that the Synthetic Energon has impaired your judgement, old friend. I am confining you to base until further notice." Optimus declared firmly. "Bumblebee, Bridge us back."
A Ground Bridge then appeared as Arcee, Bulkhead, Cliffjumper, Wheeljack and Jazz gave Ratchet a bunch of stern frowns to show that they won't hesitate to beat some sense into him, causing the Autobot medic to sigh begrudgingly.
"Fine." He said before walking into the Ground Bridge.
Bulkhead then began approaching the Ground Bridge to enter it next, only for Ratchet to suddenly sprint out of it at the last second and toss the dark-green Wrecker away. As the others quickly checked on Bulkhead, they all saw Ratchet transforming and driving away before any of them could try to stop him.
"Okay, that's definitely not the Ratchet we know." Cliffjumper muttered in concern.
In the base
the Ground Bridge was reactivated and Team Prime immediately drove out of it before transforming. Arcee approached the main console and started scanning for Ratchet's signal.
"Can you find him, Cee?" Jazz asked.
"No. I can't get a fix on Ratchet's coordinates." Arcee answered.
"That bogus Energon must be scrambling his signal." Wheeljack said.
"Keep trying. We've got to find Ratchet before he finds Megatron." Optimus told his team.
Meanwhile in a Decepticon Energon mine
many Vehicon drones were drilling for some Energon crystals and loading them onto the Nemesis' lift for transportation. Breakdown was seen walking alongside a Vehicon for a little discussion.
"Yeah, she's kinda domineering and the extra arms are weird, but I find myself intrigued by her." Breakdown explained, referring to a certain female Spider Con.
But then, the muscular Decepticon heard a distant whistle calling out to him and he looked ahead to see Ratchet showing up through the main entrance. The Vehicon aimed his blaster at Ratchet, but Breakdown held up his arm as a signal to stand down.
"I was wondering when you'd might show." Breakdown said, smiling eagerly for a good fight.
Ratchet smirked back at him as his optics confined to glow green.
in another part of the mine.
Megatron was in the middle of a stern conversation with Knock Out.
"You call yourself a scientist? You were supposed to have located a fresh Energon source by now." Megatron scolded frustratingly.
"Apologies, Lord Megatron. We got a little distracted by the new Autobot who attacked us." Knock Out said.
Before Megatron could reply, he and Knock Out heard some approaching footsteps and they both turned to see Wildrider carrying the injured Vehicon miner from earlier by his arm towards them, his face still showing the burnt mark that Ratchet left.
"Uh, what happened to him?" Knock Out asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I found this guy like this outside the mine, Lord Megatron." Wildrider told his leader. "He said he's the only survive of that scout team we sent out earlier."
"I-it was that new Autobot! He's crazy, master!" The Vehicon master stated worriedly. "He nearly burned my face off! It's not going to be long before he shows up here!"
"Really? And what new Autobot would that be?" Megatron questioned.
Suddenly, he began hearing some metallic limping nearby and he turned around to see Breakdown approaching, only for the muscular Decepticon to then collapse with a painful groan. Ratchet then showed up behind Breakdown, making it clear that he was the one who took him down.
"Hooah." Ratchet said confidently.
"Well, uhh…" Knock Out stuttered in nervousness while backing away.
"Him! It's him!" The Vehicon miner exclaimed fearfully, getting behind Wildrider for protection.
"That is your fearsome new adversary?" Megatron asked in disbelief before laughing. "He's Optimus Prime's medic."
"Oh no, Megatron. I am your doctor of doom." Ratchet replied before he rushed forward and punched Megatron in the face, making him crash into the wall.
When Megatron recovered, he touched his mouth and saw some Dark Energon leaking from it.
"Alright then…" Megatron said with a glare.
"For Cybertr-" Ratchet attempted to punch Megatron again, only for the Decepticon leader to suddenly grab his fist and twist his arm, making him shout in pain.
"Ratchet is rather more spirited than I recollect." Megatron admitted.
"Chemical enhancement, perhaps?" Knock Out guessed.
"May I have the honour, master?" Wildrider asked as he brought out one of his wrist blades.
Megatron nodded to him in response and Wildrider smirked at Ratchet before thrusting his blade into the side of his chest, causing the Autobot medic to gasp painfully.
"Even when you're amped up, you're still the weakest Bot." Wildrider mocked before pulling out blade away.
Ratchet looked at his wound to see a bunch of Synthetic Energon leaking out before Megatron tossed him to the ground.
"There's your laboratory sample, doctor. Find out." Megatron said to Knock Out, walking over Ratchet and taking his leave. "If a chemical can do this for Optimus Prime's lapdog, heheheh, imagine what it could do for our troops."
"I'll leave you to get your little samples, Knocks." Wildrider told his teammate before approaching the Vehicon miner, who was now calmer from seeing Ratchet's injured state. "Don't worry, he's not gonna try to kill you anymore."
"I hope not." The miner said before he and Wildrider followed Megatron to the exit.
Ratchet groaned in pain as his eyes turned back to their original blue colour.
"Optimus… I've been a fool." Ratchet whispered, laying in a pool of Synth-En.
At the Autobot base.
Ratchet's signal appeared on the main screen and Team Prime noticed this.
"Optimus, Ratchet's signal. It's back online." Cliffjumper informed.
"Bumblebee, activate the Ground Bridge." Optimus ordered.
"Sure thing." Bumblebee replied before he pulled on the Ground Bridge controls, making the green vortex appear.
"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus stated.
He, Arcee, Bulkhead, Cliffjumper, Wheeljack and Jazz transformed and drove their way into the Ground Bridge before arriving out the other end. They were immediately met by a bunch of blaster shots from some Vehicons and they transformed again, firing their blasters at all of their enemies while making their way towards Ratchet.
at the same time
Knock Out had successfully gained some Synthetic Energon from Ratchet and was holding it in a container.
"Doctor to doctor, I must say your contribution to the Decepticon cause is very much appreciated. I'll be sure to boast of your accomplishment when you're gone." Knock Out said with a smirk before bringing out his buzz saw blade, slowly lowering to Ratchet's face. "Which will happen in three, two, one…"
But then, a loud explosion was heard nearby and Knock Out realised that the other Autobots were in the mine.
"Scrap." Knock Out scowled before Ratchet immediately kicked him away, making him drop the Synth-En container in the process.
Knock Out got back up and rammed Ratchet into the cave wall, causing both of them to hold each other back as the Decepticon doctor's buzz saw was only a few inches away from Ratchet's face.
at the same time
Team Prime made it into the tunnel and they shot down the remaining Vehicons that stood in their way.
"Just hang on a little longer, Ratch." Jazz said as they all raced down the tunnels.
meanwhile
Ratchet and Knock Out kept struggling with each other, while the buzz saw was able to make contact with the Autobot medic and scratch his head a little bit. Even in his injured state, Ratchet managed to muster enough energy to head-butt Knock Out away. Knock Out attempted to strike Ratchet with his buzz saw, only for him to quickly avoid it and get the blade stuck in the wall. As Knock Out struggled to free himself, Ratchet limped towards the container of Synthetic Energon and picked it up before hearing Knock Out laugh.
"What are you going to do? Drink it?" Knock Out questioned.
Ratchet placed his free hand on the blade wound that Wildrider left, knowing what was the cause of it and he didn't want to make the same mistake twice.
"No. I'm going to destroy it." Ratchet said before tossing the container into the wall, making it shatter apart as Knock Out pulled his buzz saw out.
"You idiot! Megatron will have my head!" Knock Out yelled.
Having used up all his strength, Ratchet collapsed on the floor and didn't show any conscious signs. Knock Out then saw the Autobots arriving and he quickly transformed before driving away through the tunnels. Optimus and the others approached Ratchet and kneeled down to him, knowing that he needed immediate medical help.
A few minutes later
everyone arrived back at base as Ratchet was seen laying on a medical table with a cable connected to his blade wound. He soon woke up and attempted to sit up, only for Optimus to place a hand on him.
"Easy, old friend. You've lost a lot of Energon, good and bad." Optimus told him.
"I… I didn't intend to hurt anyone." Ratchet apologised. "I just wanted so badly to…"
"Help us. We know." Optimus replied. "But you nearly caused the loss of something irreplaceable. Our medic and a most trusted friend."
Hearing this lifted Ratchet's spirit a bit, happy to know that the Autobots still see him as a good team member.
"You did lead us to a much-needed Energon supply." Optimus said, gesturing to Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Cliffjumper and Wheeljack hauling in a lot of Energon cubes. "And for that, we should all be thankful."
"The Synthetic Energon formula clearly needs refining before it can be tested, again." Ratchet admitted. "On machines, not Autobots."
"Let us take comfort in the fact that you were able to dispose of the quantity that remained." Optimus said assuringly.
back at mine
However, in the Decepticon Energon mine, the shattered container was shown to have a little bit of Synthetic Energon dripping from it before Knock Out reappeared and saw the remaining sample, which was more than enough for him to recreate the Synth-En for later use.