Ratchet studied the first batch of the new Synthetic Energon. The atomic bonding process was truly impressive. "Hmm, surprisingly stable." He muttered. "Hey, Ratchy, is that Synthetic Energon thingy?" Anna asked. "Well, yes. In fact, I'm preparing to test the sample." Ratchet said, and attached the green Energon filled container to a large syringe.
"Can I watch?" Anna asked with puppy dog eyes. "Haha. We just add some to this test engine." Ratchet said and filled a machine with the Synthetic Energon. The blue lights turned to green, and before they knew it, the machine was running perfectly.
"It works! Cyclonus, Chromia! Come check this out!" Anna squealed. "Uh-uh! This iteration of the formula requires further trial before we can even think about using it for fuel, ammunition, or first aid. Which is rather unfortunate since our own Energon reserves are at an all-time low." Ratchet stopped her.
"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 planet. It's doubtful that Energon would be in your unreachable dimension as well. And Megatron seems to have his oily claws buried deep in all the Earth's deposits. Especially since Elsa told us he used Dark Energon to gain her magic. But if we can successfully produce a synthetic form, we can manufacture all the energy we'll ever need." He explained. "Do you think it could help Jetfire, too?" Anna asked. "Maybe. But Jetfire was the only one to be in stasis for eons while fully conscious. His mind may not be repairable ever again. Especially since he was also exposed to a chemical called Tox-En." Ratchet explained. "What's Toxin?" Anna asked. "'Tox-En'. It is a vial form of Energon that, in theory, can even overcome Dark Energon and kill whatever Cybertronian that uses it." Ratchet said. "Does that mean Elsa could be harmed?" Anna asked, scared. "No. Despite the Dark Energon that flows through your sisters veins, she is an organic being. Tox-En will have no effect on her." Ratchet said.
Then the monitor beeped with an alert. "More Energon on the move." Arcee said. "Again? I was about to buff Chromia's new finish." Cyclonus groaned. "Their revent activity suggests a familiar pattern. The Decepticons are desperately scouting for new deposits to mine." Optimus said. "Autobots -" Ratchet then cut in. "Optimus, if one of you comes back wounded this time, well, our Energon reserves are nearly depleted." He said.
"Understood. Activate the Ground-Bridge. Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered. Chromia transformed with Cyclonus. She had gained a new alt mode, which was a 2005 Cadillac CTS-V. Cyclonus gained a new mode as well. He abandoned his space jet for a blue General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. Courtesy of Agent Fowler himself.
"Sometimes I wish I could do more." Ratchet mumbled. "No, no, keep the Shanix." Jetfire grumbled in his sleep next to the medic.
Ratchet then got an idea. It was rather risky, though. He grabbed a vile of the Synthetic Energon, put it in a syringe, and injected the chemical into his arm. Ratchet groaned as his optics turned green. The Autobot fell down.
"Ratchy, wake up, wake up, wake up!" Anna yelled in Ratchet's face-plate. She climbed off his chassis. "How is it that such small beings can be so loud?" The medic groaned. "Up you go." Jetfire said from nearby and grabbed Ratchet's servo. "Are you hurt? You fell." Anna said.
"I'm fine. I'm..." Ratchet moved his arm. "More than fine." He said. He looked at his wrist monitor. His own Energon reserves were surprisingly up. "Energy efficiency is up 30%? Motor functions optimal? Any word from the others?" He questioned. Anna shook her head no.
Knockout and Breakdown drove through the canyon at night with Optimus, Arcee, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Chromia, and Cyclonus chasing them. "Knockout, can't we just bridge out of here? This cube's putting some serious drag on me!" Breakdown said. "The more we give the Autobots a workout, the more fuel they burn, and we win the Energon race." Knockout replied.
"Besides, here comes air support." Knockout saw multiple Vehicons fly in after the Autobots. One collided with Cyclonus, making him transform and fall down.
The other Vehicons fired dozens of missiles at the Autobots. The missiles went out of control and blew up the canyon walls ahead. Knockout and Breakdown drove through the collapse of rocks. Arcee drove onto a few, transformed, and jumped on the others, then transformed again and chased Knockout and Breakdown.
Optimus, Bee, Bulkhead, and Chromia transformed in front of the blockade. Cyclonus transformed back into his fighter jet mode and chased the Vehicons. "Arcee, Cyclonus, fall back! You're both outnumbered!" Optimus said.
"We're always outnumbered. We need that Energon." Cyclonus replied. He shot down a few Vehicons and chased Knockout and Breakdown with Arcee."Ratchet, lock onto Arcee, and Cyclonus' coordinates and prepare an emergency Ground-Bridge." Optimus called the medic. "I'm locked on. Arcee, Cyclonus, decelerate and prepare to return to base." Ratchet said.
"Not on your life, sport. We're too close." Cyclonus said. "Don't be a fool!" Ratchet said. More Vehicons flew into battle and fired a cluster of rockets. One hit Cyclonus and caused him to crash into Arcee, making them both transform to stop sliding across the ground.
"They're hurt!" Ratchet gasped. "Watch the Ground-Bridge!" He said and drove into the portal. The Vehicons transformed and surrounded Cyclonus and Arcee on all sides with their weapons drawn.
Then, a Ground-Bridge portal opened in mid-air, and Ratchet came out with his servos turning into blades. He landed on the ground, tossed a Vehicon into his friend, then sliced another one's arm off. "Ratchet?" Cyclonus questioned.
Ratchet continued taking down the Vehicons while Knockout and Breakdown watched. "Looks like the Autobots brought in a ringer." Knockout observed. "Well, then I'll ring his bell!" Breakdown said, then multiple shots interrupted them as the remaining Autobots climbed down the rubble. "It'll have to wait!" Knockout said, and they drove off.
Ratchet punched and stabbed the Vehicons one by one until there was none left. Bee helped Arcee up, and Chromia grabbed Cyclonus' servo. Ratchet planted his pede on a dead Vehicon as one more tried to attack him from behind, only to get sucker punched. "Hoo-ah!" Ratchet said happily.
The Autobots entered the base. "What happened?" Anna asked with a grumpy Jetfire next to her. "I only saw the gory aftermath." Bulkhead said. "That's because you got cobwebs for brains, you little Wrecker." Jetfire said. Bulkhead growled but ignored the insult.
"Ratchet just took down Megatron's forces like they were paper." Chromia said. "Hey, little girl!" Ratchet playfully picked up Anna, then gently put her down with the former princess laughing.
"Alright, what's your secret?" Arcee asked. "Secret?" Jetfire chimed in. "Shouldn't you be napping, old man?" Bulkhead asked. Jetfire shuddered and then walked away. "There is no secret. It's just something I like to call Synth'N." Ratchet tossed one of the Synthetic Energon viles to Arcee.
"From the data Bulkhead transcribed?" Chromia asked. "Wait. I thought the formula was -" Ratchet then cut off Cyclonus. "Incomplete? Not anymore." Ratchet said. Bee buzzed and took the vile from Arcee.
"So, Ratchet makes a better tough guy than I do a smart guy?" Bulkhead asked and held the vile, which then Optimus held it. "Ratchet, I question the wisdom of using yourself as a test subject." He said. "Optimus, you didn't see Ratchet out there. He was in overdrive. We should all try this stuff." Arcee said.
"Or give Ratchet more so we can take a vacation." Bulkhead added. "Or we can make Jetfire use this." Cyclonus suggested. "I heard that." Jetfire said from another room.
"I agree that the initial results seem promising, but I recommend that further testing be confined to machines. Not Autobots. Outnumbered, though we may be, old friend, we need a warrior in the laboratory right now. More than we need another in the field." Optimus said. Ratchet huffed.
"And then he came right at me, and I, well, come on, Cy. Come at me!" Ratchet said. He and Cyclonus were in a training room. "I'm not gonna try to hurt you, Ratchet." Cyclonus said, only to get slapped in the helm in the process. "I said come at me!" Ratchet ordered.
"If you insist!" Cyclonus shouted. He charged at Ratchet, only to get picked up and thrown through the wall, right into Jetfire. "Hoo-ah!" Ratchet said from inside. "Get off me, blue boy!" Jetfire seethed and pushed Cyclonus off.
"You wanna come at me, gramps?" Ratchet asked. "Respect your elders!" Jetfire cried and charged at Ratchet. But, like Cyclonus, Jetfire was lifted up and thrown through the wall. "Hoo-ah!" Ratchet said again.
"What was that?" Arcee questioned from around the corner. Chromia ran to help Cyclonus up. "You have competition, Cy. I'm a bit stronger than I used to be. Also a bit faster!" Ratchet said, and raised a fisted servo at Bumblebee. "Think you can take me, muscle car?" He asked. Bee buzzed nervously.
"Wimp!" Ratchet said, then clicked at Chromia and Arcee. "How's it humming?" He asked. "Did he just flirt with us?" Chromia asked. "He's also stronger, faster, and studlier." Cyclonus said.
The trio then helped Jetfire up, who for once did not complain.
In the main room, Ratchet opened a large cabinet, revealing a syringe of the Synthetic Energon. "I need to be at the top of my game. Our survival depends upon it." He said and took the syringe. He injected it.
The monitor beeped. "Looks like the 'Cons hit another vein." Arcee said. "Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered. "Hey, hey, shouldn't we wait for our secret weapon?" Bulkhead interrupted. "This mission is unlikely to require medical expertise." Optimus started. "But, you never know if it may require additional firepower." Ratchet interjected.
"Bumblebee can handle Ground-Bridge duty." He said. Bee buzzed in confusion. "Time to put some hurt on those Decepticons!" Ratchet said.
The Autobots ran down a mountain with Ratchet in the lead. He jumped and slid on rocks and branches, while the others just ducked down. Ratchet came to a stop behind a large boulder. They heard drilling. Vehicons were everywhere, with one drilling into the side of another mountain.
"Ah, signals weak. They may have hit a vein, but they won't find much of an Energon pulse." Bulkhead observed the Energon detector. "I take some comfort in the fact that Megatron seems as desperate to find this stuff as we are." Arcee said.
"Do you two always talk this much during these missions?" Ratchet asked. He then moved from the rock, and transformed and drove down the mountain, blowing his cover. "Autobots!" A Vehicon said, and they shot at Ratchet, but couldn't hit him.
Ratchet drove off a ramp, and collided with a Vehicons chassis. "It's alright! I'm an emergency vehicle!" The medic said and activated his swords.
Optimus, Arcee, Bulkhead, Cyclonus, and Chromia shot at the Vehicons, killing them all as Ratchet stabbed his wounded enemy. He saw the last Vehicon miner jump off the drill and climb up the mountain.
As soon as he was at the top, the Vehicon ran away as Ratchet climbed up. He picked up a rock and threw it. The rock hit the Vehicon in the helm.
The Vehicon fell to the ground, and managed to turn himself around before Ratchet stomped on him. "Why the big rush?" He asked. "Just trying to get as far as I can from the Autobot stink!" The Vehicon boasted. "Does your boss know you have a potty mouth? Maybe I should pay him a visit and tell him." Ratchet inquired.
"Get melted, wheel grinder!" The Vehicon shouted. "Melted? Now there's a concept." Ratchet said and turned his servo into a blowtorch. "I won't ask you a second time. Where is Megatron?" Ratchet demanded.
As soon as the Autobots finished the Vehicons, they heard screaming from the top of the mountain. They climbed up and saw what Ratchet was doing. "That's all I know! Really!" The Vehicon yelled.
Ratchet stopped torching the Vehicons face-plate. "Now, was that so difficult?" He asked. He changed his blowtorch for a sword and raised it high. "Ratchet! What are you doing?!" Optimus demanded and caught the sword.
"Getting results." Ratchet said as the Vehicon ran away. "And breaking protocol. That was a Decepticon miner. Servant class. Not warrior class." Optimus scolded. "Oh, and let me guess: I'm just the medic?" Ratchet groaned. "Autobots do not inflict harm unless all other options have been exhausted. It is what separates us from the Decepticons." Optimus said.
"Ha! Is this really the time for another lecture, Optimus? You didn't just 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 ripe for the taking? I do!" Ratchet complained.
"Come on, Ratchet. Calm it down." Bulkhead said. "Calm is the last thing we need! Calm is what lost us Cybertron. 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!" Ratchet seethed.
"A direct assault in the Decepticons would only provoke retaliation and lead to incalculable losses. And Megatron now manipulates ice and snow since he infused Elsa with Dark Energon and injected some of her blood into himself. I will not endanger innocent human lives." Optimus said.
"Yet you seem to have no problem endangering ours. Just as Cliffjumper! Oh, I forgot, he couldn't be here today." Ratchet growled. "That's it!" Arcee snarled and tried to attack Ratchet, but Cyclonus held her back. "You know your problem, Optimus? For such a big, strong bot, you're soft! You didn't pound Megatron into scrao when you had the chance! Many chances, in fact!" Ratchet shouted.
Optimus remained calm, but deep down in his Spark, he knew Ratchet was right. "I'm afraid that the Synthetic Energon has impaired your judgement, old friend. I am confining you to base until further notice. Bumblebee, bridge us back." He said.
Cyclonus let Arcee go as the Ground-Bridge opened. "Fine." Ratchet huffed and entered the portal. Cyclonus followed behind, only to get tackled down and thrown at Optimus by Ratchet.
Optimus saw the medic transform and drive away to find the tyrannical overlord that is Megatron.
The Ground-Bridge activated again, and the Autobots drove through and transformed. "Can't get a fix on Ratchet's coordinates." Chromia said while scanning for the medic. "That bogus Energon must be scrambling his signal." Bulkhead said.
"Chromia, keep trying. We've got to find Ratchet. Before he finds Megatron." Optimus said.
Deep in an Energon deposit, Vehicons were mining the Blood of Primus, while Breakdown was chatting with one. "Yeah, she's kind of domineering, and the extra arms are weird, but I find myself intrigued by her." Breakdown talked about Airachnid.
Then, the Decepticons heard whistling and Ratchet showed himself. The Vehicon pointed his cannon, but Breakdown raised his servo. "I was wondering when you might show." He said. Ratchet smirked.
In another part of the mine, Megatron was furious. "You call yourself a scientist? You were supposed to have located a fresh Energon source by now!" He growled at Knockout. "Apologies, Lord Megatron. We got a little distracted by the new Autobot who attacked us." Knockout apologized.
"Really? And what new Autobot would that be?" Megatron questioned, and heard footsteps. Breakdown stumbled forward and fell down. Revealing Ratchet behind him. "Hoo-ah!" The Autobot said. "Well..." Knockout sputtered.
"That is your fearsome new adversary?" Megatron laughed. "He's Optimus Prime's medic." He scoffed. "Oh, no, Megatron. I am your Doctor of Doom." Ratchet lunged forward and punched Megatron in his face-plate, sending him flying into the wall. The warlord wiped some spilled Dark Energon from his mouth-plate. "Alright then." He said.
Ratchet charged again, and shouted, "For Cybertro-AAHHHH!" Megatron grabbed his servo and twisted it, making Ratchet scream in pain.
"Ratchet is rather more spirited than I recollect." Megatron said. "Chemical enhancement, perhaps?" Knockout suggested. As Ratchet continued screaming, Megatron used his new ice powers to create icy Dark Energon spikes on his free hand like Cybertronian brass knuckles. He then stabbed Ratchet in the chassis with them.
Ratchet groaned as Megatron tossed him aside. "There's your laboratory sample, doctor. Find out. If a chemical can do this for Optimus Prime's lapdog, imagine what it could do for our troops." Megatron snickered and walked away.
"Oh, Optimus, I've been a fool." Ratchet moaned.
In Autobot base the monitor beeped again. "Optimus, Ratchet's signal! It's back online!" Arcee said. "Bumblebee?" Optimus said to the young scout who nodded, and opened the Ground-Bridge. "Autobots, roll out!" The Autobots entered to rescue their friend. They started shooting at the Vehicons.
Knockout gathered up the Synthetic Energon in a vile. "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." Knockout changed his servo for his saw. "Which will happen in 3... 2... 1." Before he could behead Ratchet, he heard gunfire. "Scrap!" He cursed. Ratchet pushed the saw aside and kicked Knockout off, making him drop the vile.
The self-proclaimed automobile enthusiast charged at Ratchet and pinned him against the wall, and activated his saw.
The Autobots continued killing off the Vehicons, as Ratchet struggled against Knockout. His saw started damaging his eyebrow. Ratchet shoved the saw aside, and headbutted Knockout. The Decepticon charged at the medic again, hut Ratchet dodged, and Knockout's saw got stuck in the wall.
Ratchet limped over to the vile and picked it up. Knockout laughed. "What are you going to do, drink it?" He asked. Ratchet held his wound and said, "No. I'm going to destroy it." With all his depleting strength, Ratchet tossed the vile at the wall, vreaking it and destroying the Synthetic Energon.
Knockout finally freed himself. "You idiot! Megatron have my head!" He shouted. Ratchet fainted. Knockout was about to kill him, until he saw the Autobots take down the Vehicons. Knockout transformed and retreated.
The Autobots kneeled before Ratchet and got him to help.
In Autobot base, Ratchet slowly came to. Health monitors were hooked up to him, and his wound patched up. His optics were blue once again. "Easy, old friend. You lost a lot of Energon. Good and bad." Optimus said. "I-I-I didn't intend to hurt anyone. I just wanted so badly to -" Ratchet sputtered. "- Help us. We know." Optimus finished for him.
"But, you nearly caused the loss of something irreplaceable. Our medic, and a most trusted friend. You did lead us to a much needed Energon supply" He said, and motioned to the Energon cubes.
"And for that, we should all be thankful." Optimus finished. "The Synthetic Energon formula clearly needs refining before it can be tested again." Ratchet said. Optimus nodded. "On machines. Not Autobots." Ratchet finished.
"Let us take comfort in the fact that you were able to dispose of the quantity that remained." Optimus said.
Meanwhile, deep in the now abandoned Energon mind, Knockout found the damaged vile of the Synth'N. Only one drop of the Synthetic Energon survived. It was enough. The Decepticon medic smiled viciously.