The Beauty and the Predacon {ON HOLD}

Chapter 21

Ratchet and Arcee drive through the corridors of the ship heading to the Omega Lock's control station. Arcee yells out as she comes to a halt and transforms, Ratchet stops and transforms as well. He goes over to her side to find out what's going on, "What happened? Are you alright?"

Arcee leans against the wall to hold herself up as pain shoots through her back, "I feel like I was shot in the back."

Ratchet is a bit confused for a moment, they weren't even shot at. But the confusion goes away when he comes to the conclusion that it must be from the Predacon, "Do you think you can keep moving?"

Arcee nods and pushes herself off the wall, she begins walking but after a few steps, she yells in pain again as she grasps at her chest and falls to her knees. Ratchet is at her side in an instant, "Arcee!"

"P-Predaking..."

Ratchet begins to panic, "Was he...?"

Arcee shakes her helm, "I don't believe he's dead, I can still feel the connection. It's faint but it's still there. I need a moment so go on ahead without me. You need to stop them from activating the Omega Lock."

"I'm not leaving you alone behind enemy lines." Ratchet says as he helps her off the floor.

Arcee tries to compose herself and ignore the pain, they need to focus on saving Earth, "I got it. I'll be fine." She says as she pushes away from him and transforms. Ratchet transforms as well and they drive off.

"Just take it easy." Ratchet tells her.

"I'm fine Ratchet."

Ratchet can't even imagine what she must be going through right now feeling the pain from her sparkmate who was almost offlined. He's witnessed many times what bots go through after losing a sparkmate, they're driven to insanity with so much pain, feeling like part of them is missing until they just give up and offline so they can be with their mate again. He knows Arcee is going through so much pain right now with almost losing her sparkmate and he sympathizes with her but right now they need to focus on the mission at hand. 

:: The Omega Lock's control station is located on the lower deck. :: Ratchet tells the rest of the team who is on the upper haul shooting at the Vehicons. :: Arcee and I are making our way there now. ::

:: Copy Ratchet, we will rendezvous at the objective. Bumblebee, you and Smokescreen go secure the Omega Lock. Ultra Magnus, you and the wreckers storm the bridge. Prevent the Decepticons from targeting the device if stealth team is delayed. ::

Arcee and Ratchet transform and run through the corridors and Arcee gets on her comm, :: Optimus, if we fail to secure the lock before it's ready to deploy. Do we destroy it? ::

:: I do not intend to squander a second chance to restore Cybertron. ::

The Autobots make it into the ship and Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers go one way while Bumblebee goes the other. Smokescreen stands there and watches as Megatron ascends to the top of the ship before he turns to follow Bumblebee down the corridor.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ratchet peeks around the corner at the guards standing in front of the door, he then looks at Arcee, "Go meet up with Bumblebee and Smokescreen to help them out, I'll handle this."

"Are you sure?"

"I know how to do a lot more than surgery and repair."

"Well, if you think you can handle it." Arcee runs back to meet up with Bumblebee and Smokescreen while Ratchet transforms his servos to his surgical blades and goes to attack the two drones. He opens the door and walks in to see Shockwave at the controls.