Forever Alone: Transformers Prime

Chapter XVII

"Raphael, is the test subject ready?" Ratchet asked.

"Check. Long range GPS activated."

"I have doubts whether my recalibrations have successfully extended groundbridge range, but there is only one way to find out." Ratchet and Raf watched as the groundbridge powered on, and as the car drove straight into the groundbridge. The squeaky reving of the car echoing as it drove. After it was a few feet away, the car bursted and fell apart all over the floor. Along with the power of the bridge going out.

"It was just the first try."

"No, Raphael, it was pure folly. A misguided act of desperation. It takes eons to master sprace bridge engineering, and no one is more accomplished than the decepticons."

"You know, there's this thing in gym class where you have to climb a rope all the way to the ceiling. It's really hard, and I've never been able to do it, but when I told Bee about it, he believed in me.Which made me practice a ton. Finally, just a couple of weeks ago, I made it to the top."

"What does any of this have to do with gym class?"

"I...I was just...I'll give you some alone time."

"Optimus, I am so sorry. I have failed bringing you back and failed with Julie."

"No sign of energon spikes. Arcee or Bee find a space bridge?" Bulkhead asked as he came in from the groundbridge.

"They haven't yet reported back."

"Ratchet, you alright? Is this about Julie leaving?"

"Hmm? Yes, Yes. Let's get you to the next quadrant." Ratchet muttered. Suddenly a monitor started to beep nearby.

"What is it?" Bulkhead asked.

"A high frequency signal with an embedded message for me."

"Optimus?"

"Starscream." Ratchet cried. "I have obtained information regarding your leader. Bring medical kit. Come alone."

"You're not going alone. It could be a trap."

"I wasn't planning to. Come on." Ratchet cried as he walked into the groundbridge with Bulkhead in tow. Once on the other side, they saw Starscream laying propped up with energon leaking around him.

"I told you to come alone." Starscream cried.

"And since when do we listen to you?" Bulkhead asked.

"Where is Optimus?" Ratchet asked.

"Patch me up and perhaps I will tell you. Have sympathy, I'm leaking here."

"Then I suggest that you speak quickly. Has Optimus been harmed in any way?"

"He's fine. Fine. Can't you see I'm the one who's been harmed?"

"Where is he?" Bulkhead cried.

"Where do you think? He's on Megatron's warship."

"Which is located where?"

"Now, who knows? It's a ship, it moves. It took me months to track only to get fired upon."

"You wouldn't go to the trouble of calling me here, unless you had information to trade. Real information."

"Very well, your beloved leader may have lost his senses. He goes by the name Orion Pax now, and it seems Megatron has led him to believe he's a decepticon."

"Tell us something we don't know." Bulkhead mumbled.

"What? How could you possibly know that?"

"We're wasting our time."