Forever Alone: Transformers Prime

Chapter XVIII

The very first ones who were seen to enter the base from the space bridge were Jack and Arcee. Jack took his helmet off in front of them as Bumblebee appeared with Ratchet walking in not far behind them. After Ratchet Bulkhead walked in, but the last person to walk in was Optimus Prime with Julie standing next to him, her arm draped over his shoulder for support as her injury was visible for everyone to see.

"Optimus?" Raf asked.

"Hello Raphael." Optimus said as he looked down at the little boy.

"The big guy remembers us." Miko cried out in excitement. "Woohoo."

"Although it seems there is much I do not remember." Optimus replied. Julie smiled as she was glad she was there for him when he was Orion Pax, but she knew that she had to leave. She walked away from the reunion and headed toward the medbay, looking for any nearby water. Still listening subtly to the conversation.

"Optimus, it has truly been our darkest hour, but know this. From every indication your spark never ceased being that of an autobot." Ratchet replied.

"For now, we need to treat the one who was injured from the incident." Optimus said as he turned to look behind him, but finding that Julie was gone. "Where did Julie go?" He looked at everyone, but everyone was clearly avoiding eye contact at the mention of the girl.

"She went to the medbay. She looked pretty hurt." Jack spoke up as he pointed to the location.

"Ratchet, if you would please assist me and treat her injury." Optimus said. "It seems there is something of grave consequence that I missed while I was gone." He said as he looked specifically at the other three autobots. Landing his gaze lastly on Bulkhead who was not lifting his gaze to his leader.

"Yes, Optimus." Ratchet replied.

Optimus walked into the medbay and saw that Julie was scavenging around the room. "Come on, just a little bit of water and I am out of here for good." Julie whispered, not aware yet of them entering the room. "Why are you leaving?" Optimus asked.

Julie jumped and turned around, making her hand on her chest visible as it was now covered in energon. "Optimus...I..."

"It can wait. Let Ratchet treat your injury first. Explanations can come later." Optimus cried. As suddenly as he said that, Julie's strength faltered as she suddenly was now leaning against the medbay bed. "No. I don't want his help. Or anyone of the team's help. They made it clear enough how they feel about me. I don't want to be in the way anymore."

"Now Julie..." Before any more words escaped Optimus's lips she fell onto the ground and was going into cardiac arrest. Her body was starting to malfunction, as her energon was really starting to run low. "Ratchet, now!"

Ratchet immediately injected a shot into her arm that made her body shut down into stasis. As soon as he did, he lifted her up and laid her on the bed, but not before latching her down to avoid her running. "Is that really necessary?" Optimus asked. "You all have a lot of explaining to do. I am very disappointed in your guys' judgment. You set her stable for now and hook her up, but once that is done I order you to return into the main room where I will be waiting for an explanation." Optimus said as he left the room.

Ratchet watched him leave and realized as he left how much pain and guilt was seeping into his spark as he looked down at Julie's still form. "I am so sorry Julie. Why didn't I stand up for you?" He hooked her up to some energon and some water all the same. Clearly she was able to handle energon otherwise her cybertronian form wouldn't have been bleeding energon. This girl was clearly quite the mystery. "I am so sorry, Julie." He cried again once she was now finally on the way to getting better. When he entered the room he saw a very upset Optimus standing in the room looking at Bumblebee, Arcee and Bulkhead. "Now that Ratchet has joined us, I am hoping that an explanation can be in order. It is clear to me that Julie was upset and resentful about returning to the base with us. Even when she was severely injured."