Transformers Prime: Bio-Tech

Chapter 3

"Thank goodness for peace and quiet," Ratchet grumbled, "House guests can be such a bother." "True," I agreed, only for a yawn to escape at the same time. I was startled when I heard metal clatter on the ground. "What? Ratchet, did you hear that?" "How many sleep cycles have you gotten?" Ratchet asked. "Enough..." I grumbled. "Otto..." Ratchet warned. "I'm fine..." Another yawn escaped me. "Couch... now..." Ratchet ordered. I rolled my eyes but jumped down from where I was situated only to hear metal footsteps. "Optimus?" I called out only to widen my eyes in shock when I saw a small Cybertronian come towards me. "Ratchet!" "What!?" He turned and saw the same being I did, "By the Allspark!" The small Cybertronian leaped at me, but Ratchet was quick enough to grab me as he began swatting at the Cybertronian. In retaliation, the Cybertronian broke one of Ratchet's tool. "I needed that!" Ratchet exclaimed. "Is now really the time?" I questioned only for the Cybertronian to jump at me once more. Ratchet took a step back but we were cornered by the wall. Closing my eyes I attempted to reach out and take control of the device, only to be met with completely chaotic code and pain. "Aaargh!" I yelled, clutching my head. "Otto, what's wrong?" Ratchet asked, concerned.

"That thing... not natural," I gasped, "Whatever is causing it to act this way, I can't control it." A shot then hit the Cybertronian as it jumped at us, causing it to hit the floor, electricity crackling from its body as it reactivated, but Optimus merely stepped on it like an insect. "And stay broken!" Ratchet ordered. "Thanks Optimus," I sighed as I leaned against Ratchet's neck. "Now what could have caused that?" Ratchet questioned. "I have a grave suspicion," I stated, "Dark Energon. If the residue Arcee found on Cliffjumper brought our broken equipment to life, it would stand to reason that the same substance brought Cliffjumper back from the dead." "Oh," Ratchet said, "That would account for his life signal inexplicably coming back on line, but Dark Energon? It's so scarce as to be virtually nonexistent. What would more of it be doing on Earth?" "I believe the Dark Energon was transported here... by Megatron," Optimus said. "For what purpose?" Ratchet asked. "I would guess to raise an army of the undead," I said in worry, "Though Megatron is going to struggle to find a large quantity of Cybertronian dead on this planet."

Optimus was about to reply to me as I heard Bumblebee and Arcee's revving engines as they entered the base, followed by Bulkhead. "That was awesome!" Jack exclaimed as he allowed Arcee to transform. "Can we go again?" Rafael asked Bumblebee. "Sweet!" Miko cheered. "Uh..." Bulkhead reached into his chassis to find a guitar. "Sorry," Miko said, "Must have left that in the back seat." "Autobots prepare to..." Optimus remembered the humans they were tasked to watch. "Roll out?" Arcee asked. "Remain here. Ratchet, you'll come with me," Optimus ordered. I frowned as Ratchet put me on the catwalk. "Arcee, we'll be outside communications range for some time, so I'm putting you in charge," Optimus said. "Dude, you're the biggest. You should be the boss," Miko told Bulkhead, causing me to roll my eyes. "Um, he never picks me," Bulkhead told her. "Because Optimus knows he'd come back to the base in ruins. Or your corpse after Ratchet snapped from you breaking too much of our equipment," I muttered, earning an amused snort from Arcee as Optimus grinned slightly. Ratchet also looked slightly amused, though he just huffed in annoyance. "Optimus, with all due respect, playing bodyguard is one thing. Babysitting is another," Arcee quipped, regaining her cool. "I'm standing right here, you know," I sassed. "Besides, Ratchet hasn't been in the field since the war," Arcee said. "My pistons may be rusty, but my hearing is sharp as ever," Ratchet sassed. "Exactly. No need to worry about the old timers, Arcee," I added with a smirk, getting a glare from Ratchet and Arcee, though Bumblebee laughed. "For the moment, it is only reconnaissance," Optimus explained. "Then why do I hear an edge in your voice? And you're not allowing Otto to go with?" Arcee asked. Optimus looked over at me and I shrugged. "She's got a point," I told him, "I am the only one with experience regarding this." "Arcee, much has changed in the past 24 hours," Optimus explained, ignoring me, "And we all must adapt to that change. Ratchet, bridge us out." Ratchet looked up once he put in the command to open the Groundbridge. "Be careful," I told him, he placed a servo underneath my chin before following Optimus. "Okay chief, so, uh, what's on the activities list?" Jack asked. "I'm going on patrol," Arcee said, as I went to follow. "Stay here, Otto," Arcee ordered. "But Optimus told us to stay," Bulkhead reminded her. "When you're in charge, you can call the shots. Bee, with me," Arcee ordered. "Why me?" Bumblebee buzzed. "Bulkhead, you're in charge," Arcee and Bumblebee transformed, leaving the base. "So, uh, what's the activity list?" Bulkhead asked. I cringed as I heard the whining of feedback. "How about... band practice?" Miko suggested. I rolled my eyes and got on my laptop, closing my eyes and connecting directly to the silo mainframe. "But we're not a band," Raf said, not noticing what Otto was doing. "Why so antisocial? Come on, Raf. You play anything?" Miko questioned. "Um... Keyboard?" Raf suggested. "Laptops and samples. Good. Jack?" Miko questioned. "I sometimes mess around on the harmonica," Jack admitted. "Do I look like I do country? Just cover yourself in fake blood and jump around screaming," Miko looked up at me, "What about you?" However, I didn't respond, immersed completely in the data streams running throughout the silo.