Transformers Prime: Bio-Tech

Chapter 16

"Jack, help me get Raf to the car," June ordered, "He's going to the emergency room." "Nurse Darby, your human doctors won't be able to comprehend what's afflicting him... not without at least a decade of study," I replied. "I don't have time to argue," Nurse Darby said. "Don't be a fool, human!" I snarled at her, causing her to pause in fear, "I doubt your doctors even know what Energon is, let alone how it affects the human body! Wait, I'm not getting any readings. How could we have not seen it? I believe Rafael has been infected with Dark Energon," I declared to Ratchet's horror. "If Dark Energon is devouring Rafael from the inside out, we must expel it, and fast, the only possible way I know. I need Energon!" I yelled. "Wait! You said Energon was devastating to humans!" June argued. "Under normal circumstances, quite," I admitted, "But I am relying upon the dark matter currently invading Rafael's body to meet it head on." Rafael's heart monitor began beeping rapidly. Ratchet worked quickly to get some Energon from Bumblebee and put it in the system. "I need him over here now!" June and I quickly wheeled Rafael into the decontamination machine. We remained by the doors as Ratchet turned the machine on. Nurse Darby hurried over to Rafael once the doors reopened. She sighed in relief when Rafael let out a slight groan. "Pulse rate is stabilising," She reported.

"Bulkhead, you let Optimus face Megatron alone?" Arcee exclaimed at the green mech once he had returned to base. "I didn't have a choice," Bulkhead proclaimed. "It could be a trap," Ratchet proclaimed, "We need to get a fix on his location." "Got it," I replied as I walked over to my computer. "I'm locked onto Optimus' signal," I said as I overlooked the screen, "Wait. How is this possible?" "What?" Arcee questioned, "What is it?" "We need to get Optimus out of there! Now!" I ordered. "Dark Energon... erupting from the Earth?" Optimus managed to say over the comms. The Autobots' eyes widened in realisation and quickly mobilised once Ratchet opened the Groundbridge. Rafael lifted himself up as Optimus was carried into the base. "Easy Optimus," Ratchet warned, "From the looks of things, you've been exposed to a massive amount of Dark Energon." Optimus met Rafael's gaze. "I am not the only one." Rafael shrugged Nurse Darby off him and hurried over to Optimus' ped. "Hi." "He's lucky to be alive," Nurse Darby seethed. "Megatron found more of the dark stuff?" Jack asked. "A whole volcano full," Arcee replied. "The question is 'how'?" Bulkhead wondered. "No, the question is 'what?'" I refuted, "As in 'What is the Blood Of Unicron doing erupting from the Earth?'" "The 'Cons killed a unicorn?" Miko voiced in confusion, getting blank stares from the Autobots. "You know, white horse with a horn on its head? Prances around all sparkly?" "Not unicorn, Unicron," I repeated, "An ancient evil whose fossilised blood comprises the matter which we call Dark Energon, as legend would have it." "So you're saying this Unicron is some kind of boogeyman?" Nurse Darby asked, unimpressed. "Boogeyman?" Ratchet questioned. "Make-believe creepy guy who hides in your closet," Miko supplied, but the Autobots still looked confused. "No, Nurse Darby, Unicron is very real," I said, "I just don't hold to the belief that his primordial life force is what... harmed Rafael." "I've heard enough," Nurse Darby proclaimed, "Raf, get in the car." "I'm doing better," Rafael argued. "You need to be examined by real doctors," Nurse Darby replied, "and your family needs to know what happened." "Raf's family can't protect him," Jack argued, "They can." Optimus stood. "June, it deeply grieves me that I have failed. I will do everything in my power to ensure that no harm comes to our human friends, or any human, ever again." "Optimus," Nurse Darby sighed, "They're children. They don't belong in your world." "Tell that to Project Arcturus," I hissed furiously. "They should be worrying about grades, prom dates, pimples. Not their own survival!" Nurse Darby declared. "Mom, Dark Energon is pouring out of the Earth. It doesn't do that," Jack argued, "This could be about everyone's survival, not just ours." "You're coming with me, all four of you. And they will not be coming back," Nurse Darby told Optimus. Optimus looked down at Nurse Darby. "I understand." "Maybe, but you're not my mother," I declared, glaring at Nurse Darby, "And I do not take orders from anyone, human. I'm staying." Nurse Darby sighed. "Raf, get in the car," She ordered. Raf sighed and got in the car. Nurse Darby looked at Miko, Jack and I. "You have my answer," I said coldly. "You honestly expect me to ride in a non-transforming vehicle?" Miko scoffed. "Miko, I'm serious," Nurse Darby huffed. "Otto's right, you're not my mother," Miko replied. "Miko!" Bulkhead warned. "Neither are you!" Miko said. Nurse Darby looked over at Jack. "Well I am yours. Let's go, Jack." Arcee walked up to Jack. "She is your mother." "I'm staying," Jack reasoned, "I'm sorry." Nurse Darby looked like she wanted to say something , but then didn't, instead storming back to her car. She slammed the backseat door with Raf inside, then got in herself. "Ratchet," Optimus said, "Activate the Groundbridge." "No thank you," Nurse Darby snapped and reversed, before driving her car out the entrance/exit tunnel.