When All Lights Go Out II (TFP)

Chapter 20

"So Jack is in the facility that Mech took Optimus?" Ratchet asked with a frown as he looked at the three humans who nod affirmatively in response. It had taken the medic at least four hours to tend to both Arcee and Bumblebee, who were currently resting, and now Ratchet could finally focus on helping the humans find Optimus. Bulkhead was in the lobby too, but he wasn't able to help as much. "Oh Primus, I hope the boy is okay. But I guess he cares deeply about Azura enough that he wanted to go..." Ratchet rubbed the back of his neck with a groan. "I do apologize for taking so long. Has Fowler reported anything regarding Mech yet?"

"Not yet. He likely is still trying to follow Mech's tracks," Rafael responded affirmatively. "Right now, I've been trying to reach Jack's phone signal. So far, I haven't been able to break through. I am not sure if I would be able to."

"It is unlikely that we can break through Mech's shielding with the technology we had right now, Rafael. Even with my help." Raf turned in his seat and looked at Ratchet with a worried expression. "It is late, so you three should go and get some sleep."

June shook her head. "No, I am not going anywhere."

"Same here," Miko responded with an affirmative nod. "I might be tired, but I am not going to go sleep while Jack and Optimus are out there. And I don't want to wake up to bad news. I'd rather be here to find out about it. We are just lucky that my host parents think I'm out at a sleepover, same with Raf's parents."

"Well, a study group sleepover," Raf said with a nervous chuckle. "But...if we can't get through Mech's shielding, what do we do, Ratchet? How are we going to find Optimus? It has been about five hours at least since Optimus was captured. And we don't even know what Mech might be doing to him."

Ratchet intakes heavily as he was also very worried. "I am fully aware of the stakes, Rafael. And unfortunately, even if Mech are not gutting Optimus open, I am extremely concerned about his energon levels in his body. With his system preparing to birth Azura, which has likely been pushed forward due to the stress and impact on his body, he will be very weak by the time we get to him."

"Alright, alright, enough with the bad news!" Bulkhead snapped at the medic with a frown. "What do we do, doc? Surely, you have an idea."

"I do, but you are not going to like it." Bulkhead tilted his head curiously as he watched Ratchet open a com link. "Megatron, this is Ratchet. Can you hear me?"

Bulkhead widened his optics. "Seriously? You are going to go there?"

Ratchet nodded affirmatively, and he waited patiently for a response. "Well, well, I wasn't expecting a call so soon, Ratchet. I guess this means you were wrong about the delivery date for one sparkling." Megatron's laughter made the humans shudder as they hear his voice. "I guess this means I will need a set of coordinates..."

"Actually, I apologize for interrupting, but we have a situation. And we need your help, and it does concern both Optimus and Azura." Megatron goes silent as he listened to Ratchet, even though the medic had interrupted the mech. "Um...unfortunately, we had been fooled by Mech. And..."

"Arggghhh, don't tell me, I can already guess what you are going to say. Optimus got himself captured by those humans, just as Breakdown allowed himself to be captured." Megatron sounded irritated and amused at the same time, which could be good or bad. "Ugh...I guess Mech did something to lure you autobots out and Optimus felt the need to help...typical. He has always been weak regarding you autobots." Ratchet frowned, though he said nothing at Megatron's jab. "But if Mech has Optimus, my daughter is in danger. How long ago did Optimus get himself captured?"

"About five hours roughly. Mech had attacked Bumblebee and Bulkhead before they started to ping obvious lures...which resulted in myself and Arcee going as well..."