When All Lights Go Out II (TFP)

Chapter 23

Ratchet was concentrating intently as he had lines connected to Azura's fragile body. There was evidence of damage and low energon levels in her system. Her system have been strained and overloaded to the point her spark had been struggling to keep up. And as he gently placed the paddles onto her chassis, sending a small pulse to her spark chamber, Ratchet was silently praying to Primus that they would not lose Azura. She was not intaking or responding at all. Her optics were shut, and he sent another pulse jolt to her spark.

Arcee was watching as she gave Ratchet whatever tool he asked for, but she felt helpless. She had heard Optimus ask Ratchet if Azura was okay, and Ratchet's silence was loud. Arcee did not want to say anything as she was also on the verge of crying. The sparkling was motionless, and she wasn't yet responding to anything Ratchet was doing to try and save her life. None of them even stopped Megatron as the decepticon walked closer to watch Ratchet and his optics looked down at her body.

Megatron widened his optics as he saw she had grown so much. Even her golden hair was longer and thicker, and he grimaced as his own spark pained as seeing his daughter motionless hurt. And he knew her own existence wouldn't even be here if not for him, do a part of him felt this was his fault. And Optimus was left waiting and watching helplessly as the mech couldn't get up with his abdomen and chassis opened.

But that didn't stop Optimus from trying to sit up. "Ratchet..."

Bulkhead, who had finished filling the tub, walked over and placed his hand on Optimus's shoulder gently. "Easy there, boss. You can't get up yet."

"But...Azura..."

"Is in the best hands there is right now, Optimus." Bulkhead's expression was full of sympathy as he knew Optimus was distressed and wanted to hold Azura. "Give him the time he needs."

Optimus was still trying to not cry as he looked at Ratchet' back. "Azura...Primus, please..." He grimaced and shook his head. "This is..." Optimus clenched his fists and punched the side of the berth in frustration and despair.

Ratchet glanced in Optimus's direction briefly as he gently ignited another pulse to Azura's spark while injecting her body with a serum. "Come on, Azura. You can't give out now." He was relying on the pulses he was giving to her body to spread the injections around that would strengthen her system and hope to kick-start it. "Come on..." Ratchet widened his optics as there was a small flutter in her pulse, and he smiled. "Come on, respond, please."

Azura's system seemed to be responding weakly, but Ratchet knew there was a very small window. He injected some more serums before connecting a line to act like a pulse to move the serum around her body. Ratchet still would send a pulse to her spark and her crystal began to glow a little, and Ratchet did not yet know if that was good or not, since it was a part of the Matrix. And it could signal that the power of the Matrix was leaving her, and Ratchet feared that.

Optimus stared at Ratchet as he waited for answers and looked up at the ceiling as his spark was full of despair. However, as he stared at the ceiling, he felt the Matrix vibrate and glanced down as it glowed, making him widen his optics and look at Ratchet. Megatron was watching keenly and he was glancing between Azura and Optimus, hopeful that this was a good sign. He kept silent as this was not what he wanted to happen to Azura at all.

And just as Ratchet sent another pulse through Azura's chassis, her veins around the crystal glowed and pulsed suddenly, and with a gasp, her optics finally open and a wail escaped her lips as she looked around in confusion. Ratchet sighed in deep relief as Azura's wails grew louder and she wiggled in his hand weakly, looking around for Optimus. Optimus sighed in relief as he heard Azura as well, and he relaxed completely.

"That's right, Azura. Let everyone hear your voice." Ratchet smiled as he wiped the sparkling's body with the blankets to get the energon off as much as possible. He glanced at Arcee as the femme brought over the diaper Ratchet had made for the sparkling. "And we cannot forget about this. Your system still has your dragon element to it. I made sure to prepare for it." Azura didn't care as she was looking around for her carrier. Megatron was surprised as he didn't know Azura needed the diaper, but he didn't question it. Ratchet removed the lines from Azura's body and cradled her in his hands before turning to Optimus. "She is okay, Optimus. She's weak, but she is alive. I am sorry for keeping you from her."