Transformers Prime: Agent Adelaide Parks

Chapter 8

After having Ratchet groundbridge her to base, Adelaide got herself settled down to start her report for Fowler. She was going to take some artistic liberties with this week's report, leaving out the children for now.

The weekend morning was quiet as Ratchet milled around his tools and Optimus did whatever he was doing in his quarters.

Adelaide stretched out for a moment before standing from her chair. She quietly made her way towards Ratchet and sat on his work desk, just out of his way.

"The base elements of this goo are like nothing I've ever encountered," Ratchet mumbled to himself as he looked though the microscope. He moved to grab a pair of tongs as he continued rambling. "It must be extremely concentrated to have affected Arcee so rapidly."

"So you have no idea what this stuff is?" Addie asked as she looked up at the medic.

"Not yet. Unfortunately, complete results are slow-coming without the use of proper diagnostic tools. Thank you, Bulkhead."

Ratchet took the microscope slide out to move it to the next test, a drop of the goo flying off and landing on the broken machine that lie forgotten on the floor.

"Well, if anyone can figure it out, it's you," Adelaide encouraged.

That seemed to boost the medics ego a little as he straightened with a nod.

He added a new solution to the slide before returning it to under the microscope.

"And thank goodness for some peace and quiet," he quipped as he began to look into the microscope. "House guests can be such a bother."

Adelaide laughed quietly before there was a clanging sound from by the groundbridge.

Both Adelaide and Ratchet perked up at the sudden sound.

Ratchet only looked back down, but Adelaide kept looking towards the grounbridge. A second sound made her stand up.

Ratchet glanced up once again. "Optimus?"

"And since when has Optimus been that quiet?" Adelaide snarked in a harsh whisper. "Ratchet!"

"By the All Spark!" Ratchet gasped as he saw a tiny metal creature bolting towards him before launching itself into the air.

Adelaide dove out of the way as Ratchet ducked, allowing the creature to land on the platform space where she had just been sitting. Ratchet grabbed a pipe while Adelaide grabbed her pistol.

The little spider creature launched itself at Ratchet again, only to be smacked like a baseball. The creature slashed microscope out of its way and Ratchet's eyes widened.

"I needed that!!"

Adelaide took aim and hit the bug twice. She cursed when she saw how little damage she had done before screeching as she creature lunged at her.

"Adelaide!" Ratchet cried, jumping to scoop her off the platform. He covered her in his hands before flinching back as he prepared for the bug to jump on him only for a blaster shot to ring out.

The medic opened his eyes to see Optimus retransform his servo.

The little creature made a move to get up before Optimus crushed it under the weight of his foot.

"And stay broken!" Ratchet gruffed before lifting his hand from over Adelaide who was curled up in his grasp. "Are you alright?"

"Peachy," she grumbled as she got to her feet.

Optimus looked at her with concern as Ratchet set her back on the platform.

"Now what could have caused that?" Ratchet questioned as he looked at the destroyed creature that lie sparking on the floor.