Transformers Prime: Through Bad and Through Worse

Chapter Twenty

Lightswipe cooed and reached up at Optimus with wide optics, kicking in Ratchet's arms happily. The Prime offered a weak smile, and lowered a digit to where she could grab it, she wrapped both tiny servos around it, making excited gurgles and chirps.

"Don't do it," Ratchet whispered to his mate pleadingly. "Please."

"I must." His tone was soft and gentle, but Optimus's expression was grim.

"B-But... what will he do to you?" The medic urged, his pained gaze dropping to the floor. "What if-"

"Ratchet." Optimus said firmly, lifting Ratchet's chin in a gentle servo, bringing their gazes to meet. "I have to protect you and the sparkling. If there is no other way, then so be it, but I will not allow any harm to come to you."

Ratchet reached and touched the Prime's servo with his own, giving a small sigh. "Promise me you will remain alive."

The Prime opened his mouth to speak, but Sir interrupted him.

"Prime, let's go. You can cuddle your pathetic mate later.... when your both dead." The silver mech hissed, a smirk on his lips.

Optimus sent one last look at the medic and Lightswipe, his azure optics shining a sad glint, before turning away and walking over to Sir.

"If anything happens to him," Optimus growled threateningly. "I'll rip out your spark."

A smile came to Sir's lips. "Of course you will. Now," he approached Ratchet slowly, his gaze a dark, furious gleam. "If you go anywhere, or touch anything in my caves," he reached forward and rested a clawed digit on Ratchet's cheek, slowly trailing it down. His cold touch sent shivers through Ratchet. "You will be punished, severely. Understand?"

Ratchet pulled his helm away. "Y-Yes." He murmured, hugging Lightswipe closely.

"Good." Sir turned away, and started for the entrance. "Let's go, Prime."

Optimus sent his mate a worried glance before following the silver mech, his expression troubled.

The two mechs disappeared, leaving Ratchet alone, free to move around, and his newborn sparkling.

A loud whine escaped Lightswipe, as she started to squirm and mewl in complaint.

"Your hungry, aren't you?" Ratchet asked softly, sitting down on the cool floor and cradling the sparkling. "You'll have to wait... maybe Sir will allow a little energon..."

"Waaaaaah!" Lightswipe whined, staring up at him with wide optics.

A sigh escaped Ratchet. "Please don't do this."

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" She whined louder.

There's got to be some energon around here... The medic stood, and looked around. All he saw was... carts with daggers, chains, a large pile of rocks, and shelves with tools and parts. He sighed, before walking over to the shelves. Below them were a few drawers.

"Let's have a look, shall we?" Ratchet muttered to the sparkling, who was beginning to cry, and opened the first one.

The first drawer was filled with empty sparkling bottles,and pacifiers!

Ratchet raised an optic ridge, and slowly took a bottle. "What use does that wretched mech have for these?" He muttered.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

"I'm working on it, little one. Be patient." Ratchet sighed, before opening the next drawer. It was filled with energon cubes, marked 'formula'. Suspiciously, Ratchet took one and examined it closely. I looked perfectly normal!

Still holding a questioning gaze, he poured the contents of the cube into the bottle, and lowered it into Lightswipe's reach. Tiny servos reached up and grabbed the edges, pulling it down, before she dramatically shoved the nozel into her mouth and beginning to viciously devour the formula.

"Better?" Ratchet asked, returning to his original spot and sitting down. "Think Sir will notice?"

The little femme stared up at him as she fed, blinking every so often.

Ratchet smiled, an affectionate shine coming to his optics as he stared down at the sparkling. "You... have Orion's optics, you know." He whispered. "Before Optimus was his name... when he laughed, and made jokes, and... when he first fell in love with me."

"Gahhmm naaamh..." Lightswipe began to gnaw on the nozel of the bottle, which was now empty.

"Why, you pathetic little glitch!" Sir's voice made Ratchet jump, as it boomed rather suddenly. "I said don't touch anything!" The silver mech stormed over to the medic. "Are you always this incapable of taking orders?!"

"She needed to feed..." Ratchet said softly, hugging Lightswipe close.

"Aaaaaargh!" He snarled angrily.

"Why do you even have have those?" Ratchet pointed to the drawers. "They can't have any use to you!"

Sir froze, before glancing over at the drawers, a hurt expression coming to his face. "It's none of your concern..."

"D-Did you have a sparkling?" Ratchet asked, tilting his helm a bit. "Is that why-"

"SHUT UP!" Sir screamed, spinning around and storming over to the drawers, and shoving them all closed rather violently. "SHUT UP!"

Ratchet recoiled a bit, the mech's sudden and loud outburst echoing through the cave, startling Lightswipe as well, who started to wail and cry.

"Shhh..." Ratchet whispered to her, holding her close, sending a few nervous glances at Sir.

The silver mech stood at the shelves and drawers, his back to Ratchet, silent.

"...S-Sir?" Ratchet asked quietly.

"His.... his name was Silverwing..." Sir whispered. "H-He was part seeker..." The silver mech turned to face Ratchet, lifting a servo to point at the neat pile of rocks, stacked high on top of each other. "H-He was sick. I tried, but I c-couldn't save him... he offlined in these caves." He looked at Ratchet with optics that were dull with grief. "I couldn't save my son..."

Ratchet stared at him with shocked optics. "I-I..."

"Now shut up, I need to work. You have access to the sparkling supplies, but no more. If you nag me anymore, I'll rip out your T-Cog." Sir turned and left the room, whatever sensitivity that he had was gone.

Ratchet stared at the pile of rocks, the grave, with horrified optics.