Poisoned (BOOK TWO OF TRANSFORMED)

Chapter 6

Arcee's pov

What the hell? So, my morning started out wonderfully. My sparkmate just about died, I have a human flu and I keep getting the weirdest flashbacks. I mean, I haven't thought about Tailgate in so long... and yet here I am, kind of... reliving that day all over again. Each time, it's like I've travelled back in time to the day where he died only... each time, it gets worse. I sigh... what's wrong with me? Bee and I step out of the elevator behind Ratchet and we head up to the human section.

"Okay, you had all better sit down before I tell this to you... I don't need anyone else accidentally falling this morning." He says and looks at Bumblebee who smiles sheepishly.

"So, not only have you all become humans again and somehow managed to get yourselves sick but... I think that mixture did something worse." He explains. We all just look at each other. What is he talking about? Something worse?! What could possibly be worse than being a human?!

"Okay, Ratchet... what's the "worst" part?" I ask. He looks at me with a blank expression.

"Well, anytime you experience something similar or see something like, a movement or an object, that have anything to do with the most traumatic experience you've had your whole life, it triggers a memory of that happening... only, it's more like you're... reliving the moment rather than just remembering it..." he says. Oh, well... that is worse than being a human, I guess... on the bright side though, we don't have to go back to that school to supposedly "protect" the humans from any threats.... besides, I think after that fight Bee got in with Vince, no one's been bothering the three kids so... yeah.

Bumblebee's pov

Well, that makes a whole lot of sense now... no wonder I almost fell from the base today... shit.

'Um so, how exactly do we stop this or cure it?' I ask. Ratchet looks at me with a confused expression.

"Well, I'm assuming we'd do what we did last time and, oh I don't know, use the same cure? Or is that a dumb idea?" He responds, with loads of salt hidden behind his words. I just roll my optics at him.

'Okay, jeesh, I just figured that maybe since it's a slightly different situation this time, we might need to do something different. Maybe not though, I guess I'm just really stupid.' He just face servos.

"Yes but... ugh, can we just move on, please? This conversation is giving me a helmache." He grumbles as he starts towards his computer, in an attempt to start working on the cure once again.

"Who poisoned you guys this time?" He asks us. We all look at each other, confusion written over everyone's faces. Optimus speaks up.

"Ratchet, we were attacked from behind... I don't think anyone saw who it was..." he says and we all nod our helms. He just stands there, staring at us.

"You mean, not a single one of you saw your attacker? So it could have been anyone of the cons?!" We all stare at each other and then back to Ratchet. We nod our heads slowly and hesitantly... he growls and makes an attempt not to slam his servo on his keypad. He takes a slow and deep breath and exhales before speaking again.

"I need a sample of your attacker's energon to complete the cure. It just so happens that last time Knockout pushed you guys in. So we lucked out with him and were able to get his energon but if you guys don't know who did it this time, how are we supposed to get an energon sample from them?!" We all just stare at each other, a slight trace of fear in everyone's optics at the tone of Ratchet's voice.

"Um..." Bulkhead starts but quickly realizes that he's got nothing. Ratchet gives a heavy and annoyed sigh and walks out of the room.

'I guess we'd better start thinking...' I suggest and everybody agrees. We're all sitting here for a few moments, thinking as hard as we can when Smokescreen starts to panic. Jeez, what did he see? Does the carpet look like a beard or something?

Smokescreen's pov

As I try to think of who may have poisoned us, I stare at the carpet. The more I concentrate on it as I think, the more it begins to look like Alpha Trion's beard. Alpha Trion... my mentor... I look up and realize that I'm back at the iacon base. The Decepticons are attacking and they're beating him up. They're beating up Alpha Trion.

"No!!" I yell, "let him go!!" They all look at me as I start to choke on the smoke filling the room. One of them starts to walk towards me. I try to defend myself but since I haven't been trained for combat yet, I end up just looking like an idiot. He grabs my wrists and binds them together as I struggle and then forces me to look at my mentor. The other con turns his servo into a blade and stabs Alpha Trion right through the chassis.

"No!!!" I yell and bite my captor. He knocks me on the helm and I go unconscious.

The next time I open my eyes, I'm sitting in the base on Earth. Everyone is staring at me and I smile sheepishly.

"So that's what trauma feels like... great..." I say and Bulkhead makes an attempt at scooting closer to me.

"You okay? You looked pretty shook." He says and I just nod my hel- I mean, head.

"All good up here." I say as I tap my head. Arcee looks at Bee and he just shrugs his shoulders. Optimus looks at me, worry laced in his optics.

"Smokescreen, might I ask what triggered your memory?" He asks. Well, this will probably sound stupid...

"The carpet..." I mumble. Bumblebee starts snickering and Arcee slaps him as Optimus gives him "the look". He immediately stops.

'Sorry it's just, when I noticed you start panicking, I was confused as to why since there was nothing in here so then I thought, "what, did the carpet remind you of his beard?" and then... um, I was right...' he says trying not to laugh again. Everyone, including Optimus, roll their eyes. Optimus decides to sit up from his position on the couch and starts speaking.

"Has anyone managed to successfully think of something helpful?" He asks. Everyone shakes their heads. Suddenly Bumblebee speaks up.

'Maybe we should do some investigating...' he suggests. We all stare at him.

'What, just cause we can barely walk without getting sick, doesn't mean we can't make an attempt at actually figuring out who did this! Right?' He asks and we all just keep staring.

'Okay okay! I'll do it myself." He states, and with that, he shakily gets up and makes an attempt at walking down the stairs. We hear him stumble, and then a loud crash and then a weak "I'm okay!". I look at the others.

"Did he just fall down the stairs?" I ask. They all just nod their heads.