Being Human (Transformers Prime)

Chapter One | In the Beginning

"In every end, there is always a beginning."

~Libba Bray

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"Ratchet?" June Darby called as she got out of her car, slamming the door shut and running toward the Groundbridge that had been left open. The swirling green portal hummed rhythmically, its hum only broken when the Autobot medic walked through.

"Nurse Darby." He says urgently. "I need you to get out of my way!"

A hand flew up to her mouth as she saw what he had cradled in his hands. Blue armor was singed almost to the point of unrecognizeable, smoke curling off exposed wiring. A pink headcrest shone dully in the light, the only thing that helped June tell where Arcee's head even was.

"Oh no . . ." She stood frozen in shock, Ratchet running past her and setting Arcee on a medical berth. But he didn't stop there, instead turning around and running straight through the portal again. June came to a horrible conclusion, tears springing to her eyes.

The Autobots had been ambushed, and she could only imagine that the kids were caught in the crossfire.

Blue fire suddenly streaked into the base, billowing and menacing as it turned black and smokey and knocked June off her feet. She fell with a hard thump, coughing as the smoke took away her oxygen and her eyes stinging.

Energon explosion.

That was the only explanation. And seeing the state Arcee was in, June began to cry harder. If all the Autobots were like that, there was no way the kids could have survived. Her heart ripped in two at the though of Jack lying somewhere on the ground, burnt to nothing. A hysterical sob escapes her, and she curls into a small ball and cries as hard as she wished, despite the fact it made her cough even harder. Three children, one of which her son and two she considered family, were just ripped from her hands.

She heard the footsteps of someone walking into the base, but when her eyes cracked open, all there was was black, stinging smoke. Her throat was raw, but she didn't know if it was from her crying or the smoke.

"Nurse Darby!" Ratchet called out. "Where are you?"

"H-here." Was all she could say, her voice weak and disturbed by coughs, which was the only thing Ratchet could hear to even know she was in the base. Piercing blue light suddenly penetrated the smoke, landing on her for a moment before a large orange and white hand scooped her up carefully. She cotinued to cough and tremble, the smoke slowly dissipated as it floated up towards the top of the base.

Ratchet gave a soft grunt as he shifted the weight of something heavy on his shoulder, his chest plates opening up just enough so he could slip June in, but that hesitation was just enough for her to see the next Autobot victim.

Bumblebee was as black as his racing stripes, a doorwing torn halfway off and bright blue energon leaking from it. One of his arms look absolutely decimated, and he lay just as still as Arcee did.

"I'll provide some ventilation for you." Ratchet began talking to June as he set Bumblebee on another berth, his fans kicking on just as promised and giving June clean, clear air. "But I need you to remain silent."

As if my talking will change anything. June wanted to snap, but she still felt broken on the inside. So she simply curled up in his chest compartment and coughed as quietly as possible, her body jerking with the effort.

The sound of roaring fires rang in June's ears as Ratchet stepped back into the death trap, another explosion shaking him violently and threatening to destroy the cavern.