Achelois

9: A Trick!

"Optimus!" Ratchet called to Optimus. "I have located some energon."

Optimus' optics narrowed. "And since we are only able to locate it when there it is uncovered..."

Ratchet nods. "Decepticons."

Optimus turns to the other Autobots. "Autobots!" He called as Ratchet opened a ground bridge. "Transform, and roll out!"

He transforms and drives through the ground bridge, the team following him. He is forced to transform almost immediately due to a missile coming towards him. He rolls out of the way, as does his team. Almost immediately after the explosion of the missile, Starscream's cackle is heard.

"Just as you predicted, Lord Megatron", Starscream said. "The Autobots have arrived."

A loud, booming, evil laugh came from above them as Megatron transformed, and dropped from the sky, landing on his pedes.

"Ah, you never cease to disappoint, Optimus", he smirked. Optimus narrowed his optics at Megatron, suspicious, seeing as Megatron was never at a mining operation. Something had to be up. And something was up, because no sooner than had Optimus narrowed his optics, did Ratchet try to communicate with them.

"Optimus! Soundwave is at the children's school!" he cried out, worry filling his voice. "He is acting as a substitute for Faria's class!"

Optimus' optics widen before he glared at Megatron. He reached a digit up to his audio receptor to answer the comm unit.

"Understood, Ratchet", he said. "Bridge us back." Megatron only watched as this unfolded, a smirk evident on his face plate the entire time.

"Optimus, do you read me?!" Ratchet cried out, worry evident in his voice even more. Optimus once again tried to respond, but to no avail. Megatron laughed again.

"Our communications blocker is very efficient, though it appears it could be worked upon", Megatron murmured. "Your pets are in danger, Optimus, though I am only after one. She seems to be especially close to the medic."

Optimus eyes widened again, and he charged at Megatron, anger taking over his system. He transformed his servo into his blade, and started to attack Megatron with it. Unfortunately, Megatron was evenly matched. After several minutes of duking it out, Megatron received a message on his comm unit, and everyone could hear it.

"Lord Megatron, you'll never believe what Soundwave has collected", Knockout's sultry voice came over the comm unit.

Megatron chuckled, knowing immediately what it was. "Good luck getting your medics pet back." With that, he transformed, and took off, his soldiers following him. Optimus let out an angry yell towards the sky, before trying to comm Ratchet.

"Ratchet, send a ground bridge", he said softly. He turned to his friends. "Collect as much energon as you can."

As they do that, a ground bridge opened up, and Optimus walked through, arms full of energon to be processed. He set it down on a bin, before turning to Ratchet, who was watching him carefully, not to mention nervously.

"Optimus?" he asked, fidgeting slightly. "Were you able to hear me over the comm unit?"

Optimus gave a short nod. "Old friend, I am sorry."

Ratchet looked confused. "For what?"

"They took her."

Ratchet's eyes widened, before he sat down on one of the big crates they had. "How... How do you know...?"

"Megatron... it was all a scheme to get to Faria", Optimus says, resting a hand on his friends shoulder. Ratchet shrugged him off, standing. 

"If you... need me..." Ratchet hung his head. "I will be going for a drive."

Optimus nodded and watched as his old friend transformed and disappeared into the tunnel leading outside. He watched until his teammates came back, arms full of energon, as well as a few carts full of it. Optimus gave a soft smile before disappearing to the back of the base.

Ratchet couldn't believe it. How could they take her? How did they even know she existed? The only decepticon that knew of her was Airachnid, and from what Ratchet knew, Airachnid hadn't gone back to the Decepticons.

After several minutes of driving, he found himself outside Faria's house. He activated his holoform and sat there in silence for several minutes, just thinking about how the 'cons knew of Faria until he suddenly realized it.

"They can track my position outside of base if they get onto the right frequency", Ratchet murmured to himself. "They must have noticed that I frequented her house and her school and realized just how much she means to me. Slag it, Ratchet! This is why you don't get close to humans..."

Ratchet jumped when someone knocked on the door next to him. He recognized her as Dahlia, Faria's friend, and housemate. He smiled sadly at her, and opened his door.

"Ratch, was it?" Dahlia asked as he got out. He nodded and she gave him a soft smile. "Hey, have you seen Faria? I heard school got cancelled today because of a bomb threat, but multiple students have said that they saw a giant robot. They sent students home, but Faria never came home."

Ratchet felt tears build up in his eyes, so he looked to the ground and whisper, "I'm sorry. They took her. There wasn't anything I could do."

"Ratch?" Dahlia asked. "What are you talking about?" Ratchet wiped away his tears as he looked up from the ground to talk to her.

"They took her. And I couldn't do anything."

"Who took her?" Dahlia was getting worried, but Ratchet didn't want to say anything out on the streets. He shook his head, and pointed to the house. Dahlia, understanding what he meant, led him inside. It was there that he spilled everything.

"I'm sure Faria has told you that I am not who I say I am, and it's true, for the most part. This is not my real form. The ambulance outside is my real form. Kind of. I am one of those giant robots the students have been talking about. My real name is Ratchet, though you are free to continue calling me Ratch", Ratchet murmurs, though never looking up from the ground. Dahlia grew worried, but allowed Ratchet to continue. "I am part of the Autobots, the good side in the war we currently battle. The giant robot students speak of is Soundwave, one of the bad guys called Decepticons. He... he took Faria. And I don't know what to do... I'm her guardian, and I can't even protect her... I'm just a rusty old medic!"

Dahlia was silent for a few moments. "I would think you're pulling my leg, but you... sound very sincere."

Ratchet smiled sadly, tears dripping from his eyes onto his hands. "I want to protect her. I've... grown to care for her, and I fear that is why the Decepticons have taken her..." Ratchet chuckled sadly. "They found her because of me... it's my fault..."

"You sound like you love her", Dahlia commented. Ratchet's head shot up, and he stared at her in shock. 

"I do not love her! I just care for her as a friend!" he exclaimed defensively. Dahlia chuckled, raising her hands up. 

"I'm just saying", she said. "But... you have to be careful. Faria is not one to trust people easily. I'm honestly surprised she's trusted you so easily. It took her almost an entire year to begin to even start trusting me. But.. just be there for her, and she'll let you in, slowly but surely."

Ratchet listened intently. "Dahlia... is there... anything about Faria that I should know right off the bat?"

Dahlia chuckled. "She's got a lot of secrets. Some of which even I don't know. But she'll them with you when she's ready for you to know. Just don't break her trust, otherwise you'll never get it again."

Ratchet nodded, before standing. "Well, I must return to base. My team needs me."

Dahlia smiled softly. "See ya around, Ratchet."

Ratchet smiled in return and goes to leave but paused for a moment, turning to look at Dahlia. "Oh, and don't tell anyone that there are giant robots. Don't even confirm the rumors. We are supposed to be robots in disguise, after all."

Dahlia nodded. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

Ratchet goes to the door, before looking to Dahlia. "Thank you, Dahlia."

Dahlia only smiled at him as he left.