Driven to Murder

~Part 2 : Chapter 1~

Optimus has been a lost cause to us, Ratchet resumed command of the Autobots and all the children have forgotten his killing spree, and the devastation the town of Jasper had faced a year ago. The team and former 'cons have gotten along very nicely, but Ratchet and Knockout still don't see eye-to-eye. The children had changed greatly, Hibby, Dewy, and Emma found their forever home.

'Bless there bright little souls.' I thought with a smile on my face.

I visit the trio every weekend, I always bring each one a small treat that I would bake at home. Occasionally I would babysit the trio as well. Each time they ask for a story, they always ask me about the demon who destroyed Jasper, and that only brought old, painful memories back from there graves.

Sometimes I would wander into the holding cell that Optimus was kept in. I would crawl up and sit upon his chest, right where his spark is. Over the past year Ratchet and I noticed how his body would ever so slowly morph back to normal.

After one year I can tell it was Optimus and maybe he soon would wake, a refreshed and leader-like once more. All I can do is hope, wait and see what the future will bring.

~Present~

I was in Optimus' holding cell, reading Romeo and Juliet to him, hoping he would be listening. I had my music playing, lowly on my phone's speaker. I had Tightrope by Michelle Williams playing at the moment.

I stopped reading and placed the book down, marking where I was in the book. I stared at his blank, yet calm face. I then started to talk to him as if he was awake and normal.

"It's been a year since you went into this forever sleep, Ratchet and I still think there is hope for you, while Knockout says we should just give up. I can't do that though, the team needs you, they need a real leader. I need you.. When will you wake up? When will your kindness, your determination, your love return?" I felt my heart drop into depression and a weight lifted from my chest.

I waited to see if I had gotten him to wake from his year-long sleep, but minutes passed and there was no sign of him waking. A frown grew on my face and my brows furrowed in sadness. Nothing I could do to even wake him, not even a meaningful talk.

I suddenly heard the voice of Ratchet, along with his ped steps. He was behind me, I wondered if he heard me plea for Optimus, our Optimus to wake.

"Crystal, I think you should head home, it's quite late." He said softly.

Ratchet and I have grown fond of each other, but we are not a couple. He knows it too, he was the one to get me back to the girl I once was, before Optimus went crazy. If it wasn't for Ratchet I may not even be alive today. He was the one who attacked optimus that fateful night and I fired my pistol.

~Flashback~

"Your gonna shoot me?!" His face contorted into a sinister grin.

Outta nowhere Ratchet comes swinging in and punches Optimus in the face, creating a distraction so I can shoot Optimus in the head.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

All you heard were three shots fired, and the sound of burning flames all around. Optimus tensed up, his scorching blood red eyes went wide and then they flickered to there once beautiful, electric blue ones.

"Thank.... You Crysss- taall...." His voice fizzled and cracked with the darker voice and his original, kind voice.

~Flashback ends~

I looked at Ratchet and nodded, I picked up my book and before hopping onto Ratchets hand I took one last look at Optimus. I hoped for a response, but didn't get one. Then I got on Ratchet's hand and we left his cell. While making our way back to the main area of base I asked Ratchet something about Optimus.