Healing Hearts

Chapter 11

📦 Happy Boxing Day! 📦

William Lennox ran a hand through his hair as he sighed explosively. Approaching the edge of the catwalk they had built in the Transformer's housing hangar under his authority as the head of the Non-biological Extraterrestrial Species Treaty, the brunette called out to the passing alien he needed to talk to. "Prime. I've got news you need to hear."
The twenty-eight foot Autobot leader paused in his thunderous walk to turn and face the tiny human, his blue optics glowing brightly.
"What is this news, Lieutenant Colonel Lennox?" Pushing down his unease at the sight of the alien's unwavering stare, William charged on.
"It's about Megatron. He's not where we left him. We fear he may still be alive."
The Prime took a step closer to the NEST head as he listened, crouching so as to bring his optics closer to William.
"By all logic, that should be impossible. Are you certain the other Decepticons did not pick up his body?"
Glad to have an excuse to turn away from the huge robot's piercing stare, the Lieutenant Colonel motioned to one of the Techs he had manning the large computer in the hangar to display their new, most troubling piece of evidence. It was of the place in which Megatron had been slain, but there was no giant Cybertronian. There was no extra rubble or destruction in the scene, it looked exactly as it had when they left- sans Megatron.
"The Decepticons can't just attach hooks to the front of his body and pull him up, right?" Optimus Prime hummed as he considered the possibilities.
"They have the ability to, but it would be unwise. To do so would damage Megatron's outer armor, and with Cybertron destroyed, it would be nearly impossible to fix."
William nodded, even as a chill slithered down his spine. Any other form of retraction, other than Megatron actually being alive, would have caused excess rubble to break from the road or the buildings, marring the perfect replica of the battle remains the Lieutenant Colonel and Optimus Prime could make out from the picture.
"If Megatron is truly still alive, then the battle in Mission City was a failure. We have lost the Allspark and you lost many good men. For that, I apologize, Lieutenant Colonel."
The military leader growled to himself as he realized the Prime was right. Many of his best soldiers had died for nothing. "Don't apologize for anything, Prime. Just make sure, next time, he's dead for good."
Stalking off in anger, William swore on his life to avenge the lives of the men he lost to those dastardly Decepticons.

Optimus Prime watched as the leader of the human soldiers stormed away, muttering to himself. His spark felt heavy. Many of Lieutenant Colonel Lennox's men had died attempting to fight the murderous Decepticons. The Autobots had lost Jazz, and now all of these losses were in vain. And the Allspark... The Allspark was lost forever.
Turning away from the evidence that unearthed the truth of Megatron, Optimus Prime sought out Ratchet, his medical officer.
Finding the orange and white bot looking over their energon stores, Optimus frowned at Ratchet's grave face. "Smaller rations again?"
The medical officer dropped his clipboard, fell into a fighting stance, and brought up a wrench, battle mask already covering his face. Blue optics alighting on the large body of his leader, Ratchet vented, bending to pick up his clipboard and set his wrench down.
"Optimus, how many times have I requested that you not sneak up on me?"
The corners of the Prime's mouthplate twitched as he calmly watched his second-in-command grumble and grouse. "Over three thousand times, old friend. I'd think you'd be used to such things by now."
"Oh, come off it, Optimus. You know my processor's still stuck in survival mode. It's not getting any younger." Optimus Prime smiled as Ratchet huffed, putting down his clipboard to come over near the Autobot leader. "Well, is something the matter? I'd hardly think you're in need of a processor check, especially at your age."
The two bots stood in silence for a few clicks, as Ratchet realized that he was right, and something was bothering the young Prime.
"Ratchet, you're the best medical officer I've known and one of the top healers back on Cybertron. If you didn't know this, then I doubt anybot would, but... is it possible to come back online after a spark overload?" Ratchet's optics widened as the implications of that question hit him.
Sitting down heavily on the metal scanning table, Ratchet vented deeply. "He's still alive?"
"There is evidence that he may be."
Running a servo down his faceplate, Ratchet groaned. "That scrap heap. The only thing I could think of..."
The medic's optics widened as he turned his face upwards to catch Optimus Prime's optics. The younger mech's faceplate hardened as he understood. "The Allspark."
Ratchet nodded. "It's the only think that would be able to restore life to an offlined Cybertronian. Somehow the cube wasn't completely destroyed when it was slammed into his chassis.
"Ratchet, you do not believe...?"
"That they can still harness the Allspark?"
Ratchet stood up from his make-shift chair and paced away from his leader. "My processor doesn't know what to think. All I know is that we need to find a way to stop this war, and fast." He pivoted on his servo to turn and face the bigger bot. "We're running out of energon, Optimus."
Lowering his helm, Optimus Prime recognized the dire straits the Autobots were in. If the Decepticons indeed had control over the Allspark, they'd be able to create as much energon as they wanted. Megatron would be unstoppable.

-

"I am Optimus Prime, and I send this message to any surviving Autobots taking refuge among the stars: We are here. We are waiting. And we need your help."