Transformers Prime: Sparkbeat {Completed}

Chapter 1: Dark Time

Emma's POV:

Wait... what does 'with sparkling' mean? I look at Jack, Raf and Miko, and they look as confused as I am; but the happy look in Malachite's shining optics tell me it's a good thing. Ratchet is happy too, scrap, how did that happen, Optimus is happy and heck with it, everyone's happy. Except for us, the children,  cuz me have no idea what is going on. Ultra Malachite had come in, smiling, and said she was 'with Sparkling', WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!

"Hey Everence?" Leaning over, I whisper to the femme curiosily.  "What does 'with sparkling' mean?"

Everence has to think for a minute, translating it into human words, then smiles at me. "She's pregnant, Emma."

THE HELL? I suddenly get excited too, so do the other 'children'.

Malachite stands beside Ratchet and puts a servo on his shoulder, her bright smile shining. He smiles back at her.

Yeah, that was a few months ago. Now, things are different. Scrap happened, I'll tell ya.

You see, the Decepticons got their filthy claws on another techno organic, a HUGE robo cat thing, its freaking taller than me in my beast mode, and we found something just as dangerous. The Gem of Sentinol's Hope, a small gem that grants power, great power, and the Decepticons want it. They want it real bad. Optimus, Arcee and Ratchet had gone out yesterday, and... the Decepticons got them. We haven't seen them since. They've been taken captive and... well thats it.

"Decepticon activity." Everence growls, and Malachite jumps to her peds and clenches her servos into fists.

"Their taunting us." The malachite femme says slowly, her optics flickering with cold rage and despair. "This is the third one today, and whenever we act,  their already gone. This is just a cat and mouse game."

"Yes but if we get to the Decepticons, we get to Optimus, Ratchet and Arcee." Bulkhead puts in reluctantly.

"Bulkhead, we need to focus on the important things, like a way to track down the Nemesis. We can't scrabble at the fishing line they've cast." Everence glances back at him sharply, her own optics flaring with anger.

I sigh, fustrated and hopeless.

"It looks like Ravage is there." Her optics glaring at the screen coldly, Everence says.

The other techno organic!

"Let me engage him. Maybe I can make him see that the Cons aren't the good guys!" My suggestion makes Everence growl at me.

"You can't take on Ravage!" She roars.

"She does have a point." Bulkhead puts in, and Malachite nods.

With a long sigh, Everence nods her okay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Optimus's POV:

The dimly lit cell in its own way is nerve racking, energon stains on the floor and claw marks down the walls. Many have been slaughtered here. Ratchet stands beside me, noticing the horrifying details as well. Arcee had been taken to a different cell and chained up, and since I'm the one Megatron is planning to interrogate, I don't see why Ratchet isn't with her, but, deep in my spark, Ratchet's presence is comforting.

"Optimus?" The medic glances up at me, a slightly worried look in his gleaming blue optics.

"Yes?"

"I... when your taken to Megatron, it may be the last time we meet." He replies, his voice shaking.

Is he saying Megatron is going to terminate me? I frown, knowing it's probably true, and he quickly shakes his helm.

"I mean... their going to terminate me." Ratchet says to clear the air.

My chest tightens. What?

"I heard... Knockout and Megatron talking about new weapons they've made, and needing testing material to explore the weapons' capabilities. That's why I'm here."

A wave of pain chills my spark, making me sick. Is that why he's been put in this cell?

"No..." I turn to him and say, I know my voice sounds cowardly, but that's beyond the point. "They...."

Ratchet opens his mouth to say something, but the cell door opens and a few Decepticons stride in, one holding clamps, with Megatron close behind them. The one with the clamps gestures to me, and I send one last look of pain to Ratchet.