Transformers Prime: Sparkbeat {Completed}

Chapter 7: Passion

Ratchet's POV:

The crisp morning air makes the chains around my wrists cold; when Megatron said at dawn, I didn't think he meant four in the morning, when even Optimus just wants to get a few more minutes of recharge. The Prime stands beside me, shifting uncomfortably in his chains with a grim look on his faceplate.

Megatron paces, back and forth and back and forth and back and forth,  until he trips and falls flat on his faceplate. I try not to laugh as he quickly gets up and walks away like nothing happened.

There are three Decepticons holding me in my place, there has to be about five holding Optimus, and I can't see how many are holding Arcee from this angle. wonder how Ultra Malachite is... I find myself thinking; and sadness creeps into my spark. For the sake of Cybertron, let her be okay.

A groundbridge opens up, and Emma in beast mode, Everence, Bumblebee and Bulkhead come through. Ravage roars fiercely at Emma, who in return bellows a roar of her own.

"Megatron." Everence growls, anger flickering wildly in her optics.

"Ahh, the Autobots." The warlord snickers in return. "Have you brought the gem?"

Reluctantly, Bumblebee reveals a sparkling purpleish white stone in the palm of his servo.  This makes Megatron smile.

"Hand it over, and we will release your comrades." He states, gesturing to me, Arcee and Optimus.

"Release them, and we'll give you the gem." Everence retorts, though deep inside, I can sense her fear.

Megatron stiffens, and then slightly chuckles. "Oh, I don't think so." Then he has to make me the weak link, and activates his cannon to point it straight at me. Scrap! Optimus stiffens beside me, and holds his breath, and Arcee sends Megatron the death glare she's known for.

"The gem, now, or your medic will be sent into oblivion." The Decepticon warlord snarls.

Everence sighs, and gestures to Bumblebee. The scout nervously glances at Megatron, then slowly strides towards Soundwave, who has an extended servo. Emma joins Bumblebee, staying close to his side, and growling at Soundwave when they came close.

Soundwave delivers the gem to Megatron, who lifts his cannon away from me, takes the gem and looks it over.

"Uh, what does it do?" Starscream asks.

Megatron smiles, and gestures to the Decepticons that are holding me.A couple grab a hold of my servo and force it forward, and Megatron comes dangerously close. With the tip of his sword, he thinly slices a cut across my palm, and tilts my servo over to Energon drips onto the gem.

I bite back the pain; I can't let it bother me. The gem begins to glow, brighter and brighter, to blinding to stare at, so I look away.

"Are you alright?" Optimus asks me.

"Yes." I reply, glancing down at the cut.

"MWHAHAHAHA!" There it is. The evil laugh. This is not good.

Megatron holds the gem proudly and glances back at me. "Thank you for your contribution, dearest Ratchet." He growls.

Part of me wants to mimic him, in the most annoying voice I could muster, but that won't help anything.

"The Gem of Sentinol's Hope, grants the power of transformation, a unique shape shifting ability only granted by this special Relic, created by Sentinol Prime back when Cybertron was alighted." Megatron says loudly, gripping the gem tight in his servo.

"You have what you want. Release them." Everence growls, gesturing to us.

A sly smile creeps onto the warlord's faceplate, but Ravage sends him a look that almost says ,'You are going to let them go, right?' Ravage was most likely taken into the Decepticon ranks believing good things about Megatron, and loyalty. And Megatron doesn't want to get on that techno organic's bad side, let me tell ya. Megatron gestures to the Decepticons, and they unchain our wrists and FREEEEDDDOOOOMMM! I want to skip in circles, but that'd crush my reputation.

We join the rest of the bots; Everence comes forward and pulls Optimus and I into a group hug, whispering that she was worried. Emma is nudging my leg, and when I turn to her she jumps back and wags her tail, like a canine would. Bulkhead and Bumblebee welcome Arcee brightly.

"Malachite, send a groundbridge." Everence releases Optimus and I and calls over the groundbridge. She then turns to me and says, "And might I tell you, your daughter is just the prettiest."

Daughter? THE SPARKLING! My spark starts doing back flips, and servo stands, and disco dancing, and all that stuff.

"This is only the beginning." Megatron laughs as we retreat through the groundbridge.