Transformers Prime: Sparkbeat {Completed}

Chapter 22: What Are We Gonna Do

Ratchet's POV:

Malachite looks at me with confused, oblivious optics, the joy of her returning was washed away in the pain of the loss of her memory. Now, it would seem threatening to her if I took her hand, or tell her I love her. It's... Just gone, she can't remember anything, not me, not Mithra. Primus, why her?

Darkplague gestures to me, she seems so foreign, so... unnatural.  "Ratchet, there is a way to reverse the affect on Ultra Malachite, in the lab, when they... tested on me... They spoke of a reversing device. If we can get into the base again--"

"And why should we trust you?" Everence rises to her peds, a dangerous look in her optics.

Darkplague snarls and... claws slide from her fingers like that of a feline's. Her denta bared, she takes a step towards Everence. "You think I'm a friend of those Decepticons? The ones that... tested on me... took me apart and reassembled me over and over again? YOU THINK I'D CHOOSE THOSE LOW HANGING FRAGS OVER A SPECIES MUCH TO LOYAL AND HONORABLE? OVER THE AUTOBOTS?"

Everence doesn't flinch at the sudden lash out; only lowers and readies for combat.

"Trust is earned. Because you snuck out with us doesn't mean your an allie." She says calmly.

I find myself stepping in front of Malachite, even with her memory lost I will give my spark for her protection.

Darkplague growls and tenses. "You know what they did to me in that lab? Do you know the torture I went through? Just to make some super soldier?!"

The sound of running peds makes me turn around, and SCRAP MALACHITE WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!

The femme has taken off, transformed and blasted out into the sky, far from reach.

"Malachite!" Arcee yells, but it's too late.

She is gone, taken off before any of us can ask her why she's leaving, but it pains my spark to see her go. 

"We have to get her back... So many things can happen, and she can't remember us, or the threat the Decepticons make." Everence says firmly, optics pained and worried. She and Malachite had been friends, before all of this scrap happened.

Optimus nods in agreement. "Ratchet, Everence, I believe it would be best if you two searched for her. If she can remember anything, it's the kindness you two have shown since the loss of her memory."

Mithra is watching the sky where her mother had taken off, confused and scared. She then looks at me, and my spark just melts.

"Affirmative." Everence nods, but I approach Optimus and crouch down beside him, and Mithra crawls into my arms.

"We'll be back." I whisper to her, and she hugs me tightly.

~~~~~~~~

"Any sign?" Everence asks over the com link; she is scouting the area in helicopter form as I drive.

"Nothing." A disappointing reply, we have to find Malachite.

About five minutes pass, still no sign of Ultra Malachite, and my spark is aching for the femme.

"Well, well." A... hauntingly familiar voice snarls. "The medic. A bit far from your comrades, aren't you?"

I transform and clench my hands into fists. "Alto."

Alto isn't one for conversation, clearly, because he lunges for me, slamming me and throwing me into a large rock. It crumbles beneath me, and the infuriated mech lashes out at me with his sword. I narrowly dodge it, and attempt to scramble away, but he swipes again and the blade slices down my leg, leaving a clean, energon blue line.

"Gah!" The wound stings greatly as I lay on my back, barely sitting up and attempting to back away.

"You were supposed to die a long time ago, well, at long last, here you are..." Alto growls, and draws his arm back, ready to strike.