Enter Dante, The Rev-9: Book 2: Revelations

Chapter 2: Orion Pax: Part 2

3rd Person POV

Autobot Base

Dante watched from a platform as Rafael readied a remote-controlled car to test the 'improved' Groundbridge.

"Check," Raf affirmed. "Long range GPS activated."

"I have doubts whether my recalibrations have successfully extended Groundbridge range, but there is only one way to find out." Ratchet activated the Groundbridge, and Raf guided the remote-controlled car towards it.

Dante, Raf, and Ratchet watched as the car rolled into the bridge.

"Come on...." Ratchet muttered.

Just when it seemed like it was going to work, the car exploded into fragments. Ratchet groaned.

"It was just the first try," Raf encouraged the downtrodden medic.

"Yeah," Dante agreed, half paying attention as he hacked a computer with the exoskeleton on the bottom of his finger, searching for any signs of a Spacebridge. "You'll get it soon enough."

"No," Ratchet sighed. "It was pure folly. A misguided act of desperation. It takes eons to master Spacebridge engineering. And no one is more accomplished than the Decepticons."

Raf was silent for a moment before speaking up. "You know, there's this thing in gym class where you have to climb a rope... all the way to the ceiling. It's really hard."

Dante retracted his exoskeleton and turned in his chair, wondering where Raf was going with this, since the Rev-9 had stopped going to school altogether, deciding that it was a waste of his time.

"I've never been able to do it," Raf continued. "When I told Bee about it, he believed in me. Which made me practice a ton. Finally, just a couple of weeks ago... I made it. To the top."

"What does any of this have to do with gym class?" Ratchet demanded, whirling around to face the young boy.

"I-I was just..."

Ratchet huffed and turned back to his work.

"I'll just give you some alone time," Raf said and walked off.

Dante frowned before turning back to his computer and resumed hacking with his exoskeleton, out of Ratchet's view, of course. Optimus's disappearance was taking more of a toll than he thought possible.

Timeskip

Dante watched as Bulkhead returned through the Groundbridge and transformed. "No sign of Energon spikes," he reported. "Any of the others find a Spacebridge?"

"They haven't yet reported back," Ratchet sighed.

"Ratchet, you alright?" Bulkhead asked in concern.

"Hmm? Yes. Yes, let's just get you to the next quadrant," Ratchet replied absentmindedly as he turned to a monitor.

Before Bulkhead could press the matter, an alert came up on a monitor.

"What is it?" Bulkhead asked as Ratchet walked over to the monitor.

"A high frequency signal," Ratchet replied. "With an embedded message.... For me?"

"Optimus?" Bulkhead asked hopefully.

Dante stood up and leaned against the railing, eyes intent.

"Starscream," Ratchet answered, reading the message: "I have obtained information regarding your leader. Bring medical kit. Come alone."

Dante snorted. "Yeah, right. As if we're going to listen to him." He turned to Raf, who was typing on his computer. "Hey, Raf, mind working the bridge for us while we're gone?"