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

Chapter 14: Out of the Past

3rd Person POV

Autobot Base

Dante leaned against the wall in Cybertronian size, an arm around Arcee, as they watched Miko try to encourage Bulkhead to get walking. It had been three weeks since Bulkhead had emerged from his coma, and Miko had instantly gone about trying to get him back to normal.

"Three steps, Bulkhead?" Miko demanded as Bulkhead collapsed to the ground. "That's all you can manage?"

"I'm sorry, Miko," Bulkhead apologized weakly. "My legs still hurt." He rose to his feet, wincing.

"What did I tell you?" Miko demanded.

"No excuses," Bulkhead sighed.

"Exactly. Try again! Ten steps this time!"

Bulkhead groaned but tried to do as she had asked.

"At this rate, she's going to run him to the ground before he recovers," Dante muttered.

Arcee nodded in agreement.

"I hope decoding the Iacon database is going more smoothly than Bulkhead's recovery," Ratchet said, walking over to Optimus, who was working at a monitor next to the Rev-9/Cybertronian couple.

"Slow but steady, old friend," Optimus said.

"Isn't that from one of those human books?" Arcee whispered to Dante.

"How should I know?" Dante shrugged. "I'm disguised as a human, not a real one."

Arcee cursed. "I keep on forgetting."

Ratchet huffed. "Human technology," he muttered to Optimus.

"Hey!" Dante objected.

"But, Optimus, your expertise in the field should provide any edge we need to beat the Decepticons at this game," Ratchet continued, ignoring Dante's outburst.

"I fear that access to Cybertronian technology would provide them with equal advantage," Optimus replied.

A loud crash turned everyone's attention to Bulkhead, who had collapsed to the floor.

"Not good enough!" Miko yelled at him. "You have to come back stronger than before!"

"Time for a break, Bulkhead," Ratchet said, helping Bulkhead to his feet.

"A break?" Miko demanded incredulously. "You think the Cons are gonna give Bulkhead a break in the middle of a firefight!" she yelled.

"If you push a patient too far too fast," Ratchet explained calmly as he supported Bulkhead, "you risk exacerbating their injuries."

"But—"

"Bulkhead needs to rest," Ratchet stated firmly before helping Bulkhead down a corridor.

"Ugh!" Miko growled in frustration before storming off.

Bumblebee and Elita arrived and transformed, only to have to dodge out of the angry girl's path.

"Out of the way!" she snapped at them as she stormed toward the elevator.

"What's up with her?" Bumblebee asked.

"She's in a bad mood," Dante said. Noticing his girlfriend's look, he spoke up. "You want to go after her, don't you?"