"What are you saying, Sunstreaker? She is not a ghost. You must be dead to be a ghost. Ghost aren't even real." Ratchet moves all his attention to us three now. His optics moving back and forth from Sunstreaker to me.

"Why are we talking about ghost?" I would slap my forehead if my arms weren't pinned to my side by Sideswipe. Lennox just so happened to walk in and hear Ratchet.

"She's been dead for over a year. She somehow came back as a very human like ghost. But she can teleport, phase through things. She doesn't need sleep or food. Her body is..."

"Sunstreaker!" I cut him off. I'm fuming at this point and all I can do is glare at him.

"You can save Prime. You've already saved him once." Sunstreaker pleads looking up at me.

"What does he mean, Hart?" Lennox's eyes narrow in on me.

"I have no idea. I'm not dead. How can I be dead if Sideswipe is holding me?" I try to lie, but my voice weavers.

"Please, don't do this." Both twins say at the same time. The puppy dog look has never been so strong.

"We will protect you." Sunstreaker promises.

"Protect her from what?" Lennox has moved closer, watching me suspiciously.

"What is going on?" Ratchet growls.

I can't speak, words are failing me. Eyes are all on me at this point, but I can't look at any of them. So, mine are focused on Sideswipes servo wrapped around me. Staring directly at the metal covering the delict wiring made to move his fingers. The ones currently gripping to me tightly. This is not how this is supposed to go. No one is supposed to find out. Now everyone that shouldn't know are in this room waiting for an answer. One I have no desire to give them. Why did this have to happen to me?

"Hart, if there is something going on, you can tell us. We can help." Lennox offers carefully.

What's the point anymore? I can't lie my way out of this. So, I decide to make it known. I disappear from Sideswipes servo and reappear on Sunstreaker's thigh. The gasps fill the room.

"You can't help with this." I tell Lennox, looking straight at him.

"What?" He can barely get out.

"I can help Prime." I try to keep the sadness from my voice.

"Explain." Lennox orders.

"I will fix Prime, then I will explain." I don't even recognize my voice as I speak. It's flat and void of emotion. Like a switch turned off in me.

Lennox takes a step back, not expecting my tone. I jump from my spot over to Optimus, landing next to him. Ratchet and Jolt jumping back from my presence. I look him over, inspecting the wound. It looks worse up close. Wires have been ripped away, some still sending small sparks. The metal, that's supposed to protect him, is shredded. Megatron did a number on him. I try to look inside the damage area, but with the split energon and mangled mess, I can't see the leach attached to him. It must have worked itself deep within. Something inside me tells me I must do this.

"Where do I need to go? What do I need to be careful of?" I ask Ratchet, not looking away.

"It's attached to his inner back strut. That leads to his spark. You will have to maneuver through the wires and bent metal. I have gotten the energon lines secured, but he is still covered in it. You will need to be careful of that. You know it's toxic to humans." Ratchet explains.

"It can't hurt me, Ratchet." I prove it to him by phasing through Optimus a bit. My body walking through like nothing is in my way.

"Uh...Well, when you get to the leach you need to be careful when pulling it off him. You will need to pinch the head and slowly release it. I will watch on my scanner and help guide you. This is its location." He still seems hesitant after my demonstration but none the less shows me his screen.

This huge leach like metal creature is wrapped inside Optimus like Christmas tree lights. It's so gross, it makes me want to vomit. That's if I could vomit.

"Got it. I'll get it don't worry." I tell him before turning back to Prime.

I imitate taking a deep breath. No air goes in or out, but it relaxes the nerves that have started to settle in. I thought about looking to the twins quick, for reassurance, but quickly change my mind. I don't want anyone to have second thoughts about me completing this tiny mission. One that has been thrusted upon me. My body starts moving before my mind is ready. It's as if there is nothing in my way, my body floats through the wires and shredded metal. I don't feel anything as I make my way deeper into Optimus Prime. It's getting darker the closer I get to the leach. Just when I think it's about to be pitch black a strobe of luminescent glow starts to pick up. It starts from one side or the lower part of Optimus, then glides up a little way towards his spark. I keep walking closer. This must be the leach.

Darkness surrounds me and the only bit of light is the glowing metal bug wrapped around a metal spine inside Optimus. It's large to me. I creep up close, walking from its 'tail' to where the head is. Each time the lights make their way up the leach, its body contracts, squeezing tightly to Prime's massive bone. I'm in awe of the way it's working. But I move on and find the head.

"How close are you?" I hear Ratchet ask.

"I'm there. I've located the head." I answer back.

"Good, good. Now you're going to want to grip each hand on the side of its mouth around the head. To you it would be like hugging it." As he speaks I do as he says.

"It's sticky! Why is it sticky?" I shout in disgust as the moist, gooey crap adheres to me while I put my arms around the creature. The twins are muffling their laughter in the background. "I hear you. Sunstreaker I'm going to rub this on your paint."

"Shut up, Sideswipe. It's not funny." Sunstreaker is quick to retort. Then there is a thump and pained groan from Sideswipe.

"Boy's!" Ratchet shouts, "Hart just focus and finish. We need to hurry. Optimus's levels are decreasing."

With that I put my game face on and grip tighter. The sticky slime covering the front of my body. I bite my lip to hold back my groan of disgust. Apparently even ghosts can get sticky. I start to squeeze as tight as I can. The leach starts to struggle and fight against me. I curse under my breath. There has got to be a better way to get this thing to let go. As I'm squeezing and pulling, I can feel the creature start to release. My teeth grind as holding myself together is slowly becoming more difficult.

"Come on you nasty thing. Let go." I say through gritted teeth.

With one last pull, I put all my strength I can muster. The leach releases and I fall back, with it landing on top of me. Multiple voices start shouting, but I can barely understand them. It's all a jumbled mess. Darkness surrounds me, as the leach has now stopped glowing. It's not moving anymore either. It makes me even more cautious.

"It's off, but it's not moving anymore." I shout, hoping one of them heard me.

"It may be because it's been cut off from energon. Can you bring it out?" Ratchet asks.

"Um, that may be tricky." I hesitate as I stare through the way I came.

"With it detached I may be able to make a wider opening. Stay there." Ratchet starts maneuvering metal before I have a chance to reply.

Bright light from the med bay makes its way to me as Ratchet makes more room. I unwind the beast from around Primes strut. It's not easy and there is slime everywhere. But I manage to grip its tail end and wait for Ratchets okay. Then I start dragging it through. My energy is slowly draining, but once I'm out, I'll be able to relax a little. As I trudge out, I notice everyone has crowded around Optimus. All eyes/optics are on me as I exit his wound.

I drop the sticky, disgusting leach, "I refuse to do that again." I point a slimy finger to them all as I demand.

"You got it." Lennox says surprised.

"Let me get that." Ratchet says, grabbing the leach with a pair of tongs. "Jolt start repairing Optimus.

"On it." Jolt does as he says but pauses as he looks at me in the way.

"Oh, sorry." I quickly make myself scarce and jump from where I was to the floor next to Lennox. Leaving a mess of slime up on the metal table where Optimus lay.

The major jumps back and I swear I hear a small scream. "You could warn a guy." He swears putting a hand on his chest, trying to control his breathing.

"My bad." I shrug before turning to the twins, "Happy now."

"Thank you, Hart." They both say at the same time. Sideswipe grinning excitedly while Sunstreaker's face is somber.

"Prime is okay. That's all that matter." I barely hear the words myself as they come through my lips.

"Hart." Sunstreaker starts, catching my attention. "I'm sorry, but we needed your help."

"I know." Is all I say.

"Want to explain." Lennox orders, his arms crossed. With a look that says I'm in trouble.

"Is there any possible way I can have a moment before I explain everything?" I please. A jump to the cliff would do me wonders.

"No." He doesn't even hesitate.

I saw this coming. So, I heave a sigh and begin to explain everything, from the beginning to now. Ratchet comes back and him and Jolt work on Optimus while they listen in. Sunstreaker is sitting up, wheels over the edge of the medical bed and Sideswipe is sitting next to him. Both listening intently to the story they already heard, but a more detailed one.