Arcee's POV
"Ratchet. We need a Groundbridge out of here!" I yell into my Comm as I fire two shots, hitting both targets square in the chest, offlining them instantly.

"Hello? Arcee to Base? Is anyone there?" I try again, only to receive no response, just static.

Great...

"Optimus! I can't get a hold of Ratchet!" I yell into my Comm, over the clamour of various sounds, all of which seemed to haunt me wherever I went.

"Understood, Arcee." Came the reply, short and to the point as always.

We'd better get a Bridge out of here soon, or else we'll be scrapped.

"Autobots, fall back!" The commanding voice of Optimus Prime orders over the bedlam, as I finish two Cons with a few swift kicks and punches.

Almost immediately, I follow the order, dashing towards the nearby row of trees that was on the outskirts of the human mining area, an unlikely source for an Energon deposit, but not an unknown one, by both sides.

"What now, boss?" Bulkhead muses aloud, coming up beside me, Bumblebee hot on his trail.

"Optimus to Base, come in. Ratchet, come in. Is anyone there?" Our Leader attempts over the Comm channel, only to likely receive the same static I had moments ago.

We all stand there, in utter silence, weapons outdrawn in fear of attack from our adversaries that could have followed us, all while desperately waiting for some sort of response.

We can't just stand around like this.

"If we don't get an answer within the next few-" I begin, frustrated, only to be cut off by a confused voice.

"How do you work this thingamabob, anyway? Hello? Is anyone there?"

Bulkhead groans dramatically.

"Don't tell me that's-"

I can only nod in distaste as he's cut off.

"Agent Fowler, this is Optimus Prime. We need a Bridge from our current location." Optimus explains, our human liaison's annoyed chatter still audible in the background as rather abruptly, the welcoming sight of the Groundbridge vortex comes into view.

"Thank Primus." I sigh in relief as we all make a mad dash for the portal, leaving the Decepticons in our wake.

****

"Prime!" The annoyingly demanding voice of Agent Fowler is the first thing I hear once on the other side, back in the safety of the Base.

"How can I be of assistance, Agent Fowler?" Our Leader answers curtly, walking over to where the human was standing, waiting rather impatiently.

"I need you to tell me why you bots don't have your usual bot back at Base! If I hadn't have happened to swing by, you'd all be piles of scrap metal!" He exclaims, tapping his foot against the concrete repetitively.

At this, Optimus turns to us, before casting his gaze around the empty looking Base, and then back to Fowler.

"Though I do not know where Ratchet has gone, I can only presume-"

Optimus stops mid-sentence, optics widening in sudden realization, seeming to lose his train of thought.

He walks over to the Medbay, and without a word, picks up two rather empty containers, a small bit of green looking residue left at the bottom of one.

A chilling wave of realization settles within me.

"Did he?" I sigh, shaking my head as if to clear it.

"It would seem as if Ratchet decided to test his Synthetic Energon once again." Optimus states sadly, seemingly lost in other, more worrisome thoughts.

"And that can only mean one thing..." I muse aloud, putting the pieces together.

"He went after Y/N." The Wrecker concludes, smashing his fists together for emphasis.

"And, presuming that the Synthetic Energon will yield the same effects as it did previously..." Our Leader continues on, a look of slight determination appearing on his features.

"Either he'll be back here any minute with Y/N or he'll end up dead." I state plainly, breaking the sudden silence that had managed to settle heavily within the Old Missile Silo.

Bumblebee walks over to the monitor, quickly pulling up a record of the Groundbridge's most recent coordinates and begins to examine them closely.

"Ratch bridged himself directly to the Nemesis... And it might just be our luck that the Cons haven't moved since then... " Bee informs, turning back around to face the rest of us. (Arcee can understand Bee!)

"And if they did move?" Bulkhead pipes up, asking the inevitable.

"We're scrapped."

"It is a risk we must be willing to take." Optimus suddenly declares, his evident sadness from before now gone without a trace. "Y/N and Ratchet are in need of a rescue and we are their only hope."

I nod in agreement, as do my other comrades as Bee now heads towards the Bridge's lever, activating it on his way past.

"Wait, wait, wait! What in the name of Uncle Sam's beard is going on here!" A human voice from below me demands.

Fowler. We'd all completely forgotten about him.

Before anyone else can speak up, I explain all that had gone on, distaste and sarcasm dripping from my every word.

"Y/N was captured by a Con named Knockout after the School burnt down. Ratchet decided to go after Y/N under the influence of Synthetic Stuff. All in all, they're both deep in scrap now and we're gonna go break up the Con's party."

At this, Fowler just shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Sweet mother of mercy! What is it with that family that the Con's like so much?"

I can't help but roll my optics.

"If you find out, let me know."

And with that, we all transform into our alt modes and head through the Bridge.

Hang in there, Y/N. We're coming for you.

****

Your POV

"No... No... No..." You mutter, tossing and turning, the pain in your side and on your scathed arms burning brighter than ever before.

This all can't be happening... I'm gonna just die alone here...

The horrific events of what you could only assume as last night begin to replay in your mind for what seemed like the thousandth time, each time getting worse and worse.

It's all my fault... I should've just never went out for that walk that night... Then none of this would've happened.

The nagging, still somewhat part of your conscience disagrees.

Come on, Y/N. Come to your senses! If Ratchet had never nearly ran you over, you would've never come to know about the Autobots! They're practically family now! They took you in!

At this, the pained part of my conscience agrees.

That's true... But because of them, your Mother is dead...

Positivity begins to freak out, becoming frustrated.

You put that behind you, Y/N! You decided to come back and defeat the Decepticons once and for all! Finally avenge your Mother's death! Because moping around and doing nothing was going to be the end of you! You knew that! So here you are, on the Warship of your enemy. You could stop this all!

With a hiss of pain, you allow your eyes to flutter open ever so slightly, that ever-so annoying bright light appearing seconds later, right on time.

You're right, positivity. I did go back. I did decide to face my fears. And here I am...

Rolling onto your side rather gingerly and dragging yourself to a sitting position, you notice that once again, you had been set aside on a lab bench in the corner of the room you'd been cooped up in for what had seemed like eons, the glass container from last night's chaos gone.

There was no one in sight. Nor could you hear anyone.

This time, I'm not gonna turn tail and book it outta here. I've gotta find my Guardian before I go anywhere else.

With a sudden burst of confidence and boldness, you begin to asses the situation at hand, thinking things over as the pain numbs a bit.

And I'm sure the others will come for me. They're family.

"First order of business, getting down from here." You muse aloud, estimating the gap between where you were sitting and the floor beneath you.

"Too far to jump. I'd injure myself further."

That was another thing you had yet to take into account; your injuries. They were gonna slow you down, whether you liked it or not.

I guess I'll wait for Doc Knock to come back... Play the part of the distraught, weakling human... Maybe then, he'll take me to Ratch.

Truth is, for some reason, an odd calm was settling within you. Almost as if the severity of the situation at hand was soothing your racing, fearful mind. It was a peculiar sensation, but a welcome one nonetheless.

"Now, all I do is wait."

That's the worst part. Waiting.

****

Knockout's POV

"I assure you, my liege. The human is indeed proving useful, as you predicted. In fact, I do believe that with the help of the Vehicon on watch, she successfully finished the first batch of Synthetic Energon." I explain, confidence ringing in my voice.

"Ah. What great news, Doctor." Megatron nods, turning to face me, seething. "Though, are you sure it is accurate? What if she knew more than she claimed and decided to spoil it somehow?"

At this, I shrink back slightly, confidence vanishing quickly.

"W-W-Well, my liege... That thought never really crossed my processor until now..." I stammer, shrinking back even further, desperately heading towards the Bridge's exit.

"No matter now. We have the Autobot's medic, so they wouldn't dare send a rescue party for risk of them all getting injured. As for the Synth-En... Find a test subject and report back to me with the results." The Warlord concludes, his previous anger diminishing.

"Of course, my liege. I will report back to you as soon as possible."

With that, I nod my respects and flee from the Bridge, my thoughts only set on one thing.

Well, actually two.

One: I didn't get my finish totaled like I was anticipating.

And Two: That fleshie better have not fragged up the entire batch of Synth-En.

****

Your POV

Minutes, if not hours passed, your mind beginning to play tricks on you as you stare blankly at your surroundings.

What if I never get out of here... What if Ratchet dies because of me...

You stop yourself there, scolding your negativity.

"Don't go there." You mutter rather harshly. "Things are gonna be fine. I just have to wait a bit-"

However, before you could finish your sentence, the doors of the lab whisk open, revealing a enraged looking Knockout.

"Fleshie!" He yells, his voice bouncing around the rather empty room.

We're back to that now, are we?

"You better not have fragged up that Synth-En!"

You freeze, icy fear flooding into your veins.

How could he have found out?

"That damned Vehicon..." You curse silently, curling up into a small ball as if to protect yourself.

You could feel the Decepticon doctor nearing where you were laying, his heavy footsteps shaking the floor beneath.

Your heart begins to race as you hear the footsteps come to a stop.

"Well? Did you?" Knockout asks rather quizzically from above you, the lights casting his shadow on your curled up form.

This takes you by surprise.

He doesn't think I was actually capable!

At this, your heart lifts, your mind beginning to race once more as you put your plan into action.

"H-H-Huh?" You stutter, honest tears of earlier fear staining your cheeks as you prop yourself up, your gaze meeting the blood red optics of your captor.

"Did you mess with my Synthetic Energon?" He repeats once more, his gaze hardening.

Scrap.

"W-What do you mean?" You sob rather dramatically, milking it up as much as possible. "How on Earth could I do that?"

Knockout just huffs in annoyance.

"I knew I'd just be wasting my time."

You smile inwardly, relief flooding your your senses as you steady out your breathing, listening to the red mech's ramble.

"...I knew you couldn't have touched it! You're just a pesky human! Now... I just need to check the levels and then I can find a-"

"Wait!" You cry, gaining your captor's attention as he turns to you, disgust on his features.

Boy, Knockout really doesn't like me know that we've been spending all this time together.

"What is it?" He growls, stalking over to your small form once more.

Here goes nothing...

"I... I... Could you..." You begin to stammer, your actual emotions beginning to rise in your throat as you struggle to hold back legitimate tears.

"Just spit it out already!" Knockout huffs, impatience shining in his optics.

"Could you take me to see Ratchet?" You mumble, the tears rolling freely down your cheeks as your pent up emotions come tumbling out. "I... I... Just want to say goodbye..."

The Decepticon in front of you just rolls his optics, dragging out a long, exasperated sigh.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt. It's not like that bucket of bolts is gonna make it off this ship alive."

You resist the urge to lash out in anger and sadness as your captor scoops you up rather roughly, squeezing you tightly in his servo. 

"Oxygen, Knockout! I need that to breathe!" You yell up at the Con, who immediately loosens his grip ever so slightly.

Neither of you say anything as the dull gray hallways pass by you, all looking identical. 

The tears on your face were starting to dry, but you couldn't help but feel sick as your mind begins to spin with worry and helplessness.

I hope Ratch is okay... He has to be.

However much you hoped that things were going to be okay, deep down you knew that things were definitely not okay. In fact, you were starting to feel more and more hopeless that rescue would ever arrive.

Outside of your preoccupied concerned state, the tones of a few buttons being pressed and then the sound of a lock unlocking manages to only reach you ever so quietly.

"There you go, fleshie." Comes a rather annoyed voice from above as you're lowered and then tossed haphazardly to the floor into an inky blackness. "Make your final goodbyes count."

As abruptly as you'd been thrown to the floor, Knockout disappears, blocked out by two doors that whisked shut as soon as you'd landed.

"Ouch." You hiss in pain as your broken ribs and bruised body scream in protest, your small voice echoing in the darkness.

Cautiously, you draw yourself to a standing position on shaky legs and begin your search in the vast swath of darkness that seemed to stretch for eternity.

"Hello? Ratchet?"

Your voice just bounces back at you, almost as if to confuse you further.

He's in here somewhere. I know it.

"Ratchet?" You call again, this time slightly louder than before. "Ratch?"

Still, only dead silence meets your ears, which were straining to hear something. Anything.

"Answer me, Ratchet... Please..." You sigh, the tears beginning to fall once more, rolling down your cheeks and dampening your crusted bloodstained shirt.

Then, in the dark abyss, the slightest sound of movement causes you to jump slightly.

"Ratchet?" You sniffle, drying your eyes slightly as you turn your attention to the previous sound.

"Y/N?" Came a hoarse whisper from the abyss, accompanied moments later by a ragged cough.

The silence settles once more as you continue your aimless wandering, still seeking the source of the voice.

Suddenly, a bright blue light illuminates the surrounding darkness, once again causing you to jump.

Turning slowly on your heel, you face the light source, which actually turned out to be the optics of your Guardian.

"Ratchet!" You cry, rushing towards the now dimly lit figure, your legs carrying you as fast as you could go.

You practically throw yourself against your Guardian's leg platting in a futile attempt of a hug before you slump to the ground in exhaustion.

I should not have ran like that.

The silence consumes the area once again as you both sit there, Ratchet's optics flicking over your form occasionally.

"You're hurt." He states, regret and despair laced within his tone as he gently picks you up off the floor, settling you on his shoulder.

"Yeah," You wince as you're set down, your broken bones shifting ever so slightly. "I am."

"You need medical attention."

"So do you, Ratchet."

At this, he just huffs in annoyance. 

Turning your attention back to your Guardian, you try to make out where his injuries likely were.

There's no way he's not injured after that blow from Megatron...

A chill dances down your spine as the brutal images replay once more across your exhausted headspace.

"I'm so sorry..." You breathe, too quiet for your Guardian to hear as the oddly calm sensation begins to settle within you once more.

"How bad is it?" You whisper, instantly regretting your words as soon as they escaped you.

Without a word, the Autobot Medic slowly removes one servo from his side, revealing another source of dim blue light which formed the rough shape of a deep gash.

You let out a strangled gasp, though it went unnoticed by your eerily calm conscience.

Other smaller puddles of Energon that you somehow hadn't noticed before appear throughout the room, causing your heart to leap.

You, however, remain in your peculiarly composed state as you asses the situation at hand.

"Not good..." You murmur thoughtfully, Ratchet's blue optics meeting your gaze. "Do you have a plan?"

"Even if I did, what good would that do? I'm in no state to be going anywhere." He grumbles, casting his gaze to the floor. "And the Synth-En is long gone... It's not like we could fight our way out."

"You're right..." You nod, slumping in defeat, the calm deepening within you. "But we have to have hope... The others will come for us. I know it."

At this, your Guardian nods in agreeance.

"Optimus will find a way. He always does."

You yawn tiredly as your eyes begin to feel heavy, and sleep invades you once again.

Though this time, you felt safe and at ease.

Ratchet is still alive. He's here...

And Optimus is coming for us.

We'll get out of here.

****

"Optimus! In here!" A distant, female sounding voice yells over other noises that should have been alarming to you, but they weren't.

You lift your head weakly, the bright lights of two twin blasters accompanied by light blue optics fills your blurry vision, your thoughts lagging behind.

"Ratchet! Y/N!" Another, louder and more masculine voice cheers, this time a bit less distant than the other.

Too exhausted to move much further, you lift your arm in a vain attempt to wave to your apparent rescuers, however, your arm only drops limply back towards your side where you were laying.

"You're going to be fine, Y/N." The same female voice from earlier soothes as you feel your heavy, limp form being lifted and then set down again.

Then it occurs to you who these others are.

"A-A-Arcee?" You croak, shaking from the effort.

You could feel your broken ribs and the gashes on your arms, the pain so immense now. Worse than before.

Your faint voice goes unnoticed as another two blurry figures appear, the taller one remaining at the door, blocking out the light that was filtering in, while the shorter one rushes past where you were laying and out of your view.

"Injuries?" The tall figure asks, his tone authoritative.

"Both Autobot and human." The feminine voice from above you confirms grimly, casting her gaze to where the shorter figure from moments ago had disappeared. "He isn't good."

Your lagging heart leaps as your brain scrambles to catch up.

"Ratchet. H-H-He's hurt..." You stutter, any energy you had draining away.

"He's going to be okay, Y/N and so are you." Arcee consoles, her bright optics becoming even blurrier as your hearing begins to fade once again.

"Agent Fowler. We need a GroundBridge at our coordinates." The authoritative voice orders from outside of your conscience.

Then, just as your vision was about to fade into nothingness, the familiar vortex of green and blue appears in front of where you were being held gently.

I'm going home... We're going home... No more Decepticons... I've done it...

As the colors swirl past you, brighter thanks to the blackness creeping into the sides of your vision, you relax, going limp as the darkness consumes you once again.

I'm safe...

I'm home...

I'm with family.