Optimus was beyond worry now. Ever since they had returned to where Wheeljack had found the evidence of scuffle, it had turned into near panic. Indeed, there was a large amount of Energon on the ground, still soaking into the desert like sand. There were burns also, from blaster shots most definitely from Vehicons. All evidence pointed to the fact that indeed Ratchet had come across Decepticons, and while he had fought several of them off, they knew for a fact that he had been cut short of his attacks and captured. There were skid marks across the dirt that indicated that he had been dragged. Then the marks just disappeared, as if into thin air, but they knew that that was the work of a GroundBridge. These sights had only confirmed everyone's fears, and caused the others to grow. There was nothing they could do except what they had already been doing; search for any clue to where the Nemesis was.

It was late at night again, and the Prime had steeled himself once more to pull an all-nighter. Now he stifled back a chuckle. He had always scolded his old friend for this kind of thing, despite the fact that Ratchet had trouble recharging most of the time. And yet, here he was, doing the exact thing that the old doctor did. It felt ironic. With a another sigh, he continued to search for recent Decepticon activity. 

Optimus nearly jumped when he heard a noise behind him, turning quickly out of start. His optics and posture softened when he saw the young Bumblebee wandering out of the hall, coming from his berth room. The little scout rubbed one of his optics tiredly before his attention was brought to his leader standing at the console. Bee let out a little warbled sigh and walked over. The Prime watched him without saying a word; he had a feeling the scout wished to say something first. 

<Are you sure you should be up right now?>" Bee asked quietly, hardly in a scolding tone, but more of a respectfully worried one. 

Optimus nodded once to show that he had indeed planned to stay up this late. "Locating any kind of Decepticon activity would help us in our search for Ratchet," he explained. 

Bee nodded his helm slightly, too. <If we find any of them, maybe we could get them to talk, and tell us where Ratchet is.>

"I have no doubt that he was taken aboard the Nemesis," Optimus stated. 

<And if he had escaped, he probably would have found some way to contact us by now,> the scout added. 

His leader agreed, turning his optics back to his search. "I will let you know if I find anything."

Bee looked up at Optimus sadly. He knew that his sentence had been more of an order to head back to his berth. Optimus had a way of instructing without really saying it sometimes. The little scout wanted to help too, still feeling responsible for Ratchet's disappearance. With another soundless sigh, he did as he had been quietly told, turning and heading back to his berthroom. He couldn't help that his processor was plagued with dark and ominous thoughts. It was beyond worry now for him, too. Admittedly he was very close to the old medic, looking up to him as someone he could always trust. He was family, and not only had he saved his life, he had done everything in his power to bring his voice back, even giving him a way to speak when he couldn't. Bumblebee almost felt indebted to him, although he knew that the old doctor would never allow that. 

He also knew that his charge, his little brother, was extremely worried. Yes, he was worried for the Autobots well being; all of them were. But the guardian knew that in secret, Raf was nearly more worried about Ratchet than what would happen to them. The tired medic had become a friend to the boy. The two were definitely close now, sharing common interests and ideas. Bee enjoyed watching the two converse in what they thought was private. In all honesty, everyone knew that the medic had a soft spot for the boy. Bumblebee could tell that Raf was scared for Ratchet immensely, just like he had been during the Synthetic Energon incident. The sorrow Bee felt not only for Ratchet, but what his charge was suffering as well, was enough for him to reach a really low point. 

As he reached his berthroom, he felt a surge within his spark. Bee's determination swelled, and he suddenly not only felt three times braver, but also stronger. His optics glowed as he stood straight in front of his berth, and one who would have seen him would have wondered why he had frozen. 

Bee was determined, no he vowed, with every ounce of his spark, to do whatever it took not only to find his friend he cared so much about, but to bring him home safely. 

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The pain was so strong he wasn't even sure he could get up anymore.

Ratchet knew he was in recharge.

His optics, half lidded and flickering dully, slid to look up at his abuser's smug faceplate.

Ratchet knew this was a dream.

Knockout held out the prod proudly, his red optics shining with glee. Despite being a so called medic, he was really enjoying this kind of beating.

Ratchet knew that this was also a memory, and despite the fact that he could nearly feel the pain, he prayed that it wouldn't be cut short.

The medic groaned softly as he rolled himself over with one arm, venting heavily as he heaved himself onto his backside. His chassis was covered in wounds, and he could feel his consciousness slowly slipping away. Knockout hummed in amusement, smirking when the older medic heaved for vent and inched away from him slightly. He cursed himself for showing weakness, but deep inside him he was terrified. He wasn't good with this kind of thing; he would much rather be in safe confinement, working on what he loved. Torture wasn't a doctor's idea of a life goal. When the red Con kneeled over, his derma turned up into a wild smile and he held the prod behind his back. He watched him as sharply as he could, but his vision was growing dim..

No! The memory couldn't end here! He was so close! Ratchet could feel it; he was only a short time away from finding out what had really happened to him.

Knockout stood again, the smug look still written all over his faceplate, and threw the prod aside. He felt confusion rise into his helm as he watched as the Con walked away. The way the Con medic looked so proud of himself, like he had accomplished something either way, was chilling. Now he knew that Megatron already had another plan, one much more terrible. 

Time seemed to shift as he found himself no longer sprawled out across the floor, but now on a berth, bound and being brought out from stasis. His optics flew open as pain shot up his body like a lightning bolt. As quickly as it came, it was gone, but a horrible ache was left in its wake. He turned his helm sharply to come face to face with the infamous warlord himself, holding delicately in his servos a syringe. His denta glinted as he sneered at the medic who coughed in pain, and surprise fell upon him when Energon flew from his derma. Once he cut his own coughing short, he glared harshly upon Megatron, daring him. 

"Do what you will with me," he growled. "You won't make me say a word."

Megatron let the syringe fall and shatter on the floor. "Oh, you do not need to say anything, dearest Ratchet," he mused. "However, you will still tell us everything we need to know."

The medic said nothing, only stared at him with cold fire in his blue optics. He watched as the Decepticon leader stalked him, circling him with his servos behind his backside like a predator. His gleaming blood like optics eyed him menacingly, before sliding over to something past him. He sensed another presence behind him and turned his helm sharply, doing his best to ignore the flare of sharp pain like knives up his neck cords. Behind him was Soundwave and Knockout, the former holding out a long cord with a device that seemed like the end of a hose at the tip. The old medic instantly remembered what that was from his previous studies. 

"A cortical physic patch," Knockout chuckled smoothly. "Sound intriguing, but much less my style. This is more of Soundwave's side of the game." Despite what he said, his optics showed that he was twistedly riveted. 

Soundwave walked forward in silence, holding out the cord dangerously. The medic inched away as the crackling end neared him, before blackness fell upon the memory.

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AAAYYYYYYEEEE!!!

I finally updated this!!! I probably will be a lot more now cus I know where I am going.

Also, I'm not sure if I've mentioned that I will be making a sorta kinda sequel to this.

Yay

*waves*