Alpha's optics found their way to the screen once again as he leaned on the doorway with his arms crossed. Somehow, the thing still worked. He thought for sure it was broken; he'd tried to fix it earlier. However, the bright glow and the quiet hum of the machine told him that it was working. As well as it could, anyway. The map was still there, daunting him. The line from their area to their guest's seemed to laugh at him mockingly. His home was so far away.

As well as theirs, but from what he had heard, there wasn't much to return to. 

"Alpha?" came his sister's voice. She came up behind him, frost on the edges of her faceplate and shoulder plates. "Is he still asleep?"

"At the moment," he replied, turning back to the older medic bot. He was recharging on the medical station bed, his faceplate twisted uncomfortably. "As well as he can. I imagine he's plagued by nightmares, though."

She scowled at him. "How would you know that?" she said.

"Because Freezecharger's face was often the same, even when she was awake."

At this, Omega went silent and looked over at the medic sadly. "Oh, right. He must have seen lots of war, too."

"Yeah, he definitely has. If he works with Optimus Prime, he probably still does," he said, nodding his helm.

The two weren't very up to date with a lot of things, but even a million light years away they heard of the infamous Optimus Prime, the last of the Primes, and the team he had assembled on this planet. They had wondered what Decepticons had also inhabited the earth, and now they knew that Megatron himself had come. The thought made them shudder, and wonder if they would ever face him while on this earth.

After a pause, Omega said, "You know, even though he did tell us a lot, we still don't know his name."

He scoffed, feigning annoyance. "He'll tell eventually, I guess."

"He is kind of like Freezecharger, isn't he?" Omega whispered, glancing at the medic. "I hope he'll be okay."

"Oh, come on, Omega. He's recovering just fine."

"But.. he's so far away from home.." her chassis rattled slightly and she let out a shaky sigh.

He looked at his sister in concern. "You shouldn't be going out in the cold for so long,"  he told her as he glared at the frost on her plates.

She shuddered once more but looked up at him with a smile. "If we can find more parts to our ship, we can repair the Bridge."

He rolled his optics. "I don't know how to fix a Bridge."

"Yes, you do. I know Freezecharger taught you."

He didn't answer and scowled at the floor. 

"No, you're doing it all wrong! Alpha, stop!"

"Haha! Does this go here?"

"NO! ...Just give it to me."

Alpha stood straight and uncrossed his arms. "I'll continue looking. You stay here and monitor our new.. guest." He left without another word. 

Omega smiled slightly as he left. 

"Your brother is such a pain."

"You know you love him."

"OMEGA!"

She sighed to herself again and entered the room where the medic was resting. His faceplate was twisted into something unreadable, his optic ridges furrowed. The brightness of the screen taunted her. She glanced at the map once more, sorrow flooding her chest.

"So far away from home," she whispered. "Just like the rest of us."

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Miko was not paying any attention to class. This time, she had good reason for it, though. Her mind constantly replayed the scout's hurt frame, and Arcee's injured leg. If Ratchet had been there, the process of healing probably would have ceased quicker. Arcee was still walking with a slight limp, and Bumblebee grimaced every time he moved. She knew Raf was worried sick about him.

In all honesty, she was, too. However, she was even more worried about the rest of the bots' safety, especially Bulkhead's. He had already nearly died once, and was only alive thanks to Ratchet. With the grumpy old bot missing and no one with enough medical expertise for a real emergency, the bots were in trouble.

She sighed quietly, but apparently not quiet enough. The teacher looked back at her scornfully. Miko flashed a nervous, innocent smile, hoping detention wasn't in wait for her yet again. Jack, who sat two rows in front of her, gave her a small glance. Probably a warning to pay attention. Or one of reassurance, if he could read her face from over there.

Miko was glad Raf wasn't in this class with her, or he would get worried, too. More worried than he already was, anyway.

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"Lord Megatron, have you located the Autobot medic yet?"

"Soundwave is currently still working on repairing the Groundbridge log."

"Is there, em, anything I can do to assist?"

"Stay out of his way."

"..... Of course, my liege. If I may, why must we continue searching for that grumbling old bot, anyway? He wasn't much help to us the first time."

"Because he holds vital importance, Starscream," the warlord sneered. "If not to us, then to the Autobots."

"What information could he give the Autobots?" the seeker asked nervously.

"Not information, unless one of my most loyal Decepticons accidently leaked information." Red optics dripping with malice turned to the commander.

"Oh, ah, of course not," Starscream muttered, raising his servos in surrender. "But.. what does the Autobot know that is of importance?"

Sharp dentas curled into a malicious smirk. "Not what he knows, Starscream, but what he has."

"...I'm afraid I still don't see your point, Master."

"Ratchet is not only an entrusted and close friend of Optimus Prime, but also the only Autobot that the others can turn to to lick their wounds." Megatron chuckled evilly, turning his gaze back to the window of the Nemesis. "Without Ratchet, they will have no one to patch up Optimus when I finally defeat him."

Starscream's faceplate twisted with similar evil intention. "Oh, I see. Yes, very brilliant, Master. Very brilliant indeed."

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Ratchet felt his chassis throbbing as he slowly awoke from recharge, but this time, the pain wasn't as strong. Grunting, he sat up to look over his wounds. His mind once again flickered to wondering how he had obtained them. His melded gashes seemed to be healing slowly, but the one on his chest chassis still looked pretty bad. His arm was shaking with effort as he leaned on it and he remembered that it was in bad shape was well. His pede still was twisted in a funny way, even though it was melded now. 

Letting out a slow, pained vent, he turned his optics to the screen. It had been turned off, but he clearly remembered what it had showed him previously.

Now if only my other memories came with such ease.

The thought still thrust terror throughout his whole chassis and brought on an aching helm, but he knew he wasn't going to give up. If he could fix the computer's higher functions, than he could perhaps find the data frequency for his team's com link. If he could get into contact with them, he wouldn't need a Bridge here. Granted, he needed the coordinates for his location, but with that Optimus and the others would be able to send a Groundbridge to him.

If they're not injured as well. Without my help they could be facing some difficulties..

Ratchet shook dawning images of his injured or dead comrades from his helm. He couldn't think about that now. He needed to focus if he was going to do what needed to be done. Even if it meant fighting through the pain.

He lifted himself off the bed and slowly dragged himself to the screen once again. His servos gently rested on the keyboard. With a surge of confidence, he got to work.

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I know, I know, I need to write in my other story, too. I haven't updated that one in a while. Don't worry, I will. When I have enough time.

This was another longer chapter! Yay! Over 1300 words!

See you next time!

*waves*