It was hours before Silas returned to the room, long after the new shift of soldiers shuffled their way in to continue the torment. Ratchet prayed that their leader was at least considering what he had argued.

Silas had suggested that his usefulness was overestimated.

It could've been a lie to mislead Ratchet into keeping his needs to himself, as to stay on the 'good' side.
But if it were true, he was in even more danger than before.

A living Cybertronian had to be of more use than a dead one. Ratchet knew that was the case. But Silas wasn't convinced.

M.E.C.H. doesn't make mistakes, Ratchet mocked in his helm.

That couldn't be true, as precise and as skilled as his crew was. They were dealing with alien technology, there was no way they'd make it through without setbacks, consequences...

What arrogant beings.

Ratchet twisted his wrist in the restraint, stretching it out as much as he could. The bindings had left marks on his wrists, scraped off the paint and dug into the metal. That could be fixed. Once he escaped, that is. Whenever that would be.

He was staring at one of his restraints pitifully when Silas entered the room, door squeaking as he strode in. Ratchet's gaze immediately went to him.

"Status report."

"Preparing for scans, Sir. Voicebox research was successful."

"Very good."

"Scans?" Ratchet raised an optic ridge. "Is this... 'research', going internal?"

"You weren't spoken to. You will be briefed if we have questions." A solider above him muttered, as he lowered a large scanner down from a platform. 

The medic scoffed, watching the scanner descend to hover above his helm, right at optic level. He stared into it with an irritated look. "You could always start by asking questions."

He received no answer. An annoyed sigh escaped him.

"Beginning the scan."

The machine hummed with activation, the light clicking on and shining right into Ratchet's optics. He flinched and closed his optics, growling irritably. The machine slowly moved down his frame, before traveling back off, completing the scan. "The results should be sending straight to the computer, Sir." The soldier operating the scanner called as he shut it off.

Silas turned and approached the monitors. There was quiet conversation between him and the soldiers working the computers, as they skimmed over the results; Ratchet was unable to make out anything. He watched the scanner be lifted to it's remaining place, waiting for something to be said. There were footsteps, but he didn't acknowledge them until they stopped beside his helm.

"Can I help you, Silas?" He asked sarcastically.

"Your systems are running slower than they were in the first scan."

First scan? "What first scan?" Ratchet turned his helm to glare.

"A scan was administered before you came to when you were captured." Silas explained dryly. "Your systems are running slower now. Provide an explanation."

Oh, you idiot.

Ratchet shifted a little in agitation. "Why do you think?" He snapped. "I'm low on energon, which I've mentioned. I've told you this would happen, haven't I?"

Okay, maybe snapping at the ridiculous human wasn't his best idea.

A prod jammed into his side and a wave of electricity crashed over him abruptly, drawing out a startled cry. Another one passed; the medic whimpered and tugged at his restraints instinctively.

"Are you done with the attitude?"

Don't fragging talk to me like I'm a child!

"Y-yes..." Ratchet forced out through gritted denta furiously. The electrocution stopped, and he fell back against the floor with a gasp.

"Good. I realize you brought this up, though I saw it as nothing but a rouse.
You do seem to be capable and willing of that," Silas crossed his arms, "Providing you with energon would be a risk. The chances of you escaping are significantly higher." He leaned forward a little. "I don't trust you."

"The feeling is mutual." Grumbling, Ratchet sighed. "I'm not sure my word would be any consolation to you, but you have it."

A quiet scoff came from the leader. "Are you saying that we should go through with this because you promise not to escape?"

"What else do you want me to do? What assurance do I have to give you? This is all I have to give to you, whether you believe it or not. I won't try to escape, I'm more in need of energon than I am in severe damage from trying to flee. That is it. That's all I have for you." This brought an angry look to Silas' face, but he remained silent for a moment.

"What will you give in return?" 

That struck a chord.

"What? I'm chained to the floor, letting you research and gather intel and essentially feeding you everything you want to know. What else can you possibly want?" Ratchet questioned skeptically.

"Our energon reserves are more valuable than whatever intel you are offering. Intel we could gather regardless of your being alive or dead. I want something in return that's out of our reach." Silas explained, pacing as he spoke. He had that telltale smirk of his.

Oh, Primus.

"And... What do you want, that is out of your reach?" Ratchet's words were shamefully reluctant. He didn't want to know... Didn't want to give anything to these butchers. But what choice did he have, without facing termination?

Silas turned and looked at him, leaning forward slightly. "Build me a groundbridge." He ordered, smirking widely.

"Jennie, it is well into the night hours. Going on without rest isn't good for your wellbeing."

At the sound of Optimus' voice, Jennie lifted her head from it's previous position, laying against her arms on the railing. "I'm fine, Optimus. I want to help find Ratchet."

"As of right now, there isn't much you can do." The Prime looked at the monitors tiredly. "It is unsafe for you to be with the others as they are searching outside of the base, and you cannot assist in trying to triangulate M.E.C.H.'s base of operations."

"Doesn't matter." Optimus looked at her, puzzled. "I have to help, or at least be ready to jump in." She pushed her hair out of her face with a quiet yawn.

Perhaps another approach. "You can help Ratchet by taking care of yourself. He would want you to rest and recooparate." He said gently.

"Oh, don't be such a hypocrite."

Optimus blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry?"

"It's not like you've been resting either. I hear you out here every night, on the monitor, driving out, pacing... Don't tell me that I should be sleeping when you are just as restless as I am but won't do anything about it." Jennie crossed her arms, staring up at him with a stubborn and accusing look. "You go rest. You have a team to lead."

It took a few moments for Optimus to respond. "I wasn't aware that I had disturbed you at night. I am sorry for that." He apologized, expression stoic. "But I must keep working. As the leader of team Prime, I must assure that all my Autobots return safely. While Ratchet is a prisoner of M.E.C.H., it is my job to ensure his safety."

Jennie didn't buy it, instead, smiled gently and tilted her head slightly. "I'm worried about him too, Optimus."

That seemed to crack the stoic and expressionless resolve he had tried to keep. The Prime smiled back weakly. "As his closest friends, it's our job to worry about him," he said softly. "Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to bring Ratchet back safely, but you must consider your own wellbeing. It's what he would want you to do. Please, rest, Jennie. I will wake you if anything comes up."

The young girl sighed. "Fine, fine. I suppose he would be pretty mad if I just went without sleep." She tossed her hands up in defeat, before grinning up at him. "He's lucky to have such a badass bestie like you to look after him."

Amusement sparkled in the Prime's optics. "More likely, it is the other way around." He offered a servo. Jennie climbed onto it without hesitation. "He's fortunate to have a charge like you to take care of him, as well." Slowly, as to not cause her to fall, Optimus carried her towards Ratchet's quarters, where she normally slept. "I appreciate how you've brought him to accept human normalities. Do not tell him I said this, but I truly believe he rather enjoys those... Jurassic Park movies, that you introduced him to. His search history suggests quite a fascination." He let a bit of humor slip out, watching in delight as Jennie took immense joy in it.

"Dude, no way! He hasn't seen the third one, when he gets back, that'll be the first thing we do!" She exclaimed excitedly.

Optimus' smile widened as he opened the door to Ratchet's room, and stepped inside. "He will enjoy that very much. But for now, rest until morning. You can help locate him then." He lowered his servo to the berth. Jennie hopped off.

"You'll come get me if you find anything?"

"Of course." He watched as Jennie began to organize her blankets and make her bed. "Rest well, Jennie."

"Goodnight, Optimus."

The Prime left the room, closing the door behind him.

Now, back to finding Ratchet.