"Bulkhead!" Ratchet yelled desperately as the olive green wrecker stepped even closer to the thick, long wires connected via wooden posts. "I think those are electric!"

"What-KNNNNGGGGGAAAAAAAH!" Bulkhead stepped into the wire mid-word, before letting out a loud cry as he was electrocuted.

"Scrap! Those are powerlines!" Ratchet facepalmed, having to speak loudly over Bulkhead's wails.

::What do we do?!:: Bumblebee watched with horrified optics. ::How do we separate him from the wires?!::

Cliffjumper crossed his arms. "We don't. It's impossible without electrocuting ourselves."

"Ratchet, what do we do?" Optimus touched the medic's shoulder, his worried gaze on the flashing lights and screeches resonating from the wrecker.

"Er..." Ratchet began to think- which was hard with Arcee sitting there laughing her helm off- as to how they would fix the current situation. "If we can disable the powerlines without having to touch them, it would shut off the electricity.... the wooden posts, maybe if we can take out the two on either side of him, it would shut the power down!"

"No, leave him like that for a bit longer," Arcee forced out in a fit of laughter, leaning forward a bit as she struggled for breath. "I like this!"

"Optimus, get the other post." Ratchet instructed as he prepared to disable the powerlines.

"Understood." The Prime replied, moving to the post on the opposite side.

Ratchet reached forward and snapped it in half, before ripping the cable, as Optimus did the same.

Bulkhead dropped to the ground, unconscious, as the string of electricity was severed.

"Ooh Primus.." Arcee panted heavily. "Oooooooh Primus that was good..."

::Is he alright?::

Ratchet kneeled beside the wrecker, resting two digits on his wrist. "He has a pulse. He'll be alright, just... maybe a bit overcharged."

"Hn. Smart bot, knew exactly what to do." Cliff raised an optic ridge, a smile crossing his lips. "Got a genius here."

"Hopefully those powerlines weren't important..." Ratchet murmured to Optimus as he came near. "To the natives, I mean."

"It could possibly be..." Optimus nodded, deep in thought. "It may be best for us to clear the area."

"Who's carrying Bulkhead?" Arcee put a servo on her hip, and raised an optic ridge.

"Don't look at me, I'm carrying a sparkling." Ratchet threw his servos up defensively.

Optimus inhaled deeply, before waving his servo to Cliffjumper. "Will you assist me?"

"Of course." The red mech nodded, and walked over.

The two of them lifted Bulkhead in between them, supporting him enough so they could walk but still hold him.

"Autobots, roll out." Optimus grit his denta, lifting the weight as much as he could.

Ratchet, Bumblebee and Arcee followed, all wearing amused expressions.

~~

When Bulkhead had finally waken, the sky was beginning to fade into orange, pink and red, as the sun set on the horizon. It was a brilliant scene, something new to the small group of Autobots, something to look to.

They were in a large grassy field, with seldom trees, and a few large boulders. The gentle breeze made the grass flow ever so slightly... it was just a beautiful scene.

"Autobots, I deem it best that we stay here, for the night." Optimus stated as his gaze scanned their surroundings.

"Seems like a nice place to bunk down." Cliffjumper was already on the soft grass, laying on his back and relaxing.

"Tomorrow we should split up, and go scouting." Arcee suggested, sitting down beside him. "If we all go alone, we can cover a lot of ground."

"She has a point. We'll need energon, at least until we return to the ship." Ratchet said to Optimus, turning his gaze to that of his mate's.

Optimus nodded. "Very well. Tomorrow we will go our separate ways, but when the sky begins to darken, return to this field immediately." He sat down in the grass, looking at Ratchet expectantly.

The medic sat down beside him, wincing as the sparkling shifted a little. Everyone found a nice spot, and relaxed, while Optimus pulled his mate's frame against his and wrapped his arms around him. Ratchet snuggled into the Prime, a smile on his lips, as he slipped into recharge.

~~

"Be safe, Ratchet." Optimus murmured softly to the medic, as the others departed for scouting. "I'll check in with you in an hour or two."

"Alright." Ratchet nodded, finding it rather amusing that the Prime was so worried.

"I'll see you this evening." He gave his mate a small nod, before turning and striding off.

Ratchet turned as well, and set off in the direction he'd been assigned.

It was about an hour, of walking in silence, when he'd begun to come across more trees and boulders, and the ground came to be rougher. The difference in surroundings didn't phase him much, he just kept walking and scouting, lost in thought.

That's when a chilling voice, that of an elder, stirred him from his thoughts.

"My my, how interesting 'tis to see a fellow Cybertronian on this planet." The voice cackled.

Ratchet froze, as pedsteps approached him from behind.

"It's truly nice, to even lay optics upon one from our home planet," he continued.

Slowly, Ratchet turned and looked at him, who was standing right behind him. The mech looked rather old, had red optics, and a rusted grey paintjob.

The mech reached out a clawed digit, running it over the Autobot symbol on Ratchet's shoulder. The medic shifted uncomfortably as his cold and unfamiliar touch rattled him.

"Hn." The mech blinked in thought. "Well, we best begin," he pulled out a staff.

"Wh-what do you mean?" Ratchet asked, taking a step back.

The mech flipped a switch on the staff, and the edge lit to life with flashing electricity.

Energon staff! Ratchet's processor screamed at him, but it was too late. The mech jabbed him in the chassis.

A painful, burning sensation hit Ratchet, a scream of pain escaped him, before he fell unconscious.

"Oh my my, the fun we'll have..."