When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 21

Azura had finished drinking the low-grade energon a few minutes ago, and she now she was standing on the platform, watching Optimus and Ratchet gather the broken item to put it away for additional storage and study. She still couldn't believe that the broken equipment came to life and attacked Ratchet. She didn't know how it came to life, only that dark energon had something to do with it. Optimus and Ratchet had begun to talk about it again too, and Azura listened quietly.

"If the residue Arcee found on Cliffjumper brought your broken equipment to life..." Optimus closed the cylinder which the broken equipment was being held while he spoke to the medic. "It would stand to reason, that the very same substance brought Cliffjumper back from the dead."

Azura couldn't help but feel angry about it. Cliffjumper deserved peace and not to have him body used for twisted experiments like that. She knew she herself wouldn't have been able to do anything if she could. She could influence elements and the weather, not the dead. Which she was happy about, as that would seem a little too extreme in her eyes.

Ratchet was rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he pondered the fear Optimus had regarding what has happened to Cliffjumper. "Hmm...that would account for his life signal inexplicably coming back online. But dark energon?" He looked at Optimus in disbelief that this was possible. "It's so scarce as to be virtually non-existent. What would it be doing on Earth?"

"It was transported by Megatron," Optimus stated in a concern tone, making Ratchet blink in disbelief.

"For what purpose?" The medic questioned, confused as to why Megatron would collect the substance in the first place.

"To conquer this planet by raising an army of the undead." Azura shivered fearfully as she listened to the words as Optimus spoke what Megatron would do. He glanced at her to see Azura standing there with a tight grip on the rails.

Ratchet just made a light laugh of disbelief. "Well, Megatron will need to break quite a few toaster ovens." She looked at him as she listened curiously to the medic. "I mean where, on this world, would he find that many Cybertronian dead?" He glanced at Azura and looked back at Optimus. "And to be honest, we are scaring Azura by talking about this."

She blinked in surprise and put his hands on her hips. "I am not going to get nightmares listening you talk about this, Ratchet. I am old enough to understand the gravity of things like this." Ratchet's expression immediately changed to amused and she frowned at him. "What is so funny?"

Ratchet chuckled gently and shook his head. "The sparkling attitude seems to be coming out a bit more." She still did not know why he was amused. "Yes, you are old enough to understand, which is why I feel you don't need to hear about it."

"It is a little too late," Azura said bluntly. "Besides, where does dark energon come from? Is it even natural? And is it really that rare and strong enough to bring back dead Cybertronians?" Optimus and Ratchet glanced at each other. "I just...for some reason it feels familiar to me." Optimus's expression changed to curiosity as soon as she said it. "Kind of like how I knew you guys were familiar three years ago, and had no idea why. But I have never heard or seen dark energon before."

"That is interesting that you are somehow familiar with it," Ratchet said thoughtfully as he rubbed his chin. "As far as I know, there is no reason why you should even know. But you could also be overthinking it, Azura. Especially as we have lost Cliffjumper recently." Azura knew that wasn't true, but she didn't make any further comment. "As for how dark energon exists, I think you find it comes from..." Ratchet paused as he heard the sound of vehicle engines approaching through the driveway tunnel. "Uh, we can tell you later."

Azura was a tad annoyed, but she looked towards the driveway as Optimus and Ratchet approach the archway as the three autobots drive in. She heard laughter coming from them, and she realized that they all must have been doing something. It was rather nice to see, but Azura wished she could be at school. Though the kids had to be here to keep them safe as well, and especially with the school being broken into and having student files taken.