Transformers Prime: Project Predacon

Once Upon a Time

All questions were answered in the first week, it was uncomfortable for everyone. Especially for Ratchet it seemed. He had to check her physical health along with her psychological health, which he seemed to have a hard time doing both. Optimus and Summer got along unnaturally fast, which concerned Ratchet and I a lot more than the others. In fact, Ratchet appeared to be avoiding her, and when they were actually around each other, he got shy and flustered suddenly, like he was scared of her. Or he would act strange, the kind of strange a mech would act if he was around a femme he had a crush on and was trying to impress.

The Decepticons became primarily inactive, except for energon raids here and there. No one came after me, no one really bothered to notice I was gone most of the time, I felt more comfortable in my beast mode, where I could roam freely. I did not go on energon raids with the other bots, Optimus ordered me to stay, which I was fine with, but it increased my restlessness. Half of it was due to my inactivity, the other half was because I wanted answers for Ratchets constant attitude or quietness. I decided one day after everyone went on a critical energon hunt, even Summer, the newly recruited Prime that Optimus seemed to trust a lot, that it was time to get Ratchet to talk. The children were off at school, meaning the two of us had privacy, and I intended to drag the truth out of Ratchet.

Optimus alerted me when he was leaving, I was off flying quite a distance away, enjoying the sun and fresh air. A few minutes after his alert I decided to head back to the base, it wouldn't hurt to at least try to get the truth from the medic. I was still slow to arrive, no one was in a hurry, Ratchet wasn't going anywhere, and I knew Optimus and his team wouldn't be back for awhile so I took my time getting back.

The wind speed was low and the temperature was average, giving me a smooth flight back. I relished the feeling of the wind tearing at my wings, I loved the struggle, the strain to keep in the air even though it was an effortless duty. After at least a half hour, Ratchet commed me.

::I thought you would be back by now. Where are you?::

::I'll be there soon.:: I replied, cutting off the link. I wanted a peaceful flight back, but decided I had wasted my time more than enough. I pulled into a sharp dive, pinning my wings to my sides to gain speed and lose altitude quickly. I estimated how much time I had left before crashing into the ground, a few seconds at the most. At the last second I snapped my wings open, catching the wind to slow my fall. The effort was immense and I could feel the servos and gears in my wings pop and grind with the effort. I held them open for a second more before finally giving a tremendous flap, slowly gaining altitude once again so if any humans that were wandering the barren landscape did not detect me. I continued my way up, flying as high as I dared. Once I felt I was high enough in the sky, I leveled myself out, straightening my tail to continue forward instead of up or down. I continued normally, not bothering to stay on the track I was headed. Before long I grew bored of this, and decided to commence in a few defensive flight maneuvers, so I'd be prepared if I ever got into an airborne fight. I started simple, left and right barrel rolls, small dips and twists in the air before moving on to the more difficult and effective ones. I could fly in any direction, but unfortunately I couldn't fly upside down and backwards at the same time. I continued with the maneuvers, until I saw the Autobot base in the distance. I gave up my combat and defense moves and approached the Harbinger, the Decepticon warship that housed us. I landed close to the entrance and upon transforming, I entered and made my way to the laboratory, where Ratchet spent most of his time. Sure enough, he was there, typing at the computer and just otherwise standing around looking uninterested in whatever he was doing.

"You're back," Was all he said, not even bothering to turn and look at me.

"Ratchet, we need to talk. Rather, I need you to talk." He visibly stiffened.