"Transform, and roll out!"

  Basic Rules && Info

I am not going to censor myself. As such, this blog is 18+ ONLY. Minors- do not interact. Ageless and minor-run blogs will be blocked on sight.

This blog features both soulmate AUs and self-inserts. Every Optimus Prime variant is tied to a self-insert variant- and the worlds in question are canon divergent at their cores. As such, please do not assume your muse is from the same world/universe unless you have spoken to me OOC about it, first.

I will never accept unplanned/unplotted combat-based asks or threads. Please, always be sure to contact me OOC before trying to have a muse v. muse confrontation. I've had some bad experiences in the past, so I am very hesitant about entering combat without it being plotted OOC.

Please be careful about the topic of perma-death/the afterlife, with me. Unless we discussed it OOC (or I have ample warning), I will avoid the topic in threads.- This is because that concept is the main trigger for my panic attacks.

Always specify what Optimus Prime you're interested in if we haven't interacted before and you're sending an ask (if it's for an Optimus). This can be by either their title, or their verse variant.

  Methods of Communication

"text" - Speaking, presumed English. "text" - Speaking, presumed Cybertronian. 'text' - Thoughts. [text] - Comm links, texts, E-Mails, calls, so on and so forth. {text} - Bumblebee speaking/Encoded speech. ⫍ text ⫎ - Sign language. ~~ text ~~ - Soulmate Communication.

  Roster

  Optimus Prime Variants:

The Last Prime »»» Transformers Prime

The Miner »»» Transformers One

The Rebel Leader »»» War for Cybertron (Netflix)

The Disgraced Rookie »»» Transformers Animated

The Fatherly Semi »»» G1

The Last Knight »»» The Bayverse (2007 - 2017)

The Stranded Leader »»» Rise of the Beasts (2023)

The Resolute Veteran »»» Universal Calamity

The Liberator »»» Unicron Trilogy

The Spellcaster »»» Hearts of Steel

The Super Truck »»» Robots in Disguise (2001)

  Self Insert Variants:

Ash Brooks »»» Transformers Prime

Atlas »»» Transformers One

Solar »»» War for Cybertron (Netflix)

Arrow Fable »»» Transformers Animated

Fenix Bronze »»» G1

Echo Lennox »»» The Bayverse (2007 - 2017)

Solstice / 'Alex Pusher' »»» Rise of the Beasts (2023)

Tommie Park »»» Universal Calamity

Flynn Ward »»» Unicron Trilogy

North Frewin »»» Hearts of Steel

Comet Trail »»» Robots in Disguise (2001)

  Blog Roll

fate-called »»» You are here!

m4k3-y0u-b3tt3r »»» Poppy Playtime AU Dual Muse

reflections-of-mobius »»» Sonic Franchise Multimuse

target-on »»» Assassination Classroom AU Dual Muse

warp-piped »»» Mario Movies AU Dual Muse

fate-rewired »»» Transformers Multimuse // ON HIATUS

  Extras

They barely recalled their dreams, anymore.

At a younger age, their nights had constantly been filled with memories of color, of light and sound and dancing on cotton-candy clouds, fighting back ferocious beasts with snapping jaws and dodging would-be fatal blows.

Now, it was simply the darkness. An awareness of their own self that drifted between fully-coherent and something intangible, drifting from their grasp like smoke.

It had started at their hand. A dull, throbbing burn that had gradually spread. Like vines twisting up their arm, drifting to caress their neck and chin, dipping low to squeeze at their heart. It was worse than a nightmare- at least in a nightmare, one had the faint relief that what was happening was not real. But they were in that same void, that space of darkness that welcomed them each night into its unfeeling arms.

How they wished it would have at least dulled the pain.

Something in the darkness was reaching. They could feel it- practically all-encompassing. As if someone had flicked on a spotlight above, but the light couldn't be witnessed by their own eyes. They couldn't move. Could barely breathe. They were a tiny, insignificant fish- and this--- this was-

Y̴͙͕̽ö̶̺͇́u̸̧͚͋̄ ̶̜̹̉͝k̸̮͎̊ṋ̴͝o̸̟͉̿̃ẅ̸̡͓́͛ ̴̦̟͌n̷̼͐ò̵̟̫ṯ̴̝̆͠h̷͇́̒i̴̧̯̐ṇ̵̟̂g̴͔̺͝ ̸̠̠̄o̸͕̎f̵͍̀ ̴͕̞̊̽p̴̼̥̀a̸̼̐̔i̶͖͍͊͗n̴̖̈́,̴̫̖͂̏ ̵͙͌l̸̩̾i̵̼͍͊ṯ̴̿t̴͖̓l̴̘͂́ẽ̸̥͝ ̵̗̖̊̏o̸̡̅ǹ̵̮̓e̴̙̠̓.̵̜̖͗͗

Hazel snapped open to a dull, dark ceiling.

Twisting. They couldn't move. Couldn't--- a gasp escaped their throat. Their good hand ripped from where it had been clutching the sheets, tossing blanket and comforter aside to snag at their clothed chest. They twisted the fabric, knuckles pressing in tight as they clung to their pajamas.

Stinging--- stinging to stabbing and it was everywhere, their heart was going to burst, what was squeezing it???

They managed a jerky turn. Flipped onto their side. Curled inward. Everything burned. Everything was screaming. Ash gagged on air. It was too thick, it was lava, couldn't move---

Their thoughts, their head, it burned. It was aflame. Each pound of their too-tight heart sent another wave of agony soaring through them, curling its way up into their head, squeezing at their heart and they couldn't stop,...

There was no telling how much time passed. Sweat accumulated and trickled from their skin, their breathing shallow and warped. They couldn't gather enough oxygen, every sense pitching into a hellfire's chorus that refused an ounce of peace,...but, eventually...it all had to come crashing back down.

It was gradual. Just as it had been in their dream. No immediate change, only the slow shift from 'agonizing' to 'unbearable', sliding back down into something vaguely resembling 'livable'. Ash's breath evened out. The tear-tracks that stained their face were beginning to crack and dry as they heaved for air. Their fingers finally let go of the twisted cloth above their chest.

Hurts....

'Hospital.' The thought was immediately hurled away. 'Optimus.' Another that was immediately thrown. If the pain returned--- they'd...call Optimus. Ask him to get them to the hospital, somehow- or maybe Ratchet,... 'Selfish.'

Ash pushed themself upright. Their arms quivered. The muscles within protested each minute change of direction, each tug-and-pull to get themself to at least sit up in bed and look out across their room.

They chanced a look at their hands as they were getting up.

The right had a splatter mark on it, one that was now a deep, angry red. The skin had raised, and each beat of their heart caused a much-same pulse to echo from the injury.

A chemical burn?

How were they supposed to,...wash it, maybe?

When had they gotten it-

Dlp.

...the energon.

They'd forgotten about it entirely. Between the scraplets, caring for the 'bots, Ratchet tearing into them about not informing him sooner about them being Optimus' other half, and a dozen other things...it had slipped their mind.

Their legs slid off the edge of the bed.

Wash it NOW.

"Mrw!" Hex's meow resounded from beyond the door. Wood creaked and rattled as she pushed against it. Ash quickly strode the length of their room. They opened the door to a feline curling her way around their legs, meowing all the while.

"Hey, hey- I gotta clean,- I'll pet you after, I promise." It wasn't like they lived with anyone. But that didn't stop Ash from lowering their voice as they addressed the feline. They crept across the upper floor of their home, swiftly making their way to the bathroom. Their skin had probably absorbed a chunk of energon, by now.

Was that what that had been all about?

'Should I tell Ratchet?'

It wasn't any Earthly toxin...and there was no telling if it was going to get worse. The ghostly whispers of agony crept across their skin. Ash shivered. They flicked on the light. For a moment, they were blinded. Their blood pounded in their skull, threatening revolt. Clenched fists landed on the counter.

No, they'd--- be fine....if it got that bad again- then,...they'd tell the others. The sharp edges of their nails dug into their palms. One hand was forced out, smacking the faucet on. The other was shoved under the waters. Icy and immediately cutting, enough to make Ash clench their teeth and hiss.

Nope, they'd be telling Ratchet the moment they could get the mech alone, tomorrow.

[...]

A dull ache. That was all that remained by the time morning drifted around, and with it, a certain semi-truck cabin. They'd picked their way up into the tractor, resisting a desire to practically flop onto the cushions. Their head was no longer pounding, but their thoughts- were fuzzy and dulled.

"Hey, Opti...y'sleep well?" They clicked the seatbelt into place.

"My recharge went well, yes." A faint smile crossed their features. Fair enough. "What of yours?"

"It was sleep. Woke up in th' middle of the night,- but y'know how that goes." They leaned on his door as the semi pulled out of their drive. Change topic, change topic,...

"What awoke you?" Fuck. They blinked. They could make out part of their reflection in the window, backdropped by dust and rock.

"...dunno." Not quite right, but not quite wrong, either. "I'm plannin' t'ask Ratchet about it, actually." They breathed out. Pushed off the door- leaned against the cushions. The seatbelt tightened minutely around their waist.

"Did something happen?" They stilled. "...do you want to tell me, Ash?"

~~ No. ~~ No chance they were trusting their actual voice to stay stable. ~~ But you have a right to know. ~~

~~ You do not need to tell me if you do not wish to. ~~ They could've--- God,...Ash's head lolled forward, only to smack back with a groan. Firecrackers exploded behind their eyes. They squeaked out in pain, a hand firing to clutch at their forehead.

~~ No. You of all entities have a right to know, so. ~~ Of everyone,...he was the most likely to stay calm, wasn't he?

'Don't give yourself time to second-guess.' They'd talk themself out of it. Ash knew their own tactics well. They pushed through their thoughts, wandering back to the memory from yesterday.

The last flickers of a torch, holding it steady even as something sizzled. Their hand had begun to burn- something had landed on it. At the time, they thought nothing of it. Too concerned with the scraplets, with warning the Autobots as they tore down the corridors.

Laying in bed the night before, gasping for breath, clutching at their own chest and locked in an immobile prison. Barely able to think, unable to move, trapped. Trying to convince themself after that they didn't need to tell Ratchet, up until they tried to clean their injury.

A few seconds of silence echoed out into an eternity. Ash was tempted to slide down the seat and see if they could somehow vanish into the floor. Like that'd do much good, given Optimus was the floor (amongst other things).

Was it just them, or-

No, it wasn't just them.

Optimus had picked up speed.

Hazel glanced towards his dash. His speedometer was tipping up. Oh fuck.

~~ Ratchet will know what to do. ~~ His tone was calm, but by Primus, his spark was anything but. It was practically screeching as his processor ran back over the memories. Once, twice, thrice- this was yesterday. He'd been in the arctic at the time, it wasn't like he could've prevented it. ~~ And if he does not, I can take you to a hospital. ~~ The thoughts he sent were kept as even as he could manage. Attempting to soothe, a small squeeze of his belt as his EM Field flickered.

He shouldn't be this rattled. He was a Prime. He was a battle-hardened warrior.- But that didn't stop the stutters of his spark as he tore down the road. A part of him was arguing, begging him to at least slow.

The other part was presently steering and ignoring his safer side. The only thing keeping him from drifting into speeds that would concern even his passenger was that he did not want to cause additional worry.

The desert could not move swiftly enough.

He sent a small prayer to Primus when he rounded a curve of the road,...and the familiar butte of his base came into view. Optimus slowed as he neared the entrance. It slid open moments after the two drove offroad. He could feel the bumps as small rocks and debris caught on his tires, attempting to dissuade him.

It was a relief when rubber once more met pavement. He rolled down the passageway.

~~ I am glad your reaction has not been more severe. ~~ But they should've said something sooner. Way, way sooner. He transformed as he rolled out of the main passageway. Bumblebee was out gathering Raf (it was Sunday, after all), and Bulkhead and Arcee were still recovering...which left the medic, who was once-more situated before his monitors, typing away.

"Ratchet." The medic turned at his designation.

"Yes?- Are your systems having any troubles, Optimus?" He took a step closer, already squinting at the Prime. "You spent enough time defrosting..." Optimus shook his helm. One side of his chassis clicked, the belt around Ash undoing itself before he reached in to gently pluck his human out.

"It's about Ash." The medic's expression flickered for a moment, before casting his gaze to the small one- who was now sitting on Optimus' open palm. He'd (thankfully) shifted them from the digits of one servo to the flat plane of the other.

"I came into contact with energon yesterday." An opticridge raised...and then, the energon drained clear from his faceplates. His eyes practically went dark before suddenly lighting back up.

"Optimus, put them on a medberth." Gone was the faint trace of kindness reserved for the Prime, replaced instead with a gruffness befitting the war-doctor. Optimus did as he was told. He stepped over to the area that functioned as a medbay, and gently deposited Ash onto the only open berth. It may as well have been a whole house's worth of space. Ash pulled in their legs and crossed them. "Now, where did you come into contact with the energon?- I need a...scrap, that won't...!"

"Right hand, center of the back." They held it up. The redness had gone down. Or rather, it had spread out. Shifting its way up to their finger tips, and down past their wrist. The skin wasn't as protruding as the night before, Ash noted. They weren't entirely sure whether to feel better about that, or worse.

"Right servo, central..." Ratchet reached out- only to stop. His entire servo had been moving towards where a Cybertronian's servo might've been. His optics closed for a moment, and then opened with an angered sigh. A digit was outstretched to Ash. "Let me see." Their hand was gently leveled onto Ratchet's digit. He leaned in, his other servo pressing to the berth.

Ash heard a distinct whirr as his pupils seemed to...enlarge? Had he just- built-in magnifier?

"...have you had any symptoms? Pain, nausea, spark-...heart pains?" They wanted out. Out and away. Very away. Very much away, please.

"...it started as a very intense burn, then it settled to something lower-level for a few hours,...before getting really bad, late last night." Ash pressed their other hand to their chest. Squeezing,... "...it traveled all over. I felt like someone was going to squeeze my heart until it popped- and my thoughts were all on fire. It lasted,...a while, n' then cooled down. Now,..." Their eyes shifted to the spreading red. It nearly reminded them of a rash. "...a faint burn, but nothin' more."

Ratchet grumbled something. For being so close, one would've thought Ash could make it out. But, such was not the case. Their mouth refused to work to ask what he'd been grumbling. God only knew how annoyed he might get if they asked.

But this was their health on the line,...Ash's shoulders fell slightly.

"What?" The digit was pulled away. Their hand fell back to their lap. Ratchet was looking off, his optics whirring back to their normal magnification (if Ash had to guess), before drifting...somewhere into the mid-distance.

"...for now, you should remain on the base. Your condition has improved, but there is a chance it can turn for the worse." He turned his gaze on the Prime, "Optimus?"

"I will keep an optic on them."

"Good." His attention flicked to them. It was so quick, Ash wasn't entirely sure he'd actually looked at them. "...I need to check a few things..." He let out atmosphere, letting his pauldrons sag forward for a moment. "...try not to give me anything else to worry about, while I'm busy."

Ash internally flinched. They slowly stood upright, careful to keep their eyes on the medic as they did. A servo- dim gray and blocky- was offered to them. Ash stepped aboard.

"I'll do my best." He...hadn't really checked much, had he? But they weren't about to complain. The quicker the medical visit, the better. Optimus pulled his arm close.

~~ Where to? ~~ The question filtered across their thoughts. It was noticeably more muted than his earlier communications.

~~ Wherever. ~~ The thick thuds of Optimus' steps filled Ash's ears as they were carried away. Was it just them, or had Ratchet looked back?

[...]

"Huh..." They'd yet to be this deep in the base. The walls were the same faded off-white, but the pipes near the floor were noticeably missing. They could also spot segments in the walls- presumably, doors- but they were lacking in windows. There were no panels or writings beside any of them, but the wear of the floor...they wondered.

Optimus stepped up to the furthest set of segmentations, at the end of the hall. It clicked, gears rattling and old wires sparking- but the doors managed to slide open. Inside...was a decently-sized gray hangar. Easily big enough for a jet of some sort...with an outcropping of metal attached to the far wall, a few tablets as big as the front of Ash's house laid up on the floor beside it. The lights flickered for a moment, but managed to catch their energy and come to full brightness.

It was only then that the Prime carrying them paused in his walk. He faltered, optics catching on the dark screens. Ah, he hadn't,...

"...forgive me, I did not think to gather any form of entertainment for you."

"Don't worry 'bout it." The brunet's head turned up to regard him. The red was growing a touch fainter...he wasn't certain whether to be relieved, or even more concerned. "Th' way my head feels, I probably wouldn't be able t'focus on much, anyway." Another look was given to the room before them. "Hey, Opti,...is this- your...?"

"...yes, it is my berthroom." Whyhadhewalkedhere. His peds refused to move forward. "...would you prefer to go somewhere else?"

"No, 'm good." They sat back down on his servo. "...I wanted t'get away from Ratchet n' didn't specify, 's on me." Oh. Well,...it was rather plain, for a berthroom...but there was little need (or time) to really decorate on a day-to-day. Optimus shifted on his peds. He started in. It took no more than a few seconds to traverse the space. Ash was allowed to alight upon the edge of his berth, before the Prime moved to sit down. "...y'like th' simple look?" His gaze fell from the opposing wall.

The door slid closed, gears grinding and panels rumbling. Optimus paid it no mind. The...'simple' look...had he ever,...

"...it serves its purpose."

"...wouuuuuld...you like a different look?" They were starting to smile. Mischevious and light, but the corners of their eyes were taut. His helm returned to staring at the now-closed door. Optimus leaned forward, allowing his arms to rest on his knees. "Should I stop?"

"No." It was a way to gauge how they were doing. The subtle fluctuations and dips of their voice- though he didn't know it well enough to properly guess. All the same,... It was a method. "I have not had the time nor luxury to consider anything beyond what was necessary." Though now, he was essentially on bedrest...as was the majority of the team.

That wouldn't last long. It couldn't last long. Not with the Decepticons out and about. While Optimus wasn't about to send a damaged team member out,...the moment they were well enough (or rather, got a clean bill of health from Ratchet), their work would resume.

"...I'd love t'try t'decorate this...or- I could offer you ideas? I doubt I could reach any of the higher stuff, but..." Ash gestured loosely. A small wince caught his optic. Their small smile shifted to being a fraction sheepish as they pulled their arms in close. "...kinda yanked my arms grabbin' a fire extinguisher yesterday. But 's fine! They're fine. I'll be fine. Nothin' a bit of rest can't fix!" They were rather quick to try to knock back any perceived concern.

Optimus vented softly.

"I am sure." He resisted raising a servo. Why did he want to do that to begin with? Why- had he brought Ash here, to begin with?- His peds had...well, saying he'd auto-tracked to his berthroom didn't feel,...right. He'd known they were with him, and yet...he'd come- here.

"Anyway,..." Ash linked their arms behind their head. The thread laid over some of their hair, before dipping in the space between the two- eventually finding its other end around one of the Prime's own digits. He shifted minutely. "There are a few,...this place already feels a touch like Industrial, but you could go 1920s Deco,...mayyyybe Farmhouse? My home's interior is kinda Farmhouse-esque."

"Is 'Farmhouse' your favorite?" The brunet shook their head. His processor reached out. Finding the thread that would lead him to Earth's internet, and silently exploring what they'd offered as the other spoke.

"No."

"Then why is your home designed off of it?" Industrial...it could work. 1920s Deco...seemed...strange. Too...pompous. Like he was some higher-up back on Cybertron. The very thought made him shudder internally. Decidedly not.

"Because it fits the vibes of the house." One of his opticridges slid up. Ash chuckled. "...think of it like,...you wouldn't walk into the medbay and expect there to be balloons and birthday cake everywhere, right? You expect kinda white-washed walls n' beeping machinery. Th' outside of my home looks like somethin' fit for a farmhouse, mayyyybe with an industrial twist,...so I decorated the inside accordingly." Their hands unclasped from their arms, and fell into their lap. "There are a lot of ways to style a place,...I jus'...like gatherin' the resources for it, I guess? Plus, takes my mind offa other things."

Farmhouse...it was quaint. Quiet, but warm. Rather pleasant, if he was being honest. A bit on the rustic side, and he didn't doubt it wouldn't be quite possible to design in here, but...

"...I think...the 'Farmhouse' aesthetic would be pleasant." There was a barely-perceptible pressure against his tibulen. Ash had pushed it.

"You're just sayin' that because my home's got that aesthetic! No stealin', Prime." Their tongue was stuck out at him. Optimus chuckled quietly.

"No, I'm asking about it because I am genuinely interested." He returned the gesture- though his own push was far, far lighter. He didn't want to risk accidentally knocking the small one over, after all. "There is little time for us to make or decorate anything in this place,...so it would be nice to make it appear more lived in."

'If only because it will comfort you, and the boy.' A twitch of his spark.

"Well, I can certainly try! But I won't decorate anythin' I don't think I should, like the halls- or Ratchet's work space...buuuut, I might ask you to help me haul in an item or two for th' gamin' area."

~~ And see if you'd be interested in any decorations for your berthroom. Like- what do you think of some rustic hangin' lights? ~~ An overlay of his berthroom, but now...there were little wires that hung from the walls. Nearly like miniature segmentations of the thread, painted a deep black, leading into caged-in lights that seemed to be forged into the wall.

"Oh! What about a sorta-industrial mineshaft look? Could even build in something for your tablets~..." A portion of the wall beside his berth had been pushed back. Within was a top-rounded set of shelves, the bottom one half-filled with blank, dark tablets. The upper shelf had more of those hanging lights, alongside an iron-wrought fence. He could make out the soft tink of imagined fingers tapping against the metal.

The alcove above the tablets was too small for a Cybertronian. But a human,...was a different story.

Optimus cleared his intake.

"I would not be opposed." He shifted, pushing himself up- and then back. The Prime sat back down, the tops of his ankle guards pressed against the edge of his berth. "But it may take a while..." His gaze trailed, alongside his voice.

"Eh, got all the time in the world." The unease was gone from their tone. When had that...? Did it matter? The brunet turned over. They pulled themself further onto the berth, their legs raised behind them at the knees. Their head was propped up on their arms.

For a moment, Ash felt a sparklet of pain. Stronger than previous, but it didn't take more than a few seconds for it to settle down.

What about the day Optimus left?- They shoved it back. They weren't going to think about that. Not now, not ever. Ash tilted their head with a grin. More weight to their good arm, as opposed to their bad.

"What about a desk? Or maybe a couch? Y'got a lot'a space t'work with, Opti." He could feel a shift on his faceplates. The Prime hummed goodnaturedly.

"...a couch might be preferable." Good luck finding enough material for it, though. It wasn't like Fowler was about to offer it up- nor the US government. But,- there was nothing wrong with a little fantasizing, was there?

"After all, I want to ensure it is comfortable for you," -hey, "-and young Rafael." That grin grew.

"Well aren't you sweet!" They chuckled, "the amount of materials that'd take would be ungodly, but it'd sure be fun! Then I could come by your place all the time.- Presuming you're okay with it, o'course."

"Of course." Please, visit any time. He cleared his intake again. Ash's grin dipped into a concerned frown, eyebrows drawn in.

"-Y'good?"

"Yes. Just clearing my throat."

"...if y'say so." They shifted. "Y'better not be lying to me."

"I am not." Another sticking out of the tongue.

This time, Optimus stuck out his glossa ever so-slightly, in return.

The laugh he was awarded made it more than worth it. Though his faceplates did heat a hint.

[...]

When had they trailed off?... Optimus couldn't quite pinpoint it. The spot in conversation where Ash's voice had eventually trailed. Or had they simply stopped, altogether? He wasn't sure. But, eventually, they had spoken no more. Now, they were curled up a few feet away from the edge of his berth, hands cradling their head as they slumbered. Their chest rose and fell in steady, silent intervals. Optimus did his best not to watch, instead focusing his vision on the doors.

He was meant to be keeping an optic on them, but even in this moment, they deserved a degree of privacy. Every once-in-a-while, his sensors would drift over their prone form- ensuring they were still slumbering, that nothing had gone wrong.

But as the latest scans came back, Optimus found himself sitting upright.

Their body temperature- it was three degrees higher than it had been earlier.

"Ash?" He prodded at their side with a digit. They groaned and turned to their other side, but not before gently whacking his digit with a hand. That resulted in a dull thmp. He poked them again. Their low grumble had his finials sliding a touch back, but at least their eyes opened. The brunet groaned. Their hands shifted to press against their head on either side, eyes squeezing shut.

They did not, however, groan again.

"Are you alright?" They squirmed. Their legs pressed in closer to their upper body, their head lowering until it was pressed against their knees.

~~ I think I might be sick...please lower your voice.... ~~ His servos were already on the move. He had to get Ratchet to check them out again. Hopefully, it was just a human illness. Optimus did not want to consider the alternatives. Their form was gingerly scooted to the edge of his berth as Optimus shuffled closer, and then nudged onto his palm.

"Do you think it might have to do with the energon?"

~~ Wouldn't surprise me... ~~ Their skin was startlingly warm against the plating of his palm. Relief flickered over the bond. Ash had turned their head, allowing their cheek to press against cool Cybertronian steel. ~~ Not allergic reaction,...would've been more... ~~ Severe. Based on the memory he'd been given of the night before,...he wasn't so sure.

Optimus stood up from his berth. Two digits pressed to the side of his helm.

[Ratchet, I'm coming back to the medbay.]

[Understood. What's happening?]

[Ash's internal temperature has increased to unsafe levels. I believe it may have to do with the energon they were exposed to yesterday.] He kept his steps as even as he could.

[Are there any other symptoms?]

"Ash, can you tell me what you are experiencing?" He wasn't entirely certain they'd answer. They were laying on a large sheet of metal. They were burning- but everything was so abysmally cold. They wanted to shiver. Something was clutching at their lungs, breathing ached-- had someone stuffed their head full of pillows? It certainly felt like it. The lights that passed by flickered and burned inside their skull, eating away at them. They covered their face, buried it into cold metal to ease the fire.- Optimus nearly tripped. The digits of the servo holding them curled upwards. A small attempt at blocking out the lights of the hall as he marched back towards the main room.

[Their temperature is fluctuating. Trouble breathing. I believe they have a severe headache, as well.]

[I'll give them a lookover...but it is quite possible they have simply caught an organic virus.] He wasn't about to take the chance. Better to have Ratchet check them out and have it be nothing, than the alternative.

[...]

"Without the proper tools, it's hard to tell." Ratchet rubbed at the bridge between his optics. "If we could, I would prefer to have their blood drawn and tested, since there is a chance the energon they absorbed is in their bloodstream and causing all of the symptoms...but, it does seem like they've simply acquired a cold." His servo dropped. "I'll send a request along to agent Fowler, but it may be a few hours, at best. For now, it would be wise to stick to how most humans treat their colds."

~~ ...warm blankets,...sleep...chicken noodle.... ~~ It would seem he wouldn't have to ask.

"Thank you, Ratchet." The medic's opticridges furrowed further. "Is something the matter?" The orange-and-white mech shook his helm.

"No, Optimus.- I need to get back to work....and contact agent Fowler." He was already retreating back to his usual place. Stood before the monitors, tapping away at the keyboard. Optimus watched him step back into place. His EM Field was more tightly-drawn than usual. Which, for Ratchet of all mechs, was saying something.

~~ Can you help me off the medbed? ~~ Ash was leaning on their arms. Optimus picked them up and deposited them into his open palm. Warm blankets, sleep, and 'chicken noodle'...based on a quick search, only the second item would really be something he could give without leaving the base. The other two... ~~ Comfy... ~~ They laid down on his palm.

He was not entirely certain a near-flat plane of metal was 'comfy' for any organic. Optimus probably could have set Ash down on the couch. It would've been notably softer.

He didn't.

Instead, the mech took a few steps away from Ratchet's work station.

~~ You require blankets and 'chicken noodle', yes? ~~ Ash nodded sleepily. The first could definitely be found at their home. The second he wasn't too sure of. ~~ Do you have 'chicken noodle' at your house? ~~ Another nod, though this one was slower than the first.

Well, he knew his destination.

Slowly, the world faded into focus. The faint clicks of keys, the cool air that may have felt biting when they'd fallen asleep,...the ends of the couch on either side. The feel of a crick in their neck that would definitely do jack-diddly-squat for their waking hours,...and the beginnings of a headache. Still a whisper, but no doubt ready to become loud if they weren't careful.

Hazel hues drifted open....to a familiar orangeish-red and white frame, to the green glow of monitors and the background hum of lights. If it were a few weeks prior, they might've panicked. Now,...

Right.... Optimus had picked them up from their house. They'd had the Saturday off, and they'd been exhausted after staying up late the night before...couldn't remember what they'd been playing, though. The brunet let out a breath before they fully pushed themself upright. Ratchet didn't so much as blink in their general direction.

Fair enough,....their eyes landed on a yet-unopened can of Red Bull. It was on the table in front of them, decidedly no longer cold given the lack of condensation. But, they'd live.

They reached out and popped it open. Internally, they winced at the crack and hiss- but a quick glance revealed the medic hadn't seemed to notice. Or, maybe he was just accustomed...they could live with either or.

For now,...Ash dared to take a sip, before pulling their phone out to check the time.

10:06 AM. They nearly gawked.

They'd- what?!- Sure, they'd stayed up late the night before, but- ten in the morning?!--- Jeez... They took another swig of their Red Bull. This one was decidedly longer than the first- downing as much as they dared in a single go. The sting of carbonation nearly brought a tear to their eye. God, they'd slept through most of the morning...!!!

~~ Sorry, I didn't mean to crash. ~~

~~ It is alright, Ash. You were exhausted. ~~ The reply was almost immediate, accompanied by a faint, soothing warmth. The brunet pulled the can from their lips. ~~ I will be in the main room shortly. ~~

They didn't bother to pull off the faint smile that dared to cross their features. Not while he was away, anyway. Enough years alive had taught them that attempting to wipe such an expression off their face,...generally made it worse. So, they let it play out.

Their can was almost entirely empty (admittedly, Ash was taking big swigs) by the time heavy pedfalls started to shake the couch. A sidelong glance towards the corridor revealed...the appearance of a certain blue-helmed mech.

~~ Heyo! ~~ The brunet waved from the couch. Optimus drifted closer, into the main room.

"Good morning, Ash." His optics were downturned to find them. They stuck their tongue out and winked, before pulling it back in. Was it just them, or had his dermas- gone slightly up?- Probably just them. Definitely just them,... The Prime turned. "Ratchet,...have you discovered anything new about our Arctic find?"

"Not yet. The pod can't be opened while it's frozen solid." There was a beep. A video feed from somewhere within the base flickered onto one of the monitors. It looked- almost like someone had taken a giant rock, covered it in ice...and then dropped it dead-center into a hangar. Which, realistically...was probably just about what happened. There were webs all over its surface, harsh edges and cutting lines from where the ice had been chipped away so it could be moved.

Ash's hands slid under their armpits. Even looking at the thing made their fingers feel numb.

"Hopefully, Arcee and I's mission will locate some clue as to the origin of our find..." Their head tilted slightly to the side. Arctic...no chance they were asking about going with. Rather not freeze to death in milliseconds, thank you. The softer, harsher taps of a certain femme crossed their hearing. The brunet's head slid towards the noise, watching as said blue 'bot emerged from the same hall as Optimus had. She stretched, up until Ash heard a distinct pnk- before allowing both arms to rest at her sides.

"Keep in mind that you can only remain until your sensors sound." Ratchet gestured to the medbay with a servo, "Once your core temperature drops into the blue zone, system failures will not be likely...but imminent." Optimus started towards the medbay- followed in short order by Arcee. Ash stood from the couch and meandered towards the edge of the humans' pad, watching as Ratchet briefly inserted some sort of long, thin tube into either's helm...before pulling it out after a few moments and another beep from a nearby machine.

A code update? Maybe?

There were a pair of revs from the entryway to the base. They didn't have to look to guess at who the revs belonged to.- Decidedly, Bumblebee and Bulkhead...after a few moments of the engines growing progressively louder, there was a pair of tire squeals- and the sound of a door clicking open.

"Heya, guys." Ash spun on a heel to wave. "Just in time t'see Opti n' Arcee off."

"Oh? Where're you guys going?" Raf climbed out of Bumblebee's alt mode, tugging on his backpack as he did.

"Shouldn't that one be in school, today..." They would be pointedly ignoring Ratchet's unwelcome complaint.

"It's Saturday! I don't have school on the weekends." Raf seemed to have overheard. Ratchet rolled his optics, venting atmosphere in a thick huff.

"We are going to search the Arctic for clues on something we found, yesterday." Huh-? Oh right, the kid had asked...

"The Arctic? I've always wanted to see snow." The kid perked right up. Hadn't he-? Ash's train of thought was halted. Not everyone was from out-of-state, and Nevada wasn't exactly the coldest place in the universe, but still...really?

"I would invite you to join, Rafael, but the conditions are much too extreme- even for we Autobots." The Prime gestured between himself and Arcee.

~~ Y'better not freeze out there, Optimus. ~~

~~ I will try not to. ~~ Raf's head fell slightly, a shoe scuffing against the floor of the base.

"I...understand." Ratchet pulled away from his patients, and moved back over to the groundbridge controls. Within moments, he was stepping up to the lever- and pushing it down. The groundbridge swirled to life. Optimus and Arcee stood from the medbay. They marched towards the whirlpool of greens, blues, and whites...but Optimus paused, just before he would have stepped into the event horizon. He turned, battle mask clicking into place.

"But,...I will bring you back a snowball."

"That would be awesome...!" Ash resisted a small chuckle. Optimus turned back towards the groundbridge. Looked like it was going to be a pretty quiet day...their gaze drifted, finding Ratchet as his servo latched around the groundbridge's main lever.

"Transport complete." He pulled the lever up- and it immediately sparked. The groundbridge's vortex wavered and died as the sound of grinding gears rang out from within the base. Ratchet had jolted back from the device as it sprayed out sparks. "Bulkhead, Bumblebee--- here, now!"

"---So, Raf- wanna explore the base?" Looked like Bumblebee and Bulkhead had both shifted back to their 'bot forms...and both were glancing to the now-distraught medic with varying looks of unease. All the same, they moved to go aide him.

"Sure?" No chance they were sticking around when Ratchet looked like that. They didn't know the first thing about fixing the groundbridge system,...annnnd they were pretty sure any attempt to help would be seen as an act of aggression. Better to just make themself (and Raf) scarce.

~~ Be careful. Groundbridge seems to have malfunctioned. ~~

~~ Thank you for the warning. ~~ They hit the base of the stairs.

~~ Yep. ~~ Hopefully he and Arcee would hunker down for a while... They tried to push Ratchet's earlier words as far back into their thoughts as possible.

[...]

"The winds are getting stronger!...gotta--- get back--- to base--!" Raf was stumbling forward, arms outstretched and set up as if he were covering his head from some heavy storm. Ash was a few steps behind him- careful to be a bit off to the side to avoid getting stumbled into. The kid could really 'stumble' when the opportunity arose.- And they weren't of the mind to get hit by a child.

"Just- a little--- further....!" The brunet 'called' out in reply. It wasn't hard to picture it. To nearly feel the ghostly whispers of snow and ice as it bit at their skin.

Standing out in the cold, wondering how long it would be before the bus came by. Watching the sky above, losing feeling in their legs and wondering how long it would be,....all they could do was wait with the others.

Ktk. K-k-k-k-k-k-knk,---

Ash pulled their head up. Their arm fell. That sound,...it had come from nearby. A glimmer of something skittering into the path ahead with the last ring of noise....Raf was the first to reach it, bending down to pick up a screw that was easily as big as his hand.

"How did....?"

"...'s an old place. Chances are, somethin' just fell apart up there." But this, and the groundbridge's lever sparking earlier...two instances is a coincidence. If something else fell apart today, they were calling bullshit.- There was a rattle from behind the pipe the screw had fallen from. Ash didn't have to speak it. Raf was behind them in a moment, their own touch falling to find a blade. Skittering.- Rapidly growing louder and closer- they resisted taking a step back as-...

Well.

"...huh..." It was...small. Maybe the size of a chihuahua, appearing almost like a chibi spider of sorts...skittering to a halt on four legs, two spindly arms twitching as its humongous head flicked to the side. Purple-blue 'eyes' looked up at them. Those- those were big eyes. Fuck, that was cute....

"The Autobots never said anything about pets!" Raf stepped out from behind them. He was grinning, now- nearly all trace of fear gone from his expression.

"Well, we haven't really known 'em long. Besides, could be a pest for all we know."

~~ Hey, Optimus? ~~

~~ Give me a moment. ~~ They brushed along an acceptance. Raf was now waving the screw he'd picked up. The tiny thing's eyes were tracing the screw, a beep of a chitter escaping- but its mouth didn't open.

"You want it?" Raf laughed, "-Go get it!" He tossed the screw a few feet away. The tiny thing practically bolted after the screw. Ash nearly shot after it when it leaped up,...and they heard grinding. "Wait, don't eat that! You'll choke!"

Somehow, they didn't think...it was going to.

A few moments passed, and it spun back around. The screw was nowhere in sight...and the creature seemed perfectly happy.

"Or,....not?" Concerning. Very,...very concerning.- And no response from Optimus...they weren't about to push their other for an answer. There was always the chance that they could break his concentration and get him hurt. Or worse.

"Why don't we go show the 'bots this guy, see if he's a pet or a pest?" They offered. The tiny thing scrabbled between them both, clicking and beeping rather happily. It even went so far as to rub its head against Raf's pantleg, as if it were a cat trying to impart its scent.

"Sounds good to me....but it really looks too cute to be a pest." They...weren't so sure.

Something about it was rubbing them the absolute wrong way.-- As the three started forward, they could've sworn they heard something behind them.

The faintest fritz of wires.

[...]

At least the creature seemed content to follow the two, for a time. Until it had nuzzled against Raf's leg, and he'd picked the poor thing up. Now,...it was unconscious. Peacefully resting in the youth's arms, eyes closed and body limp. The two reached the final turn before the main room.

"We most definitely have a problem..." Ratchet's voice. His frame for that matter, hunched near the floor. He was- holding something green in his grasp. It seemed to have sections of it broken off- or...burned? "But what could have caused this?" The lights flickered not a moment later. The sound of a generator stuttering, as if on its dying breaths, was easily audible.

"Or that?" Bulkhead's question was one they couldn't help but share. They crossed back into the main room with the kid, head slightly tilted as they kept an eye on the 'bots. It would seem the two were entirely out-of-processor. Not a single optic flicked their way.

~~ You called for me, Ash? ~~

~~ Yep. I wanted to know about a certain critter Raf and I found. ~~

"Might be the main grid...hopefully, it isn't a substation malfunction."

"Hey, guys?" Raf's voice tipped up. Relatable...they weren't entirely sure they wanted to break the bots' concentration on the repairs. Ratchet sighed in annoyance, the thing he'd been holding falling slightly.

"We're BUS-

AHHH!"

His annoyance cut abruptly into a panicked shout. Ash jolted back. Raf nearly fell over. The other two 'bots glanced- and immediately shot backwards. Ratchet had his servos up in seconds, the thing he'd been holding (a motherboard, Ash belatedly realized) snapping as it hit the ground. Bulkhead's servo transformed. The barrel of a blaster was leveled. Ash's hands went up, immediately moving to be between the shot and Raf.

"Woah!--- Guys, calm d-"

"Scraplet! SCRAPLET!!!!"

"What's a 'scraplet'?" That thing in Raf's arms was rapidly losing whatever little care Ash had for it. If it was that tiny and freaking out the 'bots that badly? It had to be of the fucking devil, at best.

"Th--" Ratchet cleared his vocalizer, "--the most dangerous vermin ever to crawl upon the face of Cybertron..." That...did not sound good.

"How so?" They weren't going to move so much as an inch. Behind them,...they could hear whirring. Clicking. It was waking up.

"It's not like he'd hurt anything!" It was fully awake. They could practically see it sitting up in their mind's eye. They glanced back.

And it looked over their shoulder.

The moment those eyes landed on one of the 'bots, its head split open. Suddenly exposing circle after circle of razor-sharp teeth, all of which began to spin. They swirled at high-speed as it leapt down from Raf's arms, and tore off for the cowering bots. Bulkhead fired. The damn creature snapped to the side, and he fired again. Another dodge. It leapt.

And lodged into Bumblebee's leg. In an instant, that whirring became a hideous crunch and screech of metal as the 'bot cried out and fell. Ash bolted forward. It was tearing him apart---! He grabbed it and ripped the accursed creature off his leg. Not a moment later, it tore through his servo. Eating its way up his arm.- He tore it off again and launched the thing.

The scraplet landed, very close to Ash. They spun on a dime and kicked. Pain burst from their foot. The scraplet soared straight into a crowbar. Raf brought it down without mercy. There was a heavy KTNK- and he was laying into it with every swing of his makeshift weapon. The head deformed in no time flat. Ash ran, grabbing the crowbar after the kid managed to get a few more whacks in.

The scraplet was now nothing more than smashed, sparking parts. Frankly,...

Good fucking riddance.

"Easy, Raf--- 's already dead." At least, they assumed so. Hoped so. If there were more,...God they really hoped not. Raf panted for a few moments before his gaze moved to the downed 'bot. He took off at a trot, stopping near Bumblebee. Ratchet had moved to inspect his injury, it would seem...they didn't see any blue, but Ash wasn't going to be blindly optimistic.

"I'm sorry--- are you going to be okay, Bumblebee???"

"Only a mesh wound. He'll live..." Ratchet assured.

~~ Ash? ~~ Fuck.--- They hadn't realized,...

~~ Sorry.- Bumblebee's been injured. Raf and I apparently found a 'scraplet'. ~~

"At least it was just the one?" That...resulted in two-of-three helms snapping towards Ash.

~~ Evacuate the base. NOW. ~~ Optimus' thoughts came through. Tinged with sheer panic, tempered back by untold eons of experience. But that still failed to prevent all of it from reaching the small brunet.

"There is never just one scraplet. They hunt in- hordes. Swarms. They find 'bots,- and they devour them. Wire by wire, circuit by circuit..." Bulkhead was practically shivering. Ratchet attempted to shift Bumblebee up. The scout didn't protest. Raf's attention was drifting. Shit. "...until there's nothing left, not even--" he paused, a servo raising to drag down his faceplates, "--your optics." Another shudder, full-bodied and panicked.

'Lovely visual.'

~~ And leave you and Arcee to freeze? I think not. ~~

"So,...terrifying lil' f-" child, "-fffffreaks." They corrected before they could fully curse. Raf cast a look at them. "But we can't leave this place."

"Why not??? If the scraplets are here, I say let 'em keep t-!"

"We cannot afford to do that." Ratchet cut the other mech off. "If we do not fix the groundbridge, Arcee and Optimus will surely perish...and that is not something I can allow to happen." There was a beat of silence, followed by a quiet whimper from Bulkhead. Honestly, if they were facing the equivalent of Vashta Nerrada or piranha,...they'd probably be in an identical boat, right now.

Ratchet pulled away from Bumblebee. Guess that meant he was done tending to the mech, for the time being.

"Well,...how'd they get in here, to begin with? If we're gonna remove the things, we needa make sure they can't just come right back in." Ratchet shifted over to the main console. He typed away for a few moments, before an image of the frozen pod from earlier came up. It flickered and glitched, before vanishing from sight.

But that was long enough to see it had been busted open from within. No longer iced over,...that was how.

"...as I suspected...the 'arctic find' was a scraplet trap. Presumably left over from the war...the temperatures must have kept them in stasis..." Well, at least that meant there'd be no extras showing up, hopefully. "We need to eradicate the scraplets, and fix the groundbridge."

"And how are we supposed to do the first???" Well, temperature, so...

"Couldn't we just chuck 'em back into the freeze? I mean, we're probably not gonna be able to make the same 'trap' again, but....if we can get them through the groundbridge, then boom. We win....right?"

"...it would be possible...but we'd need bait to get them through the groundbridge. Otherwise, with all the metal present, the scraplets would have no reason to leave." All eyes slowly slid towards Bulkhead.

"...frag..."

"So,...we hunt 'em down, bait 'em into a chase- and then send 'em out the front door." Ash summarized. "The scraplet didn't attack Raf or I, so....I'll stay here, n' guard you while you repair the groundbridge. And Raf can keep an eye on Bumblebee and Bulkhead." They...really wished there was a third person, here. That'd make this way, way easier.

"...typically, I find your- fleshiness- to be your least-engaging quality," wow, thanks- "-but it may serve as an advantage, under these extremes."

"Thanks."

~~ Hunker down somewhere, safe n' warm if y'can. We'll have the groundbridge up ASAP. ~~ Ratchet turned back to the monitors. There was a heavy beep.

"They got into the comm-links...!!!" His fist hit the keyboard.

"Don't worry about it." Ratchet rounded on the brunet, one optic twitching. "---....Optimus' other half. I can communicate with him." Their eyes briefly flickered over to Bulkhead.

Never told Ratchet, huh...

"He knows what's going on." Ratchet vented atmosphere, helm briefly dropping into his servo.

"Alright.- Let's get moving." The pointed look the medic gave them...told them that they were in for a long, unwanted discussion when this was all over...

[...]

The knife definitely wasn't going to cut it (no pun intended) here. All it took was a hint of looking about before Ash managed to hunt down a crowbar, a fire extinguisher...and a rusty old axe. Note to self, examine the base more thoroughly. They did not want Raf getting his hands on the axe.

Frankly, they didn't like the thought of him with the crowbar, either. But there was little that could be done in that regard, at present. They glanced towards Ratchet. The medic was hunched over the exposed circuit boards of the groundbridge- muttering away to himself about ground stations and wires. Their thread was gradually growing tighter. It hadn't been noticeable, earlier- but now, it was almost painful. Clenched around a finger, forcing them to keep in mind the time limit.

If the repairs weren't done in time,...

The thought was pushed out of their mind with a degree of force. No, Ratchet would finish the repairs in time. The scraplets would be removed- Optimus and Arcee would return. Everything would be fine,...they just had to believe it with every ounce of their soul. Their mouth opened slightly. It shut not a moment later.

As much as they wanted something to fill the silence (other than the medic's mumblings,...)...if they broke his concentration, it would all take that much longer. A hand raised, teeth nibbling at the edge of a nail. There was a chance Optimus would perish. There was a chance Arcee would, as well.

But somehow, the thought felt- so much worse from one to another. Both would be a heavy loss to team Prime- surely that was why the consideration made their chest squeeze ever-so-slightly?

Force themself to stay calm. Force the panic down and worry about the terror of it all another day. For now, they were the only (human) adult Raf had- they had to be the mature one. Had to stay sane.- Which really didn't seem like it had a snowball's chance in Hell of happening.

A clatter. Brief, but enough to have both head and helm practically flying to find the source. It had come from above.- Far, far above. The lights flickered. Ash grabbed the fire extinguisher. If the scraplets were weak to cold, then...

Hopefully this'd work. Otherwise, they were all royally screwed.

"Ah-!" Ratchet fell back. He was still gripping his tool in one servo. His optics had shrunk, staring straight up. Ash's gaze flashed to follow. Couldn't see what--- the brunet's lungs stuttered to a halt.

With the flickering lights they were harder to make out, but the scraplets- they were clinging in small groups to the ceiling and upper walls. Some whirrs rang out as they started tearing into the walking platforms on high. They could feel the blood draining from their face. Cybertronian pirhanna.

An entire sea of purple hues flickered open. Caught on the fresh meal below. Ratchet was starting to shake. The clank and clatter of his parts chattering was met with the thousands of whirling sets of teeth. Ratchet shot back up to his peds. Ash aimed the fire extinguisher's nozzle.

"GET DOWN!" Ratchet dove. The scraplets swarmed after. A cloud of teeth and silver-gray metal spinning in a hellish spiral. The medic's first scream was met with the vicious tear of alloy. The icy spray of an old fire extinguisher was the second.

Ratchet was crying out as Ash sprayed the creatures down. He spun. They managed to jump out of the way. His leg came crashing down, cracking the pavement. Scraplets fell off and clinked on the ground. Ash smashed them away with the extinguisher, denting tiny heads and cracking little optics.

'GET AWAY FROM HIM!'

Blue dripped. They'd gotten beneath his mesh. Ash picked up the pace. Ratchet's screams were tearing into their ears. They fired, worry at the back of their mind silenced for the time being.

Thankfully, there weren't a shit ton of scraplets,...but they could still feel the fire extinguisher emptying. Ratchet's writhing frame only started to calm once the last of the monstrosities fell- and the brunet was crushing it with the base of their improvised weapon. They didn't want to look at him. Covered in gouges, valleys and craters of missing material. The medic's groan, however...

"....y'alright?" They didn't want to ask. Their eyes scanned the floor. Littered with those tiny creatures, each broken or smashed up to one degree or another. Teensy, adorable-looking frames chipped and cracked and bent, the beginning-notes of ice hanging off powered-down bodies. Better these shits than Ratchet.

"I--- will be." Nope, they couldn't. Ash sighed quietly. It wasn't hard to turn and look him over. Pockmarked. His paint and a chunk of his exterior metal were missing, torn away in chunks and trails. A few of those were deep, gouging marks that presently dripped blue.

"Are you sure?" Because that didn't look-

"AHHHHHHHHHH---!" Bulkhead's scream echoed from one of the halls. Ash brandished their extinguisher.

~~ What is the progress? ~~

~~ Ratchet's been injured, sounds like Bulkhead's in trouble, be back! ~~

"Ash-!" Their shoes slapped against the ground. Ash had barely made it ten feet before the whole base began to rattle. Shaking, as if it were about to come apart at any moment.- They stumbled. The brunet screeched to a halt just as Bumblebee came tearing out of the hallway they'd been about to run down. He was beeping in a hurry- whirrs of terror quickly shifting to panic when his optics caught on the medic.

Something overhead snapped. Metal screeched. Ratchet's screams of panic and agony cut into the cacophony. Ash whirled. They could hear Bulkhead's screeches, Bumblebee's terrified buzz- it was a tornado. A giant whirlwind of metal and teeth and whirring that was descending from on high, like Hell had opened above and saw fit to grace the 'bots with eldritch-ridden insanity.

The swarm descended.

The Autobots screamed.

Ash steadied their fire extinguisher- and something tore it out of their grip. They cried out. A loud BANG filled the base- followed by dozens of clatters, but it was impossible to make out in gray-and-purple. Ash bolted for their axe.

"ASH!" A fire extinguisher was pressed into their outstretched hand. They spun on a dime.

"GO!" Later, they might've been proud that their voice didn't choke itself out. At present, they released the handle- and dove into an ocean of teeth.

[...]

"Arcee." The femme startled beside him.

"---Just!...resting my optics..." She shifted. Much like his own, the blue femme's frame was coated in a thin layer of frost. Ice cracked in the joints as she moved, particulates of it sprinkling down. The two had managed to at least find an outcropping to hide under, but their temperatures were continuing to fall.

"We must remain alert, Arcee."

"I know,... I know." Her digits crept to grasp at her legs, optics flickering. They wouldn't last much longer. But they couldn't get back to the base... The Prime released a small vent. They'd have to make it.

"The others will repair the groundbridge in time." As much a self-assurance as a reassurance to the femme. She didn't even bother to shiver, anymore. Her systems were too frigid to manage- as were his own.

"They'll need to take care of the scraplets, first..."

"They will." They had to.

The howling of the wind picked up. Snowflakes danced and crashed against the two's frames as they huddled. All they had to do was hold on.

[...]

KCHK. The last scraplet to have frozen solid snapped open. All it took was one hardy swing of the axe. Their hands burned, their shoulders ached. Ash pulled the weapon close, chancing a look over their shoulder.

Ratchet was leaned up against one of the human sitting areas, finishing up the last of his own patches. Bumblebee and Bulkhead were both patchwork of scrapmetal and actual Cybertronian steel, hodgepodged-together to make a workable frame. They could only imagine how much each movement hurt, given Bulkhead's faint grimace any time a creak of his joints met the air.

Sounds of cutting steel and buzzes echoed from the corridors. The 'bots all shivered. Ash's neck almost snapped from how swiftly their head turned.

"...damnit." Raf shivered. Ash shook their head. No point worrying about it.- Though it did cross their mind that they'd just cursed in front of a child. Shit. "How many scraplets are usually in a swarm?" Maybe they'd gotten the majority. After all, the floor was practically littered with their corpses. Maybe Raf and themself could go and hunt down the remainder? Let the 'bots try to recuperate.

"Far more than that...I fear, these were just scouts." Ash's internal cursing picked up. Bumblebee whined. The brunet stepped over a puddle of glowing blue.

"So, the rest of them know we're- in here?" Thank you, Bulkhead. No one wanted that confirmed.

"Most likely." Ratchet-- "And if we allow ourselves to become their next meal, then Optimus and Arcee will never make it home." They could feel the medic's gaze on them for a moment.

~~ Are you two okay? ~~

~~ We are not gone yet, Ash. ~~

~~ Good. Hang tight,...we had a setback, but we'll get you outta there. ~~ No chance in Hell they were promising.

"We must get the groundbridge operational."

"What's left t'be done?" Whatever it was, it probably didn't have to do with this room. They hoped it did, but the chances of that...were low. "If it's not in here, then tell me what to do- and I can go fix it."

"We can." They turned back. Raf had wandered closer to them. He was presently stepping cautiously over a dead scraplet, eyes locked on its unmoving frame. Their gaze wandered up to the 'bots. If they were going to get the scraplets out,...but they were all so damaged.-- They needed,....

Brown eyes raised to meet their own. There was fear, but far more prevalent was determination.

"...there must be a breach in the energon fuel line..." Ratchet murmured. Bumblebee let out another whine.

"Guess I know what we're fixin'. Now, what do we need for it?" Ash crossed their arms. Anything to ignore the feeling of dread creeping its way up their spine.

[...]

Okay. Okay. There was- creepy, and then- then there was this. Ash picked their way forward, each step planted in the spaces between scraplets. They were practically like an army, all skittering back the way the two humans had come. But neither dared look back, instead trekking forward, eyes on the pipe that ran almost the whole length of the base. It had gradually led the two down, deeper into the complex that spiderwebbed out from under the rock the 'bots called 'home', and into a maze in the darkness beneath.

They still weren't sure if they were doing this properly. The pipe had split in multiple areas, led down other corridors- but they were following the line to the fuel purification room. Hopefully, that one was the one that was damaged.

If any of the fuel line was damaged to begin with.

If they were even going the right way,....

Dlp.

Oh, they'd heard that.

Dlp.

Both of the humans turned slightly. They were quick to make a beeline for the noise, but not quite as fast to spot the damaged line in question. Energon was dripping from the pipe. Glowing blue as scraplets scurried by, each additional drop making a soft dlp sound as it joined the mini-lake below. The brunet reached with a leg,...and gently pushed their shoe into the energon. Blueberries and gasoline, immediate and strong.

Had it coagulated? That seemed the case, as hairline fractures split across its surface where Ash stepped down. They shifted the tool box.

"Raf, can y'hold it?" The kid gingerly accepted the toolkit. Ash shifted closer. Each step was accompanied by the faint crackle as their shoes disturbed the surface. Thankfully, the puddle was big- but it wasn't deep.

Note to self, definitely throwing these shoes out later...

Or maybe they'd keep 'em.

"...cloth,...n' then, I'mma need th' torch." It was difficult not to whisper. All these scraplets...but they were more interested in other things, thank the stars.

"Don't forget the goggles."

'Nah, I thought I'd burn my eyes out for fun.' They weren't sure how Raf would take a bad attempt at humor, right now. Their chest trembled as they reached back. Something scraggly and thick was placed in their open hand. Best to not. For now,...worry about fixing the groundbridge. Everything else- could come later.

~~ Hang in there, Opti. ~~ Their hand twitched for a moment, before cloth pressed to jagged metal. Danger. Danger. Save,...

[...]

"...you know the worst part?" She'd spoken. Words had been rather scarce as the frigid air bit ever-deeper. "After battling 'Cons all these years, getting smacked down, shot at, blown up- this is how our lights go out?..." His optics onlined once more. The mech's helm turned, tilting slightly- practically listing to the side despite an attempt to keep it level.

"Arcee,...this may not be the finish that we had planned, but, if this is indeed the end,...if we are to become one with the All Spark..." His optics drifted. The input from them had been fuzzy for a while now. Hard to make out shapes, as snow pelted his framework and clung to his paneling. So cold,...so very, very cold...

He could make out the blurry line that fell away. Slipping off the tip of his ped only to disappear into the ice below,...leading so far away... His other servo shifted, finding the small touch of the femme's- and closing his digits around her's.

"...it's been an honor serving with you, Optimus Prime." Was he imagining it? Could he hear the flutter of her spark? Or was it his own in his chassis, growing dimmer as this planet's ice sought to freeze him over for good?

[...]

"And,..." Tssst- Ash resisted the instinct to yank their hand back. A single drop of energon had managed to land on the back of their hand. In moments, it had fizzled into a darkened square. "...done." Whirrs filled the corridor.

"Oh no--!" Raf jumped to the side, nearly banging his head against the pipe. Ash hopped down, stumbling on their feet. Several scraplets- a miniaturized herd- soared past the two. Up into the ceiling and out of sight. The buzzing- it was gone. When had it disappeared?

"They're--- Raf, RUN!" They threw their tool down. It cracked against the concrete, but they didn't bother to pick it back up. Their shoes pounded against the ground. They slipped a little on the first few steps, but their traction (thankfully) picked back up once they were a few feet away.

Raf was bolting right alongside them, the toolkit abandoned. The whirrs were growing fainter. The slaps of two pairs of shoes filled the hall.

Save. Danger. Run. R u n ...

What they wouldn't give to be able to communicate with the others instantly. Ash's eyes caught on a pillar. They knew this hall. They swung wide at the intersection, spinning. Their arms screamed out.

KCHNK.

They kept running, now with their prize in hand. One reached for the lever, eyes set ahead. The two had too much ground to cover. Not enough time to cover it all. But they'd get there in time.

They had to.

The halls of the base blurred as the duo bolted down its corridors. Faded lights lit the ground, rusty pipes ran along the walls- and their shadows danced as they charged. The buzz was faint. But it was starting to get louder.

Ash didn't dare slow until they were crossing the threshold into the main room, their lungs on fire and their legs crying out.

"BRIDGE'S READY!"

"FIRE IT UP!"

The two cried out as a new swarm crashed out from one of the already-destroyed vents. Ratchet didn't have to be told twice. Bumblebee was on the floor, optics shuttered. The medic stumbled to his peds, followed swiftly by Bulkhead. The mech was practically shivering in panic. The swarm coalesced on high. A shadow of death, of razor-teeth spinning in oblivion. They were hovering for now. It was only a matter of time before they'd descend.

"Groundbridge,..." Ratchet's voice barely managed amidst the chaos. Whatever he attempted to say after was lost, as his voice weakened- alongside his frame. He crashed to the floor. The groundbridge lever lowered just enough. The entire base shook. Light danced and energy soared, gathering as it tore a hole between destinations. One of the ceiling's supports came crashing down.

The scraplets were coming down. Bulkhead's startled gaze snapped between the downed mechs and the swarm.

"DUCK!" Ash raised the nozzle. Bulkhead turned,...and bolted for the gate. The swarm gave chase. A thousand tiny robots filled with razorblades, all swirling, ready to bite and chomp and tear until there was nothing left of their friends. Ash's voice caught in their throat as they charged, spraying any that dared try to get to Bumblebee and Ratchet.

They'd needed bait.

Bulkhead made it only a few steps into the tunnel before they were upon him. Teeth ripping into his plating and cutting apart his circuitry, senses fraying and sensors fritzing. He was in Kaon; Bulkhead didn't stop. He only slowed at the first few bites, before picking the pace back up. If he didn't make it, if the scraplets got him mid-vortex, they would no-doubt turn right back and devour Bumblebee and Ratchet. Optimus and Arcee would freeze. The Autobots would go offline, today.

The icy air cracked against his plating as he stumbled out the other side. He could make out two frames a distance away- no time to think.

"Down--- GET DOWN!" The support for his legs gave out. He crashed into the powdery drift before him. Even in those moments, as tendrils of frost spread and his exterior grew frigid, he could feel the movements slowing- and then halting altogether. The sound of many tiny bodies flinging themselves forward met his audials, but he didn't dare look up. No way he was risking any more digging into his helm. Instead, he waited.

Waited for the many PING's as tiny, frozen bodies crashed against unyielding plating.

Waited for the tinking of their broken frames to fall away, replaced (finally) by blissful silence. Or- as silent as the winds out here could get.

The barest trace of warmth settled upon his side when he finally dared to raise his helm, a servo drifting to brush some of the dangerous things off. Each one fell without a hint of resistance or movement. Thumping into the snow, where he dared not look. Instead, Bulkhead raised his gaze to the two 'bots.

Dinged, but alive.

"I'd invite you in,...but the place is a mess."

[...]

The steady beeping of the monitor managed to reach Ash's ear. They didn't look over, content that it was presently within a decent range. Their fingers tapped away at one of the tiny laptops they'd hooked up.

"Report biocircuitry status." Ratchet's voice rang.

"Levels are rising." Thank God for it. They resisted the urge to flip over to Optimus' systems. Their thread had eased, the tightness of it loosened hours prior. But the unease remained.

Save, danger.

"Excellent...Rafael, check Bulkhead's energon levels- but make sure to keep an eye on Bumblebee's electro-pulse monitor."

"On it."

"Perhaps you should get some rest, old friend." Optimus intoned, "you saved quite a few lives, today."

"It...wasn't all my doing." They couldn't tune the conversation out. "We're just fortunate this infestation happened..." A small vent of atmosphere, "...on a Saturday." They were just happy the infestation was dealt with. The burn on their hand was a near-constant as they tapped away, before pulling back to check another of the laptops.

I may go a hint quiet(?) for a while.

The new job I snagged...was definitely not everything I thought it was gonna be. It's slowly deteriorated, between being called in at all-hours, having to wade through waist-high (stagnant) forest water to check fuel levels, getting chewed out for doing things I was trained to do (and not doing things no one told me about), my sanity has- gone through a rollercoaster, as has my physical body.

So, I'm back to the job hunt grind. I'll be handing in the two weeks' notice when my boss comes in to relieve me after my shift, tonight/tomorrow morning.