I like to write Pharma as having a fucking rough history but in the end he was always fucked by his own hubris. He didn't remotely ask for help when dealing with Tarn and part of that is from thinking he's so good and had it handled, part of it is from being scared shitless and needing to feel remotely like he was in control of the situation and you can't have that feeling when you ask for help with him. Also my headcanon is that he thinks it's cowardly to ask for help--it's submission, an acknowledging of inability and failure. I'd say inferority but I really think he operates on the axis of fear of mediocrity and inability. He has something to prove him this shitty society and it always like he needed to prove he deserves to exist. So it's extremely hard for him to ask for help... Coupled with his own fucking hubris, it came out so fucking deadly. He needed to prove that he was in control, that he's still smart and capable, not a scared little mouse who got caught in a mental trap with a fucking decepticon, with his fucked up little plot. Just like how he removed Ratchet from his body. It's a powerplay, a showcase of the fact he STILL has his skills, he hasn't mentally degraded or unraveled. The stress ISN'T getting to him.
Oh.
