Chapter Text
“So…Megatron and Optimus used to be friends?” gaped Jack at Ratchet, hands resting behind his neck, holding it awkwardly.
“Once. Yes.” Answered the medic sourly, tactically leaving out the part where Megatronus and Orion were more than just that. Once.
“That is so messed up.” shivered Miko while hugging herself. The humans seemed surprisingly aware of what that meant for both faction leaders. Ratchet's words seemed to tangle their tongues and make them look elsewhere, just not at each other. It made the doctor smile for himself.
There was just something traitorous in Megatron Ratchet couldn’t help but sneer at every time the mech came to his processor. Just the bare mention of that vile murderer made his engine run miles ahead. He was glad the other members of Optimus’ team had the same ground-licking opinion of the warlord.
“It once was that way. Yes.” Confirmed the Prime in his low rumble of a voice. He didn’t sound too glad the conversation had drifted here but was not going to oppose Ratchet, nor was he going to lie to his teammates. “But times have changed, and while we once shared a common goal, Megatron has strayed very far from it.” the Prime said in a collected manner, it was just the way his optic ridges frowned ever so slightly and his voice seemed just a little slower than his usual, charismatic self. Optimus was uncomfortable.
Ratchet wasn’t sure if the others could tell, but he could. And it laid heavily on his spark.
“And that’s it. End of story. Don’t you sparklings have those bothersome computer games to play?” He starts pushing everyone away from that conversation. “Go bother each other elsewhere.” The old medic adds and turns away, sticking his nose between the computer screens on his table to pretend he’s quickly back to work.
Jack looks at Miko, whilst Miko looks at Raph and then back at Jack, opening her mouth to try and pry more information from the two ancient mechs but is met with a glare from Arcee. A glare so stern even the pigtailed teenager seems to get the memo now and turn around. Marching away alongside everyone else.
The doctor, curiously turned his helm slightly, following the silent clangs of pedes and thuds of human feet that were further retreating into the base, just to be met with Optimus’ optics.
The Prime had stayed behind holding his servos over his hip plates.
“How is the groundbridge malfunction going?” He asks, completely ignoring the conversation before.
Ratchet's processor has to do a quick reset. Oh yeah, the groundbridge malfunction. A few cycles back the groundbridge had malfunctioned and would not start even for Primus himself. At first, Ratchet suspected they had been hacked but since the ground bridge remained dormant, he guessed that wasn’t the case.
Optimus did not seem very pleased about this development as rolling out had been a lot harder now. So of course he’d want to stay behind for that. And nothing else. Ratchet let out a slightly disappointed vent.
“I’m still working on it.” The medic, improvised mechanic and scientist of the team sights in defeat. Truly had it been anyone else asking they would be sporting several dents already. It always surprised Ratchet how everyone thought that if you could fix a mech from scrap then you could also fix a broken computer. He was not a scientist for frag's sake. Yet he could forgive Optimus for his assumption. But only Optimus.
“Hm.” The Prime grunts and turns around, walking away, his pedes echoing heavier than those of his teammates. Ratchet does let his optics linger for longer than he should but eventually turns away. Hopefully next time he will have something to report. Optimus has so much on his plate already, with the whole autobot hero schmuck the senate announced, he doesn’t need one more problem.
Without its cheery occupants, the room fell so silent you could register the small, repeated beeping of various machines and the way Ratchet’s digits clicked away trying to solve any problem the groundbridge might have. His huffs echoing off the sturdy concrete walls.
“You and Optimus Prime were a thing?” Starscream cackles holding onto Knockout who was already laughing himself halfway under the table.
The warlord sights in disbelief at his commanding officers. The meeting about distributing the newly gained supplies was going rather well before it drifted away and straight into the Kaon’s pits. Megatron was honestly impressed by how little his high-ranking officers needed to get sidetracked sometimes.
“Like- Like actually? Holy damn.” Wheezes Knockout now fully lying under the table.
“Answer: Positive,” says Soundwave before a smiley face appears on his holoscreen faceplates. Heck, even he was enjoying this.
“Oh, this is golden.” Sneers Blackarachnia tapping her claws onto the table before her. She was sitting next to Soundwave and had closed her datapad in favor of entertaining this conversation mid-meeting just like, unfortunately, everyone else.
“Please, it’s not a big deal anymore.” Megatron tries assuring the giggling lot, putting his elbows onto the table to try and get the meeting back on track.
“Oh, it is, what the hell was the Prime thinking?” Teases Starscream wiping small tears of joy from his optics and Megatron knew he was going to hear a lot from Starscream about this topic. Remind him again why he decided to mention his peculiar history with his literal rival. Oh right. He believed his captains to be mature enough to let it go. And just maybe, he believed himself ready to talk about it aloud. Oh how wrong he was.
“Genuinely, how’d you manage to tap those sweet, sweet rims of Optimus Prime?” Laughed Knockout while clawing himself back onto his seat.
The warlord visibly deflates and holds his digits over his face, glaring at Knockout through them.
“The meeting.” He grunts disapprovingly. The more they laughed the more he felt like it was just one click ago. When he and…..
Orion
were still on the same side. It was silly and perhaps made him even more immature than the others. But would you ever let go of something so precious, something so daring like Orion Pax? Megatron knew he couldn’t. Not yet, if ever.
“Oh by Primus he’s so not over it yet.” Laughs Blackarachnia watching her leader's faceplates shift into a deeper frown. “Look at him, all defeated.” she chuckles evilly. All of his commanders seemed to enjoy torturing him. What a lovely bunch he had picked out for himself.
“No comment, now if we could address the latest-”
“Oh, he’s so not over it.” interrupts Konckout with his flamboyant smile directed straight at Megatron whose optic ridge dares twitch a little. Perhaps it would be for the better to take a short break. The warlord thinks his optics drifting to the only mech who was keeping his composure. Shockwave.
The intelligence officer returns his gaze and holds it for a moment, then he stands up. “Let us commence with a short break. I seem to be needed elsewhere.”
“Let me accompany you.” Megatron offers and gets up, making sure to do so slowly and keep whatever dignity he has left.
The other bots simply cackle, except Soundwave, who remains silent, his faceplates sporting the mocking smiley face.
“Thank you, my lord.” Shockwave answers formally, walking out of the room.
“No need.” Megatron huffs, straightening his posture, and his mind begins slowly drifting. Was he
really
not over Orion yet? “Where are we headed?” He asks out of habit.
“To the groundbridge opening. There seems to be a problem and my subordinates requested me specifically to go deal with it.”
“Must be pretty serious, have they mentioned anything specific?” The clangs of his pedes follow Megatrons words as they make a sharp turn.
Was he really still hung up on the past? Even after all this time? It’s been so long since he’s thought about it. Always keeping himself busy.
“The groundbridge seems to have gone dormant.” answers Shockwave simply, nodding to a few vehicons passing them by.
“Troublesome.” Megatron answers not even thinking the information over.
Was he ready to admit he cared for
that mech
greatly?
Perhaps next time. The warlord shakes his thoughts away and does what he’s done millions of times before, he focuses on the buzzing room around him. Bots of all shapes and qualifications carrying fixing tools and hurrying about. They all seemed very focused on fixing whatever was wrong but once the warlord entered with Shockwave in tow they all seemed to somewhat scatter, getting out of the way.
“How long will you need?” Megatron asks when Shockwave circles the computer connected directly to the groundbridge by a massive tangle of cables. Shockwave kicks the cable ball and moves on to the red flashing screens.
“A few clicks, supposedly.” Says the mech with confidence.
The warlord takes his cue to glance in the general direction where the groundbridge should open. His spark burning inside of his chest. And he asks again.
Was he really not over
Optimus Prime?
“Aha!” Ratchet cackles, banging his fist onto the table.
“Gotcha fragger.” He swears and jabs at the computer screen showing the text ‘Initiating groundbridge opening.’ After countless hours he’s got it! And it wasn’t even the night part of Earth’s cycle yet. Maybe he would be able to recharge today.
The doctor tapped his digits impatiently as the screen slowly loaded. He wasn’t fond of waiting for things to happen, yet right now he had nothing better to do. In times like these he was forced to be alone with just his own processor and spark. Ratchet didn’t like that. He’d always come to wonder and think about the past. Like there was some unknown power dragging his processor to memories and feelings he made sure would never come see the light of day. Like today’s conversation.
His servos clenched. Megatron was never in the right to turn his back on Optimus Prime, to Orion.
Orion. Ratchet thinks. The mech he’s loved for eons with no end yet could never have.
The doctor sighs deeply and looks in the general direction of where the groundbridge should open. The beeping machine being his only witness.
Would Optimus ever accept him? And if he did, would Ratchet finally be happy?
Shockwave turns away from the computer.
“Just as promised.” He adds, abandoning it completely.
The warlord grunts in approval and crosses his servos, metal grinding against metal.
It was the only approval Shockwave needed to patiently stand next to his leader and wait for the groundbridge’s test opening. To all the other mechs, now fewer in numbers it must’ve seemed that Megatron was as imposing as ever yet Shockwave knew there was a lot on his mind. Be it regarding the laughs of his makeshift family or the actual meeting's topic, the intelligence officer knew better than to pry. He simply stood by, silently following Megatron’s gaze into the empty space before them.
A great rumble ripped through that silence.
“What the hell was that?” Shouted Jack.
“Came from the groundbridge.” Arcee states, jumping over the makeshift sofa. Bumblebee followed suit.
After the strange revelation, everyone retired to the common area to play video games and take their minds off things, well except the Prime who left for patrol. And they would’ve much more preferred to keep it that way, except the video games weren’t working anymore. Not after that whatever-it-was-thunderbolt.
Arcee ran in first, then Bumblebee with Bulkhead, and finally, the kids as well. Silence followed them like the plague. The groundbridge room looked unchanged. Just as messy as before, too. But the screens did no longer flash in bright red and the newly returned whirr of the groundbridge was the sole sound in the room.
But there was no doctor.
“What do you mean there is no Megatron.” Demanded Knockout, clearly very sober now.
“It is as I have said.” Answeres Shockwave in a surprisingly calm manner, with an applaudable resolve to not let this incident phase him. Even though it was seemingly unexplainable by science.
“So, you fixed up the groundbridge. It exploded somehow and took Megatron to the pits with it.” Blackarachnia repeats, looking at the values describing the groundbridge. “But everything is in perfect order.” She humms for herself.
“What a shame.” Retorts Starscream with his arms crossed.
“Inquiry: Captains proceed with the meeting.” Interrupts Soundwave. He is loyal to Megatron, yes, but he’s just as loyal to the Decepticons, and if Megatron was the only one missing, they could proceed without him just fine. The decepticons would not fall just because of a minor inconvenience, the captains thought trying to appear at utter peace. Besides, Megatron will be back.
“Agreed. We don’t need him.” Sings Starscream walking out of the bridge room “The groundbridge is working is it not? Problem solved.” The seeker adds already planning his charismatic speech. Bots always gossiped about Starcream’s plans to take over Megatrons position and questioned why would anyone keep him around? Simple, there was more to his ‘plans’ than becoming the great Decepticon warlord, but he will never admit that.
“..I suppose.” Adds Blackarachnia, being the second and not last to move on.
It hurt. Well, being in pain was Ratchet’s everyday cup of energon, but this, it felt different. He felt like his body was heaved down by armor it never had. His optics slipped in and out of focus onto the sky and the treetops-
“What?!” The doctor sits up from where he was lying down. Why was he lying down?
“Who are you?” A stern, deep voice questions. Ratchet’s optics search for the source.
“Where did you take me?” Asks the doctor his supposed kidnapper. Why did his voice sound so similar?
“You’re asking me that?!” The voice answers making Ratchet’s energon run cold. It was him. His mouth spoke the words but his mind didn’t think them. Perhaps he was in a dream?
“Tell me about it. If this is a dream it’s a horrid one.” The voice-,
his mouth
says.
“I didn’t say anything,” Ratchet breathes. What the frag was going on??
“Have you…hacked my processor?” asks the voice, his voice. But it was deeper and rustier. Ratchet doesn’t answer this time. He looks around. Attempts to move. His pedes feel heavy like half of him isn’t willing to cooperate. The doctor grunts, and his servo moves.
It's gray.
His helm snaps to the rest of his body, unprompted. “By Primus what have you done to my paint job??” he questions.
“Stop using my mouth to speak!” The doctor shouts
“Your mouth?? How are you making
my
body move!?”
“For frags sake, if you say one more word I swear I will stuff your dentae into your exhaust pipe!”
Ratchet threatens Unicorn knows who, mostly out of habit.
By primus have I gone mad?
Wait. That wasn’t Ratchet’s thought.
How.
A pregnant pause fills in the space where nothing is said but Ratchet can feel
the other thing
thinking.
“I am not a thing.” The….other part? retorts.
“Yeah? Are you a parasite from the pits then?” Ratchet grunts, trying to move his…
this
body up. Something sits him back down.
“A PARASITE? What are you then? Unicorn himself??” Ratchet says, yet they’re not his words. They’re someone else’s.
“Oh jolly, what else would you be? Fragging with my helm. Knocking me out. Be less convincing fragger.”
Megatron scoffs. Someone was inside of his processor and somehow HE was the one being accused. And what a foul mouth too! Absolutely vile if you ask him. Undignified.
“Go rinse your dentae then, scraplet.” What? Could he have said that aloud? This conversation seemed a tad bit too familiar.
“Uh, yeah, no I don’t think so? Frag you.”
Someone says
. By Primus, he knew this mech. There can be absolutely no way.
“....Ratchet?” Megatron questions.
“Megatron?” Ratchet responds with their mouth.
Great. Fucking great.
They both think simultaneously.
And so they sit there, a silver bot wearing red ornaments.
A warbuild with the servos of a seasoned medic.
Both alone yet in a way, accompanied.