Transformers Prime: Project Predacon

Once Upon a Time

"Is this the part where I attempt to kill you because you're really with the Decepticons?" He asked, sighing to hide his nervousness.

"No," I began, not bothered that he assumed I was actually sided with the Decepticons. I was, but no longer. "It's about Summer." Now I could almost see the discomfort settle into him, the way he shifted his weight from foot to foot was peculiar.

"What about her?" He stated plainly, almost like he was uninterested in our conversation.

"Do you. . . hate her or something? You act really weird around her. I'm concerned." He didn't answer.

"Ratchet?" No answer.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk to me about it, I just figured it was really stressing you out, I thought maybe-"

"I know her." He didn't move except for his shoulders shifting with each breath.

"What do you mean? We all know her." I waited for an answer, and when it seemed that none would come I tried to say something else to get him to talk. He cut me off easily, like he knew when I was going to talk.

"I knew her before Optimus did. On a personal level. She doesn't remember me." That hit me like a Cybertronian train. I couldn't quite understand how he felt, I still had questions.

"Do you mean, like-?" He shook his head quickly, his cheek plates turning a different color.

"No, we were just. . . close friends. Before the war, I managed to convince her to attempt the Trials. I knew there was a possibility of her not coming back, but I knew her better than even her mother and brothers. When she did become a Prime, we became closer, it was a little tough. She either didn't feel the same as I felt for her, or she didn't even know that I felt something else. She had always been known for hiding her feelings well, I had no idea whether or not to ask, I was young, and scared. I had no experiences with femmes then, nor do I have any now." Ratchet seemed to smile, letting a tiny chuckle out before continuing.

"She wrote me a letter, before she disappeared. I still have it. She explained everything about what was going on with the government, that's how I knew there was going to be a war." I watched as he pressed open a secret compartment in the computer center compartment, pulling out an inscribed piece of metal. He kept his head down before passing it to me. I stared at it for a moment, confused.

"It's in-"

"Cybertronian, I see that." I took a minute to read the inscribed metal, and by the time I finished I felt like crying. She was quite a writer, explaining everything in great detail.

Ratchet

As a friend of yours, I feel it's my duty to relay this information to you. I won't bother in making it brief, you need to know everything. Of course, I suspect that you already figured some of it out.

The High Council is becoming angrier and angrier with my decisions, I don't mean to do this, but they won't turn the other way. I tried reasoning, but they won't listen. I feel threatened now. The blackmailing I told you about a few years ago has gotten worse and I fear I know who it's from. Of course, common sense says to say something and get help. I am the help, Ratchet. I can't go to anyone, a Prime cannot prevent threats and blackmail. I feel as if I'm running out of options, I know for a fact that the High Council is trying to overthrow my power and take away my title as Prime just to scare me into position. I cannot give in, and I know the consequences could be terrible for you and me both, but like I said, I'm running out of options. I'm planning to take a ship off of Cybertron to any other planet that would be more safe than it is here. I never asked for this, we should have considered the consequences. I know if I disappear suddenly the government will look for you, but I'm more than sure that you'll find a way to get them off your tailpipe. I don't think I'll be coming back and my entire being is against this decision, but I believe it's for the best. Ratchet, if I don't ever get to see you again I'm sorry. I'm sorry for anything and everything, I wish this didn't have to happen. I wish I could make them listen to me, but there's nothing I can do anymore. This is all out of my power as a Prime. I have spoken to Primus about my choices and doubts, but he refuses to comply.

I'm scared, Ratchet. A war is upon us, and there's nothing I can do to stop it. No one can stop it. I just hope we've chosen the right side. If this is the end, goodbye, and good luck.

Summer

I noticed that in the last paragraph she wrote, the penmanship seemed to get shaky, like she was getting slightly emotional from writing the solemn words. I could only imagine Ratchet's horror as he got the letter, how he must have felt. His spark must hurt, to be near someone he knew, and yet she has no idea, to get a letter from someone that he held dearly to him saying goodbye, his future was ripped out from underneath him, leaving nowhere to stand.

"Was she right?" I handed the letter back to the medic, and our optics momentarily met. He looked away quickly, but I already saw how upset he was, how hurt he felt.

"Yes, everything she wrote in there was the truth. The only question is: did we choose the right side?"