Transformers Until one

Chapter Two - Part Twenty two

"D-16... No... Please... It hurts so much..."

Orion's anguished cries echoed through the darkness. His body was stained with crimson fluid seeping from his joints. His energy lines slowly flickered and dimmed.

His body was fracturing... disintegrating before his eyes.

"Why didn't you help me... Why!!"

His scream was full of despair—before everything plunged into darkness.

"AARRRGGGHHHH!!!"

A roar thundered through the room as Megatron, the formidable leader of the Decepticons, jolted awake, launching himself off his worn recharge slab in a panic.

He panted heavily, clutching his helm with trembling hands. "Again... why do I keep seeing it... that cursed dream..."

His breathing grew heavier until his fist exploded against the recharge slab with violent fury.

THUD!!

Metal shards scattered from the cracked edge of the slab.

No one else was in the room. Just him. The abandoned place bore no maintenance, not even a whisper.

Since the war ended, and the slave system was abolished under the leadership of Optimus Prime, mining drones were no more... and these places were left to decay.

This place... once a sanctuary to Megatron, had become the birthplace of relentless nightmares.

He glared at the recharge slab with hatred. "Tch... I need to sleep somewhere else. This place... it no longer brings peace..."

He raised his fist once more, intent on smashing it to pieces—

But just then—

"Lord Megatron, your weapon is ready."
A transmission crackled through his comms. Megatron narrowed his eyes, then tapped to respond.

"Good. Prepare the training grounds as well."
His voice was calm and controlled as he turned his eyes away from the recharge slab, sparing it from destruction—just barely.

Without another word, Megatron turned and quietly exited the room, heading toward the Decepticon base... leaving the dream lingering in his mind once again.

Autobot Headquarters | Special Recovery Room

Soft footsteps echoed in the tranquil room. Ratchet held a datapad in her hands and stopped beside Optimus Prime, who stood silently in front of a cryo-capsule containing the body of his younger brother—Toxitron.

"Optimus Prime... your brother's condition is gradually improving."
Her voice was gentle, yet the tension in the datapad's data weighed heavily on her.

Optimus nodded slowly, his glowing blue optics narrowing as he stared at the still figure inside the glass capsule.

"...I've been wondering, Doctor..."
His voice was calm, but carried a deep undertone of worry.
"Why is the recovery process taking so long?"

He tried to ask as respectfully as possible—not out of mistrust, but because he didn't want to pressure her further.

Ratchet sighed heavily and without restraint, making Optimus flinch slightly.
"His body... it's been altered, operated on, reconstructed over and over until it's a complete mess."
She shook her head.
"In all my millions of cycles as a medic, I've never seen a case this severe..."

She gazed through the glass at the small frame inside.
"Most Cybertronians... wouldn't survive in that state. I can say that without hesitation."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"But he survived... because he has the will to live."

Optimus felt a lump in his chest—grief and relief flooding him at once.
"...That's Toxitron for you... Even as fragile as he is, he's always shown me how strong he can be..."

He fell silent for a moment, then asked,
"By the way... have you heard anything from the previous doctor who treated him?"

Ratchet shook her head, looking deeply troubled.
"Nothing... I knew Silverstride well. She had more medical ethics than anyone I've ever worked with. I still can't believe... that she'd be involved in torturing a sparkling like this."

Optimus looked at her with suspicion.
"And how can you be so sure... that she didn't act willingly?"

"Because I know her. We went through medical training together. She's too gentle and kind to ever hurt anyone... She even cared for a sparkling of her own once."

Ratchet bit her lip lightly and continued,
"I found out... her direct superior was Senator Shockwave. If there's anyone who could have forced her into such horrible actions... it's him."

Optimus narrowed his optics, cold suspicion flaring behind them.
"She's also one of the missing. No data. No clues. No farewells. She might be..."

He cut himself off when he saw Ratchet's sorrowful and fearful expression.

So he gently placed a hand on her shoulder, speaking with firm reassurance:
"Don't lose heart, Doctor. If she was forced into it, we'll find a way to help her... and uncover the truth. I promise."

Ratchet gave him a faint smile and nodded. The worry in her eyes eased—if only slightly.

"Thank you... Prime."
She spoke softly.
"Sometimes... words like that are enough to remind me there's still hope."

Optimus nodded silently before turning his gaze back to Toxitron's body. The dim light from the glass capsule reflected on his face—a flickering glow, like the last candle still fighting against the storm.

But in the midst of that calm, hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor. The sound of a small engine striking metal floors with urgency made both Ratchet and Optimus turn to look.

A young patrol officer burst into the room, his face tight with stress and alarm.
"Prime!" he shouted, holding a datapad over his head.
"We're under attack! The eastern border of Helex has been struck!"

Optimus's optics flashed with immediate alarm.
"What?! The outskirts of Helex?"

"Yes, sir! The outer district of Paradron! Signal towers have been destroyed—we lost contact about 14 minutes ago. We suspect an infiltration unit using cloaking technology!"

The base's internal alarm began to blare, accompanied by red warning lights flashing along the walls—signals that could not be ignored.

Optimus clenched his fists. His expression hardened from worry into resolve.
"I'll head out immediately. Alert the border patrols—no civilians must be harmed."

He turned to Ratchet and nodded.
"Take care of Toxitron... I'll return."

Ratchet nodded firmly, and Optimus turned and strode out swiftly. His heavy footsteps echoed down the steel corridor.

This wasn't the first time the enemy had invaded...
And it certainly wouldn't be the last.