Child of the Allspark (Transformers Prime)

"Prime, the Cons really stepped in it this time," Agent Fowler reported "They hit a US military lab. Our boys in green will fend them off till your team shows,"

Pixel fidgeted hearing the statement, she understood that Lennox trained for this sort of thing, but it didn't help her fears either way.

Optimus took note of Pixel's unease "Agent Fowler, I fear that Megatron's desperation may be at its zenith. And you know that I cannot condone even a single human casualty,"

Fowler sighed before reporting into his walkie "Fowler here. Evacuate all personnel, immediately,"

"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered as Ratchet got the ground bridge up and ready.

Despite Fowler's orders to evacuate the facility, Pixel had a feeling that Lennox would still be in on the action.

Pixel's fists constantly clenched and unclenched as she watched the screens. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced over to see Rafael.

"Bee and I were gonna go head out and race cars, you wanna come with?"

Pixel bit her lip as she looked up at the screen.

"Go." Ratchet told her "I'll call if anything comes up. You need a distraction,"

Pixel let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and nodded, following Rafael into Bumblebee's alt form.

***

"Bumblebee, the team may require backup." Ratchet reported over comms. "They are three clicks north from your current position, just off the highway. If you drop Raf and Pixel at the exit ramp, I can bridge them back to base from there,"

"So much for a distraction," Pixel huffed.

"It's okay, Pixel," Rafael said "We'll go racing another time," Rafael glanced over at Pixel to see her looking out the back window "Pix?"

"Bumblebee, evasive maneuvers!" Pixel exclaimed as Megatron began firing down on them. She was quick to shield her body over Rafael's as a blast hit Bumblebee.

Bumblebee skidded to a stop and moved his rearview mirror to check on the duo "Is everyone ok?"

"Bee, Pixel's hurt!" Rafael exclaimed as he looked over at his friend.

Pixel's fists were clenched, eyes forced shut "I'm fine..." she grunted in pain "I absorbed the energy..." her hand went towards Bumblebee's door "Just need some..."

"Pixel!" Rafel cried out as the girl fell forward, finally succumbing to a state of unconsciousness.

***

Ratchet looked over when Bumblebee zoomed in to the base, quickly letting Raf out before transforming. Ratchet froze when he saw the figure in Bumblebee's hands "No...What happened?"

"Megatron," Bumblebee buzzed.

"Quickly, into my laboratory," Ratchet carefully placed Pixel onto a bed and hooked her up to the computer to check her vitals.

"Pixel isn't responding," Jack said.

"We must run diagnostics of her assemblage..." Ratchet reasoned before shaking his head "Eh, vital statistics." He threw his tools down in frustration "Oh, my tools...they're all wrong!"

Bee buzzed sadly "No,"

"We need to call my mom," Jack said.

"Your mother may be a nurse, but does she know anything about the effects of Energon on the human body?" Ratchet snapped.

"Wh...do you know anything about the human body?"

"You need to call Lennox," Arcee told Ratchet as Jack dialed his mother.

"And have another human yelling at me that I failed my job?!" Ratchet argued. He shook his helm in despair "'The weak will perish'." Ratchet brushed a servo gently across Pixel's cheek "Be strong, Pixel,"

***

Jack hurried over to his mother's car as it drove through the ground bridge "Mom, thank..."

"Grab my bag!" June said hurriedly as she ran towards where Ratchet was scanning Pixel.

"Measuring the extent of the absorption should determine the proper course of treatment,"

"If I don't get this girl stabilized now, she will not leave this table alive," June explained frustrated. "Do you understand me?"

Ratchet backed away to give June her space to work.

Bee smashed the wall next to him in frustration.

Raf and Arcee hurried over to assure the bot.

"Bee, listen." Arcee reasoned "You think I don't know how it feels to watch a partner...harmed? Revenge won't help Pixel right now. You need to keep your emotions in check,"

Rafael placed a hand on Bee's ped causing the scout to look down at his human companion.

"Ratchet, how is Pixel?" Optimus asked over the comms.

"It is too soon to know," Ratchet admitted.

"She's in good hands,"

"Not mine, Optimus. Curse my Cybertronian pride. We've accepted these humans into our lives, yet I bothered to learn so little of their science or medicine,"

"Pull yourself together, old friend. Pixel needs you,"

Ratchet glanced down at Pixel's frail body "And I have grown to need her,"