When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

It took a bit of time before Azura was able to calm down enough to pay attention to what is happening. But watching Optimus get hooked up to various machines while Ratchet scanned his system to identify what is causing this illness was honestly scaring Azura. The sparkling wanted to lay on his chassis to be as close as possible, but she would wait to hear it is safe for her to do so from Ratchet. He is the doctor after all, and Azura did not want to get sicker than she is now. But from what she was observing from how Optimus was, this sickness probably would kill her if she got infected. It might also mean she couldn't feed from Optimus, which was also distressing, despite the fact the other autobots could easily feed her if needed.

Azura watched Ratchet intently as he scanned Optimus's system, and it felt like hours for him to do so. Ratchet soon seemed to realize what it is as he stepped back slightly from Optimus with a worried expression. "Cybonic plague." Azura shivered as the name alone sounded bad enough. "It's only contagious if contact is made with the infected energon." Ratchet turned to Azura with a sympathetic expression. "This means you can safely stay close to Optimus, Azura." Azura smiled a little and Bumblebee walked over to the berth. "But do understand that he needs to save his strength, Azura. Don't expect him to hug you right now."

Azura let some more tears fall from her optics and nodded as she understood. "I understand." She sniffled a little and looked at Bumblebee. "And I am sorry for trying to burn your arms. I just..." She glanced back at Optimus, seeing how weak his was and his optics seemingly flashing as a sign of blurred vision. Azura whimpered and let out a light sob. "I just...I am scared right now. Daddy has not been sick until now, and...well...it looks worse than mine."

"Unfortunately that is the case, Azura," Ratchet said to the sparkling in a gentle tone. "Though I promise you that I will do everything that I can for him." Azura knew that he would. Bumblebee gently placed Azura onto Optimus's chassis, and she immediately curled in the center. Optimus was glancing down slightly, though not for long. "Your closeness to him right now will help him tremendously."

"What was a plague doing on an autobot spaceship anyway?" Miko asked gently as she too was genuinely concerned about Optimus.

"It's passengers were infected," Arcee responded gently to the girl. "The virus wiped out millions on Cybertron during the great war."

Millions?! That means...this thing is so deadly!

Azura whimpered a little as she listened, though she really didn't like what she was hearing at all. "Cybonic plague was engineered in the decepticon's biological warfare program." She glanced up at Ratchet with teary optics. "By Megatron himself." Azura gasped as that meant that might be a very bad thing, considering Megatron was not around anymore. She did not like to hear that it was her sire who created the virus.

This is just getting worse and worse...

"You...have a cure, don't you?" Rafael asked slowly with concern.

Ratchet opened his mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by Optimus as he let out a low groan. "Ughhh, no cure," Optimus managed to say, glancing down at Azura as she looked at him with panicked optics.

"Optimus, please..." Ratchet kept his expression and tone soft as he spoke to his leader. "Save your strength."

Azura frowned and looked at Ratchet with a frown. "You said y-you will d-d-do everything you can." She sniffled a little as the medic's shoulders slump slightly upon hearing her small voice. "But...y-y-you have no cure...h-how...w-will he..." She glanced at Optimus's optics briefly and looked back at Ratchet. "Will h-he...die?" Ratchet did not respond straight away to the sparkling. "I d-d-don't w-w-want to truly be an orphan, Ratchet. Please..."