Endpoint (A TFP Fanfiction)

Optimus grunted as he awoke with tears in his optics. He sat up quickly, feeling the sharp pains in his chassis as he did but not really caring. The ruminants of the memory in plagued his processor and his venting started to become panicked. The nightmare had been real; it had happened. All of it.

"Optimus!" came Ratchet's concerned voice. A moment later, he felt a familiar servo on his shoulder plate. 

The Prime looked over to his friend with wide optics. He realized that his spark was beating rapidly and tried to calm himself down. He closed his optics and slowed his vents. Ratchet continued to keep his servo on his friend's shoulder plate, watching him. He knew that his leader had just seen a troubling nightmare. He shuddered slightly, trying not to imagine it.

"R-Ratchet," Optimus gasped, voice breaking. "Arcee.. she was.."

The old medic closed his good optic and sighed. "Optimus.. she has been dead for years."

The Prime nodded. He had known, as well as he knew that the others were gone as well, but the memory seemed fresh. Like he was seeing it for the first time. Ratchet seemed to understand this and took his servo off his friend's shoulder plate.

"Your mind could have forcefully repressed those memories while you were in stasis for so long," the doctor mumbled. "You could be getting them now since your processor is becoming fully functional." 

Optimus shook his helm, a wave of sadness washing over his spark. He knew that this pain would never go away, and he wanted to let it overtake him. However, he knew he could never allow that. For the sake of himself, and his oldest friend. He looked up at Ratchet in what he hoped was reassurance that it would be alright. The medic's own optic twisted and he looked away.

"I'm sorry if I'm... troubling you, old friend," Optimus said quietly. He quickly realized that while he had been in stasis for a year, Ratchet was left to care for him, all alone. His spark ached again as he imagined what his friend had had to go through.

Ratchet shook his helm, giving Optimus a ghost of a smile. "No need, Optimus. As long as you recover, and take revenge on Megatron, than it will be enough." He looked back up at the Prime with a determined and angry glare in his bright optic. "So focus on you recovery."

Optimus gave his friend a worried look. He didn't really know how to explain it to the medic, how he could see the anger and pain inside him. He also didn't feel it was a good idea to bring it up; Ratchet looked as if he had been through enough.

Instead, he changed the subject. "Where are we, Ratchet?"

The doctor turned his attention to the small monitor and tiny stash of Energon in the corner. "A small hideaway in the edges of South America. I believe it was once a small faction of a military base." He scowled as the monitor flickered and went out. "However, the equipment is old and has some broken parts. Without the use of proper tools or.. assistance, I'm not able to make very many repairs." His servo seemed to instinctively graze his gash on the side of his lower chassis.

"When and where did you acquire Energon?" Optimus asked, noticing how low the stash was.

The medic sighed. "With Megatron.. in control, his forces are spread low and thin. If I'm careful, I can sneak into smaller mines and obtain what little I can get." 

Optimus felt his spark sink again. "In control..?"

"You honestly expect that Megatron would keep quiet after our defeat?" Ratchet snapped, turning to the Prime sharply. "Of course he took over Earth! It was too late to stop him when he.." 

"What did he do?" Optimus asked dreadfully, shifting as he sat on the berth.

"He cyberformed earth," the medic said quietly. "The humans.. those who survived.. are now his servants, or Shockwave's experiments." Ratchet winced at his own words.