Endpoint (A TFP Fanfiction)

Chapter 8

"How.. how did you to meet?" Optimus asked gently.

The old medic sighed, still staring at the pictures of her. "You remember the Synthetic Energon incident, of course. Well, while I was arrogantly racing off to find Megatron, I wasn't careful around the human areas," he said with another sigh, this time with frustration in himself. "I nearly ran her over, and riled up as I was, I showed her my biped mode. Not on purpose, mind, but I was getting annoyed. I did it to scare her off."

Optimus listened intently, shocked that Ratchet had never told him these things.

"After I came to my senses, I went off and found her. She was still afraid, but I managed to assure her that I wasn't a threat." He finally looked over to the Prime, his faceplate a little sad as he grinned slightly. "I found myself continuing to check on her, over and over. She wanted to meet you all, but I refused. I wanted her to stay away from you, in fear her life would be endangered." He vented and looked down. "Selfish, I know. But I thought what I was doing was right."

Optimus smiled at his friend and placed a servo on his shoulder plate. "I do not blame you, old friend, nor am I angry. I understand your intentions."

Ratchet looked up with a pained look. "Now she will never get to meet any of the others..."

The Prime shook his head. "Do not dwell on that." He paused, thinking for a moment. "If she was close to you, why was she so afraid?" he asked.

Ratchet glanced away, his optics resting on the screen again. Optimus could have sworn he saw lubricant in his eyes. "I was wrong," he said shakily. "The Decepticons did know about her. After they captured us, they went and found her, too. They tortured her badly, in both mental and physical ways. I tried to rescue her once," he explained, and Optimus knew he was choking back a sob. "She was too terrified. Of all of us Cybertronians, no matter the affiliation. She doesn't remember me now." He looked down and closed his optic, gritting his denta and clenching his servos, even the mangled one, into fists.

Optimus knew he was fighting tears, and felt himself ready to cry a little as well. Optimus had never known about her, but he could tell that she meant something significant to Ratchet. The Prime then felt himself getting angry, but not at his friend. Would their torture never end? Just how much more could Megatron take from them? From his oldest friend? He felt his own servos turn into fists and his optics narrowed.

"Why do you not go speak to her now?" he asked gently, even though inside he was infuriated. "She seemed to want us to stay for a moment, when we were leaving."

Ratchet shook his helm and turned his back on the Prime. "I don't want to frighten her more... I'm afraid."

Optimus took a step cautiously, resting his servos on his friend's shoulder plates. "Afraid of what, old friend?"

It took the medic a minute to answer. "Afraid that she will never wish to see me again. That she will despise me for who I am, and what I couldn't do."

"What do you mean?"

"Her carrier. I can only imagine what the Decepticons did to her. Taylor was very close to her, and loved her dearly." He lifted his helm, staring up at the ceiling blankly. "What if when they tortured her mind, they told her that it was my doing?"

"That is just an assumption," Optimus assured him. "I believe you should go see her, old friend. I feel in my spark that she longs to see you."

Ratchet was silent for a little while longer, his optic gazing up at nothing as he thought. He eventually let out a shaky sigh, turning around and brushing Optimus' servos off. He stared at the floor for a few moments longer, before taking a deep vent and looking up at the Prime.

"Alright," he said quietly, looking defeated.

Optimus smiled at his friend again in assurance. "Do you wish for me to join you?"

The doctor pondered for a moment, before nodding once. "I want her to meet you."

The leader nodded back. "Then I shall go with you." He turned to the monitor and began to open a Bridge.

Ratchet took another shaky sigh as it opened. Optimus saw that he really was afraid, and probably praying that Taylor would accept him. Optimus stepped through first, Ratchet hesitantly following behind him. His optic widened as he stepped through.

Waiting for them at the cave was Taylor herself, tears staining her cheeks as she hugged herself.

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Yay, more Taylor!!! I really love my OC tho.

See ya next chapter!

*waves*

(Wow, I'm actually not so sad this chappy!)

Okay, actually leaving now.