Endpoint (A TFP Fanfiction)

Chapter 11

Then Ratchet looked over to the Prime with a puzzled look in his eye. "Optimus, are you... alright?" he asked slowly.

Optimus blinked and realized that his optics still had lubricant in the corners of them, and he probably looked like a wreck. He shifted uncomfortably, slightly embarrassed, even for a steely Prime. He nodded once and glanced away from the medic's gaze. Ratchet cocked an optic ridge, letting go of Taylor, while turning to his leader. He crossed his arms, waiting to hear a real answer.

Optimus sighed, defeated. "I remembered Bumblebee, and the Omega Lock.. and your servo."

"And your gash wound," Ratchet added solemnly, pointing to his friend's side. As Taylor exchanged worried glances between the two, the medic sighed and nodded once. "I understand."

The two didn't say anything else to each other, the memory filling both of their processors. Taylor watched them in confusion and anxiety, hoping that they were fine. She turned and hugged Ratchet's facial plate again, pouting slightly. The medic jumped out of his thoughts, his optic turning to the girl.

"Sorry," he said with a small smile. "This is probably uncomfortable for you."

She nodded, though she gave him a silly look. "Yeah, a little."

Ratchet chuckled and opened his derma to day something more, before he froze, optic widening. While he his chassis started to rattle, he hastily took her in his servo, earning a surprised cry from the femme, and bent over, setting her on the ground. Taylor looked back up with a puzzled frown, but Ratchet paid no mind to it. Instead, he turned on one pede and stalked farther away in the room, as far away from the two of them as he could. Optimus realized with a sinking spark what was happening, while Taylor started to walk after her friend worriedly. No more than a second later is when the coughing and harsh chassis shaking arrived.

Taylor started, the color draining from her face. She looked up to the Prime in terror, who gave her a remorseful and apologetic look. She gasped as the hacking grew sharper, turning to see Ratchet doubling over. Without a second thought, she ran towards him, Optimus following behind her. The medic saw them coming in his fit and did his best to back away, only for his backside to hit the wall. He paused for a second for a couple vents, before another fit overtook him.

"What's happening?" Taylor practically screamed as she tried to reach his pede. He kept avoiding her, afraid he might accidently hurt her. Optimus carefully took a protective step in front of her. 

"Ratchet informed me that ever since he acquired that wound on his lower side, this kind of attack is normal," he told her solemnly. He rested his servos on Ratchet's shoulder plates to keep him steady, which the medic didn't try to shove away.

"This happens.. a lot?" she asked in horror, stepping around his pede. She wanted to go to Ratchet so badly, comfort him, but she was no longer sure if that was safe.

Optimus held onto his friend as he weakly slid down the wall, the coughing and vents only becoming harder. Ratchet's optic was squeezed shut tightly, his entire chassis tense and rattling. Energon started hacking up from his throat again, but this time, the medic did his best to cover it up with his mangled servo. Optimus swallowed as he saw the blue liquid oozing through his twisted digits. Taylor held back a scream, hesitantly patting Optimus pede.

"He needs help," she uttered shakily, her body shivering at the sight before her.

Optimus facial plate twisted as he looked down to her, still holding Ratchet steady. "I... there is nothing we can do to help him. The damage is irreparable."

The girl choked back a sob, nodding and backing away from the two mechs. She decided to watch at a distance. Optimus turned his attention back to the medic, trying to stop the panic gripping at his spark. This Energon coughing fit seemed to be harsher and longer than the first one he had seen. Where they slowly getting worse? The Prime feared for Ratchet's future health, seeing at it was already tainted. As the dark thoughts set in, he grew afraid for his friend's own spark. He clenched his servos unintentionally as Ratchet erupted into harder gasping vents and hacks. Ratchet's entire chassis jolted upward, before doubling over and gagging. Optimus backed up as his friend vomited a large amount of Energon from his derma, jerking as he gagged. Optimus moved his servo to Ratchet's back, wondering how he could help. He slapped his backside in hopes of helping the flow run out better, so that Ratchet could vent better.