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This wasn't Ratchet, this wasn't his friend at all. It was clear Ratchet would never be this impulsive, Ratchet would never be this arrogant, confrontational, reckless, aggressive, belligerent, prideful, cocky, overconfident, or hostile.
The Ratchet he knew was cynical, gruff, cranky, and somewhat pessimist but beyond that, he cared deeply for others, intelligent, dependable, and a great medic.
But here? Optimus had no idea who this 'friend" of his is here right now, talking crazy to him, breaking protocol, getting ready to almost kill a Decepticon Miner who was servant-class and wasn't even warrior but that didn't seem to matter to Ratchet apparently, neither did Optimus' "lectures" either apparently.
"All this Energon scouting, you think Megatron isn't gearing up for something big? We're squandering our resources chasing after his crumbs when we really need to be hitting him hard and hitting him now, precisely where it hurts!" Ratchet shouted, pounding his fist into the palm of his hand as he was having his uncharacteristic rant and raving moment right now.
He was basically calling Optimus and the rest of the team too passive, something he would have never said if it wasn't for the Synthetic Energon he was on. Not only were his words just reckless, they were also angry, but Optimus tried his best to reason with his old friend.
"A direct assault on the Decepticons would only provoke retaliation and lead to incalculable losses. I will not endanger innocent human lives." Optimus looks away for a moment from Ratchet then looks back at him, his voice didn't even waver, even in the face of Ratchet's out-of-character crash out.
But Ratchet wasn't finished pushing the envelope, oh no! He was going to do more than that, he was about to take it to the extremes that will most likely break Optimus' characteristically calm, stoic demeanor. Ratchet walks right up to Optimus boldly and straight up says to his face…..
"You speak of what leads to incalculable losses and 'endangering lives' and yet look what happened to our fellow Autobots during the war because of your so called 'leadership', just ask Elita, oh wait! She can't be here to tell you that can she? Why? Because YOU'RE the reason Optimus, remember? You let her out there without any backup but sure, lecture me about 'endangering lives' here and incalculable losses"
And just like that, the atmosphere turned winter cold… silent in the scenery they were in.
Arcee, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead just stood there and didn't say a word, their wide optics, gaping mouths and them standing there, stiff, their reactions said it all as they heard every single cruel word that their dear friend, Ratchet, had said to Optimus. They knew Ratchet said a lot of rude things and acted like a bit of a jerk while influenced by Synthetic Energon, but right now, they knew he had taken things WAY too far during his outburst and knew this might not end well, but how would their stoic leader who always keeps it cool react to this?
Because there was NO WAY IN HELL that was going to let what Ratchet said slide, especially after what he said about Elita and blaming her death on him. They know he wasn't about to punch him, Ratchet was his oldest friend and that wouldn't be in his character. However, It was a bold yet cold move on Ratchet's part, so they wondered if this would be an exception and Optimus would actually snap this time and do something he would deeply regret.
Optimus however, his optics went wide, it was almost like he was hit by a tidal wave of the ocean at a beach on a hot sunny summer day with so much force. He stared at Ratchet and tried to process what he had just said to him. It was like he picked up a sword and rammed it right into his spark where it hurts, like he took something that was deeply traumatic for him, something that he felt so much guilt for many cycles and threw it right back into his face like it was nothing, with no remorse whatsoever, and it was obvious because Ratchet had that smug, victorious smirk on his face as if he thought he did something right there.
Oh but he did do something alright, and he did the absolute MOST by crossing the line that should have never been crossed. He had managed to hurt his oldest friend, practically his best friend actually, by not only blaming all the deaths in the Cybertronian war on him, but having the audacity to bring up ELITA and blame her death on him, the only bot he's ever loved, the one he let go on by herself without any backup which led up to her death in the war.
Ratchet KNEW this, he knew this and he just hit it where it would hurt Optimus during his coked up rant and outburst with a mix of bottled up frustrations that built up over the years during this cruel war between the Autobots and Decepticons.
"What's the matter, Optimus? Too stunned to hear the truth?" Ratchet taunted him "Well GUESS WHAT? I don't care how you feel about it because you know DEEP DOWN that's absolutely true! You know it! That's why you're silent right now and have no argument to what I said. The others and Elita would still be here if it wasn't for your poor leader skills, you know it too. What would Elita even think if she saw you right now? I guarantee that she would be just as disappointed and ashamed."
At that moment, Optimus's optical ridges furrowed, his optics narrowed and he frowned. It was like many years of guilt and trauma he carried for so long not only got thrown back in his face, but made it seem like he was responsible for some of the deaths on of his fellow Autobots and his love, Elita, on Cybertron. It was almost like it was actually made a mockery of it TO his face, and it was by one of his most trusted friends he could always count on.
Right now, he forgot that Ratchet was on Synthetic Energon, he walked slowly up to him and looked down at him, he gave him the most nastiest, scariest glare that he's ever given to anyone. The other three Autobots just watched as the tension between them was getting more tense and stronger, he was going to do it? Was Optimus going to snap and actually deck his friend in the face?
Most people would have but most people aren't Optimus, but was he really going to do it? That entire cold, cruel rant, that taunting, rubbing the trauma in his face and bringing up Elita, talking about how she would be "disappointed and ashamed" of his leadership skills and for not killing Megatron when he had the chance like it was a joke was warranted for a punch in the face. They weren't going to lie, Optimus looked pretty damn scary right now, it was obvious they never seem him looking THIS MAD before.
"What, Optimus? What are you gonna do? Punch me? Go on…. Do it…. I dare you" Ratchet smirked and taunted him some more, obviously trying to provoke him. "I dare you to do it, Optimus, go on, or are you too soft to do so?"
Optimus's servos balled up into a fist, still staring down at Ratchet with the most terrifying glare, having the urge to punch him in his face.
But then he took a look into Ratchet's eyes, they were green and glowing with Synthetic Energon and his eyes were usually blue. He was then reminded that this isn't the real Ratchet, the real Ratchet would not have said all those awful, horrible things to him, the real Ratchet wouldn't act like this. Yes, what he said was vile but Optimus knew that it was the Synthetic Energon speaking, not Ratchet.
It had clouded his judgment, he knew that hitting him would just make things worse even though most people would think he would deserve it but as mentioned before, Optimus wasn't most people. He had nothing but compassion and empathy for his friend and why he felt the need to take all of that Synthetic Energon. The last thing he wanted to do was to strain his friendship with him and give this version of Ratchet the satisfaction that he was looking for. If Elita was here, she would probably think the same thing Optimus was thinking right now,
'Don't give him the satisfaction of seeing you lash out, it's not worth it or the energy. It's not who you are, Optimus. It's not you'
So, he unclenched his servos, back up a bit and the expression on his face softened but still serious and calm.
The Autobot leader clenched his optics shut and slowly turned around from his friend, not saying anything else but processing the hurt of his vile words he shamelessly threw at him verbally and emotionally.
Ratchet smirked in triumph, "Ha! Just as I thought, Optimus. I knew you couldn't do it, you don't have the guts to punch me even after all the things I said to you, just like how you don't have the guts to take down Megatron went you had billions of chances to but didn't for some reason. You know something, Optimus? You're soft, you're no leader, you don't even deserve the title. I know for one thing, Primus made a mistake giving you the Matrix Of Leadership, remember that, because the war would have ended eons ago, all our fellow Cybertronians would still be here. I hope you SIT with that" He spat at him.
Optimus just said nothing, he just stood there with his back turned taking every shot Ratchet had thrown at him, he knew they weren't true but that didn't mean it didn't hurt, which meant to Ratchet that his "truth" actually got to him to his core but he wasn't about to stop there.
"Oh so you're going to turn your back on me? Can't handle the truth? Can't handle the fact I'm right? That you're no leader?" Ratchet taunted him, jabbing him in the back with his finger as he said this.
Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead had seen and heard ENOUGH of this! They didn't care if Ratchet was on Synthetic Energon, they weren't about to let him talk to or treat their leader and friend like this, especially when he was throwing his trauma back to his face and constantly telling him he has no business being a leader, so they jumped in front of Optimus in his defense. They give him a nasty glare that says 'Attack him again and you'll have to deal with all of us'.
Ratchet scoffs and laughs, "Oh sure, of course you're going to defend this sorry excuse for a leader, because deep down you are ALL WEAK and SOFT, just like HIM!" Then he frowns and gives a serious expression, "I'm done wasting my time here, I'm going to do what all of you especially Optimus should have done, find Megatron and take him down… for good".
With that, Ratchet transformers into his alt. mode which is an ambulance and drive off fast so none of them can follow him. Bumblebee was getting ready to go after him but Bulkhead and Arcee stop him and hold him back.
"No, Bee, let him go, it's not worth it" Bulkhead told him, reassuring him.
The trio turn to Optimus who still has his back turns and his head hung down. They exchange looks, obviously worried about their leader and how he's feeling because all the things Ratchet said got to him.
Arcee spoke to him first, "Optimus, are you okay?" she asks him compassionately.
"I hope you know none of the things he said to you were true" Bulkhead said.
A series of a few beeps come from Bumbleebee, basically saying 'Do you want us to go after him?'
Optimus sighed deeply and turned to his friends, the expression on his face was clear to them that he was hurt, which had them deeply concerned, but his expression changed back to stoic, not wanting to have his friends worry for him too much.
"Optimus, you don't have to pretend to be strong for us" Arcee tells him, "We know what he said was way out of line"
"Yeah, it wouldn't have us looking at you any differently. We still would have respect for you as a leader and friend" Bulkhead told him.
Bumblebee let out a few whirl of beeps, obviously agreeing with them.
Optimus listens to his friends' words to him. It was clear that they cared about him and wouldn't judge him if he showed an emotional reaction or not, which makes him realize that he doesn't have to be ashamed of feeling the way that he did, they truly gave him room and space to without judgment.
He finally speaks, "Thank you for your concerns and kind words, dear friends. Although, I will be honest with you all, what Ratchet said was….. abominable and repugnant, and there is no denying that, I am also not denying that his words anguished me deeply even if I do acknowledge they are not the honest truth." He looks away for a moment and process some of the hurt of the Ratchet's words, then looks back at his friends with a hopeful look.
"But you must remember, the Synthetic Energon has clouded the judgement of our dear friend, this is not the Ratchet we know, the one that we know would never say those vile things, let alone act reckless, break protocol or disrespect the ones who loves and cares for the most. Deep down inside, our Ratchet is still there and we must not give up on him even if he tries to resist or push us away."
The trio exchanged looks as they process what Optimus had told them, and he had a strong point. He was right, the Ratchet they know wouldn't act the way he did or say the cruel, ruthless things that he said if he wasn't influenced by the Synthetic Energon. Even though it doesn't really erase how he acted and what he said to Optimus, Ratchet was their friend and they felt more determined to try to help him and get him back, even if they have to restraint him and drain out of the Synthetic Energon that's corrupting him right now.
They knew they had to go find him and stop him from potentially getting himself seriously hurt by Megatron when he confronts him all by himself. Ratchet had no backup, so it seriously worried them that he was going to get himself killed and they couldn't let that happen, especially after with the loved ones they have lost in the war. They were going to find their friend despite the fact him thinking he doesn't need them.
Optimus sensed that his words got through the trio from the way they all exchanged looks and how they were feeling due to their facial expressions. He was glad to know that they were now on the same boat.
He contacted Raf, who is back in the base, and tells him, "Raf, bridge us back".
With that, the groundbridge opens up and the four Autobots make their way back to the base as they are determined to locate where Ratchet is and bring him back to them whatever it takes.
On their way back, Bumblebee turns to Optimus and speaks in a whirl of beeps, basically saying in his own language, 'Just do you know, Elita's death isn't your fault, none of the deaths of our fellow Autobots were you fault. I hope you know that'
Optimus couldn't help but smile a little at Bumblebee's comforting words. 'It's not your fault' those are the words that Optimus needed to hear after feeling many years of guilt for what happened on Cybertron, especially from one of his good friends.
"I…. needed to hear that, thank you very much, dear friend. Your words are deeply appreciated coming from you."
Bumblebee beeps a few times, which in that language, he is saying "You're welcome, Optimus. I am here for you if you need someone", knowing that his reassurance and emotional support is what Optimus not only needs but deserves.
If Elita was here she would not only agree, but also give him those same words.......
"It is not your fault, Optimus. Don't ever blame yourself"