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Description
Ratchet let out a large exhale as he stepped out of the ground bridge. A quick glance around told him that he and Eclipse had just appeared in an organic forest, so far away from any human city, Ratchet couldn’t comprehend where they were. It was already a red flag, and the medic contemplated going back to the base, where he should’ve stayed in the first place.

“Where’s the con?” inquired Eclipse. She hung onto Ratchet just barely, tugging at his servo, wanting to explore the greenery that surrounded her. “The computer said it’d be right here...”

“Maybe it’s just a false alarm,” Ratchet reasoned, trying to hide the relief in his voice. “How about we head back and I get you a snack? I heard Arcee was trying some new recipes...”

Eclipse wasn’t paying attention. She sniffed the air. After a moment, her Dragon-esque wings flared, and her bright green optics narrowed, mouth curling into a sneer. Briefly, Ratchet was reminded of an earthen cat. His comparison was chased away, and he whispered urgently. “What is it?”

“Bad news.” She managed, between threatening hisses. Then came a moment of pure confusion. “He’s... he’s supposed to be dead. He’s supposed to be gone! Ratchet, why is he back?”

The medic shook his head, dumbfounded. “Who is it, little one?”

The femme practically shook where she stood, both out of anger and panic. After a long moment, she growled out a name that made Ratchets spark sink.

“Scorpio”

“We need to get out of here,” Ratchet said. His voice was even, but there was an underlying tone of almost panic.

Eclipse slowly edged closer to Ratchet. She shook her head, optics wide. “No... the cons... they know we’re here.”

Sure enough, As Ratchet looked around, he could see the glowing red optics advancing through the shadows of the trees. There were too many for an old Medic and a young femme who was already on edge.

He lifted a servo to the side of his helm, activated his comm, and in the same even-urgent voice, called for backup. “Optimus, I need you to drop everything and get everyone to my coordinates, now.”

He didn’t listen to the frantic replies that came after. Instead, he knelt to Eclipse’s level and met her optics. “Stay behind me.” He ordered, making sure she understood, before softening his tone and expression. “I won’t let them.... him hurt you.”

Eclipse nodded. She was already remembering the terrifying things that had happened to her, and she was just trying her best to keep composure. She grasped Ratchet’s servo as he stood and leaned into a defensive stance.

“Optimus, hurry.” Ratchet muttered, as a shadow loomed over the two autobots. His breath caught, and he stared, optics wide, as his own nightmare stepped into view.

Megatron.

“Well, well, well,” he chuckled maniacally, his smirk making Ratchet’s insides churn. “What have we-“

The deception king was cut off by the woosh of the ground bridge as it whirred to life, spitting out the entire autobot team. Megatron didn’t look happy with the interruption. He took a breath and began again.

“Well, well, well.” He said, more tersely than before. “Optimus Prime.”

“Megatron.” Optimus greeted, his tone as tense as the cons’.

“Primus, the drama between you two is astounding,” came another drawl.

Eclipse visibly winced when she heard it. Scorpio himself stepped into view, planting himself in the middle of the crowd. He looked around. “This looks like it’s going to be fun... oh, lookie who decided to show up...”

He stared down at the cowering femme, who was doing all she could not to wiper. His optics felt like they were bring holes in her helm, and she willed him to just disappear.

“The freak,” he continued, pacing closer. Ratchet snarled, and the entire bot team tensed further. “My little science experiment... who knew something ad twisted as you could find someone... even if it is the autobots...” he cooed at her, teasing tone lilting, but still stabbing the little femme.

No one bothered to interrupt him, and he continued. “You remember, right? How little power you had... how you couldn’t even protect your child from yourself. Like your mother.” He cackled.

Eclipse clenched her servos. She felt a burning in her- he was hurting her, again. He wasn’t allowed to hurt her again, she wouldn’t let him. Slowly, her panic faded into a white, hot, anger.

“I could do it again. I can take you now, I had so many fun things planned... we could just resume where we left off, no? Maybe another sparkling. Another freak, like you? Of course, it was much easier when you were a sparkling. Less fighting back, it was so easy...”

“Shut up.” She said lowly, startling Ratchet. Megatron was staring at Scorpio, unsure. He’d heard things but, this....

“What did I tell you about-!” Scorpio was cut off by his own cry of surprise and pain. Arcee, shuddering, had fired a shot at him. She glanced at Eclipse, her optics furious and pained at the same time. Most of all determined. Eclipse felt a surge of gratitude, but it was easily dashed away when Scorpio screamed, livid, “ATTACK!”

Chaos ensued. The cons charged, and the bots met them with the same ferocity. Energon flew, it’s source unknown. The sound of metal on metal filled the forest, along with yells and screams alike. Eclipse backed away, ducked, rolled to avoid being shot, and found herself separated from Ratchet. She cried out, but it was futile. After a moment of trying to comprehend the scene, she squared her shoulders.

She was Eclipse, and she was strong. She could take any of these scum.

So, when a not-so-bright con tried to jump on her, she transformed, clamping her jaws on her attackers’ midriff, and shaking, hard. It was what a dog would do to tear apart a toy, but bigger, metal-er, and much more terrifying. She flung the con away and looked around for her next victim.

She weaved between bots, taking down deceptions when she could. Eclipse felt alive, powerful, unstoppable. The bots were going to win! She grinned, completing her feral look. It was almost fun.

The fun was cut short, however. She felt something hit her shoulder, and she went flying into the nearest tree, back to her cybertronian form, coughing up energon. Eclipse looked up, straight into the optics of Megatron himself. She couldn’t stop the slight whimper that escaped her.

“Thank you, Megatron.” Scorpio said, coolly, as he strode up to the leader.

Ratchet, seeing his unfold, roared and charged at the two menacing cybertronians. He wouldn’t let them hurt his daughter, he’d promised. “Get away from her!” he boomed, aiming a blaster at them. Scorpio, without a second thought, turned and blasted the medic.

Ratchet fell, clutching a dripping hole in his chest.

“Oops.” Scorpio shrugged and turned back to Eclipse, who stared, wide eyed at Ratchet’s limp form.

It was too familiar. Parental figure, crumpled, energon pooling. She was cornered, helpless, watching as Scorpio advanced on her once more, weapon raised. She didn’t think this would happen. This wasn’t supposed to happen again. Scorpio was supposed to be gone.

“You’re supposed to be gone.” She managed.

“What?”

She stood shakily, but regained her posture. Her vision was red, angry. She felt weird, like she was changing. She was- her wings grew, red accents appearing on her form. Her mouth grew fangs, large and ready to maul, and tear into metal flesh, same with her claws. Big, sharp, new. New, like this feeling she has. She’s hungry... so hungry.

Scorpio barely has time to widen his optics in fear, before Eclipse lunged at him, tearing into his throat. In moments, all that was left were energon soaked scraps. But oh no, she wasn’t done. The unfortunate con who was standing closest to her got the same treatment, his audiobox cutting out mid-shriek as she ripped it apart, the rest of him soon after. The rest of the deceptions, getting the idea, began to turn tail and flee. Megatron, though reluctant, faded into the trees as well.

Ratchet heaved himself up, sputtering and aided by WheelJack, of all people.

The medic looked up, and stared, unable to tear his gaze away from the horrifying creature Eclipse morphed into. And, that she was trying to attack Smokescreen.

“Guys, I think she’s lost it!” Smokescreen yelled frantically, dodging the snapping of the dragons’ teeth. “Help?!”

“We need.... to sedate her..” Ratchet coughed out, wincing at his own words. He didn’t have another choice, though. She was going to tear a hole into one of her own kin if they didn’t stop her soon.

“Can we improvise?!” Smokescreen cried, vaulting up into a tree and clinging as Eclipse clawed her way up after him. He took the team’s stumped silence as a yes, and backflipped out of the oak. Eclipse tried following, but only fell. Her helm made a sickening sound on the forest floor, and she was out cold.

Ratchet was at her side, checking damage, thankfully not finding anything extensive. Smokescreen murmured apologies, but they were lost on Ratchet. One question ran through his head, what happened to his little girl?

The air was sombre after that. No words exchanged, no glances met.

Ratchet carried Eclipse all the way to the base, and laid her on a medical berth. Her helm lolled to the side, at an awkward angle. He sighed heavily and adjusted her to a more comfortable position. It looked like she was sleeping peacefully, and it put Ratchet’s mind at ease, if only for a moment.

Then he sank heavily into a chair and waited.

And.. waited

And waited....

Ratchet was slipping into recharge when he heard a slight cough, and hard breathing. He snapped his optics open, and stood, approaching the table. “Eclipse....?” he was cautious, he didn’t know if she was still... whatever she was.

Eclipse tried sitting up, but her wrist wasn’t moving. She looked and noticed the restrains, immediately panicking. Last time she was restrained, she... She. ...

“Sh, little one..” Ratchet said gently, setting a servo on her shoulder. “Please, just understand its for the safety of everyone.”

The femme slowly calmed, looking up at Ratchet with wide, now green, optics. Ratchet concluded that she was safe, and took off the restrains. Immediately, she surged forward and wrapped her arms around the medic. Ratchet hesitated only a moment, then hugged her back.

“I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I didn’t.... I don’t...”

Ratchet pulled away and held her at arm’s length. “It’s okay. What matters is that no one got hurt.”

She shook her head. “Scorpio.... he’s supposed to be gone. I... I tore him apart the first time. How can I be sure that he’s actually gone, this time? Will he ever actually...”

Ratchet pulled Eclipse close once more, and kissed her forehelm, then smiled sadly at her. “I promised that I wouldn’t let him hurt you. I know I didn’t do that this time, but it will never happen again.”

She matched his sad smile and nodded. “Thank you...” She took a breath. “But I think I can protect myself now. Before I... you know... I could control it. I was so powerful, Ratchet.”

“I saw. I think you need some practice though.” He chuckled, poking her nose. This earned a laugh, and both of them were grateful that tensions fell, and things seemed a bit normal.

She sat up, sliding off the berth. "I need to find Optimus. I should tell him...”

Ratchet thought for a moment. He wanted Eclipse to have high spirits- he did owe it to her, after all. They could talk to the Prime later, he decided, before, scooping her up. “Nu- uh uh! Guess what time it is, first? You rolled around in the dirt quite a bit, out there.”

Eclipse’s optics widened. “No. You wouldn’t.”

“I am.”

“No!!” she screeched, struggling in his grip. “unhand me, you fiend! Ratchet!!!! Noooo!!!!!”

Ratchet ignored her protests, and tried to ignore her frantic clawing. He winced when she started to scream louder.

“HE’S GONNA KILL ME!!!!”

“Eclipse, honestly. It’s a bath.” He managed, batting her servo away from his face. “I’ll scratch behind your audio receptors all you want, and maybe make you a toy car later- just- behave!”

“NEVER!!!” she clawed at the walls as Ratchet ambled on. “YOU CAN’T MAKE MEEEEE!!”

“Primus...” Ratchet muttered, realizing this was going to be a long afternoon.

Description
Ratchet let out a large exhale as he stepped out of the ground bridge. A quick glance around told him that he and Eclipse had just appeared in an organic forest, so far away from any human city, Ratchet couldn’t comprehend where they were. It was already a red flag, and the medic contemplated going back to the base, where he should’ve stayed in the first place.

“Where’s the con?” inquired Eclipse. She hung onto Ratchet just barely, tugging at his servo, wanting to explore the greenery that surrounded her. “The computer said it’d be right here...”

“Maybe it’s just a false alarm,” Ratchet reasoned, trying to hide the relief in his voice. “How about we head back and I get you a snack? I heard Arcee was trying some new recipes...”

Eclipse wasn’t paying attention. She sniffed the air. After a moment, her Dragon-esque wings flared, and her bright green optics narrowed, mouth curling into a sneer. Briefly, Ratchet was reminded of an earthen cat. His comparison was chased away, and he whispered urgently. “What is it?”

“Bad news.” She managed, between threatening hisses. Then came a moment of pure confusion. “He’s... he’s supposed to be dead. He’s supposed to be gone! Ratchet, why is he back?”

The medic shook his head, dumbfounded. “Who is it, little one?”

The femme practically shook where she stood, both out of anger and panic. After a long moment, she growled out a name that made Ratchets spark sink.

“Scorpio”

“We need to get out of here,” Ratchet said. His voice was even, but there was an underlying tone of almost panic.

Eclipse slowly edged closer to Ratchet. She shook her head, optics wide. “No... the cons... they know we’re here.”

Sure enough, As Ratchet looked around, he could see the glowing red optics advancing through the shadows of the trees. There were too many for an old Medic and a young femme who was already on edge.

He lifted a servo to the side of his helm, activated his comm, and in the same even-urgent voice, called for backup. “Optimus, I need you to drop everything and get everyone to my coordinates, now.”

He didn’t listen to the frantic replies that came after. Instead, he knelt to Eclipse’s level and met her optics. “Stay behind me.” He ordered, making sure she understood, before softening his tone and expression. “I won’t let them.... him hurt you.”

Eclipse nodded. She was already remembering the terrifying things that had happened to her, and she was just trying her best to keep composure. She grasped Ratchet’s servo as he stood and leaned into a defensive stance.

“Optimus, hurry.” Ratchet muttered, as a shadow loomed over the two autobots. His breath caught, and he stared, optics wide, as his own nightmare stepped into view.

Megatron.

“Well, well, well,” he chuckled maniacally, his smirk making Ratchet’s insides churn. “What have we-“

The deception king was cut off by the woosh of the ground bridge as it whirred to life, spitting out the entire autobot team. Megatron didn’t look happy with the interruption. He took a breath and began again.

“Well, well, well.” He said, more tersely than before. “Optimus Prime.”

“Megatron.” Optimus greeted, his tone as tense as the cons’.

“Primus, the drama between you two is astounding,” came another drawl.

Eclipse visibly winced when she heard it. Scorpio himself stepped into view, planting himself in the middle of the crowd. He looked around. “This looks like it’s going to be fun... oh, lookie who decided to show up...”

He stared down at the cowering femme, who was doing all she could not to wiper. His optics felt like they were bring holes in her helm, and she willed him to just disappear.

“The freak,” he continued, pacing closer. Ratchet snarled, and the entire bot team tensed further. “My little science experiment... who knew something ad twisted as you could find someone... even if it is the autobots...” he cooed at her, teasing tone lilting, but still stabbing the little femme.

No one bothered to interrupt him, and he continued. “You remember, right? How little power you had... how you couldn’t even protect your child from yourself. Like your mother.” He cackled.

Eclipse clenched her servos. She felt a burning in her- he was hurting her, again. He wasn’t allowed to hurt her again, she wouldn’t let him. Slowly, her panic faded into a white, hot, anger.

“I could do it again. I can take you now, I had so many fun things planned... we could just resume where we left off, no? Maybe another sparkling. Another freak, like you? Of course, it was much easier when you were a sparkling. Less fighting back, it was so easy...”

“Shut up.” She said lowly, startling Ratchet. Megatron was staring at Scorpio, unsure. He’d heard things but, this....

“What did I tell you about-!” Scorpio was cut off by his own cry of surprise and pain. Arcee, shuddering, had fired a shot at him. She glanced at Eclipse, her optics furious and pained at the same time. Most of all determined. Eclipse felt a surge of gratitude, but it was easily dashed away when Scorpio screamed, livid, “ATTACK!”

Chaos ensued. The cons charged, and the bots met them with the same ferocity. Energon flew, it’s source unknown. The sound of metal on metal filled the forest, along with yells and screams alike. Eclipse backed away, ducked, rolled to avoid being shot, and found herself separated from Ratchet. She cried out, but it was futile. After a moment of trying to comprehend the scene, she squared her shoulders.

She was Eclipse, and she was strong. She could take any of these scum.

So, when a not-so-bright con tried to jump on her, she transformed, clamping her jaws on her attackers’ midriff, and shaking, hard. It was what a dog would do to tear apart a toy, but bigger, metal-er, and much more terrifying. She flung the con away and looked around for her next victim.

She weaved between bots, taking down deceptions when she could. Eclipse felt alive, powerful, unstoppable. The bots were going to win! She grinned, completing her feral look. It was almost fun.

The fun was cut short, however. She felt something hit her shoulder, and she went flying into the nearest tree, back to her cybertronian form, coughing up energon. Eclipse looked up, straight into the optics of Megatron himself. She couldn’t stop the slight whimper that escaped her.

“Thank you, Megatron.” Scorpio said, coolly, as he strode up to the leader.

Ratchet, seeing his unfold, roared and charged at the two menacing cybertronians. He wouldn’t let them hurt his daughter, he’d promised. “Get away from her!” he boomed, aiming a blaster at them. Scorpio, without a second thought, turned and blasted the medic.

Ratchet fell, clutching a dripping hole in his chest.

“Oops.” Scorpio shrugged and turned back to Eclipse, who stared, wide eyed at Ratchet’s limp form.

It was too familiar. Parental figure, crumpled, energon pooling. She was cornered, helpless, watching as Scorpio advanced on her once more, weapon raised. She didn’t think this would happen. This wasn’t supposed to happen again. Scorpio was supposed to be gone.

“You’re supposed to be gone.” She managed.

“What?”

She stood shakily, but regained her posture. Her vision was red, angry. She felt weird, like she was changing. She was- her wings grew, red accents appearing on her form. Her mouth grew fangs, large and ready to maul, and tear into metal flesh, same with her claws. Big, sharp, new. New, like this feeling she has. She’s hungry... so hungry.

Scorpio barely has time to widen his optics in fear, before Eclipse lunged at him, tearing into his throat. In moments, all that was left were energon soaked scraps. But oh no, she wasn’t done. The unfortunate con who was standing closest to her got the same treatment, his audiobox cutting out mid-shriek as she ripped it apart, the rest of him soon after. The rest of the deceptions, getting the idea, began to turn tail and flee. Megatron, though reluctant, faded into the trees as well.

Ratchet heaved himself up, sputtering and aided by WheelJack, of all people.

The medic looked up, and stared, unable to tear his gaze away from the horrifying creature Eclipse morphed into. And, that she was trying to attack Smokescreen.

“Guys, I think she’s lost it!” Smokescreen yelled frantically, dodging the snapping of the dragons’ teeth. “Help?!”

“We need.... to sedate her..” Ratchet coughed out, wincing at his own words. He didn’t have another choice, though. She was going to tear a hole into one of her own kin if they didn’t stop her soon.

“Can we improvise?!” Smokescreen cried, vaulting up into a tree and clinging as Eclipse clawed her way up after him. He took the team’s stumped silence as a yes, and backflipped out of the oak. Eclipse tried following, but only fell. Her helm made a sickening sound on the forest floor, and she was out cold.

Ratchet was at her side, checking damage, thankfully not finding anything extensive. Smokescreen murmured apologies, but they were lost on Ratchet. One question ran through his head, what happened to his little girl?

The air was sombre after that. No words exchanged, no glances met.

Ratchet carried Eclipse all the way to the base, and laid her on a medical berth. Her helm lolled to the side, at an awkward angle. He sighed heavily and adjusted her to a more comfortable position. It looked like she was sleeping peacefully, and it put Ratchet’s mind at ease, if only for a moment.

Then he sank heavily into a chair and waited.

And.. waited

And waited....

Ratchet was slipping into recharge when he heard a slight cough, and hard breathing. He snapped his optics open, and stood, approaching the table. “Eclipse....?” he was cautious, he didn’t know if she was still... whatever she was.

Eclipse tried sitting up, but her wrist wasn’t moving. She looked and noticed the restrains, immediately panicking. Last time she was restrained, she... She. ...

“Sh, little one..” Ratchet said gently, setting a servo on her shoulder. “Please, just understand its for the safety of everyone.”

The femme slowly calmed, looking up at Ratchet with wide, now green, optics. Ratchet concluded that she was safe, and took off the restrains. Immediately, she surged forward and wrapped her arms around the medic. Ratchet hesitated only a moment, then hugged her back.

“I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I didn’t.... I don’t...”

Ratchet pulled away and held her at arm’s length. “It’s okay. What matters is that no one got hurt.”

She shook her head. “Scorpio.... he’s supposed to be gone. I... I tore him apart the first time. How can I be sure that he’s actually gone, this time? Will he ever actually...”

Ratchet pulled Eclipse close once more, and kissed her forehelm, then smiled sadly at her. “I promised that I wouldn’t let him hurt you. I know I didn’t do that this time, but it will never happen again.”

She matched his sad smile and nodded. “Thank you...” She took a breath. “But I think I can protect myself now. Before I... you know... I could control it. I was so powerful, Ratchet.”

“I saw. I think you need some practice though.” He chuckled, poking her nose. This earned a laugh, and both of them were grateful that tensions fell, and things seemed a bit normal.

She sat up, sliding off the berth. "I need to find Optimus. I should tell him...”

Ratchet thought for a moment. He wanted Eclipse to have high spirits- he did owe it to her, after all. They could talk to the Prime later, he decided, before, scooping her up. “Nu- uh uh! Guess what time it is, first? You rolled around in the dirt quite a bit, out there.”

Eclipse’s optics widened. “No. You wouldn’t.”

“I am.”

“No!!” she screeched, struggling in his grip. “unhand me, you fiend! Ratchet!!!! Noooo!!!!!”

Ratchet ignored her protests, and tried to ignore her frantic clawing. He winced when she started to scream louder.

“HE’S GONNA KILL ME!!!!”

“Eclipse, honestly. It’s a bath.” He managed, batting her servo away from his face. “I’ll scratch behind your audio receptors all you want, and maybe make you a toy car later- just- behave!”

“NEVER!!!” she clawed at the walls as Ratchet ambled on. “YOU CAN’T MAKE MEEEEE!!”

“Primus...” Ratchet muttered, realizing this was going to be a long afternoon.