Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was late, late enough for a blanket of quiet to have swept over all of Detroit. All the humans and bots alike were asleep, except for Bumblebee. Bee had been having a lot of trouble falling asleep that night. He tossed and turned but recharge never seemed to take him. He sighed in frustration from where he lay, sitting up and pushing the large blanket from his frame. He got up from his berth and stretched his joints. 

Bee figured some late-night Energon from the medbay couldn’t hurt. He could see the edges of his optical vision were tinted purple and his paint job was looking a bit dull in color, so it was probably for the best that he had woken up and gotten some anyway. He needed to get better at taking care of himself. Lately, it’s seemed harder and harder to maintain his health. He was so used to ignoring the normal daily discomfort of his frame, that he had started ignoring other things as well. That was normal though, right? To feel uncomfortable and itchy in your frame all the time? Bee didn’t know, he chose not to worry about it. There were more important things to worry about than his dumb frame.

Bumblebee stepped out into the hall with a yawn, taking slow quiet steps so he wouldn’t make too much noise and wake anyone else up. He had made it to the medbay and had gotten a bag of Energon when he noticed a light from the Prime’s room was on and spilling out due to the door being partially open. It seemed some mech was already awake. Or more specifically, two mechs were already awake and whispering to each other in hushed tones. Bee quietly crept closer to the doorway, staying out of sight as he turned his audial range to its highest setting. He felt bad eavesdropping but his curiosity got the better of him. He heard the voices of both Prime and Ratchet from within. Huh? What could they be talking about? Was everything ok? Worry overtook his spark as he listened. Bee couldn’t quite place what they were, but he could feel a rapid fire of emotions through the shared familial spark bond he and Ratchet had. One feeling that seemed to trump all of them though was a distinct feeling of guilt. Bee was getting second hand feels from how powerful it was. What could Ratchet possibly be this guilty about? 

“He’s going to find out eventually Ratchet.. why are you hiding this from him? Doesn’t he have a right to know what happened to him?” There was silence for a moment as Ratchet seemed to be thinking of a proper response. The medic sighed heavily. Whatever he was going to say seemed like it was hard to get out, his voice was gruff but small. It was so unlike Ratchet to be quiet when he spoke. Bee was so used to the grumpy medic yelling all the time. So it threw him off quite a bit to hear the medic so quiet. 

“..I’ve seen a lot of horrific things in the war Prime..but nothing compares to what they did..” There was silence after that for a moment, there was movement heard. Bee peeked in to see that Optimus had taken Ratchet's hand. The medic was shaking so hard that his plating was rattling. Whatever he was thinking about clearly had him shaken beyond belief. A distinct and visceral feeling of fear flooded the bond, making Bee feel uneasy. He closed off his part of the bond partially, trying to shield himself a little from these overpowering emotions Ratchet was feeling without completely getting rid of them. 

Ratchet’s expression was far away and his eyes staring at nothing in particular as he forgot he was supposed to be finishing an explanation. The silence stretched on, Prime's voice finally breaking it. “R..Ratchet? If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s ok.” Ratchet seemed to come back to himself after Prime spoke. Ratchet's eyes had re-focused and looked over at the other. “No..I’m ok I’m sorry. Got lost in a memory is all..” he continued on, squeezing Optimus’ hand like it was the only thing keeping him stable and present. At that point, Bee wouldn’t be surprised if it was.

“The council and the science team put him through a lot Prime.. I can’t describe the things he’s endured and I’ve had to treat.. I never want to see him go through that again.. I never want to see his looks of agony again.. they already haunt me enough.” Prime gave an understanding nod, trying desperately to have a supportive expression on but Bee could see the concern and fear in his optics. Optimus was scared to think of what the Autobot high council was capable of. He’s heard stories of mechs going insane and even going offline in the stockade. The mere thought made him shudder.

 Bee raised an optical ridge in confusion. Who the slag were they talking about? He remembered that Ratchet mentioned some mechs did some bad things to him as a new spark. He knew they used him like an experiment, but they couldn’t possibly be talking about him could they? That was just something that happened to him when he was a sparkling. Why would Ratchet be talking about something like that now? He didn’t even remember it.

Bumblebee, nonetheless, felt his frame tighten against his protoform. He held in a wince as his plating squeezed and pinched him too hard. Why was he so anxious? He tried to will his plating to flare back out but nothing seemed to happen. He’d just have to deal with the discomfort of a frame that never felt like his own. Thankfully due to him partially shutting his part of the bond, Ratchet couldn’t feel his spontaneous feeling of anxiety and dread. 

“I didn’t want him to know that I kept his memories from him." Ratchet all but whispered, voice hoarse as it escaped his vocalizer. His helm lowering in shame. "It was an accident but.. He deserved a normal life Optimus! H-he wasn’t all there mentally ya know? He.. he was what all the propaganda about hybrids and vampirabots said about him. They did that to him! they made him what they feared he’d be if he were out and about on his own. He was a monster of their own making and they were too blind to see..” Optimus nodded, staying quiet as Ratchet continued on. The medic looked like he was in pain from having to recall all this, But now that it was out there Ratchet kept going like a dam had broken inside him and water in the form of information was flooding out of his intake. 

Ratchet kept memories from who? Hybrids..vampirabots? They.. they couldn’t possibly be talking about him could they? Ratchet wouldn’t lie to him would he? Had Ratchet really kept things from him for all these years? No. There was no way the mech that raised me would lie! Ratchet wouldn’t do that! …Would he?

That simple phrase, ‘I didn’t want him to know that I kept his memories from him,’ was all Bee could focus on however. His processor reeled as it spun that phrase around and around in his helm trying to come up with any holes that could debunk it being about him. He tried to come up with any kind of reasonable explanation as to why Ratchet, the Mech he trusted with his very spark, would possibly lie to him. 

Bee’s processor started to ache, a corrupted memory file popping up on his HUD unexpectedly. Huh? What..what is this? He opened it curiously and had to bite his derma plating to the point of bleeding as his processor filled with painful static. The memory filled his HUD, as if forcing him to watch. The static cleared away and Bee found himself seeing bits and pieces of a white padded room. It was empty except for a berth, medical machines, and a bunch of pink puddles and Splatters all over the floor. It took him a moment, but Bee realized it was Energon staining the pristine white floor.

Bee started to hyperventilate as he saw the body of some mech he didn't recognize on the floor. Why was he seeing this?! He heard a voice but anything that would make it recognizable was gone, too covered in fuzz and static for him to make out who it was. But what they were saying was clear as day. “He will always be a threat! He’s a threat to Autobots everywhere! I don’t want to wait until tomorrow. I want the results now! Shoot him!” Then another voice chimed in, this one closer and less messed up but still unrecognizable. “I’m sorry..” Bee whimpered loudly as agonizing ghost pains flared up all over his frame. It burned horribly like acid soaking through his plating, Bee instinctively tugging at his armor as it tightened even worse against his frame. The memory ended shortly after, and just as quickly as it started, the pain faded. Bee was left venting hard and trembling in his spot on the ground. He took a deep vent to try and calm himself down, feeling like he was gonna purge his tanks. Bumblebee reset his audials so he could continue listening from where he left off, now very unsettled by what he just saw and experienced. 

“if I told him, he’d only try harder to know the full truth. And I wouldn’t blame him for being curious either but.. he deserves to be carefree, to be happy with friends, goof off and learn lessons and grow like a normal young adult. He never got to have things like that as a sparkling..All he got is pain and cruelty from the very faction he’s devoted his spark to serve now.. slag his dream was to be in the elite guard!...how fragged up is that?” Optimus seemed to be speechless, his intake opening and closing a couple times. Ratchet understood his silence, nodding and giving him time to process all this. The faction they all were sworn to serve and die for had done such horrible things to a Mech that didn’t even have a comprehension of what good and bad was yet. Optimus knew the Autobots often painted Decepticons as bad when that wasn’t always true, but to experiment on a sparkling just because he was half decepticon? It made his tank churn in disgust. Fear truly brought the worst out of anyone, even their own leader.

The elite guard? But that was his dream.. so they were talking about him? The bag of Energon Bee was holding slipped from his grip and fell to the floor, the contents spilling out. The hall felt too small, feeling far more claustrophobic than before. The walls closed in on Bee as he stumbled back, hitting his backplates against the wall and sliding down, curling in on himself. Fiery pain flooded his inner wiring as his control began to slip. Bee began to vent harshly as Tears filled his optical ridges. Did Ratchet really lie to him? No. No, he wouldn't! After all the medic has done for him, why would he lie?! Bee waged war on himself internally as his rational side tried to reason that Ratchet must have had a valid reason. But his emotional side, however, wasn't having any of it. His processor began to spiral into dark twisted thoughts he never thought he was capable of, No doubt his vampiric side’s doing. ‘See Bee? No one wants us.Why don’t we just lose control hm? Teach them all a lesson for messing with us..our only family is scared of us. We weren’t right in the head after all..why don’t we show them just how wrong they are..’

Bumblebee tried to shake the awful intrusive thoughts from his processor, but the little voice in his helm refused to go away and leave him alone. Bee felt so thoroughly betrayed..so angry..

how could he possibly trust anyone anymore if everything he had ever known was a lie?!

In a moment of clarity fueled by pure determination to find out what was going on, he crawled back to the door and continued to listen to the two mechs talk. ignoring his increasingly dire need for Energon, his little claws and fangs sharpening. His senses felt like they were on overdrive, He was starting to see everything in a deep shade of purple, His vision growing fuzzy while his hearing only seemed to get more tuned in on the other mechs on the other side of the door. They had stopped looking like mechs to Bee, instead looking more like silhouettes with a pulsing spark in the middle and channeling Energon lines throughout their body. Bee’s feelings of anger and betrayal seemed to wash away as his vampiric side took advantage of his vulnerability and gained control. all he felt now was adrenaline and blood-lust, his Energon roaring in his audials. He was no longer Bumblebee, but a predator. and his prey had no clue of his presence yet.

“But Ratchet, what are you going to do if he..” optimus paused what he was saying as his audials picked up heavy breathing from the hallway. The atmosphere of the hall was off. “Is someone there?” No response was given to his question. It was eerie to say the least. Optimus stood and readied himself in a battle stance as small talons were seen visibly wrapping around the door and pushing it open. The Prime faltered however as he saw who was there. “Bee? What are you doing out there?” Ratchet stood up once he heard who it was, his expression shocked and guilty as he looked toward the minibot. He knew something was off immediately, Bee’s usual bright plating was a dull gray and his bright cyan blue optics were a deep rich purple. 

“Prime he’s-“ 

“I know. Get your EMP field generator ready. I’ll restrain him, you hit him with it yeah?” Ratchet seemed hesitant about using it but let out a shaky “yeah,” in response. Bumblebee snarled as he got into a pouncing stance, launching himself at Optimus. The Prime dodged the swipes of Bumblebee’s talons narrowly, the mini was so quick. Optimus grunted in pain as Bee managed to get a swipe in, his chassis now sporting large talon marks. That swipe, however, gave Optimus the upper hand, managing to grab his arm mid-swipe and tugging him forward and around so Bee’s backplates were facing him. Bumblebee hissed and struggled in the Prime’s hold like a rabid feral animal, kicking and trying to bite at him. Optimus tightened his grip a little and kicked Bumblebee’s peds out from under him, sending him to the ground and pinning his arm against his backplates with a servo. He used his knees to hold the rest of Bumblebee’s frame down to the ground. 

“Now Ratchet!” The medic took a deep breath to steel himself before aiming his EMP generator at Bumblebee. He shook slightly as he hesitated. All that he could see as he looked into Bee’s cold blood thirsty optics were the young fearful mechling he would patch up and comfort every cycle after harsh experiments. And another vision that haunted him just as vividly…The optics of Arcee as she begged him to use the very device he was holding on her. That hesitation ended up costing him however as Bee managed to reach his other claw around and slash Optimus in the thigh. The Prime yelled out in pain, his grip on Bee loosening enough for Bumblebee to start attempting to to push against Optimus’ frame and get away. “Ratchet please!” That seemed to be enough to spur Ratchet into action. The medic's expression hardened as he took steady aim at Bumblebee again.

“I’m sorry you had to find out this way kid..” This time, Ratchet didn’t hesitate as he fired the EMP generator at him. Bumblebee cried out in pain before going limp on the ground. Ratchet sighed, seeming to slip into a state of autopilot as he started caring for Bee like it was muscle memory. That same far away look as before taking over. Optimus just let him, getting up and giving Ratchet access to his patient. He watched and followed silently as Ratchet took Bee to the medical bay and laid him down on the medical berth. Ratchet began hooking Bee up to various machines and scanning him, muttering to himself under his breath as he went around the room gathering supplies. By the end of it, Bee was hooked up to a coolant and energon IV as well as a mask to make sure he was venting properly. Lots of cords and such were hooked to Bee’s vents and inserted into the ports on the minibots chassis. Optimus couldn’t help but think that this was.. excessive. The Prime decided to speak up once coming to that conclusion.

“Ratchet is all this necessary? You just knocked his systems offline, otherwise he should be ok.” He received no response from the medic as Ratchet sat down next to Bee and took the minibot’s small servo into his own. Optimus tried again to get his attention. Ratchet no doubt acting out his memories a little. It was like taking a glance into the medic’s processor and watching his memory banks like a holo-movie. It made Optimus a bit sick to his tanks that his dear friend was having to live through his worst memories so often. “Ratchet?” That seemed to get the medic’s attention, he glanced up at Optimus with a look of shock. It was as if Ratchet had forgotten he was even there. His optics for just a moment showed no recognition, like Ratchet had no clue who he was. But eventually his recognition software kicked in and Ratchet seemed himself again.

“Oh. Optimus.. did you say something?” Worry gripped Optimus’ spark.

“Yes um.. isn’t this a bit excessive? All you did was knock him offline.” Ratchet seemed confused by his question, glancing at Bee like he didn’t even remember he had treated him just a moment ago.

“Oh.. yes you're right Prime. I must have gotten carried away.” He said gruffly, the exhaustion obvious in his voice. He stood and started unhooking Bee from the machines, making sure he was able to vent on his own before disconnecting everything. The only thing he kept was a single cable hooked to Bee’s medical port so he could keep track of his basic code and see if there were any issues.

“Ratchet are.. Are you ok? You don’t seem all here right now. Why don’t you go rest. It’s been a very eventful night. I’ll keep an eye on Bumblebee.” Ratchet seemed uncomfortable with the thought of leaving Bumblebee, but he knew Optimus was right. This was affecting him too heavily right now. He was getting so caught up in his memories he had started living through them again. He glanced one last time at Bee. How could he possibly rest after tonight? Knowing that Bee not only knows but is rightfully angry with him made his spark constrict painfully with regret.

“Your right Prime.. I’ll try to get some rest. If anything happens or he wakes up, come get me,” he put a servo on Optimus’ arm, giving him a pleading look. “Please.”

Optimus nodded, patting Ratchet's shoulder with what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “I will Ratchet, don’t worry. If anything happens or he wakes up, you’ll be the first to know.” The medic nodded and went to his room to try and recharge. He hadn’t noticed till stepping in now, but his room reflected his feelings quite well right now. Messy, unkept.. ‘fitting.’ Ratchet thought to himself bitterly as he laid down in his berth. 

It had been hours since he had laid down but Ratchet was still wide awake. He tried desperately to get some rest but it seemed to elude him after what him and Optimus just witnessed and had to do. Ratchet hated using his EMP generator on his teammates-his friends. Guilt pulsed in his spark as he stared up at the ceiling of the plant. His overworked and exhausted processor was not able to get off the thought of Bumblebee. He heard everything.. What was he going to think of Ratchet now? Would he understand if Ratchet explained? ‘Probably not..’ he thought dejectedly. He thought what he was doing was right at the time. Bumblebee had changed and grown into a good Mech. Someone he could be proud of, even if the minibot had a habit of getting into trouble. If Ratchet hadn't accidentally corrupted Bee’s memories when he changed frames would Bee still be the same bot he is today? Would he still be the same sassy rambunctious bot ratchet had always known him to be if he remembered what they’ve done to him? Ratchet would like to think he would.. but he knew that was just his wishful thinking. Back then Bumblebee wasn’t what Ratchet considered stable or safe to be around by any means. He could still remember vividly the silence and cold emotionless stares Bee used to always have. His traumatized processor making him distant and fearful of anyone but himself. Ratchet didn’t know what changed, but one day the little mech started to put his trust in Ratchet. Bee had even grew a parental spark bond to Ratchet because he was the only adult who actually cared for him.

Just thinking about their bond made him grip his blanket hard as he inhaled sharply, the feeling of guilt all consuming. He felt sick…

the council treated Bumblebee like he was a completely different species. Some kind of rare specimen for them to gawk at poke at. They didn’t even feed him like a normal Mech. his feeding times just consisted of the council letting a prisoner from the stockade in so Bee could tear them apart and eat the inner Energon and scraps. Bee often ate like that, even in his normal state.. he was so used to killing that it didn’t seem to bother him anymore. He was a Mech turned creature after so much mistreatment from the council and science team. Ratchet could still remember those days like the backs of his servos. There was so much he wished he could go back and change, but it was too late now. 

-the past in the autobot science division labs- 

“Sir, are you sure this is a good idea to test on him? He’s still a new spark. Isn’t there a less.. harmful way of testing his abilities?” A younger Ratchet asked meekly. He was by no means scared of Ultra Magnus, but his job and his relevance as a medic was on the line. After all, if he were gone, who would be there to care for Omega Supreme?

“No. To tame these creatures we need to do this Ratchet.” His tone showed no room for argument as they looked into the padded room that housed subject B-127. The poor shuttle laid in his berth staring at the window where they were. He looked exhausted like he hadn’t been able to sleep that night. Ratchet felt a numbness in his shared bond with B-127. The poor mech was so used to this after so many vorns of torture that he no longer felt fear at the start of a new day. Just numbness..B-127 glanced over to the observation window on the other side of the padded sterile white room. He couldn’t see inside the observation deck, but Ratchet still shuddered as the large Decepticon Autobot hybrid's purple gaze seemed to stare straight through him. He felt exposed down to his spark in his gaze. And after finding out about his heightened senses, he probably could see down to his spark. He felt a small flicker of affection on B’s end, meaning he knew Ratchet was there watching. He sighed, trying to will any negativity he was feeling down and sent affection and concern into the bond. Ratchet felt assurance sent back, B-127 smiling softly as he sat up in bed. 

Ratchet turned to Ultra Magnus,“What did you have in mind today sir?” That made the Magnus smile. Not the kind or polite smile he usually wore when addressing his fellow Autobots- no this smile was far more sinister in nature. And what was even scarier was that he truly believed what he was doing was the best for all of cybertronian kind.

“We’ll be testing his vulnerability to different elements today. Wheeljack, send in the prisoner and the dark Energon.” Said scientist nodded and he and a couple others started getting things together. The couple of scientists dragged in a stockade prisoner from a containment chamber that was in the back of the lab while Wheeljack held a shard of dark Energon in his servo. The prisoner was in stasis cuffs, glancing around frantically and begging them not to do this. His pleas fell on deaf audials as everyone ignored him. To them, he was just another statistic. Another feast.

Wheeljack put in the code for B-127’s room and stepped in. The shuttle’s helm snapped over towards the door, His purple optics barren of any tells as to what he could possibly be thinking. Ratchet watched as Magnus pulled something small from his subspace. The medic gulped as he realized it was the remote to the subject's electric collar. He must have been leaking some of his feelings into the bond because B-127 sent for assurance into the bond. As if telling Ratchet that things would be ok..even if they both knew it wouldn’t. As Wheeljack and the two scientists carrying the prisoner came in, Ultra Magnus pressed a button on the switch panel in front of them, turning the speakers to the padded room on. 

“B-127, if you hurt these mechs as they are coming in you will be shocked. Do you understand?” The yellow hybrid looked back at the glass but didn’t respond. His optics were unreadable to anyone else, but Ratchet could see the gleam of hatred in his cold gaze. the feeling mirrored in their shared bond, Ratchet felt sick just feeling a fraction of the hatred B had for Ultra Magnus- no for all Autobots.

Ultra Magnus didn’t seem to like the silent treatment, sneering as he pressed the button on the remote. B-127 screamed out, his talons going to the collar as if to try and pry it off as electricity traveled through the uncomfortably heavy metal collar. He convulsed and seized in pain, his neck cabling sizzling slightly. Magnus only released the button once the test subject started weakly begging for it to stop, his vox hoarse. Magnus spoke again, his tone stern. Daring the hybrid to ignore him again. “Do you understand B-127?” 

The hybrid snarled, baring his sharp denta and fangs as his large engine roared, making the room tremble with its force. He may not have been a big one, but he was still a shuttle. B-127’s voice was like ice as he finally spoke. Ratchet could tell the bot didn’t speak often and being injured didn’t help. His voice scratchy and weak as he responded. “Understood..sir.” Ratchet was almost positive the only individual the shuttle actively spoke to was him. 

And with that promise, Wheeljack and the other two came into the room. B-127 scooted further back in his berth, no doubt terrified of them. Ratchet couldn’t help the way his spark ached seeing him like this, feeling B’s fear in the bond. It was visceral and sickening and Ratchet felt like he was about to purge. He was so young.. he didn’t deserve this! He wouldn’t even be like this if it weren’t for these horrible experiments! It made Ratchet's Energon boil to witness. Wheeljack approached the young Mech carefully, making sure to be slow and always stay in his line of sight so he didn’t spook the young Mechling. The other two let go of the prisoner and stepped back out of the room, leaving wheeljack to do the last bit of preparation. 

“Now..B-127, I don’t wanna have to use force on ya. Are you gonna do this for us? Or are we gonna have a fight like last time? You know how it’ll end don’t ya? You don’t want Ratchet to come back in here and have to fix you do ya?” Wheeljack spoke in a soft tone, trying to not set the hybrid off by being too aggressive. The poor Mech was so easily spooked that anything stressful seemed to set him off. B-127 sniffled as he frantically shook his helm, voice small and pleading. 

“N-no please.. I’ll be good..” his large talons that usually seemed so dangerous trembled as they instinctively went to his neck where the collar was, scorch marks and bubbled up plating already covered the black cables. Wheeljack nodded, sighing sadly as he handed the other the shard of dark Energon. He knew just as well as Ratchet how horrible what they were doing was.

“Good. I don’t want ya gettin’ shocked anymore today.” He stepped back and headed towards the door, getting out before things started to get ugly. B-127 trembled as he held the shard, his plating tight against his protoform and EMP field broadcasting his fear for everyone to feel. Ultra Magnus pressed the speaker button again with a scowl on his face. “Do it hybrid. Now.” B-127 jumped as he heard the speaker flair to life, his fear morphing into panic and stress as he started to shake more, his plating rattling. Ratchet had to turn his helm and cover his intake as his tanks churned, threatening to bring the Energon he hurriedly drank this morning to come up. He sent B-127 as much comfort as he could before closing his end of the bond. He wouldn’t be able to stomach this experiment if he didn’t, B-127 too scared to try and keep his feelings from spilling into their connection.

With reluctance, B-127 finally did as told despite not wanting to do it. He held the shard firmly in both servos, aiming it for his chassis before lifting up and then back down with one swift movement. Crying out in pain as he stabbed himself with the shard. His frame reacted to the dark Energon immediately, B-127’s body went limp and plopped back down onto his berth. His vents heaved and rattled with more effort than normal as his paint dulled in color. He struggled and cried in pain as the shard seemed to liquify in his chassis, slipping into the puncture and his transformation seams. His Energon lines felt like they were on fire and his circuitry melted from the inside out as he continued to struggle and scream out in pain. Ultra Magnus pressed the speaker button again, this time addressing the prisoner.

“If you want your freedom you’ll do as told, con.” That was a lie however, Ultra Magnus and everyone observing and taking notes knew there was no chance of the prisoner surviving this experiment. This sick game Magnus had B-127 play every day was just to keep the stockade prisoner numbers down to make room for more. The prisoner growled with a defeated, “fine!” And pulled out a small dagger. He held it to his Servo and cut open his palm, his Energon spilling from the wound and down his arm onto the floor below.

Ratchet watched in horror as B-127 went still in his berth, slowly sitting up with eerie silence. His optics that were lifeless just a moment ago clicking back on. He got up from his spot on his berth, his posture abnormal and stiff as he looked towards the prisoner. Said Mech started to panic as he noticed the other had finally seen him. “O-oh slag.. hey! Get me out of here! If getting my freedom means being around him like this then I don’t want it!” He ran to the door, banging on it frantically while glancing back at B-127 who hadn’t moved an inch. “PLEASE! HE’S GOING TO KILL ME!!” he banged harder, even trying to use his shoulder plating to bust his way out. It sadly wasn’t working well for him, everyone observing seemed to hold a collective vent waiting for the inevitable. B-127’s engine screeching and whining loudly, the grating noise the only sound heard. Everything else was silent, but it soon quieted as well. There was a moment where no one moved, or vented- everything was still.

What broke the silence was B-127. He moved like a flash of yellow lighting zipping across the room towards the prisoner. One moment he was near his bed, the next he stood behind the prisoner, looming over him as he grabbed the other by the shoulder plates and sunk his claws in. B-127 wasn’t as bulky as the other, but was certainly taller. The other’s bulk however didn’t seem to matter to the vampirabot as he tossed the prisoner to the floor like a rag doll. The prisoner attempted to scramble away but B-127 was too quick, slamming a ped down on his back to keep him in place with a loud clang. The vampirabot smirked as he leaned down, hooking his talons under the prisoner's helm and moving it up so his neck cabling was exposed. B-127 wasted no time in sinking his talons into his neck and slicing. Energon spraying forward onto the floor as the prisoners frame began to gray. B-127 was silent, calculated in his movements as he began ripping the body apart, starting with his helm and arms. His hunger felt insatiable and the smell of Energon intoxicating to him as he sank his teeth into one of the others arms. He locked his jaw and tugged, a chunk coming with. He licked his derma plating clean of Energon with his forked glossa as he chewed hard plating and wiring down into a swallowable size.

Ratchet couldn’t watch anymore, turning away from the window as his tank churned in disgust. Not at B-127, but at the council and Ultra Magnus for putting him into this position and letting this happen. That prisoner didn’t deserve to die just because he was a con..just like B-127 didn’t deserve to be some sick experiment just because he was a hybrid. He was interrupted from his thoughts as Ultra Magnus barked another order.

“Alright that’s enough. He’s had his fill. Go in and test his vulnerability.” All the scientists stopped taking notes and glanced at each other, no one really wanting to be the one to do it. “Well? Is anyone going to do as I said or should I pick some Mech myself?” Silence followed after that, no one willing to step up despite his threat. No one wanted to be in the same building as the test subject, let alone in the same room. Magnus’ patience seemed to finally thin completely. He picked a scientist at random, promising that he’ll be rewarded if he did this order and did it right. Wheeljack gave the scientist a blaster with different settings on it. Fire, Ice, acid, and a normal laser setting.

The scientist that was picked entered the code to B-127’s room, trying to enter the room as quietly as possible so he didn’t draw the vampirabot’s attention. It seemed to work, B-127 seeming none the wiser as he continued to feast on the prisoners corpse. The scientist aimed the blaster at his back, setting it to the fire setting. He pulled the trigger, a spray of flames flooding out of the barrel and onto B-127’s backplates. The vampirabot hissed in pain, standing to his full height and tried to back away from the flame, his plating warping and buckling in places. Loud Sizzling could be heard as the smell of the shuttle’s burning frame filled the room. The flame even managed to melt through his plating, leaving holes that showed peaks of inner circuitry. B-127 screamed in agony, the sound reverberating throughout the lab. his vents heaving and sputtering as the flame finally stopped. He growled weakly and tried to pounce at the scientist while he was switching the setting of his blaster. But before he could, his collar came to life and electrocuted him to give the scientist more time. Once the scientist had gotten it switched and focused back on B-127, his collar switched off leaving the shuttle venting hard as condensation collected on his damaged plating and his cooling fans clicked onto the highest setting to cool him off.

The next setting the scientist used against him was ice. He shot a beam of ice at B-127, freezing him all the way to his shoulders. His heated frame came into contact with the cold making his plating sizzle painfully as it quickly cooled, steam rising from him. B-127 struggled to get free but didn’t seem to have any luck. The poor Mech looked so pained to the point of extreme exhaustion, his helm lowering as he gave up struggling. Only to flinch back to alertness as the other Mech in the room used the flame setting to start thawing him out. He turned it to the third setting and waited as B-127 broke free completely from the ice. instead of going on the offense and trying to attack however, the vampirabot backed away and into a corner trying to curl in on himself to look as small as possible. The scientist was very thrown off by this sudden reaction. 

“Um sir? What should I do?” He looked to the window, and waited for a response from the speakers. 

“I didn’t tell you to stop. Shoot him. We need the results.” 

“But sir.. he’s not hostile. This next one is acid. Wouldn’t it be wrong to shoot at him when he isn’t a threat anymore and already injured? We could always do the next test tomorrow when he’s fixed.” 

“He will always be a threat! He’s a threat to Autobots everywhere! I don’t want to wait until tomorrow. I want the results now! Shoot him!” With a loud bang that reverberated throughout the lab, Ultra Magnus slammed the pole of his hammer down. Everyone in the room jumped in surprise at their leader's actions. It was very rare for them to see Ultra Magnus lose his cool. Whenever that happened, it was obvious he meant business and no one dared cross him.

“Ultra Magnus sir please reconsider..If he gets too badly damaged you won’t be able to test him for a few cycles. He can heal on his own, but it’s not that fast or that strong.” Ratchet spoke quietly after their leaders outburst. Ultra Magnus turned to him, smiling politely but it didn’t meet his optics. The knuckles of his servo holding his hammer tinted pink from how tight his grip was. He spoke in a strained and tight tone, venom in his words. 

“That’s why you’re here, isn't it Ratchet? To fix him after these tests? I trust in your skills. After all.. you are the CMO aren’t you?”And with that, he turned back and gave the order to shoot, again. The scientist complied, not wanting to face Ultra Magnus's wrath if he disobeyed despite this feeling utterly morally wrong.

“I’m sorry..” he mumbled as he aimed and shot at B-127 with the acid bullet. B-127 screamed in agony, tears in his optics as he scrambled to try and get the acid off of his plating. The acid ate through his frame painfully, dissolving some of his armor and wings into a melting bubbling mess as pieces of him started to fall off, leaving the vampirabot mostly barred to his protoform by the time the acid completely dissolved away. ‘This.. this is so fragged..’ Ratchet thought as he watched everything unfold from the observation window. He couldn’t stand to let this go on any longer. He wouldn’t let this go on longer. He had to do something about this.

”NO MORE! I’m pulling the plug! As your lead CMO I demand you pause this experiment and let me treat him!” He glared daggers at Ultra Magnus, his engine revving and growling angrily. his servos clenched and trembling with rage as he stormed past him, not even waiting for a response. He pressed a button on the switch panel, making the observation window go dark and the speakers cut off so these sick fraggers wouldn’t bother him while he treated B-127. He rushed to the door of the padded room and punched in the code. “OUT!” He yelled at the scientist who seemed just as freaked out by the situation as Ratchet and every other Mech in the room seemed by these events. You’d think they’d all be used to it by now but they never were.

He scurried out in a hurry, closing the door on his way out. Ratchet sighed and looked over at the shuttle, concern enveloped his spark as he saw the state the poor hybrid was in. The Mech was almost entirely stripped of his armor, what was left was melted to his protoform. His servos partially melted from trying to get the acid off of him. He had scorch marks and warped bubbled up plating with holes that shows his inner circuitry. He sobbed loudly in pain, seeing Ratchet and weakly reached out for him like a Mechling would their carrier or sire. He felt his spark constrict in his chassis painfully. Ratchet felt like crying too after seeing him that way. He opened their bond back up, suddenly overwhelmed with so many feelings from B-127. Disgust, anger, fear, sadness, and what hurt his spark most- hopelessness. 

Ratchet almost gagged as the smell of burning plating filled his olfactory receptors. The stench was horrible.. and he just let it happen. He should have been more insistent with how insane and downright evil these tests were. He should have fought more against Ultra Magnus’ orders, even if it costed him his job. This was just too much.. 

The shuttle weakly tried looking up as Ratchet rushed towards him, the poor bot was barely able to move his helm let alone look up. B-127 cautiously watched as Ratchet sat down in front of him, his purple optics flickering on and off occasionally. Distrust coming from his side of the bond, but Ratchet buried it in comfort, love, and safety. hoping it would help ease the poor injured mech’s worries.

Ratchet’s expression was soft..open and full of guilt as he started pulling out his medical supplies from his subspace. Ratchet's voice was tender, soothing to B-127’s audials as he spoke. “I’m not gonna hurt ya kid..you know me. It’s Ratchet. I just wanna make you feel better. Will ya let me? I know.. it’s hard to trust after what they’ve done to you But I promise you B, the last thing i want is to hurt you.” He gently reached his hand out but waited. “Is it ok if I touch you? I won’t hurt you, cross my spark.” B-127 hesitantly nodded his consent for Ratchet to treat him, relaxing his body out of its previous defensive position. The distrust and worry in the bond slowly fading.

There was silence for a moment as Ratchet got to work treating the hybrid's injuries and hooking him up to the medical machines against the wall by his berth. Ratchet thought it was sad that they had to have these machines here due to the lack of care for the shuttle’s well-being. He shook his helm and was about to put a ventilation mask on B-127 when he heard it. A small, weak voice asked him a question.

“Why are you always so nice a-and take care of me..? Everyone else hates me,” tears filled his optics, deep rooted hurt in his gaze. “They all only See me as some monster that needs to be tamed and kept under lock and key.. but your soft and warm.. I always feel safe around you.” Ratchet stilled in his treatment for a moment as he let those words sink in. When these tests started, It didn’t take Ratchet long to realize he had become the shuttle’s main caregiver. every other doctor was too scared to interact with B-127. Ratchet was the only one that seemed to actually care for B-127 as an individual. He had always felt for his patients- always wanted the best for them, but this was different. Something other than his own morals was telling him to help this mech. He didn’t know what- maybe the all-spark was speaking to him. He truthfully didn’t care what it was. whether it was the all-spark or their familial bond. Whatever it was, told him to save this Mechling from this Pit-forsaken lab and give him a better chance at life and He’d give his spark to protect B-127 and let that happen. 

“You deserve kindness B. You’re no different from them.. you never were different. Don’t let their bigoted ways get to ya. You deserve freedom and a normal life just like they do. They’re just scared of what you’re capable of because you’re part con, But they don’t know and don’t want to think about you being capable of good too. You’re not a bad Mech by any means.. just need some proper love and care instead of being shocked and tortured.” He spoke as he worked, managing to close up any holes and take off the melted armor. He’d have to make armor from scratch to replace it.

Once B-127 was completely patched up and hooked to the steadily beeping machines, he scooted closer to Ratchet and wrapped his arms around the CMO in a hug. The medic was slightly startled by the sudden contact but soon relaxed and hugged him back. Holding the other close to his spark, love swelling in their bond from both of them. B-127 pressed his faceplate to the older bots chassis and sniffled. “W-will you please stay with me Ratchet? At least until I fall into recharge. ” Ratchet looked down at the other. He seemed so small now, huddled up to the old medic and looking up at him like a Mechling would their father. Big purple optics full of tears and hope that he would say yes. How could he possibly say no to that.

“Of course kiddo..” he released the shuttle and stood, his joints creaking and groaning slightly with the movement. He gently took B-127’s servos and helped him up. Ratchet lifted his arm up and around his helm, using his body to support the shuttle as they shuffled to his berth. Ratchet sat him down and helped him get into a comfortable spot, but B-127 scooted over, insisting that the medic lay down with him. He finally agreed with an affectionate huff and a roll of his optics. He acted annoyed but truthfully, he would have ended up laying down with him anyway. He always did.

He got comfortable in a sitting position, giving the others backplate a gentle pat as the shuttle wrapped his arms around the medic, getting comfortable. Ratchet stroked digits up and down the spot on the others back between his wings and thrusters. A soothing technique he had learned about while brushing up on flier culture in books he managed to find that thankfully hadn’t been destroyed or changed. They sat there in silence, Ratchet internally counting the seconds as B-127 slowly started to doze off. Soon he was fast asleep, venting in and out slowly against the other and his large engine purring with content. The vibrations traveling through his frame from how powerful it was. Ratchet gave himself a few more moments of enjoying getting to hold the other and keep him safe for just a little longer, preparing himself mentally for having to once again leave him.

Once he was sure the shuttle was fast asleep, he slowly unwrapped his arm and replaced his spot with the little stuffed toy he had given the mech when he was just a young sparkling. He leaned down and kissed his helm before making his way to the door. Ratchet had a plan brewing in his processor. A plan to get B-127 out of that Pitscape of a lab. 

-the next day-

Ratchet got to the labs early. He hadn’t slept all night cycle because he was planning a way to help B-127 escape. He didn’t even greet anyone as he went to the padded room that B-127 was in, typing in the code and going in. The shuttle was still sound asleep in the berth, his arms and peds strewn every which way. Part of his blanket and the stuffed animal Ratchet had given him had long since been abandoned on the floor. The old medic couldn't help but chuckle as he stepped closer, managing to get halfway through the room before B-127 woke up. His frame tensed as he sat up, always on alert even when sleeping. No doubt his sensors having picked up Ratchet within close proximity “W-who's there- oh Ratchet.. You're here?” he rubbed his optics and yawned, relaxing back against his berth and wincing as he agitated his injuries. 

“I have some good news you’re going to want to hear kiddo.” B-127 raised an optical ridge in confusion. Ratchet reached into his subspace with a big smirk that was bordering on a grin. He pulled out a bunch of papers and laid them down on the part of the berth that B-127 wasn't occupying. On the papers were a lot of schematics and what seemed to be a step-by-step plan for something, but the shuttle couldn't read any of it. The council didn't bother teaching him things like reading or writing. 

“What is all this? What does it say? What's the good news?” The large shuttle bombarded Ratchet with questions, his big purple optics curiously scanning over the schematics. “Is this a drawing? I wanna draw!” he smiled excitedly, earning a laugh from Ratchet. 

“No no these are schematics B. I've come up with a plan to get you out of here and a way to disguise you later.” B-127’s smile dropped and morphed into a horrified expression, their bond filling with fear that bordered in painful. The feeling prickly and sickening, making Ratchets tank churn and twist in knots.

“W-what?! No! They'll find out a-and hurt you and hurt me a-and I'll never be able to see you again!” he started to cry, pushing the papers away and hiding his faceplate in his knee guards. Ratchet sighed heavily. He knew B would react this way. It was a very valid response and could very well happen, but Ratchet was willing to try. He couldn't live like this anymore and he wouldn't let B-127 live like this either. He sent comfort and assurance to their shared bond. 

“B.. You know I wouldn't let that happen. You trust me right?” his tone was soft and sincere, reaching a servo up and gently lifting his helm so the other would look at him. He wiped his tears away and gave him the best reassuring smile he could muster. B-127 hesitantly nodded, sniffling as he moved his knees away from his chassis. “Good. You know I’d never do anything that could put you in danger right? This is so you won't have to be in danger anymore.” 

Ratchet spread the papers back out again and pointed to the step-by-step part of his plans. “I know you can't read this so I'll read it for ya. How we're going to do this is you're going to stop eating,” B-127 gave him a skeptical look, knowing that never really ends well usually. “I'm going to tell Ultra Magnus that because of yesterday's test, I'll be giving you energon through an IV tube but I'm not actually going to do that. We're going to wait until your plating greys, then I'm going to put you in stasis lock so you appear dead when in actuality, you're not. I've already filled in my other medical staff and the mechs that work in the morgue,” B-127 nodded along with him, listening intently, “We're going to pretend you died from your injuries and I'm going to sneak you out of the morgue and into my hab suit later tonight.” 

“What happens after that?” the shuttle asked, looking over at the schematics that looked like different parts of a frame drawn in overly detailed dimensions. 

“Well.. You'll be hiding out in my hab suit until I have your new frame ready to go.” B-127 perked up at that, giving him a quizzical look, but Ratchet could see a gleam in his optics that was full of excitement and life. Something Ratchet hadn't seen from the mech since he was a sparkling. 

“Will I be able to go outside after that?” He asked, his smile wide and hopeful and his frame practically vibrating with barely contained excitement. Ratchet couldn't help but smile fondly at the other. Soon he'd get to see this look every day. His spark warmed with love. He loved this little mech with all his spark and he'd do anything to protect this smile. 

“Of course B..” 

-back to the present- 

Ratchet awoke with a start, his venting heavy as he glanced frantically around the room. Huh..Must have fallen into recharge. His comm frequency buzzed to life, no doubt the culprit that had woken him up. Optimus’ voice could be heard on the other line, Ratchet moved to respond. 

“Ratchet. Bee is waking up. Sorry to wake you.” his voice was calm but Ratchet could hear the stress and exhaustion in his tone. 

“On my way,” he grumbled tiredly, rubbing his optics as he climbed out of berth. His old joints creaked and groaned as he got up with a grunt. He could feel the bond stirring with emotion, never staying on one for too long. He made his way out of the room and back into the medbay. What he saw when he got in was about what he expected. Bumblebee was up and standing on the berth, his frame in a defensive stance but Ratchet could see the way his frame shook. He was very angry and scared. Ratchet didn't blame him for feeling that way. Bee had his stingers out and threatened to blast Optimus if he got any closer, Ratchet knew it was just a bluff but Optimus wasn't taking any chances so he kept his distance as he tried his best to calm Bee down. When Bee saw Ratchet enter, his normally round pupils thinned to slits as he growled. Ratchet's spark ached with hurt, but he ignored it. He deserved this. Their shared bond flooded with anger and betrayal from Bumblebee. 

“YOU! You're going to tell me everything Ratchet! No lies this time!” he demanded, pointing a stinger at him. His other still pointed at Optimus. At this point, both bulkhead and prowl were woken up by the noise. Walking in from the medbay's main entrance. 

“What's going on?” bulkhead questioned, worriedly glancing between Bee, Ratchet, and Optimus. Bee answered before either of the older bots could respond. 

“THEY LIED TO ME ABOUT EVERYTHING! Were you guys in on it? Did you guys know?” Bee asked in an accusatory tone, his expression full of suspicion. Both prowl and bulkhead shook their helms, both having pretty genuine expressions on their faceplates. That bit of knowledge made Bee feel some better, the mini nodded with a sigh. He looked back at Ratchet with a glare, pointing from him to the chair beside the berth. “Start explaining. The truth this time!” Ratchet sat down, not even bothered by the stinger pointed at him. Ratchet reached out to try to calm Bee down, to hold his servo- give some kind of physical comfort to the young bot, but Bee backed up more while looking at Ratchet like his servo was coated in acid. He sighed and dropped it, wringing his servos together in his lap.

“Where would I even start.. There's so much to tell..” 

“The beginning. When I was a sparkling.” Ratchet sighed and ran a servo down his faceplate, looking centuries older now that he had to bear his spark to everyone.

“Your carrier and sire had given ya to the council when you were just a sparkling. Your sire was an autobot military muscle car. He had left when you were sparked, not wanting the responsibility of raising a hybrid sparkling apparently. At least.. That's what your carrier said. They were a Decepticon shuttle just like you, but much bigger. Your carrier resented you..” Ratchet’s expression soured at the memory of them. “They said they didn't, but I could see it in their optics when they looked at you.. I hated seeing that look. Made me want to punch it off their faceplate. You didn't deserve that. You were,” Ratchet couldn't help but chuckle slightly as he recalled Bumblebee as a bright sassy and extremely adventurous sparkling.

”you were a handful. The good kind. For a few years, the council let me take care of you. you stayed with me in my hab suit and went to work with me,” he was smiling, but it quickly faded as he moved on to what Bee was really wanting to hear. “After those few years though..you were able to walk and speak simple sentences, so the council decided you were ready to start testing.. You were just a normal hybrid back then. The first test was seeing how you'd react to dark Energon..That's what made you into a vampirabot, and it was your first time frenzying. The scientists and medical staff weren't prepared at all- There were a lot of injuries and a few deaths that day.. That's when Magnus decided to put a shock collar on you so you’d behave if this ever happened again.” Ratchet’s servos shook in his lap as he spoke, everyone, Bee included, was quiet as they listened. Bee himself was sitting down on the medical berth now, stingers forgotten and turned back into his servos as they instinctively went to his neck when Ratchet mentioned the collar. 

“I begged him not to. that they didn't need to hurt you just to get results..but he was too stuck in his ways. Too scared to give you a chance and see you as the brilliant little bot I saw you as. He only saw you as a resource. As something to use and break whenever he felt like.. And I was too scared of losing my job and losing you, to fight back. I let it happen. I let them break you and hurt you over and over day after day for their precious test results. I've had to treat you for getting your limbs sliced off, getting crushed, shot, stabbed, beaten, burned, poisoned, shocked, and melted.. Everything they could test on you they did. There was no protection for You.. The most I could do was hold you and comfort you when I could..they wouldn't even feed you like a normal mech. They let stockade prisoners into your cell and let you kill them. You used to need them bleeding to feed but after a while you started killing them on your own without losing control.” he glanced up at Bee, looking into his optics. Bee was in tears, his blue optics wide with disgust and fear and so many different emotions Ratchet couldn't place, Bee’s EMP field reflecting much the same emotions as his watery optics. Ratchet looked away quickly in shame, not able to bear looking Bee in the optics anymore.

 “Eventually I got sick and tired of watching them hurt you.. It was too much. The last test they did on you was for vulnerability. At least that's what Ultra Magnus said, but I think it was really his way of torturing you for existing. He knew you wouldn't be able to handle it just like any other mech, but he didn't care. He had a scientist burn you, then freeze you just to watch your plating sizzle.. Then corroded your armor with acid..” Bumblebee stiffened at that, remembering the corrupted file that popped into his HUD earlier. his small frame trembling as his plating shrunk painfully against his frame, making a rattling noise as it squeezed his protoform. He scrambled off the berth and to the nearest trash can, purging his tanks. The others watched, all with disturbed and horrified expressions. Even Prowl’s normal stoicism was contorted in disgust.

“T-the council and Ultra Magnus did all that..?” bulkhead questioned, looking sick to his tanks as well. Ratchet simply nodded, bulkhead seemed even more sickened by that response, his claws wringing together nervously. 

Bee sat up once he was done heaving, glaring weakly at Ratchet as he wiped his intake. “Continue. What about you hiding my memories?” he went back to the medical berth and hopped back up. Ratchet felt his spark do somersaults in his chassis as he continued, condensation collecting on his plating. 

“Right..” he sighed and continued on, “I had enough after that and helped you escape. You stayed in my hab suit again until I could build another frame. The one you’re currently in. When I was transferring your spark and processor to the new one, your memories got corrupted in the transfer. So when you woke up, You didn’t remember anything that happened, all you knew was that you and I were close. I.. I should have told you. I know that now.. But at the time I thought it was great. You could grow up like a normal mech and make friends and be happy.. I didn't want THIS hanging over your helm all the time. But I realize now that wasn't my choice to make and.. I'm sorry Bee..” he looked up again finally and met Bumblebee’s optics. There was understanding in them but the hurt and betrayal was still there.

“Yeah Ratchet it wasn't your choice to make..how could you do that? I trusted you! You were the only mech I could trust and you fragged with my processor just like they did and you think sorry will get me to forgive you so easily?!” Bee got up, his EMP field full of anguish as he pulled it in tightly against his frame, he slammed their bond closed so hard Ratchet physically flinched. Bee had tears streaming down his faceplate as he went to the storage part of the medbay, grabbing as many bags of Energon as he could fit in his subspace before storming out, Optimus calling after him.

“Bumblebee, wait! Where are you going?!” He ran after him but he was inevitably too slow for the vampirabot as Bee transformed and drove out and into the open streets of Detroit.

“Let him go Prime.. He needs to process all of this his own way. He'll come back when he's ready..” Ratchet tiredly patted the Prime’s shoulder plating, the fire truck sighed and placed his hand over Ratchet’s. Optimus turned to Bulkhead and Prowl who stood behind them and watched as Bee left. Prowl had his same stoic expression again but the way his visor was dimmed gave his expression a feeling of sadness. Bulkhead however was more open about his feelings. Worry etched into his features. 

“He’s gonna be ok right boss-bot? H-he’ll be back right? What if the cons find him a-and try to take advantage of him?” Ratchet turned at that, his expression and field tired but he held a sternness in his optics. 

“He might be vulnerable right now but Bumblebee isn’t stupid. He’d never let that happen. He’ll be ok.” Ratchet said that to ease the two young bots fears, but Ratchet himself wasn’t so sure. He trusted Bee knew right from wrong but after everything he’s heard about what the Autobot council has done to him, he doubted Bee would want anything to do with the faction after this. Not that Ratchet blamed him.. he just hoped the Decepticons don’t find him and take advantage of that hatred. ‘Does Bumblebee hate me now?’ The thought popped into Ratchet's processor without warning, making his spark constrict. He hated the thought.. but he’d understand if that was the case. He just had to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. That was all he could do anymore.. 

Bumblebee drove as fast as his frame would let him, the streets of Detroit thankfully empty this early in the morning, The sun not even risen yet. He drove as fast as his frame would take him, until the city lights and buildings faded and gave way to thick forest. branches and brambles hit his alt-mode and left small hairline scratches, but Bee didn't care. He was unaware that in his hurry, he attracted unwanted attention from a certain Decepticon. The purple jet grew an interest in where the little Autobot was going in such a rush. Bee heard the distant sound of turbines but paid it no mind. He didn’t really care at the moment, his processor too full to focus on anything else. 

Bee kept driving on until he got to a clearing deep in the woods, the moon shining down and lighting up an old warehouse in an almost ethereal glow that seemed to draw Bee in. The old structure stood tall in the middle of the clearing, nature had taken its hold on the old structure, vines and brambles all over it as if it were under a possessive hold. Bee couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the old structure. He supposed it was just like him in a way, harmed by outside forces to the point of its structure weakening over time. Bee sniffled as he walked over to it, pulling on the large rusty handles and opening the doors with a loud creeaaak. dust and dirt went everywhere in the open air, making Bee cough as it got in his vents. He trudged inside and looked around. The warehouse was mostly empty, only some boxes scattered around the structure. It wasn’t the biggest place, not nearly as big as the plant but it would have to do for now. Bee moved the boxes into place like a makeshift berth and sat down. 

Now that he was alone and not running around to avoid his team, his processor finally caught up with him. It took him a moment to truly process everything, remembering everything Ratchet had told him as he looked at his Autobot brand. The red that he used to think was the symbol of good, was now tainted. He dreamed of being an elite guard for the very faction that used him like some kind of play thing. A pawn in their sick little games..Bee felt like purging all over again. He felt used.. violated. But mostly he just felt disgust with himself. Why was he feeling this way about himself? He didn’t do anything wrong! Right? He wasn’t at fault..was he? Maybe.. maybe if he didn’t exist, if he wasn’t sparked, things would be different.. his bottom lip quivered as his optics began flooding with tears all over again. He broke down, sobbing loudly as he buried his face in his servos. So many emotions went through his spark as he cried and cried. Hopelessness, sadness, fear, betrayal.. It finally stopped on the feeling of intense anger. The minibot growled as he uncovered his faceplate, cheek ridges covered in tear tracks and flushed pink with puffiness as he looked down at his Autobot brand. With shaking servos he began to claw and tear at his brand, trying desperately to get it off. “get off!! GET OFF!!” he wailed, slumping in his spot as he gave up, looking down at his dark Energon-stained servos. He was so distracted he didn't hear the distant sound of a jet getting closer.

Bee was so exhausted mentally, he wanted desperately to just go to sleep but he had to clean this off first.. His tanks churned in discomfort as he looked at the deep violet blood that stained his chassis and servos. He staggered to his peds, only to stop in his tracks as he noticed a shadow was casted over him. He slowly turned to see Blitzwing in the doorway of the warehouse, his faceplate set to his random personality. 

“Found you little buggy~” He reached in and grabbed Bee by the waist, pulling him out of the warehouse as he cackled. He was about to continue teasing him more when he saw the vicious purple liquid that stained his frame. Blitzwing switched back to icy as he took in the site of the upset Autobot. He raised an eyebrow ridge and dropped him. “You look pathetic. Easier to crush you under my ped I suppose.” He lowered his canons to take aim at the little yellow pest. Bee growled angrily and retracted his servos, his stingers replacing them. 

“Oh yeah? Go ahead and try it, bolts for brains!” He took aim at the bigger mech, shooting lighting bolt after lightning bolt at him. They didn’t seem to have much of an effect however, Bee only getting more frustrated. ‘Maybe if I were in my shuttle frame I’d actually stand a chance! Thanks Ratchet!’ Bee thought bitterly as he instead switched to his claws. At least he’d be able to leave some damage with these. Blitzwing switched to his random persona as he was shot, cackling hysterically as the bolts did little but scorch his plating a little. 

“How pathetic can you get, bug? First you're crying like some little sparkling and now you can’t even defend yourself properly?! This is almost too easy!“ he cackled again, shooting flames Bumblebee’s way. The Mech in question seemed to freeze for a moment, a look of horror on his face as he watched the flame come towards him. That confused Blitzwing quite a bit. Why wasn’t he moving? What is wrong with him? He’s crying and his chest is all clawed up and he’s covered in blood.. Blitzwing almost felt.. bad for attacking him? Now this was just awkward.. What if he hit the little pest and he started crying again? That would be weird.. 

Bee couldn’t help but freeze as he saw the flame barreling towards him, his processor filling with static again as ghost pain of burning flooded his frame. He remembered what Ratchet said about the last experiment they had done on him. Burned him then froze him.. he felt sick to his tanks at the fact the Mech in front of him had both of those abilities. It made his protoform crawl. He hated the feeling this memory brought just like the first one had, but was thankful for it in the moment- the pain helping him snap out of the shock he was in and allowing him to roll to the side to avoid the flame. He grimaced and cried out a little in pain as he rode out the effects of yet again another corrupted memory. It wasn’t as vivid as the one before, mostly just a feeling instead of a visual feed like before. He figured it was because when the memory occurred he wasn’t exactly himself. He never remembered much when it came to his vampiric side. He ignored the burning sting in his plating as best he could, feeling like his sensory net was melting from the inside out. “T-that all you got? C-cmon!” He gritted his teeth and egged him on, not even caring if he got hurt anymore. If he was going to die, he’d die in style fighting a con. Blitzwing, however, seemed unsure now. his field held tight to his frame as his canons raised from their offensive stance.

“You're..acting differently. usually you’re all smiles and jokes and sass. What's gotten under your plating?” He switched to Hothead who exhaled hot air from his plating as his cheek ridges burned a slight pink. “Not that I care of course!” He remedied his statement and cleared his vocalizer, switching back to icy to keep his neutral uncaring facade up. He didn't care! He was curious. That was all and nothing more.

“It's none of your business Blitz-Bitch!” Bumblebee snarled, but the quivering of his bottom derma plating gave away that he was barely holding in the mess of emotions that was in his spark and processor.

There was another loud click whir as he switched back to hothead, huffing in annoyance. “Then fight me already, bug! You keep acting weird and it’s throwing me off!“ Bumblebee gasped and sputtered like he was offended by the statement, his brow ridges creasing in anger.

“UGH! I’m trying to fight but you keep holding back! You're a big bad con right? Stop holding back on me! Not like I’m good for anything else besides getting beaten up, pushed around, and experimented on by the people I thought I could trust and fight for!” Bee tried to act tough but his frame was shaking and his optics were watery again. ‘Fragging damnit! Stop crying!’ Bee pleaded with himself. He hated showing so much vulnerability around Blitzwing, his enemy, but after everything, it was so difficult for him to control it. Due to his own inner turmoil however, He didn’t see Blitzwing react to a part of what he said.

Blitzwing’s optics behind his visor raised slightly at the word experiment. With a flood of unwanted emotions, It made him recall his own sickening experience with blackarachnia and her own little experiments on him. He tried to brush it off and stay mad, hold onto his anger. But it didn’t work as well as he had hoped, feeling his other personalities trying to take over.

“O-ok this is too weird. Are we fighting or not?” Hothead finally lost the fight and switched to random, his jagged grin wide with merth as he cackled but it wasn’t the normal laugh. It was uncomfortable in nature and something in Blitzwing’s optics showed a bit of fear in them, his plating visibly tightening against his protoform. It was like he was trying to pretend things hadn’t just gotten too real for him too quickly.

“I just came to kick aft not be your therapist, little buggy!” Blitzwing didn't know how to react truthfully, Blitzwing’s processor lagged and his energon felt like it was running cold at the mention of experimentation; He felt overwhelmed and disoriented as his HUD pushed unpleasant memory files to the forefront of his scrambled processor. This situation had gotten way out of hand for Blitzwing, and the little Autobot was clearly too unstable in his own processor to pull himself together.

Bumblebee huffed in annoyance as Blitzwing didn’t say anything more or take any action to fight after that. He stood stock still in the doorway of the warehouse. “What? That’s all you have to-“ Blitzwing stepped back from the doorway suddenly and activated his thrusters, sufficiently drowning out the sound of the annoying Bug’s talking, hiccuping, and failed attempts at keeping his sobbing under control. The Decepticon transformed and flew off as fast as he could. Bumblebee was left staring in angry shock.. What the frag is his problem? “Whatever! I’ll kick your aft next time, glitch-head! Not like you could understand what I’m feeling anyway!” he sniffled and stormed off towards the closest river so he could wash the dark-Energon off his frame. 

Blitzwing found a flat part of a mountain to land on, his vents heaving hard as he hyperventilated. What the frag just happened?! The little Autobots' words kept echoing in his head. ‘Stop holding back on me! Not like I’m good for anything else besides getting beaten up, pushed around, and experimented on by the people I thought I could trust and fight for!’ One word in that sentence hit Blitzwing right in the spark, making it somersault sporadically in his chassis. Experiment. The word felt disgusting.. violating.. Was that how the little yellow pest felt too? Maybe they had more in common than he thought..For some reason, he felt a strange pull on his spark. Why did he feel so bad for this pathetic little Autobot? ‘Because once upon a time you were just like him..’ His processor supplied. Yeah.. Maybe that was it.. He felt bad for him because deep down, Blitzwing at one point felt the same as him. He once felt Just as confused, frustrated, and betrayed by his faction. His processor went to the claw marks on the yellow bots chassis.. ‘He did that to himself..’ Blitzwing felt a lump form in his neck cables. He stood there for a moment and simply processed this new information, only snapping out of his thoughts when the sun began to rise over the hills. He had to leave.. If lord Megatron saw how long he was out, the warlord would start to question him, and there was no way he could simply tell Megatron he left without killing the puny Autobot because he got triggered. He’d be beaten to the edge of his life for it.

He sighed heavily and transformed, flying off towards his base. This puny bug has given him quite a lot to think about..