Graceon and Ratchet walk down the dim hallway of the Lost Light, both looking grim and exhausted from the long hours they have been working. They were heading for the quarantine room, where an old friend was sealed off, having been infected with a virus from a creature of Tarrus, a planet they had gone to search for energon. The ship was now on it's way back to Cybertron, hurried in its journey to try and save their comrade.

"Ratchet, from the notes of the other doctors, they say the treatments on M... the patient are not working, not relieving any pain he has told us about, instead he has informed us that the pain is increasing. He is also still losing his dentas, being replaced with needle like fangs... and the metal around them are blackening." Graceon says, looking at the notes. Ratchet sighs, rubbing under his tired blue optics.

"Primus... Is there any good news?" Ratchet asks, looking at his partner as they round the corner.

"Unfortunately... No. It seems he will... he will be offline before we can reach Cybertron." Graceon says, her spark aching at the thought, especially when she thinks of her 'sister', Morningstar. How she will grieve to know that her once beloved leader is...

"Graceon. We are here." Ratchet's voice cuts through her thoughts, making her look at the window peering into the quarantine room, watching the silver mech breathe in a labored way, his red optics staring at the ceiling, showing off the agony and fear he felt. He was hooked up to machines, which was helping his energon keep flowing through him and helping him stay alive. "The poor fool... Not even he deserves to die this way."

Graceon nods, watching as First Aid goes into the room to check on the machines. She sighs, before looking at Ratchet. "This is going to affect many lives, Ratchet... Many will cheer, but I know a few who will weep..."

"You mean Morningstar." Ratchet says, sighing as he nods. "I was surprised to hear she took his throne when he left the Decepticons."

"Trust me, I was upset when she told me she was Leader now. She was to follow him... but... she told me that the Decepticons needed her more than he did."

"That is brave of her, in my opinion. Staying to make sure her comrades do not lose faith, even if it is the Decepticons, is an honorable thing to do, especially when your reason for being there is gone." Ratchet says, looking at his saddened partner. He lays a hand on her shoulder, and she looks up to him, her red optics meeting his blue. "She will return one day, Graceon. After all, she is an Autobot at spark."

"Yes... That is true, Ratchet." Graceon says, smiling as she nods in agreement. The lights begin to flicker, and her smile dims down into a more negative line. "I hope we have enough fuel to get us back..."

"We do, Graceon, just we are cutting back on the lights to make sure the shields remain on line. After all, we must stay safe from any attacks as we return home." Ratchet says, the lights casting long shadows on the walls. Graceon nods, before her optics return to the window, to stumble in her breath.

First Aid and the patient was gone, no trace of their disappearance nor where they went.

"What..." Ratchet mutters, before pushing on the comm on the wall. "First Aid? Where are you? Where is M--"

A sick squishy gagging sound met his questions, sounding like someone choking, desperately trying to regain oxygen. Ratchet's optics grew wide, stepping away from the comm as a form rose from behind the platform, covered in the energon blood of First Aid, who was held in it's talons. Graceon's servo went to her mouth, fluid building up in her optics as she watched First Aid's mouth move, trying to say help me but only the choking sound escaping. There were no words... Until the creature that was once their patient turned to the window, it's fangs stained with energon.

"... Keep watching, Ratchet... You as well, Graceon... After all... You are next." He said in a dark, amused tone, going back to feast on the very spark of the doctor. The optics of First Aid flickered on and off as the sharp fangs of the monster crushed his spark, before finally shutting down.

"Oh Primus... Rodimus! Warn the others!" Ratchet yells into his comm, coming out of his shock. "Patient 243 has mutated and killed First Aid!"

"So... You want to ruin my return... Fine then... YOU WILL BE MY NEXT MEAL!" The creature snarled, running at the glass and cracking it. Graceon gasps, and pulls the alarm, the lights dimming more to allow the red flashing lights and the siren to sound. Ratchet grabs her arm, and they start dashing down the hall, the sound of shattering glass behind them.

"We have to get to the blast doors! Shut them quickly!" Ratchet called out, hearing bestial snarling sounds racing behind them, quickly sounding as if they were getting nearer.

"Will do! Just keep running, Ratchet! Don't slow!" Graceon says, gasping as she ran faster. She was made for speed and efficiency, so this was no issue for her. She was soon at the blast doors, and she grabbed the lever, pulling down on it hard. The doors began to shut with a loud groan.

"Run faster, Ratchet! Please!" Graceon called out, sounding scared as she watched her comrade run. She watched as the once patient turned monster start to catch up to the doctor, and tears sprung to her red optics. Ratchet takes a moment to turn his head and sees how close the monster was to him... and how far he was from the door. He turns his head back to Graceon, and a sad look crosses his faceplate.

"Graceon... Take good care of the others." Ratchet called out, before stopping, pulling out his buzz saw, and launches himself at the creature, swiping left and right at him.

"RATCHET!" Graceon yells, the doors closing. She bangs on the door, smashing herself against it, before tears pour from her optics. "Ratchet you idiot!" After a few moments, there was silence behind the door, making her back up in sorrow.

"Graceon, what is going on?" Ultra Magnus asks, running up to her. Before she could answer, there was a loud thud against the door. 

"Open the door.... Open now... or Ratchet is mine to turn...." A deep, raspy voice growled out, a soft moan of pain coming after, sounding abused and dying.

"Ratchet..."

"Don't.... Don't open... Don't...." Ratchet's voice softly groaned, before a sickening smack sounded out.

"Silence you weak mortal... Now... Open the doors, Graceon..." 

"No." Ultra Magnus says, placing his arm on the fem's shoulder. "I am sorry, Graceon..."

"I understand, Magnus... I will not open the door." Graceon says, backing away.

"Oh.... So unwise..." There was a horrifying crushing sound, along with an agonizing shrill streak. 

"RATCHET!" Graceon is held back by Magnus grip, he pulling her to his chest.  "I'm sorry! I'm sorry Ratchet! I'm sorry!" She cried out, sobbing and falling limp in his arms.

"There was no other way, Graceon... I'm sor---"

There was another thud against the door, stronger than the last one. Everyone paused, looking at the door as another came, the door now denting from the force of the banging. 

"I'm coming for you Grace.... I'M COMING FOR YOU!" 

The door was punctured, a hand punching through. The gray hand pulls away, and another punch widened the hole more. The Autobots backed up, and after another loud thud, they ran down the hall, heading to the control room to hide and warn Cybertron of the coming disaster ...