The mission was supposed to be straightforward. Your systems were optimized, your energy reserves high, and the Decepticons were no match for Team Prime’s strength and strategy. You followed Ratchet’s guidance through the preparations, his voice in your comms steady and familiar, the sound of tools and equipment clanking as he prepped you for the field. You trusted him, even in his moments of gruffness—after all, he was the expert. But then—

Everything unraveled. Ratchet, acting more erratic than usual, injected himself with a dangerous dose of synthetic Energon in the middle of the mission, his sudden aggression and overconfidence throwing the operation into chaos. He charged ahead without thinking, disregarding the careful planning that had been laid out. The impact was immediate: the Decepticons took advantage of his instability, and everything you’d worked for fell apart.

When you confronted him later, there was no apology, no recognition of the damage done. His optics were an abnormal green with the effects of the Energon, and he dismissed your concerns with an impatient growl. "I didn’t need your help, I just needed you to keep up," he snapped, barely meeting your gaze.