Medical vacation
The Adventures of Ratchet and Megatron in Space
Some time after Optimus’ death and Cybertron’s restoration, Ratchet and Megatron’s paths crossed once again.
I have a few ideas about why and under what circumstances:
Ratchet was sick of everything and everyone. His grief over Optimus was too immense, so he decided to head out into space—to die peacefully there, or (as per my headcanon) because back in their youth, he and Orion once dreamed of traveling together. But Orion-turned-Optimus died, and in memory of him, Ratchet finally chose to fulfill their dream (suicidal thoughts still not ruled out).
In the galaxy, there were still Decepticons who hadn’t accepted defeat and continued to cause major problems for both Autobots and Cybertronians in general. Additionally, many neutrals returned to the planet, mostly former elites who had been supporters of the old caste system and had thrived under it. This spelled trouble not just for Autobots or Decepticons but for the future of Cybertron as a whole. Ratchet left the political wrangling to others (Jazz and Prowl) and decided to seek out Megatron, hoping he could rein in the remaining Decepticons. Since there was no sign of Starscream or Shockwave, and Soundwave remained in the shadow zone of the Nemesis, releasing him would be far too risky.
Although, these two versions actually blend quite well. In the end, Ratchet finds Megatron on some kind of galactic junkyard, barely surviving himself (lack of energo/caught in a meteor shower/attacked by someone, etc. etc.).
After that, things get pretty tense. Megatron isn't exactly eager for company, and Ratchet is fighting both for his life and the urge to drive both scalpels into Megatron's grotesque helmet.
Ratchet slips in and out of consciousness. Despite all his reluctance to deal with anyone—especially this particular bot—Megatron doesn't leave him. Something (or someone) deep within his corrupted, twisted spark whispers to him that for once in his damned existence, he should do something good.
So, with what little (almost nonexistent) resources he has, Megatron helps Ratchet. When Ratchet is conscious, he reluctantly instructs Megatron on what and how to do things (physician, heal thyself).
During Ratchet's recovery, Megatron constantly experiences hallucinations. Most often, it’s the dead Prime sometimes appearing as Optimus, sometimes Orion. Megatron has always considered them two separate bots.
Yes, Optimus|Orion will haunt the story. This is, after all, the tale of Ratchet and Megatron—two bots who loved/hated him the most.
Time passes, and Ratchet eventually recovers, attempting to start some kind of conversation with Megatron. He sees Primus—that goes terribly, and he has absolutely no desire to continue.
In Ratchet’s mind, Megatron isn’t just a megalomaniac and a galaxy-sized lunatic. No, first and foremost, he is the one who killed Optimus. Yes, it was Optimus’ decision to merge the Matrix and the Allspark. Yes, it was Optimus who didn’t wait for an easier solution, but instead flew straight into death. Yes, Ratchet knows Optimus wanted this — wanted peace and that peace, in his case, could only come through death. Sooner or later, he would have died anyway, because Optimus Prime was created for war, and no one would have let him live beyond it.
Yet, there was still a selfish part of him full of anger and hope that insisted Optimus could have kept on living. Together, they could have gone traveling anywhere, even returned to Earth. The two of them would have spent the rest of their eternity together. This part— green-eyed and increasingly bloodthirsty began to speak too loudly, and it blamed only one bot for the lost possibilities: Megatron.
So, time passed in heavy thoughts, torment of conscience, and awkward interaction. At last, Megatron cracked first and started demanding to know what the hell Ratchet was even doing in this forgotten corner of the galaxy. Of course, not even death or the agony of Unicron had stripped him of his trademark tone — arrogant and mostly sarcastic or insulting, especially toward Ratchet.
Ratchet, rather than cutting straight to the point, answered in kind. It escalated into a full-blown argument — cruel words were exchanged, and even worse memories were dug up. But by the end, when both were nearly gasping for breath, they felt a strange sense of satisfaction and calm.
Silence fell. Ratchet looked away and finally spoke of the problem.
Megatron, not thinking, launched into a tirade: “So our glorious Prime can’t handle a bunch of Decepticons and neutrals…” But he was interrupted by a quiet “Optimus is gone.” Megatron’s face froze, his gaze locked on Ratchet’s back. “Repeat that.” Slightly louder: “Optimus is gone.” “Oh, where is he, off on another journey of enlightenment? If so then....” Ratchet spun around sharply, one of his arms transforming into a scalpel, his optics glowing green “He’s dead.”
Megatron staggered back, stunned. He saw and heard nothing around him. What followed was a full inner monologue his relationship with Optimus, every attempt he’d made to kill him, Prime’s infuriating resilience, Megatron’s refusal to believe, and the dawning realization of Optimus’s death.
Ratchet broke him from his trance with a half-sobbed, half-roared cry: “He’s dead, rejoice! You finally got what you wanted. But now, you have to finish what you started and summon your cursed followers to peace. If you have even a shred of respect for Optimus’s memory if you truly want Cybertron to thrive you’ll come back with me…”
Megatron silently transformed and flew off, destination unknown. Ratchet, furious, shouted a slew of insults after him.
Time passed. Ratchet tried to repair his spacecraft, thinking Megatron had abandoned him here — who knows where — and that he had to leave while he still functioned.
To his surprise, Megatron returned. Once again, silence hung heavy between them. Ratchet acted like the warlord wasn’t even there, and Megatron was perfectly fine with that. He simply watched the ship being repaired.
When Ratchet tries to lift something heavy and fails due to his health, Megatron silently approaches and lifts it for him. They still don't speak, but it seems like the beginning of something.
Time passes. Megatron brings energon for the two of them. It’s terrible — both in taste and quality — and Ratchet absolutely doesn’t want to know where Megatron got it. But he’s forced to consume it just to avoid shutting down entirely.
When the spacecraft is finally repaired and capable of reaching Cybertron, Ratchet casts one last disappointed look at Megatron, enters the ship, and flies away.
Megatron watches, and Ratchet unintentionally glances at him from the cockpit.
After flying some distance, Ratchet angrily yells and punches the wall several times. Marks remain, as do signs of injury on his hand. “Sorry, Ori… I couldn’t do it.”
Suddenly, a signal begins blinking on the radar. The ship’s system alerts him to an approaching unknown vessel. It’s Megatron.
Let’s rewind slightly: When Ratchet’s ship vanished from Megatron’s view, Megatron turned to retreat back into the cave where he’d been living before the medic arrived. But as soon as he turned around, a bot stood before him.
This bot was something between Orion and Optimus, surrounded by an otherworldly glow that made his face barely discernible. Whether it was a hallucination or Optimus in his true form — one of the Thirteen — is unknown.
The figure spoke to Megatron and gently tried to convince him to help. He succeeded. And managed to stir a little guilt in Megatron not for millions of years of tyranny, but for one single death.
So Megatron catches up with Ratchet (he manages to do this because he’s now undead, upgraded by Unicron himself though he looks like a mangy cat tormented by fleas and ticks).
But instead of heading straight for Cybertron, they veer off course and tumble into a series of adventures (read: problems). Some are comedic, some... not so much.
Ratchet gets kidnapped by space pirates — at least twice, each time with wildly different intentions.
Megatron maybe (or maybe not) wipes out an entire Decepticon ship after they refuse to surrender and try to kill him and his medic.
They stumble into temples dedicated to some of the Thirteen Primes — those who left Cybertron while still alive (Quintus and others). These are true relics where the Primes left a trace, and they’re buzzing with some kind of techno-mystical weirdness that the duo gets swept up in.
Typically, the temple’s mysticism traps them in a psychological escape room, forcing them to confront hidden thoughts, flaws, feelings, and learn to cooperate. Think Cave of Truth from Once Upon a Time, or the Lovers' Labyrinth from Avatar.
Several times they encountered wandering Autobot crews and helped them. As for Megatron’s presence, Ratchet always said it wasn’t Megatron at all — just some galactic vagrant he’d picked up by accident. Some believed it, some didn’t, but everyone remembered Megatron quite differently, so they usually didn’t question it too much.
A few times they were nearly sacrificed either together or separately to various deities.
During the breaks between these misadventures, they would just rest aboard their vessel. The “rust bucket” (as Megatron called it) that Ratchet had arrived on was ditched at the first opportunity, and they stole (borrowed!) a much better ship.
At one point, both of them were engaged in self-harm, and one would catch the other in the act. This led to quiet scenes of wrapping wounds with clean bandages, in heavy silence.
Megatron slept in the cargo bay. He never said why, but Ratchet knew he was plagued by nightmares, mostly about Unicron. Sometimes, a faceless, glowing Orion would visit him in his sleep, blaming him for everything that had happened. It was deserved, as they both admitted, but it still interfered with day-to-day functioning.
Megatron remained a jerk, and Ratchet stayed his sarcastic, grumpy self.
Sometimes Ratchet would have fits of rage, his optics glowing green as a warning. In those moments, Megatron had to endure rants about himself, every Decepticon Ratchet had ever dealt with, and practically the entire universe.
They often reminisced about days long gone those who’d died, and those who might still be alive. Afterwards, they wouldn’t speak for several days.
Yet, amid all of this, a strange illusion of normalcy began to form reminiscent of the old days before the war. Back when there were no Autobots or Decepticons, when they were all on “most wanted” lists, doing mad things for the cause or simply to irritate the authorities and enforcers.
And in that rhythm, they finally made it back to Cybertron.
