Right then, he heard loud engines coming from the inner parts of the woods. Assuming that this is probably where it ends, he prepared himself for yet another battle. To his surprise, four familiar vehicles along with one green dinobot came out visible through the trees, the medic shouted the instant he recognized them, "The portal! It's closing!" he directed. Being the first one to appear, the red-blue truck fastened its speed to the vanishing light. The second the Groundbridge's last spark of light evaporated into nothing, the giant truck passed through the spot of the once-existing portal, drifted his tires into the dry dirt and came to a harsh stop. Ratchet stood there, staring in the direction where the bridge disappeared. His optics examined the forest to find Shockwave.

But he wasn't there, not anymore.

Ravage too was nowhere to be found.

His legs finally gave up and fell on his knees, his servos placed on the ruined grass, "How... how could I let this happen...?"  he closed his optics in pain and yet at the same time in shame. He failed. He failed to protect her and now she is in danger because of him, it was all his fault.

He could hear the noises of transforming metal parts and heavy pedes sprinting to him, "Doc!" Arcee yelled and instantly kneeled beside the medic, along with Optimus who also lowered down.

"Arcee... Optimus. You are okay." Ratchet said in relief, at least his teammates were alright and in a good state.

Optimus offered his servos to help him get back up on his pedes and put one of his arms on his back for support, "I cannot say the same for you my old friend, you are injured badly."

"I--"

"Ratchet..."

Arcee spoke up and scanned the area as if she was searching for someone, "Where is Twilight?"

Silence remained among them, Ratchet continued to stare down, avoiding eye contact with his team. He didn't even dare to glance at the concerned face-plate of the femme, "Ratchet?" she called him again, this time with a more apprehensive tone, "For Primus' sake-- where is she?!"

Smokescreen quickly grabbed her by the shoulder-pads, dragging her away from the wounded doctor, "Hey, whoa, take it easy 'Cee!"

"Your job was to protect her, not bringing her right to them!" she yelled at the doctor who winced at her shouts.

The Autobot leader stepped in, "Arcee, please remain calm. Our medic's current state is in bad condition, your outburst will not help us to--"

"Those creeps took her too and you want me to remain calm?! Not even when I clearly told him to keep an optic on her?!" she gave Ratchet a cold death glare, "What were you thinking?!"

"Now is not the time for accusations. Both of them were worried about our unknown state, so they've decided to take action as well." reasoned Optimus.

"Yeah, Fixit told us they tried to stop her from even going, didn't he?" Smokescreen reminded her, "Besides, weren't you the first one who wanted to help us, even though none of you knew how dangerous the situation was going to be?" the blue femme didn't argue back this time, but she was still furious. Arcee pulled her arms to release herself from the mech's servos and crossly stomped away from the group in order to cool down.

Optimus watched as she went further away from their current point, he nodded at Smokescreen and Grimlock to go and keep an optic on her in case of Decepticons. Both mechs went after the femme, then Optimus' gaze directed to the medic and gave him a sympathetic look, "My friend..."

"They... they took her Optimus," Ratchet let out a small vent, his optics still looking away, "I tried with everything I had... I was not able to save her. I wasn't strong enough."

"Do not blame yourself, let us not lose hope just yet. Our friends are stronger than we think. We need to bring you to the Medical Bay so Fixit could heal your wounds. In the meantime, we will be searching for their hidden location." Optimus informed and glanced at Strongarm.

The cadet lifted her servo to activate her comm-link, once she reached the base she spoke to the mini-con, "Send us a Groundbridge, Fixit. We uh... we found Ratchet."