Optimus and Ratchet had watched their teammates separated from each other as Optimus tried to go forward "We need to go after them!" Optimus exclaimed as Ratchet pulled him back "Your injured Optimus, not only can something risk your life but it's dangerous there." Ratchet said looking concerned as Optimus looked down at his hand which had patterns from the burn and became a light grey colour. He looked towards the side before his optics landed on his friend's face as he replied "I can handle myself Ratchet." Before they heard a loud rumbling noise coming from the corridor nearby. Optimus grabbed Ratchet and pulled him by his side which caused Ratchet to yelp. They soon began to run through the fog as Ratchet felt Optimus' grip tightening on him. "What in the matter are you doing?" He looked quizzical as Optimus finally pushed him to the side of the wall as something seemed to scream and run by them. Ratchet looked trying to peek as Optimus replied finally with "I think there is something there. Something malicious." Ratchet tried to find his scanner and said in surprise as he pulled it out "Wait! My scanner is broken, I can't get things on there." He tried to screw one of the device mechanisms so it can be fixed but to no avail.
"You think you can get it fixed in time?" Optimus asked trying to be calm as possible despite his nerves going haywire as Ratchet answered with "I can't promise that for sure but I'll try." As he pressed on his device with frustration as something was running towards them. Optimus noticed and tried to get Ratchet's attention who only yelled "Not now Optimus!" Before Optimus grabbed his shoulders and used his fingers to give a gentle smack which made Ratchet look up and spoke in displeasure "What was that for?" Optimus looked through the foggy area and said "Look, something is there." Which made Ratchet looked over as well. In fact something was heard running as both of them decided it was a good idea to run and get to a safer place, even if it could be dangerous to traverse through. After running for a while they saw a corner that turned right and immediately they went through it as they closed the door afterwards. The place seemed strangely not as broken, there seemed to be different cluttered objects, most of which are home supplicants and a couple were objects you would see in a more professional area. The fog seemed to have gone, the room dim instead of fully dark and a couple of doors made from expensive wood across different lands. This was in a even more colourless state than the main area they have been in.
"You think something could be in one of those rooms?" Optimus asked, his posture on guard and tense as Ratchet went to one of the doors and kicked it forcefully open with not a lot of strength. Meanwhile Optimus was crouching near the wall as his hands were on his own thighs and seemed to be reflecting something as his optic were lidded with fatigue and weariness as small lines were seen at the bottom of his optic-lid just above the bags under his optics. The lights flickered and Optimus got up as he heard a lightbulb breaking and the area seemed to have become dark for a moment. Soon everything started to glitch out as the hologram was completely removed, showing oil on the floor with robotic bugs covering them. He stepped backwards as he hyperventilated as he stepped on a sticky, hot oil which made him step back and wipe his pede on the floor as marks of oil was seen which seem to feel like dirt. He looked seeing there a broken mirror which seemed to have a distorted reflection of him and seemed to show a darker image of the already horrible room shown.
He spun around and saw what looks to be Bumblebee passing through with Alexa through the corridor and seem to discuss something as Optimus immediately started to run through while yelling "Wait! Come back!" He could feel the energon going through his audio receptors as he tried to get to them while his hand was outstretched as he ran to them as they soon went away. He found himself falling to his knees as he looked up, seeing blood on his hands and the smell of water was nearby as the room was covered in blood. He wondered what he was seeing was real or fake as he got up and wiped his hands against the wall as blood marks was there. He felt a static noise in his audio receptors before he heard someone yell which snapped his attention "Optimus! I found something that should help us." Ratchet's voice came as Optimus turned and ran back to where Ratchet was. Optimus came to the start of the corridor as Ratchet came out of the room. "That room was unorganized so it took a while but here we go-" He paused before saying "You look teary, you okay?" Optimus gave a nod as his battle mask didn't give away his expression that much expect for his optics.
"Yes I'm... Fine." He said as Ratchet did not look convinced at him and said "Optimus your doing that thing again, old friend." Optimus looked at him as his eyes dilated to the size of saucers as there was a shiny glint. "I know but can we find them first?" Optimus asked as Ratchet looked uncertain. But they agreed to do this, allies first than emotions. "Right, now since I got this fixed and this will reveal their location to us." Ratchet said as he pointed it at the doors and immediately he got something. "Wait, there's a unusual energy from there. Let's get going." Ratchet opened the door with a firm servo and there revealed was a hole in the middle of the wall, it was large enough for them to bend through and go through there and it was three times the side of a human as bits crumbled off. They bent downwards, Optimus having more trouble getting through and entered in some strange area. They were in some sort of cellar? Even though both of them remembered just going out of the room Optimus looked at the hole still seeing the room there was no way that this was possible. The cellar was dimly lit, it had a intricate inside where baskets, barrels and boxes were seen on the wall and trying to navigate the area was like a maze.
Optimus tried to find a way through, only to find a dead end where Ratchet also found another dead end close to Optimus. "I assume there must be some way out of here without another dead end." Ratchet glanced at the multiple pathways which seem to curve through like snakes "I hate mazes." He grumbled as Optimus peeked his head through. "I think this way." He pointed before going across near the walls. Ratchet followed behind him as Optimus coughed as he realized he still felt kind of sick as Ratchet finally noticed that they were at the right corner. "Prime, there's a door nearby." Optimus turned but suddenly felt his thoughts blurring before shooting and falling backwards as his optic glitched out. Ratchet rushed as Optimus' optic became a glitchy blue symbol. Ratchet cursed to himself as he could feel a liquid falling on his back as he ran while holding his heavy friend. Both finally arrived at a rather water-logged area as Hoist finally also came through another corridor. And the three of them saw Alexa being held back by Bumblebee with a large and ragged seeker.