There are theories – and it’s one of my theories – is that the Dark Energon warped and corrupted Megatron’s processor and possible some of his memory files. If nothing else the constant influence of Unicorn on him means he feels no connection to those he once had positive connection with and/or twists good/positive emotions into negative ones. And the still ‘sane’/’un corrupted’ part of his processor actively suppress some thing to protect those he really doesn’t want to hurt.
(I wish there was a clear list of what from the Cybertron Games TFP used other than the obvious.)
I think a good portion of it falls in the fact that most of Ratchet’s fighting falls more into the defensive motif, than the offensive. Megatron doesn’t immediately register Ratchet as a threat, possibly for two reasons.
Coding conditioning for all gladiator’s/caste systems could have possibly encoded a no-harm line in their CNA so that medical personnel would not be considered a threat, UNLESS that changes due to the medic attacking. At that point, it becomes self defense.
Or, he simply didn’t consider Ratchet an actual threat- being both healer, and older- he didn’t think he could put up that much of a fight.
And let’s face it- if he didn’t have the extra energon, and the synth-en, there’s a possibility that Megatron would have trounced him more than he did, even with as good a fight as he put up. Ratchet can defend himself damn well, he has to be able to. Part of taking care of your triage on the ground is making sure they stay alive through the battle.
And yourself along with it.
But when Ratchet went offensive, Megatron probably saw him as the threat he could be- and as thus, treated him as a threat- like he would Prime, or Arcee, or Bumblebee. Ratchet’s marker shifted.
And Ratchet got his ass handed to him.
Which is why, after that– if you notice, Ratchet seemed to gain a lot more injuries after that little fight.
Don’t get me wrong, Ratchet’s a hardcore old ambulance, and one hell of a medic- but in a fight? He can defend himself for a matter of time against Megatron, but in the end- the other mech’s skill and stamina would get him.
That would also explain why Knock Out gets away with a lot more failure and well everything without injury than say Starscream.
I think both your and mine mete/theory work good together – he calls his Optimus’ medic because any personal connection has been stripped/suppressed and the not considering a threat/etc from what you said.
Cybertronian Database 