001 | Video

[neededthat]

[The feed flickers to life and Ratchet peers into the communicator he has, tinkering with it. At least it's working... somewhat. He looks like he has woken up in the temple of Solian Temple.]

Blasted thing. My own communications aren’t working. It must be scattered or something. [The video flickers and Ratchet smacks it a few more times, to make it focus again, grumbling under his breath as he looks around.]

Ultra Magnus, Bumble Bee, if anyone can hear this, I require assistance. I don’t know if you can triangulate my transmission and find my exact location or not, but-- Oh, what am I saying?

[He rubs at his face, his mind raking for ideas.]

That bot said this is Cybertron but... it's not one I'm familiar with. [He pauses with a heavy sigh passing through his vents.]

For all I know, I could be just talking to myself with this thing.

[...]

Scrap.

Comments

[Audio]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[No. It can't be. This place wouldn't do this a third time. That was...almost cruel. He almost ignores it, chalking it up to the Badlands doing...what the badlands do: play tricks on him.

But something in his spark tells him this is the real deal.


We'll stick to audio for now.]

Doc...?

[Audio]

[neededthat]

[Oh thank Primus, someone was listening to communications. He perks up to attention.]

Wheeljack, are you nearby?

audio;

[thxforthememories]

...

Ratchet?

[There's a quiet shake in the voice. He'd wanted -- he'd wanted someone. Someone familiar. Supportive. And the medic had looked after him frequently in the past, before...]

[He hesitates, all the same.]

[Maybe it's not real.]

audio;

[neededthat]

Yes?

[That was an unfamiliar voice.]

Who is this?

video;

[sciencetank]

Oh. Well, it's about bloody time someone with a decent processor in their components showed up!

[BECAUSE THAT'S A HELPFUL WELCOME, PERCEPTOR.]

video;

[neededthat]

{Ratchet is taken aback by this bot's response and blinks owlishly before recomposing myself.]

Do... I know you?

[Audio]

[neverputincharge]

[Between Miko disappearing on him a few days, and Barricade announcing he's leaving too, Bulkhead's mostly been ignoring the link lately. But he just happened to be checking it when Ratchet uses it.

Not again. Are they really going to do this for a third time? But he can't help respond, cause Ratchet sounded...lost. Plus...a part of him is happy to hear from him again.]

Ratchet?

[There's a touch of happiness to his voice. But he also sounds wary.]

[Audio]

[neededthat]

[First Wheeljack, and now Bulkhead sounded unsure.]

Yes, it's me, Bulkhead! Who else would would it be?

I don't know what's gotten into you and Wheeljack...

audio;

[redshirtrobot]

[Because the last thing that Fracas is going to do is let people from his world know there's a Vehicon here until he's sure they won't murder him.

One can't be too careful when it comes to the "Doctor of Doom", after all.]

This is a different Cybertron. It's just getting started. A-and you're not alone, there's a lot of us here.

You look like you're in Solus Prime's temple. Not that knowing that will help much for now, but... you did ask.

audio;

[neededthat]

[Finally! Some answers.]

A different Cybertron? [He mulls it over for a moment before speaking again.] An alternate universe perhaps...

How long have you been here?

[video]

[cec_engineer]

Uh, yeah it's a different Cybertron. See that big tear in the sky? That's gonna be the cause of all your problems from now on.

[he pauses. this is gonna be a shitty idea but whatever. look he even shows his glyph to the camera!!]

We're all in the same boat here.

[video]

[neededthat]

[Ratchet almost squints. Was that a bot? But he decides against asking.]

Everyone has that glyph? [He glances his his shoulderpad of a shoulder, seeing the glyph within his own metal. Faded, but still visible against the white paint.]

[video]

[deadlydoctor]

You are going to break it if you keep hitting it, old man. [Hi Ratchet, hi. Have a grinning Knock Out. He's still mocking the other Autobot as always but the old malicious tone is dimmed.]

No saying bad words on the network, there's children looking.

[video]

[neededthat]

[Nope. Nope this. Nope.]

Please tell me there's someone else there I can talk to. [Besides you.]

[Video]

[sariexmachina]

[Hello Ratchet, have a brand new human child staring at you doubtfully.]

...Ratchet?

[Video]

[neededthat]

[Oh Primus, it looks like a miniature Miko.]

Let me guess, you know me as well.

[Voice]

[treacherous_widow]

Keep hitting hitting that thing and you'll reduce it to scrap. Besides, we don't have to triangulate anything.

We can tell what temple you woke up in your old dodo. So guess what. You're not talking to yourself and yes, this is a different Cybertron. None of us are from this version so your best bet is to find something you're good at and stick too it.

[Voice]

[neededthat]

[Well then.]

Thank you for that crash course.

I'm sure I'll fit in nicely to one of the medbays here.

[video]

[a_father_to_his_men]

Do you need some assistance?

[The video shows a mech who, while not looking entirely like Megatron might seem to carry some resemblance.]

And, forgive me for checking on this with such a question, but, do you have any memory of this place?

[video]

[neededthat]

[Wait a minute.

Ratchet squints at the feed. But he decides not to bring it up.]

I'm alright for now just... gathering my barings.

And no, I do not have any memory of this place. I've gathered that I've been here... twice before.

[video]

[adamndoctor]

Wait - I remember you. We had a drink together. You're also a doctor... Ratchet, right?

[video]

[neededthat]

Yes, that is correct.

And who might you be?

[audio]

[rstlsslegsyndrm]

Ratchet, you're...

Do you recognize my voice? Wait. [He switches to video.] Do you recognize me?

[video]

[neededthat]

[Oh no, not another one.

Ratchet furrows his brow and slowly shakes his head.]

No, I... I don't.

I'm sorry.

[Text]

[4_toteachus]

Oh, hello Ratchet! It's good to see that you're back.

I hope you stay a little longer this time. However, it looks like you're unfamiliar with everything, which is a little strange. Are you a different Ratchet than before?

[Text]

[neededthat]

I suppose you could say that I am different, yes.

I have no memory of this Cybertron. Others have said I've been here twice before.

[audio]

[nobirds]

Were you talking to yourself?

I thought it might've been more amusing. Guess not.

[audio]

[neededthat]

No--

I mean. I kind of was, wasn't I....

[Good job Ratchet, you made a fool of yourself.]