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]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

I'm here Doc. Where are ya?


[He's being incredibly vague on that 'here', part. There's reasons behind it, honest.]

I'll rendezvous.

[Audio]

[neededthat]

Solus' Temple? ...Or something along those lines.

That's what those bots told me anyways when I first woke up, anyways.

[Audio]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Don't move. I'm comin' to ya.


Just...stay there.


[Well, that sounds needlessly insistent.]

[Audio]

[neededthat]

I--

[He's never heard Wheeljack sound like that before, so he decides against asking anything else.]

Alright. I'll be waiting.

[Action]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He'll explain it all when he gets there, Ratchet. For now it's just doubt. The fact that you might not even be real, with the way this world works. The sound of an engine is heard as the feed clicks off, and give or take a few minutes, Wheeljack arrives at the temple, stepping in.

He wasn't too far from it to start, in his little mancave he made for himself, so it was a quick drive.]


Doc?

[neededthat]

[Ratchet perks up at the sound of his familiar engine. Oh was he sight for sore optics.

He puts a hand on his hip and gestures with his other hand.]

Yes, it's me already! [He says as he takes a few steps closer to the other Autobot.]

What on Cybertron has gotten into you?!

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Sorry, Ratchet, not good enough. Wheeljack transforms as the medic walks up, eyes wide with faded hope. He wanted to believe this right away--it'd be the best news he had in awhile.

But not yet. He's silent for the most part, studying Ratchet up and down, before...

giving him a push. Not too hard, but enough to send him back a step.]

You're...real.

[neededthat]

[Ratchet stutters, stumbling back a step before he balls up his hands into fists, leaning in as he barks at him.]

I told you it was me! [He snaps, narrowing his optics.]

Why wouldn't I be real?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

You never know in this place.

[It's oddly solemn, for a moment. But it's really him, it's Ratchet. Maybe...there was hope for Team Prime after all.]

It's good to see ya, Doc.

[And there it is, that smarmy ass smile everyone's grown to love hate]

[neededthat]

[He sees that smile and frowns tighter. But it does raise some red flags.]

Has... everything been alright?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Depends on how ya define alright.


Tell me somethin', Doc. This place look familiar to you? Yeah, yeah, I know it's Cybertron. But THIS Cybertron.


Remember anythin'?

[neededthat]

[Ratchet shakes his head.]

No, it doesn't look familiar to me.

It looks almost... primitive.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[And just like that, his face falls, those scarred lips pressing into a frown.]

...


You've been here twice before, Doc.

[neededthat]

I...

[His optics blink owlishly.]

What? How is that possible? I've never...

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Yeah, one of the many great things about this place. It constantly messes with ya.

[There's a nod of his head, as if gesturing for Ratchet to follow him into the temple.]

Been here almost two years. Human calendar.

[neededthat]

[Ratchet follows him, almost hesitantly as he does so. But he tries to recollect himself as he trails behind him.]

Two years... [He looks up along the temple walls.]

What have you been doing all this time?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[He doesn't say anything to answer that just yet, leading him through the labyrinth of glowing walls that is Solus's temple. He stops at a door, sliding it open and walking in.

This would pretty much explain it.

The room is...well, it's seen better days. There's dents in the walls, sword slashes, ash debris from a grenade or two...

Weapons everywhere.

A small human bed in the corner, which looks like it hasn't been used in some time.]

Survivin', Doc.

[neededthat]

[Ratchet steps inside and is taken aback by what he sees.

The medic steps inside cautiously and looks around along the walls, running his hand along one large dent. His optics scan over the weapons and soon land on the human sized bed.

Memories of the war flood back into his head, Cyberronians barely scraping by.

A small sudder runs through his entire frame, his hand hanging loosely at his side.]

...

[He's at a loss of words as his gaze slowly falls to his own feet.]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[It's not the prettiest sight, but it explained things a lot better than Wheeljack ever could. He wasn't good with words. And things like this had a lot more impact.

He put up a facade on the Link a lot of the time. But when someone comes back, it's a flood of that loss returning. Even if they don't remember it.]

It's a mess. Apologies.

[But he nudges him gently with his shoulder. A small bit of affection in it.]

I've been a real pain.

[neededthat]

[Ratchet seems to snap out of it and turns to look at Wheeljack, his brows furrowed as he stares at his fellow Autobot.]

You've... been through a lot. There's no need to apologize.

[He says quietly, and even softly, unlike his usual harsh and loud tone he usually puts on.]

Has... this happened over time? [Whenever he left, both times? Whenever anyone left?]

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Not exactly a welcome wagon, I know.

[But there's not much he can do about that, so he'll just give a shrug.]

The damage? Yeah. Ya lose people quickly here, Doc.

It's a gamble every day. And then there's what the Badlands send here. And sometimes...

Even the guys who get here aren't the best of the lot.

[neededthat]

I didn't expect anything extravagant anyways.

[He steps back up to Wheeljack and gives one last look to the interior of the room.]

That's to be expected, I suppose. I can only assume not only are there Autobots here, but Decepticons as well.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

Yeeeep. Both sides, different universes.

Heck, even kids from that marble we're callin' our vacation spot.

[He starts to walk out again, shutting the door behind them when they're out of the way. No sense in letting Ratchet dwell on that.]

I'll show ya the medbay.