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

[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.

[neededthat]

[Ratchet quickly follows behind the other bot, looking along the walls as he does so. Soon his gaze rests back on Wheeljack, curious.]

So, two years you've been here... What's the purpose of us being here anyways? Just to rebuild Cybertron once again?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

That's what they keep tellin' us. Tryin' to establish order and scrap like that, while the FirstForged 'get it ready'.


Only problem is, Unicron--yeah, I didn't believe it either--is tryin' to stop us.

[Someone missed out on Earth's Unicron plot, so this is his first god-encounter.]

[neededthat]

[Oh that plot yeah. That was a thing.]

Create order? [Ratchet looks at Wheeljack, skeptical.]

Between Autobots, Decepticons, and other races here?

Like that will ever happen.

[wheeljackofalltrades]

You'd be surprised how well they all get along, Doc.

...

On the outside.

[Safe to say he has his doubts.]

[neededthat]

To please the First Forged, I assume.

[He rolls his optics with a scoff.]

Is it safe to assume that you have made at least a few allies?

[wheeljackofalltrades]

First Forged let us make the rules here. They just are there to smack the hands of the ones who get outta line.

So really, it's whoever talks the biggest, and delivers.

...

Yeah, I got some friends in pretty high places, I'd say.