[video] + 001

[asafepairofhands]

[The feed cuts on to show a Cybertronian with a red and white helm, blue optics, and what appears to be a habitually irritated expression on his face. His voice is brisk and no-nonsense.]

This is Ratchet, former Chief Autobot Medical Officer. I've been assigned here as a field medic, apparently, though I'm volunteering to lend my hand in the medical bay on the ship in my off-time. I have no idea where we are or what happened to get us here, which I can deal with considering everything else that's happened the last year or so, but I really don't like not knowing the effects this "Ingress" [brings bright red hands, chipped in places to reveal specks of blue paint, up to add scarequotes] thing may have had on us, so I want people in for checkups.

Autobots, since there seem to be some of you on the ship, I'm assuming I'm still ranking medical officer here so I'm making that an order--report to Moro deck room 022 earliest. Non-Autobots... I obviously can't order you to do anything, but barring any wild extenuating circumstances you're welcome to drop by for a systems check also. You won't be turned away out of hand.

I specialize in non-organic medicine so if there are any non-Cybertronians on board who fit that bill, I can't promise anything, but I'll take a look. If you're strictly organic, you should probably just hit the regular medibay, but I've got some experience and I won't turn you away if you want to come here instead for whatever reason.

Any current medical officers seeing this, I'd like to talk supplies and if I can get put on rotation--I have a holomatter avatar, same as the others, so I'll fit just fine. Unless any of you expect my field medic duties to take up the majority of my time, in which case I would like a much more thorough briefing on what the fresh hell is going on here.

Ratchet out.

Comments

[asafepairofhands]

Organics, even fish, require regular feeding, cleaning, and care, Tailgate. Do you want to be the one to take care of them every day?

[He takes this deluge of positivity in stride.]

I have to get up to speed on the medical situation here, particularly for us. Human medibays are fine, generally, but they're not well-stocked with things inorganics tend to need.

[daintylegs]

I completely forgot how much of a funkill you are.

But I guess you're right.

[Sadly, most funkills are.]

So! Which bad news do you want to hear first? We have everything from "I'm a Decepticon now," to "Tarn is here and he killed someone." I'll give you five points if you can correctly guess who.

[asafepairofhands]

Well, that's part of my j--wait, you're a what?

[Before Ratchet can ask why they're having this Decepticon conversation again, he hears Tarn's name and goes still.]

What? [He repeats the question, but his voice is hoarser this time, squeezed taut as his fuel turns to ice in his lines.] He--who's gone? When did he arrive?

[daintylegs]

Tarn's the reason I became a Decepticon, and...

[He looks away for a moment. As glib as he's trying to be on the matter, it's not something he likes to think much about, but someone needs to tell Ratchet.]

He killed Riptide.

But, as you can see, Riptide got better.

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet appears to have progressed past anger into a sort of frozen calm, his voice unnervingly even and steady.]

And how, precisely, did Tarn cause you to become a Decepticon, Tailgate?

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[daintylegs]

He asked.

[Tailgate wonders if maybe he should tell the whole truth, but decides against it. He hasn't told anyone else the whole truth, so Ratchet will have to deal with not being special. Still he locks this just in case Tarn is watching and decides to contradict him.]

Well, I mean he asked very... not nice. Also I was sort of on his ship and didn't really have a choice.

So I do Decepticon work with him every couple days. By that I mean assignments, essays, an oral report or two. Sort of like what I did with Magnus except not as excruciatingly boring.

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[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment.]

I see. But you know how dangerous he is, correct? And how little you should trust him?

private

[daintylegs]

I don't trust him at all, I swear.

[He says a little bit guiltily. He doesn't trust Tarn, but at the same time he keeps taking Tarn to face value. Things like that leads to Tailgate making bad choices and becoming a Decepticon.]

He was... really nice and charming when I first met him though. That's sort of how I ended up following him back to his ship in the first place.

[Pause.]

I don't have the badge you gave me anymore. I'm sorry.

[asafepairofhands]

I... believe you. And, it's all right.

[He just looks tired now.]

I'm not angry, Tailgate. I'm just worried. Especially since Tarn is already hurting people.

[daintylegs]

Tarn got what he deserved.

According to this ship and crew anyway.

[Which Tailgate hadn't agreed with then, and doesn't agree with now.]

Has anyone told you that they're going to put him on Fool's Energon yet? That worries me just a little because I think a few people are going to pick a fight with him. Well, actually I know for sure that people are going to pick a fight with him.

That won't look good for anyone.

[asafepairofhands]

Oh. Well. ...huh.

[Ratchet's looking thoughtful now, his optics narrowing on a blank point in space.]

I wonder how they're going to enforce that.

[daintylegs]

Megatron will do it, probably. Aside from me, he's the only person strong enough to handle Tarn.

And I don't want to forcefeed Tarn anything.

[Tailgate doesn't have what it takes to do anything like that.]

Hey Ratchet, this is going to sound really stupid but... Do you think Tarn can change? I mean, Megatron did and he turned out alright. He looks out for us, and he's my friend. Why not Tarn too?

[asafepairofhands]

I-- [Ratchet actually stops and thinks about for a second before just telling Tailgate no, of course he doesn't. He frowns for a moment instead before he speaks again.]

I don't know, Tailgate. I don't know how Megatron's 'change' is going to end up turning out, either--none of us do. But Megatron... whatever he told Optimus, whatever else was going on or how totally out of control things got, he did what he did for a reason. Tarn... just seems to like hurting people.

I've never known anyone like that to change. I don't understand it, but I think people who end up like that... tend to stay that way. [He tries not to think about Drift too hard, his expression setting.]

I wouldn't count on it, at any rate.

[daintylegs]

You're probably right, but I wouldn't be me if I didn't hope just a little bit.

[He wasn't sure what he was hoping for, but that was the answer he was expecting.]

Maybe the most important thing is how badly they feel about it. If they actually want to get better, then maybe they should be given the chance? I gave Cyclonus a chance and everyone says he's done terrible things, and now we're... well we were... he...

[He stutters to a halt and looks away.]

He's a friend. I guess. That's all he wants to be.

[asafepairofhands]

I'd buy that, if I thought Tarn felt badly about anything he's done.

[Ratchet pauses, arrested.]

...yeah? He tell you that himself?

[daintylegs]

Yes.

[His optics start to light up and he reaches up and rubs his face, as if hoping to push the light trails away.]

I asked him to be my Conjunx Endura, and he said no.

I think he thinks I'm too good for him. How... How dumb is that...?

[He's not going to cry, he tells himself, but it's a very near thing.]

Maybe I shouldn't have asked in the first place.

[asafepairofhands]

It's extremely dumb, actually.

[The corners of Ratchet's mouth tighten, his optics narrowing slowly.]

I think it was very brave of you to ask, Tailgate. Sorry it didn't work out.

[daintylegs]

I am too.

But I'll get over it right? It's not the end of the world?

As long as we're together, that's enough for me.

[asafepairofhands]

It's not the end of the world, Tailgate. I don't know if you'll 'get over it' or not, but one person doesn't have to be the rest of your life forever.

And you're strong. I think you'll be okay.