[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]

[Ratchet's face stills and his optics narrow down at Riptide's arm, not seeming to really see it for a moment. His voice is icy when he speaks again, though it's clear he's not angry with Riptide.]

I [he's unnervingly calm as he works, his words extremely precise] will figure something out.

[knaval]

[there's a hundred things he wants to say; "megatron said the same", "just take out his voice box", but riptide doesn't bother. he's tired. the kind of tired sleeping can't fix.

instead, he just puffs a sigh out his vents.]

Great welcome for you, I guess.

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet makes a low chuffing sound in his vocalizer, not quite a laugh, shaking his head as he carefully opens up the messy patch jobs and welds them back together, his hands very steady.]

Nothing I'm not used to. Least I'm here now, in case things need fixing.

[knaval]

I woke up in cryo.

[he figures he should tell ratchet what he can.]

Like-- whoompf! Right after-- [he presses his free palm to his forehead, squeezing his optics shut.] After... purple. The purple guy. I don't-- why don't I know his name!?

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet frowns up at Riptide, pressing the hand not currently converted into a welding torch gently to the front of Riptide's shoulder, keeping him from moving too much.]

It's okay, Riptide. It's all right. I'll check your brain module once I'm done with your arm, but it doesn't matter what his name is right now. Don't worry about it.

[knaval]

[none of this had really occurred to him before, so ratchet wins the lottery of getting a freak out. riptide hadn't thought much of it while cussing out tarn at megatron - he probably wouldn't have used tarn's name anyway.

riptide knows what shadowplay is. he's not happy.]

No! I can't just ignore the fact a really big piece of information just-- went! He didn't even do anything to my head! [riptide vents rapidly, grabbing ratchet's wrist and squeezing. not hard - just for support.] Why am I so stupid!

[asafepairofhands]

Hey--hey.

[Ratchet shifts his hand to grip back at Riptide's firmly, looking up into his face.]

Riptide--you died, all right? Maybe something happened to your body after the fact that persisted. Maybe whatever brought you back caused some kind of malfunction or temporary loss. It's not you being stupid, you can hear just fine and I said the name before and it's still slipping. I think it's a by-product of what happened to you, somehow. I'll check you as thoroughly as I can and we'll figure it out. I've got you, okay?

[knaval]

[riptide pointedly avoids ratchet's gaze, pulling back slightly, even.]

N-- No! You don't... he only did it because I couldn't keep my stupid mouth shut! He almost killed an innocent person because I just couldn't do the smart thing and shut up!

[asafepairofhands]

Riptide, Tarn killed you because he's sadistic and cruel. If it wasn't you, it would have been somebody else who annoyed him, or someone he perceived slighted him in some way, or just because he was bored and got the itch.

[Ratchet doesn't let go, his optics steady on Riptide's face.]

What he did--anything he did--wasn't your fault, or your responsibility. It's his.

[knaval]

[riptide continues venting rapidly, if only because he thinks about how tarn had said he'll do what he did in the duplicate lost light. he can't stop thinking about being thrown back there again, after telling himself he could at least bring pipes and trailcutter back and being there alone was significantly worse than with everyone else.

a shudder ripples through riptide's frame and he tries to yank his wrist out of ratchet's grip - he absolutely hates that he couldn't keep it together after doing so well for so long.]

You didn't see the second Lost Light, Ratchet. He said he'll do it again!

[and, of course, scared riptide enough that he believes it'll happen.]

[asafepairofhands]

He's not going to do anything again, Riptide. He's alone, he doesn't have the rest of the DJD, and they're putting him on Fool's Energon after what he did to you.

[Ratchet's grip tightens slightly before he lets go, an ache pressing hard down against the top of his tanks.]

I believe you, that it was bad. But it won't happen again. I promise you.

[knaval]

So why didn't Megatron do that in the first place?!

[riptide knows ratchet can't give him an answer; he wasn't even there, and it's no fair to do this to him. he just can't stop.]

You're just saying exactly what Megatron said when he gave me his word that the purple guy wouldn't do anything! [he seems equal parts angry and upset.] What happens when the other DJD show up?!

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet's face sets as Riptide shouts at him, absorbing it without complaint. He's quiet for a moment before he heaves a warm sigh of air from his vents.]

I don't know, Riptide. I don't know why Megatron didn't take him out as a threat and I don't know why Megatron promised something he couldn't deliver. But my job is--it's to keep you guys in one piece, all right? I'm going to do that as best I can, however I can. That's what I can promise you.

[knaval]

Okay. Okay, I believe you, I just--

[he pulls his knees up to his chest, still venting rapidly.]

I've never-- I can usually do it fine! Everyone can! Everyone can pretend they're okay when they're not and I'm trying for Sideswipe and Tailgate and Rodimus but it's never been this hard before. [he won't let them know. he can't.] I don't know how much longer I can keep it up with purple guy here and...

[his venting slows, finally, and he uncurls a bit.]

...I'm tired. Sorry, Ratchet. Let's just finish up here and I'll go.

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet reaches out, his fingertips barely brushing Riptide's wrist before he curls a hand around it again, tugging his arm closer and folding the tools out of his own wrist to continue repairs.]

I'll clear you out as soon as I can, if that's what you want, once your check is done. But I've had Optimus Prime break down in my office, Riptide. Nobody's good at pretending all the time, and there's nothing you can do or say here that will make me think less of you. It's all right.

[knaval]

[he lets off a bitter sort of half laugh.]

Yeah, and apparently we deal with our outbursts in the same way.

[he has no doubt megatron will tell ratchet, so fuck it.]

...I, uh. May have shot Megatron when I saw him after coming out of cryo. In the face. Several times.

[despite everything, he's not proud of it. it was a mess and while he knows he wouldn't ever do that to anyone else... not good.]

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet's optics widen very, very slightly, the only outward sign that it is taking every shred of his self-control to not burst out laughing in Riptide's face. He masters himself after a moment and lets out a soft hiss of air from his vents.]

I see. And nobody was seriously injured? He hasn't come to me about it, in any case.

[knaval]

Ratchet.

[for the first time, riptide looks truly horrified.]

Ratchet, he put his arm around me. I damn near had a spark attack.

[asafepairofhands]

[The expression on Ratchet's face calcifies in an attempt to control himself, his optics paling. His voice is choked when he speaks again.]

Are you telling me [carefully] that Megatron tried to hug you, and you shot him in the face?

[knaval]

[you know, on hearing it out loud, riptide truly realises how absolutely ridiculous the entire situation was.

sure, he was having a MASSIVE freak out less than three minutes ago, but this is... something else. riptide snorts.]

Yeah, I guess I did.

[looks ratchet dead in the eye, then... absolutely loses his shit. bent over laughing because megatron tried to hug him and riptide shot him in the face.]

[asafepairofhands]

[oh thank... something. Ratchet cracks too, though he's a bit more controlled, his laughter low and staticky.]

Look I just... wanted to be clear. [He shakes his head and bites his lips together, shoulders still shaking.] I mean, it's not like I don't understand that being an instinctive reaction, but still.

[knaval]

[riptide calms down himself after a moment, though when he looks back at ratchet he seems significantly less focused.]

Are you kidding me? If he'd done that to you the bugger would've got like six scalpels in the optic!

[asafepairofhands]

You know, I'll be honest, I don't know if I'd've had your lightning reflexes--I might have just sat there, too stunned to do anything about it.

Not that I think he's stupid enough to try something like that with me in the first place, and as much as I would generally discourage you from shooting our fellow crewmembers in the face, your instincts are laudable.

[knaval]

[riptide's voice lowers to an almost terrified whisper.]

He might try to hug you too.

[asafepairofhands]

Not if he wants all his organs to stay put he won't.

Do you know, I once threatened to surgically remove his mouth? I'm still considering it.