JV. The Pit. Reuniting A Family, Bad News, and Better News

[dens_extra_pups]

Continued from here



First Aid: *turns and looks at Tunnel Rat, her visor bright* Are they alright??

Ratchet: Where were they found? *worried as he tucks Lifeline into her cubby*

Tunnel Rat: Uhhh... *turns back to the door* Duke didn' say. He jes' told me ta come tell yous ta turn yer comms back on.

Ratchet: *doing so now*

Gung-Ho: //Hey, Ratch... Oh... hey! You der, sha?//

First Aid: //I am. How are they?//

Ratchet: *as he moves to get his field kit* //And where were they found?//

Cat Scan: *uncertain now. Knows she should probably accompany Ratchet, but at the same time, she doesn't want to leave Snake Eyes' side*

Gung-Ho: //Dere fine, dough Bill's kinda... well. Dehydrated.// *sounds amused, but then gets serious again. //Out by that sink hole where you-all found Blackout 'n Barricade dat time. 'Hide caught a signal 'n led us right ta dis big ol' abandoned base. Dey were dere.//

Wild Bill: //I'm drunk. It's not like I had any choice.// *sounds a bit raspy*

Ratchet: *relieved, though he is still concerned* //We'll get the infirmary ready.//

First Aid: *murmurs to Cat Scan to get her phone so she can hear the communications, then speaks over the channel again* //Poor Bill. What do you mean?//

Cat Scan: *reluctantly going to get her phone*

Wild Bill: //I mean that crazy 'Con asked me what my favourite things ta eat 'n drink were, 'n then left me with nothin' but buffalo wings 'n bourbon for nearly a week!//

Gung-Ho: *brb, chuckle fit*

Ratchet: //...// *resisting the urge to facepalm* //Can you describe the 'Con, Bill?//

Wild Bill: //Nope. But he said his name was Blitzwing.//

Gung-Ho: //Easy, Bill. Dat de wall dere.//

Wild Bill: //*bleep* you, GH.//

Ratchet: 0_0

Cat Scan: ...Wow. He must be really plastered...

Infirmary door: *opens to allow Gung-Ho to lead his friend inside. A silent Blades follows, and Duke and a couple other JOEs bring up the rear*

First Aid: Blades! Oh poor Blades. *out of operating theatre, across the main room, and hugging sister now*

Blades: *wriggles* *quietly* I'm alright. He never hurt us.

Ratchet: *follows his wife, but then pauses to hunker down and scan Wild Bill, intending to give Blades a bit of privacy*

Wild Bill: *terribly in need of a good drink of clear water, and somewhere quiet to sleep off this drunk* *otherwise unharmed*

Ratchet: *soft, relieved chuckle* *offers to bring Bill to one of the private rooms*

Wild Bill: *blinks uncertainly at the medic's hand for a moment, then shrugs off Gung-Ho's attempt to help him into it and looks up* Can't... can't leave Blades. She... *looks up at his young partner with concern*

Blades: I'm alright. I'm just tired. Can I go?

First Aid: *gently, a hand on her sister's arm* But we need to make sure you're alright, Blades.

Blades: *frowns*

Cat Scan: *calls through the door of the operating theatre* At least let 'Aid scan ya, Blades...

Blades: *and there's her customary impatience and abruptness* I'm fine! I'm going to go to my room and check my plant. *turns toward the door*

Ratchet: *gently, but firmly* Not until you've been looked over, Blades.

Blades: *gives the CMO a look of such rebellion...*

Ratchet: *plants himself in the doorway*

Duke: *quiet but firm* That's an order, Blades.

Blades: *scowls mightily, and Ratchet might detect an energy fluctuation from her chest area...*

Ratchet: *blink blink, scans*

Blades: *steps back, her hand going over her chest. But that hand can't block the unsettled spark bond, or the tiny but strong bud on that unsettled spark*

Ratchet: 0_0 *so surprised, and concerned*

First Aid: What is it, Ratchet? *steps toward sister, her eyes nearly white behind her visor*

Wild Bill: *looks up sharply at her tone of voice and needs to be saved from falling over by Gung-Ho*

Duke: *quietly* What's wrong?

Ratchet: *quietly* Blades, you're on maternity leave... *explaining his findings over comms to First Aid*

First Aid: *hand over her mask with shock*

Wild Bill: WHAT??? Why that... *wow, Bill's got a vocabulary he never uses!*

Cat Scan: *boggling. Has NEVER heard Bill cuss*

Ratchet: The bond's not fully settled....

Duke: *stern look at Blades, starts to say something*

Ratchet: The less Blades is stressed the better, Duke.

Blades: *angry looks for both superior officers, and for her sister. But then her eyes are dimming as she sways dizzily* Ughh...

Wild Bill: Catch 'er!

Duke: *steps forward, even though he won't be able to do anything*

First Aid: *catches sister*

Ratchet: *scanning worriedly*

Blades: *has just over exerted herself. Her bond is strained, but not dangerously so, and her unborn son is safe*

Wild Bill: When I git hold'a that 'Con... *growl*

Ratchet: He's likely in a similar state to Blades at the moment, Bill....

Wild Bill: He didn' have any business puttin' either of 'em in that state!

First Aid: *fussing softly at her husband, urging him to bring Blades to one of the private rooms where she can rest*

Ratchet: *moving to gently lift Blades*

Duke: *sighs* Bill, stand down. Ratchet?

Ratchet: *looks to Duke*

Duke: *quietly* Keep me updated on her condition. And on Snake Eyes'?

Gung-Ho: Huh? What's wrong wit' Snake Eyes? *concerned look from CO to medic*

Ratchet: Will do....

Cat Scan: *bites her lower lip and climbs off the operating table, then moves to talk to Gung-Ho*

Duke: Thanks. *turns and leaves the infirmary, taking the other JOEs with him*

Gung-Ho: *still absently holding the fretting and swaying Wild Bill on his feet as he looks to Cat Scan*

Cat Scan: *quietly* There was an accident during a training exercise...

Gung-Ho: *squares his jaw* *also quiet* What happen?

Cat Scan: *bites her lower lip again* *quiet* There was a bad grenade....

Gung-Ho: *braces his legs as Bill abruptly goes limp* He gonna be okay?

Cat Scan: *small nod* *quietly* It's going to take awhile, but he'll be alright....

Gung-Ho: How is he now? *looks at the scrubs she's wearing*

Cat Scan: Still unconscious...

Gung-Ho: *worried frown, but then looks at Wild Bill as the Texan groans in his sleep*

Cat Scan: *quietly* Let's get Bill situated....

Gung-Ho: Right. Yeah. Kin I see Snake Eyes after?

Cat Scan: *small nod* *quietly* He's still in the operating theatre....

Gung-Ho: *deep breath* Dat... Just how bad was 'e hurt?

Cat Scan: *quietly recounts the ninja's injuries, her voice quivering a bit at times*

Gung-Ho: *slightly white by the time she's finished* *quietly* I... I'll pray, sha.

Cat Scan: *small nod*

Gung-Ho: Like you say, he's gonna be alright.

Cat Scan: *another small nod* Y-Yeah....

Gung-Ho: *disregards disinfectant smell and blood to hug her with his free arm*

Cat Scan: *trying so hard not to burst into tears right now*

Stormshadow: *is a tiny tiny hand pat patting her on the shoulder while he hides in her shirt*

Cat Scan: *wibble*

Gung-Ho: *gentle murmur in Cajun French* It's gonna be okay, sha. Ol' Snake, he tough.

Cat Scan: *deep breath, small nod*

First Aid: *softly* I'll take Wild Bill, Gung-Ho. *gentle hands scoop the inebriated chopper pilot away and then hold him close as she watches Cat Scan with concern*

Cat Scan: *wants nothing more than to cry and get upset, but at the same time, she doesn't want to look weak in front of one of her friends.... She still feels like she has to prove that she belongs here at the Pit*

Gung-Ho: *nods to First Aid, and then turns back to Cat Scan* Les' go get Snake ta de recovery room, sha. *will gently guide her toward the operating theatre*

Cat Scan: Y-yeah... *deep breath, squares her shoulders, and is guided*


Meanwhile, down the hall in the private room


Blades: *opens her eyes and blinks up at Ratchet dazedly* Wha...?

Ratchet: *gently* Easy, Blades.... Just rest.... *making sure the woman is covered with a light blanket*

Blades: *scowls slightly* Am I under arrest?

Ratchet: *headshake* No, but you are on maternity leave.

Blades: ...Duke didn't look very happy with me. *turns her head and frowns tiredly at the wall*

Ratchet: I'll talk to him and find out what's going on.... *though he does have a hunch that it's not just what happened with Blades that has the soldier in a bit of a mood*

Blades: I know what's going on. I fraternized with the enemy.

Ratchet: *quietly* I think everyone's more glad that you're alright, Blades.

Blades: *turns her head to give him a wary and disbelieving look*

Ratchet: *quieter* I know I am.

Blades: *closes eyes and looks away again, but not before he's seen her wibble*

Ratchet: *will gently patpat her hand*

Blades: *starts crying* *doesn't want to, but can't help it*

Ratchet: *soft, soothing clicks*

Blades: He let us go. The stupid #$@#@$@ never even asked if I wanted let go. *more sad static*

Ratchet: *quietly* Everything will be alright.

Blades: *softly, as though talking to herself* Just looking at me made him so happy. I didn't want him anywhere near me at first, and I was scared when he insisted on cuddling me. But then... *wibble* I said yes. He didn't make me marry him.

Ratchet: *quietly* We'll find him. *fully intends to give Blitzwing a stern talking-to for making his sister-in-law cry*

Blades: Once I knew he wasn't going to do anything I didn't want... He's big, and strong. I felt safe around him, like nobody would ever mess with me if he was watching out for me.

Ratchet: *quietly and firmly* We'll find him.

Blades: *quiet and sad* And then what? Lock him up? He needs the sky even more than I do.

Ratchet: No. But I will make sure it's absolutely clear that if he hurts you, I will be having more than just a stern conversation with him.

Blades: *eyes snap at him* He wouldn't hurt me!

General Hawk: //Ratchet??//

Ratchet: //Yes, General Hawk?// *to Blades* I just want to hear it from him, Blades....

General Hawk: //You mind explaining why Rodima Prime is sleeping on my living room floor??// *sounds so miffed*

Blades: *just crying again, and looking so tired and worn out*

Ratchet: //Because you and she need to get used to working together.// *more gentle patpats for Blades*

General Hawk: *ire just went up a notch* //She says she lives here now.//

Ratchet: //...// *sounding a bit confused now* //Is that a problem, sir?//

General Hawk: *small sound as though he just smacked into a wall* //She's a young, unmarried woman, and I'm an old widower.//

Ratchet: //....// *still doesn't see the problem*

General Hawk: //Ratchet, are you there?//

Ratchet: //I'm not quite sure I understand the problem, sir...// *totally serious*

General Hawk: *sounds brain broken* //You don't?//

Ratchet: //Er... No, sir...//

General Hawk: //But... how can you not??//

Ratchet: //You're partners....//

General Hawk: //...What does that have to do with anything? So we're supposed to work together. Wait... Do your people live with the people they work with?//

Ratchet: *blink blink* //Yes, sir.... We do...// *thought the memo had been passed on to the General*

General Hawk: *sound of a facepalm* //Doesn't she have family on base?//

Ratchet: //Arcee and Springer have Fancy, sir....//

General Hawk: //...What does that mean?//

Ratchet: //Well... We didn't think you'd want them there too, sir...//

General Hawk: *stunned silence* *is realizing he's not getting out of this*

Ratchet: //...General Hawk?// *concerned*

General Hawk: *deep sigh* //How are Snake Eyes, Bill, and Blades?//

Ratchet: //Snake Eyes will make a full recovery, in time. Wild Bill just needs rest and fluids...// *quieter* //And Blades is on maternity leave.//

General Hawk: *voice suddenly sharp with a slightly angry edge that hadn't even shown in his frustrated protests against his new roommate* //What? What happened?//

Ratchet: //Blitzwing courted her.// *serious* //He never once harmed her or Wild Bill.//

General Hawk: *surprised* //So we've got another Decepticon recruit?//

Ratchet: //I don't know, sir.... Blitzwing let Blades and Bill go....//

General Hawk: //...Let them go?//

Ratchet: *explains where the two were found*

General Hawk: //He left his wife?//

Ratchet: //It's looking like that.... I wasn't there though.... Ironhide would know more, sir.//

General Hawk: *sound of surprise in his voice increases* //Alright... Where's Bill?//

Ratchet: *checks with First Aid before responding*

First Aid: //He's sleeping. I've got him hooked to a drip to help him get rehydrated.//

Ratchet: *to General Hawk* //One of the private rooms in the infirmary. He's sleeping at the moment.//

General Hawk: //But you said Blitzwing didn't hurt him. Why is he in the infirmary?//

Ratchet: //He was dehydrated.... All he's had to eat and drink for the past week was hot wings and bourbon....//

General Hawk: *eloquent surprise* //Hot wings and bourbon?//

Ratchet: //Blitzwing asked him what his favorite things to eat and drink are....//

General Hawk: *sound of a face palm* //How drunk is he?//

Ratchet: //He was cursing, sir....//

General Hawk: //That bad...// *sigh* *more quietly* //How's Snake Eyes?//

Ratchet: *quietly* //He hasn't woken up yet, but he'll be alright, sir.//

First Aid: *thrill of concern and sadness*

Ratchet: -First Aid?-

First Aid: *quietly* -Yes?-

Ratchet: -Is something wrong?-

First Aid: *as more sorrow and worry comes over the bond* //Snake Eyes has gone into a coma.//

Ratchet: *dismay* -Oh, no...- *quietly, to General Hawk* //Snake Eyes has gone into a coma, sir...//

General Hawk: *groans* //I'll let his next of kin know.//

Ratchet: *quietly* //Understood, sir.// *knows it's likely that Cat Scan has already been informed* *to First Aid* //General Hawk will let Snake Eyes' next of kin know... How is Cat Scan?//

First Aid: *quietly* //I just told Jinx. And... I've sedated Cat Scan.//

Ratchet: *quiet sigh* //Alright...//

First Aid: *shock and hope!*

Ratchet: *blink blink* //First Aid?//

First Aid: *laughing and crying* //Shipwreck just hit on me!//

Ratchet: *so relieved and amused now* //You told him you're already spoken for, right?//

First Aid: //I don't think he'd be able to hear me past Mara kissing him.// *sobby static and a chuckle*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle* *lets General Hawk know that Shipwreck is going to be just fine*

General Hawk: //Well at least we have some good news. How's Orion?//

Ratchet: //He's getting stronger, and has been playing with Mariposa more often.//

General Hawk: //How's his memory?//

Ratchet: //There are things he's still uncertain about, but for the most part, he recognizes his friends and family....//

General Hawk: //What are his chances of getting the rest back?//

Ratchet: *quietly* //It doesn't look like he'll regain those memories...//

General Hawk: //...I see. So Optimus Prime... is gone.//

Ratchet: *quietly* //But not forgotten.//

First Aid: *softly* //He lived a long life.//

Ratchet: *quietly* //We honor him by continuing on, even though his passing hurts.//

General Hawk: *quietly* //Should I arrange a memorial service?//

Rodima: *sleepy sounding* //Nah.//

Ratchet: *softly* //We've already taken care of the shell...//

General Hawk: //Alright. I guess I'd better get back to work. Thanks for the update, Ratchet.//

Ratchet: //You're welcome, General Hawk.//

First Aid: *quietly echoes her husband's words*

General Hawk: *signs off*

Rodima: *still dozy* //Kup always did throw good parties.//

Ratchet: //Get some rest, Rodima.//

Rodima: //Yeah... working on it.// *sleepy chuckle*

Ratchet: *bit of a headshake as he signs off* *will go check on Snake Eyes and Cat Scan, and then get Desinex out from under his desk*

((Written with random_xtras))