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dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
dens_tf_den2010-12-18 12:17 am
dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com) wrote in dens_tf_den2010-12-18 12:17 am
Entry tags:
sv, Autobot Base, Detroit, and Cybertron, A Bit of Minor Chaos part 2
Continued from here
Meanwhile, back at the shop...
WakeJumper: *pulling up and parking in the shop's parking lot, such that it is. Then he's doing a comm-sweep, sending the same message over many frequencies, and in morse code in the hope he'll get a response* //This is Autobot Medic WakeJumper. Is there anyone here in need of assistance?//
Tracks: *groggily wakes and then groans silently as he realizes that that organic with the yellow hair is polishing him*
Jaya: *wearing a beat up old men's shirt she found in the ragbag, and a pair of cute looking steel toe shoes. Is busy making the Corvette gleam*
WakeJumper: *Scanning for spark signatures and trying again with the frequency sweep, since he's pretty sure he heard something in the building* //I repeat, this is Autobot Medic WakeJumper. Is there anyone here in need of assistance?//
Tracks: *hears the comm call dimly, but try as he might he can't answer*
WakeJumper: *moving to transform, since he's got a very faint signature registering. He's hoping it's faint due to someone's tampering, but he's prepared, or so he thinks, for the possibility that there is someone dying in the shop* *moves to crouch down and peek into the shop* Hello?
Jaya: *nearly jumps right out of her new work boots* *shriek!*
WakeJumper: *Acks* Sorry! Didn't mean to scare you.... *Sheepish*
Jaya: *hunkered down like a quail chick, but sees his badge and takes a deep breath. Then she blushes with embarrassment* I'm sorry too.
WakeJumper: *Scanning the car as he talks* I was told there may be a Cybertronian here by Captain Fanzone....
Jaya: *blinks with confusion as she stands up* A Cybertronian?
WakeJumper: A person like me.
Jaya: *looks around, and then blinks and looks at the Corvette* But...
WakeJumper: *A bit sheepish* I can't exactly come in to get a better look... *will check the scan results*
Jaya: The only car here is Denver's new concept car. She won it at the car show.
WakeJumper: *Frowning a bit* Yeah, but that car is a Cybertronian who's stuck in his alt-mode.... And he probably isn't feeling so hot right now....
Jaya: *drops her polishing rag and skedaddles, mortified at rubbing polish on a person without knowing it. Yup, she's crying again*
WakeJumper: *raised brow ridge as he watches the human go, before he returns his attention back to Tracks* I don't know who you are, and I can't get inside to help you right now, but I promise, I'll do everything in my power to repair you.
Tracks: *listens in silence, his awareness foggy with relief as he struggles faintly to be able to do something and once more fails*
Jaya: *out by her Audi, her arms folded against the roof as she weeps on it*
WakeJumper: *attention going to the tow truck that just arrived* Er... Hi?
Denver: *Getting out so she can lower the fancy car in the garage* 'Lo. *work work work*
Jaya: *wiping her eyes with her sleeve... and not smudging makeup. The girl came to work without any. Will hesitantly sneak close, her borrowed work shirt flapping around her in the wind like a baggy dress*
suit guy: *has gotten out. But he has no idea what to do to help*
WakeJumper: *watches Denver work on pounding out the dent in the foreign car's quarter panel* *frown*
Jaya: *timidly* Denver?
Denver: *looks up* Hm?
Jaya: *nods toward WakeJumper* *quietly* He says your car's a Transformer.
Denver: ... Wahl... th't 'splains 'lot... *frowns and looks around, before she realizes she left Jean, Raoul, and Saelen behind* Aw, $%^&$....
Red Lamborghini: *pulling up and opening its doors* Last stop, all passengers must depart!
Jean: *Stumbling out and winds up sitting on the curb while the cat in his jacket chatters*
Raoul: *slips out and then pauses and scowls at WakeJumper*
WakeJumper: Easy... I'm just here to try and help the shiny guy in the garage...
Saelen: ... Then he is a Cybertronian?
Raoul: *lets his breath out with a whoosh and jams his hands in his pockets*
Jaya: *nodding quietly from where she's standing over by Denver*
Sideswipe: *Transforming* ... Who is he then?
WakeJumper: I don't know, but he's not in good shape... and I'm too big to fit in the shop....
Raoul: *goes inside and puts the Corvette into gear before grabbing Jaya and jamming her in the driver's seat* Steer. *goes and pushes the blue car out of the shop*
WakeJumper: *moving to show Raoul and Jaya where he wants the Corvette. Then he's moving to carefully lift the hood*
Denver: Y'all be careful. *Pound pound pound out dents!*
Raoul: *comes and looks under too* *quietly* We never saw nothin' weird.
Jaya: *afraid to look. She's going to go make coffee instead*
WakeJumper: *working on reconnecting things that got disconnected* *Then he's holding up something that got knocked loose* Spark blocker... No wonder I was getting faint signals from him....
Denver: *Finishes pounding out dents and gives the sports car's owner the bill, which is actually pretty reasonable for a shop in Detroit*
suit guy: *surprised and tries to point out that she put the comma in the wrong place*
Raoul: .... *deep frown*
Denver: *Firmly* No, Ah didn't.
suit guy: ...But the job's worth more. *bewildered*
Denver: Mebbeh 't 's s'meplace else, but Ah believe 'n givin' th' best qualiteh work f'r th' best prahce possible. Most'a th' people Ah cater t' 're college students.
Jaya: *wanders out like a little lost lamb and offers around coffee. Very good coffee*
Saelen: *to the suit guy as he accepts a cup of coffee* Denver gets a lot of repeat clients, but never for the same thing each time.
suit guy: *takes a cup and thanks the pretty young kid with the messy ponytail* ...Do you guys do full bodywork? *looks at the paint on his car*
Denver: Mmyup.
suit guy: How much to repaint my car?
Jaya: Mister, this isn't the time for that.
suit guy: o.0?
Denver: *gives the suit guy one of her cards* Th' shop's 'ours 're 'n th' cahd. *moving to see if WakeJumper needs any help*
Jaya: *sweetly wishes the guy a good day with no trace of sarcasm, and then goes to offer Jean coffee*
Jean: *Quietly thanks Jaya. Is in a bit of shock that he got to ride in a Lamborghini*
Raoul: *head under the hood, watching what Wake's doing*
WakeJumper: *continues reconnecting things that got disconnected and explaining what the parts are* And this'll let him communicate with us...
Raoul: *nods and waits*
Tracks: *just passed out again*
Raoul: *frown*
WakeJumper: *Frowns as well and scans*
Tracks: *unconscious and rebooting* *very slowly*
WakeJumper: *Checks the mech's fuel levels and other fluid levels*
Raoul: We made sure he was all topped up. *frowning deeply now*
WakeJumper: Just making sure.... *Will also double-check connections, just to be on the safe side*
Raoul: *goes and gets the polishing cloth, and then goes to the other side of the Corvette and rubs the spot that made him twitch last time*
Tracks: *awake!* Gah!
Jaya: *eeks softly and spills the last cup of coffee*
WakeJumper: Easy.... You're safe.... *Reassuring clicks*
Tracks: *trembling violently* Get... get them away from me!
Raoul: ....
WakeJumper: ... *Raised brow ridge* *he'd heard what Ratchet said about most Cybertronians being scared of organics, but he hadn't believed the older mech... Now he does* They're not going to hurt you...
Tracks: *stuttering in his dazed horror* Make... make them get away. P... p... please!
Raoul: *scowls and steps back*
Denver: *Frowning muchly, but backs up*
WakeJumper: Alright.... *moves to help Jean up, chuckles when the cat in Jean's jacket peeks out and 'talks' to the blue mech*
cat: *issatalkin!*
Jaya: *quietly as she backs away and tugs the suit guy with her* How can he be afraid of us?
WakeJumper: Where we're from, there's not a lot of information about organic people.... And there are organic species that are dangerous to Cybertronians.... Plus, millenia of misconceptions tends to stick with people....
Jaya: *blinks and frowns a bit*
Tracks: *mutters in Cybertronian about germs and acid and and... BODY OIL!*
WakeJumper: *gives Tracks a LOOK* *Calmly* [The two dark-haired ones were using polishing cloths and polishing compound to make sure your finish doesn't have fingerprints on it, mech.] *If Tracks is at all familiar with Ratchet's attitude and behavior, WakeJumper's 'bedside manner' may seem somewhat familiar*
Tracks: *shakes and shudders, clearly on the edge of a breakdown*
WakeJumper: *moving to get a sedation tab out of storage*
Tracks: *and then he transforms to rest on his knees and one hand as the other hand presses itself to his chest. His handsome red face is marked with strain, and his blue optics are nearly white with the force of his distress* *tries to say something but only comes out with blurts and beeps and static*
Jaya: *crying in earnest now* We shouldn't watch him when he's like this. *pushes the suit guy away*
WakeJumper: *moving to gently apply the sedation tab* *Soothing clicks, will support Tracks after applying the tab*
Tracks: *shuddering slowly stops as his optic shutters droop, and then the mech falls still*
WakeJumper: *moves to gently lift the insensate mech*
Denver: *Frowning more now* Wh're're y'u takin' 'im?
WakeJumper: For now, to the dockside warehouse where my team and I live... It's quiet there, and he'll likely feel safer around other Cybertronians...
Raoul: ...Denver won him at the car show. *not asserting claim, but stating something he's wondering about*
WakeJumper: ...Who'd she win him from?
Denver: *Describes the guy, right down to the little details she remembers*
Saelen: I thought it was a bit strange...
Raoul: *hunkers down and rests a wrist on his knee as he frowns*
Jean: *Frowning* Not anyone I recognize....
WakeJumper: *Much frowning now* And this guy *indicates Tracks* wasn't there before you were in that part of the auto show?
Denver: Ah w'lda noticed...
Raoul: *listening*
WakeJumper: *more frown, sends a message to a certain Neutral he knows* //Hey, Mistfire?//
Mistfire: //I don't want any.//
WakeJumper: //I'm not selling anything. I need your help and Scattershot's help with something.//
Mistfire: //Well Shot's out of it right now. Whaddya want?//
WakeJumper: //I've got a mech here that I don't know, and apparently, Denver won him at an auto show.... He was in vehicle mode at the time, and she gave me a description of the guy who gave her the mech...// *Will databurst both an image of Tracks, and a recording of Denver's description* //Either of these ring any bells?//
Mistfire: //Never met the human before, but that bot is Tracks.//
WakeJumper: //Okay. Well, I'm gonna be bringing him to the warehouse so he can rest... He freaked out about Denver and the other humans...//
Mistfire: //Not surprising, the prissy glitch.// *snorts*
WakeJumper: //I owe Docbot an apology... I thought he was just joking about how most of our people view organics...//
Mistfire: //Kid, that misclocked cleanfreak will blow a gasket if you just get near him with a little dirt on your finish.//
WakeJumper: //...Sheesh... And Denver and the dark-haired kid were polishing him up with expensive stuff and microfiber polishing cloths.... Too bad that sorta thing'd be wasted on me...//
Mistfire: //He's an interior designer. And way too stuck on himself.//
WakeJumper: *Soft sigh* //Well, at any rate, he's here, and I'm pretty sure he didn't intend to be here.//
Mistfire: //Sucks to be him.//
WakeJumper: //Thanks for ID-ing him...//
Mistfire: //Uh huh. Tell Doc I want my old man back.//
WakeJumper: //Will do. WakeJumper out.//
Mistfire: //Amazing sparklet factory out.//
WakeJumper: *Sighs and argues with Deluge about something over comms, even as he carefully shifts Tracks so the mech is easier to carry*
Raoul: *saw that 'talking' expression on the bot's face* Find anythin' out?
WakeJumper: *nods* Just his name, and his occupation...
Saelen: So? Who is he?
WakeJumper: *indicates the mech* His name is Tracks, and he's an interior designer... *is not going to repeat some of the things Mistfire said about the mech*
Raoul: *scowl* What?
Denver: 'E desahgns wh't th' insahd'a buildin's 'n 'ouses 're furnished wit'.
Raoul: .... *snort*
WakeJumper: One of my teammates is clearing a space for him to rest back at the warehouse...
Raoul: *looks over at the nearest guy with coffee, and then helps himself to that person's coffee*
Saelen: *Gives Raoul a slight Look* *Doesn't really drink coffee all that often, truth be told*
Raoul: *chugs it, then sets down the mug and goes to look at the suit guy's car. Blue Corvette seems to be forgotten*
car: *looks pretty much like it did before it got kicked, aside from a few scuff marks*
WakeJumper: I'll keep you updated on how Tracks is doing... *moves to make the long walk home, since he can't get to his PINpoint right now*
Saelen: *nods to the orange and black mech, before moving to help Denver get things cleaned up*
Back at the plant
Ace: Hey, Ratchet. There's somebody on the screen for you.
Ratchet: *looks up from tightening the last connection in Scattershot's hand* What now?
Ace: It's that Perceptor guy.
Ratchet: *Sighs and reattaches Scattershot's hand before he moves to answer the call* Ratchet here.
Ace: *from behind him* Hey... didn't you get enough of flipping the bird when the lightening got you?
Scattershot: *razzes Ace and PINpoints home before Ratchet can stop him*
Ratchet: *face.palm*
Perceptor: *even emotionless he manages to look confused, and it carries over into his toneless voice* Are you busy, Ratchet?
Ratchet: Not anymore, I'm not....
Perceptor: I require assistance understanding a problem.
Ratchet: ... What sort of problem?
Perceptor: ...I am not certain.
Ratchet: ... *Raised brow ridge* Okay then.... What lead to the problem?
Perceptor: I am not certain of that either.
Ratchet: ... *okay, this is a bit weird* Is Red Alert unable to help you?
Perceptor: .... Red Alert will not speak to me.
Ratchet: ... I'm almost afraid to ask why.
Perceptor: I do not know why. She will not tell me. Wheeljack and the youngbots are also being uncommunicative.
Ratchet: ... Give me a few clicks, and I'll see what I can do... *intends to call WakeJumper*
Perceptor: Very well. Perceptor out.
Ratchet: Ratchet out.
Slingshot: *walking back and forth restlessly* May the bird of paradise fly up your nose... may all your pairs of pantyhose have....
Ratchet: *Frowning a bit when WakeJumper explains why he can't come keep an optic on things, but then relaxes when Calypso gives him an ETA. He's seen the femme work, and despite her strange manner of talking, she's almost as skilled as WakeJumper and makes a good field medic*
Slingshot: *still pacing and singing her weird song. Is being ignored by the other youngbots present, who are all intent on the asteroid game*
Calypso: *Arriving a few minutes later, and after a brief exchanging of words with Ratchet, the old medic PINpoints to the area near Perceptor's lab on Cybertron*
Perceptor: *sitting forlornly on a crate outside the door*
Ratchet: ... Okay, what in the name of... Why are you out here, Perceptor?
Perceptor: *looks up* Red Alert locked me out of the lab. After throwing my personal possessions at me.
Ratchet: ... *both brow ridges up as he tries to call Red Alert to get her side of the story*
Red Alert: //Red Alert here.//
Ratchet: //Mind telling me why Perceptor's sitting outside of his lab, looking like a kicked turbofox pup?//
Red Alert: //Yes.// *click*
Ratchet: ... *will try Wheeljack next*
Wheeljack: //'Jack here. *transmits humming*//
Ratchet: //What's going on between Red Alert and Perceptor? She threw him out of his own lab.//
Wheeljack: *cracks up*
Ratchet: //The slag is so funny, 'Jack?//
Wheeljack: *tries to reply a few times only to laugh harder*
Ratchet: //Okay then... Why the slag are you and the youngbots not talking to Perceptor?//
Wheeljack: //*gasp. Wheeze* He asked us to let him in, and we can't. Red would rip my spark out for it.//
Ratchet: //... Am I going to have to ask Bluestreak or Eclipse for the whole story, 'Jack?//
Wheeljack: //She caught him kissin' one of the visiting Earth people.//
Ratchet: //...Who?//
Wheeljack: //This programming tech named Maggie Maddison.//
Ratchet: //...// *Face.palm* *Yes, he's met the woman, and got into a snark match with her* //And Red got jealous?//
Wheeljack: //Red went into a screaming rage. Yeah. Red did. *laughing again*//
Ratchet: *Hatching a bit of a plan in his processor* //Maybe someone should lock Red and Perceptor in a room with some high grade...//
Wheeljack: //And then Maggie Maddison would rip out their spark.//
Ratchet: //....// *okay, that's a bit unexpected*
Wheeljack: //I had to call the enforcers to separate the two of them, Ratch.//
Ratchet: //Slaaaag...// *Rubs at his optic settings, already feeling a big processor ache coming*
Wheeljack: //And the best part? He has noooooo clue.//
Ratchet: //For such a slagging genius, he can be a real idiot.// *Grumble sigh*
Wheeljack: //He's got no feelings, Ratch. What do you expect?//
Ratchet: *more sigh* //I know... Whoever got the idea into his head to remove his emotional centers and personality matrix... I'd gladly offer them to both Maggie AND Red.//
Wheeljack: //...That was all his idea.//
Ratchet: //...//
Wheeljack: //Ratchet? Is this thing on? *tap tap squeeeel*//
Ratchet: *flinches* //Will you cut that out?!//
Wheeljack: //Oh, you are there. Sorry.//
Perceptor: *head in hands, staring down at his holoform as it stares back at him*
Ratchet: *Reaches over and belts Perceptor a good one with a servo wrench*
Perceptor: *blink. Blink* I do not understand.
Ratchet: You removed all of your emotional centers and personality matrix! And because of that, you've been oblivious to something that even Wheeljack noticed! *Starting to get a bit loud*
Perceptor: I needed the processor space for data. *sitting up slowly, his expression pure bewilderment*
Ratchet: *Belts him one again* You slagging idiot! If it were anyone else, I'd have wondered what their slagging motive was, stringing Red Alert along like that!
Perceptor: *puts hands up to protect his helmet* I do not understand.
Ratchet: *more belts with the wrench, to punctuate his words* Red. Alert. LIKES. YOU.
Perceptor: *still hiding* She is my friend. It is logical for her to feel affection for me.
Ratchet: Well guess what? She likes you as more than just a friend. *Wham!*
Perceptor: .... Oh.
Ratchet: //Wheeljack, I think I might've managed to knock some sense into him...//
Wheeljack: //Sheeah right. *continues laughing*//
Ratchet: //At any rate, now he knows Red Alert thinks of him as more than a friend...// *To Perceptor* She's mad at you because of Maggie... Who also thinks of you as more than a friend. How you managed that, I'll never know....
Perceptor: *quietly* I was aware of Maggie Maddison's feelings. She stated them to me clearly.
Ratchet: *pinches the bridge of his nose* //...Okay, so he knew Maggie likes him...// *Attention back on Perceptor* I'd ask what your feelings are, but I have a hunch that that's a bit of a ridiculous question.
Perceptor: I do not have feelings. But I have promised to continue helping Maggie perfect her hologram technology.
Ratchet: There's half of your problem.
Perceptor: I do not understand.
Ratchet: *Facepalm, cycles air, and reminds himself that Perceptor is lacking more than emotions* *Slowly* Red Alert likes you. The thought of you with another female, regardless of whether or not said female is Cybertronian, upsets her.
Perceptor: I cannot fulfill her desire for oneness. I have already promised Maggie.... *holds head in hands*
Ratchet: ... Promised Maggie what, Perceptor?
Perceptor: That I would be her object of affection.
Ratchet: *Facepalm*
Perceptor: I... Functionality is impaired. Please assist.
Ratchet: ... *Scans Perceptor*
Perceptor: *showing strain in his processor*
Ratchet: *moving to get Perceptor laying down* Easy... You'll be alright, Perceptor. *Also calling for assistance*
Perceptor: *quietly* She did not tell me. I did not know. I promised... *shuts down*
Wheeljack: //'Sup now?//
Ratchet: //Perceptor's shut down, and he's showing strain in his processor. And I need to tell Red a thing or two about keeping some things secret.//
lab door: *pops open and Wheeljack barrels out, followed by a concerned Red Alert and some youngbots. Keepsake's laughter sounds from inside*
Eclipse: *worried clicks as she tails her father and aunt*
Ratchet: *Making sure Perceptor is comfortable before he gives Red Alert a LOOK*
Red Alert: *scanning Perceptor and not looking at Ratchet. She seems to be wearing her usual calm and unemotional manner*
Wheeljack: *fretting around*
Ratchet: *Conversationally* You're an idiot too, Red.
Red Alert: I'm nothing of the sort.
Ratchet: You are, because you didn't TELL him how you felt. He had no idea.
Red Alert: I didn't think I needed to. He wasn't the sort to look for femmebot companionship, like some others of our group.
Wheeljack: Yeah, well, I quit lookin' after I found Blue.
Ratchet: *As Eclipse moves to see if she can help with Uncle Percy* If he had known, he wouldn't have kissed Maggie.
Red Alert: *nearly soundless growl at the human woman's name*
Ratchet: You only have yourself to blame for not speaking up, Red. *taking an opportunity to show Eclipse something new as he gently guides the youngbot's actions*
Red Alert: *looks up at him* I had no reason to believe he would have been able to reciprocate if I had told him how I felt. He was contentedly bonded to his science.
Ratchet: *As he works* He would have known, and he would have done what he usually does and thought long and hard about how to proceed.... But what do I know about love long lost? *Work work work*
Red Alert: Clarion.
Ratchet: Actually, I was thinking more of Arcee... And I've met Cragbuster...
Wheeljack: Ratchet, he's shuttin' down.
Ratchet: *Notcuss! Works to keep the scientist online*
Perceptor: *systems showing distress as his processor once more tries to logically work out his best course of action every time he comes near to regaining consciousness*
Ratchet: *all but growling as he continues to work, but thankfully, there's nothing unprintable being said*
Red Alert: Perceptor, can you hear me? I don't want to be your mate anymore. Stop this, you're damaging yourself. Perceptor?!
Ratchet: *wonders out loud if reinstalling the mech's personality matrix and emotional centers would do more harm than good at this point*
Eclipse: *Has gone to hide against Dad now, wibbling and clinging*
Ultra Violet: *hugging herself and watching her creator with wide and frightened optics*
Perceptor: *flatlines. Spark still strong but processor no longer functioning*
Wheeljack: *gasps and then straightens and hugs Eclipse and Ultra Violet*
Ratchet: We need to get him to a medbay, NOW!
Red Alert: *transforms* Load him up.
Ratchet: *moves to do so, will also transform with the intention of clearing a path* Which one is the closest to here?
Red Alert: Iacon General. *sirens blaring as she rushes down the quiet sidestreet toward the busier thoroughfare*
Ratchet: *Speeds off after her, his own sirens blaring*
Red Alert: *lets him past but doesn't slack her speed*
Ratchet: *Glad for the fact that most everyone knows that when sirens can be heard, you get the pit outta the way* *is soon pulling up and transforming in front of Iacon General*
Red Alert: *skids to a halt and opens her hatch*
med personnel: *flock out of the emergency exit, ready to assist*
Ratchet: *grouching and explaining the situation to the personnel*
Perceptor: *soon on a stretcher and being rushed inside*
Makeshift: *has the form in his hands* Next of kin. Red Alert.
Red Alert: *as she transforms* No. Don't write me down. Put his femme's name. *hurries on inside*
Makeshift: ...Whutnow?
Ratchet: *Facepalm* Just do as she says and write Maggie Maddison. *moving to hurry after Red Alert*
Makeshift: .... Okay, then.
Hour later
Ratchet: *sighing quietly as he watches Perceptor, feeling a bit like a failure since all he was able to do was put the mech into deep stasis*
Red Alert: *weary slump as she rubs her face* I... killed my best friend, didn't I?
Ratchet: His spark is still strong... He's just not very good at handling the sudden curves life likes to throw at us....
Red Alert: *shaky sigh* If I hadn't.... *normally logical femme wibbles, but then frowns at a monitor* ...Someone's been trying to contact him. Ten messages in the last cycle.
Ratchet: ... *Raised brow ridge* Who could want to get in touch with him that badly?
Red Alert: ... You look. *turns and goes to the sterilizer*
Ratchet: *Will do so*
messages: *all from Maggie Maddison. They start with 'I'm in this holding cell with nothing to do, will you bring me my computer, Perceptor?', and end with 'Perceptor, guys are supposed to be there for their girlfriends! And now I'm being deported and I don't even have my notes!'*
Ratchet: .... *knows he should probably feel bad, but really, he can't help but snicker and go to find Red Alert*
Red Alert: *had stepped out of the room to give orders to a nurse. Looks up as Ratchet comes over*
Ratchet: *looking a bit too amused* *Quietly* I didn't know people could be deported from Cybertron....
Red Alert: *puzzled* Well, we did it to the Decepticons.
Ratchet: No, they were exiled...
Red Alert: We still had to ship some of them off planet.
Ratchet: Alright, I'll give you that... *soft chuckle* Turns out a certain someone's visa expired or something along those lines....
Red Alert: *blinks at him, and then looks at her own messages* *soft groan* No, she was deported for attacking me.
Ratchet: ... When was this?
Red Alert: *won't look at him* After I called her some less than desirable names.
Ratchet: ...Not quite what I meant...
Red Alert: *quietly* About three point five clicks after I walked into Perceptor's lab to find his holoform and the human....
Ratchet: And that was how long before you threw him out of his lab?
Red Alert: I threw him out right after the enforcers let go of me.
Ratchet: I need a better timeline, Red....
Red Alert: Seventeen to thirty clicks.
Ratchet: *doing a bit of figuring in his processor* *soft snort* Well, at any rate, Maggie seemed pretty miffed at Perceptor....
Red Alert: When did her first call come in?
Ratchet: After he collapsed...
Red Alert: *face palm* She knows about his habit of turning his commlink off.
Ratchet: ... Obviously, she didn't know, or she wouldn't have left so many messages....
Red Alert: He's got an alert that goes off once he receives a certain number. Infrared made it for him.
Ratchet: And what number is that?
Red Alert: Six from the same channel. *yes, Ratchet, now you know the secret to getting hold of Percy that doesn't involve paying Wheeljack to go poke him*
Ratchet: ... *soft snerk*
Red Alert: ... What's funny?
Ratchet: Well, now I don't have to pay Wheeljack every time I need to get ahold of Perceptor....
Red Alert: *facepalm* Yes, that was the idea.
Ratchet: At any rate... I think Maggie and Perceptor may be through as a couple, but don't quote me on that...
Red Alert: I won't. You don't know the femme.
Ratchet: I've met her before.
Red Alert: Have you?
Makeshift: *heading past with a patient on a gurney* Maggie Maddison is persona non grata on Cybertron, so I wrote you down, Red.
Red Alert: .>_<.
Ratchet: *moves to gently nudge Red Alert back towards Perceptor's room*
Red Alert: No. *sidesteps him* I'm not going in, Ratchet.
Ratchet: *small frown* And why not?
Red Alert: *quietly* It wouldn't be right. *turns to walk away*
Ratchet: *moves to gently catch her arm* It wouldn't be right to leave him to his own devices, Red.
Red Alert: I was a factor in the removal of the femme he chose, and in his current condition. I think it's better if I take my creation and find other quarters. *walks away*
Makeshift: *pings Ratchet's comm* //You know anything about fixing damaged organics? They've got one over at Crystal Collegiate. Seems an Autotrooper stepped on it while it was trying to sneak out of the Space Bridge complex.//
Ratchet: ... *Facepalm* //How bad's the organic hurt?//
Makeshift: //No idea. I haven't seen it, and they don't even know how an organic's supposed to run.//
Ratchet: //I'll be over there in a few clicks...// *getting his PINpoint out again*
Makeshift: //I'll let them know. Makeshift out.//
Ratchet: //Ratchet out.// *Waits a few seconds before PINpointing to Crystal Collegiate*
receptionist: *startles and looks up with wide optics*
Ratchet: Where's the organic that's hurt?
receptionist: *points to a series of rooms to one side of the foyer* 009.
Ratchet: *nods and hurries to that room, fearing the worst*
doc 1: I'm telling you, it's dead.
doc 2: No way! They can't go offline that easily! ...Can they?
Ratchet: *a bit snippy* Move and I'll tell you for certain.
docbots: *move!*
Ratchet: *moves closer so he can scan*
mess on the table: *yup, she's gone*
Ratchet: *Quiet sigh, moves to cover the mess with a blanket or a tarp* Unfortunately, this one is offline.
doc 2: Well slag. Is there any way to tell who it was? Organics have next of kin to notify, right?
Ratchet: Check the list of organics who were at the Space Bridge complex within the last cycle and a half.
doc 1: Uh... this one had just snuck onto the planet. I don't think it was on the list.
Ratchet: Then check recent deportations.
doc 1: There was that programmer. Maddison?
Ratchet: Maggie...
doc 1: Okay! *compiles report and then starts arguing with his friend about how to preserve a dead organic so you can send it back to Earth without getting anything icky*
Makeshift: //Ratchet! He's waking up!//
Ratchet: *Tells the two medibots to get an opaque plastic container, then PINpoints back to Iacon General*
Perceptor: *laying and looking up at the light over the table he's laying on*
Ratchet: *Quietly, so as not to spook the scientist too badly* Perceptor?
Perceptor: *looks at him quizzically, but without recognition* Are you addressing me?
Ratchet: *Feeling his spark sink a bit* I am....
Perceptor: Ah. *plays aloud a message stating that he will no longer be receiving calls from criminal comm frequencies*
Ratchet: *resisting the urge to snerk* *Quietly* You can delete that message, since it's not in use anymore...
Perceptor: Deleting message now. ... Also delete messages from the criminal comm frequency?
Ratchet: Go ahead.
Perceptor: *does so* *then* What is 'love'?
Ratchet: Er...
Perceptor: Will it damage me?
Ratchet: *answers without hesitation* No.
Perceptor: The criminal stated that they 'loved' me. Knowledge that this will not cause damage is reassuring. *turns head and scans the room again, but still can't figure out where he is or why. Turns attention back to the red and white bot instead* Who are you?
Ratchet: My name is Ratchet...
Perceptor: Ratchet. What is this place?
Ratchet: One of the rooms in Iacon General Hospital...
Perceptor: Hospital. I am unable to sense any damage to my person.
Wheeljack: *noises in the hall*
Infrared: *those other noises*
Eclipse: *is more noises*
Ratchet: *has a strong suspicion about something, will scan Perceptor just to be sure*
Perceptor: *encrypted data files are secure. Personal memory bank is empty*
Ratchet: *Soft sigh, pings Wheeljack's comm*
Wheeljack: *sticks his head in* //We just got a call from Earth. Kia can say the s word that isn't 'slag' now.//
Ratchet: //...// *pinches the bridge of his nose* //Remind me later, when we're not dealing with a problem.//
Wheeljack: *sobers further* //Red left.//
Ratchet: //I figured she would... But someone needs to go get her, because Perceptor's memory banks, aside from his encrypted data, are wiped.//
Eclipse: *Peeking around her father, quiet, worried clicks*
Wheeljack: *soft gasp and then a groan* //That won't make her come back. She thinks she caused all this.//
Eclipse: *looks up at her father, optics wide*
Ratchet: //I know this is going to sound harsh, but I'm honestly surprised Perceptor didn't have this happen sooner...//
Wheeljack: //Buh?//
Ratchet: //Even stoic people still feel emotions, even if they don't react... We're not made to exist without our feelings, 'Jack...//
Wheeljack: //... You mean I have to go and try to remember where he put his personality matrix?//
Ratchet: //You've got help....//
Infrared: Uncle Wheeljack? You look like you've lost something.
Wheeljack: Percy's personality matrix.
Eclipse: *blink blink*
Infrared: I know where that is.
Ratchet: *blink blink, soft chuckle*
Infrared: *taps the side of his helmet*
Wheeljack: 0_0
Ratchet: ...
Eclipse: *Blink, headtilt, inquisitive chirrup?*
Infrared: Mother didn't want it to go to waste.
Wheeljack: ...So how deep of slag are we in, Ratch?
Ratchet: Well, that depends on how much slag the human government of the country Maggie had citizenship in will raise...
Wheeljack: *blink blink* *pause* *blink blink* Um... what has that got to do with Fred having Percy's personality matrix?
Ratchet: *Quietly* Maggie's offline....
Eclipse: :/
Wheeljack: *protective arm around Eclipse* ...How'd that happen?
Ratchet: She met a foot of an Autotrooper going the other way when she was trying to sneak back onto the planet...
Wheeljack: *will rub his daughter's back comfortingly now even as he shudders*
Infrared: *has vanished somewhere. He does that*
Eclipse: *hides her face against her father, microwings shaking a bit*
Wheeljack: Shhh, sweetheart. Shhh.
Infrared: *comes out of the room across the way, walking dizzy but looking pleased with himself. Offers Ratchet a matrix cube* I copied it.
Ratchet: *Soft chuckle as he moves to accept the cube* Good job....
Infrared: Thanks. *turns his head and looks at his sister with concern* Eclipse, do you want a hug?
Eclipse: *Wibbles before nodding*
Infrared: *looks at Ratchet uncertainly* Can you install that without help, sir?
Ratchet: *nods and moves to do so*
Infrared: *relieved sigh and goes to hug sister and comfort her over the loss of her human friend* *softly* You still have the holoform she made you.
Eclipse: *Small wibble as she nods*
Perceptor: *distracted from the group by the door by the approach of Ratchet* What are you going to do?
Ratchet: *Shows him the matrix cube* Reinstall your personality matrix....
Perceptor: *emotionlessly* What is a personality matrix?
Ratchet: *explains what a personality matrix is, and why it's important*
Perceptor: I do not have a personality matrix. I am damaged.
Ratchet: You're not damaged, you just don't have a personality matrix right now.
Perceptor: *logically* But if it is important to have one, and I do not have one, then that seems to fall under the category of damage.
Ratchet: *quiet sigh as he tries to think of how best to explain why the other mech doesn't have a personality matrix*
Wheeljack: //Just agree with him, Ratch. He'll argue all day.//
Ratchet: //Like you wouldn't?// *to Perceptor* Let's get this installed, alright?
Perceptor: I do not know how to do it.
Ratchet: That's alright, I know.
Perceptor: *blinks, obviously running over what data he has in order to try and find the right reply*
Ratchet: I'll need to put you in stasis, Perceptor....
Perceptor: *still looking at him. Doesn't have any objection, but doesn't realize he's supposed to agree*
Wheeljack: *sighs behind Ratchet and hugs the youngbots*
Ratchet: *concerned* Perceptor?
Perceptor: That is my name.
Ratchet: I can't begin working on you without your consent...
Perceptor: What is consent?
Ratchet: *Explains what consent is*
Perceptor: *slow blink* I give my consent.
Ratchet: *nods and moves to gently put the scientist into stasis, before he begins reinstalling the mech's personality matrix*
Infrared: *watching as he hugs Eclipse*
Wheeljack: *confused* Ratchet, that's his chest.
Ratchet: There's no room in his head for it.
Wheeljack: Uh... yeah. But... That'll work?
Ratchet: It should...
Wheeljack: Okay... *will watch now*
Eclipse: *Quiet, worried clicks as she clings to Infrared*
Infrared: *soft purr to sister*
Eclipse: *hiding her face against brother now*
Ratchet: *Continues to work, keeping an optic on Perceptor's vitals*
Perceptor: *vitals actually perk as the component is added, and then his systems are seeking for the emotion components and beeping alarm when they aren't immediately available*
Ratchet: *Works on making the emotion components available*
Perceptor: *systems making the soft hum of a perfectly running Cybertronian*
Ratchet: *double-checks everything* //There... He should have fewer health problems from here on out as well...//
Wheeljack: *lets air out of his intakes* //Good.// *sadly* //It's just too bad he won't be himself anymore.//
Ratchet: //...What do you mean?// *working on closing everything up and making sure he has all his tools*
Wheeljack: //His memory files are still gone.//
Ratchet: *Quiet sigh* //Yeah...// *will bring Perceptor out of stasis slowly*
Perceptor: *quiet sound as he comes back online, then opens his optics and peers through his spectacles* *softly, in the familiar voice unheard for so long* You are Ratchet. And I am Perceptor. *slight smile*
Infrared: *blinking at that strange voice from his mentor*
Eclipse: *Blinkblink, clings and hides more*
Ratchet: *nods* That's right...
Perceptor: *tilts head slightly and looks rueful* I need more data before I can reply in a satisfactory manner.
Ratchet: //Wheeljack, you wouldn't happen to have that old databook on ettiquite and manners, would you? Or a newer version?//
Wheeljack: *squints one optic and databursts it to him*
Perceptor: *still watching Ratchet with a warm and hopeful smile*
Ratchet: Here, Perceptor... *will databurst the book on ettiquite and manners to the scientist*
Perceptor: *optics shutter as he analyzes and absorbs the data* *moments later* *blink blink* Thank you! Oh do forgive me for being lax in my courtesies!
Ratchet: *Will gently pat the scientist's shoulder* You're welcome... You should get some rest though....
Perceptor: *headtilt* Rest?
Ratchet: *nods* So you don't strain anything after getting that chunk of data.
Perceptor: *concentrates, and then brightens* Ah, it's a colloquialism for stasis? *optics holding the old bright-eyed Perceptor curiosity focus on Ratchet's*
Ratchet: *nods* That's right...
Perceptor: Very well. But... *turns a concerned look toward the three bots in the door* Should I not make the acquaintance of those individuals? I cannot help but suspect that their concern and visible distress are related to me in some way.
Ratchet: *Gently* There will be time for that later....
Perceptor: *glances toward the bots in the door and sees that the mech with the blinking lights is herding the others away. Disappointed and concerned despite his weariness* Oh... Very well.
Ratchet: *more gentle shoulder patting, then he's moving to cover Perceptor with a tarp* Here...
Perceptor: *closes his hand over the edge of the tarp* *quietly* Thank you, Ratchet.
Ratchet: *Gently* I'll see you later...
Perceptor: *browridges lift* See me later?
Ratchet: I'll be visiting.
Perceptor: You mean you're leaving now?
Ratchet: For now, I am...
Perceptor: *seems saddened, but smiles bravely* Ah. Farewell, then.
Ratchet: Get some rest... *moves to head for the door*
Perceptor: *shutters optics and snuggles under the tarp, is in stasis rest before Ratchet has left the room*
Wheeljack: *standing a little way down the hall and talking to the youngbots*
Eclipse: *Still clinging to Infrared, is listening to her father as well*
Wheeljack: *quietly listing what they shouldn't say to Perceptor now that he's lost his memory, and how they should try to act around him* *softly* ....And it's.... probably better if nobody calls him 'mentor', okay?
Eclipse: *Slight wibble as she nods*
Infrared: *quietly* I understand, Uncle Wheeljack. *looks toward Ratchet*
Ratchet: *getting a box of cookies out for the youngbots* *Quietly* He's resting now...
Wheeljack: Any instructions?
Ratchet: Just help him get reacquainted with people, and make sure everyone he works with on a regular basis knows about this... but use your head, and don't just blurt out everything....
Wheeljack: *nod* Gotcha. *thinks of his mate and groans slightly* I gotta go talk to Blue. Fred, are you alright stayin' here if he needs anything?
Infrared: *nods*
Eclipse: *Quietly* Wanna stay with Fred...
Wheeljack: *gently* I was gonna send you to go see Wake.
Ratchet: That's probably not a good idea right now... WakeJumper and the rest of the Aquabots aside from Calypso are playing host to Tracks....
Wheeljack: o.0 What's he doin' on Earth?
Ratchet: If I knew, I'd tell ya...
Wheeljack: .... Can't see him pickin' it for a vacation spot. Not the way he is.
Ratchet: He probably got yanked to the Nexus and one of the regular visiters brought him to Earth.
Wheeljack: *shakes his head* Sheesh. *looks back down at Eclipse*
Eclipse: *confused now*
Wheeljack: I guess you can stay with Fred, then.
Eclipse: *Small nod, still a bit confused, as she's never met Tracks*
Wheeljack: *gently rubs her back* You have your doll?
Eclipse: *another small nod, hand going to the compartment she keeps her doll in when she's not snuggling it*
Wheeljack: *gentle kiss on her forehead* Good girl. Help Fred, okay?
Eclipse: *snuggles close before moving to cling to Infrared again*
Infrared: *clicks to sister and then leads her over to the visitor's lounge to sit on a couch with her and adjust the monitor to view Perceptor's room*
Wheeljack: *watches them go, and then nods to Ratchet before turning to start on his way*
Ratchet: *nods to Wheeljack and moves to PINpoint back home*
((Co-written with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
random_xtras))
WakeJumper: *pulling up and parking in the shop's parking lot, such that it is. Then he's doing a comm-sweep, sending the same message over many frequencies, and in morse code in the hope he'll get a response* //This is Autobot Medic WakeJumper. Is there anyone here in need of assistance?//
Tracks: *groggily wakes and then groans silently as he realizes that that organic with the yellow hair is polishing him*
Jaya: *wearing a beat up old men's shirt she found in the ragbag, and a pair of cute looking steel toe shoes. Is busy making the Corvette gleam*
WakeJumper: *Scanning for spark signatures and trying again with the frequency sweep, since he's pretty sure he heard something in the building* //I repeat, this is Autobot Medic WakeJumper. Is there anyone here in need of assistance?//
Tracks: *hears the comm call dimly, but try as he might he can't answer*
WakeJumper: *moving to transform, since he's got a very faint signature registering. He's hoping it's faint due to someone's tampering, but he's prepared, or so he thinks, for the possibility that there is someone dying in the shop* *moves to crouch down and peek into the shop* Hello?
Jaya: *nearly jumps right out of her new work boots* *shriek!*
WakeJumper: *Acks* Sorry! Didn't mean to scare you.... *Sheepish*
Jaya: *hunkered down like a quail chick, but sees his badge and takes a deep breath. Then she blushes with embarrassment* I'm sorry too.
WakeJumper: *Scanning the car as he talks* I was told there may be a Cybertronian here by Captain Fanzone....
Jaya: *blinks with confusion as she stands up* A Cybertronian?
WakeJumper: A person like me.
Jaya: *looks around, and then blinks and looks at the Corvette* But...
WakeJumper: *A bit sheepish* I can't exactly come in to get a better look... *will check the scan results*
Jaya: The only car here is Denver's new concept car. She won it at the car show.
WakeJumper: *Frowning a bit* Yeah, but that car is a Cybertronian who's stuck in his alt-mode.... And he probably isn't feeling so hot right now....
Jaya: *drops her polishing rag and skedaddles, mortified at rubbing polish on a person without knowing it. Yup, she's crying again*
WakeJumper: *raised brow ridge as he watches the human go, before he returns his attention back to Tracks* I don't know who you are, and I can't get inside to help you right now, but I promise, I'll do everything in my power to repair you.
Tracks: *listens in silence, his awareness foggy with relief as he struggles faintly to be able to do something and once more fails*
Jaya: *out by her Audi, her arms folded against the roof as she weeps on it*
WakeJumper: *attention going to the tow truck that just arrived* Er... Hi?
Denver: *Getting out so she can lower the fancy car in the garage* 'Lo. *work work work*
Jaya: *wiping her eyes with her sleeve... and not smudging makeup. The girl came to work without any. Will hesitantly sneak close, her borrowed work shirt flapping around her in the wind like a baggy dress*
suit guy: *has gotten out. But he has no idea what to do to help*
WakeJumper: *watches Denver work on pounding out the dent in the foreign car's quarter panel* *frown*
Jaya: *timidly* Denver?
Denver: *looks up* Hm?
Jaya: *nods toward WakeJumper* *quietly* He says your car's a Transformer.
Denver: ... Wahl... th't 'splains 'lot... *frowns and looks around, before she realizes she left Jean, Raoul, and Saelen behind* Aw, $%^&$....
Red Lamborghini: *pulling up and opening its doors* Last stop, all passengers must depart!
Jean: *Stumbling out and winds up sitting on the curb while the cat in his jacket chatters*
Raoul: *slips out and then pauses and scowls at WakeJumper*
WakeJumper: Easy... I'm just here to try and help the shiny guy in the garage...
Saelen: ... Then he is a Cybertronian?
Raoul: *lets his breath out with a whoosh and jams his hands in his pockets*
Jaya: *nodding quietly from where she's standing over by Denver*
Sideswipe: *Transforming* ... Who is he then?
WakeJumper: I don't know, but he's not in good shape... and I'm too big to fit in the shop....
Raoul: *goes inside and puts the Corvette into gear before grabbing Jaya and jamming her in the driver's seat* Steer. *goes and pushes the blue car out of the shop*
WakeJumper: *moving to show Raoul and Jaya where he wants the Corvette. Then he's moving to carefully lift the hood*
Denver: Y'all be careful. *Pound pound pound out dents!*
Raoul: *comes and looks under too* *quietly* We never saw nothin' weird.
Jaya: *afraid to look. She's going to go make coffee instead*
WakeJumper: *working on reconnecting things that got disconnected* *Then he's holding up something that got knocked loose* Spark blocker... No wonder I was getting faint signals from him....
Denver: *Finishes pounding out dents and gives the sports car's owner the bill, which is actually pretty reasonable for a shop in Detroit*
suit guy: *surprised and tries to point out that she put the comma in the wrong place*
Raoul: .... *deep frown*
Denver: *Firmly* No, Ah didn't.
suit guy: ...But the job's worth more. *bewildered*
Denver: Mebbeh 't 's s'meplace else, but Ah believe 'n givin' th' best qualiteh work f'r th' best prahce possible. Most'a th' people Ah cater t' 're college students.
Jaya: *wanders out like a little lost lamb and offers around coffee. Very good coffee*
Saelen: *to the suit guy as he accepts a cup of coffee* Denver gets a lot of repeat clients, but never for the same thing each time.
suit guy: *takes a cup and thanks the pretty young kid with the messy ponytail* ...Do you guys do full bodywork? *looks at the paint on his car*
Denver: Mmyup.
suit guy: How much to repaint my car?
Jaya: Mister, this isn't the time for that.
suit guy: o.0?
Denver: *gives the suit guy one of her cards* Th' shop's 'ours 're 'n th' cahd. *moving to see if WakeJumper needs any help*
Jaya: *sweetly wishes the guy a good day with no trace of sarcasm, and then goes to offer Jean coffee*
Jean: *Quietly thanks Jaya. Is in a bit of shock that he got to ride in a Lamborghini*
Raoul: *head under the hood, watching what Wake's doing*
WakeJumper: *continues reconnecting things that got disconnected and explaining what the parts are* And this'll let him communicate with us...
Raoul: *nods and waits*
Tracks: *just passed out again*
Raoul: *frown*
WakeJumper: *Frowns as well and scans*
Tracks: *unconscious and rebooting* *very slowly*
WakeJumper: *Checks the mech's fuel levels and other fluid levels*
Raoul: We made sure he was all topped up. *frowning deeply now*
WakeJumper: Just making sure.... *Will also double-check connections, just to be on the safe side*
Raoul: *goes and gets the polishing cloth, and then goes to the other side of the Corvette and rubs the spot that made him twitch last time*
Tracks: *awake!* Gah!
Jaya: *eeks softly and spills the last cup of coffee*
WakeJumper: Easy.... You're safe.... *Reassuring clicks*
Tracks: *trembling violently* Get... get them away from me!
Raoul: ....
WakeJumper: ... *Raised brow ridge* *he'd heard what Ratchet said about most Cybertronians being scared of organics, but he hadn't believed the older mech... Now he does* They're not going to hurt you...
Tracks: *stuttering in his dazed horror* Make... make them get away. P... p... please!
Raoul: *scowls and steps back*
Denver: *Frowning muchly, but backs up*
WakeJumper: Alright.... *moves to help Jean up, chuckles when the cat in Jean's jacket peeks out and 'talks' to the blue mech*
cat: *issatalkin!*
Jaya: *quietly as she backs away and tugs the suit guy with her* How can he be afraid of us?
WakeJumper: Where we're from, there's not a lot of information about organic people.... And there are organic species that are dangerous to Cybertronians.... Plus, millenia of misconceptions tends to stick with people....
Jaya: *blinks and frowns a bit*
Tracks: *mutters in Cybertronian about germs and acid and and... BODY OIL!*
WakeJumper: *gives Tracks a LOOK* *Calmly* [The two dark-haired ones were using polishing cloths and polishing compound to make sure your finish doesn't have fingerprints on it, mech.] *If Tracks is at all familiar with Ratchet's attitude and behavior, WakeJumper's 'bedside manner' may seem somewhat familiar*
Tracks: *shakes and shudders, clearly on the edge of a breakdown*
WakeJumper: *moving to get a sedation tab out of storage*
Tracks: *and then he transforms to rest on his knees and one hand as the other hand presses itself to his chest. His handsome red face is marked with strain, and his blue optics are nearly white with the force of his distress* *tries to say something but only comes out with blurts and beeps and static*
Jaya: *crying in earnest now* We shouldn't watch him when he's like this. *pushes the suit guy away*
WakeJumper: *moving to gently apply the sedation tab* *Soothing clicks, will support Tracks after applying the tab*
Tracks: *shuddering slowly stops as his optic shutters droop, and then the mech falls still*
WakeJumper: *moves to gently lift the insensate mech*
Denver: *Frowning more now* Wh're're y'u takin' 'im?
WakeJumper: For now, to the dockside warehouse where my team and I live... It's quiet there, and he'll likely feel safer around other Cybertronians...
Raoul: ...Denver won him at the car show. *not asserting claim, but stating something he's wondering about*
WakeJumper: ...Who'd she win him from?
Denver: *Describes the guy, right down to the little details she remembers*
Saelen: I thought it was a bit strange...
Raoul: *hunkers down and rests a wrist on his knee as he frowns*
Jean: *Frowning* Not anyone I recognize....
WakeJumper: *Much frowning now* And this guy *indicates Tracks* wasn't there before you were in that part of the auto show?
Denver: Ah w'lda noticed...
Raoul: *listening*
WakeJumper: *more frown, sends a message to a certain Neutral he knows* //Hey, Mistfire?//
Mistfire: //I don't want any.//
WakeJumper: //I'm not selling anything. I need your help and Scattershot's help with something.//
Mistfire: //Well Shot's out of it right now. Whaddya want?//
WakeJumper: //I've got a mech here that I don't know, and apparently, Denver won him at an auto show.... He was in vehicle mode at the time, and she gave me a description of the guy who gave her the mech...// *Will databurst both an image of Tracks, and a recording of Denver's description* //Either of these ring any bells?//
Mistfire: //Never met the human before, but that bot is Tracks.//
WakeJumper: //Okay. Well, I'm gonna be bringing him to the warehouse so he can rest... He freaked out about Denver and the other humans...//
Mistfire: //Not surprising, the prissy glitch.// *snorts*
WakeJumper: //I owe Docbot an apology... I thought he was just joking about how most of our people view organics...//
Mistfire: //Kid, that misclocked cleanfreak will blow a gasket if you just get near him with a little dirt on your finish.//
WakeJumper: //...Sheesh... And Denver and the dark-haired kid were polishing him up with expensive stuff and microfiber polishing cloths.... Too bad that sorta thing'd be wasted on me...//
Mistfire: //He's an interior designer. And way too stuck on himself.//
WakeJumper: *Soft sigh* //Well, at any rate, he's here, and I'm pretty sure he didn't intend to be here.//
Mistfire: //Sucks to be him.//
WakeJumper: //Thanks for ID-ing him...//
Mistfire: //Uh huh. Tell Doc I want my old man back.//
WakeJumper: //Will do. WakeJumper out.//
Mistfire: //Amazing sparklet factory out.//
WakeJumper: *Sighs and argues with Deluge about something over comms, even as he carefully shifts Tracks so the mech is easier to carry*
Raoul: *saw that 'talking' expression on the bot's face* Find anythin' out?
WakeJumper: *nods* Just his name, and his occupation...
Saelen: So? Who is he?
WakeJumper: *indicates the mech* His name is Tracks, and he's an interior designer... *is not going to repeat some of the things Mistfire said about the mech*
Raoul: *scowl* What?
Denver: 'E desahgns wh't th' insahd'a buildin's 'n 'ouses 're furnished wit'.
Raoul: .... *snort*
WakeJumper: One of my teammates is clearing a space for him to rest back at the warehouse...
Raoul: *looks over at the nearest guy with coffee, and then helps himself to that person's coffee*
Saelen: *Gives Raoul a slight Look* *Doesn't really drink coffee all that often, truth be told*
Raoul: *chugs it, then sets down the mug and goes to look at the suit guy's car. Blue Corvette seems to be forgotten*
car: *looks pretty much like it did before it got kicked, aside from a few scuff marks*
WakeJumper: I'll keep you updated on how Tracks is doing... *moves to make the long walk home, since he can't get to his PINpoint right now*
Saelen: *nods to the orange and black mech, before moving to help Denver get things cleaned up*
Ace: Hey, Ratchet. There's somebody on the screen for you.
Ratchet: *looks up from tightening the last connection in Scattershot's hand* What now?
Ace: It's that Perceptor guy.
Ratchet: *Sighs and reattaches Scattershot's hand before he moves to answer the call* Ratchet here.
Ace: *from behind him* Hey... didn't you get enough of flipping the bird when the lightening got you?
Scattershot: *razzes Ace and PINpoints home before Ratchet can stop him*
Ratchet: *face.palm*
Perceptor: *even emotionless he manages to look confused, and it carries over into his toneless voice* Are you busy, Ratchet?
Ratchet: Not anymore, I'm not....
Perceptor: I require assistance understanding a problem.
Ratchet: ... What sort of problem?
Perceptor: ...I am not certain.
Ratchet: ... *Raised brow ridge* Okay then.... What lead to the problem?
Perceptor: I am not certain of that either.
Ratchet: ... *okay, this is a bit weird* Is Red Alert unable to help you?
Perceptor: .... Red Alert will not speak to me.
Ratchet: ... I'm almost afraid to ask why.
Perceptor: I do not know why. She will not tell me. Wheeljack and the youngbots are also being uncommunicative.
Ratchet: ... Give me a few clicks, and I'll see what I can do... *intends to call WakeJumper*
Perceptor: Very well. Perceptor out.
Ratchet: Ratchet out.
Slingshot: *walking back and forth restlessly* May the bird of paradise fly up your nose... may all your pairs of pantyhose have....
Ratchet: *Frowning a bit when WakeJumper explains why he can't come keep an optic on things, but then relaxes when Calypso gives him an ETA. He's seen the femme work, and despite her strange manner of talking, she's almost as skilled as WakeJumper and makes a good field medic*
Slingshot: *still pacing and singing her weird song. Is being ignored by the other youngbots present, who are all intent on the asteroid game*
Calypso: *Arriving a few minutes later, and after a brief exchanging of words with Ratchet, the old medic PINpoints to the area near Perceptor's lab on Cybertron*
Perceptor: *sitting forlornly on a crate outside the door*
Ratchet: ... Okay, what in the name of... Why are you out here, Perceptor?
Perceptor: *looks up* Red Alert locked me out of the lab. After throwing my personal possessions at me.
Ratchet: ... *both brow ridges up as he tries to call Red Alert to get her side of the story*
Red Alert: //Red Alert here.//
Ratchet: //Mind telling me why Perceptor's sitting outside of his lab, looking like a kicked turbofox pup?//
Red Alert: //Yes.// *click*
Ratchet: ... *will try Wheeljack next*
Wheeljack: //'Jack here. *transmits humming*//
Ratchet: //What's going on between Red Alert and Perceptor? She threw him out of his own lab.//
Wheeljack: *cracks up*
Ratchet: //The slag is so funny, 'Jack?//
Wheeljack: *tries to reply a few times only to laugh harder*
Ratchet: //Okay then... Why the slag are you and the youngbots not talking to Perceptor?//
Wheeljack: //*gasp. Wheeze* He asked us to let him in, and we can't. Red would rip my spark out for it.//
Ratchet: //... Am I going to have to ask Bluestreak or Eclipse for the whole story, 'Jack?//
Wheeljack: //She caught him kissin' one of the visiting Earth people.//
Ratchet: //...Who?//
Wheeljack: //This programming tech named Maggie Maddison.//
Ratchet: //...// *Face.palm* *Yes, he's met the woman, and got into a snark match with her* //And Red got jealous?//
Wheeljack: //Red went into a screaming rage. Yeah. Red did. *laughing again*//
Ratchet: *Hatching a bit of a plan in his processor* //Maybe someone should lock Red and Perceptor in a room with some high grade...//
Wheeljack: //And then Maggie Maddison would rip out their spark.//
Ratchet: //....// *okay, that's a bit unexpected*
Wheeljack: //I had to call the enforcers to separate the two of them, Ratch.//
Ratchet: //Slaaaag...// *Rubs at his optic settings, already feeling a big processor ache coming*
Wheeljack: //And the best part? He has noooooo clue.//
Ratchet: //For such a slagging genius, he can be a real idiot.// *Grumble sigh*
Wheeljack: //He's got no feelings, Ratch. What do you expect?//
Ratchet: *more sigh* //I know... Whoever got the idea into his head to remove his emotional centers and personality matrix... I'd gladly offer them to both Maggie AND Red.//
Wheeljack: //...That was all his idea.//
Ratchet: //...//
Wheeljack: //Ratchet? Is this thing on? *tap tap squeeeel*//
Ratchet: *flinches* //Will you cut that out?!//
Wheeljack: //Oh, you are there. Sorry.//
Perceptor: *head in hands, staring down at his holoform as it stares back at him*
Ratchet: *Reaches over and belts Perceptor a good one with a servo wrench*
Perceptor: *blink. Blink* I do not understand.
Ratchet: You removed all of your emotional centers and personality matrix! And because of that, you've been oblivious to something that even Wheeljack noticed! *Starting to get a bit loud*
Perceptor: I needed the processor space for data. *sitting up slowly, his expression pure bewilderment*
Ratchet: *Belts him one again* You slagging idiot! If it were anyone else, I'd have wondered what their slagging motive was, stringing Red Alert along like that!
Perceptor: *puts hands up to protect his helmet* I do not understand.
Ratchet: *more belts with the wrench, to punctuate his words* Red. Alert. LIKES. YOU.
Perceptor: *still hiding* She is my friend. It is logical for her to feel affection for me.
Ratchet: Well guess what? She likes you as more than just a friend. *Wham!*
Perceptor: .... Oh.
Ratchet: //Wheeljack, I think I might've managed to knock some sense into him...//
Wheeljack: //Sheeah right. *continues laughing*//
Ratchet: //At any rate, now he knows Red Alert thinks of him as more than a friend...// *To Perceptor* She's mad at you because of Maggie... Who also thinks of you as more than a friend. How you managed that, I'll never know....
Perceptor: *quietly* I was aware of Maggie Maddison's feelings. She stated them to me clearly.
Ratchet: *pinches the bridge of his nose* //...Okay, so he knew Maggie likes him...// *Attention back on Perceptor* I'd ask what your feelings are, but I have a hunch that that's a bit of a ridiculous question.
Perceptor: I do not have feelings. But I have promised to continue helping Maggie perfect her hologram technology.
Ratchet: There's half of your problem.
Perceptor: I do not understand.
Ratchet: *Facepalm, cycles air, and reminds himself that Perceptor is lacking more than emotions* *Slowly* Red Alert likes you. The thought of you with another female, regardless of whether or not said female is Cybertronian, upsets her.
Perceptor: I cannot fulfill her desire for oneness. I have already promised Maggie.... *holds head in hands*
Ratchet: ... Promised Maggie what, Perceptor?
Perceptor: That I would be her object of affection.
Ratchet: *Facepalm*
Perceptor: I... Functionality is impaired. Please assist.
Ratchet: ... *Scans Perceptor*
Perceptor: *showing strain in his processor*
Ratchet: *moving to get Perceptor laying down* Easy... You'll be alright, Perceptor. *Also calling for assistance*
Perceptor: *quietly* She did not tell me. I did not know. I promised... *shuts down*
Wheeljack: //'Sup now?//
Ratchet: //Perceptor's shut down, and he's showing strain in his processor. And I need to tell Red a thing or two about keeping some things secret.//
lab door: *pops open and Wheeljack barrels out, followed by a concerned Red Alert and some youngbots. Keepsake's laughter sounds from inside*
Eclipse: *worried clicks as she tails her father and aunt*
Ratchet: *Making sure Perceptor is comfortable before he gives Red Alert a LOOK*
Red Alert: *scanning Perceptor and not looking at Ratchet. She seems to be wearing her usual calm and unemotional manner*
Wheeljack: *fretting around*
Ratchet: *Conversationally* You're an idiot too, Red.
Red Alert: I'm nothing of the sort.
Ratchet: You are, because you didn't TELL him how you felt. He had no idea.
Red Alert: I didn't think I needed to. He wasn't the sort to look for femmebot companionship, like some others of our group.
Wheeljack: Yeah, well, I quit lookin' after I found Blue.
Ratchet: *As Eclipse moves to see if she can help with Uncle Percy* If he had known, he wouldn't have kissed Maggie.
Red Alert: *nearly soundless growl at the human woman's name*
Ratchet: You only have yourself to blame for not speaking up, Red. *taking an opportunity to show Eclipse something new as he gently guides the youngbot's actions*
Red Alert: *looks up at him* I had no reason to believe he would have been able to reciprocate if I had told him how I felt. He was contentedly bonded to his science.
Ratchet: *As he works* He would have known, and he would have done what he usually does and thought long and hard about how to proceed.... But what do I know about love long lost? *Work work work*
Red Alert: Clarion.
Ratchet: Actually, I was thinking more of Arcee... And I've met Cragbuster...
Wheeljack: Ratchet, he's shuttin' down.
Ratchet: *Notcuss! Works to keep the scientist online*
Perceptor: *systems showing distress as his processor once more tries to logically work out his best course of action every time he comes near to regaining consciousness*
Ratchet: *all but growling as he continues to work, but thankfully, there's nothing unprintable being said*
Red Alert: Perceptor, can you hear me? I don't want to be your mate anymore. Stop this, you're damaging yourself. Perceptor?!
Ratchet: *wonders out loud if reinstalling the mech's personality matrix and emotional centers would do more harm than good at this point*
Eclipse: *Has gone to hide against Dad now, wibbling and clinging*
Ultra Violet: *hugging herself and watching her creator with wide and frightened optics*
Perceptor: *flatlines. Spark still strong but processor no longer functioning*
Wheeljack: *gasps and then straightens and hugs Eclipse and Ultra Violet*
Ratchet: We need to get him to a medbay, NOW!
Red Alert: *transforms* Load him up.
Ratchet: *moves to do so, will also transform with the intention of clearing a path* Which one is the closest to here?
Red Alert: Iacon General. *sirens blaring as she rushes down the quiet sidestreet toward the busier thoroughfare*
Ratchet: *Speeds off after her, his own sirens blaring*
Red Alert: *lets him past but doesn't slack her speed*
Ratchet: *Glad for the fact that most everyone knows that when sirens can be heard, you get the pit outta the way* *is soon pulling up and transforming in front of Iacon General*
Red Alert: *skids to a halt and opens her hatch*
med personnel: *flock out of the emergency exit, ready to assist*
Ratchet: *grouching and explaining the situation to the personnel*
Perceptor: *soon on a stretcher and being rushed inside*
Makeshift: *has the form in his hands* Next of kin. Red Alert.
Red Alert: *as she transforms* No. Don't write me down. Put his femme's name. *hurries on inside*
Makeshift: ...Whutnow?
Ratchet: *Facepalm* Just do as she says and write Maggie Maddison. *moving to hurry after Red Alert*
Makeshift: .... Okay, then.
Ratchet: *sighing quietly as he watches Perceptor, feeling a bit like a failure since all he was able to do was put the mech into deep stasis*
Red Alert: *weary slump as she rubs her face* I... killed my best friend, didn't I?
Ratchet: His spark is still strong... He's just not very good at handling the sudden curves life likes to throw at us....
Red Alert: *shaky sigh* If I hadn't.... *normally logical femme wibbles, but then frowns at a monitor* ...Someone's been trying to contact him. Ten messages in the last cycle.
Ratchet: ... *Raised brow ridge* Who could want to get in touch with him that badly?
Red Alert: ... You look. *turns and goes to the sterilizer*
Ratchet: *Will do so*
messages: *all from Maggie Maddison. They start with 'I'm in this holding cell with nothing to do, will you bring me my computer, Perceptor?', and end with 'Perceptor, guys are supposed to be there for their girlfriends! And now I'm being deported and I don't even have my notes!'*
Ratchet: .... *knows he should probably feel bad, but really, he can't help but snicker and go to find Red Alert*
Red Alert: *had stepped out of the room to give orders to a nurse. Looks up as Ratchet comes over*
Ratchet: *looking a bit too amused* *Quietly* I didn't know people could be deported from Cybertron....
Red Alert: *puzzled* Well, we did it to the Decepticons.
Ratchet: No, they were exiled...
Red Alert: We still had to ship some of them off planet.
Ratchet: Alright, I'll give you that... *soft chuckle* Turns out a certain someone's visa expired or something along those lines....
Red Alert: *blinks at him, and then looks at her own messages* *soft groan* No, she was deported for attacking me.
Ratchet: ... When was this?
Red Alert: *won't look at him* After I called her some less than desirable names.
Ratchet: ...Not quite what I meant...
Red Alert: *quietly* About three point five clicks after I walked into Perceptor's lab to find his holoform and the human....
Ratchet: And that was how long before you threw him out of his lab?
Red Alert: I threw him out right after the enforcers let go of me.
Ratchet: I need a better timeline, Red....
Red Alert: Seventeen to thirty clicks.
Ratchet: *doing a bit of figuring in his processor* *soft snort* Well, at any rate, Maggie seemed pretty miffed at Perceptor....
Red Alert: When did her first call come in?
Ratchet: After he collapsed...
Red Alert: *face palm* She knows about his habit of turning his commlink off.
Ratchet: ... Obviously, she didn't know, or she wouldn't have left so many messages....
Red Alert: He's got an alert that goes off once he receives a certain number. Infrared made it for him.
Ratchet: And what number is that?
Red Alert: Six from the same channel. *yes, Ratchet, now you know the secret to getting hold of Percy that doesn't involve paying Wheeljack to go poke him*
Ratchet: ... *soft snerk*
Red Alert: ... What's funny?
Ratchet: Well, now I don't have to pay Wheeljack every time I need to get ahold of Perceptor....
Red Alert: *facepalm* Yes, that was the idea.
Ratchet: At any rate... I think Maggie and Perceptor may be through as a couple, but don't quote me on that...
Red Alert: I won't. You don't know the femme.
Ratchet: I've met her before.
Red Alert: Have you?
Makeshift: *heading past with a patient on a gurney* Maggie Maddison is persona non grata on Cybertron, so I wrote you down, Red.
Red Alert: .>_<.
Ratchet: *moves to gently nudge Red Alert back towards Perceptor's room*
Red Alert: No. *sidesteps him* I'm not going in, Ratchet.
Ratchet: *small frown* And why not?
Red Alert: *quietly* It wouldn't be right. *turns to walk away*
Ratchet: *moves to gently catch her arm* It wouldn't be right to leave him to his own devices, Red.
Red Alert: I was a factor in the removal of the femme he chose, and in his current condition. I think it's better if I take my creation and find other quarters. *walks away*
Makeshift: *pings Ratchet's comm* //You know anything about fixing damaged organics? They've got one over at Crystal Collegiate. Seems an Autotrooper stepped on it while it was trying to sneak out of the Space Bridge complex.//
Ratchet: ... *Facepalm* //How bad's the organic hurt?//
Makeshift: //No idea. I haven't seen it, and they don't even know how an organic's supposed to run.//
Ratchet: //I'll be over there in a few clicks...// *getting his PINpoint out again*
Makeshift: //I'll let them know. Makeshift out.//
Ratchet: //Ratchet out.// *Waits a few seconds before PINpointing to Crystal Collegiate*
receptionist: *startles and looks up with wide optics*
Ratchet: Where's the organic that's hurt?
receptionist: *points to a series of rooms to one side of the foyer* 009.
Ratchet: *nods and hurries to that room, fearing the worst*
doc 1: I'm telling you, it's dead.
doc 2: No way! They can't go offline that easily! ...Can they?
Ratchet: *a bit snippy* Move and I'll tell you for certain.
docbots: *move!*
Ratchet: *moves closer so he can scan*
mess on the table: *yup, she's gone*
Ratchet: *Quiet sigh, moves to cover the mess with a blanket or a tarp* Unfortunately, this one is offline.
doc 2: Well slag. Is there any way to tell who it was? Organics have next of kin to notify, right?
Ratchet: Check the list of organics who were at the Space Bridge complex within the last cycle and a half.
doc 1: Uh... this one had just snuck onto the planet. I don't think it was on the list.
Ratchet: Then check recent deportations.
doc 1: There was that programmer. Maddison?
Ratchet: Maggie...
doc 1: Okay! *compiles report and then starts arguing with his friend about how to preserve a dead organic so you can send it back to Earth without getting anything icky*
Makeshift: //Ratchet! He's waking up!//
Ratchet: *Tells the two medibots to get an opaque plastic container, then PINpoints back to Iacon General*
Perceptor: *laying and looking up at the light over the table he's laying on*
Ratchet: *Quietly, so as not to spook the scientist too badly* Perceptor?
Perceptor: *looks at him quizzically, but without recognition* Are you addressing me?
Ratchet: *Feeling his spark sink a bit* I am....
Perceptor: Ah. *plays aloud a message stating that he will no longer be receiving calls from criminal comm frequencies*
Ratchet: *resisting the urge to snerk* *Quietly* You can delete that message, since it's not in use anymore...
Perceptor: Deleting message now. ... Also delete messages from the criminal comm frequency?
Ratchet: Go ahead.
Perceptor: *does so* *then* What is 'love'?
Ratchet: Er...
Perceptor: Will it damage me?
Ratchet: *answers without hesitation* No.
Perceptor: The criminal stated that they 'loved' me. Knowledge that this will not cause damage is reassuring. *turns head and scans the room again, but still can't figure out where he is or why. Turns attention back to the red and white bot instead* Who are you?
Ratchet: My name is Ratchet...
Perceptor: Ratchet. What is this place?
Ratchet: One of the rooms in Iacon General Hospital...
Perceptor: Hospital. I am unable to sense any damage to my person.
Wheeljack: *noises in the hall*
Infrared: *those other noises*
Eclipse: *is more noises*
Ratchet: *has a strong suspicion about something, will scan Perceptor just to be sure*
Perceptor: *encrypted data files are secure. Personal memory bank is empty*
Ratchet: *Soft sigh, pings Wheeljack's comm*
Wheeljack: *sticks his head in* //We just got a call from Earth. Kia can say the s word that isn't 'slag' now.//
Ratchet: //...// *pinches the bridge of his nose* //Remind me later, when we're not dealing with a problem.//
Wheeljack: *sobers further* //Red left.//
Ratchet: //I figured she would... But someone needs to go get her, because Perceptor's memory banks, aside from his encrypted data, are wiped.//
Eclipse: *Peeking around her father, quiet, worried clicks*
Wheeljack: *soft gasp and then a groan* //That won't make her come back. She thinks she caused all this.//
Eclipse: *looks up at her father, optics wide*
Ratchet: //I know this is going to sound harsh, but I'm honestly surprised Perceptor didn't have this happen sooner...//
Wheeljack: //Buh?//
Ratchet: //Even stoic people still feel emotions, even if they don't react... We're not made to exist without our feelings, 'Jack...//
Wheeljack: //... You mean I have to go and try to remember where he put his personality matrix?//
Ratchet: //You've got help....//
Infrared: Uncle Wheeljack? You look like you've lost something.
Wheeljack: Percy's personality matrix.
Eclipse: *blink blink*
Infrared: I know where that is.
Ratchet: *blink blink, soft chuckle*
Infrared: *taps the side of his helmet*
Wheeljack: 0_0
Ratchet: ...
Eclipse: *Blink, headtilt, inquisitive chirrup?*
Infrared: Mother didn't want it to go to waste.
Wheeljack: ...So how deep of slag are we in, Ratch?
Ratchet: Well, that depends on how much slag the human government of the country Maggie had citizenship in will raise...
Wheeljack: *blink blink* *pause* *blink blink* Um... what has that got to do with Fred having Percy's personality matrix?
Ratchet: *Quietly* Maggie's offline....
Eclipse: :/
Wheeljack: *protective arm around Eclipse* ...How'd that happen?
Ratchet: She met a foot of an Autotrooper going the other way when she was trying to sneak back onto the planet...
Wheeljack: *will rub his daughter's back comfortingly now even as he shudders*
Infrared: *has vanished somewhere. He does that*
Eclipse: *hides her face against her father, microwings shaking a bit*
Wheeljack: Shhh, sweetheart. Shhh.
Infrared: *comes out of the room across the way, walking dizzy but looking pleased with himself. Offers Ratchet a matrix cube* I copied it.
Ratchet: *Soft chuckle as he moves to accept the cube* Good job....
Infrared: Thanks. *turns his head and looks at his sister with concern* Eclipse, do you want a hug?
Eclipse: *Wibbles before nodding*
Infrared: *looks at Ratchet uncertainly* Can you install that without help, sir?
Ratchet: *nods and moves to do so*
Infrared: *relieved sigh and goes to hug sister and comfort her over the loss of her human friend* *softly* You still have the holoform she made you.
Eclipse: *Small wibble as she nods*
Perceptor: *distracted from the group by the door by the approach of Ratchet* What are you going to do?
Ratchet: *Shows him the matrix cube* Reinstall your personality matrix....
Perceptor: *emotionlessly* What is a personality matrix?
Ratchet: *explains what a personality matrix is, and why it's important*
Perceptor: I do not have a personality matrix. I am damaged.
Ratchet: You're not damaged, you just don't have a personality matrix right now.
Perceptor: *logically* But if it is important to have one, and I do not have one, then that seems to fall under the category of damage.
Ratchet: *quiet sigh as he tries to think of how best to explain why the other mech doesn't have a personality matrix*
Wheeljack: //Just agree with him, Ratch. He'll argue all day.//
Ratchet: //Like you wouldn't?// *to Perceptor* Let's get this installed, alright?
Perceptor: I do not know how to do it.
Ratchet: That's alright, I know.
Perceptor: *blinks, obviously running over what data he has in order to try and find the right reply*
Ratchet: I'll need to put you in stasis, Perceptor....
Perceptor: *still looking at him. Doesn't have any objection, but doesn't realize he's supposed to agree*
Wheeljack: *sighs behind Ratchet and hugs the youngbots*
Ratchet: *concerned* Perceptor?
Perceptor: That is my name.
Ratchet: I can't begin working on you without your consent...
Perceptor: What is consent?
Ratchet: *Explains what consent is*
Perceptor: *slow blink* I give my consent.
Ratchet: *nods and moves to gently put the scientist into stasis, before he begins reinstalling the mech's personality matrix*
Infrared: *watching as he hugs Eclipse*
Wheeljack: *confused* Ratchet, that's his chest.
Ratchet: There's no room in his head for it.
Wheeljack: Uh... yeah. But... That'll work?
Ratchet: It should...
Wheeljack: Okay... *will watch now*
Eclipse: *Quiet, worried clicks as she clings to Infrared*
Infrared: *soft purr to sister*
Eclipse: *hiding her face against brother now*
Ratchet: *Continues to work, keeping an optic on Perceptor's vitals*
Perceptor: *vitals actually perk as the component is added, and then his systems are seeking for the emotion components and beeping alarm when they aren't immediately available*
Ratchet: *Works on making the emotion components available*
Perceptor: *systems making the soft hum of a perfectly running Cybertronian*
Ratchet: *double-checks everything* //There... He should have fewer health problems from here on out as well...//
Wheeljack: *lets air out of his intakes* //Good.// *sadly* //It's just too bad he won't be himself anymore.//
Ratchet: //...What do you mean?// *working on closing everything up and making sure he has all his tools*
Wheeljack: //His memory files are still gone.//
Ratchet: *Quiet sigh* //Yeah...// *will bring Perceptor out of stasis slowly*
Perceptor: *quiet sound as he comes back online, then opens his optics and peers through his spectacles* *softly, in the familiar voice unheard for so long* You are Ratchet. And I am Perceptor. *slight smile*
Infrared: *blinking at that strange voice from his mentor*
Eclipse: *Blinkblink, clings and hides more*
Ratchet: *nods* That's right...
Perceptor: *tilts head slightly and looks rueful* I need more data before I can reply in a satisfactory manner.
Ratchet: //Wheeljack, you wouldn't happen to have that old databook on ettiquite and manners, would you? Or a newer version?//
Wheeljack: *squints one optic and databursts it to him*
Perceptor: *still watching Ratchet with a warm and hopeful smile*
Ratchet: Here, Perceptor... *will databurst the book on ettiquite and manners to the scientist*
Perceptor: *optics shutter as he analyzes and absorbs the data* *moments later* *blink blink* Thank you! Oh do forgive me for being lax in my courtesies!
Ratchet: *Will gently pat the scientist's shoulder* You're welcome... You should get some rest though....
Perceptor: *headtilt* Rest?
Ratchet: *nods* So you don't strain anything after getting that chunk of data.
Perceptor: *concentrates, and then brightens* Ah, it's a colloquialism for stasis? *optics holding the old bright-eyed Perceptor curiosity focus on Ratchet's*
Ratchet: *nods* That's right...
Perceptor: Very well. But... *turns a concerned look toward the three bots in the door* Should I not make the acquaintance of those individuals? I cannot help but suspect that their concern and visible distress are related to me in some way.
Ratchet: *Gently* There will be time for that later....
Perceptor: *glances toward the bots in the door and sees that the mech with the blinking lights is herding the others away. Disappointed and concerned despite his weariness* Oh... Very well.
Ratchet: *more gentle shoulder patting, then he's moving to cover Perceptor with a tarp* Here...
Perceptor: *closes his hand over the edge of the tarp* *quietly* Thank you, Ratchet.
Ratchet: *Gently* I'll see you later...
Perceptor: *browridges lift* See me later?
Ratchet: I'll be visiting.
Perceptor: You mean you're leaving now?
Ratchet: For now, I am...
Perceptor: *seems saddened, but smiles bravely* Ah. Farewell, then.
Ratchet: Get some rest... *moves to head for the door*
Perceptor: *shutters optics and snuggles under the tarp, is in stasis rest before Ratchet has left the room*
Wheeljack: *standing a little way down the hall and talking to the youngbots*
Eclipse: *Still clinging to Infrared, is listening to her father as well*
Wheeljack: *quietly listing what they shouldn't say to Perceptor now that he's lost his memory, and how they should try to act around him* *softly* ....And it's.... probably better if nobody calls him 'mentor', okay?
Eclipse: *Slight wibble as she nods*
Infrared: *quietly* I understand, Uncle Wheeljack. *looks toward Ratchet*
Ratchet: *getting a box of cookies out for the youngbots* *Quietly* He's resting now...
Wheeljack: Any instructions?
Ratchet: Just help him get reacquainted with people, and make sure everyone he works with on a regular basis knows about this... but use your head, and don't just blurt out everything....
Wheeljack: *nod* Gotcha. *thinks of his mate and groans slightly* I gotta go talk to Blue. Fred, are you alright stayin' here if he needs anything?
Infrared: *nods*
Eclipse: *Quietly* Wanna stay with Fred...
Wheeljack: *gently* I was gonna send you to go see Wake.
Ratchet: That's probably not a good idea right now... WakeJumper and the rest of the Aquabots aside from Calypso are playing host to Tracks....
Wheeljack: o.0 What's he doin' on Earth?
Ratchet: If I knew, I'd tell ya...
Wheeljack: .... Can't see him pickin' it for a vacation spot. Not the way he is.
Ratchet: He probably got yanked to the Nexus and one of the regular visiters brought him to Earth.
Wheeljack: *shakes his head* Sheesh. *looks back down at Eclipse*
Eclipse: *confused now*
Wheeljack: I guess you can stay with Fred, then.
Eclipse: *Small nod, still a bit confused, as she's never met Tracks*
Wheeljack: *gently rubs her back* You have your doll?
Eclipse: *another small nod, hand going to the compartment she keeps her doll in when she's not snuggling it*
Wheeljack: *gentle kiss on her forehead* Good girl. Help Fred, okay?
Eclipse: *snuggles close before moving to cling to Infrared again*
Infrared: *clicks to sister and then leads her over to the visitor's lounge to sit on a couch with her and adjust the monitor to view Perceptor's room*
Wheeljack: *watches them go, and then nods to Ratchet before turning to start on his way*
Ratchet: *nods to Wheeljack and moves to PINpoint back home*
((Co-written with
random_xtras))