sv, MacKenzie Auto Repair, a Jewellery Store, and Autobot HQ, A Bad Situation
Raoul: *butt sticking out from under the hood of a silver blue vintage T-bird*
Jaya: *blushing SO hard. Just came out of the office and nearly came face to butt* Raoul! You're in the way.
Raoul: *continues working*
Denver: *just beaned Jean in the face with a polishing cloth for his wolf-whistle at how she's dressed... which is actually somewhat like a girl!*
Jaya: *stops in mid-fuss to look over there with a o.O?*
Raoul: *just keeps working, ignoring everybody and everything else*
Jean: *going XD behind the polishing cloth on his head*
Denver: *blushing and looking a bit out of place in her nice slacks, heels, and pale yellow blouse* Th't's 'nough outta y'u, Jean! *also has her hair down, for once!*
Tracks: *twitches slightly, but noticeably*
Jaya: *attention snaps toward the Corvette* Denver... he moved.
Denver: *attention going to Tracks, walks over carefully due to being wobbly because of her heels* *gently* 'Ey... Y'u 'wake?
Tracks: *beginning to tremble faintly but quite unmistakably*
Jaya: *as Raoul slowly comes out from under the T-bird's hood* *soft distress of her own* Oh... did somebody get him dirty?
Denver: *checking for dirt now, and gently promising to polish the trembling Transformer after she gets back from the errand she and Saelen have today*
Raoul: *frowns as he wipes his hands, then walks over to also look Tracks over*
Tracks: *soft, but clear static sound*
Jaya: *tears!* He's crying... *vanishes back into the office to cry herself*
Raoul: *scornful look, and then resumes his search*
Denver: *slight, worried frown as she fails to see any dirt on Tracks*
Raoul: *scowling as he straightens up and looks over at Denver, then quirks a brow at her*
Denver: *blushing even more as she realizes that Raoul's giving her a look*
Saelen: *knocks on the garage door frame* Denver? *is dressed like he's going to someplace fancy, and has his hair pulled back in a braid*
Raoul: *glances over there, and then goes to get polish and cloths. Figures he'll do what usually calms Tracks down*
Denver: *quietly, to Raoul* We's gonna be back 'round... *names the time, which is about a half hour from the current time* ... Y'u're 'n chahge 'til then.
Raoul: *gives one of his terse and wordless nods, is already opening the polish container*
Saelen: *moves to help Denver out to his car, and soon they're pulling away from the shop*
Tracks: *incoherent sound and bolts out of the garage after them*
Raoul: Ack! Hey, what the $@#$#@$??
Saelen: *parking his little sedan in the jewelry store's parking lot before he's moving to open the door for Denver so she can get out*
Denver: *grousing a bit about wearing high heels, slight stumble*
Tracks: *skids into the parking lot behind them with a screech of tires*
Denver: *startled* Wh't th?!
Saelen: *blink blink* Isn't that Tracks?
Tracks: *pulls up beside the sedan, visibly shaking*
Denver: *carefully making her way over to the Autobot* *gently* Tracks? Wh't's wrong?
Tracks: I... I'm your car. I... I should c... carry you. *trembles harder, another soft blurt of static coming from him as he remembers the dream that just woke him*
Denver: *soothing sounds as she tries to think of what to say*
Tracks: I should... should carry you. *small bump to the sedan*
Saelen: *thinking fast* Let us finish our errand, and then you and Denver will be able to go wherever....
Tracks: You... you too! *static, and another bump*
Saelen: *raised brow* Er... Alright... *will have Jean bring his car to the shop later then* But we need to go get what we came here for first....
Tracks: *trembles and statics, beside himself with panic and fear*
Denver: *soothing sounds* We'll be back soon. Ah promise.
Tracks: *can only tremble, his fender pressed against the sedan*
Saelen: *moves to help Denver into the jewellery store*
Two shady-looking guys: *were loitering around outside the store, will go inside now*
Tracks: *mutters to himself in Cybertronian and broken English as he 'hides his face' against the sedan*
shouts: *coming from inside the store now*
Tracks: *backs off and listens, his spark flaring up with terror*
gunshots: *going off, followed almost immediately by screaming as the two shady-looking guys run from the store*
Tracks: *suddenly throws himself into gear, straight at the two men* No! No!
guy 1: *CUSS!*
guy 2: *drops what he was carrying, and backs into a building* Oh ($%#$%^$#&!!!
Tracks: *right over guy 1, and heading straight for guy 2*
police sirens: *coming closer!*
guy 2: *scared spitless*
Denver: *hysterical, shouting Saelen's name over and over. Is still in the store*
Tracks: *crushes guy 2 against the building, and then suddenly rises up into his root mode. Two quick steps have him back at the jewellery store and literally ripping the front off it*
Denver: *pale, and there's a stream of red coming from one arm as she holds Saelen close*
Saelen: *unconscious, and his shirt's stained with blood, both his own, and Denver's*
store clerk: *still on the line with 911, is telling them that they need an ambulance*
Tracks: *crouches and rips out a counter full of necklaces and earrings, then tosses it aside and reaches for Denver and Saelen, his optics white behind his spectacles*
store clerk: *startled cursing as he watches the robot trash the store*
Denver: *starting to shiver as shock sets in* *doesn't seem to notice Tracks* *quietly* Sae....
Tracks: *pushes his way further inside, hands trembling as he touches Saelen and Denver. *will crouch there over them, protecting them as his processor tries to short out from the force of his panic and distress*
Denver: *startles and sways as the blood loss makes things sway* *quietly* Sae's... hurt...
Tracks: *picks her up, then hesitates as he realizes how badly Saelen's leaking* *quiet whimper and an unconscious SOS*
Ratchet: *responds* //This is Ratchet. What's the situation?//
Tracks: *shaky flash of images*
Ratchet: //... I'll be right there.// *closes the line with a soft click* *will also notify Captain Fanzone, before he PINpoints to the jewellery store*
EMT from a nearby hospital: *hurrying into the store, and then she's shouting for Norman to get the stretcher* *will move to stop Saelen from bleeding out*
Police officers: *the ones who aren't helping EMTs scrape the thugs off of things are securing the area*
Ratchet: *coming over to Tracks, clicking softly* Easy.... Everything's gonna be okay...
Tracks: *overheating and circulating rapidly as he absently holds Denver close* Help... help him! Help him!
EMT: *applying pressure to the worst of Saelen's gunshot wounds as Norman brings in a gurney* *to the robot guy* The shot just missed a major artery. He'll be alright once he wakes up. *pressure bandage is a go, and then she and Norman are gently transferring Saelen to the gurney*
Norman: *worried expression is a go as he and the other EMT strap Saelen down*
Denver: *on the verge of passing out*
Ratchet: *scans Denver* *gently* She needs help, Tracks...
Tracks: *gives the red and white medibot a blank and panicked look. It's very apparent that he's barely aware of his surroundings at this point. He's also dented, scraped, and red-smeared*
Ratchet: *strongly suspects that Tracks won't set Denver down. Gets a pressure bandage from the female EMT and tends to Denver's wound, carefully removing the bullet that's still embedded in the mechanic's arm. That done, he'll gently click to the stressed mech*
Tracks: *sudden start as he sees the EMTs start to wheel the gurney toward the opening* No... Stop!
Ratchet: *gently, as he moves to put a hand on Tracks' shoulder* He needs a human medic....
Tracks: Don't take him away! Denver needs him!
Ratchet: *surprised by Tracks using anyone's name, but focuses on what needs to be done* *gently* Bring her to the hospital, Tracks...
Tracks: *holds Denver close and reaches for Saelen*
Norman: *hesitant to let the blue robot carry Saelen*
EMT: *soothingly* We'll make sure he's alright... But we need to get him to the hospital so we can take care of him...
Ratchet: *moves to gently restrain Tracks* They're human medics, Tracks... They know what they're doing...
Tracks: Don't take him away! *crying and shaking, his optics white*
Ratchet: *soothingly* They're just bringing him to the hospital... You'll be able to visit him there...
Tracks: *tries again to stop the EMTs*
Norman: *startled cuss*
Ratchet: *holding Tracks back and clicking softly*
Tracks: *struggling and trying to break free, though his grasp on Denver remains gentle and careful* No... no!
Ratchet: *moves to gently guide Tracks after the EMTs*
Tracks: *seems to realize that he can move, and now Ratchet will need to hold him back from going after the EMTs and retrieving Saelen*
Ratchet: *keeping his grip firm, but is taking care not to dent the stressed mech's armor*
Tracks: *and then he's dropping to his knees, his optics pure white and both hands going to Denver as his processor starts to reboot*
Ratchet: *steadying the mech and scanning him*
Denver: *very soft sound*
Tracks: *optics go from white to dark, and he's going down*
Ratchet: *catches Tracks and worries*
Tracks: *too much stress. His systems have shut down in self defense*
Ratchet: *will gently lift the mech and his passenger, before nodding to the EMTs*
Norman: *nods to his coworker, and then they're carefully wheeling Saelen out of the store, and to the waiting ambulance*
Jazz: *standing there and looking a little bit sick as he contemplates a puddle of red. Looks up as Ratchet unfolds himself from the bowels of the shattered store* *wanly* Man... this is bad slag.
Ratchet: *quietly* That's one way of putting it...
Jazz: What went down? *glances around, his expression a bit stunned*
Ratchet: *small frown* *quietly* From what I can tell, the store was robbed... and Saelen took exception to that....
Jazz: *looks toward the ambulance, and then back to the bot in Ratchet's arms* Looks like he ain't the only one.
Ratchet: *small nod* *softly* Denver's hurt as well....
Jazz: *worried flash of his optic band* So shouldn' she be in there with Sae?
Ratchet: Tracks wouldn't let her go...
Jazz: *yup, worried. Reaches over and carefully slips the injured woman out of the insensate mech's arms*
Ratchet: *quietly relays the extent of the woman's injuries*
Jazz: *heads for the ambulance* Yo, hold up. Don't run off without the lady.
Norman: *just finished getting Saelen secured* *glances at the white robot, before getting a blanket to wrap Denver in for the trip to the hospital*
Jazz: *very carefully sets Denver into the grey-haired man's arms, his angular face set in a frown of concentration and concern* Don't drop her now, ya hear?
Norman: *wrapping Denver in the blanket, and then moving to carefully secure her on a second gurney* Jessie's a good driver.
Jazz: She better be. *turns back to Ratchet*
Ratchet: *tending to Tracks*
Jazz: So what's the plan, Ratch my man? *puts a foot up on the shattered counter and leans his arm on his elbow, his optic band still pale with his dismayed reaction to the scene around them*
Ratchet: *quietly as he works* Captain Fanzone should be on his way here... Tracks was trying to protect Denver and Saelen....
Jazz: *presses lips together* Fanzone's talkin' Wreck-Gar off the side'a building after some brown 'n red chick kissed 'im.
Ratchet: ... *sigh*
Jazz: *quietly* I think Earth jus' got itself a Junkion invasion.
Ratchet: ... As if today couldn't get any worse....
Jazz: *turns his head as one of the police officers comes over and asks for their reports* Man, all I know is I got here and everythin' was harsh.
Ratchet: *quietly* Saelen was getting Denver her wedding ring today...
cop: Can you tell me anything about what happened here?
Ratchet: *quietly* All I know is that I got an SOS from Tracks... and this is what I arrived to...
cop: *sighs* Alright. At least we got the store clerk's testimony. You two are free to go, but somebody's going to want to talk to the blue guy.
Jazz: *grimly* Good luck, hepcat. He's cracked.
Ratchet: *small nod* He hasn't been in his right mind for awhile...
cop: *shoulders hunch and head lowers as he sighs* Great. Okay, you're all free to go.
Ratchet: *another small nod as he moves to take Tracks to the nearest car wash to get him cleaned up*
Half an hour later, at the shop...
Ratchet: *looks into the garage, to see if there's anyone there who he can talk to about what happened downtown*
Raoul: *sitting in front of the TV, a Jones soda hanging from one hand as he scowls and puffs furiously on a yellow cigarette. Looks around as he catches the sound of the medibot's movements, his eyes dark and his jaw set*
Ratchet: *gently setting Tracks on the cleanest-looking section of floor he can see* *quietly* Denver's been released from the hospital...
Raoul: *crushes out the cigarette, then knocks back the rest of the pop and pitches the bottle into the bin before coming over* News said. *looks at Tracks, his scowl deepening*
Ratchet: He was trying to protect them...
Raoul: *jams hands in pockets and doesn't look up*
Ratchet: *databursts his comm frequency to Raoul's cellphone* If Tracks wakes up, let me know.
Raoul: *eyebrows shoot upward as he lifts his head* *scornful incredulity* You're just leavin' him here?
Ratchet: He's safer here than he would be at the base.
Raoul: *glances toward the office, where Jaya is crumpled on the old couch, then back down at Tracks as he recalls the teleportation devices that the Autobots own* ...Whatever.
Ratchet: *quietly* All we can do at this point is pray... and hope for the best... *is he talking about Denver and Saelen, or Tracks?*
Raoul: *snorts, then jerks his head toward the office* Get that useless @#$%& outta here.
Ratchet: *looks to the office, before he's carefully ducking down so he can reach to knock on the door*
Jaya: *twitches, and then struggles to rouse herself, though she's shaking and so pale that her eyes look surrounded by a raccoon mask*
Ratchet: *gentle clicks as he offers his hand to Jaya*
Jaya: *wibbles, but then slumps against the arm of the couch* What...?
Ratchet: *gently* I'll get you home safely, Miss...
Jaya: *shakes her head* *quiet and dazed sounding* Can't leave.
Ratchet: *small frown, scans the teen out of concern*
Jaya: *is a gentle girl who has never known much trauma in her sheltered life, and has no resistance to the stress caused by it. Right now her systems are teetering on the edge of shock* Raoul... can't leave him all alone. Don't know... Jean went somewhere.
Ratchet: *gentle concern, will pester Jean via text message* *then he's nodding* Jean's on his way back here...
Jaya: *quietly, as she weakly fights not to cry* Good...
Ratchet: *quietly* Let's get you home... Your family is going to be worried...
Jaya: Nuh uh. Don't understand. Law says, Raoul can't be... *eyelids flicker as she trails off*
Jean: *parking Saelen's car in the back parking lot of the shop and then he's entering through the back door*
Ratchet: *nods to the tall blond man* Jean's here now, Miss...
Jean: *slight frown as he watches Raoul trying to get a bed made up for Tracks, before his attention's going to Ratchet* Yeah... I'll be closing up shop for the night, Jaya... You go home and get some rest, alright?
Jaya: *fighting to keep tears from leaking out past her closed lids* Okay. *and now she's going to try and get up, only to faint cold*
Ratchet: *gently lifts Jaya and cradles her in his hand. Will ask Jean for the teen's address so he can bring her to her home*
Jean: *quietly gives Ratchet Jaya's address, before he's moving to help Raoul*
Ratchet: *thanks the blond man, before he's carefully getting out of the shop and moving to bring Jaya to her home*
Jean: *silently praying as he works*
Raoul: *opened up a double ply tarp and is cramming it full of plastic bags and bottles in hope of winding up with a mattress like thing big enough to get Tracks off the concrete floor*
Jean: *going to get the big plastic bottle recycling bag as well as a few of the rattier car blankets*
bed: *soon made, though questionable looking*
Raoul: *staples it shut, and then drags it over to the corner by the office before slapping Jean on the shoulder with the back of his hand and demanding the key for the small hydraulic crane bot that runs on tracks on the ceiling*
Jean: *hands the key over*
Raoul: *soon has the elderly automaton up and running, and then is scowling and growling at it as it tries to lift Tracks onto the bed. Isn't too sure how to run it, since usually only Denver controls the old thing*
Jean: *coming over to help, mainly by pointing out how to raise and lower things with the crane*
Raoul: *as the crane narrates its every movement* Is there a way to shut it up?
Jean: Denver's been trying to find it since she got the stupid thing.
Raoul: *unprintable comment, but then falls silent as they finally get Tracks off the floor and centered on the mattress* There. *turns the crane off*
Jean: *going to get one of the good car blankets to cover Tracks with*
Raoul: *snorts when he sees how much of Tracks the blanket covers, then pulls out another pilfered smoke and lights it*
Jean: *slight Look for the teen. Doesn't mind that Raoul smokes, but does mind when it's his stash that gets raided*
Raoul: *slow puffs as he looks at the silent Autobot, and then turns and flops down on the edge of the mattress beside him. Stares at the rafters and blows smoke rings*
Jean: *moves to begin closing up the shop for the night, pauses when he sees someone approaching the garage door* *low cuss*
Raoul: *knows instinctively what Jean just saw. Considers getting up and moving the chair closer to the door, but instead just shrugs and stays where he is*
Jean: *hurries out to meet Denver and help her into the shop, is fussing even though he can see he's not being heard*
Denver: *pale, has dark circles under her eyes. Has clearly been walking since she was taken back to the house she and Saelen live in*
Raoul: *smoke rings drift up slowly to the ceiling as he listens to Jean and Denver*
Jean: *gently fussing as he guides Denver into the office and over to the couch*
Denver: *small headshake, doesn't say anything as she's helped to a sitting position*
Raoul: *quiet grumble and gets up to go to the fridge and fill a coffee mug with ginger ale. Brings it into the office, his smoke hanging from the corner of his mouth. Holds the cup out to Denver*
Denver: *blinks a bit at the cup, before she's shaking her head again*
Raoul: *shoves it forward in that relentless, silent insistence that he's known for*
Denver: *very soft sigh, reaches for the cup with the hand that's not in a sling*
Raoul: *quirks an eyebrow at her* Shouldn't be up.
Denver: *quietly* C'ldn't stay...
Raoul: *bluntly* What good're you gonna do runnin' around?
Jean: *frowning, but nodding in agreement* You should be resting, Boss... We'll take care of the shop...
Denver: *even quieter* Ah c'ldn't stay 't 'ome.... felt wrong....
Raoul: You get sick 'n you're no good to anybody. *angry puff of smoke from the cigarette his only sign of emotion*
Denver: *shuts her eyes and tries not to cry. She's not sure how to explain that being in the house alone is uncomfortable for her right now*
Raoul: How is he?
Denver: *softly* 'N a coma....
Raoul: *inadvertent glance toward the office wall that Tracks rests on the other side of as he wonders if the Cybertronian's condition is similar*
Jean: *gently rubs Denver's uninjured shoulder, understanding in his eyes*
Denver: *lips thinned, doesn't even notice when Ratchet returns*
Ratchet: *small frown as he inspects the makeshift mattress, before he's nodding to himself and PINpointing back to the plant*
Raoul: *head snaps up from looking at Denver as he hears the PINpoint sound. Hustles out of the office to go check on Tracks*
Ratchet: *returns with one of the mattresses made by one of Isaac Sumdac's factories, and a big, soft blanket from the Nexus* *to Raoul as he nudges the makeshift mattress* You had the right idea with this... *gently bumps the boy aside and gets Tracks moved to the softer mattress and covered with the big blanket. Offers Raoul the car blanket*
Raoul: *takes it and frowns up at the bot, then tosses the blanket aside and turns to shove the makeshift mattress out of the way and take it apart*
Jean: *frowns and moves to see what's going on*
Raoul: *nails him with an empty water bottle as he steps between the boy and the bin*
Jean: Ack!
Ratchet: *raised brow ridge, before he's shaking his head at the human antics*
Denver: *getting up to see what's going on*
Raoul: *jerking his head at Jean to tell him to move out of the way, another bottle poised to throw*
Jean: *slight grump, moves out of the way, and then he's spotted Denver and is fussing over her again*
Denver: *blearily* Wh't's goin' on?
Ratchet: *gently, as he checks on Tracks again* We're just getting Tracks comfortable...
Denver: *small nod, before she's moving to sit down in the chair near the TV. Doesn't want to be left alone right now*
Raoul: *glances over and frowns at her as he continues to gut the makeshift mattress. Big wad of plastic bags at Jean*
Jean: *sticking the bags in the recycling bin*
Raoul: *finishes, rolls up the tarp, and then pauses to frown at Tracks* He gonna wake up?
Ratchet: He might... It's hard to say right now....
Raoul: *frown deepens to a scowl* You're a doc, right?
Ratchet: *small nod, still scanning Tracks*
Raoul: Then why don't you know?
Ratchet: *quietly* Because there are cases where bots have been in comas and never woken up, and ones where they have....
Raoul: *dark scowl*
Denver: *quietly* C'n we change th' subject, please?
Jean: *worried glance at the woman*
Raoul: *turns the scowl to Denver, then stomps off to finish his smoke just outside the door*
Tracks: *irregularities showing in his processor as Ratchet turns the scanning to that*
Ratchet: *frowns and focuses on the irregularities*
Tracks: *two sizable cracks right across his personality matrix*
Ratchet: *winces and gently puts the socialite into stasis. Intends to fix the cracks as well as he can*
Denver: *pales considerably as she watches Ratchet take Tracks' helmet off*
Jean: *sees that, and moves to get Denver back to the couch and laying down before she passes out and hurts herself even worse*
Ratchet: *quick glance at the humans, before he's returning his attention to repairing Tracks* *slowly but skilfully does what he can to repair the processor damage, and then gently brings the blue and white bot back online*
Tracks: *soft groan as his optics flicker and his optic shutters drop. Lifts a hand to his head* *voice rough and weary* What...?
Ratchet: Easy.... You're safe...
Tracks: *puzzled expression, which grows as he unshutters his optics and looks around* ...Where is the rest of my detachment?
Ratchet: Resting and recovering... *winces at the sound of someone being sick in the office*
Tracks: *more puzzlement* This doesn't sound or smell like Cybertron... *head turns toward the sound*
Ratchet: It's not Cybertron... *looks towards the office as Jean brings the trash can out and through the back door*
Tracks: *looks back to him, frowning* But... we're stationed on the Hydrax Plateau.
Ratchet: *quietly* What's the last thing you remember? *scanning the mech again*
Tracks: *looks up and to the side, and then starts reporting on a horrific firefight that he and the rest of his troop detachment were involved in* *and Ratchet, in his scan, will now find proof that many of Tracks' components are older than he seems, he'll also find the imprint of where a military channel decrypter once sat in the interior designer's chassis*
Ratchet: *quietly, as memories of the aftermath of that firefight come to the front of his processor* I know what battle you're talking about... That battle was a very long time ago... The Great War's over...
Tracks: *puzzlement changing to confusion* But... that's impossible.
Ratchet: *small headshake as he gives the date that the war ended* The Autobots won...
Tracks: *slowly shaking his head* Why don't I remember? All those solar cycles...
Ratchet: *gently* You've been through several traumatic experiences.... *will explain what he knows of Tracks' arrival on Earth*
Tracks: *giving him a doubtful look* ...An interior designer?
Ratchet: *nods* One of the best, from what I've heard...
Tracks: *slight, annoyed frown* This some joke that Vista put you up to, isn't it?
Ratchet: ... *so confused* Who's Vista?
Tracks: ...My mentor. The best interior designer on Cybertron.
Ratchet: *slight frown as he checks his records. Strongly suspects Vista made a name for themself while he was out on space bridge repair duty*
Jean: *back inside, has a bottle of gingerade kombucha for Denver. Heads back into the office*
Tracks: *distracted by the human, and then he's jerking up to a sitting position* I remember! Denver! And Saelen! I'm responsible for them! *tries to get up*
Ratchet: *moves to gently push the mech back down* Lay down. You need to rest. *slight frown, checks on how Saelen's doing*
Jean: *back out to get a clean rag soaked in cold water*
Tracks: *skilful twist of Ratchet's wrist, and then the elderly medic is laying on the abandoned mattress as Tracks goes to kneel and look into the office*
Ratchet: *startled curse* *wasn't expecting to get flipped, and if anyone's listening to the common channel, they just got an audioful of startled obscenities*
Denver: *laying on the couch, is very pale, though her cheeks are tinged pink due to the slight fever she's got. Eyes are closed, and she's been covered with an afghan*
Tracks: *softly* Denver? *stoops lower and reaches into the room* Can you hear me?
Denver: *barely opens her eyes and turns her head towards Tracks' voice*
Tracks: *twists slightly and gets both hands into the room, then scoops the ailing woman up and withdraws so he can cradle her* *quiet and contrite* I'm so sorry. I didn't do my job.
Denver: *soft sound, shuts her eyes and curls up on her non-injured side*
Tracks: *expression of soft mourning on his handsome face as he tenderly smooths her hair with one thumb* *then looks toward the bed he just quit to see if Ratchet's cleared off of it*
Ratchet: *moving to stand up, wincing and grousing quietly about being too old for this*
Denver: *slipped into a light doze in the meantime*
Jean: *sees how grouchy the red and white guy looks, decides it might be a better idea to sit outside with Raoul*
Tracks: *stands slowly and gently* Excuse me, Medic. I need to lay my friend on that berth.
Ratchet: *small nod* Go ahead... *figures caring for Denver will keep Tracks quiet and calm* *soft sigh* Saelen's still under observation at the hospital...
Tracks: *presses his lip components into a thin line as he carefully lays Denver on the mattress and tucks the large afghan around her. Is kicking himself inwardly*
Ratchet: *gently* Stay here with her... She won't want to be left alone....
Tracks: *crisply* I have no intention of leaving her alone. I've done enough damage as it is.
Ratchet: *nods and databursts his comm frequency* If her fever gets above *such and such temperature*, call me.
Tracks: *absently, as he adjusts the blankets* Mmmhmmm...
Ratchet: *carefully getting out of the shop now. Will stop by in the morning, or have WakeJumper stop by with fuel for Tracks* *transforms and heads for the plant*
Aerialbots and friends: *watching 'Alien verses Predator' in 3D on the big TV*
Ultra Magnus: *also watching. Is frozen in 0_0*
Ratchet: *transforms, raised brow ridge when he sees what's on the screen, before he's shaking his head and moving to head for the medi lab* *pauses just before the hallway* *to Ultra Magnus* When you've got a chance, I need to talk to you.
Ultra Magnus: *on his feet and heading toward the hall, leaning on his cane as he comes* What can I help you with, Ratchet? *yup, glad to get away from that entertainment screen*
Ratchet: *quietly* What do you know about... *names the battle that Tracks mentioned* ...?
Ultra Magnus: *head tilt as he senses something behind the medibot's question* What do you mean?
Ratchet: What teams were there?
Ultra Magnus: There were several detachments of Autobot ground troops. *gravely* None returned.
Ratchet: *quietly* You're certain about that?
Ultra Magnus: *nods, his expression grim* I am.
Ratchet: *even quieter* There was a survivor.
Ultra Magnus: *frowns and tilts his head quizzically*
Ratchet: *quietly relaying what he learned from Tracks*
Ultra Magnus: *straightens slightly* ...The former personality has revived.
Ratchet: ... *raised brow ridge*
Ultra Magnus: Tracks was a youngster barely out of boot camp, who managed to sneak into deployment camp. His critically damaged protoform was returned to Cybertron devoid of personality, so it was deemed best to reprogram him and let him lead a happy, civilian life.
Ratchet: *sharp rush of air*
Ultra Magnus: *quietly* He was not a survivor.
Ratchet: *optics downcast as he relays what he witnessed at the shop*
Ultra Magnus: *intakes* But apparently, now he is.
Ratchet: *quietly* There were cracks in his personality matrix...
Ultra Magnus: *frowns* The medical team would not have left cracks during their repairs.
Ratchet: *quieter* They were recent cracks... *will tell about how the mech in question arrived on Earth, and what happened earlier in the day*
Ultra Magnus: *listens in silence, his brow ridges lifted*
Ratchet: *small headshake* I've never seen that sort of thing happen before....
Ultra Magnus: Nor have I. But the personality that has reasserted itself is still Tracks... *frowns and ponders what should be done for the restored bot*
Ratchet: *quietly, thinking of how the mech acted around Denver* It'd be cruel to send him back to Cybertron....
Ultra Magnus: *nod* Indeed. The changes from what he remembers would confuse him badly.
Ratchet: That... and he's protective of the two humans he went to rescue...
Ultra Magnus: Yes. It sounds as though they've come to represent the bots of his detachment in his processor.
Ratchet: *quietly* Saelen's comatose... The human doctors don't know whether he'll wake up or not...
Ultra Magnus: :( I see...
Ratchet: I'd hate to think what that could do to Tracks if Saelen never wakes up...
Ultra Magnus: *shutters optics and intakes a sigh* I wish there were something I could do to assist them.
Ratchet: *quietly* All we can do at this point is wait, and pray...
Ultra Magnus: *nods* *wearily* Indeed. *leaning heavily on his cane now*
Ratchet: *moves to get a chair for Ultra Magnus* Here... Sit down...
Ultra Magnus: *settles onto the offered seat* Thank you, Ratchet. *hands on head of cane, forehead on hands*
Ratchet: *moving to get some fuel, will offer a cookie to Ultra Magnus*
Ultra Magnus: *quietly thanks the medibot. Will consume a small part of the solid fuel before moving to lay down in his quarters*
Ratchet: *getting a box of cookies to take to Tracks in the morning, has to stop for a few moments and pinch the bridge of his nose*
Arcee: *quietly enters the room and moves to hug her mate*
Ratchet: *nuzzles her helm, clicking softly*
baby Athena: *ping, ding, is trying to talk to Papa*
Arcee: *will gently lead Ratchet to their quarters for snuggle time, since he needs it* *quietly* Optimus has the younger sparklets at the park....
Ratchet: *small nod, is soon laying on the berth, cuddling Arcee and 'talking' to Athena through soft taps* *will finally relax to the point where he slips into stasis with his head on Arcee's torso, lulled by the small movements of his unborn daughter*
((Co-written with random_xtras))