Exigence
Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
Monday morning. 0805. Ratchet didn't want to leave his quarters. His comm pinged half a dozen times before he rolled off his berth, opening the door.
Bulkhead waited outside. "Ironhide wanted me to see what was taking you so long," he said.
"Ironhide can get slagged," Ratchet muttered, following Bulkhead out and into the hub. All of them-his own team, and Ironhide's, were waiting.
Ironhide's optics narrowed when he saw Ratchet. The medic glared back, arms crossed, interested in what the weapons specialist had to say.
"We're getting him back," Ironhide said.
"How?" Ratchet asked.
"I don't know yet," Ironhide said.
"That's it then? That's all you have to say? No grand plan? Just that we're going to get Optimus back? We've tried," Ratchet said.
"Not hard enough," Ironhide snapped.
"You have no idea what these past months have been like," Ratchet said.
"You're a medic, not a tactician," Ironhide said. "I imagine you have tried your best to get Optimus back, but. . ."
"But what?" Ratchet asked, stepping into Ironhide's personal space, so close they were almost nose to nose.
"Nothing," Ironhide said, noting the interest on all the faces of the bots surrounding them. "Don't you all have something else to be doing? Like patrol?
Ratchet backed down, only slightly, watching the assembled Autobots go their separate ways.
"You still haven't learned to control that temper of yours, have you?" Ironhide asked once they were alone.
"I can control my temper just fine," Ratchet said. "It's just that you've always had the annoying ability to get under my armor."
"Your choice," Ironhide said, gratified he could still have that affect on the medic.
"You shouldn't keep baiting me," Ratchet said. "Not when there is so much work to do. Do you have any ideas on how we can get Optimus back?"
"What have you tried?" Ironhide asked.
"My hope was to find the Nemesis, ground bridge in, find Optimus and return him to base," Ratchet said.
"Not a bad idea, you can't find the ship because it's cloaked," Ironhide said.
"Obviously, because I don't think even a human would have a problem locating a two-mile long Decepticon warship," Ratchet said.
"Aren't there many of what the humans call 'UFO sightings' in this area?" Ironhide asked. "Perceptor keeps talking about them."
"There are a significant number, but I've considered them irrelevant to our search," Ratchet said.
"If there's even a chance one was the Nemesis. . ." Ironhide started.
"When Bumblebee arrives with Rafael this afternoon, he can fill you in on the number of sightings," Ratchet said. "I'm sure he'll assist you with amassing and interpreting the data."
"Who is Rafael?" Ironhide said.
"Bumblebee's human charge," Ratchet said, going back to work.
"Another? How many are there?"
"Miko, Rafael, and Jack. Arcee is his guardian," Ratchet said. "And Agent Fowler, our liaison with the American government."
"Hold on-government liaison? Does Optimus know about this?" Ironhide said.
"Optimus is the one who brokered the alliance," Ratchet said. "With any luck, you'll be meeting with Agent Fowler sometime this week."
"Are those all of the humans?" Ironhide asked.
"Jack's mother, Nurse Darby, knows about us as well," Ratchet said.
Ironhide vented air in a sigh. "Anything else I need to know?"
"Nothing I can think of," Ratchet said.
Ironhide said nothing, only looking thoughtful for a few moments. Not good, Ironhide thinking.
"We need to get someone on that ship," Ironhide said.
"We have to find it first," Ratchet retorted.
"Then you need to get to work on it, don't you?" Ironhide said, punching Ratchet in the arm before walking away.
88888
Hot Rod sat on the floor by the human boy named Raf. Ironhide had designated him as the boy's help for sifting through piles of UFO information. He had to admit the kid was good with his laptop-the human equivalent of a data pad. Raf kept up a one-sided monologue, asking questions, which Hot Rod absent-mindedly answered. Hot Rod wondered why Bumblebee wasn't helping the kid, as he was his his guardian, but the scout was out on patrol instead. And Springer. . .he'd returned from patrol, and it was painfully obvious what he was doing, and with who. Hot Rod was busy shutting out his twin, blocking the bond between them. It was why he was wasn't dedicating all his attention to assisting Raf.
". . .and Miko said you were a twin, and I was wonder, which one of the new guys is your brother, and how does that work, a Cybertronian having a twin? I mean, how do you even have siblings?" Raf asked, looking hopeful, wanting an answer.
"Ratchet can answer the twin question," Hot Rod said, grinning, knowing full well what the medic would do when presented with that enquiry again. "But I don't think I'd try asking just yet. He's got a lot of work to do with trying to find the Decepticon ship."
"Yeah," Raf said. "So which is your brother?"
"Springer," Hot Rod.
"He's the helicopter, right?" Raf said.
"Yeah," Hot Rod said.
"Are you guys really going to get Optimus back?" Raf said, changing the subject.
"We're going to try," Hot Rod answered.
88888
Ratchet was annoyed. He was a medic, not a Prime damn it, and he had better things to do besides ride herd on a bunch of younglings too irresponsible to show up for duty on time. He thought about relinquishing command to Ironhide, and he could deal with the issue. He knew where Bluestreak was, and he was not accepting of certain activities going on when bots were supposed to be on duty. The gunner was supposed to be relieving Blaster, but he was nowhere to be found.
He went looking for Ironhide, who was in his quarters.
"I hope you don't advocate members of your team not showing up for duty on time," Ratchet said.
"Who is it?" Ironhide asked.
"Springer and Bluestreak are using one of the storerooms for extracurricular activities while Bluestreak is supposed to be on duty right now," Ratchet said.
"You know for certain?" Ironhide said.
"I saw them sneaking off together earlier, but didn't give it any thought at the time," Ratchet said.
"Then how do you know they were sneaking?" Ironhide said.
"The real question here is are you going to do anything about it?" Ratchet asked.
"They were carrying on like that before we got here," Ironhide said. "No point in changing things. As long as their relationship doesn't interfere with their duties."
Ratchet hmphed. "You sound like Optimus," he said.
"I think he was right about that one," Ironhide said.
"However, their relationship, or urges, or whatever you want to call it, are interfering with duty," Ratchet said.
"I'll take care of it," Ironhide said. "Since when are you such a stickler for protocol?"
"Since I realized how quickly a relationship with someone I serve with complicates matters," Ratchet said.
"Optimus had no problem with our relationship," Ironhide said. "Only you did."
"I had no problem with you, or our relationship," Ratchet said. "I only had issues with what you asked of me."
"Optimus gave his blessing," Ironhide said. "And he had no difficulties in continuing his relationship with Jazz."
"A relationship that began when he was Orion Pax, and ended not long after he became Prime," Ratchet pointed out.
"Again, he gave Jazz and Prowl his approval when they bonded," Ironhide said.
"Your argument is invalid," Ratchet said.
"How?" Ironhide said. "You ran because you were afraid."
"I left because I was needed," Ratchet said.
"You never gave me an answer," Ironhide said.
"I thought my actions were a suitable answer," Ratchet said. "I thought what we had was a suitable arrangement. Bonding is a dangerous, archaic tradition."
"An archaic tradition even our Prime approved of," Ironhide said. "He wanted a bond. He just never found anyone he wanted enough to bond with."
"Optimus always was a traditionalist," Ratchet said. "But he would not endanger himself, or our cause with such a selfish act."
"I think Optimus would think of a bond between to of his oldest friends as sign of hope for the future," Ironhide said. "The question still stands. I want to bond with you. I want a future with you, a sparkling, all of it."
"If you want a sparkling, you're going to have to wait until we locate the Allspark," Ratchet said.
"It still hasn't been found?"
"No," Ratchet said.
"One does not need the Allspark for a sparkling," Ironhide said. "Bonded pairs can spark life."
"I am not having this discussion again," Ratchet said. "A bond and a sparkling would be a liability."
"I know. But isn't it worth the risk?" Ironhide asked.
"I'm needed. I can't be so selfish, or foolish," Ratchet said. "Ironhide, I still care for you, but do not push this issue. We have to put aside our differences for those who we lead, and for Optimus' sake. I'm not asking too much, am I?"
"No," Ironhide answered.