Chapter 7: Triage

"Talwyn!" Ratchet shouted. The lombax began coughing, hard. Bits of phlegm mixed with blood flecked his glove. He dropped to the floor trying to catch Talwyn. Even with the yellow dust on her face, Ratchet noticed that her skin looked very pale.

Clank leapt off the couch. "Ratchet?"

"Stay there, Clank," Ratchet said, still coughing, looking at the yellow dust covering the entire area. "Don't come closer!" He knelt next to Talwyn. The lombax noticed that his vision was getting a little funny, as though things at the periphery were getting darker. Gathering his wife to him, Ratchet cradled her against his chest. "It'll be okay," he reassured her quietly.

"Ratchet!" Clank shouted from the living area.

"NO!" Ratchet shouted back. Looking at his glove, he noticed that his manifestor crystal, and all of the other controls on it, were washed out, as though the colors were not as sharp as usual. It didn't matter. The lombax shifted Talwyn's inert weight and touched the largest crystal on the control array. He stroked her hair, and was startled to see strands of it stuck to his moist glove.

"Dispatch."

Ratchet's throat felt congested, as though a grummel clone was growing there. He spat, leaving a bright red bloody patch on the kitchenette floor. "Medical emergency," he finally said.

"Acknowledged. Stand by for medical teleport..."

"Clank," Ratchet said, not looking at his friend, but holding Talwyn close to him. "Tell Rich what happened."

There was a flash of light, and the lombax suddenly found himself in one of the brightly illuminated triage bays of the Region 9 Med Center. Ratchet was feeling dizzy; the room seemed to spin. Blinking his eyes, trying to clear them, he concentrated on Talwyn's face. It was the color of ash. "Hold on," he muttered softly. "Hold on."

The diagnostic bot detached itself from its charging station. In a bored monologue, it began, "Please state the - FRACK!"

Its tone and demeanor changed instantaneously. The antenna at the tip of its conical body began to pulse rapidly.

"Radiological quarantine, triage bay 2! Diagnostic bots 1 and 4 report - stat! Doctor Phage, please report to the Region 9 Med Center."

The lighting in the room shifted. While there was still plenty of light to see, a sign above the doorway to the left illuminated with three coded dots - yellow, yellow, red. The edges of the door sealed, and there was a strange hissing noise as the chamber depressurized slightly, creating a slight vacuum around the doorframe. A pattern of running lights, yellow-yellow-red, chased around the perimeter of the door.

Two additional diagnostic bots teleported into the room. Their optics studied the situation, but they did not immediately act, looking instead to the original bot for instruction.

"Can you understand me?" the original bot asked.

Ratchet nodded, his eyes fixed on Talwyn. He hugged her tightly. She looked so weak and frail. His throat felt as though it was coated with ground glass. "Yes," he managed to croak.

"There is no time. Move away from the female."

Ratchet looked up at the diagnostic bot for the first time. There was a glimmer of recognition in the robot's optics.

"Minister, there is no time. Comply or you will be sedated."

The word 'sedated' managed to get through the fog in Ratchet's brain. He could not allow himself to be rendered unconscious. Talwyn needed him. With an extreme effort of will, Ratchet gently lowered Talwyn to the floor. He did not even try to get up, but merely pushed himself away slightly.

The two other diagnostic bots were in before Ratchet could react. They moved to touch Talwyn's body, and all three vanished in a flash of energy.

Ratchet tried to stand, moving to one knee. Teleporting was not something he had expected, and he needed to find her. She needed him.

"Minister," the diagnostic bot said, speaking quickly. "You have both been exposed to an extremely toxic radioactive substance. Do you understand?"

The words did not register to Ratchet. He merely shook his head slightly. The motion made him dizzy, and he almost lost his balance. He forced himself into a standing position, lurching around unsteadily.

A dim violet ray shot from one of the appendages of the conical robot. Illuminated in this manner, the dust that covered Ratchet's clothing and fur glowed brightly yellow. There were traces of yellow on the floor where Talwyn had been lying as well. "Frack," the diagnostic bot muttered quietly.

Another appendage extended from the robot towards Ratchet, and a fine mist of water mixed with something rust orange sprayed out, coating the lombax, rinsing the surface of his clothing and drenching his exposed fur. The force of the spray, while not highly pressurized, was still enough to make Ratchet stumble backwards by a step.

"Please remove your clothing," the diagnostic bot demanded.

Ratchet didn't understand. His mind was cloudy, his vision blurred, and he was very dizzy. All he knew was that there was a robot spraying him with something. And that robot took Talwyn away! His omniwrench appeared in his hand.

"Oh, for the love o'..." the diagnostic bot mumbled. A tiny appendage near the top plane of its conical body popped open.

Ratchet felt a blast of air and looked down. There was a small dart sticking out of his chest. The dart had a glass vial inside, filled with an electric blue liquid. The fletching of the dart was a matching color.

The lombax had time to look back up at the diagnostic bot with a surprised look on his face. The wrench fell from his numb hand and he fell forward. Ratchet never remembered hitting the floor.


"Minister Quantum? Clank here."

"There has been another attempt on Ratchet's life."

"A low power explosive, combined with a toxic radioisotope."

"Both Ratchet and Talwyn were severely injured. Ratchet initiated an emergency medical teleport. I believe they are in the Region 9 Med Center."

"I do not have an update on their condition at this time. I am monitoring the situation via the Med Center comm network."

"No. Do not send any deputies into the apartment. It is contaminated. As am I."

"I am in no danger. The isotope used is not hazardous to robotic life."

"I would like to pick up a few things from the apartment before proceeding for decontamination. Given the type and level of contamination, it is likely that both Ratchet and Talwyn will need a few ... 'essentials'."

"Very well. Please seal the apartment and perform the necessary evacuations. When I am ready to report to decontamination, I will contact you."

"Personally, I think that Ratchet would prefer that you not inform the council. At least, not until he has had an opportunity to assess the situation."

"I understand."


"Yes, RNR9-02. Please proceed."

"Aerosolized uranium isotope. I understand. What was the approximate particle size?"

"Mmm... Indeed. That was certainly intentional."

"Contamination by proximity, direct contact with the skin, and by inhalation. I understand."

"You are correct in your assessment. Ratchet had ingested a dose of 'Cosmic Ray Ban' approximately seventy-two hours prior to the incident."

"Indeed." A brief pause, and a small amount of short lived amusement crept into Clank's voice over the comm link. "It would appear as if his failed experiment with solar wind surfing provided some benefit after all."

"Indeed it is fortunate, especially given his proximity to the source of the contaminant. Had he not already ingested radioexposure medication prior to the incident, he may have terminated. What is the status of Talwyn Apogee?"

"Oh. I understand. No, she did not have the same advanced protection that Ratchet did. What is her prognosis?"

"Very well. That is not surprising given the situation. At least it is highly probably that she will recover. How long is she expected to remain in quarantine?"

"I understand. Will she be allowed visitors in that condition?"

"That may be true. But her guardians will certainly want to be with them, as will I. We are all robotic, so there is no medical risk."

"Oh? That is surprising! When is he expected to be released?"

"Ah. Somehow, I thought that he might require sedation."

"No, there was nothing you could have done differently, RNR9-02. Given the circumstances, I feel that I must apologize for Ratchet as well. I am certain that he was not in his normal mental state."

"I understand. I have already begun gathering replacement clothing and equipment for them both."

"Um, that might be a wise precaution. While I do not believe that Ratchet would harbor a grudge, it is quite likely that he will be disoriented on awakening. He may become violent."

Clank began to chuckle over the link. "The best terminology I have encountered for that predisposition is 'lombax nature'."


"Ms. Phyronix? Clank. I wanted to inform you that there has been another attempt on Ratchet's life. He is expected to recover, but both he and Talwyn Apogee have been injured."

"A powdered radioisotope, coupled with an explosive charge to aerosolize it."

"They are both expected to recover. Ratchet will likely be released from the Region 9 Med Center within the next few hours. Talwyn will require medical care for approximately two additional days."

"Both will likely require extensive GBD screenings in addition to their regularly scheduled maintenance."

"No, I do not believe that Ratchet will be happy with that either. Even though his last scheduled session was routine, he has been avoiding further maintenance."

"He has had occasional emergency care since then, yes."

"Talwyn will likely remain under radiological quarantine, at least for another 24 hours. As an organic life form, you will not be allowed to visit until the quarantine is lifted."

"I intent to contact Zephyr and Cronk as soon as I am decontaminated. We will remain with them at the med center after that."

"I am fine, thank you. What is the status of J19?"

"Oh. I am sorry to hear that. At least in Solana, he can receive proper maintenance."

"It is actually a rather amusing story. Ratchet had taken radioexposure medication prior to the attack."

"He was attempting to solar wind surf."

"You are correct. It was extremely amusing. Talwyn even asked Aphelion to record the session for later viewing."

"Talwyn has the encrypted recording, but if you ask her after she recovers, she may be willing to provide you with a copy."

"Yes?"

"Indeed. I will relay your message. Although I strongly suspect that what you ask is not possible."


"Yes, Alphelion?"

"Unfortunately, the information is correct. Ratchet and Talwyn have been injured."

"There is no need for concern. The prognosis for both Ratchet and Talwyn is quite good. Talwyn is being treated, and will likely require medical attention for the next few days. Ratchet is unconscious, but will be released into my custody this afternoon."

"They had to tranquilize Ratchet."

"He became disoriented. I was told that he tried to attack the diagnostic bot when Talwyn was teleported to the adjacent triage bay."

"Indeed so."

"Oh?"

"I will relay the message and have him contact you. It may be some time, however. Even after he regains consciousness, he might not be immediately rational."

"I supposed you are correct. It would be difficult to tell the difference."


"RNR9-02? Clank. Has there been any change in status?"

"Okay. To confirm, Talwyn is out of the triage center and is in isolation ward 1. And what about Ratchet?"

"Ah. Yes. Just let him sleep there. As long as you do not require use of that triage bay, that is likely the safest place for him."

"I will be proceeding to decontamination momentarily. After that is completed, I will teleport to the med center. It might be best if Ratchet remains unconscious until I arrive."

"Yes, I agree."


"Rich? Clank. I am ready for decontamination."