I'm back people! I LOVE this chapter and i am SOOO glad to finally get it out. My word this feels so good! I feel like when ever i sit down to type my brain goes completely blank. Or I get completely side tracked. Its shark week on discovery :) Plus I almost have my classic car running (79 Lincoln Continental named Jack of Hearts cause he's such a handsome boy though he's as temperamental as a Con) and Ai-kon is coming up so i have to finish cosplay for me and my friend. But, sat down and finished the chapter.
Really really important, I posted another oneshot a while ago called French Perfume and for some reason, I didn't get anyone's reviews. So sorry if you reviewed and i didn't respond, i just didn't get it.
SummerMistedDragon: Good to see you back. Yeah, It's gotten a bit bigger since hte last version. I'm glad you like it so much.
Guest: Sorry it's been so long, lots of stuff happening.
Tildawn: Yep :) And poor Focus, he'd so much better in the dark. Yeah, Copper's up to something. Trying the 'enemy of my enemy is my ally' stuff. Too bad the gang ain't dumb or he might actually get away with what ever he's planning.
Skyice98: Yeah, and things get even rougher here.
AutobotGuy710: Yeah, somehow i doubt he slept that night. Heck, Focus was probably hiding under the couch as well.
Child of Jon Snow: Glad you liked it. Sometimes i just get sick of tired of staring at a chapter so i post it and hope for the best.
Ratchet kept pace with Chrome as they ran down an alley. Around them, mechs continued to yell and roar as the riot intensified. So far, nobody had noticed the pair running down alleys and bypassing black and white Enforcers as they tried to get out of Iacon and back to the safety of the mine.
Enforcers had ringed them in and they had spent almost a joor constantly dodging roadblocks and armed mechs patrolling alleys and backways. Ratchet knew that they were there to try and keep the riot contained within a few blocks and away from innocent bystanders. All the containment was doing though was whipping the mob into a frenzy.
"I thought this was supposed to be a simple supply run!" Ratchet snarled, skidding to a stop and nearly ramming into Chrome when the medic suddenly stopped in the middle of the alley.
"It was." Chrome snapped, darting down another alley. For someone old enough to be his sire, the mech was fast. "But why the frag would something as simple as a supply run be easy!"
"Yeah good point." Ratchet growled, easily keeping up. A loud bang had both mechs ducking and Ratchet spun around to see a column of light grey smoke float into the air.
"Smoke bomb." Chrome panted as he sagged against the wall, armor flared as his fans worked overtime. "Makes selion act up. Nothing serious usually."
"Usually?" Ratchet demanded in alarm, turning to his mentor as he panted, trying to cool down.
"Least they haven't started shooting." Chrome said with a shrug as he started back down the alley at a slow walk. "Looks like we outran the worst of it. As long as we stay out of sight I think we'll be alright."
"What set them off?" Ratchet asked, glancing back toward the column of smoke. It had been joined by two others and the yelling had died down a little.
"Who knows."
"At least they're dispersing." Ratchet continued. "Primus, I hope nobody got seriously hurt."
"Doesn't sound like it." Chrome replied, pausing a little ways away. "Trust me when I say we'd have hear it. Riots are not fun."
Ratchet didn't reply other than to continue watching the smoke float away. The noise was still going down and Ratchet finally started to relax as it was obvious that the worst was over.
"Think it's safe to try and get out again?" Ratchet asked, still watching the smoke.
"We can try. Some of the roadblocks might be open."
Sharp bangs, followed by unmistakable popping rang out and Ratchet stiffened in alarm.
"Those are gunshots." He whispered to no one in particular as the yelling started up. "They're shooting them!"
"Ratch, come on we got to get out of here!" Chrome ordered, grabbing Ratchet's shoulder guard as he took a step forward. "We can't help anyone if we get shot ourselves!"
Ratchet hesitated and another bang, this one louder and deeper, sent black smoke billowing into the air even as a spark stopping scream rang out.
"We got to help them!" Ratchet cried out, tearing free from Chrome, transforming, and racing toward the slaughter.
"Ratchet!" Chrome yelled after him but he'd had a head start. Reaching a crossroad Ratchet hit the brakes, transforming to look around wildly.
Acidic smoke from grenades burned through his vents even as the unmistakable tang of energon made his tanks churn. Gunshots and screams of pain kept echoing off the buildings and he stayed in the shadows, watching as mechs and Enforcers clashed violently.
He knew he'd be terminated in an instant and he stayed where he was, waiting for a chance to move but his spark continued to twist as he watched Enforcers gun down mechs in the street. Some were fighting back, using blades and whatever they could get their servos on. But most were running, just trying to get away from the carnage. He ducked back into the shadows, his spark pounding in his chassis as an Enforcer suddenly appeared in the entrance, sweeping the area with his rifle. After a moment he left and Ratchet hesitantly ventured closer to the road. It hadn't taken long for Enforcers to sweep the area and anyone still able to move had already disappeared into the alleys and backways.
Refusing to believe that everyone was offline, he walked out into the open, glancing around as he realised just how quiet the street was. The first mech he approached was riddled with plasma rounds and he knew before he'd even run a scan the mech was offline. The second mech was also offline, a horrific wound having destroyed most of his chassis.
With a weak groan, he remained on his kneebolts beside the third grey frame. His spark was tight and it wasn't from the selion. He had always known that Enforcers were effective but this… this was a slaughter. There was no other word for it.
Gun shots rang out, too close for comfort and he stiffened, glancing toward the sound. Slowly getting to his peds he carefully made his way toward the sounds, near desperation to save someone from the massacre making him almost careless.
He found the mech soon enough slumped against an alley wall just a few feet away from the road. Energon had pooled under him from the horrible tear in his chassis and Ratchet crouched down beside him. It wasn't until he touched the mech's limp arm that his scanners caught up to him and he realised the mech didn't have a spark signature.
He glanced away, the snarl in his throat choking out with grief as he realised just how helpless he was.
"What in Primus happened to you?" He mumbled quietly, running a scan over the greyed out frame to try and figure out what had caused such a horrific, ugly looking wound.
Someone was suddenly looming over him, reeking of fresh energon and Ratchet jerked back just as a short knife flashed past his helm.
"What did you do to him!" The mech nearly screamed, energon coursing down his side as he used one servo to support himself against the wall and the other to keep a tight grip on the knife.
"Nothing, I'm a medic-" Ratchet started to say before he was dodging backwards again as the mech staggered after him, swinging with that knife.
"Stay away from him!" He screamed, wobbling as his legs threatened to give out as he took another step.
"You're damaged, let me help you." Ratchet tried again, his spark in his throat as spark radiation hit his sensors. The mech snarled, baring short fangs as his optics flashed murderous red.
"Liar!" He yelled before his voice cracked off into static. Suddenly his optics rolled up and he dropped. Ratchet lunged forward, just catching the mech before his weight dragged them both down.
Paint smoked and popped across the mech's chassis as some kind of acid continued to eat away as his internals. Critical spark chamber damage flashed red across Ratchet's vision as he cradled the mech in his lap, unable to do anything to stop the already terminal damage. The mech convulsed, arching off the ground as energon continued to pour out of destroyed lines. A blue-white glow flashed weakly from within the mech's chassis before his spark gave out and he went limp.
A few drops of optical fluid landed on the mech's mangled chassis and Ratchet hissed, dragging a servo across his suddenly wet faceplates. As gently as he could, and mindful of the acid still eating its way through the mech, he gently laid him down beside his friend.
More gunfire rang out and he directed a low snarl toward the sound, slowly standing up.
"Chrome, where are you?" Ratchet asked over the comm but all he got was static. "Go figure." He growled. "Nobody can call for help."
For a moment he thought about heading back to the medbay but he knew there had to be other mechs that had a chance of surviving. Maybe not everyone had been shot with that awful weapon. Grinding his jaw till he tasted sparks he started forward again. There had to be others.
Carefully he slunk back toward the alley entrance and peered around the corner. His spark once again jumped into his throat as he saw two other mechs, both offline, in the middle of the street. Energon surrounded both of them and he didn't need to get close to them to know they had the same acid marks.
Moving carefully, he stayed in the shadows as much as possible to try and avoid detection. The gunfire had moved farther away and ducking back into an alley, he ran toward the sound of gunfire and cries of pain farther down the road. The smell of hot metal and energon flooded his senses and made his tanks roll as he saw energon on the ground and splattered against the walls of buildings. He heard someone approaching and quickly ducked into another alley, his spark racing. Nervously he continued down a back lane, glancing around for anyone else. Walking around a corner, he backtracked fast enough he almost tripped over his peds, his vents stalling out for a few nano-klicks. When nobody yelled at him, he hesitantly peered around the corner again, watching as the Enforcer staggered up to the wall.
He was limping badly, energon dripping from ragged claw marks just above his hipbolt. They looked eerily like the ones Sandstorm had given him on a few occasions when he wasn't fast enough getting out of the mech's impressive reach. Course, Sandy had been holding back, only scratching his thin armor.
Whoever dug his claws into that mech had every intention of crippling him.
The Enforcer's hipbolt suddenly collapsed on him and he caught himself against the wall, snarling low under his breath. Ratchet ducked back behind the corner, gritting his denta as he remained pressed against the wall. His coding was demanding for him to do his job but the part that was loyal to Dusty was rebelling at the idea of helping anyone that was shooting mechs just because of their place in society. Someone approaching caught his attention and he froze, unconsciously stalling his vents to listen.
"Well well well, what do we have here." Someone snarled and Ratchet's armor flared as he detected at least three mechs walk into the alley.
"Back off. Both of you. Now."
The Enforcer's voice was unmistakable but he sounded tired.
"Or what Forcer." The first mech sneered. "You're not exactly in a place to be making orders."
"I won't say it again back-"
The mech's voice cut off as metal collided with metal and Ratchet flinched at the sound. His coding kicked him hard and he gritted his denta before flipping his sirens on. The screaming wail echoed in the alley and he heard the mechs curse.
"Come on! Let's get out of here!" He yelled and Ratchet heard them transform and take off. Killing his sirens he hesitantly glanced around the corner. The Enforcer was slowly struggling to get back to his ped, rubbing this throat cables as fresh energon coursed down his side. Ratchet scowled before taking the risk and walking out where the mech could see him.
"You're lucky nobody can tell the difference between an Enforcers' and a medic's siren." He said flatly. The Enforcer snapped around to him, green optics wide in confusion and alarm before he'd pulled a gun and had it level with Ratchet's chassis.
"Who- who-are you." He demanded in a harsh rasp.
"I'm not gonna off' you if that's what you want to know." Ratchet said, slowly lifting his servos to show he was unarmed. "Sadly, harming another goes against my medical coding."
"You're a- a medic?" The Enforcer asked in obvious surprise.
"Apprentice, yes." Ratchet corrected. "But I can fix your hipbolt and your throat. That mech damaged your vocal processor judging by that rasp."
"Why would you-" He winced, rubbing his throat cables again and Ratchet took another step forward.
"Keep talking and you'll have to get it replaced." Ratchet said with a frown, standing his ground despite the gun the mech still held. "Let me put it this way, if I wanted you offline I would have let those mechs finish you off. Would have saved me a guilt trip."
"Alright." He rasped after a moment, nodding as he put the gun away. Ratchet slowly walked up, keeping both his servos loose at his side. He ran a quick scan over the mech and he shivered slightly, glancing away.
"Good news is that it's just a few loose wires." Ratchet said. "Tilt your helm up."
The Enforcer gave him a warning look, his digits twitching before exventing, tilting his helm back to rest against the wall. Gently Ratchet touched the partly crushed cables and mech instantly stiffened.
"Keep tensing up like that and it makes it more difficult." Ratchet said with a huff as he let his servo twist into the right tools to repair the damage.
"This is-"
"Stop talking." Ratchet ordered as he sharply tapped the underside of the mech's jaw. He jerked in surprise, engine revving, but Ratchet ignored him and instead focused on the wires that were coming loose. "I have to reconnect the wires, this might sting."
He quickly reattached the wiring and stepped back, eyeing the mech.
"That better?" He asked as the Enforcer massaged his throat.
"Didn't even feel it." He said in a much stronger voice.
"Sit down and I'll do what I can for your hipbolt." Ratchet said and the mech gave him an odd look of amusement and wariness. "You sure are used to giving orders." He said as he took a seat on a crate.
"I'm also used to being obeyed." Ratchet said with his own look as he subspaced a clean rag to wipe the energon away from the wound. "If I wasn't bossing others around, I'd never get the gang in for checkups."
"About that…" The mech trailed off, wincing again when Ratchet dug at one of the ragged puncture wounds.
"He left a claw in you." Ratchet said offhandedly, holding out the razor sharp shard. "I'm impressed. That would have hurt snapping off. Sandy always put up a hissy fit when he'd snap one."
The mech took it, fiddling with the small piece as Ratchet dug out more grit and worked on finding why his leg had given out. Scans had shown a hydraulic line had been punctured and he clamped it off before carefully repairing it.
"You're a miner."
Ratchet paused before sitting back on his heels to give the mech his own warning look.
"You said you were an apprentice medic."
"Can't I be both?" Ratchet asked back. "A medic and a miner?"
"It doesn't work that way." The mech continued, his gaze locked on the sliver of claw in his servo. "You're educated but that's an MTO frame. That… that doesn't work. Either you falsified your education and are a fraud, or you're hiding here for some reason."
"I nearly terminated." Ratchet said carefully though the mech's question wasn't hostile. "It was the only way to save my life. As for being educated, let's just say the Elite lifestyle didn't sit well with my conscious."
"Why a miner?"
"Why'd you choose to be an Enforcer?" Ratchet countered.
"To stand up for those that can't stand up for themselves." He replied instantly.
Ratchet gave him a knowing look before leaning forward to keep working.
"Oh."
"I trust my gang with more than my life." Ratchet said quietly. "I would do anything to keep them functioning. We're closer than brothers, closer than I could ever understand if I hadn't given up everything."
"We didn't start it." The Enforcer said after a long moment. "I know you probably think we did, it's happened in other places, but we didn't start this. It just…"
He exvented sharply, leaning forward to rest his helm in his servo.
"Everything got out of control so fast. Someone threw a bomb, nobody knows who, only that it was a black mech, and then some trigger happy rookie opened fire. Everything went downhill from there."
"How'd you end up with claws in your side?"
The Enforcer didn't answer and Ratchet stiffened, glancing up at the mech as his EM field flared in aggression.
"They dragged my partner down." He said after a moment before hard optics shot to Ratchet, pinning him in place. "They ripped him apart and tried to do the same to me. I tossed a flash grenade and got out."
"Frag…" Ratchet hissed, dropping the mech's accusing glare and they fell into uncomfortable silence. He worked fast to finish, if only just to get away from the mech that was making his armor crawl but as soon as he welded a patch over the puncture marks the mech's servo latched onto his shoulder guard and kept him from getting to his peds. For a spark stopping moment Ratchet thought he was done for and braced for the hit or shot or whatever. Nothing came and he gave the mech a guarded look.
"I'll admit, I'm hesitant to trust anyone from the working class." He said, watching Ratchet with the same guarded look.
"We're not exactly best friend with your kind either." Ratchet said with a frown, wondering what the mech was getting to.
"Listen…" He trailed off before finally releasing Ratchet. "I can't tell you everything, I barely know what's going on myself, but what I do know is that mechs around here are gonna need a mech like you to watch out for them. Things are getting more violent than I've ever seen."
Ratchet remained where he was as the warning sunk in. What felt like an eternity ago, Alpha Trion had also given him a similar warning.
"I'll keep an optic open." Ratchet said as he finally stood.
"I hope you're right. Take care of yourself and your gang." He said with a small smile. "I owe you. If you ever need anything, ask for Freightroad. I'll do what I can."
"Your word doesn't mean anything to me." Ratchet said bluntly. "But I'm not glitched enough to turn away an opportunity."
He didn't give the mech a chance to respond before he was already walking away, his spark twisting painfully. He didn't even realised he was rubbing his chassis until his servo started to hurt. Dropping his servo, he glanced back to where he had left the Enforcer.
His coding was no longer clamoring at him but in its place, his processor was screaming. He had just helped someone that had shot or arrested dozens of mechs for no reason other than they had the wrong color of optics.
But how was the gang any different? Sandy had admitted to how badly he had wanted to terminate Ratchet. Sterling was just as dangerous when he lost control of that coding. Impactor had a violent streak a mile wide when he got overcharge, even Ironlock had sent Longhaul to the medbay once when he had pushed the normally shy mech over the edge. And what about all the others, all the working caste mechs he didn't know personally. The ones he'd been taught to fear.
They were just as guilty as any of the Enforcers.
Sudden anxiety kicked him in the tanks hard enough he dropped to his kneebolts, his frame shaking. He felt so confused! On one servo, he was doing what he wanted, he was saving lives but at the same time, it was the wrong life!
His coding twisted at the same time his tanks did and he shuddered. A life was a life he repeated in his processor. It didn't matter what kind of frame they were in or their optic color, a spark was a spark.
Then why did he feel so fraggin' guilty!
He glanced down as his servos still stained with energon and fluids. Grey ash dotted the yellow of his paint and he knew that the rest of his grey frame was probably filthy as well. The more he stared at his servos, the more he felt completely drained. He was here to save lives, I didn't matter who, but he had been too late for so many.
There was a sudden cry and Ratchet stiffened, optics lifting to where the sounds of a fight broke. Judging from the yelling, someone was mad. Slowly he got back to his peds, wondering how many more he would find deactivated.
He snarled, denta bared as he realised what he was thinking. The stress was getting to him. That was all. He was here to do a job and fraggit he'd do it! If he could save even one more spark it would be worth everything.
He took off down the alley, toward the sounds with fresh determination. Even though that Freightroad mech had been decent, he'd seen far too many mechs terminate in the last two joors. It would take more than one experience to change his processor.
A shot rang out and a powerful engine roared. A moment later another two shots and Ratchet slunk forward, his spark hammering in his chassis. Someone was putting up one pit of a fight and if he could get to them, they might survive.
To his shock, the mech's engine roared again and another shot rang out, quickly followed by another two. The mech's engine cut out and he could hear someone swearing violently. A moment later there was another sharp curse and everything went silent.
Almost silent.
A wet sound, like flooded vents, rasped painfully in the near silence and Ratchet didn't even check for Enforcers before he had darted out into the street to the next alley over.
A large mech with heavy armor was crumped against the wall, an energon coated knife still in his grasp. Energon poured from just under half a dozen gunshot wounds and with every weak vent more energon coursed from his damaged frame.
Carful of the knife the mech held, Ratchet crouched down beside him. The mech's vents skipped as dull optics lifted to him and the knife moved.
"Easy, I'm a medic." Ratchet said softly, gaze dropping to the knife blade but it had hardly moved half an inch. The mech started to rasp something before he choked, energon flooding his vents making it impossible for him to cycle air. "Don't talk, your vents are flooded." Ratchet ordered, subspacing his medkit. He nearly jumped out of his armor when the mech suddenly grabbed his arm in a vice like grip.
Ratchet gasped, instinctively trying to break the mech's grasp and was shocked at how strong it was as his razor sharp claws drew energon.
"Shi…" He panted, energon dripping from his lip plates as more energon continued to pour from his damaged frame. "Shift… have… to find…"
He voice cut out as he coughed, choking on more energon as his frame started to shut down and his grip relaxed enough for Ratchet to wrench his arm free. Ratchet pressed him down when he tried to sit up and slid a servo into a gaping wound in the mech's chassis to clamp off a shredded fuel line. Energon was still flooding his vents and his spark was going to drown if he didn't camp off enough lines. He didn't have time to give the mech something for the pain and he didn't dare slow down.
With a snarl, he dug for more lines. The mech desperately needed major surgery and even as spark radiation washed over his sensors, he knew the mech wouldn't survive. If he had another set of servos, Chrome or Focus, or even Sandy again, then the mech stood a chance. But there was just too much energon. The shots were all clustered together and even blind, it would have been impossible to miss something vital. It was through sheer stubbornness he was even still alive.
"M-Medic…"
Ratchet glanced up at the mech's weak rasp.
"I'm here." He said even as his servos continued moving to try and drain the energon from his spark chamber.
"Shift… find shift… please…I'm sorry…"
"No!"
The cry escaped him the moment Ratchet felt the life leave the mech's damaged frame. With a weak snarl he sat back on his heels, only half aware of subspacing a rag to try and get some of the energon off his servos and bracers.
"Find shift…" Ratchet mumbled to himself, glancing around. "Find… Shift…" It had to be a designation. But who. A friend? And where was he? The alley was a dead end, it was blocked off maybe half a block down shipping crates and scrap metal.
"Why did you get yourself cornered…?" Ratchet mumbled, rubbing his arm where the mech's claws had gouged him. "Unless you were guarding something. Someone."
He got to his peds and flared his sensors, searching for another spark signature.
"Anybody there?" He called softly, walking farther into the alley. He was hesitant to run into another knife welding mech crazy with pain. A weak rasp had him darting toward the back where some of the sheet metal formed a kind of shelter against the shipping crates. Carefully he pulled them back, make sure nothing would fall over.
A much younger mech, maybe a metacycle or two younger then him, was slumped against the wall with his arms wrapped around his tanks and for a moment, Ratchet feared he was once again too late.
"Shift?" He asked quietly and the mech's helm snapped up, fear filled optics locking on him. He immediately tried to stand only to stumble and fall, energon pouring past his digits. Ratchet darted over, catching his good arm and easing the mech back to the ground. "Calm down, I'm a medic. You're Shift right?"
"Shiftlane…" The mech panted as Ratchet ran a scan over him.
"Shiftlane? My designation's Ratchet." He said, gently coaxing him to lay on the ground.
"Guard….sh- shooting everyone…I… I didn't do anything…" Shiftlane rasped before convulsing, trying to curl up. "Sire…!"
"Easy, don't move too much. You've lost a lot of energon." Ratchet said, gently shoving the mech back down. His spark twisted as he made the connection between the two.
"He's gone…"
"I'm sorry, I didn't get to him in time." Ratchet said, a weak whine escape his engine. The mech whimpered and Ratchet felt like a knife had been driven into his spark. "He was protecting you."
Shiftlane continued trembling as he went into shock from the shattered bond, his optics losing their glow.
Ratchet nudged his arm out of the way and immediately cursed as energon poured out of the ragged hole in the mech's side and over his servos.
"Put pressure on that for a klick." Ratchet ordered, pulling the medkit from subspace and pulling out a vial of novrin. "I need access to your dataport so I can monitor your vitals. I need to put you in stasis-"
"No!" The mech cried out hysterically, struggling to get away. As weak as he was, Ratchet easily pinned the slim mech in place as more energon poured past his servos.
"Alright alright, stop moving." Ratchet ordered gently. "I kinda figured that but I need that hardline connection."
Shift continued shivering but he managed to nod. Ratchet immediately reached around to the back of his neck and plugged into the base of his helm. A couple medic-only commands and he had the mech's vitals on his HUD. His fuel levels were plummeting and he knew he was leaking internally. Judging from the amount of fluid, it was a primary line.
"I have to get that line, try not to move too much. This will take a bit to kick in." Ratchet ordered as shot the novrin into the mech's damaged side. He immediately dug through the mangled protoform and circuitry, trying to find that vital fluid line. The mech shuddered, vents coming to hard and fast to be healthy as he continued trembling. "Got it."
He clamped the line off and quickly found the other end, fusing the torn line together before removing the clamp. With the worst leak repaired, he subspaced a pouch of energon, inserting the thick needle into the same line before continuing to work. Slowly Shiflane's fuel levels started to rise but he continued to tremble.
"You doing alright?" Ratchet asked, glancing at the semi- conscious mech. He nodded weakly, dim optics flickering on before going dark again. According to his vitals he was still conscious, barely, but stabilising. "I want to put you in stasis." Ratchet said again. "It will slow your systems and allow your self-repair to kick in stronger than if you were online."
"Please…no…" Shiftlane rasped, optics onlineing again and full of fear.
"Your sire terminated protecting you." Ratchet said. "Don't let it be for nothing."
The mech hesitated a moment.
"Trust me on this." Ratchet said, holding the mech's scared gaze. "I'll be here when you online."
Shiftlane nodded and before he could change his mind Ratchet had initiated stasis lock. The mech's optics went dark a moment before he went limp. With the mech finally offline, he was able to pick up the pace without worrying about hurting him. He worked fast to finish up and weld a patch over the gaping wound until he could do a more permanent repair back at the medbay. He was young and he was strong, he'd survive the broken bond if he survived his injuries.
Problem was, getting him out of this warzone.
He needed to find a way out, or better yet, a way to get Chrome.
Something exploded on the road and he ducked, covering Shiftlane's still frame. Coughing harshly, he watched as two mechs came tearing down the road. One skidded to a stop when he saw Ratchet, glancing behind him before back to Ratchet.
"Enforcers!" He panted, red optics full of fear as he glanced over his shoulder guard again. "You got to get out of here! They're sweeping the place!"
Ratchet's gaze dropped down to Shiftlane before he cursed, shooting to his peds and wrenching the sheet metal back into place. Hesitating just a little at leaving him behind, he took off after the other two mechs. He hadn't known Shiftlane was there until he had practically on top of him and he'd been looking for a weak spark. Maybe there was a chance the Enforcers wouldn't find him.
Primus, he didn't know if he could live with himself if they found him.
The mech in the lead took a hard corner, diving into an alley and rapid gunfire filled the air. Ratchet skidded to a stop, knowing the mech was already offline but the other mech took a moment before he realised it as well.
"Come on!" Ratchet yelled, running toward another alley. He risked a backwards glance to see the mech running after him as well as a black mech run from the alley with a rifle slung over his shoulder guard. Black and white caught his attention and he bolted for the safety of the alley just as the three Enforcers broke into a sprint.
Just as Ratchet took a corner, gunfire broke out. Someone shrieked behind him just as his leg exploded with fire. He went down hard, energon flooding his mouth as he bit his glossa without even realising it and scrambled around the corner on all fours. Fire crawled over his leg and a quick glance confirmed that energon was running down his plating even as the paint bubbled and popped. He could already feel the acid working its way into his fuel lines.
The feeling was far too familiar and he forcibly dug his digits into his lower thigh just below the gaping wound, reminding himself that he could still feel his legs and that he wasn't paralysed and trapped underground. Screaming drillers crawled through his processor, threating to throw him into a selion attack as he hyperventilated and started to panic.
"Wait- wait please! Don't-"
The mech's plead was cut off as a gun went off and Ratchet felt his vents lock up.
"Where the Pit did that other one go. Two went in here."
"Yeah, I think I got him."
Ratchet forced his frame to work, scrambling to his peds even as his entire frame threatened to lock up on him. Dragging his leg he moved as fast as he could, energon pouring down his leg as excruciating pain made his helm spin.
"Forget him. We got other work to do. Fragger won't get far without a medic, that's for sure."
Their voices faded and Ratchet couldn't help but smirk at the irony as he slid down the wall. Gritting his denta till he tasted sparks, he once again glanced at his leg and the acid already eating into his circuitry. He'd have to work fast or that acid would hit something vital. After the mess with Axil, he'd started carrying around a bigger medkit that thankfully, had a neutralizing agent in it. Pulling the white powder free, he dumped it into the bubbling mess, biting back another cry of pain as it worked to neutralise the acid. After a few klicks to ensure that the acid wouldn't start up again, he started working on repairing the fluid lines that he could with his servos trembling as bad as they were.
It was too familiar, far too familiar and he could feel the hot vice tighten around his spark.
The circuitry and wiring in his thigh were shot and the hydraulic cylinder in his leg was damaged but wasn't ruptured. Welding a temporary patch over the ugly wound he threw his supplies back in subspace and dragged himself to his peds. As soon as he stood though his vison went black for a moment and he had to support himself on the wall for a moment as energon soaked images flooded his processor.
"Primus, I'm never gonna recharge again…" He snarled quietly before limping heavily along the wall, dragging his leg. He had to get back to Shiftlane. Limping back down the alley, he saw what he had feared.
The mech that had warned him was crumpled on the ground, his frame riddled with acid rounds.
"Murders, nothing but murders." He rasped, struggling to stay upright. He couldn't put any weight on his leg and everything from mid torso to his ankle joint burned. Sheer stubbornness to get back to his patient kept him going despite wanting to curl into a ball and cry his miserable spark out. Every now and then he had to stop as the fire in his leg threatened to send him into stasis.
"Hey!"
Ratchet glanced up at the sudden, harsh yell only to see an Enforcer standing in the middle of the alley, rifle aimed directly at him.
He slowly started to raise his servos before he realised he was streaked with energon. Fresh energon.
He didn't even had a chance to say anything before fire raced over his systems, his vison flooded with warnings, and everything went black.
Wow, long chapter considering how long long I stared at this. Like i said, i liked this one. Lots of stuff happens and once again, Ratchet gets himself caught between a rock and a hard place.
Read and Review! I'm probably gonna disappear again but i already know what i want next chapter.
See you next time!