Author's note: Mild swearing...

Chapter 144 – Injuries and Inquisitions

Rachet P.O.V

''Aaaaarrghhh! Bloody hell Ratshit, that hurt like a bastard!'' Phoenix screamed at me as I performed a cursory examination of the massive laceration on her helm.

Behind me Sunstreaker and Sideswipe barely managed to contain their laughter. I grit my denta together, closed my optics for a brief moment, appealing to a higher power to restrain me before I rounded on them. ''WHAT is so funny?!'' I spat at them. Though I knew full well what the two dim Witts were laughing about, I wanted to watch them squirm. Off to my right Ironhide and Arcee looked on with amusement, though knew better than to say anything at this point.

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe averted their gaze for a moment, though their shoulders kept shaking as they tried to suppress their laughter. ''Ahh, nothing – nothing really.'' Sideswipe replied.

Sunstreaker ex-vented slowly as he fixed me with optics filled with mischief. ''So, how is the patient going – ol' Ratshit Hatchet?'' Beside him, Sideswipe snorted before he quickly raised a servo to his dermas and took a step away from his twin brother, leaving him exposed to my wrath.

''Ha! That rhymes – Ratshit Hatchet! That's funny,'' Phoenix both laughed and then winced slightly before she yawned. I closed my optics yet again and counted to three in Cybertronian. Phoenix was badly injured, concussed even, so she was forgiven for her comments – the Twins, however, were not injured. /Not yet anyway!/.

I glowered as I stepped towards Sunstreaker, preparing to set him down a peg or two. ''Hey, have we met before?'' Phoenix cut in before I could say anything. ''You do look a lot like Sideswipe..''

Sunstreaker sent her a big grin, ''Only better looking though, right?''

''Oh! You must be Sunstreaker,'' Phoenix deduced as she lay back down on the ground. Sunny looked at her somewhat shocked.

''How did you know that?'' He asked perplexed and a smile began to form on my dermas.

Phoenix stared at him from the ground, ''Well 'Sides has mentioned you a few times and that you're a little on the arrogant side. I just put two and two together..'' Phoenix blinked her optics slowly.

I laughed out loud and patted Sunstreaker on the shoulder, ''Well she's got you pegged Sunny.''

Sunstreaker glared at me and then Sideswipe alternately. Sideswipe held up his servos towards his brother, ''What? It's true bro!''

There was a faint moan from the ground as Phoenix shifted her weight as she lay there, gingerly moving her right wing. I forgot all about Sunstreaker and knelt down beside her continuing my examinations.

Ironhide's heavy pedefalls came up behind me. ''How is she Rachet? Really? Is she going to be okay?'' Despite Ironhide's tough exterior and harder than nails attitude, for those he really cared about, he could be quite the soft touch.

My optics flicked over her form again, taking in the various superficial and more serious injuries. Though I would have to do a full examination to determine if there were any underlying issues, I had a good understanding of Phoenix's injuries and their severity.

I ex-vented deeply before I rose to my pedes again and dropped my voice to a lower register. ''Well, Ironhide, she has sustained a near fatal blow to the helm,'' the seasoned warrior flinched slightly, though said nothing. ''She has a massive laceration to her helm which has damaged the circuitry, wiring and relays in her CPU leading to various malfunctions such as some issues with aspects of her memory, speech, inhibitory control and a severe concussion.''

Sideswipe piped up for a moment, ''Inhibitory? Like Inhibitions? What, you mean like saying stupid stuff she wouldn't normally, like she did to you and Sunstreaker just now and acting without thinking?''

I turned to face him briefly, ''More or less Sideswipe.''

The silver twin made a thoughtful noise, ''Ya know maybe that can be a good thing. Prime might benefit from…''

I smacked my servo up the back of his helm and simply glared at him before I turned my back on him. Arcee shook her helm at him, ''Phoenix is concussed 'Sides. What's your excuse for saying stupid stuff?'' She raised her optic at him and folded her arms across her chest and he sent her a contrite look. I sent her a quick smile and returned my attention to Phoenix who had opened her optics briefly. She seemed to be drifting in and out of a lucid state.

I sighed out loud again and looked back at Ironhide. ''The concussion explains her desire to shut down and reboot so her executive, or higher order, function systems can have the opportunity to try and repair themselves. As you know, her nanites are already kicking in to repair the superficial damage but I will need to sedate her, and she will need immediate attention to her helm to help prevent any long term or further damage.''

''Say Rachet?'' I noted the correct use of my name and her voice sounded a little stronger as it drifted up from the ground. ''Can or should I transform?'' She started to try and get up again, slowly and cautiously rising to her feet.

I smiled at her, ''Yes, Phoenix you should, but – it will hurt. I don't want to administer a sedative just yet because it will kick in too soon and we..'' I quickly looked her over, ''won't be able to move you.''

She stared at me in mock indignation, ''You saying I am fat Ratchet? Busted melon or not I'll kick your aft!'' A small smile slowly spread across her face.

Once again, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker laughed and she turned her attention to them, ''Yours too.'' They both stopped.

I smiled at her. ''I was merely stating a fact Phoenix. Now are you ready?'' I stepped back to give her room. ''Remember it is going to hurt, likely a lot, but I will be able to give you some sedatives afterwards that will help you feel better until I can take a good look at your injuries.''

She nodded, a grim look settling on her face as she prepared to transform. ''Okay doc, here goes.''

Her body started to fold in upon itself as she made the transition from the mythical bird-like Phoenix to the bi-pedal Phoenix. ''AAAAaaargh!'' She yelled out. She was part way through when she gritted her dermas tightly and groaned in agony as her tattered and torn wings folded away. After an interminable moment the process was complete and she sank to her knees, cycling air through her vents in a bid to cool her systems from the effort and refocus and calm herself.

I rushed back to her side, gently placing a servo on her shoulder. ''Well done Phoenix, you did well.'' I accessed my subspace and produced the sedative, preparing to administer it to her.

Before I could inject it, I felt a servo on my arm as Ironhide stepped forward. ''Wait a second Rachet, before you give her the sedatives, don't you think we should ask her about Galvatron and what happened before we arrived?''

::She might forget and we need to know so we can be prepared and so we can report to Prime:: Ironhide quickly sent me a comm not wishing for Phoenix to hear Prime's name in case she became upset. Though she had oddly not mentioned him as yet.

::Agreed, but quickly, she is in some pain Ironhide:: I replied.

Ironhide nodded and stepped towards Phoenix, kneeling down beside her carefully. ''So, what did you two just talk about via your comms?'' Phoenix cycled air yet again and fixed her optics on Ironhide.

He smiled at her, ''You don't miss a thing do you Phoenix?'' there was a fondness to his tone that was rarely heard. I smiled at the gruff warrior. To think he and Phoenix, or OC as she had been then, had basically hated each other when we first got here and now, I dare say he would give his spark for her if necessary.

Phoenix gave a small snort, and chuckled as she raised a servo against her damaged helm, ''Except for bloody massive ships 'Hide! No, I guess not.'' She stared at Ironhide and then me. ''You want to know what Galvatron said to me so you can inform Prime don't you?''

Ironhide simply nodded, ''Yes Phoenix we do. We need to know what he wanted or tried to do to you and then, as you know, we must report back to Optimus. All part of the chain of Command.''

I spoke up then, ''We just want to keep you safe Phoenix and make sure he didn't hurt you or will try and hurt you.''

She nodded carefully, her servo still on her helm. ''Okay. Without going into too much detail, mainly 'cause I can't at the moment, basically Gaviscon – Galvatron –'' she corrected herself and thankfully the twins remained silent, no doubt at great cost, ''was trying to convince me that you guys, the Autobots and especially Optimus, were the bad guys and that I should join forces with him, the real good guy, so we could restore peace to this planet and Cybertron.''

''He slagging said what?!'' Sunstreaker burst out unable to contain his anger.

Ironhide cast him a withering glare, and although the fuming look on his face remained, he fell silent. ''Continue Phoenix.''

She nodded, ''Well, he tried to tell me that I was a mighty warrior who had great powers and that Optimus stopped me from fully exploring my powers because he was jealous of me, afraid that I might somehow use them against him.'' She looked between us and a furrow of concern appeared on her face, ''he said that a war was coming, one that made this one look like sparkling's play and that an enemy more powerful than I could imagine was on their way.'' She winced and held her helm carefully. ''He said the signs were already here.''

I exchanged a look with Ironhide. 'Did he say anything else?'' I asked her.

''Did he try and hurt you Phoenix?'' Ironhide asked, anger simmering below the surface.

''No, he didn't. He was actually trying to flatter me so I would join him. When you guys turned up, he told me the way you fired upon us was proof of your violent ways as we were just talking.'' She paused a moment as if reflecting. ''I asked him if I did somehow decide to join him, where could I find him? He told me he would find me.'' She winced again and I looked at Ironhide pleadingly. He nodded.

I stepped up to her, ''Here Phoenix this will help with the pain. In fact, it is going to put you under for a few hours. I promise I will help make you feel better.'' I smiled at her as I administered the powerful sedative.

''Thanks Ratshit, appreciate it,'' she smiled at me.

Sideswipe had a very serious look on his face, his servos clenched by his sides. ''Please tell me you didn't buy any of it about us, and especially about Prime, did you Phoenix?'' While Sideswipe had many faults, he was nothing if not loyal, especially to Prime.

Phoenix stared at him for a spark beat before a small, smile spread across her dermas. ''No, of course not 'Sides.'' Sideswipe seemed to visibly relax. Her smile became a wicked grin, ''However, HE doesn't know that does he?'' She began to slowly shutter her optics as the sedatives began to kick in and she leant against Ironhide.

Ironhide, Arcee and the Twins began to grin mischievously as comprehension of what Phoenix was implying hit home.

I gave her a fond smile and sighed out loud. ''Do I WANT to know where you are going with this Phoenix?''

The smallest of laughs escaped her dermas as she closed her optics and drifted into stasis, ''Poss..ibly not – Ratt shhiit.'' Ironhide held her gently in his arms for a moment before he laid her down carefully on the ground.

''I like her,'' Sunstreaker announced as he folded his arms across his chest.

We all turned to look at the mouthy frontliner with differing degrees of shock. Sunstreaker didn't really like anyone but himself and Sideswipe, though that was even debatable at times.

Sideswipe spoke up again, sniggering slightly, ''Do… do you think she really called him Gaviscon?''

Ironhide snorted, ''I have no doubt in my mind she did. I don't care what she called him as long as he didn't hurt her.'' Ironhide looked up at me, ''We had best contact Prime, he will be anxious to know where she is. In fact, I am surprised he hasn't commed us yet.''

I nodded in agreeance.

::Rachet, Ironhide, acknowledge:: the deep, rumbling voice of the bot in question came through our comms.

We both smirked at each other. ''I swear he is part psychic sometimes,'' I commented before I activated my comms. ::We are here Prime::

::Good. What is your status and where is Phoenix? I have not seen her since the incident with the magnet. Is she with you?:: I smiled at the way Prime was trying but failing to hide the concern in his voice.

::Prime we are all fully functional. We managed to subdue most of the remaining 'Cons, though some escaped:: I paused a moment /there was no way I could say what I was about to say without Prime becoming upset. ::Phoenix is here with us Prime.. she is sedated..::

:: SHE WHAT? WHY? HOW?:: he barked the questions down the comm in rapid succession. Without waiting for a reply he continued, ::What are your coordinates, I am on my way?:: The comm line went dead. I sent Prime our coordinates and looked at Ironhide first, and then the others.

''Well, Prime knows and is on his way,'' I started to make sure Phoenix was comfortable.

Sideswipe smirked, ''I'd hate to be Gaviscon when Prime finds out what he said to Phoenix!''

I allowed a small laugh to escape my dermas, ''Me too 'Sides, me too.''