The Diego Diaries: Cat and Mouse (dd6 643)
=0=Earth2
Springer stared at Johnson, then a strangely intrigued Harris. He glanced at Drift who gave him the side optic. With a smirk he walked back through the doors into the entrance sector, transformed and when he did, a figure materialized out of thin air next to Drift. He was tall, nearly 6'3", well made, broad shouldered and powerful. He had dark hair, intense blue eyes and tattoos on his arms one of which was a love poem that began on his arm and ended on Drift's.
He wore jeans, nondescript boots and a t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up. All that was missing was a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and a 1957 Chevy. He walked toward the humans, then grinned at Johnson. "I'm here."
Johnson grinned, then shoved his shirt sleeves up as the other humans backed up a bit including the other mercenaries. Behind them in the building, others had seen what was happening and came in numbers to watch. There was an appalling tension as the two men began to slowly circle each other.
"I'll call mom if you get hurt," Drift said.
"You better not. He'll put me in the time out chair," Springer said as Johnson moved in swiftly and swung on him.
Springer leaned back, then moved with Johnson who continued to take swings but wasn't fast enough to connect. Around and around they went as Springer dodged the big human who was getting madder by the moment. Behind them in the crowd, the on-site security team he supervised was moving to become a barrier between the fight and the civilians who were watching with shock and some delight.
"Are you going to dance all night?" Drift said as he knelt down on a knee to relax. "We have a few places to check out before we head in to the stables."
"Give me a moment," Springer said as Johnson charged him.
He gripped Springer around the waist and they flew past Drift to land on the floor. Springer rolled off Johnson then stood, moving back easily as Johnson sprung back up himself. They dodged, Johnson swung and missed, they moved and no one connected.
Johnson slowed down, then stopped. He glared at Springer. "You coward. Come in close and lets see who's the better man."
"I'm not a man, slagger and I've been doing close in combat for millions of years. Your people were hanging in trees eating bananas and scratching their butts when I was leading troops in combat. You're out of your league, Johnson. But its like I said before … no one ever called you Too Bright Johnson," Springer said as Johnson charged him again.
He grasped Springer, then slugged him hard in the kidneys. Fortunately, Springer didn't have kidneys but he had really good pain receptors. It hurt like a bitch so he shoved Johnson back and swung hard on his face. He clipped Johnson's jaw and the big man flew backward to slide on the floor for a surprising distance.
Springer stared at him, then wrung his hand. "FRAG!"
"Did you break your servo?" Drift asked. "Old Cement Head here has a hard jaw."
Springer looked at his knuckles which were turning a deep red as he did. "Frag. I think I might have. Now I'm going to have to hit him with my left and its not my power mode."
"I told you to go to the dojo. I could help you fix that but you never listen," Drift said as he sat down and leaned back on a servo. He looked relaxed and slightly amused. He also sent for 'Mom' off line. "You're always hurting yourself. I noticed that about you."
"Well, you know me. I never shirk my duty," Springer said as he held his throbbing wrist.
"No, they never say that," Drift said as a bridge outside opened up and Ratchet walked out.
Ratchet stared at the building then keyed the door to close inside from an outside panel he as a liaison could access. Walking in, he waited for the environment to equalize before walking through the inside door as it slid open. He stared at Drift who smirked, a tiny Springer who put his hand behind his back, a prostrate Johnson on the floor and a mob of humans gathered around them. "Well, doesn't this just beat all."
"I have an explanation, Ma," Springer said.
Drift nodded. "He broke his hand on Johnson's face. He's hiding it behind his back, the Mama's boy."
Springer glared at Drift as some of the crowd laughed. Then two of the on-site security walked to Johnson and bent down. He was coming around so they helped him sit up.
Ratchet scanned him, then looked at the leadership of the habitat. Everyone was appalled but Owen. "He's got a slight concussion. I would keep him in the hospital overnight. Nothing is broken though he's going to have a slagging big bruise on his face." He scanned Springer. "You've broken your knuckles. Just a word of advise for you, my not too bright older son and the rest of you. Those movies where the slaggers beat each other half to death with all the power punches they got? They're fake.
"No one can take that kind of beating anywhere on their bodies especially their face without death or brain damage happening. No one. Certainly not you slugging that slagger. Don't you know he's solid titanium between the ears? Didn't I teach you anything?" Ratchet said with a grin.
"You taught me how to cheat at cards," Springer said as he held up his hand. "Wanna kiss my boo-boo?"
Ratchet chuckled. "I'm going to fix it. We can at the all night clinic at Tyger Pax." He looked at Harris. "I don't know what this is about but it shouldn't happen again. No one needs this slag."
Harris nodded. "I agree."
"Good," Ratchet said. He smiled at the crowd, then spread his arms wide. "Well, little people, my job here is done. I am going to take these," he said holding up his hands. "These miracle servos and lay them on … yea, place them on broken things and make them straight." He looked at Springer. "How about you staying in your format and ride in Drift or my hold. I don't know what its going to mean for you to change here and then have to go to Tyger Pax. It could be worse if you do that."
Springer rolled his eyes. "Frag that. How about I ride in my alt mode? I can do that. Remember?"
"I do remember that you and I never got car jacked," Ratchet said with a chuckle. He looked at the others. "It's a long story. I'll tell you some time when I'm good and liquored up."
The crowd laughed as they relaxed.
Springer walked to his truck and climbed in. Drift rose and followed him out to wait for Ratchet. Ratchet was staring at the people, watching as a stretcher put Johnson on it. They then began to carry him to the hospital nearby. "It was a very stupid thing for one of you to do something like this. We've been soldiers for literally millions of years. We're not totally clear the power that we can deliver in pretender mode. Johnson there is lucky that his helm is still on his shoulders."
Harris nodded. "Any word on when we can venture out? Any sign the investigation is getting finished?"
"Not yet. But I'll let Prime know that you asked. That's the best I can do. He's charged with everyone's safety including yours," Ratchet said. He nodded. "Good night." He walked out and the inside door closed.
They waited for the outside, then Drift walked out to get the horses, send the others on their way with a brief description of what happened inside, then rode along behind Springer and Ratchet as they headed out to go to Tyger Pax.
The doors to Earth2 closed behind them.
=0=All Night Medical, Tyger Pax
They walked into the clinic together including Springer in his root mode. His hand was giving him a lot of pain and transforming had indeed made it hurt worse. He could feel broken things inside. Walking past the desk to the med rooms down the hallway, he entered one to sit while Ratchet chatted to the night doctors.
Entering himself, Ratchet scanned Springer then pulled out a tray of instruments. "I'm going to have to do a rebuild. Here's a pain script," he said as he WIFI-ed one to Springer.
That mech sagged with relief as he got down, pulled up a chair, then laid his hand on the med berth. "That feels better."
"You could have killed Johnson," Ratchet said. "Then I'd have to go on teevee and tell them that Johnson fell down and broke his head. If you had hit him harder, his helm would be orbiting Mars right now."
"He had a few good punches," Springer said. He watched as Ratchet began to open things with his specialized gear. Inside his servo he could see broken bits. "How can they be broken? They're fragging protoform, mature protoform."
"Well, since you asked," he said as he began to pull out bits and pieces, "You hit him with a human fist. That wasn't designed to be fake. It was designed to pass inspection which tells us because of you that if you get hurt in pretender form, it leaves its mark in an equivalent manner on your root mode. In other words, if you break a bone as a human, it breaks in your alt mode. You have to be more careful. Also, thanks for the data, fragger."
"Don't mention it, Ma," he said as he looked away. Ratchet was unscrewing and detaching stuff and it was getting gnarly.
"Will he have his hand back? I only ask for the 'facing. I don't want him to feel like he's only half a mech or something," Drift said as Springer frowned at him. "Though I would stay with him anyway though it would be a near deal breaker."
"You're slagging lucky to have me," Springer said.
"Is that so?" Drift asked as he pulled up a chair to sit and relax.
"Yeah."
"And if he decided to leave you for someone with two good servos?" Ratchet asked with a grin.
Springer stared at him, then a slightly smirking Drift. "I'd let him go out the door." It was silent a moment. "Then I'd crawl after him on my hands and knees begging for him to come back."
Huge laughter greeted that as Drift patted Springer's knee. "I wouldn't make you crawl. Running after me would be enough."
"You two are so romantic," Ratchet said with a chuckle. "You didn't ruin two families when you bonded."
"No. He bonded up," Drift said as he winked at Springer.
Springer who was looking at Drift with a grin nodded. "Maybe."
Huge laughter.
Ratchet worked on the hand, put the right lubricants in, then closed the work. He then pulled out a light weight brace to slip over it. He fastened the digits to it, then welded it closed. "You have to wear this because it restricts movement until the protoform closes around the new parts. I put protoform stimulant in the wounds and around the new bits and pieces so it should only take a couple of orns before you can come to me and I'll take it off. Come to me. I don't want anyone to do it. I sort of use a special kind of solder to hold it together. Otherwise, you slaggers will take it off and frag things up."
"It's tough or something?" Springer asked as he gingerly opened and closed his servo. It was restricted and stiff.
"Something like that. It's my own formula. I am a metallurgist, you know."
"And a damned fine one, I'm told," Springer said as he stood. "What do I owe ya?"
"Time out in the Chair of Doom," Ratchet said as they hugged. He hugged Drift, then chatted a moment before walking out to go back home.
The two followed him, waved as he transformed and drove off, then glanced at each other.
Drift grinned. "Does it hurt much?"
"Only when I breathe," Springer said as they walked to their horses nearby.
"You don't need to breathe," Drift said as they climbed up to sit.
"Oh. That's right," Springer said. "You think I'd know that, Ma being a doctor and all."
"I think so." Drift grinned at him. "You need boxing lessons. Your left is weak."
"I don't know. You didn't say that last night," Springer said with a big grin.
Drift laughed loudly. "No. I didn't did I."
They grinned at each other, then tapped the sides of their horses. The two walked onward and they would take their time catching up with their posse. It was nice to just ride along slowly and talk.
=0=TBC 4-22-19 HAPPY EARTH DAY TO EVERYONE!
Notes will be replied to tomorrow. :D:D:D
ESL
side eye (optic) to glance at someone with a pointed gaze or glance of optics quickly. Its usually a surprised swift peek.