Her joy rides were once so fulfilling. All that stood out was the lack of weight she carried every ride out. It was disconcerting. The wind blew on her scratched paint, the sand embedded in the breeze not doing any favors for remaining dark blue. Jack had offered to find the color and repaint her once. Even if it's just for appearances, getting freshened up can be mentally therapeutic. Then he mumbled about how his mom always felt better after going to the salon, which was a rare treat. She thought it was sweet. He cared far too much sometimes. She had turned down the offer; his hard work would just get ruined the next battle anyway. He had taken it in stride, leaving the request open if she changed her mind.
She later found out he offered it to the rest of the team. He asked after their conversation; her comrades had also turned down the offer. Even though they never took him up on the generous offer, they all held that moment in their spark. Even Ratchet was surprisingly mellow for the days following. It was a spark-warming sight to see.
She practically jumped when an obnoxious horn sounded behind her. A familiar muscle car quickly swerved around her. The black and flame design made her seeth. They may not be allowed to harm humans, but that couldn't affect their personal feelings. Vince was one of those she wouldn't mind squishing. She hadn't heard many stories from Jack himself, but Miko and Raf were always willing to enlighten her. Humans could be cruel just like them.
Looking along the strip of the road, she noticed the car must have turned off at some point. The dusty highway went on endlessly, the desert stretching on with only the scorching sun to make it more deathly. To humans, it was a wasteland, almost uninhabitable. To her, it was an exotic place, something she never thought she would see in her long life.
When she and Cliff first were dropped into this world, she couldn't have imagined what they would find. The idea of sentient organic life, intelligent enough to converse with them, was fanciful. It was so unrealistic to them at first Cliff thought he was one with the Allspark when Ratchet explained the situation. She wasn't far off from Cliff's mental state either. Humans were a possibility many would have thought made up. Despite that, they grew accustomed to this world and life on Earth. They had no natural choice after all. Cliff was just happy he had stellar cars to choose from. Arcee was indifferent to a long time.
Now Arcee couldn't imagine not coming to the blue planet. Despite losing Cliff, she had gained a lot, mainly thanks to Jack's pestering. He could be extremely stubborn when he thought something was necessary, a shocking trait she wishes she knew from the start. If she had, she would have played up being sick more.
Thinking of her junior partner just brought back the feeling of unease. She would have been by his frame that second if it wasn't for Ratchet's push to leave. The cranky medic had been secretive with his latest project, and even Prime had no clue what he was planning. All any of them knew was he was called Wheeljack. That was telling of how desperate the medic was. Ratchet had an exciting relationship with the wild and explosive wrecker. Obvious irritation was just the tip of the problems. Knowing Ratchet had willingly called the wrecker for help had caused almost all of them to think the medic had lost his processor. Thankfully, hours of pestering questions from Miko had revealed he was of sound mind, if not willing to step on Miko by 'accident.' It was safe to say Bulkhead booked it out of the base with his energetic charge after that. It was amusing to see everyone act usually after what felt like ages. Slowly, they were all recovering, but the worry still hung in the back, ready to strike. They were on edge for the worst.
Looking up at the clear blue sky, Arcee wondered what Ratchet was planning. He was up to something and wouldn't tell because it would cause hope he couldn't guarantee. He was just that type of bot, caring under the gruff cover.
With a quick realization, she found herself farther out than she expected to go. Grumbling, she spun around and started to head back, sand kicking up as she turned. She only hoped Ratchet would let her see Jack once she was back.
"Wheeljack! I needed that!"
A chuckle only met his cry, the wrecker too absorbed in his work to even look up. Said tool Ratchet needed was used by the expositions expert.
"Calm your circuits, doc bot; I'm almost done. Besides, you are the one that called me for help. I would think you'd be more grateful?"
Wheeljack cocked a hip joint, placing his free servo on it. The whole position reminded Ratchet of when June would make a point; it was disconcerting.
"Just give me that." He grumbled, snatching the welder back. Turning back to his work, he focused on the final wires he needed to connect. They had been working nonstop for the past day. He even made a point to ban anyone from coming and distributing them. That caused all of the unconscious mech's visitors to be turned away.
"So doc bot..."
Ratchet just grunted. The nickname still grated, but he had more important things to turn his focus to. He could feel the mech hovering behind him; his field echoed his concern more than his tone could ever.
"Do you think this will work?"
It was a question even he had. The worry was pouring off of him. That's why he shouldn't have become attached. He knew attachments meant there was a chance everything could come crashing down. If he had nothing to lose, then it was always better. He knew it wasn't a healthy coping mechanism, but he was a medic that's seen thousands of years of war. Soon even the most empathic bots would become closed off, and he wasn't the most empathic.
"We went through all the data; his processor is active, meaning there is someone there. He can't communicate while his memory files are reorganizing. Thus his frame is in emergency lockdown, unable to move. His consciousness will latch on if we give him a body." He kept the 'hopefully' thought to himself. He was in his element, all the numbers aligned, all that was left was fate, something he truly hated.
"Still, do you think his system would recognize the projector in lockdown? I may be well versed in holoprojectors and holo forms, but that doesn't mean I ever tried it with an unconscious mech."
The tool in his servo creaked under pressure. Gritting his denta, he answered.
"I don't know," the truth stung; it came out as more of a whisper, sadly not quite enough for the former scientist not to hear.
The space was quiet for some time. Both bots are taking care of the final preparation to install the makeshift holo form projector. Its metal was a mix of silver and the black they salvaged from the projector's source. It was the most advanced projector either could make, at least in theory. Only testing would result in confirmation. Sadly the projector was tuned to his unconscious patient. They could have tested it more if the source projector wasn't damaged while having Jackson's measurements.
"All ready to install, vitals are stable, and the processor just as active."
Venting, he picked up his tools. The process was relatively simple; only the Energon veins needed to connect to where the main worry. One wrong cut, and he would have a flatlined patient in no time.
Standing over his patient, he looked upon the faceplates once more. It was still unfamiliar.
"He does look familiar..." Mumbled Wheeljack, scratching his helm with a pained face. When the wrecker first saw the mech, he stared long and hard. Ratchet had hoped he would know anything about the mech, but he had yet to recall anything. It was frustrating.
"Focus, the process might be simple, but it's still an operation." He scolded.
"Yah, yah, don't be so uptight. I don't want the kid to die either. "
Somehow that nonchalant attitude wasn't helping with the medics' stress levels.
'I should have just sent those kids to Tokyo when Miko first suggested it.'
They had kicked her out. Her!
Now she couldn't see her son, who resides in a metallic alien body. June was furious. After she got the whole day off to spend time with her son, but mainly Arcee, they said no since she was the only conscious company. Her only solace was that all visitors were banned; she wasn't unique. Wheeljack, the brash freelance wrecker, was, for some reason, allowed in. She's told they had been in there for more than a day. She couldn't fathom what the scientists were up to that needed that much concentration.
Now she was mindlessly watching TV, with Raf completing his homework next to her. Miko was in detention again, meaning she was going to be late. The base was surprisingly quiet. Arcee left for a joy ride, mainly forced by Ratchet's orders to do something other than hover over Jack. Raf said Bumblebee joined Bulkhead in the training room to spar. That left Optimus to disappear down the missile silos' endless hallways.
Finally done with watching the program, she felt for her phone. The fantastic plastic distracted her mind from what those two scientists were up to. Flipping open the phone, she found herself staring at her background. A soft smile grew on her face.
The photo wasn't that old, taken two years ago on her birthday. They were living in Chicago at the time, one of the better-paying jobs she got there. Jack had planned the whole day. They went all over and were tourists despite living there for five months already. The two of them took the shot, Jack's arm slung over her shoulder in a side hug. The sun is setting behind them from the top of a skyscraper. A fellow diner at the restaurant had kindly taken it. It was one of the best birthdays she could remember.
Her fingers caressed Jack's smiling face. He looked like he was enjoying himself, but she could still see the tension and fear deep in his eyes.
"Mrs. Darby?"
The quiet voice of Raf brought her out of her thoughts. Looking up, she forced back her emotions and smiled at the small boy.
"Yes, Raf?"
Her question came out controlled. The boy eyed her from where he was doing homework. She suddenly noticed the lack of any papers and books. 'He must have finished,' she concluded.
The boy opened his mouth, the worry making his forehead wrinkle. Before he could even express his feelings, an alarm startled them. June jumped up and turned towards Ratchet's typical station. Sadly she knew the medic wouldn't be there.
"What's going on?" She yelled over the alarm. Raf was moving fast, pushing past her as he examined the alien technology. She watched the young child's eyes widen.
"That's an Autobot beacon."
June turned back to the glowing green screen. On the map, the area pulsed with each screech. She heard the sound of metal footsteps coming. June was out of her element; typically, she never saw when there was danger or missions. This was a new experience that opened her eyes more to the bots.
It wasn't even a click after he finished the installation before an alarm sounded. He jumped, the tool in his servo dropping to the floor with a metallic clang—his frame tensed with indecision.
"Go, doc bot, I can take care of watching the mechlings vitals." Ratchet eyed the wrecker with uncertainty.
"Oh, come on, the hard parts done. Now we need to see how the patient reacts." The exasperation in his voice was apparent, but so was the sincerity. Leaning over, he gathered the fallen tool and placed it with the other. They all needed a good cleaning later, he noted.
"You are to inform me the second anything changes, no exceptions." Ratchet glared at the laid-back sports car.
"Geeze, you make it seem like you don't trust me. That hurts." Wheeljack's servos gestured to his spark, giving him a snarky smile. Ratchet just glared harder. His smile dropped instantly, the other mech frame straightening.
"I said it before; I don't want the kid to die just as much. Now get going. Boss bot will be needing his medic more than a wrecker right now."
Ratchet just huffed at the irritating bot. Turning, he left the room for the first time in days. Mentally he knew Wheeljack would be perfectly fine with watching over the patient, but he couldn't push past the anxiety. Neither was sure what would happen. It should take around a day for the result to show. Putting the topic out of his mind, he entered the main room to be greeted by everyone. They were all gathered around his station. His frown became more prominent.
"Bulkhead, move your oversized self so I can get to the controls." The grumble caused the large green giant to jump, hitting Bee, who shoved Arcee towards where the humans were resting. Arguing ensued. Ratchet's processor sparked with a familiar ache.
'Nothing can be simple, can it?' It was a ligament question he had. One he probably would never get answered. Groaning, he pushed past the arguing bots to see what caused the alarm. With their luck, he knew it couldn't be something good.
