Annndddd there's Wi-Fi! Ta-daa! Have another chapter to celebrate. (And thanks for the wonderful comments and whatnot!)
"I told you, doc, we're fine!" Bulkhead's irritated grumbling had absolutely no effect on the medic whatsoever, who simply pushed the much larger Wrecker back down easily when he tried to stand and flee, stating, "The only way to be certain you're fine, Bulkhead, is to endure standard de-frosting procedure. You know prolonged exposure to subzero conditions can cause permanent system damage!" Switchshade grinned half-heartedly at the cowed expression on Bulkhead's faceplates, but he continued to glance back over towards the familiar pod-like device. Something tickled at the back of his processor, some crucial piece of information that he somehow just knew was incredibly important, and yet he could not bring up the memory file of why this object was so familiar to him. Déjà vu, the humans might say…
"Ratchet." Lord Prime's deep voice startled the dark mech, causing a minute flinch as Switchshade hurried to move out of the way. "Have you learned anything more about our Arctic find?" The moment Switchshade was out of Lord Prime's path, he circled back around again to eye the pod once again. By the Allspark, where do I know this from? There is something here, some crucial fact of vital importance I cannot see. But what?!
In response to Lord Prime's query, the medic finally moved away from Bulkhead, causing the Wrecker to surreptitiously heave a sigh of relief, as the CMO answered, "Not yet." He moved to stand by the computer screen that showed the specs of the strange object, continual scans running in an attempt to determine its function. "The pod can't be opened while it's frozen solid."
"Maybe we should go back-" Bulkhead began, before the Hatchet whirled and fixed him with a glare identical to the one shown to Switchshade earlier that very cycle. "Don't even think about it. Your frame cannot withstand much more frigid temperatures, and going back into the arctic is the last thing you should be doing just now!" Cliffjumper, who was standing next to Bumblebee (he and Arcee had returned from their race in much livelier spirits, although they refused to speak at all of where, exactly, they had gone or what they had done), smirked at the last comment of the medic's, and murmured to 'Bee, "I would've guessed that the last thing Bulkhead should be doing right now is calling up 'Screamer and asking him to sing him a lullaby, but maybe that's just me…" Bumblebee whirred a laugh, bending forwards in amusement, even as the Hatchet, without so much as a backwards glance, scooped up a wrench that had been lying on a shelf nearby, and hurled it over his shoulder. The resulting 'clang' and pained, "Hey!"were clear indicators that the projectile had hit its mark.
Sullenly running a soothing servo over his helm, Cliffjumper grumbled something indistinguishable under his breath, but the words 'power-crazed mad-mech', and 'danger to himself and others' were clearly discernable amongst the mix. When he turned to Arcee with pleading optics, the femme smirked and shoved him affably in the shoulderplates, stating blithely, "It isn't as if you didn't ask for it. Don't look to me for pity when you know full well you deserved it." She looked over at Bumblebee and Bulkhead for a moment, and then back at the pod. "What if I go? We really should try to get some more information about the origins of the pod, if we can, and going back to where it was first located is at least a possible option that might yield some answers. If it's dangerous for 'Bulk and 'Bee to go back again so soon, then why shouldn't I?"
As she spoke, Bulkhead and Bumblebee made good on the CMO's distraction, sneaking away quickly and muttering something about finding the humans before transforming and tearing away from the base as fast as their tires could go. Ratchet's attention was focused on Arcee, however, and he considered her suggestion for a moment, and then nodded his helm grudgingly. "It should be fine, so long as you are not in the subzero temperatures for over-long periods of time. Go in, collect what intel you can, and then call for a groundbridge immediately. I don't need any casualties on my servos."
"No." Switchshade, still standing carefully out of the way, near the wall, cowered back without thought at the single word from Lord Prime, before he caught himself and stood still, realizing it was not he who was being addressed. "While I agree that more intel should be gathered, you should not go so far alone, Arcee. Not now, while we are still uncertain of Starscream's movements. I will accompany you." The femme glanced at the Prime, and then nodded, her respect for Optimus and trust in his judgment far too great for any protest with such a simple command. "Let me come, too. Least I can do is help scan. 'Shade and Ratch' can man the 'bridge while 'Bee and Bulkhead human-sit." Cliffjumper said, strolling over to stand beside Arcee, previous pretended foul mood entirely forgotten as he grinned brightly.
Optimus' optics flickered around the base once before landing fully on Cliffjumper. A tiny light of amusement lit his optics when he glanced between the red mech and the blue femme several times, though his faceplates and voice were as grave as ever when he spoke. "So be it. Ratchet, open the groundbridge to Bulkhead and Bumblebee's last coordinates. Arcee, Cliffjumper and I will search for any clue which might explain the origin of our Arctic find."
The medic obeyed, and soon the groundbridge was opened and glowing, even as the CMO set a sensor to monitor each 'Bot's core temperatures. "Only until your sensors sound." He warned sharply. Even now, Ratchet's complete willingness (and even eagerness, at times) to boss around everymech in the base, even Lord Prime, was a shock to Switchshade, although he found himself much less nervous, now, for the medic's safety. For some reason, Lord Prime seemed unwilling to physically punish in any way, and indeed it was a very rare occasion that he even verbally took someone to task. "Remember, once your core temperature drops into the blue zone, system failures aren't 'likely', they're imminent."
A moment of contemplative silence fell over the base, the only sound the quiet humming of the groundbridge, and then the roaring of Bumblebee's and Bulkhead's engines sounded once more. Kliks later, the two 'Bots pulled up, and Miko, Jack, and Raf all spilled out, grinning brightly up at the Cybertronians in the base. "Miss us, doc-bot?" Miko asked happily, leaning on Bulkhead. The medic groaned, the sound reminiscent to one a mech might make in great agony, before he grumbled, "Shouldn't they be in school?" to no one in particular. Bulkhead and Bumblebee transformed back into their root modes, not over-exerted in the slightest, despite the exceedingly rapid speeds at which they had driven to reach the humans and return to the base in the time that they had.
"On Saturday?" the disgust in Miko's voice made it plain that the thought of having to attend school on a Saturday was worse than an abomination to her. "We have the whole weekend off-to spend with you!" She smiled brightly at Ratchet again, knowing full well the old medic's exasperation, and far from being discouraged, the tiny human was quite inspired to continue.
"I wasn't expecting to carpool. What gives, Arcee?" Jack asked curiously, stepping away from Bumblebee with a tiny wave of thanks. "Tag team, Jack. It's my turn for 'exploration duty'." The eldest of the humans smiled a bit, but shrugged in acceptance. "Ah. Too bad, it's a beautiful day for a ride." Then, his smile turned mischievous, and he continued, "I'd hate for you to feel guilty, for leaving me indoors…" The femme raised an optic ridge. "Arctic exploration duty." Instantly, the human swiveled on his feet, turning to begin to walk away as he hastily finished, "Indoors, where it's warm!"
"The Arctic? I've always wanted to see snow." Rafael stated, moving forwards to speak with Arcee as Optimus waited patiently behind her. Switchshade watched curiously as Lord Prime spoke with great gentleness to the youngest of the humans. "I would invite you to join, Rafael, but the conditions are much too extreme, even for we Autobots." Raf was hardly disheartened, however, merely mildly disappointed as he shrugged. "I… understand" he admitted, before he turned to follow Bumblebee.
"But, I will bring you back a snowball." Switchshade's optics widened in complete shock at the unexpected and spontaneous offer, made by a Prime to a human, even as Raf turned to look back at Optimus with another happy smile. "That would be awesome!" The youngest human declared, delighted, watching avidly as the Prime and the femme moved through the groundbridge and vanished from sight.
Ratchet watched as well, a hastily-hidden grin at Optimus' promise quickly wiped from his own faceplates as he reached over to shut down the groundbridge, stating, "Transport complete." The instant the tip of his servo made contact with the lever to power down the groundbridge, however, the blast of a sudden explosion from within the device forced the medic back a pace with its force. "By the Allspark!" Ratchet exclaimed in shock, and a fraction of an Astroclick later, Switchshade stood less than a human foot from the medic, between him and the explosion site, shocked and wary red optics quickly scanning the CMO's frame for any signs of damage from the unexpected explosion.
"I'm fine, Switchshade, just surprised, that's all. Let me see, let me see…" Ratchet muttered, overcoming his surprise quickly as he stepped around the still shell-shocked ex-'Con, and began to examine the groundbridge controls. That could have been worse-at least Ratchet is unharmed. … Primus! Lord Prime and Arcee will be stranded in the Arctic!