Important: Please Read!

The following fic is a small offshoot of my current fic "Ronin" with some references being made to my first TF fic, "The Departed".

If you're confused about certain elements within this one, you might want to skim/read through them to get the full backstory.

Mr Fix It 34 at post dot net

Any more of this and I think my auditory circuits are going to be slagged to bits! The medic thought to himself.

He really didn't think much of it when he took the quarters next to Jazz. After all, how much noise could one silver Autobot make? When they had been on the Ark, the medic had been clear on the other side of the ship from Jazz so he never had to deal with it before.

But after settling in at their new base of operations this time and finding out the second in command had developed a deepening love affair with the human music downloading sites, the medic knew his peaceful recharge nights were going to be far and few in between.

Yes, how foolish of me to think otherwise...after all, Jazz is a human trapped in a mech's body...why would I have thought any amount of quietness would somehow be found?

Sighing knowingly to himself, the medic figured he would just have to endure the pumping music vibrating through the walls unless it got to be really, really bad. Everyone knew Jazz was definitely a one of a kind type of Bot' and trying to attempt to change that aspect was like expecting Starscream to hop over for a happy round of energon. It just wasn't going to happen.

Barely hearing the slight beeping noise that came from his laptop then, the medic sat down, curious to see what was being sent to him so late.

Reading through the email Bumblebee had sent, his armor vibrating slightly from the noise, the mech chuckled lightly to himself.

This is definitely Bee! Well, since he took the time to write it and send it out, I might as well reply...

Does your name hold any significance in it's meaning?

I believe so. A ratchet is a main tool for repairing. I would have to say it suits me quite well. I have no complaints.

Three words that best describes your self?

Handy

Calm (here on earth without the twins, at least…Primus they could make the most subdued Bot' want to nail their afts to a wall!)

Levelheaded (Before you both say anything to me, Bee and Jazz, yes I do remember the time I chased Hound down the corridor with a hacksaw, to which he rightfully deserved!)

If you were another mech would you be friends with you?

Probably, although I do have a tendency to have a dry off handed way about me...chalk it up to having been through one too many of Sunny and Side's non pratical jokes.

When was the last time your optics flooded?

I'm the Chief Medic…and right now, here on earth, I am the only Cybertronian medic. I don't have the luxury of letting my optics flood. If I did that, I wouldn't be able to do my job and help my friends when they need me most.

But with that being said, there were several times when I was repairing Jazz that I thought it was going to come out. Primus, I had to beat that one away with a metal wrench!

Blowing things up or creating things to blow something up?

If a situation can be resolved through peaceful means, then that should always be the ideal way to go, but since Cons don't give us that choice, I would have to say creating. Always need to keep them guessing.

Which Decepticon do you hate more? Starscream or Blackout?

We have to choose?

Favorite earth color?

Never thought about it much. There was this one derivative blue hue I liked, though. Turquoise was it? (Jazz, do you recall a color called that?)

If you had a choice for another earth alt mode what would it be?

I am perfectly happy with what I've been reconfigured as. Complaining is never a redeeming quality. (Don't even type it, Jazz…don't even type you want to be human for a day! Because the answer is NO!)

Earth or Cybertron?

Cybertron…although it was a much brighter and better place before the war.

What are you reading right now?

1,000 Ways to Reassemble a Decepticon Quickly (Are you reading this TC?)

Drinking energon until your optics are seeing shooting stars or 'connecting' until your optics stay rolled to the back of your head?

I don't disclose such personal information like that. You're imagination will have to find the answer. (Get it out of your logic circuits right now, Bee. I can see it already brewing up there and I swear to Primus if you come ask me about it later, you will put a major damper on my nerve circuits!).

Although...asking Jazz and Hide' might bring forth some amusement...let's just say they've had their fair share of connecting "fun".

I do enjoy a good high grade energon every now and then, though. Helps loosen the hinges!

Do you like the mech who sent this to you?

Yes, I would have to say I'm quite fond of him. He's an exceptional fighter on the field and his spark is always in the right place (Except when he's gossiping...if ever you feel you've lost your way and need someone to tell you the scoop on every little thing go directly to him, do not pass go, do not collect $200).

Favorite personal saying/quote?

"You break it, I'll fix it!"

"Will work for tools."

"Subdued sarcasm is the best weapon."

"Knowledge is power. Tolerance is bliss. Learning and respect are the keys to universal attainment, understanding, and unity." (I know it's been a long time for that one Optimus, but I've always loved that one from you!)

Mech least likely to respond?

Well, since you ask, I would have to say a certain grey Seeker who goes by the nickname TC.

Perhaps I've missed the radiating sunny disposition of his nature and the unquestionable joy I do not get when in his presence, as he's never struck me as the "tell me about yourself" type of mech.

Whom do you want to reply the most?

I'm curious to know what Optimus and Hide have to say to all of this.

Sitting back in his chair, the medic pressed "Send".

Hearing Jazz's music blaring through, the mech wondered how long it would be before the walls finally collapsed from the intensity of the sound boucing off of them, hoping the humans had built their base with thick reinforced iron alloy elements.

Author's End Notes:

The quote Ratchet states "Knowledge is power…," is actually a quote I made up myself a few years back for this one political forum I was on. I thought it fit kind of nice here with Ratchet's personality.

Curious to know why Ratchet chased Hound down the Ark corridor? Check out my fic "The Departed: Supplemental Shorts" chapter titled "Sustenance" to read what it was.

Hint: If you don't want to read the whole chapter, the incident is described in the dialogue between Bumblebee and Bluestreak.

Stay tuned! The best two are left…Bluestreak and Thundercracker!