No Roads Left
Chapter 3—No one to hear me, to heal my ill heart
Disclaimer: I do not own Thor, Loki, the Avengers or Transformers. They belong to Marvel/Disney and Hasbro/Takara.
Ratchet's intakes hitched. "Define 'everything,'" he said.
"I told you I was raised Aesir, born Jotun," Loki said.
"A cultural difference was enough to cause you to have a temper tantrum?" Ratchet said testing the waters.
"Aesir and Jotnar are completely different races," Loki explained. "Jotun are monsters, creatures the Aesir defeated in the last great war between the realms."
"So just not a difference between ideologies, either?" Ratchet said.
"Hardly," Loki said. "The Jotun king came to this realm to conquer. His home wasn't enough, and he plunged the realms into war. Like father, like son, I guess. I killed my birth father, tried to kill the man who raised me, attempted destroying the realm and people I came from. I even tried to murder my own brother. . ."
Ratchet sat down. Temper tantrum? Hardly. More like what the humans called a psychotic break.
"How long ago did all this happen?" the medic asked.
"A little over a year ago," Loki explained.
"And how did you end up in the hands of these Chitauri?"
"I fell through what the humans call a wormhole," Loki said.
"How did you manage that?" Ratchet said, scrubbing at his face in frustration.
"I fought with my brother, and I'd turned the Bifrost against Jotunheim," Loki said. "The Bifrost is the method we use to travel across realms. It's a bridge—a rainbow bridge."
"I've read the myths," Ratchet said. "It's like our space bridge technology then. Go on."
"The Bifrost was broken during the battle, and I fell when it broke, holding on, but I chose to let go," Loki said.
"Were you suicidal, or just stupid?" Ratchet said.
"I'm still not sure," Loki said, staring down at the ground, biting his lip.
"What were you fighting with your brother about?" Ratchet said.
"It doesn't matter now," Loki replied.
"My aft," Ratchet said.
"Do we have to continue?"
"Damn right, we do, youngling," Ratchet said. "That Avenger aft-head, Thor, the one everyone keeps calling a god-you obviously know each other. What is he to you?"
"My brother," Loki said. "But he's not."
"The lack of a blood tie between you does not make him any less your brother," Ratchet said.
"He's not," Loki repeated.
"Why is it so hard for you to accept someone choosing their family? Energon and blood are important, but the ties of family aren't just what flows through one's veins," Ratchet said.
"My father took me, the child of his greatest enemy, to raise as his own. Where is the logic in that?" Loki asked.
"How old were you when he found you?" Ratchet asked.
"My mother said I was only a few days old," Loki said.
"Perhaps he saw only a child in need, not something he could use for his own gain," Ratchet said.
"No. He had to have some other purpose in mind," Loki said. "He lied. He said we were both meant to be kings."
"Loki, is this Odin your father?"
"Yes."
That explained a few things.
"Is he your father or not? You keep calling him that."
"Habit," Loki said.
"Your father is the king of this Asgard, and you don't think he'd listen to reason?"
"No," Loki said. "He banished Thor for much less than what I've done. Stripped him of his powers and weapon, dumping him here in Midgard."
"No offense, but this Odin sounds like a great parent," Ratchet said.
"None taken," Loki said.
"I can identify with the humans' anger over the damage you caused, but while I'm no tactician, that wasn't an invasion. It was one city, one battle."
"A sortie, you mean," Loki said.
"Nothing on the cosmic scale," Ratchet said. "You have to understand—my people have been at war for longer than humans have been alive on this planet. Sometimes it's hard to muster the compassion to care after seeing so much death and destruction, but I'm a medic. It's part of who I am, but I hate watching a race having to learn a lesson my people have already had beaten into them."
"How can you be so cavalier about what I've done?" Loki asked.
"Humans tend to overreact," Ratchet said. "I think it stems from their anthropocentric view towards reality—they think they're the center of the universe, and everyone and everything is out to get them."
"In this case, they're not wrong," Loki muttered.
Ratchet's head snapped up, focus suddenly shifting to Loki.
"Which part?"
"Things in the dark, plotting against them," Loki said.
"Such as?"
"Ask your human companions," Loki said. "Or break into SHIELD's files. It's all there."
Ratchet didn't mention they already had.
"You're not completely enamoured of your humans?" Loki asked, interested.
"They're my friends, and like any species, they're not perfect," Ratchet said. "And about my cavalier attitude—I've been putting bots back together for stellar cycles."
Loki frowned up at the mech. "How long is that?"
"Almost five million Earth years," Ratchet said. "The war's been going on more than four million."
Ratchet smiled down at the suddenly gaping Loki "But that's. . ."
"Impossible? We thought organics were impossible, until we discovered otherwise," Ratchet said. "I'm glad to find there are advanced organics such as yourself."
"Any other observations you'd like to share, or questions answered?"
"No," Loki said.
"Good. I need to take you to see Dr. Reese. He's the head doctor for the humans. I want him to take a look at you."
Ratchet scooped him up, depositing him up again.
"You're treating me like a person," Loki said.
"You are a person," Ratchet said. "Despite the things you've done, you're not a monster. Never forget that. I've seen real monsters, and let's just leave it at that for now."
88888
Ratchet put the finishing touches on his report for Prime. A long day almost over, and he had much to consider. Like younglings and parents. If he could get his hands on Loki's father, he'd reduce him to a blotch of red on the pavement.
And he the parallel between Loki's story and the reality he and the rest of the Autobots were living the past few million years was almost too much to take. Although this one was just at the beginning, and maybe they could intervene. Remorse and regret were a starting point.
Megatron never regretted what he'd done, and the bond between Optimus Prime and his brother was never enough to break the cycle. Optimus tried, despite the advice of everyone around him, until they finally gave up trying to change his mind. In the end, his decision was too little, too late.
Ratchet shuttered his optics at the memory of a broken Optimus holding the shattered remains of his brother's body after the battle in Egypt. Himself and Ironhide having to pull their Prime away from the shell with force. Optimus' silence on the journey home, his grief and guilt over killing his own brother and another Prime. No one was stupid enough to tell him he did the right thing, what needed doing, even if it was the truth. Optimus knew it, still did, but he would carry that grief with him until the end of his days.
The fact they were starting to build lives for themselves again was a good thing. The arrival of Prowl and Kup with the Ark and a contingent of Wreckers and others a few months after Egypt helped. As did Optimus' burgeoning relationship with a certain young punk.
Ratchet smiled at that thought. Oh yes, their arrival set life at Diego Garcia completely sideways for a while. His own bond mate, Wheeljack came with them, as did Sunstreaker. His family was almost whole again. Not quite, but hopefully, soon, with the arrival of Ultra Magnus. First Aid, the medic's son with Wheeljack, and the twins' younger brother, was coming with them. A happy thought, but one to mull over later, when he was done with the business of the day.
With that, Ratchet head for Optimus' office, not surprised the door was open and the Prime was still working. Ratchet entered, setting his data pad down in front of his leader instead of throwing it. Or breaking things.
"How did it go?" Optimus asked.
"It's in my report, but I know you won't read it unless you have time, so I'll tell you the pertinent parts," Ratchet said.
"It can wait until we discuss why you removed Loki from his cell without his bindings," Optimus said.
"Oh. Sorry I forgot," Ratchet said.
"Red Alert was not happy," Optimus said.
"Red Alert can suck it up," Ratchet said. "Protocols for an organic are not the same as for a Decepticon."
"You've seen the video from Germany, and New York, have you not?" Optimus asked.
"I have. But Loki hasn't raised a finger to anyone since he got here," Ratchet said.
"He's only been here a few days," Optimus said.
"Loki was tortured, and he's suffered massive physical, psychological and emotional trauma," Ratchet said. "I believe with time and intensive therapy, he'll make a complete recovery."
"He's not here for you to rehabilitate," Optimus said.
"Then why is he here?"
"He's an enemy combatant in our custody," Optimus said.
"He's someone who needs our help," Ratchet said. "He even went so far as to admit he was coerced into carrying out the attack on New York for a being called Thanos. I think Kup and Prowl need debrief him as soon as possible."
"Is he stable enough for that?"
"Yes," Ratchet said. "And I hope you take into consideration destroying that damn spear."
"Perceptor would like to examine it," Optimus said.
"Let him near it and I'll be examining you to declare you unfit for duty," the medic snapped.
"I'm not letting him near it," Optimus said. "You have my permission to further evaluate the prisoner, and I'll pass it along to Prowl the idea of a debriefing. I just hope you know what you're getting us all into."
The medic snorted, refusing to answer that comment, but he became serious.
"I think you should talk to Loki," Ratchet said. "He could certainly benefit from your experience and wisdom."
"Why do you think that?" Optimus asked.
"His recent past and revelations about his heritage are the reason," Ratchet said. "I wouldn't make the suggestion if I didn't think it wasn't necessary. Optimus, Loki is broken, but I don't think it's too late for him. Please talk to him."
"Why is it so important?"
"Because his story isn't so different from your own," Ratchet said.
"I'll take it under consideration," Optimus said.
88888
Ratchet's annoyance with members of the chain of command faded as he entered the quarters he shared with Wheeljack. The engineer was sitting in their berth, tinkering with something. Ratchet sat down beside him, throwing an arm around his mate.
"Optimus has a job for you," Ratchet said.
Wheeljack's fins glowed blue with happiness. "What is it?"
"Keeping the humans out of our mainframe," Ratchet said. "Sideswipe said they tried again."
"Kup never mentioned it today," Wheeljack said.
Ratchet didn't reply to that. He knew the ancient mech spent a good portion of his afternoon calming down Red Alert because of he'd had removed Loki from his cell without taking any safety precautions—like binders and the muzzle. Oops.
"Which humans this time?" Wheeljack asked.
"The scientist in New Mexico," Ratchet answered.
"Compartmentalization of the specific data might work," Wheeljack said. "Was it the bridge information again?"
"Yes," Ratchet said.
"It's just the archival stuff," Wheeljack said.
"That scientist is desperately trying to prove her theories are true," Ratchet said. "It's one thing if she discovers how to make a stable wormhole herself, another matter entirely if it's done with our technology, or someone else's."
"Yeah, can't have that happening," Wheeljack said. "Perce said they've already got some illegal stuff in their possession, and Lennox was fit to be tied when he found out."
"When did this happen?" Ratchet said.
"This afternoon in ops. I was repairing one of the monitors, and it was quite the spectacle," Wheeljack said, fins flashing with amusement. "I had to drag him back to the lab and we had a talk about tact. And speaking of tact, I heard you had a row with Prime. What was it about?"
"The artifact in the vault, and the prisoner," Ratchet said.
"It also had nothing to do with the little project you had Kup and Hot Rod working on?" Wheeljack said. "That was devious."
"It had to be done," Ratchet said.
"Prowl was in a snit," Wheeljack said. "Until he started going over everything in those files. Can't say he calmed down much, but he wasn't happy with what he read. He and Kup are going to be busy sifting through all that information for days. He did write a summary of some of the immediately pressing issues and gave it to Prime."
"How well did that go over?"
"Prowl wouldn't let him out of his office until he read it," Wheeljack said. "Busy day all around. You missed the twins, by the way."
"I forgot," Ratchet said.
"They're on guard duty tonight, and off tomorrow," Wheeljack said. "You better take some time off to see them."
"I will," Ratchet said.
88888
Loki lay awake, staring at the ceiling of his cell. The human doctor looked at the cuts on his face, and the bruises. His only recommendation was ice and rest. Ice Loki could produce with a thought, and he was getting all the rest he could ever want. A bad idea was testing the force field again. If he could get past it, he was a free man. The humans couldn't stop him, and though he was curious about the mechanical beings serving as his guards, he did not want his first bit of knowledge about their weapons and abilities to be having them turned on himself.
No, he would watch and wait. His curiosity and thirst for knowledge was almost enough to keep him from pulling something. Almost.
Rolling onto his side, looking out of his cell, he saw the now familiar pair of Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. He could barely make out what they were saying, the brothers bickering again.
"Remember fun, Sunny? Mischief? Practical jokes?" Sideswipe said.
"No," Sunstreaker said. "We've got guard duty until further notice. So. Just. No."
Sideswipe rolled his optics. His brother sounded just like Ratchet.
"Sunshine, relax. What could go wrong?" he asked, turning around, walking up to the cell. Loki sat up, curious.
"So. God of mischief?" Sideswipe asked.
Loki grinned.
