Things Change

Chapter 11:
Check Up

...

For the next forty minutes, the two friends continue on talking even when Sari had finish her breakfast twenty minutes ago. By now, it was 6:10, a good time for Sari to go back to bed and for any of the other bots that live here to start waking up.

"Alright, Goldbug." Sari yarn. "It's about time that I go back to bed."

"Alright," he reply.

Sari got up and headed for the kitchen door. "Later, Goldbug. Take it easy, okay?"

"Okay."

The door close behind her and Goldbug lean back in his chair to stretch his tired limps. He needed his morning barrel of oil to start him up before he can head down to the medbay and get his morning cube of medical grade. Ever since he got sparked, he had to consume about three cubes of medical grade a day; one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. He didn't like taking those cubes, mainly because they tasted horrible. But, for the sparkling's sake, he'll take them.

Getting up from his chair, he headed straight to the oil cabinet. Opening it, he look for the largest oil barrel he can find before closing it again. He open the barrel like it was a can of soda and started drinking. As he enjoy his oil, the door slide open. Entering from it were two bots; a certain flame painted bot and a hybrid ambulance bot.

"Oh, sorry." Optimus apologise once he saw him. "Were we interrupting something?"

"Nope," he said, holding up his oil. "I'm just having my breakfast. You guys want some?"

"Uhm, sure."

Goldbug place his oil down on a table before opening the cabinet and getting two more barrels of oil for his guests. Both Ratchet and Optimus thank him for their oil before there was silence in between them.

"So..." stated Ratchet, breaking the silence. "...how you feeling?"

"Fine, fine." Goldbug reply. "And I'm sorry for yell at you guys last night. I got a little...moody after throwing out your big chin friend."

"It's alright, Goldbug." said Optimus.

"No, no, as the leader it's my job to keep my emotion in check."

"It's okay, kid. We understand." said Ratchet. "We know about your situation, it's normal."

Goldbug grew a little tense. "You do? How?"

Ratchet smiled. "I'm a medic, remember? I know these things."

He calm down. "Right. Well, I probably would have, if I did remembered."

"Did?" questioned Optimus.

"Yeah, Sari said we use to be friends. But...I don't remember. I mean you look familiar but I can't really place it."

"Wait, you don't remember us?"

"Nope."

"And why is that?"

"Well Sari and Barricade were there when it happen so they can tell you what happen better than me but from what they told me the first time I encounter D.O.O.M. it ended...unfortunate."

Goldbug finish the rest of his oil and place the barrel in the recycling pile before heading out of the room.

"Where are you going?"

Goldbug pause and turn. "I have to go to the medbay to get my medical grade. Then I'll have to pass by the office and pick up some paper work. After that my whole day is pretty busy with some other matters."

"In that case, I'll come with you." said Ratchet.

Goldbug just shrug before turning around headed out. "If you want to."

Ratchet place down his unfinish oil and follow the yellow bot out. "You coming, Prime?"

He nodded and place his unfinish oil next to Ratchet's before following the yellow mech as well. The trip to the medbay was silent and quick enough. No one talked and the medbay was right around the corner. The door slided open as Goldbug enter the medbay follow by Ratchet and Optimus. When the three entered, Elita was already inside.

"Good Morning." greeted Goldbug.

"Morning." Elita greeted back. She handed him a dark purple cube. "Here's your medical grade."

"Thanks. Hey, you won't mind if he have a look at me, do ya?" Elita took a glance at Ratchet before turn back to Goldbug.

"Sure, I wouldn't mind." She turn and headed towards the door. "If you need me I'll be in the kitchen."

After she left, Goldbug hopped on a berth and slowly began slipping his energon while Ratchet gets the supplies he needed. The medbay was well-stock so Ratchet was about to find everything with no problem. Once he found what he needed, he walk over to his patient who was making horrible faces with every sips he makes. Both Optimus and Ratchet shock thier heads and smile; somethings never change.

After about five minutes of silence and a cube of med grade later, Goldbug decides to break it.

"So...what brings you guys earth?" he asked.

It was then Optimus remember about the mission Ultra Magnus assign him. "Well, for one thing we here to tell you that your banishment as been terminated."

"Really? Well, that's good." Even though he doesn't remember being banish from anything, Goldbug decides to play along. "But what's your main reason for being here?"

"Pfft, what some bots can't over to see thier old friend again?" questioned Ratchet.

"They can, but I got a feel that's not the main reason you're here."

"Well, to some of us it is. Now tell him about our mission Prime."

Optimus nodded. "You see Goldbug, Ultra Magnus had inform us about some information about D.O.O.M." That the word 'D.O.O.M' Optimus has gotten Goldbug's full attention. He continue.

"From what we gather we find out that they'll be going after three bots that are said to be located on earth. The reason is still unknown."

Goldbug did a small nod. "Okay, do you know their names?"

"From what we gathered, thier destinations are Caddy, Daisy, and Honeybee."

Once those names flew out of Optimus mouth, Goldbug grew tense and silent. Both Optimus and Ratchet notice but continue on with what they were doing.

"We were hoping you will have some idea about who they are and thier location so we can protect them and find out what thier connection to D.O.O.M is."

"I see." he said, quietly.

There was a few seconds of silence as Goldbug keep his gaze straight, deep in his thoughts. Optimus open his mouth to say something when Ratchet announce he was done analysing Goldbug's head, breaking Goldbug out of his thoughts.

"All done." the medic said before replacing Goldbug's helm.

"So, what's the result Ratchet?" Optimus asked as Goldbug gingerly felt his cranial unit, checking to make sure that everything was back in its proper place.

Ratchet sighed heavily, "I hate to say it but even I don't think I'll am able to fix this." He display the scan on the medical screen for Optimus to see. "It's somewhat similair to what happen to Acree but it's much more...complicated."

"Complicated how?"

"Well, he was definitely hit by an EMP of some sort but instead of erasing all his memory core it just kind of scrambled everything up."

"I see." Optimus said sadly.

"Kid, how long did you have this?"

"About 17 years." He rely.

"17 years. That 3 years after we left."

"Which would explain why Sari was angry at us." Optimus thought.

Without saying much of a word, Goldbug slide off the berth and headed towards the door. Ratchet notice and turn to him.

"Where you going?"

Goldbug pause in front of the door and turn. "I need to go discuss something with Barricade."

"But what about our mission?" Optimus asked.

"Don't worry about them." he said. "They're safe." He turn and exit the medbay.

Optimus turn back to Ratchet. "So, what do you think Ratchet?"

Ratchet shrug. "There's nothing I can do, Prime. I can help repair it at the best that I could but in the end, Goldbug's core will have to recover on its own."

"I see." Optimus was sadden at the fact his old friend does remember them and the fact this could have been prevented in some way. "So what do you suggest we do?"

Ratchet turn to the Prime. "Well, there's not much we can do except gain his trust and get to know him again."

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