Gah, almost a month again. I'm sorry. :( But here it is. Isn't it getting boring for you all? xD Anyway, I'm not good at Dinobot-speech, but I wanted to give a little spotlight to Swoop... hope you like it. :)
XII.
"Wheeljack is here."
Ratchet looked up and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his partner outside the glass wall. Optimus and the Decepticon Seekers, by then, looked quite comfortable in each other's presence, but Wheeljack still shifted shyly on his peds as he stood among them with a large case in his hand. Ratchet straightened for a moment to go over to him, but saw Thundercracker already telling him where to go in and find the coveralls, for which he was grateful - it was right at that moment that a shaky vent brought his attention back to the small mech lying before him.
A pair of faint, but definitely red, optics flickered to life and looked around weakly. Frenzy stayed motionless as he waited for his twin to find him and when he finally did, they just starred at each other for a moment before a small smile broke on Rumble's cracked lips.
"Hey, Zee." the feeble words brought a deep sigh of relief from Ratchet and Swoop smiled brightly. He turned around to greet Wheeljack, giving him the same smile. The mechanic moved to set up the deradiator where Perceptor showed him and Swoop turned back to the soft gasp Frenzy let out.
"Y-you can see!" he exclaimed quietly, earning a chuckle from Ratchet.
"One problem solved." he said and leant down to the mini-mech, "How are you feeling?"
The mini-con's gaze was clear now and he did not seem as delirious as the first time he awoke, which was a good thing and now Ratchet dared to ask him this question. Rumble re-focused his optics on the older medic, his vision was still blurred, but it was better than nothing. He needed a moment to decide what exactly he was feeling and needed to collect his strenght to speak.
"Bit better." he whispered, "Jus' cold... and I can't feel... pain, just up from my chest."
At that, Frenzy's smile turned into a frown, "Isn't that... bad?"
Ratchet sighed and scanned Rumble again. He was aware of a hole on the cassette's waist, and even though it was covered he knew it was deep, but he had to tend to more serious matters first - it was now that he could pay attention to the corrosion caused wounds, that one in particular. He didn't wonder before that Rumble couldn't move, it was because of his energon leaks and low reserves, but now it had an entirely different reason.
"Can you move your hand?" The medic asked and watched as the mini-mech slowly curled in his digits. He nodded, "You're right, Frenzy, it's... not good. The corrosion had severed your backstrut, Rumble, but I heard you have a neurosurgeon on base."
"Yeah..." Frenzy nodded slowly, "Bombshell."
Ratchet gave a nod. "He should be able to treat this problem. After we treated this problem." he pointed at a rust spot on Rumble's chest. The older Autobot looked up to check on Wheeljack, he would need his partner shortly, but now he turned back to the shivering mini-con.
"We have successfully inserted the batteries," he said calmly, "and your spark-readings are satisfactory. How's the pain?"
"Bearable." came the quiet answer after a few moments.
"Alright. I have numbed your pain receptors a little, though you must understand I cannot shut them off completely. Since you have no circulation now, we could only give you local suppression. I'm afraid I can't do more for you until we can find a cure." Ratchet glanced up and smiled a little when his gaze met Wheeljack's, "Except for maybe one thing."
With that, Ratchet made his way over to the mechanic, leaving the three mechs for the time being. Swoop looked after him, trying to see what he was picking out of Wheeljack's case when again Frenzy's voice brought his attention back to the cassette twins.
"So, uh... you're a Dinobot, right? We didn't know you guys had the processor... I mean, that you could... well, you know..."
Swoop snorted, "Learn to be medic?" he finished instead of Frenzy.
"Well... yeah."
"Me still in training." Swoop answered, "Creator Ratchet offer to teach. Him teach well, let me watch and do minor repairs... but me still can't operate alone."
"You... must be good, though." Rumble whispered and smiled weakly, "Heh... I don't feel like... wanting to die anymore."
"That good." Swoop also allowed a small smile to his lips, "But it Creator Ratchet's doing. Me just assist."
"Still, you made him better." Frenzy looked up at the young Dinobot, then rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Thank you, and, um... sorry if I offended you..."
Swoop just shrugged, "No matter, me Swoop get that often. Me glad we could do good. This is hardest case me ever seen."
"You know, you're pretty cool... for a Dinobot, I mean." Frenzy grinned, and Swoop couldn't help play along with a mischievous glint in his optics.
"Me guess you cassette menaces not too bad either." Swoop just looked up to see Ratchet entering the operating room where Astrotrain was still kept and took a deep vent, his tone turning serious, "Me think Creator Ratchet have some plan, but me stay here with you. You Rumble just rest."
"Will do. I still feel like fresh slag." the purple Cassetticon mumbled and focused his optics on his brother, "Frenzy... is... Soundwave's not here?"
"In our quarters." his twin's grin grew, "He's receiving a therapy called Blaster."
"So, he... really was here?"
It was Swoop who answered him, "Him Blaster here. Him tell you need us and want come help him Soundwave."
There was a moment of silence between the three, only the sounds of machines and quiet talking filled the background. Rumble allowed his optics to flicker offline and his frame slumped in relaxation, the pain throbbing through his body had numbed a little, enough to let him rest. He felt someone pull the warming blanket further up to his neck when a shiver ran down his frame, and digits, equally small as his, ghosted upon his face in a gentle caress that reminded him of their creator.
Creator was calm now. And so was he.
The monitor's beeps were short and steady for now, but the magnitude of the spark just dropped again, despite the controlling charges the support machine provided to stabilize the fading life energy. The artifical ventilation system created a whooshing sound that accompanied the beeps, but otherwise the room was quiet; its two conscious occupants not saying a word to each other, already done discussing what could - or rather, could not be done for the triple-changer lying on the table.
The silence, however, was soon broken when the door opened to reveal the Autobot medic chief, the one named Ratchet with a smaller box in his hand. He stopped when his gaze met the two Constructicons' and all three tensed up. It was Ratchet who raised a hand up first and took a step forward.
"I came to see if there were any changes in Astrotrain's condition."
Hook snorted, "Nothing except for the slow worsening." they looked at each other with Scrapper before he continued in a low, hushed tone, "Maybe it would be better if we let the inevitable happen. Astrotrain's body is as good as scrapmetal, and... he's now nothing more than a waste on energy and rescources."
"Now, I cannot agree with that." Ratchet came even closer, his gaze falling on the once strong flyer's cracked face, "It may be true most of his frame have succumbed to the rust, but, according to Starscream's studies, the microbes cannot ingest all kinds of metal. These," he opened the small box to reveal ampules that were half-filled with a light-coloured metallic substance, "are tironium injections. The microbes' favourite seems to be cybertronium, and tironium is light enough to create a film around our metals without damaging the protoformal systems."
He picked one up and gave it to Scrapper, who took the injection hesitantly. Hook released a frustrated sigh.
"These won't cure them, nor undo the damage."
"No, they won't, but it can give us time until Perceptor and Skyfire find out what can cure them. These are small doses, enough for the vital organs. Since you managed to maintain Astrotrain's energon circulation, you can give him intravenously. It's light enough not to clog the pores."
"Tironium is only applied on armory."
"Small doses like these can work on the protoform in an emergency like this." Ratchet argued back, and seeing Hook's still distrustful look, he vented deeply, "Look, we are not here to replace you. This repair bay is still yours. We are here to assist you, but I cannot help if you won't let me. I'm willing to let go of grudges if there's a life to be saved."
He reached out to him with another syringe in his hand, but Hook did not move. Scrapper sighed as his gestalt mate again eyed the old medic before speaking up,
"Don't misunderstand me, Autobot. I do not wish Astrotrain's death. But we've been treating them for five solar cycles now, without much of a success. Despite our best efforts, their conditions just worsened, and here we are now. Nothing we did helped and I haven't seen, during my career, anything that could have convinced me that miracles can happen. Not even miracle medics."
"Then let me try."
Hook finally took the injection from the other's hand and starred down at it for a long moment before heaving a great sigh, "Do you really think he can still be saved?"
Ratchet's voice quieted down, too, as he again looked down on Astrotrain, "As long as his spark is pulsing, we should assist him in his fight."
"Starscream..." he heard someone calling him, a large, gentle hand squeezed his own. But the voice wasn't Skyfire's...
"Starscream, I need you awake for just one more klick."
Oh, yes. The Autobot that was treating him. Hoist.
The Seeker slowly onlined his optics. Nothing changed since he closed them - Skyfire was still there, looking at him with those intensely shining blue optics, and there was Hoist leaning over him. Starscream groaned; his tank was rolling and it felt like his spark was doing flip-flops in his chest. He did not want to be awake, surely Skyfire could manage now without him...
Hoist went on now that he saw Starscream was listening, "I am going to give you tironium injections now on Ratchet's orders. Hopefully, it'll stop the advance of the disease long enough. It will be a bit unpleasent, but I can give you a little painkiller if you wish. I'm going to administer them half joors apart to let your systems settle."
Starscream frowned a little, but did not protest as Hoist pushed the first carefully into a medical port on his side. As he said, he did not pick up another one, just sat down on the berth and checked Starscream's vitals. The Seeker had just noticed that Perceptor wasn't there anymore, he was standing by a strange device with another Autobot that the air commander soon came to recognise as their inventor, Wheeljack, probably discussing that ingredient he had mentioned.
It was still hard to believe this was happening. Hard to believe that, just a few days ago they were excitedly preparing for a journey and plot against the Autobots, and now they were lying in what yesterday were their death berths, and the Autobots were helping them. Hard to believe, even though it all happened as he imagined. And even Skyfire came, it was just like back in the old days, when their biggest problem was preparing for an expedition. Just like in a dream...
Dream.
Starscream's optics widened and he squeezed Skyfire's hand to catch his attention. Scavenger soon turned towards them again, his gaze on Starscream for a few moments before he averted it to the space shuttle.
"He's talking about... an expedition, some planet called Virida and Earth. You supposedly used a solution to prevent infection from microbes."
Skyfire frowned. They had many expeditions with Starscream and they used many chemicals for extraction and storage of samples, or to protect themselves against the local biosphere. They had brought along most of these to Earth, too.
"Which one, Starscream?" he couldn't help ask, earning a frown from the Seeker.
"He says it was something you yourself made. An organic compound from a chemical you got from... one of your expeditions."
Skyfire sighed, "Since you revived me, my memories have faded a little. Must be because, as you told me, it was hard to reboot my processor... and I wish I kept my old notes. But I'll try to remember. It must be in my memory banks still..."
"Maybe Bombshell can help you get access to your lost memory files when he comes back." Scavenger shrugged.
"He's a neurosurgeon as you said." it was First Aid this time, turning towards them to join in the conversation. He had already given Megatron the first dose of tironium and could do nothing more for the Gunformer for a while but let him rest, "They deal with the physical treatment of the processor and circuitry. For this, you may need a mnemosurgeon or a programmer."
"The Autobot is right." they heard a new voice and span around to see the Insecticon who still looked a bit wary, "Though there is a telepath among the Decepticon ranks."
"Bombshell..." he turned towards the red Cassetticon when he called him and made his way over to Rumble just as Ratchet came out with a now empty box in his hand. He went over to Perceptor and Wheeljack to fetch a new one, the two scientists did not even notice him, being so deep in their conversation. Skyfire smiled at them a little - seeing their expressions, it seemed they were making progress, at least in mind. And knowing Wheeljack, he would not hesitate to put his plans to action.
"I'll ask Soundwave then." the space shuttle said quietly and turned back to his former partner, "Until then, give me your comm. frequency, Starscream, so I can call you when I figured it all out."
"Come on, Swoop." Ratchet gently pushed his hand on the Dinobot's back, "You should go with them."
The others were preparing to leave, Wheeljack and Perceptor had already gone out and Skyfire was leaving Starscream, too, now that the latter has fallen into recharge. The deradiator was working and would clear away all the radiation by the next solar cycle and they were now almost finished giving the four mechs all the tironium injections. Their conditions did not change and there was nothing more they could do for them for now except for monitoring.
"Me Swoop can't stay? Help?"
"There's nothing more to be done." Ratchet answered, "First Aid and Hoist are staying, too. I want you tomorrow well-rested, and anyway, you can help Skyfire and Percy load the CR-chambers."
Swoop took a last glance in Rumble's direction and received a loving pat on the shoulder from his creator, "You did well today. I'm really proud of you."
The Dinobot gave him a smile and finally made his way over to the exit. He saw the two tape deckers were now back as well, Soundwave still looked like he could have used a little more rest, but did not allow himself that - his frame already wasn't as tense when they arrived and Blaster wore a small smile, too, when their gazes met. Skyfire hurried over to Soundwave and was explaining him something rather quickly, Swoop noted, but Soundwave simply gave a nod. The young mech felt another pat on his shoulder and this time it was Wheeljack who looked back at him with bright optics.
"Ratch told me how well you dealt with all the problems." he beamed, Swoop could see he was smiling even through his mask, "Really, when's he planning to give you your own case?"
Swoop chuckled a little, his spark swelling with pride at their creators' praising words, "Me not that good yet. Need learn more."
"Shall we leave?" it was Optimus this time, and everyone nodded slowly. The young Dinobot smiled in amusement as he watched Blaster walk up to the glass and wave with a grin on his face, and shortly received a happy wave back from Frenzy and a feeble one from Rumble before he turned away to join the others.
"Are you ready, Skyfire?"
Swoop turned to him just in time to see Soundwave lowering his hands from the space shuttle's helm and Skyfire gave a nod, seeming a little dazed.
"Yes... we can leave."
"I'll escort you out." Thundercracker offered while Skywarp stayed at the repair bay, waving to them just as Blaster did to the cassette twins. Swoop watched Soundwave walk up to the glass as well, their hands brushing together with Blaster before they rounded a corner and the two Decepticons were gone from their sight. Swoop sighed, his expression turning sad this time as the picture of the stoic mech, a creator broken by worry burnt itself into his memory banks.
This was something he was not looking forward to when he would one day start working as a real medic.
"Hey, son, what is it?" Wheeljack again, his voice quieter and gentle when he saw the Dinobot's sorrowful expression.
"Me just think... about him Rumble and Soundwave."
"Yeah... it must have been pretty hard for him. But remember that you made them better today, and we can save them. He won't lose his creation."
"Creator Wheeljack," Swoop turned to him, his optics veiled by glassy coolant and his voice nothing more than a whisper, "Me not want lose you or Creator Ratchet... ever."
The inventor smiled softly and put his arm around his creation's shoulder as they walked down the corridors. He was always touched by their love for him, even if they couldn't always express it the right way, but, after the days events and everything he saw, he couldn't promise that he'd always be there for them. No matter how much he wanted.
Reality was crueler than that.
It was well in the afternoon when they arrived back at the Ark. Many mechs were waiting for them at the entrance, asking questions and demanding to know everything that had been going on at the Decepticons' Base. Skyfire was quiet throughout the whole journey, silently sorting out memory filed that, thanks to Soundwave, were now within his reach. He remembered the chemicals now and the various expeditions, but exactly what made up each of them was something harder than he thought. A solution he himself made... from an organic compound he found on–
"Skyfire? Is everything alright?" Ironhide asked him when he saw the shuttle tense up. Skyfire didn't answer, however - a smile broke on his lips slowly and his optics shone up with newfound excitement before, following a happy laugh, he announced,
"I got it!"
He got what? Cliffy... MUHAHAHAHA... Anyway, have we ever wondered what the Dinobots' reactions were when they got to know Ratchet and Wheeljack died in the Movie? And has someone counted how many times Rumble asked "Where's Soundwave" in this fic? xD Just cause I lost count...
Review? ^^