Nacelle steps into the mostly intact main building and the strong nauseous smell of spilled energon fills the air around him.
He tries to avoid looking at the corpses filling the corridor ahead of him. To his relief, none of them appears to be civilian, and he walks down the corridor until a Joint Investigation Unit officer blocks his path and points him into a side room.
Topkick is sitting at a desk inside what appears to be a small office and is on a vid-conference with Prowl, to arrange Torrent's heavily guarded military transport to the Joint Investigation Unit's headquarter and Retrograde's transport to a trauma center.
The communication terminates after a few minutes and Topkick's optics meets his.
"Where is Athena?"
"She is making sure that the inhibitor is installed correctly." Nacelle answers, "Have you found Thundercracker?"
"We have." Topkick answers seriously and rises to walk over to Nacelle, "But I can't allow you to see him. Not alone at least."
"He is MY client! Don't you dare-..."
Topkick silences him with a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"I don't intend to keep you away from him, but the situation is delicate. Prowl agrees."
He stares into the SIO's weary optics with a dreadful feeling in his spark.
No.
Primus!
No!
"Don't tell me-..."
Topkick nods slowly.
"We were too late."
Nacelle's spark constricts painfully and his legs refuse to carry him, when the ramifications of what Topkick is saying dawns upon him.
The SIO catches him around the waist before he collapses on the floor and lowers him gently onto it.
"I'm so sorry, Nacelle." Topkick says, "Stormrunner is together with him at the moment. She reports that he no longer has any knowledge of the syndicate, us, or Skywarp. He only has a basic understanding of the world around him."
There is a knock on the door.
"I was told you wanted to see me?" Athena asks when she enters the room, but stops up when she sees Nacelle on the floor with Topkick kneeling beside her fellow psychiatrist.
"Yes. I have requested your presence since there has been an unforeseen development." Topkick answers as he rises, "We deem that Nacelle currently is too emotionally compromised to be of any help to us. Prowl offers you to become an Joint Investigation Unit affiliated psychiatrist on this case and take over Nacelle's work."
"NO!" Nacelle protests, "I can handle this!"
"Thundercracker needs your help to recover from whatever it is, that Retrograde has done to him, and I doubt, that you will be able to provide the assistance we require from you." Topkick says gently before he turns his attention towards the forensic expert, waiting for an answer.
"I'll do it." Athena answers calmly. It is clear to her, that whatever it is that has happened to Thundercracker, it has destabilized Nacelle and weakened his ability to reason, and she addresses the distressed green and white seeker softly, "Let me ease some of the pressure. Thundercracker needs your full attention, and I promise you, that I will share my findings with you."
"Good." Topkick gestures towards the Joint Investigation Unit officer standing outside the room, "Phasedive will be your assigned officer. He will take the both of you to Thundercracker. I want an Mental Status Evaluation of his current state to use as evidence in our case against Retrograde."
Mental Status Evaluation requested by the Joint Investigation Unit.
Data-file 3729.
Date: 02-06-23-1839.
Psychiatrist: Athena (Dr. ph.d. med. dipl. psych.) Specialist in Forensic Psychiatry.
Client: Thundercracker.
Frame-type: Seeker.
Field: Neutral.
Medical examination completed: Yes.
Findings: Generally in good health, despite the circumstances. Sparked. Gestation chamber dilated equivalent to a newly sparked carrier. Gestational seal appears intact. Signs of recent interface. Sample of CNA (transfluid) sent to analyze.
Psychiatric tests used: MoCA, WAIS-IV, TMT.
References used: Psychiatric diagnostic performed at D-14 by Nacelle (Dr. med. dipl. psych.) 01-99-27-1839, Psychological evaluations performed at D-14 by Echo (cand. psych. ph.d.) from the year 1829 and onward, Medical journal dating back to before his first disappearance.
Notes: Client is a 2324 year old Seeker, Carrier, that before his first disappearance was a famous investigative journalist. He was liberated from a breeding facility 10 years ago and has received treatment at D-14. His progress over the years has been good, but according to Echo's frequent evaluations, he does not appear to be able to recover lost memories. (Cf. evaluation 2 and 5.) Was recently kidnapped from D-14 and is believed to have undergone an unknown medical procedure to alter his state of mind, why the Joint Investigation Unit requests an expert evaluation of mental status.
MoCA:
Orientation: Test of the client's orientation shows that, Thundercracker neither knows his name, the year we are in, or where we currently are(Desert would in his case have sufficed as an answer). Responds with deep confusion and appears to give up, when he has no answer to my questions. Score: 0.
Short-term memory: The client's ability to recall 3 objects after 2-5 minutes shows, that his short-term memory is intact. Score: 3.
Long-term memory: The client reports no recall of the past, when prompted to answer questions about D-14, his time at 'base zero', or who sparked him. He answers the last question with the name Torrent, which by the Joint Investigation Unit has been confirmed to not be true. Score: 0.
Math: The client was asked to count down from 100 by subtracting 7. Ex. 7 from 100, then 7 from 93 etc. Prolonged time, but within normal parameters. Score: 3.
Word finding: The client was asked to name as many objects in a single category(His frame), as possible in 1 minute. Struggles to find the right words. Succeeds in mentioning 9. Score: 2.
Attention and concentration: The client was asked to spell a 5-letter word forward and backward. Chosen word: Table. Score: 3.
Naming objects: The client was presented to a datapad. He answers correctly, when asked about what it is. Is more hesitant when I ask him to mention a part of it. Says screen after half a minute. Score: 1.
Following commands: I asked the client to do the following: 'touch his right audio with his left hand', then asked him to 'take the datapad, turn it face down and put it on the floor.' Score: 3.
Writing: The client was asked to write a sentence, that contains a subject, an object and makes sense. The client stares confused at the datapad for a few minutes, before he gives up. Prompts him to at least try formulating a sentence, and he tries again. Ends up writing: I am a seeker. Score: 1.
Spatial orientation: The client asked to draw 2 intersecting pentagons. Prolonged time. Score: 2.
Abstract reasoning: The client is presented to several pieces of metal with various objects imprinted on them. Asked to identify a unifying theme between 4 of them. (Ex. All are numbers. All are colors. All are vehicles.) The client then asked to interpret a moderately challenging proverb. Collective score: 1.
Judgment: Asked the client the following hypothetical situation requiring good judgment: 'What would you do if you found a large amount of shanix on the sidewalk?' (Correct answer would be to bring them to an enforcer, wrong answer would be to spend them.) The client responds with confusion, and appears to give up, when he doesn't understand the question. Asks me what shanix are. Score: 0.
Total score: 19 of 30, where 26-30 is within normal cognitive function.
WAIS-IV:
Verbal Comprehension: VCI describes the client's abstract verbal reasoning, semantic knowledge, verbal comprehension and expression, his degree of general information acquired from culture, and his ability to express abstract social conventions, rules and expressions.
Perceptual Reasoning: PRI shows the client's visual spatial processing and problem solving; visual motor construction, his nonverbal abstract problem solving and inductive reasoning, visual spatial reasoning, his ability to quickly perceive visual details and quantitative reasoning.
Working Memory: WMI tests the client's working memory, attention, encoding and auditory processing, his quantitative reasoning, concentration, mental manipulation and mental control.
Processing Speed: PSI tests the client's processing speed, associative memory and graphomotor speed.
TMT:
The Trail Making Test gives an indication of the client's visual search speed, scanning, speed of processing, mental flexibility and executive functioning. The client is tasked to connect the numbers 1-25. Then tasked to connect numbers and letters. (Ex. 1 - A - 2- B etc.). The goal of the test is to complete the two tasks as fast as possible, with the time taken to complete the test being used as the primary performance metric. The client will be corrected, if he makes errors, but the error rate is not recorded, since it is assumed that if errors are made it will be reflected in the completion time.
Observations:
My first impression, when I meet Thundercracker for the first time, is of a young scared seeker, that lacks the understanding of how to communicate both nonverbally(his wings) and verbally. His verbal communication appears to be underdeveloped, and he fights to find the right words. There are several situations where he stammers violently.
He is hostile towards touch, and it takes me half an hour, before I manage to convince him that I wish him no harm. His reaction is understandable, but he opens up when the first physical contact has been established and allows me to perform a minor medical examination.
He tends to become mentally and emotionally distanced, while we talk. I request to be left alone with him, and the episodes become less frequent. It could be a case of sensitivity to sensory impressions around him, or an issue with processing impressions, sensations and feelings. It will require further diagnostics.
Conclusion:
This conclusion is based on an mental evaluation of a client shortly after a traumatic experience and thus will have some uncertainties, that needs to be taken into consideration.
The results of the neuropsychological tests support the suspicion, that an illegal neuropsychiatric procedure has been performed on Thundercracker.
Thundercracker shows clear signs of mental regression, that usually only are seen in patients suffering from a severe head trauma, or other physical disease.
However, there are no physical indications, that can explain Thundercracker's severe case of retrograde amnesia.
The results of the MoCA test shows, when compared to the same test performed by Thundercracker's primary psychiatrist only months prior, that the mental regression has been sudden and is unexplainable from a medical standpoint.
The results from the WAIS-IV test further supports the suspicion, that Thundercracker has undergone an illegal neuropsychiatric procedure.
The four index scores representing the major components of intelligence are used to calculate Thundercracker's Full Scale IQ, and can be used to compare his IQ with others of the same age and education.
Thundercracker scores way below what would be expected of someone of his age and education.
His results in the four index scores are the following:
VCI score: 59.
PRI score: 57.
WMI score: 54.
PSI score: 67.
Full Scale IQ: 59.
Since the range between 90-110 are considered to be the normal area, I can conclude, that Thundercracker currently is in a state of severe mental retardation, when compared to earlier tests of his IQ, where he scored 104 in Full Scale IQ.
The four definitions of mental retardation are as following:
IQ 50-69: Easier degree. That is, easier intellectual disability. (debility)
IQ 35-49: Average degree. Intellectual ability is moderately impaired. (imbecile)
IQ 20-34: More difficult. Very weak intellectual ability. (imbecile)
IQ below 20 Worst degree. Deep mental weakness. (idiocy)
The result from the TMT indicates a weakened executive function and further supports my conclusion.
It is still uncertain if the mental regression and retardation are stationary, and I suggest frequent testing of Thundercracker's mental status, to determine if there is any improvement of the condition.
His medical history shows, that he has recovered from something similar earlier, though it is questionable, if he will regain the lost memories.
His retrograde amnesia seems to be stationary and treatment-resistant.
Athena adds her signature at the bottom of the Mental Status Evaluation and gives it to Topkick.
The SIO reads it and then signs it with his own signature.
"Thank you."
"I have never had a case like this." She says with a deep sigh, "Have you found out what was done to Thundercracker?"
She has spent the last twelve hours on testing and interviewing Thundercracker and reading the results of the many tests, that Nacelle has performed to diagnose the blue seeker. As it is right now, there are no signs of the C-PTSD or the anxiety, that Thundercracker had suffered from. In fact, she is quite certain, that the blue seeker no longer suffers from any psychiatric diagnose besides the sudden mental regression and retardation.
Topkick hands her a datapad.
"This might prove more helpful to you than me. It looks like Retrograde documented the procedures."
Besides Retrograde's detailed written documentation of the procedure, the datapad also contains a vid-file, and Athena watches the footage from the medical procedure, that was performed on the blue seeker only a few hours before the Joint Investigation Unit's attack on the complex.
She has seen her share of insane criminals during her time as a member of the Psychiatric Risk Assessment Authority at the High Court of Justiciary and observes, from a professional standpoint, calmly, as Torrent carries Thundercracker into Retrograde's laboratory.
The blue seeker struggles while he gets fixated to the surgical table, but seems to give up when he has been immobilized.
Retrograde searches for something at the back of Thundercracker's head, and Athena's optics widens in growing understanding, when numerous thin cables emerge from the tips of the digits on Retrograde's right hand.
They slide into Thundercracker's processor through a tiny incision, and she follows the medical procedure with deep fascination, when the high resolution scanner above the table gets turned on and displays live images of the blue seeker's processor while the cables locate their targets inside it.
It is clearly a highly sophisticated procedure, and they could have helped so many patients, if Retrograde had decided to use her outlier ability to do good.
As it is now, they need to find out if the procedure is reversible.
Thundercracker lies lifeless on the surgical table when the procedure has been completed. There is only the faintest movements of his frame while his systems seem to have entered into a default setting.
The thin cables withdraw from the blue seeker's processor, and Retrograde connects a datapad directly with Thundercracker's systems through an advanced cable with seven connectors.
Roughly ten minutes pass where Retrograde and Torrent are talking relaxed together, as if the procedure is completely normal, while Thundercracker lies lifeless on the surgical table.
And it is only because she is so focused on the blue seeker, that Athena immediately notices the moment, where the first signs of life slowly begin to return to the previously lifeless frame, when Thundercracker's wings begin to twitch faintly.
Retrograde disconnects the advanced cable from the blue seeker's systems, and Thundercracker gets freed from the immobilizing straps. The blue seeker moves a bit, but remains otherwise passive, and Torrent turns him around gently.
The sire instructs Thundercracker in how to slide aside the valve cover, and nausea fills her, when Torrent begins to slowly push his spike into the now clearly mentally retarded seeker's valve.
Thundercracker stays passive during the sexual violation, and it is a clear sign, that the blue seeker has no idea of what it is that Torrent is doing to him.
She observes saddened as Torrent consummates his violation of the blue seeker and overloads inside his mentally regressed victim, before Thundercracker is removed from the table.
Yes.
She has seen her share of insane criminals.
But nothing as depraved as this.
She looks away from the datapad with a deep sigh.
"Can you take me to the laboratory?" She asks Phasedive after a few minutes, when she has recovered from what she has just witnessed, grateful that Nacelle has been taken off the case.
Watching this would have destroyed her fellow psychiatrist.
Phasedive nods and leads her through the complex. They stop in front of an locked automatic double door.
"We haven't touched anything." The Joint Investigation Unit officer says, when he enters the code and unlocks the doors.
They slide silently aside and Athena steps into the laboratory.
Her optics are instantly drawn to the surgical table, and she moves towards it to study the equipment hanging above it while her left hand slowly runs along the table's cold surface as she walks around it.
She activates the drill and shudders at the sound of its high pitched whine.
It isn't hard to imagine the pain Thundercracker and the other victims must have felt while the procedure was performed upon them.
She turns around and notices the wall that are covered by countless shelves with datapads.
"A collector?" She speculates intrigued and walks towards the wall to study the large collection closer.
She picks a random datapad and notices that a black triangle and the number 2193 is engraved on the back of it. The format appears to be identical to the silver star and the number 391, that are engraved between Thundercracker's wings.
"What do you like to read, Retrograde?" She activates the datapad and stares with a confused frown, when millions of lines of data fill the screen before a dialogue box pops up, asking her if she wants to view the content.
She touches the 'confirm' button, and the screen changes into a strange vid-file.
It's like watching a holovid, but numerous intricate codes that she can't quite understand, scrolls down the screen while countless confusing episodes are played in disorganized order in the background.
There is a seven-way connection port at the base of the datapad, and she remembers the advanced cable with seven connectors, that Retrograde had used on the footage from Thundercracker's procedure.
She searches the laboratory, but doesn't find it.
::Do we have the content of Retrograde's subspace?:: She contacts Topkick.
::Yes.:: The SIO answers, ::What are you looking for?::
::A cable with seven connectors.::