Quickstream stares worried at Skywarp's lifeless frame.
"Keep me updated about his stored state. I have prescribed new tests of the K-factor reactants to be taken every hour the next twenty-four hours."
Flatspot nods from his position beside the machine currently housing Skywarp's bright blue spark.
Storing a spark is not without danger to the patient, but in some cases, like Skywarp's, it is necessary to prevent a life-threatening situation.
"I'll alert you if there are any change in his vital systems."
The acute psychosis is a severe complication that requires medical treatment, but since Skywarp's systems already are reacting negatively to the small dose of Thelatyl, there is a high risk, that any further medication will cause a fatal spark failure.
The spark is held stable by a spark containment machine while supportive machinery have taken over the normal function of the frame's vital systems.
Skywarp can stay like this almost indefinitely, which allows them to efficiently treat the many issues surrounding his health without a risk to his life.
The dose of Thelatyl has been increased to 90µ and they have begun the treatment of the psychosis with a starting dose of 150µ Asperine, that has to be increased to 300µ over the next four days.
The level of the K-factor reactants decides when they can reverse the procedure, and they expect it to take at least a few weeks before Skywarp is out of danger. At that point they also expect, that his frame has recovered from the massive drug abuse and that there no longer will be any serious abstinence symptoms.
"I'll contact Nacelle to update him on the situation, since we can't allow Thundercracker to visit Skywarp right now." Quickstream says, and hopes that the sparked blue seeker won't be too stressed by being denied to see the sire to his sparkling.
Date: 03-99-26-793.
Client: Particle.
Procedure: Invasive memory modification.
Anesthetic used: Yes.
Reason: Due to a close connection to Thundercracker, the client represents a danger to our Organization, why Torrent has requested a specific memory modification to erase any knowledge the client might have gained. The client reacts positively to the memory modification. All data pertaining to our existence have been erased.
The client has been released to own home.
Prescribed two weeks observation.
Date: 16-04-78-1083.
Client: Enigma.
Procedure: Invasive memory modification with partial memory reformatting.
Anesthetic used: Yes.
Reason: Procedure performed on Senator Enigma after failed political negotiations. X has requested a partial memory reformatting, to have Senator Enigma become supportive of our political goals. Memory modification and partial memory reformatting a success.
Enigma now supportive of the Organization's political goals.
Senator Enigma has been released to own home.
Prescribed two weeks observation.
Date: 30-11-67-1316.
Client: Hotcase.
Procedure: Invasive memory modification with partial memory alteration.
Anesthetic used: No.
Reason: Witness to a meeting between X and Torrent. Memory modification and partial memory alteration a success.
Client too dangerous to be released.
Identification number: Circle 281.
Athena looks up from one of the many datapads, that contain the documentation of the procedures, that Retrograde has performed on her victims, and places it on the desk among the others.
Temporary non-invasive amnesia.
Non-invasive memory modification.
Invasive memory modification.
Partial memory alteration.
Partial memory reformatting.
Full memory reformatting.
Retrograde has created a completely new psychiatric specialization based on her ability, with various theories, in-depth research and numerous clinical tests performed on her victims.
Thundercracker seems to have been her favorite test subject. A lot of her theories refer to clinical tests performed on the blue seeker, after he the first time underwent a full memory reformatting and his subsequent loss of identity and personality.
There are only few references to the basic identity template, and she has yet to find anyone else who like Thundercracker, has undergone a full memory reformatting.
None of those, who have undergone a partial reformatting seems to have had the need of a basic identity template to recreate their new identity, which leads her to believe, that Thundercracker's situation is unique, and that they need to look further into how the basic identity template is designed to shape him.
"Are you still occupied by Thundercracker and Nacelle?" She contacts Hotspot.
::No.:: Hotspot answers, ::They flew to Iacon three hours ago when Nacelle got contacted by Quickstream from A-63. His department is currently responsible for Skywarp's treatment, and they have had to store him due to severe risks to his health. It clearly shocked Nacelle and I managed to calm him before they left.::
Athena grimaces in sympathy.
It is rare that a psychiatric patient turns out to be so weak, that it is necessary to store the spark while they try to save the patient's life. It is usually only something that happens on somatic hospitals.
"I know that you haven't had the necessary time to analyze the results from the scan of Thundercracker's processor, but can you give me any answers as to if there are evident signs of damage to his processor?"
::There are hundreds of tiny dark spots in the areas related to his memory storage, memory recall and the systems, that process his previous experiences in relation to new ones.:: Hotspot explains, ::But none of the damage appears to be permanent and should heal over the next few weeks.::
"It fits with how Retrograde performs her procedure." She says, "Can the damage be the cause of his retardation?"
::It is likely, but not certain.:: He answers, ::I have begun to study the first memories from Thundercracker's previous identity, and can see that there is a short period, where his processor has had trouble with interpreting feelings, sensations and impressions correctly. This is particularly evident in the way his memories have been stored on the datapads. There are seven individual layers, one for each of our senses and two that relate to our thoughts and feelings. Throughout the first few weeks of his previous identity's existence, the two layers that pertain to his thoughts and feelings are very disorganized, but then he begins to gain a deeper understanding and insight into himself, after which his thoughts and feelings become more organized.::
"What about the basic identity template?" She asks curiously.
::I have uploaded it into an AI and is currently testing how it makes a new identity perceive and learn new knowledge and respond to new experiences.:: Hotspot explains, ::And so far the AI has reacted as would be expected of a new identity.::
::After having met him, I am inclined to believe, that Thundercracker have retained his sharp and analytical mind. He shows a deep understanding of the world around him and asks few but relevant questions.:: He adds, ::It actually confirms one of my theories about our processor, spark and who we are.::
"So he will retain some of his former personality?"
::Yes.:: He answers, ::Thundercracker showed me, that his spark has remained unaffected by Retrograde's ability. Through his spark, he was capable of evoking a feeling, which belongs to a memory that occurred prior to Retrograde's procedure. Roughly 80% of our personality come from our spark, while the rest of our personality are shaped by specific genetic variations in our processor and the important experiences in the beginning of our adolescent life, that shapes our identity. Our identity, however, can change, while our personality generally remain the same throughout our life.::
They are interrupted by a knock on the door and Athena turns towards it when it opens.
"I have just heard from the hospital. Retrograde has recovered from her surgery and they are ready to wake her from her medically induced coma to allow us to interrogate her." Topkick says as he enters the room Athena has turned into her office while the Joint Investigation Unit investigates Retrograde's large complex and gathers evidence.
"Give me a moment."
"Retrograde is ready to be interrogated." She informs Hotspot, "Is there anything you want me to ask her while I'm there?"
::It would save time and be of great help to know whether or not her procedure is reversible, but I don't expect her to be willing to answer such a question.:: Hotspot answers curtly.
"I will do what I can to get the answers we need to help Thundercracker and the others." She replies before she terminates the connection and rises to follow Topkick.
::...due to the great risks to his health, we have had to store Skywarp's spark while we treat his moderate depression, severe anxiety and acute psychosis. The level of K-factor reactants is currently 18µ and rapidly increasing...::
Nacelle stares worried out of the side window of their transport as they enter Iacon's airspace.
He has been so preoccupied by Thundercracker's situation, that he simply forgot to inquire about Skywarp's condition, and it was first when Quickstream contacted him, that he realized his mistake.
His initial treatment plan had been to bring them both to I-11 and let them recover in each other's close presence, but that solution isn't usable in the current situation. Instead, he has agreed with Quickstream that Thundercracker will be hospitalized at A-63 and that the blue seeker will have the opportunity to attend various socialization groups to develop his social skills.
The next months are essential in the healthy development of the blue seeker's new identity, and it is his responsibility to help Thundercracker become a strong and independent individual with own thoughts and dreams, if Retrograde's neuropsychiatric procedure turns out to be irreversible.
Hotspot has suggested a few new therapeutic methods that maybe can help Thundercracker to recall some of his lost memories. The clinical professor has insisted that it is important Thundercracker becomes aware of the chaotic flow of old feelings, that fills his spark, and learns how to put words on what he feels.
If the feelings that belong to his previous identity are allowed to remain unaddressed, then they risk causing a depression. Those feelings are also the only thing that remain of the love between Thundercracker and Skywarp, and he can only hope, that they will cause Thundercracker to feel drawn and attracted to Skywarp.
"I l-like f-fly-ing."
Thundercracker is looking out the window beside him. The blue seeker's wings twitch in excitement while his innocent optics observes the large city far below them.
His spark constricts painfully.
If only Thundercracker knew...
The transport lands in front of A-63 fifteen minutes later and Quickstream waits for them, when they leave it.
"Welcome, Nacelle." Quickstream greets, and turns to present his colleague standing beside him, "This is Requiem. He is the chief physician at our department of developmental disorders."
"Quickstream has told me that Thundercracker's situation is unique, but we should be able to handle his needs." Requiem states while he greets Nacelle with a friendly handshake, "You are his primary psychiatrist and I'll follow your decisions in regard to his treatment while he stays with us."
"Thank you." Nacelle answers, relieved that Requiem understands the delicate situation, and they follow Quickstream into the hospital.
Where is she?
What happened?
Pain in her spark.
Numbness in her processor.
She tries to sense the world around her, but everything is silent.
Numb.
Just like her processor.
It is as if her ability is gone.
She onlines her optics and stares confused at her surroundings.
Where is she?
A sudden mist of purple attracts her attention and fear fills her when she recognizes the dark figure that materializes from it.
No!
There is only one reason why Torment has come, and she fights weakly against the bonds fixating her to the berth as the assassin walks closer. His hand closes over her mouth and she looks up at him with begging optics.
Please, don't do this.
"He can't allow you to reveal his identity."
She shakes her head frantically in denial.
She won't betray their supreme leader's secret.
She won't!
"It is too late, Retrograde. You have become a liability he can't afford." Torment smiles coldly at her while he places his gun against her spark and extinguishes it with a powerful EMP-shot that leaves no visible evidence of the assassination.
-Mission completed.- He messages the Organization's supreme leader before he teleports away.
Torrent snarls contemptuously at the three Joint Investigation Unit officers, that leads him out of the cell, and fights against their firm unwavering hold on his frame as they lead him down a corridor.
His hands are bound behind his back while his integrated weapons systems have been locked down or completely removed at his arrival at the Joint Investigation Unit's headquarter.
And as if to mock him, his assigned lawyer had been a pathetic little carrier, that he instantly had refused to work with.
Instead, he has hired his own personal lawyer to speak his case if it ends with a trial.
A small smile curves on his lips.
If the Joint Investigation Unit thinks they have won, then they will be greatly disappointed.
Nightswitch waits for them outside the interrogation room, and he nods to the lawyer.
"I see no reason to keep my client in handcuffs." Nightswitch comments dissatisfied, "We are all civilized people and you have already violated his rights by locking down his internal systems without a court order."
He rubs his wrists when the handcuffs have been removed and follows Nightswitch into the interrogation room.
They sit down at the table and Nightswitch discreetly gives him a written message.
The Joint Investigation Unit's permission to perform invasive interrogation has been withdrawn.
Perfect.
He looks up when Prowl and Overflow enter the interrogation room and leans relaxed back in the chair while he studies his nemesis's stoic facade.
This is going to be interesting.