TIME AND AGAIN.

[paranormalscientist] - Ah, greetings! I have finally figured out how to properly work this thing. This is Stanford Pines posting.

[paranormalscientist] - I have thought to finally post on here as I have some news that may be of interest to the general population.

[paranormalscientist] - It seems the device that has brought us here is not as permanent as one may think.

[paranormalscientist] - People may eventually... disappear, as I did for a day from here, apparently. Or not. Either way the matter should be investigated.

Organic, at the very least. A being of more-than-likely fallible memory, is his point. Still, Ratchet is itching for a pattern to analyze and dissect.

[ CMO ] -> Either way, it's promising news. More promising than the prospect of being stuck here, certainly. And you won't find yourself shy any number of test subjects.

HARMONY ROLLS HER EYES , ARMS CROSSING AT HIS EXPLANATION. That was a long winded and unnecessary description that could've been summed up with three words. Her annoyance is written clearly on her face , and her tone of her voice is nothing short of absolutely patronized. ❛ You did not have to Cybertronian-splain marriage to me. You could've just said that. ❜ Shared goals ? Accomplishments ? Yeah. Like buying a house. Or having a kid. Or killing a Decepticon together. Married people do that.

HER ANNOYANCE DOESN'T LAST LONG , HOWEVER , at least - not the annoyance she felt towards the autobot currently standing in front of her. Instead , she feels cheated that Wheeljack didn't tell them anything. Sure , technically they weren't owed any information . . but the Earth was their planet ! If the guy that was threatening their whole species' survival died , the least they could get is a little message that says heyyyyyy !! You're safe !!! You're soooooo welks !!!! And thanks for all your help !!!!!!

"It is not marriage, either," he corrects testily. Cybertronian-splain? Really? For this, at least, there is something very close to a direct translation. "You are thinking of Conjunx Endurae. Sparkmates. Something much closer to... to..." he racks his mind for an example. "Knockout and Breakdown," he concedes at last. "This..." he produces their schematics, an image of the two frames, on the screen located on his forearm. "Is altogether different than this," this time the image is of Wheeljack and Bulkhead, "which is different than this." Himself and Optimus. "Love is too simplistic, too broad a word. Do you understand now?"

Primus, he hopes so. He has no real desire to get into the intricacies of relationship paradigms with a human. Instead he arches a brow at her clearly unenthused response, though he supposes it makes sense to feel slighted at having not been able to witness Megatron's demise first-hand. Miko would've felt the same way— he shudders involuntarily. Miko would've felt the exact same way. Small miracle she isn't here.

prime ratchet doodles bc i love this cranky old man :)

THE NONCHALANT ADMITTANCE THAT Wheeljack has a partner makes Harmony gasp so hard she chokes on her own spit. She coughs and sputters , placing a hand on her chest. ❛ HE'S WHAT ?! ❜ Her voice comes out as a squeak , and it takes her a moment to catch her breath. Once she does , her hand lowers to hit the Autobot's leg excitedly. CLANG CLANG CLANG. ❛ JACKIE HAS A - HE'S DATING SOMEONE ? HE DIDN'T TELL US THAT , EITHER !! ❜ Safety measures be damned. She asked him so many times if he liked - liked anyone , and he never gave her a straight answer. And here he is , talking about Wheeljack's partner like it's common knowledge. How much else could he have been hiding from them ?

HARMONY LOOKS AT HIM COMPLETELY DUMBFOUNDED , and for once , she falls completely silent. Megatron ? Demise ? Demise means that he's dead , right ? Gone ? Someone killed him ? For real ? Megatron , the Decepticon leader ? Six feet under ? Not only could she believe that he was dead - she couldn't believe that he died and no one told them. Even if it was a safety measure or whatever , she thought Wheeljack would at least tell them if the war was over.

The Autobot pauses, gaze darting elsewhere, squinting off at nothing in particular on the ground. One can practically hear his processors struggling to provide an adequate explanation for the matter before he finally gives up, scoffs, and turns his focus back to Harmony. He seems displeased with his mental translations having failed him.

"Oh, for Primus' sake, humans provide such broad applications to individual words. Cybertronian language structure is too complex for there to be a one-to-one translation. Bulkhead and Wheeljack's relationship is rooted in the bond between two Wreckers, a love forged through shared goals and accomplishments. Dating has nothing to do with it."

But that's neither here nor there. Frankly, he's far less surprised that the human was left out of the loop as far as Megatron's death is concerned. Even their own human partners had been rather detached from the whole thing - it wasn't their battle. And it certainly sounds like Wheeljack's secret little team has been distanced from a great deal more than that. Ratchet rolls his eyes like this is the least important thing they could possibly be discussing ( which, really, it is; he'd much rather be hearing about how Perceptor is doing ), hurrying through a careless explanation.

Achievement name(s): I’m a ___, not a doctor (heal another person’s character)

Proof of achievement: this thread

ACHIEVEMENT GET !

I’m a ___, not a doctor — Heal another person’s character.

hc + 🤝 for a headcanon about a connection with one of the receiver's mutual

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hc + 🔞 for a nsfw-headcanon

"Overheard there's betting pools," he eventually answers, looking back at the fast-paced vehicles. "Some of them may just be here for their gambling addiction." There's a small pause before he continues. "Personally? I don't think I could ever compete in this, where cheating, recklessness, and sabotage seem encouraged. ...But, guess it's interesting to see what it is like." And maybe also the act of recycling old junk into something new. Ridley would love this. The idea is scary, but she's brillant with hacking and modding programs into something like a nuke. No doubt she'd make good competition in a place in here. ...It hasn't even been a day, he's only know her for a couple months at the most - is Mitch seriously already missing her? Lame.

...And the organics piloting them, she supposes, as one makeshift motorbike clips the wheel of another and both are sent spinning out, tumbling front over end. She scoffs.

"Oh, yes, because Primus forbid they find a more productive use of their time as opposed to searching for new outlets to waste all their Shanix on." It's none of her business, really, it isn't, but Ratchet hates stupidity just as much as she hates callous and careless disregard. Even standard street racing back on Earth had been dangerous and foolhardy - the human is correct, recklessness and sabotage are a feature, not a bug - but this is on another level.

all of that to say, when ratchet opens the door to their shared house, she finds knockout splayed about on their living room sofa, asleep - though that soon changes. now suddenly awake and startled, knockout's red irises are displayed in their full circle, the sound of a buzzsaw being produced greeting ratchet first and foremost.

" you! " rips from his mouth, an angry stare to match. it soon dissipates, along with his weapon-turned-surgical-tool. it is replaced by confusion. " .. oh, greetings, rattler. "

he settles back down on the sofa with a soft thud. after a second of silence, in which he's more than inclined to mutter out an awkwaaaaard, ratchet finally saves him the trouble. " well, i'll let you know it's my housing unit as well, and - wait, you did what? "

that makes him sit up again. " i don't know what to be surprised by most! i mean, screamer comes around kicking and you help him? oh, i guess bots do change .. and all it took was witnessing immense amounts of energon being lost. "

the racecar snickers, speaks in a sing-song tone. " your bleeding heart, doctor .. it's showiiiiing. "

the remainder of a grin stays on his face, though his attention shifts to the topic at hand. starscream, out here? after so long? " what's your hypothesis? starscream disappears for almost an ano-cycle, then shows up losing most of his energon reserves. it's pretty clear whoever brought him here did the same to us, but .. why? decepticon's doing, you think? "

Go figure. Out of every Autobot on Cybertron, it had to be Knockout? He barely even qualifies as an Autobot! Still, Ratchet's come to expect nothing less out of the universe, after all this time. He's been down on his luck for so long that it's all he knows.

"And it's only your housing unit for now." Though he also doesn't anticipate either one of them will stop digging their heels in and so the vague threat is rather empty. Ratchet's certainly not looking to go and sleep on the street in vehicle mode, not when the accommodations here are - and he admits this very begrudgingly - better than anything they had on Earth or the recently-restored Cybertron. "You heard me correctly. Starscream appeared shortly after I arrived. In grave condition, naturally," because with Starscream that's just about a given. Starscream doesn't do things by halves. Certainly not dramatic entrances.

Anyway. It's not like that had anything to do with his decision to lend the Seeker a hand, thank you very much. In fact at any other time he would've been just fine with allowing Starscream to bleed out where he lay. He gives Knockout a withering look that he hopes conveys as much.

"Given our current circumstances, there was little sense in allowing that much energon to spill out all over the street," is his dry response. "And though I'm not foolish enough to believe that Starscream will have a change of spark," that is, actually concede that the war is over (if anything, Ratchet considers him highly likely to start making grabs for whatever power and resources he can, now that he's seemingly the only Decepticon around), "one does also hope he'll remember who exactly put him back together the next time he thinks about starting a fight."

He's fully aware how positively absurd it is that he has to think about strategizing countermeasures so early following an abduction to another planet, but that's what happens when Starscream is part of the equation.

Regardless, he's more than glad to put that particular nuisance out of his processor for the time being. For all his faults, Knockout is still a... scientist... by some loose definition of the word. He knows when to look for solutions rather than simply cause problems, he'll put it like that. Ratchet hums to acknowledge the question, even if it takes him a while longer to begin to consider the answer. He crosses the room to one of the windows, grimacing at the rock and clay that makes up their walls and the walls of every building surrounding them. Human architecture. Really.

Oh, and the absolutely massive robot in her path helped that feeling. The automaton angled her head upwards, gears whirring as she tilted her head to her shoulder. " Oh w-wow... "

And here she was thinking no one had it harder than The Spine getting into buildings right now... Rabbit brought her hands up close to her grill plate and kneaded at the air for a bit as her thoughts caught up to the question she was asked. There are two ways she could answer that question, so naturally, she was going to say both.

"Taco nights?" He echoes slowly, and no, he doesn't actually want to know. Rather, the Autobot's metallic brows furrow with consideration at her genuine answer. "Hm. Surprisingly antiquated, even by human standards." But also shockingly adequate, build-wise, and the fact that she's still running is testament enough to that. "But I'm unfamiliar with this... blue matter, as you call it." A brief pause. Surely not - at least, he'd hope not, but curiosity dictates he inquire all the same: he pops open a panel on his arm to reveal a small screen and, from there, pulls up an image of a blue energon crystal.

THE LOOK ON RATCHET'S FACE DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED , and she nods enthusiastically. ❛ Yuh - huh. Y'know , I'm not big on the whole science thing , but I think Percy's pretty cool. A . . whatever it is he can turn into is a lot better than a leg. ❜ Still not as cool as a sports car. And Tucker got TWO. Unfair. Still , there's an air of pride surrounding her now knowing that ( most of ) the people on Team Sideline were actually important enough to be missed. Not that it would've been less cool if all of them were just some guys that nobody cared about . . but it would've.

"Naturally," he scoffs. "He's Bulkhead's partner." Though to claim they've been talking consistently would be entirely incorrect. Wheeljack was a solo operator for much of their time spent on Earth ( one small mercy, given everything else Ratchet had to deal with at the time ). His integration into the remaining Autobots is fairly recent, all things considered. Ratchet props an arm on his knee, cupping his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps it was a safety measure." Could Wheeljack potentially not have fully trusted this other team of Autobots? It's possible, he's a skeptical individual at the best of times. Or was he looking out for them?

She'd leave it there - and believe her, she would be very happy to leave it there - but the organic ( she has to assume it's an organic, no cybernetic being would make such a frankly absurd assumption ) continues responding. And she'll admit, it's not like she can't begrudgingly respect a curious mind. One that doesn't argue back when it's clearly lacking perspective.

AND HARMONY THOUGHT THAT PERCEPTOR’S ALT MODE was bad. But she can't help the look that washes over her face in response. It's a mixture of confusion , bewilderment , and pity for the poor 'Bot that had to be a leg. ❛ Just one ? Like . . just a foot n' stuff ? What , did he have to wait for another leg to come around to be able to move ? ❜ She can't even fathom a whole bunch of Cybertronians having alt modes that are body parts. Is it to make a bigger guy ? Who's stuck being the butt ? She bites back those pressing questions for now ( but she makes a mental note of them for later - and she will be getting an answer ) and instead grins as the ambulance transforms in front of her. Still not as cool as a Ferrari or Porche or something , but at least she has wheels.

THE MENTION OF UNICRON'S RETURN MADE HIM PAUSE. Whatever had happened , whatever he had missed , was far more dire than he could have even imagined. How could have Unicron returned ? What possibly could they have missed for him to return ? ❛ I . . ❜ For once , Optimus is rendered speechless. Though it is a temporary malady , one that he quickly remedies by shaking his head. ❛ As soon as Megatron was struck down , I was brought here. ❜ So much time had passed , and yet . . he had only been here for less than a day before the two had finally met face to face. He does not yet know what could even begin to explain this , but it is far beyond even what he as Prime can comprehend.

PERHAPS IT TRULY IS HIS MEMORY ESCAPING HIM. Even his past , his time as Orion Pax , was fuzzy. No matter how hard he tries , he cannot recall anything past his days serving in the Hall of Records. It is as if something physically stops him - and thinking about it further just fills him with dread. Could he have somehow forgotten ? As much as the very thought of him having forgotten events on Cybertron unsettled him greatly , it is becoming more apparent that it is a possibility. The events very well could have slipped his mind. How , or why , he could not even begin to fathom. ❛ I do not know. It feels as if I never . . ❜ The look on his face is indecipherable , an optic twitching as he tries desperately to maintain his composure.

No , now is not the time. Keep your resolve. Do not falter until Ratchet has left.

There are other possibilities, of course. There have been cases - Ratchet has dealt with them personally - of the Matrix withholding information ( not deliberately, as far as Ratchet is aware; he doubts it has enough sentience to make that determination and rather merely archives information that is deemed no longer pertinent to a Prime's leadership capabilities ) from Optimus, but that data always resurfaced eventually. Usually when it was needed. When it was relevant, he's always assumed. But knowing the state of Cybertron, of Megatron, of his own frame... Ratchet can't imagine a world in which that isn't essential information to keep in the forefront of Optimus' processor.

After all, he can imagine this is unsettling. Having only second-hand accounts of your own demise. Though Ratchet is not so sure that he'll be able to push the matter aside for some time yet, the very least he can do is try to dissuade Optimus from lingering on the topic. At least until they have a better lead. Still, he can already tell the other 'Bot will overthink it despite all of Ratchet's best efforts... and he can't entirely blame him in this instance.

HE KNEW HOW IT WOULD END , AFTER ALL.

[ OptimusPrime ] -> Forgive me , old friend. I fear this is far more to wrap my mind around than I had expected.

ONE SHALL STAND AND ONE SHALL FALL.

She'd spent an unreasonable amount of time in a state of disbelief. Optimus wasn't gone, it was just a matter of waiting for him to return. Megatron didn't just get to walk away, they only had to gather the resources to track down and imprison him. Their new reality was too much to accept, however eagerly she had taken in some aspects - new life coming from the Well. Cybertron's rebuilding.

Optimus remembered neither the good nor the bad. It's a monumental amount to expect anyone to process. For Primus' sake, they were asking him to process his own death. The fact that he seems to, somehow, be absorbing it better than Ratchet has managed to so far is... well, she doesn't want to say frustrating, but very predictably Optimus™ in a way that's sometimes difficult to handle.