A Cry In The Dark

[Deleted]

Characters: Ratchet, @rivet
Location: Tristen da Cunha
Content Warnings: Could depict violence, dark places
Plot Summary: A faint signal has popped up on Ratchet's console, located on an isolated island almost 1500 miles off the shore of South Africa. What is this energy fluctuation and why is no one responding?

[Deleted]

It would have started off as an ordinary day, at least in the life of a Cybertronian. Being taken by enemy forces and rescued by one's comrades wasn't so unusual- at least for the mechs who had been involved in the war as long as they had. The out of place portion of it would have been that 'not killed' bit, but hey, Ratchet was a medic and most of the time medics were safezoned from being offlined.

Back to that 'ordinary day'? Working, at least for anyone in Ratchet's position. As a medic there was always someone coming in injured, be it from a gunfight with Decepticons or having tripped over someone smaller or broken a joint out of their own stupidity. This day may have been a little slower than most.. who really knew unless you were, as stated, a medic.

Though from Ratchet's console? A small ping. An energy surge, large enough to be picked up on and long enough to be located. An island off shore of South Africa by several hundred miles with a population of less than 300 who mostly resided in the city. This was out in a remote area of the island, away from the prying eyes of locals and no where near where the government would ever care about. It would be easy to get in and get out without being seen.

And then the signal would go out. It was a sign of distress, especially when no comm actually came through and there was no followup with the mysterious signal. A trap? Hardly probable with the location of it, but there was always a first time for everything. Whoever it was? They definitely required some form of medical assistance.

[Ratchet]

After the entire abduction fiasco, Ratchet had spent plenty of time recovering from the entire ordeal.  Some had been by his own means, some by the means of others who cared very much for his well being.  Thanks to that, he'd been able to recover after a short while.  His sanity was still in tact, and he knew that he was perfectly safe so long as Pharma and Wheeljack were around.

Especially his Conjunx.

It'd started as an ordinary day, Ratchet on monitor duty when he was distracted by a sudden ping.  He wasn't quite sure who could have been trying to get his attention, but it could have been a ping for anyone really.  "Hello?  This is Ratchet."

...Nothing.

"I repeat.  This is Ratchet.  Do you respond?"

...Still nothing.

The medic huffed a little, looking at the origins of the ping.  It wasn't exactly close by, but if someone needed help, then he definitely needed to check it out.  Of course.. going alone was risky, but he knew he could always call for help.  Help would always come.  Opening up a ground bridge, Ratchet made his way to an island of some sort, one with volcanoes.  Now all he had to do was find the source of that ping.

[Deleted]

The area was more or less a deserted wasteland with little in the way of foliage. There was no where to hide should someone come, and surely Ratchet would be spotted if it weren't the fact that he was on one of the most less traveled regions of the island. He'd still want to move quickly for the sake of it being such a wide open space with barely any spots deep enough that he could dive into should he need to duck for cover.

A couple miles ahead, just at the base of the volcano, there was a large crevice that stretched deep into the ground. Ratchet would need to move several larger boulders out of the way to access it as well as to travel, but eventually he would be able to press on without much more than the occasional 'watch where you put your pede' spot. Surprisingly, the further that Ratchet would go, the easier it would become to identify the straight-arrow way that it seemed to tunnel down at the angle. Whoever had tried to get radio contact... or at least sent the signal... had to be down that way.

Sure enough, Ratchet would eventually reach the carved out hollow area where a transport vessel rested. It looked long deserted and no longer functioning. It was definitely Cybertronian... though it didn't have any markers to if it were Autobot or Decepticon. Whomever it was, it didn't look as if it had been what would have sent any kind of energy flux, but it would at least be worth exploring.

[Ratchet]

If there was one thing that made Ratchet happy about the area the signal had come from, it was the fact it wasn't somewhere cold.  He was getting tired of meeting with others in colder regions, but that wasn't to say he would never do it again if the need was there.

Moving along, the medic traced the signal's origins, giving him a better idea of not only how far it had been, but where they were as well.  The fact they hadn't responded was concerning, and for all Ratchet knew.. it was already too late.  Maybe they had sent the distress signal right as they were being attacked, or perhaps they had crash landed.  But in either case, wouldn't he have detected something sooner?  For the moment all he could do was shake the idea out of his head.

If someone needed help out here, then he needed to be there to assist.

He continued to venture out, eventually coming to the base of a volcano.  It looked like he could go down further, and the signal had definitely been coming from that direction.  Now he was all the more curious as to what had happened.  He pushed some boulders to the side, carefully making his way down into the depths of crevice.  Whoever or whatever was calling, there was no question that they had to be down this way.

His quest then came to an end once he had reached a transport vessel.  "How did.. this even get here?"  It all seemed so strange to him, and there was no way that this vessel could have been here for a short time.  This had to have been here for a far longer time than he could have imagined.  Touching the vessel, the Autobot medic gazed upon it.  "Hello?  Is.. someone here?  I received your signal, but there was no response in return."

[Deleted]

The vessel was in disarray. Clearly it had crashed landed some time ago given the condition of the hull as well as the damage to the exterior. The rock formations around it hugged its keepsake, acting like small bandages to the injuries it had sustained. There would be no moving the ship from where it rested- not without breaking it to pieces first. Ratchet would need to be careful boarding it.

Which, once he did? The interior was no better than the exterior.

To one who was not familiar with the lifeblood of the Cybertronians, the dingy looking dark metals would have looked like nothing more than blended in soot. To one who did? The long-since dried fluids had lost their luster, leaving behind the stains on the walls and floor that stuck out like reminders of a story that otherwise went untold. There were bits and pieces of what seemed to be pieces of the ship laying around... but some of them were clearly not. They were too small to identify, but the owners of the parts certainly weren't as a whole anymore.

Caution would be needed as the journey through the ship was made. Groans from the flooring hinted that it could ahve given in any any point. It had not supported weight in a long enough time that it wouldn't have the ability to for much longer so best not to linger in a single spot for too long. Taking the trip to the control room would have been a dangerous one, with the creaks only getting louder as pieces of floor would finally give and cause Ratchet's pede to sink through here and there. Anything that fell could cause everything to give way and the ship could crumble entirely. While Cybertronian ships were made to last... this one certainly had seen simpler days.

On the way to the control room would be several other rooms with doors in various positions. Some were open, some only part way, while others were entirely closed. All of them would only take a little force to slide open all the way but the rooms? They would be empty. There was only a handful of sleeping quarters while most of the space was committed to whatever it was they were transporting. The fact that the ship was made so lightweight hinted that it was built to be fast- perhaps to escape Enforcement units while smuggling whatever precious illegal cargo it carried. That would be the only explanation to the crappy construction.

Further looking at the rooms would... eventually lead to larger sections of what remained of bodies.

Then there would be one room that would eventually draw Ratchet's optic should he be exploring the rooms. It was a long room with two foot by a foot cylinders lining the walls from floor to ceiling- at least a couple hundred but definitely many more to count. Each one had panels below them, probably to give readings of whatever the cylinders held inside at one point. The console against the wall at the far end indicated that most of the ship's power had to have been going to those little cylinders.

Transportation for sparks- more than likely illegally obtained- ranging from newsparks to sparks extracted to be placed into new frames... or something far more sinister. Vessels like these hadn't been around since sparklings were still allowed to be created; back before the war had begun. Afterwards they were used to transport the sparks with the best and brightest to be sold to the highest bidder. Those that weren't sold? Were either destroyed or sold in bulk to either faction to manufacture soldiers for the front lines- who were generally used as cannon fodder if they proved to be unless fighters.

These cylinders were long since unused, way before the ship had crashed. Maybe they were on the way to pick up a supply when they somehow ended up here? Who really knew. Such crude ships like these were best to be destroyed- as then no one could recreate from the information surely stored in their systems.

But then there would be a small flicker of light, just to the left in the corner of the room. There was a single newspark floating in the clear fluid- fluid that was half empty. The burst of energy that Ratchet had read had to of been the ship's last jump available to maintain the life of the newspark that had now sunk to the bottom of the cylinder. It lay there, barely alive, and its glow was starting to fade out again. The nutrients it had been provided for as long as it had been here had finally run out, and soon it would be nothing but a life created in a dark and dangerous world...

One snubbed out before it had even been given the chance to experience it.

[Ratchet]

Ratchet slowly made his way inside of the ship, only to quickly learn how damaged it was.  The floor of the vessel gave a worrying creak beneath his peds, causing Ratchet to take a quick step backwards in surprise.  He would have to be careful while proceeding through the ship, as he didn't know how stable it was.  If someone was here, odds were they weren't in the best of shape, but Ratchet couldn't just leave them either.

As he made his way forward, the Autobot CMO gasped as his ped broke through the flooring, thankful that he had at least been able to catch himself before falling and causing even more damage to himself and the ship.  That was the last thing that any of them needed.  He continued onward carefully and slowly, looking into the various rooms as he passed them.

While he wouldn't know the full story of this ship, he could piece together bits and pieces with the more he saw out of the rooms.. but it was the final room that had caught his optic that confirmed his suspicions.  This hadn't been a ship for good intentions.. and the containers with monitors only proved that.  Sparks had been held here, and Primus only knew where they were sent off to when it came to these sorts of things.  Black Market.. the Decepticons.. some schmuck looking to gain on credits.

It made Ratchet want to purge just thinking about it.

But then.. a single light caught his attention, and a small part of him wished he had never seen it.  He approached with great care, optics widening in horror when he found the cause of the light: a tiny spark.. but not just any kind of spark.

A newspark.

"Oh.. Primus, no.."  Who in their right might would do something like this?!  He studied the poor thing for a moment, watching it's movements, or lack there of.  It didn't look healthy in the slightest, and leaving it here guaranteed it's demise.  That was a fate Ratchet couldn't bare to have on his conscience.  Without a moments hesitation, he allowed his spark chamber to open as he worked on opening up the container the poor newspark was resting in.

"It's alright, little one.  You don't have to be afraid.  My name's Ratchet and.. I want to help.  I'm not going to hurt you.  I only want to make you feel better."

[Deleted]

The newspark awoke the moment that Ratchet started to move the container. It jostled it a little, not used to being moved in... well... a very long time. Its light flickered, barely there now as it listened to the words being spoken to it. Still, the newspark, like any other that was not used to being touched or moved about, it panicked. This was not going to be a simple task for the medic and it certainly wasn't going to just allow some stranger to scoop it out so easily. The newspark started to move, giving a gallant effort to use it's last bit of energy to escape the servo reaching for it, to force the mech to give chase around the container if he truly wished to capture it...!

.... Turned out there was just enough energy to instead flop to on side at the bottom of the tube, then the other.

So much for that.

The newspark flickered then dulled out to almost nothing, suffering as it slowly starved to death at the bottom of the cylinder. The servo of the mech could easily wrap around it now as it just gave in to whatever fate was laid out for it. Not that it understood much, or so the theory behind what they were and weren't aware of went. Clearly at least the terror it had would have overwhelmed any recognition of its situation so it was hard to tell. But there it lay in forced acceptance of this, having used whatever energy it had left to sustain itself in those tiny pathetic flops like a dead fish.

The ship, meanwhile, was full of life... or so it sounded like it. There was a groan that echoed through the hull, hinting towards danger. Nothing was on so there was no need for the noise... unless it was warning about its eventual collapse in retaliation of Ratchet's invasion and robbing of the treasure it had held dear for who really knew how long.

[Ratchet]

Ratchet reached out for the little newspark, frowning as it attempted to get away from him.  He could understand why it might have been a little timid.  It was quite likely that it didn't know where it was, and it didn't know what Ratchet's intentions were, even if he tried to express that he meant no harm.

Unfortunately the little newspark didn't make it all that far, dimming all the more.  Without any more hesitation, Ratchet scooped the little one up and brought his hands to his spark chamber.  He let the little one rest there, waiting for it to approach his own spark before lowering his hands and closing his armor plating.  "It's alright, little one..  I know you don't feel well.  Just.. just get what you need and stay with me.  I'm not going to let anything happen you you.  I promise."  Softly, Ratchet patted his chassis as he closed his optics.

However he didn't stay that way for too long as the ship began to make some rather concerning noises of it's own.  A quick creak might not have been something to worry about, but longer ones..?  Definitely.  The ship couldn't take any more, and it was going to break apart if he didn't get out quickly.  There lie the problem, however.. for moving too quickly would only make things worse.

"We have to go.  I'm sorry for the suddenness of this situation little one.  My name's Ratchet and.. I guess I'm your carrier now, but that's quite alright.  For now.. we need to focus on getting out of this ship.  Wheeljack and Pharma won't be too happy if I disappear on them again."

Making sure to move carefully, Ratchet made his way back through the ship, doing everything in his power to make sure he didn't cause any additional damage to the craft on his way out.

[Deleted]

The ship groaned and cried with every step that Ratchet took with it's walls. Just before he got through the door, walls began to collapse and the flooring gave out from all the years in sitting in rust. He'd probably get a pede through the floor or at least dent it on his way out, but it wouldn't be anything that would hinder his leave. It was as if Primus were smiling on him, giving him an opportunity to save the small newspark.

Behind him, the collapsing ship's keep on the rocks gave way and chunks began to fall down in the deep abyss of darkness that made up the rest of the cavern. Sounds of it hitting wall on the way down would echo in the cavern, almost deafening, which would be reason enough for Ratchet to get the heck out of there.

All this went unnoticed to the newspark, who had crept ever so closer to Ratchet's own spark. It was uncertain, weak, too much so to even try and sustain itself in his chamber. It would lay there in the corner, rolling around in every direction with Ratchet's movements like a ping-pong-ball instead of an actual living creature. There was silence from it, unusual for a newspark who had been integrated into a healthy chamber... unless, of course...

Then there would be the sensation, one similar to that of a bond of two sparks, as that was what it was. The newspark had managed to link up with Ratchet's own spark and had begun to feed off the energy produced by the merged pair of Wheeljack and Ratchet. It would probably be something the adopted sire would feel, but only momentarily, as it was quickly sustained and free floating in the medic's spark chamber, brightly lit and singing out to its carrier's spark as happily as could be. The brush with death apparently didn't have any immediate effect on its attitude and personality, at least.

[Ratchet]

Ratchet continued to make his way out of the ship, moving as quickly and as carefully as he could.  It wasn't a perfect escape, especially when he had stumbled and sent his foot through the floor at least a couple of times, but he forced himself to recover quickly to get the both of them out alive.

He didn't feel much from the newspark at first, but at least it was in a much safer place than where the medic had found him.  Ratchet still couldn't believe it to be honest, but he couldn't allow himself to dwell on that at the moment.  Escape was the number one priority.

Once he neared the exit of the ship, he felt some of his energy sap.  Was it the newspark feeding on his energy?  Primus, he hoped so.  The poor thing was so weak and frail.  It needed the energy in order to grow up big and strong.

"It's alright, little one.  We're going to be alright.  I promise."

With just a moment to spare, Ratchet escaped the ship, not stopping his mad escape until he reached the surface.  Once he got back up there, he simply sat on the ground, a hand splayed across his chassis while his optics remained closed.  He still couldn't believe just how lucky he had been, as well as the newspark.  Now all he had to do was make it back to the Autobot base, but he just needed that moment of rest first.

"Primus.. how am I going to even explain this to Wheeljack?"

[Deleted]

The newspark continued to feed off Ratchet's energy, though it didn't converse with Ratchet through their bond. It could barely understand him, not really having much in the way of interaction to know basic words. Though this newspark was no fool and picked up on what it could quickly.

Wheeljack. It picked up on what seemed like a designation, especially the way he had addessed the word. That must have been its sire, since this one- Ratchet- was its carrier. It processed everything in silence as it fed on the energy given to it by Ratchet's spark until it was finally sated. It separated from his then and started to hum as it danced around in its carrier's chamber, seeing just how far it could explore until it was pulled back to the carrier spark for having gone too far away.

There was a small sound that came from the newspark. It wasn't anything that was heard as a conversation between two mechs, though rather a voice that was heard in Ratchet's head from the inner workings of his audial. A conscience? No, he had one of those for sure but that wasn't what was answering his question.

'Wheel. Wheeeeeeeel. Jack jack jack. Jaaaaack. Wheeeeeeeljack.' The voice was repeating the designation that had been said. 'Raaaatch. Ra. Ra. Raaaa-chet. Caaaaarrierrrrrrrrrr.'

Word practicing.

[Ratchet]

Ratchet stayed still as he rested, adjusting himself to the sensation of the newspark feeding of his energy.  In truth he had felt worse, but this was going to be a constant feeling for some time to come.  Who knew how old the newspark was, and who knew how long he would actually be carrying for.  Either way, he was going to make the most of it, and make sure that this little one was as loved as their Sprocket.

As he sat, he eventually heard sounds coming from their bond.  Was it.. the newspark?

The medic heard both Wheeljack's name and his own.  It surprised him really.  Was this what it was like to carry?  To be able to communicate with the little one you were carrying throughout the entire process and they be able to respond to you?  He had never known that side of it before, but now he was going to learn.. and it would also benefit when training both First Aid and Moonwing.

"That's right~.  I'm Ratchet, your carrier.  Although you can call me 'Papa' if you'd like."

Ratchet began to pat his chassis gently, smiling ever so softly.  "Your sire and I will keep you safe."