video;

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[The video clicks on and shows nothing but the ceiling of a room for long moments before it rattles and a hand obscures the camera. There's a scrape and a soft groan as Ratchet hauls himself as much into a sitting position as he can manage and finally manages to pick up the communicator and turn the camera towards himself.]

[He looks exhausted, his optics dim and his mouth drawn down. The hand not holding the communicator up is pressed carefully to his windscreen and his ventilations are labored as he wakes up a little more, his optics focusing in the low light of his room. His voice is soft and fuzzy with static when he speaks.]

Hey. What did I miss?




LOCKED to Spinister
I need a status update on Krok. Now, please. I can't get up to go check on him myself.

Comments

[triggerhappycopter]

[Spin's not left his seat. He's just curled up and silent.]

[stubbornandfrustrating]

...Spinister?

[Some of the urgency drains from Ratchet and he just looks worried.]

What's wrong?

[triggerhappycopter]

I gotta tell him.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

Krok.

[His voice is heavy before it sharpens just slightly, his optics intense.]

Yeah, you do. And Spinister--you need to tell him soon. This isn't the kind of thing I can keep from Magnus and Prowl, so whatever you're going to do, do it as soon as possible and let me know how it turns out. I'll keep them off your back as long as you can, but I won't lie to them for you.

[triggerhappycopter]

I dunno what I'm gonna do if Krok doesn't agree.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

...I can try to talk to him, if that happens. I'm--

[He rubs a tired hand over his face.]

I'm angry with you, that you did something this insane and reckless, but I get why. I'll do what I can to help, even though you did worry everyone sick. Just, if you fix Krok and Fulcrum's memories and you somehow die in the attempt, that'll wreck them just as much. Take care of yourself too, understand?

[triggerhappycopter]

[A part of him still hates Ratchet, angry at the fact that nothing had been done about Chromedome until after Spin had killed him. Ratchet was one of the people who'd put the Scavengers into this position and now he had the gall to lecture Spinister about it?

But...

He'd also saved Krok's life. Grudges were things Spinister didn't let go of easily. This time though?]

... Thanks.

[stubbornandfrustrating]

[Ratchet shakes his head.]

It's our fault you felt like you had to do this in the first place, and I know it. The least I can do is try to make sure you're all right and keep people off your back if I can while you try to fix it. It's more than we were able to do.

[triggerhappycopter]

Thank you.

I gotta.

I should go check on Krok now.

[He pauses before getting up, however.

There was... one more thing he needed to come clean about. It was just a debate of whether or not he should tell Ratchet now when the other medic was still wiling to keep quiet until the procedures have been seen through to.

... Yeah, later. Definitely later. He can tell Ratchet about Rodimus' surgery when Krok and Fulcrum were safe. Decepticon trust was a delicate thing and Spinister was still very much a Decepticon.]