In These Hands

Even Still

No one expected the war to last as long as it did, in as much no one expected the measures from each opposing side to drain the planet in their attempt to end it. Accepting Cybertron was dead was hard enough, understanding the need to leave for survival was just as difficult. However, the course ahead needed coordinates, sure ones, and as reasonable as that was the unfortunate aspect was that these codes currently resided in the processor of one mech, one presently in need of extraction from the heart of enemy territory.

Highbrow was one of the Autobots' best agents, and more than a few times he's come out of the most dire of circumstances with his helm intact, but the distress of the current situation called for all severity. Given that he was the only 'bot possessing the sole route log to the life-saving star system, the importance of his procurement fell into the highest of levels for both sides.

Embedded deep into the recess of the Decepticon capital as well as confirming framal damage, an extraction squad was wound together to infiltrate the enemy territory, and a medibot brought along to stabilize Highbrow's confirmed condition. It was a good thing that said medibot happened to be Ratchet; he being the only among the squadron with enough knowledge of Kaon's layout and sublevels to successfully navigate through the systems undetected.

Not that he was the first medic selected for the job. Oh no.

'Primus below, what in the nine pits are you doing in Kaon?!' Jazz looked less than thrilled and the intensity of his gaze was meant to scorch the scolded, however Ratchet took every pitch, hitch, and glare in stride. It was only a comm message anyway.

"A medic was needed, so here I am," Ratchet responded as he and the others—a holomaster by the designation of Hound, an illusion specialist by the designation of Mirage, a strongbot by the designation of Brawn, and a kid by the designation of Bumblebee—moved down old systems once frequented by the medibot ages ago. Just as the pathways were then, they were rarely used in the present.

Jazz made a face. 'Ambulon was designated to go. Not you.'

Ratchet snorted. "Ambulon? He wouldn't know how to walk in a circle down here. I know Kaon, so it makes sense that I went."

'And Kaon knows you, Ratchet,' Jazz reminded. 'Slag, there are all kinds of scenarios that can happen if you're caught.'

Ratchet's lip plates twitched. He nodded toward his team. "With all due respect, old friend, you didn't select this lot with expectations to fail. I trust your judgment in their abilities and I have no intention to get caught."

Jazz looked as if he wanted to say more but Ratchet had to end the call as soon as he and the others took a stop and hid themselves from a passing patrol. As soon as they were clear, Ratchet leaned forward and looked toward the turns splitting the tunnel.

"Looks like they came from the Sentra District. Our best chance to remain covert would be to try the northeast sub rails. They were run down long ago, and I doubt the war encouraged the Decepticons to get them running again."

Ratchet motioned for the others to follow with caution.

"I didn't know you used to live in Kaon." The young 'bot, Bumblebee, was smiling with enthusiasm as he pressed forward alongside the doctor. "After all this time I thought you were an Iacon native."

"I lived in these parts for a time," Ratchet replied, optics forward, ever scanning the area before them. "That was many cycles ago, but even after all that time, nothing's really changed."

Brawn pulled on his attention with a snicker. "Yeah, I'll bet those insignia carvings and the statues of the Deceptichums' mighty leader might be a change for you."