you know you are as small as the things you let annoy you {backdated before robot prom}

[asafepairofhands]

It's a little while after Sixshot has dug all of the medics up from whatever underground art bunker they had been briefly trapped in, miraculously without anyone killing each other, and Ratchet is back in the medibay at work. He is still half-legless and especially foul-tempered, especially considering the upcoming festivities, which he plans to avoid as completely as possible.

COME BOTHER HIM



[CLOSED TO RODIMUS]
It's not long after the medics are back that Ratchet sends a message to Rodimus privately, apropos of what seems like nothing.

Come to the medibay. I need to check something.

Comments

[asafepairofhands]

"Well." Ratchet looks almost pleased. "Good to hear. I take it he's a medic, too, huh?" His mouth quirks a little. "Nice to know some things never change."

He continues poking around in the box for a moment, then looks up again. "Were you ever called Orion Pax, if you don't mind my asking?"

[academybot]

"Guess not. Good thing too, this place definitely needs a good medic."

His smile faded at the question.
"No I wasn't, and you're not the first person to ask. Does that mean anything?"

[asafepairofhands]

"Nah, just wondering about the similarities. It was the Optimus I know's name before they saddled him with the matrix and all that 'Prime' garbage. He was a beat cop, beforehand, in Rodion. You two seem... very different."

Ratchet's optics light, his mouth tugging up at one corner.

"You have more of a sense of humor than he does, at least--that much is obvious."

[academybot]

"Ah, that explains it then. No overlap there, though. We don't have anything like the Matrix where I'm from."

He glanced down awkwardly, shoulders haunched. Might as well deal with all this up front.

"'Prime' is a just military rank for us, not some sort of spiritual chosen leader. Ultra Magnus has been the supreme commander of the Autobots since the war."

[asafepairofhands]

Ratchet snorts a rude laugh, not really directed at Optimus.

"If you think the title of Prime for us is some 'spiritual chosen leader', go spend some time with Sentinel--I think he's still here. What a load of rustwash." His optics glitter faintly. "I used to hold Optimus' calls while he was 'communing with the Matrix' by falling asleep sitting up at his desk when he needed a nap."

He takes in Optimus' defeated expression, the curled posture, and shakes his head.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much. Most people don't pay attention to Optimus because he's Prime, or whatever--I mean, it helps, if you're going to command an army that big, I guess." Ratchet shrugs. "But I stayed on with the Autobots because he's a good mech who does his damnedest to do the right thing. That's what's important."

[academybot]

"Look I only got a summary, Optimus was the one who mentioned the thing about spiritual guidance. And if it's all the same to you, I intend on avoiding Sentinel as long as possible." On the list of things he would possibly talk to Sentinel about, being a prime was the very bottom.

"I'm sure that's true, I just don't want everyone assuming I can do everything he can just because we share a name." He said, crossing his arms.