six_word_stories | (no subject)

[Being called out for his attitude is far from a first for Ratchet, but it’s been quite a while since he’d been scolded for it. He rolls his optics, but chooses not to pick a fight over it, tempting as it is to snark back. He’s above petty arguing- sometimes.]

A heart? As in part organic?

[Squinting a little. Earth has more expressions than he knows what to do with, so he isn’t sure if it’s meant to be taken literally, but it makes him wary nonetheless. He thinks about the last time humans attempted to blend organics with robotic technology on a frequent basis- to say it hasn’t ended well would be somewhat of an understatement, and doing poor Sunstreaker a disservice.]

[ When you bump into Mombot you best be on good behavior. ]

You are thinking of a cyborg.

[ Which is also a thing but let's not complicate the issue here TOO much. She's still running a background check on his name. At least this conversation is keeping him put while she does that! ]

I speak of soul, identity, thought, consciousness. Heart.

Sentience, then. You could’ve just said so to begin with.

[This just proves his point about Earth having too many non-literal expressions.]

And what does that make me? I’m mechanical in origin. I’m aware. Your “Omnics” seems to be too broad of a term.

I did not invent the term. And I do not know what that makes you. Do you not know yourself? I certainly can not find anything in association with your name and title in my databases...

[ Her eye shutters narrow into suspicious slits before returning to normal. ]

Therefore, I will continue to be your escort until I have assessed your threat level.

I already told you, I'm an Autobot. Cybertronian. There's no way the entire planet up and forgot about the lot of us.

[He wouldn't exactly complain if they had, but he also didn't want to have to deal with situations like this.]

I don't need an escort. I'm a medic, I'm not a threat to anyone- and if I were you'd damn well know by now.

Perhaps you are lost.

[ The fact that this is said in a helpful tone may or may not be more infuriating then is she was snarky about it. ]

And if you are truly 'no threat' all the more reason for an escort. There are suspected Talon operatives somewhere in the city. And if Doomfist is here he will see your size as a... challenge.

I don't get lost.

[That's a flat-out lie but he's being difficult on purpose.]

I hope neither of those names are supposed to mean anything to me. But believe me, I can hold my own, no escort necessary.

It means that they are very dangerous people. And I take my job as the protector of this city seriously. Which means everyone in it. Including uncooperative Former Chief Medical Officers.

[ aka You're stuck with a babysitter. ]

Protector of the city, huh? Fancy title.

[Only vaguely impressed.]

I am not being-

[...Well, alright, maybe he's being a little bit uncooperative. And standing around arguing isn't going to save him any more time, so he swallows his pride with a very heavy sigh.]

Fine.

Excellent!

[ And just like that she's all sunshine and smiles again. Figurative smiles. No mouth and all. ]

Were you headed to any particular destination?

[ She pauses a beat. ]

Or are you perhaps lost?

Er... no.

[He might've been looking to check in on some old acquaintances that he's certain are dead by now, but he's not going to admit that.]

I guess that does make me lost.

Well, they say there's a first time for everything.

[ Since e doesn't get lost and all. ]

If you are going nowhere then you may accompany me on my patrol of the city. Perhaps we can get you unlost.

[ She pauses a second and then adds; ]

I am Orisa.

Yes, I suppose there is.

[He's somewhere between exasperated and just plain defeated right now.]

Guess I could manage a patrol.

[His alt mode is still close enough to an Earth vehicle that it shouldn't be much of a concern. Might be good to get a better idea of what the humans in this area are up to, anyhow.]

That's it? No fancy titles? 'Protector of the city' has a nice ring to it.

[ She will count it a victory! ]

No. Just Orisa.

[ She laughs and pumps a fist into the air. ]

Everyone here already knows I am their protector! Why do I need a title to prove it? Seems silly to me.

Might be for the best. Soon as you actually get yourself a title, someone will come along who wants to take it.

[Cybertronian politics are A Mess.]

But in a chain of command, they're unfortunately necessary.

[So much so that it's easy to become lost in a title; he knows that all too well. How many years has it been now that he's been trying to shake off the CMO position?]

I agree... they can be dangerous.

[ She nods. In a way that was what began Overwatch's fall. One man got the title of Strike Commander, and another felt he deserved it more... Well there was more then that, but at the most basic level, it started with that. ]

Is this why you are the 'Former' Chief Medical Officer? Someone has taken it from you?

Not exactly.

[Well, he sort of had to... take it away from himself but...]

I gave it up. Retired, I suppose you could say. Had more important things to do than cling to some dead title back on the ship.

It sounds like it was a very hard decision for you.

[ She can't pretend to understand everything, but she can certainly sympathize if not entirely relate. ]

Are you still a doctor, Mr. Ratchet?

Harder than it should've been.

[His own fault for being so stubborn.]

More or less, yes. I was a medic, actually... there was a war. Since it's ended there hasn't exactly been much serious use for bots like me. Not on the ship, at least. But yes, I'm still serving as a medical officer, in a sense.

[Unless you counted repairing Rodimus' broken limbs over and over 'serious'.]

This is good. Peace or war, there is always a need for those who heal. But it is probably better that you do not have as many patients now, correct?

[ Probably one of the only professions where it's better if there's less to do. ]

There is war coming here soon. I was not here for the last Crisis but...

[ She doesn't want to say she's afraid. ]

Yes, I suppose it is.

[He's not really sure what to do with himself when he isn't working, but that seems to be the case for everyone out of the war.]

I'm... very sorry to hear that.

[There's nothing one can really say in a situation such as that, but at the very least he hopes their war lasts a hell of a lot shorter than the Cybertronian war did.]

The man I mentioned earlier. 'Doomfist'. He is the source. If I can apprehend him then the Crisis may be adverted.

[ Maybe. Tensions are already high between all the many factions. There's a chance that nothing will stop the coming war. ]

You're really certain it'll be that simple?

[Very incredulous. If only their war had ended up coming down to 'just apprehend Megatron'.]

There must be more to it than that.