THE ROLLED UP NEWSPAPER

The Ark's Medical Center

Ratchet is presently working at his desk to try and catch up
on "paperwork" when he can as the recent brought in patients
recuperate...

Hound  limps into Medbay, easing himself onto an 'inpatient'
gurney, which automatically scans his physical systems.

Ratchet clicks on the datapad, his features bearing small
hint of a frown. He swivels in the chair a little and makes
a note to himself on his pad and happens to glance up as a
newcomer makes his way in. "Hound?"

Hound says, "Just taking a little walk around the Ark. I
couldn't stay in here too much longer..."

Ratchet nods slowly. "That I can understand. I trust you're
taking it easy after what you've been through."
Hound says, "The farthest I've gone is just outside the main
cave entrance..."
Hound winces slightly, as he rotates one arm around. "You'd
think my autorepair functions would be online by now..."

Ratchet hmms but finally nods once more. "He glances down
idly at some of his notes. "At least *you* don't have to be
restricted at least. Wish I could say the same for a few
others---" He chuckles at that until he overheards the
comment. "They haven't come on line yet?" he asks as he
begins to get up from his chair.

Hound says, "Nothing major, just still aching after the
Devastator Incident."
Ratchet hmms and starts making his way over to Hound. "Auto-
repair should have taken long before now. Perhaps it should
be checked," he states while calling a small tool from its
niche within his wrist.
Hound says, "Oh, boy, here we go again..."

Ratchet lowers his hand and arches an optic ridge. "I bet
you haven't had this much fun in ages," he states dryly as
he clicks open a panal.

Hound says, "You could say something like that."
Hound smiles to himself, and sets his holographic projector
on standby. Why not have a little fun with the good doctor,
brighten his day a little?

Ratchet begins checking over the panel...making certain
certain curcuits are connected, wires afixed, power flow to
that area regulated...

...and Ratchet soon finds a tiny replica of Optimus Prime,
who quips, "All clear, Ratchet m'boy!"

Ratchet hmms and spots the pproblem. One small, tiny busted
linkage that must have been overlooked before hand. he
removes the tiny replica before setting th linkage right.
The panal lights up as the Auto-repair begins. "There...that
should do it." he then looks at the Optimus Prime and
wonders how he got in there.  Tho, need he really ask?

Optimus Prime looks at Ratchet, raises one hand in the
Vulcan salute, and states (most seriously), "The Force will
be with you... always."

Hound laughs. "Help me, Ratchet-one-Kenobi," he giggles,
"you're my only hope. Help me, Ratchet-one-kenobi..."

Ratchet pulls back away from Hound. "Excuse me?"

Hound laughs, "I'm sorry, you just looked like you needed to
be cheered up, is all..."

OOC: Ratchet groans. The silliest things they're doing with
scouts nowadays

Ratchet simply...blinkblinks at Hound. "Uh...thanks...I
think..." he states in some uncertainty. "Are you alright,
Hound?"

Hound says, "For the first time in a long while, I think so,
Ratchet."

Ratchet's tool retracts back within his wrist. "I'm grateful
to see you in better spirits than you had been at any rate."

Ratchet's gaze drift to Hound's shoulders...slightly
disappointed in seeing something that's not there. "Don't
you think it's a bout to...think about obtaining your
insignia however?"

Hound solemnly states, "I already have it,"

Ratchet narrows his optics somewhat. "And wearing it?"

Hound says, "But I'm not going to wear it again until I'm re-
instated. Officially... when you resign a commission, you
need special permision to pick it up again."

Ratchet hmmms and leans against the other medtable. "Have
you made such a request?'

Hound says, "It's not really my place to do so.."

Ratchet asks, "Do you wish to be re-instated?"

Hound looks off into space. "More than you know.  But right
now, I'm more deserving of court-marshall than
reinstatement."

Ratchet states, "Let me get this straight. You left of your
own free will. Your own choice. But instead of you taking
the first step to see if there's anything you can do
to...correct it...you'd rather wait and have someone do it
for you."

Hound says, "Not quite..."

Ratchet states, "Then...can you explain it to me?"

Hound says, "I left of my own free will. Then I stole
Autobot property and destroyed it. Then I was taken back to
base, and rebuilt using Autobot resources. As I see it, the
Autobots own me until they decide otherwise."

Ratchet refrains from rolling his optics. "The Autobots
don't *own* you, Hound. You should know better than that by
now."
Ratchet sighs. "Would it help if you talked with Optimus
himself?"

Hound says, "It's... more complicated than that, Ratchet. I
can't just disregard military proceedure whenever the whim
strikes me."

Ratchet leans back wearily. "What is it do you feel needs to
be done then?"

Hound says, "I'm not in the chain of command.  I don't know
what needs to be done, to be perfectly honest."
Ratchet sighs and activates his comlink after nodding to
Hound.

Hound says, "But I've caused enough problems so far... right
now, I'm going to wait for whatever decision the CoC might
make."

+radio op=Optimus, this is Ratchet in medbay. Are you
available?'.

RADIO: <from Optimus Prime> I'm just inside the volcano
right now Ratchet. What's up?

Ratchet looks up from his radio for a moment. "Hound, as I
see it you haven't caused any problems to have cried for
this the punishment you're giving yourself.

+radio op=It's Hound. He says he would like to be re-
instated as an Autobot. But he's uncertain of what channel
to go through since he's no longer within the ranks.
And...he also has some concerns regarding some of his past
actions which only the top CoC would be able to address.'.

Hound says, "It might *be* all in my head, Ratchet."

RADIO: <from Optimus Prime> *sigh* I'm on my way.

Hound says, "But I'm not going to presume it's not until I'm
convinced otherwise."

Ratchet reshifts his weight somewhat. Well...not like *he*
would be able to talk much to the scout. He's not one in
position to help really. "Personally, I think it is, as you
say, 'all in your head." He sighs. "Prime's on his way."

Hound says, "What? Prime? You mean, like, here? Now?"
Hound shifts his weight to jump from his gurney, and winces
in pain...

Ratchet nods. "Yes...as in here...now. I won't have one of
my patients twisting his circuits if I can help it."
Ratchet moves to steady Hound. "Will you stay still? Moving
in excess isn't going to help."

Optimus Prime has arrived.
Hound says, "But Ratchet, I can't see Prime like this,
I'm..."
Hound says, "I'm..."

OOC: Optimus Prime says, "......a dead duck."
OOC: Hound says, "Something like that ^_^"

Optimus Prime enters through the doorway to the medical bay,
looking alot more mobile than he did a few days ago. His
optics trace around the room.....falling on Ratchet and
Hound. Silently...he begins to move towards the two.

Ratchet doesn't readily see Optimus since he has his back
towards the door. However, he hears footsteps behind him
coming towards the medtable Hound occupies. He glances over
his shoulder and moves slightly aside. "Optimus," he greets
with a small nod.

Hound is lying on a standard medtable/gurney, trying to act
as inconspicuous as possible as a Transformer could...
standing next to the Chief Medical Officer, in Repair Bay.

Optimus Prime nods in return to the medical officer.
"Ratchet...." he says, finally pulling up to the end of
Hound's medtable. "Now....what seems to be the trouble?"

Ratchet offers another small nod. "I apologize for
disturbing you. However, I think Hound has some things he
needs to discuss with you." And with that he lets Hound take
the responsibilty. Of course, that's not saying he won't
help the scout along if he needs it...heh...heh...
Ratchet gives Hound a glance and comments, "He conveyed his
wish to be re-inststed."

Hound groans softly, and raises a hand to his face,
obviously rather embarassed at the situation.

OOC: Hound says, "Just so Op knows, I removed my Autobot
Symbol a while ago, claiming that I couldn't let my actions
reflect on the Autobot Army."
OOC: Hound TECHINCALLY resigned his commission then.
OOC: Optimus Prime is here to slap you silly.

Optimus Prime nods slightly towards Ratchet.....then glances
back towards Hound. He dosen't appear to be changing at all
in his seemingly....nonchalant attitude at the moment. "Go
on Hound..." he says quietly.

Ratchet mentally pushes back some idle
thoughts...particularly thoughts of a certain message a
particular strategist left for him. The contents therof
disturb him. And, at the moment, he doesn't know how to
comply or do what Prowl asked. But for now, he stays focused
on the matter at hand.

Hound says, "I, ah..." He seems to be searching for the
right words to say, what he's supposed to talk about.  "My
desires aren't something that should be taken into
consideration..."

Ratchet bends down and states softly. "Simply tell him what
you told me," he prods gently.

Hound looks away from Prime. "I resigned, stole Autobot
property, commandeered it without authorization, then
proceeded to demolish it... and you still rebuilt me.  I
deserve court-martial, not repairs."

Long distance to Hound: Ratchet thinks you need a @whap
upside the head ICly personally ;)
From afar, Hound [dawg] wholeheartedly agrees, Hatchet.
Long distance to Hound: Ratchet ttthbts

Optimus Prime's optics narrow slightly....as he appears to
digest Hound's words....then, he turns slightly, crossing
his arms over his chest. "And....for what reason did you do
all of this, Hound?"

Hound pauses. "To assist the Autobots in whatever limited
fashion I could, at the time..."

Optimus Prime taps his fingers on his forearm......as if
still thinking. Sure enough....he can relate to some of
Hound's actions. He would have done the same thing himself.
Then again......there's also the issue that Prowl had
brought up.....mainly due to the shuttle. "Hound, from what
I've seen....you did what you did because you felt it was
right. For a very good reason...." he motions with one hand.
"However........yes you did take the shuttle without
permission.....and it was destroyed. Although you caused the
Constructicons severe damage while merged. A feat that isn't
small." he finally twists around until he's facing Hound
again. "I ask you this. Do you -want- to be reinstated
Hound?"

Hound says, "I... I want to, Prime. I'm just not sure if I
deserve to..."

Optimus Prime waves slightly with one hand. "Hound after
being with the Autobots for as long as you have I would
hardly say that you don't -deserve- to be back among us. We
would welcome you back without hesitation." he turns again.
"Now mind you.....there is the matter of the shuttle
itself..."
Optimus Prime continues. "....you do understand that if you
return. You will have to....answer for the loss of the
shuttle." he says this evenly.....eyeing Hound.

Hound nods, as best as someone lying on a medtable could. "I
understand completely."

Optimus Prime nods. "Where's your Autobot symbol?"

Hound silently opens a small panel in his chest, removing
the small green plaque, bearing the scarlet insignia.
"Daris was holding onto it for me until he had to leave..."

Optimus Prime nods......making no motion to take the symbol.
"If you feel that you want back. Then put it back on...."

Hound pauses for a second, then slowly snaps the plate back
into place. "Thank you, Prime..."

OOC: Optimus Prime says sternly, "And that thing BETTER stay
on."

Ratchet is buily checking over Wheeljack's current
diagnostics. His back is turned to the two. But even though
it's not seen, a small smile forms on his lips.

Optimus Prime nods. "When you are completely
repaired......and active again.....no sooner, I want you to
head up the team that will go to the lake and retrieve the
hulk of the Concordance. With the loss of our last
shuttle....we have to get another one ASAP."

Hound says, "H-head up the team?  But Prime, I... I'm not a
leader, I... I'm just a scout."

Optimus Prime's optics shimmer slightly....in.....amusement?
"I'm not asking"

Ratchet smiles a little wider before concealing it. He
expected Optimus would have done something like that.
Punishment to fit the crime -- if indeed it can be called
that.

Hound nods, rather unsure of the situation. "I-I understand,
Optimus..."

Optimus Prime nods, and gives Hound a reassuring pat on the
shoulder. "You rest up and get back to full health first
however."

Hound winces slightly. "Yes, sir..."

Optimus Prime nods again....then turns and makes his way
back towards where Ratchet is..pausing long enough to stop
near the medic. "How's progress on the injured?"

Ratchet glances up from the monitor and straigtens. "Dice
still needs seeing to. However, all the other patients have
been repaired and are presently recuperating. However," he
pauses, "I seem to recall a report stating Delta Ultima was
injured some weeks ago. But I can't seem to verify that he
had been tended to."

Optimus Prime's optics narrow slightly. "He -was- brought
back right?"

Ratchet shakes his head, quite confused. "If he had
been...there's no report made on this. Or...at least none
that I've seen. I was going through some of this just
earlier tonight when I had a chance."  The medic had been
rather swamped recently. Is it any wonder why he's just now
noting it?

Optimus Prime hrms. "I'll have to do a check. He may be
back...just not have signed into medical bay yet...."

Ratchet nods in acknowledgement. "True. Sometimes it someone
dragging some of the ranks into medbay to finally get seen
too I noticed." Like Optimus himself maybe? "And just how
are your repairs holding up?"

Optimus Prime hmmms? Then flexes his arm.....the limb moving
easily. "They've taken perfectly."

Ratchet can't fully wipe some concern from his optics.
However, there's nothing he feels he can do about Prowl's
concerns without proof or justification. "That's a piece of
good news anyway. Let me know if you experiance any
difficulties."

Optimus Prime nods. "You'll be the first to know.
Is.....there anything else?"

Ratchet shakes his head. "No...not at the moment anyway.
Thanks for coming by the way. I was becioming a tad
concerned about Hound."

Optimus Prime nods. "You weren't the only one Ratchet...."
he says quietly......glad the green Autobot has decided to
return. Then.....without another word....he turns and makes
his way out.