Ratchet walked the dark, dank underground. Holding cages lined the walls of the area, most empty stained with old energon and whatever other fluids was bled from whatever was held there prior.
This was just some random backwater planet the autobots just happened to land on.
They were supposed to fuel up and continue their way back to Cybertron, but rumors don't stay rumors for long with nosy bots on board.
"Heard there was some shady slag going on.. Looks like you've seen your share of it."
The predacon was wary, low growls vibrated through the holding area.
"I'm gonna get you outta here, just don't bite me.."
He eyed the only (living) occupant down there. It was risky, predacons are known to be aggressive. Checking his subspace for tranquilizers, he would need more than what he had and more than an extra set of hands to move the massive creature.
"Prime, you took care of those ringleaders, right? Send some some bots down here, we have a survivor and I'm not leaving them behind."
A slight flex of claws brought Ratchet out of his work on the predacon's hind leg. It- she, shouldn't be waking up, let alone move. He pumped her full of the tranquilizers. Maybe he underestimated what she could handle.
"You're surprisingly well behaved... Thanks for not taking my head off, kid."
The predacon watched the old medic work. A gruff attitude, but kind heart, something to protect in this world... Even if she couldn't voice it. Her captors took everything from her. Her voice. Her form. To them, she was was a tool for their own entertainment. A beast.
He treated her like the person she was supposed to be.
She owed him everything even if he didn't want anything in return.
"I don't know what you've been through, but I can take a few guess. Your t-cog's damaged, I'm sure you're very aware of that- but the housing's fused to it. Looks like it's been like that for millenias. That'll be a risky fix, and even then, who knows if you'd be able to transform out of beast mode."
He glanced up at her. There was an intelligence behind those yellow optics.
"I can try and give you back your voice at least, shouldn't be too hard. Beastformers talk in their alts all the time- whoa, a little close aren't you?" Ratchet didn't wheel back, just... Put a hand up to keep her snout from getting any closer.
Lick.
She pressed her snout into his palm.
"...AB-155... That was in the file we found from your captors.. 'Abyss' seems more fitting, don't you think?"
@dr-vigne.bsky.social drew these two lovely pieces for me!
Click on them for story time!
#ratchet #tfoc #predacon #predaconoc
