Feet of Rust

[Shanodin]

Week One, Day One, semi-private. If you feel you should be in this thread and it was not previously discussed, PM Rodimus or Botanica.

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Pz-zazz has been left far behind, though perhaps not as far behind as some might like. The Event Horizon is sorely damaged, but so long as it can fly, it will remain the lower priority of medical and engineering, though Mayday has been given leave to begin repairs on the ship. First priority is making sure all the badly wounded are at least elevated to walking status, and most of the med division is working on that.

Perceptor and Botanica, however, are working on a more more worrisome patient.

"According to the readings, he's stable, but there has been some continued decay. The CR chamber has been repairing him, but not quite as fast as the virus damages," she says to those assembled, " Also- the chamber itself has been infected. Currently the infection is contained, but I'm afraid it will have to be completely scrapped."

She reaches over and initiates the chamber opening sequence.

[Kate Mason]

Kup is not helping. Kup is glaring and sometimes muttering curses about newfangled CR chambers under his exhaust. In his day, a medic repairs a bot face-to-face, while he was awake! None of this putting a bot in stasis and fixing him while he's out of it! C'mon, just go watch Ratchet and Ironhide.

He actually feels pretty helpless. There's nothing he can do for his - that poor lad in the chamber. Kup's trying to stay out of the way, but he's not always succeeding.

Kup probably still sports his broken windshield and dents. Triage means someone stable and only minorly inconvenienced, like Kup, gets fixed last. Kup being a stubborn old coot also means Kup gets fixed last.

[Rodimus Prime]

Rodimus Prime comes online slowly as the chamber's opening sequence is initiated. However, unfortunately, he was in bad condition when he was put in the chamber and is in worse condition now. For several long moments, nothing seems to happen - then the one operational optic flickers into dim life within his ruined face, and he turns his head faintly so that he can focus on Botanica.

After a moment, his radio crackles weakly to life.

//N-not the most pleaz<kzzt>ant waking, but at leassssst the view is decen-// and then he manages to get his head turned far enough that he can see Kup. //Nevermind.//

He can no longer work his mouth well enough to smile, but there's an unmistakable twinkle in his dimmed optic.

[Perceptor]

Perceptor watches gravely as the chamber - an interesting innovation, that - opens, his lips compressed into a thin line. This is a far more virulent strain of Cosmic Rust than the one he had encountered. Or rather, it's normal state is far more virulent, without the application of the heat ray which had exacerbated the potency of the strain he is familiar with.

"Well, processor functions seem to be fully intact," he manages drily to cover his worry.

[Shanodin]

Botanica smiles and shakes her head. If Rodimus can still poke fun at the situation, he'll be all right. Not everyone could deal with watching their body rust off around them.

"We routed the Decepticons, and are now underway. We can turn out attention to more important things." Like Rodimus.

She leans in to help the Prime out of the chamber. "Let's get you to where we can get a better look at you."

[Kate Mason]

"Speak for yourself, kiddo," Kup says gruffly, though not without some warmth and a hint of a smirk.

He does ask, "Eh, Botanica. You still got that shield up, right?" It may be a dumb question, but sometimes, the dumb questions are the ones worth asking.

[Rodimus Prime]

//I don't want a good look at me in this state,// Rodimus complains as he's helped out of the chamber by Botanica. He really has to be carried out more than anything else, as one of his legs is still non-operational.

//Glad... glad the Decepticons got chased off.// He focuses on small talk and making light of the situation. Not everyone can take watching their bodies decay around them. It's something that, it seems, Rodimus will have to become used to, but for the moment, he's dealing with it by trying to think about it as little as possible.

[Perceptor]

Perceptor steps in and quickly takes the rest of Roddy's weight so that he need not expend any effort at all. Partly, it's the need to help. Mostly, though, it's the fear that with all the decay, something may simply shear loose if Rodimus expends too much effort, and Perceptor... would probably have a not-very-mild freak-out if Rodimus expired on the floor while he stood by.

Besides, he's actually rather strong. It's nice to be able to use that once in a while.

"They will be licking their wounds for some time," he offers. "Especially since they are without the services of one of their mechanically inclined engineers." Perceptor can't remember at that moment if the Decepticons even have many repair technicians besides Hook.

Of course, the very reason which will hamper the Decepticons in their repair efforts will also ensure that they will be back to harass the Autobots as soon as possible. They'll be wanting Hook back.

"Fortunately, Oil Slick was foiled in his attempt to deploy more Cosmic Rust, and the cure I developed years ago proved to be effective in protecting those who were inoculated from exposure. You shall be back on your feet in no time."

He hopes. Seeing the damage up close now, though, is stirring doubts. Perceptor has never seen an infection this... advanced. He hopes that his Corrostop will be as effective in curing this strain as it had been in curing the strain he is familiar with.

[Shanodin]

"Perceptor gave me the vaccine," Botanica answers Kup, "It appears to be working properly." She does not add that if it doesn't work properly because of her technorganic status, she'd rather find out now, before it gets out of the lab. She'll not risk Cheetor.

Once Rodimus is settled, she says to Perceptor, "This is your area of expertise, not mine, so I shall step to an assisting role for the treatment. Later, I would very much like to discuss theory and application with you."

[Kate Mason]

That dumb question was definitely worth asking, then, Kup thinks, looking at Botanica thoughtfully. Of course, Corrostop worked for him! He would have helped Rodimus over to the table, but Perceptor has him there before Kup can.

"Ah yeah. About that, kid." Kup pulls out his datapad and turns on the camera, snapping a picture of Rodimus Prime. He blows it up big and then show it off to Rodimus. "This going into Oil Slick's file, under 'do not frak with Oil Slick unless you're up on your Corrostop'."

Kup smirks. Human parents show off naked baby photos to embarrass their children. Robot pseudo-parents have to get a bit more creative.

[Rodimus Prime]

//G-good,// Rodimus answers Perceptor as he hears mostly good news from the scientist. As he's helped into the berth, he makes a low, static-laden electronic noise. The pain is enough to force a groan from him, but his vocalizer is in such a state of decay that it can no longer produce sounds resembling his normal voice.

And then there's an electronic snort followed by another not-groan at Kup's picture. //Y-you're a pretty sadistic antique sometimes, Kup. You s-sure you didn't sign up for the wrong side?// Still, he keeps his head turned towards Kup as much as he can manage, as though drawing comfort from the veteran's presence.

[Perceptor]

"Understood, Botanica. Thank you. If you would set up the energon drip, please. I believe that an internal systems flush and administration of a Corrostop bolus, in conjunction with an external application, will be the most advantageous manner of approaching the treatment."

Kup's little picture stunt almost buys him a boot out of Medical. The only reason that Perceptor curbs that reflex is watching the way Rodimus seems to gravitate toward the old veteran, despite his antics, and seems to receive the reassurance he needs from Kup.

"Additionally, Rodimus..." Perceptor hesitates for a moment, an apologetic frown upon his features as he gathers up several containers of silvery-blue fluid. "I am sorry, however, given the current state of your sympatic and sensory systems, I am hesitant to shut down your pain sensors until we have halted the progression of the contagion and I can be certain that we will not be doing any harm by interrupting that input flow."

He passes one of the containers off to Botanica, indicating with a nod that its contents should be added to the waiting energon infusion.

[Shanodin]

Botanica does as directed, assisting Perceptor as needed. She keeps her manner and tone professional, but it's obvious she's worried about the Prime.

The work is slow and occasionally frustrating; things aren't working as well as she thinks they should, and she wonders if Perceptor feels the same frustration. Still, she works tirelessly.

So engrossed in caring for Rodimus is she that she doesn't notice how much more pronounced and richer her gold tones are becoming, or how there's the barest hint of an orange blush at the edges of her collar leaves.

[Kate Mason]

Kup gives Rodimus a rather dark glare when Rodimus suggests that perhaps Kup signed up for the wrong side, but he can't hold it long, his expression softening and breaking. He moves off to the other side, to get out of Perceptor and Botanica's way, and he hovers his hand just over Rodimus's. He's not afraid of being kicked out of medical; he's hesitant for Rodimus's sake.

The lad is so fragile now, just rust and sass to bind him together. Kup's afraid that if he holds him, there'll be nothing left but dust in the still air.

No.

Kup has faith in the lad. Rodimus won't fall apart. He'll pull through. He has to. Kup tries to gently hold his hand, shooting Perceptor and Botanica a squinty 'you saw nothing' look. But hmm, he could have sworn Botanica wasn't so... flushed looking. His squint narrows.

[Rodimus Prime]

The Corrostop does its work quickly, swiftly cleaning the rust off of Rodimus's body. However, the body beneath had been so badly eaten away by the stuff that there are still many repairs to be done.

Repairs to be done with his tactile sensors running at normal levels.

He gives Perceptor a faint nod. //I understand,// he whispers over the radio, giving the red scientist a faint nod.

But when the repairs begin, and the pain starts, his fingers close around Kup's. And while, for the most part, he tries to look like he doesn't even notice he's doing this, for one brief moment when his hand first grasps the veteran's, he gives the elder robot a look of deep gratitude.

Given his condition, however, and state of distraction, he is not in a position to notice Botanica's color change.