Void-verse. Where Scourge is. Looking for a hand.

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Ratchet looks around as he appears in the new reality, feeling the mech that he's searching for, but not seeing him yet. The free spark's usually cheerful face shows deep concern today. He knows this is a long shot gamble, but he can't shake the hunch that Scourge might be able to help him.

He tilts his head and listens. Where is Scourge?

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"I need you to help me find her," Ratchet explains once more, patient as the grave. "And I'm here to find you."

[corruptedhope.livejournal.com]

"Why me?" Scourge asked desperately. A tracker's no good at tracking a ghost, and there's a thousand other universes where he could have found someone more useful. Why is Ratchet harassing him?

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Ratchet's not sure of the answer to that. All he knows for certain is that he asked Primus for help, and was told to go ask the Scourge that he'd met after Galvatron had kidnapped the mech to what had been the former CMO's home reality. He has an idea, though, based on the insight he's gained into the workings of sparks that he's gained during his vorns in the Allspark.

Still, you can't tell a Decepticon that he seems like a kindred spirit to a broken and wandering spark. Especially when you don't even know what kind of trauma the guy's been through himself.

Right? He's glad he can't get headaches anymore.

"Primus said to ask you. But if you really don't think you can do it I'll stop bothering you." He rubs his face, wondering if he wants to lay his cards down but not wanting to put the wrong kind of pressure on Scourge. He really doesn't look forward to watching the truce in Starscream's reality end because the supreme commander of Cybertron got it into their stubborn head that they weren't coming back from their trip to the planet core without Starscream.

Despite himself, he looks at Scourge again. "Do you know what it's like to be cut off from everything you know and love?"

He's not angry. He's actually asking. He himself doesn't know, because even when his spark was torn to shreds by the deaths of Prima and Ironhide Panacea was still there. And after so many vorns in the Allspark he barely remembers the pain of those separations. But the thought of not having that communion and those bonds scares him.

[corruptedhope.livejournal.com]

Scourge does not like where this line of conversation is going and he tries to put on a gruff demeanor for it. The mask is shaky and not very affective--it usually only works on those who are already trying to make nice with him.

"If you've talked to Primus, you already know. He's pretty free with information."

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"The information we need." Ratchet shakes his head. "And we often have to look for some of it. Or at least I do."

[corruptedhope.livejournal.com]

"He knows me, at any rate. He'd have told you about my...he'd have told you about me." But Scourge is yielding. He owes Auspex a lot of favors and helping someone sent by Primus would be indirectly helping her. He can deal with that.

"Look," he sighs. "Can I finish with the crates first?"

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"Sure." Ratchet brightens. "Do you want a hand?"

[corruptedhope.livejournal.com]

"Um..." Scourge eyes him nervously. "How?"

Besides possession, which is completely out of the question here.

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The free spark solidifies again and grins slightly. "I can carry boxes as well as the next guy."

[corruptedhope.livejournal.com]

Wait, but Galvatron couldn't...Scourge is just going to give up on logic now.

"Oh," he says resignedly as he picks up another box and continues loading up the hoversled. "Well, all right."

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Ratchet walks over to scoop up a crate, unwittingly answering the other mech's unspoken question as he does so. "Galy hasn't been dead as long as me, and still doesn't accept it, so she's not as strong. Mental state is a big influence on a free spark's physical state."

As he goes he pokes at Primus, asking about Scourge.

[corruptedhope.livejournal.com]

"Suppose that sounds like him. Her. Galvatron." This alternate universe pronoun business is confusing.

The moving of the boxes seems to comfort him somehow, as his tone has becoming notably less nervous. He likes being useful.

//Cyclonus? I, um, I'm going to have to go out for a bit.//

[corruptedhope.livejournal.com]

//Out? Out where?//

//There's...// Scourge gives up on excuses. //The ghost of Ratchet from another universe wants me to go help find another ghost in another universe and apparently he thinks I'm the only one that can do it.//

A pause. The sound of one hand hitting a forehead. //You're serious, aren't you?//

//Wish I wasn't. He's a servant of Primus, I think I can trust him.//

//How do you know he's a servant of Primus? He could be lying.//

//Um...//

//Have him do something...Primus-ish. To check. You have my official permission, just be careful about it.//