Skies above MongoliaIt seemed as though time had stood still within the confines of the shuttle. The streaking mass of lights that formed during space travel had ceased leaving only shining orbs in their place. But Tracer paid little attention to any of it. Right now her optics were transfixed on
Smokescreen and her audios were tuned into the communications line. How long had it been since she’d contacted Wheeljack?
Not long. Just give him a few more minutes, he’ll respond…he has to.
And then came that long awaited tone. The femme tore her eyes away from the stasis locked mech and focused in on the communications console. Tracer let out a sigh of relief when she heard Wheeljack’s voice coming through the line.
>>”Tracer, this is Wheeljack. I read you. Stay where you are, and I will bounce you on board shortly.”<<
Wheeljack cut the line even before she could give him a word of thanks. At this point, however, she didn’t mind the abrupt end. She only wished to get Smokescreen back on board the
Ark - 22 and have him repaired. Nothing else mattered.
Tracer went back to the shuttles navigation controls and ceased their commands halting the shuttle’s already slow moving advance. That’s when another communication came through. Again from the engineer.
>>”Tracer, this is Wheeljack again. I’m having a hard time locking on to you. If you’re still wearing my signature inhibitors, you need to take them off both yourself and Smokescreen. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee the bounce will be successful. Do you understand?”<<
She took a quick look around and noticed a few small bits of metallic debris lying beneath Smokescreen’s frame. That was when she recalled the rallybot attaching the signature suppressor to her back and her doing the same with his.
>>”
I understand, Wheeljack.”<<
Tracer stepped away from the pilot’s chair and carefully knelt down beside Smokescreen. Gently the femme lifted him slightly and took a look to see if the inhibitor was still in place. When she saw that there was nothing left to most of his back she lowered him back down and stood back up to her full height. The fight he was in and the acid attack had melted most of the inhibitor leaving nothing but a few lose bits of metal…the same metal that was now littered beneath and the side of the red and blue mech.
Now that she knew his device was no longer functioning, Tracer went to work trying to remove her own. She reached around to her back first with one hand and then the other, but it was no use. Without anyone else there the device was there to stay. She let out a low sigh as she stared down at Smokescreen.
Maybe it’s for the best he gets bounced alone.
Her optics lifted as she stared at the far wall. Suddenly her eyes brightened and she hastily moved to the same wall. She turned around so her back was facing the metal sheet and she began to ram her entire back against the hard metal surface. After three attempts and mangling both of her protruding door wings, she let out a pained cry slamming one last time into the wall; even harder than the previous times causing her to drop to the floor on her hands and knees.
There had been the sound of crunching metal, followed by no pain, signifying that she had successfully disabled the suppressor.
She waited a moment before she slowly got back to her feet and made her way back to the communications console. She opened up the link with Wheeljack and gave him their status.
>>”
Ugh. The inhibitors have been disabled. The three of us are ready to be bounced back on board; just, please, be quick about it.”<<