02 \\ OPEN

[eyestothesky]

WHO: The Spine and anyone
WHERE: The Spine had meant to head from the Junkpile back to the Hub but in his current condition it's easy to imagine him wandering elsewhere without realizing it.
WHEN: March 16th
WHAT: Someone's sick, oops.
WARNINGS: The Spine is a dork, does that count?

The discovery of the strange formation of brown crystals didn't even strike the bot as odd. Who was he to say what was normal to find and what wasn't? What he hadn't found so far was any sign of instruments, and itching to put his fingers to guitar strings that was what his thoughts were on. Musing if maybe someone else that had arrived had found or made one, or if they knew where one might be. Something to think about, maybe he'd put out a call later on.

But he certainly should have gotten back to the Hub by now. Even on foot he wasn't that slow... except for the fact that apparently he'd stopped walking without realizing. A hiccup in the multitasking protocols more than likely, easy enough to shrug off. Unlike the way the world was starting to sway around him. Various alerts cropping up to warn him of the sudden imbalance he was suffering, the titanium automaton letting out a startled billow of steam as he tried to shift his stance so his servos would re-align with which way was up. At least that was the plan.

What happened instead was his vision blurring to static for an alarming moment, and anyone nearby would have seen the robot suddenly stumbling, foot catching and sending him to the ground in a heap, steam curling from vents and along the vertebrae protruding from his back.

Comments

[young_upstart]

     Making his usual rounds, the flashy Autobot sped along, always opting for taking the scenic route back to Prima's if it allowed him an excuse to drive a bit longer. Something pinged his radar then, so he opted to check it out. That was the responsible thing to do, after all.

     He slowed down on his approach once he had a visual on the figure on the ground. That certainly didn't look very good! Not even bothering to stop, Hot Rod transformed once he gauged himself close enough to do so, covering the last bit of distance between him and the fallen automaton in several large steps.

     "Hey! You okay?" he asked as he crouched beside The Spine.

[eyestothesky]

It took a long moment for the smaller bot to realize there was someone talking to him. Even lifting his head he was feeling like he was fighting his way through molasses. Or like the time that The Jon had started a tidal wave of maple syrup in the main hall and he'd been forced to slog through it to grab the other.

Given how tall Hot Rod was in comparison to him even crouching, he just forced himself over onto his back, steam hissing from vents around his face, between the seams of plating along his throat as he focused, green optics brightening to track the concerned Autobot.

"I'm... I'm fine?" He was wasn't he? His diagnostic systems hadn't alerted him to trouble, all his systems were showing normal operation... "...What'm I doin' on the ground?"

[young_upstart]

     The little metal man seemed to be able to move and talk, so that was good at the very least!

     "You got me. I was hoping you could explain- you were on the ground when I saw you." The Spine's response wasn't a very good one. All that steam, was that normal?

     Hot Rod extended a hand to offer helping the automaton to his feet, if he could manage it.

[eyestothesky]

Maybe not quite so much steam. The smaller bot shook his head with a grimace, optics dimming slightly.

"Got dizzy. Dunno why but vision went static and next thing I know I'm gettin' a good look at the pavement." He wasn't as okay as he was trying to pretend- Even as he accepted that hand up, he could feel the world swaying again, grip on the other's larger finger slipping, sending him to a hard sit again.

[young_upstart]

     Well, that couldn't be good. Hot Rod couldn't bring his other hand over in time to catch the other, not that it had been a far distance to fall.

     "Wonder if that weird...sickness? Is still going around. It wasn't too long ago, but something was affecting both organics and non-organics. In any case, maybe you should get checked up or something," Hot Rod suggested. "How long have you been like this?"

[eyestothesky]

"A virus? Well that's the last thing I need..." Just mumbled as he put his head between his knees with another huff of steam. That's what humans did when they felt dizzy right? Maybe it would help somehow.

"Just started. Been fine right up until I hit the floor." Which never really pointed to anything good in his experience.

[young_upstart]

     The Autobot wasn't quite sure what one was supposed to do when you got sick. It usually wasn't something to worry about, but apparently that wasn't the case around here.

     ...which led him to wonder if it might be contagious. He shook his head. Now wasn't the time to worry about such things. Besides, he couldn't just leave the guy, now could he?

     "Come on. We should probably get you to the clinic to get checked out."

[eyestothesky]

If the thought had occurred to The Spine he wouldn't even let the other get close. But at the moment his head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, focusing on worries like that were difficult. So he just lifted his head to nod in agreement before letting it settle again.

"Sounds like a good idea..." Not that the titanium bot was moving at all, whether he realized that fact or not.

[young_upstart]

     That wasn't the most reassuring sign, and Hot Rod didn't need any medical experience to tell him as much. He was pretty good at repairs, but things like this were beyond him. Best to let someone look into it that knew what they were doing.

     "Okay, I'll get you there right away." Although it didn't seem like this guy was budging, so Hot Rod doubted he would be able to climb into a vehicle. "...just hang on, okay? And sorry if this doesn't help for your dizziness, but it'll be real quick, promise."

     Because he was going to carefully scoop up The Spine before ducking into his alt-mode with the smaller bot seated at the wheel.

[eyestothesky]

He didn't really give a response to the words, but he certainly realized when he was lifted, the nauseating movement happening before he was sitting behind the wheel of a car.

"Probably a good thing for the both of us that I'm not built with a stomach..." Just mumbled as he let his head tilt back against the rest, optics partly lidded.

[young_upstart]

     With an uneasy chuckle, Hot Rod had to agree to that. "I'll say..."

     With a queasy passenger aboard, the Autobot figured that it would probably be best to stick to smoother ground and use what roads they had. His engine revving, he started forward, reminding himself not to go too fast either.

     "So what's your name anyway? I'm Hot Rod."

[eyestothesky]

If he knew Hot Rod's usual driving style, he'd definitely be grateful for the consideration he was showing. As it was, he just stayed as still as he could, running a self-diagnostic... or trying to, seeing how that seemed to taper off in mid-scan, as if his systems were having just as much trouble keeping on task as he was focusing.

It took a moment before he realized he was being asked a question, and he gave his head a brief shake to try and pay better mind.

"The Spine... nice to meet you Hot Rod, even if it could've been better circumstances."

[young_upstart]

     "That's true, but I guess around here, anything goes. But it's nice to meet you too, uh, The Spine?"

     The lights on his dashboard flickered and synched with the words spoken, steering wheel turning subtly to keep them on track. Solus' temple shouldn't be too long to get to, especially not when you're driving.

     "So you don't have any idea how you could've gotten like this? What were you doing before I found you?"

[deadlydoctor]

[Yes, anyone nearby would have seen the robot stumbling and falling or at least would have noticed the sound it made or the steam curling around him but Knock Out was in car mode. And he was not only distracted but driving really, really fast.

It was pure luck that he didn't run The spine over as he passed by him, fast as lighting. It took him a few seconds to process that he saw some blurry thing in the ground. The car stopped. Curiosity won and he finally decided to drive back and take a look at what it was.]

[eyestothesky]

[Titanium really wouldn't be pleasant to run over, just a general warning.

Not that The Spine noticed. Green optics lighting dimly as he started to realize that yes, there was something going by, and maybe it was a good idea to make sure it wasn't something that wanted to step on him.

But at the same time that would require more movement, and while he did seem to make a good try at it, he didn't make it beyond shifting his arms to support himself a few inches up before just slumping again with a new billow of steam. Nope, this was not okay.]

[deadlydoctor]

[Probably not. But knowing him, he most likely tried something equally stupid as running over titanium in the past.

Knock Out sees the organic looking man, at least the was the same size as the average human here, and changed back to robot mode before approaching it.]

Are you dead? [Knock Out: all sense and sensibility.]

[eyestothesky]

[Oh. Oh there was talking now. talking meant that he needed to focus.

After a moment he actually managed to move a bit more, mostly just managing to push himself onto his back, grimacing as the world swam before his optics from that little movement.]

Doubt it. Everything's swingin' around too much for that.

[deadlydoctor]

[There could be pocking if you don't answer and he has really pointy claw-like fingers. Talking is a better option.]

Oh, good then. Corpses end smelling. You are new here, that much is obvious. I never saw you before..[You really look odd for a human.] Not feeling so hot, hm? Are you overcharged?

[eyestothesky]

Don't remember touchin' any live wires... [Mumbled more than anything, the smaller bot trying a bit harder to focus and after a long moment managing to push himself to be sitting, rather than laying on the ground, steam hissing from along the vertebrae visible along his back.]


Don't remember hittin' the floor either though... [A slight grimace, hand lifting to rub at the side of his neck.] Gonna be a pain to smooth out any scuffing.

[What were they talking about again?]

[deadlydoctor]

I didn't mean overcharged in the literal sense. [Yeah, humans don't steam. He's familiar enough with their anatomy to know that.

Knock Out shakes his head and moves to pick him up from the ground.He will do it really carefully if the man lets him.]

I'll drag you to the medbay. [If only so people can say he let you out there to die.] How lucky of you that it was a medic who found you.

So, what's your story? You are not human as I first thought. Or are you only partially human, like Albert?

[eyestothesky]

[Whoops, up he goes. But really he's just going to let it happen at the moment. Knockout, the smaller robot is definitely overheating, which explains all the steam.]

Nope, nothing but steam powered robot here. Name's The Spine. [With as slow as he was speaking, it was plain that focusing was a bit difficult for him right now.]

[deadlydoctor]

[He does notice the overheading and knows way too well that is not a good sign. The Spines's far more ligth heavy than Knock Out expected him to be.]

Mine's Knock Out. I can't say I've meet many steampuck robots like you before. Did you wake up here all of sudden or you was trying to get away from the acolytes in the temple? [He's seen newbies try to do really stupid things when they arrive and get scared, like head straight to the Badlands.]

Can you be sumerged under water or that will fry your circuits? Trion's Lake is closer than Solus's temple and perhaps it will be good if we lower your temperature before we try to reach the medbay.

[eyestothesky]

[He shook his head at that, grimacing slightly. Overheating? Well it certainly explained why he was feeling so out of it.]

No, been here a couple days. Was... was headed back to the Hub from the Junkpile.

Subme- no. So long as there's no... no smoke comin' out with the steam I'll be okay to the medbay. Can get some ice there, that might help cool me down...

[Overheating is bad yes, but submerging is bad too, no swim for The Spine please.]

[deadlydoctor]

I see. You have a glyph and that means you are one of the welcomed visitors. [You don't want to know what happens to those who arrived without a mark.]

We would get there faster if I changed into my alt mode, I'm sure you can fit inside. You seems to have caught the same as Sora.

[eyestothesky]

[Really he doesn't want to know. He's quite happy to be ignorant of that little fact.

In response to the suggestion, he just nods. Though really it's questionable how much of that he'd caught, optics already starting to dim again.]