no man left behind.

[thehardway]

WHO: Ultra Magnus and Fortress Maximus
WHERE: The Medbay
WHEN Sometime after Magnus drops Ambulon off to see Rung.
WHAT: Time to visit an old comrade; Magnus is off to check in with Maximus.
WARNINGS: PTSD. Massive amounts of it.



There's always plenty going on in his mind. He has plenty to think of, plenty to consider. There's some A.I. called Prism to be dealt with. Shockwave who can make himself look like an Autobot.

Overlord. For obvious reasons.

But for now, he has to find Fortress Maximus. To... If asked, to make sure that a PTSD former warden victim wasn't about to lose himself again, because that's his duty. That's why, out loud.

That's enough.

He transforms, making his way into the medbay. Where the signal from Fortress Maximus's Link came from.

Easy enough to find.

Comments

[warborn]

Fortress Maximus may not be fully repaired - there's a few bits and pieces still out of order enough to make things like walking difficult - but it's enough where he can be moving, now, and it's enough to make him restless and impatient.

These are not good things, right now.

He's kneeling on the floor, by the time Ultra Magnus arrives, one hand on his thigh and the other on the ground, supporting his weight. Facing a wall rather than the door, he's more focused on pushing himself back up from the stumble than paying attention to who's coming or going - this weakness, barely able to support his own (albeit formidable) weight...he has to get over it, as quickly as possible.

[thehardway]

This isn't terribly unfamiliar. At least this time, there's no pipe struck through him. And he looks repaired, from what he can guess. What he won't ask.

Slowly, Ultra Magnus approaches him, then stops not far off. He peers down silently, then offers his hand out to him.

"You didn't mention that you were injured too, Maximus."

Though he understands why he didn't.

[warborn]

Footsteps are easy to notice at least. Fort Max glances up, stilling at the very, very recognizable figure looking down at him, even if his face is unreadable...

...ignoring the hand, Max reaches for the berth next to him.

"Didn't think it was important."

And, gritting his teeth, he hauls himself up. The quick motion may get him to his feet, but he ends up leaning on the surface for support.

[thehardway]

Not surprising. Worth the attempt, though. Ultra Magnus settles the hand back to his own side, watching Fort Max carefully instead.

"The health of the crew is important to report."

It's the typical military response that no doubt anyone would expect him to say. The truth in him is that he's studying Maximus over. The torn pieces not yet replaced. It's vague, but he remembers those kinds of injuries. He remembers what Maximus looked like after G-9. The medical report.

He'll need to take one from this Ratchet, too. For official business.

Bottom line is, Maximus isn't going to talk about Overlord, even if that's what this boils down to.

"When you're recovered, what then, Max?"

[warborn]

He still has his limbs.

That's something.

"I'll be fine."

Max tries to make the lean casual, but he's...out of practice, to say the least. Still. This isn't official business, not by any stretch; while he's giving Ultra Magnus the respect of attention, the fact remains.

At ease.

"I have some...business to take care of. Personal," he adds after a moment.

[thehardway]

"I'm sure you'll be excused from the medbay in no time."

But no, Maximus won't be fine. Not entirely.

"I know he's here, Max." Ultra Magnus's optics narrow. "That's not something you could have hid from me for very long."

Because he figures that Maximus would have.

"So what is it after this?"

[warborn]

That most certainly gets a reaction, as much as Maximus tries to hide it. It's the curl of his hands in to fists, the stiffening of his joints; the way his gaze slides from Ultra Magnus to the wall behind him as his jaw tightens.

And in the way it takes him a moment to respond. He can guess who Magnus is referring to; the commander was never stupid.

"...I wasn't. Hiding it."

It just isn't the easiest subject to bring up. And someone else did, so what's the harm?

As for what's after this...he already answered that, didn't he. No need to repeat himself. He stays silent.

[thehardway]

"Max."

For a brief flicker, the professionalism drops and it reflects in his tone. Because this has never been easy to address and remain businesslike, then or now.

It's only brief, though.

There's nothing satisfactory in the reaction, nor will he extend the accusation. Honestly, he doubts it's something that would ever be mentioned. For pride's sake, some could say; deeper, he knows it's not something Maximus can easily mention.

Because Magnus is concluding that he's here for similar enough reasons.

Professionalism rises up again, because he rarely ever isn't.

"If you can't tell me precisely where you'll be, then I will continue to enact my position as second-in-command, although it seems several don't seem to to recall that a lack of ship doesn't remove rank. I require three things of you, Fortress Maximus. I require you to continue to see Rung when I have been confirmed he is of good health, to locate yourself closer to Prima's temple..."

He pauses. "And I am aware that demanding you to be unarmed here is unreasonable." Considering all that are present. "But I do require a certain extent of supervision."

[warborn]

He wasn't. There's a flash of sulking defiance in Fort Max's optics, with him more than ready to defend himself if necessary. If the tone was meant to be anything but accusatory...well, it certainly wasn't taken that way.

The faint emotion lingers as Ultra Magnus states his terms. Rung's already all but offered to continue the sessions; it goes without saying that he's reluctant to, for more than one reason. Moving towards Prima's quadrant...hell, he already knew he couldn't go back to the room at Megatronus' temple. Perhaps to gather some things, but...

...it's the last that has him scowling. "You really think an escort is going to help anything?"

[thehardway]

There's a lot he could say and all it would do is personalize his perspective, which he can't do. He can't make it a personal decision, just the right one.

That's how it goes.

"Typically, if we were on the ship still, I would require an escort of you at this point. I understand that is not entirely... reasonable here. Regardless, you may have supervision or you will give me a report every twenty-four hours, Maximus," Magnus informs him sternly. "That will progress until I am confident that you've recovered."

Physically or mentally, that's left open to decide.

[warborn]

"Hn."

Escort would be the minimum he'd have expected on the ship. He'd be surprised if he was allowed out of the brig, after the whole...incident. Fortress Maximus is still mulling over it, trying to sort out his own spark on it, but that's there and this is here.

So he bites back a comment on that - Ultra Magnus is still his superior, ship or not - and instead tightly asks, "What sort of report?"

[thehardway]

"A summary. I require details, such as what you had done for that time period, as well as a summary of your health. There is no need to report any visitations from Rung."

No, he'll get that from the psychiatrist himself.

Ultra Magnus folds his arms. "This is temporary."

Because that's a comforting statement, right? Right.

0900 hours; clanged your motherboard

[warborn]

...it sounds doable. Knowing Magnus, he'll want details, but this sounds...reasonable, once Max puts his initial defensiveness just a bit back and thinks on what the alternatives are.

Not just an escort, or otherwise having 'supervision'.

It takes a while for him to mull all this over, but finally, there's a nod of agreement. "All right."

YOU'RE JUST BEGGING TO BE ARRESTED. B(

[thehardway]

When Maximus agrees, there's a strange notion of feeling relieved. Although it's not shown very visibly, Ultra Magnus is glad that it's being consented to.

Good.

"Thank you," is spoken, a fraction more quietly than everything else. A subtle inclination of true gratitude.

But it's brief. Back to business, or so he can convince himself that it is.

"I will speak to Ratchet about your release. When it is determined, will you require assistance?"

Maximus will probably say no, but at least Magnus is asking instead of demanding.

how much subtle snark is in the reports says more about his health than the actual health report

[warborn]

It isn't as though he's going to say 'you're welcome'...but he does cycle his vents in a sigh, shaking his head a bit. Not necessarily in commentary to anything that's been said, but...

"No damage to my transformation cog. I'll be fine."

He can certainly drive, at any rate. At this point he's just waiting for the knees to finish readjusting.

i demand this to happen.

[thehardway]

No, he doesn't expect anything in return. That's true of anything Ultra Magnus says or does.

No expectations. Hard to have any.

"Noted. I won't be leaving the medbay just yet; I still need to find Ratchet. So I'll be here."

It's not exactly an offer, but an indication.

"Before I go to find him, do you require anything?"

one time he's too out of it to make the report so he hands it to someone like vandal to make up.

[warborn]

"Haven't seen him." Sorry he couldn't be more help in getting you out of here.

If he seems a little impatient, there's reason for it; as much as he'd *like* to get back to making his chassis, function properly, Ultra Magnus already saw one result of that. He's sure as slag not going to continue his stumbling with an audience; while Magnus is hardly the kind to comment on his weakness - as shown - Max does have his pride.

It's the same thing that has him brush off the offer of further help.

"Nothing I can think of."

don't do that vandal is the least trustworthy her name implies breaking the LAW.

[thehardway]

"I'll deal with that."

So sorry you can't be rid of him any faster, but Magnus is being as thorough as he can here.

He watches Maximus carefully, like there's an internal debate. Briefly, he considers asking Elita One to keep an eye on Fort Max anyway, but that would only end in disaster and he is not one to tarnish trust like that. It's underhanded and he immediately regrets the thought. But Max's recovery in all aspects is a priority for him.

It'd be simpler, on the ship. Still, Ultra Magnus can't think of these things in what-ifs. Only in what is, what is not.

They are not on a ship. They are marooned on a Cybertron, new and growing. Overlord is not sealed away, locked up, only as a spark somewhere. He is in his own body, and he is present.

Ultra Magnus will make do.

"Radio me if you think of something."

Magnus withdraws and heads further into the medbay to find Ratchet.