Ratchet

Player Information
*Name/Alias: Alex
*Your Journal: ravynstoneabbey
*Age: over 16
*Contact Information: ravynstone.abbey@gmail.com [Email], ravynabbey @ AIM, pandemos @ Plurk
*Characters already in the game: N/A

Character Information
*Character Name: Ratchet
*Character Canon: Transformers: Bayverse (Live Action Movies)
*Age: 13-15,000 years old
*Race: Cybertronian
*Timeline/Pull Point: Prior to RoTF, during the events of Alliance and The Veiled Threat.

*History: Ratchet @ Wikipedia | Ratchet @ Teletraan 1 Wikia | Ratchet @ TFWiki

*Personality: Once upon a time, millennia past, there was a scientist who was a normal shade of yellow. Then one day, robojesus showed him a new way and he became a neon medic with a buzz-saw and hips that couldn't lie.

All kidding aside, Ratchet is an intriguing mix of both science and military, something he's picked up in his years following Prime. Adaptability has been his hallmark, followed closely by his love of life. He chose to become a soldier in order to save more lives, despite being a medic, an occupation traditionally peace loving.

That dichotomy, being a soldier, yet also a medic, lies at the core of Ratchet. How he balances the two sides is shown by his adaptability, blended with his curiosity. Of course the inner geek comes out at times, especially when he's allowed to wander off task, such as when he had to sample the soil in the Witwickys' backyard during the entire chaotic search for the glasses before he tripped over some power lines and got a charge. He enjoys humans, finding them to be intriguing and worthy of protection, though that trust is fragile as he can be cautious when in new situations especially with a sentient species like humanity.

Now on occasion, the medic can be diplomatic, but more often than not, he suffers from foot in vocalizer syndrome, particularly with humans. But oftentimes his bluntness is an asset, especially as one of the leaders, and certainly when he is in medic-mode taking care of particularly stubborn comrades. *coughIRONHIDEcough* Words are his preferred weapons even though he is otherwise a very competent soldier, with impressive weaponry for a doctor, showing his ability to adapt as needed to any situation, making him a key member of the Autobot faction. He enjoys language and how it can be used to for good or ill, and how oftentimes disagreements can be solved with a few choice words. He used that skill both as Chief Liaison to the High Council and as the former Warlord of Thraal. Ratchet changes his word choices to suit the situation, using that to convey his general mood and his thoughts on whom he is addressing.

Ratchet is also one to not hide his opinions, something that Prime values, being one of his oldest friends, and one of the first to follow Prime. This can lead to him allowing his temper to get the best of him, particularly when irritated by petty humans like Galloway, but he is reasonable and will see sense if he is in the wrong. He will forgive much, and rarely carries a grudge for very long, other than the one for Megatron and his part in the destruction of Cybertron.

Most of his temper is bluster and bluff, though, used to hide his emotions in order to preserve his will to continue the fight, even though it seems it will never end. He uses his gruffness and bluster to hold everyone but Prime, Bumblebee, and Ironhide at bay, knowing there is the potential to lose them, and so protect his emotions from being destroyed. Yet he has been known to allow said emotions to override his logic circuits in order to get his job done, such as during the incident in Africa, Ratchet knew he would be a very obvious target to the Decepticon bent on destroying the dam, yet he risked himself in order to save countless lives, as he had come to love Earth in his short stay there and knew he was the best chance for the innocent humans' survival. Yet logic would have dictated a different approach instead of allowing himself to be flung onto the front of a very large concrete dam knowing his color scheme would stand out and that he was risking his life to save others.

He has fought a war for most of his life across galaxies and planets and at times that seems to have been everything he has ever known, yet he always finds the purpose of his war: to protect living beings and to give other sentient beings the freedom to live. That is the Autobot cause he has dedicated his life to, and to Optimus Prime, the leader of that cause.

This loyalty to the cause and to Prime, is the welding that holds the two major aspects of Ratchet: the peace loving medic, and the feared soldier.

*Powers/Abilities:
A Transformer who chose a search and rescue H2 Hummer as his alt-mode, Ratchet is equipped with twin-bladed rotary cutters on his left arm that are capable of cutting through any metal, along with a machine gun in his right hand, which are impressive weaponry for a field medic turned soldier. He also sports a small array of shoulder mounted missiles. Photoelectric cells on his surface allow him to blend in to his environment, which in turn enables him to escape most injuries when he retrieves a fallen comrade. Ratchet does boast an array of tools useful for his chosen profession, one being the red laser he used to attempt to repair Bumblebee's vocal processor, along with enhanced vision and olfactory processing. He is built for durability, not speed, and boasts durable armor that ensures he gets to where he is going in one piece, though not necessarily in a speedy manner. Carrying redundant systems and plenty of spare parts, he is ready for almost any repairs and can cannibalize himself if necessary. He is also capable of 'eating' metals and other materials to help him self repair and keep up his ammunition and energy reserves, and can make extra for storage and potential weapon use. Ratchet has the ability to control the external temperature of his armor plating, enabling him to heat to a white hot temperature, allowing him to do large scale repairs like melt concrete or cause damage in close combat.

*Inventory: Bi-directional cutters in his left arm, a machine gun in the other, missile launchers in his shoulders as well as his medical tools, and a few small things from his studies on Earth and of course his redundant systems that are on-board his frame.

*Starting Polarity: Nexus Prime

If AU, how does your character differ from canon?: N/A

Writing Samples
*First Person Sample:
[Voice]
[a small encrypted ping, set to Autobot frequencies is sent just as a voice, familiar to some perhaps, comes over the Link, with tones of curiosity and a dry humor]

I rather thought foldspace technology was lost after the Allspark left Cybertron. Would anyone else also be stranded on this planet, or am I talking to dead air? Curious, though, about the network's existence.



*Third Person Sample: One minute he was in Diego Garcia, recovering from his wounds from the dam incident, the next, he was on his back, optics cycling on. Not quite the base, and of course his systems were flashing warnings from the sudden dislocation. Ratchet huffed, resetting his monitoring systems, as he slowly moved to sit up, weapons systems coming online, but not yet in full defense mode. He looked around, surveying the rocky ground before him, then he slowly rolled up to his knees, careful of his still healing injuries, before standing. No sign of any of his Autobots or the members of NEST. This wasn't even Diego Garcia, but a rocky desert somewhere. Hopefully Earth, but the lack of any sort of sign of life was disappointing.

Rock and empty space greeted Ratchet. He doublechecked his systems before something caught his optic. An idea suddenly popped into his processor, and Ratchet paused, pondering the idea.

Speaking of rock, perhaps I should take a sample or two, just to determine if this place has anything intriguing about it., Ratchet thought, before bending down to take a sample. There was nothing around but him and rocks, and it would possibly be helpful if this sample could tell him if he was somewhere where he had been before.

Straightening up, Ratchet put away his sample, and started to move. He would be harder to hit the more he moved, his aching welds reminding him of that little detail. He was cautious, but not slow, making a good speed, running scans, and sending out encrypted pings through all the known Autobot frequencies, and even a few human ones. Ratchet wasn't one to panic, but this was odd, even odder than winding up on Na'conda in the middle of a civil war. He snorted dryly, recalling his adventures while lost in space. At least this place didn't have a war, yet. Yet was the word, but Ratchet hoped that wouldn't be the case. Optimism springs eternal and all that, but that didn't mean that he would just walk into an ambush without someway of getting out of it. He had to find his Autobots and the humans under their protection. He set a signal beacon, tying it into his own navigation unit to enable any Autobot who came after him to easily locate him, and set off, searching for his comrades and any sign of life, be it organic or Cybertronian.

Final Notes: N/A