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Description
Shell Shock

Writers: Denny and Leila
Rating: PG-RG
Warnings: Ratchet/Azimuth. Violence.
Disclaimer: We value our lives too much to even dare think about claiming Ratchet and Alister as our own. We borrow them for an RP, so don't worry. [Put the Wargroks back into your cage!]
Summary: Everyone's nightmare is to wake up in a cold, dark place without a clue where one is. Sadly, that's what's happened to us. What's even better, we have monsters and weird encounters to endure as well. And then there's them…
Lucky, right? If I ever get out of here, I will need some therapy sessions.

Chapter 17

--

Only one meter away, suddenly a blur raced 'over' Bar and vanished with him. The orbs hit the cupboard one after another, breaking and tearing the metal under the explosion; the heat deformed them so much that the shapes curled in grotesque forms.

"RATCHET!" Nefarious screamed, fists shivering and optic twitching. "DON'T GET INTO MY WAY!" Raising one hand, he formed another energy ball and aimed at the frightened robot.

For a rare time in his life when faced with a surprising situation, Bar did the sensible thing - in this moment, holding perfectly still with his arms around Ratchet's neck as the Lombax was leaning forward on his hover boots. Face set in a mixture of concentration and discomfort, as carrying Bar bridal-style already strained on his shoulder and back muscles, he raced through the room.

"DREADFUL SQUISHIE!" Nefarious yelled, plasma beams crashing on the ground behind Ratchet and Bar. They nearly reached the two, destroying half of the furniture in their way until it got really dangerously close; and the worst was: There was a bulky cupboard right ahead--

Before it happened, though, something blue blocked the beams. Azimuth was spinning his wrench and created a force field before them. Grinding his teeth as he protected them, the general was slowly pushed back by the beams. "Stay behind me, Ratchet!", he growled, "I can't... create a bigger shield!"

After quickly setting Bar down, Ratchet stood behind Alister's back, pushing against Alister's shoulder as the elder was being shoved back. Every beam's hit rocked through their shoulders in a hot spear. The beams hissing and spitting at the resistance with the explosions rung so hard in Ratchet's sensitive ears he feared to go insane.

"Mrrngh..." Azimuth stiffened up, trying to keep the force field up - but it grew more and more difficult to do so.

"YOU DISGUSTING SQUISHIES!" The doctor's attacks grew more and more ferocious. "GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

"STOP IT!!" Ratchet didn't even know if his yell was audible over the cacophony, should the mad robot even care, but he had GODDAMN enough of this. "STOP IT, YOU FREAKING BIN OF NUTS!"

"Why should I?!" Nefarious replied, intensifying his attacks even more. "I see NO reason for this!"

"Then what would you make stop? We're not backing down, so you can just stuff it!"

"What would STOP ME?" The doctor shouted back. "If you get rid of my guards, I'll spare his life!" Again he raised his arms, this time preparing a bigger attack. Azimuth panted, his arms giving in to the exhaustion. One eye closed, he watched the scientist preparing to strike again. "BUT THAT WON'T HAPPEN AS YOU'VE MADE CLEAR!"

"And what if we changed our minds?" Ratchet yelled.

Immediately the energy sphere disappeared. Nefarious lowered his hands and blinked at them. "You did?"

Alister's eyes went wide, the rest of his face going lax. "We did?" He asked over his shoulder at Ratchet who sheepishly raised his hands.

"Well, um, Nefarious said he would stop if we helped him deal with the guards and I thought trying has never hurt and well, um, he stopped, right?"

"True, but... but..." Azimuth seemed to be too out of breath to actually compose a coherent answer. Lawrence turned to Nefarious, a slightly reproachful gaze in his optics.

"Now, now sir. You've already tired out our new staff. One of them at least won't be functional until tomorrow."

Nefarious seemed too stunned by the chains of events of the last minute to question the situation.

These were two of his direst nemesis and now he had gotten them to work for him that easily, with destruction only centered in this room? "Of course." Was that a stutter? The great Nefarious didn't stutter! "Assign them a room, and get this moron of a worker out of my sight!"

"Wait, wait, wait." Azimuth had caught his breath again. "Before we do anything, there should be some clear conditions made first."

"Pfeh, who cares for these pesky details?" Nefarious waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah yeah, I'm always the bad guy always wanting to obliterate you, blah blah blah."

"Don't you mean annihilate, sir?"

"Obliterate, annihilate, assassinate, compensate, it's all the same!" Nefarious replied, crossing his arms as he landed on the ground again, Tipping impatiently on his arm, he glared at the two Lombaxes. "Alright. But only because I am so nice I'll let you impose your conditions! Better make it quick or I'll change my mind. LAWRENCE!"

A faintly pained groan left the butler as he rubbed his audio processor. "No need to shout, sir. What can I do?"

"Record all the conditions they name and write the contract accordingly." Nefarious raised his head a little while still looking at the organics. "I don't want to have a hassle afterwards. And you," he pointed at the Lombaxes, "will oblige to my conditions as well."

"As good as done, sir." Lawrence opened a panel on his forearm, pushing on a button. With a 'click' a compartment hidden in the ceiling opened to release a flying camera drone, floating down in an anti-gravity-field.

Azimuth turned to Ratchet briefly. "Should there be anything you want to add, just do it." Then he faced the doctor again. "All right. Our conditions. Firstly: Bar can leave the facility without being obliterated."

"Mmph." Nefarious pushed his jaw forward before he nodded once. "Fine by me. Just escort him to the next safe exit after we're done."

"Next condition." Azimuth looked at the doctor. "After we took care of your guards, we will be allowed to leave safely as well."

"I told you the first time I would let you leave after dealing with them so NEXT condition!" Nefarious leant over to Lawrence, arms crossed while he whispered. "This is so boring."

The butler simply shrugged. "Business deals are hardly ever meant to entertain, sir."

"I heard that." Azimuth rolled his eyes. "All right. Next condition: There is no way we can even harm the Shapeshifters until we have appropriate equipment. So until you supply us with the necessary devices and weapons, we won't operate."

Ratchet had to suppress a chuckle as Alister pushed a hand over his face when Lawrence now leant over to Nefarious, not even trying to utter a fake-whisper. "At least now it gets to the juicy parts."

"Finally indeed! I was already getting bored at this nonsensical working conditions-chit-chat," Nefarious replied with the same indifference in audibility. "Anything else?"

"Update and extend your security shield against the guards." Ratchet pointed with his thumb into the direction roughly where they had first been ambushed again in this sector by the creatures. "They tried to get to us as we wanted to use an exit. And they slipped through the door frame when we entered a room."

"WHAT? Lies!" Nefarious screamed. "They could never breach my security field! They can't. It would destroy them."

"Apparently the door frame wasn't protected and connected through a hollow or maybe only the electricity to an unprotected area. We could show you in a room as an example."

"IMPOSSIBLE!" The doctor replied. "There is NO way that--"

"Oh my, now this is embarrassing." Lawrence hit his own cheek slightly as he looked at a report. "As it seems the Lombax is correct. There have been a few weak spots as of late." When the butler noticed the death glare in Nefarious' optics, he raised his hand in a halting way. "I was about to hand you the newest data right before we were... ahem... interrupted."

"Tsk, why were you so reluctant to hand it me instantly, anyway? You just wanted to annoy me a little, didn't you, you little tease?" A dark, but surprisingly playful smirk appeared on the taller robot's face. Ratchet had never seen that expression before, neither heard that voice in that tone speaking before and, frankly, it freaked him a bit out. Or it would have if it hadn't clicked in his mind in this moment that he had assumed a 'dirty' situation when there hadn't been one.

"Perhaps we can continue our little play after we have finished handling with our new staff, hm...?" Lawrence returned the smirk, even if there was no dark, but the ever-so apparent playfully condescending note accompanying it. Then he turned to the Lombaxes, pulling up the document again. "Now, do you have any conditions left?"

Oh by Orvus, how did I deserve this all? Azimuth frowned, fingers massaging his head.

"So, weapons, devices, armor that helps against the guards." Hopefully the two of them would stop their 'play' at least as long until Alister, Bar and he were out...

"Oh! I have one more condition." Azimuth paused for a moment before he turned to the doctor and his butler. "This one's important, and imperative for me before I agree working with you at all."

"Oh really?" Lawrence widened one optic. "I don't believe that you are in the position to pose such a demand, seeing how this whole contract is based on getting your friend out of here safely."

"It is similar to this condition."

"Fine," Nefarious answered instead of Lawrence, crossing his arms impatiently. "Just spill it out before I turn into rusty metal."

"All right. So the condition is the following..." He stopped for a brief moment to look at Ratchet before he turned to the robots again. "Should either of us two die while the contract still stands, guarantee an immediate and safe escort out of the facility for the other."

"That is preposterous! Just why should I let the other go if the other falls out of commission?! You are both responsible for the mess with the guards until it is resolved, or you are BOTH dead!"

"Alister..." Ratchet whispered. Alister's face was unreadable but the tone of determination was unmistakable.

He meant that the only one he would accept to die of the two of them was himself.

The elder's ears twitched when Ratchet whispered his name. He turned his head slightly. "I'll talk to you about this later." A faint smile. "So much we have to discuss, huh?" Then he turned back to the robots. "I have one simple reason: Precaution. If we can't handle the Shapeshifters together, it means nobody can. Fighting them alone would be a synonym for suicide - and you know it. After all, there is no other reason why you would ask us to do this, isn't there? It's only because you can't handle them on your own anymore."

"Unfortunately, the elder is right." Plucking a non-existent thread from his wrist, Lawrence 'sniffed' with an annoyed vent. "Even before they went unruly, they continued to terrorize our staff despite the control collars, stars beware the mess they always made when they take an interest too keen in one of their victims." The shudder that went through the butler was unusually genuine. That wasn't a good sign when the guards disturbed even that jaded robot.

"PFAH! As if. You know very well that I am working on--" The doctor stopped as he remembered who was still in this room. Quickly he turned away, sneering contemptuously. "Fine. FINE. Grant them this condition. But this is the last one I accept."

"All right then. There's nothing I have to add anyway." Azimuth nodded in confirmation.

"Finally!" Nefarious was about to let out a triumphant cry when the butler interrupted him.

"Excuse me sir, but we still lack the conditions on our side."

"Oh come ON Lawrence, do we really have to?"

"Yes sir."

A discontented growl escaped the doctor as he crossed his arms again. "Fine. FINE. IN A NUTSHELL! Number ONE!" He raised his index finger notably. "You are employed until you have vanquished all Shapeshifters or die from doing so."

"Oh, that came now unexpected." Ratchet rolled his eyes.

"I DIDN'T HEAR THAT!" Nefarious sneered. "On to condition two: We are not coming up for your funeral expenses."

"... Okay." Ratchet blinking was apparently not the reaction Nefarious had hoped for. The elder didn't act satisfyingly either - but eh. The less fuss about the contract by these idiots, the better. "And the last condition I have," he continued, "is COMPLETE OBEDIENCE!"

Silence.

"I highly doubt that they will comply with this condition, sir, no offense."

"... Fine. Semi-formality is enough I guess." The doctor sneered and looked at them. "That would be all from my side."

Getting an idea, Ratchet now leant over to Alister, mock-whispering. "Lawrence was right about that one," and Alister snorted in a suppressed guffaw.

An irritated and barely controlled twitch around Nefarious' optic revealed the difficulty he had to remain calm by now. His voice was oddly strained as he barely opened his mouth to process the words. "Well… Since the formalities are done… let's just quickly sign this contract and get this over with!" Grabbing the document from the butler, he scratched on the surface, leaving a distinct signature behind. Then he handed the contract over to the Lombaxes, foot tapping on the ground impatiently and head slightly turned to Lawrence. "It is unbelievable that I am forming a contract with those squishies! Remind me to never ever do that again."

The dear doctor's ticks were well known by Ratchet by now, including pretty exact knowledge how close he was to ticking out. So he deemed it the better tactic to acquiesce - for now. No point in riling up the doctor to the point - though that was often half of the fun - where he would go off like a firecracker anyway. As if reading his mind, Alister offered his back and Ratchet laid the contract down. Looking around, a stylus was suddenly held against his face by no other than Lawrence. "Thanks." He took the stylus warily. "I guess."

"I see no reason to make this take any longer." Was the butler's reply.

"Are you done YET?", was the impatient question from the doctor. He certainly seemed at the end of his patience, just as much as Bar was at the end of his sanity. This was too much for the sensitive robot - so much action, turbulences and complications hurt his circuits quite badly, after all. He was quaking and rattling, and occasionally whimpering around the palm over his mouth, still too frightened of Nefarious than to let his other responses anger the scientist even more.

Not that the scientist still cared for the robot. It almost seemed like he had forgotten about him above the triumphant turn of events. His arch nemesis - working! For him! Which super villain did not dream of that? The satisfaction was on his face, and as Azimuth had signed his part as well, his contentment reached new limits. "All right, my newly acquired minions," he said with an almost melodious voice, "on to work!"

"I think we have agreed on letting them rest for the day, sir." Lawrence folded his hands nonchalantly. "Or they would die on the first day, seeing how exhausted they are. Furthermore, they have to escort their lovely friend out of this facility first as well, no?"

Bar didn't even flinch as Nefarious whipped around, just going still under the 'hate beam' as he titled it now. With an annoyed huff, Nefarious threw a dismissive hand into his direction as if the motion could swat Bar away. "Then hurry or I'm going to lose the little bit of patience I have left, anyway."

On cue, the terror let go of Bar momentarily enough that he jumped up at the words, into a rush into ducking behind Alister. Or maybe it yet reached yet a new level that bypassed his fear-induced lock in favor to move.

In any way - after diving behind the Lombax, the silver helmet slowly began rising from behind the shoulders while gloved hands snuck to grip the broad borders that stood between him and a maniac that threw with plasma orbs, and had the circuit integrity of a malfunctioning toaster.

"... In case you are hoping for me giving you a piggyback ride, I have to disappoint you." Azimuth smiled faintly before he turned to Ratchet. "Let's go."

"A moment please, I shall accompany you." Lawrence stepped beside them. "I have to show you your room and the appropriate exit, after all."

A quick flick of the butler's wrist, combined with a voice command, and the door opened smoothly as if gliding over the ground. Leaving proved to be less easy, as Bar refused to turn his back to the doctor, less to be in an open line to him. It was a silly sight - Bar shuffling backwards to the door in front of Alister, his head flicking nervously from side to side to keep Nefarious in view.

"You know, if you are going on like that I might have to kick you ahead." Azimuth shoved him gently forward until they were out of the room Lawrence watched him with delight, entertained by the display.

"Are you sure you want to leave us already, um... Bar? You seem like a pleasant addition to this facility." Pleasant indeed - for personal enlightenment.

At that the former employed robot charged forward, grabbing Lawrence at his collar and shaking him with every word he screamed at him. "ARE YOU NUTS AND I DON'T MEAN THE KIND WITH NUTS AND BOLTS I DON'T WANT TO BE MELTED IN METAL GOO!"

"… Thank you, I have understood this. Now please let go and follow me." Lawrence freed himself with surprising ease from Bar's grip and turned away, walking into a corridor and expecting the other three to follow.

The worker kept standing on his spot, arms still raised in the position Lawrence had pushed them into. His head fell forward in harmony to a joint, probably the neck, giving a strangely emotional -meaning pitiful- whine.

Feeling empathic with the robot Ratchet patted him on the shoulder. "Don't take it to your motherboard. Lawrence is like this to everyone."

Bar turned to Ratchet, sighing and letting his shoulders hang down. "I guess… though he could be nicer…"

"I could be nicer," was answered from ahead, "but that would result in leading you to an exit crawling with Shapeshifters. Of course this was a joke. Don't take it seriously."

Silence.

"If I want to punch someone affiliated with Nefarious, then this guy really has to be grating."

"Oh please, learn to take a joke. How do you think could I ever take this joke of a job otherwise?" Lawrence replied as the other three followed him. "And besides, I highly doubt that you could ever hit me, no offense."

"Because I would trip before I would even reach you. And you cheat with that teleporter thingie you have." What the robot could not convey through his helmet was made clear with the obvious grumpy tone in his voice.

"Either way," Azimuth put his wrench away and walked ahead to Lawrence. "Perhaps we should stop the idle bickering and actually get Bar into safety before Nefarious changes his mind."

"Of course, of course, the doctor has had enough disturbances by the guards already - though I admit 'Bar's' presence here has significantly eased the atmosphere." Lawrence chuckled slightly, shaking his head. "Too bad he wants to leave so badly. Speaking of which, we are here." Stressing his words he stopped next to an un-assuming door on the left on the corridor. It almost vanished in the wall, so thin and faint were the seams' outlines.

The elder blinked in surprise as he had almost passed the exit. "... Whoa. That came... unexpected."

"Of course." The butler brushed off his fingers. "The good doctor might control most of the interior design, but luckily I take care of the... finer details. Starting with the structure and furniture."

"... Doesn't that equal almost everything?"

"Why, yes. But the doctor doesn't like to hear this version."

Why does that sound like a married couple? No no Ratchet, be a sensible Lombax, don't go there.

Lawrence swiped a palm over the door. The seams lit up in an eerie, blue glow before it set back a little and slide into the wall.

Bar perked into the corridor. What little light was shed from the certainly safe sector to the presumably secure exit revealed only that it led into darkness, and that certainly wasn't the kind of reassurance he was hoping for. Cowering behind Ratchet, he ducked away from the opening. "I... Is that really the exit I have to go through...?"

The young Lombax also had his doubts. Of course he and Alister could walk the robot out but that Nefarious would see, with no doubt as breaking the condition not to leave the facility until they had resolved the standing issues with the guards. "Where does it lead to? And there are REALLY no guards?" He asked the butler instead.

"It leads to the surface, to the outskirt of the... ahem... 'civilized' sector of Pliadon." Lawrence folded his hands. "Also, it should be completely safe. The last time I checked - and this was only a few days ago - guards wouldn't dream of trying to get into this exit."

The other robot did not seem convinced. "I'm not going until I have definite proof that this corridor is safe!"

"Oh, I could read all the technical data to you, if that pleases you, but I fear that this would either bore death out of our dear organic fellows or lead to an overdrive of your OS." Lawrence eyed him indifferently. "Since I doubt that either possibility seems pleasant, we have now arrived in quite the troublesome situation."

"Would the data be similar to what the computers spit out about the technical details of the energy outlet?"

"As far as I know, the subject matter isn't the same - but it is comparable in length and complexity." Lawrence sniffed.

"... Then thanks, but no thanks. I'll pass."

"Then I am afraid that you will have to go in without proof."

"WHAT? No! No way I'm going in!" Bar pressed himself against Ratchet's back and shivered.

"But that would lead to a conflict of interest, wouldn't you agree?"

"But... But... I don't want to go in there!" Bar whined, fingers clawing into the Lombax's shoulders. "Not without proof!"

"Ouch! Bar, please cut that out, or you'll cut something out of me."

"Oh, sorry Ratchet!" Wonderful, he kept upsetting the Lombax. He relaxed his fingers and sheepishly ducked his head at Ratchet's side, tilting his face up to the Lombax in what he hoped to be an apologetic but also 'please don't be angry' gesture. He couldn't use the 'puppy robot look' after all, with his face hidden under the helmet. This only got a shake of a head and Ratchet rolling his eyes, nevertheless he patted the helmet. He looked to the side, a bit exasperated but not angry.

An irritated sigh escaped the butler. "And what would satisfy your need for proof?"

"Well, for starters..." Bar budged around nervously. "Well, if Ratchet or Azimuth went in for a sec and didn't get harmed..."

"… What?" The elder stared at the robot. "You didn't just say that, did you?" Azimuth had a hard time keeping his mouth shut, that big was the surprise, perhaps even shock that those words incited. "Are you seriously saying that we have to play guinea pig just so that you leave?"

"Bar..." It was with a quick twist that the younger slipped away from the robot then glowered at him. "Did you really mean that seriously now?"

"W-what?" The robot backed away from Ratchet, his frame shrinking further and further as he stepped towards the wall. "D... Did I say something wrong? I..."

"Yes. Yes you did." Azimuth hadn't intended his voice to be that sharp, but too late. "Quite the wrong thing. How could you request something like this from us?"

On the other hand, Ratchet didn't care to hide the icy tone his voice had taken. "You know what the guards did to us. As you so exactly put it, they 'examined' us, had us completely immobilized because they intended to devour us. You are terrified since they assaulted you, so how do you think we feel about them? And yet."

"I... I didn't mean to, I really..."

One, two, five steps and Ratchet was pushing his face against the helmet's visor. "A few seconds ago you suggested that we risk our lives again, despite or even with the high risk that the guards will attack us." His voice lowered. "You saw it happen with your own eyes. They are still on the hunt for us because they want our molecular structure."

"I-I didn't watch what I said, but... I didn't... I didn't want to..."

With that Ratchet slightly drew back, a disappointed, hurt look falling onto his face. As suddenly as he had invaded Bar's space, he stepped and turned his back to him. Only then he finished his sentence. His shoulders and head sagged, his ears dropped. "And this is something you stated - something you knew, too."

When the Lombax stepped back, faintly glowing eyes followed him, but did not dare to look at his face directly. Bar's fingers twitched; and when they didn't, his body did.

He had really screwed it up this time. And this time he could not escape that fact.

Knowing that, he tried to lift his head and prepared his processors to apologize - but when he did, he realized that Ratchet had already turned away. A low whimper escaped him as he looked down once more. "I-I am sorry...", the robot murmured, his figure shivering not out of fear, but because of realization. "I... My mind... I--"

A discontented growl broke him off. Bar shrieked when Azimuth made his displeasure actually evident. The elder did not address him, though - instead he turned to the butler and his back on the other mechanic being. "Whatever, since he is oh so ready to put us on the line for himself, I'd more than gladly put him out of our sight as fast as possible." A pause. Alister looked at the corridor. "... So you say this path is absolutely safe?"

"Yes it is. And even if there was suddenly a guard to jump out, it would not be able to get to you." A surprised gaze met his. "I have the means to save you, should there have been a breach. It's a very sensitive device, however, and can't be used very often because of this. Perhaps on two or three Shapeshifters, but well."

"So in short, I'm safe no matter what?"

"Quite so, yes."

"All right then." Azimuth turned to the door, but had his head halfway directed towards Bar. "After that, you better get out of our sight as fast as you can. I don't need another hypocritical person in my life. One was enough."

Ratchet kept his back to the conversation, eyes closing, head inclining in silent agreement.

"Well... Here goes nothing." Azimuth switched on his armor to full protection and pulled out his wrench only to be safe. "A trial by fire it is." Taking a deep breath, he cautiously took the first step inside the corridor, then another. He proceeded further and further until he stood completely within the path. For several moments he stood there, ears twitching nervously and tail whipping back and forth.

Just what in Orvus' name had he been thinking? Bar tried to quiet down his shaking which came, even to his own surprise, not alone from the fear of a chance of the guards coming. He was fucking terrified for the elder Lombax - and guilty, the feeling rolling in disgusting waves through his fuel lines.

"... Nothing happening." Azimuth turned back to the other three. "Now, are you adequately satisfied, Bar, or would you like me to perform a little Shapeshifter-summoning dance just so that you can be absolutely sure that there are no guards waiting for your delicate head?"

Taken aback, Bar opened his mouth to say something, anything, as Lawrence picked him by the elbow and half-pulled, half-dragged him into the corridor. "I believe he has." The usual bored tone bore now a light shiver of impatience. Apparently even the butler had enough of the worker.

"Splendid." Azimuth stepped out of the corridor and aside. When Bar stepped outside, the robot looked at the Lombaxes helplessly.

"I... I didn't... mean to be so..." Bar was at a loss of words. "I... I'm just so sorry, I... I said something wrong and... I really, I really didn't mean to offend you..."

"The problem is you didn't offend us." Ratchet had his arms crossed as peered over his shoulder. "You were willing to endanger us because of your own fears - not to speak of forcing Alister and me to remember what they did to us."

"I... I'm sorry..." Bar looked down, fingers curling into the fabric of his coat. By now he was already standing inside the corridor; nothing happened. "I really... am."

The elder looked at the robot as he stood there. For several moments he remained like this, simply staring at him. An odd gaze appeared in his eyes, distant yet focused. It seemed as if he was remembering something.

"Please. You are slowly getting as obnoxious as Lance and Janice, and this is quite something." Lawrence tapped his fingers against each other. "Don't worry, the road is safe. Why would you be standing here otherwise?"

"B... But--"

"We get it, Bar. You didn't watch your mouth for a moment." Azimuth frowned while staring through the robot. "Don't expect us to say 'it's all right' to you immediately after it. For now, just get out and be safe; perhaps you will have a chance to apologize later on, when we can get out of here as well." With that, he turned into the direction they had come from, only raising one hand to wave good bye. "Take care." He walked ahead.

There wasn't any sound going into distance in the other way. Ratchet's ears moved around in direction of the tunnel; when no sound came several seconds later either, he gave up. Turning around, he concentrated on Bar's chest and feet - which were shuffling - and shoulders - drawn and hunched back - before he conceded and looked to the visor. Nobody said anything. The robot grew incredibly more nervous in the silence, and the stare of the Lombax.

"Yeah. Take care of ya." And with that, he left the sight opening of the tunnel, stepping to the side. He leant against the wall, back of his head gently bumping into it.

"All right then, Bar, we shall leave now." Lawrence graced him with one more gaze before he looked at the control pad in his hand. "Out of safety reasons we have to close the emergency exit as soon as we leave. Please get out of the exit as soon as quickly and leave the facility. You seem not so entertaining, after all."

The formerly employed robot still stood there, head hanging down. The butler sighed. "Don't worry. This path is safe. If these Shapeshifters ever wanted to break through the security field around it, at least two would have to die from the attempt of breaching it. Since that would be far too troublesome for them to get to you, you can go safely."

"… I understand." A slight nod, then he stood straight again. "Thank you."

"All right then. Have a nice day. Ratchet?" Lawrence stepped away; the exit was closing slowly as he did so. "Let's go. I still have some duties to take care of, and would like to proceed as soon as possible."

"… Good bye." Bar waved his hand mechanically and watched the door slide back in before him. For a moment he lingered at the same spot, hoping for either of his friends to reappear and to tell him that they had forgiven him. Then, as the door had closed completely, he turned around.

Giggling.

Description
Shell Shock

Writers: Denny and Leila
Rating: PG-RG
Warnings: Ratchet/Azimuth. Violence.
Disclaimer: We value our lives too much to even dare think about claiming Ratchet and Alister as our own. We borrow them for an RP, so don't worry. [Put the Wargroks back into your cage!]
Summary: Everyone's nightmare is to wake up in a cold, dark place without a clue where one is. Sadly, that's what's happened to us. What's even better, we have monsters and weird encounters to endure as well. And then there's them…
Lucky, right? If I ever get out of here, I will need some therapy sessions.

Chapter 17

--

Only one meter away, suddenly a blur raced 'over' Bar and vanished with him. The orbs hit the cupboard one after another, breaking and tearing the metal under the explosion; the heat deformed them so much that the shapes curled in grotesque forms.

"RATCHET!" Nefarious screamed, fists shivering and optic twitching. "DON'T GET INTO MY WAY!" Raising one hand, he formed another energy ball and aimed at the frightened robot.

For a rare time in his life when faced with a surprising situation, Bar did the sensible thing - in this moment, holding perfectly still with his arms around Ratchet's neck as the Lombax was leaning forward on his hover boots. Face set in a mixture of concentration and discomfort, as carrying Bar bridal-style already strained on his shoulder and back muscles, he raced through the room.

"DREADFUL SQUISHIE!" Nefarious yelled, plasma beams crashing on the ground behind Ratchet and Bar. They nearly reached the two, destroying half of the furniture in their way until it got really dangerously close; and the worst was: There was a bulky cupboard right ahead--

Before it happened, though, something blue blocked the beams. Azimuth was spinning his wrench and created a force field before them. Grinding his teeth as he protected them, the general was slowly pushed back by the beams. "Stay behind me, Ratchet!", he growled, "I can't... create a bigger shield!"

After quickly setting Bar down, Ratchet stood behind Alister's back, pushing against Alister's shoulder as the elder was being shoved back. Every beam's hit rocked through their shoulders in a hot spear. The beams hissing and spitting at the resistance with the explosions rung so hard in Ratchet's sensitive ears he feared to go insane.

"Mrrngh..." Azimuth stiffened up, trying to keep the force field up - but it grew more and more difficult to do so.

"YOU DISGUSTING SQUISHIES!" The doctor's attacks grew more and more ferocious. "GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

"STOP IT!!" Ratchet didn't even know if his yell was audible over the cacophony, should the mad robot even care, but he had GODDAMN enough of this. "STOP IT, YOU FREAKING BIN OF NUTS!"

"Why should I?!" Nefarious replied, intensifying his attacks even more. "I see NO reason for this!"

"Then what would you make stop? We're not backing down, so you can just stuff it!"

"What would STOP ME?" The doctor shouted back. "If you get rid of my guards, I'll spare his life!" Again he raised his arms, this time preparing a bigger attack. Azimuth panted, his arms giving in to the exhaustion. One eye closed, he watched the scientist preparing to strike again. "BUT THAT WON'T HAPPEN AS YOU'VE MADE CLEAR!"

"And what if we changed our minds?" Ratchet yelled.

Immediately the energy sphere disappeared. Nefarious lowered his hands and blinked at them. "You did?"

Alister's eyes went wide, the rest of his face going lax. "We did?" He asked over his shoulder at Ratchet who sheepishly raised his hands.

"Well, um, Nefarious said he would stop if we helped him deal with the guards and I thought trying has never hurt and well, um, he stopped, right?"

"True, but... but..." Azimuth seemed to be too out of breath to actually compose a coherent answer. Lawrence turned to Nefarious, a slightly reproachful gaze in his optics.

"Now, now sir. You've already tired out our new staff. One of them at least won't be functional until tomorrow."

Nefarious seemed too stunned by the chains of events of the last minute to question the situation.

These were two of his direst nemesis and now he had gotten them to work for him that easily, with destruction only centered in this room? "Of course." Was that a stutter? The great Nefarious didn't stutter! "Assign them a room, and get this moron of a worker out of my sight!"

"Wait, wait, wait." Azimuth had caught his breath again. "Before we do anything, there should be some clear conditions made first."

"Pfeh, who cares for these pesky details?" Nefarious waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah yeah, I'm always the bad guy always wanting to obliterate you, blah blah blah."

"Don't you mean annihilate, sir?"

"Obliterate, annihilate, assassinate, compensate, it's all the same!" Nefarious replied, crossing his arms as he landed on the ground again, Tipping impatiently on his arm, he glared at the two Lombaxes. "Alright. But only because I am so nice I'll let you impose your conditions! Better make it quick or I'll change my mind. LAWRENCE!"

A faintly pained groan left the butler as he rubbed his audio processor. "No need to shout, sir. What can I do?"

"Record all the conditions they name and write the contract accordingly." Nefarious raised his head a little while still looking at the organics. "I don't want to have a hassle afterwards. And you," he pointed at the Lombaxes, "will oblige to my conditions as well."

"As good as done, sir." Lawrence opened a panel on his forearm, pushing on a button. With a 'click' a compartment hidden in the ceiling opened to release a flying camera drone, floating down in an anti-gravity-field.

Azimuth turned to Ratchet briefly. "Should there be anything you want to add, just do it." Then he faced the doctor again. "All right. Our conditions. Firstly: Bar can leave the facility without being obliterated."

"Mmph." Nefarious pushed his jaw forward before he nodded once. "Fine by me. Just escort him to the next safe exit after we're done."

"Next condition." Azimuth looked at the doctor. "After we took care of your guards, we will be allowed to leave safely as well."

"I told you the first time I would let you leave after dealing with them so NEXT condition!" Nefarious leant over to Lawrence, arms crossed while he whispered. "This is so boring."

The butler simply shrugged. "Business deals are hardly ever meant to entertain, sir."

"I heard that." Azimuth rolled his eyes. "All right. Next condition: There is no way we can even harm the Shapeshifters until we have appropriate equipment. So until you supply us with the necessary devices and weapons, we won't operate."

Ratchet had to suppress a chuckle as Alister pushed a hand over his face when Lawrence now leant over to Nefarious, not even trying to utter a fake-whisper. "At least now it gets to the juicy parts."

"Finally indeed! I was already getting bored at this nonsensical working conditions-chit-chat," Nefarious replied with the same indifference in audibility. "Anything else?"

"Update and extend your security shield against the guards." Ratchet pointed with his thumb into the direction roughly where they had first been ambushed again in this sector by the creatures. "They tried to get to us as we wanted to use an exit. And they slipped through the door frame when we entered a room."

"WHAT? Lies!" Nefarious screamed. "They could never breach my security field! They can't. It would destroy them."

"Apparently the door frame wasn't protected and connected through a hollow or maybe only the electricity to an unprotected area. We could show you in a room as an example."

"IMPOSSIBLE!" The doctor replied. "There is NO way that--"

"Oh my, now this is embarrassing." Lawrence hit his own cheek slightly as he looked at a report. "As it seems the Lombax is correct. There have been a few weak spots as of late." When the butler noticed the death glare in Nefarious' optics, he raised his hand in a halting way. "I was about to hand you the newest data right before we were... ahem... interrupted."

"Tsk, why were you so reluctant to hand it me instantly, anyway? You just wanted to annoy me a little, didn't you, you little tease?" A dark, but surprisingly playful smirk appeared on the taller robot's face. Ratchet had never seen that expression before, neither heard that voice in that tone speaking before and, frankly, it freaked him a bit out. Or it would have if it hadn't clicked in his mind in this moment that he had assumed a 'dirty' situation when there hadn't been one.

"Perhaps we can continue our little play after we have finished handling with our new staff, hm...?" Lawrence returned the smirk, even if there was no dark, but the ever-so apparent playfully condescending note accompanying it. Then he turned to the Lombaxes, pulling up the document again. "Now, do you have any conditions left?"

Oh by Orvus, how did I deserve this all? Azimuth frowned, fingers massaging his head.

"So, weapons, devices, armor that helps against the guards." Hopefully the two of them would stop their 'play' at least as long until Alister, Bar and he were out...

"Oh! I have one more condition." Azimuth paused for a moment before he turned to the doctor and his butler. "This one's important, and imperative for me before I agree working with you at all."

"Oh really?" Lawrence widened one optic. "I don't believe that you are in the position to pose such a demand, seeing how this whole contract is based on getting your friend out of here safely."

"It is similar to this condition."

"Fine," Nefarious answered instead of Lawrence, crossing his arms impatiently. "Just spill it out before I turn into rusty metal."

"All right. So the condition is the following..." He stopped for a brief moment to look at Ratchet before he turned to the robots again. "Should either of us two die while the contract still stands, guarantee an immediate and safe escort out of the facility for the other."

"That is preposterous! Just why should I let the other go if the other falls out of commission?! You are both responsible for the mess with the guards until it is resolved, or you are BOTH dead!"

"Alister..." Ratchet whispered. Alister's face was unreadable but the tone of determination was unmistakable.

He meant that the only one he would accept to die of the two of them was himself.

The elder's ears twitched when Ratchet whispered his name. He turned his head slightly. "I'll talk to you about this later." A faint smile. "So much we have to discuss, huh?" Then he turned back to the robots. "I have one simple reason: Precaution. If we can't handle the Shapeshifters together, it means nobody can. Fighting them alone would be a synonym for suicide - and you know it. After all, there is no other reason why you would ask us to do this, isn't there? It's only because you can't handle them on your own anymore."

"Unfortunately, the elder is right." Plucking a non-existent thread from his wrist, Lawrence 'sniffed' with an annoyed vent. "Even before they went unruly, they continued to terrorize our staff despite the control collars, stars beware the mess they always made when they take an interest too keen in one of their victims." The shudder that went through the butler was unusually genuine. That wasn't a good sign when the guards disturbed even that jaded robot.

"PFAH! As if. You know very well that I am working on--" The doctor stopped as he remembered who was still in this room. Quickly he turned away, sneering contemptuously. "Fine. FINE. Grant them this condition. But this is the last one I accept."

"All right then. There's nothing I have to add anyway." Azimuth nodded in confirmation.

"Finally!" Nefarious was about to let out a triumphant cry when the butler interrupted him.

"Excuse me sir, but we still lack the conditions on our side."

"Oh come ON Lawrence, do we really have to?"

"Yes sir."

A discontented growl escaped the doctor as he crossed his arms again. "Fine. FINE. IN A NUTSHELL! Number ONE!" He raised his index finger notably. "You are employed until you have vanquished all Shapeshifters or die from doing so."

"Oh, that came now unexpected." Ratchet rolled his eyes.

"I DIDN'T HEAR THAT!" Nefarious sneered. "On to condition two: We are not coming up for your funeral expenses."

"... Okay." Ratchet blinking was apparently not the reaction Nefarious had hoped for. The elder didn't act satisfyingly either - but eh. The less fuss about the contract by these idiots, the better. "And the last condition I have," he continued, "is COMPLETE OBEDIENCE!"

Silence.

"I highly doubt that they will comply with this condition, sir, no offense."

"... Fine. Semi-formality is enough I guess." The doctor sneered and looked at them. "That would be all from my side."

Getting an idea, Ratchet now leant over to Alister, mock-whispering. "Lawrence was right about that one," and Alister snorted in a suppressed guffaw.

An irritated and barely controlled twitch around Nefarious' optic revealed the difficulty he had to remain calm by now. His voice was oddly strained as he barely opened his mouth to process the words. "Well… Since the formalities are done… let's just quickly sign this contract and get this over with!" Grabbing the document from the butler, he scratched on the surface, leaving a distinct signature behind. Then he handed the contract over to the Lombaxes, foot tapping on the ground impatiently and head slightly turned to Lawrence. "It is unbelievable that I am forming a contract with those squishies! Remind me to never ever do that again."

The dear doctor's ticks were well known by Ratchet by now, including pretty exact knowledge how close he was to ticking out. So he deemed it the better tactic to acquiesce - for now. No point in riling up the doctor to the point - though that was often half of the fun - where he would go off like a firecracker anyway. As if reading his mind, Alister offered his back and Ratchet laid the contract down. Looking around, a stylus was suddenly held against his face by no other than Lawrence. "Thanks." He took the stylus warily. "I guess."

"I see no reason to make this take any longer." Was the butler's reply.

"Are you done YET?", was the impatient question from the doctor. He certainly seemed at the end of his patience, just as much as Bar was at the end of his sanity. This was too much for the sensitive robot - so much action, turbulences and complications hurt his circuits quite badly, after all. He was quaking and rattling, and occasionally whimpering around the palm over his mouth, still too frightened of Nefarious than to let his other responses anger the scientist even more.

Not that the scientist still cared for the robot. It almost seemed like he had forgotten about him above the triumphant turn of events. His arch nemesis - working! For him! Which super villain did not dream of that? The satisfaction was on his face, and as Azimuth had signed his part as well, his contentment reached new limits. "All right, my newly acquired minions," he said with an almost melodious voice, "on to work!"

"I think we have agreed on letting them rest for the day, sir." Lawrence folded his hands nonchalantly. "Or they would die on the first day, seeing how exhausted they are. Furthermore, they have to escort their lovely friend out of this facility first as well, no?"

Bar didn't even flinch as Nefarious whipped around, just going still under the 'hate beam' as he titled it now. With an annoyed huff, Nefarious threw a dismissive hand into his direction as if the motion could swat Bar away. "Then hurry or I'm going to lose the little bit of patience I have left, anyway."

On cue, the terror let go of Bar momentarily enough that he jumped up at the words, into a rush into ducking behind Alister. Or maybe it yet reached yet a new level that bypassed his fear-induced lock in favor to move.

In any way - after diving behind the Lombax, the silver helmet slowly began rising from behind the shoulders while gloved hands snuck to grip the broad borders that stood between him and a maniac that threw with plasma orbs, and had the circuit integrity of a malfunctioning toaster.

"... In case you are hoping for me giving you a piggyback ride, I have to disappoint you." Azimuth smiled faintly before he turned to Ratchet. "Let's go."

"A moment please, I shall accompany you." Lawrence stepped beside them. "I have to show you your room and the appropriate exit, after all."

A quick flick of the butler's wrist, combined with a voice command, and the door opened smoothly as if gliding over the ground. Leaving proved to be less easy, as Bar refused to turn his back to the doctor, less to be in an open line to him. It was a silly sight - Bar shuffling backwards to the door in front of Alister, his head flicking nervously from side to side to keep Nefarious in view.

"You know, if you are going on like that I might have to kick you ahead." Azimuth shoved him gently forward until they were out of the room Lawrence watched him with delight, entertained by the display.

"Are you sure you want to leave us already, um... Bar? You seem like a pleasant addition to this facility." Pleasant indeed - for personal enlightenment.

At that the former employed robot charged forward, grabbing Lawrence at his collar and shaking him with every word he screamed at him. "ARE YOU NUTS AND I DON'T MEAN THE KIND WITH NUTS AND BOLTS I DON'T WANT TO BE MELTED IN METAL GOO!"

"… Thank you, I have understood this. Now please let go and follow me." Lawrence freed himself with surprising ease from Bar's grip and turned away, walking into a corridor and expecting the other three to follow.

The worker kept standing on his spot, arms still raised in the position Lawrence had pushed them into. His head fell forward in harmony to a joint, probably the neck, giving a strangely emotional -meaning pitiful- whine.

Feeling empathic with the robot Ratchet patted him on the shoulder. "Don't take it to your motherboard. Lawrence is like this to everyone."

Bar turned to Ratchet, sighing and letting his shoulders hang down. "I guess… though he could be nicer…"

"I could be nicer," was answered from ahead, "but that would result in leading you to an exit crawling with Shapeshifters. Of course this was a joke. Don't take it seriously."

Silence.

"If I want to punch someone affiliated with Nefarious, then this guy really has to be grating."

"Oh please, learn to take a joke. How do you think could I ever take this joke of a job otherwise?" Lawrence replied as the other three followed him. "And besides, I highly doubt that you could ever hit me, no offense."

"Because I would trip before I would even reach you. And you cheat with that teleporter thingie you have." What the robot could not convey through his helmet was made clear with the obvious grumpy tone in his voice.

"Either way," Azimuth put his wrench away and walked ahead to Lawrence. "Perhaps we should stop the idle bickering and actually get Bar into safety before Nefarious changes his mind."

"Of course, of course, the doctor has had enough disturbances by the guards already - though I admit 'Bar's' presence here has significantly eased the atmosphere." Lawrence chuckled slightly, shaking his head. "Too bad he wants to leave so badly. Speaking of which, we are here." Stressing his words he stopped next to an un-assuming door on the left on the corridor. It almost vanished in the wall, so thin and faint were the seams' outlines.

The elder blinked in surprise as he had almost passed the exit. "... Whoa. That came... unexpected."

"Of course." The butler brushed off his fingers. "The good doctor might control most of the interior design, but luckily I take care of the... finer details. Starting with the structure and furniture."

"... Doesn't that equal almost everything?"

"Why, yes. But the doctor doesn't like to hear this version."

Why does that sound like a married couple? No no Ratchet, be a sensible Lombax, don't go there.

Lawrence swiped a palm over the door. The seams lit up in an eerie, blue glow before it set back a little and slide into the wall.

Bar perked into the corridor. What little light was shed from the certainly safe sector to the presumably secure exit revealed only that it led into darkness, and that certainly wasn't the kind of reassurance he was hoping for. Cowering behind Ratchet, he ducked away from the opening. "I... Is that really the exit I have to go through...?"

The young Lombax also had his doubts. Of course he and Alister could walk the robot out but that Nefarious would see, with no doubt as breaking the condition not to leave the facility until they had resolved the standing issues with the guards. "Where does it lead to? And there are REALLY no guards?" He asked the butler instead.

"It leads to the surface, to the outskirt of the... ahem... 'civilized' sector of Pliadon." Lawrence folded his hands. "Also, it should be completely safe. The last time I checked - and this was only a few days ago - guards wouldn't dream of trying to get into this exit."

The other robot did not seem convinced. "I'm not going until I have definite proof that this corridor is safe!"

"Oh, I could read all the technical data to you, if that pleases you, but I fear that this would either bore death out of our dear organic fellows or lead to an overdrive of your OS." Lawrence eyed him indifferently. "Since I doubt that either possibility seems pleasant, we have now arrived in quite the troublesome situation."

"Would the data be similar to what the computers spit out about the technical details of the energy outlet?"

"As far as I know, the subject matter isn't the same - but it is comparable in length and complexity." Lawrence sniffed.

"... Then thanks, but no thanks. I'll pass."

"Then I am afraid that you will have to go in without proof."

"WHAT? No! No way I'm going in!" Bar pressed himself against Ratchet's back and shivered.

"But that would lead to a conflict of interest, wouldn't you agree?"

"But... But... I don't want to go in there!" Bar whined, fingers clawing into the Lombax's shoulders. "Not without proof!"

"Ouch! Bar, please cut that out, or you'll cut something out of me."

"Oh, sorry Ratchet!" Wonderful, he kept upsetting the Lombax. He relaxed his fingers and sheepishly ducked his head at Ratchet's side, tilting his face up to the Lombax in what he hoped to be an apologetic but also 'please don't be angry' gesture. He couldn't use the 'puppy robot look' after all, with his face hidden under the helmet. This only got a shake of a head and Ratchet rolling his eyes, nevertheless he patted the helmet. He looked to the side, a bit exasperated but not angry.

An irritated sigh escaped the butler. "And what would satisfy your need for proof?"

"Well, for starters..." Bar budged around nervously. "Well, if Ratchet or Azimuth went in for a sec and didn't get harmed..."

"… What?" The elder stared at the robot. "You didn't just say that, did you?" Azimuth had a hard time keeping his mouth shut, that big was the surprise, perhaps even shock that those words incited. "Are you seriously saying that we have to play guinea pig just so that you leave?"

"Bar..." It was with a quick twist that the younger slipped away from the robot then glowered at him. "Did you really mean that seriously now?"

"W-what?" The robot backed away from Ratchet, his frame shrinking further and further as he stepped towards the wall. "D... Did I say something wrong? I..."

"Yes. Yes you did." Azimuth hadn't intended his voice to be that sharp, but too late. "Quite the wrong thing. How could you request something like this from us?"

On the other hand, Ratchet didn't care to hide the icy tone his voice had taken. "You know what the guards did to us. As you so exactly put it, they 'examined' us, had us completely immobilized because they intended to devour us. You are terrified since they assaulted you, so how do you think we feel about them? And yet."

"I... I didn't mean to, I really..."

One, two, five steps and Ratchet was pushing his face against the helmet's visor. "A few seconds ago you suggested that we risk our lives again, despite or even with the high risk that the guards will attack us." His voice lowered. "You saw it happen with your own eyes. They are still on the hunt for us because they want our molecular structure."

"I-I didn't watch what I said, but... I didn't... I didn't want to..."

With that Ratchet slightly drew back, a disappointed, hurt look falling onto his face. As suddenly as he had invaded Bar's space, he stepped and turned his back to him. Only then he finished his sentence. His shoulders and head sagged, his ears dropped. "And this is something you stated - something you knew, too."

When the Lombax stepped back, faintly glowing eyes followed him, but did not dare to look at his face directly. Bar's fingers twitched; and when they didn't, his body did.

He had really screwed it up this time. And this time he could not escape that fact.

Knowing that, he tried to lift his head and prepared his processors to apologize - but when he did, he realized that Ratchet had already turned away. A low whimper escaped him as he looked down once more. "I-I am sorry...", the robot murmured, his figure shivering not out of fear, but because of realization. "I... My mind... I--"

A discontented growl broke him off. Bar shrieked when Azimuth made his displeasure actually evident. The elder did not address him, though - instead he turned to the butler and his back on the other mechanic being. "Whatever, since he is oh so ready to put us on the line for himself, I'd more than gladly put him out of our sight as fast as possible." A pause. Alister looked at the corridor. "... So you say this path is absolutely safe?"

"Yes it is. And even if there was suddenly a guard to jump out, it would not be able to get to you." A surprised gaze met his. "I have the means to save you, should there have been a breach. It's a very sensitive device, however, and can't be used very often because of this. Perhaps on two or three Shapeshifters, but well."

"So in short, I'm safe no matter what?"

"Quite so, yes."

"All right then." Azimuth turned to the door, but had his head halfway directed towards Bar. "After that, you better get out of our sight as fast as you can. I don't need another hypocritical person in my life. One was enough."

Ratchet kept his back to the conversation, eyes closing, head inclining in silent agreement.

"Well... Here goes nothing." Azimuth switched on his armor to full protection and pulled out his wrench only to be safe. "A trial by fire it is." Taking a deep breath, he cautiously took the first step inside the corridor, then another. He proceeded further and further until he stood completely within the path. For several moments he stood there, ears twitching nervously and tail whipping back and forth.

Just what in Orvus' name had he been thinking? Bar tried to quiet down his shaking which came, even to his own surprise, not alone from the fear of a chance of the guards coming. He was fucking terrified for the elder Lombax - and guilty, the feeling rolling in disgusting waves through his fuel lines.

"... Nothing happening." Azimuth turned back to the other three. "Now, are you adequately satisfied, Bar, or would you like me to perform a little Shapeshifter-summoning dance just so that you can be absolutely sure that there are no guards waiting for your delicate head?"

Taken aback, Bar opened his mouth to say something, anything, as Lawrence picked him by the elbow and half-pulled, half-dragged him into the corridor. "I believe he has." The usual bored tone bore now a light shiver of impatience. Apparently even the butler had enough of the worker.

"Splendid." Azimuth stepped out of the corridor and aside. When Bar stepped outside, the robot looked at the Lombaxes helplessly.

"I... I didn't... mean to be so..." Bar was at a loss of words. "I... I'm just so sorry, I... I said something wrong and... I really, I really didn't mean to offend you..."

"The problem is you didn't offend us." Ratchet had his arms crossed as peered over his shoulder. "You were willing to endanger us because of your own fears - not to speak of forcing Alister and me to remember what they did to us."

"I... I'm sorry..." Bar looked down, fingers curling into the fabric of his coat. By now he was already standing inside the corridor; nothing happened. "I really... am."

The elder looked at the robot as he stood there. For several moments he remained like this, simply staring at him. An odd gaze appeared in his eyes, distant yet focused. It seemed as if he was remembering something.

"Please. You are slowly getting as obnoxious as Lance and Janice, and this is quite something." Lawrence tapped his fingers against each other. "Don't worry, the road is safe. Why would you be standing here otherwise?"

"B... But--"

"We get it, Bar. You didn't watch your mouth for a moment." Azimuth frowned while staring through the robot. "Don't expect us to say 'it's all right' to you immediately after it. For now, just get out and be safe; perhaps you will have a chance to apologize later on, when we can get out of here as well." With that, he turned into the direction they had come from, only raising one hand to wave good bye. "Take care." He walked ahead.

There wasn't any sound going into distance in the other way. Ratchet's ears moved around in direction of the tunnel; when no sound came several seconds later either, he gave up. Turning around, he concentrated on Bar's chest and feet - which were shuffling - and shoulders - drawn and hunched back - before he conceded and looked to the visor. Nobody said anything. The robot grew incredibly more nervous in the silence, and the stare of the Lombax.

"Yeah. Take care of ya." And with that, he left the sight opening of the tunnel, stepping to the side. He leant against the wall, back of his head gently bumping into it.

"All right then, Bar, we shall leave now." Lawrence graced him with one more gaze before he looked at the control pad in his hand. "Out of safety reasons we have to close the emergency exit as soon as we leave. Please get out of the exit as soon as quickly and leave the facility. You seem not so entertaining, after all."

The formerly employed robot still stood there, head hanging down. The butler sighed. "Don't worry. This path is safe. If these Shapeshifters ever wanted to break through the security field around it, at least two would have to die from the attempt of breaching it. Since that would be far too troublesome for them to get to you, you can go safely."

"… I understand." A slight nod, then he stood straight again. "Thank you."

"All right then. Have a nice day. Ratchet?" Lawrence stepped away; the exit was closing slowly as he did so. "Let's go. I still have some duties to take care of, and would like to proceed as soon as possible."

"… Good bye." Bar waved his hand mechanically and watched the door slide back in before him. For a moment he lingered at the same spot, hoping for either of his friends to reappear and to tell him that they had forgiven him. Then, as the door had closed completely, he turned around.

Giggling.