TPF. Autobot Outpost Omega One. Bearer of News

[dens_extra_pups]

Optimus: *comes into the front room after checking on Bulkhead, Witchblade, and Miko and pauses near the main computer. Glances absently at her chair, but then frowns and calls Tau station*

'Rail: *apparently got stuck with monitor duty again* //This is Tau station...// *expression brightens a bit* //Hey, Prima. What's up?//

Optimus: *blinks as she spots a tiny red face peeking over his shoulder* Another sparklet.

'Rail: *chuckles* //Yeah... This 's my kid. Callin' 'er Sunhalo fer now.//

Optimus: *wonderingly* She's a Seeker.

'Rail: //Yeah... *more chuckle* We's figgerin' she'll be more than a match fer Lu when dey's older.//

Optimus: She's talkative, then? *studying what she can see of the tiny bundle of parts, and noting that she's thinner and has longer limbs than the other sparklets*

'Rail: //Naw. Slapped 'im when dey were layin' on the table after we decanted 'em.// *so amused*

Optimus: *blinks* I see. *quirks a brow, but then sobers* Would I be able to speak with Scattershot?

'Rail: //Lemme see where the spazz is first.// *doing something on another monitor with one hand, patches Scattershot through*

Scattershot: //Bhuh?// *startled look. Was working outside the station*

Optimus: Hello, Scattershot.

Scattershot: *slight cringe as he realizes who he's seeing* //Hello.//

Optimus: *so much gentleness in her slightly husky alto* You don't need to be afraid of me, Scattershot. I don't hurt my friends.

Scattershot: //...Friends?// *just a bit confused by that now* *has hazy memories of scary stuff going on involving the red and blue femme*

Optimus: Yes. All the people of Tau are my friends. *slight smile of reassurance, though she can't hide the sadness in her optics as she thinks of how what she's got to tell Scattershot will affect the flighty and already damaged mech*

Scattershot: *quiet for a few moments as he works this over in his processor* //...Why're you calling?// *wow. A rare full sentence from the mech, that isn't directed towards his mate!*

Optimus: *gently* Is Mistfire with you?

Scattershot: *puzzled expression is a go, even as he calls his mate*

Mistfire: *comes up behind him and leans against him so that he can put his arm around her shoulders* //Prima. What's up? Seen my dad yet?//

Optimus: *gravely* That's part of what I wanted to talk to the two of you about.

Mistfire: *brow quirk. Glances at mate*

Scattershot: *arm around Mistfire's shoulders, bit of a frown* //Lockdown's okay?//

Optimus: He was still mobile at the last report, but he did get damaged in his encounter with Knockout.

Mistfire: *perks* //He found the slaggin' glitch?//

Scattershot: *silent for a few moments* //Brother?//

Optimus: *expression steady despite the lightening of her optics. Quietly* Knockout wiped his own processor to avoid being arrested. His spark is still functioning, but is in stasis.

Scattershot: //...// *not really comprehending this, Optimus* //Brother?//

Mistfire: *quietly, as she turns and puts her arms around him* //He's dead, Gorgeous.//

Scattershot: //...// *starting to shake* //No.//

Optimus: *quickly* A copy of his personality matrix survives and is functioning.

Mistfire: //What? He's not dead?// *puzzled scowl for the Prima as she holds her mate protectively*

Scattershot: *hiding against mate and mumbling "No." on repeat over comms. Is badly rattled right now*

Optimus: *frowns, and then starts working at the computer till she's gotten Dallas MacKenzie's phone on the line* Dallas, I need to speak to your boyfriend.

Dallas: *slightly smug expression darts across her face for a moment at the Prima's affirmation of her relationship, though it's kind of hard to tell with all the bruising around her eyes* //Why do you need to talk to him?//

Optimus: *quietly* Because I'm patching him through to his brother.

Dallas: //...// *will bring her cell phone, and the babby on her back, to the garage, where Hattie is giving dKnockout a lesson on how to use a spinner washing machine* //Knockout... Phone call...//

dKnockout: *takes the phone and looks at the little screen* //Optimus, to what do I owe the honour of this call?// *smirk*

Optimus: *patches him through to Scattershot* Speak to your brother.

dKnockout: *blinks with surprise*

Scattershot: //...No.// *frantic headshake, hides face on mate*

dKnockout: *frowns. Sharply* //Scattershot, get hold of yourself.//

Mistfire: *smirk* //He likes it better when I do.//

dKnockout: *facepalm* //Yes. You are one of Lockdown's sprogs.//

Scattershot: *cycling air rapidly. That doesn't look like Brother!*

dKnockout: *embarrassed and challenging look for the two women near him, and then squares his shoulders and starts talking to Scattershot. Talks about good memories and funny things that he's promised to kill Scattershot for telling anyone about*

Mistfire: *listening with silent interest with half her mind as the other half works on mate comfort*

Scattershot: *after a bit, he's starting to peek from where he's hiding against Mistfire. Such a confused and frightened look on his face*

dKnockout: //Seriously, brother. Reports of my death were greatly exaggerated. I just moved here to get away from the heat for awhile.// *smirks, his expression pure KO*

Scattershot: *wibble, hides face against mate. Needs time to process all of this new information*

Rundown: *suddenly in Daddy's arms as Mama and Gramma hurry to rescue the shirt caught on the edge of the spinner* //Aboo!//

Mistfire: *gasps* //Rundown!//

Scattershot: *soft sound, braves another peek*

Rundown: *waves and giggles*

dKnockout: //Ah. Yes. Apparently I've kidnapped your wife's baby brother. But MY wife is rather attached to him.//

Mistfire: //Wife, huh? When'd ya get that witnessed?// *bemused*

dKnockout: *so much smugness in that smirk* //Doing it now.//

Dallas: *arguing with the shirt*

Scattershot: //... Brother has mate?//

dKnockout: //Apparently.// *smirk* //And a sparklet.//

Rundown: //Park'et! Eeee! *giggle*//

Scattershot: //... Runny...// *starting to look a bit woozy*

Mistfire: *softly, on his channel only* //Witness fer KO, 'n then we kin go kiss behind that big lump 'a iron.//

Scattershot: *only understood "Witness", and "kiss". Quietly* //Witness.//

dKnockout: *inclines his head slightly* //Thank you, Brother.//

Rundown: //Bababababa *click pop squeak babble!*//

Scattershot: *slight ghost of his old smile. Hides face against mate again*

Mistfire: //Let's go, Gorgeous.// *then looks up as Optimus' image also appears on the holoscreen that the comm drone is projecting*

Optimus: *quietly* Mistfire, your sister's boyfriend has sustained severe damage. But we're hoping he'll wake soon.

Mistfire: //Eeesh. Thanks fer more good news.// *cuts the line*

Optimus: *looks at dKnockout's screen, which now shows Dallas and Hattie's faces as the drone points the camera toward them*

Dallas: //What just happened?//

Optimus: Knockout's brother was informed of his condition, and also he and his wife were told where Rundown is.

Dallas: //...// *expression darkening*

dKnockout: //I also just claimed you as my mate. Gran'ma, if you and Optimus would be so kind as to witness...// *smirk so thick in his voice as Rundown chats happily from under his arm*

Dallas: *thrown off being mad* //Bhuh?!//

Hattie: //...Jes wh't w'ld Ah be witness'n' 'eah?//

Optimus: ... *optics wide and brows lifted* His marriage with Dallas.

dKnockout: //What she said.//

Hattie: //...// *very soft snerk, nods* //Alrahght.//

Dallas: *SO much blush*

Optimus: *gravely* I understand that it's the custom for human men to ask their intended before they call witnesses to claim them, Knockout.

dKnockout: //...//

Dallas: *has NO comment. Is too busy hiding her blush behind one of the nice shirts she bought for dKnockout*

dKnockout: *gives Hattie the phone, then uses the newly freed hand to reach for Rundown's mama* //Dallas?//

Hattie: *carefully aiming the phone to show the couple*

Dallas: *peeks from behind the shirt* //Y-Yeah?//

dKnockout: //... Will you agree to being claimed?// *sounds embarrassed and a bit put out to be asking the question*

Dallas: *nods. Doesn't trust herself to speak without squeaking*

Optimus: *seriously* And do you claim Knockout's drone as your husband, Dallas? *glances toward Kriti as the young femme wanders up and explains via comm link what's happening* //Will you witness?//

Kriti: //...// *so much scowl* //Optimus, that's the slagger who dumped my mom.//

Optimus: *gently* //It's a part of him, I know.//

Kriti: *grumbling over comms* *then* //Fine. I'll witness.// *not happy about it though*

Dallas: //I do.//

Kriti: *shortly* Saw it.

Hattie: //Ah witness.//

Optimus: *nods* As do I. Congratulations, Knockout. *studying the drone with a slight frown*

dKnockout: *so much smirk* //Can we go now, Prima?//

Optimus: *deeper frown* Yes. Optimus out. *closes connection*

Ratchet: //Is everything okay, Optimus?//

Optimus: //I... don't know.// *databursts him a recording of what just went down*

Ratchet: //... So they're wordmates now?//

Optimus: //Apparently. I'm not sure Knockout's personality matrix is undamaged.//

Ratchet: //I'll scan him.//

Optimus: //Don't upset Dallas if you can help it. She doesn't look any better than Denver does right now.//

Ratchet: //Understood.// *affection*

Optimus: *returns the emotion, and then stretches and heads toward the mess*

((Written with random_xtras))