MBV. Various Locations. Definitions of Family and Friends

[microbots]

McHale: *sees Osk coming. Face freezes and he turns and walks away*

Osk: *sad look from where she's standing beside Denver*

Denver: *frown* Wh't w's th't 'bout?

Osk: *quietly* I don't think he wants to talk to me anymore.

Denver: *more frown* Wh't 'appened?

Osk: *blushes and looks down at her armful of papers* We've been playing the Sims together. Our Sims... They became very fond of one another.

Denver: ... *chuckle* Marriehed?

Osk: Er... no. *redder*

Denver: ... 0_0 *'scuse her while she has a snickerfitdie moment*

Osk: *mortified* Denver!

Denver: *maybe it's a good thing she doesn't actually need to breathe any more*

Osk: *excuses herself quietly and heads into the office*

Denver: *once she's gotten calmed down, she'll go find McHale*

McHale: *in his office, absently staring at the monitor on the wall that shows a view from one of the outdoor security cameras*

Denver: *moves to lean on the wall* Wah does wh't y'ur's 'n Osk's Sims do make yah not wanna talk t' Osk?

McHale: *blinks and scowls* What are you talking about?

Denver: She tol' me 'bout 'ow friendleh y'all's Sims've been gettin'.

McHale: *winces and looks away, bluster faded* I didn't even know they could do that.

Denver: ... Di'n't y'u read th' box?

McHale: What box? *scowls at her again*

Denver: *raised brow* F'r th' game CD?

McHale: *shrugs* It was in an envelope in a box of other old junk my brother sent me.

Denver: ... Gotcha. *bit of a frown as she thinks*

McHale: *looks back to the screen* I deleted them, and she left. *sounds so sad*

Denver: Talk t' 'er 'bout 't.

McHale: I can't. She left. She... *turns and walks off to look in his filing cabinet*

Denver: *pinches the bridge of her nose* *frustrated sigh*

McHale: I've got work to do.

Denver: Alrahght. *going to see if she can find some way of getting McHale and Osk to talk about this*

McHale: *quietly, not realizing she can hear* She won't even look at me anymore.

Denver: *goes to find Osk*

Osk: *sitting at her desk and busily typing up reports*

Denver: *moves to lean against the door frame* Y'u 'n Jerreh need t' talk.

Osk: *quietly, without looking up* He doesn't want to talk to me anymore.

Denver: 'E thought y'u w're upset 'bout wh't y'all's Sims did.

Osk: *still quiet* He couldn't delete them fast enough. I saw the look on his face. *doesn't seem to have heard you, Denver*

Denver: 'Cause 'e thought y'u w're 'fended bah 't.

Osk: *looks up, blinking* What?

Denver: 'E di'n't know th't th'y c'ld do th't, 'n 'e di'n't want t' 'fend y'u.

Osk: *looks down again, her face blushing and sad* I wasn't offended. Embarrassed and surprised. But they're just little computer dolls that he showed me after he saw my dolls.

Denver: Th'n tell 'im th't. 'E th'nks y'u don' evah wanna talk t' 'im 'gain.

Osk: I... *hangs her head, face totally flaming now*

Denver: *sincerely* Jerreh's got 't bad f'r y'u, Osk. 'N rahght now, 'e's miserable 'cause 'e th'nks 'e 'fended y'u, 'n th't y'u don' want t' talk t' 'im anehmoah.

Osk: 0.0 Sir, that's not funny.

Denver: *expression serious* Ah ain't jokin', Osk. Ah've seen Jerreh walk int' walls 'n door frames 'case 'e's been distracted bah look'n 't y'u.

Osk: *expression darkens slightly as she glances at herself* Looking at me, or...

Denver: 'F 'e w'sn't interested 'n y'u, 'e w'ldn't 'ave th' same 'spression 'n 'is face th't Pat gits wh'n 'e looks 't Emi. *slight quirk of a grin as she glances over her shoulder as someone runs into the door frame* Rahght, Jerreh?

McHale: *startled expression is a go. Was coming to get one of the files he needed*

Osk: *gasps and hides her red face, shoulders stiff with mortification*

McHale: *dumbstruck, can't even think to mumble something*

Denver: ... *looks back and forth between Osk and McHale* ... *facepalm*

Osk: *aaand now she's crying and trying to hide it*

McHale: *acks and scoots to try and offer comfort*

Osk: *gives him a wide eyed and wibbly look of surprise and question*

McHale: *gentle patpat for Osk's shoulder, and an offer of a tissue*

Osk: *still blushing and having a hard time looking at him, though her body language isn't saying she wants him to go away* Th... thank you, Jerry. *carefully wipes eyes so as to not smear makeup*

McHale: *gently fussing over her, but keeping a respectful distance*

Osk: *quizzical looks that are trying so hard to hide hope that what Denver said might be part way true*

Denver: *still standing in the door* Th's' where y'all ask 'er out, Jerreh.

McHale: ... *with a bit of a blush on his cheeks* We usually go to the Sip 'n Dip on Wednesday afternoons...

Osk: *eyes go wide with shock* Do you mean we've been dating all this time, Jerry?

McHale: *SO MUCH BLUSH* Er...

Denver: *so amused* Y'all 're adorable.

Osk: *hides her face in her hands and meeps*

McHale: *still blushing, and now his ears and neck are red, too*

Osk: *deep breath, and then lowers her hands and raises her chin as she gives Denver a mild Look*

Denver: *eyes sparkling as she smiles* *as she moves to head for her own office* 'T 's Wednesday, y'all. *chuckles as she goes down the hall*


over at the Garcia residence


Tracks: You are not going to believe this, Patrick. *SO amused as he leads his Commander into Lisa's kitchen and over to where a cackling Rodney is standing by an irately dancing and scolding Gerty*

Lisa: *sitting up on the counter, hugging her legs close to her chest, and 'streaking*

Patrick: ... Do I want to know?

floor: *cursing*

Patrick: ... Is that Private Lee?

Gerty: *dance dance of frustration and admonishment* No! No!

Rodney: Yup. *chuckling* Lisa heard something in the floors... And apparently, Tunnel Rat took that as a challenge.

Patrick: *facepalm*

floor: *muffled* Ouch! *cursing continues*

Tracks: *trying not to laugh lest he earn Gerty ire, but it's SO hard*

Patrick: *to Tracks* //So what is Private Lee doing in the floor?//

Tracks: //Enriching the termites' vocabulary? Looking for lunch? I honestly don't know, Chief.//

Patrick: //... Termites? Oh, goody.//

Lisa: *ramblefit! Squeaks as she nearly topples of the counter*

Rodney: *scrambles to catch her*

Rachel: *sticks her head in* Somebody said something about me needing to look... Whoa, Leese!

Lisa: *ramble, hides her face against Rodney's chest*

Patrick: Private Lee's in the floorboards.

Rachel: Buh? *walks over beside Gerty and focuses with her scanning equipment* *eyes widen* She can barely move in there, but she's taking off her shirt and pants.

Patrick: *facepalm*

Rachel: *brows up* And now she's not stuck anymore. Aaaand. Oh. Um...

Tracks: *frowns at her and quirks a brow*

Patrick: I'm sure I'm going to regret this... But what's going on?

Rachel: There's a nest of baby rats in your floor, Lisa. *apologetic look*

Tracks: Well that's just lovely...

Patrick: And unless we can get Steeljaw or Ravage in there to round them up...

Rachel: Tunnel Rat's got them. *head turning slightly as she follows the young woman's progress in backing out of the floor* But that doesn't deal with the mother or father.

Patrick: Hmm....

Rachel: *looks over at Lisa, and then looks again* *wide grin* Oh boy...

Rodney: *looks up from comforting mate* Hm?

Rachel: You better make sure she gets enough rest for the next few months, Roddy. *changes her vision back to normal as she grins*

Tracks: What? *nearly gives self whiplash with head turn*

Rodney: ... *blink blink* You're slagging me.

Patrick: *and now he's chuckling*

Lisa: *confused peek for Rachel*

Rachel: It's a boy. *gently* Deep breaths, okay?

Lisa: *deep breaths. Deep breaths. And then she's boggling*

Tunnel Rat: *comes in just then with a nylon knee high full of wriggly pink baby rats* Stirfry? *grin*

Tracks: *hand over mouth and leaves the room*

Patrick: *facepalm*

Lisa: *whimper, hides face against Rodney again*

Tunnel Rat: *as Gerty runs over to look at her loot* Uh... Was it somet'in' I said?

Rachel: *finger to ear as she comms some ferrets and tells them about potential big mean toothy things in Lisa and Rodney's floor* *hasn't heard TR*

Rewind: //Lemme get Tweedle Dee outta the Froot Loops box and we'll be over... Hey! Those were MY Froot Loops!!!///

Patrick: Stir-fry is a bad idea right now...

Tunnel Rat: Oh. Howabout soup? *grin*

Rachel: *heard that!* *urk expression and a Look*

Tunnel Rat: *droop* ...What?

Rodney: *taking Lisa out of the kitchen, kthx. Looks a bit green*

Patrick: No cooking the rats, Private Lee.

Rachel: Give 'em to the Chief. *turns to follow their hosts from the room so that she can give Lisa and the newly budded sparklet in the young blonde's chest a checkup*

Rodney: *sitting with Lisa on the bed and gently rubbing her back* *soothing murmurs in one of the many Highland dialects he knows*

Rachel: Here. Let's get her into some comfortable sleeping clothes. *starts bustling around in that familiar, motherly way that has comforted Autobots for centuries*


meanwhile, at the Diego Garcia base


Kitty: *scowls up at this 'Uncle Ron' who is holding her, then bites his thumb as hard as she can with her two teefs*

Smith: *yelps* Ow!

Wesson: Hey, Smith. I've been wondering for awhile. You've got even less background history than I do, and I took on the ID of a guy who died. Are you Cybertronian?

Smith: ... *wary look before he realizes what he's doing* No idea what you're talking about.

Kitty: Bleh. *grimace*

Wesson: Kitty says otherwise. *lifts his eyebrows slightly, his face serious as he looks at the guy who's been his friend since he took the original Wesson's place*

Smith: ...

Laserbeak: Kitty likes how humans taste. *feather floof where she's standing on Wesson's shoulder*

Smith: *0.o look for Laserbeak* *then he's ducking and trying to protect Kitty as something large and white comes flying at his head while screaming*

Eject: *has clearly been spending too much time with Buzzsaw*

Wesson: Settle down, Eject. *puts up a hand for the white bird to sit on without taking his gaze from Smith*

Eject: *cackling as he lands on Wesson's hand*

Smith: *going 0_0 now*

Kitty: *giving Uncle Ron a stink eye*

Wesson: You ducked even before he started yellin'. *calm as he states the fact*

Smith: ... *mutters as he realizes he just blew his cover* Scrap...

Laserbeak: *looks at Smith with one eye and then the other* Spill it.

Wesson: What she said. *still holding Smith pinned with his gaze*

Smith: ... *will give Kitty back to Wesson first*

Wesson: *takes scowly fat babby in the pretty dress, brow quirks slightly as he continues to watch his friend*

Smith: *quick check to make sure nobody's nearby to cause trouble* *quietly* It's been a long time since I've let myself be anybody but 'Ronald Smith'...

Wesson: Nobody here's gonna get you for bein' yourself. *pause* Okay, Kitty might.

Kitty: *scowl*

Smith: Old habits... Ever hear stories about someone named 'Devcon'?

Wesson: *reaches up and grabs Laserbeak's beak even before she can curse in startled alarm* Yup.

Eject: *using Wesson's other shoulder as a perch now, kthx* Guy was a legend.

Smith: *slight smirk* 'Was'... Still am.

Eject: *falls off Wesson's shoulder in shock*

Wesson: *sniffs and wrinkles his nose* What's this I hear about Ratchet ownin' your can?

Smith: Yeah, right.

Wesson: I believe it.

Smith: ... Where'd you hear about that anyway?

Wesson: From Ratchet.

Smith: ... Scrap.

Wesson: *frowns at him* Haven't you been keepin' up with anything?

Smith: I've been trying to stay alive. Rapidfire doesn't make that easy when she thinks I'm cheating on her.

Wesson: *shakes head with disgust* I'm talkin' ta the Colonel right now. You need a checkup and to report to Prime.

Smith: ... *sighs, shoulders sagging* Fine... Help me explain it to Rapidfire, so she doesn't shoot me the next time she sees me.

Wesson: Bring her too.

Smith: ... *small nod. Bit of a distracted look for a few moments*

Lieutenant Pratt: *is that tall, black-haired lady walking over shortly thereafter* *gives Wesson and Kitty a polite nod of greeting*

Wesson: *sudden twinkle in his eyes* Here, hold this. *babby to the lady!*

Lt. Pratt: *blink blink* Er... Okay?

Kitty: *so much scowl* No!

Lt. Pratt: ... *raised brow* Er... I don't think she likes me very much.

Smith: *such a Look leveled at Wesson*

Wesson: She hasn't bit you yet. *pokes self in ear* //You 'n Granny ready yet, Babe?//

Laserbeak: *will sit on Lt. Pratt's shoulder and prattle now*

Maria: //Yeah. Just gotta convince Mom that we don't need to bring the casserole on the plane.//

Wesson: *brows lift* //Your mom's there? I thought we were gonna meet her at the destination.//

Maria: //Granny hadn't even finished packing, Johnny...// *can you hear the fond exasperation in her voice?*

Wesson: //Sheesh. Well, remember when I told you about that big bad Autobot bounty hunter that kicked Dirge 'n Ramjet's afts that time?//

Maria: //Yeah... What was his name again? Defcon?//

Wesson: //Devcon. Found 'em.// *shares image of what he's seeing with her cell phone*

Maria: //...Wait... Smith is Devcon? Who's Lt. Pratt then?// *going on a hunch*

Wesson: //She's his lady. Though he don't seem too sure about her.//

Maria: //... He looks nervous.//

Wesson: //I think she kicks his caboose.//

Kitty: *grudgingly offers to share drooly finger with Smith*

Smith: *soft chuckle as he thanks Kitty*

Lt. Pratt: *so awkward and uncomfortable looking*

Maria: //Does he have a way to get to Rachel?//

Wesson: //He will. I told the Colonel about them.//

Maria: //Okay. We'll see you at the airport then?//

Wesson: //Yup. Don't forget the cage for these two yahoos.//

Maria: //We've got it.// *chuckling* //So how'd you figure out Smith's Devcon?//

Wesson: //He confessed after Kitty told 'im he tasted bad.// *amused and it shows in his voice*

Maria: *SNERK* //Wow.//

Wesson: //Our baby girl's got the touch.//

Maria: *more chuckle* //So how much trouble is Devcon, usually? Would he give Sammy and Seamus a run for their money?//

Wesson: //Hmmm.// *searches the common channel and finds several files about the bounty hunter, then translates them and sends them to his wife's phone* //That pretty much tells about him.//

Maria: //...Whoah.//

Wesson: *blink* //Did you read it already?//

Maria: //This guy's a bounty hunter?//

Wesson: //Oh. Yeah. The top one.//

Maria: *impressed whistle over the phone* //I'm gonna transfer this to my Kindle, so I can read it on the plane...//

Wesson: //Alright. Heh. Now you got your reading material. No need ta buy any.//

Maria: //Right. Well, we've got everything packed, Glit's been stuffed into the carrier... I think we're just about ready to go...//

Wesson: //*grumble* Oh yeah. Still need a book for him.//

Maria: //Granny put one of the photo albums in with him. He's got something to look at.//

Wesson: *snerk* //Yeah. That'll keep 'im shut up for awhile. Okay. I'll get Kitty and be there.//

Maria: //Alright. We'll be out front.//

Wesson: //Got coordinates?// *makes it so a heart appears on her cellphone screen*

Maria: //Yup... You goofball.// *amused chuckle, and then she's reciting the coordinates*

Wesson: //Got 'em. Love you, babe.//

Maria: //Love you too, see you in a bit.//

Wesson: //Yup.// *closes line and looks at daughter*

Kitty: *epic pout*

Lt. Pratt: *gives babby back* She's cute...

Wesson: *grins* Her mother's human. *has a little hand holding his finger now*

Lt. Pratt: ...

Smith: ... How is that possible?

Wesson: *snerk* *quotes his friend's favourite line from before watching a movie* No spoilers.

Smith: You're a jerk.

Wesson: *griiin*

Kitty: NO! *slapping motion with little plump hand*

Laserbeak: *whistling the 'Twilight Zone' theme*

Smith: *headshake* Get outta here.

Wesson: *razzes, and then... vanishes with a swish and a slight flash*

Eject: Aww, c'mon! *grumbles and pesters mate for coordinates, and then vanishes in the same way Wesson did*

Smith: *trying to figure out what the slag just happened*

Col. Franklin: *calls the two of them to report to his office*


Elsewhere...


Wesson: *knocks on the back door of Maria's Granny's cute little cottage look condo*

Maria: *opening the door a few moments later* *so amused* I still can't believe Granny put the photo album in with Glit...

Wesson: *offers her baby* Was he talkin' to her? Hey! Beaky, get back here!

Laserbeak: I'm inna house! *cackles as she swoops inside*

Maria's mother: *can be heard acking a few moments later*

Maria: *face.palm* *reaches for Kitty*

Kitty: No. *goes to Mama*

Wesson: *turning his head to look for Eject as he hands over babby*

Eject: *aiming for your shoulder now, Wesson* What's the big idea, leaving me behind?

Wesson: I did not.

Eject: *feather poof, offended huff*

Maria: *rolls her eyes* Dork... *looks over her shoulder* Mom, stop freaking out. Beaky won't hurt you.

Maria's mother: *ducked and trying to protect her hair. Looks a lot like an older version of Maria, but with more grey hair*

Granny: *coming to see what all the fuss is about, has Glit's carrier in hand* *in Portugese* "Beaky" is having about as much of a fit as Lorna.

Wesson: *parade ground bark* Laserbeak! Atten- hut!

Laserbeak: Ack! *comes flying back, nearly swipes Eject, but catches herself in time and goes to the other shoulder. Then stands to attention with her chest puffed* //This is NOT a good way to treat a knocked up lady.//

Wesson: *knows Maria can hear them if she's wearing her radio* //Then stop bein' stupid.//

Maria: *would facepalm, but she's currently holding Kitty*

Lorna: *peeks from where she's ducked and covered* Is it safe?

Granny: *paying her daughter no mind, is telling Glit about some of the pictures in the album now*

Wesson: It always was safe, Mrs. Ross. Laserbeak's not dangerous.

Laserbeak: *soft crooning as she leans around the back of his head to preen Eject's tail*

Eject: *going to fuss over mate now, kthx*

Lorna: Oh... *moving to stand up. And lo and behold, she's not much taller than Maria either. It seems shortness runs in the family*

Maria: *amused eye roll*

Wesson: Sheesh, woman. You nag at me for months about letting you see your granddaughter, and when I bring her, you're hiding on the floor.

Maria: Johnny, be nice... Laserbeak's always going to be startling to people who aren't expecting her. *still so amused though*

Granny: *absently* Such a nice kitty....

Wesson: *stops making a held in grin face at his wife to face palm at Granny's words*

Lorna: Mother likes cats... *slight shrug*

Maria: *snickering* *softly, so only Wesson and the other Cybertronians can hear her* Glit and Granny were talking about the pictures... And Granny wasn't just talking to herself.

Wesson: XD //Thought so.// *looks at Lorna and lifts his brows slightly. So. I'm the son in law. What do you think?*

Kitty: *gnawing gently on Mama's finger as she thinks*

Lorna: *considering look* Why wasn't I invited to the wedding?

Wesson: *frowns and tries to remember the wedding* Didn't we just sign some papers, Mari?

Maria: Yeah... We had the base chaplain and a couple of the Lt. Colonels there to make it official... We were pretty busy with stuff though, so there wasn't really time for a big, fancy wedding. *isn't bothered by that at all*

Wesson: Didn't we do the fancy picture yet? *honestly can't remember*

Maria: It's in the carry-on. *smile*

Wesson: Alright. *slight grin for little wife* And where's that?

Maria: Over by the door with the rest of the luggage.

Wesson: *grins at her, and then looks at Granny* Can I come in, Mama?

Granny: *blinks and looks up from telling Glit about how one of her brothers fell in a well after getting kicked by a donkey* *nods and responds with an affirmative*

Lorna: *moves to let Wesson in* *thinking about how this big Marine with the courting birds on his shoulders acts toward Maria. Thinks about how the baby Maria is holding looks so much like her*

Wesson: *moves with his usual easy grace and power that some people think is menacing as he wanders into the house and goes to one knee beside the duffel bag that Hattie made for him out of tiger stripe fake fur and which looks like Garfield*

Laserbeak: *softly* Looooove you, Eject.

Eject: *nuzzles* *quietly* Love you too, Beaky.

Glit: *dry little snerk from inside the carrier that only people who know he's more than a cat will notice*

Lorna: *wonders when her daughter stopped being interested in the tall, caucasian soldier with the greying hair* *bit of a headshake. Is just happy Maria has someone who loves her*

Wesson: *pulls out the roll of heavy, archival quality paper and then stands and comes back. Unrolls it to show the massive poster of the whole Wesson family in fine dress* How's this?

Lorna: *brows up* *teasingly, to Maria* You couldn't have worn a dress?

Maria: *knowing Look for her mother. Knows the older woman's teasing* It would've looked funny with how spiffy Johnny looked in his dress blues, and with Pinky in his uniform. *points to where the big piglet is sitting with Pete and Silver*

Granny: Such a nice picture. *smiling as she looks at it*

Wesson: *studies how Glit is sitting to attention in the picture, there on the table between himself and Maria* You can't even see Kitty's got Glit's tail. All that bellyachin' for nothing.

Maria: *chuckling* No kidding.

Lorna: *amused* Mr. Pettypaws never learned to keep out of Maria's reach when she was a baby...

Wesson: He probably didn't like her crying. That's why these guys let Kitty yank 'em. *offers the poster*

Lorna: That, or he was just dumb... I remember he used to run into doors when he was trying to get out, and would end up closing them... *reaches for the poster*

Wesson: *snerrrk* Oh. He's like Rumble 'n Frenzy. *points to two of the beady-eyed little faces that are peeking around Pinky, Pete, and Silver in the picture*

Maria: *'scuse her while she snickerfits*

Lorna: ...Weasels?

Wesson: Ferrets. What're the colours called, Mari?

Maria: Rumble's a dark sable with some blue to his fur, and Frenzy's a hooded red... Rumble's girlfriend, Rewind, is a sable... and all three will steal cheerios.

Wesson: And anything else with a hole in it. Which is why my boots look like slag.

Maria: We've had to ferret-proof our home... Baby-proofing it wasn't enough.

Wesson: And parrot proof it. And pig proof it. And bat proof it in places too. *pokes Eject for leaning over so far*

Lorna: Bat-proof it?

Wesson: *reaches down into a cargo pocket and pulls out a woolly, adorably blinking fruit bat* Yup.

Lorna: ...

Maria: Oh, so that's where Ratbat wound up...

Wesson: Yup. Crawled in while I was tryin' ta find Kitty's bracelet.

Kitty: No! *hides wrist and the little golden bangle with a painted rose cameo that was her birth gift from Maria's parents*

Maria: Maybe he was cold. *chuckling. Knows what a doofus Ratbat can be*

Lorna: ... How do you bat-proof a house? *puzzling over this now*

Wesson: Duct tape on the canisters. *stuffs Ratbat back into the pocket and buttons it with one hand, earning complaints from Laserbeak as he leans over*

Eject: *wings flapping a bit to keep his balance* Derp derp derp...

Wesson: Aw, stick a sock in it. *straightens up and then looks at Kitty as she scowls at her mother*

Kitty: Nom!

Maria: Alright... *chuckling and going to the diaper bag she brought along. Will get one of Kitty's bottles out and offer it to the babby*

Wesson: *as he watches the little sourpuss scowl at her bottle* //So... You decided? Are we telling your Mom and Grandma about us?//

Maria: *small nod as she brings Kitty and the bottle over* *quietly* I don't know how well Granny will understand though... *bites her lower lip* She didn't recognize me earlier...

Wesson: *worried frown toward the elderly woman*

Granny: *now telling Glit about something funny one of her uncles did one time*

Maria: *quietly* It's Alzheimer's... I'm just thankful it didn't start till recently...

Wesson: *and now Lorna is going to see a faceful of sadness on the strapping big Marine*

Lorna: *wonders to herself what that's all about*

Wesson: *comms Glit and talks to him a bit, but then turns to Lorna* Hey, Mrs. Ross, you have anything I could eat now?

Lorna: I think so... Let me go check. *will move to do so, setting the poster down on the entryway table*

Wesson: *nods to Maria to follow her mother before doing so himself* //I have papers.//

Maria: *small nod, offers Kitty plus bottle*

Wesson: *takes the quietly nursing sparklet and cuddles, using the fingers not used for holding the bottle to smooth her ruffled pink dress*

Kitty: *isn't scowling. Is blinking sleepily and reaching for Eject's tail*

Maria: *will go see if there's anything she can help her mother with in the kitchen*

Wesson: *follows Maria and looks for somewhere to sit*

kitchen: *has a small table and some chairs*

Lorna: *bustling about. Has found cookies, and some dried fruit chips*

Wesson: *as he settles down very carefully in one of the kitchen chairs* You know where we live, Mrs. Ross?

Lorna: It's a military base... Right?

Wesson: *nods* Yeah. That all you know?

Laserbeak: *flaps over to the back of another chair, and then feather floofs and mutters about show on the road*

Kitty: *growls at Laserbeak without opening her eyes or pausing in her drinking*

Lorna: I heard about the bombing at the Virginia Tech campus on the news...

Wesson: Did you hear about that robot stuff awhile back? Or see those new cops in Japan?

Lorna: I'd heard about the cops in Japan...

Wesson: *nods* What do you think about all that?

Lorna: I'm not surprised Japan has robot cops already... But what are you talking about with "that robot stuff"?

Wesson: *glances at Maria, inviting her to explain*

Maria: There was a direct attack on our base awhile ago... *quieter* The attackers weren't the usual terrorists. They were alien robots... And the base was defended by more alien robots...

Lorna: ... *raised brow*

Wesson: *quietly reaches down into his other cargo pocket, and then offers Lorna the non-disclosure agreement forms, his face serious as he supports his little daughter on the arm of the hand that's feeding the baby*

Lorna: *frowns as she accepts the forms and begins reading. Soon, her brows are climbing higher and higher*

Wesson: *quietly* You're Maria's mom, and she's no dope. So you probably see where this's goin'.

Lorna: *looks up* ... Kitty looks like both of you...

Wesson: *slight grin* She's ours.

Lorna: ... How is that possible? Is she human, or is she like you?

Maria: She's Cybertronian.

Wesson: My aft is mud if we tell you anymore before you fill those out. *looks at Kitty as she growls in her sleep* *snerks as he sees her spit out her bottle and stick out her tongue*

Lorna: *bit of a frown, gets a pen from the basket by her mother's phone. Starts filling out the forms*

Laserbeak: *tilts her head at Eject and gives a very soft wolf whistle*

Kitty: *giggles about the whistle without waking, then drools*

Eject: *quiet catcall for Laserbeak*

Laserbeak: *walks back and forth on her chair back, showing Eject that there's room for two on it. Flirt flirt flirt!*

Eject: *abandons Wesson's shoulder, will join Laserbeak on the chair back*

Laserbeak: *snuggle snuggle snuggle* *share sensation of kicky sparklet with mate*

Eject: *nuzzles. Soft 'urk' sound at the sensation of kicky sparklet*

Maria: *amused headshake for bird antics. Will gently smooth Kitty's hair*

Kitty: *big baby sigh in sleep*

Lorna: Now, does Mother have to sign these too?

Wesson: *sigh* Just let'er talk ta Glit. Maybe the old scrapheap'll do her some good.

Lorna: *small nod, offers the filled out forms back*

Wesson: *takes them. And then very visibly subspaces them*

Lorna: *boggles*

Laserbeak: *looks up alertly, and then chuckles* Welcome ta the family, Mrs. Ross.

Eject: Most of us are crazy, and you can't send us back. *chuckle. Resumes gently fussing over mate*

Maria: Eject! Be nice.

Laserbeak: Yeah, bolt brain. *fluffs her feathers, and then peeks quickly at all the windows before jumping down on the floor and transforming to root mode* Yahhhh! *streeeeetch*

Lorna: *STARES*

Eject: *hops down to the seat of the chair and transforms* *arms above his head as he stretches*

Laserbeak: *pokabelly*

Eject: Ack! Hey! *gentle swat for mate*

Laserbeak: Spouse abuse! *ravenish cackle of mirth*

Eject: Oh, yeah? *lay down, grab, snog*

Lorna: *facepalm*

Maria: *ditto* We can't take you two anywhere!

Wesson: *as he gently kicks the two recorders* Any questions, Mrs. Ross?

Lorna: *behind her hand* How much danger is there?

Maria: Eeeh... It depends on the day. Usually, the worst we have to deal with is Buzzsaw giving someone a headache in the stairwell, 'cause he likes to sit down there in falcon mode and screech.

Eject: Aw, Buzzy's not so tough. All it takes is one near miss and he starts runnin'. *dirty rotten chuckle*

Wesson: And screaming louder. *stern look* Not that we can hear him over you cuttin' loose.

Laserbeak: Burrrn.

Eject: *razz*

Laserbeak: *wide optics as her belly gives a distinct ping* Ow!

Wesson: What the slag? *frowns down at recorders*

Eject: *down to the floor to fuss over mate and help her into the chair!*

Wesson: What was that?

Laserbeak: *sitting on the chair now and being quiet* o.0 Sparklet kicking.

Eject: 0.o He shouldn't be making so much noise yet...

Laserbeak: Bleah. *squirm* Make 'im stop wrigglin' so slaggin' much!

Wesson: *quiet chuckle and looks at his wife* *softly* Glad you missed that part?

Maria: *quiet* Yup.

Eject: *climbs up to try and help Laserbeak feel better with cuddles*

Lorna: ... *bit of a frown. Is still wondering about her grandbaby* I still don't understand how Kitty looks like the two of you, and is... *hesitant pronounciation of the word* Cybertronian.

Wesson: *looks up and sighs* I don't understand it either, Mrs. Ross. There's this gas... Rare and crazy stuff. It'll make a baby for a man and woman who're close together when they inhale it. And the baby's theirs.

Lorna: ...

Maria: It sounds absolutely bonkers, but it exists.

Wesson: *gently smooths baby's hair, and then trips her transformation sequence* See? She looks like Mari in this mode too.

Maneki Neko: *scowwl and fuss without waking*

Lorna: *boggling again* She does...

Wesson: *cuddles the baby and looks sideways at his wife with one of those looks that tells just how much he values her* Part of Mari's gonna last for a long time.

Maria: *slight blush, moves a bit closer so she can lean on her husband*

Lorna: ... *small nod. Can see how much the two love each other*

Wesson: *leans down to gently rest his forehead against Maria's. Then blinks and remembers mother in law. Clears throat* Anything else?

Lorna: What did you mean by Glit possibly doing Mother some good?

Wesson: *slight grin that holds mocking affection* He's my dad's older brother. And our senior medic.

Lorna: ... Oh.

Wesson: That's my older sister. *nods at Laserbeak* And the fuzzball in my pocket's my brother.

Lorna: ... *very soft snerk*

Wesson: Two of the ferrets in the wedding picture are brothers, too. The female's his sister. *indicates Eject*

Lorna: Ah...

Eject: *chuckles* Dad swore he'd stop making kids after Rewind and I were born... But then he and Teletraan got Mung Bean...

Wesson: *SO much rottenness in the chuckle he just gave. And can you see his eyes dancing, Lorna?*

Lorna: ... I take it Mung Bean's just like his father?

Maria: And how. *so amused*

Wesson: Yup. *pauses and gives Maneki Neko a wondering look* Glit says Kitty ain't like me, though.

Lorna: ... What do you mean?

Maria: She's her own separate person... Johnny's one of his dad's symbionts...

Lorna: ... *such a confused look on her face now*

Wesson: I was talking about her personality, Mari.

Maria: Oooh.

Lorna: ... What?

Maria: *slight grin* Remember what a stinker I was as a kid? Maneki Neko's the same.

Lorna: *bit of a frown, eyes Wesson with a bit of puzzlement* And what about all the things I've heard about you?

Wesson: ...That was probably Jean. I ain't into pranking.

Laserbeak: *sniggerfitdie*

Lorna: About how you helped Maria feel welcome and kept Jean from hitting on her.

Wesson: Ohhh. My history. *rubs the back of his neck* Well... I'm not the original John Wesson. *looks down at his daughter* *quietly* He fell off a roof and broke his neck a few days before he got accepted at Quantico.

Maria: *small nod* *quietly* Until stuff started happening, we didn't have any idea...

Wesson: I didn't fully realize exactly what I was either till the old man decided I was for you and filled me in on everything. *snerks*

Maria: ... *bit of a surprised look for her husband*

Wesson: *soberly* He's good. *looks toward Lorna* See, Mari wasn't quite right. I ain't a symbiont like these turkeys. I'm a fully autonomous and sentient shell program.

Lorna: ... Shell program?

Wesson: *looks at her thoughtfully* How much do you know about programming?

Lorna: ... *blank look*

Maria: I had to program the VCR for her.

Wesson: *wince* Well, it's something like a mask.

Lorna: ... Huh... *trying to picture this now*

Wesson: Sometimes my dad was wearing me, but sometimes it was two of my brothers. And I never knew about being switched, even though sometimes Buzzsaw and Ratbat where there, and sometimes they weren't.

Lorna: ... *bit of a frown*

Wesson: *sees the frown* What's wrong?

Lorna: You didn't know?

Wesson: Not really. I did know I wasn't human, and that I was there ta gather intel. *shrugs one shoulder*

Lorna: ... Oh...

Maria: Took us awhile to find out he wasn't human... And that was after the Stunticons used his dad as a punching bag...

Wesson: And another Maria tried makin' a break for it. *slight grin toward his wife*

Maria: *at her mother's confused look* There's a baby girl on base who is also named Maria...

Lorna: ... What are "Stunticons"?

Wesson: Bad.

Maria: Idiots. One of 'em likes to play roadkill.

Wesson: *snerks* Though Marcia's got her moments when she's tendin' Fleur.

Maria: Marcia's scary when she gets super maternal...

Wesson: *shoulders shaking in silent sniggerfit*

Lorna: ... *raised brow*

Maria: She even clobbered Pietro, and gave him a concussion... 'Course, that only got worse when he got hit with those brass knucks a few days later... *wibble*

Wesson: He needed ta take a holiday anyway. *still looking very amused*

Maria: Yeah, but that was a lousy way to start one...

Lorna: ... Pietro is someone you work with?

Wesson: Yeah. One of the Cybertronian officers that works off base. *STILL amused*

Lorna: Oh... *slight frown* What's so funny?

Wesson: *glances at Lorna, and then back to his wife. Says the thing that always puts her into a perfect fury* This lady at the island base said Kitty's too fat.

Maria: ... *scowl* She is not. She's a healthy weight and she's active... *and here she goes on the same rant as always!*

Wesson: *glances at Lorna again, his eyes twinkling as he looks to see if she realizes that her daughter is just as scary when maternal as the aforementioned Marcia*

Lorna: *facepalming and shaking her head. But behind her hand, she's smiling*

Wesson: *belly laugh that has Maneki Neko scowling and clicking*

Maria: *rant rant rant*

Maneki Neko: *unshutters optics, and then sits up and demandingly holds out her arms to Mama*

Maria: *will move to reach for babby*

Wesson: *as he hands the little one over* Change her back.

Maria: *will do so, fussing over babby all the while*

Kitty: *pats Mama on the mouth, her expression a cute and grumpy little sleepy pout*

Lorna: *now it's her turn to belly laugh*

Wesson: *quizzical grin for mother in law* What?

Lorna: Maria used to do the same thing to me!

Wesson: *deep laughter has his daughter clicking protest*

Maria: *fuss, fuss, pauses as she hears her husband and her mother laughing*

Wesson: *laughter trails down to chortling, and he wipes his eyes with the back of one hand*

Maria: You said that just to get me going, didn't you? *Look for husband*

Wesson: *arm out in offer of hug*

Maria: *mock-offended huff, but comes over for hugs*

Wesson: *arms around her as she sits on him* *soft rumble of a murmur* Love you.

Kitty: *frowwwns, but then sees what's going on and snuggles, shutting her eyes with a sigh*

Maria: *nuzzle* Love you too. Doofus.

Wesson: *mock hurt look* Doofus?

Maria: *kiss*

Wesson: *deep, soft rumble that isn't human as he returns the kiss and then rests his forehead against hers*

Lorna: *getting a picture of the cute*

Granny: *coming to get something to drink* *pauses* Oh... we have company...

Wesson: *suddenly reminded of Granny's presence. Rumbling stops, and he looks around quickly to see where Laserbeak and Eject have gone. Seeing them passed out on the seat of their chair, he turns to look at the elderly woman*

Maria: *so much blush*

Granny: *going to bustle about the kitchen and get the guests something to eat and drink*

Wesson: *face drops with sadness as he understands* Oh. She forgot about us.

Glit: *front paw up on Wesson's leg* Yes. And she moves remarkably swiftly for an elderly human.

Wesson: *nods to Glit, and then looks up uncertainly* *to Granny* Mama, you need a hand with anything?

Granny: *blinks a bit* *Portuguese* Have you seen the tea kettle?

Wesson: *quick glance around* *same language* Isn't that it on the counter?

Lorna: We should get to the airport... We'll miss our flight...

Wesson: Right. *stands, wife and baby in his arms*

Laserbeak: *back in alt mode and flapping her wings as she prepares to launch into the living room and hop into she and Eject's carrier*

Eject: *doing like mate*

Granny: *puzzled* *Portuguese* Going already?

Wesson: *gently, in Portuguese* You're coming with us.

Granny: *blink blink* Oh... *will move to pack, only to get stopped by Lorna*

Lorna: *gently* We packed already, remember, Mama?

Granny: *so confused, but will smile and nod*

Glit: *walks over and brushes against her leg* *quietly, in Portuguese* Shall I show you where your jacket is, Manuela?

Granny: *distracted* Such a nice kitty... *will give scritchies*

Glit: *purrs and entices her out of the room and over to where her pretty patchwork jacket is laying*

Wesson: *sad look of sympathy for the lady in his arms*

Maria: *wibbling and hiding her face against her husband's chest*

Lorna: *quietly* I've got a live-in nurse who is going to be taking care of her at the house...

Wesson: *nods* *voice a soft rumble* Glit says she's not gonna be here much longer.

Lorna: *bites her lip and small nod*

Wesson: I'm sorry, Mrs. Ross.

Lorna: *quietly* I can at least make sure she's comfortable and safe.

Wesson: Yeah. Oh, and Glit says you aren't gonna go like that.

Lorna: ...He can tell?

Wesson: Yeah. Medical units have good scanners and sensors.

Lorna: ... Huh...

Maria: Glit's almost as well-known as Ratchet...

Wesson: He trained Ratchet, Mari.

Maria: *blink blink* I didn't know that...

Wesson: *nods* He was her mentor.

Maria: Ooooh.

Wesson: *turns to carry her into the living room, then reluctantly sets her and Kitty down so that he can go over and put the cover on the pullman style bird carrier and get Glit into his box*

Granny: *trying to remember what she was looking for*

Lorna: Here, Mama. *will get the older lady her pretty hat*

Granny: *happy expression is a go*

Wesson: *hauls birds out and puts them in the back of the big white Hummer that's standing in front of the condo*

Eject: Watch the goods!

Wesson: Aw stick a sock in it. *closes the hatch. Knows Glit's box will be in the back seat with Granny*

Lorna: *helping Granny into the SUV*

Wesson: *goes to the little baby carrier that's bolted between the front seats* Gimme Kitty, I'll get her loaded.

Maria: *gives babby* *will move to help her mother get the luggage*

Wesson: *loading babby as she pouts in her sleep and holds onto her piggy blanket*

Lorna: Will this be alright at the airport? *indicates the Hummer*

Hummer: *cheery male voice* Don't worry. I'm goin' home after I offload you guys.

Lorna: *boggles*

Maria: Mom, this is Wheeljack.

BJ: They call me Big Jack, to tell me from little Jack. Call me BJ.

Lorna: ... Er... Alright...

Granny: Such a nice young man... *starting to get sleepy*

Wesson: *comes back to help get everything else loaded, carefully making sure that all of Granny's important things are laying safely* Don't mind BJ, Mrs. Ross. He's just another guy like me. Except uglier.

BJ: *backfire sound, but no smell*

Wesson: *jumps back with a cuss*

Maria: *acks*

Lorna: What was that?!

BJ: *innocently* Rude sound effects.

Wesson: *kicks his tire*

Lorna: *stern Look is a go*

Maria: Sheesh. BJ, you're a stinker.

Wesson: Let's get this show on the road. *heads for the front, and then bangs the driver's door with the heel of his hand a few times when it refuses to open*

Maria: BJ, behave. Or I'll tell Ratchet. *moving to get in*

BJ: I'm not afraid of Rachel.

Maria: Fine. I'll tell Road Queen.

BJ: ... Low blow. *lets Wesson in*

Maria: That's something I'm good at.

Lorna: *headshake at what her daughter's doing. Raised brow as she notices BJ is leaning over somehow... Which does make it easy for her to get in...*

Wesson: *turns on the radio and grins at the low strains of soft rock* Love Sora's album.

Maria: I can't believe she's already got a second one in the works... She hasn't even started touring yet.

Wesson: She ain't ready, Mari. *fastens his seatbelt*

Maria: *small nod as she moves to buckle up*

Lorna: *makes sure Granny is buckled up, even though the older woman is already asleep. Will get buckled up after she's sure her mother is secure*

BJ: I've got her, Mrs. R. *has Granny in the five point harness and has modded the head rest on his seat to support her head*

Lorna: Alright. *still a bit hesitant*

BJ: Trust me. *seems to pat pat her back with the back of her seat*

Lorna: *deep breath* Alright. Let's go. We'll miss our flight.


Meanwhile, at the Virginia Tech campus...


Sean: *sitting next to Jack's desk in study hall, engrossed in his laptop*

Catherine: *hesitantly approaching Jack's desk* Er... Professor Ruteger?

Jack: *looks up from organizing papers* Is something wrong, Catherine?

Catherine: *quieter* I need to talk to you...

Jack: *nods and moves to get up*

Catherine: *bites her lower lip as she moves to stand a bit closer so the professor doesn't have to get up* *quietly* I think I'm going crazy...

Sean: *looks up, his eyes widening slightly and then narrowing alertly as he thinks he catches a whisper of sound too low for a human to hear*

Jack: *concerned frown* What makes you say that, Catherine?

Catherine: *looking down and rubbing her arm* *quietly* I've been having... Really weird dreams lately... Stuff I can't even chalk up to reading manga before bed...

Jack: *more concerned* What sort of dreams?

Catherine: A lot of the time, it's places made of twisted metal and no sun in the sky...

Sean: *startled sound as he sits up straight. Eyes are very wide now*

Jack: ... *reaches to gently lift Catherine's chin so he can look her in the eye*

Catherine: *startled, eyes wide and showing a slight glow* *skreeks*

Sean: *flails* There's an extinguished spark attached to her.

Jack: *frantically dinging Rachel's comm, and trying to keep Catherine from bolting*

Catherine: *doing her darndest to get away. Is just a bit spooked*

Rachel: //What is it? What's wrong?// *sounds very worried*

Sean: *transforms*

Jack: //We've got a human with an extinguished spark attached to her!//

Catherine: *surprised skreek when she sees Sundog*

Rachel: //Where are you?//

Jack: *sends the coordinates* //I think it's a Seeker.//

Rachel: //Study hall. How many people are there?//

Jack: //Sundog transformed.//

Rachel: //He's the only other one there?//

Jack: //Other than Catherine, Will, and 'Brina, yes.//

Rachel: //Incoming.// *there with a swish and a slight flash, an excited little drone clinging to her shoulder*

Catherine: *startles badly, tensing and reaching for something that's not there*

Will: *looks up to see who showed up* *attention back on homework*

Rachel: *looks at Catherine with her scanners* Yup. I'd say that was a Seeker. *transforms* ...I think I know her.

Catherine: *boggling*

Jack: Who is she?

Ratchet: *softly and hesitantly* ...Scanner?

Scanner: *uses Catherine's voice* *hesitantly* Medical unit?

Ratchet: *hand over her mouth as she nods* I taught one of your classes at the medical academy.

Moofy: *deedling rapidly*

Scanner: *serious expression on Catherine's face as she tries to pull up memories* ... Ratchet.

Ratchet: *nods gently* *quietly* What are you doing here?

Sundog: *soft scree of upset as he stands by his chair and watches*

Scanner: *quiet little skreeks* *softly* Want to live.

Ratchet: But you could hurt this girl.

Scanner: Want to live. Share memories. Share shell.

Ratchet: Did you ask?

Scanner: Did... Girl found shell... Asked...

Ratchet: *gently* Can I talk to her?

Scanner: ... *confused*

Ratchet: What's wrong? *scans and then winces*

Jack: Ratchet?

Ratchet: *softly* There is no 'you' and 'her'. They're nearly one being, and the fusion's too nearly finished for me to undo it.

Jack: *wince wince wince* How far along?

Scanner: *hunkering down* *quiet* Sharing since shell found...

Ratchet: *sends the data to her mate*

Sundog: *soft skreek and comms Skylar*

Skylar: //What's wrong, Sean?//

Jack: *wincing muchly as he goes over the data* *quietly* Catherine thought she was going insane...

Sundog: *tells his flock leader who's here, and how*

Ratchet: *quietly* Can you blame her?

Skylar: //... Whoah...//

Jack: *headshake* *quietly* She's already been through so much...

Ratchet: When does your shift end?

Jack: After this period.

Ratchet: Okay. *looks to Catherine/Scanner* Will you come with me and Sundog? *walks over and puts a hand on the Seeklet's shoulder* *quietly* He's Skywarp's oldest son.

Scanner: *recognizes Skywarp's name* *small nod* *quietly* Know Skywarp....

Ratchet: *nods* *softly* The Air Commander is at base as well.

Scanner: *startled expression is a go*

Ratchet: You worked with him, I know.

Scanner: *small nod*

Jack: Where's the shell?

Scanner: *quietly* Barn... Worked on fixing it...

Ratchet: Can you give me the coordinates?

Scanner: *look of concentration, and then a headshake, followed by a slight frown*

Ratchet: Oh right. *slight grin* Can you give me directions?

Catherine: *taking over, will give directions*

Ratchet: *nods and then looks up Google Maps* Want to go get your shell right now?

Catherine/Scanner: *small nod*

Ratchet: Alright, Catscan. *holds out her hand* You need to touch me to come along.

Catherine/Scanner: *puzzled by the nickname, reaches for Ratchet's hand*

Ratchet: *one hand for Catscan, and a Sundog holding onto her arm. PINpoints to the farm*

Sundog: *tells Skylar what they're doing*

Skylar: //I'll be there in a few. Coordinates?//

Catherine/Scanner: *hurk*

Sundog: //URK!//

Ratchet: *soothing Catscan*

Catherine/Scanner: *whimper*

Ratchet: *hugs the girl and pats her back as she leads her away from the mess. And then SHE acks and nearly leaks oil as a shrill feline scream suddenly sounds*

Catherine/Scanner: Kitty...

Moofy: *fell off of Mama's shoulder at the kitty scream*

Ratchet: What's wrong with it??? *looking around with wide optics*

Catherine/Scanner: Territorial...

Skylar: //Sean? What happened?//

Sundog: 0.0 //We... got barked at by a cat.//

Skylar: //... Oh. Coordinates?//

Sundog: //Sorry.// *sends them*

Ratchet: *looking down bemusedly at the cat as it rubs on her leg and purrs*

Skylar: *arriving a few moments later*

Catherine/Scanner: *stoops to pick the cat up* *startles at Skylar's arrival* *skreeeek!*

Skylar: *soothing skreeks, hands up to show he's not a threat*

Ratchet: Better transform so she knows who you are.

Skylar: *nods and transforms*

Catherine/Scanner: *hunkers down before she can stop herself*

Sundog: *softly, in Seeker* [He's not like that anymore.] *heads toward Starscream, his arms going out in request to be picked up*

Starscream: *quiet clicks and skreeks as he picks Sundog up*

Sundog: *snuggles and hides his face on his extra parent, making small baby clicks and skreeks as he does*

Catherine/Scanner: *so confused, and still a bit urky feeling* *rubs at her forehead*

Ratchet: He's Autobot now. And has a mate.

Catherine/Scanner: *small nod, skreeking quietly to herself, then she's looking up* A mate?

Ratchet: Yes. Do you remember that Quintesson slave project?

Catherine/Scanner: *quiet for a few moments, then a slow nod* *softly* First case...

Ratchet: Yes. *slight smile* It was. You did well on it. Well, Moonshadow was from that project... only we missed her.

Catherine/Scanner: *frowning muchly now*

Ratchet: She's alright. She's learning to be herself. *grin* And she has a way with fuel that makes calcien worth fighting over in the mess line. *knows well the way Seekers on the homeworld always loved tussling over their meals*

Catherine/Scanner: *looks up at that* ... *facepalm, mutter about idiots and injuries*

Ratchet: *wide grin* Yup. *headtilt as she reaches down to help Moofy back to her shoulder* Show me your shell?

Catherine/Scanner: *small nod, moves to lead Ratchet to the barn*

Ratchet: *quickly scans the shell and sighs* //Her spark compartment's been removed, but she's been adding neural connectors to her cockpit.//

Starscream: //... Is she trying to make the human her new spark or something?//

Catherine/Scanner: *hesitating, and then she's putting down the cat and moving to try and start working on the shell again*

Ratchet: *bites her lip* //I think she is.//

Starscream: //... Why?//

Catherine/Scanner: *has to stop when her hands start to shake and she starts to feel dizzy from urking earlier*

Ratchet: *quietly* //She says she wants to live and that she's been sharing memories with Catherine so that they can share the shell.//

Starscream: *bit of a frown* //... How would that even work?//

Catherine/Scanner: *grabbing a trash can and being sick in it*

Ratchet: *sends Starscream the data about how the extinguished spark has become a part of the girl*

Starscream: //...I didn't even know humans were compatable enough to do that...//

Jack: *coming to see if he needs to assist with anything* *was mobbed by kittens*

Ratchet: //I never thought to look. But Scanner was one of the best that Iacon Med ever turned out. And she had a reason to look.// *glances toward mate*

Jack: *concerned as he sees how pale and shaky Catherine/Scanner is*

Starscream: //...This is going to take some getting used to.//

Ratchet: *wordless affirmative to Starscream as she walks over to gently support CatScan* *softly* Will you come back with me to my infirmary? I'll have a look at what you've been doing with your shell.

Catherine/Scanner: *quietly, as she looks up* Real infirmary?

Ratchet: *grins* Yup. Fully stocked, and nice and roomy.

Moofy: *deedling agreement with what Mama says. Bubba gets lost in the big room sometimes!*

Catherine/Scanner: *small nod* Will go... *quieter* Need fuel first...

Ratchet: Better if you eat after you get there, because we'll be teleporting again.

Sunhalo: *from the door* We can use a portal.

Catherine/Scanner: *another small nod* Good fuel hard to find...

Ratchet: *suddenly looks into the trash can* Oi vey. You've been drinking oil??

Catherine/Scanner: *hunkers down a bit* Trying to find good fuel...

Jack: ... *will move to check the shell* *can hear Starscream facepalming in the doorway*

Ratchet: *gently* Humans can't run on oil, Catscan. You need organic fuel for an organic body. *nods to Sunhalo*

Jack: And stuff like energon and oil for a Cybertronian one... //The tank's all gunked up...//

Ratchet: //What did she put in it?//

Jack: //Looks like fruit, mostly...//

Ratchet: //Oi. Bring it back to base?//

Jack: //See you there.// *will PINpoint with the shell*

Catherine/Scanner: *startled skreek*

Ratchet: *as Sundog skreeks reassuringly* Shhhh. It's alright. He brought it to the infirmary so we can flush the tank and get it overhauled.

Catherine/Scanner: *worried and wary look is a go. Remembers tank flushes*

Ratchet: *pat pats her* You know you need it.

Catherine/Scanner: *small nod, bites her lower lip and skreeks quietly*

Ratchet: *holds out her hand* Ready to go?

Catherine/Scanner: *another small nod, reaches for Ratchet's hand*

Ratchet: *takes the hand, and then turns toward the door, where a rainbow edged circle is now floating in the air* We'll have someone come and tend your animals tonight.

Catherine/Scanner: *relieved expression is a go as she lets herself be lead toward the circle*

Ratchet: *brings her through and into the nice quiet private room that holds a small bed and a big one* Okay. Get some rest. I'll get you something to eat, and once we have your shell cleaned up we'll bring it in here too. *smiles that motherly smile* Would you like Moofy to stay with you?

Catherine/Scanner: Moofy?

Moofy: *deedle of greeting*

Ratchet: *smile becomes a proud mother grin* Yeah. He's good company.

Catherine/Scanner: *very slight headtilt as the little drone hams it up, curiosity on her face*

Ratchet: *takes a favourite picture book out of her subspace and offers it to Moofy* He'll read you a story, if you want.

Moofy: *deedling and scooting for the little bed!*

Catherine/Scanner: *moves to follow*

Ratchet: *laughs* You forgot your book, slugger. *holds out the book, which is as tall as the drone*

Moofy: *about face, beeline for Mama to get the book!*

Ratchet: *hunkers down to give it to him* Thanks, Moofy. You're a big help.

Moofy: *cheery deedle* ^^ *scoots back to the bed and begs help from Catherine/Scanner*

Catherine/Scanner: *being very careful as she lifts this little being, part of her comparing him to a baby*

Ratchet: *turns and heads for the main part of the infirmary, pinging Skylar and letting him know that Melissa can bring the pink smoothie that she knows he'll have asked his mate to make the moment he got home. Will work on the poor abused shell in the meantime*


meanwhile...


Drill Boy: *rushes into the atrium and nearly runs over Russell* *frantically* I can't find Gramma!

Russell: *acks as he's nearly run over* What's wrong, Drill Boy?

Sora: *looks up from working on another song, moves to get to her feet*

Drill Boy: *tearful* I need Gramma! *hand to his storage compartment*

Sora: *automatically assumes the worst. Hurries over*

Russell: *moving to scan the youngster to see if he's hurt* *will also ding Rachel's comm in the meantime* What's wrong?

Rachel: //Busy! Prowl, CALM DOWN. Oops.// *click*

Drill Boy: They want to kill her because she's illegal! *trembling*

Russell: *can see that tiny little spark of organic life in the compartment* *gently* Nobody will be killing anybody here.

Sora: *trying to stay calm and push back the scary thoughts* *soothing clicks as she reaches to patpat Drill Boy's hand*

Drill Boy: *down on his knees. Is half hysterical* She's illegal. *hand gently pats his compartment. The soft soft sound of a little answering pat pat can be heard*

Russell: *gently* We'll protect her. *sending a feed of this to Col. Franklin, and to Patrick*

Sora: *quietly* May we see her?

Drill Boy: *wipes at his face with the back of one wrist* Where's Gramma?

Russell: She's in the infirmary, helping someone who is hurt.

Sora: //Rachel... Drill Boy has something tiny and organic with him...// *trying to keep her voice from shaking* //I think she needs help...//

Rachel: *edge of frantic in her voice* //I can't leave what I'm doing.//

Drill Boy: *suddenly perks as Gramma talks to him, and then he realizes that Mama's here, and he's upset all over again for being noisy around her*

Sora: *quietly and gently, as she reaches to patpat Drill Boy's hand again* May we see her?

Drill Boy: ~You're... not upset, Mama?~

Sora: *soothingly* ~I'm alright, Drill Boy.~ *now that she knows her youngest isn't hurt, she's relaxing*

Drill Boy: *relaxes himself, and then gives Russell a wide-eyed and uncertain look*

Russell: My name is Russell Anderson... I'm the one who leaves Goldfish crackers in the infirmary.

Drill Boy: *so much guilty blush!*

Russell: *gentle clicks* Rachel's a friend of mine. I'm a doctor, like she is.

Drill Boy: *intakes deeply, and then looks at his mother*

Sora: *small nod* *more gentle patpat*

Drill Boy: *cautiously opens his pocket slightly and then pauses as two wide golden brown eyes peek out through the crack* ~It's alright, Fay. I couldn't find my grandmother. But my mother is here. You'll be safe now.~

eyes: *blink* *softly* Safe?

Drill Boy: *so much affection in his voice* ~Yes. You're safe here, Fay. Do you want to come out?~

Sora: *soft clicks, moves to sit down like a proper Japanese lady*

Russell: *looking in his subspace for snacks, since he has a feeling Drill Boy and Fay haven't had much to eat today*

Fay: *slips out of Drill Boy's pocket, and lo... the little tiny girl has a fish tail, no legs, and delicate, iridescent wings* *she's also got a tracking beacon embedded in her body*

Russell: *gentle clicks, has found a package of Goldfish crackers. Will offer those to Drill Boy, and will scan Fay*

Sora: *very, very soft clicks*

Fay: *looks at them both with those wide, alien eyes, and then smiles and flies up to sit on Drill Boy's shoulder* *proudly and lovingly* Boy!

Drill Boy: *laughs* ~Yes, Fay. You're safe!~

Russell: *soft chuckle, sends Blaster and Tea a message about the tracking beacon and the possibility of jamming the signal* Yes. She'll be safe here, Drill Boy. We'll make sure of it.

Sora: *quietly* ~She's so tiny... I don't think any of Sarah's doll clothes would fit her...~

Drill Boy: ~She's not a doll. She's a fairy!~ *looks at his friend and blinks* ~Uh oh. No streaking rule. I forgot.~

Fay: *puzzled look as she snuggles*

Sora: *soft clicks as she thinks about how to rectify this*

Russell: *has found a clean hankie in his subspace. Doesn't use hankies* Here... *offers it to Drill Boy* Until we can get her a real shirt...

Drill Boy: *looks at the big square of cloth, and then gently takes Fae down and shows her to Sora* ~Please help me, Mama?~

Fay: *shy peeking from under the shadow of a torrent of fair hair*

Sora: *nods and clicks softly* ~Everything is alright, Fay-chan.~ *will fold the hankie into a triangle shape, study Fay for a few moments, and then carefully tie and drape the hankie so it looks like a halter-style top*

Fay: *running curious slender fingers along where the hankie wraps around her back, and then peeks down the V front* Oh...

Drill Boy: *beaming! And now he sees the crackers and clickstorms at them in his excitement at seeing the comforting favourite snack*

Fay: *looks up with surprise* Boy?

Russell: *hands the cracker container over and chuckles* Snack time.

Blaster: //Signal taken care of.// *rotten chuckle*

Russell: //... Can you explain what you did without technobabble?//

Blaster: //Overload.//

Russell: //... Carry on then.// *so amused*

Patrick: //... That explains why Javan hacked me into the Tokyo Police band...//

Col. Franklin: //Russ? What's up?//

Russell: //Apparently, Stark wasn't the only company doing illegal research and creating new life...// *sends images of Fay*

Col. Franklin: *soft gasp* //That's where the fairy went.//

Russell: //She needs protecting just as much as the sparklets and children do.//

Col. Franklin: //She does. I've read about the person who did that to her.// *sends data*

Fay: *sudden loud sound has crackers flying as she darts to hide against Drill Boy in a startled snuggle*

Drill Boy: *holds her close and murmurs to her*

Sora: *ducked and covered at the loud sound too*

Russell: *so much scowl* //Have they caught him yet? Oh, no...// *soothing clicks, will reassure Fay and Sora that there's no danger*

Col. Franklin: //Not yet. But I hear the Brave Police are on the case.//

Russell: //They're probably looking for Drill Boy as well.// *knows how impulsive the youngster can be*

Patrick: //I'll let Deckerd know Drill Boy's safe.//

Col. Franklin: //I'm glad she's already at our safe base.//

Drill Boy: *laying on his side. Looks pooped out by his experiences, but is still holding Fay close as she gobbles crackers. Absently munching a few himself as she pokes them at his mouth*

Sora: *now that she's calmed down a bit, she's moving to gently fuss over Drill Boy and Fay in a maternal way*

Russell: *will go get a blanket, and check to see who is in the kitchen right now*

Samuel and Seamus: *startled and guilty look for Russ. Have a mountain of pbj toast sitting around them*

Russell: *chuckles* Bring what you have to the atrium...

Samuel: ...Is the crèche there now? I thought they were outside. *figures this much toast would only be needed by the youngsters*

Russell: Drill Boy's here, after a very long flight, and he has a friend with him.

Samuel: :D *turns to his brother* We're not done yet, doofus!

Seamus: At least we got a bit of a head start...

Samuel: Yeah. Start slicing more buns.

Seamus: On it. *sets to work making neat slices out of salty/sweet pretzel buns*

Samuel: *grabs the nearest two big bowls and PINpoints away*

Col. Franklin: //Back. So how is she? Her condition?//

Russell: //Other than being a bit scared, and hungry, she's healthy. We had to improvise to get her a shirt though...//

Samuel: *projecting the sounds of grief over the common channel. Just startled Sora right as Raj arrived*

Russell: //...And now I have to save Samuel.//

Seamus: //I didn't do it!//

Col. Franklin: //What happened?//

Russell: *as he returns to the atrium* //Samuel accidentally startled Sora... Right as Raj arrived...//

Sora: *hiding face on mate and trying to calm down*

Raj: *giving Samuel a sternly-worded scolding over comms to reinforce the whack upside the head that he gave the frontliner*

Samuel: *occasional sneer over his shoulder or booty shake as he hands pbj toast over as fast as a happy Drill Boy can inhale it*

Russell: *facepalm* //And obviously, Samuel doesn't need saving.//

Fay: *giggling at the funny things the black-haired man who is feeding Boy is doing*

Samuel: *gentle grin for the fair haired girl, and then slowly offers her a toast*

Fay: *peeeeeers at it*

Drill Boy: *muffled* ~It's something good to eat.~

Fay: *face in the pb and j!*

Samuel: Whoa. No. You're gonna get your hair in it. Russ, help?

Fay: *so much nom!*

Russell: *another quick search of subspace, finds one of Serenity's scrunchies* ... I think this will work...

Samuel: Hurry! This stuff's slag to get out of kids' hair.

Russell: *moves to help, clicking softly all the while*

Fay: *looking up quizzically, all poised to dart back to Drill Boy*

Drill Boy: *soft, reassuring clicks and words as he munches his last mouthful of toast*

Russell: *very gentle and careful as he helps Fay with her hair*

Fay: *waaaatches*

Drill Boy: *once Russell's done* ^_^ ~How pretty, Fay!~

Fay: Oh? Boy?

Samuel: *grins* Yeah, that is pretty. Is that one of Sarah's scrunchies?

Russell: It's one of Serenity's.

Samuel: Huh. Guess I don't look at her a lot. *looks in empty toast bowls, and then offers Fay her toast again*

Fay: Oh! *facetoast*

Russell: *soft chuckle, will make sure there are plenty of wet wipes on hand*

Rachel: *wanders in, rubbing her face and muttering*

Maeve: *wanders after Mom, making sure to stagger the same way*

Raj: *moving to guide Sora back to quarters*

Sora: *has Raj's shirt in a death grip*

Rachel: *stops stumbling and hurries over* Sora? What happened? *hugs being offered now!*

Maeve: *watches Mom go, and then goes and sits in a toast bowl*

Raj: Samuel startled her... *SUCH a glare for the frontliner*

Sora: *going to cling to Rachel now*

Rachel: *hugs her and rubs her back* Shhh, Sweetheart. It's alright. You're safe. You're... *eyes go wide. Softly* Ohhhh.

Fay: *hovering by the two women, her face covered with food as she looks at them with concern*

Sora: *softly, trying to keep her fright in check so she doesn't send Destiny into an over-protective fit again* We... have to... protect...

Rachel: *softly* Everyone's safe, Sora. Look at this? What's her name?

Fay: *sticky hand just gently touched Sora's face*

Sora: *softly* Her name is Fay...

Raj: *will gently rub his mate's back and click softly*

Rachel: Awwww. Look, Sora. You're going to miss a beautiful smile.

Sora: *peeks, clicks softly*

Fay: *sweet smile brightens further and just lights her whole face* Mama.

Sora: *very small smile*

Fay: *points one pbj smeared hand* Boy!

Drill Boy: *looks up* Huh? :D

Sora: *quiet little chuckle* ~Yes. That's right.~

Fay: *happy twirl, her wings buzzing* Boy! *both hands to her chest* Fay! Fay!

Rachel: *smiling. And oh oh, there's that light in her eyes*

Raj: //... What are you planning, Rachel?// *sees that light in the medic's eyes*

Sora: *quietly singing one of the songs she was working on for her album*

Rachel: //We just finished another bedroom at our house.// *dimples*

Fay: *notices lack of Sora response to her conversation and tilts her head* Mama?

Sora: *letting go of Rachel's shirt to gently touch Fay's shoulder, still singing the pretty little song*

Fay: *eyes wide as she sidles a little closer* Mama?

Rachel: *grinning as she takes one arm from Sora and puts it on Fay*

Drill Boy: *has noticed this and is giving his mother and grandmother a kitten look as he grins*

Raj: *very soft chuckle as he listens to the words of the song, which are about finding safe haven with one's family*

Fay: *mighty yawn and a squeak. And then another squeak as she rubs her eye and gets pbj in it*

Rachel: *soothing words and clicks as she offers to help*

Raj: *gently* After we all get cleaned up, why don't we have naptime?

Drill Boy: *droops* I have to go back. I... ran away. *looks up* Please don't tell anyone about Fay?

Rachel: Your brothers and Colonel Franklin already know.

Drill Boy: *wibble*

Russell: *gently* We won't let anyone hurt Fay.

Drill Boy: But... Deckerd said...

Deckerd: *gently, from where he just walked in and held out a hand to Sora* I never said we were going to hurt your fairy, Drill Boy.

Sora: *moves to approach Deckerd*

Deckerd: Mama. May I pick you up?

Fay: *watching curiously, and not paying attention to Rachel using a big wet wipe on her*

Sora: *nods and moves to carefully sit on Deckerd's hand*

Deckerd: *holds her close* How are you feeling?

Rachel: *reaches over to wash Raj's face and thus make Fay and Drill Boy giggle*

Raj: *acking at the face washing*

Sora: I'm alright. *gentle patpat for her son's hand*

Deckerd: That's good. *looks down at Fay* Can she stay here?

Sora: *very slight smile as she nods* I think Rachel already claimed her as family...

Deckerd: *slight frown* Won't the Dinobots frighten her?

Sora: She's not afraid of Drill Boy.

Deckerd: *thinks about that* I guess they're all about as noisy as each other.

Sora: *very soft chuckle*

Fay: *aaand she's out like a light*

Rachel: Whoops. *soft laugh* Let's get you to bed. Where's my ba... by. Oh crumbs. Maeve, what are you doing?

Maeve: *sitting in the bowl and ignoring you, obviously*

Raj: ... Bath time, and then naps. *so amused*

Rachel: *finger in ear* Jack, what are you doing now?

Jack: //Working on a lesson plan for the next time I teach, and trying to figure out a more efficient interface for Scanner's shell... Why?//

Rachel: *sends him an image of Maeve inna bowl*

Jack: //Oh, crumbs.// *sounds so amused though*

Rachel: *sigh* Come get her?

Jack: //I'll be right up.//

Rachel: Thanks, Sport. *shifts her grip on Fay, and then looks up as Deckerd sets Sora down*

Deckerd: Come on, Drill Boy. Tell Fay you'll see her tonight.

Drill Boy: But what if she gets scared? *wibble*

Deckerd: She's with Grandma. How can that happen? *smiles at little brother*

Drill Boy: *more wibble, small nod* *soft clicks as he promises Fay that he'll see her tonight*

Fay: *peeks a bit* *sleepily* Boy?

Drill Boy: Gramma's nice. She and Grampa are fun to visit.

Fay: *sleepy little smile as she crooks a hand at him contentedly*

Drill Boy: *gently* Stay here. I'll be back.

Fay: Ahh. *more smile as her eyes slip shut*

Rachel: *gently to Drill Boy* Kiss?

Drill Boy: *hunkers down so Gramma can kiss his cheek*

Rachel: *leans a bit and gives the kiss* Be good, alright, slugger?

Drill Boy: *nod* Hai.

Rachel: *grins*

Sora: *moves to give Drill Boy a kiss on his forehead, since she knows he won't go until he gets it*

Jack: *gently discouraging Maeve from sitting in the toast bowl*

Maeve: *frowns a bit and gets out of the bowl, then folds her arms and just frowns with her whole body*

Jack: *gentle clicks* Want to tell Drill Boy 'good bye', Maeve?

Maeve: *turns her head and frowns up at Drill Boy. There is challenge in those big hazel eyes*

Drill Boy: *soft clicks, reaches to offer hugs*

Maeve: *slap!*

Drill Boy: *startled squeak at the slap*

Rachel: *facepalm* I have six Dinobots.

Jack: *coughs to hide his snicker*

Deckerd: ...Why did she hit him?

Sora: She's telling him "goodbye".

Deckerd: *chuckle* I understand what Grandma meant. Come on, Drill Boy. *gentle grin for younger brother as he remembers the quarrel earlier over Yuuta's pudding*

Drill Boy: *bit of a pout, reluctantly moves to follow Deckerd* *blink blink* Stop! I see pudding! *and down the hall he goes*

Deckerd: *shakes his head and follows*

Rachel: *snickerfitdie. Can do it without shaking the kid in her arms*

Raj: *amused headshake* Okay. I think it's time for that nap.

Rachel: Yes. Is she clean, Jack?

Maeve: *satisfied expression as she... cracks her knuckles?*

Jack: Mostly. *chuckling and trying to use a wet wipe on Maeve's hands now*

Maeve: *tries cracking Dad's knuckles. Goes wide eyed with surprise when they make a SOUND when she bends one*

Rachel: *has turned and gone over to one of the nice napping niches that the atrium sports*

Jack: *gentle clicks, will bring Maeve over to where Rachel is*

Sora: *following Rachel as well, with Raj bringing up the rear*

Rachel: *lays down and curls up, knowing that others of her babies will soon migrate from the crèche toward here as though by osmosis*

Sora: *conks out almost as soon as she lays down. Is using Raj as a pillow*

Maeve: *scowls till she spots the niche's blanket. Gives it a yank, cares not that it brings fish water with it, and then lays down and shuts her eyes. Will NOT snuggle*

Jack: *carefully tucking himself in next to Rachel, will ponder the interface for Scanner's shell until he conks out*

Rachel: *deep sigh as she fixes phantom Seeker shells in her dreams*


town


Mist: *trots right down Main Street in plain sight. Is wearing her picture ID on a strap around her neck and is heading for the Farmer's Market*

locals: *some stop and stare. Others, likely believing they're seeing things, pay her no mind*

Mist: *finds the Market and looks for the sign that Rose told her to look for. Spots it at last and trots over to the Market manager, holding out the right amount of money to rent a half table*

manager: *is a tiny, skinny bundle of stubborn old lady clad in an overly large red sweatshirt and khakis* *raised brow behind her oversized glasses* *voice a bit rough-sounding* Can I help you?

Mist: *perks and studies the woman's face. Then holds out the money and points around to the tables* *other hand pats the saddlebags she's wearing just behind her front legs*

manager: Alright... *getting her clipboard and a pen. This is definitely the most interesting day she's had in a while. Will offer the clipboard and the pen to Mist*

Mist: *sets down the money and takes the tools, then pens her name on the right line in beautiful Victorian cursive, followed by equally nicely scripted descriptions of her wares and the fact that she has indeed got the proper paperwork to sell them at the market*

manager: *standing on her tip toes to try and see the forms. Is curious about what the tall centaur woman is selling*

Mist: *notices her looking and tips the clipboard so that she can see*

form: *description says "ostrich egg scrimshaw and felted Jacobs sheep made from the wool of Jacobs sheep*

Mist's left saddle bag: *cries like a newborn lamb and wriggles*

Mist: *pat pats it, and then resumes writing*

manager: *curious look for the saddle bag* Is something in there too?

Mist: *didn't see the lady speak. Is intent on finishing the form. One ear twitches as a fly buzzes near it*

manager: *blinks a bit as she realizes Mist's ears can move, and that they AREN'T moving in response to all the racket of the set-up* ...

Mist: *finishes and then looks up with a bright, closed mouth smile as she offers the clipboard and pen back*

manager: *as she accepts the clipboard and pen back, she'll nod towards the left saddlebag, and raise her eyebrows* *slowly* Is something in there?

Mist: *head tilt, then spots the direction of the woman's eyes and nods. Reaches back to pull out the little rejected lamb and tuck it into the crook of her arm. Free hand holds three of her four digits, and then points to the lamb she's holding and makes a tiny space between a finger and thumb*

manager: Oooh. The runt. *small nod*

Mist: *quizzical hand sign* "ASL U?"

manager: *headshake, but points to a younger lady* She knows sign language.

Mist: *shrugs as Rose taught her. It's okay. Then points around quizzically at the surrounding tables. Where is her half table?*

manager: *points to one of the nearby half-tables* *is amazed to find out that people from other worlds are into the natural trinket thing and farming*

Mist: *smiles, then turns and goes over to it. Is soon cushing comfortably as she arranges her wares and cuddles her runt lamb. Has a cardboard sign explaining that she was born deaf, but understands ASL. Sign also lists the prices of her treasures and explains that she's working on buying Christmas gifts for her best friend and her sister. Kind of misses her horse, but the lamb's pretty good at pointing her ears at sounds*

manager: *has a feeling tonight's market is going to be busier than normal*

((written with random_xtras))