GRV. Lamont Farm. Seeker Battle Royale

[dens_extra_pups]

Ironhide: *facepalming at his wife*

WakeJumper: *checking to see if medicine given by Blackout has helped!*

Jazz: *feeling WEEEEEEE from that kiss*

Catherine: *fretting a bit where Dallas is holding her out of the way*

Ratchet: *one with her facepalm*

Blackout: *gentle poke for Jazz, and then looks at WakeJumper* Can I go now?

WakeJumper: *clickstorm, snuggaJazz 'cause he's warm, nod nod*

Blackout: *glances at Ratchet, obviously wanting to be dismissed*

Ratchet: Thank you, Blackout. *yup, still facepalming*

Blackout: *straightens and walks out of the recovery house built to keep Jazz from being bored*

Perceptor: 0.o *from where he's sitting on Ratchet's shoulder*

Ratchet: *sigh* *will check on Jazz as well, and get sassed by WakeJumper*

Ironhide: *gruffly* Did it help?

Ratchet: Well, at least he's not in any pain...

Jazz: *blink blink. Wide grin* Wanna gimme some more of that, Doc?

Perceptor: 0.0

Ratchet: *FACEPALM*

WakeJumper: *SO much sass for Mama!*

Dallas: *snickerfitdie without dropping Catherine*

Catherine: 0_0 But isn't Ratchet married?

Ironhide: *so not helpful* So's Blackout.

Ratchet: *levels a Look at Ironhide*

WakeJumper: *more sass for a few moments, and then, for the first time in quite awhile, she's going to sleep without a fight!* *snuggaJazz, purrrrrrr*

Jazz: *pats the hatchling's back and cuddles her close* D'awww. You love me, dontcha, baby girl?

Ratchet: *relaxes a bit as she sees WakeJumper enter a sleep cycle. Was worried about the hatchling, and the hatchling's recent period of refusing to rest and recharge during the down cycle*

Jazz: *conks out too, still grinning*

Bumblebee: *looks inside from where he'd been sitting in the sun and keeping an eye on hatchlings. Quiet and quizzical deedle*

Ratchet: *quietly* Jazz and WakeJumper are resting.

Bumblebee: *turns those big, searching, optics toward her face* Good? Is good?

Ratchet: *nods* Resting will help Jazz recover.

Bumblebee: ^_^ *deedlybeep!*

Ratchet: How are the other hatchlings, Bumblebee?

Bumblebee: *thoughtful sound, and then goes back out to look*

Perceptor: *quietly* He doesn't process as well as the hatchlings in some ways.

Ratchet: *quietly* He did lose a lot of files...

Perceptor: *sadly* Indeed. *then perks as the dogs start to bark* Oh. Methinks that our new personnel have arrived.

Ratchet: The sooner they get debriefed, the better. *is glad Jazz is resting peacefully, at least. But for now, it's time to focus on the new arrivals*

Perceptor: Indeed. Were we not given that task? *hand down to her shoulder as he leans forward there on his perch*

Ratchet: I do believe so. *looks to where Dallas is carefully setting Catherine on her feet* Let me know if anyone comes in needing repairs you're not sure about, Catherine?

Catherine: *small nod* Will do... *wants to make absolutely sure Jazz is alright*

Perceptor: *draws his knees under him, but then startles as both Bumblebee and Fig make surprised sounds from outside*

Ratchet: *gentle hand on Perceptor, will hurry to see what has startled Bumblebee and Fig*

black femme: *sleek, rangy, powerful looking. And kissing Bumblebee silly*

Ratchet: ... *raised brow ridge*

Sharpshot: *hiding behind Fig and clicking softly, as she tends to do when meeting unfamiliar bots*

Will: *pauses on the doorstep of the Bot house* Banes, stand down.

Ratchet: *boggling now*

black femme: *looks around with a grin, supporting the woozy Bumblebee as she does. Optics are bright and hold tears* *slight static* Yes, sir, Colonel Lennox.

Showtime: *is that itty bitty that just climbed up from where she was clinging to Sissy's back to chirp at the stranger over Unca Fig's shoulder*

Fig: *blinks* Mikaela? That's you?

Mikaela: Wow, CWO Figaroa, you look good. *then checks that Bumblebee is steady on his feet, lets go of him, and salutes* Lt. Mikaela Banes reporting for duty. Sorry about that. *sobers* *quietly* I was just glad to see him again.

Bumblebee: *softly* Wooooo. *is glad to see you too, Mikky*

Sharpshot: *just starting to hesitantly peek from behind Fig*

Showtime: Y'all ate yet?

Will: *slight chuckle* Not yet, Showtime. *glances up at the hospitable little hatchling*

Showtime: *thinking this over for a few moments, will move to climb down with the intention of getting noms for everyone*

Will: *glances over to the other people who are standing next to a heap of dufflebags beside Buster* Ratchet, will you debrief Lt. Banes while I talk to the other new arrivals?

Ratchet: *nods*

Sharpshot: *trying to decide if she wants to come out from behind Fig or if she wants to keep hiding behind him right now*

Fig: *reaches back and puts one gentle, brawny arm around his new wife's shoulders* Let's go see what Showtime's getting into.

Sharpshot: *small nod* Y-Yeah...

Fig: *kisses her reassuringly on the helm, and then turns to lead her toward the mess hall*

Sharpshot: *quiet, happy sound at the kiss, and then a quick glance over her shoulder at Mikaela and Ratchet before she's being lead away*

Mikaela: *watches the couple go, and then turns to Ratchet* Did I miss something?

Perceptor: *is more or less hiding on his mate's shoulder now. New people are proving more daunting than he'd thought*

Ratchet: Sharpshot arrived around five months ago. She was not raised around other Cybertronians, so she tends to be a bit wary of anyone she has not met who appears Cybertronian.

Mikaela: She seems to get along with CWO Figeroa alright. *looks toward the field* *blink* Are those babies?

Ratchet: She was present when Fig was upgraded. *very slight smile* They are hatchlings, except for Chrome. Chrome is a sparklet. *attention going to where Kae Yau is arguing with Bathilda about something* ... And there are Liasion Ecray's secretaries. *sigh*

Mikaela: But he kissed her. Um, what's the difference? Hatchlings and sparklets?

Ratchet: Hatchlings are young Cybertronians whose sparks originated in the AllSpark. Sparklets are similar to hatchlings, but their sparks originate from the combined coding of their parents, and their sparks grow alongside their mother's spark until they are able to survive on their own, at which point, they separate and are ready to become a separate entity.

Mikaela: *quietly, gobsmacked* Someone's had a baby? Wheeljack never told me that.

Bumblebee: *small chuckle*

Ratchet: It probably slipped her mind. As for Sharpshot, she and Fig are wordmates, and also legally married under the laws of this country.

Mikaela: *doubly gobsmacked now* He married one of you?

Ratchet: *not sure why Mikaela is so surprised* Yes. After the divorce from his first wife was finalized.

Mikaela: *expression darkens on her mobile, human like face* The #$%&@&#$ dumped him, huh?

Perceptor: *very softly* On the contrary. Her decision to leave her contract with Chief Warrent Officer Figeroa was amiable. On their wedding day she sent her blessing and asked Sharpshot to take good care of him.

Ratchet: *nods in agreement with Perceptor's words* Sharpshot considers her a dear friend.

Perceptor: Though Mrs. Lamont is still not speaking to her.

Ratchet: *thinks Hattie is being a bit silly, but won't express that opinion out loud* Though she does behave civilly.

Mikaela: Which Mrs. Lamont? Isn't there more than one here?

Ratchet: There is. Perceptor was referring to one Hyacinth Lamont. She is more well-known by her nickname, "Hattie".

Mikaela: *curious look for Perceptor, who withdraws from it timidly* You're not a hatchling, are you?

Ratchet: *headshake* Perceptor is an adult. He is a science unit. He is also my mate.

Mikaela: *optics open wide and hand to her mouth* You're married? Whoa! Congratulations, sir.

Ratchet: *startled by the reminder that this girl, whom she first met when the Autobots were searching for the AllSpark, is in fact a grown woman now, and part of the US Marines*

Perceptor: *softly* Thank you, Lieutenant Banes.

Kae Yau: *chooses that moment to go stomping by, grumbling about the $%$#%$%$# German*

Sanftherz: *creeps up behind the stomping woman and nips her on the rear, then spins out as she wheels and runs off*

Kae Yau: $%$#%$%$#%$#%$#%$#%$# CAT!!!

Perceptor: *clinging to Ratchet and watching the shenanigans with wide optics* Oh! Oh dear!

Ratchet: *face. palm*

Bathilda: Just call your idiot, Kae Yau! Qvuit sulking avround here und go see him!

Mikaela: Um. Do I need to know what that's all about, sir?

Ratchet: Kae Yau and Seymour Simmons are apparently courting.

Mikaela: *pointed silence, and Kae Yau has just visibly been put on the young Headmaster's #$&@$# list*

Ratchet: If not for the fact that she is far more competent and respectful than our last liaison, I'd wonder if there was some lingering damage from her time in the armed forces.

Mikaela: I've talked to the last liaison. She's the reason I never got to talk to any of you guys or hear about you till now, so that's not saying much.

Ratchet: ... *expression darkens considerably* Then it is a very good thing that Miss Mearing is no longer working with us, and that Liaison Ecray is.

Perceptor: *softly* Love, should we find somewhere more comfortable to continue the debriefing? I see that Bumblebee is in need of rest.

Bumblebee: *snoozing on his feet, actually*

Ratchet: *small nod of agreement* Why don't we all go over to the summer house?

Perceptor: *suddenly shy again as Mikaela looks at him* -Good idea, love.- *affection*

Ratchet: *gentle hand on Perceptor* If he is awake, I am sure Jazz would appreciate the company. *hand out to guide Mikaela toward the summer house*

Mikaela: *perks* Jazz? He's back? *tears again as she gently takes Bumblebee's hand and tugs him along with her in the direction Ratchet indicated*

Ratchet: Physically, yes... *quieter* He has a lot of lost files, however.

Mikaela: *intakes deeply* *softly, as she glances to the friend she's holding onto* Like Bee.

Bumblebee: *shakes his head*

Ratchet: *as she walks* He lost so much more. *still isn't sure how best to try and remedy the lost files*

Mikaela: *shaky breath, and static sounds in her voice* Oh.

Bumblebee: *pat pats*

Ratchet: He has been in the care of a young woman named Catherine Wyatt since the day she purchased him from a used car dealership. *will move to open the door to the summer house and remove the kitten that was clinging to the inside of the screening*

kitten: Mew! *wants down! Needs bathroom!*

Ratchet: *will carefully set the kitten down on the ground and watch the black and white fuzzball run away* *soft chuckle* And there goes Fuzzy...

Bumblebee: *excuse him, just going to make sure the kitten gets where it needs to be safely*

Mikaela: *just froze on the threshold of the summer house, her hand over her mouth as she stares down at the mech in the soft nest of tarps and quilts*

Catherine: *quietly, as she moves to approach from making sure Jazz is tucked in* You're new...

Dallas: *following Catherine, casual alertness in his every move. Trusts that this is an ally, since Ratchet and Perceptor are with the unfamiliar femme*

Mikaela: *static sound as she swallows* *softly* Actually... I was one of the first. *sucks in air* Oh, Jazz.

Catherine: ... *confused expression is a go*

Dallas: Kitty meant that you're new here. *quieter* It's good to see you again, Mikaela.

Mikaela: *optics widen* Lt. MacKenzie!

Dallas: *soft chuckle* I'm a Captain now. Epps still griefs me though.

Mikaela: *laughs too, but then looks at Jazz and puts a hand to her mouth as she sees him looking at her*

Jazz: *blinks, and then grins hopefully* How about you gimme a kiss?

Mikaela: 0_0 *laughing her butt off now!*

Catherine: ... *looks to Ratchet* Did he used to do that sort of thing before?

Ratchet: *about to answer, is interrupted by groggy little clicks*

WakeJumper: *talking in her sleep*

Perceptor: *one slender hand lifted in admonishment* *softly* Oh please, Lt. Banes. Don't wake the baby.

Mikaela: *hands over mouth* Sorry.

Ratchet: *moving to make sure WakeJumper is comfortable in the tarp and quilt nest*

Jazz: *is blinking slowly and obviously thinking deeply now* Mikaela...

Ratchet: *startled by that* *quietly, to Jazz* You recognize her voice?

Jazz: *also quiet, and sounding very distracted* No. Think I remember the name. She... I think I knew somebody with that name, but she wasn't no 'Bot.

Ratchet: Ah... she is currently using a shell of a similar design to Bathilda's.

Jazz: *thinks this over, and then perks* So how about that kiss?

Ratchet: *facepalm*

Mikaela: *looks at Catherine, sensing the younger woman's protectiveness toward Jazz* I don't know, Jazz. I'm kind of with someone.

Jazz: So's Blackout, 'n that didn't stop her!

Mikaela: *startles* What the @#$%&$#? Blackout?

Ratchet: Blackout is an ally now.

WakeJumper: *squirms a bit as she sleeps, more groggy clicks*

Catherine: *quietly* Blackout's scary when she's mad, but she's usually pretty hard to make mad.

Ratchet: *nod* And she is the mother of our one sparklet. Chrome is Blackout and Ironhide's son.

Mikaela: *more shock and another explicative* Ironhide's? But I thought he was with another chick.

Ratchet: *quietly* Several months back, Chromia and Arcee were killed. We nearly lost Ironhide and Elita-One.

Mikaela: *hands over mouth* Oh no...

Jazz: *sighs meanwhile and makes a sad face at Catherine*

Catherine: *will move to gently patpat Jazz's hand* *and also fuss over WakeJumper a bit as the hatchling shifts position again*

Jazz: *quietly* Howcome I never had a girl? This beats hurtin' any day.

Catherine: I bet there's someone out there waiting for you to come and sweep her off her feet with your good looks and charm. *being totally serious*

Jazz: *brow ridges lift* Kittycat, I can't even sit up.

Catherine: You'll be able to do more someday.

Jazz: *sighs* But I need the good feelin's now.

Catherine: *more patpat*

Comet: *issa quiet skreek from where she's just scrambled over to climb the screen* *probably has Whiplash in fits by now*

Jazz: *looks toward the skreek* Oh man, that lil' baby's on the loose again.

Dallas: I'll get her. *hand already going to his cell phone, will let Whiplash know where the Seeklet got to this time*

Comet: *skreekstorm! Wants to see her shiny!*

Mikaela: Whoa! *reaching toward the skreeker* It's a baby Screamer.

Comet: *stares at the lady she doesn't know* *skreek skreek skreek!*

Dallas: *as he carefully pries the Seeklet off of the screen* This is Comet. She's a Seeker hatchling. *looks to Jazz* I think this is the third time we've had to pry her off the door, or get her out of your blankets, Jazz...

Jazz: *thinks this over* Well, Wake doesn't seem to mind her.

Mikaela: *has withdrawn her hands and is watching*

Catherine: Whiplash minds. Derp's too high strung for his own good.

Comet: *wiggles a bit and then Dallas has lost the gentle grip he had on the fly babby. Said fly babby is now on her way over to inspect the femme she doesn't know*

Mikaela: *hunkers down* Why? It's not like Jazz is going to hurt a baby. *offers a hand to the skinny little being, her smile gentle and encouraging*

Catherine: Whiplash is a Conehead. *rubs at her eyes a bit and contemplates a nap*

Comet: *inspecting the hand now, soft little skreeks as she studies the differences between this big's hand and her own*

Mikaela: *very slight finger wiggle* What does "Conehead" mean? *thinks of the old movie and snorts softly*

Dallas: Conehead Seekers are a different model than ones like Screamer was. They were a tribal band. Whiplash is young, but he won't cause trouble. I think Blackout and the others scare him a bit.

Mikaela: Ohhh. *and then she jumps as an imperious skreek sounds from the direction of the Bot House* The *cuss word*??

Dallas: And there's Slipstream.

Comet: *huff, skreek of protest. Wants to stay with her shiny!*

Mikaela: *mutter* I don't like him already.

Slipstream: *skreeks again*

Ironhide: *throws the back axle of Matt's truck at the Seeker*

Comet: *more argumentative skreeking*

Ratchet: Slipstream is female. *dings Ironhide's comm as she hears Matt's protest at the loss of the back axle* //Comet is over here. There wasn't any need to throw anything at Slipstream.//

Ironhide: //She's giving me a headache! *growl*//

Blackout: *strides into sight, scares Slipstream as she scoops up the axle, tells the stunned Seeker she's not hurt, and then brings the axle back over to where Ironhide's holding up the back end of Matt's truck*

Mikaela: *don't mind her. She's laughing*

Comet: *skreeek, is bored of comparing hands. Will try climbing this big to see if she can see the world*

Mikaela: *offers to pick her up*

Whiplash: *is that frantic skreeking off in the distance as he searches for the missing Seeklet*

Ratchet: *sigh* //Alright. Talk Whiplash down so he doesn't break anything.//

Comet: *happy to be picked up, yus. Cheerful chirps and skreeks are a go*

Ironhide: *wings the axle at Whiplash*

Mikaela: *laughing again, her arms around the little Seeklet to keep her safe from being jostled too much*

Comet: *skreek skreek chirp! Is a yappy babby when she wants to be*

Ratchet: *sighs and checks on WakeJumper and Jazz*

Jazz: I just missed somethin' fun again, didn' I?

Ratchet: Ironhide is hitting Seekers with an axle.

Jazz: The big ones?

Ratchet: *nods* Slipstream and Whiplash. *glad that WakeJumper is sleeping through the ruckus, though she does wonder what triggered the hatchling's string of rebelliousness*

Jazz: Awww, they're annoyin' anyway. *perks as he spots Wheeljack coming up behind the medic*

Wheeljack: Hey, Percy, I built that thinger you gave me the plans for.

Perceptor: *startled movement from Ratchet's shoulder* What? But the time machine plans were only theoretical artwork!

Ratchet: *boggling at Wheeljack now, curiosity about the shift in WakeJumper's behavior driven to the back of her processor for the time being*

Wheeljack: Theoretical? Oh. Heh. *rubs back of head*

Ratchet: ... *amused, even as she pinches the bridge of her nose* Only you would build a time machine from theoretical artwork, Wheeljack.

Wheeljack: Well he didn't tell me it was theoretical! Sheesh! Um. *looks over her shoulder* Remember how we never could find Long Arm's body?

Perceptor: My stars and garters! What condition is he in? *scrambling down from Ratchet and heading toward the life sign reading he just noticed*

Ratchet: ... *hurrying to follow her mate*

Long Arm: *severe damage to his head and chest. Is laying very still as the team of NEST engineers that had been out to study the downed Reaper wreck swarm over him like busy ants, working on repairing him*

time machine: *sitting there behind him with a Liaison peering suspiciously through the portal*

Mikaela: *had followed Ratchet and Perceptor, Seeklet still in her arms. Stops to gape*

Kae Yau: *stoops to pick up more gravel to chuck through the portal*

Senaiji: *wary of anything that might come through the portal*

Ratchet: *hurrying to aid in repairs* *scanners going as she tries not to raise too much of a fuss*

Perceptor: *soothing clicks as he shoos away helpful humans and starts scanning Long Arm's damaged processor*

Mikaela: *is that shriek as Comet chases Kae Yau's gravel through the portal!*

Comet: *saw something she wanted to chase!*

Kae Yau: *string of obscenities that the mun won't even TRY to spell*

Wheeljack: Whoa! It wasn't set ta receive! *runs to the controls and starts hitting keys as smoke begins to come from panels*

engineers: *some scatter, some just hunch their shoulders and keep working on Long Arm*

Blackout: *won't let Mikaela through the portal*

Ratchet: *and now she's trying to stop Whiplash from going through the portal too*

Whiplash: *frantic skreeking and upset strings of Conehead dialect*

Wheeljack: *work work work!* Ack! She's gonna blow!

Blackout: *suddenly punts Mikaela, leaps into the air, transforms and grabs the time machine, then heads for the river with it*

Ratchet: *now it's her turn to let out unprintable words*

Whiplash: *is likely going to break something at this rate*

Perceptor: *crouched protectively over Long Arm's face, trying to shield his damaged cohort with his frail little body*

Wheeljack: *hunkered over humans*

Ratchet: *moving to protect Perceptor and Long Arm, will drag Whiplash with her*

Senaiji: *hunkered down and fighting against flashbacks*

river: *BOOOOOOM!*

Kae Yau: *shrieks and cowers*

Senaiji: *frozen where he's hunkered down*

pretty Seeker femme: *glomps Whiplash* That was slagging AWESOME! ...Why are you so little?

Wheeljack: *sitting up woozily and then gently poking humans to make sure nobody's broken*

Kae Yau: *bolts the moment she's poked*

Senaiji: *eyes tightly closed, heart racing, and he's trembling*

Wheeljack: *deep sigh of relief* Nobody's broken. But I think Atchkens peed his pants.

Ratchet: *checking on Perceptor and Long Arm*

Whiplash: *wary look for the pretty Seeker femme*

Perceptor: *so focused on Long Arm that he's managed to stay out of flashbacks. Is talking softly to the damaged mech, who just groaned weakly*

Ratchet: *relieved, will scan Long Arm again and see about resuming repairs*

Atchkens: *after checking* ...That's Dermont's whiskey coffee.

Ironhide: *from back by the house* Your birds didn't even look up, Mathew.

Dixie: Naw, but th' cows did wh'n Kae Yau went tear'n on bah...

Mikaela: Are you all @#$%&&%$# nuts??? We have to save Comet! *pulling herself shakily to her feet*

Wheeljack: *looks up, then points to the Seekerfemme*

Seeker femme: *blink blink* Save me from what? *confused*

Mikaela: Not you. Wait. *looks at the femme's colouring* What the @#$^%&$#@??

Seeker femme: *dryly* Nice.

Ironhide: *calling* WakeJumper's awake!

Ratchet: *sigh, moves to turn her attention away from Long Arm's repairs*

Seeker femme: *scooting to check on WakeJumper* No, Ratchet, you stay and fix Long Arm. I got this. *grin*

Mikaela: *stares after the Seeker, then looks at Whiplash*

Wheeljack: *attention back on Long Arm now* Think he's stable enough ta move, Ratch.

Bathilda: *coming to see if she can help in any way, since she found Kae Yau barricaded in the towel closet* Ist Senaiji here?

Wheeljack: *looks around, then meeps and picks him up* Hey, Senaiji? *gentle pokes*

Senaiji: *no response. Passed out cold*

Wheeljack: Well slag. *chills the tip of her finger, then pulls his shirt up and touches the finger tip to his bare back*

Senaiji: *awake! And clearly not aware of his surroundings as he starts to panic and flail*

Wheeljack: Ack! *quickly shoves him at Bathilda*

Bathilda: *working on restraining Senaiji enough to keep him from hurting himself, but not so much that he panics all the more. Soothing murmurs in German*

Wheeljack: Plant one on 'im. *meeps and looks around as Ratchet lifts Long Arm, Perceptor, and a few engineers and carries them off to the infirmary*

Bathilda: *taking Wheeljack's advice*

Senaiji: *startled by that. Is startled enough by the kiss to stop flailing as his thought process comes to a screeching halt*

Mikaela: *explicative deleted from where she's watching the two humans* It worked!


meanwhile, over by the screen house


Jazz: o.<. Whoa, Wake. You're gonna bust somethin'.

WakeJumper: *NOT a happy bitty, and letting the WORLD know it!*

pretty orange Seeker femme: *coming in to the screen house, will pick WakeJumper up and make soothing clicks and skreeks*

WakeJumper: *so surprised at being picked up by someone other than Mama that she falls silent*

Jazz: *blinks at the Seeker, then looks slightly brain broken for a moment before shaking it off. But then looks brain broken again* Comet... what'd you do?

Comet: *bit of a sheepish grin* Chased after some gravel.

Jazz: But how'd that... *breaks off as he studies her and his worn and overcharged mind jumps topics* You gotta kiss for old Buddy?

Comet: *sly grin* I miiiiight... *wink*

Jazz: *griiin* Hey, Wake, can I kiss that lady?

WakeJumper: *blink blink. Is still confused about who this stranger is, but will give Jazz a nod*

Comet: Sweet. *to Jazz* Don't go anywhere. I'll get WakeJumper to Ratchet and then be right back.

Jazz: *wide grin* Don't got anywhere else ta be.

Comet: *grins, heads out to give WakeJumper to Ratchet, then she's hurrying back*

Catherine: *hiding her face on Dallas. The boom scared her and now she's trying to calm down*

Jazz: *turns his head* *quietly, though the grin is still wide* Kitty cat, I found me some more kisses.

Catherine: *peeks at Jazz from where she's started to calm down* H-huh?

Jazz: *griiin!*

Catherine: ... She'd better treat you right, or I'll have to have a discussion with her. *looks toward the sound of footsteps* *raised brow*

Dallas: *looks over his shoulder and blinks* Er...

Comet: *carefully steps over the humans, moves to smooth Jazz's helm, and then she's planting one on him*

Jazz: *quiet squeak as the charge hits his systems, and then he's rumbling a mighty purr and trying to return the favour*

Comet: *surprised by the reciprocation, has to sit down carefully so she doesn't bend anything in a painful way and so she doesn't end up squishing Jazz on accident*

Jazz: *little tugs to see if he can't convince her to snuggle his tarp wrapped self, but he's not very strong yet*

Comet: *will move to get under the blankets so she can cuddle*

Jazz: *meeps as the warmth under the tarps is released, but then sighs as that warmth is replaced by the warmth of healthy Seeker systems* *grins up at Comet, his dark optics bright*

Comet: *grin* Now where were we?

Jazz: *snuzzle!*

Comet: *happy Seeker sounds, will snuggle and cuddle. And offer more kiss*

Catherine: ... *quietly, to Dallas* We should give them some privacy.

Dallas: *blushing a bit and nodding his agreement. Will scoop Catherine up, earning him a startled squeak*

Slipstream: *frowns toward the squeak from where she's still sitting on the ground in front of the bot house, but then turns as her mate hurries up in full spazz mode*

Whiplash: *frantic skreeking and panicking in Conehead*

Slipstream: *scowl appears and gradually grows darker. Finally stands up and belts him* English!

Whiplash: *startled skreek* Something happen with portal! Comet changed!

Slipstream: *quick scan of the area* Comet's with the damaged Autobot.

Whiplash: Comet changed! *this upsets the Conehead greatly* Bigger now!

Slipstream: *belts her mate again, but even as she does she's turning to walk over and look through the screening of the summer house* *screech!* ~What are you doing, you stupid scraplet???~

Jazz: *startles and groans at the screech, but is too dizzy to remember what that is*

Comet: *pleasantly fuzzy-headed, will scowl in the direction of the screech* *gentle hands over Jazz's audios* *screeching and skreeking right back, her tone full of sass* ~Kissing someone pretty!~

Slipstream: ~That's an old broken down groundpounder! Get out of there now!~

Comet: ~No! He's MY groundpounder!~

Whiplash: *in Conehead* {He's a groundpounder though!}

Comet: *starting to bristle with anger* ~I like him. I'm keeping him.~

Slipstream: *starts to object, but then freezes and hunkers down slightly as a shadow falls over her* Don't hit me, Blackout.

Whiplash: *quail chick impression!*

Comet: *to Blackout* [I like this groundpounder. I'm keeping him.]

Blackout: *slight, not really interested brow quirk, and then pings Ratchet*

Ratchet: //Yes, Blackout?// *sounds a bit distracted at the moment*

Blackout: //Comet just claimed Jazz. Don't we need some higher up to approve that?//

Ratchet: //...// *can you just picture the facepalm?* //Ironhide holds rank. Not that he ever pays attention to it.//

Blackout: //He's busy.// *watches mate just pick Matt's truck up and look at its belly*

Ratchet: //...// *dings Optimus' comm with an explanation of the situation, starting from Wheeljack's time machine building*

Elita: *absent glee* //Optimus is having rest therapy right now, Ratchet.//

Ratchet: //Alright.// *closes that line and comms Wheeljack* //Wheeljack, go witness Comet claiming Jazz.//

Wheeljack: //What? I can do that?//

Ratchet: //You're the only other person here who holds rank, and besides, this is technically your fault.//

Wheeljack: //My fault? You're actin' like it was a bad thing!// *voice can be heard coming near the open door of the bot house*

Blackout: *to the Seekers* You've been overruled. Ratchet says she can do it. *turns and walks off*

Ratchet: //You built the slagging thing. Besides, Comet likes you and listens to you.//

Whiplash: *so confused* *looks to Slipstream*

Slipstream: *wants to protest so badly, but she's scared to mortal death of Blackout*

Jazz: *quietly, from inside the summer house* Wait... What's Ratchet talkin' 'bout now?

Blackout: Ratchet says Comet can claim you.

Jazz: o.0 Gotta ask Kitty cat.

Comet: *relaxing now* Okay, where is Cat?

Blackout: *looks around for the red haired human woman*

Catherine: *sitting over on the porch steps, getting kinks rubbed out of her shoulder and neck area by Dallas*

Blackout: *pings the woman's cellphone as she walks back to the recovery house*

Catherine: *startles as her phone goes off, fumbles for the device*

Blackout: *watches her fumble a bit, then pings again* *also idly snerks as Ironhide lays the truck on its back and then lifts Matt up so that the man can see the exposed underside*

Catherine: *finally manages to get her phone answered*

Blackout: We need you over here. Jazz says he belongs to you.

Catherine: //... What's going on?// *moving to get up with Dallas' help*

Ironhide: *absently butts in from where he's now hunkered by the poor flipped truck* Wedding.

Catherine: ... *and then she's hurrying, half-stumbling, to the summer house*

Blackout: *standing there by sullen and cowering Seekers. There might be a slight smirk on that fierce face waaaay up there*

Jazz: *dozing since there's nothing happening right now. Totally relaxed and feeling no pain*

Comet: *cuddling Jazz and keeping him warm. Looks perfectly content with the way things are*

Catherine: ... *slight smile* *quietly* Jazz looks happy.

Dallas: *chuckles* So does Comet.

Comet: *attention going to the humans* Can I keep him? Please?

Blackout: *snerk*

Slipstream: |:\

Catherine: *looks to Dallas* She did say "please"...

Dallas: *so much chuckle* As long as Jazz is happy, that's all that matters.

Jazz: Hrrm? *turns his head, optics blinking sleepily*

Comet: *cuddle*

Dallas: How do you feel, Jazz?

Jazz: *slow smile* Just peachy. So hows'about it, Kitty Cat?

Catherine: I'm fine with Comet claiming you, Jazz. *means what she says*

Jazz: *smile turns to glee, and then he's giving Comet sleepy puppy optics*

Slipstream: *head in hands. Looks like she's going to blow a circuit*

Comet: *grin, nuzzles Jazz's forehead* Mine.

Whiplash: *can't help it, will protest*

Blackout: *knocks the Conehead tip over tomorrow*

Jazz: *pays no mind to clatter and thud* Ohhh yeaahh. :D

Wheeljack: You two're hitched. Have fun! :D *about face and heading back to the infirmary*

Comet: *happy sounds, cuddles and more kisses for Jazz!*

Whiplash: *skreeking quietly*

Slipstream: *is going to go and take her temper out on her mate*

Chrome: *looks over from giving Hot Rod a pile driver over behind the school house, then squeals and calls Auntie Dixie. Slipstream is being mean!*

Dixie: *coming out to see what's going on* *will get the hose*

Whiplash: *trying to defend himself and protect his poor, abused head*

Slipstream: *ignores hose, pummels and kicks mate*

Dixie: *frowns as she sees the hose has not had the desired effect* *will go get the broom then*

Ironhide: *offers her a lug wrench as she goes by*

Dixie: Th'nks. *will go use the lug wrench as a blunt object*

Whiplash: *trying so hard to protect his head, is neglecting to protect his wings. It's likely he'll be out of commission for awhile at this rate*

Slipstream: *angry screech as she feels the lug wrench strike her on a sensitive joint in her foot, then notices Blackout smirking at her and cringes, whimpering*

Whiplash: *jumbled mix of Conehead, Seeker, and English*

Dixie: *to Slipstream* Wh't th' 'eck 's y'ur problem?!

Slipstream: *forgets Blackout to hiss at the human* It's none of your business, vermin!

Dixie: *raising the lug wrench again* Whiplash ain't done nothin' t' deserve th' beatin' y'u jes' gave 'im!

Slipstream: He's just Conehead scum anyway!

Ironhide: *pokes Matt and points toward the altercation. Is highly entertained*

Matt: *frowns as he watches Whiplash* W-Whiplash a-ain't lookin' s-so g-good...

Blackout: *takes a glowering step toward the irate femme, but then stops stock still as a burst of orange fury suddenly shoots from the summer house*

Comet: That's enough!!!

Slipstream: *angry screech as she takes a swing at the younger female. Knocks Dixie over in the process*

Blackout: *angry rumble at that as she steps forward, shoves Slipstream over, and then carries Dixie over to Matt*

Slipstream: *on her feet and screaming mad*

Dixie: *didn't even have time to shriek, is boggling as Matt begins fussing and fretting*

Comet: YOU HIT DIXIE!!! *lunges at Slipstream, shrieking her rage*

Ironhide: *now in protective mode there beside his mate as the two of them hover over the couple and watch the fight*

Epps: *comes running out of his house* What's goin' on? Ack!

Fig: *just picked his former commander up and is retreating toward the wall of the bot house* Jes' stay outta it.

Sharpshot: *ducks and covers by the house*

Slipstream: *met Comet's lunge and is trying to gut the orange femme*

Comet: *not having any of it, will dig her claws into Slipstream's shoulder joints and try to slam the femme's head into the ground a few times*

Whiplash: *dazedly skreeking and talking nonsense in Conehead*

Ironhide: *scowls and then goes over, turns a shoulder as the grappling female bots bounce off him, and hauls Whiplash to the infirmary*

Dixie: *meekly* Wh't th' 'eck?!

Matt: Th-Th'y're g-gonna k-kill each othah!

Catherine: *hurrying to get Optimus. Will also run to let Ratchet and Perceptor know what's going on*

Fig: *steps over and grabs Dallas* Stand back, man. Just keep outta it.

Bumblebee: *is a peeky peek out of the barn*

Chrome: *sitting on Hot Rod and cheering!*

Dallas: They's gonna kill each othah 'f we don' stop 'em! *just a bit scared*

Fig: *tucks Dallas by the gaping and horrified Epps* *quietly* This hasta happen.

Sharpshot: *just going to hide against Fig for now*

Comet: *giving as good as and better than she's getting*

Slipstream: *still screeching piercingly as she tries to get her feet up and claw*

Optimus: *stumbles from his home, and then stops to gape with horror at the carnage on the soccer field*

Comet: *not letting Slipstream get up, is pressing the attack and shrieking in Conehead and Seeker*

Wheeljack: *ducks a piece of flying armour* 0_0

Ratchet: *shielding Perceptor and Catherine and boggling at the ferocity of the fight*

Ironhide: *stops Optimus* Don't interfere. This needs to happen.

Optimus: *half drunken look of confusion*

Ratchet: //We have to stop them before they kill each other!//

Ironhide: //No. This needs to happen. Slipstream's not leader material. She needs to be taken down.//

Optimus: But that could kill Whiplash!

Ironhide: ... //Ratchet'll save him.//

Ratchet: //I can only save him if Slipstream survives!//

Comet: *harshly, in Seeker* [Submit!]

Slipstream: *tries to bite her face off*

Comet: *punching and clawing* *will also dig claws into wiring and tubing* [Submit or I'll ground you!]

Slipstream: *can feel herself slipping toward stasis, and that threat throws her from anger and fear to flat footed terror* *shrilly* [Submit! Submit! I'm too valuable to ground!]

Ironhide: *scowls* Sounds like Starscream.

Comet: [Swear you won't abuse Whiplash any more!]

Slipstream: *weakly* [Swear... Mercy, master.]

Comet: [Good.] *will let Slipstream go... and then she'll boggle* Did she just call me "master"?

Ratchet: *as she hurries to keep Slipstream from bleeding out* I think so.

Comet: ... 0_0

Ironhide: *back out. Gets Optimus sitting safely by the truck and the Lamonts, and then walks over to help Ratchet and Wheeljack with the female Seekers* You're the Air Commander now, kid.

Blackout: But I don't answer to you.

Comet: *gives Blackout a puzzled look* Why would you? You're a better fighter.

Elita One: *moving to give comfort to Optimus*

Ironhide: *gruffly to Ratchet and Wheeljack* Get these out of here so we can clean up this mess.

Ratchet: *brief nod, is getting Slipstream ready for transport to the infirmary*

Comet: ... *moves to head back to the summer house*

Fig: *snags Comet* Oh no. You gotta go get patched up. *sidesteps a furiously chattering WakeJumper*

Comet: *surprised skreek at being snagged*

WakeJumper: *clickstorming and fussing* Down! *will try and make Comet lay down*

Fig: Easy, Wake. We gotta get her to the infirmary first.

WakeJumper: No. Fix here. *stubborn set to her jaw* Back to Jazz sooner.

Catherine: *vanished for a few moments, is back with her kit*

Jazz: *is that thud from the summer house*

Fig: What the... Is he tryin' to get up?

Epps: He's more than tryin', man. *hurrying into the little screen building*

Dallas: *hurries with Epps* Jazz, what the heck are ya doin'?

Jazz: *wincing* My lady. She's hurtin'. Needs me. *gasps and tries to push himself up again*

Epps: *flying tackle to keep the injured bot down!*

Dallas: WakeJumper and Catherine are working on her. She was on her way back to you when WakeJumper started fussing at her

Jazz: *turns his head restlessly, but he's still so weak that having Epps sit on him is holding him down*

Mikaela: *out of the barn now, one hand flexing slightly as she stops by Catherine and WakeJumper* Need any help?

Comet: *in a scowling match with WakeJumper*

Catherine: Do you know anything about repairs? *already has her sleeves rolled up and is working on repairing what she can*

Mikaela: I was Ratchet's first human student. *quickly stops a leak, and then starts removing damaged panels*

Comet: *squirming and skreeking softly*

WakeJumper: *helping with repairs now and clicking softly to herself*

Mikaela: *absently, in 'Con* [Hold still!]

Comet: [But it feels weird...]

Mikaela: [It'll feel weirder if you bleed out.]

Comet: *meeps and holds still*

Catherine: It looks worse than it really is... Slipstream got it worse.

WakeJumper: Derp derp derp. *clicks and grumps as she and Catherine work on stopping bleeders*

Fig: *arms around his wife now* Shhhh, baby. It's alright.

Sharpshot: *soft clicks as she hides her face on her husband's chest*

Fig: *gently rubs her back, and tries to squash the fear that she'll decide that she can't take this life either and leave like his first wife did* Shhhh. I got you.

Sharpshot: *muffled* That was scary.

Fig: Yeah, but it's over now. *gentle finger under her chin to see if she'll look at him. If she does she'll see the fear in his optics*

Sharpshot: *when she meets his optics, he'll see hers are nearly white* *and then her expression is going to 0_0 as something occurs to her* Are the hatchlings alright?

Fig: *quietly* Yeah. Except maybe Hot Rod, but he's stopped yelling. *glances over toward where Chrome had been sitting on the lively hatchling and sees that there's been a rescue by Bluestreak*

Sharpshot: *small nod as her optics start to darken back to blue*

Fig: *softly* You sure you're alright? *glances over at Blackout as the big female hauls Optimus back to bed*

Sharpshot: *quietly* I'll be alright. *circulates air and moves to snuggle close*

Fig: *cuddles, and he's shaking just slightly*

Sharpshot: *kiss?*

Fig: *perk. Soft rumble as he reciprocates*

Sharpshot: *relaxing and sharing a bit of energy*

Blackout: *back out for Elita. Lift*

Elita: *relaxing. Knows Blackout won't drop her*

Sharpshot: *soft trill*

Fig: *softly* What is it?

Sharpshot: *softly* I love you.

Fig: *little start, and then the big bot is hiding his face against her helm and crying*

Sharpshot: *startles and then she's fussing over her husband*

Blackout: *glances over there as she comes back, and then she hunkers to examine Matt and Dixie for damage*

Dixie: *heart rate still elevated but starting to return to normal, but she's going to have a lot of bruising in her midsection*

Matt: *heart rate similar to Dixie's, is stuttering badly as he fusses over his wife*

Blackout: *frowns and waits a moment, but then reaches down. Massive fingers gently poke the couples' faces together*

Dixie: *surprised*

Matt: *knows what to do! Will kiss his wife!*

Blackout: *satisfied. Turns the truck right side up and goes to see what Ratchet's doing*

Bathilda: ... Vhat did Sanftherz und I miss? *took Senaiji inside the house, and made him go to bed, then came back out when she heard the commotion outside*

Chrome: Sugar! :D

Bathilda: I can see zhat, Chrome... But vhy vas ze truck upside down?

Chrome: Ohhh. Daddy helpin' Unca fix. *nod nod*

Bathilda: Ah... Did somevone have a fight? *can see the clean up efforts*

Chrome: *glances over* #$&#@*$& fight.

Bathilda: *frown, will go find Ironhide and ask him who was fighting*

Ironhide: *spots small Wheeljack friend in danger zone. Picks her up and puts her on his shoulder* Watch it.

Bathilda: Who vas fighting?

Ironhide: Female Seekers were settling the pecking order.

Bathilda: *surprised* Ve got anozzer female Seeker?

Ironhide: *glances at her with a frown, and then jerks his head at Comet, who has an irate WakeJumper sitting on her head for trying to get up again*

Bathilda: *looks that way in time to see Catherine threaten Comet with a wrench*

Catherine: Quit trying to get up before we tell you to, slaggit!

Bathilda: ... Good grief, she sounds like Ratchet.

Ironhide: *snorts as he continues ripping up contaminated sod* She's a medic. Mikaela's doing it too.

Bathilda: All I hear from Mikaela ist Decepticon. *yes, she can tell the difference between the dialects*

Ironhide: *gruff and abrupt* I'm not translating.

Bathilda: I'm not asking you to. Should Sanftherz und I help vitzh clean up?

Ironhide: *looks around at the other bots and the suited humans who are currently busy working with him* *grunt* Nah.

Bathilda: Alvright. Senaiji ist sleeping now.

Ironhide: I know. *glances over at Matt and Dixie to show that he's checking on them*

Matt: *being gentle as he rubs his wife's shoulders*

Dixie: *looks a bit uncomfortable now that the "EEK!" has worn off*

Blackout: *comes back and impatiently picks the two of them up, then tries poking them through the open window of their bedroom*

Ironhide: *snort. Go back to work*

Bathilda: *snerks and shakes her head* *turns her attention to where Jessie and Chrissy's voices can be heard as the twins help their parents into the bedroom*

Ironhide: *dumps the last of the contaminated dirt into the bin, and then pings Jethro's phone since the man's in town today to pick up supplies and listen to the mayor's speech*

Mayor: *going on about how if he's elected again, not only will he crack down on illegal immigrants, he'll make sure "those alien machines are sent packing"*

Ironhide: o.0 //Jethro, what the *bleep* is that?//

Jethro: //A windbag runnin' 'is yap.// *sounds just a bit miffed*

Ironhide: //Well shut him up. And bring some new dirt and grass to base. The Seeker&%$#@&$s tore up what was on the practise field.//

Jethro: //... Th're's moah th'n 'un %$%$%$#%$# Seeker?//

Ironhide: *pauses to listen to Jethro get hit for using his term for the female Seekers. Snerk* //Comet jumped through Wheeljack's time machine.//

Jethro: //... Holy... 'Ow bad did th'n's git th're?//

Ironhide: //She just nearly ripped Slipstream to pieces.// *gruff pride in his voice* *but is totally trying to get Jethro to use the b word again so that he gets hit again*

Jethro: //'F Ah wasn't fond'a Whiplash, Ah'd say th't w's a good th'n'.// *knows what you're up to, Ironhide. Is NOT going to say that word again. Beau has good aim for hitting the same spot multiple times*

Ironhide: *soft growl* //Whiplash's a boltless wonder. Lets that @#$%*&#@$# knock him around like he's a labour drone.//

Jethro: //Ain't 'e a kid still?//

Ironhide: //Still boltless.// *heads inside to go check the new resting area of the infirmary and put a gentle hand on Whiplash's chest as the youngster lays under a warmed tarp*

Whiplash: *has gone from mumbling random gibbrish to giving a loopy report*

Jethro: //'E gonna be alrahght?//

Ironhide: //Yeah. Coneheads are like cockroaches.// Shhh. *stern look for Whiplash*

Whiplash: *falls silent at the stern look*

Jethro: *snerks* //Ah guess...//

Ironhide: //Get that grass. And shut that *bleeper* up. Ironhide out.// *hangs up and then glances at Bathilda as he remembers she's up there on his shoulder*

Bathilda: *flatly* People are stupid.

Whiplash: *takes this as a cue to start reporting again*

Ironhide: *hushes Whiplash again as he raises a brow ridge at Bathilda* Thought so. Wheeljack gave you eavesdropping capabilities.

Bathilda: ... *both brows up with surprise* Huh?

Ironhide: I wasn't communicating out loud.

Bathilda: ... *jaw drops* I zhought you vere...

Ironhide: *snort* Nope.

Bathilda: Und knowing Vheeljack, it slipped her mind...

Ironhide: *more snort* She doesn't realize she's evesdropping when she does it.

Bathilda: Until somevone points it out.

Ironhide: If they catch her.

Bathilda: True...

Mikaela: //Ratchet, Jazz is in distress!//

Ratchet: //I'm on my way. Wheeljack and Perceptor are working on Slipstream now.// *grabbed her kit and is heading for the summer house*

Bathilda: 0_0 *moving to climb off of Ironhide, intends to assist Ratchet and Mikaela*

Ironhide: *frowns at her and puts a hand up* What're you doing?

Bathilda: Zhey vill need hilf.

Ironhide: Who? *quick scan of the area, and then he's turning to run toward the summer house*

Jazz: *shuddering and bucking slightly as his optics flash*

Bathilda: *holding on for the ride and talking to Sanftherz about what is going on*

Ratchet: *moving to scan Jazz and to try and gently restrain him*

Jazz: *spark fluctuating, systems fritzing*

Ratchet: *cuss! Sets to work trying to stabilize the saboteur*

Comet: *putting up a fight now as she tries to get to Jazz* Lemme go! *sounds just a bit panicked*

Mikaela: *looks toward the orange fembot's frantic voice* Ratchet... scan his spark.

Ratchet: *will do so. Heard the panic in Comet's voice* *startled sound* He's... got a partial bond forming with Comet!

Mikaela: *shoots to her feet and runs toward the Seeker* Ironhide, let her go!

Ironhide: *looks over his shoulder and then sidesteps*

Comet: *beeline for the summer house, just gave WakeJumper and Catherine a ride*

Catherine: *pale and murmuring things Ratchet doesn't like said around WakeJumper*

Ironhide: *grabs the human and the hatchling in passing*

WakeJumper: *fussing and fretting*

Catherine: *quail chick impression!*

Jazz: *gasping and shaking. Tears running down his face now*

Comet: *going to shove people out of her way if they don't let her get to Jazz!*

Ratchet: *startled blurt as she's shoved aside* *then she's scanning the couple and pinching the bridge of her nose* They're both being affected by the partial bond.

Jazz: *falling still and silent as his mate holds him close* *then a soft whisper of her name*

Comet: *nuzzles his helm* *quietly* I'm right here.

Jazz: *circulates for a moment. Then gives a very soft whine of discomfort*

Ironhide: *watching* Ratchet?

Comet: *gentle kiss for Jazz*

Ratchet: They've got a bond starting... *will scan Jazz again to see if she can pinpoint the source of his discomfort*

Ironhide: Is he strong enough to finish it?

Ratchet: *quietly* He has a partial spark... It's longing to be whole...

Ironhide: *repeats himself* Is he strong enough to finish it?

Ratchet: I think so. His spark is showing stronger readings now than it did this morning.

Ironhide: *thinks of all the kissing that's been happening* Are you surprised?

Bumblebee: *plays a snatch of a song about kisses*

Ratchet: *soft snerk at the song* I shouldn't be, I know.

Comet: *sharing a bit more energy with Jazz*

Jazz: *quiet happy sound as he shares energy back*

Comet: *will also gently rub her wordmate's back and make pleased sounds*

Jazz: *quietly* Les' finish this.

Comet: *nods her agreement, will gently powersnog*

Ironhide: *doesn't blink at the flash of light from the half wrecked summer house* Here, take your kids. *holds out Catherine and WakeJumper*

Ratchet: *will do so*

Catherine: *quietly* Will Jazz be alright?

WakeJumper: *in a SULK now*

Mikaela: *scanning the new couple* Ratchet, look at his spark.

Ratchet: *scans Jazz* *soft, pleased sound* His spark is stable and whole.

Catherine: *wibbles and grins at the same time*

Ironhide: Good. I'll get someone to fix this place. *turns away to scare up some human workers*

Ratchet: *nod* *relief clear on her face, even as WakeJumper grumps at her*

Mikaela: *leans back against Bumblebee* So what's wrong with this little guy?

Ratchet: We've been trying to figure it out since she started refusing to enter sleep cycles at her usual time.

WakeJumper: *so much sass for Mama!*

Mikaela: Have you scanned her?

Ratchet: Several times. The results have always been inconclusive.

Mikaela: *frowns, and then speaks on her hunch* Did you scan her spark as carefully as you just did Jazz's?

Ratchet: ... No. When the initial scan comes back inconclusive, we rarely did secondary scans.

Mikaela: Maybe look now? *offers her hand to the cranky hatchling*

WakeJumper: *abandons Mamaship*

Ratchet: *scans WakeJumper's spark closely*

Mikaela: *soft laugh as she cuddles the orange hatchling close. Glances over with a smile as Bumblebee rests his chin on her shoulder and chirps at WakeJumper*

Ironhide: *glances at that, then snorts softly and wanders off to go look at Matt's truck*

Ratchet: *soft, surprised blurt as the scan results show her an anomaly she hadn't anticipated*

Mikaela: *startles and turns back to the medic* What's wrong?

Ironhide: *remembers Bathilda then and puts her on the ground*

Ratchet: WakeJumper may someday be part of a gestault. She's a single sparked combiner, whose spark is seeking those like it in order to be whole.

Mikaela: *starrrrre* ...Like Devastator?

Ratchet: Hopefully without the terrible temperament.

Perceptor: *as he walks out and stops to watch the repair efforts to the summer house* Actually, Devastator was not a natural gestault.

Ratchet: *slight headtilt, inviting her mate to continue with his explanation*

WakeJumper: *huff, ignoreadaddy. Ignore, ignore, ig-splatsleep*

Mikaela: *rubbing the bitty back as she too looks at Perceptor*

Perceptor: Before Optimus found the secret of the combining spark the only options open to those born as single sparked combiners was a lifetime of incompleteness, or undergoing Shockwave's crude treatments. And those treatments put a horrific strain on the sparks and minds of the bots involved.

Ratchet: *considering look as she studies WakeJumper's features* What options are available now?

Silverbolt: *comes trucking out of the schoolroom* Sissy! Sissy! Nap nap! Sissy?

Ratchet: ... *soft chuckle, will move to show Silverbolt where WakeJumper is* *gentle clicks*

Silverbolt: Sissy! *happy chuckle and reaches to be picked up*

Perceptor: *watching this with a thoughtful look on his face. Sudden blink*

Ratchet: *will gently lift Silverbolt and bring her to WakeJumper. Then she's carefully crouching to offer this hatchling to Mikaela as well* This is Silverbolt. She and WakeJumper have been almost inseparable since they arrived on the farm.

Perceptor: Ratchet, love. Scan Silverbolt.

Ratchet: ... *raised brow ridge, will do so* *quietly* Silverbolt is a combiner spark as well... But unlike WakeJumper, she has signs of having been a multi spark.

Perceptor: *also quiet* That explains their closeness.

WakeJumper: *just starting her happy bitty purr*

Silverbolt: *snugs her sissy and purrs as well*

Mikaela: You should really scan the other babies too, Ratchet. *looks up at the taller fembot*

Ratchet: *nods* We'll need to round them all up. *putting out a call to the adults who are responsible for the hatchlings*

Mikaela: Aren't they mostly in school right now?

school: *just let out for lunch*

Ratchet: We'll scan them while they're lined up to get their lunch.

Bumblebee: *soft "bwee-eee"*

Mikaela: *rubs his hand where it rests on her shoulder*

Ratchet: *gets a quick image of the hatchlings snuggled with Mikaela* The sooner we get started, the better.

Mikaela: Alright. I'll help. Um. Bee, you have to let go of me.

Bumblebee: ^_^;


Meanwhile, inside the house...


Inferno: *leaning against Jake as he watches TV with the two big boys who decided to do schoolwork at home instead of at school today*

Jake: *slight headtilt as he works on math homework*

Mini-Lee: *laying on the back of the recliner while Bubby works on homework*

BJ: *trying to identify what type of hero the main character in the tale of Baba Yaga is, and what characters fill the supporting roles*

Inferno: *pulls his toothpick out of his mouth and uses it to point to the TV* Unca Jefro.

BJ: *looks up from his literature homework* *snerk* Lusky's gonna git told.

Jake: *nods in agreement*

Inferno: Sound on? *looks for the remote, toothpick held absently in one little hand*

Jake: S-sh'ld b-be.

Inferno: 0.0

BJ: *snerks and moves to turn the sound on*

Jake: *razz*

Inferno: Shhh. Unca talkin'.

BJ: *social studies notebook out, taking notes!*

nut in the crowd on the TV: //Hey, Jethro, since when are you a politician?//

Jethro: //Ah ain't 'un. Ah jes' th'nk we need t' be moah c'nsid'rate 'f th' fact th't th're're refugees 'n orphans 'n th' 'Bot ranks.//

nut: //Aww, whatever. Let's hear the robot's speech.//

Inferno: *realizes that Springer's on TV, sitting by the podium and holding his toes* Hey!

Jake: ...

BJ: ... 'Ow'd Springer git th're?

Inferno: Wif Unca. *noms on toothpick, then leans back and puts hands behind his head*

BJ: *snerk*

Jethro: *will offer Springer the microphone then*

Springer: *stares at the mic, then looks up at Unca* //Buh?//

Jethro: *chuckles* //D'y'u wanna say anehth'n', Springer?//

Springer: *looks at the microphone, considers. Then leans over it* //Ehbeeceedeeeeefgee...//

Inferno: *sings along*

Jake: *shares a surprised look with BJ, then both boys are laughing heartily*

Mini-Lee: *startles and falls off the back of the recliner*

Jessie: *coming downstairs to see what's so funny*

Inferno: *big eyes as a cheer comes from the TV*

Jessie: *both brows up* Jes' wh't's goin' on 'eah?

Inferno: Spinger singin'. *toothpick!*

Jessie: ... *snerk* Goofball kid.

Inferno: Noooo... *bitty thoughtful look for Jessie*

Jessie: Wh't'd Springer sing?

Inferno: *spits out his toothpick and sings it for her!*

Jessie: D'awwww

BJ: Uncle Jethro TOLD Lusky.

Epps: *looks in from the kitchen* Told 'im what? And who's Lusky?

BJ: Basicalleh th't Lusky's a racist bigot. Lusky's th' mayor.

Epps: *frowns and absently hands the box of plastic shapes to busy little Showtime who came inside with him to get them* Start from the beginning.

BJ: We 'ad th' tv on while we's work'n' 'n 'omework, 'n th' Mayor c'me on t' ramble 'bout s'meth'n' 'r othah, 'n th'n Uncle Jethro w's on tv, so we turned th' sound up. 'Parentleh, Lusky wants t' give th' 'Bots th' boot...

Epps: *hand over mouth to hold in a word that Showtime will hit him for*

BJ: Yep. 'N Uncle Jethro gave th' mic t' Springer....

Inferno: Foh 'is speech. *nod nod*

BJ: *chuckles* 'N most'a th' crowd loves 'im.

Jessie: 'Course th'y do. 'E's li'l, cute, 'n 'as big eyes.

Epps: ...Little goober's smarter than he lets on too. He sleeps through school.

Jessie: *snerk* Learn'n' through osmosis.

BJ: Too bad th't don' work f'r 'umans.

Epps: *shrug* Dunno. Worked for me.

BJ and Jake: *look at one another and snerk*

Red Alert: *comes screaming into the house, vox set at top volume*

Mini-Lee: *was going to climb Bubby's back, but now he's hiding behind the recliner again* 0.0

Jake: Ack! *moves to see what's scared the hatchling*

Red Alert: *screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Heading for the stairs!*

Jake: *hurries after the bitty*

Red Alert: *up stairs on all four, and then bounces off the door of Matt and Dixie's room* *more squeeeee*

Chrissy: *open the door* Wh't th'?

Red Alert: *crawls between her legs, crying inconsolably*

Epps: What's wrong? *looks at Showtime*

Showtime: *blink blink* Oooh, no Aunty f'r nom tahm.

Matt: *soothing sounds as he moves to pick up Red Alert*

Red Alert: *clings to him and looks for Dixie. Frantic squeaking and clicking*

Dixie: Bring 'im 'eah, Matt... *is laying on the bed with a heating pad wrapped around her waist*

Matt: *nods and moves to do so*

Red Alert: Mama. Om noms. Mama.

Inferno: *in the doorway now* Mama 'urt?

Dixie: Jes' bruised, 'Ferno. *patpats the bed, inviting the bitty to come join the snuggle pile that's starting to form* *will also rub Red Alert's back after Matt tucks the little guy next to her*

Inferno: *frowns and thinks, then perks* Ah'll git lunch.

Showtime: Noms! *will poke one of the plastic shapes she was working on at Inferno's mouth*

Inferno: *sputter. Take nom out of mouth* No. We gotta git lunch foh Mama.

Showtime: 'N noms f'r us too. *scoots toward the stairs*

Inferno: *heads for the stairs as well, intent on going to the kitchen*

Dixie: Chrissy, go wit' 'em... *worried about the combination of Inferno and the kitchen*

Chrissy: Yes'm. *scoots after Inferno and Showtime*

Inferno: *head in the fridge as he scolds the ham for being back behind everything else*

Showtime: *trying to scoot a chair over to the counter* *clickstorming and talking to herself happily*

Chrissy: *soft sigh, moves to keep Showtime from climbing onto the counter, will also gently nudge Inferno with one foot as she walks by the hatchling*

Inferno: Chrissy make eggs? *sets an armload of things on the floor so that he can reach the ham* *is pretty sure that eggs go in meat sammiches*

Chrissy: Alrahght... Showtahm, stay 'n th'chaiuh. *getting the eggs, and then an idea's coming to her. Once she's set the eggs on the counter out of Showtime's reach, she's getting English muffins out of the bread drawer*

Showtime: *huff, sulk*

Inferno: *has ham! Going to walk over and set it on the counter now. Forgot the plate. Pauses to hug Showtime, and then returns to the fridge* Cheese, raght? 'N this 'n this 'n this...

Chrissy: Naw. We's gonna turn eggs benedict int' sandwiches. *grin*

Showtime: *wrinkles her nose* 'Ferno needs a bath.

Inferno: *takes his head out of the fridge* o.0?

Chrissy: Huh? *looks* *sigh* Yup. Y'u need a bath, 'Ferno. Show does too, now.

Inferno: Oh. *scratches head* Eggy 'dict?

Chrissy: *nods and begins explaining the idea she had* 'F we cook th' eggs up nahce, 'n slahce th' 'am up t' fit 'n th' English muffins, Ah c'n prolleh make th' sauce th't goes 'n top usualleh, but Ah'll 'ave t' make 't not so runneh...

Inferno: *totally didn't get most of that. Sage nod* Wh't Ah get?

Chrissy: Y'u alreadeh got th' 'am... Th'nk y'u 'n Showtahm c'n slahce th' muffins?

Inferno: *looks at the fridge, and then starts putting things back into it. Pauses to eat the blue lid off the juice bottle* 'Kay.

Chrissy: *makes a note to finish off the juice quickly*

Showtime: *leans against the back of the chair to watch Chrissy work on the sauce*

Inferno: *studies his handiwork, and then carefully closes the door* Gotta knahf?

Chrissy: Yup. Top drawer. *points to where the knives are kept*

Inferno: *happy chirp and goes to get*

Mikaela: *out of her shell. Peeks into the room* Hi. Where's Mrs. Lamont? I want to make sure she's okay. *tall woman with those piercing blue eyes and short black hair*

Chrissy: *startles, earning a surprised squeal from Showtime* Er...

Showtime: *hiding against Chrissy now, kthx*

Mikaela: Lt. Mikaela Banes. That was me out there in the black Headmaster suit.

Chrissy: Ah... Ma 'n Pa're upstaiuhs.

Mikaela: Is it okay if I go up? *smiles for the hatchlings*

Inferno: *waves a knife at her and clicks. She reads something like a grown up bot!* *chatters happily*

Showtime: *peeking around Chrissy now, will chirp quietly*

Chrissy: Sh'ld be. *small smile* Pa w's fussin' ova' Ma, 'n th'y's got Red 'Lert up wit' 'em too.

Mikaela: *smiles* Alright! *little wave for the hatchlings and then heads for the stairs*

Matt: *looks up from fussing over Red Alert and Dixie. Can hear someone coming up the stairs. Slight frown as he realizes he has no idea whose footsteps those are. Will get up carefully and tuck Red Alert in with Dixie. Moves to meet whoever's coming up the stairs*

Red Alert: *back behind him quietly giving the little alert that means he's not afraid of the newcomer*

Mikaela: *pauses as she reaches the top of the stairs* Hi. Mr. Lamont?

Matt: *nods* Th-th't's m-me... *not so sure about you, lady he does not know, but since Red Alert's not worried, he'll give you the benefit of the doubt*

Mikaela: *smiles that warm smile and offers a hand* Lieutenant Mikaela Banes. I just wanted to check on Mrs. Lamont, since Private Maloney's busy. *yes, this is the "Mikky" that some of the bots have mentioned occasionally, especially yesterday when they were excited by learning she was coming*

Matt: A-Ah. 'S n-nahce t-t' m-meet y'u, M-Miss B-Banes.

Mikaela: *smile goes a little warmer, and she doesn't correct him about her rank* Is that a hatchling whistling? *tilts her head toward the soft sound*

Matt: *nods and moves to let Mikaela into the room* 'I-is n-name 's R-Red 'Lert.

Dixie: *carefully sitting up a bit more so she can see who Matt is talking to*

Mikaela: *chuckles as she hears a quizzical chirp in response to the name* The little security bot that got so upset a few minutes ago. *walks to the doorway of the room and looks in*

Red Alert: *beeeees at her quietly, and then snuggles in the blankets*

Dixie: Yup... *will gently rub Red Alert's back*

Mikaela: Hi, Mrs. Lamont. Do you mind if I have a look and make sure you're okay?

Dixie: Alrahght... *not quite sure how that would work, but will consent*

Mikaela: *crosses wrists* *quietly* Suit on.

Red Alert: *sits up with interest as he watches the silver cover Mikaela's skin under her uniform*

Dixie: *slight quirk of a grin* Y'u're a 'Eadmastah?

Mikaela: Yes, Ma'am. Wheeljack outfitted me so I can check up on wounded humans on the field. Otherwise I'm a scouting/light frontline unit. Something like Bumblebee.

Dixie: *small nod, and a soft chuckle* Bumblebee's a sweetie.

Mikaela: *softly, as she comes over to the bed* He always has been. *blinks slightly then as the silver appears over her eyes* Alright, Red, can you hold still so I can see Mrs. Lamont?

Red Alert: *chrrr* *issa watching*

Dixie: *soft chuckle* *already has a fairly good-sized, dark patch of bruising around her midsection. Is in very good health, which is a plus, considering the new life that's currently moving around with a bit of agitation*

Mikaela: *soft sound of surprise, and then lays a gentle hand on Dixie's belly* Wow, he's really mad. But you're both okay.

Dixie: *boggling now* Ah'm pregnant?!

Red Alert: *optics sparkling* Beeabee.

Matt: 0_0 *and now he's got to sit down* *soft thump as his butt meets the floor*

Mikaela: *surprised as her head whips around to look at Matt and then turns back to Dixie* Um. Yeah. He's fully formed, but too little to really feel yet.

Dixie: ... *quietly* Wow.

Mikaela: You really didn't know?

Red Alert: *surprised look for Mama*

Dixie: *headshake* But Ah guess th't's wh't Ahrnhahd w's gett'n' 't wh'n 'e tol' me not t' stress mah bud...

Mikaela: ...Um, what? *laughs and moves Dixie's hand over the irate tiny unborn in place of her own*

Dixie: Ah w's trah'n t' git s'm roof tah off'a Chrome, 'n Ahrnhahd pushed me 'way... th'n tol' me not t' stress mah bud. Ah thought 'e w's makin' a rude joke.

Mikaela: *laughing* He thought you already knew!

Dixie: *quietly* Guess nobodeh taught 'im t' sayin' 'bout assumin'.

Mikaela: *gently* It probably wasn't really assuming, Mrs. Lamont. Ironhide has a lot of faith in female intuition. And his first wife was a lot like you, except kind of more homicidal.

Dixie: ... *very soft snerk*

Mikaela: *smiles, and then goes over to take Matt's arm and tug on it gently*

Red Alert: *soft alarm sound as he points at Pa*

Matt: *quietly stuttering and stammering about how he's gonna be a dad again* *bit of a dopey grin going on, too*

Mikaela: *laughs and hauls him up, then shoves him over to where he can sit on the other side of the bed from Red Alert*

Matt: *will put a hand over the one Dixie has on her belly, his other arm moving to go around her shoulders*

Mikaela: *soft d'aww as the silver of her suit retreats in response to her whispered command* I'll leave you guys be. Congratulations.

Dixie: *small nod* Th'nk y'u, Mikaela.

Matt: *also nods, doesn't trust himself to speak right now*

Mikaela: *still smiling as she leaves. Pauses in the kitchen as Inferno runs to offer her a big, thick and lopsided slice of ham* Oh, thanks. *has a bite and looks at the little guy thoughtfully* *quietly* Did you know about Mrs. Lamont's new baby?

Inferno: *perks right up* Mama's gotta baby in 'er belleh. Yeah!

Chrissy: *startles again*

Showtime: Mmmyup. Bitty babeh.

Mikaela: Why didn't you guys tell anybody?

Inferno: *blink blink* Buh?

Showtime: Did. Nobodeh listened.

Mikaela: They didn't? *glances at Chrissy*

Chrissy: *quietly* Ah th'ght she w's talk'n 'bout BJ's toad...

Mikaela: o.0 Toad?

Chrissy: *nod* 'E's gotta babeh Fahrbelleh toad.

Mikaela: I've never heard of those.

Inferno: *to Showtime, since babbies aren't supposed to interrupt bigs* Taddy. *nod nod*

Showtime: *nod nod of agreement* *will sit on the chair and swing her legs a bit* Aunty gotta babeh. Mama's courtin'. *chuckles and clicks softly*

Inferno: *happy squeal and runs to the living room* Mama gotta babeh!

Jake: *looks up from homework* Bhuh?

BJ: *blink blink* *grin* Sweet!

Mini-Lee: *puzzled headtilt*

Epps: o.o

Inferno: *points to his belly* Inner belleh. Show wasn' talkin' 'bout Taddy!

Jake: *blink, blink. Boggle, jaw drop*

Inferno: He's little 'n bitty, 'n gotta peepee. *nod*

Epps: *hand on face, snickering is go*

BJ: *cracking up now, kthx*

Jake: *quietly* Ah g-gotta li'l b-brothah 'n th' w-way...

Inferno: *tilts his head and makes a quizzical sound* 'N th' way?

Jake: Y-Yeah... 'E ain't b-born y-yet... *grinning now*

Inferno: But he's 'eah. *points to the stairs*

Epps: *more laughter. Is planning on how he'll tease Matt*

Mini-Lee: *quiet clicks*

Inferno: *sudden happy and excited flail, then bolts outside calling about the baby*

Epps: Hope Matt wasn' plannin' on tellin' everybody himself.

BJ: *laughing muchly now*

Epps: Hey, Chrissy, what smells so good? *goes to see*


outside


Inferno: *stops as he meets a Lizzy coming home from school for lunch* Mama found out 'bout th' babeh!

Lizzy: 'Bout tahm. *grin*

Inferno: *offers her five*

Lizzy: *gives high five* *also gives hugs!*

Inferno: *happy hatchling chatter as he hugs back gently*

Lizzy: Wh'ts f'r lunch?

Inferno: *steps back and makes a confused frown* 'Dict 'am sammiches.

Lizzy: *grin, move to head for the house*

Inferno: *huh. Sissy seems to know what that is. Shrugs and then runs to the mess hall and the hatchling line up for lunch, once more crying out his news*

Perceptor: *glances toward the hatchling with surprise*

Ratchet: *surprised expression is a go*

WakeJumper: *absently gnawing on Mamashoulder and contemplating sleep again*

Silverbolt: Huh? They notknow? o.0

Inferno: *shakes his head* They didn' know till Aunty told 'em.

Ratchet: *considering look*

Perceptor: Oh dear. Is the unborn human sparklet safe? His mother is very weak on armour. *worry and fear for the new human comes strongly over his bond with his mate*

Wheeljack: *from where she's standing to one side with with a piece of the tasty metal and silicon stuff she made for the hatchlings to eat* Huh? What're you guys talkin' about?

Ratchet: *to Wheeljack* Dixie and Matthew found out about their baby. *to Perceptor* -Mikaela went to check on Dixie. She would have called if there was a problem.-

Wheeljack: ...What baby? I thought Lizzy was too big to be called that anymore. *brow ridge quirk as she opens her mask just enough to bite the stuff in her hand*

Inferno: *bitty facepalm and headshake as he snerks*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle* They have a new one on the way. *scans the next happily nomming hatchling*

Wheeljack: 0.0 Really? I wonder if Dixie'd let me see?

Perceptor: *don't mind him. He's hiding his face on Ratchet and circulating deeply*

Silverbolt: *watching him and softly humming a lullaby*

WakeJumper: *has decided she's bored of gnawing on Mamashoulder. Wants snuggles, Papa. Will reach for Perceptor and click*

Ratchet: She and Matthew are in the house currently.

Inferno: Mama, don' go buggin' Mama. She needs t' rest.

Chrome: *behind Inferno, ready to grab him and pin him* Rest! Yah! Uh. No!

WakeJumper: *insistant little sounds, is trying to get Perceptor's attention so she can snuggle close to him and listen to his spark*

Ratchet: *absently lifts Perceptor up to where WakeJumper is* I suspect the neighbors will be celebrating once word gets around the area.

Wheeljack: Huh? Why? Oh. Whaddya want, BJ? Mini-Lee givin' ya trouble? *looking down between her feet*

BJ: No ma'am. *bit of a grin as Mini-Lee peeks over his shoulder*

Mini-Lee: *chirp?*

Wheeljack: So whaddya want? *glances over to see Perceptor snuggled between WakeJumper and Silverbolt as the hatchlings purr and hum softly*

BJ: *bites his lower lip a bit before looking Wheeljack in the optic* Ah wanna 'elp Ma walk 'gain.

Ratchet: *absent humming as she watches the hatchling she's scanning dance for her*

Wheeljack: *glances surreptitiously toward her friend, then looks back down at the human boy* Uh... talk ta me later, okay?

Ratchet: *may seem distracted, but is definitely going to corner Wheeljack later on*

BJ: *small nod*

Wheeljack: *sniffs the air* o.0 Hey, what're you doin' here? It's time fer humans ta eat.

BJ: *sheepish grin, will scoot for the house* Talk t' y'u later, Wheeljack.

Wheeljack: ^_^ See ya, BJ! *looks at Ratchet* You guys need me fer anythin' else? *sees a Bluestreak up at the head of the babby line, wants to go flirt while he feeds the hatchlings their lunch*

Ratchet: Later, perhaps. *so intent on her work... Or is she?*

Wheeljack: Alright! *heads over cheerfully to see her sweetheart*

Perceptor: *quiet sigh* Ratchet?

Ratchet: Yes, Perceptor?

Perceptor: *note of hope in his voice* Are you finished?

Ratchet: I am. I have all the data I need for now.

Perceptor: Have you anything else to do at present? *such a strong wish for quiet close time that it leaks past the blocks he tried to put around it*

Ratchet: Nothing that can't wait until later. *one last check to make sure the Seekers are comfortable, then she's moving to head for a quieter location*

Perceptor: *sees if he can get out from between the snuggly hatchlings currently clinging to his mate's back*

Ratchet: *will help with that, clicking softly all the while*

Perceptor: *cuddles close with a tired sigh, leaking weariness over the bond*

Ratchet: *soothing sounds as she heads for a quiet corner of the farm. Intends to sit in the sun and recharge*

Blackout: *lands and transforms as the medibot and her family head around the machine shed. Glances at them, but then walks over to the newly returned Jethro and Beau and stoops to offer them something in her hand*

Jethro: *puzzled expression as he and Beau reach for what's being offered* Wh't'd y'u catch th's tahm?

Blackout: *opens hand as she sets it on the ground. Is presenting a massive mule deer buck... sans head and freshly killed* I used my roadkill license.

Jethro: *laughing heartily now as he and Beau move to take the deer over to the shed that's become the main butchering area* Th'nks, Blackout.

Beau: Wh're's Aunt Dixie so we c'n show 'er?

Blackout: *glances at the house* Reading a baby name book with Matt. About time they got that bud named. *checks on the hatchling conked out behind the seats of Jethro's pickup, then grabs the stuff from the back of the truck and tosses it onto the porch*

Beau: ... 0_0

Jethro: *blink blink* Dixie's pregnant?

Blackout: *pauses in squishing a loaf of bread bought for the soldiers* ...You didn't know?

Jethro: *headshake* She ain't showin' none, 'n ain't pukin'...

Blackout: *rumbles as she stands* I forgot how lame your sensors are. *looks around for something interesting to do* Are gophers human fuel?

Jethro: Yup. Jes' realleh fiddleh t' gut 'n skin.

Blackout: *scans the nearest field* Would twenty eight be too many to process? *remembers the panic when she brought in fifteen pythons*

Jethro: Not 'f we git all th' soldiers who ain't on duty t' 'elp out. *grin*

Blackout: Hrrm. Do you want the woodchuck too? *knows the mice are unwanted*

Jethro: Naw. Ah th'nk th's deer 'n th' gophers'll be 'nough f'r th' week. 'Specially 'f we make stew. *more grin*

Blackout: You still have over half the bull, too.

Jethro: Yup. *quite pleased with how much food there is*

Blackout: *looks up* Those Muscovy ducks will be landing on the field near the wreck. I can get them after the gophers. *knows that the gophers will go in jars, since they're soup things. This means there is room in the freezers for ducks*

Jethro: Alrahght. Th'nk y'u, Blackout. *will set to work butchering the mule deer*

Blackout: *heads off to inject large amounts of water into the ground and watch gophers float to the surface*

((Written with random_xtras))