TPF. Various Locations. Turning Points

[dens_extra_pups]

dKnockout: *standing out on the front porch, frowning into the space under the cottonwoods as he sips a drink and holds a bitty under the other arm*

Rundown: *issa big SLEEP*

Dallas: *pacing around her kitchen, and fretting quietly as she re-reads a letter from Aunt Dixie that arrived earlier today* *wishes the woman would just let her be*

dKnockout: *suddenly scowls and lifts his head as he sees headlights turning onto the driveway*

Dallas: *coming to see what's going on. Saw the headlights*

dKnockout: *casually passes back the sleeping baby, and then knocks back his Long Island iced tea and offers Dallas the glass* Stay inside.

Dallas: *bit of a frown, but will head back to the kitchen with baby and empty glass*

dKnockout: *watches a tri-colour pastel Corvette Stingray roll up the drive and smirks slightly* Hmmm. Nice lines. *glances toward the vehicle following the first and winces with a slight smirk as he realizes who the beautiful car must be*

bright pink Acura NSX: *quite dusty and dirty, and is practically on the Stingray's bumper as it follows*

dKnockout: *calls back through the door without turning* It's alright, goodie. It's just my idiot brother and his wife.

Dallas: ... Are you sure that's a good thing? *bit of a frown as she moves to join dKnockout in the doorway, balancing Rundown on her hip*

dKnockout: *slips an arm around her waist and watches as the Corvette transforms into a stunningly beautiful femmebot with sharp heather purple eyes*

Acura NSX: *transforming attempts are a go, and eventually, there's a mech who very closely resembles Knockout trying to get his footing. Is just a bit shaky, and his optics are nearly white as he moves to cling to the femmebot*

Dallas: ... *raised brow*

dKnockout: *frowns, concern replacing the mockery on his chiseled face* *watches for a moment, and then lets go of Dallas and walks toward the visiting couple* Scattershot?

Scattershot: *flinch, braves a peek* *quietly, voice quivering slightly* Brother?

dKnockout: Yessss, it's me. Who's this? *smirk for the ladybot, who gives him a look in return that could cut steel*

Scattershot: *intakes hitch for a moment, then he's hiding against his mate* *quiet* Mate.

dKnockout: I see. So what brings you to Earth? *frowns, concealing the concern* And what did you do to yourself?

Mistfire: *soothing back rub for Scattershot even as she gives his brother a stink eye*

Scattershot: *hiding against Mistfire even more* *very soft whine*

Mistfire: *gruffly* He jes' beat th' scrap outta that *bleeper* on Meggy's ship.

dKnockout: *jaw drops, and then he's facepalming and muttering*

Scattershot: *shivering and murmuring about finishes*

Dallas: ... Is he alright? *can see that the eyesore doesn't seem to be all the way there*

dKnockout: *looks over his shoulder* Could I hold the baby while you get your tools, goodie?

Dallas: *nods and offers Rundown*

dKnockout: *goes and takes the tiny thing, stealing a quick kiss as he does. Then turns and walks back to his brother*

Scattershot: *is working himself back up to another process loop*

dKnockout: Scattershot, hold this. *holds up Rundown imperiously*

Mistfire: *sees the bitty and perks* Rundown!

Scattershot: *peeks. Reaches for the sparklet* Runny...

dKnockout: *carefully hands the little one over* And don't drop it.

Mistfire: He ain't an it.

Dallas: *coming back with her tools, also snagged her cleaning supplies since she suspects there's more damage that the dirt and grime are concealing*

Scattershot: *very soft clicks as he gently cradles Rundown in his arms*

Rundown: *hears familiar spark and systems. Sleeps much big*

dKnockout: There, that's better. Now isn't it. *smirks up at his brother*

Scattershot: *soft clicks* *can't go into a process loop if he's distracted. Well played, dKnockout*

dKnockout: *smirks at his sister in law, and then looks over his shoulder toward Dallas with an insufferably smug expression on his face*

Dallas: *watching Scattershot even as she moves to see how badly he's hurt*

Scattershot: *slight tensing as Brother's Mate touches a sore area on his frame*

dKnockout: Easy. She knows what she's doing. Why don't you lay down so we can look at you?

Mistfire: *moves to lower her mate to the grass*

dKnockout: *scowl* Just wait!

Mistfire: *deep scowl at the sharp tone*

Scattershot: *flinches at the sharp tone and cringes away slightly*

Dallas: Let me get this tarp spread out. It'll make getting him cleaned up easier. *moving to put action to her words*

Mistfire: *soothing clicks to her mate, and a soft grin for her baby brother* Lookit 'im, Gorgeous. He's all shiny.

Scattershot: *looking and clicking softly* Shiny Rundown...

Mistfire: *then curiously touches the little knit hooded onesie her brother's wearing* What's'is?

Dallas: *as she finishes getting the tarp set up* It's a onesie.

Scattershot: *quietly* Soft...

Mistfire: *glances toward the human femme as she rubs Scattershot's back again* Whatsit for?

Dallas: Well, partially to keep him warm, and partially to keep him clean... Ok. Go ahead and get him laying down. *nods towards Scattershot, who is now leaning against Mistfire and looking a bit less stressed*

Mistfire: *curious frown as she gently lays her mate down*

dKnockout: *heading for the house and unbuttoning and untucking his shirt as he goes*

Dallas: *bit of a blush and squee as she watches dKnockout go to the house, then she's turning her attention back to Scattershot and Mistfire* *to Mistfire* Did you happen to see the fight?

Mistfire: *giving you a quirked brow ridge, Dallas* Yup.

Dallas: Where are the worst of his injuries?

Mistfire: *points out spots*

dKnockout: *here he comes... wearing the pair of pants that he ripped the leg on the other day while chasing that woodchuck that got into Dallas' cactus patch, only now both legs have been cut off*

Dallas: *will get to work, pausing when she sees what dKnockout is wearing*

Scattershot: *soft noise of discomfort as Brother's Mate touches the area around a particularly bad wound*

dKnockout: We need to use a pain override, sweet. *sets down the box he brought out and brings out the sedation gun that he made to fit the drone's hands*

Dallas: Alright. Help me with him?

Scattershot: *very soft clicks, has his optics shuttered now. Still just a bit tense*

dKnockout: *walks over and tags brother with full sedation*

Scattershot: *is soon only the sound of systems working at a rate of speed that can't possibly be good for anyone*

dKnockout: *frowns and hits brother with a bit more tranq* Calm down, you high-strung glitch.

Scattershot: *systems slowing now*

dKnockout: *nods and puts gun away, then sets to work on the deeper injuries*

Dallas: *working on cleaning up the injuries as best as she can before she works on trying to fix them* *soft humming of a song she heard on the radio earlier*

dKnockout: *silent and intent as he works. Winces absently when he winds up with grease smeared across his chest, but this is why he took his shirts off*

Dallas: *adjusting the tension on some of the cabling she can see and reach, since it seems too taut*

Mistfire: *sitting and watching them, and then she's suddenly on the alert as the sound of a powerful engine growls its way into the driveway*

dKnockout: *has jumped down and grabbed something from his toolbox, which telescopes out into a shock prod*

Dallas: *looks up from her work with a start* What?

Mistfire: *on her feet, but then frowns as she sees the big blue armoured vehicle that pulls in* The slag...?

dKnockout: *deep scowl as he swings the prod and makes it sing through the air* I don't know who you are. But you had better leave.

vehicle: *stops. Deep voice, full of uncertainty* Knockout? Is that you?

dKnockout: *scowl goes vicious* Oh don't try that scrap. Breakdown is dead.

Dallas: *moving to protect Rundown now*

vehicle: *transforms to a badly battered mountain of a bot, with one eye covered by a patch* I... am? Are you messing with me?

dKnockout: *just scanned that bot, and now he's staring*

Dallas: 0_0 *doing her best to shield Rundown from the bot's sight. Remembers this guy all too well*

dKnockout: I don't know what is going on here, but you...

Breakdown: *flinches and looks a bit frightened*

dKnockout: ...Go sit over there and stay out of my way.

Breakdown: Sure... *goes, and sits*

dKnockout: *already turned back to his brother, but Dallas will see the working of his jaw*

Dallas: *just a bit freaked out, for her part*

dKnockout: *back to work. Is glad his brother doesn't need any special parts replaced* *doesn't speak or look at Dallas or anyone*

Dallas: *deep breaths, counts to ten in her head before she tries moving back to where she was loosening the tension on some cables in Scattershot's shoulders*


hour later


dKnockout: *steps back from welding the last patch in place, rolling his shoulders to relieve tension and absently brushing at his abs as he frowns and scans for anything he missed*

Scattershot: *still sedated, and now not only are his injuries repaired and his armor cleaned up, a lot of the overly taut cables in his neck and shoulders have been reset to their proper tension, courtesy of Dallas*

dKnockout: *got the rest of those cables, and is absently wondering if he's going to need that done himself* *more shoulder rolling, but then becomes aware of his wife peeking at him and suddenly straightens with a smug grin*

Dallas: *bit of a small smile, will move to check on Rundown*

Rundown: *sprawled on pink bubby's chest, sleeping away*

dKnockout: You can take him back now, Dallas. *turns and looks at the blue bot sitting over there morosely* Do you know what you're supposed to do now?

Breakdown: *looks over and gives an impression of thinking hard. Slight perk* Got a buffer?

Dallas: *very soft snerk as she gently extracts Rundown from Scattershot's loose grip*

dKnockout: It's in the garage.

Breakdown: *goes and gets that big old thing that Knockout left here back when he was still in his old shell, then returns and sets to work on Scattershot's scuffs*

dKnockout: *checks the baby as Dallas comes near him, and then looks at Breakdown's work with a nostalgic smile*

Dallas: *still warily watching Breakdown* *quietly, to dKnockout* You know... Grandma does have to go home sometime...

dKnockout: *blink blink. Looks at her with quirked brow* Hmmm?

Dallas: She's asleep in the hammock right now. But her absence is going to be noticed sooner or later... *thinks of Aunt Dixie's fretting letter*

dKnockout: What are you talking about, Dallas? What absence?

Dallas: Grandma has her own house, and her mail's probably piling up by now.

dKnockout: *both brows up now* *off hand* Oh. I thought she'd come to stay. Well, I'm not keeping her from going. *glances at Mistfire, who is watching the buffing of her mate with a protective scowl on her face* ...Is there any more iced tea?

Dallas: *soft snerk, will give him a kiss on the cheek before heading inside to get the pitcher and his glass* *and to find that Hattie's up now and talk to her*

Hattie: *quietly* Ah dunno, Dallas... 'E worriehs me.

Dallas: *as she bustles about and pours more drinks* Worries you? Why?

Hattie: Well, 'is temper, f'r stahtahs.

Dallas: He's never once raised his hand to me or Rundown, Grandma. I'd kick his butt if he did.

Hattie: Still...

Dallas: You worry too much. *tucks Rundown into the wearable sling she made, will head back out with the drinks, having poured one for herself*

dKnockout: *not in sight right away, but Breakdown's sitting by the patio with a hand to his face as he watches Mistfire cuss him out from beside Scattershot*

Breakdown: ... *looks down at Dallas* Do you know what her problem is?

Dallas: ... No idea.

Breakdown: *troubled frown, but then perks slightly* Who are you anyway?

Dallas: Knockout's wife.

Breakdown: *silent for a moment. Then* What's "wife" mean?

Dallas: ... Wordmate. *yes, she's heard that word used to describe her*

Breakdown: *straightens with surprise* ...Oh.

Dallas: *will go look for dKnockout*

Breakdown: *quickly* Wait.

Dallas: *stops and looks over her shoulder*

Breakdown: *uncertainly, as he frowns* You don't like me?

Dallas: ... You scared the heck out of me the first time I saw you.

Breakdown: I did? *quietly* I don't remember.

Dallas: You somehow managed to sneak up on Knockout.

Breakdown: ... No way.

Dallas: *nods* *will head to the garage*

dKnockout: *is there, poking through a box of stuff he hasn't looked at since he brought it out* *still clad only in cut off black jeans and some grease*

Dallas: What's got your brother's wife in such a tizzy?

dKnockout: Hmm? What did she say?

Dallas: She was cussing Breakdown out.

dKnockout: *absently comms Breakdown, then snerks* He buffed off a mark she'd put on the eyesore.

Dallas: ... *raised brow*

dKnockout: *glances up and sees the expression. Shrugs* I guess she wrote her name on him.

Dallas: ... I'm not even going to try to understand the logic behind that. *offers one of the glasses*

dKnockout: *straightens to take the glass, smirking as he does so* Logic of what, sweet?

Dallas: Getting so mad over a mark being buffed out.

dKnockout: *looks quite amused now* This from the woman who woke me and the baby from a sound sleep after she dropped her wedding ring down the garbage disposal?

Dallas: *bit of a blush* *long sip from her drink*

dKnockout: Among the fighting castes ownership is a strong part of identity. Most pairings involve some degree of it. *also sips, watching her over the top of his glass*

Dallas: ... *bit of a frown as she thinks this over*

dKnockout: *lowers glass* You don't need to be afraid of Breakdown. In a way we've just gotten another kid.

Dallas: ... *facepalm* *snerk*

dKnockout: He's running on spark memory. All he basically remembers is that he's mine. *smirk* And how to make things shiny.

Dallas: *amused Look* So I'm out of a job now?

dKnockout: *narrows eyes languidly* He doesn't know how to keep this kind of body shiny.

Dallas: *snerk and an amused headshake* *then she's looking over her shoulder toward where Scattershot is still sleeping* *quietly* I wasn't sure what the Autobot meant by him being damaged...

dKnockout: *smirk fades, and his expression turns dark and moody as he has another sip of his tea* His mind's cracked. If it weren't for that harpy that's claimed him he'd be unable to function.

Dallas: *wince* So it's more than PTSD.

dKnockout: Much more. He was never very stable to start with. *turns away back to the box of stuff so that Dallas can't see any concern that might show up in these new optics that he's not so great at controlling yet*

Dallas: Poor guy...

dKnockout: *snort* He's off my hands now.

Dallas: Yet he still came here for help.

dKnockout: He came here looking for me. I don't think he had help in mind. Or anything in mind.

Dallas: *about to say something, but then her attention's going to Scattershot as the walking eyesore twitches and makes strange sounds*

dKnockout: *stands and turns with a puzzled scowl* What the scrap? He shouldn't be waking up yet.

Mistfire: *just got bored and un-tranquilized her mate*

Scattershot: *starting to panic. Doesn't recognize where he woke up*

Mistfire: *grab. Snog*

Scattershot: *panic gives way to quiet rumbling*

dKnockout: There we go. *turns back to stuff* That should keep Breakdown entertained for awhile too.

Dallas: He's just going to get scuffed up again...

dKnockout: She knows what she's doing. Ahah!

Dallas: *turns her attention back to husband* Hm?

dKnockout: *gadget in hand, and rather terrifying grin on face* This will teach that scrap sucking poser to scratch my brother. *presses the button, his grin going vicious with glee*

Dallas: ... Sometimes, I worry about you. *soft chuckle* Just don't get yourself killed.

dKnockout: Oh, this thing's not attached to my systems in any way. And the eyesore's not my twin, so this won't hurt him either.


meanwhile, on the Nemesis


Knockout: *dancing around, screaming and flailing all over the bridge as Megatron watches in total gobsmack*


at Dallas' place


dKnockout: So it's perfectly safe. *grriiiin*

Dallas: ... Alright, if you say so.

dKnockout: *fiddles with the gadget, and gets safe video. Displays for her amusement*

Dallas: ... *and then she's facepalming and laughing*


cave in the hills


Wheeljack: *looking up thoughtfully at now even bigger and meaner Maelstrom that includes Lockdown* Huh.

Maelstrom: *looks quite pleased with herself*

Wheeljack: You still there, Locky?

Lockdown: *voice comes from up near Maelstrom's right shoulder* Yeah. *sounds just a bit giddy. Deluge was showing him a fun way of sharing energy earlier*

Wheeljack: *doubtful expression* And you guys think I'll improve that thing somehow.

Calypso: Aye. Not'in' wrong wit' addin' a bit more boom t' t'e arsenal. *would so be grinning if Maelstrom wasn't in combined form*

Wheeljack: I don't know. You know me. I'm a solo kind of guy.

Downrush: That's not what you said earlier, when you and Caly were snogging behind the Jackhammer.

Wheeljack: .>_<. Caly...

Calypso: *cussing Downrush out for spying on her thoughts*

Wheeljack: *shakes head and turns toward the door* I'm going to go see what Optimus' bunch is doing.

Maelstrom: *breaking apart into her separate components*

Deluge: We need to check on Wake and 'Clipsie anyway... Might as well come with ya.

Calypso: *moves to pounce her wench*

Wheeljack: *skillful now in catching such assaults. Arm around Calypso's waist* Then Downrush better learn how to drive. I'm tired'a hearin' Prime nag after we have to dodge the local authorities.

Downrush: *rude hand gesture, moves to transform*

Calypso: *snickerfit. Only just recently scanned an Earth-based alt mode herself, but at least she can fly well enough to keep pace with the Jackhammer*

Wheeljack: *kisses mate, and then lets go of her to transform to car* And you. Don't yell at humans when you're cloaked.

Calypso: Aww.

Deluge: *amused roll of her optics, will transform to her alt mode. Still thinks wheels are weird, but at least she doesn't have to be carried anywhere*

Wheeljack: *snerks and rolls out*


Autobot Outpost Omega One


Panacea: *bored babby. Everybody interesting is at school or focused on schoolwork. So bored* *pulls Sam's tail*

Sam: Noooo. *soft kitty, warm kitty, purr purr purr*

Kriti: *looks quite pleased with herself as she hobbles back over to the stack of crates she was sitting on earlier* *sharpie tagging of a medic: accomplished*

WakeJumper: *is that soft groan on the other side of the room*

Zeebin: *half asleep but intent on her history lesson. Human history is interesting, even when you're recovering from chicken pox*

Denver: *intent on her art project. Has stuck a pencil behind each ear, and has one in her mouth, as well as one being used to hold her hair back in a twisted bun*

Panacea: *rolls onto her back in the playpen. Dead babby!* *soft crackling, but then Sammy purring gets to her and she's sleepin' babby*

June: *is a soft echo of laughter from the nursery*

Lumen: *is that sleepy clickstorm that just started as Eclipse sits up*

Eclipse: 'M up... Why was I asleep?

Zeebin: *still dozing as she studies* 'Cause Lumen was up all night again.

Eclipse: ... Right. *yawns and rubs at her optics. Will poke WakeJumper until he catches her hand and makes her squeak with surprise*

Beau: *walks around the elevator pillar, intent on the papers in his hand, then looks up* ...Guys, it's noon. Break.

Zeebin: Don't wanna. *tail curls as she scrolls down on her tablet*

Denver: Baht me. *draw draw draw*

Beau: I'd rather bite a sandwich.

Denver: Th'n go do th't 'n leave us 'lone. *pencil scritching on paper*

Beau: You two have to stop and eat sometime.

Zeebin: *absently lifts up a half-eaten jumbo package of turkey nuggets*

Beau: ... *facepalm, will move to see what June is up to*

Zeebin: *gives another nugget to Fuzzbutt, and then resumes studying*

Fuzzbutt: *nomma good stuff!* *is happy in his cage today, friends is sharin'!*

Smokescreen: *wanders in with the mail. Sets down Beau and June's stuff by the human size computer console, then comes over and offers Denver a package*

Denver: *looks up as Smokescreen's shadow falls on her paper* Hm? *blinks a bit at the package and reaches for it*

Smokescreen: Looks like Ratchet's been on Etsy again. *bit of a grin and then turns to go back out*

Denver: *snerks and proceeds to open the package* *more snerk as she carefully unwraps 'An Overlooked Study of an Overlooked Life' and starts looking through the case file type story*


infirmary


Optimus: *currently obeying doctor's orders to rest after a long stretch of staying up to decode Iacon library files. The fact that the doctor is also now resting helps*

Ratchet: *is resting so well, in fact, that he's snoring softly*

Optimus: *cuddles him close with a sigh, her mind still on the files she was just working on*

WakeJumper: *coming to check on Ratchet and Optimus before he brings Eclipse and Lumen to the mess to get fuel* *looks just a bit groggy today*

Optimus: *slight quizzical frown as she looks toward the door*

WakeJumper: *sleepily* You're resting, right, Optimus?

Optimus: Doctor's orders. *glances at sleeping doctor holding her down*

WakeJumper: *looks, soft snerk* 'Kay... Stuff's quiet up front...

Optimus: *somberly* Part of me is glad for that. The other part is waiting for the storm. *glances toward the sword that's leaning against the wall*

WakeJumper: ... I should prolly call my siblings and make sure they're not up to something.

Eclipse: *snickerfit* *cuddles Lumen*

Optimus: *grimly* That silence has concerned me too.

WakeJumper: *small nod, will head to the mess*

Optimus: *looks down at cuddly mate* *sees if she can't slide off the table and leave him on it*

Ratchet: *going to cling and snuggle more*

Optimus: ... *tries tickling him*

Ratchet: *squirms and shares the ticklish sensation*

Optimus: *gasps and squirms*

Ratchet: *clings more* *quietly* Rest, Optimus.

Optimus: But I...

Ratchet: *snuggles* You need it...

Optimus: Ratchet, we need the data from those files.

Ratchet: And how long of a delay in getting that data would there be if you ran yourself sick again? *definitely awake now*

Optimus: I'm not that worn down. *frowning at you now*

Ratchet: *going to try a different tactic then* Well, how long has it been since we've had a chance to recharge in peace for a few cycles?

Optimus: *frown deepens slightly* It's been quiet lately.

Ratchet: *starting to sulk just a bit*

Optimus: *frown turns sad when she sees the sulk* Ratchet...

Ratchet: *and then he's moving to kiss the sad away*

Optimus: *startled mrrph, and then forgets what she was arguing about*


several hours later


Smokescreen: *bursts into the room* Optimus! Optimus! Maelstrom just ATE THE NEMESIS!

Optimus: *awake! And sent Ratchet flying*

Ratchet: *groans where he just bounced off the wall*

Kriti: *can be heard cackling just down the hall*

Optimus: What? *blinks and tries to pull her mind out of stasis* //WakeJumper, do you read me?//

WakeJumper: *pings busy*

Optimus: *frowns and tries Eclipse*

Eclipse: *signal just barely gets through* //Huh?//

Optimus: //Eclipse, what's happening?//

Eclipse: //We're kicking 'Con butt...// *static* //...Gears in a grind over something...//

Optimus: ... //I think we need a different frequency, this one's breaking up.//

Eclipse: *manages to databurst Maelstrom's frequency before her line pings busy*

Optimus: *tries that frequency* //This is Optimus Prima. Report.//

Maelstrom: //Busy! Ahahaha! Look at the little guys run! Bunch o' bilge rats, t'e lot 'f 'em!//

Optimus: //I said report.//

Maelstrom: //Jes' havin' a bit o' fun, boss. Showin' Tau and Quadriate hospitality to the 'Cons.//

Optimus: ... *on her feet and running from the room with Smokescreen on her tail*

Ratchet: *picking himself up off the floor and moving to follow, one hand going to his head*

Kriti: *cheering as she watches the feed*

Optimus: *back for the sword, and then out and running for the space bridge* Kriti, send me there!

Zeebin: o.o

Panacea: NO!

Sam: Mowwwww.

Kriti: *bewildered look* And risk you getting stomped on by accident? That thing is huge, and if I'm understanding this right, it's got Wheeljack's bad attitude AND Lockdown's.

Ratchet: *is that very audible groan in the hallway. He heard that comment about the attitude*

Denver: *is so much frown from the balcony as she leans on the railing*

Optimus: That's an order! *standing and waiting for bridge, sword at the ready*

Kriti: *wince* Alright... *will activate the bridge*

Optimus: *runs through*

Smokescreen: *follows! Checks on his phase shifter as he goes*

Bumblebee: *roars through in their wake*

Kriti: *transforms and follows*

Zeebin: *looks over at a bewildered Beau, who just came into the room. Helpfully* Maelstrom ate the 'Con ship. Now everybody's going to help clean up.

Beau: ... I knew I should've waited to get my coffee. Keep the channels open, and let's try and get in touch with the rest of the team, to give them a heads-up.

Denver: *will move for the comm equipment*

Ratchet: Keep track of the ones already there, too. *has to sit down*


Meanwhile, over the Canadian Rockies...


Megatron: *trying to figure out what the scrap is going on, and why there is a giant Transformer apparently eating part of his ship*

Starscream: *dodges an energy beam, freaks out, and knocks the Warlord right through the hole in the ship* We're all gonna dieeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Megatron: Starscream! *MAD now, and trying to keep a handhold on the ship*

Starscream: *suddenly, in a normal voice* Right. I can fly. *transforms and does so, leaving twin jet trails*

Megatron: *takes a pot shot at the retreating Seeker*

Optimus: *runs through the ground bridge down below and looks up* MEGATRON!!!

Megatron: *turns his attention to Optimus, will let go of the ship and transform, intending to strafe the Prima*

Optimus: *deflects the shots right back him* MEGATRON, COME DOWN. THIS ENDS HERE.

Megatron: *will land nearby* So, Prima, you had to have someone else start the battle for you?

Prima: *wipes at her mouth with the back of a wrist* I was busy with important things. *yup. She just told him that she and Ratchet are together again, and that that fact is more important than him*

Megatron: *will bellow his rage and lunge at the femme*

Optimus: *doesn't look up as Starscream is swatted flying with a wail, instead she charges Megatron, sword at the ready*

Megatron: *ready to rumble, will draw his own sword, forged from dark energon*

Smokescreen: *pauses by Bumblebee to look that way, and then dives behind a rock as he sees the shockwave coming*

Bumblebee: *grab a Kriti and take cover!*

Kriti: *startled "ack", and then she's glad for being pulled to (relative) safety*

Steves: *flying end over end in all directions*

Smokescreen: *can't resist reaching up and grabbing a tentacle passing overhead, and then planting it in the rock he's hiding behind*

Maelstrom: *distinctly from overhead, in Lockdown's voice after the wave has passed* Slagging scrap.

Optimus: *still on her feet, blade braced against Megatron's as her eyes flash* It ends here, Megatron.

Megatron: Indeed, Prima. *will push with all of his weight, trying to disarm Optimus*

Optimus: *kicks him squarely in the gearbox*

Megatron: *pwned*

Kriti: *rowdy cheer, and then she's yelping as a Steve braves a shot at her*

Smokescreen and Bumblebee: *take a few pots at the Steve, and then resume cramming more of Soundwave into the rock*

Optimus: *harshly* On your feet, Megatron!

Megatron: *bundle of ow and rage, but mostly ow*

Optimus: On your feet! *scowling darkly* Are you giving up now?

Megatron: *growls* Never. *lunges at Optimus, cannon powering up*

Optimus: *side steps and chops at the cannon* ...It can't be this easy.

Megatron: *used the cannon as a distraction, will bring the sword back into play*

Optimus: *kicks him in the kneecap and blocks his sword stroke*

Megatron: *does his best not to let his leg buckle, still isn't used to Optimus brawling* *will go for a headbutt*

Optimus: *knee in the face and then a sword hilt to the back of the head* *looks surprised and then resumes scowling*

Megatron: *just getting madder and madder, which means he's starting to resort to tactics he used to use in the gladiatorial ring*

Optimus: *meets him blow for blow, the Starsaber seeming to sing in her hands and Smokescreen and the other young soldiers whooping somewhere behind her at the shockwaves*

Megatron: *also not above dirty tricks, and taking pot shots at the other Autobots*

Optimus: *deadly focused today. Trusts her team. And is fighting like the dock workers' sister that she was millions of years ago* *she's still surprised when she draws energon, though*

Megatron: *fighting like the brawler he was long before he even had a name on the gladiatorial circuit, intends to kill. Is like a mech possessed*

Bumblebee: *watching the furious and now bloody contest, his optics wide and bright with dismay and even fear* Woooooo...

Smokescreen: *quietly* Come on, Optimus, you can do it!

Kriti: Kick his slaggin' aft! *pots a Steve right in the face as the poor schmuck tries to sneak up on her*

Wheeljack: *looking down at the battle through Maestrom's eyes* Scrap...

Calypso: D' we step in?

Mistfire: No. Prima's gotta do this on 'er own.

Witchblade: Ooo, cut him again!

Deluge: Go for the primary hydraulics! *juuuuust a bit giddy now*

Scattershot: See notBrother...

Lockdown: *wants to get that bleep*

Scattershot: *thinks Brother would like it very much if the shell was brought back to him* *first time he's thought of something like that in awhile*

Lockdown: Yeah, we probably can't despark him. *growl*

Wheeljack: Look at Optimus!

Calypso: Get up! *sounding just a bit spooked now*

Megatron: *looks just as broken and battered as Optimus, but unlike the Prima, he's still standing* I would have waited an eternity for this... *moving to give the killing blow*

Mistfire: Slag slag slag!

Wheeljack: *his scowl is as palpable as Smokescreen and Bumblebee's shouting as they try to get away from Soundwave and charge*

Kriti: *putting her Fixer-taught vocabulary to use as she does like the boys*

Downrush: Optimus, get up! *thinks they should help, like NOW!*

Optimus: *gasping and trying to cool down, but then suddenly looks up and holds out her hand as the Star Saber flies toward her* Thank you, Alpha. *sword up and over her head to block Megatron's blow. Then, as the shattered remnants of the dark blade rain down around her, the Star Saber is sheathing itself in the Decepticon Warlord's spark*

Megatron: *optics flare with shock before the light in them is flickering and fading as his spark is extinguished* *quietly, sounding faintly amused* You win after all, Optimus...

Optimus: I didn't want to end this way, Megatron. *optics white as she tries to gain her feet*

Megatron: *just smirks, and then fades away into sparkling dust*

Optimus: *staggers and falls back to her knees and one hand, the other hand pressed to a gaping wound in her side* *doesn't look up as Starscream lands in the place where Megatron had been*

Starscream: *cackles* You FOOL, Optimus! Prepare to perish! For you have done nothing more than remove all obstacles from the path of STARSCREAM, RULER OF ALL DECEPTICONS!

Soundwave: *game buzzer noise as he struggles to be free of the rock and keep hold of the young Autobots and the Taubot femme*

Scattershot: *thinks that guy is annoying. Step on him?*

Wheeljack: *stepped*

Optimus: *blinking faintly at that giant foot that just came down from the sky to stomp Starscream flat* *wonders how she got into one of Beau's Monty Python movies*

Kriti: *getting just a bit fed up with Soundwave, will take pot shots at him, aiming for his freaking FACE*

Soundwave: *has already released her and the others, his tentacles curling close to himself as he bows his head*

Kriti: *just being a bit spiteful at the moment. Don't mind her*

Optimus, Smokescreen, and Bumblebee: *now ducking and covering as Maelstrom suddenly just... falls apart?*

Calypso: *lands on her aft* *laughs* T'at was fun!

Wheeljack: Oof! *snerks more at flatScream, but is scrambling toward Optimus at the same time* She's going to bleed out, Del.

Deluge: Then get whatever spare parts you can salvage. *already moving to do field repairs*

Scattershot: *trying to get to his feet, is just a bit wobbly*

Mistfire: *absently hauls her mate to his feet as she scowls with concern*

Witchblade: *stops in mid-gigglesquee to squee louder* Bulky!

Bulkhead: *armful of dead 'Cons, which he dumps beside Optimus* *grimly* On it.

Scattershot: *snuzzles Mistfire* Get Brother shell and fix?

Deluge: *nods to Bulkhead and sets to work trying to save the Prima's life*

WakeJumper: *moving to help with that* ... Eclipse, when you grin like that, it worries me.

Eclipse: *kiss for mate, scoots over to Mistfire and Scattershot*

Optimus: *laying on her back now. Wonders how that happened. Opens optics and turns her head hazily* ...Chanting.

Wheeljack: *expression of mild amusement as the surviving vehicons start, faintly at first, but then with more power, to chant Optimus' name*

Lockdown: *smirrrrk*

WakeJumper: I'm not even going to ask. *keeps working, handing tools and parts to Deluge as she asks for them, and getting parts and tools handed to him as he needs them*

Eclipse: *to Mistfire* If you two and Lockdown can corner and restrain the glitch, I can help you fix him.

Mistfire: *looks down at the shorter femme* Which glitch?

Eclipse: Scattershot's brother.

Mistfire: *nods toward a big blue armoured vehicle that just pulled up* Think they got that covered.

Smokescreen: *as he kneels by the Prima's head* Easy, Optimus. Just hold on and stay with us, okay?


back at base


Zeebin: *disappointed as Ratchet stops giving an animated play by play of what's happening at the battle scene. Looks to Denver, and then up at the screen, which hasn't given any reports in several minutes*

Denver: *worriedly hugging Space Bat from where she retrieved the toy after chucking it at 'Rail and watching the Taubot spazz out*

'Rail: *Cthulhu doll in hand, is scanning Ratchet for damage now* *will try comming Mistfire to see if he can get through to someone* *blink. Blink* Holey scrap.

June: What is it? What's wrong? *arms full of a fussy Panacea and eyes full of worry as Lumen sleeps peacefully in his sling on her back*

'Rail: Optimus got Megatron, 'n Maelstrom stomped Starscream.

Beau: ... Wow. *boggling as he baby dances with Javalina*

Saelen: ... Definitely a Wow moment... *holding Hot Rod under one arm, a red crayon in his opposite hand*

Hot Rod: *SULK*

Keepsake: *from where she's sitting on a crate by the hallway entrance* You mean it's all over?

Perceptor: *quietly, sounding amazed* It does certainly appear so, love.

Zeebin: PARTY!

Denver: *snerk*

Keepsake: 0.0 .... 0.0 ... I'm... gonna hurk.

Zeebin: Then party?

Beau: *just shakes his head and goes to the bridge controls so that they can bring Optimus home*

((written with random_xtras))