KV. Autobot City and Schale Drachen Homeworld. Battles Part 2

[dens_extra_pups]

Continued from here



Megatron: *pauses once they appear in a comfortable though empty living room and looks down at the Nebulan on his foot*

Kriti: Lt. Alonso, I'm pretty sure your Commander won't like this.

Lt. Alonso: *salutes. Looks sheepish but undaunted*

Megatron: *shakes his head*

Kriti: *slight shrug* We'll take him back when we're done. They're expecting us.

Megatron: *nods to his wife, then looks toward the door*

Kriti: *moves to lead the way*

Megatron: *walks beside her as the others follow* Torque, don't worry about the dusty footprints.

Torque: 'Kay... *moves to follow*

Megatron: *opens door and then gasps as he sees the size of the corridor, and of the doorway across that corridor* *quick look to Kriti*

Kriti: *jaw drops* Metroplex could almost fit in here!!!

Megarton: *quick measurements* *quietly* I think he could. Easily.

Torque: *low whistle*

Soundwave: *plays a clip* "Daaaaaaaaaaaang, son!"

Megatron: *then drops his gaze to a movement coming toward the team and startles* //Mrrpt-Nyaah with fur?//

Witchblade: *squeal* Fuzzy!

Kriti: *boggling*

Torque: //Huh?// *looks* 0_0

grey tabby longhaired Mrrpt-Nyaah: *looks to be in her teens, and is dressed in an outfit that would befit a well-to-do Victorian lady. Her skirt is of a pretty blue and teal brocade, as is the blouse she wears with it, and the fur that's visible is carefully brushed back and held away from her face with a ribbon*

Megatron: *gravely, as the girl comes close* [Hello.]

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *nods an acknowledgement* [Good day to you. Her Ladyship will meet with you shortly. She asked that I escort you to the sitting room.]

Megatron: *awkward big soldier looks to his wife*

Witchblade: You. Are. So. Cute!

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *shy little smile, eyes sparkling*

Kriti: *nods* [Lead the way then.] *clearly agrees with Witchblade about how cute the Mrrpt-Nyaah girl is*

Megatron: *and then remembers that it is acceptable and good to say such things to Mrrpt-Nyaah* *gravely* You are very cute. But your fur surprises me.

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *blinks a bit* *slowly, doing her best not to fumble over the words* Sank you... Why fur surprise?

Kriti: We're used to interacting with Mrrpt-Nyaah who don't have fur.

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *blinks, then nods* Same people. Different homes. *is used to explaining this, apparently*

Mistfire: *grinning as she elbows Soundwave in the head for playing the soft kitty song*

Soundwave: *wincing and rubbing where he got elbowed*

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *puzzled expression is a go as she moves to lead the group to the sitting room*

Megatron: *follows, absently offering his arm to his wife*

Witchblade: *happy chatter as she explains the soft kitty song*

Kriti: *takes the offered arm, will lean on husband as well*

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *clearly doesn't get it, but is trying to be polite about it*

Witchblade: *then stops as she sees a younger girl in a lace edged white dress* Ohhhhhh. Um. Is it okay here to pick you guys up and hug you?

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *as the younger girl ducks behind her and peeks shyly* Is okay if careful. *smile*

Witchblade: I'm always careful. *hunkers down and holds out a hand to the younger girl* *softly* [Cuddles?]

Megatron: *looking uuuuuup at the ceiling of the sitting room*

younger girl: *hesitates for a few moments, then she's scooting over for cuddles*

Kriti: *getting an image of the cute so Witchy has a keepsake*

Witchblade: *stands with the girl in her arms, and then glances at Megatron before also looking very far up* ...Whoa.

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *as her friend giggles and cuddles* [This is where most meetings with her Ladyship occur.]

Megatron: *softly* [They say that when the Drachenschwarm reach true age that worlds will grow around them.]

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *nod nod* [Yes, this is true. Her Ladyship knew of one many ages ago.]

Megatron: *looks at her* [And this is also a world.]

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *nods* [It is home.]

Witchblade: *pauses in cuddling the younger girl to sniff at the soft fur* [You smell like the six armed guys.]

younger girl: *blink blink* [Smell like Schale Drach. Brothers and sisters.] *nod nods and sits pretty*

Mistfire: [Brothers and sisters? Adopted?]

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: *headshake* [Gwendolyn was born in a pod with Schale Drach siblings. Aunt Julia is also a Schale Drach.]

Mistfire: *surprised look* *glances at Megatron*

Megatron: [I'm not sure I understand, Miss... ah. What is your name? I am Megatron, and these...] *introduces the others*

Mrrpt-Nyaah girl: [I am called Yvette. Not all of the Schale Drach are born of the same origins. Some of them are also part Mrrpt-Nyaah.]

Megatron: [Ahhh. I see. And you may be born in either form?]

Yvette: *nods* [Yes. The form we're born in is our true form. I was born in this form, as was Gwendolyn, but we both have siblings who were born in Schale Drach form.]

Witchblade: *softly* [So are you Mrrpt-Nyaah? Or Schale Drach?]

Yvette: [We're both. We honor both our Mrrpt-Nyaah heritage and our Schale Drach heritage.]

Gwendolyn: [Father's big when Schale Drach. Short tail. Says he can't think...]

Megatron: [Short tail? When he is Schale Drach? Or when he's Mrrpt-Nyaah?]

Gwendolyn: [When normal. When Schale Drach, no tail.] *giggles and covers mouth*

Megatron: Ah. *looks at Kriti* [I imagine that would make it hard to think, for a Mrrpt-Nyaah.]

Kriti: *as Yvette snerks* [I imagine so.] *doorwings up*

Mistfire: *quietly* Dragons 'n fairy cats.

Torque: *nod nod*

Yvette: Fairy cats, yes. Drach. Yes. *nod nod* *amused ear flick*

Mistfire: And those Nebulans attacked 'em. *smirks*

Yvette: Bad people. Attack no reason. *frown*

Kriti: *gently, 'wings fluttering slightly* [They misunderstood something that was said to them, and thought that the Schale Drach men were hurting their women by making them walk on four legs, and by not giving them clothing.]

Yvette: *blink. Blink. This does not compute*

Kriti: [A Nebulan sees walking on two legs as part of being a person. And they're cold and naked without any clothing.]

Yvette: [Ooooh. But Schale Drach women can close up inside their shells...] *trying to make sense of this, honest*

Kriti: [Yes, and they have lighter armor on their upper backs and chests. The Nebulans didn't realize that they were seeing Schale Drach women.]

Yvette: ... *facepalm*

Kriti: [They didn't realize that people could have more than two legs.]

Soundwave: *shows that sometimes, people have four wheels*

Yvette: *startled furpoof*

Gwendolyn: *surprised squeak*

Megatron: *frown of concern* [What's wrong?] *looks at Kriti, and then around the room*

Yvette: *acting very unlady-like as she scampers closer to Soundwave* Wheels!

Witchblade: *wide grin* [Want to see mine?]

Gwendolyn: *nod nod, big eyes are a go*

Yvette: *nods, grinning* [Yes, please!]

Witchblade: *gently sets Gwendolyn down, and then steps back and transforms*

Yvette: *excited chattering*

Megatron: [You have cars here?] *watching the pretty, fluffy girls with a slight smile*

Yvette: [We have transporters that go on the path below the corridor.] *grinning muchly*

Gwendolyn: *quietly, as she studies Witchblade's alt mode* [Noisy transporters.]

Kriti: [Do you think there will be time for a quick drive after we meet with the Queen?] *grin*

Soundwave: *speakers going, causing fine crystal to vibrate softly in time with the song about racing*

Megatron: [I don't know. Maybe.] *and then turns his head as something causes a stronger vibration in the floor than Soundwave's music*

Yvette: *was about to ask if she could ride along. Attention going to the door, and then she's moving to help Gwendolyn fix her dress* [Her Ladyship is on her way in.]

Megatron: *unconsciously stands to attention*

Mistfire: *uneasy glance toward the door*

Witchblade: *meeps and closes her doors*

Kriti: *standing a bit straighter now*

Torque: *ditto*

pet lizards: *each six foot long. The male is a leopard pattern of pink and gold, marbled with black, and the female is green with a black stripe down her back outlined by thinner gold strips* *come running into the room and over to a warmed bed next to a gigantic, shallow, cushioned pit to one side of the room*

Kriti: *surprises herself by squee-ing*

brawny Schale Drach girl: *chuckles where she just came in. Has a small lizard coloured much like the large male draped around her shoulders* [Careful doing that around the Queen Mother.]

Kriti: *sheepish expression is a go*

Yvette: [Hello, Bernadette.] *moves to greet her sister and her sister's pet*

Bernadette: *picks Yvette up and hugs her* [Hello, little sister.]

Yvette: *snuggle, purr*

Gwendolyn: *scoots over to cousin for hugs*

Bernadette: *picks Gwendolyn up too, and then chuckles as her lizard moves over to gently touch an orange tongue to the little girl's nose*

Gwendolyn: *itty bitty squeak as she's kissied*

Torque: Awwww. *grin*

Bernadette: *unDrach-like, but rather Mrrpt-Nyaahish grin* [This is my little sister and my baby cousin.]

Kriti: *small nod* [Hello, Bernadette. How much older are you than Yvette?]

Gwendolyn: [Not baby.] *hff*

Yvette: *grin* [We're twins.]

Kriti: *doorwings up and 0_0 expression on her face*

Megatron: *lifts brows* [Ah. The nickname is a joke?]

Yvette: *nods* [Our pod split, and we were the first ones out... Then our brother followed us after we weren't laying on him anymore.]

Mistfire: *face palm. Snickerfit*

Witchblade: *innocently, despite a squeak at the next shaking of the floor, and the appearance of more handmaidens and ladies in waiting* [What's a pod?]

Yvette: [It's where the babies grow before they're ready to be born.]

Witchblade: [Uh. I thought they grew inside their moms?]

Bernadette: *chuckles and sets her sister down on Witchblade's hood*

Megatron: *glances toward another shake of the floor*

Yvette: [It's... kinda complicated.]

Gwendolyn: *going to move so she can sit pretty on Bernadette's shoulder, so she's not underfoot*

Megatron: *looks to Yvette* [Is it something that's alright to talk about?]

Yvette: [Yes, but not right now...] *nods toward the door as it opens all the way*

Witchblade: *squeaks again*

Soundwave: *no more music, returns to root mode*

Mistfire: *stands at attention*

Megatron: *absent protective movement toward Kriti*

gargantuan bronze colored Drachenscwarm lady: *slowly entering the room, her scales barely reflecting the light. Moves on all fours, her massive wings folded against her back, and her body clad in a pretty day dress with a long train that covers her tail*

Megatron: *bows*

Mistfire: *looks at him sideways, and then looks at Torque*

Torque: *following Megatron's lead*

Kriti: *ditto that!*

Soundwave: *likewise*

Mistfire: *follows the herd*

Witchblade: *only a car. Nothing to see. Only a car*

Schale Drach girls: *finish fixing the cushions in the pit and then scoot out of the way*

Drachenschwarm lady: *moves to carefully sit down in the pit, then lowers her head to study the people who have requested to meet with her. Serious golden eyes carefully scrutinize every member of Blue Crew, before settling on Megatron's face* [My name is Jane Bates. I am the Queen Mother of the Schale Drachen people. Please state your business.]

Megatron: *straightens. Respectfully* [I am not the leader of our team, Great Lady.]

Jane: *surprised* [Oh?]

Kriti: *as she straightens* [I am the leader of the team, Great Lady. My designation is Kriti.]

Megatron: *softly* [The Lady.]

Jane: *small nod* *to Megatron* [And what are you called?]

Megatron: *quietly, wondering if she's ever heard his name* [I'm Megatron.]

Jane: *slight headtilt, trying to remember if she's heard the name before*

Kriti: *quietly* [The Captain.]

Megatron: *ever so slight tremble of his chin* [We're from Cybertron.]

Jane: *apologetic frown* [I am sorry... Your world is not known to me.]

Megatron: *shoulders relax with relief* [That's alright. We hadn't realized that Drachenschwarm and JDs had ever existed in this reality, either.]

Jane: [This reality?]

Megatron: *looks to Kriti*

Kriti: *will try and explain the multiverse as well as she's able to* [There are many different paths, and each path is its own reality, with its own rules and people.]

Soundwave: *softly playing a tune about worlds without end*

Jane: *small nod* [I see...] *looks to Soundwave* [And what are you called, friend?]

Witchblade: *sudden movement as she unfolds and winds up with Yvette in her arms* [That's Soundwave. We call him the DJ.] *grin* [And I'm Witchblade, one half of the Twins.]

Yvette: *squeak!*

Jane: *slight start*

Witchblade: *quail chick!*

Megatron: *quickly, but quietly* [We can all do that.]

Jane: ... [I see.]

Yvette: *dont mind her, she's just smoothing her fur down*

Megatron: *quiet diplomacy tries to divert attention from those who don't want to be noticed right now* *nods toward Torque* [Torque. The Cowboy. And Torque's word mate...] *indicates Mistfire* [Mistfire. The other Twin.]

Jane: *blinks at the unfamiliar term* [Word mate?]

Megatron: *glances at Kriti, then lifts his brows* [Fiancée?]

Jane: *as Kriti nods, her confusion clears* [Ah, his intended. I understand.]

Witchblade: *sudden yelp as a pet lizard tastes Soundwave's butt*

Kriti *quietly, with a hint of a grin* [And Witchblade and Soundwave are married.]

Jane: *puzzled, but will focus on the important matters at hand* [Very well. What business does your team have here?]

Megatron: *looks to Kriti to see if she wants him to explain*

Kriti: *small nod*

Soundwave: *sound bite* "So sit easy while the Captain spins the story..."

Megatron: *turns back to the Queen, absently picking up a young handmaiden who just came over to poke the Nebulan holding onto his leg. Picks Lt. Alonso up as well* [The Nebulans value women as your people do. But they can't properly hear Schale Drach voices.]

Lt. Alonso: *trying his utter hardest to look innocent. Whatever the big guy's saying he did... he didn't!*

Jane: *surprised by this* [Then we must rectify that problem.]

Megatron: *nods* [There are translating devices. But even my own translating program misses Schale Drache words.] *pauses and looks down with surprise as he hears a low murmur of perfect Common from the little handmaiden that he's absently cuddled to his chest*

Jane: *soft rumble of a chuckle* [There are those here who speak Common... Though most choose to speak the Schale Drachen language.]

Megatron: *brows lift with surprise as he looks at the little girl for the first time* You have wings.

Kriti: *attention on the little girl*

Mistfire: Lookit 'er ears.

little girl: *ducks down a bit, overcome by shyness*

Jane: *with a nod* [Her name is Cicily Jane. She knows Common, the language of the Mrrpt-Nyaah, the language of the Schale Drachen, and the language of my people.]

Megatron: *notices that the little girl's ears have features of both the Mrrpt-Nyaah and the Drachenschwarm, and that she looks to be five or six years old** [How old are you?]

Jane: [She has only recently started her eighth year outside her pod.]

Kriti: Awww...

Megatron: *looks up to meet the wise eyes of the ancient woman* [Is she your daughter?] *absently rubbing Cicily Jane's back between her wings with the tip of a finger*

Cicily Jane: *quiet little purr*

Jane: [In a way, yes. I cared for her before she emerged from her pod, because her parents were uncertain about what to do, as she did not emerge with the rest of her siblings.]

Witchblade: *looks up from cuddling Yvette* [What do you mean, Great lady?]

Megatron: *his brows say that he too is asking Witchblade's question*

Jane: *as Cicily Jane snuggles against Megatron and Lt. Alonso* [She was born in a pod by herself. After the normal growth period for the Schale Drachen, it did not open, even though her siblings were born in the normal way. Her parents were concerned, and brought her pod to me in the hopes that I would be able to help.]

Megatron: *sudden understanding* An egg. [She was born the Drachenschwarm way.]

Jane: *blinks, and then nods* [Yes. She was.]

Yvette: *as she's being cuddled* [That's okay though. We love our little sister.]

Megatron: *looks over to the pretty tabby handmaid* [She's from your family?]

Bernadette: [Yup. Her pod was born while dad was watching Evy and I squish Harry.]

Jane: *chuckle* [Young Harold is turning out to be quite adept at communications...]

Megatron: *smiles and glances toward his brother* [Soundwave will want to speak to him.]

Lt. Alonso: *listening to the soft translation of the little girl* *perks* Do you think they could do that translator fix you were talking about?

Megatron: *looks down at him* Perhaps. But you have to go back to your own people. *knows that Soundwave has let Lt. Alonso's Commander know where he is* *sets the man down near a group of handmaidens and ladies in waiting*

Lt. Alonso: *disappointment on his face. Clearly wants to help his people communicate with these*

Handmaiden: *moves to give Lt. Alonso a hug. Doesn't like the sad on his face*

Lt. Alonso: *quick looks to the people he knows can understand Common* What do I do? What's the right response?

Kriti: Hug her.

Soundwave: *totally sharing footage with the Nebulans*

Bernadette: *chuckles* Sweep off feet! *grins up at Yvette*

Yvette: *giggling muchly*

Lt. Alonso: *looks to Jane as the highest authority here*

Jane: [If his people permit him to stay, then I will see that he has proper accommodations.] *smiling*

Cicily Jane: *can't help the yawn she just did. Nap got interrupted by the need to get ready for the visitors*

Bernadette: *laughing now* Great Lady says hug girl.

Lt. Alonso: *to Jane* Yes, sir. *hugs the girl*

Handmaiden: *grins*

Jane: *approves. Is laughing now*

Megatron: *looks at the happy Matron* [Is this something to do with marriage?]

Jane: *headshake, is smiling* [No, but I think the girls have decided that they want to keep him.]

Bernadette: Alice, [change to his form!]

Alice: *will do so*

Lt. Alsonso: *meeps and tries to let her go* *not put off by transformation, but there are manners that he knows concerning girls of his people!*

Alice: *looking around and laughing now*

Bernadette: *goes over and nudges the Nebulan man* Sweep girl off feet. *laughs*

Lt. Alonso: I can't just do that. I'm only a soldier. And we just met.

Yvette: Swimming in clothes! *laughs*

Alice: *laughs more*

Witchblade: [Can't you change your clothes like you change yourself?]

Yvette: *headshake* Fixed size.

Witchblade: Hmm. [Here. Do you have ribbon and cloth? I'll show you another way to make a dress that can adjust.]

Handmaidens and Ladies-in-Waiting: *all look to Jane, who nods. Then they're all scampering to get ribbon and cloth*

Yvette: *indicates she wants down so she can go get some fabric and ribbon, too*

Witchblade: *over to the corner to girl talk and design a Schale Drachen halter top that can be retied into a wrap dress for a Mrrpt-Nyaah and a gown for a Nebulan* *surprised by the unanimous reaction, but goes over to the corner*

Cicily Jane: *don't mind her, she just fell asleep*

Megatron: *watches the rush as he cuddles the sleeping child*

Kriti: *just got an image of the cute*

Soundwave: *looks to Lt. Alonso and gives him a thumbs up*

Lt. Alonso: I don't know what to do. *looks at Jane*

Megatron: Soundwave, do you have one of the Nebulan officials?

Soundwave: *nods, will get a datapad to make communications easier*

Megatron: That's too small for the Queen. *looks at it*

Soundwave: *slight headtilt as he thinks*

Mistfire: *throws up a holo projection on the wall* Hook me up.

Soundwave: *moves to stand close enough to Mistfire that he can make the necessary connections*

distinguished man in fifties: *raises his hairless brows as he sees the people who have taken his call* *quietly and slowly, in the best way for translation devices* //Hello. I am Javert Law of the Diplomatic Relations Corps.//

Mistfire: [Yup. Translator sucks.]

Jane: *lowers her head in greeting* I am Jane Bates. Queen Mother of the Schale Drachen race.

Javert: *surprise is clear* //Ah... you speak Common.// *turns to frown at someone off screen and has obviously been shrugged at, to judge by his face palm*

Jane: *nods* I do.

Javert: *turns back to her. With a bit of rueful humour* //Well, I guess there's no need for us to feel stupid. We really don't know a lot about your people at all.// *pauses to study her with frank but polite curiosity*

Jane: *quietly* No... I suppose there isn't much widely-published knowledge about the Drachenschwarm in existence.

Javert: *stiffens with surprise* //Actually, I've heard that name.//

Jane: *now it's her turn to be surprised* You have?

Kriti: *doorwings up as she listens*

Javert: //Yes. They're mentioned in our records of other races here at the Corps Headquarters.//

Jane: *wide eyed with surprise* You have had contact with the Drachenschwarm in the past?

Javert: *shakes his head regretfully* //No, Great Lady. It's only secondhand knowledge, taken from the legends of other nearby races.//

Jane: *disappointed* Oh... I see. *small nod*

Javert: //Apparently expeditions were sent to the solar systems where they were supposed to be, but they found only empty planets.//

Jane: ... *slight frown* How old were the planets?

Javert: //One was quite old. The other two were much newer- just showing their first plant life.//

Jane: ... Then there were two Drachenschwarm... They are asleep now.

Javert: *confused perk* //I don't understand.//

Jane: Drachenschwarm, when they reach the true age, become new worlds, which build up around them as they commune with the Greatest Creator.

Javert: *glances to the side, then turns back to Jane as he absently throws a stress ball at the person off camera* //Forgive me. I still don't understand.//

Jane: The material of a world builds up around a sleeping Drachenschwarm until it's big enough for life to sustain itself.

Javert: *blinks. Thinks. Blinks again* //You're serious?//

Jane: *nods* It's happened in the past, and will happen long after I'm gone.

Javert: //But the individuals in question...// *worried frown*

Jane: They're communing with the Greatest Creator, and they're providing a home for others.

Javert: //Are they...// *delicately* //Dead?//

Jane: They sleep. They sleep until the Greatest Creator makes everything new again.

Javert: //That... That's incredible.// *looks down and the sound of quick typing occurs*

Alice: *will pounce on Lt. Alonso. Has her new dress all tied and wrapped properly now*

Lt. Alonso: *yelp!*

Javert: *without looking up* //Is that our missing soldier?//

Bernadette: *furry now and so amused* Not missing. Right here.

Alice: *laughs and studies Lt. Alonso's gear curiously*

Jane: *chuckles* He requested permission to stay with us, but we wanted to make sure it was alright for him to do so.

Kriti: *looks to Megatron and grins*

Javert: *lifts his head and looks at his screen, then blinks* //May I ask a question, Great Lady?//

Jane: *nods* You may.

Javert: //Who are the plush people? And that young lady... is she Nebulan?//

Jane: They are called Mrrpt-Nyaah. *says it the way they say it* Alice is part Schale Drachen, and part Mrrpt-Nyaah.

Javert: *looks offscreen* //Vato, get over here.//

Vato: *coming into view. Looks like an average Nebulan in uniform*

Javert: *nods toward the screen* //Look.//

Vato: Yessir. *looks. Blinks. Gobsmacked expression is a go*

Javert: *quietly, with compassion for the man who is as dear as a brother* //I thought you said you didn't have any hair.//

Vato: *quietly* //I don't... But apparently, the stories from my kin are true.//

Jane: Stories?

Vato: *nods* //We have stories of Mrrpt-Nyaah with hair... I'd never expected to encounter any in my lifetime, as the part of the homeworld I'm from never had any visit.//

Megatron: Will you show the Queen your true form, friend?

Vato: *nods and focuses on shifting forms. As a result of the change, his uniform is now too short* *wincing a bit*

Bernadette: *wide grin and dancing eyes* I'd let him sweep me off my feet.

Javert: *blink*

Vato: *ears up, eyes wide*

Yvette: *laughing muchly now*

Bernadette: *gives Vato what is a very flirtatious look among the Schale Drach*

Vato: *blink blink, slight blush*

Yvette: *squeaks as she nearly falls, is giggling muchly*

Javert: *throat clearing sound* *has nooo idea what's going on here, but feels a need to defend his friend*

Jane: *trying not to laugh*

Vato: *quiet little warble and much blushing*

Javert: //Now then.//

Bernadette: *says something in Mrrpt-Nyaah. Bad pronunciation, but the meaning isn't garbled by it*

Vato: *BLUSH*

Megatron: *to Jane* //Are the women of your descendants all so forward?//

Jane: I suspect they are. *chuckles*

Javert: //Lt. Alonso, do you wish to stay aboard the ring as Ambassador?//

Lt. Alonso: *wide eyed look redirected from the girl in his arms to the screen* Uh. Yessir.

Alice: *hopeful expression. She likes this guy. He's warm*

Javert: *looks at the pair for a moment, and then looks to Jane* *low voice* //Er... why is that young lady clinging to him like that?//

Jane: *smiles* I believe Alice wishes to become better acquainted with your Lieutenent.

Javert: *glances at Vato, realizes his brother is clueless here, and gobsmacked to boot* //What does the Lieutenant say?//

Jane: Lt. Alonso?

Lt. Alonso: *jerks his head up* Yes, sir?

Jane: What is your opinion on the matter?

Lt. Alonso: Matter, sir?

Jane: *nods towards Alice*

Lt. Alonso: I didn't do anything she didn't ask me to! *so worried*

Jane: *very soft chuckle*

Javert: //I think the young lady is hoping for a situation, Ambassador Alonso. *slight smile* You'll have the salary to support a family now.//

Alonso: ...I just met you.

Alice: *smile* Get to know.

Alonso: I... uh. Nobody ever called me a gentleman.

Kriti: *just muted her vocalizer*

Megatron: *warningly* Soundwave...

Torque: *snerk*

Alice: Want to get to know.

Alonso: Okay. *quick glance around* Um. Here?

Bernadette: *gives them a gentle shove toward the door*

Alice: I show you around. *nod nod, will move to gently guide the newly appointed ambassador on a tour of the ring*

Alonso: *goes with her, being very careful not to step on the ribbon ties on her gown that form an elegant train*

Javert: *watches them go, and then turns back to Jane* *gently* //Do you have a Diplomatic Relations Corps, Great Lady?//

Jane: *thinking and trying to remember if the elders of the Schale Drachen ever approached her with an idea for something similar* If we do, I am not sure what it would be called...

Lady-in-Waiting: *will step forward*

Jane: *looks to the Lady-in-Waiting, inviting her to speak up*

Lady-in-Waiting: *is a pretty, blonde colored Mrrpt-Nyaah with big green eyes* *slowly, in Common* I am willing to act as relations officer, my Lady.

Jane: *small nod* Very well then, Anya. I would like a list of those who will be assisting you in that matter when you have it ready.

Anya: *smile* Yes, my Lady. *will move to start organizing a team, pausing only when Soundwave gives her a communications device*

Javert: //Vato, don't put your face on the screen.//

Bernadette: *turns and looks up at Kriti* Send me there! *pointing to the screen*

Kriti: *surprised expression is a go* Er... *looks to Jane, who chuckles and nods her agreement*

Bernadette: *stops* Ah. Grab luggage. *puts little cousin down, grabs her pet in her arms, and runs from the room*

Vato: *happy trill, ears up*

Megatron: *gravely, to Javert* THIS is a wedding.

Javert: *distracted from talking to Anya* //What?//

Kriti: Mrrpt-Nyaah don't care if they know one another well. If they like what they see, they'll cuddle it and keep it. *slight quirk of a grin* Kinda like what happened when Witchy and Sounders got married.

Soundwave: *supplies a little 'All The Single Ladies'*

Torque: *excuse him, he has to laugh at that. It's funny!*

Javert: *shocked look toward his friend* //If you don't let Irdeix at least prepare you a wedding supper you're a doomed man.//

Bernadette: *just came running back in with all her jewelry and her dresses for when she's Mrrpt-Nyaah stuffed willy nilly into a bag. Her good dresses are probably a mass of wrinkles* *bag in one hand, pet in the other* Ready!

Vato: *if he had fur, it would be poofed up with excitement by now* *warble, chirp, excited chatter*

Kriti: I need coordinates.

Witchblade: *gently sets Yvette on the floor*

Yvette: *scoots to give her sister a hug* [You'd better keep in touch, sis.]

Bernadette: *taller and brawnier than twin sister even now* [That's a stupid thing to say, little sister.] *bear hug*

Yvette: *ear flick* [Well, if I didn't say it, you'd forget!]

Bernadette: [Would not.]

Yvette: [Would too.] *more hug*

Bernadette: [Not. Tell Harry I took the suit he's missing.]

Yvette: [Will do. Eventually.]

Jane: *calmly, eyes sparkling* [Yvette...]

Bernadette: *gentle smack for the side of her sister's head*

Yvette: *squeak, skitters away*

Bernadette: [Will you let him know, Queen Mother?] *points to the screen* [Look at that poor tail crushed in that pant leg.]

Jane: *nods* [I will let him know.] *glances to the screen, sympathy wince*

Vato: *giving the coordinates*

Bernadette: *turns and looks up to Kriti with an excited kitty grin*

Kriti: *will carefully lift Bernadette, Bernadette's pet, and the luggage* Ready?

Bernadette: Yes!

Kriti: Brace yourself. *will bring Bernadette to the coordinates* *returns a few moments later, rubbing at her neck struts once she's back*

Javert: //What the??!// *just had Vato, and everything else, cleared off his desk in one swoop*

Kriti: *snerk*

Javert: //What just happened here?//

Megatron: *gravely* I believe the term is "flying tackle pounce".

Kriti: *small nod of agreement, is rubbing the kinks out of her neck from the awkward position she was in when she brought Bernadette to Vato*

Javert: *glances toward thunderous purring* //I need a hose.//

Torque: A glass of water works, too. *grin*

Javert: *looks toward the screen* //I should let you go, Great Lady. I will speak to Lady Anya and her team.//

Jane: *nod* Very well. Perhaps we will have an opportunity to speak to one another again in the future.

Javert: //Perhaps.// *smiles and bows his head, then shuts off that connection*

Kriti: *quietly* [We also came here to learn about your people, Great Lady. As I said, we hadn't known that JDs and Drachenschwarm existed here.]

Jane: *small nod* [I will tell you what I know of my people, and of my husband's people, and of our children, and their children, and their children's children.]

Yvette: [You should sit down.]

Megatron: *uncertainly looks around at the floor*

Yvette: *moving to get cushions*

Gwendolyn: *scooting to try and help her cousin*

Megatron: *gravely thanks the young girls, then turns to help Kriti sit* Torque, don't hit Soundwave with that.

Torque: Aww. *sulk*

Kriti: *quiet little clicks, will gently touch Cicily Jane's back as the little girl sleeps*

Megatron: *smiles as he sits by his wife. Then opens up his storage compartment and takes out a sleeping chibi to cuddle up to the furry little Drachenschwarm*

bittyBee: *snugs the purry and hugs her dolly without waking*

Cicily Jane: *cuddles the little thing she can feel snuggling her*

Kriti: *will lean on husband*

Jane: *slight headtilt as she sees the bright yellow tiny*

Megatron: *looks up to see this* Great Lady?

Jane: Is that one of your young?

Megatron: This is Bumblebee. Her condition is the result of damage. Though we do start out much like this, in this reality.

Jane: *sympathy in her expression* I see.

Megatron: *gently* She isn't suffering. *rubs the tiny back* She and Kriti were inseparable when Kriti was new.

Kriti: *small nod of agreement* But that was after we had fought.

Jane: *very soft chuckle* I see.

Megatron: *smiles at Kriti* Bumblebee will always be a scout and a soldier.

Jane: *small nod as Kriti leans against Megatron even more* *slight shift in position so she's a bit more comfortable* Now, what of my race do you wish to know?

Megatron: Soundwave, are you ready to record?

Soundwave: *nods*

Megatron: *turns back to the Queen Mother* Everything, please.

Jane: Many generations ago, the first Drachenschwarm began to look skyward. At first, we were not as we are today...

Megatron: What do you mean?

Jane: The Drachenschwarm ancestors weren't always capable of flight. We evolved, and took to the skies when it became necessary to do so.

Megatron: As the Schale Drach women have evolved?

Jane: *nods* Yes.

Megatron: So the genetic enhancement technology came from you.

Jane: Yes, but only after many different ideas were discussed. It had been a long time since I had even thought about the technology.

Megatron: *returns to the story* You took to the skies when your world became no longer a home?

Jane: *nods* The ancestors of my ancestors were no longer suited for the world, so we left it for those who were better adapted.

Megatron: Ahh.

Mistfire: *brows lift from where she's laying on her belly next to where Torque's sitting*

Jane: Some of us found other worlds to live on... Others stayed amongst the stars, and the very oldest would sometimes become the hearts of worlds.

Mistfire: You ever meet Star Dragons?

Jane: *headshake* Not personally... But there are stories of Drachenschwarm meeting the Star Dragons.

Megatron: Shh, Mistfire. *turns back to Jane*

Mistfire: *has ribbon, will tie Torque's feet together*

Jane: The Drachenschwarm became known to various races, including one which called itself the JDs. The two races quickly became friends, and it was not uncommon for romances to develop.

Megatron: Were the JD a space faring race?

Jane: *headshake* The world below was their world. It was not always as it is now, however.

Megatron: *raises brows in question*

Jane: In the early days, the world had far fewer plants... The Drachenschwarm helped the JDs cultivate what they could.

Kriti: *frown* What happened?

Jane: Something had sterilized the planet before we had ever made contact.

Megatron: Sand desert?

Jane: *nods* It's only been within the last few generations that we've been able to cultivate more than just erosion-preventing flora.

Kriti: *realizing* Your people helped the JDs cultivate what they could.

Jane: *nods* The dune plums were the first to become established. Then the dust apples after them.

Megatron: The bushes that the little lizards live in.

Jane: *nods, chuckling as she looks to her own pets*

male: *one eye scrunched shut as the female grooms him*

Jane: *more soft chuckle, returns her attention to her guests*

Mistfire's lizard: *yawwns from where it's curled up in Torque's hand*

Megatron: *considers Jane's pets* The spotted one is very beautiful.

Jane: *small smile* Thank you. *will resume the story* Once more plant life had started taking hold, groups of JD settlers would work on building communities, and the Drachenschwarm would watch over the communities, protecting them from outside threats.

Megatron: Do you mean from outside the planet?

Jane: *nods* We had the occasional case of bad neighbors... Even while we were building the ring.

Megatron: That's why the local women chose to wear the shells.

Mistfire: Quit interruptin', Cap.

Jane: *nods* It gave them a level of safety that they didn't have before, despite the best efforts of my people to protect them. *quieter* My husband said that the JDs didn't blame us for what other visitors chose to attempt...

Megatron: *turns from blinking at Mistfire and nods* They wouldn't.

Jane: *small nod* I know this now, but at the time, there were moments when I felt as though I had failed in my duties somehow.

Mistfire: *prompting for story* So you guys protected the JDs from the jerk squad.

Jane: *nods* Which is how I met Richard.

Megatron: Your husband. *quick glance down at his hand as one of the small sleepers moves*

Jane: *nods, a bit of a far-off look coming to her face as she begins to tell the story of the day she and Richard met*

((Written with random_xtras))

Continued here.