tpf. Jasper, Nevada and Autobot Outpost Omega One. Catching up with Wesson. part 1 of 2

[dens_extra_pups]

Optimus: *has come to town with Maria to run errands. Is using her drone avatar, which has the hair French braided and fastened up, and is wearing an army uniform with the triangular skirt flap in the back* *currently standing in line at the post office with Maria, her mind on the cheerful chaos of the past couple months and all the activity both at the base and back on Cybertron*

Maria: *finished filling out labels for a few of the packages that needed to be taken to the counter while waiting near the back of the line. The past few months have been busy on the base, between the expansions and renovations, and the shenanigans caused by Yau Fei trying to adjust to being in one location for more than a few days at a time and getting to know her parents. Trying to keep tabs on Hot Rod and some of the more rambunctious sparklets has also made the days interesting. Has been staying on base to help out, and as a result, hasn't seen John at all, but has been keeping in touch with him via phone. The half-Portuguese woman has been hoping that things will settle down soon, so she can visit and spend some time with him*

dOptimus: *carefully working on curing a fingerlabel problem* *absently* Were you thinking of the pet show? You touched your shoulder.

Maria: *blink blink* Huh? Oh... No. Just thinking of my friend's cat. The crazy thing likes to sit on my shoulders when I visit.

dOptimus: You never did tell me what he wore to the pet costume show.

Maria: *soft chuckle* Pete wore a shirt with a Jack-O-Lantern face on it, and for pictures, he wore a little green hat. *amused as she remembers that people got the joke with Red Bull's blue and silver costume, and her wings*

dOptimus: *surprised glance for her heart daughter* And he didn't protest?

Maria: The only reason he wasn't wearing the hat all the time was because he wanted to carry it.

dOptimus: *brows up* Carry it?

Maria: Like it was a kitten.

dOptimus: *must laugh* Oh. I see that Sam and Meezer aren't alone in their oddness.

Maria: *snerk* Nope. And Pete's not even a Siamese. He's a Maine Coon.

dOptimus: Does that breed have a quirky reputation?

Maria: Not as much as Siamese do.

dOptimus: Yet he brought you a baby bird.

Maria: Yeah... Beeper's doing better now.

dOptimus: Is he still fascinated by Pete's water bowl?

Maria: And how.

dOptimus: *chuckles, but then pauses and listens to the two men behind them*

guy 1: Did you hear about that woman that got shot in the face at that military base a couple years ago? They say she lost most of her head.

guy 2: *snorts* *in a thick Southern drawl* Women got no business being in the army. All that complaining they do about men abusin' them. It's their own fault. They should stay where they belong.

dOptimus: *frowns, but focuses on putting that label where it should be*

guy 2: America'd be in better shape if women concentrated on things they oughtta. They don't have what it takes ta be fighters.

Maria: ... *quietly* Optimus, hold these, please. *offers the packages*

dOptimus: *arms out for the parcels, her blue eyes warning Maria to remember herself and where she is*

Maria: *gives packages, then turns to face the two jerks*

men: *have gone on to abusing the skirts on the uniforms in front of them, but pause and frown slightly when one of those uniforms turns around*

Maria: Didn't your mothers ever teach you that if you don't have something nice to say, you should keep your mouths shut?

guy 2: *scowls at her darkly with irritation* Didn' yu'rs teach y'u ta mind y'ur own business?

Maria: When you're dissing me, it is my business.

guy 2: Ah wasn' even talkin' ta y'u, ya dumb twit!

guy 1: Bill...

Maria: That woman who got most of her head blown off? That was me. And for your information, Bill, that training accident happened after I got back from my second tour of duty in Iraq, where I had to teach pansy-*aft* boys like you to not panic and run into danger when mortar rounds went off beside our *bleeping* vehicles.

Bill: *snorts scornfully* You're full of *beep*.

guy 1: *eyes scanning Maria's face as he frowns* Your head looks fine.

Maria: *calmly lifts her hair on the side that she got shot on, and turns her head* Still think I'm full of *beep*?

guy 1: *sucks in his breath, eyes darkening with sympathy*

Bill: Aww, that's what ya get fer stickin' yer fat *aft* where it don't belong.

guy 1: *elbows him hard*

Maria: My sticking my *aft* where it doesn't belong is why my entire platoon survived *names off a highly-reported battle that happened in Iraq a couple years prior, that was only reported as much as it was because there were stupid news people from American networks in the danger zone, and a few of them got killed*. Because I was the crazy-*aft* *b-word* who made them keep moving, and kept them focused on getting out alive. If you think being a soldier's a man's world, then I have news for you. I've seen women handle things that would make men like you run for your mama. *is livid now. Bill'd better shut up*

Bill: Now listen here you *unprintable*! I served... aaaoiooff!

guy 1: *used his fist this time* Sorry, Lt.

Maria: *wry amusement* If you hadn't done that, I would'a.

guy 1: *as he shoves Bill toward the door* He's not really worth it.

Maria: If his ma's still alive, I suggest tellin' her what he's been sayin'.

guy 1: She's not. She's been gone a few years.

Maria: Ah... *small nod*

dOptimus: *speaks up now* Why were you with him if you've got that opinion of him?

guy 1: I'm his brother.

Maria: Don't do anythin' stupid tryin' ta keep him outta trouble, okay?

guy 1: This is the first time I've seen him since we were six years old. He never saw action, just a year of National Guard work in 2005.

Maria: Katrina?

guy 1: *nods* He went to Louisiana.

dOptimus: *frown of sympathy*

Maria: *quietly* Ma got relocated from Nola... She cried when she got moved.

guy 1: *slight compression of his lips* My ship was off the coast of Alaska. We missed the whole thing.

Maria: Watching for poachers? Or general peacekeeping?

guy 1: *slight nod to the last* Peacekeeping. And throwing paint balloons back and forth with some Russians.

Maria: *snerk* We taught Iraqis how to play hackey sack.

guy 1: *slight smile* Throwing a balloon over from ship to ship is more fun.

Maria: Sounds like stuff the Wreckers get up to. *smile*

guy 1: *smile fades into curiosity* Wreckers?

Maria: Ever see that news report where that tawny gold car rickrolled the Presidential candidates?

guy 1: *nods, his brows drawn together*

Maria: Now picture a small unit'a soldiers jes' as crazy as that, with pyro tendencies and access ta high explosives.

guy 1: ...They're giant robots?

dOptimus: *startled sound as a gust of dust roars past outside*

Maria: Yup. *startles at the gust of dust roaring past* ... Who the scrap was that?!

dOptimus: A dust devil. *winces and squints*

Maria: ... *facepalm* *from behind her hand* It went up yer radiator, didn't it, Prima?

dOptimus: It did. Here, take the parcels. *holds them out*

Maria: *takes the packages*

dOptimus: *hurries out of the post office to jump into the cab of that beautiful, flame pattern cab over rig and drive it down to the air hose at the filling station*

guy 1: *brows slightly lifted as he watches all this*

Maria: She'll be back.


that afternoon


Optimus: *sneezing occasionally as she works at her screen*

Yau Fei: *playing with her younger brothers, is entertaining them with a puppet show made of flames*

Maria: *watching the show and watching Kae Rin help with taking care of the boys. Her thoughts go to the two brothers from earlier today for a few moments, then wander to John as she wonders how he's doing, and how he'll react to seeing her now that she's got both eyes again*

Optimus: *sneeze* *grumble with unladylike words* *sneeze* Yau Fei, stop taking notes.

Maria: *snerk* That won't stop her, Optimus.

Optimus: *glances toward Maria, her eyes knowing* Why don't you call John?

Maria: *ducks her head and blushes, then she's scooting off to do so* *will head for a quieter part of the control room, phone coming out* *dials John's number*

Wesson: *picks up the phone just before it goes to voice mail again* //'Lo.//

Red Bull: *bawling in the background, asking for water*

Maria: Hey... Why's Red Bull crying?

Wesson: *voice raspy and nearly metallic* //Dunno.//

Maria: *worried now* You okay?

Wesson: *shortly* //M'fine.//

Maria: *much frown* Where's Pete?

Wesson: //Dunno. Deek's supposeta come get him 'n 'Bull.// *pause* //'N Beeper.//

Maria: ...Why?

Wesson: //Don't have time for 'em.//

Maria: ...I'll be there in an hour. *worried about you, John*

Wesson: *voice suddenly sharp and hard* //No. Don't you come out here.// *has NEVER used a tone like that on her, and he's still raspy*

Red Bull: *bawls again*

Maria: I'm comin' ta get Red Bull, Pete, 'n Beeper. *and to check on you, but she won't say that* 'N I'm bringin' soup.

Wesson: *raspy voice cracks with the force of his shout* //No! I don't wanna see you ever again.//

Maria: ... *quietly, trying to hide her hurt* At least lemme say goodbye to you in person, then. Then I'll go 'n stay away.

Wesson: *something sounds faintly like a gasp* //No. Y'don't need me. Got those *beep*...// *throat clearing sound* //Aliens.//

Maria: *about to retort with something in Portuguese when she sees Saelen walking into the control room carrying...* Pete!

Wesson: *seems to have hung up*

Optimus: *looks toward Maria's shout*

Maria: *hurrying over to Saelen, will fuss over the skinny and dusty orange cat* *more fuss as she realizes Pete brought Beeper with him*

Saelen: *trying to explain that he found the two along the side of the road*

Beeper: *mouth open and yelling for food! Hungry baby, is!*

Maria: *much fuss*

Pete: *crying piteously to Maria*

Sam: *hears the crying and sits up on Optimus' shoulder to howl his sympathy*

Maria: *in full blown fussy mama mode now*

Optimus: Maria, what is it?

Maria: Pete and Beeper must've gone looking for people... Beeper's just a baby. *fret, worry*

Optimus: ... *gets on the phone to talk to the local Ranger when she sees just what that squawking chick is* They're yours?

Pete: *CRY! Cry! Licks. Wants water so much*

Maria: Yes. *moving to take Pete and Beeper from Saelen, intends to take them to the mess to get food and water*

Saelen: *quiet worrying*

CJ: *laying by Optimus and whining quietly. Does not like all the tension from the peeps*

Optimus: You can use some of Sam's food. It should be alright for Beeper for now.

Sam: *scrambles around and asks to go down, then runs to show where his food is* Nom! Nom! Nommmmmm!

Maria: *nods and moves to bring Pete and Beeper to where the food and water is*

Sam: *paws up against the side of the counter as he yowls and talks. It's up there. Wayyyy up there!*

Bumblebee: *looking at Sam funny over the top of his tablet*

Maria: *looks up at Bumblebee after looking to see where the food is located* Would you get that for me, please?

Bumblebee: *sets down his tablet and stands up* What am I getting?

Maria: Sam's food. I'll get a bowl of water.

Bumblebee: Oh. *walks over and grabs one of the sealed packages of the homemade cat food, then goes to one knee to offer it. Startles as something flutters and makes a funny sound from Maria's arms* That's not a cat!

Sam: *cat? Wherecat?* Miaow?

Pete: *tired chirp of query* *who wants cat?*

Maria: Beeper's a baby roadrunner. Pete brought him into the house one day... *trails off as she notices, for the first time, that the fluttering's only happening on one side* *softer* Because he was hurt.

Bumblebee: *concerned sound and bends closer to look as he offers the package*

Pete: *sees a package. Talks quietly to the package. Is still puffing from his long walk and his thirst*

Maria: Here... I can't hold them both and get the water bowl out of the cupboard. *will gently offer Pete and Beeper to Bumblebee*

Bumblebee: *cups hands together, the package of food resting on the palm of one* *quiet and sad sympathy* He's only got one wing.

Maria: *gently sets Pete and Beeper in Bumblebee's hands* Pete's good at finding hurt babies and bringing them to get help... *moves to get a bowl for water ready*

Bumblebee: *gentle humour* Cat, you are weird.

Pete: *hears a love word. Purrs and loves the hand to show he reciprocates the feeling*

Maria: *doing her best not to cry as she gets the water bowl set up* He's crazy, 'Bee. Get it right. *will come get Pete, Beeper, and the cat food*

Beeper: *has torn open the food bag. Tries to feed Maria as she picks him up. Is a bit too excited to realize that he can just eat this without it being fed to him*

Maria: Silly bird.

Bumblebee: *slight amusement* I think Beeper's crazy too.

Pete: *takes the food from Beeper, and then gives it back to him*

Beeper: *EAT!*

Sam: *is now talking about his water bowl. So much talking*

Maria: *gently sets Pete and Beeper where they can get to the water easily* Wouldn't surprise me.

Sam: *puts his foot on the switch and talks to the water that comes into the bowl*

Beeper: *excited sound, must splash in the water!!!*

Pete: *oh! Drink! Drinks it! So much drinking!*

Sam: *stops pressing the switch, since he's getting pushed away from the bowl. Talks earnestly about that, too*

Beeper: *happy sounds*

Maria: 'Bee, can you keep an eye on these two? I gotta go check on something.

Bumblebee: Sure. How long? *reaches a finger down to push the switch as the bowl runs dry*

Maria: Maybe an hour?

Bumblebee: No prob. Hey, you're going to hurt your beak, crazy. Stop pecking me.

Maria: *soft snerk, moves to head for the motorcade, where her truck is*

Bumblebee: *talking to a little roadrunner who is exploring his reflection in shiny chrome* *waves to Maria as she leaves*




continued here