MTMTE. Terra and Luna-1. Tambora Part 2

[dens_extra_pups]

Continued from here.



Later, back onboard the Lost Light


Ratchet: *waiting for Nightwish to get back. Already saw Rodimus and Tambora get settled with Cuddles for a nap in one of the private rooms. Is leaning against one of the tables and thinking back to how Nightwish reacted to learning that Nightstrike was her daughter*

Nightwish: *slinks in, looking sheepish and bringing quite the odor in with her* Can I clean up first?

Ratchet: *nod* *quietly* Hurry.

Nightwish: *frowns and jogs toward the infirmary washrack* //You're worried, excited, and slightly upset. What's wrong?//

Ratchet: //What did you get into that smells so bad?//

Nightwish: //...Do you know what a skunk is?//

Ratchet: //... Use hydrogen peroxide with the soap. It will get rid of the smell entirely.//

Nightwish: //This one weighed fifty pounds. And the peroxide's not in here. I don't know where Verity put it.//

Ratchet: //Hang on. I'll find it.// *moves to locate the peroxide* //Found it.//

Nightwish: //So how blonde is Verity?//

Ratchet: *sigh and a headshake* //...I'll have to find out.//

Nightwish: *opens door as he taps on it and sticks out her hand* //What's wrong?//

Ratchet:: *circulates for a moment, then* //Rodimus got a call from Starsaber earlier...//

Nightwish: *takes the peroxide and then pauses before drawing her hand in and closing the door* *wearily* //How angry is he that I didn't tell him what I did on Luna 1?//

Ratchet: //He's not mad.//

Nightwish: *frown in her voice* //What did he do? How bad is it?//

Ratchet: //He didn't do anything bad. One of the newsparks is related to him...//

Nightwish: *gasp is audible right through the door*

Ratchet: *hesitates a moment* //There's more you need to know...//

Nightwish: *sounds so young with her worry* //The kid has a mother?//

Ratchet: //Yes... He does. I know who it is, too.//

Nightwish: *quietly* //Quadriate?// *plainly thinking of the buxom single female from Mountain King and her ardent courtship of Rodimus*

Ratchet: *quite firmly* //Not Quadriate.//

Nightwish: //Please tell me it's not Lancer.//

Ratchet: //No, it's not Lancer. Even if she admires Rodimus, I've seen her gaze wandering a lot lately, to some of the Quadriate mechs...//

Nightwish: //Ugh. I knew that was in there. Now what do I do with it?//

Ratchet: //...Do I want to know?//

Nightwish: //Bug. Not from this world. And I really don't want to squish it.//

Ratchet: //...How big of a bug?//

Nightwish: *hand comes out, and the thing is furry and has a two foot leg span* *also big black eyes*

Ratchet: *makes a funny sound* //I'll... go get a jar.//

Nightwish: *absently* //Good. I didn't pick anything else up.//

Ratchet: *back with the jar!* //Perceptor wants the bug.//

Nightwish: //Here, take it before I accidentally hurt it.//

bug: *so WIGGLE, such SQUIRM*

Ratchet: *all manner of uneasy squeaks as he gets the bug in the jar*

bug: *slightly cramped in the bottom of the jar. Seems to pout*

Ratchet: *will bring the bug to Perceptor, then return to the infirmary*

Nightwish: *sitting on a table and listening to First Aid chat gleefully about his new hugmonster egg. Has a distracted and puzzled scowl on her face*

Ratchet: *moves to bring his chair over so he can sit and talk to you, Nightwish*

Nightwish: *looks him right in the eye* Why did First Aid stand in my way so I couldn't look into Rodimus' room?

First Aid: 9_9 *sooo bad at subterfuge*

Ratchet: *quietly* Because of who Tambora's mother is.

Nightwish: *confused and worried scowl* *quietly* You're scaring me.

First Aid: *worriedly excuses himself to go see what Megatron and Shockwave are doing*

Ratchet: *quietly* I only realized it when one of the birthing hall medics gave me his chart... His spark puts out a lot of energy... Moreso than a point-one percenter... Enough that the Shockwave who helped you and Rodimus made Tambora's shell...

Nightwish: *eyes go wide with horror* No...

Ratchet: He's frightened of hurting others, because the couple who found his spark ended up needing to start over...

Nightwish: *hands over her face as she bows her head* Oh no...

Ratchet: *quietly* He came through the hotspot on Luna 1... I don't know how much he resembles you, other than the energy output of his spark...

Nightwish: *face still covered* You didn't talk to Shockwave?

Ratchet: I wanted to wait for you before calling him. In case you wanted to have some words with him.

Nightwish: *very uncharacteristically draws up her knees and then hides her face on them*

Ratchet: *gentle hand on her shoulder* *quietly* Let's get some answers.

Nightwish: *slight escape of static*

Ratchet: *soft clicks. I'm here for you*

Nightwish: *shoulders shake slightly*

Ratchet: *up from his chair to give hugs*

Nightwish: *turns toward him without uncurling and cries much, her body language saying that she's feeling utterly wretched* Poor little kid.

Ratchet: *quietly* He needs someone to guide him and love him in addition to the guidance and love Rodimus will give him.

Nightwish: *woefully* If I'm too young to get married, I'm too young to be a mother.

Ratchet: *quietly* Rodimus filled out the parental forms, and listed you as his spouse.

Nightwish: *lifts her head and gives him a surprised look*

Ratchet: *small smile* We're going to wait until Tambora's a bit more settled in before we throw your family a party to celebrate.

Nightwish: *doubtfully* You really think we're ready?

Ratchet: *nod* I do. *soft chuckle* I also got footage of Rodimus trying to interact with Tambora on Luna-1...

Nightwish: *and there's that curious and quizzical look*

Ratchet: *will offer a databurst*

Nightwish: *accepts it and opens the file. And then she's laughing with soft static*

Ratchet: *quietly* Rodimus just wanted to love on the kiddo.

Nightwish: *mournfully* Poor kid. No baby deserves that responsibility.

Ratchet: *gentle patpat* Let's get you two introduced.

Nightwish: *sucks air in shakily and then nods*

Ratchet: *moves to give her room to stand*

Nightwish: *rises with her usual grace, though her expression's still uncertain* They couldn't chart his CNA, so how did they know he's related to Rodimus?

Ratchet: He was asking for Rodimus, according to one of the birthing hall medics.

Nightwish: *another deep intake* Let me see him.

Ratchet: *nods and moves to lead the way to the private room*

Nightwish: *strides resolutely beside him, trying to force away all sign of sadness*

Tambora: *is golden eyes half closed as he rests his arms and chin on the Eat Me bot doll and watches and listens to his new world. Looks up curiously as he spots that lady that he can't look through coming near to the door*

Rodimus: *snuggled close to Tambora, is sleeping peacefully*

Cuddles: *making happy sleeping sounds*

Nightwish: *falters slightly as she spots the sparklet* *quietly* He sees me.

Ratchet: Well, introduce yourself.

Nightwish: *slight headshake and an amused Ultra Magnus look* Talking through the door is rude.

Ratchet: *soft chuckle* Then go inside.

Nightwish: *nods and slips inside*

Tambora: *hand slips over and gently shakes Rodimus as he watches this interesting lady*

Rodimus: *groggy mumble of nonsense*

Tambora: *leans over and whispers* Dad, somebody's here!

Rodimus: *rubbing at his eyes and moving to sit up*

Nightwish: *stops so she doesn't crowd the little guy. She's studying him without seeming to* Sleeping again, Rodimus?

Rodimus: *small, sleepy smile* Family bondin' time...

Nightwish: *quietly* What about me?

Tambora: *starting to suspect that he knows who this lady is. Looks at Rodimus to see what his dad says*

Rodimus: *doesn't even hesitate to lift his arm* Then come 'n snuggle, Nightwish.

Tambora: *perk* Mommy?

Nightwish: *slightly shaky version of her family smile* Is that what he told you to call me?

Tambora: *uncertainly* It sounded prettiest.

Rodimus: *small, shy smile* I also said he could call you 'Mom" or "Mentor" if "Mommy" didn't feel right to him...

Nightwish: *gently lifts the little guy and holds him on her hip as she studies him*

Tambora: *studies right back*

Rodimus: *blushing a bit now and looking awkwardly shy*

Nightwish: *softly* What do you think of me?

Tambora: I think you're like me. *sigh*

Nightwish: *cuddle* You like that?

Tambora: *nod nod*

Nightwish: I like you too. *glances down at Rodimus and blushes slightly herself when she sees his expression*

Rodimus: *quietly* I wrote your name down as Tambora's mother...

Nightwish: Ratchet told me. *absently rubbing baby back as he cuddles close*

Rodimus: *quietly* It just felt like the right thing to do.

Nightwish: *simply, as she turns her attention back to Tambora* It's true.

Tambora: *is listening to his mother's spark for the first time and feeling comforted by its familiarity*

Rodimus: *quietly* Do you have to go back to work soon?

Nightwish: *looks up from baby again with a slight smile* You know that world that I told you about with the walking cities?

Rodimus: The one with all the lava?

Nightwish: *nods* I was helping with the relocation of the cities to another world. We moved a few hundred Mrrpt-Nyaah over there, too.

Rodimus: I bet they liked that...

Nightwish: *soft snerk* I just wish the big-eared folk hadn't been so eager to share that stink badger they found.

Rodimus: ... It sprayed you, didn't it?

Nightwish: And how.

Rodimus: Eww.

Nightwish: *more snerk* They were best friends by the end of the encounter.

Rodimus: Still. *amused*

Nightwish: *shows him a holo of the huge walking cities striding away along stone roads so well-made that they've survived for thousands of years amid the jungles*

Rodimus: *soft chuckle* Nice.

Nightwish: *switches to another holo, this one showing Mrrpt-Nyahh children scrambling around in the tunnels and galleries of a massive banyan as their elders sit in a serious circle next to the entrance of an overgrown building of more than Mrrpt-Nyaah size*

Rodimus: Aww *pauses* Wait. Some of the people look different...

Nightwish: They're not all from the same reality. The ones with fur and small ears are from a world with a lot of ocean. And more civilization, which is why they're giggling so much about what they have on now.

Rodimus: *blink blink* Huh.

Nightwish: *has she shuts off the holo* *dryly* Unlike certain bots I know, they can moon each other without disrupting the meeting.

Rodimus: *very soft snerk* It was funnier when Tailgate did it.

Nightwish: It still disrupted the meeting past salvation.

Rodimus: *small shrug*

Nightwish: *shows him a holo of a cheery, furry, Mrrpt-Nyaah, flipping up his buttflap*

Rodimus: *laughs at that*

Nightwish: *and then the last holo from the mission, which shows the new citizens of the lava world*

Rodimus: *surprised sound as he sees men, women, and children who look nearly human, but for the myriad of colors of hair and eyes. Intermixed with them are various pillars of flame in just as many different colors* But I thought humans couldn't handle the heat.

Nightwish: Bots can't handle that heat.

Rodimus: ... Who are they?

Nightwish: *points to a pillar of pink flame* Still don't recognize them?

Rodimus: *stunned* ...I thought Ifiri were really rare.

Nightwish: They're not all from one reality, either.

Rodimus: Oh... That's why there's so many? How many realities did you stop in to grab people?

Nightwish: I didn't. And I didn't ask Mama Yau.

Rodimus: ...Then how the heck did they find out about the world? *trying to make sense of this*

Nightwish: *slight chuckle as she rubs her little son's back* She went and told them.

Rodimus: ...Oh.

Nightwish: *grin*

Rodimus: She's good at getting people moving.

Nightwish: Why do you think she's in charge of so much in the Coalition?

Rodimus: Good point.

Nightwish: *takes a hand from baby to put it on him* How are you feeling?

Rodimus: I'm fine. Ratchet checked me over before and after we went to Luna-1 and gave me a clean bill of health. I'm just getting tired of not being able to do some of the things I like to do...

Nightwish: I thought you were going to hang out with Tailgate and Deluge this morning.

Rodimus: We were hanging out, then Starsaber called...

Nightwish: *nods* It's nice to know he made it.

Rodimus: He's a pretty nice guy.

Nightwish: He's supposed to be. *grin* He's also a load bearer.

Rodimus: *blink. Blink* You mean like Minimus?

Nightwish: Yup.

Rodimus: Huh.

Nightwish: Kriti is too.

Rodimus: ... *jaw. DROPS*

Nightwish: *sticks his vitamin supplement in the drop*

Rodimus: *startles and quickly closes his mouth, then he's swallowing his supplement*

Nightwish: *laughing grin*

Rodimus: XP

Nightwish: *looks up, and then grumbles softly*

Rodimus: *quickly* Let Flashpoint handle it.

Nightwish: *stands* Can't. We'll be back soon.

Rodimus: ... I'm coming with you. *moves to try and scale your leg, Nightwish*

Nightwish: *catches him and sets him back on the bed* We'll be back.

Rodimus: *so much pout*

Nightwish: Snuggle Cuddles and Eat Me and settle down. We'll be back.

Rodimus: *will do so, still pouting* Fiiiine.

Nightwish: *gentle touch for his back, and then returns her hand to Tambora's back as she turns and walks out of the room. Considers putting her wings away, but decides she likes the air currents*

Ratchet: *baby dancing with Kriti to try and encourage her to settle down for a nap*

Kriti: *needs no nap!*

Outsider: *much sing!*

Nightwish: *pauses to offer a fuzzy thing to the squeaker*

Kriti: *puzzled squeak as she reaches for the fuzzy thing*

Nightwish: *makes sure she has it* A little girl asked me to make sure to give this to another little girl.

fuzzy: *is a simple plush doll, made of very soft fur*

Kriti: *squeakerfit! Must learn about this new thing!* *Oh, and cuddle Daddy as she studies her new friend, too!*

Ratchet: *soft sigh*

Nightwish: *gentle touch for his shoulder* I should be right back. Someone's bugging the captain for Ultra Magnus.

Ratchet: ... I honestly hope Flashpoint's not letting her temper get the best of her.

Nightwish: *golden eyes crinkle at the corners in her dark face* What Red showed me was her sitting and looking bored.

Ratchet: ... I don't know if that's worse.

Nightwish: *chuckles, and then puts her hand back on baby and heads down the long corridors to the bridge*


bridge


Flashpoint: *calmly* Ah tol' y'u. Wh'n Mags gits 'eah, y'u c'n talk t' 'er.

rwnUltra Magnus: //We need to know how to fix what happened.// *has a twitchy right optic setting again*

rwnRatchet: *headshake* //All due respect, Ultra Magnus, but I already scanned Drift and ran a self-diagnostic. We're fine.//

Nightwish: *stops next to the command chair, gently rubbing Tambora's back* LOL?

rwnRatchet: *looks to the screen, then blinks a bit. Instead of red on white, her paintjob is now white on red* //Er...//

Nightwish: I'm out of uniform. Transforming right now would mean moving my son when his spark's set on cuddling.

Tambora: *lifts one hand and waves to the people he can hear behind him*

rwnUltra Magnus: //...You have a son?// *very surprised*

rwnRatchet: //Aww.// *small smile*

Nightwish: We just got him today. *slight smile as the tiny waving hand pats her affectionately*

rwnUltra Magnus: //...I see.//

Nightwish: Ratchet, what did you touch in the nexus?

rwnRatchet: //It scanned as a solid glass ball. I only picked it up because Drift's vocodor malfunctioned after he touched it.//

Nightwish: *frown* That one's not in the dictionary. But LOLs usually don't last more than a week.

rwnRatchet: *nod* //I already scanned him. It's not affecting his health, but he refuses to say anything until his voice goes back to normal.//

Nightwish: *aware of her own Drift coming onto the bridge behind her* Kids that age are sensitive about appearances.

Drift: Who is? *optics are very bright*

Nightwish: *without turning* You.

Tambora: *peeks at Drift so that she can see him looking at her*

Drift: ... *snerk* Uh-huh. *looks up when she realizes she's being looked at* ... *blink, small smile* Hi.

Tambora: *small wave, and then tucks his ear against mamachest again*

Drift: Aww. *attention going back to Nightwish* Gonna go explorin' with Bushi 'n a bit... Might be gone a while.

Nightwish: *glances at her* Bring energy. And find somewhere sheltered.

Drift: *nod* Bushi's gettin' stuff from Swerve's.

Nightwish: *attention back to the screen* Alright. See you when you get back. //Mach Kick.//

Drift: *puzzled expression is a go* //Huh?//

Nightwish: //That was his name.//

Drift: //...// *very small nod* *out loud* 'N you can't get mad at us if we don't call later. :P

rwnRatchet: *don't mind her, she's just laughing herself silly*

Nightwish: Get off the bridge before I tell you who one of your alternates married.

Drift: *thrrrrrrpt!* *is gone*

rwnUltra Magnus: *pinching the bridge of his nose* //Is now really the time for that?//

rwnRatchet: //I bet that's quite the story. But, we weren't just calling about what happened to Drift and me in the Backwater. We're getting close to Luna-1.//

Nightwish: I thought so. What are your coordinates?

rwnRatchet: *relays the coordinates* //We're holding our position until we finish going over the plan of attack.//

Nightwish: *actual full grin that shows youth* Give me 8 hours to get to know my son, and we'll be there.

rwnRatchet: *hand up to stop the protest from Ultra Magnus that she knows will come once she says this* //Can you bring your team to the ship first?//

rwnUltra Magnus: *trying to protest that doing so would be a breach of protocol, gets silenced by a stern Look from the medic*

Nightwish: Some of my team won't fit on the ship.

rwnRatchet: //...Oh.// *very surprised by this*

Nightwish: I'm bringing the Legendary Thirteen of Quadriate Terra, Quadriate's birthing medics, and my own wing, among others.

rwnRatchet: //...Legendary Thirteen?// *confused*

rwnUltra Magnus: *researching!*

Nightwish: *slight smile* The strongest bots of Terra. All born during the same storm, from the same hot spot.

rwnRatchet: //...// *boggling now* //There's a hot spot?!//

rwnUltra Magnus: *just as shocked as Ratchet*

Nightwish: More than one permanent one.

Flashpoint: Th're're places Macks lahk me 're born out 'n space, too.

rwnRatchet: //...Macks?//

Nightwish: Quadriates consider bots with my construction to be Macks.

Flashpoint: *amusedly* Ah got called a Seekah th't 'un tahm...

rwnRatchet: //...I wasn't going to say anything about that, but yes, you both remind me of Seekers.//

Nightwish: There are a lot more Macks than there are Seekers. Maybe Starscream should be sued for copyright.

rwnUltra Magnus: *looks up at that, frowning*

rwnRatchet: *excuse her, she just fell over laughing*

Nightwish: *arches one brow at rwnMagnus*

rwnUltra Magnus: //I don't understand.//

rwnRatchet: *in between helpless wheezes from where she landed on the floor* //It was a joke!//

Flashpoint: *snort* *to Nightwish* Ah th'nk y'u broke 'er.

Nightwish: Nahh. Ratchets're tough old fogeys.

rwnRatchet: *wheeze* //Hey! I resemble that remark!// *laughing more*

rwnUltra Magnus: 0.o;;

Nightwish: My team will meet yours on your hull in eight hours.

rwnUltra Magnus: *nods* //Very well. Lost Light out.//

Nightwish: Lost Light out.

rwnUltra Magnus: *closes the connection*

Nightwish: *looks down at Flashpoint as Tambora twinkles friendly little fingers at the captain* There's a heck of a light show tonight, and it's too far out to be bored Defence Corps dorks.

Flashpoint: 'T's prolleh s'me 'f th' idjit pahrates fahght'n' ovah rocks 'gain.

Nightwish: What do you mean? Terra hasn't got very much to read about the pirates.

Flashpoint: Th't's 'cause most'a us th'nk th' pahrates're borin'... Th'y fahght ovah good rocks t' nap 'n.

Nightwish: Ahh. Like you were on that old crate when we first met?

Flashpoint: Ah dragged th't crate up wit' me, but yeah. Same sort'a th'n'.

Nightwish: So most of the pirates are Macks?

Flashpoint: Yup. 'T'ts a rare 'un th't ain't.

Nightwish: *thinks of Marauder and snorts*

Tambora: *experimental little echoing snort*

Nightwish: *startles and then laughs softly as she looks down at the baby in her arms, her usually nearly impassive face showing her affection and wonder*

Flashpoint: Aww. *smile*

Nightwish: *glances at her captain, molten eyes soft and quizzical*

Flashpoint: Y'all git back t' bed. Ah'll round up th' chuckle'eads.

Nightwish: Alright. Thanks, Flash.

Tambora: *curiously reaches toward Flashpoint's cheek*

Flashpoint: *soft clicks, will gently kiss bitty fingers*

Tambora: *soft squeak of delight, and then he's hiding his face on his mama*

Nightwish: *delighted, and it shows* I'll see you in the morning.

Flashpoint: Good rest. *smile*

Nightwish: *returns the smile and then turns and strides off in her leggy way. Scares a few crewmates on her way, but soon reaches the private room in the infirmary and looks through the door to see what Rodimus is doing*

Rodimus: *nodding off a bit, has his tablet out and a message open on it*

Nightwish: *pokes the door control and steps through* *quietly* We're back.

Tambora: *lifts his head and looks for Daddy*

Rodimus: *slight start, sleepy grin* Got 'n invite to the birth party...

Nightwish: You better hope you've changed back by then.

Rodimus: *stubbornly* Not gettin' left behind again.

Nightwish: *firmly* You can't use Verity's suit for that.

Rodimus: I'll think of something.

Tambora: *turns and reaches toward Daddy*

Nightwish: *tucks him gently into the nest that is Cuddles*

Cuddles: *peeps softly*

Rodimus: *will reach for Nightwish*

Nightwish: *retracts her wings and then settles down so that she's laying on her side and facing the wall, protecting the Cuddles nest between it and her body* You might have to sit it out now and time back later.

Rodimus: *small frown as he thinks and snuggles with his family*

Nightwish: *glances down at him* How does it feel to be a family man?

Rodimus: *quietly* Before I met you, I'd never considered it... But now... It just feels like this is what is supposed to happen... And I'm glad that it has happened.

Nightwish: *hand on Tambora's little back where he's laying and running his fingers dreamily through Cuddles' feathers* The two of us will take care of you.

Rodimus: *soft hum, snuggles close*

Nightwish: *gently* Turn off your datapad and get some sleep.

Tambora: *wiggles onto his back so he can see Daddy and smile at him*

Rodimus: *small nod, will proceed to do so, snuggling close*

Tambora: *since Eat Me is on the floor now, he will dolly cuddle his daddy and gaze up at Mommy*

Nightwish: *hand over sleeping Rodimus as she silently tells her new son about many things*

((Written with random_xtras))