dens_tf_den | JOE-verse, The Pit, Beginnings

Jazz: *pops into the medbay* Hey, Ratch....

Ratchet: *looks up from where he's checking patient charts and carefully jotting down notes* Yes, Jazz?

Jazz: *momentarily distracted and winds up asking a question he's asked several times over the past week* How's Breaker doin'?

Lifeline: *sitting on Ratchet's shoulder, and heaves a big sigh at Jazz's question*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle at Lifeline's sigh, before turning his attention back to Jazz* He's still resting, Jazz, just like the other times you asked.

Jazz: *bit embarrassed* Yeah. Sorry, man. That ain't what I came to ask you this time. And I ain't askin' you ta come see 'Bee, either.

Ratchet: Oh? *curious now* Is something wrong?

Jazz: You remember how Op offered ta take Archiva ta town for her day off on Sunday? Well I ain't seen him since.

Ratchet: *raised brow ridge as he checks his calender* Well, I can't say I'm not glad to hear that he's getting out more often...

Jazz: Yeah... but it ain't like him ta just disappear. *horns twitch worriedly*

Ratchet: *small frown* Well... Have you tried pinging his comm? Or tried to get in contact with Archiva?

Jazz: *pauses with mouth open* .... >_>

Ratchet: *amused headshake* Try Optimus' comm. I'm sure he's fine, but in need of a reminder that he does have a duty to attend to.

Optimus: *at the door* Have I forgotten something, Ratchet?

Ratchet: *doing his best not to crack up* *calmly* Apparently, you forgot to check in once you and Archiva were back on duty.

Optimus: *turns his head and exchanges a glance with the human woman who is standing on his shoulder with a hand against his smoke stack, then turns back to the medic and says a little distractedly* Ah... I must have had something on my mind.

Ratchet: *nod* Just remember to check in next time.

Jazz: Hey... where's Rewind? She git lost too?

Optimus: Rewind has been partnered with General Flagg.

Jazz: But then who 'Livi gonna be workin' with. Uh... I mean Archiva. *winks at the tall blond*

Optimus: *quietly, with a hint of what sounds like uncertainty in his deep voice* Archiva will be working with me.

Ratchet: *small nod, frowning slightly at the uncertainty*

Jazz: *grins and laughs, then tilts his head* Ah... 'Bee just woke up. I gotta go. *slips around Optimus and vanishes down the hall*

Optimus: *watches him go, then turns back to Ratchet and seems to hesitate over saying something*

Ratchet: *frown deepens, concern showing clearly on his face* Is there something you need to get off your chestplate?

Optimus: *steps inside and closes the door* Archiva will be living in the Autobot barrack. Specifically, she will be residing in my quarters.

Ratchet: *raised brow ridge* May I ask what sparked this decision?

Optimus: *firmly* We've decided to word bond. *and the mighty Autobot Prime looks like he expects to be dressed down by his medic*

Ratchet: *smiles, nodding* Well, I'll be a witness, if you need one.

Optimus: *blinks with surprise* General Flagg, Rewind, and Duke have already filled that role. But thank you, Ratchet.

Ratchet: *nods* I wish you both many years of happiness together.

Archiva: Thank you. *blushing. She had been just as braced for contention as Optimus*

Ratchet: *nods as he absently scans the pair out of habit*

Archiva: *electrical field is now in tune with Optimus'*

Optimus: *thanks Ratchet too, and then is distracted by Lifeline squeaking for attention and picks the little girl up gently*

Ratchet: *raised brow ridge before he's chuckling softly as he watches Lifeline and Optimus interacting*

Archiva: *sliding down to Optimus' arms to hold hands with the baby. Clicks her tongue at the little one*

Lifeline: *delighted and clicking back, then turns to Ratchet and clicks excitedly. Papa, look!*

Ratchet: *chuckling again* Remember to be careful, Lifeline... *startles when a ceiling tile just misses him, and a dark blue form drops down through the resulting hole in the ceiling*

Optimus: *defensive stance, his hands sheltering the beings in his arms as his cannons swing around his hips*

Archiva: *shielding baby and holding gun*

Sharpshot: *Lands in a crouch, cycling air before she lifts her head and lets out a frightened sound. Then she's scrabbling for the wall farthest from the Prime* P-please don't shoot!

Ratchet: *sets off the silent alarms, and doing his best not to facepalm* Sharpshot. Why am I not surprised?

Optimus: *straightens a little warily* Sharpshot. *headshake* Where's Desinex?

Sharpshot: S-stunned... r-ran into a cattle fence...

Optimus: *frowns with a mixture of doubt and concern* Pasture fences don't usually carry that great a charge.

Lifeline: *disappointed clickings when Archiva puts the gun away instead of letting her see it*

Sharpshot: *ducks in on herself* *quietly* Ran into three cattle fences...

Ratchet: *pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs*

Optimus: *compassion for the troubled woman* *gently* Why are you here, Sharpshot?

Sharpshot: Want... Want block... or Desinex gone...

Ratchet: *Frowning* *Gently* You know that we can't separate you two... it's too risky, and could offline you as well.

Sharpshot: Don't care! Don't want to hurt anyone else anymore...

Optimus: Sharpshot, please, think carefully.

Sharpshot: Am. Desinex hurts... hurts here too... *points to her head and then to her chestplate* Want no more hurting... no hurting anyone else either.

Ratchet: *frown, is checking his onboard inventory for a motor control inhibitor*

Hound, Wheeljack, Springer, Arcee, Ironhide, and Chromia: *looking in through the door, after responding to the alarm*

Sharpshot: *intakes hitch, just before Ratchet tags her with the motor control inhibitor*

Ratchet:*quietly* It's too risky to try to separate you from Desinex...

Sharpshot: *cycling air rapidly* Don't want hurting anyone! Don't care about offlining!

Optimus: *hands Lifeline to Chromia, who quickly carries the little one away* I'm sorry, Sharpshot. We can't do it.

Sharpshot: *shutters her optics, still cycling air rapidly*

Ratchet: *quickly prepping a sedation tab, knows what will happen shortly*

Optimus: *bracing himself for the explosion*

Hound: *staying out of sight behind the black bulk of Ironhide*

Desinex: *unshuttering her optics, and then she's spewing obscenities and shrieking when she realizes she can't move*

Archiva: *wide eyes as she watches the blue femmebot*

Ratchet: *cringing at some of Desinex's words, even as he applies the sedative*

Optimus: *will catch her when she slumps*

Desinex: *all but keels over seconds later*

Ratchet: She's learned some new obscenities since the last time.... *sighs*

Optimus: *looking down at her as he helps his wife back up onto his shoulder, then turns and gives her to Ironhide* Put her in the cell.

Ironhide: *nods and turns to do so, the others fanning out in guard formation*

Ratchet: *shoulders slump a bit as he watches Desinex get carried out of the medbay*

Optimus: *gives the dark green medic's shoulder a squeeze, and then turns to go and see that the new Cybertronian holding cell is functioning properly*

First Aid: *slips into the medbay moments after he's left* *softly* Ratchet?

Ratchet: *Quietly as he moves to try to put the ceiling tile back into place* Sharpshot's getting desperate... she deliberately ran into three pasture fences to buy herself enough time to get in....

First Aid: *hands to her mouth* Oh! Have they taken her to the cell?

Ratchet: They took Desinex to the cell... Sharpshot... wants to be separated from Desinex... but it's too risky, and could offline both of them...

First Aid: *nodding as she recalls the particulars of the dark blue woman's case* They're two personalities, but it's due to programming damage. There's only one spark.

Ratchet: *nods, frowning as he gets the ceiling tile adjusted so it falls into place easily* This is the most coherent Sharpshot's been though... she was able to state clearly what she wanted... Granted, she still seems to have cognitive glitches...

First Aid: *softly, as she moves around the office, tidying their desks and the space around them* I remember Doc asking if we couldn't just fix the programming, and his surprise when you explained to him that that would be like killing Sharpshot.

Ratchet: *sharp intake of air, before he nods* I wonder, though... if we could copy Sharpshot's personality programming...

First Aid: *pauses and turns to look at him, a paperweight that Doc had given him in one of her hands* Has that ever been done, Ratchet?

Ratchet: I don't think so... Perceptor might know more...

First Aid: *sadly* But Perceptor isn't here.

Ratchet: *small nod, sighs* All we can do for now... may be to write up a program that can temporarily block Desinex....

First Aid: *thinks of his and Wheeljack's lack of success in writing up programs for the Dinobots and looks doubtful*

Ratchet: *sighs a bit* I know... it seems hopeless... but we won't know if it is until we try.

First Aid: *sets the paperweight down and walks over to put her arms around him comfortingly*

Ratchet: *clicks quietly, and holds First Aid close, blinking again as he once more realizes that the young bot that he had trained, and who he had always supposed to be a mech, is in fact a femmebot... and his wife and the mother of a new spark that he has a part in the makeup of.*

First Aid: *looks up at him* *softly* I'll go get Lifeline, and we can start.

Ratchet: *nods and gently nuzzles First Aid's helm* Alright.

First Aid: *gives him that certain look that had so shocked him the day she had told him what she was and that she'd chosen him as her husband, then nuzzles back and gives him a quick kiss before letting him go and going to retrieve their daughter from Chromia*

Ratchet: *pulling up what he knows about Sharpshot's glitch on a datapad, and frowning as he reviews the data*

Nearby...

Chromia: *heading for the cellblock, thinking about Lifeline, and how First Aid must have felt when it was discovered that her spark had budded*

Ironhide: Springer, fer the love 'a mercy act like there's somethin' in yer processor-pan.

Springer: *wide grin* You mean other than rust and dirt?

Ironhide: *facepalms and mutters*

Chromia: *soft snerk* Are ya sure that's even possible, Ironhide?

Ironhide: *perks and peeks over his fingers, his expression lighting right up at sight of his lady* Ah know he's got more sense 'n he lets on.

Springer: *vapid grin. Could not look more blank and still be online*

Chromia: *another snerk followed by a headshake* So, Sharpshot wake up yet, or did Desinex start cussing at y'all again?

Ironhide: Sleepin' like a baby. *looks through the energy screen at the woman, his craggy brow lowered in a frown*

Springer: A tall, stacked, psychotic baby.

Ironhide: *waps him upside the head without looking at him*

Chromia: *frowns as she studies the woman* Wish I knew how to help her... Sharpshot doesn't seem so bad, really...

Ironhide: *dismisses Springer, since Chromia is here. Watches the younger mech leave with a final wisecrack and then turns back to his wife* *quietly* She ain't. Least wise she wasn' back afore Tyrannous started his 'great plan'.

Chromia: *frown* You knew her back then?

Ironhide: Not personally, but we heard some fine stuff about 'er on th' airways. Doncha remember, darlin'?

Chromia: *thinking back, nods*

Ironhide: *creaks slightly as he moves, and frowns slightly as he touches one finger to a dab of the blue paint that the new sparks love to lick up for a treat, recalling that Chromia had taken Lifeline.*

Chromia: *blinks a bit, before she notices the paint* Oh... I forgot Lifeline had some of that...

Ironhide: *softly, his deep voice gruff and tender* Nothin' yet?

Chromia: *headshake* No... But I'm not giving up hope.

Ironhide: *gives her shoulder a pat, then looks toward the prisoner again*

Sharpshot: *laying where she was set down, is giving no sign of waking anytime soon*

Ironhide: *stoops and folds down the seat on one side of the door for Chromia* Here, darlin'. We might as well set down wa'al we work.

Chromia: *Nods and settles on the seat*

Ironhide: *very quietly* 'Mia... ya know... it jes' maht not work fer us....

Chromia: I'll believe that when it's proven t' me. *reaches to gently squeeze Ironhide's hand* 'n you know me... I'm not about t' give up just 'cause things are proving t' be tough...

Ironhide: *tenderly squeezes back, his expression conflicted* Yeah, darlin'. I know. Jes... ah'r bond... it's dang near as old as we are. 'N... well, even sparks finally wear out.

Chromia: *firmly* I think we still have a chance.

Ironhide: *optics meeting hers and holding his desire to protect her from disappointment, and his love for her. Gently squeezes her hand again and lifts it to his lips* *quietly* Iffin' we do git a lil' un... will we even know what ta do with 'er?

Chromia: *leans to gently kiss Ironhide's cheek* We can ask for help... We're not the only ones trying...

Ironhide: *smiles at the kiss, his expression brightening a bit for a moment before it darkens again* Yes we are. Arcee 'n Springer went 'n got blocked till Fancy's older. 'N ever' body else's already got a baby. *darkly* ...'Re three.

Chromia: *soft sigh, decides that maybe what Ironhide needs is to be kissed stupid for a bit, and proceeds to try to do so*

Ironhide: Ack! *catches her by the upper arms* Not now, darlin'!

Chromia: *small pout, before her attention goes to the prone woman in the cell* ...

Ironhide: *quickly follows her gaze, still holding her*

Sharpshot: *optics flickering a bit as she lets out a soft sound*

Ironhide: *lets go Chromia's arms. Cautiously* Sharpshot?

Sharpshot: *soft groan, winces* Head hurts...

Ironhide: Ah hear ya had a bit of an overcharge there. *turning to face the door more fully*

Sharpshot: *quietly* Was only way... needed to see medic...

Ironhide: *grim compassion on his craggy old face as he nods* Ratchet'll do his level best ta help y'all out. You kin count on that.

Sharpshot: *intakes hitch as she nods* Can't get rid of her... says too risky...

Ironhide: *gently* He'll think 'a somethin'. He always does.

Sharpshot: No want hurt anymore.... Want past self back... No Desinex...

Ironhide: *glances at his wife, his optics pleading slightly for her to talk to the other femmebot, because he has no idea what to say now*

Chromia: *gently* Ratchet's trying his hardest to help with that.

Sharpshot: *intakes hitch again, before she nods*

Ironhide: *supportive hand on Chromia's shoulder*

Chromia: *watching Sharpshot's face for any hints that Desinex is surfacing* Everything'll be okay, Sharpshot, you'll see...

Sharpshot: *small nod* Head still hurts...

Ironhide: *coms Ratchet and reports on the dark blue woman's condition*

Ratchet: *suggests trying to get Sharpshot to enter a sleep cycle without the use of a sedation tab*

Ironhide: //Allraht.// Ratchet says ta tryin' shut down fer a bit.

Sharpshot: *cycles air for a moment, before nodding, and shuttering her optics. Moments later, she's powered down and laying limp*

Ironhide: *sighs and settles down on the seat opposite Chromia's to watch over the troubled woman*

In another part of the Pit...

Optimus: *pauses to look down at the younger Transformer that he's escorting from Indoctrination to the Cybertronian section of the Pit* Have you got anymore questions, WakeJumper?

WakeJumper: *headshake* N-no, sir...

Optimus: Very well, then. *hand absently going to the woman who is sitting on his shoulder* You know your assigned quarters. I'll speak to you later.

Archiva: *watching the orange mech with an absent frown, though she smiles as Optimus' hand covers her legs*

WakeJumper: *nods* Yes, sir... *steals a quick glance at Archiva, before heading off down the hall towards quarters*

Jazz: *slouching in the doorway of he and Bumblebee's apartment. Perks when he sees the youngster* Hey, new meat! *grin is easy going*

WakeJumper: *Freezes and gives Jazz a wide-opticed look*

Jazz: *gentle chuckle as he pats WakeJumper on the arm* Hey, man. Chill. Ol' Jazz is jes' jokin'.

WakeJumper: o-oh... *willing intakes to slow down*

Jazz: *compassion for the youngster* You wanna come in 'n sit awhile? My lady could use some company.

WakeJumper: S-sure...

Jazz: *moves out of the door and steps inside* Walk this way, my man. *in he goes, with his characteristic bouncy and happy step*

WakeJumper: *hesitantly follows*

Jazz: *over to a wide low sitting bench he goes, and leans over to tenderly nuzzle the chunky little yellow bot laying on it* Hey, Ladylove. I found ya a visitor.

Bumblebee: *o.0 Had bored herself to insensibility* Huh? *blink blink Turns head and sees WakeJumper* Oh, hi. *her voice is still a light tenor, and her shell is not designed with feminine grace in mind*

WakeJumper: *puzzled glance at Jazz, before nodding politely to Bumblebee* H-hello... *slight wince as 'his' vocalizer squeaks in the middle of the word*

Bumblebee: Wow... sounds like you need to go see Ratch. *lets Jazz fuss and prop her up with a big wedge of concrete, even though she's perfectly able to sit up on her own. ...It's kind of nice to take it easy after so many years of running and fighting and hiding and lying*

WakeJumper: I'm f-fine... Just fi-*tone fluctuates slightly*-ne... *trying to pretend that the fluctuation didn't happen*

Bumblebee: *frown of concern* That doesn't sound fine. *startles as her lights blink* Ack!

Jazz: *hand on her chest and starts to hum softly*

Bumblebee: Ugh >_o Thanks, Jazz.

Jazz: *loving grin, and then turns to their guest* This's my wife. Bumblebee.

WakeJumper: *small nod, trying to keep from cycling air too loudly* I-I was given a c-crash course...

Jazz: *gives the young mech a gentle bap on the arm* Man, this is where ya introduce yourself 'n tell my Lady how fine she looks.

Bumblebee: *blush*

WakeJumper: *jumps, startled, before nodding* W-wake *Squeaks* >.< I'm WakeJumper... *cycling air and shaking slightly*

Jazz: *frown and twitches his horns* Hey, man... you okay? Don't go gettin' 'Bee all het up.

Bumblebee: *concerned*

WakeJumper: E-excuse me... *turns to go, still shaking*

Jazz: *figures he must be the problem, and is unwilling that Bumblebee should lose her visitor* Hey, man. Stick around. I need somebody ta sit with 'Bee while I go'in talk ta Optimus.

WakeJumper: A-alright, sir...

Jazz: *leans down and gives Bumblebee a quick peck, then grins at her and leaves the suit to go see if he can squeeze details out of Optimus as to why Archiva and General Hawk swapped Transformers*

Bumblebee: *looking at WakeJumper curiously*

WakeJumper: *trying to calm down, doesn't seem to notice how 'he' is wringing his hands*

Bumblebee: *softly* What's wrong? *then meeps softly and taps on her chestplate*

WakeJumper: Y-you're.... older than me... r-right?

Bumblebee: I don't know. How old are you? Oh... are you gonna sit down? There's a chair right there. *still tapping*

WakeJumper: *as 'he' settles on the chair, provides 'his' age*

Bumblebee: *shakes her head* We were created within a couple of oorns of each other. But I don't remember seeing you at the Academy.

WakeJumper: *quietly* I... I didn't go to the Academy... *cycling air*

Bumblebee: *frowns, but then blinks* You left as soon as your personality matrix was settled, didn't you?

WakeJumper: *trying to hunker down, nods* I... h-had to...

Bumblebee: *quietly* Because you're a girl, like me.

WakeJumper: *hunkering down even more*

Bumblebee: Don't worry. That's one of the things you can't mention outside the Pit. We're safe here.

WakeJumper: ...A-are you s-sure?

Bumblebee: *smiles and sits up, her fingers till tapping a gentle beat against her chest* Totally sure. Outside, where the 'Cons can hear us, we still go by 'he'. But here we don't have to be afraid. *quietly* Um... have you ever heard about spark budding?

WakeJumper: ... *raised brow ridge* no...

Bumblebee: ...Then you got spared a lot of scary thoughts. *absently rubs her chest as the most eager new spark settles down and stops trying to talk to her or find Jazz*

WakeJumper: ... There's something scarier than being killed for being a girl?

Bumblebee: *nods* Being grabbed by Starscream and having your spark zapped with several hundred volts of electricity, so that when you bond with somebody it'll bud.... And knowing that if you don't get away from him you'll be a Vector Sigma to a whole generation of new 'Cons.

WakeJumper: ... *cycling air rapidly*

Bumblebee: *quietly* We're safe from that here too. Though.... *looks down at herself as Rap wakes up again and gets Scatcat going* ...I kinda overdid it after I bonded.

WakeJumper: *still cycling air and shaking a bit, though she is curious* H-huh?

Bumblebee: Most of the other femmebots who've budded have only got one baby. I've got three. *blushing and wincing as the new ones try to talk and find Jazz*

WakeJumper: ... *blinking, and giving Bumblebee a wide-opticed look* O-other femmebots?

Bumblebee: *nods* Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and First Aid are all moms. Arcee and Chromia, aren't yet, and Sharpshot's... um. *sigh* Kinda crazy. And then there are the baby girls. *grins* Fancy, Esperanza, Lifeline, Victory, and whatever my little girl is going to be named.

WakeJumper: *blink blink* Young human females?

Bumblebee: New Cybertronian girls. Tiny, and only Fancy can talk or walk yet, though Victory's really trying.

WakeJumper: ... *raised brow ridge, is curious now, and not acting nearly as jumpy as she was earlier* How old are they?

Bumblebee: *settles back against her wedge as her sons calm down and go back to sleep* Fancy's about a year old... well, her spark's older. She was the last one Vector Sigma made. Esperanza and Victory are around five months. And Lifeline is three weeks and four and a half days. *the human time measurements roll easily from her vocalizer* Sunstreaker and Skywarp's little guy, Sundog, is the same age as Esperanza.

WakeJumper: ... *doing the math, and then she's boggling*

Bumblebee: *acking and wincing again* Guuyyyyssss! That's my circuit you're pressing on!

WakeJumper: Should I get a medic? *Concerned*

Bumblebee: No... ow. I... yeah, I'll call him. //Ratch?//

Ratchet: //Yes, Bumblebee?// *offering First Aid the datapad he's currently working with*

Bumblebee: //Ow.... They're pressing on a circuit, and they won't stop!//

Ratchet: //Do you need a pain override?//

Bumblebee: //Would it help, without hurting them?// *sounds like she's going to cry*

Ratchet: //I've got a lower-dosage override that won't hurt them. Just let me talk Lifeline into sitting on her mother's shoulder and I'll bring the override to you.// *clicking gently to Lifeline*

Bumblebee: //Oh... ok.// *optics shuttered as she gasps slightly and taps on her chest in effort to distract her excited sons*

WakeJumper: *Concerned, clicks quietly*

Bumblebee: *turns her head and looks at the other young woman* The others... this never happened to them.

WakeJumper: *lower lip components tremble a bit, and then she's all but falling out of the chair when Ratchet, with Lifeline perched on his shoulder, enters the quarters* !!!

Bumblebee: It's alright... alright. Just Ratchet.... *squeaks and passes out*

Lifeline: *interested in WakeJumper's bright colour*

Ratchet: *scans Bumblebee as he moves to apply the pain override*

WakeJumper: *Willing her intakes to slow down*

Bumblebee: *spark compartment so full that there's no more room for expansion*

Lifeline: *pointing to WakeJumper and clicking softly and quizzically*

Ratchet: *pinging First Aid's comm with a request to bring the three baby protoforms that were recently built to Bumblebee and Jazz's quarters*

WakeJumper: *cycling air and clicking worriedly*

Lifeline: *sensing the tension from the adults and scrambling down to see if Papa has a place to hide in like Mama does*

First Aid: //I'll be right there. Have you contacted Jazz?//

Ratchet: //I'm about to... And it seems we've got a new mech here as well, so once the babies are delivered and the family is bonding, we'll need to give him a check up as well...// *opening an empty storage compartment near his sparkchamber*

WakeJumper: *moving to hide beside the chair*

Lifeline: *hides and listens to Papa's spark as she curls up small*

Bumblebee: *making a soft sound of discomfort despite being unconscious*

WakeJumper: *shivering and clicking to herself, trying to duck down as small as she can*

Ratchet: *pinging Jazz's comm*

Jazz: //Ratch... you know Optimus just got hisself a human lady?//

Ratchet: //I'm well aware of that, Jazz. There's a more pressing matter at hand though.//

Jazz: *confused and upset* //More pressin' than Optimus turnin' his back on us?//

Ratchet: //Your babies are going to be put into their protoforms shortly, Jazz. There's no more room for them to grow in Bumblebee's spark chamber.//

Jazz: *burst of static because he shouts so loudly, and then his channel goes dead*

Ratchet: *Slight wince at the shout, before he focuses on making sure Bumblebee is as comfortable as he can get her*

First Aid: *comes in, holding the three rolly poly little forms* Where's Lifeline?

Ratchet: *taps over his storage compartment* She's safe.

First Aid: Oh good. *sets the protoforms on a table and then brings it over, her optics full of concern* Oh, poor Bumblebee.

Ratchet: *gently sets to work, clicking quietly as he eases Bumblebee's chestplating aside so he can access her sparkchamber* They'll more than likely need all the help they can get, since they're arriving earlier than anticipated...

WakeJumper: *doing her best to stay silent and hidden, though her bright coloration betrays her*

First Aid: *hooking up spark support machines to the protoforms, and then she glances into the smaller woman's spark chamber and winces*

two little male sparks: *jammed up against the circuits that let their mother's spark interface with her shell*

Jazz: *hits the door running, and then shoves it out of the way to stumble inside*

Ratchet: *carefully feeding the little sparks a bit of energy in an attempt to get them to separate from Bumblebee's spark* Now that's no way to be treating your mother...

WakeJumper: *Lets out a frightened noise when Jazz hits the door* .>.<.

Jazz: *stumbles up, his optic visor bright with alarm* How is she?

sparks: *drink and move curiously, but they're still firmly attached to Bumblebee's spark*

Ratchet: *calmly, as he scans the sparks* Experiencing some discomfort, and two of the new sparks are pressing against her circuitry... I'm trying to get them to separate so they can be transferred into protoforms safely.

Jazz: *standing next to the medics, though trying to keep out of their way. He gently strokes his wife's face, and then starts to sing softly. His voice has a magnetic effect on the bigger male new spark, causing it to pulse rapidly.*

First Aid: *softly* He's reaching for Jazz, but he's still connected. ...Maybe a slight charge to Bumblebee's spark?

Jazz: //Don't do nothin' that'd hurt my lady.//

Ratchet: *nods, and moves to very gently give Bumblebee's spark a low level charge*

Bumblebee: *bucks slightly as her spark flares up... and when the light dies down the two little male sparks are separated and pulsing feebly*

Jazz: *keeps singing, hoping to give his babies something familiar to focus on*

Ratchet: *Clicks quietly, covering his hands with a force field to keep from harming the sparks as he moves to gently transfer the closer of the two male sparks to its protoform*

First Aid: *watching and praying as she stands by the table holding the little forms, ready to assist in any way*

Ratchet: *carefully places the spark he's cradling into the first protoform, and prays quietly for the little one's well-being*

First Aid: *watching the monitors as the protoform clenches its fists and starts to take on features... very Jazz-like features*

Jazz: *holding onto the edge of the table as he watches. He's still singing*

Ratchet: *quiet chuckle as he gently closes the baby's chestplating* I think we're in for Jazz, round two with this one... *attention goes back to the remaining male spark and then he's focusing on transferring that one to the second protoform*

WakeJumper: *peeking from behind her hands, but not making a sound*

second new spark: *not moving so much as his brother, but pulsing just a tiny bit more strongly. He too makes his protoform look like a tiny round version of his father, though the optic visor he powers up as he beeps and whimpers is bright Autobot blue that contrasts nicely with the dark green of his protoform*

First Aid: *registers something from Bumblebee* Ratchet! The third new spark is fading!

Jazz: *visor flares*

Ratchet: *Startles and hurries to scan and assess what's happening so he can do his best to prevent both the remaining new spark, and Bumblebee's spark, from going out*

WakeJumper: *ducking her head again and silently cycling air*

little female spark: *just too weak to continue without support, she's barely pulsing back there behind her mother's spark*

Ratchet: *bites back the curse that almost made it out* First Aid, help me with this one. She's behind Bumblebee's spark.

First Aid: *nodding* What do you need me to do?

Jazz: *it's gotta be bad if Ratchet's cussing. His hands on the table shake even as he gently comforts his new sons*

Ratchet: We'll need to move Bumblebee's spark carefully so that we can get to the new spark and get it transferred as quickly as possible.

First Aid: *nods and encapsulates her hands in the protective field, then puts them over the smaller femmebot's spark* Ready when you are.

Ratchet: *quick intake of air, before he nods*

First Aid: *hands flash down to lift Bumblebee's spark, revealing the little pale light laying on the bottom of her spark chamber*

Ratchet: *moves to feed the little spark a small charge of energy as he carefully lifts it out of Bumblebee's spark chamber and gently places it into the remaining protoform*

Jazz: *watching. Softly* Hold on, Waltz. Hold on, baby girl.

Waltz: *features start appearing... and then suddenly the little light is gone*

Jazz: NO!

WakeJumper: *FLINCH*

Ratchet: *cuss! Works on getting Waltz back online*

Waltz: *flails slightly as the light reappears, and then opens big blue optics for a moment before settling into stasis*

Ratchet: *how he's still standing is a mystery, as he's all but gone completely slack and is softly murmuring praises to Primus*

WakeJumper: *shaking again, this time hard enough to rattle her armor*

Jazz: *looks at his three babies, two of whom have optic visors like his own, and then looks toward his wife* How's 'Bee?

First Aid: Her systems are back online... but her spark took a bit of trauma when we moved it. I think she's going to be alright, though. *closing up the new mother's chest and clicking to her husband*

Ratchet: *cycling air and clicking back to his wife*

WakeJumper: *quietly* C-congratulations, sir...

Jazz: *startles and looks down at her, his visor still bright and stunned* Maan. You saw all that? Sorry, kid.

Bumblebee: *groans and lifts a hand to her face* What...?

Ratchet: *still cycling air and trying to focus so he can properly congratulate Bumblebee and Jazz*

WakeJumper: *ducks her head sheepishly* T-too scared to move at the time...

Jazz: *watching Bumblebee now, but unwilling to leave the babies* *absently* Know how ya feel, man.

First Aid: *hugs Ratchet* *softly* They're all going to be alright.

Bumblebee: I feel like I took a direct hit and somebody doped me up for the pain.... *frowning*

Ratchet: *small nod* *quietly* Considering the fact that Waltz was hiding behind your spark, and we had to move it briefly...

WakeJumper: *ducking down even more*

Bumblebee: *optics go wide* Move my.... But they're not ready yet! *trying to sit up, her expression full of concern and dismay*

First Aid: *lets go of Ratchet and tries to calm the new mother, who tries to push her away*

Ratchet: *quietly* They didn't have any more room to grow, Bumblebee.

Bumblebee: Please let go of me. Are they alright? Where are they? *starting to cry*

Ratchet: *clicks quietly to Bumblebee before suggesting to Jazz that he bring the little ones over to their mother* They'll be on spark support for a time, until they're stronger, but they're all alive.

Jazz: *trying to get all three babies comfortably into his arms, he makes a startled sound as the blue one starts to wriggle slightly* Oh ho! That's my Rap, ain't it?

Rap: *stops and puts his green visor online to look at his father, then begins clicking weakly but animatedly*

Bumblebee: *watching with her hand over her mouth* I... I have to feed them.

Ratchet: *quiet chuckle* *gentle teasing tone* We've got another Jazz on our hands, it seems...

Jazz: *grinning now despite his worry as he brings the babies over and sits by Bumblebee, whom First Aid has gently laid back again* Lookit this, lady love. You are amazin'.

Rap: *click click beep click squeak! Yawn, click click click*

Waltz: *continues in stasis*

Bumblebee: *looking at them with wonder* Those... those are mine?

Ratchet: *nods* Congratulations, Bumblebee, Jazz.

Bumblebee: *accepting her new daughter and frowning* She won't wake up....

Ratchet: *quietly, as he cycles air* We nearly lost her at one point...

Bumblebee: *hugs Waltz, her optics huge*

Jazz: Try feedin' her.

Bumblebee: *looks at him, and then carefully connects the energy feed that Ratchet installed on her when she first budded to the baby's shell*

Jazz: *watching, absently replying to Rap's continued commentary*

Ratchet: *Scanning the new family, just to be on the safe side*

Bumblebee: *a little weary, but nothing that a bit of time on her berth won't cure*

Jazz: *having silent spark palpitations and fuel pump irregularities*

Waltz: *still in stasis, her spark faint but steady as her shell absorbs energy from the feed her mother's providing*

Rap: *hungry and protesting it with shrill beeping which has wakened his brother and made him complain too*

First Aid: *looks at Ratchet, and then turns to Bumblebee* Would you like me to feed one of the boys?

Bumblebee: *wide optics at the volume of noise coming from her sons* Uh... yes, please. I think Scatcat's going to hurt himself.

Ratchet: *Quiet chuckle, gives Jazz a mildly amused look*

Jazz: *frazzled*

Lifeline: *starting to make unhappy sounds as she catches the other babies' distress*

Ratchet: *Clicking quietly as he opens his storage compartment and gently withdraws Lifeline, before carefully connecting the little one to his feedport*

Lifeline: *calms, but she's not really hungry and soon she moves to disconnect and stare at Rap*

Rap: *still crying as First Aid feeds his brother*

Ratchet: *chuckles and offers to feed Rap*

Jazz: o.0 *cautiously offers baby* Thought it was just the ladies that could do that.

Ratchet: *headshake* I had the modification done when it became clear that Lifeline was spending a great amount of her time with me...

Rap: *getting really loud!*

Scatcat: *giving his brother a dirty look*

Jazz: ...Maybe I gotta get me one of them, too.

Ratchet: *Clicks to Rap as he gently connects the newborn to the feedport, before he nods to Jazz* It's worth the brief downtime.

Jazz: *sighs with relief as the beeping turns back to clicking* I'm more worried 'bout the ribbing from the JOEs.

Bumblebee: *softly talking to Waltz, telling her how special she is, and how beautiful, and how everyone's going to love her when they get to meet her*

Scatcat: *energyyyyyyyy. Stops giving his brother the stinkeye and starts fading toward a sleep cycle*

Ratchet: Worried that Rock 'n Roll will give you grief for having a modification that isn't all for show?

Jazz: You do know that only human mamas feed the babies, right?

Ratchet: We're not human, Jazz.

Jazz: I know that. But they really tend ta identify with us. *looks at his newly expanded family* But I don't care. These guys're more important.

Ratchet: *nods* Stop by the medbay later, and I'll have the modification ready for installation.

Jazz: You got it. *puts his hand on Waltz's front, his visor brightening with concern*

Bumblebee: *softly* She'll be alright. Don't worry, Jazz.

Jazz: I know, Ladylove. I know.

Lifeline: *sitting on Papa's arm and watching Rap*

Ratchet: *Clicks quietly to Rap*

WakeJumper: *figuring now is as good a time as any to try to make a silent exit...only she seems to be stuck*

Bumblebee: *turns her head quickly, her optics flashing, but then stops* WakeJumper?

WakeJumper: *slight flinch, before she sheepishly lifts her head*

Bumblebee: *blinks* Why are you hiding?

WakeJumper: *Quietly, embarrassed* seemed like a good idea at the time...

Bumblebee: *sorta understands that* Do you want to see the babies?

WakeJumper: *small, sheepish smile* I'm... kinda stuck...

Jazz: Here, man, lemme give ya a hand.

Bumblebee: She's not a man....

WakeJumper: *Tenses*

Jazz: *looks at his wife with surprise, then turns back to WakeJumper* Sorry, kid. *gently* You wanna hand?

WakeJumper: *Quietly cycling air, nods*

Jazz: *gentle, moving slowly, and being a gentleman as he sees if he can't find what's got the orange woman caught*

WakeJumper: *part of her leg armor is caught on the chair*

Jazz: *carefully moving the chair, tipping it a bit as he hunkers next to her*

WakeJumper: *once she's no longer being caught by the chair, she's moving to get standing again, and might inadvertantly bump into Jazz*

Jazz: Easy, lil' sister. *gentle hand on her back in offer of support as he stands too*

WakeJumper: *intakes hitch for a moment* P-please don't say anything ab-about.... *another hitch*

Jazz: *concerned frown as he tilts his head*

Bumblebee: *softly* Nobody here will hurt you, WakeJumper. You're safe.

First Aid: *turns her optics to Ratchet*

Ratchet: *nods, watching the disguised woman with gentle concern due to her reaction to Jazz's hand on her back*

WakeJumper: *averts her optics as she cycles air* *Quietly* I... I know... Y-you must think I-I'm a c-coward...

Bumblebee: *seriously* Ask Ratchet how I acted after Starscream found out I was a girl.

WakeJumper: *hesitantly looks to the medic, who sighs a bit before relaying the circumstances and Bumblebee's reaction to said circumstances*

Jazz: She was gettin' the JOE mechanics ta fix 'er instead'a Ratchet, 'n had a screamin' fit once when she woke up in the medbay. *looks at his lady, who is distracted by disconnecting Waltz from her energy feeding port*

WakeJumper: *wide opticed and cycling air again*

Ratchet: *Gently clicking to Rap and checking to see if the little mech is ready to settle into a recharge cycle with the rest of his siblings*

Rap: *looks back at him and clicks*

Jazz: *gently to WakeJumper* But once she finally tol' us what was wrong, everythin' was fine.

Ratchet: *moving to gently disconnect Rap from the feeding port*

WakeJumper: *cycling air again, and then she's hiccupping and trying to keep it quiet*

Rap: *visor blinks with surprise as he's disconnected, and then he's fussing and squirming unhappily*

Jazz: *looking at his son even as he goes 'awww' and moves to hug WakeJumper*

Bumblebee: Here. Ratch, I'll give him some more. *settles Waltz beside her and holds out her arms*

Ratchet: *clicks to Rap again as he hands the little mech to his mother*

WakeJumper: *slight flinch at the hug, but doesn't try to push Jazz away*

Bumblebee: Hey, why are you so noisy? Huh, Rap? *hooks him up to the feed, and then rubs his little head between his horns*

Rap: *head rub... evile... sleeeep*

Jazz: *pat pats WakeJumper, and then lets her go* *gently* We gotta tell Optimus.

WakeJumper: *intakes hitch momentarily, before she nods* A-*and there's that darn squeak again, though it's quieter this time*-Alright...

Jazz: 'N let Ratchet have a look at that. *concern shows clearly in his expression*

Ratchet: *scanning quietly, and frowning at the results of the scan, which he shares with First Aid. Seems WakeJumper's got a vocalizer modification that's glitching from time to time*

First Aid: How long have you had that glitch? *gently disconnecting Scatcat as he stops drawing on the feed, and then tucks him next to his sister at Bumblebee's side*

WakeJumper: A-awhile... I-I don't remember not having it...

First Aid: Did your creator do your vocalizer modification?

WakeJumper: *nods*

First Aid: You were an Exile, weren't you?

WakeJumper: *cycles air for a moment, before nodding*

Ratchet: *Frowning and glancing at Jazz to see if the other mech has any idea what First Aid and WakeJumper are discussing*

Jazz: *blinks at him and shrugs one shoulder. He's got nothin'*

First Aid: *looks at Ratchet* Will you be alright here?

Ratchet: I believe so... //You'll explain what you two are talking about later, right?//

First Aid: *blinks, and then gives him her gentle smile and goes on tiptoe to give him a peck on the mouth before putting an arm around WakeJumper and herding her out of the room*

Jazz: *watches them go, then looks at Ratchet* You just git yes, deared?

Bumblebee: *stifles a giggle*

Ratchet: ...*snorts a bit* I might have...

Jazz: That's when they grin at ya 'n act sweet... 'n don't give ya no answer.

Bumblebee: *looking very innocent*

Ratchet: ... Then yes, I did.

Jazz: *walks over and gives him a pat pat, then goes and sits on the bench by Bumblebee to take her hand and fuss a bit over the babies as he tries to figure out how to move her to her berth so she can charge*

Bumblebee: *snuggles against Jazz and looks at Ratchet* What did you ask, sir?

Ratchet: For a bit of clarification about what First Aid and WakeJumper were discussing...

Bumblebee: ...You mean Exiles?

Ratchet: For starters, yes.

Bumblebee: *quietly* Exiles are femmebots whose creators modified them and sent them away from Cybertron as soon as their personality matrixes were stabilized and they knew enough to survive on their own.

Ratchet: ...*small nod, though now he's concerned about WakeJumper's mental stability*

Bumblebee: *looking at him and waiting for more questions*

Ratchet: *quietly* And how many are there that you know of, Bumblebee?

Bumblebee: The ones here... and one other one.

Ratchet: ... One other one?

Bumblebee: *looks at her hand and Jazz's* If the bot that asked Vector Sigma for me is alive, she's a woman.

Ratchet: *small nod* *quiet sigh* Between Sharpshot and Desinex earlier, and WakeJumper.... *sighs again and shakes his head* I'm really starting to wonder if I should've added counselor programming when I had the opportunity to.

Bumblebee: We just wanted to survive. We never realized that there was actually a reason we were made differently from the guys.

Ratchet: *nods* And if things had gone differently, I'm sure there wouldn't have been a need to hide...

Jazz: Tyrannous was one crazy.... *looks at his babies and doesn't say the words*

Ratchet: *nods in agreement* WakeJumper seems so skittish... almost as though she doesn't know how to trust anyone...

Bumblebee: *quietly* Imagine what it must have been like, living all by herself and knowing that if any Decepticon ever found out what she was that she'd die. *shivers, evoking a torrent of sound from the sleeping Rap* I was scared enough, surrounded by you guys.

Ratchet: But Arcee, Chromia, and Elita never hid... In fact, I seem to recall a time when Chromia charged into battle, screaming like a banshee... *chuckles* Scared the tar out of the mech she fought...

Bumblebee: Chromia and Elita... well, yeah. They were always legends. And Arcee... um.... Well, she's Arcee. *not going to call her last best friend crazy*

Jazz: Give 'er a few more vorns 'n she'll be 'Mia all over again.

Ratchet: Primus preserve us.

Jazz: *grins*

Ratchet: *Quietly* Though Sharpshot... it's strange... She was always letting it be known exactly what she was... but Desinex... For the longest time, I was certain that Desinex was a mech.

Bumblebee: *quietly, flinching* I think that Starscream found Sharpshot before he found me.

Jazz: *squeezes her hand, his expression protective*

Ratchet: *expression darkens* We may never know... Granted, Sharpshot is becoming easier to understand again... but I fear that the damage to her programming may never allow her to be who she once was.

Bumblebee: Desinex talks about being made into a baby factory... of them growing like parasites. *hides her face* Starscream hoped to get a woman and make her be the new Vector Sigma.

Jazz: *scowling* ...That's how he got Victory?

Bumblebee: I don't know.

Ratchet: *Sharp intake of air to hide the very impolite name he called Starscream just now*

Jazz: I bet 'Warp'd know more. He's our resident ex 'Con man.

Ratchet: *nods, scowling a bit*

Jazz: We got Screamer, Thundercracker, Blackout, 'n Barricade all somewhere here on Earth. Ya figure any of 'em could be hiders?

Ratchet: Logically, Starscream isn't...

Jazz: Even though he talks like one. *frowning and nodding*

Ratchet: If I had to guess... and put money on it... I'd say either Barricade, Thundercracker, or Blackout.

Jazz: Blackie don't like Screamer... besides we just saw him 'n Barricade a couple days ago after 'Cade started a fight with some cabbies. Blackie slapped 'im around 'n drug 'im off.

Ratchet: *Nods, and resists the urge to make a joke about a lover's spat* Which leaves Thundercracker...

Jazz: ....

Ratchet: ....

Jazz: Daaaaang, that's an ugly woman.

Ratchet: *SNERK*

Jazz: *sobers* But ugly is as ugly does... I bet she ain't havin' a good time right now.

Ratchet: It wouldn't surprise me if she wasn't.

Jazz: *his expression shows compassion and concern for Starscream's bullying thug of a sidekick* I'll talk ta Prowl 'n Optimus. *and now he's remembered Optimus' current personal situation, and he frowns* Ratchet, you knew Optimus 'n Livi were sweet on each other? Why didn' ya say anythin?

Ratchet: *small shrug* I didnt' have permission to. *Cheeky grin*

Jazz: *unhappy look* I don' understand how Optimus could do somethin' like that.

Ratchet: I think... it's not for us to understand fully....

Jazz: But Ratchet, he turned 'is back on 'is own people!

Ratchet: I don't think he has, to be honest... I think it's more that he's trying to do what's best for both our people, and the humans.

Jazz: But now if a Cybertronian lady shows up... he's taken. No Optimus babies.

Ratchet: *quietly* Don't lose faith in Optimus... He hasn't turned his back on us, and he never will.

Jazz: *gives him a begging look* //Help me dig this, Ratchet.//

Ratchet: //As much as I'd love to... I can't... All I ask is that you please...have faith in Optimus. In time, things will be clearer...//

Jazz: .... *rubs his face, and then starts and looks at Bumblebee* Sl... Aww. I gotta get 'er ta bed. Gimme a hand?

Ratchet: *nods and moves to help carefully lift Bumblebee and the babies*

Jazz: *collecting the little ones, even as he kisses his wife, who is shut down and soundly in a sleep cycle*

Ratchet: *quiet chuckle as he gently lifts Bumblebee and carries her to the recharge berth*

Jazz: *follows him, amused as Rap starts up again with his clicking and beeping, though without waking up* Sheesh.

Ratchet: *soft snerk* Welcome to fatherhood, Jazz.

Jazz: *looks at the little femmebot on the medic's shoulder* What? I don't hear her doin' that.

Ratchet: No, but she imitates me when I work on my paperwork... pen and all.

Jazz: *tilts his head, visor flashing as he quirks one brow ridge* You callin' me a big mouth, man?

Ratchet: *Gently sets Bumblebee down on the berth and makes sure she's connected to the energy port before giving Jazz a cheeky grin* All I'm saying is that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Jazz: *shakes his head at him and makes a tsking sound, then moves over to the snug little cradles that he and Bumblebee got the JOE engineers to make and lays the boys down. With Waltz, however, he hesitates, hating the idea of putting his ailing baby girl down for even a moment*

Ratchet: *clicks quietly and reaches to gently touch Jazz's arm, offering wordless support*

Jazz: *looks up, his expression near crying* *softly* She's gonna be alright, right?

Ratchet: Given enough time, yes.

Jazz: You're sure?

Ratchet: *nods* Considering who her parents are, I'd be very shocked if the contrary happened.

Jazz: *hugs the little one, humming to her softly* Still don't think I wanna put 'er down. *goes to the living room for a chair, which he parks between Bumbebee's berth and the cradles and then settles into*

Ratchet: *nods and considers something* Is there anything you need, Jazz?

Jazz: *shakes his head, then looks up and grins at Lifeline as she clicks and squeaks softly* Nah... I'm cool.

Lifeline: *drapes herself across Ratchet's shoulder, and then squeaks and slides off headfirst as her rounded belly fails to provide the same traction as her little rubber butt pad*

Ratchet: *Quick to catch the little femmebot* !!! *Clicks and generally fusses quietly*

Lifeline: 0_0 *cuddles, and then wants into her hidey hole*

Ratchet: *happy to oblige, will also offer a soft towel from another storage compartment to Lifeline once she's in her hidey hole*

Lifeline: *takes the lovey and gnaws on it thoughtfully as she curls up and shutters her optics*

Jazz: *watches and looks forward to the day when his babies will be able to do that too*

Ratchet: *clicks quietly to Lifeline as he shuts the cover of the storage compartment*

Jazz: Know what? It's scary ta think 'a somethin' that helpless.

Ratchet: *nods* but all we can do is try our hardest to keep them safe, and provide for their needs...

Jazz: *rubs Waltz's back with two fingers* *quietly* We don't gotta choice.

Ratchet: *Quietly* I'd better go make sure WakeJumper hasn't been completely traumatized...

Jazz: *sighs* Yeah. Thanks, man. *weak grin*

Ratchet: *nods* Tomorrow, we'll do check-ups... and I'll get the feeding port installed.

Jazz: Alright. *slightly stronger grin*

Ratchet: *heads out into the hall, closing the door behind him*

((Co-written with

random_xtras))