Sign Nexus, Near the Black Dog, Meeting New Peeps

[microbots.livejournal.com]

Brandon: *giving Eject a Look for what he said* I don't care. You still have to be nice. *turns attention to Laserbeak* And you, quit taunting him to the point of cussing.

Laserbeak:  Gurple gurple gurple gork!

Eject: *Puffing himself up, crest high*

Brandon: ... Hey, lookit the Sign. *why no, he's not in a slight mood, not him...*

Laserbeak:  *bites him on the nose, and then glances over toward where a tall, strong blond guy in military uniform is doing a slow, bewildered rotation in place*  N00b.  N000b.  N000by n00b.

Brandon: *Acks* Hey! *looks* ... One of ours?

Eject: *gonna be a brat and fly over to land on the n00b's head*

guy:  *startles and bats the disguised recorder right out of the air*

Eject: Ack! Hey!

Laserbeak:  *chortle*  That hadta hurt.

Brandon: *Facepalming* Eject! *will hurry over* Sorry about that... *arguing with Eject over private comms now*

guy:  *breathing a little deeply as he turns to look at Brandon*  Did I hurt him? *voice is deep and resonate*

Eject: *Razzes the guy, will perch up on the sign now*

Brandon: Other than his pride, no.

Laserbeak:  *makes annoying raven sounds as she flies up to aggravate the other recorder*

Eject: *Clicks his beak at Laserbeak* *This is MY spot*

Laserbeak:  *featherpoof and start preening*

guy:  *quietly*  He startled me.  And, I was already tense because of....  *trails off and has another bewildered look around him*

Brandon: 'Cause you walked out of your reality. *nods* That's been happening a lot lately...

guy:  *slow blink*  I beg your pardon?

Brandon: *Waves his hand around* This look like wherever it was you started out at?

guy:  *shakes his head, eyes still focused on the shorter man's face*  It doesn't.

Brandon: That's 'cause it's not... This is a Nexus between realities... Try not to think about it too hard, unless you like having a headache... ^_^

guy:  ....  *brows drawing together in a deep frown.  There is bewilderment and brain break in his eyes, but he hides it well otherwise*

Brandon: Which branch are you?

guy:  I beg your pardon?

Brandon: Army? Marines? Air Force? Navy? *indicates the guy's uniform*

guy:  Ah.  Col. Orion Pax. U.S. Army.

Brandon: ... Okay, so you're not one of the ones I know...

Eject: *THRRRRPT*

Col. Pax:  Pardon me?

Laserbeak:  *feather grab!*

Brandon: *as Eject squawks in protest of Laserbeak's actions* I thought you might be one of the guys from the base I work on, but you've got the same name as a guy I used to know...

Col. Pax:  *frowns*  Explain?

Brandon: You're an alternate of my boss... Only instead of Orion Pax... His name's Optimus Prime now...

Col. Pax:  *stiffens, his eyes going wide with shock*  Optimus Prime?!

Laserbeak:  *sniggering sound.  Both for Eject and for the n00b*

Eject: *gonna nip at you, Laserbeak! Watch out!*

Brandon: *chuckles a bit* This is your first time in the Nexus, huh?

Col. Pax:  *getting a hold of himself*  You couldn't tell?

Brandon: ...Tell what?

Col. Pax:  *face palm*

Eject: *Razzes Col. Pax*

Brandon: Eject, be nice to the n00b.

Laserbeak:  *more feather grab!*

Eject: *Will bite then!*

Laserbeak:  *bitey bitey!*

Brandon: ... *Facepalm*

Col. Pax:  *deep breath*  Who are you?

Brandon: *Behind his hand* Brandon Grant... but only when I'm like this.

Col. Pax:  Explain.  *yes, it's an order*

Brandon: *moving his hand down* Are you armed?

Col. Pax:  *frowwn*  Yes....

Brandon: *slight frown* I'll show you, but only if you promise not to shoot at me. I really don't need Docbot getting on my case for getting shot while the other official medic is recovering.

Eject: *Biting at Laserbeak's wings, will also use a foot to pull her tailfeathers a bit*

Col. Pax:  I won't shoot you.  *aware of the bird squabble up there, but doesn't look toward it*

Brandon: *cheery nod, before he's transforming*

Col. Pax:  *eyebrows shoot toward his hairline as he watches the dark-haired man transform*

Blaster: *stretching a bit* Maaaan, it's been awhile since I got to move around in root mode...

Col. Pax:  *watching him* I'm not sure I understand....

Blaster: *chuckles* Ever hear of Transformers?

Col. Pax:  *hesitates, but then nods*

Blaster: I'm one... My designation is Blaster... but my alias when I'm in alt mode is Brandon Grant.

Eject: *Gonna dive-bomb Blaster to get the slag away from Laserbeak... and transform so he's clinging to his creator's back*

Col. Pax:  *watches this, and then looks speculatively up at the bird*  I see.  *quietly*  It's been some time since I've seen that badge.

Blaster: The Autobot badge? Not many people where we're from know it... *absent shrug* Eject, I don't care if she is a girl, I'm not protecting you from her.

Eject: *Razzes Blaster and regards Col. Pax with curiosity* So how do you know 'bout the 'Bots?

Col. Pax:  *still quiet*  I'm Optimus Prime.

Blaster: ... So I was RIGHT about you being an alt of the Boss-bot! *amused chuckle, considers pestering his boss*

Col. Pax:  Though if what you say is true about this being a hub of realities, it would seem that your people and my own have come to have very different technology.

Blaster: *headtilt* ... Should I call Percy?

Col. Pax:  *frowning again, though this time quizzically*  Percy?

Blaster: Perceptor.

Laserbeak:  Romeo, Romeo!

Eject: *ignoring you now, Laserbeak*

Col. Pax:  *sucks in air slightly at the name*  Why?

Blaster: ... He's got a good head for technical stuff?

Col. Pax:  ...Do we need a good technical head?

Blaster: ... Maybe? *shrug* How different in tech are we?

Col. Pax:  Where I come from Cybertronians don't transform at will.  An experimental technology created shortly before the Ark and her crew left the planet enabled those crewmembers to be reformatted into the likeness of the local native lifeforms.

Blaster: ... On second thought, maybe it's a good thing Percy's not here... he and 'Jack would be bugging you to find out how y'all did it.

Col. Pax:  *frowns at him*  Cybertron still exists in your reality?

Blaster: *nods* Yeah, but it's 'Con territory now... Most of the 'Bots are scattered to the stars... and a large group of us are living on Earth.

Col. Pax:  *jaw works just slightly*  A large group?

Blaster: Around fifty or so... Not counting the kids, that is.

Col. Pax:  Kids?

Blaster: Sparklets, newsparks, younglings. Non-combatants.

Col. Pax:  *blinking*  You call them younglings?

Blaster: There's only one, technically... He's only a little older than a vorn.

Col. Pax:  I... am confused.

Laserbeak:  Blooond!

Eject: *still ignoring you, Laserbeak* Boss here means we've got newborns, toddlers, and a teenager of our race back home.

Col. Pax: *eyes wide* Do you mean that you have immature forms like those of  humans?

Blaster: Not exactly... Those're just the closest comparisons... And technically, the newborns are pretty independant, for being only a few days old...

Eject: Boss, you've got pics of the kids, right?

Blaster: Huh? Oh! Yeah... Hang on. *digs through subspace*

Col. Pax:  *watching with puzzled silence*

Blaster: *pulls out a datapad, and activates a small holo-image, showing three small Seekers and then three human babies with dark hair* These three're some of the babies we've got in the creche... They're already up to no good, and they're not very old yet....

Col. Pax:  *looks soberly at the pictures, his eyes studying those small faces*

Blaster: *changes images, showing one that looks at first like a robotic Stegosaur, but changes to a dark-haired girl who looks no older than seven or eight* This's one of the other kids... She's a Dinobot, so her root mode's bigger than everyone else's... *considering look*

Col. Pax:  So you haven't been away from Cybertron for very long.

Blaster: Probably about forty years or so...

Col. Pax:  ...Yet you have newly created units?

Blaster: Docbot'd be able to explain why better... Something to do with bonded femme sparks budding... *Shrugs*

Col. Pax:  *sucks in air slightly*  I see.

Eject: *snickers suddenly, and gets a Look from Blaster for something he said over private comms*

Blaster: What about you? How many 'Bots are there where you're from?

Col. Pax:  *quietly*  Five.

Eject: *falls off of Blaster's back due to shock*

Blaster: .... *quietly* I'm sorry to hear that...

Col. Pax:  We were the crew of the Ark, which crashed on Earth during a battle with the Decepticons.  The impact knocked us into stasis.  And while we slept... Cybertron died.

Blaster: *Wince*

Laserbeak:  *flies down and sits on Blaster's shoulder*  Who's left?  Who was on the crew?

Col. Pax:  Myself, two Protectors, a scouting unit, and a medical one.

Blaster: ... Ironhide, 'Bee or Jazz, Ratchet and someone else?

Col. Pax:  Ironhide, Chromia, Bumblebee, and Red Alert.

Blaster: ... *small nod, frowning a bit*

Col. Pax:  We've been members of the human community for a little over a vorn now.

Blaster: ... We've only been on Earth for about four years... most of us, that is... some of us have been there longer... *more frown as he thinks of Ironfist and the twins*

Col. Pax:  In our reality the Ark came down four million years ago.  

Eject: *Gonna transform and go back up to the sign now, is going to brood a bit*

Blaster: *small nod* We had one scouting party that visited Earth about forty years back... when we were looking to find someplace safe to hide...

Col. Pax:  *nods*  I can see that the timelines are very different.

Blaster: *nods* You'd be surprised how different things can be from reality to reality...

Col. Pax:  *looks up*  You know about more than one?

Blaster: *nod* Only 'cause I've come to the Nexus before... *tips his head toward a noisy Bayformer family*

Col. Pax:  *looks up, and then further up at the massive grey-black behemoth who is being teased by two black ones that are trimmed with green and purple respectively*  *slow blink*  They're...?

Blaster: From another reality... *nod*

Col. Pax:  ...So big.

Blaster: *small nod, tips his head towards an orange and black G1-style femme who is heading in the direction of the Black Dog* She's from another reality too... *quick glance skyward* I wonder if her Seeklet friend's with her today?

Col. Pax:  *looks at the femme, and then starts as something buzzes her and he hears shrill childish laughter*

Laserbeak:  BabyScream.

kv Eclipse: *laughs and tries to 'catch' the Seeklet*

Col. Pax:  *quizzical look*

Eject: *Gonna buzz kv Starscream now!*

Blaster: They're regulars at the Black Dog... You'd think Starscream and an Autobot wouldn't get along so well, but they do.

Col. Pax:  *surprised glance to Blaster*  The Starscream I knew was an Autobot.

Blaster: ... Huh... Most of the ones I've heard about through the Nexus are 'Cons...

Col. Pax:  *even more surprised*  Truly?

Blaster: *nods, pointing to one of the terminals that can be used to look up information on the Multinets* Don't believe me? Look it up for yourself...

Col. Pax:  *looks at the terminal*  It just seems hard to connect the frail scientist that I knew of with someone who would have followed a gangster like Megatron.

Blaster: ... Frail? *now it's his turn to look brain-broken*

Col. Pax:  *nodding*  Our scientific units were constructed for their function.

Blaster: ... That is different.... Our Starscream is a Seeker... and he's about as big as a small mech from one of the Bayformer realities...

Col. Pax:  I don't think we had that model.

Blaster: *getting a holo-image of Starscream in root-mode* *will show the image* This is our guy...

Col. Pax:  *looks*  He looks closer in make to the Starscream I knew of's deep space symbiotic unit.

Blaster: Mech named Skyfire, by any chance?

Col. Pax:  *nods*

Blaster: *changes the holo image to the one he took the day Skyfire dove into the lake to rescue Wander* This is the Skyfire back home.

Col. Pax:  Yes, he's somewhat similar to the one from my reality.  Only larger.

Blaster: *chuckles a bit, sadly* Yeah... Skyfire's the last of his make in our reality... The Golden Age of Exploration ended shortly after he was completed and had a spark...

Col. Pax:  And it was still going strong when I last saw Cybertron.

Blaster: *sighs a bit, before telling Eject to quit pestering the bitty and his ladyfriend*

Col. Pax:  I should return.  I was on the way to retire for the night.  *looks back the way he came, just in time to see a small blond in fatigues step through*  Major Dumbledore!

Blaster: ... *transforming and going to try again to get his symbiont to quit buzzing kvStarscream*

Laserbeak:  *had been going to go buzz Eject, but now she's looking up at the newcomer with one beady eye*

kvScream:  *finally flails his small arms and buzzes Eject!*

Eject: *nuzzles kvScream as kvEclipse moves to offer cuddles to the Seeklet, and then he's going back to land on Brandon's head*

kvScream: *peeking over his adopted sister's shoulder at the bird bot now*

kvEclipse: *hands on hips, razzes Eject, will move to head for the Black Dog now*

Maj. Dumbledore: ...Sir? What is this?

Col. Pax:  *quietly and quickly explaining to the blond everything that Blaster has told him*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *turns and looks at Blaster, her blue eyes wide under her close cropped hair*

Col. Pax:  *quietly*  Bea, this is Blaster.  Blaster, this is Bumblebee.

Brandon: *soft 'heh'* The 'Bee back home doesn't look a thing like you... *has a picture out of his billfold now, showing the petite brunette chasing after a dark-haired youth*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *looks soberly at the picture*  *quietly*  She's small like me, I guess.

Brandon: That's about all you two have in common, aside from names... The one I know is a creche guardian.

Maj. Dumbledore:  We didn't have creches.  But I've babysat for friends.  *slight smile*

Brandon: *chuckles a bit* That's what our 'Bee does as her primary function...

Maj. Dumbledore:  I was just a cop.  *looks up as a shadow falls over them*

Col. Pax:  *also looking up*

Brandon: *looks up, small grin* Hey, Ratch, what's up?

hsvRatchet: *chuckles a bit* One of the other 'Bots from my reality and I are having a bit of a get-together... As in, he's wanting to buy people drinks...

Laserbeak:  *flies up to sit on the big yellow bot's shoulder*  You just said the magic words!

Brandon: Who got suckered into paying?

hsvRatchet: Lumen.

Brandon: *SNERK* What bet did he lose?

hsvRatchet: Ask him. *chuckles* Any one else interested besides Laserbeak?

Brandon: *looks to Col. Pax and Maj. Dumbledore*

Col. Pax:  We should return, in case something happens.  *but it's clear he's torn by curiosity*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *going 0.o at Ratchet*

Brandon: So set your PINpoint to take you back a few moments after you left.

Col. Pax:  *frown*  Er... pinpoint?

Brandon: *holds up the one he has, which looks like a fancy wristwatch* You can get 'em outta the bowl under the sign, or for a little bit of cash or credit, you can get one from one of the vending machines. *points to the vending machines in question*

hsvRatchet: The ones from the vending machines are a bit better than the free ones.

Col. Pax:  *looking at Brandon's watch*  But... What are they?

Brandon: Teleportation devices. Pretty useful to have when you wander out of your reality on accident and the way back closes up.

Col. Pax:  *looks uncertain*

Laserbeak:  *cackle*  Everyone's doing it!  It's FUN!

Maj. Dumbledore:  *0.o look for the raven*

hsvRatchet: It's more reliable than waiting around for your portal to open back up... and a lot safer, since there isn't the hazard of being hit with an LOL.

Col. Pax:  Laugh out loud?

Laserbeak:  *does so*

Brandon: Naw... more like... Um... Hey, Ratch, think Flashpoint'd get mad at me if I used her sitch as an example?

hsvRatchet: I don't believe so...

Brandon: *Small nod* Okay...

Col. Pax: *tilts his head slightly, his expression intent as he waits for Brandon to explain*

Brandon: Flashpoint's from Ratch's reality... She used to be a human named Denver MacKenzie... Then one day, while she was here in the Nexus, she got hit with an LOL that turned her into a Cybertronian.

hsvRatchet: The LOL also created a pair of sparklets from the spark codes of two couples.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *little meep sound, eyes are enormous*

Col. Pax:  Two children?

hsvRatchet: *nods* Thankfully, the two couples that the sparklets were created from are bonded pairs...

Col. Pax:  But how can such things happen?  I know that our own last reformat left us mostly human, but that was a process of weeks.

hsvRatchet: *small shrug* It's the nature of the Nexus....

Maj. Dumbledore:  Isn't there anything you can do to keep it from happening?

hsvRatchet: Be careful where you eat, and which couches you sit upon...

Brandon: The Black Dog's safe to eat at... Nem's careful about where she gets her fuel supplies, and Tarantulus and that other Showtime guard the warehouse pretty darn well, so it's safe.

Col. Pax:  Alright.  *slight nod*  Where do you buy the better teleporters?

Brandon: *points to the vending machines again* Over there. Some of the PINpoints have a built-in coordinate scanner.

Col. Pax:  *hand goes to his pocket and his face falls*  I locked my wallet in my desk drawer.

Maj. Dumbledore:  ...Oops.

Brandon: *Soft snerk*

Col. Pax:  Bea, do you...?

Maj. Dumbledore:  *slow head shake and an apologetic expression*

Laserbeak:  Couch diving time!

Brandon: Be careful. I'm NOT getting my aft shot to bits by your creator if you get LOL'd.

Laserbeak:  *looks at him, and then goes after his wallet*

Brandon: HEY! *protecting his billfold now, kthx*

Laserbeak:  Cough it up, tightwad.  There's people in need here.  Gorp!

Eject: He's broke, 'Beaky. Spent his last paycheck on cookies to keep the Itty-Bitty Kiddy Committee happy.

Brandon: *Stinkeyes his symbiont*

Laserbeak:  *pauses and looks at Brandon with one eye, and then the other.  Then flies up and tries to sweet talk Ratchet*

Col. Pax:  *embarrassed*

hsvRatchet: *chuckles* It's alright. Laserbeak, get them the kind with built-in scanners. That will save them a bit of hassle. *holds out a credit chit*

Laserbeak:  *snags it in her beak.  Slightly muffled*  Watch style's a no go, right?

Col. Pax:  I'd prefer a different model if possible.

hsvRatchet: Cellphone style then.

Laserbeak:  *flies down and buys two iPhone clones*  Gorpa gurk!

Maj. Dumbledore:  *poking at hers thoughtfully as her CO does the same with his*

hsvRatchet: *makes a throat-clearing sound* The offer of drinks still stands, if you are interested.

Col. Pax:  *looks up*  I must admit I'm curious.

Brandon: I have no desire to be bugstomped on accident.

hsvRatchet: *Snerks and holds his hand where Brandon can climb on easily*

Col. Pax: *frowns* Thank you. *will help Maj.  Dumbledore into the big bot's hand and then follow her*

hsvRatchet: *chuckles* Even though the odds of being stepped on are slim, it's best not to take the chance... *will head for the Black Dog*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *holding onto one of Ratchet's fingers as she leans down to watch the world go by*

Col. Pax:  *quietly*  Please be careful, Bea.  Doc would never let me hear the last of it if I brought you home injured.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *doesn't look up*  I'm always careful.

hsvRatchet: *is quite aware of how to be careful... has his other hand just underneath the one that everyone is riding in* I'm quite used to carrying human-sized beings around safely.

Col. Pax:  *looks up*  Forgive me, I wasn't doubting your abilities.  *just fussing over the Major*

Laserbeak:  *cheerfully*  Oh yeah, and that's Op and 'Bee, Ratchman.

hsvRatchet: *chuckles* Why am I not surprised? *is amused, even as a dark blue mech hails him from on the porch of the Black Dog* And there's Lumen...

Col. Pax:  Col. Orion Pax, and Major Bea Dumbledore.  *looks toward the blue one*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *grinning at Lumen*

hsvLumen: *is all but bouncing on his feet as Ratchet approaches*

hsvRatchet: *gives him a Look*

Dark-haired human in a military uniform: *is suddenly THERE, on Ratchet's shoulder, and grinning down at the group*

hsvRatchet: *Warning tone* Lumen....

Col. Pax:  *hand on his hip as he frowns up at the dark-haired man.  At Ratchet's speech however, he gives the yellow medic a puzzled and quizzical look*  Lumen?

Dark-haired human: *Grins, even as Ratchet huffs a bit*

hsvLumen: He's just mad that he didn't think to use his holoform first. *cheeky grin. He sounds almost like a teenager*

Brandon: *Snerks* The guy on Ratch's shoulder is just a holoform... And apparently, Lu's been hanging around his reality's NEST... right?

Lumen-holo: Nope... Different reality's NEST. *Grins and vanishes for a moment, only to appear next to Brandon*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *has sat up and is watching Lumen's holo*  How are you doing that?

Col. Pax:  *at the same time*  Nest?

Lumen-holo: The main body's got a holoform projector... *to Col. Pax* It's a government organization in realities like Ratch's and mine, and this doof's... *nudges Brandon with a foot*

Brandon: Hey!

Maj. Dumbledore:  *grin at the poking and protesting*  What's a holoform, though?

Col. Pax:  *frowning slightly, but will wait to ask his own questions*

Lumen-Holo: You've heard of holograms, right?

Maj. Dumbledore:  *perks*  Yeah.  The kind from 'Star Trek', right?  But they couldn't touch things.

Lumen-Holo: Well, it's sorta like that... Only, the technology Aunt Keepsake helped Mom with is called "Hard light"... *holds his hand out to Maj. Dumbledore* And the neat thing with this is that I can pass as human. *grinning*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *pokes him tentatively, frowning a little*  Even if you go through a metal detector?

Lumen-Holo: *nods with a grin. He feels just like touching a human feels like*

Red-headed Gregory House Look-a-like: *giving Lumen-Holo a LOOK* That's enough fooling around, Lumen. *sounds just like Ratchet*

Brandon: *Cracking up*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *has that wide-eyed 'Bee look that Ratchet might know well*  Wow.  We have papers explaining we've got metal bits stuck in us for when we go on planes and stuff.

Lumen-Holo: *slight headtilt* ... Why would you have metal bits stuck in you?

Maj. Dumbledore:  Because some parts, like our spark chambers, are still metal.

Lumen-Holo: ... *Raised brow* Wait... You're Cybertronian?

Maj. Dumbledore:  *nods her head*

Lumen-Holo: Oh.... Huh. *acks as he's bapped by the red-headed man* Ow! Ratchet! What was that for?!

Ratchet-Holo: For wasting time.

Brandon: *Cracking up even more now*

Eject: Oooh, he got Gibbs'd!

Col. Pax:  *to Lumen*  Have you heard the name Optimus Prime?

Lumen: *nod, stinkeyes Ratchet* He's our CO.

Maj. Dumbledore:  He's my CO too.  *points to the Col.*

Lumen: An alternate, huh? *doesn't seem at all surprised*

Col. Pax:  So it seems.  And it seems that the usual translation for Maj. Dumbledore's name is Bumblebee.

Lumen: *inadvertantly snerks*

Maj. Dumbledore:  What's so funny?

Ratchet-Holo: The alternate of you from our reality is a mech.

Lumen-Holo: *grin* And he's way more spazzy.

Maj. Dumbledore:  I haven't been spazzy for over four million years.  *slight pssh sound*

Lumen-Holo: ... *Ducks before Ratchet-holo can get him again*

Col. Pax:  *thinking that learning you no longer have a home to return to could make anyone grow up*

Laserbeak:  What're you hitting him for?

Ratchet-Holo: Because I know exactly what he was going to say, and it's not polite to say that about a femme. *giving the younger-looking Holo a warning Look*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *slight frown for Lumen*  What?

Lumen: *hunkering down a bit* You're a lot older than me...

Maj. Dumbledore:  *shakes head and gives holoRatchet a humorous look*  That's just the truth.  *double take*  Wait, how much is a lot?

Col. Pax:  Does your reality also have Cybertronian children?

Ratchet-Holo: It's still not polite to say about a femme, regardless if it's true or not... Lumen is roughly two Earth years old... And yes, we do have sparklets and younglings, though it's only been within the past two years that we've been able to, since our war is over.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *pensively pulls her knees to her chest and hugs them*

Col. Pax:  *comforting hand on her shoulder*

Brandon: *after he's caught his breath* You're still younger than me, I'm guessing...

Maj. Dumbledore:  *shrugs*  *quietly*  I don't care about that.

hsvRatchet: *will bring everyone inside the Black Dog now* *quietly* [As long as there is life, there is hope.]

Maj. Dumbledore:  *shrug again*  We're human now.  If we do ever make kids they'll be human too.  *very quick glance toward the Col.*

hsvRatchet: *Quietly rumbles*

hsvLumen: Bar or table?

Col. Pax:  *the hand on Maj. Dumbledore's shoulder seems a little protective now*  Maybe a table would be better.  *looks toward the bar and starts as he sees the titanic form of Mouse standing next to Blackout*

hsvLumen: *Nods, will go bug Archiva, and maybe flirt a bit with Mouse or Blackout*

Bet:  *comes over and offers the rest of the party a table by the windows*

hsvRatchet: *to Col. Pax* Is that acceptable?

Col. Pax:  It sounds good to me.  *slight smile*

hsvRatchet: *Nods to Bet*

Bet:  *brings them over to the table, then asks in his slightly monotonous voice if they would like a menu or if they can read the one behind the bar*

Col. Pax:  *squints toward the bar*

Brandon: Menu, please...

Eject: *Clicks his beak a bit*

Laserbeak:  *singing under her breath about putting a ring on it*

Bet:  *takes out a yellow legal pad with the menu written on the front and hands it to Brandon*

Brandon: Thanks. *will look over the menu as hsvRatchet carefully lowers his hand onto the table*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *jumps down and then grins as she sees the smaller table and chairs that Bet just brought over from a shelf in the corner*  Hey, like highchairs, only for the really little people.

Eject: *gonna fly up to the rafters of the bar now, kthx*

Laserbeak:  *will go with!*

Brandon: *Will offer Maj. Dumbledore the menu*

Col. Pax: *stepping down as well and then helping the Maj. with her chair before he folds his tall frame into another one*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *takes the menu and looks at it*  What's good?

Brandon: It depends on what you can process... Nem's got some pretty good organic fuel... and then she's also got this really wicked-good homebrew.... *grin* I'm having a can of that. *will transform first, though*

Col. Pax:  We're limited to human foods.  *nodding as he leans over to read the menu*

Maj. Dumbledore:  Hey... 'dinoburger'?  Is it that big?

Blaster: Naw... It's the same size as a normal burger, just made from some kind of sauropod meat... They're pretty good.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *eyes wide again*  Dinosaur meat?  Oh wow.  *turns back to the menu, but then remembers what they're here for*  Oh yeah, drinks.

hsvRatchet: If you're hungry, go ahead and order something to eat.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *looks at her CO*

Col. Pax:  Did you forget?

Maj. Dumbledore:  No, but you did, sir, or you wouldn't be asking that.

Col. Pax:  *blinks and then grimaces*  The corn beef hash?

Maj. Dumbledore:  *nods*  The stuff that even Maj. Ironhide won't eat.

hsvRatchet: *Raised brow ridge as he finally remembers to shut off his holoform*

hsvLumen: *coming back to sulk, since he's sure he's going to lose the bet he and Sideswipe have going*

Blaster: *soft snerk* If you ever meet the Jazz of my reality, he'd probably eat it, if you tell him it's got meat in it.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *looks at him seriously*  I don't think I could tell a lie that bad.

Blaster: ...What? Does it not have meat in it?

Maj. Dumbledore:  It tastes like sawdust stuck together with tallow, and a few onions added to try and give it some flavor.

Blaster: ...Ewwww.

hsvLumen: *As he moves to sit in one of the large chairs* Hey, isn't your Jazz the one that eats pickled pig's feet?

Blaster: *nods, making an even more epic XP face*

Maj. Dumbledore:  I like pig's feet, at least the way Capt. Ironhide makes them.  But that hash... we usually get it cold.  Those are the good days.  When you warm it up it smells.

Blaster: ...

hsvLumen: ... Going by his expression, I don't wanna know.

Maj. Dumbledore:  Tallow stinks.  *looks at the menu*  How about the platter of fries with mini burgers?

Col. Pax:  *checks the price and gives Ratchet an inquiring look*

hsvRatchet: *nods, is reading the menu and trying to decide whether he wants a drink or some cookies*

Col. Pax:  *nods*  We'll have one of those.

Maj. Dumbledore:  Alright.  *looks to see where Bet is*

Bet:  *currently being poked just off balance by that black mech who's over by the sandy coloured giant and the one Lumen was flirting with*

bartender:  *towel crack that makes the minor bully yelp*

big black bot: *laughing now*

Col. Pax: *looks that way with surprise*  That's a female?

hsvLumen: The bartender? Yeah. Nem's a femme... So are Mouse and Blackout.

Col. Pax:  ...Which one is Blackout?

hsvLumen: The one who's laughing.

hsvRatchet: *nods in agreement* Miss Mouse is the shy one.

Col. Pax:  *blink blink*  The big one....  If the women are that big in their reality, how big are the men?

hsvRatchet: That depends on what the function of the mech or femme in question is.

hsvLumen: *nod* Yeah...

Col. Pax:  *gives the yellow medic a quizzical look, waiting for him to elaborate*

hsvRatchet: Using myself and Lumen as examples... My function is medic... I need to be able to carry injured comrades off the battlefield, and to be able to restrain mechs who are injured, to prevent them from injuring themselves further. Lumen's main function is to haul supplies, though he does also have the function of being a frontline warrior....

hsvLumen: Then there're mechs like Wheelie, whose job is to get into places unnoticed... Smaller is better in that case... *chuckles* Wheelie's a runt, even by our standards. Smaller than the humans.

Col. Pax:  And you're all the same race?

hsvRatchet: *nods* Just our functions differ.

hsvLumen: *Grins, is about to speak when a string of ancient cursing and vinegar makes its way in through the door* Oh great. Jetfire wandered out of the reality... *sigh*

Col. Pax and Maj. Dumbledore:  *look that way, their brows lifting*

Bet:  *sidesteps the old one on his way to get the orders from Ratchet's table*

hsvJetfire: *is that huge mech who looks like he's seen better days, and might possibly have been a flyer in his youth. Yes, the one with the cane* &#$@# Nexus!!!

hsvLumen: Hey, Bet? The old guy cussing up a storm is with us too, so whatever he wants, I'm paying for.

Bet:  *writing down orders*  Alright, Lumen.  Do you want me to show him to this table?

hsvLumen: Eh... He'll probably head for the bar, knowing him.

hsvJetfire: *looking around and grousing mostly to himself, though his expression does seem to brighten a bit once he's spotted the bar.*

Nemesis:  *polishing away and talking to her small yellow word mate, who's sitting on a big overturned mug on the bar*

hsvJetfire: *making his way to the bar, intends to have some high grade*

Blackout:  *turns her head to look at him as he leans on the high counter next to her, her expression calculating*

hsvLumen: *Watching this and groaning softly*

hsvJetfire: *notices Blackout, will tip his head a bit in greeting*

Blackout:  ....  *offers him the bowl of energon pellets she'd been playing with*

hsvRatchet: *Sighs and moves to get up to stop what he knows is more than likely going to happen*

Col. Pax:  Is something wrong?

Maj. Dumbledore:  *frowning and tensing*

hsvLumen: Jetfire's gonna get combat kissed if Ratchet doesn't step in...

Col. Pax:  ... What?

hsvJetfire: *blinks a bit, nods* Thank ye...

hsvLumen: *facepalming* *mutter* Just watch.

Blackout:  *grins*  I like thank yous.

Col. Pax and Maj. Dumbledore:  *watching*  ....

hsvJetfire: *soft snort* Shame more people don' say 'em. *reaching to have an energon pellet*

hsvRatchet: *moving over there quickly*

Blackout:  *puts her arms around the old Seeker and pulls him close, and then proceeds to gently kiss him silly*

Maj. Dumbledore:  0.o

Col. Pax:  *looks at her and coughs before he can catch himself*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *blushing now*

hsvJetfire: *Surprised! Parachute deploys*

hsvRatchet: *facepalming now*

Apoleia:  Whoa... you kissed the chute out of him.

Nemesis:  *towel cracks her younger brother upside the head*

Blackout:  *ignores the parachute and continues the kiss a little longer, then lets Jetfire go*

hsvJetfire: *isn't quite sure what to make of being kissed... but at least he's staying on his feet!* *blink blink, soft chuckle*

Blackout:  *quirks a grin at him*

hsvJetfire: *contented rumble of his engine, before he remembers why he approached the bar in the first place. Appears to be quite mellow, for once, as he orders a round of high grade*

hsvLumen: ... *boggling slightly*

Blackout:  *arm around the old one's shoulders as she orders Nemesis to bring a can of her special brew for him*

Mouse:  *wants to fix the parachute*

hsvJetfire: *gives Mouse a quick, friendly nod, meaning that she can fix the parachute if she pleases*

Mouse:  *fixes the 'chute as Nemesis gives Jetfire his can of homebrew*

hsvRatchet: *seems quite brain-broken by what he's seeing... Jetfire actually being civil!*

hsvJetfire: Thank ye kindleh, Lass.

Mouse:  *shy grin*  Mousie likes helping.

Blackout:  *rumbles at her big minion and orders her an energon stick*

Col. Pax: *looks from Blaster to Lumen*  They seem to be having a pleasant time.

hsvLumen: ... I never thought I'd see the day when Jetfire was pleasant to someone....

Blaster: ... I wouldn't know... We don't have a Jetfire where I'm from.

Blackout:  *listening to the old Seeker's story and adding her two cents worth in the parts he's forgotten.  Still has her arm around him.  Turns her head and gives Ratchet a raised brow plate look*

Scorponok:  *sticks his head out of his drink and tells Ratchet off!*

hsvRatchet: Just make sure he can still walk when you send him home, Blackout. *will go and sit down at the table*

Blackout:  *cool optic roll and then turns back to Jetfire*

Col. Pax:  Your fears were unfounded?

hsvRatchet: That's the first time I've seen her not try to kiss a mech till he didn't know which way was up.

Archiva:  *setting their orders on the table*  *surprised look*  Blackout?  She has a lot of friends.

hsvLumen: ... Huh... *will help make sure everyone gets what they ordered*

Col. Pax:  *smiling as he looks at the massive heap of fries liberally garnished with small burgers*  I can see that the cook knows little about prescribed human serving sizes.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *is just going to bow her head and then attack with the ketchup*

Blaster: *Cheeky grin, reaches for some of the fries, even with his cube of homebrew* Well, if you don't want some of 'em...

Col. Pax:  *smiles*  Be our guest.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *only ketchups her end*

Blaster: *blink blink* ... well, sheesh... *will nom fries. Was expecting a fight to protect food, since that's what Patrick would do*

Col. Pax:  *eating one of the small burgers, has a fry in the other hand*  So, you're a repair unit, Ratchet?

hsvRatchet: *nods* Chief Medical Officer to the Autobots, and on occasion, to the Decepticons... Though that's more if Shockwave refuses to repair Skywarp on the grounds of his being deficient in processing capabilities...

hsvLumen: *Snickers*

Col. Pax:  Decepticons?  Are those the 'Cons that Blaster mentioned earlier?  *looks at Blaster*

hsvRatchet: Not quite like the ones hailing from Blaster's reality... Shockwave, Soundwave, Skywarp... And Soundwave's symbionts... They're all that's left of the 'Con forces, that I've encountered, anyways...

hsvLumen: So Fangfire's Neutral?

hsvRatchet: *nods* As is your uncle, Lumen...

hsvLumen: I know Uncle TC's Neutral.

Col. Pax:  *slight nod and a thoughtful expression with a touch of sadness in his eyes*  The Decepticons of my reality originated as an underground criminal cartel started by a mech named Megatron.

hsvRatchet: *small nod* In most realities, I've found, Megatron is the leader of the Decepticons...

Blaster: *expression dark as he studies his drink*

Col. Pax:  My crew was dispatched to track him down when he fled Cybertron.  *looks down at the food*  He and the greater part of his crew are scrap and dust now.  But one escaped, and may still be at large on Earth, since Megatron had stolen the one of the Transformation Matrices before he left.

Blaster: *darkly* The slagger back home ran us off of Cybertron... and now he's stealing energy from the Earth in the form of solar mirrors....

Col. Pax:  Ratchet mentioned the Soundwave of his reality.  Do you know if there's one in yours?

Blaster: Do I ever.... *tips head towards Laserbeak* The raven's one of his symbionts... He's on Earth somewhere.

Col. Pax:  *expression darkens, but then changes to slight confusion*  So he's an ally in your reality as well?

Blaster: ...No clue. *having a bit of his drink now*

Col. Pax:  I don't understand.  *absent bite of fry, and then calls to Bet and asks if he could have some gravy*

Bet:  *goes to get*

Blaster: Well, thing is... Sounders says that the safety of his recorders is dependant on the safety of the Autobots... But I'm not sure how long that'll last... I mean... The mech's loyal to Megs, or I thought he was... *shrug* I could be wrong though.

Col. Pax:  How is the safety of the recorders dependant on that of the Autobots?  *boggles slightly at the size of the bowl of gravy he's been given, but thanks Bet and dips fry*

Blaster: 'Cause Beaky's brother, Frenzy, is being taken care of by one of our own... And Ravage is bonded to Steeljaw... *chuckles*

Col. Pax:  And who's Steeljaw?  *just dipped a bitty burger, too*

Blaster: One of my symbionts... So's Eject.

Col. Pax:  I see.  *glances upward*  ...So they're no longer Decepticons?

Blaster: *Shrugs* Ask Beaky and Ravage... Frenzy's in no shape to answer questions....

Col. Pax:  *frowns, but eats the burger as he gathers his thoughts*  I don't know if the Soundwave of my reality has symbionts.  But she is the one we suspect has survived.

Blaster: ... Knowing Sounders... Prolly did survive.

Col. Pax:  *quietly*  Have the Decepticons of your reality, or of yours, Ratchet, ever adopted a badge?

Blaster: *nods, having another drink from his cube*

hsvRatchet: *Nods*

Col. Pax:  What does it look like?

Maj. Dumbledore:  *looking up watchfully from her ketchup and fries*

Blaster: *gonna draw it out on a napkin* Dunno if it's the same reality to reality... *the badge almost looks animalistic, with its shape and how pointy it looks*

hsvRatchet: *creates a holo-image showing a generic mech with the Decepticon badge of his reality* It's based off of the face of the Fallen...

Col. Pax:  *face blanks with dismay*  I thought so.

Blaster: Hm?

hsvLumen: *headtilt, curious*

Col. Pax:  *quietly*  A symbol similar to that has been turning up in Japan, and in some of the less wealthy Asian countries.

Blaster: Then you've got a 'Con problem.

Maj. Dumbledore:  But those are humans.  I saw those pictures of the dead guys on the news.  They were fully human.

Col. Pax:  *nods, his jaw tense*  She's started the gang up again with natives.

Blaster: ...Slag... I'm sorry... *sympathetic*

Col. Pax:  The authorities are dealing with them.  *rubs his face, and then sighs and reaches for more food*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *watching him, and there is a very slight possessive and protective glint in the small blond's eyes*

hsvLumen: Good luck to them... If your Sounders doesn't wanna be caught, she won't be... Ours is good at giving people the slip...

Maj. Dumbledore:  Yeah, but her followers are human.  *slight frown at Blaster, and then she turns back to her CO*  There's no point in you worrying anyway.  You can't leave the Ark.

Col. Pax:  Actually, our orders were to apprehend Megatron and his crew.  I may have to.  

hsvRatchet: *calmly* If you do attempt to apprehend Soundwave, be careful.

Col. Pax:  *deep breath*  It's been many vorns since I've fought anyone other than humans, but I think my programming is intact.

hsvLumen: Seriously, good luck... *and now he's gonna try stealing a cookie from hsvRatchet*

Maj. Dumbledore:  Er... isn't that being kind of a dumb ass, Lumen?

hsvRatchet: *has hsvLumen in a headlock, so the younger mech cannot answer*

Maj. Dumbledore:  Never mind.

Nemesis:  *calls over from the bar*  Not in here!

hsvRatchet: *lets hsvLumen go after telling him off*

hsvLumen: *laughing about it now*

Blaster: ...No wonder Flashpoint refuses to stick around whenever he shows up now...

hsvRatchet: *Grousing at hsvLumen subsonicly*

Col. Pax: *giving Blaster a confused look* What do you mean?

Blaster: *nods towards hsvLumen* I wouldn't wanna put up with his antics for very long either...

Col. Pax:  From what I've seen, the young of every species that has them are usually quite full of energy and rather lacking in judgement.

hsvRatchet: *Mutter* If that's not the truth....

Maj. Dumbledore:  Spike was alright.

Col. Pax:  Even Spike got into trouble that could have been easily avoided.  And he probably still is, at college.

Blaster: College is all well and good... But there's still stuff that you can get into that leads to trouble...

Col. Pax:  I know.  I took several years' worth.  *more gravy!*

Blaster: *Snerk* Maaan, I really should see if I can get the Chief out here...

Col. Pax:  *looks up quizzically*

Blaster: You and he would have a lot to talk about...

Col. Pax:  Do you think so?

Blaster: *nod* *chuckles* He was a historian back before the war...

Col. Pax:  *brows lift and dip slightly*  Not an Enforcer?

Blaster: Naw... that's more 'Hide or 'Mia's thing....

hsvRatchet: Ours was also a historian of sorts back before our war...

Col. Pax:  Interesting difference.  I admit I'm curious.  But wouldn't having more than one version of myself in the same place be dangerous?

Blaster: Interdimensional Nexus... It's built to handle that sorta thing.

hsvRatchet: Considering the fact that we have had two Jazzes in Lumen's and  my reality of origin at the same time on more than one occasion, and all that happened was an  increase in noise? I imagine it's relatively safe.

Blaster: ... Wait, you had two Jazzes?

hsvLumen: *nod* And one's a dame!

Blaster: ... *cracking up now*

Col. Pax:  Now I'm curious.  You mentioned Jazz earlier, Blaster.  Who is that?

Blaster: *Will get back to you when he's done laughing himself silly*

hsvRatchet: *amused snort* Trouble.

Col. Pax:  ...Trouble like Ironhide?

hsvRatchet: Trouble like Sunstreaker and Sideswipe on their well-behaved days.

Col. Pax:  I don't know who those two are.

hsvLumen: Loud, gregarious, good taste in music, presence bigger than the bot.... *grin*

Maj. Dumbledore:  Sounds like someone who'd be fun to be around.

Col. Pax:  *looks at her sideways*

hsvLumen: Jazzes are cool. The one from Aunt Keepsake's reality's really fun to be around... He and Blackie both... ^_^

Maj. Dumbledore:  Who's Blackie?

hsvRatchet: The mate of the Jazz that Lumen just mentioned.

Maj. Dumbledore:  His wife?  *absently wiping ketchup off her shirt.  Has skill at it*

hsvLumen: *nods*

Maj. Dumbledore:  Oh okay.

hsvRatchet: She's also an alternate of the femme that Lumen flirted with earlier.

Col. Pax:  *reaches for the ketchup to add a little to the gravy, and there's the barest hint of a blush as his hand bumps into Maj. Dumbledore's*  *clears throat lightly and apologises, then looks up*  Blackout?  The one who kissed the elder?

hsvRatchet: *nods*

Maj. Dumbledore:  So Jazz is big.

hsvLumen: *SNERK* Ch'yeah, right.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *confused frown at him*  

hsvRatchet: The Jazzes I have the 'pleasure' of knowing are barely fifteen feet tall, if even that.

hsvLumen: Well, they're big compared to Showtime or Wheelie... Or the sparklet brigade...

Maj. Dumbledore:  ...So the short guy is with a big lady?

hsvLumen: Naw... Blackie's little... She turns into a motorcycle...

Maj. Dumbledore:  Oh.  I thought you guys were the same kind as that Blackout is.

hsvRatchet: We're from a reality similar to Blackout's... Our reality took a different path than hers did, however.

Maj. Dumbledore:  So even realities where the body tech is similar are different.

Col. Pax:  Bea, remember what they said about one Jazz being male and one female.

Maj. Dumbledore:  Yeah.  I kind of thought they were different, though.  *eats more ketchup and fries*

Blaster: *chuckles* My reality'd make everyone go 'Bhuh?!' *yep, he's overcharged*

Col. Pax:  Why's that, Blaster?

Blaster: Our Docbot's a dame.... And she's with our Wheeljack... *snicker*

hsvLumen: Oh that's nothing. Dad and Mom told me about the Wheeljack that's with a femme alt of Dad.

Col. Pax:  ...Why would this cause surprise?  Who is your medical unit, Blaster?

hsvRatchet: An alternate of myself.

Maj. Dumbledore:  And who's Wheeljack?

hsvLumen: Our 'Jack is my Grandpa. He's got worse luck with things blowing up while he's working on 'em than Ma does, but her luck's pretty bad, so I kinda steer clear of her workshop when I know she's in there, just like how I steer clear of Uncle Solar's workshop all the time.

hsvWakeJumper: ... You have GOT to be kidding me!!! *just wandered into the Black Dog, clipboard in hand*

Col. Pax:  *trying to figure out why the Cybertronians of other realities should find these pairings unusual, turns his head toward the exclamation*  Do any of you know that mech?

hsvLumen: Yup. That's my Dad. Oy! Dad! Over here!

hsvWakeJumper: *grumbling and moving to make his way to the table* Of all the slagging times for that stinking portal to open up... I was going to do inventory and then give Jazz a check-up... *sighs*

hsvRatchet: First Aid can give Jazz her checkup, WakeJumper.

kvEclipse: *Meeps from the table she's sitting at*

Col. Pax:  *looking at the newcomer and waiting for introductions*

hsvWakeJumper: *as he settles in another chair* More of the human-looking mechs? *sounds mildly curious, and a lot like Lumen... heck, he even looks like the blue mech to an extent!*

hsvLumen: *nod* Yup...

hsvRatchet: Col. Pax, this is one of the mechs who assists me in the medbay. His designation is WakeJumper.

hsvWakeJumper: *Will carefully offer his finger*

Col. Pax:  *gravely shakes the finger*  It's a pleasure to meet you, WakeJumper.

hsvWakeJumper: *nods* Likewise, Col. Pax. *To Ratchet* So, who's paying?

hsvLumen: That'd be me... Want some poutine?

hsvWakeJumper: Eh... Might as well.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *slight throat clearing at being overlooked, and then curiosity*  What's poutine?

Col. Pax:  This is one of my team.  Maj. Bea Dumbledore.

hsvWakeJumper: *Sheepish, apologizes for not introducing himself to Maj. Dumbledore*

hsvLumen: Kinda like what you two're doing with the gravy on your fries, but it's also got cheese... or at least, the one for organics does... *hails Bet*

Col. Pax and Maj. Dumbledore:  *look at each other*

Col. Pax:  Gravy and cheese on fries?  *bit of a smile as his eyes twinkle*

Maj. Dumbledore:  Sounds terrible.  *grinning*  I'd eat it, though.  Not like chili fries.

Blaster: *and he's down and out for the count*

Col. Pax:  0.o  Err...

hsvRatchet: *Scans Blaster* ... *Snerk* He's overcharged....

hsvWakeJumper: Drunk.

Maj. Dumbledore:  ...KP duty?

hsvRatchet: *shrugs* I'm not sure what he'll have to do. I'm not his CO...

hsvLumen: *Mischievious grin, will make his holoform get some napkins*

Col. Pax:  *watching that holoform*

Eject: *Will divebomb Lumen-holo*

Laserbeak:  *helps Eject!*

hsvWakeJumper: *Face.Palm*

Lumen-Holo: Ack! Hey! Double-teaming! No fair!!! *trying to fend off the birds*

hsvRatchet: *raised brow ridge* I'm not even sure where he gets it... To my recollection, you were never the sort to be a pest, WakeJumper.

hsvWakeJumper: *from behind his hand* That's because I wasn't. He's been hanging around with Sunstreaker and Sideswipe again.

Laserbeak:  *hair pull!  Ten points!*

Eject: *Steals the napkins! Twenty points!*

orange-haired holoform down on the floor: Okay you two, that's enough tormenting him. *sounds like WakeJumper*

Col. Pax:  *gets up and walks over to look down*

Laserbeak:  Thrrrpt!

Wake-Holo: *Hands on hips* I mean it. Go torment someone else.

Eject: *gonna buzz the holo, and pull on its ponytail now!*

Laserbeak: *cackles laughter and grabs some napkins herself to drop on the holo*

hsvWakeJumper: *turning his holo off* You're on your own, Lu.

hsvLumen: THRRRRPT!!!!

Laserbeak:  *looks up at Lumen himself*  You look like a statue....

Col. Pax:  0_o

hsvLumen: ... Um... Okay?

Maj. Dumbledore:  Ewwww, I'm eating here!

hsvRatchet: Don't, Laserbeak. I'm not putting up with his complaints.

Laserbeak: *cackly sound, and then makes chicken sounds as she walks over to the human size table.  Once there she begs pitifully for fries*

hsvRatchet: *rolls his optics a bit*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *looks down at the raven*  Don't even think about it.

Laserbeak:  *blink blink*

Maj. Dumbledore:  If you want to eat you can eat like everyone else.  *stern.  It's suddenly easy to see that this little femme is military*

Eject: Eesh... Alright... *Will transform and situate himself next to Blaster*

Laserbeak:  *evidently thinking this over rather deeply, but then hops up into the chair Eject was just perched on and gurps hopefully.  She's sitting on the seat, and can't even see onto the table*

hsvWakeJumper: ... *soft snerk*

Maj. Dumbledore:  ....

Col. Pax:  *as he comes back to the table*  You did say she had to eat like everyone else, Bea.

Maj. Dumbledore:  *face palm*  I hate smart alecs.

Col. Pax:  *squeezes her shoulder and then fills a saucer with fries and gravy and gives them to Laserbeak*

Laserbeak: *gurples happily by way of thanks*

Eject: *giving Maj. Dumbledore a cute look*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *looks at him and frowns, then looks for another saucer, but sees only a coffee cup*

Col. Pax:  *humorous look as he offers her the cup*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *gives him a look that says she knows she's being teased, but neatly fills the cup with upended fries*  Do you like gravy or ketchup?

Eject: Either one's fine by me. ^_^

Maj. Dumbledore:  *adds both and hands him the cup, then looks at Laserbeak*  Why don't you transform too?

Laserbeak:  *wing shrug and eat.  Doesn't figure one bird shape's much different from the other*

Eject: Thanks! *Happy as he noms*

Maj. Dumbledore:  Hey, I asked you a question.

Laserbeak:  *looks up*  You nearly sounded like Major Mac when you said that.  And it don't matter if I transform.  I'm still a bird.

Eject: *in between bites* Naw, Major Mac's got more of an accent...

Laserbeak:  Not when she's giving somebody slag.

Eject: Or telling n00bs off for underestimating her?

Laserbeak:  Same thing.  *eating daintily*

Eject: *Snerks, goes back to nomming fries*

Maj. Dumbledore:  Who's Major Mac?

hsvRatchet: The alternate of Flashpoint from their reality.

hsvWakeJumper: ...No way. Denver's got an alt who's military?

hsvRatchet: She's a Marine.

Col. Pax:  Flashpoint is the one who used to be human?

hsvWakeJumper: *nods* She only really goes by Flashpoint when she's working in one of our sibling realities, because she's under orders to not let it be known that she was human once.

Maj. Dumbledore:  What does 'sibling reality' mean?

hsvLumen: Realities that we maintain contact with on a regular basis... Aunt Keepsake's from a sibling reality to Dad's and mine...

Col. Pax:  Travel between realities is that commonplace?

hsvLumen: For us it is... Dunno 'bout other realities... *Shrug*

Col. Pax:  Huh.  *then looks at his wrist*  We should get back.  It's dark now and someone might notice that our quarters are empty.

hsvRatchet: Take care...

Col. Pax:  *nods as he stands*  Thank you.  And thank you for the meal, Lumen.

hsvLumen: No prob. ^_^

Maj. Dumbledore: *to the recorders as she points to the leftover fries* Do you guys want the rest of this?

Eject: Sure. *cheery grin*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *puts the platter over where Eject can reach it, then gets to her feet and also thanks Lumen*

hsvLumen: *nods* Be careful.  And if you're ever in the Nexus again, this  place is your best bet for safe food.

Eject: *gonna share fries with Laserbeak now*

Laserbeak:  *OM NOM NOM*

Col. Pax:  I'll keep that in mind.  *takes out his PINpoint and looks at it*

Maj. Dumbledore:  *ditto, and then vanishes with a swish and a slight flash*

Col. Pax:  *startles and looks at where she was*

hsvWakeJumper: *quick explanation of how to program the PINpoint and how to activate it*

Col. Pax:  Yes, the PINpoint actually had instructions.  I was just startled by how that sounded and looked.  

hsvLumen: That's not nearly as interesting as when that Den chick makes her PINpoint quack...

Col. Pax:  Err... what?

hsvWakeJumper: She's got a PINpoint like what Blaster has... She's figured out how to make it make noises when she PINPoints places.... and her male alternate has figured that out as well... so on the days they're both in the Nexus, it's usually after a couple of random sounds.

Col. Pax:  *chuckles*  I see.  But I should go now before Maj. Dumbledore comes back to look for me.

hsvWakeJumper: *nods* That's probably a good idea. *chuckles* I should head back too...

Col. Pax:  *smiles, then nods to Ratchet and presses the green button on his PINpoint*

Laserbeak:  *watches him go*  He's totally into her.

Eject: Ya think? *nomnomnom*

Laserbeak:  Oh yeah.  He just don't wanna admit it.

Eject: *snerks and shoves fries at Laserbeak's mouth*

Laserbeak:  *NOM!*

((co-written with random_xtras))