jv, Wyatt Ranch, Rescue

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

e-mail alert: *dings on Roadblock's iPhone*

Roadblock: *lifts his head and slaps his butt, then pulls out his iPhone and calls up the email screen*

e-mail: *from wyattranchwy.com, subject: Please help*

Roadblock: *slight frown as he opens the mail and scans the contents*

e-mail: *explains that the sender is Elizabeth Wyatt, Catherine's younger sister, that Catherine never made it back to the house after going for a ride out to a remote part of the ranch, and that it's been nearly two days...*

Roadblock: *concerned. Frown deepens as he sends back a message asking for more information*

Elizabeth: *responds a few minutes later, with a picture of Cat Scan attached, and as much information as she knows about where Catherine went, as well as how long the woman thought she'd be gone*

Roadblock: *responds that he knows 'Katie-Cat's' real name, and that he's going to get some friends and come see if they can't find something. Also asks why she hasn't called the authorities*

Elizabeth: *responds that there's only two police officers for the whole town, since there's less than 250 people living there, and that since the family ranch is so remote, it's hard to get anybody to come out their way in a timely manner. Also thanks Roadblock for helping... and apologizes for coming across as rude*

Roadblock: *calming words saying he doesn't think she's rude. Has called General Flagg, Duke, and Flint in the meantime and let them know what's going on*

Elizabeth: *is glad for that, and that Catherine has awesome friends*

Roadblock: *lets her know that a team's on the way, and should be there by later that day*

Elizabeth: *thanks Roadblock, and says that her mom loves the grill*


Late afternoon/early evening, Wyatt Ranch's main gate


Duke: *driving the jeep that holds Roadblock, Gung-Ho, Red, and Ironhide's human mode. Drives through the gate and heads toward the house*

Wild Bill: *is that sound of chopper blades not far off*

tall brunette girl: *watching from the screened-in front porch with a white short-hair cat beside her* *wary expression is a go once the jeep gets closer to the house*

Roadblock: *hops out as soon as the jeep stops and steps toward the girl* Elizabeth? I'm Marvin. *slight bit of a grin, but his good natured face looks rather grim*

Elizabeth: *wariness fades as she moves closer to the screen door*

cat: *low growl as he looks the group over*

Elizabeth: *quietly, to the cat* Shhh, Hermie... *attention back on Roadblock, eyes serious as she asks what Cat Scan taught her to ask when someone comes to the door* Can you show me some ID, so I know you are who you say you are?

Roadblock: *mild surprise as he reaches into a pocket and pulls out a driver's license* This' the same mug that was all over that grill box.

Elizabeth: *small, sheepish smile* Well, Catherine said I should ask that anytime someone comes to the door.... *moves to unlock the door, and then acks as Hermie darts out and starts putting up a fuss* Hermie!

Hermie: *hissing and spitting at Ironhide*

Red: *very soft growl*

Gung-Ho: *surprised look for his younger sister* Red, what're you doin'? He's just protecting his friend.

Hermie: *giving Red a surprised look, furpoof*

Ironhide: *gives the cat an absent nonplussed look, then glances at Duke*

Duke: *quietly, sounding tired* Do you need to see our credentials too, Miss Wyatt?

Elizabeth: *headshake* If you want to show 'em, I won't stop ya though...

Duke: *slight mouth quirk that tries to be a smile* I'd rather just start looking for your sister as fast as we can. *quizzical look for Red, who is giving Hermie a cat-like stare*

Elizabeth: *nod* I've got a map of the land with all of the horse trails Dad made...

Hermie: *hesitantly backing up, isn't taking his eyes off of Red though*

Gung-Ho: *out of the jeep and scoops Hermie up, then scratches his ears* Don't mind her, lil' guy. She ain't as scary as she looks.

Hermie: *bhuhwhut?* *puzzled kitty*

Elizabeth: Mom's still out visiting her sister in the next town over... *moving to get the map*

Gung-Ho: *nuzzles the cat too as he and his friends move up onto the porch. Is now scratching Hermie's chin. The big man also smells sad*

Hermie: *quiet chirp*

Elizabeth: *back with the map, and a tray of sandwiches*

Ironhide: *scans the map with a glance, then looks at the girl, his blue eyes weary in his weathered face* So where'd Cat say she was going?

Elizabeth: *points to a spot near the edge of the property line* There's a ridge there along the bluffs that Dad used to ride out to with us... It's the highest point on the property... There's only one trail out to there.... *points to the trail head, which is marked in pink* Dad's workshop is here... *points to a building circled in green that has a path leading to it from the ridge trail* *names off a few of the other buildings on the property that are within walking distance of the ridge trail* And the hunting cabin we've started renting out is here... *points to a building circled in blue that has a path leading from the parking area near the house, but no other major trails connecting to it*

Ironhide: *glances up as a sound like massive wings flapping comes from the roof, but then turns his attention back to the map*

Duke: *reporting over the radio to Wild Bill and Stoneheart, assigns them areas that are hardest to get to*

Ironhide: *as the wings sound again and then fade* Where'd she start from?

Elizabeth: The stable. *points to it* That's where we house our horses and equipment... I was going to ride out and meet her halfway, but then Casper came home without her...

Ironhide: *glances at Duke, and then nods. Gentle smack to Red's side, and then the two exit*

Duke: *assigns the others tasks, and then heads out himself to join the two trackers*

Roadblock: *wearily settles in a porch chair to hold down the base as ordered*

Elizabeth: *worried expression is back on her face as she wonders to herself if she should check other places on the property as well*

Hermie: *slight squirm. You no can has sad no more, big person?*

Gung-Ho: *remembers he's still holding the white cat* Heh. You wanna come help me watch the gate?

Hermie: *chirps and moves to sit on big person's shoulder*

Elizabeth: *slight smile* *teasingly, to Hermie* Traitor.

Hermie: *ears perk*

Gung-Ho: *gives the girl a quizzical look* Hey, what're you callin' him names for?

Elizabeth: Because he'd be calling me the same thing if I were going with you...

Gung-Ho: *thoughtfully* He would, huh?

Elizabeth: *nod*

Gung-Ho: *soft, thoughtful 'huh'* Well, I gotta get to my post. *slight grin for Elizabeth and then heads for the gate*

Elizabeth: *hurries back inside, will make coffee, since she can't think of anything else at the moment that needs doing, seeing as all the horses have been fed, and there's company...*

Ironhide: *out by the stable, bent over and scanning the ground as a large red cat sniffs intently nearby*

large bootprints: *there, as are hoof-prints. It seems this is where Cat Scan got on her horse before she went out on the trail*

Red: *yowls softly*

Ironhide: I smell it. Let me report, and we can try and follow.

Red: *sits and looks toward the house, then trots ahead of the disguised robot as he sets out along the scent trail*

trail: *leads out onto the horse trail marked with a sign that reads "Bethany's Ridge" and continues on along it*

Ironhide: *reports this to Wild Bill and Stoneheart, and suggests they look along that trail*

Wild Bill: //I don't see nothin', 'Hide. Stoneheart's havin' a gander at the bunkhouse, though.//

Stoneheart: *looks all around, and then warily slips into the building*

Cat Scan: *asleep on the couch, with her right arm on her chest. Looks a bit pale*

Stoneheart: *lifts her radio to her ear* Found her.


Half hour later, at the house


Duke: *finishes taping the splint on Cat's arm and stands, then takes the cool cloth that Ironhide offers and puts it on the young medic's forehead* Cat Scan, can you hear me?

Cat Scan: *turns her head slightly* *mumble* Tell him how I feel... Ratch, you're nuts...

Ironhide: *lifts brows* Ratchet's not here.

Cat Scan: *soft sigh* *mumble* Can't just go up to the guy 'n say "I like you, Snake Eyes."

Elizabeth: *covering her mouth to stifle a giggle and hide her grin* *she KNEW Cat liked someone!*

Duke: ... I kind of think he knows. *isn't smiling like he normally would*

Ironhide: *hrrrms*

Red: *gets up on the couch, then purrs and licks Cat's face!*

Cat Scan: *squirm, tries to turn over*

Red: *nips Cat's nose*

Duke: Hey! *reaching to catch the red cat*

Cat Scan: *flinches when she's nipped* *quietly* Ow....

Duke: Ouch! *drops Red, who growls at him and twitches her tail*

Cat Scan: *bleary blinking* What...?

Duke: *attention back to her* *gently* Cat Scan? Can you hear me?

Cat Scan: *quietly* I gotta be dreamin' or delirious or something.... *moves to try and sit up*

Duke: *hands on her shoulders* Easy. You took a pretty bad fall out there.

Cat Scan: *small frown, is still a bit feverish* Duke? Why're you out in BFE?

Duke: *gently and with unusual gravity* Because we got a call saying you'd gone missing.

Cat Scan: *more frown, and then her eyes are widening and she's trying to sit up again* Is Casper okay? Something spooked him!

Elizabeth: He's fine, he made it back to the stable safe and sound. *gonna try and help Duke get Cat Scan laying back down*

Duke: *nods and doesn't make a quip as he once more moves to lay the medic down*

Cat Scan: *deep breaths, closes her eyes and tries to calm down. Doesn't notice the tears that escape out of the corners of her eyes*

Ironhide: *grunts and turns abruptly on his heel, then leaves the room rather than stay and try to comfort an adopted kinswoman*

Elizabeth: *puzzled expression as she watches him go*

Duke: *quietly to Cat* Hey... what's wrong?

Cat Scan: *tries to keep her voice from shaking* I should've been paying attention... Casper shied away from something on the path, and I should've turned around and gone back...

Wild Bill: *from where he just came in* Don't go beatin' yerself up over that, Kitty.

Cat Scan: *slight scowl at Wild Bill for the hated nickname, is a bit wibbly as well*

Elizabeth: *giving Wild Bill a Look that he's probably familiar with* Don't call her that.

Wild Bill: *pulls off his trademark shades to show uncharacteristic sadness in his usually merry green eyes* *quietly, as he tries to grin* Only way I got ta show the gal I love her.

Cat Scan: *slight frown as she sees that sadness, moves to try and sit up again, her eyes serious despite the slight fever haze* What happened?

Wild Bill: *bites his mustache and looks uncertainly to Duke*

Duke: *quietly* I'll tell you once you're feeling better.

Cat Scan: *more frown* You'd better.

Duke: Right now we need to know what you want to do.

Cat Scan: What's today?

Duke: *tells her*

Cat Scan: Oh, crud. I was supposed to be on the bus twelve hours ago!

Duke: *hand on her shoulder* I guess we can save you a bus fare, if you still want to come back now.

Cat Scan: *nod* That'd be great...

Elizabeth: *scoots to get Cat Scan's bag and her bug*


Out by the gate


Red: *just slipped into the bushes near the gate a moment ago. Now calls with her human voice for her brother to throw her her clothes*

Gung-Ho: *does so absently and one handed, his other hand gently poking at Hermie's paw where the cat's draped over his shoulder*

Hermie: *STARING at the bushes now* *quick glance over his shoulder, before his attention's back on the bushes*

Red: *comes out, straightening her shirt, then looks at the young cat* Did Cat even get to meet you?

Hermie: *small nod*

Gung-Ho: *very slight grin as he looks at his passenger* So you ain't exactly what you seem, huh?

Hermie: *wary look for big person, small nod*

Gung-Ho: *reassuring look, and then very quietly calls for Stoneheart to come over for a minute*

circling 'bird' shape overhead: *dives, and it's much too big to be a bird*

Hermie: *furpoof!*

Red: *gently lifts him down and holds him close* Nah, she's as much fun as her name, but she ain't dangerous. Gung-Ho just wants ta show you dat you aren't de only other person we know.

Hermie: *biiig eyes*

Stoneheart: *lands, and then flicks her ears toward the cat*

Gung-Ho: See? And you smelled Ironhide.

Hermie: *hesitates, before he's wiggling and indicating that he wants down*

Red: *hunkers and lets him go* *then shields him from kicked up dust as Stoneheart launches again and vanishes into the sky*

Hermie: *shifts forms. He's about the same height as Elizabeth in his natural form* Mrrrp?

Red: D'awww. Just lookit you!

Gung-Ho: Well I'll be danged. Mrrpt-Nyaah.

Red: *looks up at brother* Huh?

Hermie: *ears perked, gives Gung-Ho a curious look*

Gung-Ho: *quietly* The JOEs know more 'a your people.

Hermie: *surprised expression is a go, but there is sadness in his eyes as well*

Gung-Ho: *as Red offers the little boy a hug* Hey, now... *then answers his radio and nods* Duke just called us back to the house. You coming?

Hermie: *nods and shifts forms again, this time to his human form*

Gung-Ho: Hey, he's better at that than you are, Red.

Red: *growls at him and then stands and offers Hermie her hand*

Hermie: *ducks his head a bit and reaches for Red's hand*

Red: *soft smile, and then leads the little guy down the drive as her brother takes up the rear*


Back at the house


big black army truck: *engine almost seems to be grumbling as Roadblock and Duke load a stretcher with Cat on it into the back*

Cat Scan: *a bit miffed that she has to be on a stretcher* *hugs her poofy pink spider with her left arm*

Wild Bill: *offers comforting words and a muted grin, then oofs softly as Gung-Ho elbows him in the ribs*

Gung-Ho: *manages a stronger grin as he reports that Breaker sends his greetings*

Cat Scan: *slight sulk* Tunnel Rat'll never let me live down the fact that I fell from a horse....

JOEs: *sudden silence and exchange of glances*

Cat Scan: ...What happened to Tunnel Rat? *gonna try sitting up again*

Gung-Ho: *holds her down gently, his hazel eyes dark*

Duke: *looking away*

Cat Scan: *eyes flashing with anger at not being told*

Roadblock: *deep breath* *quietly* We... ain't keepin' it from you on purpose, girl. It... *see a big man cry*

Cat Scan: *and now she's trying to sit up again* We have to get back, now!

Duke: *shakes his head* He's gone, Cat Scan.

Cat Scan: *stunned into silence*

Duke: *voice low and devoid of emotion* He went with Flint and Lady J to try and stop Cobra's last raid on a tomb. In the course of the fighting he was caught in an explosion.

Cat Scan: *blinking back tears*

Roadblock: *gently finishes tucking her into the back of Ironhide and makes sure she's safely strapped down*

Hermie: *looks to Red, will gently tug on her hand*

Red: *looks down, her eyes bright* Yeah, sha?

Hermie: *hugs*

Red: *returns the hug tightly, though her eyes are the only dry set among the JOEs*

Duke: *quietly* Let's get back to base.

Hermie: *gonna cling to Aunty now*

Cat Scan: *small nod*

Red: *gently lifts Hermie and moves to tuck him by Cat*

Duke: Wait. Red, I said it's time for us to go. *blinks at the boy* Who is this?

Hermie: Hrrmyaaah... *no, he still hasn't gotten the hang of speaking in English* *hunkers down next to Cat*

Cat Scan: *quietly* Hermie... He's a Mrrpt-Nyaah...

Duke: *startled expression is mirrored on Roadblock and Wild Bill's faces*

Cat Scan: Lizzy found him in the woods...

Hermie: Sssha. *nod nod, patpat Cat's shoulder* Sssha.

Duke: *quietly* Did Gung-Ho and Red tell you that we know others of your people?

Hermie: *nod*

Duke: So you want to come with us?

Hermie: *another nod*

Cat Scan: *quietly* Let Lizzy know....

Duke: *frown* You didn't talk this over?

Cat Scan: *quietly* I was going to report about this when I got back to base, sir...

Duke: I see.

Roadblock: *going to the door to call to Lizzy*

Hermie: *scoots to jump down*

Elizabeth: *coming out to see what the group forgot*

Hermie: *scoots over to Lizzy and hugs her*

Elizabeth: *blink blink, expression goes a bit sad* So you're going with 'em then?

Duke: *gently* We know a family of his people. And he's asked to come along.

Elizabeth: *small nod, hugs the boy* You'd better take good care of him, or I'll have words for you. *expression is a near match for Cat Scan's when she's warning someone*

Duke: *sadness shows* All I can do is promise to do my best to make sure he gets to the Metal Workers safely.

Elizabeth: *another nod and then she's letting Hermie go so she can give Duke a hug as well*

Duke: *gentle hug for the tall child* He... should get be alright.

Elizabeth: *quietly* Stay safe... You're all welcome any time.

Duke: *as he lets her go* Thanks, Lizzy.

Ironhide: Are we getting this show on the road?

Wild Bill: *hand over mouth*

Elizabeth: ... *raised brow Look for Ironhide* Wow, you're impatient.

Hermie: *scoots back towards Ironhide*

Duke: ...That's an interesting reaction to a talking truck.

Elizabeth: ... That was the truck talking?!

Cat Scan: *very soft snerk*

Duke: *goes to the cab and gets a small bundle of papers* Here, sign these.

Roadblock: It's just a technicality.

Elizabeth: *small frown as she quickly reads through the papers, signing where she needs to* ... *looks at Duke and Roadblock* You guys have an interesting job.

Duke: Yeah, most of the time.

Cat Scan: *cutting off the question Elizabeth just opened her mouth to ask* Not till you're older, Elizabeth Ann.

Elizabeth: Awww.

Roadblock: *eyes twinkle just a bit* You gotta get your fancy schoolin'.

Elizabeth: I will then.

Duke: *takes the papers back* Oh, and that's Ironhide. His bark's worse than his bite.

Elizabeth: Ooooh... *slight smirk to her grin now*

Cat Scan: *chuckle* I don't think the base could handle two Wyatts, Roadblock...

Roadblock: It's got two LaFittes.

Cat Scan: ... Good point.

Gung-Ho: *sitting in the jeep with his arm resting on the steering wheel*

Hermie: *fussing over Cat Scan now*

Roadblock: *gives Lizzy a gentle squish, and then goes to climb into the back of the Transformer with Red. Going to make sure Hermie's safely strapped down*

Hermie: *squiirrrms, has never ridden in anything that he needed to be strapped down*

Cat Scan: *soft chuckle, before she's closing her eyes again and trying to get some rest*

Ironhide: *travels as gently as he can as he pulls around and goes down the driveway, the jeep following at a comfortable distance*

((Co-written with random_xtras))