sv, Autobot Base, New Magnus

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Optimus: *went to lay down on the couch in the main room, since he was feeling restless and didn't want to disturb First Aid and Kendell. Thinks about the reactions to the new arrivals that Denver, Jaya, and Raoul had, as well as Hot Shot's reaction to being called a dork. He'd been surprised by how quickly Denver had warmed up to Kup, and how amiable Jaya and Kup's conversation was* *quirks a slight grin as he thinks of Hot Shot's good-natured laugh and Raoul's slow stare of surprise when the yellow bot had cheerfully told him that it took one to know one*


Elsewhere


Rodimus: *trying to get comfortable on the weirdly angled, padded concrete berth in the quarters he's been assigned. As he stretches and stares at the ceiling, he thinks back over the day. Yeah, the cat-femme was a bit weird, but seeing her box Hot Shot's audios had been pretty funny, truth be told. Getting paintbombed up on the roof by Air Raid had been pretty funny too... But what really made today a good day was watching that flier femme, Slingshot?, drawing a chalk outline around Jetstorm for flirting with her...* *yawns and stretches again, before shutting his optics and powering down to rest* *and then he pauses and peeks one optic for a moment, wondering at the very slight crackle of static that just ran through his circuits*


Back downstairs in the main room


Optimus: *slight squirm as he turns and tries to find a comfortable angle, processor running over all of the 'bling' comments, as well as the things he and Kup talked about. He hadn't known that Showtime and Sharpshot had also been named by his drill sergeant, for one thing... But it was kind of cute how Shia and Ridgeback had both snuggled against the older mech, and Sunhalo had sat on his head.... And Sharpshot hadn't even growled or gotten tensed up... Maybe she was finally starting to let go of her 'Con programming...* *sighing, he turns onto his side and tries to power down to rest. He'll see if Ratchet has time to scan him in the morning to find out why he's been so restless today...*

ghostly Hot Rod of strange tech: *sticks his head out of the Allspark where it's resting on Optimus' chest and grins at him*

Optimus: *startles* What the-?!

Hot Rod: *voice inside Optimus' mind as he grins* -Shhhhhh. Don't wanna wake up the wascaly wabbits.-

Optimus: *so confused and a bit scared now*

Hot Rod: *quirks a browplate* -Why would you be afraid of a dead guy? I can't even really touch you.-

Optimus: *quietly* It's not exactly an every day occurrence for the dead to show up in the world of the living.

Hot Rod: -I'm not in your world. I'm in the Matrix. I'm just peeking out into your world and you're peeking into mine.-

Optimus: ... *brain broken expression is a go*

Hot Rod: -The Magnuses of the past wanna talk to you, see?- *slight smirk*

Optimus: Magnuses... of the past? *surprised*

Hot Rod: -Yup, and maybe a few Primes.- *smirk grows*

Optimus: ....

Hot Rod: *grins and pops up to touch him right between the optics*

Optimus: *startled blurt, just before he falls backwards, optics shuttered and mouth still open with surprise*


The next morning...


First Aid: *wanders into the main room in Cragbuster's wake as her older brother chats with Kendell and pretends that he didn't just feed Terrion a can of Ratchet's homebrew and then lock her in their room. Perks when she sees her mate's feet peeking around the edge of the couch back and goes to see him, then stops and stares with confusion as she gets a good look at him*

Optimus: *just starting to wake up. He's not sure whether what happened last night was a dream or not...*

First Aid: *worried call to Ratchet* //Something's happened to Optimus.//

Ratchet: //Where is he?// *goes to grab his emergency kit, fearing the worst*

First Aid: //Laying on the couch. Please be careful and don't fall down the stairs again.// *yup, she's probably going to fuss about that for a long time*

Ratchet: //I'll be careful.// *hurrying downstairs*

Aerialbots: *coming in and happily pushing each other and the Jet twins and other younglings around*

Air Raid: *was about to pounce on Optimus, but stops short when he sees that the older mech doesn't look like he used to*

Optimus: *boggling as he realizes he's now taller, and broader than he was when he went into recharge*

Fireflight: *comes scooting over and studies him, and then laughs softly*

First Aid: *looks at her with shock*

Ace: *as he comes over to see what's caught the others' attention* What is it, 'Flight? ...Whoa!

Silverbolt: *puzzled expression, shows her age by reaching to poke Optimus in the chest*

Slingshot: Uh... Optimus, where's your bling?

Optimus: I... I don't know... *not even going to try and dissuade the Matrix housing being called bling*

Nightside: *comes over, a baby brother on each shoulder* It's inside him, over his spark compartment.

Ace: *blinks*

Slingshot: ...I'm sorry for teasing you, Dad. You don't need to do that.

Ratchet: *as he enters the room* I don't think he did it on purpose, Slingshot...

Slingshot: *looks toward him, worry clear on her face* Did somebody sneak up on him? Wasn't anybody watching the monitors last night?

Fireflight: *laughs and hugs Ace* Yup, they snuck up on him.

Optimus: ... *attention going to Fireflight* Someone who looks like Rodimus Prime?

Fireflight: All the Primes, and all the Magnuses. They didn't have the Matrix before, but they're there now. The parts of them that'll light up the world someday.

Slingshot: ... You fell down and hit your head again, didn't you?

Optimus: *quietly* No... *now he knows he wasn't dreaming*

Ratchet: *scans Optimus* *soft, surprised sound as he realizes that within the Matrix, the Allspark is whole*

First Aid: *concerned* What is it, Ratchet? *glances toward Fireflight as the young flyer starts to dance*

Ratchet: The Allspark... It's whole.... *and now his aft is meeting the floor*

Nightside: *as he picks the old bot up* Why is that bad?

Ratchet: *to Nightside* It's not... Just never thought it'd happen...

Nightside: ...And that made you fall on your aft.

Mudflap: AFT!

Runabout: Thrrrrpt! THRRRPT!

Ratchet: *as he indicates that he wants set down* We weren't sure the Allspark would ever be whole again...

Optimus: *ducking his head a bit as his hands start to shake. He's not sure whether this is a good change or a bad one*

Nightside: *sets the elderly medic down, and then turns his head as he hears Kup talking gently to someone, and Ironfist's soothing accompaniment* Cragbuster got Terrion drunk again.

Ratchet: ... *gives Cragbuster a LOOK*

Cragbuster: *sees no look, is making a stack of softboil sammiches and an even bigger stack of flapjacks with botter* *and singing*

Ratchet: *sighs* I'll go help Terrion... *goes*

First Aid: *gentle hand on her mate's shoulder* Optimus?

Optimus: *quietly* I... I don't understand any of this...

First Aid: *softly, as she moves around behind him and then sits on his lap* Try thinking about the part you do understand?

Optimus: *small nod, arms going around her waist* *quietly* Fireflight was right... I did see the Magnuses and Primes...

First Aid: *looks up at him* *softly* What did they say?

Optimus: *quietly tells her* That I was at a turning point... That the Allspark's powers as a creation matrix have strengthened Vector Sigma, and that the Matrix will be a symbol of leadership, as well as holding the memories of the mechs who will bear it... *quieter* And that I'll lead the Autobots into a brighter future...

First Aid: *eyes wide* *and then she gasps as a folded over flapjack full of botter and syrup is thrust between their faces*

Cragbuster: Pitch it.

Optimus: *startled when First Aid did*

Cragbuster: *shakes the flapjack a little as it drips syrup on Optimus, trying to get him to take it* Seriously. Get rid of the thing.

Optimus: *slight frown* I don't think I should....

Cragbuster: Well at least take this before you wind up with sparklets trying to treat you like a lollipop. *watches more syrup drip out and is amused. Couldn't really care less either way about Optimus' new modification*

Optimus: *reaches for the flapjack, and then he's acking as Air Raid licks him*

Cragbuster: ... *at Air Raid, and then goes and tries to chase Jazz, Blaster, Rodimus, and Hot Shot away from the fuel stacks*

First Aid: *startled* Air Raid, what are you doing?

Rodimus: *laughing in the background* Run away, run away!

Optimus: ... *facepalms as Air Raid grins and scoots off to chase Rodimus*

Stiletto: *from above* ...Who spilled syrup?

First Aid: *looks up* It ran out of Optimus' flapjack.

Stiletto: ... Oh. *snerks and slinks off*

Prowl: *as Rodimus nears the start of the hallway* *steps out blearily, and then gives the taller mech a muzzily quizzical look*

Rodimus: *skids to a halt, STARE*

Prowl: *quirks a brow ridge* Good morning.

Air Raid: Optimus is syrupy! *grins as he picks Rodimus up*

Rodimus: *brain broken expression* Aren't you supposed to be dead?

Prowl: Yes. I am. You're hallucinating from being shaken around so much. *looks toward the kitchen* Now if you'll excuse me... I need coffee.

Rodimus: ...

Air Raid: Prowl, be nice. It's not his fault he's a derp!

Rodimus: Ye-HEY!

First Aid: *calls over* Air Raid, please don't be rude.

Air Raid: *will bring Rodimus back to the main room and apologize, before going to find Slingshot and pester her*

Prowl: *just slips past and heads for the organic kitchen beside the usual one, his visor only half lit*

Ace: //Stella, Prowl's after that black goop again.//

Stiletto: //Taking care of it now, Ace...// *offers Prowl a plate of food, most of which seems to be meat and eggs, as well as some toast. Yes, she paid attention when Sari showed everyone how to cook*

Prowl: *politely rejects the offering, as he always does. Then hopefully looks in a cupboard* We do have coffee, right?

Stiletto: *slight pout, sighs and points to the coffee pot*

Prowl: :<. *stares into the pot and tries to get his fuzzy brain to work. Thinks to himself that he'll be really glad once he's finally recovered fully from the effects of that virus* *and then he glances over at Optimus and drops the coffee pot*

Stiletto: *startled into alt mode and on top of the fridge*

Optimus: *looks over, raised brow ridge*

Prowl: *visor narrowed and ruff rising slightly as he studies the acting Magnus* ...

Stiletto: *furpoof as she looks back and forth between the two mechs*

Optimus: *quietly* The Magnuses and Primes of the past decided to pay me a visit last night, Prowl...

Prowl: ...So that's why you're glowing?

Optimus: ...Glowing? *looks down at his hands*

Stiletto: *ears flat and eyes wide*

Fireflight: Uh huh. *reaching for Dad's breakfast*

First Aid: *looks at mate* I don't see anything.

Optimus: *trying to tune everyone and everything out, and then he's got a surprised expression* *quietly* I can hear something...

First Aid: *optics widen slightly* Hear something?

Optimus: *small nod* *quietly* It's... coming from the Matrix?

Fireflight: *eating his breakfast* They're talking.

Kup: *from the entrance to the hall* I know moonshine when I smell it.

Ironfist: If that was moonshine then Ratchet's really messed up this time.

Cragbuster: *snerks and goes to sit down with his plateful and his niece so that everyone else can go get food*

Optimus: *attention going to Kup and Ironfist*

Prowl: *takes advantage of the distraction to step sideways into a shadow and vanish*

WakeJumper: *entering the plant in root mode* Morning... *sooo not awake*

Deluge: *looks about as awake as the rest of the team, aside from Calypso*

Downrush: *doesn't seem to be aware that he's walking*

Calypso: *in a slightly agitated mood, is the most awake of the Aquabots. Is also driving them before her like cutters before a wind* Hurry up, yeh scurvy dogs....

Ultra Magnus: *standing in the mouth of the hallway and watching the newcomers as he absently takes the plate of flapjacks that Skywarp just shyly handed him*

Kup: *head up from where he's growling at his fallen apart sammich* I know that voice...

Calypso: *paying Ultra Magnus no mind right now, strides over to Kup*

Kup: *stands as he sees the maroon and orange femme coming toward him, his brow ridges drawn together in a deep frown* *optics flick toward the black mech who's walking at her side*

Calypso: Yer lookin' good, Sarge.

Kup: *frown deepens, though there's no sound of it in his gravelly voice* ...Hoyden?

Calypso: *slight smirk that doesn't quite reach her optics* Aquabot Calypso.

Kup: *crosses his arms over his chest, and then looks down and growls at the softboil smeared across his armor*

Calypso: *resisting the urge to snerk*

Trailbreaker: If you catch it with your finger like this... *demonstrates on his own chest* You can scoop it up, and it still tastes just fine.

Kup: ...

Calypso: *about to suggest using blitzbread when she freezes, tensed*

Kup: *pulls the rest of the sammich off his elbow and tries to use it to wipe his chest, then looks up as he senses the sudden tension* Kid?

Calypso: *quietly, optics bright* Someth'n's on me back. *is trying not to panic*

Trailbreaker: *quick step back and looks*

Ridgeback: *trying to get onto Calypso's shoulder, clickstorm*

Calypso: *cycling air rapidly*

Trailbreaker: *softly, as he reaches for the happy sparklet* Hey, hey. Come here, you.

Ridgeback: Bwee?

Trailbreaker: Aunty Cally doesn't like stuff touching her back. You want to ride on mine instead?

Ridgeback: *clickstorm, reaches for Trailbreaker*

Calypso: *trying to stay still while the sparklet is removed from her back*

Trailbreaker: *cuddles the bittybot close and smiles at him*

Kup: *stops watching and wipes his chest some more. Without looking up* Aunty Cally?

Calypso: *quick to bolt for the nearest corner of the room, optics still far to bright and intakes working overtime*

WakeJumper: *small frown as he watches Calypso* Yeah... Most of the younger bots call the adults who aren't their creators 'Aunty' or 'Unca'...

Kup: *reaches out to snag Ridgeback and offer him the squished sammich* Yeah, but this is my nephew. *carefully not looking at Calypso as Trailbreaker hurries over toward her*

Ridgeback: *nommasammich!*

WakeJumper: *as he moves to approach the couple* The base here is like a big family.

Calypso: *shaking and trying to back even further into the corner, yelps as her back hits the wall*

First Aid: *watching over the back of the couch with Optimus, breakfast forgotten*

Trailbreaker: *soft words as he puts his hands on the safe places on Calypso's shoulders*

Calypso: *ducking her head and cycling air rapidly, is trying to shake off the memories*

Trailbreaker: *gentle snuzzle* Come on, Cally. Snap out of it.

Calypso: *panics and flails as WakeJumper crouches nearby*

Trailbreaker: Give her more space, Wake. *backing off a little himself*

WakeJumper: *scoots back a few feet and clicks softly*

Calypso: *curling up on herself and trying to keep silent, despite the sharp pain coming from her back*

Kup: *frowns and then sucks in his breath* 'Ten-SHUN!

Trailbreaker: *snaps to it!*

Calypso: *startled flail, faceplants*

Optimus: *also startles and snaps to attention before he can help it*

First Aid: *sitting on the floor and looking around*

Cragbuster: *STINK EYE! And very carefully slouches back into his chair*

Downrush: ... *to Kup* You've GOT to teach me how to do that.

Silverbolt: *puzzled look for Kup as she moves to gently fuss over First Aid*

Kup: *scowling because his attempt to help by distracting Calypso only seems to have made things worse*

Calypso: *muttering curses and trying to get up* *winces* Slaggit...

WakeJumper: *on his feet and over to scan his fellow Aquabot*

Trailbreaker: *eyes Kup uncertainly, but then stoops and offers Calypso a hand up* Cally?

Calypso: *quietly* 'S jes' the same ol' slag, 'Breaker... *flinches a bit as WakeJumper removes the armor panel on her back*

Trailbreaker: *uncertainly* ...Do you want some of that painkiller you demanded the other day after you drank that rocket fuel?

Kup: *going over toward the group, Ridgeback a happy click in the crook of one arm*

Calypso: *small headshake, cycling air as WakeJumper disables pain sensors along where the armor plating latches. The young medic hesitates as he reaches the beginnings of a wide, deep scar*

Kup: *moves so that he's behind WakeJumper, and then stops stock still*

Trailbreaker: *gently* Tell me what to do, Cally.

Calypso: *reaches for Trailbreaker's hand. Her back is a mess of scars, most of which are faint and shallow. Some of the worst ones are along her spinal struts, though one particularly deep gash goes from side to side near the top of her back, and seems to have been caused by an energon blade*

Kup: *voice a low growl* What happened?

Trailbreaker: *guilty start and a flash of his optic band toward his former drill sergeant*

Calypso: *quietly* Tried stoppin' th' slaggin' pirates...

Kup: What pirates, kid? *moving closer without noticing the pair of Seeker bitties that settle on his head*

Calypso: *even quieter* Th' ones from Hyperion... *slight flinch as WakeJumper disables more pain sensors* *to the young medic* Best stop now, lad...

WakeJumper: *small frown*

Kup: *brow ridges rise slowly* The ones that jumped 'Breaker.

Calypso: *small nod* Aye...

Kup: How'd you know what they did?

Calypso: *quietly* The slaggers bragged about it.

Kup: Where?

Calypso: *recites the name of the dive she used to frequent before she became an Aquabot* The Pit... *quieter* Lass named Jael knows me there...

Cragbuster: *head snaps up and around* What the slag were you doing at Stargone?

Ultra Magnus: *silent raising of brow ridges as a chorus of sparklets scold Cragbuster for his word usage*

Calypso: *quietly, not meeting any optics* Tryin' t' find a crew t' take me in... Couldn't make it bein' an Academy lass... Figgered I'd earn me keep workin' supply ships...

Cragbuster: ...You're the brown b... *looks at the sparklet on his arm* ...Female she said worked a tips stint till she got in a rumble and vanished.

Downrush: *from where he's seated* She vanished because she met Deluge and me... We needed someone who wasn't afraid to dive into situations headfirst to save civilians.

Ultra Magnus: *walks over slowly, leaning heavily on a piece of pipe that he picked up in the workshop* Where exactly is Stargone?

Downrush: *gives the distance from Cybertron* It's pretty much the middle of nowhere, even moreso than the Earth base.

Ultra Magnus: *surprised* Why, that's nearly past the edge of the galaxy.

Cragbuster: Why the pit do you think they call it Stargone?

Kendell: Unca Buster!

Sunhalo: *flies over and give Cragbuster's head a spanking*

Ridgeback: *points and beeps at Cragbuster*

Ultra Magnus: *bemused look for all the tiny bots, but then turns back to Calypso* Recruit Hoyden, you are charged with abandoning your assigned post.

Calypso: *getting help with getting her back armor into place before she moves to sit on her calves* Aye... I understand... *moving to get to her feet*

Ultra Magnus: What have you to say for yourself?

Calypso: *getting a bit of a mischevious glint to her optics* Next time, me aim won't be off.

Ultra Magnus: ... *confused frown*

WakeJumper: *facepalming now, moves to go get some breakfast*

Calypso: Aye. Me aim was off 'n one 'a the slaggers escaped.

Ultra Magnus: *dourly* I was speaking about the charges against you.

Calypso: *nod* Aye... *standing up as straight as she can* 'N me team c'n live without me fer awhile.

Ultra Magnus: You plead guilty, then?

Calypso: Aye.

Ultra Magnus: *turns his head and looks toward the couch* Optimus Magnus, what is your ruling?

Trailbreaker: o.O? *looks at Optimus*

Calypso: ... *brain-broken expression is a go*

Downrush: ...

Deluge: ... *staaares at Optimus*

Optimus: Er... I'd... need to know the post she abandoned first...

Kup: Watchin' my cy-gar all night. *dryly* I figured if she'd rather tape her classmates ta their berths than sleep, she could do somethin' a little less likely ta interrupt my stasis.

Calypso: *dirty rotten chuckle as she recalls those memory files*

Optimus: ... *a bit worried about that chuckle now. He's SEEN what Calypso is capable of*

Kup: *stern look for Calypso*

Ultra Magnus: *is patiently awaiting Optimus' verdict* *and wearing a Sundog hat*

Calypso: *gives Kup an amused look. She KNOWS he laughed at a few of her classmates for letting their guard down. She's seen it. No use denying it, Sarge!*

Optimus: *thinking about what he's seen of Calypso while she's been on Earth* *looks to Trailbreaker, considering look*

Trailbreaker: *sees the look, and his optic band lightens a little with uneasiness*

Optimus: Trailbreaker, I hereby place Recruit Hoyden into your custody. *thinks it's weird to refer to Calypso as 'Hoyden'... despite how fitting the name is*

Downrush: Is that all? We did that the day after he came.

Deluge: *to Downrush* You mean that when she tackleglomped him, we were putting her in his custody? *snort*

Downrush: No. That last time she was floating facedown in the lake, and we told him to fish her out.

Deluge: ...Oh. *more snort, goes to make sure WakeJumper's not shorting himself on fuel*

Ultra Magnus: *is now staring at Downrush* ...

Downrush: *sees the staring* *raised brow ridge* What?

Ultra Magnus: Yes. Good question. *winces slightly as he turns away and limps slowly toward the sitting area*

Optimus: *moves to assist*

Kup: *tells Downrush he's a misfire*

Downrush: *amused expression* If I hadn't been called worse by Deluge, I'd be offended, sir.

Calypso: ... *looks to Trailbreaker, wondering what the heck just happened*

Trailbreaker: *looking toward the kitchen* ...I think WakeJumper just finished off the fuel.

Optimus: Are you alright, Ultra Magnus?

Ultra Magnus: *as he settles on the chair* *quietly* Call me Dion.

Optimus: *optics widening slightly* A-alright....

Ultra Magnus: *grips his arm silently in support, then looks over toward the fuel storage and preparation corner, his brows lifting as he spots First Aid gently shoulder bumping WakeJumper aside and reaching for the flapjack mix* *then turns back to Optimus. Quietly* You're stronger.

Optimus: *quietly* I'm not even sure I fully understand what occurred... *will recount what happened during the night*

Ultra Magnus: *brow ridges lifting* Have you noticed any other differences, besides your size and strength?

Optimus: *small headshake* If there is anything else, I haven't noticed it....

Fireflight: *sleepy face on the back of the couch* Transform.

Optimus: *glances at her with a slight frown, then steps back so he's not in the way and transforms*

Mistfire: *stops dead in her tracks and quirks an eyebrow, her trip to raid cupboards forgotten. Amused mouth quirk*

Wheelie: *sleepy clicks from Mistfire's back*

Scattershot: *standing by his mate with dRumrunner standing by his hip and hopefully looking forward to breakfast* ... *snerrrrk* Flying fire truck of doom a go-go...

((co-written with random_xtras))