jv. The Pit. Surprises

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Snake Eyes: *sitting up on the monitor array in the headboard of the examining table that Cat Scan's been left to sleep on in her bin bed*

Cat Scan: *restless as she sleeps, manages to kick her blankets off part-way*

bittybot: *peeks, and then darts out and pulls manfully on the blankets till they're almost back where they should be. Is working silently as he tries to do his duty despite all the new sensations he's picking up from the world around him*

Cat Scan: *turns onto her side and gets even more tangled up in the blankets*

bittybot: *vanishes under her leg. Silence, and then comes the soft clicking. SOS. SOS...*

Snake Eyes: *jumps down and leans over the side of the box to gently shake Cat Scan's shoulder*

Cat Scan: *startles awake and blinks groggily*

Snake Eyes: *hand to her forehead to check for a fever as he absently signs 'all clear' with the other*

bittybot: *SOS...*

Cat Scan: *still slightly feverish* *small frown, looks for the source of the clicking*

Snake Eyes: *points to where her leg is resting on her tiny guardian*

Cat Scan: *will move her leg and reach for the bittybot*

bittybot: *tiny hands grasp hers as he comes to her without hesitation*

Snake Eyes: *just watches this*

Cat Scan: *small smile for the bittybot, will set him where he won't get trapped under her leg again*

Snake Eyes: *offers Cat Scan a card*

Cat Scan: *puzzled expression as she reaches for the card*

card: 'His name is Stormshadow. May he carry it with more honor than its first bearer.'

Cat Scan: *very soft chuckle, will smooth the bittybot's helm with one finger* *quietly* That's a good name....

Snake Eyes: *nods, and then shows her his iPod screen, which has details of the mission he's been assigned and which will take him away from base for several days*

Cat Scan: *slight frown, but nods* Be careful out there...

Snake Eyes: *nods, then nods toward Stormshadow, indicating that he's staying*

Cat Scan: *another nod* Alright...

Snake Eyes: *watches his tiny son for a moment, then whistles to catch his attention*

Stormshadow: *looks up alertly*

Snake Eyes: *rapid clicks and signs, then nods*

Stormshadow: *stands and bows with folded hands, then settles down again*

Snake Eyes: *looks at Cat Scan and gives her a slight bow, then turns and jumps down off the table*

Cat Scan: *will silently pray for Snake Eyes' safe return, though she's soon slipping back into feverish slumber*


Elsewhere


Tunnel Rat: *talking to one of the small boxes he bought in the Nexus. Has an excited grin on his face*

Showtime: *too amused at Tunnel Rat, is also carrying boxes of supplies*

Roadblock: Hey, TR, you have a good shoppin' trip? *grins at the shorter man*

Tunnel Rat: *absent scowl* It's Slimer. *grins again* Yeah, I did. Wanna help me with a science experiment?

Showtime: .... *surprised look for Tunnel Rat* Science experiment?

Tunnel Rat: Yeah. You ever see 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'?

Roadblock: Man, don't tell me you met them in the Nexus?

Tunnel Rat: Nope. But I met a guy at the mall that was sellin' the ooze!

Showtime: .... *so confused. Will look up information on the internet* .... *doorwings up*

Roadblock: *alarmed expression* TR, man. Think what you're sayin'. You mess with that stuff 'n some critter'll be payin'!

Tunnel Rat: So he'll get smart. That won't hurt 'im. *frowns and hugs box*

Showtime: That's still dangerous stuff though... *frowning as he looks up more information*

Tunnel Rat: I only got enough ta feed ta my little buddy here. Nothin's gonna go wrong.

Roadblock: *frowwwn*

Showtime: *more frown*

Tunnel Rat: Look! *sets box down and opens it to set free a beautiful golden rat with friendly red eyes, then takes out a tiny vial of glowing green stuff and uncaps it before holding it where the rat can taste it*

Roadblock: Hey! *goes to stop him*

Tunnel Rat: *scowls and offers a sock where it'd hurt*

Showtime: *worried trill, also moving to try and stop Tunnel Rat*

Tunnel Rat: *scowls and moves slightly to go on the defensive, then meeps as he realizes he's spilled his ooze* Aww maaan.

rat: *drinks up all the green stuff, then licks the floor*

Roadblock: *groans* Now we're in for it.

Showtime: *scanning the rat, is wary now*

rat: *washes face, and then goes over and puts a paw on TR's foot, asking to be picked up with friendly whisker wiggles*

Showtime: ... *raised brow ridge*

Tunnel Rat: *looks down at the rat with a dropping expression* It didn' work?

Showtime: Maybe you got scammed....

Tunnel Rat: *bites his lip with disappointment* Great...

rat: *not picked up? Will snuffle boot instead, and then sit on it. Only... the rat is now as big as the foot?*

Showtime: ... Er....

Roadblock: *calls the medic on duty!*

Stretcher: *can soon be heard coming down the hall at a run*

rat: *is now bigger than the foot, and looking around with blinking wonder at the world around it*

Tunnel Rat: *big grin* It's workin'! I'm gonna call you... Splinter!

Showtime: *facepalm*

Stretcher: *down on one knee to examine the creature* ...That's not a very nice name for a lady, Tunnel Rat.

Tunnel Rat: It's Slimer... what? *gobsmacked expression*

Stretcher: *as the rat continues to grow and take on a more anthropomorphic appearance* ... *yanks off his shirt and wraps her in it*

Showtime: ... *blushing and trying not to snicker*

Roadblock: *muttering from behind his hand*

rat: *looks at the shirt, and then up at Stretcher. Softly, as her ears go back with confusion* ...What?

Roadblock: Yeow!

Showtime: *startled, trips over his own feet and lands on his skidplate nearby*

rat: *cringing at the loud crash, and then darts to hide on Tunnel Rat* Friend, I'm scared.

Tunnel Rat: *still gobsmacked* Splinter... yer a girl.

rat: *just hides and shivers*

Showtime: *just a bit brain-broken*

Roadblock: *going to turn and book it off down the hall*

Stretcher: *gently tries to take the rat away from TR* Come on, Miss. Let's get you some clothes.

rat: *clings and cries*

Showtime: *calling for backup... AKA he's calling Desinex for help!*

Stretcher: *gentle and soothing talk for the frightened rat girl* Easy. No one's going to hurt you. I'm a doctor. I just want to help.

Tunnel Rat: *finally snaps out of his shock as the rat girl's crying takes on a note of true terror* Hey. Splinter... don't cry. I'm right here. *gentle hug for the being whose head now reaches his chest* Hey, I'm sorry. Don't cry. It's okay.

rat: *calming, though she's still shaking*

Desinex: *arriving with a spare change of clothes and a blanket* *is in human mode*

Tunnel Rat: *had automatically called to First Contact, too. The blonde Cybertronian woman arrives at about the same time Desinex does* Connie... I screwed up.

First Contact: *exchanges a glance with Desinex, and then startles as Roadblock returns with another blanket*

Stretcher: *frowns, but is going to back off and let the women work*

Desinex: *very soft clicks as she moves to approach*

First Contact: *studies the rat girl, and then moves to hug Tunnel Rat* *soothingly* It's alright. Just calm down, Nicki. If you're calm she'll be calm. Remember how Cassidy reacts?

rat: *startles away from First Contact, but then goes back to TR, though those wide ruby eyes turn curiously toward the clicking*

Desinex: *expression gentle, will offer the blanket first*

rat: *looks at it, then back to the dark-haired woman* ...A nest? Is it for a nest?

Desinex: It can be....

rat: *studying Desinex curiously* *softly* I'm like you.

Desinex: *small nod, will offer the clothes as well*

First Contact: *softly asserting that Splinter is her daughter, just as much as Cassidy is*

rat: *delicate, clawed hand reaches out to the clothing, then takes a piece and holds it up to be studied* I... what is it?

Desinex: *over comms* //Then help me get her dressed.// *to Splinter* Things to wear.

First Contact: //I have to reassure my derp first.// *sounds a bit bemused*

Tunnel Rat: *deep breath* *quietly* I'm okay. Help Splinter. *yup, he heard that*

Splinter: *looks up as she hears her friend say what seems to be her name*

First Contact: *moving to gently turn that soft boob tube the right way up and show how it goes* Do you have underpants, Desi?

Tunnel Rat: *dead of blush*

Roadblock: *concerned big brother face*

Desinex: Soft ones... *offers the garment in question*

General Hawk: *comes down the hall just as Splinter gets all her clothes on the right way up and in the right order* Alright, somebody better start explaining.

Splinter: *shrinks against the older woman, her head going down and her ears flat in submission*

Desinex: *slight shrug, is clicking softly to Splinter and trying to reassure her that there's nothing to be frightened of*

General Hawk: *looks at Showtime*

Showtime: Er.... *looks to Tunnel Rat*

Tunnel Rat: *quietly explains what happened*

General Hawk: *scowls down at the slender being who is clinging to Desinex and First Contact* So now we have a giant mutant rat in the base.

First Contact: *just gave the CO a Look*

Desinex: *also giving the CO a Look*

Showtime: *cringing and half-wondering to himself if he should get away while the getting's good*

Tunnel Rat: Hey, don't talk about 'er like she's some kinda germy monster! She's had all 'er shots, 'n she's cleaner than I am... than the old Tunnel Rat usually was.

Roadblock: *hand on his friend's shoulder as he sees the sadness and confusion return to the smaller man's eyes*

Showtime: *hesitant clicks. Isn't quite sure what else to do at this point.... so he's going with what he knows...*

Desinex: *attention going back to gently fussing over Splinter*

General Hawk: *frowns at the look on Tunnel Rat's face, then looks at the others*

Roadblock: General Hawk, sir. We'll make sure Splinter don't cause any trouble. And... I think you better go read TR's file.

Stretcher: *nodding silent agreement*

First Contact: *full blown protective woman stance*

Desinex: *in a 'Do NOT mess with my family or there WILL be pain' mindset at the moment*

General Hawk: *looks from one soldier to the next, reading body language and facial expressions, then nods* Alright. I trust you to keep your word.

First Contact: *quietly* I'm not sure you're the right commander for this base. If you react like that to someone just because of where she came from...

General Hawk: *blink blink* I beg your pardon...

First Contact: My name is First Contact. I'm Tunnel Rat's wife.

Desinex: *just WATCHING you, General Hawk.... and giving off a very protective vibe right now.*

Showtime: *silently praying that his wife won't get into a fight*

General Hawk: *ack, Cybertronian woman. He's been told by the higher ups not to cross them* *looks at the brunette* And you are...?

Desinex: *cooly* Desinex. *tips her head towards Showtime slightly* Showtime is my husband.

General Hawk: *quietly* I have nothing against beings of other races. But this... *points to Splinter*

Splinter: *cringe* I'm sorry. What did I do?

General Hawk: *mouth falls open*

Desinex: *LOOK. And then she's gently reassuring Splinter with gentle clicks*

General Hawk: *lowers his gaze to look at the rat girl* ...What did you say? *surely he was hearing things...*

Splinter: *wibbles* I don't know what I did. Please don't be mad.

Showtime: *makes up his mind and transforms before cautiously moving to approach. With Desinex's protective instincts on high right now, it's probably best if he stays close by, just in case...*

Desinex: *gently clicking. For someone who used to be such a holy terror, she's very good at being a mother and aunty*

General Hawk: *looks at Showtime at random of all the people there* What exactly does that ooze do?

Showtime: Er... I'm not sure, exactly.... I haven't found the information through googling, yet, sir...

Tunnel Rat: *quietly mutters a site*

Showtime: *expression goes a little blank as he navigates to that site*

Splinter: *small sob*

General Hawk: *'meep!' expression* You didn't do anything wrong. I was just surprised.

Splinter: *just clings to First Contact and shivers, overwhelmed with all the new stuff she's noticing in the world, and the thought that this obvious boss person doesn't like her*

Showtime: *blink blink blink, will quietly explain what the ooze does* The ooze changes something to resemble the last living thing it touched...

First Contact: So she is a person. And she's my daughter.

General Hawk: *looks at the determination in her blue eyes, and then at the scared sadness in TR's. Glances at the determination in Roadblock's eyes, and then over at Stretcher*

Stretcher: I really don't think she's going to be a problem, sir. Domestic rats are clean and healthy, and she doesn't look like the type to try and take over the world.

General Hawk: *looks down at Splinter, and is reminded of nothing so much as a frightened teenage girl* *rubs the back of his neck*

Desinex: *still doing her best to soothe Splinter's upset, already sees the youngster as a niece*

General Hawk: Alright. Tunnel Rat, First Contact. You're responsible for... Splinter. As you were. *turns and walks away*

Roadblock: *lets out the breath he was holding, and then grins down at Splinter*

Showtime: *glances to his wife, is trying to gauge her mood*

First Contact: *trying to lead claimed and daughter home*

Desinex: *reluctantly moves to stand by her own husband, clicking softly all the while*

First Contact: *softly* Thanks, Desinex.

Desinex: *small nod, and a very slight smile for First Contact*

First Contact: *returns the smile and then leads her family members away*

Showtime: *will move to guide his wife off to help him and Roadblock with the supplies, though he'll soon be giving Desinex a surprised look for something she says*

((Co-written with random_xtras))