Nexus. The Black Dog, A Supply Dump, and The Sanctuary. Attacked

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Rhinox: *grumpy as he serves. Had a very bad night and even having his wife and sons near didn't keep the dreams away*

tShowtime: *hesitates as she watches Rhinox and studies his body language*

Rhinox: *snarks at a miserable old cuss of a barfly, and then turns away. Expression is slightly mournful as he runs a hand over his head, which is unadorned today*

tShowtime: *very slight frown as she notices the lack of Kriti... Will approach* *softly* Rhinox?

Rhinox: *looks at her, brightening slightly* Yes, Showtime?

tShowtime: Is Kriti sick? *worried*

Rhinox: She said she had business. *frowns at Mutt for serving the next customer before he can*

tShowtime: *frown* Business? How long ago did she leave?

mWakeJumper: *not paying any attention to you right now, Rhinox... just got nipped a little while ago by a cranky, teething Lumen... Is trying to distract himself from worrying about the little guy*

Rhinox: Last night just before the end of my shift. *turns toward another customer and starts mixing their drink*

tShowtime: *more frown* ... She should have been back by now...

Rhinox: *sharp, worried glance, and then starts slightly and looks over toward Mirage as the tastefully decorated mech gasps and kneels beside Pooka and Lumen to scoop Kouji into his hands*

Mirage: Ohhhh, look at you! You're adorable. Ohhhh.

random barfly: *snort* Get a hold of yourself, mech.

Kouji: *yip! Wiggle, yip at this funny-looking and strange-smelling person!*

Lumen: *curled up and feeling miserable, especially since he nipped Daddy earlier*

tShowtime: *blink blink blink at Mirage, very soft chuckle*

Pooka: *from where he's sitting by Lumen-brother under a table* You better be careful with Kouji, or Aunty Kriti'll get you.

Mirage: I won't hurt him. *voice soft with wonder* He's so beautiful.

tShowtime: *slight ghost of a smile as she watches Mirage and begins to feel a bit more certain about what she was going to ask Rhinox for permission to do*

Kouji: *yip!*

Rhinox: *had watched Mirage and the pups for a moment, but now he's frowning and mixing the big cube again*

tShowtime: *notices that Rhinox isn't wearing the shield cradle* Where are Spazz, Lucky, and Dinobot?

Rhinox: *as he sends the cube sliding down the bar toward its owner* Spazz took the boys and went to pick up the order from the Liquor Depot. *shoots the little blue femme a sharp look* What are you looking so guilty about?

tShowtime: *very slight start* Er.... I...

tKriti: *very faint SOS on Rhinox's comm*

Rhinox: *drops the glass he'd just picked up, his expression going to concern and surprise* //Kriti?? Where are you?//

tKriti: //Don't... know... PINpoint's busted... Slagger caught.... off-guard...// *sounds scared and quite possibly hurt*

Rhinox: *optics suddenly glowing nearly white... and then he vanishes*


In a part of the Nexus not covered by the AVF....


big, burly, ugly Decepticon of identical tech to tKriti: *searching amongst crates and boxes, many of which have already been smashed to pieces in his pursuit of the little pest that helped the Autobots take back a power plant in the middle of the humans' country of the United States. Pays no mind to the energon and other fluids that have left tiny puddles in the area, since what he's seeking is the source of those fluids* *growl* Come out, come out wherever you are, Autobot... I won't hurt you... Much....

tKriti: *hiding, is staying silent and trying to conserve as much energy as she can. Is dizzy and disoriented worse than she was when she first woke up in the Nexus and saw mWakeJumper's face. So scared, just wants to go home.....*

Rhinox: *appears in mid-air and slams into the back of the 'Con's head* *no, that wasn't a PINpoint trip*

'Con: *startled curse, will pry himself out of the dirt and turn to face what hit him, weapon charging in the process*

Rhinox: *teeth bared and optics white* Didn't anybody ever teach you to pick on people your own size?

'Con: *a bit confused by the strange tech, but hey, this guy's acting like an Autobot... and his orders were to kill any Autobot he saw... Opens fire*

Rhinox: *leaps sideways, chainguns of doom flashing into sight in his hands and chattering with malignant fury as they send a storm of rounds into the larger bot*

'Con: *and now he's fighting to stay alive. Nobody said anything about 'Bots fighting like 'Cons!*

Rhinox: *runs forward, guns still going*

'Con: *starting to run out of energy. It was one thing to be low and stomp on the Autobot he found... But it's a whole different thing to be fighting someone the same size who's armed! Trips over his own pedes and goes rolling*

Rhinox: *ditches guns, snags Kriti and holds her close with one hand. Flicks a match with the other...*

tKriti: *optics barely lit, snuggles against Rhinox as the 'Con is engulfed in flames, doesn't even flinch at the explosion that shortly follows*

Rhinox: *deep breath and vanishes. Again, that's no PINpoint trip*


The Sanctuary of Primus


tShowtime: *wringing her hands slightly and sitting next to Mirage. She hurried to the Sanctuary immediately after Rhinox vanished, and now she's picked up on her sister's distress*

Hormah: *can be heard calling orders as she gets things ready. Is also calling comfort to her children*

Rap: *over in the room across from the one his mate's in. Has all the youngsters in there with blankets, cartoons, and cuddles*

Oppy: *snuggling against Papa and trying not to be scared at how tense the little Aunty Show was when she came to look into the room and talk to Papa*

Mira: *hiding against Rap, Oppy, and Bbbrl*

Ravage: *in the front room, just watching as he sits on Roy Mustang's foot*

Roy: *sitting quietly and wondering to himself about all the tension*

Rhinox: *suddenly just there*

Mirage: *hand to chest and mouth dropped open with shock even as he pushes tShowtime behind him*

tShowtime: *startles badly, hand going over her mouth when she sees her sister's condition*

tKriti: *barely recognizable. Looks like she was stomped on, body slammed, and shot at before her attacker decided to try ripping limbs off. One arm is barely connected, and one leg... just came off entirely. Optics are dimmed and she's not making a sound aside from the sound of systems running under extreme strain*

Hormah: *comes bustling out and ganks her, then socks Rhinox upside the head as he pulls out one of his guns* Get a hold 'o yerself, ye aft. *gone back down the hall and into the room she set up as infirmary*

Rhinox: *deep breaths, his hands trembling and fingers twitching*

tShowtime: *ducks her head and hides her face against Mirage's shoulder*

tDesinex: *arriving then, in Hound's arms* *tense and worried* Where's Kriti?

Ravage: Hormah has taken her inside. *nods toward the hall* You vill please to stay here.

tDesinex: *scowl, very slight huff*

tHound: *small nod, will move to sit down next to the guy who kind of reminds him of Mirage* *softly, to tDesinex* She'll be okay....

Spazz: *appears then with a swish and a slight flash. Hurries over to husband as fast as she can go with the shield full of bitties on her back* Hey....

Rhinox: *drops gun on floor and grabs wife and sons. Holds them and hides his face on them. As he does the glow of his optics... and a very slight glow around his body... fades to normal*

Spazz: Shhhh. I'm here. We're here. Just chill... It's going to be okay. *gentle fingers stroke his head as she murmurs to him*

tShowtime: *shaking a bit as she silently weeps. Seeing Kriti in the condition she was in has frightened the gentlest of the sisters*

Mirage: *is shaken and horrified himself, but only pulls tShowtime out from behind him so that he can hug her reassuringly. Cradles her in the crook of his arm and gently smooths her helm as he looks down at her*

tShowtime: *clings to Mirage and shivers. The last time Kriti was hurt that badly... It was right before she had been killed in their reality of origin...* *very, very soft clicks, hides her face against Mirage*

Mirage: *tender and comforting touch for his best friend, but doesn't offer words. He hasn't got any words, and is too bewildered and horror stricken to be able to use any if he had. He's never seen something so terrible happen to a bot*

tDesinex: *far better at hiding her fear than tShowtime. Will lean against tHound and scowl darkly*

Rhinox: *final deep breath, and then gently sets wife and sons on the floor and goes to help Hormah*


Several hours later.....


Hormah: *comes out and looks at everyone who is waiting* *soft snort*

tShowtime: *lifts her head slightly to peek at Hormah, is snuggled against Mirage's side and hasn't moved at all*

tDesinex: *slight scowl* What?

Hormah: *snorts again at tDesinex, but focuses on tShowtime* She's gonna be alright. But it ain't gonna be soon.

tShowtime: *slight wibble, small nod, will snuggle against Mirage again*

tHound: *relief clear on his face, even as tDesinex 'hmph's softly*

Hormah: *quietly reads everyone's feelings, absently scooping Oppy into her arms as the little mech scoots silently up to her*

tDesinex: *despite the grouchy airs she's putting on, she's glad her sister is still alive*

tShowtime: *so relieved! Was scared that they'd lose tKriti*

tHound: *glad the little spitfire femme he remembers is still with the family. Was always fond of her, even with her attitude problem*

Oppy: *snuggle, soft clicks*

Hormah: *gentle and reassuring hand on Mirage's shoulder* Ye best be stayin' here t'night, me son. T' peace'll do ye some good.

Mirage: *blinks* Ah... alright. Thank you.

tShowtime: *very slight shift of position, is getting comfortable*

Hormah: *soft snort* *to the little blue femme* He's after knowin'. He knowed afore ye did, b'y.

tShowtime: *looks up, startled*

Hormah: *shifts to private comm* //S'jes' Mirage as is too stunned t' notice.//

tShowtime: //.... *quietly* Then I should take that bigger me's advice?//

Hormah: *rubs her nose* //Ask t' Greatest Creator t' guide ye. If yer after havin' peace in yer spark 'bout it, t'en go fer it, I says.//

tShowtime: *very slight nod, will snuggle against Mirage and feel safe for now... In the morning, she'll take the first step...*

tHound: *quietly, as he gently repositions tDesinex so she'll be more comfortable* What I can't figure out is how the big guy showed up so suddenly....

Hormah: *turns a quizzical look to the green tracker as she rubs Oppy's back* Eh?

tHound: The guy who brought Kriti here.... It didn't look like a PINpoint arrival...

Hormah: Ah. *chuckles* T'at's cause it waren't no PINpointin', b'y.

tHound: *politely puzzled look* Then what was it?

Hormah: *hunkers down to be closer to the level of the group sitting there on the floor* Ye knows anythin' 'bout Greenie t'ere's past? *looks from tHound to tDesinex to tShowtime*

tHound: *shares a confused look with tDesinex, headshake*

tDesinex: *also headshakes*

tShowtime: *softly* I do... I looked up information about realities like his the day that WakeJumper came back....

Hormah: *slight nod* Quietly. He was after goin' nuts 'n bein' t'at Tankor afthat. 'N 'e died. T'en t' boss sends 'im 'n t'at Optimus Primal t'ere back so's t'ey kin be after doin' 'is work. Only Rhinox ain't never let go t' song. *pauses to look at her audience*

tDesinex: ..... *stunned into silence for once*

tHound: *blink blink blink* .....

tShowtime: *small nod... Suspected something like that*

Hormah: 'N 'e's after bein' a Servant, too. Don't got t' empathy as hard as I do, but t'at's jes' 'cause he's still too bad hurt from all t' slag 'e done.

tDesinex: *blink blink blink. Trying to make sense of this*

tHound: Servant? *unfamiliar with this term*

Hormah: Like I is, b'y. *rubs her cheek on Oppy's little head*

Oppy: *yawns and snuggles before conking out. Can has warm*

Ravage: *as Hormah chuckles at her little son, from his seat on Roy's foot* A servant of Primus.

tHound: *surprised expression is a go*

Mirage: *quietly, from where he's very slightly rocking the little femme in his arms* You couldn't tell by the atmosphere?

tHound: *attention going to Mirage* *quietly* I wasn't sure....

tDesinex: *quiet* Huh.... *soft sigh, snuggles against Hound*

Hormah: Aye. T'is is after bein' one 'o his spots. 'N I's after bein' one 'o his lackeys. *attention goes to the hall*

Rhinox: *walks slowly into the room, the shield cradle strapped to his back and Spazz sitting on his shoulder. Looks from tDesinex to tShowtime*

tShowtime: *not moving. Not sure she should leave Mirage's side right now*

tDesinex: *comfortable in tHound's arms*

tShowtime: *softly* How is she?

Rhinox: *usually gruff voice is a soft, deep rumble* She's sleeping. She's comfortable. *hand goes back to touch the shield cradle*

tShowtime: *small nod* *quietly* I'm glad....

tDesinex: *quietly* She lives to fight another day. She'll be alright.

Rhinox: *nods, then hunkers down* Do you want to see her?

Mirage: *looks down at tShowtime, ready to let her go if she wants*

tShowtime: *quietly* I'll visit in the morning.... *still a bit shaken up*

tDesinex: *moves to climb up to Hound's shoulder so she can see*

Rhinox: *nods as Mirage's grip tightens. Quietly* Bring her somewhere quiet, Mirage. *as Mirage moves to comply, he turns to tDesinex and leans his head forward so that she can see her younger sister, who has been swaddled in a soft fleece blanket and tucked between Lucky and Dinobaby*

tDesinex: *small nod* *quietly* She'll be alright... It won't be long before she and I are at each other's throats again, Rhinox. *now who is she trying to reassure with that?*

Rhinox: *straightens and puts a gentle hand on tDesinex's small shoulder* She will be.

tDesinex: *nods* Yeah...

tHound: *hand going up to rest on tDesinex's legs. Other than that, he won't acknowledge the slight quiver he heard in her voice*

Rhinox: *ruby optics are steady as he gazes at the eldest of his hellion daughters. There is reassurance and confidence in that gaze, as well as old sadness that hasn't anything to do with now*

tDesinex: *very slight nod, will hang onto Hound's audio as the green mech moves to get up* *quietly* Let's go home....

Rhinox: That sounds like a good idea. *rises to his feet, one hand going up to gently hold Spazz's foot* *nods to Hormah, Ravage, and Roy, and then turns toward the door* I wonder what Mutt's messed up this time.

tDesinex: You mean how many Chromias he's had explode in his face, right?

Rhinox: That too. *passes out of the sanctuary and heads for home*

((written with random_xtras))