mbv. The /Ark/ and Virginia Tech. Newcomers and News of the Missing

[microbots.livejournal.com]

McHale: *sitting in the computer lounge, because his internet's acting up. Was playing with his Sims- two old bachelors who resemble himself and his brother- but is now grumbling as the kitchen burns and the Sims panic while their dog acts as though nothing's happened*

Tea: *checks the computer to see what he's grouching about, and then laughs out loud* Hey, Major, your new episode of 'Red vs' Blue' is finished downloading!

Jake: *looks over from where he's working on homework* ... Derp. *back to schoolwork*

Tea: Hey, Blaster, come look what Donut's doin' to his Sims!

Brandon: *looks up from the computer he was working on debugging* Hm?

Tea: *shows her mate exactly what the Major's downloading and playing with atm*

Brandon: *snerrrrk* Laaaame.

Jake: *as he works* L-lahk Ah s-said. Derp.

Tea: *cackling sounds all through the halls*

Gunsmoke: *growls at it uncertainly*

McHale: *absently* Heel.

Gunsmoke: *quiet*

Brandon: Too bad we can't train Laserbeak and Buzzsaw to do that.

Tea: The house! The house! The house is on fire!

McHale: *grumps*

Brandon: Hey, Donut, hand me that pen?

McHale: *reaches for the pen, fumble fumble*

Tea: *makes a Donut crack from the show*

Brandon: *trying so hard to behave.... Okay, no he's not. Just pinged Rewind and mentioned that McHale's got bagels*

Tea: *and then she sees the pen through Brandon's eyes and is howling* WWF????

ferrets: *STAMPEDE!*

McHale: *startled curse, topples his chair on accident. Blueberry bagels go flying*

Rewind: Save the noms!!!

Brandon and Tea: *both beside themselves with laughter*

McHale: *picking himself up off the floor, grump*

Jake: Fail.

Rewind: *making off with a bagel, issa happy ferret!*

Frenzy and Rumble: *transform so they can gank more than one!*

Brandon: *hand on side, is laughing so hard that it hurts*

Tea: *in Prowl's office* McHale's got hobbies!

Pietro: *without looking up from the report he's writing* As do most of the people on base.

Tea: He watches WWF, plays the Sims, and watches 'Red vs' Blue'. *just said that all over the whole base*

Pietro: *without missing a beat* I never said his hobbies were worthwhile, Teletraan. *finishes the report and sends it to Patrick* Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get Wallace down from the snare Marcia set. *trying so hard not to look amused*


Trach residence


Naomi: *looks up at Tea's announcement, then shakes her head*

Laura: ... *blink blink*

Denver: *shaking with suppressed laughter as she hides her face on Tracks' shoulder*

Tracks: ... Do I want to know?

Raoul: *just snorts softly and cuddles baby sister closer in sleep*

Denver: Ah don' th'nk so... *so amused*

Tracks: They're obviously not something pleasant, or Blaster wouldn't be crowing about it like that.

Denver: *snickerfit, is so tickled by the sheer stupidity of what McHale watches* *shares mental images of the Major's hobbies, and tries not to laugh*

Tracks: *blink... blink* My word, those are even more inane than the things Samuel, Seamus, Wayne, and Quinn get excited about.

Tea: And he runs the Sims on automatic!

Denver: *snickerfit*

Laura: ... *facepalming*

Raoul: Knew that guy had a screw loose. *blinks sleepy eyes and then yawns like a cavern*

Emily: I have no idea what any of those things are.

Naomi: I'll tell you later.

Emily: Alright. *looks back at Laura*

Laura: *quietly, remembering what was being discussed before Tea interrupted* My maiden name is McKenzie... My great grandfather spent the rest of his life looking for his brother...

Emily: *sad* He couldn't go back. Mama says we lost the transformation device in a storm.

Laura: Transformation device?

Emily: *nods* Yes, Grandma Alana's people are organic Transformers. They used to use a special energy spring on their home planet to change. But then they figured out how to make devices that put out the same energy.

Laura: *very surprised* Huh....

Emily: Professor Percia's working on how to make a new one.

Laura: *just a bit brainbroken right now* I don't... understand how that could be possible...

Emily: Oh. *looks a little crestfallen as she tries to think of how to help*

Tracks: What do you mean, Laura?

Laura: *quietly* Well... for starters... That my great uncle wasn't dead like everyone but Great Grandpa Issac thought....

Tracks: Ahh. It is a little hard to go visit when someone's living in the Atlantic Ocean.

Denver: *considering look as she studies Laura*

Emily: Well, it isn't now, Tracks. *looks up at him with her bright eyes* The platform's nearly finished.

Laura: *blink blink* Platform?

Naomi: Ja. NEST is building an offshore platform for Seaspray's people.

Laura: *surprised* There's more people in the family?

Tracks: *quiet snerk* Oh please, Seaspray's family is only smaller than Rachel's. And then the ones who came to Earth brought friends along.

Laura: .... Oh....

Denver: *half wondering to herself if Laura's got the family trait, though she kind of doubts it*

Emily: But I've only got five older brothers and one older sister who are McKenzies.

Denver: Th' rest 'ave th' name Rabie? *guessing*

Emily: No. Only some do. Remember Aunty Seastar? She hasn't got any last name, because she hasn't got any human blood.

Denver: Ah...

Naomi: Und the Rabies are cousins.

Laura: ... *very soft snerk as she realizes that she's distantly related to the Rabie family*

Tracks: *quirks a brow at her*

Laura: They're distantly related to my family then... By marriage, at any rate.

Tracks: *slight amused smirk* By Cybertronian reckoning they're family if you say they are. *pokes sleeping son*

Raoul: *grunts and snuggles down on his Denver pillow*

Denver: *attention going to Raoul, soft clicks as she smooths his hair*

Laura: *a bit surprised at the acceptance of her observation as fact*

Tracks: *icy blue eyes twinkle as his smirk grows. He's amused at her and her surprise*

Emily: So... are you my cousin? Not aunty...

Laura: *thinking about this* Cousin, several times removed is my best guess...

Emily: *slight bit of a pixie grin* That's too many words to use, though.

Laura: *very soft snerk* Yeah....

Emily: *studies her with those bright blue eyes, and then holds out one small, plump, webbed hand* Do you want to come talk to Grandma? She's here right now.

Laura: *reaches for Emily's hand* Sure...

Emily: *big grin, and then turns to Denver* Can you teach me the little song later?

Denver: *nods, eyes twinkling just a bit*

Naomi: See you later, Emily. *ears twitching as her black eyes sparkle*

Emily: *hugs her friend, and then will lead Laura away*

Raoul: *muffled* My head ain't an arm rest.

Tracks: *snerk!*

Denver: *cracks up and lets Raoul go*

Raoul: *sits up, but then settles against her again, baby sister held close as he reaches for Naomi*

Tracks: *quietly* Did you have somewhere you need to be, Denver?

Denver: *blinks* *puzzled expression is a go* Not t' mah knowledge...

Tracks: Good. Then I declare it nap time. *gets up to bring the rest of the pecan crackers and juice back to the kitchen, and then to spread out the floor cushions* Funny, isn't it, how lost people seem to be found around here?

Denver: *chuckles as she moves to help with the cushions* Yeah....

Raoul: *falls over, to Naomi's great gigglement. Grunts and tries to sit up again, holding her and Rose close* Still sleepy, Major Mac.

Denver: *rolls her eyes, though she does move to sit back down*

Tracks: *comes over, snags all three children, and hauls them over to the pillow pile* What do you think we're working on, you ungrateful hoodlum?

Rose: *half-asleep babby knows the right answer!* Thrrpt...

Denver: *laughs*

Tracks: *smirk has become a grin as he lays the youngsters down and then arranges himself comfortably beside them* Oh really?

Rose: *bitty snore, face buried against big bubby's shirt*

Tracks: *shakes his head, and then quirks an inviting eyebrow at his wife*

Denver: *chuckles and moves to lay down next to Tracks*

Tracks: *arms around her and cheek on her hair as that soft, soft purr starts up*


Infirmary


Granny Rabie: She's a good size t' 'er, at any rate. *standing on a stool so that she can see over Vato and examine his new daughter*

Granny Ootera: *standing on a stool next to her friend* Leg warmers. Yes. This not dress girl. *glances at Hattie for her opinion*

Hattie: *chuckles* Naw... Maybeh p'lazzo pants...

Granny O and Granny R: *look at her quizzically*

Granny Rabie: What's t'at, b'y?

Hattie: Tahp 'f pants th't're wahd-legged, but ain't bell bottoms...

Granny Ootera: Hakama?

Hattie: *blink blink* Huh?

Granny Ootera: *explains hakama as best she can with her broken English and many hand gestures*

Granny Rabie: *face clears* Split skirt, ye means?

Hattie: *understanding, kind of!* Heh, maybeh... *attention going to Vato, worry clear in her eyes*

Granny Rabie: *then looks over her shoulder and nudges Hattie before jerking her head toward the door*

Hattie: *looks*

Trevor: *peeking into the room*

Hattie: *expression brightens as she moves to give Trevor a hug*

Trevor: *cuddles her close* *quietly* I got something.

Hattie: *blink blink* Oh?

Trevor: *softly* Yeah... I went to the Nexus to grab the things Ensign Falman and Anne couldn't. And I stopped by the Primus sanctuary to check on the little couch femme. *hesitates and looks uncertain, then glances toward his wife's friends*

Hattie: *soft sound* *quieter* 'S she okay?

Trevor: Yeah. *slight grin, though he's still uncertain about something. Moves to guide Hattie out into the hall* She's going to be fine. Just scared now.

Hattie: *is guided* Good...

Trevor: Have you ever thought about having another baby?

Hattie: *small headshake* *quietly and sadly* Aftah Miranda w's born, Ah w's told th't 'f Ah 'ad aneh moah kids, 't'd lahkleh kill me...

Trevor: Oh. *face falls slightly, and he fiddles with the bottle he's hiding behind his back* But... what if you didn't have to build it?

Hattie: *chuckles softly once she's figured out what Trevor means* Th'n Miranda w'ldn't've been th' youngest 'f fahv...

Trevor: *softly* Is that a bad thing?

Hattie: *quietly* Ah w'ld've loved t' 'ave moah kids... Ah w'sn't much oldah th'n Denver when Ah 'ad Miranda... 'N bah th't tahm, Ah'd learned 'nough t' not be 'fraid'a mess'n up...

Trevor: *shows her the bottle* Want one that's part me? You can use all your learning... *sheepish look*

Hattie: *very soft chuckle* *as she moves to give Trevor a hug* Ah'll pr'tect y'u fr'm Denver aftah all's said 'n done.

Trevor: *gives her a gentle and joyous squeeze* I think Perceptor's home. We can ask him to make sure everything goes alright.

Hattie: *nod* Le's git goin' th'n.

Trevor: Do you want to say goodbye to your sisters?

Hattie: *soft 'heh', will give his hand a gentle squeeze before going to do so*

Trevor: *makes a call as he waits for her to come back* //Hey, Perceptor?//

Merlin: *sounds a bit startled, was likely playing with his keychains again* //Yes, Trailbreaker?//

Trevor: //Trevor. Do you have time to deliver a sparklet?//

Merlin: *sounds so shocked now* //I... I was unaware that there is an expecting mother...//

Trevor: //Well, there isn't yet. We're using that gas that you can get in the Nexus.//

Merlin: //...I see... I trust you will take precautions to prevent exposing others besides Miss Hattie and yourself?//

Trevor: //Well yeah. That's part of the reason I asked you to keep an eye on things.//

Merlin: //I am currently free...// *checking with Kia to see where she is* *pauses as he realizes that she gave him a kiss and left for work after breakfast* *to Trevor* //And the quarters Kia and I reside in should be safe enough...//

Trevor: *looks for his wife, wants to ask her opinion*

Hattie: *slips back out into the hallway*

Trevor: You okay doing it at Perceptor and Kia's place?

Hattie: *surprised, but the surprise quickly fades as she realizes the sense in the suggestion* *nods* Yep... 'T's fahn bah me.

Trevor: Do you need to get anything? Or have me get anything? //Hattie's fine with that, Perceptor.//

Hattie: *considering* We's gonna need babeh th'ngs....

Trevor: Do you have any? You're always making stuff.

Hattie: *nods* Ah've got babeh clothes, blankets, 'n diapah covahs....

Granny Rabie: *sticks head out into hall* 'N sisters t' give ye a shower. *grin*

Trevor: *nearly jumped out of his skin*

Hattie: *startles* Land sakes! *stinkeye for Granny Rabie*

Granny Rabie: *unrepentant stinker of a grin as her black eyes twinkle* I means it. Ye ain't got not'in t' be abroad over 'bout baby stuff.

Hattie: 'Un 'f these days, Ah'll get t' be th' 'un t' startle y'u, Rabie. *now that she's over her startlement, she's got a bit of a stinker grin on her face too*

Granny Rabie: *snorts* Dream on, b'y. Lemme know which flavour ye gets.

Hattie: *chuckles* Will do... *moves to put an arm around Trevor's waist*

Trevor: *happy smile as he gently puts his arm around her shoulders and nods to Granny Rabie before turning with his wife toward the elevator*


Half hour later


Rachel: *pings Patrick's comm*

Patrick: //Yes, Rachel?//

Rachel: *so amused* //We just got another couch gas baby, Chief.//

Patrick: //...Who are the parents?//

Rachel: //Trevor and Hattie Lamont.//

Patrick: //...Human or sparklet?//

Rachel: //She's Cybertronian, but she's got her mom's nose. Oh, and they did it on purpose. Asked Merlin to supervise and everything.//

Patrick: //.... Do they need anything for her, and does she have a name yet?//

Rachel: //Apparently she's pretty sure her name is Fern. And... Did you really just ask that other question, Chief?//

Patrick: //I had to check...//

Rachel: *chuckles* //They were planning what colour to paint her. I guess she came plain.//

Patrick: *chuckle* //How are they doing?//

Rachel: //Merlin says baby and parents are resting comfortably. Oh, and your wife was actually a little grumpy when I talked to her just now.//

Patrick: //...I'll get her some chocolate...// *sounds just a bit defeated*

Rachel: //She just woke up and realized it was noon already. Little Sister had the babies.//

Patrick: //Ah... I still need to get her chocolate... She says so.//

Rachel: *chuckles and shows him the picture that Emilia showed him... that of Little Sister sitting happily in the rocking chair as she cuddles Velocia and Soli and feeds them cookies*

Patrick: *chuckles softly and changes the subject for a moment* //How's Jack?//

Rachel: *opens the channel to her husband, and then elbows him lightly*

Jack: *oofs* //I was being good...//

Patrick: *more chuckle*

Rachel: //He's only cuddling with one arm, though. He's sitting up and playing Minecraft.//

Patrick: *snerk* //Well, at least he's not trying to be up and about before you or Russ clear him to be...//

Rachel: //I guess I'm kind of cheating with that. Meep! Oh, good boy, Grimmy!//

Patrick: //Hm?//

Rachel: //The other Ratchet got called back by an emergency. Grimlock brought 'Buster home for us.//

Patrick: //Ah... Why was the yellow guy here?//

Rachel: //He's figured out a way to help Jack, and was checking to see how long we'll need to wait to do it.//

Jack: *absently* //'Buster wanted to play with our kids.//

Rachel: //Yeah, but that wasn't the official reason.//

Patrick: //I see...// *chuckle*

Rachel: //But I better let you go. I need to call someone to bring Grimmy his lunch. Stay out of trouble, alright, Chief?//

Patrick: //You too.// *knows he's gonna get razzed at the very least*

Rachel: *snerk thrrrpt*

Patrick: *more chuckle* //Patrick out.//

Rachel: //Rachel out.//

Grimlock: //OUT ALREADY!// *click*

Patrick: *snerks and returns his attention to his lunch*

Tea: //Hey, Chief?//

Patrick: //Yes, Tea?//

Tea: //There's a centaur in your library.//

Patrick: //...A real one, or a figurine?//

Tea: //I'd say she's pretty alive. She jes' stopped ta look at that National Geo you pitched over your shoulder.//

Patrick: //... Who is available to speak to her?// *really would prefer to be there himself, but he can't skip out on work*

Tea: //Boss, she's there. At the school.//

Patrick: //...// *gets up* //What section?//

student: *somewhere in the stacks* Nice costume.

husky female voice: Thank you.

Patrick: *moving towards the voice*

student: *wanders past and nods at him*

Patrick: *nods at the student and looks to see if there's anyone else nearby*

centaur: *right there, in all her magnificent, sleekly furred glory. Is frowning as she fingers the poor chopped up magazine, her golden eyes narrowed slightly in the blackness of her face*

Patrick: *a bit brain broken, but he'll still be polite* Is there anything I can help you find?

centaur: *looks up alertly, pointed ears twitching under her hair* I'm trying to find a man who works here.

Patrick: *thinking of the other librarian who works the same shift as him, but will double check* Which librarian are you looking for?

centaur: *softly* The non native one.

Patrick: *small nod* *quieter* How may I help you?

centaur: *brightens* I'm told your people could use some backup. I work for cheap.

Patrick: *quietly* We do need help... *even quieter* We can't talk here though....

centaur: *nods* The locals seem to think I'm 'cosplaying' someone named Cherone.

Patrick: *soft chuckle* Chiron is a well-known figure in Greek mythology... *softly* Do you have a way of travel that wouldn't draw attention?

centaur: Yes. *turns and pulls a bundle of fabric out of her pack, then drapes it over herself and vanishes to sight*

Patrick: *small nod* *is contacting Emilia and Serenity, since they're better at diplomatic situations than he is* *will also leave a note for Rachel* *quietly* I can't leave the library until the end of my shift... But there are those at the Ark base who will meet you there, and give you a tour....

centaur: *upper body appears again as she pushes her cloak back, and then she's pulling out a gas station map of the area, and a Bicstick that looks like she picked it up in the halls here* Show me the way?

Patrick: *will draw out a route that will take the centaur right to the base's front gate without too much trouble, and with only one major road crossing* I've already let Emilia and Serenity know about your arrival, and they'll let the guards at the gate know to let you through.

centaur: *smiles with her mouth closed as she studies the route* Thank you.

Patrick: Safe travels.

centaur: Thank you, sir. *puts the map and pen away, then pulls the cloak up again and walks away soundlessly*

Tea: //Four fingers on each hand. Wild.//

Patrick: //No kidding....// *really wishes he could take off, but unfortunately, he doesn't have any vacation days right now*

Tea: //I just caught a transmission going around in our space. Somebody put out a call for backup. Any ideas who it could be?//

Patrick: //... It isn't me. And I'm pretty sure it isn't Blaster, or you wouldn't have mentioned the transmission... Right?//

Tea: //We didn' do it.//

Patrick: //Alright... Try and find out who's sending it.//

Blaster: //Ya think??// *can you just hear that big cheesy grin?*

Patrick: //Keep me updated.//

Blaster: //No... I never would'a thought of that!//

Patrick: //... Quit drinking Pietro's coffee, Blaster.//

Blaster: *little squeak as Tea laughs*

Patrick: //I'll try and get off of work early... Patrick out.//

Tea: //Blaster blastin' out!// *laughs and closes the line*

Col. Franklin: //You know a bot named Cosmos?//

Patrick: //...I do... Why do you ask?//

Col. Franklin: //Because we found a grocery list at Captain MacKenzie's house that had Cybertronian glyphs on it, and the English words, 'Get gas for Cosmos'.//

((co-written with random_xtras))