TPF-verse, Autobot HQ, Reunions and Recovery

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

June: *goes up to the top of the mesa, looking for Arcee. Stops and frowns when she sees how her friend is standing and looking down at that pile of rocks*

Arcee: *just a bit shell-shocked still*

June: *walks a little closer, pulling her sweater closed and absently buttoning it against the chill of the desert night* Arcee?

Arcee: *slight start*

June: What's wrong? *looks at the rock pile* ...Is there something in these rocks?

Arcee: *quietly* This is Cliffjumper's grave marker....

June: *startled step back* He's buried here?

Arcee: *headshake, optics dim* No...

June: *looks up with a frown* No?

Arcee: *quietly* We weren't able to recover his shell.... *still upset about that*

June: *concern for her friend, and for the deceased bot* *quietly* Why not?

Arcee: *softly* His shell was destroyed....

June: *compassion on her face as she lays a hand on Arcee's leg* I'm sorry.

Arcee: *quietly* At least the Decepticons can't hurt him anymore....

June: *gently* Did something happen during the fight tonight?

Arcee: *quietly* It's like I see a ghost every time I look at that Rockface guy....

June: Which guy is Rockface?

Arcee: *quietly* The green guy with the horns...

June: *hasn't noticed horns, but has noticed the new green guy* The cocky one?

Arcee: *quietly* He's just like Cliffjumper...

June: *wince* You mean he looks like him, or...?

Arcee: Looks, acts... He even sounds like Cliffjumper....

June: *blinks* Do you guys have relatives?

Arcee: Build siblings, usually...

June: Is this guy Cliffjumper's build sibling, maybe?

Arcee: I don't know....

June: Could you ask him?

Arcee: *looks just a bit spooked at the idea*

June: *pats Arcee's leg again* *softly* Were you and Cliffjumper... More than partners?

Arcee: *quietly* We were friends...

June: *nods, her expression showing more sympathy* *gently* I think you should just talk to Rockface.

Arcee: *will think about this as she sits and looks pensive*

June: *humorously, trying to be reassuring* Bulkhead won't let him do anything.

Arcee: *very soft 'heh'*

Optimus: *is that crunch of gravel behind them* *quietly* Is this a private party?

June: *blinks, is still startled by the Prima's changed demeanour*

Arcee: *startles as well*

Optimus: *soft meep* Sorry...

Arcee: Is something wrong, Optimus? *moving to get up*

Optimus: No... I just came to join you. *wistful* To get to know you again. *looks to June also as she says the last*

June: *compassion on her face as she looks up at the tall femmebot*

Arcee: Oh... *very soft chuckle*

Optimus: I can go if I'm butting in.

Arcee: *moves to scoot over* There's plenty of room for one more, Optimus...

June: *grins* We can sit up here and girl talk. *will get a rock that isn't Cliffjumper's and move it over to sit on*

Optimus: Thanks. *lowers herself slowly, being careful of the wounds she sustained while standing too close to Airachnid's hole after Keepsake threw a boomstick down it*

Arcee: *will watch Optimus sit, concern for the Prima clear in her optics*

Optimus: *comments absently as she puts a hand to her midsection* WakeJumper said that the Destroyacons wouldn't attack again for awhile, but they hit that plant the day after we fought at the mine.

Arcee: *quietly* Airachnid must have thought it would be a good idea....

June: Maybe she thought that you guys would be too damaged to come out, too?

Optimus: Maybe. *frowns*

Arcee: *slight shrug*

June: She needs to learn what we humans say about assuming. *grin*

Arcee: *raised brow ridge*

Optimus: What do humans say about assuming? *pulls her knees up to her chest and hugs them*

June: .>_> *explains the saying*

Arcee: ... *googling!*

Optimus: *running the saying and the explanation over in her mind. And then chuckling* It did, didn't it?

Arcee: Hm?

Optimus: Made an ass of Airachnid.

Arcee: *snerk*

June: *grins, then looks up curiously* So... you and Ratchet.

Optimus: *saddens, but nods* Yes. I can't believe I'd... *lips thin*

Arcee: *quietly* I've never seen Ratchet so flustered....

Optimus: *quizzical look for the shorter femme*

Arcee: He's not sure how to act....

Optimus: He's acting strange, then? *slight frown of concern*

Arcee: *very slight shrug* It's almost like he's afraid to do anything....

Optimus: *concern grows, and she bows her head in thought* What is he like... usually? *expression is wistful, and holds a gentleness that Arcee will have only seen a hint of that day she'd been trapped with the Prima in frozen Antarctica*

Arcee: Usually, he's a lot less hesitant.... and a lot more of a grouch.... *totally ratting out Ratchet* *quieter* But I guess I can understand why he's like that, now.

Optimus: *blinks as her expression shows pain* *quietly* Poor Ratchet... How could I... *presses lips together*

June: *looks from Optimus to Arcee, her face a picture of sympathy*

Arcee: *quieter* What was he like before the war?

Optimus: *and now there is a slight, soft, half smile as her optics light and her faceplates heat slightly* *softly* Eager. He was from a higher caste than I was... he would have been on a level with the factory owners and the people who owned the luxury shops. But he left the heart of Iacon to explore the areas that his starter class mates only cruised through to prove how tough they were. *slight, soft chuckle* He'd stick his nose into anything, help anyone who needed it, stand up to anyone he thought was wrong. ...And get drunk on one cube of plain highgrade.

Arcee: ... *snerk*

Optimus: *little smile becomes a slight grin* I met him one night in Macadam's, while I and my brothers were just starting our jobs. He was... cute. *ducks her head, her faceplate heating further as she thinks of the handsome, cuddly young mech who had smiled at her so adorably*

Arcee: ... So what happened at Macadam's?

Optimus: That first night? He grinned at me, and we had a drink. Then he was having trouble staying on his seat, so I brought him home. *and then woke up to find that he'd gotten lost in the night and wound up on her berth, snuggled against her* *softly* He never left, despite how strict things were back then when it came to filling your caste function.

Arcee: ... *soft chuckle* I think he's gotten better at handling his high grade, at any rate....

Optimus: *nods* Yes, he got used to it pretty quickly. Aerial, Dion, and our friend Jazz feeding it to him every time he turned around during the first couple weeks helped him build his tolerance.

Arcee: *soft snerk*

Optimus: Once that stopped being funny they found other ways to haze him. But Ratchet could give as well as he got. *slight, fond head shake* He can be a bit of a bully, too. He and my brothers keep each other in line. *starts and looks up* I mean... they did.

Arcee: *quietly, getting a bit of a mischievous glint in her optic* You mentioned they hazed him..... If it was anywhere near as entertaining as watching Bulkhead dance after running into powerlines....

Optimus: *head lowers as she looks at memory which for her now seems as near as the day before* I've never seen Bulkhead run into powerlines. But Aerial and Dion once set a shocktrap for slaargs right where Ratchet would step on it. They sent him on glitch hunts. They installed things inside their shells that would gush coloured oil when they popped their hands off. They dropped him in the canal.

Arcee: ....So it's not just WakeJumper who got sent on glitch hunts.... *snerks*

Optimus: Was he? *looks up*

June: What is a glitch hunt? *brows quirked*

Arcee: I heard him talking about it with Bulkhead one day.... *to June* It's where you send someone gullible enough out to find a glitch.... but the glitch doesn't exist.

June: ...So it's like a snipe hunt here?

Arcee: .... *googling* .... *and then she's snickering* It seems like it....

Optimus: *nodding* Yes, yes it is. They even make the scary sounds. *chuckle*

Arcee: ... I wonder if we could send some of the visiting 'bots on a glitch hunt?

Optimus: *shakes her head* I don't think any of them would fall for it.

June: o.O *at Optimus' thoughts on the matter. Had expected the usual curt order to desist*

Arcee: Torque might....

Optimus: He's downstairs planting scary noisemakers in Bulkhead's room.

Arcee: ...The aftermath of that's going to be fun to watch...

Optimus: *chuckles in a way that makes June go o.O again*

Arcee: *quietly* I still remember the first time Cliffjumper got sent out on a glitch hunt.... Four solar cycles later, we found him up to his hips in river mud...

Optimus: 0_0 Four...

Arcee: We started looking near the end of the first one.... I still don't know how he managed to get as far as he did in that amount of time.....

Optimus: *shakes her head* It reminds me of the time Aerial dared Dion to eat an entire box of buzz powder.

June: Buzz powder?

Arcee: ... *raised brow ridge* What she said.

Optimus: *surprised* You don't know what buzz powder is?

Arcee: I've never heard of it....

Optimus: *slow blink* ...When did you come online?

Arcee: *names the date* *which was a looooong time ago, but still only a fraction of the time that Optimus and Ratchet have been online*

Optimus: *deep frown* Was the war started?

Arcee: *small nod* From what I can remember, there was still hope that things would quiet down soon....

Optimus: And no buzz powder. *still frowning* What did you eat for a snack? Or to keep you up on late shifts?

June: ...Are we talking about Transformer coffee?

Optimus: *blinks and looks down at her, then checks the net* ...Huh. Buzz powder isn't made from seeds, though.

Arcee: Usually energon goodies....

Optimus: Energon goodies are alright, I guess. We usually couldn't afford the good kinds, though.

Arcee: *blink blink* Good kinds?

Optimus: Yes. Anything with flavour. Energon pellets are only good for throwing to the sharkticons in the canals, or for shooting at people from the warehouse roof.

June: o.o *is she hearing this?*

Arcee: ...That sounds about right.....

Optimus: *slight snrk as she remembers something. Sputter. Snigger*

Arcee: ... Do I want to know?

Optimus: *relates the story of the day that Alpha Trion had come to her home to bring her something, and how Dion had crawled through a tunnel in the stacked energon cubes and used a blowpipe to shoot energon pellets at the Archivist's skidplate while he'd been speaking with her*

Arcee: *snickering and trying not to laugh by the end of the story*

Optimus: *roguish grin and dancing optics reply to Arcee's snickering, but then her expression and optics darken as she remembers her current situation. Rises and slowly walks to the edge of the mesa to look out across the bizarre alien landscape that it overshadows, her expression pensive and unhappy*

Arcee: *moves to get up* *quietly* It seems like he'd do anything for you...

Optimus: *presses her lips together and shutters her optics, but manages a nod*

Arcee: *reaches up to gently patpat Optimus' arm*

Optimus: *softly, as June reaches them and looks up sympathetically* I really didn't remember any of that?

Arcee: *quiet* It's hard to say....

Optimus: I just can't believe... *breaks off and whirls as an explosion lightly shakes their perch*

June: Whoa! *weebling as high heels twist on the uneven ground*

Arcee: *startles badly*

Optimus: Ratchet! *races for the entry*

June: *knocked on her butt by the force of the wake left behind by the Prima* Ack!

Arcee: *will gently scoop June up and hurry after Optimus*

Keepsake: *standing in the command room and laughing her aft off*

Bulkhead: *saying Words!*

Muhlisha: *sitting on Torque over next to the crates and ignoring everything*

Arcee: What happened?

Agent Fowler: *pulls himself up on the railing* ...Someone gave someone else a box with a bomb in it. *stink eye for Keepsake*

Optimus: *turns and knocks the smaller femme tail over teakettle*

Eclipse: *fusses and makes her upset known, even as she continues to wallop on WakeJumper*

Torque: *startles as Optimus rounds on Keepsake* What the-?!

Keepsake: What the *vituperation*??

Optimus: *steps over her and strides down the hall toward her quarters, her optics white with concern*

Muhlisha: Told you not to give Bulkhead that present, Keepsake.

Keepsake: *BLEEEP!*

Bulkhead: *has forgotten the present, is staring after Prima*

Ratchet: *cycling air and wincing as his spark does an 'eeeek' dance in response to the explosion he heard* *has his hand on Panacea's back protectively*

Panacea: *scowling mightily, but still sound asleep*

Optimus: *as she enters hurriedly* Ratchet? Are you alright?

Ratchet: *quietly* I'll be alright. *sounds quite spooked*

Optimus: *comes to sit on the side of the berth and touch his face* You're shaking. *scowl*

Ratchet: *trying to slow down his intakes, will check on Panacea to make sure she's alright* *quietly* What in Cybertron's name was that?

Optimus: *gently pulling him close and rubbing his back* Keepsake gave a box of explosives to Bulkhead. *voice tight with anger* As a prank.

Ratchet: ...... *slowly* What is her malfunction?

Optimus: *slight startle as Panacea squirms into a more comfortable position* I don't know, but none of the other bots from Tau seemed surprised at all. Even WakeJumper didn't pay any attention to it. *wonderingly, as she looks down at the white sparklet* Neither did Panacea.

Ratchet: *attention going back to the white sparklet, very soft 'heh'*

WakeJumper: *retreating to the medilab since Eclipse really did a number on him with her lovie* *and yes, that's Torque laughing about it just from the control room* *pauses to come and peek into Optimus' room* *quietly* Pansy didn't even wake up at that, did she?

Optimus: *glances toward the door* No, she didn't. *wry look as she wonders why and thinks she knows*

WakeJumper: *chuckle* Well, she definitely looks content there....

Optimus: *quietly so as to not disturb the young Cybertronian snuggled against Ratchet's chest, but with unmistakable anger* What the slag was Keepsake thinking?

WakeJumper: *shrug* Probably that it would be funny. She's one of Fixer's kids.... and she's like most of Tau's population. The 'Cons are terrified of being in the airspace around Tau.... For a good reason.

Optimus: *soft growl* If she does that again while she's here I'll knock her block off.

Ratchet: *boggling just a bit*

WakeJumper: *more shrug* Good luck with that.

Optimus: *gives WakeJumper such a Look as the young medic has seldom gotten before, and then gently lays Ratchet and Panacea down* It wouldn't take much more force than I used just now.

WakeJumper: .... *just a bit weirded out now* I'd better go get these dents taken care of...

Ratchet: *absently, attention going back to Panacea* You do that....

Optimus: *absent pat on his shoulder, and then goes out to the control room and gives Keepsake a quiet Look full of promise as she clenches her fist and looms, taking advantage of her new height and bulk*

Agent Fowler: 0_0 ...

Torque: :O

Eclipse: *FUSS*

Arcee: ....

Optimus: *to Keepsake* Don't do that again.

Keepsake: *rubbing her head and giving the Prima a confused and irate look. Shrugs* Whatever. *watches the taller femme leave, and then looks at Arcee and June* What's her glitch?

Arcee: Er.... *looks to June*

June: *mom lecture mode* Blowing things up in the base? No.

Agent Fowler: I second that.

Keepsake: *incredulous look* Then where the fragging pit am I supposed to blow them up?

June: 0.o *facepalm*

Arcee: ...Outside.

Agent Fowler: Preferably far away from any human-made artifact or building. ...And near Decepticons. ...Or MECH.

Torque: ...MECH?

Arcee: *lips thin* The human version of Decepticons.

Torque: ...Oh... *frown*

Agent Fowler: *goes over and wearily flops on the couch* Mrs. Darby, doesn't Jack have school on Monday?

Jack: *gives him a '...' look* You just want the couch.

Agent Fowler: *unrepentant look* Teenagers need their sleep.

Jack: *eyes narrowed* ...

Arcee: *to Agent Fowler* Didn't the Lt. Col. offer couch space?

Agent Fowler: *snort* I'd rather sleep on a couch with a little securi... *stops to look at the little orange and black person who just took the space Jack vacated* ...Ty.

Eclipse: *looking quite pleased with herself, even as she headtilts to study this strange squishy* Bwee?

Agent Fowler: ...Hi.

Eclipse: *clickstorm, scoots on her butt so she can get a better look at the big squishy*

Agent Fowler: ...So you're a baby, huh? *wonders if he should get the heck out of Dodge before that wrench comes into play*

Eclipse: *headtilty the other way, thinking hard about what to do next.... will reach up. Wants cuddles!*

Agent Fowler: *blink blink* ...What?

June: *big grin* She wants you to pick her up. *hand on Jack's face as her son cracks up in a fit of the snorting giggles*

Rockface: Yeah... She's prolly getting tired....

Agent Fowler: *blink blink* Me? Why me? She doesn't even know me.

Rockface: *shrug* Just pick her up so she doesn't start yelling.

Agent Fowler: *one hand goes out involuntarily* Why don't you pick her up? *cranky scowl*

Eclipse: *bitty hands grab on, clickstorm!*

Rockface: 'Cause she wants to snuggle against you.

Agent Fowler: *slight wince as the sparklet grabs him, expects her to cause damage* Easy...

Eclipse: *knows how to be gentle! Learned that earlier today when she got to play with Raf!*

Agent Fowler: ... *gently gathers the little bundle of parts onto his lap and then frowns at her*

Eclipse: *clickstorming with a few happy-sounding beeps mixed in, snuggle, purrrrrr*

Agent Fowler: *very slight 'oof' as she snuggles. Stares down at her, and then gives Rockface a stink eye*

Keepsake: *offers him a bottle*

Rockface: *chuckles. Not the least bit intimidated, Agent Fowler* I think she likes you.

Agent Fowler: ...Can she like me without the wrench?

Keepsake: *rolls optics* She won't hurt a squishy.

Agent Fowler: *blinks and looks up at the sandy femme, then sees the bottle and takes it*

Rockface: 'Clipsie really likes Wake, so she was pretty miffed when he left... Took us ages to get her interested in taking in fuel again....

Keepsake: Yeah, Fixer finally managed to convince her that she'd see him again, and that when she did she could whale on him with a wrench. Then she gave her the wrench.

Eclipse: *staaaaaring. Dooood, you has bottle!* *squeak squeak squeak, reach for bottle!*

Agent Fowler: Whoops! *looks at bottle. Looks at sparklet. Aims pointy end of bottle at the squeak vent*

Keepsake: *snerk. Goes to check on the Prima and her medic*

Eclipse: *happy little engine purrs as she takes in fuel and shutters her optics*

Rockface: *soft chuckle* Once she finishes that, she'll prolly go into recharge mode....

Agent Fowler: Heh... *yawwwns till his jaw pops* *grumble*

Jack: *hops down the steps two at a time. He's going to go find Arcee and share this*

June: *shakes head after her son*

Eclipse: *making quick work of her meal, will snuggle and purrrrr*

June: *turns away from the couch as Agent Fowler lays down with the snuggly sparklet* Hey, Rocky, can I ask you a question?

Rockface: *blink blink at the nickname* Er... Sure....

June: *walks over near to the green mech and leans on the railing* *low voice* What's the story with you and Arcee?

Rockface: *very slight shrug* It's like I kind of know her.... But this is the first time I've seen her in my life...

June: *frowns* What do you mean, 'like you know her'?

Rockface: *more shrug* It's like.... I have memories of interacting with her.... Like I was seeing things through someone else's optics.... But like I was there in person, even when I was on Tau...

June: *frown deepens* Have you ever heard of a Transformer named Cliffjumper?

Rockface: *blink blink* Cliffjumper.... Cliffjumper.... *thinking* The name kinda rings a bell.... *slight start*

June: *looks at his slightly widened optics* ...Rockface?

Rockface: *looking around with wide optics* Did you hear that?

June: ...The only thing I heard was Bulkhead burping somewhere down the hall.

Rockface: .... Someone just said 'Hi' to me... and it wasn't on comms, I don't think....

June: *frowns*

Rockface: ....Oh holy slag... *looking just a bit freaked out now, but also a bit relieved* That voice I've been hearing in my head off and on.... It's his voice....

June: ... *looks around for medibots*

WakeJumper: *peeking in* *quietly* Keepsake told me Eclipse is sleeping now.... Is it safe to come in?

June: *waves him over, her expression serious* Come on over. She and Agent Fowler are having a snoring contest.

WakeJumper: *will quietly approach* *softly* Good... She's a lot stronger than she was when I left....

June: *frowns with no sign of flirting* Babies tend to get stronger as they grow. WakeJumper, what does it mean when a Transformer hears a dead Transformer's voice in his mind?

WakeJumper: .... That depends... Could be head trauma causing a data loop... Could be a twin-sparked reaching for their other half.... *quieter* Could be that the dead Transformer's not at rest....

June: *looks at Rockface* ...What's Cliffjumper say, Rocky?

Rockface: *look of concentration, is trying to get an answer*

WakeJumper: *blinking at June and Rockface now*

Rockface: *slowly* He said... Something about making sure everyone's okay? *attention going to a slight flicker of light* *frown*

flicker: *sounding a bit hollow* That's not what I said, bolt-brain...

June: 0_0 *backpedal!*

WakeJumper: *quick to get June out of danger*

flicker: *takes a more solid, though transparent, form.... One that looks quite similar to Rockface* *frowwwwns at Rockface*

Rockface: 0_0 *backing up* Er....

Ratchet: *making his way into the room, frowns as he stops short* Cliffjumper?

Keepsake: *from behind him* ...Isn't he dead?

Ratchet: *moves to enter the room* *to Keepsake* Yes... He was offlined by Starscream....

Cliffjumper ghost: You really expected me to stay put with everyone else bustin' Decepticons?

Keepsake: *unimpressed* So you're why Rockface suddenly got all mushy about that Arcee chick.

Cliffjumper ghost: *frowns* Mushy?

Rockface: *facepalming* You said she had a sweet patootie....

Ratchet: *pinching the bridge of his nose*

WakeJumper: *snickering*

Keepsake: ... So you're a true enough clone to be a fraggin' spark twin.

Cliffjumper ghost: *giving Rockface a slight Look* I used to joke about that with 'Cee....

Rockface: Well, you shouldn't'a said it when I first met her! *blushing just a bit*

Ratchet: *to Keepsake* A clone?

Keepsake: Yeah. Rockface's a clone. Percy made him back when he was just starting out the slaggin' sparklet program.

Rockface: *from behind his hand* Same time he made you, Keepie.

Keepsake: Yeah, but I don't hear voices. *arms still crossed as she stands hip shot*

Cliffjumper ghost: *looking back and forth between the two* .... So Percy got his head screwed on right, huh?

Keepsake: Frag if I know. He's a slaggin' nerd.

Cliffjumper ghost: *snickerfit*

Ratchet: *sigh* Perceptor is one of the most brilliant processors in the Autobot forces....

WakeJumper: And he's a nerd, Ratchet. He spends most of his time researching old datatracks in an attempt to better understand the nature of sparks.... And that's just 'light research'. *so amused*

Keepsake: I ain't got near him since he fraggin' shrunk Vissy down ta doll size.

Rockface: *snickerfit*

Ratchet: ....

WakeJumper: ... Was this before or after I left?

Cliffjumper ghost: .... You're slagging me.

Keepsake: Like scrap I am. He does it all the time with gear, too.

WakeJumper: ...I remember he shrunk Fixer's laser cutter one time....

Keepsake: Yeah... after somebody messed with his controls, if I remember the story right. *gives him a knowing look*

WakeJumper: Hey. I was still in my first vorn.

Rockface: Yeah, but that didn't stop Fixer from welding you to the wall to keep you from doing it again....

Cliffjumper ghost: *staring at Rockface now*

Ratchet: .... That doesn't explain why you're still here, Cliffjumper....

Keepsake: Eh, so he's here. *bored by the subject*

Cliffjumper ghost: *to Ratchet* I had to make sure 'Cee was doing okay....

June: *shakes and closes her mouth* You guys have ghosts...

WakeJumper: *to June* There's the occasional story of someone staying behind because of unfinished business... It's rare that it happens....

June: *blinks at the brightly coloured medic, unsure of what to say*

Jack: *comes walking in then, just in front of Arcee as he teases her about going for a ride through the desert some night*

Arcee: Very funny, Jack.... *looks to see who's still awake and stops short*

Jack: What? It's... *turns and blinks* ...Light show?

Cliffjumper ghost: *'meep' expression*

Rockface: *mirrored expression*

Keepsake: *watching to see what happens* Nobody better wake 'Clipsie up.

Arcee: *hesitantly, as she takes a step forward* Cliffjumper?

Jack: *surprise as he looks from Arcee to the glowing form* ...Cliffjumper?

Cliffjumper ghost: *quietly* Yeah.... It's me....

Arcee: *quietly cycling air*

Ratchet: *gently* It's alright, Arcee....

Keepsake: *watching the blue femme with a clinical air that doesn't hide the compassion she's feeling from those who know her* Get a grip.

Jack: *very dirty look for Keepsake*

WakeJumper: *very quick headshake for Jack. Keepsake doesn't mean what it sounds like she means*

Cliffjumper ghost: *serious look for Jack* Take care of her.

Jack: *blink blink* Um. Me?

Cliffjumper ghost: *nod* *quietly* I couldn't go to the Well 'till I knew 'Cee would be okay....

Arcee: *moving closer* Cliffjumper....

June: *watching with her hand over her mouth as her eyes glisten*

Keepsake: *quietly* ...Just don't take Rockface with you, slaghead.

Rockface: *Look for Keepsake* I would'a gone when he did, Keepie....

Cliffjumper ghost: *snerk, will turn his attention to concentrating on being solid enough to gently patpat Arcee's arm* *quietly* I'll still watch your back, 'Cee.... Part of me will, anyway.

Optimus: *from back in her room* Ratchet!

Ratchet: *startles and moves to hurry back as quickly as he can*

Cliffjumper ghost: *startles as well* 0_0

Panacea: *sitting on her bigger bigbot's bed, and looking up at the BIG glow coming from the bigbot's chest!*

Ratchet: ... *boggling.... Will scan Optimus*

Optimus: What's happening, Ratchet?

Ratchet: The Matrix of Leadership's very active... Moreso than usual....

Optimus: What does that mean?

Panacea: *thoughtfully noms a finger*

Ratchet: *quietly* It could be reacting to the presence of the Cybertronian who has passed on but didn't go to the Well...

Optimus: *looks up from her chest* ...What?

Ratchet: *quietly* A free spark.... *even quieter* Cliffjumper... Wanted to make sure Arcee would be alright before he went to the Well....

Optimus: *frowns and rises slowly to her feet, startling slightly as Panacea growls and leaps for Ratchet*

Ratchet: *startles, will fuss over Panacea and make sure she's unharmed*

Optimus: *frown has deepened slightly as she focuses on the white sparklet* I wasn't going to leave her behind.

Ratchet: *quietly* I don't understand it either.... *yes, that's just a bit of fright in his voice. It's probably similar to some of the fright June feels at times.... and similar to what the Lt. Col. felt that one day, when Denver was lost....*

Optimus: *reaches a gentle hand to touch Panacea's head, and then winces as she feels the toothless little mouth clamp down on it*

Panacea: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... *mad at you!*

Ratchet: *soothing sounds, will try and gently get Panacea to let go of Optimus*

Panacea: *does let go, but then growls again and hides her face against her smaller big. Soooo mad at the bigger big!*

Optimus: *meeps as the Matrix flashes again*

Ratchet: *trying to figure out why Panacea's so upset* *will scan her, just in case something internal's causing her discomfort.... and then he'll boggle* By the Allspark.....

Optimus: *worry suddenly flashes onto her face* What's wrong, Ratchet? Did I hurt her?

Ratchet: No.... She's... Just as healthy as Eclipse.... *sounds so surprised and pleased*

Optimus: You mean she wasn't healthy?

Ratchet: *quietly* She wasn't as strong as Eclipse is... But now... Her systems show no sign of the weakness that she had....

Optimus: But how did that happen?

Ratchet: I'm... not sure, to be perfectly honest....

Optimus: *puzzled and thoughtful expression, but then the Matrix flashes again and suddenly her expression changes from the softness that accompanied her Oriana memories to the more careworn look that she's worn recently* *blinking* Ratchet...

Ratchet: *looks up from fussing over Panacea. Pauses as he realizes the subtle change, and then there's a bit of sadness in his optics* *quietly* We'd better make sure that the Tau Enforcers haven't gotten into trouble... *will move to head out into the hall and towards the control room*

Optimus: *strides along beside him as she was wont to do, not reaching out to him or glancing to catch his eye so she can grin at him* *as she enters the control room* Cliffjumper, what are you doing here?

Cliffjumper ghost: *'eeep' expression, just dodged a swipe attempt from Arcee for telling her that Rockface likes having his horns scritched*

Arcee: He's being a pain in the skid.

Optimus: *glances at the blue femme, but then turns her stern gaze to the ghost*

Rockface: *has his back turned to Arcee and Cliffjumper ghost so they can't see his blushing at the revelation of his embarrassing secret*

Cliffjumper ghost: *hunkering down a bit, an "I'm SO slagged" look on his face*

Optimus: *gently, as the light of the Matrix wells up again* Be free, Cliffjumper. Your work in this world is over.

Cliffjumper ghost: *small nod. Will move to carefully patpat Rockface's shoulder* *quietly* You'll be alright, Rockface.... Just don't get slagged by the 'Cons too soon, okay?

Rockface: *small nod* *quietly* Get going, glitch-head....

Cliffjumper ghost: *snerk* Cheeky brat.... *looks to Arcee* You'd better not get slagged by the 'Cons too soon either, 'Cee.... *to Jack* I mean what I said earlier. You'd better take good care of her.

Jack: *seriously* I will. *glances up at Optimus' stern expression* You... better go.

Cliffjumper ghost: *nods* *to Optimus* Good luck with the lunatics... *quieter* It was an honor, Optimus. *fading out*

Rockface: *wincing and moving to rub at his chest a bit* *quietly* He's gone....

Arcee: *softly, as she shutters her optics for a few moments* But not forgotten.

Jack: *bows his head respectfully, and then turns and hugs Arcee's leg*

Optimus: *head also bowed as Keepsake salutes from behind her*

Ratchet: *salutes, and then makes a hasty swipe at one optic*

Optimus: *walks over and pokes at the computer, then frowns* Visible and mobile energon reading.

Keepsake: Buh? *wonders what's up with the Prima that she sounds so different*

WakeJumper: *gently setting June down on the balcony* *heard that change in tone from you, Optimus* Coordinates?

Optimus: *gives them* Ratchet, you are in charge here. Autobots, Taubots, with me

Keepsake: *brow quirk as she walks over*

Ratchet: *quietly moving to get the ground bridge open*

WakeJumper: *pestering Torque over comms and telling him to quit snogging Muhlisha and get his dented aft back inside*

Rockface: *still rubbing at his chest a bit as he walks over to stand by Keepsake*

Muhlisha: *random shoulder check of the WakeJumper in passing*

WakeJumper: *acks and stumbles a bit before getting his footing*

Torque: *will smack the back of WakeJumper's head, even as he tries not to blush*

Optimus: *surveys her new troops with that careworn and so serious expression* Taubots, thank you for coming to the assistance of those of us who call Earth our home. I look forward to working with you.

Muhlisha: *quirks one brow slightly, and then tosses off a salute*

Torque: *very slight headtilt before he salutes as well*

Rockface: *hesitant salute. Something weird's going on here, and not just what happened earlier with Cliffjumper!*

Optimus: Transformers, transform and roll out! *and then... just before she transforms herself, she turns and quickly plants a peck on Ratchet. Before he can react she's gone, with Autobots and the Taubots streaming after her through the bridge*

Ratchet: ... *blink blink blink*

June: ...Did she just do what I think she did?

Panacea: Grrr.

Ratchet: .... *sounding just a bit shocked and hopeful* I... I think she did....

((Written with random_xtras))