JV and the Nexus. Nroo Homeworld, Near the Sign, The Pit. Changes in the Roster Pt 2

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Continued from here



First Aid: *startled look for husband*

Ratchet: *quietly, a bit of faint amusement at one particular memory* Back before.... She was notorious for jumping off of roofs and landing on people for laughs... Springer was usually the one who ended up as her landing pad....

First Aid: ...You mean she might have tried that landing for fun...?

Ratchet: I wouldn't put it past her.

Desinex: *softly, from where she's hiding in Ratchet's office* Derp.

First Aid: Oh dear. *eyes wide behind her optic band*

Archiva: //Ratchet! Something's wrong with Optimus!//

Ratchet: ... //I'll be right there, Archiva.// *hurries to grab his field kit*

First Aid: What is it? *worried*

Cat Scan: *to Ratchet* Do you need help? *was watching the monitors*

Ratchet: Cat Scan, stay and help First Aid. *to First Aid* Archiva said something's wrong with Optimus. *worried as he moves to head out*

First Aid: *will worry now as she stands next to Hot Rod's bed*

Ratchet: *confused by the glow he's seeing coming out from under the door of Optimus and Archiva's quarters as he reaches them, will move to enter*

light: *is filling the whole room, and rushes out into the hall once the door slides open*

Archiva: *standing on the table by her husband's bed, her hand in front of her eyes* Ratchet? Is that you? I can't see.

Ratchet: *shuttering his optics enough to be able to see* It's me, Archiva... *moving to scan Optimus*

Optimus: *awake, and frowning down at his chest. Which is open and displaying a very excited seeming Matrix of Leadership*

Ratchet: Optimus? What's going on?

Optimus: *looks up at him* *quietly* The Matrix is moving to the next Prime.

Archiva: What??

Ratchet: .... *boggling now*

Optimus: *reaches down and removes the artifact from where it's laying, then watches his chest plates close before looking up wearily at the green medic* Here... take it. Find them... Ratchet.

Ratchet: *hesitates before reaching for the artifact, will scan Optimus as he does so*

Optimus: *weak, but steady. Is blinking silently up at his friend*

Archiva: But... What's going to happen to Optimus now?

Ratchet: *quietly* I'm... not sure....

Optimus: *quietly* Optimus Prime is no more. *gentle hand on his wife as she hops down to stand on his chest* *softly* Go, Ratchet.

Ratchet: *small nod, is doing his best not to let his intakes hitch as he moves to head out of the room*

Springer: ...What are you doing with the Matrix, Ratchet? *standing there with a bag of flour in one hand and some eggs in the other*

Ratchet: *quietly* Optimus asked me to find the next Prime....

Springer: *drops his eggs all over his foot, and then adds the flour* What? But... *wibble*

Ratchet: He's still alive...

Springer: *deep, shaky intake* Oh. *blinks and looks down* ...@$@#$#@.

Ratchet: *pings Jazz's comm and asks him to round up all the Autobots who aren't injured*

Jazz: //What? What for?//

Ratchet: //I'll explain shortly....// *moving to let First Aid know what's going on*

Matrix: *light goes out as Ratchet walks down the hall*

Ratchet: *worried expression is a go*

Ironhide: *walks past on the way to taking happily yelling babies to visit Prowl and Skywarp* *nods in a half asleep manner* Ratchet.

Ratchet: *nods to Ironhide and turns toward the infirmary door*

Matrix: *FLASH*

Ironhide: *involuntarily enriches his childrens' vocabulary*

Ratchet: *startled by the flash*

Carina: *bwee!!!*

Nova: o.0? *finger arrested in mid bubby ear jab*

Sparta: *laughing. Daddy did a funny!*

Ironhide: *wincing as he realizes what he just said, but then turns back and scowls at Ratchet* What was that?

Ratchet: The Matrix of Leadership.... Optimus asked me to find the next Prime.....

Ironhide: *mouth falls open* But... *looks down as the artifact flashes again* ...I think it wants into the infirmary.

Ratchet: Optimus is still alive.... *moving to enter the infirmary*

Matrix: *as soon as the door is open again it's flaring up with enough power to throw First Aid's shadow starkly against the wall where she's standing by Hot Rod's table*

First Aid: Oh!

Ratchet: *quickly explaining what happened in Optimus and Archiva's quarters, attention going to Hot Rod* ... I wonder....

Cat Scan: *hand up to shield her eyes* What the heck?

Ironhide: *frowning through the door* Does it want 'Aid?

First Aid: What? No!

Ratchet: *hesitantly* I think.... It might want Hot Rod....

Ironhide: ... You're $@#$@ me.

First Aid: *looks down at the young girl on the table*

Sparta: *gleefully* #$#@#@ me!

Nova: *stares at bubby. And then slugs him*

Carina: *bappa bubby!*

Ratchet: *going to test his theory by moving the Matrix closer to the injured girl*

First Aid: *startles as Hot Rod's chest pops open*

Ratchet: .... *so surprised, but moves to carefully install the artifact*

First Aid and Ironhide: *staring as they watch Hot Rod's colours darken and her height increase by several inches*

Cat Scan: *going 0.o as she watches*

Ratchet: *scanning Hot Rod all the while*

Hot Rod: *soft groan as her chest closes up. Frowns faintly and moves her head slightly, then switches her eyes on* What... slag?

Sparta: SWAG! :D

Carina: *BAP* Bad!

Nova: *thump!* Ayup!

Ratchet: Easy.... You're safe....

Hot Rod: *frown deepens* What happened? Voices... my head. ...Rodima... Prima?

First Aid: *watching in silent awe*

Ratchet: *quietly* Well, it's not the most unusual designation I've heard....

Rodima: *face crumples* Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Cat Scan: ... *raised brow*

Ironhide: ...I need a drink. *salutes the new Prima, and then turns and hauls his babies out of the infirmary*

Ratchet: *moves to check Rodima's reactions and reflexes*

Rodima: *still weak. Is going to need time to recover from her atmospheric jump. But... the boyish little daredevil will never be mistaken for a man again*

Ratchet: You'll need time to recover from your landing, but you'll be alright....

Rodima: //I don't wanna be Prime!// *wibbling massively*

Ratchet: *quietly* The Matrix chose you, Rodima...

Rodima: *crying quietly now, too weak and damaged for much display* *sends without thinking, as she has in so many other times of loneliness or despair* //Kup... slaggit. I wish you were here.//

First Aid: *gentle hand over Rodima's. So much sympathy*

Kup: *groggy mumbling over comms*

Rodima: *gasps* //Kup???// *voice is female now, but is still unmistakably her own*

Kup: *soft groan that can be faintly heard from the main part of the infirmary* //Yeah?//

Rodima: //Where the slag are you?//

Kup: *quiet for a few moments* //On a berth in the infirmary.... Ratchet said it's in some place called the Pit....//

Rodima: *garbled sounds as surprise and relief make her head spin*

Kup: *can be heard trying to get up now, worry for the youngbot he mentored driving his actions*

First Aid: *head snaps up as she exchanges a glance with her husband* Kup's waking up!

Ratchet: .... *facepalm* I have NEVER met anyone so stubborn....

Cat Scan: ... Have you looked in a mirror lately, Ratchet? *cheeky grin*

Springer: *from the door* Roddi's calling him, guys. What do you expect him to do?

Arcee: *moving to hip-check her husband aside, will gently grasp Rodima's hand in her own* Hey....

Rodima: *slightly cracked blue eyes shining softly as she looks at the man and woman who are like siblings to her* Want... Kup.

Kup: *just fell off of the berth he was sharing with Perceptor*

Arcee: *looks that way* .... *facepalm*

Ratchet: .... *headshake, will go get Kup*

Perceptor: *looking down at husband and blankets, blinking owlishly. Looks up as Ratchet arrives* What... what is amiss?

Ratchet: *quietly, as he moves to lift Kup off of the floor* Three of the youngbots Kup was a mentor to are here.... *quieter* And one of them has just been chosen by the Matrix of Leadership....

Perceptor: *soft gasp* Then... Optimus?

Ratchet: Is still with us... *wants to go check on the former Prime*

Kup: *frowning at Ratchet now* *slight slur due to fighting the sedation* The sslag are you talking about?

Perceptor: *reaches to do something under a panel on her husband's arm which clears away the sedation program* Yes, please explain, Ratchet?

Ratchet: *quietly explaining and trying to keep calm as he does so* Optimus... Doesn't have much time left.... He asked me to take the Matrix and find the next Prime.... It chose Hot Rod....

Perceptor: *bows her head and weeps softly for Optimus* *doesn't know Hot Rod*

Kup: ... *reaches to gently rub his wife's shoulder* He's still with us?

Ratchet: *nods* He's still with us....

Rodima: *fretfully* //Kup. ...Please.//

Kup: *soothingly* //I'll be there just as soon as Ratchet gets his rusty aft in gear.//

Rodima: //Springer... 'Cee...//

Kup: //I know, they're here...// *gives Ratchet the KING of all stinkeyes*

Ratchet: *will move to bring Kup to the main part of the infirmary*

Rodima: *slowly turns her head as she hears that familiar step, her eyes welling up again*

First Aid: *has moved out of the way of the family, and taken Cat Scan with her. Is now standing and watching from a little ways away*

Springer: Kup! *turns and grabs his mentor in a crushing bear hug*

Kup: *startled curse*

Arcee: *facepalm, snickerfit*

Springer: I can't believe you married Perceptor! We saw your little guy, he was trying to kiss Fancy, but she sat on him. *squiiiiiiiiiiish*

Kup: *trying to get enough wiggle room to sock Springer one, pauses* Who the slag is Fancy?

Springer: *drops him, grinning broadly* The last spark from Vector Sigma... and my daughter.

Rodima: *surprised sound*

Kup: ... Primus preserve us all.... You're a creator?!

Arcee: No, we were just the ones who caught her when she came out of Vector Sigma....

Springer: ...We did? Is that why Optimus assigned her to us? *looks down at wife with surprise*

Arcee: Well, you were too busy shooting Decepticons.... but since I was the one who caught her spark....

Springer: Right! :D *thumbs up*

Kup: *facepalm*

Rodima: *soft groan*

Kup: *attention going to Rodima* *quietly* Easy, kid.... I'm right here....

Rodima: *looks up at him unhappily* //Don't wanna be Prime.//

Kup: *quietly* You'll do just fine. *is proud of the young woman, and it shows in his tone of voice*

Rodima: *head moves slightly* //I'm... not serious... enough.//

Kup: *reaching to patpat Rodima's hand* You'll get there, eventually... Comes with learning the ropes.

Rodima: *shuts eyes off and circulates, a low mutter of some of Kup's favourite words coming over the private channel. But she's not whining. Even now, wounded and facing something she never wanted, she isn't whining*

Kup: *softly* You'll be alright....

Jazz: *sticks his head in* Got 'em, Ratch. Where ya want 'em?

First Aid: *glances over toward him*

Ratchet: *quietly* They'll have to come in here....

Jazz: *lifts his visor and looks at the medic quizzically* ...Why here?

First Aid: *moves to lean on husband, her grip on Cat Scan loosening*

Ratchet: *as Cat Scan moves to climb up to his shoulder* Because this is where Rodima Prima is....

Jazz: *mouth falls open* Whaaaaaaaaaaaat???

Ratchet: The Matrix chose Rodima...

Jazz: *blinks a bit, then withdraws and trades a wise crack for something Ironhide just grumbled* You heard the man. Get in there 'n see the new... new Prima. *voice wobbles*

Sideswipe: *peeks in, and then gets shoved by her sister*

Prowl: *very serious as he comes in after his wife and sister in law. Is rather loaded with babies*

Johnny: Dadadada!

Eclipse: *babble babble babble, yap, yap, yap, bweee!!!!*

Blades: ...Prima? You're kidding me.

Wild Bill: *forgotten in one Blades hand* Yeeehaw!

Sharpshot: *peeeeeeks around Jazz* *soft clicks*

Hound: *gentle hand on his wife's shoulder. Quietly* Hail, Prima.

Ironhide: *gruffly, after handing Sparta to Chromia* Hail, Prima!

Cassidy: *steam kettle!* *bounces around in front of the bigs*

Kriti: *pop pop click babble!*

Desinex: *softly* Hail, Prima. *moving to get her daughter, kthx*

Jazz: Hail. *wipes his eyes, and then squeaks softly as his wife comes to hug him*

Bumblebee: Hail, Rodima Prima.

Wheeljack: *Burrrrrrrrrrrrp* Oh slaggin' pit. I can't believe I did that.

First Aid: *facepalm*

Rodima: *laughing, even though it hurts*

WakeJumper: *trying so hard not to snicker* H-Hail, Prima.

Kup: *giving Wheeljack a "What the slag?" look* *boggling slightly at the massive woman standing behind the inventor*

Grimlock: *shoves the older bots aside so that he can come in, holds his sword aloft and roars as it bursts into flame* HAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL!

Rodima: 0_0

WakeJumper: *startled yelp, cowers behind Wheeljack*

Lily: *scoldy clicks for Grimmy-Bubby!*

Springer: *is now behind Kup*

Arcee: *stern Look for Grimlock*

Sharpshot: *hiding behind Hound now* *Arcee is SCARY when she's mad!*

First Aid: *softly and soothingly* Don't worry about Grimlock, Rodima and Kup. He's one of us.

Grimlock: ME GRIMLOCK IS KING!

Wheeljack: *butt busts him back out into the hall* Yeah. Go be king somewhere else. Hail, Prima!

WakeJumper: *sheepish expression as she stands up straighter*

Kup: *staring now*

Jazz: *going to chase everyone back out now* You kin bug 'er later. Let the lady rest now. Showtime, I don't care if Kup does owe ya money. Git!

Showtime: *about to protest this, is ushered out by Desinex*

Eclipse: *babbling away happily*

Rap: *yap yap wave!*

Bumblebee: *carries her little yellow girl baby out*

Jazz: *turns to say something to Ratchet, but then yeeps as his wife snags him and drags him along*

Hound: *laughing quietly as he guides his lady out of the room*

Sharpshot: *sings softly as she's guided out*

Chromia: *moves to guide Ironhide out as well*

Mariposa: *breaks away from Unca Warp and comes scooting over to sniff feet, making small sad sounds. Her mama and daddy aren't here either*

First Aid: *walks over and gently picks the small X baby up, then cuddles her* Shhhh, Mariposa.

Ratchet: *quietly, as he moves to gently set Cat Scan down* I'd better go check on Optimus and Archiva...

Rodima: *small sound, is trying to get attention*

Kup: *attention goes back to Rodima* *gently* What is it, Prima?

Rodima: *slight face at the title, but she's fading toward sleep* Sand... storm. Oc... tane...

Springer: *perk* What about the losers?

Kup: *quietly* We'll find them.... *totally guessing, but hopefully, he guessed right*

Rodima: *very slight smirk* Still... in... orbit. *sleep*

Cat Scan: .... We're not sending Ironhide. *heard about the old soldier's last PINpoint trip*

First Aid: *thoughtful expression as she calls the bots in the Nexus*


Orion and Archiva's room


Orion: *smaller, slighter. Definitely no soldier model* *voice is lighter too* *quietly* I want to let my spark go.

Ratchet: *scanning Orion, has a slight frown on his face* I don't understand....

Orion: *turns his head to look at the spot where Archiva usually sits on the table by his bed, his expression holding deep sorrow* Without the Matrix... my systems barely have the strength to run. I should never have married Olivia.

Ratchet: *frowns as his scans show that despite resting, Orion is exhausted... And his spark is struggling, even with the support equipment* *doesn't know what to say*

Orion: *softly* I don't want her to die.

Ratchet: *will gently squeeze Orion's shoulder, still at a loss for words*

Orion: *shuts eyes off for a moment* *quiet sound. Then* Mariposa...

Ratchet: First Aid has her... *will call his wife and ask that Mariposa be brought to Orion and Archiva's quarters*

Orion: She needs her parents. *tear trickles slowly away from one eye* I've failed at the end.

Ratchet: *quietly* You haven't failed.

Orion: *softly* I have. I am pulled two ways. Two different women that I love call to me. And I am so tired...

Ratchet: *doesn't know what to say. Can only gently squeeze the ailing man's shoulder and try to clear the static from his vox*

Archiva: *looks in then, a gas mask in one hand and a bottle in the other* Ratchet, please leave.

Ratchet: ... *raised brow, but will do as asked*

Orion: *puzzled expression as he watches the medic go*

Archiva: *closes the door behind Ratchet. And then locks it*

Ratchet: .... *reporting this to First Aid as well*

First Aid: //A bottle?/

Ratchet: //And a gas mask...//

First Aid: //What sort of bottle?// *sounds bewildered and worried* //What was Optimus' condition?//

Ratchet: //Orion.... He's fading, even with the support equipment...//

First Aid: *softly* //Oh dear.//

Ratchet: *quietly* //Archiva locked the door...//

First Aid: *really concerned now* //Can your sensors detect anything?//

alarms: *suddenly shrilling from the other side of the locked door*

Ratchet: *startles and moves to get the door unlocked* //The alarms are going off!//

First Aid: //Chromia is on the way!//

Chromia: *hurrying down the hall, put Nova, Sparta, and Carina on Ironhide before rushing off to help Ratchet*

Ratchet: *frustrated as he realizes the lock isn't going to respond* Chromia, help me get the door open!

Chromia: Gotcha! *will replace the lock later.... but for now, it's getting busted off!*

Ratchet: *hurrying in, stops short as he sees Orion's shell is grey and that the monitors are no longer registering a spark*

Chromia: *gasps, her hand going to her mouth in shock*

Archiva: *looks up, her face blank with shock and loss* I killed him...

Ratchet: *moving to scan the shell, in the hopes that there's enough residual energy to try and restart Orion's spark* *startled sound as he discovers human life signs* There's....

Chromia: What's there, Ratchet? *coming over to try and help*

Ratchet: *moving to get the chest of the shell open* There's human life signs in there.... *sounds so shocked*

Archiva: *blankly* What...?

Ratchet: *working to gently extract the man from the chest compartment*

Chromia: *boggling now*

man: *middle aged, blond. Thin and worn looking. Weary blue eyes blink uncertainly up at the being who is handling him*

Ratchet: *soothingly* You're safe.... Everything will be alright....

man: *looks from him to the tall white woman, his brows drawing together* *voice raspy and weak* ...Ratchet? Chromia? What...? Where?

Ratchet: *scans the man, will also get a blanket out of the storage cubby*

Chromia: *headtilting ever so slightly. Has never seen a human sans clothes before. His appearance puzzles her*

Archiva: *kneeling on the table with the back of her hand to her mouth as she watches with wide eyes*

man: Ratchet? Where... where are we? What... happened? *is weak, worn, and cold. But with time, rest, and care he will recover*

Ratchet: *quietly, sounding a bit shocked still* The quarters you share with Archiva....

man: Archiva... *frowns, obviously searching his memory*

Archiva: *shoulders shake with silent tears*

Ratchet: .... Your wife....

Chromia: *moves to gently rub Archiva's back*

Archiva: *quiet whisper of joy* He's alive.

Chromia: *small nod, is trying not to wibble*

man: *searching look toward that whisper, and then the search turns to question*

Ratchet: *softly* Do you remember your name?

man: *attention back to Ratchet, and then he frowns deeply, searching his mind* ...No.

Ratchet: ....

man: *worried* Ratchet... what has... happened... to me?

Ratchet: *quietly begins explaining as well as he can, even as he moves to gently wrap the man in the blanket*

man: *tired eyes going rounder as he listens* Prime?

Ratchet: *nods*

man: I am... Orion Pax?

Ratchet: *gently* Yes...

Orion: *lays back and ponders this, the mannerism the exact same that Ratchet will have seen his commander do countless times over the millions of years that he served with him*

Ratchet: *making sure Orion is comfortable, will update First Aid and send her an image of the man*

First Aid: *relief* //You locked your channel, Ratchet. Oh, poor Orion. Are you bringing him and Archiva here?//

Ratchet: //Sorry about that.... I think it might be best, for now... Until we can get something more comfortable for them....///

First Aid: //You're right. ...I'm confused by the Cybertronian body.//

Ratchet: //I don't understand it either...// *will move to gently add Archiva to the blanket nest*

Archiva: *trembling slightly as she pushes back and offers a hand to this wan partial stranger*

Orion Pax: *looks up, and then smiles a smile that lights his thin face as he tries to get an arm out of his blanket so that he can take the hand*

Archiva: *reassured, will let herself be tucked next to him*

First Aid: //Is there any sign of their bond in Archiva's systems? Is she showing any sign of being sick?//

Ratchet: *scans Archiva* //... No, and she's not showing any sign of being sick....// *surprised by this*

First Aid: //... Wow.//

Chromia: *ducking out into the hallway, needs to hold her babies and snuggle with her husband, kthx*

Orion: *turns his head toward that movement* ...Chromia?

Ratchet: *looks to the departing woman* *quick comm conversation* *softly* She's going to celebrate by hugging her husband and children....

Orion: *face clears slightly* Ironhide...

Ratchet: *nods and moves to bring Orion and Archiva to the infirmary*

Cat Scan: *looks out into the hallway as Ratchet arrives* Skyfire brought Octane and Sandstorm.... 'Aid's giving them a checkup now...

First Aid: *inside* Springer, stop hitting him. You fidget just as much.

Octane: So, Roddi, baby... OUCH! Kuuuup.

Kup: *scowling darkly at Octane as Ratchet enters the infirmary*

Rodima: *small smirk, though her eyes are switched off and she's mostly asleep*

Springer: *cheerfully gives Sandstorm another smack upside the head. Is grinning like the fool he loves to pretend to be*

Perceptor: *sitting in her husband's arms and watching all this*

Ratchet: *amused expression is a go as he moves to bring Orion and Archiva to one of the private rooms*

Orion: *sound asleep, his face turned toward his wife as his inherent urge to cuddle manifests itself bravely*

Archiva: *quietly* Can we have Mariposa? How is she? *bites her lip as she realizes she's been too sick to even remember her daughter lately*

Ratchet: *asks First Aid where Mariposa is* She's been searching for you two....

First Aid: //She's right here in Kup's arms with Perceptor.//

Archiva: *looks so sad* Poor baby.

Ratchet: *asks Kup to bring Mariposa to the room* Kup's bringing her in...

Kup: *talking softly to the xenoformer baby in Nroo as he brings her to her parents*

Mariposa: *curled up by the nice strangers, her muzzle resting on her ball. But she perks suddenly as she catches Archiva's scent* *soft little sounds*

Perceptor: Shhh, little one. Your mother and fa... My word. *leans over to study Orion*

Kup: *blink blinks as he sees Orion* Er...

Ratchet: It's alright, Kup... *moves from making sure Archiva and Orion are comfortable on the bed so the old soldier can set Mariposa on it as well*

Perceptor: ...We were informed that you were bringing Orion Pax and his wife to the infirmary. *so confused*

Ratchet; *quietly* And I did.... *slight start as Skyfire peeks into the room*

Perceptor: But, Ratchet. These are human people.

Ratchet: Archiva was born human...

Skyfire: .... That's the woman that Nyaan saw in the Nexus a short while ago....

Kup: *glances to the flier as he moves to gently set Mariposa next to Archiva*

Mariposa: *happy little sounds around the ball in her mouth. Gonna cuddle between the wall and what has to be Daddy. It makes Mama happy like Daddy does*

Archiva: *reaches across her sleeping husband toward her daughter, and then laughs softly as she hears Orion make a faint, humanized version of the comforting rumble that he always had ready for Mariposa*

Kup: *blink blink blink at the rumble, very soft snerk as he realizes that the human on the bed is indeed the former Prime*

Perceptor: *looks up at her husband's face* What is it, Kup?

Kup: *quietly* That's definitely Orion Pax....

Perceptor: But... how?

Kup: *careful shrug*

Skyfire: It may be the result of something purchased in the Nexus....

Archiva: *quietly* I LOLed Orion. With gas from the Primus servant's couch.

Ratchet: .... *blink blink blink*

Kup: ... Gas?

Archiva: *nods* It changes Cybertronians to human, or human to Cybertronian.

Skyfire: From what I've heard, it can also create new life...

Jazz: //Hey, Ratchet. Why's there a lil' human baby in Orion 'n Archiva's old room?//

Ratchet: ... //...I'll be right there...// Excuse me... *moves to head out of the room*

First Aid: *looks around from trying to stop Springer from giving Octane a noogie* Ratchet? What's the matter?

Ratchet: *quietly* //Archiva used some sort of enchantment to turn Orion human... and it also created a child...//

First Aid: *blinks after him* //Enchantment?//

Ratchet: //Some sort of gas that she purchased in the Nexus...//

First Aid: //She used couch gas? Now I'm really confused about the Cybertronian body. The changes are usually direct.//

down the hall: *lusty newborn human yelling sounds over Jazz's soothing rumble and Bumblebee's gentle music*

Ratchet: //I don't even have the faintest inkling about why yet...// *hurries down the hall*

Jazz: *holding the baby cradled in his hands, wrapped carefully in one of the sheets from Archiva's little alcove bed* Hey, hey, lil' man. You jes' peed on the Autobot second in command. That's gotta cheer ya up a lil' bit.

baby: *tiny fists clenched as he cries*

Ratchet: *moves to scan the baby* *gentle, soothing sounds* He's probably hungry....

Bumblebee: *looks up with concern* We don't have the right ports to feed him with.

baby: *spanking healthy six pound four ounce boy. With blond peach fuzz on his little nearly bald head*

Ratchet: No... But his mother does...

Jazz: Are they workin', then? *also looks up from the newborn* Thought those tanks only got primed after the mama delivered.

Ratchet: They are.... He should be brought to his parents....

Jazz: *offers to hand the sheet full of itty bitty to Ratchet* We still gotta move OP's old body outta here.

Ratchet: *nods as he carefully cradles the baby in his hand* I still can't figure out why his shell was left behind....

Jazz: *turns his head and studies that artifact thoughtfully* OP still got his spark?

Ratchet: Humans don't have sparks...

Jazz: Usually, but a lotta the time when we get LOLed human we keep 'em.

Ratchet: *quietly, as he remembers the results of the scan* Orion doesn't have a spark....

Jazz: *nods* Maybe it was already gone when the gas changed whatever was still here that was alive yet.

Bumblebee: Does that mean that the Orion Pax that's still here is a clone?

Ratchet: *quieter* I... don't know....

Jazz: Well, it ain't important now. You better get that lil' guy to his mama so his belly stops hurtin'.

Ratchet: *small nod, will move to bring the newborn to the infirmary*

First Aid: *ignoring fractious multichangers as she speaks softly to First Contact and scans her as Tunnel Rat fusses worriedly*

Springer and Octane: *being pretty noisy. Seem to think they should just dent each other here, to save the trip back*

Cat Scan: *trying to get them to stop*

Ratchet: Springer, that's enough. *moving to bring the baby to Archiva*

Springer: Me?? I didn't start this! Ask 'Cee! Ouch!

Arcee: *is one with her facepalm*

Archiva: *is a very startled meep as she hears the baby's voice*

Kup: *to Skyfire* Go toss Springer out on his can.

Skyfire: *mild amusement* That should be far simpler than trying to catch Nyaan when she doesn't want to be caught... *goes to do so*

Ratchet: *quietly, to Archiva* He was found in the quarters that you and Orion share...

Archiva: *sits up, her eyes wide* The front of my pyjama shirt is drenched now...

Ratchet: *blink blink, offers the baby*

Archiva: *takes him, but then gives Kup and Perceptor an embarrassed and uncertain look*

Kup: *puzzled expression is a go*

Archiva: Could you please excuse me for a few minutes, Kup and Perceptor? I need Ratchet to show me how to feed this guy, and... well... humans don't usually uncover certain parts of their bodies in public.

Perceptor: *so embarrassed to have embarrassed Archiva* Oh, please do forgive us, Miss...

Ratchet: This is Archiva....

Kup: *small nod* Every female that isn't a friend yet is 'Miss' to Perceptor... *will bring Perceptor out to the main part of the infirmary despite not understanding what all the fuss is about*

First Aid: *looks around from where she's now backing Octane into a corner and smiles behind her mask and optic band* Kup, the blonde woman on the table there is Orion Pax's eldest daughter. Her name is First Contact, and that's her husband, Tunnel Rat.

Tunnel Rat: *looks up at the introduction, and gives the big old green guy a wary look that says he's protective of his wife*

Kup: *small nod to the blonde on the table and her fussy husband*

First Contact: *bit of a grin* *tired but friendly* So you're Kup and Perceptor.

Perceptor: *lifts brows, but shrinks back against her husband slightly*

Kup: *nods and holds Perceptor a bit closer*

First Contact: *quietly* Optimus used to tell stories about you.

Tunnel Rat: *didn't snerk, and you can't prove it*

Kup: *soft snerk* I've got a few about him... And I'm sure Skyfire does too...

First Contact: *slight tremble of her chin* I'm going to miss him.

Tunnel Rat: *quiet grumble* Can't believe he couldn' hold on just a little longer 'n meet his first grandkid.

Kup: *quiet, slightly grumpy rumbles* *knows Optimus, or rather, Orion, isn't dead*

Tunnel Rat: *softly, as he pulls his wife close* Hey, Connie. Don't cry. Think'a the baby.

Kup: *very slight, worried frown*

First Contact: He made me. He was always there. *face crumpled as she fights back tears*

Kup: *quietly, as he rubs Perceptor's back* Part'a him's still here....

Tunnel Rat: *looks up with a frown* Huh?

Kup: *quietly* Orion Pax lives...

Tunnel Rat: *frown deepens* Who?

Kup: Orion Pax.... He was who Optimus was before the war...

Tunnel Rat: *confused scowl now* Connie felt 'im die. *yes, Kup. She's actually made from Optimus/Orion's coding*

Kup: ... All I know is that Archiva used something she got in the Nexus, and that Orion's human now.

Tunnel Rat: *mouth falls open in total, utter shock* Yer #$%#@$#@ me.

First Contact: *staring up at Kup with flabbergast*

Kup: *frowns more at Tunnel Rat*

Cat Scan: .... *raised brow*

First Aid: *from where she just tranqed Octane flat of his face* Tunnel Rat used to be human.

Perceptor: *startled*

Kup: *boggling now*

Cat Scan: *nods in agreement with First Aid* Yeah.... Long story there, with a lot of cussing. *chuckles*

First Aid: *and then remembers that she needs to check an incubating sample, and swiftly assumes her human alt as she runs over toward the incubator*

Perceptor: My word!

Kup: 0_0

Cat Scan: *looks to see what's startled the two visitors* *blink blink* What sample are you checking on, 'Aid?

First Aid: Shipwreck's flu sample. *glances at husband as he wanders in, also in human alt*

Cat Scan: Ah... Gotcha. *attention going back to Kup and Perceptor*

Kup: ...... *staring now*

Perceptor: *uncertainly as she watches the seeming human male* ...Ratchet?

Ratchet: *looks up* Yes?

Perceptor: 0_0 *looks up at husband, speechless in her surprise*

Kup: ...... *sooo brain broken right now*

Ratchet: *raised brow as he sees Octane face-down on the floor, and Kup's brain-broken expression*

Perceptor: *finally* How... why?

Tunnel Rat: Because Big $@#$#@ Robots don't fit everywhere on this world, okay?

Kup: How the %$%^$% are you doing that?!

Tunnel Rat: ...No idea. I'm naturally this size.

Kup: ...

Ratchet: *chuckle* I think he was referring to First Aid and myself in this case, Tunnel Rat...

Tunnel Rat: So was I. I got no idea how yous do that.

Ratchet: Oh.... *more chuckle* *to Kup* Hammerspace...

Kup: .... *soft snort*

Perceptor: ...My word. *eyes gleaming... and then suddenly there's a black-haired human woman in Kup's arms*

Kup: *startled blurt*

Cat Scan: ... Nice. Now she just needs the Caff Pow.

Ratchet: ... Okay, no more CSI for you, Cat.

Cat Scan: *razz*

First Aid: We were right, Ratchet. It was the bird flu. But the vaccine's working. *comes walking over and looks up, then chuckles*

Tunnel Rat: *is a massive face palm* I can't get away from that crap no matter where I go.

Ratchet: *nods to First Aid, soft snerk at Tunnel Rat's words*

Kup: *even more brain-broken than he was before!*

Perceptor: *changes back, and then muffles a yawn* Oh dear...

First Aid: You two should be resting. You've had a hard morning.

Kup: *small nod, will fuss over Perceptor now!*

First Aid: *transforms and moves to gently herd the couple toward their room* Johnny is safe, and so is Rodima.

Tunnel Rat: And she'll tranq ya if you don't listen. XD

First Contact: *shakes head at husband*

Cat Scan: If Ratchet or I don't first. *dirty rotten grin*

Kup: *stinkeye for the redhead*

Ratchet: *intent on the viruses from the incubator* Leave me out of this.

First Aid: *lets Kup stop and look into the Pax family room, where Archiva is snuggling her husband and looking at the storage container which is serving as a makeshift crib for her newborn son. Slight smile behind her mask, and then urges the old soldier toward his own bed*

Kup: *softly crackling of the Nroo word for 'family'*

First Aid: *quietly* What's that, Kup?

Kup: *repeats himself softly, in English* They're family....

First Aid: *quizzical look. She's not sure what he means*

Perceptor: *softly* Weren't you one of Optimus' teachers?

Kup: *quietly* I was....

Perceptor: You feel kinship with Orion Pax, though he is no longer our Prime?

Kup: *nods* *softer* Just as much as I do with Rodima, Springer, Arcee, and Skyfire... *yes, the old soldier mentored the flier*

First Aid: *looks up with surprise* Skyfire too?

Kup: *nods* *a bit gruffly* Taught Octane and Sandstorm too.... for all the good it did...

First Aid: *turns her head toward the sound of a clank in the main room. Hears from Ratchet that Octane managed to squirm enough though sedated to be dropped on his face again. Face palm* *and then looks up* Octane and Sandstorm have flight capable alt modes, don't they?

Kup: Yeah...

First Aid: *as she watches Perceptor move from Kup's arms to the bed* *quietly* Then why did Rodima do the planet fall?

Kup: ... *quietly, and with a bit of a deadpan* Because she could.

First Aid: o.0. I... think I better go help Ratchet. Call if you need anything.

Kup: *small nod as he moves to get settled beside his wife*

Perceptor: *seems half asleep as her small hands fumble with the blankets. Optics of contented blue are flickering wearily*

Kup: *gets the blankets situated and holds her close*

Perceptor: *quiet sigh and sleeps*

Kup: *keeps watch until he too succumbs to the need for sleep* *is relaxed and comfortable despite the brightness and dryness of this place compared to home. All his family is accounted for now. He's at peace*

((written with random_xtras))