dv and kv. Perceptor and Kia's Facility and Autobot City. Visit and Babies

[dens_extra_pups]

Megatron: *sleeping on his side, one big hand resting gently on the shoulder of the femme who's laying beside him on his bed. Slept peacefully and without nightmares last night, and is sleeping like a rock now*

Kriti: *curled up on her side, facing Megatron. Slept peacefully, for the most part, aside from one point where she woke up on her back and had to reposition herself so her doorwings weren't being squashed* *is considering getting up or snuggling closer to her wordmate and going back to sleep... but the fact that she's awake now is starting to win. Carefully gets up after moving Megatron's hand*

Megatron: *nestling motion against his pillow. And then finds Dolly and hides his face against her without waking*

Kriti: *small smile, takes a picture of the cute before heading out to the hall*

Tyme and Aria: *chase past, laughing and chattering at one another*

Kriti: *amused chuckle, moves to see if anyone else besides the littles are awake*

Perceptor: *looks around as she peeks into his workshop* Ah, Kriti. I've just finished up on Ambush's repairs.

Ambush: *turns his head toward the movement by the door and looks at Kriti* *is all newly painted and detailed*

Kriti: *chuckle* Sweet. Maybe now Torque won't have to worry about not dropping his holoform when it gets knocked outta the ring.

Perceptor: *brow ridges lift* You intend for him to fight, then?

Kriti: Depends on what Torque wants to do, really. He's the one who bought all of Ambush's pieces, after all.

Perceptor: *studies the robot thoughtfully, and is studied in return* ...Maybe I should not have upgraded his AI.

Kriti: *chuckle* You know Torque'll be happy either way.

Perceptor: *quietly, as he comes to hug his daughter good morning* Indeed. Very little intrudes upon Torque's happiness. I am surprised to see you wakeful, my Miss.

Kriti: *hugs for her foster father* Well, Megatron and I only cuddled before going to sleep... *a bit quieter* But I'm pretty sure Blaster and Desinex did more than just cuddle.

Perceptor: *pushes her back slightly so that he can look at her face* ...You can tell?

Kriti: *just a little zonked-looking, though no more than if she had been awake for a few days without recharge* Yeah... Either that, or I'm still hungover from last night. Been feeling a little fuzzy-headed.

Perceptor: You drank very sparingly during the festivities, so I strongly doubt that you are overcharged now. *scans* Ah. Yes. You have a bond similar to the one sported by Sunstreaker and Sideswipe.

Kriti: ... *soft snerk* If I'm feeling a bit zonked, I bet Showtime's feeling it too.

Perceptor: *thoughtful* If she can feel anything past her own hangover.

Kriti: ... *more snerk* Yeah... She's always been a lightweight though, so it wouldn't have taken much to get her overcharged. *remembers the Baytech-ish femme whose team Blue Crew worked with on a job once, and the celebrations after the fact*

Perceptor: *curious look* You are now aware of your older sister's abilities and weaknesses?

Kriti: I've met a few of her alternates, and seen that it's pretty much a constant that she gets overcharged on fewer rounds than most people.

Perceptor: Ahhh. I see. *blinks and looks at Ambush as the robot moves*

Ambush: *leaning down on the table and holding his hand out to someone over by the door*

Kriti: *looks to see who's there*

Tyme and Aria: *big shy optics looking at the friendly robot*

Perceptor: *softly* He has a few simple subroutines for interacting with children now. And it seems that he is able to recognize children even when they are made of similar materials to himself.

Kriti: Awww... *grin*

sparklets: *perk and look down the hall, then scoot and are gone*

Ambush: *slowly sits up, and then turns his head and looks at Perceptor and Kriti*

Kriti: *so amused*

Perceptor: He also now has recognition ability. Those who interact with him most will become the ones that he responds to most. And I've added the shadow feature that you spoke so highly of.

Kriti: Heh, so Torque'll have someone to learn from and to teach.

Perceptor: Indeed. I am certain that Ambush will prove a most satisfactory pet. *smiles*

Kriti: Pet, nothing. Friend.

Perceptor: *blush* Ah. Forgive me.

Kriti: *patpat*

Ambush: *perks again and looks toward the door*

Torque: *peeking in, soft, excited clicks*

Ambush: *hears the sounds that the children made. Uncertainly lifts a hand to wave*

Torque: *perks and moves to approach*

Ambush: *leans forward slightly, watching the approach with what seems to be interest*

Torque: *big grin* You got him back together! *happy*

Perceptor: Well of course. I've upgraded him as well, as you can see. *smiles fondly at the larger and younger mech*

Torque: *more perk* Upgraded?

Perceptor: Yes. *explains, as he did to Kriti, just what Ambush can do now* He also recognizes his name, and can respond to verbal commands as well as memorizing certain actions under his own power.

Torque: Cool... *is just a big grin as he moves to fuss over Ambush a bit*

Perceptor: You may lift him down from the table, if you like.

Torque: *will do so, clicking happily all the while, and showing surprising gentleness for his size*

Ambush: *looks down and up and seems trying to figure things out as he's lifted down. Once he's on his feet though he settles down and just watches Torque*

Torque: *going to start teaching Ambush some Cybertronian and sparklet words, starting with "Friend"* *it seems his teaching methods involve lots of repetition of the word*

Ambush: *intently watching and trying to determine meaning to the sounds he's being told. They're being repeated, so they've triggered his learning routines*

Torque: *being careful to speak clearly and slowly*

Perceptor: *smiles. Quietly to Kriti* Perhaps we had better leave them to their task. Are you in need of breakfast, my Miss? *takes her arm and turns toward the door*

Kriti: That sounds good...

Perceptor: *will lead his second eldest daughter toward the fuel preparation area*


Meanwhile, in kv


Fixer: *wakes up with a slight groan, then pulls the blanket over her head. Doesn't care that that pretty much uncovers all the rest of her, the blanket's Ratchet's idea anyway*

Ratchet: *protesting groan, rolls over, snore*

Fixer: *ugh, the snore* *elbow*

Ratchet: *squirms away from the elbow*

Fixer: *tries again* Roll over.

Ratchet: *mumble, rolls over*

Fixer: *considers, then pitches the blanket and hugs the mech instead*

Ratchet: *snuggle, sleep*

Fixer: *hmmm... husband pillow*

Ratchet: *is a cuddly, clingy sleeper*

Fixer: *back to sleep with her body pillow*


Elsewhere


Wheeljack: *pauses from where he's walking down the hall with a set of dented Lambos and looks through the Prime's open door* ...Hey, who's that little blue femme he's sleepin' with? I don't remember seein' her around before.

Sunstreaker: *looks* *stare*

Sideswipe: *blink blink* No way... I thought she got vaped years ago.

Wheeljack: *watches as the Prime nuzzles the blue femme* Vaped? ...Who is it?

Sunstreaker: Her name's Showtime... Remember when Kriti was tinier than ankle-biter level?

Wheeljack: o.0 Show... Aw man. He's pickin' up girls in the Nexus now. *goes into Jazz's room and gives the Prime a bop upside the head*

Jazz Prime: *awake! Ish. Groggy* Huh?

Showtime: *sleepy mumbling, snuggles closer to the warm mech*

Wheeljack: What is this? Yer supposedta be a good example, mech! *hands on hips*

Jazz Prime: *sleepy blink* She w's cold...

Showtime: *soft little sigh, snuggles and sleeps*

Wheeljack: You brought a girl all the way from the Nexus just because she was cold? That's the lamest pickup line I ever heard, Jazz!

Jazz Prime: *as he moves to sit up a bit* Didn't pick her up... Brought her home. After Primus sent her 'n Desi back.

Sideswipe: *blink blink, shares a baffled look with Sunstreaker*

Sunstreaker: Primus sent her and Desinex back? *disbelieving*

Wheeljack: *frowns up at Jazz for a few minutes. Then. Slowly* Sent 'er back? You tellin' me that's our Showtime?

Jazz Prime: *nod, stretch, yawn*

Wheeljack: *quietly, his earlights dim* What about Kriti?

Jazz Prime: *quieter* She's all grown up now.

Wheeljack: B'huh?

Jazz Prime: *quietly* 'N so're Meggy, Sounders, 'n Torque.

Wheeljack: But... Are you pullin' my fan belt?

Jazz Prime: *headshake* Ratch 'n Fixer were there too, 'n Blaster... *sends one of the images from the party to Wheeljack*

Wheeljack: *blinks, and then makes the image into a holoform so that he can study it with his optics, and so that the twins, masters of pranks that they are, can see the image and express their opinion on its authenticity*

Sunstreaker: ... Desi's still got the scar from the time she and I got a bit carried away during sparring.

Sideswipe: *slight headtilt as he studies the image* 'Sat a tie on your head, Jazzimus?

Jazz Prime: Yeah... *grin* Fixer made me take it off though.

Wheeljack: *squints and leans closer. Hadn't noticed that detail at first* *snerk* Whaddya think, brothers? Is this the real deal?

Sunstreaker: Yup. *leans and points to a faint scar on Showtime's leg* *quietly* I remember giving her that scar...

Wheeljack: Yeah. But what about the kids? That ain't edited in?

Sideswipe: Even we can't alter pixels that easily... And we're the 'Shop kings.

Sunstreaker: It'd be hard to spot, but there'd be evidence if the image was a 'shop.

Wheeljack: *even with that mask it's clear he's wibbly now*

Jazz Prime: *reaches up to patpat Wheeljack's hand*

Sunstreaker: *having a silent conversation with Sideswipe*

Sideswipe: *heads off to who knows where*

Wheeljack: Man... how... what happened? Torky was just a little thing when I saw 'im last. And so was Sounders.

Jazz Prime: *quietly, as he gets snuggled a bit more by Showtime* 'Parently, Bitty's foster reality got closed off.

Sunstreaker: Like we did?

Wheeljack: But bein' closed off doesn't make people age!

Jazz Prime: Does if they're closed off fer thirty years.

Wheeljack: Thirty! *just bombed both his mate and his brother with his shock and disbelief*

Bluestreak: *dings Wheeljack's comm* //Wheeljack? What's wrong?//

Sunstreaker: ... Slag.

Jazz Prime: *absently smoothing Showtime's helm*

Wheeljack: I'm... gonna go see my family. I'll fix you guys' dents later. //Blue, is Pacer there?//

Sunstreaker: 'Mkay... *bit of an absent look as he discusses something with his twin*

Bluestreak: //She's still trying to get me unstuck from the ceiling...// *still trying to figure out how he got up there in the first place*

Wheeljack: *stops short and gives Sunstreaker a concentrated stink eye*

Sunstreaker: *blinks and gives Wheeljack a puzzled look* What?

Wheeljack: Just fer that you can tryin' sweet talk Ratchet inta fixin' yer dents. *snorts and walks off, heading for his workshop*

Sunstreaker: *blink blink* What'd I do?

Wheeljack: *just keeps going and turns the corner*

Jazz Prime: *absent shrug, blinks as the golden Lambo twin ganks Showtime and heads off down the hall* Heh... *yawn, splatsleep*

Chromia: *watches Wheeljack go past from where she's doing toe touches in she and Ironhide's quarters* Looks like 'Jack found where Blue was playing with that antigravity thing of his. *touch toes*

Ironhide: *amused chuckle and headshake* Ah still don' get what possessed Blue t' play wit' 't 'n th' first place.

Chromia: Ffft. You know Blue... *freezes in mid-bend, her optics going white*

Ironhide: 'Mia? *worried, moves to approach*

Chromia: *gasps and crumples* Owwww. What the @#$@# #$#@ @#$@#????

Ironhide: *scoops her up* Le's gitcha t' Ratchet. *worry, worry, worry!*

Chromia: Don't... touch me! *belts him one, and then curls in on herself* Owwww. What... OWWWWWW!

Wheeljack: *back and looking through the door as Pacer looks around him* 'Mia? What's wrong? 'Hide?

Ironhide: Someth'n's wrong! *optics bordering on white now* She won' let me touch'er...

Wheeljack: 0.o Call Ratch!

Chromia: ;>_<; Owwwwwwwwww!

Ironhide: *on comms now, all but shouting for Ratchet*

Pacer: *soothing sounds as she comes to crouch by the other femme* Easy. Here. I've got an override gun right here. *applies it*

Chromia: *relaxes, but she's intaking rapidly* Something's wrong with my sparklets. Why is this hurting?

Wheeljack: *also bellowing for Ratchet. Doesn't even blink as a thud comes from his own workshop*

Ratchet: *hurrying. Fell off the berth and almost took Fixer with him when Ironhide called*

Wheeljack: ...Stop walkin' sideways, Ratchet! Somethin's wrong with 'Mia!

Ratchet: Mute it, 'Jack! *scanning Chromia*

Chromia: *blinks at him, bleary and scared stiff for her babies* *in her abdomen, the metal of the tank that contains her sparklets is starting to break down*

Ratchet: *surprised* The sparklet tank's starting to deteriorate. *scanning again, focusing his attention on the sparklets*

Chromia: But... Are they alright?

smaller female sparklet: *just gave the tank wall an almighty kick*

boy sparklet: *shoulder braced and heaving against the tank wall*

larger female sparklet: *gives the tank wall a good punch as Ratchet watches*

Ratchet: It looks like the smaller female's putting up a fight to get out. The larger one's taking swings at the tank wall, and the male is pushing hard too.

Ironhide: *fuss and fret*

Chromia: *reaches for her mate now, and then winces as a series of clangs heralds her smaller daughter's battering of the decaying tank wall*

Wheeljack: So... this is birth? 'Mia's in labour?

Ratchet: I'm sure it is.

Ironhide: *moving to rub Chromia's shoulders*

Wheeljack: *more cheerful now as he catches a toppling grey form* Whoops! Heh. Blue fainted.

Pacer: *shakes her head at him*

Ratchet: *scanning and reassuring Chromia and Ironhide* The sparklets are healthy. They'll be alright once they're out.

Chromia: *intaking evenly now* Wish... I wish we knew what we were doing here. *winces as she dimly feels another pain and the continued struggles of her babies* I don't want to be on the floor, 'Hide.

Ironhide: Le's gitcha ont' a berth th'n... *moving to pick his mate up carefully* *can't help the snerk he just did as he heard the pings from the larger girl's punches*

Chromia: *gasps, her optics going white again, as a tearing sound is followed by a gush of oil from all the cracks in her abdominal armour* What???

Wheeljack: *just fainted too*

Ratchet: *soothingly* Easy... The male sparklet just broke through. *getting towels out of subspace*

Pacer: Let's get Chromia onto the berth. *calm and quiet, as ever*

Ratchet: *moves to put towels down* Set her here, Ironhide. *glad for someone with a cool head*

Ironhide: *fuss, fret, does as instructed. More fuss and fret*

larger female sparklet: *seems to be considering what her brother just did... will give that a try too!*

Chromia: *trying to hide the fact that she's shaking slightly. Lifts her head and looks as Pacer moves to open her belly panel, then gasps as the tearing sound is repeated and followed by another gush of oil*

Ironhide: *optics white as he holds onto the edge of the berth*

Ratchet: *scanning!*

Pacer: *opens the panel and sees a small red shoulder retreat from the light. And then she's gasping herself as a tiny golden head pushes through the rent in the tank and two big blue optics scowl up at her*

golden sparklet: *the little baby femme isn't even born yet, and she is clearly protecting her siblings*

Ratchet: *blink blink, chuckle*

golden sparklet: *scowls toward the sound. But then she spots Ironhide and stares, her optics blinking as she tries to focus on that face up there*

Chromia: 'Hide... she's looking at you...

Ironhide: *soft sound* Lookit'er... *quiet, hesitant clicks*

Pacer: *looks at Ratchet* ...Doctor, you're tipping to one side.

Ratchet: *plants his feet firmly and tries to stand straighter* I'm alright, Pacer. *attention wholly on making sure the sparklets aren't getting stressed*

golden sparklet: *still studying her father, but then she coughs and sneezes before pawing at her face with one hand. Tiny clicks in reply*

Ironhide: *bit of a wibble, and more clicks*

lilac sparklet: *Sissy, your butt is in her face. It's gonna get smacked shortly if you don't move!*

Ratchet: *moving to assist the golden sparklet in her exodus from the tank*

golden sparklet: *scowls and squirms angrily, her tiny optics flashing*

Ironhide: Easeh... Ratch's gonna gitcha out. *moving to stand closer, so the golden sparklet can see him*

golden sparklet: *struggles a bit more, and then starts to wail as she finds herself in the white stranger's hands*

Chromia: *worried look for her baby!*

Ratchet: *soothing clicks* Ironhide, here...

Ironhide: *a bit awe-struck as he moves to stand where Ratchet wants him, and is gently offered the little golden sparklet* *quietly* She's so tahneh...

Pacer: Careful, don't stretch her connecting cable.

golden sparklet: *calms at her father's touch. Makes those tiny clicks again*

lilac sparklet: *now that she doesn't have Sissy-butt in her face, she's calming down where she's situated in the tank*

Ironhide: *wibbly clicks*

red sparklet: *quiet little clicks of his own. And then he's hesitantly peering through the rent in the tank, which is rapidly degrading now*

Ratchet: *soothing clicks as he moves to make sure the golden sparklet's siblings won't get tangled in her connecting cable*

lilac sparklet: *squirm, stretch, click* *is looking around, even though there's not a lot to see in the deteriorating tank*

red sparklet: *urged by his programming, he once more sets his shoulder against the edge of the rent and shoves, only to give a little cry of fright as the tank just crumbles*

Ratchet: *quick to catch the red sparklet, soothing clicks* Easy... You're alright.

lilac sparklet: *startled squeak, setting up to fuss royally now*

red sparklet: *stares, but then is sneezing and coughing oil out of his intakes*

golden sparklet: *very protective scowl toward Ratchet*

Ratchet: *gently using one of the towels to clean the oil away from the red sparklet's intakes* There... Isn't that better?

lilac sparklet: *just let out an almighty shriek*

red sparklet: *wails. Sissy just scared the living whoop out of him!*

golden sparklet: *clicking to Sister. Sister, I'm here!*

Chromia: *reaching for her last baby, is assisted by Pacer*

lilac sparklet: *fuss, sneeze, fuss more until she hears a familiar spark* *wibble*

Ratchet: *moves to carefully tuck the red sparklet next to the lilac one*

golden sparklet: *uncomfortable squirm, and then her cable falls away from her back*

Ironhide: 0_0 Er... Ratchet?

Ratchet: *attention on the golden sparklet, scans*

golden sparklet: *hungry and a bit stressed, but unharmed by loss of the cable, which is also deteriorating*

Ratchet: *chuckles* She's alright. She'll need to be fed though.

Ironhide: ... 'Ow d' we feed th' li'l bits?

Chromia: Hey... *soft... oh so soft, chuckle* What're you doing? Huh? *gentle hand against her second daughter's face as the little one nuzzles her*

lilac sparklet: *quiet little sigh and clicks*

red sparklet: *roots a bit himself, tasting his mother's armour*

Ratchet: Chromia, when did you refuel last?

Chromia: Last night. *watching the newsparks that are resting on her with wonder. Doesn't seem to notice at all as Pacer cleans up the last of the oil from the tank*

Ratchet: *small nod* I'll be right back. *going to get some sweet low grade and some tubing*

Ironhide: *carefully rubbing the back of the golden sparklet and clicking softly*

Chromia: *looks at her mate* ...They can't even talk, 'Hide. How're they going to tell us who they are?

Ironhide: *blink blink* Er... Ah guess we'll name 'em? *so not sure*

lilac sparklet: *taste-testing bubby for flavor*

Chromia: *studying the little ones* Look at how that one's eyes are flashing.

Ironhide: *looks* *soft chuckle* Lahk a li'l nova.

Chromia: *nods, then looks from the baby to her father* ...Carly's been to the Nexus. Do you think she might have heard of our alternates' kids there?

Ironhide: She mahght'a.

Pacer: *quietly* I'll call her. *sends out a call to the human woman's cell phone*

Carly: *answers on the second ring* //Hello?//

Pacer: //Hi, Carly, this is Pacer. Did I wake you up?//

Carly: //I was just getting up anyway. Is there trouble?//

Pacer: //Not trouble. You've been to the Nexus, right? Have you ever met any bots that were made from Ironhide and Chromia?//

Carly: //Yeah, lots of times. And I've seen a couple different families. There's the ones that look like everyone here, and the ones that have all their parts showing.//

Pacer: //Are any of them...// *looks at sparklets* //A golden femme? Kind of outgoing and watchful?//

Carly: //Yeah... The one I saw is named Nova.//

Pacer: //Nova, huh? How about a red mech? Kind of cautious and quiet.//

Carly: //Nova's brother, Starforge. He's a real sweetie, too.// *chuckle*

Pacer: //Starforge? Interesting name. Any lilac femmes?//

Carly: //The one I saw was one of the ones with all their parts showing. Her dad said her name's Carina. Sassy little thing, too.// *chuckle*

Pacer: //Great. Thanks, Carly. I'll tell Ironhide and Chromia.//

Carly: //No problem. Wait... Did their kids arrive?//

Pacer: *glances at the family* //They're having their first tankfill right now.//

Carly: //Awww! Tell them congratulations from Spike and me!//

Pacer: //I will.// *chuckles* //I better go, though. My guys both fainted when Chromia's tank broke.//

Carly: *chuckles* //Alright, talk to you later, Pacer.//

Pacer: *grinning as she closes the connection* The golden one's Nova. The other girl's Carina, and the boy is Starforge.

Ironhide: *soft chuckle as he feeds Nova* Suits 'em.

Pacer: Well... the girls' names do. But what does Starforge mean? *glances at Ratchet*

Ratchet: *shrug* Might have to find an alt 'n ask.

Pacer: *makes sure Chromia's all cleaned up* Awww. They're falling asleep.

Carina: *snuggabubby, sleepy little clicks* *has a full tank, has family around, and has warm. Issa happy bitty*

Ratchet: Ironhide, why don't you and Chromia get some rest with the sparklets?

Chromia: *switches her optics back on dimly as she smiles up at her mate. Is feeling very accomplished right now*

Ironhide: *moving to lay down next to Chromia* *softly, as he does so* Yer 'mazin', 'Mia...

Chromia: *turns toward him and sighs, then snuzzles a bit before dozing off contentedly*

Ironhide: *will protect his family as they sleep*

Pacer: *soft smile as she heads out of the berthroom to go tend to Wheeljack and Bluestreak*

Ratchet: *makes sure the new family is comfortable before moving to head back to snuggle with Fixer*

Fixer: *curled against the wall as he enters the office that the two of them now share*

Ratchet: *moves to lay back down and cuddle*

Fixer: *startles and frowns at him slightly* Mrrr?

Ratchet: *softly* Ironhide and Chromia's sparklets are healthy and have had their first meal. *small smile*

Fixer: *wakes a little more* How'd you open the tank?

Ratchet: It started breaking down on its own.

Fixer: ...What a mess.

Ratchet: *nod* I'm just glad I had plenty of towels in subspace.

Fixer: How's Chromia?

Ratchet: She was stressed from worrying about the sparklets, but once I verified that they were just fine, she calmed down. Pacer must have used a painkiller on her.

Fixer: *brow quirk* So none of the kind of stress that we read about in the cases we studied?

Ratchet: It didn't look like the stress in the other cases. Just a mother worrying about her children.

Fixer: *satisfied slight smirk* Good. Looks like we're starting the sparklet thing the right way.

Ratchet: *chuckles and nods* *snuggle*

Fixer: *muffled yawn* You're still smashed, aren't you?

Ratchet: *as he snuggles* Just a bit.

Fixer: *snorts, then gives him a bit more of a charge before resting her forehead against his and sighing*

Ratchet: *diiiizzy now, snuggle, silly grin*

Fixer: I'm not ready to get up yet.

Ratchet: So don't. *nuzzle*

Fixer: *more kiss*

Ratchet: *soft, pleased rumble as he kisses back*

Fixer: *stops when she's spinning* Hrrrm. Sleep. *cuddles word mate and shuts off her optics*

Ratchet: *snuggles and shuts off his optics with a happy sigh*


Outside


Ambush: *watching the two bots who are tossing his master's hat back and forth. Head goes back and forth too as he watches*

Torque: *having a grand old time trying to get his hat back* *playful growl as he takes a swing at Sideswipe*

Sideswipe: *cackles and dodges*

Ambush: *watches his master now, and then turns and fires a sledgehammer right cross to the nearest piece of Sunstreaker that he can reach*

Sunstreaker: *startled curse as his kneecap gets hit, and then his aft is meeting the ground*

Sideswipe: Whoah! *acks as Torque tackles him*

Kriti: *from where she's watching* Nice. *so amused*

Megatron: *startled look as Ambush steps forward and lands several blows on Sunstreaker's chest* Torque, did you teach him this?

Torque: *distractedly, as he wrestles with Sideswipe* Nope.

Sideswipe: *muffled curse of shock as he learns his opponent's name* Fixer's gonna kill us!

Sunstreaker: *trying to fend off the minibot-sized bot* What the slag's this guy's problem?!

Megatron: *looks at Sunstreaker* I think he thinks you were trying to hurt his friend. *sees Cliffjumper and waves to him*

Cliffjumper: *STARING*

Sunstreaker: *doing his best to fend off blows* Well, tell him to quit!

Megatron: Torque?

Ambush: *gives Sunstreaker a good hard shove!*

Torque: *letting Sideswipe go, stoops to retrieve his hat* Alright, Ambush, he gives. Let him go.

Ambush: *pauses. Then steps back and turns his head to look at Torque and wait for further orders*

Megatron: *looks over at Cliffjumper again. Sees the staring* ...Cliffjumper?

Cliffjumper: Holy... *dinging Prowl's comm almost frantically*

Prowl: *pries his face off the security console and rubs drool off his optics* //What now, Cliffjumper?//

Cliffjumper: //You'd better get out here now!// *putting on his tough guy act* So who're you? *might be more convincing if his optics weren't a few shades too light*

Megatron: ...I'm Megatron.

Cliffjumper: Prove it.

Kriti: *rolls her optics* Seriously?

Soundwave: *game buzzer noise, thumbs down for Cliffjumper!*

Megatron: *confused* How?

Prowl: *skids to a stop by Cliffjumper* Stand down. That's no way to treat your nephew.

Kriti: *grins as Cliffjumper sputters* Hey, Prowl.

Prowl: There was a time loop in the reality where Kriti lives. They're all thirty years older than they were the day before yester... day? *turns his head as he hears a frightened cry* Starscream? Excuse me. *turns and runs back to the city to check on the young Seeker, who just took one look at Megatron and Soundwave and then booked it back inside*

Megatron: *steps after Prowl, looking seriously worried*

Kriti: *doorwings up* Oh, no... *worried*

Soundwave: *quietly* Didn't recognize us.

Megatron: *also quiet* No. That's just it. He did.

Torque: *about to follow Prowl when he's nearly run over by a blur of orange and black* Ack!!!

Eclipse: *startled squeak when she runs into someone big*

Megatron: Eclipse! *catches her before she can fall* Are you alright?

Eclipse: Yeah, but I came out to see what scared Starscream and I wasn't expecting anyone to be there, but I'm fine, and... *trails off* *blink blink* Megatron?

Kriti: *just a bit tense, anticipating trouble*

Megatron: *nods his head, uncertainty in those serious blue optics*

Eclipse: Eeee!!!! *HUG!*

Megatron: *gasps, and then picks the little femme up and gently hugs her back* I missed you.

Cliffjumper: ... *soft* Heh... *moves to slug Megatron on the leg, since that's the highest point he can reach on the big mech*

Megatron: *looks down, his mouth curving upward at the corners*

Soundwave: *hand in front of Ambush so Ambush can't punch Cliffjumper*

Torque: *picks Cliffjumper up for a hug*

Megatron: *gentle nuzzle for Eclipse, and then puts her down by Kriti* *quietly* I think Starscream remembers the last time I was this size.

Eclipse: *bit of a wibble*

Kriti: *quietly and sadly* I bet a lot of the 'bots'll be uneasy now.

Megatron: *optics dim as he looks down and to the side* ...Maybe I should go home. I don't want to frighten anyone.

Kriti: *quietly, reaching for Megatron's hand as she gets that stubborn set to her jaw* The other adults can kiss my aft if they have a problem with it.

Soundwave: *quiet little beep*

Torque: ... *small frown as he looks around, then he's blinking* Incoming.

Eclipse: Oh! I see them too... *points to the approaching dust cloud*

Megatron: *slight frown as he follows the pointing finger with his gaze*

decidedly Cybertronian-looking, red and blue truck: *fast approaching... with a small, light pink vehicle following close by*

Megatron: *slight gasp and a single step back* Orion.

Kriti: *gentle squeeze for Megatron's hand*

Torque: And Ariel's with him. *big grin*

Orion Pax: *slowing to a stop as he gets closer, then he's transforming*

Ariel: *following suit*

Megatron: *stands there holding Kriti's hand as he watches the former Prime. Has unconsciously squared his jaw and braced himself*

Orion: *hand out in an offer* *quietly, optics sparkling* Welcome home.

Megatron: *blinks, but then takes the hand* *voice a deep, quiet rumble of gravel* Thank you.

Orion: *moves to give hugs*

Ariel: *laughs as Torque scoops her up for hugs as well*

Torque: *can has pretty lady!*

Megatron: *returns Orion's hug, and then sees Ambush aping Torque's movements and chuckles*

Eclipse: *studying Ambush curiously* *soft little clicks and pops as she does so*

Megatron: *nods toward the intent robot* This is Torque's robot boxer, Ambush.

Ambush: *looks toward his name*

Eclipse: *looks to Torque* May I scan him? *wants to know all about this robot*

Torque: Go ahead. *grin and teddybear cuddles Ariel*

Orion: Let's get to the city... We can get breakfast, and catch up.

Megatron: We brought breakfast. *scratches the back of his head and smiles slightly, then points to the warming bag that Soundwave's holding*

Orion: Heh, alright.

Megatron: We were given some home brewed energon last night. Perceptor refined it, and made soup.

Kriti: He made it into energon chili. *grin*

Orion: *blink blink* Is that like the chili that humans eat? *curious*

Megatron: It's something like Jazz Prime's mud, only it has a different texture.

Orion: Ah... *chuckle* Well, let's get back to the city.

Megatron: *hesitates and looks at Cliffjumper*

Cliffjumper: C'mon. You can pick out quarters.

Megatron: Well... we're only visiting.

Cliffjumper: *blink blink* You're not stayin' for good?

Megatron: *slow, apologetic head shake*

Cliffjumper: *frown* Why not?

Kriti: *quietly* 'Cause we have a job to do...

Soundwave: *plays a clip from a Nickelback song* "And they say that a hero can save us. I'm not gonna stand here and wait."

Orion: *small nod*

Ariel: You'll visit when you can, right?

Megatron: Of course. *troubled and uncertain look toward the city* There's family here.

Orion: *pats Megatron's shoulder*

Megatron: *bit of a smile* I guess we had better go in before the chili gets cold.

Orion: *chuckle* Yeah.

Torque: So why're we just standin' here? Let's go! :D

Megatron: You have to put Ariel down first, Torque.

Torque: Aww. *pout*

Soundwave: *chuckle*

Ariel: *patpats Torque as he sets her down* Sorry, Torque. I'm already spoken for.

Ambush: *apes putting somebody down, then pauses and looks up at Torque*

Torque: Let's go. *folds down to alt mode and sinks down onto his shocks so that Ambush can climb aboard*

Soundwave: *carefully transforms to alt mode*

Orion: *chuckle*

Megatron: *steps toward the city, then pauses and studies his brothers for a moment. Hesitates, glances at Orion and Cliffjumper, and then transforms to his ground based alt mode*

Cliffjumper: Niiice!

Kriti: *grins and moves to climb on*

Megatron: *mighty tank engine rumbles to life, and then he's heading toward the city... with his tour bus cloak on!*

Soundwave: *follows*

Orion: *back to alt mode, will follow*

Torque: *engine revving now*

Soundwave: *music booms as he uses his lowrider mod to dance*

Kriti: *tank surfing! Even if it does look like her holoform is seated in the front seat of the "tour bus"!*


Later, at Autobot City


Megatron: *wipes his mouth. Enjoyed that chili- and the faces Orion and Cliffjumper made when they first tasted it- a lot*

Wheelie: *sitting on WakeJumper and making sure the older youngling gets enough fuel*

Megatron: *looks at the two orange youngsters* *quietly* What do you think?

Wheelie: *looks up from feeding his brother to grin* It's good, but Wake's being stubborn.

WakeJumper: *trying to wiggle away from Wheelie. Is quite a bit taller than the last time Megatron saw him, but is still skinny and awkwardly gangly*

Megatron: *calls and asks Tracks to come into the room* Do you want to see something really funny, WakeJumper?

WakeJumper: *tips his head to look and give a curious little chirrup* *still isn't much of a talker*

Tracks: *having an interesting conversation with Showtime as he arrives* I'm still quite surprised that she went into culinary arts, given how similiar her interests are to Raoul's...

Showtime: *still has no idea who you're talking about, blue mech, but it sounds interesting, and she's curious* Well, maybe she wanted to branch out?

Megatron: *quiet gravel rumble* Thanks for coming, Tracks.

Tracks: *surprised expression is a go as he hears Megatron's voice and catches sight of the mech* *and then recognition dawns* Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise?

Showtime: *blinking a bit as she sees Wheelie and WakeJumper* *puzzled headtilt*

Megatron: *heartened by Tracks' reaction. Holds out a spoonful of chili* Will you taste this?

Tracks: *blinks a bit and moves to approach* Well, it certainly looks more appealing than the mud concoction Jazz Prime makes. *will have a taste... and pull the mother of funny faces*

WakeJumper: *quiet giggle*

Wheelie: *topples off of his brother with a gleeful squeal*

Showtime: *doorwings up!*

Megatron: *smiles as he looks at WakeJumper, and the expression is as bright as it is quiet and kindly*

WakeJumper: *once Wheelie's no longer sitting on him, he's up and scooting closer so he can hide on the bigger mech. Even if he's still a bit hungry, he's not quite shaken the habit of holding onto fuel for later*

Tracks: *still pulling interesting faces as he tries to figure out just what it is he tasted*

Megatron: *offers Tracks another bite as his arm goes around WakeJumper*

Tracks: *a bit uncertain, though he'll have another bite... and pull another interesting face*

Showtime: *trying so hard to make sense of what she's seeing*

Megatron: *offers the next bite to WakeJumper*

WakeJumper: *only hesitates for a moment before accepting the offered bite*

Showtime: *looking around, startled sound as Kriti pokes a spoonful of chili into her mouth*

Kriti: *was waiting for the right moment to ambush her sister with noms*

Megatron: *to Tracks* What do you think?

Tracks: *after he finishes the bite in his mouth* Well, it's certainly different... But not too bad, to be honest.

Megatron: *knows there's at least one good face left in the mech* Do you want some more? *guileless grin*

Tracks: I might as well...

Kriti: If you want more, we've got plenty to share. *feedasister!*

Megatron: *gives Tracks the last spoonful, making sure to include some of Perceptor's special seasoning*

Tracks: *does not disappoint in the funny faces category*

WakeJumper: *amused little clickstorm*

Megatron: *triumph on his face, but it is so different from the triumph that that face once held in days past*

Kriti: *now sitting on Showtime and feeding the femme*

Wheelie: *is cycling air and trying to cool down from the laughing fit he just got done with*

Orion: *amusedly, to Tracks* You just got schooled.

Cliffjumper: *laughs*

Megatron: *gives his last spoonful of chili to Wheelie*

Wheelie: Thank you. *happily eats*

Megatron: *and then he gets out the package of garlic flavour pickles that he picked out of the wedding gifts as something he wanted to share with the other sparklets he'd known when he was small. Offers one of the purple treats to Wheelie*

Wheelie: *curious examining of the treat once he's got it in his hands*

WakeJumper: *peeks to see what's being offered, since it smells pretty good*

Megatron: *offers him one as well, his optics gentle as he looks at the orange and black youngling* *then looks up as the door opens and a dark face with uncertain blue optics peeks in* Starscream. *quietly glad*

Kriti: *looks up from poking another spoonful of chili into Showtime's mouth* Hey, Starscream. *smile*

Starscream: *quietly, his shrillness making him seem even quieter* ...You're still good.

Megatron: *wince* *nods* Yes. I'm still good.

Soundwave: *quiet clicks of greeting for Starscream*

Starscream: *wibbles slightly, and then squeals softly as Megatron reaches over and pulls him close*

Megatron: *hugs both the young Seeker, and the pickle toting WakeJumper*

WakeJumper: *offers to share his pickle with Starscream*

Starscream: *polite and curious taste, and then an inadvertent Xp!*

WakeJumper: *bit of an O.o look* *why you do that for, Screamer?* *nomnomnommapickle*

Megatron: *and now here is mischief on his face as he offers a pickle to Tracks*

Tracks: No thank you.

Orion: *brat grin* Chicken.

Cliffjumper: Yeah! *makes chicken noises*

Megatron: *glances from Tracks to WakeJumper's curious look, meaning in the glance. Don't disappoint the little guy, Tracks!*

Tracks: *gives Orion and Cliffjumper a MASSIVE stinkeye as he reaches for the offered pickle and has a bite* *cue a wince and a cough that has WakeJumper trying to muffle his snickering*

Megatron: *doesn't smile or look at Tracks. Instead he lowers his head and gives WakeJumper a kiss on the helm*

WakeJumper: *snuggle, noms the last of his pickle, then splatsleeps*

Soundwave: *picks Wheelie up and cuddles him*

Wheelie: *happy clickstorm*

Showtime: *still trying to figure out what the little things are*

Tracks: *opens the door and calls the other sparklets*

Skywarp: *teleports in and facehugs the closest adult* :D

Megatron: Murrph!

Showtime: :o

Motormaster: *enters, ready to rumble!*

Deadend: *cheerfully* I killed a bug! It's... MEGATRON'S BIG!

Dragstrip: *shoves Deadend out of the way so he can get a look too*

Breakdown: *'eep's as he's squished against another sparklet*

Thundercracker: *bringing up the rear, and cradling Spike close to his chest* Meggy's big?

Wildrider: *gnawing on Blitwing's arm and getting gnawed on in kind*

Astrotrain: *issa bitty force of nature* EEEEEE!!!! *runs past Stunties and proceeds to scamper around the room. Hyper bitty*

Showtime: 0_0

Scrapper: *tries to stop a train. With his foot*

Astrotrain: *goes rolling, giggling about it all the way*

Megatron: *has gotten Skywarp off of his face and is offering the Seeklet a pickle* Yes, I'm big. Hook, don't do that.

Skywarp: *gnaw gnaw gnaw on the pickle a bit, then pokes it at Starscream's mouth*

Starscream: *taste. Xp!*

Megatron: *handing out pickles to all the little bots, and then he notices Showtime's expression* ...What's wrong?

Showtime: *quietly* I... I don't understand. What are they? *so totally confused*

Kriti: Young Cybertronians.

Megatron: Babies.

Mixmaster: *stops short and draws himself up* I'm big!

Astrotrain: *pouncesnuggle* Mixxy! :D

Mixmaster: *thud, wriggle, wrastle, distracted by pickle!*

Ariel: *excuses herself* *looks a bit queasy*

Orion: *blink blink* I wonder what's wrong? *on his feet and moving to see if Ariel's alright*

Megatron: *looks up worriedly, his hand half extended to give TC a pickle*

Kriti: *concerned* *on her feet and moving to check on the former Prime and his mate*

Spike: I hope everything's alright...

Thundercracker: *soft, uncertain skreek as he looks over his shoulder*

Megatron: *so much worry* //Ariel?//

Ariel: //I'm okay. Just a bit queasy...//

Megatron: //Was the chili too rich?//

Ariel: //N-no. The pickles...// *urking sounds*

Kriti: //I'm going to get Ratchet.//

Megatron: *nods to her, then gently sets the littles in his arms down* Starscream, keep an eye on them, alright? *turns and goes to check on Ariel and to offer help to Orion*

Starscream: *so startled by the way the silver mech had automatically turned to him, and then wibbling silently as he watches Megatron leave the room*


Med bay office


Kriti: *knocking on the door frame* Ratchet? Fixer?

Fixer: *growls* Sleeping!

Kriti: That's all well and good, but Ariel's sick now.

Fixer: *sighs and looks at her husband, then gets up* *quiet grouch* What did she do?

Kriti: She was fine while we were eating chili, but then when Megatron was sharing pickles with the sparklets, she got queasy and urked in a trash can in the hall.

Fixer: *stops short* Oh slag, not that again. //Orion?//

Orion: *sounding just a bit worried now* //Yes, Fixer?//

Fixer: //Take a look under Ariel's belly panel.// *still steadily walking toward the part of the city where he and his family live*

Orion: //...Alright.// *makes a startled sound*

Fixer: //It's a sparklet tank.// *sigh* //Great.//

Orion: *is that almighty crash*

Kriti: ... *snerk* Wonder how far along Ariel is?

Fixer: *as she turns onto the last corridor* We'll soon see.

Megatron: *turns and looks toward the door as it opens to admit the two femmes. Is holding Orion and gently shaking the mech*

Ariel: *urking into the trash can again*

Orion: *rebooting*

Fixer: *walks over and scans the urking femme's midsection*

male sparklet: *is a bit restless, but isn't ready to be born quite yet*

Fixer: *compares his development stage to what she saw of the triplets* I'd say you've got about a month to go.

Megatron: *shakes Orion again* There's still a month to go.

Orion: *quietly, sounding a bit dazed* I'm... going to be a father.

Megatron: *blinks* You already are a father, Orion.

Orion: *blink blink* ... *small nod*

Ariel: *quietly* Why'm I queasy now?

Fixer: Probably some chemical in the pickles. Oh, and Ironhide and Chromia's three came out this morning.

Orion: *boggles*

Kriti: *blink blink* *squee!*

Fixer: *muffles a yawn* Starforge, Carina, and Nova.

Ariel: ... *worriedly* How many am I carrying?

Fixer: *snorts* One mechlet. *shares scan images*

Megatron: Orion, look!

Orion: *looks... and needs another reboot*

Megatron: *sighs and shakes him again*

Kriti: *soft, amused chuckle as she moves to help get Orion rebooted*

Fixer: *goes over and baps the former Prime upside the head* Get your slaggin' head outta your tailpipe!

Orion: *startled flail*

Ariel: *trying hard not to urk again, because she's not sure she has much left in her fuel tank to urk.*

Fixer: Who's still in there with the sparklets?

Kriti: Soundwave, Showtime, and Starscream. Eclipse is trying to get Red Alert to let her start her shift later, so she can spend more time with the sparklets.

Fixer: *bellows at the security bot over comms, and then tells Soundwave and Showtime to get the pickles cleaned up and to bring her some calcien*

sparklet stampede: *goes through, smelling of garlic pickles! Out the door, down the corridor and GONE*

Ariel: *HURK*

Fixer: *sighs and smacks Orion again*

Orion: *hands and arms up to fend off the smack*

Tracks: *and there he is with a good amount of calcien and some sweet mid grade*

Fixer: *takes the calcien and shoves it at Ariel* Eat that.

Ariel: *will proceed to do so, taking small, careful bites*

Orion: *will try and move closer so he can gently rub his mate's back*

Fixer: Once she's settled down go visit Ironhide and Chromia. *looks around, quirks a brow at Tracks*

Tracks: *offers the mid grade* Someone will want this. Even if Ratchet never admits that he does have a sweet tooth.

Fixer: Ratchet's not gonna want to look at energon for awhile. He went to the wedding party.

Tracks: *blink blink* Wedding party? Who got married?

Fixer: *points with her thumb at Kriti and Megatron* To start with.

Tracks: *so surprised, but his smile is sincere* *to the couple* Congratulations.

Megatron: *blush and a smile* Thanks.

Kriti: *small, shy smile* Thanks, Tracks. We weren't the only ones who got married last night though.

Tracks: Oh? Who else tied the knot?

Fixer: Didn't you notice the morning music program? *actually, the lack thereof?*

Tracks: ... *surprised* I didn't even know Blaster was courting anyone.

Fixer: Back before the war he used to hang around a certain singer's dressing room all the time.

Kriti: *quiet for a few moments* *then* Yeah, till her stage manager would usher him away... He was the only one who did get to go back there though.

Fixer: I don't believe he ever had the guts to say anything to her, no matter what the slagger said last night.

Deadend: *pops his head back in* Slagger! :D *GONE*

Kriti: *snerk* *headshake*

Tracks: ... *facepalm* We officially have to watch what we say around the sparklets now, it seems.

Fixer: *scowling at the door* That little slagger's been saying that for months.

Tracks: *dryly* Now I wonder where he picked it up?

Fixer: *"did you just ask that?" look*

Tracks: *sweetly* It could have been Kup.

Kriti: ... *snickerfit as she remembers something concerning another Kup she knows*

Fixer: *snorts* I'm going to go check on Blaster and Desinex. If anybody bothers me again this morning there better be energon leaking. *out she goes*

Tracks: ... *looks to Kriti* Dare I ask what you find so amusing?

Megatron: *glances at his wife, optics twinkling*

Kriti: *snicker* The Kup where Blue Crew lives now. One time, he was babysitting... *doorwings shaking with the force of her amusement* Learned the hard way that you never look up the word "doll" on Google without SafeSearch on.

Megatron: *busy gently shaking Orion again* Was that the day Bumblebee learned that word in Quintesson?

Kriti: *headshake* Before that. *quieter* It wasn't long after I was brought to that reality. //I remember, 'cause PapaJazz was sick, and Dready was still around.// *no, she doesn't really remember much about "Dready", just that they were someone who was there, then they weren't*

Orion: *protesting sound as he's shaken*

Tracks: ... *headshake* Well, I certainly don't want to find out why you found that so amusing. *just looked up "Doll". with SafeSearch on, thank you very much*

Megatron: *as he lets go of Orion and moves to gently help Ariel to her feet* Who is Dready?

Kriti: *as Tracks politely excuses himself to go on patrol* I don't really remember. Just that they were there for awhile, and then they weren't.

Orion: *moving to gently fuss over Ariel*

Megatron: *guiding the pair toward the couch in their living room* *looks over his shoulder toward his little wife* You talk about him sometimes in your sleep.

Kriti: *blink blink* I do? *moves to follow* Do I say much about 'em?

Megatron: That he was big and black. And a cat named Two that he had. And that he was papaJazz's son.

Kriti: *bit of an absent frown as Orion moves to carefully grab Ariel*

Megatron: You also talk to him about the mini Constructicons. *settles Ariel on the couch*

Orion: *will hold Ariel close and gently rub her back*

Kriti: *hand to mouth, absently gnawing on a finger joint as she thinks* I see the mini Constructicons when I visit Nellis Base... And I can almost see Dready in my mind.

Megatron: *makes sure that Orion and Ariel are alright, and then sighs* Come on. We have to rescue Gears. Torque just Ambushed him.

Kriti: *sigh* That'll be fun to listen to. *moves to head out*

Megatron: *last check on the former Prime* If you need anything, Orion. I'll be here for the rest of the day.

Orion: *small nod, focuses on mate*

Megatron: *turns and follows his wife to go and rescue their irascible little friend from their teammate*

((written with random_xtras))