hsVerse, Autobot Base, Good News

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Skywarp: *pleased with his latest prank, and the fact that he managed to get both Lambo twins in a snare, as well as getting the added bonus of watching Showtime freak out* That...was an epic prank. X3

Airwolf: *propped up on the bunk, he turns his head to look at his new mentor, then gives a bit of a wheeze before coughing* What'd you do?

Skywarp: *Grins* Set a couple of snares, and called Sunstreaker ugly...he ran right into the snares...and Sideswipe was right behind him...

Airwolf: ...They sound pretty dumb. *another cough, and it's an engine cough. His engine is also where the wheezing is coming from*

Skywarp: Nah...they're just vain...*small frown at the sounds Airwolf's engine is making* You feeling okay?

Airwolf: Tired. *moves a little restlessly* And it's kinda cold in here.

Skywarp: *continues to frown* Maybe we should have the medic take a look at you...

Airwolf: *bit of a shrink against the wall, and the monitors he's hooked too show a bit of a jump in his systems, but he doesn't freak out.* Yes, sir.

Skywarp: *Pestering Ratchet over the comms* I'll be right back...Gotta go drag the medic in here...

Airwolf: Okay. *shutters his optics for a moment and winds up falling into sleep mode*

Skywarp: *teleports to the medbay*

*a few moments later...*

Ratchet: *String of vitrolic and venom that would give Kup a run for his money*

Clarion: *yelps and drops her box of stuff, then bolts for underneath the nearest table*

Airwolf: *snaps awake* 0_0

Skywarp: *Ignoring the dressing down Ratchet's giving him*

Airwolf: ... *A little whimper gets away from him despite his Seeker pride.*

Ratchet: *trails off as he realizes where he's been brought*...

Skywarp: *calm as can be, leans against the nearest wall and giving Ratchet a look*

Ratchet: *Quiet grumbling as he scans Airwolf*

Airwolf: *uncertain looks, and then a wince as his engine goes into a long series of hacks*

Skywarp: *Concerned big brother is concerned!*

Ratchet: *Frowning, scanning again, this time with the intention of locating the cause of the engine troubles in the Seeker youngling*

*...and then he notices something familiar about the youngbot's spark....*

Ratchet: *raised brow ridge*

Airwolf: *wheeeeze* -_-

Airwolf: *blinks at the medic's expression, then looks at Skywarp*

Ratchet: *quiet cycling of air, due to what he's found*

Skywarp: ...*puzzled expression, has no clue why Ratchet is acting like this* Oy...

Airwolf: ...Skywarp?

Skywarp: *reaching to poke Ratchet, gets his hand slapped away* O.o

Airwolf: *....whimper*

Ratchet: *focusing again, scans Airwolf a third time*

Airwolf: I'm scrap... aren't I?

Ratchet: No...I...recognize part of your spark code...

Airwolf: *blinks* *looks at Skywarp to see what that means*

Skywarp: *headtilt* So you've met one of his creators at one point?

Ratchet: *nods* His femme creator...

Airwolf: *optics go wide* But I was a lab creation.

Ratchet: They had to get spark codes from somewhere, youngling...

Airwolf: ...Oh.

Ratchet: *cycling air and wondering whether or not to bring up Clarion, decides that for now, it's best not to* As for what's causing you trouble...you picked up a virus...I'll get a patch working for your firewall, but in addition to that, you'll need to rest and to take in fuel, like you've been doing. *is keeping his tone gentle*

Airwolf: *not too sure about how to address the Autobot. Settles for* Yes, sir.

Ratchet: *Gently pats Airwolf's hand* You'll be alright, in time...

Airwolf: *looks at the hand, then gives Skywarp a 0_0*

Skywarp: *making faces at Ratchet while the medic's back is turned*

Airwolf: *more 0_0, and then cracks up*

Ratchet: *whirls around and clobbers Skywarp with a wrench, before calmly leaving the quarters to return to the medbay so he can get started on the patch*

Skywarp: >_< owww...

Airwolf: Hey! *then sags back with an expression similiar to his mentor's. Weak little Seeker is weak, and can't kick Autobutt*

Skywarp: *rubbing at a dent* At least he only hits once when he's got something to focus on...

Airwolf: *looks at him and frowns* What do you mean?

Skywarp: *smirking a bit, as the dent is a minor one, and will work itself out eventually* That fragger's got a good throwing arm...and a lot of tools that he can throw...I've seen him throw three toolboxes worth of tools at Desinex because she either did something really dumb, or was harassing Showtime...

Airwolf: Um... I don't know who all these guys are yet.

Skywarp: *nods a bit* Showtime and Desinex are femmes...Ground-pounders, but Desinex can sing...

Airwolf: I've never heard anybody sing.

Skywarp: *Rasied brow* Desinex sang while you and that nature-bot were in the medbay after you were brought back...

Airwolf: ...I don't remember. *frowning and searching for files*

Skywarp: *small shrug* Maybe we can talk her into singing again sometime...

Airwolf: Sure. Uh... *frowning* How's Windbreaker? Where is he?

Skywarp: ...*kinda wishing Airwolf hadn't mentioned Windbreaker* He's been offlined...

Airwolf: *optics go enormous, and then he's trying to curl up and face the wall, but he's just not strong enough yet*

Skywarp: *kinda hating himself right now, but hiding it well, as he moves to try to offer comfort the way he's seen some of the Autobots do*

Airwolf: *flinches away with a little hiss* Go away! Just go away! *can hardly move, but trying to drive away the older bot so he can lose his dignity in peace*

Skywarp: *frown, sighs, and transmits his comm frequency to Airwolf* I'll be out baiting the other 'Bots... *teleports away to park himself outside their door*


Medbay

Clarion: *curled under the table and ignoring First Aid's attempts to talk her out*

Ratchet: *frowning as he returns to this* Clarion?

Clarion: Yeah, Doc?

Ratchet: Are you alright? *moving to kneel beside the table*

First Aid: *gets up and goes back to his office, knowing that Ratchet will handle this now*

Clarion: *silent as she fights off a bad memory with a happy one. Her expression is grim and determined, but not panicked or distant*

Ratchet: *calmly sits down next to the table, will keep an optic on Clarion while he works on writing the patch code for Airwolf's firewall*

Clarion: *fights off the worst of the scary, and then notices him there and crawls out just enough to lay her head on his leg* *sighs and feels safe*

Ratchet: *quiet chuckle as he works, paying attention to where Clarion is at the same time*

Clarion: *after a few moments. Softly* Whatcha doin', Doc?

Ratchet: Writing a firewall modification for Airwolf...*quiet sigh* I found out who he's related to...

Clarion: Airwolf... that's the lil' Seeker kid? *hand up to hold onto him a bit. Seekers and other visible 'Cons still scare her*

Ratchet: *nods* He's got an opportunistic virus giving him trouble...but after he gets the patch I'm writing the coding for now, he'll just need rest and fuel before he'll be alright...

Clarion: *quietly* Good. ...What was that you said again?

Ratchet: *small frown as he catches a slight error in his coding* I found out who one of his creators is...

Clarion: One 'a the 'Cons 'at come here?

Ratchet: *Small headshake*

Clarion: *turns on her back and gives him a quizzical look*

Ratchet: *quietly* part of his spark code...came from you...

Clarion: *freezes and goes blank*

Ratchet: *Curses and quickly plugs his link cable into Clarion's port* -Clarion?-

Clarion: *blank in here too. Utterly flat-footed with shock*

Ratchet: *quietly* -He was created in a lab...he has no idea about you...-

Clarion: *whisper from the darkness* -What'm I supposeta do about 'im, though, Doc?-

Ratchet: -Skywarp has taken Airwolf under his wing...he's got someone to care for him, and to imprint upon...granted, I'd have picked someone else if I had had a say in the matter...but Skywarp, despite being a skidplate with wings, is a decent mech, for the most part.-

Clarion: -So... just never mind 'im?-

Ratchet: -That's more than likely the best solution...he doesn't know you're the donor for part of his spark code...so he more than likely wouldn't recognize you if he were to see you...-

Clarion: -Okay. Life as usual, I don't got no kids.-

Ratchet: *offering wordless reassurance that everything will be alright* -Life as usual...-

Clarion: *appears next to him and comes over for a hug, hiding her face against his chest in her way*

Ratchet: *Gently rubbing Clarion's back and clicking to her quietly*

Clarion: -You sure I'm not bein' mean ta 'im?- *thinks of what she knows about Decepticons... but has no idea how a Decepticon youngling would think about a creator*

Ratchet: -He's only known a handful of mechs...- *quiet* -If he were to find out you're one of his creators...it might distress him...He's a Seeker through and through...and they're notorious for being prideful...-

Clarion: *ponders this, and then nods, her forehead softly bumping against the rack on his chest* -Okay.-

*and then she thinks of the one spark she carried, and for some inexplicable reason starts to cry*

Ratchet: *continues to rub Clarion's back, offering comfort*

Clarion: -Doc... you sure you want anythin' ta do with me? I can't even give you.... You'd never be a creator.-

Ratchet: -All that matters to me...is that you're happy.-

Clarion: -But I've seen you 'round the kids. 'N I've felt ya dreamin' 'bout 'em.-

Ratchet: *quietly* -There are other options...-

Clarion: *looks up at him*

Ratchet: -Adoption's always an option...but that can wait, for now...-

Clarion: *softly and wonderingly* -Yer that set on me....-

Ratchet: *gently nuzzles Clarion's helm* -I am.-

Clarion: *shutters optics, her hands coming up to hold onto his chest rack* *very softly* -Why?-

Ratchet: *raised brow ridge* -I need a reason to love you?- *quiet amusement and deep affection for Clarion*

Clarion: -There're other femmes around. That ain't crazy.- *awareness of his time with Chromia passes through her mind*

Ratchet: -Oh, everyone here is crazy to some degree...and Chromia is Ironhide's femme now.-

Clarion: *quietly* -They ain't cowards.-

Ratchet: *rubbing Clarion's back* -Tell that to Showtime...or even to Desinex...they've both admitted that they're cowards...on several occasions...granted, Desinex was overcharged on high grade each time...-

Clarion: *lulled by the backrub and by his presence, just shutters her optics and leans as the lookout takes form around them. And starts to muse about how big and strong and safe and gentle and just plain wonderful Ratchet is.*

Ratchet: *quiet rumble as he holds Clarion close, will protect Clarion, still firmly believes she's as lovely as she was the day he met her, and woe unto anyone who tries to say otherwise*

Clarion: *hides her face, but makes a little nestling motion* -I'm keepin' ya from your work. That little guy ain't gonna feel better without that doomahicky thinger.-

Ratchet: *small sigh* -you're right...-

Clarion: *loves Ratchet. Smiles up at him and then opens her optics and looks up at him where she's still laying on his leg on the medbay floor*

Ratchet: *small smile, finishes the coding, and makes a note to have Perceptor double-check his work, just to be on the safe side*

*Speaking of, here comes the mech now...*

Clarion: *startles a bit as the stranger walks in, but doesn't move otherwise*

Perceptor: *pauses as he spots Ratchet and Clarion* Ah...I do apologize...but might I be able to borrow Ratchet for a few moments, Miss?

Clarion: *blinks, her hand going a bit protectively to the wire attached to her wrist*

Ratchet: *small frown, earning him an apologetic look from Perceptor*

Clarion: -Do I gotta unhook, Doc?-

Perceptor: Perhaps both of you could be of assistance in the matter at hand...*concerned expression* Kia has been adamant about her refusal to leave her lab...

Clarion: ..... *has no freakin' idea what he just said....*

Ratchet: *frown increases* -we'll see...- *to Perceptor* What's going on that she's not wanting to leave her lab?

Perceptor: She has not told me...and she is only giving the briefest of replies when I ask, or try to communicate through our bond...*worrying*

Clarion: *sits up, her hand still to her wrist as she hides a bit behind Ratchet and watches Perceptor from the safety of her shelter*

Perceptor: *Starting to wring his hands slightly, doesn't seem to notice that he's doing that*

Ratchet: *pings Kia's comm, even though he believes Perceptor's words*

Kia: //Mmmhmm.// *closes connection*

Clarion: *looks at Ratchet sideways, she heard that over their link*

Ratchet: *moving to get up, frowning* Lead the way, Perceptor...

Perceptor: *nods* Thank you, Ratchet, Miss Clarion...*grateful look to Clarion and Ratchet, before he heads out of the medbay*

Clarion: *scrambling up too, her arms going around Ratchet's that bears the link wire*

Clarion: *goes out with Ratchet, still clinging to his arm as she talks to herself softly and thinks of happy thoughts*

Ratchet: *sending reassurances through the link, even as Perceptor leads the way to Kia's lab*

*which is in a room off Perceptor's own main lab. The door is firmly closed at the moment... and locked*

Ratchet: *frowns as he finds the door locked, and then he's pulling out a few small tools to try to pick the lock*

Perceptor: *gently nudges Kia over their bond, some of his worry seeping through*

Kia: *absent patpat*

Clarion: *looks at what Ratchet's doing, and then sticks her fingers to the lock and gives it a jolt*

lock: *beeps*

Ratchet: *Surprised, gives Clarion a small smile, goes to open the door*

Kia: *startles and turns as the door opens, blinking her large optics with surprise. On the table in front of her is a tiny protoform*

Ratchet: *Raised brow, even as Perceptor tries to get a good look at what's going on, without being rude and pushing Ratchet and Clarion aside*

Clarion: o.0?

Kia: *blinks a bit more* Oh... hello, Ratchet. May I help you?

Ratchet: *stepping off to the side a bit so Perceptor can enter the lab* Just trying to figure out what had you so distracted...

Kia: ...Didn't Perceptor tell you? *still blinking, obviously distracted and trying to focus on the intruders to her lab rather than her project*

Perceptor: *gentle headshake* I was not made aware of the situation, Kia... *gently transmitting how worried he was, and letting Kia know that he had absolutely no idea what was going on*

Kia: *optics widen, and her hands... one still holding a tool... go to her mouth* Oh... I am so sorry, love.

Perceptor: *gently takes Kia's hands, and moves them away from her mouth* I know it was not intentional...*gentle smile, and curiosity about the protoform on the table* May I inquire as to what you are working on currently?

Ratchet: *Watching with amusement, will begin to gently nudge Clarion away from the door*

Kia: *looks down at the little form, which is complete but for cosmetic details* It.... You didn't know about the sparklet?

Clarion: *is nudged, was kind of hiding from the scene and feeling embarrassed*

Perceptor: ...*blinking, dumbfounded, and at a loss for words now, will hug Kia*

Kia: *snuggles close, transmitting apology and love* She will need to come out soon.

Ratchet: *nods to the couple* When she's ready, bring the protoform to the medbay with you...and congratulations. *will gently usher Clarion out and suggest that they head back to the medbay, unless she wishes to go elsewhere*

Clarion: *happy to tag along. Has hold of his arm again*

Ratchet: *quiet amusement* Perceptor and Kia will be wonderful parents, i think...

Clarion: *looking at how he feels about his friends getting a sparklet* She didn't useta be that absent minded.

Ratchet: *quiet* Perceptor did the best he could to recreate her personality matrix...but even the best can become a bit hyper-focused when there's a sparklet coming... *is glad for Perceptor and Kia, and his thoughts are going to Desinex, who is still too out of it to realize that she is also carrying a sparklet*

Clarion: 'N she mighta already ben damaged when I knew 'er. She couldn' talk, so I dunno. -Sheesh... kids everywhere.-

Ratchet: *moving to put his arm around Clarion's shoulders, pauses as he sees a familiar flash of blue* -Yeah...but some of them are no longer kids...despite how they act...- *nods to Showtime, who is helping Sunstreaker up off the ground, where he and Sideswipe are currently laying with the remenants of snares on their legs*

Showtime: *buzzing wings slightly* Oh, hey Ratchet...have you seen that fragger, Skywarp, anywhere?

Clarion: *snuggles against Ratchet's side and looks at the trio* *thinks but doesn't say aloud* -He's takin' care 'a Airwolf.-

Ratchet: Not recently, no...Sorry, Showtime... *putting two and two together, namely that Skywarp snared the twins, and Showtime's mad about that*

Showtime: ...darn. I gotta have words with him...*sigh* What're you two doing in this part of the base? *'wings starting to buzz even faster* Are Perceptor and Kia alright?

Clarion: -Ain't she Perceptor's kid too?-

Ratchet: -By adoption, yes.- *To Showtime* They're fine, Showtime...They're preparing for the arrival of their sparklet.

Showtime: *blink blink, wasn't expecting that* ...*GLEE* I'll have to congratulate them! *Gives Sunstreaker a look for what he transmitted over their bond*

Sunstreaker: *rolling his optics, not fazed by Showtime's look in the least* Great. More nerds running around.

Clarion: *Watches the smaller femme's reaction, and gives one of her rare small smiles. Then looks quickly at Sunstreaker and hides her face again.*

Sideswipe: *Snerks as he works on getting the snare off of his leg*

Showtime: *huffs a bit and lightly whaps Sunstreaker before glaring a bit at Sideswipe* You two are horrible...*'wings UP as Sideswipe points something out to her over the twin-bond* Sideswipe! >//<

Clarion: *flinches and jerks a bit at the whap. Starts thinking happy thoughts*

Ratchet: -Only Showtime could get away with scratching Sunstreaker's paint...they're bondmates.- *rumbles, headshake at the trio's antics*

Clarion: -Doc... um... that thing you were workin' on done yet?- *wants to escape the boisterous trio*

Ratchet: *nods and tells the trio off before moving to guide Clarion away from them*

*And for his troubles, he gets three grown 'bots razzing him*

Clarion: *flinches and makes a small sound, now clinging to him with both hands*

Ratchet: *ignoring the trio, they're just being morons, and therefore are not worth paying attention to*

Clarion: *is scared, is trying to fight it, but is shaking. Ratchet is safe, Ratchet is right here. Ratchet will keep anything from hurting her....*

Ratchet: *quietly offering to take Clarion back to the quiet of quarters*

Clarion: -The thinger, Doc. The kid's sick.- *keeps repeating her reminders*

Ratchet: *small frown, is worried about Clarion as well as Airwolf*

Clarion: -I'm okay. I got you.- *cling*

Ratchet: *Small frown, before it occurs to him to databurst the patch to First Aid* *pings First Aid's comm*

First Aid: //Yes, Ratchet, I took the energon samples out of the centerfuge.//

Ratchet: //*quiet chuckle* Could I get you to install a patch to Airwolf's firewall for me? I've got the coding done, it just needs to be installed.//

First Aid: //Oh. Of course. How is he doing?// *rises to his feet so that he can go as soon as he has the patch*

Ratchet: //He's got a virus that's wearing him down a bit...but other than that, he's stable...*another chuckle* Who'd have thought Skywarp would be such a good caretaker?// *databursts the patch to First Aid*

First Aid: //Got it. Well, from my studies it seems that Seekers are very loyal and protective of those they see as teammates.// *heading toward Skywarp's guest room*

Ratchet: //Thank you, First Aid. Ratchet out.// *relaxes a bit*

Ironhide: *steps out of he and Chromia's quarters and blinks at Ratchet, then grins and hands him a wriggling and excited Carina*

First Aid: //You're welcome, Ratchet. First Aid out.//

Carina: *happy squeals, until she purges on Ratchet, who makes a startled sound and flinches*

Ironhide:  *rumbles, amused*  Here, let me help you with that.  *takes his sparklet and goes back inside to play with her more*

Clarion:  o.0

Ratchet: *Informs Ironhide that he's a sneaky fragger*

Ironhide:  Thanks for helping with her purging problem.  *shuts the door*

Ratchet: ...*Twitches, muttering obscenities*

Clarion:  ...Doc?

Ratchet: *sighs* I'm fine...aside from needing a wash now... *not amused with Ironhide*

Clarion:  Why'd he do that?

Ratchet: ...I wish I knew...but I suspect it has something to do with the fact that Carina still purges on him on occasion....

Clarion:  ... Uh... I dun get it.

Ratchet: He's been playing with her and holding her more...and she's gotten used to being held by both of her creators, so she's not as exciteable when she's held...she's stopped purging on Ironhide as often as she used to...which means that there's something in the sparklet blend that's upsetting her tank...

Clarion:  So he's ticked at ya?

Ratchet: no...I'm guessing he just wanted to avoid getting purged on...of course, he probably thought it was funny to put someone else in that situation...*quiet grumble*

Clarion:  *sympathy over their link*  We goin' ta the washracks?

Ratchet: Is that alright?

Clarion:  *nods, her head tapping gently against his side*

Ratchet: *small smile, moves to lead Clarion to the washracks* If I remember right...there's one of these that Sunstreaker rigged to spray flowery-smelling shower gel...I don't know if it's been fixed yet or not...

Clarion:  I remember that smell....  *hides a bit as they pass Skywarp's room*

Airwolf:  *watching First Aid as the medic scans him after applying the patch, then looks at Skywarp to make sure he's still there*

Skywarp: *Making faces at First Aid, in an attempt to amuse Airwolf* :P  

Airwolf:  *mouth twitch, and then pulls a face of his own as his engine gives a few determied coughs*

First Aid:  *gently*  That should fade soon, Airwolf.  You'll soon be all better.

Airwolf:  *looks at him sideways, has no idea what to think of a guy that talks like that and who has no wings*

Skywarp: *grinning a bit* Won't be long before you're airborn again.

Airwolf:  *perks!*  Really?

Skywarp: *baps First Aid on the back* 'Cording to this docbot, yeah

First Aid:  *stumbles just a little bit, but smiles at the Seeker*  Yes.  But he has to rest for awhile yet, first.

Skywarp: *nods* But after you're feeling better, we'll go flying. How's that sound?

Airwolf:  Great!  ....  0_0  o.0  .>_.>  <._<.  @_@  *stifled yawn*

First Aid:  *gentle smile*  Get some rest, Airwolf.  *turns toward the door*

Skywarp: *small chuckle* Want me to stay?

Airwolf:  *big optics, of course he does!*  *tries to play cool despite the optics*  I guess.  *more yawn*

Skywarp: *smiles* 'Kay! ^_^

Airwolf:  *is too weak yet to snuggle down on his padded berth and the nest that's been built around him and which still bemuses him, but he turns his head slightly and folds one arm across his chest*

Skywarp: *moves to shift some of the nest so it's warm without being restrictive* Maybe we can pester the boatbot into letting Thundercracker stay with us sometime... *missing his trinemate a bit*

Airwolf:  *optic shutters are heavy*  Thundercracker?

Skywarp: one of the remaining members of my old trine...

Airwolf:  Who was the other one?

Skywarp: *small sigh* Starscream...

Airwolf:  I've heard of him....  *small sad sound as his voice drops over the name of his first mentor*  Windbreaker was scared of him.

Skywarp: I can kinda understand why...but he wasn't always such a scary mech...back when we first became a trine...he was a pretty decent mech....then some stuff happened, and one of our trinemates got killed...we picked Thundercracker up a little over a vorn ago...but Screamer was never the same...

Airwolf:  *doesn't realize he's wibbled*  Who was the other one?

Skywarp: Mech we called Buzzbomb...Didn't know his real designation...he wouldn't tell us. *small shrug*

Airwolf:  Was he as old as you?

Skywarp: A bit older, if I remember right...

Airwolf:  So really really old.

Skywarp: Hey! I'm not THAT old...*amused smirk*

Airwolf:  *tired smile*

Skywarp: *Settling down next to Airwolf's berth* Get some rest, 'Wolf...

Airwolf:  Am I part of your trine now?

Skywarp: *small smile* We'll have to talk to Thundercracker about it, but I think he'll be okay with you joining our trine...

Airwolf:  *face brightens, but then goes blank as he slips into recharge and sleep mode despite himself*

Skywarp: *quiet chuckle as he covers Airwolf with a blanket, before getting comfortable on the floor*

Airwolf:  *sleeps without nightmares, though the coughing wakes him a few times*

Skywarp: *each time, he's there, gently rubbing Airwolf's back*

((co-written with random_xtras))