Mv. /Ark/ Base. Bad Monster, and Joan

[microbots]

Raoul: *sitting behind the barn and looking at the empty Monster can in his hand* *to Jake* Yeah, this was a stupid idea.

Jake: *nod nod of agreement. Doesn't trust himself to speak, because of how jittery he feels*

Raoul: Whoa! *muffled swear word* The ground's rockin'!

Jake: ... *hand on the ground* M-Mayb-beh... *hand is shaky and twitchy*

Raoul: *lays down and curls up* *muffled* You finish yours?

Jake: ... *looks* *turns can upside down* Y-Yup.

Raoul: Ugh. My belly. Ohhhhh.

Jake: M-make t-th' e-earthquake s-stop... *twitchy and shaky now* *and wondering why he is stuttering worse than normal if Umeko's not around*

Raoul: This ain't nothin' like Jolt. *winces, and then sends a com call to his mother*

Denver: //Th's 's Denver.//

Raoul: Major Mac? *burpy sound* Ugh. Me 'n Jake, we did somethin' stupid.

Denver: //... 'Ow stupid?//

Raoul: *curls against cousin and tries to comfort Jake* M... Monster!

Denver: //...// *and the facepalm is audiable over comms*

Raoul: Oh slag. Now I feel like laughin' my aft off 'n pukin' at the same time. *squeezes eyes shut and holds onto cousin*

Denver: //Wh're 're y'u?//

Jake: *curling up into a ball of misery and jitters*

Raoul: Behind the barn. *shivers and giggles, then groans* *and then nearly jumps out of his skin as somebody talks*

Umeko: Raoul-san, Jake-san! What happened? *kneels by the boys*

Raoul: *hides Jake's Monster can behind him. Not sure why he's doing it. But he knows Umeko and Jake are friends and that Jake really depends on Umeko's help to get his homework done*

Jake: *startles and groans a bit as his stomach protests the energy drink*

Denver: *arriving a few moments later*

Umeko: *speaking soothingly to the boys and smoothing their foreheads. Looks around when she hears Denver, her almond eyes wide* They had energy drinks, Major Mac.

Denver: *nods* Ah figger'd. *will move to crouch down beside the two boys* Le's git 'em s'meplace quahet.

Umeko: *softly* I don't understand how they got so sick. It's only Monster.

Raoul: Only... *groan*

Denver: 'F th'y ain't used t' th' stuff, too much 'f 't c'n make 'em sick.

Umeko: *sees if she can't help Jake to his feet, since he's closer to her*

Jake: *mumbling something about never touching energy drinks again*

Denver: *moving to help Raoul to his feet, will also click softly*

Raoul: *dizzy apologizing. Feels so ashamed of himself for doing something stupid that he's blushing*

Umeko: *concerned look for Raoul, and then puts Jake's arm over her shoulders* Shhh, Jake-san. Come with me.

Denver: *soothing clicks. Fully intends to give Raoul and Jake some baking soda once she and Umeko have gotten the boys someplace quiet*

Jake: *trying to keep steady, but he's so twitchy, it's a bit difficult*

Umeko: *bites her lip, and then looks to Denver* I don't think I'll be able to help Jake-san get to the door. *braces her legs*

Denver: *gently* 'Eah. *will support Jake as well*

Jake: *sheepishly apologizing and stammering badly*

Umeko: *frowning with concern and wondering how to help. Then squeals softly with alarm as something big and furry pushes over and sticks its nose in Raoul's face*

Raoul: *just got slurped by a concerned Galloway bull* ...Cow.

Denver: ... *snerk*

Jake: Moo...

Umeko: *pushes at the big animal, and then squeals again as she gets licked too*

Raoul: What the *bleep*?

Denver: 'T's Cat's bull. *so amused*

Wully: *sees no rodeo, no trucks, and no trains. So he wants to go home to Cat. Doesn't know she's here* Mmmmmmmm.

Raoul: *fumbles his radio* Catscan, you there?

Umeko: *is afraid of bull! Will still scold and try to push him away again!*

CatScan: *takes a few moments to remember how to respond to radio calls* //This is CatScan.//

Raoul: You... *shudder at caffeine zing* Ugh. You gotta bull?

Umeko: *more squealing!*

CatScan: *quiet for a few moments, then* //Wully.//

Raoul: He's up here in our faces, yo.

CatScan: //...Where is 'here'?//

Raoul: *automatically rattles off coordinates*

Jake: *nearly faceplanted as he tried to save Umeko from the bull*

CatScan: *arrives a few moments later, looking like she wants to urk* *doubles over and mutters curses about Skylar*

Wully: *Mama! Goes and sticks his big wet nose in HER face*

CatScan: *will gently 'fight' Wully now*

Wully: *is a very happy curly bully*

Denver: *soft snerk as she watches the tall girl play with the bull. Then she's moving to carefully help Jake stand again*

Raoul: *lets go of Denver and moves to the barn wall, then straightens through sheer determination and starts to walk toward the little back door*

Denver: *to Umeko* 'Ang ont' Raoul...

Umeko: *hurries over and takes Raoul's arm, offering support that she suspects the muttering boy might be feeling too embarrassed to take*

Tracks: //Denver, what did our eldest hoodlum just apologize for?//

Denver: //'E 'n Jake're regrett'n' 'av'n a can'a Monster each. Do we 'ave aneh bakin' soda?//

Tracks: //Considering the youngest hoodlum just dusted himself with it as he helps me and Dixie make snickerdoodles, I'd say yes.// *sighs over the link and over his bond with Denver* //At least it was only caffeine.//

Denver: //Yup...// *chuckling at the idea of dusted Dion* *and then she's ducking and cursing*

Tracks: -Denver? Darling, what happened?- *pause* -Wait. Why is Raoul laughing and shouting encouragement over comms?-

Umeko: WakeJumper!

Denver: -WakeJumper 'n Blitzwing were on th' fraggin' roof 'n took off fr'm th're!-

WakeJumper: *still a bit unsteady in the air, and is soon moving closer to Blitzwing so that the older triple changer can cut the wind for him*

Blitzwing: *gruff voice can be heard encouraging the youngling, and then both bots are gone with a boom*

Tracks: //WakeJumper made a sonic boom?// *surprised pride over the bond*

Denver: //Yup. Ah 'ad no ahdea 'e w's even up th're.// *proud of the youngling*

Tracks: *chuckles* //Well. We can make some special cookies for him after we've gotten the older hoodlums tended to.//

Denver: //Yup. 'E don' look too steadeh yet... W's prolleh 'is first solo flahght.// *moving to herd hoodlums and Umeko toward the lift*

Tracks: *quiet pride*

Raoul: *noticing the way Umeko is watching Jake as the tall girl follows Denver inside* *eyebrow quirk*

Denver: *talking quietly to Jake and making sure the jittery boy isn't going to run into anything*

Jake: *stuttering badly enough as he tries to hold a conversation with his cousin that he's almost impossible to understand at times*

Umeko: *bites her lip, but then turns her head and gives Raoul a reassuring smile. And wonders why he's grinning at her*

Elsewhere

Serenity: *pings Ratchet* //Have you seen Sora anywhere today? She was supposed to show me her song lyrics.//

Ratchet: *busy removing husband from a project that didn't work. Absently* //Ask Tracks.//

Serenity: //He hasn't seen her either. And Raj doesn't know where she is.//

Ratchet: ... *lifts head and is suddenly surging to her feet as her ping gets no response* //Desti?//

Destiny: //Can't find Sister...// *sounds just a bit frightened*

Ratchet: Oh... *looks around, and then calls to Greg and Sven over comms as she pats Wheeljack in his Styrofoam cocoon and tells him not to go anywhere* //Guys, we need Chinook!//

Optimus: *pinging Trevor and asking him to look as well*

Sven: //What need Chinook for?//

Ratchet: //Sora's lost. We need Chinook to sniff.//

Greg: *cautious and uncertain* //Chinook good at sniff.//

Trevor: //Found her.// *voice full of concern*

Ratchet: //Buh?// *other channel* //It's okay, Greg and Sven. We found her. She's okay!//

Greg: *grumbles about stupid sisters as he signs off*

Serenity: Raj is freaking out. *biting her lower lip* She must have blocked him like I do to Russ sometimes.

Optimus: *from where he'd been standing to one side enjoying the spectacle of Wheeljack encased in foam* //Where is she?// *worried*

Trevor: //She's in Buzzsaw's closet. The little guy let me know she was there as I went up the stairs to start looking.//

Optimus: *will bring Ratchet to the landing then* *and inadvertently bring Serenity too*

Buzzsaw: Don't scare her. Don't scare her. *quiet floof*

Trevor: *holding the dark haired woman close and rubbing her back as he speaks to her softly*

Sora: *shivering and looking like she put up a fight when she was removed from her hiding place. Had barricaded herself behind Buzzsaw's perches and TV*

Ratchet: *scans Sora, and then gasps softly*

Optimus: Ratchet?

Ratchet: *softly* I need to tell Raj first.

Serenity: *slight tilt of her head, and then a quick nod* Russ is bringing him.

Ratchet: *sees if Sora won't come to her*

Trevor: *ready to pass her over if she'll go*

Sora: *peeks warily after a few moments, and then she's all but launching herself at Ratchet. Will cling and shiver a bit more*

Ratchet: *gently rubs her back and cuddles* What's wrong, baby? Tell me?

Sora: *softly, in Cybertronian* [Don't want to have this one taken from me...]

Ratchet: *gently, over private channel* //[No one's taking her away. But you have to calm down so she can stay by your spark long enough to survive in the tank, okay?]// *more cuddle*

Sora: *hiccups and hides her face against Ratchet*

Russell: *arriving with Raj on the landing above*

Ratchet: *switches to Raj's channel* //Raj, you've got a daughter. Come love on your mate so the little thing can hold on long enough to come out and see you.//

Raj: *all but shoving Russell out of his way* *hurries down the stairs and is soon gently smoothing his wife's hair and murmuring soothingly to her*

Sora: *fighting flashbacks as she reaches for Raj*

Ratchet: *squeaks and steps on Optimus' foot as Destiny appears*

Optimus: *startled blurt*

Destiny: *will latch onto Sora and Raj and fuss over both of them*

Sora: *starting to relax somewhat. Is still stressed though*

Raj: *quietly, over a private channel to Ratchet* //Can you meet us at our quarters?//

Ratchet: //I can take you there now.// *brows quirk*

Raj: ... *very slight quirk of his usual grin* //Do that then.//

Ratchet: *nods* *looks at Russell and Serenity* I've got to go. See you later. *softly* //Thanks, Rinny.//

Serenity: *small smile* //You're welcome. Optimus and I will go finish unwrapping 'Jack. You go take care of your daughter before Desti hurts us for scaring Sora.//

Destiny: *quietly* Thrrpt.

Sora: *very soft laughter at her twin's action is a go, even as she and Raj are brought home*

Ratchet: *as laughter echoes in the stairwell, she brings Sora and Raj to their room in the Trach apartment*

Raj: *will get Sora tucked into the nest of blankets on their bed and smooth her hair* *quietly, to Ratchet* How far along is she?

Ratchet: Baby's not separated yet. *absently straightens a plushie on the couch that Ryan usually sleeps on*

Raj: *small nod, then he's murmuring reassurances as Sora curls up and puts her arms around his waist before falling into a light doze* Why did she run? And why did she block Destiny and me? *this clearly bothers the spy very much*

Ratchet: *sighs and sits on the couch, then reaches over the back to touch Sora's leg and get clicked at by Destiny* Flashbacks. She was afraid of having the sparklet taken from her.

Raj: *silent for a few moments as he works this over in his head, brow furrowing after a bit*

Destiny: *frown* This not bad place. Nobody take babbies from peeps.

Ratchet: *softly* I know, Desti. But you know what flashbacks are like.

Destiny: *small nod, clicks softly*

Raj: *will gently continue to smooth his wife's hair* *quietly* Is there anything I can do to help her cope with the flashbacks? I still don't know much about what happened, since she keeps blocking the memories.

Ratchet: *surprised look as she lifts her head, and then she's offering him a databurst* Don't look at it now. Get it printed off in plain text and read it.

Raj: *small nod, will do so. Later, once the sparklet's safely in the tank*

Destiny: *softly* Stupid peeps got cans handed to 'em by Unca Mike. *nod nod*

Ratchet: *grins* Yeah. They sure did. *then puts her face in her hands and sighs as she remembers what happened at the Stark facility*

Raj: *raised brow is a go, but will keep his mouth shut on that matter. Instead, he'll try to distract Ratchet with something more at the front of his processor* Will Sora need supplements?

Ratchet: Oh yes. *pulls a little cake out of subspace and fills the small room with the scent of strawbaby*

Sora: *soft sound as she catches that scent*

Destiny: *quiet little giggle* Special noms for mamas!

Ratchet: Yup. *grins and pulls out another* Do you want choccy or strawbaby, Sora?

Sora: *barely peeking. Doesn't really want to move* *quietly* Strawbaby.

Ratchet: *gives the goody to to Raj* There you go. I won't have to send you anymore, though. Tracks invented these.

Raj: *snerks as he gives the goody to Sora* So I get to torment him for them then?

Ratchet: *deadpan* You get to fight off the tidal wave of them.

Raj: *snickerfitdie*

Destiny: *gigglefit*

Sora: *making the supplement vanish, kthx*

Tracks: *taps on the door and then peeks, letting in a scent of organic cinna* Does anyone want snickerdoodles?

Destiny: *happy little squee, and big wibbly eyes are a go*

Sora: *looks interested*

Raj: *chuckles as Sora refuses to let go of him so he can go get her some of the treats* *will also ping Tracks' comm* //Sora won't let me up to get some for her... And do you have any of the maternity supplements that you make?//

Tracks: *pauses* Who needs the maternity supplement?

Ratchet: *grins and winks at Destiny*

Destiny: *leans on the back of the couch and points to Sora* Sissy gotta babby.

Tracks: *optics widen, and then he's giving Raj that look of quizzical concern that happens when one of his family members isn't well*

Raj: *nods* We just found out about our little girl. She hasn't separated yet.

Tracks: *comes in and sets down the plate of cookies* One moment. *back out*

Destiny: *will nab a couple cookies and attempt to feed Mama*

Ratchet: *chuckles and munches obligingly* Oh hey, there's apple in here.

Destiny: *perks and moves to nab more noms, which will get shared with Sissy and Sissy's Mate*

Tracks: *back with a bowl of icing* Here's the supplement. *spoon in the bowl as he offers it to his brother*

Raj: *as he accepts the offered bowl* Thank you, Tracks. *will proceed to make cookie sammiches for his wife*

Sora: *starting to nod off again, is finally calming down and relaxing*

Ratchet: *another sigh, but then snerks* I better go check on 'Jack. His snack project backfired.

Raj: Again. *facepalm*

Sora: *snerks, though mostly asleep*

Ratchet: *chuckles with satisfaction at the Sora laugh, and then goes to rescue her husband from Optimus and Serenity's tender mercies*

((written with random_xtras))