Nexus and MV. Visitor's Center, The Black Dog, Rat Pits, and /Ark/ Base. Reunions, Rat Fights, Kids

[microbots]

mtmteSharpshot: *sitting near the Visitor's Center and just resting. Is relatively sure he'd catch heat from the medic if he called and asked for a lift back to his berth, so he's resting here until he feels he's ready to head back under his own power*

Kup: *appears with grouchy orange and white cat on a leash, sparklet daughter on another leash, and wife at his side* Still hate these things. Pickle, stop that racket.

Destiny: *clickstorming and fussing as she tries to escape her own leash*

Jael: *hunkers down to see if a finger poke to the face will stop the howling*

Pickle: *growl, hiss, spit, is MAD*

Destiny: *squeal!*

Sharpshot: *looks up at that familiar voice, certain he's hearing things*

Kup: *also hunkers down, reeling in the cat leash and offering the end of it to Destiny* You wanna keep this punk outta trouble, kid?

Destiny: *fuss, clickstorm, snaggaPickle and hold him close*

Sharpshot: *just a bit wide-opticked now, will try to get to his feet* *or not. Doesn't even make it halfway up before his back's twinging and he has to sit down again*

Kup and Jael: *both look sharply toward the clatter*

Kup: *on his feet and passing the Destiny and cat to his wife before he hurries toward the dark blue mech* Sharpshot, what the slag d'you think you're doin'? Where's your team?

Sharpshot: *slight wince* Kup, sir. If my team's still alive, they're luckier than me.

Kup: *frowns with concern as he reaches the mech* Whaddya mean, kid?

Sharpshot: *quietly* Mission went south. The 'Cons were expecting an attack. I got Megatron, but the Seekers... *headshake* I don't know if the others got out.

Kup: *frowns deeply and leans down to try and haul the younger bot to his feet* Your Kup oughtta get them out alright.

Sharpshot: *pained sound that very nearly masks the slight intake hitch he did at the mention of his commander*

Destiny: *peeking and clinging to Jael-Mama* Bubby hurt?

Jael: *silent nod as she holds sparklet and cat close and frowns at the blue mech*

Kup: *frowning with deep concern now* Easy, kid. I see these scars. You've ben here awhile?

Sharpshot: *quietly, cycling air* Yessir, according to the medics.

Kup: Which medics are those? *has the blue mech on his feet now and is supporting him*

Sharpshot: Hormah and WakeJumper, sir. *trying not to focus on the pain in his back*

Kup: *frowns* No offence to the kids, but you need a Ratchet. Let's get ya to the Black Dog and see if that old yellow eyesore's there.

Sharpshot: *hesitant now* Er... That's alright, sir. WakeJumper was trained by a Ratchet.

Kup: He's still too young ta know as much. Now come on, or I'll have Jael carry ya.

Sharpshot: ... Jael?

Kup: *nods toward that burly slab of pink muscle that's standing a little ways off and watching them with inscrutable eyes* Her.

Sharpshot: *looks* ... *will be good*

Kup: *moves to guide Sharpshot toward the path leading to the Black Dog*

Sharpshot: *trying to walk under his own power as much as he can, has to lean on Kup most of the way*

Kup: *can take the weight, but thinks it'd be better for Sharpshot to have more support* Jael, let Desti go and get his other side.

Jael: *nods and removes the leash from the dark-haired sparklet, then sets her on her shoulder and steps forward*

Destiny: *worried clickstorm*

Sharpshot: *squares his jaw, though he won't fight the offered support*

Jael: *skin is rubbery but warm, and her muscles are nearly as hard as the cybernetic ones of a Transformer as she puts her arm around the young mech. Face is still inscrutable, even when she speaks sharply to Pickle for spitting at Sharpshot*

Destiny: *scoldies for Pickle* No. Be nice, Pickle.

Kup: *to Sharpshot* So what planet were your Wreckers on?

Sharpshot: *quietly* We were stationed on Nye 5 at one point. We left there after a run in with the Stunticons left a significant dent in our roster.

Kup: *presses his lips together* *quiet too* Who'd you lose?

Sharpshot: *softly, shuttering his optics* Our commander.

Kup: *blinks* Kup? *swift glance toward Jael, who frowns at him*

Sharpshot: *lips pressed thin, small nod*

Kup: *bites his cy-gar and looks ahead* *quietly* What happened?

Sharpshot: *quietly recounts the battle on Nye 5, the pain in his voice coming through despite the flatness of his tone*

Kup: *sounds just a little rattled now* Stop, Jael. I wanna scan this mook.

Jael: *pauses, her frown showing plainly now*

Sharpshot: *quietly* What good will that do? Hormah said I'm an Exile...

Kup: *steps back a little and points his teleporter at the younger mech, then curses quietly* Yeah, so'm I. *lifts optics gone pale with emotion to Sharpshot's face* I'da come for ya sooner if I'da known.

Sharpshot: ... *confused expression is a go*

Destiny: *gonna try and scoot over to Papa's shoulder so she can see what he's looking at*

Pickle: *protests*

Kup: *reaches for Destiny* *quietly to Sharpshot* I'm your commander, kid. We were both from the same reality.

Sharpshot: 0_0 *optics white from the force of his shock and surprise, before he's shutting down so his processor can try and reboot*

Jael: *growls a curse and then tenses mighty muscles and scoops the young sniper into her arms* Don't you fall over too, old man. I can't carry you both.

Kup: *growls at her and mutters, then rubs his face as he turns back the way they were going. Puts his other hand up to comfort Destiny*

Destiny: *fuss, fret, cling to Pickle*

Pickle: *yowl! Do not want!*

Kup: *growls and mutters about razzafrazzin' cat*

Sharpshot: *rebooting. Soft groan*

Jael: *tersely* Hold still.

Sharpshot: *quietly, sounding a bit stunned at the fact that he's being carried by an organic female* Who are you?

Jael: *glances toward Kup, remembering what he's told her of the Cybertronian people of his type of reality*

Kup: *chewing cy-gar* *quiet* She's my wife, kid.

Sharpshot: ... *boggling and trying to fend off another processor crash*

Kup: *reaches over to bap him upside the head*

Sharpshot: *wince at the bap*

Jael: Hey, idiot. I nearly stepped on you.

Kup: Watch your mouth, you slaggin' battleax.

Destiny: *fussing and clickstorming*

hsvHot Rod: *hurries down from the porch to offer assistance when he sees the size of the bot that Jael is carrying*

Jael: *growls at him, but lets him help*

hsvHot Rod: *calling Ratchet!* What happened?

Jael: He just found out his commander's married.

hsvHot Rod: ...Oh right. No girls.

hsvAir Raid: *just came out of the building* Sucktitude.

Kup: *growls at the Aerialbot*

hsvRatchet: *arrives in a swish and flash*

Sharpshot: *cycling air and trying not to focus on things that make his head hurt*

hsvAir Raid: *snags Sharpshot and lays him on the bench* Wow. Never thought I'd see a guy one of these. Wait'll I tell Desi.

hsvHot Rod: *not gonna start on how stupid he thinks Air Raid is right now*

Sharpshot: *confused as heck now* Who's Desi?

hsvHot Rod: You, in other realities.

Kup: *telling hsvRatchet what's up with Sharpshot*

hsvRatchet: *small nod, scans the sniper to get a better understanding of what repairs have been done and what repairs the mech still needs*

Destiny: *chirping and clickstorming as she keeps Pickle close to her*

hsvHot Rod: That little girl there, is a Desi. *holds a piece of blue sweet gummi sheet toward Destiny*

Destiny: *look, squeal, reach with one hand*

Sharpshot: *boggling again*

hsvHot Rod: *distracted now by trying to coax the little femme over to him. Wide grin. Yes, he's a suck for sparklets of any size and make*

Destiny: *fuss, wants to go get the nom, but doesn't want Pickle to escape*

Kup: *looks toward the fussing* Get his leash, kid.

Jael: *looks over there, brow ridges lifting slightly*

Destiny: *frown as she thinks this through*

Kup: *reaches up and unfastens the Destiny size leash from the long one that he needs for the cat* *waves the end of the Destiny size leash at her* See? It's right here, hooked to the cat.

Destiny: *connects the dots, reach for the leash*

Kup: Yeah. See? *grin*

hsvHot Rod: *grins too and moves the treat enticingly*

Destiny: *looks to hsvHot Rod, and then back to Kup. Click, chirp?*

Kup: Go on, kid.

Destiny: *will scoot over to hsvHot Rod then*

Sharpshot: ... *looks just a bit brain broken, though he'll wince as hsvRatchet starts working on his back*

hsvRatchet: *frowning as he works* Why didn't you have Hormah fix this sooner? *can tell that the hybrid femme did do some repairs, and that the rest of the work on the sniper's back was done by a WakeJumper*

Kup: *snorts as he chomps his cy-gar and looks back to the yellow medic* He's scared boltless 'a femmes.

hsvRatchet: ... *excuse him a moment, he has to facepalm at the absurdity of that*

Sharpshot: *cringing* *mutters something about femmes being scary*

Kup: You never even met Arcee, kid. And she wasn't a real femme.

Sharpshot: ... *confused expression is a go* What do you mean, sir?

Kup: She was a tinkered on mess done by some chop doc. *glances at Jael as she puts an arm around him*

Sharpshot: *more wince, slight start as hsvRatchet tags him with a pain override*

Destiny: *muffled clickstorm around her nom*

Pickle: *annoyed tailswish*

Kup: *doesn't blink as Deherree suddenly rages out of the Black Dog and then turns and empties both flame cannons back through the door, nor when she then transforms with a scream of rage and flies off. Nor when Nemesis storms out and shakes a fist after her younger sister* Guess some are a little scary.

hsvHot Rod: o.o

hsvAir Raid: *laughing his aft off*

Sharpshot: 0_0

hsvRatchet: *headshake, pays no mind as Jetfire exits the Black Dog and chases after Deherree*

Destiny: *muffled* Bad, bad.

Kup: The slag was that about, Nem?

Nemesis: *shrugs as she turns to go back inside* Kid misses her mate. *scoops up puppies and heads back to the bar*

Sharpshot: *would have hunkered down, but hsvRatchet's working on his back, and won't let him move*

hsvRatchet: *just a bit annoyed by the blue mech's escape attempt* Hold still.

hsvAir Raid: You need me for anything, Ratchet? *still grinning at the Deherree fit*

hsvRatchet: No. Go make sure your mate hasn't broken Ultra Magnus' arm again. *still working on Sharpshot*

hsvAir Raid: I think I'll just go pick a fight with her. Making up is fun. *wide grin as he PINpoints away*

hsvHot Rod: Thrrpt.

Sharpshot: *looks absolutely terrified at the thought of a femme capable of breaking Ultra Magnus' arm*

Kup: *looks at hsvHot Rod* What were the two 'a you doin' here, anyhow?

hsvHot Rod: *shrugs* 'Raid was here to get something for his mate.

hsvRatchet: *as he works* Hot Rod, the Nexus isn't your online dating service.

hsvHot Rod: o.0 .>_.> No idea what you're talking about, Ratchet. Right, Desti? *grins at the sparklet*

Pickle: *HISSSSS* *still ruffled over the fire and the scream*

hsvHot Rod: ...I wasn't asking you, furball.

Destiny: *chirp*

hsvHot Rod: *grins at Destiny, then looks back to the yellow medic* Yeah. No idea what you're talking about.

Kup: *snorts* Yer reality that shy 'a femmes?

hsvRatchet: *rolls his optics* Most of the femmes on base are already claimed, or are sparklets.

Sharpshot: ... Sparklets? *can barely remember the presence of tinybots on Cybertron*

Kup: *doesn't realize that his former sniper knows the word* Like Destiny, only smaller. *offers his hands to his daughter*

hsvHot Rod: Mine!

Destiny: *squeal!* *fuss!* *jumps to Papa*

hsvHot Rod: ...Yours. *sad face* *then eeps* That cat peed on me!

hsvRatchet: You deserve it. Go wash up.

Pickle: *has no right to look that smug*

hsvHot Rod: *PINpoints away, grumbling. And doesn't he sound like someone you all know as he mutters?*

Jael: *amused expression at the muttering*

Sharpshot: ... What the scrap?

Kup: Huh? *frowns down at the blue sniper*

Sharpshot: Peed?

Destiny: Bad Pickle. *clickstorm*

Kup: It's kinda like leakin' oil, but worse fer the finish. *looks at Destiny* Always, sweetheart.

Sharpshot: ... Ew. *blinks a bit, has a bad feeling he's reacting to the pain override, since things are starting to look a bit fuzzy around the edges*

hsvRatchet: *frowns and moves to reverse the override*

Kup: *sharply* What's wrong?

Sharpshot: *cycling air and trying not to focus on the pain signals his back's sending him without the override*

hsvRatchet: I'll have to disable his pain sensors manually.

Kup: Why? *deep frown*

Jael: *expression mirroring her husband's*

hsvRatchet: He was reacting negatively to the tab. *working on disabling the sniper's pain sensors now*

Kup: Any idea why? *chewing his cy-gar with a vengeance*

Sharpshot: *quietly* Always did have a problem with that...

hsvRatchet: It looks as though at one point, he had a virus... *doesn't look up as he hears the Showtime who works at the Black Dog approaching*

Showtime: *walking over. Nemesis sent her out to see if the group needed something* Do you need anything?

Kup: *glances at her with a bit of a start since he hadn't heard her coming* Hey, Showtime. What'd you say?

Showtime: *concerned glance as Sharpshot startles badly, then her attention's back on Kup* Do you need anything?

Kup: *glances at Destiny* You want somethin' now, sweetheart? Or you wanna wait till we all go in?

Destiny: *thinking hard, soft clicks*

Showtime: *gentle clicks for Destiny* ^_^

Kup: *watching his little one interact, a soft smile on his shiny but still old mug*

Destiny: *points at Sharpshot* Cookies for Bubby.

Kup: *chuckles and taps Sharpshot's helm for attention* What kinda cookies you like, kid? *feels pretty sure that someone would have introduced the food to the sniper*

Sharpshot: *slight start* *sheepishly* CinnaSeekers.

Kup: *looks at Showtime, still smiling* Give us a big one 'n a little one.

Showtime: Alright. *smiles and heads inside to get the cookies*

Sharpshot: ... *quiet as he remembers a long lost brother*

Kup: *looks down at the young sniper, remembering the history that he's read. And then he acks and cusses as Jael pokes him in the side with her thumb* Slaggit, woman, that's my plating!

Jael: *amused* I know. *jab*

Sharpshot: *startles*

hsvRatchet: *grumbles and holds the sniper still with one hand*

Destiny: *squee, chatter, clickstorm!*

Kup: *grumbling and grouching is suddenly cut off* *slightly startled sounding* Mmmmm.

Destiny: *more happy chatter*

Sharpshot: *looks*

Jael: *quietly and thoroughly kissing her husband's brake shoes off as he clings to her dizzily*

Sharpshot: 0_0

hsvRatchet: *closing up plating* *is ignoring the couple for now*

Destiny: *happy yapping*

Jael: *pleased sound as Kup manages to gather his senses enough to remember that he can return the favour*

Sharpshot: ...

hsvRatchet: *throat clearing sound*

Kup: *breaks kiss and blinks up at the medic* Huh?

Jael: *smug smirk as she looks at Destiny*

hsvRatchet: *as Destiny loses her mind with glee over her parents being affectionate* He just needs rest while the repairs take.

Kup: Any reason we can't bring him inta the Dog fer a meal 'n then drag him along while Jael 'n I fight a few rats?

hsvRatchet: If you can keep him from getting roughed up, it should be fine.

Sharpshot: *can now see that Kup's cy-gar... isn't really a cy-gar. It's a piece of garden hose*

Kup: Don't see him gettin' roughed up in those places. Whiteout goes for older guys.

hsvRatchet: *soft snerk*

Sharpshot: *not sure whether to feel insulted or relieved by what Kup just said, settles for being just a bit confused by the fake cy-gar* *quietly* Er... Sir?

Kup: *looks down, frowning* Don't call me sir. I work for a living.

Jael: *snerk*

Sharpshot: ... *so confused now*

Kup: *sees the confusion and relents* What is it, kid?

Sharpshot: *quietly* I don't understand.

Kup: Don't understand what?

Sharpshot: This, for starters... *will hold up the fake cy-gar*

Kup: *blinks, then takes it and puts it in his mouth* *gruffly* What about it?

Sharpshot: What happened to your normal one?

Kup: *shrugs the shoulder that Destiny and her cat aren't sitting on* Don't need that slag anymore. I was cured.

Sharpshot: ... *and there's a very slight hint of a real smile from him*

Kup: *knocks on his own chest with his knuckles* This ain't a Pretender shell anymore. That old body's gone. Eeep! *stink eye for Jael as she jabs him in the side again*

Jael: *smirk*

Sharpshot: ... *quietly, sounding both surprised and impressed* Wow.

Kup: *gruff* There're a lotta changes since you saw me last. *looks at Ratchet* You done, Doc?

hsvRatchet: *nods and steps aside so Showtime can bring cinnaseekers over* I am.

Kup: Good. *steps away from his wife to help Sharpshot sit up, then thanks the waitress and takes the cookies. Gives the little one to Destiny and offers the larger one to Sharpshot* Here, rest those repairs a bit while you eat this.

Sharpshot: *small nod. Will take careful bites of the cookie*

Destiny: *clickstorms and chatters to her cookie before attempting to bite its head off*

hsvRatchet: *soft snerk as he watches Destiny, and then he's shaking his head and chuckling*

Kup: I owe ya anything, Doc? *brow quirk, cy-gar chomp*

hsvRatchet: *headshake* I don't charge for medical assistance in the Nexus or back home.

Kup: So you don't want any pizza? *smirks as he glances at Showtime. Sent that order over private comms*

hsvRatchet: ... You fight just as dirty as the Kup from my reality. *amused*

Kup: *dirty rotten grin* It's boxed.

hsvRatchet: *chuckles* Thank you.

Kup: *shrug* Thank you. Meep! *blushes after getting his butt patted*

Sharpshot: ... 0.o

Destiny: *muffled squee*

hsvRatchet: *sees Sharpshot's confused look* Might want to explain marriage to him.

Kup: *now grasping his wife's wrist to try and prevent further embarrassing pdas* Huh?

Jael: *pats him with the other hand* .>D

hsvRatchet: *nods towards Sharpshot, whose expression is starting to border on sheer befuddlement*

Kup: *frowns at Sharpshot* You were on Earth, kid. Don't you know what "wife" means?

Sharpshot: *quietly* I understand marriage. I just don't understand why you did it, or what she's doing to your skid plate.

Kup: *jerks his head toward Jael* *quiet and gruff* It was her idea. And the pattin's affection.

Sharpshot: *gives himself a bit of a shake* But... we don't really have any gender. We're just bots.

Kup: *snorts* Other realities're different, kid. Look around ya. *gestures to the bots surrounding them*

Mal: *from inside* Nom ur chips!

DivaShot: *SHRIEK*

Sharpshot: *startles and falls over* Ow.

Kup: But ignore those two.

hsvRatchet: *facepalm*

Showtime: *back with pizza in a box*

Kup: *nods that it be given to hsvRatchet*

Showtime: *soft chuckle, will give the pizza box to Ratchet*

hsvRatchet: *nods* Thank you.

Kup: See you on poker night, Doc. *smirk*

hsvRatchet: Don't forget, it's your turn for snacks.

Kup: *pause, frown* The slag it is... *glances at Jael and Destiny*

hsvRatchet: Check the schedule, Kup. I brought the snacks last time.

Destiny: *still working on getting the head off of her cinnaSeeker*

Jael: *nods at husband*

Kup: Oh right. That sparkly blue plastic slag. *snort*

Jael: You ate it. It counts.

Kup: Yeah, fine. Whatever. *razzafrazzin' turbo revvin'...*

Jael: *snerk*

Destiny: *gnaw gnaw gnaw*

Sharpshot: *carefully picking one of the gummi drops off of his cinnaSeeker so he can eat it separately*

hsvRatchet: *nods to Kup, Jael, Destiny, and Sharpshot before PINpointing home*

Kup: *looks at Showtime, then glances significantly toward Sharpshot* //Think you kin find a nice girl ta show this guy what kissin's all about?//

Showtime: //I think I know just the girl, if you don't mind hauling his butt around 'til he wakes up again.//

Kup: //...Can we get one without that much power? We've got places ta go after we fuel.//

Showtime: //I'll tell her to dial back on the kiss power. There's a reason her designation's Dropkick.//

Kup: //Dropkick, huh? Haven't heard'a her before.// *eeps softly as Jael gives him a poke*

Showtime: //I'll call her and you can meet her. She's like a less armored, friendlier version of Blackout.//

Kup: *slight frown of concern* //Same size?//

Showtime: *headshake* //She's a little taller than me.//

Kup: //Ah. Okay.// *settles on the bench beside Sharpshot and chews his cy-gar*

pretty, green-colored femme: *approaching a few minutes later* *looks the group over, smirking a bit when she realizes the blue mech's the one she's supposed to kiss* Yo.

Kup: *looks up from conversing quietly with Sharpshot. Bit of a grin, and then elbows Sharpshot gently* That lady's got somethin' to say ta you, kid.

Sharpshot: ... *looks up in time to have his head grabbed and held while Dropkick snogs him silly* *startled flail*

Kup: *gruffly* Keep it gentle, Miss.

Dropkick: *stops kissing Sharpshot when she feels him start to sag*

Sharpshot: *and there's that grin that he used to do right before he would jump from a tall building*

Kup: *elbows him gently* Kid?

Sharpshot: *slightly giddy* Wow...

Kup: Still think femmes're scary?

Sharpshot: ... *slow headshake*

Dropkick: *SNERK* Wow... 'Nother one from a reality like that, huh?

Kup: *nods* *quietly* This is my sniper.

Dropkick: Ah. Gotcha. *considering look* Want me t' kiss him again?

Kup: Ask him.

Dropkick: Hey, kid. You want another kiss?

Sharpshot: ... *grin* Sure.

Kup: *soft snerk, and then an eek as Jael grabs him and sits him on her lap so she can hug him*

Dropkick: *snogs Sharpshot and makes it a good one*

Sharpshot: *diiiiizzzzzy, is trying to figure out how to kiss Dropkick back, and failing... But at least he's not in pain!*

Kup: *to Destiny clickstorm* Zat so?

Sharpshot: *trying to get his hands up to cling to Dropkick, isn't having much luck*

Dropkick: *gentle patpat as she lets Sharpshot go* Easy, kid.

Destiny: *more clickstorm* Bubby kissied good.

Kup: Yeah. *thoughtful expression as he taps into the local matchmaking channel and asks if there are any compact model femmebots who're looking who wouldn't mind a young mech who's never been around femmes before*

channel: *responds with quite a few "It's not that one Hot Rod, is it?"*

Kup: *facepalms* //Nothin' wrong with Hot Rod. But this's a Sharpshot.//

one channel user: //What's he like? And how compact are you looking for?//

Kup: //Sixteen foot or under. 'N he's no slouch, but he just got Exiled and he's skittish. Oh, and he's comin' home with me.//

channel user: //Darn. Too little for me... But I have a friend who might be interested, if I can get her attention away from all the datafiles she reads.//

Kup: //...Who is this?//

channel user: //Name's WakeJumper.//

Kup: *sniggers over the line* //What tech?//

aWakeJumper: //Really close to Basic.//

Kup: //And yer alright with changin' realities?//

aWakeJumper: //Yeah. Not much left back home for 'Clipsie 'n me anyway.//

Kup: *quietly sucks in air* //What happened, kid? We're out on the bench on the porch. Why don't you 'n your friend come join us?//

aWakeJumper: //War happened. Then the war ended. Quadriate Sector sided with the 'Bots, then the whole sector got blown up by the 'Cons in retaliation, 'n most of us chose to go back to Cybertron. I'll see if I can talk 'Clipsie into puttin' the 'pad away for now.//

Kup: //You guys have sparklets in yer reality?//

aWakeJumper: //It's been awhile since there've been any, but yeah... Cute little things.//

Kup: //Well tell 'Clipsie there's a real cute one out here. She's not baby tech, but she's still a baby.// *fond glance for the click monster on his shoulder*

aWakeJumper: *chuckles* //Will do. See ya in a bit.//

Kup: //Yeah.// *looks over at Sharpshot*

Sharpshot: *trying to clear his head of fog, still has a silly grin on his face*

Kup: *quietly* Can ya hear me, kid?

Sharpshot: Yessir.

Kup: *glances at Dropkick, and then looks back to Sharpshot* You want one'a those ta keep?

Sharpshot: *thinking hard about the question, slow nod*

Dropkick: *snickerfitdie*

Kup: *looks at Dropkick* You ain't interested, right?

Jael: *quirks a brow ridge at the petite femme as she peers at her around Kup*

Dropkick: Naw. My job's just as a professional sympathy kisser.

Jael: *amused snort*

Kup: Blackout know? *chews on cy-gar*

Dropkick: If she does, she hasn't said anything to me about it.

Sideswipe: *looks over* Blackout's not even around. It's Whiteout that's the big kisser now. And she likes older guys.

Kup: *glances over and startles slightly as he sees GIRL Sideswipe* Yeah, I heard that about 'er.

aWakeJumper: *is that BIG orange, black and silver femme that's walking over from the direction of the library, a much smaller, similarly-colored femme tucked under one arm*

Kup: *distracted from girl Sideswipe, elbows Sharpshot to get his attention aimed over there* //The little one's excitable, but they're usually sweet, and the big one's a girl version of yer doc. Which one you want?//

Sharpshot: *looks, blinks* //...Pretty.//

Kup: *amused* //Ya can't have 'em both.//

Sharpshot: ... *looking a bit lost now*

aWakeJumper: *will gently set her companion down once she arrives*

aEclipse: *looks just a bit uneasy, will cling to her datapad*

Kup: *thinks over what he knows of both femmes and makes a decision for his younger friend* //Quick, put a move on the big one.// *to aEclipse* What's wrong, kid?

Sharpshot: //Put... a move?// *and then he's squeaking as aWakeJumper carefully picks him up*

aEclipse: *small headshake, will quickly type something up with one hand and offer the datapad* [Too bright. Too busy.]

aWakeJumper: *frowning a bit* *dings Kup's comm* //He's too much of a soldier for Eclipse. She'd probably break something worrying about him...//

Kup: *gets up and walks over to offer aEclipse a gentle hug and to put her in reach of Destiny* *to Sharpshot* //Talk to her. Grin at her. Let 'er know yer interested.// *to WakeJumper* Yeah, kid. We're Wreckers.

Sharpshot: *hesitant grin* *has nooo idea what to do next* Er... Hi?

Destiny: *clickstorm, will reach to give the brightly colored little femme a hug*

aEclipse: *nearly soundless squeak as she's hugged, hesitantly tries to reciprocate*

aWakeJumper: *and then there's a slight quirk of a grin on her face as she carefully holds Sharpshot so he won't fall* You too, huh?

Kup: *looks up from supervising the 'Clipsie loving* Huh?

aWakeJumper: I'm a Wrecker. *proud of that fact* One of two survivin' multichangers on the squad.

Kup: 'N who's the other one? Careful. Like I said, he's hurt.

aWakeJumper: Springer. 'N I know how ta be careful. Used ta put the other Wreckers back together.

Kup: Yer team around here? You just gonna leave 'em behind? *gently rubbing aEclipse's back now*

aWakeJumper: Whats left of 'em 're either sleepin' off bondin' funk or workin' other missions. They know I'm not comin' back. Wouldn't've taken 'Clipsie with me if I was.

aEclipse: *fingers flying over her datapad as she writes*

Kup: *frowns and chews his cy-gar* They already found other places?

aEclipse: *offers datapad again* [The rest of the Autobots and former Decepticons are rebuilding Cybertron. The war ended when Megatron got offlined by Rodimus Prime.]

aWakeJumper: Yeah... 'R already had 'em and were comin' home to 'em.

Kup: *frowns and studies the bigger femme after reading aEclipse's pad. Then looks back down at the smaller femme as his expression gentles* The people where my Wreckers're posted are human size, most've 'em.

aEclipse: *blinks a bit, and then there's a shy little smile as she types* [Humans are nice.]

aWakeJumper: *snerks* They know about you guys yet?

Kup: *sends aWakeJumper a databurst containing random pictures of daily base life, including a few Boob Hippy protests*

aWakeJumper: *SNERK* Oh, man.

Sharpshot: *blinking a bit and wondering what's funny*

aEclipse: *very slight headtilt*

Kup: *lifts a hand and makes a slideshow for aEclipse and Sharpshot*

aEclipse: *wide-opticked by the end of the slideshow, looks very much like Lisa at the moment*

Sharpshot: *blink. Blink* What's Optimus doing?

Kup: *looks. Scowls. Glances at Destiny* You know, sweetheart?

Destiny: *looks* *headtilty, think think think* Autographs. *nodnod* Signin' name.

Kup: On what? That was that comic book 'n stuff meeting, right?

aWakeJumper: *snickerfitdie without shaking Sharpshot* No way. He was a guest at a convention?

Destiny: Mmmyup. Missed funtimes, but got hugs 'n pics. *nod nod*

Kup: All I know is some yahoos tried bustin' up the place 'n Sundog kicked their cans.

aWakeJumper: *soft 'heh'* Sundog's a good kid.

Kup: *brow quirk* You had one in yer reality? Or ya meet one here?

aWakeJumper: Knew one back home. His ma's a bit bonkers, 'n his dad is too, but can't fault the guy for being a former 'Con.

Kup: *soft snerk* Which side's Sunstreaker?

aWakeJumper: 'Bot... or Destron... I think Destron's what they're callin' the military side'a things now.

Kup: I meant the mom or pop.

aWakeJumper: Mom. 'Warp is Sundog's dad. Great guy to go drinking with, too.

Kup: You see that tall human lookin' dame with the really long hair in that one picture?

Destiny: Aunty Sky!!! :D

aWakeJumper: Yeah?

Kup: *nods to Desti* Yeah. Skywarp.

aWakeJumper: ... *brow ridges up* Human-sized?

Kup: In that mode. *gives her the number of an image that shows jet form Skywarp with her canopy popped to let her mate get in*

aWakeJumper: *slight frown as she pulls up the image* *blink* Oh. Huh... How's she pullin' the size change off?

aEclipse: *curious expression is a go*

Kup: Hammer space. *brow quirk*

aWakeJumper: Ah. *nod* Makes sense.

Destiny: *hugs for aEclipse, and a happy clickstorm*

Sharpshot: *don't mind him, he just had a nap attack, since the femme holding him is warm*

aWakeJumper: *quick glance down, soft chuckle* Good. He's resting.

Kup: *slight grin* Looks like he ain't too small after all.

aWakeJumper: *more soft chuckle* Guess not.

aEclipse: *and there's a very Bluestreak-like grin*

Kup: *looks at aEclipse* *softly* You mind an old fart for an adopted mentor 'n a click monster fer a sister?

aEclipse: *type type type* [I don't mind.]

Kup: *gives her the coordinates for his family's well treat-and-entertainment equipped living room* Why don't you go there 'n rest till the rest'a us get back. *pings Patrick's com*

aEclipse: *small nod, will look to her friend and get a PINpoint handed to her*

Patrick: //Hello?//

Kup: *gives him a quick rundown on the girls* //Eclipse's gonna be at my place restin'.//

Patrick: //Alright. Should I send Rachel, Russell, Bea, or Glit over to give her a check-up?//

Kup: //Nah. Let'er rest. Wake's probably ben takin' care'a her.// *pings Drift's comm*

Drift: //Larry's Drive-Thru Wedding Chapel and Mortuary. You marry 'em, we bury 'em.//

Kup: *snorts over the line* //You ben hangin' 'round Ratchet too much.// *other line* //Chief, you there?//

Patrick: //I'm still here, Kup. I think Drift got into some buzz powder. He just prank called me.//

Kup: *on both lines* //Nah, he's just ben kissin' Four again.//

Drift: //Thrrrrpppppt.//

Patrick: *facepalm is audible over comms*

Kup: *still over both lines* //Whatever, punk. Don't go scarin' yer new sister.//

Drift: //... Sister?//

Patrick: //So you've adopted an Eclipse?//

Kup: //And a lady WakeJumper. And I found my old sniper.// *glances over to see Destiny slip up there to check on her alter brother*

Patrick: //...Do you need more blankets?//

Kup: //Naw. There're blankets back home.// *out loud* Dropkick, he's sleepin'. She don't wanna kiss him now.

Dropkick: Aww, beans. *laughs*

Destiny: *quiet scoldies for the green femme*

aWakeJumper: *bit of a stinkeye for Dropkick*

Kup: *turns his attention from the femme snark back to his conversations* //Where'd ya go, Chief? Drift, stop singin' that, you sound like slaggin' Quickstrike.//

Patrick: //Do you need anything for Eclipse? Books? Entertainment files?//

Kup: *looks at the femme, who now has a Jael studying her with a friendly scowl* You got enough books 'n stuff, kid?

aEclipse: *type type type* [I have datafiles to read.]

Kup: Alright. //She's good.// *slips a hard copy of a certain hilarious little book with asterisks out of his storage pocket and offers it anyway* I want this one back.

Patrick: //Alright. Is there anything else?//

aEclipse: *puzzled expression as she reaches for the offered book*

Kup: //Nah. I think everything's good. Oh. Where're Drift and his crew?//

Patrick: //The last time I saw them, they were heading for the training room with Knockout and Goretusk for more training.//

Kup: *quick call to Joe to go throw those kiss drunk boobies out of there so other people can practise* //Gotcha. I better get goin', though. I promised Desti canned cod liver 'n baby tako, 'n she's gonna remember that soon.//

Patrick: *snerk* //Alright. See you later, Kup. //

Kup: *signs off, and then looks at Eclipse, his hands on her shoulders* You go on now. Eat whatever's in the cupboards there that ya want. Should be nice 'n quiet. We'll be back in a few hours.

aEclipse: *small nod, and a shy little smile* *type type type* [Thank you.]

Kup: Don't worry about it, sweetheart. *grins at her gently, then lets go of her and steps back, pinging Jack as he does* //You at work?//

Jack: //Just finishing up a lecture. Why?//

aEclipse: *will PINpoint home*

Kup: //There's a little gal at my place that's got coding from one'a yer alternates. So if you feel somethin' that's what it is.//

Jack: //...Oh. Another Dinobot?//

Kup: *quietly* //Eclipse.// *pings Lisa to let her know too*

Jack: //... Been awhile since I ran into one of them. What tech?//

Lisa: *startled squeak* *likely banged her head on the hood of whatever car she's up to her elbows in repairing*

Kup: Close ta ours. More my size. *winces* //Easy, Blue.//

Lisa: //Is there trouble or did you need me to come get Destiny so you and Jael can go have fun without having to worry about her?//

Kup: //Nah. Desty's lookin' forward ta her match. I just wanted ta tell ya there's an Eclipse on base now.//

Lisa: //... Like the grouchy one that works at the Black Dog?//

Kup: //This one hasn't got a grumpy circuit. Jack, where the slag'd you go?//

Jack: //Sorry, the bell rang... Does she need anything? Books, a dolly?//

Kup: //She's got books, 'n there's blankets 'n a doll at my place.//

Jack: //Alright... Would it be a good idea to introduce myself to her?//

Kup: //Maybe not yet. She was overwhelmed by the Black Dog, 'n she can't talk.//

Lisa: //Awwwww...//

Jack: *can you just see the wince he did* //Injuries?//

Kup: //Not likely. Her partner's a WakeJumper.//

Lisa: //A WakeJumper? Same tech? How big is her partner? How long have they been together?//

Jack: //Hmm... Well, might still want to have Bea, or maybe Rachel or Russ or Glit take a look at her, just to be on the safe side.//

Kup: //Yeah, same tech. And female. Just claimed my sniper. Dunno how long they've ben together. 'N yeah, Jack, but slaggin' let 'er catch 'er breath first.//

Lisa: //...Your sniper?// *distracted*

Jack: //Yeah...// *and then he's laughing* //Oh, no...//

Kup: //Sora 'n Destiny've got an alter brother.//

Lisa: //Awww, is he okay?//

Kup: *quietly* He will be.

Destiny: *giving Kup a slight frowny look now*

Kup: *notices that and his optics widen just slightly* //Gotta go. I think Desti just realized she's not havin' lunch yet.//

Destiny: Papa! Want noms!

Jael: *snerk*

Kup: *wince* //Yup. Gotta go.// Yeah, sweetheart, that's what we're here for. Just had'ta tell yer Daddy 'n Aunty Lisa about 'Clipsie.

Jael: *offers to take Destiny, still looking amused*

Destiny: *reaches for Jael-Mama, clickstorming rapidly*

aWakeJumper: *snerk*

Jael: Baby tako? Whole smoked mini sardines? Cod liver?

Destiny: Ewww. Want.

Jael: *brings Destiny inside*

aWakeJumper: *trying so hard not to shake as she mutes her laughter*

Kup: Let's go get it. *looks up at aWakeJumper* C'mon, kid.

aWakeJumper: Yessir. *grin*

Kup: *leads the way inside, only to pause as he realize that that big corner table contains Blitzwing and that bot's children. And also that Will is making for himself and aWakeJumper as directly as the crow flies*

aWakeJumper: *stops and carefully crouches to greet the young person* Hello.

Will: *flirting and courting for all he's worth, though it's not the courtship of one wishing for a mate. Instead it's the near instinctive programmed courtship and flirting of a little Quadriate combiner trying to convince an older one that he's a suitable and desirable combiner partner*

aWakeJumper: *very gentle as she carefully reaches to touch Will's shoulder* What's your name, kid?

Kup: *as Will is overcome by clicks* *gruffly* That's the WakeJumper from where I live now.

aWakeJumper: *very soft chuckle* *will very gently patpat Will's back*

Will: *clicks urgently, then transforms and looks up at her beseechingly*

Kup: *slight frown as he hunkers down too* What is it, kid? *glances at aWakeJumper* You know?

aWakeJumper: Kid's a combiner... Tryin' to convince me that he's a good partner.

WakeJumper: *nod nod! FLIRT!*

Kup: *frowns* Well, I know clones can combine. Can alternates?

aWakeJumper: *chuckle* I'm willing to try.

Kup: *looks at the little WakeJumper, then over at Blitzwing as the old mech walks over* He old enough?

aWakeJumper: *to Will* How many vorns under your belt?

WakeJumper: *quietly* One.

Blitzwing: He's halfway through youngling stage.

aWakeJumper: *disappointed sound* Darnit.

WakeJumper: *reaches for her hand* Someday?

aWakeJumper: *nods* Yeah. After your second vorn.

WakeJumper: *quietly* Sister till then? *such puppy optics*

aWakeJumper: Works fer me. *grin*

WakeJumper: *such a happy kid! Except that he just squealed because Destiny grabbed him and picked him up from behind*

aWakeJumper: *can't help it, has to laugh at that!* She got the jump on ya, kiddo!

WakeJumper: *wiggles and clicks* Tako with eyes! Lemme go! *amused kid*

Destiny: Noms! *insistant tug*

Blitzwing: Let's go sit at the table we got. Lotsa room.

Kup: Works for me. *quizzical look at aWakeJumper* Whaddya think 'a Blitzwings?

aWakeJumper: Depends on if they're buying the drinks or not. *cheeky grin*

Blitzwing: *pointed look that is pure Blitzwing despite coming from a seeming human face*

aWakeJumper: *challenging look, sticks her chin out and holds Sharpshot a bit closer to her more armored parts*

Blitzwing: I bought botagetti. *straightens up and turns to go back to the table, transforming as he goes*

aWakeJumper: *blink blink* Botagetti?

WakeJumper: Yeah! :D *turns and runs to the table, hand in hand with Destiny*

Destiny: *clickstorming happily*

aWakeJumper: *soft chuckle, moves to follow the kids*

Kup: *slight squeak as his wife catches his hand and leads him along. Is soon seated at the table and looking at the menu as Bet brings three cans to Destiny*

Destiny: *clickstorming as she studies the cans and tries to remember how to get the noms out on her own*

WakeJumper: *just ate a spoonful of botagetti that a grinning Mauler poked into his mouth* Mmmmm.

aWakeJumper: *slight headtilt as she studies the botagetti, is also paying attention to her surroundings*

Kup: I think I want some breadcrumb turkey.

Jael: *orders a huge helping of herring and black beans*

aWakeJumper: Breadcrumb turkey? *raised brow ridge*

Kup: *without looking up from the salad section* Yeah. I'm modified ta take organic fuel.

aWakeJumper: *blink blink* Huh. Might have to get that done myself.

Kup: *looks at Bet* Gimme a wish.

Bet: Yes, sir. *turns to go to the bar*

aWakeJumper: ... A wish?

Kup: *as Bet brings back the little spark of blue light* Yup. *takes the wish and looks at it* You wanna taste stuff now?

aWakeJumper: *blinks* Sure.

Kup: I wish anythin' WakeJumper here eats will turn inta fuel she can process.

aWakeJumper: *surprised sound as she's surrounded by red and blue sparkles*

Kup: *as the sparkles die down* There. Now you kin try anything. *cracks that grin*

aWakeJumper: *smile* Cool.

WakeJumper: *clicking up a storm, his face covered in botagetti after a spoon mishap from Sapphire Blast. Grins at his new big sister*

aWakeJumper: *soft chuckle, will reach with a napkin to help her new brother clean up*

Sapphire Blast: *amused wing rattle, her big optics dancing*

Nightstrike: *curiosity in her optics as she watches the interaction over her own bowl of botagetti*

aWakeJumper: *gentle clicks, though her attention goes to Sharpshot when the sniper makes a soft sound* *will check to make sure she's not aggravating the mech's injuries and repairs*

Blitzstrike: *looks up* I bet he smells the fuel.

Mauler: *pauses in laughing and looks up, spoon sticking out of his mouth*

aWakeJumper: Either that, or he's dreaming... *will reposition Sharpshot so she can see his face*

Sharpshot: *head turning a bit. Is still sleeping*

aWakeJumper: *blinks and looks up from making sure Sharpshot's comfortable*

Mauler: *looks up, sees the burly lady looking at him, and grins and offers her a spoonful of the nommy energon fuel*

aWakeJumper: *careful lean to share fuel*

Mauler: *feeds carefully, his mouth open as he does so*

aWakeJumper: *pleased sounds at the flavor of the fuel*

Mauler: *happy and toothless grin*

Kup: *quiet chuckle* Yeah, yer 'Bee's kid alright.

aWakeJumper: *blinks a bit when she realizes Mauler doesn't have teeth. Quick, curious glance at Kup*

Kup: *sees glance as he reaches to try to stop a Destiny kissie attack on Mauler* What?

aWakeJumper: What happened to his dentae?

Kup: *shrugs* Some glitchafts took 'im out. Destiny, don't you wanna eat?

aWakeJumper: *wince, shakes head* *will look for a menu*

Destiny: Did eat.

Kup: *presses the spot on the middle of the table to activate the menu, then meeps as Jael pokes him* Hey...

aWakeJumper: *soft snerk, will study the menu*

Bet: *over with a serving bowl of botagetti*

Blitzwing: Hey, look, kids. Refills. *takes it with thanks to the drone*

Nightstrike: *perks and quickly licks her bowl clean, then holds it out*

Blitzstrike: *face in his bowl!*

Nightstrike: Stop that. Where's your dignity?

Blitzwing: *gently to his little brother* You don't need to hurry, kid.

aWakeJumper: Hey, as long as he's taking in fuel. *shrug. Is used to having to knock back fuel quickly, so she kind of gets it*

Nightstrike: *turns that very direct gaze toward the huge orange and black femme. With quietly proud Destron logic* We live in a place of plenty, and are too young to be called from our fuel by battle.

Sapphire Blast: *nods and grins and dips Destiny into her bowl*

Kup: Hey!

WakeJumper: *clickstorm!*

Destiny: *nomphin'!*

aWakeJumper: ... Must be nice. *contemplating the menu again*

Nightstrike: *takes her refilled bowl. Quietly* It is strange. But my Commander and my mentors give it to us, and now we're safe.

aWakeJumper: *quiet as she considers this*

Sharpshot: *snuggles close and continues to doze*

Blitzwing: *glances up at aWakeJumper, and then offers her a databurst* *also gently pushes a Mauler spoon out of the serving bowl*

Mauler: *cheery grin*

aWakeJumper: *looks up as she receives the databurst*

databurst: *outlines the situation that the younglings other than WakeJumper came from*

aWakeJumper: ... *low growl, a dark scowl on her face*

Sapphire Blast: *glances up with those big optics, and then pokes a spoonful of botagetti at the femme*

aWakeJumper: *blinks and nomphs, earning her a squeal from Destiny*

Sapphire Blast: *pleased wing rattling, and then takes Destiny out of her bowl to examine the smaller youngster*

Destiny: *in need of a bath now* *clickstorm!*

Kup: *facepalms when he sees that*

Jael: *reaches over and snags the youngster, then pops the Destiny into her mouth*

Blitzwing: *optics widen and his hand goes for his weapon*

WakeJumper: *has seen Destiny get that bath before. Laughs*

aWakeJumper: *on her feet and prepared for a rescue attempt*

Kup: Put that away, Blitzwing. WakeJumper, siddown. Will, we don't wanna see seefood.

WakeJumper: *blinks, and then laughs harder*

aWakeJumper: *hesitantly sits down*

Jael: *removes Desinex from her mouth and then sets the sparklet by her plate where Desi can reach some of the black beans*

Desinex: *clickstorm*

Blitzwing: *looks at her with a frown of concern* You alright, Desinex?

Desinex: *nodnod, nomphbeans*

Jael: *shrugs* It's how we wash 'em where I come from.

Blitzwing: *facepalms and has another drink from his cube*

Kup: *smirk*

aWakeJumper: ... Okay then. *attention back on the menu, snerks when she sees something she's sort of familiar with* Poutine, huh?

Blitzwing: It's not that bad

aWakeJumper: Might as well try it. *slight grin*

Bet: How many pounds of poutine would you like?

Kup: You can get that in energon. What'd I get you that wish for? *snerks and eats botagetti*

aWakeJumper: *considering look* Let's just start with one pound and see how things go from there.

Bet: Energon or organic. *picked up on what Kup said*

aWakeJumper: Energon, please. *even with the wish, she's not quite ready to try organic food yet*

Kup: *snorts* I wish I had my wish back. *blinks as the little light appears in front of him*

Jael and Blitzwing: *laugh at him*

Desinex: *clickstorm at Papa!*

Kup: *glances at aWake, looks back at the wish*

aWakeJumper: *blink blink, snerk*

Kup: I wish Sharpshot was in a sound enough state ta get around.

aWakeJumper: *surprised sound as Sharpshot is engulfed in sparkles, and then she's chuckling softly as the sniper snuggles against her more*

Sharpshot: *resting peacefully, and doesn't look to be waking up any time soon*

Kup: *relieved look as he sees the sparkles* Well somethin' happened.

aWakeJumper: *fishing around her subspace for one of the medical scanners she keeps there*

Nightstrike: *leans on her fist to watch, absently eating the botagetti that Mauler scoops into her mouth*

Sapphire Blast: *has found that corner of tako can that Desinex didn't eat and is cautiously checking the inside of it for eyes*

Kup and Blitzwing: *also watching aWakeJumper as they eat*

aWakeJumper: *scanner found, will use it to scan Sharpshot* *soft 'hmm'* He's still a bit banged up.

Kup: "Bit" how, kid? *absently eats beans offered by Desinex*

aWakeJumper: Well, his self repair's working on fixing the connections and wiring, which looks like he got chewed on by a dog, and it's also fixing the cosmetic damage. Before that wish, the damage was a lot worse, even if some of it had been repaired.

Kup: *sighs* Insecticons.

aWakeJumper: *wince* Sheesh. What happened?

Kup: *shortly* Stuff. We're both Exiles.

aWakeJumper: *more wince and a nod* Alright.

Blitzwing: *feeding blitzbread to youngsters now* And not by choice.

Kup: *frowns at him, and then pitches a balled up napkin at him*

Blitzwing: *tosses it back* Save it for the rat pits.

WakeJumper: *perks and looks at his mentor, wondering if it's time to go yet* I'm full. *eats more as Mauler gives it*

aWakeJumper: Rat pits?

Desinex: *squeeee! Babble, yap, chatter!*

Kup: Yup. *looks at the napkin and then offers it to the excited Desinex*

Nightstrike: *bowl licked clean* I am ready.

Sapphire Blast: *dumping the last of her fuel into Blitzstrike's mouth*

Desinex: *gonna lose her mind with glee, kthx*

Mauler: *dumping the last of his fuel into his own mouth even as he bounces*

aWakeJumper: ... *can tell the sparklets are excited about the rat pits* *considering look* Think there'd be anything I could fight?

Blitzwing: *looks up from wiping his bowl, scarred old face holding amusement* Who says we're fighting?

aWakeJumper: ... You're not fighting?

Desinex: SHOOT RATS! *squeals piercingly*

Nightstrike: Kup is going to fight Raticus.

Blitzwing: *laughing now at the response of the youngsters*

aWakeJumper: ... Raticus?

Blitzwing: *pulls a glossy handbill out of subspace and offers it to her*

aWakeJumper: *blinks as she accepts the offered glossy handbill* ... 0_0

Kup: *frowns at her* What?

aWakeJumper: That thing's huge!

Kup: Oh. *shrug* Yeah. So?

aWakeJumper: ... You're really going to fight that thing? *raised brow ridge*

Kup: Yeah. *brows quirk and cy-gar gets put into mouth*

aWakeJumper: ... What're you using against it? *grin*

Kup: *there's that million dollar grin* Club 'n shield.

aWakeJumper: *grin goes wicked* Wreck 'n Rule, Kup.

Desinex: *flailysquee* Papa kicka aft!!!

WakeJumper: There's another Kup that fights Raticus, too, but he doesn't do it as good. :D

Blitzwing: *snort*

aWakeJumper: ... Doesn't do it as good?

WakeJumper: 'Course not. He's not ours.

aWakeJumper: *snerk*

Desinex: Not fun t' watch. *headshake* Nope. Nope. Nope.

aWakeJumper: *blinks a bit and looks to the sparklet and younglings* ... So who else has a match today?

Nightstrike: *as a clamour of clanks, clicks, and voices rise up in reply* We all do.

aWakeJumper: ... Huh.

Desinex: 'N big Unca 'Hide, too. *nod nod* *clickstorm*

Nightstrike: *quiet pride* And none of us, not even Mauler and Desinex, are in the Cute division.

aWakeJumper: Cute division?

Kup: *taps the bottom of the handbill, which shows a toothy little monster chasing a huge baby rat around an obstacle course* Like that.

aWakeJumper: *looks* ... Oh. Huh.

Kup: It's for the spectators who just wanna show, but no blood.

aWakeJumper: Ah. *small nod* Gotcha.

Desinex: Kick aft! Kick aft! Kick aft!

tiny voice: *squeals from a nearby booth*

Kup: *perks* There's one'a the Cute division champs.

tiny voice: Kick aft! Kick aft! KICK AFT!

aWakeJumper: *looks in the direction of the tiny voice*

itty bitty yellow bot: *standing on the table and shaking a bitty booty as she chants*

aWakeJumper: Aww... *chuckles*

Desinex: Bumblybee!!! *abandons ship to go click at the yellow bot*

Pickle: *yowl! Do Not Want!*

bittyBee: *piercing squeal and dives off the table toward her friend!*

Torque: Ack! *trying to catch the chibi before she hurts herself*

Desinex: *lets Pickle's leash drop, dives to catch bittyBee for cuddles*

Soundwave: *on his feet and moving to get Pickle. He knows what will happen if the cat gets away, and he wants to prevent it from happening*

bittyBee: *gets hold of Desinex's audios and kissies her passionately*

Desinex: *happy squees and clickstorms and kissies!*

bittyBee: *starts waving her arms again* Kick aft. Kick aft! KICK AFT!

Desinex: Lotta aft ta kick today. *nod nod, cuddle*

Soundwave: *offers Pickle to Kup*

Kup: *chuckles as the tiny chibi continues her chant, then takes the growling and spitting cat from the green mech that brings him over*

aWakeJumper: *brow ridges up as she watches the green mech*

Kup: *grin fades as the cat tries to chew on him* Yeah, you're fun and sunshine. *sticks Pickle into a towel lined storage pocket* Thanks, Sounders.

Soundwave: *nods and moves to carefully lift bittyBee and Desinex*

Torque: *uses his holoform to project a clock with the current time on it* How long before the matches, Kup?

Kup: *looks over* We should get goin'. Lemme order a bunch'a blitzcake pops.

WakeJumper: *ded of glee at mention of the treat*

Desinex: Noms!!! :D

Mauler: *bouncing with excitement*

Torque: Blitzcake pops! Awesome! *grin*

Soundwave: *chuckles* *is quite pleased with himself, since he's got his arms full of ladies*

aWakeJumper: *looks toward the chuckle, her brows lifting* ...That's a different look, Soundwave

Soundwave: *looks toward the speaker, and look, even visors can go 0_0!*

Kup and Blitzwing: *sniggering back in the booth*

Desinex: *clickstorming and crooning happily*

aWakeJumper: *slight smirk* Moral support? *nods towards bittyBee*

Soundwave: *nod*

Kup: *still sniggering* What's that look for, ya dumb punk?

Torque: *looks to see what warranted that question, blink* Whoah. Big lady.

Kup: *snort* She's not as big as Blackout 'n her daughters.

Torque: She's still bigger than Sounders and me!

Soundwave: *plays "She's a Lady"* "Well she's all you'd ever want, She's the kind they'd like to flaunt and take to dinner. Well she always knows her place. She's got style, she's got grace, She's a winner. She's a Lady. Whoa whoa whoa, She's a Lady."

aWakeJumper: Oh, sheesh. *blushing muchly now. She recognizes the song. She just never expected Soundwave to play it*

Kup: *snorts again as he gets to his feet* She's taken.

Soundwave: *droops, and plays the fail sound from "The Price Is Right"*

Torque: *laughs*

aWakeJumper: *carefully turns so she doesn't accidentally jostle Sharpshot*

Torque: *blink. Blink!*

Soundwave: ...

Desinex: *clickstorm* Bubby hurt...

Kup: *gruffly* That's my old sniper.

Torque: *small nod, will ask Megatron if he knows anything about the sniper's story, but not right now. Kriti promised swift and painful retaliation if she and Megatron were called by anyone other than Charlie or Primus while they were out on a date at a Cybertronian fun park*

Kup: *then notices something over where Blackout's Pretender shell is sitting with most of her army* ...Who's the purple 'n bronze broad?

Torque: *looks* New member... Her name's Grumbler.

Kup: *frowns at the large, burly purple and bronze femme* Looks like a construction bot.

Torque: *nod* She kicked serious aft earlier.

Kup: *brow quirk of interest as Bet brings over the big box of blitzcake pops* Whose?

Torque: Whiteout.

Kup: *brows up* That kid can pack a punch. *has gone up against her back before he was married, so he knows*

Torque: Yeah... *nod*

Desinex: *clickstorming rapidly*

Kup: Well don't just stand there, slag for brains. Let's hear the details. *steps sideways as Blitzwing pushes against him, and then nods to aWakeJumper and leads the way toward the door*

Torque: Not much to it... Whiteout tried to assert dominance, and Grumbler wasn't having any of it. Wiped the floor with her.

Kup: Yer pullin' my servo.

Torque: Nope. This was right after Grumbler walked up to Blackout and said she wanted in.

Kup: And you saw this? *still sceptical*

Torque: Yup. Saw the whole thing. *grin*

Kup: Got footage?

Torque: *grins and offers a databurst*

Kup: *accepts it, and then opens the file, his face a thoughtful scowl as he chews his cy-gar and gently pushes Desinex's hand away from the blitzcake pop box*

Desinex: *clickstorm!*

Kup: *brows lift, and then he shows everyone in the group the quick fight, which included a big tire coming off Grumbler and knocking Sparta flat, and ended with Grumbler sitting on the cursing Whiteout*

Desinex: Kicked aft...

aWakeJumper: Awesome. *grinning muchly now*

Kup: *glances over just in time to see Blackout backhand Sparta for trying to put the moves on an oblivious Grumbler* *blinks, then snerks*

Torque: *grinning muchly as well* Grumbler's awesome.

Kup: *glances at him* Was nice knowin' ya, chump.

Blitzwing: *sniggers and then looks up at the sky as they step out of the bar*

Torque: *blink blink* Huh?

Soundwave: *is that nearly silent snickerfit*

aWakeJumper: *looks skyward and seems to be considering something*

Kup: *snerks as a sudden roar of engines tells that the young flight capables have taken off* Blitzwing, can't you control those kids? Hey! Where's Desi??

Blitzwing: *laughs out loud and points up to Nightstrike*

Desinex: Wheeeeee!!!!!!! :D

Kup: *CURSING*

Jael: *amused*

aWakeJumper: *cracking up*

Kup: *MORE CURSING*

Jael: *just tells everyone to hold on, and then PINpoints everyone on the ground to the rat pits*

aWakeJumper: Awww. *disappointed that she didn't get to fly this time. Ah, well. There'll be other opportunities*

Sharpshot: *groggy blinking* 'M up...

Kup: *wincing and giving his wife a stink eye as they're buzzed by jetlings*

bittyBee: *as Nightstrike carries her and Desinex past* KIIIIIIICK AAAAAFFFFFT!

aWakeJumper: *cracking up again at Desinex's excited clickstorm*

Sharpshot: ... o.0

Jael: *grabs Kup by the audios and helps him feel better*

Torque: *rowdy cheer*

Soundwave: *amused headshake*

lbIronhide: *snort*

Jael: *looks toward the snort with a smirk*

Kup: *rude gesture to the snort*

lbIronhide: *amused rumble, hand over the optics of the green sparklet riding in his hood* No teaching Mira rude hand signals.

Kup: *blinks static out of optics* Oh, it's you, 'Hide.

Nightstrike: *lands by Blitzwing and waits for her passengers to disembark*

bittyBee: KICK AFT!

Desinex: Kickin' lotsa aft today! *disembarks and pounces on WakeJumper*

WakeJumper: *squeals and falls over, laughing*

Desinex: *KISSIES*

lbIronhide: *spots the blitzcake pops box* *Mira out of hood*

Mira: *squeee*

Kup: *scowls at lbIronhide* Who says I got one fer you today? Think I got nothin' better ta do than feed freeloaders?

Blitzwing: *reaches over and pops the box open*

Kup: *growls at him*

lbIronhide: *holds up Mira*

Mira: *knows this game! Putting on the cute now!*

Sapphire Blast: *patting WakeJumper and Desinex and pointing to the cake box*

Kup: *big frown for Mira* That won't work.

Mira: *wibble*

Desinex: Papa! Noms! :D

lbChromia: *comes around the corner with two little blue Lumens. Perks when she sees the pre-game treat*

WakeJumper: *puppy optics*

lbLumen: *hopeful look*

eLumen: *mirroring that look now*

Kup: No!

bittyBee: YES!

Mira: Eeeeeeeeee!!! *reach*

Desinex: *decides Papa's taking too long to share, will scale Papa and start handing out noms*

Kup: Hey, what is this? Insubordination?

bittyBee: *sitting on ground with pop held in both tiny hands* Oh, ****** yeah.

Desinex: *muffled* Myup.

aWakeJumper: *going to gank a couple pops for herself and Sharpshot*

Kup: *growls at her*

aWakeJumper: *ganks the pops anyway*

Sharpshot: 0_0

Blitzwing: *passing pops out to his kids*

WakeJumper: *trying to see just how much of the bigbot size pop he can get into his mouth at once*

aWakeJumper: *keeping an optic on her brother so he doesn't choke*

Kup and Blitzwing: *seem totally unworried about WakeJumper*

lbIronhide: *making sure Mira doesn't try to eat too quickly*

Sharpshot: *concerned as he watches the little tiny scrap try and eat the whole pop*

lbChromia: *looks up and sees the blue mech's expression and where he's focused* Don't worry. She'll gimme the rest.

Sharpshot: Er... Alright.

Mira: *nomph nomph... nibble... Points to Mama. Has had her fill of nom*

lbIronhide: *soft chuckle, will bring Mira and her blitzcake pop over to Chromia*

Mira: *babble babble, offers nom to Mama!*

lbChromia: *soft murmur as she takes both baby and pop, then tips her head up to give her mate a little bit of sugar in exchange*

lbIronhide: *pleased rumble*

Mira: *happy bwee*

Torque: Ewww. Mush. *laughs as Soundwave whaps him upside the head*

female voice: *slow and amused alto drawl, accompanied by giggling in a slightly different pitch* So you don't like kissin', huh?

Torque: *blinks, looks over his shoulder*

Soundwave: *also looks*

lbIronhide: *nods to the two femmes*

femme: *G1 style, tall, with a strong but stunningly beautiful face and laughing heather optics* *smirks at Torque and Soundwave*

Torque: ... Pretty.

Soundwave: *slight headtilt*

second femme: *dark green, cream, and black. Looks just like the other one otherwise, except for the merry grin on her face as she giggles* Too bad. You're both cute.

Soundwave: *plays "She's a Lady" again*

aWakeJumper: *wicked smirk* I think the blue guy was just griefing the big guy.

Mistfire: *looks up at aWake with a smirk that says that she knows what was going on and was amused by it. Then turns back to Torque and Soundwave and looks them up and down* Hmm. Kinda plain coloured.

Torque: *blink blink* *stuttering and stammering a bit now*

Witchblade: *flirtatious look at Soundwave, and then dances a bit*

Soundwave: *going :D beneath the mask and visor, cranks the music louder*

Witchblade: *belly dances*

lbChromia: *smirking from where she's leaning against her mate with baby in arms and pop in her cheek*

lbIronhide: *so amused*

Sharpshot: o.0

aWakeJumper: *to Mistfire* See if he's any good at kissing. *grin*

Mistfire: Hmmm. *studies Torque some more, because she's amused by his confusion*

Torque: *getting more flustered now*

Mistfire: *walks around him slowly, scanning him like a ship she's considering buying*

Torque: *trying to keep track of the pretty femme*

Mistfire: *pokes him*

Torque: *startled squeak* *turns quickly* That was my side!!!

Mistfire: *smirk* *languidly* You sure about that?

Torque: Er... *blush*

Mistfire: *glances at sister as she hears the music go staticky. Snerk*

Witchblade: *trying to get Soundwave drunk beyond belief*

Soundwave: *mask off, is trying to do the same darn thing to Witchblade*

Desinex: Eeee, snoggin'! *points*

Kup: *looks up from the last pop in the box and starts sniggering*

Blitzwing: *shakes his head and goes to get the kids into their seats*

bittyBee: *waving as she's carried away* Yayyyyy! Kick aft!

Torque: Buh?! Where'd 'Bee go? *worried*

Kup: Where she always goes, glitch head. *grins at him*

Torque: Hey! *sulk*

Mistfire: *pokes him again*

Torque: *squeak, turn*

Mistfire: *smirks up at the tall cowboy, her optics dancing*

lbChromia: *thinks that she and Ironhide's plan for the twin sisters is coming to fruition, so moves to lead him into the stadium*

lbIronhide: *will go where lead, chuckling softly*

Torque: *blushing muchly now* Er...

aWakeJumper: *snerks and moves to carry Sharpshot to a seating area she'll fit into*

Kup: Have fun, kids. *heads inside with Jael and Desinex*

Desinex: *clickstorm* KIIIISSSS!!!!

Witchblade: *lifts a hand and waves. Doin' that!*

Mistfire: *watches the vocal sparklet vanish with her caregivers into the building, then turns and once more gives Torque that measuring look*

Torque: *has never felt so nervous before in his life* Er... Hi?

Mistfire: *lifts a hand and pokes him in the side again, still smirking* Hi.

Torque: Ack! *hand up to protect his side*

Mistfire: *optics light and her other hand gets his other side*

Torque: Ack! Hey! *both hands occupied*

Mistfire: *pokes him in the chest, her smirk widening*

Torque: Ack! *confused about what to do now*

Mistfire: *poke poke poke the chest!*

Torque: *squeaks and brings one hand up to try and stop the poking*

Mistfire: *poke poke poke!*

Torque: *spazzing out just a bit, until he gets the hiccups* *will reach for her wrists*

Mistfire: *smirk at its widest as she stands there suddenly captured by both wrists* Ya got me. Now what're ya gonna do with me? *snerk*

Torque: Um... *hadn't thought that far ahead*

Mistfire: C'mon. Don't tell me you got nothin'. *quirks a brow and moves her hands so that his arms are around her. Hug, dummy!*

Torque: Er... *blushing muchly as his processor comes to a conclusion*

Mistfire: *sees the lights come on* *smirk becomes grin*

Torque: *carefully leaning in now, and hoping the pretty femme won't kick his aft*

Mistfire: *grin fades as she tilts her head the right way to meet him*

Torque: *awkward and shy kiss?*

Mistfire: *soft and pleased sound as she returns that kiss just as softly, but more confidently*

Torque: *getting a bit more confident, but still being gentle as he kisses*

Mistfire: *sighs and leans against him, her head lowering slightly to listen to him run*

Torque: *will let go of Mistfire's hands and cuddle her close, his head lowered as he watches her face*

Mistfire: *well, not quite as much fun, but... arms around his neck. Doesn't twitch as a clatter comes from their left*

Witchblade: *hammered. Can't figure out how she wound up on the ground. Then starts giggling* Oh sheesh.

Soundwave: *chuckle* Wow.

Torque: *ignores those two and snuzzles Mistfire*

Mistfire: *grins up at him, her eyes twinkling lazily* Hmmm. Maybe not so plain after all.

Torque: *and there's a shy little smile* I hope not...

Mistfire: *quietly and teasingly* 'Hide says you need a girl.

Torque: *blink blink* *a bit more grin* I'm inclined to agree...

Mistfire: So what kinda courtship you like? *cheek against his chest as she continues to give him that teasing grin*

Torque: Um... Whatever works for you.

Mistfire: Well... *lifts brows slightly as her grin fades* You wanna git ta know me? Or jes' skip ta the fun part?

Witchblade: *with great conviction from the ground* Fun part.

Torque: ... Fun part. *grin*

Mistfire: *grins back. Then pauses as a flash lights the area around them* Don't you gotta keep an eye on that little yellow scrap?

Torque: ... Ack! Where'd 'Bee go?!

Mistfire: *snerks and hides face on his chest* With the other guys.

Torque: ... Oh. *frowns over at Soundwave* Oh, man... Captain's gonna facepalm.

Mistfire: *looks over his arm and snerks* No class at all.

Torque: Yeah... I guess. Lady's gonna kick my aft for interrupting her date, though

Mistfire: We gotta do that? *looks at him quizzically*

Torque: Well, we can't just leave them there...

Mistfire: We got PINpoints, 'n I kin lift Witchy. *lifts brows*

Torque: How 'bout you work the PINpoint, and I'll carry these two?

Mistfire: *gives him a peck and then lets go of him* Deal. Gimme the coordinates.

Torque: *offers his personal PINpoint*

Mistfire: *takes it and straps it on with the air of someone planning to keep something* Ready.

Torque: *moves to pick Soundwave and Witchblade up. Doesn't show any sign of strain as he does so* Ready.

Mistfire: *wide grin as she realizes how strong her new boyfriend is, then presses the button on the PINpoint*


in the stadium


aWakeJumper: *cheering for Kup*

Sharpshot: *boggling as he watches the match*

Desinex: *screaming bloody approbatory murder from Blitzwing's head*

bittyBee: *from lbIronhide's shoulder* Kick aft! Kick aft! KICK AFT!

Mira: *from lbChromia's arms* Eeeeee!!!! *flailygleefit*

WakeJumper: *hands over eyes as Kup battles the massive monster armoured rat*

Blitzwing: *notices the look on Sharpshot's face then and frowns* *gruffly* What's wrong with you?

Sharpshot: *slowly, as he continues to watch the match* Even with the Pretender armor, Kup never moved that well... *impressed and just a bit brain-broken at the same time*

Blitzwing: *bark of laughter, and then has a good laugh* Oh, is that all?

aWakeJumper: *says something unprintable and encouraging*

Joe: *appears in a PINpoint flash and settles into the seat Blitzwing was saving* What did I miss?

aWakeJumper: *startles and cusses*

Sharpshot: *startles just as badly and winces*

Joe: *quizzical and apologetic look*

Blitzwing: Kup found his old sniper. And then the sniper got hitched to WakeJumper's alter sister.

Joe: *brows up* Oh. Hi.

aWakeJumper: ... Hi. *attention going back to the match, shouts something incredibly crude*

Sharpshot: o.0 Hi...

Blitzwing: Joe, Sharpshot. Sharpshot, the Chief's right hand man, Joe Convoy. KUP YOU AFTHAT, WATCH WHAT THE FRAGGING SLAG YOU'RE DOING!!!!

bittyBee: KICK AFT, KICK AFT, KICK AFT!!

Joe: *whoops as Kup leaps over the rat's lashing tail*

lbIronhide: *shouting a more censored version of some of the things aWakeJumper's shouting*

Mira: *gonna lose her mind with glee!*

lbChromia: *sets Mira in the baby seat they brought and stands to whoop her approval of the move*

Mauler: *doing the macarena in the aisle*

Kup: *brings his chalk coated club down on the rat's head, then leaps clear and grins that million dollar grin as the bell sounds for the end of his match*

lbChromia: He beat the record! 'Hide! He beat the record!

lbIronhide: *roaring approval*

Joe: *piercing sirens!*

Blitzstrike: *letting off his jets with a roar*

aWakeJumper: *roar of jets!*

Sapphire Blast: *ditto!*

Blitzwing: *did the same*

Sharpshot: *whooping and laughing* *totally got caught up in the excitement*

bittyBee: *doing her victory dance up on the rail in front of the seats*

Desinex: *lost her mind with glee*

WakeJumper: *just totally flipped*

Nightstrike: *quietly taking notes after letting off a jet roar*

Mira: *itty bitty cheer is lost in the noise from the bigs*

stands: *are full of bellowing, sirens, jets going off, and cursing both happy and angry*

drones: *come out and decoy a furious Raticus back to his cell, and the screams of the big rat can be heard right over the crowd sounds*

Mira: *squeal!*

announcer: *reaches down and gets Kup up on the podium, where the old guy waves to the crowd, still grinning so widely that he's in danger of losing his cy-gar. Yes, he fought the battle with the piece of hose in his mouth*

Joe: *is amazed at the amount of noise coming from the crowd, but still adds to it with his sirens* //Patrick. He beat the record!//

Patrick: //Please tell me SOMEONE got footage of it?//

Joe: //There's official video. Want me to grab one?//

Patrick: //Yes.// *sends a credit transfer*

Joe: *sticks credit chit into a slot on the barrier in front of him, and then sends Patrick a databurst of his hand holding the video chip, which is nicely decorated*

Patrick: //Thanks, Joe.// *can you hear the grin in his voice?*

aWakeJumper: *raised brow ridge* What the?

Sharpshot: *leans a bit to try and get a better look*

Joe: *starts slightly and looks at them, then holds up the chip* Souvenir video.

Sharpshot: ... Huh.

aWakeJumper: Okay. *grin*

Joe: You can buy posters from the vendor here too. *grins as he puts away Patrick's chip, then looks up as the crowd finally settles down just in time for the announcer to call out Jael's match*

Sharpshot: *small nod, attention going to the pit*


hours later, after Jael, Chromia, and Blitzwing's matches


announcer: And now, our very OWN IRONHIIIDE!

crowd: *cheering and razzing. Also some cannons going off and a few tossed fizzy bottles from where a lot of other Ironhides of various tech are sitting*

lbIronhide: *working the crowd a bit, as he always does before a match*

Joe: *grinning as he holds bittyBee and Mauler in his arms, and Desinex on his head* I should bring Alex to see this.

Desinex: *headtilt* Unca 'Hide go squish. *nod nod*

aWakeJumper: *can't help but snerk at that*

Joe: *turns his optics up, though he can't see the blue sparklet* Squish?

Desinex: Ratties kick his aft. *nod nod*

Joe: *uncertain expression* But he's an Ironhide.

Desinex: Ratties're meaner than Pickle.

Joe: *disbelieving* You mean he can't fight? *then looks back to the stadium as the crowd roars and the gate clangs open to release three big sleek furry rats* Ohhh. There's someone's supper.

Desinex: Ratties!!! Nomphs!

aWakeJumper: Nomphs? *looks down to her younger brother*

WakeJumper: *nod* Uncle Jazz'll cook it up, for the people who like meat... *bored youngling is BORED*

aWakeJumper: ...

Sharpshot: ... Ewwww.

Joe: Ohhh. Ironhide bought one of them for us, Desi?

bittyBee: OMMA NOMMA, SLAGGIT!

Desinex: *nod nod* Mmyup.

Mauler: *wordless cheer, then tries to hug bittyBee, who squeals at him and then snuggles lovingly*

Joe: *a few moments later, as lbIronhide finishes off a second rat* ...Where's Mira?

aWakeJumper: *frown, looks around* Wasn't she with 'Mia?

Joe: No. Chromia didn't take her along when she went to do her match. *rising out of his seat slightly to look for the green sparklet* She and Ironhide will kill us all.

Nightstrike: *frowning and searching now*

Desinex: Babby gone? *worried*

Sharpshot: ... Get me up high.

Joe: *snags the sniper and hurls him straight upward*

Desinex: *squee, point at bubby, babble!*

Sharpshot: *gesturing wildly toward one of the other pits*

Joe: *on his feet after setting Mauler and bittyBee on top of WakeJumper in aWakeJumper's lap. Catches Sharpshot and puts him down, then heads toward that pit* I better get her before Ironhide and Chromia get back. *sudden pause and a quick look around. Sees one Lumen sitting and sleeping, but doesn't see the other one*

aWakeJumper: While you're at it, can ya get the kid that's on my back to quit poking my wings? It tickles.

Joe: *whirls and looks*

lbLumen: *is indeed on aWakeJumper's back, and poking at her wings with one hand. Is using the other one to hang onto the femme's back so he can listen to her spark*

Joe: *expression softens* Let me go get Mira, first.

aWakeJumper: Alright.

lbLumen: *very soft clicks*

Desinex: *scrambling down to fuss over bubby*

Joe: *helps the young sniper down, and then turns, gets onto the aisle, and heads toward the other pit as fast as he can stride*

Mira: *having a grand time exploring*

Joe: *reaches the pit, which is the one used for the cute level matches, but then stops as one of the big lizard men who run the place puts out an arm to stop him*

owner: She paid for her match.

Joe: *worried frown* She can't even walk, Cyrus.

Cyrus: She's not going to be fighting. *nods toward the bucket that's in the middle of the pit* She just has to put the mice in the bucket.

Joe: This is the Cute level pit, I know she won't be fighting, but she's... Meep! *looks at lbIronhide as the old warrior cheerfully elbows him aside*

lbIronhide: How much is the bet minimum?

Cyrus: Bet minimum is ten credits, and the wagering brackets are for how many mice she can catch in the time limit.

lbIronhide: *nods and gets out a credit chit* She'll get all of them, with time to spare.

Joe: *startled optics, but then cranes his neck to see if he can see into the pit* There's the bell.

Mira: *sees mousies! Crawl crawl crawl!*

lbIronhide: *encouraging shouts*

Joe: We should move to where we can see better. *glances up as he realizes someone's shouting his name*

Kup: *led aWakeJumper and Sharpshot over after giving Desinex to Blitzwing to bring to her match. Now has seats and wants friends to see*

Jael: *holding onto an anxious lbChromia*

aWakeJumper: *has a Sharpshot under one arm*

lbIronhide: We should go sit down.

Joe: Right. Thanks, Cyrus. *turns to head toward Kup. Pauses by the worried pale blue mother of the bitty in the ring along the way*

lbChromia: 'Hide, where is she? *so worried*

lbIronhide: *gently* She's safe. She's in the Cute level pit, chasing mice.

lbChromia: *expression changes to surprise* You bought her a match? When?

lbIronhide: *headshake* She bought her own match.

lbChromia: What? How? *absent glance at Jael as the organic femme walks off to join Kup* She can't even talk.

lbIronhide: Wager match. Ten credit minimum, and it's bracketed based on the number of mice she'll get in the time limit.

lbChromia: *optics go pale with surprise* That's what she's been trying to say all week. *turns then* I better go wait for her at the winner's gate.

lbIronhide: Do you want me to put in a bet for you?

lbChromia: We share the credit, 'Hide. *gone*

Joe: *hands to his mouth from where he's now sitting* Come on, Ironhide, you're missing the match!

Kup: *laughing as he watches*

lbIronhide: *hurries to his seat*

Jael: *grinning widely as she too watches, and hears a little voice coming up from the waiting gate shrieking a chant of, "Kick aft!"*

Mira: *crawling after mice for all she's worth. Has figured out that the mice need to go in the bucket, and has caught a couple of the small creatures already* *clickstorm, chatter, babble!*

lbIronhide: *pleased rumble as he moves to sit down. He can see the timer from here, and can tell that there's plenty of time left for Mira to catch the remaining mice*

Kup: Did she just kiss that one? *offers packing peanuts to aWakeJumper and her husband*

aWakeJumper: *as she accepts the offered packing peanuts* Looks like it. *will absently poke one of the treats at Sharpshot's mouth*

Jael: Now what's she going to do? She just got two at once.

Mira: *tries standing up, falls back onto her skidplate* *frown, think, think, think* *starts scooting along on her skidplate towards the bucket*

lbIronhide: *laughs and shouts encouragements*

Kup: *also with the encouraging calls*

Joe: *overcome by cute and buying pictures*

crowd: *roaring*

Mira: *puts the two mice in her hands in the bucket with their friends, then looks around for the other mousies*

Joe: One more. Right, Ironhide? *checks with the older mech*

lbIronhide: Two. She's got six mice total to catch.

Joe: Ohhh.

Jael: *murmur* There's a black one over in that shadow under that black block.

Mira: *crawling toward the wall, will try and see if she can spot where the mousies went*

Joe: *startles as a little cream coloured mouse scampers away from the sparklet*

Mira: *squee, crawls after the mousie*

lbIronhide: *laughs*

Jael: *laughs at Joe*

Kup: *shakes his head and mutters about turbo revvin' over wound punks*

Mira: *stops going after the cream mousie. Just saw the other mousie that's left. Will crawl after the black mousie*

black mousie: *thinks he's found a hole and is hiding. But boy his whiskers are wriggling!*

Mira: *crawl crawl crawl, will pounce as well as she's able*

black mousie: *trying get away! Tries to bite too, but that doesn't work*

Mira: *okay, has mousie cupped in both hands... Now to get mousie to bucket* *considering look*

Joe and Kup: *holding their breaths*

Jael: *eating squids out of the snack bucket Kup bought her*

Mira: *bit of a wiggle, gonna try standing again!*

Joe: Oh, she's going to... *bites his lip*

Kup: *tense and watching*

aWakeJumper: *encouraging shouts!*

Sharpshot: *quietly* C'mon, you can do it.

lbIronhide: *praying silently as he watches*

Mira: *makes it to her feet and wobbles*

Jael: *looks, excited jerk lands a live squid on aWake's face*

aWakeJumper: Ack! Hey!

Mira: *shaky first steps!*

whole stadium: *dead silent but for the sound coming over from the current Gladiator level match*

crowd: *tense silence as the sparklet toddles toward the bucket, every single spectator afraid of frightening her and making her fall if they so much as peep*

Mira: *gentle kissie for the mousie before she's setting it in the bucket with its friends*

crowd: *roars!*

Joe: *lets out a whoop*

Mira: *going after the last mousie now*

lbIronhide: *grinning a very proud papa grin*

bittyBee: *down there chanting ardently till she's got the whole crowd chanting with her*

cream mousie: *running like crazy!*

Mira: *toddle, toddle, toddle! Has found she can go a lot faster on two feet*

cream mousie: *is a fast one*

Mira: *is stubborn and quick on her feet*

cream mousie: *ack! Cornered!*

Kup: *quietly* Good girl. She knows what she's doin'.

Mira: *gonna catch you, mousie! And kissie you once she's got you!*

cream mousie: *squirms, but isn't a biter. Instead it's squeaking as loudly as it can*

Mira: *clickstorms as she toddles back to the bucket*

bell: *rings triumphantly as the cream mouse joins her fellows*

crowd: *just surprised the guys watching the killing matches with that roar*

lbIronhide: *getting a video of this match!*

Joe and Kup: *are too!*

announcer: There you have it, fans. Mira's first match, and her first steps! This little lady was born premature, and she's come a long way. And she bought this match herself by asking us for a wager match!

aWakeJumper: *getting a video of the match as well!*

Mira: *bweees and wibbles. Wants her bigs, 'cause all the yelling is scary!*

lbChromia: *through the hero's gate as soon as it opens, and scoops her baby into her arms*

Mira: *hidin' babby!*

lbIronhide: *worried about the little, will move to get up so he can meet Chromia at the gate*

lbChromia: *holds up one arm in triumph and acknowledgement of the crowd, then hurries Mira out of the pit*

Blitzwing: *just commed Sharpshot* //You wanna see Desinex's match?//

Sharpshot: //Yes, please. Mira won her match.//

Blitzwing: *surprise in his voice* //Mira had a match? What kind?//

Sharpshot: //Cute level, and it was a wager match.//

Blitzwing: //What was she chasing?//

Sharpshot: //Six mice. She had to put them in a bucket in the middle of the pit. She got 'em all before the timer ran out.//

Blitzwing: *laughs over the line* //Get me a video before you come over here.//

Sharpshot: //Alright. See you soon.// *will use one of the credit chits eLumen's mech creator gave him earlier in the day to buy the video for Blitzwing and then find his way over to the third and final pit, where the Junior Gladiator level matches are held*

Blitzwing: *looks up with a grin as the blue mech joins him, then nods into the pit*

Sharpshot: *looks into the pit, unsure about what to expect*

Blitzwing: *quietly* She's got a rifle with paint rounds, and she's allowed to move around, but not to go down to the floor of the pit. There are twenty rats in there, small womprats. She's got to tag them in a spot that would at least incapacitate them if she were using live ammo*

Sharpshot: ... *quietly* Womprats?

Blitzwing: *points as one of the creatures slinks into sight*

Sharpshot: ... 0_0

Blitzwing: Yeah, they're ugly. But they make good chicken soup. *settles his elbow on the barrier in front of him*

Sharpshot: ... Chicken soup? *attention going to the womprat as the starting bell rings and the creature makes a surprised sound* Where'd she get it?

Blitzwing: *looks, then snerks* Just the aft.

Sharpshot: *snerk* Well, that won't incapacitate it...

Blitzwing: Nope. She needs to hit more to one side.

Sharpshot: Ah... *snerks as another womprat gets hit in the exact same spot as the first*

Blitzwing: *comms Desinex* //You need to hit more to one side, Desi.//

Desinex: //Mkay.// *the next womprat she tags, the shot is more to the side*

Blitzwing: //Good. That would stop his leg from working.//

Sharpshot: Why was she aiming for that part in the first place? *confused*

Desinex: *tags another womprat, hitting it right as it comes out of hiding*

Blitzwing: Because that's the spot that Five taught her to aim at on Drift and Fire.

Sharpshot: ... Who are Five and Fire?

Blitzwing: *intent on the match* Five's Desinex's nanny, and one of Fire's drone combiner units. Fire is Drift's partner. One of them, anyway.

Sharpshot: ... Okay? *attention back on the match as Desinex tags the next few womprats*

Blitzwing: You'll see them when you get back, and once Fire and Drift have sobered up.

Sharpshot: *one with his facepalm*

Blitzwing: *smirks* Kiss drunk. *calls approval to Desinex for a particularly good shot*

Desinex: *tags the next womprat right between the eyes as it peeks out of its hiding spot*

Blitzwing: *roars and lets off his jets*

Sharpshot: *shouting encouragements to the young sniper now*

Desinex: *making every shot count*

Blitzwing: *calling a promise of cookies for a good score*

Desinex: *definitely making her remaining shots good shots!*

bell: *rings time up*

Blitzwing: *holds his breath and looks at the score board*

score: *not quite a perfect score, but darn close!*

Blitzwing: She beat her own record. *grabs Sharpshot and noogies him*

Sharpshot: Ack!!!

Blitzwing: *drops him and pounds on Kup as the old mech appears in a PINflash*

aWakeJumper: *arriving shortly thereafter* So, how'd it go?

Blitzwing: *tells her*

aWakeJumper: Awesome! :D

Kup: So who's left?

Blitzwing: WakeJumper, but we upgraded his match. *looks at aWake* You're going in with him.

aWakeJumper: *blink blink* Any particular reason for that?

Blitzwing: You two need the practise.

aWakeJumper: Okay. *will move to head for the door she needs to go through*

Sharpshot: ...She's definitely trusting.

Kup: *gives the younger mech a quizzical look*

Sharpshot: How do they know they're not walking into a trap?

Kup: *grins* She's a Wrecker, kid.

Sharpshot: But still...

Kup: And WakeJumper's her alternate.

Sharpshot: ... *very slight frown*

Kup: *points down into the ring, where a mountain of a rowdy pet ground sloth's been released* They gotta pin him down 'n hog tie him.

WakeJumper: *courting again as he and his altersister walk into the ring*

aWakeJumper: *gentle touch on top of WakeJumper's head*

WakeJumper: *stills and turns his eyes to the sloth* *points and is explaining that this is a rodeo match, and they need to package that roller without hurting him. Is excited to have this sort of match, because it's the most fun to watch*

aWakeJumper: *small nod* *asks if WakeJumper's got the rope*

WakeJumper: *points to where it's hanging in the centre of the pit. Also points to the dress that needs to go on the sloth...* That's for extra points.

aWakeJumper: *dirty rotten grin*

WakeJumper: *gravely* It's not easy. The roller's been taught to stop us 'n get away.

aWakeJumper: *confident* Bet he's never faced a Wrecker before.

WakeJumper: *soberly* He kicked Kup's aft. But that was before Kup got fixed.

sloth: *sticking out his long tongue and wiggling it*

aWakeJumper: Then let's avenge Kup's honor. *cracking knuckles now*

WakeJumper: *grin*


that night, back at the Ark base


Patrick: *holding his stomach and wheezing as he watches the double Wake match*

Nightbird: *so amused as she watches*

Merlin: Oh, oh my... *peeking from behind his hands*

Jack: *sharing a feed of this with Rachel!*

Rachel: //So that explains how she broke her arm off at the elbow.//

Jack: //Yup. Doesn't explain why she felt the need to use it as a blunt object though.//

Rachel: //Aren't you supposed to not hit the roller?//

Jack: //She didn't. She used it to help build barriers...//

Rachel: //Ohhh. I see that now. *snigger* WakeJumper's in the dress.//

Jack: //*snerk* He's such a silly kid.//

Tracks: //He most certainly is not.// *then laughs over comms as the roller gleefully charges and knocks aWakeJumper flying into the air, to land face first in the dirt*

Jack: //Ouch. That probably did hurt.//

Rachel: //She's laughing, but now I know why I need to realign her dentae.//

Jack: //She's going to be a handful...//

Blitzwing: *in human mode, his feet up on Patrick's desk as he cuddles Bunny and Boton while they sleep* Next match her against Motormaster?

Jack: ... That'd be a heck of a match to see.

Patrick: *wheeze* Outside.

Rachel: //And not till after we finish this Megatron thing.//

Fluffy: *sends a video feed to Patrick, accompanying it with 'Harlem Shake'*

Patrick: ... *hesitantly opens the feed*

video: *one of the Shockwave clones juddering painfully after touching a control that the drone hooked a live wire to*

Patrick: ... *facepalm*

Blitzwing: *looks over at him, then at the video, which isn't at a facepalm-worthy part* Chief?

Patrick: *shares the feed* Fluffy is mean.

Xiaobei: *snerk* *shares with Pietro*

Blitzwing: *snerrrk*

Fluffy: *then sends an image of a hallway festooned with someone's wiring*

Patrick: ... *shares that image with the group*

Javan: //Maaan. You jes' put me off my bacon jam.//

Xiaobei: *raised brow ridge* Is that really such a loss, Javan?

Merlin: *meeps and looks a bit pale now*

Blitzwing: Looks like another Six-clone.

Patrick: *headshake* They're more effective at sabotage than I thought.

Jack: *chuckles, a sad light in his eyes* Reminds me of their older siblings...

Fluffy: *sends another clip*

Patrick: *opens the clip so he can share it, too*

clip: *Megatron, his optics white with anger and confusion as he stands in an empty hall that echoes with ancient music from the Golden Age and his sparklet son's voice yelling, "Bad Daddy!"*

Patrick: That's just plain vicious...

Blitzwing: What is?

Patrick: Psychological warfare. *shares the clip*

Xiaobei: *a bit distracted by the music, though she'll snerk as she hears Demolisher's voice*

Javan: //Daaang... Haven't heard tunes like that in awhile.//

Rachel: //What? I thought those songs were lost. Jack, how did Fluffy get them?//

Blitzwing: *thoughtfully, as he hands the little girls to Comet and gives her a kiss before watching her leave the room* Probably from someone there.

Jack: //I have no idea. I know I didn't give them to him.//

Kup: *comes in, grinning slightly over this last Fluffy clip* Serves ol' Buckethead right.

Patrick: Maybe... *trying to figure out where Fluffy got the music clips*

Fluffy: *offering another databurst*

Patrick: *accepts, wondering what he's in for this time*

clip: *two Six-Clones, back to back and tensely ready for battle as they turn their heads and try to pinpoint the source of the giggling that surrounds them*

Patrick: *facepalm, shares the clip*

Kup: o_o Slag.

Xiaobei: ... That's creepy.

Merlin: *going 0_0 now* Agreed.

Jack: *jaw drops* I didn't program him to do that!

Carta: *quietly, from where she's nestled in the carrying pouch under the front of Patrick's jacket* That's my sister.

Jack: ... Oh.

Carta: Look at this part of the file, see that spidery shadow? *slows down the feed and shows everyone a blurred image of the little form* It looks like someone made it from scraps.

Blitzwing: You sure that's her?

Carta: I'm sure. The tech is Sewercon. *leans back against Patrick shyly*

Javan: //... Daaaang!// *impressed*

Fluffy: *signals one more file ready to send*

Patrick: *accepts*

clip: *five wings of Locusts, heading toward the base. The one in front has a big piece of white fabric pasted around her and over her nose cone by the wind of her passing*

Patrick: *lets Skylar know, will also alert the available medics*

Kup: That ain't how ya fly with a white flag. *face palming*

Blitzwing: *snorts at him and gets up to leave the office*

Patrick: *thanks Fluffy for the footage*

Fluffy: *some absent and rude clip, probably a piece of old laugh track. Then makes a click to signify that he's gone*

Patrick: *headshake, will get up and head up topside*

Kup: You don't want that report on Eclipse, Chief?

Patrick: Send it to me.

Kup: *shrugs* She's sleeping, and now Desinex's sleeping with her.

Patrick: *soft chuckle* Got images?

Kup: *gets up and walks beside him. Gives him a sideways look at the question before holding up a hand and projecting one*

Patrick: Aww.

Kup: *cracks a bit of a grin, but then frowns* We got enough room for those kids?

Patrick: ... *checking with Tea and Blaster now*

Tea: //Whaddyou askin' me for, Bossbot? They don't let me in the Seekerhouse.//

Patrick: ... Oh, right. *will pester Screamer then*

Screamer: //We might need to expand the Seekerhouse...//

Blitzwing: *is shouting as Patrick and Kup leave the barn* [PULL UP! GET YOUR NOSE UP!]

Patrick: Oh, slag.

Screamer: *just took flight to help the Locust with the flag land safely*

Kup: *looks toward the driveway and winces* She can't see how ta come down.

Patrick: That's why Screamer's up there.

Kup: *shakes his head and mutters about razzafrazzin' kids*

Screamer: *trying to help the Locust with the flag get her field of vision clear so she can land safely*

Blitzwing: Catch her! I don't think she knows how to hover!

Screamer: *doing so*

Locust: *startled little jerk as she feels arms around her, and then transforms as Screamer lands on his feet and slides backward a few feet from the last thrust of her engines. Turns her head from side to side under the flag as her sisters land neatly all around her and totally destroy the lawn*

Screamer: *quiet screeks. You are safe, little sister*

Kup: *quietly, as Locusts of many colours hunker where they've landed and transformed* It's gonna be a long night.

((Written with random_xtras))