KV. Autobot City and Schale Drachen Homeworld. Battles Part 1

[dens_extra_pups]

Aoife: *scratches her nose where she's sitting on the counter of the little private mess in the apartment that Blue Crew use when they're in the reality that most of them originated from. Doesn't even blink as Soundwave tears past the doorway with a vividly cursing Prime in his wake* *to Kriti* We've got a job for your team.

Kriti: *paying Soundwave and Jazz no mind as they play* What sort of job?

Aoife: *no response to the sound of a deep-voiced Soundwave yelp and laughter* This one bunch of guys decided to genetically engineer their women so that the women go on four legs instead of two, and a neighbouring bunch went to war with them over it. The war's getting out of hand and affecting other worlds.

Kriti: *wince, nods, looking to Megatron for his verdict*

Megatron: *distracted by the sudden appearance of Soundwave's head through the wall* We should probably look into it.

Kriti: *nod* Torque, you're up.

Torque: 'Kay. *will move to get Soundwave out of the wall*

Megatron: *winces as Ambush, previously coached by Soundwave, pushes on his master's butt as Torque bends to see how Soundwave is stuck*

Torque: Ack! *trying to get out of the headlock Soundwave got him in* Sounders! Lemme go so I can get you outta the wall!

Aoife: *tilts her head to one side to try and see past Kriti* ...How much of that guy is stuck through the wall now?

Kriti: *looks* *snerk*

Megatron: *gravely* All of him. *watches Soundwave get pulled through*

Jazz: ... *snerk* Guess we should fix the hole in the wall then.

Soundwave: *plays the 'Price is Right' trombone sound*

Megatron: *gravely* Or just build a smaller door in the spot.

Jazz: *laughs*

Aoife: I take it this isn't his first trip through the wall?

Kriti: Nope. *so amused*

Megatron: *looking down at the smiling Ambush* Soundwave's not the only one that uses that entrance.

Torque: *going to work on bending the edges of the hole back to a relatively normal position, to make it easier to repair or replace*

Aoife: He's not?

Kriti: Ambush uses it, too. *smile*

Jazz: *puts his face around the doorframe at the same level as the hole is at* Don't forget that time Torky opened it 'n Kriti went through.

Ambush: *gives Jazz a friendly pop in the kisser*

Jazz: *startled squawk as he topples over backwards*

Kriti: *laughing muchly now* Jazzimus got pwned by Ambush!

Torque: *cackling and doubled over*

Soundwave: *helpfully plays the 'Rocky' theme*

Ambush: *boogies as trained*

Megatron: *just shaking his head*

Kriti: *doorwings buzzing with mirth*

denizen of the sink: *rises forth from the dish soap foam and announces something unprintable*

Aoife: *startles and looks over there, then cracks a grin* They having fun without you, kid?

Torque: *will stop pounding on the edges of the hole in the wall and go fishing for a chibi*

bittyBee: *tells him what she thinks of him*

Aoife: *snerk* Wow. Surprising for a Bumblebee.

Torque: Naw. That's just how she is. *cuddles the chibi. Has clean plating today!*

bittyBee: *waves her little arms, and then sighs and snuggles*

Aoife: *chuckles* Poor kid. *then looks at Kriti* Don't you have two more teammates?

Kriti: Yeah... They're around here somewhere.

Aoife: *looks around as she hears Jazz yelp over in another room*

Megatron: There they are.

Kriti: ... *sigh* Torque, Soundwave, go rescue Jazzimus from your girlfriend and mate.

Torque: Aww... Alright.

Soundwave: *game buzzer noise*

bittyBee: Dork!

Megatron: *turns back to Aoife* Will you give us the coordinates? And can you tell us anything else?

Aoife: *recites coordinates, but then shakes her head* That's all Charlie's been able to find out. The reality's not easy for an X-positive to access.

Kriti: *frowning as Torque and Soundwave go to rescue Jazz from Mistfire and Witchblade* That doesn't sound too good.

Aoife: *looks toward the sound of Jazz yelps and gasping laughter* What could they do to him?

bittyBee: *from the other room* Kick aft!

Kriti: *snerk*

Torque: ... Sit on him and tickle him?

Megatron: *frowns at him* You're supposed to be rescuing him.

Torque: ... And make Showtime mad?

Megatron: *surprised* What? *looks at Kriti*

Kriti: *headtilt, is asking her sister what's up* ... *facepalm* She's showing Misty and Witchy where Jazzimus is most ticklish.

Megatron: *deep frown of perplexity* Why?

Kriti: I have no idea.

Megatron: We should get started on this mission.

Kriti: *nod of agreement* The sooner, the better.

Megatron: *slight smile* You give the orders.

Kriti: *nod* Blue Crew, let's roll out.

Torque: *to Mistfire and Witchblade* We're rolling out.

Mistfire: *leaning back to look down the hall* As soon as Sounders and Witchy stop snogging each others' brains out?

Torque: *looks down the hall* Sounders! Witchy! Rolling out!

Witchblade: *shows no sign of having heard*

Torque: *nods toward the couple* Ambush, fetch.

Ambush: *goes trucking down there and punches Soundwave on the skidplate*

Jazz: *snerk*

Showtime: *overcome by a gigglefit, has to lay on Jazz until she cools off*

Ambush: *waits a moment, and then aims for the crank case*

Soundwave: *YELP*

Witchy: Eeek! What?

Soundwave: *looks absolutely pitiful* *plays a clip* "Ah bith mah thong" (I bit my tongue)

Mistfire: *no sympathy* We're rollin' out, paint chip.

Soundwave: ... *checks aft for chipped paint*

Witchblade: *wobbles to her feet and then staggers sideways. Bumps into Jazz* Weeee!

Jazz: *will aim Witchblade in the right direction*

Witchblade: *wanders tipsily down the hall toward the mess*

Ambush: *starts contemplating Soundwave's knee*

Soundwave: *moving to catch Witchy, is a bit tipsy himself*

Torque: ... *sigh*

Aoife: What's wrong? *has found a little bit of coloured wire on the counter and is twisting together a tiny flower*

Torque: They're both kiss-drunk. Again.

Aoife: I can fix that, if they let me. *looks up*

Torque: *will move to bring bittyBee to Megatron* I'll go get 'em...

Megatron: *holds out his hands for the sleeping chibi, then glances at his wife* Hand me her towel?

Kriti: Here. *will get the towel and offer it*

Megatron: *wraps bittyBee, and then focuses on gently drying out all her little nooks and crooks*

Mistfire: *facepalming as her sister eeks at Torque*

Kriti: *facepalms as Torque yelps due to Soundwave tripping him*

Aoife: *loud enough for Soundwave to hear* Or you could just call Fixer and tell her they need to be dried out.

Witchblade: Eeek!

Soundwave: *acks* *will be good* T_T

Witchblade: *wibbles at sister*

Mistfire: You wish you was sober, don'tcha?

Witchblade: IwishIwassober.

Aoife: Okay. *sparkles surround the vivacious femme*

Torque: *distracted*

Mistfire: *looks at Soundwave* You wanna dry out too, right?

Soundwave: *nod nod* *doesn't want Fixer getting him!*

Mistfire: So wish, ya glitchhead.

Soundwave: I wish I was sober. *actually speaks the words instead of playing sound clips!*

sparkles: *surround him too*

Megatron: *distracted by something he just noticed on Mistfire's foot* 0_0

Kriti: *laughing a bit as Torque tries to chase sparkles*

Megatron: *gently nudges his wife and nods toward what he's noticed, one big hand absently holding bittyBee against his chest*

Kriti: *looks to what Megatron's nodding at*

Mistfire's foot: *bears a lip shaped, painted on logo, which says, "KISS IT"*

Kriti: *SNERK*

Mistfire: *glances over to see what fun she's missing, her brows lifted quizzically*

Kriti: Nice tattoo.

Mistfire: *grins* Which one?

Kriti: The one on your foot.

Mistfire: Thanks. *smirk*

Witchblade: Nooooo. I have a hangover!

Mistfire: *worse smirk*

Aoife: What? I should have cleared up everything.

Mistfire: *MOAR smirk*

Soundwave: *groaning and pinching the bridge of his nose*

Torque: *blinks and looks at the couple* ... But you're not kiss-drunk anymore, right?

Witchblade: No. *wibble* But my head hurts.

Torque: ... *confused*

Megatron: *sudden look of comprehension at the pastel sister* Did you drink Jazz's can that he brought with him last night?

Mistfire: :D

Witchblade: I hate you, Misty.

Kriti: *SNERK*

Jazz: Awww, man...

Showtime: *excuse her, she's currently being overcome by a gigglefit*

Torque: ... Misty, that was mean.

Mistfire: It was jes' sittin' there, lookin' lonely. 'N Prime never missed it till now. *smirk is totally unrepentant*

Jazz: *sulk*

Ambush: *just found the can with the last dregs in it. Bottoms up!*

Megatron: *takes the can*

Kriti: *facepalm*

Ambush: *quizzical look*

Megatron: *offers can to Jazz*

Jazz: Thanks, Megatron. *will stow the can in subspace*

Aoife: Oh. I just got an update.

Kriti: *looks over to Aoife* Update?

Aoife: Yeah. Charlie just found out something else that's ****ing off the guys that attacked. The guys they're attacking don't give their women clothes.

Kriti: ... *visor snaps down almost audibly as she growls*

Torque: Uh. We don't give our women clothes either.

Showtime: Torque, you guys don't wear clothes either.

Torque: *grins and cocks his helmet at her* I know.

Showtime: ... *trying to figure out the connections*

Witchblade: No, Sounders, I don't think that lacy thing you have on your rearview mirror counts. *snerk*

Kriti: ... I don't even want to know. *voice has a bit of a dangerous edge to it and her doorwings are almost parallel with the floor*

Megatron: *hand on her shoulder* *quietly* Let's roll out.

Torque: *nods*

Soundwave: *also nods*

Witchblade: *glomps her mate, eyes wide*

Mistfire: *slips an arm through Torque's* See ya, Show.

Showtime: *nods* Lemme know how it goes.

Jazz: *moving to put an arm around the petite blue femme's shoulders* Stay safe, 'n don't do anything I wouldn't do. *grin*

Megatron: *slight smile at the Prime, then glances at Kriti to see if she's ready. Knows the rest of the crew is*

Kriti: *nod*

Megatron: *takes team to the coordinates*

Mistfire: *flamethrower out as she looks around and scans the area*

Witchblade: *slight crouch as she holds her signature weapon and scans in the other direction from her twin*

Megatron: *putting bittyBee away* *he forgets her when she's quiet. Makes sure mousies are okay too*

Kriti: *on alert, checking the surroundings*

Torque: *visually scanning the area as he crouches*

Soundwave: *listening for anything unusual that needs to be brought to the team's attention immediately*

Witchblade and Torque: Incoming!

Witchblade: *dives to one side, followed by her sister*

Megatron: *steps the other way*

Kriti: *dives to one side*

Soundwave: *going the other way*

being: *huge, reptilian and humanoid, though with four arms* *chasing a group of armour clad, weapon toting Nebulans, who are running for all they're worth*

Kriti: *listening to see where she needs to intervene*

Nebulans: *yelling about the *beepword* woman enslaver coming, run faster!*

big guy: *silent and intent on the chase. Never even looked at the bots*

Kriti: *over the team frequency* //Big guy's the target.//

Mistfire: *comes out of the bushes in a flying tackle at the big guy's legs*

Kriti: *will charge into battle after making sure the Nebulans won't get stepped on or worse by accident* *rebel yell*

Torque: *rowdy shout, dives in to assist Mistfire*

big guy: *is down. Scowling and trying to wriggle free* *language only partly translated by their translation programs* [Don't let them get away!]

Soundwave: *game buzzer noise, will scramble the order so it doesn't make sense*

Kriti: *harshly, to the big guy* [Shut up.]

big guy: *stops fighting and stares at her*

Kriti: *dangerous expression on her face* [You heard me, afthat.]

big guy: *frowns* [I don't even know you. Why are you attacking me?]

Kriti: [Because you're trying to hurt people.]

big guy: *angry buck* [They were trying to break into my wife's house!]

Witchblade: *judiciously sitting beside sister on top of big guy*

Torque: *looks to see if he can sit on the guy's head*

Kriti: *scowl* [Mind telling me why they'd call you an enslaver, then?]

big guy: *frowns at Torque, but then looks back to Kriti* [What does that word mean?]

Kriti: *more scowl, looks to Megatron* Do you want to explain it?

Megatron: *slight headshake. Isn't comfortable talking about such topics*

Kriti: *nod* Alright. Think the Nebulans'll need some backup?

big guy: *looks from Kriti to Megatron, and then bucks again* [Why are you doing this to me? What did I do to you?]

Kriti: *frowns at the big guy* [You were trying to hurt people.]

big guy: *repeats his earlier words* [They were trying to break into my wife's house!]

Kriti: *slight headtilt* [Now why would the Nebulans do something like that if they didn't have a good reason to?]

big guy: [I don't know. I don't know why they do anything they do.] *confusion turns back to anger* [They came here and yelled at us, and then started shooting. That's all I know about them.]

Kriti: *frowning muchly now, looks to Megatron* I think we need to talk to the Nebulans... and check the village ourselves.

Megatron: *deep frown as he nods* I think we need to explain to him why the Nebulans are angry.

Witchblade: *looking back and forth between her leaders*

Mistfire: *making the acquaintance of that little pink lizard on the bush*

Kriti: *nod of agreement* First, we have to get the sides to stop fighting long enough to listen.

Megatron: *shakes his head* Tell him so he doesn't need to be sat on anymore.

Kriti: *small nod* *looks to the big guy* [The Nebulans are upset because your people changed your women from going on two legs to four, and don't give them clothes.]

big guy: *stares at her, his gold flecked blue eyes narrowed with surprise and uncertainty* [Say that again. Slowly.]

Kriti: *does so*

big guy: *so angry that he sits right up now* [WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE??]

twins: *face first in the dirt and cussing*

pink lizard: *watching with amazement*

Torque: *acks*

Kriti: *frowning now*

Megatron: *steps forward protectively* Please stop shouting.

big guy: *really letting rip, too fast to translate most of it. But the word, "Bullies" just came out clearly*

Kriti: *doorwings up*

Torque: ... So should I tackle him again?

Megatron: *absent, frowning head shake* [You just threw two of our women into the dirt.]

big guy: *stops cold and stares at the twins*

Witchblade: *cheerfully spits dirt at him*

Mistfire: *showing off one of her other tattoos. The one on her lower back*

Kriti: *moves to help Mistfire up*

Mistfire: Thanks. *frowns at the guy*

big guy: *expression analogous to a scowl as he looks from Kriti to Mistfire to Witchblade* [Are you all female?]

Kriti: You're welcome, Misty. *looks to the guy* [We are. But Torque, Megatron, and Soundwave are male.]

big guy: *frowns* [Your women are strong, but you're sticking up for the bullies?]

Megatron: ...?

Kriti: *frown* [We're just trying to stop the fighting.]

big guy: [Then tell them to mind their own business!] *moves to get to his feet*

Kriti: *thinking fast* [How do your women feel about being changed?]

big guy: *points behind her* [Ask her.]

Witchblade: *quick look* Meeep!

Megatron: *startled look, and then steps back hurriedly*

Kriti: *looks over her shoulder*

being: *reptilian, large but obviously young. Arms folded across her chest, which is covered by fine plates. Lower body supported on four strong legs and encased in a large shell something like that of a snapping turtle*

Megatron: I think we have a glitch up on our hands.

Kriti: ... I'm gonna agree with you on that, Megatron.

Torque: *will move so he can try and pick the stunned Soundwave out of the bush the musician landed in*

big guy: *on his feet now* [Unborn babies are heavy, and you only need one set of arms. And why wear someone else's skin when you can close your shell and keep everything covered?]

girl: *snorts and tosses her head in agreement*

Megatron: *pinches nose*

Kriti: *small nod*

Megatron: [Do the Nebulans know what the women look like? I think they thought that you were being mean and taking away the personhood of the women.]

big guy: *look. Gobsmack looks the same for his people as it does for humans and TFs*

girl: *quiet deepish voice* [We don't know what the Nebulands know. We can't understand them.]

Kriti: *as Torque tries to shake some sense into Soundwave* [We can translate for you.]

big guy: [I can't go. I have to go back to my wife.]

girl: [And I need to help her.]

Kriti: *small nod, a bit of a perplexed look on her face* [Then somehow, we need to get the misunderstanding cleared up.]

girl: *points by nodding* [There's a big fight that way. You can see the dust. Or you can go up to the star fight.]

Kriti: *small nod* *looks to the rest of her team* We splitting up for this, or tackling it in pieces?

Mistfire: Pieces.

Witchblade: *buh?*

Soundwave: *confused sound. Why is he dangling from Torque's hands?*

Torque: Might be easier to do it piece by piece.

Megatron: *nods* I think Mistfire and Torque are right.

girl: *nods to Torque* [Is he hurt?]

Torque: [Naw. He just landed on his head.]

girl and big guy: *look at each other, and then at Kriti*

Mistfire: *is a snerk and a facepalm*

Kriti: *snickering behind her facepalm*

big guy: *to the girl* [I think he's not hurt. We should go.]

girl: *agrees and turns to walk away, the belly of her shell leaving a wavy pattern in the dust*

Soundwave: Bhuh?

Mistfire: *lowers her hand and looks at him, then pokes him*

Soundwave: *acks and signals that he wants down, plz*

Mistfire: Shake 'em, Torky, I wanna see if his head rattles. *scoping the area even as she smirks*

Torque: *grins and gives Soundwave a shake* *laughs as he nearly gets socked in the kneecap*

Kriti: *more facepalm*

Megatron: *reaches over and takes Soundwave, then flips the communications expert over. Aimed away from himself*

Soundwave: *nearly soundless groan, holds his head and tries not to share the sensation with Witchblade*

Witchblade: *blinks, and shares a ticklish sensation*

Soundwave: *more groan, will share the dizzy sensations then!*

Witchblade: *meeps and squirms*

Megatron: *frowns at her, and then looks at Mistfire*

Mistfire: *thoughtful frown at the little pink lizard, who is in the process of climbing her leg in a slow way accompanied by chirping that is plainly that of a very young specimen*

Torque: *attention going to the chirping* Huh? What's that? *curious*

Mistfire: Little lizard. *leans down to look at it, then glances toward a call from the big guy*

big guy: *has stopped and is calling back* [For the love of mercy, don't leave that poor kitten behind now. It thinks you're its mother!]

Torque: Aww

Mistfire: *looks at Kriti* Uh. I think I jes' gotta pet, Boss.

Kriti: *chuckles* Well, at least it's friendly.

Mistfire: *picks the little lizard up and carefully opens its mouth with a finger* Looks like meat ain't on the menu.

lizard: *little wriggle and takes mouth back. Sticks out tongue a couple times, and then chirps*

Torque: Aww. We should find out what to feed it.

Megatron: He doesn't look hungry now. *studying the little creature* Let's straighten out this mess first.

Kriti: Prolly a good idea.

Mistfire: *tucks the little thing in her onboard storage* It kin meet the glitchmice, retrorabbits, 'n Ambush later.

lizard: *snuggles warm and closes eyes*

Torque: *grin*

Mistfire: *shuts the panel, and then lifts Witchblade to her feet* Ready ta go.

Torque: *will grab Soundwave, since the green mech doesn't look too steady on his feet yet* Ready.

Kriti: I'm ready.

Megatron: *brings them to the dust cloud*

fighting: *furious here, and they just about got run down by a well grown adult local woman, who most assuredly is NOT dragging her belly to make marks in the dust!*

Megatron: *snatches Kriti back to safety*

Kriti: *startled squeal*

Mistfire: [Watch where yer goin', battle bus!] *shakes sister at the long gone woman*

Witchblade: 9_6

Kriti: *cycling air and trying to gather her wits about her*

Megatron: *scanning the battlefield easily through the thrown up dust and noting the fragility of the dusty soil* This world can't take this.

Torque: Looks like most the locals live orbitally. *looking for Nebulans now, kthx*

Megatron: *lifts a hand and points, reciting coordinates* There's a Nebulan leader.

Kriti: Grab and dash? *rolls her shoulders a bit*

Megatron: *lets her go and nods* Mistfire, go with them.

Witchblade: Me too? *suddenly bright eyed again*

Megatron: *looks at her, and then looks at the bots usually in charge of grab and dash*

Soundwave: *looking a bit steadier as Torque sets him on his feet*

Kriti: Rock, paper, scissors?

Mistfire: *curiously* What for?

Kriti: Deciding who gets to nab the Nebulan, and who gets to be the distraction.

Mistfire: Alright. *lifts her hand*

Witchblade: *watches, willing to let sister try instead of her. Is watching their surroundings*

Kriti: *hand out* On three.

Mistfire: *nods. Is reaady*

Kriti: One... Two... Three!

Mistfire: *paper*

Kriti: *chose scissors* Okay, so you get to distract everyone. Make it interesting. *grin*

Mistfire: *smirks, and then runs toward the battle. A moment later fire gushes toward the sky*

Megatron: ... Created for distraction.

Kriti: ... I kinda wish I'd chosen rock. *will head for the location of the Nebulan detatchment's leader*

Megatron: *as always* Torque, go with her.

Torque: *nods and moves to follow Kriti. Knows she'll need the backup*

shouting and yelling: *in response now to flames*

Witchblade: *very amused at the chagrin her sister is inspiring*

Soundwave: *impressed whistle*

Megatron: *has seen older Mistfires in action. Is focusing on other team members*

Kriti: *having a heck of a time getting through once the Nebulans realize what's going on* *is trying to be careful and not hurt any of the combatants on accident*

Megatron: //Now, Torque.//

Torque: *rebel yell and a charge*

Nebulans: *scattering! Have been made charge shy by those big, shelled things!*

Kriti: *carefully grabbing the deployment leader, and moments later, there's a blue Camaro speeding away from the battlefield*

Megatron: *there to meet her*

Kriti: *once she's safely back to Megatron, she'll open her door, revealing that she had the courtesy to strap the Nebulan in with a five-point harness*

Megatron: *down to one knee to extract the woman and then study her with a frown*

Nebulan woman: *scowling muchly at the being that's holding her, and looking like she's about to put up another fight*

Kriti: *will transform once the woman is extracted from her interior* ... Should I tell Misty and Torque to retreat?

Megatron: No. The locals are too busy running from them to kill each other. *to the woman in his hand, his gravel voice calm and quiet* What is your name?

Nebulan woman: *more scowl* Major Aeris Zebzaims.

Megatron: You are now our captive. You will not be harmed. But by the authority invested in us by... *checks reality coordinates and really looks at them for the first time, then blinks* ...The IGP, we arrest you for the purpose of information gathering and engendering the peace. *to Kriti* //This is our origin reality.//

Kriti: *look, even visors can go 0_0*

Maj. Zebzaims: *more scowl* *grumbles something not polite*

Megatron: *gravely* Do you understand?

Maj. Zebzaims: I understand. *still scowling* Doesn't mean I have to like it though.

Megatron: Do you know that some of your soldiers were attacking the home of a mother in labour?

Maj. Zebzaims: ... *blink. BLINK*

Megatron: She's safe. Her husband chased them away. *doesn't show any reaction to Witchblade suddenly transforming and flying off over the battlefield*

Maj. Zebzaims: ... *shocked expression is a go*

Megatron: *frowns slightly* You aren't speaking?

Maj. Zebzaims: Nobody told us that!

Megatron: It just happened. *reaches over with free hand and turns off the music as Soundwave decides to try sound shock bowling*

Soundwave: *game buzzer noise* *sulk*

Maj. Zebzaims: ... *facepalm*

Megatron: *turns his attention back to her and lifts one brow quizzically, inviting her to speak

Maj. Zebzaims: He's just as bad as Lt. Alonso.

Megatron: Lt. Alonso?

Maj. Zebzaims: One of the soldiers I command.

Megatron: *as Witchblade swoops overhead with her sister standing on top of her* Ah. *slight smile but then sobers*

Kriti: Will you tell me what you understand of the current situation? Why have your people attacked these natives?

Maj. Zebzaims: We were told that they were experimenting on their women.

Megatron: By whom?

Maj. Zebzaims: The higher ups. *frowning muchly now*

voice from the dust: [Ack! What the hell anyway??]

Torque: *wide grin. He's managing a firefighter's carry of a massive local woman*

Maj. Zebzaims: *blink blink* What the?!

Megatron: *serious headshake as Torque drops the woman on her back and then rolls her over*

Maj. Zebzaims: ... *blink blink* You can understand them?

Megatron: *nods* Yes, we can.

woman: *punches Torque in the head, then gives the Major a very unpleased look*

Torque: *grin*

Maj. Zebzaims: *shrug* I didn't ask them to do this.

Kriti: *translates and adds* [We're trying to clear things up so we can stop the fight.]

woman: *contemptuous sound*

Kriti: *nods toward the native lady* Major, this is one of the local women. Go ahead and ask her what she thinks of the genetic enhancements.

Maj. Zebzaims: *boggles at the idea that the "monsters" she and her troops have been fighting are actually the women of the race* Er...

Megatron: *looks at the local woman* [I think they thought that your men were hurting you and making you less than people.]

woman: *fists show a deep frown* [Making us less than people? The improvements make us strong and safe. And if the Queen can walk on four legs, it's good enough for us.]

Megatron: *translates for Major Zebzaims*

Maj. Zebzaims: ... "Queen"? *brows up*

Kriti: *to the local woman* [Your people have a Queen?] *doorwings up with curiosity*

woman: [Why not? Don't yours have someone at the top?]

Kriti: [We have different groups, with each group having a leader, but no one person at the top.]

woman: *makes a gesture that seems to be her version of a shrug* [We're one group. The elders decide things, and she tells them if they're making sense. Besides, we wouldn't exist without the old lady.]

Kriti: *small nod, considering look as her 'wings flutter* *to the Major* They have a leader that their elders answer to. She tells them if things make sense or not.

Major: ... Huh. *blinking a bit as she thinks about this*

Megatron: *quietly, as a wail of, "Ohhhhh ********!" trails past overhead as Mistfire and Witchblade give one of the Nebulan soldiers a ride while hanging him by his legs* Don't you think you should call off your troops?

Maj. Zebzaims: *will get to that right now, in fact*

Megatron: *puts her down while she does this*

Maj. Zebzaims: *to her troops* Attention all units, cease fire immediately!

woman: *nods toward the guy shooting Megatron in the leg* [Tell her not to forget that one.]

Torque: *laughs. Hadn't realized anybody other than him besides Megatron had noticed that guy*

Maj. Zebzaims: *looks* That goes for you as well, soldier. *frown*

Lt. Alonso: But I haven't even made a mark on this **** yet. *leans toward the leg to make sure*

Megatron: *blinks, and then rumbles amusement* Is this Lt. Alonso?

Maj. Zebzaims: Yes. Lt. Allonsy Alonso. *stern LOOK for the soldier* Cease fire.

Lt. Alonso: *still checking for marks* I did. Yeep!

Mistfire: *just jumped down and dropped the guy she'd been playing with gently into the dust*

Kriti: *nod* They stop firing yet?

Megatron: *looks over* All I can hear is Soundwave, and some shouting. *looks to the local woman and translates*

woman: *turns and gives a deep voiced roar for everyone to sit down and shut the *bleep* up*

silence: *broken only by giggles overhead and music in the dust cloud*

Kriti: *laughing muchly now*

Maj. Zebzaims: *quietly* Their voices don't sound like female voices.

Mistfire: *looks down at the Major. Lazily* They've got a ****'ve a set 'a bellows ta bellow with.

Maj. Zebzaims: *small nod*

Megatron: Can you let your Commander know that you've been operating under a misunderstanding, Major? *glances down as Lt. Alonso licks a thumb and then rubs it against his plating*

Maj. Zebzaims: I can, and I will. *doing so now*

Megatron: [There aren't many people on the planet?]

woman: [Only we hippies. Everyone else is on the ring.]

Kriti: [Including the Queen?] *has an idea forming*

woman: [Of course. She can't stay in space forever. Even she needs to breathe sometimes.]

Kriti: *small nod, doorwings fluttering a bit as she thinks*

Megatron: [What is it,] Kriti?

Kriti: [We still need to get up to the station to talk to the people there, right?]

Megatron: *starts to reply, but is cut off*

woman: [Are you bringing some of these green idiots to apologize? Will the widows be given any compensation for our husbands that they killed?]

Megatron: *expression of dismay* [Your husband was killed?]

woman: *grimly* [He died less than an hour ago. He's laying over there.] *nods in the direction*

Kriti: *doorwings down, wibble*

Maj. Zebzaims: *has no idea what was said* *raised brows as she looks around and sees the expressions on the metal behemoths' faces*

woman: [And they got one of my sons before he could even sweep his girl off her feet.]

Mistfire: *soft grunt as Torque bear hugs her and hides his face on her shoulder*

Kriti: *bibbles at Megatron*

Megatron: *arm around his wife, then looks down and translates everything that was said for the Nebulans*

Maj. Zebzaims: *lips pressed thin, small nod. Is going to have WORDS for her supervisors very shortly*

Lt. Alonso: *looks at his CO and wibbles at her*

other Lt.: *going to reinsert himself into the dust right now*

Megatron: *finishes the translating*

Maj. Zebzaims: *getting her radio connected to the higher ups. Excuse her while she uses strongly worded language to tell them that they made a stupid choice*

Megatron: *hesitates*

Mistfire: *steps in and translates for the local woman, and for other natives who have come up, being very creative in her word substitution on the strong language translation*

Megatron: *face palm*

Kriti: *wibbly snerk*

Torque: *gonna cling to his wife for now*

local woman: *breathing deep to keep down her own reaction to the words of the green invader woman on behalf of her people*

Maj. Zebzaims: *really letting her commanding officers have it for blindly following orders and blindly relaying orders without stopping to research further*

local woman: *sudden hand frown at something Mistfire says* [Oh, and the furry things you just mentioned aren't pets. They're part of the population.]

Megatron: Major, the furry beings are people.

Maj. Zebzaims: *relays that as well*

Mistfire: *still translating*

Megatron: *reaches down to dissuade Lt. Alonso from the usage of permanent marker*

voice from the dust: [I don't know whether to laugh or urk. Don't they need air?]

another voice: *subdued though rowdy cheering for a PDA*

Megatron: *sudden quick glance at Kriti as he realizes what the last two members of Blue Crew are up to*

Kriti: *facepalm*

woman: *looks to Megatron and Kriti* [What's happening now?]

Kriti: [Our teammates are being affectionate with each other.]

local man in a kilt: *turns and calls out toward the voices, explaining what the metal people are doing*

local folk voices: *various expressions of minor disgust, but then start making amused comments*

Nebulans: *are now doing a countdown*

Kriti: *more facepalm* //Soundwave, Witchblade, cut it out!//

Witchblade: //Awwww! But they don't look so sad anymore.//

Kriti: //You're being icky in public.//

Soundwave: *razz*

Witchblade: //Icky?! Not!//

Mistfire: *just translated the order to the Major to bring her people back up from the surface* *realizes what she said and goes over it again*

Maj. Zebzaims: *telling her higher ups "Not until we work out a suitable apology."*

higher ups: *want to formulate that and present it to the native higher ups*

Maj. Zebzaims: *relaying the orders to regroup for transport to the troops*

Mistfire: Hey, Zebby. *gently pushes Torque way, then hunkers down to talk to the Major*

Maj. Zebzaims: *frowns at the nickname*

Mistfire: You apologize now. For what you did ta these people. At least words 'n a promise 'a recompense.

Megatron: *quietly translates the Major's and Mistfire's words for the natives*

Maj. Zebzaims: *small nod* *quietly* I'm sorry for what I ordered my troops to do, for what I did, and for what my higher-ups ordered us to do. We're going to work out restitution.

Megatron: *quietly translates*

local woman: *wipes the back of her arm across her nose and nods* [If you need to find me, ask for Phyllis.]

Megatron: ...o.0 Phyllis?

Maj. Zebzaims: *nods* Will do.

Kriti: ... *looks to husband* That sounds like a human or JD name.

Megatron: *nods* Though I've never heard of JDs in this reality. *looks at the natives* [Do your people know of a race known as JD?]

younger woman: *looks over and gives a slight nod* [The Ancestors.]

Megatron: *frown of surprise* [Ancestors?]

woman: *another slight nod* [When our Queen met the JDs, she fell in love with one of them. They had children together. We call ourselves Schale Drachen.]

Megatron: *quick look at his wife, then back to the young woman* [What race is the Queen?]

woman: [She calls herself Drachenschwarm.]

Kriti: *jaw drops*

Mistfire: *just expanded Torque's vocabulary. Lt. Alonso's too*

Maj. Zebzaims: *just learned a few new words as well* ... *raised brow at the reactions*

Megatron: *silent for a moment with surprise. Then, quietly* [How old is she?]

woman: *shrug* [Many generations old.]

Phyllis: *wipes her nose again. Then, gruffly* [She's ten thousand years old.]

Megatron: *soft gasp*

native man: [She's slowing down. But she's still there.] *points upward with the arm that isn't carefully holding his broken and swollen one still*

Megatron: *looks at Kriti with wonder in his optics*

Kriti: Wow. *amazed. Has done research on the Drachenschwarm in other realities, never even suspected there'd be any here*

Megatron: We didn't know they were here.

Mistfire: *translates*

man: *shrugs* [The Ancestors are gone. They became us.]

Phyllis: *gesture of agreement*

Torque: ... Whoah.

woman: *nod* [Our Queen-mother watches over us.]

Kriti: *looks at the Nebulan Major* Have your people encountered a massive, draconian creature at any point?

Maj. Zebzaims: We have stories of such encounters, from millenia ago...

Megatron: But nothing during the current battle?

Maj. Zebzaims: *headshake* We did have reports of something shooting fire out at us at one point.

Megatron: *gravely* I have no doubt that that was the Queen Mother of these people.

Maj. Zebzaims: *jaw drops*

Lt. Alonso: *repeats his recent learning*

Phyllis: *reaches down and gives him a flick upside the head. Can tell what ur doing!*

Lt. Alonso: *eats dust*

Maj. Zebzaims: *distractedly* Allonsy, stop.

Lt. Alonso: *sneeze poofs dust into the air, but he lifts a hand in the Nebulan version of a thumbs up*

Mistfire: *snerrrk*

Kriti: *snerk*

Torque: ... I like that guy. He's funny.

Soundwave: *stumbles over and then trips and eats dust* *lifts a hand in a thumbs up to show he's okay*

Torque: *excuse him, he just has to laugh at that*

Kriti: *facepalm*

Witchblade: *saunters over, riding the dizziness and walking perfectly straight*

Mistfire: *slaps sister upside the head*

Megatron: We should get going. *looks up*

Torque: *nod, is still chuckling. Will go pick Soundwave up out of the dust*

Kriti: *nods* The sooner, the better.

Soundwave: *sneezes dust, and then makes like he's going to wipe his intakes on Torque*

Torque: *will dangle Soundwave by his ankles again!*

Soundwave: *game buzzer*

Torque: *gives him a shake*

Megatron: *to Phyllis* [Do you know how to contact someone in your orbital community? We would like to speak to your people in charge.]

Phyllis: *tugs over one young man with a backpack on, and then pulls out a hand piece, gives the pack a good hard crank, and then starts talking*

Soundwave: *visor blinks as he sees the communications equipment*

Phyillis: *to Kriti* [You need to go to the space port.]

Kriti: *headshake* [We just need coordinates for a place we're allowed to go. Can you provide 'em?]

Phyllis: *hand frowns at her, but does so*

Soundwave: *interested in the equipment*

Torque: *gives Soundwave one last shake*

Soundwave: *absent punch for Torque knee. Still focused on the comm tech*

Torque: Ack! *drops Soundwave*

Soundwave: *rolls to feet and goes over to look at the neat tech. Gives it another wind*

Phyllis: *absently swats him but keeps up her conversation*

Megatron: *quietly* [We have teleportation devices.]

Phyllis: [Was just going to ask.] *back to talking*

Mistfire: *distracted by cuddling little pink baby lizard, who has a sweet little curious head something like a horned toad's*

Torque: *going to see what Mistfire's got*

Kriti: *gonna lean on Megatron, kthx*

woman: *looks to see what the dusty one is looking at* [The kitten likes you.] *sounds quite pleased by what she's seeing*

Mistfire: *kisses the little being's head and rubs her cheek against him gently* [Feeling's mutual. He's freakin' adorable.]

baby lizard: *soft cry of hunger. Would like Mama to feed him*

Mistfire: *pauses cuddling and looks at the little pet quizzically*

woman: [Oh, he must be hungry!] *will check to see if she has anything on her the little creature could eat*

comm. man: *holds out a small bag of toasted grubs*

woman: [Thanks, Ezekiel] *will grab the bag and offer it to Mistfire*

Mistfire: *takes back. Opens and looks in* *doubtfully* [These look pretty greasy.]

woman: [They've got what he needs. He's still a baby.]

Mistfire: [If you say so.] *fishes out huge fat grub and shows it to the baby lizard*

lizard baby: *bite! Stuff stuff stuff at mouth. Nom nom nom nom. Another bite!*

Mistfire: Ewwww. *shows her sister, grinning*

Witchblade: *squeal of EWWWWW!*

Torque: Ewww... I wonder if we can get anything like that for him in the Nexus?

Kriti: Probably. *slight headtilt*

lizard: *finishes most of the grub, and then gets sleepy. Little soft and happy chirps*

Mistfire: [Hey, there's still some left.] *holds the grub butt by his nose*

lizard: *sleepy happy no more*

woman: [He'll eat more when he wakes up.]

comm. man: [After he poops and plays a bit.]

Mistfire: [So whadda I do with this bug butt?]

comm. man: [You don't want to eat it?]

Torque: [We can't process it.]

comm. man: *looks at the young woman, and then leans slightly toward Mistfire and opens his mouth*

Mistfire: *feeds him the bug butt*

Witchblade: *thinks that's hysterical*

woman: *amused snort* [Ezekiel, you are a goofball.]

Ezekiel: *eyes twinkling as he wrinkles his nose*

Megatron: Alright, everyone hold hands.

Mistfire: *stores bitty lizard and his food, and reaches for Torque and her sister*

Torque: *will grab Soundwave and drag him over*

Soundwave: *flail, was looking at something interesting!*

Witchblade: *arm around mate's arm. Snuggle*

Megatron: *says goodbye to the locals and Nebulans, then activates his teleporter*

((Written with random_xtras))

Continued here