Nexus and HSV. Near the Sanctuary. Panacea

[dens_extra_pups]

Rachel: *sitting by her big ugly yellow brother on the porch bench* So this guy was a version of someone Blades knew years ago. He flipped out at sight of him. *chuckle* And the Ironhide that lives on the Lost Highway hung the guy up and told the local kids he was a pinata.

hsvRatchet: *snort* I'm not surprised.

Rachel: *looks over toward giggles and sees three little Lumens, a Pooka, and four brawny dark-haired human kids hitting each other in the heads with nerf bats* The kids seem inclined to keep the wapping sticks.

hsvRatchet: *looks* *chuckles* At least they're using padded sticks.

Rachel: Nerf bats. *pauses and looks down at his foot* Kriti, do you actually think that's going to do anything?

tKriti: *squeaks and scampers, still clutching her nerf bat*

hsvRatchet: *rumble*

Rachel: *looks up at her brother* Though I remember you're pretty ticklish on the feet.

hsvRatchet: She wasn't poking her fingers in between the armor. *Look* What happened with the pinata?

Rachel: Oh. The kids and Blades whapped Dr. Morocco till he woke up and vanished. 'Brina appeared around about then, and she and Blades sat and held Mira from the Highway and Mira from the Sanctuary till Blades woke up.

hsvRatchet: *small nod* Is Sabrina still trying to find a way to get a letter to Dani?

Rachel: *gives him an amused look for asking the question* She's Skydive. What do you think?

hsvRatchet: Has she had any luck so far?

Rachel: Nope. She's had better success scaring the bolts off Megatron's Shockwave clones when she ran into them at a mall back in our reality.

hsvRatchet: *raised brow ridge, snorts* Now that sounds like a story.

Rachel: *chuckles* Want to hear it on the way to the Mall? I need to pick up some parts. Oh, and I see your other question waiting to pop out. No, Doc. Moc. isn't a Dreamer.

hsvRatchet: *snerk* So he's like the ravers who go to Rock 'N Ride then. *will get up and offer a hand to Rachel*

Rachel: *rises to her feet, and then climbs into the hand* Yup. It was a random dream. He was completely here, but he'll always imagine it was just a dream. Blades leaves his body behind and manifests another one here when he dreams.

hsvRatchet: *nod* As is characteristic of Dreamers. *will begin walking to the mall*

Rachel: *waves to one of D'Coda's trees, who is looking very personish today and looking around with bright and curious dark eyes* Yup.

hsvRatchet: *soft chuckle and a nod of greeting to the tree* I think we may be exeperiencing another population expansion in the near future.

Rachel: You mean in your reality? *glances up quizzically, feet swinging contentedly over the edge of his hand*

hsvRatchet: *nods* Yes. I'm not certain yet, because I can't get her to stay still long enough to scan, but I suspect one of the ladies back home may be carrying.

Rachel: Ohhhh. *chuckles* Which one?

hsvRatchet: Flashpoint. I could be wrong, but it seems as though she's being a bit more broody as of late.

Rachel: *big grin* Is her guy acting any different? *waves to the weird blonde chick, who is sitting up on the roof of her round blue house for some reason*

hsvRatchet: It's hard to tell. Air Raid's always been odd... But I'm almost certain he's being more affectionate with her, and cuddly. *stops short as a lobster flies past* What the?

Denpup: C'mere, you! *gonna try to catch the flying lobster with her net as it gets near her*

Rachel: *leans forward and watches, her brow doing that quirk* Alllrighty then...

Nika: *sitting in a baby carrier on Mama's back* *cheerfully rude*

hsvRatchet: *scanning the flying lobsters now as several more fly past his face* o.0;;

Daniel: *down in the yard with a glitterbitty on his back and a fluffy pony by his feet* Are you sure they're safe to eat, boss?

Denpup: Yup! Just gotta catch the critters! Awk! *ducks as one of the flying lobsters comes a bit too close to her head*

Rachel: *snerks, and then looks down at a man on the sidewalk* Hi, Genji!

Genji: *looks up and smiles* Hello, Rachel. Hello, Ratchet.

Rachel: *brow quirk* Hey, what's with the baseball bat, buddy?

Genji: It's for spook hunting. They've been getting too close to the house lately.

Rachel: Don't they pretty much wander all through this neighbourhood at night?

Genji: Last night, they were in our backyard.

Rachel: *slight frown* Ah. Well, they can't get into the house.

Genji: I'd feel better if they stayed out of the backyard, too.

Rachel: Huh. Well, I can't help you with that. Sorry.

Genji: It's alright. Mirden said she'd try and find a solution, but until then, I'll take Miss Den's advice.

hsvRatchet: ... Do I want to know what advice she gave you?

Rachel: *perk* I do.

Genji: *indicates the bat* Walk softly, carry a big stick, and when you get close enough to see their eyes, yell and raise caine.

Rachel: You do know they don't come out during the daytime, except the headless horseman?

Genji: *nod* I've heard Miss Den yelling from here sometimes, though.

Rachel: *as Den whoops unprintable ire* That could be anything from Easter bunnies in her yard to grasshoppers in her jeans.

Genji: At three in the morning?

Rachel: Oh. *chuckle* That's not during the day.

Genji: *dryly* No, it isn't.

hsvRatchet: *amused rumble of a chuckle*

Rachel: So it could be spooks. And what I said still stands. *grin*

Genji: Miss Den doesn't tell Easter Bunnies to get off her lawn without threatening to turn them into soup. *small grin*

hsvRatchet: *SNORT*

Rachel: *snerk* So anyway. Spooks don't come out during the day. What are you hunting with the bat?

Genji: Nothing, yet. *attention going to a bit of movement nearby*

Mirden: *walking over from the direction of the mall, has something in a shopping bag*

Rachel: *shakes her head and chuckles, then looks up at her brother* I should get that stuff.

hsvRatchet: *nods* *to Genji* It was good seeing you again, Genji. Stay safe.

Genji: Likewise. *polite bow, will greet Mirden as the woman comes over to talk*

Rachel: *waves* See ya, kids.

Denpup: *as hsvRatchet starts walking again* HAHA! TAKE THAT YOU OVERGROWN WATERBUG!!!

Rachel: *as her brother leaves the subdivision and passes the Sanctuary* Did she just yell something about butter and beeotch?

hsvRatchet: It wouldn't surprise me if she did. I think being in the Nexus has made her more crazy.

Rachel: *snerk* No. She's just free to be herself.

hsvRatchet: I fear what would happen if her counterpart from my reality ever learned of the Nexus.

Rachel: *looks up at him wryly* At least your reality only has one of her. We somehow wound up with two. Both native, and of different ages.

hsvRatchet: ... How did that happen?

Rachel: No idea. *waves to a passing Andalite with a Mrrpt-Nyah on his back*

Ax: *waves back*

Nyaan: *waves as well and then goes back to hugging Ax*

hsvRatchet: *headshake* I'm not even going to mention it to Perceptor.

Rachel: I'm still surprised I'm the only person that's realized it yet. Oh look. I think that's an Oriana Pax. *nods toward a young female bot of a strange tech which shows a blend of all known techs*

hsvRatchet: *looks and nods in polite greeting to the youngbot*

Oriana Pax: *looks lost and totally bewildered as she stops and stares uncertainly at that huge yellow thing*

hsvRatchet: *will scan her for coordinates* *gently* You look lost.

Oriana Pax: *intakes hitch. Starts to reply, but then notices the little thing in his hands and gasps, her pulse spiking with fear*

Rachel: *pokes Ratchet* Lemme down. I'll go tell Hormah boo while you deal with the kid.

hsvRatchet: *nods and gently sets Rachel down. Will scan Oriana Pax again, this time, checking for injuries* *gentle, soothing clicks*

Oriana Pax: *skeeved beyond words by that strange little thing, but uninjured. Is, however, dreaming*

hsvRatchet: *gently* Everything will be alright.

Oriana Pax: *voice trembling slightly* Who are you? What are you? Where am I?

hsvRatchet: *gently* My name is Ratchet. I am an Autobot medic. You're currently in a Nexus between realities.

Oriana: What's "Autobot"?

hsvRatchet: *will explain, making sure to use small words and allow time for Oriana to ask all the questions she wants to ask*

something: *darts from bush to building at the corner of his vision*

Oriana Pax: *startles and looks that way*

hsvRatchet: *also looks that way, scanners sweeping the area*

something: *darts from cover to cover again, is closer now*

hsvRatchet: *alarmed sound* *to Oriana* Run! *preparing to put action to words himself*

Oriana Pax: *quail chick!*

Rachel: *turns and looks over her shoulder from where she's standing on the Sanctuary doorstep* o.0

hsvRatchet: *going to try and get Oriana to do more than quail chick!*

glass globe: *hits the ground nearly between them and bursts!*

hsvRatchet: *closed his intakes a microsecond too late, is now doubled over in pain*

Oriana Pax: *cries out and then vanishes as the pain in her spark snaps her out of her dream*

Rachel: *running toward her brother, Pi an irate beeping in her wake*

hsvRatchet: *sensors greying out. SOS*

Rachel: Easy, slugger. I'm right here. Here, lay down. *meeps and pushes down her skirt* Pi, I don't think we need this much wind to dissipate the gas.

Pi: *distracted by worry for the new parents* Sorry.

hsvRatchet: *laying down with a groan* *softly* The sparklet?

Rachel: Did one actually... *stops and winces as she sees what Pi's gone down on one knee beside* She's a big one.

hsvRatchet: *quietly* Oriana was dreaming... *and now he's dizzy and trying to keep from sharing that dizziness with Clarion*

Rachel: On the good side, I don't think this counts as cheating. *gentle hand on his forehead*

Clarion: *just ran up after grabbing someone's PINpoint and getting to the Nexus* Cheating? He got that sick from playin' poker?

Rachel: YEEK!

hsvRatchet: *flinch, wince*

Clarion: Ugh. Ow. Doc? *approaches anxiously and kneels to lay her head on her mate's chest*

Rachel: *deep breath* He's going to be fine, Clarion. Don't worry.

hsvRatchet: *hand on Clarion's back* *quietly* Cragbuster now has a half-sister.

Clarion: *startled and frightened gasp* What happened to her?

Rachel: o.0?

hsvRatchet: *quietly* The sparklet's mother was dreaming, and she woke up.

Clarion: *blink. Blink* I'm lost.

hsvRatchet: *offers his wrist*

Clarion: *gladly links, then winces* Daaang. That hurts. *cuddle love, sympathy*

hsvRatchet: *starting to relax now that you're here, Clarion* *very soft rumble*

Clarion: *shows him a picture of their son, accompanying it with a quizzical feeling*

hsvRatchet: *shows her a picture of Keepsake and Eclipse. 'Buster has a sibling who is partially related to him*

Clarion: *understanding* //Like Wolfie.// *gasp* //You found another 'a my kids?//

hsvRatchet: *headshake* //The sparklet is related because she's my daughter...// *will look over to where Pi is, wanting to check on the sparklet*

Pi: *just got a hand in the face and shoved away with force* *flails and beeps with surprise*

sparklet: *blue optics snapping with ire as she shoves away the stranger. Do Not Want you!*

Rachel: Holey socks. Hi, Panacea.

sparklet: *stink eye*

hsvRatchet: *confused* Where did that temper come from?

Rachel: *looks at him with a sudden figurative halo* You.

sparklet: *on her feet now and stomping over to examine this yellow guy and this white one* *GLARES down at them*

Pi: *crawling off toward home on all four*

hsvRatchet: *going to try and sit up now, holding Clarion close*

Clarion: *looks up, and then lifts her brow ridges* Hey. Don't worry, Dad's right here.

Panacea: *perks, ire fading into youthful longing* Dad? Mama?

Rachel: *hands over her mouth*

hsvRatchet: *will offer cuddles for the sparklet*

Panacea: *looks at those outspread arms, then looks at the white bot and sees that one reaching too, though with just one arm. Beeps quietly and settles down to lay her head next to Clarion's* *finds that both these adults sound right, though the one has a strange sound to her as well. Still, they're familiar enough to reassure her* *sigh and a quiet Minicon comment*

Rachel: *face palm* He was with her less than five minutes and he taught her to cuss.

hsvRatchet: *soft sigh*

Clarion: *chuckle*

Panacea: *makes another comment as her tank pings empty*

Clarion: Uh... you're kinda big ta feed outta my tank.

hsvRatchet: *getting a feeding tube out, is relatively sure he's got enough in his tank*

Rachel: Wait up. Look.

Pi: *coming back with sammiches! Corrugated metal and botbassa sammiches!*

hsvRatchet: *looks, makes a pleased sound*

Clarion: *still leaning on him* Great! Oh wait. Doc, remember, even Buster's kinda iffy on the onion flavour pickles.

Panacea: *sits up slowly, poking herself in the midsection and scowling blackly*

hsvRatchet: *will reach for one of the sammiches, and offer the botbassa to Panacea*

Panacea: *looks at the botbassa. Sniffs at it and snorts, then reaches for the sammich it came from*

hsvRatchet: *offers the sammich*

Panacea: *grab! CHOMP. Crunch crunch crunch, paying no attention to the botsup running down her chin*

Rachel: *hands over mouth again, this time to hold in snerks*

hsvRatchet: *quiet, amused rumble, will get out a container of wet wipes for when Panacea finishes her sammich*

Panacea: *enjoys her sammich much and messily, then makes a small sound of complaint when it's gone* *looks to her parents*

hsvRatchet: *will offer the second sammich, then. Is looking a bit zonked at the moment*

Panacea: *looks at those last two sammiches, then pushes away the one being offered to her. Those are Mama and Dad's fuel*

hsvRatchet: *quiet for a few moments, will then attempt to clean Panacea's face and hands with one of the wet wipes*

Panacea: *growls and comments, trying to push away the wipe too. Then catches the scent and eats it instead*

Clarion: *chuckle*

hsvRatchet: *very soft snerk*

Rachel: *softly* I can get the things I need on my own, buddy. You better take Clary and Pansy home.

Panacea: *glower* Panacea!

Rachel: Sorry. Panacea. *smiles at the big sparklet*

hsvRatchet: *small nod* Alright. I will see you later, Rachel.

Rachel: Not going anywhere till I know you're off safely. *mom look*

Clarion: *meeps at it softly*

Panacea: *would give that person who just scared Mama a dirty look, but they sound like part of her family too*

hsvRatchet: *very soft sigh and a chuckle, will ping WakeJumper, First Aid, and Tsubasa's comms, letting them know that he's not going to be on duty for his shift. Will bring his family home, and let both Optimuses know what's going on*


back in hsv

Kia: *gentle tap on the door to Ratchet's family apartment*

Ratchet: *remotely triggers the door. Is laying on the berth and holding Clarion and Panacea close*

Kia: *calls softly from the door* Ratchet? Clarion? May I enter?

Ratchet: You may, Kia.

Kia: *walks softly across the cheerfully toy cluttered living room to go and peek through the door of the bigger berth room*

Ratchet: *has a bit of botsup on his chin, looks tired and pretty zonked* *is laying on his back and has Clarion and Panacea on his chest*

Clarion: *snore*

Panacea: *pokes the snore*

Kia: *optics widen with surprise as she sees the size of the black trimmed white bot that she doesn't recognize* Is that...?

Ratchet: Her name is Panacea.

Kia: She is of adult size. *brows quirk*

Ratchet: *quietly* She's the result of the couch gas. *will explain about meeting Oriana Pax, and about getting gas bombed*

Kia: *eyes widen* I see. Her other code donor must be from a reality where sparklets start out full size.

Ratchet: That seems logical... She vanished shortly after we were bombed, however. She was dreaming.

Kia: *concerned expression, but only lifts the two cans of sweet fuel that she brought* Is your newspark in need of further energy?

Ratchet: *will scan Panacea to check that*

Kia: *also scanning* I see that you yourself are low on energy as well. *will bring the drinking cans over, only to stop and squeak as a lobster lets go of Ratchet's helm and flies toward the ceiling*

Ratchet: *surprised sound* How did that get there?

Kia: What is it?

Panacea: *smells what's in the cans. Grabs one and tries to feed Dad despite her own discomfort*

Ratchet: *was about to explain about the flying lobsters in the Nexus when he's getting fuel poked at his mouth*

Panacea: *frowns and slips a hand behind Dad's head, then offers the can again*

Ratchet: *taking small sips, but he is refueling*

Kia: *softly* It seems that she has more programming than you thought, Ratchet.

Ratchet: *between sips* So it would appear.

someone else: *rings the door chime*

Ratchet: *remotely unlocks the door again, wondering to himself why it seems to keep locking. Will have Perceptor look into that*

Tsubasa: //Er, you just locked me out, sir.//

Ratchet: *grumbles at himself softly, tries again to unlock the door*

Tsubasa: *limps in quietly as the door registers her as permitted to enter and slides open* I've brought the chips. Pi sent you a box of sammiches too.

Ratchet: *small nod* *quietly* Panacea seems to have some basic programming already.

Kia: Or function programming, at least. *startles as the big sparklet growls at her*

Tsubasa: *quiet and calm as she enters the berth room* There's no reason for that, youngling. *holds out the envelope of chips to Ratchet after she sets the box of sammiches down on the table near the door*

Panacea: *IGNORE! Feed Dad*

Ratchet: *starting to nod off by the time the fuel in the can is gone*

Tsubasa: *waits, and then gently shifts her grip on the envelope of chips and taps his arm with it*

Panacea: *growls at her too*

Kia: *soft tsk*

Ratchet: *soft sound, unshuttering his optics*

Tsubasa: *shows him the packet* The chips, sir.

Ratchet: *will reach for the chips*

Tsubasa: *hands it over, and then turns toward the door, leaning on her cane* Let's go, Kia. They need time to bond.

Ratchet: *will begin taking chips out of the packet so he can try and interest Panacea in them*

Panacea: *looks at what he's showing her and beeps, her expression dropping to a quizzical and confused frown. Pauses the frown to stink eye the sound of the outer door closing behind the two strangers, but then resumes frowning at the chip*

Ratchet: *quietly* It's data.

Panacea: *quiet deedle of comment as she looks at his face*

Clarion: *without waking* Om nom nom...

Ratchet: Words. *offering the chip again*

Panacea: *takes the chip, and then sniffs at it. Brows lift at the odor of the chip*

Ratchet: *wondering if he should help her download the data*

Panacea: *takes the chip and tastes it, then beeps and lifts her brows as the data beams itself to her processor* Ohhhhhh.

Ratchet: *very soft rumble* There you go. *will offer another chip

Panacea: *gives him back the first one and takes that one* Razzafrazzin' run around... *download!*

Ratchet: *wondering where she got the temper. He's certain he's not THAT bad*

Panacea: *growls as she finishes that chip. Fervent Minicon comments under her breath as she vents her impatience*

Ratchet: *offers a third chip, though this one comes from his own personal stash. It contains a medical dictionary*

Panacea: *scans, and her eyes light up* There it is!

Ratchet: *very soft chuckle*

Panacea: *downloads, her face brightening into a grin of satisfaction as she finds what she wanted to know... well, some of it. Unprintable word as the data ends before she's satisfied*

Ratchet: *offers another medical datachip*

Panacea: Thanks. *deep frown as she pauses, and then she looks at him* You know all this stuff?

Ratchet: *nods* I do. I had to study it in order to become a medic.

Panacea: Let me do like Mama, so you can show it all to me at once.

Ratchet: *headshake* Not until you're older.

Panacea: *face falls with disappointment* I need the data now.

Ratchet: *getting out his entire collection of medical data*

Panacea: *sulks and downloads from the last chip that he gave her* *then takes the envelop and downloads the rest of the primary data*

Ratchet: *will offer another medical chip once she's finished downloading the rest of the primary data. Is starting to really look tired*

Panacea: *growls and pushes the chip of medical data away*

Ratchet: *soft sound*

Panacea: *grouchily* I don't want it.

Ratchet: Do you want to sleep?

Panacea: *unprintable response to that, but then stops stock still and listens as the living room door opens again and she can suddenly hear something small and very upset shrieking at vox shattering volume*

Ratchet: *wincing now and moving to sit up*

Clarion: *slides away from him and sits up too* What? Buster? What'samatter?

Panacea: *crouches down at the foot of the berth and hunches her shoulders as the sound gets louder and closer*

Cragbuster: *upset about being taken away from his friends when it's not sleeps time! Indignant shriek*

Ratchet: *sternly* Cragbuster, that's enough.

First Aid: *appears in the berthroom doorway, his hands cupped around the irate sparklet* o.0;

Cragbuster: *having NONE of it!*

Ratchet: *going to try and get up now*

Panacea: *suddenly snaps! Hands over audios and a yell of incoherent fright and anger!*

First Aid: *backpedals!*

Cragbuster: *startled squeal*

Clarion: *yelps and falls off the bed. Thankfully, she doesn't pull her link wire free*

Ratchet: *wincing muchly and trying to calm his family down* *quietly* Everything will be alright. Cragbuster, you're frightening your baby sister.

Cragbuster: Bhuh? *blink blink, confused babby is confused*

Panacea: *cautiously lowering her hands and eyeing the noisy little person. Then deedlebeeps one of 'Buster's own favourite comments*

Cragbuster: *has to laugh at that*

Ratchet: *slowly sinking down to a sitting position. His legs don't feel as though they could support his own weight right now*

Panacea: *sharply, as she reaches to lay him back* Dad, slaggit. Lay down. You're in scrap shape!

Ratchet: *quietly* I'm inclined to agree. *will lay back down, circulating air as he does so*

Cragbuster: *worried bweee, points at Daddy*

Panacea: *reaches down and grabs Clarion by the unlinked arm, then lays her on Ratchet's chest* *sharpness giving to soft and soothing calmness as she grabs the blanket and pulls it over the couple*

Ratchet: *shuttering his optics, and then his engine's rumbling quietly*

First Aid: *looks down at Cragbuster as Clarion sighs and shutters her own optics* *softly* 'Buster?

Cragbuster: *bibbles and points*

Panacea: Don't stand there with your fingers up your intakes! Hand the scraplet over!

First Aid: 0_0 *gives a 'Buster*

Panacea: Now get out! They need to rest! *ferocious look for the CMO2*

First Aid: *about face and GONE*

Ratchet: *bleary peek as Cragbuster snuggles*

Panacea: *as she tucks the blanket around the three* Go back to sleep!

Ratchet: *going to try and get you under the blankets as well, Panacea*

Panacea: *growls at him and scans him*

Ratchet: *considerably calmer than before, is close to being asleep*

Panacea: *swats his hand and covers him up again* Sleep, slaggit!

Cragbuster: *gonna be a brat and tackleglomp you, Sissy*

Panacea: *growls at him too, and once more covers and tucks her parents with the hand not involved in holding brother like a doll*

Ratchet: *very soft sigh*

Panacea: Sleep! Now!

Ratchet: *engine doing his equivalent of a snore*

Cragbuster: *snuggles*

Panacea: *looks down at snuggly little person* I'm Panacea.

Cragbuster: 'M 'Buster.

Panacea: Buster. Right. You sound like Mama and Dad.

Cragbuster: My Mama and Daddy too.

Panacea: *quirks her brows, but then sniffs and gets up to walk over and look in that box on the table by the door* Hey...

Cragbuster: *curious chirp*

Panacea: *pulls out a sammich and has a big bite, then munches happily before offering the sammich to her brother*

Cragbuster: *going to pick out the toppings he doesn't like*

Panacea: What kinda slaggin' wimp are you? Those're good.

Cragbuster: Don't like 'em.

Panacea: They're good.

Cragbuster: *considering look*

Panacea: But you're too little to bite that. *sits on floor and makes a smaller sammich with pieces of botbassa as the outside, then offers the result to her brother*

Cragbuster: *happy munching of his own. Finishes that mini sammich, and then the next one Sissy makes him, and the next...

Panacea: *feeds brother and eats sammiches till they're both full, and then keels over with a sigh, cuddles brother, and joins him in botsup and musterd covered slumber*

((Written with random_xtras))