llv. Pax School. Aftermath

[dens_extra_pups]

Optima: *laying on her side on her bed, her arms wrapped around the snuggly baby boy who abandoned his pallet last night and came crawling between her and Ira*

Monster Mash: *snuggle snuggle sleeeeeeeep*

Ira: *arms around Optima and Monster Mash, is sleeping peacefully for once*

knock: *sounds softly at the door*

Optima: *murmurs and pats the baby, but doesn't wake*

Ira: *soft rumble*

knock: *sounds again. Is Morse code for "alert"*

Ira: *awake and blinking blearily*

knock: *C H R I S "alert"*

Ira: *moving to get out of bed*

Chris: *hears him moving and opens the door to peek* *quiet and gruff* Danger Room's burning.

Ira: Get Rush 'n Del. *moving to rouse Denver and Dallas*

Chris: They're down there.

Ira: Both of them? *heading for the stairs*

Chris: *jogging along beside him* Yup.

Ira: Where're the fire extinguishers?

Chris: Ones in there're melted. *curious side glance* Didn't ask for Mistfire.

Ira: ...Where is she? *has a feeling he knows* And where's Scattershot?

Chris: 'Shot's on kid patrol. *slight scowl* Mistfire should be out of the Danger Room now.

Ira: *PINpoint out and activated*

Chris: *grabs his arm and lands beside him, nose instantly wrinkling at the smell of melting electronics*

Denver: *sitting and looking wet, grouchy, but not sick*

Ira: *raised brow as he sees that* Why is she not sick?

Nessa: *looks up from where her husband's working on something* Because she was drunk as a king before Del spit on her.

Denver: *sulks and nods*

Chris: *goes to hunker by the still form that Rush and Nessa are leaning over* Report.

Rush: *in between chest compressions* She's too weak to breathe on her own. Looks like she took a hit from Nosferatu or something...

Chris: *hits his communicator* Del, where's Flynn?

Del: //I have no idea. I checked all the places she usually lurks, and she's not in any of them.//

Chris: *confused frown* Did you try her cell? *knows Flynn always answers that thing*

Del: //She left her cell behind.//

Chris: *shoots a look at Ira, knowing his brother will have heard that* Get William.

Ira: *goes to rouse the medic*

Rachel: *rings Ira's phone*

Ira: *answers* Irons here.

Rachel: //I need to call an ambulance. We've got a little girl here who won't survive the night if I don't. The stress of being in a new place has triggered an asthma attack so bad that she's not getting any air. I've done a tracheotomy, but I don't have the drugs I need here.//

Faredot: -I've awakened Uncle Will, Ada!-

Ira: Alright. *to Faredot* I'll meet him halfway.

Faredot: *appears and holds out her hand* If Aunt Rachel has a teleporter, will it not work better for bringing Mikky?

Ira: *blink. PINpoint off of wrist and offered*

Faredot: Thank you! *takes and vanishes with a flash of bright green sparkles*

Will: *coming down the hall and trying to fish the ice cube Faredot used to wake him up out of his sleep shirt*

Nessa: *looks over from where she's helping Rush*

Will: Alright, what's going on?

Nessa: Your patient's over here. *looks down* Do I need to jump start her again, Rush?

Rush: *checking Misty's pulse*

Misty: *still weakly ticking, though the beats are sluggish*

Denver: Stimulant t' th' 'eart, 'n th'n glucose solution.

Will: ... *getting a glucose solution out of his kit, glad that he's gotten in the habit of keeping a secondary kit next to his bedroom door*

Chris: *yelps and hits the floor as a rush of fire roars out of the suddenly bent out of shape Danger Room doors before being sucked back and vanishing*

Nessa: *blinks at smoldering Ira beard*

Ira: *cussing and trying to put the smoldering parts out*

Rush: *jaw. DROPS*

Will: *obscenity*

Denver: *caught a bit of the flame* Wh't th'?!

Chris: *carefully lifts his head in the softly cursing silence that follows* MacKenzie, you alright?

Dallas: *from inside the Danger Room* Aneh'un gotta spare change'a clothes?

Denver: *snickerfitdie*

Nessa: *gets up and runs to get another blanket* Must be a family thing.

Ira: *still cussing, though now he's also grumbling about having to trim the rest of his beard so it doesn't look odd*

Will: *tending to Misty* What happened?

Ira: *pauses in his grumblings* Looks like she over used her ability.

Nessa: *back with blanket* Considering she set the *bleeeeeping* Danger Room on fire? You know, that thing you told Angel she couldn't set on fire? *into the room* Hey, Dallas. Blanket! Oh brother, as if I'd want to look at your skinny bod. Here.

Chris: *rubbing his head and frowning*

Dallas: *thanks Nessa, wraps the blanket around himself while blushing profusely*

Will: *quietly* So she's more powerful than we anticipated?

Nessa: *comes out of the Danger Room. Looks at Denver. Dots nearly visibly, and goes to get another blanket*

Rush: *dryly, to Will* I wonder what gave you that idea?

Ira: *smacks Rush on the back of the head*

Rush: *CUSS*

Cat: *quietly, from behind Ira* Please don't yell.

Ira: *startles at the same time Rush does*

Cat: *quail chick*

Nessa: o.O?

Denver: o.o

Dallas: *SO MUCH BLUSH*

Chris: *gently puts a hand on Cat's back* You came to help?

Cat: *quietly* I... I heard the commotion...

Chris: *gently gruff pat pat on her unscarred shoulder* Let's go get a gurney.

Cat: *small nod*

Chris: *helps her to her feet and leads her away down the hall*

Nessa: *offers Denver blanket* Yours is crispy on the back.

Denver: *blink blink, looks as well as she can* *dots* Huh.

Dallas: *startled expression* *moving to check on Denver* Is she hurt? *worried*

Nessa: Her? She'd get drunk first.

Denver: *wrapping the new blanket around herself before letting go of the burnt one*

Dallas: *blink* Wait, what?

Nessa: You make fire. She absorbs it. And gets drunk off her...

Chris: *coming back* Don't swear.

Cat: *guiding the gurney*

Dallas: How is that... *trails off as he again notices the pretty redhead*

Nessa: The X-gene runs in families. Looks like whatever you yahoos have does too. :p

Chris: *hunkers by Will* Can we move her yet?

Will: She's going to need an oxygen feed, too. But she's as stable as I can get her here.

Cat: *quietly* Poor Mistfire...

Dallas: *moves to put a reassuring hand on the redhead's shoulder*

Cat: *startles, backing away quickly*

Chris: *arm in front of Dallas* Easy.

Cat: *doing her best to be brave and not cower, is trembling a bit*

Will: Let's get Mistfire situated so she can recover.

Chris: *stoops and gently lifts the ailing girl onto the gurney. Gets her situated, checks her breathing and pulse, then catches Dallas' eye and gives him a short frown and head shake* *to Cat* Okay, let's bring her to ER.

Cat: *small nod, will move to guide the gurney once more*

Dallas: *looks about ready to protest*

Will: *hand on Dallas' shoulder* Let's get you a change of clothes.

Dallas: *surprised look, blinks and then he's glancing down at his blanket* ...Oh. Right.

Rush: *furrowed brow* How do you forget you're not wearing pants?

Dallas: Because I usually wear kilts in mah downtime.

Denver: *snerk*

Rush: *expression says that you are insane, Dallas*

Nessa: *goes and sticks her head into the trashed Danger Room. Is singing* ...Donald, where's yer troosers?

Dallas: *looks to Nessa* If I had a dollar for every time I heard that song, I'd be rich. *smirk*

Nessa: *just sings, and sneezes*

Denver: *so amused, will move to go see about changing into actual clothes instead of being wrapped in a blanket*

Ira: I'll get you some clothes, Dallas. Will, you go help Chris and CatScan.

Will: *nods and moves to do so*

Nessa: Done scanning. *takes her head out of the Danger Room* It's a write off.

Ira: *quiet rumble*

Nessa: Calculations based on the damage suggest that the internal temperatures would've been uncomfortable for me, with my silicon alloys. *looks at Dallas* And you were hiking in it.

Dallas: ... Er, yeah. I was trying to figure out how to put it out safely.

Nessa: *looks at him over pretending glasses* That heat melted NASA grade insulation. And you were HIKING IN IT. With your clothes on till that last whatever you did.

Dallas: *frown* It didn't bother me.

Nessa: That's my point, you chump. *turns around and pokes Rush in the solar plexus, and then runs off down the hall leading to the beach room*

Rush: *squawks and gives chase*

Dallas: O_O Holy %#$%$#%#$%#$. *just now realized what he did in there*

Ira: *slaps him in the back of the head*


back in the intensive care ward


Chris: *drinks coffee, frowns deeply, and watches Will and Cat Scan work together like a practised team*

Cat: *almost no hesitation as she and Will work on getting Misty hooked up to a breathing machine. Her hands are steady and quick, and there is no wasted movements with her*

Will: *quick once over glance, nods* That should do it, for now.

Chris: *quick glance over his shoulder toward the door, and then holds out his arm and moves to screen the visitor from seeing into the room* Angel. Need something?

Angel: *quietly* I heard shouting...

Chris: *thinks. Face brightens* That was Dallas. Found out he could make firestorms.

Angel: ... *raised brow, not sure she believes you*

Chris: *uncertain frown* That's what the shouting was about.

Angel: *quietly* I thought I heard Denver, too.

Chris: She wasn't shouting. ...Maybe a yelp. She got drunk.

Angel: Oh... Oh, dear. I-is she okay?

Chris: *happy to have a good truth to tell* Yup. *examines coffee to see how much the marshmallows have melted*

Angel: *small nod* Alright. I'll go let Debbie know what was going on.

Chris: *gruff smile* Okay. Tell her hi. *sips coffee that's nearly like syrup*

Angel: *nods, will head back to Debbie's room* *is softly humming to the baby in her arms*


outside


Skyfire: *lands, a stunned Blitzwing under one arm and an excited Scattershot under the other. Sets the pink haired boy on his feet* Zhere. You may brag to your vife.

Lance: Thanks! *will hurry inside to find Misty*

Optima: *in the foyer busily directing a line up of children between two and six as she tries to get them all dressed* No, no, sweetheart. You have a shirt on. It's Pablo's turn.

child: *tryin' to help!*

Optima: *quiet laughter* Squeezing his head won't make the shirt go on. Here. Can you put your overalls on?

child: *nodnod, will do his best to put the overalls on by himself*

Lance: Miss Prime, where's Misty?

Optima: *looks up from gently tugging at the shirt that a tiny blue girl is playfully holding in her two teeth and sobers* I think she's downstairs. Ira said he was dealing with something she did to the Danger Room.

Lance: *blink blink* 'Kay. *will head for the elevator*

Optima: *attention back to the baby* *soft chuckle* Would you like to wear this shirt?


downstairs


Skyfire: *looks into the ruins of the Danger Room and gasps* Ira, vhat has happened?

Ira: *looks over his shoulder, boggles slightly at the sight of Blitzwing* Er... Mistfire happened to it.

Skyfire: *looks around, and then back to Ira, his ears back with dismay* It looks destroyed.

Ira: *small nod as he frowns at the man in Skyfire's arms* She managed to nearly melt through the outer plating. And then Captain MacKenzie nearly blew the doors off.

Skyfire: ...My night does not seem so exciting, now.

Ira: *nods to Blitzwing* So how'd you catch him?

Skyfire: He tried to freeze me as I flew over zhe patrol route. So I replied vith fire. He tried to do zhe same, vhich resulted in him transforming und falling zrough zhe roof of a varehouse.

Ira: *wince* Anyone else in the warehouse at the time?

Skyfire: Ja. *ears twitch* But Fang und Natalie forgave me.

Ira: *soft snort*

Skyfire: *looks at the insensate man in his grasp* Vhat do you vant to do vith him?

Ira: I don't thing we've got anywhere sturdy enough to keep him confined. *frowning*

Sky: *peeks around the corner, her hair tousled and tied in a knot* Yes we do. You never looked at the map, did you?

Ira: ... *raised brow*

Sky: *snorts and slurps from her mug, then lowers it* Bet Optima didn't show you so you couldn't patrol it too. *eyes widen and her wings flare as a shout of despair and denial comes from the direction of the infirmary. Stumble, weeble into sight* What's wrong with Scattershot?

Ira: *quietly* He just found out what happened to Mistfire.

Skyfire: Happened to Mistfire? But she vas here last night, vasn't she?

Sky: *unconscious worry hand over her still flat belly*

Ira: *nod* *quietly* She over-extended her abilities, and it drained her.

Skyfire: *so concerned as he hears Lance's continued cries that his strong old frame trembles* She ist not...

Sky: O.O How drained?

Ira: Enough that we had to rescue her before her fire melted through the plating in the Danger Room.

Sky: She's still alive? *flinches as Blitzwing wakes up and starts calmly reciting the brutal death he has planned for Skyfire*

Skyfire: *bonks Blitzwing lightly on the head to shut him up*

Blitzwing: *KO!*

Ira: *nods to Sky* *quietly* She'll be out of the fight for awhile though.

Sky: *quiet sigh, and then looks at Blitzwing. Looks down at her long T-shirt over underpants and sports bra ensemble, then shrugs at it and cloaks herself in her wings* I'll show you guys where the train to our private prison is.

Ira: *small nod* Alright.

Sky: *leads the way toward the secret underground rail line*


meanwhile


Chris: *frowning at Lance and pat patting Cat's good shoulder* Stop yelling.

Cat: *trembling slightly as she watches the pink haired guy be upset about Mistfire*

Lance: *hiccuping and shaking* W-Will she be alright? *eyes red with tears*

Chris: If you don't shake her up. *eyes go wide as he realizes that light tap he just felt on his side was Cat poking him* *to the redhead* What?

Cat: *small headshake*

Chris: *slight confused frown* What?

Cat: *quietly* W-Wrong diagnosis.

Lance: What do you mean, "wrong diagnosis"?! *just a bit panicky now*

Cat: *moving to hide behind Chris, spooked by the pink one's tone*

Chris: *sighs* *checks with Cat* She'll be okay? *can he say this?*

Cat: *bites her lip, then nods*

Chris: *back to Lance* She'll be okay. *offers Cat marshmallows, but then groans as he spots Angel looking through the door again*

Angel: *eyes wide* *quietly* What happened?

Chris: *sighs and hangs his head with exasperation and relief that she saw Misty anyway, and that she's not panicking* Misty overextended.

Angel: *confusion and worry cross her face*

Lance: *so much wibble*

Chris: She'll be okay. *still offering marshmallows to Cat*

Cat: *hesitantly accepts the offered marshmallows*

Lance: *going to hide his face on his mother's shoulder*

Angel: *even with as worried as she is for Misty, she'll still give comfort to her oldest*

tiny foot: *pokes Lance in the belly as he leans on his mom*

Lance: *peeks*

baby: *tiny, thin, wrinkled face with pale skin, and oxygen and feeding tubes coming from the nose*

Lance: *brows up*

Angel: *quietly* This is Tristan.

Lance: ... *small wibble*

Tristan: *peeks up, and then twitches one corner of his mouth and sighs before going back to sleep*

Lance: *quietly, as Angel gently smooths Tristan's cheek* Awww.

Angel: *softly* He's your baby brother.

Keepsake: *wanders out of Ally's room, scratching her belly. Pauses and looks at Lance. Snorts and moves on*

Lance: *lower lip trembling as he wibbles once more*

Muhlisha: *comes wandering out sideways, then stops when she sees the serious expressions on Angel and her son* *quiet and gruff* S'rong?

Lance: *quietly* Mistfire's hurt...

Muhlisha: *steps back and clunks into the wall* No way.

Lance: *small nod* *quietly* Cat 'n Chrome say she'll be okay.

Muhlisha: *nose wrinkling slightly as she tries to work her mind around this* *then scowls* Who did it?

Lance: *quietly* She... She over-extended herself.

Muhlisha: *eyes widen involuntarily and then crease at the corners* What?

Keepsake: *stops on the way back and looks at Muhlisha, then looks at Lance* You're ****ing me.

Lance: Ask Cat.

Muhlisha: *absently, as she turns to go find the redhead* She can't. Cat's scared *beep*less of 'er.

Keepsake: .>_.>

Lance: ... *small frown for Keepsake*

Keepsake: Thrrpt! *scoot!*

Angel: *wide-eyed and moving to scoot back toward Debbie's room*

Lance: *moves to talk quietly to his mother, intending to give comfort*


Mistfire's room


Muhlisha: *sticks her head through the door* Cat?

Chris: *glances over, and then resumes checking the monitors*

Cat: *looks up from keeping an eye on Mistfire's breathing*

Muhlisha: *slips in and comes over to offer and ask for a hug* Happened?

Cat: *quietly* P-Pushed herself too hard. *gives hug, gets hug*

Muhlisha: What for?

Cat: *very slight shrug. She's not sure*

Chris: Blames herself for the casualties.

Muhlisha: The whatnow?

Cat: *quietly* T-the people who got hurt and killed.

Chris: *comes over and offers her marshmallows* *quietly* Yeah.

Muhlisha: *incredulously* What's she blame herself for? She didn' do it. *blinks at the candy* *not sure what that is*

Cat: *hunkering down on herself a bit* We're hers...

Muhlisha: Yeah, but it was those other *unprintables* who did it. Not Mistfire.

Chris: *quietly, as he reaches for Cat* She was in charge.

Cat: *good hand hugging her arm now*

Chris: *lifts her up and gives her a gentle squish* *quiet and gruff* She'll be okay.

Muhlisha: *frowning. Still having a hard time realizing that Mistfire is actually breakable*

Cat: *stiffened when she was picked up*

Chris: *makes the squish quick when he feels that, and then lets her go and offers her the marshmallow that Muhlisha didn't want* *quietly, to Muhlisha* Bring Scattershot.

Muhlisha: *goes to get the pink-haired boy*

Cat: *will hesitantly accept the marshmallow and nibble at it*

Chris: We'll have the best medicine for Misty.

Cat: *very small nod*

Muhlisha: *back then, muscles bulging under her shirt and in her legs and back as she carries a shocked Lance in over her shoulder*

Chris: *mouth. Fall. Open*

Cat: *jaw drops* *surprised by the lack of protest from Lance*

Lance: *so shocked that he's speechless*

Cat: *worried that 'Lisha hit Mistfire's guy and KO'ed him*

Muhlisha: Got 'im. Whadda I do now?

Chris: *shakes his head to clear the shock away, then goes and takes Lance from the small teen and stands the pink haired youth on his feet*

Lance: O_O What the heck?!

Cat: *relaxing now that she knows 'Lisha didn't KO Mistfire's guy*

Chris: *blinks at the outburst* What happened?

Muhlisha: *pokes the thing in Cat's hand*

Cat: *offers it*

Lance: I was talking with Mom, and then I got picked up.

Chris: *frowns as Muhlisha asks what that squishy thing is* Angel okay?

Lance: *nods* Yeah... She wasn't expecting me to get picked up and carried off though.

Chris: *sighs relief, and then picks Lance up and lays him down on the bed next to Misty*

Lance: *wide-eyed* I-it's okay for me to snuggle her?

Chris: *blinks* *brows quirk* *incredulous, "did you just ask that?" look* She's your wife.

Muhlisha: *couldn't help a small snigger at that exchange*

Lance: *will carefully snuggle his wife, then*

Chris: *goes to pull Lance's shoes off* Don't knock any wires loose.

Lance: Yessir.

Chris: *tucks the shoes out of the way, and then offers him a handful of marshmallows*

Lance: *as he accepts the offered candy* Thanks.

Chris: Welcome. *turns to check on Cat, seeing that Muhlisha's vanished again* You hungry?

Cat: *small nod. Didn't eat very much at supper, out of habit*

Chris: *nods too* C'mon. *to Lance* Hit the beeper if you want help. *holds door for Cat*

Cat: *will move to head out of the room*

Lance: *small nod*

Chris: *last reassuring look for the young husband, and then closes the door*


upstairs


Optima: *still trying to get excited toddlers and small children into a heap of cute shirts and little overalls* No. No. The pink ones are for Dara. Paco, woah! *startled laughter as another little boy yanks open the snaps on the inner legs of his 'alls and starts dancing and singing about a dress*

Marty: *helping dress kids* Almost done. Once we've gotten everyone dressed, we can go to get breakfast.

little dancer: Bekkafas? Nomma! *SPANISH!*

Optima: *soft grunt as another toddler slams into her from the side* Don't hurt yourself, sweetheart.

Monster Mash: *grunting and frowning at the little happy cusser*

Pablo: *hits Paco*

Paco: *laughs and returns the favour!*

bitty blue girl: o.O *expression says those guys are NUTs*

Marty: *sighs* *works on helping more kids get dressed*

Optima: *glances at the older woman as she helps Monster Mash pick up the tiny blue girl* What's wrong, Marty?

Marty: We'll have our hands full teaching the children the difference between cussing and normal words.

Optima: Ohhh. *glances toward the wordy little boy as he tries to fasten another little one's overalls for her* I tend to ignore the instances of cursing, in hopes of not reinforcing it.

Marty: Ah... *small nod*

Optima: *as an excited voice comes from out in the hall* It doesn't work on Jacki, Mistfire, or the Dinobots, though.

Grimlock: *from the hall* You, Jacki swear.

Jacki: ...Really? What'd I say?

Marty: Don't worry about it right now, Jacki.

Jacki: *comes trotting in with a tiny, new girl in her arms* I found 'er. Can I keep 'er? :D

various bitties: *cheer about "noo kid!"*

Optima: o.o You went out last night, Jacki?

Jacki: Sure, why not? Grimmy 'n Toku 'n me made a good team. Toku slept part 'a the time, but Grimmy's a good mobile base.

Marty: *pursing her lips slightly with worry* Is Toku alright?

Jacki: *grins and cuddles the little one in her arms* Sure. Grimmy's just goin' ta put 'im ta bed.

Grimlock: *is a gruff voice speaking gently from the stairs as he brings Toku to the room that the Japanese teen has just recently been moved to in the staff wing where the doctors can keep a closer eye on him*

Marty: *small nod*

Optima: Where are Swoop and Blue?

Jacki: *looks up at the ceiling* Should be back pretty soon. Swoop talked 'im inta lettin' 'er do a loop with him strapped on.

Marty: *one with her face palm*

Optima: Has he seen this little one?

Jacki: *grins* Not yet. *turns her head as she hears her husband's voice coming down the hall from the back yard*

Blue: *hoo, boy, listen to him ramble!*

Optima: *gets up from her knees and goes to look into the hall* Blue? Are you alright?

Blue: *ramble, ramble, gesticulate toward the roof, several mentions of Swoop. Is unharmed, though*

Optima: *goes to one knee, a bit surprised by his expression* Did you have fun?

Blue: *nodnodnod*

Optima: *smiles, then looks over her shoulder as Jacki scoots over and shows the newborn*

Jacki: Look what I found, Blue!

Blue: *blink blink, boggle*

Jacki: *moves the blanket away from the tiny face so that he can see better*

little one: *very visibly mutant, almost insectoid*

Jacki: Ain't she adorable? Can we keep her? :D

Blue: What's her name? Has she had breakfast yet? Do we have clothes to fit her?

Jacki: *happily* You get ta name 'er, 'cause I named Elly. 'N she's had a bottle, but all she's wearin's a diaper, 'n this blanket. She ain't even had a bath yet.

Blue: Let's go get her a bath, then, and we can put some of Elly's old clothes on her and talk about names. *nodnod*

Jacki: *offers him the bitty to hold* I'll go get the baby tub!

Blue: *will gently fuss over the little one*

Optima: *watches them walk off toward the stairs, followed by three helpful and curious toddlers, then stands and looks at Marty to make sure she really just saw that*

Marty: *soft snerk*

Optima: *turns to come back* Do they remember that they're physically ten years old?

Marty: ... *sigh* I'll go help them. *heads for the stairs*

Optima: *back to the babies and toddlers still in the room, but looks back as she hears another footstep on the stairs* Hi, Sheldon. Do you need something?

Sheldon: *sheepish expression is a go* We've got a few stragglers.

Allen: *looks over the railing, bright eyed and fully awake at this early morning hour* He says we gotta come 'ere fer clothes. I'm wearin' my clothes.

BJ: *...making horse sounds?*

Beau: *commenting on BJ noises* *is trying to herd cousin, plus the kid on his cousin's back, down the stairs*

Optima: Well, wouldn't you like new clothes?

Allen: *pixie face shows his amazement* I get new clothes? Oh *beep* yeah!

Optima: *overlooks swear word and walks over to poke through the clothes pile, then meeps softly as Pablo and Paco decide that they like Beau and cannon into his legs*

Beau: Awk!!!

BJ: Whoa, baby attack! *snicker*

Beau: Thrrrpt!

Sheldon: *trying not to snicker*

Mike: Those guys look just like each other.

Oriana: That's because they're conjoined twins. *offers small T shirts all around*

Beau: *will help dress littles*

Mike: *as BJ frowns quizzically while unloading his little rider* They're not connected.

Optima: Yes. Mentally. And there are times when there is only one, bigger boy.

Mike: O_O

BJ: What do you mean?

Pablo and Paco: *exchange a look, and then... well, there's one little boy standing there grinning*

Beau: *jaw drops*

Optima: That.

BJ: WOW!

Mike: Sweeeeeet.

Beau: *notcuss*

Sheldon: *blink blink* Whoah.

Optima: *slightly wry* I'm told his name is Picasso.

Beau: *pause* *snerk*

Picasso: *happy chatter of Spanish flavoured twin speak, and then offers Beau a hug*

Beau: *gives hugs*

Optima: *as Sonny looks into the room* Why don't you boys and Mr. Lamborghini bring the children who can walk to the mess? I'm sure breakfast will be ready soon, and the dry cereal is probably already out.

Sonny: Mr. who? *looks around, and then blinks* Oh. Me. Right.

Mike: *face palm and snigger*

Beau: *incredulous look for Sonny*

Sonny: *snorts at him and comes in to pick babies up* Mr. Lamborghini is my dad. I'm Sonny.

Mike: Sunstreaker!

BJ: Streaker?

Mike: *hits BJ*

Picasso: *picks up the biggest baby, who kissies him* Ack! Ack! XD

Beau: *going to help get kids to the breakfast table, kthx*

Optima: *blinks as she finds herself suddenly alone with Monster Mash and the tiny blue girl*

Monster Mash: *offers the baby*

Optima: *takes the little one and rubs her back* Thank you. Should we check on Grandma and the Wheelers?

Monster Mash: *grins and grunts, then clings to her back as she kneels in front of him*

Optima: *pulls her new carry belt over his butt, then stands carefully, and goes upstairs to peek into Jacki and Blue's bathroom, where two rekids are kneeling in the tub to either side of a little blue baby tub as Marty sits on the toilet and supervises*

Blue: *soaked to the skin* *doesn't care*

Jacki: *carefully washing tiny tiny feets and crooning to the newborn*

Optima: *softly* How's it going?

Marty: We're almost done. *small smile*

Optima: *bit of an answering smile* Do you know her name?

bitty blue girl: Bababababa.

Blue: *blink blink* Oh... We were still discussing it, weren't we?

Jacki: *looks up, blinking as though snapping out of her zone* We were?

Blue: ...I thought we were?

Jacki: *looks at Marty* Were we?

Marty: *snerks* Yes, you were.

Jacki: *interested look* What did we decide on so far?

Optima: o.O

Marty: Well, you rejected "Lily", "Rose", "Chrysanthemum" and "Delilah".

Jacki: Oh. Yeah. Lily's the kid I have with Willy in some realities.

newborn: *soft little sound like a harp note*

Jacki: And she's blue, so she can't be Rose.

Blue: What's that word for that little fancy harp thing?

Jacki: *blank look*

Optima: Do you mean the lyre?

Blue: *nodnod*

Optima: *pause* Lyra. *steps over and peers closely at the baby* Ohhhh. I wonder if this is her?

Jacki: ...Whut?

Blue: Huh?

Marty: *raised brow*

Optima: *explains about the adorable tiny blue bot that she met one day while talking to a robotic version of Rachel*

Marty: *boggling*

Jacki: Awww. *looks down at the baby in the tub, then to Blue* Whaddya think?

Blue: *grin* I like it.

Jacki: *happy grin, and then a meep* Did she just pee in the tub?

Optima: o.o

Monster Mash: *peeks around Mama's shoulder with concern*

Blue: *meep!*

Marty: *sighs, gets up* Pick her up so we can change the wash water

Jacki: *grabs the towel and holds out her arms, ready to take baby if Blue lifts her* We're pretty well done. Think she needs a rinse?

Marty: She might.

Jacki: *looks at towel, then puts it down and holds out arms again* Give her here, Blue.

Blue: *gives Lyra*

Jacki: *cuddles baby and scoots to the end of the tub to get out of the way*

Optima: *softly* I should go see how everyone else is doing. Congratulations, Jacki and Blue.

Blue: *focused on getting things cleaned up so the baby can be rinsed off*

Jacki: *zoned again as she crouches and cuddles the newborn* Thanks.

Marty: *supervising again* *to Optima* Better go make sure the kids aren't rioting.

Optima: *quiet chuckle, and turns to stride down the hall toward the stairs, pulls out her phone and hits Ira's number, then puts phone to her ear as she clucks softly to Monster Mash and the baby girl*

Ira: *takes a few moments to answer, has one of the Aquatwins in a headlock* //This is Irons.//

Optima: Optima here. Where are you?

bitty blue: *leans over and tells the phone about being a babababa*

Ira: //On my way up to breakfast. Who's with you?//

Optima: Monster Mash and a little girl whose name I haven't caught yet. *pauses and watches Dallas walk past, then sniffs* Why do you smell like melted plastic and insulation?

Ira: //Who does?//

Dallas: Had to deal with something down in your... Danger room? *shrugs* Dunno if that's what it's called.

Optima: o.O Ira, what happened in the Danger Room to make Dallas smell like this?

Ira: //*sigh* Mistfire over-extended herself. She'll be alright.//

Optima: *stops and frowns, absently watching a little child find Dallas and hug his legs* What do you mean, Ira?

Ira: //It might be easier to understand if you see what she did to the Danger Room. And what Dallas did to put the fire out.//

Dallas: *will stoop to scoop Delores up for cuddles*

Optima: Where are you now? I'll meet you. *glances toward soft purring and smiles slightly before walking on toward the stairs to the main floor*

Ira: //Elevator. Bringing Del up with me.//

Optima: *slight smile as she jogs down the stairs* Please stop hitting the top of his head against the wall.

Ira: //It might make him smarter though.//

Optima: *slight smile grows just slightly as she reaches the bottom of the stairs and heads toward the elevator* Or it might dent the wall again.

Ira: *rumbles a bit*

elevator: *dings as the car arrives on the ground floor*

Del: *stumbles out, and then sees a beautiful little slightly fuzzy blue girl baby laughing at him and babbling* Oh, hey. Can I have that?

Ira: *amused snort as he follows Del out of the elevator*

Optima: *looks at the tiny girl, sees her reaching, and gently transfers her* She hasn't had breakfast yet.

Del: No problem. *turns and jogs for the mess, telling the little girl that there's a beautiful blue lady he wants her to meet*

Optima: *blinks, and then looks at her husband as Monster Mash peeks around her shoulder with soft grunting*

Ira: *moves to meet her*

Optima: *arm back to swing her new son around to her front, to the cheerful baby's delight* *softly* What happened?

Monster Mash: *enjoyed being upside down and then right side up and now hugged!*

Ira: *quietly, as he moves to guide her to the elevator* She blames herself for the Enforcers who died.

Optima: *hand over her mouth* Oh no. She hurt herself deliberately?

Ira: *quietly* Hard to say at this point.

Optima: *hugs Monster Mash and leans her head against Ira's shoulder* How are Lance and Angel?

Ira: Lance is snuggling with Misty. Angel's taking care of Tristan and Debbie.

Optima: *sighs and steps back from him, but then squeaks as Monster Mash clings to Ira with one hand and her with the other* Oh!

Ira: *quiet rumble*

Monster Mash: *grunts and rasps earnestly. More snuggling needs to happen!*

Ira: *raised brow*

Optima: *and then she gets a good look at Ira and gasps, her puzzlement over what the baby wants forgotten* Your beard!

Monster Mash: *stops and looks up* Uh?

Ira: *blink. Blink* Oh. Yeah. Blame Dallas for that.

Optima: *quiet shock and asperity* He set your beard on fire?

Ira: Not on purpose.

Optima: *shifts Monster Mash to one hip, and then runs her fingers over the burned area* It's not even as long as you had it for the concert.

Ira: *grump* Don't remind me.

Optima: *gentle touch for his denuded cheek, and then turns toward the elevator* *quietly* Show me the Danger Room.

Ira: *moves to lead the way* Dallas cleared the fire out with a fireball.

Optima: *steps into the elevator, and then hands him Monster Mash* How does that work?

Ira: Beats me, but it worked. *pushes the button for the level that the Danger Room's on* *will babydance with Monster Mash tucked into the crook of his arm*

Monster Mash: *snuggles his new favourite guy, glowing eyes showing his contentment*

Optima: *silent for the rest of the trip down as she contemplates what she was just told and watches her husband and their new son interact*

Ira: *rumbling quietly*

Monster Mash: *thick little fingers gently pat pat Ira's jacket*

Ira: *looks down to Monster Mash* Hm?

Monster Mash: *rubs his face on Ira's chest*

Optima: *little smile* He's cuddling.

Ira: *soft chuckle*

Optima: *hand on the baby's back as the elevator pings, then turns and steps out, only to pause to one side of the door as she spots Muhlisha sitting on a chair taken from one of the hospital rooms*

Muhlisha: *sitting there with the side of Torque's head against the side of her leg. Is intent on fixing his hair*

Torque: *looks like he's asleep, a small lump in his jacket showing where his kitten's hidden*

Ira: *very soft snort*

Optima: *looks at the two young people, but can tell that they need that quiet time now* *glances to Ira to see if he concedes*

Ira: *small nod*

Optima: *hand still on Monster Mash's back as she walks around the bend in the corridor toward the Danger Room doors. And then she stops short and gapes at those twisted and ruined portals and the scorch marks on the ceiling and floor in front of them* Mercy!

Ira: *gruff, comforting hand on her shoulder*

Optima: *gapes for a moment more, but then hurries forward and peeks cautiously inside* *quietly* I never realized any human being could carry that much power.

Ira: *quietly* Dallas walked through the middle of it without being burned.

Optima: *sounds stunned* And who blew the doors open?

Ira: Dallas.

Optima: *quietly* But all the rest of this was Mistfire?

Ira: *nods*

Optima: *blinks and studies the damage again, mentally reaching toward God in her attempt to get her mind out of flatfooted shock mode*

Monster Mash: *points to the scorch marks on the floor and makes an "Uh oh!" face. Thinks it's dirt*

Ira: *quietly* That storm awhile back. That was the doing of a Deepdweller named Neysa.

Optima: *eyes go wide, though she doesn't move otherwise* *quietly* But Dallas doesn't have the X gene.

Ira: *quietly* I wish I knew what's going on.

Optima: *shock changes to a frown, and she turns and looks at him* Lets... focus on what we can, right now. *deep breath* First, your beard. Then we'll go to the mess and make sure that the visiting children have enough to eat. And we'll go from there.

Ira: *small nod* *will move to guide her back to the elevator*

Optima: *lets herself be guided, her mind loosing itself from shock and starting to work as she focuses on the small things first*

((Written with random_xtras))