TPF. Mountains near Las Vegas. Dallas' House. Good to see you again.

[dens_extra_pups]

Continued from here



two hours later


Magnus: *gently and wonderingly talking about how beautiful his mate is as he drives behind her up the winding driveway*

Mira: *quietly snarking back at mate, being careful not to be too loud so she doesn't wake David up*

David: *jolts awake with a shout*

Magnus: *slides to a stop* David?

Mira: *stops once she realizes Magnus has stopped*

David: *trembling and panicky, doesn't recognize where he is or know how he got there*

kitten: *calls*

Magnus: Easy, David. You're safe. Did you dream?

David: *still a bit wild-eyed, pulls blanket over his head* *deep breaths*

Magnus: *stops and transforms, winding up with David and blanket in his hand* *down on one knee as he looks at the human*

David: *starting to hiccough a bit as he becomes more aware of his surroundings*

Mira: *transforms and moves to check on the human, worry unconsciously leaking through the bond as she absently adjusts the front flap on her new magnetic skirt*

Magnus: *soothing rumbles as he uses both hands to hold David close* *softly* You're safe. We're nearly to your sister's gate.

David: *very small nod*

Mira: *gentle clicks*

Magnus: Do you want to go on now?

David: *deep breath, another small nod*

Magnus: Alright. *moves to set him down on the ground*

David: *still a bit uneasy*

Mira: *more gentle clicks*

Magnus: *hesitates* *then* Do you want me to transform without putting you down?

David: C-Can you?

Magnus: *mouth curves up just slightly at the corners* I just did.

David: *peeks from under his blanket*

Magnus: *transforms. There's a swirl, a thrilling swoop, and then David is sitting in the driver's seat with his blanket as the kitten makes enthusiastic sounds from the shotgun seat*

David: *starting to relax a bit* *looks for his knitted doll*

Magnus: It's under the seat. *gentle bump for Mira, and then continues down the well paved driveway*

Mira: *razz, transforms back to alt mode and moves to follow husband*

David: *going fishing*

Magnus: //There's the gate, Mira. Will you ring the bell?//

Mira: //Lemme get in front of you.//

Magnus: *slips to one side*

Mira: *gets around husband, will transform enough to push the button* *which looks pretty awkward and sort of painful*

Magnus: Be careful.

Breakdown: *jocosely* //Yeah, what?//

Mira: ... What the scrap, Breakdown?!

Breakdown: //...You know me?//

Mira: I'd know your voice anywhere, ya %#$%#$. *growl*

Breakdown: *fainter* //Eve, this dame says she knows me!//

Mira: *displeased engine rumbling*

Breakdown: //Right. Gate opening. Sorry.// *gate buzzes, and then swings open, beeping*

Mira: *reluctantly drives through*

Magnus: *follows, wondering at Breakdown's failure to recognize Mira's voice and feeling a suspicion growing stronger in his mind*

Mira: *muttering to herself about the smackdown she still owes Breakdown for some long ago incident on Cybertron*

Magnus: //Mira, I don't think Breakdown remembers you. And I suspect we have a bigger possible threat to deal with.//

Mira: //...Wait, what?!//

Magnus: //The voice print for David's sister's husband is the same as that of a Decepticon doctor who usually partnered with Breakdown.//

Mira: //...// *would be smirking wickedly and gearing up for a fight if she were in root mode* //Oh, really?//

Magnus: *gently but sternly* //Don't frighten David.//

Mira: //Think his sister's being held hostage?//

Magnus: *thinks of the call that morning* //No.//

Mira: //... So I can't go in and bust his head.//

Magnus: //You cannot.//

Mira: *grumbles*

David: *studying the different types of pines that are scattered along the drive*

Magnus: ...This is a very long approach road.

David: ... Y-Yeah. *starting to worry now*

Magnus: There's someone in the road up ahead. A human female. And a motorcycle.

David: *looks over* *soft chuckle* D-Dallas...

Mira: //I'm picking up on five spark readings within a one mile radius of our location.//

Magnus: //Knockout, Breakdown, "Eve", Rundown, and an unknown...// *watches as his mate draws even with the dark red, gold, and black-clad motorcyclist*

Mira: //The unknown's the one I'm more worried about.// *pause* //There's something strange about this human, too.//

Dallas: *studying the green car from behind her helmet* *will look to the blue semi that followed it*

Magnus: *pulls to an easy stop, then unfastens David's seatbelt and opens the door* //...She's giving a Cybertronian life sign reading.//

David: *deep breaths, deep breaths* *will move to get out slowly*

Mira: //... She's the unknown signature.// *so shocked*

Magnus: //What? The fifth spark reading isn't coming from her.// *scans the area again*

Mira: //Yes it is. I'm not picking anyone else up besides Knockout, Breakdown, "Eve", and Rundown that we know the spark signatures of. She's showing a Cybertronian life reading, and there's nobody else here who it could be. I'll bet a package of icies on it.//

Magnus: //But the spark isn't here with her...// *gasp* //Pretender technology!//

Mira: //... I thought that was just hypothetical techno-babble!//

Magnus: //No. It was developed. It just never became widespread.//

Mira: //... Well, scrap.//

Magnus: //Though I never knew Knockout to be very well versed in technology. He was more fond of taking things and people apart.//

Mira: //... Just what the scrap is going on here?// *worried for David's safety now*

Dallas: *off of her bike and moving to give her brother a hug after removing her helmet*

David: *trying not to cry as he and Dallas hug for the first time since she ran away all those years ago. Can tell that her bodysuit is high quality leather, and that Dallas has become very muscular and feminine in the time since they last saw each other* *quietly, as he moves to pull back, doll resting against Dallas' shoulders and blanket starting to slide off of his own* I-It's good to see you, Dal.

Ultra Magnus: *to his mate as he watches the reunion* //Shhhh.//

Dallas: *can tell David's far too thin for his height and frame, but will keep from commenting on it* Where's my donut?

David: *blink. Blink!* *and then he's laughing and hugging his sister again*

Ultra Magnus: Doughnut. Right. *transforms carefully, and then sits down to open his chest and take out the box and the kitten's carrier* He decided to bring you more than one. *glance says he thinks this was just a bad excuse of David's for not eating more than one*

Dallas: *soft snerk that hides the worry in her eyes* David, you are a goof. *one last squish of brother, will move to talk to Ultra Magnus*

David: *quietly* That's nicer than what you called Mrs. Lamont that one time...

Dallas: *rolls her eyes* Dixie never did know how to butt out. *is totally letting Knockout know about her concerns for David's health, and how worryingly thin he is (to her)*

Mira: *moving to transform and stretch*

Magnus: I haven't met that Mrs. Lamont yet. I like Miss Hattie, though. *and then he's making a small eep and juggling the doughnut box as he's distracted by Mira*

Dallas: Hattie's alright. Dixie's just a pain in the skid. *blinks at the juggling* Are you okay? *raised brow*

Mira: *oblivious to husband's plight, is stretching and getting comfortable* Ugh. Forgot how cramped a new alt mode can be at first. *makes sure her skirt's stuck on right. Kinda glad she chose gold now*

Magnus: *eyes riveted to his mate* I'm told that her new daughters will improve Miss Dixie's temper... yes, yes, fine. *small, rather stupid, grin*

Dallas: ... *looks to where Ultra Magnus is looking, snerks*

David: *concerned, will ask Mira if she's alright*

Mira: *gently waves David off* Yeah, I'm fine. Just things rearranging in a way I'm not used to yet. It'll take a few transformations before it stops bugging me.

Ultra Magnus: *blinks at a frantic howl from the kitten* What? *quick look* You're right way up, and I'm not squeezing you at all. You're in your carrier...

kitten: MEOWWWWWWWWLLLLLLL! *gotta PEE!*

Dallas: *looks over* ...How long has it been since it went to the bathroom?

David: *hurrying over to get the kitten*

Ultra Magnus: *quickly hands the big carrier to David, then reaches into his chest again* I have his bathroom here...

David: *small nod* *works on getting the kitten out of his carrier*

kitten: *friend! Friend! Gotta PEEE*

Ultra Magnus: *lid off litter box. Litter box on ground!* Is he in pain? *winces at the kitten's next howl*

David: *sets the kitten in the litter box* *quietly* He was uncomfortable.

Ultra Magnus: He's alright now? *watches the little animal move around the tray of dried corn husk pellets. Next moment sees him huddled protectively on elbows and knees over the humans as something explodes at a distance with a dull "WUMPH!" sound*

Mira: *battle mode!* *cannons out and primed*

David: *ducks and covers before he can stop himself* *even as he's hunkering down, he recognizes the sound*

Dallas: *startles as Ultra Magnus huddles over David and herself*

Magnus: Mira, can you spot the threat? *protective big bot is a roof and walls around the humans*

Mira: *scanning the area* Not yet.

David: *despite recognizing the sound, he's starting to tremble as he fights off a flashback* C-Caber toss.

Dallas: Caber... Oh, for the love of. *facepalming* I told those two to behave!

Magnus: *lowers his head and looks underneath himself* What is it? Miss MacKenzie? David?

kitten: *totally unbothered, is crawling back into his carrier now*

Dallas: Breakdown and Eve are down at the pond, throwing small explosives into the water.

Mira: ... *smirk* Say, which way is this pond?

Magnus: Mira, no. *sits up with a sigh*

Mira: *scowls at husband* They scared David.

David: *quietly* I-I'm o-okay.

Dallas: *gentle shoulder patpats for her brother* Let's get you some lunch, okay?

Magnus: *big hand comes down and gently touches David's back* There's still a ways to go to the house. Do you want a ride?

David: *nods*

Dallas: *soft chuckle* I'll guide you, then. *moves to put her helmet back on*

Mira: *so much scowl, wants dearly to teach Breakdown and Eve a lesson for scaring David*

Magnus: *stands and steps back before transforming* Is there more than one road?

Dallas: There's the back roads that lead to different parts of the property, but this is the best one to get to the house.

Magnus: I see. //Mira, stand down.// *opens his doors*

Mira: *grumbles and folds her canons away before returning to alt mode*

David: *will move to put the kitten's carrier in Ultra Magnus' cab before climbing into the driver's seat* *to Mira* W-What type of car is that?

Mira: It's something I picked off of the website Ultra Magnus sent me before we really got going.

Dallas: *not commenting that she recognizes the design. Wants to see Knockout's reaction to it first*

Magnus: *gruffly* It's a beautiful design. *looks at Dallas' bike as he gently straps David in* *politely* So is your two wheeler, Miss MacKenzie.

Dallas: *chuckles* Thanks. It's one of a kind... I did the design, but one of the local builders did the build for me.

Magnus: *closing his doors carefully and absently clicking to the voluble and happy kitten* You continued the design into your own garment very beautifully.

Dallas: *more chuckle* The bodysuit was my husband's design.

Magnus: Your husband... Mr. MacKenzie?

Dallas: I'll let him answer that question.

Magnus: *now REALLY suspicious at this continued name avoidance*

Dallas: *fires up the motorcycle's engine, will lead the way up the drive*

Mira: //Does something seem kinda weird to you, Ultra Magnus?//

Magnus: //Knockout's still a sneaky slagger.//

David: *oblivious, is talking to the kitten*

Dallas: *calling Knockout to let him know the ETA* *has a bluetooth connection in her helmet*

Knockout: //Do you know what the scraplet just did?//

Dallas: //... What did he eat this time?//

Knockout: //Nothing. But he's STILL giving Breakdown a piece of his mind.//

Dallas: //He's not the only one who needs to do that.//

Knockout: //Oh, I think one dressing down is enough to cover the dog's unexpected bath.//

Dallas: //... It's not enough for scaring my brother.//

Knockout: *sounds puzzled* //...What are you talking about? He's been here by the house all morning.//

Dallas: //The caber toss scared David. David's as tightly wound as Scattershot, only instead of having Mistfire to beat the scrap out of whoever did the boom, he's got Ultra Magnus and Ultra Magnus' mate.//

Knockout: *languid amusement* //Ultra Magnus? You're joking.//

Dallas: //I'm not. We'll be to the house soon enough. You'll be able to see for yourself.//

Knockout: *so much evil mischief in that lazy drawl* //This is going to be lots of fun. Rundown, Breakdown scared your uncle. You'd better tell him what you feel about that.//

Rundown: *is the sound of a very scoldy little bitty in the background*

Dallas: //Spoilsport.//

Knockout: //Whatever do you mean, goodie? I know how much you hate watching Breakdown cry, so I thought I'd just get this over before you got back.//

Dallas: //What am I going to do with you, Knockout?//

Knockout: //I have list of suggestions.//

Dallas: //Later. After David's gone home. Your drone's dressed, right? Shirt and pants, at least?//

Knockout: *deep sigh* //Yes, I'm dressssed. What? Spit that out, you disgusting little misfire.//

Dallas: //What does he have in his mouth?//

Knockout: //That necklace you've been looking for. It's...// *voice drops with disgust* //Rather oily.//

Dallas: //I'll clean it up later.//

Magnus: *comical squeak. Just ran over a gopher after Mira drove in front of him*

Dallas: *snickerfit*

Knockout: *disgust gone, and replaced once more by mischief* //What now?//

Dallas: //Ultra Magnus just ran over a gopher, because his mate drove in front of him. Think we could get Breakdown and Eve on extermination duty?//

Knockout: //His mate? Now that's a revolting thought. And I thought you didn't want anymore explosions right now.//

Dallas: //I'll tell those two that they only get to count the gophers if they're on the road.//

Knockout: //Ewwwww! Then I'll have to drive through it!//

Dallas: //I'll make sure to specify that one gravel road those two like to play on.//

Knockout: *relieved* //Oh. That's alright then. Nasty, bumpy thing. Spit that out!//

Dallas: //What's he got now?//

Knockout: //I'm not sure. It's... SPIDER!// *line goes dead*

Dallas: *would facepalm if she wasn't driving*


Twenty minutes later


Dallas: *pulling her motorcycle into the parking spot designated for it*

David: *boggling as he sees the house*

Magnus: *parks neatly and opens his doors, but is too distracted by pretty mate to notice much else till a crash behind that large window in the big house catches his attention. Watches a human form without a human energy signature flail around and yell as two others watch helplessly and a sparklet voice crows enthusiastic encouragement over the barking of an excited border collie* ...There appears to be a spider problem in the living room.

Dallas: ... *sigh* Yes, there is. *goes to rescue husband from eight-legged, furry, DOOM*

Mira: ... Spider? *confused*

Magnus: A small local invertebrate. Miko is frightened by them. *drops voice* Apparently she isn't the only one.

Mira: ... *snickerfit*

Magnus: *realizes nothing's happening in his cab* David?

David: ... *quietly* Dallas' husband's weird.

Magnus: *thinks about it* Yes. I believe that's putting it mildly.

Dallas: *anti-spider implement in hand, will save husband from the arachnid*

David: *watching the entertainment through the big window, leaning forward so he can see a bit better through the windshield*

Magnus: *to his mate, as he also watches* //Knockout seems to be in stasis, in vehicle mode in that part of the house. But I just heard Miss MacKenzie call that drone "Knockout".//

Mira: //...I got nothin'.//

Magnus: *turns his attention toward the garage* //The car beside Knockout is the unknown spark signature. And it's a car just like your new vehicle mode.//

Mira: //Looks like it's in stasis, too.//

Magnus: //Yes. How strange.// *notices the living room window again* Ugh. They're as bad as Optimus and Ratchet.

David: *hand over eyes*

Mira: ... Ewwww. *yet part of her kind of wishes she could work up the courage to be affectionate in public like that*

Magnus: *is thinking the same thing* And now Miss MacKenzie is chasing those other two drones with the spider killing implement.

Breakdown: *grunts from his place in the garage as the sound of a thwack comes from the house*

Mira: ... *attention back to the garage* //Found Breakdown, and "Eve".//

Magnus: //A Vehicon.//

Mira: //Grounder, looks like.//

Magnus: *wordless agreement, and then checks on David* You aren't getting out?

David: *blink* *small nod, will move to get out with the kitten's carrier*

Magnus: *watches, and then transforms and sets the litter box down on the ground* *glances over at his mate*

Mira: *transforms and rubs at her shoulder*

Magnus: *turns to gently rub the shoulder himself, and then lower his head to kiss her on the helmet before he realizes what he's doing*

Mira: *surprised sound*

Magnus: *startles and backs away slightly, apologizing*

David: *raised brows as he watches the couple*

Mira: *grouches a bit and stomps off to sulk* *is just a bit miffed at herself for her reaction*

Magnus: *distracted from embarrassment by watching the stomping off*

David: ... W-what just happened?

Magnus: *starts and looks down, then blinks and frowns confusion* I'm not sure.

David: ... *just going to chalk it up to Mira being Mira*

Dallas: *moving to lead dKnockout outside to meet her brother*

dKO: *smiling urbanely. Till he sees Mira. Then he's nearly given himself whiplash* What the...!

Dallas: *can't help but snicker* That's Ultra Magnus' mate.

dKO: That's YOUR vehicle mode! Who told her she could wear it?

Magnus: *turns his head from looking down at David, a frown coming to his face as he looks at the angry drone*

Dallas: It's one of our more popular designs. I'm flattered, to be honest.

Magnus: Miss MacKenzie, you are human, are you not?

dKO: *gives him a Look that wishes to kill*

David: *holding the kitten's carrier a bit closer and moving to hide behind Ultra Magnus*

Dallas: *quietly, to dKO* You're scaring David. Stop.

dKO: *eyes flash, but then he's taking deep breaths*

Magnus: *down to one knee so that he can comfort David* *gently pokes the knitted doll, which is laying on top of the kitten's carrier*

David: *taking deep breaths and trying to stay calm*

Magnus: *big fingers gently rub David's back*

dKO: *distracted again* It does look nice in that green...

Dallas: There's gold accents, too. And I think the green's got that gold fleck we were talking about trying out for a paint option...

dKO: *glances at her sideways through narrowed eyes* You'd look nice with a shimmer.

Dallas: *quietly* I'll call the supplier and see if we can't get something mixed up.

Mira: *paying everyone else no mind over there, is stretching and trying to work kinks out*

Magnus: *still comforting David, but his mind is over there now* Knockout, watch what you say about my mate.

dKO: *snerk* I'm not talking about your mate. I'm talking about my own design that she decided to pirate.

Mira: *wince, rubs at shoulder again*

David: *peeking from behind Ultra Magnus' leg, wants to see who his friend is talking to*

Magnus: Your... own design? *actually looks at dKO and Dallas*

Dallas: Well, yeah. How do you think we could afford a place like this?

Mira: *grumbles something about the design and transforming*

dKO: *over to Mira, making suggestions about how to do the doorwings so that they work better*

Mira: *making adjustments, then puts her hands on opposite sides of her head and twists*

Magnus: *blinks* I had no idea, Miss MacKenzie. I didn't think about it, and I know nothing about human dwellings.

Dallas: *amusedly* You must be new here.

Magnus: Less than a month. Ack! Mira. *hand to his neck and reproachful look for his mate*

Mira: Sorry. It doesn't wanna pop back like it needs ta.

Magnus: *gently pushes David, kitten, and doll toward Dallas*

David: *goes where pushed*

Dallas: *arm around brother's shoulders*

Magnus: *strides over and stands behind his mate, then rubs her shoulders for a bit to urge her to relax*

Mira: *head droops a bit* *quietly* Gonna need a hand gettin' the alignment right.

Magnus: *softly* I know. But you need to relax first.

dKO: *skittering away from the euch to go meet his brother in law and see if he likes him better than the one with the fat wife*

David: *worry clear on his face as he watches Ultra Magnus and Mira* *quietly* Mira'll be okay, right?

dKO: *lightly* Oh yes. She's just integrating the new vehicle mode. So you're David, hmmm?

David: *slight start, but then he's nodding* Y-Yes.

dKO: ...No fat wife?

David: *headshake* S-she left when her brother died.

Dallas: *scowl* Good riddance.

dKO: So no wife at all? *tilts head and quirks a brow, then blinks and smirks as a resounding crack comes from Mira's neck*

David: *headshake, flinches at the crack*

Mira: *is that faint engine rumbling that just started*

Magnus: *has mate in arms with her back to his chest and is resting his cheek against hers*

Mira: *looks utterly content now, with her optics shuttered and hands on husband's arms*

Magnus: *caught mate when she staggered back against him, and now he's just going to stand here and hold her close*

dKO: *massive smirk as he puts an arm around David's shoulders* So, I hear you like sweet potatoes. *leads him into the house, Dallas at their side*

((Written with random_xtras))