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dens_tf_den2014-06-20 04:18 pm
dens_extra_pups) wrote in dens_tf_den2014-06-20 04:18 pm
Nexus and Linkverse. The Black Dog and Jumper's Wake. New Beginings
Continued from here
WakeJumper: *sound of facepalming*
Spider: This is my armour. It wouldn't fit you. *blink blinks as the sparklet seems to snuggle close* GURK!
Dropkick: *fussing over the newspark now*
Spider: *nearly flailing* She tried to hack my files!
Dropkick: Newsparks'll do that...
Spider: Not like this. Gurk! *tries to sidesteps the baby*
WakeJumper: ... I'll call for a protoform. *goes back inside*
Dropkick: Here... Lemme see if I can coax her. *will reach, offering static from her fingertips*
newspark: *ooo? What's this?* *zips over*
Dropkick: *now it's her turn to make funny noises*
Spider: *tries to save Dropkick by once more offering the snack energy* *grimly* Yeah, she's related to me.
newspark: *confused pulsing*
Dropkick: *might accidentally zap you, Spider*
Spider: *squeals* What the scrap was that, woman?
Dropkick: Sorry! *wringing hands now*
Spider: *and then he makes another funny sound as his newborn daughter makes a highly intelligent and determined effort to learn what he knows*
Dropkick: *gonna try and save you from the babby hacking attempt*
courierbot: *arriving with a protoform*
Dropkick: *just furthered the newspark's vocabulary*
courierbot: ... Nice.
Spider: *now doing his own rescue attempt* *scowls at the newcomer* Who're you?
courierbot: Hauler. Wake sent me with this. *points to the protoform in its stasis pod*
Spider: *sees "Easy to use!" on the pod and grabs it, then hits the opening catch* Alright, you little menace...
Dropkick: *shudder* Ugh... I think she hacked some of my files.
Hauler: *snickerfit* Good luck. *heads off to get more protoforms for delivery*
Spider: *without looking up from getting the pod open* So long, *uncomplimentary*.
Dropkick: *gives herself a shake, moves to help get everything set up right*
Spider: It says we just need to press one button. *flinches as the sparklet darts toward the chest of the protoform*
Dropkick: Let's see if this is one of the ones that has the starter datachips with it... *checking*
Spider: o.0 I think she just triggered things herself. *watches as a little face starts to form*
Dropkick: ... That brat.
protoform: *settling. Despite being a sparklet protoform, the femme is bigger than most sparklets. Her coloration settles to a pretty teal color, and as her optics power on for the first time, they're revealed to be similar in color to Spider's. Tiny hands reach and flail* *uncomplimentary word*
Dropkick: ... Spider, you taught our kid to cuss.
Spider: She's probably got the ones you were using too. *sets the pod down and scoops the baby bot up to look at her* She's big even for a Quad.
sparklet: *squirm, clickstorm*
Dropkick: Think she might be a multichanger like WakeJumper?
Spider: *sticks the snack emitter to the baby's mouth* I can tell she's a drone carrier. And you saw how bright that spark is. *peers at the little eyes, using a couple spider legs to hold her more securely*
Dropkick: So either a multichanger, or an unsplit gestalt.
sparklet: *curious about the funny thing being poked at her mouth*
Spider: *feeds baby energy and listens to her spark* No. She's too calm for a gestalt.
Dropkick: Okay, so she'll be a multichanger when she's older.
sparklet: *snuggle. Likes the sound of the one holding her*
Spider: Well, I've got two alt modes. *distracted by those eyes that look so much like his*
Dropkick: She's prolly part Quad. It'd explain her size.
Spider: *gives the plump little femme a funny look* She's got your coding. Of course she's part Quad.
Dropkick: Yeah, but she's also part sciencebot, like Eclipse.
Spider: I've got science coding too, along with the hunting and data hunter. *puts the snack emitter into the baby's hand, and then offers her to Dropkick*
sparklet: *clickstorm of wonder*
Dropkick: *will move to hold the sparklet* I wonder who she'll take after more when she's older?
Spider: *wry smirk* Does it matter?
Dropkick: Hey, can't blame me for being curious.
Spider: *blinks as he watches the baby scan the snack emitter* You realize your mech batch initiator's going to be out for my energon?
Dropkick: I can take him down in three moves. I've done it before. *boggles as she realizes that she's now a married femme* Oooh, scrap. *wobble*
sparklet: *clickstorm* *this spark isn't sounding happy anymore!*
Spider: *snags baby and tucks her under one arm like a doll, then uses a spider leg to hold Dropkick up*
sparklet: *surprised squeak, clickstorms about this new experience*
Dropkick: *trying to circulate air so she doesn't ramble*
Spider: *hesitates, but then pulls Dropkick close and holds her with his free arm* Snap out of it. I thought you were tough.
Dropkick: It's not like I expected to be a married femme when I got off of the berth this morning, Spider!
Spider: I can still let you go at this point. *looks at the sparklet* ...And we can give this to Katana or something.
Dropkick: *headshake* *quietly* She's imprinted on us already.
Spider: *looks at the sparklet again* So we visit. Separately.
Dropkick: *glare* For that, WakeJumper really WOULD kick your aft. And I would, too.
Spider: *scowl* Make up your mind.
Dropkick: You're mine. I'm keeping you. End of discussion.
Spider: *smirks, and then looks at the sparklet again*
sparklet: *using both hands to nom on the snack thing as she rests her elbows on Spider's arm, is also scanning everything she can see. Her parents are close, and one is holding the other, so she's content*
Spider: You were never this quiet.
Dropkick: *soft chuckle* Naw. It was more fun to express myself with noise.
Spider: *frowns and narrows those narrow eyes* Do you hear her name?
sparklet: *tips head back to look up at him curiously* *still nomming*
Dropkick: *shutters her optics for a few moments so she can listen* ... Adroit?
sparklet: *looks to the other nice-sounding bot* *still nommin'*
Spider: *eyes widen as he seems to feel confirmation* ...I think that's it.
Dropkick: ... Huh. Interestin' name.
Spider: *and then he's realizing he's got a pretty girl held close, and a thoughtful look comes to that lean, thin face*
Dropkick: *soft hum as the sparklet yawns*
Spider: *lowers his head, just wondering if his new mate would like to try that earlier reaction again*
Dropkick: *looks up, smirk. Will meet you halfway, Spider. And she'll even be nice about the energy output*
Spider: *quiet rumbles*
Adroit: *happy sounds* *squeaks as she loses her grip on the nommy thing*
Spider: *catches the snack emitter with a spider leg and offers it back*
Adroit: *happy bwees*
Spider: *and then he's stumbling and gripping both his girls tight as the whole station shakes* *hisssssss!*
Dropkick: *startled curse*
Adroit: *wails*
Spider: *gives sparklet to Dropkick, making sure that the little one still has her energy treat, then transforms to spider* Get under cover! *gone through the plants, comming WakeJumper as he goes*
Dropkick: *will take Adroit to the bar, intending to hide under the wing that is the bartop*
WakeJumper: //Spider, what's going on?!//
Spider: //I was calling to ask you! Dropkick and I have been with Adroit in the garden.// *hisses aloud and over comms as the small station shakes again* //What sector's been hit?//
WakeJumper: //The spaceport!// *transforming to vehicle mode* //Get every able-bodied person who isn't protecting a newspark to the spaceport!//
Spider: //I haven't been here for a vorn. I don't know who's here, and who's got new...// *grumbles and plugs into a port on the wall by the entrance to WakeJumper's family's compound*
WakeJumper: //When I find out who's responsible for attacking us...// *SO mad*
Spider: //Hmm. I don't think this is an attack.//
WakeJumper: //What?! What's going on then?!//
Spider: *leg out to support Katana as his brother slides to a stop beside him* //There's a ragged looking Seeker standing in the bay and looking hopefully at the door. Wait no... it's a high efficiency Aerialbot.//
WakeJumper: //... Aerialbot?// *hurrying to meet whoever it is*
bot: *standing there with wide mauve optics focused on the door. Shivers when he sees it slide open, and then hunkers down like a frightened sparklet. Is slender, ragged, and rough looking, but shows a white background with grey, reddish brown, and pale blue markings*
WakeJumper: *transforms and scans the bot*
bot: *young. Only about as old as Spider and Katana's sparks. Also shows the effects of long shifting for himself*
WakeJumper: *gentle clicks, offers a hand to the youngster* *to Spider* //He's young. Around your age.//
Spider: //Any idea who he is?//
WakeJumper: //Let me check.// *comparing the youngster's spark scan to bots he's met* *to the youngster* You're safe now.
bot: *looks at him hopefully* Had to find the bots.
WakeJumper: *soft chuckle* You found them. //He's Fireflight and Thundercracker's.//
Spider: //So more Old Guard is coming home.//
bot: *tentative smile, and then a quick look and a watching of nothing visible*
WakeJumper: *gently* Let's get you some fuel. Do you have a name? //It looks like it.//
bot: Name? You're WakeJumper. *still watching*
WakeJumper: *nods* I am. What is your name?
bot: *blink blink. Sunny smile* Firecracker.
WakeJumper: *nods* That's a good name.
bot: They gave it to me. *searches for what he'd been watching, and then turns those slightly blank eyes toward WakeJumper* I'm cracked.
WakeJumper: *slight frown, scans Firecracker again*
Firecracker: *no cracks in his processor. However, it is extremely active*
WakeJumper: *gently* You're no more cracked than any of us here. Let's get you some fuel, alright?
Firecracker: *points to the door, through which a few stored jet scooters can be seen drifting away* It's cracked.
WakeJumper: *sighs and calls one of the teams that's out in the debris ring to let them know* *also calls one of the repair teams*
Firecracker: *meeps and shudders as a surge races through his processor*
WakeJumper: *SCANNING*
Firecracker: *another soft meep and holds his head*
WakeJumper: *soothing clicks, will put an arm around Firecracker's shoulders, intending to guide the youngster into the station*
Firecracker: *follows without any argument, or even seeming to notice that he's being led. Expression is blank save for a small hint of pain*
WakeJumper: *more gentle clicks, will alert one of the other medics on the station*
Firecracker: *and then he's shivering slightly again and blinking before WakeJumper gets a quizzical, gentle, and wistful look*
WakeJumper: I've asked one of the other medics to bring some better scanning equipment and a painkiller tab for you.
Firecracker: *lifts brows* Don't know what that is.
WakeJumper: Something that will help make the hurting stop for a little while.
Firecracker: What's hurting? *tilts head and watches something go by*
WakeJumper: ... Wasn't your processor hurting earlier?
Firecracker: *looks at him, confusion apparent* What's "Hurting"?
WakeJumper: ...
Firecracker: *confusion turns to worry* Did I do something bad?
WakeJumper: No, you didn't. *also calls in a request for basic starter data*
Spider and Katana: *meet him at the entrance to the passage, their expressions showing curiosity and curious concern respectively*
WakeJumper: Spider, Katana, this is Firecracker. Firecracker, this is Spider, and Katana.
Firecracker: *interested look, but then meeps again and puts his hand up*
Katana: Are you damaged? *goes to the young flyer's other side to offer support and assistance, and then looks worried as he gets no response*
Spider: *frowns* Damaged?
WakeJumper: *quietly* I think it's something in his processor...
Katana: Do you know who he is? He's not Quadriate stock.
WakeJumper: No, his batch initiators were Old Guard.
Katana: *goes still* Then who raised him?
WakeJumper: *small headshake* I don't know.
Firecracker: Something's wrong with him. Can't hear him right now. Is it because I'm here now? *looks around at the three mechs surrounding him*
WakeJumper: ... Wrong with who?
Firecracker: Him. Not the biggest One. One that called me.
WakeJumper: ...Do you mean Primus?
Firecracker: *bewildered look*
WakeJumper: Was it the Greatest Creator, or one of his children?
Katana: *giving his mech mentor a confused look now*
Firecracker: Not the biggest One.
Spider: Primus is dead.
WakeJumper: *quiet sigh* Let's get you some fuel, Firecracker. We'll find a place for you to sleep later.
Firecracker: *softly, seeming to space out even as he agrees* I'm sleepy.
Katana: *giving Spider a shocked and mortified look*
Spider: *sees no look*
Dropkick: *pinging your comm now, Spider* //What happened? Is it safe to come out?//
Spider: //It's safe. Just an Old Guard bud that got lost somewhere.// *lifts his head* I should get back to Dropkick and Adroit.
WakeJumper: ... You'll need witnesses. *arm around Firecracker's shoulders again*
Spider: We've got a kid. *flips to spider and strides away*
Katana: *gobsmack* They do too?
WakeJumper: *nods* They found the little one during the surge we had earlier.
Katana: *delighted grin* Mech or femme?
WakeJumper: Er... I didn't ask. *sheepish expression is a go*
Katana: Well, Link and Vi have a mech.
WakeJumper: *blink. BLINK*
Katana: His name is Coyote, and he was cuddling Vi when Spider woke me to come check on you. I called for a protoform before I came.
WakeJumper: ... Huh. Who does he take after more?
Katana: *slight smile* We'll find out once we see him in his body.
Firecracker: Say goodbye to peace and quiet.
Katana: o.0
WakeJumper: *nods* Two sparklets...
Firecracker: *looks up at him* Twenty six sparklets.
WakeJumper: *just furthered everyone's vocabulary*
Katana: *alarmed* WakeJumper, what's wrong?
WakeJumper: That's two more than I knew about!
Katana: Are you counting Coyote and Adroit?
WakeJumper: Counting Coyote and Adroit... That brings the count up to twenty five. *frown*
Firecracker: He's sleeping with Eclipse.
Katana: *optics widen, and he's gone, running out of the passage and into the next toward WakeJumper and Eclipse's compound*
WakeJumper: ... *pings Katana's comm with a request for a video feed* *will guide Firecracker to the bar*
meanwhile
Katana: *opens the door to WakeJumper's house and calls* Eclipse?
Eclipse: *can be heard making the fleece blankets on the berth rustle*
Katana: *heads toward the sleeping room and looks in*
Eclipse: *bleary blinking as she turns her head to see who's there*
Katana: *softly* Are you alone, Mentor?
Eclipse: *very small headshake. One hand fumbles to form words* [Spark. Sleep.]
Katana: *intakes softly* Do yo want me to get a protoform?
Eclipse: *slight nod* *optic shutters drooping a bit* [Mech.]
Katana: *softly* I know. Firecracker told us.
Eclipse: *brows up slightly*
Katana: I'll explain when I come back. *goes to the door and pings Hauler*
Hauler: //'S yer dime.//
Katana: //Funny you should quote WakeJumper. I need you to bring a newborn proto to his house. Mech.//
Hauler: *snorts over the comms* //On my way.//
Katana: //Thank you, Hauler. Is Link's son complete now?//
Hauler: //Dropped the proto off before I got called to bring one ta Charger 'n Topkick's place.//
Katana: *soft gasp of joy* //They have one finally?//
Hauler: //Two. Turns out the brat split right after they called me the first time.// *amused snort*
Katana: //Two! And the station's second set of twins!//
Hauler: //We got another set?//
Katana: //You've met Song and Dance!//
Hauler: //Oh.//
Katana: *guesses at the courier bot's confusion* //Did you and Thundara get another one?//
Hauler: //No... Why?// *and then he's knocking on the door*
Katana: *opens the door* Because you usually aren't that forgetful.
Hauler: ... Whatever. *offers the stasis pod with the protoform in it* *quietly* How's Eclipse doin'?
Katana: *slight smile* Come see her. You know how visitors cheer her up, and she might like hearing how the shop's been today.
Hauler: I c'n visit for a little bit. 'Til I get another call. *offers stasis pod again*
Katana: All the sparklets are accounted for. *takes the little pod and turns to lead the visitor across the main room and into the sleeping room*
Hauler: *following Katana*
sparklet: *flies up as they enter. Looks protective! And excited!*
Eclipse: *asleep again*
Katana: *pauses and looks at the agitated newborn* He isn't Quadriate.
Hauler: *blink blink* How can you tell?
Katana: He's not large enough. And he's really bright, but it's different from Quadriate sparks. Also, he's very stable.
sparklet: *hovers watchfully*
Hauler: ... Huh. *looks to Eclipse as she shifts positions slightly*
Katana: *lays the pod down on the floor and gets it running, then looks up at the sparklet*
sparklet: *wavers and weebles, then darts to check on Eclipse as it senses movement*
Eclipse: *soundless sigh, continues to sleep*
Hauler: *quietly and sadly* She ain't gettin' better, is she?
Katana: *looks over and scans automatically, then gasps and scans again as his eyes go wide*
Hauler: *just a bit freaked out now* 'Tana?
Katana: *softly, his voice squeaking with amazement* The damage is gone! *pinging WakeJumper now*
WakeJumper: //I'm on my way.// *knows that if Katana's pinging him and is at his and Eclipse's place, something's happened*
Katana: *nearly hyperventilating. But then he nearly jumps out of his plating as the sparklet, now embodied, makes a quizzical squeak*
WakeJumper: *coming to the sleeping area* What's wrong?
Katana: *absently scoops up the baby and turns to his mentor* Eclipse' spark isn't damaged anymore!
sparklet: :p
WakeJumper: ... *facepalm* I forgot. Spider heard that earlier. *quietly* Katana, Do you know where the spark boosters are?
Katana: Yes. *offers baby* I'll go get one. Which model do you want?
WakeJumper: *as he accepts the offered baby* (XYZ123). It's the only model small enough to fit her.
Katana: Alright. *turns, darts past Hauler, and is gone*
sparklet: *sighs and hangs there like a strapping big rag doll*
WakeJumper: *will scan the little one, making sure that he's healthy*
sparklet: *healthy boy. Could be very distantly related to the family of the second to last Prime*
WakeJumper: *chuckles softly and listens for the little one's name*
sparklet: *notices Hauler looking at him and chirps*
Hauler: *startles* Er... Hi.
WakeJumper: Euberrest is just curious, Hauler.
Euberrest: *looks up at WakeJumper, then reaches toward Eclipse*
WakeJumper: *soft chuckle* Alright. *moves to tuck Euberrest in with Eclipse*
Eclipse: *nearly soundless sigh, will curl up around the sparklet*
Euberrest: *puts his thumb in his mouth. Gives the impression that he's protecting his femme mentor*
WakeJumper: *will gently smooth Eclipse's forehead, and thank the Greatest Creator for helping her*
Katana: *is the sound of a skid on the main room floor*
WakeJumper: *looks over his shoulder*
Hauler: *goes to make sure Katana didn't fall*
Katana: *gives Hauler that slight, quick, but earnest smile as he slips past the bigger mech into the sleeping room. Offers WakeJumper the spark booster*
WakeJumper: Thanks. *will take the offered booster, and move to install it*
Euberrest: *thumb out to frown slightly at his mech mentor as he's moved away from his femme mentor*
WakeJumper: *soothingly, as he gently sedates Eclipse to minimize stress on her spark* I'm just helping Eclipse feel better.
Euberrest: *chirp?*
WakeJumper: I'm installing a spark booster, to help her spark have enough energy to keep her shell going. *getting the booster installed*
Katana: *produces a can of gentle fuel and uncoils the feeding tube. Then holds the drinking spout at the end and waits till WakeJumper is finished the operation*
WakeJumper: *scanning Eclipse and making sure everything's working right and that he hasn't left any tools inside his mate* *will gently close her chestplating up and back away from the berth* There.
Euberrest: *chirp?*
Katana: *offers the drinking tube with the feeding spout attached*
WakeJumper: *will move to get Euberrest situated with the drinking tube*
Eclipse: *makes the blankets rustle as she turns over* *and then she's sitting up* *or trying*
Euberrest: *chirps around the feeding spout, his little brows raising*
Eclipse: *hand to mouth, optics white as she wibbles*
WakeJumper: *reaches to try and support mate while feeding sparklet*
Katana: *finger to his ear* *brows lift*
Euberrest: *watches this, and then turns those curious and seeking optics to his mentors as he drinks and snuggles*
WakeJumper: *will lean and touch his forehead to Eclipse's*
Eclipse: *fingers fumbling a bit as she tries to sign what she wants to say*
Euberrest: *chirps to her softly*
Eclipse: *gently touches the sparklet's back*
WakeJumper: *softly* His name is Euberrest.
Euberrest: *brows lift, and he chirrs softly. And then blinks and looks confused as his chirr pops his spout out*
WakeJumper: Oops... *chuckles and offers the spout again*
Euberrest: *nom! And then those eyes go back to WakeJumper's face and study it*
Katana: Oh dear.
WakeJumper: Hm?
Katana: Link's actually capable of panic attacks.
elsewhere
Link: *wide eyed, stuttering, panic as he stares at the sparklet in Vi's arms*
Coyote: *headtilty*
Vi: *clickstorming to both Link and Coyote* *is just a bit freaked out by Link's reaction*
Link: *tries to speak coherently and fails. Puts his head in his hands*
Vi: *going from just a bit freaked out to very freaked out*
Coyote: *squirm, doesn't like how this big's spark sounds right now*
Spider: *looks in* Do you realize you were broadcasting over the brother band?
Link: *groans*
Vi: Yeeep! *reached her limits for stress and startlement* *begins crying*
Link: *gasps and drops his hands, then holds out his arms to Vi* I'm sorry.
Coyote: *squeals*
Vi: *trembling and crying*
Link: *tries to take femme and sparklet into his arms*
Spider: *grumbles as he's mashed against the door frame by a big blue arm* Lumen...
Lumen: *wobbly and shaky, must comfort brother!*
Spider: *slight squeak as the rest of Lumen squishes him the rest in passing*
Vi: *gonna hide her face on Link and cry some more*
Coyote: *SNUGGABIGS*
Link: *holds them close, grunting quietly as Lumen scoops them all up*
Lumen: *engine rumbles quietly, wobble*
Spider: *goes to move, but then grunts as he's run down by a tawny hover car* *uncomplimentary*
Katana: *fussing softly and getting Lumen to sit down*
Lumen: *bleary blink. Will add Katana to the group in his arms*
Vi: *trembling against Link*
Coyote: *clickstorm, squeak*
Link: *softly* I'm alright, Lumen. It's alright. I'm sorry.
Lumen: *small nod, circulating slowly*
Katana: Lumen, you better sit down. We just got the dents out of the floor. *glances toward Spider grumbling*
Lumen: *wobbles a bit, moves to sit down*
Katana: ...Spider?
Spider: Squashed Spider. *scowls at brothers*
Lumen: *clicks softly, head bobbing a bit*
Coyote: *squeal!*
Link: Shhh, baby. It's alright. Everyone's alright.
Spider: *eeps*
Sunhalo: *just lifted him off the floor and shook him to take out the dents*
Lumen: *quietly* S-Spider... 'Halo... *sags a bit*
Sunhalo: *puts Spider on his feet and steps forward, then gently catches her wordmate and lays him down* Give me Link.
Lumen: *can't quite get his arms to cooperate, but he's trying*
Vi: *doesn't want to be separated from Link right now*
Sunhalo: *gets the others free and sets them on their feet, then takes her shopping bag off her chest and tucks it and its skreeky little contents into Lumen's arms*
Lumen: *muzzy grin, then he's conking out*
Song: *trying to get free of the shopping bag*
Dance: *skreekstorm*
Sunhalo: *gets the mouth of the bag open, then softly tells the twins to stay with their mech batch initiator*
Song: *skreek?*
Dance: *squirms and snuggles Song and mech batch initiator*
Sunhalo: *gives Song a little doll that just fits his tiny hand* *then turns her attention to the others*
Katana: *scanning Link and Vi and speaking to them softly*
Coyote: *holding his toes as the big that sounds like him holds him around his waist* *big-opticked wonder*
Vi: *still trembling slightly*
Sunhalo: *hand on Vi's shoulder* *softly* Are you alright?
Vi: *quietly* Stuff started happening so fast, and then Coyote was there, and... *hiccups*
Link: *shaky sigh* I guess you weren't joking when you said you weren't a kid.
Vi: *unsure whether to take offense or not*
Link: *gentle hand on the back of her head as he puts his forehead to hers*
Vi: *soft sigh*
Link: *deep sigh* Katana, is Coyote made from me?
Katana: No. But he's not made from anyone else in the sector either. Or anyone on record. His only certain relative is Vi.
Vi: ... *boggling now*
Link: ...Then he's mine, because he appeared where I am. Vi and I are batch initiators.
Katana: *smiles his slight smile* I witness.
Spider: *looks over from straightening dents*
Dropkick: *pokes her head in the doorway* I witness, too.
Adroit: *clickstorm*
Spider: *scowl has become a smirk as he forgets bent legs and reaches for his daughter*
Adroit: *happy clicker as she's handed off to the other big that sounds best to her*
Dropkick: 'Halo, you sedated Lu earlier, right?
Sunhalo: *glances over from where she's standing with her hand on Vi's shoulder* No.
Dropkick: ... What's got him so loopy then?
Sunhalo: He's drunk, and he took a hit right over his spark. *pats Vi gently and goes to sit by her mate and sons*
Dropkick: *jaw drops* What?!
Sunhalo: *gently turns Lumen so that the freshly repaired dent shows*
Song: *chirp chirp chirp! Will kissie the owwie*
Dance: *skreekerfit*
Lumen: *soft engine rumble as he sleeps*
Dropkick: *hand over mouth*
Link: *hides his face against his wordmate and son as he remembers the shock of learning what had happened to his brother*
Vi: *wibble, hides face against family*
Coyote: *squeakerfit*
Link: *sighs and lifts his head* *softly* I should bring you back to the Black Dog, Vi.
Vi: *wibbles more, but nods slowly*
Link: *looks at the sparklet* Hold him with his skid plate pointing away from us.
Vi: *will move to reposition the sparklet*
Coyote: *gonna taste test his big's armor, kthx*
Link: We'll be back soon, guys. Spider, you're going to get drunk.
Spider: *IGNORE*
Link: *snorts and brings his wordmate and son back to the Black Dog*
Coyote: *stiffens as things change*
Vi: *meep*
Link: *looks down at the little one to see if he's alright*
Coyote: *FUSS. He leaked oil*
Link: *looks down at divaShot* Could we get a wipe for this oil?
DivaShot: *blink blink* Er, yeah. *goes to get a rag*
Vi: *intakes hitch softly*
Mal: *scrambles up to the back of a nearby chair* o.0 Vi, what's going on?
Vi: *quietly* Link, Lumen, and Katana got a second chance... And then there was a newspark and now he's leaked oil... *circulating*
Mal: ...Why do you and Link have the newspark?
Vi: I don't know... Coyote's related to me, and Link was there when he showed up, so apparently that makes him the mech batch initiator and... *intakes hitch again*
Mal: 0.0 *starts laughing so hard that she falls off the chair and lands in a flip of frilly skirts and kicking feet*
Vi: It's not funny, Mal!
Coyote: *squeal*
Mal: *kicks and hiccoughs hysterically*
DivaShot: *back with the rag, also has a bubble of mild energon* *blinks and looks to Mal* What's so funny?
Mal: *points to her sister and gasps part of the tune from the wedding march*
DivaShot: *BLINK* *looks to Vi and Link*
Link: *quietly* Yeah.
DivaShot: ... *offers the rag and the bubble*
Link: *takes the bubble and give it to Vi, then takes the rag and wipes Coyote off* Is Rhinox here?
DivaShot: He's on the bar.
Coyote: *squeakerfit about this new thing*
Vi: *blinks a bit at the bubble, but then she's looking through her storage for a drinking tube*
Link: *finishes wiping sparklet and gives the rag back, then steps over the tiny puddle and leads Vi toward the bar*
Vi: *getting the bubble situated with the drinking tube, will offer the end of the tube to Coyote*
Coyote: *blink blink. Will try to blow the tube up!*
Link: *guides Vi gently*
Vi: *trying to discourage Coyote from blowing up the tube*
Link: *gets her over to the bar, and then leans to look over it*
Rhinox: *looks up and lifts his brow ridges*
Coyote: *has figured out how to take in fuel, is making the contents of the bubble vanish into his tank!*
Rhinox: *low rumble* Where's Vi?
Vi: *quietly* I'm right here.
Rhinox: Are you up to getting your things yourself?
Vi: *bites her lip for a moment before nodding*
Rhinox: Set my grandson down here and go help her, Link.
Link: *looks at Vi and babby*
Vi: *slight wibble*
Coyote: *finished with noms, will try and blow bubble and drinking tube up again!*
Link: *offers to set the sparklet down beside Rhinox*
Coyote: *blink blink* *chirps at this new thing!*
Rhinox: *rumbles at the little guy and gives him a cloth with blue paint on it*
Coyote: *ooo? What is this? Will nomph on the cloth*
Vi: *very small smile, will reach for Link's hand*
Link: *brings his wife to get stuff* There's room in the compound for more houses.
Vi: *small nod* *intakes hitch again*
Link: Quadrate houses aren't very big, unless you're a Seeker.
Vi: *another small nod, will hide her face against you, Link*
Link: *arm around her, and then looks through the door she stopped at. Eyes widen slightly as he sees the wide, flat room with windows looking into it and the couch bed he brought the only furniture in sight* ...They're bigger than this.
Vi: ... Can we keep the couch bed?
Link: No one else needs it here? *already stepping over to pick it up*
Vi: Everyone else has their own beds...
Link: *smiles at her* You grab everything else?
Vi: *small nod. Will scoot to grab her belongings* *bundles everything in with her favorite yellow blanket, one knitted at Den's factory and which had been thrown in Link's face at one point*
Link: *softly* Got it all?
Vi: Yeah.
Link: *gentle look, and then backs through the door and turns to bring the bed back to the common room*
Vi: *follows*
Rhinox: *is sitting on the top level of the bar and scowling into space when the couple returns*
Coyote: *chirp, chatter, tugs at one of his toes*
Vi: *hands starting to shake*
Link: *props the couch against the bar, then pokes around his pockets till he finds a green mesh shopping bag. Reaches down to pick up his blue smudged son and slip the sparklet into the bag, then pulls the strings and slips his arms through them so that Coyote rests against his back* How's that? *looks over his shoulder*
Coyote: *happy noises*
Rhinox: *noncommittal rumble*
Vi: *accidentally makes some of her shinies rattle against each other*
Link: *looks at her, and then looks at Rhinox. Gentle touch for Vi's helm* I'll be right back. *shifts sideways with couchbed and baby and is gone*
Rhinox: *silently watches him go, then looks up at Vi*
Vi: *squeak*
Rhinox: *brow quirk. Doesn't look happy*
Vi: *intakes hitch*
Rhinox: *slight frown*
Vi: *wibble*
Rhinox: *shudders, and then stands and walks to the edge of the bar to hold out his arms*
Vi: ... *and now your shoulder is going to be cried on, Rhinox*
Rhinox: *crying too. He was never angry at you, Vi. He knows you didn't do anything wrong. He's just been arguing with his boss about having to let you go*
Spazz: *slips up onto the bar and puts a hand on Vi's arm*
Vi: *clicking quietly*
Rhinox: *broad shoulders shake as he hugs Vi and remembers the little trouble causer she used to be*
Vi: *quietly* Didn't mean t' get a kid...
Rhinox: *muffled choke*
Spazz: *softly* He's not mad at you.
Vi: *intakes hitch, and then she's crying again*
Spazz: He's been sitting in the corner, arguing with Primus since he first got an inkling of what happened. *more softly* Because he doesn't want to let you go.
Vi: *wings rattling now*
Spazz: *looks at her sparkmate* It wasn't so hard with Showtime. She was older, and she already had a dad somewhere else.
Rhinox: *hides his face*
Vi: *very quiet clicks. Still a bit scared*
Spazz: What's scaring you now?
Rhinox: *looks up, frowning with concern*
Vi: *wibbling* I... I don't know the first thing about bein' a mom.
Spazz: Join the club.
Vi: *more wibble*
Spazz: We're viri, Vi. Even with our sparks we don't have much mother programming. Why do you think it's Vern that carries the runts around all the time?
Vi: *gonna hug one arm now* *quietly, to Rhinox* Did the Boss say anything about Eclipse bein' okay? *remembers what Link told her once about the femme who speaks in sign language*
Rhinox: *looks up with surprise from wiping his optics, then glances to one side with a quizzical frown* *brow quirk* She's weak, but her spark's not damaged anymore.
Spazz: *slight grin*
Vi: *quietly* Good. It'd be weird to be in a reality with WakeJumper and not Eclipse.
Rhinox: They've got a new son. *shakes his head, mouth turning up slightly at the corners*
Vi: *blink blink* ... *snickerfit*
Rhinox: He's not of their coding. He's distantly related to someone who's passed on... *frown* *snort!* WakeJumper's fellow medic is named Knockout.
Vi: ... *snickerfit* Like that one red guy who came in the other day? *planning mischief if yes*
Rhinox: He's probably got a nose.
Spazz: *facepalms and sniggers at mate*
Vi: ... *bratty smirk*
Rhinox: *sudden amusement all over that broad and homely face before he looks over toward the sound of Link's arrival* *soft snort, and offers Vi a pretty medallion teleporter* Don't be a stranger.
Vi: *hugs Rhinox and accepts the teleporter* I promise I'll visit as often as I can.
Rhinox: *grins and gently slaps her on the shoulder*
Spazz: Keep your intakes clean.
Link: *comes over and gently puts an arm around his little silver lady* We get to keep the house with Katana. Spider and Dropkick get WakeJumper and Eclipse's old place with two rooms, and Wake and 'Clipse just got a new house delivered over by the Wake.
Vi: *surprised squeak*
Rhinox: *quizzical look*
Link: *small smile that teases slightly* I thought you'd feel more at home with a little bit of crazy in your life.
Rhinox: Katana's crazy?
Link: Just a mad scientist. *quiet chuckle* He's made from old Perceptor, and tries to find his lab without bothering to wake up first.
Rhinox: *relaxes and chuckles* Ah.
Vi: *gonna snuggle against you now, Link*
Coyote: *itty bitty snore*
Link: Let's go home. Knockout's mate is dying to meet someone her size.
Vi: *small nod*
Link: *smiles at his mentor in laws, then brings his wordmate a little ways away from the bar* Maybe having a Kriti around will help things feel more homey right away. *brings her home*
((Written withrandom_xtras))
WakeJumper: *sound of facepalming*
Spider: This is my armour. It wouldn't fit you. *blink blinks as the sparklet seems to snuggle close* GURK!
Dropkick: *fussing over the newspark now*
Spider: *nearly flailing* She tried to hack my files!
Dropkick: Newsparks'll do that...
Spider: Not like this. Gurk! *tries to sidesteps the baby*
WakeJumper: ... I'll call for a protoform. *goes back inside*
Dropkick: Here... Lemme see if I can coax her. *will reach, offering static from her fingertips*
newspark: *ooo? What's this?* *zips over*
Dropkick: *now it's her turn to make funny noises*
Spider: *tries to save Dropkick by once more offering the snack energy* *grimly* Yeah, she's related to me.
newspark: *confused pulsing*
Dropkick: *might accidentally zap you, Spider*
Spider: *squeals* What the scrap was that, woman?
Dropkick: Sorry! *wringing hands now*
Spider: *and then he makes another funny sound as his newborn daughter makes a highly intelligent and determined effort to learn what he knows*
Dropkick: *gonna try and save you from the babby hacking attempt*
courierbot: *arriving with a protoform*
Dropkick: *just furthered the newspark's vocabulary*
courierbot: ... Nice.
Spider: *now doing his own rescue attempt* *scowls at the newcomer* Who're you?
courierbot: Hauler. Wake sent me with this. *points to the protoform in its stasis pod*
Spider: *sees "Easy to use!" on the pod and grabs it, then hits the opening catch* Alright, you little menace...
Dropkick: *shudder* Ugh... I think she hacked some of my files.
Hauler: *snickerfit* Good luck. *heads off to get more protoforms for delivery*
Spider: *without looking up from getting the pod open* So long, *uncomplimentary*.
Dropkick: *gives herself a shake, moves to help get everything set up right*
Spider: It says we just need to press one button. *flinches as the sparklet darts toward the chest of the protoform*
Dropkick: Let's see if this is one of the ones that has the starter datachips with it... *checking*
Spider: o.0 I think she just triggered things herself. *watches as a little face starts to form*
Dropkick: ... That brat.
protoform: *settling. Despite being a sparklet protoform, the femme is bigger than most sparklets. Her coloration settles to a pretty teal color, and as her optics power on for the first time, they're revealed to be similar in color to Spider's. Tiny hands reach and flail* *uncomplimentary word*
Dropkick: ... Spider, you taught our kid to cuss.
Spider: She's probably got the ones you were using too. *sets the pod down and scoops the baby bot up to look at her* She's big even for a Quad.
sparklet: *squirm, clickstorm*
Dropkick: Think she might be a multichanger like WakeJumper?
Spider: *sticks the snack emitter to the baby's mouth* I can tell she's a drone carrier. And you saw how bright that spark is. *peers at the little eyes, using a couple spider legs to hold her more securely*
Dropkick: So either a multichanger, or an unsplit gestalt.
sparklet: *curious about the funny thing being poked at her mouth*
Spider: *feeds baby energy and listens to her spark* No. She's too calm for a gestalt.
Dropkick: Okay, so she'll be a multichanger when she's older.
sparklet: *snuggle. Likes the sound of the one holding her*
Spider: Well, I've got two alt modes. *distracted by those eyes that look so much like his*
Dropkick: She's prolly part Quad. It'd explain her size.
Spider: *gives the plump little femme a funny look* She's got your coding. Of course she's part Quad.
Dropkick: Yeah, but she's also part sciencebot, like Eclipse.
Spider: I've got science coding too, along with the hunting and data hunter. *puts the snack emitter into the baby's hand, and then offers her to Dropkick*
sparklet: *clickstorm of wonder*
Dropkick: *will move to hold the sparklet* I wonder who she'll take after more when she's older?
Spider: *wry smirk* Does it matter?
Dropkick: Hey, can't blame me for being curious.
Spider: *blinks as he watches the baby scan the snack emitter* You realize your mech batch initiator's going to be out for my energon?
Dropkick: I can take him down in three moves. I've done it before. *boggles as she realizes that she's now a married femme* Oooh, scrap. *wobble*
sparklet: *clickstorm* *this spark isn't sounding happy anymore!*
Spider: *snags baby and tucks her under one arm like a doll, then uses a spider leg to hold Dropkick up*
sparklet: *surprised squeak, clickstorms about this new experience*
Dropkick: *trying to circulate air so she doesn't ramble*
Spider: *hesitates, but then pulls Dropkick close and holds her with his free arm* Snap out of it. I thought you were tough.
Dropkick: It's not like I expected to be a married femme when I got off of the berth this morning, Spider!
Spider: I can still let you go at this point. *looks at the sparklet* ...And we can give this to Katana or something.
Dropkick: *headshake* *quietly* She's imprinted on us already.
Spider: *looks at the sparklet again* So we visit. Separately.
Dropkick: *glare* For that, WakeJumper really WOULD kick your aft. And I would, too.
Spider: *scowl* Make up your mind.
Dropkick: You're mine. I'm keeping you. End of discussion.
Spider: *smirks, and then looks at the sparklet again*
sparklet: *using both hands to nom on the snack thing as she rests her elbows on Spider's arm, is also scanning everything she can see. Her parents are close, and one is holding the other, so she's content*
Spider: You were never this quiet.
Dropkick: *soft chuckle* Naw. It was more fun to express myself with noise.
Spider: *frowns and narrows those narrow eyes* Do you hear her name?
sparklet: *tips head back to look up at him curiously* *still nomming*
Dropkick: *shutters her optics for a few moments so she can listen* ... Adroit?
sparklet: *looks to the other nice-sounding bot* *still nommin'*
Spider: *eyes widen as he seems to feel confirmation* ...I think that's it.
Dropkick: ... Huh. Interestin' name.
Spider: *and then he's realizing he's got a pretty girl held close, and a thoughtful look comes to that lean, thin face*
Dropkick: *soft hum as the sparklet yawns*
Spider: *lowers his head, just wondering if his new mate would like to try that earlier reaction again*
Dropkick: *looks up, smirk. Will meet you halfway, Spider. And she'll even be nice about the energy output*
Spider: *quiet rumbles*
Adroit: *happy sounds* *squeaks as she loses her grip on the nommy thing*
Spider: *catches the snack emitter with a spider leg and offers it back*
Adroit: *happy bwees*
Spider: *and then he's stumbling and gripping both his girls tight as the whole station shakes* *hisssssss!*
Dropkick: *startled curse*
Adroit: *wails*
Spider: *gives sparklet to Dropkick, making sure that the little one still has her energy treat, then transforms to spider* Get under cover! *gone through the plants, comming WakeJumper as he goes*
Dropkick: *will take Adroit to the bar, intending to hide under the wing that is the bartop*
WakeJumper: //Spider, what's going on?!//
Spider: //I was calling to ask you! Dropkick and I have been with Adroit in the garden.// *hisses aloud and over comms as the small station shakes again* //What sector's been hit?//
WakeJumper: //The spaceport!// *transforming to vehicle mode* //Get every able-bodied person who isn't protecting a newspark to the spaceport!//
Spider: //I haven't been here for a vorn. I don't know who's here, and who's got new...// *grumbles and plugs into a port on the wall by the entrance to WakeJumper's family's compound*
WakeJumper: //When I find out who's responsible for attacking us...// *SO mad*
Spider: //Hmm. I don't think this is an attack.//
WakeJumper: //What?! What's going on then?!//
Spider: *leg out to support Katana as his brother slides to a stop beside him* //There's a ragged looking Seeker standing in the bay and looking hopefully at the door. Wait no... it's a high efficiency Aerialbot.//
WakeJumper: //... Aerialbot?// *hurrying to meet whoever it is*
bot: *standing there with wide mauve optics focused on the door. Shivers when he sees it slide open, and then hunkers down like a frightened sparklet. Is slender, ragged, and rough looking, but shows a white background with grey, reddish brown, and pale blue markings*
WakeJumper: *transforms and scans the bot*
bot: *young. Only about as old as Spider and Katana's sparks. Also shows the effects of long shifting for himself*
WakeJumper: *gentle clicks, offers a hand to the youngster* *to Spider* //He's young. Around your age.//
Spider: //Any idea who he is?//
WakeJumper: //Let me check.// *comparing the youngster's spark scan to bots he's met* *to the youngster* You're safe now.
bot: *looks at him hopefully* Had to find the bots.
WakeJumper: *soft chuckle* You found them. //He's Fireflight and Thundercracker's.//
Spider: //So more Old Guard is coming home.//
bot: *tentative smile, and then a quick look and a watching of nothing visible*
WakeJumper: *gently* Let's get you some fuel. Do you have a name? //It looks like it.//
bot: Name? You're WakeJumper. *still watching*
WakeJumper: *nods* I am. What is your name?
bot: *blink blink. Sunny smile* Firecracker.
WakeJumper: *nods* That's a good name.
bot: They gave it to me. *searches for what he'd been watching, and then turns those slightly blank eyes toward WakeJumper* I'm cracked.
WakeJumper: *slight frown, scans Firecracker again*
Firecracker: *no cracks in his processor. However, it is extremely active*
WakeJumper: *gently* You're no more cracked than any of us here. Let's get you some fuel, alright?
Firecracker: *points to the door, through which a few stored jet scooters can be seen drifting away* It's cracked.
WakeJumper: *sighs and calls one of the teams that's out in the debris ring to let them know* *also calls one of the repair teams*
Firecracker: *meeps and shudders as a surge races through his processor*
WakeJumper: *SCANNING*
Firecracker: *another soft meep and holds his head*
WakeJumper: *soothing clicks, will put an arm around Firecracker's shoulders, intending to guide the youngster into the station*
Firecracker: *follows without any argument, or even seeming to notice that he's being led. Expression is blank save for a small hint of pain*
WakeJumper: *more gentle clicks, will alert one of the other medics on the station*
Firecracker: *and then he's shivering slightly again and blinking before WakeJumper gets a quizzical, gentle, and wistful look*
WakeJumper: I've asked one of the other medics to bring some better scanning equipment and a painkiller tab for you.
Firecracker: *lifts brows* Don't know what that is.
WakeJumper: Something that will help make the hurting stop for a little while.
Firecracker: What's hurting? *tilts head and watches something go by*
WakeJumper: ... Wasn't your processor hurting earlier?
Firecracker: *looks at him, confusion apparent* What's "Hurting"?
WakeJumper: ...
Firecracker: *confusion turns to worry* Did I do something bad?
WakeJumper: No, you didn't. *also calls in a request for basic starter data*
Spider and Katana: *meet him at the entrance to the passage, their expressions showing curiosity and curious concern respectively*
WakeJumper: Spider, Katana, this is Firecracker. Firecracker, this is Spider, and Katana.
Firecracker: *interested look, but then meeps again and puts his hand up*
Katana: Are you damaged? *goes to the young flyer's other side to offer support and assistance, and then looks worried as he gets no response*
Spider: *frowns* Damaged?
WakeJumper: *quietly* I think it's something in his processor...
Katana: Do you know who he is? He's not Quadriate stock.
WakeJumper: No, his batch initiators were Old Guard.
Katana: *goes still* Then who raised him?
WakeJumper: *small headshake* I don't know.
Firecracker: Something's wrong with him. Can't hear him right now. Is it because I'm here now? *looks around at the three mechs surrounding him*
WakeJumper: ... Wrong with who?
Firecracker: Him. Not the biggest One. One that called me.
WakeJumper: ...Do you mean Primus?
Firecracker: *bewildered look*
WakeJumper: Was it the Greatest Creator, or one of his children?
Katana: *giving his mech mentor a confused look now*
Firecracker: Not the biggest One.
Spider: Primus is dead.
WakeJumper: *quiet sigh* Let's get you some fuel, Firecracker. We'll find a place for you to sleep later.
Firecracker: *softly, seeming to space out even as he agrees* I'm sleepy.
Katana: *giving Spider a shocked and mortified look*
Spider: *sees no look*
Dropkick: *pinging your comm now, Spider* //What happened? Is it safe to come out?//
Spider: //It's safe. Just an Old Guard bud that got lost somewhere.// *lifts his head* I should get back to Dropkick and Adroit.
WakeJumper: ... You'll need witnesses. *arm around Firecracker's shoulders again*
Spider: We've got a kid. *flips to spider and strides away*
Katana: *gobsmack* They do too?
WakeJumper: *nods* They found the little one during the surge we had earlier.
Katana: *delighted grin* Mech or femme?
WakeJumper: Er... I didn't ask. *sheepish expression is a go*
Katana: Well, Link and Vi have a mech.
WakeJumper: *blink. BLINK*
Katana: His name is Coyote, and he was cuddling Vi when Spider woke me to come check on you. I called for a protoform before I came.
WakeJumper: ... Huh. Who does he take after more?
Katana: *slight smile* We'll find out once we see him in his body.
Firecracker: Say goodbye to peace and quiet.
Katana: o.0
WakeJumper: *nods* Two sparklets...
Firecracker: *looks up at him* Twenty six sparklets.
WakeJumper: *just furthered everyone's vocabulary*
Katana: *alarmed* WakeJumper, what's wrong?
WakeJumper: That's two more than I knew about!
Katana: Are you counting Coyote and Adroit?
WakeJumper: Counting Coyote and Adroit... That brings the count up to twenty five. *frown*
Firecracker: He's sleeping with Eclipse.
Katana: *optics widen, and he's gone, running out of the passage and into the next toward WakeJumper and Eclipse's compound*
WakeJumper: ... *pings Katana's comm with a request for a video feed* *will guide Firecracker to the bar*
Katana: *opens the door to WakeJumper's house and calls* Eclipse?
Eclipse: *can be heard making the fleece blankets on the berth rustle*
Katana: *heads toward the sleeping room and looks in*
Eclipse: *bleary blinking as she turns her head to see who's there*
Katana: *softly* Are you alone, Mentor?
Eclipse: *very small headshake. One hand fumbles to form words* [Spark. Sleep.]
Katana: *intakes softly* Do yo want me to get a protoform?
Eclipse: *slight nod* *optic shutters drooping a bit* [Mech.]
Katana: *softly* I know. Firecracker told us.
Eclipse: *brows up slightly*
Katana: I'll explain when I come back. *goes to the door and pings Hauler*
Hauler: //'S yer dime.//
Katana: //Funny you should quote WakeJumper. I need you to bring a newborn proto to his house. Mech.//
Hauler: *snorts over the comms* //On my way.//
Katana: //Thank you, Hauler. Is Link's son complete now?//
Hauler: //Dropped the proto off before I got called to bring one ta Charger 'n Topkick's place.//
Katana: *soft gasp of joy* //They have one finally?//
Hauler: //Two. Turns out the brat split right after they called me the first time.// *amused snort*
Katana: //Two! And the station's second set of twins!//
Hauler: //We got another set?//
Katana: //You've met Song and Dance!//
Hauler: //Oh.//
Katana: *guesses at the courier bot's confusion* //Did you and Thundara get another one?//
Hauler: //No... Why?// *and then he's knocking on the door*
Katana: *opens the door* Because you usually aren't that forgetful.
Hauler: ... Whatever. *offers the stasis pod with the protoform in it* *quietly* How's Eclipse doin'?
Katana: *slight smile* Come see her. You know how visitors cheer her up, and she might like hearing how the shop's been today.
Hauler: I c'n visit for a little bit. 'Til I get another call. *offers stasis pod again*
Katana: All the sparklets are accounted for. *takes the little pod and turns to lead the visitor across the main room and into the sleeping room*
Hauler: *following Katana*
sparklet: *flies up as they enter. Looks protective! And excited!*
Eclipse: *asleep again*
Katana: *pauses and looks at the agitated newborn* He isn't Quadriate.
Hauler: *blink blink* How can you tell?
Katana: He's not large enough. And he's really bright, but it's different from Quadriate sparks. Also, he's very stable.
sparklet: *hovers watchfully*
Hauler: ... Huh. *looks to Eclipse as she shifts positions slightly*
Katana: *lays the pod down on the floor and gets it running, then looks up at the sparklet*
sparklet: *wavers and weebles, then darts to check on Eclipse as it senses movement*
Eclipse: *soundless sigh, continues to sleep*
Hauler: *quietly and sadly* She ain't gettin' better, is she?
Katana: *looks over and scans automatically, then gasps and scans again as his eyes go wide*
Hauler: *just a bit freaked out now* 'Tana?
Katana: *softly, his voice squeaking with amazement* The damage is gone! *pinging WakeJumper now*
WakeJumper: //I'm on my way.// *knows that if Katana's pinging him and is at his and Eclipse's place, something's happened*
Katana: *nearly hyperventilating. But then he nearly jumps out of his plating as the sparklet, now embodied, makes a quizzical squeak*
WakeJumper: *coming to the sleeping area* What's wrong?
Katana: *absently scoops up the baby and turns to his mentor* Eclipse' spark isn't damaged anymore!
sparklet: :p
WakeJumper: ... *facepalm* I forgot. Spider heard that earlier. *quietly* Katana, Do you know where the spark boosters are?
Katana: Yes. *offers baby* I'll go get one. Which model do you want?
WakeJumper: *as he accepts the offered baby* (XYZ123). It's the only model small enough to fit her.
Katana: Alright. *turns, darts past Hauler, and is gone*
sparklet: *sighs and hangs there like a strapping big rag doll*
WakeJumper: *will scan the little one, making sure that he's healthy*
sparklet: *healthy boy. Could be very distantly related to the family of the second to last Prime*
WakeJumper: *chuckles softly and listens for the little one's name*
sparklet: *notices Hauler looking at him and chirps*
Hauler: *startles* Er... Hi.
WakeJumper: Euberrest is just curious, Hauler.
Euberrest: *looks up at WakeJumper, then reaches toward Eclipse*
WakeJumper: *soft chuckle* Alright. *moves to tuck Euberrest in with Eclipse*
Eclipse: *nearly soundless sigh, will curl up around the sparklet*
Euberrest: *puts his thumb in his mouth. Gives the impression that he's protecting his femme mentor*
WakeJumper: *will gently smooth Eclipse's forehead, and thank the Greatest Creator for helping her*
Katana: *is the sound of a skid on the main room floor*
WakeJumper: *looks over his shoulder*
Hauler: *goes to make sure Katana didn't fall*
Katana: *gives Hauler that slight, quick, but earnest smile as he slips past the bigger mech into the sleeping room. Offers WakeJumper the spark booster*
WakeJumper: Thanks. *will take the offered booster, and move to install it*
Euberrest: *thumb out to frown slightly at his mech mentor as he's moved away from his femme mentor*
WakeJumper: *soothingly, as he gently sedates Eclipse to minimize stress on her spark* I'm just helping Eclipse feel better.
Euberrest: *chirp?*
WakeJumper: I'm installing a spark booster, to help her spark have enough energy to keep her shell going. *getting the booster installed*
Katana: *produces a can of gentle fuel and uncoils the feeding tube. Then holds the drinking spout at the end and waits till WakeJumper is finished the operation*
WakeJumper: *scanning Eclipse and making sure everything's working right and that he hasn't left any tools inside his mate* *will gently close her chestplating up and back away from the berth* There.
Euberrest: *chirp?*
Katana: *offers the drinking tube with the feeding spout attached*
WakeJumper: *will move to get Euberrest situated with the drinking tube*
Eclipse: *makes the blankets rustle as she turns over* *and then she's sitting up* *or trying*
Euberrest: *chirps around the feeding spout, his little brows raising*
Eclipse: *hand to mouth, optics white as she wibbles*
WakeJumper: *reaches to try and support mate while feeding sparklet*
Katana: *finger to his ear* *brows lift*
Euberrest: *watches this, and then turns those curious and seeking optics to his mentors as he drinks and snuggles*
WakeJumper: *will lean and touch his forehead to Eclipse's*
Eclipse: *fingers fumbling a bit as she tries to sign what she wants to say*
Euberrest: *chirps to her softly*
Eclipse: *gently touches the sparklet's back*
WakeJumper: *softly* His name is Euberrest.
Euberrest: *brows lift, and he chirrs softly. And then blinks and looks confused as his chirr pops his spout out*
WakeJumper: Oops... *chuckles and offers the spout again*
Euberrest: *nom! And then those eyes go back to WakeJumper's face and study it*
Katana: Oh dear.
WakeJumper: Hm?
Katana: Link's actually capable of panic attacks.
Link: *wide eyed, stuttering, panic as he stares at the sparklet in Vi's arms*
Coyote: *headtilty*
Vi: *clickstorming to both Link and Coyote* *is just a bit freaked out by Link's reaction*
Link: *tries to speak coherently and fails. Puts his head in his hands*
Vi: *going from just a bit freaked out to very freaked out*
Coyote: *squirm, doesn't like how this big's spark sounds right now*
Spider: *looks in* Do you realize you were broadcasting over the brother band?
Link: *groans*
Vi: Yeeep! *reached her limits for stress and startlement* *begins crying*
Link: *gasps and drops his hands, then holds out his arms to Vi* I'm sorry.
Coyote: *squeals*
Vi: *trembling and crying*
Link: *tries to take femme and sparklet into his arms*
Spider: *grumbles as he's mashed against the door frame by a big blue arm* Lumen...
Lumen: *wobbly and shaky, must comfort brother!*
Spider: *slight squeak as the rest of Lumen squishes him the rest in passing*
Vi: *gonna hide her face on Link and cry some more*
Coyote: *SNUGGABIGS*
Link: *holds them close, grunting quietly as Lumen scoops them all up*
Lumen: *engine rumbles quietly, wobble*
Spider: *goes to move, but then grunts as he's run down by a tawny hover car* *uncomplimentary*
Katana: *fussing softly and getting Lumen to sit down*
Lumen: *bleary blink. Will add Katana to the group in his arms*
Vi: *trembling against Link*
Coyote: *clickstorm, squeak*
Link: *softly* I'm alright, Lumen. It's alright. I'm sorry.
Lumen: *small nod, circulating slowly*
Katana: Lumen, you better sit down. We just got the dents out of the floor. *glances toward Spider grumbling*
Lumen: *wobbles a bit, moves to sit down*
Katana: ...Spider?
Spider: Squashed Spider. *scowls at brothers*
Lumen: *clicks softly, head bobbing a bit*
Coyote: *squeal!*
Link: Shhh, baby. It's alright. Everyone's alright.
Spider: *eeps*
Sunhalo: *just lifted him off the floor and shook him to take out the dents*
Lumen: *quietly* S-Spider... 'Halo... *sags a bit*
Sunhalo: *puts Spider on his feet and steps forward, then gently catches her wordmate and lays him down* Give me Link.
Lumen: *can't quite get his arms to cooperate, but he's trying*
Vi: *doesn't want to be separated from Link right now*
Sunhalo: *gets the others free and sets them on their feet, then takes her shopping bag off her chest and tucks it and its skreeky little contents into Lumen's arms*
Lumen: *muzzy grin, then he's conking out*
Song: *trying to get free of the shopping bag*
Dance: *skreekstorm*
Sunhalo: *gets the mouth of the bag open, then softly tells the twins to stay with their mech batch initiator*
Song: *skreek?*
Dance: *squirms and snuggles Song and mech batch initiator*
Sunhalo: *gives Song a little doll that just fits his tiny hand* *then turns her attention to the others*
Katana: *scanning Link and Vi and speaking to them softly*
Coyote: *holding his toes as the big that sounds like him holds him around his waist* *big-opticked wonder*
Vi: *still trembling slightly*
Sunhalo: *hand on Vi's shoulder* *softly* Are you alright?
Vi: *quietly* Stuff started happening so fast, and then Coyote was there, and... *hiccups*
Link: *shaky sigh* I guess you weren't joking when you said you weren't a kid.
Vi: *unsure whether to take offense or not*
Link: *gentle hand on the back of her head as he puts his forehead to hers*
Vi: *soft sigh*
Link: *deep sigh* Katana, is Coyote made from me?
Katana: No. But he's not made from anyone else in the sector either. Or anyone on record. His only certain relative is Vi.
Vi: ... *boggling now*
Link: ...Then he's mine, because he appeared where I am. Vi and I are batch initiators.
Katana: *smiles his slight smile* I witness.
Spider: *looks over from straightening dents*
Dropkick: *pokes her head in the doorway* I witness, too.
Adroit: *clickstorm*
Spider: *scowl has become a smirk as he forgets bent legs and reaches for his daughter*
Adroit: *happy clicker as she's handed off to the other big that sounds best to her*
Dropkick: 'Halo, you sedated Lu earlier, right?
Sunhalo: *glances over from where she's standing with her hand on Vi's shoulder* No.
Dropkick: ... What's got him so loopy then?
Sunhalo: He's drunk, and he took a hit right over his spark. *pats Vi gently and goes to sit by her mate and sons*
Dropkick: *jaw drops* What?!
Sunhalo: *gently turns Lumen so that the freshly repaired dent shows*
Song: *chirp chirp chirp! Will kissie the owwie*
Dance: *skreekerfit*
Lumen: *soft engine rumble as he sleeps*
Dropkick: *hand over mouth*
Link: *hides his face against his wordmate and son as he remembers the shock of learning what had happened to his brother*
Vi: *wibble, hides face against family*
Coyote: *squeakerfit*
Link: *sighs and lifts his head* *softly* I should bring you back to the Black Dog, Vi.
Vi: *wibbles more, but nods slowly*
Link: *looks at the sparklet* Hold him with his skid plate pointing away from us.
Vi: *will move to reposition the sparklet*
Coyote: *gonna taste test his big's armor, kthx*
Link: We'll be back soon, guys. Spider, you're going to get drunk.
Spider: *IGNORE*
Link: *snorts and brings his wordmate and son back to the Black Dog*
Coyote: *stiffens as things change*
Vi: *meep*
Link: *looks down at the little one to see if he's alright*
Coyote: *FUSS. He leaked oil*
Link: *looks down at divaShot* Could we get a wipe for this oil?
DivaShot: *blink blink* Er, yeah. *goes to get a rag*
Vi: *intakes hitch softly*
Mal: *scrambles up to the back of a nearby chair* o.0 Vi, what's going on?
Vi: *quietly* Link, Lumen, and Katana got a second chance... And then there was a newspark and now he's leaked oil... *circulating*
Mal: ...Why do you and Link have the newspark?
Vi: I don't know... Coyote's related to me, and Link was there when he showed up, so apparently that makes him the mech batch initiator and... *intakes hitch again*
Mal: 0.0 *starts laughing so hard that she falls off the chair and lands in a flip of frilly skirts and kicking feet*
Vi: It's not funny, Mal!
Coyote: *squeal*
Mal: *kicks and hiccoughs hysterically*
DivaShot: *back with the rag, also has a bubble of mild energon* *blinks and looks to Mal* What's so funny?
Mal: *points to her sister and gasps part of the tune from the wedding march*
DivaShot: *BLINK* *looks to Vi and Link*
Link: *quietly* Yeah.
DivaShot: ... *offers the rag and the bubble*
Link: *takes the bubble and give it to Vi, then takes the rag and wipes Coyote off* Is Rhinox here?
DivaShot: He's on the bar.
Coyote: *squeakerfit about this new thing*
Vi: *blinks a bit at the bubble, but then she's looking through her storage for a drinking tube*
Link: *finishes wiping sparklet and gives the rag back, then steps over the tiny puddle and leads Vi toward the bar*
Vi: *getting the bubble situated with the drinking tube, will offer the end of the tube to Coyote*
Coyote: *blink blink. Will try to blow the tube up!*
Link: *guides Vi gently*
Vi: *trying to discourage Coyote from blowing up the tube*
Link: *gets her over to the bar, and then leans to look over it*
Rhinox: *looks up and lifts his brow ridges*
Coyote: *has figured out how to take in fuel, is making the contents of the bubble vanish into his tank!*
Rhinox: *low rumble* Where's Vi?
Vi: *quietly* I'm right here.
Rhinox: Are you up to getting your things yourself?
Vi: *bites her lip for a moment before nodding*
Rhinox: Set my grandson down here and go help her, Link.
Link: *looks at Vi and babby*
Vi: *slight wibble*
Coyote: *finished with noms, will try and blow bubble and drinking tube up again!*
Link: *offers to set the sparklet down beside Rhinox*
Coyote: *blink blink* *chirps at this new thing!*
Rhinox: *rumbles at the little guy and gives him a cloth with blue paint on it*
Coyote: *ooo? What is this? Will nomph on the cloth*
Vi: *very small smile, will reach for Link's hand*
Link: *brings his wife to get stuff* There's room in the compound for more houses.
Vi: *small nod* *intakes hitch again*
Link: Quadrate houses aren't very big, unless you're a Seeker.
Vi: *another small nod, will hide her face against you, Link*
Link: *arm around her, and then looks through the door she stopped at. Eyes widen slightly as he sees the wide, flat room with windows looking into it and the couch bed he brought the only furniture in sight* ...They're bigger than this.
Vi: ... Can we keep the couch bed?
Link: No one else needs it here? *already stepping over to pick it up*
Vi: Everyone else has their own beds...
Link: *smiles at her* You grab everything else?
Vi: *small nod. Will scoot to grab her belongings* *bundles everything in with her favorite yellow blanket, one knitted at Den's factory and which had been thrown in Link's face at one point*
Link: *softly* Got it all?
Vi: Yeah.
Link: *gentle look, and then backs through the door and turns to bring the bed back to the common room*
Vi: *follows*
Rhinox: *is sitting on the top level of the bar and scowling into space when the couple returns*
Coyote: *chirp, chatter, tugs at one of his toes*
Vi: *hands starting to shake*
Link: *props the couch against the bar, then pokes around his pockets till he finds a green mesh shopping bag. Reaches down to pick up his blue smudged son and slip the sparklet into the bag, then pulls the strings and slips his arms through them so that Coyote rests against his back* How's that? *looks over his shoulder*
Coyote: *happy noises*
Rhinox: *noncommittal rumble*
Vi: *accidentally makes some of her shinies rattle against each other*
Link: *looks at her, and then looks at Rhinox. Gentle touch for Vi's helm* I'll be right back. *shifts sideways with couchbed and baby and is gone*
Rhinox: *silently watches him go, then looks up at Vi*
Vi: *squeak*
Rhinox: *brow quirk. Doesn't look happy*
Vi: *intakes hitch*
Rhinox: *slight frown*
Vi: *wibble*
Rhinox: *shudders, and then stands and walks to the edge of the bar to hold out his arms*
Vi: ... *and now your shoulder is going to be cried on, Rhinox*
Rhinox: *crying too. He was never angry at you, Vi. He knows you didn't do anything wrong. He's just been arguing with his boss about having to let you go*
Spazz: *slips up onto the bar and puts a hand on Vi's arm*
Vi: *clicking quietly*
Rhinox: *broad shoulders shake as he hugs Vi and remembers the little trouble causer she used to be*
Vi: *quietly* Didn't mean t' get a kid...
Rhinox: *muffled choke*
Spazz: *softly* He's not mad at you.
Vi: *intakes hitch, and then she's crying again*
Spazz: He's been sitting in the corner, arguing with Primus since he first got an inkling of what happened. *more softly* Because he doesn't want to let you go.
Vi: *wings rattling now*
Spazz: *looks at her sparkmate* It wasn't so hard with Showtime. She was older, and she already had a dad somewhere else.
Rhinox: *hides his face*
Vi: *very quiet clicks. Still a bit scared*
Spazz: What's scaring you now?
Rhinox: *looks up, frowning with concern*
Vi: *wibbling* I... I don't know the first thing about bein' a mom.
Spazz: Join the club.
Vi: *more wibble*
Spazz: We're viri, Vi. Even with our sparks we don't have much mother programming. Why do you think it's Vern that carries the runts around all the time?
Vi: *gonna hug one arm now* *quietly, to Rhinox* Did the Boss say anything about Eclipse bein' okay? *remembers what Link told her once about the femme who speaks in sign language*
Rhinox: *looks up with surprise from wiping his optics, then glances to one side with a quizzical frown* *brow quirk* She's weak, but her spark's not damaged anymore.
Spazz: *slight grin*
Vi: *quietly* Good. It'd be weird to be in a reality with WakeJumper and not Eclipse.
Rhinox: They've got a new son. *shakes his head, mouth turning up slightly at the corners*
Vi: *blink blink* ... *snickerfit*
Rhinox: He's not of their coding. He's distantly related to someone who's passed on... *frown* *snort!* WakeJumper's fellow medic is named Knockout.
Vi: ... *snickerfit* Like that one red guy who came in the other day? *planning mischief if yes*
Rhinox: He's probably got a nose.
Spazz: *facepalms and sniggers at mate*
Vi: ... *bratty smirk*
Rhinox: *sudden amusement all over that broad and homely face before he looks over toward the sound of Link's arrival* *soft snort, and offers Vi a pretty medallion teleporter* Don't be a stranger.
Vi: *hugs Rhinox and accepts the teleporter* I promise I'll visit as often as I can.
Rhinox: *grins and gently slaps her on the shoulder*
Spazz: Keep your intakes clean.
Link: *comes over and gently puts an arm around his little silver lady* We get to keep the house with Katana. Spider and Dropkick get WakeJumper and Eclipse's old place with two rooms, and Wake and 'Clipse just got a new house delivered over by the Wake.
Vi: *surprised squeak*
Rhinox: *quizzical look*
Link: *small smile that teases slightly* I thought you'd feel more at home with a little bit of crazy in your life.
Rhinox: Katana's crazy?
Link: Just a mad scientist. *quiet chuckle* He's made from old Perceptor, and tries to find his lab without bothering to wake up first.
Rhinox: *relaxes and chuckles* Ah.
Vi: *gonna snuggle against you now, Link*
Coyote: *itty bitty snore*
Link: Let's go home. Knockout's mate is dying to meet someone her size.
Vi: *small nod*
Link: *smiles at his mentor in laws, then brings his wordmate a little ways away from the bar* Maybe having a Kriti around will help things feel more homey right away. *brings her home*
((Written with
random_xtras))