TPF, MV, and the Backwater Nexus. Various Places. Waking From A Dream

[microbots]

((Warning: FEEELS))



Cody: *laying on the human size couch down in the bunker, little Charlie conked out on his chest. Is alone in the room with his nephew except for Sabrina and Orion*

Sabrina: *quietly reading a story out loud to Orion, even though she's starting to nod off as well*

Orion: *intense frown of concentration and focus as his moustache binky moves rapidly*

Sabrina: *doing her best not to get distracted by the mustache binky. Continues reading out loud, reading slowing down as she nods off, until she's fallen silent*

Cody: Ugh. Sleeping baby magic. *pries a hand up from between his side and the back of the couch, then uses it to rub his face* Though I think that stuff you and Blades made for lunch isn't helping.

Sabrina: *quiet little sigh*

Orion: *little noise to the Cathy doll Daddy gave him*

Cathy doll: I love you!

Sabrina: *slight start, bleary blinking* Huh?

Cody: That falafel stuff. *rubs face some more*

Sabrina: *confused* What about the falafel?

Cody: *chuckle* It's putting me to sleep.

Sabrina: *small frown as she mentally goes over all of the parts of the meal, from the homemade chickpea balls, to the tabouli she had Blades help her make, to the pita bread and the homemade hummus* ... There wasn't anything in any of the meal components that would've caused sleepiness, Cody. *just a bit confused still*

Cody: *chuckles again* Good food'll do it. *turns his head to look at her, and then frowns uncertainly*

Sabrina: ...Oh. *moving to try and sit up a bit more, will try and find where she left off on the story* *pauses after a few moments to look up* Is something wrong?

Cody: *rubbing his eyes now* No. Nothing's wrong. So have you thought about what Optimus Prima said about getting you ID and citizenship?

Sabrina: *small nod* If I'm not able to return home, then it's for the best that I do become a legal citizen, with proper identification.

Cody: *curious look* But this is home. I mean. Blades is here.

Sabrina: It's not where I'm from originally... It's not my reality of origin. *quietly* My parents and sisters are back there.

Cody: But lots of people leave their families and move somewhere else. *confused expression*

Sabrina: Not everyone who moves away from their families suddenly winds up in a reality that never had access to the multiverse, Cody. This reality's a closed reality... meaning nobody should be able to leave it or gain access to it.

Cody: *uncertainly but not argumentatively* So?

Sabrina: *quieter* And they're also not physically part of their siblings...

Cody: *expression changes to concern*

Orion: *spits out binky to make Cathy doll laugh*

Sabrina: *startles and reaches to grab the binky*

Cathy: My name's Cathy! I love Orion.

Sabrina: *very soft "d'aww"*

Cody: *looking to make sure everything's alright. Starts to grin, but then startles and looks over the back of the couch as Blades rushes in*

Blades: *pauses, gasping for air as he spots Sabrina on her bed* You... you're here. You're here.

Sabrina: *startles badly* Huh?!

Blades: *wibbling badly and fighting back sobs* I can't feel you!

Orion: *staring at Daddy, tiny hand clenched on Cathy's dress*

Sabrina: *getting up now, worried* You were able to feel me before? *will approach Blades, intending to put a hand on his leg*

Blades: *down on his knees* *softly* It was just a little thing. But it's... it's gone.

Sabrina: *very slight wibble* *hand on Blades' leg*

Blades: *quietly, as he leans protectively over her* But we've been so happy together.

Sabrina: *hiding her face against Blades and thinking back over the past two weeks. All the nights on the roof watching the stars, the days cooking for the Burns clan, exploring the island, learning more about some of the stories Blades had told her in the Nexus, discussing plans for when Orion was older and would be going to school...* *softly* I'm scared, Blades.

Blades: Your arm's not even all better yet.

Sabrina: *breath hitches* Ratchet was going to take a look to see if he could do anything... *starting to tremble with fright*

Cody: *sits up with a startled sound and stares at Sabrina*

Sabrina: *startles at that, hiding against Blades even more*

Cody: Blades, do you see that?

Blades: *shutters optics* No. I don't see anything!

Sabrina: *quietly* I can hear Rachel... I don't want to go.

Blades: *shaking but not saying anything now* What if I never see you again?

Sabrina: *trying not to cry, but tears are falling on your leg now, Blades* Then I'll look for you. I won't stop looking until I've found you. There's not a power in the 'verse that can stop me. *will move to kiss her husband*

Blades: *hands steady as he lifts her up* I'll go to the house. I'll wait.

Cody: *hand over his mouth as he holds little Charlie close*

Sabrina: I'll come as soon as I can. *closes her eyes*

Blades: *kiss her gently, and then gasps as he stares at his empty hand*

Cody: Orion vanished! *up off the couch in full rescue mode*

Blades: *lowers his hand to show the empty clothes in it* *quietly* I'll wait.


Meanwhile, in another reality


Skydive: *waking up with a soft sound*

Rachel: Easy, sweetheart. *gentle hand strokes Skydive's helm, and then she looks down at the little figure in her arms* So you're Orion.

Orion: *sucking his glossa so hard that he's making squeaky sounds. Is still gripping Cathy's dress*

Skydive: *optics powering on* Nnn... Blades?

Rachel: Sorry, sweetie. Just me. And this little guy.

Cathy: I'm Cathy!

Rachel: ...And Cathy.

Orion: *squeak squeak squeak*

Skydive: *gonna try sitting up*

Rachel: *steps aside, smiling*

Fireflight: *hands on sister to help her up* I'm glad you're okay, 'Dive.

Skydive: *quietly* Where's Orion? *worried and distracted*

Rachel: Right here. Can't you hear the squeaking? *looks up as Silverbolt leans over her*

Silverbolt: Aww, he's all glittery!

Skydive: *turns her head*

Orion: *squeak squeak squeak, frowwwwwn. Hold onto his dolly, who this nice lady has snuggled against him*

Skydive: *will reach for her son* *quietly* I have to get to the Nexus... Blades said he'd wait for me there.

Rachel: You need rest, Beanie. *gives baby and dolly, though*

Skydive: Blades will worry if I don't show up though, Rachel... *worry, fret*

Rachel: *quick scan, and then turns to Silverbolt* *quietly* You and Ferdy go with her.

Silverbolt: *nods*

Fireflight: Okay. *grin*

Skydive: *trying to find her PINpoint*

Rachel: Scary's going to have a fit about missing you waking up. But she had a date with her ink artist.

Skydive: ... Ink artist?

Fireflight: Yup. She's getting a couple of snakes done on one leg. I don't know why though. *careful shrug as she supports Skydive and Orion*

Skydive: ...

Rachel: Yup, Beanie. She did it. Snakes on a plane.

Skydive: If my hands weren't full, I'd facepalm.

Rachel: *grins and steps back* I'll tell the Chief where you are.

Skydive: Alright. *very slight grin* I met his counterpart in Blades' reality, and your counterpart as well... I'll tell you about them when I get back.

Rachel: Alright. *looks at the squeaking, and then reaches into subspace. Comes up with a flashing light glitter binky and sticks it in the squeaking*

Orion: *eyebrows!*

Skydive: ... And somehow, that's an improvement over the mustache binky. *chuckles, transforms to alt mode as Fireflight and Silverbolt do the same. Then brings her sisters and son to the Nexus*

Lumen: *jumps eight foot and comes down furpoof*

Felicity: *meeps*

Sabrina: Sorry, Lumen. *wincing slightly*

Susana: ... *facepalm*

Lumen: Good grief, a little warning next time!

Susana: It's not like we meant to PINpoint right where you were. *so stern*

Blades: *comes running down the street in his human form* Brina! Brina! Orion!

Sabrina: Blades! *moving to meet her husband halfway as Lumen shakes himself with a bibbling sound*

Blades: *arms around wife and baby as he cries and puts his forehead to Sabrina's*

Sabrina: *crying and hiding her face against Blades'*

Felicity: *moves to give hugs!*

Blades: *slightly sharply, as he turns his head to look at Felicity* Careful. Don't crush Orion.

Felicity: *quiet clicks*

Sabrina: *gonna rest her head against your shoulder now, Blades*

Susana: She was asking for you as soon as she was awake, Blades.

Blades: *shaky breath and cuddles his wife and son. But then blinks and looks down at that son* *soft breath of shock* ...Orion?

Orion: *looks up quizzically over his moving and blinking binky, moving to see why Daddy said his name. Is a medium green color, covered in glitter, but with orange-yellow optics similarly shaped to Skydive's. On his back is the beginnings of a rotor*

Blades: *quietly* You're a bot!

Orion: *binky moving rapidly as he tries to work out why Daddy is squishy*

Sabrina: *quietly* He probably changed back when I woke up...

Blades: *gently strokes his son's little head, but then frowns with confusion and touches Cathy*

Lumen: *looks at Susana* Um. What's going on? Who's the sparklet?

Susana: *quietly* He's Blades and Sabrina's son.

Lumen: *ears stand up with surprise* Did they get LOLed?

Susana: I don't think so. I think he's like your boss' kid.

Lumen: A toybox baby?

Susana: Looks like it.

Blades: Oh no he isn't. I saw him born! *kisses glittery son*

Orion: *binky slows down a little as he looks up at Daddy*

Susana: ... Bhuh? *looks to Sabrina, who nods*

Sabrina: *is also blushing a bit*

Felicity: *blink blink* You mean like humans do? *curious*

Blades: *softly, his eyes on Orion* She was human there.

Susana: ... That's probably why we couldn't feel her.

Slingshot: *is a call from overhead, and then she's transforming to root mode and landing. One leg is wrapped in a pair of glittering snakes*

Felicity: Scarlett! *glompasister*

Slingshot: Ack! Lemme change, dope.

Felicity: *huggasister, then lets Slingshot go*

Slingshot: *calls her a few more rude but not crude names before transforming. Is wearing her mermaid dress. And the snakes are still on her leg, though smaller now and their glitter has moved to her eyelids* Who's the guy glommed onto Beanie?

Felicity: Her husband. *grin*

Scarlett: *eyebrows go up, and she gets her "haze the n00b" look* Oh really?

Susana: Scarlett, be nice.

Felicity: His name is Blades. *nodnod*

Scarlett: *razzes Susana even as she frowns* Why're his eyes turning yellow?

Sabrina: *quietly* He's a Dreamer. *doesn't want to let Blades go*

Blades: *small sound of discomfort* Could... could somebody take the baby?

Orion: *worry frowwwn. BinkyGO!*

Susana: *moving to do so*

Sabrina: *quietly, to Blades* I'll come back every day. *trying not to cry now*

Blades: *wobbles and falls to one knee as his eyes go tiger golden. And then there's a flash and he squeaks as he suddenly feels Sabrina clearly*

Sabrina: *startled squeak*

Scarlett: The *deleted*??? *is squishing Felicity*

Felicity: *also squeaks, and then she's blinking with confusion*

Blades: *quietly, and dizzily* I... think I'm all here now. *falls on face*

Sabrina: *dizzy wobble, has to sit down* *butt on ground*

Lumen: Awk! *scoots to keep Orion from falling as Susana topples*

Felicity: *butt on ground, manages to send a non-injury emergency ping to Rachel*

Scarlett: *falls with Felicity, showing her happy face boxers in the process* *unprintable!*

Felicity: Scary... That's bad words. *so out of it*

Scarlett: What the *deleted* is this? Payback for when I bonded 'Maru?

Rachel: *comes running down the sidewalk* What happened?

Susana: *loopily* Dunno... Scary saw Blades' eyes change color, though.

Felicity: Blades 'n 'Brina're dizzy...

Rachel: *down on one knee by Blades, since he's the least upright. Scans the prone man, and then blinks and scans again* This guy's not dreaming.

Sabrina: *confused* Bhuh?

Rachel: *gently turns him over and wipes dust off his face as she scans him more closely* ... He's an Exile.

Sabrina: ... *trying to process, fails, gonna snuggle husband since that's all she can think to do currently*

Lumen: *babydancing with Orion* But that reality's closed off. What happened?

Rachel: I don't know. *looks around at the sisters* You guys go on home. I'll ask your dad to help me get 'Brina and Blades back.

Scarlett: *uncomplimentary, but tries to struggle to her feet without letting go a headlock on Felicity*

Susana: *grab a sister's foot, fumbles with her PINpoint until she manages to bring Scarlett and Felicity home*

Orion: *two handfuls of Lumen fur as he tries to look at the man's face*

Lumen: At least he ended up with people who're gonna be good for him. *meaning Blades*

Rachel: Yeah, buddy. *pings Patrick*

Patrick: //This is Patrick.//

Rachel: //You busy?// *knows it's around noon time back in the reality*

Patrick: //The library's empty, aside from the other librarians. Why?//

Rachel: //Blades just went Exile, and he and 'Brina are one now. Help me get them and Orion home?//

Patrick: //... I'll be right there.//

Rachel: //Alright. Standing by.//

Patrick: *arriving a few moments later* *is also asking Primus about the situation*

Rachel: *over to Lumen and asking for the glittery little binky mover*

Orion: *still holding on*

Lumen: *gentle rumble, will carefully extract bitty fingers from his fur*

Patrick: *quietly* Blades couldn't deal with letting Sabrina go again... He willed himself to follow her.

Rachel: *quick look toward Patrick, her eyes wide even as she tries to help get Orion off Lumen's fur and the sparklet clings uncertainly* *softly* Oh no...

Patrick: They had a slight bond when Sabrina was Dreaming... *moving to help get the bitty*

Orion: *sees interesting new person and lets go of Lumen to try and get a better look at the new guy* *binky is racing!*

Lumen: Blades' reality is at peace. He told me about where he comes from once...

Patrick: *gonna click and talk quietly to the glittery bitty*

Orion: *optics widen, and then crinkle in a little grin. Small sounds*

Rachel: *quietly, as she gets hold of Blades and Sabrina and moves them so that she can PINpoint them all back to base* I bet his team's still not happy to see him go.

Patrick: *quietly* I would be surprised if they were.

Rachel: *sighs* Thanks, Lu. Chief, let's just get these guys home.

Patrick: *nod of agreement as Lumen steps back* Let's go. *hand on Rachel's shoulder*

Rachel: *knees against Sabrina, who is laying tucked by Blades. Brings everyone back*

Lumen: C'mon, Estel, Bandit, let's go home. *will move to head home*

Estel: *comes over from the yard she'd wandered into to eat grass, calling softly in reply as Bandit watchfully brings up the rear*


Meanwhile, back in Blades' reality of origin


Ratchet: *working frantically, is trying to jumpstart Blades* Come on, don't give up now!

Cody: *arms around little Charlie as he watches with a frown of fear and concern* Cade, let go of me. I'm not going anywhere.

Cade: *just holds his brother's arm tighter and inwardly prays harder as he watches the desperate battle to bring Blades back*

Heatwave: *head in a corner, is praying that Ratchet will be able to bring Blades back* *has given up on the prayer the pastor taught him and is just talking to God like he'd talk to a CO*

Whirl: *watches the shoulders of the friend who saved her from the the bitey-dizzy-making ropes shake, her single optic bright with concern. Puts her lone hand on his back and calls to him softly and wordlessly*

Cody: *to Ratchet* Try again!

Ratchet: *trying again, and if this doesn't work, he'll try one of the other methods for jumpstarting someone* Clear!

Blades: *barely jolts, and the colour of his body is fading*

Cade: He's changing colour. Why is he changing colour? *looks wildly and disbelievingly toward what sounds like a sob from Heatwave*

Ratchet: *getting something that resembles oversized jumper cables out of storage, and then transforming to alt mode* Get his chest open. Maybe a jolt directly to the spark chamber will be enough...

Optimus: -Ratchet!-

Ratchet: -Optimus, Blades is fading!-

Optimus: *softly, her feelings of sad resignation clear over the bond* -He's gone. He chose to go. You can't bring him back.-

Ratchet: *so shocked his lights and sirens go off* -What?!-

Charlie: *squawks with surprise as his daddy and uncle stare at the medic*

Optimus: -He needed to be with his mate and sparklet. He's gone.-

Cade: *flinches as Dani slams into the room*

Ratchet: *sirens cut out, and the medic sags on his shocks* -I hope he finds peace, wherever he's gone.-

Optimus: *gently* -Primus says he's alright. And that someone's come to complete the team.-

Cade: Ratchet, what're you doing? Don't stop!

Ratchet: -...The feral youngbot?- *quietly, to Cade* There's nothing more that can be done...

Cade: *angrily* Whaddya mean, nothing more???

Dani: You can't just give up!

Ratchet: *quietly* Blades chose to go.

Cade: I don't believe it! He wasn't suicidal!

Optimus: -Feral youngbot? ...- *chagrin* -I have to go. Someone just slagged Ironhide off.-

Ratchet: -I'll show you images of her later... Sic Flashpoint on Ironhide.- *to Cade* He wanted to be with his wife and son.

Cade: *stops, a look of incredulous anger on his face*

Cody: *quietly* Oh.

Dani: But Sabrina and Orion...

Cody: They vanished.

Dani: *trying to make sense of this*

Heatwave: *shoulders shaking more as he mourns*

Cody: *shaky breath and rubs his little nephew's back* Yeah. They vanished back to Sabrina's reality. *more quietly* And Blades went there too?

Cade: That doesn't make sense. Don't be stupid!

Ratchet: I believe so, Cody. Though I'm not certain how.

Cade: You're just making excuses because you're a sucktastic doctor!

Ratchet: *transforms swiftly, optics very bright with the force of his upset and grief* Cade Burns, hold your tongue.

Cade: *deleted!*

Heatwave: *quietly* Knock it off, Cade.

Cade: *whirls to glare at his partner, hands clenched* Shut up!

Heatwave: *turns to look at his partner, his optics bright with distress* What would you do if someone took Haley and the boys away?

Cade: That's diff...

Heatwave: Like scrap, it is! He was... IS a person. He's just as crazy about his wife as you are about yours! Lay off Ratchet and let Blades go! *turns and stomps out, Whirl a worried shadow at his side*

Cade: *speechless* *grabs his son and storms out, silently raging*

Ratchet: *moving to get Blades' shell*

Cody: *looks at Dani, absently aware of his father stepping out of the elevator after Cade's gotten onto it*

Dani: *moving to stop Ratchet and argue that since Blades was a part of THIS team, he should be buried on Griffin Rock*

Ratchet: *arguing that Blades' shell should go into the Well of All Sparks*

Chief Burns: *quietly, as he stops beside Cody and looks at Ratchet* What's going on?

Ratchet: *to Chief Burns, is still in a staredown with Dani* Blades... Has passed on.

Chief Burns: *jaw firms* *still quiet* What happened? Where are Sabrina and Orion?

Ratchet: Apparently, Sabrina and Orion returned to Sabrina's reality of origin... Blades... Chose to follow.

Chief Burns: *frowns as he tries to make sense of this, one hand going to Dani's shoulder as the other rests on Cody's* Is that possible?

Ratchet: So it would appear.

Chief Burns: "Appear"? So you're not sure?

Ratchet: Optimus is the one who informed me.

Chief Burns: Is she sure?

Optimus: *calling from the screen in the control room*

Cody: *pulls away from his dad to go look*

Ratchet: She's sure. *looks to where Cody is heading* And she's calling here.

Chief Burns: *turns to follow his son*

Dani: *still scowling at Ratchet as the medic moves to answer the comm line*

Optimus: *looks down at the team from the screen* *gently* //Ratchet. Leave Blades' shell there for now, so that his team can say goodbye. His spark may still be online, but he isn't coming back here.//

Megatron: *peeeeks past her shoulder, his optics wide with curiosity*

Ratchet: *quietly* Understood, Optimus.

Optimus: *turns to the humans* //I'm sorry. I know how it feels to lose a teammate.//

Chief Burns: *nods. Quietly* Thank you, Optimus.

Cody: *silent agreement with his father*

Dani: *doing her best not to wibble as she also nods*

Ratchet: *to Optimus* Let me know when Ironhide's done having a temper tantrum...

Optimus: //He's finished. He's also now on Dallas' blacklist.//

Ratchet: ... *facepalm* -How is David?-

Optimus: //I'll explain when you come home. And David's...// *looks over her shoulder* //Watching Scattershot in disbelief.//

Ratchet: Primus preserve us, Mistfire and Scattershot are visiting?

Optimus: //They've come to pick up a youngling.//

Dani: *quietly* I want one.

Chief Burns: *looks at his daughter with surprise, but then with understanding. Her heart is broken, and she feels abandoned. She wants something new to love* *softly* You have to talk about this with Taylor.

Dani: *clenches jaw and looks steadily up at the alien woman on the screen*

Ratchet: *quietly, to Optimus* Are there any younglings who need fostering?

Optimus: //We don't have any of Blades' CNA to make a sparklet based on his code.//

Chief Burns and Cody: *eyes both go wide at the thought that such a thing is even worth mentioning*

Dani: *quietly* Blades wanted to go. We shouldn't try and keep any of him here. Just give me a baby.

Optimus: *looks over her shoulder again. Then takes something* //Thank you, Viisaus.// *turns back with a tiny, big eyed black sparklet in her arms* //This is Nightstrike. She wasn't interested in any of the potential parents here. And she's fond of the colour yellow.//

Nightstrike: *stubby little arms wrapped around the neck of a new yellow and green knitted dog as she blinks groggy silver optics at the images on the screen*

Chief Burns: *softly* So she'd like Sundog.

Ratchet: *chuckles softly* Is she a flier?

Optimus: *slight smile* //Non Quadriate multi-changer.//

Cody: *softly* What does that mean?

Ratchet: It means that she's got more than one alternate mode, and that her coding is from bots who did not start life in the Quadriate Colonies.

Cody: So she's a triple changer like Heatwave?

Optimus: //No. She was born with the strength and ability to take on multiple modes. Perceptor thinks she may have above average IQ as well.//

Nightstrike: *MASSIVE yawn of no teefs* *sighs and hides her face against her new buddy*

Ratchet: Shall we see if she's interested in meeting the Burns family?

Chief Burns: *looks at his daughter* *quietly* If Taylor agrees, will she do?

Heatwave: *coming in silently with Sundog snuggled in his arms and Whirl hugging his shadow*

Boulder: *wibbling still as he comes in after his team leader*

Nightstrike: *suddenly looks up and sits forward. Storm of tiny clicks as she stares at the screen, and one bitty hand comes away from her dog to reach toward the yellow she can see*

Dani: I'll go call Taylor.

Chief Burns: *quiet and earnest* Are you sure, Dani? Is this really the time you want to make a decision like this?

Dani: *quietly* I'm sure.

Chief Burns: *softly* Alright. *lets go of her shoulder*

Sundog: *distracted from sad bigs by little clickings of friendship. Clicks, squeaks, and skreeks back!*

Dani: *goes to call Taylor*

Nightstrike: *wants wants! WANTS!*

Optimus: *trying to sooth upset bitty!*

Ratchet: *hand to mouth to muffle snickers at the cute*

Optimus: *a trifle grimly* //Whether she becomes Dani's daughter or not, your family is gaining a new member, Charlie.//

Chief Burns: *looks back at the screen, frowning with concern as Sundog starts to add his upset sounds to Nightstrike's*

Ratchet: Let's get the ground bridge open, then.

Optimus: //Yes. Jazz, ground bridge to Griffin Rock.//

Dani: *hurries back. Amusement mixed with her sorrow* We can use Orion's things. Taylor's buying some little pink outfits.

Sundog: *skreeks and hides at sound of the ground bridge coming to life in the other room*

Boulder: *soothing sounds, though he's still wibbling*

Heatwave: *a bit gruff as he talks to Whirl*

Whirl: *hand on Friend's arm as she peeks at the little one. Clicks very quietly in reply to Friend*

Heatwave: *gentle patpat*

Ratchet: *looking toward the bridge now*

Chief Burns: *hands on his present children again as he too watches the bridge*

Nightstrike: *is heard before she's seen. Squealing!*

Optimus: *hurries from the bridge and quickly scans the present humans, looking for Dani. Ratchet will feel her concern for the upset of the newspark in her hands*

Ratchet: *tips head toward Dani as the young woman hurries forward*

Optimus: *sinks gracefully to the floor in a Japanese lady style sitting position, then lowers her cupped hands and their very upset tiny payload so that Dani can reach*

Heatwave: *will set the wiggly Sundog he's holding down on the floor*

Dani: *reaches for Nightstrike*

Sundog: *darts up beside Dani, his optics wide*

Nightstrike: *stops crying and frowns up at the woman who is reaching for her*

Boulder: *holding his "breath" as he watches*

Dani: *gently clucks her tongue*

Heatwave: *watching, one hand absently on Whirl's shoulder*

Nightstrike: *frown deepens as her gaze flicks from Dani to Sundog, and then she sighs and hugs her doll. Likes these peeps. Will let the lady pick her up*

Dani: *will balance Nightstrike on her hip with a small smile* *absently notices how warm and alive... oh, Lordy, how TINY, Nightstrike is*

Nightstrike: *blinks as Sundog stoops down to gently kissy her on the cheek, then sighs and grumbles as she hides her face against the nice lady's side. Conks out, drops her doll, and gropes for it in her sleep*

Ratchet: *gets a picture of the cute*

Sundog: *gets dolly, and then offers it to Dani, making concerned little skreeks*

Boulder: *quietly and hoarsely* D'awww.

Graham: *wipes his glasses*

Dani: *will cradle Nightstrike in her arms* Hey, Sundog... This is Nightstrike.

Sundog: *talks softly to the bitty bot and makes sure she has her dolly. Then remembers that he has a dolly and that he hasn't had a nap yet, and turns to run back to Heatwave*

Heatwave: *will stoop to scoop the seeklet up*

Sundog: *pat pats Unca Heatwave, asking for his dolly*

Heatwave: *will get Sundog's dolly out and offer it*

Sundog: *takes dolly, and then cuddles close with a sigh*

Boulder: *watches this and wibbles*

Optimus: *softly* Dani?

Dani: *softly* Taylor's going to be here soon... I think I'll see if he wants to stay the night.

Optimus: *nods* *and then slowly extends a hand in offer of a hug of comfort*

Dani: *accepts the offered hug without a word*

Optimus: *softly* Blades will be in good company. I have reason to believe that he's gone to the same place as one of my own team.

Dani: *quietly* One of your team?

Optimus: *nods* Cliffjumper was killed by Starscream, but his young clone says that he was brought back in another reality. The Optimus that Rockface has described closely resembles what Sabrina said of her father.

Dani: *quietly* Blades told me he met Sabrina's father...

Optimus: *lifts brows* He did?

Dani: *nods* Apparently, Sabrina's father came to where they were with cooking magazines...

Optimus: ...You lost me.

Ratchet: ... Likewise.

Dani: It was a set up by a friend of Sabrina's, from what Blades told me...

Optimus: In another reality? *so confused*

Dani: Blades said it was a place between realities... He called it a Nexus.

Optimus: *exchanges a glance and startled understanding with her husband. Now some of what she was told makes sense* Ahhh. I see.

Nightstrike: *soft little newborn request for quiet cuddles*

Dani: *will cuddle Nightstrike*

Optimus: *softly and kindly* Why don't you go sit and rest so that she can sleep?

Dani: *small nod, will go over and sit by Blades' shell*

Optimus: *watches her, and then watches as Heatwave says something gruff about calling Chase and Bullet and walks back to the control room*

Chief Burns: *quietly* Thank you, Optimus and Ratchet.

Ratchet: *small nod, moves to put an arm around Optimus* *quietly* If you should require further assistance, please don't hesitate to call.

Optimus: *intakes quietly and nods* I'll see what I can find out about Whirl.

Chief Burns: *looks the way that Heatwave went and nods, wondering if Dani will ever come to work with this second chopper bot*

Optimus: *touches him gently on the shoulder, and then straightens and does the same for Boulder before voicing a quiet farewell and bringing Ratchet back through the bridge and home*

((written with random_xtras))