GRV. Fort Lamont. Changing of the Guard Part 2

[dens_extra_pups]

Continued from here



a week later


Smokescreen: //Uh, Ratchet? You know that bad dino Skymine and Grimlock were talking about?//

Ratchet: ... //What about it, Smokescreen?//

Smokescreen: //Your kids just stopped another invasion of Earth.//

Ratchet: //...//

Smokescreen: //It was some big blue-blooded soldier drone from a race we'd never encountered before.//

Ratchet: //... Did someone get samples?//

Smokescreen: //Actually, yeah. Sludge did. The others beat it sensless and then stuffed it full of explosives and dropped it down the crack in the ocean floor that it came out of.// *pause* //Oh yeah. We disposed of that nuclear reactor.//

Ratchet: //... Two avians with one projectile.// *impressed*

Smokescreen: //You mean "stone"?//

Ratchet: //...Is that how the expression goes?//

Smokescreen: //Yeah. You get the avians with a stone. Like when Blackout dropped that one on those muscovies the other day to make hog bait.//

Ratchet: //Ah. I'll see about getting things set up for when everyone is back, then.//

Smokescreen: //Alright. Um...// *pause* //Do you know how to nullify *rattles off a chemical formula that is deadly poison*?//

Ratchet: //...Where did you encounter that?// *worried*

Smokescreen: //It's the thing's blood.//

Ratchet: *quickly checking her databases* *names off a few very strong chemicals that might work to counteract the blood*

Smokescreen: //Gotcha. Thanks. I better go, Sludge is getting a little frantic about keeping people out of this.//

Ratchet: //Keep me updated on the situation.//

Smokescreen: //Sure. Smoke out.//

Ratchet: *going to worry about the away team, even as she moves to go check on Diehard Prime's team*

Whirl: *comes running down the hall, cackling insanely as she heads for the front door*

Ratchet: *going to try and catch Whirl now*

Whirl: *dodges* Denied!

Ratchet: Whirl, come back here!

Whirl: *runs faster*

Ratchet: *frustrated sound* *comms some of the remaining bots on base* //Whirl is on the loose.//

voice: *quiet, deep, so familiar* Whirl. Come back.

Whirl: *stops dead in her tracks, rotors drooping* Aw *bleep*.

Ratchet: *startles at the voice, will move to investigate*

Diehard: *standing there, leaning against the frame of the door to his room. Quiet blue optics gaze at Ratchet quizzically*

Ratchet: *so surprised. Will scan you, Diehard* So, you've woken up.

Diehard: *lifts his brows slightly* Yes. *weak, but running steadily*

Ratchet: *small nod* That's good.

Drift: *quietly, from where she's sitting on the end of the bed* We wouldn't have gotten up if Whirl hadn't tried to escape.

Diehard: *nods wordless agreement with the white femme*

Ratchet: *will move to scan Drift as well, nodding as she sees that the white femme is also recovering from the energon deprivation* Do you both feel up to having some energon?

Diehard: *still that quiet, enquiring study of the yellow femme* Yes, please.

Drift: *small nod*

Ratchet: Alright. I'll go get you some.

Elita-One: *coming to see why Ratchet's been hovering around the hospital so much*

Mikaela: *meeps as she comes out of the hospital with a piece of silicon treat for Bumblebee and nearly runs into the older femme* Sorry, sir! Oh, wait. What're you doing here?

Elita-One: I came to see what has Ratchet's attention so thoroughly.

Mikaela: *poker face* Ratchet's attention? What do you mean?

Elita-One: Why is she holed up in here?

Mikaela: She works and sleeps here.

Elita-One: She hasn't left in a week, Mikaela.

Mikaela: She comes out to eat, and to argue with Ironhide and Wheeljack.

Elita-One: *gives you such a studious and stern look, Mikaela* She's normally not this focused on her projects.

Mikaela: o.0 Are we talking about the same woman?

Elita-One: She was starting to relax, and then something happened a week ago, and I haven't seen or heard from her since... And who is "Whirl"?

Whirl: *from behind Mikaela, where she's still standing* Me. What's it to ya, toots?

Elita-One: *looks to Whirl* I wasn't aware of any new arrivals. It's a pleasure to meet you, Whirl.

Mikaela: *sees Ratchet come into the hall from the energon storeroom* Uhhh...

Whirl: Sure, whatever. Who the *beeeeep* are you?

Elita-One: *blinks a bit at Whirl's language* My designation is Elita-One.

Ratchet: *"meep!" expression upon hearing Elita's voice*

Diehard: *looks into the hall from where he's still leaning* Whirl, go back to your room.

Whirl: Awwww, boss!

Diehard: Please.

Whirl: *turns and mopes off*

Mikaela: *trying to sneak away now*

Elita-One: *boggling* *quietly* Just what is going on here?

Diehard: *looks toward the voice of the pink and golden woman* Whirl is damaged. Please don't take offence. *that voice. That manner...*

Elita-One: *dumbfounded*

Perceptor: *soft dentae chatter from Ratchet's shoulder*

Ratchet: Er... Diehard, this is Elita-One.

Diehard: *politely bows his head* Greetings. *straightens out with a soft groan and once more gives Elita that same quizzical, interested look* *but then the look changes to amazement as something behind Elita suddenly shades her from the sun*

Elita-One: *looks over her shoulder*

Optimus: *wearing that quizzical, interested look as he seeks to find out what surprised his wife so much. Hasn't noticed Diehard yet because he's looking at Elita*

Perceptor: Oh... mercy.

Ratchet: *worried how this will play out*

Elita-One: *quietly* I thought you were asleep, Optimus.

Optimus: *slight smile blooms beneath those quizzical eyes, which are so clear right now* Are you trying to do something that you don't want me to see?

Elita-One: I was trying to find out why Ratchet's not been away from the hospital in a week.

Optimus: *brows lift, and then he raises his head to look for the CMO, only to startle visibly as he sees that other pair of quizzical eyes watching him* *gazes with astonishment, which is quickly replaced with quiet joy, thankfulness, and relief so intense that even over the bond it hurts*

Elita-One: *comforting mate now*

Ratchet: *moving to make sure Optimus is alright*

Drift: *up off the bed, coming to lean on Diehard*

Diehard: *uncertainly, his arm going around Drift as she comes out to lean against him protectively* Optimus, sir?

Optimus: *holds up a hand to the two women, and to stop Perceptor's soft fussing* *voice husky and soft* What is your name?

Diehard: Diehard.

Optimus: *nods* You're not well?

Diehard: *looks toward Ratchet, to Optimus' absent amusement*

Ratchet: Diehard and his team are recovering from energon deprivation. That said, I don't see the harm in taking a walk over to the gazebo.

Elita-One: *quietly* Optimus?

Optimus: *looks down at her, his eyes a deep and peaceful blue* *softly* Don't you recognize him, Elita?

Elita-One: *softly* I do.

Optimus: *catches her and hugs her close for a moment, gently nuzzling her helm*

Elita-One: *snuggles close*

Optimus: *quiet sending of affection, and then he lets her go to walk toward their son*

Diehard: *slight confusion as he absently holds Drift and watches the legendary Prime approach him* Sir, we've never met.

Optimus: *slight head shake* No. We haven't. *looks down at Drift. Gently* May I hold him up for a few minutes?

Drift: *small nod* *surprised sound as Elita-One moves to support her*

Diehard: *quiet wonder on his face as Optimus supports him and leads him from the building*

Perceptor: *softly, from Ratchet's shoulder* Drift, do you understand what is happening?

Drift: *quietly* Not really...

WakeJumper: *points* Oppamus babeh.

Drift: *so surprised*

Perceptor: *slight nod* *still softly* Yes. Diehard carries Optimus and Elita's coding.

Drift: *quietly* He never said anything about it...

Perceptor: *gently* He did not know. He has never met his parental units before this day.

WakeJumper: Fami whowl. *nodnod*

Drift: *very small nod* *quietly* I need to go sit with him...

Perceptor: *glances toward the door, then shakes his head and looks down kindly* Not yet, Miss.

Drift: *frowns at the tiny mech*

Perceptor: *simply* Optimus has something important to impart to his son.

Drift: *quietly* Diehard needs me to watch his back.

Elita-One: *gently* Optimus is very good at watching backs.

Drift: *not sure she believes you, Elita-One.*

Perceptor: Will you tell us about your group while you take refreshment, Miss Drift?

Drift: *very slight nod* I will explain what I am able to.

Perceptor: *turns to look at his wife's face, wondering where they should go to sit*

Ratchet: There's a common area that we can sit in.

WakeJumper: *happy chirps and clicks*

Perceptor: Indeed. *turns to look at Elita* Is that acceptable, Miss Elita?

Elita-One: *nods* Are the chairs those tires Fig mentioned? *curious*

Perceptor: *smiles toward WakeJumper as a little trill of laughter commemorates the day the chairs were constructed*

WakeJumper: *remembers all the funny words Uncle 'Hide said while the chairs were being built!*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle, will move to bring everyone to the common area, which has a tank in each of the walls leading from the center of the building. One of those tanks contains native fish species such as sunfish, crappie, bluegill, small catfish, and a few lost koi. The other contains...*

Drift: *gapes as she sees the energon tank that forms one wall of the comfortable, sunlit room*

Ratchet: *will make sure Drift has energon, even as she moves to adjust the wooden frame of one of the chairs so it's at a more accessible height for the ailing femme. The cushions on each of the chairs are made from tractor tires brought in by neighbors over the course of many afternoons. The chairs themselves are sturdy, and adjust to different heights and back angles as needed*

Perceptor: *unconsciously bracing himself as he waits for WakeJumper to abandon ship, hit another chair, and bounce according to her accustomed formula*

WakeJumper: *dismounts according to formula*

Ratchet: *startles, as she always does*

Drift: *startles badly*

Elita-One: *gasp!*

WakeJumper: Babeh flah! *grins*

Perceptor: *gentle sigh* That's wonderful, WakeJumper. You fly very well.

WakeJumper: *beams at Papa!*

Perceptor: Look, your favourite fish noticed your flight.

WakeJumper: Eee! Fishie! *scoots off the chair to go chat to her favorite fish*

Perceptor: *beams at Ratchet, his feelings softly reassuring over the bond*

Ratchet: -It's still frightening to watch her do that...- *will reach for husband in quest of cuddles*

Drift: *doesn't realize she's trembling as she watches the hatchling*

Perceptor: *snuggles into his wife's arms* *softly aloud* Due to her flying lessons with the Seeklets, WakeJumper is quite assured and fearless when it comes to such insignificant heights as that of her Mama.

Drift: ... *confused* Her Mama?

Elita: *softly* It's a local word for a female mentor.

Perceptor: Or, in the case of our sparklet, the female who gave him life.

Drift: ... *so much confusion on her face*

Perceptor: *gently* What confuses you, Miss Drift?

Drift: Sparklet?

Perceptor: *smile on his little face* It's a very, very rare occurrence: the creation of a new life from the spark of a bonded female Cybertronian. I have only seen or heard of it happening once in my lifetime.

WakeJumper: *intent on fish* Nuh uh. Twace.

Perceptor: *horrified* WakeJumper, I don't know what you're speaking about!

WakeJumper: *gives Papa a look of utter incomprehension*

Perceptor: Only Chrome came from his mama's spark. Remember?

WakeJumper: *small frown* Uhnuh.

Perceptor: Yes. I am quite correct.

WakeJumper: *headshake* Uhnuh!

Perceptor: *frowns* WakeJumper, you are being silly. *perk* Oh, do you mean Diehard? He never came from Miss Elita's spark.

WakeJumper: *huff! Papa is wrong!*

Drift: *watching the exchange with a mystified expression*

Ratchet: For the love of silicon balls, don't start whining again, WakeJumper.

WakeJumper: *huffs at Mama, too!*

Perceptor: You remember our lesson about the difference between make believe and reality, do you not?

WakeJumper: *expression darkening toward a scowl as she moves to begin climbing Mama*

Perceptor: *utterly confused now. He'd thought at first that WakeJumper was speaking of the child that Drift had lost, and then that she was pretending, but now... yeah, he's got nothing*

Ratchet: *just as confused, especially when WakeJumper moves to cling to her grill and study her chest intently*

Elita: *soft gasp and puts her hands over her mouth*

WakeJumper: *manages to get her scanners going after a few fumbled attempts* Park'et theah.

Perceptor: ...What?

Ratchet: ... *going to run a self-diagnostic*

WakeJumper: *reaches for Papa so she can show him*

Perceptor: *scans Ratchet. And then faints cold with shock*

Ratchet: *shocked sound as her scan results show what WakeJumper and Perceptor both found: Her spark has budded*

Elita: *softly* Ratchet?

Ratchet: *softly, sounding so very shocked* My spark has budded.

Elita: *optics fill* How old is the baby?

Ratchet: A... Approximately three weeks.

Elita: 0_0 And you've felt nothing?

Ratchet: I... I was too distracted with trying to argue with government officials who refused to talk to me. *so shocked*

WakeJumper: Mama 'n Papa c'me rest. *little fingers wriggle in appealing command*

Ratchet: *quietly* Yes... Let's go rest. *will scoop Perceptor up and move to head for her family's quarters*

Elita: *quickly calls Mikaela and Catherine to let them know that they're on duty at the hospital* Go ahead, Ratchet.

Mikaela: *acknowledgement ping*

Ratchet: *very small nod, will head for the hatch that opens up to the stairs leading to her family's snug basement quarters*

Drift: *belatedly realizes she's still got a cube of energon in hand* *will sip at it*

Catherine: //I'm on my way over, Elita.//

Elita: //Thank you, Catherine. Ratchet's had something come up suddenly that she needs to focus on right now.//

Catherine: //...It's not more government suits being *bleeps*, is it?//

Elita: *very softly* //No. And that will no longer be Ratchet's responsibility, now.//

Catherine: //Good. Those guys really cheese me off. So who's on diplomatic duty in the meantime?// *can you just see her hopeful grin, Elita?*

Elita: //My son is taking over the duties of commander.//

Catherine: //... Wait. When'd you get a son?//

Elita: *quietly* //Several vorns ago. But I only met him today.//

Catherine: //...// *and there's the redhead in person* Wait. What?

Elita: *smiles down at her* Did you pass the gazebo on your way here?

Catherine: Yeah... Is he there?

Elita: Yes. Optimus brought him there so that they could talk.

Catherine: ... And I walked right on past.

Elita: *asks Jazz and chuckles as she projects the picture that he sent her: Diehard sound asleep in the sun, leaning against Optimus, who has an arm around him*

Catherine: Awww.

Drift: *softly* He's shiny again...

Elita: *quiet smile* The Matrix takes care of its bearer.

Drift: *very small nod*

Elita: *softly* You're the first lady of the Autobots, now.

Drift: *shocked expression is a go* 0_0 *wobble* *sag*

Catherine: ... Way to spring it on her, Elita. *raised brow*

Elita: *snags the container of energon from Drift's hands and sets it on the low table, then gently shakes the younger woman's shoulder and calls her name*

Drift: *soft groan as she begins to come 'round*

Elita: Catherine, no, don't poke her there.

Drift: *GASP!*

Elita: *distracted from scolding Ratchet's human daughter* Drift?

Drift: *disoriented and confused, is staying still while her processor tries to catch up*

Elita: *picks up the energon and holds the container to Drift's mouth* Here. Drink.

Drift: *drinks obediently*

Elita: *watches as about half of the diluted energon vanishes, then takes the container away and sets it down again* How do you feel?

Drift: *quietly* Dizzy.

Elita: Do you need to rest?

Drift: Think so... *gonna try and sit up now*

Elita: Wait. Let me adjust the chair. *stands and goes to the back of the piece of furniture, where she carefully reclines the backrest*

Catherine: *will go get her scanner so she can tend to Drift*

Drift: *is going to shutter her optics for a moment*

Elita: *softly* How did you meet Diehard?

Drift: *quietly* Hatched with him. Deserted the 'Cons after I met him again in a fight. Then met up with him again later.

Elita: *surprised* You deserted?

Drift: *small nod* Didn't like the way things were going.

Elita: Ah. What about Whirl?

Drift: *quietly* Busted her out of a 'Con lab.

Elita: *optics flash*

Drift: *quietly* Diehard saved Cyclonus' life. Cyclonus was Skywarp, but he got damaged in the fight we had with Diehard's team.

Elita: *anger and shock* Skywarp???

Drift: Diehard had him reformatted. Would've died otherwise.

Elita: *intakes deeply, quashing down fear at the memory of what she and her sisters experienced in Skywarp's lab* *quietly, her voice trembling slightly* I see. And he's part of your team?

Drift: *nod* Keeps Whirl out of trouble, mostly.

Catherine: *back with her scanner* Whirl magnetized Cyclonus to the berth. *so amused*

Drift: *soft sigh*

Elita: ...Where's Whirl?

Catherine: Magnetized to Cyclonus.

Elita: o.0

Drift: *very soft snerk* Not the first time that's happened.

Elita: At least she's not painting the walls.

Drift: ... People do that? And why did Optimus freaking Prime just give Diehard that matrix thing?

Elita: *quietly* What's wrong with Whirl?

Drift: *distracted* *quietly* Shockwave experimented on her. He tried to turn her into a supersoldier. *quieter* Her processor cracked under the strain. *there's more she's not saying*

Elita: *sighs* *softly* And that's why Optimus has to step down as High Commander.

Drift: *raised brow ridge*

Elita: *quietly* It's him that paints the walls.

Drift: ... Oh.

Catherine: *reading the screen of her scanner* That was only after Smokie got him drunk.

((Written with random_xtras))

Continued here