JV and the Backwater Nexus. Getting Ready to Go

[dens_extra_pups]

sun: *peeks through a crack in the curtains and hits Catherine in the face*

Stormshadow: *soft little clicks as he looks at the sun, and then his head turns as a knock sounds on the door*

Bethany: Catherine, you wanted to be up early so you could go back to the Pit this morning.

Catherine: *groggy sounds as she tries to get up*

Stormshadow: *clicks a soft little call he's started using for her*

Catherine: *manages to make it to a seated position! Yawns and rubs at her eyes*

Bethany: Catherine? Oh good grief! Orion, don't leave the hen house door open again! *gone!*

Archiva: *is that soft laugh from the kitchen*

Catherine: *fist to mouth as she yawns again and moves to try and get out of bed*

Stormshadow: *watches Mama headbutt the side of her box*

Catherine: *startled not-cuss*

Stormshadow: *stands up in his little box and clicks SOS*

Snake Eyes: *opens the door and peeks into the room, blue eyes quizzical over his morning medication mask*

Catherine: *grumbling and rubbing where she bumped her head*

Snake Eyes: *comes in and puts a hand on her shoulder, his gaze softening with affection and teasing* *this is what you get for staying up most of the night, Cat*

Catherine: *ducks her head a bit* We were winning at Trivial Pursuit... I couldn't just let Orion and Archiva beat everyone else.

Snake Eyes: *gentle hand on her French braided cornrows*

Catherine: *soft chuckle* I didn't realize Stormshadow had finished those...

Stormshadow: *bows to Mama*

Snake Eyes: *amused grin, and then a soft cough as he forgets to inhale his medication*

Catherine: *moving to get up so she can gently fuss over Snake Eyes*

Snake Eyes: *offers her his arm so she can step out of the box and down from the low platform it's on*

Catherine: *will step out of the box and down off of the platform with the offered assistance*

Snake Eyes: *quick dip of the shoulder has him with a tiny bot sitting on it, and then he's offering his fiancée a hug*

Catherine: *hugs and snuggles* *quietly* I also got everything packed for the trip back to the Pit.

Snake Eyes: *nods, the brightness of his eyes fading slightly as he thinks of how it will be to stay at the ranch while she's on duty*

Catherine: *gently touches her forehead to his* I'm going to see about borrowing Ettiene's PINpoint, or harassing Ratchet for his.

Snake Eyes: *shuts his eyes, and his hands move gently against the back of her flannel PJ top* [Want to heal faster.]

Catherine: *quietly* I'm also going to see if there's anything that can be done... Maybe someone in the Nexus'd be able to help?

Snake Eyes: *leans back to look at her, his expression showing his reservations about the nexus and its strangeness*

Catherine: It's worth a shot... It helped Stormshadow, remember?

Snake Eyes: *purses his lips slightly and nods, then looks at the little bot who is silently adjusting the strap of his mask*

Catherine: *soft chuckle*

Bethany: *is the sound of the kitchen door opening* I swear, Orion. You're not allowed out of the house anymore in the morning till you've had something to eat.

Orion: *is a sheepish rumble in that deep, soft voice of his*

Catherine: *snickerfit*

Mariposa: *issa peekin' at Aunty and Uncle with her ball in her mouth!*

Catherine: *notices Mariposa out of the corner of her eye, looks to the baby with a small smile* Hey, Mariposa.

Mariposa: *teakettle muffled by ball!*

Snake Eyes: *grins*

Catherine: D'awww. *more smile*

Snake Eyes: *gentle touch for Cat's forehead, since he can't kiss it for his mask, and then turns and leaves the room, urging Mariposa to come with him. Shuts the door gently behind them*

Catherine: *soft sigh, will move to get dressed and finish packing*

Sasquatch: *peeping horsey. Nose squished against the glass of the window*

Catherine: *awks and draws the shade down* Bad, Sasquatch!

Sasquatch: *startled snort and the sound of hooves running away*

Catherine: *grumble* Every *beeping* day...

Bethany: Awww! Olivia, look at your son grin.

Catherine: ... *scrambles to get dressed!*

David: *is that sudden and clear baby chuckle!*

Catherine: Aww... *will duck out into the hall*

Archiva: *looks around as the redhead reaches the kitchen* Look! CatScan, look!

David: *STILL GRINNING this time!*

Catherine: Awww! *grin*

David: *have another chuckle too, Aunty Catherine!*

Orion: *blue eyes twinkling from where he's sitting in front of a bowl of oatmeal and wild blueberries* Good morning, Catherine.

Catherine: Morning. *sniffs the air* Bear bacon? *hopeful expression*

Archiva: *amused* Bear fatback.

Catherine: Awesome. *grin*

Bethany: *attention back to the stove* How many eggs do you want, Catherine? And how do you want 'em done. Elisabeth, get your head out of the fridge.

Catherine: Three, scrambled. *moves to hip-check her sister away from the fridge* *to Lizzie* If you drank the last of the orange juice again...

Lizzie: *yawns and snerks* Nope. Mr. Pax did.

Catherine: ... Aww. *sigh*

Archiva: It's here on the table, Cat.

Bethany: Duck or chicken, Catherine?

Catherine: Duck.

Lizzie: You should know better than to ask, Mom. *wanders over to the table to poke David's plump little belly, which he is flashing to the world as he noms his shirt*

Snake Eyes: *glances toward Catherine from where he's over at the counter, helping Stormshadow fuel up*

Catherine: *will walk over to the table, snag some of the blueberries, and move to lean against the counter*

Snake Eyes: *quick glance over his shoulder, and and then a peck for her cheek*

Catherine: *slight blush, and an offer of some of the ganked blueberries*

Lizzy: EWWW! Mom, they're being mushy!

Bethany: *glances over her shoulder quickly* ... Lizzie, that's not that bad. *attention back to the stove*

Snake Eyes: *blinks, and then bows his head and tries not to snigger so he won't start coughing*

Archiva: *laughing*

Orion: *confused*

Mariposa: *eating catfood*

Catherine: *thrrpts at Lizzie* Mom and Bill are mushier.

Lizzy: ... *nose wrinkle* I'm gonna go to school without breakfast for that. *sits down and opens her lunch kit, then starts eating the contents*

Snake Eyes: *is shaking his head as he returns his attention to helping his tiny son have breakfast*

Catherine: *rolls her eyes and nomphs blueberries*

Bethany: *glances at her* Are you bringing Stormshadow along, Catherine?

Catherine: I'm still weighing the pros and cons...

Stormshadow: *is suddenly climbing up the inside of her pantleg as his father looks for him*

Bethany: Would he be able to send his travellogs to you at the Pit?

Catherine: ... *thinks of the pictures her son sends to her cell phone of his horse riding trips around the property* I don't know. *doing her best to carefully shake her pantleg to try and discourage Stormshadow from climbing any higher*

Bethany: Hmmm. He might not like it if he can't. *turns and sets a heaping plate at Catherine's place at the table, and then stops as she notices her eldest daughter's actions* ...He's up your leg again.

Lizzie: *snorts stirfry*

Catherine: Yeah... *soft sigh*

cat door: *opens, and then Bethany's big pixie-bob cat sits down to stare with interest at Catherine's dancing*

Bethany: *hands on her hips* Do you need a hand? ...Elizabeth, don't you start clapping.

Catherine: Can you stick my plate in the microwave? *is going to head to the bathroom*

Bethany: Sure thing. *sound of the microwave opening and a squeak of surprise. She always forgets that Stormshadow doesn't feel the world is complete without a bag of popcorn waiting in there*

Catherine: *snickerfit* He stuck another bag of popcorn in there, didn't he?

Bethany: Yup.

Archiva: Kids come up with the strangest habits. Mariposa, stop eating Buster's food.

Catherine: *soft chuckle, will excuse herself to get Stormshadow out from her pantleg*

Stormshadow: *looks up as the pants come down, and then clings to her sock with both tiny hands*

Catherine: Aww, c'mere, kiddo. *will offer her cupped hands*

Stormshadow: *studies her uncertainly with that wise little black optic band, and despite the simplicity of his face it's very clear that he's worried that if he comes to the hands that she'll leave him behind*

Catherine: C'mon. No hiding in my pants.

Stormshadow: *obediently settles into the hands, but now he's clinging to them. And his glance is pure appeal*

Catherine: *will move to hold Stormshadow close to her heart*

Stormshadow: *one tiny hand taps the Morse for "Ma" as he looks up at her. Sensei told him to take care of you, Mama!*

Catherine: *leans her back against the closed bathroom door* *soft sigh*

Stormshadow: *soft clicks*

Bethany: *calls* Catherine, if you want to have time to eat...

Catherine: *to her mother* I'll be right out.

Bethany: Alright. *voice lower as she scolds Lizzie for asking for a second lunch*

Catherine: *will hold Stormshadow close with one hand and pull her pants back up with the other*

Stormshadow: *lifts hands in a "Well, you see?" gesture*

Catherine: *softly* Let's just focus on getting through breakfast. *trying to hide how upset she is at the idea that she's got to leave Snake Eyes' side while he's still recovering*

Stormshadow: *serious bow, and then sits and hugs one of her thumbs*

Catherine: *very gentle, careful squeeze of her hand, will hold the little guy close to her heart as she heads back to the breakfast table*

Snake Eyes: *stirring honey locust pod pulp into his oatmeal when she comes back to the kitchen*

David: *nommin' on locust pod with the seeds removed*

Catherine: *will sit down next to Snake Eyes and lean on him carefully*

Snake Eyes: *gravely offers her a spoonful of his oatmeal*

Stormshadow: *looks at the table, and then talks in his tiny way about the fact that Mama has no breakfast*

Catherine: *blinks, and then she's moving to get up so she can get her plate out of the microwave*

Archiva: Sit down, Cat. *brings the heaping plate over. Yes. Heaping. The eggs and meat are sitting on top of a small stack of bean flour tortillas*

Catherine: *squeaks and sits back down*

Archiva: *sets down the plate, and then goes to kiss her husband on the cheek and offer to fry him some bear*

Snake Eyes: *silent laughter and offers Catherine the spoon of oatmeal again*

Catherine: *slight blush, will have a bite of oatmeal*

Snake Eyes: *smiles at Catherine, then gently touches Stormshadow before looking over his shoulder at Lizzie filling a quart canning jar with the rest of the oatmeal*

Stormshadow: *pointing to Mama's breakfast. Look, Mama!*

Catherine: *very soft chuckle, will reach for her fork*

Stormshadow: *understands why she hasn't put him down. Just sits and watches goings on*

Catherine: *surprised sound as she realizes her eggs have dawadawa in them*

Orion: *looks up from chewing on a locust pod himself* What is it?

Snake Eyes: *grinning as he has more oatmeal*

Archiva: *looking quizzically over her shoulder from the stove*

Catherine: *brushes her leg against Snake Eyes' gently, a small smile on her face*

Snake Eyes: *hands move quietly* [Breaker sent it.]

Catherine: *soft chuckle* I'll have to send him a thank you letter.

Snake Eyes: *more grin* [Eat eat.]

Lizzie: *lifts her head and snerks as she catches a soft murmur from Bethany's room* Pop called.

Catherine: *soft snerk, will turn her attention to eating breakfast* *quiet as she picks at her food*

Snake Eyes: *gentle hand on her shoulder, and his blue eyes are serious as he looks at her*

Catherine: *sets her fork down, will put her hand over Snake Eyes', gently tapping out morse code* "Unsure now."

Snake Eyes: *lifts his brows. Unsure of what?*

Catherine: "Want to stay. But needed at Pit."

Snake Eyes: *compassion* [Can't stay.]

Catherine: *very soft sigh* "Worry about you."

Snake Eyes: *gentle kiss for her forehead* [Safe.]

Catherine: "Still worry."

Snake Eyes: *rubs her shoulder, then takes his hand back* [Eat, or Mom worry.]

Catherine: *very small nod*

Catherine's cell phone: *ringing with the ringtone she picked out for Ratchet*

Catherine: *startles badly*

Snake Eyes: *quiet grumbling between coughs after startling at her startle*

David: Booah buh. o.o

Catherine: *going to fuss over Snake Eyes now*

cell phone: *rings again*

Snake Eyes: *waves Catherine off as he gets his breathing evened out. No rasping. He's okay*

Catherine: *gentle shoulder squeeze, will go to answer her phone*

Ratchet: //Are you almost ready to come back to the Pit?//

Catherine: Ratchet, at least lemme finish breakfast first. *grump*

Archiva: *so amused as she glances over*

Ratchet: //Do you want to swing by the Nexus before the Pit?//

Catherine: ... Is there time for that?

Archiva: *is a soft sound of trading Orion fried bear for the oatmeal he's trying to feed David and getting all over the baby's face*

Ratchet: //... Finish your breakfast, CatScan.// *sounds so amused*

Catherine: *thrrpt*

Snake Eyes: *watching her now*

Ratchet: //There's time. I'll see you soon.//

Catherine: *sigh* Alright, Ratchet. See you soon.

Snake Eyes: *waves a hand* [He still owes me poker money]

Catherine: *smirk* Oh, by the way, Ratchet, you still owe Snake Eyes poker money.

Ratchet: *acks*

Catherine: Now lemme finish my breakfast. *hangs up on Ratchet*

Snake Eyes: *waves a forkful of her eggs at her*

Catherine: *will reach for the fork*

Snake Eyes: *gives*

Archiva: *as she settles next to her husband and picks little David up* Did your honey locust seed thing work?

Catherine: It didn't really work as well, but the pods made something that tastes good, so it's not a total failure.

Archiva: *smiles* What did Ratchet want?

Catherine: To see if I was about ready to go or not. *nomphs breakfast*

Orion: *looks over with a frown of concern* I thought that Ironhide and Gung-Ho were coming to pick you up.

Catherine: *in between bites* Ratchet offered to PINpoint me back... *quietly* Kinda wish I had one of those. It'd make this easier.

Archiva: *looks up, her expression slightly startled* What do you mean?

Catherine: *soft sigh* Never mind... Just forget I said anything. *nomphing more breakfast now*

Archiva: *gently* Cat, Snake Eyes and I both have PINpoints.

Snake Eyes: *grave frown*

Catherine: *bites her lower lip and ducks her head a bit*

Archiva: *softly* You're not ready to go back at all, are you?

Catherine: *quietly* I'm all packed... They need me back at the Pit.

Archiva: *compassion and understanding in her eyes* That didn't answer my question, CatScan.

Catherine: I'll be alright, Archiva.

Lizzie: *plunks down a bowl containing a sliced green loofa gourd with raspberry vinegar and pink salt on it* Bull-ony.

Catherine: *would normally be trying to steal slices of gourd, but right now, she's too preoccupied with studying her plate*

Lizzie: *watches her, a frown of concern changing to a scowl as she grabs her sister's hand and sticks it into the bowl* I made this for you, horsepoop.

Catherine: *startles badly*

Archiva: *sighs and looks at Snake Eyes*

Snake Eyes: *frowns at his fiancée, but knows she's determined to do her duty*

Lizzie: *staring at her sister*

Catherine: *trying so hard not to cry*

Lizzie: *wibbles slightly, and then looks at Ratchet as his human mode comes in. Cusses and throws the hot mitts and a tin cup at him before running out of the room*

Ratchet: *acks and ducks the thrown objects*

Snake Eyes: *watching Lizzie go*

Orion: :o

Archiva: *has to deal with bitty sputter, so she missed all that*

Catherine: *staring after her sister, bewildered incomprehension on her face*

Orion: Er. Hello, Ratchet. *still blinking*

Ratchet: ... Do I want to know what that was all about?

Archiva: *jerks her head at Catherine, and then moves her hands under the table where Ratchet will be able to see but the redhead won't* [Separation anxiety.]

Ratchet: *very slight nod, and a quick glance to Catherine, concern in his eyes*

Archiva: [Snake Eyes needs fresh air. Recirculated would do no good.] *gives her own quick glance without moving anything but her eyes*

Ratchet: *another quick glance to Catherine, small nod as he watches her quietly wipe her hand free of dressing*

Archiva: *glances toward Snake Eyes, and then startles as she realizes that Stormshadow is the only ninja there*

Stormshadow: *watching Mama, concern in every line of his tiny body*

Catherine: *once her hand's clean, she'll go back to picking at her breakfast*

Ratchet: *goes to inspect the coffee pot, even though he knows what happens when CatScan has caffeine*

Orion: *frowns* What are you doing, Ratchet?

Ratchet: Weighing the pros and cons of fixing CatScan a cup of coffee.

Orion: *grave disapproval so like the bot that he once was* I think she's under enough stress.

Catherine: No coffee. And don't you dare try giving me postum and milk. *noms gourd*

Archiva: Don't worry. *Look for her husband* Orion drank all that last night during the game marathon.

Orion: *blush*

Catherine: *snickerfit, looks for fiancé* *puzzled blink when she realizes he's not sitting in his seat*

Stormshadow: *soft clicks as he comes and peeks into her salad plate. Then walks over to grab a bit of her fatback and drop it into the oil and vinegar*

Catherine: *soft snerk* Silly kid. I could'a done that.

Stormshadow: *looks up, that wise little black visor bright with a grin*

Catherine: *will pick up the piece of fatback and nibble on it*

Ratchet: *amused headshake, will scan for Snake Eyes' presence*

Snake Eyes: *NOPE*

Archiva: *watching Catherine with a bit of amusement as she switches sides for David feeding*

Ratchet: *small frown* Where did Snake Eyes go?

Orion: *lifts his brows*

Stormshadow: *giving Ratchet a loooong look that says he thinks Grandfather asked a really dumb question*

Ratchet: ... So I need to go ninja hunting in the nexus?

Archiva: *without looking up from the bitty foot that she's pretending to smell* Good luck with that.

Ratchet: *sigh*

Catherine: *moving to get up. Has finished off everything on her plate and in the salad bowl after dipping each piece in dressing*

Stormshadow: *soft clicks and pushes Sensei's empty bowl toward her*

Catherine: *will pick that bowl up as well*

Stormshadow: *gonna try and pick up that stray fork. Yeah, that never works*

Catherine: *snags the fork as well*

Stormshadow: *comes with it! Weee!*

Archiva: *reaches over to keep her husband from jumping up and trying to rescue the little ninja*

Catherine: *does a bit of juggling to arrange everything, and to get a hold of Stormshadow*

Stormshadow: *up Mamasleeve!*

Catherine: *will take the breakfast dishes to the sink in the pantry*

Bethany: *in the front door. Obviously went out the back one. Looks quite a bit flustered and upset and is muttering things she'd spank Lizzie for saying*

Catherine: *brat grin* Ma, language.

Bethany: *so upset* Honey, the deer ate your moss roses.

Catherine: ... *not-cuss*

Bethany: Every bud is gone.

Catherine: *quietly* Excuse me. *will turn to head back into the kitchen* *is very upset, because she put a lot of work into the garden, and was looking forward to having some of the moss roses in her wedding bouquet*

Ratchet: *getting up from where he and Orion were talking and comparing baby pictures* CatScan?

Catherine: *small headshake. Doesn't want to talk*

Ratchet: *moves to give CatScan a hug* We're going to the Nexus.

Stormshadow: *soft clicks. Is agreeing* *from Mama's bra*

Catherine: *BLUSH as she realizes where her son got to*

Ratchet: *surprised glance for clicky boobs*

Catherine: *excuses herself and goes to extract Stormshadow from her bra. Again*

Stormshadow: *transforms in her hand as she takes him away from his resting place, and looks up at her puzzledly*

Catherine: No hiding in my bra, Stormshadow. *fond exasperation* We've talked about this.

Stormshadow: *holds up little hands. But, Mama, it's a good place to sit! He can be with you without being in your way!*

Catherine: You could hide in my hair, kiddo.

Stormshadow: *points out that her hair's all done up in tails, and that there is no hiding space there*

Catherine: *sigh* I'll go get the jacket with the pockets inside.

Stormshadow: *little clicks, and then looks quizzically as Ratchet calls*

Ratchet: If you're going to grab your coat, hurry up and grab it.

Stormshadow: o.0 *Grandfather is impatient!*

Catherine: *rolls her eyes and goes to get the big jacket, which had belonged to her father*

Mariposa: *passed out in her bed when she reaches her room*

Catherine: *soft chuckle, covers the baby with a blanket*

Mariposa: *soft sound, but doesn't wake or move*

Catherine: *small smile, will grab her jacket off of her chair and tuck Stormshadow into one of the inner pockets* *remembers her mom protesting that the bed wasn't a proper bed when Snake Eyes brought it in, but loves the sawn off plastic water tank*

Stormshadow: *quiet clicks as he peeks from his pocket, then turns his head as Ratchet calls again*

Catherine: *rolls her eyes again and slips the jacket on carefully before moving to meet Ratchet* Meh meh meh.

Ratchet: *stern look*

Buster: *sniffs Ratchet's foot, and then turns his backside toward the mech's leg and looks up at Catherine* *soft chatter of question* *you want I should pee on him, Boss?*

Catherine: Buster, shoo. Go bug Mom.

Buster: *hokay! Trots over to Bethany with his bob tail in the air*

Bethany: *so amused, will give the Pixie-Bob attention*

Buster: *snuggles Mom and watches the other bosslady talk to the funny smelling guy*

Ratchet: *will give Catherine's shoulder a reassuring squeeze* *and bring her to the Nexus*

Catherine: ... *shocked looking around* Did we take a wrong turn?

Ratchet: No. The Nexus changed between the last time you were here, and now.

Catherine: *unprintable*

Aoife: *glances over from where she's sitting on a nearby couch* *snort of amusement*

Ratchet: Hello, Aoife.

Aoife: It's not poker night. It's not even night. *quizzical brows as her eyes dance green*

Ratchet: I wanted to show CatScan the changes that have happened in the Nexus since her last visit.

Catherine: *marveling to herself about the lack of the sign and the lack of the flying whales*

Aoife: Ahhh. *to Cat* Yeah, but look at the airships. It's safe to do it right now, the kid that throws water balloons is at school, getting schooled by my second eldest.

Catherine: *looks up*

airships: *three blimp shaped, and one round. One of the blimp shaped ones has a clothesline hanging on it*

Catherine: ... Wow.

Aoife: Do you know what Kingdom Hearts is?

Catherine: ... I've heard it mentioned, but haven't seen anything for it yet.

Aoife: Okay, so it wouldn't be interesting to know that some KH and some Final Fantasy people live in that brownstone over there.

Catherine: *one-shoulder shrug*

Aoife: So what turns your crank? *stretches, and snerks as a pop from her hip is echoed by a beep from her gun*

Catherine: *brat grin* Giant robots.

Ratchet: *can't help it, is facepalming and trying not to snicker*

Aoife: *snorts and points toward the back of the Visitor's Centre*

Apoleia: *having a chat with yOp over there*

Catherine: *looks, grin*

Aoife: That's Blackout's second oldest male spawn, Apoleia, and the Optimus that isn't Cybertronian anymore.

Catherine: ... *confused*

Ratchet: He's a Guardian Fae.

Aoife: Got killed by giant spiders, and when his adopted dad tried restarting him he accidentally dragonned him.

Catherine: ... *quietly, awed* Wow.

Aoife: *picks up a strong thought from the redhead and frowns, her eyes clouding over with grey* Oppy does wishes.

Catherine: *breath catches in her chest*

Ratchet: *gently* Let's go talk to him.

Catherine: *small nod, will begin walking toward Oppy*

yOp: *slap fight with Apoleia, and then laughs and kicks at the taller mech's skidplate as Apoleia walks away*

Ratchet: *accompanying CatScan* *to Oppy* Did he have dust on his aft?

yOp: *grins down at Ratchet* Sure he did.

Apoleia: *rude sound echoes back*

yOp: *laughs much*

Catherine: *quietly* You do wishes?

yOp: *sobers as he feels her earnestness, longing, and desperate determination* Yes. But I can't bring the dead back or make anybody fall in love with you. Or kill anybody.

Catherine: What about helping someone heal from a bad injury?

yOp: *sudden swirl of blue and red twinkles as he shrinks down into human form* Maybe. If I get the go ahead.

Catherine: *bites her lip and nods* Snake Eyes was hurt by a dud grenade six months ago...

yOp: *serious blue eyes under his slightly messy brown hair* Hurt how?

Catherine: *bites her lip again, takes a deep breath and gives the gist of Snake Eyes' injuries*

yOp: *quietly, when she's finished* You don't want to leave him to go back to work.

Catherine: *headshake* And he's getting frustrated at not being back to full health...

yOp: *bows his head for a moment*

Catherine: *doesn't realize she's holding her breath until Ratchet gently pokes her side* *squeak!*

Ratchet: *eyes on yOp, even as he makes sure his assistant doesn't pass out*

yOp: *several minutes pass, and then he looks up* He won't be fully healed. I can't do anything for his hand.

Catherine: But he'd be able to come back on duty? *hopeful*

yOp: *pauses, and then nods* After a little physiotherapy. But I know he'll be training as soon as he can, anyway.

Catherine: *so much relief in her posture and expression*

Ratchet: I think we'll all be glad to see Snake Eyes back.

Catherine: *small nod of agreement* Yeah.

yOp: *slight smile* Wish.

Catherine: *quietly* I wish for Snake Eyes' injuries to be as healed as it's possible for him to be.

yOp: *another pause, and then another nod* He agrees. *blink* ...And he's dancing in the twinkles.

Catherine: *very soft snerk*

Ratchet: Maybe now things can start getting back to normal at the Pit...

yOp: *soft snort at that thought*

Aoife: *over on the couch, talking to a scowling Asian woman* Yup. Pocket realities are totally secure. And with these keys, it'll be doubly so. No riffraff on your rental property.

Ratchet: *blinks and looks that way, curious about what he's just overheard*

Aoife: Yup. They imprint on the owner's DNA and electromagnetic field, and won't let them get more than four foot away. It's basic tech for simple Transformer pets.

Denise: *scowl deepens, but she nods, takes the ice cream bucket of keys, and walks away*

yOp: There. Done. *smiles at Cat*

Catherine: *so much relief in her posture and expression*

Ratchet: Excuse me a moment.

yOp: *brows quirk at Ratchet, but then he offers Catherine a can of notbeer*

Catherine: *reaches for the notbeer as Ratchet moves to approach Aoife*

yOp: *grins* Tell me what you think of the flavour.

Aoife: *looks up to give Ratchet a quizzical look* You're interested in a pocket reality?

Ratchet: We're trying to find ways of making the Pit even safer...

Aoife: *points to the other end of her couch* Safer from what, and what have you done? And what's the Pit?

Ratchet: *will explain about the Pit and its current security measures as he moves to sit down* And in addition to a remote location, Perceptor has been working on a security program. The Pit is the base for the Special Ops team known as GI JOE.

Aoife: Okay, I knew it was a Joe base. I just don't know what Pit means in your reality. Different ones have different designs. And what kind of security program?

Ratchet: It's a sentient one.

Aoife: *slight grin* So standard max sec Cybertronian.

Ratchet: I guess? *confused*

Aoife: ...You don't know anything about Cybertronian security.

Ratchet: I'm not a security bot. I'm a medic.

Aoife: *chuckles and opens up a holographic screen, then starts flipping through files and flicking them aside*

Ratchet: *slightly envious of your being able to do that, Aoife* *has seen them in various Marvel movies and had commented several times that the tech would be very useful*

Aoife: *without looking up* Ask Oppy. I don't have enough oomph to make those.

Ratchet: Alright. *small nod*

Aoife: But that tells me a little about what sort of tech your human friends have. *flick flick flick*

Ratchet: *will nod, glancing back to Catherine as she comments about the flavor of the notbeer*

Catherine: This is really good. *grin*

Aoife: Oppy, send a botbeer over here in that flavour. *pauses to study a picture*

yOp: *glances at Ratchet, and then pitches him a human size can of botbeer choccy* There you go.

Ratchet: *catches the can and studies it curiously* Thank you.

Aoife: Does your team want outdoor real estate? Or is inside enough?

Ratchet: I think they'd appreciate having some outdoor space. *will open the botbeer can and have a taste*

Aoife: *flicks to two more pictures* What sort of outdoor space?

Ratchet: *pleased hum at the flavor of the botbeer as he thinks about the question*

yOp: *grin suddenly vanishes as his head snaps around to look at a tall, beefy woman in a black leather trench coat* *wide eyed look for the woman*

Aoife: *glances toward the woman as well, but then frowns and returns to her files*

Catherine: *looks where yOp looks*

Ratchet: Well, I think the team'd appreciate having space to have picnics on occasion.

Aoife: Yeah, but are we talking mountains? Green grass? Or white sand beach?

Catherine: *jaw drops as she sees the short-haired, leather-clad mirror*

tosCat: *thinking her dreams got really weird, even as she silently scopes her surroundings for any threats*

Ratchet: Grass. Sand's a pain to clean up after.

Aoife: Alright. Flat ground or mountain? *flicks several pictures away, absently wondering when she'll find inhabitants for those tropical beach islands*

yOp: *softly, as he watches the grey-eyed woman in gothic black and platform boots* She's dreaming.

Catherine: *quietly, sounding shocked* She's me.

tosCat: *looks toward the flicker of movement she saw in the corner of her eye*

Ratchet: Flat ground.

Aoife: Okay. One last question. *flicks away several more files* What colour do you want the sky?

yOp: Not quite. She's part Cybertronian now too. Enough that she just scared the living beep out of Ratchet before she went to her berth.

Catherine: ... Part Cybertronian? *raised brow*

tosCat: *dots visibly*

Ratchet: Blue. I think the JOES would be worried if it wasn't.

Aoife: Awww, they're no fun. *reads the one file she's got left*

Ratchet: Says you. *chuckle*

yOp: *nods* Nanobots. *wary look for tosCat* Decepticon nanobots.

tosCat: *frowns as she tries to read the lips of the guy in the red jacket*

Catherine: *boggling now* *quietly, to yOp* What'd she do to scare her Ratchet?

yOp: *soft meep* -Grabbed him by the jacket collar in both hands and threatened to beat him to death with his arm. For wishing her a good evening.-

Catherine: *jaw. DROPS*

tosCat: *moving to approach*

yOp: *deep breath and pulls out the non choccy notbeer and a huge chunk of warm pizza as peace offerings* -Remember, she thinks she's dreaming!-

Aoife: *notices the kids have gotten quiet and glances over there*

tosCat: ... *stops short at the sight of the food* *hands up, signing* [Never got offered food before.]

yOp: *grins and sets it down on a nearby coffee table* [It's what I do. I'm a food salesman.]

tosCat: *watches the food get set down on the coffee table* [Don't remember meeting you in waking world.]

yOp: *grin goes smaller and gentle* [Actually, you met my alternate just today. You saved his life.]

tosCat: ... *raised brow* [Explain.]

yOp: [I...] *hands pause and hover as he listens* [I can't. Not now. Someday you'll understand.]

tosCat: *scowl*

Aoife: *watching silently, and praying that the girl can feel Oppy's trust me vibes*

Catherine: *hesitantly signing, and wishing she'd paid more attention to the video lessons* [Reflect, think on more, understand later.]

tosCat: *gaze flicks briefly to what she thinks is a memory from her past, snort. Attention back on yOp*

yOp: *hesitantly picks up the pizza and offers it* Om nom nom?

tosCat: *very slight quirk of a grin. Has seen Jazz say that. Recognizes the words. Will hold out her hand*

yOp: *carefully presents pizza before his hands fly* [Plain golden beer, right?] *picks up the container*

tosCat: *nod*

yOp: *offers notbeer* [This one's work safe.] *yes, the notbeer is floating*

tosCat: *raised brow as she realizes that* *signs with free hand* [How are you doing that?]

yOp: *shrug* [Dream stuff.]

tosCat: ... *satisfied with that answer, will nod and reach for the notbeer*

yOp: *moves it over to her hand* [SHIELD, huh?]

tosCat: *nods as she holds the beer and pizza* *softly, voice quiet from seldom being used* Boss is SHIELD.

yOp: *sharp look of understanding* [Your commander.]

tosCat: *nod* Denver.

Catherine: ... Denver?

yOp: *glances at her* Yeah. She's related to that new flyboy you guys just got.

Catherine: ... The one who got into a noogie fight with Ace?

yOp: And put pickled okra in his nachos. *signs as he speaks*

tosCat: *muffled snort*

Catherine: *one with her facepalm*

yOp: *sudden alert glance toward the woman in the trench coat* [You want some pickled okra?]

tosCat: *perks. Got introduced to the food by Denver, and has become fond of it* *nodnod*

yOp: [On your pizza?]

tosCat: *blink. Never considered that as a pizza topping*

yOp: *pulls it out in a dish, instead. Offers with a flourish!*

tosCat: *creative juggling*

yOp: *sets the dish down on the coffee table where she can reach it*

tosCat: [Thank you.]

yOp: *grins* [Just doing my job.]

Ratchet: *quietly, to Aoife* Is there anything that can be done to help her? *meaning tosCat*

Aoife: *remembers what she was doing and looks up at him* Help her?

Ratchet: *quietly* She's got hearing problems. *could tell that by the woman's use of sign language and how she didn't react to any of the sounds around her*

Aoife: *flicks at the file she's reading, and then starts sparkling a paper copy of the deed* *quietly* She's got brain damage severe enough to have killed her if someone hadn't given her those nanobots.

Ratchet: *boggle*

Aoife: I don't know who it was, but I can tell that her story is going the way it's meant to. *takes newly printed deed and scans it for typos, knowing that her spelling still stinks*

Ratchet: *slight frown, will still worry about the black-clad redhead*

Aoife: *recites what the brawny enforcer just did to the Ratchet of her reality without looking up from the deed*

Ratchet: ... *jaw drops*

Aoife: *looks up and offers him the deed* To all extents, as far as I can see, she's a loyal Destron grunt.

Ratchet: ... So she can take care of herself?

Aoife: *makes an image in the air: tosCat picking up a man the same size as herself by the front of his shirt and hurling him through a wall*

Ratchet: ... Do I want to know what that guy did?

Aoife: She was just introducing herself to a new group.

Ratchet: ... Uh-huh.

tosCat: *slight smirk*

Catherine: o.o

yOp: [What'd that guy do?]

tosCat: *after setting her drink and pizza down on the table* [Yelled at me for scaring nerds.]

yOp: ... [So you were introducing yourself to a new group of people?]

tosCat: [Boss said to say hello.]

Ratchet: ... I'd hate to see how she says goodbye.

Aoife: *blinks, and projects another image. This is of the guy called Savoy rolling around in agony after a sharp introduction to the lead in the soles of tosCat's boots*

yOp: 0.0

tosCat: *so much smirk*

Catherine: What the *beep*?!

yOp: Er... That was her farewell to a group called Cemetery Wind.

tosCat: [Stupid idiots. Boss pulled a fast one on them.]

yOp: *takes out a large, well-wrapped package and lays it on the coffee table* [Here. Bring this with you.] *knows that she feels herself to be dreaming, and that tosOptimus will have the garlic pickle cookie eaten before anyone sees it tomorrow morning*

tosCat: *small nod* [Who's it for?]

yOp: [Emi's husband.]

tosCat: *snerk*

yOp: *slight grin, but then flinches as someone pounds on the door to her room in passing*

tosCat: *growl, quickly finishes off the pickled okra, pizza, and drink, then grabs the wrapped package and "mutters" about "Eric"*

yOp: *flinches again, and then lifts his brows as he watches her fade and vanish*

Catherine: ... I take it she woke up?

yOp: Her commander asked Ironhide to tell her to take her boots off while she was in bed.

Aoife: *softly* Sleep ready. Sleep mean.

Ratchet: ... I'm glad CatScan's not that mean.

Catherine: Tell that to Dusty.

Aoife: *looks over at the red-haired girl, and then shows her and Ratchet an image of a Catherine even taller and stronger looking, but with slumped shoulders and dreadlocked hair hiding half her face* Stories can go a lot of different ways sometimes.

Catherine: ...

Ratchet: *frowns muchly as he studies that image*

yOp: *sober compassion* That's the X gene positive one that was caught in the fire.

Ratchet: ... What fire?

Catherine: *boggling* Is there anything we can do to help her?

yOp: She was at a trial where a friend's assailant got a very light sentence for nearly beating the guy to death. A religious extremist set her car on fire. But she has help. *looks at Ratchet* You've met Optima Prime, of the A Men.

Ratchet: *nods* I also got into a discussion with her husband.

Aoife: o.0 I thought that was a snark war.

yOp: *snorting giggles*

Catherine: ... Who's Optima Prime's husband?

yOp: XD His name's Ira Irons.

Catherine: ... That's Ironhide, isn't it? *so amused now*

Ratchet: It's how their reality says Ironhide. And it was a friendly discussion.

Aoife: With clenched fists and raised voices. *shakes her head and laughs*

Catherine: That's how Ratchet and Ironhide discuss things. *grin*

yOp: *more stifled laughter*

Ratchet: *one with his facepalm*

Aoife: Oppy, give Ratchet a creation matrix for keys to the Pit.

yOp: Huh? Oh. A key factory? Okay. *pulls one out of his storage*

Ratchet: Key factory?

Aoife: You want your people to be able to get to that base, don't you? *lifts brows*

Ratchet: *nods* I was expecting a more traditional key ring, to be honest.

Aoife: *smirk* Traditional keys are for traditional homes.

Ratchet: ... Good point. *will reach for the key factory*

yOp: *hands it over, giving Aoife a quizzical look*

Aoife: Yeah, I'll pay you back after we finish the deal.

yOp: *attention back to Catherine*

Catherine: A lot's changed since the last time I was here...

yOp: *brows up, and then he glances at the Visitor's Centre*

Catherine: Last time I was here, it was a big, ugly sign.

yOp: That was a long time ago. *rubs his chin thoughtfully*

Aoife: *to Ratchet* Anything else?

Ratchet: I don't think so.

Aoife: You guys able to pay? This one involves hardware, and bribing my brother.

Ratchet: *getting money out. Has built quite a stash from beating several JOES at poker*

Aoife: *tells him the price of a luxury travel trailer on Earth*

Ratchet: *carefully counting out bills now*

Aoife: o.0 You've got that on hand?

Ratchet: I've been saving up for awhile.

Catherine: He beats the pants off of the JOES at poker. and then hoards the cash in a storage pocket.

Aoife: *slight snerk, and a nod to yOp as he says he has to go* Never been to the Ratchet table here on Thursday nights?

Ratchet: A few times, yes.

Catherine: *to yOp* Stay safe, and thank you.

yOp: *big grin* Just remember Swindle Co. when the wedding comes up. *vanish*

Aoife: *looks over with curious interest* Wedding?

Catherine: *ducks her head a bit* Yeah... Snake Eyes and me.

Ratchet: *chuckle* And Bethany's frantic, despite it being a small wedding like the one she and Wild Bill had.

Aoife: *confused* Frantic about what?

Catherine: Trying to get everything ready. The wedding's in six weeks.

Aoife: Mine's in two, but nobody's freaking out. *lifts brows*

Catherine: Mom's just worrying 'cause I have to be back at the Pit for a few weeks before the wedding.

Aoife: *shakes her head, and then pulls a bottle full of cobalt blue sparklies out of her jacket pocket and tosses it over to the redhead*

Catherine: *catches the bottle, chuckle* I'll make sure she knows to keep this away from Lizzie.

Aoife: *brows quirk* Do you need them locked?

Catherine: No. I'll just tell Ma to put the bottle where Lizzie won't find it, and to distract her with an Etsy gift card.

Aoife: Alright. *pause. Look in her pocket* Forgot about you. *offers to toss something else to Catherine*

Catherine: *catches the tossed item, blinks*

Aoife: Don't drop him. He's an ugly little mutant, but he's still just a baby squirrel.

Catherine: Awww. *will look at the baby in her hand*

squirrel: *no fur, and the wrong number of eyes, but he's clinging to her hand and making excited sounds, totally chuffed by his flight*

Aoife: Give your sister a real monster.

Catherine: *snerk* *will gently tuck the squirrel in her shirt pocket*

Aoife: He's been taught that dolls aren't food. He does, however, slap them in the face if he thinks they're not snuggling properly.

Catherine: *more snerk* Lizzie'll love him.

Aoife: *grins and looks up to check on Ratchet's money counting*

Ratchet: *just finished, will offer the bundle*

Aoife: o.0; That's mostly fives and ones, isn't it? *yanks a bag of holding out of her pocket*

Ratchet: I keep meaning to get it turned into larger bills...

Aoife: *soft snerk* Well, it's all yours. You can warn your teammates, or just let them wake up after the move tonight.

Ratchet: I'll warn the General.

Aoife: *big grin, and then a mental comment to her eldest that the redhead with the 'tude's getting married* Well, enjoy. *looks around, and then closes all her windows and gets up*

Legacy: *surprised*

Ratchet: Thank you for your help.

Aoife: *more grin* Just doing my job. *and gone*

Ratchet: *will stow the day's purchase in his subspace and move to bring Catherine to the Black Dog*

Snake Eyes: *drops a Stormshadow on Catherine as she walks past the big bench on the porch. Had you wondered why your clothes seemed empty?*

Catherine: *double-takes*

Stormshadow: *clings to her shoulder, that little black optic band dancing with fun as he clicks his tiny, soft clicks to her*

Snake Eyes: *looks down, his blue eyes dancing in much the same way that his son's optic band is*

Catherine: *so much amusement as she shakes her head* You two...

Snake Eyes: *hops down lightly, and then catches at her teasingly with one arm. Hugs teim!*

Catherine: *hug!*

Snake Eyes: *one armed hug, and then a few pokes so that she turns with her back to him. Snuzzles her hair*

Catherine: *will turn as directed and sigh happily. One hand goes up to protect the baby squirrel in her pocket*

Stormshadow: *hunkers down on his mother's shoulder and watches, one tiny hand holding tightly to her jacket collar*

Snake Eyes: *brings out the hidden hand, which is holding... A bunch of softly blooming, blush pink moss roses*

Catherine: *soft squeal of delight*

Snake Eyes: *slips the bunch into her hands, and then sign* [Got them repaired. Never die now.]

Catherine: *wibble, turns so she can smooch fiance*

Snake Eyes: *gentle peck, and then more snuzzle before he pauses and looks at her chest pocket*

Catherine: It's a baby squirrel. He's for Lizzie.

Snake Eyes: *turns her so her back is toward his chest again* [Lizzie? You trying to insult her with cute and fuzzy?]

Catherine: He's not fuzzy.

Snake Eyes: *quizzical hands*

Catherine: *will explain about the little guy*

Snake Eyes: *grave frown as he listens. But then he glances toward the door and grins* [Tell Ratchet you'll meet him back at base.]

Catherine: *blink* Er, okay. *to Ratchet, who is chatting with one of his alts nearby* I'll see you back at base, Ratchet.

Ratchet: *blinks and looks over* Er... Alright.

Snake Eyes: *steals Catherine and brings her back to the butler's pantry at the ranch*

Bethany: *startled shriek*

Catherine: *wince* Sheesh, Ma.

Bethany: *sniggerfitdie at herself and at Cat's expression when she shrieked* You know better than to jump out at me!

Catherine: *rolls her eyes* Where's Lizzie?

Bethany: Hey, what's this? *reaching for the flowers*

Catherine: Snake Eyes found more of my flowers. *small smile*

Snake Eyes: *shakes his head, eyes dancing* [Repaired.]

Bethany: *soft laugh* Of course you did. But these won't last till the wedding. *admires the softly opening buds*

Snake Eyes: [Will.]

Catherine: *nods*

Bethany: *doesn't believe you guys, but she goes to take care of the flowers for you. Head out the window as she stands at the sink* Lizzie!

Lizzie: *from the stable* What?

Bethany: *stands the jar full of roses out of the light* Your sister wants you!

Lizzie: 'Kay! *can be heard approaching several minutes later*

Snake Eyes and Stormshadow: *gonna snuggaCat while she waits*

Bethany: *dish washing is so cathartic*

Lizzie: *stops to wash her hands in the bathroom by the back door*

squirrel: *issa peekin' out to sniffy noses with the little tiny clicky thing*

Stormshadow: *is squirrel kissed, what?*

Lizzie: *coming into the kitchen* 'Sup?

Snake Eyes: *lets go of Cat and looks demure*

Stormshadow: *looks at Aunty from where he's hanging on the outside edge of the pocket*

Catherine: *will carefully get the baby squirrel out of her pocket* Promise to take care of him?

Lizzie: Aww! *scooting over to get a closer look, cupping her hands*

squirrel: *monstrous little face looks up at yet another new friend, and then he's excitedly chirping again*

Snake Eyes: [He's bald forever.]

Lizzie: Aww. I'll have to make him a warm pouch to sleep in.

squirrel: *discovered the little tiny piece of blue cattle salt she'd been playing with, will lick it now. So much lick!*

Lizzie: *going to fuss over the baby squirrel*

Snake Eyes: *watches with a slight smile, and then looks at Cat as Stormshadow adds himself to the now squirrel-free pocket* [Let's go.]

Catherine: *nod* See you later, Ma, Lizzie.

Bethany: *glance of affectionate mother concern* Take care, Cat. *frown* You too, Mr. Smith.

Snake Eyes: XD

Catherine: *chuckles and leans on fiancé*

Lizzie: Uh-huh. *focused on the baby squirrel*

Snake Eyes: *brings Cat to the infirmary at the Pit, then gets her the thumb drive with the files of the JOES that she's been assigned to give physicals to*


the next morning


General Hawk: *sits his butt down next to Cat in the mess and watches morning JOE hijinx* How long do you think it'll take them to notice?

Catherine: Should be soon.

General Hawk: *lets Stormshadow dip a piece of Cat's breakfast French toast in his coffee, then starts slightly and looks up as Tunnel Rat comes hollering inside* There we go. *grin*

Catherine: *snerks*

Tunnel Rat: It's all grassy meadow 'n flowers instead'a desert!

General Hawk: *snerk*

Tunnel Rat: 'N the dandelions're pale blue 'n taste like champagne!

General Hawk: ...What?

((Written with random_xtras))