Nexus. Question Square, The Sanctuary, and WakeJumper's Hospital. New Arrivals

[dens_extra_pups]

Knockout: *battered and stunned, with extreme damage to his paint. Is holding something close to his chest and looking around the strange place that he's suddenly found himself in. Expression is faintly wary on the part of his face that's left, and he's leaking all over the Question Square*

Breakdown: *came to the question square because it's on the way to the place that has good fuel. Stops short when he sees Knockout, and the state the red mech is in* *cautiously* Knockout?

Knockout: *startles and then flinches* *quietly, his voice slightly distorted* You! You're dead!

Breakdown: ... No I'm not. *frown* *bluntly* You look like scrap.

thing in Knockout's hands: *soft sound of distress*

Knockout: *faint groan* Denver. *tries to scan her and winces with pain as damaged connections protest*

Breakdown: *complete and utter shock on his face. Didn't even consider the idea that this was the Knockout he knew!* *moves to get a bit closer* What happened?

Knockout: *dizzy and distracted from trying to scan. Mutter* Megatron tried to stomp... I intervened.

Breakdown: ... *before, he would've asked why the scrap Knockout had done that, but now, he understands* I don't think Dallas can fix this.

Knockout: *lone optic blinks up at his friend* ...Dallas?

Breakdown: Remember? She washed and detailed you that one time. *moving to carefully help Knockout up*

Knockout: *faintly, as his optic flickers* Need a good detailing.

Breakdown: After we get you fixed up. Dallas'll make you look good. *quick look around, makes a decision. Yeah, he doesn't like going to Hormah, but if Knockout's human friend is hurt, then she might know how to put it back together too*

Knockout: *rambling quietly and incoherently to the girl in his hands*

Breakdown: *will carefully hoist Knockout and the human, and begin walking toward the Sanctuary*

Denver: *whimpers as she's jostled*

Knockout: *more rambling as his optic dims*

Breakdown: Easy, Doc. *hurrying* *once he gets to the Sanctuary, he's snarking and arguing with Little Oppy by way of greeting*

Hormah: *comes out from the back* What the *deedlebeep* 're ye standin' 'n jawin' fer? T'at spark's fadin'.

Breakdown: *abashed, will hurry Knockout inside*

Little Oppy: The human's not in good shape, either. *worried now*

Hormah: Wait? Human? *strides over and scans, then deedles and snatches the girl* Take t'odder'n ta Wake. *gone back to the back already*

Knockout: *trying to struggle* Denver!

Little Oppy: *soothingly* Mama's going to make sure she's alright. *helping Breakdown get Knockout to WakeJumper*

Knockout: *responds to teleporting by passing out, and by going out too!*

Little Oppy: *awks and then he and WakeJumper are working on getting Knockout's spark going again, after making Breakdown put the medic on the table and back up*

Knockout: *all efforts to jumpstart him fail, but he's not fading*

WakeJumper: *scanning and trying to figure this out*

Primus: *Optimus left something behind at the Sanctuary*

WakeJumper: 0_0

Little Oppy: ... *hurries to check on the human that was with Knockout*

Knockout: *floating where they'd teleported from, flickering, fizzing slightly, and looking just as confused as an orb of light can look*

Little Oppy: ... *facepalm, relays this to WakeJumper*

WakeJumper: *string of not-cussing, will PINpoint back with Knockout's shell*

Breakdown: *confused shout of dismay from the room*

Knockout: *senses his shell and goes back into it, only to start flickering as the damage of the shell strains him*

WakeJumper: *working on closing off leaking lines, muttering about Knockout's ancestry*

Little Oppy: *helping by working on keeping Knockout's spark from going out*

Pi: *tiptoes over and looks at what they're doing* Why are you repairing that guy in our front room?

Little Oppy: Because his spark got left behind when we PINpointed him to the infirmary, and he's still in danger of going out.

Pi: 0_0 *turns and scoots down the hall*

WakeJumper: *lines sealed, starts working on repairing Knockout's spark chamber*

Pi: *back with a yellow and green Seeker* Okay, 'Dog. Do it.

Sundog: *worried scowl* *rainbow!*

WakeJumper: *looks up* *nod* That will work.

Little Oppy: *helps WakeJumper carefully lift Knockout, then they're carrying the injured mech through the portal*

Knockout: *spark hiccough*

Little Oppy: *listening to what Primus is saying, even as he and WakeJumper work on getting Knockout stable*

Primus: *grave. Knockout's not going home*

Little Oppy: *quietly* He's Exile.

Breakdown: *frown from where he's standing in the corner* Like Dallas and me?

WakeJumper: *as he works* You'll have to help him get used to the Nexus, Breakdown.

Breakdown: ... *quietly, confirming it in his processor* So he's like Dallas and me. *small nod* I'll let Dallas know.

Little Oppy: You'll have to let her know about Denver, too.

Knockout: *suddenly starts flailing weakly as he tries to get out of the way of a memory/dream Megatron's gun*

WakeJumper: Whoah! Easy! *moving to pin Knockout so the red mech doesn't hurt himself worse*

Knockout: *panics at being pinned!* AHHHHHHH!

Breakdown: *moves to shoulder WakeJumper aside* Doc!

Knockout: NOOO! *this much stress could be fatal!*

Little Oppy: *tags Knockout with a sedative*

Knockout: *shudders and then falls still*

WakeJumper: *scanning!*

Knockout: *in healing stasis*

WakeJumper: *sigh* His spark is stable. *still scanning to see what structural work could safely be done at this point* *then* It's going to be a long night.


Around ten that night


WakeJumper: *working on fixing connections around Knockout's optic now. Has finished all the structural work on the rest of the medic's frame, and has part of the structural work on his face done as well*

Chromia: *looks into the room. Quietly* You fuelled yet, Wake?

WakeJumper: *looks up* ... I completely forgot.

Breakdown: *cradling Dallas close to his chest and fussing over her a bit*

Dallas: *letting him do that, because he won't admit that the spooks kind of skive him out and they were just starting to lurk around when she walked to the hospital*

Chromia: *to Breakdown* What about you?

Breakdown: *looks up and nods*

Dallas: I brought him a can of fuel. Brought WakeJumper one, too, but he's been busy.

Chromia: So nobody needs any of this gummi hash I brought?

WakeJumper: *puts his tools back on the tray* I'd rather have that than canned fuel. *stretch*

Breakdown: *gives the orange medic a weirded out look. Still has hangups about eating gummi fuel*

Chromia: *chuckles and brings over the container* That's two portions, I already gave 'Clipsie, Lumen, and Leader One theirs.

WakeJumper: *as he moves to reach for the container* Thank you, Chromia.

Chromia: *grins* Welcome. Just send the container back when you're done, as usual. *nods to the others and exits the room. Plans on going to the aspen bush by the Black Dog and terrorizing a few spooks before she comes to sleep by her softly snoring mate and daughter*

Dallas: *tablet out, back to work planning out paint and detailing for when Knockout's well enough to be fussy over his looks*

Breakdown: *turns his attention to helping, so he doesn't have to watch the medic eat weird fuel*

WakeJumper: *scans Knockout, pausing only to refuel*

Hormah: *ping*

WakeJumper: //Yes, Hormah?// *a bit calmer now that his patient isn't in danger of going out*

Hormah: //Report.//

WakeJumper: //His spark's stable, as are the rest of his systems. I was working on structural repairs on his head a little while ago. The rest of his frame's back in walking shape, but he's Exile, so he won't be going back to his reality.//

Hormah: //Any lastin' damage?//

WakeJumper: //Not physically. I don't know about mentally yet.//

Hormah: //So no processor damage, eh?//

WakeJumper: //I repaired his processor once his spark and the rest of his systems were stable. Psychologically, he might have some trauma... which isn't my area of expertise.//

Hormah: //Ah. Yeah. He's spazz enou' t' crack some from t'is.//

WakeJumper: //How's the human?//

Hormah: *voice heavier* //Not sure yet. Busted bones, internal damage. I's got 'er on a breat'in' tube 'n patched evert'in' I was seein'. Wishin' didn' do not'in'.//

WakeJumper: *ducks his head* //I have a feeling these two will be out of commission for awhile... Is Primus saying anything about their reality?//

Hormah: *pause* *grumble* //Gone.//

WakeJumper: //Should I keep an optic out for any others from it?//

Hormah: //FEMALE 'Prime'Jack???//

WakeJumper: //... Whaaaaaaat?!//

Hormah: *deedling!*

WakeJumper: //Lemme guess. She's coming to the Nexus, too?//

Hormah: //...Yup.//

WakeJumper: *dryly, as he stuffs more gummi hash in his mouth* //Great.//

Hormah: *grumblesigh* //I's fer bed t' shut me ol' man up.//

WakeJumper: //Alright. I'll call if there's an emergency I can't handle. Thank you for the update.//

Hormah: //Whatever, b'y.// *click*

WakeJumper: *soft snort. Finishes his meal and then moves to get back to work on Knockout's face* *absently, to Breakdown* You'll probably be seeing a few more people you know soon.

Breakdown: *looks up* Huh?

WakeJumper: *as he works* Your old reality ended. Sometimes, some of the people in realities that end wind up here in the Nexus.

Breakdown: *frowning now*

Dallas: *looks up* You mean like how my entire house suddenly arrived here, with me in it?

WakeJumper: Something like that.

Dallas: ... Okay then.

WakeJumper: At the very least, Wheeljack will be in the Nexus soon.

Breakdown: Scrap!

Eclipse: *fusses about loud bad language! So much fuss from the living room!*

WakeJumper: -Eclipse, I told him who is coming to the Nexus. Another version of Wheeljack.-

Eclipse: *GLEE heard on three channels and via audio*

WakeJumper: *soft chuckle* -A girl version of your dad.-

Eclipse: Eeeeee! *RAMBLE*

Breakdown: What the scrap?! *weirded out by the rambling*

Dallas: *gives the medic a Look* ... What did you do?

WakeJumper: Told my wife who's coming to the Nexus.

Eclipse: *sound of a flail and more rambling*

Breakdown: *getting very creeped out now. Still not used to the level of chatter that the tiny orange and black femme does*

Dallas: *notices this and patpats the bruiser's chest plating* Let's go get some rest. WakeJumper doesn't need us hovering around, and I need to check paint samples anyway.

Breakdown: Yeah... *glad for an excuse to get away from Eclipse-chatter. Will feel bad later about abandoning Knockout to it*

lbLumen: *hunkered up on the roof of the Springworks with Nova, waiting to watch Breakdown go home through the dark*

Breakdown: *creeped out by that, too, but will transform and open his door for Dallas*

Dallas: *reassuring Breakdown as she gets in, and then the pair are heading off down the highway*

lbLumen: *wait for it... wait for it...* *door is shut! Throws noisebomb*

Ironhide: LUMEN GO TO BED!

Lumen: *as Breakdown peels out and speeds off down the road, he's laughing and moving to hug Nova*

Nova: *a little stiff as she returns the hug, but she's not pushing him away anymore*

dogs: *all barking!*

Lumen: *moves to tugga sister toward the roof edge*

Nova: *takes Lumen down, her thrusters rumbling softly*

Lumen: *happy clickstorm*

dogs: *sitting around and wondering what the boss was yelling about. Will wag and mob Lumen as soon as he touches ground*

Lumen: *clicks and chirps to the dogs, telling them it's time for bed*

dogs: *in they go, and are soon a massive heap of fur on the mattress in the corner*

Lumen: *will try and tug Nova toward the mattress*

Nova: *still not big on sleeping with dogs, so she braces her feet a little*

Lumen: *pout. Wants to snuggle against you, Sister!*

Nova: *can't stand the pout. Gives in quickly and comes to lay down*

Lumen: *happy snuggles and purrs once he's situated next to her*

Nova: *sighs and contains her grumbles, then settles down to recharge and listen to everything that goes on for the rest of the night*


Later, in the wee smas


Knockout: *shriek!*

WakeJumper: *startled awake from where he passed out in the corner*

Eclipse: *startled squeal as she falls off of her mate*

Knockout: *hysterical babbling as he looks at his reflection on that piece of equipment by the table he's on*

WakeJumper: *groans and gets to his feet* Oy! Settle down. *moves to get the equipment out of the way*

Knockout: *breaks down, the gist of his woe that Denver will laugh at him*

WakeJumper: *quietly* She's not up to laughing at anything right now.

Knockout: *suddenly dead still as he stares up at the medic, his expression of horror only deepening*

WakeJumper: She's alive, but right now, you're in better shape than her. I can make an appointment with Dallas MacKenzie to get your paint fixed, so you look your best when you go to visit your friend.

Knockout: *quiet now* What's wrong with Denver?

WakeJumper: At the very least, she's got some internal damage.

Knockout: *closes his eyes for a moment as he berates himself for crushing her while trying to keep Megatron from doing it*

WakeJumper: I've met her counterparts... She'll get through this.

Knockout: *wearily* I have no idea what you just said.

WakeJumper: I'll explain later. After you've had time to reboot. *very slight tilt of his head* And after you've gotten your paint fixed. Dallas will be expecting you mid-morning.

Knockout: *opens his eyes and looks around* Where's Denver?

WakeJumper: At the Sanctuary of Primus. The Servants there know a lot about treating organics. We had to triage, because you were almost out when Breakdown brought you in.

Knockout: *plainly doesn't like being away from his friend, but also just as plainly is keeping himself from showing how much as returning awareness brings with it returning Decepticon wariness*

WakeJumper: Protip, from one medic to another. Faction means absolute bupkiss here, and things go a lot more smoothly if you're up front and honest about things that are bothering you.

Knockout: ...That reminds me. How did you get me away from Megatron? *frowns at the orange and black guy*

WakeJumper: Breakdown said you were in the Question Square when he encountered you. Which likely means you either fell through a portal, or you and Denver were pulled away the moment before you would have died.

Knockout: *frown deepens* Breakdown's dead.

WakeJumper: Not the one I know. He was pulled away from his reality of origin at the moment he would have died. He's what's known as an Exile. Even if he hadn't died in his original reality... He wouldn't be able to go back, because the reality ended suddenly.

Knockout: o.0 I'm delirious.

WakeJumper: Check your systems.

Knockout: *frowns* That won't prove anything.

WakeJumper: It'd prove that you're not delirious.

Knockout: Oh no it wouldn't. I scanned as a fully functional femme once after I was stupid enough to drink something Breakdown brought back on one planet!

WakeJumper: ... 0_0 *seriously* Never, EVER, let anyone know about that drink. The pranksters in the Nexus would have a field day with it.

Knockout: *sharply* I never changed. I was just out of my processor.

WakeJumper: You haven't dealt with Nexus pranksters. They wouldn't care that it didn't really change someone.

Eclipse: *back with a handheld scanner, will use it to scan Knockout, and then offer the red mech the scanner so he can see the results*

Knockout: *angry and frustrated and so tired. Just shutters his optics and refuses to look at anything anymore*

Eclipse: *gently* We've got a guest berth you can recharge on. It's got a nice, soft mattress, too.

Knockout: *still closing everyone out*

WakeJumper: *seriously* You should go get some rest. Denver will need you.

Knockout: *no reply*

WakeJumper: ... *scan*

Knockout: *in a deep and exhausted sleep*

WakeJumper: *will apply a very light sedative, then carefully lift Knockout and move to bring him to the guest berth*

Eclipse: *bustles about and fusses over making the berth comfortable, will drag a blanket over to the berth so Knockout has a cover*

WakeJumper: *works with Eclipse to drape the big, soft blanket over Knockout, then the couple is heading to their own berth to rest*

eLumen: *comes and joins them a few minutes later, his doll held close*


Later that morning, at the Sanctuary


Bbbrl: *warm little body laying curled next to the hurt girl as he naps*

Hormah: *sitting on Smallfoot and quietly working on a human size dagger. Is humming softly*

Denver: *eyelids fluttering a bit* *can hear someone humming 'Michael Row Your Boat Ashore'* Nnn

Hormah: *glances up* Easy, b'y.

Denver: *trying to turn her head toward the voice*

Hormah: Don't move. Yer all hooked up ta machines.

Denver: Wh't?

Hormah: Yer hurt, me son. 'N I jes' spent a few hours puttin' ye back t'gether.

Denver: Wh're...?

Hormah: Sanctuary o' Primus. Also the local Christian church.

Denver: *soft sigh* Knock...out? *talking is hard work*

Hormah: *firmly* Last question. He's to the detailer.

Denver: *very slight ghost of a smile. Knows how Knockout is about his finish*

Hormah: *voice softens* 'N yer after havin' yer tatt.

Denver: *brows up*

Hormah: 'N the flames'll glow in the dark when yer healed.

Denver: *very soft* Heh. *starting to slip back toward a light doze*

Hormah: *resumes humming, her sensors on the girl as she returns to her work on the dagger*

Bbbrl: *snuggggg*

Denver: *dozes peacefully, breathing assisted by the tube, and comforted by the warmth at her side*

Hormah: Y'kin come in 'n sit instead'a lurkin' out t'ere, me son.

Knockout: *tired out from culture shock and anxiety, and moving slow. Even a faultless finish and brand new rims isn't cheering him up today* Old habits...

Hormah: *nods him to a seat without looking away from her work*

Knockout: *hesitates and does a few false starts, but then finally comes in and lays a doll beside Denver. The one she'd seen online and wanted, but declared stupid because she didn't have the money for it. This done, he goes and sits*

Denver: *very slight head turn and another quiet sigh. Can smell the air freshener that Knockout prefers, and is comforted by the scent*


Three days later


music: *softly playing. It's that Beyoncé song. Yes, THAT one*

Denver: *very small scowl* Yuck.

Knockout: *small meep and the sound of movement abruptly stilled*

Denver: *eyelids slowly lifting* Knock... Out?

Knockout: *gentle grin* *softly* Look at this. *points to the arm of the couch he's sitting on*

Denver: *going to try and turn her head* *has a bit of difficulty, but there's no pain in her expression as she manages it*

Bbbrl: *dancing there on the arm of the couch, and kitty has moooves!*

Denver: *brows up* Huh?

Bbbrl: *dancing just like in the video! Baby cuteness added!*

Denver: *very soft snerk*

Bbbrl: *happy kitty grin for her as he dances* *then bounces as the music ends and goes to 'Disturbia'*

Denver: *more snerk, attention going to Knockout, wants to make sure he's alright*

Knockout: *gleaming softly, and smiling at her a lot more freely than he ever used to*

Denver: *slight smile* Y'u... look good. *approves of the shiny finish*

Knockout: *doesn't even preen* Thank you.

Denver: Wh're.... 're we? *yup. She doesn't remember waking up for a bit before*

Knockout: Would you believe, in a church? *shadow of his usual smirk*

Bbbrl: *ears down* No it's not. Church is the people, not the buildin'!

Denver: *snerk* *and then she's coughing a bit*

Knockout: *gets up and comes to check on her* Easy. Let me adjust your breathing tube.

Denver: *coughing eases as the breathing tube gets adjusted* *is a lot more aware of her surroundings than she was the last time she was awake*

Bbbrl: It's a Sanctuary.

Knockout: Alright. *no snark*

Denver: Sanctuareh, huh? *very slight nod*

Knockout: The bot in charge takes in waifs and repairs them. *gently picks up the doll and holds it where she can see it*

Denver: *both brows up as she focuses on the doll* 'S th't...?

Knockout: It's the little Knockoff you liked. Actually, it's a locally made one.

Denver: *soft chuckle*

Knockout: Hormah said that a doll was part of the package, but she knew you didn't like them. So I told her about that one. She says a factory here turns them out on the production line. *holds up a corner of Denver's blanket so that she can see that it's knitted chenille in his red, with gold, silver, and white accents* One of the neighbours sent you this.

Denver: Huh. *small smile as she sees the blanket*

Knockout: *quietly* And an older version of you sent this. *picks up a black version of dliDenver's favourite bra*

Denver: *brows up again* Oldah version?

Knockout: Yes. It seems that show we were mocking the other day wasn't so far off, after all. There are other realities. And there is another version of you living here in this nexus between realities. *gently lays the bra on her belly as he talks, and then lays the doll close to her. Doll smells of leather and air freshener*

Denver: ... *so very surprised* *and then her stomach growls*

Knockout: *and there's his classic squick face!*

Denver: *a bit sheepish now*

Knockout: I'll just go let our hostess know you're awake. *gone*

Bbbrl: *snerk* He's funny.

Denver: 'E's a good gah.

Bbbrl: Mama hurt his feelings when she told 'im that.

Denver: *soft 'heh'*

Hormah: *here she comes, a little blue and red sparklet clinging to her back and looking around with wide eyes of interest* Yer alter sister was arter makin' ye some broth 'n stars, b'y. *holds the bowl close to Denver* Smell t'at.

Denver: *brows up as she catches the scent of the broth*

Hormah: *wide and flexible straw gets put into the bowl after she sets it by Denver, and then she pokes the other end at the teen's mouth*

Denver: *opens her mouth without protest* *surprised expression at the flavor of the broth*

sparklet: *rapid clickstorm*

Denver: *a bit surprised by the straw, and it shows on her face*

Hormah: T'at's meatplant. Giant mushroom. *holds the straw steady*

Denver: *working on eating soup, is enjoying the flavor very much and making quick work of her meal*

Bbbrl: *sneezes and squeaks over on his perch*

Hormah: *looks over her shoulder, and then back to Denver* Here, gimme the straw. Gotta go wipe t'at kid off.

Denver: *reluctantly does so*

Hormah: *sets the straw down carefully, and then goes and rescues a softly crying Bbbrl from the soup that he sneezed while drinking and is now wearing*

Denver: *will try and look around a bit*

room: *is comfortably dim. Has no windows, and contains two bot size beds and that lovely, bot size leather couch*

Denver: *soft chuckle, will try and reach for her doll*

bitty: *clickstorm!*

Hormah: *glances over her shoulder* What's yer problem?

bitty: *clickstorm, point!*

Hormah: How'bout ye go 'n help?

bitty: *clickerfit!*

Hormah: *soft deedle and tells Bbbrl to wait a bit, then steps over and tucks the doll next to Denver*

bitty: *chirp!*

Denver: Huh?

Hormah: Tarop-Tim sez ye was wantin' yer Knockoff.

Denver: *soft chuckle and a slight nod as she cuddles the doll*

Tarop-Tim: *happy clickstorm*

Hormah: *deedles a chuckle and finishes stripping Bbbrl out of his clothes, then sends him to find his dad and get clean ones* *this done, she puts the soupy suit in the laundry bin and comes back to once more offer Denver the straw* T'ere ye go.

Denver: *slight nod, works on finishing what's left of the soup*

Hormah: *watches till she's done, then gently takes the straw away and sets the bowl aside* Had 'nough?

Denver: *small nod* Yup. *and now she's starting to get sleepy again*

Hormah: What're ye hangin' out wit' Knocky fer?

Denver: 'E's got good taste 'n movies.

Hormah: *quiet snerk* T'at's it?

Denver: 'E watches out f'r me...

Hormah: *frowns* 'E don't usually care fer much. *glances over her shoulder as Knockout exclaims loudly from the main room*

Denver: *attention going to Knockout's shout*

Hormah: *gentle pat of the bed next to her* He's alright, jes' run inta somebot 'e weren't after expectin'.

Denver: *slight frown, reluctantly turns her attention back to the conversation at hand* 'F 't w'sn't f'r th' screecheh th'n'...

Hormah: Eh? *lifts brows, inviting her to speak a little more*

Denver: Stupid th'n'... went screechin' down th' 'all... Made a mess'f stuff...

Hormah: Screamers tends t' do t'at, sometimes even wit'out tryin'.

Denver: Screamer, huh? Fits... *taking a few short breaths* Th're w's s'me'un...yellin?

Hormah: *nods* Knockout's ben arter tellin' the whole story.

Denver: *small nod, quiet sigh. She's a bit miffed that just being awake, talking, and then having some soup has worn her out so much*

Hormah: *adjusts her new blanket* Git some more sleep, b'y.

Denver: Yes'm... *closes her eyes and hugs her doll close*

Hormah: *gentle touch for the girl's undamaged shoulder, and then a pat for the watchful couch before she leaves the room*

((Written with random_xtras))