Nexus and Pocket Reality. Question Square, WakeJumper's and the Main Area. New Arrivals Part 2

[dens_extra_pups]

Continued from here



Wheeljack: *puts the bucket to hard use*

orange and black femme: *meeps at the sound. Will quickly fish around in her subspace for a small jar that seems to be filled with twinkling lights*

Wheeljack: *pale and sweating as she falls back on the nest that WakeJumper made for her* I don't gotta walk a mile in these shoes, do I? *just a bit out of it*

orange and black femme: *headshake* Nope. I got something that should help. *holds up one of the twinkling lights* I wish for Wheeljack to be the way she's supposed to be.

Wheeljack: *quiet sound as she's surrounded by cobalt twinkles* *and then she's sitting on her aft on the floor... and on WakeJumper's foot* *bleeep*

WakeJumper: *startled squawk, gets his foot back* *stinkeye for the orange and black femme* Next time, Eclipse, warn me before you use a wish.

Wheeljack: The scrap? *passes out*

WakeJumper: *scanning Wheeljack again* *mutes his vocalizer to avoid cursing in front of kids. Will get to work repairing Wheeljack*

Eclipse: *squeak, earlights flash yellow*

Arcee: *around a mouthful of fuel* What's wrong?

WakeJumper: The reality ending caught up with her. *working and muttering the way Ratchet would*

Jack: *sounds and looks a bit freaked* What does that mean? *still holding the food package out toward Miko*

WakeJumper: Her paint's crumbling, and she's gone into shock. *fingers flying as he works on stabilizing the Wrecker*

Miko: *sounding just a bit spooked now* What?!

Bulkhead: Hang on, Jackie. You're gonna be alright! *is wibbling*

WakeJumper: *getting very creative with his not-curses*

Eclipse: *working as a nurse now, occasionally reaching into what looks like a little handbag to retrieve a tool or part when asked*

Lumen: *moving to give cuddles and dollbabies where needed*

Miko: *wibbling after Lumen hugs her and gives her a fleece rag Seekerbunny*

Jack: *has walked over to the other set of benches, then set down the rations, sat on the floor, put his head in his hands, and quietly lost his mind*

Lumen: *will follow and hug this sad peep, too!*

Jack: *just silently staring*

Lumen: *soft, soothing clicks*

Jack: ...Where's my mom?

Lumen: *quietly* Dunno, but we'll find her.

Jack: How are we going to do that? The whole reality just ENDED!

Arcee: *moving to protect Jack, even though she doesn't really know how*

Lumen: She could'a landed in another reality, or in another part'a the Backwater.

Jack: Or she could be gone! Like she never existed! *freaking out*

Lumen: That's not how it works... *looks to his parents, hoping to ask them to back him up, wibbles* *quiet clickstorm*

Jack: THE REALITY ENDED!

Arcee: Jack, stop shouting. *tensed and ready for a fight*

WakeJumper: *as he works* That doesn't mean she's not out there somewhere. We've got access to resources and people who can check for her.

bot: *burley guy in greenish yellow* *comes limping into the room* And even if we don't find her, she's not lost. *looks at the busy doctor* Are you WakeJumper?

WakeJumper: I am. Sit down where you won't put the humans at risk, and Eclipse or I will get to you once my patient's not in shock.

bot: I'm Ratchet, and I'm not putting anyone at risk. The limp's permanent. Like the facial scars. *checks on Raf and Bumblebee*

Arcee: *processor reeling from a combination of stress and good fuel, moves to protect her teammates*

Ratchet: You, on the other hand. *gently catches the small femme and then carries her back the way that she came to lay her down on the benches under which Lumen and Jack are sitting*

Arcee: *putting up a fight!*

Ratchet: Stop that. Don't think you can get away from me. I've held Ironhide down when he was concussed. *trying to keep her on the benches*

Arcee: Let go! *starting to panic and flash back*

Ratchet: *huffs a sigh and sedates her*

Arcee: *startled sound, then sags*

Ratchet: *lays her down gently, and then looks under the bench* *reaches for Jack*

Jack: Whoah! *backing up, just a bit spooked*

Lumen: *clickstorm!*

Ratchet: I'm not going to hurt you, boy. Let me get you out of there and have a look at you.

Jack: *indignant* I'm not a boy! *sound of protest as Lumen ushers him out*

Lumen: Unca Ratchet's nice!

Ratchet: *blinks, and then gives a gruff smile* Thank you for the vote of confidence. What's your name?

Jack: How can you not know your own nephew's name???

Lumen: *chirp* I'm Lumen. *grin*

Ratchet: *smile brightens just slightly* That's a good name. I take it you're not one of the patients here.

Lumen: *headshake* Nope. Mama 'n Papa're helping. *nods toward the orange and black couple*

Ratchet: Ahh. So you're a doctor's assistant? *scanning Jack as he speaks*

Lumen: ... *blink blink. Headshake* Nope. Mama is.

Ratchet: *smile is wistful as he sets Jack next to Arcee* And you're a lot like your grandfather.

Lumen: *blink* *headtilt*

Ratchet: *gruffly* Wheeljack. Or was Wheeljack female where you came from?

Lumen: *headshake* Gran'ma Bluestreak is.

Ratchet: I thought so. Which of those rations down there belonged to this fellow?

Lumen: *small frown, will look at the rations for the humans, clicking softly as he scans each one* One's a pizza pocket... The other's mac 'n cheese.

Bulkhead: *gruffly, from where he's been watching all this* The pocket's Miko's. It's too spicy for Jack.

Lumen: *small nod, will offer the mac 'n cheese to Jack*

Jack: I'm... not hungry.

Ratchet: You're going to eat. Or I'll feed it to you.

Jack: ...You're Ratchet alright. *takes the package*

Lumen: *giggles and scoots to bring Miko the pizza pocket*

Bulkhead: *holds her down where she can reach it*

Miko: *as she studies the package* ... Hot and sour with kimchee. *wibbly snerk*

Lumen: Is that good?

Miko: *small nod*

Bulkhead: Too bad Raf's not awake to share it.

Ratchet: *looks through the lockers, his expression grave* He'll share again. Don't worry. You're all facing a long road, I'd imagine.

Miko: *quietly* Yeah...

WakeJumper: *quiet hum as he works*

Ratchet: *quietly* It won't be easy to adjust to the loss of your reality. But you won't be doing it alone. And there will be light times between the sad ones.

Bulkhead: *sounds a bit spooked* How do you know what it's like to adjust to losing a reality?

Ratchet: *makes sure that Jack's eating, and then walks back to where WakeJumper is* Because I'm doing it.

WakeJumper: *quietly, to Bulkhead* You and your team are each other's support network. Most Exiles don't have that.

Bulkhead: *looks over at him, mouth hanging open slightly*

WakeJumper: I know of a group of four people from one reality, and they're the only survivors, even if one almost didn't make it.

Ratchet: *as he hunkers awkwardly next to Smokescreen* What species?

WakeJumper: Cybertronian... The one who almost didn't make it got changed to human though. That was the only way he was going to survive.

Ratchet: Ah. I know of those people. *gently but relentlessly unfolds Smokescreen and then frowns down at him*

WakeJumper: *small nod* There. She just needs to rest, and recover her strength.

Bulkhead: ...The first part might be hard.

Ratchet: *without looking up* Sedatives work on Wheeljacks, too.

WakeJumper: *snerk* Not all the time, they don't.

Ratchet: *shows him a tab* These do.

WakeJumper: *blink, curious and interested now* I'll have to get some of those, then.

Ratchet: I stopped to give the sanctuary keeper the program on the way here. *hands that one to WakeJumper*

Hormah: *speaking of...* //Hey, Wake.//

WakeJumper: *small nod* //Yes, Hormah?//

Hormah: //June Darby kin fuss worsn' ye.//

WakeJumper: //...Is she any relation to any of the humans here?// *will send an image of the children*

Hormah: //She's from the same reality as t'is Denver t'at's here.// *databursts coordinates*

WakeJumper: //...Those are identical coordinates to the children and the Autobots here.// *sends coordinates for the pocket reality* //Is the Boss saying whether it's okay to tell the children about June?//

Hormah: //I's after callin' ye on account 'o t'em needin' ta know.//

WakeJumper: //Is she at the Sanctuary with you?// *looking through the lockers at the two children who are awake, and going on a somewhat educated guess* Jack, is your last name Darby by any chance?

Jack: *looks up from stirring his food* Yes...

Hormah: //Wiggin' out o'r Denver.//

WakeJumper: Your mother's been found. She's at the Sanctuary right now, either arguing with Hormah or trying to help Hormah with a patient. *soft oof*

Eclipse: *not-so-subtly planted an elbow in mate's midsection*

Jack: *voice shaking* Can you let her know I'm alright? Is she alright?

Ratchet: I'll tell her you're not eating.

Jack: *ack*

WakeJumper: Eclipse, that was low. //How is Denver. And how is Knockout, for that matter?//

Eclipse: *sweetly* No idea what you're talking about, Wake.

Hormah: //Knockout's shaky. 'N Denver's... tell 'em she's alive.//

WakeJumper: Denver's alive, as well.

Jack: *sets his food down, and then passes out with relief*

WakeJumper: ... *facepalm*

Eclipse: *totally ratting her mate out to Hormah* //Wake told, and now Jack's out like a light, Hormah.//

Hormah: *slightly peeved* //Told what?//

Eclipse: //That Denver's alive.//

Hormah: //Oh.// *peeved gone*

Ratchet: *has limped over to check on the boy*

WakeJumper: *quietly* //Denver's not doing so well, is she, Hormah?//

Hormah: *heavily* //I used a wish t' save 'er when she got here, but 'er organs 'ere failin' anyhow. I ain't told t'at Knockout.//

WakeJumper: //...Has the Boss said anything?// *knows that if Denver goes, it'll very likely cause Knockout's processor to irreparably crack*

Hormah: //T' keep it in the family.//

WakeJumper: //...But she doesn't have any fam-// *trails off as something occurs to him* //Would "family" include alternates, and relatives of those alternates, do you think?//

Hormah: //Hardy's talkin' t' 'er.//

WakeJumper: //His family's not just those who share his surname.// *has the beginnings of an idea forming*

Hormah: //'N he's Den Ya.// *absent sounding as she listens to the conversation*

WakeJumper: //What's Denver's blood type? If we can find a person with the same blood type or type "O-Negative" who would be willing to donate...//

Hormah: //Too much damage fer a normal blood transfusion t' help.//

WakeJumper: //...What about a transfusion from a DenYa? Don't most of them have some form of regenerative ability?//

Hormah: //Hardy says it'll be arter changin' 'er.//

WakeJumper: //...// *quietly* //Then she has to choose what happens to her.// *and now he's feeling unsure. He was so certain his idea was a good one, but if Denver's not willing to be changed, then there's not much he or anyone else will be able to do for the teen*

Hormah: //She don't wanna leave the sap.//

WakeJumper: *small nod* //The only other option might be those nanobots I keep hearing about from other realities... but if the damage is too great, then those wouldn't help either.//

Hormah: //Don't got the goahead fer t'ose.//

WakeJumper: //... Scrap.// *just a bit frustrated now*

Hormah: *soft deedle of amusement*

WakeJumper: //Whaat?// *still trying to think of ideas*

Hormah: //Quit purdlin', ye stunned *deedlebeep*.// *no more worry in her voice*

WakeJumper: //...What happened?// *getting better at telling when someone's not worried about something*

Hormah: //It's covered.//

WakeJumper: //That doesn't tell me *bleep*, Hormah.// *"oof" is audible over comms. Guess who got another elbow to the midsection?*

Hormah: //Tough.// *deedles laughter and hangs up on him*

WakeJumper: *grump. Gonna sulk a bit, too*

Eclipse: She'll tell us when the time's right, Wake.

Ratchet: I can hear what you're saying, youngling. *addresses this to WakeJumper as he's pulling himself up from the hunker he'd been in*

Eclipse: He's just grumpy because Hormah saw something really good happen and won't share the details just yet. *smile*

Ratchet: *grumbles* Well he can stop sulking and help me up.

WakeJumper: *on his pedes and moving to help Ratchet up*

Ratchet: *groans as he gains his feet*

WakeJumper: *soft clicks. Will also scan the other medic out of habit, and because he just can't accept that there's nothing he can do to help the alt of his mentor*

Ratchet: The joint's inflamed from some radiation that got into the wound as things fell apart toward the end. *rubs his scarred face*

WakeJumper: *soft clicks as he makes note of that... and that he's seen Ratchet's coordinates before* Do you want help getting back to where your recharge pad is?

Eclipse: *hands over her mouth as she picks up on the coordinates*

Ratchet: *gives him a studious look* Charlie informed me I'm supposed to work with you.

WakeJumper: Ah... *small nod* Then I'll bring you to where we've got the hospital set up.

Ratchet: No one here needs supervision. *looks around* They need to quietly get used to their new surroundings.

Lumen: *enthusiastically inflating tents, and clicking up a storm as he does so*

WakeJumper: *small nod* *wordless communication between himself and Eclipse, and then the femme's departing via PINpoint* Eclipse went to get you something to recharge on.

Ratchet: *slight frown* Aren't you going back to your base?

WakeJumper: We are. We've got a guest bed, but it might not be very comfortable for you.

Ratchet: Oh. Of course. Of course. *distracted by Lumen, and his eyes are sad as he watches the youngster*

WakeJumper: *didn't miss that look, Ratchet. But won't comment on it and spoil the surprise* Ready? *commed Lumen and told him to come home once he's done setting up the tents*

Lumen: *chirping to Bulkhead as the big bot comes over to see what he's doing, but he sends an acknowledgement to his dad*

Ratchet: I'm ready. *and starting to show signs of weariness*

WakeJumper: *nods and brings Ratchet to the guest bedroom of the hospital, where Eclipse is getting a sleeping mat set up with a few blankets and some pillows*

Ratchet: Thank you, dear. *thinks the little femme is adorable, and can remember dreaming of such a wife. But he's sure he'd be bored now* *instead he's thinking of someone quite different*

Eclipse: If the mat's uncomfortable, just comm Wake and he'll come help you up onto the bed, but for right now, you should rest, and I'll see about getting the sound dampeners turned up so you can rest, and I'll bring up some rations in a bit.

Ratchet: No. I'd rather not have sound dampeners. *uneasy frown as he says it* *then scans the bed* ...That's a thick pad.

WakeJumper: *hand over Eclipse's mouth before she can begin rambling again* Some bots like a bit of extra cushioning. I know not all do, which is why I had Eclipse get a sleeping mat, too.

Ratchet: *purses lips* Would it put you out if I wanted to sleep on the thicker mat?

WakeJumper: *soft chuckle* Not at all. If you change your mind, which is alright too, the thinner mat will be available to you as well.

Ratchet: *grumbly sigh* You've seen how well I get up from the floor.

bitty: *comes running into the room. Uncle brought Mama here, and then told him to go find Uncle Wake!* *sees WakeJumper and pauses to wait, since the bot's speaking to someone right now* *is husky and dark green, a strapping baby mech*

WakeJumper: *nod* *will help Ratchet to the bed, chirping softly to the bitty*

Ratchet: *looks to see who WakeJumper is talking to, expecting to see Lumen. What he sights instead freezes him in his tracks as he stares*

WakeJumper: *makes sure Ratchet is steady on the bed, will stoop to lift the bitty*

Ratchet: Let me see him! *voice is a gasp*

bitty: *concerned frown toward the yellow bot as he lets Uncle Wake pick him up*

WakeJumper: *brings the bitty to Ratchet, scanning the older mech with concern*

Ratchet: *reaches out and takes the infant, his eyes white with emotion and his hands trembling* What are you doing here? Let me look at you!

bitty: *frowwwwn*

WakeJumper: *quietly* He won't answer. He never talks.

Ratchet: *looks up at the younger doctor, shaking* This is my son.

WakeJumper: ... We were trying to surprise you. *just a bit uncertain now*

Ratchet: *stutters for a moment. Finally blurts* You knew?

WakeJumper: I scanned the little bit when I first met him and his mother.

Ratchet: *hugs his son close* *voice trembling with static* When was that?

WakeJumper: *quietly* When I delivered him.

Ratchet: *closes his eyes and lowers his face over his son, but then looks up with a gasp as a low, female rumbling reaches his ears* She's here.

WakeJumper: *small nod* She lives a bit farther down the Lost Highway.


Meanwhile


Eclipse: *moving to greet MamaHide and see what she needs*

mamaHide: *being led by little Mira and lbLumen, she's grumbling wordless displeasure and glowering sure promises of pain toward her alter brother*

lbIronhide: *nonchalant as he walks beside mamaHide. Is holding her finger in one hand, because he broke it off as part of his plan to get her to the hospital to meet her husband. Had his Lumen and Mira bring her so she couldn't refuse*

Mira: *scoldies and fussing*

mamaHide: *turns her scowl toward Eclipse* You ask that rustbucket why I'm here.

Eclipse: *slight headtilt* WakeJumper's upstairs in the guest bedroom. *will move to usher mamaHide toward the stairs*

mamaHide: *puts on the brakes* I can be repaired right here.

Mira: *SCOLDIES*

Eclipse: You're upsetting Mira.

mamaHide: *lowers her head in that bullish Ironhide way*

Eclipse: *baps mamaHide and PINpoints her up to the guest bedroom*

mamaHide: *is already in mid roar when something grabs her and lifts her up and... kisses her???* *belts the kisser, and then pushes away from him*

Ratchet: Ironhide, it's me!

Eclipse: *will go retrieve mamaHide's finger*

WakeJumper: *to the bitty he's holding again* Your parents are nuts, kiddo.

bitty: *eyebrow*

mamaHide: *staring at the bot who is standing there with his hands on her shoulders* ...My old man's dead.

WakeJumper: And people can't walk out of realities. Tell me another one, Ironhide.

Ratchet: *just looking at her with love in his eyes and tears on his scarred face*

mamaHide: *uncertain look toward WakeJumper* This is mine?

bitty: *points to the nice-sounding yellow guy*

WakeJumper: *nods as he moves to tuck the bitty in between mamaHide and Ratchet* Yes.

mamaHide: *son under one arm as she grabs her husband around the neck with the other and kisses him till his head buzzes*

bitty: *grins from where he's hanging there under Mama's arm*

Ratchet: *staggers back after a moment, gasping* I need to lay down!

WakeJumper: *moves to get Ratchet laying down, will also make mamaHide lay down beside the older medic*

mamaHide: *needs no urging. She can barely wait for WakeJumper to get out of the way so that she can lay by her husband and cuddle their sparklet between them* *is grouching at Ratchet the whole time, and as she grabs the blankets to cover them with*

WakeJumper: *chuckles softly and moves to get energon rations for the family*

Ratchet: *is the sound of a surprised and muffled mumble*

mamaHide: Shut up and eat, you old clunker.

WakeJumper: *back with canned pasgetti*

Ratchet: *eyes are wide and bright with amazement as he eats the last mouthful of the packet of BBQ gummi ham bits he's been being stuffed with*

WakeJumper: *soft snerk, offers the cans and eating utensils* This will last longer.

Ratchet: *quietly, in a gasp* I've never tasted anything so good.

mamaHide: *snorts and feeds him noodles. With her fingers*

sparklet: *helping with that as he sits up and opens a can himself. Bite for me, bite for Dad, bite for me...*

WakeJumper: *gets footage of the cute*

Eclipse: *is that squee from downstairs*

Ratchet: *looks that way, and gets his face jerked back in the right direction* Haarumph. Nmmph...

WakeJumper: *chuckle* Eclipse and I are deeply bonded. She thinks your kid is being cute.

mamaHide: *glances down at her sturdy little son, who is frowning intently as he works on getting a gummi ball out of the can* Nah. Looks like his old man.

Ratchet: *snerk* *thinks his son is adorable and looks just like the babby's mother*

bitty: *deep thought on who should eat this gummi ball. Finally looks up and tries to give it to Dad*

WakeJumper: *more chuckle, will set a call button on the nightstand* If you need anything, just push the button.

mamaHide: Thanks, kid. *watching her menfolk have their first disagreement*

WakeJumper: I'm going to go torment your brother for a bit. Eclipse is downstairs, and Nickle is around here somewhere...

mamaHide: No, you don't wipe your fingers on the blanket. Don't teach the kid bad manners.

Ratchet: *embarrassed sputtering*

WakeJumper: *amused snort, will head downstairs*

Violet: *is sitting in his plant and hugging her knees as she grins at him*

WakeJumper: ...Are the plants complaining?

Violet: Nope. *grin* But Charlie asked me ta give yeh a message.

WakeJumper: *blink* I'm listening.

Violet: He figured yeh needed an assistant. That old hangover dream ain't never met a WakeJumper before, but he's ready teh work.

WakeJumper: *nod* Well, it may be a few days before he'll be needed to help out with something. And in the meantime, I'm going to look into finding a better home for him and his family than where MamaHide's been camping.

Violet: *curiously* That gonna be hard here?

WakeJumper: It shouldn't be. There's always buildings popping up from realities, and it's just a matter of finding one big enough.

Violet: I ain't seen nothin' that big around.

WakeJumper: There's buildings along the Lost Highway.

Violet: *nods* Yeh got any questions?

WakeJumper: Regarding the houseguests? Not really. Any news about Denver?

Violet: *slight sideways flick of the eyes* Gettin' a blood transfusion.

WakeJumper: *small nod* Then a compatible donor was found. Good. Hopefully it helps her.

Violet: *nods* That's all?

WakeJumper: ... *pauses as he considers* Who was the donor?

Violet: *snerk* The selkie flirt.

WakeJumper: ... *boggling now*

Violet: *interested perk* Yeh know who that is.

WakeJumper: I thought he was a myth!

Violet: *falls over backward in the nasturtiums and howls with laughter*

WakeJumper: *frown* What's so funny?

Violet: *wheeze, snerk* Yeh are. *floats up out of the flowers as a seabreeze swirls around her and tosses her curls* Later, landlubber. *and gone!*

WakeJumper: ... *headshake. Will let Eclipse know where he'll be and then transform and set out to find a home for Ratchet, mamaHide, and their son*

((Written with random_xtras))