sv, Nexus, ov. Autobot Base, Black Dog, Various Locations. Rescue

[dens_extra_pups]

Ratchet: *settled in a chair in the common room of the base. He'd be comfortably snoring away by now, normally, but he kind of ate a whole softboil pizza by himself earlier. So now he's feeling a bit miserable*

First Aid and Arcee: *deep discussion over on the larger couch about school topics and medical issues that's occasionally punctuated by an enthusiastic "tink!" from one or other of their bellies*

Ratchet: *shifting positions a bit, and trying to ignore the slight rumbling coming from his own tank*

Hot Spot: *leaning in the doorway and intently listening to something Optimus is saying*

Rider: *pauses in walking past to pick Optimus up and hug him. Then sets the Prime down and walks on down the hall*

Rewind: *giggle from where he and Eject are busy engaging in mayhem on the bigger holoscreen*

Stiletto: *currently in alt-mode, drops down from the rafters, where she was napping before her nightly patrol. Mighty stretch and yawn*

Steelsong: *ducks past Optimus and Hot Spot, giving them both pats as she comes in. Quick glance around, and then goes to sit and talk to the ladies on the couch*

Stiletto: *more stretch, then she's padding off to get a snack and pester Skydive for a bit*

Blades: *can be heard pouncing her and chattering once the catbot's disappeared past Optimus and Hot Spot*

Ratchet: *snorts. Figures one of these days, Stiletto will give Blades a mighty bap with a paw... If the techno-organic femme hasn't already*

doodad: *buzzes in Ratchet's pocket*

Ratchet: ... *will do his best to get the doodad out without drawing attention to what he's doing* *inadvertently shakes an airbubble loose* *BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP*

Arcee, First Aid, and Steelsong: *startled glances in his direction*

Eject and Rewind: *SO DED!*

Hot Spot: ...Ratchet, are you alright?

Optimus: ... Do I even want to know?

Ratchet: *sheepish* I'm fine. I just shook an air bubble loose.

Hot Spot: *grin for his grandpa, and then turns back to his dad*

doohicky: *buzzzzz*

ladies: *soft snorts and resume talking*

Ratchet: *getting up and heading off toward the infirmary. Once he's out of earshot, he'll get the device out* *and then he's pushing the button and going to the Nexus*

Uzulee: *looks up from where she's perched on the back of a human-sized couch* Hey, Ratchet. Got time for a job?

Ratchet: *nods* I do.

Uzulee: You remember that guy that you switched places with three vorns ago?

Ratchet: *nods. Then his expression's going concerned* Did something happen to him?

Uzulee: *shakes her head* No. He's fine. Stationed on Earth with Tarantulus and Black Arachnia. It's his son that needs help.

Ratchet: ...Where is he?

Uzulee: *offers up a disk style PINpoint* This will take you to Cragbuster. But first go see his dad. You'll need to bring him along.

Ratchet: *nods, accepts the disk style PINpoint. Then he's going to the reality where he went one time and met an alternate of WakeJumper*

WakeJumper: *soft grunt as somebody stumbles forward and bumps into him. Quizzical look down to see who it is*

Ratchet: *bibbly sound, looks up to see who he ran into* ...

WakeJumper: ... *both brow ridges up* *quietly* You're back.

svRatchet: ...WakeJumper? *disbelieving shock on his face*

WakeJumper: *nods, quirking a brow ridge, even as he calls the Predacon complex to see if the local Ratchet is still there*

oRatchet: //What's the matter, WakeJumper? Does Myrrh need something?//

WakeJumper: //That visitor I told you about is here.//

oRatchet: *voice goes from soothing to curious* //Do you recognize the bot?//

WakeJumper: *as he absently turns a brick over in his hands and contemplates where it needs to go in the pathway he was working on before the other Ratchet arrived* //Yes. It's the you who came here when I first arrived.//

svRatchet: *meanwhile, is trying to figure out what this WakeJumper turns into. He can see what looks like legs... or maybe they're arms...*

oRatchet: *surprised now* //Has he said anything?//

WakeJumper: *very soft snort* //Not about why he's here. But I think I broke his brain. The last time he saw me, I was trying to hide from him.//

oRatchet: *affection returns* //Well, you are pretty big. But don't just stand there giving him your mysterious look, kid. Ask him what he wants.//

WakeJumper: //Alright, but I'm patching you in, so you don't get to ask him that later.// *to svRatchet* What brings you here, Ratchet?

svRatchet: Er... I need to borrow your reality's Ratchet.

oRatchet: //Tell him I can only walk so fast.//

WakeJumper: //Will do... After I feed him some calcien. I can hear his tank acting up.//

oRatchet: //Acting up how? Slug, I see you there.//

WakeJumper: //Sounds like he got into red paint, almost.//

svRatchet: *excuse him, he just burped. Loudly. And he's looking very sheepish about it, too*

oRatchet: *sounds like he got affectionately bounced off a wall* //If it were red paint you'd know it.//

svRatchet: *mutter* Can't believe I ate the whole thing...

WakeJumper: //Fair point... Sounds like he ate more than he was planning on.//

oRatchet: *comes walking out of the thick trees behind WakeJumper* That doesn't sound like me.

svRatchet: *startle. SWEAR!*

oRatchet: *dryly* Nice. You kiss Arcee with that mouth?

WakeJumper: *boredly* Grimlock says worse and you know it.

oRatchet: Grimlock doesn't kiss Arcee. *walks around the younger bot and plants himself in front of his alternate* What did you get into, bot?

svRatchet: *scowl* If you must know, I had a softboil pizza.

oRatchet: Never heard of it. *shoves a handful of tablets at him* Eat that.

svRatchet: *scanning the tablets*

WakeJumper: *realizes he needs more bricks. Will go retrieve them. After transforming to his land mode. Cue orange, black, and silver Giganotosaurus*

svRatchet: *startles and boggles*

oRatchet: *snidely, as he continues to hold out the mineral tablets* You expected a Lamborghini at a Predacon settlement?

svRatchet: *as he reaches for the tablets* Mech, I don't know what to expect half the time!

oRatchet: *snorts* *but then softens slightly* How's your little girl? *remembers the little sparklet that his alternate's wife had been carrying that day they'd switched places*

svRatchet: Athena's doing well... She's busy with her patients, but she still visits the base regularly. And she's excited about her new sibling's upcoming arrival.

oRatchet: *frowns* New sibling? Eat those tablets and stop playing with 'em.

svRatchet: *nods* Arcee's carrying again. *will eat some of the tablets*

oRatchet: *frown deepens* You people do that a lot, do you ?

svRatchet: *give him a moment. He's gagging at the taste of the tablets*

oRatchet: Oh suck it up and take your medicine like a bot.

svRatchet: *rude gesture*

oRatchet: *growls at him* How're the other little ones?

svRatchet: *still pulling a face* Steelsong's the representative for Michigan in the House of Representatives... Solar Flare's giving Wheeljack fits, when he's not busy testing his latest inventions... Mudflap and Runamuck are living up to their names... Kendell is about ready to graduate from Academy... Wheelie, Rider, and Magenta are helping keep the streets of Detroit safe... Blaster's become our communications expert, when he's not sleeping after his and Steelsong's sons kept them up all night... *soft chuckle* Kia's been a big help with the newsparks.

oRatchet: *nods his head* Bumblebee's daughter just finished Cybertron Flight School. *pause* What about your WakeJumper?

svRatchet: He's chief medical officer on a newly discovered planet, and he and Eclipse are happily married. *pause* Wait. You said Bumblebee has a daughter?

oRatchet: *smirk* Yup. That stunt he pulled with leaving Sari behind broke a tiny piece off her spark, and that piece had code from both of them.

svRatchet: ... I'm almost afraid to ask who she takes after more.

oRatchet: Pride of the Academy, first in Tech School, and now Flight School.

svRatchet: *soft chuckle* So she takes after her mother more... There's no stopping Sari when she puts her mind to something.

oRatchet: Perceptor's best pupil, you mean? *scans his alternate's tank*

svRatchet: *tank settling down* How is Myrrh?

oRatchet: *quiet, proud grin that's in no way abated by a roar and what sounds like minor thunder in the distance* She and WakeJumper are our Primus servants. And WakeJumper's a doctor, pastor, and bricklayer, too.

svRatchet: *soft chuckle at the pride he can see in his alternate's optics* You're proud of both of them... I take it WakeJumper learned from you?

oRatchet: *bit of a smirk* All the stuff that counts.

svRatchet: Have you taught anyone else?

oRatchet: Only the basics. Swoop's still too easily distracted, and Clementine's too young.

svRatchet: Clementine?

oRatchet: *smirk times ten as he turns around. You know that red silk scarf he's wearing? It's actually the ties to the beautifully quilted bag he's got on his back. And in that bag a tiny orange being with white trim is sleeping*

svRatchet: *softly* Awwww. *and then he's remembering why he came* *quietly and seriously* It might be a good idea to take her back to her mother...

WakeJumper: *back with bricks on a rolling cart. Will transform to root mode, slip out from the harness, and come get his barely-a-handful daughter*

oRatchet: *unties the straps of the bag once he feels WakeJumper lift it slightly* *quietly* Tell her I'll be back soon. And if you see Swoop, tell her I've repaired her doll.

WakeJumper: *nods* *will also give you a fuel canister with his free hand*

oRatchet: *looks at the canister, and then up at WakeJumper* ...Warmed oil?

WakeJumper: Warmed energon. You'll know what it's for when you get there.

oRatchet: *scowls at him* *quiet growl* I need to know a little more than that!

svRatchet: Let's get going. *holds up the disk-style PINpoint* This will bring us where we're needing to go.

oRatchet: Can't you tell me anything else? *scowl scowl from WakeJumper to Ratchet*

WakeJumper: It's cold there. He needs all the help to get warmed up that he can get.

oRatchet: *deeeep scowl, but turns and runs inside. Returns several minutes later with a kit in his hand* Alright. Now we can go.

svRatchet: *moves to put a hand on his counterpart's shoulder* Brace yourself.

oRatchet: I know how those things work. It's you that should be bracing your tank full of pizza.

svRatchet: *snorts and activates the disk-style PINpoint*

oRatchet: *quick glance around the stone-walled room, and then hurries toward where a bot in faded yellow and white is laying on his front next to what looks like a human size life pod with the top ripped off*

ovCragbuster: *face turned toward the pod, and there is something huddled against his face just below his lower eye*

svRatchet: *also hurrying over, scanners going*

oRatchet: *gently lifts the thing away from the yellow and white bot's face* What's a human doing out here?

person: *moves, and two bleary eyes peer over a scarf of felted material*

svRatchet: *will scan the person oRatchet's holding* *gentle clicks* *to his counterpart* I'll worry about the human, you help Cragbuster get warmed up.

oRatchet: *frown* Shouldn't you take care of your own offspring?

svRatchet: *as he moves to gently relieve oRatchet of the human* That one's not mine. He's yours.

oRatchet: *just about drops the human* What?? But I've never met anyone named Clarion!

svRatchet: *scolding sound, will gently cradle the human in his hands* There's probably an explanation for his existence, but right now, we can't be worrying about that.

oRatchet: *bewildered look, but then shakes himself and gets to work* *is soon feeding Cragbuster the warmed energon*

human: *tries to sit up, but is shivering hard despite wearing a cloak and gown of more of the heavy felt along with rough mitts and boots of the same* *voice raspy and showing clear signs of past heavy smoke damage* Wh... what?

svRatchet: *soothingly, as he gently cradles the human close so he can try and warm them with the heat from his own frame* We're here to help. How long were you two out in this cold?

woman: *wearily* Ben... inside all d'time. 'Buster, he go yesterday t'pick up de tubers 'n den come back t'rough de blizzard insteada... *pauses to cough wrackingly and wheeze*

svRatchet: *scans the woman, clicking softly*

woman: *nearly seven foot tall, and showing signs of once having been in above average physical fitness. Is now emaciated and bearing fire scars on both the outside and inside of her body. Pulls her clothing more closely around her and tries to curl up as her coughing settles into wheezing again*

svRatchet: *soft rumble, gently holds the woman close to his armor so he can shield her from the cold as well as he's able *

woman: *draws her legs up under her gowns and cloak* *wearily* Who...

svRatchet: The medic over helping Cragbuster and I are both called Ratchet.

woman: *tips her head back to frown at him*

svRatchet: We're different versions of the same person. It's kind of complicated...

woman: Figured dat. Wondered what bot'ya doin' here.

svRatchet: I was told my help was needed here, and to bring my counterpart along as well.

woman: 'Buster's marooned. *more coughing*

svRatchet: *quietly* That doesn't stop the powers that be from bringing help when it's most needed.

woman: *scowls up at him despite the coughing*

svRatchet: *quietly* They do the best they can. If they can't get permission to bring someone, then there's not much that can be done... Travelers like me can only go where we have permission to go.

oRatchet: *without looking up from working on his patient* We need to bring them both back to my medilab STAT.

svRatchet: *moves to bring the woman over to his counterpart, carefully getting his PINpoint out and adjusting the settings* Put a hand on me and keep one hand on Cragbuster.

oRatchet: *does so, his worried scowl very apparent despite his downturned face*

woman: *seems to have stopped coughing due to sheer exhaustion*

svRatchet: *brings everyone back to Dinobot Island*

Slug: *trundling over. WakeJumper told her to stand and wait because there was going to be a bot to carry*

svRatchet: *surprised sound* Bhuh?!

oRatchet: *looks up at the sound, and his face brightens* Slug, do you want to help me today?

Slug: *nod* Him Wake say to help carry bot.

oRatchet: *glad grin as he pats Cragbuster* This is the bot. He's very cold, and we need to warm him up.

Slug: *small nod as she moves to carefully lift Cragbuster* *frown* Him look like ugly you.

svRatchet: *trying not to snicker*

oRatchet: *voice catches slightly* *softly* He's my son.

Slug: *blink. Headtilt. Confused Dinobot* You Ratchet have wife?

oRatchet: *voice still soft and sad as he gently chivies her down the path toward the door* No, Slug. No wife.

Slug: *more confused* Then how you have son?

svRatchet: *following behind oRatchet and Slug now*

oRatchet: *shakes his head* I don't know.

Slug: *much frown now, is trying to figure this mystery out*

WakeJumper: *waiting at the entrance to the complex*

oRatchet: WakeJumper, did your last experiment leave me enough fuel to heat that brick bed?

WakeJumper: *slight smile* And then some.

oRatchet: *good* *chivvi chivvi, herd herd. His medilab isn't too far inside the beautifully decorated front entrance, with its brick murals of Earth and Cybertron*

svRatchet: *absently notes the murals, is more focused on getting patients inside where it's warmer*

Slug: *looks to WakeJumper* This him Ratchet's son.

WakeJumper: *nods* Ratchet's son is named Cragbuster, Slug.

Slug: *small nod*

oRatchet: *actually stops short with surprise as he opens the door to his lab and is met with a rush of heat* *turns to quirk a brow ridge at WakeJumper*

WakeJumper: I told you we had enough... And this way, it'll help the human as well.

oRatchet: You knew exactly what was happening today, didn't you? *walks inside and sees that the heated berth even has a clean new cover on it*

WakeJumper: I had a good guess...

oRatchet: *snorts and points to the bed* There, Slug.

Slug: *will move to set ovCragbuster down on the berth* Lots of warm.

oRatchet: *pulls the top part of the cover up over Cragbuster to contain that warmth* Yup. You want payment?

Slug: *headshake*

oRatchet: *grins and patpats, his attention already turned to switching on monitors and getting equipment*


meanwhile


svRatchet: *quietly, to WakeJumper* Will they be alright?

WakeJumper: *has gently relieved svRatchet of the human woman* Hopefully.

woman: *relaxed a bit now as she leans back against WakeJumper's fingers. Those tired eyes frown up at him quizzically from the shadow of her hood*

WakeJumper: *gently* My name is WakeJumper. What is your name?

woman: *more frown* Maj. Charleen LaFitte. US Marines.

WakeJumper: *small nod* Well, Major LaFitte, I can't promise miracles, but I can at least promise you're in a good place to get medical attention.

Charleen: *shakes her head* Had it.

WakeJumper: *very quiet rumble*

Charleen: *absently paws at her scarf with her mittened hands, but doesn't seem to have the strength to adjust anything*

WakeJumper: *carefully and gently removes the scarf and mittens, still rumbling softly all the while*

Charleen: *face would never have been beautiful, or even feminine. Now with the burn scars it's pale and slightly melted looking. Her brows are gone, and as she pushes her hood back her bald scalp and shortened or missing fingers are clear* *groggily* M'hot...

WakeJumper: *soothingly* Let's get you comfortable, then. *will remove the cloak after untying the bow on it, absently noting that the cord is handmade*

Charleen: *moves to try and help with the removal, but it's clear she hasn't much energy. Once the cloak's off she's trying to remove her arms from the sleeves of the bulky felt gown*

WakeJumper: *soft clicks, will assist with that as well*

Charleen: *now wearing a plain brown cotton fleece gown with gently gathered cuffs, and the felt boots. She lays there for a moment as though gathering her strength*

WakeJumper: *spares a quick glance to check on oRatchet's progress*

oRatchet: *discussing with his alternate the best time to give Cragbuster the maintenance he needs and what might happen if he were introduced to his alternate and several gallons of Chromia*

WakeJumper: *quietly, as he moves to bring Charleen over* That might end with more than one bot drunk.

oRatchet: *rubs his nose* I think that's the idea. *concerned frown for the woman* She need repairs?

WakeJumper: *quietly* She said she had gotten some... Her name is Charleen LaFitte, and she's a Major in the United States Marines.

svRatchet: ... *to his ov counterpart* Are there any MacKenzies, specifically one named Denver, in the Detroit area?

oRatchet: *frankly* I have no idea. Haven't had much interaction with the locals since that Fanzone joker went offline. *looks at WakeJumper*

WakeJumper: *small headshake after asking Primus about that* No... There isn't. *slight pause* Let me check on where they might be though.

Charleen: *lifts her head and looks WakeJumper right in the eye* Buster 'mong 'is own now?

WakeJumper: *softly* We're similar types of people. His father's here, too.

Charleen: *still that gaze boring demandingly into his* Den I kin go now?

oRatchet: *frowns at her*

svRatchet: *small frown, scans her a bit more closely*

WakeJumper: *quietly uncertain now*

oRatchet: *sharply* Go where?

Charleen: *shrugs the shoulder of her stronger arm* Hell? Dey only kep' me back so Buster'd 'ave somebody der. You all 'ere now.

svRatchet: *still frowning* Who kept you back?

Charleen: Dat Charlie.

svRatchet: ... *SCANS Charleen*

Charleen: *scowls at him* *is in very bad condition, but not in danger of dying*

svRatchet: You're not in danger of dying.

Charleen: *shrugs again and slumps more in weariness* Done now. Want t' go.

oRatchet: *massive black scowl for the woman, but he'll let the bots with more human experience speak*

WakeJumper: *quiet. Is asking Primus and the Greatest Creator for guidance*

svRatchet: *small frown* He'll notice if you're gone.

oRatchet: *whirls just then as Cragbuster wakes and tries to bolt off the bed* Oh no you don't! *jumps on top of the yellow and white bot and holds him down*

Cragbuster: *thrashes and tries to get uncoordinated limbs to cooperate* Charleen! She hasn't been fed since I left! It's been too long. She's sick!

WakeJumper: *startles badly at that. Gone bot after transferring Charleen to svRatchet*

svRatchet: *moving to bring Charleen into Cragbuster's field of vision* Settle down!

Cragbuster: She needs me!

Charleen: *rares herself up with all her frail, slight strength. Damaged voice cracks as she shouts at Cragbuster. Uses such language on the bot that even svRatchet will not have heard!*

Cragbuster: *blinks and seems to become more fully awake, his expression bewildered and relieved as he sees her there in the grasp of a bot who could nearly be his twin* She needs gruel. Twelve (ounces). *passes out and falls back onto the bed*

oRatchet: *quiet explicative*

svRatchet: ... *says something the mun's not writing, because it's in a language she doesn't have the right keyboard settings for*

Charleen: *sags* Don't... need. No... not'in'.

svRatchet: Bull*poop*. Cragbuster needs you, and you need him, even if you don't want to admit it.

Charleen: *stern look* Don't... need... me... *interrupted by a wracking cough that seems about to tear her lungs out*

svRatchet: He does need you. *quieter* He'd give up otherwise.

Myrrh: *just came in after setting Clementine loose to climb on her daddy* *calmly* He's never been around bots, or much of anyone. He'd have no idea how to interact without her as a reason for doing it.

oRatchet: *turns his head to frown down at the little white femme*

svRatchet: ... *quietly* He'll have the chance to learn, here. *pause. Look for Charleen* That is, if he doesn't lose the reason he hasn't given up yet.

Charleen: *manages to glare at him, but then the coughs get truly painful sounding*

oRatchet: *worried* That doesn't sound like anything good.

svRatchet: *scanning Charleen now!* *to oRatchet* Do you have an oxygen tent? She's got severe scarring in her lungs.

oRatchet: *desperate crabbiness* I don't even know what that is!

svRatchet: *describing what he needs, even as he gets things set up for an IV*

Myrrh: *quietly offers the oxygen bottle she'd been holding even as oRatchet bustles around to find a clear plastic tarp he's sure he's got*

Charleen: *has stopped coughing because she's too tired to cough anymore. Has also passed out and looks a wee bit blue despite her breathing being as regular as it can be with that much rasp to it*

svRatchet: *nods to Myrrh as he accepts the oxygen bottle* *silently wishes he had everything he needed to tend to Charleen's needs at the moment*

Myrrh: *steps back with surprise as his midsection sparkles cobalt blue* What?

oRatchet: ... Did you just wish with your guts?

svRatchet: *startled blurt, quickly opens the panel that the sparkles are coming from. Is soon pulling out all of the equipment necessary to help Charleen*

oRatchet: *listening with an intent scowl*

Slug: *back with a big box that has a soft, clean towel in it*

Myrrh: *surprised and pleased as she sees the turned over willow work bench* Oh, that will make a perfect bed. Thank you, Slug.

Slug: *nod, gives the box to Myrrh* Bed for hurt person.

Myrrh: *lets the bed rest on the floor and looks up at the Ratchets*

oRatchet: *stoops to pick it up, and then snorts his approval as he sees that the towel fills the overturned bench in such a way as to form a reclined bed with side walls* Good work, Slug.

Slug: *pleased sound*

oRatchet: Why don't you help Clementine listen to WakeJumper?

Slug: *amused snort* Her Clementine climb him Jumpy like tree. *will go to watch, however*

oRatchet: *as he turns to his alternate* She'll sleep till sometime tomorrow now. *holds up the bed* I know it's the treatment for hurt critters, but do you think a box lined with a towel will work till we can get her a proper human bed?

svRatchet: It will work, for now. *pause* Who'll sleep 'til sometime tomorrow?

oRatchet: *as he sets the improvised hospital bed on the counter where Cragbuster'll be able to see it* Slug. School puts her out every time.

svRatchet: *very soft snerk* Some of the kids back home are the same way...

oRatchet: *quiet snerk of his own* Alright. This is ready.

svRatchet: *nods and moves to get everything arranged* *softly* She's too thin for her height and build.

oRatchet: *sharp look of concern* Is that a danger?

svRatchet: It would be, if she wasn't where she can get the care she needs.

oRatchet: *worried scowl as he ponders his ability to give that care*

svRatchet: *databursts his own frequency to his counterpart* And you can always call me to ask questions.

oRatchet: *grimly* Unless some emergency comes up on your end.

svRatchet: *quietly* It's been pretty quiet for the past vorn... And WakeJumper and First Aid are both qualified medics... Plus, you have a WakeJumper too.

oRatchet: *testily* He's a bot doctor. Not a human one!

svRatchet: *seriously* What's stopping either of you from learning how to treat humans as well?

oRatchet: *still in grump mode* We can't do it overnight!

svRatchet: *small frown* *will databurst all the information on treating injuries similar to what Charleen has, as well as how to treat pneumonia*

oRatchet: *once more the intent scowl, and then he glances down as Charleen rasps and moves in her bed* She's tossing.

svRatchet: *scanning Charleen again* *quietly* She's not used to being so helpless when she was so strong before...

oRatchet: *curiosity comes into the scowl* You know her?

svRatchet: I've met a version of her before in the Nexus.

oRatchet: *looks down at their patient* *gruffly* What's she like?

svRatchet: Stubborn... Very independent...

oRatchet: I wonder how she got to that forsaken world.

Myrrh: Charlie did that. *sounds distracted*

oRatchet: *looks down at the scarred woman in the plastic tent* *quietly* I'm almost afraid to ask. But what happened to her?

svRatchet: *quietly I honestly don't know.

oRatchet: *turns away to reach for a bottle* They don't tell you everything, huh?

svRatchet: *headshake* They tell me what they can.

Myrrh: *quietly* And what won't upset you. *sounds a little upset herself*

svRatchet: *small nod* *quieter* That too.

oRatchet: *looks over his shoulder at Myrrh* Did Primus tell you what happened?

Myrrh: No... The multinet did. *turns toward the door* I'd better check on WakeJumper.

svRatchet: *another small nod* I should be going soon. *making sure of small things that will help keep Charleen from getting sicker*

ping: *offers svRatchet a databurst*

oRatchet: I just wish I knew where this guy came from.

svRatchet: *accepts the databurst, wondering to himself where it came from*

burst: *oh, there's Uzulee's cellphone siggy... and the story of Cragbuster's birth*

svRatchet: *quiet rumble* *will forward the databurst to oRatchet*

oRatchet: *looks up from organizing things* What's this?

svRatchet: Information about Cragbuster.

oRatchet: *frowns at him* I thought you didn't know?

svRatchet: I just got the information from my source.

oRatchet: *stoops to pull out two bottles and hand one to his alternate, his absent expression saying that he's reading files*

svRatchet: *nods as he accepts the bottle* *soon has the bottle open and is having a taste of the contents*

contents: *quite a lovely, smooth, and mild botbeer* *obviously NOT a Ratchet vintage*

oRatchet: *expression dark* The government made him during the great war, so that my "medical genius" wouldn't be lost. His mother was a volunteer, who lost her mind and ran off while she was still carrying.

svRatchet: ... *quietly* They never knew when to stop messing with things.

oRatchet: *growls and starts to put the bottle back, but then stops and looks at his patients. Growls again and drinks the botbeer*

svRatchet: *offers his counterpart the other bottle of botbeer*

oRatchet: *shakes his head* You have that. *turns to frown down at Cragbuster* *quietly* A criminal...

svRatchet: *quietly* Give him a chance. He's had a hard life up to this point.

oRatchet: *silent nod* *and then a quick step over and soothing words as Charleen starts to cough again*

svRatchet: You have my frequency. *quick check of storage for a spare PINpoint, which gets set where oRatchet will see it* Stay safe.

oRatchet: The same to you. Take the bottle with you. *more quiet talk for Charleen as he carefully manages to reach under the tent to fix her covers without letting the oxygen out*

svRatchet: *nods and PINpoints back to the Black Dog*

Uzulee: *looks up at him from where she's perched somewhere a cute small young woman has no right to be* How'd it go?

svRatchet: Cragbuster and Charleen are being tended to, and my alternate has my frequency in case something happens. I don't think Charleen quite understands that she's essential to Cragbuster surviving.

Uzulee: *soberly* She's a hard-headed person. Everywhere that I've seen.

svRatchet: *small nod* So is the one I've met.

Uzulee: That one? *points toward the door*

svRatchet: *looks to where Uzulee's pointing*

dliChar: *strides into the bar, wearing a black floral knit babydoll minidress and unlaced combat boots*

dliDenver: *is the sound of a massive spit-take and a startled squawk from the bot-size table nearest the door. Choking follows*

svRatchet: ... That's her. *moving to assist dliDenver*

dliChar: *has scrambled up there herself and is now standing and scowling as she watches the unchoking of her heart sister*

svRatchet: *gives dliDenver a gentle thump in the right place*

dliDenver: *wheezing now* *hiccoughs as the baby kicks*

dliChar: Denny, you alright? *poised to push Ratchet away just as soon as she knows everything's okay*

dliDenver: Ah'm *hic* fahn.

dliChar: *shove! No fear. No hesitation* You spring a leak?

dliDenver: N-*hic!*-No. Th' babbeh's *HIC!* kickin'.

dliChar: *looks in Denver's glass, decides it's safe, and offers it to her* Hold yer breath 'n drink.

dliDenver: *will proceed to do so*

svRatchet: *scans dliDenver*

dliDenver: *clearly techno-organic, in good health, and about six months along in her pregnancy...*

baby: *trying to hide from the scanning*

svRatchet: *soft snerk*

baby: *figures he can't hide, so squirms around butt-first toward the peeker*

dliDenver: *braap!* *hiccups gone!*

dliChar: *slapping her leg and laughing uproariously*

dliDenver: *thrrpts Char, nomphs another bite* Th' *beep* y'u doin' 'n a dress?

dliChar: *shrugs and sits* Clothes're a pain in d' *beep*.

dliDenver: *snort*

dliChar: *snorts back and reaches into her cousin's plate*

svRatchet: *headshake, moves to go back to talking to Uzulee*

Uzulee: Fork vs fist? *slight grin, eyes dancing*

svRatchet: They both know about the AV field.

Uzulee: They'd play it anyway. They're Marines.

svRatchet: *snort*

Uzulee: *sobers* Anything you want to say or ask?

svRatchet: *quietly* Will Major LaFitte get any better?

Uzulee: With the right care, her lungs will get stronger. She's already exercising with Cragbuster to keep her skin flexible. *slight huff of a sigh* Stomachs and intestines don't heal very well.

svRatchet: *small nod* I gave the other Ratchet my frequency if he has questions.

Uzulee: *nods* Knowing you, he'll be calling human specialists too.

svRatchet: *nods* I also gave him data on treating burn patients, and treating pneumonia.

Uzulee: *grins* Good idea.

svRatchet: *circulates quietly for a moment, then* Will Cragbuster be alright?

Uzulee: Caring for the Major will cause him to bond with his father and the others.

svRatchet: *small nod*

Uzulee: Anything else? Don't spill your beer.

svRatchet: Not right now. I need to be heading back after I finish. *will have a swig of the botbeer* I know my alt didn't make this. It's not kicking me in the face.

Uzulee: *outright grin* No. That was Grimlock.

svRatchet: *blink. Blink* Huh. He's got a gift.

Uzulee: *chuckles and offers him a credit chit*

svRatchet: *nods and accepts the credit chit*

Uzulee: Till next time. *grin*

svRatchet: Stay out of trouble.

Uzulee: I grew out of trouble a long time ago. XD

svRatchet: *amused snort, will tuck the credit chit away and finish his botbeer, then he's setting his PINpoint to bring him back to when he left and heading home*

((written with random_xtras))