MTMTE. Terra and Luna-1. Tambora Part 1

[dens_extra_pups]

Tailgate: *out for the day with Deluge and Rodimus. Is having the time of her life after eating too many treats. Also can't stop dolly-cuddling the former ship's captain* And so then I said, "Hey, what..." *pauses and looks down quizzically as a funny sound comes from Rodimus' butt* Um... I didn't think farts could make tunes.

Deluge: *so ded*

Rodimus: *rolls his eyes and fishes his cellphone out of his pocket. He'd found the device in a pocket the other day and had spent a few hours just playing with it to see what all it could do. Will answer it* Rodimus here.

male voice: //Starsaber here, sir.//

Rodimus: *brows up* ...Er... How can I help you?

Starsaber: //I just wanted to report that the Quadriate birthing medics have finished with the hotspot here on Luna1.//

Rodimus: ... *whooshes out the breath he didn't realize he was holding* That's... That's great.

Starsaber: //But something's come up. Is there any way you could get here on short notice?// *startled sound as what sounds like a trumpet breaks out over Rodimus' head* //Sir? What's that??//

Rodimus: *facepalming* That was a bratty kid trying to be funny.

Starsaber: *uncertainly, as he clearly hears cackling* //Oh... Will you be able to come?//

Deluge: *other end! And sings while he does it!*

Tailgate: *laughing so hard that Rodimus is jiggling*

Tempest: *dancing to the song!*

Rodimus: Let me tell the captain.

Starsaber: *confusion in his voice* //The captain?//

Deluge: *more trumpet!*

Rodimus: I resigned.

Starsaber: //...Oh. Alright. Well, the matter I was calling about actually is something personal to you.//

Rodimus: ... What's the matter?

Starsaber: *simply* //One of the sparklets is related to you.//

Rodimus: ... *and he just fainted from the shock*

Tailgate: *startled squeal and calls Ratchet!* *also might accidentally step on the cellphone as she dances with dismay*

Tempest: Purk!

Deluge: *awks and tries to wake Rodimus*

Ratchet: *needs coordinates!*

Tailgate: *can't remember how to do coordinates! Shows Ratchet the big statue with the head turned upside down!*

Ratchet: //I'm on my way.//

Tailgate: *worried bibbling as she and Tempest both cry* Take him, Deluge.

Deluge: *gently lifting Rodimus, clicking softly* Why the scrap did he faint?!

Tailgate: F... Faint? I thought I squished him! *more tears*

Deluge: *one arm around girlfriend, is still crouched* Naw. He was talking, and then he fainted.

Tailgate: *would now be sitting on the street with relief if you weren't holding her, Deluge* Oh. *wibblebibble, wipe optic band* I totally knew that.

Deluge: *gentle nuzzle*

Ratchet: *just arrived* What happened?

Deluge: The doofus was talking to someone, and they must'a said something shocking, 'cause he fainted.

Tailgate: Oh no! His communicator thingie! *wriggles free to go try and pick up the remains*

Tempest: *tries to help. Is so sympathy right now*

Ratchet: I'll fix that later. *focusing on Rodimus*

Tailgate: *looks up from where she's hunkered with bits of electronics and plastic in her hands* Is he gonna be okay?

Tempest: *triiillll?* *head perkies*

Ratchet: He should be fine once he wakes up, and has something to eat. His blood sugar's a bit low... *chills his fingers and gently touches them to Rodimus' neck*

Rodimus: *wakes with a gasp*

Tailgate: *phone parts fly as she nearly dives into her subspace* Do I have his snack? I can't remember... gimme two shakes.

Deluge: *will move to pick up the cellphone pieces*

Ratchet: *comforting Rodimus, who is a bit confused at the moment*

Tailgate: Ahah! *pulls out a little tube and offers it* It's a strawberry squeezie pudding.

Ratchet: *will reach for the tube and work on feeding the contents to Rodimus* Thanks, Taligate.

Tailgate: Don't mention it, Doc. *watches the feeding eagerly as Tempest leans against her and sings his soft song*

Rodimus: *calming as he eats, comforted by one of his favorite flavors*

Ratchet: *still scanning and keeping an optic on the former captain*

Rodimus: *quietly, once he finishes the squeezie pudding* Starsaber called...

Tailgate: 0_o The whacko that got dead on Luna 1?

Rodimus: It sounded like him...

Tailgate: Freeeky. *gonna pick up Tempest and snuggle Deluge now kthanks*

Deluge: *all the cuddles*

Ratchet: *frowning* What did he want?

Rodimus: *deep breath* The sparks from Luna 1 have been harvested...

Ratchet: *boggling. Says something unprintable*

Tailgate: *squeals at the same time* What???

Rodimus: We need to tell Nightwish and Flashpoint.

Deluge: Is Nightwish back from her mission?

Ratchet: Not yet... *much frown*

Rodimus: We need to let her know... One... One of the new bots...

Tailgate: *hides* Don't faint again!

Rodimus: *deep breath, gathering his thoughts and trying not to faint again* One of the new bots is related to me!

Ratchet: What?!

Tailgate: ... 0_0 ... 0_0 You're a daddy?

Rodimus: I don't know!

Ratchet: We need to tell Flashpoint, at the very least.

Tailgate: *comms the captain and gives her a rushed and garbled message about Luna 1 and Rodimus is a daddy and...*

Flashpoint: //Wh't w's all th't, Tailgate?// *concerned*

Tailgate: *deep intake* //Luna 1. Babies! Rodimus is a daddy!//

Flashpoint: //... Wh're's 'e 't?// *all business now*

Tailgate: *shows funny statue*

Flashpoint: //... Y'all bring 'im t' th' ship... Ah'm gonna trah 'n call 'Wish.//

Tailgate: //She said her thing was important and it had to be done.//

Flashpoint: //Ah'm still gonna trah. Th's 's 'mportant, too.//

Deluge: Shouldn't we get going? Anybody got one of those flash things?

Ratchet: I do. Did you get all of the pieces of Rodimus' cellphone?

Rodimus: ... *facepalm* I'm not going to ask.

Deluge: Yeah. *offers them*

Ratchet: *nods* Hold onto those until we get to the infirmary.

Tailgate: *looks up from her armful of raptor* Why're we going to the infirmary?

Ratchet: Because that's where I'll be working on Rodimus' phone.

Tailgate: *intent look, and then her head is making music*

Rodimus: ... That is epic win.

Deluge: Did you just hack his frequency?

Rodimus: ... Just don't rickroll me in the middle of the night.

Tailgate: He's worried. I told him you fainted when you heard about the sparklet.

Rodimus: Tell him I'm okay, and we're getting things arranged to come to Luna 1.

Tailgate: *intent expression, and then a moment later eeks softly and blushes intensely*

Deluge: Tailgate? *protective and worried*

Tailgate: *hides face on Tempest* Starsaber says Rodimus is lucky to have such a nice secretary.

Deluge: *soft chuckle, will nuzzle Tailgate's head*

Rodimus: He forgot awesome and super smart.

Tailgate: *blush intensifies* Awww sheesh...

Tempest: *happy little song as he snuggles*

Ratchet: *chuckles softly* Let's get back to the ship.

Deluge: *scoops up girlfriend and dino* What's taking you so long, old man?

Ratchet: *snorts at Deluge, will bring everyone back to the Lost Light infirmary*


Later, on the surface of Luna-1


Rodimus: *standing a bit awkwardly. Is borrowing Verity's mech suit, and it doesn't quite fit him. He's already been warned of the penalty if he farts while wearing it, so he's doing his best to be good*

Luna 1: *looks cheery and inviting. There are new buildings to replace those that had been here before. And in the distance some of the big numbered drones are playing with tinier figures*

Ratchet: *looking around for familiar faces, will lift Rodimus up carefully* Let's go meet up with Starsaber.

Rodimus: *nod of agreement* Yeah...

blue bot: *just came out of the far building and is striding toward them, surrounded by bouncing sparklets* *is about Ratchet's height, and has a friendly and open face*

Ratchet: *attention going to the blue bot*

Rodimus: *sits up a little straighter*

bot: *smiles* Hello, Doctor. I'm Starsaber, the director of this facility. How may I help you?

Ratchet: *nods* You contacted Rodimus about a sparklet that is related to him.

Starsaber: *slight frown of concern* Rodimus couldn't come?

Rodimus: I'm right here. Don't ask, it'll take too long to explain.

Starsaber: *0_0 is very clear, even with his optic band* Oh. Alright... Er. Please follow me. *turns toward the nearest building, which is marked as a hospital*

Ratchet: *brings Rodimus into the building, will look around*

hospital: *tidy, airy. Obviously built to fit Quadriate size bots*

Starsaber: *quietly* We wouldn't have bothered you, but... well... there were complications.

Rodimus: ... *worriedly* Complications?

Starsaber: Yes. *slight hesitation, but then looks at Ratchet as he opens a door* The medics say they've never seen anything like it before.

qRed Alert: *looks up as the door opens, and then smiles* Fancy seeing you today, Ratchet. *is gently smoothing the back of a dark maroon sparklet who is above average in height for a Cybertronian baby*

Ratchet: We got called to come here, because of the sparklet related to Rodimus.

Rodimus: *worrying and fretting quietly*

qRed Alert: So he tells us, though we haven't been able to confirm anything ourselves other than the fact that we don't want to look at his spark unless we want to start over ourselves.

Rodimus: ... Wait, what?

Ratchet: *small frown, will scan the youngster* ... I recognize the shell type.

sparklet: *turns at the sound of Rodimus' voice, eyes of molten gold wide and hopeful*

Rodimus: *quietly clicks his tongue. He's been practicing, apparently*

Ratchet: Shockwave made his shell...

qRed Alert: We've no one on the moon by that name. *curious and very Quadriate scowl*

Ratchet: There's someone on the Lost Light by that name.

sparklet: *studying Rodimus with silent intensity*

Rodimus: *quietly* What's your name?

sparklet: *oh so quiet* I'm Tambora.

Rodimus: *smile* That's a good name.

Ratchet: *slight headtilt as he studies Tambora a bit* But this looks more like the work of another Shockwave I know of who makes shells... Which means it's sturdy and can withstand whatever abilities Tambora has.

qRed Alert: I'm not sure I understand what you mean? *but she'll set Tambora down so that he can walk over to see Ratchet and Rodimus*

Tambora: *walks with a strength and assurance that Cybertronian sparklets usually only acquire with age* *over to Ratchet and then looks up at Rodimus*

Ratchet: *will crouch* Right now, Rodimus is more delicate than a bot, so be careful handling him, Tambora. *will carefully set Rodimus on his feet*

Tambora: *looks sharply up at Ratchet's face, his hands going up to cover his chest. And then he's turning away and walking off to hide behind qRed Alert's chair*

qRed Alert: Hey. You don't need to hide. *tries to get him out*

Tambora: *holds on*

Starsaber: *watching with concern*

Rodimus: *clicking softly, moves to scoot around the chair* Hey, it's okay. Ratchet just means I can't be hugged too tightly or dropped right now.

Tambora: *very familiar look of concern on his little face as he turns away* I hurt the others.

Rodimus: *gently* I trust you.

Tambora: *shakes his head and walks around the chair*

Ratchet: *quietly* Why do you think you're going to hurt Rodimus, Tambora?

Tambora: *glances at the medic as he continues to retreat around the chair* I hurt the first ones.

qRed Alert: *encouragingly* It just means that they need to grow up again. They're together, so they're happy.

Ratchet: *curiously* The first ones?

qRed Alert: The couple that dug him up out on the field. He...

Tambora: *grimly* Vape.

Ratchet: Hmm... That sounds similar to point one percenters...

Starsaber: He's not a point one percenter.

qRed Alert: Oh no. I had no trouble with the point one percenter that I dug up.

Ratchet: *slight frown* Is he stronger? *kind of has a suspicion, but he wants to be sure before he says anything*

qRed Alert: *offers him a datapad*

Ratchet: *will accept the datapad and look the information over*

Rodimus: *still trying to make nice with Tambora*

Ratchet: *blink. Blink. Suspicions confirmed* I've seen energy patterns like these before. *slight smile* I had special shielding made so I could take care of the bot they come from, and Rodimus can also be in proximity to those without having to worry.

qRed Alert: *looks down at the pursuit around the chair* ...Not in that form.

Ratchet: With a bit of shielding, he can be. *pause* And Tambora's shell has that shielding. Rodimus doesn't need to look at his spark.

qRed Alert: *reaches down and halts Tambora's retreat*

Tambora: *stops and gives her a fearful look*

Rodimus: *stops short*

Ratchet: *crouches so he can look Tambora in the optic* *gently* Your shell's got shielding that keeps people safe, as long as they don't try to look at your spark. It's okay to interact with people around you.

Tambora: *slight wibble of that strong little chin as his eyes search Ratchet's face*

Ratchet: *gentle clicks* It's going to be okay. *will offer a hug*

Tambora: *little body is trembling as he's hugged* *quietly* I need to go with Rodimus. I'm part of him.

Ratchet: *gently, as Rodimus moves to add himself to the hug* Rodimus and I live on the same ship.

Tambora: *cautious little snuggle that says plainly that he knows how strong he is*

qRed Alert: *soft, encouraging sound*

Rodimus: *giving all the hugs he can!*

Ratchet: *soft, encouraging clicks*

Tambora: *leans. And gives a barely audible sigh*

qRed Alert: *grins as she watches*

Starsaber: *distracted by sparklets peeking into the room at him* *clicks*

Rodimus: *happy snuggles!*

Ratchet: *softly* Should we get going for home, then?

Tambora: *looks up quickly*

Rodimus: *grin* *to Tambora* And I can introduce you to Cuddles, and everyone on the Lost Light.

Tambora: *doubtful look*

qRed Alert: Not right away. He needs to know his parents first. *is going by Quadriate custom, since Cybertronian sparklets don't generally arrive wanting parents*

Rodimus: *nod* Right.

Ratchet: I've already let the captain know.

qRed Alert: *to Rodimus* You're still on Terra, right?

Rodimus: Yeah.

qRed Alert: You need to go to a birthing hall and fill out the paperwork as soon as possible.

Rodimus: *nods* I'll take care of that when we get back to Terra.

qRed Alert: Alright. And I'll probably see you there, now that everyone here's been born. *glances toward the door as an "oof!" comes from the hall* *grin*

Rodimus: *small nod, deep breath. Hides face against Tambora*

Tambora: *tiny, concerned click* *tilts his head to try and see Rodimus' face*

Rodimus: *muffled* 'M alright...

Ratchet: *will try comming Nightwish, even as he moves to lift Tambora and Rodimus* We should get going...

Tambora: *holds onto Rodimus and Ratchet, supporting his father's weight without straining. Bright eyes study Ratchet's chest*

Ratchet: I have a trio of hugmonsters... *soft chuckle, will bring Rodimus and Tambora to the birthing hall so Rodimus can fill out the paperwork*

Tambora: *startled gasp, and then looks up at Ratchet* There's an egg in there.

Ratchet: *surprised* Huh. Maybe that's why Lyra's been so crabby lately.

Tambora: *quietly* What's crabby mean?

Rodimus: Like Ratchet.

Ratchet: Watch it, punk.

Tambora: *silent for several minutes, then* I'll understand someday.

Rodimus: *nods as he begins filling out paperwork* Yeah... There's a lot you'll be learning.

Optimus: *wanders in looking thoughtful and then stops and blinks* Ratchet? Rodimus? What are you doing here?

Ratchet: Being transportation.

Rodimus: Filling out paperwork.

Optimus: Paperwork for what? *comes up beside them and then stops* Oh. Hello.

Tambora: *deep study*

Rodimus: *to Tambora* That's Optimus. He's nice.

Tambora: *study becomes more intent*

Optimus: *looks from Rodimus to Ratchet* ...Does Kriti have a brother?

Ratchet: *headshake* Tambora's related to Rodimus.

Optimus: *sucks in air*

Rodimus: *doesn't hesitate to list Nightwish as part of his family on the form*

Ratchet: He's still very young, and once we're done here, I'm bringing him and Rodimus back to Rodimus' quarters so they can both rest.

Optimus: *nods* Good idea. *and then he's looking back the way he came* Dion, I told you to stay with Elita.

Ratchet: ... Dion? *looks behind Optimus*

Dion: *dead ringer for the original Magnus Armor* But Oppy, I want to stay with you...

Ratchet: ... *to Optimus* Where did you find him?

Optimus: *eyes have a wry twinkle as he turns to reply* He called me to the birthing field a quarter of an hour ago.

Elita: *hand on Dion's arm* He'll be back soon. Come and rest.

Dion: *see that mighty chin wibble?* Okay...

Optimus: *over his shoulder* I have to fill out the paperwork so we can bring you home.

Dion: ... Oh. *small nod. Still pouting a bit though*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle*

Dion: *attention going to Ratchet. Silent for a few moments, and then he's smiling* I remember you! You're Ratchet!

Ratchet: *more soft chuckle, nods* Yeah, I am.

Optimus: Go back now. The sooner you rest the sooner we can go home and see Megatron.

Dion: *nods* Alright. *will do as asked*

Elita: *glances down the hall and then follows him back into the room after a short wave to Ratchet and Rodimus*

Optimus: *sigh of relief* Hopefully we'll skip the headache this time.

Rodimus: There. Done. *wrote quickly and as neatly as he could manage*

Ratchet: Here's hoping. *attention going to Tambora and Rodimus* Ready to go home?

Tambora: *slight, hopeful glance before he resumes studying Optimus*

Ratchet: *nods as Rodimus turns the datapad back in to the clerk* Let's go, then. *to Tambora* You'll get to see Optimus and his family again soon.

Tambora: *looks up and then nods his understanding*

Ratchet: *to Optimus* We'll see you later.

Optimus: *smiles behind his mask* Yes. Congratulations, Rodimus.



Continued here