MV. /Ark/ Base and Tyler's Scrapyard. Saving Lives Part 2

[microbots]

Continued from here.



quarter hour later


Joe: Yeah, we had a Dragonfly riot that had to be broken up. *rubs the back of a hand across his forehead*

BJ: *snerk*

aWake: Who knew a plush toy would cause such chaos? *amused that the Dragonflies were all fighting over a round plushie with a dome head* And it wasn't even a RagSeeker, either.

gSharpshot: Easy for you to say. You didn't have two of them clawing at your arms.

Joe: Wallace saved the day.

aWake: No kiddin'. That stuff even stops Lisa's ramblin'. *chuckle*

Dallas: ...Lemme guess. All the fudge is gone.

gSharpshot: Unfortunately, yes.

Dallas: Aw.

BJ: *plainly mimicking the native Wheeljack* "But why is the nom gone?"

aWake: *belts him*

gSharpshot: *rolls optics. Looks to Joe* So how are we doing this?

Joe: Dallas, is Tyler still here?

Dallas: He's gone.

Joe: Good. *looks toward the lady present* Wake, can you scan for spark signatures?

aWake: Yup. *will walk forward so she's ahead of everyone else, and scan the area*

BJ: *quietly* Wally's makin' more, Mac.

aWake: *quietly* Got two bots... One's a Ratchet. Dunno the other one.

Joe: *relieved* Ratchet's not trouble.

aWake: It's the other one that I'm worried 'bout, Chief.

Joe: How do they read?

aWake: Female, 'n stressed 'n tired. That's what's worryin' me.

Joe: *frowns* You all stay here. Wake, give me the coordinates.

aWake: *provides the coordinates*

Joe: Thanks. *heads in that direction and soon vanishes behind the junked vehicles and scrap*

nwRatchet: *startled curse as he almost collides with an unfamiliar bot after moving around a large junk pile. Then he's running in the opposite direction*

Joe: *puts together bits of recording of Patrick's voice* Ratchet, stop!

nwRatchet: *startles badly at that, and ends up tripping over his own pedes in confusion. The result is one of the piles of junk coming down on him*

Joe: *hisses air and hurries forward* Hold still. Let me get you out of there. *to the others* //Hold your position. No trouble.//

nwRatchet: *trying to free himself from the junk... Got knocked a little stupid*

Joe: *hand on the pinned bot's foot and holds it down* Ratchet, calm down. *it's his own voice, but that tone... there's no mistaking it*

nwRatchet: *dazed and confused* Optimus?

Joe: *gently* Sort of. Let me get you out of this.

nwRatchet: *so confused* Sort of?

Joe: *puts away his coordinate scanner* *quietly, as he starts moving scrap away* I don't use that name anymore.

nwRatchet: ... *if you could see his face, Joe, he's got a "Does not compute!" expression that's mixed with a slight concussion from the junk*

Joe: *gets everything clear, and then hesitantly offers the old bot a hand. His face, though alien, is also familiar, and so is the compassion on it*

nwRatchet: *so much confusion on his face, will reach for the offered hand*

Joe: *sits him up and puts a hand on his shoulder* *quietly* I'm like you. I can't go back.

nwRatchet: *intakes hitch softly* *quiet* Then Twilight and I...

Joe: *does his own quick hitch* She's a Twilight? Is she alright?

nwRatchet: She's weak... I was trying to... *circulates as his processor spins* Energon still...

Joe: *touches his ear* WakeJumper, please help the girl.

aWake: //On it, Chief// *will head for where she picked up Twilight's spark signature*

nwRatchet: *quietly* If you aren't Optimus... What is your designation?

Joe: *supporting hand behind the old bot's back. Slight quirk of a smile* They call me Joe Convoy.

nwRatchet: *slow nod* *quietly* I see.

Joe: *realizes where he's seen a coordinate reading similar to Ratchet's and his face brightens* Most of your team's safe.

nwRatchet: *so much relief in his posture now* Thank the Allspark.

Joe: *smiles at him* They just adopted three sparklets.

nwRatchet: *confused* ...Sparklets?

Joe: Ah... baby bots?

nwRatchet: *very surprised*

Joe: *remembers what else Rachel had told him* *gently* And... you might want to brace yourself.

nwRatchet: *and now he's back to confused, but he'll brace himself*

Joe: Cliffjumper was sent back. He's alive.

nwRatchet: O_O *and now the medic is sagging. Stress, a lack of energon, and now this... It's too much for the old bot*

Joe: *soft sound as he hugs the old bot* //Wake, how is she?//

aWake: //Half-starved. 'N now she's out cold. She was amused by BigJack, though, so there's that... I'm gonna take her ta Rachel.//

Joe: //Alright. Everyone back to base. I'll bring Ratchet.//

aWake: //See you there.// *PINpoints to the infirmary at the base*

gSharpshot: //Understood.// *returns to base*


about an hour later


Dallas: *will peek into the infirmary* *went to get some blankets and a soft toy from the factory in the Nexus, and to explain the situation with the little girl to Ruth. Now, he's looking to see if Rachel will let him sit with Della*

Ratchet: *looks over from where she's watching Twilight's monitors. Soft snerk* Hey, Dal.

Dallas: *quietly* Where's Della?

Ratchet: *chuckle* First room on the right.

Dallas: Is it alright if I sit with her?

Ratchet: *amusement increases* If you'll fit.

Dallas: *blinks and moves to go see who else is sitting with Della*

Tracks: *looks around from where he's sitting by the door with Matt and Trevor*

Trevor: She wondered where you were, Dal.

Matt: D-Debbie's got 'er.

Dallas: *quietly* I got more blankets, and a ragdoll...

little Denver: *and she's hugging you 'round the middle, Dallas*

Hattie: *quietly* Ah called Mason... 'E 'n Cassie'll be 'eah latah t'nahght.

Della: *little voice pipes up then, despite her not being even half awake* Papa?

Debbie: *softly* Shhhh.

Dallas: *quietly, as he moves to approach* I'm right here, Della.

Della: *little twitch of a grin as she snuggles Debbie* Mama?

Ruth: *stirs from where she's crouched in the corner and looks up*

Dallas: *quietly* She's here, too, Della.

Della: *another little grin, and her hand moves on Debbie's arm* Debbie. *head moves slightly* Denver. *was introduced to her little girl cousin earlier, when the dark-haired child brought her sister to her*

Little Denver: *quiet hum of a lullaby she learned from her Mama*

Della: *sighs and slips out of consciousness again*

Denver: *absently elbows Ruth for leaning on her*

Ruth: *absently elbows back, her eyes on the little one in Debbie's arms*

Dallas: *will move to carefully tuck the ragdoll into Della's arms with Debbie's help*

Della: *continues to sleep, her breathing deep and regular. Is wearing the comfortable night dress, and a padded helmet to protect her head*

Dallas: *will gently kiss Della's cheek before moving to sit next to Ruth*

Denver: *patpats her cousin's shoulder*

Ruth: *stuffs a slightly sticky hunk of candy into his hand*

Dallas: *blinks and looks to see what Ruth stuck into his hand*

Ruth: *rotten little smirk* I licked it.

Dallas: Where'd you get it?

Ruth: Wasp gave it to Chris, and you know what he thinks'a sweet stuff.

Dallas: *soft snerk, knows Chris probably licked it and then rejected the sweet. Will settle down to wait, and to nom the fudge*


main infirmary


Ratchet: *looks over her shoulder as the male Ratchet groans softly. Has repaired the poor old bot's processor and hooked him up to an energy feed. Now she's waiting for him to wake up*

Moofy: *soft beep in reply to the groan*

nwRatchet: *starting to wake up, optics unshuttering and beginning to power on*

Lyra: *music box tinkling*

Ratchet: I see it, sweet girl. *walks over to stand in her alter brother's line of sight*

Lyra: *music box now tinkles Beethoven*

nwRatchet: *slight start* Who...

Ratchet: *gentle humour* Can you answer a couple questions for me?

nwRatchet: *so confused, but he'll nod slowly* I'll... do my best...

Ratchet: *folds down thumb and ring digit, then holds up her hand* How many fingers?

nwRatchet: Three.

Ratchet: Good. *holds up both hands, one with thumb and pinky up, and the other with ring finger and middle finger and thumb up* And now how many?

nwRatchet: Five...

Ratchet: Yup. What's your name?

Moofy: *deedle deedle*

Ratchet: Shhh, baby. Let him answer.

nwRatchet: My designation is Ratchet.

Moofy: *excited sound. That's what he was saying, Mama! This big is another you!*

Ratchet: Shhh, baby. I know. *affectionate look for her little tracker, then turns back to her patient* Last question. What do you know about other realities?

nwRatchet: *quietly and sadly as he remembers a friend who passed on* One of Perceptor's theories...

Ratchet: *gently* A fact. *looks over her shoulder* Not now, BJ.

BJ: Just wonderin' if the old guy was awake.

Lyra: *scoldy chimes! You heard Mama, BJ!*

Moofy: *deedles at BJ, agreeing with Lyra*

nwRatchet: *turns his head slightly, curious about who came in* *brow ridges up as he realizes that he's looking at the bot that Twilight had been laughing about*

BJ: *laconically* Yo.

Ratchet: *over to the desk, grabs that bag of goldfish, and wings it at him*

BJ: *swats it out of the air and scrams!*

Moofy: *deedle! Scoots to go get the bag...Oh. All the crackers are everywhere!*

Lyra: *will help brother pick up the crackers!*

Ratchet: Ratchet?

nwRatchet: *quietly* A male Wheeljack?

Ratchet: *nods* Most the ones I've met are guys. Including my husband.

nwRatchet: ...

Ratchet: *gently* I've met female Ratchets too.

nwRatchet: *silently boggling now*

Ratchet: People who're familiar with the multiverse call their alternates siblings. *slight grin, blue eyes twinkling*

nwRatchet: *intakes hitch softly as he thinks about one of the few bots he'd considered to be a brother*

Ratchet: *softly, the twinkle fading* What's wrong?

nwRatchet: *quietly* Has there been any word from Optimus?

Ratchet: *shakes her head* Not yet. He's the one member of your team that we haven't heard from yet.

nwRatchet: *very small nod* I see.

Ratchet: *gentle touch* Jack's been worrying about you, and Raf built a little drone that looks like you.

nwRatchet: *perks up at the news about Jack and Raf* They're alright?

Ratchet: All your human friends are.

nwRatchet: *soft sigh* The ones who survived Darkmount...

Ratchet: *nods* *softly* And Denver too.

nwRatchet: *surprised sound*

Ratchet: She lives with her new family, but she and her guardian have been visiting the team.

nwRatchet: Her guardian? Dallas MacKenzie has been found?

Ratchet: *shakes her head* The guardian she chose. Oh yeah. *amused again* Knockout's only a few inches taller than me, now.

nwRatchet: *quiet shock* What?! *making some of his monitors protest now*

Ratchet: Don't make me sedate you.

Lyra: *soothing music is a go!*

Ratchet: *soft reprimand* Moofy, goldfish shouldn't dance.

Moofy: *deedle! Scampers off*

Lyra: *scampers down to chase after Moofy for being naughty*

nwRatchet: *shaky circulation as he tries to calm down*

Ratchet: Steeljaw, if you eat those you have to buy Russell more.

Steeljaw: Mrrrpt?

Ratchet: You heard me, furball.

Steeljaw: Mrrrrpt. Mrrrrowwww.

Ratchet: Don't give me that. I know you have money.

Steeljaw: Mrrrrrrowwwww.

Ratchet: I don't understand whine.

Steeljaw: *hufff*

Ratchet: One...

Steeljaw: Mrrrprrrowww. *tailswish. Will sulk as he leaves the infirmary*

Ratchet: *sigh* //Russ, I broke your fish.// *blinks and looks at her alter brother as she realizes he's laughing softly*

Russell: //...Do I want to know why?//

nwRatchet: *and now he's hiccoughing and pulling a face as he tries to stop*

Ratchet: *sighs again and applies a light shock to the right area to stop hiccoughs*

nwRatchet: *startled squeak*

Ratchet: Better now?

nwRatchet: *nods* Thank you.

Ratchet: Do you think you can get up?

nwRatchet: *quiet for a few moments as he checks his systems over* I think so... *will move to sit up slowly*

Ratchet: *takes the monitors and feeds and sticks them to him, then does the same for Twilight* Think you can carry your wife?

nwRatchet: *once he's on his feet, he'll nod and move to carefully lift Twilight*

Twilight: *snuggles and snuzzles her face against his chest to listen to his spark*

Ratchet: *grins at the cute*

nwRatchet: *expression softens as he carefully holds Twilight*

Ratchet: Follow me. *turns and leads the way down the hall, absently taking the butter tart that Matt hands out the first door on the right as she passes it*

nwRatchet: *will move to follow Ratchet, attention briefly going to the first door on the right*

Matt: *looks up at him, and then offers him a tart too*

Tracks: *watching over his shoulder and smirking*

nwRatchet: *confused* Er... Thank you? *trying to figure out how to reach for the tart without letting go of Twilight*

Ratchet: *looks over her shoulder, and then comes back* *warm affection in her voice* He hasn't got the adapter, Bubby.

Matt: *surprised* O-Oh.

Ratchet: *reaches through and squeezes his shoulder* Give it to Russ. I owe him baked goodies.

Matt: *small nod* L-Later.

Ratchet: *grin* Thanks, Bubby. *looks up at Ratchet* C'mon, buddy. *once more down the hall*

nwRatchet: *polite nod to Matt, will resume following Ratchet*

Ratchet: *into the big room at the end of the hall on the right and over to the big bed with the blankets turned back, looks back for her patients*

nwRatchet: *brings Twilight into the room, and over to the berth* *pauses as he sees that the berth looks like a human hospital bed, scaled to bots in his size category*

Ratchet: It's for both of you. Lay down so I can tuck you in.

nwRatchet: *small nod, will carefully work on laying down, giving the blankets a slightly bewildered look*

Ratchet: *monitors and feeds onto the stand by the bed, and then she climbs up and gets the couple all tucked in*

Moofy: *deedling at Steeljaw in the main part of the infirmary*

nwRatchet: *tiredly* Where is that coming from?

Ratchet: The deedling? Moofy's back and trying to stop Steeljaw from eating the crackers BJ spilled. *finishes tucking and jumps down*

nwRatchet: ... Moofy?

Ratchet: The little brownish gold drone that was telling me about you. *fond smile* One of my babies.

nwRatchet: ... *small nod*

Ratchet: *gently, as she puts the railing up and hooks the call button to it* Get some sleep. This room's quiet.

nwRatchet: *quietly* Thank you... *will cuddle Twilight and try to rest*

Ratchet: *gentle pat pat, and then goes to check on Della and mooch more tarts before she goes back to her desk and the drone and Steeljaw show*

((Written with random_xtras))