mv. Jack's office and the base infirmary. Drones 2

[microbots]

((Continued from here))



Pumpkin: *chirp!*

Ryan: *gently hands the fuzzy friend over to the silent blonde child* *softly, with a smile* He'd probably really like a snack.

Pumpkin: *'talk!' You said his favorite word!*

Maeve: *thinks about this, and then turns and carries Pumpkin out of the infirmary*

Bubba: *excited beeping, hurries after Maeve. Is waving the beanie baby froggy over his head and trailing his shoelace leash behind him as he goes*

Ryan: *grin widens as he looks at Raj*

Raj: I'm going to help Rachel and Jack. I can hold things for them.

Ryan: Okay. *gently sits Jenny the mermaid into the drink holder on the corner of the table, and then transforms and lays down* I'm ready. *pauses and lifts his eyebrows* He says he's ready too.

Raj: *soft, surprised sound*

Jack: *back with the recorder*

Ridgeback: *expression suddenly turns to frowning confusion* What do I call him, Dad?

Rachel: *glances over as she gets the tools and equipment laid out*

Raj: *quietly contemplative for a moment* Well... Wouldn't he technically be your brother?

Ridgeback: No. Hound was my male code donor.

Jack: *softly* You wouldn't be the first kid with two dads, Ry.

Rachel: *absently* How many does Fay have now?

Raj: ... *thinking this over* At least three.

Rachel: *stops and counts on fingers* You, Jack, Ken, Jyuuzo, ...um, Patrick. Something like that. *runs over the stuff again*

Ridgeback: You forgot Uncle Mike.

Rachel: *blink blink* Really?

Jack: *chuckle* Fay's got five dads.

Raj: You're off. That's six.

Rachel: *soft snerk*

Jack: ... I am? *recounting* Huh. So I am.

Rachel: *softly* Alright, Ryan. Let's get you to sleep now.

Ridgeback: Okay. *shuts his eyes*

Jack: *kisses him on the helm*

Ridgeback: *grins without opening his eyes*

Jack: *will gently smooth Ridgeback's helm and move to help Rachel*

Raj: *hugs Ridgeback* *quietly* Everything will be alright.

Ridgeback: *eyes still closed* I know. Grandma's doing the job.

Rachel: *ready with the sedation gun, and smiling softly as she watches and waits*

Raj: *small nod* Yes, and she's the best. *one last snugglesquish, will step back*

Rachel: *gently sedates Ridgeback, then waits a moment before connecting his link cord to the device for backing up his personality matrix* We should give him a meat pie after this.

Jack: I'll call in the order.

Rachel: *slight grin* Get him an uncured one with a pickled egg.

Jack: *small nod, will place the order*

Rachel: *watches as the band on the backup device begins to turn green, and then gently unplugs Ryan before plugging into the device herself*

Raj: *is quietly watching, praying... and promising Sora he'll talk to her about why he's got his side of the bond closed off for now*

Rachel: *starts to frown*

Jack: Rachel?

Rachel: *frown deepens, and then she grumbles softly*

Jack: *concerned* Rachel? What's up?

Rachel: I can't separate the personality data without scrambling these guys.

Raj: ...

Jack: ...Scrap.

Rachel: *frowns a bit more, but then unplugs* No problem.

Jack: ... What's preventing you from separating the personality data? *concerned*

Rachel: Ryan was overwriting an established matrix without erasing any of the old data. His is all mixed into Hound's. *smooths her grandson's helm*

Raj: ... *worried frown*

Jack: ... *frown, doing much thinking now*

Rachel: Don't worry so much. I know what to do. *little smile*

Jack: What do you need me to get?

Rachel: *chuckle* Nothing. Optimus, Optimus, Optimus.

Jack: *amused chuckle* Alright, then. *will go get a chair and make Raj sit in it*

yOp: *softly from the door, where he's standing in human form* So that's what Hound meant.

Rachel: *looks over, brow quirking* You were talking to him?

yOp: *nods* He stopped by to talk to Sekani while I was dropping off a pizza.

Rachel: *sucks in air softly* Sekani?

yOp: *gently, as he walks into the room* Not all the boys stayed here or in the Well of All Sparks. Sekani lives with another Hound and Desinex.

Jack: *softly* Aww....

Rachel: *quietly, and a bit huskily* Oh.

yOp: *gives her a hug, and then looks at the two bots on the tables* Which one's for Ryan?

Rachel: *points to the new one* He'll want Hound to keep the original.

Jack: *moves to give Rachel a hug*

Rachel: *snuggles against husband, but keeps her eyes on yOp*

Moofy: *deedle...*

Raj: Does one of us need to wish? *still frowning as he watches this unfamiliar alternate of Joe who feels strangely familiar*

yOp: Hmm? No. They already did. *nods toward the two protoforms*

Rachel: Wait, what? *scans the new protoform and then gasps softly* You're already almost finished uploading him.

yOp: Yup.

Raj: *sits up, his mouth moving unconsciously as he prays*

Rachel: *soft eep of surprise* And his spark's over there too. *gently pushes Jack away so that she can step over and put a hand on her grandson's shoulder*

Jack: I'll go get his pie. *much grin, will PINpoint out*

yOp: *blinks* I could have gotten a pie.

Rachel: *chuckles* Let his grandpa have some brownie points.

yOp: Aww. Okay. *grin*

Raj: *soft snerk*

Ridgeback: *opens his eyes just then and grins up at yOp*

yOp: You're supposed to be asleep. *grins back*

Ridgeback: No. Grandma sedated Dad. So I can be awake.

Rachel: *so amused!*

Moofy: *peeks out from under Mamaskirt* o.0?

Ridgeback: *sits up and looks over at Hound*

Rachel: Oppy?

yOp: It's safe to wake him up. *leaning on Ridgeback's table with his elbow and grinning*

Raj: *sits up even straighter and then walks over to put an arm around his son* Wait for Jack to get back.

yOp: Sure. *grins more, his eyes dancing*

Jack: *arriving back a few moments later* I got the pie, and I also got some treats for the rest of us, too.

Rachel: *grins at him, and then reverses the sedation*

yOp: *can't resist playing 'Thriller'*

Hound: *sits up slowly and looks at him with a quirk of a grin* ...Really?

Raj: *snerk*

yOp: *BIG grin*

Hound: *grin gets bigger as he turns toward the snerk* Hey, Raj, what's that for?

Rachel: *hands over her mouth. Tries to hold in her feelings. But then she's laughing and crying at the same time as she flails with one hand*

Ridgeback: Whoa! Grandma?

Rachel: *yup. She's actually having a hysterical moment*

Moofy: *SO much deedling!*

Rachel: *tries to hold it in again with both hands, but then just bursts out into a torrent of tears*

Ridgeback: Grandpa, do something! *such a worried kid! Doesn't notice that Raj is in a similar state to Rachel*

Jack: Hold this. *will give Ridgeback the pie, then go and hug Rachel*

Hound: *up and off the table to walk over and kneel next to Raj. Arms around his friend* Hey now. C'mon, Raj.

Ridgeback: Huh? *and now he'll wibble too*

yOp: *gently* It's alright. They're not hurt. This'll help them feel better.

Ridgeback: *looks at him* Oh... Okay.

yOp: *hug a kid and give him his mermaid*

Raj: *hugging Hound now... and then he's wincing*

yOp: It's not going to hurt her.

Hound: *looks over quickly* Who? Ratch?

Ridgeback: *around a mouthful of meat pie* Mom and Aunty Desti are coming.

Raj: *quietly* She's getting better at getting around things when I try to shield her...

Rachel: *tries wiping the tears out of her eyes, but they keep coming* Shhhh, Moofy. I'm okay. I'm okay.

Sora: *Destiny's excited clicking, chirping, and squealing precedes her as the pair enter the infirmary*

Joan: *cuddling Ambulon and protecting him even as Mama carries them into the infirmary*

Ambulon: *awake and frowning, with his eyes firmly squeezed shut*

Ridgeback: Mom! *up and offering hugs*

Destiny: *dances around Ryan-Bubby and makes a beeline for where Raj and Hound are* Eeee! Bubby! *MUST POUNCE*

Sora: *turns so she can accept the offered hug*

Joan: *froowwwwwn*

Hound: *startles slightly, but hugs the big sparklet* Hey, there, Desti. What's all the excitement?

Ridgeback: *quiet laugh as Ambulon chuckles at him during the hugging process* *softly* Mom, are you okay?

Destiny: *So much clickstorm and popping!*

Sora: *quietly* I'm fine, Ryan.

Joan: *still frowny*

Ridgeback: *studies his mother's face, and then grins* *quiet too* You are.

Ambulon: *snuggles sissy and makes sure of his grip on Joan's sleeve*

Joan: *much cuddle for Ambulon, and much frown as she tries to figure out what's going on*

Destiny: *just lost her mind with glee*

Ambulon: *doesn't even flinch at that outburst of glee*

Rachel: *eeps softly at that squeal and looks over with startled eyes* Oh, Desti, honey, let go of Hound's head.

Jack: *looks over, guffaws*

Raj: *can't help it, he's cracking up now*

Hound: *quiet chuckle* Can I have my head back now?

Destiny: *SO much clickstorm!*

Raj: *not going to be much help, sorry*

Ridgeback: *pulls something out of subspace* Desti, look! Swedish fish.

Destiny: *looking back and forth between Hound and Ridgeback now, fuss!*

Ridgeback: Dad's not going away. *excited grin* He's coming home with us.

Destiny: *MUCH clickstorm!*

Ridgeback: *offers the fish candies again*

Destiny: *lets Hound go, beeline for Ridgeback*

Ridgeback: *hugs and gives fish*

Hound: *grinning as he watches. Then remembers Sora and looks toward her uncertainly*

Sora: *looks over to Hound and smiles*

Hound: *ducks his head slightly and looks down* *seems troubled*

Rachel: *notices that and frowns slightly as she wipes away tears*

Sora: *will bring Joan and Ambulon over to Hound* *sits down next to Hound*

Joan: *chirp!*

Ambulon: *snuggles Sissy and Joan and listens to what's going on*

Hound: *softly, his voice husky* I'm sorry, Sharpshot.

Sora: *does a bit of babby shifting, will pull Hound close with her free arm*

Joan: *more chirp!* *doesn't mind that she's a bit squished, because now Ambulon's tucked between her and Mama, so she's fine with that*

Hound: *still soft* I don't regret the boys, but I would never have... *static* I'm sorry.

Ridgeback: *watching his parents with a serious frown*

Sora: *quietly* What happened wasn't your fault, Hound. *more hug*

Hound: *quiet tears*

Raj: *clears his throat and puts a hand on Hound's sholder* Let's go celebrate. They have pumpkin cake in the mess.

Pumpkin: *looks up and makes a soft mew*

Sora: *soft snerk*

Joan: Noms.

Destiny: *looks up from nomphing Swedish Fish* *muffled chirp*

Rachel: *slightly husky* That's a good idea, guys. I'll get Bea to come in early.

Jack: Pumpkin, the cake's not for you. *amused*

Destiny: *lost her mind with glee again... and there goes the Swedish Fish bag*

Ridgeback: *leans out to grab the candy bag*

Sora: .>.o Sheesh, gleebombed. *amused*

Joan: *snort. Aunty's silly*

Destiny: *excited yapping and chattering is a go, with several mentions of Papa*

Raj: Come on, Hound.

Hound: *looks up* *quietly* I can't.

Ridgeback: *pauses with a candy fish sticking out of his mouth* :(?

Sora: *concerned now* Hound?

Destiny: *gonna start fussing again!*

Jack: *worried frown* Why not?

Hound: I don't have my tag.

Moofy: *chirrup*

Jack: ... *and now he's laughing* Is that all? We can take care of that real quick.

Raj: We can't solder a tag on him. He's fully sentient.

Hound: *gently* I'm still just a drone, Raj.

Rachel: *pushes away from Jack and goes to tinker with a machine*

Jack: We could always get an ID bracelet for you, Hound.

Rachel: *without looking away from her work* ID tag coming up. Check and see if someone's got a paracord bracelet in the works, sport?

Jack: *will tip his head slightly and check around*

Raj: But...

Ridgeback: Carta's sentient, and she's got a tag.

Raj: *deep scowl*

Jack: *perk* Found one.

Destiny: Pink?

Jack: *can't help but snerk*

Ridgeback: It isn't, is it?

Raj: *looks like he's about to explode with indignation*

Jack: No, it's not pink.

Destiny: *huff*

Ridgeback: Dad's a boy, Aunty Desti. And I don't think he's the right colour to look good in pink.

Raj: *shivering with the force of not transmitting his anger about the bot who looks and sounds like his friend being treated like a pet*

Destiny: *much clickstorm*

Sora: *circulating* *quietly* Raj.

Destiny: *gonna pounce on Raj-Bubby and scoldies him!*

Hound: *looks at Sora with concern, then to Raj. A bit of sternness comes to his normally easy-going face as he talks to his friend over a private channel*

Raj: *flinches and argues, then ducks his head and nods as the anger drains away and is left with a soft echo of lonely sadness* Sorry. *offers his arms to his wife*

Ambulon: *thrrpts at him, then hides on Joan*

Rachel: *amazed grin lights her face as she comes over with the tag* You little sprocket.

Joan: *snuggles Ambulon muchly*

Destiny: *gives Raj-Bubby a light whap, then goes over to Hound-Bubby and snuggles against him*

Sora: *relaxes now that Raj isn't unintentionally sharing his upset. Leans against him*

Jack: Now that that's settled...

Rachel: *hands Hound his tag, then gently pulls Pumpkin's tail as the orange cat snuggles Ambulon and Joan* So where's the bracelet?

Jack: Waiting for us in the mess. *much grin* And you won't believe who was making it.

Rachel: Bart? *offering to take Joan and Ambulon*

Jack: Nope.

Joan: *thinking on this, chirps softly to Ambulon. We go with Grandma?*

Ambulon: *softly* Mamama...

Joan: *will reach for Rachel*

Raj: *assists in baby transferal*

Rachel: *cuddles bitty and watches Pumpkin chirp at Moofy before jumping onto Raj's shoulder*

Raj: No kisses, Pumpkin.

Pumpkin: *settles down and does cutement*

Rachel: *gentle kick for her husband's ankle, and then heads for the door* Let's go have that cake.

Destiny: *clickstorm*

Raj: *gently helps his wife to her feet*

Hound: *grunts and then laughs as Ridgeback thumps him. Gets to his feet and puts an arm around Destiny as he follows Rachel*

Sora: *will lean on Raj, quirking a slight grin as Destiny does likewise with Hound*

Hound: *laughs and stops to let Jack chase Rachel out of the room, then nods to Bea before leading Destiny and Rideback out of the room. As the door closes behind them* Sora's Sky, so what should I call you, sweetheart?


((Co-written with random_xtras))