JV. The Pit. Expanding

[dens_extra_pups]

Duke: *frowning and looking at a pile of horse supplies in the middle of the rec room floor*

Cat Scan: *trying to figure out why there are horse supplies here as well* ... 0_o

Duke: *hears the sound of a PINpoint and turns, then stares* What the...???

Cat Scan: ... *turns to look, not sure what to expect*

Sasquatch: *perks his ears and looks up from where he's holding onto this bag of feed*

Lionel: *sitting on horsey bum and going WERK WERK WERK!*

Cat Scan: ... *one with her facepalm, and a quick check of her shirt pocket for a certain bitty ninja*

Sasquatch: *lets go of the bag and then starts nudging it toward the pile of his other stuff. Soft clickings come from the chin strap of his halter*

Duke: Cat Scan...

Cat Scan: *long-suffering sigh, moves to approach Sasquatch. Will hold her hand by the big horse's chin strap* Stormshadow.

Stormshadow: *hops down into Mama's hand*

Cat Scan: We've been over this before. There's nothing for Sasquatch here, so he can't live with us.

Stormshadow: *looks at her with that tiny black optic band, and then points to the pile of horse supplies* *yes, Mama. He's fixing that*

Cat Scan: ... There's no place for 'Squatch to sleep, kiddo.

Stormshadow: *points toward the door and then up* *there is a whole world out there, Mama*

Sasquatch: *finishes putting his bag in the pile, kisses Duke, and then comes over to Mama and his bitty buddy*

Lionel: WERK WERK WERK!

Cat Scan: ... *looks to Duke*

Duke: *frowning and absently wiping horse kiss off with his sleeve* Is this why you were saying you were worried about him?

Lionel: WERK WERK WERK!

Cat Scan: *small nod* Yessir. Stormshadow and Sasquatch became very fond of each other when I was at the ranch.

Duke: *looks down at the tiny bot, and then winces slightly as Lionel flaps over to land on his shoulder and then once more lets out that deep voiced, joyful, and very LOUD song*

Cat Scan: *trying not to snicker* And Lionel Rooster would follow them around the ranch.

Duke: *puts up his hands to see if he can't take the black and green bird down*

Lionel: *promptly goes into cuddle mode. And sings more*

Duke: *boggles slightly. Has never seen a chicken act like this* *but then, as he looks up, he sees the expression of tense waiting in every line of Stormshadow's little body* ...Let me talk to Hawk.

Cat Scan: *small nod* I'll see about getting Sasquatch and his things taken care of.

Duke: *awkwardly offers the young rooster* Er... this is yours.

Cat Scan: *will put Stormshadow on her shoulder and reach for Lionel*

Lionel: *MAMA! MUCH SING as he wriggles to go to Mama*

Duke: *ack, flapping wings!*

Cat Scan: *soon has Lionel secured*

Lionel: *happysing*

Duke: *sighs and heads out of the room*

Stormshadow: *worried little movement at that sigh*

Cat Scan: *quietly* He's going to talk to the General about Sasquatch.

Stormshadow: *little hands move as he sits on Lionel* "Bad me?"

Cat Scan: I don't think so.

Stormshadow: *relief is clear*

Tunnel Rat: *garbled squawk*

Cat Scan: *looks toward the squawk*

Tunnel Rat: *flailing as a big brown horse kisses him*

Sasquatch: *KISSIE! Hasn't seen you in so long!*

Cat Scan: *snerks* Sasquatch, down. *moving to get ahold of the big horse's halter*

Sasquatch: *takes a step back as he rumbles softly*

Tunnel Rat: What the heck is this, a zoo?

Lionel: WERK WERK WERK!

Cat Scan: Just a bit of chaos, really. You're fine.

Tunnel Rat: *looks at that loudly-singing bird* ...We havin' fresh chicken soup?

Cat Scan: No.

Tunnel Rat: Well that's too runty for roast. *hand out for the bird to peck at as it sings*

Cat Scan: He's not for eating.

Lionel: *just got LOUDER*

Tunnel Rat: What else're chickens for? *pinches rooster's beak and gently shakes his head*

Lionel: *sounds funny singing with his beak shut*

Cat Scan: That's a rooster, and maybe he'll be able to wake up some of the guys.

Tunnel Rat: He's wakin' the dead with that squawkin'. *fingers explore the bird's long feathers*

Lionel: *is getting pets! SING!*

Cat Scan: He's happy to see me.

Tunnel Rat: *has loose feather and grins about it* So it's just a pet?

Lionel: *helpfully pecks the feather the nice new friend is holding*

Cat Scan: He's my pet rooster. His name's Lionel Rooster.

Tunnel Rat: *got the joke and is snerking about it as he makes rower hand at Lionel*

Lionel: *stands up in Mama's arms and chest busts the hand*

Tunnel Rat: *blinks and looks confused, his hand going limp*

Cat Scan: He's also a fighter. *chuckles*

Tunnel Rat: I've never seen a chicken fight like that before.

Cat Scan: *will carefully shift Lionel so he's tucked into the crook of her arm, fishes her phone out of her pocket so she can show Tunnel Rat the video of rooster fights that she's seen*

Stormshadow: *scrambles up on Mama's shoulder*

Cat Scan: *as she offers the phone to Tunnel Rat* Lionel's dad is a champion fighter, and also sings.

Tunnel Rat: *looks at the match on this clip* This him? This black guy? *sees a spectacular chest shove* ...That's him. What're they wearin'?

Cat Scan: Armor so they don't hurt themselves or anyone else.

Tunnel Rat: *soft snerk* *and then a grin as he watches Singer gleefully chase his fleeing opponent, singing loudly all the way*

Cat Scan: Yeeaaah. The other rooster wasn't expecting to get shoved like that.

Tunnel Rat: So how'd you get his kid? *watching the next match*

Cat Scan: Wild Bill got him for me as a Christmas gift.

Tunnel Rat: Seriously? *snerks as another rooster runs from the chest slam*

Cat Scan: Yeah. You should see what he got Lizzie. *amused*

Tunnel Rat: Another freaky doll? *watches Singer vs muzzled Rottweiler*

Cat Scan: Nope. The deluxe edition of the game "Exploding Kittens". The box meows when the lid gets lifted.

Tunnel Rat: *attention caught from rooster fights* There's a game called 'Exploding Kittens'?

Cat Scan: Yup. *will explain the rules of the game*

Tunnel Rat: *snickering, and then cackling as she finishes* Why don't we have that in the rec room?

Cat Scan: ... I know where we can get it. *grin*

Tunnel Rat: *more snerk, and then a glance at Sasquatch as the big horse lifts his tail* We better go topside.

Cat Scan: *meeps and nods, moving to herd Sasquatch toward the door*

Sasquatch: *huh? We going somewhere, Mama? What about my stuff?* *turns his head to look at the heap of stuff as he follows*

Cat Scan: Outside, Sasquatch.

Sasquatch: *nicker. He's walking with you, Mama*

Cat Scan: *leads the big warmblood to the elevator* C'mon, 'Squatch. Let's get you outside.

Beachhead: *stares as Cat and horse and chicken follow Tunnel Rat into the elevator* What the *beep* is goin' on here, Cat Scan?

Tunnel Rat: *sniggerfitdie at cussing in front of Stormshadow*

Beachhead: *ignores him*

Cat Scan: *Look for the language* Stormshadow brought Sasquatch and Lionel Rooster here. We're waiting on Hawk's orders, but Sasquatch needs to be outside.

Beachhead: I still don't like kids on base. It's a liability.

Cat Scan's bra: *small clicks*

Cat Scan: *cheeks red now* *to Beachhead* Well, where else would they be safe?

Beachhead: With the other civilians! *grunts as the elevator door opens and two more Joes squeeze on board* Do you guys mind?

Dusty: *holding his head and trying not to hyperventilate*

Stretcher: We have to get this man outside now.

Cat Scan: ... *will hip-bust Beachhead out the door*

Tunnel Rat: *didn't just cheer, and you can't prove it!* *sniggers as the door slides shut on Beachhead's cussing*

Cat Scan: *pushes the button for the level that the main door outside is on* *brat grin* That was worth it.

Stretcher: Did you notice what I noticed? *pat pat's Dusty's back*

Sandstorm: *fussy whining as he looks up at his master*

Cat Scan: *blink* No...

Tunnel Rat: You mean the lack of Beachhead stink?

Cat Scan: ... *raised brow* Think he's trying to impress a lady?

Tunnel Rat: *snort* I doubt his wife was ever impressed with him. *meeps as the elevator stops and opens onto the cheerful noise of the upper hanger that opens onto the outside here and back on Earth and Sasquatch responds to the sound by squishing the little bot with his butt as he turns to look*

Cat Scan: *snerk, shakes her head and moves to lead Sasquatch off the elevator*

Sasquatch: *happily asking questions and wiffling at everyone as he's lead through the cacophony*

Lionel: *trying to out-sing the noise*

Flint: Sasquatch! *strides over and sticks his face in that of the big horse*

Sasquatch: *blows on friend!*

Cat Scan: Stormshadow brought him and Lionel to the base, Flint.

Flint: *now hugging Sasquatch's head and grinning* Is he going to stay with Eddie?

Cat Scan: ... Who's Eddie?

Flint: *chuckles* Sergeant Slaughter's donkey.

Cat Scan: ... When'd Sarge get a donkey? *amused*

Flint: Officially, never. Unofficially, Eddie's been here since Bill took Sarge to that country fair.

Cat Scan: *snickerfitdie*

Flint: Come on and meet him. *lets go of Sasquatch and turns to head toward the door to outside*

Cat Scan: Alright. *will move to lead Sasquatch after Flint*

Lionel: *can sit on horsey bum, Mama? Lifting up his head to look that way hopefully*

Cat Scan: *will put Lionel on his favorite perch*

Lionel: *happy wing flap, and then, as they step out under the soft blue sky, he lets out a deep-voiced, long drawn-out crow just like his sire's*

Flint: *startles and looks around for the source of that strange sound* What the...?

Tunnel Rat: *also surprised by the sound*

Cat Scan: *laughs* That's Lionel.

Flint: Is he crowing?

Lionel: *more flap, and then another crow*

Cat Scan: Yup. He's a long crowing breed.

Flint: *mouth open slightly with wonder* I've heard long crowing roosters, but they didn't sound like that.

Cat Scan: Different breeds have different voices.

Flint: Wow. ...Tunnel Rat, do I want to know what you're eating?

Tunnel Rat: *holds up a little bumpy white thing*

Flint: *grimaces* Worms?

Tunnel Rat: Nah. Betony root. *holds one on the palm of his hand for Sasquatch*

Sasquatch: *won't eat it. Mama didn't give it*

Cat Scan: Here. *will reach for the root*

Tunnel Rat: *gives* They're crunchy.

Cat Scan: Are they safe for horses?

Tunnel Rat: Betony's not poison to anybody. *absent kiss for Sasquatch's nose as the big horse blows at him*

Cat Scan: Alright. *will offer Sasquatch the root, held out on the palm of her hand*

Sasquatch: *notices and gently lips up the goody, then crunches happily as his ears flop*

Tunnel Rat: *offers a root to Cat Scan* Here, I got the dirt off.

Cat Scan: *soft chuckle, will accept the offered root* *will taste the nom, making a pleased sound at the crunch*

Flint: *accepts one too and nibbles, then grins* Oh, I remember this. Only the place I ate it called it crosnes.

Cat Scan: Oh, I've heard of them called that. *grin*

Tunnel Rat: That's the version from China. *happy crunching as Flint leads them around a little clump of trees and up to a little brush hut where a young white donkey is looking up from his grass munching*

Cat Scan: *blinks as she catches sight of the donkey* Awwwww.

Sasquatch: *donkey! Whicker*

Eddie: *oh. It's friends? Trots over with a friendly sound, his tether trailing*

Flint: *rubs the young animal's head as Eddie and Sasquatch blow at each other*

Cat Scan: *getting video of the cute and grinning*

communicator: *buzzes*

Cat Scan: *awks and answers it* This is Cat Scan.

Duke: //Where did you go? The computer says you're off base.//

Cat Scan: ... *very surprised* I'm outside. So are Flint, Tunnel Rat, Stretcher, and Dusty.

Duke: //I can see Stretcher and Dusty, but not any of the rest of you.//

Cat Scan: ... Hang on. *to Tunnel Rat* Hey, can you start walking toward Stretcher and Dusty? I want to check something.

Tunnel Rat: *looks up from feeding betony root to Eddie* Huh? Sure. *turns and starts for the entrance*

Duke: *as the little bot rounds the trees* //There's Tunnel Rat.//

Cat Scan: *thumbs up to Tunnel Rat* *to Duke* Well, I know where the boundary of the sensors is, now.

Duke: //We're going to have to expand the range. Hawk says we should use more of the area. Including a place for people to keep pets that don't fit in the Pit.//

Cat Scan: *soft chuckle* Well, that's good to hear.

Duke: //I'm sending some people up to start building. It'll just be temporary stables yet.//

Cat Scan: ... You mean portable stalls? We've got some at home.

Duke: //Are you volunteering a loan?//

Cat Scan: I'll call my mom and get the delivery arranged.

Duke: //Alright. Thanks, Cat Scan. Oh, and your husband's doing lunch^.//

Sasquatch: *asking with gentle sleeve nibbles if he can go graze with Eddie*

Cat Scan: *chuckles* Alright, Duke. Cat Scan out. *to Sasquatch* Stay. *knows Lionel will stick close to the warmblood*

Sasquatch: *soft wiffle. He won't leave sight of this area till Cat or another family member comes and tells him differently*

Lionel: *lifts his head quizzically. Does he have to say bye to horsey, Mama?*

Cat Scan: *scritches for Lionel* You stay, too.

Lionel: WERK WERK WERK! *hops down and starts bug hunting*

Tunnel Rat: *hunkered to one side* His feathers're pretty long, but they ain't fluffy or curly.

Cat Scan: His breed doesn't get fluffy or curly feathers.

Tunnel Rat: He's kinda pretty. *chuckles as the young rooster crows*

Cat Scan: He'll be even more of a looker when he gets his full plumage. *grins and moves to make a phone call*

Tunnel Rat: *snerks and wriggles his fingers at Lionel, who sings to him but otherwise ignores him in favour of eating grass and dirt*

Cat Scan: *calling her mom now, and trying to figure how many of the portable stalls will be needed*

Springer: *wanders over, glancing at where Flint, Stretcher, and Dusty are chatting by the edge of the trees* Sup?

Tunnel Rat: *without looking up* Your butt.

Cat Scan: *absent hand wave, is still talking to her mom and arranging where the stalls can be brought*

Springer: *unperturbed, he wanders back toward the men and joins them for a moment, only to step back and suddenly vanish after a few words*

Dusty: *excited words, and then runs for the Pit entrance*

Cat Scan: *watches Dusty go, will move to approach Stretcher after she hangs up with her mom*

Stretcher and Flint: *look over as she comes up*

Cat Scan: 'Sup?

Flint: Dusty's going to have quarters up here, and his mother's coming to stay so that Ratchet and First Aid can help with her health.

Cat Scan: *blink* *grin* Aw.

Flint: I don't know why we didn't realize we could use this land for more than the training areas. *shakes his head*

Cat Scan: *shrug* Beats me. Mom and Bill are gonna get the portable stalls for the big pets brought out by day's end. And they're bringing a crate for Lionel, too.

Flint: Okay, good. *checks his watch* Let's go eat.

Cat Scan: *grins* See you there. *will turn and start jogging back toward the inside of the base, Stormshadow a quiet click from inside her clothes*

((Written with random_xtras))

^Sukiyaki