kv. Earth. Couples and Families

[dens_extra_pups]

Soundwave: *finishes carefully arting all over Kriti and Megatron, then steps back to consider the effect* *gentle grin lights his visor as he nods to himself*

Torque: *double-checking that the electric blanket's timer is working so it will turn on and off at the best times to keep the couple comfortable* *is a soft rumble as he works*

Kriti: *snuggles close to Megatron, purring softly as she sleeps*

Soundwave: *indicates one part of Megatron's new decoration* This one won't wash off.

Torque: *looks* *soft snerk* A pink bow, really?

Soundwave: She gets everyone's hearts, man. *gentle touch for the sleeping girl*

Torque: *soft chuckle* Yeah... *makes sure the blanket covers Megatron and Kriti without bothering the girl's doorwings* We've got good bosses.

Soundwave: *points to the art on Kriti's back as he helps fix the blanket. This one is Megatron with his fist in his hand, standing over the words, "I Have Her Back."*

Torque: *looks. More chuckle and a nod of approval* *will tuck Dolly in with the sleeping pair, because he's seen times when Kriti's gone looking for the beloved toy even when she should have been confined to bed*

Soundwave: *slight, deep-voiced chuckle as he watches the arm bearing Kriti as Cupid go around Kriti herself* D'awwww. Meep!

Witchblade: *giggles and runs away*

Soundwave: *casual dance to remove ice*

Torque: *snerks and moves to herd Soundwave out of the room after making sure the sleeping couple has a good supply of fuel within reach and everything they might need after they wake up and are sorting themselves out* Dork.

Soundwave: *as he steps into the hallway of their shared apartment* I know you are, but what am I? You and Misty taking Princess out to look for bugs?

Torque: Yeah. In a bit.

Soundwave: *nods* I'll have a chat with the parents of that kid that was yelling at her the other day.

Torque: Think she'd like to visit the 'Dog and meet Pooka, Lumen, 'n Lucky?

Soundwave: *soft snerk as he starts for the living room* She's gotta get bugs from around here for that school project.

Torque: I know, but I'm meanin' after.

Soundwave: Hard ta tell with that little fuzzy. *looks around as they reach the living room, then flops onto the couch and stretches*

Torque: Good point... *will check in with Mistfire and update her about how Kriti and Megatron are doing*

Ambush: *just cheerfully punched his master in the butt*

Torque: Awk! *jumps!*

Mistfire: *soft chuckle from behind him* You ready ta go bug huntin', Gorgeous?

Torque: *turns to face her* Yeah. Let's go. *will pick Ambush up and tuck him under his arm*

Cecily Jane: *little chirp as she reaches toward Torque* Did you have a good day, Uncle?

Torque: *careful lean and gently kisses Cecily Jane's hand in greeting* Sure did. Soundwave and I got Aunt Kriti and Uncle Megatron tucked in, and they're sleeping now.

Cecily Jane: *concern* Did they kick their blankets off?

Torque: They just needed a couple more blankets, and Dolly tried to hide behind the pillow again.

Cecily Jane: Did Uncle DJ give them the gift he was mentioning?

Torque: *nods* He did, and he did a really good job on it.

Cecily Jane: *little clap of her hands* Is it very pretty?

Torque: *nodnod* *projects an image of the tattoos*

Cecily Jane: Ohhhh. They're like love tokens for each other.

Torque: *nod* Yup. *grin* Ready to go track down bugs?

Cecily Jane: *holds up the compartmentalized case that she prepared for today* Yes, I am.

Mistfire: *fond chuckle as she watches the interaction, then reaches for Torque's free hand* Let's go.

Torque: *nods* Yeah. Where should we start?

Mistfire: *turns to saunter toward the door, free hand going up to make sure of the little girl on her shoulder*

Torque: *clicks quietly and follows, still carrying Ambush under his arm*


later


Mistfire: *stops snerking and gently trash talking the pet drone and her pink lizard to look up* Incommin'.

Torque: *looks up, ready to put himself between his family and any threat*

Kitty: *chirps and runs up Mama's leg to her back, then peeks over her shoulder at the ship that's coming down a short distance away*

Mistfire: *frowning slightly even as she calls Jazz*

Cecily Jane: *would like to be picked up, Torque*

Torque: *carefully picks Cecily Jane up and holds her close to where he's got a storage compartment she'll fit into if there's trouble*

Jazz: *sends an "en route" ping, arrives a few moments later with Prowl*

Mistfire: *sets Ambush down so he can go to Torque* *judging by Jazz's accompaniment* You know these guys, Prime?

Jazz: *has a grin going* Yeah. That's a friendly.

Torque: ... So who is it?

Prowl: *quietly* Right. You've never met Ultra Magnus.

Mistfire: *looks like she ate sulphur*

Torque: ... Ultra Magnus? *raised brow*

Prowl: *as he sends a message to Orion* One of Cybertron's greatest lawmen.

Torque: ... So different from the guy in Bitty's reality's sibling reality. Darn.

Jazz: ... I wanna hear more about that later. *grin, looks to the ship*

Mistfire: *laconically, from where she's standing at her husband's side* Door's openin'.

Cecily Jane: *hunkers down without taking her eyes from the ship*

Torque: *quiet rumbles for Cecily Jane*

Jazz: Wonder what he'll think'a Earth.

Mistfire: *straightens so abruptly that Kitty stops licking her shoulder and scoots to hide* That's no Ultra Magnus.

Torque: *more quiet rumbles, and a slight frown*

Prowl: *quietly* That looks like a Nightstrike.

Mistfire: *perks and studies the bot on the ramp more closely*

Jazz: ... So we gotta Nightwish in this reality, then? *has met the one who is married to a Rodimus, and the mother one with the ship, in the Nexus a couple times*

Prowl: Seems like it. *steps forward*

Jazz: Wonder if she's aboard. *also stepping forward*

girl on the ramp: Nightstrike of the Axalon request medical assist.

Prowl: //Younger than I thought.//

Jazz: //Yeah...// *will send coordinates to Ratchet and Fixer, and ask if one of them can come assist* *to Nightstrike* Medic's on his way.

Ratchet: *from where he and Orion just arrived* I'm here.

Nightstrike: *didn't even startle at the sudden arrival* Medic? Good. Come with Nightstrike.

Ratchet: *worried as he hurries to the ramp* What's the situation?

Nightstrike: *puts out a hand and takes his, then tugs him inside* Maggy hurt. 'Wish is helping.

Ratchet: *softly* Hurt, how? What happened?

Nightstrike: Bad city happened. *pauses at the end of the short companionway and puts out her free hand for the lock pad*

Ratchet: ... Bad city? *relaying this to Jazz and Mistfire*

Nightstrike: *finds the lock and presses in the code* Yup.

Ratchet: What sector did Ultra Magnus get hurt in?

Nightstrike: *big sigh as the door opens* I'm a baby.

iridescent lady: *looks over as the door slides open* It was over by Stargone.

Ratchet: ... Stargone?

Nightstrike: *points* 'Wish.

Orion: A Nightwish.

Nightwish: *is sitting on the edge of a bunk, with her systems hooked to those of the bot laying there* The Nightwish. The captain needs immediate medical attention.

Nightstrike: Yeah.

Ratchet: The one for this reality. *moving to scan Ultra Magnus*

Nightwish: *frowns at the doctor*

Ultra Magnus: *missing pieces, and only still functioning because of his connection to the iridescent woman. Is critically run down, and pretty flat*

Ratchet: *frowning and sending Fixer a rundown of the damage*

Fixer: *uncomplimentary opinion of the number of custom mods Ultra Magnus had had* //We've got a plain protoform that size.//

Ratchet: //If we try and move him, we could lose him.//

Fixer: //Get the woman to carry him, *boy donkey*.//

Nightstrike: *pokes Ratchet*

Ratchet: *looks up* We've got a protoform back at base that is the right size. Nightwish, I need you to pick Ultra Magnus up so we can teleport.

Nightwish: *quirks a brow at him, but rises to her feet with effortless balance and grace before turning and scooping Ultra Magnus into her arms*

Ratchet: Orion, bring Nightstrike. *will put a hand on Nightwish, and bring her and Ultra Magnus to the infirmary at the base*

Fixer: *has everything ready. Drops First Aid as Ratchet and the others appear*

First Aid: *coughs* Oh there it is. *wheeze as he watches the fly fly away*

Ratchet: I'll ask later. *will direct Nightwish to where she can set Ultra Magnus down* *to Fixer* //She's got her systems hooked into his.//

Fixer: *as she strides over and starts carefully hooking up life support* //I see that. Here's hoping she hasn't burnt any of his systems out.// *pointy object whizzes out and pins another fly to the wall without her even missing a beat*

Ratchet: //Here's hoping we're very lucky.// *will get the new protoform set up*

Fixer: //Only *male donkeys* believe in luck.// *unhooks Nightwish* Out of the way.

Nightwish: Don't have to tell me twice. *goes to stand against the wall*

Ratchet: //Then I'm your *male donkey*.// Protoform is ready.

Fixer: *pointy thing whistles as it hurtles toward her husband*

Ratchet: *doesn't even flinch as he catches the pointy thing*

Fixer: *glances toward the door as it opens* First Aid, tend the girl. *attention back to her husband as she goes into surgical mode*


the next morning


Ultra Magnus: *wakes with a soft groan and puts a hand to his head*

Jazz: *gets up from his chair* Easy, Mags.

Ultra Magnus: *optics flicker on and frown up at the black and white bot* Who...?

Jazz: *soft chuckle* Jazz. I kinda... got promoted. Long story, tell ya all about it later. How're ya feelin'?

Ultra Magnus: *optics flash with alarm* My crew!

Jazz: They're safe. 'Wish tol' us all about what happened, 'n how you stopped that 'Con cityformer right before it would'a killed ya. 'N 'Aid got Nightstrike's sight fixed right as rain.

Ultra Magnus: *shaky sigh, and then a frown as he lifts his hand again and looks at it*

Jazz: Ratch 'n Fixer had ta put ya in a new protoform. Yer ol' one was squashed.

Ultra Magnus: *frown deepens, but then he lets the hand fall onto his chest and looks around* Where?

Jazz: Recovery ward in Autobot City on Earth.

Ultra Magnus: *startled* Earth. ...Optimus?

Jazz: Orion Pax now. He stepped down as Prime.

Ultra Magnus: *silent stare of shock, and some loss*

Jazz: He's still 'live 'n remembers everythin'. 'Cludin' pranks.

Ultra Magnus: Why did he step down?

Jazz: 'Cause he wanted t' spend more time wit' his family.

Ultra Magnus: *surprise shows in his expression, but also... understanding?* Family?

Jazz: *nod* Yeah. At first, it was jes' Wheelie 'n WakeJumper, but now he 'n Ariel got one'a their own, too.

Ultra Magnus: *gives a most unexpected reply to this information* *he... smiles*

Jazz: *chuckles* Whole lotta kids here now. 'Cludin' my fosterlin'.

Ultra Magnus: That her raiding your pocket?

Jazz: *snerk* Yup. This's Nightbird.

Nightbird: *freezes with wide optics and her hand in Jazz's pocket. Was looking for noms*

Ultra Magnus: Nightstrike does the same thing.

Jazz: *surprised visor flash* Yer a dad, too?

Ultra Magnus: *again that unexpected smile* Yes.

Jazz: ... *soft chuckle* Dang...

Nightbird: *chirp*

Ultra Magnus: *quiet click to the child* *doesn't turn as Nightwish's soft footsteps pass in the hall outside*

Nightbird: *click pop chirp!*

Jazz: 'Wish has been' goin' past every hour on th' hour. *amused by that*

Ultra Magnus: *squeaks softly to Nightbird, and then quirks a brow at Jazz* Something amusing?

Jazz: 'S jes' cute how she's worryin' 'bout you.

Ultra Magnus: *shuts his eyes off* Wives do that.

Jazz: *surprised sound*

Nightbird: *clickerfit!*

Ultra Magnus: Yeah.


out in the hall


Nightwish: *stops and gives Orion a quizzical look*

Orion: *trying to figure you out, Nightwish. He's only had experience with your counterpart of the big-chinned tech*

Nightwish: *quiet and calm* Is there a problem, sir? *much slenderer and shorter than that counterpart, and those molten gold eyes are alive as they study you, Orion*

Orion: Er... I don't think there is...

Nightwish: Can I help you?

Orion: *going on a hunch, from watching her walk past repeatedly* Ratchet, Fixer, and First Aid do good work. Ultra Magnus will be alright.

Nightwish: *small chuckle* He's recovering. But he's a worry wart. *more seriously, though still smiling* I'm here to reassure him.

Orion: *strongly suspects that this Nightwish is not like the one he's more familiar with* Ah... *small nod* Have you been into the room to talk to him?

Nightwish: No. He was only awake for a few minutes, and spent them talking to the Prime.

Orion: Ah... *small nod* *bit of a brat smile* Is Jazzimus still in there?

Nightwish: *stops in the act of turning her head to give Orion a long look that holds surprise*

Orion: He hates that nickname.

Nightwish: He heard you say it, too.

Orion: *laughs and prepares to run!*

Jazz: *coming to the door, Nightbird an excited clickerfit behind him*

Nightwish: *casually snags Jazz* *to Nightbird* The candy's in the other pocket.

Nightbird: *much clickerfit! Will search that pocket!*

Jazz: *awks and squeaks*

Orion: *snickerfit*

Nightbird: *triumphant crow as she finds the goodies. Then she's taking off to find Nova, Starforge, and Carina*

Nightwish: *soft chuckle as she lets go of Jazz*

Jazz: 'Scuse me. *gonna chase Orion now!*

Orion: *laughs and runs* I regret nothing!

Nightwish: *watches them go. Watches them get their heads knocked together by Fixer. Then turns and walks into the recovery room to settle into Jazz's chair*


later that morning, in the rec room


Nightwish: *wanders in and looks into the pot by the door*

Showtime: *quietly and contentedly re-reading the same page from her big book. Hasn't really been able to multitask today, because her processor got thrown for a loop and she's not sure why*

Nightwish: *brings a handful of the rusty packing peanuts from the pot over to the blue woman* Here, your tank's empty.

Showtime: ... *frowns and looks up from her book to give you a puzzled and dazed look* Huh?

Nightwish: *soft snerk* Sibling just bonded?

Showtime: ... *frowns more as she works over your words, then nods slowly* Kriti.

Nightwish: *pokes a foam peanut at her mouth*

Showtime: *startled sound, will nom*

Nightwish: *waits till that one's gone, then follows it with another*

Showtime: *will nom as much as you're willing to feed her, Nightwish. She's having to eat slowly because she's concentrating on not biting herself*

Nightwish: *will feed the blue lady the whole handful* *without turning as the door opens* Does she like that orange gloop?

Jazz: Yeah, but not on packin' peanuts. *came to check on Showtime and see if he could get her to come to the mess hall for lunch*

Nightwish: *turns to look at him, carefully straightening Showtime in the chair at the same time*

Jazz: I came t' get 'er fer lunch.

Showtime: *sees Jazz, expression brightens* Hi, Jazz.

Nightwish: What's "lunch" mean?

Jazz: *as he moves to help Showtime to her feet* It's a meal most local peeps eat in the middle a' the up cycle.

Nightwish: *brow quirk* I see.

Jazz: Mags restin'? *arm around Showtime's shoulders*

Nightwish: He's asleep. *and she's wondering why you're asking*

Jazz: Jes' wonderin' why you're out 'ere 'n not wit' 'im. *squeaks a bit as Showtime's fingers find a ticklish spot*

Nightwish: *surprised* What good would I do in the recovery room? The captain'll call me if he needs me.

Jazz: Might reassure 'im a bit. *slight shrug, makes sure Showtime won't fall*

Nightwish: *decisive head shake* He's well enough now that having someone near him while he was sleeping would make him think he had to wake up and see what they were doing.

Jazz: ... *soft snerk*

Showtime: *absently humming as she studies Jazz's armor*

Nightwish: *slight perk* He's calling. Enjoy lunch. *turns toward the door*

Jazz: See ya around. *grins and moves to guide Showtime to the mess*

Nightwish: *soft snerk as she hears the Prime squeal behind her, but she doesn't turn back from going to rescue her husband from a snuggly Nightstrike*

((Written with random_xtras))