dens_tf_den | bv, Tunnels and the Decepticon Base, Switched

First Aid: *peers doubtfully down a narrow dirt side tunnel*

Optimus: *quietly thinking back over the last five weeks, and the things he's been around to experience. Some of them were moments of rejoicing, such as when the shuttle carrying supplies and energy arrived; some moments were downright strange: Being spoken to kindly by a mech whose alternate would just as soon shoot him as look at him*

Lugnut: *straightens slowly and bumps his head lightly of the roof of the tunnel they're in* This is one of the mining tunnels?

Torque: Yeah... One of the main tunnels. Some of the smaller ones off-shoot from this one.

Optimus: *quietly, and a bit distractedly* There's an oil well further down the tunnel First Aid is looking down...

Lugnut: *sniff sniff and nod* I can detect the odor. *turns to look down a smaller tunnel that heads off the other direction*

First Aid: *thinks she sees a light down the well tunnel and goes down it to see who's there*

Torque: *inspecting something on one of the walls, and wondering if it's anything WakeJumper would like to look at*

Optimus: *blink blink, turns to see where First Aid went, remembering that Deepdancer said that they should be careful of 'Aid since this is her first patrol. Not that they've ever met anything more dangerous than falling roofs in the dirt tunnels*

Lugnut: *looking at Torque's find* Do you know what this is, Optimus?

Optimus: Huh? *turns to look*

Lugnut: *indicates the stone*

Optimus: *quick glance over his shoulder, before he comes over to inspect the stone*

Torque: I think I can dig it out... Bet Wake'll like it...

Lugnut: Sparklets like..... *head swivels at a sudden scream of terror from First Aid*

Optimus: *Startled, inadvertantly lets a cuss slip, hurries back to the tunnel*

First Aid: *huddled and kneeling with her hands braced in front of her and her head bowed*

Optimus: First Aid? Are you alright?

Torque: *poking his head into the tunnel, the shiny rock forgotten for now*

First Aid: *head snaps up as she gives a little cry, and then she's halfway to her feet* Optimus??

Optimus: *moving to help First Aid to her feet* What happened?

First Aid: I don't know. *searching his face with her optics* Are you... forgive the strange question... but is this your native reality?

Optimus: *About to answer when Torque interrupts*

Torque: If he were the local Optimus, he'd be a zombie or a ghost or something.

First Aid: *looks at the other mech, and then back to the one that's holding her hands* *softly* Where are you from?

Optimus: A reality where Torque is stationed at Tau, and has earned the rank of Minor... and where Sentinel Prime went missing.... during the time all the Cybertronians in Detroit were turned into humans.

First Aid: *arms around his neck and kissing him*

Torque: Whoa...

Optimus: *stumbles back a few steps, before holding First Aid close and kissing her back*

First Aid: *breaks kiss and just holds him as hard as she can* The Aerialbots are so worried.

Optimus: I'd imagine so... With as long as I've been gone...

First Aid: *broken little laugh* You weren't there to tuck them in last night. And Skydive had nightmares.

Optimus: ... Last night?

First Aid: *nods without taking her face from the crook of his neck*

Optimus: But... It's been weeks since I arrived here...

First Aid: *lifts her head and stares up at him* One night. The sun was just starting to set when I stepped out the back door and came here.

Optimus: ... There's a time difference... great.

Torque: Not to interrupt the happy reunion, Optimus... but if this is the 'Aid from your home... where's ours?

First Aid: *turns startled wide optics toward Torque* Yours?

Torque: *nod* The local 'Aid. If you're here, then she's gotta be someplace else, right?

First Aid: *blinks* Oh dear....

Optimus: ... I have a bad feeling about this...

Lugnut: *calls from the mouth of the tunnel* Optimus? Torque? Is First Aid alright?

First Aid: 0_0

Torque: Yeah, Lugnut, she's fine... if being transported from the same reality Optimus comes from counts.

Lugnut: What!?

First Aid: *shakes and hides her face against Optimus at the anger in the big 'Con's voice*

Optimus: *gently rubs First Aid's back* Lugnut, we'll find her. She could have been transported to the Sign Nexus.

Torque: She coulda wound up anywhere though, Optimus... I just hope she's safe.

Lugnut: Is there no sign of how she went?

Optimus: Let's check.... *moving to investigate the area*

Torque: *Moves to gently touch First Aid's shoulder* Hey... did anything weird happen right before you got here?

First Aid: *timid peek at him* I thought I saw a light in the back yard. That's why I went out.

Torque: Hmm.... *considering look, and then he's scanning the area* Yanno...Deepdancer said that right before 'Bee and Megatron vanished the last time, there was a weird light...

Optimus: *frowns* the only thing here besides ourselves is the cap on the oil seep.

Lugnut: *fretting and protective tone to his deep voice* Come out of there, all of you. I'm going to see if I can check that nexus, and I want the three of you in the main base while I am gone.

Optimus: Alright, Lugnut. *moves to gently guide First Aid towards the mouth of the tunnel, while Torque nods and heads that way himself*

First Aid: *lets go of Optimus, but takes his hand and holds it tightly*

Lugnut: *herds them all to Deepdancer's clinic, and then PINs away after explaining things to his daughter*

Torque: ... Aw, snap. I forgot that rock.

Deepdancer: *looks at him like ....* What rock?

Torque: There was this really neat rock I was gonna give to Wake...

Deepdancer: *stops looking at him like his head's full of cotton* It will still be there. *turns her attention to where Optimus and First Aid are sitting on an empty table*

Optimus: *explaining quietly about the injuries that the local Viisaus and WakeJumper had, and about the repairs they've had done*

Torque: *leaning against a wall* How're Viisaus and Wake doing?

Deepdancer: *absently* They're asleep.

First Aid: *listening intently and nodding her understanding as her optics rest on Optimus' face*

dark blue-colored bot: *comes creeping into the medbay on all fours, making a beeline for Torque*

Torque: *sighs at Deepdancer's answer, but then brightens and drops to one knee* Kritiiii. Kritiiii. :D

Kriti: *skitter skitter CLING*

Torque: *arms around her as he kisses her on the helmet and gently rubs her back* I'm right here. Everything's alright.

Optimus: *glances over his shoulder, concern for the femme that was found in amongst space debris clear on his face* Is she alright?

Torque: *bit of a soft croon in his voice* She's juuust fine. *rests his cheek on Kriti's head and goes ^_^*

First Aid: *gives the blue femme a look of compassionate concern*

Optimus: *small nod, does a quick headcount, and remembers what Showtime said about witnesses*

First Aid: *offers Kriti a soft smile, and then looks up at Optimus and leans against him with a sigh and a little absent snuggle*

Kriti: *blink, leans against Torque more*

Optimus: *Quietly, blushing a little* First Aid?

First Aid: *looks up, brow ridges lifting* Yes, Optimus?

Optimus: *Blushing more* W-Would you... B-be my mate?

Deepdancer: *glances over at First Aid's gasp, then turns away again when she sees how the pair of them are sitting*

First Aid: *soft whisper as she gazes up at Optimus* Yes. Of course.

Optimus: *quietly* We've got three witnesses...

First Aid: *blush and nod, biting her lip*

Torque: *clicking quietly to Kriti, who is still regarding Optimus and First Aid with that unreadable expression of hers*

Optimus: *blushing, clears his throat* Deepdancer, Torque, Kriti... Will you three be our witnesses?

Deepdancer: *looks back at him* You're sure you want to do that here and now?

Optimus: First Aid?

First Aid: *nods, her optics steady as they look from him to the older medic* I don't know where I'll be next. But I do know that I want to be with Optimus.

Optimus: *blushing more and nodding* Who knows what will happen even a few hours from now?

Deepdancer: *sighs* True. *looks at Torque and Kriti.*

Kriti: *small, almost imperceptable nod*

Torque: We might as well have something worth celebrating....

Deepdancer: *goes and gets a half an energy bar and brings it back*

Kriti: *optics widen slightly as she sights the energy bar, before she looks to Deepdancer*

Deepdancer: Symbolism, youngling. The way we did the thing back when I was fresh minted. *turns back to Optimus and First Aid* The two of you have decided to be a pair. First Aid, will you take care of this mech and watch his back through everything life throws at him?

Kriti: *small nod, glances to First Aid and Optimus as though saying "Well?"*

First Aid: *nods* *softly* I'll take care of him the best I can.

Deepdancer: *head moves just slightly so that she's looking more at Optimus* Optimus Prime, will you take care of this femme and watch her back through everything life throws at her, and also protect and guide any new sparks that the creator should give the two of you?

Optimus: *nods* With everything that I am.

Deepdancer: *gives them the energy bar* Each of you eat half of that, as a symbol of your becoming two halves of one thing.

Optimus and First Aid: *bump noses when they try to bite into the energy bar at the same time, from opposite ends*

First Aid: *massive blush as she hastily leans back, chewing up her bite as she does so*

Optimus: *Blushing almost the same color as his paintjob as he leans back and chews his bite*

Torque: *trying his hardest not to snicker*

Kriti: *slight headtilt*

First Aid: *pauses as she remembers a human custom, and then leans forward again to set her mouth to her new mate's*

Optimus: *surprised, but kissing First Aid back*

Deepdancer: ...Ad libbing. *shrug and looks at Torque and Kriti* Are these two bonded? Have you seen it?

Viisaus: *quietly* They are bonded.

Torque: *startles badly at the older bot's unexpected contribution, earning himself a wiggly and upset Kriti* I agree with Viisaus... They are bonded.

Deepdancer: *looks at Kriti and clicks to her* Kriti? Have you seen it?

Kriti: *reaching for Deepdancer, nods*

Deepdancer: *moves over to where she can touch the young femme with a tentacle* *turns back to Optimus and First Aid* You're bonded. And off duty till further notice.

First Aid: *expression turns to confusion at that last announcement*

Optimus: *nods and glances to Torque when the other mech chuckles*

Torque: We'll have to make sure the hammock can support both of you...

First Aid: *hides her heating face against Optimus*

Lugnut: *reappears* I haven't found anything yet. I'm going to go back, and if I don't find anything I'll look somewhere else, so don't worry if I don't return.

Deepdancer: *looking at him*

Optimus: *silently making plans to duct tape Torque to something in the near future*

Viisaus: *quietly* Looking?

Lugnut: *looks down at the teal and brown mech* Hrrm. I'm sorry if I disturbed you, Viisaus. But our First Aid has vanished and been replaced with the one from Optimus' reality. I'm trying to find her.

Viisaus: *quietly* Lugnut, you could never disturb me... *optics flash when he processes the rest of what Lugnut said* what?!

First Aid: *hiding, mortified with embarrassment that she must have been mistaken for the local First Aid*

Lugnut: *repeats himself gravely*

Viisaus: *trying to sit up, even though he knows better*

Kriti: *wiggling and trying to get Torque to let her go*

Deepdancer: *pushes Viisaus back down* Did you think Optimus was bonding our First Aid?

Viisaus: Of course not... It's more pressing that we find our First Aid...*Cycling air* She's more than likely terrified out of her wits by now...

Torque: *lets Kriti go and watches as she skitters under one of the tables*

Deepdancer: Well you can't go and look. *firm*

Lugnut: And I had better go. If I don't find anything I'm going to our other base and bringing Blitzwing, Beryl, and the others into the search.

Viisaus: *sighs, as he knows it's no use arguing with Deepdancer, nods* *quietly* Report if you find anything, Lugnut.

Lugnut: *slight amused headshake* As bossy as ever. *steps back and PINs away again*

WakeJumper: *soft sound as he powers on*

Deepdancer: *picks him up and holds him close* Shhhh, bitling. Are you hungry?

WakeJumper: *small nod, even as he gets his thumb in his mouth and sucks on it*

Optimus: *quietly watching the little mech, sadness crossing his face as he does*

Kriti: *peeking out from her hiding spot*

Deepdancer: *gets the other half of the energy bar and offers it to Wakejumper, then gives Optimus a stern look* Don't you have somewhere to be?

Optimus: *slight start, nods, and moves to help First Aid off of the table*

First Aid: *torn and uncertain* Isn't there some way we can help, Optimus?

WakeJumper: *takes thumb out of mouth and grabs the energy bar, before working on gnawing on it while he watches Optimus and First Aid with curiosity*

Optimus: *quietly* Unless we can figure out a way to stop Sentinel... *trails off when he hears a low growl from under one of the tables*

First Aid: *looks that way a little fearfully*

Deepdancer: *rubbing WakeJumper's back as she settles to sit by Viisaus*

Torque: *moves to crouch by Kriti* Shhhh... He can't get you here. You're safe, Kriti....

Optimus: *gently tugs First Aid's hand as he pings her comm* //Let's talk about it where Kriti can't hear us.... She really doesn't like Sentinel... not even the mention of him....//

First Aid: *follows obediently, her optics full of concern* //Alright, Optimus//

Optimus: *once he and First Aid are out in the hall and heading towards the quarters he normally shares with Torque, he sighs quietly* Sentinel really made a mess of this reality...

First Aid: *looking up at him, not quite understanding* How?

Optimus: When he arrived... it was before the Great War would have even begun as a minor skirmish....

First Aid: *stops* I don't understand. Was he created earlier here?

Optimus: *headshake* No... He's from another reality entirely... and I have a really strong feeling that he's from ours.

First Aid: *mouth falls open with shock and dismay*

Optimus: And that's just the start of things... Here... the Decepticons are the ones who are the 'good guys'...

First Aid: ...So that's why that other Bumblebee was protecting Megatron's head?

Optimus: *nods*

First Aid: But... what could happen to make Megatron the good guy?

Optimus: Sentinel killed the Autobot Council... before turning everthing on Cybertron into a police state... Then he tried killing Megatron and Blitzwing... Megatron went into hiding, and those that opposed Sentinel's way of doing things sought him out... *leaving something important out*

First Aid: *shaking* And... you think this is the bot from our reality?

Optimus: *quietly* He killed my alternate, and his creators... as well as the Ratchet from here...

First Aid: *swaying now, the back of her hand held to her mouth in horror*

Optimus: *quietly* Tau doesn't exist... because the people there... chose to help Megatron.... and Sharpshot and Showtime are dead as well... Showtime....took her own life because she didn't want to kill her best friend...

First Aid: *optic shutters drop and she crumples*

Optimus: *Cuss, moves to catch First Aid*

First Aid: *ragdoll limp. She's fainted but good*

Optimus: *carefully lifts the insensate femme, before carrying her to the quarters. Once inside, he's gently setting her in the hammock and moving to sit down nearby*

First Aid: *still for several clicks, but then she's moving and hiding her face as she cries softly*

Optimus: *clicks quietly, and moves to gently hold First Aid's hand*

First Aid: *looks up at him* That's horrible. But what makes you think he's the one from... from our reality?

Optimus: *quietly* He said that he was going to save Transformers from a horrible fate... and that I was a madbot who would destroy everything...

First Aid: *silently shaking her head* But... maybe your alternate was bad? If Megatron can be good.... *appealing look*

Optimus: He never got a chance to prove himself either way... He was killed almost immediately after coming online, from what I've been told by Deepdancer, Viisaus, and Brigadier...

First Aid: *lowers her face, optics shuttered as she cries*

Optimus: *Gentle handsqueeze*

First Aid: *tugs on him slightly, giving him a beseeching look*

Optimus: *moves to climb into the hammock beside First Aid*

First Aid: *snuggles against him and hides her face against his chest plates* We have to do something.

Optimus: *rubs her back* I don't know whether we'd be able to stop Sentinel... *a bit more determination in his voice now* I do know that we can help here... And every little bit helps...

First Aid: *nods, her expression going from horror and despair to resolute and determined* *looks up* That's why we're here, isn't it?

Optimus: *Quietly* That's what I believe...

First Aid: *slight smile* What should we do?

Optimus: *small chuckle* Well... Deepdancer will ground us if we try to go anywhere before she says we can go back to work...

First Aid: *big, surprised optics*

Optimus: Deepdancer is Fixer.... I'm not about to go against her orders...

First Aid: *meeps* Ohhhh

Optimus: *gently nuzzles First Aid's helm*

First Aid: *hides again* She's ordered us to have a honeymoon.

Optimus: *nods, rubbing First Aid's back again*

First Aid: *forces herself to relax and once more lifts her face to look at him*

Optimus: *quietly, though his optics are twinkling with a little bit of mischief* Ratchet's going to kick my skidplate...

First Aid: *little O as she thinks of her mentor's ire*

Optimus: I don't mind though... He's got a big spark... *mutter* Even if he is a grouch sometimes.

First Aid: *soft chuckle* He might be too busy getting to know his son to think about his daughter.

Optimus: ... Son?

First Aid: *quietly tells him about Cragbuster and the yellow and white mech's testing of Ratchet's limits*

Optimus: *soft groan, and then he's chuckling* They sound like two of a kind....

First Aid: *softly* That's what the others have said.

Optimus: I hope the mech's still there when we get back... I wouldn't mind meeting him... *moves to hold First Aid close*

First Aid: *hands move from his chest to around his waist as she snuggles* I don't think Ratchet wants to let him go.

Optimus: *small nod* Family's important to him...

First Aid: *sigh* I think Omega and his brothers are afraid of Cragbuster. They watch him from around corners. Though they laughed when Stiletto decided to use her kitty routine on him after the gas had finally cleared out of the plant.

Optimus: ... Gas? *worried*

First Aid: Mudflap and Runabout were backfiring.

Optimus: Runabout?

First Aid: The twin sparklet who's usually with Sideswipe. The quieter but more active one.

Optimus: Oh... *small wince* They're alright, aren't they?

First Aid: Yes. But Ratchet gave Sideswipe a lecture on how he'd gotten his comeuppance in the form of two sparklets who are just like him. *optics twinkle just a bit at the memory* I was so surprised when Alpha Trion laughed at it.

Optimus: Alpha Trion was there?

First Aid: He came as soon as he heard that you'd disappeared. *hides a bit* Nightwish handed Runabout to him just before the little one backfired.

Optimus: *soft groan, though he's trying his best to keep from snickering*

First Aid: Alpha Trion laughed about that too, once he opened his vents again.

Optimus: *nods* I'm glad... Oh! Is Skywarp alright?

First Aid: She and Sunstreaker's little daughter was born with her shell already formed, but she's recovering. Sundog is weak, but she does her best to interact with anyone who holds her or talks to her.

Optimus: *small nod* And Silverbolt?

First Aid: *sigh* Trying to encourage her siblings.

Optimus: *another nod, before he's sighing quietly* It's just so strange... I've been here for five weeks... but back home, only a day has passed...

First Aid: *hopeful* Maybe you'll be home soon... for everyone at home?

Optimus: *small nod* I hope so...

First Aid: *sighs, and then very shyly rubs his back with one hand*

Optimus: *gently nuzzles her helm*

First Aid: *tips her face up and kisses him on the cheek, her hand moving up to the back of his shoulder* My mate....

Optimus: *gently kisses First Aid's cheek, holding her close* Forever and for always...

First Aid: *happy as she offers him another kiss, absently aware of the gentle sway of the hammock and the drip of water down the walls*

Optimus: *gently kisses her and continues to rub her back*

First Aid: *softly* Do you think we should.... *blush*

Optimus: *Blushing as well* I-if... if you want to....

First Aid: I do. But should we? *optics searching his face*

Optimus: Deepdancer won't let us out anyways...

First Aid: >_> That's true.

Optimus: *quietly, blushing a bit* Plus... We'd get to know one another better....

First Aid: *softly, in gentle teasing* You and snuggling....

Optimus: *ducking his head, though his optics are twinkling*

First Aid: *rubs his shoulder and listens to his primary fuel pump. Her thoughts are in a mild turmoil, full of prayer and wondering if they're really doing the right thing; considering this now, when so much is uncertain. She knows she wants to be Optimus' mate, but she's not sure about the timing. And she's concerned for her younglings, and her mentor and patients....*

Optimus: *gently rubs First Aid's back, before moving to kiss her*

First Aid: *shutters her optics and shivers slightly as she feels the electricity from the kiss boost her systems*

Optimus: *breaks the kiss when he feels her shiver, concern showing in his optics* First AId?

First Aid: No... you have to keep going. *snuzzles softly, feeling her head spin a little*

Optimus: *small nod, even though he's feeling a bit dizzy himself. Then he's moving to kiss her again*

First Aid: *returning it and reminding herself that the spinning sensation is a minor glitch*

Optimus: *soft sound as something gets tripped and there's a flash of light. Then he's out cold*

First Aid: Mmmph! *optics widen, and then slip shut as her engine settles down to a contented sleeping purr*

Optimus: *continues to hold First Aid close, even as he sleeps*

((co-written with

random_xtras))