dens_tf_den | hsv, Autobot Base and the skies above, Jetfire

Ironhide: *getting the heck out of the hall, because Jetfire's in full senile rant mode*

Carina: *hiding on Daddy!*

Ironhide: *away and gone*

Jetfire: *Grumbling* Wretched, rusty, useless, my aft!!! *slamming the end of his cane on the ground to punctuate his words*

Starscream: *steps out of the med bay with Backwing and nearly runs into the old bot* Oh! Excuse me.

Jetfire: *slight scowl* Watch where yer goin'!

Starscream: *slight frown* I couldn't see you through the door, old man. And I apologized.

Jetfire: *scowl worsens and just as he's about to tell Starscream off for being cheeky, Skyfire covers his mouth with his hand*

Skyfire: *looking very embarrassed and apologetic* I'm terribly sorry, Starscream. I wasn't aware that Jetfire would be here... *Yelps as he's whacked by Jetfire's cane, lets go of the older mech*

Jetfire: Back in my day we respected our elders, even if they couldn't transform as well as us! My father was a wheel! The first wheel! And he transformed into nothing with dignity!

Skyfire: *takes a long draw of air, before responding in an identical accent to Jetfire* That's a load'a slag 'n you know it! Our father was a Seeker in th' haydays 'f exploration!

Starscream: *blinks and then gapes at Skyfire at the change in his speech*

Jetfire: *clobbers Skyfire with his cane*

Skyfire: *oh it's ON now! Tackles the older-looking mech, and then the two are a mess of limbs, wings, and oddly-accented Cybertronian*

Starscream: *returns to the med bay very quickly, Backwing chirping happy oblivion in her arms* Ratchet, they're fighting.

Clarion: 0_o

Ratchet: *pinches the bridge of his nose, and goes to try to separate the two scrapping mechs*

Cragbuster: *Excited babbling as he clings to Clarion's back*

Starscream: *watches through the door, her brow plates drawn together in a puzzled frown*

Ratchet: *nearly gets clobbered by both Jetfire and Skyfire as he tries to get the two mechs separated*

Clarion: *goes and crawls under Ratchet's desk*

Ultra Magnus and Denver: *hurrying to Ratchet's aid, Denver yelling and cussing up a storm*

Starscream: *draws back, her hand protectively over Backwing's audios. And then something in her snaps and she's shrieking* Stop it! Just stop it! What do you think you're doing? STOP IT!

Skyfire, Jetfire, Ratchet, Ultra Magnus, and Denver: *pause to gape at Starscream*

Cragbuster: *clicking and chirping from where he and Mama are*

Backwing: *curious clicks*

Skyfire: *getting up, and helping the other 'bots up as well* *quietly, in the accent that he uses normally* My apologies, Starscream...

Starscream: *shaking and turning away as she holds her little one close*

Denver: *abashed, apologizes and heads for the common room*

Ultra Magnus: *also apologizes and makes himself scarce*

Skyfire: *about to approach Starscream and apologize more*

Jetfire: *tapping his cane on the ground* Yer jes gonna let some femme throw a hissy fit and that's that? No honor or dignity to you, bratling.

Skyfire: *turns slowly, grabs Jetfire roughly and all but hauls him out the nearest door*

Ratchet: ... *long suffering sigh, goes to get his field kit* I will NEVER understand fliers...

Starscream: *gives him a troubled look, still protecting her sparklet, who chirps on happily to the lights on the ceiling*

Eclipse: *over the base PA system* Someone'd better get Skyfire and Jetfire to calm down, because they're kinda dogfighting above the base and in the airspace around the base and I really don't want to get in the middle of it, because it sounds pretty bad and I think Skyfire's yelling at Jetfire right now or something...

Fireflight: I'll stop them! Starscream won't like it if Skyfire gets hurt.

Starscream: No! *Backwing in Ratchet's arms and she's bolting out the door*

Backwing: *chirp?*

Ratchet: *blink blink, soft sigh, and then he's clicking to the little one he's holding as he goes to check on Clarion and Cragbuster*

Outside...

Thundercracker: *outside, watching, ready to stop anyone who tries to interfere*

Fireflight: *comes out and looks up, frowning anxiously*

Thundercracker: *watching the two larger jets dogfight* *more to himself than to Fireflight* Who'dve thought Skyfire'd be THAT good at aerial combat?

Fireflight: Starscream won't like it if Skyfire gets hurt. *worry worry*

Thundercracker: Well, she'll have to worry about him only if he makes a mistake. So far, he's handing that old coot his afterburner.

Skyfire: *dodging Jetfire's attacks with moves that could easily be labeled 'graceful', and dishing out more than his fair share of damage to the other jet*

Fireflight: But why are they fighting?

Thundercracker: Because the old coot insulted Skyfire. It's a pride thing...

Fireflight: Can't they just talk about it?

Thundercracker: *Snorts, and repeats what another Seeker told him many vorns ago back on Cybertron* Words are how the rest of the world settles things. Seekers settle things by their actions.

Fireflight: So what does it mean that Starscream ran away?

Thundercracker: ...Which Starscream?

Fireflight: *blinks at him* We have more than one?

Thundercracker: Remember the one that used to be here? The one that hurt Orion Pax's human?

Fireflight: But he's dead. ...Ohhhh, did he come back as a ghost?

Thundercracker: ... *resisting the urge to facepalm* Where did your wingleader go?

Fireflight: I don't know. She ran outside just before I came out.

Thundercracker: ... *transforming and taking to the air, barely misses getting beaned by Jetfire when the old Seeker crashes to the ground, engines smoking*

Skyfire: *on Jetfire like white on rice*

Fireflight: *following TC!*

Thundercracker: *sending out a comm call on every frequency he has access to, trying to get a response from Starscream* //Starscream, the fight's over. Skyfire handed Jetfire his skidplate and didn't get so much as a scratch in his paint!//

Powerglide: //What's goin' on now? Where's the kid?//

Thundercracker: //She took off during the dogfight Skyfire and that old coot had, and I have no clue where she went. If you want to help look, you're more than welcome to do so.//

Powerglide: //Have no fear, Powerglide is here!// *zooms up and away*

Fireflight: //....He sounds happy.//

Thundercracker: //...I'm not even gonna ask.//

Fireflight: //...Ironhide says that when Air Raid and Slingshot prank someone.//

Thundercracker: //Wake says it when Solar Flare and Eclipse work together on something... he says it more often when they involve Wheeljack.//

Fireflight: //...You think Powerglide's doing something that will make somebody mad?//

Thundercracker: //Hard to say with him... I'm not on as friendly of terms with him as I am with some of the other 'bots...//

Fireflight: //Ohhh.// *falls silent*

Thundercracker: *trying again with the comms*

Fireflight: //I wonder why she isn't answering....//

Thundercracker: //I don't know... it's kinda worrying, to be honest...//

Fireflight: *sudden start and lurch* //Oh no! We left Backwing behind!//

Thundercracker: //Go back and get her. I'll wait here for you.//

Fireflight: //...I'm not allowed to fly with Backwing.//

Thundercracker: //...Is Skyfire allowed to?//

Fireflight: //Yes. He doesn't run into things.//

Thundercracker: //Go get Skyfire and Backwing.//

Fireflight: //Alright!// *up and around and zooming back toward the base! And passing through a flight path...*

Thundercracker: *sighs as he circles. It's times like this when he wonders if he's nuts for becoming a Seeker in the first place*

Fireflight: *calling to Skyfire as he swoops toward the front door, forgets to transform and winds up somehow parked in the front hall in jet mode*

Skyfire: *Boggling as he hurries from the medbay, Backwing in his arms*

Fireflight: ...Whoopsie.

Optimus: *looking out of his office and facepalming* Fireflight....

Fireflight: I know! Robot mode inside! I... just forgot. *wriggles around and changes, then looks at Skyfire* Starscream ran away.

Optimus: ...Ran... away?

Skyfire: ... *says something in a long-dead language that roughly translates as "Oh, that's just GREAT!!!"*

Fireflight: *looks at his trine brother uncertainly* Was that swear words?

Skyfire: *shakes his head* I have a bit more decorum than that...

Fireflight: Oh good. Starscream doesn't like swearing around Backwing.

Backwing: *chirp! Lovin' the lights*

Skyfire: *nods* What were Starscream's last known coordinates, Fireflight?

Fireflight: Uh... I don't know. The back door, I think.

Skyfire: *frown, tries pinging Starscream's comm*

Fireflight: *watching him, and then distracted by Backwing's chirping and waves to the sparklet*

Skyfire: *frowning more* Fireflight, which direction did you come from to get back here?

Fireflight: *blinks and looks over his shoulder* //Thundercracker, which direction did I go to get here?//

Thundercracker: *databursts the coordinates and the direction of flight*

Optimus: *passes on the burst as Fireflight fumbles it*

Skyfire: *small nod as he recieves the databurst, before he's heading out the door* Fireflight, let's go find Starscream.

Fireflight: Oh, I remember now! Thundercracker said to bring you to him! *following, happy again*

Backwing: *chirps her identical happiness, then squeaks a little and looks around*

Skyfire: *Clicks to Backwing, before tucking her into his cockpit and transforming*

Backwing: *tests seat for flavor*

Fireflight: *transforms before he gets outside and winds up clipping a chunk out of the door frame*

Optimus: *sighs and looks down at Elita*

Elita: At least he's not taking off indoors this time. *offering Diehard, who is excitedly clicking and chirping*

Optimus: That is true. *takes his little son and offers him a seat on his shoulder as he turns to go back into the office*

Diehard: *Happy squeal, holds onto Daddy's head and tests the audial finial for flavor*

outside

Skyfire: *Following the flight path Thundercracker provided, and soon spots the blue Seeker*

Fireflight: *following Skyfire in the perfect flanking position that Starscream taught him*

Thundercracker: *dips his wings when he finally sees the pair* //No luck yet with the comms. I'm wondering if she's out of range....//

Skyfire: //She's more than likely very upset with me...//

Fireflight: *weebles a bit with surprise* //Upset with you?//

Skyfire: //For fighting my brother...//

Fireflight: //You were fighting with your brother? I thought you were.... Wait.... Ohhhh.   Jetfire's your.... eeek! Gull!// *weeble and get back on course* //Um... what was I saying?//

Skyfire: //Jetfire is my twin brother. He and I left Cybertron at different times, however.//

Fireflight: //But he's a Decepticon.// *confused jet is confused*

Skyfire: //...There's that term again...// *sounding a bit puzzled himself* //What exactly is a Decepticon?//

Thundercracker: //It used to mean someone who followed the mech called The Fallen.//

Fireflight: //Really?//

Thundercracker: //Yeah. I did some research in the Nexus one time.//

Fireflight: //Ohhhhh.//

Skyfire: //...What's the Nexus?//

Fireflight: //Have we looked in Starscream's secret lab yet?//

Skyfire: //The same location that it was in as last time?//

Fireflight: //...What?//

Skyfire: //Did Starscream move her secret lab?//

Fireflight: //I don't think so.//

Skyfire: //Let's check there. Thundercracker, you check the Lookout.//

Fireflight: //Okay!// *still in his flanking position*

Thundercracker: *turns to head towards the Lookout*

Skyfire: *turning to head for the secret lab*

Fireflight: *follows*

Backwing: *ooooo, hello, sun! Kerchoo!*

Skyfire: *clicks to Backwing, keeping some of his sensors focused on the sparklet*

Fireflight: *suddenly wobbling excitedly* //She's there! I can sense her!//

Skyfire: //...// *carefully making his descent*

Fireflight: *jams his nosecone into a small hill of dirt* //I'm okay!//

Skyfire: *lands and transforms, before going over to get Fireflight out of the hill* //Are you sure?//

Fireflight: *transforms and sits up, blinking* Yup.

Skyfire: Alright. *holds his hand out to Fireflight* Let's go talk to Starscream.

Fireflight: *takes the hand and gets up, his gaze going to the narrow little gully that contains the small hideaway*

Skyfire: *once Fireflight's standing, he's getting Backwing out of his cockpit and holding the little femme close*

Backwing: *finds her friend, the pretty light in the sky. Squeals!*

Fireflight: *blinks at her and tries to keep her from looking at the sun*

Skyfire: *Clicks and tries to shield Backwing's optics from the sun, even as he begins to walk towards the little hideaway*

Fireflight: *goes ahead and hops down into the gully, then tries the door* Hey... it won't open.

Starscream: *starts and looks up from where she was sitting and brooding, then looks down again* That's because it's locked.

Fireflight: Locked? Who did that? How are Skyfire and me supposed to come see you?

Starscream: Skyfire's here??

Skyfire: Yes, I'm here, Starscream. I brought Backwing as well.

Starscream: *a sound of movement and a sudden silence*

Fireflight: *tries the door again* Starscream?

Skyfire: *quietly* Starscream, please come out...

Starscream: *quick movement as she wonders why she didn't put a back door on this hole* I'd... rather not.

Skyfire: Is this because of my behavior earlier?

Starscream: *pacing now* No!

Skyfire: *frown, trying to figure out what's gotten Starscream upset* Did Jetfire say anything that upset you?

Starscream: *face to the corner now, and holding one arm with her other hand*

Fireflight: *turns a happy face to Skyfire and shows him that he's just picked the lock*

Skyfire: *smiles and gently pats Fireflight's arm, before moving to try to open the door* Starscream, please talk to me... I can't help if I don't know what's wrong.

Starscream: *spins, optics wide with surprise as the door opens*

Backwing: MAMA! :D

Skyfire: *takes a step closer to Starscream, and carefully holds Backwing towards her mother*

Starscream: *looks at her sparklet and then takes the little one, her face showing guilt and unhappiness* I abandoned you. I'm sorry, Backwing.

Backwing: *checks Mama out for flavor*

Skyfire: *gently* If it's something that I've done that has upset you so, I'd like to know what...

Starscream: I'm... confused. *cuddling her daughter close as the little one chirps away*

Skyfire: *takes a small step towards Starscream, holding his hand out to the femme* Maybe I can help with that...

Starscream: *looks at his hand instead of at him as she tries to put words on her mortification and bewilderment* You... you spoke strangely.

Skyfire: *sheepish chuckle* I... was upset... My brother has this uncanny ability to bring out the worst of me... atrocious accent and all...

Starscream: *startles and looks up at him* Brother?

Skyfire: *nods* Jetfire is my twin brother.

Starscream: *even more startled* Twin!

Skyfire: *nods* Though he and I are as different as twins can get.

Starscream: ...Build twins? Created at the same time?

Skyfire: Identical twins. Our femme creator's spark budded, and the newspark split very early in its development.

Starscream: *small voice* Oh....

Skyfire: *with a bit of wry humor* For mechs who are the same age... I personally believe he received the short end of the proverbial stick...

Starscream: I... understand he's suffering damage from energon lack. *still blinking*

Skyfire: *nods* That... and he was involved in many skirmishes, if his rantings and ravings are anything to go by...

Starscream: And he's wearing the purple badge.

Skyfire: *mutter* I've been meaning to ask what that badge signifies.... *louder* He proclaimed himself to be an Autobot when Ratchet was working on repairing him...

Fireflight: And he pulled himself apart so that Optimus could use his wings and jets!

Starscream: *head whips around* What?

Skyfire: *turns to Fireflight* When was this?

Fireflight: Um... I don't know. But the team that went to get you was gone at the same time as the team that went to get the other guy, and they came back with Jetfire.

Skyfire: ...*frown* That... was weeks ago...

Starscream: *thoughtful frown as she rubs Backwing's back*

Fireflight: *nods* Yup. Ratchet had to put him back together.

Skyfire: ...

Fireflight: *falters* Did I say something I shouldn't have again?

Starscream: No. I don't think you did.

Skyfire: *quietly* no... I just... I never imagined my own brother... would risk his own spark in such a manner...

Fireflight: Ohhhh. Somebody told me he was going to put it out, but Optimus stopped him.

Starscream: ....

Skyfire: *sharp intake of air, and then he's quietly excusing himself*

Starscream: *gives him a quick look and steps after him, holding up a hand* Skyfire?

Skyfire: *Quietly* I owe my brother an apology...

Starscream: *quietly* Can we come with you?

Skyfire: *nods* I... I'd appreciate it if you would.

Starscream: *takes one hand from Backwing and puts it on his arm, her optics bright with sympathy*

Fireflight: *trying to get his hand out of a jar*

Starscream: *quietly* Skyfire, my hands are rather full, if you would.... *nods toward their trinemate*

Skyfire: *Blink blink, glances at Fireflight, before sighing a bit and chuckling as he goes to help the young Aerialbot*

Fireflight: I'm not making a fist.... *very puzzled by his predicament*

Skyfire: *working carefully to get Fireflight's hand out of the jar without damaging either one*

Starscream: *watching, her mouth twitching slightly with amusement and affection despite herself*

Fireflight: *chattering away about his puzzlement and the spider on the ceiling and how well this is working* Oh! There. :D   Thanks, Skyfire!

Skyfire: *fond chuckle as he nods, putting the jar someplace safe* You're welcome, Fireflight.

Fireflight: *looks at Starscream, then back to Skyfire* *hopefully* Everything's okay now?

Skyfire: *looks to Starscream* I hope so...

Starscream: *holds out a hand to Fireflight* *quietly* Let's go talk to Jetfire.

Backwing: Buggy!

Skyfire: *nods, chuckling at Backwing's exclaimation*

Starscream: *glances at the spider, then looks to Skyfire to lead the way*

Skyfire: *heads out of the lab*

Back at the Autobot base...

Clarion: 'Buster! Sheesh..... *trying to hide in the corner as her mate fixes the old coot*

Cragbuster: *Clickclickclickpopsqueal* *is scolding Jetfire for sassing Papa!*

First Aid: *glancing at the sparklet from time to time as he tends to WakeJumper over in the corner*

Jetfire: *Amused rumblings, even as Ratchet works on repairing the damage he received from Skyfire earlier* Bitlet's gotta lotta spunk...

Ratchet: That he does. Now hold still! *grumbling and working away*

WakeJumper: *has managed to tangle his feet in the blankets Eclipse insisted on wrapping him in before he was brought to the medbay. No, he's not sure why, and no, he's not too thrilled about it*

First Aid: *clicks to the little mech and works on unwinding him. Looks up again as the med bay door opens and two Seekers and an Aerialbot come in*

Skyfire: *hesitates upon seeing Jetfire being worked on by Ratchet*

Clarion: *takes her son and returns to the space under Ratchet's desk*

Starscream: *winces as she sees the white femme's retreat. Holds her daughter close*

Cragbuster: *Clicking and still scolding Jetfire, even though he's under Ratchet's desk with Mama now*

Jetfire: *laughing heartily now, earning him more grousing and another "Stay STILL!" from Ratchet*

Fireflight: Ohhh. Ratchet's busy. He might get mad at us for coming in. *looks up at Skyfire with his usual wide-eyed innocent look*

Ratchet: I'd be done a lot sooner, if he'd just HOLD STILL! *about ready to clobber Jetfire with a wrench*

Skyfire: Starscream... If you and Fireflight want to wait in the hallway, I'll understand.

Starscream: *looks up at him, and then, as Fireflight's asking why he thinks they should do that, she walks over to the med table opposite Ratchet and looks at the decrepit mech he's working on*

Backwing: Ooooooo! *sees lights!*

Jetfire: *Amused chuckle, then he's looking over at Skyfire and giving the more pristine-looking mech a Look*

Starscream: Hello.

Jetfire: *attention back to Starscream, nods* Hello t' you too.

Backwing: *blink SNEEZE* :D   *notices Jetfire* Hi!

Jetfire: *Soft snerk* 'n who're you, bitlet?

Starscream: *very quietly* She's my and Skyfire's daughter.

Jetfire: *glances at Skyfire, chuckles quietly*

Skyfire: *has moved to stand behind Starscream*

Fireflight: *beside trine-brother, watching curiously*

Starscream: *glances over her shoulder and nods toward the Aerialbot* And that's Fireflight. The third member of our family trine.

Jetfire: *another soft chuckle, nods to Fireflight* Glad t' see Skyfire's finally got somethin' other than exploration on th' processor.

Fireflight: *now distracted by the moth flying against a light*

Backwing: *also watching bug* Ooooo.....

Starscream: *frowns at Jetfire*

Skyfire: *slightly tensed, and blushing*

Jetfire: *once Ratchet finishes repairs, he's sitting up* Havin' a family trine t' watch over'll be good fer 'im. *nods, getting up and leaning on his cane*

Starscream: *quietly* He's right here, sir. You're speaking of him as though he weren't in the room.

Jetfire: I know that! *grumbles something about "cheeky youngbots"*

Skyfire: *calmly, though his left optic setting is twitching slightly* Jetfire, I will not tolerate any disrespect of my trine. If need be, I can, and will, challenge you again.

Starscream: *flinches and would bite her lip if she were human*

Fireflight: *loud whisper* I thought you were going to apologize to him, Skyfire?

First Aid: *quietly, without turning around* How does it go in Seeker society again? Is it only the trine members who are parents to the sparklets? Or is it the spark siblings too?

Skyfire: *blink blink* Er...

Jetfire: *baps Skyfire with his hand, before turning to First Aid* Back in the good old days, the trine members were parents, and spark siblings of the trine members were... what's the word?

Fireflight: ...Aunts?

Ratchet: Aunts are femmes, Fireflight. You're on the right track though.

Jetfire: *laughing again* I 'unno 'bout you, but I'd make one ugly femme!

Fireflight: *slight blush and his easy-going grin* Um.... *glances at Starscream*

Starscream: *soft whisper in her shrill voice* Uncle.

Skyfire: Jetfire, you would be Backwing's uncle... If you so choose.

Backwing: *rapidfire little chirps as the moth goes right overhead*

Starscream: *standing tall and looking at her trine-mate's brother*

Jetfire: *regarding Starscream and Skyfire for a few moments, before he stands up as straight as he's able to manage* It'd be an honor.

Fireflight: Really? Oh wow!

Jetfire: *nods, and then he's leaning on his cane again* Now that that's settled... where c'n a mech get some energy 'round here?

Fireflight: We have lots in the rec room. Oh! And my brothers are there. You can meet them! *happy that things are all better again*

Starscream: *shaking just a bit from reaction*

Jetfire: Lead the way, kid.

Skyfire: *moving to put an arm around Starscream's shoulders*

Starscream: *leans against him and watches as Fireflight leads Jetfire out of the room, talking happily all the way*

Backwing: 0.o *waves bye bye to the two mechs who are leaving*

Skyfire: *quietly* Should we go get some energon as well?

Starscream: *looks up and says very quietly* He needs a family too, Skyfire.

Skyfire: *nods* I don't know if he'd appreciate us trying to help him though... I haven't been around him in many vorns...

Starscream: *very slight smile* I have a reputation for taking in the difficult mechs. He could join our working trine at first.

Skyfire: *nods* We'll have to make sure he doesn't push himself too hard...

Starscream: *nods and then sighs and hides her face on him for a moment. She's still shaking a bit*

Backwing: *between two of her bigs! Happy!*

Skyfire: *Quietly* Let's go get some energon... at the very least, we can keep an optic on things in the rec room.

Starscream: *nods and lets him lead her out*

Clarion: Ack! 'Buster, get back here!

Ratchet: *Scoops up Cragbuster when he tries to follow Starscream, Skyfire and Backwing* Just where are you going, Mister?

Cragbuster: *Clickclickbeep!*

Clarion: *creeps out and sidles over to mate*

Ratchet: *Arm around Clarion's shoulders, Cragbuster held with the other arm*

First Aid: *has WakeJumper comfortable now* Do you think having Jetfire join Starscream's team is a good idea?

Ratchet: *holding a wiggly Cragbuster close* At the very least, he and Skyfire will learn to tolerate one another's presence... Which should help them both.

First Aid: *perches on the edge of Wake's table* It's not going to be quiet and peaceful around here for awhile.

Clarion: *hides against Ratchet as the Lambos stampede past in the hall, Ironhide roaring in their wake* Is it ever?

Ratchet: *sighs as Showtime rushes past, spazzing to put Red Alert to shame* Today's been more peaceful than usual.

Clarion: ...Energy sounds good about now.

Ratchet: *nods* Shall we go get some then, Clarion?

Clarion: Sounds good. *slight smile*

Cragbuster: *Click pop squeal!*

Ratchet: *Rumbly chuckle as he corrals Cragbuster and gently ushers Clarion towards the medbay doors and to their quarters for cookies*

((co-written with

random_xtras))