mbv, A courtroom in DC and NEST HQ, Court Dates and New Shells part 1

[microbots.livejournal.com]

Rachel:  *nearing the door to the witness waiting room.  Feels so tired.*

Sarah: *talking to Mama and holding her hand on one side, while Sora supports the older woman on the other*

Rachel:  *smiles at her little one, then bites her lip as she comes into the room and sees only soft chairs*  Oh slag.

Sora: *slight frown* Should I ask them for a different chair, Rachel?

Rachel:  That might be best.  I don't think I could get up after sitting in one of these.

Sora: *Small nod, makes sure Sarah can support Rachel before she goes to see if she can find someone who can get a different chair for Rachel*

Rachel:  *gently smooths Sarah's pretty little lacy hat*

Judge: *watching from the other side of the two-way mirror that is in the witness waiting room. This is her first look at the latest witnesses in the Stark case, and she's a bit surprised to see that one of the witnesses doesn't appear to be much older than her own daughters.*

Sora: *comes back with a different chair for Rachel*

Rachel:  *sigh of relief when she sees the chair*  Thanks, Sora.  Help me sit down?

Fluffy:  *pokes his head out of Rachel's red heart bag*  Thrrrpppt.

Sora: *nods and moves to set the chair down so Rachel doesn't have too far to go to sit down* Here... *Will razz Fluffy before moving to help Rachel into the chair*

Sarah: *Giggles, before she sees her reflection in the two-way mirror and begins happily chattering away*

Rachel:  *settles with another sigh, and then sets her bag down so that Fluffy can get out and explore or whatever he wants to do*

Fluffy:  *wants to bat at one of the ends of Sarah's shoe ribbons*

Sarah: *Happily talking to her reflection and paying Fluffy no mind as Sora hesitantly moves to sit in one of the soft chairs*

Judge: *very slight smile as she realizes exactly why the youngster that's chattering on the other side of the two-way mirror was brought. She's adorable and innocent-looking*

Rachel:  Sarah, baby, do you want your snacks?  Or Summer?

Sarah: *blink blink*  Summer, please! :D   *moves to get her doll so she can show it the  reflection as well*

Rachel:  *loving smile for her second youngest as she holds out the little Corell doll, who is wearing a blue lolita dress just like Sarah's*

Sarah: *Happy snuggles for Mama before she's bringing her doll over to the two-way mirror*

Sora: *has the Pound Purry that Lt. Watson gave her the other day out in her lap*

Rachel:  *looks at the mirror, and then pauses and frowns and tilts her head as she studies it*

Judge: *Watching the Asian woman for a few moments, and noting that she looks uneasy, before her attention is caught by Rachel studying the mirror*

Rachel:  *brow arching as amusement suddenly sparkles in her blue eyes.  Knows that the woman watching her there knows what she is, so she gives her a little nod instead of pretending that she doesn't see her*

Judge: *nods in return, before moving to return to the stand. The sooner she gets these witnesses through, the better for them, especially since the one seems to be hurt*

Rachel:  *looks over to Sora*  I think we'll be going in soon.  Do you remember what Mr. Lawton said?

Sora: *looks up from gently petting the soft toy in her lap to nod* I do.

Rachel:  And you know what to do if it's you that the judge asks to transform?

Sora: *another nod*

Rachel:  Do you need a hug?

Sora: *moves to get up*

Rachel:  *holds out her arms and hugs her eldest when she gets close enough*  It's going to be alright.  You'll see.

Sora: *quietly* I don't like this room, Rachel...

Rachel:  What about it bothers you, sweetheart?

Sora: It's small, and there's only one way out... *Lips pressed thin*

Rachel:  That's a way out too, Sora.  *nods to the door into the court room*  And so are those.  *another nod, this one toward the tiles in the ceiling*

Sora: *brief glance up, and then to the door into the courtroom, small nod as she takes a deep breath*

Rachel:  *gives her a kiss on the forehead*  You're safe here.  I promise.

Sora: *Very quiet clicks*

Sarah: *Blink blink, looks over her shoulder and clicks as well*

Rachel:  *settles down to wait, softly humming to her three younglings as she does*

Guard: *opening the door that leads into the courtroom* Rachel Ruteger? *not sure which of the women is the one he's supposed to escort*

Rachel:  *hand on Sora's shoulder as she tries to get up*  Here.

Sora: *Will help Rachel to her feet*

Guard: *Coming over to help, gives Sarah a small smile in passing due to how she reminds him of his niece*

Rachel:  *hand on the guard's arm*  Thanks, buddy.

Guard: *nods* Just doing my job, Ma'am... *will help her into the courtroom and up to the witness stand*

Rachel:  *enters with dignity, her head up.  It makes her limping slightly more poignant*

Judge: *Waits for the Baliff to swear Rachel in*

Rachel:  I won't swear.  But I won't lie either.

Courtroom and Jury: *chuckles all around*

Judge: *very slight snicker*

Rachel:  *slight grin as one brow arches just a bit.  This lady has a sense of humor, but isn't disrespectful of the court*

Judge: *small nod* Let's get started. *Okay. She likes this lady. So much easier to deal with than the Stark people*

Rachel:  *sits a little straighter, those calm blue eyes on the judge*


Near the end of Rachel's testimony...


Prosecuting attorney: Now you mentioned you had a few complications as a result of your arrival, Dr. Ruteger. Just what did you mean?

Rachel:  *humor vanishes from her face*  *quietly*  Our shuttle was shot down.

Prosecuting attorney: *Wasn't expecting that answer, small nod* I see... And what injuries were sustained as a result?

Rachel:  *deep breath*  *quietly but clearly*  I was burned from the waist to the knees.  Some of the lenses in my optics were shattered.  And I nearly went out.

Prosecuting attorney: ... No further questions, Your Honor.

Rachel:  *wearing a pokerface now as she waits to be dismissed*

Judge: *nods* Thank you, Dr. Ruteger.

Guard: *will help Rachel down from the stand*

Rachel:  *leaves the stand and the room with absent dignity*

some in the courtroom:  *don't believe that lady is a robot.  Would like to have had proof*

Judge: *Gives them a serious Look, before asking for the next witness, who happens to be Sora*

Rachel:  *hugs Sarah and strokes the sparklet's neat pigtails as she gives Sora a reassuring look that says she believes in the younger femme*

Sora: *Lips thin and shoulders back as she heads into the courtroom*

Sarah: *Quietly* Her Sora scared....

Rachel:  *softly*  I know, baby.  I'm praying she'll be okay.

Courtroom: *quiet for a little while before it suddenly gets a lot noisier*

Rachel:  *looks up and ups her audio volume*

Judge: *calling for order and getting it. Sounds a bit surprised*

Sarah: *Quietly* Her Sora transform....

Rachel:  *slight wince, hoping Sharpshot's alright*  I was wondering why they didn't ask me.

Fluffy:  *plays a recording of a rude comment*

Rachel:  *gives him a look*

Sharpshot: *Answering questions, though it's only a few minutes more before she's escorted back to the waiting room, shivering*

Rachel:  *lets go of Sarah with one arm to reach for Sharpshot*

Fluffy:  *standing up on the arm of a chair, his optics focused on the guard as he waits to see if it's his turn now*

Sharpshot: *going to cling to you now, Rachel*

Guard: *Blink blink at his list, seems a bit unsure as to what to do next* Er...

Rachel:  *arms full of her daughters*  Who do you need now?

Guard: Um.. Let me check... *goes to do so*

Sarah: *Snuggles*

Rachel:  *soft little song as she rubs Sharpshot's back and holds she and Sarah close*

Guard: *is back* Er... Fluffy Ruteger....

Sharpshot: *cycling air and trying to calm down*

Rachel:  *nods to the little drone*

Fluffy:  "Yeah yeah, that's me.  What're we waitin' for?"  *arms crossed over his tiny chest as he delivers his sound bite*

Guard: *A bit hesitant, but moves to pick Fluffy up*

Fluffy:  *snorting sound and climbs the man's arm to sit on his shoulder*  "Let's get this show on the road."

Guard: *Will bring Fluffy into the courtroom then*

Courtroom:  *abuzz with rustlings and muffled murmurs as the people inside catch sight of the little off white being sitting on the guard's shoulder*

Fluffy:  *settles down, tiny blue optics sweeping the courtroom before he looks up at the judge*

Judge: Baliff, please swear the witness in.

Baliff: *Nods and proceeds to do so*

Fluffy:  *quotes a movie George Washington*  "I cannot tell a lie."

Judge: *resists the urge to chuckle this time as she nods and Fluffy's testifying begins*

Fluffy:  *plays his recordings of when he was at the Stark facility.  And the sneaky little being has some good recordings, too*

Rachel:  *listening to the buzz from the court room.  Really hopes it's not because Fluffy just played something sarcastic*

Sarah: *Talking in sparklet clicks to Sharpshot, who continues to cling to Rachel*

Rachel:  *gently to Sharpshot*  Do you want to lay down?

Sharpshot: *headshake*

Rachel:  Alright.  *rubs her back and clicks to her*

Sharpshot: [I want to go home.]

Rachel:  [Soon, sweetheart.  We'll go home soon.]

Sarah: *Decides that Sharpshot needs something to snack on, gently patpats Mama to try and get her attention*

Rachel:  What is it, baby?

Sarah: Snacky-snack help her Sharpshot?

Rachel:  Sharpshot, are you hungry?

Sharpshot: *moves to shake her head, but then nods*

Rachel:  *kisses her gently on the hair and then looks at Sarah*  Can you get the sandwiches and bread sticks out of my bag?

Sarah: *Nodnod, gets the sandwiches and breadsticks out, clicking all the while*

Rachel:  *takes the food and sets it on her lap, then glances at Sharpshot to see which she'd like*

Sharpshot: *hesitantly reaching for one of the sandwiches*

Rachel:  *gives her the energon enhanced organic treat, then offers a breadstick to Sarah*

Sarah: *happy sounds as she accepts the 'breadie thingie' and begins eating it*

Sharpshot: *taking small, neat bites of her sandwich*

Rachel:  *making sure her young ones have enough and pushing back the weariness as best she can as she absently prays to the Greatest Creator for strength to see this all through*

Sharpshot: *quiet clicks after she finishes her sandwich, reaching for Rachel's hand to squeeze it gently*

Rachel:  *gives her a smile*  [We'll be done soon.]  *then lifts her head and wonders why the people in the courtroom are laughing*

Sharpshot: *small nod, glances towards the door to the courtroom*

Fluffy:  *playing his recording of Irene on a NOT CHEESE rant*

Sarah: *Clicks* Fluffy's being silly.

Rachel:  Oh slag, I hope he's not going to get in trouble.

Sharpshot: *considering look, before she transforms and snuggles against Rachel*

Rachel:  *arm around her shoulders again as she once more offers reassurances*

Fluffy:  *out in the court room.  Just got asked how old he is*  *tilts his head and looks at the defense attorney, then uses sound bites to reply that though he was born here, he is a mature member of his species*

Judge: *raised brow*

Fluffy:  ....  *uncertainly*  "Do I have something on my face?"

Judge: *headshake* Please continue.

Fluffy:  *tilts his small head and finds another clip*  "I'm the first.  The others look up to me."

Judge: *considering look* Miss Akihabara mentioned someone named Desinex...

Fluffy:  *nods*  "Baby sister."  *static as he sorts through his clips, and then plays one of Rachel explaining to someone about Desinex's origin*

Judge: *frowning after Fluffy finishes playing the clip of Rachel* I see...

Fluffy:  *quizzical look from his beady little optics*

defense attorney:  *protests that he doesn't think the judge's questions are relevant*

Judge: *gives him a Look* That is for the jury to decide. Though from what I understand of the Citizenship laws of this country, a person born on American soil is considered an American citizen, and thus protected by the laws of the land.

defense attorney:  *long pause as his eyebrows shoot up*

NEST attorney:  *also looks surprised, but then grins*

Col. Franklin:  *smug grin from his seat near the front*

defense attorney:  *thinks of an argument and decides he might as well present it and look like he's actually trying to win this*  With all due respect, your Honor.  They're machines.  Where they were built and when doesn't really matter.  We've seen this fellow here, and he's obviously no child.

Fluffy:  *will NOT cross his optics.  Will NOT cross his optics.  Will NOT....*

Judge: *giving the defense attorney an icy look over her glasses. She seez whut ur doin' thar, and does not approve!* Do you have any further questions for this witness?

defense attorney:  I have no further questions, Your Honor.

Judge: Very well. Next witness, please.

Guard: *offering Fluffy a shoulder to ride on*

Fluffy:  *sits on the guard, though he turns to look back at the judge with a puzzled air*

Guard: *Brings Fluffy back to the witness waiting room* *to Rachel* They'd like to talk to your youngest...

Rachel:  Was he good?

Fluffy:  *optics cross and he plays a raspberry, then falls over backward.  He's nearly strained something by being so good*

Guard: *Chuckles as Sarah gently kisses Summer's forehead and gives the doll to Sora to hold* Honestly? The guy that's representing Stark was behaving worse... *holds out his hand to Sarah*

Sarah: *Snuggles Mama one last time before going over to the guard*

Rachel:  *surprised by this, but takes Fluffy and cuddles him*  I'll see you soon, Sarah.  Be good, alright?  Uncle Mike will be out there.

Sarah: *nodnod, pigtails bouncing as she's lead out of the room, the hem of her blue and white dress twirling around her slightly*

defense attorney:  *smirks a bit when he sees the little lolita holding the guard's hand, thinking that seeing a spoiled kid in silly clothes was going to ruin the case for the other side.  But then the child in the lacy blue dress and little lace hat looks at him and he nearly gasps at the innocence in those striking blue eyes*

Sarah: *sitting down the way Aunt Lucy showed her when she gets to the witness stand. Then she's sworn in, though her version is "Me Sarah promise to tell truth. Is bad to lie."*

Col. Franklin:  *proud grin for Sarah*

prosecuting attorney:  Will you tell us your full name?

Sarah: Am Sarah Ann Ruteger... Am also called Swoop.

prosecuting attorney:  How old are you, Sarah?

Col. Franklin:  *frowns a bit, wondering if she'll remember when Rachel told her it's alright to say what's real here*

Sarah: *Small frown as she tries to figure out how old she is* Was born in August... *Expression brightens into a sunny grin* Am eight months now! :)  

prosecuting attorney:  *can't hold back the approving grin*  You look older, Sarah.  Why is that?

Sarah: Is 'cause him Daddy made alt-mode that way, so me Sarah could keep up with brothers.

prosecuting attorney:  Do you mean Fluffy?

Sarah: *headshake* Mean him Greg and him Simon. Them older than me Sarah.

prosecuting attorney:  How old are Greg and Simon?

Sarah: *blink blink, look of concentration* Them brothers couple weeks older than me Sarah... Her Mama and him Daddy make before me Sarah.

prosecuting attorney:  *surprised*  A couple weeks?  Don't you mean a couple years?  Weeks are seven days.

Sarah: *Headshake* *Earnestly* Mean weeks. Him Simon told me Sarah so, and him Simon not liar.

prosecuting attorney:  Alright.  *smile*  Do you have any other sisters or brothers who are large like you?

Sarah: *nodnod* Have three sisters... Her Sora, her Destiny, and her Sandra. Her Sandra newer than her Destiny and her Sora...

prosecuting attorney:  Did you parents make all those sisters?

Sarah: *headshake* Just her Sandra. Her Destiny and her Sora adopted.

prosecuting attorney:  Is Sandra like you?

Sarah: *nodnod* Her Sandra Dinobot like me Sarah, him Simon, and him Greg.

prosecuting attorney:  Would you say that you're a baby?

Sarah: Am sparklet... Means am baby still. Not be youngling for long time.

prosecuting attorney:  How long is a long time, Sarah?

Sarah: *blink blink* Well... Him Will youngling... Him Bert say him Will have eighty five years.....

prosecuting attorney:  *pauses a bit and looks at the judge, wondering if anyone has actually ever asked the average lifespan for these people*

Judge: *raised brow, wasn't expecting that answer from the youngster*

prosecuting attorney:  *turns back to Sarah*  Can you tell me what youngling means?

Sarah: *nodnod* Her Autumn say youngling like human teenager.

prosecuting attorney:  So Will is tall and nearly an adult?

Sarah: *Headshake* Him Will look like him same age as me Sarah.

prosecuting attorney:  *thinks fast*  You said you were made to look older because of your alt mode.  Does that mean that you don't look like most ba... sparklets your age?

Sarah: *nodnod* Other sparklets little like babies.

prosecuting attorney:  Does Will look normal for his age?

Sarah: *nodnod* Him Will supposed to be size he is.

prosecuting attorney:  Where were you born, Sarah?

defense attorney:  Objection.

Judge: *more icy look* And what is the reason for the objection?

Sarah: *confused look*

defense attorney:  Machines aren't born.

Judge: Objection overruled. *To Sarah* You can answer the question.

Sarah: *decides she really doesn't like the objection guy* Shell was built, spark was born. *matter-of-factly*

prosecuting attorney:  *okay, he's heard of sparks before*  How is a spark born?

Sarah: ... Me Sarah not know... Her Mama know though, and so does him Daddy.

prosecuting attorney:  *wishing he'd asked Rachel this question now*  That's alright, Sarah.  Can you tell me what 'Dinobot' means?

Sarah: *nodnod* Dinobot mean me Sarah, her Sandra, him Simon and him Greg transform to big dinosaur-bots.

prosecuting attorney:  *blinks*  You don't have a robot mode that looks like Sharpshot's?

Sarah: *headshake* Am different type of 'Bot than her Sharpshot.

prosecuting attorney:  Is there room here for you to show us your alt mode?

Sarah: ... Am in alt-mode now.

prosecuting attorney:  *blinks*  I'm sorry.  I mean your other mode.

Col. Franklin:  *slight face palm*

Sarah: Is room in room... *looks to the judge* Can go to floor to show?

Judge: *Nods*

Sarah: *smiles and moves to get down from the witness stand*

prosecuting attorney:  *steps back to give her space*

Sarah: *undoing the ribbon on her headress and then working on getting her shoes off* *Offers the accessories to the guard* Hold please?

Guard: Sure thing. *will hold the shoes and headdress like they're worth his life*

Sarah: Thank you. ^_^ *transforms, remembering to subspace her clothes*

defense attorney:  *startled sound and sits up*

Swoop: *tilts her head a bit so she can see the defense attorney better*

Guard: *soft noise that sounds suspiciously like "Whoah... Awesome..."*

defense attorney:  *has no idea what to think of being in the same room as a robot dinosaur*

Judge: *eyes wide behind her glasses. She's just hedging a guess here, but she's pretty sure if she were down on the floor with Swoop, she'd be at eye-level with the Pterosaur*

Swoop: *soft chirr* Me Swoop not hurt you. Hurting humans baaaad.

prosecuting attorney:  *finally remembers how to talk as he shuts up his inner nerdy six year old*  Are you going to get bigger, Sarah?

Swoop: Me Swoop not know... Him Daddy not say, and her Mama not say either. Me Swoop think they not know either, but is okay. Me Swoop like size me Swoop am. *tilts her head the other way* Can turn back now?

prosecuting attorney:  *nods*  Yes, Sar... Swoop.  You can change back now.  Thank you.

Swoop: *Happy sound, transforms. Her dress is on backwards when she returns to alt-mode, however. Seems she's still having minor troubles with the whole 'subspace clothing' thing*

Guard: *Gives her back her shoes and headdress*

prosecuting attorney:  *notices the dress and feels this further proves the youth of the witness*  I have no further questions, Your Honor.

Judge: *nods* Very well. *To the defense attorney* Do you have any further questions?

defense attorney:  I do, Your Honor.  *even though he's finding himself avoiding Sarah's eyes*

Judge: Very well. Proceed.

defense attorney:  Sarah, why were you and your brothers and sister built to be so large and dangerous?

Sarah: We Dinobots built to help protect smaller Autobots from them Decepticons. Them Decepticons big and mean, fight dirty.

defense attorney:  What about protecting Autobots from humans?

Sarah: *frown* Not built for fighting humans. Hurting humans baaaad, and not nice. Her Autumn say we Autobots supposed to protect humans from them Decepticons, since them Decepticons not care if humans get hurt.

defense attorney:  But what if a human hurts you?

prosecuting attorney:  Objection.

Judge: *nod* I'll allow the objection, seeing as she's stated twice that hurting humans is bad.

defense attorney:  *frowns a bit*  Alright then, Sarah.  Why have your builders made so many new robots so quickly?

Sarah: *confused* You objection-person mean Dinobots, or sparklets?

defense attorney:  I mean the Dinobots, yes.  And the robots like Fluffy.

Sarah: Him Simon and him Greg made when her Mama and him Daddy trapped by them Decepticons, needed help getting away. Me Sarah made so her Mama and her Lyra not be lonely being only girls in family. Her Sandra come from her Mama spark.... Him Fluffy there when me Sarah born, same as her Lyra, him Moofy, him Fred, and him Bubba. Me Sarah not know how old them drones are though...

Judge: I have a question, Sarah... When you said Sandra came from your mother's spark... What did you mean?

Sarah: Her Sandra spark come from her Mama spark, have some of her Mama spark code in her Sandra spark code, same as me Sarah.

defense attorney:  ....  *trying to think of how to make this NOT sound like the Cybertronians are born*

Judge: *small nod, looks to the defense attorney* Any further questions?

defense attorney:  *still trying to think of one*

Rachel:  *over in the waiting room, lays down carefully on the floor and then passes out*

Sora: *trying to get Rachel to wake up before trying to open the door to the courtroom. Finding it closed in a way that prevents such an action from her side, she calls Col. Franklin's cellphone in a panic*

Col. Franklin:  *apologetic expression as the judge gives him a Look, and then he's getting to his feet*  Your Honor, I need to get into the witness room.

Judge: May I ask why? *frowning slightly*

Col. Franklin:  *tersely*  Dr. Ruteger is experiencing health difficulties.

Sarah: ... *eyes wide* Mama hurt?

Judge: Very well. *nods to the guard, who goes to open the door to the witness waiting room*

Col. Franklin:  *hurries inside and a few moments later is trying to revive Rachel, whose breathing had paused*

Sora: *having a minor panic attack and hiding as well as she's able to in the corner of the room*

Fluffy:  *trying to comfort Sora and keep from crying*

Sarah: *Wibbles and looks to the judge* Her Mama hurting....

Judge: If the defense has no further questions, the court will take a recess.

defense attorney:  I....  *looks at the expression on Sarah's face*  Have no further questions.

Sarah: *All but bolts into the witness room at that*

Rachel:  *gasps for breath but doesn't come out of stasis*

Col. Franklin:  *on the phone, calling Russell and Jack*

Jack: *is the first to respond* //Is something wrong, Col.?//

Russell: *is listening in*

Col. Franklin:  Rachel's unresponsive, and she'd stopped breathing for several minutes.

Jack: //...*Sharp curse which is echoed by Russell* We'll be there as soon as we can. To $#@$ with protocol.//

Sarah: *Clinging to Rachel and whimpering*

Col. Franklin:  If you have PINpoints use them.  It won't be the first time alien tech was used around this court.

Jack and Russell: *Arriving a few moments later*

Jack: *moving to talk to Sarah and get her to cling to him while Russell scans Rachel*

Rachel:  *all unneeded systems have been shut down, and the necessary ones are running on their lowest settings.  She has energy and everything is connected, her shell is just getting too worn to handle very much stress*

Fluffy:  *trying to get Sora over to Jack*

Sora: *Shaking and stumbling a bit before she's latched onto by Sarah*

Russell: *lips thin* *quietly* She's not going to be happy with having to rebuild her lens array from scratch...

Jack: She can do that another time. It's more important for her to be alive. *attention on Sora and Sarah, clicking quietly and gently rubbing backs*

Col. Franklin:  *frowns and looks down at the woman in his arms*  She's dying?

Russell: Not if we can get her spark transferred to a new shell in time, and most certainly not on my watch.

Col. Franklin:  *dials the phone again*  Your Honor, Dr. Ruteger and her children will be unable to continue.

Judge: //Do what you have to. I think the jury's seen enough evidence from NEST, Col.//

Col. Franklin:  Thank you, Your Honor.

Rachel:  *shell tries shutting the breathing off again*

Russell: *Sharp curse in Gaelic* We have to get her home now.

Col. Franklin:  Let's go.  *phone away, arms tighten around Rachel*

Russell: *nods and PINpoints Col. Franklin and Rachel back to the med ward. Jack is only miliseconds behind him with Sarah, Sora, and Fluffy*

Fluffy:  *playing a low and fervent cuss track as he clings to Sora's back*

Col. Franklin:  *sets Rachel on the nearest examining table and steps out of the way*

Russell: *Sending Petra to get a protoform*

Dr. House:  *hurrying over*

Jack: *moving to guide Sarah and Sora out of the med ward*

Russell: *to Dr. House* I sent Petra to get a protoform. We have to get her transferred as soon as possible.

Dr. House:  What happened?  How's her spark?  *getting sedation tabs and such*

Russell: Her spark is fine, but the stress of the last couple days has finished off her shell.

Serenity: *Quietly praying for Rachel, even as Petra arrives with a protoform*

Dr. House:  *clenches his jaw*  How did the court appearance go?

Col. Franklin:  We got it.

Dr. House:  *sound of relief before he's turning to help Petra get the protoform onto the second table*

Col. Pax:  *over there in his bed, watching in worried silence*

Petra: *once the protoform is on the table* There were no difficulties aside from the obvious?

Col. Franklin: *turning toward the door* No outstanding difficulties, no.

Petra: *small nod, moves to leave the med ward*

Russell: *moving to get the protoform up and running before he returns to get Rachel prepped for the spark transfer*

Dr. House:  ...That's her favorite blouse.

Russell: I'll gladly buy her a replacement once she's able to complain.

Dr. House:  ...Good luck with that, Russ.  She was telling Naomi the other day how she's never been able to find another one.  *busy helping with the preparations*

Russell: Then I'll try the Nexus.

Dr. House:  *goes over quickly and pulls the curtains around all the occupied beds and then comes back*

Russell: *Transforming and getting to work*

Dr. House:  *handing tools that aren't already part of Russell as they're needed*

((Co-written with random_xtras))

Continued here.