dens_tf_den | sv, Autobot HQ, Sickness and Newcomers

youngbots: *sitting around Arcee, ready for the morning lesson to start. ...Everybody but Blaster, that is. And the base is strangely quiet*

Arcee: *counting heads quickly, a slight frown coming to her face when she realizes Blaster is missing from the group*

Slingshot: *poking Fireflight, who has one of her hard core zoned out looks on her face plates as she leans against Ace*

Stiletto: *using Skydive's lap as a pillow*

Arcee: Has anyone seen Blaster?

multiple sets of young optics: *pause and look at each other before various shrugs ripple through the group*

Skydive: I haven't heard him this morning, either.

Arcee: Oh dear... *concerned now, moves to head for the quarters where Blaster and his family sleep* I'll be right back.

Blaster: *is a solitary lump under the blankets on Jazz and Ironfist's berth*

Arcee: *Quietly* Blaster?

Blaster: *slight movement and a soft whine*

Arcee: *Concern grows as she moves to put a gentle hand on Blaster's back through the blankets* Blaster, what's wrong?

Blaster: *severely overheated. Up close the laboring of his systems will be audible too* M'cold.

Arcee: *pings First Aid's comm as she moves to gently lift the youngster* *quietly* Let's get you to First Aid....

Blaster: *squeal of pain as he's lifted and he wriggles weakly to try and get away*

First Aid: *from where she's finishing the breakfast cleanup with Cragbuster* //Yes, Arcee?//

Arcee: *Very worried now as she carefully holds Blaster* //Something is causing Blaster to overheat... He says he's cold, however, and when I lifted him, he sounded like he's in pain...//

First Aid: .... //Does it look like firebite?//

Arcee: //I'm not sure...// *Sounds quite worried*

First Aid: *sounding concerned now* //Can you bring him to the med bay?//

Arcee: //We'll be there shortly...// *Soothing sounds for Blaster*

Blaster: *whining softly, but he's stopped squirming. His optics are unshuttered but dark*

First Aid: //Alright, Arcee. I'll be waiting for you.//

Arcee: *clicks to Blaster* //Thank you, First Aid.// *moves to bring Blaster to the med bay*

Skydive and several of the other youngbots: *peering down the hall as they watch with concern*

Fireflight: *utterly spaced despite Cragbuster snapping his fingers in front of her face*

Cragbuster: *hunkered in front of the young femme and doing so as he scowls with concern*

Shia: *Wibble* Bun-bun hurt?

Cragbuster: *glances over, and then straightens, his scowl deepening* Arcee?

Steelsong: *gonna glomp Shia now*

Shia: *Startled squeak*

Arcee: *Quietly* Blaster isn't feeling very well... I'm bringing him to First Aid...

Cragbuster: *frown scowl frown, ping the old man*

First Aid: *peeks out of the med bay door*

Ratchet: //Bit busy right now... *grumbling a bit*//

Cragbuster: *sharply* //One of the little bots is sick.//

Ratchet: *sharp curse over comms* //Who is it, and what're the symptoms they're showing?//

Cragbuster: //It's the little noisy glitch. And Arcee says he's overheating and that when she touched him it hurt him.//

Ratchet: *and then he and WakeJumper are there*

Cragbuster: *freezes and sniffs the air, then narrows one optic and gives his parent a piercing look*

Ratchet: *paying Cragbuster no mind as he follows Arcee when she brings Blaster into the med bay*

WakeJumper: *Sheepish grin*

Cragbuster: *narrows his optic further as he looks at the young medibot* Cough it up.

First Aid: *has a cooling pad spread out on the table, but hasn't activated it. It's plain she's startled to see Ratchet, but also glad*

Blaster: *whining softly, his face twisting with discomfort* Jazz.... Jazz?

Arcee: *Gently setting Blaster down on the cooling pad* *softly* He'll be home soon, Blaster...

Ratchet: *moving to scan Blaster*

Blaster: *virus charging through all his systems and having a high good time of it. The young bot has no defenses against it. What's more, it's a spreader*

First Aid: *plugs the pad in and turns to get the bottle of coolant*

Ratchet: *as he comes back* A virus... Poor kid doesn't have the firewalls to combat it... We'll have to keep him away from the rest of the kids till it's outta his systems... *frowning muchly*

First Aid: Is it one you know? Do we have the programs for it?

Ratchet: It's a rare virus, but I've seen it before and we've got the programs to treat it.

First Aid: *sigh of relief and a glance at Arcee, then a frown* Will the unborn one be safe?

Ratchet: For now, she's protected by Arcee's firewalls...

First Aid: *nod* Will we need to vaccinate the other youngsters?

Ratchet: That'd probably be a good idea...

First Aid: ...We'll have to ask Prowl to treat Stiletto... oh! How will this affect her, Ratchet? *wondering if the young femme's techno-organic nature will make her react differently to firewall and/or virus*

Ratchet: *small frown* I'm not sure... *moving to take care of Blaster*

First Aid: *concerned now as she assists*

Ironfist: //Ratchet, we have a complication at the stakeout. Can you come to assist?//

Ratchet: //We've got a bit of a minor situation here... What sort of complication are you meaning, Ironfist?// *is thinking of sending WakeJumper if it's something the younger medic can handle*

Ironfist: //Prowl just collapsed. He's overheating badly, and what he's saying isn't making much sense.//

Ratchet: *sharp curse over comms* //I'll be there soon.// *to First Aid* We've got another emergency. Will you be alright here?

First Aid: *nods, confident now that she knows what to do* I think so, Ratchet. *looks up with concern as she remember the stakeout* What happened?

Ratchet: *Quietly* Prowl's collapsed... He's overheating... *moving to grab another cooling pad*

First Aid: *offers him the second bottle of coolant she'd gone to get in case* Can you still use this for him?

Ratchet: *headshake* With what he is, that'd make him sicker...

First Aid: Will organic medicines work?

Ratchet: Maybe... But we won't know what to use until we get him back here... *moving to PINpoint to Ironfist's location*

First Aid: Wait! *offers him a bottle* Two tablets. It lowers human fevers, and this isn't poisonous to cats or dogs.

Ratchet: *nods, accepts the bottle, and then he's gone*

stakeout scene: *quiet, but there's only one police car and one firetruck sitting outside the donut shop, where there should be two cars and a dark-haired 'policeman'*

Optimus: Ironfist and Prowl are around the corner, Ratchet. *sounding quite worried*

Ratchet: *nods and moves to head that way*

Ironfist: *is in root mode, down on one knee as she gently supports Prowl's head with one hand* Shhhh. Prowl. It's alright. You're going to be alright.

Prowl: *murmuring breathlessly as his chest heaves slightly*

Ratchet: *Scans Prowl as he approaches, before offering Ironfist the cooling pad* Here...

Ironfist: *takes it with her free hand and looks at the medic uncertainly* What do I do with it?

Prowl: *dangerously feverish as the virus roars gleefully through his non-organic systems, and an opportunistic organic one seems to be doing the same with his organic systems*

Ratchet: Wrap it around him as well as you can... *mutters as he moves to take care of Prowl* Slaggit... Two in one day...

Ironfist: *wrapping* If it weren't for his construction I'd say I recognized what he's got. Though it usually only hits newbots.

Ratchet: It's not firebite. It's a rarer virus, but it is treatable.

Ironfist: *nods* Solar flare.

Ratchet: ... *mutters* Wheeljack WOULD name his youngest after a virus...

Ironfist: *blinks* ...He did?

Ratchet: *nods* The little mechlet's named after the virus...

Ironfist: ...They said he was eccentric. *turns attention back to Prowl and clicks soothingly as he groans and thrashes slightly*

Ratchet: *holds up the bottle First Aid gave him* According to First Aid, this is a fever reducer for humans, but it won't hurt dogs or cats...

Ironfist: *slowly as she takes the bottle* ...So does that make it good for Prowl? *knows that he's in human form, but isn't sure*

Ratchet: It's worth a shot...

Ironfist: *gently lowers the ailing bot to the ground and then works on opening the small bottle* How many? And how do I get him to eat them?

Ratchet: Try two... and see if you can get them under his tongue... *scanning Prowl again and worrying*

Ironfist: *goes to work, gently and steadily*

Prowl: *grimacing at the flavor in his mouth, and then gagging slightly*

Ironfist: *turns him over and pats his back, but it's not a choke*

Ratchet: Easy, Prowl... We're just trying to help you...

Prowl: Ratchet.... My ship!

Ironfist: ...Ship? *still gently patting his back*

Ratchet: *quietly, to Ironfist* When we first met the Prowl of this reality, it was on an asteroid... his ship was there... but an accident with some energon changed that... *moving to carefully lift Prowl* Easy, Prowl... Let's get you home...

Prowl: Head... hurts. Can't... concentrate. *frowns and then realizes the taste in his mouth is worse and grimaces again*

Ironfist: *realizes something and startles* We're in the shadows.

Ratchet: *looks up*

Ironfist: And Prowl's still visible.

Ratchet: *Concerned, moves to PINpoint everyone home* The sooner we get him back, and get his overheating taken care of, the better...

Ironfist: I should go back to my post? *not sure. Doesn't like to leave her ailing teammate, even if she's not sure what she can do to help*

Ratchet: *Quietly* Blaster's got the same virus... When I left the base, First Aid was taking care of him, but it'll help if he's with family...

Ironfist: *sucks air through her intakes and pings Optimus' com*

Optimus: //What's the situation, Ironfist?//

Ironfist: //Ratchet just told me that Blaster's got solar flare too. He says I need to go back to base.//

Optimus: //Jazz is on the way there as well.... Let me know how Blaster's doing?//

Ironfist: *frowns* //Are you sure it's safe for you to be working alone, sir?//

Optimus: //I'll be alright.//

Ironfist: //You said it's against the rules for any bot to stakeout or patrol certain beats alone.//

Optimus: //Blurr is on his way here.//

Ironfist: //Alright. Ironfist out.// *turns to Ratchet*

Prowl: *raving softly about things that don't make sense*

Ratchet: *brings Prowl and Ironfist back to the med bay*

Blaster: *tossing a bit as they come in, despite First Aid's comforting hands and clicks*

Ratchet: *moving to set Prowl on one of the tables*

Ironfist: Will it be alright if I lay beside him? *gentle hand on Blaster's helmet as the youngster calms a bit*

Ratchet: It'll help him recover... *clearly worried about Prowl right now*

Ironfist: *curls around her older baby, clicking softly as she wraps the cooling pad around him*

Blaster: *stops tossing and snuggles*

Prowl: *gasping again*

Ratchet: *Scanning and reaching for a blanket to cover Prowl with*

Prowl: *congestion in his lungs from the organic virus. Catches his breath and continues babbling*

Ratchet: *pings First Aid's comm, since she knows more about treating organics than he does*

First Aid: *turns to look at him from where she was watching Blaster* //Yes, Ratchet?//

Ratchet: //You know more about treating organics... I need your help with Prowl...//

First Aid: *comes over* //But I don't know much about Cybertronian viruses yet.//

Ratchet: //I'll worry about that... Prowl's also got an opportunistic organic virus...//

First Aid: *softly, as she comes more quickly* //Ohhh.// *scans the human form bot and winces* //Yes. It's flu. If we're not careful he could wind up with pneumonia.//

Ratchet: *lip components thin* //What do we need to do?// *is working on treating the solar flare*

First Aid: //Lower his fever and keep him hydrated and nourished....// *trails off and looks dismayed* //That last could be hard, with how he eats.//

Ratchet: *small frown, nods* //We'll have to talk to Swindle and see if he has anything that would work...//

First Aid: //Would meat broth would work? It's not raw, but...?//

Ratchet: //It's worth a shot...//

First Aid: //Do you know where to get some?// *soft clicks and murmurs to Prowl before she goes to get a basin of cool water*

Ratchet: //...Er.... no... to be perfectly honest...//

First Aid: //Do you think they'd have any at the Black Dog?// *comes back and wets a cloth, then gently sets it on Prowl's forehead*

Ratchet: //They might... I'll send WakeJumper...//

First Aid: *calls Kathy's cellphone*

Kathy: //Hello?//

First Aid: //This is First Aid. Are you busy, Kathy?//

Kathy: //I'm on my day off... What's wrong?//

First Aid: //Prowl is sick. He's got the flu on top of a Cybertronian virus called solar flare.//

Kathy: //What's his temperature?// *Sounds like she's getting things together*

First Aid: *checks and tells her* //He's in his human form. We've given him two Tylenol, but it doesn't seem to have taken affect yet. He's got congestion in his lungs that's making him gasp in between bouts of babbling.//

Kathy: //I'll be there as soon as I can. Get some fluids into him, and try to get his temperature down...//

First Aid: //Will water be alright? We're still trying to figure out what to feed him. He's got... special... dietary needs.// *gently holds Prowl down as he tries to sit up*

Kathy: //Water is fine.//

First Aid: //Alright. I'll see you when you get here. First Aid out.//

Kathy: //Fanzone out.// *hangs up*

First Aid: *to Ratchet* //Kathy's coming.//

Ratchet: *nods* //Good... WakeJumper should be back soon, hopefully...//

Prowl: *shivering slightly as First Aid sets him up against her hands to help him breath*

First Aid: //...We need a steamer.//

Ratchet: *blink blink* //A what?//

First Aid: //It's something I've heard Kathy mention. I'm not sure what it is, but it helps clear patients' breathing apparatus. I'll ask Kathy when she gets here.// *gently rubs Prowl's back as he rasps* //This sounds even worse than he did when he breathed in the smoke.//

Ratchet: *Winces at the rasping* //Alright... Is there anything else we can do?//

First Aid: *gently touches Prowl's forehead with the cool cloth* //Not that I know of for his organic part.//

Ratchet: *small frown, nods* //We need to wait... It'll take a little while for the anti-virus program to clear out the solar flare...// *attention going to the doorway as Stiletto peeks in*

First Aid: *looks over too* You shouldn't come in here unless you've been vaccinated, Stiletto.

Stiletto: ... Vaccinated?

First Aid: Prowl and Blaster have a Cybertronian virus. And Prowl's is mixed with an organic one.

Stiletto: *ears down with worry* Are they gonna be alright?

First Aid: *looks at Ratchet*

Ratchet: They'll be alright. They just need rest and quiet for a little while.

Stiletto: *small nod* Okay... But what's vaccinated?

Ratchet: It's another word for anti-virus and firewall upgrades.

Stiletto: ...Oh... *goes off to flop on Skydive*

First Aid: 0.o .... *not sure how what to make of that response*

Ratchet: ... *sigh* We're going to have to chase her down, aren't we?

First Aid: We should get it done as soon as possible, shouldn't we? And maybe give her a flu shot, too?

Ratchet: Might not hurt... Kathy'll be able to help us with that, more than likely...

First Aid: *nods, and then asks Skydive over closed coms to bring Stiletto*

Skydive: *catches the kitty and brings her*

Kathy: *arriving just as Stiletto starts to put up a bit of a fuss at being caught* ... Okay, what's going on? I thought it was just Prowl who was sick....

First Aid: Well, Blaster is too. But Ratchet and I think that Stiletto needs a flu shot on top of her program updates.

Skydive: *talking gently to Stiletto*

Kathy: *small nod, frowning a bit* Well, I'll have to get a vaccine from the hospital...

Stiletto: *Squirming and trying to get away, but is keeping her claws sheathed. She wants away, but doesn't want to hurt Skydive*

Skydive: *cuddles as well as holding* *quietly* I don't want you to get sick, Stella.

Ratchet: *To Kathy* How long will that take?

Kathy: Well, we're starting flu shot clinics in a couple of months, so the hospital has the vaccine already, but I'll need to get clearance to get one to bring here...

Ratchet: And how long will that take?

Kathy: *gives Ratchet a Look* It shouldn't take more than a day...

Stiletto: *squirming even more and trying again to get away. Does not want to be in the med bay!*

First Aid: A day.... Skydive, please take Stiletto out?

Skydive: Yes, First Aid. *turns and takes*

Ratchet: *Scowling a bit*

Kathy: *ignoring Ratchet, is talking to someone at the hospital and explaining the situation*

Skydive: *is that sound of a jet taking off from the roof. He's decided Stiletto needs a ride*

First Aid: //Arcee? Was that Skydive?// *still gently tending Prowl, who has stopped babbling and is sleeping with his face on her hand as she props him in a sitting position*

Arcee: //Yes. He asked if it would be alright if he took Stiletto on a flight.//

First Aid: //Did you let Optimus know?// *trusts the older femme, but is a bit of a natural fusser*

Arcee: //I did.//

First Aid: //Oh good. ...Poor Prowl.// Shhh. *gently rubs his back with a finger as he moves and starts to rasp again* Kathy, would a steamer help with this?

Kathy: *Finishes up her phone call* Hm?

First Aid: *nods to Prowl* Would a steamer help him breath?

Kathy: A steamer? You mean a mistifier... Yeah, it'd help.

First Aid: *admits she doesn't know what they are*

Kathy: No worries... *bugging her husband now, and telling him to bring the mistifier from home*

Prowl: *rasps and then starts talking to his mentor*

First Aid: *mystified look to hear him speaking in that tone*

WakeJumper: *is back, with soup in several containers*

Prowl: *shoulders shaking*

First Aid: 0.o *picks him up and holds him close, the cooling pad wrapped around him protectively*

Kathy: It'll be a few hours before the vaccine's here... *moving to help take care of Prowl, has one of those cooling gel patch thingies to put on the man's forehead* This'll help him feel a bit better...

First Aid: *softly* He's crying. And leaking.

Kathy: *small nod* Those're tears... *gently tending to Prowl*

First Aid: Right. I hadn't realized just how organic he is. *looks at WakeJumper* Could you put some into a sparklet drinking bottle?

WakeJumper: *nods and moves to do so*

Kathy: *Gently smoothing Prowl's hair a bit*

First Aid: *props him against a pillow and lays him back, then pulls the cooling pad up around him and checks her chronometer so she knows when it's safe to give him more Tylenol* I just hope neither of these viruses mutate like that one Bumblebee caught did.

Ratchet: *Quietly* You and me both....

Kathy: *small frown* Is that why Bumblebee took so long to get better?

First Aid: Ratchet was able to purge the bot pox from his systems, but it had caused a lot of damage. *scans Prowl again as she listens to Bumblebee's gleefully muted noise from the common room*

Kathy: *attention going that way for a moment, before she nods* I see...

First Aid: *takes the bottle from WJ* Ratchet says it would have been something completely new for us.

Fanzone: *comes in, laughing till tears run down his face*

Kathy: *raised brow at her husband*

Fanzone: Ahem. *scowls at her* Stakeout stuff. Never mind.

Kathy: Uh-huh. Did you bring the mistifier like I asked?

Fanzone: *grumpily holds it up. Is wearing his bedroom slippers with his street clothes*

Kathy: *smiles and kisses her husband on the cheek when she moves to grab the mistifier*

Fanzone: *gives it to her, and then steps back as he tries to see up onto the tables* What's goin' on, anyhow?

Kathy: Prowl's sick with some chest crud and Blaster's got a virus, but they're both resting right now.

Fanzone: ...You wanna tell me how Prowl got some chest crud? *frowning*

Ratchet: He's human right now. *checking on Blaster*

Blaster: *still too hot, but his systems are reacting to the coolant and the cooling pad, and also to the calming influence of his femme mentor's sparksong*

Ironfist: *winces as Fanzone bellows*

Fanzone: WHAT??

Ratchet: *giving the Captain a LOOK*

Fanzone: I thought Prowl had da brains ta not get LOL'd or whatever ta slag yous call it! *scowling*

Ironfist: .... //Ratchet, the Captain doesn't know of Prowl's nature?//

Ratchet: //I'm not sure if he does...//

Kathy: I don't think he's LOL'd this time... *remembering the refinery fire* He's able to change his shape, isn't he?

First Aid: *softly* Yes, he is. He's techno-organic.

Fanzone: *deep frown that now clearly shows his concern*

Ratchet: *Quietly* It wasn't Meltdown's doing, if that's what you're thinking...

Fanzone: Den what happened?

Ratchet: In the reality he's from... Blackarachnia happened... Prowl, two of his crew mates, and the Decepticons, were experimented on...

Fanzone: :\

First Aid: *gently rubbing the ailing bot's back as Ironfist does the same for Blaster*

Fanzone: So he ain't our Prowl.

Ratchet: *small headshake, soft sigh*

Fanzone: *had suspected, but had also hoped* *expression downcast* What happened ta da others?

Ratchet: To my knowledge, they're trying to avoid being hunted in their home reality...

Fanzone: :/ *then startles as a gravelly voice comes from the door and looks over to see... what looks like Starscream with feathers* 0_0 *reaching for gun! And then stops as he realizes what the strange bot is saying*

fScream: *came to deliver a deep fried softboil special* Actually, we've stopped running. Optimus is Magnus.

First Aid: *frozen with fright*

Ironfist: *absently protecting her youngling as she stares at the techno organic bot*

Ratchet: ... *Scowling* Why the Pit didn't anyone tell me?!

fScream: *quietly* Well, for my part, I only just now realized where Prowl'd gotten to.

Ratchet: *still scowling a bit, nods. Is just a bit miffed about this*

Kathy: So there's peace where you're from?

fScream: *soberly* There's nothing left to fight with. Megatron and Sentinel destroyed New Kaon, and nearly sent Cybertron after it.

Ratchet: *if he were human, he'd have gone pale*

Kathy: ... *quietly* Slag....

First Aid: *head bowed to hide her wibbling*

fScream: Do you think the Warlord of the Decepticons delivers pizza for fun? *mirthless smirk*

Kathy: *small headshake*

Fanzone: *absently puts an arm around his wife's shoulders as he remembers what he's seen of Cybertron*

Ratchet: *expression unreadable for a few moments* *Quietly* Do you need any help?

fScream: *shakes head* We have assistance. *slight glance toward his Swindle co. armband*

Ratchet: *Small nod*

fScream: *looks at Prowl* Do you need any help?

Fanzone: *looks a little brain broken at the question*

Ratchet: We've got meat broth for him to eat while he's sick... But we're just guessing at what will help him recover right now...

fScream: I'll see what I can find out. *steps back from the door and vanishes with a swish and a slight flash*

Fanzone: *blink*

Ratchet: *moving to check on Prowl again*

Blaster: *gives a slight peep and relaxes*

Ironfist: *winces as she hears Prowl start hacking* Ratchet, Blaster's temperature is dropping.

Ratchet: *small, brief smile* Good... The anti-virus is working then...

Kathy: *moving to help Ratchet by getting the mistifier set up and running*

Fireflight: *suddenly replacing the feathered Seeker in the doorway* Ratchet! You have to go!

Fanzone: *grabs his phone and puts it to his ear as it rings* A car's doin' what?

Prowl: *coughing painfully*

Ratchet: *attention on Fireflight and Captain Fanzone* What's going on?

Fanzone: .... 0_0 Well den comfort 'er! She's just a kid! *accidentally crushes phone* Dis is why I hate machines....

Ratchet: ... *hurrying to grab his field kit*

Fireflight: 'Aid and 'Buster get a sister! *happy face* She just got here!

Fanzone: Dis little Kia over on Optimus Prime Drive jes' transformed 'n freaked out.

Ratchet: *hurrying out the door*

Fanzone: Wait fer me! *hurrying after once he's given his wife a quick and absent peck on the cheek*

First Aid: *watches them go with a worried expression, and then turns her attention back to Prowl*

Ratchet: *transforms and opens his door*

Fanzone: *jumps in, notices slippers, and cusses as he fastens his seatbelt* Step on it!

Ratchet: *leaves a very lovely patch of rubber on the floor as he heads out of the plant*

Fanzone: Dey said she's scared but she ain't tryin' ta attack. *hand absently on the steering wheel, but doesn't try to drive*

Ratchet: Sounds like a kid... *worried*

Fanzone: Ain't dey all kids when does Allspark shards first wake 'em up? Turn here.

Ratchet: *turning!* Good point...

Fanzone: Not dat yer girl dere ever acted like one.... *sharp eyes alert for sign of the newborn bot, and then widen when the see the little silver being huddled against the wall of a building*

Ratchet: *Slowing to a stop and opening his door again*

Fanzone: *jumps out and hurries over to the knot of cops that are standing around by a police bot and a couple cruisers* Didn' any'a yous try'n comfort her??

cop: She's afraid of us, sir.

Fanzone: *glare!* Yer pitiful.

cops: *droop heads with shame*

Ratchet: *Transforming and moving closer to the little silver femme, clicking quietly*

femme: *cringing and pressing herself against the wall. Optics just as big as Bumblebee's staring at the world around her with fearful incomprehension*

Ratchet: *continues to click while he scans the femme and gets one of the cinnaSeekers he has in storage out to offer to the little one*

femme: *noticing that sound now, and then those big optics become truly enormous as she catches the scent of the cookie*

Ratchet: *soothingly* Easy... I'm a friend... *still offering the cookie*

femme: *watching the cookie, and when it's close she leans over to sniff at it*

Ratchet: *Clicks a bit more before taking another small step towards the femme*

femme: *going to taste that thing now. Tastes Ratchet's fingers as well*

Ratchet: *Continues to click as he scans the femme*

femme: *there seems to be no trace of an Allspark shard anywhere on her person, though the telltale small markings that show that she's never transformed before are here. Her spark, however, seems to be at least a few weeks old*

Ratchet: *reaching to gently touch the femme's hand*

femme: *startles and stares at him, shrinking back*

Fanzone: She ain't sayin' nothin'. *worried by this*

Ratchet: *Gentle clicks, getting another cookie out to try and show the femme what to do with the one she licked*

femme: *watching him and then lifting her brow ridges as she watches him bite and chew the other good smelling thing. Tries with the one closer to her. Bites Ratchet fingers in the process*

Ratchet: *Winces and tries to get his fingers back*

femme: *lets go, her expression confused and sad*

Fanzone: *facepalming and then glaring at the guy who sniggered*

Ratchet: *Ignoring the guy who sniggered, is going to try and get the femme to hold onto the cookie, clicks all the while in a soothing manner*

femme: *is a tractable little being and does what he shows her to do, her big optics now intent as she tries to understand*

Ratchet: *will gently guide the cookie to the femme's mouth*

femme: *clumsy, but wants that good taste. Is soon eating very carefully*

someone behind Fanzone: D'awwww....

Ratchet: *encouraging clicks*

femme: *cookie all gone, looks up at him*

Ratchet: *offering the rest of the cookie he bit into, will also move to put a gentle arm around the femme's shoulders*

femme: *takes the cookie and eats it, unconsciously snuggling against him as she does so*

Ratchet: *moving to guide the femme towards the officers* *To Fanzone* The sooner we get back, the better.

Fanzone: How yous gonna get 'er back? She don't look like she knows too much. *frown of concern for the youngster*

Ratchet: I've got a PINpoint...

Fanzone: ...That won't scare the slag outta 'er?

Ratchet: ... It might... *slight frown* There's gotta be a way to get her home quickly without scaring the bolts outta her...

Fanzone: Yeah. *frowns deeply as he watches the little femme rub her optics, then looks up as the sound of jet engines heralds the arrival of Fireflight* ...Yous supposed ta be out here?

Fireflight: *happily* I came to Ratchet! ^_^

femme: 0_0

Ratchet: *Soothing clicks, gently rubs the little femme's back*

femme: *looks up at him, and then is frightened by a big, bad... yawn.*

Fireflight: *nods and clicks soothingly herself as she hunkers down to look at the newcomer with knowing in her optics*

Ratchet: *quietly, to Fireflight* She's scared of every little thing right now... We need to get her home safely without scaring her worse...

Fireflight: *nodding* Everything's new. *gentle hand on the smaller femme's helmet* Let her go into stasis first.

Ratchet: *nods and continues to gently rub the little femme's back*

Fanzone: *watching the young flyer. He's come to trust what Fireflight says, even when it seems spacey*

Fireflight: *soft tinkling of a music box comes from her speakers*

femme: :o *looking at the red and white femme with wonder till her optics start looking heavy*

Ratchet: *will gently lift the femme once she's gone into stasis*

femme: *cuddles close, curling into a ball with a sigh*

Fireflight: *softly* Kia.

Ratchet: *Quietly* Is that her name?

Fireflight: *nods* She's just a little bot.

Ratchet: *small nod, carefully shifts Kia so he can get his PINpoint out* Let's get back...

Fireflight: Yeah. But don't take her to med bay, okay?

Fanzone: I'm gonna go get my shoes on 'n clock in at da precinct. I'll see yous guys later.

Ratchet: Alright... Stay safe, Captain Fanzone.

Fanzone: *just snorts and mutters as he turns away, like he often does. Then starts yelling at the assembled police and informs the person whose car became Kia that they'll be reimbursed sometime or other, after he's had more coffee*

Fireflight: *grinning now*

Ratchet: *To Fireflight* Let's go home.

Fireflight: *puts a hand on his shoulder and braces herself* Ready when you are, old bot!

Ratchet: *Soft snort, brings Kia and Fireflight back to the plant, arriving in the ground floor hallway outside the room that was once Sari's*

Sideswipe: *bolts and vanishes around the corner* It wasn't me!!!!

Fireflight: Thrrpt.

Ratchet: ... *headshake, moves to bring Kia into the room*

Fireflight: *follows Ratchet and then looks around the room, her expression pensive*

Ratchet: Fireflight, do you know where the extra blankets are?

Fireflight: *laughs softly at the funny funny question*

First Aid: //Ratchet?// *sounding a bit upset*

Ratchet: //Yes, First Aid?//

Fireflight: *knows where ALL the blankets are, and goes to get some*

First Aid: //Kathy just sent for an ambulance for Prowl. His vital signs are dropping.//

Ratchet: //... *VERY sharp curse over comms, which shows how worried he is about the techno-organic 'Bot*//

First Aid: //I can't go. There's too much here that needs me, right?// *though it's plain that she wants to go. She also knows that she wouldn't be able to go inside and help anyway*

Fireflight: *absent again as she brings back the blankets and a stuffed dog from the box for Operation Santa Claus*

Ratchet: //I just brought Kia back...// *a bit of protectiveness is clear in his tone* //WakeJumper's capable of keeping an optic on Blaster...// *Meaning: If you feel you must go, I'm not going to stop you*

First Aid: //But it wouldn't be fair to leave all the youngsters to Arcee. She gets tired more easily now.//

Optimus: //Showtime is there as well, isn't she?// *Yes, he was listening in*

First Aid: //Showtime's working on getting Hound and Sharpshot settled.//

Skywarp: *hesitantly* //I'm here too.//

Bumblebee: //...We taking roll?//

Sunstreaker: //I'm here too.// *To Bumblebee* //I guess?//

Ratchet: //The Pit we are...// *noticing a distinct lack of a certain mech* //Cragbuster!// *sounding a bit grouchy now*

Cragbuster: //I'm busy!//

Ratchet: //Doing what?// *Snappish Medic is Snappish*

Cragbuster: //Eating!// *comm CLICK*

Ratchet: *twitches slightly, resisting the urge to cuss up a storm*

Showtime: //...What's got everyone so tense?// *a bit clueless currently*

First Aid: //Blaster is sick, Ratchet is busy with a new shardborn, and Prowl's sick too.// *quiet and sad as she says the last*

Bumblebee: //...What's wrong with Ninjabot?//

Showtime: //Oh... Well, I've got Ridgeback, and I can help keep an optic on the kids who're here.//

Bumblebee: //What's wrong with Ninjabot???// *sounds frightened and just a bit shrill*

Ratchet: //Opportunistic virus...//

Optimus: //Do what you have to to help him... Blurr and I are almost done with the stakeout, and we'll be back soon.//

First Aid: //Yes, Optimus. We're bringing him to the hospital as soon as Kathy cancels the ambulance call.//

Optimus: //Alright. Optimus out.//

Kathy: *Canceling the ambulance call, and telling Norman off*

First Aid: *transformed and ready, her back doors open*

WakeJumper: *Helping Kathy transfer Prowl to the back of First Aid's alt-mode*

Prowl: *coughing again, despite the oxygen mask they have on him. The sound is weak, and overpowered by the rasp of his breath*

Bumblebee: *has come to look and is now watching with wide, scared optics*

Kathy: *Getting into the back with Prowl*

WakeJumper: *attention going to Bumblebee, and then he's moving to offer comfort to the older mech*

Bumblebee: *looks up at the taller mech a little blankly* He's... not gonna die too, is he?

WakeJumper: Not if Kathy has any say in the matter.

Kathy: *Muttering from the back* If I have to drag his spark back from the great beyond, I will... I don't care WHO gets miffed at me for that...

Bumblebee: 0_o *then transforms and puts his light on his roof* One police escort coming up!

First Aid: ...Isn't it illegal to pretend to be a police officer?

Kathy: I'll deal with Carmine too. *along with the rest of the squad*

Bumblebee: *very muted version of his usual snerk as he zooms toward the door*

WakeJumper: *to First Aid* Let us know what's going on?

First Aid: Of course, WakeJumper. Oh poor Prowl. *closes doors and heads out herself, her sirens and Bumblebee's fading into the distance*

Cragbuster: *bellows as Fireflight ganks half his pizza and bolts*

Ratchet: *yelling at Cragbuster over comms to keep it down*

Cragbuster: *snarks right back!*

Blaster: *sighs and grins in his sleep*

Ratchet: *warns Cragbuster that if he wakes Kia up, there'll be Pit to pay*

Cragbuster: //...Whatnow?//

Ratchet: *a bit grouchily, is feeling quite protective of the little femme, in a similar manner to how he's protective of First Aid* //The newborn that was reported earlier. She's new enough that everything is a bit scary right now...//

Cragbuster: //I thought the shardborn didn't start out like that.//

Ratchet: //She was made from a brand new car...//

Cragbuster: //So what's that mean?//

Terrion: *peeks into the room at Ratchet and chimes softly*

Ratchet: *quiet clicks, glances at Terrion* //It means she doesn't even have sparklet programming.//

Cragbuster: //Well slag.//

Terrion: *chimes again in her language, and then gently pats Fireflight's arm before leading her out of the room and back to school and Ace*

Ratchet: *attention going to Fireflight, who gets a small smile, before he's focusing on making sure Kia is comfortable*

Kia: *curled in the blankets, one small hand near her face as she circulates softly*

Cragbuster: //So you're giving her the programming, right?//

Ratchet: //I'm working on it...//

Cragbuster: *humphs and closes the connection*

Terrion: *comes back with two slices of what's left of Cragbuster's pizza*

Ratchet: *Very soft snerk*

Terrion: *smiles, her optics twinkling*

Ratchet: *Quietly* Thanks, Terrion.

Terrion: *soft music as she sets the plate where he can get it, and then she settles down nearby in case he needs anything for Kia*

Ratchet: *very soft chuckle* Sometimes, it seems like you've got more sense than 'Buster...

Terrion: *shakes her head and points toward the door. It was Cragbuster who sent the gift and told her to go help Ratchet*

Ratchet: ... *blink blink*

Terrion: *puts a finger to her mouth in 'shhh', optics twinkling again*

Ratchet: *makes the "Lips are zipped" gesture, winking at Terrion*

Terrion: ^_^

Ratchet: *attention going back to Kia, focuses on transmitting the basic sparklet programming to her*

Slingshot: *peeks in at him, and then goes back to the school* 'Buster shared his pizza with the new kid. *sits by Arcee*

Arcee: *Soft chuckle* I see...

Showtime: *doorwings up, giving away the slight grin that she's trying to hide as she helps Ridgeback dance on her lap*

Slingshot: Can we have pizza after we learn this slag?

Kendell: *frowns at big sister for word*

Silverbolt: *Reminds Slingshot not to cuss since there are youngbots around, does so via inside talk*

Arcee: I don't see why not...

Slingshot: *thrrrpt at Silverbolt but then perks* So how much do we have to learn?

Air Raid: *Flops on Slingshot*

Arcee: We were on the history lesson... Once we finish today's history lesson then... *small smile as Showtime moves to sit closer*

Slingshot: *thrrpts history too, despite being a brother cushion*

Arcee: Slingshot, will you make sure Skydive and Stiletto are caught up when they get back?

Slingshot: *snorts* Skydive's been listening in through us the whole time. And he'll give it to Stella.

Arcee: *small nod* Very well. *resumes the lesson where she left off, though it will only be for another fifteen minutes or so before she's asking Showtime to take over*

youngbots: *settle down to listen or fake it*

((co-written with

random_xtras))