dens_tf_den | jv, Nroo Homeworld, Phonecalls from Home

Kup: *on patrol. Something seems off today for some reason, and it's got him on edge* *Is not too far from the village, just off the main path. He's been up since first light, and it's now approximately mid-morning. The rain falling from above is merely a quiet patter on some of the leaves that barely reaches the hard-packed forest floor*

Johnny: *pings Daddy, as he's done from time to time since the week old baby discovered how to do so*

Kup: *responds to the ping, a soft chuckle coming as he tells Johnny about the leaves he's seeing*

Johnny: *replies conversationally with soft clicks, pops, and squeaks, then giggles*

Kup: *keeping on alert, but relaxes a bit and clicks back conversationally*

Johnny: //Mama.//

Kup: *Surprised blurt of static, pings Perceptor's comm, asking if she heard that!*

Perceptor: *puzzled and curious* //Heard what, my love?//

Kup: //Johnny said "Mama"...// *Sounds a bit brain-broken and awed*

Perceptor: //Did he?// *delighted*

Johnny: *a bit insistent now* //Mama!//

Kup: //I'm Papa, Johnny... Mama is red.// *said fondly and with a bit of pride* *Says the next part over Perceptor's comm as well* //Mama is amazing.//

Johnny: *squeaks agreement* //Mama!//

Perceptor: *soft, embarrassed static. Kup will probably be able to feel her pleased and flustered response*

Kup: *Soft chuckle, tells Johnny that he'll be home soon, so be good for Mama and Aunt Torka*

Perceptor: *happily* //He's being very good, Kup. And Torka wishes to know if it's alright if she brings him to her own home for a short visit.//

Kup: //I've got no objection. Just remind Rala to be gentle.//

Perceptor: *soft laughter* //Rala is being very gentle, despite having a baby Cybertronian clinging to two of his limbs.//

Kup: *Snorts over the comms and moves back onto the path to head towards the landing site*

Perceptor: *sounds startled and inadvertently transmits over her comlink as she speaks to Johnny* //Oh, Nroo aren't a source of fuel. Please don't gnaw on Rala's grasper.//

Johnny: *happy sounds*

Rala: *happy crackle and static pops*

Kup: *biting his lip components to keep from snickering* //Rala doesn't sound like he minds that too much...//

Rala: *and then makes an outright gleeful squeal*

Perceptor: //Mercy, you're as avid a kisser as your father.//

Kup: *and now he's laughing outright and has to sit down so he doesn't fall over*

Perceptor: *flustered admonitions for her son as Torka's voice also pipes up over the comlinks*

Torka: *hiss of laughter* //Rala's having fun.//

Kup: *chuckling* //I figured, Torka...//

Torka: //He's not trying to eat Rala. He's just exploring things with all his senses, like d'kang babies do.//

Kup: *Snerks*

Rala: *more happy squeals*

Kup: *more chuckle, moves to head for the edge of the landing field, intends to check every inch of it before he heads back to the village*

Cron: *busy puttering around under the ship. Has paint and is making a loud design on the paving stones*

Kup: *facepalming*

Cron: *notices that he's standing there for longer than a glance and spins to 'face' him* What's up, Kup?

Kup: The pit do you think you're doing?

Cron: Painting. *waves the brush*

Kup: Why? *moving to approach Cron*

Cron: Because this will help you see your landing place once the paint's cured. *happy lights blink. He figures he's found a good place and reason for his creativity*

Kup: *snorts, shaking his head* You mean while we're here?

Cron: *lights slow, but then perk up again* Yeah, for when you come back. *lights slow again* Aren't you staying till Johnny's grown up?

Kup: True... Aside from during spawning season...

Cron: Yeah. See? It'll be useful! *happy static*

Kup: *Snorts again, before doing a scanner sweep of the area. Still can't shake the feeling that something major's going to happen today*

Cron: *crackling away to himself and singing 'Seven Spanish Angels' as he resumes painting*

Kup: *patroling around the landing field, scanners on alert* *Mutters* Whatever Primus has in store today... The anticipation's gonna do me in if it doesn't happen soon...

Johnny: *happy baby talk over the link again*

Kup: *Soft chuckle, clicks back to Johnny, a bit of a distracted look coming to his face*

Perceptor: //Oh dear me, how quiet the house suddenly seems.//

Kup: //Do you want me to get something from the ship, Perceptor?//

Perceptor: //Hmmm? No. Though I suppose I should use this time while Johnny is with Torka's family to organize my lab here.//

Kup: //Do you want me to come and get you?// *Will do so, gladly, if asked... or if it's even implied that Perceptor would like that*

Perceptor: //Oh... haven't you seen the equipment that Torka brought me for my second lab?//

Kup: ... *facepalm, feeling a bit sheepish.* //Yeah... Slipped my processor for a bit...//

Perceptor: *suddenly hopeful* //When you've finished your patrol would you care to come and assist me in organizing and setting up?//

Kup: //Sure thing, Perceptor.// *Sends affection over the bond*

Perceptor: *reciprocates shyly*

Kup: //I'll be back soon. Promise.//

Perceptor: *softly* //Alright, love.//

Johnny: *wordless cheer, and then a giggle. Daddy's doing what he was telling him to do!*

Kup: *soft chuckle, reminds Johnny to be good, closes the connection for now*

Cron: *singing and painting, off in his own little world*

Kup: *moving to walk around to the far side of the ship, scanners on alert*

rain: *patters down gently through the shield*

Kup: *paying the rain no mind, is used to it by now*

day: *is peaceful and quietly busy as ever, with no sign of the forebodings he's been pursuing*

Kup: *Still can't shake the feeling, will continue to patrol, heading around to the other side of the ship*

baby tree: *pushing up between two paving stones like it shouldn't be. Has tiny leaves brightly veined with blue*

Kup: *crouches, will try and gently extract the tree intact. Thinks about bringing it back to Perceptor*

seedling: *so new that the roots haven't had time to grow very deeply. It nearly pops out of the soil*

Kup: *Stumbles and winds up on his skidplate with a loud clang*

Cron: *silent as he seems to stare at his friend from under the ship*

Kup: *Grumble grouse, will get up, and try and gather some soil for the seedling to have roots in while he brings it back to Perceptor*

Cron: *scoots over* Whatter you doing, Kup?

Kup: Found somethin' Perceptor'll like... *Indicates the seedling*

Cron: Ohhh. A seed got stuck in the wrong place. *reaches a grasper toward the tiny plantlet* I don't know what kind that is. Torka might, or she can ask Dero.

Kup: Let's get it back to the village... *one last quick glance around*

Cron: *turns slightly toward his painting project, reluctant to leave it*

Kup: *carefully storing the seedling and dirt in a compartment*

Cron: Well... do you need me to come?

Kup: Not really...

Cron: Okay! *zips back over under the ship*

Kup: *Snorts and shakes his head, before moving to head back towards the village*

Torka's home/shop: *has happy baby sounds coming through the open door as he passes it. The sounds being both Cybertronian and Nroo*

Kup: *soft chuckle, continues towards home*

Perceptor: *is a busy humming from the open door of their own home under the giant ivy tree*

Kup: *heads in* Hey, Perceptor, have a look at this... *getting the seedling out of storage*

Perceptor: *pops out of the hallway, her small face lighting at sight of him* Yes, Kup, what is it?

Kup: *offers the seedling in its little mound of soil*

Perceptor: Ohhhh. Why, it's so tiny. *holds out her hands to gently accept the baby plant* Where did you find it?

Kup: It was in between a couple of paving stones... It apparently didn't land in the right spot to grow well enough...

Perceptor: *scanning the seedling with a bit of a frown, but then she perks* It is well that I've deduced the purpose of that container of soil that one of the neighbors set beside our door. This little one will have a good home until it's strong enough to compete for moisture and nutrition on its own.

Kup: Cron said Torka might know what it is...

Perceptor: Does she? But Dero is the vegetation specialist.

Kup: If Torka doesn't know, Dero will, more than likely...

Perceptor: Very true. *turns and bustles out to gently settle the seedling and its tiny bit of earth into the pot by the door, crooning to it softly as she does to Johnny*

Kup: *chuckles and moves to help*

Roe: *trucking down the road with a load of newly harvested grain on his hover hauler platform, but just has to pause when he sees what the Cybertronians are doing. He may not know their language very well, but they're over by their garden! Parks the hauler, rolls off the load, rights himself and then scoots over with an inquisitive static sound*

Perceptor: *startles slightly and looks up, but then relaxes when she sees that it's only Dero's young brother*

Kup: *Soft chuckle, greets Roe*

Roe: *blinks his lights in a greeting pattern, and then eagerly turns his attention to the newly planted seedling, only to squeak with surprise when he realizes that he doesn't know what that beautiful little tree is!*

Kup: Roe, is Dero busy?

Roe: Yes! Yes! *crackle fizzz* Get. *scoots off, leaving his hauler and his load on the road*

Perceptor: *concerned* I wonder why he was so surprised by our little tree.

Kup: Prolly for the same reason Cron was...

Perceptor: *looks up at him quizzically, but then startles as Dero skids to a stop by Kup's feet, her lights blinking excitedly*

Dero: *studies the little plant, and then spins around to face the way she came, crackling loudly*

Torka: //Dero says that she thinks you've got a skyflame tree.//

Perceptor: Think? You are not certain?

Kup: *blink blink* Skyflame tree?

Dero: *more Nroo*

Torka: //She thinks so. But she's never seen one herself. She only has a memory of a description from a Dero long long ago.//

Kup: ...Huh...

Perceptor: Is the skyflame tree so rare, then?

Torka: //I've never seen a tree with leaves that shine blue when you look up at it.//

Dero: Yes.

Perceptor: My word....

Kup: *raised brow ridge, low whistle*

Torka: *hissing over the commlink* //Congratulations. You are firmly rooted as members of the village now.//

Kup: ... //What do you mean by that, Torka?//

Torka: *more laughter* //Well, you have a pet. And one that others will notice and admire.//

Dero: *makes a gesture of congratulations and friendship, and then turns to roll over to the hauler that her brother abandoned* Get Cron.... *pats the grain and then pulls herself up onto it before starting the transport*

Perceptor: Thank you so much for letting us know what the little tree is. *waves to the Nroo*

Kup: *Sends Cron a message: Get yer aft home, 'cause Dero's got the grain*

Cron: //She needs to prep it first. Keep your graspers on.//

Torka: //Do I want to know what he's doing?//

Kup: *more snort*

Perceptor: *peers up at her husband as she absently dusts extra soil from her hands back into the pot* Er... what is our intrepid individualist doing, Kup?

Kup: Paintin' the slagging landing zone...

Torka: //What???//

Cron: //I'm using the old paint!//

Kup: //As long as he's not painting my ship.//

Cron: //You think I'd do something that horrid? This paint would just burn off when you went through atmosphere.//

Torka: //...And Johnny likes basic blue paint.//

Kup: ... //He does?//

Perceptor: //You've painted him??// *dismayed*

Torka: //No. Not on his body. In his belly.//

Kup: ... *Slight start, moves to head for Torka's shop*

Perceptor: Wait, love. *relaxing as she holds up a hand* The blue paint is quite lovely. And the mineral content is rather beneficial.

Kup: ... *raised brow ridge*

Perceptor: *sheepish* I sampled it after I analyzed it three days ago.

Kup: ... *Snorts*

Perceptor: *blush*

Kup: *moves to pick her up for a hug*

Perceptor: *snuggles close, her arms going around his neck*

Kup: *Nuzzles her helm*

Perceptor: *soft sound, and then lifts her face to kiss him, feeling the soft touch of the mist as she does so*

Kup: *gentle kisses for his wife*

Perceptor: *starting to think of sitting inside on the comfortable couch and maybe spending a little snuggle time with her husband. Kup won't catch the thoughts, but he'll probably pick up on the feelings*

Kup: *Absent 'hmm', before he's moving to carry Perceptor inside the house, intends to snuggle on the comfy couch with her*

Perceptor: *breaks the kiss to smile up at him, her love coming strongly across their bond*

Kup: *soft, affectionate chuckle, will carefully lay down on the couch and hold Perceptor close*

Perceptor: *snuggles with a contented little murmur. More kiss?*

Kup: *More kiss sounds good*

Perceptor: *gives kiss!*

Kup: *contented engine rumble* *surprised once again by how affectionate the quiet little science model has proven to be*

Perceptor: *feels the house start to spin, but only snuggles closer and continues the kiss*

Kup: *holding onto Perceptor so he doesn't go spinning off the couch, engine purring contentedly as the kiss continues*

familiar comm ping: *pokes the old security bot*

Kup: *Startles*

Perceptor: *feels that flash of startlement and breaks the kiss* ...Kup?

Kup: *listening in case that comm ping comes again*

ping: *repeats itself*

Kup: *hesitantly answers, hoping against hope that he's not dreaming* //This is Kup.//

Jazz: //*sound of relief* Kup, man, how're you doin'?//

Kup: *Flabbergasted* //I... I... How the PIT....//

Jazz: //This guy named WakeJumper tol' us about you. It took me awhile ta figure out how ta make the transmission untraceable.// *apology in his voice for making his old friend wait even a few more days longer to know that he and his family aren't alone*

Perceptor: Kup?

Kup: *cycling air* //You'd better be abso-fragging-lutely sure you've got this transmission untracable, man.//

Jazz: //Don't worry, I'm workin' with the best.// *Gruffly* //Now are you 'n Perceptor okay?//

Kup: *snorts a bit* //We're fine, you slag-heap. Where the pit did you land?//

Jazz: *sends him the coordinates* //It's a little place called Earth. And that's good, because we can't come and get you yet.//

Kup: //... We?// *sounds a bit disbelieving*

Jazz: //Yeah, man. Prime's personal team is here, 'n so are a few others. They jes' keep tricklin' in.//

Kup: *surprised at that* //You're yanking my leg.//

Jazz: //Nope. 'N you ain't the only ones that've added ta the roster.//

Kup: *Suddenly wary. Yes, he knows Jazz said the transmission was secure, but still.* *hesitantly* //Don't know what you're talking about, man...//

Jazz: //I know.// *pause* //I got three.//

Kup: *out loud as well as over the comm* Three?!

Jazz: *smug now* //Two blue 'n one pink.//

Perceptor: *optics flicker with surprise*

Kup: *surprised sound*

Jazz: //Yup.//

Kup: *low whistle* //How the slag did you manage that?//

Jazz: *pause* //Some slagger messin' with things he didn' have any right to.//

Kup: *low growl, holds Perceptor closer*

Jazz: //But she's okay. Ratchet jes' says we gotta high chance of more multi packs.//

Kup: *much frown, focusing on something Jazz said earlier* //Why can't you get out here?//

Jazz: //'Cause none'a us is space worthy, 'n there's 'Cons sittin' out there somewhere probably jes' waitin' fer target practise. ...'N the PINpoints won't take yer coordinates.//

Kup: *Low, dangerous growl at the thought of the 'Cons*

Perceptor: *soothing sending of affection*

Jazz: //Remember how Blackout useta whale on ol' Barricade so much?// *suddenly sounding very amused*

Kup: //How could I forget? She, Ironhide, and I used to hang out at Macadam's at the end of our shifts...//

Jazz: *startled* //You knew about her??//

Kup: *Feeling a bit smug at knowing something Jazz didn't* //Kid, use that processor of yours. I'm older than Ironhide was. I introduced Blackout to him.//

Jazz: *sasses right back* //You you callin' a kid, old timer? Well she'n Barricade got one too, but they gave it ta 'Hide fer him ta keep with his two.//

Kup: *Startled, not only by the news that Ironhide's still alive, but that he too, is a creator, AND that Blackout created someone as well*

Jazz: *waits a few clicks, then* //You there, old man?//

Kup: //Y-Yeah...// *Sounds brain-broken now*

Jazz: *rotten chuckle* //'Hide got two pink. Blackie's is a blue.//

Kup: *blurt of static that likely hides something unprintable*

Jazz: //'N Prowl's gotta pink.// *enjoying Kup's surprise*

Kup: //Primus preserve us all...//

Perceptor: o.0

Kup: ... *has to reboot now, kthx*

Jazz: //'N you should see Ratchet's lil' pink check his paperwork.// *speaks with relish*

Kup: *Finishes rebooting* *out loud and over comms, with a bit of hope mixed in with his disbelief* //There has got to be a way to get to Earth...//

Jazz: *amusement fades* //Only one I kin think'a's through the Nexus.//

Kup: *A bit gruffly* //That's not gonna happen any time soon... I don't trust that place...//

Jazz: //Yeah, it kin be pretty sketchy. But there's bots here that're trustworthy.//

Kup: //We need a plan...// *considering something, but isn't quite sure yet*

Perceptor: *feeling apprehensive at leaving this safe and quiet home, and the tiny tree by the door*

Jazz: //Ya think?//

Kup: *gently rubs his wife's back, wordlessly promising that it will be awhile before anything is finalized* //Don't get uppity, Jazz... //

Jazz: *a bit of his concern for his CO slips out in uncharacteristic surliness* //Who's uppity?//

Kup: *Snorts and shakes his head, nuzzling Perceptor's helm. Changing the subject slightly* //The next time we'll be off-world is during the spawning season...//

Jazz: //Spawnin' season?//

Kup: //When the Nroo get new members of the community...//

Jazz: //...Nroo're the natives where yer at?//

Kup: //Yeah.... Why?//

Jazz: //Jes' makin' sure.//

Kup: //... Why do you need to make sure?//

Jazz: //'Cause I like gettin' my stories straight, alright?// *again with the unJazz-like surliness*

Kup: //...// *Frowning* //What's got your wires in a twist?//

Jazz: *silent for a moment. Then, heavily* //Jes' worried about Optimus.//

Kup: //... Is he hurt?//

Jazz: //Elita never left Cybertron.//

Kup: *Sharp curse*

Jazz: *his voice still with that dull edge* //He's lasted this long, but he's startin' ta fail. Even with my set ta care for I ben doin' a lotta the leadin' lately.//

Kup: *ducking his head* //How long does he have?//

Jazz: //Ratchet cain't tell. But it's less'n a vorn.//

Kup: //Slag...//

Jazz: *quietly* //Yeah.//

Kup: *trying to keep from shaking* //I'll find out from Torka when the next spawning season is...//

Jazz: //Man, jes' stay there 'n take care'a yer family. Sounds like you gotta good place.//

Kup: //You'd better keep me updated, Jazz...//

Jazz: //I will when I can. But I don't get ta the Nexus that often.//

Kup: //Understood.//

Jazz: //'N don't feel too bad for Op. He's gotta new lady. One'a the natives. She takes good care of him.//

Kup: //...Natives?//

Jazz: //Yeah, they're called humans. Kinda like us, only little 'n cute 'n organic.//

Perceptor: o.0

Kup: ... //Got any images of 'em?//

Jazz: *mumbling to self about seeing if these'll send, and then here comes a small databurst*

Kup: *Accepts the databurst*

databurst: *two small pictures, one of which is a grinning young man with a blond beard sitting on the hood of a sporty little car. The other shows a muscular bald man pretending to arm wrestle with Chromia*

Kup: *Surprised sound, shares the images with Perceptor*

Perceptor: *softly* My word. They are rather winsome.

Kup: That's like what that alternate of yours looked like... //I take it that's you in the first image?//

Jazz: //Yup. That's me. 'N that's Rock 'n Roll sittin' on me. He's my partner. Bee was over behind Breaker as he took the picture.//

Kup: *soft snort* //Who's that arm wrestling with Chromia?//

Jazz: *chuckle* //That's her 'n 'Hide's partner, Gung-Ho.//

Perceptor: //Are those names you've given to them?//

Jazz: //Nope. Those're their workin' code names.//

Kup: *Snorts over comms as well as out loud* //Who picked those names for 'em?//

Jazz: //They did.// *chuckle* //They all mean somethin' about 'em.//

Kup: //...Sort of like function designators?//

Jazz: //Kinda.//

Kup: *Absent "Hrmmm"*

Jazz: //You'd haveta have the language ta really understand most'a 'em.//

Kup: //Isn't that the way things always seem to go?//

Jazz: //Pretty much. Hey, what's yer's name?//

Kup: //We're calling him Johnny for now... till he's old enough to choose his own name...//

Jazz: *surprised sound* //Johnny?// *pronounces the unusual name perfectly*

Kup: //Named him after a guy named Johnny Cash.... Picked up his transmissions about twenty stellar cycles ago... Not sure where he's from, but he sounds sorta like one of the JDs...//

Jazz: *suddenly cracks up*

Kup: ... //What is so funny?//

Jazz: *in English* //You understand what he's sayin'?//

Kup: *Very rough English* //Some.//

Jazz: *laughs harder, still in English* //That ain't no JD, man. Johnny Cash was human!//

Kup: *slight scowl as he only gets some of that* *Still in his very rough grasp of English* //Stick to familiar...//

Jazz: *databursts a slightly bigger file. It's a rather rough and tumble version of English*

Kup: *Sharing the databurst with Perceptor as he installs the file into his own processor*

Perceptor: *tries to install it, then frowns* //Jazz, this doesn't seem to be compatible with my systems. Do you happen to have another format?//

Jazz: //Uh... lemme look.// *databursts her the Webster's English Dictionary*

Perceptor: *installs and studies* *in a cultured, slightly English sounding voice* //Ah, there we are. That worked perfectly. Thank you, Jazz.//

Kup: *Still manages to sound a bit gruff, even when he's talking calmly* //So this's the language the natives use?//

Jazz: //That's the most popular one. There's over a million different ones.//

Kup: *impressed whistle over comms*

Jazz: //'N as many different factions. But they're all the same species.//

Perceptor: *optics enormous with wonder at this*

Kup: //...Holy slag...//

Jazz: *snerk*

Kup: //Just how many of 'em are there?!//

Jazz: *pauses and googles, then reports the estimates*

Perceptor: *speechless*

Kup: *Sputters*

Jazz: *chuckles* //And they know they don't got everybody.//

Kup: *more sputtering*

Jazz: //Circulate, ol' man. Circulate.//

Kup: *a bit indignantly as he does as instructed* //Who're you calling old, bratlet?//

Jazz: //You.// *snerk, but then a small sigh* //I gotta go.//

Kup: //It was good talking to you, Jazz... Keep in touch if you can...//

Jazz: //Gonna do my @#@$#@est, Kup. See ya, Perceptor. Jazz out.//

Kup: //Stay safe... Kup out.//

Perceptor: *listens to the silence now returned to the channels, and then lifts her head to look at her husband*

Kup: *cycles air slowly* *quietly, switching back to Cybertronian* Primus fraggin' miracle....

Perceptor: *nods mutely. She's starting to shake a bit as the realisation fully hits that she and Kup and their son are not alone in the galaxy*

Kup: *Pulls her close, trying to hide his own shaking*

Perceptor: *finally, softly* Other babies....

Kup: *Softly and just a bit gruffly* Still think you're amazing...

Perceptor: *blinks at him, puzzled by his response*

Kup: *snuggles, trying to stay calm, even though he dearly wants to let out a loud victory whoop*

Perceptor: *still softly* Oh... thank the Great Maker.

Kup: *Soft rumble of agreement*

Perceptor: *and then her shoulders start to shake in earnest and she's crying*

Kup: *Rubs her back, engine rumbling quietly*

Perceptor: And yet... I still have no desire to leave this place.

Kup: *Quietly, and firmly* This is home... But that doesn't mean we can't visit 'em...

Perceptor: *nods, wiping at the tears on her face*

Kup: *continues to rub her back*

Perceptor: *manages to calm after several moments, and is burying her face against his chest when a sound from the door makes her startle*

Kup: *Attention goes to the door*

Dero: *is out there doing something*

Kup: *moving to see what Dero is up to*

Dero: *busy fixing up a light apparatus for the little garden by the door, right now she's carefully aiming it so that the lone occupant gets the maximum possible benefit*

Perceptor: *watching her*

Kup: *headtilt, curious about what Dero's doing*

Dero: *finishes and crackles to herself softly, her lights showing a satisfied pattern. Then she carefully tucks a little plug of pale green stuff into the side of the pot and lets it trail over the edge before turning and zipping away*

Perceptor: .... *chuckle*

Kup: *soft snort, then carefully gets to his feet, his wife cradled in his arms as he moves to inspect the pot*

Perceptor: Why, she's given it a source of photosynthetic energy, and a ground cover to conserve moisture. *peering down at that little plug of green, which has nearly microscopic pale green leaves and little white daisy flowers that are not much larger*

Kup: *soft chuckle* We'll have to find out from Dero what we need to do to make sure this little thing survives....

Perceptor: Judging from the shallowness and relative scarcity of its root structure, one could conjecture a constant source of moisture such as is now present in the soil, and perhaps periodic introduction of mineral solute solution.

Kup: *nods* We'll need to know what minerals though....

Perceptor: *optics lighting with interest* Oh that shouldn't be too hard to discover.

Kup: *Soft chuckle, snuggles*

Perceptor: *distracted from science mode. Looks up* Ah yes, we were busy nurturing something else, weren't we?

Kup: *Another soft chuckle* I'll go get Johnny...

Perceptor: He'll be ready for his rest cycle. ^_^

Kup: *Gently sets Perceptor on her feet*

Perceptor: *kisses him on the cheek and then steps back and turns her attention to the garden* Hurry back, love, the rains should be starting soon.

Kup: *Nods* Torka's place isn't too far from here... We'll be back soon. *moves to head for the road*

Perceptor: *happy garden puttering. Has no idea how human she currently looks*

Kup: *whistling "Ring of Fire" as he heads for Torka's*

Perceptor: *recalls the words, and understands them now. Soft chuckle as she works*

Kup: *soon arriving at Torka's* *taps on the door*

Torka: *calls over the noise of baby squealing and hissing* It's open, Kup.

Kup: *hunkers down to click to Johnny, can't come inside*

Johnny: *laying on his back and looking up above his head as he reaches for Daddy. Is crackling and hissing away just like the Nroo babies*

Rala and his friend: *carefully grab the tarp that Johnny's laying on and drag him over to the door, their light patterns happy and excited*

Kup: *Chuckles and clicks to his son as he moves to carefully pick the little mech up*

Johnny: *squeal! Hiss. Beep beep click pop squeak crackle hiss giggle!*

Rala: *spins, hissing merrily himself as his young friend does the same*

Torka: *soft hiss from where she's standing over by her work bench*

Kup: *more clicks, as well as a few words in English*

Johnny: *giggles and plays a snatch of one of Daddy's songs*

Kup: *chuckles and sings the song, using the English lyrics*

Johnny: *watching Daddy's face, his big optics intent*

Kup: *relaxed and in an almost chipper mood. Jazz's comm has lifted his spirits considerably*

Torka: Is it time for his sleep? *lights relaxed and happy in presence of her work and her family* Oh, and how's your garden?

Kup: Yeah... Dero brought some things over to help with it... Perceptor's going to work on figuring out what nutrients it'll need, and tomorrow, I'm going to work on something to make sure it gets the water it needs...

Torka: *soft hiss of laughter* I can tell we'll have a beautiful young tree in a generation or two.

Rala: Yay! *dances*

Kup: *chuckles and gently rocks Johnny* I got some good news earlier...

Torka: Did you? *sets her tools down and comes over to the door to 'look' up at him as Rala and the other nroo baby zip out to play in a puddle*

Kup: *nods, the beginnings of a smile coming to his face* Perceptor, Johnny and I... Aren't the only Autobots left...

Torka: *lights stop with surprise, but then start an intricate pattern of surprise and joy* Oh, good!

Kup: *nods, more of that grin coming to his face* And Johnny's not the only baby in existance...

Torka: *surprised flash* That's wonderful! They found out how to do it on their own.

Kup: *more nod, continues to gently rock Johnny* It was good to hear from Jazz...

Torka: That's a friend? Family?

Kup: Friend... Almost family... He's a good man.

Torka: So he called you?

Kup: *Nods*

Torka: Where is he? Is he coming here?

Kup: He's on a planet called Earth... He can't get here right now. ...It was a miracle he even got that call through.

Torka: A miracle? *curious pattern of lights*

Kup: Signal could've died out before it got to me, transmission could've been intercepted....

Torka: *puzzled pattern* Was he calling from that far away?

Kup: *recites the coordinates Jazz sent*

Torka: *more puzzled* I'm not very good at translating that sort of code, Kup, remember?

Kup: *translates the coordinates to an approximate location, and his best guess as to the distance*

Torka: *staggered. Lights dark* That's... a long way away.

Kup: I could be wrong about the distance.... I really hope I am....

Johnny: *nomming on his little fist, and then gives a big sneeze and leaks some oil* Thrrpt!

Rala: *hisses gleefully at the funny noise*

Torka: It would take a long time to get there, even in your ship?

Kup: Maybe... But for now, Perceptor, Johnny and I are staying put... *clicks to his son*

Torka: *quietly, her lights once more giving emotion to her dry and monotonal voice* I'm... glad. It's good to be near family.

Kup: *nods* Me too, Torka. Me too.

Torka: *light patterns grow brisk* But you'd better get that baby home before the rains start. You know what he thinks of wind.

Kup: *nods* Yeah... See you tomorrow, Torka. *moves to head towards home*

Johnny: *limp in Daddy's arms, doesn't even move as Rala calls a bye bye before being herded back inside as his friend scoots toward home*

Kup: *Quietly sings another song, again in English, as he brings Johnny home*

Johnny: *sound asleep and starting to make his little purring sounds as he snuggles*

Perceptor: *totally engrossed in analyzing the soil in the pot. Is unaware that she's dripping with water from the ambient moisture in the air*

Kup: *Sees this, soft chuckle* C'mon, Perceptor... Let's get inside before the rains start...

Perceptor: *slight start and looks up* Oh... yes. *sheepish chuckle*

Kup: *offers his free hand to her*

Perceptor: *lifts her own small hand, lightly dusted with moist soil, to take it* He sleeps so soundly.

Kup: *soft chuckle as he helps his wife stand* Probably because his whole world's always been safe....

Perceptor: *softly as she rises to her feet* Yes. *reaches her other hand toward her tiny son, her expression sober* Would that his world will continue to always be safe.

Kup: *small nod, offers Johnny* It will if I have any say in the matter...

Perceptor: *takes baby and cradles him close as he cuddles, then absently turns herself so that Kup may lift her as he so often tends to do* *quietly and resolutely* I will also do my utmost.

Kup: *nods and carefully lifts both Perceptor and Johnny, cradling them both close to his chest* Let's get inside before it rains... *heads for the door*

Perceptor: *nods as she's lifted, and then looks up as they come into the spacious but snug home under the ivy tree, her mouth curving as she sees the softly glowing leaves on the tendrils that etch the ceiling. Though she knows that they're there to catch the insects who are attracted to their light, they are nonetheless becoming a comforting and homey sight*

Kup: *Will carry his family to the bedroom and gently deposit them on the bed before moving to lay down beside them*

Perceptor: *moving so that she's not laying on top of the blankets* From what I saw of Earth in the image that Jazz showed us of himself it is quite a different place than this. Though the humans would seem to be in scale with the nroo.

Kup: Yeah... I just hope we can find a way there someday... When Johnny's grown, maybe... *gently smooths Perceptor's helm as he reaches to pull the blankets over her*

Perceptor: *softly as she snuggles close, forming a snug nest between herself and Kup's side for Johnny to cuddle in* I have always been a being of solitary nature, but you must feel the absence of your companions most keenly.

Kup: *Small nod as he carefully turns so he's on his side, and so Johnny is situated between himself and Perceptor* *Quietly* I miss them... But I'm glad I'm here with you and Johnny.

Perceptor: *smiles and hides her face in the blankets, but then boggles again slightly as she remembers* Three babies!

Kup: *Soft snort* *Quietly* Bet Jazz has his hands full...

Perceptor: Indeed! I wonder who he has married.

Kup: No idea... *snuggles*

Perceptor: Ironhide... was he not that large, dark man who appeared at times on the news for things he'd done against the Decepticons? I believe I remember seeing him.

Kup: Yeah... that's Ironhide... He and Chromia... Parents... *soft snort*

Perceptor: *looks up at him* Is it so surprising?

Kup: Just that they've got two little girls... *and now it's really sinking in that Ratchet, of all men, is married* *Slight stall as his optics widen*

Perceptor: *gasp* Kup?

Kup: *silent for a few moments, then gives himself a small shake* *Quietly* Ratchet.... is married.... *Shocked*

Perceptor: *optics take a quizzical tilt*

Kup: Never expected that...

Perceptor: *relaxes* No?

Kup: *Small headshake*

Perceptor: But why not?

Kup: Never seemed like the type to get hitched...

Perceptor: *soft 'hrrm'* I must admit, the topic never came up when we worked together.

Kup: *Gentle helm nuzzles* Wonder who he's hitched to...

Perceptor: You would probably know better than I. *sighs and rests her forehead against his chest, feeling soothed by the steady rumble of his systems*

Kup: Guess we'll find out eventually... *gently rubs his wife's back*

Perceptor: *suddenly half asleep* Indeed....

Kup: *Quiet rumble* Get some rest, Perceptor...

Perceptor: *drowsy murmur* There goes the wind

Kup: *soft chuckle*

Perceptor: *chuckles herself, and then sighs and sleeps*

Kup: *Keeps watch, listening to the wind outside for awhile until he too falls asleep*

((co-written with

random_xtras))