dens_tf_den | Nexus and JV, Safehouse and the Nroo homeworld, Johnny

Merlin: *sitting on a bench in the Nexus, laptop open and on as he browses the Utilikilt website*

Perceptor: *steps through the door ahead of her husband, so intent on the small protoform in the bundle in her arms that she at first doesn't realize she's taken a wrong turn. The glare of the sign soon alerts her to the fact, however, and she looks up, her optics bright with amazement* Kup? *turns and sees no sign of the door she just passed through* Oh... dear.

Kup: *nervous as he and Perceptor disembark from the ship, and that nervousness ramps up when he realizes that they're not at the station* The Pit?!

Merlin: *looks up, startled*

Perceptor: *looks up at Kup, relieved that he's here at least* I... have no idea what just happened, Kup.

Kup: *moves to put an arm around Perceptor's shoulders, a slight scowl on his face, and worry clear in his optics* No clue either...

Merlin: Ah, pardon me... It would appear that you inadvertantly stepped through a portal to a multiversal hub known as the Nexus... This particular Nexus has an Anti-Violence Field, so it is quite safe.

Perceptor: *holding her bundle close as she studies the strange being who's speaking to them* ...Multiversal hub?

Merlin: *nods* It is where multiple realities converge and interact.

Perceptor: *optics nearly white now with shock and unsettled feelings*

Merlin: *closes his laptop, concern coming to his face* Are you alright?

Kup: *Eyeing the smaller being with distrust and moving to put himself between Merlin and Perceptor* And who the Pit are you?

Merlin: My name is Merlin Percia, though only whilst I am in alternate mode as I am now.

Kup: ... *raised brow ridge*

Perceptor: *faintly, as she tries to clear static from her processor* Alternate... mode...?

Merlin: *Nods* If you were to scan me, you would find that I am not quite as I appear. My designation proper is Perceptor.

Perceptor: *startles, then puts a hand to her chest and sucks air through her intakes* Perceptor!

Kup: *Tenses, drawing his primary weapon and aiming it at Merlin*

Perceptor: *voice shaky and holding deep surprise* You... you're Cybertronian. But... I am Perceptor of Cybertron.

Merlin: *nods* We are alternates of one another, hailing from different realities.

Perceptor: Different.... *winces as the shock of disappointment follows that of surprise and causes a deep pain in her spark*

Merlin: *concern grows as he moves to get to his feet* Are you in need of a medic?

Kup: *Growls at Merlin, cannon put away, fuss over mate now, kthx!*

Perceptor: *sucks air through her intakes* .>_<. Kup....

Kup: Easy... I've got you... *worry worry worry*

Merlin: *Quite concerned now* I can call a medic, if you wish...

Perceptor: //Kup. I fear that I'm either in labor, or something's wrong with the baby.// *shaking and clutching her husband's hand with one of hers, the other arm in a deathgrip around her bundle*

Kup: *Engine sputters and stalls*

Merlin: *calling Rachel now, kthx*

Rachel: //I'm up to my eyebrows in corstarch slime, Merlin. What is it?//

Merlin: //I am currently in the Nexus, and an alternate of myself seems to be in physical distress... But I fear he and his guardian will not allow me to offer assistance...//

Rachel: //What kind of distress? Greg, this isn't porridge.//

Merlin: *Trying to scan Perceptor so he can provide Rachel with more information* //I am not quite certain... But if I had to guess, it would appear to be spark-related...//

Rachel: *seeing if she can't call her big crabby yellow alternate*

hsvRatchet: //Yes, Rachel?//

Rachel: //Merlin just called saying he's got an alt having spark trouble in the sign nexus, and I'm elbow deep in sparklets and oobleck. Are you free?//

hsvRatchet: //... Dare I ask why?//

Rachel: //...How much have you been kissing Clarion?//

hsvRatchet: //... I plead the Fifth Amendment...//

Rachel: //I'll repeat myself, buddy. There's a Perceptor having spark trouble in the Nexus, and I can't go. Can you? Greg, don't throw that. Sandy, don't eat that. Song, don't put it up his nose. Seamus, how old are you again?//

hsvRatchet: //I can send one of the other medics from my reality. WakeJumper is a good medic.//

Rachel: //Junky. Sot. Fine.//

hsvRatchet: //Reprobate.... *Chuckles over comms* He'll be there shortly.//

Rachel: //Now how am I a reprobate? I'm a respectable mother of... over six.// *opens Merlin's channel as well* //Help's coming, Perc. Look for that big orange snarky guy.//

hsvRatchet: //You lost track huh?// *sounds far too amused*

Merlin: //I shall keep watch until he arrives...//

Rachel: //They keep coming. Seamus, go stand in the corner. Now.// *transmits that last to both the mechs she's talking to*

hsvRatchet: *snorts over the comm line*

Merlin: //... I'm not even going to ask...//

hsvWakeJumper: *Arriving with a swish and flash nearby*

Perceptor: *leaning heavily on Kup and trying to communicate with the sparklet, who is being singularly uncommunicative. So trusts her husband's protective skill that she doesn't notice the newcomer*

Kup: *eyeing Merlin and the orange guy who just showed up, is also gently rubbing his wife's back*

hsvWakeJumper: Easy... My designation is WakeJumper. I'm a medic.

Perceptor: *looks up distractedly* We do not know you. There was no WakeJumper in our reality.

hsvWakeJumper: I also do work in the Nexus and sometimes in other realities... *raised brow ridge* Is that a sparklet shell you've got there?

Perceptor: ...Sparklet? *then flinches as another spasm of pain tears through her spark*

Merlin: *Blink blink, attention going to the bundle his alternate is holding* My word...

Kup: *Fussing over Perceptor even more now*

hsvWakeJumper: *Scans Perceptor, making soothing sounds as he approaches*

Perceptor: *those keen blue optics are focused on you now, Wake. She's not sure of you, and she's now looking very protective of the little form inside her bundle. She's also right in the midst of spark separation, in one of the worst places to be in such a painful and distracted state*

hsvWakeJumper: *Soothingly* Easy... Your sparklet is separating, and you need to be calm so he doesn't get stressed.

Perceptor: *optics brighten with alarm, and she glances around quickly* Lower your voice, I beg you!

Kup: *cannon back out and aiming at hsvWakeJumper*

hsvWakeJumper: *Soooo not fazed by that*

Perceptor: *meeps!* Kup. Please! He's an Autobo... nnnnnnn! .>_<.

hsvWakeJumper: *Soothing sounds, getting a pain override out of a storage compartment*

Kup: *Eyeing the orange mech with distrust*

Merlin: *soothing sounds as he transforms and moves to try and help the other Perceptor lay down*

Perceptor: *distressed* Is there no place we can go for shelter? A spacer's hostel at the least? This area is so exposed.... *flinches again and shudders*

hsvWakeJumper: There's a safehouse nearby. *will move to carefully lift the larger Perceptor*

Perceptor: *sudden rush of powerful panic causes her to throw her free arm around her husband's neck as she's lifted*

Kup: *and now he's falling over backwards*

mvPerceptor: *Startled sound, barely avoids getting squished by Kup* My word....

hsvWakeJumper: *Soothing sounds, quickly applies the pain override to the Perceptor he's holding*

Perceptor: Kup! *panic! Panic! Caaaalmmm @_@* *Still looking toward her husband though, even though she's blinking owlishly*

hsvWakeJumper: *and now he's bringing the whole group to the safehouse via PINpoint*

Perceptor: *thanks him by purging her tank on him. Then groans and rests her head against her bundle, her optics nearly white, and shiny with tears*

hsvWakeJumper: *Soothing sounds as he moves to carry her to one of the berths*

Perceptor: *groans and screws up her face, though the pains aren't as sharp due to the pain override* Kup.... Please, what is the matter with my husband?

hsvWakeJumper: Some mechs faint when it's time for a sparklet to be put into its first shell.

Perceptor: But... Kup was head of security when Cybertron yet lived. *startled expression, and then concern* I can't feel the baby....

hsvWakeJumper: *Scans, even though he has a hunch as to why Perceptor can't feel the newspark any longer* He's probably separated completely by now. May I have a look at your spark chamber?

Perceptor: *unfastens the catch with a shaking hand, and then startles and gives a small cry of surprise as a cheerfully pulsing globe of light floats free of her chest*

hsvWakeJumper: *Quiet chuckle* Well, looks like I was right... *scans the newspark* If you would, please open the chestplating and spark chamber of the protoform.

Perceptor: *pushes herself up on one elbow and carefully unwraps the little bundle, then opens the chest panels of the pudgy little dark green and silver protoform*

newspark: *up up up up. Down! Mama?*

hsvWakeJumper: *covers his hands with a forcefield and works on coralling the newspark long enough to get it into the spark chamber of the waiting protoform*

Perceptor: *watching, her optics white with the force of her wonder and concern* You... in your reality this is a common occurrence?

hsvWakeJumper: *nods as he works* Yeah... And in the other Perceptor's reality, it's commonplace, according to my CO, and a couple of the other 'Bots from my reality... *once he's gotten the newspark into the spark chamber of the protoform, he's gently closing the chamber and chestplating* If your husband's anything like the Kup of my reality, he's going to be an awesome dad...

Perceptor: *quietly as her son onlines his optic band and squeaks with interest* Johnny is the first Cybertronian baby to be born in our reality, to the best of my knowledge. So Kup and I will be playing by ear, as the JD saying goes. *troubled expression comes to her face as she watches the baby move his arms and legs*

hsvWakeJumper: Well, there is more than enough information here in the Nexus on child rearing... I'd suggest avoiding asking over by the sign though, that's more of a hit-and-miss kinda thing... *is sending a message to Nemesis, asking if he can get a few cookies sent to the safehouse, as well as paying for said cookies via wireless transfer*

Perceptor: I've been reading child rearing guides. *lays back wearily, her head turning as she tries to see some hint of Kup*

Johnny: *squeaky sneeze and then a tiny sound like a laugh*

Perceptor: *startles and looks at him with wonder, and then reaches for him*

hsvWakeJumper: *transfers Johnny to his mother with a soft chuckle* Any particular reason you're calling this little bit Johnny?

Perceptor: *carefully checking the little gauge that tells her new son's fuel level* It's the name of two separate beings who perform musical pieces that Kup is quite fond of. Since Johnny will be unable to process well enough to tell us who he is for some time we decided to let him use that designation till he's able to choose his own if he likes.

hsvWakeJumper: *chuckles* That makes sense... *attention going towards the entrance to the safehouse as the door opens* Wonder who Nem sent to bring you three some cookies?

Perceptor: *slight perk* Hopper Scout cookies? The ones made with energon and calcien?

Johnny: *looking for somebody else. He's not hearing his other favorite voice. Where is Daddy?*

Showtime: *Surprised sound from the main room*

hsvWakeJumper: CinnaSeekers, if Nem didn't run out... Not that that's likely... *chuckles and offers to carry Perceptor and Johnny to the main room*

Perceptor: Ah... they may be somewhat different. Though the cookies that I am aware of from my own reality are also cinna flavored. They are a favorite fuel source for the local trunkhopper population.

hsvWakeJumper: *blink blink* Trunkhopper population? *carrying Perceptor and Johnny out to one of the couches in the main area now*

Perceptor: *nervously holding her little one close and trying to shield him from sight as much as she can* Trunkhoppers are a race of people. Their faces are drawn out into a form of prehensile trunk, and their natural method of locomotion is to hop.

hsvWakeJumper: *Gently setting Perceptor on the couch and moving to lift Kup to transfer him to the couch across from Perceptor's* Huh... Sorta like anthromorphic elephant and kangaroo hybrids... *looks up as someone taps at the door only to be let in by Merlin*

Showtime: *nervous flutter of her doorwings* Er... Hi... I brought the cookies that were ordered... *holding the box out to Perceptor, since Merlin has returned to alt-mode*

Perceptor: *curious look at the blue woman's construction, and then her optics flick back to WakeJumper now that she has time to wonder at him as well* Thank you, Miss. *optics then go to her husband as her face darkens with concern*

Showtime: *Small, shy smile* You're welcome... *sets the cookie box where Perceptor can reach it easily, before she's tilting her head and listening for a few moments* The other person's on the couch... Is he or she alright?

hsvWakeJumper: Yeah. He'll be okay, Showtime.

Showtime: *Small nod* I'd better get back... *heading for the door now*

Merlin: *Waits til the blue femme is out the door and the door has closed behind her* It is amazing that she is able to navigate without tripping....

Perceptor: *softly* Kup? Kup, can you hear me?

Kup: *Soft groan*

Johnny: *squeakerfit! There's Daddy! Now he sees him! Hear him calling, Daddy?*

Kup: *barest hint of movement as he begins to reboot* Nnng...

Perceptor: *tries to sit up without losing her grip on her son* Kup? Love?

hsvWakeJumper: *will help Perceptor sit up*

Kup: *optics flicker for a few moments, before he's moving to put his hand over them* Primus slagging Pit... What happened?

Perceptor: Well, you may or may not have just taught your son his first impolite language.

Merlin: At least he will not pick up Decepticon curses yet... *moving to offer assistance to Kup*

hsvWakeJumper: *chuckles quietly* He's right... 'Cons can cuss to put most 'Bots to shame...

Perceptor: *flinches and wraps her arms protectively around her newspark, her expression now haunted* Would that he never hear such voices.

hsvWakeJumper: Well, if you hang around here, you'll hear a lot... Most of the time though, they're more interested in hanging out at the Black Dog and having a few drinks... *chuckles* Though if you meet Hormah, you'll get to hear some interesting language that's not necessarily cussing...

Perceptor: *looks at the medic with disbelief* You speak so lightly of... of.... *bites her lip plate at a surge of fearful protective instinct* //Kup?//

Kup: *moving to get up, despite the protest his tank and head are making, will come over to crouch protectively by his wife and son*

hsvWakeJumper: *soothingly* They can't harm you here. The Anti-Violence Field protects this area... Plus, Nem'd deal with anyone who tried, if Tarantulus and Showtime didn't get to them first...

Perceptor: *very quietly, her voice almost expressionless* All the same. Due to events from our own reality we find it safer to avoid all members of the race. *hand reaching toward her husband's as Johnny stops squeaking and goes very still like a little quail*

Kup: *protective instincts are strong as he gently squeezes his wife's hand and regards the orange medic with a scowl*

hsvWakeJumper: *nods* I understand... I was born during the war in my reality... I grew up having to fight the beings I feared the most...

Perceptor: Are there still women in your reality?

hsvWakeJumper: *nods, a small smile coming to his face as he thinks of his mate* Yeah...

Kup: *expression darkening a bit* Lucky you.

hsvWakeJumper: *raised brow ridge*

Kup: Most of ours... Tyrannous declared them useless... And not just the 'Con women... He ordered all women and Autobots to be destroyed on sight... *optics distant and with a bit of a hunted expression in them* Far as I know... Perceptor and I are it for Autobots...

Perceptor: *curling close to him, though instinctively keeping herself out of his way should he need to move and protect* *quietly* Most beings of our reality know me as male.

hsvWakeJumper: Hence the spark mask and signal blockers... Right? *Ignoring Merlin, who has his hand to his mouth and a concerned expression on his face*

Perceptor: Yes. *looks up at the medic* I had forgotten, myself, what I truly was till an encounter with certain... other Cybertronians necessitated my having surgery.

hsvWakeJumper: *concern clear on his face as he nods*

Perceptor: *looks at her husband* The doctors aboard the deep space station will be concerned when we fail to arrive at the arranged time.

Kup: *frowning muchly* And I don't know how the Pit to get back....

Merlin: Perhaps I can be of assistance with that... *hurries out the door*

hsvWakeJumper: ... *Face. Palm. Mutters something about Perceptors being alike no matter which reality*

Perceptor: *startles as something blows up outside, and then goes wide-eyed as the booms continue in a set pattern not unlike music*

Johnny: *will cry. Can hear that Mama is scared*

Kup: *on his feet and hurrying to the door to meet the threat*

hsvWakeJumper: *not far behind, facepalms when he realizes what's going on* *Mutters in Cybertronian* [Fragging Blackout-spawn and their obsession with that slagging minefield!!!!]

Perceptor: *covering Johnny with her own body now as she shakes and hides her face*

hsvWakeJumper: *Catching Kup by the scruffbar* Go take care of your mate. I'll deal with Sheol. *Shoves the older mech back into the safehouse as he himself heads out to tell Sheol to put the impromptu concierto on pause for the moment*

Kup: *startled by the treatment he got, hurries back to protect Perceptor and Johnny*

Perceptor: *startles as he gets close, the terrified look she gives him telling him that she's flashing back to the explosion that had buried her under rubble that last day on Cybertron*

Kup: *Moves to carefully pull both she and Johnny off of the couch and hold them close* [I've got you, Perceptor.. I'm here. You're safe.]

Perceptor: [D... D... Decepticons....]

Johnny: *curled up and hiding. Scared baby is scared*

Kup: *Soothing sounds as he rubs Perceptor's back*

minefield concert: *dies down into faint echos*

Kup: *gentle helm nuzzles and continuing the backrub*

Perceptor: *finally manages to stop shaking, and then reaches into subspace and carefully pulls out one of the bottles of fuel she'd stored there. Pokes the spout into Johnny's small seeking mouth and watches him drink away his upset* *quietly* I hope that we may return to the ship soon.

Merlin: *returning to the safehouse, looking quite rattled himself* Anti-Violence Field or not... I do not approve of Miss Sheol's form of 'amusing activities'.... *has a pair of cell phone-style PINpoints in his hands*

Kup: *low growl that sounds suspiciously like "The slag kinda name is 'Sheol'?"*

Merlin: It is the ancient Hebrew poetic word for the abode of the dead... In other words, it means "grave"... *offering Kup the two PINpoints* This variety of PINpoint comes equipped with a built-in scanner, which is quite useful when one wanders out of one's reality, or wishes to check whether certain beings hail from similar realities...

Perceptor: *peeking, though her expression holds quiet fright still* So it is a Decepticon name.

hsvWakeJumper: *Returning to the safehouse, is shaking his head and muttering about something*

Merlin: *nods* But of course. Would one expect anything less from a Blackout?

Kup: *eyeing the PINpoints warily*

Perceptor: *quietly* I... confess myself unfamiliar with the name 'Blackout'. *looks at her mate*

Kup: She went 'Con...

Perceptor: *slight flinch* We had one, then.

Kup: *nods, holding Perceptor close*

hsvWakeJumper: *as he moves to lean against the wall* Welcome to the Nexus, and the theory of multiple realities being different. Just watch where you take in fuel, and you'll be fine, unless someone decides to LOL you.

Perceptor: *raises her head slightly to give him a look that's going blank with exhaustion*

hsvWakeJumper: *to Kup* You two'd better get home so your mate can rest.

Kup: *Stinkeyes hsvWakeJumper*

Perceptor: Home.... *sudden rush of protective fright* Kup, what if the Combaticons should have tracked us? They've managed to get aboard the station without the knowledge of the authorities before.

Kup: *Quietly* We could always stay with Torka... and stay off-planet during spawning season...

Perceptor: The ship is at the station. *holding Johnny close*

Kup: We'll think of something... *backrub for wife*

hsvWakeJumper: *considering look* What if someone were to bring your ship to where you needed it to be?

Perceptor: *glances toward the medic*

hsvWakeJumper: If you can get the coordinates of wherever it is you're needing to go, I'm pretty sure I can convince my son to help out... He's no pushover in a fight, and he's close by.

Kup: *Scowling muchly*

Perceptor: *softly* Kup?

Kup: I don't want some punk kid trashing my ship. *expression dark*

hsvWakeJumper: Lumen may be a bit of a punk, but he can follow orders just as well as the next Autobot.

Perceptor: *softly* Perhaps if I were to go to the Nroo homeworld with Johnny, while you went to get the ship. I believe something was mentioned about teleportation devices? Or have I misheard? *looks at her alt*

Merlin: *nods, offering the PINpoints again* This variety of PINpoint has a built-in scanner, which is far more convenient than having to locate a Place-Me-Quick machine.

hsvWakeJumper: Lumen's a frontliner... He'll be able to fend off anyone who tries to pick a fight with him... *attention going to the door just before a dark blue Bayformer mech peeks in*

Perceptor: *reaching to take the PINpoints, but shoots a startled look toward the door*

Merlin: *attention going to the door*

hsvLumen: *sheepish expression* Er... sorry... Dad called and said he needed me for something....

Kup: *scowling muchly at hsvLumen and hsvWakeJumper as he forms a battle plan* You two yahoos, go with Perceptor and Johnny. Keep 'em safe while I go get the ship.

Perceptor: *quick look up at her husband, trying to hide her rush of fear at the thought of being separated from him. Then looks at the medic and the blue bot before glancing at her alternate*

hsvLumen: Yessir. *seriousness in his optics*

Kup: *gently squeezing Perceptor's hand*

Merlin: Mechs of their construction tend to have far more advanced sensors than mechs hailing from realities similar to yours or mine... If there were to be danger, they'd be more than capable of neutralizing a threat....

Perceptor: *small sound as she clears her vocalizer, then looks back to Kup. Really wants to kiss him goodbye, but the hiding of what she really is is just too ingrained* *softly* Please be careful.

Kup: I will be. I promise.

Merlin: *offers Kup one of the PINpoints, which gets grabbed*

Perceptor: *looks at the other PINpoint, nodding to herself as she makes out the workings. She doesn't want to look up and watch Kup get up and leave her*

Kup: *optics hold a promise that he'll come back to her* Get going.

hsvLumen: *moving to put a hand on his father's shoulder as the older mech reaches to gently touch Perceptor*

Merlin: *Getting out of the way*

Perceptor: *chin firm as she carefully inputs coordinates and then presses the button*

Johnny: *startled flail and crying as they come out onto the empty field*

Perceptor: Oh dear me.... *comfort baby*

hsvWakeJumper: *Scanning the area, as is Lumen*

Perceptor: *looks up as Johnny calms* *quietly* The evening rains will soon be starting. We'll need to obtain shelter.

hsvLumen: I'm not worried about a little water... And Dad's a water mech.... *cheery/cheeky grin*

Perceptor: *looks up, lifting her brow ridges at the young man as she attempts to sit* I assure you. The evening rains bring far more than a little water. Do you feel what's coming down at this moment?

hsvLumen: ... *blink blink*

hsvWakeJumper: Lumen is right about me being adapted for water... If we come to deep water, I'm pretty sure I can carry you in my watercraft alt-mode.

Perceptor: The water all comes from above.... *comes over dizzy and flops down on her side, doing her best not to jar Johnny* I fear I'm unable to gain my feet.

hsvWakeJumper: *moves to carefully lift Perceptor and Johnny* Which direction do we need to go to find shelter?

Perceptor: *nods toward the forest road* Our friends live at some point along this road. *calling Torka's frequency and feeling herself clench her jaw again at the rush of concern and fussing she gets*

hsvWakeJumper: Alright. *heading that way now* Lumen, don't poke at stuff. Get over here and act as an escort.

hsvLumen: *Slight pout, was going to grab a pretty leaf to show the sparklets back home*

Perceptor: There are larger and more colourful leaves within the forest. *laying back wearily in the medic's arms as he traverses the road, which is paved with large blocks of stone*

hsvLumen: *perks up at that, doorwings up in an exaggeration of his grin as he moves to follow after his dad*

hsvWakeJumper: *moving at a steady pace, is keeping his sensors on high for the time being as he heads down the road*

Perceptor: *listening to the quiet of the forest as her optics scan their surroundings and glow softly in the darkness under the giant trees. Quietly* This world is not so populous as some, but I have never seen a world so dependent upon symbiotic relationships. *turns her head to look at one tree, whose branches far far overhead appear to be covered with green fur. Knows that this is the grain that Cron is making fuel from*

hsvWakeJumper: *soft chuckle* If the Perceptor from my reality were here, he and his mate would be carefully examining every inch of this place with their daughter and having a silent geefit...

Perceptor: *turns her attention to him* So there is a version of me in your reality as well. But they are also male.

hsvWakeJumper: *nods* Yeah... Most of your alternates, or at least the ones I've met, are male... *another soft chuckle* I've met an alternate of myself who had similar, if not identical tech to you, who is a female... She's bonded to her reality's Wheeljack...

Perceptor: *sad smile* Ah, Wheeljack. Even your worst could not compare to the explosions the day Cybertron died. *yes, just a bit wandering due to weariness*

hsvWakeJumper: Get some rest. Lumen and I will keep you safe.

hsvLumen: *Getting some pretty leaves to give to the sparklets back home, and one or two for Sunhalo*

Perceptor: *moves her head restlessly, and then sighs* I am not at all certain of the exact location of the village.

hsvWakeJumper: Lu and I don't have to be back for awhile... and I know how to program my PINpoint to take us back when we're supposed to be back. *continues to walk, scanners on alert*

Perceptor: Very well. *shivering just a little bit, but cuddles her son and offlines her optics*

hsvWakeJumper: *continuing on down the road, quietly discussing the situation with Lumen over comms*

buzzing sound: *from up ahead*

hsvWakeJumper: *Raised brow ridge, continues towards the sound as Lumen moves ahead to act as an escort*

sound: *comes into sight out of the shadows, is a low slung hover scooter bearing what looks like a cross between a shop vac and an octopus. Which is wearing a poncho with a window in the top....*

hsvLumen: *blink blink, scans the strange-looking being* Er... Hi?

Torka: *waves, but gets closer before she shuts off her scooter and replies* You're Lumen? And WakeJumper?

hsvLumen: *nods* I'm Lumen. *points to his dad* That's my dad, WakeJumper.

Torka: *lights blink as she makes a gesture of greeting with one tentacle* I'm Torka. How are Perceptor and the baby?

hsvWakeJumper: Perceptor's in need of rest, and the little one is healthy.

Torka: She says Kup's not here...? *yes, that is very motherly concern you hear in that scratchy gender-neutral voice*

hsvLumen: He went to go get the ship... They kinda wound up in a multiversal hub...

Torka: I have no idea what that means, but I can ask later. We have to get you to shelter now.

hsvWakeJumper: Because of the rains?

Torka: Yes. *restarting her scooter and turning it* Follow me, alright?

hsvWakeJumper: Alright. Lead on. *moves to follow Torka*

Torka: *does so. Leads them past a neat little row of stone homes that seem to snuggle the bases of the massive trees, and then down a little side path that ends beneath the pillar roots of a true monster of a tree* Here. We're setting up something under here for them. Cron? Rala? How's it going?

Cron: *spins in place and indicates the smoothly cleaned space on the rock paving* We've got somewhere for them to lay. But I can't think of what to use for blankets. They're too big for d'kang blankets.

hsvLumen: ... *grins and then he's digging into his subspace* I might have something that'd work.... Or at least, I know someone who might have something that'd work, if she's still hanging around the Nexus...

hsvWakeJumper: That crazy human that makes blankets for our kind? I haven't seen her in awhile... Haven't seen her male alternate either.... *Moving to gently set Perceptor and Johnny on the cleaned space just before Lumen pulls out a couple of interesting-looking and varigated blankets*

Perceptor: *startles and murmurs, one hand searching for something*

Torka: Ohhhh. *fuss fuss fuss as she gets off the scooter and rolls over to the little bot* She's looking for her pillow or blankets.

hsvLumen: *moving to gently drape one of the blankets he pulled out of storage over Perceptor and Johnny, pausing only after he's accomplished that* Wait... she?

Torka: *pauses and swivels, plainly looking up at him with mild confusion and alarm*

hsvLumen: ... But... *confused*

hsvWakeJumper: *patpats Lumen* Lu thought Perceptor was male, based on her appearance and the way her voice sounds.

Torka: ...But males don't produce children.

hsvWakeJumper: In most realities, they don't... It's incredibly rare in the reality Lumen and I hail from, but it does happen.

Torka: ...Oh. *sounds very confused. Just when she thought she'd figured out that two gender thing*

Cron: *scoots over to supervise two other nroo who are building up a wall to make sure that water stays out of the storage area*

Rala: *dancing, and scooting, and chatting*

hsvWakeJumper: As I said... Lumen and I are from a different reality than Kup and Perceptor. Different realities can be extremely different.

Torka: *quietly* My whole world is this village, this road, and the landing field. You'll have to forgive my inability to understand other things very well.

hsvWakeJumper: *nods* Be glad you didn't wander into the Nexus... that place is enough to throw anybody off-kilter...

Rala: *scoots over and pokes Lumen's foot*

hsvLumen: *Startled* Ack!

Torka: *WJ forgotten, she scoots toward the baby* He's only being curious!

Rala: *static of laughter at the ack*

hsvLumen: *Razzes Rala*

hsvWakeJumper: *Facepalming*

Torka: *arms around Rala* He's just a baby, only a few months old. He knows a lot, but he's also still learning.

hsvWakeJumper: Technically, Lumen's a toddler by the standards of the planet we live on... He's only in an adult shell because he was born before the war in our reality ended for good.

Torka: Our people are born into the bodies they use all their lives. *lets Rala go as he chirps and statics, then turns to face WJ again* Four years ago I settled into this one. In another two years I'll pass it on to the next baby in the family.

hsvWakeJumper: *slight frown, nods* I see...

Torka: You're frowning?

hsvWakeJumper: Sorry... I'm just... used to being around beings who live for about a vorn or so on average....

Torka: A vorn? I've heard Kup mention that measurement, but I've never stopped to ask how long it is.

hsvWakeJumper: A vorn is roughly eighty three years or so...

Torka: Many generations, though not as many as my family has known Kup and Perceptor. *turns to check on the aforementioned little bot, her lights blinking a smile as she sees how the woman is gripping the blanket and curled around her new son*

hsvLumen: Dad's an old fart compared to me... *grins* He's about a vorn and four years now...

hsvWakeJumper: *Face.Palm*

Torka: *lights turn back to the puzzled pattern* Your people don't live as long as Kup's?

hsvWakeJumper: He's being a brat, Torka... We're a very long-lived people... Some of the mechs back home are even older than the planet we reside on now. If things had been different, I would still likely be in a youngling protoform, but necessity deemed that I be put into an adult protoform roughly three years ago.

Torka: *lights blink for a moment, and then* Lumen, why don't you go help Cron with the wall?

hsvLumen: Okay. *goes to do so*

Cron: *is setting a minor booby trap for one of the other workers....*

Torka: *turns back to WJ* I think those two might have similar personality aspects.

hsvWakeJumper: Lu's only about a year and a half now. He's still very much a youngling in mentality, if not in physical structure...

Torka: Cron is two years old now, but he's been like that since before he'd even settled. *catches Rala as the baby scoots past with a leaf*

another Nroo: *coming in on a hover scooter, which is pulling a hover trailer full of stone and wood*

hsvWakeJumper: *soft chuckle* It must be Primus and the Greater Creator's way of reminding us that we need to laugh often...

Torka: It was hard to laugh after the headache he left us. Kup is wise with his refusal to let Perceptor off the ship during spawning season.

other nroo: *working hard all around them. Even the one that just gave Cron an almighty bop upside the body. It looks like a house is taking shape here*

hsvWakeJumper: Spawning season?

Torka: Yes. The time of year when we get new Nroo. And sometimes even more Nroo.

hsvWakeJumper: ... *blink blink, confused medic is confused*

Torka: The new programs go out, looking for a body to settle in. Usually they wind up in the bodies of the mothers who've just spawned, but sometimes a family will have enough to have bought a new body. And then we get someone new in the community. *static crackle of a chuckle* And sometimes an offworlder doesn't speak fast enough for a piece of equipment, and a new family is born.

hsvWakeJumper: ... *raised brow ridge, sensing the beginning of a good story*

Perceptor: *soft movement as the rain starts roaring down outside, though the thunder is faint and far overhead*

Torka: *goes and pats her, crackling soothingly*

Perceptor: *settles down and resumes her sound sleep*

Johnny: *thumb in mouth*

Kup: *comming Torka with a brief message: The &@#$&^% rain's too heavy for him to land the ship, so he's in orbit, and will wait out the rain*

Torka: Do you have any more blankets, WakeJumper? Perceptor usually has a lot of them. I think that's part of why she's restless. *pause and blinks as she acknowledges Kup's ping* //We've got them safe. I'm just trying to keep Perceptor comfortable.//

hsvWakeJumper: I might... *checking storage compartments and subspace, before withdrawing several similarly-patterned blankets to the one already covering Perceptor* I'll have to see if Den and Dennis are in the Nexus and if they are, if they have any more blankets...

Torka: Oh, we won't need to keep these. Perceptor has plenty on the ship. *crackles at another Nroo, who is starting a rectangular stone platform that looks like it'll be long enough for a bot Kup's size to lay on, then turns and looks up at WJ again*

hsvWakeJumper: It's not like I can't get more in the Nexus... besides, this way, Johnny can have his own blankets as well.

hsvLumen: *giving Cron a hard time and getting a hard time in return*

Torka: Oh. I suppose he will want those, once he's older. *startled and thoughtful blinking* *is very obviously ignoring those two jokers, as are most the other Nroo except for Rala and one other baby*

hsvWakeJumper: So how do you know Kup and Perceptor?

Torka: Hmm? *blinks a bit, then statics laughter* Kup founded my family, many many generations ago.

hsvWakeJumper: How'd he do that? *yup. It's definitely "Interesting Story Time"*

Torka: *chuckle* Kup brought a parcel for someone. During the spawning season. The very first Torka settled into his body, hoping that he could use it.

hsvWakeJumper: ... *Soft snerk* From what I've seen of the mech, your Kup is very much like the one from my reality... And I'd imagine he wasn't too thrilled about that...

Torka: We've kept the memories. *soft static as her lights blink a grin* I think he was mostly surprised at first.

hsvWakeJumper: *small grin* And how many cusswords did he teach the first Torka without meaning to?

Torka: Oh a good number, I think. But we still can't figure out which are cusswords and which are just surprised sounds. Our people haven't got much concept of anger.

Rala: *scoots by with the other baby* Frag slagging PIT! Yahoos!

hsvWakeJumper: ... *muting his vocalizer so he doesn't laugh out loud and accidentally wake Perceptor, but the rattling his armor is making is giving away how amused he is*

hsvLumen: *cackling*

Rala: *turns and scoots back* Cron, you slaggin' punk! *happy blinky lights!*

Cron: *static sporfle* It was him!

hsvLumen: *Loses the battle with staying upright, is now rolling on the ground and clutching at his sides as he howls with laughter*

hsvWakeJumper: *Pinching the bridge of his nose, but is grinning, so it's pretty clear he's not angry in the least*

Torka: ...Is that pain? Or amusement?

hsvWakeJumper: *tilts his head slightly to look at Torka* Which one of us are you talking about, Torka? *Amusement in his voice* 'Cause Lumen's laughing himself silly, and I'm trying not to laugh so I don't wake Perceptor.

Torka: Ahhh. I was wondering about Lumen. I've never heard sounds like that before.

hsvWakeJumper: He's one of the many youngbots who have taken more readily to emulating humans in gestures and expressions... I've picked up on it as well, but there are things I still don't understand... *tips his head to where his son is still rolling on the ground* Such as that. He's just getting himself muddy....

Nroo: *taps on Lumen. If Lumen's not going to clean the floor then please move so he can. Doesn't know Common to ask it, though*

Torka: *bemused lights as she rolls over to tuck more blankets around Perceptor and Johnny and a rolled up one under the little bot's head* I see.

hsvWakeJumper: Just a moment... *goes to grab Lumen*

hsvLumen: *Acks and then he's being bodily hauled away from the work area*

Rala: Where the freezing slag is my nine sixteenths laser wrench!?

Perceptor: *now gripping pillow with one hand and totally covered but for that hand. Almost content sleep*

Torka: *scoots after Rala and holds the baby still as she tells him to calm down*

hsvLumen: ...Wow... Kid sounds like he's been hanging around Ratchet when he's in a mood...

Cron: Nah, that was Kup after I hid his wrench. *rolling after Lumen*

hsvLumen: *snerks and then acks as his father lets go of him and he hits the ground skidplate first* Ow! Daaad! What was that for?!

hsvWakeJumper: You being a prat.

Cron: What's a prat?

Rala: Slagging yahoo!

Torka: Shhh.

hsvWakeJumper: That too... *chuckles* It means idiot.

Cron: Heh.

Torka: *statics softly to Rala, who crackles gleefully and blinks agreement. Cron is going to have a rough day tomorrow*

hsvWakeJumper: *quiet, rumbly chuckle* Well, I suppose Lumen and I'd better be heading back...

Torka: *pattern of concern* Perceptor is well enough?

hsvWakeJumper: She still needs rest, and some quiet, but she'll be alright, and if Kup is anything like the mech I know back in my reality, he'll be here as soon as he can.

Torka: How much quiet? Are the workers being too loud? And is there anything else I should do?

Rala: *darts outside with Cron in pursuit. Sounds of a splat and a yell follow*

hsvWakeJumper: Anywhere from the normal sounds of the down period to how loud it is outside now is fine. Make sure she doesn't get too stressed too soon.

Torka: *lights calm* Ah. Alright. I can do that. It won't be so hard now that she's got blankets and a pillow. Once we have the bed finished she'll be better.

hsvWakeJumper: *nods* And it'll help even more once Kup's back here with her.

Torka: Of course. *peaceful twinkling now. She understands needing your family* *extends one grasper to WJ* Thank you for helping Kup and Perceptor.

hsvWakeJumper: *reaches to carefully shake hands with Torka* I was just doing my duty as a medic... *small smile*

Torka: So there are rules against thanking you? *says it with her usual dry gentleness, but it's clear where she learned those words*

hsvWakeJumper: *soft snerk*

hsvLumen: Daaad, quit being a git.

Torka: *soft static crackle, and then turns to go and pat at Perceptor as a small sound comes from under the blankets*

Cron: *from outside* NO MORE MUD. AHHHHH

hsvLumen: *Snickering now*

hsvWakeJumper: *facepalms after letting go of Torka's grasper* C'mon, Lu. I know you're wanting to go dump mud on someone, so let's get going, and so help me if it's Ratchet, I am NOT saving you.

hsvLumen: *Cheekily and cheerily* Actually, I was thinking of dumping mud on Sunhalo. ^_^

hsvWakeJumper: Not saving you from her either. *PINpoints Lumen and himself back to their reality*

Up on the ship, a few hours later

Kup: *Has spotted a window of sorts in the cloud cover* *taking the opportunity presented and bringing the ship down through through that tiny break*

landing field: *empty but for puddles and a few things he left there under a tarp*

Kup: *once he's gotten the ship settled and he's out the door, he's sending Torka a message* //Kid, I got a break in the cloud cover that I was able to get through. Where the pit are you, Perceptor, and Johnny?//

Torka: //Kup? We're in the village. Do you need a light?// *not sure if he will or not, since he's never been outside the ship at night before*

Kup: //I've got lights on my alt-mode...// *Sounding a bit crabby, likely has been awake the entire time waiting for that opening*

Torka: //Alright, Kup. We're under the ivy tree.//

Kup: //I'll be there soon, if nothing happens.// *Transforms to alt-mode and turns on his lights*

Torka: //We'll have the door open for you.//

Kup: //Thanks, kid. Kup out.// *heading down the road now, wipers swiping the extra water off his lights*

village: *peacefully dark, though there are still people up and working in one or two of the houses. The nroo don't need light to see. But there is a soft glow coming from a window in a new wall over under that big tree with the stilt roots*

Kup: *Transforming once he's at the village, will head for the ivy tree now, kthx*

wall: *has a door the right size for him. It's standing open in the Nroo gesture of waiting for family to come home*

Kup: *moving to head through the door* *quietly* Torka? Perceptor?

Torka: *comes rolling down the hall with Rala in her wake* She and Johnny are in the first berthroom.

Kup: Lead the way. *wants to go and make absolutely sure the blue and orange guys didn't screw up*

Torka: *turns and herds Rala back down the hall and into the first door on the right*

Perceptor: *snug in a nice solid bed against the stone wall that divides this room from the next. All covered up with interesting looking blankets so that only one small hand shows as it grasps the edge of the makeshift pillow*

Kup: *moves to follow Torka, and once he's in the room as well, he's moving to gently put a hand on Perceptor's back, relief that she and Johnny are safe causing him to go nearly limp*

Perceptor: *stirs slightly and turns on the gently padded bed* Hmmm, Kup?

Kup: *Quietly* Go back to sleep, Perceptor... I'm here...

Perceptor: *pokes her head out of the blankets to blink at him sleepily* Join us?

Johnny: *is that little wiggle against his mother's chest*

Kup: *Nods and moves to do so*

Perceptor: *small sigh as she moves closer to the wall*

Torka: *softly* Is there anything you need before I leave your house?

Kup: *Soft "hrrrm...."-like sound, before he shakes his head and holds Perceptor and Johnny close*

Torka: Alright. I'll close your door for you. *gesture of affection as she turns to herd Rala out of the room*

Rala: Bye bye!

Kup: *contented engine rumble*

Perceptor: *listens to the doors closing* *quietly* It would seem that we once more have a planetary home.

Kup: *absent sound of agreement*

Johnny: *soft squeak*

Perceptor: *clicks to him, and then sighs and shuts her optics off again*

Kup: *protective of his family, even as he drifts into recharge*

Perceptor: *listens to the rumble of his systems, and the faint sound of the rain outside, then sighs and settles back to sleep after assuring herself that Johnny's tank is full*

Johnny: *sucks thumb and is content with his world*

((co-written with

random_xtras))