Nexus, Various Locations, New Arrival

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

sign: *gleams at the newly arrived Sneaker*

Sneaker: *is going to avoid looking at the Sign*

Nexus: *rather quiet right now. Scattered with couches of various sizes, and a few trees sticking up out of the pavement... ground... floor?*

Sneaker: *intrigued* *looks around him*

yOp: *from behind him* Is this your first time in the Nexus?

Sneaker: *if Random were here, he would learn that yes, even the reality's master of creeping up behind people (albeit accidentally) can startle*

rustling: *Coming from overhead, accompanied by a few soft growls of a feline nature*

yOp: *takes a step back, his hands coming up in apology* I didn't mean to startle you.

Sneaker: *about to reply to yOp, but looks up at rustling, before carrying on with his response to yOp* That is quite all right. I just did not see you there.

rustling: *gives way to a branch snapping, accompanied by a startled yelp as a piebald, cat-like creature, wearing a green parka, pants, and boots lands on the ground, butt-first*

yOp: *distracted from the other bot by the fall. Looks down at the feline person.* Excuse me. Are you alright? *Hunkers down and offers newcomer a hand* Are you hurt?

Sneaker: *was going to say something similar, but will look on with a worried expression*

Nyaan: *Gets up with yOp's help, making a few chattering sounds and soft trills that the Nexus translates as* Yeah, didn't land on my tail or head this time...

yOp: *can understand her even without the Nexus' help, and he smiles to see her getting back to her feet. Glances at the red mech, and then looks back to the young girl* What were you doing in that tree?

Sneaker: *was still looking on with concern until Nyaan spoke; normally, he would back off and let the two of them talk, but he is a bit intrigued by how her sounds got translated*

Nyaan: *Ears flick a bit as she answers* I was trying to catch one of the big flying fish....

yOp: o.0 *looks up at the whales* ...Oh.

Sneaker: *sees the whales as he looks around again; looks mystified*

Nyaan: *Ducking her head a bit, more embarrased that she missed the prey than the fact that she landed on her butt* Was just trying to help my family out...

yOp: *slowly, as he turns his gaze back down to the girl* Do you know how big those are?

Sneaker: *watches the whales fly/swim*

Nyaan: Kinda? Looks like a lot of meat....

yOp: *points to the nearby Brownstone* They're longer than that building. *frown of concern* Does your family need food?

Nyaan: ... *ears back* Oh.... No, we trade for food.... *A bit stubbornly* I'm supposed to be one of the hunters for our tribe though....

yOp: *quietly* Well, there isn't too much to hunt in the Nexus. I know there are rabbits. *moves his hands slightly* May I pick you up? *wants to talk to the red guy. He looks lost*

Sneaker: *not lost, exactly* *just content with looking around*

Nyaan: *nods, will likely move so she can sit on yOp's shoulder*

yOp: *amused by the girl's action. Suspects that she's been around larger people before. As he straightens to his full height he looks from her to the red mech and back* I should introduce myself. I'm Optimus.

Sneaker: *will shake hands if yOp's familiar with that custom; won't if not* My name is Sneaker.

Nyaan: *hand on her chest* Nyaan of the metalworkers.

Sneaker: *nods* Pleasure to meet you, Nyaan of the Metalworkers.

yOp: *grips Sneaker's hand strongly, his smile coming to a face that looks young and serious despite his size* It's a pleasure to meet both of you. Is this your first time in the Nexus? *including both in the question*

Sneaker: If this interesting place is known as the "Nexus," then yes, I think this is my first time here.

Nyaan: *headshake* My family and I live here now.

yOp: *nods to Sneaker, and then glances at Nyaan with a bit of surprise* So you don't know how to get back, Sneaker?

Sneaker: I'm afraid not.

Nyaan: *slight headtilt, one ear flicking a bit with curiosity*

yOp: *and then stops and looks as though he's listening to something else that only he can hear. Has just taken a real look at Sneaker, and now he's asking Someone about what he saw when he did*

Sneaker: *waiting patiently*

Nyaan: *Soft, curious chirr* *to both yOp and Sneaker* You're from different tribes than Hormah and hers, aren't you?

yOp: *blinks and grins as he focuses on the here and now again* Different builders, and yes. Different tribes. But we're the same kind of people. Though Hormah's father came from a reality similar to Sneaker's, I think. *turns his attention back to the red mech and frowns slightly*

Sneaker: *lets yOp answer Nyaan's question since he does not quite understand it* *to yOp, with patience* May I help you?

Nyaan: *Small nod, understands the gist of what yOp means, turns her attention to Sneaker*

yOp: *quietly* Sneaker, may I ask you a few questions?

Sneaker: Certainly.

Nyaan: *is going to try and do like Mrrna said, and sit quietly*

yOp: *gentle hand up toward the girl, and a finger that pokes her lightly and playfully as he focuses on Sneaker* What's the last thing you remember before you came here?

Sneaker: *starts to think . . . and grows silent as he finds he is having a hard time remembering*

Nyaan: *okay, the poking finger is too tempting... Is gonna pounce on the finger and cling to the hand it's attached to, growling playfully*

yOp: *mouth twitches at Nyaan's antics, but his optics are serious and kindly as he focuses on Sneaker and waits. The hand, however, gently fights back*

Sneaker: *optics widen as he finally gets past the dream-like haze and remembers what he was doing before he came here* I shouldn't be here. *looks around frantically and a bit confused* I need to make sure Random and the others have a chance to escape!

Nyaan: *ears and tail flicking as she continues to play-fight with yOp's hand, but then she's blink-blinking and chirring at Sneaker*

yOp: *quietly* Nyaan, I'm calling Hormah to let her know you're with us, alright? *gently to Sneaker, as he puts a hand on the shorter mech's shoulder* Let's go get some energy.

Sneaker: *looks at yOp quizzically* *but he will go where he is lead*

Nyaan: *small nod, moves to climb back up to yOp's shoulder*

yOp: *guides Sneaker down the alley and along the path to where the former warehouse that now holds the Black Dog stands. Nods to Blackout as he passes the Warlady sitting on the bench on the porch, and then stops just inside the pub to let his companions get a look at it*

Sneaker: *he is wondering how this will help him get back home to help his friends, but he doesn't say anything* *takes in the pub, with a bit more wariness than he was showing earlier*

Nyaan: *ears up as she realizes how nice and warm this place is, happy chattering as she moves to take her gloves off and store them in a pocket*

yOp: *will guide Sneaker over to that nice small booth in the corner if the mech will let him. Comms an order to Archiva as he goes* This looks like a good spot. Careful, Nyaan.

Sneaker: *allows him to so so, still watching and wondering*

Nyaan: *Chatters at yOp. Despite her earlier tumble, she's pretty good at keeping her balance*

yOp: *puts up a hand to help her down to the table as he settles on the seat closer to the door, allowing Sneaker to put his back to the wall* I've ordered us some good midgrade, and turkey dinner for Nyaan. Does that sound good?

Sneaker: *comes out of his thoughts* Yes. That sounds good.

Nyaan: *ears perked* Is turkey like chicken?

yOp: *smiles at her* Turkeys and chickens are both largish birds that live on the ground. But turkeys are a lot bigger than chickens. Are you going to sit, Sneaker?

Sneaker: *doesn't realize he hasn't sat down yet and settles into the seat Optimus left for him, settling back against the wall*

Nyaan: *Pleased grin as she moves to remove her coat so she can sit on it to keep from losing it*

Archiva: *pretty white bayformer femme stops and sets down two big cubes of pink soother, and a platter containing a huge roasted turkey with all the trimmings*

yOp: *smiles and thanks Archiva, then puts the turkey by Nyaan before passing one of the cubes to Sneaker and keeping the other for himself* *quietly to Sneaker* I'll explain after you've had a drink.

Sneaker: *briefly distracted by the soother as he accepts it from Optimus* *manages a nod before he takes a sip* *shocked at the richness of the flavor, takes a bigger sip*

Nyaan: *Boggling at the size of the turkey, and the amount of food. Wonders to herself if she should try and bring as much of this back with her as she can... It seems old habits die hard, and providing for family takes priority...*

yOp: *slight smile as he looks from Sneaker to Nyaan. To both of them* You like it?

Sneaker: Yes, I have not had to good fortune to have fuel this good for quite some time.

Nyaan: *Sounding a bit awed* Biiiig bird.....

yOp: *chuckles* *to Nyaan* Yes, it's all for you. *then turns back to Sneaker* Yeah, fuel's one of the first things to suffer during a war.

Sneaker: *nods, solemnly*

Nyaan: *Trying to figure out where to start cutting meat off, ears perked as she comes across a mug of reddish tea that smells of the good red berries that she used to help her uncle harvest*

yOp: *sees that Nyaan is happily distracted and focuses on Sneaker* *quietly* You aren't going to be able to go back.

Sneaker: *looks up from his drink and melancoly* I beg your pardon?

Nyaan: *purring quietly as she tastes the tea*

yOp: *gentle finger touches the young organic girl's back as he meets Sneaker's optics* You... *pauses to look for guidance, and then nods just slightly as he hears the reply* Sneaker, you died in your reality. Your part of that story is finished.

Sneaker: *takes that in and still looks confused* I don't quite understand. I-I don't remember . . . passing on. *a pause* And why am I here ? Shouldn't I be . . . ? *in the Allspark, he doesn't say*

Nyaan: *Pay her no mind, she's just going to continue exploring and tasting the contents of the turkey platter*

yOp: *still gently rubbing Nyaan's back with his finger as he talks to Sneaker* *quietly* Do you know who Primus is?

Sneaker: Not as well as I should. *He says that to be modest, mostly. He is one of the few in his reality that actually believes Primus is more than a myth.*

yOp: *can sense this of the red mech, though he only nods* *slight smile* You aren't dead... anywhere else. Only in that reality.

Sneaker: Reality?

yOp: *nods* Yes. There's more than one. This place where we are now is a gateway between realities.

Sneaker: *silent as he takes another drink; he is trying to figure this out*

yOp: In your reality Optimus Prime became Nemesis Prime. In the reality where I was created Optimus died before he ever reached Prime.

Sneaker: *looks at him while he says this* *then it is apparent that he does not know how to handle the information Optimus gives him*

yOp: *slight sigh* It's too much yet, isn't it?

Sneaker: Forgive me, but I am not sure what to think. The Optimus from . . . my . . . reality was said to be a good mech. To say that he became Nemesis Prime is . . . alarming. *he is also still confused about the reality thing, but this came out first*

yOp: It is alarming. But Primus is working on calling him back to himself.

Sneaker: *nods* *trusts Primus to succeed in doing so*

yOp: *small smile* Primus wants me to tell you that Kia is taking good care of Random.

Sneaker: *manages a smile* I am happy to hear that. She is a good femme.

yOp: *quietly* She's a newspark, they usually start out good.

Sneaker: *nods* We have not had a newspark in years. I hope she will do my . . . reality good. *still not used to thinking in terms of realities*

yOp: *nods* Primus has confidence in her. *more quietly* And in the young... Jedi? he's sent. *blinks* Jedi?

Nyaan: *blink blink, curious ear-flick*

Sneaker: Jedi were Primus's Servants in my reality. They were also peacekeepers. That is, until Nemesis Prime decided to . . . *he does not finish the thought out loud* Primus has chosen another Jedi? That is good news for my reality.

yOp: *slightly amazed smile as the geek in him geeks* Yes. Primus says he's using the last members of the old order to train the new guy.

Nyaan: *Something she kinda understands!* Sorta like the elders of the tribe teaching the younger generations?

Sneaker: *surprised to hear that there were still members of the Order around* *to Optimus* That is good to hear. *to Nyaan* Exactly like that. It is the way the Jedi pass on the ancient traditions.

yOp: *smiles and watches how Sneaker answers Nyaan's question, feeling Primus talking to his spark as he does so*

Nyaan: *pleased kitty grin, accompanied by a slight tail flick*

Sneaker: *smiles back at Nyaan*

yOp: Sneaker, do you want to talk to Primus?

Nyaan: *She's heard Hormah and Starchart talking about Primus before, and Moonglide's mentioned the name before.... Slight headtilt*

Sneaker: *looks at Optimus* *his feelings a mix as he feels the desire to talk to his Creator but also feels as though he is not worthy enough to do so*

yOp: *quietly* You're part of him, Sneaker. A part that he loves a lot. *gentle fingers on Nyaan again*

Nyaan: *soft trill, ears perked*

Sneaker: *smiles at Nyaan before turning back to Optimus* *humbly* Yes, I'd like to talk to him.

yOp: *gentle hand over Nyaan to show her that he'd like her to be quiet for a little bit now* Alright.

Nyaan: *going to eat some more turkey then*

Sneaker: *still a bit nervous, not sure what to expect*

yOp: *holds out a hand to the red mech* He'll speak through me, though he tends to communicate more with feelings than with actual words.

Nyaan: *Still nomming turkey*

Sneaker: *nods to show his understanding and then takes Optimus' hand*

yOp: *smiles and shutters his optics*

Primus: *gentle apology toward Sneaker, and also approval and love*

Sneaker: *look of wonder as he feels Primus talking to him*

Primus: *Sneaker is his. And Sneaker is worthy. Primus is proud of Sneaker, and is giving Sneaker a chance to have his spark's desire*

yOp: *curious brow lift, but doesn't say anything*

Sneaker: *pleasantly surprised at the intensity of Primus's feelings and also feels very grateful*

Primus: *offers Sneaker data that will help him, about this Nexus and about the Multiverse*

Sneaker: *that feeling of gratefulness increases as he feels his mind clear from his confusion*

Primus: *makes sure that his creation knows everything needed about alternate realities and about things such as LOLs. Then shows him an image of Optimus, and of an odd looking little red orange femme accompanied by a black mech of feline appearance. These are Primus' servants who are most often found in the Nexus. The femme and the black mech live here. Sneaker can trust these bots and go to them if he needs help. Then Sneaker is shown a black and silver femme of somewhat equine construction, and the massive spiky being that was sitting on the bench on the porch. These also serve Primus, though they are not Servants like the others*

yOp: *catches a baby potato that's rolling across the table and gives it back to Nyaan without taking his attention from Sneaker*

Nyaan: *nomma'tato*

Sneaker: *takes all the information in and manages to make sure to remember everything he is being told*

Primus: *Wants Sneaker to find the femme, and have the family. Has young sparks to trust to Sneaker. More affection and approval*

Nyaan: *Wonders to herself just how much of the feast she'll be able to carry back home, and how much Bbbrl would like*

Sneaker: *thankful and will strive to do so; much appreciation for his Creator*

Primus: *Feeling of a big hug and one last dose of that limitless approval, and then the awareness of Primus fades and leaves only a quizzical and curious but not prying feeling that is clearly Optimus*

yOp: *gets the 'all done' and opens his eyes to lift his brow ridges and smile at Sneaker* *also pours Nyaan more tea*

Nyaan: *Thanks yOp and sips at the tea while she contemplates how to bring home the leftovers from the feast*

Sneaker: *look of wonder still on face as he intakes and removes his hand from Optimus* *and then a small smile*

yOp: *quietly* Okay now?

Nyaan: *gnawing on a turkey leg now*

Sneaker: Yes, I'm much better now. Thank you.

yOp: *sips at his cube and smiles down at Nyaan's purring, then turns back to Sneaker* Is there anything you need?

Nyaan: *blinking a bit as the comfort of a full belly and a nice warm place to sit start to work in tandem to make her sleepy*

Sneaker: *thinks on that, and then as it occurs to him* I do not doubt Kia's abilities to distract him from his worries, but I must ask since we were quite close: how is Random taking my absence?

yOp: *quietly* He's so busy that he hasn't got time to dwell on it, and he knows you're gone.

Nyaan: *Starting to nod off*

Sneaker: *nods as he takes that in* May I ask what else is occupying his time?

yOp: *wryly as he puts a gentle hand around Nyaan to keep her from falling down* Right now, keeping three Minicons from becoming swamp monster bait and fretting about being away from Kia while the young Jedi trains with the last master. And also becoming more aware of just how real Primus really is.

Nyaan: *Snuggles against yOp's hand, is hit with a nap attack*

Sneaker: *as he watches Nyaan* Not having an easy time, but it is meant to help him later on.

yOp: It takes a lot of work to get a diamond out of coal. *small smile as he gathers Nyaan up into his hands and asks Archiva for a container for the rest of the turkey meal*

Nyaan: *Purring quietly as she sleeps*

Sneaker: *nods in agreement* *thinking back on all the years that he knew the mech* He can do it.

yOp: *nods* If Primus and the Greatest Creator say, then... *watches Archiva package up the food, leaving the 'he can' unspoken*

Nyaan: *issa warm, happy, purring Mrrpt-Nyaah*

Sneaker: And Kia will help him. *takes a sip from his drink*

yOp: *quietly* Kia can hear Primus.

Nyaan: *ear flick as she dreams of home*

Sneaker: It was said that newsparks retained a connection with Him.

yOp: Really? *thinks of the little ones he knows, and then concludes that he can't compare because none of them live in the same conditions that Kia does*

Nyaan: *squirms a bit as she dreams of chasing rabbits*

Sneaker: At least that was said of them in my reality. I cannot say for certain because Kia was the only newspark I was intimately familiar with and that was only for a very brief time.

yOp: And most of the ones I know are baby style. *gently bundles Nyaan in her warm coat, then makes sure her mittens are still safely in her pockets* Is there anything else you need, Sneaker? *makes Nyaan's box of food vanish amid a soft scattering of red and blue sparkles*

Nyaan: *has more warm. Hear her purr get louder?*

Sneaker: *thinks about that for a few moments* Do you know of a place I can stay?

yOp: *perk* I do. *makes the air sparkle with red and blue once more, and then offers a fancy PINpoint device that includes a pop up holo map when the right buttons are pressed* It's an old garage out by the lost highway. The area around it's pretty dry, so you don't have to worry about too much snow. Or pollen.

Nyaan: *sleepy murmur, curls up in her coat*

Sneaker: *still intrigued by the sparkles, but accepts* Thank you.

yOp: *sparkles again and winds up in the form of a dark-haired human guy in jeans and a red jacket* I put the co-ordinates into the teleporter, so if you call them up and press the button it'll take you there.

Nyaan: *Snuggles against yOp's chest, purring all the while*

Sneaker: *even with Primus' help, it is going to take a little bit to get used to all this* *examines the teleporter and calls up the co-ordinates* Are these the co-ordinates? *reads them off and/or shows them to Op if needed*

yOp: Yup. *grins* I can sense someone already there, so don't be surprised when he comes to welcome you.

Sneaker: *curious, but feels the need to quietly process all this new information and to catch up on the recharge he'd been missing before he got here. Will thank Optimus again, and then go to his new home, briefly make the acquaintance of the brown tom cat who comes to greet him, and then find somewhere inside the garage to lay back and shut down till his processor has this all sorted out*

yOp: *teleports himself and the sleeping child to the gate of the courtyard where her family is living now. Notices the soft peep of half grown chickens from somewhere inside*

Eclipse: *looks up from feeding the chickens, curious chirp* Who are you?

yOp: My name's Optimus. Nyaan had lunch with me, but I think the turkey made her tired.

Eclipse: *small frown, earfins falling slightly* Turkey? *moves to grab her younger family member*

yOp: *very carefully hands Nyaan over, and then pulls the box of food out of subspace* Yes. Here's the rest.

Eclipse: *Earfins up, then she's calling for Beacon or Moonglide to help her with Nyaan*

Beacon: *From the roof* Coming! *Totally showing off as he jumps down and lands in a crouch*

yOp: *blinks at the feline Transformer, but then grins and offers him the big box of food*

Beacon: *Headtilt* What's this stuff?

yOp: The rest of Nyaan's lunch.

Beacon: Oh... *Curious, will have a peek into the box before making a surprised sound* That's a lot of food... *Thinking that the rest of the family will like this*

yOp: Yeah. *grin* Happy Thanksgiving.

Beacon: Thanksgiving? Like on those tee-vee things?

Eclipse: *Soft snerk, then she's carrying Nyaan inside*

yOp: *chuckles and sparkles a picture book into being. Offers it* This is what Thanksgiving's about.

Beacon: *Will tuck the book under his arm* Thanks... *going to have a bit of the meat he can see*

yOp: *surprised* You can process organic fuel?

Beacon: *nod* Thanks to Miss Hormah and Ravage helping us... Eclipse had to really study the new shells before she could figure out how to do it though....

yOp: *puzzled, but decides he'll ask Hormah about it* Ah. Well here's a sample of zucchini pickles to go with the turkey dinner. They look a little disgusting, but they're tasty and good for most organic people that can digest plant food.

Beacon: *ears up as he accepts the sample* Thanks... *curious now*

yOp: *grins* You're welcome.

Beacon: *moves to take the box and the zucchini pickles in to where everyone else who isn't out gathering is*

yOp: *chuckles and goes home*

((Co-written with astrotechmech and random_xtras))