Nexus. The Sign and the Sanctuary of Primus. Too Convenient.

[ssjmihoshi]

Matthew: *sitting on a giant Cybertronian-sized couch near The Sign, bored out of his mind and watching whatever happens to pass by*

Rodimus: *pauses and back pedals so he can see up there* You look like somebody erased your prank code before you got to run it.

Matthew: *sighs* That's about how I feel.

Rodimus: *slight frown* Is it alright to ask what happened?

Matthew: Aiofe still won't let me work. *rubs the sore spot that's almost but not quite healed* So it's either sit and watch the telenet all day or sit and watch the Sign all day.

Rodimus: *looks at the sign* ...What's wrong with watching the traffic around the sign. Oh hey... *pauses, looking upward* There's someone running around on the whales.

Matthew: *follows his gaze*

whales: *floating serenely overhead. There are indeed two human, or slightly larger than human size figures moving around on their backs and making daredevil leaps from whale to whale*

Matthew: *snickers* I used to do that when I was younger.

Rodimus: When I was younger I was too big to get up on creatures like that without leaving tire tracks. *slight snerk* Mrrpt-Nyah. Why am I not surprised?

Matthew: *snerks too* You needed to find bigger whales. What's a Mrrpt-Nyah?

Rodimus: No whale's big enough for a Hot Rod to race on. And they're hairless people that look a lot like cats.

Matthew: I see. *amused snerk* I doubt it. I've seen some pretty big critters.

Rodimus: *slight smile that holds a lot of memory* Yeah, but you've never seen Hot Rod. *shrugs and looks up at the organic man again* Have you ever heard of the Black Dog?

Matthew: *stretches* Been there too. It's fun for a while, but you get tired of looking. Know what I-

small flash at the top of the Sign: *deposits a small Togruta girl dressed in Jedi garb*

Jedi: *proceeds to fall, barely catching herself on the various parts of the sign before finally stopping about 30 feet from the ground* *breathing hard, doesn't look well*

Rodimus: *started toward the sign as soon as he saw her appear, is now beneath her with his arms outstretched* *quietly, voice lacking the bored amusement that it had held while talking to Mathew* You can let go. I'll catch you.

Jedi: *lets go, probably not of her own volition*

Matthew: *jumps up, concern in his eye, craning to see if she's ok*

Rodimus: *catches the girl carefully, and then goes to one knee so that he can support her against the other as he checks her pulse and listens to her breathing while looking her over for visible injury* Easy. You're safe here.

Matthew: *climbs down to join Rodimus*

Jedi: *has suffered significant internal and external trauma, but seems stable, for now* *looks up at the robot and for a second seems confused. But then she smiles and puts a weak hand on his* It's going to be ok...

Rodimus: Yup. *bit of that famous grin* Here. Let me bring you to someone who can help you.

Jedi: *slips off, concentrating on keeping her breathing and heart rate level*

Matthew: I'm coming too.

Rodimus: Slap a hand on my back and hold on, then. *brisker now, very much a leader*

Matthew: *does so*

Rodimus: *PINpoints them to the sanctuary*

Hormah: #@@#$#@! *hands on hips, but then sees the girl and hurries over* Lemme see, Roddy.

Matthew: *lets go of Rodimus and staggers for a second, holding his head*

Rodimus: *as soon as Hormah has taken the girl, he turns and catches the man by the shoulders* Easy, buddy. What's hurting?

Matthew: *grunts* Teleportation and me... don't get along. I'll be fine. *waves him off*

Rodimus: *steps back and watches him for a moment, but then looks up to where Hormah's deedling to herself softly as she scans the girl*

Hormah: *has lain the girl on one of the two stone tables in her front room and is scanning her carefully to learn the full extent of her damage*

Dinobot: *is that lethal looking white thing that just walked out to watch what's going on. Tail lashes slowly*

Jedi: *looks to have been bashed with quite a few blunt objects. Has some minor cuts, but is mostly bruised and bleeding. Oh, and there's some lightning damage too*

Matthew: *wanders over* How does a girl that young get into so much trouble? *frowns*

Hormah: *glances at him* T'ain't no kid. She's mature, me son.

Matthew: *grimace* Barely.

Rodimus: *grunts as he nearly slips and bashes his chin while climbing up onto the table* Some cultures start young.

Matthew: *jerks back from the falling bot* Are you alright?

Dinobot: *had wandered over. And it was his hand that caught Rodimus and prevented the chipping of the table* *now boosts the darker bot up before glancing at Mathew and stepping back*

Rodimus: Yeah. I'm fine. You wanna hand up?

Matthew: *would have helped but Dinobot beat him to it* Sure. *extends an arm*

Rodimus: *reaches down and pulls him up easily and carefully* You know, one good thing about pants is they give an extra hand hold in situations like this. *gets Matthew safely to the table top anyhow, and then puts aside his teasing to turn and watch Hormah and the girl*

Matthew: *snerks* Skirts do the same thing if they're tight enough. *turns to the girl as well, worry clear on his face*

Jedi: *now in a healing trance. With all this damage she should be dead by now. Hormah can guess why she's not*

Hormah: Eh, Dinobot, gimme some 'o t'em blankets. 'N tell yer lady t' circulate.

Dinobot: *growls softly and vanishes down the hall*

Rodimus: *watches the white bot go* Not really. There's no chance of a wedgie. *then double takes and looks at Hormah* Wait, Nightwish is here?

Hormah: Yup. *still scanning the girl and watching her healing progress*

Matthew: Is she going to be ok?

Hormah: Yeah, b'y. She's jes' buddin'.

Matthew: *blinks* "Budding"?

Rodimus: He was asking about the girl. *smirk*

Hormah: *facepalms and deedles* Yeah, she's gonna be alright too.

Matthew: *laughs softly*

Dinobot: *back with a very large knitted afghan that is made of blue squares decorated with the same badge that he and Rodimus are wearing*

Hormah: *thanks the smaller bot, and then carefully wraps the girl loosely in the warm soft covering*

Jedi: *seems happier now*

Matthew: If it's alright, I'd like to watch over her.

Hormah: *quirks a brow ridge* Whatever, b'y. *tilts head and listens to something, then grins slightly and glances at Dinobot*

Dinobot: *quirks the brow ridge over his normal optic, and then gives his own slight grin when she nods at him*

Rodimus: *grins too from where he's sitting near Mathew and the girl with one knee partially drawn up and an elbow resting on it*

Matthew: *raises eyebrow, looks around at the faces* Am I missing something?

Rodimus: Dinobot's wife's in labour.

Matthew: Oh! Well... congratulations! .... You should go!

Dinobot: *gives the organic man a quiet look* Sssshe will call if sssshe wantsss me.

Matthew: *a bit surprised, but then that guy's wife has to be scary. He wouldn't want to be in the delivery room either*

Hormah: *sudden perk and deedle as she turns on her heel and hurries down the hall*

Rodimus: *excited grin* Here she comes.

Dinobot: *looks toward the hall, silent and still but for that slowly lashing tail*

Matthew: *smiles, eager to see*

Dinobot: *tenses as a small cry comes from down there somewhere, but then bows his head and lets air out with a soft whoosh as he hears Hormah's cheerful deedling*

Rodimus: *great big grin just got bigger as he lays down to smack the white bot on the head*

Matthew: Congratulations again.

Dinobot: *quietly* Thank you. *and then he's sucking in air as Hormah returns holding a form no bigger than a year old human baby* Sssshe is so ssssmall. *frown of worry*

Hormah: Aye, b'y. She'll grow. *tucks the blanket wrapped sparklet into her father's arms, then deedles cheerfully and grins at Mathew and Rodimus*

Matthew: *also marvels at the smallness, is smiling softly and remembering a little bundle of his own*

Rodimus: It's a miracle she's even here, with how you and 'Wish's sparks are. *hops down so that he can get a closer look at those big green eyes that are regarding the world with a curious scowl* Awwwww, she's got her mom's looks.

Dinobot: *quietly* Thhhank the Creator for Hissss kindnesss.

Rodimus and Hormah: *snerk*

Matthew: *frowns at Rodimus and Hormah*

Rodimus: *rough smack for Dinobot's shoulder* I better get back. I left Springer backed in a corner by Oriana's furby.

Dinobot: *blinks and then shakes his head slowly*

Hormah: *gentle punt for the 'winged' mech as he laughs and runs for the door* Stunned....

Matthew: Can I contact Aiofe? She's liable to chase after me when I don't come home.

Hormah: *glances at him* Aoife? Jes' tell 'er.

Matthew: *blink*

Hormah: Say 'er name, t'ink 'o 'er, 'n say yer message.

Dinobot: *looks up from his new child to watch Mathew*

Matthew: Uh, alright. *turns around, feeling a mite silly even though he knows he shouldn't* Aiofe, something came up. I'm going to be gone tonight. Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow.

Aoife: *voice in his mind is faint but clear* -Where are you?-

Matthew: Um... *turns back to the robots* Where is this?

Hormah: Sanctuary 'o Primus. *grin, yellow optics twinkling*

Matthew: *repeats this for Aiofe*

Aoife: -Oh. Alright. Is Hormah getting you supper?-

Matthew: *chuckles* I imagine she will, when I get hungry. Oh, and Dinobot's baby was just born.

Aoife: -Which Dinobot?-

Matthew: The one married to... Nightwish?

Aoife: -They have a sparklet? Oh sweet! Ack! Baby in the mop bucket!-

Matthew: *chuckles again* See you tomorrow.

Aoife: -See you.-

Hormah: Ye imagines what, b'y?

Matthew: She asked if you were feeding me dinner. *smirk*

Hormah: Ah. Ye assumin'? *optics twinkle*

Matthew: You seemed the motherly type. *returns the twinkle*

Dinobot: *you didn't just hear the new father snort as he walks slowly toward the hall with his bitty*

Hormah: *you DID hear her snerk* Ye ever heard t'at line about assumin'? *is, however, silently asking her mate to bring along some squishy food as he brings the kids and the cat back from the Dog*

Matthew: *chuckles as he sits down beside the girl, ready for a long vigil*

Hormah: *gets him another of those massive soft blankets, and then goes out to meet Rap and the family*


The Next Day, Around 11 am...

Matthew: *shooed last night to a different room in the hall, along with the girl. Now resting on a comfy Cybertronian-sized bed with a vinyl-covered foam mattress. And giant blankets of course. Has been hearing soft music and laughter from outside all morning, as well as the pitter-patter of little feet* *muses softly to himself* Is that baby moving around already...?

something: *hits the door with a metallic thunk and a giggle*

Hormah: *from the hall* 'Ey, Screamer, what d'ye t'ink ye'r at, b'y?

Screamer: *just gives another cute little giggle*

Matthew: *shakes his head and looks back down at the girl, who has been resting in the same position all night. The fact that she's not moving worries him, but he's been monitoring her vitals so he knows she's at least still alive* *stomach growls and he contemplates getting food*

Jedi: *soft moan*

Hormah: *is that soft tap on the door that's accompanied by soft deedling*

Matthew: *at the girl's side, checking pulse* Come in.

Jedi: *eyes flutter open*

Hormah: *pushes open the door and looks in as two sets of blue optics peer around her legs, another set twinkles from the tiny white, red, and blue G1 Seekerling under one of her arms, and soft eyes peek sleepily from the little footie jammie clad kitten boy on her shoulder* How's she after doin'?

Matthew: *fussing in that battle medic way, food now forgotten* She's waking up. *to the girl* Can you hear me?

Jedi: *squints at the man* ....Yes...

Hormah: *tilts her head, and then walks over to the bed and holds a bowl of the girl's favorite food where she can see it* Welcome back, b'y.

Seeklet: Bbbbbbbbb! *giggle*

Matthew: *moves so the girl can see better*

Jedi: *moves head slowly to see a bowl full of... Bantha Snacks!* *tired perk* Are... those what I think they are?

Hormah: Yer favourite. T'ough I's put some milk on 'em.

kitty boy: *softly* It's blue. And there's just enough to make the cookies softer and nommy. *big ears perk down at the girl*

Hormah: *offers a spoon as well*

Jedi: *tired smile that's full of pleasant surprise and love* I was just thinking about food.

Matthew: *supports her as she sits up and will carefully hand her the bowl and spoon*

Hormah: *sets the Seeklet down on the bed and fusses a bit, tucking the blanket up behind the girl as a comfortable back rest* Nah, Starscream, t'ey ain' after wantin' yer snack.

Starscream: Oooo? *looks up in the midst of offering a very gnawed looking blue plastic disk*

Matthew: *lets Hormah work, as his brand of care doesn't include motherly touches. But he will hold the bowl for her*

Jedi: *gives that same smile to the little Scream* Thank you, but you need that more than me.

Starscream: Baba abah! :D

Jedi: *will eat slowly and daintily, savoring the taste, until the bowlful is gone*

Matthew: What happened to you?

Hormah: *sets the kitten child down next to the little Seeker, and then goes to see about a thump in the hall and some deep male laughter*

kitty boy: *will gently move close to the girl and then snuggle against her covered legs, his big eyes and ears watching her face*

Jedi: *gives a little happy sigh and rubs the little kitten's head* I didn't think I'd ever taste those again...

Matthew: *sets the bowl and spoon aside* You were nearly dead when you arrived.

Jedi: *eyebrows knit* I remember... a battle. So much fighting. And then... nothing.

boy: That happens to lots of people. But then they get better. *is a very warm little kid even through blankets and his long sleeved, footed outfit. Is also purring softly* Mama called her friend with the purple lightsaber to come talk to you.

Matthew: You don't remember falling from a sign? You were even talking.

Jedi: No, but I have a feeling it will come. *looks to the boy* Your mother must be very trustworthy to know a Jedi.

boy: *rubs his nose, and then points toward the door that Hormah just left* She's the servant of Primus, and she talks to God. *hey, that makes her trustworthy in his eyes*

Jedi: *impressed* Wow! That is a very important job.

Matthew: *quirks an eyebrow* You sound very calm for someone who just almost died.

Jedi: *looks to him and smiles again* That's our way. Besides, *takes in the sanctuary* I can tell this is a safe place.

boy: *looks at Mathew* Did you get excited about it?

Matthew: About what? *though he thinks he knows...*

boy: When you almost died. *perks ears and looks at him so seriously*

Jedi: *looks at the boy curiously, then to Matthew*

Matthew: *yeah, he was right* How did you know that?

boy: *puzzled* You're Matthew, right?

Matthew: *sighs* Word of the new guy gets around, I guess. Yes, I'm Matthew.

boy: Auntie Wolvie likes you lots, so she worries about you. Mama says it's okay to tell somebody they got talked about, but I'm not supposed to tell anybody else, because of comfidentality.

Starscream: *gnawing in his disk as he watches everybody with bright optics*

Matthew: *ok, that was too cute. He can't resist a smile...a small one* I almost die a lot. *wry look at the wall* I'm used to it...

Jedi: *senses his tension and decides to change the subject* *turns to the boy* My name is Kataeni. What's yours?

boy: I'm Bbbrl. That's Starscream. He and his wife are visiting while his mom takes his son to the rat pits.

Matthew: You mean his parents are visiting?

Bbbrl: *shakes his head without lifting it from Kataeni's leg* Nope. Starscream usedta be big. But he died and Primus sent him back little. Right, Screamy?

Starscream: *click click beep pop click! Bounce on butt*

Matthew: *ok, that was unexpected* He does that?

Kataeni: *considers* Is this the afterlife? Is this the Force?

Bbbrl: If he thinks a Transformer hasn't learned enough he does. *looks at Kataeni* Nope.

Kataeni: Then where are we?

Bbbrl: The Sanctuary of Primus, in the Sign Nexus. It's kinda a place where Transformers go to talk to their dad and stuff. *nod nod, then perks his ears and looks toward the door, where an orange bot very similar to Hormah is standing with a plate in his hand* Hi, Pi!

Pi: *grins and beeps, the sound different from Hormah's deedles* Hey, Bbbrl. *looks to Mathew* Do you want lunch yet?

Matthew: *stomach growls again* Oh right. Thanks.

Kataeni: Oh, that's the sound I heard.

Pi: *comes walking over and offers Mathew a full size pie plate. Whatever is in the plate is covered with thick slices of roast meat*

Bbbrl: *to Kataeni* This is my brother Pi.

Matthew: *to Kataeni* Really? *eagerly takes the pie full of potatoes, gravy, peas, and turnip as well*

Kataeni: *soft giggle* Yes. Hello, Pi.

Pi: The cook at the Black Dog made that just for you. *grins, and then looks at Kataeni* Want me to take this bowl?

Matthew: *digs in* This is delicious!

Kataeni: *smiles* Yes, thank you. *to everyone* Thank you for taking care of me. Unfortunately I'm going to need to sleep again soon. I'm still very tired.

Pi: *nods as he takes the bowl and spoon* Alora Onasi's coming to talk to you later. She usedta be a jedi. *leans down to give Starscream's disk a play nibble as the sparklet offers*

Starscream: *pop pop beepboop click weee!*

Kataeni: Used to be?

Pi: *straightens as he scoops Starscream up into the crook of one arm* Yeah. They still call her one, but she's force blind.

Kataeni: *sadly* Oh. *has many questions, but knows now is not the time to ask them*

Pi: Want me to fix your blankets so you can lay down?

Bbbrl: Want a dolly to snuggle?

Kataeni: *laughs* Thank you, Bbbrl, but I'll be alright. *to Pi* I would appreciate it, thank you.

Pi: *settles Starscream on his shoulder and then adjusts the blanket with hands that are quick and gentle. Soon has Kataeni laying in a comfortable nest of afghan* There you go.

Kataeni: Thank you. *there's that love-filled smile again, cracked ever so slightly as she carefully maneuvers herself*

Matthew: *still eating as he watches her dutifully*

Pi: *helps the Togruta girl gently, then pulls the afghan up around her shoulders* *cheery grin and beeps* Doing my job.

Kataeni: I will see you again soon. Good night, Bbbrl, Starscream.

Matthew: *finishes the pie and hands back the bowl and utensil*

Pi: Oh yeah. Ye wanna see the baby that was born yesterday?

Matthew: *glances at the tired Kataeni* I think later would be better.

Pi: Oh. Alright. But her parents're bringing her home soon. *gathers up baby brother and little Scream, and then laughs and goes after a suddenly airborne Seeklet*

Kataeni: If they leave, please send them my blessings.

Matthew: Sleep is more important right now.

Pi: *pokes his hands around the edge of the door frame, holding a little bundle with a tiny black face and massive green eyes*

Caldera: *deep scowl as she tries to see who's there, and then lifts a little hand and waves*

Matthew: *shakes his head, but smiles and waves anyway*

Kataeni: *small giggle and a smile*

Caldera: *itty bitty smile as she's whisked out of sight, and then the door closes softly*

Matthew: *long sigh*

Kataeni: *can see that his tenseness is back, so she decides to compliment him* Thank you for watching over me.

Matthew: *stands and stretches before answering* It was... something to do.

Kataeni: You're bored here?

Matthew: This place, it's... like a dream. *clenches his right hand* It's...

Kataeni: Too perfect?

Matthew: *worry creeps into his voice* Exactly. Nothing ever goes wrong here. In fact... *looks down at her* You should've been dead.

Kataeni: I know.

Matthew: ??

Kataeni: *closes her eyes. Calm and unphased, she breathes deeply before speaking* I'd known for a long time that stopping him would be my destiny. I don't know what this place is, or why we're here, but we may both get answers from Alora Onasi.

Matthew: *sits* You're tired. Go to sleep.

Kataeni: *smiles at him* Will you keep watching over me?

Matthew: *small smile back* If you want me to.

Kataeni: *closes her eyes again* That would be nice... *falls back into the healing trance*

Matthew: *once again left to his thoughts in the big empty room*


((Written by ssjmihoshi and random_xtras.))