Contrail's 'Verse. Decepticon Base and Autobot Base. Shattered Glass

[dens_extra_pups]

Soundwave: *sitting in front of the big main screen, monitoring all the goings on in and around the base as he absently rubs Ravage's ears*

Ravage: *chin on Dad knee. Purr*

*From behind them, there's a clank of feet on the floor, and two more signals appear on the monitor.*

SGSound: Far out man...

SGRavage: *Prr?*

Soundwave: *slow head tilt as Ravage jerks away from him and snarls at the intruders. Then stands and turns to see with his optics what kind of bot is actually there. Because it can't be a second him, no matter what the computer says*

SGSound: *Tilts her head, yellow visor brightening as she sees the blue mech better.* Dude, this is some crazy deja-vu goin' on here...

SGRavage: *WAVES at Ravage, ears perked, a derpy grin on his face.* Hai!

Soundwave: Error. Scanners malfunctioning. *shakes head dizzily and tries looking again* Intruder.

SGSound: Man, you need to brush up on your personality, cause that creeper tone has got to go. I say it out of concern, dude. *She looks like a white and blue female version of him, visor yellow, Decepticon insignia prominent... and red.*

SGRavage: Dood, u okay?

Ravage: *hiss! Snarl! WAPWAP!*

Soundwave: *visor blinks repeatedly* Error! Alert! *turns back toward the console*

SGSounds: C'mon little guy. Think it's time we made tracks. *Ushers her Ravage ahead of her, having gotten a good enough glance at the screen to know which way is out as she starts to run.*

SGRavage: Wooooah, kk! *Skitters out of the way of the darker Ravage and takes off running*

Soundwave: *hands to his head as his processor blows a circuit, and then he faceplants*

SgSound: Woah... he might wanna have that looked at... *Wastes no time in getting her and her kittykat's afts out of that base*

Skywarp: *coming in just as they're coming out* *transforms, stops and stares* What the pit???

SGSound: Y'know, I was just wondering the same thing...

SGRavage: *Whistles the 'Twilight Zone' theme*

Skywarp: *looks at her. Looks down at the whistling cat bot. Then looks down at the waves beneath the access dock* *plaintively* I haven't even had anything to drink yet.

SGSound: Well, me and my buddy here were on our way out, so you feel free to go right ahead and don't let us stop you. *eeeedging around him.*

Skywarp: *has nooo idea what to do here*

Thundercracker: *starts shooting as she comes in for a landing!*

SGSounds: Slag! *And off the access dock she goes, Ravage in tow!*

SGRavage: Water is do not waaaaaaaant!

Skywarp: *blankly* ...They didn't fly.

Thundercracker: *shoots him too!*

SGSound: *Would rather deal with swimming at this point, out of sight of trigger happy Seekers. Not that she can fly in the first place, being a grounder.*


About half hour later


Skydive: *flies low over the swimming femme, and then makes another pass as she tries to figure out what she's seeing*

SGSound: *Having no time or real way to stop so Ravage can dock, she's got him on her back as she swims, though the effort to keep herself moving rather than sinking is starting to wear her out, so she has yet to notice the femme flying above.*

Skydive: *amplifies voice* Hello?

SGSound: *Starts at this, going under briefly before coming back up, treading water as she peers up at the strange femme.*

SGRavage: Ohaithar! *Waves from his Mama's back!*

Skydive: *okay, that doesn't look like an aggressive response. Hovers* Do you require assistance?

SGSound: Long as you aren't headin back to the tower of doom. Sure, dude!

Skydive: ...As I've explained to Beachcomber, I am not a dude. *lowers a net sling from her undercarriage*

SGSound: *Hoists Ravage up onto it, before climbing on herself.* Sure thing.

SGRavage: Hai, lady! *Wavewaves some more, did you see him? 8DDD*

Skydive: ...Hello. *up and heading toward land as she reports to Silverbolt and Optimus* I'm Autobot Skydive, what are your designations?

SGSound: *Stiffens at that, yellow visor brightening in alarm* Autobot?!

SGRavage: *Hides behind Soundwave, paws over his muzzle* Ohnoes...

Skydive: *startled by the reaction* Yes... You don't need to be afraid. My sisters and brother will ward off any Decepticon attacks.

Aerialbots: *those other planes that are falling into formation now*

Skydive: *counts* Well, my sisters will, at any rate. Have we lost Fireflight again?

Air Raid: Yup.

Slingshot: No. The dumbaft lost himself. As usual.

Silverbolt: Slingshot!

Slingshot: *flies higher* Come and make me stop, fearless leader!

Silverbolt: *erk*

SGSound: Not afraid. In fact... we're over the ground now, you can just drop us off here... *Not complaining that the Autobots don't realize they've picked up a Decepticon pair, just means they won't try and drop them or something.*

Silverbolt: Actually, our commander wants to talk to you. She's back at our base.

Skydive: It's safe.

SGSound: Safe. Right. Okay then. *Scoops Ravage into her arms when she notices how agitated he seems.*

SGRavage: Do not want...

Silverbolt: *concern in her voice as she takes a side of the net to help Skydive with the load* Does he need to dock?

SGSound: He doesn't dig docking unless it's time to recharge. *Just peeeetting him*

SGRavage: *Make a face at the Autobots! .>3<.*

Silverbolt: ...My sister says you were worried when you learned we were Autobots? *sounds confused by this*

Slingshot: *swooping close to the sling* Whoa, @#$#$@! Guys, look at her badge!

Skydive: What? It's red.

Air Raid: Holy slag!

Silverbolt: Oh!

SGSound: *Stiffens at the sudden commotion, her grip on Ravage turning protective.*

SGRavage: Ohno! *Does not want the Autobots zipping around them!*

Silverbolt: *slowly and worriedly* Our commander says we're to land and wait for her here. Will you come quietly?

SGSounds: ...Don't see how there's much choice. *Normally she'd be trying to get away, but the long swim before had definitely worn her out, and her side was still hurting from where Thundercracker had shot her, so she was going to play along for now.*

Slingshot and Air Raid: *transform as they land, and then look up, their red badges clear to see*

Silverbolt and Skydive: *very gently lower the net to the ground and then hover, waiting for the passengers to disembark*

SGSounds: *Keeps Ravage in her arms, sliding out of the net and onto her feet easily enough*

Silverbolt and Skydive: *also transform as they land*

Silverbolt: *tall silver femmebot with a curious and sensitive face* Oh. You're damaged. May I see?

Skydive: *busy rolling up her net and sticking it back in its hatch*

SGSounds: No worries, dude ol' Soundwave is a-ok.

SGRavage: *Squirms up so he's half on her shoulder to get a better look around*

Silverbolt: *worried look* Are you sure? Wait... Soundwave?? *gobsmacked*

Aerialbots: *all mirror their leader's expression*

Air Raid: ...Soundwave would never say 'dude'.

SGSound: I most certainly would.

SGRavage: That's Lady Soundwave to you! The hooman with the silly hat said so!

SGSound: *Grins and ruffles his ears* Got that right, little dude.

Silverbolt: Who's the human in the silly hat?

SGSound: The Queen of England. *Amused* She knighted me.

Aerialbots: 0_0

SGSound: For valor and rainbows and stopping some bad mojo from going down thanks to some seriously screwed up Autobots.

Aerialbots: *exchange glances, looking totally bewildered*

Air Raid: Optimus never mentioned that...

Slingshot: And with the way she never shuts up about history she would have...

Silverbolt: *scratching her head*

Skydive: *frown frown think think*

SGSound: Woah woah, back the fun bus up. 'She?'

Silverbolt: *nods* Yes...

SGSound: The OP I know's a he. And seriously, as crazy as he is, history's the last thing on his processor to talk about...

Skydive: Optimus Prima is a femme. Our creator, and mother to the sparklet named Panacea.

SGSound: That's... trippy. She doesn't decorate the place with Decepticon corpses and hold tea-time with em, does she?

Aerialbots: *more glances*

Air Raid: Uh. No.

SGSounds: Well, that's a slaggin improvement.

Air Raid: But Slag had hold of Rumble the other day and was calling him a dolly. *snerk*

Slingshot: *snigger*

Skydive: *face palm*

SGSound: *Winces at the mention of Rumble, visor dimming slightly.*

SGRavage: *Unhappy kitty warblings!*

Silverbolt: *concern returns* ...What's wrong?

SGSounds: ...Rumble's offlined.

Skydive: *puts a hand over her mouth in shock*

Silverbolt: *flinches, her optics dimming* I'm sorry. I didn't know.

Air Raid: *soberly* There's a Rumble here though. And he's not dead, even though Megatron's sparklet likes to beat him up.

SGSound: *Cuddles Ravage up, petting him* Optimus had her dropped into a smelting pit. *For once, there's no slang or funny turns of phrase, just a serious, unhappy tone for something still obviously very fresh in her processor.*

Air Raid: *face crumples, and then the carefree, impulsive youngster steps forward and puts her arms around the grieving femme and catbot*

Silverbolt: I... I can't believe any Optimus would... could... *can't continue*

Skydive: *pat pat sister and look sad*

SGSound: *Stiffens slightly, startled, but seems to relax after a moment* Prime's a bad dude where I come from.

SGRavage: *Paw to Air Raid's face* *Prr?*

Air Raid: *can't resist nibbling on kitty paw* Well our Optimus is good. Boring, but good.

Optimus: *as she steps into the clearing* Thank you, Air Raid.

Aerialbots: *guilty and sad glances*

SGSound: *Stares at Optimus for a long moment.* You're... not purple. *Not that she minds in the least, mind you!*

SGRavage: *Meeps and hides his face*

Optimus: *blue optics curious and kindly as she studies the white and blue femme* Not since the last pranking spree, no.

Roller: *zips in front of his Prime and deedles gleefully*

Optimus: *glances down at the little bot with amused affection* You think so, Roller?

Roller: *squee!*

Silverbolt: Soundwave, this is Optimus Prima. Optimus, this is... Soundwave. And I'm guessing that's Ravage.

Optimus: *quirks a brow plate* I see...

SGSound: Yeah... *Is... starting to feel a little light-headed, but ignores it in the face of what's going on.*

SGRavage: *Wavewavewaves* Haithar. o3o

Optimus: Your badge... is unusual.

Ironhide: *steps out flanked by Jazz and Elita One*

Jazz: Whoa, lady Sounders. Crazy! :D

Ironhide: Huh? *looks closer* o.0

Elita: What are you going to do, Optimus?

Optimus: *quietly* I think medical attention is our first step. Soundwave?

SGSound: Could say the same about your badges, dude... *Wooooah, the world needs to stop spinning. Please excuse her as she sits right the slag down there.*

SGRavage: *Leaps out of her arms with a startled sound before pacing worriedly around her and giving her uninjured side a light headbutt* Is upteims now!

Optimus: *steps forward and goes to one knee. Gently* Here, let me help you, Soundwave.

Roller: *can has chase kitty? Gentle bump*

SGSound: *Nods at this, allowing the Autobot to help her up.*

SGRavage: *Plants a paw firmly on top of Roller to inspect him curiously.*

Optimus: *will carefully lift the injured femme and then turn toward her teammates* Here. Ironhide, put her in my trailer. Roller, play nice.

Roller: *cheerful little wriggle* Beebeewoo!

SGRavage: *Pounces that wriggler! 8DD*

Ironhide: *cautiously moves to take sgSoundwave*

SGSound: *Offers Ironhide a weary grin.* Hey dude, how's it shakin?

Ironhide: Ah got no adeah whut y'u said, Miss. Pardon me. *takes her carefully and then looks to Optimus as the tall femme transforms*

Jazz: *cheerfully* Don't mind 'Hide, he's kinda square. *laughs as the old red mech growls at her*

SGSound: *Laughs at that, stopping with a wheeze when it pulls at her side.* Man... that's a sad sad thing...

Ironhide: *grumble* Ah'll sad her. *despite the grouch in his voice, however, he's very gentle as he lays the damaged femme into the back of Optimus' trailer. Steps aside after this to let Roller scoot aboard*

SGRavage: *Sitting on top of Roller as he scoots on in, looking pleased with himself*

Roller: *sounds just as pleased as he goes to park in his station and settle down to wait till Optimus stops and lets him out again* Weebeeboo!

Ravage: *Settles down on him with a purr* Mine! 8DD

Optimus: Thank you, Ironhide. *closes her doors* Autobots, roll out!


An hour later


SGSound: *Despite her intent to stay awake the whole trip, fluid loss, pain, and weariness all conspired to slip her into recharge about halfway to their destination*

SGRavage: *Sprawled across Roller, snoozing quietly*

Optimus: *opens her trailer and gently lifts sgSoundwave into her arms*

Ratchet: *from somewhere behind her* Alright. All ready.

Panacea: Awready, slaggit!

SGSound: *Visor onlines dimly at being shifted, a low groan escaping her. Her side is covered in fluids, and it looks like poor Optimus will have to rinse out her hold as well.*

SGRavage: *Tumbles out of the trailer, blinking sleepily*

Optimus: *quiet sound* *softly, as she turns and lays the pale femme on the table Ratchet has prepared for her* You should have said something.

SGSound: *Dazed little sound of confusion.* 'Bout what? *Honestly doesn't feel the ache or the fuel loss at this point.*

SGRavage: *Leaps up onto the table and curls up near Soundwave's head*

Ratchet: *blinks at the cat* Hey, little buddy, why don't you go and see if you can find Steeljaw?

Panacea: *brandishes a wrench* Find Steeljaw, slaggit!

SGRavage: *Squeaks uncertainly at that, ears laid flat* Bad news!

Optimus: *blinks and turns back from regarding the interior of her trailer* What bad news, Ravage?

SGRavage: Steeljaw gonna chew on me! D8

Ratchet: *chuckles* I doubt it. Sit on you maybe, but that old lion hasn't got a mean gear in his body. *already working on his sedated patient*

Panacea: *beepity bleep beep!*

Ratchet: *wince* Pansy...

SGRavage: *Chirps and goes bounding off to see this craziness for himself!*

music: *comes from the monitor room a little ways down the hall. Is loud, and accompanied by complaining*

SGRavage: *That sounds familiar! Bounces his way over to that room, peering in with perked ears*

Red Alert: *hands over audio sensors* Blaster! TURN IT DOWN!

Blaster: *rotten chuckle as he snaps his fingers to the beat of the music*

Steeljaw: *catches sight of movement by the door and rises to his feet, displacing two small femmebots in the process. Curious look for the newcomer as he stalks over*

Eject and Rewind: *continue arguing over their new 'Guinness Book of World Records'. Pay no mind to Steeljaw*

SGRavage: *Hunkers down a bit at the approach, still uncertain about the larger feline* ...Haithar?

Steeljaw: *great big forepaw comes down on sgRavage's shoulders. Squish!*

SGRavage: *Squeaks!* Ur crushin me!

Steeljaw: *deep growly voice holds amusement* I'm doing no such thing. *squish squish*

SGRavage: *Squeals and flaaaaails!*

Blaster: *watching the cat interaction by the door, totally distracted from making Red Alert flail* ...o.0?

Steeljaw: *sniff. Squish!*

SGRavage: *Squeaks and twists around to battabatbat at Steeljaw!*

Steeljaw: *rumble of laughter as he shifts his activity to pushing the smaller cat around the floor*

SGRavage: *Rolls along at this, giggling* Haaalp! Kitteh SOS!

Blaster: ... *absently lets his music trail off*

Red Alert: *lifts head and stares at him in shock. And then notices the cats* ... 0_0 What...???

Blaster: *softly* Crazy.

Steeljaw: *mops the floor with sgRavage, and rumbles with amusement as he does it*

Rewind and Eject: *protesting as they wind up being pushed by the white cat*

SGRavage: Haithar! *Snuffles at the twins curiously as they're pushed along with him*

Rewind: *blinks* Who are you supposed to be?

Eject: Ack! Steeljaw, don't damage my book!

SGRavage: Ravage! 8333

Steeljaw: *snort*

Red Alert: What??? *hits the red button on the console!*

Blaster: *face palm*

Ironhide and Inferno: *come and frown through the door*

SGRavage: *Beaming up at Ironhide* Haaaaaaai!

Ironhide: We already know 'bout him, Red. *shakes head*

Inferno: Don't tell me y'u think he looks threatnin', Red. *very amused*

Red Alert: *face palming at himself* Ingrained reaction.

Blaster: *snerks*

SGRavage: *Rolls onto his back, purring at everyone, adoring being the center of attention.*

Blaster: *goes over and hunkers next to the white cat, his arms absently gathering Rewind and Eject close* So if you're Ravage... where's Sounders? 'N the rest'a the recorders?

SGRavage: Sounders is with Ratchet! So is Frenzy, and I think the others are waitin' outside the medbay, dude!

Blaster: *slight frown* He's damaged? Is that why you're so friendly?

SGRavage: Nope! I'm always friendly, even when she's not damaged! 83

Blaster: *butt hits floor with clank* ...She?

Inferno: *walks off cracking up*

Blaster: *sends a rude gesture after the big red mech*

SGRavage: Yupyup!

Blaster: *attention back to the white cat* Okay, last time I looked Sounders was a guy with serious Cylon aspirations.

SGRavage: Oh, that was the dude we met when we showed up! He's kinda boring.

Blaster: ...Square maybe. But I wish he was boring. *double take* Wait, wait. Showed up from where?

SGRavage: Super square! He was in their base and we showed up there and he got all crazeh!

Blaster: *elbow on knee as he rises up on the other knee* Crazy how?

Steeljaw: *yawns and flops over on his side*

SGRavage: *Squirms up to sit on Steeljaw with a purr* He was sayin Soundwave couldn't be Soundwave, and was pushin' all the buttans!

Blaster: *still cuddling the twins* Well considerin' he's ben Soundwave for as long as we both remember...

Steeljaw: *snore*

SGRavage: Well he's stupid case she's Soundwave too! An she's a better Soundwave anyways!

Blaster: Hey. *settles Rewind next to Eject and then uses the freed hand for scritches* Callin' people stupid ain't nice. You gotta get more creative than that.

Red Alert: *face palm*

SGRavage: *Leeeeans for scritchies, purring all over* I guess so... but it's true!

Blaster: *shakes his head seriously* Little buddy, there's a lotta things ol' Sounders is. But stupid ain't one've 'em.

SGRavage: Awww....

Blaster: *shows sgRavage a scar across one of his speakers* See that?

SGRavage: *Sad kitty warble at that*

Blaster: And that's just what's left after two months.

SGRavage: *Paws lightly at it with another unhappy chirr*

Blaster: *winces and catches the pattypaw* Ow...

SGRavage: Sorry! *Paws over his head*

Blaster: It's alright. *glances at Red Alert, who is busy with the screens* Guess we should go see about finding your buddies 'n maybe showin' them the mess.

SGRavage: Okies!


Meantime, in the infirmary


Ratchet: There we go. Just basic blaster damage. No problem. *brings sgSoundwave back online*

Panacea: $@#@#$ blasters! *waves wrench, then stuffs the end in her mouth*

SGSound: *Starts to come around at this, visor flicking on dimly.* Mm... little dudette has a mouth on her...

Ratchet: *ruefully* Tell me about it. And I don't even know where she hears most of it.

SGSound: Sounds like Screamy's kid to me. She's at her wit's end tryin to guess where that scraplet hears half the mess she does.

Ratchet: *pauses* I haven't heard our Starscream's son say much. The few times I've seen him he's usually too busy watching his father scream himself staticky.

SGSound: Nah. Screamer's kid is a sweetie... she's just opinionated, and not afraid to speak her mind.

Panacea: *watches two bots run past in the hall* Streaker's a #$#@@.

Ratchet: *facepalms and then goes to the door* Sunstreaker, I'm not beating out any more dents for you today!

Sunstreaker: *from down the hall* Oh #@#$@!

Ironhide: *Roar!*

Panacea: *bitty laughter!*

SGSound: *Amused laugh* Oh man, that's always a fun day.

SGFrenzy: *Peers over at the door from his seat on the other side of Soundwave*

Ratchet: *comes back with something in his hand* So who's the Starscream where you come from bonded to?

SgSounds: Megatron. They make a cute pair, let me tell you. Sweet and all traditionally romantic and muuuuushy.

Ratchet: *as he breaks the plaster-like substance in half* ...Is Megatron your leader?

SGSound: He sure is. Even if our most glorious leaderdude would rather be doing the peacetime building than the fighting we're stuck with right now.

Ratchet: *looks up, an expression of sadness on his face* He sounds like our Optimus.

SGSounds: He's a good mech, that much is sure. Someone's gotta be, with our whackjob Prime running around...

Ratchet: *offers her half the plaster, which has a light, sweet scent* The Megatron here... all she cares about is conquest and power. Though she seems have a soft spot for her son.

SGSound: *Accepts the plaster, facemask sliding back so she could get an experimental nibble of it, also giving a look at some rather nasty scars the mask hides.* Yeah? Sounds like some crazy mirrorverse stuff goin down...

Ratchet: It does. *soft touch to one of the scars* I could repair these.

SGSound: *Starts back at the touch, visor brightening before she catches herself, facemask snapping back into place.* ...Nah. It's cool.

Ratchet: *frown of concern as he gives the other half of the plaster to Panacea* Are you sure?

SGSound: Yeah, Ratchman. No worries.

Ratchet: Alright. But eat your cookie anyway, alright?

Panacea: *bitty mouth full* Slaggin' eat!

SGSounds: *Nods at that, settling down a bit to eat, facemask sliding out of the way once again.* Sure thing, kiddo.

Ratchet: *turns his head as music echoes down the hall* There's Blaster.

SGSounds: *Tilts her head, with a grin.* Good choice in tunes. He doesn't have a crazed German accent or anything, right Docbot?

Ratchet: *blinks* No...

SGSound: *Chuckles* Good, good. Sounds kinda weird on him.

Ratchet: The Blaster you know does? *surprised expression*

SGSounds: *Grimaces* Yeah. He's a real drab brown color too. No fun at all.

Ratchet: *turns his head and whistles*

music: *goes softer, and is followed by the sound of bouncy footsteps*

Blaster: *sticks head in* You called, Ratchman? :D

SGSounds: *Cheerfully* Hey dude, what'd you muffle the tunes for?

Blaster: *blink blink* Er... *shrug* Ratch's orders. *grin returns* He seems ta think it disturbs his patients.

Panacea: Slaggin' eat!

SGSounds: What? Man, righteous tunes are good for the spark!

Ratchet: *wasn't fast enough, and his darling daughter just bonked the patient on the head with her wrench* Ack!

Blaster: *laughs* Hey, Pansy. Cut the lady some slack!

SGSounds: Augh! *Fakes flopping down pretending to be stunned* She got me!

Panacea: ... ... *bitty laughter!*

Ratchet: Huh. *chuckles*

Blaster: *laughs his own rollicking laugh* Hey, Sounders. I don't think you're gettin' your cat back.

SGSounds: Whaddya mean? *Peers at Blaster curiously*

Blaster: The twins decided he needed some wax, 'n then Moonracer decided she hadta help. Oh, 'n Grimlock's laid claim ta Overkill.

SGSounds: Yeah? Well, he deserves some pampering, being a good cat and all... *Amuuused*

Blaster: *chuckles* He'd be a flat cat, bein' so close ta Grimmy's lady, if ol' Grim wasn't distracted with his new windup toy.

SGSounds: I'm sure Overkill is eatin' up the attention too. Buncha attentionhounds is what I got.

Blaster: *big grin* *then perks* Heyyyy, you gotta cookie.

Ratchet: *chuckle*

SGSounds: Yeah? So I do. *Smug grin*

Blaster: *plaintive look at Ratchet* Nobody said there was a new batch!

Ratchet: There isn't. I saved this for Panacea.

Blaster: *wilt. Wibble*

Panacea: *flings wrench at him*

SGSounds: *Heavy sigh* Man, you shouldn't look that pathetic, really now...

Blaster: *WIBBLE*

Ratchet: *closes the door on him* :D

Panacea: *laughing again*

SGSounds: *Chuckles* Poor mech, tortured like that.

Ratchet: He can drink energon or sleep in the recharge berths like everyone else. *goes to get Panacea's wrench*

Panacea: $@#$@#% yeah. *perks as the door opens*

Ratchet: What? Oh brother. Cliffjumper, what did you do this time?

SGSounds: *Nibbling her cookie as she gives the red Autobot a curious look and a wave.*

Cliffjumper: Ack! 'Con!

Gears: *chuckles as he helps Ratchet bring in his battered and dented mate* Yes, dear.

Ratchet: *mildly peeved* How can you not know by now that shooting at shadows on the volcano wall will end in you being buried in a rock slide, Cliffjumper?

Cliffjumper: *suspicious staarre, for that white femme there as she's laid on the next table*

SGSounds: ...Boogabooga?

SGFrenzy: *Amused snort*

Cliffjumper: *would have jumped right off her table if Ratchet hadn't been holding her down*

Gears: *sigh* Oh knock it off. Optimus and Ratchet wouldn't let Panacea sit next to a Decepticon. *rolls optics and mutters*

SGSound: Not a bad one, anyways.

SGFrenzy: *Clambers up onto the table with Soundwave to settle in at her side, wanting to nap*

Panacea: *pounces on the little red and black bot* Ha!

SGFrenzy: *Squalls and flails at the little sparklet on his back*

Ratchet: *hurries over and scoops his daughter up* Did she hurt you, Frenzy?

Panacea: *hide on Daddy!*

Cliffjumper and Gears: o.0?

SGFrenzy: Nah, just surprised me.

Ratchet: Oh. *relaxes* Alright. Pansy, why don't you come over here and help me put Cliffjumper back together?

Panacea: Cliffjumper's a #$@#@#$.

Cliffjumper: Hey!

Gears: *isn't laughing and you can't prove it*

SGSound: *Snickers, slinging her arms around Frenzy to snuggle him up.*

SGFrenzy: *Squirms and grumbles a few moments before he puts up with it.*

Ratchet: *settles down to fixing the little red femme for an hour or two, and then sends her back out of the infirmary with her seemingly grumpy mate. Turns back to his other patient and scans her to see how she's doing* *calls for Panacea's nanny as he does so, because he can see that his daughter is ready for her nap*

SGSound: *Is fine at this point, just dozing absently with Frenzy.*

Conny: *Peeks her head in, curious.* Did you need me?

Panacea: *bibblebibblebibble fusscuss* ;_;

Ratchet: Contrail. *turns his head to smile at her* Pansy's a little beside herself. Do you have time to take her for a walk in the halls? I have to go meet Optimus and Perceptor soon.

Conny: *Smiles and comes in to scoop up Pansy* Sure!

SGSound: *Had frozen when Ratchet spoke to the new femme, a faint tremor working through her frame*

Ratchet: *notices his patient's reaction. Hand on her shoulder* Soundwave? Are you alright?

Conny: *Headed down the halls, humming to Pansy*

SGSound: ... 'Mfine.

Ratchet: *quietly* You knew the Contrail of your reality?

SGSound: ...Yeah.

Ratchet: I'm really starting to have second thoughts about sending you home.

SGSound: Whaddya mean?

Ratchet: *quietly* What the others have told me about what you've said about where you come from makes this reality sound like a party at Macadam's. As a medic I hate the thought of sending you back to something like that.

SGSound: No surprise... it's miserable.

Ratchet: But you're probably needed for the fight. *sigh* *then lifts his head and looks toward the door as it opens* What? Optimus? Am I late for the meeting? *then gets a good look at his mate as she walks into the room and runs to offer her support so she can stop squishing Perceptor* Whoa, what happened to you?

Perceptor: *disapproving scientist is very disapproving as he helps Ratchet get the Prima up onto the table that Cliffjumper just vacated* She tested my device by going to Lady Soundwave's reality.

Ratchet: Oh, Optimus... *so exasperated*

Optimus: I would not send one of my Autobots to do anything that I wouldn't do... *wince* ...Myself.

Roller: Thrrrrpt.

SGSound: *Grimaces, trying to push herself up* Tell me you didn't run into that slagger Prime. He definitely would take offense to your existence...

Optimus: *sudden flare of her optics* I did... indeed. *and grim triumph in her words*

Ratchet: *wibbles as he works on repairing her damage*

Perceptor: *lips a thin line of disapproval*

SGSound: *Winces, shaking her head* Slagger's no good. You coulda gotten seriously torn up...

Optimus: *quietly* He was abusing a mech who was helpless and damaged. I couldn't leave him to do it. *optics on again* Megatron thinks you're dead, Soundwave.

SGSound: ...Is he okay?

Optimus: He will be. My counterpart... might not. *has no regret over that fact* Starscream came while we were fighting him.

SGSound: *Lets out a soft sigh of relief at this, relaxing some*

Optimus: *as two small voices shout at each other in the hallway outside the closed door* Megatron sent someone back with me.

SGSound: ...Who?

Optimus: She told me her name is Brightwing.

SGSound: *Visor brightens in surprise* She sent... I suppose it's for the best, really... safer here for the little troublemaker...

little voices: *two irate shrieks fade into sleepy and conversational murmuring*

Perceptor: *was tinkering with something as Optimus and sgSoundwave spoke. He now offers the device to sgSoundwave* Now that I have the proper coordinates you should find yourself back at your home base.

SGSound: *Accepts the device, studying it* ...Thanks dude, I appreciate it.

Perceptor: You press this button here. *leans over the little gadget to show her* And it should be good for repeated trips, which will no doubt afford a much needed edge to your people. *beams at her pleasantly*

SGSound: That'll be good... Megatron always worries what to do with noncombatants should things go wrong...

Optimus: I and my team will be happy to provide whatever assistance we can. At any time.

Perceptor: *nods* Indeed.

SGSound: *Sounding happier* I'll be sure to let him know. It'll be a load off of his mind, that's for sure.

Ratchet: *looks a little more cheerful himself. That worry that had touched his face as he talked about sending sgSoundwave home is mostly faded* And you need any help repairing him now, I'm sure Perceptor's gadget will bring him here as easily as it'll bring you back there.

Perceptor: *softly urging* Try it now. Let him know that you are truly alright.

Optimus: *nods agreement with that idea as she watches sgSoundwave*

SGSound: *Nods at that, nudging Frenzy off of her to sit up, working the device like Perceptor had shown her.*

others: *all blink at the strange sound that just came from the little machine*

Perceptor: What on Earth??

SGSound: ...What just happened?

Perceptor: *slowly, as he takes the device* It says it has no operator... *presses the button and vanishes with a swish and a faint flash*

Optimus: *tries to sit up, her optics flaring*

Ratchet: *pushes her back down as he gawks a bit at the empty space where his friend had been standing*

SGSound: *Startled, and admittedly confused.*

Perceptor: *and then he's back the same way, only now holding Megatron's favourite datapad and wearing a gleefully chattering Ratbat on his head* o.0 *offers datapad to sgSoundwave*

SGSound: *Accepts the datapad with a bewildered look, peering down at it*

datapad: *holds a hastily scrawled letter from her leader, telling her what they'd found at the site of her disappearance. A charred shadow against a wall that had lead him to believe her dead. He writes gently that it seems that his first assumption is true, at least there in their home reality. He writes that he is comforted to know that her ember still burns safely there in that other world with the brave female Optimus who had stood at his side as he fought to avenge her. Asks her to remember him always as her friend*

SGSound: *Reads the letter slowly, visor dimming slightly as she focused very hard on not crying over it.*

Perceptor: *gentle hand on her shoulder as he looks away to give her some privacy*

sgRatbat: *sits by sgSoundwave and offers comfort*

SGFrenzy: Gimmie that! Obviously you're doing something wrong! *More blustery because Soundwave is upset than anything, grabs the device to try and make it work himself.*

Perceptor: *nearly jumps out of his boots as the little mech vanishes* Oh!

Optimus: What?

Ratchet: ...I guess he's not dead?

sgRatbat: *says Frenzy just smells that way*

SGSound: *Soft quavery laugh* Too stubborn for that sort of scene...

Optimus: 'That sort of scene', Soundwave?

SGSound: Bein dead...

Optimus: Ah. *gently* You're welcome here, for as long as you want to stay.

SGSounds: Thanks. I... I appreciate that.

Optimus: Space is limited aboard the Ark, but I believe there's an empty bunk in the room where Contrail often stays.

SGSounds: *Nods at that* Alright...

SGFrenzy: *Reappears, cussing up a storm*

Optimus: Frenzy? What's wrong?

Roller: *from down on the floor* Beebeewooboo!

sgRatbat: *snigger*

SGFrenzy: Nothing! *Holds his arms out to sgSoundwave who obligingly picks him up*

Perceptor: *softly* Soundwave, is there anything you would like me to fetch for you? And shall I bring the datapad back to Megatron?

SGSounds: Just... the stuff in my quarters... music, vids, stuff like that... Thundercracker's my roomie, he can help you sort out what's what... *Not giving up that datapad, nope!*

Perceptor: Very well. Frenzy, Ratbat, do either of you wish to accompany me?

SGRatbat: *Nods at the offer, scooting over to the Autobot*

Perceptor: Would you rather sit on my shoulder this time, rather than on my head? *holds out a hand toward the little bot as he gently takes the device from sgFrenzy with the other hand*

SGRatbat: *Grins at that, climbing up onto his head*

SGFrenzy: *Hands over the device and goes back to clinging on Soundwave*

Perceptor: *heave a sigh, then transport himself and sgRatbat away*

Optimus: ...A strong willed little mech.

SGSounds: He's a handful alright. *Faint smile in her words*

Ratchet: I suppose it makes sense. I've never noticed much personality in the local one. *turns his attention back to repairing Optimus*

Optimus: *softly* Soundwave, I'm sorry.

SGSounds: It's not your fault, Optimus. Just... how things happened.

Optimus: Still. *reaches a hand toward her, blue optics pale with compassion and sympathy*

SGSounds: ...Thank you.

Optimus: *smiles, but then quietly passes out with a soft whir*

Ratchet: *sighs and continues repair*

SGSounds: *Frenzy curled up in her arms, the Decepticon femme settles back on the berth, visor dimmed with thought. Everything she's known has been thrown on its head, and she's trapped, no matter how nice the new world is. It's... strange. Soon enough, Buzzsaw and Laserbeak come back to nap with her and Frenzy, and a quick check over the link she shares with her symbionts revealed Ravage happily playing with Blaster's symbionts. So perhaps... it isn't all bad.*

((Written by ohprimuswhy and random_xtras))