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randomplaces2013-09-15 09:00 pm
ssjmihoshi) wrote in randomplaces2013-09-15 09:00 pm
Entry tags:
RCV. Nexus Baby Fountain. A Trip to the Fountain.
About 2 weeks after the Staff Meeting.
~~~
Ironhide: *rumbles and looks around* Alright, Optimus. We're ready. Prowl's got fat-aft distracted.
Chromia: *grins and pats Elita on the shoulder*
Elita: *hopeful and happy smile for her sister*
Optimus: All we need now is Wheeljack... Ah, here he comes.
Wheeljack: *walking fast, clattering with scanning equipment* Sorry, sorry! Couldn't find the right positronic lens.
Ratchet: *snerks* It's the Nexus, not a black hole.
Ironhide: *frowns at the engineer* *gruffly* Why're we bringing him again?
Epps: So he kin see a Cybertronian baby play chest burster! :D
Ironhide: *very careful boot for his human friend's aft*
Sunstreaker: *snerks, then yelps as Ironhide hits him upside the head* *SULK*
Wheeljack: Because, my good mech, if you don't bring me I'll complain every waking nanoklik about how much data I could be analyzing about this completely new and scientifically invaluable process until you tear out your own audio circuits for relief.
Optimus: *snerk*
Ironhide: Or I tear out yours. *lifts his brow ridges*
Wheeljack: You know I can still talk without my audios right?
Ratchet: And it would be even worse! Why would you do that? *getting his PINpoint out*
Ironhide: I could fix that too.
Sunstreaker: Why do I have to go? I'm already in trouble for watching something reproduce!
Epps: *blinks and stares at the golden bot, then facepalms*
Optimus: The agreement was that you would stay within 50 meters of myself or Ratchet at all times. *turns to the medic* Do you really need to come?
Ratchet: *he's said this 10 times already today* No new bots are getting on this base without a clean bill of health.
Wheeljack: You know I could scan for-
Ratchet: *GLARE*
Wheeljack: Nevermind.
Sunstreaker: *epic sulk*
Ironhide: Let's get going before fat-aft starts screaming.
Chromia: *amused* Or Jazz sneaks onto the team.
Cragbuster: *sticks his head around the corner* All clear, Ratchet.
Optimus: *nods and produces his own PINpoint* Then let's be on our way. *presses the button*
Ironhide: *looks around* Go back, Wheeljack wasn't holding onto anyone.
Chromia: *face. Palm*
Wheeljack: Primus' Gears! *flips down a colored visor and wanders off scanning everything he sees*
Elita: Never mind, Ironhide. *follows the science bot within easy grabbing distance as soon as they move anywhere*
Ironhide: *snorts, then hits Sunstreaker again and looks at the Prime* So how do you get hold of your contact?
Optimus: He should respond if I say his name three times. *feels a little strange but does it anyway* Optimus, Optimus, Optimus...
Sunstreaker: *short yelp of terror* NO! That's how you summon evil things... He DID it! *hunkers down and covers his head with both hands*
Epps: *staring up at the bot that just appeared with no warning* You don't look like Beetlejuice.
Ironhide: *intaking deeply as he tries to talk himself out of kill mode. Was badly startled by that sudden appearance*
yOp: *looks around* *softly* Sorry.
Wheeljack: *making the rounds, has scanned 5 new species, 10 new elements, and a bush that began walking away. Is now staring at yOp's legs, not knowing who he is* And this species has teleportation! Amazing!
Elita: *facepalming and silently laughing her gears off*
yOp: *looks over his shoulder at the happily zoned engineer as Chromia joins her sister in laughter while rubbing Ironhide's side* ...BOO!
Wheeljack: AH! *jumps back, dropping one of his instruments, and staring at this face that is and isn't his leader* Well... this is new!
Optimus: *almost wishing Jazz was here to record this* Everyone, meet Optimus, Guardian Fae Changeling and servant of Primus.
Chromia: The guy that introduced you to Primus last time? *not laughing now, even though Sunstreaker trying to hide behind Ratchet is hilarious*
Ratchet: Get up, you! *strongly nudges the Lambo with his foot*
Elita: *is reminded why she finds her mate attractive*
Optimus: That's right. Thank you for coming, Optimus. *moves to shake his alt's hand*
yOp: *grins and shakes* It's good to see you again. Oops. *pulls a piece of spaghetti off his arm and flips it away, then looks at the others* Easy, Ironhide, I come in peace.
Ironhide: *growls*
Chromia: *hits him*
Epps: *wants to know about the noodle, but is too busy silently mocking Sunstreaker to ask. Besides, this is Optimus' show*
Optimus: Sorry, Ironhide. I should have warned you.
Wheeljack: *back to scanning now* Are all servants of Primus these "Guardian Fae" things? Why are your atomic bonds unstable? And how can you create a stable Draxian field without a modulating--
Elita: Wheeljack.
yOp: No. Most Primus servants are normal Cybertronians, though I've met a human one. And my atomic bonds aren't unstable, I can just control them at will. The Draxian field... I'm sorry, but I've been forbidden to give that information to uncertified Wheeljacks. *slight grin*
Ironhide: *blinks and gives the young bot a long look that holds slight respect for his BS-fu*
Wheeljack: *stares at the servant for a second, with almost a pout on his face, then shrugs* Ah well. I bet you guys have some kinda non-interference policy or somethin'. What with this being a multiversal hub and everything. Like on Star Trek when--
Ratchet: *baps him* Oh stop yammering and let's get on with it!
Optimus: *clears his vocalizer* Yes. Sorry, Optimus. I called you here because my people are finally ready to start... repopulating.
yOp: *grins* I know.
Ironhide: *absent stink eye*
yOp: *grin widens at that*
Ratchet: At least a trial run, anyway. A few large meteors are set to hit the Earth soon. They'll make a convenient cover story for the new youngsters.
Elita: Once this war is over we hope to be able to have many more. *supportive look for her sister*
yOp: *mouth twitches slightly, but all he does is nod. Is just bordering on drunk though, because of the amount of joy that Primus is currently sharing* So it's the fountain?
Optimus: Yes. *smiles at his alt, currently too giddy at the prospect of the child he never thought he'd have to notice anything strange* *sends a small lovebomb to his mate*
Elita: *less restrained than her mate, is beaming*
yOp: *grins and then winces as he lets slip a little of what he's feeling*
Ironhide: *stops like he just hit a wall* *blink!*
Sunstreaker: What the *curse*??
Chromia: *optics wide* Who... I just heard a transmission?
Optimus: *blinks in surprise, watching his comrades react and not knowing what to say*
Elita: Oh!
Ratchet: What in the...
Wheeljack: *scanning himself, then everyone else* ... *Epps too*
yOp: Yeah. *rubs the back of his head sheepishly* Primus is excited.
Ironhide: *stares at him in utter and total gobsmack*
Chromia: *taking her turn to blink with bewilderment*
Epps: *has nooo clue what's going on. Actually, he's too busy trying to see if that giant lady there is really wearing a skirt with all these little people around to notice that anything's going on. Is relieved to see that she's got what looks like jeans underneath*
Wheeljack: That's Primus? You can do that?! *would be grinning his head off if he had a mouth* Ratchet did you know this?
Ratchet: No, actually, I didn't. *frowns, trying to fend off giddiness from two sides now*
Elita: T-then this is important, right? *looking to her mate*
Optimus: Yes. *hugs her* Yes, I suppose it is.
yOp: *quietly, his smile gentle* Creation dances at every birth. And every race is part of the pattern. Today the pattern becomes a little more whole.
Elita: *hand to mouth, looking like she might cry*
Optimus: *radiating support and happiness on the bond*
Ratchet: *can't resist smiling a little*
Wheeljack: Well if Primus approves, we shouldn't keep 'im waiting!
Chromia: *stares at the engineer* You just said something that makes sense.
Ironhide: Which way?
Epps: *looks up* Wow. Dunno why I feel so happy.
Optimus: *looks to the human* You can feel that as well?
Elita: Please, lead the way, Servant.
Epps: *lifts his eyebrows as he looks up* ...Too?
yOp: Someone should should give Sergeant Epps a lift. We're going to be going into rough territory.
Ratchet: *snerks at Epps* You really didn't see us all get slapped by a religious experience?
Elita: Should we stay in root mode or transform?
Epps: ...Religious? Wha?
yOp: Root mode will be better. *nods toward the east* We're going into Blackout's kingdom.
Elita: *understandably dismayed by the name, but nods and kneels to extend Epps a hand* I think it will be safer up here, Sergeant.
Wheeljack: Now which universe's Blackout is this? Because I think ours is dead, right? That happened before I landed so...
Ratchet: She's our tech but has her own army. Maintains a neutral territory bar here. Equitable, for a 'Con. *smirks*
yOp: Actually, the Black Dog is Nemesis'. Blackout's renounced Decepticon identity and returned to the old military term "Destron" for herself and her army. *slight smile as he starts walking* And she's got a baby daughter.
Epps: *scrambling aboard the hand* What? Baby? They ain't like babies. Except when Streaker misses out on the silicon strips.
Sunstreaker: *growls and gives the human a stink eye*
Ironhide: *cheerfully thumps him on top of the head* It'd be nice to meet a Blackout that smartened up. *remembers drinking with the one from his reality back before hostilities*
Elita: *carefully raising Epps up to chest height* Actually there is a lot of programming that must still be acquired by Cybertronian younglings after their birth. Not unlike human children.
Wheeljack: Aaah, she's been drinkin' the Koolaid, huh?
Ratchet: O.o *shakes his head and starts following yOp*
Optimus: *also follows*
yOp: *without turning* Passing it out, actually.
Wheeljack: *perks* See Ratchet? He got my joke!
yOp: *crosses the street behind the Visitors' Center, and then stops* Grimlock's on the bridge. Let's PINpoint.
Wheeljack: Grimlock?! I haven't seen that bucket of bolts in forever!
Ratchet: Where to? *grabbing the scientist before he goes tromping off*
yOp: Just everyone touch me, or someone who's touching me. Ironhide, please don't hit Wheeljack. Angry Ratchets are hard on the sensors.
Ironhide: *STARRRRRING at yOp even as he snags Sunstreaker and lets Chromia link he and the servant together*
Epps: *cheerfully* Amen, brother, preach it.
Ratchet: You're darn right.
Wheeljack: I like this guy.
Optimus: *chuckles as he softly clasps Ratchet's shoulder*
Elita: *links the medic and her mate to yOp*
yOp: *there's no jolt, as there is from using a PINpoint, instead it's as if they stood still and the world changed smoothly around them. Instead of trees, grass, and the Question Square, they are now surrounded by high red rock canyon walls, sand, and the occasional spiny bush or prickly cactus* *lifts his head and calls* It's me, Dreadnought.
deep, smooth voice: I know, Oppy. Jes' lemme catch Paean 'n I'll be over there.
Elita: *in a state of wonder* Wow...
Ratchet: Very impressive.
Wheeljack: Ack! I didn't have my Draxian scanner on! *throws off Ratchet's grip and fumbles around with his equipment*
yOp: *absently* It wouldn't pick up anything anyway, Wheeljack. *then grins*
Ironhide: *straightens as he sees the size of the black bot that's approaching, and wonders why the stranger feels familiar*
Chromia: *staring at the tiny silver form sitting on the big one's arm, knowing without asking that she's looking at a young life*
Paean: *sees new people and waves, chirping and beeping cheerfully*
Ironhide: *looks up at his Commander questioningly*
Optimus: It's alright, Ironhide. *projecting confidence to reassure his whole team*
Ratchet: *thinks he's seen the big black bot before but can't remember where*
Elita: *recognizing her own language she smiles and waves to the little one*
Paean: *language is a bit stilted, and very imperfect, but it is cheerful. And interrupted by a laugh when the little one sees the wave* Hey hey!
Ironhide: *mutters* She sounds like Jazz. *frown* Looks like him too.
Chromia: *hands to her mouth* It's a baby bot.
yOp: *looks at the group with a slight smile as Dreadnought looms over them cheerfully* Yes. That's Blackout's youngest daughter. And her older brother Dreadnought. Their father was a Jazz.
Epps: *brain broken and confused expression*
Paean: *wants to go see Optimus. Chirp chirp chirp!*
Wheeljack: *snerks* Jazz does get around, doesn't he?
Ratchet: *elbows him*
Elita: Oh it's so small! *holds Epps up to see*
Optimus: *smiles at his mate's burst of cute* Indeed. It is good to meet you, Dreadnought. *will wait to reach for the little one until her brother approves*
Dreadnought: *grins a grin that says he's totally comfortable around Optimuses and hands his baby sister right over* Yeah. Swell. How's Jazz 'n Conny?
Elita: Oh, you know them?
Optimus: *laughs and softly rumbles to the youngling* They're very well, thank you.
Wheeljack: *back to scanning all the things!*
Dreadnought: *cheery Jazz grin* I've ben ta yer base a couple times. They helped me 'n one'a my other sisters through a rough time.
Paean: *gonna snuggle now. And purr. And flirt with the brain broken Ironhide as he and Chromia stare at her*
Ratchet: Ah! You brought all the food! *smiles. This guy is ok now*
Elita: *chirping at Paean and rubbing her head*
Optimus: *smiling in wonder at the little thing*
Dreadnought: *rumbles a deep, sweet chuckle* Yup. *cheeky grin that's pure Jazz* So who's gettin' kids?
Wheeljack: *passes a beeping scanner over Paean. It beeps*
Elita: *smiles at her sister, wondering if she'll regain her vocalizer*
Paean: *looks up with an itty bitty growl at the beeping, then takes a swing at the scanner* Gerroff, swag fer bwains!
Chromia: *eyes flash with shock, and then she's laughing hard enough to rattle*
Ironhide: Hey! Watch your language!
yOp and Dreadnought: *also cracking up terribly, as is Epps*
Sunstreaker: *still being invisible behind Optimus*
Wheeljack: o.o
Elita: *snickering into Optimus' shoulder*
Optimus: *hearty laugh*
Paean: *clings to Optimus' chest and pulls herself up to standing on his arm. And then shakes her bitty booty at Wheeljack, just like Jazz has shaken his at enemies on the battle field!*
yOp: *choked sound of mirth from behind his hand* You've been teaching her bad habits, Dread.
Dreadnought: Nope. She did that first. *wide grin of pride for baby sister*
Wheeljack: *laughs and starts taking video to show Jazz later*
Optimus: *trying not to laugh so hard that the little terror falls off*
Paean: *pauses to look up with a grin at Optimus, then gives him a cuddle and a purr before turning and leaping to see Elita*
Ironhide: *choked sound, but Chromia's grip on his arm keeps him from reaching to save the sparklet!*
Elita: *acks and catches the biddy with her free hand, checking on Epps in the other immediately afterward* *sigh of relief*
Optimus: *helps his mate fence in the little one with his hands*
Ratchet: *processor almost stops at the leap* Let's go before she gives me a spark attack!
yOp: *gets himself under control and turns to Dreadnought* We're all going.
Dreadnought: What're we waitin' for, then? *doesn't even blink at the babby leap*
Epps: *finds himself hugged by a baby as tall as he is* I ain't a dolly! *laughing*
yOp: *serious now* One thing before we go. You're not going to be able to use any tracking devices to register the coordinates of where we're going. That's Blackout's condition for letting us go. She doesn't want the location of this spring to become common knowledge.
Ironhide: *rumbles. Thinks that's a good idea*
Chromia: *nods, then glances to Optimus*
Optimus: Yes, of course. *sort of distracted but still there*
Ratchet: *nods*
Wheeljack: *looks down at his scanner, still beeping quietly* Aww... *turns it off and stows it*
Dreadnought: *scans everybody, then looks at the Changeling*
yOp: *nods*
Dreadnought: Great. This way. *turns and starts walking down the canyon* We'll walk a bit 'n then I'll teleport us the rest'a the way.
tall black mech: *stands and looks over his shoulder as they pass the mouth of a little side canyon. Other bots are in the canyon, bent over something. The low sound of pained cursing comes softly on the still, hot air*
yOp: *optics flash with surprise* How did you guys catch a Megatron of that tech?
Dreadnought: *chuckle holds wicked mischief* He underestimated Mouse 'n Grumbler.
yOp: *more boggling* You let the girls take him down?
Dreadnought: *looks back with a very very very rotten grin*
Wheeljack: Only two mechs took 'im down?!
Ratchet: *cautious* What will you do with him?
Elita: *occupied with trying to hold 2 people and walk at the same time, doesn't have time to gawk*
Ironhide: *head craning to see into the side way* And can I play?
Chromia: *also seems interested in that*
Dreadnought: Yup. Mousie 'n Grumbler know their stuff. *grin returns* First we're fillin' him with honey 'n tyin' him on the ant hill. Then we're gettin' him LOLed inta a human woman fer awhile.
Ratchet: O.o
Optimus: .....
Wheeljack: *bursts into chattery laughter* Wait, what's "Lolled?"
yOp: He means they'll get Megatron changed into a human woman. *glances over toward the group* Probably until after he's experienced a menstrual cycle.
Dreadnought: Well yeah. Not much point in changin' 'im otherwise.
Ironhide: *looks up at the big youngster with respect for his evil genius*
Epps: *laughing very much now*
Wheeljack: *acks* Waiting until parts of him fall off? You are evil!
Elita: o.o "Fall off"? None of the women on base mentioned that part...
Ratchet: You'd think they'd realize one of these days that just because your pronoun is the same doesn't mean you want to hear every gory detail of their bodily processes...
Optimus: *chuckles*
Sunstreaker: *frowns at yOp* Aren't you going to stop them?
yOp: *glances at the golden front-liner, then shakes his head* No. Megatron needs this.
Dreadnought: Nothin' falls off. It's just some linin' from some inside part that sheds out and hurts like slag. *moving again*
Wheeljack: Falls off, sheds, still terrifying. *shivers*
Elita: *frowning down at Paean* Can we stop talking about this?
Optimus: *warm hand for his mate's shoulder* Perhaps we could teleport now?
Dreadnought: I gotta get the thing. *curious and quizzical look over his shoulder as he senses Elita's disquiet. Isn't bothered by Sunstreaker's squick*
Optimus: *nods to Dreadnought* Then let's hurry.
Dreadnought: Yessir. *turns and heads into a second side canyon, which opens out into a sort of natural, grass carpeted, amphitheatre* Wait here. *heads for where a sixteen foot tall bright red-orange femme is wrestling with some sort of odd mecha thing*
Blackout: *looks around from talking to a black, red, and gold mech as tall as herself, then turns and heads toward Optimus' party, her stride long and free from any trace of damage or pain*
big black mammoth with four tusks: *follows Blackout*
Optimus: *preemptively* Guns down, Ironhide.
Wheeljack: Aw how could you shoot that? It's so cute!
Elita: He's talking about Blackout, 'Jack.
Ratchet: Dinosaurs, mammoths... You have a strange definition of cute.
Blackout: Hey, 'Hide. *no mockery. Only quiet acknowledgement of the old soldier's scowling regard*
Ironhide: *snorts at her, and then looks down at the mammoth*
Blackout: *nods to Chromia, and then looks at Wheeljack* Dinosaur? Cute? Great. Here. *dumps a tiny baby raptor with bright pink fuzz into the engineer's hand, then turns toward Elita as Paean clamours and laughs* I see you, runt. C'mere.
Wheeljack: *optics light up and he begins turning over the critter, scritching it and scanning*
Elita: *half-unsure smile as she offers up the sparkling. Having to keep reminding herself that this Blackout won't try and kill her*
Optimus: *reassurance for his mate* *to Blackout* How have you been?
Blackout: *nuzzles her daughter's head, and then grins down at Elita before turning the expression to the Prime* I'll do. What about you? *absently preparing a feeding tube for her daughter as she speaks*
Ironhide: *sudden snigger upon seeing that the mammoth, an elderly cow, has noticed a biohazard sticker that Ratchet got on his skid plate from his habit of sitting on crates and is reaching to try and see what it is*
Chromia: *looks at her mate, and then follows his gaze* XD
Ratchet: *absently looking around the landscape, wondering how scrapped the med bay will be when he gets back*
Optimus: Better, now that we've decided to start rebuild--
Ratchet: DAHH! *jumps 10 feet in the air*
Blackout: *head whips around and she goes 0.o? at Ratchet, then to the sniggering Ironhide and Chromia. And then she understands* Cow. Heel.
Cow: *small, happy sound and goes to stand at heel, her small ears waving*
Paean: *laughing so hard she can barely drink, but doesn't let go the tube*
Epps: What? What'd I miss? What happened? *standing in Elita's grasp and trying to figure things out!*
Sunstreaker: *currently staring with amazement at the big black furry thing* ...I want one.
Elita: No, Sunstreaker. *in between giggling and holding up Epps so he can see*
Ratchet: *grumbling* We've got enough pranksters on base thankyouvery...
Optimus: *holding back giggles of his own* As I was about to say, thank you for your assistance, Blackout.
Epps: *has clued in now and is sniggering himself*
Blackout: *snorts at Sunstreaker and ignores his flinch, then looks back to Optimus, her massive shoulders rippling in a shrug* You're the Prime.
Paean: Oppymus! *drink!*
Blackout: Zip it, runt. *brow quirk at Optimus*
Optimus: *almost surprised at the warmth in her voice as she talks to her child* Still, I'm not your Prime.
Ratchet: Where is this fountain anyway?
Wheeljack: *now trying to test the little raptor's bite strength, teasing it with a finger*
pink fuzzy: *trying to understand what his new friend wants. Head tilty!*
Blackout: No. He's overseeing Megatron's treatment. *frowns at Ratchet, but continues talking to Optimus* A word of advice about rookies?
Sunstreaker: *walked up to try and see the mammoth better and is now sneezing because she beeped his nose*
Epps: *has noticed the fuzzy and is trying to see it better*
Wheeljack: *poke poke* Come on...
Optimus: *the comment sobers him, but the question is hopefully less sour* If you like. I'm sure we can use all the help we can get.
Blackout: Go easy on the criticism. They need to build confidence in themselves and their ability to please you. *tosses a little ball of fluff toward Wheeljack*
pink fuzzy: *snaps toy right out of the air and gleefully shakes it to make the bell ring*
Epps: *meeps at the snap*
Elita: Oh of course. You need to let them find their own way of doing things, not just your way.
Wheeljack: Wow! Look at the reaction time on this thing! *ponders* If only I could make it bigger...
Blackout: If they're made from you your way pleases them best. *sudden sharp scowl down at Wheeljack* No.
Epps: *ducks away from that scowl*
Elita: Oh, I hadn't thought of that.
Ratchet: You can't keep it anyway.
Wheeljack: Aww, I bet Ironhide's little bird-bot would take care of it.
Blackout: *nods* The coding's similar, so they share traits. *glances toward the sound of an altercation back the way they came from, then looks back to Elita* And his coding... *points with thumb at Optimus* Is a lot easier to handle than some.
Dreadnought: *coming back now*
Blackout: *to Ratchet* Why not?
Ironhide: *absently, as he looks toward the sound of the fight* You keep your own pets, 'Jack.
Ratchet: Based on that movie, those things used to eat people. I don't think Galloway would take kindly to something he thought had been exterminated. And for once, I agree with him!
Optimus: *snerk*
Blackout: That's going to get about as big as a turkey. And it's from stock that's been domesticated by humans for centuries. I thought it could keep up with my smallest, but she wears her mammoth out playing.
Epps: Do they bite people on the butt?
Blackout: *frowns at him* No. That's not an attack breed.
Sunstreaker: Wow, wimporaptor.
Chromia: Takes one to know one.
Dreadnought: Knowonewhat? *stops by his CO and looks around quizzically*
Wheeljack: See! See! It's totally safe! *holds the fuzzy raptor up to Ratchet*
Ratchet: UGH don't help him! *leaning away from it, hoping it doesn't gum up his filters with dander*
pink fuzzy: *heard disapproval! Bounces and cheeps at Ratchet, then tilts its head. Looove the babby!*
Dreadnought: Oh. The lil' fuzzy dude. He's way too tame for anythin'.
Sunstreaker: I'm bored.
Epps: Shut up, man, I'm watchin' all this.
Paean: *burp*
Optimus: *time to be the bad guy* No, Wheeljack, and that's final. We're already bringing home one suspicious thing today.
Elita: *to Dreadnought* Did you get what you needed to?
Dreadnought: Yup. I'm ready. *glances at Blackout*
Blackout: *is shrugging* I'll find somewhere else for it. *looks down at her sparklet and snerks when she sees that Paean is utterly limp and sound asleep*
Wheeljack: Aww... *pets the fuzzball one last time and hands him back to Blackout*
Ratchet: Finally! Let's go then.
Blackout: *looks at Optimus again as the tiny raptor cheeps around his toy* Prime. The fountain of life is guarded by death. Don't offend him. *turns and strides away, Cow still at heel*
Epps and Sunstreaker: Buh?
Chromia: *picks at the sticker on Ratchet's butt*
Dreadnought: *grins* Everybody hold hands.
Optimus: *surprised by the comment, but does as instructed*
Elita: *holds onto her mate and lifts Epps up to touch Wheeljack's shoulder*
Wheeljack: *stows his gear once again and grabs Ratchet*
Ratchet: *holds onto Sunstreaker*
Sunstreaker: *squirms and grumbles*
Ironhide: *hits him, and then grabs him by the head with one hand as the other hand takes Chromia's*
Dreadnought: Now we mean it. No trackin'.
Epps: ...Where's the Primus guy?
Dreadnought: Waitin' fer us. He went ta let the guardian know we're comin'. *and then PINpoints them to a cave that is cool, softly lit, and musical with the trickle of water*
yOp: *looks over from where he's standing next to a silent black hulk with dim, blank eyes*
Dreadnought: *goes over to stand by the hulk as yOp walks over to join the Autobots*
Sunstreaker: *sounds freaked out* Is that an Ironhide?
yOp: *quietly* He was. He's been dead for a couple of vorns. Blackout found him and brought him here so he could have a function again.
Chromia: *hand to her mouth*
Ironhide: *rumbles quietly and looks over at his alternate, understanding in his optics*
Ratchet: *gives an impressed grunt*
Optimus: *carefully* Is this what Blackout meant by "guarded by death"?
yOp: *nods his head and sighs slightly* It's hard to make an Ironhide finally lay down.
Optimus: Indeed it is. *look of admiration and love for the guardian*
Elita: *nods in agreement with yOp* *looking around at the beauty of the place*
guardian: *lifts his head, a faint flicker of challenge in his dim eyes. Is someone telling him to quit?*
Dreadnought: *distracts him with a gentle sock to the shoulder*
Epps: *isn't wibbling and you can't prove it*
yOp: *throat clearing sound, and then turns and heads toward the sound of water* You'll have to talk to the second guardian yourself, Optimus.
Sunstreaker: I want to go home.
Ironhide: *clang!*
guardian: *rumbles a laugh*
Epps: *sniffs and looks after yOp*
Chromia: *following the servant*
Optimus: *nods and follows his alt*
Elita: *shielding Epps a bit more, follows as well*
Ratchet: *shoving Sunstreaker along after them*
Wheeljack: *reaaaaally itching to scann all of this amazingness right now*
Dreadnought: *crooks a finger at Wheeljack, inviting him over to meet the deceased mech*
yOp: *around some beautifully sculpted stalactites, and then past a curtain of water deposited minerals, and he's stopping to hold out his hand to a slender crystal dragon* Hi, Serendipity. You've got visitors. Ironhide likes them.
Serendipity: *quiet chiming sound as she turns to look at the other bots, her gently glowing eyes changing to a soft, curious, purple colour*
Chromia: *sees the dragon and stops beside the curtain to gaze with wonder*
Elita: *helpfully pushing her sister on even as she marvels at the dragon's changing eyes*
Optimus: *wasn't expecting this* Oh, hello. *bows his head in reverence* You are the guardian of this place?
Serendipity: *soft, fluting song as her eyes turn blue. Bows her head to Optimus, and then steps closer to sit up on her haunches and examine him in a friendly way*
yOp: *softly* She's made from unbreakable glass, and has corrosive venom. But she won't attack while I'm here, and if I weren't she wouldn't attack unless you went near the pool.
Elita: *squeezes Optimus' hand*
Optimus: *smiles at Elita and then approaches the dragon slowly* I am Optimus, the leader of my people. A war has destroyed our means of reproducing and we were hoping to use your fountain.
Ratchet: Not to make more soldiers though.
Serendipity: *glances at Ratchet, and then flutes at Optimus again before dipping her head to Elita. Is plainly inviting the femmebot closer*
Epps: *don't mind him. He just abandoned ship and headed over to Ironhide*
Ironhide: *picks up the human without taking his eyes from this second embodiment of death*
Elita: *looks to her hand and almost has a spark attack until she notices the human has moved* *shakes off the uncertainty and stands next to her mate* My designation is Elita. We... *loving glance to Optimus* ...were hoping to have a child. *flash of excitement*
Serendipity: *flutes and bows her head*
yOp: *soft chuckle* She's asking why you don't say hi. Offer her a hand.
Elita: Oh! *holds out a hand-*
Optimus: *-at the same time. They laugh at each other*
Serendipity: *is clearly laughing herself with the soft music she produces. Snuffles both hands with her slender muzzle, and then rubs her head on both like a cat before going to see Ironhide and Chromia and greeting them as well*
yOp: *grins* You're in. *nods to the pool that lies still and dark but for the occassional ripple*
Elita: *clearly waiting for another test* *no this can't be it, really?*
Optimus: *gently moving Elita so the dragon has room to move*
yOp: *to Elita, answering her thought* That's it. *glances to Optimus, his grin widening* Have a drink. *and then he turns his head and looks at something, nodding slightly*
Elita: *blink blink*
Optimus: I think we should wait for the others. It would feel... more official that way.
Ironhide: *gruffly as he and Chromia walk up* I'm here. Hustle your lead aft, Ratchet.
Epps: *being very very quiet after being nuzzled by a dragon*
Ratchet: *holding out his hand for Seredipity* Well excuse me for following protocool and trying not to get us all scrapped. *to the dragon* Pleasure to meet you, Ma'am.
Serendipity: *nuzzles his hand and then rubs her head on it*
Sunstreaker: I'll have no problem with this part. Females love my finish.
Serendipity: *slaps the frontliner while still loving on Ratchet*
Sunstreaker: Ack!
yOp: *excuse the sniggerfit, please*
Elita: *snicker reflex has put her at ease again, thanks*
Optimus: *looking around* Where has Wheeljack gone?
yOp: He's scanning the other guardian. *looks over his shoulder* And spazzing out slightly.
Optimus: *another snerk* Well then, I guess... this is it.
Epps: *speaking quietly now, because Serendipity just made a soft sound to him that has triggered a memory* *voice hushed and reminiscent* Reminds me of my old Virago...
Ironhide: *eyes on Optimus* Uh huh. Yup.
yOp: *encouraging nod to his alter brother*
Elita: *squeezes Optimus' arm and nods as well*
Optimus: *pulls a small bomb casing he'd been saving out of subspace, kneels to fill and drink from it*
yOp: *quietly* There you are.
voice: *hopeful rumble similar to Optimus' own* Dad?
Ironhide and Epps: *just nearly had spark/heart attacks at how suddenly that kid just appeared!*
Ratchet: Primus! *probably did just have a spark attack*
Elita: *gasps, whipping around and covering her mouth*
Optimus: *drops the casing into the fountain* Um...
Vector: *small sound of concern and puts his hands on Elita* Sorry...
Chromia: *has dust in her optics!*
Elita: Oh... oh my... You're...
Optimus: *turns, a wave of love drowning out the guilt of dropping something in the sacred fountain* Vector. *takes the kid in, smiling the biggest he has in a long time*
Vector: *big grin, and then his mask moves aside and he has to stop and touch his face to be sure of what that was* Oh, hey...
Epps: *quietly* I miss that bike.
Ironhide: Yep. *watching the kid and grinning*
Sunstreaker: Can we go home now?
Ironhide: *busts him one in the back of the head*
Sunstreaker: *ack! SPLASH! You think you dropped something in the fountain, Optimus?*
Ratchet: Why are you thinking of your bike at a time like- O.O *practically has another spark attack at the splash* Sunstreaker!
Optimus: *acks and immediately reaches to pull out the Lambo*
yOp: *steps forward, but then stops and meeps as two more forms appear nearby, one of them haloed in red and blue sparkles* Oops...
Sunstreaker: *sputtering water out of his intakes as he gropes for his CO's hand* *also spewing vituperation*
Optimus: *doesn't care if he has to wade into the fountain, will drag his soldier out*
Elita: *noticing the two new forms* Um...
Ratchet: *after a quick assessment of the situation, shoves Ironhide toward Optimus* Slaggit, help him! *and goes to scan these new forms*
Ironhide: *takes a swing at his friend, and then notices the kids and blinks*
hulking golden youngling: *steps back, looking down at Ratchet with confusion* You're not my dad.
small and slender femmling: *looks at her hands as the sparkles die away, and then laughs*
Sunstreaker: *gets Chromia's hand too and exits the pool* Are we in trouble? *sputter, cough*
golden youngling: *brightens* Dad! *strides over and grabs the frontliner to hug him*
Sunstreaker: *utterly. Totally. Completely. Brain. Broken. Like, uber*
Ratchet: *continues scanning with practiced focus* Why are you using Human titles anyway? *watches as he hugs the Lambo* Oh no...
Elita: *so very confused, looks to yOp* Was this supposed to happen?
yOp: *facepalming much* It's part of the LOL of the fountain. Male parents get followed home by a youngster who calls them "Dad". And it must've been, Elita, or it wouldn't have. *lowers his hand and looks guiltily at the newborn femme*
femme: *reaching to poke Epps*
Epps: Hey, what the heck? What do you want, kid?
yOp: *pinches the bridge of his nose* You wished for her, so she thinks you're her parent.
Epps: I... Wait. She's a bike???
femme: *whines because she can't reach him*
Ratchet: *hand to his helm* Sunstreaker has a sparkling. Our race is doomed.
Elita: *looking from Vector, to her mate shaking off, to the bot hugging the Lambo, to the whining bike, to the facepalming Servant* Well... it can't be that bad... -Oh, Primus, how do we salvage this? Chromia, HALP!-
Vector: *suddenly looks more closely at Elita, his expression changing to confusion* You sound like my Dad too. *gaze goes from her to Optimus*
Chromia: *hurrying over to her sister* That's because she and Optimus are bonded. They're both your parents.
Vector: *eyes widen* I have two dads?
Ironhide: *as he drops to one knee and sets Epps on the floor* Parents.
Epps: Ack! Hey, kid, watch it! *pushes at the young femme as she tries to hug him*
femme: *sits down and softly lets out the sounds of a confused and frightened sparklet*
yOp: ...And that one's going to need programming. *hunkers down, a hand at Epp's back so he can't retreat* *softly* Do you know your name?
femme: *blinks and gives him an incredulous look for asking such a thing* Virago.
Ratchet: And the human has a sparkling! If Galloway doesn't blow a gasket, Prowl will!
Optimus: Downshift, Ratchet. We'll... say that one is Ironhide's. *rubs his mate's back*
Elita: *greatly appreciating both bots' reassurance, going back into problem-solver mode* That might work, j-just for the sake of paperwork... *holds out her hand to squeeze Vector's*
Vector: *moves to also give comfort to Elita* Galloway and Prowl are wrong to blow gaskets. Primus wanted Morty and I to come home today.
golden youngling: *looks over from where he's got the still stunned Sunstreaker tucked under one arm now* Huh?
Vector: *waves to him*
Morty: *waves back and then resumes waiting to see what's next*
Ratchet: *back to scanning everyone, keeping the grumbling to a low engine rumble*
Optimus: And Virago? *already knows the answer is probably yes but wants to hear Vector's opinion since seems to have been in direct contact with Primus*
Vector: *laugh holds a youthful echo of the Prime's joy* He's always happy to send someone else out.
yOp: *nods, the corners of his mouth twitching as he feels Primus' mirth*
Elita: You know, he does sound a lot like you, Optimus. *smiles at her boys, and realizes that's plural now and beams even more*
Ratchet: *walking around the group, talking into his scanner* Well they all seem to be in working order, though the other Optimus is right, Virago still needs some heavy duty programming. It'll need an escort 24/7.
Vector: *looks over, sobering* Virago's not an it, sir. She's a girl.
Virago: *looks up from poking at her ankle joint* Uh huh. *frowns at Ratchet, then squeaks softly as Ironhide scoops her up and holds her close* Ohhhhhh. ^_^ *snuggle*
Ironhide: *see this face? UTTER SUCK*
Chromia: *hiding her eyes from that face lest she squee or laugh* *other hand still on her sister's shoulder*
Epps: Be careful with my baby girl, 'Hide. Hey, watch where you're swingin' that foot, you old...
Morty: Don't swear.
Ratchet: I'm giving it a chance to pick pronouns, boy. They're a human construction, not a Cybertronian one.
Vector: Her dad's human. He saw his bike as a girl.
yOp: 9_9 6_6 XD
Epps: Human? Huh? Somebody talkin' about me? *looks up quizzically*
Chromia: *snerk*
Ratchet: Well... Ah... Oh, never mind. *goes back to scanning.
Elita: *snickers into Vector's hand*
Optimus: *to Vector and the other new bots* This process has skipped many steps for us, so forgive us if we seem awkward. Usually sparklings do not even choose their names until they are at least a cycle old.
Vector: I guess we cheated. *rumbles again with that laughter that sounds like a youthful version of his father's, then looks from Elita to Optimus* Morty and I were watching you as you drank the water.
Morty: Yup. *petting Serendipity now with the hand not engaged in holding Sunstreaker*
Elita: Morty too? *small chuckle* I guess bringing Sunstreaker here was the right idea.
Optimus: Regardless of how you came, you are all welcome. *smiles at everyone*
Dreadnought: *from over by the mineral curtain* Primus welcome the new warriors.
guardian: *rumbles and nods his head from where he's standing by the young Destron*
yOp: Dread, it's supposed to be the leader that says that, and you know it.
Dreadnought: Blackout won't do it, and Jets is busy. *grin*
Wheeljack: *pops in* Hey, did you know this guy is really dead? I mean, if his spark has a pulse I haven't detected it yet. But his circuits are still active. It's fascinating!
Dreadnought: *hand on Wheeljack's head and presses down, his optics twinkling*
Morty: Why're you squishing him?
Dreadnought: Squishing? Nahhhhh.
Wheeljack: Wait, there are more bots in here than there should-- *beeps in protest of the squishing*
Elita: *laughs* You figured out his mute button already? That took me a vorn!
Dreadnought: My CO works with a lotta 'Jacks. *grins his Jazz grin as Vector laughs at the beep*
Optimus: *wonders at Elita's ability to be perceptive and whether or not he has a "mute button"*
Morty: *to Ratchet, since he's nearest* *quiet, easy going rumble* When do we fuel?
Vector: *looks that way with interest* He's just the doctor, Morty. Why don't you ask your dad?
Morty: He's still rebooting.
Ironhide: *reaches a hand over and hits Sunstreaker on the head*
Morty: *examines his dad, then looks to Ironhide* It didn't work.
Ratchet: I'd say we fuel when we get home, but should their first meal really be cut-rate human fuel?
Optimus: You're thinking the Black Dog, aren't you?
yOp: *quietly* The biggest private dining room at the Black Dog is ready and waiting, and the meal is free and donated by Swindle Co.
Dreadnought: *laughs and offers Vector a fist bump, which the new bot takes a moment to understand but then reciprocates* Schway. You get ta eat the good stuff.
Vector: *grins and looks at his parents*
Optimus: That's very kind of Swindle. Please thank him for us. *smiles at his new family*
Elita: *hugs Vector, already feeling the new tug at her spark*
Wheeljack: *happily wiggles out from under Dreadnought* You mean like that java and pastries we had at the meeting?
yOp: There's java and pastries. *grins* And a whole gummi ham, and softboils, and mashes, and gummi salad, and sweet oil...
Dreadnought: *side glance of amusement as his tank pings hungrily*
Ironhide: *paying attention to yOp now* Gummi ham?
Chromia and Epps: *sniggerfit*
Elita: I don't know what any of that is, but it sounds delicious.
Ratchet: *feeling his tank start to rumble too* I wouldn't mind spending a Swindle's bank account.
Optimus: *snerk*
yOp: *looks at Ratchet, twinkling with amusement* Sir, my dad's the richest bot in the Multiverse, but none of the credit's in bank accounts.
Ratchet: *blinks at yOp and snerks*
Dreadnought: You guys ready to go yet? *gentle push for Serendipity*
Wheeljack: Am I?
Optimus: I think that's a yes. *begins gathering his family*
Elita: *motions for Morty to come along*
Morty: *moves close in obedience to the gesture, stumbling slightly as he does*
yOp: *pauses and looks at him*
Vector: *simply, as he reaches for a hand of each parent* Morty's growing.
yOp: *looks at the huge youngling, who already is much taller than himself* Whoa...
Virago: *whining is quieted as Chromia picks Epps up and hands him to Ironhide to sit with her*
Chromia: *this done, she looks to Optimus*
Ratchet: Growing?
yOp: Yes. He's growing. He's going to be a big bot. And he'll need scrap to eat.
Ratchet: That's... impossible.
Wheeljack: New. Not impossible.
yOp: It's the same function as when you self repair. Only his spark is triggering his body to add height and bulk.
Dreadnought: What mean folks. Talkin' all this shop when there's hungry kids waitin' ta eat.
Wheeljack: See? I told you it's not impossible. *shoves Ratchet towards the entrance* Now get a move on! I'm starving!
Elita: *leading the others* Don't you mean "we're starving"? *laughs*
guardian: *slow salute to the Prime*
Optimus: *straightens and returns the salute*
yOp: *throws a portal up in front of the party* Thanks, Dreadnought. You want a pizza?
Dreadnought: I got one. *fist bumps with the Changeling and grins* See ya 'round, man. *turns his grin to Optimus*
Wheeljack: *pushes a complaining Ratchet through the portal*
Optimus: *to Dreadnought* Thank you again. *and waits until the rest of his friends are through before taking up the rear*
Dreadnought: *waves, then PINpoints away, leaving the cavern to its guardians*
((Written byssjmihoshi and random_xtras.))
~~~
Ironhide: *rumbles and looks around* Alright, Optimus. We're ready. Prowl's got fat-aft distracted.
Chromia: *grins and pats Elita on the shoulder*
Elita: *hopeful and happy smile for her sister*
Optimus: All we need now is Wheeljack... Ah, here he comes.
Wheeljack: *walking fast, clattering with scanning equipment* Sorry, sorry! Couldn't find the right positronic lens.
Ratchet: *snerks* It's the Nexus, not a black hole.
Ironhide: *frowns at the engineer* *gruffly* Why're we bringing him again?
Epps: So he kin see a Cybertronian baby play chest burster! :D
Ironhide: *very careful boot for his human friend's aft*
Sunstreaker: *snerks, then yelps as Ironhide hits him upside the head* *SULK*
Wheeljack: Because, my good mech, if you don't bring me I'll complain every waking nanoklik about how much data I could be analyzing about this completely new and scientifically invaluable process until you tear out your own audio circuits for relief.
Optimus: *snerk*
Ironhide: Or I tear out yours. *lifts his brow ridges*
Wheeljack: You know I can still talk without my audios right?
Ratchet: And it would be even worse! Why would you do that? *getting his PINpoint out*
Ironhide: I could fix that too.
Sunstreaker: Why do I have to go? I'm already in trouble for watching something reproduce!
Epps: *blinks and stares at the golden bot, then facepalms*
Optimus: The agreement was that you would stay within 50 meters of myself or Ratchet at all times. *turns to the medic* Do you really need to come?
Ratchet: *he's said this 10 times already today* No new bots are getting on this base without a clean bill of health.
Wheeljack: You know I could scan for-
Ratchet: *GLARE*
Wheeljack: Nevermind.
Sunstreaker: *epic sulk*
Ironhide: Let's get going before fat-aft starts screaming.
Chromia: *amused* Or Jazz sneaks onto the team.
Cragbuster: *sticks his head around the corner* All clear, Ratchet.
Optimus: *nods and produces his own PINpoint* Then let's be on our way. *presses the button*
Ironhide: *looks around* Go back, Wheeljack wasn't holding onto anyone.
Chromia: *face. Palm*
Wheeljack: Primus' Gears! *flips down a colored visor and wanders off scanning everything he sees*
Elita: Never mind, Ironhide. *follows the science bot within easy grabbing distance as soon as they move anywhere*
Ironhide: *snorts, then hits Sunstreaker again and looks at the Prime* So how do you get hold of your contact?
Optimus: He should respond if I say his name three times. *feels a little strange but does it anyway* Optimus, Optimus, Optimus...
Sunstreaker: *short yelp of terror* NO! That's how you summon evil things... He DID it! *hunkers down and covers his head with both hands*
Epps: *staring up at the bot that just appeared with no warning* You don't look like Beetlejuice.
Ironhide: *intaking deeply as he tries to talk himself out of kill mode. Was badly startled by that sudden appearance*
yOp: *looks around* *softly* Sorry.
Wheeljack: *making the rounds, has scanned 5 new species, 10 new elements, and a bush that began walking away. Is now staring at yOp's legs, not knowing who he is* And this species has teleportation! Amazing!
Elita: *facepalming and silently laughing her gears off*
yOp: *looks over his shoulder at the happily zoned engineer as Chromia joins her sister in laughter while rubbing Ironhide's side* ...BOO!
Wheeljack: AH! *jumps back, dropping one of his instruments, and staring at this face that is and isn't his leader* Well... this is new!
Optimus: *almost wishing Jazz was here to record this* Everyone, meet Optimus, Guardian Fae Changeling and servant of Primus.
Chromia: The guy that introduced you to Primus last time? *not laughing now, even though Sunstreaker trying to hide behind Ratchet is hilarious*
Ratchet: Get up, you! *strongly nudges the Lambo with his foot*
Elita: *is reminded why she finds her mate attractive*
Optimus: That's right. Thank you for coming, Optimus. *moves to shake his alt's hand*
yOp: *grins and shakes* It's good to see you again. Oops. *pulls a piece of spaghetti off his arm and flips it away, then looks at the others* Easy, Ironhide, I come in peace.
Ironhide: *growls*
Chromia: *hits him*
Epps: *wants to know about the noodle, but is too busy silently mocking Sunstreaker to ask. Besides, this is Optimus' show*
Optimus: Sorry, Ironhide. I should have warned you.
Wheeljack: *back to scanning now* Are all servants of Primus these "Guardian Fae" things? Why are your atomic bonds unstable? And how can you create a stable Draxian field without a modulating--
Elita: Wheeljack.
yOp: No. Most Primus servants are normal Cybertronians, though I've met a human one. And my atomic bonds aren't unstable, I can just control them at will. The Draxian field... I'm sorry, but I've been forbidden to give that information to uncertified Wheeljacks. *slight grin*
Ironhide: *blinks and gives the young bot a long look that holds slight respect for his BS-fu*
Wheeljack: *stares at the servant for a second, with almost a pout on his face, then shrugs* Ah well. I bet you guys have some kinda non-interference policy or somethin'. What with this being a multiversal hub and everything. Like on Star Trek when--
Ratchet: *baps him* Oh stop yammering and let's get on with it!
Optimus: *clears his vocalizer* Yes. Sorry, Optimus. I called you here because my people are finally ready to start... repopulating.
yOp: *grins* I know.
Ironhide: *absent stink eye*
yOp: *grin widens at that*
Ratchet: At least a trial run, anyway. A few large meteors are set to hit the Earth soon. They'll make a convenient cover story for the new youngsters.
Elita: Once this war is over we hope to be able to have many more. *supportive look for her sister*
yOp: *mouth twitches slightly, but all he does is nod. Is just bordering on drunk though, because of the amount of joy that Primus is currently sharing* So it's the fountain?
Optimus: Yes. *smiles at his alt, currently too giddy at the prospect of the child he never thought he'd have to notice anything strange* *sends a small lovebomb to his mate*
Elita: *less restrained than her mate, is beaming*
yOp: *grins and then winces as he lets slip a little of what he's feeling*
Ironhide: *stops like he just hit a wall* *blink!*
Sunstreaker: What the *curse*??
Chromia: *optics wide* Who... I just heard a transmission?
Optimus: *blinks in surprise, watching his comrades react and not knowing what to say*
Elita: Oh!
Ratchet: What in the...
Wheeljack: *scanning himself, then everyone else* ... *Epps too*
yOp: Yeah. *rubs the back of his head sheepishly* Primus is excited.
Ironhide: *stares at him in utter and total gobsmack*
Chromia: *taking her turn to blink with bewilderment*
Epps: *has nooo clue what's going on. Actually, he's too busy trying to see if that giant lady there is really wearing a skirt with all these little people around to notice that anything's going on. Is relieved to see that she's got what looks like jeans underneath*
Wheeljack: That's Primus? You can do that?! *would be grinning his head off if he had a mouth* Ratchet did you know this?
Ratchet: No, actually, I didn't. *frowns, trying to fend off giddiness from two sides now*
Elita: T-then this is important, right? *looking to her mate*
Optimus: Yes. *hugs her* Yes, I suppose it is.
yOp: *quietly, his smile gentle* Creation dances at every birth. And every race is part of the pattern. Today the pattern becomes a little more whole.
Elita: *hand to mouth, looking like she might cry*
Optimus: *radiating support and happiness on the bond*
Ratchet: *can't resist smiling a little*
Wheeljack: Well if Primus approves, we shouldn't keep 'im waiting!
Chromia: *stares at the engineer* You just said something that makes sense.
Ironhide: Which way?
Epps: *looks up* Wow. Dunno why I feel so happy.
Optimus: *looks to the human* You can feel that as well?
Elita: Please, lead the way, Servant.
Epps: *lifts his eyebrows as he looks up* ...Too?
yOp: Someone should should give Sergeant Epps a lift. We're going to be going into rough territory.
Ratchet: *snerks at Epps* You really didn't see us all get slapped by a religious experience?
Elita: Should we stay in root mode or transform?
Epps: ...Religious? Wha?
yOp: Root mode will be better. *nods toward the east* We're going into Blackout's kingdom.
Elita: *understandably dismayed by the name, but nods and kneels to extend Epps a hand* I think it will be safer up here, Sergeant.
Wheeljack: Now which universe's Blackout is this? Because I think ours is dead, right? That happened before I landed so...
Ratchet: She's our tech but has her own army. Maintains a neutral territory bar here. Equitable, for a 'Con. *smirks*
yOp: Actually, the Black Dog is Nemesis'. Blackout's renounced Decepticon identity and returned to the old military term "Destron" for herself and her army. *slight smile as he starts walking* And she's got a baby daughter.
Epps: *scrambling aboard the hand* What? Baby? They ain't like babies. Except when Streaker misses out on the silicon strips.
Sunstreaker: *growls and gives the human a stink eye*
Ironhide: *cheerfully thumps him on top of the head* It'd be nice to meet a Blackout that smartened up. *remembers drinking with the one from his reality back before hostilities*
Elita: *carefully raising Epps up to chest height* Actually there is a lot of programming that must still be acquired by Cybertronian younglings after their birth. Not unlike human children.
Wheeljack: Aaah, she's been drinkin' the Koolaid, huh?
Ratchet: O.o *shakes his head and starts following yOp*
Optimus: *also follows*
yOp: *without turning* Passing it out, actually.
Wheeljack: *perks* See Ratchet? He got my joke!
yOp: *crosses the street behind the Visitors' Center, and then stops* Grimlock's on the bridge. Let's PINpoint.
Wheeljack: Grimlock?! I haven't seen that bucket of bolts in forever!
Ratchet: Where to? *grabbing the scientist before he goes tromping off*
yOp: Just everyone touch me, or someone who's touching me. Ironhide, please don't hit Wheeljack. Angry Ratchets are hard on the sensors.
Ironhide: *STARRRRRING at yOp even as he snags Sunstreaker and lets Chromia link he and the servant together*
Epps: *cheerfully* Amen, brother, preach it.
Ratchet: You're darn right.
Wheeljack: I like this guy.
Optimus: *chuckles as he softly clasps Ratchet's shoulder*
Elita: *links the medic and her mate to yOp*
yOp: *there's no jolt, as there is from using a PINpoint, instead it's as if they stood still and the world changed smoothly around them. Instead of trees, grass, and the Question Square, they are now surrounded by high red rock canyon walls, sand, and the occasional spiny bush or prickly cactus* *lifts his head and calls* It's me, Dreadnought.
deep, smooth voice: I know, Oppy. Jes' lemme catch Paean 'n I'll be over there.
Elita: *in a state of wonder* Wow...
Ratchet: Very impressive.
Wheeljack: Ack! I didn't have my Draxian scanner on! *throws off Ratchet's grip and fumbles around with his equipment*
yOp: *absently* It wouldn't pick up anything anyway, Wheeljack. *then grins*
Ironhide: *straightens as he sees the size of the black bot that's approaching, and wonders why the stranger feels familiar*
Chromia: *staring at the tiny silver form sitting on the big one's arm, knowing without asking that she's looking at a young life*
Paean: *sees new people and waves, chirping and beeping cheerfully*
Ironhide: *looks up at his Commander questioningly*
Optimus: It's alright, Ironhide. *projecting confidence to reassure his whole team*
Ratchet: *thinks he's seen the big black bot before but can't remember where*
Elita: *recognizing her own language she smiles and waves to the little one*
Paean: *language is a bit stilted, and very imperfect, but it is cheerful. And interrupted by a laugh when the little one sees the wave* Hey hey!
Ironhide: *mutters* She sounds like Jazz. *frown* Looks like him too.
Chromia: *hands to her mouth* It's a baby bot.
yOp: *looks at the group with a slight smile as Dreadnought looms over them cheerfully* Yes. That's Blackout's youngest daughter. And her older brother Dreadnought. Their father was a Jazz.
Epps: *brain broken and confused expression*
Paean: *wants to go see Optimus. Chirp chirp chirp!*
Wheeljack: *snerks* Jazz does get around, doesn't he?
Ratchet: *elbows him*
Elita: Oh it's so small! *holds Epps up to see*
Optimus: *smiles at his mate's burst of cute* Indeed. It is good to meet you, Dreadnought. *will wait to reach for the little one until her brother approves*
Dreadnought: *grins a grin that says he's totally comfortable around Optimuses and hands his baby sister right over* Yeah. Swell. How's Jazz 'n Conny?
Elita: Oh, you know them?
Optimus: *laughs and softly rumbles to the youngling* They're very well, thank you.
Wheeljack: *back to scanning all the things!*
Dreadnought: *cheery Jazz grin* I've ben ta yer base a couple times. They helped me 'n one'a my other sisters through a rough time.
Paean: *gonna snuggle now. And purr. And flirt with the brain broken Ironhide as he and Chromia stare at her*
Ratchet: Ah! You brought all the food! *smiles. This guy is ok now*
Elita: *chirping at Paean and rubbing her head*
Optimus: *smiling in wonder at the little thing*
Dreadnought: *rumbles a deep, sweet chuckle* Yup. *cheeky grin that's pure Jazz* So who's gettin' kids?
Wheeljack: *passes a beeping scanner over Paean. It beeps*
Elita: *smiles at her sister, wondering if she'll regain her vocalizer*
Paean: *looks up with an itty bitty growl at the beeping, then takes a swing at the scanner* Gerroff, swag fer bwains!
Chromia: *eyes flash with shock, and then she's laughing hard enough to rattle*
Ironhide: Hey! Watch your language!
yOp and Dreadnought: *also cracking up terribly, as is Epps*
Sunstreaker: *still being invisible behind Optimus*
Wheeljack: o.o
Elita: *snickering into Optimus' shoulder*
Optimus: *hearty laugh*
Paean: *clings to Optimus' chest and pulls herself up to standing on his arm. And then shakes her bitty booty at Wheeljack, just like Jazz has shaken his at enemies on the battle field!*
yOp: *choked sound of mirth from behind his hand* You've been teaching her bad habits, Dread.
Dreadnought: Nope. She did that first. *wide grin of pride for baby sister*
Wheeljack: *laughs and starts taking video to show Jazz later*
Optimus: *trying not to laugh so hard that the little terror falls off*
Paean: *pauses to look up with a grin at Optimus, then gives him a cuddle and a purr before turning and leaping to see Elita*
Ironhide: *choked sound, but Chromia's grip on his arm keeps him from reaching to save the sparklet!*
Elita: *acks and catches the biddy with her free hand, checking on Epps in the other immediately afterward* *sigh of relief*
Optimus: *helps his mate fence in the little one with his hands*
Ratchet: *processor almost stops at the leap* Let's go before she gives me a spark attack!
yOp: *gets himself under control and turns to Dreadnought* We're all going.
Dreadnought: What're we waitin' for, then? *doesn't even blink at the babby leap*
Epps: *finds himself hugged by a baby as tall as he is* I ain't a dolly! *laughing*
yOp: *serious now* One thing before we go. You're not going to be able to use any tracking devices to register the coordinates of where we're going. That's Blackout's condition for letting us go. She doesn't want the location of this spring to become common knowledge.
Ironhide: *rumbles. Thinks that's a good idea*
Chromia: *nods, then glances to Optimus*
Optimus: Yes, of course. *sort of distracted but still there*
Ratchet: *nods*
Wheeljack: *looks down at his scanner, still beeping quietly* Aww... *turns it off and stows it*
Dreadnought: *scans everybody, then looks at the Changeling*
yOp: *nods*
Dreadnought: Great. This way. *turns and starts walking down the canyon* We'll walk a bit 'n then I'll teleport us the rest'a the way.
tall black mech: *stands and looks over his shoulder as they pass the mouth of a little side canyon. Other bots are in the canyon, bent over something. The low sound of pained cursing comes softly on the still, hot air*
yOp: *optics flash with surprise* How did you guys catch a Megatron of that tech?
Dreadnought: *chuckle holds wicked mischief* He underestimated Mouse 'n Grumbler.
yOp: *more boggling* You let the girls take him down?
Dreadnought: *looks back with a very very very rotten grin*
Wheeljack: Only two mechs took 'im down?!
Ratchet: *cautious* What will you do with him?
Elita: *occupied with trying to hold 2 people and walk at the same time, doesn't have time to gawk*
Ironhide: *head craning to see into the side way* And can I play?
Chromia: *also seems interested in that*
Dreadnought: Yup. Mousie 'n Grumbler know their stuff. *grin returns* First we're fillin' him with honey 'n tyin' him on the ant hill. Then we're gettin' him LOLed inta a human woman fer awhile.
Ratchet: O.o
Optimus: .....
Wheeljack: *bursts into chattery laughter* Wait, what's "Lolled?"
yOp: He means they'll get Megatron changed into a human woman. *glances over toward the group* Probably until after he's experienced a menstrual cycle.
Dreadnought: Well yeah. Not much point in changin' 'im otherwise.
Ironhide: *looks up at the big youngster with respect for his evil genius*
Epps: *laughing very much now*
Wheeljack: *acks* Waiting until parts of him fall off? You are evil!
Elita: o.o "Fall off"? None of the women on base mentioned that part...
Ratchet: You'd think they'd realize one of these days that just because your pronoun is the same doesn't mean you want to hear every gory detail of their bodily processes...
Optimus: *chuckles*
Sunstreaker: *frowns at yOp* Aren't you going to stop them?
yOp: *glances at the golden front-liner, then shakes his head* No. Megatron needs this.
Dreadnought: Nothin' falls off. It's just some linin' from some inside part that sheds out and hurts like slag. *moving again*
Wheeljack: Falls off, sheds, still terrifying. *shivers*
Elita: *frowning down at Paean* Can we stop talking about this?
Optimus: *warm hand for his mate's shoulder* Perhaps we could teleport now?
Dreadnought: I gotta get the thing. *curious and quizzical look over his shoulder as he senses Elita's disquiet. Isn't bothered by Sunstreaker's squick*
Optimus: *nods to Dreadnought* Then let's hurry.
Dreadnought: Yessir. *turns and heads into a second side canyon, which opens out into a sort of natural, grass carpeted, amphitheatre* Wait here. *heads for where a sixteen foot tall bright red-orange femme is wrestling with some sort of odd mecha thing*
Blackout: *looks around from talking to a black, red, and gold mech as tall as herself, then turns and heads toward Optimus' party, her stride long and free from any trace of damage or pain*
big black mammoth with four tusks: *follows Blackout*
Optimus: *preemptively* Guns down, Ironhide.
Wheeljack: Aw how could you shoot that? It's so cute!
Elita: He's talking about Blackout, 'Jack.
Ratchet: Dinosaurs, mammoths... You have a strange definition of cute.
Blackout: Hey, 'Hide. *no mockery. Only quiet acknowledgement of the old soldier's scowling regard*
Ironhide: *snorts at her, and then looks down at the mammoth*
Blackout: *nods to Chromia, and then looks at Wheeljack* Dinosaur? Cute? Great. Here. *dumps a tiny baby raptor with bright pink fuzz into the engineer's hand, then turns toward Elita as Paean clamours and laughs* I see you, runt. C'mere.
Wheeljack: *optics light up and he begins turning over the critter, scritching it and scanning*
Elita: *half-unsure smile as she offers up the sparkling. Having to keep reminding herself that this Blackout won't try and kill her*
Optimus: *reassurance for his mate* *to Blackout* How have you been?
Blackout: *nuzzles her daughter's head, and then grins down at Elita before turning the expression to the Prime* I'll do. What about you? *absently preparing a feeding tube for her daughter as she speaks*
Ironhide: *sudden snigger upon seeing that the mammoth, an elderly cow, has noticed a biohazard sticker that Ratchet got on his skid plate from his habit of sitting on crates and is reaching to try and see what it is*
Chromia: *looks at her mate, and then follows his gaze* XD
Ratchet: *absently looking around the landscape, wondering how scrapped the med bay will be when he gets back*
Optimus: Better, now that we've decided to start rebuild--
Ratchet: DAHH! *jumps 10 feet in the air*
Blackout: *head whips around and she goes 0.o? at Ratchet, then to the sniggering Ironhide and Chromia. And then she understands* Cow. Heel.
Cow: *small, happy sound and goes to stand at heel, her small ears waving*
Paean: *laughing so hard she can barely drink, but doesn't let go the tube*
Epps: What? What'd I miss? What happened? *standing in Elita's grasp and trying to figure things out!*
Sunstreaker: *currently staring with amazement at the big black furry thing* ...I want one.
Elita: No, Sunstreaker. *in between giggling and holding up Epps so he can see*
Ratchet: *grumbling* We've got enough pranksters on base thankyouvery...
Optimus: *holding back giggles of his own* As I was about to say, thank you for your assistance, Blackout.
Epps: *has clued in now and is sniggering himself*
Blackout: *snorts at Sunstreaker and ignores his flinch, then looks back to Optimus, her massive shoulders rippling in a shrug* You're the Prime.
Paean: Oppymus! *drink!*
Blackout: Zip it, runt. *brow quirk at Optimus*
Optimus: *almost surprised at the warmth in her voice as she talks to her child* Still, I'm not your Prime.
Ratchet: Where is this fountain anyway?
Wheeljack: *now trying to test the little raptor's bite strength, teasing it with a finger*
pink fuzzy: *trying to understand what his new friend wants. Head tilty!*
Blackout: No. He's overseeing Megatron's treatment. *frowns at Ratchet, but continues talking to Optimus* A word of advice about rookies?
Sunstreaker: *walked up to try and see the mammoth better and is now sneezing because she beeped his nose*
Epps: *has noticed the fuzzy and is trying to see it better*
Wheeljack: *poke poke* Come on...
Optimus: *the comment sobers him, but the question is hopefully less sour* If you like. I'm sure we can use all the help we can get.
Blackout: Go easy on the criticism. They need to build confidence in themselves and their ability to please you. *tosses a little ball of fluff toward Wheeljack*
pink fuzzy: *snaps toy right out of the air and gleefully shakes it to make the bell ring*
Epps: *meeps at the snap*
Elita: Oh of course. You need to let them find their own way of doing things, not just your way.
Wheeljack: Wow! Look at the reaction time on this thing! *ponders* If only I could make it bigger...
Blackout: If they're made from you your way pleases them best. *sudden sharp scowl down at Wheeljack* No.
Epps: *ducks away from that scowl*
Elita: Oh, I hadn't thought of that.
Ratchet: You can't keep it anyway.
Wheeljack: Aww, I bet Ironhide's little bird-bot would take care of it.
Blackout: *nods* The coding's similar, so they share traits. *glances toward the sound of an altercation back the way they came from, then looks back to Elita* And his coding... *points with thumb at Optimus* Is a lot easier to handle than some.
Dreadnought: *coming back now*
Blackout: *to Ratchet* Why not?
Ironhide: *absently, as he looks toward the sound of the fight* You keep your own pets, 'Jack.
Ratchet: Based on that movie, those things used to eat people. I don't think Galloway would take kindly to something he thought had been exterminated. And for once, I agree with him!
Optimus: *snerk*
Blackout: That's going to get about as big as a turkey. And it's from stock that's been domesticated by humans for centuries. I thought it could keep up with my smallest, but she wears her mammoth out playing.
Epps: Do they bite people on the butt?
Blackout: *frowns at him* No. That's not an attack breed.
Sunstreaker: Wow, wimporaptor.
Chromia: Takes one to know one.
Dreadnought: Knowonewhat? *stops by his CO and looks around quizzically*
Wheeljack: See! See! It's totally safe! *holds the fuzzy raptor up to Ratchet*
Ratchet: UGH don't help him! *leaning away from it, hoping it doesn't gum up his filters with dander*
pink fuzzy: *heard disapproval! Bounces and cheeps at Ratchet, then tilts its head. Looove the babby!*
Dreadnought: Oh. The lil' fuzzy dude. He's way too tame for anythin'.
Sunstreaker: I'm bored.
Epps: Shut up, man, I'm watchin' all this.
Paean: *burp*
Optimus: *time to be the bad guy* No, Wheeljack, and that's final. We're already bringing home one suspicious thing today.
Elita: *to Dreadnought* Did you get what you needed to?
Dreadnought: Yup. I'm ready. *glances at Blackout*
Blackout: *is shrugging* I'll find somewhere else for it. *looks down at her sparklet and snerks when she sees that Paean is utterly limp and sound asleep*
Wheeljack: Aww... *pets the fuzzball one last time and hands him back to Blackout*
Ratchet: Finally! Let's go then.
Blackout: *looks at Optimus again as the tiny raptor cheeps around his toy* Prime. The fountain of life is guarded by death. Don't offend him. *turns and strides away, Cow still at heel*
Epps and Sunstreaker: Buh?
Chromia: *picks at the sticker on Ratchet's butt*
Dreadnought: *grins* Everybody hold hands.
Optimus: *surprised by the comment, but does as instructed*
Elita: *holds onto her mate and lifts Epps up to touch Wheeljack's shoulder*
Wheeljack: *stows his gear once again and grabs Ratchet*
Ratchet: *holds onto Sunstreaker*
Sunstreaker: *squirms and grumbles*
Ironhide: *hits him, and then grabs him by the head with one hand as the other hand takes Chromia's*
Dreadnought: Now we mean it. No trackin'.
Epps: ...Where's the Primus guy?
Dreadnought: Waitin' fer us. He went ta let the guardian know we're comin'. *and then PINpoints them to a cave that is cool, softly lit, and musical with the trickle of water*
yOp: *looks over from where he's standing next to a silent black hulk with dim, blank eyes*
Dreadnought: *goes over to stand by the hulk as yOp walks over to join the Autobots*
Sunstreaker: *sounds freaked out* Is that an Ironhide?
yOp: *quietly* He was. He's been dead for a couple of vorns. Blackout found him and brought him here so he could have a function again.
Chromia: *hand to her mouth*
Ironhide: *rumbles quietly and looks over at his alternate, understanding in his optics*
Ratchet: *gives an impressed grunt*
Optimus: *carefully* Is this what Blackout meant by "guarded by death"?
yOp: *nods his head and sighs slightly* It's hard to make an Ironhide finally lay down.
Optimus: Indeed it is. *look of admiration and love for the guardian*
Elita: *nods in agreement with yOp* *looking around at the beauty of the place*
guardian: *lifts his head, a faint flicker of challenge in his dim eyes. Is someone telling him to quit?*
Dreadnought: *distracts him with a gentle sock to the shoulder*
Epps: *isn't wibbling and you can't prove it*
yOp: *throat clearing sound, and then turns and heads toward the sound of water* You'll have to talk to the second guardian yourself, Optimus.
Sunstreaker: I want to go home.
Ironhide: *clang!*
guardian: *rumbles a laugh*
Epps: *sniffs and looks after yOp*
Chromia: *following the servant*
Optimus: *nods and follows his alt*
Elita: *shielding Epps a bit more, follows as well*
Ratchet: *shoving Sunstreaker along after them*
Wheeljack: *reaaaaally itching to scann all of this amazingness right now*
Dreadnought: *crooks a finger at Wheeljack, inviting him over to meet the deceased mech*
yOp: *around some beautifully sculpted stalactites, and then past a curtain of water deposited minerals, and he's stopping to hold out his hand to a slender crystal dragon* Hi, Serendipity. You've got visitors. Ironhide likes them.
Serendipity: *quiet chiming sound as she turns to look at the other bots, her gently glowing eyes changing to a soft, curious, purple colour*
Chromia: *sees the dragon and stops beside the curtain to gaze with wonder*
Elita: *helpfully pushing her sister on even as she marvels at the dragon's changing eyes*
Optimus: *wasn't expecting this* Oh, hello. *bows his head in reverence* You are the guardian of this place?
Serendipity: *soft, fluting song as her eyes turn blue. Bows her head to Optimus, and then steps closer to sit up on her haunches and examine him in a friendly way*
yOp: *softly* She's made from unbreakable glass, and has corrosive venom. But she won't attack while I'm here, and if I weren't she wouldn't attack unless you went near the pool.
Elita: *squeezes Optimus' hand*
Optimus: *smiles at Elita and then approaches the dragon slowly* I am Optimus, the leader of my people. A war has destroyed our means of reproducing and we were hoping to use your fountain.
Ratchet: Not to make more soldiers though.
Serendipity: *glances at Ratchet, and then flutes at Optimus again before dipping her head to Elita. Is plainly inviting the femmebot closer*
Epps: *don't mind him. He just abandoned ship and headed over to Ironhide*
Ironhide: *picks up the human without taking his eyes from this second embodiment of death*
Elita: *looks to her hand and almost has a spark attack until she notices the human has moved* *shakes off the uncertainty and stands next to her mate* My designation is Elita. We... *loving glance to Optimus* ...were hoping to have a child. *flash of excitement*
Serendipity: *flutes and bows her head*
yOp: *soft chuckle* She's asking why you don't say hi. Offer her a hand.
Elita: Oh! *holds out a hand-*
Optimus: *-at the same time. They laugh at each other*
Serendipity: *is clearly laughing herself with the soft music she produces. Snuffles both hands with her slender muzzle, and then rubs her head on both like a cat before going to see Ironhide and Chromia and greeting them as well*
yOp: *grins* You're in. *nods to the pool that lies still and dark but for the occassional ripple*
Elita: *clearly waiting for another test* *no this can't be it, really?*
Optimus: *gently moving Elita so the dragon has room to move*
yOp: *to Elita, answering her thought* That's it. *glances to Optimus, his grin widening* Have a drink. *and then he turns his head and looks at something, nodding slightly*
Elita: *blink blink*
Optimus: I think we should wait for the others. It would feel... more official that way.
Ironhide: *gruffly as he and Chromia walk up* I'm here. Hustle your lead aft, Ratchet.
Epps: *being very very quiet after being nuzzled by a dragon*
Ratchet: *holding out his hand for Seredipity* Well excuse me for following protocool and trying not to get us all scrapped. *to the dragon* Pleasure to meet you, Ma'am.
Serendipity: *nuzzles his hand and then rubs her head on it*
Sunstreaker: I'll have no problem with this part. Females love my finish.
Serendipity: *slaps the frontliner while still loving on Ratchet*
Sunstreaker: Ack!
yOp: *excuse the sniggerfit, please*
Elita: *snicker reflex has put her at ease again, thanks*
Optimus: *looking around* Where has Wheeljack gone?
yOp: He's scanning the other guardian. *looks over his shoulder* And spazzing out slightly.
Optimus: *another snerk* Well then, I guess... this is it.
Epps: *speaking quietly now, because Serendipity just made a soft sound to him that has triggered a memory* *voice hushed and reminiscent* Reminds me of my old Virago...
Ironhide: *eyes on Optimus* Uh huh. Yup.
yOp: *encouraging nod to his alter brother*
Elita: *squeezes Optimus' arm and nods as well*
Optimus: *pulls a small bomb casing he'd been saving out of subspace, kneels to fill and drink from it*
yOp: *quietly* There you are.
voice: *hopeful rumble similar to Optimus' own* Dad?
Ironhide and Epps: *just nearly had spark/heart attacks at how suddenly that kid just appeared!*
Ratchet: Primus! *probably did just have a spark attack*
Elita: *gasps, whipping around and covering her mouth*
Optimus: *drops the casing into the fountain* Um...
Vector: *small sound of concern and puts his hands on Elita* Sorry...
Chromia: *has dust in her optics!*
Elita: Oh... oh my... You're...
Optimus: *turns, a wave of love drowning out the guilt of dropping something in the sacred fountain* Vector. *takes the kid in, smiling the biggest he has in a long time*
Vector: *big grin, and then his mask moves aside and he has to stop and touch his face to be sure of what that was* Oh, hey...
Epps: *quietly* I miss that bike.
Ironhide: Yep. *watching the kid and grinning*
Sunstreaker: Can we go home now?
Ironhide: *busts him one in the back of the head*
Sunstreaker: *ack! SPLASH! You think you dropped something in the fountain, Optimus?*
Ratchet: Why are you thinking of your bike at a time like- O.O *practically has another spark attack at the splash* Sunstreaker!
Optimus: *acks and immediately reaches to pull out the Lambo*
yOp: *steps forward, but then stops and meeps as two more forms appear nearby, one of them haloed in red and blue sparkles* Oops...
Sunstreaker: *sputtering water out of his intakes as he gropes for his CO's hand* *also spewing vituperation*
Optimus: *doesn't care if he has to wade into the fountain, will drag his soldier out*
Elita: *noticing the two new forms* Um...
Ratchet: *after a quick assessment of the situation, shoves Ironhide toward Optimus* Slaggit, help him! *and goes to scan these new forms*
Ironhide: *takes a swing at his friend, and then notices the kids and blinks*
hulking golden youngling: *steps back, looking down at Ratchet with confusion* You're not my dad.
small and slender femmling: *looks at her hands as the sparkles die away, and then laughs*
Sunstreaker: *gets Chromia's hand too and exits the pool* Are we in trouble? *sputter, cough*
golden youngling: *brightens* Dad! *strides over and grabs the frontliner to hug him*
Sunstreaker: *utterly. Totally. Completely. Brain. Broken. Like, uber*
Ratchet: *continues scanning with practiced focus* Why are you using Human titles anyway? *watches as he hugs the Lambo* Oh no...
Elita: *so very confused, looks to yOp* Was this supposed to happen?
yOp: *facepalming much* It's part of the LOL of the fountain. Male parents get followed home by a youngster who calls them "Dad". And it must've been, Elita, or it wouldn't have. *lowers his hand and looks guiltily at the newborn femme*
femme: *reaching to poke Epps*
Epps: Hey, what the heck? What do you want, kid?
yOp: *pinches the bridge of his nose* You wished for her, so she thinks you're her parent.
Epps: I... Wait. She's a bike???
femme: *whines because she can't reach him*
Ratchet: *hand to his helm* Sunstreaker has a sparkling. Our race is doomed.
Elita: *looking from Vector, to her mate shaking off, to the bot hugging the Lambo, to the whining bike, to the facepalming Servant* Well... it can't be that bad... -Oh, Primus, how do we salvage this? Chromia, HALP!-
Vector: *suddenly looks more closely at Elita, his expression changing to confusion* You sound like my Dad too. *gaze goes from her to Optimus*
Chromia: *hurrying over to her sister* That's because she and Optimus are bonded. They're both your parents.
Vector: *eyes widen* I have two dads?
Ironhide: *as he drops to one knee and sets Epps on the floor* Parents.
Epps: Ack! Hey, kid, watch it! *pushes at the young femme as she tries to hug him*
femme: *sits down and softly lets out the sounds of a confused and frightened sparklet*
yOp: ...And that one's going to need programming. *hunkers down, a hand at Epp's back so he can't retreat* *softly* Do you know your name?
femme: *blinks and gives him an incredulous look for asking such a thing* Virago.
Ratchet: And the human has a sparkling! If Galloway doesn't blow a gasket, Prowl will!
Optimus: Downshift, Ratchet. We'll... say that one is Ironhide's. *rubs his mate's back*
Elita: *greatly appreciating both bots' reassurance, going back into problem-solver mode* That might work, j-just for the sake of paperwork... *holds out her hand to squeeze Vector's*
Vector: *moves to also give comfort to Elita* Galloway and Prowl are wrong to blow gaskets. Primus wanted Morty and I to come home today.
golden youngling: *looks over from where he's got the still stunned Sunstreaker tucked under one arm now* Huh?
Vector: *waves to him*
Morty: *waves back and then resumes waiting to see what's next*
Ratchet: *back to scanning everyone, keeping the grumbling to a low engine rumble*
Optimus: And Virago? *already knows the answer is probably yes but wants to hear Vector's opinion since seems to have been in direct contact with Primus*
Vector: *laugh holds a youthful echo of the Prime's joy* He's always happy to send someone else out.
yOp: *nods, the corners of his mouth twitching as he feels Primus' mirth*
Elita: You know, he does sound a lot like you, Optimus. *smiles at her boys, and realizes that's plural now and beams even more*
Ratchet: *walking around the group, talking into his scanner* Well they all seem to be in working order, though the other Optimus is right, Virago still needs some heavy duty programming. It'll need an escort 24/7.
Vector: *looks over, sobering* Virago's not an it, sir. She's a girl.
Virago: *looks up from poking at her ankle joint* Uh huh. *frowns at Ratchet, then squeaks softly as Ironhide scoops her up and holds her close* Ohhhhhh. ^_^ *snuggle*
Ironhide: *see this face? UTTER SUCK*
Chromia: *hiding her eyes from that face lest she squee or laugh* *other hand still on her sister's shoulder*
Epps: Be careful with my baby girl, 'Hide. Hey, watch where you're swingin' that foot, you old...
Morty: Don't swear.
Ratchet: I'm giving it a chance to pick pronouns, boy. They're a human construction, not a Cybertronian one.
Vector: Her dad's human. He saw his bike as a girl.
yOp: 9_9 6_6 XD
Epps: Human? Huh? Somebody talkin' about me? *looks up quizzically*
Chromia: *snerk*
Ratchet: Well... Ah... Oh, never mind. *goes back to scanning.
Elita: *snickers into Vector's hand*
Optimus: *to Vector and the other new bots* This process has skipped many steps for us, so forgive us if we seem awkward. Usually sparklings do not even choose their names until they are at least a cycle old.
Vector: I guess we cheated. *rumbles again with that laughter that sounds like a youthful version of his father's, then looks from Elita to Optimus* Morty and I were watching you as you drank the water.
Morty: Yup. *petting Serendipity now with the hand not engaged in holding Sunstreaker*
Elita: Morty too? *small chuckle* I guess bringing Sunstreaker here was the right idea.
Optimus: Regardless of how you came, you are all welcome. *smiles at everyone*
Dreadnought: *from over by the mineral curtain* Primus welcome the new warriors.
guardian: *rumbles and nods his head from where he's standing by the young Destron*
yOp: Dread, it's supposed to be the leader that says that, and you know it.
Dreadnought: Blackout won't do it, and Jets is busy. *grin*
Wheeljack: *pops in* Hey, did you know this guy is really dead? I mean, if his spark has a pulse I haven't detected it yet. But his circuits are still active. It's fascinating!
Dreadnought: *hand on Wheeljack's head and presses down, his optics twinkling*
Morty: Why're you squishing him?
Dreadnought: Squishing? Nahhhhh.
Wheeljack: Wait, there are more bots in here than there should-- *beeps in protest of the squishing*
Elita: *laughs* You figured out his mute button already? That took me a vorn!
Dreadnought: My CO works with a lotta 'Jacks. *grins his Jazz grin as Vector laughs at the beep*
Optimus: *wonders at Elita's ability to be perceptive and whether or not he has a "mute button"*
Morty: *to Ratchet, since he's nearest* *quiet, easy going rumble* When do we fuel?
Vector: *looks that way with interest* He's just the doctor, Morty. Why don't you ask your dad?
Morty: He's still rebooting.
Ironhide: *reaches a hand over and hits Sunstreaker on the head*
Morty: *examines his dad, then looks to Ironhide* It didn't work.
Ratchet: I'd say we fuel when we get home, but should their first meal really be cut-rate human fuel?
Optimus: You're thinking the Black Dog, aren't you?
yOp: *quietly* The biggest private dining room at the Black Dog is ready and waiting, and the meal is free and donated by Swindle Co.
Dreadnought: *laughs and offers Vector a fist bump, which the new bot takes a moment to understand but then reciprocates* Schway. You get ta eat the good stuff.
Vector: *grins and looks at his parents*
Optimus: That's very kind of Swindle. Please thank him for us. *smiles at his new family*
Elita: *hugs Vector, already feeling the new tug at her spark*
Wheeljack: *happily wiggles out from under Dreadnought* You mean like that java and pastries we had at the meeting?
yOp: There's java and pastries. *grins* And a whole gummi ham, and softboils, and mashes, and gummi salad, and sweet oil...
Dreadnought: *side glance of amusement as his tank pings hungrily*
Ironhide: *paying attention to yOp now* Gummi ham?
Chromia and Epps: *sniggerfit*
Elita: I don't know what any of that is, but it sounds delicious.
Ratchet: *feeling his tank start to rumble too* I wouldn't mind spending a Swindle's bank account.
Optimus: *snerk*
yOp: *looks at Ratchet, twinkling with amusement* Sir, my dad's the richest bot in the Multiverse, but none of the credit's in bank accounts.
Ratchet: *blinks at yOp and snerks*
Dreadnought: You guys ready to go yet? *gentle push for Serendipity*
Wheeljack: Am I?
Optimus: I think that's a yes. *begins gathering his family*
Elita: *motions for Morty to come along*
Morty: *moves close in obedience to the gesture, stumbling slightly as he does*
yOp: *pauses and looks at him*
Vector: *simply, as he reaches for a hand of each parent* Morty's growing.
yOp: *looks at the huge youngling, who already is much taller than himself* Whoa...
Virago: *whining is quieted as Chromia picks Epps up and hands him to Ironhide to sit with her*
Chromia: *this done, she looks to Optimus*
Ratchet: Growing?
yOp: Yes. He's growing. He's going to be a big bot. And he'll need scrap to eat.
Ratchet: That's... impossible.
Wheeljack: New. Not impossible.
yOp: It's the same function as when you self repair. Only his spark is triggering his body to add height and bulk.
Dreadnought: What mean folks. Talkin' all this shop when there's hungry kids waitin' ta eat.
Wheeljack: See? I told you it's not impossible. *shoves Ratchet towards the entrance* Now get a move on! I'm starving!
Elita: *leading the others* Don't you mean "we're starving"? *laughs*
guardian: *slow salute to the Prime*
Optimus: *straightens and returns the salute*
yOp: *throws a portal up in front of the party* Thanks, Dreadnought. You want a pizza?
Dreadnought: I got one. *fist bumps with the Changeling and grins* See ya 'round, man. *turns his grin to Optimus*
Wheeljack: *pushes a complaining Ratchet through the portal*
Optimus: *to Dreadnought* Thank you again. *and waits until the rest of his friends are through before taking up the rear*
Dreadnought: *waves, then PINpoints away, leaving the cavern to its guardians*
((Written by
ssjmihoshi and random_xtras.))