TF-'verse. Nellis AF base. Bringing home a stray.

[random_xtras]

There are two couches in the common room of the hanger. One is large enough to accommodate an over thirty foot mech comfortably.

Optimus is sprawled on the smaller one, his long legs stretched out in front of him as he holds a datapad in one hand and cuddles an armload of Elita and sparklings with the other. He doesn't look away from the huge plasma TV as he hears someone PINpoint in. "Welcome back, Ratchet. Arther Ryan called while you were out, and asked that you contact him as soon as possible."

"Oh so now he calls," growls the CMO. "Well, he's too late. I've already taken the other offer."

Then he pauses and looks at his alt, aware of the dusty concrete floor scattered with toys, the Transformer-sized DDR game in the corner, and the drunken black pickup sleeping it off in the courtyard behind them. "Welcome to the base."

Optimus looks up quizzically.

Comments

[nottabeater.livejournal.com]

"Like George's." Rap nods as he comes to hunker next to him and carefully study the fur along his shoulders. "Oh... this is real. Sweeet!"

"Bbbb!" says Honey, moving in for more snuggles.

//Perhaps,// says Ratchet privately. //Sometimes I worry that I damaged her when I moved her to her shell.//

[l33tmedic.livejournal.com]

Thinking some reassurance might be in order, Ratchet responds to his alt on the same secure frequency. //How long ago was she sparked and moved? I've built my own share of shells and had to work on moving sparks into them. Sometimes things just go a bit awry, but work themselves out again later.//

Ratchet allows the two sparklings to examine him and well...cuddle or pet him as they will. Truthfully, he'd probably snarl and snap at a fully matured mech if they attempted to treat him in such a manner, but these two get a free pass, if just based on youthful curiosity. "It's real...and it sheds out, unfortunately. An accident with some transwarp technology followed by a jolt from an altered CR/scan chamber left me this way. I used to transform into an ambulance."

[random_xtras]

//She was sparked nearly eight months ago. Moved to her shell nearly six months ago,// says Ratchet. //The fact that her father was dead when she was sparked... could also be a factor.//

"Dunno what transwarp means," says Rap thoughtfully. "Or CR chambers. But I got a big brush, if it'd help."

[l33tmedic.livejournal.com]

//"Was dead when she was sparked"...?// The response carries a note of surprise with it. As bear Ratchet's universe's Cybertronians did not have the ability to reproduce in quite the same manner, the explanation strikes him as even more out of the ordinary than what he is accustomed to...

Glancing at Rap, Ratchet frowns. "If it helps, just take all that explaining to mean 'it was an accident and a bad one, at that'. Sometimes when you mess with science, you're playing with fire...and it can blow up in your face." He nods at the mention of a brush with a bit of a grimace, however. "Well, if you've got a brush, I wouldn't refuse borrowing it."

[random_xtras]

//Yes. He was a wandering free spark. He got a little too close to Bumblebee while keeping her from dying, and a little while later we found Honey's spark in Bumblebee's spark chamber.// Ratchet sounds bemused as he relates the incident.

Rap actually laughs. "Uncle Ratchet had somethin' do that the other day." Then he hops to his feet, one Bumblebee-type hand pushing down on his knee as he does. "Alright. I'll go get it. BRB."

Honey giggles and snuggles. She likes this guy.

Then she turns her head and looks at Optimus, who's still smiling at them.