mv. Tokyo. Newcomers

[microbots]

Sora: *almost frantic pinging of Rachel's comm*

Rachel: Ack! *startles and looks down at the children in her arms, then frowns and pings back* //Sora?//

Sora: //Something is wrong with Dumpson. Seriously wrong.// *so frightened and worried*

Rachel: *blink blink* //Shhh. What kind of wrong?//

Sora: *sends a live feed, showing the red mech acting very out of character* *quieter* //He didn't recognize me in either mode...//

Rachel: *sucks in a quiet breath, and then reaches over little Denver, Hope, and Missy to tap Hattie on the shoulder* //I'll be right there, baby. Just let me take care of the kids here.//

Hattie: *groggy blinking, gives Rachel a confused look*

Rachel: *softly* Something's wrong with one of Sora's boys. I have to go check on him. Take Dennie and my littles?

Hattie: *small nod, moves to sit up and carefully reposition little Denver, Hope, and Missy*

Miranda Fern: *sleepy clickstorm, is talking in her sleep*

Rachel: *gentle hand on Miranda Fern's fuzzy hair for a moment, and then automatically, with mother's instinct, makes sure that everyone's got their doll babies before she slips off the mattress and rises to her feet*

Raoul: *lifts his eyebrows to her quizzically*

Rachel: *shakes her head* Stay here, sport. Dennie needs you.

little Denver: *snuggles against Hattie and continues to sleep peacefully*

Rachel: *slight smile, and then asks Sora for coordinates after telling Patrick and Jack where she's going. Slips her brown slingback 'Olivia' Crocs on as she does*

Sora: *gives the coordinates, which are in an entirely different part of Tokyo than the precinct or even the park*

Rachel: *presses her lips together slightly in worry, and then sends a quick plea to God to help her grandson through whatever is troubling him. This done, she triggers her PINpoint and goes to the coordinates*

Dumpson: *looking very confused and just a bit frightened.... Nothing like the somewhat cocky attitude he usually sports* *startles and trips over his own feet when Rachel arrives*

Deckerd: *catches him* ~Easy, brother. It's just Grandmother. She's Mother's mother. You... well, you usually like her.~

Sora: *wringing her hands from where McCrane's holding her. If she were in root mode, her optics would likely be white with distress*

McCrane: *quiet reassurances, is keeping an optic on Dumpson in case he goes ballistic, however unlikely that may be*

Power Joe: *frowning a bit as he watches Dumpson, then his attention's going to Rachel and his expression is brightening* ~Grandma!~

Dumpson: *so confused and scared right now. Doesn't understand what's going on, and doesn't know these people...?*

Rachel: *has a smile for Power Joe, her blue eyes bright with affection* ~Hey, PJ. How are your friends, and how's Barbie?~ *is scanning Dumpson as she speaks to his outgoing, sunshiny brother*

Power Joe: ~We got a new teammember.... His name is Shadowmaru, but he doesn't stay at the precinct most nights.... He's kinda strange.... And Barbie's doing better now that her head's back on.... ~ *wanted to bring her along, but decided she'd be safer with Mr. Toudou*

Rachel: ~Someone broke Barbie?~ *soft intake of breath as she sees what's wrong with the confused red mech* ~Ohhh. PJ, you've got a new brother!~

Power Joe: ~Yeah... Someone took her head off....~ *blinks a bit* Huh???

McCrane: *looks over from trying to calm Sora down* ~A new brother?~

Deckerd: ~What do you mean, Grandmother?~ *frowns*

Rachel: *softly* ~I mean I made a little mistake when I made Dumpson's spark, and it's separated. Dumpson's not in control of his body right now.~ *gently, to the young mech in Deckerd's arms* ~What's your name?~

not-Dumpson: *hesitantly, trying to figure out how to talk* ~Drill Boy...~ *definitely sounds younger than Dumpson, even if he is using Dumpson's vocalizer to speak*

Rachel: *gently* ~Hello, Drill Boy. Has Deckerd told you who everyone is?~

Drill Boy: ~Just that the other lady is Mother and you're Grandmother....~

Rachel: *nods* ~The bot who is holding you is your older brother, Deckerd. This is Power Joe, this is McCrane, and the guy whose body you're borrowing right now is Dumpson.~

Deckerd: *turns his brother so that he can see the younger bot's face, his own bearing a look of deep concern and affection*

Drill Boy: *quiet for a few moments, then* ~Dumpson isn't very nice....~

McCrane: *coughs to hide the slight snerk he just did*

Rachel: *mouth twitches slightly* ~Well, you are squeezing him in his own body.~

Drill Boy: ~He won't share anything...~ *setting up to sulk*

Rachel: *soft chuckle* ~Do you want to come back to the precinct and get your own things?~

Drill Boy: ~He won't share anything about anyone...~

Sora: *kinda vanished in McCrane's hands... is just a bit shaky as the sharpshooter gently rubs her back*

Rachel: ~Well, come on home. Then you'll have your own body, and your own mind to store things in.~ *lifts her eyebrows slightly, coaxing the upset youngster gently with her look*

Drill Boy: *small nod*

Deckerd: *softly* ~Are you dizzy anymore?~

Drill Boy: *hesitantly, isn't quite as sure on his feet as Dumpson would be* ~A little....~

Deckerd: *slight frown* ~Can you hide for a little while and let Dumpson steer?~

Drill Boy: *slight sulk at that*

McCrane: *quietly* ~Please? Mother is worried about Dumpson....~

Drill Boy: *'meep' expression* *and then his optics are flickering as the shell's original owner regains control*

Deckerd: *softly* Dumpson?

Dumpson: *and there's that familiar frown as he moves to try and stand up on his own*

Rachel: Hey, slugger. Gimme a lift and I'll help you with your crowding problem. *teasing grin for her hot tempered grandson*

Dumpson: *grumps a bit and mutters a few choice words under his breath about Drill Boy as he moves to transform to vehicle mode*

Rachel: So what's new? *hops into his cab*

Dumpson: *hesitantly* Well..... There's a lady who did an article about us....

Rachel: *quiet chuckle as she pats Deckerd's hand when that grandson tucks her skirt in so that it won't be caught in the door* So you're even more famous, huh?

Dumpson: Yeah, I guess....

Rachel: *pauses in fastening the seat belt* ...What's up, sport?

Power Joe: The lady is his girlfriend! :D

Dumpson: Shut up! *would be blushing if he were in root mode*

Rachel: :o Girl... friend?

Deckerd: *gentle swat for Power Joe*

Power Joe: *laughs and scoots out of the way*

Dumpson: *hunkering down on his axles a bit* *soooo embarrassed!*

Rachel: *looks over toward Sora* //Did you know slugger here has a girlfriend?//

Sora: *quietly* //It was mentioned when we first went to look for him...//

Rachel: //Huh.// *finishes fastening the seat belt, and then pulls the door shut* Okay. Tell me all about her while we head for the precinct.

Dumpson: O-Okay.... *still so embarrassed.... But at least he's driving carefully while he tells Rachel about Ayako*

Rachel: *listening, and absently flapping a hand at Power Joe as he pulls up beside them and mugs for attention* *then, quietly* Do you think we ought to call her? She might want to be here right now.

Dumpson: *quiet for a few moments as he considers this* Y-yeah.... *just a bit worried*

Rachel: Do you have her number? I can call her for you. *gentle pat for the seat*

Dumpson: Y-Yeah... *will recite the number from memory*

Rachel: *takes out her cellphone and inputs the number, then holds phone to her ear* *is still gently patpatting the seat, as she does the backs of her little ones*

woman on the other end: //~Hello?~//

Rachel: ~Hi, this is Rachel Ruteger. I'm Dumpson's grandmother.~

woman: //~Ah, hello.... Dumpson's mentioned you a few times....~//

Rachel: ~Oh really?~ *chuckles and gently boots her grandson, then goes serious* ~Can you come to the police station?~

woman: //... ~Is everything alright?~//

Dumpson: *sheepish engine rumble*

Rachel: ~Dumpson's going to need minor surgery when we reach the precinct.~ *gently* ~He'd like you to be there.~~

woman: //~I'll be there as soon as I can.~//

Rachel: ~Alright. Thanks, Ayako.~

Ayako: *hangs up with a click*

Dumpson: *slowing as he nears the precinct*

Rachel: *as she turns the phone off* So how serious are you guys?

Dumpson: Er... Well.... *not sure how to explain how badly he wants to keep Ayako safe*

Rachel: *gently* Do you need a hard light holoform? I don't think I could give your body a human alt mode.

Dumpson: ...Hard light? Holoform? *so confused now*

Rachel: *explains the concept in simple terms. Basically it would be a human size body that he'd be able to use for short periods of time to interact with humans, or to keep accidents from happening when people thought they were seeing a driverless truck*

Dumpson: *quiet as he considers this option* *softly* I think that'd be a good thing...

Rachel: *waits till he's pulled to a stop in his parking spot* And it'll make it easier to snuggle.

Dumpson: *would be BLUSHING if he was in root mode!* Er...... *stutters and stammers a bit*

Rachel: *gentle pat as she unfastens the seatbelt and opens the door* Let's get you and Drill Boy in your own shells.

Dumpson: *waits till Rachel gets out to transform* Y-Yeah... *so nervous now*

Mr. Toudou: *hurries up with Mr. Saejima to fuss over the red bot*

Rachel: *explains what's going on with Dumpson*

Mr. Saejima: *considering expression* ~He could be the Soccer Detective...~

Dumpson: *makes an 'urk' sound*

Yuuta: *puts on the brakes from where he was running up to Deckerd* ~Soccer... detective???~ 6_6

Rachel: Say what?

Dumpson: *optics flickering as he and Drill Boy fight over who gets to speak*

Rachel: *looks up and sees that. Gentle hand on Dumpson's leg* ~Let him talk, buddy.~

Mr. Saejima: *watching with a slight frown*

Dumpson: *one last flicker of his optics before Drill Boy begins to speak*

Drill Boy: ~Soccer!~ *gleespazz* *wobble, has to sit down* ~Whoah... Dizzy...~

Mr. Toudou: *worried frown* ~Let Dumpson have control again. We need to get you two separated.~

Drill Boy: ~Yeah...~ *more flickering optics*

Yuuta: *scowling absently as he slips over to Deckerd without taking his eyes from Dumpson. He's worried too*

Deckerd: *looks down* ~Aren't you supposed to be at school now?~

Yuuta: 0_0 Shhhhhhh.

McCrane: *letting Sora out*

Sora: *just a bit pale looking*

Mr. Saejima: *notices this, goes to help her into the building*

Rachel: *on one side of Dumpson as Mr. Toudou goes to the other* ~Okay, buddy. Let's get you to the lab.~

Dumpson: *slow nod, quiet grumping at Drill Boy*

Mr. Toudou: ~Shhh. He didn't know better. Come on. Step by step.~

Dumpson: *slowly making his way into the precinct*

McCrane: *moves to help support his brother*

Rachel: *smile for her quiet grandson* ~Thanks, slugger.~

Raj: *over comms* //Rachel, when you have time, Sora's ill...// *quiet worry*

Rachel: *quietly* //I don't blame her. But I have to get these sparks separated before I can do anything else. I accidentally wound up with two code mixes in Dumpson's spark that day I made the triplets, and the boys have a new brother just raring to have his own look at the world.//

Raj: //Sora said something similar.... I'll keep the humans from throwing the trash can she was sick in away....//

Rachel: //Tell them it's a bio hazard. They'll know what to do.// ~Careful, Dumpson.~ *nods to Deckerd as he holds the elevator door open for them*

Dumpson: *grumbling at himself and at Drill Boy*

Ayako: *hurrying up behind them*

Rachel: *turns a quizzical look to the brighter redhead as Deckerd and McCrane get Dumpson tucked into the elevator* ~...Ayako?~

Ayako: *nods, studying Rachel with curiosity in her green eyes* ~Rachel?~

Rachel: ~That's me. Come on in. We're going down.~

Deckerd: ~I'll come down in the next load, Grandmother. I don't want to have too many big robot feet in there with you, Mr. Toudou, and Ayako.~

Rachel: *glances up* Alright, slugger. *grin*

Ayako: *moving to get onto the elevator as well*

Dumpson: *looking very relieved as she gently patpats his leg*

Mr. Toudou: *shoots Rachel a look of concern*

Power Joe: ~Lemme go get Barbie....~ *heads off to get his doll, intends to sit with Sora and keep her company*

Mr. Toudou: *calls after him* ~Your father brought her to the apartment, Power Joe.~

Power Joe: ~Oooh...~ *will head for the apartment then*

Rachel: *chuckles softly as the door closes, then grins at Mr. Toudou as he grins at her*

Ayako: *quietly reassuring Dumpson that she'll stay while he's in surgery*

Dumpson: *small nod, is having an internal argument with Drill Boy, so is a bit distracted now*

Rachel: *pats him on the leg as the elevator stops and the doors slide open* ~Okay, sport. Just a little further.~

Deckerd: *there as the door opens, puts hand on brother's shoulder, ready to help. Glances at McCrane as he does*

McCrane: *nods to Deckerd. He's ready as well*

Dumpson: *carefully picking Ayako up and moving to step off of the elevator*

Rachel: *soft grin as she watches the brothers interact with each other and their human family members, then scoots ahead into the lab and transforms*

Dumpson: *will carefully move to bring Ayako to the lab, and gently set her down where she won't be in the way of Ratchet and Mr. Toudou, but will still be able to see what's going on*

Ayako: *blinking a bit as she sees Ratchet* ~Er....~

Dumpson: *quietly* ~That's Grandma's other mode...~

Ratchet: *looks up from scanning the bot body she found standing in its bracket by the far wall, her blue optics still holding the same look as her human eyes did* ~Hi. Autobot Chief Medical Officer Ratchet.~

Ayako: *recognizes the word 'Autobot' from her comics. Soft chuckle* ~You look a lot like the medic in the 'Shifters' comic....~

Ratchet: *grin* ~That's because I am the medic in the 'Shifters' comic. The author is a young Seeker that I know.~

Ayako: *surprised to learn one of her favorite authors is a Seeker* ~Huh....~

Ratchet: *absent rub for her chevron* ~He told everyone who he is today. You'll probably see the press conference on TV later.~

Mr. Toudou: *supervises Dumpson's laying down, and then hurries over toward the new body* ~McCrane, Deckerd, give me a hand with this. Your Grandmother won't be able to reach his chest while he's standing up.~

McCrane: ~Understood.~ *moves to help get the new body laying down*

Deckerd: *assists his brother after having set Yuuta down*

Ratchet: ~Yuuta, why don't you go on up to the apartment?~

Yuuta: *blink blink* ~But... What about Dumpson?~ *worried for the mech*

Ratchet: *grins reassuringly* ~He'll be alright when you see him again. But maybe you can help his mom feel better in the meantime?~

Yuuta: *very slight wibble* *small nod, glances to Deckerd, wondering if the blue mech will stay here*

Deckerd: *gently* ~I'll tell you how things are going, Yuuta.~ *affection for his human brother in his smile*

Yuuta: *another small nod before he heads for the elevator, though he does glance back over his shoulder every so often*

Ratchet: ~Thanks, slugger. It makes me feel better to know you're there for Sora.~ *looks in Mr. Toudou's toolbox and snorts*

Mr. Toudou: ~What's so funny?~ *frowwwn*

Ratchet: ~The snack cake box.~

Mr. Toudou: ~Snack...~ *looks*

McCrane: *very soft chuckle*

Mr. Toudou: *looks up at the quiet mech as he takes the box of prepackaged red bean cakes out of his toolbox* ~Do you know who did this?~

McCrane: ~Power Joe wanted to share snacks with everyone....~ *so amused at his brother's antics*

Mr. Toudou: *shakes his head slightly and chuckles as he sets the treats aside* ~Celebrating Tomo?~

McCrane: *nods* ~I think Mr. Saejima helped distribute snacks to the human members of the precinct....~

Mr. Toudou: *chuckle nearly sounds like a snerk* *looks over at Dumpson* ~Are you ready?~

Ratchet: *kindly hand on her gruff grandson*

Dumpson: *nods, quickly glancing to Ayako, giving the redhead a small grin as she gives him a double thumbs up*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle, and then gently tags Dumpson with the sedation gun in her other hand*

Mr. Toudou: *bit startled by that*

Dumpson: *optics dark, features relaxed, and systems running quietly*

Ayako: ... *very soft snerk* ~He looks a lot more innocent when he's asleep....~

McCrane: *covers his mouth with his hand, is trying not to snicker because he knows what Ayako means*

Ratchet: ~Yeah, well, even their grandfather looks innocent when he's asleep.~ *puts the gun away, grinning as she does so*

Deckerd: *0.o for Grandmother*

Ayako: *with a dirty rotten grin* ~Must be a guy thing....~

Ratchet: Nooooope. ~The young aunt of the boys is the same way.~ *chuckles and sets to work opening Dumpson's chest*

Ayako: ~Dumpson mentioned that she sat on Power Joe's head the last time she visited...~ *chuckles*

McCrane: ~How is Destiny doing, Grandmother?~

Drill Boy's spark: *almost as soon as Dumpson's chest is open, he's attempting to make a break for it, pulsing excitedly*

Ratchet: ~She's... Whoa!~ *coats hands in forcefield and makes a catch at that energetic newspark*

Mr. Toudou: Yeep! *stands back so that he doesn't get in the way. Is standing by the new body so that he can comfort Drill Boy when the new young detective wakes*

Deckerd: *snaps to attention, ready to intervene if he has to*

McCrane: *standing a bit straighter, is watching the newspark intently*

Drill Boy's spark: *squirmy and excited, spaaaaz*

Ratchet: *soft clicking as she carries him over to his body* Shhh, you stinker. Let's get you where it's safe for you to... *pauses and looks more closely at that spark* Hey...

Mr. Toudou: *worry increasing* ~What's wrong?~

Ratchet: *scans closely and then grins and shakes her head* ~Nothing's wrong.~ *goes and puts the spark into the waiting compartment, and then watches it*

Deckerd: *tiptoes over behind her and carefully closes Dumpson's chest*

Drill Boy: *chest compartment closes as his spark wiggles and gets comfortable, and then his optics are lighting for the first time* *blink blink*

Ratchet: *looks over at Mr. Toudou* ~He's a youngling. His spark isn't as advanced as his brothers' are.~

Deckerd: *turns his head from where he's watching over Dumpson* ~He's a child?~

Mr. Toudou: *surprised by this* *is about to comment when Drill Boy sneezes*

Drill Boy: *somehow got dust in his intakes, is clearing them!* *kerchoo!* *kerchoo!* *kerchoo!*

Ratchet: Whoa! *chuckle* ~Easy, slugger. Try holding your breath.~

Drill Boy: *will try that.... and look a bit silly doing so*

Mr. Toudou: *slight frown* ~How does a youngling differ from a sparklet?~ *is trying to figure this out*

Ratchet: ~Younglings are like Deckerd said. Children, instead of babies.~ *hand on Drill Boy's chest as she watches his face and holds in laughter*

Drill Boy: *squirming, and then sneezing again and pulling a XP face in the process* Pleeeeh....

Deckerd: *quiet chuckle as he sees Ratchet's nod in answer to his quizzical look and comes over* ~Here, I'll take you up to the washing room so you can rinse your intakes. Just don't frighten Tomo again, please?~

Drill Boy: *small pout* ~Didn't mean to....~

Deckerd: *gently* ~I know. But he's just new too, and only a baby. So we have to be careful with him.~ *lifts younger brother to his feet as Ratchet and Mr. Toudou move out of the way* ~Come on. I'll give you some cookies.~

Mr. Toudou: *to Deckerd* ~Sora will want to meet him too, more than likely....~ *chuckles at the puzzled look on Drill Boy's face*

Drill Boy: ~Cookies?~

Deckerd: *slight surprised look, but then smiles again* ~Yes, cookies. You'll like them.~

Ratchet: ~Not too many. Cybertronian kids can get hyper too.~

Deckerd: ~Oh. Maybe I'll give him some botmado mud instead. That's what we do for Power Joe.~ *moves to herd little brother toward the door*

Drill Boy: *stumbles a bit at first, but manages to keep his balance as he's herded toward the door*

Ratchet: *watches them go, and then turns her attention back to Dumpson* ~Okay, now let's wake you up, buddy.~

Dumpson's spark: *now that there's only him in the compartment, he's a lot calmer, but still a bit agitated, which seems to be his default mood*

Ratchet: *peeks and has a look, then chuckles as she closes his chest up properly* Grouch. *carefully resets the tranquilizer gun and then brings him out of sedation*

Dumpson: *grumbling a bit as his optics light, will move to sit up*

Ratchet: ~Hold on. Just settle down for a bit.~ *both hands on his arm to try and halt his progress*

Dumpson: *a bit grouchily* ~But Drill Boy's in his own shell now....~

Ratchet: *mildly* ~Don't you want that holotransmitter?~

Dumpson: *lays back down without too much grousing*

Ayako: ~Holotransmitter?~ *shares a puzzled look with Mr. Toudou*

Ratchet: *grins at Ayako* ~It's a surprise.~ //Hey, Jack?//

Jack: //Hm?//

Ratchet: //How're you feeling, sport?//

Jack: //Like I just got woken up from a nap...// *chuckles* //Other than that, not too bad...//

Ratchet: //You want to bring me a holotransmitter, and meet Dumpson, McCrane, and Dumpson's girlfriend?// *gentle answering chuckle in her own voice*

Jack: //Sure... Just lemme poke Red a bit for hiding a package of goldfish crackers behind my pillow...//

Ratchet: *can't keep the snerk in. Hides face in hands as her shoulders shake* //He's had to get creative to save his treats.//

Jack: *chuckles* //Well, maybe if we quit eating them or giving 'em to the kids...// *like that'll happen?*

Ratchet: //I don't eat them! Unless I'm out of Junior Mints...//

Jack: //Want me to bring some of those with me as well?//

Ratchet: *perk* //Junior Mints? Did you find a box?//

Jack: //Yeah... I'm surprised you didn't find 'em first... Stowed 'em in my work bag....//

Ratchet: *snerk* //I know better than to stick my nose in there.//

Jack: //I don't keep my experiments in there anymore, Rachel...//

Ratchet: //I'm thinking of that bug you had in there the other day. The one that bit my finger with its pinchers.//

Jack: //....I didn't put the mantis in there....//

Ratchet: //Oh. Wait, but you know what it was.//

Jack: //Ryan and Simon found it in the yard and showed it to me.//

Ratchet: //Ohhhh.// *chuckle* //And you kept it?//

Jack: //Was gonna give it to Merlin and Kia... Do you have coordinates?//

Ratchet: //Yup.// *still chuckling softly* //Well, they got it anyway, I think. Russ got it first though.// *transmits coordinates*

Jack: //See you soon...// *and then there he is with the holotransmitter and a big box of Junior Mints. Is dressed in casual work clothes, which bear signs of being worn while napping*

Ayako: *startled 'Ack!'*

Mr. Toudou: *backs up several steps*

Ratchet: You got here before I could tell anybody you were coming, sport. *turns toward her grandsons and the other two* ~Don't worry. This is my husband, Jack Ruteger. Your grandpa, Dumpson and McCrane.~

Jack: *sheepish expression as he offers the holotransmitter and the candy*

McCrane: *polite bow* ~It is very nice to meet you, Grandfather.~

Mr. Toudou: ~Er...~

Ayako: ~...Wait a minute, I recognize you... I wrote an article a few years back about the possible 'Alien Landing Site' in Peru...~

Jack: *expression brightens as he looks to Ayako* ~I remember seeing you there... Camping where the other journalists were afraid to camp...~ *so amused*

Ratchet: ... ~Alien landing site in Peru? Oh, and this is Mr. Toudou, McCrane, and Dumpson. Hmmm, Junior Mints.~ *opens box and has a candy before she starts anything else*

Jack: ~General consensus was that it was really just a temple to the sun god of the people that lived there before...~ *nods a greeting to everyone* //It was a landing site used by a different group than any of the ones NEST knows.... I couldn't translate the writing....//

Ratchet: //Huh. Wonder if Mike knows about it. Percy'd love it.// ~Okay, Dumpson, give me your arm.~ *offers a mint to Mr. Toudou before she stows the box*

Mr. Toudou: *soft snerk as he accepts the offered candy*

Dumpson: *gives arm, is studying Jack and frowning as he notices the cane*

Ratchet: ~Do you feel up to transforming, sport?~ *stows candy and examines arm*

Jack: ~I think so...~ *will transform and hobble over to see where Ratchet needs assistance*

Ratchet: *looks around at the others* ~And this is Wheeljack, Autobot Chief of Engineering.~

Mr. Toudou: *as Wheeljack examines part of Dumpson's arm* ~Ah, I see...~

Ayako: ... *snerks quietly*

McCrane: *small nod, moving so he can catch Wheeljack if he needs catching, but won't get in the way*

Ratchet: *smile for McCrane, and then pops open the panel on Dumpson's arm* ~Think you can write up a good program for his holoform, 'Jack? What do you want to look like, Dumpson?~

Wheeljack: ~Shouldn't be too hard....~ *and out comes a datapad and stylus... sets to work*

Dumpson: *blink blink* ~Er.....~ *nooooo idea*

Ratchet: *starts moving things around in Dumpson's arm, her shoulder absently braced toward the hovering Mr. Toudou* ~Do you want it to look human? Or like a mini you?~

Dumpson: *considering look* ~You can make it so it looks like a miniature me?~ *so surprised*

Wheeljack: *cheerfully* ~Oh yeah, that'd be easy.~ *type type mutter to self*

Dumpson: ~Do that then.~ *so intrigued by the idea*

Ratchet: *soft snerk as she finishes rerouting things and steps back to let Mr. Toudou see what she did* ~Mini bruiser nose. Cuuuuute!~

Dumpson: *blushing as Mr. Toudou studies the rerouting*

Ayako: *snerks and moves to patpat Dumpson's arm*

Wheeljack: *writing the programming, and talking through the parts that he's having trouble with*

Ratchet: *looks over* Need a hand, sport?

Wheeljack: *looks up and nods before offering the datapad and stylus to her*

Ratchet: *kisses him on the cheek, and then shows him how to insert the Dumpson holos she just took into the program. Yes, she's a cheater. At least it's not personality programming this time*

Wheeljack: *does as he's shown, more program writing and talking to himself before he offers the datapad again*

Ratchet: *goes over it, and then grins at him* Perfect. *gentle squeeze for his shoulder* //You're almost strong enough for that transplant, sport.//

Wheeljack: *small grin*

Ratchet: *shuts one optic off in a wink, and then turns back to Mr. Toudou* ~So is it good, Dad?~

Mr. Toudou: *expression is a mix of worry, protectiveness, and curiosity as he studies the rerouting* ~It looks solid....~

Ratchet: *slight chuckle* ~Remember how long I've been doing this kind of thing.~

Mr. Toudou: *small nod, moves to get one of the rolling chairs for Wheeljack, since he thinks the mech looks a bit unsteady even with the cane*

Ayako: *to Ratchet* ~How long, if you don't mind me asking?~

Ratchet: *stops to calculate, then shrugs* ~Over five million years, give or take a few.~ *turns to install the holotransmitter*

Ayako: *boggles*

McCrane: *surprised expression is a go*

Ratchet: *as she works* ~I know I'm around nine million. Right, 'Jack?~

Wheeljack: *as he's made to sit down by Mr. Toudou and McCrane* ~Right around that, yeah....~

Ratchet: ~And you're about fifty younger than me. ...Or was that that other guy...~ *work work*

Wheeljack: *thoughtful expression* ~I think that might be Percept...no... Percy's younger than Russ and me too....~

Ratchet: ~I remember how old he is. But I was just a kid when I first ran into you, and you couldn't walk straight yet.~

Wheeljack: *slight shrug* ~Russ might know for sure...~

Ratchet: ~Heh. I remember now. I'd only had my youngling shell for a couple days when I found you. So it is fifty.~

Wheeljack: ~I don't remember what it was I had gotten into....~ *chuckles*

Ratchet: ~Nothing. You were just crawling down the hall as fast as you could get your arms and legs to go, and Red was stuck in the hole you'd gone through and screeching fit to bust audios.~ *glances at Dumpson's face*

Dumpson: *O.o expression*

Ratchet: ~What's wrong, slugger?~

Dumpson: ~It just.... seems strange to think of you and Grandpa being babies...~

Ratchet: *laughs* ~Yeah, it does.~ *sobers then and glances at her husband* ~The world we were babies in doesn't even exist anymore, even if Cybertron still does.~

Dumpson: *blink blink* ~Cybertron?~

Mr. Toudou: ~Cybertron is the planet that your people come from, Dumpson. You'd know that if you had listened when Deckerd told you and your brothers.~ *amused, though still boggling at some of the information he's just learned*

Ayako: *surprised to learn that Dumpson is an Earth-born extra terrestrial*

Wheeljack: *quietly* ~We were exiled from the planet by the Decepticons around the time that the Dark Ages were happening on this planet.... Some of the scouts who went out to find someplace safe never reported back....~

Ratchet: *quiet sigh as her fingers continue their swift and skillful work. She can remember some of those bots. She'd delivered them, or doctored them*

Mr. Toudou: *glances at that sigh, but then looks back to Wheeljack* ~Did the ... Decepticons? get them, do you think?~

Wheeljack: *quietly, optics going to his hands* ~It's possible... Some of 'em might've landed somewhere that we can't get to, and they don't know where we are.... Or they might be in stasis and can't contact us...~

Ayako: *quick glance to Dumpson, who looks just as puzzled* ~Stasis?~

Ratchet: ~It's like sleep, but the person can't always come out of it on their own. It happens to us when we get really badly hurt or run down.~ *steps back* ~Give that a try Sonny.~

Dumpson: *going to try and figure out how to activate his holoform... Might need a bit of help*

Mr. Toudou: *as he watches Ratchet coach Dumpson* ~But... if you can travel through space, why wouldn't you be able to find your people or talk to them?~

Ratchet: *without turning* ~It's a big galaxy, and the 'Cons aren't the only deadbeats in it.~

Wheeljack: *quieter* ~What Ratchet said....~

Ayako: *blinking a bit. Never suspected that there might be other, living, races out in space*

Ratchet: *chuckles as mini Dumpson appears, then hugs him* Good job, slugger!

mini Dumpson: *surprised expression mirrors the bigger guy's*

Ratchet: *tugs hDumpson over to Wheeljack's chair, wanting her husband to have the chance to hug their grandson too* *is grinning widely, sad memories forgotten*

Wheeljack: *a bit unsteady as he moves to get to his feet so he can give hDumpson a hug as well*

Ayako: *trying to think of what to say now that she knows that Dumpson's more than just an incredibly advanced, human-made robot*

Ratchet: *grinning widely now as she pats Wheeljack and hDumpson's backs. Then glances over at Ayako and chuckles* //Think she needs a hug too, 'Jack?//

Wheeljack: *glances to Ayako, an idea half-forming in his processor* //Maybe Dumpson could hug her...//

Ratchet: *optics sparkle as she leans over to whisper in hDumpson's audio* Okay, now give Ayako a hug.

hDumpson: *blink blink, gives Ratchet a surprised look for suggesting that, though he does move to do so*

Ratchet: *settles Wheeljack back into his chair, then puts her arms around him from behind and rests her chin on his shoulder as she watches the red holoform*

Ayako: *so surprised to be getting hugged, but then she's chuckling and patpatting the red holoform's shoulder*

Dumpson: *so surprised at how soft Ayako feels.... and then he's feeling very protective as he realizes just how fragile humans are compared to Cybertronians. Wants nothing more than to protect the woman patpatting his holoform's arm*

Ratchet: *softly* D'awww. *takes pictures*

Wheeljack: *very soft 'heh', leans back against Ratchet*

Mr. Toudou: *clears his throat, but he's smiling as he looks up at McCrane*

McCrane: *very slight smile, tries not to snerk at the startled expression on his brother's holoform and on his brother's face. Will move to offer to bring Grandmother and Grandfather to the apartment*

Ratchet: ~Hmm?~ *looks up* ~Should we transform?~

McCrane: ~If that is more comfortable for you....~

Ratchet: *slight shrug* ~We're good either way, Micky. I was just wondering what you're comfortable with. It's not like the other cops are going to blink at sight of robots.~ *gentle pat pat for Wheeljack's chest as she talks, is softly playing the drum on him again*

McCrane: *very soft snerk at the nickname he's just been given* ~I have no set preference.~

Wheeljack: *amused look for his wordmate*

Ratchet: *quirks a brow and smirks at Wheeljack, then kisses him on the cheek* ~Let's just let it all hang out. Let the other kids see what we look like in root mode, hey, sport?~

Wheeljack: *chuckles* ~Sounds like fun...~

Ratchet: ~Including the old people love!~ *smoooooch, her shoulders shaking with laughter*

Mr. Toudou: *amused headshake as he tells Dumpson to go ahead and head up to the apartment*

Ayako: *laughs at the 'Ewwww' face Dumpson and his holoform pull*

McCrane: *still has that gently amused expression on his face as he moves to carefully get Wheeljack situated*

Wheeljack: *whoahwhut? Blink blink blink*

Ratchet: *as she lifts her arms to be picked up as well* ~Hey, I didn't kiss you that hard, sport.~ *laughs*

Mr. Toudou: ~As bad as Deckerd and Nancy.~ *grinning as he tidies up and contemplates his package of little cakes*

McCrane: *politely puzzled, but won't ask about it right now* *will carefully lift Ratchet and gently tuck her in with Wheeljack*

Ratchet: *leans back against her quiet grandson in unconscious snuggle as she looks down at Ayako*

Ayako: *looks quite used to being picked up and carried around from where Dumpson's gently cradling her in his hands*

Ratchet: *quiet chuckle over comms* //Looks like we'll be getting another granddaughter in law one of these days. Probably not for awhile yet.// *gentle poke for husband*

Wheeljack: *snuggles* *quietly* //Give 'em time...// *also chuckling over comms*

Ratchet: //You think I'm going to rush courtship?// *so much mischief in that smile as she looks at you, Wheeljack*

Wheeljack: //Nope.// *snuggles*

Ratchet: *looks up at the young mech carrying them* ~So you're the only unattached, grown brother, Micky.~

McCrane: *quietly* ~There's no rush...~

Ratchet: ~No.~ *smiles* ~No. No rush.~

Wheeljack: *quietly content as McCrane steps onto the lift*

Ratchet: ~So how are you handling all these new changes, Micky?~

McCrane: ~Things have been interesting...~ *quieter, glancing at Dumpson very quickly before returning his attention back to Ratchet* ~I'm glad Dumpson and Drill Boy are both alright.~

Ratchet: *sobers a bit as she nods* ~I seem to have a bad habit of making more new sparks than I plan for. But the rest of your sparks are alright. There shouldn't be anymore surprises.~ *pauses and glances at Wheeljack as she remembers something one of the BP said* ~That reminds me. Who's Shadomaru?~

McCrane: *quietly* ~BP 501... The Ninja Detective.... None of the files on him are available currently....~ *quick scanner sweep of the lift* *even quieter* ~Mrs. Morimoto reminds me of him, for some strange reason....~

Ratchet: *frowns* ~Doesn't Mr. Toudou know anything?~

McCrane: ~If he does, he is very good at hiding it... Though he may know about Shadowmaru's construction....~

Ratchet: *brows lift slightly* ~I only remember seeing one spare body in the lab he last time I was here. What's Shadowmaru look like?~

McCrane: ~That depends on which mode he's in.... Sometimes, he's an undercover police car, sometimes he's a jet, sometimes, he's in root mode, and most of the time he's in his four-legged form, which looks like a dog....~

Dumpson: *didn't just snerk, you can't prove it!*

Ratchet: *sits up* ~...No. I don't think Mr. Toudou could have built a body that could do that.~

Wheeljack: *quietly, over comms* //A multi-changer... That's hard to deliberately code a spark for, right?//

McCrane: ~Something about Shadowmaru.... I don't think he's shown all he can do..... He doesn't register on most sensor ranges, according to Deckerd....~

Dumpson: *a bit grouchily* ~Shadowmaru's creepy.~

Ratchet: //They have to be strong, to support the machinery.// *frowning slightly* ~Is there any way we could meet him?~ *blinks as they pass the floor where the conference room is and she hears a shout of terror in a man's voice* Stop! What the heck was that??

McCrane: ... *optics flash* ~That was Mr. Azuma!~ *stops the elevator and sends it back down to the floor that the conference room is on*

Dumpson: *on high alert now, and reporting the situation to Deckerd*

Ratchet: *up onto her knees, her frown deepening* The jerk?

Ayako: *also frowning* Yes.... What's going on?

Dumpson: *frowning muchly now* Mr. Azuma was going to talk to Mrs. Morimoto...

Ratchet: ... //Xiaobei?//

Nightbird: *harshly* //[This disgusting creature is responsible for my son's death!]//

Ratchet: *had been relaxing, but now she's nearly out of McCrane's grasp* *aloud and over comms* //What??//

McCrane: *hurrying to the conference room*

Nightbird: //[Kagerou is dead because of this slaarg-scum! He gave the order to have Kagerou offlined!]//

Ratchet: Who's Kagerou? Micky? Sonny? *looks up a little wildly, her optics nearly white*

McCrane: *expression serious* *quietly* He's...

Dumpson: *scowling* He's the crazy ninja-bot who's been terrorizing the citizens of the area... Shadowmaru knows him.

Ratchet: He's dead. Xiaobei says he's dead. *about ready to jump out of McCrane's arms*

McCrane: *stops short* ... *carefully sets Ratchet and Wheeljack down, will move to hurry to the conference room*

Dumpson: ..... Who authorized that?! We were just gonna arrest him!

Ratchet: Stay here, 'Jack. *runs after McCrane*

Wheeljack: //Be careful!//

Mr. Azuma: *scrambling out the door, bearing clear signs of being roughly handled, and bleeding from the nasty gash on his shoulder. Terrified yell as Nightbird grabs him around the middle and yanks him back into the room*

McCrane: *taking careful aim at Nightbird's shoulder*

Ratchet: *just dives right into the fray* Nightbird, stand down!

Nightbird: *in full-on battle mode, gives Ratchet a warning shove with one foot* [He killed Kagerou!]

Ratchet: That doesn't mean you can kill him! *scrambles to her feet and goes after the stronger femme again* Stand down, Nightbird. Don't make me call Blitzwing!

Deckerd: *just skidded past the doorway and then returned* ~Halt, Brave Police!~

McCrane: *quietly, to Deckerd* ~Kagerou... was Mrs. Morimoto's son...~ *is on standby, with his rifle at the ready*

Deckerd: *gives his brother a shocked look when he hears that past tense, and then grabs Nightbird with one hand and Mr. Azuma with the other* *and starts reading Mr. Azuma his rights*

Ratchet: *dizzy head. Was that an elbow or a fist? Ow*

Nightbird: *putting up a heck of a fight*

McCrane: *moving to gently and carefully check Ratchet over for injury* *worry worry worry*

Deckerd: *tosses Mr. Azuma to Dumpson and uses both hands on Nightbird* ~You already hurt Grandmother! Stop this!~

Ratchet: *wince wince* I'm okay, buddy. No damage. *calls Blitzwing* Somebody's going to be appearing here pretty...

Blitzwing: *big old grey mech steps forward and takes Nightbird* [Warlady. Stop this. You're going to screw things up for all of us.]

Nightbird: [My son is dead, Blitzwing! Because of that... *unprintable, and don't even ask for a translation* !!!!] *cycling air rapidly and trembling with the force of her rage*

Blitzwing: [Let the authorities deal with it. Remember what happened to the last humans that killed any of us?] *grim satisfaction at that memory*

Dumpson: *finishes reading Mr. Azuma his rights as his holoform cuffs the man* *feeling just a bit ill now*

Mr. Azuma: *in a bit of shock now, will meekly go wherever he's steered*

Ratchet: *gets to her feet and is fairly steady* *softly* [Nightbird?]

Blitzwing: *looks at Deckerd* You going to arrest her too?

Deckerd: *quietly* ~She assaulted someone.... We have to arrest her....~

Nightbird: *still trembling and very angry. Hear her armor rattling?*

Ratchet: ~Just a minute.~ *phone out* ~Saejima, conference room. Now.~

Deckerd: *frowns, but waits*

Mr. Saejima: *hurrying to the conference room and wondering to himself just what's going on, since nobody told him when he was in the apartment checking on Drill Boy*

Ratchet: *looks him in the eye* Did you know about the young mech that Mr. Azuma ordered killed?

Mr. Saejima: *frowns* Are we talking about Kagerou? Because Mr. Azuma's orders contradict the ones I gave the team....

Ratchet: *quietly* He was Nightbird's son. So's Shadowmaru. *yes, she said 'was'*

Mr. Saejima: ... *and now he's glaring at Mr. Azuma* *quieter, to Ratchet* Kagerou was to be arrested, brought here, and exiled to non-populated areas except for when he needed to refuel...

Ratchet: *looks up at the femme in Blitzwing's grasp* Nightbird, tell us what you know?

Nightbird: *still very agitated, will stick to Cybertronian for now as she recounts meeting Kagerou while out assisting with trying to find Dumpson. Will also recount how the ninja-mech had attacked her, but had been bested, only to have his lineage discovered. Shortly after that, the young mech had been executed by helicopters firing upon him...*

Blitzwing: *very grim expression as he translates in his gruff voice*

Ratchet: ... *wibble*

Mr. Saejima: *pinching the bridge of his nose now* *quietly* We need to find Shadowmaru and make sure he's alright....

Ayako: *from just down the hall* While you're at it, can someone sort Wheeljack out? He's talking to his foot.

Ratchet: Ack! *hurries to check on husband*

Wheeljack: *just a bit dazed still. Is wiggling his foot as much as it's willing to cooperate, and is clicking at it softly*

Blitzwing: Is the Warlady under arrest?

Mr. Saejima: *quietly, knowing full well that Nightbird is Destron AND a grieving mother* I hereby release her to the custody of the Destron forces. *will take Mr. Azuma in hand now, so Dumpson can go with his brothers*

Blitzwing: *nods* *looks at Nightbird* Your other brats are sitting on Prowl. Do you want to go rescue him? Or do you want to find that Shadowmaru?

Nightbird: *quietly* [I need to find my son.]

Blitzwing: [Alright.] *PINpoints the pair of them out of the building*

Deckerd: *kneeling by his grandparents now, and watching as Ratchet puts her forehead to Wheeljack's and clicks to him gently*

Wheeljack: *muzzy blinking, clicks back softly and nuzzles Ratchet's forehead*

Ratchet: Shhh, sport. It's okay. I didn't realize getting mad or getting clocked would hit you that hard. *gentle hand on the back of his neck* You need to lay down.

Wheeljack: *quietly* Rest... *reaching for your wrist now, Ratchet*

Ratchet: *softly* D'aww. *arms around him as she looks at Mr. Saejima* 'Jack needs some quiet. But I wanna know when they find Shadowmaru, please?

Mr. Saejima: *nods* We'll alert you as soon as he's found.

McCrane: *softly* The apartment should be quiet...

Ratchet: Thanks. *looks up at McCrane* Give us a lift?

Deckerd: I will. *goes to one knee and reaches*

Ayako: *quietly, worried about Wheeljack as she watches the mech rest his head on Ratchet's shoulder* Will he be alright?

Ratchet: *turns her head to look at the young redhead* You do know English, huh? Yeah, he'll be just fine after he's had a sleep and a link.

Ayako: *nods, patpatting Dumpson's hand as the young mech gently lifts her up again*

Ratchet: *smiles at her, and then lets Wheeljack have his link as Deckerd picks the two of them up*

Deckerd: *surprised as he watches the connection of that thin wire*

Wheeljack: *snuggles close to Ratchet and shutters his optics with a soft sigh*

Ratchet: *arms around him* -Rest, sport.- *very gentle love bomb over the link* -Sorry for thumping you like that. I keep forgetting you can feel it.-

Wheeljack: *sleepy lovebomb, dozes*

Deckerd: *quietly carrying grandparents back to the elevator, and making sure his brothers are coming along*

McCrane: *sticking close as is Dumpson*

Ratchet: *comforting clicks for her grandsons, even if they are physically three strong grown mechs*

Deckerd: *looks down and listens, his expression quiet and curious*

McCrane: *hesitantly tries mimicking the clicks*

Ratchet: *grins at the quiet one, then looks forward as the elevator doors open and Deckerd brings her and Wheeljack out into a big, sunshiny Japanese living room*

Nancy: *laying curled on her side on a big futon in the middle of the floor under the skylight, one arm under her head and the other over the soft quilt lump that is Tomo. Both are sound asleep*

Drill Boy: *cuddling Sora and Raj as he sleeps at Nancy's feet, is clicking away and purring the contented purr of a newspark that has a full tank, someplace warm to sleep, and family nearby* *has a blanket draped over him as well*

Sora: *sleeping deeply, and looking a bit pale*

Raj: *gently smoothing his wife's hair and fighting sleeping baby magic*

Power Joe: *sitting on the floor next to the futon, is holding Barbie and clicking softly to her*

Ratchet: *soft grin as she looks at the sleepers* -'Jack, can you hear Tomo and Drill Boy purring?-

Deckerd: *down on one knee to check on wife, baby, parents, and younger brother*

Raj: *quietly* Sora will be alright.... She's just not feeling very well right now...

Wheeljack: *absently* -Hm?-

Ratchet: *shares the sound of that happy youngster purring* *softly* How's Barbie, PJ?

Power Joe: *quietly* Sleepy....

Deckerd: *relieved* *quietly to his stepfather* You and Mother are comfortable?

Raj: *nods*

Wheeljack: *sleepy chuckle, is close to a splatsleep himself*

Ratchet: *smiles, and then looks up at Deckerd* Just put us down anywhere soft. And then you lay down there by Tomo and Nancy.

Deckerd: *surprised* Lay down during the day?

Ratchet: *nods* It's good for Tomo. Right, Raj?

Raj: *nods* *quietly* Cybertronian sparklets are happiest when they're around family.

Power Joe: *just moved to lay down and get comfortable as well. Makes faces at McCrane as the quiet mech moves to lay down beside him*

Drill Boy: *rapid clickstorm as he sleeps*

Deckerd: *gets a cushion off the couch and sets it near the futon, then lays Ratchet and Wheeljack on it carefully before getting another of the big fluffy quilts and covering them. This done, he glances at Ayako* ~Er, it looks like we're having a Spanish siesta.~~

Ayako: *soft chuckle* ~That's okay.~

Dumpson: *grumping at Power Joe for hogging the sunbeam*

Deckerd: ~Guys, there's lots for... *head turns with concern* Yuuta?

Yuuta: *curled up on one of the couch cushions that wound up on the floor earlier, is having a nap as well*

Deckerd: *sees that and chuckles, then very very carefully joins his wife and new son on the futon. Makes sure he doesn't kick Drill Boy, though he's slightly startled as he feels his feet be used as a pillow and be snuggled against*

Ratchet: *checks in with Patrick and the Ark base, and then settles down to share dreams with Wheeljack and watch over her daughter and new grandsons*

((Written with random_xtras))