mbv. The /Ark/ Base. Multichangers and Expanding Families
Rachel: *heads out through the back door of the barn, going toward the grassy space next to the lavender field, which is well on its way to being asleep for the winter. She can see Tracks laying on the grass with two bitties sitting on him as Denver sits beside him and watches*
Denver: *looks over from watching Dion inspect Tracks' fingers with Rose* *raised brow* 'Lo, Rachel.
Rachel: *easy grin, and an eyebrow quirk in response to the one that Tracks gives to her* Are you guys busy?
Tracks: Oh terribly.
Dion: *razzes Bubby*
Rose: *clickstorming as she tests a Daddy finger for flavor*
Denver: 'S s'meth'n up?
Rachel: *as she settles on the grass herself and smooths out her print cotton skirt* *quietly* I just found something out about Will.
Tracks: *stops in mid click to baby to give the medic his full attention and his full frown* *sharply* Something about Will? What sort of something about Will?
Denver: *attention sharpening and posture going from relaxed to fully attentive*
Rose: *abhuh?* *blinkblink for the grownups*
Rachel: Easy, guys. It's not something harmful. But I was looking at some of the others earlier... like Astrotrain's new son, and...
Tracks: Astrotrain's son? *sits up, arm around babies as both eyebrows shoot toward his hairline*
Denver: ....Lord 'ave merceh, Astrotrain's spawned.
Rachel: Yeah. We have four class 4 multichangers now.
Tracks: *starts to say something else, and then stops to frown and think that over* ...Blitzwing, Astrotrain, and Astrotrain's son don't make four, Rachel.
Denver: .....Wait... *serious Look for Rachel* 'Re y'u mean'n t' tell us th't Will.....
Rachel: *quiet nod* His spark shows all the patterns. I didn't recognize them because I'd never seen a young spark of that class before Bullet Train. I only started tending Springer after he was grown.
Denver: ... *working this over in her head now and wondering to herself if that's why Will is in a youngling shell when, from what she's learned, sparklets usually stay sparklets till midway through their second vorn*
Tracks: ...I take it Springer's not class 4 anymore.
Rachel: Right now Springer's just a mess.
Tracks: *seriously* So what does this mean for Will?
Denver: *quietly* 'Splains wah 'e's 'n a younglin' shell wh'n most kids 'round 'is age w'ld still be sparklets.....
Rachel: That... and he also shows single sparked combiner capabilities.
Denver: *forehead wrinkling as she frowns and looks to Tracks for an explanation of the term*
Rachel: It means that he wasn't born part of a combiner gestalt, but that he can be part of one someday once the proper bonds and rewiring have been performed.
Tracks: ... He's definitely from Quadriate, then. *expression thoughtful and slightly concerned as he cuddles Dion and Rose to his chest*
Rose: *yay! Snuggles are happening! Happy little purr*
Dion: *snuggles Bubby and Sissy, happy clickstorm*
Denver: *puzzled frown for her mate and for Rachel* Ah don' undahstand...
Rachel: *slight start and looks around, but then relaxes as Jack flops onto the ground beside her and puts his head on her lap* Explain to Denver about Quadriate bots, sport?
Jack: *blink blink, puzzled by the request, but will begin explaining* The Quadriate colony was a bit infamous for having a high number of multichangers and gestalts sparked there.... usually class 3s and 4s, with a few class 5s on the multichanger front, and anywhere from diads to quints in the gestalt department..... *looks to Rachel* We know anyone from that colony?
Rachel: Yup. Will. *smoothing his hair with both hands*
Jack: *surprised blinking* Huh... Definitely explains why he's a youngling and not a sparklet..... *and now he's starting to relax*
Tracks: *quietly* Yes, it does. *looks down at babies in his arms, a slight frown on his face*
Denver: *quietly and firmly* Astrotrain's not allowed to mentor him.
Rachel: *soft snerk* Blitzwing's still mentoring Astrotrain.
Tracks: *quietly quotes a saying that had been tossed around from time to time back on Cybertron* If you get in an argument with a bot from Quadriate, let him win.
Denver: *raised brows*
Rachel: Because if you don't he'll change into something big and stomp you, or his brothers and sisters will come and do it. *corner of her mouth quirks upward. Hands still busy with hubby hair*
Jack: *contentedly dozy* Will's too nice to do that though.... He's a good kid...
Rachel: Yeah. *kisses him on the forehead, and then freezes and looks up at the same time Tracks does as they get a message over the common channel*
Tea: //Clear off the grassy patch by the flower field, we gotta ship comin' in!//
Denver: *startles and moves to scoop up Rose and Dion*
Dion: Bhuh?
Jack: *dozy confusion*
Tracks: *PINpoints family to over by the barn!*
Rachel: *scrambling to her feet and urging Jack up even as she informs Tracks that he's a jerk*
Jack: *manages to get up without too much difficulty, is looking skyward even as he heads over towards the barn*
Rachel: *right at his side, one hand shading her eyes* ...I've never seen that kind of ship before in my life.
Jack: *frown* Neither have I... *dinging Patrick's comm insistently*
Mist: *appears from under her invisible cloak, leaning forward slightly as she bounds toward where Denver is standing*
Rachel: *startles at the appearance of the white centaur sister, but her attention immediately returns to the incoming ship*
ship: *definitely not the biggest thing out there, so it takes a bit before it's more than a nearly invisible speck against the sky. It's a sleek little thing, at any rate, and its landing is carefully controlled as it touches down on the grass* *once it's down, the lines of the ship are a bit more obvious. This ship is not human, Nebulan, JD, or even Cybertronian, nor are the bluish purple glyphs that decorate either side near the wings. As the hull cools from its entry into the atmosphere, the hatch opens and lowers to the ground to form a set of stairs*
Rachel: ...Those stairs were added after everything else. Whoever's in there is smaller than the intended passengers.
Mist: *hand on Denver's shoulder as she watches*
Tracks: *tense and ready to defend his family and home*
short, somewhat squat, green mech with yellow faceplates: *peeks out hesitantly, his blue optics curious but a bit wary as he looks at the group just outside the door* *slow, careful signing* {Hello.}
Jack: *blink blink blink* Heeey, that's Cosmos.....
Rachel: *straightens* //Chief! Cosmos is home!//
Tracks: *face blooms into a grin as he hands babies to mate*
Denver: *surprised expression as Dion and Rose hold onto her*
Cosmos: *expression seems to brighten, though it's hard to tell with that faceplate covering the lower half of his face* *looks over his shoulder and signs to someone inside the ship that everything is alright and that things are safe before making his way down the stairs*
Patrick: *just PINpointed in*
Tracks: *striding toward the ship to greet Cosmos, pauses when a petite, but very shapely green girl with big blue eyes peeks out beside Cosmos* *softly* Oh ho...
Cosmos: *just a bit wary, though he is blushing ever so slightly*
Dallas: *can be heard inside the ship, talking quietly and calmly to whoever else is inside*
Tracks: *slight pause, and then lifts his voice* Dallas? What in the name of Alpha Trion are you doing in there? Do you know how worried Denver's been?
Beta: *pauses in the doorway of the barn and shoots her mate an amused look as she hears Tracks' words*
Alpha Trion: *so amused, and not trying to hide it*
Cosmos: *studying the human looking person. Knows that voice, but the appearance does not match what's in his memory banks...*
Dallas: *looks out* Well, it's not like I planned on Cosmos and me getting ganked to who knows where.....
Tracks: Is your PINpoint broken? Cosmos, come out of there. And bring your friend.
Freya: *trying to get Master's attention. He doesn't look happy...*
Cosmos: *moves down the stairs, carefully guiding Freya so she doesn't fall... Does recognize the voice.... but he's still confused about the looks....* *slight headtilt as he studies Tracks*
Dallas: *quietly, expression going serious* I couldn't leave in the middle of what I was doing.....
Tracks: Doing? *then looks at Cosmos* Cosmos, I know I'm currently far from my usual level of alt mode beauty, but you don't have to look at me like that. *smirk*
Cosmos: *oooh. Recognizes you now, Tracks* *more signing* {It has been awhile, Tracks. How are you?}
Dallas: I'll explain later... Right now... I just want to get everyone settled in..... and maybe a hot shower.....
Tracks: *smirk turns back to a grin* Oh, you know... married, chasing little hoodlums around. Dallas, are you damaged or something?
Cosmos: *surprised expression* {Married? To whom?} *yes, Dallas told him about Denver, but he hasn't connected the dots yet*
Dallas: I'm not.... *rolls his eyes and ducks back into the ship to usher everyone out*
Tracks: To whom? Why to Dallas' lovely cousin, of course. *glance back at Denver*
Denver: *faint blush at being called 'lovely', though she'll stick her chin out just a bit*
Cosmos: *blink. Blink* *just connected the dots* {Dallas mentioned his cousin had gotten married...}
Tracks: *chuckles and walks over to put a friendly hand on the shoulder of the shorter mech, watching how the green girl looks up at him with rather blank eyes as she reaches for Cosmos' hand* Yes, well, I suppose the topic of who she married took a back seat to whatever you were doing out there.
Cosmos: *BLUSH* *slight flail, wobbles*
Tracks: *surprised exclamation as he catches Cosmos* What the deuce...?
Dallas: Here we go again.... *moves to check the short mech over* He gets flustered easily, it seems like....
Tracks: He always has. *glances at the green girl, and then averts his eyes as he realizes just how shapely she is, and that she's got the T-shirt she's wearing pulled up and knotted around her waist above the baggy pants she has on* Let's get him over to Ra... chel. *looks back at the doorway of the ship as he senses movement there* What the deuce...
Raf: *about five five, and looks just like the Mock Turtle, other than those battle leathers and that honking huge blaster in his hand* *surly look for the dark haired human who is looking up at him*
Dallas: *quick glance over his shoulder for Raf* He's family too, Raf.
Tracks: *as he sees other bodies appearing in that doorway* *quietly* Family? Are you going to introduce them?
Dallas: *quietly* There's one member who might unintentionally scare Denver....
Tracks: *tenses at that* Oh?
Dallas: He's harmless, and young... *moving to give Tracks a better view inside the ship* We call him Billy Bob.....
Tracks: *watches a slender woman with a mop of curly black hair stop next to Dallas, a small human form hanging limp under one arm*
Ruth: *looks up at her husband* Jenny says she's leavin'.
Raf: *cuss, and goes back inside to yell over the comm*
Dallas: Tell her it's safe for her to land, that there are medics, and that I'm pulling rank.
Ruth: *offers up a Chris* She says her job's done here.
Dallas: *frowns as he grabs Chris* Well, she should at least get her injuries looked at before she leaves.
Tracks: *brow well lifted as he clears his throat to remind Dallas that he's there. Can hear the black turtley guy in there shouting in another language*
Dallas: *slight start, turns to Tracks as a faint rustling sound can be heard*
Ruth: *looks over her shoulder* #@$@##$@, what the @$#@'re you doing, Billy Bob?
Billy Bob: *is that reddish serpentine shape.... currently wearing the hoodie Dallas was wearing when he left to go on leave* Trying to see who Dallas is talking to..... *kinda failing at that*
Ruth: *turns and goes and lifts him into her arms, trying to push the hoodie hood back as she quietly curses him for being stupid*
Billy Bob: *pays the cursing no mind, is more interested in observing Dallas interacting with someone who looks human*
Ruth: *gets the hood down* 'Re you even listenin' to me? What're you doin'?
Tracks: *quietly* ...So he's a sentient snake?
Dallas: He's a dragon of some sort.....
Billy Bob: *quietly, making note of Tracks' tension* A memory dragon....
Ruth: He's just a baby. *glaring at the blue-eyed guy from under her hair*
Tracks: *absently elbows Seamus as that worthy comes up beside him* I'll go warn Denver.
Salvage: *little grey dragon elf girl who looks about ten comes walking out then and eyes this strange new place*
Dallas: *small nod for Tracks* *small smile for Salvage* This is Earth....
Seamus: *oofs at the elbow* *blink blink blink as he sights Salvage* Heeeeey.....
Salvage: Good name. It's all dirt. *scornful look on that thin young face as she tries to steal the sleeping Chris* *and Seamus will see that she has only one arm, the other being gone at the shoulder*
Ruth: *coaxing Billy Bob to wrap around her so she can carry him*
Billy Bob: *carefully curling around Ruth's waist and resting his head on her shoulder*
Seamus: *pings Starpounder's radio* *fidget, fidget*
Dallas: *gives Salvage a bemused look as she ganks Chris*
Chris: *snort, grumble. SLEEP*
Starpounder: //Yes, Seamus?//
Seamus: //There's another Dragon Elf here now.... She looks like she's not very old.....//
Starpounder: //What??// *stops dead and stares blankly at her husband's game, which she'd been playing with his log in*
Seamus: *sends an image to his computer* //See? And Dallas has a ship now.....//
Starpounder: *beside him with a swish and a slight flash!*
babies: *squeal with delight at the wee!*
Salvage: *eyes wide*
Ruth: *gun out!*
Seamus: *doofy grin as he reaches to grab the babbies and cuddle them*
Dallas: *hand on wife's gun!* She's a friend, Ruth.
Ruth: *mutters and tucks gun back under Billy Bob* Spacin' PINpoint.
Salvage: You're blue!
Starpounder: ...You're alive!
Chris: *snort*
Seamus: *looks up from nuzzling babies* Huh?
Starpounder: *looks at him* I'm not the last of my people in this reality, Swiper!
Seamus: :3 Cooool....
Salvage: *gasps when she sees the blue woman's scalp lock* You're wearing two green ribbons??
Seamus: *glances to Starpounder, asking for permission to show off the boys*
Starpounder: *shoulders back with pride as she nods to her husband* I am.
Salvage: *looks at the babies in the dark-haired man's arms, and then scoots right over there, Chris held tightly though forgotten*
Seamus: *carefully repositions Silas and Daniel so they can see the grey Dragon Elf lady*
Ruth: ...Two boys.
Dallas: *chuckles* Yeah....
Silas: *grins and flails both hands*
Daniel: *interested in the other guy being carried*
Salvage: *studies those small faces closely, then looks at their ears* *wonderingly* They are boys. Twin boys.
Seamus: Yup.... :3
Salvage: *studies him too, and then turns and speaks rapidly to Starpounder in her own language, which the translator on her collar doesn't translate*
Starpounder: *responds, and then looks at Dallas* You're her father?
Dallas: *nods, a stubborn look coming to his face*
Starpounder: You're distant kin to me, then. According to her family mark she's a cousin to a cousin.
Dallas: *blink blink* *soft 'heh'*
Salvage: *urges Starpounder and her husband over to one side so that she can talk and catch the blue woman up on what's happening with her people over in the galaxy that Dallas' crew just came from*
Ruth: *scratches her cheek, and then looks over her shoulder again as Raf's voice raises up in a carrying roar of frustrated rage*
Dallas: *sighs* I'm going to have to talk to Jenny myself, aren't I?
Ruth: *watches the handset bounce off the back of his head* Yup.
Dallas: *sighs and moves to grab the handset*
By the barn
Tracks: *puts his arms around Denver and the sparklets as he reaches them* *softly* There's a new member of Dallas' family that you aren't going to like, darling.
Denver: *small frown as Dion and Rose reach for Tracks* Wh't d' y'u mean?
Tracks: *as he lets Dion cling to his back and tucks Rose into the crook of his arm, he leaves his free arm supportively around his mate* *quietly* I mean he's of a reptilian race that hasn't got any arms or legs.
Denver: ..... *going a bit pale now*
Tracks: *gently* Dallas says he's a memory dragon. *very very slight smirk* His name is Billy Bob.
Denver: ..... *working this over in her head*
Tracks: Do you want to see an image? *rubbing her back*
Denver: *deep breath and a small nod*
Tracks: *softly, as he sends the image* That woman says that he's just a baby.
Denver: *quiet as she studies the image*
Tracks: He was trying to wear Dallas' ghastly old hoodie.
Denver: .... *soft snerk*
Tracks: *shows another image, this one of the little grey dragon elf girl holding the dark haired child* I heard Dallas say that this is his daughter.
Denver: *raised brows* 'S th't a dragon elf?
Tracks: It is. She's talking with Starpounder right now. Seamus came nosing over and then called her.
Denver: *soft 'heh'* So Stahpoundah ain't th' last 'f 'er people.....
Tracks: It appears so. Though that poor child seems to have seen some horrific times.
Denver: .... *small frown* Th' poor th'ng....
Tracks: *watches her with gentle eyes, but then the eyes harden just slightly as he looks toward incoming footsteps and sees Dallas approaching* Well speak of the devil...
Dion: *can see 'nother little! Squeak, chatter, yap!*
Rose: *clickstorm*
Dallas: *relieved to be back home, and it shows as he approaches, Chris tucked under his arm*
Tracks: *looks from the red-haired cousin back to his wife, his eyes scanning for her reaction to this meeting*
Denver: *quietly* Y'u know.... Th' Col.'s been worrehed 'bout y'u, Dal...
Dallas: *quietly* I figured.... Should probably call him....
Patrick: *doing that*
Tracks: *startled* You didn't report in as you were landing? *would facepalm if he could* The entire United States is going to be in an uproar over an unidentified flying object landing in Virginia!
Dion: Thrrrrrpt. o.0
Dallas: *soft sigh* Tracks, at this point, I just want to get everyone settled in, take a long, hot shower, and sleep for the next three days or so. This is NOT how I was expecting the start of my career as a Major to go.
Ruth: *from behind him* Besides, we was cloaked.
Tracks: *imposes self between wife and Billy Bob!*
Billy Bob: *hunkering down a bit until only his big, sad eyes are visible over Ruth's shoulder. Doesn't like the thought of anyone being afraid of him*
Dion: *yaps at the peep he can see over the lady's shoulder*
Denver: Y'u c'lda called, Dal...
Dallas: Not after the first hour.... Phone got busted in a brawl....
Tracks: ...And your PINpoint? *glances at Rachel as she leads a wobbly Cosmos past*
Freya: *following Master, since she doesn't have any programming to tell her what else to do*
Tea: *stops the robot and then leads her away* Come on, Scarecrow. Let's get you some brains.
Dallas: *quietly, eyes serious despite the dark circles under them* I couldn't leave in the middle of the fight I started, Tracks. It wouldn't have been right.
Tracks: *frowning deeply now as he looks at his wife's cousin* What fight's that?
Ruth: *sudden dirty rotten mean grin*
Dallas: It was against a bunch of slavers. *slight smirk* We kicked their butts, wrecked one of their major ports, and pretty much opened the door for the races they were enslaving to finish the fight....
Ruth: It'll be hard for them to be the bigwigs anymore now that that energy plant and dockyard're gone. *grin is sooo mean*
Tracks: *slow blink* ...You started a fight against... what exactly?
Dallas: A race called the Ko Dan.... *carefully shifting Chris so he doesn't slide down too far*
Ruth: *absently sets her hands on the wrap of Billy Bob that goes around her middle* They run things there.
Tracks: ... *actually lets go of wife to facepalm, though there's a smirk under his hand*
Denver: *puzzled look for Tracks* *doesn't understand*
Dallas: We brought the rain.....
Tracks: *feels that confusion and looks up to meet his mate's eyes* Your cousin just attacked the dominant race of whatever corner of the galaxy he wound up in.
Ruth: Not this galaxy, lumphead.
Denver: .... Wh't? *giving her cousin a "What the slag?!" look and getting a tiredly smug grin in return*
Dallas: They kind of run that galaxy. They think they can just rule over everyone and treat other races really badly.... *hefts his son again* As pets, or as food....
Tracks: *just went dead pale* You're talking about sentients? They do that to sentients?
Billy Bob: *silent headbob back there behind Ruth's shoulder*
Dallas: *lips pressed into a thin line as he nods*
Denver: *and now she's feeling very ill*
Tracks: My... *back of his hand to his mouth as he tries not to blast Denver with his anger, revulsion, and horror* ...word.
Dallas: *carefully hefting Chris up so Tracks and Denver can get a good look at him* *quietly* Even the native humans.... *will begin telling what he knows of the boy's history* Chris was deliberately bred for dwarfism, mental disability, and this gene with the different eyes and the streak in the hair that I can't remember the name to. And then when he didn't turn out as docile as they wanted they took out his vocal chords...
Denver: *anger, distress, and horror combine, and then she's GONE in a PINflash, is going to be sick in a trash can in the infirmary*
Tracks: *staggers at her disappearance, but his attention is transfixed by the wide and flattened aspect of the boy's face* How... *wobbles and sends Denver support* How old is he?
Ruth: *shrugs the shoulder that isn't being peeked over* Late teens. Doesn't matter. He's always gonna be a kid.
Chris: *opens eyes, one of which is a startling bright blue, and snorts*
Dallas: *attention on Chris, small smile* We made it, Chris.... We're on Earth now....
Chris: *puts head back against Dallas and looks up, and there's his smile on his mouth and in those eyes*
Dion: *babble babble yap, squeeeee!*
Rose: *snuggapapa and clickstorms*
Dallas: *to Chris* Do you want to see Ruth and Billy Bob?
Tracks: *sudden pasty faced mutter and passes the sparklets off to Dallas and Ruth before vanishing to join his mate*
Chris: *bemused to be suddenly no longer the only small person in Dallas' grasp*
Dion: *patpat the new peep, clickstorm!*
Rose: *snuggles happily*
Billy Bob: *peeeeeeek. o.0*
Rachel: //Chief, are you up there with Dallas and his family?//
Patrick: //I am....// *sounds very rattled, heard everything Dallas said*
Rachel: //Well I just had to sedate Tracks because he urked my trash can full and then curled up in a shaky little ball. What happened?//
Patrick: *quietly* //Dallas explained where he and Cosmos wound up.... They.... They fought against beings worse than the Quintessons....//
Rachel: //...// *very quiet little urk sound* //Worse?//
Patrick: //Put Russell and Bea on shift.... It's.... It's pretty bad....//
Rachel: //No. I'm alright. I... I'm alright.// *but she never stammers*
Patrick: *databursts her an image of Chris*
Rachel: *soft gasp* //You need me up there.//
Patrick: *quietly* //There's also a dragon elf child.... but she's talking to Starpounder and Seamus right now....//
Rachel: //A dragon elf??// *surprised and pleased* *then serious again* //Alright, here's Russ. I'm on my way.//
Dion: *babbling away happily as he 'talks' to Billy Bob*
Ruth: *>_o as she gets kissied*
Dallas: *snickering as he watches* That's Rose, Tracks and Denver's daughter.... The little guy's Dion.... Tracks' baby brother, and Denver's youngest son...
Ruth: Pthooie. She kisses worse'n you do.
Dallas: Well, she's still too young to aim right.... *chuckles*
Beta: *stops by Patrick and looks surprised to learn that Dallas kisses this young woman*
Alpha Trion: *also surprised* *though now he's getting babbled at by Dion*
Billy Bob: *so many new people.... Gonna try and hide against Ruth for a bit and people watch*
Beta: *to Dallas* Will you introduce your companions, Major MacKenzie?
Dallas: *nods* *indicates Chris* This is Chris, one of the kids I'm 'Dad' to.... Salvage is talking with one of her cousins and her cousin's husband.... The memory dragon wrapped around Ruth's waist is Billy Bob, and Ruth is my wife. Raf is still on the ship, arguing with Jenny.
Patrick: ... *blink blink blink, shares a quick look with Alpha Trion*
Beta: *brows quirk upward with surprise* Who are Raf and Jenny?
Raf: *comes stomping around the corner of the barn, and then ducks as something shoots overhead and slams into Patrick's brand new third hand pickup* *hits the dirt as an explosion ensues*
Patrick: *reacts by knocking Alpha Trion to the ground and shielding the older mech*
Dallas: *startles and holds Chris and Dion close, protecting both children*
Dion: *FUSS*
Ruth: *on the ground too, covering Billy Bob and Rose*
Rose: *upset wail*
Beta: *combat crouch and machine gun in hand*
Salvage: *from where she had just wandered around the other side of the barn* That's Raf and Jenny.
Alpha Trion: Oh, my.... *just a bit rattled*
Patrick: .... *looks up* ... *sigh* There goes another truck.....
Billy Bob: *cautious peek*
Ratchet: *runs past, heading for the truck even as BJ, Bumblebee, and Joe do the same from the other side*
Rose: *gettin' LOUD*
Dion: *FUSS, YELL!*
Ruth: *pulls herself up on her knees and rocks the babies, absently doing the oddly comforting nasal whining noise that passes for humming among her people*
Billy Bob: *as Dallas begins to sway and babydance with Chris and Dion* That was a big crash..... o.o
BJ: *has what looks like a sleek cross between a coffin and a bullet in his arms and is cracking that he's glad that wasn't him sitting there as he carries it away from the fire*
Joe: *attending the fire*
Bumblebee: *hobbling ahead to the grassy patch that Ratchet just claimed for an emergency check up place*
Dallas: ... That was almost as epic a crash as the one Cosmos did when I first met him.... *moving to check on Jenny*
Ratchet: *studying the pod* ...Where's the hatch?
Chris: *looks at the people standing around the starfighter, and decides he wants down. Kicks Dallas*
Dallas: *carefully sets Chris on his feet* Stay close, Chris. *moving to see if he can get Jenny's attention, if she's even conscious after that crash*
Chris: *looks up at him, and then turns and books as fast as his stubby legs will carry him back to Ruth and Billy Bob. Goes right between Raf's legs as the gunner follows Dallas*
Raf: Ack! #$#$#@! *dances and continues on his way*
Ratchet: *looks up at Dallas* What's the comm frequency, buddy?
Dallas: Here.... *will use his radio to call Jenny*
Ratchet: *leans forward on her knees, waiting*
Raf: *snorts* Bet she's spacin' KOed again.
Dion: *reaching for Gramma, clickstorm!*
Ratchet: *looks up and gives the little guy an apologetic smile* Not right now, baby. I need to see if this lady's alright.
Jenny: *no reply to Dallas' hail*
Dallas: *frowns* I think she did knock herself out again.... *moving to see if he can find the catch that will get Starfighter to let Jenny out*
Raf: *snorts* Naw, not like that. *bangs on the hull with his gun butt*
Starfighter: *shudders. And then the top rolls away like liquid, revealing the small, heavily cloaked and helmeted form that it contains*
Dion: *surprised squeak*
Dallas: ...Oh.
BJ: *bends down and offers his hands to Dion*
Dion: *reach for Unca BJ then!* *clickstorm*
BJ: *has a bitty!* *backs out of the way with him*
Raf: *lifting Jenny out of her starfighter and laying her carefully on the grass. Glances up at Dallas as he straightens, and then shows the taller man a hand wet with blood*
Dallas: *winces and looks to Ratchet* How serious are her injuries, and can we move her to the infirmary?
Ratchet: *scanning that figure and frowning with surprise, then leaning forward to pull off the helmet and set it aside. Studies the small, softly purple-furred face she's uncovered* I've never seen this race before.
Raf: *frowns and picks up the helmet to see why it didn't just let off its booby trap* She was conscious enough to disable her safeguards, Cap.
Dallas: *small frown as he considers this* *to Ratchet* It's likely you won't ever see another one...
Ratchet: *glances up from cutting open the heavy black cloak, one brow ridge lifted quizzically*
Dallas: *quietly* Jenny's the last of her race....
Ratchet: *frowns and resumes working* We thought that about Starpounder, too. *quiet curse as she finds more layers to remove under the cloak*
Bea: *removing those big black platform boots and finding small cloven hooves*
Dallas: *quietly* The Ko Dan systematically hunted them all down.... *will indicate the scar on Jenny's forehead* They were after the horns....
Ratchet: *hands barely pause in their work* ...Unicorn?
Dallas: *small nod*
Ratchet: *grumbles under her breath and keeps working till the extraneous layers are gone, then swiftly covers her patient with a clean sheet from subspace* I see someone docked her tail, too. *again scans the tiny woman that had been hidden in all the wrappings*
Raf: *stood up and has turned his back on the medics and their work, is studying this new world with slightly lowered head and suspicious eyes, his black fur glistening in the sunlight*
Dallas: *worried for the woman who helped him and Cosmos when they were new and lost and who scouted out ahead of the Starjammer all through their journeys*
Ratchet: This is a claw wound. *working swiftly to stanch the bleeding that's seeping through torn stitches*
Dallas: One of the Ko Dan pets got her.... It was like a giant, reptilian badger.... About the size of an Indian Rhino..... *quietly* They raided our base, but most of us got away.
Raf: And we kicked them in the @$#@@#$#@ anyway.
Ratchet: *clicks her tongue, and then gently lifts Jenny into her arms* I'm taking her to the infirmary now.
Dallas: *small nod*
Ratchet: *speaks quietly to Bea, and then PINpoints away*
Dallas: *looks to Patrick* Is there anywhere available that my family and I could stay, sir?
Patrick: There are a few family quarters...
Dallas: *small nod* *will attempt to snag Dion from BJ*
BJ: *looks down at the knock on his leg* Huh?
Joe: *walks over to watch what's going on. Gets growled at by Raf*
Dion: *bwee*
Dallas: *to Raf* Stand down. Joe's a friend. *to BJ* Lemme have Dion.
BJ: You wanna go with that guy? *slight grin for the bitty in his hand*
Dion: *babble babble clickstorm, reaach for Unca Dallas!*
BJ: *goes to one knee and gently hands the little guy over* Fine, then. *chuckle*
Dion: *happy bwee!*
Dallas: *cradles the little guy close and moves to gather up the rest of his family*
Shade: *comes trotting over and offers Mr. Snail* Dion dropped this. It's a good thing you didn't land on it.
Dion: *squeeeee! Reaches for Mr. Snail!*
Dallas: *blink blink* Er.... Thanks....
Shade: *gives the toy, and then looks at Dallas' expression* My name is Shade. I'm of your cousin's herd.
Chris: *watching the funny woman from where he's hunkered in front of Ruth and the babies*
Dallas: Ah.... *small nod*
Dion: *hugging Mr. Snail and yappin' away to his friend*
Rose: *starting to get a bit fussy now*
Billy Bob: *worried expression*
Col. Franklin: //Major MacKenzie?//
Dallas: *pokes himself in the ear* Yes, Col. Franklin?
Col. Franklin: //How soon will you be available for debriefing?//
Dallas: Let me get my family settled in, and I'll be able to meet with you, sir...
Col. Franklin: //...Family?//
Dallas: Yes, sir...
Col. Franklin: //Please explain?//
Ruth: *kicks husband in the shin* We need to bunk. The kids're crabby.
Dallas: I'll explain when I meet with you, sir... The kids are tired, and Rose is pitching a fit....
Col. Franklin: *concerned now* //What happened to Denver and Tracks?//
Dallas: I'll explain in person.... *soft sigh* When I meet with you.... Might be tomorrow, sir.... I really need to get everyone settled in....
Col. Franklin: *has caught that ragged edge of weariness in the red-haired soldier's voice* //Understood. Get some rest. Franklin out.//
Dallas: Thank you, sir... MacKenzie out. *slight start as Patrick approaches and offers assistance with the kids*
Ruth: I got 'em. *shoulder toward the stranger*
Chris: *so much scowl*
Dallas: Watch your knees, sir.... Chris likes to go for 'em....
Patrick: *backs up several steps, warily watching Chris*
Chris: *scowl scowl scowl. Though it softens a bit as Dallas scoops him up beside the little yappy guy with the soft thing*
Dallas: *gently* Let's go get some rest, alright? *moves to bring his family to what will be their new home*
Ruth: *lets herself and her load of upset and worried babies be herded*
Shade: *turns her head toward the sound of an altercation and sees Raf yanking Jenny's things away from Bea and Joe trying to protect his startled wife as BJ remonstrates*
Patrick: *hurries over to break up the altercation, as is Alpha Trion*
Raf: *surly and head down* I don't care who she is. This isn't her stuff. And get your spacin' hands off that starfighter! I'll take care of her!
Joe: We weren't trying to take anything.
BJ: You wanna be stomped like a bug, buddy?
Bea: *crying*
Patrick: *gently* Joe, Bea, why don't you two head inside?
Joe: *as Bea vanishes* Yes, sir. *walks over to the black Camaro and lifts it gently, then carries it toward the barn*
Raf: *is now trading surly insults with BJ, whose temper is actually acting up in response*
Alpha Trion: *moving to try and break that altercation up* There is no need for this....
Raf: Just back up, all of you! *big blaster flashing as he backs against the little starfighter, Jenny's bundle of things under his other arm*
BJ: Fraggin' pit. *pings Dallas and tattles*
Dallas: *dings Raf's radio*
Raf: *growls and uses his gun butt to press the talk button on his cuff* What?
Dallas: //Just bring Jenny's things here. We're getting settled in.//
Raf: What's wrong with puttin' them on the Starjammer? *snort for Alpha Trion*
Dallas: //Fine.... Just get your butt down here ASAP.//
Raf: No. *flips gun into holster, and then shoulders the starfighter before turning toward the ship*
Dallas: //That wasn't a suggestion, Raf.//
Raf: *no response. First time he's ever disobeyed an order since the day Dallas ransomed him from that lynch mob*
Salvage: *wanders over to stand by BJ, Alpha Trion, and Patrick*
Dallas: *PINpoints up* *fully intends to drag Raf inside if he needs to*
Salvage: *goes running over to plant herself in front of her new father* No, wait.
Dallas: *small frown, is just a bit confused now*
Salvage: *big green eyes so serious* He's afraid if he can't see the sky. Remember how he stayed with the ship when we were talking to the people in those tunnels on that asteroid?
Dallas: The tunnels.... You didn't go in either....
Salvage: No. I don't like not seeing the stars. *so, so serious* And Raf's all surrounded by people even bigger than the ones he's been fighting all his life.
Dallas: *lips pressed thin as he nods*
BJ: *don't mind him, he's busy stomping a piece of Patrick's dead truck into the ground and reciting cusswords*
Patrick: *frowning as he watches BJ*
Salvage: I'll keep an eye on him. I need to check the engine anyway. You rest, okay... what's the word again?
Dallas: Dad..... *soft chuckle* Alright. If you get hungry, there should be someone in the mess hall....
Salvage: Okay, Dad. *grins that grin that's missing a few teeth that it shouldn't, and then turns and jogs toward the ship*
Dallas: *sighs and PINpoints back to his family's quarters. Will likely flop down on the bed and sleep the moment he's laying down*
Patrick: ... I still think whoever it was that said "May you live in interesting times," needs to be pelted with fruit. Preferably rotting fruit. *will head inside as Alpha Trion chuckles and shakes his head*
((written with random_xtras))