mbv, Various Locations in Blacksburg, Old Friends and New Babies

[microbots]

Rachel:  *making one of her southern suppers.  Humming as she moves around the kitchen*  Sarah, sweetheart, will you take the garbage out?

Sarah: 'Kay! *goes to grab the garbage bag*

Rachel:  *grins at her, not even blinking as the house shakes slightly from someone hitting a wall in the basement*  Thanks.

Sarah: *giggles a bit as the house shakes, before she, and the garbage bag, are out the door*

chickabiddies:  *running around happily in their pen, both scoot over to watch as she comes out*

Sarah: *Clicks to the chicks, will bring the garbage bag to the trash can*

guy:  *digging through the trash.  Is wearing a ragged, filthy coat and blanket, rags wrapped around his hands, and a ski mask*

Sarah: *blink blink* Who you?

guy:  *startles back and then makes a threatening gesture.  If Sarah should scan... she'll find he's no human.  There's a spark signature there*

Sarah: *eeks and skitters back a few steps, eyes wide*

guy:  *books it down the alley*

Sarah: *dashes back inside to tell Mama what she just saw*

Rachel:  *looks up as Sarah runs inside*  Whoa, whoa, sweetheart, what's up?

Sarah: There scary guy outside!!! Was digging through trash cans! *clings to Mama*

Rachel:  *quickly turns off the stove and moves things, then hugs Sarah*  Scary guy?

Sarah: *nodnod, voice muffled as she describes what she saw, and that she thought the person was another homeless person like the ones that she's seen near the college campus where Daddy works*

Rachel:  *comforts her, frowning as she pings Javan's comm*

Javan: //What's up, Docbot?//

Rachel:  //Samuel, if you're too sexy for your life do something about it other than clog up the lines.  Javan, Sarah says a homeless man just threatened her while she was taking out the garbage.//

Javan: *ignoring Samuel's razzing* //Did she get a good enough lookit the guy so I have a good idea of what to look for?//

Rachel:  *repeats the description Sarah gave her*

Raoul:  //Sounds like the guy that was nosin' 'round the shop a little while ago.//

Javan: //...You saw 'im too, huh, Raoul? Anything to add?//

Raoul:  //He didn' try to threaten me, but he was sure skittish.  Ran like Bubba when I yelled at 'im.//

Rodney: //Yeah... Or like Seamus when he gets busted on a prank... Wonder why he was digging through the trash though? We don't have anything food-like in our cans...//

Raoul:  //He wasn' just lookin' in our trash.  When I caught him he was goin' after motor oil.//

Rachel:  *frown*  //Motor oil?//

Raoul:  //Yeah, that stuff Roddy drinks when he thinks I ain't lookin'.//

Rodney: *Sputters over comms as Javan mutters something that might be a curseword*

Rachel:  //Javan?//

Javan: //Why would a homeless guy want motor oil?// *has already come up with a slight hunch, is really hoping he's wrong*

Rachel:  //Some homeless have cars.  Though this guy didn't sound like the type.//  *frowning*

Sean:  //Why was he all wrapped up?  And why not wear gloves instead of rags?//

Javan: //Exactly. Think Sarah managed to scan the guy?//

Tracks:  //You do realize that the more you talk the further he's getting away.//

Rachel:  //Stuff it, Tracks.  I don't think she ever thought to, Javan.//

Javan: *to Tracks* //An' you realize I'm patroling the area, right?// *Wow. He snarks.* *To Rachel* //Did she at least see which way he went?//

Denver: *grumbling and muttering in Scottish over the comms, is likely pacing or moving to head for the door of the family quarters*

Raoul:  //Major Mac, I'm fine.  Cool off, lady.//

Rachel:  *looks down at Sarah*  Sweetheart, do you know which way he went?

Sarah: *muffled* Down alley... *meaning towards the street that Rachel takes when she's going to the store*

Rachel:  //He headed down the alley back toward the shop and Mr. Hooper's store.//

Seamus:  *sings the store's jingle*

Javan: *tells Seamus to mute it* //Gotcha.// *will be scanning the area as he goes, looking for the guy*

Rachel:  *turns her attention to soothing her daughter*  //Jack?  Where are you?//

Jack: //On my way home now. I heard everything.// *Sounds worried* //How is Sarah?//

Rachel:  //She's a bit scared, but she's calmed down.//  *cuddles her little one and then nearly jumps out of her slipper socks as Raoul shouts over the comm lines*

Raoul:  //Roddy!  Gimme a hand!  I got 'em!//

Tracks:  //Raoul!  You...!//

Denver: *On her way!*

At the garage

Rodney: *assisting Raoul, and then Javan's there to help as well*

Javan: *trying to cuff the guy and avoid getting clobbered*

guy:  *loses hand wrapping to reveal a rusted and damaged metal hand*

Raoul:  *clinging like grim death to the guy's legs*

guy:  *flailing and trying to fight, but doesn't seem able to move very well*

Javan: *Reporting this to Rachel, even as he tells the guy to stand down in standard Cybertronian*

guy:  *startled jerk and goes dead still*

Denver: *Arriving in a swish and flash, before she's moving to help restrain the guy*

Javan: *sternly* [Designation and alliance, and so help me, if you try anything funny, I'll let Flashpoint deal with ya, 'n she ain't nearly as gentle as I am.]

guy:  *soft static sound*

Raoul:  *unfastens the coat and pulls it open to reveal a badly rusted chest plate and the remains of an Autobrand*  Hey....

Javan: *Frowning muchly* //Hey, Docbot? How soon c'n you get here? This guy's got part'a the Autobrand on 'im... but I don' think he c'n talk...//

Rachel:  //Jack's not back yet, and I can't leave the kids.//

Raoul:  *pulling off the ski mask now.  Looks at faded blue optics set in a white face framed with red*

Rodney: *startled cuss, lets go of the mech*

Javan: //Slaggin' Pit! It's 'Ferny!//

Denver: *out loud and over comms* ... 'Ferny? *Raised brow*

Rachel:  //Jack, where are you now?  They just found Inferno.//

Jack: //Just about to turn onto the street the shop's on.//

Russell: //I'm on my way over. Rinny's got the girls. ETA less than a minute.// *Sounds brain-broken*

Inferno:  *more soft static as he slowly starts to sit up.  Those faded optics are focused on Denver now, and they're holding a quizzical light.  How does she know that name?*

Raoul:  *has backed off too, is watching with a wary frown*

Denver: *on her feet and over by Raoul*

Javan: Roddy, soon 's Jack 'n Russ get here, close the doors, 'n lock up shop f'r a bit.

Rodney: *nods and moves to lock up the shop as Jack arrives out front*

Russell: *Arriving in a similar manner to Denver, has his field kit with him*

Inferno:  *looks at the men, holds up his hands in a quizzical gesture.  He can't hear the comms*

Jack: *helps Rodney get the garage doors closed, before transforming and moving to crouch next to Inferno* [You're a sight for sore optics, Inferno.] *Sounds relieved and amused*

Russell: *transforms and moves to scan Inferno*

Inferno:  *startles badly and stares at Wheeljack and Red Alert, and then the burly mech is weeping*

Denver: ... *raised brow*

Red Alert: *Soothingly* [Easy, Inferno. You're safe.]

Inferno:  *shaking slightly, but then grabs Red Alert and pulls him close, trying to talk*

Red Alert: *Soothing clicks, will attempt to apply a painkiller to the weeping mech* [Let's get your vocalizer fixed first... Then you can tell us whatever it is you need to.]

Inferno:  *shakes his head, his battered face holding a desperate expression as he points in a certain direction and statics*

Raoul:  *back with clipboard and sharpie, offers them to Inferno*

Inferno:  *grabs them, tries to figure the sharpie out*

Red Alert: *Frowns, watching Inferno*

Wheeljack: *Also frowning as he watches*

Denver: *Clicks and moves to try and help Inferno figure out the sharpie*

Inferno:  *grateful expression, and then he's slowly and painfully writing in Cybertronian upon the paper*  [Red, you gotta go get Star before she goes out.  I left her (coordinates).]

Red Alert: ... *Sharp curse, quickly programs his PINpoint, grabs his fieldkit, and goes*

Denver: *blink blink* ... *is quite fluent in the spoken Cybertronian language, but the writing's still a bit of a mystery to her*

Wheeljack: *Earlights dim a bit as he sets to work on trying to help Inferno, relays the situation to Rachel*

Rachel:  //Rrrr.  Autumn, how busy are you?//

Autumn: //Not very... Things are quiet here... Why?//

Rachel:  //You haven't been listening to comms?  I need a sitter, fast.//

Autumn: //...Bring the kids to the creche. I'm there with Rinny and the girls.//

Rachel:  //I'm not sure I can get the boys and Sandy out of the basement.//

Autumn: //... I'll be there in a few minutes. Just let me grab a few things.// *namely, Bert*

Rachel:  //Thanks.//  *sounds tense and apologetic, but glad*

Autumn: //Be careful.// *closes the connection*

Raoul:  *only half listening to the comms*  Is there anything I can do to help?

Wheeljack: Go get your tools. His shoulder sounds like it's got something important loose.

Denver: *To Tracks* //Who's Inferno?//

Tracks:  //An uncooth boor.  Has he said anything about Firestar?//

Denver: //'E wrote s'meth'n' th't 'ad Red cussin' 'n PINpoint'n' outta 'ere lahk a bat outta 'ell...//

Wheeljack: *A bit grimly* //He left 'Star someplace and she's in danger of going out. Red went to take care of her and keep that from happening.//

Tracks:  *silent for a moment*  //Red Alert, do you need any help?//

Raoul:  *has tools, will work*

Red Alert: //I need life support units!//

Red Alert's location

Crash site: *torn up to all get-out, and parts are still burning as an incredibly jerry-rigged-looking escape pod creaks and pops as it cools from the landing. It's apparent that the only thing holding it together was likely adhesive strips and a few bolts, but that's nothing compared to the state of the femme that's laying nearby*

Firestar: *Optics dark and most of her systems are running at near zero in an effort to keep her core systems online. She's sporting scorched paint in a few places, but that's really the least of her damage. Most of her lower half is either coated in rust or missing entirely, and one arm is on the verge of falling off. It's clear that she was close to some sort of explosion.*

Red Alert: *Cursing feverently in Gaelic as he works on keeping Firestar online*

Tracks:  *appears at the same time Ratchet does, one with tools and the other with all the portable life support things he could gank from the Ark med ward*

Ratchet:  *hurries over, her expression grim*

Red Alert: *gives Ratchet a quick run-down of the damage Firestar sustained, even as he moves to get the formerly red and orange-colored femme hooked up to the life support units*

Ratchet:  *quick glance at the pod as she assists*  That's not standard equipment.

Tracks:  *doing what he can, though he only knows basic first aid*

Red Alert: *Quietly as he works* It looks like part of the Axalon...

Ratchet:  Hmmm.  But not the part you're supposed to jump into to travel through space safely.  *grimaces as she carefully cleans rust away from wounds*

Firestar: *Soft, staticky sound*

Ratchet:  *checks to see if the damaged femme's comm link still works.  Has a look at the state of her chest compartment in the process*

Firestar: *weakly* //[S...O...S...]// *fuel pump is all but useless, and her fuel tank, as well as her coolant tank, is very nearly a complete loss. Her spark chamber has severe heat damage, as well as a badly caved-in panel which is putting stress on her spark*

Ratchet:  *starts moving that panel, being careful not to get in Red's way as he affixes the spark support unit*  //[This is Ratchet.  Firestar, can you hear me?]//

Tracks:  *finishes what he can do and moves back slightly, his expression tense and closed*

Firestar: *quiet for a few seconds* //R-rat...chet...]//

Ratchet:  //[Shhh.  Yes.  You're safe now.  Red and I are putting you back together.]//  *hands swift and careful as she removes that damaged panel and sets it aside*

Firestar: //['F-f...erno... S...afe...?]// *Spark is still showing stress, but without the damaged panel pressing in on it, the stress is lessened somewhat*

Ratchet:  Easy, Red.  Just get that hooked up.  //[Inferno's safe, Firestar.  Hot Rod and Jazz found him, and 'Jack's taking care of him.]//

Red Alert: *lip components thin, but he does as instructed*

Firestar: //[Good...]// *systems settling into sync with the life support units*

Ratchet:  *carefully adjusts the output on the spark booster Red Alert just hooked up, making sure that Firestar gets the energy she needs*  //[I'm going to put you into stasis lock now, Firestar.  So you can rest while we get you back to base.]//

Firestar: //[Okay.]// *Sounds relieved, likely due to knowing Inferno's safe and being taken care of, and due to knowing that she's going to be alright*

Ratchet:  *doesn't use a sedation tab this time, instead gently shuts the damaged femme down manually.  The less stress on her systems right now the better*

Firestar: *And then the only sounds she makes are those of systems being run by the support units*

Red Alert: *Glances to Tracks* *Quietly* Thank you for your assistance, Tracks.

Tracks:  *blinks as though startled and looks at him*  [Oh, you're welcome.]

Ratchet:  *comms Merlin and asks him to prep the main operating bay at the Ark.  Tells him the nature of the injuries so that he can get things ready*

Merlin: *Acknowledges, will have the operating bay ready*

Kia:  *echos her mate's message, as she often does*

Red Alert: *to Tracks* [Should I call Denver?]

Tracks:  *quizzical frown*  Whatever for? She's busy with Inferno and Raoul.

Red Alert: *gently* You looked a million miles, and several years, away...

Tracks:  *slight smirk*  I was watching Javan offer Wheeljack the wrong tools.

Red Alert: ... *Face. Palm*

Ratchet:  *without looking up*  Deep bond, remember?

Red Alert: Now I do... *slight headtilt, soft chuckle*

Ratchet:  I think this is about all we can do here.  She might need a full new protoform.  *putting tools back in her bag*

Red Alert: *small nod* It's not as though we do not have those, at least...

Ratchet:  *thankfully*  *glances to Tracks*  Is Denver relaying what she sees through you?

Tracks:  She is.  *remembering an old Cybertronian story about a deep bonded pair who saved an outpost after the enemy had blocked comm channels*

Ratchet:  Okay.  So we don't need to update Jack.  Let's get her to base, Red.

Red Alert: And my own mate is relaying what she's observed as she keeps Rain and Magnus company while Dion and the girls play... *nods to Ratchet*

Ratchet:  I'm sorry I had to snatch Autumn and Bert away from her.  Okay.  I'm ready.  *activates the portable anti grav stretcher and watches it lift Firestar slightly off the ground*  //Chief, have you called Mike?//

Tracks:  *moves to touch her shoulder*  Ready.

Patrick: //I have... How's Firestar?//

Red Alert: *moves to put a hand on Ratchet's arm, brings everyone to the main operating bay*

Ratchet:  //Critical.  She was barely running, and she's so rusted that this protoform is very likely a write off.//

Patrick: //She'll be alright in time, won't she?//

Ratchet:  //Lord willing.//  *says it quietly*

Tracks:  *moving out of the operating bay, intends to go back to his apartment*

Patrick: //I'm on my way over to the shop now. What state is Inferno in?//

Ratchet:  //I never got a look at him.  Jack's there, though, and Red saw him.//  *busy cleaning Firestar up for surgery*

Red Alert: *Assisting with that, as is Merlin, who has finished prepping the operating bay*

Patrick: //Alright. Keep me updated on Firestar. Patrick out.//

Ratchet:  //Will do, Chief.  Ratchet out.//

Back at the shop...

Raoul:  *working on Inferno's shoulder, will grab a rag and some cleaner to try and get the muck and rust out of it*

Inferno:  *suddenly spasms and jerks away from the boy*  //[No!  Not that!  Get it away from me!  Please!]//

Raoul:  ...What?

Wheeljack: *raised brow ridge, scans the cleaner*

cleaner:  *common household cleaner with ammonia*

Inferno:  *shuddering and whimpering as he cringes away from it*

Wheeljack: Raoul, do you have anything else to clean rust out with, that doesn't have ammonia?

Javan: ... *giving Wheeljack a confused look, as is Denver*

Raoul:  *frowning with confusion of his own*  I can try the WD-40....  What's wrong with this?  *moving it away from Inferno as he speaks*

Wheeljack: Ammonia's an addictive substance for Cybertronians.

Raoul:  *eyes go wide, and then the cleaner's down the drain and the bottle's buried at the bottom of the 'burn' bin*

Inferno:  *shuddering hard enough to shake parts loose*

Wheeljack: *Soothing clicks, works on un-kinking a few wires that lead to sensor nodes*

Denver: *Boggling a bit and inadvertantly transmitting her surprise and shock to Tracks*

Tracks:  -Darling?  What is it?-

Raoul:  *coming back with WD-40, but is hesitant to come near the distressed bot*

Denver: -Y...y'all 'ave addictive drugs?!- *sounds a bit brain-broken*

Tracks:  *feeling of alarm*  -Where do you see an addictive drug?-

Denver: -'Un 'f th' cleaners 't th' shop... 's got ammonia in it...-

Tracks:  -Right....  I'd forgotten about 'speedhead'.-  *slightly relieved now, but is hoping fervently that Denver never ever tries anything of the sort.  Is also hiding some memory that's associated with guilt*  -I wasn't paying attention to what's happening.  What brought this up?-

Denver: -Raoul went t' get s'me cleaner t' get th' rust outta 'Ferno's shoulder, 'n 'Ferno acted lahk 't w's scariest th'ng 'e'd evah seen... 'Jack 'splained 'bout th' ammonia...-

Tracks:  *feels now of pity*

Inferno:  *murmuring to Wheeljack*  //[It was everywhere.  We were floating on the stuff!  Couldn' not get hooked....]//

Wheeljack: *Soothingly* [You don't have to worry about that here... Only way you'd come in contact with it would be accidental or if you went looking for it. We don't keep any at the Ark or in any of the homes.] *Continues to work, being as careful as he can*

Raoul:  *giving Rodney the stink eye as he catches some of what's being said*

Rodney: *Eyes slightly distant, is discussing the matter with Lisa, scowls when he finds out that some of the shop's previous tenants likely left the cleaner there*

Raoul:  *kicks him on the leg*

Rodney: *startles*

Denver: *Warning sound to Raoul*

Raoul:  What the slag was the idea, Roddy?  Didn' you know that stuff was there?  We have sparklets in here, man!

Rodney: *Retorts sharply in the highland dialect he uses when he's upset* ~It's not like I knew it was there, Raoul!~

Raoul:  *didn't catch all that*  English, man!

Rodney: *More scowl, goes to check the rest of the cleaners and other chemicals left behind by the previous tenants*

Raoul:  *scowls and hunkers down protectively, but then starts to his feet with a cuss as he hears someone knock on the door*  Aw, it's that guy for his car, and we ain't done it yet.

Javan: *attention on the door* No it ain't... It's the Boss-bot... *goes to let Patrick in*

Raoul:  *relieved, but then frowns again as he turns to look at Inferno, who is still shaking as Wheeljack works on him*

Patrick: *Transforms once Javan shuts the door behind him, moves to crouch nearby* [Firestar is going to be alright, Inferno. Ratchet's helping her.]

Inferno:  *lifts his head and looks at him, his battered face tear streaked*  //[Op... Optimus....]//

Optimus: [It's good to see you again, Inferno.] *moving to help Wheeljack* [Let's get you feeling better...]

Inferno:  *hoarse whisper*  //[I can still smell it.]//

Optimus: *confused*

Denver: *Going to get something to try and clear out the ammonia smell*

Javan: *Digs through his subspace and pulls out a cinnaSeeker* [Here 'Ferny.] *moves to help the injured mech with the cookie*

Raoul:  *quietly, to Optimus*  [The clean stuff.]

Inferno:  *startled by the sudden change in smell and stares at Javan*

Optimus: *attention on Raoul* Huh?

Javan: ['S some good stuff, 'n tasty too.]

Wheeljack: *As he works* [Jazz, you'd better have more than one of those in storage....]

Inferno:  //[...Smells good.]//  *afraid to reach for it*

Raoul:  *repeats the word he heard*  [Speedhead.]

Optimus: *if it were possible for him to go pale while in root mode, he would be quite pale by now*

Raoul: *seriously* Yeah.

Wheeljack: [It is good. It's got good self repair-boosting minerals and energon in it.] *Thanks Javan as the man gives him a cinnaSeeker as well*

Inferno:  *hesitantly takes the offered treat, then watches Wheeljack to see what to do with it.  This is different from any solid fuel he's seen before, and he's distracted by memories of cravings, so he's not sure*

Wheeljack: *going to happily chomp away on his cookie now, even as he works*

Javan: [Only reason people can't get 'nough 'a these is 'cause they're so tasty... Ain't anything bad in 'em.]

Wheeljack: *Around the cookie* [Unlike your cooking, Jazz.]

Javan: *Razzes Wheeljack*

Inferno:  *nibbles, and then starts to eat like a starving wolf*

Raoul:  0.o

Wheeljack: *finishes up what he can fix on this side, moves to go around to the other side and work on fixing what he can* Once we get done what we can here, let's get him to the Ark... One of the side operating bays, since Ratchet's working on Firestar in the main bay...

Inferno:  *choke*  >_o

Wheeljack: *apologizes for poking in a painful spot*

Inferno:  *points to self, has too large a cookie chunk stuck in his tube*

Raoul:  He's chokin'!

Wheeljack: *sets to work fixing that*

Inferno:  *sighs as the chunk comes loose, then eats it again before making a grab at the engineer's cookie*

Wheeljack: *lets him have the cookie*

Inferno:  *tries hard to eat this more slowly*

Wheeljack: *Muttering to himself and making notes on what parts Inferno will need replaced*

Inferno:  *the ammonia probably explains the massive scarring on certain of his fuel tubes.  But pretty much everything could use replacing*

Raoul:  *wincing as he sees Inferno's internals*  Maaan....

Denver: *back to try and clean.... Pauses and gapes when she sees the state Inferno's internal workings are in*

Raoul:  *Spanish*  Crap, that looks bad.

Denver: Y-Yeah... *slight wobble, and then she's down for the count*

Raoul:  *yelps and tries to catch her, but winds up going down too*  Owww....

Rodney: *hurrying out to see what the commotion not related to Inferno is*

Inferno:  *startled and staring with wide, concerned optics*

Wheeljack: *concerned trill*

Optimus: *over to help Raoul and Denver* What happened?

Raoul:  She looked at his guts 'n passed out.  *moves so he's sitting up and supporting his mother, and then pats her face*

Optimus: *Winces* Yeah... That'd make anyone queasy...

Denver: *Very soft sound*

Raoul:  *doesn't really get the queasy thing, but softly calls to Denver*  Yo, Major Mac, you okay?

Denver: *quiet murmur that sounds sort of like "Don' wanna see guts..."*

Raoul:  *frowns and looks up at Optimus for ideas*

Optimus: *quietly* Take her home. Wheeljack and I will get Inferno to the medbay.

Raoul:  Yessir.  *takes out his PINpoint and goes home*

Optimus: *soft sigh, moves back to help Wheeljack*

Inferno:  //[She okay?]//

Optimus: [She will be once she's in a familiar environment and with her family. Not everyone is comfortable seeing another person's internals.] *will explain more about Denver once everyone's back at the Ark, and nobody can eavesdrop on the conversation*

Inferno:  *frowns and lays his head back wearily*  //[Who is she, anyhow?  Don' remember seein' 'er 'round.]// *going by voice, since the femme was in human mode*

Wheeljack: *Cheerily as he works* [She's kinda a newcomer to our rag-tag group'a crazies.]

Inferno:  *looks at him*  //[Whaddya mean?]//

Optimus: [Her designation in root mode is Flashpoint. Her designation in her alt mode is Denver Trach. I'll explain more when we're where walls don't have audios.]

Javan: *Sly grin* ['N she's Tracks' mate. Wordmate 'n sparkmate both.]

Inferno:  *mouth falls open, but then closes again*  //[Jazz, don't make fun.]//

Wheeljack: [He's not, Inferno. Never thought I'd say this, but Tracks has a mate, as well as a couple of youngsters who look to him for guidance. You saw one of them just a little while ago.]

Inferno:  ....  //[That native younglin'?]//

Wheeljack: *earlights that annoyingly cheerful blue color* [Yep!]

Inferno:  ...... *not sure what to say to that*

Optimus: [There's something else that you should know... There's a creche.]

Inferno:  *optics flicker with shock, and it looks like he's going to take a turn to faint*

Wheeljack: *Stinkeyes Optimus before returning his attention to repairing Inferno for the trip back to the Ark* [You'll get to meet some of the kids later... Right now, let's just worry about getting you fixed so you can fuss over Firestar.]

Inferno:  *weakly*  //[Star....]//

Wheeljack: [Ratchet's working on her now... She'll be okay.]

Inferno:  //[Cain't feel her.]//  *succumbing to exhaustion and stress*

Wheeljack: *over comms, to Ratchet* //How's Firestar? Inferno says he can't feel her...//

Ratchet:  //Not surprising.  She's in stasis lock while we work on her.  How's he doing?//

Wheeljack: *relays what repairs have been done, and what state Inferno's internals are in.* //Might be better off replacing his protoform too...//

Ratchet:  //Give him time to recover first, if it's not an emergency thing.//  *pauses*  //Does he have ammonia scarring too?//

Wheeljack: //Yeah... Where they were... they were floating in it.//

Ratchet:  //Ugh.//

Wheeljack: //He didn't have any in his systems when I started repairs. He's got a couple of cinnaSeekers in his tank now.//

Ratchet:  //Good.  But....  That stuff leaves permanent damage, Jack.//

Wheeljack: //Then maybe replacing his protoform entirely really is the best option...//

Ratchet:  *quietly*  //Spark damage.//

Wheeljack: //... *quiet curse*//

Ratchet:  //Looking at Star's spark here, I'll have to say it will never bud.//

Wheeljack: //... Poor Firestar... Poor Inferno... // *earlights dimmed*

Ratchet:  //And after that much exposure neither of them will be up to fighting, or to the emergency rescue work they were built for.//

Optimus: //Will they be strong enough to assist Bumblebee and Brawn with the creche someday?// *Not getting his hopes up, but darnit, if there's any chance, then he wants to know about it!*

Ratchet:  //I think so.  If they can face sparklets after they find out how they were made and that they won't be able to add to the collection.//

Optimus: //Wheeljack mentioned the creche already.... He didn't say how we came to get the creche, thankfully...//

Ratchet:  //That might be something to let them learn gradually, if we can.//

Optimus: //For now, let's just focus on getting them repaired.//

Ratchet:  //What, you think I can't multitask?//

Wheeljack: *his answer to that is to razz Ratchet playfully, before he's moving to put his tools away, having done all he can without access to better parts*

Ratchet:  *affectionately*  //Throwin' it back, Jack.//

Wheeljack: //We'll be bringing Inferno to one of the side bays in a few clicks, Ratchet.//

Ratchet:  //Want me to get Percy to get it ready?//

Wheeljack: //That'd be great.//

Ratchet:  //Percy, did you hear the mech?  Or are you lost in beanpop land again?//

Perceptor: //I am already prepping one of the repair bays off of the main bay, Ratchet.//

Ratchet:  //Good job.//  *gentle warmth in the praise*

Javan: *heads out to his car while Rodney finishes closing up shop and getting the keys to the car that Wheeljack was driving*

Inferno:  *optics dark as he dozes, the good energy and minerals in his tank causing his systems to go into recharge mode*

Optimus: *Helps Wheeljack lift Inferno before PINpointing to the repair bay*

Inferno:  *Urk!*

Optimus: *helps get Inferno set on the repair table while Perceptor moves to clean up*

Inferno:  *static as he turns his head and tries to figure out what happened*

Wheeljack: [Easy, Inferno. We just took a bit of a shortcut to get here...]

Inferno:  *shaking again*  *statics, too muddled and tired to remember he can't talk*

Wheeljack: *goes to get a light sedative, has no intention of using a full-strength one on Inferno while Firestar is in stasis*

Inferno:  *tries to sit up*

Optimus: *gently pushes him back down* [Don't try to get up.]

Inferno:  *blinks at Optimus and then calms a bit, though he's still shaking*

Wheeljack: *is back with the sedative, which gets carefully applied* [Just relax, Inferno... Everything's going to be okay.]

Inferno:  //['Jack.  Right.]//  *sighs and sleeps*

A few hours later...

Ratchet:  *looking soberly through the window of the recovery room at the table where Inferno and Firestar are tucked into a nest of blankets*  Hopefully Star's spark will be able to complete the interface with her new protoform.  And it's a good thing I put the rails up on that.  Inferno's moving even with the sedation tab.

Red Alert: *nods, a somber expression on his face as he watches the couple*

Ratchet:  *quietly, checking to make sure Wheeljack's out of earshot*  Red, that new Dinobot protoform's ready, right?

Red Alert: It's been ready since just before the girls were put into their shells... *blink blink, looks at Ratchet*

Ratchet:  He's been separated since I first saw Star.  It's been a glitch trying to keep him from taking over.

Red Alert: *Quietly, sounding a bit shocked* Let's get him into his own shell then.

Ratchet:  *nod*  Just give me a hand.  He's got all me locked up here.

Red Alert: *nods and moves to carefully lift Ratchet*

Ratchet:  *leans her head against him and then winces and once more argues with her stubborn unborn, who is insistent that he needs to fight*

Red Alert: *carries Ratchet to the recovery room where he stored the new Dinobot's shell and carefully sets her on the berth*

Perceptor: *is that concerned head peeking through the doorway* Ratchet? Red Alert?

Ratchet:  Feel like playing assistant midwife, Percy?  You might have a chase on your hands.

Perceptor: Oh dear... *moves to assist* Should I alert Wheeljack?

Ratchet:  Um, not till after the fact, okay?  He's already had enough stress for today.

Perceptor: *nods* Of course.

Red Alert: *Getting the new shell online and running*

Ratchet:  *frowns then, her optics going dim as she focuses inward*  Oh great, he's already learned to cuss.

Perceptor: ...Is it too late to hope that he has not picked up some of Alice's worst?

Ratchet:  Right now he's just saying 'slag' over and over.

Red Alert: ... *facepalm*

Perceptor: ... Well, at least that is not nearly as bad as some of the things Alice has been known to say...

Ratchet:  You haven't heard Greg when he's upset, have you?  *wince and look inward again as the argument gets more heated*

Perceptor: ... I can only imagine...

Red Alert: The sooner we get him put in his own shell, the sooner you can lecture him properly, Ratchet.

Ratchet:  *absently*  Yeah.

Red Alert: If you would open your plating, Ratchet...

Ratchet:  You'll have to do it manually.  I'm still locked up.

Red Alert: ... *sets to work doing that as Perceptor gets ready to corral the newspark*

Ratchet:  *grits her teeth a little as her new son's antics cause discomfort even past her high pain tolerance*

Red Alert: *grumbling a bit* The brat.... is behind your sp-whoah!!! *Startled as the newspark suddenly darts from behind Ratchet's spark and tries to make a break for it*

Ratchet:  Oh slag that's bi....  *knocked out of her spark compartment by the rush, hovers uncertainly somewhere near her waist*

Perceptor: *Trying to corral the stubborn newspark while Red Alert gently coaxes Ratchet's spark back where it belongs*

Ratchet:  *obediently goes where steered.  Is pulsing with the low light that means she's unconscious*

Newspark: *fizzing mad and putting up a fight for a few moments before he's finally put into his shell*

Red Alert: *checking all of Ratchet's vitals*

Ratchet:  *could use some energy, and has a tiny bit of stress from being knocked about, but she's alright otherwise*

Red Alert: *hurries to get one of the small containers of what Seamus jokingly compared to a "Five Hour Energy thingie", will pour the contents of the container into Ratchet's fuel tank*

Perceptor: *down and out for the count when the new Dinobot clocks him one*

Red Alert: *Startled, goes to help Perceptor, only to have to duck to avoid sharing the scientist's fate*

Newborn: Me Slag want to fight! *maaaaaaaaaaaad as all get-out*

Red Alert: *sounding a bit panicked* It's not time to fight though!!!

Wheeljack: *is the sound of footsteps approaching from the recovery room just down the hall*

Slag: Me Slag FIGHT!

Wheeljack: *Startled, and there's a loud CLANG as his skidplate meets the floor*

Slag: *Attention goes to the doorway* ... Who you? You here to fight?

Wheeljack: *quietly* N-no... *cycling air and trying to calm down*

Slag: *Frooooowwwwwwn* Then who you?

Ratchet:  *groggy as she reboots*  Jack?

Lt. Wesson:  *clinging stubbornly to the door frame of the recovery room next door as he watches what's going on*

Wheeljack: I-I'm here, Ratchet...

Slag: *blink blink* Him Jack.... Him Daddy?

Ratchet:  *turns head and frowns, then goes a bit wide-opticked*  What did you do to your Uncle Percy??

Red Alert: He got a lucky hit... *trying to wake Perceptor*

Slag: ... Him red-bot Uncle Percy?

Ratchet:  And the guy trying to help him is Uncle Red.  *sitting up very slowly and looking toward the door*  Oh darn.  Jack, are you okay?

Wheeljack: *cycling air rapidly, manages a small nod*

Ratchet:  *reaches for her wordmate, frowning with concern*  I was trying to keep from stressing you any more.

Red Alert: *Scans Wheeljack, even as he taps at Perceptor's shoulder*

Slag: *Frowwwwning muchly* Him Daddy hurt?

Wheeljack: I'll... be okay...

Ratchet:  Daddy doesn't take shocks well.  Can you change to your alt mode and bring him to me?  Carefully?

Slag: *nod* Me Slag bring him Daddy to you, Mama. *Transforms, looking almost identical to Simon and Greg, albeit a little shorter. Moves to lift Wheeljack up and bring the stressed mech to Ratchet*

Wheeljack: *shuttering his optics for a few moments as he cycles air, before he's deposited on the berth next to Ratchet.*

Ratchet:  *lays down and puts her arms around him, then snuzzles close*  Just relax, 'Jack.  I've got you.

Lt. Wesson:  *has made it to this door, and is now carefully removing the PJ pants he had on over his whities*  Here, Slag.  You can't run around like that.  Put these on.

Wheeljack: *cycles air and works on relaxing. Being snuzzled by his wordmate is helping accomplish that*

Slag: *eyeing Lt. Wesson in the same sort of manner that Greg would* Who you?

Perceptor: *Very soft groan as he begins rebooting*

Ratchet:  *without looking away from Wheeljack*  That's Uncle John.  You'll like him once he's feeling better.  *gently rubs her husband's chest and makes soothing sounds*

Lt. Wesson:  *grins at the big newborn, his affection toward Slag clear*  Yeah.  I gotta teach you basketball.

Slag: *hesitantly reaching for the PJ pants*

Lt. Wesson:  The tie thing goes in front....  Oh... darn.  *slides down the door frame and puts his head between his knees*

Wheeljack: *hiding his face against Ratchet*

Red Alert: *after verifying that Perceptor is indeed waking up, moves to help Lt. Wesson*

Slag: *putting the pants on*

Perceptor: *doing a self-diagnostic, will get back to you shortly*

Lt. Wesson:  *disoriented and dizzy*

Red Alert: *will carefully lift Lt. Wesson and carry him back to the recovery room he was in and gently remind the man that he needs to rest*

Ratchet:  Good job, Slag.  Now come lay down by Daddy and have some sleep.  *saw that yawn*

Slag: *blink blink* Snuggle time?

Ratchet:  Yup.  *slight grin*  Snuggle time.  *snuzzles Wheeljack again and continues to rub his chest*

Bert:  //Hey, Rachel?  We're camping for the night.  *muffled yawn over comms*//

Ratchet:  //Good.  I was just going to call you and let you know we weren't going to be able to make it back tonight.  Can you tell the kids their new brother is here?//

Bert:  //What?  I thought you still had a few days.//

Ratchet:  //He's a Dinobot, Bert.  He barely fit in there with me anyway.//

Slag: *moves to join Ratchet and Wheeljack on the berth, will try to get to where he can hear both of his parents' sparks*

Perceptor: *making his way to his feet, albeit a bit unsteadily*

Ratchet:  *smiles for her baby, and then more snuzzle for her mate.  Is firm that Wheeljack needs to be in the middle of the snuggles tonight*  //...Why are Samuel and Seamus so quiet?  It's not that late.//

Slag: *wants to protest this, biiiiiig yawn interrupts that. Grumbles a bit and snuggles against Wheeljack's back instead*

Bert:  //Probably because Seamus is hiding from Sidewinder after she tried claiming him.//

Ratchet:  What???

Wheeljack: *absent quizzical sound*

Bert:  //TC and Sky both told her no.  And then Storm did too.//

Autumn: //So who does that leave out of all the single, unclaimed mechs?//

Bert:  //A lot of Seekers.//

Autumn: //But I thought Sidewinder didn't like them...//

Rain:  //Sucks to be her.//

Magnus: *Agrees with Rain*

Rain:  //She and Dead End would make a nice pair.//

Sidewinder:  *snarls something unprintable in Cybertronian*

Dead End: *Going "EW" now*

Wildrider: *Taunting his brother over the comms, as are the rest of the Stunticons*

Ratchet:  //You guys have five clicks to switch to a private channel, or I'm scheduling you all for tank flushes.//

Stunticons: *sign off with a click*

Bert:  *snerk*

Red Alert: //Nightbird, I know you heard that.//

Nightbird: *silence over comms*

Prowl: *puts out a plea for someone to save him*

Magnus: //Not gonna happen, Prowl... I like being able to taste my fuel.// *closes the connection*

Ratchet:  *shakes her head, and then rests it against Wheeljack*  //I'm going to sleep.  Try not to kill anyone while I'm down.//

Wheeljack: *Absent, affectionate murmur, snuggles close to Ratchet*

Slag: *Already asleep*

Ratchet:  *sighs and checks on Perceptor for a last time, then peers through the security camera at Inferno and Firestar and is glad to see that the red and white mech is sleeping soundly.  Murmuring a soft thanks, she shutters her optics and does the same*

((co-written with random_xtras))