mbv, Lisa's house, Reuniting with old and dear friends
Rachel: *talking about things she remembers Bumblebee and the twins doing as she pulls up the driveway that leads to Emilia's country home*
Steeljaw: *listening with a swishing tail* Mrrpt...
Lisa: *waves to Rachel from the front porch* :D
Rachel: Oh, and Steeljaw? For the love of all that's holy please don't bite your brother on the rump this time. Porcine screams can shatter human eardrums. Think how it makes us feel. *grins at Lisa as she pulls up beside the cluster of vehicles in the drive*
Steeljaw: *Rolls eyes, streeeeetches*
Seamus: *pokes his head out of the house to tell Lisa something, and winds up giving Rachel a "...bhuh?" look*
Rachel: *stops the Tercel and gets out, then reaches inside for her bag before making sure that Steeljaw has gotten out safely. She scans the man in the door as she walks over and grins widely, her gladness to see him clear* Sideswipe. I knew you were too dumb to die.
Seamus: :P I could say the same thing to you, Ratchet.
Lisa: Sideswipe, be nice...*baps Seamus on the arm*
Steeljaw: Mrrrrt?
Rachet: I actually did for about five minutes. And it's Rachel. *up on the porch now and holding out one arm to hug Lisa*
Lisa: :D *hugs Rachel* C'mon. 'Bee and Sunny are in the kitchen with Elita...
Seamus: *Stoops to pick up Steeljaw* ! Ooof...heavy cat...
Steeljaw: *Smug kitty grin*
Rachel: You expect Steeljaw to be a lightweight? *offering Seamus a hug now too* Do you have a local name yet?
Seamus: I thought he was a real cat... and I did...got part of it outta a movie...First name's Seamus...
Rachel: Seamus, huh? I like it. *grins and comes inside*
Ramhorn: *in the kitchen as well, snorts a bit at Samuel*
Samuel: *making a face at Ramhorn*
Seamus: *nods* And 'Bee calls herself Autumn... *snarks at his brother over their bond, earning a stinkeye*
Rachel: Autumn? *then gets a look at the tiny brunette and understands*
Autumn: *looks over her shoulder and then she's getting up to give Rachel a hug*
Emilia: Ramhorn, be nice...and Steeljaw, if you try to bite him again, I'm getting the broom out.
Rachel: *puts her bag down to give the smaller femme a two armed hug. Autumn might be able to feel some of the scars that start around her waist and go downward*
Autumn: *small frown, clicks quietly to Rachel* [You're hurt...]
Samuel: *frown, gets up from where he was sitting*
Rachel: *glances around to make sure there are no human guests* [Not anymore. Let's have a look at you, alright?]
Lisa: [I'll get the curtains!] *hurries to make sure the kitchen can't be looked into from any of the windows, as Seamus, Samuel, and Autumn transform*
Emilia: [We're the only ones here right now...Chromia's still missing, and so are 'Jack, Ironhide and Hot Rod...]
Steeljaw and Ramhorn: *transforming to their normal forms in the next room after Lisa draws the curtains*
Rachel: *doesn't transform, just hugs Samuel and starts her checkup with him without making comment on Emilia's words on the missing.* [Where's Optimus?]
Emilia: *headshake* [No sign of him still...I'm starting to get worried...]
Lisa: *biting her lower lip and shifting position slightly*
Samuel: *hugs Rachel back gently. He's still adjusting to some of the repairs he got elsewhere, but in a good way*
Sideswipe: *clicking to Emilia a bit*
Rachel: *turns and scans Bumblebee, then glances at Sideswipe* You guys have run into another medic... Red Alert?
Bumblebee: No...a femme named Liedherz...
Rachel: ...Is that her local name?
Sideswipe: No...it's her given name... We...kinda wandered outta the reality...
Rachel: *eyes widen* That 'Nexus' that Lisa and Merlin have mentioned?
Sunstreaker: *nod*
Sideswipe: We ran into an alternate of 'Bee....she helped us out...
Rachel: *pauses* Run that by me again, Sideswipe?
Sideswipe: We met another 'Bee. She helped us out.
Bumblebee: *nods* It's the truth...but the other Me was bigger, and could turn into a car...
Sunstreaker: and Liedherz could turn into a plane...it was frickin' SWEET.
Rachel: ...Alright, I think I understand some of what Merlin was saying the other day a little better now. Though.... *blinks and turns to Emilia* What if the Decepticons do the same thing?
Emilia: I hope it doesn't come to that.
Lisa: :/
Rachel: *worried expression as she pats the nearest twin and then moves to sit down on a kitchen chair*
Bumblebee: ...couldn't we ask for help in the Nexus though?
Rachel: *absently making a phone call to a certain noisy flashy guy as she frowns* I don't know. Merlin would be able to tell you if it were safe to bring in people from other realities.
Javan: *answers on the third ring* Javan del Sol speaking...
Rachel: Bumblebee and the twins are home.
Javan: ...*Drops the phone and lets out a loud whoop*
Petra: *Can be heard in the background, yelling at Javan to pick his phone up*
Rachel: *waits a moment, and then hangs up, knowing that Javan will phone back when he's done gleeing*
Rachel's phone: *rings*
Rachel: *flips it open and holds it to her ear* Rachel Smith.
Petra: Mind telling me what's got Javan in a gleefit? *in the background, Javan can be heard whooping and laughing*
Rachel: *smiles* Bumblebee and the twins are here at Emilia's.
Petra: ...We'll be over as soon as I can corral Javan, and get him to stop dancing around the living room with Alice.
Alice: *in the background, laughing*
Rachel: Steeljaw wants to share that he's here too. *caught a look from her friend through the living room door*
Petra: We'll bring Eject and Rewind.
Rachel: Alright. I'll see you when you get here. Rachel out.
Petra: Petra out. *hangs up*
Rachel: *closes phone and looks at Emilia* We found someone else tonight, too.
Emilia: The femme you mentioned?
Rachel: Yes. Her designation is Moonshadow. She goes by Melissa. *no, she wasn't on the Ark.*
Emilia: *eyes widen* You mean...more ships have arrived? *hopeful*
Rachel: *arm around Bumblebee as the young femme pulls up a chair and sits by her* I don't know. Melissa.... She was part of that Quintesson project.
Emilia: ...*quietly* We missed some?!
Bumblebee: *Wibble*
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe: ....
Lisa: *wibbling as well*
Rachel: We missed her. Her processor is firmly hardwired into the slave mentality.
Emilia: ...Excuse me. *going to the back yard, pausing only to grab Mia's bb gun*
Lisa: Is she alright though?
Rachel: With time, and the right care, she might learn how to function at a passable level. But she'll never be free.
Lisa: *Sad*
*out back, Emilia can be heard yelling obscenities over the sound of the bb gun going off repeatedly*
Rachel: Skylar was defending her when he showed himself tonight.
Lisa: *frown*
Twins and Bumblebee: *Shared puzzled looks*
Rachel: I left he and Pandita to take care of her, so I won't need to hurry back. *well known for not liking to drive at night*
Lisa: I'll get the guestroom ready for you...*attention goes to the door* Oh!
Javan: *peeking in, dreadlocks dangling down a bit* Yo! Anyone home? :D
Rachel: *smiles as she turns her head* I hope you stuck to the speed limit.
Javan: Petra drove. *comes in, with Eject perched on his glove-covered hand. The transformed Cassettebot's rosy crest is high with excitement*
Alice: *right behind, with Rewind on a leash and little ferret paws scrabbling for a foot hold on the hardwood floor*
Javan: *once Petra's in the house, he closes the door behind the Asian woman, before letting Eject go and transforming. In the next instant he's over by Bumblebee and hugging the femme tightly*
Petra: *small snerk, before she too is transforming*
Alice: *unclipping Rewind's leash* 'Jack still missing?
Rachel: *smile fades, and she bites her lip* Yeah... I haven't heard anything.
Prowl: *clicks to Rachel, his face marked with concern*
Rachel: *clicks back and holds out a hand to her friend* Jack's too tough to just disappear.
Prowl: We'll keep an eye out for him on our end...
Rewind and Eject: *transforming and joining their siblings*
Alice: *transforms* Where's Elita?
Rachel: In the back yard letting off steam.
Jazz: *wincing as he listens* Dis got anythin' t' do wit' Screamer's act 'a dumb earlier?
Rachel: *sighs and quietly relates the finding of Melissa. The parts of the story that she saw, and the parts that Skylar showed to her*
Arcee: ...*cycling air* That poor thing...
Rachel: *sighs as she repeats what she told the others* She'll never be free.
Prowl: *'wings almost at a 180 angle to one another* :/
Lisa: *quietly* The guestroom's ready, Rachel...*looks like she's been crying*
Rachel: *reaches for her, clicking softly*
Lisa: *clicks back as she moves closer to Rachel*
Jazz: *still hugging 'Bee, his butt very close to Rachel* Don't even think 'bout pokin' me in th' skid.
Rachel: Oh don't worry. I wouldn't dream of it. *WHAP!*
Jazz: *Yelps*
Bumblebee: *SNERK*
Rachel: *hugs Lisa*
Twins: XD
Lisa: *trying not to laugh, as is Prowl*
Rachel: *glad that her move cheered the room*
Emilia: *kicks the back door open, grumble, curse, growl* &%#^*^#$ thing ran out of ammo. >/
Rachel: *looks at her, then glances toward Jazz standing with his hands on his skidplate*
Emilia: ...Don't tempt me, Rachel.
Jazz: D:
Rachel: Oh come off it, Elita. The poor mech's had enough abuse for one night. *rubs her hand and then resumes hugging Lisa*
Emilia: ...You smacked him again, huh?
Rachel: When something gets that close to my face it's really hard to resist.
Emilia: *Snerk*
Rachel: *gives Jazz an apologetic but amused look.*
Jazz: XP
Prowl: *frowns as he notices how tired Emilia looks, pings Ratchet's comm* //She still hasn't made contact with Prime?//
Rachel: *sighs and sobers* //No. No word.//
Prowl: *reaches over and baps Jazz*
Jazz: Ow! Oy! What's that for?
Rachel: *blue eyes sharpen* Jazz... do you have something you'd like to tell us?
Lisa: *Wibbling again*
Jazz: *about to speak, when Lisa speaks up*
Lisa: *quietly* I know where Optimus is.
Rachel: *so surprised that she jumps. Then looks down at the young femme with shock* You do?
Lisa: *nods, ducking her head* But he made me promise I wouldn't tell because he didn't want to put any of the others still on the Ark in danger and he didn't want the Decepticons finding out where he was or where the Ark is and he just wanted to make sure everyone was okay before he came out of hiding and please don't yell at me, I was just doing what I was ordered to do...
Jazz: *Quietly* ...I was just gonna say I know how to reach his cellphone...
Rachel: *hugging Lisa closely* *softly* I'm not going to yell, Bluestreak. Jazz, I'd like that information please.
Emilia: *moving to sit down, misses the chair and lands on the floor* o_o
Rachel: *winces*
Jazz: *gives Rachel the cellphone number*
Lisa: *wibbling*
Rachel: *phone out and number dialed*
Voicemail message: This is Patrick Oberson. I'm currently unavailable at this time, but if you'll leave your name, number I can call you back at, and a message, I'll get back to you as soon as I'm able to. *BEEP*
Rachel: Chief, pick up the phone now.
Patrick: *answers* Sorry about that...I couldn't get to the phone in time...
Rachel: *quietly* Do you know how worried Elita and I have been?
Patrick: ...*quietly* I'm sorry I worried you...but I had to make sure the others were alright...
Rachel: You always have to play the hero. *shaking her head, though she knows he can't see it, and then she's surprised to find that she's crying*
Emilia: *reaching for the phone*
Rachel: *gives it to her and then puts her hand over her face to try and hide the uncharacteristic tears*
Lisa: *Snuggles Rachel as Emilia and Patrick talk for the first time in a very long time*
Rachel: *mostly silent, but her shoulders are shaking with the force of her relief and frustration and worry*
Emilia: ...You're working WHERE?!
Rachel: *wipes her eyes with that hand and looks toward her friend before looking up at Jazz* Where's he working?
Jazz: Library at the college.
Rachel: 0_0
Emilia: All this $&*#^^%$ time and I never saw you ONCE!
Patrick: *apologizing like crazy and trying to explain himself*
Rachel: //With all due respect, chief. You're a slagger.//
Patrick: //...I never thought I'd be called that twice in one night.//
Rachel: //The 'Cons probably use it more than that. *sigh*//
Patrick: //Probably...but I never expected my own teammates to call me that more than once a night...//
Rachel: *silent for a moment, then* //Did you ever see me in there? I've slept there at night....//
Patrick: //Did you ever wake up with a blanket draped over you?//
Rachel: *startles and puts her hand to her mouth again* //Do you know what happened to the shuttle we came down in?//
Patrick: *silence, then* *quietly* //I'm sorry...I think...you were the only survivor...//
Rachel: //I didn't survive either. Jack brought me back somehow.// *leans her face on Lisa's head, feeling tired.* //We found one of the Quintesson's projects that slipped past us back then. She's at my place with Skylar and Pandita.//
Patrick: //...*the sound of something hitting something solid in the background*//
Rachel: //Chief?//
Patrick: //Just....make sure she's comfortable...and that she's safe.//
Rachel: //Skylar exposed himself to defend her. I don't think anything's going to hurt her tonight.//
Patrick: //I've spoken to him.//
Rachel: .... //You were that second shouting call?//
Patrick: //I was.//
Rachel: //Shouting doesn't fix things.// *says it absently* //You know about Bumblebee and the twins?//
Patrick: //...*hopeful tone* How are they?//
Rachel: //They're fine. They landed in that place Merlin was talking about the other day. Bumblebee says an alternate of her helped repair them.//
Patrick: *Relieved-sounding* //As long as they're alright...//
Rachel: //They also said that both the femmes who helped them were large enough to turn into vehicles. In the Bumblebee's case a car, and in the other femme's case some sort of plane. Do you think the Decepticons might try something similar?//
Patrick: //...I don't know...but have Perceptor look into it, and see if such an ability could be adapted for us....or something similar...//
Rachel: //Alright, Chief. *accidentally transmits her yawn* Excuse me.// *then, suddenly daring to hope* //Are Jack, Ironhide, and the others with you?//
Patrick: //...They're not with you?//
Rachel: //No one told you? They've been missing for four days.//
Patrick: //....Put out an alert on secure frequencies...there're some of our people here who haven't met up with you who might be able to locate them if they're anywhere on this planet.//
Rachel: //Alright. I'll do that. *muffled sound of squished yawn*//
Patrick: //Ratchet, get some rest...//
Rachel: //Yes, sir. Ratchet out.// *rubs her face*
Lisa: *moves to help Rachel to her feet* C'mon...I'll make pancakes in the morning...
Patrick: *continues conversation with Emilia*
Rachel: You'll need to make some of your little plaster cakes for Autumn and the twins. *lets Lisa pull her up, and then lets go as she grabs her bag and turns toward the spare room* Good night, everyone.
Lisa: *nods and clicks quietly* Night, Rachel...
Bumblebee: Night, Ratchet...
Jazz and Prowl: *Salute*
Arcee: Night, Rachel...
Rachel: *chuckles and smiles, then walks down the hall and goes to bed*
Lisa: *begins ushering everyone to couches, getting blankets and pillows as she goes*
Rachel: *lays and listens till everything goes quiet, then finally closes her eyes and drops into sleep mode*
*and so the night passes in relative peace*
((co-written with random_xtras))