mbv, Sky and Samuel's apartment and Jack and Rachel's house, Revealing the Truth
Destiny: *boggling at the chaos, and how calm Sky and Sean are*
Firebreak: *snuggling Aunty Destiny and watching the food fight*
Sean: *doing homework at the kitchen table*
Sky: *crosslegged on the couch, one boy baby in the crook of each leg as she rests her plate on them and horks down meatlover's pizza*
Seamus: *losing the fight, and being pelted with hamburger bits*
Ember: *watching and giggling as Papa continues to pelt Uncle Seamus with hamburger bits*
Hotspot: *watching with a worried expression on his face*
Sky: *reaches over and liberates some curly fries*
Destiny: *noise of protest when Samuel and Seamus get a bit too rowdy for her tastes*
Firebreak: *kerchoo!* Thrrrpppt
Samuel: *now has Seamus in a headlock*
Sky: *reaches over and sticks pizza crust down mate's pants*
Samuel: *Yelps*
Seamus: *takes the escape chance he's got, hides under the table*
Destiny: *Hisses at Samuel*
Sean: *doesn't look up* It's okay, Aunty Des.
Sky: *chuckling at mate as she continues to hork pizza... and the rest of the curly fries*
Samuel: *razzes Sky once he's gotten the pizza crust out of his pants, and moves to steal a few curly fries from Destiny's plate, only to get growled at for his efforts*
Hotspot: *Clicks and points at Papa*
Sky: *gently hefts her son up by his overalls and holds him out to his dad*
Samuel: *clicking as he moves to hold Hotspot*
Destiny: *getting up and bringing Firebreak over to Sky*
Sky: *grins and takes her little girl, then clicks and nuzzles her before putting her in the now vacant leg crook and setting the plate on her* Thanks, Des.
Destiny: *nods, before moving to sit near Sean*
Sean: *grins at her without pausing his pen. Yes, he's five lessons ahead again*
Destiny: *Small smile, before she's focusing on her uneaten food and playing with it yet again*
Seamus: *moving to toss a napkin ball at Sky*
Sky: *looks up and frowns at the living room door* That sounds like one of Rachel's little bots out there beeping.
Seamus: ... What would one of those things be doing here? *getting up to answer the door anyways*
Destiny: *attention on the door, eyes wide, body tense*
Fluffy: *looks up from where he's leaning slightly against Moofy. He is dinged, dusty, and currently unable to access his collection of sound bits. Beeps quietly instead*
Destiny: *under the table in a flash*
Sean: *looking toward the door too*
Seamus: ... *quick glance up and down the hallway, before he's moving to pick up the two drones*
Fluffy: *submits to this quietly, though he's a little reluctant to let go of his brother*
Moofy: *fussing and snuggling Fluffy*
Fluffy: *is also glowing softly*
Seamus: *closes the door with his hip and brings the drones over to the only armchair in the apartment* Need me to call Jack or Rachel?
Steeljaw: *coming in from Sean's room, 'talking' up a storm* Mrrrpt maaaowwww mrrrrowwwwww....
Fluffy: *tired, silent nod*
Sean: *closes his book and turns to look at the Cassette-bot* ...What happened?
Steeljaw: *climbs onto the arm of the armchair and gently nuzzles Fluffy*
Seamus: *cellphone out, and dialing Rachel's number*
Fluffy: *not even smacking Steeljaw*
Destiny: *wide-eyed, and a slightly distant look on her face now* Brought out... yes?
Sky: *giving her eldest son a Look for asking that question, but then looks at Destiny* Huh?
Fluffy: *another tired nod*
Simon: //Rachel's house of sweet repose. She Rachel busy getting him Greg's hand out of toilet, but me Simon can take message.//
Seamus: *blink blink* Er... is Jack there?
Destiny: *quietly, as she sits with her knees drawn to her chest* Brought hurting one out of bad place...
Simon: //Him here. JAAACCCCK!//
Seamus: *winces and holds the phone away from his ear*
Sean: *settles down to snuggle Destiny*
Fluffy: *suddenly REALLY glowing in response to that yell!*
Sky: Slag, he is carrying a spark.
Jack: //Who's calling, Simon?//
Seamus: ... *gives Fluffy a "WTS?!" look*
Simon: //Him dork with broken record.//
Seamus: Hey, I fixed that record. It plays just fine now. *slight scowl*
Jack: *chuckling* //May I have the phone, Simon?//
Simon: //You can have.// *gives and goes to watch Rachel try and get his brother's fist out of the toilet drain*
Jack: *chuckling still* //Kids... gotta love 'em... Alright, Seamus, who hit whom and made them bleed?//
Bert: *in the background* //What is this sudden toilet fixation? At least it's not Bubba again//
Seamus: Nobody hit anybody, but you'd better come get your cat and his two friends.
Jack: //... *sounds like he's running with the phone* Rachel, they're back!//
Rachel: *background* //Huh? Who's back, sport? Greg, slaggit, HOLD STILL.//
Jack: //Fluffy, Steeljaw, and Moofy. They're at Sky and Samuel's apartment.//
Greg: *whining*
Bert: //Wow! *sound of slipping and landing on his butt* What?//
Rachel: //...What are they doing there??? *phone is jostled and then her voice comes clearly* Samuel?//
Seamus: Wrong twin. Samuel's got his hands full with one of the boys, and your cat and his friends are in the armchair.
Rachel: //How... they aren't supposed to.... Where's TC? How did they get there? Jack, we need the... oh slag... Greg....//
Fluffy: *sticks one small thumb up*
Seamus: I think TC's skyward... either that, or he's on the roof...
Fluffy: *shakes his head and sticks his thumb up*
Samuel: *reaching to bap Seamus* I think they hitchiked, Rachel.
Seamus: *Calls Samuel a rude name over comms, and does it in the code, to boot!*
Rachel: //Hitch....!//
Bert: *background* //Got it! Go ahead, Rachel. I'll take care of Greg.//
Rachel: //Jack, I need a ride.//
Jack: //I'll go get the keys.//
Rachel: //Was that Klingon I just heard over the com?//
Samuel: *calling Seamus a ruder name in Klingon*
Rachel: //Yup. It was.//
Jack: //*cracking up, even as he jingles the keys*//
Destiny: *ducks her head against Sean*
Rachel: //We'll be right there.//
Sky: Tell them to bring something for the spark!
Rachel: //...What?//
Jack: //Spark?//
Seamus: Oh yeah... forgot to mention that... one of the little guys has an extra hitchiker with him... apparently, Des knows who it is.
Rachel: //Who? Seamus, I need information.//
Seamus: Des said it was the 'hurting one'... and that's all she's said about it so far.
Sean: That's Ironfist, Uncle Seamus.
Seamus: *nod* What Sean said.
Rachel: //We'll be right there. *sound of phone being dropped and stuff being shuffled. Greg bellowing somewhere in the background and Bert bellowing right back as Sarah admonishes them not to fight* Rachel out.//
Seamus: Seamus out. *hangs up and goes to get something to clean the dusty drones off with*
Fluffy: *laying down now, his back against Steeljaw as he stares absently out the living room window*
Sky: Streaker, get the curtains?
Samuel: *nods and goes to close the curtains*
Sky: I just talked to TC. He says a bunch of guys came in big SUVs and took Hound and Ironfist's shells two days ago, and that he's been trying to get in contact with the ground team since then.
Samuel: ... *bites his lower lip, hard*
Sky: Should we report to the commander?
Samuel: *nods* He'll want to know about this.
Sky: *looks at him* ...Me?
Samuel: *nods*
Sky: *sighs and reaches for the phone, because her own is somewhere inside the couch again*
Seamus: *hands Sky the phone*
Sky: *dials Patrick's number*
Destiny: *quietly moving closer to the drones in the meantime*
Patrick: *answers on the ring just before his phone would go to voicemail, sounds a bit rushed* //Patrick here.//
Sky: The ground team's here... *still not sure what to call the guy* ...Patrick.
Patrick: //*sounding a bit too calm* I know. I just got done talking to Rachel. *and that's why*//
Sky: Oh. Uh... sorry for bugging you. Sky out.
Patrick: //Take care of Ironfist until Rachel and Jack get there. Patrick out.//
Sky: Yessir. *hangs up and hands the phone back to Seamus*
Seamus: Maybe we should let Javan know too... I mean... the girl he likes is here...
Samuel: *reaches and baps Seamus again* Are you defective? That's a crappy idea!
Seamus: *rubbing where he got bapped, goes off to sulk*
Destiny: *oblivious, quietly singing to Fluffy, Moofy, and Steeljaw*
Fluffy: *looks like he's sleeping, and the glow has settled down so that it barely shows*
Sky: Okay. *looks at her mate and sets her plate aside so that she can hold her babies close* Now what?
Firebreak: *nomma crust*
Sean: *sitting by Destiny*
Samuel: We wait for Jack and Rachel... *glances at Destiny*
Sky: Is this going to bring heat here?
Fluffy: *rude hand sign, which is hard to do with his bitty hand and fewer fingers*
Steeljaw: Noooooooooo.... *sticks tongue out at Sky*
Sky: *looks at the cat* Are you sure?
Steeljaw: *Pleased tailswish*
Moofy: *quiet deedle*
Sky: *glances at Samuel to see what he thinks of the cat and the drones' word*
Samuel: If this does, I'm doing like Skylar keeps threatening, and turning you all into tribbles.
Fluffy: *hand sign again, but then beeps softly and curls up a bit*
Moofy: *deedles and snuggles Fluffy*
Destiny: *gentle hand on Fluffy, talking in dis-jointed Cybertronian, offering reassurances*
Fluffy: *just rests*
Sky: *looks up suddenly* Seamus is being too quiet.
Sean: *blinks and realizes there is no sulking music playing*
Samuel: ...Aww, crap. *offers Sky Hotspot*
Sky: *takes and snugs him between his sister and brother*
Samuel: *hurrying to check on sibling, comes back after a few moments, cursing in Klingon*
Destiny: *attention on Samuel now*
Sky: What did he do? *tense and holding fussy babies because of it*
Samuel: That idiot... probably went to go talk to Javan and tell him about Ironfist. *Scowling*
Sky: *closes eyes and tips head back with frustration* You are dorks.
Samuel: *grumbles something about getting his brother a girlfriend to keep him out of trouble for more than five minutes*
Sky: You're all dorks. You would have done the same thing if you didn't think Javan was too drunk to drive here.
Samuel: And risk Petra and Alice kicking my butt? No way.
Sky: *mutters 'dork' and looks down at her babies*
Seamus: *now blaring 'Numb' from his speakers*
Destiny: o_o *hiding her head against Sean again*
Sean: *cuddling her and clicking*
Rachel: *knocking on the door of the apartment*
Samuel: *goes to answer the door, while Destiny hides against Sean even more, and Moofy perks up a little*
Rachel: *limps inside* Help Jack with the box, quick. *scans the room and heads for the chair* Fluffy? Moofy?
Fluffy: *quiet beep. The spark is flaring again*
Moofy: *Quiet deedle*
Samuel: *nods and helps Jack carry the large box inside the apartment*
Destiny: *peeking at Rachel with one eye* Help hurting one?
Rachel: *quietly* I'm gonna try. *presses her lips together a bit* But I'm going to have to disable her protoform at first, so she can't hurt herself, okay?
Destiny: *slight wibble followed by a small nod, hides her face against Sean again*
Rachel: *looks at the floor and then picks up the drones* Steeljaw, quick, eat all that food off the carpet.
Steeljaw: *proceeds to do so, smug and happy kitty grin on his face*
Jack: *getting things set up with Samuel's help*
Rachel: *once the carpet's clear enough she tells them to put the protoform and its limbs on the floor and then quickly puts all the parts together*
Fluffy: *set down beside her, he sits and watches silently*
Jack: *gently shoves Samuel towards the door, with a murmur of "Keep guard for us."*
Moofy: *very quiet deedle, knows something's going on*
Rachel: *finishes with the limbs and makes sure the tank's full of good calcien rich sweet energon, then gently picks Fluffy up and holds him close for a moment before she turns him off and starts taking him apart*
Sky: ...Does he have to die?
Destiny: *intakes air sharply, and hides against Sean more, shaking slightly*
Jack: He's not going to die. We're just getting to the spark, and once it's in the protoform we'll put him back together again, and he'll be just fine.
Rachel: *biting her lip to keep from crying anyway, especially when she has to take Fluffy to bits before she finally gets the spark in her hands. Scans this and frowns, then gently puts it into the new body and watches while systems kick in and start running*
Jack: *clicking quietly and getting tools out to rebuild Fluffy*
Moofy: *gently nudges Rachel and deedles quietly. Brother will be okay, yes?*
Rachel: *gentle hand on Moofy, but her eyes stay on the spark*
Sky: *frowning*
Destiny: *peeking again*
Rachel: *head goes up* Jack, here get Fluffy quick before Javan gets in here and steps on his parts.
Jack: *quiet curse in a long-dead language, quickly gathers up the pieces of Fluffy's body and moves to the kitchen table with everything*
Steeljaw: *annoyed tailswish*
Rachel: Who called him? *looks at Samuel*
Sky: The dork in there playing 'Numb'.
Rachel: *face. palm*
Destiny: *hesitantly edging closer to the protoform, talking quietly to herself as she does*
Rachel: *pats her* Sky, please take the kids and Destiny to your bedroom?
Sky: *suddenly on full alert as she calls her older baby and gets up to obey*
Sean: Aunty Des? *offering hand*
Destiny: *blink blink, grabs Sean's hand*
Sean: *leads her away after Sky*
Samuel: Should I try to slow Javan down?
Rachel: Samuel, make sure that door's not locked when Javan gets to it.
Samuel: ... guess that answers that question... *makes sure the door's unlocked*
Jack: *working on assembling the remaining pieces of Fluffy and putting them where they belong*
Rachel: *looks at Samuel* And keep yourself out of his way.
Samuel: *nods and goes to keep an optic on his family*
Moofy: *deedles and hides behind Rachel when Javan finally makes it to the apartment door*
Rachel: *takes her drone baby and stuffs him in her shirt, then gets ready to crawl out of the way herself if she has to. She's seen Jazz when he was under too much stress before*
Javan: *manages to get the door open, looking very disheveled* Where's she at?
Rachel: *calm* Right here.
Ironfist: *chest still open, and she's not marked her protoform or anything yet*
Javan: *takes a hitched breath, and makes his wobbly way over to Ironfist*
Rachel: *closes the unconscious femme's chest*
Javan: *kneels and moves to gently lift Ironfist and hold her close, talking quietly in Cybertronian and apologizing*
Rachel: *glances toward Jack, and then turns back to Javan* Jack... get the door?
Jack: *nods and goes to close the door, before returning to the table to finish work on Fluffy*
Ironfist: *silent and still but for the soft whir of necessary systems*
Rachel: *takes out her phone and calls Petra*
Petra: *answering and sounding quite peeved* //Petra Morimoto speaking.//
Rachel: Rachel here. What happened over there?
Petra: *irritated* //Seamus called, and when I went to get Javan something to drink from the fridge in the basement, he locked me down here! *pauses, listening to soft thumps upstairs* And I think Alice is locked in the bathroom.//
Rachel: I'm at Samuel and Sky's now. Javan's here, and he's safe.
Petra: //Good. I'm going to make him not so safe when he gets back home. I think he found a way to lock Rewind and Eject somewhere as well... // *ticked Asian Woman is ticked!*
Rachel: *quietly* Do you know why Seamus called?
Petra: //Something about Ironfist. Javan looked like he'd seen a ghost.//
Rachel: Fluffy brought her back. She's here. I'm not sure what condition she's in mentally yet. But she's here.
Petra: //...*transformation sounds* I'll work on getting out of the basement.//
Rachel: Be careful, alright, buddy?
Prowl: //Always. Stay safe, Rachel. Prowl out.//
Rachel: Rachel out. *shuts phone and looks at Javan*
Javan: *gently smoothing Ironfist's helm, and talking quietly to her*
Rachel: *quietly* Javan, can you hear me, buddy?
Javan: *looks up, his eyes clearly showing how much pain he's in right now, and just how little sleep he's gotten lately*
Rachel: *gently* I need to look at Ironfist's spark. Can I do that?
Fluffy: *very quietly, but with feeling from behind them* @#$#@#@!
Javan: *wibbles, before nodding*
Rachel: Will you lay her down for me?
Javan: *nods and very carefully does so*
Rachel: *carefully reopens the panel and starts scanning, her expression grave as she sees the damage to that spark and the instability flashing across it*
Javan: *biting his lower lip*
Ironfist: *soft whine and her face starts to show*
Rachel: *swiftly mutes the femme's vocalizer*
Javan: *giving Ratchet a "WTS?!" look*
Ironfist: *optics snap on and then she'd be raising #$#@$#@ if she could. There is nothing sane in her expression*
Rachel: *winces and looks back at Javan as she closes the other femme's chest again* I'm sorry.
Javan: *slowly breathing in as what he's seeing really hits him, and then he's pinching the bridge of his nose and trying not to cry*
Rachel: *shaking* *very softly* They broke her. *tears escape unnoticed*
Jack: *looking ill now, and moving to hug Rachel*
Javan: *shaking with a mix of grief and anger*
Rachel: *leans back against Jack and wraps her arms around his* Javan... try letting her see you. Maybe.... *squares her jaw and fights back the tears*
Fluffy: *crawls into the garbage can and shuts the lid*
Javan: *small nod, and then he's transforming*
Ironfist: *optics flicker as the trashcan lid flips shut and then widen when she sees Javan. Snarls at him, though now her expression holds confusion and anger instead of terror and blind rage. It's another bot. Bots don't hurt her*
Jazz: *clicks quietly and talks to Ironfist, his accent marking his words slightly* [Easy, Ironfist... d' you remember me?]
Ironfist: *once more snarling as the fear returns to her face. The bots don't talk... what is this?*
Jazz: *clicks again, and brings an energon treat out of his subspace* [Shhhhh....] *even though he's wibbling, he slowly holds the treat up where Ironfist can see it*
Ironfist: *snarl becomes absent as she sniffs and eyes him*
Rachel: *quietly* How well did you two know each other on Cybertron?
Jazz: *quietly* Spent some time t'gether... She fancied Prowl more 'n me...
Rachel: So she should have recognized you if she's going to. *hand rubs her face as she thinks*
Jazz: *looks crestfallen at that*
Jack: *quietly* Would she recognize Sharpshot, I wonder?
Rachel: *then pulling the wire from her wrist* Maybe. But let me try something.
Jack: *frowns at the wire, but nods*
Jazz: *wibble* what're y'u gonna do?
Rachel: Direct link. If she's in there I should be able to find her. *gets Ironfist's hand and uncovers the port on her wrist* Not that there's much data in her processor right now. She'll be running on spark memory.
Jazz: *wibbles again and nods*
Rachel: *prays hard for a moment, and then plugs herself in* *and would have screamed out loud if she hadn't muted her own vocalizer. The pain and loss of sensations that the other femme remembers is excruciating, and suddenly Rachel's flailing as she flashes back clearly to being pinned in the flaming shuttle as it burned*
Ironfist: *face twists with agony*
Jack: *reaching to disconnect Rachel and Ironfist, calling Rachel's name repeatedly*
Jazz: *alarmed trill, reaching to try to calm Ironfist down*
Rachel: *eyes go wide and then slip shut as her body goes into shock from the memories*
Jack: *curses, transforming and plugging his own link wire into the port on Rachel's wrist* -Ratchet!-
Ironfist: *circulating air raggedly and shaking despite her motor control being shut down*
Rachel: *locked in the memory of the shuttle*
Wheeljack: *trying to get through to Rachel, calling her name and trying to push back the memory of the shuttle*
Jazz: *Clicking quietly and gently smoothing Ironfist's helm again*
Rachel: *systems fading as she listens for the voices of her crewmates and for a far off song that sometimes hovers on the edge of her dreams. But then she jolts as that living voice reaches her.* -Nnnn no. Memory.... Memory-
Wheeljack: *would love to sag in relief, settles for holding Rachel close* -I've got you, Ratchet.-
Rachel: *weak groan* -Tortured her. Shut her in a body with no sensor net.- *shares the pain and sensory deprivation* -She finally learned to possess the thing and could see a little.- *flinches and starts shaking uncontrollably*
Wheeljack: *sharp intake of air, holds Rachel even closer and rubs her back*
Rachel: *tears shine in the light* -They killed them both, Jack. Killed them both.-
Ironfist: *blinking as she realizes that what Jazz is doing is causing something to happen to her. She's feeling his hand, but she can't remember what feel is*
Wheeljack: *clicks quietly* -W...what... should we do?-
Jazz: *talking quietly to Ironfist, looks up when Destiny peeks out of the hall*
Rachel: I don't know. I fix bodies. I don't know what to do with sparks.
Wheeljack: *glumly* Showtime would know what to do... maybe...
Rachel: But she's not here.
Wheeljack: *About to respond, when there's a knock at the door*
Rachel: $@#%@! *trying to sit up* Jazz, get Ironfist out of here. Bring her to the bedrooms. Hurry!
Destiny: *wibbles and gets out of the way, while Wheeljack transforms*
Rachel: Destiny, get Samuel. *staggers to her feet and leans heavily on the couch arm, then takes Moofy and sticks him under the pillow in the corner of the couch*
Destiny: *soft sound of confusion, before she goes to find Samuel*
Jack: *up and putting things away as whoever is at the door knocks again*
Rachel: *turns and takes the few steps from the end of the couch to the front door, kicks the draft snake out of the way, and peeks through the peek hole*
Red-haired woman: *waiting patiently for the door to open*
Rachel: Ah... hello? *talking through the door*
Rhw: *perks* Hey! *quick glance up and down the hallway* Patrick asked me to come to this address...
Rachel: Patrick who?
Rhw: Oberson...*giving the door a Look* Name's Serenity...
Rachel: .... *says one of the codewords that have been tossed around lately. It's in Vulcan*
Serenity: *says the Klingon word for "Honor"*
Rachel: *fumbles slightly as she unlocks the locks, then leans against the wall after opening the door*
Serenity: *comes in, frowning slightly* Are you alright?
Rachel: *motions to her to move so that she can shut the door, then loses her balance and headbutts it as she tries to put the snake back*
Serenity: *curses in Klingon and helps Jack get Rachel to the couch, then she puts the draft snake back into place*
Rachel: *scans her and then chuckles quietly* Speak of the devil.
Serenity: ...Do I want to know?
Rachel: We were just talking about you, Showtime.
Serenity: *slight rolling of her eyes* Better not have been dissing on me...
Rachel: *phone out* Samuel, did you die or something?
Destiny: *peeking out of the hall again* Sleepin'...
Sky: //He's asleep. Is it all clear?//
Rachel: Asleep? *facepalm and nods to Destiny, then says to Sky* Will you tell Javan it's safe to bring Ironfist back out?
Sky: //Sure.//
Rachel: Thanks. Rachel out. *shuts phone and looks back to Serenity*
Moofy: *reminds Rachel he's there by deedling...LOUDLY*
Destiny: *Freezes*
Rachel: Whoops! *leans forward and reaches behind the pillow to bring the little drone out*
Serenity: *blink blink* Is that a sparklet?
Jack: *headshake, moves to settle next to Rachel*
Destiny: *giving Moofy a wary look, even as Jazz carries Ironfist back to the living room*
Rachel: This is Moofy. He's a drone. His brother Fluffy's hiding in the kitchen trash can.
Fluffy: Thrrrrpt.
Ironfist: *laying quietly, just feeling things*
Moofy: *Deedles, earning a flinch and whimper from Destiny*
Serenity: *nods, before her attention goes to the Asian woman in the hallway*
Rachel: Shhh, Destiny. Moofy won't hurt you. *reaches a hand over the arm of the couch toward her*
Destiny: *quietly* Name not Destiny... name Sharpshot...
Rachel: I know. *hand still out*
Destiny: *wibbles, and then darts over to Rachel, giving Serenity more than enough room as she goes*
Rachel: *takes the troubled femme's hand and squeezes it gently, then urges her to sit by the end of the couch near her*
Destiny: *Eyeing Moofy with a mix of fear and uncertainty*
Serenity: *lips drawn thin as she watches, before her attention is on Jazz and Ironfist*
Jazz: *clicking and talking quietly to Ironfist, and paying Serenity no mind*
Rachel: *gently squeezes Destiny's hand* So what brings you here, Serenity?
Serenity: Patrick told me about Sharpshot... and asked if I'd give an official assessment...
Ironfist: *starting to make a thin, keening whine. Her expression says she'd be struggling and yelling if she could*
Rachel: *looks toward her, frowning* Well it's been a weird few hours. I'm not sure you can make a good one now.
Serenity: *small nod* I kinda figured, seeing how crazy things have been today... I was helping Patrick and his new roommate move things earlier...
Jazz: *carefully breaking the energon treat into small, bite-sized pieces and trying to entice Ironfist with one of the pieces*
Rachel: Remember, Jazz. She can't move on her own right now. How's Joe doing?
Jazz: *makes a face at Rachel*
Serenity: *small smirk* Well, once Patrick, Felicity, Susana, Scarlett, Sabrina, Alicia, and I got him away from Lisa, Emilia, and Mia, he didn't look so overwhelmed...
Rachel: *pauses and then puts her face on Jack since her hands are full*
Serenity: The poor guy kept getting his hair mussed up...
Jack: *clicks quietly and gently rubs Rachel's back*
Rachel: I thought Emi and Mia would know better!
Serenity: Well, blame Lisa. She's the one that got them started... but Mia was too busy laughing to stay standing...
Destiny: *hesitantly leans on Rachel a little, regarding Serenity with caution*
Rachel: That poor kid. *sighs and gently takes her hand from Destiny's to use it to smooth the younger femme's hair* I guess we should get Ironfist home and stop taking over Samuel and Sky's place.
Jazz: *quietly* I got room in th' Solstice....
Rachel: *looks at him* Do you want to come too? Alex is still hanging around in the basement.
Jazz: *quiet* gotta keep 'n optic on Ironfist...
Rachel: *glances at Jack to see what he says*
Jack: *nods and leans to whisper to Rachel* We'll be able to keep an eye on him if he's at the house.
Rachel: And looking at him I kinda think he needs it. Jazz, there's room in our car.
Jazz: But... my car...
Serenity: I've got a driver's license, and a clean record. I'll follow you.
Rachel: *to Jazz* You can keep a better eye on Ironfist if you're riding.
Jazz: *slight wibble, before he nods and hands Serenity the keys to his car*
Rachel: Steeljaw, do you want to ride in the Solstice?
Steeljaw: *pads over and gently headbutts Rachel's leg, before going over to Serenity and getting picked up*
Rachel: Fluffy, are you staying in there?
Fluffy: *crawls out of the empty trash can and wanders over wearily*
Moofy: *Deedles at Fluffy, and wiggles to be let down so he can hug his brother*
Destiny: *Tenses*
Rachel: *lets Moofy go* Shhhh, Destiny. They're just babies.
Moofy: *hugs Fluffy and moves to lead him to the big box*
Destiny: *biting her lower lip and breathing quicker than normal*
Fluffy: *goes with Moofy. Too tired to cut up*
Rachel: *both hands free, she now leans over the arm of the couch and offers Destiny a hug*
Destiny: *slight flinch, before she's shaking and leaning against Rachel with her ear pressed to the older femme's chest*
Rachel: *soft clickings like she gives her little ones as she strokes Destiny's hair*
Destiny: *wibbles, and then she's clicking back and hesitantly reaching to put her arms around Rachel*
Rachel: *shifting and moving on the couch, nudging Jack over so that Destiny's sitting by her. And all the while the gentle clickings continue*
Jack: *gets up and checks to make sure Fluffy and Moofy are comfortable in the box*
Destiny: *clicking and after a few more moments of this, she's lifting her head to look at Rachel* [Want to come with...]
Rachel: *looks back at her seriously* The drones live with me. And so do their sister and brother.
Sky: *comes wandering in with Sean's head under her arm as he laughs softly and squirms*
Destiny: *bites her lower lip* [Need... repairs...]
Rachel: You won't be too scared? My kids are loud, too.
Destiny: *headshake*
Rachel: Jack?
Jack: *doing a quick headcount* Some of us are going to have to ride in the Solstice...
Rachel: I'd like to keep an eye on Ironfist. *looks at Destiny to see what she'll say about riding*
Sky: ...Des leaving?
Destiny: *quiet, hunching in on herself a little as she looks at Sky* Need help...
Sky: *lets Sean go* Okay. *slight grin* Want me to grab your stuff?
Destiny: *headshake* Will come back...
Sky: Okay. *goes to look at her pizza and resume eating, shooting Serenity quizzical looks as she does*
Sean: *close by his mom as he too looks at the redhead* Hi....
Rachel: *trying to get off the couch, and it's not working*
Serenity: *tucks the keys to Jazz's car into her pocket, before holding her hand out for a handshake* Serenity Heineman.
Destiny: *clicks quietly and moves to get up off the couch*
Sean: *shakes hand, his own thin but strong* Sean Robinson. And this is my mom. Sky.
Sky: Murrph
Serenity: It's nice to meet you, Sean. *nods to Sky, her eyes twinkling a bit* Been keeping my old classmates out of trouble, I take it?
Sky: *pauses and swallows her mouthful* Classmate?
Serenity: *about to answer, when she's pelted with napkin balls, courtesy of Seamus. Then it's ON, and the two are pelting one another with napkin ball after napkin ball*
Seamus: *Grinning wickedly* I wondered when you'd show your sorry face, Show!
Sky: ...Showtime.
Rachel: *busy getting everyone other than Serenity ready to go, once Sean's pried her off the couch*
Serenity: *slight nod, giving Sky a studious look while she fends off napkin balls*
Sky: *snags Seamus by the back of the shirt and yanks him close* Is she your sister?
Seamus: *makes a "Gerk!" sound when he's yanked by his shirt, gives Sky a Look* We went to the Academy together, and ran a few missions together.
Serenity: Is Bumblebee alright?
Sky: That's it? No bonds?
Rachel: Bumblebee's fine. She takes care of my kids while I'm in school. Jazz, let me get Ironfist wrapped up.
Seamus: *slight eye roll* Please. The only reason she was on those missions with Sunny and me was because she was ordered to accompany us.
Serenity: *relaxes, smiling* Good.
Jazz: *reluctantly lets Rachel get Ironfist wrapped up*
Sky: *turns and gives Serenity a STINK EYE*
Rachel: *glances over and winces* Serenity, you wanna give me a hand?
Serenity: *Blink blink at Sky, before she's going over to help Rachel*
Rachel: That's a recently delivered Seeker femme. Don't mess around.
Serenity: ... *works on whatever Rachel tells her to*
Jack and Rachel's. Half hour later
Rachel: *tries to walk toward the house with the outside light. Fails* Ooof!
Jack: *being clung to by Destiny, but manages to get to Rachel to help her up*
Simon: *not in bed, though is in... Jack's pyjamas... and now on the doorstep* Me Simon help?
Jack: *looks up from helping Rachel, amused chuckle as he nods*
Rachel: What's funny? *trying to figure out her legs and wondering what is touching her since she can't see the new snow coming down*
Jack: Simon's got my snowflake pajamas on.
Destiny: *making a puzzled sound as the new snow falls on her*
Rachel: Oh boy. Did he button them? And is that snow I'm feeling?
Simon: *coming down the steps in his bare feet and holding out his hands in offer to help*
Jack: Nope... and yep. *nudging Destiny towards Simon* Simon, take Destiny and go back inside. She's a bit scared right now...
Sarah: *peeking out the front door* Mama okay?
Rachel: Mama's fine, sweet girl. *small sound of surprise as she feels Destiny lifted away from her and Jack*
Simon: *has picked Destiny up and is talking to her softly as he brings her inside*
Sarah: *attention going to Javan, Serenity, and the blanket-wrapped Ironfist* Who that?
Simon: *turns and looks* That him Javan, lady with red hair, and... uh... dead person?
Rachel: No one's dead, Simon. Go on in.
Simon: Okay, Rachel. *goes in*
Sarah: *Frown* Mama need help?
Rachel: Daddy's helping me, Sarah. Where are Uncle Bert and Uncle Alex?
Sarah: Uncle Bert arguing with him Greg, and Uncle Alex... *looks over shoulder* Coming up basement steps.
Rachel: What's he arguing with Greg about? Are we nearly there, Jack?
Sarah: Whether him Greg wash face or not.
Jack: Just about there... one more step
Rachel: *nods to Jack* Sarah, please go tell Greg that I'm home, and that I want him to wash his face?
Sarah: Okay! ^_^ *hurries off to do so*
Rachel: *steps onto the bottom step* You alright there, Javan?
Javan: *quietly* Y-yeah... *mutter* When I find th' glitches responsible...
Serenity: Save it for when we know who we're up against.
Rachel: *up the steps and into the living room, where she looks around for Alex, Simon, Destiny, and drones*
Simon: *has put Destiny on the couch with a pillow and is now showing her two blankets to choose from*
Lyra: *beetles over quietly, remembers what happened the last time she got noisy around Destiny*
Destiny: *chooses a blanket after quietly thanking Simon*
Simon: *tucks blanket around her*
Alex: *Wrapped in a blanket of his own, looks a lot better than he has in recent days*
Rachel: *stoops to pick Lyra up and cuddle her, then walks over to put a hand on her younger brother's cheek*
Alex: *raised brow, but allows this. He feels only slightly warmer than normal, which is more than likely due to his climbing the stairs in a hurry*
Rachel: *smiles and scans him for bad code*
Alex: *no trace of the virus that had him down and out for a few days, but is showing slight system strain, which will fade with rest*
Rachel: *chuckle* Go home, I need the guest bed.
Alex: *grins and then wraps Rachel with the blanket he was wrapped in*
Rachel: Want me to call Mia to come get you? *grinning too*
Alex: Naw... Ah c'n call 'er. *smiles and gets his cellphone out, before heading for the kitchen to talk to his girlfriend*
Serenity: Where do you want us to set her down at?
Rachel: *goes over and cleans all the stuffed animals off the hospital bed behind the TV* Put her here.
Javan and Serenity: *moving carefully, gently lay Ironfist down on the hospital bed*
Rachel: *sets Lyra down in the pile of plush and asks her to put them somewhere nice, then comes back to... scan Javan*
Steeljaw: *backing into the living room slowly, a towel that was in one of the cars grasped firmly in his teeth*
Lyra: *almost inaudiable deedle as she grabs some of the stuffed animals and proceeds to carry them off to Sarah's room*
Javan: *running near empty, with stressed systems showing a clear lack of recharge*
Rachel: *hand up to Javan's shoulder and remotely triggers sleep mode
Javan: *drops like a sack of potatoes*
Serenity: *boggles*
Jack: *going to see what Steeljaw's got on the towel*
Rachel: *Calmly* Serenity, will you help me get Javan up here beside Ironfist?
Serenity: *nods, still boggling*
Jack: *bending to pick up Fluffy and Moofy*
Rachel: *tries to help get Javan up, but winds up butt-planting on the floor* Oof.
Serenity: *frown* It's safe to transform here, right?
Rachel: *glances at the curtained windows* Yup.
Serenity: Alright. *transforms, losing a few inches of height without her boots. Then she's trying to lift Javan off the floor on her own*
Alex: *coming back, pauses, shakes his head, and lifts Javan without too much difficulty*
Showtime: ...Show-off. *scowls*
Rachel: Thanks, 'Hide. Um, take his shoes off? *raises brows*
Alex: Where d' ya want 'im?
Rachel: Beside Ironfist, buddy. *tries to get up, using her hands to move her legs into place*
Alex: *to Showtime* Help Ratchet. *carries Javan over to the bed and sets him down next to Ironfist, before removing the sleeping man's shoes*
Showtime: ... *boggling again*
Rachel: *looks up at the silence and lack of motion from Showtime* What?
Showtime: ...*quietly* Prime didn't say I'd be working with you, Ratchet...
Rachel: *brows up* Is that going to make a difference?
Showtime: N-no... I... I just wasn't expecting to meet you so soon after arriving on Earth...
Rachel: *slight smile and holds out her hand* Just help me off the floor, okay?
Showtime: *nods and moves to do so, being careful in her movements*
Rachel: *glances at Destiny to see how she's doing as she takes Showtime's hand*
Destiny: *curled up in the blanket, watching with a sleepy expression*
Rachel: *turns back to Showtime* I'm not going to break. *takes hand and gets up with a bit of wobbling and a grab at the hospital bed with her free hand* Thanks.
Showtime: *sheepish murmur, before she's bending to pick Steeljaw up once the massive cat has been relieved of Drone Transport duty by Jack*
Rachel: *checks her patients on the bed and is satisfied that both of them are in normal sleep mode. Turns and goes to Destiny, limping slightly* Do you want me to show you where you can sleep?
Destiny: Am fine on couch... sleep on couch at Sky's.
Rachel: But we have a guest room. You can shut the door and keep Lyra and her brothers out.
Destiny: *shakes head* Can get away from beeping if route is open.
Rachel: *pauses* Is that what bothers you about them?
Destiny: *ducking down a bit, nods* Couldn't get away from beeping and hurt in bad place...
Rachel: *settles to sit by the younger femme, offering her a hug* These guys will never hurt you.
Destiny: *slight wibble, before she nods and leans against Rachel again*
Showtime: *frowning and scritching an oddly silent Steeljaw*
Rachel: *hugging Destiny and turning her head to look at Lyra. Very slight head jerk to let the drone know she'd like her to come over*
Lyra: *Beetles over, carrying the stuffed bunny that Sarah named "Mr. Floppy-ears"*
Rachel: *quietly* Destiny, if she doesn't beep do you think you'd like to meet my Lyra?
Destiny: *small frown, before she's nodding* Name not Destiny though...
Rachel: Sharpshot?
Sharpshot: *nod nod* Samuel say need human name, but keeps calling self Destiny...
Rachel: *taking one hand from her to hold it out to Lyra* Would you like a different human name?
Sharpshot: *nods as Lyra quickly latches onto Rachel's hand*
Rachel: *lifts Lyra up and adds she and the stuffed bunny to the hug. Thinking about names and then pauses as she hears Sarah and Simon playing their favorite youtube music video* Do you like 'Sora'?
Sharpshot: *small smile, nod nod* is pretty... means "sky" in Japanese...
Rachel: Really? *grins herself* That is nice. Isn't it, Lyra?
Lyra: *plays a snippet of one of the songs Simon and Sara like*
Rachel: I think we all wanna boycott hell. *chuckle and leans back just a bit to look at Sora* *quietly* Did you know Hound?
Sora: ...*small nod* *quietly* Was nice mech...
Rachel: *sigh* Yeah, he was. *hugs again, Lyra and the bunny between them*
Sora: *shutting her eyes and biting her lip*
Rachel: *softly* Shhhhh.
Sora: *clicking quietly and shaking a bit as she remembers the kind mech she met during her time in the bad place*
Rachel: *rocking a bit, her hand on the young femme's back in a comforting way*
Sora: *ducks her head and tries to hide her tears*
Rachel: *quietly* It's alright to cry. I've done a lot of it.
Sora: *shoulders shake as she weeps in near silence*
Showtime: *expression grim as she brings Steeljaw over and pings Rachel's comm* //She should be making more noise than that...//
Rachel: *glances at her as she starts to rub Sora's back* Has Patrick mentioned our com code?
Showtime: *headshake, frowning*
Rachel: Ask Jack.
Showtime: *goes to find Jack, and soon the two are discussing the com codes, while Jack tucks Fluffy and Moofy into a nest of blankets in the room he and Rachel share*
Rachel: *rocks Sora and listens to the Dinobots talking in Sarah's room. Bert's gruff tones rise up occasionally as he gives opinions on the pictures in the book they're looking at*
Sora: *hesitantly reaches to grab a small handful of Rachel's shirt*
Rachel: *clicks softly, talking to Sora as though she were one of Rachel's own sparklets*
Sora: *slowly lifts her head to peek at Rachel after a few moments. There's a different sort of light in her eyes now, and her expression is one of slight confusion*
Rachel: *softly* Destiny?
Destiny: *nods* Where... am I?
Rachel: You're at my and Jack's house. You've come to visit.
Destiny: *frown* I... don't remember....
Rachel: Have you had times when you were somewhere and couldn't remember going there before?
Destiny: *small nod*
Rachel: *very gently* I found Sharpshot.
Destiny: *wide-eyed, and then she's trying to get up* Where?! Is she hurt? Is she alright?
Rachel: Wait. *holds onto her* Slow down. Just sit still. We're going to drop Lyra.
Lyra: *wiggling and trying to get to the arm of the couch*
Destiny: *attention on Lyra now, and then she's frowning again*
Rachel: *calm and quiet* Destiny, look at me.
Destiny: *looks at Rachel*
Rachel: Sharpshot is safe. She just chose a human name. But she's a little frightened. It was her idea for you to come and visit tonight.
Destiny: Where is she?
Rachel: Promise you won't be scared if I tell you?
Destiny: *nods* I have to protect Sharpshot...
Rachel: She's right here. *gently taps Destiny's forehead*
Destiny: ...*blink blink*... I... I don't understand...
Rachel: *gently* She's inside your mind.
Destiny: ...*swallows audiably, and then she nearly jumps out of her skin when Bubba beeps sleepily from under the couch*
Rachel: Shhhh, Bubba. Don't worry, he won't hurt you. *thinks about that* On purpose.
Lyra: *climbs down and under the couch to snuggle her brother*
Destiny: *breathing quicker than normal* Is... Is Sharpshot... is she... going to be okay?
Rachel: I don't see why not. It might take time to help her to be not so afraid, though.
Destiny: How... how is she in my mind?
Rachel: *looks down for a moment as she thinks, and then meets Destiny's eyes* How old are you? What is the first thing you remember?
Destiny: *frowns, thinking back, and then she's taking a sharp breath* Being in that horrible place...
Rachel: Nothing before that?
Destiny: *headshake* Th...there was an alarm or something.... and all the doors were open...
Rachel: *hand on her hair* *very quietly* I think you were born there, Destiny. As a way to protect Sora.
Destiny: *beginning to hyperventilate* What did they do to her?!
Rachel: That's not important. What's important is how we take care of her now.
Destiny: *shoulders shaking, gives Rachel a lost look*
Rachel: *moves to pull her close, offering the stuffed bunny too as comfort*
Destiny: *as she accepts the stuffed bunny, she begins to cry quietly*
Rachel: It's going to be alright. *hugs her and rocks a little*
Destiny: *eventually, she wears herself out and goes into sleep mode*
Rachel: Jack?
Jack: *peeks out of the bedroom* Yes, Rachel?
Rachel: Help me lay her down and tuck her in.
Jack: *soft chuckle as he moves to do so*
Rachel: *helping as she sits, and then holds up a hand so that he can help her to her feet*
Jack: *helps Rachel to her feet* *quietly* She's hurting something fierce...
Rachel: *just as quietly as she lays her head against his flannel covered shoulder* Can you blame her?
Jack: no... *sighs as he watches Serenity try and slip out unnoticed. Then he's holding Rachel close* It makes you wonder... which beings are worse to deal with: the Decepticons, or the humans responsible for that project?
Rachel: People are people, no matter what they're built from.
Jack: *small nod, and then he's moving to guide Rachel towards the bedroom* Let's get some rest... we've all had an exciting day...
Rachel: Let's just stop and make sure everyone's in a bed and not all over the floor.
Jack: *soft chuckle, nods* Sounds like a plan...
Rachel: *glances at her patients with a last sigh, then goes with her husband to tuck their kids in for the night*
((Co-written with random_xtras))