mbv, NEST HQ, New Challenges
black kitty: *pauses and looks up at the orange giant who is sniffing her head between her ears* Chirrup?
Steeljaw: Mrrrrrrrpt?
black kitty: *makes more tiny chirrups, then stretches up to try and sniff noses with him*
Steeljaw: *lowers his head to snuff at the black kitty* Mrrroooow?
black kitty: *lifts up on her back legs slightly to try and rub her cheek against his nose. Soft purrs*
Steeljaw: *gentle licks, thunderpurrr*
black kitty: *ecstatically strops, then tries to face wash back*
Steeljaw: *loving upon new friend now, kthx*
Rachel: *looks over at the cats, and then turns back to the femmes curled on the bed that she's sitting on* Shhh, Sora. You're going to be alright. Do you want a drink?
Sora: *headshake, makes a small sound of discomfort when Destiny moves to wrap the blankets around her a bit more*
Rachel: No, Destiny. Let her have some room. *glances over at the furballs by the door again* Sora, would you like to cuddle a cat?
Sora: *headshake* Too warm...
Destiny: *Frown. Sister needs her... But she doesn't know what to do to help her*
Rachel: *smooths Sora's hair back* Destiny, can you go to the cafeteria and get a small plastic bag full of ice cubes?
Destiny: *nods, getting up and stepping around the fuzzbutt furkids*
Rachel: *coms Jack, using the code, and asks if he's found coolant they can use for Sora*
Jack: *Has found coolant and reports this in code. He's going to be bringing it shortly*
Rachel: *sighs with relief and acknowledges, then signs off* *gently smooths Sora's hair back* Dad's found something to help you feel better, sweetheart.
Sora: *manages a small nod, closing her eyes*
Rachel: *frowns and gently straightens the T-shirt of Jack's that Sora's wearing for a nightdress, then puts a hand on her back, scanning and praying*
Jack: *Arrives with the coolant just as Destiny returns with the sandwich bag filled with ice* *quietly, to Rachel* [How is she?]
Rachel: [Uncomfortable, and too warm to even want to cuddle Steeljaw and his little friend.] *reaching for the bottle and looking at the label* [You're sure this will work for us?]
Jack: [I compared its chemical composition to our own coolant... It's nearly identical....] *reaching to gently pat Sora's hand* [What's causing this? She seemed fine last night...] *Yes, he's worried*
Rachel: [As far as I can see, her firewalls aren't as strong as they should be.]
Jack: *Frown* [So this is the work of a virus?]
Destiny: *gonna rejoin Sora on the bed now, kthx*
Rachel: *quietly* [It's sunbite.]
Jack: ... [But that... How not strong are her firewalls?]
Rachel: *looks him in the eye* //Program not found.//
Destiny: *clicking to Sora as she puts the baggy with ice on the ailing femme's chest*
Jack: ... //T...that... how?//
Sora: *weak squirming, before she settles with a soft sigh*
Rachel: *quietly* //The firewall is there beside her, trying to help.//
Jack: *Quietly* //...That certainly explains a lot...//
Rachel: *nods, then starts getting Sora ready for a coolant transfusion* Could you stop Steeljaw from eating the bath bombs again?
Steeljaw: *Heard that, Rachel! See his "Kitty is NOT amused" face?*
black kitty: *STARING at Steeljaw*
Rachel: I know they taste good, buddy. But they're mine.
Jack: *Gently, as he moves to pick the black kitty up* C'mon you two... Let's go see if Sarah is in a Kitty-Cuddling mood.
black kitty: *distracted from her surprise. LOVES YOU, Jack! Hear her soft little song?*
Steeljaw: *Razzes Rachel, will follow Jack and his new friend kthx*
Jack: *amused chuckle* No wonder Sarah's so fond of you... You're a cute little thing...
black kitty: Memu?
Steeljaw: Mrrrrrow... Mrrrpt mrrrrrow.... *tailswish*
Rachel: *finishes setting up the transfusion, using a needle in Sora's arm rather than asking her to transform* *softly* Would you like a piece of rose bathbomb, Sora?
Sora: *barely flinched when the needle went in, manages a small nod, soft noise of protest when Destiny puts a piece of ice against her neck*
Rachel: Put it here, Desti. *shows her another spot, then glances toward a cheery chirp from the top floor of the Kitty Walk 'Penthouse' cage that's standing in the corner of the room as she gets up to go get the treat from the floor where Steeljaw and Jack left it* She's going to be okay, Fred. Shhh, Lyra, don't worry.
Destiny: *Small nod, puts the ice where Rachel showed her*
Lyra: *Snuggling Fred, quiet deedle*
Rachel: *picks up the bits of bathbomb and brings them over to the bed, then offers a smallish one to Sora, clicking softly as she does*
Sora: *clicks back, barely opening her eyes as she reaches for the treat*
Rachel: *puts it into her hand, and then sets the rest on the bed table* *gently, as she checks the IV* Is that too cold?
Sora: *small headshake, works on getting the treat in her hand to her mouth*
Destiny: *quiet clicks, smooths Sora's hair*
Rachel: *offers Destiny a bit of the chalky, scented sphere*
Destiny: *ooo, treat! Nom!*
Rachel: *soft chuckle, then looks toward a tap on the door*
Lieutenant Ross: *peeks into the room* Doctor Ruteger?
Rachel: Yes, Maria? *gently rubbing Sora's back as she lifts her eyebrows quizzically at the soldier*
Lt. Ross: Professor Ruteger mentioned that Sora wasn't feeling so go...*trails off when she sees the needle in Sora's arm, goes pale*
Rachel: *frown, one brow still lifted* Maria?
Lt. Ross: *quietly, looks a bit ill now* I'll... stop by another time... *gone*
Destiny: *Quiet* Doesn't like needles.
Rachel: *winces* Whoops.
Destiny: *patpats Mama*
Sora: *moving like she wants to snuggle*
Rachel: *looks down, then settles onto the bed with another wince and a soft sigh*
Sora: *quiet sound as she drifts into a light doze*
Rachel: *humming softly and smiling at Destiny as the healthier twin peeks at her. Is going to start working on a new firewall program now*
Elsewhere
Dr. House: *turns the little creature on the medical table over, then smooths the rumpled fur* I think he's just tired and starved, Alex.
Alex: *small frown* Any idea where he might've come from?
Dr. House: *shakes his head* There aren't many farms around here, and this camp owns most of the land around the lake. Maybe he came from the same place that little black cat did.
Alex: *frowns more, before reaching to wrap the champagne ferret in the towels again* I wonder if Rewind'd tolerate another ferret's presence?
Dr. House: I think I've heard they're sociable animals, if you let them get used to each other.
Alex: *soft chuckle* Well, considering how friendly she is with everyone else... *moves to gently lift the towel-wrapped ferret*
Dr. House: Make sure Alice is alright with having someone else added to her family group.
Alex: Mia's working on it. *grin*
Dr. House: *chuckles* Alright. See if they've got any of that chicken baby food left in the cafeteria. He'll probably like some of that if you can get him to wake up.
Alex: *as he gently tucks the ferret into his coat* Yessir. *salutes and heads off to the cafeteria*
Melissa: *is in the kitchen again, busy working on organic foods as a flat cake of calcien and oil hardens on a counter to the side*
Skylar: *doing some of his homework, okay, some of NEXT semester's homework, nearby*
Alex: 'Scuse me, Melissa... Is there any of the chicken baby food left?
Melissa: *deer in headlights*
Skylar: *puts his homework down for now, will come to your aid, Melissa*
Melissa: *clings to his arm and trembles a bit, but nods with her eyes on the floor*
Alex: *raised brow, moves his jacket so the little ferret's head can be seen easily* Dr. House said this little guy'd probably like it if we can get him to wake up...
Skylar: ... *amused chuckle, murmurs something about the rest of the Autobots collecting cute, furry critters* *To Melissa, softly* Let's show Ironhide where the baby food is, alright?
Melissa: *looks up at him and smiles, then nods and heads for the smaller freezer, where she takes out an icecube tray. Tips out several of the little star shapes, and then puts them in the microwave to warm them up*
Alex: *small nod* Thanks... *knows where the plastic baggies are kept* I'm going to be taking this little guy to Alice, since she knows more about taking care of ferrets...
Melissa: *puts food in a plastic bowl, then goes to the fridge and gets Raoul's cod liver oil. Adds a few drops before bringing the bowl to Skylar*
Skylar: *Small nod, hands the bowl over to Alex, who thanks the couple and heads off to find Alice and Rewind*
Alice: Rewind!!! Come back here!!!! *Chasing a ferret that does NOT want a bath*
Irene: *0.o* RUN!
Javan: *Laughing his butt off as Rewind runs past, going full-tilt, and as Alice almost smacks into the wall in her persuit of said ferret*
Moofy: *is close to busting his speaker again, due to how hard he's laughing, is in the Grand Prix enclosure with Bubba, who is busy running around and around, beeping cheerfully*
Irene: *going to open the door!*
Eject: *perched on top of his cage, crest high as he shouts encouragement to his sister*
Alex: *Startles as he's used as a climbing post by a determined ferret* Ack! Rewind!!!
Irene: 0.o Ack!
Alex's jacket: *moves slightly and pips*
Rewind: *huhwhatnow? Pokes her head in and pips curiously*
Alice: Rewind, don't think that climbing Alex will get you outta bathtime... *pauses as she hears the pip under Alex's jacket* Is that what I think it is?
Irene: ...What do you think it is? *backing away slowly*
Alex: *Carefully shifts the towel-wrapped ferret so Alice can see the little guy*
Alice: Awww! Here, let me have him! *carefully taking the ferret now, making quiet kissy noises*
Rewind: *Hey! She wasn't done talking to him! Scrabbles down Alex's back, and scrabbles up Alice's to continue talking to the new guy*
champagne ferret: *wriggles a little more, but then closes his eyes again*
Alice: *nabs the bowl of baby food from Alex, tells Javan to quit laughing and go get the eye dropper that's in her travel kit, and moves to carry the ferret in her arms over to the bed*
Rewind: *Pips softly. This human will take good care of you, new ferret!*
cf: *sleeping again, looks exhausted and unhappy*
Alice: *focused on taking care of this little one, Rewind's bath all but forgotten for now*
Irene: *watching her, brows drawn together in a jumpy frown*
Javan: *soft chuckle, amusement clear on his face* Th's one gotta name?
Irene: ...He'd have to transform to tell us.
Alice: ... *looks up* He's a Cybertronian?
Rewind: *Pip?*
Javan: *Scans* Naaah, 'e's jes'a li'l fuzzball... *chuckles*
Rewind: *oh! Okay! Time for snuggles!* *snuggles the new arrival*
cf: *twitches one ear and then wearily lifts his head a little as his red eyes peek open* *very quiet pip*
Rewind: *Pips, and proceeds to clean the new arrival's ears as Alice tries to entice him with a bit of the baby food, offered via eye dropper*
cf: *doesn't want the food, even though he's very low on energy*
Alice: *gonna offer water next*
cf: *wants to curl up and sleep*
Alice: *has a comfy lap, if the fact that Rewind's happy to curl up there is any indication*
Irene: *slight flailage going on. Might accidentally whack Alex*
Alex: *very good at dodging flailage*
Alice: *going to try again to offer food and water*
cf: *tries to move his face away from the thing poking it, but then he has water on his mouth and instinctively licks it. Tries to go back to sleep, but then finally starts to drink*
Irene: He wants to die.
Alice: *going to ignore you now, Irene. Focuses on caring for the lightly-colored ferret in her lap while Rewind gives snuggles to him*
Javan: *gets up, intending to try and usher Irene back inside*
Irene: *turns and looks at Alex, her eyes very aware, and very haunted as she suddenly remembers wishing that she could die*
Alex: *isn't quite sure how to react to that look*
Javan: *Soft clicks as he moves to gently guide Irene back inside*
Irene: *looks at Javan, and he'll feel her starting to shake slightly* What did he lose?
Javan: *quietly* I don' know...
Irene: He needs it back.
cf: *no more water* *pips and turns his face away*
Alice: *offers food, makes soothing noises*
cf: *no more wat... oh, that's something else. Okay, whatever. Licks listlessly at the end of the eyedropper*
Rewind: *pips, will try and steal a lick or two from the eyedropper, because what's in it smells nummy*
cf: *lifts his head a little more to blink at her puzzledly, bumps into the bowl in the process*
Irene: *is going to sidestep Javan and go curl up in the corner with her kangaroo*
Alex: *Goes to find Mia*
Rewind: *happeh ferret dance, will try to steal another lick or two from the eyedropper, even as Alice tells her off*
cf: *small, sad calling sound as he forgets about the eyedropper*
Rewind: *Snuzzles, loves upon*
cf: *lets his chin drop to the towel, tiny crying sounds escaping him*
Irene: *cries too*
Rewind: *Snuggles, gentle pips and head washing is a go now*
Javan: *moves to sit down by Irene and offer snuggles*
cf: *continues to cry, his small thin body shaking. Pauses to call at odd intervals*
Rewind: *continuing to love upon*
Kia: *pauses and looks inside as she hears those strange small sounds* ...Alice? What is that? It sounds like something is crying.
Alice: *looks up from making soothing sounds* Alex found a ferret in the shed... he's not in good shape, the poor thing...
Kia: Ferret? *hesitantly steps further into the room*
cf: *too pooped to cry anymore, and utterly dejected that he didn't get the answer he wanted. Lays and lets Rewind love on him*
Alice: *soothing, loving apon the little guy in her lap*
Rewind: *smoochies*
Kia: *has caught sight of Rewind now, and her mouth is open in an O of wonder as she watches her*
cf: *pip, whisker shiver*
Rewind: *pips, more smoochies, snuggles*
cf: *exhausted and asleep again*
Kia: *softly* Is there anything that I could do to help, Alice?
Alice: *small shrug* Right now, it's just a wait-and-see kinda thing... He's pining for someone, and he's really skinny...
Kia: Poor little fellow. The blackish one is happy to see him, though.
Alice: *soft chuckle* Yeah... I'm kinda surprised by that, to be honest...
Kia: Oh? Why is that? *quizzical head tilt*
Alice: Ferrets tend to be tricky to socialize properly....
Kia: *frowns and scans* But this dark one is a Cybertronian.
Alice: She's also a brat. *Said fondly*
Kia: What is her name?
Alice: Rewind. The bird is one of her brothers... His name is Eject.
Kia: Ah. Blaster's symbionts.
Alice: *nods, attention going to the ferrets in her lap*
Kia: *blinks at the odd sensation that someone else is in her mind and looking through her eyes, but then forgets it in the next instant* What are you calling the little ferret?
Alice: I'm not sure yet... He's not showing me much of what his personality is like... I'm sure he'll be a character when he's feeling better though...
Kia: So for now he's just a little John Doe.
Alice: *small nod, gently smooths the lighter colored ferret's fur*
Kia: *watches for a moment, her expression full of compassion, but then looks up as someone pings her com* Ah. I should go. I hope the little one feels better soon, Alice. *turning toward the door*
Alice: I hope so too...
Kia: *nods to her and leaves the room*
Eject: *crest high as he sings* Soundwave got run over by a reindeer!
Javan: *SNERK*
Irene: *kangaroo flies as she leaps to her feet and then bolts from the room, leaving her shirt in her wake*
Javan: Ack! Irene!!!! *Up and going after Irene now!*
Eject: *cackles*
Alice: *headshake, attention going to the ferrets in her lap*
((co-written with random_xtras))