mbv, NEST HQ, Battlegrounds 2
((Continued from here.))
Destiny: *Waiting in the med ward when they arrive, was shooed away from Captain Blume's bed as well as 2nd Lt. Havoc's bed earlier* ... *blink blink, clicks worriedly* Mama hurt?
Kia: My stars. Destiny, what are you doing here? Do Autumn and Bert know where you are?
Destiny: Wanted to snuggle Mama... They don't know....
Magnus-holo: *raised eyebrow*
Kia: *winces and reports where the wayward sparklet has turned up, then turns to hMagnus and Madison* If you would be so kind as to situate her here in this bed. *sees the brow, but wants to get Rachel hooked up to the power feed and properly warmed up before she makes introductions*
Magnus-holo: *nods, and with Sgt. Madison's help, gets Rachel gently set on the bed*
Destiny: *Scooting that way*
Kia: Let me make sure she has everything she needs, Destiny. *smile for the young one, and then a gentle admonishment* You should not do things that will worry your creche guardians.
Destiny: *Clicks* Sora just told them... *will wait for Kia to get Rachel settled*
Kia: Ah. Alright then. *finishes hooking Rachel up to the spark support, and then looks up at holo-Magnus*
Destiny: *carefully climbing onto the bed to gently snuggle Rachel*
Magnus-holo: *quietly* Is this the sparklet you were talking about?
Kia: Oh no. This is Ratchet's adopted daughter, Destiny. The shortened form of her Cybertronian name is Desinex.
Sgt. Madison: ... *slight frown, wonders to himself just how many of the people here are Cybertronian*
Magnus-Holo: *small nod, has a frown to match Madison's though it's for a different reason* I don't think I've ever met anyone by that name...
Destiny: *as she snuggles Mama* Never met Sharpshot, but Sharpshot knew of you.
Magnus-holo: *Frowns more, is trying to find any mention of someone named 'Sharpshot' in his memory banks*
Kia: *gently strokes Destiny's hair* *quietly* Destiny is a younger identical twin. She was created when her sister's spark was subjected to unprecedented stresses.
Magnus-holo: ...*concerned*
Sgt. Madison: ...Does this have something to do with the Stark facility?
Destiny: *Expression darkens into a scowl* Is bad place. Sister hurt there... Got away for awhile...
Kia: *soothing clicks and a warning look for Sgt. Madison* It does. *her tone does not invite discussion*
Sgt. Madison: *quick nod, understands he's not to continue discussing the matter*
Destiny: *more scowl, snuggles Mama and clicks quietly*
Kia: Sgt. Madison, will you take this to Sora? *writes a quick note and folds it into an intricate shape* She's in the gymnasium with the rest of the creche. You may accompany him if you like, Ultra Magnus.
Sgt. Madison: *nods, reaching for the note*
Magnus-holo: *there's that look of shock again at the thought of there being a creche*
Kia: *gives him the note, and then chuckles as as little chirp announces that Ravage is now stropping against Madison's ankles* You may escort them, Ravage, and see to it that they do not inadvertently turn astray.
Ravage: Mumur. ^_^
Magnus-Holo: ... *raised brow*
Sgt. Madison: *offering scritches to Ravage, amusement clear on his face*
Kia: Ravage is also Cybertronian, though it pleases her greatly to assume the persona of a Terran feline.
Ravage: *much bitty purrrrrrr. Loves you, Madison!*
Sgt. Madison: ... *soft snerk* Well, she's cute....
Kia: I'm sure her mate, Steeljaw, would agree.
Magnus-holo: ... Blaster's brats are still up and running?
Kia: *looks up with a delighted smile that he remembers the recorders* They are indeed. And all are present here at the facility.
Magnus-holo: And nobody's tried punting them? *seems amazed by this*
Kia: *blink blink blink* My stars no.
Magnus-holo: *actually laughs about that*
Kia: But you have a message to deliver. *gentle sternness*
Sgt. Madison: *Nods, giving Kia a crisp and proper salute, before he's moving to try and usher Magnus-holo out the door*
Ravage: *runny runny runny, JUMP! and climb the Madison so she can sit on his shoulder! Must show the way*
Sgt. Madison: *Snerks about that, will scritch Ravage's ears*
Ravage: *bitty song and rubs her cheek on him*
gym: *noisy when they get there. Hungry youngsters busy chasing each other around as they wait to eat and one not-so-youngster perched up on the mats again as she watches over them*
Magnus-holo: *Slowing to a stop when he hears how noisy the gym is, a slightly distant look on his face as he recognizes that yes, this is a creche*
Sgt. Madison: *entering the gym and looking around to try and locate Sora*
Firebreak: *gets Sgt. Madison by the leg* I safe! Me Firebreak am safe!
Ember: THRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPT!!!!
Sgt. Madison: *chuckles and offers to pick Firebreak up*
Firebreak: 0.o *clicky clicky squeal!*
Ravage: *hops down and scoots into the sparklet fray, checking for her mate*
Steeljaw: *getting loved upon by Sarah, has a few bows tied to his fur*
Ravage: *wants some of that loving! Rub rub purr chirp*
Sarah: *Will pick Ravage up and cuddle*
Sandra: *trying to get Simon to tussle with her*
Magnus-holo: *hunkers down and clicks to Firebreak*
Simon: *wants to cuddle baby sister instead*
Raoul: *over there when he hears Firebreak squeal, even faster than Autumn can move* Hey! What're you doin'?
Firebreak: *looks at Raoul, and then looks at holo-Magnus. Click click click* You different 'Bot.
Magnus-holo: My name is Ultra Magnus.... I'm just here to visit...
Sgt. Madison: *To Raoul, as he holds the folded note out* Kia asked me to give this to Sora... Is she here?
Raoul: *stink eye for Madison, and then jerks his head toward the silent brunette up on the mat pile*
Firebreak: *cocks head and frowns* Just here to visit. Gonna go 'way?
Sgt. Madison: *Carefully trying to detatch Firebreak from his leg, intends to go over to Sora to give her the note*
Sora: *climbing down without a word, will come over*
Magnus-holo: I don't really know right now... I'm hoping I can stay...
Firebreak: *gonna get holo-Magnus' leg* You stay! Is 'Bot place here!
Thundersong: *stops in the middle of chasing Hotspot* Me 'Song am big mean SEEKER!
Hotspot: *Razzes Thundersong* You 'Song silly!
Thundersong: Me am big mean Seeker. And you, 'Spot, are little mean Seeker!
Bert: *coming over to check out the guy talking to Firebreak*
Autumn: *Also coming over, though she's making it look like she's just trying to find out what Sgt. Madison is giving Sora*
Sora: *eyeing Sgt. Madison warily, before she accepts the note and scampers over to the bleachers to unfold and read it*
Raoul: *to holo-Magnus* So where've you ben hidin'? *suspicious kid is suspicious*
Magnus-holo: Along the I-95 corridor... When I haven't been parked to recharge...
Bert: What'd you say your name was again? I didn't catch it for the noise in here.
Magnus-holo: *looks over at Bert, eyes wide* Brawn? Is that you?
Bert: *blink blink* Magnus?
Sgt. Madison: *gets Seekerlinged in the background*
Magnus-holo: *nods, grinning ear to ear* It's been awhile...
Autumn: *Slight frown, moving to stand a bit closer to Bert now, doesn't recognize the name or the voice*
Bert: You can say that again. *puts an arm around the little brunette* Autumn, I want you to meet Ultra Magnus, one of the greatest Autobot defense units ever built. And one that stayed true even after Megatron turned.
Magnus-holo: *Raised brow* *pings Bert's comm* //Is she a native?//
Bert: *chuckle* //She's one of us. She just came online a lot later than you and I did, and spent most of her time guarding her creche.//
Autumn: *hesitantly offers her hand* Creche guardian Bumblebee... It's a pleasure to meet you, Ultra Magnus.
Magnus-holo: *Shakes Autumn's hand, giving the petite brunette a friendly smile* Likewise...
Bert: *looks over at Thundersong, who is howling because she can't transform* 'Song! Clam up! The last thing we need is a little jet flying around in here. Lunch'll be here soon.
Thundersong: *sit on Madison and pout*
Sgt. Madison: *Wishes she wouldn't sit on him, but can't do much about it, as his arms are pinned by Ember and Hotspot*
Firebreak: *butt bouncing as she sits on the man's legs*
WJ: *peeking at the Seeklets from behind Beau, and giggling about what they're doing*
Raoul: *will go over and talk to the Seeklets, trying to urge them to let the Sgt. up*
Magnus-holo: ... So how many of these guys are Seeklets?
Bert: Just Sunstreaker and Skywarp's bunch, and that little femme there. Those three are Dinobots. WakeJumper's just a standard model, and.... *counts noses* Did I forget anybody?
Autumn: Destiny's in the med ward with Rachel right now...
Bert: Right. Beau and Raoul are Tracks' human kids. And Sundog's with the Squadron, and Grimlock's being repaired.
Magnus-holo: *nods*
Autumn: Oh! And Soli... She's with Elita-One right now...
Bert: Right right. Not used to having her. Still, after all that screaming you think I'd remember.
Magnus-holo: *Raised brow* Screaming?
Raoul: *back with a Firebreak on one hip and an Ember on the other* Soli's gotta temper.
Firebreak: *loves you, Raoul!*
Ember: *Snuggling Raoul*
Thundersong: *still sitting on the nice Sgt. Will tickle!*
Sgt. Madison: Ack!
WJ: *scrambling down from the bleachers to grab Thundersong*
Raoul: Ack! *quickly hands off two Seeklets, apologizing to the little guys as he does so, then hurries to help WakeJumper*
Autumn: *can has Ember*
Firebreak: *has a Magnus holo!* :D
Oriana: *unfolds from her garbage can shape to see what all the laughing is about*
Bert: Oh yeah. I forgot the big one.
Simon: *also wants to help rescue the human, but has baby sister at present*
Sandra: *has decided that snuggles are okay... for now*
Autumn: *Clicks to Oriana as she bounces Ember on her hip*
Sarah: *Clicks and moves to help Raoul and WakeJumper*
Thundersong: *pouty Seeklet, but then perks as she sees Sunshine at the door* Lunch! Me 'Song see lunch!
Sunstreaker: *In full-sulk mode due to not being allowed to go help his mate and eldest sparklet*
Firebreak: *bouncing in holoMagnus' arms* Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!
Sunstreaker: *beeline to Firebreak, giving Magnus-holo a wary look*
Seamus: *Protesting this, since Sunstreaker just put more food on the trays he was carrying*
Firebreak: *jump to Daddy!* Nom!
Ember: *Squeaks and wiggles, wants noms too!*
Sunshine: *ear twitch for holoMagnus, and then starts setting out plates on the bleachers. It's mostly organic goodies today, except for the big plate for WakeJumper, which holds a cake of energon and calcien topped with energon 'syrup'*
WJ: *grins and clicks to Thundersong, suggesting that they go get some lunch and let the human go for now*
Thundersong: Me 'Song like nom. *getting up and going to look into her bowl of Alphagetti*
Bert: *looks at the fare, which is canned pasta shapes and grilled cheese sandwiches* ...Alice took a turn in the kitchen, didn't she?
Autumn: *also looking at the meal* Looks like it... If Javan had cooked, the sandwiches would have ham or beef in them.
Magnus-holo: *Raised brow*
WJ: *making a slight face as he pokes at his meal*
Bert: Alice is Arcee, and Javan's Jazz. ...You remember Jazz, don't you?
Raoul: *looks up from praying over his meal* Hey, WakeJumper, what's wrong?
Magnus-holo: ...*headshake* Some of my memory files got wiped when I arrived...
Bert: Slag. *frowns and then shoots Autumn a guilty look*
WJ: *points to the thick energon cake* It's harder than it should be... :/
Raoul: *frowns at it* It too hard to eat?
WJ: Dunno... *will try and eat it anyways*
Raoul: *watches little brother to see if he's able to eat it*
WJ: *working on eating the bite he took... though it's taking him a bit longer than normal*
Raoul: If you soak it in the syrup?
WJ: *gonna try that next*
Bert: *excusing himself to holoMagnus. Needs to go help sparklets eat*
Magnus-holo: *will ask Autumn for an explanation as she brings Ember over to get his food*
Bert: *looks up from spooning pasta into young mouths*
Oriana: *uninterested in the fact that the other younsters are all eating. Is busy exploring a dustbunny*
Autumn: *Explaining about the modifications Perceptor came up with, trailing off for a moment* Wait a minute... Don't you have them already?
Bert: *obligingly eating a bite of sandwich from Thundersong, then offers Hotspot another spoonful of pasta as he listens to Autumn and Magnus*
Simon: *nabs Seamus. Wants him to come eat with the Dinobots and Sora*
Sora: *Settling next to Simon, shares what the note said. Rachel was awake for a little while, and up and about earlier, but now she's resting again*
Simon: :o *going to hug Seamus now!*
Sandra: Her Mama be okay, right?
Sora: *nods, smiling a bit* If Rachel was feeling well enough to be up and about for a little while, she'll be fine.
Sarah: *grins, will snuggle Sandra*
Seamus: *makes like he can't breathe, is really just a bit squished*
Simon: *very happy! But then frowns* Note say anything about him Greg?
Sora: Um... *looks at it again*
Simon: *hopeful look*
Sora: *headshake, frowning*
Magnus-holo: *headshake as he moves to sit by the Dinobots and Sora* This is just a hologram....
Autumn: *concerned now* Oh... Where're you parked? *going on a hunch*
Magnus-holo: Out front... the red semi that's out there.
Firebreak: *distracted from trying to feed Daddy* Big red semi?
Simon: Him Grimlock hurt. *wibble and hug Seamus*
Raoul: *offering Madison a sandwich*
Magnus-holo: *To Simon* Red Alert and Wheeljack were working on him... He'll be okay.
Sgt. Madison: *sitting up and thanking Raoul for the sandwich, looks a bit rumpled, but is otherwise unharmed*
Beau: *trying to help WakeJumper break the remaining cake into pieces*
Raoul: *nods to Sgt. Madison, then gives Simon a reassuring shoulder squeeze* Hey, he's tough, right?
Simon: *nod. Wibble. Hug Seamus*
Firebreak: *throws pasta at holoMagnus* Me Firebreak talk too!
Magnus-holo: *Acks as he's pasta'd*
Samuel: *Facepalming*
Seamus: Heeey! Ten points! *laughs*
Bert: *gives Seamus a Look* Firebreak, that's food, not ammo. A big red semi is a truck.
Firebreak: *pause* Big red truck like him Joe?
Sora: *nods* Yup. *gonna nom her sandwich now, taking small, neat bites*
Firebreak: *happy, excited squeal and flail. Sandwich goes right at Daddy's nose*
Samuel: *Acks* Hey!
Seamus: Twenty! *yelps when Samuel beans him with a fork*
Bert: *socks the nearest twin* Knock that off, you too.
Magnus-holo: ... *Snerks*
Bert: *looks at him* What?
Ravage: *nose in Sora's bowl of pasta*
Magnus-holo: I just never imagined you, of all mechs, would become a creche guardian.
Bert: *blinks* Oh. That's Ratchet's fault.
Steeljaw: *joining Ravage in nomming Sora's pasta*
Magnus-holo: ... How so?
Bert: *chuckle* You try staying with her for any length of time and not wanting to help her keep track of all her kids and cassettes and drones.
Steeljaw: *looks over at that, razzes Bert*
Sunshine: *comes back to check on everyone* Ah. I see ve need a bit more. I'll be vright back. *off to the cafeteria on a second food run*
Sgt. Madison: *watching all of this and wondering whether he should've taken that offer of a desk job*
Bert: You know I'm right, Steeljaw. *gives sandwich to the nearest hungry youngster*
Beau: *thanks Bert, noms sandwich*
WJ: *frowns when he realizes he's out of syrup*
Raoul: *frowns too, and uses his radio to let Sunshine know*
Autumn: Now I know why Petra or Javan always insisted on cooking...
Sunshine: *coming back then, and the new HEAP of sandwiches is redolent of ham*
Autumn: ... *SNERK*
Beau: Mr. del Sol must've chased Miss Tringham outta th' kitchen... *amused*
Raoul: *looks at one of the new sandwiches* Hey, this' wheat bread, 'n that 'jack' cheese with the spicy stuff in it! *grins and starts passing them out to the bigger sparklets*
Sunshine: *also has a big serving bowl of the pasta. Only this time the pasta is beefaroni*
Beau: *helps distribute sandwiches after nabbing one of the sandwiches for himself*
WJ: *hopeful clicks*
Sunshine: *has a bowl of sweet energon for him to dip his cake in* Here, VakeJumper. This vill help.
WJ: *smiles* Thanks! :)
Sunshine: *gentle chuckle, and looks over her shoulder as her own daughter returns from her meal*
Naomi: *bounces over to tender assistance to Samuel*
Starscream: *over an open frequency* //Constructicon threat has been effectively neutralized. Alpha Squadron will be returning to base shortly.//
Firebreak: *Beefaroni she was aiming at Daddy's nose instead gets flung high* UNCLE SCREAM!
Thundersong: Yay!
Steeljaw: *hurrying over to nom the flung beefaroni*
Brandon: *is the sound of laughter out in the hallway*
Simon: *squishes Seamus* Yay, him Uncle Scream come home!
Seamus: ...He sounds so smug about it... *rolling eyes a bit*
Bert: *gets up to go check out that laughter* Blaster, leave them alone! Come say hi to Magnus.
Brandon: ...Are you pulling my leg, Brawn?
Rodney: *supporting Lisa as well as he can, is still a bit tipsy-looking himself*
Bert: No. His holoform's in there with the kids. Roddy, you need to go the other way... actually, go back to bed. I'll get you room service.
Rodney: We've spent the last week in bed, Brawn...
Lisa: *Faint blush as she nods* We just woke up about an hour ago and we're both really hungry and we thought we were going the right way but we got turned around and Blaster's not any help...
Bert: So sit on the couch. Seriously. I'll get someone to bring you something.
Naomi: *on her feet and out the door* I'll help!
Brandon: *ducking into the gym to see what Bert's talking about*
Thundersong: *decided to sit on holoMagnus and lean against him as she noms her new sandwich*
Magnus-holo: *To Lisa and Rodney, has a Thundersong on his lap* Congratulations you two.
Ravage: *dances up on tiny pittypaws to greet Brandon*
Brandon: *will scoop Ravage up and offer cuddles before he gives Magnus-holo a "Bhuh?!" look*
Ravage: *databursts him information about the damaged mech even as she cuddles and sings her bitty purr*
Brandon: *Very slight wince as he nods* *Quietly* Mech's a legend... I'm glad he's not one of those dead ones...
Magnus-holo: I can hear you, you know.
Steeljaw: *Snerk, amused kitty is amused*
Ravage: *cute look for holoMagnus*
Naomi: *will guide the newly-weds to the cafeteria*
Thundersong: *making her own small purrs as she snuggles holoMagnus and nods off*
Magnus-holo: *expression softens a bit as he gently rubs Thundersong's back*
Thundersong: *trusting sparklet curls up still holding her sandwich and goes to sleep on the nice grown up*
Autumn: *"D'aww"s softly*
Simon: *lets Seamus go and rubs his eyes, then eats more* Me Simon go see him Greg soon.
Seamus: *will now start trying to carefully clean off Ember after the sparklet decides to go to sleep on his plate*
Col. Franklin: *calls to Sgt. Madison to report to the front door of the lodge*
Sgt. Madison: *Will get up after responding and saying he'll be there ASAP*
Simon: *waves goodbye to Sgt. Madison*
Oriana: *does too, though she's not got much clue about what it means*
A few moments later, by the front door of the lodge...
Col. Franklin: *standing there in his big parka, looking at Joe, who has smoke coming out from under his hood*
Joe: I'll be fine, really.
Lt. Wesson: *trying to sneak off*
Sgt. Madison: Sir?
Col. Franklin: I see you, Sgt. Lt. Wesson, you had better be reporting to the med ward. *frowwwn*
Lt. Wesson: I'm not.... *shoulders droop* Yes, sir. *turns and limps inside. One side of his parka is red*
Col. Franklin: *radios Kia to let her know she has an incoming, his frown turning to a scowl as he sees that red*
Sgt. Madison: *holding the door open for Lt. Wesson, concern clear on his face*
Optimus: *Coming over to check on Joe* Pop your hood, Joe.
Joe: *does so obediently* I just took a hit to the cooling system.
Lt. Wesson: *nods to Sgt. Madison, then stumbles slightly and clenches his jaw*
Sgt. Madison: :/ *torn between waiting for orders and helping a fellow soldier. Thankfully, he's not torn for very long, as ENS. Falman hurries over to help Lt. Wesson*
Lt. Wesson: I'm okay. I don't need help. *Continuing his slow and dogged way toward the med ward*
Col. Franklin: *sees Falman and nods, looks at Sgt. Madison* Will you give Optimus a hand, Sergeant?
Sgt. Madison: *nods* Yessir. *will come over to help Optimus, is still a bit uncertain about the mech*
Joe: *flinching slightly as Optimus touches a damaged cooling tube* Ouch....
Optimus: *Quietly apologetic as he works*
ENS. Falman: *To Lt. Wesson* Are you sure, sir?
Lt. Wesson: I'm walking, right? *not sarcastic, just his usual quiet and easy tempered self*
ENS. Falman: *lips thin slightly as he nods*
Lt. Wesson: Go see if you can help with Joe. He took a pretty bad hit.
ENS. Falman: *nods, saluting* Yessir. *will go and get a toolkit from the garage first, however*
Bumblebee: *looks up as he comes in, then returns her attention to the last bits of welding on Greg's leg*
ENS. Falman: *gets what he needs quickly and heads back out right away*
Joe: Do you want me to transform, Optimus?
Optimus: Depends... where are you hit at?
Joe: Right where earth trucks have their radiator.
Magnus-truck: *Sympathetic sound*
ENS. Falman: Where is that located when you are in robot mode?
Joe: My chest.
Optimus: *slight wince* It'd be easier to get to with you staying in vehicle mode...
Joe: Yes, sir. *coughs slightly, smoke billowing out*
ENS. Falman: *Getting a bottle of coolant out of the toolkit, as well as some stop-leak for radiators*
Wander: *comes out a few moments later to watch the four men working and/or looking under Joe's hood* Merlin just fell asleep in his tomato goop. What's going on? *ducks as the Seekers go over*
Optimus: Just repairing a cooling unit... *tells Starscream over comms that he wants to talk to him after things have settled down, gets an affirmative answer*
ENS. Falman: *is an efficient and careful worker*
Col. Franklin: *quietly, in the meantime* Sgt. Madison, I hear you visited the creche. What do you think?
Sgt. Madison: It's... interesting... and noisy. *chuckles a bit*
Wander: Oh. Hey, do any of you guys know a big, dark blue and white guy who wears a 'Con badge?
Optimus: *Freezes, giving Wander a wide-opticed look*
Col. Franklin: *nods and smiles* What are your thoughts so far about the Cybertronian people?
Wander: Uh... what'd I say?
Sgt. Madison: They're an interesting group of people...
Optimus: Th...that's Soundwave... *if he were in alt-mode, he'd be pale. As it is, he's going to have to sit down now, since his legs are shaking*
Wander: *gives him a wide-eyed look of her own* That's bad?
Col. Franklin: *turns his head quickly as Optimus sits down* Patrick?
Optimus: Soundwave... is somewhere around here... *trying to calm down, remembering what the mech in question said about the safety of the Autobots*
Wander: Oh really? When I saw him he was hanging out with a little silver femme and a couple even littler red 'n blue guys, over in gamma centaria sector.
Optimus: ... How long ago was that?
Wander: Before I picked up the cyberslaargs.
Optimus: ... So it was awhile ago?
ENS. Falman: *listening without seeming to as he works on patching Joe's coolant system*
Wander: *nods* I think I'd just heard that Cybertron was at war and not with the guys with all the faces.
Col. Franklin: *frowning* So why are you bringing this up now, Wander?
Wander: Oh, that silver femme that's here just reminded me of that one. *bends down to pick up a lump of snow*
Optimus: ... Kia? *raised brow ridge*
Wander: The one that turns into the light coloured alt, and uses the big words.
Col. Franklin: *frown frown*
Magnus-truck: Huh...
Col. Franklin: *looks over* Ultra Magnus?
Magnus-truck: I can't find any record of a Decepticon matching Wander's descriptions... Probably in the parts that got wiped, knowing my luck...
Optimus: *Frowning and giving Magnus a Look*
Wander: ...Were you around there then? *curious and clueless*
Magnus-truck: If I was, I don't remember it.
Wander: Oh. Okay. *so used to forgetting things herself that she doesn't even blink* *turns back to Optimus* And the two little bots were punching each other in the head and talking tough.
Optimus: *nods* Rumble and Frenzy.... They were twins...
Col. Franklin: *quietly* And now Frenzy's here....
Optimus: *another nod* He's in Arcee's care...
Wander: Anyway. *grins* I better go see what Candid and Frank are getting into. *turns to head back inside*
Irene: *from inside* THIS IS NOT CHEESE!
Optimus: ... *Face.Palm*
Magnus-truck: .... Do I want to know?
Alice: *from inside* Gimme back my squeeze cheese!
Irene: NOT CHEESE! *sound of an aerosol can being let off*
Wander: Whoa....
Optimus: *pinching the bridge of his nose*
Wander: *shuts the door on the rest of the conversation then*
Col. Franklin: *quietly* Ironfist was one of the people who were taken by Stark Enterprises. Her personality matrix was... damaged... by her ordeal.
Joe: At least she's not putting the squeeze cheese up Javan's nose.
Optimus: ... Don't say that... It'll happen.
Joe: *quiet meep*
Sgt. Madison: ... *lips thin* I was aware that someone with ties to Destiny was also taken by Stark Enterprises...
Col. Franklin: Destiny's twin sister. *nods*
Sgt. Madison: *nod, seriousness and concern flickering in his dark eyes*
Optimus: *nods, sighing a bit* I just wish we could have helped Hound as well...
Col. Franklin: *quietly* You said that our... visitors... from the other night said that it was his time.
Optimus: *nods* *quietly* That doesn't mean I have to like the fact, Colonel....
Col. Franklin: I know. *he doesn't either*
Joe: Do you think someone should ask Kia about what Wander remembered?
Optimus: I think that'd be a good idea... but right now, we need to get your cooling system repaired, Joe.
Joe: Yes, sir.
Bumblebee: *comes hobbling over, leaning on her cane* You guys need any help? I've finished what I can do for Grimlock.
Optimus: Joe's cooling system got hit... We've got something to patch it temporarily... But that won't do for the long term....
Bumblebee: *turns her head and coms Red Alert, asking if they don't have good patching stuff*
Red Alert: //We do... Just let me finish sealing this line and I'll be out to help.//
Bumblebee: *quiet, helpful insistence* //I can get it. Optimus and Col. Franklin are working on him. Just tell me where to get the stuff.//
Red Alert: //The medbay has some... I'm sending Wheeljack there with Grimlock so Grimlock can rest with Rachel.//
Bumblebee: *promptly folds up, and her petite holoform with the cropped black hair darts inside*
Magnus-truck: ... *soft sound almost like a 'heh'*
Joe: Ultra Magnus, sir, did you say something?
Magnus-truck: Huh? Oh, no. Don't mind me. *is almost wishing he could transform. Then he'd be able to help out.*
holo-Bee: *PINpoints back out with the good patching material and brings it over, then stops as she passes in front of Magnus* ...I'll get you some energy in a couple minutes, okay?
Magnus-truck: Alright...
holo-Bee: *offers the stuff to Optimus, her eyes lowered shyly*
Red Alert: *coming out of the garage after Wheeljack transforms to comfort Greg and wrap the sparklet in blankets*
Optimus: Thanks... *nods to Red Alert when the medic comes over*
holo-Bee: *defers to the better trained medic and vanishes*
Bumblebee: *transforms, and then limps to get some fuel for Ultra-Magnus*
Red Alert: *Scanning Joe and muttering about the Constructicons. No, it's not anything polite. No, the mun will not translate it from Gaelic*
Joe: *nervous shift on his shocks*
Optimus: *will facepalm now* Red Alert...
Red Alert: *will start repairing Joe's coolant system now*
Col. Franklin: *quietly orders Falman and Madison to go help Bumblebee. Doesn't like to see her limping around like that*
Sgt. Madison and ENS. Falman: *Salute and go to help Bumblebee*
Joe: I'm really sorry to be so much trouble....
Red Alert: You're not trouble, Joe. You didn't ask the Constructicons to shoot at you.
Serenity: *coming out of the garage to see if she can help somehow*
Bumblebee: *toting a tarpful of oil drums full of diesel over to Magnus, Falman and Madison will be able to hear her creaking as she goes*
Sgt. Madison: *moving to help Bumblebee with an oil drum, as is ENS. Falman*
Bumblebee: *mildly and gently* I have it, guys. You'll hurt yourselves.
Sgt. Madison: It's our job to offer assistance, Ma'am.
Bumblebee: *hesitates, but then lowers the tarp a little so that they can reach it more easily*
Sgt. Madison and ENS. Falman: *Work together to carefully roll one of the oil drums over to where Magnus-truck is*
Bumblebee: *carries the rest, her frame protesting creakily with every step*
Joe: *small worried sound*
Magnus-truck: *concerned sound*
Sgt. Madison and ENS. Falman: *will go and offer to get the other drums*
Bumblebee: I'm okay, Joe. *softness in her voice as she speaks to the firetruck* *looks at the soldiers* I'm okay. I have it, and I'm nearly there.
Joe: Bumblebee, you know your frame's not as strong as it should be. *fretting*
Bumbebee: *mildly* I'm being careful.
Red Alert: *finishing repairs* There. Now give that time to settle fully.
Bumblebee: *sets down the laden tarp and takes a moment to just stand and lean on her cane. Her face isn't very humanoid, but it's probably clear that the femme is hurting at least somewhat*
Joe: *distracted* Yes, sir. ...Can I transform?
Red Alert: Be careful when you do. *will go over to Serenity to gently fuss over her now, and be fussed over*
Joe: *transforms to bot in a flash and is over there putting his arms around Bumblebee*
Magnus-truck: *startled sound, even as ENS. Falman works on getting him hooked up to one of the oil drums*
Bumblebee: *protesting quietly that she's alright*
Joe: *will let nothing stop him from helping her over to where an ornamental boulder sticks out of a snow bank near Magnus' radiator and making sure she's seated*
Col. Franklin: *looks at Magnus as he hears the sound* *quietly* They're not from this reality.
Magnus-truck: .... *slight stall as he works this over*
Red Alert: *concerned, moves to scan the truck, before his legs give out on him due to shock*
Col. Franklin: *hurries to catch the medic* Red Alert?
Red Alert: *To Magnus* [Why didn't you say anything?!]
Magnus-truck: *seems to sink on his shocks just a bit* *quietly* [It doesn't matter...I'm able to survive...]
Joe: [We have the stuff to repair you with, sir. As soon as Red Alert gives me the clearance to make the trip I can go get a protoform from our new base.] *absently cuddles Bumblebee as he talks*
Red Alert: *To Joe* [Later this evening.]
Optimus: ... *wondering to himself whether anyone's going to ask his opinion on the matter, decides it's more important that Magnus get repaired fully*
Magnus-truck: [Why bother? There're probably mechs and femmes who need it more than I do.]
Serenity: *Frowning at Magnus*
Bumblebee: [That's not true, sir.] *then goes wide-eyed and hides her face on Joe*
Sgt. Madison: *quietly, to Franklin* Sir? What are they saying?
Col. Franklin: *wry look* My Cybertronian is limited to 'I am a baby. I am your friend' and 'Hello'.
Sgt. Madison: ...Oh.... *more frown as Serenity gently scolds Magnus*
Magnus-truck: *IS sinking down on his shocks! Isn't used to being scolded by a femme, clearly*
Red Alert: *telling Joe what else besides a protoform to grab when he goes*
Joe: *listening intently and nodding*
Kia: //Optimus and Col. Franklin? I'm happy to report that Lt. Wesson only had a rather messy flesh wound and a mildly sprained knee, and that the crimson stain he bore was entirely inorganic in nature. He's resting at present.//
Optimus: *relieved* //Thank you for informing us, Kia.//
Kia: //And also my mate is recovering nicely from his close encounter with alphagetti.// *chuckle*
Optimus: //How late was he awake last night?//
Kia: //Ah... I'm afraid we lost track of the time.//
Optimus: *amused sigh* //Just remember that you two do need to recharge... And that you can respond to forum messages after you've recharged.//
Kia: //Yes, Optimus.// *soft, meek. And amused.*
ENS. Falman: *very slight smile as he goes to put tools away*
Sgt. Madison: ... What just happened, sir?
Col. Franklin: *looks at him* We're going to have to get your earbud. Kia just reported that Lt. Wesson's injuries were minor and that he's resting now. *leaves out the part about Merlin falling asleep in his lunch, deciding that Madison will probably witness it himself before too many days have passed*
Sgt. Madison: *nods* That's good news.
Col. Franklin: I knew it couldn't be as bad as it looked. Lt. Wesson's not as pig-headed as some members of his squad. *slight smile as he glances at Optimus, looking to share the joke*
Optimus: *soft snerk, will refrain from commenting on that*
Col. Franklin: *serious again as he turns back* Sgt. Madison, for now I want you to take your meals in the civilian cafeteria, so that you can get to know the Cybertronians better.
Sgt. Madison: *Nods, saluting* Yessir.
Col. Franklin: Unless I miss my guess lunch is just finishing up.
Optimus: More than likely... *attention going to Red Alert and Serenity when the couple approaches him*
Col. Franklin: *nods to Madison* Dismissed.
Sgt. Madison: *Another salute* Yessir. *will go and see if there's any lunch left*
Serenity: *Quietly* [Sir... Would it be possible for Red Alert and myself to have a week off?]
Optimus: *raised brow which climbs even higher as he sees how Serenity is holding Red Alert's hand* *Just as quietly* [Talk to Dr. House and Rachel about it... I'll see what I can do to keep things quiet.]
Red Alert: *nods, before transforming and moving to guide Serenity inside*
Joe: *watches them soberly, his arm still around Bumblebee*
Col. Franklin: We need to call another meeting and debrief Alpha Squadron. We can talk to the ground units later, when Greg, Jack, and John have recovered.
Optimus: *nods* I'll go see if I can convince Greg and Jack to head inside... It'll be better for Greg if he rests where it's warmer.
Col. Franklin: Maybe some time with his mother will calm him down. *frowns as he thinks of the night before, then looks at Magnus* Where's your holodriver?
Magnus-truck: *chuckles* Inside, with the creche.
Col. Franklin: *brows lift quizzically*
Magnus-truck: One of the sparklets is using it as a pillow.
Optimus: *Snerks*
Col. Franklin: *slight grin* Which one?
Magnus-truck: I think she said her name was Thundersong...
Col. Franklin: *chuckle* If you don't mind I'd like you there at both meetings. You can bring her along to this first one. Her parents will be there.
Magnus-truck: Alright...
Optimus: Make sure you tell Autumn, or she and Bert will fuss. *chuckles before heading to the garage to talk to Jack*
Joe: *watches him go, then turns back to Bumblebee* *softly* You'd better get back inside where it's warm.
Bumblebee: *still leaning against him. Looks like she wants to stay that way, but she nods*
Col. Franklin: *quietly assures Magnus that he'll be alright soon, and then shows his familiarity with Cybertronian ways by giving him the coordinates to the room where they'll be meeting*
Magnus-truck: *quiet engine rumble to show that he understands, will guide his holoform that way once he's spoken to Autumn and Bert*
Col. Franklin: *turns to Joe and Bumblebee* It shouldn't be too long before we've got the new shell built for your little girl. *hesitate* Are you sure we couldn't do the same for you, Bumblebee?
Bumblebee: *quietly* I have to stay like this for now.
Col. Franklin: *nod* Alright. *turns and goes inside to grab lunch himself and then go to the debriefing room*
((co-written with random_xtras))
Destiny: *Waiting in the med ward when they arrive, was shooed away from Captain Blume's bed as well as 2nd Lt. Havoc's bed earlier* ... *blink blink, clicks worriedly* Mama hurt?
Kia: My stars. Destiny, what are you doing here? Do Autumn and Bert know where you are?
Destiny: Wanted to snuggle Mama... They don't know....
Magnus-holo: *raised eyebrow*
Kia: *winces and reports where the wayward sparklet has turned up, then turns to hMagnus and Madison* If you would be so kind as to situate her here in this bed. *sees the brow, but wants to get Rachel hooked up to the power feed and properly warmed up before she makes introductions*
Magnus-holo: *nods, and with Sgt. Madison's help, gets Rachel gently set on the bed*
Destiny: *Scooting that way*
Kia: Let me make sure she has everything she needs, Destiny. *smile for the young one, and then a gentle admonishment* You should not do things that will worry your creche guardians.
Destiny: *Clicks* Sora just told them... *will wait for Kia to get Rachel settled*
Kia: Ah. Alright then. *finishes hooking Rachel up to the spark support, and then looks up at holo-Magnus*
Destiny: *carefully climbing onto the bed to gently snuggle Rachel*
Magnus-holo: *quietly* Is this the sparklet you were talking about?
Kia: Oh no. This is Ratchet's adopted daughter, Destiny. The shortened form of her Cybertronian name is Desinex.
Sgt. Madison: ... *slight frown, wonders to himself just how many of the people here are Cybertronian*
Magnus-Holo: *small nod, has a frown to match Madison's though it's for a different reason* I don't think I've ever met anyone by that name...
Destiny: *as she snuggles Mama* Never met Sharpshot, but Sharpshot knew of you.
Magnus-holo: *Frowns more, is trying to find any mention of someone named 'Sharpshot' in his memory banks*
Kia: *gently strokes Destiny's hair* *quietly* Destiny is a younger identical twin. She was created when her sister's spark was subjected to unprecedented stresses.
Magnus-holo: ...*concerned*
Sgt. Madison: ...Does this have something to do with the Stark facility?
Destiny: *Expression darkens into a scowl* Is bad place. Sister hurt there... Got away for awhile...
Kia: *soothing clicks and a warning look for Sgt. Madison* It does. *her tone does not invite discussion*
Sgt. Madison: *quick nod, understands he's not to continue discussing the matter*
Destiny: *more scowl, snuggles Mama and clicks quietly*
Kia: Sgt. Madison, will you take this to Sora? *writes a quick note and folds it into an intricate shape* She's in the gymnasium with the rest of the creche. You may accompany him if you like, Ultra Magnus.
Sgt. Madison: *nods, reaching for the note*
Magnus-holo: *there's that look of shock again at the thought of there being a creche*
Kia: *gives him the note, and then chuckles as as little chirp announces that Ravage is now stropping against Madison's ankles* You may escort them, Ravage, and see to it that they do not inadvertently turn astray.
Ravage: Mumur. ^_^
Magnus-Holo: ... *raised brow*
Sgt. Madison: *offering scritches to Ravage, amusement clear on his face*
Kia: Ravage is also Cybertronian, though it pleases her greatly to assume the persona of a Terran feline.
Ravage: *much bitty purrrrrrr. Loves you, Madison!*
Sgt. Madison: ... *soft snerk* Well, she's cute....
Kia: I'm sure her mate, Steeljaw, would agree.
Magnus-holo: ... Blaster's brats are still up and running?
Kia: *looks up with a delighted smile that he remembers the recorders* They are indeed. And all are present here at the facility.
Magnus-holo: And nobody's tried punting them? *seems amazed by this*
Kia: *blink blink blink* My stars no.
Magnus-holo: *actually laughs about that*
Kia: But you have a message to deliver. *gentle sternness*
Sgt. Madison: *Nods, giving Kia a crisp and proper salute, before he's moving to try and usher Magnus-holo out the door*
Ravage: *runny runny runny, JUMP! and climb the Madison so she can sit on his shoulder! Must show the way*
Sgt. Madison: *Snerks about that, will scritch Ravage's ears*
Ravage: *bitty song and rubs her cheek on him*
gym: *noisy when they get there. Hungry youngsters busy chasing each other around as they wait to eat and one not-so-youngster perched up on the mats again as she watches over them*
Magnus-holo: *Slowing to a stop when he hears how noisy the gym is, a slightly distant look on his face as he recognizes that yes, this is a creche*
Sgt. Madison: *entering the gym and looking around to try and locate Sora*
Firebreak: *gets Sgt. Madison by the leg* I safe! Me Firebreak am safe!
Ember: THRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPT!!!!
Sgt. Madison: *chuckles and offers to pick Firebreak up*
Firebreak: 0.o *clicky clicky squeal!*
Ravage: *hops down and scoots into the sparklet fray, checking for her mate*
Steeljaw: *getting loved upon by Sarah, has a few bows tied to his fur*
Ravage: *wants some of that loving! Rub rub purr chirp*
Sarah: *Will pick Ravage up and cuddle*
Sandra: *trying to get Simon to tussle with her*
Magnus-holo: *hunkers down and clicks to Firebreak*
Simon: *wants to cuddle baby sister instead*
Raoul: *over there when he hears Firebreak squeal, even faster than Autumn can move* Hey! What're you doin'?
Firebreak: *looks at Raoul, and then looks at holo-Magnus. Click click click* You different 'Bot.
Magnus-holo: My name is Ultra Magnus.... I'm just here to visit...
Sgt. Madison: *To Raoul, as he holds the folded note out* Kia asked me to give this to Sora... Is she here?
Raoul: *stink eye for Madison, and then jerks his head toward the silent brunette up on the mat pile*
Firebreak: *cocks head and frowns* Just here to visit. Gonna go 'way?
Sgt. Madison: *Carefully trying to detatch Firebreak from his leg, intends to go over to Sora to give her the note*
Sora: *climbing down without a word, will come over*
Magnus-holo: I don't really know right now... I'm hoping I can stay...
Firebreak: *gonna get holo-Magnus' leg* You stay! Is 'Bot place here!
Thundersong: *stops in the middle of chasing Hotspot* Me 'Song am big mean SEEKER!
Hotspot: *Razzes Thundersong* You 'Song silly!
Thundersong: Me am big mean Seeker. And you, 'Spot, are little mean Seeker!
Bert: *coming over to check out the guy talking to Firebreak*
Autumn: *Also coming over, though she's making it look like she's just trying to find out what Sgt. Madison is giving Sora*
Sora: *eyeing Sgt. Madison warily, before she accepts the note and scampers over to the bleachers to unfold and read it*
Raoul: *to holo-Magnus* So where've you ben hidin'? *suspicious kid is suspicious*
Magnus-holo: Along the I-95 corridor... When I haven't been parked to recharge...
Bert: What'd you say your name was again? I didn't catch it for the noise in here.
Magnus-holo: *looks over at Bert, eyes wide* Brawn? Is that you?
Bert: *blink blink* Magnus?
Sgt. Madison: *gets Seekerlinged in the background*
Magnus-holo: *nods, grinning ear to ear* It's been awhile...
Autumn: *Slight frown, moving to stand a bit closer to Bert now, doesn't recognize the name or the voice*
Bert: You can say that again. *puts an arm around the little brunette* Autumn, I want you to meet Ultra Magnus, one of the greatest Autobot defense units ever built. And one that stayed true even after Megatron turned.
Magnus-holo: *Raised brow* *pings Bert's comm* //Is she a native?//
Bert: *chuckle* //She's one of us. She just came online a lot later than you and I did, and spent most of her time guarding her creche.//
Autumn: *hesitantly offers her hand* Creche guardian Bumblebee... It's a pleasure to meet you, Ultra Magnus.
Magnus-holo: *Shakes Autumn's hand, giving the petite brunette a friendly smile* Likewise...
Bert: *looks over at Thundersong, who is howling because she can't transform* 'Song! Clam up! The last thing we need is a little jet flying around in here. Lunch'll be here soon.
Thundersong: *sit on Madison and pout*
Sgt. Madison: *Wishes she wouldn't sit on him, but can't do much about it, as his arms are pinned by Ember and Hotspot*
Firebreak: *butt bouncing as she sits on the man's legs*
WJ: *peeking at the Seeklets from behind Beau, and giggling about what they're doing*
Raoul: *will go over and talk to the Seeklets, trying to urge them to let the Sgt. up*
Magnus-holo: ... So how many of these guys are Seeklets?
Bert: Just Sunstreaker and Skywarp's bunch, and that little femme there. Those three are Dinobots. WakeJumper's just a standard model, and.... *counts noses* Did I forget anybody?
Autumn: Destiny's in the med ward with Rachel right now...
Bert: Right. Beau and Raoul are Tracks' human kids. And Sundog's with the Squadron, and Grimlock's being repaired.
Magnus-holo: *nods*
Autumn: Oh! And Soli... She's with Elita-One right now...
Bert: Right right. Not used to having her. Still, after all that screaming you think I'd remember.
Magnus-holo: *Raised brow* Screaming?
Raoul: *back with a Firebreak on one hip and an Ember on the other* Soli's gotta temper.
Firebreak: *loves you, Raoul!*
Ember: *Snuggling Raoul*
Thundersong: *still sitting on the nice Sgt. Will tickle!*
Sgt. Madison: Ack!
WJ: *scrambling down from the bleachers to grab Thundersong*
Raoul: Ack! *quickly hands off two Seeklets, apologizing to the little guys as he does so, then hurries to help WakeJumper*
Autumn: *can has Ember*
Firebreak: *has a Magnus holo!* :D
Oriana: *unfolds from her garbage can shape to see what all the laughing is about*
Bert: Oh yeah. I forgot the big one.
Simon: *also wants to help rescue the human, but has baby sister at present*
Sandra: *has decided that snuggles are okay... for now*
Autumn: *Clicks to Oriana as she bounces Ember on her hip*
Sarah: *Clicks and moves to help Raoul and WakeJumper*
Thundersong: *pouty Seeklet, but then perks as she sees Sunshine at the door* Lunch! Me 'Song see lunch!
Sunstreaker: *In full-sulk mode due to not being allowed to go help his mate and eldest sparklet*
Firebreak: *bouncing in holoMagnus' arms* Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!
Sunstreaker: *beeline to Firebreak, giving Magnus-holo a wary look*
Seamus: *Protesting this, since Sunstreaker just put more food on the trays he was carrying*
Firebreak: *jump to Daddy!* Nom!
Ember: *Squeaks and wiggles, wants noms too!*
Sunshine: *ear twitch for holoMagnus, and then starts setting out plates on the bleachers. It's mostly organic goodies today, except for the big plate for WakeJumper, which holds a cake of energon and calcien topped with energon 'syrup'*
WJ: *grins and clicks to Thundersong, suggesting that they go get some lunch and let the human go for now*
Thundersong: Me 'Song like nom. *getting up and going to look into her bowl of Alphagetti*
Bert: *looks at the fare, which is canned pasta shapes and grilled cheese sandwiches* ...Alice took a turn in the kitchen, didn't she?
Autumn: *also looking at the meal* Looks like it... If Javan had cooked, the sandwiches would have ham or beef in them.
Magnus-holo: *Raised brow*
WJ: *making a slight face as he pokes at his meal*
Bert: Alice is Arcee, and Javan's Jazz. ...You remember Jazz, don't you?
Raoul: *looks up from praying over his meal* Hey, WakeJumper, what's wrong?
Magnus-holo: ...*headshake* Some of my memory files got wiped when I arrived...
Bert: Slag. *frowns and then shoots Autumn a guilty look*
WJ: *points to the thick energon cake* It's harder than it should be... :/
Raoul: *frowns at it* It too hard to eat?
WJ: Dunno... *will try and eat it anyways*
Raoul: *watches little brother to see if he's able to eat it*
WJ: *working on eating the bite he took... though it's taking him a bit longer than normal*
Raoul: If you soak it in the syrup?
WJ: *gonna try that next*
Bert: *excusing himself to holoMagnus. Needs to go help sparklets eat*
Magnus-holo: *will ask Autumn for an explanation as she brings Ember over to get his food*
Bert: *looks up from spooning pasta into young mouths*
Oriana: *uninterested in the fact that the other younsters are all eating. Is busy exploring a dustbunny*
Autumn: *Explaining about the modifications Perceptor came up with, trailing off for a moment* Wait a minute... Don't you have them already?
Bert: *obligingly eating a bite of sandwich from Thundersong, then offers Hotspot another spoonful of pasta as he listens to Autumn and Magnus*
Simon: *nabs Seamus. Wants him to come eat with the Dinobots and Sora*
Sora: *Settling next to Simon, shares what the note said. Rachel was awake for a little while, and up and about earlier, but now she's resting again*
Simon: :o *going to hug Seamus now!*
Sandra: Her Mama be okay, right?
Sora: *nods, smiling a bit* If Rachel was feeling well enough to be up and about for a little while, she'll be fine.
Sarah: *grins, will snuggle Sandra*
Seamus: *makes like he can't breathe, is really just a bit squished*
Simon: *very happy! But then frowns* Note say anything about him Greg?
Sora: Um... *looks at it again*
Simon: *hopeful look*
Sora: *headshake, frowning*
Magnus-holo: *headshake as he moves to sit by the Dinobots and Sora* This is just a hologram....
Autumn: *concerned now* Oh... Where're you parked? *going on a hunch*
Magnus-holo: Out front... the red semi that's out there.
Firebreak: *distracted from trying to feed Daddy* Big red semi?
Simon: Him Grimlock hurt. *wibble and hug Seamus*
Raoul: *offering Madison a sandwich*
Magnus-holo: *To Simon* Red Alert and Wheeljack were working on him... He'll be okay.
Sgt. Madison: *sitting up and thanking Raoul for the sandwich, looks a bit rumpled, but is otherwise unharmed*
Beau: *trying to help WakeJumper break the remaining cake into pieces*
Raoul: *nods to Sgt. Madison, then gives Simon a reassuring shoulder squeeze* Hey, he's tough, right?
Simon: *nod. Wibble. Hug Seamus*
Firebreak: *throws pasta at holoMagnus* Me Firebreak talk too!
Magnus-holo: *Acks as he's pasta'd*
Samuel: *Facepalming*
Seamus: Heeey! Ten points! *laughs*
Bert: *gives Seamus a Look* Firebreak, that's food, not ammo. A big red semi is a truck.
Firebreak: *pause* Big red truck like him Joe?
Sora: *nods* Yup. *gonna nom her sandwich now, taking small, neat bites*
Firebreak: *happy, excited squeal and flail. Sandwich goes right at Daddy's nose*
Samuel: *Acks* Hey!
Seamus: Twenty! *yelps when Samuel beans him with a fork*
Bert: *socks the nearest twin* Knock that off, you too.
Magnus-holo: ... *Snerks*
Bert: *looks at him* What?
Ravage: *nose in Sora's bowl of pasta*
Magnus-holo: I just never imagined you, of all mechs, would become a creche guardian.
Bert: *blinks* Oh. That's Ratchet's fault.
Steeljaw: *joining Ravage in nomming Sora's pasta*
Magnus-holo: ... How so?
Bert: *chuckle* You try staying with her for any length of time and not wanting to help her keep track of all her kids and cassettes and drones.
Steeljaw: *looks over at that, razzes Bert*
Sunshine: *comes back to check on everyone* Ah. I see ve need a bit more. I'll be vright back. *off to the cafeteria on a second food run*
Sgt. Madison: *watching all of this and wondering whether he should've taken that offer of a desk job*
Bert: You know I'm right, Steeljaw. *gives sandwich to the nearest hungry youngster*
Beau: *thanks Bert, noms sandwich*
WJ: *frowns when he realizes he's out of syrup*
Raoul: *frowns too, and uses his radio to let Sunshine know*
Autumn: Now I know why Petra or Javan always insisted on cooking...
Sunshine: *coming back then, and the new HEAP of sandwiches is redolent of ham*
Autumn: ... *SNERK*
Beau: Mr. del Sol must've chased Miss Tringham outta th' kitchen... *amused*
Raoul: *looks at one of the new sandwiches* Hey, this' wheat bread, 'n that 'jack' cheese with the spicy stuff in it! *grins and starts passing them out to the bigger sparklets*
Sunshine: *also has a big serving bowl of the pasta. Only this time the pasta is beefaroni*
Beau: *helps distribute sandwiches after nabbing one of the sandwiches for himself*
WJ: *hopeful clicks*
Sunshine: *has a bowl of sweet energon for him to dip his cake in* Here, VakeJumper. This vill help.
WJ: *smiles* Thanks! :)
Sunshine: *gentle chuckle, and looks over her shoulder as her own daughter returns from her meal*
Naomi: *bounces over to tender assistance to Samuel*
Starscream: *over an open frequency* //Constructicon threat has been effectively neutralized. Alpha Squadron will be returning to base shortly.//
Firebreak: *Beefaroni she was aiming at Daddy's nose instead gets flung high* UNCLE SCREAM!
Thundersong: Yay!
Steeljaw: *hurrying over to nom the flung beefaroni*
Brandon: *is the sound of laughter out in the hallway*
Simon: *squishes Seamus* Yay, him Uncle Scream come home!
Seamus: ...He sounds so smug about it... *rolling eyes a bit*
Bert: *gets up to go check out that laughter* Blaster, leave them alone! Come say hi to Magnus.
Brandon: ...Are you pulling my leg, Brawn?
Rodney: *supporting Lisa as well as he can, is still a bit tipsy-looking himself*
Bert: No. His holoform's in there with the kids. Roddy, you need to go the other way... actually, go back to bed. I'll get you room service.
Rodney: We've spent the last week in bed, Brawn...
Lisa: *Faint blush as she nods* We just woke up about an hour ago and we're both really hungry and we thought we were going the right way but we got turned around and Blaster's not any help...
Bert: So sit on the couch. Seriously. I'll get someone to bring you something.
Naomi: *on her feet and out the door* I'll help!
Brandon: *ducking into the gym to see what Bert's talking about*
Thundersong: *decided to sit on holoMagnus and lean against him as she noms her new sandwich*
Magnus-holo: *To Lisa and Rodney, has a Thundersong on his lap* Congratulations you two.
Ravage: *dances up on tiny pittypaws to greet Brandon*
Brandon: *will scoop Ravage up and offer cuddles before he gives Magnus-holo a "Bhuh?!" look*
Ravage: *databursts him information about the damaged mech even as she cuddles and sings her bitty purr*
Brandon: *Very slight wince as he nods* *Quietly* Mech's a legend... I'm glad he's not one of those dead ones...
Magnus-holo: I can hear you, you know.
Steeljaw: *Snerk, amused kitty is amused*
Ravage: *cute look for holoMagnus*
Naomi: *will guide the newly-weds to the cafeteria*
Thundersong: *making her own small purrs as she snuggles holoMagnus and nods off*
Magnus-holo: *expression softens a bit as he gently rubs Thundersong's back*
Thundersong: *trusting sparklet curls up still holding her sandwich and goes to sleep on the nice grown up*
Autumn: *"D'aww"s softly*
Simon: *lets Seamus go and rubs his eyes, then eats more* Me Simon go see him Greg soon.
Seamus: *will now start trying to carefully clean off Ember after the sparklet decides to go to sleep on his plate*
Col. Franklin: *calls to Sgt. Madison to report to the front door of the lodge*
Sgt. Madison: *Will get up after responding and saying he'll be there ASAP*
Simon: *waves goodbye to Sgt. Madison*
Oriana: *does too, though she's not got much clue about what it means*
A few moments later, by the front door of the lodge...
Col. Franklin: *standing there in his big parka, looking at Joe, who has smoke coming out from under his hood*
Joe: I'll be fine, really.
Lt. Wesson: *trying to sneak off*
Sgt. Madison: Sir?
Col. Franklin: I see you, Sgt. Lt. Wesson, you had better be reporting to the med ward. *frowwwn*
Lt. Wesson: I'm not.... *shoulders droop* Yes, sir. *turns and limps inside. One side of his parka is red*
Col. Franklin: *radios Kia to let her know she has an incoming, his frown turning to a scowl as he sees that red*
Sgt. Madison: *holding the door open for Lt. Wesson, concern clear on his face*
Optimus: *Coming over to check on Joe* Pop your hood, Joe.
Joe: *does so obediently* I just took a hit to the cooling system.
Lt. Wesson: *nods to Sgt. Madison, then stumbles slightly and clenches his jaw*
Sgt. Madison: :/ *torn between waiting for orders and helping a fellow soldier. Thankfully, he's not torn for very long, as ENS. Falman hurries over to help Lt. Wesson*
Lt. Wesson: I'm okay. I don't need help. *Continuing his slow and dogged way toward the med ward*
Col. Franklin: *sees Falman and nods, looks at Sgt. Madison* Will you give Optimus a hand, Sergeant?
Sgt. Madison: *nods* Yessir. *will come over to help Optimus, is still a bit uncertain about the mech*
Joe: *flinching slightly as Optimus touches a damaged cooling tube* Ouch....
Optimus: *Quietly apologetic as he works*
ENS. Falman: *To Lt. Wesson* Are you sure, sir?
Lt. Wesson: I'm walking, right? *not sarcastic, just his usual quiet and easy tempered self*
ENS. Falman: *lips thin slightly as he nods*
Lt. Wesson: Go see if you can help with Joe. He took a pretty bad hit.
ENS. Falman: *nods, saluting* Yessir. *will go and get a toolkit from the garage first, however*
Bumblebee: *looks up as he comes in, then returns her attention to the last bits of welding on Greg's leg*
ENS. Falman: *gets what he needs quickly and heads back out right away*
Joe: Do you want me to transform, Optimus?
Optimus: Depends... where are you hit at?
Joe: Right where earth trucks have their radiator.
Magnus-truck: *Sympathetic sound*
ENS. Falman: Where is that located when you are in robot mode?
Joe: My chest.
Optimus: *slight wince* It'd be easier to get to with you staying in vehicle mode...
Joe: Yes, sir. *coughs slightly, smoke billowing out*
ENS. Falman: *Getting a bottle of coolant out of the toolkit, as well as some stop-leak for radiators*
Wander: *comes out a few moments later to watch the four men working and/or looking under Joe's hood* Merlin just fell asleep in his tomato goop. What's going on? *ducks as the Seekers go over*
Optimus: Just repairing a cooling unit... *tells Starscream over comms that he wants to talk to him after things have settled down, gets an affirmative answer*
ENS. Falman: *is an efficient and careful worker*
Col. Franklin: *quietly, in the meantime* Sgt. Madison, I hear you visited the creche. What do you think?
Sgt. Madison: It's... interesting... and noisy. *chuckles a bit*
Wander: Oh. Hey, do any of you guys know a big, dark blue and white guy who wears a 'Con badge?
Optimus: *Freezes, giving Wander a wide-opticed look*
Col. Franklin: *nods and smiles* What are your thoughts so far about the Cybertronian people?
Wander: Uh... what'd I say?
Sgt. Madison: They're an interesting group of people...
Optimus: Th...that's Soundwave... *if he were in alt-mode, he'd be pale. As it is, he's going to have to sit down now, since his legs are shaking*
Wander: *gives him a wide-eyed look of her own* That's bad?
Col. Franklin: *turns his head quickly as Optimus sits down* Patrick?
Optimus: Soundwave... is somewhere around here... *trying to calm down, remembering what the mech in question said about the safety of the Autobots*
Wander: Oh really? When I saw him he was hanging out with a little silver femme and a couple even littler red 'n blue guys, over in gamma centaria sector.
Optimus: ... How long ago was that?
Wander: Before I picked up the cyberslaargs.
Optimus: ... So it was awhile ago?
ENS. Falman: *listening without seeming to as he works on patching Joe's coolant system*
Wander: *nods* I think I'd just heard that Cybertron was at war and not with the guys with all the faces.
Col. Franklin: *frowning* So why are you bringing this up now, Wander?
Wander: Oh, that silver femme that's here just reminded me of that one. *bends down to pick up a lump of snow*
Optimus: ... Kia? *raised brow ridge*
Wander: The one that turns into the light coloured alt, and uses the big words.
Col. Franklin: *frown frown*
Magnus-truck: Huh...
Col. Franklin: *looks over* Ultra Magnus?
Magnus-truck: I can't find any record of a Decepticon matching Wander's descriptions... Probably in the parts that got wiped, knowing my luck...
Optimus: *Frowning and giving Magnus a Look*
Wander: ...Were you around there then? *curious and clueless*
Magnus-truck: If I was, I don't remember it.
Wander: Oh. Okay. *so used to forgetting things herself that she doesn't even blink* *turns back to Optimus* And the two little bots were punching each other in the head and talking tough.
Optimus: *nods* Rumble and Frenzy.... They were twins...
Col. Franklin: *quietly* And now Frenzy's here....
Optimus: *another nod* He's in Arcee's care...
Wander: Anyway. *grins* I better go see what Candid and Frank are getting into. *turns to head back inside*
Irene: *from inside* THIS IS NOT CHEESE!
Optimus: ... *Face.Palm*
Magnus-truck: .... Do I want to know?
Alice: *from inside* Gimme back my squeeze cheese!
Irene: NOT CHEESE! *sound of an aerosol can being let off*
Wander: Whoa....
Optimus: *pinching the bridge of his nose*
Wander: *shuts the door on the rest of the conversation then*
Col. Franklin: *quietly* Ironfist was one of the people who were taken by Stark Enterprises. Her personality matrix was... damaged... by her ordeal.
Joe: At least she's not putting the squeeze cheese up Javan's nose.
Optimus: ... Don't say that... It'll happen.
Joe: *quiet meep*
Sgt. Madison: ... *lips thin* I was aware that someone with ties to Destiny was also taken by Stark Enterprises...
Col. Franklin: Destiny's twin sister. *nods*
Sgt. Madison: *nod, seriousness and concern flickering in his dark eyes*
Optimus: *nods, sighing a bit* I just wish we could have helped Hound as well...
Col. Franklin: *quietly* You said that our... visitors... from the other night said that it was his time.
Optimus: *nods* *quietly* That doesn't mean I have to like the fact, Colonel....
Col. Franklin: I know. *he doesn't either*
Joe: Do you think someone should ask Kia about what Wander remembered?
Optimus: I think that'd be a good idea... but right now, we need to get your cooling system repaired, Joe.
Joe: Yes, sir.
Bumblebee: *comes hobbling over, leaning on her cane* You guys need any help? I've finished what I can do for Grimlock.
Optimus: Joe's cooling system got hit... We've got something to patch it temporarily... But that won't do for the long term....
Bumblebee: *turns her head and coms Red Alert, asking if they don't have good patching stuff*
Red Alert: //We do... Just let me finish sealing this line and I'll be out to help.//
Bumblebee: *quiet, helpful insistence* //I can get it. Optimus and Col. Franklin are working on him. Just tell me where to get the stuff.//
Red Alert: //The medbay has some... I'm sending Wheeljack there with Grimlock so Grimlock can rest with Rachel.//
Bumblebee: *promptly folds up, and her petite holoform with the cropped black hair darts inside*
Magnus-truck: ... *soft sound almost like a 'heh'*
Joe: Ultra Magnus, sir, did you say something?
Magnus-truck: Huh? Oh, no. Don't mind me. *is almost wishing he could transform. Then he'd be able to help out.*
holo-Bee: *PINpoints back out with the good patching material and brings it over, then stops as she passes in front of Magnus* ...I'll get you some energy in a couple minutes, okay?
Magnus-truck: Alright...
holo-Bee: *offers the stuff to Optimus, her eyes lowered shyly*
Red Alert: *coming out of the garage after Wheeljack transforms to comfort Greg and wrap the sparklet in blankets*
Optimus: Thanks... *nods to Red Alert when the medic comes over*
holo-Bee: *defers to the better trained medic and vanishes*
Bumblebee: *transforms, and then limps to get some fuel for Ultra-Magnus*
Red Alert: *Scanning Joe and muttering about the Constructicons. No, it's not anything polite. No, the mun will not translate it from Gaelic*
Joe: *nervous shift on his shocks*
Optimus: *will facepalm now* Red Alert...
Red Alert: *will start repairing Joe's coolant system now*
Col. Franklin: *quietly orders Falman and Madison to go help Bumblebee. Doesn't like to see her limping around like that*
Sgt. Madison and ENS. Falman: *Salute and go to help Bumblebee*
Joe: I'm really sorry to be so much trouble....
Red Alert: You're not trouble, Joe. You didn't ask the Constructicons to shoot at you.
Serenity: *coming out of the garage to see if she can help somehow*
Bumblebee: *toting a tarpful of oil drums full of diesel over to Magnus, Falman and Madison will be able to hear her creaking as she goes*
Sgt. Madison: *moving to help Bumblebee with an oil drum, as is ENS. Falman*
Bumblebee: *mildly and gently* I have it, guys. You'll hurt yourselves.
Sgt. Madison: It's our job to offer assistance, Ma'am.
Bumblebee: *hesitates, but then lowers the tarp a little so that they can reach it more easily*
Sgt. Madison and ENS. Falman: *Work together to carefully roll one of the oil drums over to where Magnus-truck is*
Bumblebee: *carries the rest, her frame protesting creakily with every step*
Joe: *small worried sound*
Magnus-truck: *concerned sound*
Sgt. Madison and ENS. Falman: *will go and offer to get the other drums*
Bumblebee: I'm okay, Joe. *softness in her voice as she speaks to the firetruck* *looks at the soldiers* I'm okay. I have it, and I'm nearly there.
Joe: Bumblebee, you know your frame's not as strong as it should be. *fretting*
Bumbebee: *mildly* I'm being careful.
Red Alert: *finishing repairs* There. Now give that time to settle fully.
Bumblebee: *sets down the laden tarp and takes a moment to just stand and lean on her cane. Her face isn't very humanoid, but it's probably clear that the femme is hurting at least somewhat*
Joe: *distracted* Yes, sir. ...Can I transform?
Red Alert: Be careful when you do. *will go over to Serenity to gently fuss over her now, and be fussed over*
Joe: *transforms to bot in a flash and is over there putting his arms around Bumblebee*
Magnus-truck: *startled sound, even as ENS. Falman works on getting him hooked up to one of the oil drums*
Bumblebee: *protesting quietly that she's alright*
Joe: *will let nothing stop him from helping her over to where an ornamental boulder sticks out of a snow bank near Magnus' radiator and making sure she's seated*
Col. Franklin: *looks at Magnus as he hears the sound* *quietly* They're not from this reality.
Magnus-truck: .... *slight stall as he works this over*
Red Alert: *concerned, moves to scan the truck, before his legs give out on him due to shock*
Col. Franklin: *hurries to catch the medic* Red Alert?
Red Alert: *To Magnus* [Why didn't you say anything?!]
Magnus-truck: *seems to sink on his shocks just a bit* *quietly* [It doesn't matter...I'm able to survive...]
Joe: [We have the stuff to repair you with, sir. As soon as Red Alert gives me the clearance to make the trip I can go get a protoform from our new base.] *absently cuddles Bumblebee as he talks*
Red Alert: *To Joe* [Later this evening.]
Optimus: ... *wondering to himself whether anyone's going to ask his opinion on the matter, decides it's more important that Magnus get repaired fully*
Magnus-truck: [Why bother? There're probably mechs and femmes who need it more than I do.]
Serenity: *Frowning at Magnus*
Bumblebee: [That's not true, sir.] *then goes wide-eyed and hides her face on Joe*
Sgt. Madison: *quietly, to Franklin* Sir? What are they saying?
Col. Franklin: *wry look* My Cybertronian is limited to 'I am a baby. I am your friend' and 'Hello'.
Sgt. Madison: ...Oh.... *more frown as Serenity gently scolds Magnus*
Magnus-truck: *IS sinking down on his shocks! Isn't used to being scolded by a femme, clearly*
Red Alert: *telling Joe what else besides a protoform to grab when he goes*
Joe: *listening intently and nodding*
Kia: //Optimus and Col. Franklin? I'm happy to report that Lt. Wesson only had a rather messy flesh wound and a mildly sprained knee, and that the crimson stain he bore was entirely inorganic in nature. He's resting at present.//
Optimus: *relieved* //Thank you for informing us, Kia.//
Kia: //And also my mate is recovering nicely from his close encounter with alphagetti.// *chuckle*
Optimus: //How late was he awake last night?//
Kia: //Ah... I'm afraid we lost track of the time.//
Optimus: *amused sigh* //Just remember that you two do need to recharge... And that you can respond to forum messages after you've recharged.//
Kia: //Yes, Optimus.// *soft, meek. And amused.*
ENS. Falman: *very slight smile as he goes to put tools away*
Sgt. Madison: ... What just happened, sir?
Col. Franklin: *looks at him* We're going to have to get your earbud. Kia just reported that Lt. Wesson's injuries were minor and that he's resting now. *leaves out the part about Merlin falling asleep in his lunch, deciding that Madison will probably witness it himself before too many days have passed*
Sgt. Madison: *nods* That's good news.
Col. Franklin: I knew it couldn't be as bad as it looked. Lt. Wesson's not as pig-headed as some members of his squad. *slight smile as he glances at Optimus, looking to share the joke*
Optimus: *soft snerk, will refrain from commenting on that*
Col. Franklin: *serious again as he turns back* Sgt. Madison, for now I want you to take your meals in the civilian cafeteria, so that you can get to know the Cybertronians better.
Sgt. Madison: *Nods, saluting* Yessir.
Col. Franklin: Unless I miss my guess lunch is just finishing up.
Optimus: More than likely... *attention going to Red Alert and Serenity when the couple approaches him*
Col. Franklin: *nods to Madison* Dismissed.
Sgt. Madison: *Another salute* Yessir. *will go and see if there's any lunch left*
Serenity: *Quietly* [Sir... Would it be possible for Red Alert and myself to have a week off?]
Optimus: *raised brow which climbs even higher as he sees how Serenity is holding Red Alert's hand* *Just as quietly* [Talk to Dr. House and Rachel about it... I'll see what I can do to keep things quiet.]
Red Alert: *nods, before transforming and moving to guide Serenity inside*
Joe: *watches them soberly, his arm still around Bumblebee*
Col. Franklin: We need to call another meeting and debrief Alpha Squadron. We can talk to the ground units later, when Greg, Jack, and John have recovered.
Optimus: *nods* I'll go see if I can convince Greg and Jack to head inside... It'll be better for Greg if he rests where it's warmer.
Col. Franklin: Maybe some time with his mother will calm him down. *frowns as he thinks of the night before, then looks at Magnus* Where's your holodriver?
Magnus-truck: *chuckles* Inside, with the creche.
Col. Franklin: *brows lift quizzically*
Magnus-truck: One of the sparklets is using it as a pillow.
Optimus: *Snerks*
Col. Franklin: *slight grin* Which one?
Magnus-truck: I think she said her name was Thundersong...
Col. Franklin: *chuckle* If you don't mind I'd like you there at both meetings. You can bring her along to this first one. Her parents will be there.
Magnus-truck: Alright...
Optimus: Make sure you tell Autumn, or she and Bert will fuss. *chuckles before heading to the garage to talk to Jack*
Joe: *watches him go, then turns back to Bumblebee* *softly* You'd better get back inside where it's warm.
Bumblebee: *still leaning against him. Looks like she wants to stay that way, but she nods*
Col. Franklin: *quietly assures Magnus that he'll be alright soon, and then shows his familiarity with Cybertronian ways by giving him the coordinates to the room where they'll be meeting*
Magnus-truck: *quiet engine rumble to show that he understands, will guide his holoform that way once he's spoken to Autumn and Bert*
Col. Franklin: *turns to Joe and Bumblebee* It shouldn't be too long before we've got the new shell built for your little girl. *hesitate* Are you sure we couldn't do the same for you, Bumblebee?
Bumblebee: *quietly* I have to stay like this for now.
Col. Franklin: *nod* Alright. *turns and goes inside to grab lunch himself and then go to the debriefing room*
((co-written with random_xtras))