mbv, NEST HQ, Bounties and Returning Friends
Col. Franklin: .....
??: //Yo? Anybody hearin' this?//
Patrick: ... *brow twitching. He knows that voice* //Yes, we hear you.//
??: //Op???//
Col. Franklin: 0_o?
Patrick: *to Col. Franklin* Is there anyone here who has a large stick? *Coldly, to the person calling* //Yes, Lockdown?//
Emi: ... *giving Patrick a "Bhuh?" look*
Lockdown: *deep alto is full of amusement* //Hey, zat any way ta talk ta an old friend?//
Col. Franklin: *brows drawing together in surprise at Patrick's words*
Patrick: //Since when did I consider you a friend?// *brow still twitching*
Lockdown: //Hey, you useta hang on my every word 'n buy me energon goodies.//
Col. Franklin: *brows UP*
Emi: *Trying to figure out what's got her word-mate so miffed*
Patrick: //That was before you humiliated me, Lockdown.//
Lockdown: //Aww, the boyscout's grown a back strut. How cute!// *serious then* //You ever hear'a Insecticons?//
Patrick: ... //Insecticons?// *Is going to call a meeting*
Lockdown: //Yeah, somethin' like a 'Con, only runty 'n with real slaggin' big appetites.//
Patrick: //...// *To Col. Franklin* Let her in. I want to hear what she has to say, and then I'm chasing her off with the biggest stick I can find.
Col. Franklin: *still looking at him oddly even as he sends McHale's squad out to clear the gate*
Emi: ...Waitaminute... Lockdown... as in the Lockdown that Magnus shot at that one time because she... *trails off when she sees the Look Patrick is giving her* Oooh... *pats her wordmate on the back*
Col. Franklin: Patrick? *quizzical head tilt and brow quirk*
Patrick: *levelly, though his eyebrow is still twitching* Ex girlfriend.
Col. Franklin: *wince, even though he hasn't got any of those*
Patrick: *putting out a call over private comms for certain 'Bots and former 'Cons to meet him in the main meeting room in five breems*
Rachel: *static in reply, but does give a reply*
Storm: //Yessir!//
Patrick: //Alright.//
Skylar: //I'll be there.//
Petra: //Likewise, Sir.//
Jack: //I'll be there, with Rachel.//
Col. Franklin: *calling for Denver and Sunshine. Doesn't think that Denver will come, because of WakeJumper's surgery, but wants to let her know*
Denver: *concerned, asks Col. Franklin to keep her updated*
Col. Franklin: *finger in ear to talk to her* I'll do that, Denver. How's the surgery going?
Denver: //Tracks 's fussin' 'n frettin'... Ah don' blame 'im 'n th' least f'r 't.//
Col. Franklin: It should be over soon. *sympathy in his voice. Knows it would do no good to remind the parents of the youngbot that the operation's been done many times before with no complications*
Denver: //Yessir.// *yes, that's worry you hear in her voice, Col.*
Col. Franklin: Lucy and I are praying too. Franklin out.
Denver: //Th'nk y'u, Sir, MacKenzie out.//
Col. Franklin: *looks around as the Seekers enter, Sky with a fussy sleeping sparklet in her arms*
Skylar: *Right behind Sky*
Petra: *Following shortly after*
Sunshine: *comes in next and hunkers by the wall, her wings resting on the floor to either side of her as her ears perk curiously*
Col. Franklin: *frown* Skylar, what's wrong with... Ember? *not sure which boy baby that is, since they look so much alike*
Jack: *is the last to arrive, has Rachel in a wheelchair*
Skylar: He ate a crayon and it didn't agree with his tank... *is quite clearly almost beside himself with worry*
Rachel: *opens her eyes and turns her head with a frown from where she's laying in the reclining chair* Better get his tank flushed. When they're that small tank distress can bug them for days.
Ember: *Squirms in his sleep, is uncomfortable and unhappy*
Skylar: *Soothing clicks, reaches to gently smooth Ember's hair*
Rachel: *slight frown* No medics around? *glances to Jack*
Col. Franklin: *will let them figure this out before he calls for attention*
Jack: Russ and Serenity are asleep by now... and Perceptor's working on WakeJumper... Dr. House is helping him.
Rachel: And Kia?
Jack: Helping Perceptor.
Rachel: You don't need three people for an alt upgrade. Get Kia to tend Ember. *eyes close and she appears to be asleep then*
Jack: *pings Kia's comm*
Col. Franklin: *watches as Sunstreaker comes in from where he was all but glued to the door to snatch his ailing little son and carry him out to see the silver femme, Sky on his heels. Then looks back to Rachel as she stirs slightly in response to a soft beep from under her blankets*
Jack: *Soft clicks to Moofy when the drone peeks out*
Rachel: *sigh and snuzzles the little guy, and then opens her eyes again and looks at Skylar and Storm to see how they're reacting to Ember's being gone from the room*
Skylar: *biting his lip a bit*
Col. Franklin: *soft throat clearing*
Storm: *snaps to attention*
Skylar: *likewise*
Petra: *straightens*
Jack: *nods to Col. Franklin*
Col. Franklin: *surprised as always by how fast the Seekers respond* Alright, I guess we better get to the matter at hand before she gets to us.
Rachel: *eyebrows*
Patrick: Lockdown's here.
Rachel: *scowl* Orly?
Patrick: Ya, rly. *ignoring the Look he's getting from Emi*
Rachel: *scowl darkens* Why?
Patrick: Something about 'Insecticons'.
Jack: ... *quietly* ohslagmetwiceover.
Rachel: *looking green*
Skylar: ... *lips pressed thin*
Sunshine: Vill you fill us in, Patrick?
Patrick: I don't really know what they are... *concerned, will move to put a gentle hand on Rachel's shoulder*
Rachel: Jack. Spill. *sighs and cuddles Moofy*
Jack: *quiet as he explains what the Insecticons are, and how they came to be* They're another Quintesson experiment. Only instead of slaves this one was aimed at creating the perfect living weapon of destruction.
Skylar: *Grim as he nods in agreement to Jack's words*
Col. Franklin: What sort of weapon are we talking about here?
Rachel: Hungry.
Col. Franklin: *frowns* Explain?
Jack: They eat everything in their path.
Sunshine: *ears back* Tyranids....
Skylar: No... Smaller.
Jack: *nods, sighing quietly*
Rachel: And they spread like Arcee's cooking.
Patrick: ....
Skylar: Megsy hired 'em as a sort of 'shock force'...
Rachel: Wondered where they went. *expression grim*
Jack: *Gently rubbing Rachel's back*
Sunshine: *ears back* So this is very bad news, ja?
Skylar: *nods* If they're here, we'll have to deal with them as well as Megsy's little 'project'.... *sighs*
Col. Franklin: *face grim as he pokes himself in the ear and asks McHale his ETA*
McHale: //We're just now getting the protestors to make room, sir.//
Col. Franklin: Use the device I gave you the other day as soon as you're out of sight of the gate.
McHale: //Yessir... We've got a nutcase here yelling about hellfire and some great serpent....//
Col. Franklin: *frowns* What exactly is he yelling?
McHale: //Your usual "Demons are among us! They will corrupt our children!" spiel...//
Col. Franklin: Alright. Ignore him for now.
McHale: //Yessir.//
Private Halcomb: //Sir, he's yelling about a giant metal dragon disguised as a human...//
Col. Franklin: *expression goes grim* Thank you, Private.
McHale: //What should we do about that?//
Col. Franklin: Ignore him for now. I'll send someone to find out what exactly he's talking about.
Fluffy: *pops out of Rachel's blankets and crooks a tiny thumb at his chest*
Col. Franklin: 0.o How many drones are present at this meeting?
Jack: Moofy, Fluffy... *checks the blankets carefully* *Sighs* Lyra and Fred.
Lyra: *Quiet deedles, snuggles Moofy*
Col. Franklin: *looks at Patrick to see if he's alright with that*
Patrick: *nods, sighing a bit*
Fluffy: *looks at Patrick too* *sound clip* I don't got all day, ya know. Am I in or not?
Patrick: Don't let yourself be seen, Fluffy.
Fluffy: thrrpt *plays a sound clip about not being an amateur as he scrambles off the wheelchair*
Fred: *quiet beep to brother*
Patrick: If Lockdown spots you, run.
Fluffy: *hands on hips and a disgusted sound, acting like a little pro being questioned on his prowess. Plays a small clip from inside the Stark facility*
Patrick: ... *gives Col. Franklin a look.* Think that could count as a witness testimony?
Col. Franklin: Is he an adult? *watching the little drone closely as he slips out of the room through the door that Sunshine opens for him*
Jack: He's the first drone I built...
Rachel: Adult. *nodding and smirking slightly. She knows how smart her firstborn is*
Col. Franklin: *slow nod* They'd accept his testimony.
Patrick: *sighs* *quietly* I just hope that Sora can remember that the Stark people can't hurt her, even if they're in the same room again...
Col. Franklin: *grim again* We'll have to worry about that later. There's still the matter at hand.
Sunshine: *ears back again*
Emi: *nods* When we know more about where the Insecticons might be, then we'll have a better idea of how to handle 'em...
Skylar: Too bad we don't have any bugspray that'd work on them.
Col. Franklin: Wouldn't poison that worked on them also work on the rest of you? *frowns*
Rachel: *Scowl* Probably.
Skylar: *frown*
Rachel: *thinking* Need to study one.
Jack: *quietly* I just hope they don't come here. We have enough to deal with as it is.
Rachel: *frowning now*
Sunshine: But in order to study vone...?
Patrick: We'd need something they couldn't eat through...
Col. Franklin: *looks at Skylar* Does such a thing exist?
Skylar: ... I'm not sure, to be honest... But if you gave them something to eat regularly, you might be able to keep them confined...
Rachel: Stasis lock?
Jack: ... That might work....
Col. Franklin: *looking from Jack to Skylar* You said they could eat everything. Define 'everything'.
Skylar: ... Everything... *beginnings of a smirk as he thinks of something* Maybe we could get them to eat the mirrors around the sun?
Rachel: *snerk*
Jack: ... If we could trick 'em into it, I'm sure they would.
Sunshine: Can they fly? *one ear back, one flicking thoughtfully*
Skylar: I think so... It was awhile back that I last saw 'em...
Col. Franklin: *thoughtful frown*
McHale: *Suddenly out in the hallway with his squad and someone else*
Sunshine: *opens the door a moment after they appear*
Lockdown: Whoa! *surprised at the Captain's appearance*
McHale: *Salutes* Captain House.
Sunshine: *returns it* Danke, Major. You all may go back to your posts.
McHale and his squad: *Salute and then they're heading off to get back to what they were working on beforehand*
Sunshine: *holds door open wider and nods for Lockdown to enter, her solid white eyes studying the green, white, and black femme*
Lockdown: *walks in, still watching the unknown being warily*
Patrick: *brow twitching as he watches Lockdown*
Emi: *has a hand on Patrick's, is also watching Lockdown*
Col. Franklin: *also watching the femme, taking in her confident swagger even in the face of an unknown that obviously makes her wary* Captain House is a member of my organization.
Lockdown: *looks at him and lifts a browplate* 'N who're you?
Patrick: *coolly* This is Col. Franklin, head of NEST.
Lockdown: 'N what's NEST? *head tilted slightly as her green gaze shifts to him, calm and quizzical and still with that bit of smirk*
Col. Franklin: An organization dedicated to contacting and assisting those extra terrestrials who find themselves stranded on Earth.
Lockdown: *browplates raise* Hadn't thought you guys even knew there were other worlds.
Col. Franklin: Most don't.
Lockdown: Gotcha.
Patrick: *brow twitch* >:/
Rachel: Where're the bugs?
Lockdown: *gives her a measuring look, not sure if she needs to reply to this one or focus on the two guys behind the desks*
Patrick: *more brow twitch* *calmly* We need to know, Lockdown.
Lockdown: *jaw clenches* I dunno.
Rachel: *eyebrows*
Col. Franklin: *Frown*
Patrick: ...
Lockdown: I lost the trail at *gives the coordinates of a spot very near to where the battle with the Constructicons happened*
Patrick: ... [Slagging PIT.]
Col. Franklin: *glances at him, and uses fieldsign* {Think they're with the other Decepticon team?}
Lockdown: 'N they ain't the only team I tracked down here.
Rachel: *frowning*
Patrick: *Frowns, shrugging one shoulder slightly to indicate he's not sure about what Col. Franklin asked* *To Lockdown* What do you mean?
Lockdown: *slight smirk and lifts one hand to rub her fingers together*
Col. Franklin: *frown*
Emi: *Bluntly as she gets a cinnaSeeker out of storage* Don't be a git, Lockdown.
Lockdown: *smirking still, though there's a glint in her optics* Gal's gotta make a living.
Patrick: *flatly* Then get an honest job.
Lockdown: *shrugs, optics still glinting* I don't see yer little boyscouts goin' out 'n bringin' in the tough marks.
Emi: *puts the wrapped cookie on the table, but keeps her hand on it* Enough snarking at each other.
Lockdown: You want this info I get three thousand creds.
Rachel: >:\
Jack: *scowling darkly*
Fred: Thrrpt
Moofy: *Deedles*
Col. Franklin: And where do you suppose refugees are supposed to obtain that kind of funding?
Skylar: *arms crossed over his chest, is SORELY tempted to transform and grab Lockdown by the throat, but will be good*
Soundwave: //Attention, Lockdown: Any failure to assist Autobots will result in termination.//
Lockdown: 0.o
Skylar: *resisting the urge to smirk, as is Patrick*
Lockdown: *does smirk as she recovers herself* Yeah, kill the trec that lays the golden egg. See what it gets ya.
Patrick: *knows he's going to get kicked by Emi* Why Lockdown, you're not scared of Soundwave, are you?
Emi: *Yup. Just kicked Patrick's leg under the table*
Lockdown: *smirk grows* Nope. He kills me, 'n you don't git the intel.
Soundwave: //Statement incorrect.//
Lockdown: *suddenly doubles over, clutching her head*
Rachel: *sits up, her eyes wide*
Fred: *beeping with alarm*
Col. Franklin: *starting to his feet*
Patrick: *getting to his feet as well* Soundwave! Stop! *not that he knows where Soundwave is, but hey, can't hurt to try*
Soundwave: //Data essential. Lockdown not.//
Lockdown: *on the floor now*
Skylar: You'd risk the safety of your recorders for the information? *Said calmly* You off her, you're risking that safety, Soundwave.
Soundwave: //Statement incorrect.//
Skylar: Is it? You know how the Autobots are. They'll try and save her. *as Patrick moves to help Lockdown*
Emi: *also moving to help*
Soundwave: //Stunticon presence on Earth.// *link closes with a click*
Lockdown: *trembling, her optics dark*
Rachel: *trying to get up*
Jack: *won't let her*
Patrick: *trying to help his crechemate to her feet, scowling darkly*
Emi: *all but shoving the wrapped cinnaSeeker into Lockdown's hands*
Lockdown: *can't see or hear, lashes out blindly with the mod she was born with*
Col. Franklin: *startled sound as the lights go out*
Jack: Slag...
Skylar: What the frag was that?!
Rachel: *trying to scan the femme*
Lockdown: *trying to get away from the hands on her, but she's too weak to even stand*
Fred: *beeping*
Patrick: *Clicks quietly to Lockdown*
Moofy: *Deedling worriedly*
Lyra: *Echoing Moofy's deedles*
Rachel: She's blind and deaf.
Patrick: ... Slagging pit...
Rachel: Emi, link with her.
Emi: *nods, moves to do so*
Rachel: *unconsciously biting her lip with pain*
Sunshine: *has stepped forward to offer assistance to Patrick and Emilia in supporting the damaged femme*
Emi: *trying to be soothing, is also trying to reach Lockdown, has plugged her wrist cable into the other femme's port*
Lockdown: -The slag????- *frightened but fierce. Is used to being alone and watching her own back*
Emi: *soothingly, is a bit startled to feel just how ferociously independent Lockdown is* -Easy... You're safe.-
Lockdown: *dry* -It's never safe, lady.-
Emi: *bluntly* -You're safer now than you were a few minutes ago, Lockdown.-
Lockdown: *laughs at death*
Emi: *crossly* -Oh, knock that slag off right now. You're damaged, and we need to know what the frag you just did, and we need to know whether there's anything that might impede repairs.-
Lockdown: *still chuckling* -What I did was get my memory banks cut like a deck 'a cards.- *small urk of discomfort as blackness swirls across her awareness. Still isn't afraid*
Emi: *Scowling visibly* -Look. The power's out here, and we want to know why. We also want to know if you have anything on you that'd make repairing your sorry aft a lot harder than it needs to be.-
Lockdown: -Oh, the power. Right.- *concentrates despite sharp pain in her head, and the lights come back on* -Don't... call me... Lockdown... fer... nothin'...- *is out*
Emi: *looking a bit ill now*
Rachel: *shaking from her imprudent actions earlier*
Jack: *Gently fussing over her* *Quietly* [Maybe we should get you back to the med ward and laying down...]
Rachel: *small sound*
Fred: *worried about Mama*
Col. Franklin: Emilia?
Patrick: *Fussing over Emi now*
Emi: *Quietly* She's down for the count... *leaning against Patrick and trying to fight the feelings of dizziness*
Rachel: Tend. Tend Lockdown, Jack.
Jack: *nods* And we'll get you laying down as well, Rachel.
Rachel: Tend Lockdown.
Jack: *frowns, but will move to do so*
Moofy: *Quiet deedles as he snuggles Mama*
Col. Franklin: Did you learn anything? *has come over to put a hand under Emilia's elbow*
Sunshine: *has gone against the wall to be out of the way*
Emi: *as Patrick gently helps her disconnect her link cable* The power outtage was Lockdown's doing...
Patrick: *nods* *Quietly* That's why the creche guardians called her Lockdown... It was her first line of defense...
Col. Franklin: *frown* Anything else?
Emi: Soundwave got into her memory banks...
Jack: *after he scans Lockdown* Part of her memory banks're wiped, looks like...
Sunshine: So the information she vanted us to pay for vas that the Stunticons are on Earth? Vhat are Stunticons?
Skylar: Slaggers.
Col. Franklin: *quizzical look for Skylar*
Skylar: They're a group of cocky, egotistical Decepticons... *a bit quieter* They're also like the Aerialbots...
Col. Franklin: *Frown* In what way?
Patrick: They're a combiner team.
Emi: *Quietly* We asked Vector Sigma for the Aerialbots after Megatron asked for the Stunticons... *has her eyes closed as she's picked up by Patrick*
Col. Franklin: So they're young. *helping make sure Patrick has Emilia*
Patrick: They're a little older than the girls...
Rachel: Lot crazier.
Jack: *From where he's working on Lockdown* Yeah... And they don't get along nearly as well as the girls do... Must have something to do with Motormaster being the only girl in the group...
Rachel: And being 'Cons.
Skylar: That too.
Col. Franklin: So other than that they're just Decepticons like the Constructicons, and like Softshoulder?
Skylar: Softshoulder's just a grunt. These guys're some of Megsy's 'big guns'.... *slight scowl, still remembers nearly being stepped on by Menasor*
Col. Franklin: ...So why send them to Earth?
Rachel: *snerk* Get them out of his hair.
Patrick: *biting his lip and trying not to snicker*
Petra: *flatly as she breaks her silence* Five siblings who can't stand one another, and who only work together when there's stuff to be destroyed. They're not exactly welcome amongst their own faction.
Rachel: *vicious little smile* Megs got kids just. Like. Him.
Sunshine: *ears flicking in her version of a o.0 expression*
Patrick: *Can't help it. Snickers*
Emi: *Quietly* So did Patrick and I. *gonna have a bit of a rest now, kthx*
Jack: *Snerks*
Lockdown: *awake and aware, but hiding the fact*
Col. Franklin: .... *frown* I suggest we adjourn this meeting till tomorrow.
Patrick: Agreed...
Skylar: *nods and books it out of the room to go check on Ember*
Sunshine: Jack, do you need any hilf?
Jack: Getting Lockdown someplace quiet and dark so the repairs have a chance to take... *is just now finishing up on what he can do, wants to make sure Rachel's laying down very soon*
Sunshine: Do you vant me to take Lockdown or Rachel? *ears perked*
Jack: Lockdown, please. *will go to Rachel*
Sunshine: *gently scoops up the damaged femme, then points her ears down at her* She's avake.
Rachel: *hugging Moofy, Lyra, and Fred* Possum.
Lyra: *Quiet deedles*
Jack: Why am I not surprised? *will move to carefully get Rachel and the three drones out of the room*
Sunshine: *follows him*
Moofy: *Soft chirrup*
Patrick: *nods to Col. Franklin, will carry Emi out of the room, and to quarters so she can rest*
Col. Franklin: *looks after them as he hears Moofy's chirp, wondering who the drone has a lock on. Then turns to look at Petra*
Petra: *small smirk* Lockdown's not going to be able to hide in the area...
Col. Franklin: You're sure it was her he locked onto?
Petra: He already has everyone else stored in his memory banks.
Col. Franklin: *slight smile as he goes back to his chair* Do you know anything else about Lockdown, Insecticons, or Stunticons?
Petra: Besides the fact that Patrick has a lot of dislike for his crechemate?
Col. Franklin: *frown* Crechemate?
Petra: *nods* Lockdown and Patrick are roughly the same age...
Col. Franklin: So they have a lot of history. *frowns more deeply as he feels the hair on his arms prickle*
Petra: *looking around, eyes narrowed* Someone's here.
Col. Franklin: ...Another ghost? *also looking around now*
Petra: Feels like it... *Transforming and scanning*
Col. Franklin: *looks up and freezes, his eyes on a softly glowing ball of energy that's up in the corner of the ceiling* ...That looks just like a spark.
spark: *pulses a bit, giving the impression that it's slightly miffed at being spotted*
Prowl: *Frowns and moves to get a chair to stand on so he can reach the spark*
Col. Franklin: Be careful. *calling for Cybertronian backup*
Susana: *peeks in, curious* Sir?
Col. Franklin: *nods upward* *quietly* We seem to have a visitor.
Patrick: //What's wrong?//
Susana: *eyes wide, will move to help Prowl* *Soothing clicks to the spark, soft 'yeep!' when the spark decides it's had enough of being up in the corner and hitches a ride with her*
Col. Franklin: *finger in ear* One of your daughters just acquired a guest.
Patrick: //....// *will PINpoint back to the meeting room*
Prowl: *has his hands on Susana's shoulders as he looks at her* [Silverbolt? Are you alright?]
Susana: *blinking a bit*
Patrick: *over to try and help*
Col. Franklin: *standing and leaning over his desk, hands on its surface as he watches tensely*
Rain: *peeks through the open door*
Susana: *Very slight frown* *in a noticeably different accent than what she uses normally* [Prowl? What is going on?]
Prowl: ...
Patrick: .... *quietly* [Who are you?]
Susana: *more frown as she, or the passenger she suddenly acquired, studies Patrick*
Rain: ...She sounds like Tracks.
Prowl: *nods in agreement* Or someone from his creche...
Col. Franklin: Patrick, maybe you should transform.
Patrick: *small nod, transforms*
Susana: *Sharp rush of breath*
Rain: *slipping inside and coming over warily*
Col. Franklin: *brows lift at Susana/whoeveritis' response*
Susana: [Optimus Prime, sir... I didn't realize...]
Rain: *positions herself behind her new Warlord and frowns at Susana*
Optimus: *very slight frown* [Who are you?]
Susana: [Spy unit Mirage, reporting for duty, sir.]
Prowl: *optics flash*
Rain: *eyes narrow just slightly, though not with anger, as she remembers how much she had to pay for repairs the last time her team had encountered the legendary spy*
Col. Franklin: Optimus?
Optimus: *To Col. Franklin* Mirage... is one of ours... He was... offlined before we left Cybertron...
Col. Franklin: *coming over, his frown deepening*
Susana/Mirage: *Standing at attention, is clearly unsure about Col. Franklin and Rain*
Rain: *slight smirk when she sees this, but won't speak and interrupt the Warlord while she's in backhand range*
Optimus: [At ease, Mirage. I'd like to introduce you to one of the allies that the Autobots have on this planet...]
Susana/Mirage: *very slight shift in position* [Sir?]
Optimus: *indicates that Col. Franklin should move closer* [This is Col. Mike Franklin, of NEST.] *To Col. Franklin* Col. Franklin, I'd like you to meet Mirage.
Col. Franklin: *extends his hand to touch the shoulder in the Autobot way instead of offering to shake hands* Hi.
Susana/Mirage: *Very slight nod* [Hello.]
Prowl: *very soft snerk, mutters something about Mirage not changing much at all*
Optimus: *softly, to Col. Franklin* Don't worry... Once he warms up to you, he'll return the gesture.
Col. Franklin: *smiles as he lowers his hand* I'm not worried, [friend].
Susana/Mirage: *very slight narrowing of the eyes in a way Susana doesn't do* [Strange... I cannot get a reading....]
Prowl: [That is because the Col. is an organic being.]
Col. Franklin: [I'm] human. *yes, he caught some of that*
Susana/Mirage: ... *glances to Optimus*
Optimus: [He can be trusted, as can the rest of NEST. They are our allies and our friends.]
Prowl: Should I inform Tracks that he is no longer the only one from his creche present?
Raoul: *runs past in the hall* Yahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Susana/Mirage: *Reaching for a weapon that isn't there*
Col. Franklin: ...I think he might be able to focus on the news now.
Rain: *puts her own weapon back into subspace* Slaggin' youngling.
Optimus: ... *Snerks as WakeJumper and Beau go running past in hot pursuit of Raoul* Go ahead, Prowl.
Susana/Mirage: *Sound of confusion*
Prowl: *soft chuckle, pings Tracks' comm*
Tracks: //Yes, Prowl, I am aware of what the little delinquents are doing. However I'm currently very busy and can't be bothered wasting my breath to try and slow them down.//
Prowl: //We're quite aware of that ourselves, Tracks... That's not why I'm calling.//
Susana/Mirage: *Frowning a bit, and trying to sort out what is being said. Mirage knows the sound of the voice... but not the words*
Tracks: //...Can't it wait?//
Susana/Mirage: *expression of dawning understanding. Seems Susana's translating things for Mirage now*
Prowl: *as he watches the posessed Aerialbot* //I'm not sure. I'm not as familiar with Mirage's patience level as you are.//
Tracks: *silence*
Prowl: //We found him in one of the meeting rooms... He's currently borrowing Susana's shell.//
Tracks: *still silent as his processor flashes back to the last day he'd seen his creche brother alive*
Denver: *Calls Prowl something unprintable and tries to get Tracks to snap out of the flashback*
Susana/Mirage: *Brows UP*
Tracks: *choked sound*
Optimus: *Pinching the bridge of his nose at the unprintable name Prowl got called*
Col. Franklin: *frown*
Rain: *snigger*
Denver: *accidentally leaves her radio link open* *softly*//Tracks, talk t' me... please...//
Tracks: *transmits a sob over the link*
Raoul: //Hey! What the slag's goin' on!?//
Susana/Mirage: *hesitantly trying out English* //I... did not mean... to upset you, Tracks...//
Raoul: *demands to know who Mirage is, his language unprintable*
Susana/Mirage: *frowns* //I am... Mirage...// *pauses and mutters [Are you certain that's the closest translation?] followed by [It is. Deal with it.]*
Raoul: //That don't tell me nothin', buddy.//
Susana/Mirage: *More frown* //Who are you?//
Denver: *In a slight mood* //'E's Tracks 'n mah son.// *attention back to fussing over Tracks*
Susana/Mirage: *Startled blurt of static*
Col. Franklin: *quietly* Their eldest son. They have two, as well as Denver's younger brother.
Rain: No, sir. Beau is Tracks' son too. *ready to dodge any weaponry or blows that might come her way for speaking up*
Optimus: *raised brow, didn't know that*
Prowl: *small nod* That makes sense...
Raoul: *calls Mirage one more epithet and shuts his link*
Susana/Mirage: ... *and now they're sitting on the floor*
Optimus: *Startles, fusses*
Col. Franklin: Awhoops.... *concerned frown*
Rain: //Denver, you just broke Tracks' brother.// *sounds just a wee bit gleeful*
Denver: //... 'E c'n DEAL wit' 't.// *Closes her link*
Prowl: *Facepalming*
Susana/Mirage: *quietly* [How long was I away? For Tracks to have taken a femme and to have created someone...]
Optimus: [Raoul isn't his creation. Raoul is a human who Tracks adopted...]
sound of a PINpoint: *comes from outside the door, and then a slightly unsteady step, before Tracks is standing in the doorway in his human mode. Icy blue eyes that are a little too bright due to tears go to the group in the corner*
Susana/Mirage: *attention going to the doorway, brows going up with confusion* [Who are you, and how did you get there?]
Denver: *is just behind Tracks, will offer support if it looks like he needs it*
Tracks: *deep breath and then transforms* *lifts his chin but is too overcome with confusion and sadness at the moment to reply otherwise*
Susana/Mirage: *Startles, eyes widening before getting to his/her feet* [T-Tracks?! But... Your wings...]
Denver: *lips thin*
Tracks: *quietly and a touch coldly as he dismisses something which was once a very part of his self identity* Got in the way of more important things.
Susana/Mirage: *Silent for a few moments, before glancing to Denver* *Quietly* [I was not aware that you had taken a mate...]
Tracks: *reaches back for Denver's hand* No, I'd imagine not. Denver wasn't born when we met last.
Denver: *moving to take Tracks' hand*
Susana/Mirage: *silent again, before abruptly sitting down again as Mirage learns from Susana that Denver is human*
Tracks: *haughty frown and a sniff* Really, Mirage. You're acting like you did that night we snuck away from the academy to drink high grade.
Susana/Mirage: *quietly, a bit shocked* [You are the last mech I would have expected to take a native mate...]
Denver: *frowns at that.*
Tracks: *coldly* Then raise your expectations. And don't bother trying to hide what you're saying. She understands Cybertronian.
Susana/Mirage: *looks up at Tracks* [I meant no offense, Tracks...] *sounds a bit frightened now*
Tracks: *frowns down at him without moving away from the door* What are you doing here, anyway? Don't you have somewhere you should be?
Susana/Mirage: *quietly* [When word came that others were returning... I was not sure how to return until I was shown the way back...]
Tracks: *frowns* Are you trying to say you're alive?
Susana/Mirage: *small nod* *Quietly* [It is tiring... not having a shell... It was not my intention to frighten this youngling... But being exposed was far more uncomfortable than anything I've experienced before...]
Tracks: *haughty expression wavers* //Jack....//
Jack: *Distracted acknowledgement*
two dark heads and a blond one: *suddenly poking around Tracks and Denver to look at Susana and the bots around her*
Susana/Mirage: *Startles*
Tracks: *absently gets Beau in an affectionate one armed headlock* //Do you remember Mirage?//
Beau: *Slight flail*
Jack: //Yeah... He was a good mech... Why?//
Tracks: //He's a little naked at the moment. And there are impressionable younglings around here.//
Jack: //....//
WJ: *headtilt, clicks quietly to Papa*
Tracks: *clicks back to WakeJumper as Raoul puts an arm around the youngling's shoulders and scowls at Mirage/Susana* //He's gone and pulled the same ridiculous stunt as Brawn and Nullfire.//
Jack: //...Whose shell is he borrowing?//
Tracks: *slight smirk sounds in his voice* //Susana. Optimus must be so thrilled.//
Jack: //... Slagging pit... Well... at least it's Susana, and not Scarlett.//
Susana/Mirage: *regarding the boys warily*
Tracks: They're younglings, Mirage. They won't eat you.
Susana/Mirage: [I... never thought there would be younglings...]
Tracks: *smirks and tells him exactly how many younglings and sparklets there are now, and who they belong to. The smirk can't hide the hurt look in his optics*
Susana/Mirage: *Boggling afterwards, before putting a hand on their forehead*
Tracks: *sharply* What is it?
Susana/Mirage: *quietly and apologetically* [I think... it would be best... if Silverbolt were to lay down.... I will try to find a different shell...]
Tracks: *looks at Prowl and Optimus*
Optimus: *concerned, moving to see what he can do to help*
Mirage-spark: *suddenly free-floating again*
Tracks: *gasps, his grip on Denver and Beau tightening*
WJ: *hiding behind Raoul now, eyes wide*
Prowl: *slight tilt of his head* Jack went to get the drone shell that Brawn was using at one point...
Susana: *looking pretty dizzy*
Tracks: *shaking, though only those touching him would be able to tell*
Denver: *rubbing Tracks' back*
Beau: *more flailing, and trying to get out of the headlock*
Tracks: *remembers himself and lets the blond teen go, murmuring an apology in Cybertronian*
Raoul: *eyes on the free floating spark* English, dude... English.
Jack: *Soft ack as he runs into the door jamb*
Tracks: *starts and gets himself and his family out of the way*
Jack: I got the drone shell and all... *Trails off as he sees Mirage-spark* *lips thin, sets to work getting the drone shell pieces back together* The sooner we get him in a working shell, the better.
Tracks: So don't just stand there venting your vocalizer.
Jack: *Gives Tracks a Look*
Tracks: *optics are nearly white with stress*
Jack: *attention back on his work, and soon the drone shell is reassembled* *will gently urge Mirage-spark towards the shell and call him stubborn when he hesitates*
Tracks: Oh for the.... *strides forward and all but stuffs his creche brother into the drone's spark compartment*
Raoul: 0_0
Denver: ... *blink blink* o_o
Mirage: *Does not appreciate this!*
Magnus: *blink* Is 'Raj being stubborn?
Denver: *Startles badly*
Tracks: He's being Mirage. *stuffs the spark down the rest of the way, and then closes the compartment* Now stay there!
Raoul: *stink eyeing Magnus*
Magnus: *ignoring you, Raoul. Will move to approach the drone shell and gently tap it on the head* Oy, 'Raj? You alright?
Mirage: *lifts the head of his current shell slowly, before giving Tracks and Magnus the DIRTIEST of looks* THRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPPPPPPPPTTTT!!!!!!!!!
Magnus: *and now he's laughing himself silly*
Tracks: *also laughing* Very classy, 'Raj. I can totally tell you've profited by your brief romp through Silverbolt's mind.
Mirage: *SO not talking to you, Tracks!*
Jack: *chuckles* Could be worse, Mirage.
Mirage: *giving Jack a Look* Dare I ask how?
Jack: *Cheerily* I could've gotten one of the smaller drone shells and told Sarah that I would work on a dancing doll for her.
Magnus: *In stitches on the floor now*
Mirage: ... *Doesn't get why that's funny*
Tracks: Why, Jack, that's a wonderful idea. *picks Mirage up and turns to haul him out of the room*
Mirage: *Startled blurt*
Optimus: *in a fit of mischief* You should put him in a dress first, Tracks.
Prowl: *Giving Optimus a Look, though there is a small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth*
Tracks: I won't deny Sarah the pleasure. *and he's gone!*
Beau: *Cracking up now*
Raoul: *slow blink* Man, did Tracks just haul his buddy off for Sarah to play dolls with?
WJ: ... *nod. Will tug Raoul and Beau towards the door. Wants to see this for himself*
Denver: Naw... Th't's 'is brotha....
Raoul: *now rolling on the floor and hugging himself*
Jack: ... *facepalming and snickering*
Magnus: *Will get back to you...eventually*
Col. Franklin: *mouth twitching as he looks at Optimus and Prowl*
Susana: *quietly* Told Felicity there might be someone new to cuddle along with Archie... Someone tell Tracks that? *looks close to being asleep*
Optimus: *quiet chuckle, will take Susana to the room she and her sisters share*
Denver: *moving to help Raoul stand up* C'mon... Ah wanna get th's on video, jes' 'n case Mirage trahs t' raise a stink 'bout s'methin' latah on down th' road.
Raoul: *takes a couple tries, but then he's on his feet and bounding down the hall toward the gym*
Denver: *guiding Beau and WJ after Raoul after nudging Magnus with her foot*
Rain: *kicks the mirthful frontliner, and then books it from the room*
Col. Franklin: 0.o
Magnus: *catching his breath* Oh man... Never thought I'd get to see my brother again...
Col. Franklin: Are the boundaries between death and life always that easy to cross for your people?
Prowl: It seems they are as of late...
Col. Franklin: *thoughtful* It seems there are a lot of changes happening right now.
Magnus: *getting up* Yeah... *grin* Now if you'll excuse me, I've got blackmail pictures to get... There's no WAY I'm letting 'Raj live this down! *Laughs and hurries off to the gym*
Prowl: ... *facepalm*
Col. Franklin: *slow smile* And it seems most of them are good.
Prowl: *Transforming* *Sighs* I don't know whether to be glad, or to prepare to have an increase in paperwork.... I'd better go check on Frenzy and Rewind... Alice hasn't been sleeping as much as she should, since she's so worried...
Col. Franklin: *nods, sobering* You do that, Petra.
Petra: I'll update you on Frenzy shortly, sir. *moves to head out of the room*
Col. Franklin: *turning his attention to paperwork* Thank you.
Javan, Petra, and Irene's room
Irene: *darts into the room from the hall* NOT HAM!
Rewind: *Stamps her little ferret feet from her spot on the dresser* *scolding pips at Irene!*
Irene: No no no no no! *sits on the bed by Alice's feet and scowls at the pink slice in her hand* Not ham.
Alice: *soft sound, bleary blinking* Huh?
Irene: *flips the pink slice onto the other woman's face*
Alice: *Startles* Hey!!!
Irene: Thrrpt. Not ham.
Alice: *Rubbing at her eyes* Doesn't mean you've gotta throw it at people...
Irene: *frowning at Alice now, brows drawn tightly together as she studies her friend*
Alice: What? *moving to sit up*
Irene: *quietly* Who's there?
Alice: ....
Rewind: *Pips quietly, will go and snuggle with Frenzy now*
Irene: Someone's there.
Alice: *bites her lower lip a bit, is still convinced that she only dreamt that Springer was here*
Irene: *reaches out and pokes her in the chest* Who's there?
Springer: *silently startles awake*
Alice: *Acks and tries to bat Irene's hand away from her chest*
Irene: *frown deepening* Who's there??
Alice: *quietly, with a bit of disbelief in her voice* Springer...
Springer: -I didn't do it.-
Alice: *wibbling and putting her hand to her chest, over her spark chamber* *Quietly* -So I wasn't dreaming? You're really here?-
Springer: *pause* -Uh... yeah. I guess I did that.- *feels sheepish*
Irene: *jumps to her feet and bolts for the door*
Alice: *ducking her head and trying not to cry* -I thought you were... -*can't bring herself to finish the thought*
Springer: *gently as he snuggles* -I was. But I came back with Mirage. Ratchet and Showtime said we were needed.-
Alice: -... But.... Ratchet and Showtime.... - *is confused*
Springer: *shows her images of the bots in questions, Showtime's flanked by her sparklets* -They're not from this layer... I mean reality-
Alice: -Oh...- *slight frown, startles when Petra enters the room*
Irene: *right behind Petra, that deep frown once more on her face* It's Springer.
Springer: -...That's Ironfist?-
Alice: -Yeah...-
Petra: ... First Mirage, now Springer... *sounds amused* I don't know if Jack and Rachel have any spare drone shells...
Springer: -...That's PROWL??? Wait... who's he calling a drone?-
Alice: *Covering her mouth to hide her snicker* -Yeah... Wheeljack kinda messed up coding his alt-mode... Long story there... I'm guessing Mirage is using the shell that Brawn was using at one point...-
Springer: -Well I'm not moving into any drone.- *snuggle. Lovebomb*
Irene: It's not ham.
Alice: *hand over where her spark is* -There're protoforms... I'm pretty sure there're some left...- *Startles when Destiny runs past in the hall with Sarah hot on her heels shouting something about "Give new dolly back!"*
Petra: *Snickering*
Irene: *looking after the girls with a fuddled frown*
Sora: *laughing as she chases after the younger girls*
Springer: *snerks, and then snuggles more, radiating contentment and willingness to have another nap*
Petra: Well, the only thing I think we can do at this point is get Alice and Springer to the med ward...
Alice: *Scowls at Petra, will try and burrow back under the blankets*
Irene: *blinks at Petra* Not sick.
Springer: *feels a little sad* -Slag, those fraggers really messed her up.-
Alice: *Quietly* -She's not the only one they messed up...-
Springer: -I met Hound and Kup there, though they weren't really interested in saying much yet. Too busy being one with the song.-
Alice: *thinking about Sora and Destiny now* -How well did you know Sharpshot?-
Springer: -My shell had dents from sparring with her. She was one of Kup's kids.-
Alice: *quietly as she shows Springer the twin sisters* -Her spark fractured.-
Springer: *flash of pain* -Something was causing Kup a little bit of pain. I bet that was it.-
Irene: *singing softly* Alice and stupid, sitting in a tree....
Alice: Don't you dare finish that, Irene. *is a bit muffled by the blankets* -Sharpshot's almost back to her old self, but she's still recovering.... Desinex... is like a sparklet...-
Irene: Thrrpt.
Springer: -And Ratchet adopted them.- *amused, but then dismay* -Wait, what's that about Ratchet?-
Petra: *gonna try dragging the blankets off of Alice now*
Alice: -Wheeljack's taking care of her...- *Yelps as she gets dragged off the bed because of being tangled in the blankets*
Rewind: *Pips at Alice, snuggaFrenzy*
Springer: -Hey! What's Prowl's slaggin' problem???-
Alice: -Prowl thinks we should go to the med ward.- *gonna try pulling more of the blankets around herself now*
Springer: -We're not damaged!- *fizzing mad*
Petra: *hands on hips* Don't think I won't drag you in the blankets, Alice.
Alice: *Winces* -Easy... Prowl's just concerned...-
Springer: -Well I'm tired, and I was comfortable, and....- *bumps into Alice's spark and kind of loses track of what he was thinking and exactly where he ends and Alice begins. Naptime!*
Alice: *and now she's fallen silent*
Irene: .... *as she sees a flash of light from Alice's blankets*
Petra: ... *face.palm* *Will get her PINpoint out* Irene, where's Javan?
Irene: Leeking.
Petra: ... Is there any of that notham left?
Irene: *points to the piece on the headboard*
Petra: Go show it to Javan and tell him that we need to get real ham.
Irene: *gives her a sideways look, brows drawn together in a frown. It's the look that leads to unexpected inhalation of pseudofood items*
Petra: And that we also need real cheese. *Yes, she's encouraging Irene to stick psuedofood items on Javan*
Irene: *still looking from the corners of her eyes, and now those eyes narrow. She knows ur up to somethin', Petra!*
Petra: There might be some dinoham in the kitchen...
Irene: Isn't.
Petra: Then Javan needs to go get some more, doesn't he?
Irene: *crosses arms over chest*
Petra: I'm going to get Alice and Springer to the med ward to make sure they're alright.
Irene: I can help.
The really annoying ringtone that Javan put on Petra's phone for when he calls: *Playing now*
Irene: 0_0 I didn't do it.
Petra: *answering her phone* She's here, Javan.... *sounds amused* Well, if you hadn't been Leeking, you would've known.
Irene: *sudden cackle and she's gone out of the room and down the hall*
Petra: And now she's not. Good luck catching her. *hangs up on Javan, and PINpoints with Alice and Springer to the med ward*
Dr. House: *clipboard FLY!*
Petra: *slight wince* Sorry... We have a slight situation.
Dr. House: *bending to get the clipboard* When don't we?
Petra: This one involves someone coming back, snuggling in their word-mate's shell with their word-mate still in it, and bonding. *will lift Alice's shell up onto an unoccupied table*
Dr. House: *blink blink blink* Hey Jaaaack?
Jack: I heard... *bemused sigh*
Rachel: Gonna wind up fused. *sounds tired beyond reason and fretful*
Jack: *gently pats Rachel's hand* *Quietly* We'll get Springer his own shell...
Petra: *Triggering Alice's transformation sequence* The sooner, the better. I'll go get one, if someone tells me where they're stored in the base.
Rachel: I'm the only one that can do the open spark surgery.
Dr. House: ...Open spark surgery?
Jack: Prowl will get the protoform, but for now, you need to rest... *To Dr. House* Yeah... To get 'em separated so we can put Springer into his own shell...
Dr. House: You mean... cut a spark in half?
Rachel: *databursts Prowl the coordinates*
Petra: *small nod to Rachel, PINpoints out*
Jack: It's sort of similar to separating conjoined twins.
Dr. House: .... Jack, conjoined twins that are separated usually die.
Rachel: I've separated fused lovebirds before.
Jack: *as he gently pats Rachel's hand* Rachel's the best medic for the job... Oh, that reminds me... *sends a message to Petra to grab another protoform* As entertaining as the idea of Sarah playing Dolls with Mirage in that drone shell is, he would probably appreciate it if we got him into a proper one soon.
Rachel: *eyebrows go up* Playing dolls with Mirage?
Jack: *nods* Apparently, Mirage and Springer came back from the Well. I'm not sure how...
Rachel: *brow quirks* Somebody's really watching over us right now.
Jack: Sure seems like it.
Rachel: *slight grin, and then a massive yawn that makes her squeak and frown with discomfort* Slaggit.
Fred: *soft beep*
Moofy: *Quiet deedle, snuggaMama*
Destiny: *peeking into the med ward after getting away from Sarah and Sora, has Mirage's drone-shell in her arms*
Mirage: *giving the impression of being quite displeased with Tracks at the moment*
Rachel: *small sound as she loses the fight against weariness and goes to sleep*
Jack: *gently smooths her hair*
Dr. House: *checks her monitors, and then looks toward the door*
Destiny: *holds up Mirage* *Quietly* Rescued from Sarah.
Dr. House: Mirage, I presume?
Mirage: *Very slight nod, is still getting used to the drone shell, it seems* That is correct.
Dr. House: *nods toward the empty bed nearest Rachel* Put him there for now, Destiny.
Destiny: *nods and moves to carry Mirage over to the bed*
Mirage: *Giving Jack an epic stinkeye*
Jack: Petra should be back soon... *chuckles quietly*
Dr. House: *looks around, smiles slightly as he meets Tad's eyes from where the injured soldier is laying, and then looks back to Jack, Mirage, and Destiny* And now I declare it siesta time. Nobody's allowed to do anything but sleep till I say otherwise. Understood? A few more hours in the drone shell won't hurt you, Mirage, and Rachel's in no condition to work on Springer and Arcee right now anyway.
Destiny: *gonna climb on the bed with Mirage now, kthx*
Jack: *nods* Understood... *amused*
Mirage: *sigh* If I must...
Dr. House: You must. *stern look something akin to Rachel's*
Mirage: ... *blink blink, soft 'Ack' as Destiny grabs him and teddy bear cuddles him*
Dr. House: *goes and covers the young femme and the temporary minibot up, then glances at Jack to make sure he's back by Rachel before returning to his desk*
((Co-written with random_xtras))