mbv, The Ark, Miracle of Miracles part 2
Continued from here.
Wesson: She really smashed the end of her thumb. Could you look at it and see if I treated it right? *still supporting his friend* And... she got drunk off one bottle of beer. She's not usually that cheap of a drunk....
Rachel: *wince. Facepalm*
Wheeljack: *nods and moves to gently inspect Lt. Ross' hand and thumb*
Lt. Ross: *wibbles and mumbles something about not wanting to leave the squad*
Wesson: *comforting murmur as he watches Wheeljack's inspection*
Wheeljack: Well, she did smack it pretty good... it'll hafta be in a cast for a little bit... But there's no reason for her to leave.
Wesson: So that splint ain't enough?
Rachel: A cast helps make sure you don't wind up with a lot of cursing moments. //Javan, you're in deep trouble.//
Jazz: //This got anything to do with the bottle 'a my beer that's missing?//
Rachel: //Maria's drunk out of her senses.//
Jazz: //...How'd she get the beer? I di'n't give it to her...//
Wheeljack: Just sit tight for a little bit... *goes to get the stuff to make a cast*
Rachel: //I don't know if you don't. Look into it, would you?//
Wesson: *still giving soothing rumbles to his teammate*
Lt. Ross: *wibbling more and leaning against Wesson as Wheeljack returns with everything needed to make a cast for her thumb*
Jazz: //Gotcha, Docbot. Jazz, out.// *closes the connection*
Wesson: Shhh, Maria, everythin's gonna be alright.
Lt. Ross: *blinks a bit, and then she's snuggling closer to Wesson*
Wesson: Just take it easy. Uh, Professor, I never gave her any painkiller.
Rachel: :\
Patrick: *trying to get Eject off of his head as Rewind and Steeljaw join the snuggle pile under the heated blanket*
Wheeljack: It's probably a good thing you didn't, with as plastered as she is...
Lt. Ross: *and now she's going to try and pull Wesson down for a kiss!*
Wesson: *acks and loses his balance slightly, one arm going from supporting his friend to supporting himself and in the process bringing his face dangerously close to hers*
Lt. Ross: *quietly* You're so cute when you're flustered, John... *moves to plant one on him*
Wesson: *making muffled sounds of protest and shock*
Rachel: 0_o
Wheeljack: ... Er... *blink blink*
Patrick: *Facepalming*
Lt. Ross: *snuggles and goes a bit limp*
Wesson: *sets her down hurriedly on the table and then backpeddles out of range, his wrist going to his mouth and his eyes wide*
Wheeljack: Er... *sets to work putting a cast on Lt. Ross' thumb, plerplexity clear on his face*
Wesson: *takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders, and then excuses himself and strides out of the room*
Rachel: *wince wince wince* Well darn.
Patrick: ... What the pit just happened?!
Rachel: *quietly* //He loves Denver. It looks like Maria might love him.//
Patrick: ... [Oh slag me sideways...] *pinches his nose*
Rachel: *lays her head back on her table and rubs her chest, absently glancing over to check on Alice as she does*
Alice: *has slipped into a light doze*
Rachel: *softly* Chief?
Patrick: Yes, Rachel?
Rachel: Would you bring Alice back to her and Springer's room?
Patrick: *nods* Of course. *moves to gently scoop the sleeping woman up and carry her back to the room she and her mate share. Out of habit, he glances through the window on Soundwave's room as he passes it* ... //Rachel? We have a problem.//
Rachel: //Is Springer on the floor again?// *sigh*
Patrick: //Soundwave's room is empty.// *yes, that's worry you're hearing in his voice, Rachel*
Rachel: What? *sits bolt upright and hops off her table to go see for herself, forgetting her discomfort and her fractious unborn for the moment*
Patrick: *has taken Alice back to the room with Springer and is now standing near the door to Soundwave's room, expression grim*
Rachel: *looks through the window, and then checks the monitors for ambushes before keying the door open and going in to double check. Turns slowly, her eyes taking in every corner of the big room as her face sets with frustration* He's not strong enough to be out on his own.
Patrick: Should we get Alex and Mia?
Rachel: No. *sigh* //Steeljaw? Did you guys bring any of the drones when you came from town?//
Steeljaw: //We brought Moofy and Lyra... Why?//
Rachel: //Where'd you leave Moofy?//
Steeljaw: //With Dion, Tracks, and Denver. Lyra's there too.//
Rachel: //Thanks.// *calls her tracker baby*
Moofy: *Coming, Mama!*
Rachel: *looks at Patrick* I called Moofy. If anyone can find Soundwave it'll be him. But we should probably get anyone else that's able out and searching the area.
Patrick: *nods* I'll call around to see who's available.
Rachel: Thanks, Chief. *twists her face and puts a hand to her chest* *quietly* Slaggit....
Patrick: In the meantime... *moves to scoop Rachel up* You need to rest.
Rachel: *sighs, but doesn't protest*
Patrick: *Carries Rachel back to the main bay and gently sets her on the table she was laying on earlier* We'll keep you updated.
Rachel: *nods* Will you go find Moofy and bring him here? He might get lost along the way from Tracks and Denver's place.
Patrick: *chuckles* I'll go get him. *moves to head out of the med ward*
Rachel: *watches him go and then looks at her husband. Over private comms* //Sounders flew the coop, sport.//
Wheeljack: //... That idiot... He's not even strong enough to be off his berth yet!//
Rachel: //The Chief's calling up people for search parties, and Moofy's on his way here now.//
Wheeljack: *sighs* //When we find Soundwave, I may have to channel Major MacKenzie when she was dressing down Mirage that one time....//
Rachel: //You'd waste your energy.// *sigh*
Wheeljack: //It'd be worth it.// *gently draping a blanket over Lt. Ross now* How's Denver doing? I haven't been by to visit her...
Rachel: *slight smile* She's not happy with having to take it easy, but I think she's having a hard time focusing on that fact with Tracks in snuggle overdrive.
Wheeljack: *chuckles* She's as stubborn as they come...
Rachel: *nod* *quietly* I wonder if she knew about John.
Wheeljack: Hard to say.... She always seemed a bit skittish around him though....
Rachel: *nods again* Yeah, though it seems like she's the only woman who is. Remember how Rose used to climb on him?
Wheeljack: *Snerks* When she wasn't dangling from his hands...
Rachel: *chuckle* And Maria's always giving him a hard time. *looks at Lt. Ross*
Lt. Ross: *Sleeping peacefully, the hand with the cast resting on top of the blanket Wheeljack covered her with*
Rachel: *sobers* I think Irene might have been sharing Javan's cheer.
Wheeljack: Somehow... I'm not surprised.
Rachel: He says he's got a bottle missing, and I see a bottle right there under the table she's laying on.
Wheeljack: *sighs and moves to pick up the bottle* Why does he keep brewing stuff that's so strong?
Rachel: I don't think he does it on purpose. The man simply can't follow directions.
Wheeljack: Still. You'd think after almost five years, he'd have it figured out.
Rachel: *lifts eyebrows* Have you figured out how to use a toaster?
Wheeljack: ... No comment.
Rachel: *sigh* Your son is determined to overwhelm me with static.
Wheeljack: *soft chuckle, transforms and walks over to put a gentle hand on Rachel's* At least we have his shell done...
Rachel: *bit of a grin* What are we going to do with two Gregs?
Jack: Pray they don't slag each other?
Rachel: *eyes go wide at the thought* Slag....
Jack: *soft ack* I was joking!
Rachel: *wincing now as baby objects to her surge of alarm* Nnnnn. Ouch.
Jack: *soothing clicks, offers his hand for her to squeeze*
Rachel: *cuddles it to her chest, her eyes going to the door as she starts hearing news of the search over the open comms*
Moofy: *Deedles from Patrick's shoulder. There's Mama!*
Rachel: *face brightens into a grin* Hey, baby. You ready to find somebody?
Moofy: *cheery deedle*
Rachel: *holds out her free hand toward him, transmitting Soundwave's spark signature as she does*
Moofy: *beetles down Patrick's back, and scurries over to Mama's table before climbing up and listening for the spark signature*
Rachel: *gentle hand on his little back as she waits for him to get a lock*
Moofy: *confused sound. He can't get a lock on the signature, Mama. This confuses him!!!*
Rachel: *frowns* What's wrong, Moofy?
Moofy: *more confused sound*
Jack: *frowns*
Rachel: He can't be out of range already.
Jack: He may not be... But he could've found a way to block Moofy's tracking ability...
Rachel: *lets go of Jack's hand to facepalm* That idiot.
Patrick: Which means we get to play search and rescue... *sighs*
Rachel: Well, at least Seamus and Samuel won't be able to say they're bored.
Col. Franklin: *calling Patrick's cell phone because he thinks Patrick's still at work*
Patrick: *nods* True... *answers on the second ring* Yes, Col.?
Col. Franklin: //Patrick, Cpt. Blume and 2nd Lt. Havoc just spontaneously healed of their injuries.//
Patrick: ... How?!
Col. Franklin: //I was hoping you might be able to shed some insight into it.//
Patrick: ... I have no clue... *looking a bit brain-broken now*
Jack: ... I'm almost afraid to ask what happened.
Rachel: Chief? *frowning as she hugs Moofy*
Col. Franklin: //Has anything unusual happened at the base?//
Patrick: Soundwave's gone missing. We've got people looking for him now... *Over comms to Rachel and Jack* //Somehow... Tad and Jean's injuries spontaneously healed.//
Rachel: 0.o
Jack: ... Bhuh?!
Bert: //Hey, Jack, Greg's not as bad as he comes across.// *sounds like he's chuckling*
Rachel: //Not now, Bert. Something's come up.//
Jack: //...//
Bert: //...What's wrong? Optimus?//
Col. Franklin: //Do you need any additional backup, Patrick?// *then pauses and pokes himself in the ear* //Bert? What did Greg wish for? And where was he wishing?//
Rachel: *sits up* They're in the Nexus. On that field trip.
Jack: ... I've got a baaaad feeling about this...
Patrick: .... No additional backup... *looks absolutely brain-broken now*
Bert: //He wished that the two men he hurt could be better.//
Rachel: *mouth falls open*
Jack: ... *D'awws quietly*
Col. Franklin: //Is there any chance his wish could have happened?//
Bert: //They say the guy that gave him the little sparkle's some kind of Fae.//
Rachel: *looks at her husband* !!!!
Jack: ...
Col. Franklin: *slowly* //Then, I guess we can chalk this up to a miracle.//
Patrick: ... Yeah.... I guess so...
Bert: //...Miracle? You mean it really happened?//
Patrick: //Apparently, yes...//
Bert: //Okay.... Sarah wished for Maj. McKenzie to have what she needed to be happy.//
Patrick: ... *raised brow*
Bert: //And Simon wished his baby brother would be strong and healthy and that Rachel wouldn't get sick anymore.//
Rachel: *eyebrow*
Jack: ...
Col. Franklin: //...What did the others wish for?//
Bert: //Cookies. Except for Sora. I'm not sure what she asked for.//
Col. Franklin: //Rachel, how do you feel?//
Rachel: //Like someone's dancing in my chest.// *arches her brow further* //But not sick.//
Jack: ... *Scans Rachel*
Rachel: *reads normally, only without the slight distress that her spark tended to usually show when the newspark was active*
Jack: ... *and now his legs give out on him*
Rachel: *twists to try and catch him* Jack!?
Jack: *sounding a bit shaken up* I'm... Okay....
Rachel: *has him by the front of his shirt and is glancing at Patrick for help*
Patrick: *moves to help Jack onto the table so he's sitting next to Rachel*
Rachel: *pushing herself up to put her arms around her husband* What happened, sport?
Col. Franklin: //Is something wrong?//
Jack: The kid's still attached... but he's not putting stress on your spark anymore, Rachel.... *sounds absolutely baffled*
Patrick: Jack confirmed that Simon's wish came true...
Col. Franklin: //...I have to say I'm unsettled. Sure, it's a miracle, but that much power....//
Bert: //We're coming home. Bert out.//
Patrick: //Understood. Patrick out.// *To Franklin* I'm not even sure what's going on anymore... but I'm going to go check on Tracks and Denver...
Col. Franklin: //Alright. Keep me advised?//
Patrick: I will. Oberson out.
Col. Franklin: //Franklin out.// *speaks over comms and forgets the phone, though he does hang it up*
Patrick: I'll be back soon. *heads out of the med ward*
Rachel: *looks at Jack, her expression just a bit uncertain*
Jack: *still looks brain-broken*
someone: *taps on the med ward door*
Jack: ... There's no way Patrick could've found 'em that fast....
Rachel: *looking toward the door with a frown* And why would anyone knock?
Jack: *frowns and moves to make his way off the table and to the door*
Rachel: *turns her frown to him* //Be careful.//
Ravage: *pokes head out from under blanket* M'mu!
Jack: *small nod, gets a tool out of subspace, and then goes to open the door*
Tall dark-haired guy with serious dark eyes: Ah, hi....
Jack: *blink blink* Joe? What're you doing knocking on the med ward door?
yOp: *blinks* Ah, I'm not Joe. ^_^; Different Optimus.
Jack: ... *blinkblinkblink* Okay then.... Um... How can we help you?
yOp: Well, I work for Swindle co. But I also sometimes carry messages.
Jack: ... You work for Swindle?
yOp: Swindle co. are the guys that make cinnaSeekers.
Ravage: *sits up and wraps her tail around her toes* M'umrrr.
Steeljaw: *Stretches out a bit* Mrrrrrpt....
Jack: *nods* We're familiar with them.... *is starting to relax a bit*
yOp: Well, that Swindle's my adopted dad.
Steeljaw: *And now he's moving to pounce on the guy's feet and beg for attention... and possibly choccy*
Jack: Steeljaw! *facepalms*
yOp: *grins and scoops the big cat up, then scritches his ears* Hey, Steeljaw, what was the big idea stealing all the Easter baskets? You know how hard Dad worked on those?
Steeljaw: Mrrrrptttt... *thunderpurrs* //We weren't sure they were safe at the time...//
yOp: *shakes his head, though he's still grinning* Well do we pass now?
Steeljaw: *more thunderpurr, headbutts the guy in the chest* //Yup.//
yOp: *looks back to Jack, still scritching* Anyway. You might want to scan me.
Jack: *blink blink* Any particular reason?
Ravage: *rubbing on the Optimus' leg now* //Unit Optimus is fully human at present.//
Jack: ... *raised eyebrow, scans*
yOP: *is, indeed, fully human. Though a couple readings are just a little odd. It seems that nothing about this guy is ailing in anyway whatsoever*
Jack: ... *looks brain-broken all over again*
Steeljaw: *thunderpurring away*
yOp: *quietly* I'm a Guardian Fae Changeling. Like Scattor is.
Jack: ... Did Scattor meet a group of kids and their guardians earlier in the Nexus?
yOp: *nods* And he gave them each a little wish.
Ravage: *bitty purrs around Jack's feet*
Jack: *moves to pick Ravage up carefully*
Steeljaw: Mrrpt....
yOp: *quietly* You don't have to be afraid of Scattor's power. The only reason the kids were able to ask for those big things is because they were supposed to happen. *even more quietly* Just like the graves that I just moved over near the barn.
Jack: ... *small nod* I see....
yOp: I have a feeling that things will be settling down a little now for this reality.
Ravage: *bitty sound of approval for that idea*
Steeljaw: *thunderpurrs even louder. Kitty approves*
Jack: *soft chuckle* Well... That's a good thing...
yOp: *gives that slight, shy smile that Joe does* Yes. *then pauses to listen to something that the others can't hear, his expression intent*
Steeljaw: *headtilt* Mrrrpt?
Ravage: *ears perked and big eyes quizzical as she watches the visitor*
yOp: Ah... he says you might want to check on Quinn.
Jack: ... *raised brow*
yOp: *rubs the back of his neck, shy and sheepish* I better get back. My mate will be looking for me.
Jack: ... *moving to set Ravage on the table next to Rachel, intends to go track down Quinn*
Rachel: *gives him a concerned look, and then looks over to where Steeljaw is standing all alone in the doorway*
Steeljaw: *confused kitty is confused now! Will come over and try and jump onto Rachel's table and give his mate a face washing*
Rachel: *settles back on the table and scoops the two recorders up with Moofy, still looking at Jack*
Jack: I'm going to go see just what he was talking about....
Moofy: *Deedles curiously*
Rachel: Alright. *lifts one brow slightly* Do you trust him?
Jack: Hard not to...
Rachel: Yeah. That's what I thought. *grin*
Jack: *chuckles a bit and heads out the door, stopping when he sees the basket of goodies to the side of the door*
Rachel: *laughs now, her eyes starting to twinkle* There's room for it right here.
Jack: *more chuckles as he sets the basket next to Rachel* I'll be back as soon as I can.
Rachel: Alright, sport. *looking at the basket, but content to cuddle her armful*
Ravage: *singing for Rachel's unborn, and for her mate and for Moofy* ^_^
Jack: *heads out the door once more, and moves to head down the hall towards the quarters where Quinn and Wayne, as well as a few of the other unpaired Seekers, tend to bunk*
Rachel: //Chief?//
Patrick: //Yes, Rachel?//
Rachel: //How's Denver?//
Patrick: //She's sound asleep right now... something's got Dion upset though...//
Rachel: *frowns* //How upset?//
Patrick: //Squeaking up a storm... Wait... Um... Rachel? Wasn't Denver's face a mess of bruises when she arrived?//
Rachel: //Her nose is broken and one eye is swollen shut.// *brows raising* //Why?//
Patrick: //Because her bruises are gone...// *sounds confused*
Rachel: *mouth twitches* //I better have a look at her. Could you ask Tracks to bring her to the med ward?//
Patrick: //Will do. Patrick out.//
Rachel: //Rachel out.// *looks over at Lt. Ross*
Lt. Ross: *still sleeping*
Rachel: *wishes she had her lenses, and rues that they've run into problems in making them, then looks over at the snuggle pile and shakes her head, wondering which one of those small bots helped Soundwave escape*
Steeljaw: *loving on Ravage, and thunderpurring*
Moofy: *deedles and snuggles Mama*
Rachel: *looks at Steeljaw and Ravage* Don't suppose either of you can tell me who helped Soundwave get out?
Ravage: *big eyes, she hadn't realized Dad was gone*
Steeljaw: *blink blink, hadn't realized that Soundwave was gone either*
Rachel: Just wondering. *slight sigh and closes her eyes to get some rest while she waits for Patrick and Tracks to bring Denver*
*A little while later, Dion's squeaking can be heard just down the hall*
Ravage: *sits up on the soundly sleeping Rachel and chirrups*
Rumble: *voice soft and groggy from the bottom of the snuggle pile* Oi... who's dat squeekin'?
Rewind: *sleepily* Dion... He's just a little guy... *snuggaRumble*
Steeljaw: Mrrrrrpt... *gently nudges Rachel's head*
Rachel: Few more minutes.
Rumble: .... *thinks he can get used to this being snuggled by chicks. Moves a little to snug back, but doesn't let go his brother*
Steeljaw: Mrrrpt... //Boss, I can hear Dion.//
Dion: *More squeakings, since Mama just made that sound that means she's waking up!*
Rachel: *turns her head with soft sleepy sounds and blinks toward the door, her mouth quirking into a slight grin as she hears Tracks talking to Denver and Dion*
Patrick: *moving to hold the door open for Tracks, looking quite baffled at the fact that Denver's bruises are indeed gone*
Denver: *Groggy* Wh're....
Tracks: Shh, darling. Rachel wants to give you a checkup, and she's not feeling up to coming to see us herself. *gently nuzzles his wife's hair*
Rachel: *grin grows slightly as she watches that*
Denver: *blinking blearily as she works this out*
Dion: *Squeak squeak squeak!*
Tracks: *walks past the three occupied tables and frowns at the fourth* Really, Patrick, don't you have the mattresses for these yet?
Patrick: They should be in the next shipment of supplies.
Tracks: *holds his wife and baby brother protectively, unwilling to set them down on the bare metal*
Patrick: *slight amusement in his eyes as he goes to get a couple blankets from storage*
Dion: *Squeak!*
Tracks: *sniffs, and then speaks softly to Denver and Dion*
Rachel: *blinks* Tracks, is he wiggling?
Denver: *Still trying to wake up and get her bearings*
Tracks: *pauses and looks at baby brother*
Dion: *Squeaks and wiggles*
Tracks: *Optics widen, and then he's urging Patrick to hurry*
Patrick: *back with a couple of thick blankets*
Tracks: Lay them down quickly! *glances at his CO, and then looks back to Dion*
Patrick: *raised eyebrow, proceeds to do so*
Dion: *more squeaks, Bubby looks upset!*
Tracks: *gently lays Denver down, and then murmurs to her as he lifts Dion and unwraps the little sparklet*
Dion: *squeaks and clicks, waving his hands a bit and then he's squeaking more at being able to do this!*
Denver: *blink blink, moves to sit up*
Tracks: *sucks air in through his intakes and looks from Patrick to Rachel, his optics wide* What's happened? Something's happened.
Denver: *manages to sit up on her own*
Patrick: ... *Quietly* The sparklets met a Guardian Fae in the Nexus who gave them wishes...
Tracks: What sort of wishes? *holds baby brother close, his other arm going around Denver*
Dion: *careful, Tracks. Bitty fingers tend to get into small spaces easily!*
Patrick: Greg... wished that Captain Blume and 2nd Lt. Havoc's injuries were healed... and Sarah... wished for Denver to have what she needed to be happy...
Denver: ... *and now her eyes are going wide*
Tracks: *and now he's wibbling and hiding his face in Denver's hair, unmindful of those bitty fingers*
Rachel: *smiling and a bit misty eyed*
Dion: *Squeaks and clicks, snuggling against Bubby*
Denver: *Quietly* Th't... 'splains whah nothin' 'urts anehmoah...
Rachel: *softly* Hey, Chief, give me a hand? *turning over slightly so that she can get up*
Patrick: *nods and moves to help Rachel sit up*
Rachel: *wants right off her table and over to Denver's, so she can use her scanner and see what it has to say*
Patrick: *chuckles and helps Rachel off of the table, and then he's blinking a bit as he gets a good look at Tracks. Amused chuckling soon ensues, earning confused squeaks from Dion*
Rachel: *looks at Patrick's face, and then focuses on the family unit as a whole... and grins* Tracks, you have wings.
Tracks: *startles and looks up, his optics now very wide*
Denver: *Also looks up, and then she's got a very small smile on her face as she reaches to very gently brush her fingertips against Tracks' wings*
Tracks: *gives a little shiver as he looks down at her* But.... Darling, here, take Dion.
Denver: *small nod, reaches for Dion, who squeaks even more*
Tracks: *clicks to Dion, telling him gently in Cybertronian that everything's alright. Then steps back and transforms to human. Frowns and looks to Denver, his expression slightly shocked and wondering as he steps back further and transforms to the Cobra*
Rachel: *hands over her mouth as she blinks tears away and grins*
Patrick: ... *chuckling even more* Well... It looks like Springer's no longer the only triplechanger here...
Rachel: Joe does it too. *gives a breathless chuckle*
Tracks: *bows down slightly on his front shocks, then shakes a little. Look, Denver. Cars can cry*
Denver: *acks and moves to get off her table now*
Dion: *Squeak squeak squeak!!!*
Rachel: Be careful, Denver.
Denver: *Sticks her chin out just a bit, and then she's bringing Dion over to where Tracks is*
Dion: *Clickstorm and noises of approval. Bubby is shiny!!!*
Tracks: *opens his door as Denver comes near, welcoming her to his passenger seat*
Denver: *gets in carefully, clicking to Dion as the sparklet ups his squeaks and clicks due to excitement*
Tracks: *closes the door, and then rocks gently, his seat massaging Denver's back even as he continues to shake slightly*
Rachel: *looking at her scanner screen with a slight smile, then glances up at Patrick with eyes that hold a secret*
Patrick: *knows that look, pings Rachel's comm over a private frequency* //Okay, what's up that I'm missing?//
Rachel: //Denver isn't human anymore.//
Patrick: //... Cybertronian?//
Rachel: //Yup.// *smile grows just slightly*
Patrick: *Very soft chuckle, then his attention is going back to the family unit*
Rachel: *smile becoming a grin, but then turns to a face palm as Rumble tries poking Rewind and gets clocked*
Patrick: *raised brow as he glances to the pile of recorders*
Rachel: Rumble, if you keep trying that I'll turn you into a toaster.
Rumble: *meeps and shuts his optic band off. Sleeping bot!*
Steeljaw: *Didn't just snicker, you can't prove it!*
Ravage: //Unit Rumble curious about non-related female.// *bitty kitty kiss for Moofy*
Moofy: *Deedlechirrup!* n.n
Rachel: Well there are better ways to learn about girls than to poke at them. //Jack?//
Jack: //.... I think we're in for a rough night with Quinn...//
Rachel: //What? Why?// *sudden frown*
Jack: //You'll see soon... I'm bringing him via PINpoint... If only to get Wayne to back off for the length of time it takes him to realize where Quinn is...//
Rachel: //Do I need to prep?//
Jack: //Probably a good idea... Keep the spark pot running.//
Tracks: *PINpoints his wife and bitty brother back to their home*
Rachel: Tracks, you slagger. //Alright. Rachel out.// Chief, help me get the spark pod over by this table you've padded. Something's wrong with Quinn.
Patrick: *nods and moves to bring the spark pot over to the blanket-padded table just before Jack PINpoints in with a very ill-looking Quinn*
Rachel: *standing by the padded table, her lips thin as she sees Quinn* What's the diagnosis?
Rumble: *sniggers* He's a Seeker.
Jack: *helping Quinn onto the table and ignoring Rumble as Rewind clocks him again* He's also got an extra passenger who's making him sick.
Rachel: An extra passenger? *scans the Seeker, and then blinks at the readings*
Quinn: *Systems are stressed and there is indeed an extra spark residing within his frame. One with very strange readings*
Rachel: *frown* Jack, Chief, go get a tarp and spread it on the floor. Quinn, can you hear me?
Patrick: *hurries to get the tarp*
Quinn: *small shiver and a very soft whine of discomfort*
Rachel: *sharply* Quickstrike, report!
Quinn: *voice is very shaky and weak* N-not sure wh-what's glitching, s-sir...
Rachel: When did the discomfort start? *pinging Skylar*
Quinn: J-just after... mirrors got smashed...
Skylar: //Yes, Rachel?//
Patrick: *is back with the tarp, and he and Jack are soon getting it spread out on the floor*
Rachel: //I think we just found Nightwish. Do you know if her spark was abnormal?// *gentle hand on Quinn's chest*
Skylar: //...// *Sounds a bit brain broken now* //Nightbird might know...//
Quinn: *another soft whine of discomfort*
Rachel: //I was asking because there's an abnormal spark lodged in Quinn's torso. And he just told me he's been sick since the mirror destroying mission.// Okay, guys, set him there, and then Jack, trigger his transform? And try not to break anything?
Jack: *moving with Patrick to get Quinn laying on the tarp, then he's carefully triggering Quinn's transformation sequence and getting out of the way quickly*
Skylar: //...I'll be there shortly.//
Rachel: //Alright. PINpoint if you can. Rachel out.//
Quickstrike: *having dry heaves now*
Rachel: *looks at him and grimaces with sympathy, then transforms and grabs the spark pod as she heads over there* Jack, will you grab a Seeker sedation tab, and one for nausea?
Jack: *nods and grabs the requested tabs* *Soothingly, to Quickstrike* Easy... We'll get you feeling better soon...
Ratchet: *climbs up onto the larger bot's chest and frowns as she rests her hands on his chestplate* I'm picking up strange radiation readings, too. Not dangerous to us as they are right now. *deeper frown* I think they're coming from the other spark.
Jack: *transforms after applying the tabs* ... What sort of radiation are we talking about here?
Ratchet: Like spark radiation, only with a pattern like the spark would never need energy. *blinks* And never go out.
Jack: .... Is that even possible?
Skylar: *Arrives in a PIN flash and swish*
Ratchet: Skylar, was Nightwish immortal?
Skylar: It really wouldn't surprise me if she was...
Ratchet: *still analyzing the readings she's getting right through Quickstrike's shell* I wouldn't want to be too close to this spark when it was whole.
Skylar: ... Powerful or dangerous?
Ratchet: Dangerously powerful. It has all the readings of a self sustaining reactor.
Skylar: ...slaaag.....
Wheeljack: *low whistle*
Ratchet: I don't blame Quickstrike for being uncomfortable. Not to mention she's probably projecting her discomfort. *more quietly* She's no danger now. *Which gives you an idea of just how much this spark shouldn't even still be here*
Skylar: ... Is Quickstrike going to be alright if we remove the uninvited guest?
Ratchet: *nods and moves to find the catches on the ailing Seeker's chest plate* 'Jack, you wanna give me a hand?
Wheeljack: Yeah... *moves to help Ratchet*
Ratchet: *soft whistle as a agitatedly pulsing ball of energy floats free as soon as the panel is lifted* Look at those dark patches.
Skylar: *Winces* That... looks painful.
Ratchet: *gets her scanner when she sees that the spark's not moving any further. Whistles again at the readings, and then groans softly* Well that's not going to help either of them feel any better.
Wheeljack: Huh? *scans the spark*
Skylar: ... *Raised brow*
Wheeljack: ... So what do we tell Wayne?
Ratchet: That he's got a sister. *glances at Skylar even as she encases her hands in forcefield and moves to gently guide the spark into the spark pod*
Nightwish: *pulses more agitatedly. She hurts, and she doesn't know what's going on!*
Patrick: *Trying to keep Wayne from barging into the med ward*
Ratchet: And to keep his voice down. He's making my sparklet jump.
Patrick: *relays this to Wayne, and soon he's shoving Wayne back a few feet as the door closes behind him*
Ratchet: She's a fighter, that's for sure. *trying to gently push the spark down so she can close the lid, but freezes as an emergency ping comes over the command channel* What?
Joe: //Incoming human wounded, critical!//
Wheeljack: //Who's hurt, Joe, and how badly?// *hurrying to get another table ready*
Joe: //It's Lt. Wesson. He seems to have slipped on the edge of one of the basement holes and fallen. He's bleeding from the scalp and barely responsive.//
Ratchet: *hands still steady as she coaxes the spark, then closes the lid and sets it to one side as she scans Quickstrike again* Put him on the one with the blankets, 'Jack. Just try and keep him from bleeding on them.
Quickstrike: *Still showing slight stress to his systems, but it's likely he'll make a full recovery*
Skylar: ... Slaggit... how'd he fall in one of the holes?
Ratchet: He was a little distracted, and it's snowing out there. *straightens and goes to set the spark pod on the table where she'd been laying, then covers it with a towel from the cupboard underneath and starts grabbing what she'll need*
Joe: *appears in human mode, down on one knee with his hand on Lt. Wesson's shoulder*
Rachel: You didn't move him around. Good boy. Skylar, grab that stretcher.
Skylar: *grabbing the stretcher and frowning muchly*
Lt. Wesson: *softly, as he frowns* Don't let... Maria... get me....
Joe: *eyebrows UP*
Wheeljack: *Coughs to hide his snicker*
Ratchet: *over to help Joe and Skylar get the stretcher set up, and to scan Lt. Wesson* Looks like we have another concussion on our hands to replace the ones Greg wished away. But it's safe to move him otherwise. Carefully.
Skylar: *nods* What's this about Lt. Ross getting him though?
Ratchet: *without looking up* It seems Irene was sharing Javan's beer.
Joe: 0_o
Skylar: ... *blink blink*
Wheeljack: Lt. Ross got drunk and let's just say she's less inhibited when inebriated....
Ratchet: Yeah, that. *rubs her chest* Joe, you get his head, Skylar, you get his feet, alright?
Skylar: *nods* Alright.
Joe: Yes, sir. *hands under the injured man's shoulders* Ready.
Skylar: *At Wesson's feet, is ready to lift* On three?
Ratchet: One. Two. Three.
Skylar: *Lifts at the same time Joe does, though he does glance over at Quickstrike briefly when the other Seeker whimpers*
Ratchet: *looks that way too, her brow ridges raising* Now what?
Lt. Wesson: *groaning with discomfort, though not making signs of throwing up*
Ratchet: *heads over to check on Quickstrike again as Joe and Skylar move Lt. Wesson to the table with the help of the stretcher* *scanner out and scanning* Huh. Looks like you're feeling that bond more than she seems to be. *goes to get the pod away from the snuggle pile that developed around it* Sheesh, you guys, go back to the other table, alright? Moofy, you want to snuggle with Rewind and Frenzy?
Moofy: *Deedle chirrrup, beetles over to the edge of the table before climbing down*
Ravage: *makes her little chirp as she jumps down and then looks back up with her tail in the air*
Steeljaw: *jumping over to where the rest of the recorders are, smug kitty grin is a go*
Ratchet: *sets the spark pot on Quickstrike's chest and watches the sleeping Seeker for a reaction*
Quickstrike: *quiets down*
Ratchet: Huh. *moves the pod to the floor beside him so it can't be knocked down, and then turns to go back to where 'Jack's tending Lt. Wesson*
Wesson: Don't... don't let. *groan and grimace slightly* Did... somethin' dumb.
Skylar: Looks like you did more than one dumb... *eyeing the bandages that he can see*
Ratchet: He had a little run in with broken glass. *looks at her husband* How'd that happen, anyway, sport?
Wheeljack: He tried to stop Hound's shell from throwing the box that held Rumble and Ridgeback's sparks down...
Skylar: ... Rumble's alive?! And who the pit is Ridgeback? *confused*
Ratchet: He's on the table behind you at the bottom of the snuggle pile. And he's already been slapped twice for poking at Rewind. *glances at 'Jack* Ridgeback's a newspark.
Wesson: *blinking* Tired.
Wheeljack: I know, John... but you've gotta stay awake...
Wesson: ...That bad...?
Skylar: ... *mutters something about the world going insane*
Wheeljack: You gave yourself a concussion.... But don't worry, Maria's too out of it to get you...
Wesson: *eyelids drooping* Good.
Wheeljack: *Pokes Wesson*
Ratchet: Don't worry, Skylar. We have it on good authority that things are settling down now.
Wesson: Awake....
Ratchet: Let's put him in one of the rooms with a monitor. *calling Ens. Falman and asking him to come and bring WO Caine with him*
Skylar: *nods and moves to help Wheeljack move Wesson*
Ratchet: *sits wearily on the table once they're gone* //Chief, you can let Wayne in if he's quiet. And Denver, another one of your guys just got a busted head.//
Patrick: //Understood.//
Ratchet: //Denver?//
Denver: *No response*
Wayne: *Slinking into the med ward*
Ratchet: *weary sigh* What's scary is, this does feel like things have settled down. Chief, will you go check on Denver and Tracks? They're not answering the comm.
Patrick: I will. Call if you need any help?
Ratchet: Sure, Chief, but there are a lot of guys in here. //Vato? What's your ETA?//
ENS. Falman: //ETA less than three minutes. We're just getting to the elevator now, sir.//
Ratchet: //Good. I've never seen him this sleepy.// *knows very well the big man's rep as someone who needs very little slumber*
Patrick: *ducks out and heads off to check on Tracks and Denver. Then there's a loud "THRRRRRPT" and someone hurrying past the med ward* //...Um... Rachel? Sora just razzed me and ran off...//
Ratchet: 0.o //Sora?//
Sora: //Which quarters are Destiny and Ridgeback in?//
Ratchet: //Who told you about Ridgeback?//
Sora: //Destiny.//
Ratchet: //Did she tell you what shell he's in?// *pressing her lip components together*
Sora: //He's in Hound's shell... But he also has part of my spark code...//
Ratchet: *quietly* //Yeah, he does. And he's Hound all over again, except with some of your cheek, I suspect.//
Sora: //I'm not cheeky.//
Ratchet: *still quiet, as she thinks it's all gone to Destiny* //No. Not anymore. They're in room 26b.// *flips frequencies to private* //Mirage, where are you right now?//
Mirage: //Finishing repairs to the section of the fence that Lt. Ross was working on... Why?//
Ratchet: *quietly* //You and Hound were friends, right?//
Mirage: //We were....//
Ratchet: *sighs over the link* //Meet me at the med ward?//
Mirage: //Very well. ETA five minutes. Mirage out.//
Ratchet: //See you then. Ratchet out.// *flips channels* //'Jack, I'm going to check on Sora, and then find somewhere to lay down, will you be alright in the med ward till Russ gets back?//
Wheeljack: //Yeah. I'll keep an optic on things here... When Russ arrives, I'll join you.//
Ratchet: //Thanks, sport. I love you. Ratchet out.// *smiling as she gives a last check to Lt. Ross and to the snuggle pile and Quickstrike, then heads out, one hand over her chest as she settles against the wall by the med ward door to wait for Mirage*
Mirage: *Arriving a few minutes later*
Ratchet: *gives him a wan grin* Where you there when Maria got that beer?
Mirage: ... Is that why she said she needed help with the fence?
Ratchet: No, that was because the beer made her mash her thumb. She probably would have kept trying if she hadn't done that.
Mirage: *Winces* I see.
Ratchet: And then she kissed John, and he went out to join the search for Soundwave and wound up giving himself a concussion. *pushes away from the wall and turns to walk down the hallway, gesturing for him to come too*
Mirage: *Raised brow as he moves to follow* I take it she's a bit of a lightweight when it comes to alcohol?
Ratchet: You haven't heard about Jazz's beer yet, have you? *slight amusement in her voice*
Mirage: ... Something tells me I don't want to.
Ratchet: No. You don't want to drink the stuff. You need to hear about it so you don't.
Mirage: ... I fail to see the logic in that.
Ratchet: If you don't hear about it and get warned, you'd probably wind up drinking it.
Mirage: ... *sigh* Very well.
Ratchet: *nods and looks the way they're going* *very quietly* Hound's got a son.
Mirage: ... *hear that sound, Ratchet? That's the sound of Mirage's processor coming to a screeching halt* What?!
Ratchet: We just found him today. *still looking ahead, her stride unbroken*
Mirage: ... *hurrying to catch up* How?! He didn't have a mate or anyone he was interested in!
Ratchet: *presses her lip plates together, then spits out a single word* Stark.
Mirage: ... The company that we gained a victory against in the legal system... *Frowning muchly now*
Ratchet: Yeah, them. *sigh* Ridgeback's spark was in a box of stuff nobody thought to look in.
Mirage: ... Is he alright?
Ratchet: *slight smile* I think he'll be just fine.
Mirage: ... If you are certain...
Ratchet: He's got his dad's personality all around him, and his mom and aunt are with him.
Mirage: ... *raised brow* I'm almost afraid to ask...
Ridgeback: *voice comes through the open door up ahead*
Mirage: *stops short, disbelief clear on his face*
Sora: *talking quietly to Ridgeback*
Ratchet: *very very softly* He's in Hound's shell. It was the drone who found him.
Mirage: .... *looks like someone just punched him in the gut*
Ratchet: *stops just short of the door and turns to put a hand on his arm* Sora and Destiny like you. And Ridgeback will probably remember you. Do you think you can be there for them right now?
Mirage: *quietly* I will do my best...
Sora: *spares a brief glance at Mirage, before she resumes smoothing Ridgeback's helm and talking to the youngster*
Ratchet: *looks inside, and her mouth twitches as Ridgeback also looks toward the door and perks at sight of Mirage*
Ridgeback: 'Raj!
Mirage: *nods to Ridgeback* May I come in?
Destiny: *opens her eyes briefly to see who showed up, before she's snuggling against Ridgeback again and purring contentedly*
Ridgeback: Well I don't mind. *looks at the twin femmes* Aunty Desi? Ah.... *looks at Sora and isn't sure how to address her*
Sora: She's alright with it... as am I. *going to try and nudge Ridgeback over to make room for Mirage*
Ridgeback: *softly, distracted from Mirage for a moment* What do I call you?
Sora: *just as softly* [Mother.... or Mama...]
Ridgeback: *translates that to English* Mama. *and there's Hound's grin as he turns back to Mirage while scootching over on the big sofa futon*
Mirage: *moves to join the family unit on the sofa futon*
Ridgeback: But I thought you were dead, 'Raj. *glad hand on the older mech's shoulder* It's good to be wrong.
Mirage: *small nod* It's always a good thing to be proven wrong about that sort of thing...
Ridgeback: Yeah. *lays back and stuffs a pillow under his head, then yawns* Not again. I just woke up! *says it with his father's good natured humor*
Sora: *Soothing clicks*
Ratchet: *quiet chuckle as she heads for the guest room across the hall and flops onto the couch without unfolding it. Gives a massive yawn, then sits up and transforms back to alt before reaching for a pillow and the afghan*
Patrick: *pings Rachel's comm* //I found Tracks and Denver....// *sounds amused*
Rachel: *snuggling under the knitted blanket* //They didn't.//
Patrick: //They did. Dion's going to need someone to watch over him till they wake up, but I think Raoul, WakeJumper, and Beau will be up to the task.//
Rachel: *snort* //Don't forget Magnus and Rain.//
Patrick: //If Sky doesn't try and 'steal' Dion first...// *chuckles*
Rachel: *chuckling herself now, then yawns and buries her face in the afghan* //I'm going off duty for a few, Chief.//
Patrick: //Alright. Get some rest. Patrick out.//
Rachel: //Rachel out.// *soft sigh as she burrows deeper under the big soft blanket, praying silently for her new grandson and for everyone else who's been through the med ward today. Gives a last sleepy murmur and then her breathing evens out and becomes a counterpoint to the soft sounds from the room across the way*
((co-written with random_xtras))
Wesson: She really smashed the end of her thumb. Could you look at it and see if I treated it right? *still supporting his friend* And... she got drunk off one bottle of beer. She's not usually that cheap of a drunk....
Rachel: *wince. Facepalm*
Wheeljack: *nods and moves to gently inspect Lt. Ross' hand and thumb*
Lt. Ross: *wibbles and mumbles something about not wanting to leave the squad*
Wesson: *comforting murmur as he watches Wheeljack's inspection*
Wheeljack: Well, she did smack it pretty good... it'll hafta be in a cast for a little bit... But there's no reason for her to leave.
Wesson: So that splint ain't enough?
Rachel: A cast helps make sure you don't wind up with a lot of cursing moments. //Javan, you're in deep trouble.//
Jazz: //This got anything to do with the bottle 'a my beer that's missing?//
Rachel: //Maria's drunk out of her senses.//
Jazz: //...How'd she get the beer? I di'n't give it to her...//
Wheeljack: Just sit tight for a little bit... *goes to get the stuff to make a cast*
Rachel: //I don't know if you don't. Look into it, would you?//
Wesson: *still giving soothing rumbles to his teammate*
Lt. Ross: *wibbling more and leaning against Wesson as Wheeljack returns with everything needed to make a cast for her thumb*
Jazz: //Gotcha, Docbot. Jazz, out.// *closes the connection*
Wesson: Shhh, Maria, everythin's gonna be alright.
Lt. Ross: *blinks a bit, and then she's snuggling closer to Wesson*
Wesson: Just take it easy. Uh, Professor, I never gave her any painkiller.
Rachel: :\
Patrick: *trying to get Eject off of his head as Rewind and Steeljaw join the snuggle pile under the heated blanket*
Wheeljack: It's probably a good thing you didn't, with as plastered as she is...
Lt. Ross: *and now she's going to try and pull Wesson down for a kiss!*
Wesson: *acks and loses his balance slightly, one arm going from supporting his friend to supporting himself and in the process bringing his face dangerously close to hers*
Lt. Ross: *quietly* You're so cute when you're flustered, John... *moves to plant one on him*
Wesson: *making muffled sounds of protest and shock*
Rachel: 0_o
Wheeljack: ... Er... *blink blink*
Patrick: *Facepalming*
Lt. Ross: *snuggles and goes a bit limp*
Wesson: *sets her down hurriedly on the table and then backpeddles out of range, his wrist going to his mouth and his eyes wide*
Wheeljack: Er... *sets to work putting a cast on Lt. Ross' thumb, plerplexity clear on his face*
Wesson: *takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders, and then excuses himself and strides out of the room*
Rachel: *wince wince wince* Well darn.
Patrick: ... What the pit just happened?!
Rachel: *quietly* //He loves Denver. It looks like Maria might love him.//
Patrick: ... [Oh slag me sideways...] *pinches his nose*
Rachel: *lays her head back on her table and rubs her chest, absently glancing over to check on Alice as she does*
Alice: *has slipped into a light doze*
Rachel: *softly* Chief?
Patrick: Yes, Rachel?
Rachel: Would you bring Alice back to her and Springer's room?
Patrick: *nods* Of course. *moves to gently scoop the sleeping woman up and carry her back to the room she and her mate share. Out of habit, he glances through the window on Soundwave's room as he passes it* ... //Rachel? We have a problem.//
Rachel: //Is Springer on the floor again?// *sigh*
Patrick: //Soundwave's room is empty.// *yes, that's worry you're hearing in his voice, Rachel*
Rachel: What? *sits bolt upright and hops off her table to go see for herself, forgetting her discomfort and her fractious unborn for the moment*
Patrick: *has taken Alice back to the room with Springer and is now standing near the door to Soundwave's room, expression grim*
Rachel: *looks through the window, and then checks the monitors for ambushes before keying the door open and going in to double check. Turns slowly, her eyes taking in every corner of the big room as her face sets with frustration* He's not strong enough to be out on his own.
Patrick: Should we get Alex and Mia?
Rachel: No. *sigh* //Steeljaw? Did you guys bring any of the drones when you came from town?//
Steeljaw: //We brought Moofy and Lyra... Why?//
Rachel: //Where'd you leave Moofy?//
Steeljaw: //With Dion, Tracks, and Denver. Lyra's there too.//
Rachel: //Thanks.// *calls her tracker baby*
Moofy: *Coming, Mama!*
Rachel: *looks at Patrick* I called Moofy. If anyone can find Soundwave it'll be him. But we should probably get anyone else that's able out and searching the area.
Patrick: *nods* I'll call around to see who's available.
Rachel: Thanks, Chief. *twists her face and puts a hand to her chest* *quietly* Slaggit....
Patrick: In the meantime... *moves to scoop Rachel up* You need to rest.
Rachel: *sighs, but doesn't protest*
Patrick: *Carries Rachel back to the main bay and gently sets her on the table she was laying on earlier* We'll keep you updated.
Rachel: *nods* Will you go find Moofy and bring him here? He might get lost along the way from Tracks and Denver's place.
Patrick: *chuckles* I'll go get him. *moves to head out of the med ward*
Rachel: *watches him go and then looks at her husband. Over private comms* //Sounders flew the coop, sport.//
Wheeljack: //... That idiot... He's not even strong enough to be off his berth yet!//
Rachel: //The Chief's calling up people for search parties, and Moofy's on his way here now.//
Wheeljack: *sighs* //When we find Soundwave, I may have to channel Major MacKenzie when she was dressing down Mirage that one time....//
Rachel: //You'd waste your energy.// *sigh*
Wheeljack: //It'd be worth it.// *gently draping a blanket over Lt. Ross now* How's Denver doing? I haven't been by to visit her...
Rachel: *slight smile* She's not happy with having to take it easy, but I think she's having a hard time focusing on that fact with Tracks in snuggle overdrive.
Wheeljack: *chuckles* She's as stubborn as they come...
Rachel: *nod* *quietly* I wonder if she knew about John.
Wheeljack: Hard to say.... She always seemed a bit skittish around him though....
Rachel: *nods again* Yeah, though it seems like she's the only woman who is. Remember how Rose used to climb on him?
Wheeljack: *Snerks* When she wasn't dangling from his hands...
Rachel: *chuckle* And Maria's always giving him a hard time. *looks at Lt. Ross*
Lt. Ross: *Sleeping peacefully, the hand with the cast resting on top of the blanket Wheeljack covered her with*
Rachel: *sobers* I think Irene might have been sharing Javan's cheer.
Wheeljack: Somehow... I'm not surprised.
Rachel: He says he's got a bottle missing, and I see a bottle right there under the table she's laying on.
Wheeljack: *sighs and moves to pick up the bottle* Why does he keep brewing stuff that's so strong?
Rachel: I don't think he does it on purpose. The man simply can't follow directions.
Wheeljack: Still. You'd think after almost five years, he'd have it figured out.
Rachel: *lifts eyebrows* Have you figured out how to use a toaster?
Wheeljack: ... No comment.
Rachel: *sigh* Your son is determined to overwhelm me with static.
Wheeljack: *soft chuckle, transforms and walks over to put a gentle hand on Rachel's* At least we have his shell done...
Rachel: *bit of a grin* What are we going to do with two Gregs?
Jack: Pray they don't slag each other?
Rachel: *eyes go wide at the thought* Slag....
Jack: *soft ack* I was joking!
Rachel: *wincing now as baby objects to her surge of alarm* Nnnnn. Ouch.
Jack: *soothing clicks, offers his hand for her to squeeze*
Rachel: *cuddles it to her chest, her eyes going to the door as she starts hearing news of the search over the open comms*
Moofy: *Deedles from Patrick's shoulder. There's Mama!*
Rachel: *face brightens into a grin* Hey, baby. You ready to find somebody?
Moofy: *cheery deedle*
Rachel: *holds out her free hand toward him, transmitting Soundwave's spark signature as she does*
Moofy: *beetles down Patrick's back, and scurries over to Mama's table before climbing up and listening for the spark signature*
Rachel: *gentle hand on his little back as she waits for him to get a lock*
Moofy: *confused sound. He can't get a lock on the signature, Mama. This confuses him!!!*
Rachel: *frowns* What's wrong, Moofy?
Moofy: *more confused sound*
Jack: *frowns*
Rachel: He can't be out of range already.
Jack: He may not be... But he could've found a way to block Moofy's tracking ability...
Rachel: *lets go of Jack's hand to facepalm* That idiot.
Patrick: Which means we get to play search and rescue... *sighs*
Rachel: Well, at least Seamus and Samuel won't be able to say they're bored.
Col. Franklin: *calling Patrick's cell phone because he thinks Patrick's still at work*
Patrick: *nods* True... *answers on the second ring* Yes, Col.?
Col. Franklin: //Patrick, Cpt. Blume and 2nd Lt. Havoc just spontaneously healed of their injuries.//
Patrick: ... How?!
Col. Franklin: //I was hoping you might be able to shed some insight into it.//
Patrick: ... I have no clue... *looking a bit brain-broken now*
Jack: ... I'm almost afraid to ask what happened.
Rachel: Chief? *frowning as she hugs Moofy*
Col. Franklin: //Has anything unusual happened at the base?//
Patrick: Soundwave's gone missing. We've got people looking for him now... *Over comms to Rachel and Jack* //Somehow... Tad and Jean's injuries spontaneously healed.//
Rachel: 0.o
Jack: ... Bhuh?!
Bert: //Hey, Jack, Greg's not as bad as he comes across.// *sounds like he's chuckling*
Rachel: //Not now, Bert. Something's come up.//
Jack: //...//
Bert: //...What's wrong? Optimus?//
Col. Franklin: //Do you need any additional backup, Patrick?// *then pauses and pokes himself in the ear* //Bert? What did Greg wish for? And where was he wishing?//
Rachel: *sits up* They're in the Nexus. On that field trip.
Jack: ... I've got a baaaad feeling about this...
Patrick: .... No additional backup... *looks absolutely brain-broken now*
Bert: //He wished that the two men he hurt could be better.//
Rachel: *mouth falls open*
Jack: ... *D'awws quietly*
Col. Franklin: //Is there any chance his wish could have happened?//
Bert: //They say the guy that gave him the little sparkle's some kind of Fae.//
Rachel: *looks at her husband* !!!!
Jack: ...
Col. Franklin: *slowly* //Then, I guess we can chalk this up to a miracle.//
Patrick: ... Yeah.... I guess so...
Bert: //...Miracle? You mean it really happened?//
Patrick: //Apparently, yes...//
Bert: //Okay.... Sarah wished for Maj. McKenzie to have what she needed to be happy.//
Patrick: ... *raised brow*
Bert: //And Simon wished his baby brother would be strong and healthy and that Rachel wouldn't get sick anymore.//
Rachel: *eyebrow*
Jack: ...
Col. Franklin: //...What did the others wish for?//
Bert: //Cookies. Except for Sora. I'm not sure what she asked for.//
Col. Franklin: //Rachel, how do you feel?//
Rachel: //Like someone's dancing in my chest.// *arches her brow further* //But not sick.//
Jack: ... *Scans Rachel*
Rachel: *reads normally, only without the slight distress that her spark tended to usually show when the newspark was active*
Jack: ... *and now his legs give out on him*
Rachel: *twists to try and catch him* Jack!?
Jack: *sounding a bit shaken up* I'm... Okay....
Rachel: *has him by the front of his shirt and is glancing at Patrick for help*
Patrick: *moves to help Jack onto the table so he's sitting next to Rachel*
Rachel: *pushing herself up to put her arms around her husband* What happened, sport?
Col. Franklin: //Is something wrong?//
Jack: The kid's still attached... but he's not putting stress on your spark anymore, Rachel.... *sounds absolutely baffled*
Patrick: Jack confirmed that Simon's wish came true...
Col. Franklin: //...I have to say I'm unsettled. Sure, it's a miracle, but that much power....//
Bert: //We're coming home. Bert out.//
Patrick: //Understood. Patrick out.// *To Franklin* I'm not even sure what's going on anymore... but I'm going to go check on Tracks and Denver...
Col. Franklin: //Alright. Keep me advised?//
Patrick: I will. Oberson out.
Col. Franklin: //Franklin out.// *speaks over comms and forgets the phone, though he does hang it up*
Patrick: I'll be back soon. *heads out of the med ward*
Rachel: *looks at Jack, her expression just a bit uncertain*
Jack: *still looks brain-broken*
someone: *taps on the med ward door*
Jack: ... There's no way Patrick could've found 'em that fast....
Rachel: *looking toward the door with a frown* And why would anyone knock?
Jack: *frowns and moves to make his way off the table and to the door*
Rachel: *turns her frown to him* //Be careful.//
Ravage: *pokes head out from under blanket* M'mu!
Jack: *small nod, gets a tool out of subspace, and then goes to open the door*
Tall dark-haired guy with serious dark eyes: Ah, hi....
Jack: *blink blink* Joe? What're you doing knocking on the med ward door?
yOp: *blinks* Ah, I'm not Joe. ^_^; Different Optimus.
Jack: ... *blinkblinkblink* Okay then.... Um... How can we help you?
yOp: Well, I work for Swindle co. But I also sometimes carry messages.
Jack: ... You work for Swindle?
yOp: Swindle co. are the guys that make cinnaSeekers.
Ravage: *sits up and wraps her tail around her toes* M'umrrr.
Steeljaw: *Stretches out a bit* Mrrrrrpt....
Jack: *nods* We're familiar with them.... *is starting to relax a bit*
yOp: Well, that Swindle's my adopted dad.
Steeljaw: *And now he's moving to pounce on the guy's feet and beg for attention... and possibly choccy*
Jack: Steeljaw! *facepalms*
yOp: *grins and scoops the big cat up, then scritches his ears* Hey, Steeljaw, what was the big idea stealing all the Easter baskets? You know how hard Dad worked on those?
Steeljaw: Mrrrrptttt... *thunderpurrs* //We weren't sure they were safe at the time...//
yOp: *shakes his head, though he's still grinning* Well do we pass now?
Steeljaw: *more thunderpurr, headbutts the guy in the chest* //Yup.//
yOp: *looks back to Jack, still scritching* Anyway. You might want to scan me.
Jack: *blink blink* Any particular reason?
Ravage: *rubbing on the Optimus' leg now* //Unit Optimus is fully human at present.//
Jack: ... *raised eyebrow, scans*
yOP: *is, indeed, fully human. Though a couple readings are just a little odd. It seems that nothing about this guy is ailing in anyway whatsoever*
Jack: ... *looks brain-broken all over again*
Steeljaw: *thunderpurring away*
yOp: *quietly* I'm a Guardian Fae Changeling. Like Scattor is.
Jack: ... Did Scattor meet a group of kids and their guardians earlier in the Nexus?
yOp: *nods* And he gave them each a little wish.
Ravage: *bitty purrs around Jack's feet*
Jack: *moves to pick Ravage up carefully*
Steeljaw: Mrrpt....
yOp: *quietly* You don't have to be afraid of Scattor's power. The only reason the kids were able to ask for those big things is because they were supposed to happen. *even more quietly* Just like the graves that I just moved over near the barn.
Jack: ... *small nod* I see....
yOp: I have a feeling that things will be settling down a little now for this reality.
Ravage: *bitty sound of approval for that idea*
Steeljaw: *thunderpurrs even louder. Kitty approves*
Jack: *soft chuckle* Well... That's a good thing...
yOp: *gives that slight, shy smile that Joe does* Yes. *then pauses to listen to something that the others can't hear, his expression intent*
Steeljaw: *headtilt* Mrrrpt?
Ravage: *ears perked and big eyes quizzical as she watches the visitor*
yOp: Ah... he says you might want to check on Quinn.
Jack: ... *raised brow*
yOp: *rubs the back of his neck, shy and sheepish* I better get back. My mate will be looking for me.
Jack: ... *moving to set Ravage on the table next to Rachel, intends to go track down Quinn*
Rachel: *gives him a concerned look, and then looks over to where Steeljaw is standing all alone in the doorway*
Steeljaw: *confused kitty is confused now! Will come over and try and jump onto Rachel's table and give his mate a face washing*
Rachel: *settles back on the table and scoops the two recorders up with Moofy, still looking at Jack*
Jack: I'm going to go see just what he was talking about....
Moofy: *Deedles curiously*
Rachel: Alright. *lifts one brow slightly* Do you trust him?
Jack: Hard not to...
Rachel: Yeah. That's what I thought. *grin*
Jack: *chuckles a bit and heads out the door, stopping when he sees the basket of goodies to the side of the door*
Rachel: *laughs now, her eyes starting to twinkle* There's room for it right here.
Jack: *more chuckles as he sets the basket next to Rachel* I'll be back as soon as I can.
Rachel: Alright, sport. *looking at the basket, but content to cuddle her armful*
Ravage: *singing for Rachel's unborn, and for her mate and for Moofy* ^_^
Jack: *heads out the door once more, and moves to head down the hall towards the quarters where Quinn and Wayne, as well as a few of the other unpaired Seekers, tend to bunk*
Rachel: //Chief?//
Patrick: //Yes, Rachel?//
Rachel: //How's Denver?//
Patrick: //She's sound asleep right now... something's got Dion upset though...//
Rachel: *frowns* //How upset?//
Patrick: //Squeaking up a storm... Wait... Um... Rachel? Wasn't Denver's face a mess of bruises when she arrived?//
Rachel: //Her nose is broken and one eye is swollen shut.// *brows raising* //Why?//
Patrick: //Because her bruises are gone...// *sounds confused*
Rachel: *mouth twitches* //I better have a look at her. Could you ask Tracks to bring her to the med ward?//
Patrick: //Will do. Patrick out.//
Rachel: //Rachel out.// *looks over at Lt. Ross*
Lt. Ross: *still sleeping*
Rachel: *wishes she had her lenses, and rues that they've run into problems in making them, then looks over at the snuggle pile and shakes her head, wondering which one of those small bots helped Soundwave escape*
Steeljaw: *loving on Ravage, and thunderpurring*
Moofy: *deedles and snuggles Mama*
Rachel: *looks at Steeljaw and Ravage* Don't suppose either of you can tell me who helped Soundwave get out?
Ravage: *big eyes, she hadn't realized Dad was gone*
Steeljaw: *blink blink, hadn't realized that Soundwave was gone either*
Rachel: Just wondering. *slight sigh and closes her eyes to get some rest while she waits for Patrick and Tracks to bring Denver*
*A little while later, Dion's squeaking can be heard just down the hall*
Ravage: *sits up on the soundly sleeping Rachel and chirrups*
Rumble: *voice soft and groggy from the bottom of the snuggle pile* Oi... who's dat squeekin'?
Rewind: *sleepily* Dion... He's just a little guy... *snuggaRumble*
Steeljaw: Mrrrrrpt... *gently nudges Rachel's head*
Rachel: Few more minutes.
Rumble: .... *thinks he can get used to this being snuggled by chicks. Moves a little to snug back, but doesn't let go his brother*
Steeljaw: Mrrrpt... //Boss, I can hear Dion.//
Dion: *More squeakings, since Mama just made that sound that means she's waking up!*
Rachel: *turns her head with soft sleepy sounds and blinks toward the door, her mouth quirking into a slight grin as she hears Tracks talking to Denver and Dion*
Patrick: *moving to hold the door open for Tracks, looking quite baffled at the fact that Denver's bruises are indeed gone*
Denver: *Groggy* Wh're....
Tracks: Shh, darling. Rachel wants to give you a checkup, and she's not feeling up to coming to see us herself. *gently nuzzles his wife's hair*
Rachel: *grin grows slightly as she watches that*
Denver: *blinking blearily as she works this out*
Dion: *Squeak squeak squeak!*
Tracks: *walks past the three occupied tables and frowns at the fourth* Really, Patrick, don't you have the mattresses for these yet?
Patrick: They should be in the next shipment of supplies.
Tracks: *holds his wife and baby brother protectively, unwilling to set them down on the bare metal*
Patrick: *slight amusement in his eyes as he goes to get a couple blankets from storage*
Dion: *Squeak!*
Tracks: *sniffs, and then speaks softly to Denver and Dion*
Rachel: *blinks* Tracks, is he wiggling?
Denver: *Still trying to wake up and get her bearings*
Tracks: *pauses and looks at baby brother*
Dion: *Squeaks and wiggles*
Tracks: *Optics widen, and then he's urging Patrick to hurry*
Patrick: *back with a couple of thick blankets*
Tracks: Lay them down quickly! *glances at his CO, and then looks back to Dion*
Patrick: *raised eyebrow, proceeds to do so*
Dion: *more squeaks, Bubby looks upset!*
Tracks: *gently lays Denver down, and then murmurs to her as he lifts Dion and unwraps the little sparklet*
Dion: *squeaks and clicks, waving his hands a bit and then he's squeaking more at being able to do this!*
Denver: *blink blink, moves to sit up*
Tracks: *sucks air in through his intakes and looks from Patrick to Rachel, his optics wide* What's happened? Something's happened.
Denver: *manages to sit up on her own*
Patrick: ... *Quietly* The sparklets met a Guardian Fae in the Nexus who gave them wishes...
Tracks: What sort of wishes? *holds baby brother close, his other arm going around Denver*
Dion: *careful, Tracks. Bitty fingers tend to get into small spaces easily!*
Patrick: Greg... wished that Captain Blume and 2nd Lt. Havoc's injuries were healed... and Sarah... wished for Denver to have what she needed to be happy...
Denver: ... *and now her eyes are going wide*
Tracks: *and now he's wibbling and hiding his face in Denver's hair, unmindful of those bitty fingers*
Rachel: *smiling and a bit misty eyed*
Dion: *Squeaks and clicks, snuggling against Bubby*
Denver: *Quietly* Th't... 'splains whah nothin' 'urts anehmoah...
Rachel: *softly* Hey, Chief, give me a hand? *turning over slightly so that she can get up*
Patrick: *nods and moves to help Rachel sit up*
Rachel: *wants right off her table and over to Denver's, so she can use her scanner and see what it has to say*
Patrick: *chuckles and helps Rachel off of the table, and then he's blinking a bit as he gets a good look at Tracks. Amused chuckling soon ensues, earning confused squeaks from Dion*
Rachel: *looks at Patrick's face, and then focuses on the family unit as a whole... and grins* Tracks, you have wings.
Tracks: *startles and looks up, his optics now very wide*
Denver: *Also looks up, and then she's got a very small smile on her face as she reaches to very gently brush her fingertips against Tracks' wings*
Tracks: *gives a little shiver as he looks down at her* But.... Darling, here, take Dion.
Denver: *small nod, reaches for Dion, who squeaks even more*
Tracks: *clicks to Dion, telling him gently in Cybertronian that everything's alright. Then steps back and transforms to human. Frowns and looks to Denver, his expression slightly shocked and wondering as he steps back further and transforms to the Cobra*
Rachel: *hands over her mouth as she blinks tears away and grins*
Patrick: ... *chuckling even more* Well... It looks like Springer's no longer the only triplechanger here...
Rachel: Joe does it too. *gives a breathless chuckle*
Tracks: *bows down slightly on his front shocks, then shakes a little. Look, Denver. Cars can cry*
Denver: *acks and moves to get off her table now*
Dion: *Squeak squeak squeak!!!*
Rachel: Be careful, Denver.
Denver: *Sticks her chin out just a bit, and then she's bringing Dion over to where Tracks is*
Dion: *Clickstorm and noises of approval. Bubby is shiny!!!*
Tracks: *opens his door as Denver comes near, welcoming her to his passenger seat*
Denver: *gets in carefully, clicking to Dion as the sparklet ups his squeaks and clicks due to excitement*
Tracks: *closes the door, and then rocks gently, his seat massaging Denver's back even as he continues to shake slightly*
Rachel: *looking at her scanner screen with a slight smile, then glances up at Patrick with eyes that hold a secret*
Patrick: *knows that look, pings Rachel's comm over a private frequency* //Okay, what's up that I'm missing?//
Rachel: //Denver isn't human anymore.//
Patrick: //... Cybertronian?//
Rachel: //Yup.// *smile grows just slightly*
Patrick: *Very soft chuckle, then his attention is going back to the family unit*
Rachel: *smile becoming a grin, but then turns to a face palm as Rumble tries poking Rewind and gets clocked*
Patrick: *raised brow as he glances to the pile of recorders*
Rachel: Rumble, if you keep trying that I'll turn you into a toaster.
Rumble: *meeps and shuts his optic band off. Sleeping bot!*
Steeljaw: *Didn't just snicker, you can't prove it!*
Ravage: //Unit Rumble curious about non-related female.// *bitty kitty kiss for Moofy*
Moofy: *Deedlechirrup!* n.n
Rachel: Well there are better ways to learn about girls than to poke at them. //Jack?//
Jack: //.... I think we're in for a rough night with Quinn...//
Rachel: //What? Why?// *sudden frown*
Jack: //You'll see soon... I'm bringing him via PINpoint... If only to get Wayne to back off for the length of time it takes him to realize where Quinn is...//
Rachel: //Do I need to prep?//
Jack: //Probably a good idea... Keep the spark pot running.//
Tracks: *PINpoints his wife and bitty brother back to their home*
Rachel: Tracks, you slagger. //Alright. Rachel out.// Chief, help me get the spark pod over by this table you've padded. Something's wrong with Quinn.
Patrick: *nods and moves to bring the spark pot over to the blanket-padded table just before Jack PINpoints in with a very ill-looking Quinn*
Rachel: *standing by the padded table, her lips thin as she sees Quinn* What's the diagnosis?
Rumble: *sniggers* He's a Seeker.
Jack: *helping Quinn onto the table and ignoring Rumble as Rewind clocks him again* He's also got an extra passenger who's making him sick.
Rachel: An extra passenger? *scans the Seeker, and then blinks at the readings*
Quinn: *Systems are stressed and there is indeed an extra spark residing within his frame. One with very strange readings*
Rachel: *frown* Jack, Chief, go get a tarp and spread it on the floor. Quinn, can you hear me?
Patrick: *hurries to get the tarp*
Quinn: *small shiver and a very soft whine of discomfort*
Rachel: *sharply* Quickstrike, report!
Quinn: *voice is very shaky and weak* N-not sure wh-what's glitching, s-sir...
Rachel: When did the discomfort start? *pinging Skylar*
Quinn: J-just after... mirrors got smashed...
Skylar: //Yes, Rachel?//
Patrick: *is back with the tarp, and he and Jack are soon getting it spread out on the floor*
Rachel: //I think we just found Nightwish. Do you know if her spark was abnormal?// *gentle hand on Quinn's chest*
Skylar: //...// *Sounds a bit brain broken now* //Nightbird might know...//
Quinn: *another soft whine of discomfort*
Rachel: //I was asking because there's an abnormal spark lodged in Quinn's torso. And he just told me he's been sick since the mirror destroying mission.// Okay, guys, set him there, and then Jack, trigger his transform? And try not to break anything?
Jack: *moving with Patrick to get Quinn laying on the tarp, then he's carefully triggering Quinn's transformation sequence and getting out of the way quickly*
Skylar: //...I'll be there shortly.//
Rachel: //Alright. PINpoint if you can. Rachel out.//
Quickstrike: *having dry heaves now*
Rachel: *looks at him and grimaces with sympathy, then transforms and grabs the spark pod as she heads over there* Jack, will you grab a Seeker sedation tab, and one for nausea?
Jack: *nods and grabs the requested tabs* *Soothingly, to Quickstrike* Easy... We'll get you feeling better soon...
Ratchet: *climbs up onto the larger bot's chest and frowns as she rests her hands on his chestplate* I'm picking up strange radiation readings, too. Not dangerous to us as they are right now. *deeper frown* I think they're coming from the other spark.
Jack: *transforms after applying the tabs* ... What sort of radiation are we talking about here?
Ratchet: Like spark radiation, only with a pattern like the spark would never need energy. *blinks* And never go out.
Jack: .... Is that even possible?
Skylar: *Arrives in a PIN flash and swish*
Ratchet: Skylar, was Nightwish immortal?
Skylar: It really wouldn't surprise me if she was...
Ratchet: *still analyzing the readings she's getting right through Quickstrike's shell* I wouldn't want to be too close to this spark when it was whole.
Skylar: ... Powerful or dangerous?
Ratchet: Dangerously powerful. It has all the readings of a self sustaining reactor.
Skylar: ...slaaag.....
Wheeljack: *low whistle*
Ratchet: I don't blame Quickstrike for being uncomfortable. Not to mention she's probably projecting her discomfort. *more quietly* She's no danger now. *Which gives you an idea of just how much this spark shouldn't even still be here*
Skylar: ... Is Quickstrike going to be alright if we remove the uninvited guest?
Ratchet: *nods and moves to find the catches on the ailing Seeker's chest plate* 'Jack, you wanna give me a hand?
Wheeljack: Yeah... *moves to help Ratchet*
Ratchet: *soft whistle as a agitatedly pulsing ball of energy floats free as soon as the panel is lifted* Look at those dark patches.
Skylar: *Winces* That... looks painful.
Ratchet: *gets her scanner when she sees that the spark's not moving any further. Whistles again at the readings, and then groans softly* Well that's not going to help either of them feel any better.
Wheeljack: Huh? *scans the spark*
Skylar: ... *Raised brow*
Wheeljack: ... So what do we tell Wayne?
Ratchet: That he's got a sister. *glances at Skylar even as she encases her hands in forcefield and moves to gently guide the spark into the spark pod*
Nightwish: *pulses more agitatedly. She hurts, and she doesn't know what's going on!*
Patrick: *Trying to keep Wayne from barging into the med ward*
Ratchet: And to keep his voice down. He's making my sparklet jump.
Patrick: *relays this to Wayne, and soon he's shoving Wayne back a few feet as the door closes behind him*
Ratchet: She's a fighter, that's for sure. *trying to gently push the spark down so she can close the lid, but freezes as an emergency ping comes over the command channel* What?
Joe: //Incoming human wounded, critical!//
Wheeljack: //Who's hurt, Joe, and how badly?// *hurrying to get another table ready*
Joe: //It's Lt. Wesson. He seems to have slipped on the edge of one of the basement holes and fallen. He's bleeding from the scalp and barely responsive.//
Ratchet: *hands still steady as she coaxes the spark, then closes the lid and sets it to one side as she scans Quickstrike again* Put him on the one with the blankets, 'Jack. Just try and keep him from bleeding on them.
Quickstrike: *Still showing slight stress to his systems, but it's likely he'll make a full recovery*
Skylar: ... Slaggit... how'd he fall in one of the holes?
Ratchet: He was a little distracted, and it's snowing out there. *straightens and goes to set the spark pod on the table where she'd been laying, then covers it with a towel from the cupboard underneath and starts grabbing what she'll need*
Joe: *appears in human mode, down on one knee with his hand on Lt. Wesson's shoulder*
Rachel: You didn't move him around. Good boy. Skylar, grab that stretcher.
Skylar: *grabbing the stretcher and frowning muchly*
Lt. Wesson: *softly, as he frowns* Don't let... Maria... get me....
Joe: *eyebrows UP*
Wheeljack: *Coughs to hide his snicker*
Ratchet: *over to help Joe and Skylar get the stretcher set up, and to scan Lt. Wesson* Looks like we have another concussion on our hands to replace the ones Greg wished away. But it's safe to move him otherwise. Carefully.
Skylar: *nods* What's this about Lt. Ross getting him though?
Ratchet: *without looking up* It seems Irene was sharing Javan's beer.
Joe: 0_o
Skylar: ... *blink blink*
Wheeljack: Lt. Ross got drunk and let's just say she's less inhibited when inebriated....
Ratchet: Yeah, that. *rubs her chest* Joe, you get his head, Skylar, you get his feet, alright?
Skylar: *nods* Alright.
Joe: Yes, sir. *hands under the injured man's shoulders* Ready.
Skylar: *At Wesson's feet, is ready to lift* On three?
Ratchet: One. Two. Three.
Skylar: *Lifts at the same time Joe does, though he does glance over at Quickstrike briefly when the other Seeker whimpers*
Ratchet: *looks that way too, her brow ridges raising* Now what?
Lt. Wesson: *groaning with discomfort, though not making signs of throwing up*
Ratchet: *heads over to check on Quickstrike again as Joe and Skylar move Lt. Wesson to the table with the help of the stretcher* *scanner out and scanning* Huh. Looks like you're feeling that bond more than she seems to be. *goes to get the pod away from the snuggle pile that developed around it* Sheesh, you guys, go back to the other table, alright? Moofy, you want to snuggle with Rewind and Frenzy?
Moofy: *Deedle chirrrup, beetles over to the edge of the table before climbing down*
Ravage: *makes her little chirp as she jumps down and then looks back up with her tail in the air*
Steeljaw: *jumping over to where the rest of the recorders are, smug kitty grin is a go*
Ratchet: *sets the spark pot on Quickstrike's chest and watches the sleeping Seeker for a reaction*
Quickstrike: *quiets down*
Ratchet: Huh. *moves the pod to the floor beside him so it can't be knocked down, and then turns to go back to where 'Jack's tending Lt. Wesson*
Wesson: Don't... don't let. *groan and grimace slightly* Did... somethin' dumb.
Skylar: Looks like you did more than one dumb... *eyeing the bandages that he can see*
Ratchet: He had a little run in with broken glass. *looks at her husband* How'd that happen, anyway, sport?
Wheeljack: He tried to stop Hound's shell from throwing the box that held Rumble and Ridgeback's sparks down...
Skylar: ... Rumble's alive?! And who the pit is Ridgeback? *confused*
Ratchet: He's on the table behind you at the bottom of the snuggle pile. And he's already been slapped twice for poking at Rewind. *glances at 'Jack* Ridgeback's a newspark.
Wesson: *blinking* Tired.
Wheeljack: I know, John... but you've gotta stay awake...
Wesson: ...That bad...?
Skylar: ... *mutters something about the world going insane*
Wheeljack: You gave yourself a concussion.... But don't worry, Maria's too out of it to get you...
Wesson: *eyelids drooping* Good.
Wheeljack: *Pokes Wesson*
Ratchet: Don't worry, Skylar. We have it on good authority that things are settling down now.
Wesson: Awake....
Ratchet: Let's put him in one of the rooms with a monitor. *calling Ens. Falman and asking him to come and bring WO Caine with him*
Skylar: *nods and moves to help Wheeljack move Wesson*
Ratchet: *sits wearily on the table once they're gone* //Chief, you can let Wayne in if he's quiet. And Denver, another one of your guys just got a busted head.//
Patrick: //Understood.//
Ratchet: //Denver?//
Denver: *No response*
Wayne: *Slinking into the med ward*
Ratchet: *weary sigh* What's scary is, this does feel like things have settled down. Chief, will you go check on Denver and Tracks? They're not answering the comm.
Patrick: I will. Call if you need any help?
Ratchet: Sure, Chief, but there are a lot of guys in here. //Vato? What's your ETA?//
ENS. Falman: //ETA less than three minutes. We're just getting to the elevator now, sir.//
Ratchet: //Good. I've never seen him this sleepy.// *knows very well the big man's rep as someone who needs very little slumber*
Patrick: *ducks out and heads off to check on Tracks and Denver. Then there's a loud "THRRRRRPT" and someone hurrying past the med ward* //...Um... Rachel? Sora just razzed me and ran off...//
Ratchet: 0.o //Sora?//
Sora: //Which quarters are Destiny and Ridgeback in?//
Ratchet: //Who told you about Ridgeback?//
Sora: //Destiny.//
Ratchet: //Did she tell you what shell he's in?// *pressing her lip components together*
Sora: //He's in Hound's shell... But he also has part of my spark code...//
Ratchet: *quietly* //Yeah, he does. And he's Hound all over again, except with some of your cheek, I suspect.//
Sora: //I'm not cheeky.//
Ratchet: *still quiet, as she thinks it's all gone to Destiny* //No. Not anymore. They're in room 26b.// *flips frequencies to private* //Mirage, where are you right now?//
Mirage: //Finishing repairs to the section of the fence that Lt. Ross was working on... Why?//
Ratchet: *quietly* //You and Hound were friends, right?//
Mirage: //We were....//
Ratchet: *sighs over the link* //Meet me at the med ward?//
Mirage: //Very well. ETA five minutes. Mirage out.//
Ratchet: //See you then. Ratchet out.// *flips channels* //'Jack, I'm going to check on Sora, and then find somewhere to lay down, will you be alright in the med ward till Russ gets back?//
Wheeljack: //Yeah. I'll keep an optic on things here... When Russ arrives, I'll join you.//
Ratchet: //Thanks, sport. I love you. Ratchet out.// *smiling as she gives a last check to Lt. Ross and to the snuggle pile and Quickstrike, then heads out, one hand over her chest as she settles against the wall by the med ward door to wait for Mirage*
Mirage: *Arriving a few minutes later*
Ratchet: *gives him a wan grin* Where you there when Maria got that beer?
Mirage: ... Is that why she said she needed help with the fence?
Ratchet: No, that was because the beer made her mash her thumb. She probably would have kept trying if she hadn't done that.
Mirage: *Winces* I see.
Ratchet: And then she kissed John, and he went out to join the search for Soundwave and wound up giving himself a concussion. *pushes away from the wall and turns to walk down the hallway, gesturing for him to come too*
Mirage: *Raised brow as he moves to follow* I take it she's a bit of a lightweight when it comes to alcohol?
Ratchet: You haven't heard about Jazz's beer yet, have you? *slight amusement in her voice*
Mirage: ... Something tells me I don't want to.
Ratchet: No. You don't want to drink the stuff. You need to hear about it so you don't.
Mirage: ... I fail to see the logic in that.
Ratchet: If you don't hear about it and get warned, you'd probably wind up drinking it.
Mirage: ... *sigh* Very well.
Ratchet: *nods and looks the way they're going* *very quietly* Hound's got a son.
Mirage: ... *hear that sound, Ratchet? That's the sound of Mirage's processor coming to a screeching halt* What?!
Ratchet: We just found him today. *still looking ahead, her stride unbroken*
Mirage: ... *hurrying to catch up* How?! He didn't have a mate or anyone he was interested in!
Ratchet: *presses her lip plates together, then spits out a single word* Stark.
Mirage: ... The company that we gained a victory against in the legal system... *Frowning muchly now*
Ratchet: Yeah, them. *sigh* Ridgeback's spark was in a box of stuff nobody thought to look in.
Mirage: ... Is he alright?
Ratchet: *slight smile* I think he'll be just fine.
Mirage: ... If you are certain...
Ratchet: He's got his dad's personality all around him, and his mom and aunt are with him.
Mirage: ... *raised brow* I'm almost afraid to ask...
Ridgeback: *voice comes through the open door up ahead*
Mirage: *stops short, disbelief clear on his face*
Sora: *talking quietly to Ridgeback*
Ratchet: *very very softly* He's in Hound's shell. It was the drone who found him.
Mirage: .... *looks like someone just punched him in the gut*
Ratchet: *stops just short of the door and turns to put a hand on his arm* Sora and Destiny like you. And Ridgeback will probably remember you. Do you think you can be there for them right now?
Mirage: *quietly* I will do my best...
Sora: *spares a brief glance at Mirage, before she resumes smoothing Ridgeback's helm and talking to the youngster*
Ratchet: *looks inside, and her mouth twitches as Ridgeback also looks toward the door and perks at sight of Mirage*
Ridgeback: 'Raj!
Mirage: *nods to Ridgeback* May I come in?
Destiny: *opens her eyes briefly to see who showed up, before she's snuggling against Ridgeback again and purring contentedly*
Ridgeback: Well I don't mind. *looks at the twin femmes* Aunty Desi? Ah.... *looks at Sora and isn't sure how to address her*
Sora: She's alright with it... as am I. *going to try and nudge Ridgeback over to make room for Mirage*
Ridgeback: *softly, distracted from Mirage for a moment* What do I call you?
Sora: *just as softly* [Mother.... or Mama...]
Ridgeback: *translates that to English* Mama. *and there's Hound's grin as he turns back to Mirage while scootching over on the big sofa futon*
Mirage: *moves to join the family unit on the sofa futon*
Ridgeback: But I thought you were dead, 'Raj. *glad hand on the older mech's shoulder* It's good to be wrong.
Mirage: *small nod* It's always a good thing to be proven wrong about that sort of thing...
Ridgeback: Yeah. *lays back and stuffs a pillow under his head, then yawns* Not again. I just woke up! *says it with his father's good natured humor*
Sora: *Soothing clicks*
Ratchet: *quiet chuckle as she heads for the guest room across the hall and flops onto the couch without unfolding it. Gives a massive yawn, then sits up and transforms back to alt before reaching for a pillow and the afghan*
Patrick: *pings Rachel's comm* //I found Tracks and Denver....// *sounds amused*
Rachel: *snuggling under the knitted blanket* //They didn't.//
Patrick: //They did. Dion's going to need someone to watch over him till they wake up, but I think Raoul, WakeJumper, and Beau will be up to the task.//
Rachel: *snort* //Don't forget Magnus and Rain.//
Patrick: //If Sky doesn't try and 'steal' Dion first...// *chuckles*
Rachel: *chuckling herself now, then yawns and buries her face in the afghan* //I'm going off duty for a few, Chief.//
Patrick: //Alright. Get some rest. Patrick out.//
Rachel: //Rachel out.// *soft sigh as she burrows deeper under the big soft blanket, praying silently for her new grandson and for everyone else who's been through the med ward today. Gives a last sleepy murmur and then her breathing evens out and becomes a counterpoint to the soft sounds from the room across the way*
((co-written with random_xtras))