sgv and the Nexus, Detroit, the Black Dog, and the Sanctuary of Primus, Reunions
yOp: *sitting in the Black Dog, playing his favorite MMORPG on a datapad*
Tarantulus: *returning from the reality he and Showtime hail from in a PINflash and a strained yell for help. Then, both he and Showtime are doing floor time*
yOp: *datapad vanishing as he bounds to his feet and hurries toward Tarantulus and Showtime* Nemesis, call Hormah!
Nem: Teach your grandmother to suck oil. *hurrying over and barking that the bar's closed now and everyone to get the slag out*
Tarantulus: *looks like he took a pretty good beating from someone much larger than him, but isn't leaking from anywhere. He is in the beginnings of shock though*
Showtime: *clearly fared far worse than her mate, if the fact that her doorwings have been ripped off completely is anything to go by. She's currently in stasis lock and bleeding energon from several places as well as her back*
Nem: *voice a low growl even as she helps yOp to field patch Showtime* Tarantulus, who did this?
Tarantulus: Lug...nut... *shaking a bit, though not from fear*
yOp: *usually gentle face is set and grim as he steps aside to make room for a cursing and fussing Hormah. And then the outline of a dragon is clearly visible around him as he abruptly vanishes*
In Tarantulus and Showtime's home reality, at the Autobot base...
yOp: *standing suddenly and without a sound in the courtyard, his ax in his hand*
Pastel blue and yellow Lamborghini Diablo: *has to swerve to avoid hitting him as it comes speeding out of the main garage door to the plant*
yOp: *vanishes and appears a couple foot to the side* Whoa!
Diablo: *Transforms into a tall and slender femme... One who is now staring at you, yOp*
yOp: *momentarily shocked out of his anger by the unexpected meeting* Elita? What are you doing on Earth?
Elita-One: *sounding a bit brain-broken* Optimus? Is it really you?
Optimus: *recalls himself and winces* Err, yes. But I'm not the Optimus you're thinking of.
Elita-One: *confusion is a go now* What... Do you mean?
yOp: *hoping something about the realities was the same* You know how they're always talking about universes similar to this one in the newsvids?
Elita-One: *and now she's looking a bit crestfallen* Oh... I see...
yOp: *quickly* But I'm here to help the Optimus from this reality. *expression hardening again as he grips his ax* I need you to tell me what planet Lugnut and Blitzwing are on.
Elita-One: *surprised for a moment, then she's back to business* We recieved reports of them being sighted near the river. Prowl and Desinex went on ahead to investigate and hopefully get a lock on their position.
yOp: *shutters his optics and tilts his head, then scowls* Yup, there they are. *takes a step toward the street*
Elita-One: The sooner we get there, the sooner we can get to the bottom of this. *Back to alt-mode, will head for the coordinates Prowl just sent her* *...And then she's driving toward the river as a red and blue dragon soars above her*
*And there's what sounds like an epic battle going on... with two Autobots carefully dodging mis-aimed attacks, and the occasional flying body part*
Elita-One: *Startled blurt of static, but then she's transforming and calling to Prowl so she can borrow his ability for a few moments*
Two-toned blue femme: *Seeking higher ground so she can get a good shot in while her teammates distract Lugnut and Blitzwing*
yOp: Stand clear! *dives at the Decepticon discussion without hesitation or waiting for reply*
Blitzwing: *Still has enough wits about him to realize that something isn't right, will back out of the fight for now*
yOp: *all four feet on Lugnut and a snarling muzzle right in the big 'Con's face* You... have got a lot to answer for.
Lugnut: *For once in his life, is stunned into silence*
yOp: *growling* Tarantulus and his mate are under my protection. And you damaged them.
Elita-One: *shares a confused look with Prowl and the two-toned femme*
Blitzwing: *Blink blink, and then Random's taking over and singing something about Tarantulus being in a tree*
Lugnut: Tarantulus is a sniveling traitor to Megatron's glorious cause!
yOp: *pulls him apart, sets his body upside down, and sits his head on his butt*
Prowl: *wince wince*
RandomBlitzwing: Ooooo! Ve can play soccer now!
Elita-One: *if it were possible for her to look pale, she would be by now*
Two-toned femme: *stoic expression as she watches. Then she's moving to gather up a couple of mangled pieces of metal that look like they might've once been doorwings*
yOp: *moves over to the river bank and takes several deep calming breaths before he sparkles and resumes his bot form*
Two-toned femme: *wordlessly offers yOp the pieces of metal*
yOp: *takes them* *quietly* Thanks, Desinex.
Desinex: *small nod, moves to catch Prowl if he needs catching*
RandomBlitzwing: *Laughing and calling Lugnut a "Butthead" now*
Elita-One: *cycling air and trying to remain calm*
yOp: *stands up and turns to look at Elita* I'm sorry. You didn't need to see that.
Elita-One: *Quietly* What are you?
yOp: *also quietly* We're called Guardian Fae Dragons. We tend to... form strong attachments to certain people or places and protect them.
Elita-One: *slowly* And Tarantulus and his mate... They're people you're strongly attached to... Aren't they?
yOp: Tarantulus is the Optimus of this reality. He's like a brother to me.
Elita-One: *Sharp intake. Wasn't expecting to learn that the mech she thought was dead is, in fact, alive*
yOp: *quietly* He's alive. He didn't die on Archa Seven.
Elita-One: *Quietly* I'd like to see him sometime...
yOp: *circulates deeply and listens to what Primus is saying* *softly* Will you come with me now?
Elita-One: *surprised, small nod*
yOp: *glances over at the others, and then face palms* Blitzwing, stop bowling.
RandomBlitzwing: But vhy? I feel a strike coming!
yOp: *gently* Look at Lugnut's face.
RandomBlitzwing: *does so, and then he's setting LugnutHead back on the mech's body... upside down*
yOp: *looks at Prowl and Desinex, then to Elita, waiting for her to let them know she'll be gone for a bit*
Desinex: *Small, understanding nod as Elita field-signs something to her*
Prowl: *Will head back with Desinex after telling Elita to be careful*
yOp: *watching Blitzwing and Lugnut, his expression distracted as he gently holds the broken doorwings in his hands and listens to what's happening to their owner*
Lugnut: *Cursing at Blitzwing, who is currently shaking his booty to some salsa music*
Elita-One: *As Prowl and Desinex depart* Let's go...
yOp: *blinks and looks at her, then nods and brings Elita to the room in Hormah's sanctuary where Showtime's been brought*
Hormah: *curses him roundly for startling her, and then hurries over and snatches the doorwings from him before returning to Showtime's berth and starting to work on them*
yOp: o.0
Elita-One: *Boggling slightly*
yOp: *looks at Showtime, and then looks for Tarantulus*
Tarantulus: *curled up on his side on a berth nearby, cloak and mask near where he is laying*
Elita-One: *hand over her mouth as she sees the extent of Tarantulus' scarring*
yOp: *goes over to brother and puts a gentle hand on his shoulder* -Tarantulus, can you hear me?-
Tarantulus: *very slight nod*
yOp: -Do you want me to repair Showtime?-
Hormah: *pauses in her work and waits*
Tarantulus: *Another slight nod* *Very quietly and with a bit of difficulty that doesn't have a thing to do with Decepticon pride* Wish... Showtime... repaired... *is still in shock, despite the gentle lovebombings Mira and little Oppy are giving*
yOp: *shutters his optics and surrounds the damaged femme with red and blue sparkles, then concentrates on closing her wounds and reinstalling her sundered doorwings as swiftly and neatly as possible*
Elita-One: *keeping quiet as she watches, though she is in awe of what she's witnessing*
Hormah: *chuckles and bustles out of the room to go get some good things to eat*
yOp: *finally intakes deeply and lets the sparkles fade away before turning to look at his sister* *softly* Showtime?
Showtime: *Soft sound, and then she's trying to sit up quickly* Tarantulus!
Tarantulus: *perked right up, and now he's moving to try and get his mate to lay back down, making soothing sounds* Easy....
yOp: *soft chuckle as he gets out of the way* He's fine, Show. You both are.
Showtime: *clinging to her mate now, shivering and doorwings buzzing with fright which is slowly being soothed away*
Tarantulus: *quiet reassurances as he carefully rubs her back.... Then his attention's drawn to a bit of movement, and he's like the proverbial deer in headlights as his optics meet Elita-One's*
yOp: *softly* She's supposed to be here, Tarantulus.
Tarantulus: *cycles air for a few moments while Showtime clings to him even tighter, then he's giving a small nod*
Mira: *chooses that moment to abandon ship and snuggle yOp*
yOp: Eep! Oh. Hi, Mira.
Mira: -That's Tarantulus' friend, right?-
yOp: -Yes. That's the Elita-One from his reality.- Oppy, wait, you'll scare Elita. Come over here instead.
Oppy: *will go to yOp then*
Elita-One: *Blink blink at yOp, before her attention goes back to Tarantulus* What were you two doing on Earth?
Tarantulus: *lips thin for a few moments before he answers* We were looking for a place to stay when we eventually move back to the reality...
yOp: *gentle feelings for the little freesparks even as he watches Tarantulus and Elita's interaction*
Elita-One: *Quietly* I thought you were dead, Optimus...
Tarantulus: *now he's having a hard time meeting Elita's optics* *just as quietly* Optimus is dead... I'm Tarantulus now...
Elita-One: ... *small nod* *quieter* Alright...
Tarantulus: *deep breath as Showtime reaches up to gently pat his chest* *Quietly* Thanks... for sticking up for me back then, Elita...
Elita-One: *soft 'heh'* What are friends for?
Hormah: *back. With deep fried pizza and dark botbeer*
yOp: *perk*
Tarantulus: *Perk as well*
Elita-One: *Attention going that way now, raised brow ridge is a go*
Showtime: *doorwings perked*
Hormah: *sets the hearty goodness on the night table and then deedlebeeps a chuckle and goes back out*
Showtime: *Gently teasing Tarantulus about not having to push his helmet out of the way to eat right now*
Tarantulus: *Makes an :P face at his mate, before gently nuzzling her helm*
Elita-One: Okay.... I have no idea what's going on....
Mira: -She looks like she needs cuddles...-
yOp: Hormah brought us some fuel. Would you like to try a piece? And... my friend Mira wonders if you'd like a hug.
Elita-One: *Watching Tarantulus and Showtime for cues on what to do with the pizza and botbeer, before her attention goes back to yOp* Mira?
yOp: *quietly* Yes, there are two other bots in the room besides the four of us that you can see. Mira is here, and so is Oppy.
Elita-One: *Surprised by this*
Mira: *Quietly* -No hugs then?-
yOp: *soothing feelings* -Just let me ask.- *aloud* They're free sparks, the charges of one of the ferrymen for the Well of All Sparks.
Tarantulus: The Showtime who is a ferryman is here somewhere... Otherwise, Mira and Oppy wouldn't be here...
yOp: *soft chuckle* Actually, I think they visit here sometimes.
Mira: -Yup! Aunt-Mama said we could come visit today...-
Oppy: *Wordless feeling of agreement*
yOp: Yes. They're here by themselves. *quizzical look to Elita, waiting her verdict on the hug*
Elita-One: *hesitantly* It wouldn't hurt her if I hugged her, would it?
yOp: *confused* Why would it hurt her?
Elita-One: Er...
Mira: *quiet giggles, and then she's abandoning ship to give Elita-One hugs*
yOp: *goes to hand out pizza and botbeer*
Elita-One: *Surprised sound as she's suddenly not alone in her shell*
Tarantulus: *chuckles* If Cloudtrader were here, he'd probably be going to give you a hug too, Elita...
yOp: He's over at the harbor, talking about PITA to a tall ship with Blitzwing. *offers pizza and botbeer to Elita first, because she's the guest*
Tarantulus: *Chuckles again as Elita thanks yOp*
Showtime: *Snerks* The one those two mechs pelted with pita bread?
Tarantulus: *coughs to hide his snicker*
Elita-One: *pauses with her slice of pizza midway to her mouth* PITA?
yOp: *as he hands Tarantulus a portion of the fuel* Pain In The Aft. It's a Starscream who lives in the nexus where I live.
Elita-One: ... *deadpans* There would be more than one of him.... *slight pause as Mira explains who Cloudtrader is* ... *boggling even more now*
yOp: I know five, not counting the clones. *sits on the foot of Showtime's berth and bows his head before biting into his own pizza*
Elita-One: ... *dismayed expression*
yOp: And most of them are good friends. *slight smile*
Oppy: -'Lita and Tarantulus' 'Screamer isn't nice?-
yOp: He didn't feel very nice from what I sensed about him, Oppy.
Oppy: -Aww.-
Elita-One: *Soft ack as Mira lovebombs her*
yOp: *laughs* Easy, Mira. *thinks of pickle flavor for Oppy*
Oppy: *Pleased sound*
Tarantulus: *is being fed by his mate*
Elita-One: *looking a bit confused, but is doing her best to answer as many of Mira's questions as she can, in between bites of pizza*
yOp: *to Elita* Mira's never seen the worlds from this side of the veil. So everything's new and interesting to her, even with the memories they share in the Well.
Elita-One: *Blink blink, and then her optics are widening as Mira shares why that is*
yOp: *very slight smile* Oppy was only a little older than her when he crossed. *thinks of garlic pickle flavor to baby brother*
Elita-One: *and now she's starting to wibble*
yOp: Hey. *sets his botbeer down and puts a gentle hand on her arm* Why are you crying?
Elita-One: *Quietly* They.... They never....
yOp: *softly* Have never known pain, or hunger, or loneliness, or fear.
Elita-One: *Quiet as she thinks this over*
Tarantulus: *Watching Elita, then he's moving so Showtime can put a gentle hand on the other femme's shoulder*
yOp: *squeaks and makes a funny face* Oppy, that's my fuel pump.
Oppy: *giggles*
Elita-One: *Blink blink, acks and squirrrrrms*
yOp: Guys, seriously.
Oppy: *will go and snuggle Tarantulus, in that case*
yOp: :( *abandoned!*
Mira: *quick to pounce-snuggle yOp and lovebomb him!*
yOp: Ack! *laughter as he tips backward and winds up laying on Showtime's foot*
Showtime: *Startles*
yOp: Sorry, Showtime. *still chuckling*
Tarantulus: *Trying to work out how to lift yOp without dropping Showtime*
yOp: *catches the thought and sits up, then looks for his botbeer and rescues it. Is very plainly used to winding up using siblings for pillows*
Mira: *Apologetic, snuggles and loves upon yOp*
yOp: *smiles and loves back, then looks at Elita as he eats*
Elita-One: *thinking about how tightly-knit the repair crew has become since they started this adventure, is comparing it to what she's seen so far of Optim-no... Tarantulus' family*
yOp: *lifts a brow ridge at her and answers the thought, since it's so clear* Working together does that to bots.
Elita-One: *Startles*
Tarantulus: *is used to this sort of thing* *calmly as he makes sure Showtime refuels* He does that sometimes... It's nothing to worry about, Elita.
yOp: *blush*
Elita-One: There's something I don't quite understand though.... *to yOp* You're a dragon?
yOp: Like I said earlier; Guardian Fae Dragon. I'm a Changeling.
Elita-One: ...
yOp: *sighs* *quietly* I didn't survive Archa Seven. But someone brought me back to life by making me like them.
Elita-One: *Before she's realized it, she's moving to pull yOp in for a hug, being mindful not to activate her special ability*
yOp: *slight meep but hugs back, careful of his pizza and drink* It's okay... really. I think I actually got a better deal.
Elita-One: *Quietly, also looking to Tarantulus* Bad enough that it even happened...
yOp: It's better than what happens when Optimus doesn't go back. *glances toward his brother himself* Right?
Tarantulus: *Small nod*
yOp: Though... I wish I could have actually helped my Elita. At least my Sentinel's not a frag-up fairy.
Mira: -Big Oppy said a BAAAAAAAAD WORD!- *Gigglefit*
Elita-One: *Scowls*
Tarantulus: *snickering*
yOp: *sheepish grin and apologizes*
Showtime: *mock stern look, before she's snuggling against her mate and looking a bit sleepy*
Elita-One: *Soft sigh* If I ever see that... mis-fire... again, it will be too soon.
yOp: You will. *pat pats her back and lets her go, then tips his botbeer up to finish it*
Tarantulus: I'd probably better get Showtime to bed...
yOp: *lowers bottle and finishes pizza slice* She's in bed. I think if you try to move her yet you'll have to go through Hormah.
Tarantulus: *small frown, nods*
Elita-One: Hormah?
yOp: *standing up* The lady that runs this place. You saw her. She deedles and beeps.
Elita-One: Oh...
yOp: She's a servant of Primus. And this is a Primus Sanctuary.
Elita-One: ... Is that why this place feels peaceful?
yOp: *nods* That's Primus. Or his Boss.
Elita-One: *Surprised*
yOp: *slight smile* *gently* Are you ready to go home?
Elita-One: I... probably should...
yOp: *glances at Tarantulus* -She could probably use a hug.-
Tarantulus: *makes sure Showtime's comfortable, before moving to gently pull Elita into a hug*
Elita-One: *Startled, but then she's hugging Tarantulus back* *Quietly* You two be careful...
Tarantulus: *Just as quietly* We will be, Elita...
yOp: Oh, uh. I gave Lugnut something to think about.
Tarantulus: *as he lets Elita go* ... What'd you do? *trying to keep from sounding too curious*
yOp: >_> *sends him a picture*
Tarantulus: ... *Boggling*
yOp: *feeling slightly ashamed of himself, but very protective.*
Tarantulus: ... Remind me never to get on your bad side.
yOp: *quietly* You're family, Tarantulus. *and he's died for family. More than once*
Tarantulus: *moves to put a hand on yOp's shoulder*
yOp: *slight grin, and then gently pats his own chest* Mira? Do you want to go to Tarantulus?
Mira: -'Kay...- *Snuggles and then she goes over to Tarantulus*
yOp: *grin grows a bit, and then he stoops to gently squeeze Showtime's foot before offering a hand to Elita* Are you ready?
Showtime: *Soft, sleepy sound*
Elita-One: *nods* *Jokingly* I'm almost afraid to find out what Desinex and Bumblebee have gotten up to while I was gone...
yOp: Bulkhead will have kept them in line. *tells Tarantulus and the others good bye, and then brings Elita to the roof of the plant*
Desinex: *Slight start, relaxes when she sees Elita*
yOp: *sparkles a box of pizza into existence and offers it to Elita, along with a business card that has a holographic list of all the novelty fuels Swindle co. sells* If you're ever hungry for something good, here's my number. *slight grin*
Elita-One: *Soft chuckle* I'll keep that in mind... Thanks...
Desinex: *moving to approach, curious about what Elita's got*
yOp: *looks at Desinex and starts to say something but then stops himself with a slight nod and steps back, vanishing as he does so*
Desinex: *moves to follow Elita inside, where there's soon discussion about the pizza and plans to order more sometime*
((co-written with random_xtras))