hsv, Allen and Ophi's House and the Autobot Base, Beginning of Healing
Skyfire: *suddenly can't feel his mate, is quite startled by this*
In a town some distance away
knock: *sounds at Ophi and Allen's door*
Allen: *moving to answer the door since Ophi is currently sitting on the counter while she cooks something for the next day's lunch*
dark-haired girl: *lifts startled big blue eyes to study his face. Is wearing a baggy sweatshirt and some loose drawstring pants. Is also barefoot* *softly* Hello, Allen. Is Ophi home?
Allen: *A bit surprised, but will be a good host* Yes, she's in the kitchen right now... *Will hold the door open for the unexpected guest* Please, come in.
girl: Thank you. *steps inside and then ducks her head slightly as she looks at him* *quietly* You don't know me, do you?
Allen: If I do, it's probably when you're in a different form. *Yes, her voice sounds familiar to him*
girl: *even quieter* It's Starscream.
Allen: *brows up* *Quietly, concerned* Were you LOL'd?
Starscream: Yes. But I wanted it to happen.
Allen: *raised brow, doesn't quite get it, but oh well* You were wanting to talk to Ophi, right? *indicates that Starscream should sit in one of the comfortable recliners or on the couch* I have to help her off the counter...
Starscream: *quietly* Thank you. *goes and sits on the edge of the offered seat, obviously keeping herself from looking around curiously by a supreme effort of will. Instead she looks down at her dusty toes and wriggles them*
Allen: While I'm in the kitchen, is there anything you'd like me to get? We have tea, juice, soda, and water....
Starscream: *peeks up at him sideways* *softly* I'm sorry, I don't know what any of those are.
Allen: *explains what each of the beverages are*
Starscream: *listens with her eyes on his face, but then shakes her head* No thank you.
Allen: *small nod* If you change your mind, just say so. *Will go get his wife now*
Starscream: *watches him go with that sideways peek, and then frowns down at those dirty toes*
floor beneath Starscream's feet: *is a sturdy hardwood floor that is showing a bit of wear and tear from a wheelchair*
Starscream: *nearly forgets her mission as she explores the texture of that flooring with her toes. This is all so different...*
Ophi: *Wheeling herself into the room, has lost a noticeable amount of muscle mass in her legs, and gained about as much in her arms since the last time she was around anyone from the base* *Blink blink at the guest* ??
Allen: *moves to lock Ophi's brakes, knowing full well that she'll try and bolt once she finds out who the guest really is*
Starscream: *and there is that peek again* *hesitantly* Hello, Ophi.
Ophi: ... *Suddenly wary* *In Spanish* [Who are you, and how do you know my name?]
Starscream: *pale face flushes slightly as she looks back down at her toes* *softly* I'm Starscream.
Ophi: ... *Will try and scoot her chair back a bit, eyes wide*
Starscream: *slight wince* I've come to set things right, if I can. *head droops slightly* I'm tired of being the reason that Orion hasn't got his mother.
Allen: *Moving to make absolutely sure Ophi can't resort to her usual flight tactic*
Ophi: *Taking deep breaths and trying not to shake, is scared out of her wits right now* *Quietly* U-Ultra M-Magnus... b-brought him to visit....
Starscream: *quietly* That's not the same.
Ophi: *doing her best to not just tip her chair. Even after almost three years, Starscream, or at least the one she remembers, scares the *Bleeeep* out of her*
Starscream: *peeks again, and then sighs and slips out of her chair. Before Ophi or Allen knows what's happening she's kneeling at the wheelchair bound woman's feet*
Allen: *boggling a bit*
Ophi: *startled squeak*
Starscream: *softly, with dignity* I am in your hands.
Ophi: *Taking deep breaths as small tremors make her hands shake ever-so-slightly*
Allen: *having to do tough love by not letting her try and escape, even though it hurts to watch Ophi reacting like this. He knows she needs to overcome her fears, and really, he can't argue with Starscream's methodology*
Starscream: *silent now, her head bowed. Kneeling there she looks like nothing more than a slightly petite eighteen year old*
Ophi: *continues to shiver, cannot comprehend ever reaching out to strike Starscream in any way. Rock, meet hard place. Hard place, meet rock*
Starscream: *quietly speaks again* I cannot dream of what it would be like now to not have Backwing and Fireflight to protect and love, but if you can't resolve this fear... *head hangs lower* I leave them in your care.
Ophi: *ducking her head until the top of it is all that's visible... and then there are a few dark spots on her jeans as the Latina woman weeps. Her fear, her sadness that she's missed out on so much of Orion's life, her shame at her own cowardace, all of it is coming out as she cries without a sound*
Starscream: *still now and silent, though Allen might see the glisten of a tiny puddle of water in front of her knees, and see it ripple as it's added to drop by slow drop*
Ophi: *Surprises Allen, herself, and quite possibly Starscream, by moving to cling to the younger woman, which is made a bit difficult by the wheelchair, but she's trying, at least!*
Starscream: *startles, but then her arms are around Ophi and her shoulders are shaking*
Allen: *quietly, as he moves the offending wheelchair out of the way* It's going to be a pain in the butt trying to find a house close to the base that fits our requirements...
Starscream: *just clings in silence that is equal parts supportive and childlike appealing*
Ophi: *hiccupping quietly, has worn herself out from crying*
Allen: *Will move to gently lift both women* *Quietly* I think you both would benefit from a nap, then supper... Is that alright?
Starscream: *moves a hand to wipe at her eye and then look at the moisture on it wonderingly* *very softly* No one knows where I am.
Allen: I'll take care of that while you both rest.
Starscream: Alright.
Ophi: *Small nod*
Allen: *Will carry the tired women to the bedroom that's just off the main room, and to the big, comfortable bed. Once they're both situated, he'll also gently drape an afghan over them and go to make a couple of calls*
Ophi: *so exhausted from crying out all her upset that she conks out almost immediately, snuggling close to Starscream as she dreams*
Starscream: *brief worry about dirty feet, but then she too has succumbed to weariness and is breathing softly and evenly as she protects Ophi in her sleep*
Op: *sounds a bit frazzled* //Yes, Allen?//
Allen: *Quietly, so he doesn't wake the women in the next room* Ophi and I have an unexpected guest... And apparently, she chose to get LOL'd human so she and Ophi could reach an understanding...
Op: //...I beg your pardon?//
Allen: Starscream chose to get LOL'd human, showed up here, and then she and Ophi had a long-overdue chat.
Op: *sudden urgency* //Starscream is with you? She's alright?//
Allen: Yes. She's having a nap right now, because both she and Ophi had crying fits and wore themselves out.
Op: //One moment.// *will play quiet Bon Jovi as he relays this message to Skyfire, Fireflight, and Powerglide. And order them not to go after her*
Allen: *Is amused at Optimus' taste in music*
Op: *back* //Thank you for letting us know, Allen. Her triad and trine were very distraught.//
Allen: Is everyone going to be okay? *Concerned*
Op: //How is Ophelia?//
Allen: *quick, quiet peek into the bedroom, closes the door behind him* *Softly* She's snuggled against Starscream right now, and made the move to hug her of her own free will. *Yes, that is relief and a lot of happiness you're hearing in his voice, Optimus*
Op: //That news brings me great relief and joy.// *will transmit this news to Orion*
Allen: *Quiet chuckle at the sparklet's estatic response* *Then* We're going to be needing help finding a house that's similar in design to the one we're in now... Ophi's confined to her wheelchair anymore... *soft sigh*
Op: //We have empty space here at the base which could be converted to suit you.//
Allen: Thank you, Optimus.
Op: //You are part of our group, Allen. Autobots care for their own.//
Allen: *Very soft chuckle* Even when they're being derpy?
Op: *dryly* //We haven't thrown Sunstreaker and Sideswipe out yet.//
Allen: *Snerk*
Op: //What do you intend to do now?//
Allen: Well, I need to finish making dinner, as I promised Ophi and Starscream I'd have it ready for them when they woke up... Tomorrow, I think Ophi and I will start packing everything up, and maybe I can bribe Ironhide into helping us move... *Chuckle*
Op: *a little alarmed* //Then we have to get started on your quarters immediately.//
Allen: As long as it's not carpeted, and has wide enough doorways for at least four inches of clearance on either side of Ophi's wheelchair... Oh, and nothing near Wheeljack's lab. *Yes, he added that last one on to try and get some reaction*
Op: //Wheeljack and Solar Flare have already moved to their own building.//
Allen: *Chuckles and moves to head into the kitchen, internally thanking whoever is listening that the portable phone works in there as well* I remember there was a kitchen for the human personnel... is it still there?
Op: //It is indeed. Bobby would perish if we were to remove his access to the refrigerator.//
Allen: *Snickers and has to bite his lip to keep from laughing* Then we just need something with non-carpeted floors, and wide doorways.
Op: //And dimensions more suited to your own.//
Allen: That too...
Op: //We will do our best, Allen. Optimus out.//
Allen: Take care. We'll see you soon.
Op: *gentle acknowledgment signal and then the phone buzzes*
Allen: *pushes the end call button, then sets to making something simple for dinner, since he's pretty sure that what he was planning to cook after Ophi had finished tomorrow's lunch will be a bit too overwhelming for Starscream right now. Pasta is soon cooked and tossed in a bit of extra virgin olive oil infused with rosemary and thyme for extra flavor, then put into a serving bowl, bowls are set out on the kitchen table with forks, and there is also some lemonade made and poured into glasses. All in all, it's simple, but tasty*
Starscream: *meanwhile, she's having one of her dreams, and it's causing her to whimper in her sleep as tears leak from under her closed eyelids*
Ophi: *Snuggles closer, clicking quietly*
Starscream: *starts to shake, and then a sob escapes her*
Ophi: *shifts position as well as she's able to, still clicking quietly*
Allen: *finished making dinner, came to check on the two women*
Starscream: *more soft whimper*
Allen: *Quietly moves into the room, will reach to gently smooth Starscream's forehead* *Softly* Shh, you're safe...
Starscream: *startles awake with a faint cry, and then stares at him uncomprehendingly*
Allen: *Soft clicks as he moves to crouch next to the bed*
Starscream: *gasps, then hides her face as she tries hard not to disturb Ophi with her weeping*
Ophi: *Gonna use you as a pillow, Starscream... or at least, she'll try!*
Starscream: *pat pat, soft but shaky clicks*
Ophi: *dozing now, though she may need help sitting up and getting out of bed once she wakes*
Starscream: *hiccup!* *gasp*
Allen: *Very soft chuckle, will show Starscream how to counteract hiccups*
Starscream: *tries earnestly, but she's too startled by the strange sensation to be able to master it. And then she eeks softly and blushes*
Allen: *politely puzzled*
Starscream: *urgent whisper* I nearly sprang some sort of leak!
Allen: Ah... *Will offer a hand up*
Starscream: *uncertainly takes hand*
Allen: *Will gently tug until Ophi sort of slides off of Starscream, though how that doesn't wake the redhead is a mystery. Once he's gotten the LOL'd woman freed from under Ophi, he'll help her to her feet* The bathroom's this way... *Will indicate the short hallway that leads to another door*
Starscream: *mystified as she looks down the hall and then back to him* ...Bathroom?
Allen: *Explains the purpose of the bathroom, including the toilet*
Starscream: o.0 You mean it's natural for you to leak?
Allen: Yeah... As strange as it sounds...
Starscream: Oh... *heads down the hall, her bare feet making soft sounds*
Ophi: *Awake and cussing at someone named "Myrtle" when Starscream gets back, has a heating pad on her lower back and part of her side*
Starscream: *looking mildly traumatized, but the expression swiftly changes to concern* What's the matter?
Allen: *As he returns from the kitchen with a glass of water* She's got a genetic condition that the incident a few years back aggrevated into overdrive...
Starscream: *eyes widen* You mean the damage wasn't all my... wasn't all Starscream's fault?
Allen: *Over Ophi's muttered cursings* If we hadn't had the incident, we'd only recently have been able to see the early signs of whatever the condition is... Ophi's family medical history is a bit ambiguous at best...
Starscream: *concerned now, she comes over to sit by the other woman. One hand goes out to touch gently... and though she washed her hands, she didn't know about drying. So Ophi now has a wet handprint on her*
Ophi: *Slight wibble, doesn't really care if she's got a wet handprint on her. Will take a painkiller with Allen's help, but it seems unlikely that she'll be eating dinner in the kitchen tonight*
Starscream: *gentle clicks, and then the mother in her breaks out past the confused young girl. Shifts around to the other side of the bed and begins to gently rub Ophi's back* Shhh. Just relax. It's going to be alright.
Ophi: *Biting her lip to keep from crying as what nerves and muscles she can still feel protest from her slightly botched attempt at a tackleglomp*
Allen: *goes to take the glass into the kitchen, will come back with a hospital table. Has put all three bowls, each with a serving of the pasta, on the table*
Starscream: *can feel tension here and there with sensitive fingers. Will gently try to counteract that tension*
Ophi: *sharp rush of breath when Starscream finds a particularly bad knot*
Starscream: *pause. Worry* Did I hurt you?
Ophi: *headshake*
Allen: I think you found a knot of tension... *is moving to help* Those can be very painful if not dealt with.
Starscream: Ahhh. *goes at that knot with vengeance in her eyes, her fingers gently relentless*
Ophi: *doing her best not to whimper, sighs with relief when that knot is worked out*
Starscream: *pleased smile, but then a gasp and a startle as her stomach growls loudly*
Allen: *Will move to grab a bowl of pasta and a fork. Then both items are being offered to Starscream*
Starscream: *looks at the stuff doubtfully* ...Dead organics?
Allen: There's no meat sauce... For one, I don't really like meat sauce, and two, this is just tossed with some olive oil.
Starscream: Olive oil? *cautious pokage of pasta*
Allen: *nods and explains what that is*
Starscream: So it's a part of the organic lifeform that isn't necessary for its survival? *stomach growls again and she winces*
Allen: Yeah... It's harvested every year. *will carefully help Ophi turn over so she can at least be fed*
Starscream: ...And these things? *holds up a stabbed pasta*
Allen: *Explains what pasta is made from. This variety is made with a vegan egg substitute and gluten-free flour*
Starscream: *tries to pronounce the name of the grain he's mentioned* Keeen-wa?
Allen: *nods* Quinoa. It's a bit hard to find sometimes... but it's pretty tasty
Starscream: *studies the pasta on her fork, and then bows her head and gives silent thanks for the fuel and for the peace for Ophi*
Allen: *helps Ophi eat until she conks out due to the painkiller*
Starscream: *thoughtfully and very carefully chewing her food. Concerned glance for Ophi, and then a wince and a squeak*
Ophi: *pretty much dead to the world now, and will likely stay in that state for awhile*
Allen: *Concerned* Are you alright?
Starscream: *sets her fork down and swallows her mouthful with difficulty, no longer liking the taste. Finger in her mouth and then takes it out again to see the end dark with blood* ...Oh.
Allen: Did you bite your cheek?
Starscream: Yes. *slight cough as her stomach rebels against the blood*
Allen: *sympathy wince*
Starscream: *wincing now* I'm getting a damage warning. *quick hand to her mouth as she accidentally drools a bit*
Allen: *Will get a trash can ready*
Starscream: *recognizes the gesture* No no, I won't... *wince at the pain* ...Purge.
Allen: Alright... *concerned* Maybe I should take you to the hospital... If it's bleeding that bad, it might need stitches...
Starscream: *uncertain look*
Allen: *Will go and make a quick phone call, and a few minutes later, there's a knock on the front door*
Starscream: *upset sounds because she just leaked on her sweatshirt*
Older lady wearing scrubs: *coming into the room after Allen lets her in* *Gently, to Starscream* Allen said you bit your cheek pretty good... May I have a look?
Starscream: *gives her a big-eyed, wary look and a slight head shake*
Allen: *gently, and reassuringly* Mary's a Registered Nurse... She knows what she's doing...
Starscream: *hand in front of her mouth and a troubled expression*
Mary: *Goes to get some gauze out of the first aid kit she helped Allen install in the kitchen*
Starscream: *slight flail while Mary's gone, and then brightens and spits blood into the trashcan that Allen had brought. Wincing and turning pale as she spits again*
Mary: *Back with gauze, also has latex gloves on. Will offer Starscream the gauze, concern for the young woman clear on her face* Here, hon....
Starscream: *softly and a little frightened* I don't know how bad the damage is. There aren't any readouts, and I'm not sure how to interpret the signals.
Mary: *A bit confused, looks to Allen for clarification*
Allen: *Gently, to Starscream* Let Mary have a look, and she'll be able to tell how bad the damage is...
Starscream: *spits again and holds up the gauze* Alright. What do I do with this?
Mary: Put it just under where the cut is.
Starscream: *puzzled look, but puts the gauze into her mouth, wincing and then hastily catching a drool as she does so*
Mary: *Has more gauze, will gently check to see how bad the cut is*
Starscream: *to put it mildly, has done a number on herself*
Mary: *small frown* You'll need to have stitches, hon... Allen'll get you taken care of. *To Allen* I'll stay here with Ophi. *Yes, she's used to coming over to take care of things whenever Allen has to run Ophi to the ER for bashing her leg against furniture without realizing it*
Starscream: *deep frown* We can't... *gasp, dab blood* ...Leave Ophi. She needs us.
Allen: She's asleep right now... and we'll be back by the time she wakes up...
Starscream: *hesitates, her expression disbelieving as Seeker instinct urges her to stay by a damaged family member*
Mary: *Reassuringly* Ophi will be alright. She'd be fussing over you and trying to herd you to the car if she was feeling better...
Starscream: *still not reassured. But her eyes are looking larger as her face gets paler*
Allen: *will move to gently guide Starscream out of the room, clicking quietly*
Starscream: *gauze to mouth and eyes now going a little blank* *forgets herself and tries to speak in Cybertronian*
Allen: *pauses to get a pair of flip-flops for Starscream to wear to the hospital* Let's get going....
Starscream: *small nod. She's feeling dizzy*
Allen: *Will help her put the flip-flops on, before moving to carry her to the car*
Starscream: *blinks, and then puts her head against his shoulder and faints*
Allen: *once he's gotten her buckled up in the car, he's driving her to the hospital as quickly as he can while being mindful of traffic laws*
ER waiting room: *when they pass it, it is empty but for one doctor with a shocked expression on his broad and weathered face*
doctor: *sees girl in arms of young man and strides forward* What's wrong?
Allen: She bit the inside of her cheek pretty badly... And I have no idea what her blood type is...
Doctor: *steps over and grabs a gurney* Nurse, will you bring the paperwork to room 11? Put her here.
Allen: *Will gently lay Starscream on the gurney as a nurse brings paperwork to the requested room*
Doctor: I'm Dr. McCoy. Is she a friend of yours? *quickly steers the gurney into the room, only pausing to let the nurse out*
Allen: She's family.
Dr. McCoy: *glances from one to the other as he washes his hands and gets gloves on* Sister?
Allen: My wife's sister.
Dr. McCoy: Sister in law. *gets a package of gauze open and then looks in Starscream's mouth. Face shows confusion for a split moment, but then he's working to clean and numb the area before stitching it* This is quite the bite.
Allen: *Small nod* We were eating dinner...
Dr. McCoy: *nods to the paperwork* Could you fill that out? How old is she? Oh, and what's her name? *stitching now, the work in no way slowing his speech*
Allen: *As he moves to fill out familiar paperwork* Her name's Star, and she's eighteen....
Dr. McCoy: Her baby is at home with your wife?
Allen: *A bit surprised, but doesn't hesitate* Her baby's at home with her fiance.
Dr. McCoy: Fiance, hmmm? *gently ties off the last suture and then gives Starscream another shot*
Allen: Yes, sir. They live outside of Tranquility...
Dr. McCoy: Out in the desert? *cleaning things up instead of leaving it for someone else to do*
Allen: I think so... *A bit wary now*
Dr. McCoy: *looks at him and frowns* And she's eighteen, you say?
Allen: Yes. She's younger than Ophi. *Definitely wary, though he's good at not letting it show*
Dr. McCoy: *slowly* Ophelia Walker has no record of a younger sister. And this girl's teeth show no signs of wear whatsoever. I'm not sure what that means, but it has me concerned.
Allen: *seriously* Family isn't just those who are related by blood...
Dr. McCoy: *quietly, as though going on a hunch* And LOL doesn't always mean 'Laugh Out Loud'.
Allen: ... *and now he's gone a bit pale* *Quietly* Who are you?
Dr. McCoy: As I told you. Dr. Hank McCoy. *glances at the door and drops his voice* Have you ever heard the term 'Traveler'?
Allen: *small nod* *Softly* In the Nexus....
Dr. McCoy: *nods* *quietly* This isn't her natural form, is it?
Allen: *headshake* *double-checks to make sure nobody can overhear them* *Softly* She's a Seeker... Her name is Starscream...
Dr. McCoy: *surprise and concern* The golden F-18 who flies with the white shuttle and the red Zephyr Arrow.
Allen: *Small nod, though he has no idea who the other two fliers are* *Quietly* She's not the one from this reality... From what I've heard, he's dead...
Dr. McCoy: *simply* I saw the fight.
Allen: *another small nod* *soft sigh* He... was the one who aggrevated Ophi's genetic condition into overdrive...
Dr. McCoy: *deep frown* Yet his alternate has claimed her as a sibling?
Allen: She came to the house to try and help Ophi overcome her fear.
Dr. McCoy: *face softens* So the story of a fiance was true, then. Though if she has a baby he's more than that.
Allen: *Remembering something Dion said* Skyfire's been courting her.... *No, he has no idea who Skyfire is*
Dr. McCoy: Do you know if he knows where she is?
Allen: If Optimus hasn't told him, no.
Dr. McCoy: Optimus knows?
Allen: *nods* I called him before dinner, when she and Ophi were napping.
Dr. McCoy: *nods* Then Skyfire likely knows as well. *looks at Starscream, his brow creased*
Allen: *Quietly* Ophi and I are going to be moving back to Tranquility soon...
Dr. McCoy: *attention back to him* Are you?
Allen: *nods* Being away from our children because of Ophi's fear... It wasn't good for any of us....
Dr. McCoy: *brows up* Away from your children?
Allen: *nods* *Quietly* Orion Pax and Ariel...
Dr. McCoy: I see that there's more mystery here than it appears at first glance. *eyes back to Starscream as she moans softly* You'd better get her back to her family. She's worrying even despite the painkiller.
Allen: *Small nod* *reaches to gently smooth Starscream's hair a bit* She was worried about leaving Ophi behind....
Dr. McCoy: I understand that the fliers have the strongest family bonds of any of the Cybertronian sub-races. Let me get the rest of the papers.
Allen: *another nod*
Dr. McCoy: *soon has everything all worked out, and Starscream is gently parked in a wheelchair for her trip back to the car. Gives Allen a card* If you need assistance, don't hesitate to call. My ER shifts are actually only a time filler.
Allen: Thank you...
Dr. McCoy: *slight smile* Don't mention it. *turns away and goes to talk to a rather stunned looking teenager with two very bloody knees*
teenager: *can't believe how spectacularly he wiped out trying that skateboard stunt, or that his brother recorded it*
Allen: *Careful as he wheels Starscream to the car, silently musing whether to just PINpoint everyone to the Autobot Base after Mary leaves*
Starscream: *soft groan, is fighting the painkiller grogginess*
Allen: *Will get her situated in the front seat and buckled up* *Gently* We're going home, Starscream...
Starscream: *eyelids flutter*
Allen: *closes the door, before moving to get in on the driver's side. Once he's situated, he's clicking softly to the LOL'd flier*
Starscream: *frowns in sleep, but settles down*
Allen: *drives home, and will soon get Starscream tucked in with Ophi, after sending Mary home with some of the pasta in a tupperware container*
strong engine: *rumbling outside in the street. Rumble rumble rumble!*
Allen: *goes to look out of the curtains, curious*
Ironhide: *rocking from side to side slightly as Carina and Orion chase each other around his cab and through his holodriver*
Allen: *Surprised, but will come out to greet the frontliner and sparklets*
pink motorbike: *guns past gleefully, front tire off the ground*
Ironhide: Ariel! Stop that! Ack! Carina!
Carina: *is testing Daddy's steering wheel for flavor*
Orion: *Gigglefit*
Allen: Ariel, that's enough. *looks to Ironhide* I was planning on calling you tomorrow....
Ironhide: Just give me the heavy junk, so Grapple can tell what he needs to build for it to fit in.
Allen: That would be the fridge, the couch, and the bed...Can we wait to move that till last? Ophi and Starscream are sleeping on it right now...
Ironhide: Whatever. Just get the rest, ack! loaded.
orange four-wheeled ATV: *bounces on its shocks a bit as Allen goes back into the house* Too bad Mama's stomping 'Cons in the other reality...
Allen: *back out with a box labeled 'dishes', will move to put it in the bed of Ironhide's alt-mode*
Ironhide: No, give that to the kid. I'm here for the heavy stuff.
Allen: *Soft snort, will put it in the back of Dion's alt-mode then, since the youngling's alt-mode is a truck-styled ATV*
Daisy: *is driving bubby, yup! :D * *presses the horn*
Ironhide: *growls*
Dion: *rocks on his shocks a bit* Hey now, none of that.
Daisy: *clicky chatter?*
Ironhide: *mutters about not being able to show the brat what a real horn sounds like without waking up the whole sl... ippery neighborhood*
Allen: *Goes to get more things packed up so he can work on trying to move the couch out*
Ironhide: Orion, go help Allen. *opens door to let the rambunctious sparklet out*
Orion: *Scoots, and soon he and Allen have most of the small items packed up, and brought out of at the house.*
Ariel: *Double-checks that the coast is clear, and then she's transforming and stowing what Dion can't carry in her subspace before returning to alt-mode*
Ironhide: *to the little pink femme* Good.
Ariel: *Happy light flicker*
Daisy: *beepa horn!*
Dion: Shhh, shhhh...
Daisy: *click chatter and grin*
Allen: *scooting the couch out of the house with Orion's help, has it turned sideways to fit through the door*
Ironhide: *opens door* Carina, do you want to help?
Carina: Bhuh? *Scoot scoot scoot* *Beeline for Allen and Orion*
Ironhide: *hovers without moving. Hopes his little one will understand what he wanted her to do*
Carina: *helping with the couch, and getting help from Orion. Between her and the boys, the couch is soon out of the house and on its way over to Ironhide*
Ironhide: Good girl, Carina. *lowers his tailgate... right under his truck bed*
Allen: *A bit baffled by that, but will get the couch situated*
Carina: *Click click click!* :3
Daisy: *beep!*
Ironhide: *annoyed sound as the faint rumble of a civilian jet plane reaches his sensors* Powerglide, you...
Allen: *Looks up* Who?
Carina: *repeats one of Aunty Denver's favorite words to describe the flier*
Ironhide: *gruff sound* Carina, what does Chromia say about you using those words?
Carina: *quail chick impression!*
Ironhide: *soothing rumble for his baby* *to Allen* Powerglide is that red jet circling up there.
Allen: Ah...
Orion: *is MIA now that the couch is taken care of*
Ironhide: He's part of Starscream's working Triad.
Allen: ...Did Optimus let him know Starscream is here?
Ironhide: Nope. The ... he followed me.
Allen: Oh... *Will go get the fridge ready to be moved out of the house as well*
Ironhide: //Orion?//
Orion: //Found Mama.//
Ironhide: //There are still more things to move before you can snuggle.//
Orion: //Mama's snugglin' 'nother lady...//
Carina: *squeak, books it for Daddy's cab and hides out of sight as Ariel and Dion turn on their holoforms*
Ironhide: *gruff gentleness* //That's Starscream. She'll take care of Ophi while you work.// *then looks to see what's startled his daughter*
group of college-aged guys: *saw the couch in the back of the truck, and the door open, decided to come over and offer to help*
Ironhide: *surprised by that and watches them with his usual wariness*
Allen: *Puts them to work, and soon the majority of the furniture in the house is packed and put in Ironhide's alt-mode bed, and he's given them the food from the fridge as a thank-you*
Carina: *Being quiet and still*
Allen: *moving to get Ophi and Orion once the college guys are gone*
Ironhide: //You know, Lumen. If you weren't wasting time trying to bond with the flag pole you could be useful right now.//
Lumen: //Ahahah, you're funny. Tell dad to quit laughing his aft off and cut me down already.//
Ironhide: //WakeJumper, the paintball pellets are in the second drawer. Chromia, love, do you feel like being a bed on wheels?//
WakeJumper: *is that dirty rotten chuckle over comms*
Chromia: //'Ow soon d'ya need me th're? 'N wh're's th' closest spot t' PINpoint t'?//
Ironhide: //As soon as possible.// *transmits coordinates*
Chromia: //En route.// *Will pull up a few moments later*
Ironhide: //Allen, Chromia will carry your mate and Starscream.// Put a topper over your bed, 'Mia.
Chromia: Gotcha... *Does so*
Allen: *Trying to get Ophi and Starscream out of the house, which is made more difficult by the fact that Ophi is currently clinging to Starscream with a deathgrip, despite being quite out of it*
Lumen: *informs Ironhide that he's a dirty rotten slagger*
Ironhide: *ignores Lumen, advises WakeJumper where to aim, and gently urges Orion to help Allen*
Orion: *soft clicks as he helps Allen with Starscream and Mama*
Ironhide: Just move the mattress with the females. Put it and them in the back of Chromia.
Allen: Easier said than done....
Ironhide: *think think* //Eclipse?//
Eclipse: //I didn't do it this time!//
Ironhide: //Fix it before I see it, and it's forgiven. Do you have that fancy holoform that can run into things?//
Eclipse: //Ah... Yeah. Do you need me to bring it to you?//
Ironhide: //I...// *watches a brawny redhead in a dorky hat and a Hawaiian shirt walk over and offer Allen a hand* //...Never mind.//
Dr. McCoy: *grins at Allen*
Allen: *Surprised, but pleased expression is a go*
Dr. McCoy: Where do you want the ladies situated?
Allen: In the back of the truck with the topper...
Dr. McCoy: *looks* The lovely Cybertronian lady?
Ironhide: *growl*
Carina: *peeking at the guy before ducking back down and curling up*
Orion: *issa hidin' behind Allen now*
Dr. McCoy: *gently, to Ironhide* Fear not, my good sir. I mean no disrespect to your esteemed spouse.
Ironhide: ... *growl*
Allen: Ironhide, do I need to call Ratchet to play diplomat?
Chromia: *would so be facepalming if she were in root mode*
Carina: *issa peekin' again*
Dr. McCoy: *chuckling and totally unfazed* *back to Allen* Have we neighbors that we need to be wary of?
Allen: Most of the ones we would need to worry about are already asleep.
Dr. McCoy: And the others? *looking around alertly*
Allen: We'd only have to worry about them if it was near dawn.
Dr. McCoy: Alright, then. *ducks down a bit, and then straightens ever so slightly... with the mattress and both women on his broad back*
Ironhide: ...!
Allen: ... *And now it's clicking why the name "Hank McCoy" was niggling at the back of his mind*
Orion: *quiet click, headtilt*
Dr. McCoy: *carries his burden over to Chromia, and gently slides it aboard so that the occupants aren't jostled in the least* *did the whole thing without seeming to strain at all*
Ironhide: .... *issa watching you now, redhead*
Carina: *curious trill*
Allen: *moves to click to the little lilac-colored sparklet* *Softly, to Ironhide* He's a 'Traveler'... and in realities like his home reality, he's generally one of the friendlies...
Ironhide: ...Traveler? *hasn't paid enough attention to recognize the term. But he's willing to take Allen's word for it that the strangely powerful human is acceptable*
Daisy: *beep!* :D
Dion: Ack! Daisy!
Daisy: *chat chat click!*
Allen: *Facepalm*
Dr. McCoy: *over to the rambunctious little wildling* Daisy, hmm. And are you giving your friend a rough time, Miss Daisy?
Daisy: :( *lifts Dion's seat and vanishes into the tool compartment*
Dion: *Quiet clicks and shuts the seat over the tool compartment*
Dr. McCoy: She's not very old, is she? *yes, he's talking in a friendly manner to the ATV*
Dion: *a bit warily* I'm not sure... She's a wildling Mom brought home one day...
Dr. McCoy: *face brightens a bit* A wildling? And part of your family now?
Dion: Yes.
Dr. McCoy: *delighted* Excellent! Wonderful!
Ironhide: Let's get this show on the road.
Ariel: *Revvs her engine impishly*
Dr. McCoy: *looks from Ironhide, to Chromia, to Allen* Would it be possible for me to come along?
Allen: I have no objections... *looks to Ironhide* Do you think Optimus would object?
Orion: *just joined Mama and Starscream in the back of Chromia's alt-mode*
Ironhide: *grumbling* No. He wants to meet him.
Allen: *looks to Dr. McCoy and nods*
Carina: *Clickstorm!*
Dr. McCoy: *happy grin* Where shall I ride?
Ironhide: *locks both doors* Not here.
Chromia: *Giving her mate what-for over comms as she opens her doors*
Allen: I'll follow in my car.
Ironhide: *growling again* He can ride with Allen.
Carina: *More clickstorm, will check the rest of Daddy's interior for flavor*
Allen: *Goes to lock the house up*
Dr. McCoy: *sitting in Allen's car when he comes back. The radio is playing Bach* I fear the rest of the party has left without us.
Ariel: *zooms past*
Allen: *Sigh* I really need to think about getting a leash for Dion to hold her back with... And I'd apologize for Ironhide's rudeness if he wasn't like that all the time...
Dr. McCoy: *chuckles* I'm well acquainted with the idiosyncrasies of Ironhides. *watches the sleek bike go past again* ...I take it we are not wholly abandoned?
Allen: No... That's Ariel... My daughter...
Dr. McCoy: Ahhhhh. *grins as he watches the youngling play*
Allen: *Considering look* I almost want to see how much I can make Ironhide yell... *Gets his cellphone out* *Will call Optimus and ask for the best coordinates to PINpoint with his car*
Optimus: *sounds like he has a headache. Advises him to go ahead and PINpoint into the front office, since everything else is covered with Perceptor and Ratchet's failed sparklet fuel experiment*
Allen: *Slight wince, promises to be careful* *Will bring Dr. McCoy to the Autobot base*
Optimus: *sitting at desk with cheek on fist as Galvatron laughs and sparklets run riot in the hall tasting what looks like expanded silly string* Welcome to the Autobot base, Dr. McCoy. *sigh*
Ratchet: *Can be heard a ways down the hall, grousing and griping*
Dr. McCoy: *comes out of the car and walks over to look through the door* ...Well this brings back memories.
Allen: ... *As he gets out of the car* I thought Wheeljack, Eclipse, Keepsake, and Solar Flare were the ones inclined to blow stuff up...
Optimus: *grimly* This isn't electronic or mechanical.
Dr. McCoy: *pokes blue foamy stuff, then abruptly shifts into a large blue ape-like being and sniffs it too* Hmm, interesting that he didn't realize that this mixture would be sure to expand on contact with air...
Optimus: ...o.0
Galvatron: *frowny at the visitor*
Allen: *Yup. suspicions confirmed*
Dr. McCoy: *excuses himself to go talk to Ratchet and Perceptor*
Optimus: *watches him go, and then looks at Allen*
Allen: He's a 'Traveler'... In realities like his, the X-Men aren't fiction, and he's part of that team...
Optimus: *references 'X-Men'* Ah, I see. But if he's a Traveler, then we have nothing to fear.
Allen: *Wryly* Tell that to Ironhide.
Galvatron: Other than Perceptor and Ratchet having a third to their nerdity.
Allen: Let's hope Wheeljack doesn't show up.
Optimus: Thankfully, he's not interested in minerals. Unless they're involved in the paint pellet's he's currently playing with.
Allen: ...Who is he shooting with paintballs?
Galvatron: Lumen. *snerk*
Allen: ... *Raised brow*
Galvatron: Go have a look at the flag.
Allen: Alright... *small smile, is glad to be back amongst familiar and friendly faces* *And now he'll head out to see what Galvatron is talking about*
Wheeljack: *chortling. Has trussed Solar Flare up beside the upside-down Lumen and is aiming at both of them*
Lumen: *Cussing at his grandpa in backwards Mandarin*
Solar Flare: *cussing at his dad in Pig Latin*
WakeJumper: *laughing his head off at how much pink is on both his brother-in-law and his son*
Allen: *Snerk, will go see if Ironhide and Chromia are back yet*
X-Brawn, Sideburn, and Hot Shot: *Pause in their nom-flinging to blink at the stranger before hiding behind Aunt Columba*
Columba: *tiny grey femme of different construction tilts her head at Allen as her arms go back protectively around the sparklets. Her big blue optics are quizzical and wary*
Allen: *blink blink* Er... Hi....
Columba: *softly, with her characteristic shy deference* Hello.
Allen: Whose kids are those? *Just curious*
Columba: These are Showtime and Sunstreaker's sons.
Allen: *Both brows up* Wow... I hadn't realized they had kids....
Columba: *does her own brow raising and looks around for her mate, hoping to be rescued from talking to a strange male* They have four...
Sideswipe: *scamper scamper down the hall to show mate the noms, skids to a stop* Oh holy.... *To Allen* I thought you and your mate weren't gonna be around here anymore?
Allen: *Seriously* That's changed.
Columba: *climbs up Sideswipe to settle with her skidplate perched on his arm. Is relaxed now and even smiling as she looks down and clicks to the triplets*
X-Brawn: *Quiet clicks and scales Uncle's back while his brothers scamper around behind the frontliner*
Allen: *quiet clicks*
Sideswipe: ... *And now it's clicking in his processor why Grapple was yelling at Epps and Fig to let him measure them for ceiling height. Will forward what he knows about Ophi to the engineer*
Grapple: //I can't make the ceiling her height! The berth room needs to be snug and cosy, not something Allen has to crawl into!//
Sideswipe: //Just make sure Ophi can get into the berth//.
Grapple: //Teach your spark donor to suck oil.//
Sideswipe: *dirty rotten chuckle* //Bit late for that, Grapple.//
Grapple: *CLICK!*
Sideswipe: *more dirty rotten chuckle, snuzzle mate*
Allen: *Soft snerk, will go see if Ironhide and Chromia have arrived yet*
Ironhide: *just pulling up into the compound after having herded mate and youngsters before him*
Ariel: *Being a nuisance*
Dion: *asking Grapple over comms where he wants things brought to*
Grapple: *tells the suite, which is the large one nearest to the tiny rooms that two of the Seekers have chosen to stuff their families into*
Carina: *is having a nap, kthxbai*
Dion: *Thanks Grapple and relays the information*
Ironhide: *scowls and PINpoints himself over there, despite alt mode laws*
Chromia: *Soft sigh*
Ariel: Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaad! *Scooooot, snaggapapa, cuddlepapacarefully!*
WakeJumper: *Still chuckling as he comes to get Ophi and Starscream*
Starscream: *eyes are open, though dazed as she hugs her new sister protectively and tries to figure out why the world looks all wrong and why she feels so strange*
WakeJumper: *Gentle clicks as he carries the mattress with the women on it*
Starscream: *small sound* 'Akejumper?
WakeJumper: *Gently and softly* Yes?
Starscream: *frowns slightly as she looks at him, and then looks at Ophi. Can't remember her trip to the Nexus right now because of the painkiller haze over her mind*
Powerglide: *transforms as he lands, and then walks over to look at the two women* ...She gonna be alright, Doc?
WakeJumper: *Will scan both women, before nodding* She should be.... How are Skyfire and Fireflight doing?
Powerglide: They were both out of it when I left. *scowling behind his faceplate*
WakeJumper: *Small nod* Most LOLs only last a few days... I'd keep an optic on Skyfire though, just to be safe...
Powerglide: *gruff* I'm not part'a the family. Only a working partner.
WakeJumper: *Gives the flier a Look* And I'm pulling rank.
Powerglide: *Look right back* I'm an aerial acrobat, not a medical unit, kid.
Chromia: *has transformed to go get her sparklet and mate* Don' make me knock y'all's 'eads t'getha.
Optimus: *looks out of his office as WakeJumper and the others pass* *quietly* Bring the bed to Starscream's quarters, WakeJumper. She and Ophelia will be safe with Skyfire and Fireflight for tonight.
WakeJumper: Yessir. *Will head that way now*
Fireflight: *blinking sadly from where Skyfire is hugging him. Has his arms around Archie*
Backwing: *clickbugging from Daddy's cockpit*
WakeJumper: *Soft clicks as he brings the mattress with Starscream and Ophi into the room*
Fireflight: *perks as he feels something faintly* Starscream?
Skyfire: *Soft sound*
WakeJumper: *quietly* Here... *Will set the mattress down so Starscream is closer to her family* She got LOL'd, and she's got some heavy painkillers in her system right now.... Fireflight, do you remember Ophi?
Fireflight: *soft and groggy smile* She came back.
WakeJumper: *nod* She's going to be living just down the hall from here...
Fireflight: *softly* That's wonderful! *sets Archie aside and wriggles away from Skyfire, then gets off the berth and puts the mattress in his place before going to his pallet in the corner*
Backwing: *peeks through Daddy's windows and clicks, then makes a little sad sound. Is a hungry sparklet*
WakeJumper: *clicks quietly and overrides Skyfire's sedation, before he's helping the flier feed Backwing*
Skyfire: *Still muzzy from the sedation, but is doing his best to focus on taking care of his daughter*
Starscream: *watching them, a soft smile on her face* Bvackwing...
Backwing: *pauses and looks around* ...Mumma?
WakeJumper: *Will help Skyfire lay on his back with Backwing on his chest, and then he'll gently move both Ophi and Starscream so they're laying on the mech's chest as well* Fireflight, if you want to lay here, there's room now... I think it would help Starscream feel better.
Fireflight: *blinks up at him* But this is my bed.
Starscream: *softly, as she cuddles daughter and sister* 'Flight...
Skyfire: *will carefully put a protective hand over the group on his chest*
WakeJumper: *gentle clicks*
Fireflight: *uncertain look as he hugs Archie*
Skyfire: *Soft clicks, tries to wiggle so there's more room for Fireflight on the berth*
Starscream: *tries to call, but her voice is still soft* 'Flight...
Fireflight: *wibbles and gets up to come over. Is walking slightly sideways due to the sedation that he was given*
WakeJumper: *Will help the Aerialbot to the berth*
Fireflight: *quiet thanks as he settles down and peers at the two human women* ...Is Ophi going to be scared?
WakeJumper: *checks with Allen* *headshake, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth* No... She and Starscream are sisters now.
Fireflight: *blink blinks and then goes ^_^*
Backwing: *gentle pat pat for Starscream* Mumma.
Skyfire: *Quietly* My sister too...
Fireflight: And she's mine too, right?
WakeJumper: That's right. *Gentle shoulder patpat for Fireflight, will get a blanket out and gently drape it over everyone*
Fireflight: I'm glad. So's Archie. *smiles and dozes off*
Starscream: *unhurt side of her mouth is smiling as she cuddles her daughter, her mate, and her sister*
Skyfire: *Soft, contented sound as he also dozes off*
WakeJumper: *Quietly exits the quarters and goes to see if there's anything he can do to help Grapple, grabbing a handful of blue expandy string to stuff in his mouth along the way*
((Co-written with random_xtras))