hsv and Holmes' reality, Various Locations, Surprises of Many Sorts
Clarion: *moves slightly and groans, then lifts her head with a gasp as a flash of alarm makes its way through her kiss hangover*
Ratchet: *soft sound, winces and moves to sit up*
Clarion: Doc, 'Buster never came 'n woke us up! *shaking and clinging to him as panic threatens to overwhelm her despite their link*
Ratchet: *soothing back rub, is calling every one of the adults who was on sparklet-watching duty* ... 'Buster is with the rest of the children on their field trip...
Clarion: But he never came 'n woke us up. *hides her face on him and fights off flashbacks*
Ratchet: *gently* He was probably having so much fun with his new friends that he forgot....
Clarion: ...New friends? *looks up, her optics bright with alarm but her feelings calming*
Ratchet: *nods* The daughters of a femme who arrived the other day... *soft chuckle as he shares an image of 'Buster playing with Uno and Doozy*
Clarion: *silent as she studies the image, and then gives a soft chuckle of her own* Little turkey.
Ratchet: *nods* I think... We won't have to worry about him escaping anymore...
Clarion: That's good. *softly* Everybot needs a crew.
Ratchet: *gentle backrub*
Clarion: *then cocks her head* ...Yeah, you do still gotta do those checkups. Think ya can put it off any longer? *can feel her mate's dislike of chasing down recalcitrant bots*
Ratchet: *soft sigh* I don't think I can... I just hope someone was able to catch Ariel this time.
Clarion: You didn' bribe anybody yet, Doc.
Ratchet: *sigh* I know... *sooo not looking forward to having to do so. Moves to get to his feet*
Clarion: *rises with him, and then sneaks over and opens the door before stepping back with a rush of total shock*
Tsubasa: *seated in the wheelchair that Wheeljack made for her, is busy running scans on Aria as the sparklet talks to Ariel, who is duck taped to the examining table beside her*
Ariel: *chatting back happily, her blue optics dancing*
Bumblebee: *comically sitting upside down in one of Ratchet's chairs as he chats with Blaster, who is standing and looking down at him with crossed arms and a grin*
Ratchet: *soft chuckle* Well, someone clearly caught Ariel....
Clarion: ...There's bots waiting in line. And Blaster ain't blastin'... *shock!*
Ratchet: *nods* We do checkups in alphabetical order...
Clarion: *looks up at him* Doc. There's more bots in here than you ever managed.
Ratchet: *nods towards Tsubasa* She was one of my students.
Clarion: *a bit bluntly* So're Wake 'n 'Aid, 'n they never got this done, either.
Waltz: *comes into sight with the material to repair Ariel's ankle, which the little femme snapped the day before when running away from Dion and Slingshot*
Tsubasa: *notices the talking and turns her head to smile up at Ratchet* Good morning, sir. Did you sleep well?
Ratchet: *nods, arm going around Clarion's waist for a quick snuggle* We were concerned when Cragbuster did not return to wake us....
Tsubasa: *pauses, brows drawing together in a frown* ...He told me that he'd obtained your permission to spend the night with us.
Ratchet: *soft sigh, though there is a slightly amused smile on his face as he realizes he did get pinged at one point* He must have tried asking while I was asleep....
Ariel: *cheekily* You mean while you were kiss-drunk!
Tsubasa: *frown clears* Forgive me, sir. I meant no harm. *and then looks sideways at the pink youngling on the table as Aria squeaks and covers her tiny mouth with shock at Ariel's words*
Ratchet: *cycles air in a soft sigh* Ariel...
Waltz: *looks down as she moves to work on Ariel's ankle* Excuse me, Aunt Eclipse.
Eclipse: No worries! *cheerful grin and turns her attention back to talking Percy into helping with the portal generator*
Tsubasa: *turns her chair slightly toward Ratchet* Do you wish to take over, sir?
Bumblebee and Blaster: *look up warily*
Ratchet: *saw that, Blaster and Bumblebee. Don't think you're getting out of checkups so easily* *headshake* I'll have my hands full with catching Air Raid....
Tsubasa: *unknowingly says something utterly shocking* Skydive is escorting him to base now.
Ratchet: *boggle*
Ariel: .... o_o
Airwolf: *curious clicks as he peeks into the room. Then comes right in and climbs up to sit on Bumblebee. See what a friendly young Seeker he is?*
Bumblebee: Ooof. >_<
Blaster: *laughing*
Ratchet: *soft 'heh' as he watches Airwolf*
Clarion: *looking up at her mate with sideways glance and cocked head. Is still shocked to see how well things are going here, and at the lack of rodeo and cursing involved in the proceedings*
Ratchet: *just glad that there's SOME semblance of order, for once*
Clarion: *perks and shrugs, then thinks of breakfast as she yawns*
Ratchet: *gentle as he moves to pick up his mate*
Tsubasa: *watching them and slightly puzzled by Ratchet's lack of verbal response to her report* Sir?
Clarion: *slight start and looks down at the white flier from her vantage point in Ratchet's arms*
Ratchet: I'll be back to do Air Raid's checkup once Clarion and I have refueled, Tsubasa... Until then, you are in charge. *in a pretty good mood, truth be told*
Tsubasa: Yes, sir. *smiles as she turns back to her work*
Blaster: ...But the lady'll be lookin' at us, right?
Bumblebee: *anxious look*
Ratchet: *nods*
both mechs: *relax and resume talking, though Bumblebee makes odd little sounds on occasion as Airwolf bounces on him*
Ratchet: *nods and moves to bring Clarion to the common room for fuel*
Engineering building. Solar Flare's former workshop
Wheeljack: *sitting in a chair, watching as Keepsake, Sari, and Sam argue over figures on a data pad. Hands on knees and 0_0 on face as he tries to keep up with what they're saying*
Sari: *indicating something that doesn't look right to her*
Keepsake: What, where? Oh slag right. I was thinkin' in glyphs and wrote down the wrong sound. *fixes*
Sari: *glances at her boyfriend* *slight raised brow and a quirk of a grin*
Sam: The math's still not adding up right though... *so perplexed by this*
Keepsake: *looks again, her brow furrowed in deep thought* Hmmm. *phone to ear* Percy, hasn't Clipsie asked you ta come help yet? We're missin' somethin' here in the calculations. Even Sammy's not getting it right.
Perceptor: //She has not quite gotten around to that, though I will gladly offer assistance...//
Eclipse: *can be heard protesting that she's BEEN asking, and that Percy hasn't said yea or nay!*
Perceptor: *sheepish apology to Eclipse, closes his comm with a soft click after excusing himself to Keepsake*
Keepsake: Heh. *shuts her phone* Percy still ain't realized that you don't needta listen ta everything Clipsie says. *frowns at the figures again* I still don't see anythin' wrong with this, Sammy. Other than me writin' down the wrong sound there.
Sam: *as he quickly skims the datapad's contents* It wasn't that the sound was wrong... The glyphs make sense to me... It's that the answer's too large... *points to where he thinks the math has gone awry* See?
Keepsake: *frowning* Well, math's your strong point 'n not mine. ... *studies the figures closely, and then looks up as Perceptor enters, accompanied by Powerglide, Eclipse, and WakeJumper*
Perceptor: *crouches, begins studying the math and bouncing ideas off of Sam*
Powerglide: *looks at the writing, and the coordinates scribbled on one corner of the whiteboard* So that's the reality where bots turn human, huh, Wake?
WakeJumper: *nods* Yeah... It's Mr. Holmes' home reality....
Powerglide: *thoughtful frown, his expression slightly absent* Everybot changes?
WakeJumper: From what I've seen, yes... They're humans, but they have sparks...
Powerglide: *hugs his knees for a moment, an uncharacteristically pensive expression on his usually bluff face* *then* And it doesn't matter what part of the reality you go to?
WakeJumper: ... I have no idea... We got yanked to Victorian London.... I'd guess so? Maybe?
Powerglide: *frowns to himself, optics paling slightly over his facemask* You gotta PINpoint handy?
WakeJumper: ... If I do, you'd better have a good excuse to tell to Starscream.
Powerglide: *just looks at him and holds out a hand*
WakeJumper: Fine... but it's going to be on your head. *gives the flyer his PINpoint*
Powerglide: *softly, after setting in the coordinates* And awaaay we go. *gone*
Keepsake: *startles and looks up* Buh?
WakeJumper: It's all on his head now. *going to see what Perceptor and Sam are geeking about*
Keepsake: What? Where'd he go?
WakeJumper: *sigh, points to the coordinates*
Eclipse: *facepalming muchly*
Sam: *oblivious, and very excited* Found it!
red-haired man in a red suit of clothes: *appears and offers the PINpoint to WakeJumper* Thanks.
Keepsake: *stare*
WakeJumper: ... It's still on your head if Starscream gets upset. *pocketing his PINpoint*
Eclipse: .... *blink blink blink*
Powerglide: *grins* Right now, none of that really matters. *pulls a ring out of his pocket and looks at it, then kisses it and heads out of the room*
Keepsake: Well pit. The rumors're true.
Eclipse: ... Holy smokes.
Sari: *blinks and looks around at them* Uh, guys? What rumors?
Eclipse: Well, people were saying that Powerglide was courting a human lady and nobody was really certain about it because nobody has even seen who he was courting, but if he went and got turned human, then the rumors aren't rumors and he really is courting a human lady....
Sari: *blink blink* That old blowhard?
Sam: *still oblivious, is correcting the decimal placement so he can show Keepsake*
Keepsake: *reporting to Optimus what Powerglide just did*
Optimus' office
Optimus: *greets Desinex as she comes in, but then pauses to groan and pinch the bridge of his nose*
Desinex: *trying to hide her wariness under a mask of cool disinterest* *raised brow ridge*
Optimus: *sighs and looks up* Have a seat, please, Desinex.
Desinex: *slight nod, moves to do so. Left Windshard with Hound, albeit reluctantly*
Optimus: *quietly* Hound spoke to me about your recent unease, because it troubles him.
Desinex: *mask of neutrality in place* It's nothing to be worried about.
Optimus: I am aware of the approaching Decepticons.
Desinex: *slight nod*
Optimus: Soundwave and Shockwave did not tell me, and you are not to harm them.
Desinex: *wary expression is a go*
Optimus: And I am also aware of the shrapnel fragment in your spark casing. *quietly stern look for the dark blue femme*
Desinex: *tensed up very quickly, almost unnoticeable wince*
Optimus: *voice low and implacable* I want you to go to the Nexus and find Scattor.
Desinex: *startled expression is a go*
Optimus: *nods, indicating that she should do so now* You are dismissed.
Desinex: *cycling air quickly, is very clearly spooked by the idea of anyone fiddling with her spark chamber*
Optimus: The only other option is for you to immediately report to Ratchet for open spark surgery.
Desinex: *would be very pale if she was human*
Optimus: *looks at her, waiting for her to act*
Desinex: *cycling air, and then she's bolting*
Optimus: *sends Rewind to shadow the frightened femme, then lowers his face into his hands and prays for her*
Dino Park
Uno: Ooooooooo! *standing fearlessly with her bitty head under the nose of the massive animatronic T Rex that just bent down as though to sniff at the pavement she's standing on*
Doozy: *busy riding on Uncle Streaker's foot*
Cragbuster: *chatter, chatter, yaps at the T Rex*
Rap: *little face set in an unhappy :\ as he studies the massive robot* Not alive. Uncool.
Draco: *frowns* No. It's not sentient.
Cragbuster: Aww. *pouts*
X-Brawn: It's big...
Sideburn: *yapping at the Apatosaur*
Rap: But it not a Dinobot. *sits down and holds his toes, looking very unhappy*
Nova: *smacks the T Rex on the nose, and then frowns when it doesn't respond* *wibble*
Carina: *leaning to poke at the T Rex* *click*
Cragbuster: *bored with the fake Dinobot, will take out the shiny thingy he found and play with it*
Draco: *attention attracted by the glow of the shiny thing* What's that?
Cragbuster: Dunno. Is pretty. *nod nod*
Rap: *points* Allspark!
Cragbuster: *headtilty* Bhuh?
Rap: *chuckles his baby belly laugh* Shiny like the Allspark. *then distracted as the T Rex straightens up. Sad sad again*
Cragbuster: *considering look, before he's waving his shiny at the T Rex*
Doozy: *hops down from Sunstreaker's foot and comes over, her doll in robot mode under her arm* What are you doing, Cragbuster?
Draco: *watching curiously*
Cragbuster: Feedin' it! *waves his shiny at the T Rex again*
Sunstreaker: *frowns and scans the shiny thing, before he's boggling and hurrying to try and prevent something bad from happening*
Doozy: If you're playing it's an Allspark shard, then you need to put it inside the robot. That's where sparks... *watches a beam of light shoot from the shard to the T Rex* Oh.
Cragbuster: *startled 'yeep', drops his shiny*
Sunstreaker: Ooooh no.... *quickly calling Optimus*
T Rex: *growling and shaking like a massive dog, and then ripping off his rubber skin* Me Grimlock no like...
Rap: 8O
Uno and Doozy: *GLEEE!*
Draco: ...
Sideburn: Ooooooo! *waving at Grimlock*
X-Brawn: *blink blink*
Hot Shot: *squeee!!!*
Optimus: //What is it, Sunstreaker?//
Sunstreaker: *relays the video feed of what just happened*
Optimus: *brain broken silence, and then gets on the channel to Ratchet and Wheeljack*
Grimlock: *lowers that massive, bulldoggish head and sticks his muzzle to Sunstreaker's face* ... Not like.
Sunstreaker: Eheheh... *skidplate meeting ground*
Ratchet: *startled blurt of static as he arrives via PINpoint*
Wheeljack: *lets go Ratchet's arm and staggers back, inadvertently expanding the vocabulary of anyone in his vicinity* 0_0
Cragbuster: *bwee!!!*
Silverstreak: *yappin'!!!*
Grimlock: *looks at Ratchet and Wheeljack, then snorts before turning and heading toward downtown with his head down and his tail up*
Wheeljack: Oh... frag...
Back at Autobot HQ
Hound: *comes into his and Desinex's quarters and heads for the storage room* *softly* Sky?
Desinex: *soft sound. Is a mess of fright and ow*
Hound: *opens the door and steps inside* Sky, talk to me. *gentle voice holds an edge of the pain she's feeling*
Desinex: *not lifting her head from her knees* It hurts...
Hound: *moves to gently lift her into his arms, knowing that he's the only bot that could dare to do so*
Desinex: *whimpers and hides her face against his shoulder*
Hound: *cuddles her comfortingly, laying his cheek against her head* *softly* What did Optimus say?
Desinex: *quietly, as she cycles air* He knows about the shrapnel....
Hound: *quietly* I... I told him.
Desinex: *clinging a bit tighter* I don't.... I don't want people messing with my spark chamber... *frightened by the very idea*
Hound: *shutters his optics* You can't leave it there, Sky.
Desinex: *slight shiver that's accompanied by a wince as the flaring of her spark causes the edges of the shrapnel to jab it*
Hound: *soft pleading* Sky, please, think of what Optimus said.
Desinex: *softly* He wanted me to go see Scattor...
Hound: *surprised. Lifts his head to look down at her face*
Desinex: *optics mostly shuttered and dimmed, is still very frightened*
Hound: ...The guy who gave TC and Keepsake those three wishes?
Desinex: *softly* I've met him before... *slowly cycling air and trying to calm down*
Hound: *slowly brightening* And he could get the shrapnel out without opening your spark chamber.
Desinex: *shutters her optics and rests her head on his shoulder*
Hound: *softly* Sky, lets do it. I'll go with you.
Desinex: *quietly* Alright...
Hound: *shifts her a bit in his grasp* *gently* You've got the PINpoint.
Desinex: *will get the PINpoint out of storage and bring Hound to the Nexus*
Later in the day, about mid-afternoon...
Powerglide: *walks into the quarantine room after watching the steady turnover of checkups for a moment. Over to the wall where he can look up onto the berth in the room* Hey, Tracks.
Tracks: *slight optic flicker, turns his head slightly* *slight frown as he tries to put a name to the voice*
Powerglide: *grins* It's me, Powerglide. *looks nearly insanely happy*
Tracks: *surprised optic flash*
Powerglide: *considers his fellow Autobot, his grin fading somewhat* You look like slag.
Tracks: *quietly, without much snideness* Thanks for noticing... *soft sigh and moves to turn onto his side*
Powerglide: *blinks and takes a step back, but then steps forward again* Hey, I want to show you something.
Tracks: *quietly* Whatever you got into that LOL'd you human, I'd rather avoid it...
Powerglide: It's not an LOL. Look, just come on. You need to see this.
Tracks: *another soft sigh, before he's turning back over*
Powerglide: *up the library ladder that Showtime left there for Dixie* You have to get off the berth, we don't need to take that along.
Tracks: *very soft sigh, moves to get up. It's obvious he's not been taking care of his appearance over the last few days, even though it looks like someone tried to wash him recently*
Powerglide: Come on, come on. *back down the ladder and urging the blue, white, and red soldier away from the berth and the human woman who sleeps in her chair on the berthside table*
Tracks: *slowly following Powerglide, will avoid looking at Dixie*
Powerglide: *grins again and slaps a hand on Tracks. Takes him to London in that other reality*
Tracks: *startled cuss*
Powerglide: *gives him a compassionate look, then puts a hand on his shoulder and guides him toward the building they appeared in front of* Let's get you some fuel.
Tracks: *giving himself a completely and utterly bewildered look, before he's glaring daggers at you, Powerglide*
Powerglide: *just leads him into the drinking house and orders him some gin*
Back at Autobot HQ
Jethro MacKenzie: *looking at the building with clear disdain on his face. He's not impressed with the place Denver gave as her work address, and even less impressed with the fact that he's just lost out on a large sum of money*
Air Raid: *sitting in jet mode on the air field as his holoform sits on the human size bench which is sheltered beneath the Autobot size one next to the front door of the base* *nose deep in a book*
Denver: *is parked near Air Raid, while her holoform sits next to Air Raid's and reads over his shoulder* *totally noticed her father's arrival*
hAir Raid: *glances at his wife to see if she's ready to turn the page. Hasn't noticed the incoming human yet*
hDenver: *small nod, very slight nudge and headtilt towards Jethro*
hAir Raid: *blue eyes flick toward the visitor, and dark eyebrows lift* //Who's that?//
hDenver: *trying to keep a calm expression on her face as she reaches to muss hAir Raid's hair* //Beau's 'n mah fahthah...//
hAir Raid: *face darkens, and he closes the book and hands it to her, then pecks her on the cheek* //Wait here.//
hDenver: *watching Jethro as the old human stalks over* //'Urreh. 'E don' look too 'appeh.//
hAir Raid: *straightens and walks to meet the old man* Welcome to the Autobot base, do you have an appointment? *guileless grin*
Jethro: *dark eyes narrow* Ah'm s'posed t' be meetin' wit' mah daughter 'n son's lawyers 'bout th'r trust funds.
hAir Raid: Ah. Lawyer, you mean. Though she actually likes 'attorney' better.
Jethro: *scowl*
hAir Raid: I'm Andrew Pax.
Jethro: *scowl worsens as hDenver gets up and walks over*
hAir Raid: *pulls a cell phone out of his pocket* I'll let Optimus and Mrs Keller-Dowd know you're here.
Jethro: *scowl scowl scowl* Alrahght. *sooo not impressed with you, 'Andrew'. Especially not since he can SEE the thin gold band on hDenver's hand*
hAir Raid: *phone to ear, and free arm around hDenver's shoulders as she comes up beside him* *then ducks slightly as a shadow passes overhead* Hey! Bumblebee, walk around next time!
Bumblebee: *quietly, as he stops and looks down and back* Oops...
hDenver: *bites her lower lip, is clearly trying not to snicker*
Jethro: *boggling, a low stream of curses being uttered at this point*
hAir Raid: Bee, this is Denver's dad. Mr. MacKenzie, this is our friend Bumblebee. *cheery grin, and then ducks his head slightly to talk to Optimus as the Prime finally replies*
Jethro: *looks just a bit uneasy as Bumblebee sheepishly rubs the back of his head*
hDenver: *still far too amused at Bumblebee's awkwardness, before she's gently reminding him that he was on his way to do something*
Bumblebee: It was nice to meet you, Mr. MacKenzie.... *transforms and drives off playing "Rawhide"*
hAir Raid: *looking a bit pensive and disappointed as he closes the phone* Flash, we're missing a lot of fun.
hDenver: *patpats his arm* Th're'll be othah chances.
hAir Raid: *thoughtful* Right. Grimlock's kind of synonymous with that, isn't he?
hDenver: Fr'm wh't Keepsake's said, yep.
hAir Raid: *grinning again as he looks at Jethro* Anyway, Optimus and Mrs. Keller-Dowd say they're ready to see you.
Jethro: Er... Alrahght... *paranoia is a GO*
hAir Raid: *turns, arm still around his wife, to lead the way inside*
Golda: *comes out of the room across from Optimus' office as hAir Raid leads hDenver into the office. Startles and stops to look up with wide blue eyes at the strange man who was following them*
Beau: *tenses and quickly moves to put himself between Jethro and Golda*
Jethro: *expression darkening dangerously* *in his mind, this cowering woman is the one responsible for his company going under after he lost access to the trust funds of his children*
hDenver: *looking over her shoulder to greet Golda, freezes when she sees the expression on Jethro's face*
Golda: *big eyes go even wider, and she shrinks back, looking from her husband to her sister as she seeks a clue of how to respond*
Beau: *protective of Golda*
hDenver: *shaking slightly. Yes, she knows that it's physically impossible for Jethro to actually hurt her, but he still scares the slag out of her*
Beau: Wh't're y'u doin' 'eah? *watching his father, just in case the older man tries anything incredibly stupid*
Jethro: Gettin' wh't's mahn.
Golda: *reaches for Beau's hand, mutely asserting to whom she belongs even as she hides her face against her husband's arm*
Beau: *calmly* Y'u c'n talk t' th' lawyer th'n. *will move to lead Golda away from the irate man*
deep, calm, and stern voice from far overhead: To the best of my knowledge, Jethro MacKenzie, nothing at this base is your property.
Golda: *meeps. Optimus still affects her that way*
Beau: *nods a greeting to Optimus and moves to gently lead Golda towards the rec room*
Jethro: *more startled cursing as he looks up at the massive blue and red being*
Optimus: You are not coming inside, Beauregard?
Beau: Ah'd rathah not be 'n a situation th't Ah'd be tempted t' do bodily 'arm t' s'me'un.
Jethro: *scowling after his son* 'E c'ld'n't 'it th' broad sahd 'f a bahn.
Optimus: *short and stern as he turns to go back into the office* You would probably be surprised by what he is capable of hitting. Please come inside.
Jethro: *wary of the massive red and blue machine, but will follow hDenver and hAir Raid into the office*
Golda: *watches as the door closes, and then once more hides against Beau as they go into the rec room*
A few moments later, on the road leading from Tranquility
Wheeljack: *trucking down the road in alt mode, aware of the cranky, tired dinosaur that's following closely on his and Ratchet's tail lights* Well... that was fun.
Ratchet: So says you.... *grumpy and wondering how the slag Cragbuster managed to get the Allspark shard*
Wheeljack: So how loud did Optimus yell at you? Or has he done it yet? *scans backward to make sure Sunstreaker, Bumblebee, Smokescreen, and Trailbreaker are still back there behind Grimlock*
Ratchet: He hasn't had time to. He had that meeting with Mrs. Keller-Dowd about those letters Denver and Beauregard received.
Wheeljack: ...I don't know anything about that.
Ratchet: It has something to do with trust funds and money.
Wheeljack: Ahhhhh. *still clueless*
Grimlock: *rests his chin on Ratchet's roof* Me Grimlock TIRED.
Ratchet: We're almost home, Grimlock.
Grimlock: Me Grimlock tired NOW!
Sunstreaker: If he moved his feet as much as he moved his mouth, we'd BE THERE already. *grump, has worn-out triplets in car seats*
Trailbreaker: *trucking along with his own load of car seats* Take it easy, Streaker. He's big, but he's still just a sparklet.
Bumblebee: *startled horn toot as Rap's fingers get stuck in the cracks between the sections of his back seat*
Wheeljack: ...Bee, what the frag was that? You nearly made me hit the ditch!
Bumblebee: Sorry! Rap's found the gaps between my seats! *squirrrming*
Silverstreak: *just found the gap between Daddy's seats*
Wheeljack: ... ACK! *toot!*
Sunstreaker: *snickerfit*
Hot Shot: *not conked out like his brothers. Just managed to get his fingers in between Daddy's back seat sections*
Sunstreaker: *horn toot!*
Wheeljack: Ack aacck! ACK! *goes roaring out across the countryside toward the base*
Grimlock: *head down, tail up. CHASE!*
Ratchet: *groan*
Smokescreen: *sighs and goes to try and round up Grimlock.... Again*
Back at the base
Powerglide: *stumbles slightly as he and Tracks appear back in the quarantine room* Daaang. Whoa, hey. Get off the floor. *lifts Tracks, getting an arm around the other humanized bot's middle. You trying to give Ratchet a spark attack?
Tracks: *pretty well sloshed, speech slurred badly* Stuff's not s'posed to spin.... right?
Powerglide: High grade does that. *trying to stay steady as he drags his friend toward the berth* This is like carrying a bag of oil...
Dixie: *just coming back from getting an early supper. Pauses and stares* Er...
Powerglide: *brightens* Hey, lady. Could you gimme a hand? This mook's heavy.
Tracks: *manages to lift his head enough to peer blearily at Dixie* Hi....
Dixie: ... Do Ah even wanna know wh't y'all got int'? *moves to help steady Tracks*
Powerglide: They called it gin. Tracks drank a lot. *slight stumble*
Dixie: ... *would facepalm, but has her hands full with helping Powerglide*
Powerglide: I didn't. So I don't know why I'm... Oops. *another stumble*
Dixie: 'Ang on.... *is going to try and get both sloshed men to sit down before she leaves the room to get Hank*
Powerglide: *blinks. Then face palms after she's gone and PINpoints Tracks up onto the berth before PINpointing back to Astoria's house* *the JP will be there by now, and he doesn't want to be late for his own wedding*
Tracks: *poking at his strange garments, and blearily wondering where he is*
Hank: *comes in beside Dixie* What seems to be the problem, Mrs. Lamont? *looks up and doesn't see the blue and white mech on the berth* ...And I fear me Tracks has fled once more.
Dixie: ... 'E 'n th' red-'aah'd gah w're jes' 'eah.
Tracks: *hears people. Will peek over the edge of whatever he's laying on.... or try to*
Hank: *bounds forward and catches the humanized bot as he tumbles from the berth* My stars and garters!
Dixie: *hurries over, worried*
Tracks: *so sloshed that he didn't even register he was falling* *bleary blinking*
Hank: Mrs. Lamont, could you go and request an air mat from Ratchet? *goes to one knee as he gently examines the inebriated Tracks*
Dixie: Yeah... *hurries back out of the room*
Tracks: *slight frown as he watches Hank. Smells strongly of cheap gin*
Hank: *sniff sniff* *grimace* My stars and garters, man. What were you drinking?
Tracks: *slurred speech* Something Powerglide called 'Gin'?
Hank: *scrunches face slightly* Methinks it smells more of white lightening. *looks toward the door*
Dixie: Meep! *just got face-to-muzzle with Grimlock*
Grimlock: Hmmmm. Little.
Dixie: *very pale and frightened now*
Ratchet: That's a human... Her name is Dixie Lamont... *trying so hard to give Grimlock a checkup*
Grimlock: Dixie La-mont? *nose bump*
Dixie: *stumbles backwards and lands on her butt*
Wheeljack: *back with Bluestreak to try and distract the new Dinobot from calling Ratchet his mother* See, Grimlock? This's Mama. Isn't she pretty?
Bluestreak: *surprised squeak* Er, hi?
Hank: *over to the door with Tracks under his arm, checking to see where Dixie went*
Tracks: *bleary frown as he sees the pretty lady from earlier on the floor, and the big thing nosing her* Heeey.....
Dixie: *has reached her limit of how many shocks she can handle for awhile, and has fainted*
Ratchet: Grimlock, here... *getting a cookie out of subspace in the hopes of distracting the Dinobot*
Grimlock: *bumps the prone woman* Dixie La-mont, get up!
Tracks: *slur* Leave her be, you... you.... *not sure what he wants to say, but he's trying*
Grimlock: *bump*
Tracks: *struggling against Hank's hold now* I said leave her be!
Hank: *so surprised that he lets go of Tracks*
Tracks: *faceplants, but manages to get to his feet... even if he is listing severely* *makes his weaving, stumbling way over to Grimlock and socks the big sparklet on the nose*
Hank: Ack! *late in grabbing for his patient*
Ratchet: *facepalming and moving to reach for Tracks* *startled blurt as the plastered man socks him too*
Grimlock: *turns tail and runs away to hide his face against Bluestreak's chest*
Wheeljack: 0_0 *arm over Grimlock* *angrily to Tracks* Hey, you, what the slag?
Tracks: *doesn't even register that he's managed to break a few bones in his hand, is trying and failing to lift Dixie*
Bluestreak: *soft, reassuring clicks as she reaches to gently rub Grimlock's back*
Ratchet: .... *scans Tracks... and then he's facepalming again*
Tracks: *butt meets ground again* Oh, slaggit.... *determinedly pulls Dixie toward him and then cradles her and smooths her rumpled hair*
Hank: *comes walking up behind him and touches his arm* Art ready to return to thine room now, Mister Tracks?
Tracks: *confused look for Hank, pulls Dixie closer*
Ratchet: He's severely overcharged.... *sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose before notifying Optimus of this situation as well*
Hank: Here, you need to let Ratchet care for the lady...
Tracks: *confused frown, looks to the walking eyesore*
Ratchet: *will scan Dixie, since he's pretty sure Tracks won't let the insensate woman go right now* *quietly* She'll be alright with some rest.
Hank: *sighs as he realizes he's not separating the two* Hast some sort of pad that I could set up as a pallet in the quarantine room? I feel it best to keep Tracks as close to the floor as possible while he be in his current condition.
Ratchet: *nods and goes to retrieve one of the air mattresses*
Hank: *scoops both Tracks and Dixie up, then hauls them back to the quarantine room, trying to be gentle despite the awkwardness of the load*
Dixie: *very soft sound*
Tracks: *will gently kiss her on the forehead and click softly*
Hank: Do nothing you'll regret later, my man. *settles in a crouch and looks toward the door to wait for Ratchet to bring the air mattress*
Tracks: *doesn't seem to hear Hank, will continue to gently smooth Dixie's hair as Ratchet brings two air mattresses. Is thinking about what Powerglide told him about how wonderful it was to have a woman in his life, and how much better he'd feel if he found one*
Hank: *nods to the wall opposite the berth* Wilst set them there, friend? Ah. Set one of them there. *clearly intends to separate Tracks and Dixie*
Ratchet: *as he gets the air mattresses set up* Good luck getting him to let Mrs. Lamont go....
Hank: I would spare him embarrassment when he wakes from this.
Ratchet: *will finish getting the air mattresses set up, before he's watching Tracks*
Tracks: *bleary blinking as he cuddles Dixie*
Hank: Tracks? Canst hear me?
Tracks: *absently* Hm?
Hank: You need to let go of Mrs. Lamont, that we may tend your hand and let you rest.
Tracks: *understands some of that.... holds his hand up*
Hank: *tries to gently remove Dixie*
Tracks: *protests.... by trying to sock Hank*
Hank: *falls on his butt to avoid the blow* What...??
Ratchet: *trying not to sound amused* I did warn you... *will move his holoform around to poke at the acupressure point that knocks humans out*
Track: *even in his state of inebriation, he manages to flail for a moment before the pressure takes effect*
Hank: My stars and garters. Why this sudden possessiveness? *gets to his feet and comes back*
Ratchet: I have no idea.... *moving to get Tracks' arm from around Dixie's waist before he's moving the unconscious man over to one of the air mattresses*
Hank: *picks Dixie up and goes to look at the air mattress placement*
Ratchet: *arranged the air mattresses so Tracks would be able to see Dixie when he wakes up*
Hank: Should we not separate them more?
Ratchet: One of them will worry if they can't check on the other.... *has seen Dixie fuss over Tracks before*
Hank: Hrrm.
Waltz: *comes in with a strap on hand cast*
Tracks: *starting to wake up due to the throbbing pain in his hand, blearily looks for Dixie* *frown crossing his face when he sees Hank still holding the woman* *still very, very drunk* *slurs* She's mine....
Waltz: *startles and stares at Tracks*
Ratchet: *boggling now. By Cybertronian law, Tracks has just stated his claim on Dixie*
Hank: *looks back and forth between the two Autobots, noting the surprise in their expressions* Er...?
Ratchet: *quietly* Tracks just claimed Mrs. Lamont as his.... It's not an official word bond until she responds in like.... *sounds so surprised*
Hank: ...Surely a drunken proposal for which the lady is not even awake holds no meaning?
Dixie: *very soft sound, is just starting to wake up, and thus isn't fully aware of what's happening*
Hank: *turns away from Tracks and moves to lay Dixie down on the other air mattress*
Tracks: *tries to get up to stop him* *faceplants*
Ratchet: *sighs and sends Waltz for one of the human sedatives*
Tracks: *trying to get out of Ratchet's hand* No! Let go! *flashing back to when the ambulance took Karen's body away, as well as the day his mentor's shell was taken away on Cybertron* *going into hysterics now*
Waltz: *small scared sound as she watches*
Dixie: *slightly out of it, hears Tracks getting worked up. Will move to try and sit up now*
Hank: *trying to be soothing, while at the same time worrying about Tracks* Easy, Mrs. Lamont. You've had a shock.
Dixie: *quietly* S'meth'n's got Tracks worked up... *trying to clear the slight fog from her head*
Tracks: *getting very loud and insistent*
Hank: He's very drunk. *frowns as he sets her down, then turns and goes back to help Ratchet with the inebriated man*
Ratchet: *doing his best to keep Tracks from escaping and hurting himself on accident*
Hank: *puts his hands on Tracks' shoulders* Tracks, calm yourself!
Tracks: *fuss, trying so hard to get to Dixie*
Waltz: *silent tears as she watches. Is frightened by the force of Tracks' behaviour*
Dixie: *going to make her unsteady way to her feet, and from there, over to Tracks* *soothingly* Settle down, Tracks... Ah'm okay...
Tracks: *wibbling and reaching for her*
Dixie: *carefully nudges Hank aside and reaches for Tracks' hand*
Tracks: *settling down once he's got Dixie's hand* *quietly, voice tinged with exhaustion, pain, and inebriation* You're mine....
Dixie: *gently smooths Tracks' hair, can feel the trembling in the man's frame* *quietly* Git s'me rest... Ah'm rahght 'eah...
Hank: *quietly lets out a deep breath and looks up at Ratchet, then goes to fetch blankets and pillows*
Waltz: *massive big wibbles that she tries to contain*
Ratchet: *will gently set Tracks down once Dixie sits on the air mattress*
Tracks: *scoots so he can put his head on Dixie's lap before he's shutting his eyes*
Ratchet: *soft sigh, moves to comfort Waltz*
Waltz: *hides her face against Ratchet and apologizes softly*
Ratchet: *gently, as he rubs the youngster's back* There's nothing wrong with being afraid, Waltz. This was an unusual situation, and nobody was expecting Tracks to behave so uncharacteristically...
Waltz: *intakes deeply and nods slightly, but then starts to cry* He's so sad...
Ratchet: *quietly* He's still grieving...
Waltz: Is... is he going to get married?
Ratchet: He might... I suppose it depends on how much he remembers when he wakes up next....
Waltz: Oh... *thinks of Tracks forgetting, and it somehow makes her cry more*
Ratchet: *more gentle backrub, before he's calling Bumblebee*
Bumblebee: *peeks into the room a few minutes later* Waltz?
Waltz: *starts, and then turns a teary face toward him as she tries to contain her wibble*
Bumblebee: *soothing clicks, moves to give his eldest child a gentle hug and to gently bring her home to the rest of the family*
Hank: *watches them go, then glances over to where Grimlock is using Wheeljack and Bluestreak as pillows before bringing an armload of bedding into the quarantine room* What befell our Waltz, Ratchet?
Ratchet: *quietly* She was scared by how out of sorts Tracks is...
Hank: *winces* Ah. She's not as old as her stature and deportment indicate, is she? *brings the blankets and pillows over to Dixie and Tracks, and then tries to gently divest Tracks of his jacket*
Ratchet: *headshake* *quietly* She's younger than Lumen... *moves to help with getting Tracks comfortable*
Tracks: *squirms as he sleeps*
Dixie: *gently sits Tracks up so Hank and Ratchet can get his jacket off*
Hank: *thanks Dixie, and then lets Ratchet take the jacket as he moves his attentions to Tracks' boots* Hast finished setting his hand?
Ratchet: No... *moves to take care of that, clicking softly when Tracks whimpers*
Hank: *mutters about crude gin and his hesitation to mix it with any sort of painkiller as he watches*
Dixie: *worried expression is a go*
Hank: *looks up as he sets aside the boots and sees her expression* I fear me our friend has had a good share more than his fair portion of antique style gin.
Dixie: ... *cringe. Had to do a research report back in college on gin*
Hank: *presses his lips together and nods, then moves to set pillows at the heads of the mats, after pushing the second mat near the first*
Dixie: *small nod, turns her attention to gently smoothing Tracks' hair* *quietly* Wh't'd 'e mean bah sayin' ah'm 'is?
Hank: Ah... It may only have been a flashback to his trauma when the ambulance arrived for Miss Bates' remains.
Dixie: *quietly* Poor Tracks...
Ratchet: *quietly* I'm not sure he'll remember anything he said when he wakes...
Hank: *finishes with the pillows, and then takes a scanner from his belt and runs it over the sleeping man. Reports his blood alcohol level in a quiet voice*
Dixie: *boggling now*
Ratchet: *small frown, quick bout of research on medical journals, then his optics are flashing with shock*
Hank: *soft growl* What were they thinking?
Ratchet: Mrs. Lamont, what did the man you saw look like?
Dixie: *small frown as she thinks, before she's describing the man* 'E w's wearin' red... Lotta red... 'n 'e w's a red-'ead... Real swagger t' 'im, too....
Keepsake: *from the door, where she's standing with a handful of sandwiches* It was Powerglide. He went and got changed on purpose this morning so he could marry his dame.
Dixie: .... *frowning muchly now* Well, 'e 'parently dragged Tracks 'long f'r shenannigans, 'n now Tracks' BAC 's realleh 'ahgh....
Keepsake: *frowns and brings the sandwiches over* And you can't even flush human systems. Great. *looks up at Ratchet to see his reaction to the confirmation of the rumors*
Ratchet: *frowning deeply. He has heard the rumors, but he wasn't certain they weren't just that.... Now he's got to do a bit of digging to find out who it is that Powerglide was slipping off base to see* *but for now, he'll make sure Tracks is on his side, just in case the man needs to purge*
Hank: *covers Tracks with a slightly faded king size flannel sheet, and makes sure he's got a pillow under his head instead of Dixie's legs. Then pauses and looks at the sandwich poked at his face*
Keepsake: I learned somethin' while I was in London. *pokes the other sandwich at Dixie*
Dixie: *quietly thanks Keepsake for the sandwich, worry for Tracks clear on her face*
Keepsake: *usually bluff voice gentle* He'll be alright. Raoul'd kick his @$@#$#@ if he didn't.
Dixie: 8/ *small nod, begins to eat*
sandwich: *is made from fruit flavored French toast. Yes, a smoothie sandwich*
Hank: *startled sound and eyes his own treat, then squishes it to be sure of the whipped cream in the center*
Ratchet: *moving to get portable monitoring equipment as a precaution*
Dixie: *soft chuckle as she takes small bites*
Hank: *moves to assist Ratchet, then holds his sandwich in his mouth as he quickly sets things up*
Keepsake: *watches, and then excuses herself and goes to cook more sandwiches for WakeJumper and Lumen*
Hot Rod: *can be heard out in the hall giving Lumen a bit of good-natured heckling, since the frontliner is human and can't jump off the roof right now*
Lumen: *trading heckling for heckling with a big grin on his face. Is wearing clothes borrowed from Sam*
Dixie: *glances towards the hall. Heard rumors about some of the other Autobots who were changed, but hadn't been sure what to expect*
Hank: *finishes with the machines and watches the monitors for a moment, then glances to Dixie* Wilt rest thee now as well, Mrs. Lamont? Thou seemest weary.
Dixie: *small nod as she makes quick work of her sandwich. Then she's getting up and moving over to the unoccupied air mattress*
Hank: Dost wish the fuzzy blanket, or the one with Autobot logo? *holds up both*
Dixie: Th' fuzzeh 'un... 's 'un th't Ah made....
Hank: *blinks behind his glasses, and then examines the rusty, yellow, and orange blanket* You don't say...
Dixie: *sheepish grin*
Ratchet: *soft chuckle* The texture might be overwhelming for Tracks at the moment.... *yes, he knows the significance of the colors, even though the yarn's variegated*
Hank: Ah, good point. *offers the soft heavy blanket to Dixie, retaining its slightly less organic feeling and furless fellow in his other hand*
Dixie: *is soon curled up beneath her blanket*
Hank: *wishes her a good sleep, then lays the second blanket aside. This done, he steps back and checks the monitors* Wilt be on duty, Ratchet?
Ratchet: *nods* There are still checkups to do, but I have a feed of the monitoring equipment in this room.
Hank: Very well. If you have need of me I'll be 'neath the far table in the main med bay. *turns and lopes out of the quarantine room*
Ratchet: *nods and moves to return to giving checkups*
Tracks: *rolls over onto his side so he's facing Dixie, will reach for her while he sleeps*
Dixie: *gently smooths his hand until she also falls asleep*
Elsewhere
Hound: *sleeping contentedly and hugging Desinex and their sparklets as his systems process the massive amount of treats given them by the young Guardian Fae Dragon Optimus after he removed the shrapnel from Desinex's spark compartment*
Windshard: *bitty purrrrrr as he hugs some of his paper twist dolls and cuddles against his brother*
Desinex: *snuggled close to Hound, is conked out for the same reason as Hound, though she's also feeling a lot better than she has for several vorns, thanks to the Guardian Fae Dragon Optimus. Thus, she is resting peacefully, as she hasn't done since bonding*
Ridgeback: *snuggles Windshard and dozes. He can hear how happy Daddy and Mommy's sparks sound, so he's quite content*
invisible cat: *pauses to look at them and purr softly on her way to deliver a letter from Dr. Watson to WakeJumper*
((co-written with random_xtras))