Titian sat in the new rec room, his feet casually on the low table in front of him as he bantered with Blaster who was sitting in one of the bot sized chairs nearby. The grey masked turtle felt at ease here, almost as much as he did at home. Of course the red haired Cindy might have a large part to do with that. She was the reason he chose to stay here, and she was also the one that made his homesickness bearable. Even after all the time he had spent here on this base, he still missed his parents, aunts and uncles.
He held firm though. The young leader of this group of walking terrapins still held the firm belief that it was time for them to live on their own, to make their own choices. His father couldn't shield him forever.
"No way." Ty disagreed with the red bot. "That songs sucks ass."
"It does not! It's very emotional."
"If you're high on drugs or something." A derisive snort sounded out of the twenty one year old. "It sounds like a banshee trying to scream for your soul."
"You just have no taste for music." Blaster grinned at him as he leaned back into the massive chair.
"Heavy metal is not music. It's a bunch of adult infants smashing pots and pans together." Ty crossed his arms as he made his point.
Blaster bust out laughing as Ty wagged his ridges at the bot.
The sister to this heavy metal hating young adult quietly entered the room. Ty looked at Lavi a bit concerned her face was a bit pale he noticed. And her hands were shaking slightly. "What's wrong with you? You feeling ok?"
"My stomach has been feeling off all day." She quietly replied as she walked deeper into the room.
"You better let Tony check you out. Ratchet is still at that base in Hawaii."
Now she looked a little nervous as she stopped next to the couch. "I...ah...already did..."
"And? You caught a bug?"
His sister took a deep breath then and let it shakily back out. "More like a five month parasite..."
The vapid stare her brother gave her told Lavi quite clearly it was taking a minute for what she was telling him to sink in.
"I've been trying to call home..." She shook her head in mild frustration. "But no one is picking up."
Ty still just stared at her
"Will you stop staring at me like that!" Lavi finally snapped at her befuddled twin.
Ty shook himself out of his stupor. "They are probably on the farm dealing with the goats. I'm sure you'll get in touch with them later." He then gave her a wide grin. "You sure though?"
"Tony is." She replied with a small smile. "He wanted me to get Uncle Donnie to be certain.
"You tell Kyle yet?"
Now her expression went from a mild happy on to mild exasperation. "Yes." She flatly told him. "And Tony had to pick him up off of the floor."
The rec room was suddenly filled with the howling sounds of the two males as they took a vast amount of amusement from that.
"It's not funny!" Lavi fumed, which only made them laugh harder.
The only thing that cut off their laughter was Will as he came running into the room, his face even paler than Lavi's had been and a wild look in his wide eyes. "Please tell me i'm wrong..." The normally composed officer was struggling hard to hold onto his composure as he looked to them for answers they didn't even know the question to. Will just lifted the remote to the large tv off of the table that Ty still had his feet on top of and turned it on, then switched it to a national news channel.
Ty shot to his feet at the images he saw flashing across the screen under the red and white "Breaking News" banner that scrolled across the top. The blood drained from his face and his heart dropped into his chest. Lavi walked closer to stand next to him, her hand covering her mouth and her eyes tearing up at what she was seeing. Their father, in dragon form, fully visible as he tore into warehouse, took something from it, and flew off. And he left nothing but flames and rubble behind.
.
.
Jessica looked across the hot dunes. Man it was a nice day, you'd think that would be typical in Idaho on a seemingly endless stretch of sand. But you had hailstorms randomly in some seasons, and it was like, huge hail chunks not your average tiny sphere of frozen water. The brown haired girl sat on her custom, green, Kawasaki 700, watching her cousins play a game on their own quads, one they always played while out here. Leaning forward on the handlebars, the quad wasn't on, she was just enjoying the heat and fresh air.
It had been a year and a half since anything hectic happened, and Jessica has to admit, it was so freaking nice having downtime for the first time in so long. Megan pulled up beside her on a yellow dirt bike, leaning to one side so she could stop and looked at her cousin.
"You ok?"
"I am more than ok, this is the longest peace time we have gotten in god knows how long." Jess smiled. Megan grinned at her, it was kind of hard to see through the blue tinted goggles and her helmet, but Jessica knew it was there.
"Even Maranda admitted that the downtime was nice, besides training." Yeah, when Maranda even admitted the downtime was nice? You knew they were all about due for some non fighting downtime. Jessica stared out blankly, not going unnoticed by her blonde cousin.
"There is something else, all the people you have lost?" She asked, concerned. Jessica winced at that, though that wasn't her reasoning for feeling a little uneasy.
"No, just an uneasy feeling." She didn't say that statement very loud and how Maranda heard it over the roar of the quads and the distance was beyond the young woman.
"I hate it when you say that!" The dishwater blonde responded with a groan. Jessica gave her a flat look, and couldn't help but to roll her eyes.
"Welp, looks like peacetime is over." Bre pulled up beside her on her quad, killing it.
"Because I love getting that feeling. It's just a feeling, it probably isn't anything." Jessica said.
"You say that every time and it is always something!" Her cousin huffed.
"Again, possibility it is just a false alarm" She tried to reason.
"Great, vacation time has put you in denial" Her sister Bre huffed too.
"Whatever, take it how you want, I am going to head back" Jessica started up her quad and it gave off a loud roar. She loved this thing so much.
"Oh come on! We have barely seen you!" Maranda pouted. Jessica laughed as she turned around. Her cousins can have plenty of fun without her, she was actually a little unnerved and crabby at her current feeling of something happening.
"Sorry, but I have someone waiting for me back at base." She told them. True she hasn't been gone for very long, but she couldn't help herself. She got on her comm link, looking around to make sure there weren't any people around. Idaho dunes were a very popular place after all.
"Jazz, may I have a ground bridge back to base?" A green portal opened up in front of her and she drove through on her quad, heading for her house. Hopping off the still running quad and going through the man door on the side of the garage she walked by her custom Jeep. Then opened the large door, hopped on the quad and parked it. She raced the garage door as it went down and made her journey to the medbay, her mood already lighting up as she got closer.
She walked into the large medical area made for bots to see Ratchet who quickly turned around. Well, come on, if the twins targeted you as much as they did him, you'd be paranoid too. She merely nodded at him, but he wasn't the one she was here to see. She immediately made her way to a crib and plucked a little black mech that had red flaming decal and blue optics. She couldn't help but to smile with adoration at her youngling.
"Hey Ratchet, how did all of his check-ups turn out?" She picked the little mechling up, kissing him on his cheek.
"He is a healthy little mech." Was the answer and the woman sighed with relief. The sparkling hugged her tightly. A smile found it's way onto her face and she hugged him back, gently rocking him while he sat on her hip.
"I missed you too my little Armonius Prime." She laughed
"You've only been gone for an hour." Ratchet reasoned.
"So? Still missed him" She kissed his helm as well for emphasis. She loved her baby, he was just the cutest thing in her eye and she felt so blessed to be able to have him. Ratchet just merely smiled at the two as the little mech clicked and smiled at his mother, he was indeed a healthy strong mechling. And would grow quickly into a mech a lot like his father.
"If Nemesis had any doubt that little one was his, it could be put to rest by how much Armonius looks like him, minus the blue optics." Jess looked up at him with a raised brow.
"Trying to say something there Ratchet?" She challenged.
"Not at all." His not so innocent smirk said otherwise.
"Daaamn, that glossa has become more and more lethal, jerk." Jessica pivoted on her heels, her baby in a secure hold, and she started to make her way out of the medbay, laughing.
"See you soon for more check ups!" She promised. The last thing she heard was Ratchet's laughter at the dig he got in on her. She gave him props for it, it was original, and it wasn't his usual threat or dad humor. He's learning, was that a good thing? Who freaking knows… Probably not.
Once home, Jessica and Armonius sat on the couch, just relaxing and watching some T.V. She was feeding him some special sparkling energon. She really did just enjoy simple calming moments like this because they meant a lot to her. For the first time in a long time she felt safe and enabled to let her guard down, enjoy life and focus on important things. Or important to her specifically. Her 5'4 frame cradled the little mech while he ate. She herself was watching cartoons. Had it turned on for him yes, but she did just like to watch them. It was childish, but she didn't give a fuck to be completely honest.
Then she heard the white noise of a diesel engine closing in. If possible, her smile grew even wider for several reasons. For starters, she absolutely loved the sound of that Cummins diesel engine. Like, it sent shivers down her spine with a smile, even after all her years of being with him.
Second of all, it had a very distinct rumble to her, one only her mate had. So she knew he was home from working with his brother, Optimus, in all the human politics at their N.E.S.T base. To put it simply, he was home, and that made her happy. She loved his company, even when he was a smart ass. Especially when he was a smart ass. Not many could keep up with her own venom tongue.
"Hello." Nemesis greeted them as his holoform walked away from his alt mode. Jessica smiled at him, craning her body around to see him. He answered with a smile back at her and walked over to the couch. Armonius by now had finished his energon and she placed it on a tray table. Then held back a yelp of surprise when Neme's holoform picked her up very carefully to not wake him, and he set both on his lap. He hugged Jessica and kissed her temple then looked down at his son when he powered on his little optics.
"Nothing gets by you, does it sparkling?" He smiled proudly at his son. He leaned down and kissed his helm. Armonius smiled and reached towards his father, blue optics sparkling. Nemesis brought his hand near him to let him hold one of his fingers, the smile never leaving his face towards his son.
Armonius's optics slowly descended into powering off, but he quickly opened them up again. It was amusing to Jessica. He was trying so hard to stay online but he was losing that fight, he was still young and needed lots of sleep after all.
"Come on Nessie, let's get you to your room so you can recharge." Nemesis leaned forward so she would have an easier time to get back up on her feet. She got up, keeping Armonius cradled protectively against her chest and smiled when her son lost the fight on recharge and succumbed to it. He was already innocent, but the was something about his sleeping form, he was not only innocent now but peaceful and happy as well.
She hoped she could always keep him feeling this safe but she knew with time it would be anything close to impossible. So she will fight like a mother fucker to prolong that feeling for him. She will do anything for him, and her sparkmate.
She got to the top of the stairs and went down the large hall. It had to be big enough for Nemesis to move around in here too. Speaking of which, she heard him follow her up but he headed towards their room.
She walked into Armonius's room and put him onto his bed. Transformers generally slept on a berth, but she just didn't like that idea. So she got him a bed with plenty of pillows and blankets which he loved to curl up into and of course, it was adorable.
Jessica leaned down and kissed his helm for probably the millionth time that day. So sue her, she just loved him so much and couldn't help it.
"Recharge well my boy." She lingered by the door, watching him for one more moment with a smile before closing it behind her. She began walking after her sparkmate. He was probably about to lay down and watch some TV, so she would just sit with him and he can tell her about his day. This was usually accompanied by funny commentary and banter at the show they were watching, especially cheesy old horror films.
She walked in and looked around her room with a raised brow. What the hell? She swore to god she just saw him walk in here, but he was nowhere in sight? She didn't have to wonder too much longer, because his holoform swooped her up again. She gave a small laugh, and he kissed her as he set her on the bed. He gently pushed her down and got over the top of her while giving her deep kisses that make her shiver in pleasure.
He rubbed her sides as he shifted himself closer over her. His hips moved against her agonizingly slowly, getting a gasp out of her right before her phone started to ring on the nightstand. Fuck you phone! Jess had her hands around his neck, and she had a very, very hard time concentrating when he started to kiss her neck and continued to trail kisses to her chest.
She read the caller ID and looked at it with heavy amounts of irritation. It was Lennox and she had to answer it. She gently and with much regret put some distance between Nemesis and her. Anymore longer of the treatment he was giving her and she would sound like a braindead monkey trying to talk to her boss.
"Damn it..." Lennox! You freaking mood killer! Nemesis, oh man, the look he gave her phone made her fear for its safety, it was pretty freaking funny actually.
"I am going to throw that thing out the window and shoot it." He grumbled. It was almost like a pout and Jessica couldn't help but to laugh, composing herself before answering the cell phone.
"Hello? Woah, Lennox. Calm down dude. What? Ok? Uh. Ok. I'll be down there in a minute. Ok, see you soon." She hung up, raising a brow in confusion at that quick conversation, what even was that?
"What did he want?" Nemesis let her up.
"I don't know, wouldn't tell me." She slid out from underneath him and started to change into some cargo pants. Her belt with her holster secured on the right side of her hip came on next. Then she quickly stuffed her upper pockets full of magazines for her 9mm glock and the lower Velcro pockets held clips for her AK47.
She put a small camel back on. It seems small, sleek and all but it had subspace technology so she could carry a large variety of things in it. Then slapped a mag into her glock, chambered a round and did press check, ensuring a round was in the chamber. Then swung her AK around, strap going across her chest, barrel pointed down. She did the process of gearing up so many times it took mere short minutes.
Nemesis sat up, and walked up to her, snaking his hands around her waist and she looked up at him curiously.
"Please. Be careful femme." Nemesis urged. She smiled up at her worry mech. He did have reason to worry, sure, but she still didn't like him too. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her height, giving him a kiss which he gladly returned.
She ran her hands down his chest and torso. She knew he was worked up and just wanted to mess with him. Sure enough he tensed up under her touch and even let out a low moan, making her smile in the kiss. She stopped her hands at his stomach though. She wasn't that mean to him. She pulled away, and hugged him instead.
"I'll be back." She told him.
Nemesis jokingly glared at her. "You'll pay for that one." He huffed, he really was worked up.
"I'll be looking forward to it." She smiled and winked at him. He shook his head with a chuckle and watched her head out. That's another thing, they were both total perverts to each other, it was both hilarious and sexy. Win, win.
The farther she got from her house, the more her good mood vanished. She had a feeling she knew what Lennox was going to have her do. And if it was, it was going to throw a very damp rag over her day, because things are about to get complicated. She let off a sigh, walking to the communications room and nodded at Jazz and her sister in law, Lindsey.
Jazz was smirking, he knew something and she was not liking it. This was not good, no one knew Lennox better than Jazz with the exception of a few others. And that fucker had a sick sense of humor, and she knew it. She all but groaned, yup, she is stepping into a mess meeting Lennox today.
"Jazz? Can you send me to Lennox please?"
"Sure thing little lady!" Yup, he was too excited. The green portal opened and she walked through wanting to scream, or punch something, or both. Yeah, both sounded good.
"Peacetime over..." She muttered to unlistening ears as she stepped on.
