***Carolyn***
All was quiet in the lab and she liked it that way. Ratchet was off checking on the others, Ragi was out actually training, Will had been dragged off by Optimus to a meeting and Bumblebee was off with Sam in Carly. The lab was all hers and she liked it that way. It had better stay that way for a long time because she needed to finish this calculation or it would bother her for a week. Just a few more minutes, please!
It was very rare now for her to have a day like this. Between Ratchet pestering her with what she gave him to do, Will and Optimus wanting updates, Bumblebee just wanting to hang, Ironhide wanting a new training partner, Mirage's constant state of alertness, Sam and Carly stopping in or little Teddy wanting attention, she very rarely had time to herself just to work on the new Allspark. She was getting so close, they had already started constructing the basic frame for it. It was just getting what Cybertonian tech and Earth tech they had to work together, which right now was kicking her butt.
"Mama!" a high pitched, familiar voice screeched behind her as she finished the problem. She sighed, rubbing her forehead before putting on a smile and turning around.
"How's my little boy?" she laughed, taking the wiggling little boy from a flustered Ratchet. "What have you been doing?"
"Carly said that you're almost out of diapers and that he should be ready for bed soon," he sighed, flopping down into his seat. The only times now that he used his holoform were when he was in the lab or handling Teddy. She required all the autobots to be in holoform around Teddy unless she was around or someone else was already with him and all safety's on in the base at all times. There was a whole long list she had written up and updated posted in the mess and it was given out to all new NEST members along with the handbook. The base had turned kinda into one big family and at the moment, they were running at the highest level they ever had. Yes, the guys upstairs didn't like the way things were being done here, but they weren't going to make them change it with the numbers that were coming back and the possiblity of it getting out. You didn't want a little boy just learning to talk out in public right? Especially when his best friends were giant alien robots.
"Okay. Can you watch him for an hour or so. I need to get some other stuff anyway," she stood, heading out of the lab. Ratchet sighed and flickered out of existence. His true form came on line, the same look on his face as she followed her out into the main garage.
"Do I have to?" he was whining again. He needed a recharge. Gosh, she was becoming a mom all over the place!
"Ratchet, you do realize you're sounding like a little toddler, right?" Epps laughed from where he was sitting by Ironhide, cleaning up some spare equipment. He normally was out with the wreckers, doing who knows what, but sometimes he would hangout at base. "Kara gonna tuck you before Teddy?"
"What?" Ratchet rounded on him, but she cut in.
"Ratchet, go recharge. Epps, can you watch Teddy while I go shopping?" she gave him a wink Ratchet couldn't see.
"Sure thing! Come on, little guy, you know you like Uncle Epps better than Uncle Ratchet cause Uncle Epps lets you play with guns," Epps took him happily. Epps did love hanging out with the little boy. Maybe a bad influence, but a protective bad influence who had a healthy fear of mommy. She turned, expecting to see Ragi waiting but found Prowl instead.
"Where's my normal carriage?" she frowned, searching the garage for the familiar red Ferrari. No sign on him.
"Optimus refuses to let him leave the meeting to go with you, so you're stuck with me. He says he's sorry," Prowl popped his driver's door open.
"Alright. Be glad I don't have to take Teddy with or I would be dragging Ironhide along instead."
"WHAT!"
***Erika***
Vvvvrrrrrr!
"Yes, Luna, it is beautiful out! Oh! Luna! Not the butterfly!" she sighed, watching the little grey streak chase after the innocent little blue insect. Well, hopefully it had had a good life. She turned back to her laptop, getting back to her newest book. Just closing it up now. One last chapter. Does the heroine live to marry her one true love? Or does she die? Does no one save her as she falls off the cliff at the end of chapter 37? That was the real question, one she had to answer. One that she was struggling with. She'd had this series going since she first started writing and people loved it, but maybe it was time to end it. It did have twelve books. Maybe she'd be cruel and end at thirteen. Yes! She had it!
Her screams echoed off the canyon walls, the air rushing out of her lungs as the rocky bottom raced up to meet. All hope was gone. Everyone else was dead, her friends, her family, the one person who would have been able to save her. Yes, she had won in the end, but was it worth it. Her eyes focused on the rocks below and a sense of acceptance flowed over her. Maybe it was her time to go. Maybe she had run her race. Maybe it was time for a new hero to take her place.
"Not yet!" a voice cried and it felt like she had slammed into a rock wall. As her vision cleared and she looked, expecting to see the blue, cloudless sky. Not the smooth, finely chiseled face holding two blue orbs and a light red rose. The rose opened, a light, crystal sound coming out. A laugh, a free, joyous laugh. "You are one crazy earthling!"
She sat back smiling. Yup, did she know how to end them or what? "Luna! Come help mommy finish this story!"
Vvvvrrrrrrrrr!
***Emily***
The steady thump of the bass echoed out over the beach and into the water. The swaying bodies kept time, laughing filling the air alongside the loud music. Now, this was a way to celebrate! Yes, it was celebrating the birth of five little puppies, but it was five little puppies born to a mother who had rode out a hurricane in her dog house. Yup, when they needed to loosen up, her coworkers did it the right way. A few beers, plenty of food, loud music and good friends to keep you up when the last month's trials finally catch up to you. Right now, she was sitting back in a lawn chair next to the other senior officers of the group. Yup, after being with the group about four years made her a senior. Most came for a year or two then moved on. She didn't plan on leaving for a long time. And if she had to go, she was going to come back someday and finish what she had started. They were going nationwide, connecting up with other such groups to form a national organization. Now, they had equipment set up for someone, one of the seniors and a group of the froshies, to go and help anywhere in the U.S.
She took a sip of her wine cooler and laughed as some of the newbies tried to dunk Mitchie, another senior. The guy looked Tarzan without the loinclothe and long hair. He always had a laugh for any of those who came in, but could get deadly serious when it was needed. Right now, the newbies were ending up in the water, completely drunk, while Mitchie just stood there and laughed. Yup, another wonderful night in paradise. Just what she needed. She looked out over the ocean as the sun set and couldn't help but feel like something was coming, just waiting beyond the horizon. Just waiting for people to get complaciant. Just waiting to strike.
***Amanda***
"Come on, guys! We have five seconds to clean up! They're gonna be here any minute!" she yelled at her crew as they raced around, putting away photo equipment and showing the models out. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet, for once no camera around her neck, a small box in her hands. She couldn't wait! It was almost time. She glanced at her watch and giggled a little as she moved to her back door. Any second now! She fiddled with the box, so excited.
The soft tinkling of her back door bell caught her attention. She squealed and threw the door open,"YAY! Come in! Come in!"
The startled delivery boy froze, clutching the animal carrier to his chest. She laughed and pulled him in,"I have been waiting FOREVER for this! Now, I know I don't owe anything, but here's a tip for delivering her so efficently!"
The boy took the envelope and the dish of cookies, gave her one more wierd look, and left. She didn't care. All she wanted right now was what was inside the cage. A happy little yapping reached her ears and she quickly knelt next to it, opening the box,"Hey, Gracie! You like what mommy got for you? A nice shiney new collar! I got it specailly mad just for my little girl."
The yapping got louder, more excited," Alright, alright! I'll let you out!"
The door flew open and a little Scottish Terrier came racing out, jumping all over her. She slipped the collar around the puppies neck, smiling brightly.
"I love you, Gracie! Yes, you are pretty! Oh so pretty!"
