The Diego Diaries: Chaos 26
=0=On a berth in a hospital on Mars
He laughed and looked at Prowl. "Whiner."
"Loser."
"I'm still ahead of you. Five sons and a daughter."
"Look over your shoulder, Ratchet, always. I'll be there." Prowl grinned at his ada. "He's delirious."
Miler snorted. "I can see we failed in supplying you with a brother."
Much mockery and catcalling ensued. The soldiers up on their shelf grinned. Some of it was in English and some in their own language. But the intergalactic language of humor was easily understood.
Then Ratchet howled.
The Cybertronian equivalent of everyone's spincters tightened as the howling lasted could also be understood across species. When it died away, they relaxed. Ironhide looked faint, Alor and Blackjack strong and sincere. On the outside. Prowl considered how soon he could purloin the newest newborn around as Prime considered how much he loved everyone in the room and hallway beyond. Family was still a remarkable experience to him.
Wheeljack and Perceptor walked into the room and paused with Gypsy. They conferred for a moment, then turned to the protoform container pulling the lid off the box. They pulled back the soft blankets that protected it and began to scan the form's structural integrity. It was perfection.
Turning and nodding, they stepped back to watch with everyone else. The three humans were at eye level with the big scientists. Lennox reached over and rapped on Wheeljack's helm. He startled and turned, smiling. "Hello, boys."
"Hey, Wheeljack. What's going on and what's going to happen? We're in the dark here. All we've seen is yelling and laughing," Niall Graham said.
"That's about most of it. Soon the sparkling will emerge," Wheeljack said.
"Oh," Epps said. "Which end and will you give me the heads up to shield my eyes?"
Wheeljack snorted. He was aware of human birth. It grossed him out equally. "It comes from his spark chamber and there's nothing even remotely comparable to the abomination you are used to." He shuddered visibly.
"You and me both, brother," Epps said shaking his helm.
"Ratchet?"
They all turned to watch and listen. Gypsy was talking to Ratchet.
"It's time to do this now. Are you ready? Are you uncomfortable in any way?" she asked.
"I am. Sort of," Ratchet said as he lay on the berth, his optics online.
Ravel and Tie Down stood holding servos as other family members stepped closer. Cleerie came out with screens and with the catcalls and groaning in full force from all present, she screened Ratchet from everyone who wasn't family. Peering over the partition, Sideswipe smirked. "I don't know why you're whining. You know this sparkling is going to be a femme version of Ironhide."
Hilarity ensued.
It was silent a moment, then Gypsy leaned in toward Ratchet. "We're going in now, Ratchet."
He nodded silently.
On the shelf, Lennox and Graham stepped closer, a reluctant Epps following. They stared as Gypsy tapped Ratchet's chassis. The front slid apart and a brilliant light streamed out. They stared at it for a moment. "Wheeljack," Lennox whispered. The big bot turned. Lennox leaned closer.
"That light … is that Ratchet's spark? His … soul?"
Wheeljack thought a moment, then nodded. "It is. That is his essence. From that source comes sparklings. Of course, its not the only way but its the process Ironhide and Ratchet use."
"How does it occur?" Epps asked equally quietly, his eyes riveted to the swirls of light streaming from Ratchet's chest.
"Their method requires merging sparks, Ironhide's and Ratchet's," Wheeljack said, then he paused. "You are aware that this is enormous trust in you here."
They nodded, "We do, Wheeljack," Niall said. They turned and watched together.
Gypsy had the glowing gloves on her little servos and she turned looking at the infant that was resting in the tumult on Ratchet's spark. "Here we go, Ratchet," she said raising and then lowering her servos into Ratchet's spark chamber.
Ironhide stared at the tiny spark which he could just barely see from his vantage point. All of the family crowded around watching in the darkness of the room. Beyond, everyone waited silently for the sound that meant another pug-faced infant was safely in the world.
The infant sensed the warmth of the gloves but shrank back a moment into Ratchet's spark. Gypsy stood stoically on her little stool, her servos as still as possible. As she did, a tendril broke off and touched her. Ratchet tensed and bit back the pain. The tendril affixed itself and waited, its little silvery light pulsating.
"One down, Ratchet," Gypsy said encouragingly. "Come, baby. We want to love on you," Gypsy said. The infant complied, another snap signaled another tendril. Ratchet flinched and waited, the fading closeness of the little spark almost a tearful thing.
"Two more to go, Ratchet," Gypsy said. She stood a while, the soft sounds of machinery the only sound. Then the infant removed itself from Ratchet, jumping to the gloves with a little leap. Ratchet groaned and pulled his knees up a moment before slowly relaxing.
Gypsy stood a moment holding the little format. "Look at this little beauty," she said holding her servos up.
The silence of the room was broken by soft murmurs and a softer sob. Then Gypsy turned and climbed down, walking to the table where the protoform lay on a blanket. The humans standing directly overhead looked down, their breath held expectantly.
Gypsy's team held the little format a moment angling the tiny chamber so that the sparkling would make the jump. She moved her servos into that space and waited. The sparkling sat a moment and then drawn by some unidentifiable force, a tiny spark of light leaped into the chamber and embraced the core. It flashed and the format gained its color and design.
They stared at it, all of them as Gypsy checked it over. Then it made a sound, a soft sharp cry that broke the spell. The family smiled as laughter and congratulations filled their space. Beyond the screen, relief and cheers rose up as well.
Cleerie scanning Ratchet closed his chamber and Ironhide helped the big bot sit up. Removing his own plug-ins, Ratchet looked at Ironhide and nodded. Gypsy wrapping the baby in a blanket turned and smiled. "Who gets her first?"
"Her grandgenitors," Ironhide said. "Ravel and Ada, can you come here?"
Both bots looked at each other and came to where Gypsy stood with a blanket wrapped bundle. Ironhide gently took the baby and held it out. "Here. You two are first. Then Tie and Atar," he said.
"Here, Ravie, hold her," Alor said slipping an arm around the smaller mech. "I'm next."
"Are you sure, Ali?" Ravel asked taking the infant. Alor nodded and they both looked at the baby. "Oh, what a beautiful little femme."
The grandgenitors held the infant first, then the others. By the time it reached Ironhide again, it was fussing. He looked at his daughter, sniffing her to memorize her special essence and then turned holding her out to Ratchet. He took the baby and looked at her with a big grin. "Six, Prowl," he said glancing at the barrier.
Hilarity ensued.
-0-Moments later
The crowds reluctantly left along with everyone who wasn't family. They stood together as Gypsy made the last measurements and added the final data to the computers. "Do you want to stay over, Ratchet? You have a houseful," she asked.
"Thank you, Gypsy," Ratchet said rising. "I think my own berth is calling me."
They made their thanks and turned walking past the barriers to the door with a completely swaddled infant in Alor's arms. He walked out proudly with his first and only grandfemme. The short walk to the tower was made and they entered the apartment.
Bluestreak and the trine were already there. "Come here, Ratchet. We've been busy," Bluestreak said.
"Oh oh," Ratchet said with a grin. He followed Blue to the last berthroom in the apartment that had been set aside for the little femme. Entering, he paused. "Ironhide, come in here." The big bot entered and paused. "Who did this?" he asked.
"We all did," Alor said. Everyone gathered at the door as Bluestreak explained the set up. The closet had built-ins and all the necessaries were there in the shelving spaces. A white dresser with a top for caring for her was against a wall that was dominated by a beautiful picture of Praxus painted by Sunstreaker. Curtains hung from a rod that matched the dresser for creamy whiteness.
A crib was by the window and lined with soft blankets, a new dollie of Ironhide and a quilt to cover her with. Blue reached into the dresser and pulled out a small white bag that was filled with soft fur-like material. "This is a bag for the baby. You put her in and fasten this. It is a sleeping bag with arms." He turned it around and there was a loop in the back. "You can hang it on a hook. Even if she's in it. It's a big deal among some of the older Seeker clans. This way you can take your hatchling along and hang them up nearby while you do things."
Ratchet smiled. "Ada, we need you to make a nail for Ironhide's office now."
Hilarity ensured.
"Thank you, younglings. There are not better younglings anywhere than here," Ratchet said. Ironhide nodded. "I agree." They walked back out sitting in the living room, watching the infant slowly being passed around among the adults.
Sideswipe smirked. "A femme version of Ironhide." He lay the femme on his lap and unfolded her blankets. She was entirely black with a couple of spots of color. Her right arm bore a braid of red and white. On it was a single yellow flower. Her finials were delicate but identical to her father. Silver insets near the finial gave definition to her tiny face. She was incredibly cute. He held her up and looked at her tiny wings.
"Ironhide wanted a winger," Ratchet said grinning. "So we have the first winger in our family ever, right Atar?"
Tie nodded. "We have never had an information model before. What an exquisite infant, Ratchet. What a beautiful design."
"We try," Ratchet said smirking slightly as he recognized the tiny indications of disgruntlement that others were handling his sparkling in the hulking format of Ironhide who sat beside him.
"So cute," Sideswipe said wrapping the baby and passing her onward.
"When do we get Sunspot?" Blue asked.
"Any time. I already cleared it with Terradive and Herling," Ratchet said.
Blue arose and turned heading out. They sat admiring the infant for a moment. "How do you feel, Ratchet?" Ravel asked.
"I feel a lot better," Ratchet said. "I can do cartwheels now."
They snorted. "You are a caution, Ratchet," Blackjack said with a smile. "What a great orn this is. We have so many blessings."
"We all do," Ironhide said.
"Three femmes," Sunstreaker said. "Three."
"We need pictures and portraits, grandson," Ravel said to Sunstreaker. "When they are all old enough, I would like a picture of all the infants including Prime and Prowl's little mechs and sparkling. There must be fifteen now, right?"
It was silent a moment. "There is Praxus, Orion, Sunspot and this femme," Sunstreaker said, "plus Sideswipe and me. That's six. Then there is Kaon and the twins. Nine. Add in Bluestreak, Miracle and the three little mechs, you have fourteen."
"Close," Ravel said.
The door opened and Sunspot ran inside pausing before Ratchet. "Ada, are you alright?"
Ratchet hugged him and nodded. "I am great. Do you want to see your sister?"
He smiled almost lethally and nodded. The baby was handed back to Ratchet and he held her so Sunspot could see. Pulling back blankets, Sunspot looked at her for a moment. Glancing up, smiling, he chuckled. "She looks just like Atar," he said.
"But on her, it looks good," Sideswipe said.
They laughed and the infant opened her optics. Staring upward, she seemed to watch Sunspot. He grinned. "She's looking at me."
"She is," Ratchet said. "Remember, you can't tell anyone the name, Sunspot. That's your job to do in the ceremony."
He nodded. "I finished the speech."
"You are awesome," Ratchet said.
Sunstreaker reached out and scooped the little mech into his arms. Settling him, he grinned at Sunspot. "You can tell me her name. I won't tell anyone."
Sunspot looked at Ratchet and Ironhide. They grinned and shrugged. Sunspot smiled and leaned up. Sunstreaker leaned down and Sunspot whispered it. Sunstreaker looked at the little mech. "You sure?"
He nodded.
"That's great, Sunny," Sunstreaker said with a slight grin. "Good choice."
"What did he tell you?" Sideswipe asked.
"Don't tell him, Sunspot. It'll be our secret."
Sunspot nodded and grinned. Settling into his brother, they sat and passed the time before phase two happened and the toddlers were ready to see the new addition.
-0-Outside of Club Cybertron
They pulled over to let bots go by. It was silent since they left the hospital. Niall looked at the others. "That was some psychedelic experience. We can never tell anyone."
"We can't," Will said. "That's how it's done. When that form turned color I almost fell off the ledge."
"You and me both," Epps said nodding. "What a strange thing."
They nodded. "Where are the film crews?"
They looked around. "We better find them."
Everyone turned and sped toward Mare Tranquilitatis.
=0=TBC
2012 (9)