The Diego Diaries: Home Again Jiggity Jig (dd6 116)
-0-At the home ranch
The last mech and femme left, heading wearily for home. They had pitched in before leaving and the apartment was perfection. Ironhide and Raptor had jammed the dishwasher and in the course of folks leaving, it was now clean and ready to empty. It could wait, Ratchet thought, as he turned back to his life after closing the door. He halted, then grinned. Partition was standing uneasily in the living room while the little ones were being herded by Ironhide toward the wash racks. The three big kids were sitting on the couch with curious expressions. "Well, isn't this the picture of handsome young mechs," Ratchet said as he looked from them to Partition.
The big kid grinned, then shifted uneasily. "Would you mind if I stay here for a while?"
"Nope," Ratchet said as the kid deflated a little with relief. "I will require, however, that you go to the office down the hallway and let your genitors know. The Way of the Soldier is inscrutable."
The three dread kids grinned having heard this before, then Genesis stood. "Ada? Do we have a new brother or what?" he asked.
Ratchet grinned. "Consider Partition your loaner brother. He's ours but he's also theirs. Call your genitors and hit the sack, Partition. We have work to do tomorrow, infant. I have to make a house call to Leto."
Partition grinned, then nodded. With a light step, he walked down the corridor to the big office that Ironhide and Ratchet shared. It also had a small desk once more since the three little mechs went home. Sunspot preferred to do his homework with someone there so he put his little desk in its old place again.
The kids watched him go, then turned to Ratchet. "What's happening to him, Ada?" Quasar asked.
"He's having a problem with his genitors. He's high caste but he's changed and they haven't."
"They don't want him around? That would be terrible. If I didn't get to come home I'd be so sad," Fireball said.
Ratchet walked forward and enveloped them in a hug. He grinned at them. "That's because you're good kids who have a loving home and lots of family. He's a good kid with a strange home and he's trying to find his way. We all have to help him."
They nodded, then hugged Ratchet again. "We will. I'm glad you're both home. We missed you and Atar," Fireball said.
"We miss you too," Ratchet said. "You need to get to recharge. Tests don't get finished by themselves. What exactly are you testing this week?" he asked as he followed them toward their end of the house.
"Physics, biology, geology, history, and swimming," Genesis said.
"SWIMMING! I'd flunk, I think. I can float and sorta swim," Ratchet said as they disappeared down the hallway. "Did I ever tell you about the water fight I had with Partition in Diego Garcia?" he asked as they vanished from view.
Partition stood in the office staring at the walls which were covered with pictures of the family doing this and that thing on this and that world. There was a picture in a frame next to the computer station that looked old and damaged. It was a copy of the image of Ratchet taken on the orn he had graduated from Medical School, the one his genitors had kept with them through hell and high water. There were images of Ironhide as a baby with his father and grandparents. There were images of Alor as a child with his family. Images of the other kids, all of them were everywhere, covering the walls around the big room in a most tasteful fashion. It was a personal history laid out before him, a history of warmth, inclusion and family.
He felt his insides twist as he sat and dialed up his family's home number. His father appeared on the screen, his expression filled with anxiety and relief. "Partition. Where are you?"
"I'm at Commander Ratchet's house. I'm staying over because we have to go somewhere early tomorrow. I'm doing my duty, Atar. I just don't want you and Ada to worry," he said with a bit of anxiety himself.
"When will you come home? Your ada and I are worried and miss you," Lucien said with uncharacteristic emotion. "This is not a good thing, son. You can't just leave your family like this."
"I'm not, Atar. I just want you to understand. This is my mission, the thing I was waiting all my life to do. I wish you would understand that and support me," Partition said.
"Come home and talk to us. Let's talk." Lucien shifted in his chair. "Surely, there's a solution to this thing. You can't just leave your family, son. We love and need you."
Partition stared at the screen, at the image of his hero and best friend. "I'll see you tomorrow. Alright? I'll call you and we can meet up."
"Aren't you going to come home? Aren't you going to live here?" Lucien asked.
"I … don't worry. When we meet up we can talk about it. Okay?" Partition asked. "I have to go, Atar. Tell Ada that I love him. I love you too. Okay?" he asked, then cut the line. He sat a moment with his insides roiling, then rose to leave the room. Ratchet was leaning on the doorjamb staring at him with sympathy. "Oh," he said with surprise.
Ratchet nodded. "What's happening here has happened all over the place since we came here. It's hard and painful to face what you were and find a new path but you're the pioneer in your family and most of the time, that road is a lonely one. Your genitors are still in the bewilderment/pain stage. You have to be the strong one. You have to be the decent one. You have to find them in their wilderness and lead them to the light. Change of this magnitude is so painful. It's hurtful. It means you have to look at everything you were taught and believe to sort out the truth from the lies. This is a generational thing, Partition. They learned from their elders and their elders learned from theirs. This isn't about blame anymore. This is about evolution. This requires unconditional love. Can you do that? Can you find your family in their darkness and be their light?"
Partition stared at Ratchet as all manner of emotions churned inside. He nodded slightly, then walked forward into Ratchet's arms. Partition held him tightly. "I'm sorry for everything. I didn't know better. This is the most real life has ever been. I don't know what to do. Please help me."
Ratchet hugged him tightly. "That's what I do, infant. Some call it meddling." Partition chuckled. "I, on the other servo, call it helping."
Partition looked at Ratchet, then nodded. "You did. I didn't know what a fool I was. Thank you, Ratchet."
"You're welcome. By the way, anyone who stays overnight at the house automatically becomes part of the family group. Consider yourself conscripted." Ratchet smirked at him as he nodded.
He laughed aloud, then nodded. "Thanks. This is such a wonderful thing, your family and the others. I have a lot to do to make things up."
"No. You have a chance to be yourself as you were supposed to be. The rest? You can't change it so let it go. It's over. All you have is right now. Live it with courage and dignity and you'll be fine," Ratchet said with a serious expression. "Don't drag the rest around like an anchor. You'll never fly if you do."
Partition nodded, then hugged Ratchet again. "Good night," he said.
"Good night, infant," Ratchet said as Partition walked into the living room to head for Sunspot's berth room. After a second, there was laughter, Sunspot and Partition, then it was silent. Ratchet grinned, then walked to the wash rack. "What's up, shorties?"
"ADA! WE COMED TO HERE TO DOING!" Orion said with a giant smile. He was in the basket swaddled in a towel like a caterpillar in a chrysalis with a big smiley face. Hero was beside him along with Praxus. Prowler was dancing on the wash table getting spritzed off from his bath.
"I can see that," Ratchet said as he kissed each child's helm. They looked like loaves of French bread waiting in a basket for a buyer. He grinned. "You look so cute."
"I, ORION, CUTE! HERO CUTE! PAX CUTE! PO-PO CUTE! You cute, Ada?" he asked as he switched from foghorn to normal volume.
Ratchet and Ironhide laughed. "ADA CUTE! ATAR VERY CUTE!" Ratchet said with a grin.
There was a moment or two of chaos before shorties were deposited in their beds, towels were tossed into the little hamper and the basket was placed back on the wash rack shelf. Wandering through again, the pair finally reached their room. Ironhide flopped on the berth as Ratchet joined him. The light was called down.
"That mech is shaping up," Ironhide said as Ratchet turned to sprawl on his carcass. "Who would have known? Besides you?"
Ratchet snickered. "Well, I am a healer. Remember these magic servos?" he asked as he raised a big red hand.
"I do. I also know where they'd do some good with a little servos-on," Ironhide said with a leering tone.
Ratchet grinned. "You have a fire in your furnace?"
"For you? Always. Unless ..."
Ratchet grinned. "Unless what?"
"Unless there's donuts with sprinkles. You know, Ratchet, if you'd decorate yourself with sprinkle covered donuts you'd be slagging perfect," Ironhide said with a big grin.
A hard punch to the chassis took care of that impertinence. The rest is none of your business.
-0-Morning
"YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO WORK THAT LONG AND HARD!"
"Now, Sonny … we had to help these poor people. They were so hard pressed and frightened," Amma Corr said with a sweet smile.
"I DON'T CARE, AMMA! YOU WERE TOLD!"
"Now, now, Ratchet … don't blame your amma. I was the family leader. I could have called for a retreat. BUT WE DON'T RETREAT! NEVER SURRENDER! FRAG THEM ALL! WE STAYED TO DO OUR PART BECAUSE WE'RE ALL ONE!"
Everyone turned to look at Appa Ratchet who was sitting on the couch by the window, his usual perch. He had his cat in his lap and a grin on his face.
"Appa, that was amazing," Fireball said with a sense of awe. "You are the head of the family. We will do what you ask. Right, Ada?" he asked as he looked at Ratchet who was standing over all his elders with a wrathful aura that Loki would envy.
"You're compromising the morals of our infants. Shame on you, Appa. Who's the doctor here? I can overrule Prime. Did you know that?" Ratchet asked as he cast a gimlet optic on the grinning wonderment that was his grandfather.
"I do. I just know, infant, that when Cybertron calls us, we answer. Right, Docker?" Appa Ratchet asked.
Docker who was amused as all get out nodded. "That's right, Only One. What sort of Cybertronian would we be if we didn't?"
"You're the greatest," Fireball said as he was swept up in the greatness. "Aren't they the greatest?" he asked as he looked at the others around the table. All of them nodded solemnly, then turned toward their elders again.
"Corrupting the infants. There's no bottom to the depth of your depravity," Ratchet said with a grin. "I'M TELLING YOU NOW! YOU *WILL* OBEY ME ON WORKING LIKE THIS! IF I HAVE TO GET THE INFANTS TO RIDE THEIR PONIES INTO THE MASSES TO ARREST YOU AND CART YOU TO JAIL, I WILL!"
"I think that might be a good experience. I can write about it in my creative writing class. Or better … MAYBE I CAN INTERVIEW MY SON ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ARRESTED AND JAILED INSTEAD!"
Everyone stared at Ravel with astonishment. Then Ratchet stepped forward, lifted Ravel up and hugged the slag out of him. He put the little mech down, then shook his helm. "Slaggers."
Huge laughter met that as infants slid down from their seats and made for their elders in a bee line. It took a minute to hug and kiss before they were wrangled back to the table. The door then opened as Alor, a hoppity-skippity Scout and Blackjack ambled in. "What did we miss?"
"ADA YELLEDED AT APPAS AND AMMAS!" Orion affected an 'it wasn't me and OMG! I'm so shocked and appalled' expression of highly faked shock and surprise, then pointed at his elders. They smiled back at him and blew kisses. He blew some back, then looked at his ada with a smug expression amounting to 'it's your turn in the corner'.
"Traitor," Ratchet said as he scooped up Scout. The baby screeched with delight as he hugged Ratchet, then joined the others at the table. Ratchet sat down. "1000 meeting, then back to the grind."
"Some of us are grinding as soon as the kids are in school," Alor said with a wink.
"You're a dirty old mech," Ratchet said with a smirk. "What's the update on the Tall White ship?"
"Nothing changed thus far," Alor said as he took a breakfast pastry into servo. "It's going to take a couple of weeks before he reaches anywhere that matters."
"We're going to Cybertron. Come for lunch at my HQ," Blackjack said. "The family is going to gather to go over a subterranean repair so we're having it catered."
Ratchet nodded, then glanced at Ironhide who was helping Scout get organized for a 'Danish'. He nodded. "Do we bring anything but our personal greatness?"
"No. Just come anyway, son," Alor said with a big grin.
"OH, HA-HA, ADA!" Ironhide said to the delight of the kids.
"YES! OH, HA-HA, AMMA!" Orion said as he turned to his father. "I, Orion, helpeded you, Atar. I saying the HA-HA thing too."
"You did, Spud," Ironhide said as he kissed his son's little helm.
"You help him but not me?" Ratchet asked.
Orion stared at him a moment, then nodded. "Yes."
HUGE LAUGHTER!
-0-Down on the street
They watched as Hero called her cab, her delight at helping them yet again apparent to all. She waved as she drove off along with another cab carrying the three dread kids. Sunspot stepped onto the yellow bus that was routed to their route only the orn before. Some families liked them over the subways so the traffic of the morning and later afternoon was dotted with yellow school buses carrying their treasure to and from schools all over the colony.
Ravel took Praxus and the others were liberated, then they waved goodbye to head to the Metro Station nearby. Ratchet smirked at Ironhide. "Pushy slaggers aren't they?"
"They are," Ironhide said with a grin. "Where are you going?"
"To make personal house calls. You?" Ratchet asked.
"I'm heading to The Fortress," he said with a grin. "I have to help Prime be Prime."
"No one does it better," Ratchet said as Ironhide kissed him.
Ironhide grinned. "Both of us or just him?"
"Both," Ratchet said with a grin. They watched him go with a spring in his step, then Ratchet turned to Partition. "Pony up, infant. We have stuff to do." With that, Ratchet led the way to the Metro Station #1 and the apartment of the little mech known as Leto.
-0-Crystal City
They stepped out of Metro Station #4 in the city and walked the two blocks away that led to the apartment tower that Leto and his family lived in. The ride up was quiet as Partition took in everything around him. The walk to the fifteenth apartment on their floor was short, then Ratchet rapped on the door. It opened to a smiling little mech who was Leto's bond. Invited in, they walked into a charming and sweetly old fashioned appearing home filled with adults who were children and in-laws, siblings and friends of the elders.
"Hi, Ratchet," Leto said as he sat in a chair still encased in the inflated air suit that would protect him against breaking something or the pain of sitting or laying down. He looked a great deal better than the first time Partition had seen him in the emergency room. "I'm doing better."
"You look much better," Ratchet said as he scanned the little mech. Then he scanned everyone. "Well, you all look good. You look a lot better, Leto. Do you feel dizzy or nauseated?"
"No. I feel tired though. Is that normal?" he asked as Ratchet sat down beside him.
"It is. Your body is being forced to build protoform at an accelerated manner. That's tiring. You have 47% protoform growth, up from 17.5%. When you reach 75% I will think … THINK about letting you out of the suit. When you get that far and it looks good, you'll have to do physical therapy. That means you'll have to go to the hospital in The City and go to the outpatient department to work on your strength. You have protoform now and you'll get more but you have to relearn how to use it."
"Okay. You say the word, I'll be there," he said with a smile.
Ratchet grinned. "You remind me of my Appa. He's the cutest little mech too." He took Leto's servo in hand, then began the treatment where he would utilize his energy to promote that in the little mech. The signature electrical glow and flashes of energy enveloped their servos. Ratchet watched it even as he monitored a meter inside. It was silent as everyone watched with concern and anticipation. Then Ratchet halted the treatment. He scanned the mech, analyzed the data, then grinned. "How do you feel?"
"Tired but a lot better," Leto said with a smile.
"You should. You just grew some more protoform in important areas around your spark chamber. You just went from 47% to 52. I can't do more than 5% at a time. You need to assimilate this for a week, then I'll be back to do more. We want you on your peds and dancing at the club as soon as we can," he said with a grin.
Leto laughed, then glanced at his ecstatic bond. "You can really dance, can't you, Tima."
"I can, but look at my partner," the tiny mech said.
Ratchet grinned. "How did our elders get so cute?" he asked their sons and family. Laughter greeted that along with acknowledgements. "Just so you know, Leto and Tima. I'm not clearing either of you to work until I'm convinced that it's necessary and reasonable. Both of you have better, more important chores ahead of you."
Tima and Leto glanced at each other, then Ratchet. "What?"
"You have to get completely well, first of all. Then you need to tell your life story to the recorders at the Museum for the Talking History program. They want every elder to tell what they remember about their lives, good, bad and ugly. Then, you have to join clubs, the senior center, volunteer in the schools or libraries, read books, eat too much candy, play with the grand kids, eat lunch in cafes, go to the movies and theater, play, sleep and enjoy yourselves. If at some point that's not enough, then I'll consider your fitness to drudge at a job."
Leto grinned at Ratchet. "I sorta like the first part."
Huge laughter and agreement met that remark among the family. A big hulking son looked at his genitors. "Neither of you are ever going to work again. We're going to take care of you like you took care of us. It'll take more than Ratchet's agreement to change that."
"I do believe, Only One, that our son is putting his ped down," Tima said with a smile.
"I do believe you're right," Leto said with a chuckle. "I think I'd like to try fun for awhile."
General agreement among the masses was achieved, then Ratchet stood up with Partition following. "Then my work here is finished," he said to laughter and much thanks. They took their leave, then rode down on the elevator.
Partition looked at him. "They can't work anymore, can they."
"No," Ratchet said. "But they have pride and an ingrained sense that their family needs their help. It's a delicate thing getting them to understand that their heroism is needed more in another direction."
Partition nodded. "I like them. They're nice. Before ..." he paused, then looked at Ratchet. "Before I wouldn't have. I wouldn't have given them the time of day."
Ratchet nodded. "I know. But now you understand and that makes you my hero, Partition. If you never remember anything else, remember that. You are my hero for opening your spark to the truth."
Partition nodded, then looked away. He felt uncharacteristic emotion rising in him. They stepped out and walked to the street where Ratchet paused to look at him. "You up for a sundae?"
Partition shrugged. "I don't know what it is but okay."
Ratchet grinned. "It's a work and a wonder. It's also going to get both of us through the staff meeting in about a joor."
"I'm coming too?" Partition asked with surprise.
"Why not?" Ratchet asked as he slapped the kid on the shoulder. "Come on. You're going to love it."
He would.
-0-TBC 9-3-17 edited 9-4-17
NOTES! HUZZAH! :D:D:D
-0-Guest chapter 114 . Aug 31
Why are the human soldiers asking how it went, and what happened? Didn't the human soldiers along with Owen Harris go with the bots on the Salton Sea and witness it for themselves .
ME: Because I'm a doofus. :D:D:D I changed that. Thank you, oh great one, for finding that. I rely on you guys to keep me on the straight and narrow. :D:D:D HUGS!
-0-Ragemoose chapter 114 . Aug 31
Ahhh. I'm such a sucker for a good redemption story. I hope everything works out good with Partition's parents. I'm sort of conflicted about the whole thing because I'm afraid he really doesn't grasp the concept of loss yet, you know? And one day, maybe not soon but one day when he's a soldier, regardless of whether his folks are with him, he'll have friends who are soldier and one of them won't come back and he'll know what it is, then, and like... that'll really mess with him I think. Especially because he's so raw about affection and inclusion, to have a part of his new life taken away, to really have to face the music would hurt a lot. Because sure, he and Ratchet spoke about it briefly but does he actually know what loss is? Has he ever actually lost anyone?
I dunno, it's just something I think about sometimes. I also think that He and Lon would be great friends, cause they were both high castes. It would be neat to see Lon become to Partition what Drift was/is to Lon. Then again, I think Lon might be doing that with Bezel sort of already, so maybe the spot is taken. I guess I'll just have to wait and find out! :9
ME: I agree. He's starved for affection without strings, unconditional love, and he wants a place where there is fun and inclusion without strings. The loss part is ahead of him, for sure, but he's got a cocoon of good mechs around him who understand loss. Won't help much at the time but its his safety net. He's a good kid who is starved for love and inclusion. I think one of the biggest things going against kids and a lot of adults is loneliness. Ratchet's life and the army guys are a bright light and he's flown to it like a moth to a flame.
Lon would be a great friend but he bonded with Bezel, Burris's son. :D I will have Yenta do inventory of the mechs for a good match. It might be fun to make it unusual. ;) HUGS!
-0-Leoness chapter 114 . Aug 31
I've been in Partition's shoes, when I joined a theater group in my teens. There's no words for the sensation of warmth, acceptance, etc, when you haven't really known it before. You write it beautifully and I love seeing it unfold here.
ME: I agree. There's nothing like warmth when you lived your whole life in the cold. He's learning and changing which makes it great to watch. I wondered how he would evolve because there was something in this character that said 'change me'. I didn't know how it would work but it has. This is so much fun, I can't tell you. :D:D:D Good on you for the theater group. Everyone needs someone and everyone deserves that and belonging. HUGS!
kattenbelletje chapter 112 . Aug 29
Morshower says they only call Optimus Lord, but the priests are also called Lord. Rainmaker and Starscream have also been called Lord.
ME: BWAHAHAHA! I changed that. Thanks, Hawkeye. :D:D:D
I want to push the button too :(
ME: You and me both. I like Rainmaker's sons. They would be cool because he is. More inclusion for them in the future. We have a Seeker enclave coming up shortly, just so you know. ;) HUGS!
-0-JC chapter 112 . Aug 29
Switchblade: "But I wanted to press the button" *Que big pouty face*
XD
ME: BWAHAHAHAA! I love Rainmaker and his family. :D:D:D HUGS!
-0-optimus prime101 chapter 112 . Aug 29
oh my please add 2 more chapters I want to read what happens next and what happens when Harris goes back to earth 2 they probably bug him about getting info out of him of what is happening out there am I right.
ME: For you, I will always try. :D I am making them longer for you as well. They will bug him. We'll get back to him shortly. :D:D:D HUGS!
-0-Leoness chapter 112 . Aug 29
Warm and fuzzies, with explosions. Love it!
ME: I think if you look up Ironhide's high school graduation picture in his year book, that's his personal motto. ;) :D:D:D HUGS!
-0-kattenbelletje chapter 111 . Aug 29
I can't help but think Ratchet is kind of hypocritical. He is telling Laslo and Lucien that their son is an adult and should be allowed to be a soldier even if they don't like it, while he himself will forbid his youngest children to become soldiers. What if one of them wants to be a soldier as much as Partition does? I fully understand that they don't want to see their children come home in a body bag, but neither do Partitions parents.
ME: I agree with you. All parents are hypocritical when it comes to their family safety. It's always someone elses kids that go to war. If you check out the super patriotic among us, you'll find fewer veterans and more who don't want their kids involved, but war is good for them anyway. Hypocrisy is a big thing among humans. Ratchet knows he is too. If Orion and the others want to be warriors, I doubt that they would stand in the way but they have time to say no. Whether they would when it comes that time is another chapter. I'll probably be still at it, writing it. LOL! It will be eight years of this story in November. :D:D:D HUGS!
-0-Lackwit chapter 105 . Aug 29
Exciting! It's an arms race, isn't it?
Please, babies for Springer and Drift! You promised us 3 from the well LOL! Hopefully not Ratchet. I am personally not happy with Ironhide's attitude :frowny:
ME: It is. LOL! I love to mix the action in. There is a baby coming but I can't disclose it yet. Mama Fig will slap me. As for the boys … there will be wish fulfillment on the way. When? The three of us are still negotiating that. LOL! HUGS
-0-Guester chapter 109 . Aug 27
Looks like the Praxian Elites are taking on Partition as a project. What happened with Riff and Rad-R, they were supposed to be a project too, weren't they?
ME: All of them are. I think I have to include more of the family's stuff into the story. Edict is making her way and Bron-E is getting bonded shortly. Hobbes is still counting his fingers. I think its time to stop in and visit all of them and let you see what the family is doing for them. The Praxians when they made a 'project' they don't let up. War has stepped in but they're going to show their stuff. This is the problem with a cast of thousands. Keep reminding me of other doings so I can write them up. :D:D:D HUGS!
-0-Guest chapter 114 . Aug 31
Why are the human soldiers asking how it went, and what happened? Didn't the human soldiers along with Owen Harris go with the bots on the Salton Sea and witness it for themselves .
ME: They did. I'm a doofus writing late at night. I'm changing up to morning and that will give me a chance to add maybe more than one piece a day. :D:D I'm a doofus. I changed that. Thanks, honey. D HUGS!