The Diego Diaries: Dinner Abroad (dd6 152)

-0-At a Steakhouse in Metrocon

The room was beautiful and big with tables in the middle spaces and big booths along the walls all around it. It was pretty filled up with customers enjoying all manner of food that looked like classic American steakhouse cuisine. Drinks came, punch for the infants and beer for Ratchet and Ironhide. They clinked glasses, then sipped. The kids smiled and chatted together as Spot sat next to Sunspot, all optics for each heavily laden waiter that walked past.

Across the way, Lon, Bezel and Bezel's family, Burris, Cargo and a happy Anders sat in a booth chatting as they waited for their food. It was tense to Ratchet's expert reading of the energy but nothing that looked too poorly. It was then that Bezel slid out and walked to the nearby 'rest rooms', rooms where a mech could wash up or even relieve themselves. It was law that every business had one so they did. Looking at Bezel's body language and putting it all together, Ratchet slipped out. "Be right back."

Ironhide who was taking things away from Orion as fast as the little mech could grasp them glanced up. "Okay," he said.

Ratchet followed a waiter, then detoured into the rest room. It was single gender, immaculate and large. Very few would need to use it but it would be here just in case. Bezel was standing in front of a sink watching the water running when Ratchet entered. "Bezel. Hi."

Lon looked up, then grinned. "Ratchet! Hi. You here for dinner, too?"

"We came. I heard its the next best thing."

"I heard that, too. We're here for a family dinner. It does my Ada good to get out," he said slightly sadly.

"How is Anders? He's my patient and I have him referred to a number of agencies but haven't had a chance to touch base yet," Ratchet said as he leaned against the sink.

"He's doing a lot better. He's getting out a bit more. It's hard with my father and now Keystock coming up for his hearing," Bezel said with a sigh. "Cargo doesn't help. He's digging at me, mean stuff. I think he wants a fight. I don't want it for my ada's sake but I want to punch his face so badly. You know?"

"Not really. I'm an only child but if you mean, do I want to punch bullies when they show up? Yeah. I hear you," Ratchet said with a grin. "You know … you got it going on with your life. You've met and exceeded expectations. You're a great kid. You work hard and learn fast. You have this great bond with Lon. I remember when Lon showed up all curious and sincere. I loved him right away. Then you two got together and it doubled."

Bezel leaned against the sink with a grin. "Thanks. I love Lon something awful. I can't tell you how much."

"You two kids are why we work so hard. Your family is making its way. Your father loves his bond. That will be the way they change, to help Anders get well. Your ada is on my radar. I'll be looking after him and maybe even include him into the family and friends circle. He needs to have a support group."

"That would be great, Ratchet," Bezel said as he brightened at the thought.

The door opened and a mech walked in. It was Cargo. Bezel straightened and turned to his brother. Cargo looked at Bezel, then Ratchet. "What are you doing here?"

Ratchet grinned. "It's a public space. But thanks for asking."

Cargo looked at Bezel. "We're eating dinner here. What are you doing in here?"

Bezel stared at him. "I don't have to check things through with you, Cargo. I'm coming out in a minute."

"Come out now, Bezel." Cargo turned to Ratchet. "We're having a conversation here."

"Go ahead," Ratchet said as he leaned against the sink. "Don't mind me."

Cargo shook his helm. He looked at Bezel. "You're scraping the bottom of the barrel, Bezel."

"Frag you," Bezel said as he straightened in fury.

"No fights, infants. Your ada isn't up to it," Ratchet said.

"Stay out of this. This is between the two of us," Cargo said. "Remember your place."

Ratchet laughed. "My place is wherever I want to be. Haven't you gotten that right yet?"

Cargo turned to Ratchet with rage. "This is between me and him. Get the frag out of here."

"Move me," Ratchet said with a grin. He pulsed warmth to Bezel who glanced at him uncertainly.

Cargo stared at Ratchet, then swung hard and fast. Ratchet who was faster caught his servo and squeezed. Cargo gasped, then sagged at the knees. Ratchet glanced at Bezel. "Why don't you go outside so your brother and I can get to know each other, infant?"

Bezel hesitated, glancing from his speechless brother to Ratchet who looked as if he were holding a flower rather than his brother's servo in a vice grip. He nodded, then walked out. The door closed, then Ratchet gave his full attention to the mech in his grasp. Moving to put himself between the door and the kid, Ratchet finally let him go. He staggered back grasping his servo. There was fury in his optics and on his face as he stared at Ratchet. "You fragger."

"What are you?" Ratchet said. "You can't even have a nice dinner with your family without making trouble. Your ada is barely hanging on and you don't care."

"Who the frag are you to talk about my ada?" Cargo said with cold fury.

"His attending physician," Ratchet said. "Who the frag are you to hassle me when I'm trying to get him well? Why aren't you helping? Lon and Bezel are. Even Burris is trying. Your ada is at wits end with Keystock's hearing. What are you doing here stirring up trouble when all you have to do is eat a nice dinner with your family? You idiot? Do you know how many here can't do the same and want to?"

Cargo stared at him. "Keystock doesn't belong in jail. If this colony was worth anything, you and Prime would be there instead of him."

"For what reason?" Ratchet asked with a grin. It was no end amusing just how stupid a mech could be sometimes.

"For not upholding the rules and laws of Cybertron," Cargo said darkly.

"You mean like empurata and shadow play? You mean like all the corruption, blackmail, abuse, lying, and greed that destroyed the planet because of your fragging caste? Like that?" Ratchet asked.

"Some things you don't have the capacity to understand," Cargo said. Then he stepped forward. "Get out of my way."

"You didn't say 'please'," Ratchet said. He was between the door and Cargo. It would take more than this youngling mech to move him.

"I don't have to," Cargo said. "You aren't in my caste."

"There's no caste system here. Prime outlawed it. He said he'd honor fight anyone who didn't get it," Ratchet said. "I'd pay large to see it."

"Honor? Optimus Prime?" Cargo asked with a snicker. "Two words that don't go together." He didn't see the fist that punched him in the face.

-0-Out there

Bezel slid into his seat, then grinned at his ada. "You look great out. You need to do more. When football season starts, you two need to go to the games with us. We also have parties afterward. You can come with us."

"All your friends are young mechs and femmes," Anders said. "They won't want old folks around."

"You have that so wrong, Anders," Lon said with a grin. "You couldn't be more wrong."

Anders smiled, then sat back as the waiter came with the food. The platters of steak and sides were placed on the table. Another topped off their drinks, then left. Anders looked at the food, then Bezel. "Where is your brother, son?"

"I'll get him," Burris said as he began to slide out.

Bezel started, then slid out himself. "I'll get him, Atar. You begin. I think you're going to like steak a lot." He walked toward the restrooms as calmly as he could as Burris slid back in.

Burris looked at his plate, then Anders' happy face. "This looks good, Andy. What do you think?"

Anders who was cutting into his food grinned. "I think we need to do more things together. Thank you, Lonny. I'm so glad you wanted to do this. I feel so much better."

Lon looked at Anders, a really nice sweet tempered mech. "It's our pleasure. We just want you to be happy."

Burris looked at Anders, then Lon. "That's all I want."

Lon nodded. "Then let us help you get there."

Burris stared at him, then Anders. He looked at his food, then Lon. "How do you eat this, Lonny?" he asked.

Lon grinned. "Watch me." Then he began to show them.

Ironhide who was helping the waiters settle plates around his table was watching them, listening in even, and felt a hopefulness for them that he never felt before. He never liked Burris, had never met Anders before Mars, but he loved Bezel. Bezel and Lon were great kids and good workers. He considered them part of The Group. He glanced toward the restroom, considered taking a walk himself, then decided against it. The little minions were eating and laughing. No one would be here with them and Ratchet had a great right hand. Anyone who gave him slag would regret it. So, without further ado, he began to cut up the dinners of his kids as he felt a ruckus over the bond link. He grinned. It was never dull with his old mech.

-0-Restrooms

Bezel opened the door and stepped in just in time to see Cargo fly across the room. He watched with big optics as his brother got up and charged Ratchet again. He watched as Cargo flew backward into the wall again. He leaned on it, the worst for the wear as he glared at Ratchet.

"I can do this all night, slagger. Are you going to listen to reason?" Ratchet asked calmly.

"Frag you," Cargo said as he straightened. He glared at his brother. "Are you here to help me or help him?"

"I'm here, Cargo, to get you for dinner. Ada is radiant. He's happy. I don't want you to go out there and make a scene. For once in your sorry life, think of someone besides yourself. Don't hurt Ada tonight," Bezel said as he clenched his fists.

"I'll make you a proposition, slagger. You go out there and dazzle your ada. You give him the night of his life and maybe the hope that there's going to be a good future for him now. Then tonight at 2200, you meet me in the park space of the Mare Tranquilitatis. You and me. We can duke it out." Ratchet said.

Cargo looked at him with a sneer on his face. "You and me. Why would I want to fight with you? Why don't I just call the police and have you arrested for assault?"

"You can. I'd even go, though I'll warn you, the head of security for this planet and the mech in charge of the police is my son. Arrest me. I can take it. But can your ada? When are you going to get it straight that he tried to kill himself by drinking solvents?" Ratchet asked.

Cargo stared at him with a cold expression. "My ada will be fine."

"He's having a great time. He wants to have you come and eat with us. I don't think you're mech enough to do the right thing. I think you're a coward, Cargo. You don't care about anything or anyone but yourself. You don't even care about Ada. You'd go out there and be awful and ruin his evening. You fragger. Meet me at 2200 in the Mare. You and me. We can duke it out and settle this slag." Bezel stared at his brother with a cold fury.

Cargo turned to him, then nodded. "You're on." He turned to the sink, washed his face, then shoved past his brother. He left the room and the door closed.

Ratchet looked at Bezel. "You're not doing this without me. I'm also going to bring the elders. You're ours, mech. You're army. You don't go into battle alone. Do you understand?"

Bezel looked at Ratchet, then nodded. "Okay." He looked wretched, then it passed. "I love my family but its hard sometimes."

Ratchet nodded. "I know. I'm going to have Springer, Drift, Hercy, and Kup there. I'll be there, too. We set the terms. No more slag. No more fighting. The System is a dead issue in your family if you win."

"What if I lose?" Bezel asked uncertainly.

"You still win. The next fight your brother will have will be with Optimus," Ratchet said. "I'll make sure of it."

Bezel stared at Ratchet, then threw his arms around him. "I hate The System."

"You and me, kid. Don't worry. Just make your ada happy. Your father seems to be trying to do the same thing," Ratchet said.

Bezel brightened. "He is, isn't he?"

Ratchet grinned. "Some people are slow learners. Let's help them. Right now, your brother doesn't see you as a big boy. What you have to do is settle this once and for all. Then nurture your ada and atar. The key for your atar is your ada."

Bezel nodded. "Okay. We meet up at 2200 in the free space at your building?"

"We do. Now put a good aura on and go out there. We're sitting across from you," Ratchet said.

"I wondered where you came from," Bezel said with a grin. He hugged Ratchet and Ratchet hugged him. Then he walked out.

Ratchet took a moment, then followed, walking to his booth to sit. Ironhide looked at him, then the table across the way. "They seem to be better."

"We have a dance date at 2200 in the park land." Ratchet grinned. "Too bad you'll have to be home for the babies. I, on the other hand, will be busy refereeing a thing long overdue."

Ironhide grinned. "I'll do ya one better. We can convene a court and make this official."

Ratchet looked up from his plate with a grin. "Really? I may not be able to take it. That many good looking mechs in one place? I'm assuming Piro won't be called to come, he and his father?"

"Overkill," Ironhide said with a grin. "Details so I can set this up."

Ratchet told him, Ironhide sent the message to the relevant Praxians, then they set into their food and family time together. Across the way, sitting at another booth, a fractured family actually had a good time together.

And miracle of miracles? Burris actually tried really hard.

-0-Out on a beat, at an intersection in Gambian

Springer took the call from Ironhide, then grinned. He looked at the others, Drift, Hercy, Kup, Whirl, and Lorn. "We're do in the park land of the Mare at 2200. There's going to be a dance and we're invited."

Hercy who was sitting in the saddle waiting for the lights to change with the others glanced at Springer. "Sounds like a caution. Who's going to be there?" he asked.

Springer grinned wolfishly. "Everyone," he said. The light changed and they rode forward, six hardcore veterans and a youngling mech with promise who followed them worshipfully as they rode down the highway heading for Tetriades. They would be there are 2200 hours.

-0-TBC 10-09-17 edited 10-10-17 edited 12-09-17