The Diego Diaries: BABY! The Aftermath (dd6 174)
-0-Tower In The Sky, Terra
"ADA! BEE-BEE!" Orion peered around Appa Tap-Tap and Amma Tub at his ada. Turbine and Raptor grinned at him. Orion glanced at them, then smiled brilliantly. "AMMA TUB! BEE-BEE!?"
Turbine snickered, then laughed aloud. "We have a baby, infant. Here comes your food. Eat it and keep up your strength. You and your siblings are coming to the game with us this afternoon."
"They are?" Hardie asked with a grin.
"They are," Turbine said. "We're taking the kids to the game, Ironhide. Just so you know."
"Thanks for the head's up. Might take roll tonight and be missing a few," Ironhide said with a grin.
"We aren't going to the game," Ratchet said. "We're going when Kaon plays."
"Who do you play, Sunstreaker?" Drift asked.
"We play Helex," Sunstreaker said. "We don't know a thing about them so its going to be an interesting game. The Helex Hell Cats."
"Sounds like my kind of feline," Ratchet said with a grin. He glanced at Ironhide who had Halo laying on a blanket on the table next to his plate. She was dozing and he was dazzled.
Sitting down the row, eating next to Delphi, Lucien and Laslo shared space with Anders and Burris as they listened and watched the show around them. Their three sons were sitting with other mechs, all of them rough looking soldier-types. Laslo was out of his depth but he had manners. Lucien was appalled but he held it in. Burris and Anders looked around with interest. Having a lot of experience around high castes, Ratchet could see the tells. Laslo was living his training, working out what was real and what was over. Lucien wasn't.
Further down the table, with a look of barely controlled mayhem, Cargo and Keystock sat side-by-side. They were cleaned up but present. Bezel and Lon sat nearby with Kup and Hercy between them and the two. Obviously, Hard Drive and Raptor had ordered them to come. They were silent, eating their food without commenting on the laughter and stories going by around them.
Nearby, eating with a group of former 'Cons who had joined them, Breakdown and Knockout were laughing. A small baby sat on Breakdown's lap taking his bite when offered. Breakout had grown a bit and was looking strong. It was pleasant and homely. He felt a slight sorrow for the rest of the Stunticons, but it passed.
Wheeljack and Perceptor holding Resolve sat down table from him, both of them talking animatedly to the humans who were roaming the table top as the huge group ate. The humans were here to 'show the flag' and welcome the newest Autobot of all. In a few orns, Ironhide would be going to Diego Garcia to see the armory and it was likely that Halo would get her first trip to another world, the home world of the tiny aliens that were such good friends.
Scout who was laughing arose from his seat, walked to Ironhide and took the infant into arms. "Thanks, grandson," he said with a smile as he walked back to sit. Everyone leaned in toward the baby to look and admire her, something that happily lit Ironhide's furnace even as the distance between him and her was hard to take.
"She's a genius sparkling, Ironhide. Expect the family to want to have her," Ratchet said.
Prowler stood up, then smiled at both of them. Then he slipped and fell backward off his booster seat. Supernaturally fast servos caught him, one on each leg, then hauled him up. Hanging upside down between his Amma Alor and Appa Blackjack, he smiled brilliantly. "HI, ADA!"
Huge laughter and bigger relief greeted that as he was righted and set down again. He smiled at both, then looked at Ratchet. "Ada, Amma and Appa held me. I falleded."
"Fell," Ratchet said with a grin. "You fall again you might hit the ground. Your brother already fell three stories here. We don't need another fall."
Everyone shuddered as they commiserated about that unfortunate event.
"Ratchet!"
Everyone glanced toward Blaster who was sitting with Revet, 'Vette and Roadie. "What's the Thanksgiving contest thing this year?"
Ratchet grinned. "Cookies, Blaster. It's cookies. I will take your applause now for I truly am a winner."
HOOTS and CATCALLS out the wazoo greeted that for a moment, then everyone turned back to their meal. Hercy grinned. "You should see the cookie recipe I have in mind."
"Okay." -everyone there.
Hercy snickered. "Slaggers."
"Cheater," Prowl said. "Ringer. Tell me you don't have a bakery background."
"Okay, I don't," Hercy said with a grin. He did, actually, but he would never tell. Neither would Kup, drunk or sober. It tickled both to win without anyone knowing why. Hercy's family even made pastries for the Primes, Senators, and regional governors for special and other occasions. No one but Kup, Delphi and Hard Drive knew it, either.
"There goes the competition," Bluestreak said with a grin.
"That's right, infant," Kup said with a grin. "We'll put the trophy next to the other two."
HUGE catcalls matched that remark as they rejoined their food.
It would be a long leisurely lunch for the group before they slowly began to head out. Shifts were coming up and drunks waited for no one.
-0-Outside the restaurant
Keystock and Cargo waited outside for their directions. They were totally at the mercy of Hard Drive and Raptor, so they waited. Partition with Lancer, his brothers Inweld and Morius along with Lon and Bezel stepped out, then halted to chat with Anders and Burris. Bezel stepped away to speak to his brothers as his genitors walked out. They gathered together. "How's it going?" Bezel asked his brothers, both of whom stared at him coldly.
"How do you think its going, Bezel?" Keystock asked. He was as lit about the youngster as he was about his own brother. Both Lon and Bezel were on his personal shit list, too.
"It's disgusting, dirty and dangerous. I think they're doing it on purpose," Cargo said.
"You get to go our home world and help. You get to go to Cybertron and matter. Why doesn't that mean anything to you?" Bezel asked.
"I don't think this is the place to discuss this," Burris said as he turned to Cargo and Keystock. "Are you coming home or what?"
"They told us to wait out here," Cargo said bitterly. "They'll come out when they do."
"Then we'll wait with you," Anders said soothingly. He turned to Bezel. "Will you be going on shift, Bezel?"
"I will shortly, Ada," Bezel said. He slipped his arm around Anders and hugged him, then turned back to Laslo. "Lon and I have nights for a while and our beat is from the Industrial Park Cities to the Crater District and back."
"I heard that the horseback patrols are considered an elite group," Laslo said to make conversation. He was feeling very nervous in the midst of all the hostility. Lucien wasn't helping.
"You have to apply and train for it. The horses are amazing. Why don't you come tomorrow to the stables at 0700 when we get off? I'll show you how to ride. You'd love it. You too, Ada. The horses are so gentle and smart." He looked at Lucien. "Why don't you come, too, and we can ride. Then we can have breakfast somewhere."
"That's a wonderful idea," Laslo said with a smile. "You can come as well, boys, if you're off. You and Anders, too, and Burris. I doubt that you'll miss weekend. Will you?"
Cargo shrugged. "I don't know. Fat aft hasn't told me."
It was a cold chill that settled as Bezel turned toward Cargo. "You better not let him hear you speak like that. He can take you apart with his bare servos."
"Frag him. I'm stuck but I don't have to like it," Cargo said as Lon walked over to stand beside him.
"Hello, Lucien … Laslo. I'm so glad you could come," Lon said. "Are you going to a game?"
Laslo who was flustered turned toward Lon. "We are. Tomorrow. The one with Polyhex and Capital City."
"We'll join you, you, Laslo with Burris and Anders unless we have security at the games. We sometimes have to do a tour at a game," Lon said as he squeezed Bezel's servo. "I didn't see it on the master schedule so probably we can just come and watch for a change."
Raptor came out of the door with Turbine and Orion. The others came, too, carrying infants as Ironhide followed with Halo. Ratchet had no one because the femmes claimed Hero. She was delighted, telling Elita how she had duties now helping the new femme. They were amused as they gathered together.
Arcee turned to the elders. "Appa, I heard you were going to the water park in the Tri-Cities Mall."
"We are," Raptor said as he grinned at Keystock and Cargo. "We were going to play with the infants. I think it might be helpful if you and Keystock come along with us. Nothing like fraternizing within the ranks. What about you and Bezel, Lonny?" he asked.
"I'd love it," Lon said. "We have shift in three joors. We'll have to leave a bit early."
"No problem," Raptor said. "Set an alarm or maybe you can allow me, Old Fat Aft, to do it for you."
It was almost funereal in the room as everyone glanced at Raptor. He was smiling brilliantly. Turning to Turbine, he looked past him to the others. "Atar, Blackjack, you coming? If you are, grab an infant. Anyone who wants to come, follow me. You can't miss it. I have a fat aft." With that, he walked forward with a giant grin toward the elevator that went down. Turbine who was carrying Orion grinned at Laslo, Burris, Anders, and Lucien. "Take care, all of you. Thank you for coming."
The others walked past them, taking the show on the road. Ratchet paused beside Laslo, Lucien, Anders, Burris, Keystock, and Cargo. He grinned. "Raptor can hear a fly cough a thousand miles away. I didn't tell you? Sorry about that, Cargo. You need to ask more questions. Did he release you? He and Hardie?"
They stared at him solemnly, then shook their helms. "No," Keystock said.
"Then you best hurry up. Fun waits for no mech," Ratchet said with a smile. "Make sure when he does that you come home and take care of your genitors. They've had a rough week."
Keystock and Cargo hesitated, then with a nod to their genitors walked for the elevator. They disappeared inside and were gone. Ratchet turned to the four silent mechs beside him. "Fun awaits, infants. I'll walk your genitors down."
Lon nodded as Bezel hugged Ratchet. He hugged Anders, then looked at his father. Haltingly, he walked to his father and hugged him. Burris hugged him back, then Bezel and Lon walked to the elevator to leave. For a moment, there was an awkward silence, then Ratchet turned to the four. "Your children need more from you than coldness and formality. They don't need outmoded ideals and slag. They need you and your company as they find their way. How about adapting to the now and let the past go? Its lucky that your oldest sons aren't in prison and your youngest one is a slagging miracle, Burris."
"Thank you for having us, Ratchet. Is there anything else?" Lucien said coldly as Laslo stared at the floor in misery.
Ratchet considered him a moment, then nodded. "Yes. Come with me." He walked to the elevator, held it until they entered, then all of them disappeared from view.
Half a breem later …
They stood at the ramp that rounded the gigantic pool that generated waves at the Tri-Cities Water Park of Mars. Huge slides gushing water wound all around. Smaller pools for floating, swimming and smaller children were nearby. It was loud and there were a lot of individuals in the water or sliding down into the roiling waves. The air texture was soft with moisture and many was the mech or femme who came here just for that reason, to feel it on their armor. The show was good, the food better and they got a slight sauna. Win-Win for most. The group watched as Drift slid down with Bos on his lap. They yelled all the way, then crashed into the waves to disappear.
Raptor was on the highest diving board. He was laughing loudly at Blackjack who was waiting behind him, then he peered over the edge. "LOOK OUT BELOW!" he bellowed as he ran forward. He bounded, then flew upward into the air. Down he came and belly flopped into the pool. Half the water welled out, then ran back into the pool. Going with the water was Lucien, Laslo and Ratchet.
Just like Ratchet knew would happen.
Anders and Burris who managed to stand on their peds stared at the spectacle with amazement. Then Anders turned to Burris. He stared at him a moment, then shoved him into the pool. With a whoop of his own, he leaped in with a splash.
Ratchet didn't know that would happen.
-0-TBC 10-29-17 edited 10-30-17 edited again 12-25-17
NOTES: NOTES!NOTES!NOTES! :D:D:D
Leoness chapter 173 . Oct 28
*cheers*
ME: :D:D:D Finally. It took a while to get through the 'don't name or tell about it' few pieces.
Guest chapter 171 . Oct 28
I can't wait to know the baby. You've done such a great job at building the mystery.
ME: I had to read and reread the pieces over and over so I didn't slip. :D
I swear, this story has kept me sane over the past few months thank you so much.
ME: I'm so glad. This story keeps me going too. Love ya.
Leoness chapter 171 . Oct 28
And you know, if you aren't there, you're square because you aren't a-round...
ME: BWAHAHAHAHAHAAAA! :D:D:D
Leoness chapter 168 . Oct 24
*Snickers* the waiting room gets crazier with every new infant.
ME: When my sister had her first kid, we were thrown out of the waiting room by a nurse who thought we were too loud. The doctor had to find us to tell us how it went and thought we had skipped out. He was so mad until we told him. :D I guess I write what I know. ;)
optimusprime101: I got the message. I had to cut down a big tree in a windstorm so I'm a bit slow. I have the suggestion in the file. It would take a pile of thinking to put it in but I love challenges. :D:D:D
NOTES: I am not going to take any word for granted for ESL speakers. There are 46 countries that hit this story. :D:D:D
ELS: A tell is some behavior or quirk that gives you away. A tell is a sign that gamblers look for in opponents that tell when they bluff, when they're losing, etc. It's a dead giveaway. Ratchet knows the tells that give him information about someone's caste, especially high castes. They are behaviors that the offender doesn't know they're making. Experts include behavioral scientists and those who help lawyers pick juries. :D
commiserate: (coh-miss-ur-ate) to feel sympathy for someone. To speak sympathetically with someone.
Sympathy: (sim-puh-th-eeee) a feeling of warmth and loving regard toward someone or something else. If you feel sympathy with someone, you feel their sorrows and pain.