The Diego Diaries: Down the Road We go (dd6 196)
-0-The next morning
Raptor and Hard Drive walked to Cybertron through the space bridge with Keystock toting the heavy bag and Cargo following. They were sullen and weary of the exercise but then, that was part of the process. They arrived at Iacon and walked to the command center nearby. The noise of building was strong in the distance, a sound that never stopped here or anywhere else where they were reconstructing. What was new was the brilliant skyline that was coming along. Some of it showed in the lights that sparkled from apartments already occupied. They were beginning to have a big effect on morale, the rising of the towers. There were businesses, too, both in the city and in the camps.
Walking along the street, they turned into the command center and headed to the center table. Raptor glanced at the two following. "Pull up a chair or grab a snack. We're going to be here a moment or two."
The two nodded, then walked to back to the rec room to fill a plate. Grabbing a cup of something steaming hot, they walked to a table to sit. Keystock put the bag down, then sat heavily. Cargo sat next to him. It was silent a moment. "This is fragged," Cargo muttered.
Keystock nodded. "They think we can't make it."
"Can we?" Cargo asked his brother softly as he picked up a donut. He looked at it, then took a bite. "This tastes good."
Keystock stared at his brother. "We'll do this. Those fraggers aren't going to have the satisfaction of winning."
Cargo glanced at him. "They can do this forever."
"Then we'll defy them forever," he said biting into a donut. It was silent a moment. "This is good," he agreed. They would sit and snack for a while before joining their slave drivers to go once more into the wilds of their home world.
It would be just that, wild.
-0-Walking to the Medical Center
"Where are you going?" Ratchet asked.
"I have work. I, Ironhide, run a department."
"Oh, right. That," Ratchet said with a grin. "I have to get things ready for Thanksgiving and the cookie contest. Meet me at the grocery store in a couple of joors. Be there or I'll find my frying pan."
"Nothing like a little foreplay," Ironhide said as he waggled his optics. He grinned, then turned off to go to the Metro Station and the door down there that led to his office. It was down in the maze underground, proofed against blowing up and was the domain of THE MECH! He grinned at Halo who was lying on his arm in a cocoon of hats, Seeker bags and blankets. She stared at him with her little blue optics. "Aren't you cute. I bet we get compliments before we get to the armory." He walked down the steps to the station below, then headed to the door nearby that lead to them armory. He didn't see anyone at that moment so there were no compliments from strangers.
So he gave her two of them himself.
-0-At the homes where those who were off duty hung out
Alor studied the recipes that he was going to make. Two kinds of cookies that weren't really cookies. They were cute and he could make them like a dream, they were that simple. All he had to do was make and bake the fudgiest brownies known to anyone in the solar system. Looking at his ingredients, he began to mix the dry stuff. Adding the wet, he stirred it into a thick batter. Adding some very strong melted 'chocolate', he mixed it again. Putting it into a sheet pan, he tapped it on the counter to settle the dough evenly. Grinning, he slid it into the oven for the ten minutes it would take to bake it thoroughly and slowly. "That part's done. Now the fun stuff."
He walked to the stove and heated up some water in a pan. Putting chocolate into three bowls, red, white and dark brown colored 'semi sweet' chocolate, he put them over the boiling water one at a time until all of them were melted. Putting them into the warming oven, he gathered the rest of his dessert 'stuff' together. Then he pulled a beer and took a swig. Saluting the oven as he waited, he grinned. "To Ratchet for being totally unpredictable and making things fun."
-0-Turbine, Delphi on Cybertron
They walked with their groups of mechs heading into the wasteland where they heard that a number of 'insane mechs' were 'living in squalor' as they 'protected' important religious relics. They had done so since forever and it was arguable if they knew that they were free. Someone had been leaving food out for them and every morning it was gone. They had to be saved from themselves. "What kind of cookie are you making, Delph?" Turbine asked as he stepped over bent steel.
"I'm not sure. Something that's a sandwich-type, I think. You know … two nice cookies with something amazing in between. I think I have two ideas. The question is, which one to make," Delphi said.
"Make them both. Two chances to win if you do," Turbine said as he saw movement nearby. "I see them. The red one." He turned to the mechs. "Surround this place. Remember, this is their turf. They might have booby-traps and they know how to hide. Slow. Gentle. They may be really sick."
The big mechs nodded, then melted away. Turbine walked onward talking to Delphi, hoping to get as close as they could before the chase was on. They wouldn't get very far before a number of individuals jumped up and began to run through the rabbit warren of debris. It would take a lot of chasing, stumbling, cursing, and near grabs before they would get them.
-0-At the dojo
"The night was calm on our beat," Hercy said as he sipped his tea. A box of donuts and other 'pastries' were sitting on the table, one piled high with all manner of things. The mechs there were eating them and comparing the shift as Drift and Springer walked in and sat heavily. "How was your ride? Tell me, did Owen Harris thank you for slagging him?"
"He gave me a big hug and offered to adopt me," Springer said. "I thanked him for his offer but said I had a crazy ada already."
"That's true," Hercy said with a grin. "I didn't get to hear the whole story given how you were being a daddy to the infant. I like that infant. He's one of a kind."
"Orion rules," Springer said as Drift nodded. "Prowl thinks he belongs to him but Orion is ours."
"No doubt," Kup said seriously. "Little mech can wreck. Does his little tats proud."
"The fries up his nose assembly is a new skill. I highly approve," Drift said as he picked up a big fritter.
"Well, our schools are that good," Kup said with a grin. "I saw Hardie and Raptor head out with their two pack mules."
"That's hilarious, Keystock carrying the kit. I imagine that's the most work he's done in his life," Springer said.
"What's in the bag?" Lon asked as Bezel said beside him.
"Lead weights. Cybertanium bars," Kup said. "The General is very tactical."
Hercy nodded. "He is."
It was quiet for a moment as everyone waited for more. It didn't come. But it was alright. The dozen or so youngling mechs with them worshiped the ground both Kup and Hercy walked upon. They considered that the two were 'cogitating' on important things and they would tell them when they were 'ready'. Springer and Drift, the other veterans who knew the pair well knew otherwise but it was cute to watch the infants learning from the best in their profession. The morning would pass sweetly at the Dai Atlas Dojo.
-0-Cybertron, in a vast wasteland near Kaon
They sat on a pile of bricks ravenously eating what they were handed from a pack someone carried just for this moment. Turbine sat in front of them and Delphi stood beside him. "How long have you been out here?" he asked.
One of them, a ragged older mech who looked like he would keel over stared at them as the others paused their eating. They watched the older mech for direction and the others with fear. "Why do you ask?" he asked with a slightly mad tone in his voice.
Turbine leaned closer. "I heard you did The People a great service."
The others stared at him, then the older mech. He shifted slightly, his anxiety rising. "What do you mean?"
"I heard that you protected relics, some old and very wonderful things," Turbine said gently. "I was hoping to help you get them to the Temple priests who are collecting them again."
"Temple priests … they're all dead. Simfur is destroyed," the older mech said as the younger ones nodded.
"They aren't. They were rescued, Lord Lauren, Lord Chevron, and Lady Sela among others. Even Lord Chrome. Optimus Prime is collecting the relics and things again. We're digging out the Temple and the shrines. We were hoping you could help us," Turbine said.
"We're not helping you. Who are you, anyway?" the older mech said with anger in his tone.
"I'm a Maker," Turbine said as he turned his shoulder so they could see his clan tattoos. "I'm with the Elder Clan and I'm a Maker."
The older mech stared at the tattoo, then Turbine. "How do I know you're not lying?"
"Do you know any of the old prayers? You know … the relic blessings?" Turbine asked.
He nodded.
"Then you know that only someone from my clan would know them," Turbine said.
He looked at Turbine, then shifted again. "Maybe." Pause. "Only they know them. I've heard them before when they came to the shrines to do the blessings, but I don't speak the language."
"Primal Vernacular … the language of the Pantheon. Only the Primes, a few scholars and members of my clan know it. You've heard them, though," Turbine asked.
He nodded. "I have. That's why we saved the relics. We did it for the greater good."
"What if I tell you the blessings for Solus Prime? Or maybe you have another member that you want me to do instead?" Turbine asked. "If I know them, then you know I'm Elder Clan and a Maker. Deal?"
He thought a moment, his discomfort apparent, then nodded. "Vector. I want to hear them for Vector."
Turbine nodded, then thought a moment. He began the Prayer of Time for Vector. His voice was soft but the words sounded beautiful. Delphi knew Primal Vernacular, considered the first language of The People and one that only seemed ceremonial now, so few spoke it. It was beautiful, lilting and musical, the language. It was the only language that Vos of the Decepticon Justice Division would use. Prime knew it by virtue of his questing intellect, lifelong passion for learning and the Matrix. Turbine sang the blessing, then concluded softly. He grinned. "Do I pass?"
The older mech looked suddenly tired. "You do. What now, Maker?" he asked.
"You show us where they are, we take you to help and comforts, then Optimus Prime comes to thank you for the courage of your service. I will sing a blessing for all of you when you get medical help. I do believe that I've never seen such devotion to our people as you've shown, all of you" Turbine said as he rose.
The mechs stared at the group, then arose unsteadily. Turbine caught his arm. "Why don't you show us and the others can sit here to wait for airlift. All of us are going together. Your mission will be fulfilled together. Your honor is an example to us all," Turbine said quietly. He glanced at Delphi. "Why don't you call a ship and get them ready for the hospital. I think they need to go to Mars." He looked at the ragged group again. "Are there others? We can take you all."
"No," the older mech said. "This is my family."
Delphi nodded. "Don't worry about them. We're going to wait for you."
He nodded. "My name is Congo."
Turbine nodded. "Congo. It means good light in Primal Vernacular. It fits you, a spark of light in the darkness."
He leaned against Turbine who slid his arm through Congo's. They walked slowly into the debris field as the others watched anxiously. Delphi called the ship, made the arrangements, then sat down in front of them. "You may not know this but you're heroes. What you did was heroic and we salute you."
They stared at him, a mixed group of young and old. They nodded, but their optics were fixed on the path where Turbine and their leader had taken. They would stay fixed on that path until they came back with the relics. Turbine would be carrying Congo and the mechs with him would be carrying priceless, iconically famous chalices, jeweled boxes containing 'actual relics of the Prime' and small icons of Vector Prime that once graced his shrine. It would be a short trip to the hospital in Kaon with the small group. They were a family who hid in Vector's shrine during a bombardment, saw the city fall, then took the priceless relics with them as they fled southward toward Kaon. Half mad from the long dark occupation, they had kept themselves going by protecting the relics.
Now they would go to Mars for their new life and they would have their story told. They would also be there, better rested, healthier and much improved when the priests of The Temple placed the beautiful ancient objects back into the Shrine of Vector Prime in the Martian city of Helex.
-0-Grocery store, pushing carts
Ratchet walked behind Ironhide pushing a cart as he admired Ironhide's aft. He was ahead with his own cart. "Ironhide, no crap. This is serious stuff. We have to get something for the party and we have to get a list of slag for the cookies. Hear me. No peppers, hot sauce, weird cheese, or other slag. I will kabong you with my ped."
"You're no fun," Ironhide said as he grinned at Halo. She lay on a pile of blankets in her Seeker bag on the seat where kids sat on carts. She smiled at him and he smiled back. "Little femme smiles a lot. She's a real charmer."
"Little femme is that far up the awesome scale," Ratchet said pulling into the baking aisle. "Come on, slagger. You have to help me."
Ironhide grinned, then glanced at his daughter. "I have to help. Pray for me."
Halo smiled.
-0-Alor
He pulled the brownies from the freezer where he had put them after baking. Pulling them out of the pan with ease, he placed them on a cutting block. Cutting them into large equal pieces, he pulled popsicle sticks from a bag. Inserting one into each of them, he put them on a plate. Pulling the melted chocolate bowls out of the warmer, he grinned. Picking up a brownie 'popsicle', he dipped it into the red chocolate so half was covered. Putting it on a wire rack over a cookie sheet, he dribbled sprinkles over it for decoration. He looked at it critically, then smiled. "One down, 24 to go." With that, he continued his cookie creating as Blackjack sat on a chair nearby snoozing. Lying on his chassis, ignoring his new studies of green, five, rectangle, and the sound of barn animals, Scout was snoozing as well. It was very pleasant at the Blackjack-Alor-Scout domicile.
-0-TBC 11-20-17 edited 11-26-17
NOTES: Any brownie recipe will work. Just freeze them with their sticks, then dunk. Sprinkles or nuts make them tasty and look nice. Another dessert: Make a cheesecake. Slice it into individual pieces, then freeze them. Melt chocolate colored or purchased that's green. Dunk the slices into the chocolate, then have fun decorating them as Christmas trees. I've done this and they go instantly. Everyone thinks you're Julia Childs and its that easy. :D:D:D