The Diego Diaries: Dance (dd6 208)
-0-After
"Hold on."
Pause.
"There."
"Another piece of glass? I'm going to be picking glass out of my aft for orns."
"I volunteer to help you."
Prowl grinned. "Done deal."
The water washed over the two of them as they stood under the shower in their wash rack. Soap and a bit of extraction here and there was washing the broken bottles and booze smell down the drain. That it was soothing the battering both had taken was a bonus.
"I admired your pluck."
A rueful snicker escaped Prowl. "I couldn't hold on. That mech was strong."
"The solvent," Optimus said as he massaged soap into Prowl's back. He grinned. "That was a thrashing I have not had in a long time."
"You won't again if I have my way," Prowl said with a frown.
Prime grinned. He loved Prowl's expressions. "I hope you are right."
-0-Elsewhere
"That's going to be tender a bit. Dial down but not all the way. You want to still be able to feel it," See-7 said as he looked at Drift's nose assembly through a magnifying glass. "The micro-welds should be set to impervious by later this morning. You aren't going back out are you?"
"I thought I would," Drift said with a grin. "It's sort of my job." He was sitting on a med berth while the orthopedic doctor worked on Springer's chassis and nose assembly. This was the 'finishing' doctor, the 'plastic surgeon' who handled the finish work of this sort of repair to make it invisible. He had done a bang up job on Drift. There was no sign of this bashing and three others that weren't treated until now.
"Well … don't bump or even touch this for about a joor. The welds are integrating with the protoform underneath. If you bump it, I will be most displeased," the little mech said with a pointed frown.
Drift who felt uncharacteristically intimidated for some reason nodded. "Okay," he said meekly. He glanced at Springer who was getting the last micro-weld on his medical plating, that which was covering his chassis wounds. His nose was attended to and would only need See-7's miracle touch to be set for permanence.
"There, Springer," Tulsi-2 said as he stepped back to look at his work critically. "Let See-7 make the finish on your nose assembly." He looked at the small doctor with the powerful aura. "See? Could you attend to the chassis welds, too? I think I'd like them to be invisible as well."
"On it, Tulsi," See-7 said as he rolled his cart over to Springer.
Springer glanced at Drift who sat wearily on the med berth to watch. "You look beat. No pun intended."
"I've known better orns," Drift said with a grin.
"I would say so, infant," Hercy said as the group of mechs lounging in the doorway and along the two walls by the door watched their lord and master get welded back together. "I was told that Park slagged the stuffing out of Ironhide, Prime, Prowl, and the two of you at the same time."
Drift nodded. "He did. He also has a nice voice."
Everyone laughed loudly including the two doctors. It would take a moment but they would complete the work and then the whole group would head back out to do their jobs.
-0-Outside with the horses
Partition leaned against his horse as he waited with a bunch of the others, including his two brothers. They were stoked. So were the others. "I've never seen anything like it. We ran inside and he was dancing and singing. Then he picked us up and threw us out the big window like we were rag dolls."
"It was epic," Inweld said. "I used to think closing a contract was the biggest thrill I'd ever feel but this is so … I don't have words."
Morius nodded along with Smokey, Bezel, and Lon. "I know."
"I heard that you applied to be a field medic at a substation. How did that go?" Bezel asked.
"I have a call back," Partition said. Lancer who was standing behind him with her arms around him grinned. "I can't wait. Half time with the Guard, half time with the Watch. It doesn't get better than that."
"What about you two?" Lon asked his brothers.
"We applied to the Watch. They put us on probation for the training period. I want full time," Morius said. "I want a beat, maybe, or horse patrol. I like talking to people."
Inweld nodded. "I do, too. I like the freedom. Sitting in an office pushing contracts doesn't appeal to me anymore. This is exciting and useful."
"It is. It's also hard and dangerous. You'll never go out without a veteran," Lon said as Bezel nodded. "Bez and me, we get to be a team. I love that. Being on the horse patrol is the best. The only thing that might be better is being a detective. I think solving things would be awesome."
"Hauser is chief detective, isn't he?" Partition asked.
Lon nodded. "He is."
It was then that two mechs none the worse for wear wandered out with a group of mechs who had gone up to give 'moral support' and slag in their joor of need. Walking to their horses, they both grinned at the kids. "You looked a bit epic flying through the windows, infants," Springer said.
"We came to help, Chief," Partition said as his brothers nodded. Lancer grinned, then squeezed Partition.
"You did," Springer said as he gripped the pommel on his saddle. "How about we saddle up and ride?"
There was whoops and agreement as the group saddled up. A large group of horsemen moved onward down Metro Highway #2 as they made their way back to their beats. It was going to be a long shift for at least two of them tonight.
-0-Elsewhere
"I think you slaggers need to go on a diet. I nearly emptied my debris chute when the three of you fell on top of me," Ratchet said as he toweled himself off.
Nearby getting a long hot soak under the shower head, Ironhide snickered.
"You're on thin ice, slagger," Ratchet said with a grin.
"Sorry," Ironhide said. "That was a dumb thing you did."
"Frag you. That was epic," Ratchet said as he tossed his towel into the hamper. Turning with a grin to the table nearby, he picked up Halo and leaned against it to watch Ironhide. He was soaped all over and very shiny. "You missed a spot."
"Where?" he asked as he glanced over his shoulder.
"Right here," Ratchet said pointing to his lips.
Ironhide grinned. "Give me a minute, old mech, and I'll show you some of the old Sexy."
"Not tonight," Ratchet said as he vented a sigh. "I think my Sexy got flattened."
"Frag," Ironhide said with a grin. He sprayed himself, then dried off, mostly. Walking out, they went to their berth room. The lights outside shown in as Ratchet lay Halo down in her crib. She smiled at him and he smiled at her. "Sleepy bed time, infant, as Orion says." Ratchet flopped over onto the berth and sighed. "Ow."
"Give yourself something, slagger. You're a walking pharmacy," Ironhide said as he tucked Halo in with his usual fussiness. He grinned at her, she grinned at him. "What a cute little slagger you are." When he was satisfied, he walked around the berth and lay back. Ratchet turned over to sprawl on him and it was quiet. "Good night, red aft slagger."
"Good night, wimp."
"Wimp?"
"Park mopped up the floor with you, Prime, our two oldest and half the jailhouse crew. Wimp."
Ironhide grinned. "He did, the fragger. Good night."
Ratchet grinned. "Good night."
-0-At an intersection in Retriarius
Public Works mechs and one femme who worked the night shift were placing a gigantic Christmas Surprise tree into the deep hole that was in the middle of the intersection just for that purpose. Capped all year long, it was now being utilized for the splendid beauty that was a Christmas Surprise tree. All of it synthetic, it would test the skill of any human to tell one of its long branches from that of the real thing. It was covered in ornaments and lights, already to be placed and plugged in. When the crane lowered it in place, they would do just that, then move to the next intersection. It was decided among the guilds and Public Works department mechs and femmes that every intersection through the main road through each city would have a fifty foot Christmas Surprise tree fully lit for everyone to enjoy. Everyone then could see them no matter where they lived and the children would be that much more happy. By the crack of dawn, they would.
-0-Club Cybertron
The owners and staff stood in the wreckage looking around with dismay. "What the frag?" one of them said.
"Curio, I left a message with a firm in Verus to come and clear this out. The recycle plant can have the debris. Then we can get on the repair and refit without being too fragged off cleaning things up ourselves, too," a mech said to his brother.
Curio glanced at him, then grinned. "Thank, Primus. If I have to do this again myself, I'm going to shoot myself."
"You and me both, brother," Langley said as he looked around. "I wish I could have seen this. I heard that everyone including Prime got slagged good."
"It's on the house camera system," another brother, Wilee, said. He grinned. "Come on."
They hustled to the back through the desolation. Entering the untouched offices, they sat down before the big screen and watched Optimus Prime get his helm handed to him. It was, indeed, epic.
-0-Elsewhere
He was brought in on a stretcher with heavy manacles on him beside the chains that were wrapped around him by the jailhouse team. He was rocking the stretcher as he bantered with the crew, lucid and semi lucid remarks greeting the doctors. "HEY! I GOTTA GO! WHERE IS THIS PLACE!" He laughed loudly. "HOW ABOUT A DANCE! I LOVE TO DANCE! DARCEE! WHERE ARE YOU!?"
Darcee, his bond had arrived earlier and ran to the stretcher. "PARK!"
"Step back, Darcee. We have to get him into a room where he can be safe," a doctor said as Rung stood nearby watching the show. The stretcher was carried to a padded room, then laid on the bench that doubled as a berth and bench for the inmates. "Just leave him there, boys. He has to have the solvent wear off. Nothing will make it happen but time," Rabble said as he stepped back out. Everyone followed, then the door shut, cutting off the singing that Park had begun to do.
Rabble turned to Darcee who was distraught. "Let's go talk. I called Rung to help us figure out what to do about this."
They walked to a conference room nearby, then sat. Rabble glanced at Rung, then Darcee. "He didn't wear protective gear so the solvents he used leeched into his servos. He's dealing with a poisoning situation here. It doesn't kill you. It makes you crazy until it wears off. The effects are numbness to pain, a breach with reality, a total lack of inhibitions, and because of all of this, inhuman strength."
"We will let it wear off, then discuss with him why he would decline to wear the protective gear, Darcee," Rung said. "It's been required by the plant since the solvent in question was brought online. We've had three other cases before they determined this was the problem."
Darcee nodded. "Then he's going to be alright?"
Both doctors nodded.
Darcee relaxed a moment. "He's always worked hard, my Park. It was always in scummy places. He does what he does … stoically, you know? He never complains. There was never safety features in any of the places he worked so I'm sure he doesn't … I don't know. Maybe he thinks they won't help."
"Well, we need to disabuse him of that way of thinking. Everyone matters," Rung said. They would sit and talk for a while. It would take a few orns for Park to come out of the manic state he was in, then they would go from there. One of the places they would go was court.
-0-Morning
"I just heard that there was an epic slagging last night. Someone got high and took out The Pit Stop and Club Cybertron," Sideswipe said as he commed off the monitor.
"What?" Sunstreaker asked as he set plates down for his children.
"Yeah," Sideswipe said. "Apparently, it took Prime, Prowl, Ratchet, Ironhide, Drift, Springer, half the jailhouse crew, and some of the newbies to slow him down. He wiped up the floor with everyone."
"What the frag?" Bluestreak said as he came from the hallway nearby. "I want details."
"That's your job, Blue. Call Prowl," Sunstreaker said as they sat down to eat.
-0-R v IH
"I wish I had been there," Fireball said. "We could have helped you."
"He was sick and we had to be careful," Ratchet said as he filled plates for infinite infants.
"Still," Quasar said as he sat at the table holding Halo. She was smiling at everyone as they gathered to eat dinner together. "What is everyone doing today? We have one last orn before school."
"Well," Ironhide said as he thought about it. "I have to check in at Ops Center but the rest of the orn, Primus willing, is free."
"We go swamming, Atar?" Orion asked as the other kids paused to stare at Ironhide with hopeful expressions.
"Well, I suppose we could go to the pool. That is, if it isn't overrun with infants," Ironhide said with a smirk.
HUGE agreements among the stature challenged.
"What about you, Old Mech?" Ironhide asked.
"I have to do wellness checks with the special prisoners, then I can join you," Ratchet said. "I'd like to bring Halo with me when I have a chat with Sentinel."
Ironhide frowned. "You're not taking any of the infants to the prison."
"Of course, I am. They especially like Prowler. He's gone with me the last two times. Right, pookie?" Ratchet asked of the little mech eating a link sausage with his digits.
Prowler grinned. "I go with lou, Ada?" he asked.
"No." -Ironhide
"Yes." -Ratchet
"I'll go with you, too, Ada if it helps," Genesis said.
"We will, too," Quasar said as Fireball nodded.
"You have to hang out with Lumi, Fireball, and you, Quasar, have to keep your old atar out of prison," Ratchet said. "You, Genesis, can come along this time. So can Halo."
Ironhide frowned, Ratchet frowned, Ratchet won.
-0-Some time later
They walked through the prison, down the road to the special lockup where the political prisoners were kept. It was as noisy and rude as ever as Genesis walked with Ratchet. Halo was in his hold wrapped in warmth and protection.
"This place is awful, Ada," Genesis said as he glanced around.
"Truer words never spoken, infant," Ratchet said as they waited to enter through the complex security of their lockup. Walking toward the cell block, they waited to be let inside. Sentinel was waiting by the fence with a chair for Ratchet. Ratchet glanced at Genesis. "Bring another chair, infant."
Genesis walked off to comply as Ratchet sat. "I brought a son with me, Sentinel. That's Genesis and he's a dreadnought. He's using Pretender gear to fit our paradigm. He's a youngling mech who attends school."
Sentinel nodded. "I see."
Genesis came back with a chair, then put it close to Ratchet. He sat, then stared at Sentinel. "You're Sentinel Prime, the last Prime."
Sentinel nodded. "I am."
"How are things going? Do you need anything?" Ratchet asked as he pulled Halo from his hold. She was wrapped in white blankets, tucked into a yellow Seeker bag and was looking at the three of them with big optics framed by a yellow hat.
"Thank you for the books," Sentinel replied. "Is that a new acquisition?"
"That's our new sister," Genesis said. "She's Halo."
"Good name, Radiant Light," Sentinel replied. "Is this a passing phase or a career?" he asked with a slight grin.
"This is victory, Sentinel," Ratchet said with a smile. "I have a competition with Prowl and one with myself. I'm wondering how many of these I can cram into the apartment before we call it quits."
Sentinel grinned. "I imagine you have a large apartment."
"We do," Genesis said. "Three of us live here. The other six live at Appa and Ammas' house."
"Who is your Appa?" Sentinel asked.
"Typhoon," Genesis said proudly.
"I knew him. He was an amazing individual," Sentinel said. "I knew his bonds, Clipper and Dangerous. Are they here, too?"
"They are. They let us have Ironhide and Ratchet be our ada and atar. We get to live in a house and go to school. We have clubs and friends."
Ratchet grinned. "They're a work and wonder as Old Hercy would say."
"Is he here?" Sentinel asked.
"He is," Ratchet replied. "That old mech can't be killed. He's like the universe. Deep, unbeatable and ornery."
"That's true. I remember." He stared at Halo. "How is Proteus?"
"He's excelling. He works at the Halls of Order doing maintenance. I think he's happier there than he ever was anywhere else, but then, he was less an aft head than the rest of you. He sort of had a conscience. He also loves his bond. Madura nearly died, but then, I noticed a trend among the leadership's bonds. Did you know that all of them were as lonely as could be? Half of them tried to commit suicide. The entire lot of them suffered or continues to suffer from depression. Having to be the smiling sidecar in a high profile relationship, always supporting that, always being the minor and less important partner, always having to do things to help the major partner at the expense of your own ego … that's been a disaster for a lot of high caste bonds who aren't in the driver's seat in their careers."
"I was never in a bond as you know."
"No," Ratchet said. "I wonder why? There were a lot of mechs and femmes who wouldn't have minded it."
Sentinel shrugged. "I never thought about it. There were so many other things to do. I wasn't that interested in having my own dependents beyond the political alliances through adoption that I made. I didn't want to lose someone. We were working our way toward assassinating each other at the end."
"That's true. Did you assassinate Nominus?" Ratchet asked as beside him Genesis flinched at the question.
"No," Sentinel said. "But that's up to you to believe. I went to see him on his death bed. He never said who did the job. I put my shanix on Ratbat. He was working more for Megatron at the time, he and his partner, than he was for me and my government."
"Ratbat is a slagger, that's for certain," Ratchet replied. "How does it feel living with him? Anything I should know?"
"No. I enjoy watching him in bondage. It's one of my few happy pastimes," Sentinel said with a the ghost of a grin.
Ratchet grinned. "Do you want to hold my daughter? I would like a picture of you doing this. For the historical record don't you know."
Sentinel stared at the baby, then nodded. "I would like that. It's been a while."
Ratchet stood, then turned toward Sentinel. By now, the others were sitting or standing on the porch nearby, more than schooled that their presence wasn't welcome. Genesis stood warily, watching as Ratchet lay the baby in Sentinel's gigantic arms. He grinned. "Hold that pose." Ratchet pulled his camera, took a number of snaps and video, then gestured for Genesis to join the picture.
Genesis glanced warily at Sentinel, then knelt down beside his chair. Looking at Halo in two images, looking warily at Sentinel in another, he stared at Ratchet with a pensive expression for the rest. When they were taken, Ratchet took Halo in arms again, then sat, Genesis joining him. "Tell me things, Sentinel. You know you want to, you slagger."
They would chat for a joor and a half, Ratchet would get a list of things that Sentinel wanted, then they would go. Nodding goodbye, they walked to the gates and stepped out. Slipping Halo into his hold, Ratchet grinned at Genesis. "Let's go see some very strange inmates but first … give me your solemn oath as a titan, as a Cybertronian and as a disciple of Primus and The One that you will keep what you see to yourself. Even your brothers must not know until I decide they need to. Understand?"
Genesis nodded solemnly, then drew his short sword. Kneeling, grasping the sword by its hilt with both servos as the tip rested on the ground, he looked upward at Ratchet. "I, Genesis of Cybertron, do hereby give my oath to you, my liege lord, and do solemnly and with all my spark, my honor and the integrity of my frame, swear that I will bear your secrets to the end. Unto my death, I do solemnly swear." He rose, then sheathed his sword. "I will, Ada."
Ratchet hugged him, then grinned. "Come with me. I want to show you something that's so strange it strains credulity." With that, he headed off toward the Alternate Universe prison lockup to check on the inmates. A shocked and unnerved Genesis would come along with him.
-0-TBC 12-03-17 edited 1-9-18
credulity (creh-duel-ity) belief To strain someone's credulity is to strain their belief in something.
Impervious: (im-purr-vee-us) Something that can't be broken or can't be penetrated. Like some people's delusions, you can't change them with truth.
Disabuse: (diss-uh-buze) to disabuse someone of something is to show them how they are wrong
stature challenged (stah-chur) this means short. Stature is your height or your level of power or your personal physical bearing. Stature challenged can mean snort or it can mean you are powerless.