The Diego Diaries: Family 1 (dd6 258)
-0-Ops Center, Conference Room, The Fortress, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire
Miler stared almost without comprehension at the two mechs staring back at him. They were extremely handsome and well made, their paint schemes impeccable and of the type that Miler, Venture and Prowl bore. It was a high caste two tone, black and white with small tasteful embellishments like the chevron and silver attachments here and there. It wouldn't do at their level of august refinement to be garish. Neither of them would change their paint scheme from sickly greenish-yellow to white and red for a mom van.
Miler glanced at a stunned Venture, then his genitors. "Ada … Atar … are you really here?" he gasped.
Zenith straightened even more as he glanced at the others watching solemnly. "We are here, Miler. It is … good to see you. You appear to be well."
Ratchet watched with two points of view. First was the doctor reading and dissecting the train wreck happening before him. The second was that of the beloved son of a large family whose entire life was focused on the nurturing of his well being in the midst of the hell of their world. There was no emotional connection here or, more likely, it was so buried under mountains of social restraint and training that it couldn't emerge even with the greatest provocation.
Miler was rooted to the floor. Venture was stunned into silence. Prowl was helplessly sitting in his seat. Prime was clueless. Everyone was riveted. Ratchet stood. "May I say something, Miler."
Everyone turned toward him. "Ratchet … I just ..." He glanced at his genitors, then Ratchet. "Please do."
"This is a very great shock. Not everyone reacts the same way. Right now, everyone is stunned and tired. What I think is in order is that your genitors go to their home and settle in. Why don't you and I along with Ven and Prowl take them there. I can help you if the shock is too great. Would that help you?" Ratchet asked.
Prowl stood slowly, his gaze moving between his ada and his grandparents. "I think that's … we can do that." He moved around the table, then turned to his grandparents. No one moved to embrace, though there was unease and shock clear enough to see on all of them. "How about we take you home, Appa. You can rest and settle. We can … talk and then … we can figure out what comes next."
Zenith stared at Prowl, at the only grandchild that he was aware of until now and nodded. He glanced at Shadow, then Prowl again. "I think I'm finding this too shocking at the moment." He looked at a pensive Venture and an emotional Miler. "I … I never expected to see any of you again. This is most … shocking."
Ratchet walked around the table, then slipped his servo through Miler's arm. "I agree. What a surprise. How about we go and settle in. We can send for food and do this right. After a good nights recharge, then we can break down what's happening here. Come with me, Venture and Miler," Ratchet said as he turned toward the door. Tugging on Miler, the silent mech followed, glancing back at his genitors as he did.
Prowl turned to the two. "Shall we go?" he asked.
"I will come, too, Prowl," Prime said as he stood.
Prowl glanced at him with a look of relief. "That would be a good thing, I think. I … come, please."
Prime walked behind the two as they followed Prowl to the door and outside. The others watched them go, then glanced at each other with surprise. Springer shook his helm. "I don't know where my family is but I'd chop off my arm to find them. What the frag is wrong with them?"
No one could say.
-0-Outside
They walked toward the junction of Metroplex Highway 1 and the road to Terra through the Temple District. Zenith and Shadow walked quietly, their optics taking in the area and all of the unbelievable sights. When they crossed the wide highway at the lights, they walked down the street toward Metro Station #1 and the train to the Crater District. Down the steps they went, silently and orderly. The tension was rising as the strain began to build. Standing on the station, they watched the trains go by as they waited for the Southern Line which would go straight through to Centurion, then turn off to the Crater District.
They stood in the empty car staring at each other and the floor as the train started. Zenith turned to Miler who looked wretched. "I am told that you have another son, Miler."
Miler looked up at his father with a brighter expression. "We have a son, Atar. His name is Prima. He's so wonderful. When we get to your home I will show you."
"I would like that, Miler," Zenith said as Shadow nodded. That big mech looked around, then sat on a bench. He looked tired. Zenith glanced at him. "Shadow, are you alright?"
Shadow glanced at him. "This is all very … shocking. Here. I'm saying that word again but its true."
"Ratchet can give you assistance," Optimus said as he sat down across from the big black and white mech. There were traces of Prowl in both of them, the brilliance that was almost auric about him, the intensity of gaze, the hard edged intransigence that never said die, the formal streak that Prowl only used as a weapon, not as his everyday affectation. Prowl was hilarious, normally informal and decent to be around by most who worked with him. For Prime, he was the alpha and the omega of his soul. These two were ULTRA formal, ULTRA self controlled and a perfect specimen of the most elite high caste type one could find on Cybertron in the orn, one that was rigid in their formality and adherence to the Way Things Went. This was going to leave a mark. He glanced at Miler who looked emotional and tense. It already had.
They passed stations, stopping sometimes and others not before they arrived at Nova Cronum Metro #1. Prime glanced at Prowl. "Which station, Prowl?" he asked gently.
Prowl who was standing between his genitors with his arms around them jolted. "Oh. Metro #2."
They stayed aboard, then when the train slid into the next station, stepped off as a group. Prowl gripped his ada's arm. "Follow me. I will take you there," he said as he steered his atar and led his ada with him to the stairs.
Up they went into an enormous beautiful cityscape. It wasn't a city with a full population. It only had about half the citizenry that would call it home. Businesses were in place, their doors open for customers who were walking here and there as vehicles, sentient and not, drove on the wide eight lane highway that divided the city into two pieces. A huge square with water works could be found as they walked out of the station. Pausing on the sidewalk, they stared around themselves. Prowl turned to them. "You live in a tower on 8th and E Street. Follow me," he said as he led the way, steering his genitors along.
Venture gathered himself, then took Miler's servo. He knew that neither Zenith or Shadow would approve but he decided at that moment that he didn't care. Miler was his bond and he was upset. Down the street they went, crossing at the lights until they reached a massive gleaming tower that disappeared into the sky overhead. Prowl turned to the group. "Remember this location and this building, Amma. This will be where you will live now," he said as he turned to walk inside, heading for a bank of gleaming elevators at the far end of the marble filled lobby. It was beautiful and nearby was the desk where the building manager took care of business. He wasn't there at the time but the buzzer that called him was clear to see. Entering an elevator, they took an awkward ride upward to the 42nd floor where they stepped off.
Walking down an immaculate hallway, passing apartments that were occupied, they reached one on the corner that was numbered 33. Prowl opened it, then turned to the party. "You can make your own security code. Right now, its open to us because you're assigned to it." He entered, walked to the window, then turned to face them. They walked in followed by Miler, Venture and the others. They paused in the living room to look around.
It was not what they expected, the level of luxury here and the view. Beyond, the other cities of the district could clearly be seen inside the massive crater that was their location. They dazzled in their gigantic magnificence in the distance. The apartment itself was beautiful, sparkled with its brand new opulence and the floor-to-ceiling windows that gave a marquee view of the world beyond.
It was a two berth room apartment with wash rack, office, big living room, kitchen and dining room that embraced the windows. Everything sparkled as Prowl stepped forward to do the honors. "Amma, Appa, everyone lives like a king here. This is your home and you can go about the colony to acquire the things you need to make it feel like home. This kitchen is for you and we can show you what you can do with it tomorrow after you rest and relax. The device on the corner, that is the energon dispenser which delivers class A energon to your home directly. There are many ways to eat here and I ordered food to be brought for you. If you follow me, I will show you the rest of your apartment."
They stared at him, then Zenith nodded. Following Prowl, they walked down the hallway to see the rest as everyone watched them silently. Miler stared after them, then walked to the couch to sit down. He stared at the floor, then Venture joined him. "Milie, are you alright?"
Miler stared at him a moment, then shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. I couldn't … what does this mean, Venture? Its like nothing has changed."
"They're in shock, Miler. Give them a few orns and it will get better," Venture said gently. "Everyone is different, right, Ratchet, about such things?" he asked as he looked upward to Ratchet.
Ratchet nodded. "They are. I can give you something, Miler, if you need it."
He looked at Ratchet, then his servos. "I might," he said truthfully.
Ratchet wifi-ed him a script and he relaxed visibly. He looked at Ratchet. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," he said with a small grin.
Prowl led them back into the living room as a knock on the door occurred. Ratchet opened it and took a box, thanking the kid who delivered it. Closing the door, he walked to the counter and set the box down. Turning to Prowl, he waited. "Do you want to do the honors or what, Prowler?"
"Amma, Appa," Prowl said. "Why don't you sit at the table with Atar and Ada while I get you all some food. I think it'll be nice to have some," he said nervously as he walked toward Ratchet to assist.
The four walked to the table and sat to face each other. It was strangely awkward. Prowl and Ratchet bustled with dinner, then placed it before the four with a drink that was familiar and much loved from Cybertron. "This is food we like here, food that you can have all the time if you want," Prowl said as he pulled a chair to sit. "I can join you." He looked at Ratchet and Prime. "Why don't you join us? I ordered enough."
Ratchet walked to the box and handed Prime a boxed dinner. He handed one to Prowl, took one himself, then sat down. Opening it, everyone began to eat. It was excruciating. "Tell me, Zenith … what made your group leave?"
Zenith who was savoring the food glanced at Ratchet. "There were restless aliens in the area and when a group of Autobot soldiers heard our signal, they came to our colony and took us all away. It was a fortunate thing that they were there."
"I agree," Ratchet said. He would burble on, asking questions, getting food and other items for the diners and when they were finished, gather up the scraps for the recycle. He grinned, then turned toward the grim dinner table. "This is my favorite part of the apartments. Anything you have as waste or recycle goes in here," he said stuffing the trash into the slot on the wall above the left counter and next to the liquid energon dispenser. He closed the door for it, then pushed the button that activated it. A light blinked then shut off. "Its all flushed to the sub basement where its scanned, sorted, then taken care of. We operate with a zero tolerance for trash and waste."
"That's very ingenious," Shadow said.
"How do you feel, Ada?" Miler asked.
He looked at his son, his only child. "Tired, Miler. Very, very tired."
"Then you need to rest," Miler said as he stood. "Let me assist you both."
"You needn't, Miler," Zenith began before Miler cut him off.
"I insist, Atar," Miler said. "You must be exhausted. Allow me to help you get some rest." He stared at them until they stood, then began to walk to the berth room.
Zenith and Shadow paused. "Thank you for your assistance. This is all … overwhelming and new. We are very appreciative of what you have done for us," Zenith said. Then the two followed Miler down the hallway.
Prime, Venture, Prowl, and Ratchet waited silently, the pall of the encounter overwhelming. Even Miler and Venture were in an agony to see Prowl when they arrived with their migration. No one forgot the reactions of Ironhide, Prime and Ratchet when they found their own. This was a strange and sad encounter for the three as they waited for Miler to return. When he did, he was strained but composed. "Thank you for coming to help them get settled. This is all new and very stressful," Miler explained.
"We know, Milie," Ratchet said. "Are they alright?"
"They're settled. We're going to go to breakfast in the morning at The Diner On The Corner before showing them the colony and helping them get things organized," he said.
"Would you like company at breakfast?" Ratchet asked.
Miler looked at all of them with a grateful expression. "That would be wonderful. If you could."
"It would be our honor, Miler," Optimus said as they walked to the door to leave.
-0-On a train back to the Residence and Vos Tower, The City
They sat across from each other, Ratchet and Prime facing Venture and a solemn Miler. Miler vented a sigh, then stared at his son who was standing next to Optimus. "This is going to be strange. I don't want to go backward." His expression crumpled for a moment, then he leaned into Venture. "We never showed them Prima."
It would be a long ride back to The City.
-0-TBC 1-27-18 edited 2-2-18