The Diego Diaries: Moo-ving On (dd6 289)
-0-The Family Tower
"This baby is so big," Carly said with a grin as she sat in a chair holding Aedh. "What a beautiful baby."
"Thank you," Linda Graham said as she sat in a chair with her feet up. "She's just a bit larger than Niall was. He was a big baby, too."
"I heard that Ratchet came," Sam said with a grin. He was watching his mother stare at Carly with the baby, then glare pointedly at him. He tried not to make eye contact. His father said 'never make eye contact with a predator' and he was determined to obey him.
"He did," Linda said. "I asked Niall to call him. He wasn't in the room but he was there. That made a lot better for some strange reason."
"I asked him if he wanted to watch but I don't think he was that into it," Niall said with a grin.
"We got calls from all of the reporters here for an interview and pictures," Lois Morshower-Howell said with a grin. "We said we'd get back to them. You made the news on Earth. Warren has gotten offers for the first pictures that are racking up. Six figures the last time I heard from him."
"Six figures?" Niall asked with surprise. "What happened with Angus?"
"The same thing. Some offered millions of dollars. Jarrod and Hildie only accepted that if they donated to charity," Lois said.
"I must have been asleep or something. I didn't hear that," Linda said.
"Millions of dollars?" Niall asked with a grin.
"Charity, soldier," Linda said with a grin.
"Oh," Niall said with a sigh. "A guy can dream."
-0-Noon time at the Temple
Ratchet and Ironhide walked into the Temple heading for the stairs where the Well could be reached. Others were waiting below, all of the squad and their bonds were here including Partition with Lancer, Inweld and Morius. Lucien was absent at work but Laslo was there along with Joon and Vinn. Edict and Burris were also there. Standing with them were Lon and Bezel. Keystock and Cargo were on Cybertron. Prowl was stuck in Ops Center waiting for important intel on the first Functionalist colony with Prime.
Proteus and Madura were talking to the others. Proteus held a little box with a protoform inside. A baby carrier and tiny clothes were sitting on floor next to the Well, ready for their son when he was granted. Gravitas, Eronus, Mraz, and Templar, all friends from before, were there to officiate and attend. It was electric in the air.
"RATCHET! IRONHIDE!" Madura called out. Everyone turned to them and it was a chaos of happiness and greetings. They gathered together a moment, then Gravitas smiled at Madura and Proteus. "Are you ready?"
Madura looked faint with excitement and Proteus looked happier than anyone had ever seen him. Both nodded. As they turned to Gravitas, Bron-E came down the stairs to join them. "Am I late?" she asked.
"No," Edict said. "You're just in time."
"We're ready. Right, Proteus?" Madura asked breathlessly.
"We're long overdue, Maddie," he said.
"Very well," Gravitas said as he opened the little box and took out a tiny gray protoform. It was laid gently on the side of the Well. It gave the impression of a white base color that had bands of black, red and blue around the left arm. Tiny silver finials graced a handsome little face and mech wings were folded behind him.
"What a pretty format, Madura and Proteus," Ratchet said with a smile. To him, they all were.
"We thought about it very hard, Ratchet. We want our son to reflect how we feel now. Peaceful and loved," Madura said.
"That's obvious," Ratchet said.
Gravitas moved to the Well and the others joined him. They were silent a moment, then began to chant the prayers to Primus, The One and the Well for a spark. It was asked for a lovely spark for lovely people, those who wanted a child, who had waited a long time and were aching for children. The Well began to respond as the white undulating mist began to rise. Everyone stared entranced at the miracle as the universe began to comply. The mist rose up and spilled over the Well, hovering low on the floor, then overtaking the view of the protoform as it began to rise, filling the room with a light, an infinitely loving and beautiful white light. It seemed to hold them forever, then it faded almost immediately. The Well was the same, the hovering white mist and the quiet peaceful atmosphere returned. The AllSpark that had slowed its rotation before the flash, then sparkled with electricity across its encrypted surface as if in salute.
No one moved, then the baby did. A soft cry was heard as Gravitas leaned over, touching it with his hand to bless it as he murmured a soft prayer. The others smiled as he did, then touched the baby as well. It was blessed from this moment until forever as a child of The People, of his new family and the Pantheon. Ratchet stepped forward to scan him. He was sound and fit as a fiddle. He turned to Proteus and Madura who were rooted to the spot. "Who gets him first?"
"Madura," Proteus said around the emotion in his helm that threatened to swamp him.
"Proteus," Madura whispered.
"Go get him, Maddie," Proteus said.
Ratchet stepped aside as Madura knelt before the baby. He was beautiful, snowy white, the color of purity, peace and love, had three bands of color on his tiny left arm, red, black and blue that saluted both his genitors and the silver of his finials gleamed in the light. He touched the baby, stroking his little face. He touched the baby's tiny servos and his peds. Gently wrapping the baby in his blankets, he stood, then turned toward Proteus. "OH, PROTEUS! WE HAVE A BABY OF OUR OWN! THE ONE IS GOOD! PRIMUS AND THE ONE GAVE US A BABY OF OUR OWN!"
Proteus nodded, then walked forward to envelop both of them in his arms. It was silent as a tomb in the building as the group, those around them and those peering over the balcony of the first floor watched. Then they began to clap and whistle, strangers all but united in the moment. Proteus and Madura looked up at them, then around. It was then that they were both enveloped by the squad and all their friends. It was beautiful.
Moments later …
They sat in an alcove of the Temple upstairs listening to Ratchet as he explained the basics for the two newbies, everyone gathered around to watch. Proteus was off work for a decaorn and so was Madura as they learned how to take care of their baby. "This is one sound little tot," Ratchet said as he showed them how to slip him into onesies, the clothing type he recommended that they put him in when they went outside. Then the Seeker bag came next, one with a sweet teddy bear's face on it. A hat with teddy bear ears was fixed on him and tiny mittens with paws prints on them came last.
He was already sleeping which was amazing given all the individuals watching him. "I'll go home with you when you go and show you swaddling, bathing and the rest. You have the stuff from Metro Femme, right? I told Gypsy I'd cover this but Home Health Care is going to be coming every other orn or more if you need it for a while. They can show you a lot."
"We both have watched the films in the medical archives around how to do this but if you could come that would be wonderful," Madura said.
"My pleasure," Ratchet said. "Let's put him in the carrier."
It was produced so Ratchet lay him down inside. "It can close to keep him inside if its too cold and anything below -10 is too cold. Most of the time bundling him like this and covering him with blankets inside and draping one over the top like a tent is enough," Ratchet said as he tucked the baby in, then covered the whole thing with another blanket. "Warm and toasty."
They nodded, then grinned at him. "I thought we could go to lunch somewhere but I think we're still too new at this to do that yet."
"Good idea. Let's take him home to practice a few things, then have a lunch to celebrate this another orn," Ratchet said as the others agreed.
"That's a great idea," Madura said as he stood. "I feel very tired all of a sudden."
"Excitement can do that," Ratchet said as Proteus took the handle of the carrier.
Everyone swamped them with hugs and congratulations, following them to the street where they chatted before going off to the world again. Ironhide shook their hands and walked off with Halo in servo, heading for the armory and work. Ratchet watched him go. "Ironhide is one of the most expert infant handlers. You're on his list," Ratchet said. "Let's go home and see what we can see."
They walked down the broad stairs to the path that led to the street. It was a short walk to Temple Metro and a longer ride to their home. It would be a wonderful journey for all.
-0-Ops Center
Prowl grinned. He glanced at Prime who was looking at something or other on the master datapad on the table. "Madura and Proteus got a spark at the Well. A mech with wings."
Prime glanced up, then grinned. "That is good news. We must send them something."
"Already done," Prowl said. He sat back. "They named him already and they don't have cultural restrictions."
"What is his name?" Prime asked with curiosity.
"His name is Rugur."
Prime considered that, then grinned. "They named him after his father. Proteus's father was named Rugar."
"R-u-g-a-r. This one is spelled with a 'u'," Prowl said.
Prime considered that, then grinned. "Beautiful."
Prowl nodded. They both turned back to the job at hand.
-0-At the apartment
They walked in and put the baby carrier on the table. Pulling the blankets back, they stared at him with joy on their faces. "What now, Ratchet? I think I can't remember a thing at the moment."
"Well, let's take him out and check him over," Ratchet said gently pulling the baby out. He was then placed on the table after the blankets were folded for him to lay upon. He was sleeping. "How about you taking his gear off and we can put him to bed. I'll tell you about the bathing and other things. You both are fixed to feed him?"
"We got the gear from Gypsy," Madura said as he held out his wrist. Proteus nodded as well.
"Good. Proteus, you take off his gear. Madura, you get to put him to bed," Ratchet said. "Then you switch up. Each of you do each thing and learn it with confidence."
Proteus leaned over the baby with a grin, then gently and carefully pulled him out of his gear. He stepped back as Madura picked him up, settling him on his arm with Ratchet's assistance. "Because he's still asleep, you can feed him later. You have the schedule, right?"
"We do," Proteus said. "We can start it when he wakes and keep to it for feeding from there."
"Trade off. It gets hard to rise and shine at night," Ratchet said. "Lead away."
They walked through the apartment to a berth room that was next to theirs. Their place was comfortable, had some beautiful antique looking things but was overall reflective of mechs who had decided to be happy rather than showy.
The baby's room was sweet. It had a nice crib, toys and was decorated to reflect family and the love of his parents. There were framed images of sweet children's characters with sayings about family and love hanging on the wall. The dresser had teddy bears painted on it and the bed had soft blankets sporting the same motif. "I love teddy bears," Ratchet said.
"So do I," Madura said as he laid the baby down on the crib. He was tucked in, the baby alarm channeled through both, and a tiny teddy bear put next to him as they tiptoed out to sit tiredly on the couches and chairs. "I'm so tired."
"So am I," Proteus said.
"Every genitor I ever saw get a spark from the Well said the same thing. Take a nap before he wakes, then feed him. I'll come back tonight and help you bathe him. By the way, what's his name?" Ratchet asked with a grin.
They both grinned back. "We're calling him Rugur."
Ratchet nodded. "That's a beautiful name. It reminds me of Resolve, Wheeljack and Perceptor's son. They named him with a name they felt he could grow into. They believe that the name should challenge their son somehow to be something more."
"That's what we think, too. Rugar was my atar's name. We didn't spell it like that. We spelled it with a 'u'. Rugur," Proteus said. "I get to hear my atar's name but it doesn't mean the same."
Ratchet nodded. "It means what you feel and want, right?"
They both nodded. "Rugur. Redemption," Proteus said.
"Beautiful," Ratchet replied.
-0-TBC 3-4-18 edited 3-10-18