The Diego Diaries: Chooglin' On (dd6 305)
-0-Diego Garcia
They stared at him as they sat on his servos. The rush of ocean waves warred with the beating of their hearts. They were sitting on the hands of one of the most famous individuals in the solar system, an alien of such a strange type that they would never forget this moment. His optics were very blue and they stared at them both in the most intense manner. "I've heard that rumor," the woman from Spain said. "I don't know where it came from but its been discussed in and out of the media for a while."
The man who was from Australia nodded. "I've heard it, too. Its been floating around since Earth2 opened." He looked at Ratchet thoughtfully. "If there is any truth to that, I would like to apply."
The woman nodded as well. "I would love to work for you on Mars."
Ratchet laughed, then nodded. "Send your resumes." He looked thoughtful again. "We've heard this for some time. I have no idea where it came from or who's behind it. However, it's making the rounds in your media."
"None of us would say no," the woman said.
Ratchet nodded. "It's an interesting life over there," he admitted. "Thank you. I'm baffled by this and so is the Prime."
"If we track it down, if we can, will you hire us if you do make the installation?" the man asked as the woman nodded.
Ratchet laughed. "Send your resumes to Sam and Warren with a note about this chat. I don't know if it'll come about. None of us have heard about it until lately but we could always use smart self motivated people in our businesses."
"Done deal," the man said. They stood on the beach chatting about this and that before Ratchet turned back to go inside. He set the humans down at the hangar doors, then chatted a moment with the bots around the entrance. He zeroed in on the two who were surrounded and quizzed over what had happened.
The two mentioned that the 'rumor' had come up and had any of the others gathered around them heard anything solid about it? Everyone seemed to have heard it but nothing solid or leading. The United Nations director for Economic Development called them to order and everyone sat including the bots. "Thank you, everyone. Shall we continue for the next two hours, then break for the day?" Everyone agreed, so Lucien announced the next presentation.
A very tall and refined looking Englishman walked to the dais and began. "Thank you, Mr. Ambassador, for taking a moment to hear our proposal. As you know, Earth needs a steady and adequate supply of energy to run industry and power our cities, a form that is clean ..."
-0-Ops Center
"What do you think, Ada?" Spirit asked hopefully as Rambler and T-Bar stood behind him.
Prowl look a moment to look at his little mechs, all three of them as beautiful and lovely as ever, then he grinned. "What about the residents? What do they know about this and what would they think? What about Sunspot's family? Does Uncle Loon know?"
All of them laughed, then Spirit hugged Prowl's leg. "Sunny's going to tell him. Annie and everyone told their genitors and they say its okay with them."
"I see," Prowl said tapping a monitor on behind him. "Prowl to Family 1."
The screen changed to the lounge area of The Family Tower Residence of Earth as the official designation stated on all plats, titles and agreements, treaty or otherwise. Mama Fig answered. "Hello, Prowl. How is my favorite polizia?"
Prowl grinned. "I'm fine. I was checking to see if you were really expecting my three little mechs at your residence tomorrow after school?"
"I do hope so," she said with a big smile. "It's Sandy's birthday and the party will be held here. Food, swimming in the pool, all kinds of food. Did I say that already?"
"YOU DID!" a voice could be heard to say before Mikaela appeared on screen. "Hello, Prowl."
Prowl smirked slightly. "Mikaela. What's this about a separation party? You wish the little mechs to go home with Annie tomorrow after school?"
"We do. We planned a party for Sandy and she wants all her friends there. If they take cabs to the back door, we can wait for them and get them inside. Then we can bring them home afterward. If you don't mind," Mikaela said.
"Not at all," Prowl said. He looked at his kids. "You would be on your best behavior and be mannerly?"
"WE WOULD!" they said together, then T-Bar smiled. "I've never been there before, Ada. I don't know what their house looks like."
"Well, you shall find out tomorrow," Prowl said as he grinned at them. He looked at the monitor. "Is there something that we should send … gifts perhaps?"
"That's optional, Prowl. Just having them is gift enough, though humans give children a gift on their … separation day," Mikaela said.
"What sort of thing?" Prowl asked.
"Some kind of jewelry would be nice. There are so many beautiful things on world," Mikaela said.
They worked it out, then commed off. Prowl stared at the kids who were really excited. Then he looked at Paragon who was grinning at them from Tactical. "I have to go gift shopping with these little mechs, Pari. I will be right back," Prowl said as he stood.
The kids were jumping in place as he did, then followed him out as Prowl picked up Spirit. They walked out and were gone.
Fortunately, nothing untoward happened while he was gone.
For once.
-0-On world
They walked toward the bridge room in Kaon with the rest of his family. Their shift was over and they had covered a lot of ground. They were tired, hungry and ready to go home. Walking into the bridge room, trading slag, the group stepped through to the Fortress on Mars, then walked upward together. It was a short trip to the Ops Center to check in and check out.
"Where's Prowl, Paragon?" Raptor asked as he paused by the desk with Ironhide, Lon, Bezel, Morius, Partition, and Inweld.
Paragon looked up, then grinned. "He's getting separation presents for his little mechs. They have a party at the Family Tower tomorrow."
"That sounds great," Raptor said with a grin. "Maybe they need a cow. What do you think, infant?" he asked Ironhide.
Ironhide snickered. "Everyone needs a cow, Appa."
"SLAG RIGHT! I HAVE A SLAGGING FINE COW!" he said as he patted his carry hold. "Speaking of which, where's Blackjack?"
"He's getting Scout and dropping him off with Amma," Ironhide said. "We have a funeral in about two joors at the new grounds."
"Oh, that's right," Raptor said as he watched his genitors walk in together. "How was the orn?"
"We have that serial killer," Hard Drive said. "Snagged him in the commission. Saved the victim. He doesn't like the color purple."
"That's the motive?" Raptor asked.
"There's always a story, son," Delphi said. "Where's Turbine?"
"He's helping officiate at the funeral so he's at the Temple," Raptor said.
Hard Drive turned to the five mechs with Raptor and Ironhide. "How was your orn? I heard you went with Ironhide to see how the job on the ground works in reality rather than here."
"We did, Appa," Morius said. "It was pretty terrible but I'm glad we did it. We helped a lot of really sick people get saved." The others nodded.
"That's the highest form of service, to help those who are lost find their way," Hard Drive said as the five solemn youngsters nodded. "Good work."
If he had given them gold bars, it wouldn't come close to those two words to the five kids listening. He grinned, then looked at Ironhide. "You going to dinner or home?"
"The old mech is on Diego and should be wrapping it up. Ravel has the babies and I have Halo. Sunspot is with Ravel as well. I suppose we can get take out for home or go out. I know old mech won't be up to slagging out another dinner for all of us," Ironhide said with a grin as he waited for the inevitable blow back.
Raps on his noggin and mild scolding was had by all.
-0-Moments later
:Ratchet:
:What?:
:Come to the Fortress. We're dining out:
:Okay. Where's the kids, Ironhide?:
:Family have them. We're eating together then going home. We can get them there because Ravie and the others want to feed them. Hurry up and get the lead out, old mech. I, IRONHIDE, HAVE SPOKEN!:
:Shut up, Ironhide:
:Okay:
Two huge grins on two different planets greeted that as the elders sat down to wait. The three kids of Lucien followed their father out to grab Laslo and eat out somewhere as well. It was a pretty mellow group that left trailed by Lon and Bezel who were going to be going on patrol with The Boss and Springer shortly. A quick bite and trip by the house was in order.
Everyone stared after them, then shrugged. "Miracles," Delphi said. "They're a thing."
Everyone grinned, then watched as Prowl walked back in carrying two kids while Rambler walked along side carrying a bag. They were glommed by their various uncles as Prowl sat. "Sunspot is invited to a separation day party at the Family Tower after school tomorrow. You're to get him a suitable gift for Sandy who is the star of the occasion."
"I'll get it. Femme, correct? Sweet, worries she's too tall for her age?" Delphi asked.
"That's her," Prowl replied. "They will swim, play and have food. Apparently, Rampage caters our food to them as well when they need it."
"Sunny told me that they went to the Resort to let their butterflies out. They had something to eat there, good stuff," Spirit said with a smile.
"As good as you?" Raptor asked with a grin.
Spirit smiled at him, then chuckled. He walked over to Raptor and lay his helm on his lap. "That was funny."
"How true," Raptor said as he rubbed the little mech's back.
"While we're all here … we have to plan the next few. If nothing messes things up, we need to get organized. The championship game is in four orns. Then dinner following. The next orn, the war game. Then my victory party follows immediately afterward," Prowl said as the others howled.
"Your victory? I heard that Grimlock had half a dozen raptors made up for their team," Delphi said.
"Half a dozen of Uncle Raptor? Really?" T-Bar asked with surprise.
"Imagine that," Raptor said. "That many handsome mechs in such a confined space."
"You wish," Prowl said with a smirk as he pulled Rambler into his lap. "Google the Cretaceous on Earth."
They did. They frowned.
"What happens after all of that, Ada?" T-Bar asked.
Hard Drive pulled him into his lap, then hugged him. "We go to the water park at some point and dunk your father."
Everyone including Prowl was down for that.
-0-At the wrap up for the orn
Ratchet knelt down to speak to the delegates, almost all of which wanted to chat. They had never had a chance to speak directly to aliens before and this was their moment. The following day, they would pick it up and continue. There would be other conversations had about how to best repair the damage done to Earth and how that could best be accomplished. The Foundation of the Primes was the vehicle of choice for the Autobots. The humans had a maze of organizations to front all of their ambitions to make the world whole again.
Morshower and his gang along with Fulton finally shooed everyone along and then it was just Ratchet. Lucien and the others had gone onward, heading for home either here or on Mars, though most of Prime's human crew were going to Mars for bedtime even if they stayed here to play and talk to the delegates. Warren Roberts was going to be staying on Mars with Maureen, his wife who was already there for the Resort monthly meet up. Their invitation to a barbecue at their home would be accepted and a number of Autobots in pretender gear would be heading their way when the weekend on Earth rolled around. It was going to be fun, fun, fun. Judy and John Fulton along with Glenn and Barbara Morshower would be there as well.
Among others.
"Well, what do you think?" Glenn asked Ratchet.
"Some very interesting proposals. I asked about the rumor and no one knew but they're going to scope it out. I want to know myself," Ratchet said with a grin. "All we need … Earth3."
Glenn grinned. "It might not be so bad. I can be a mall cop there in my retirement."
"You and Granny," Ratchet said with a chuckle. "Well, dinner calls. I'll contact you tomorrow and come by a bit early so we can Machiavelli this our way." He stood up, then looked at Warren. "You need a lift? Maureen is already there, right?"
"Sure," Warren said as he turned to his aides to finish their arrangements for the next day. Sam and Carly along with the others were already gone and would return in the morning. "Need a lift, Glenn? John?"
"We have to make phone calls," Glenn said as he rolled his eyes. "We'll see you later on."
Ratchet nodded and with Warren firmly in hand, he walked out the hangar to head for the Embassy and a bridge home.
Morshower grinned. "I can't wait for Warren's barbecue."
"You and me both. Do you have your war game bot?" Fulton asked as they turned to walk out together.
"I do. Did you hear the rumor about Grimlock?" Glenn asked as they disappeared into the gathering gloom of the evening.
The guests would remain here for three days before leaving. Then all the fun would begin.
Football.
Barbecues.
War Games.
Grimlock v Starscream.
It didn't get any better than this.
-0-TBC 3-21-18 edited 3-31-18