The Diego Diaries: Party All the Time, Party All the Time! (dd6 370)

-0-Sub Operational Center, The Fortress, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire, Postal District 1

They gathered, the committee of The Thing Under Discussion. It had long been discussed, both pro and con in small hushed groups, but this was getting to the serious stages. Things in space were coming together making time for discussions of items put off and soon it would be completely feasible, if somewhat different from the usual Thing. Judy Witwicky, Barbara Morshower, Judy Fulton, Jessie Landon, Olivia Bowers who was ultra glad to be included, Harley and Omar Epps who were major consultants as well as Larc and Muro, a major player in the support tech that would be needed gathered together again. Jetta who would be the general engineer and overall contractor, Perceptor who was intrigued and Wheeljack who was stoked joined Prime, Prowl, Ratchet, Raptor because he was interested in having a role and Blackjack because his father.

"Thank you for coming, everyone. We have the final designs and have aligned all your input and suggestions to make it even better," Optimus said. "This is going to be an important development and I am very glad you have taken an interest."

"Oh my, Optimus," Harley Epps said with a grin. "This is fun. Thank you for including us. I've never been part of a secret operation before. Now I know why my grandson likes this kind of thing."

Prime grinned, then glanced at Jetta. "Could you show the final schematics. Has it passed final review with those concerned?"

"It has," Jetta said as he rose to walk to the console. An entire wall changed into a monitor and a giant plan was on it, one that could be examined inch by inch by all its many facets and levels. For over an hour, Jetta showed what it was, what it would do and how it would operate. When it was presented, Jetta turned to the silent group. "Any questions or suggestions?"

No one had any.

"Where is Metroplex? I need to speak to him," Optimus said as he glanced at Prowl.

"Off world taking care of his part of the venture. He'll be back this evening. I can have him stop in," Prowl said as Optimus nodded. Then they began to work out the details, the millions and millions of details to come.

-0-Las Vegas, Nevada, in deep cover

Alor stood in the sunlight in pretender tech absorbing the sunlight anyway. In the big fenced in yard, a pair of tiny mechanical cows wandered. They were out and about walking over the tiny green grassed in space, over the stonework that filled up most of the yard up to the edge of a large swimming pool. The two were with Alor because Raptor and Blackjack were in meetings and Alie thought Pudding and Flipper needed a time out. A lot of ranting and raving later, he had driven in with two cows in the back seat and begun his shift.

Houses on the other block behind and around them were two and three story McMansions, extravagant places where (usually) small families or single couples lived large. The neighborhood had begun to pick up again and the houses were being bought. They were no longer the only show in the subdivision. Now they had to be more careful. Even though they got the odd nod driving in and out, no one had taken the time to come near them. But Alor was aware that several of them used binoculars to watch what they did. That many incredible cars without much action other than driving in and going away was strange. Right now, light glinted off the binoculars of a lady who lived in a house directly behind the one that was HQ for the mission. She was in her upper floor bedroom and she always seemed to know when someone was out. They had researched her and she was the wife of a wealthy man who worked in the casinos downtown. She seemed to be bored.

He grinned, then waved. The glint disappeared along with the lady. Calling to Pudding and Flipper, Alor grinned again as he watched them amble toward him, their fat bellies swaying with each step. They were unconscionably cute, the pair. They went inside and so did Alie. All went back to status quo.

-0-Blue

He stared at the datapad and noted all was checked off. Everyone was alerted and everyone was ready. He walked to the door, then left, making his way to Ops Center and a confab with Prowl. The day was sunny and cold but beautiful. Everyone was making their way in that weird manner everyone did when something had happened and changed the lives of a few. Somewhere in the colony, families were dealing with the death of their loved ones in combat. But everywhere else, the world was turning and the show went on. It was something he understood even as he hated it. It had been the hardest part of his childhood to know that everyone else was having their life and his genitors were dead and never coming back.

He entered the metro and disappeared.

-0-Full Circle

They sat together eating lunch in the lounge between customers. A giant party and ceremony would happen the next orn and everyone was stoked. They would be there to represent. The Squad would represent. "I haven't been to a real party in so long. Proteus is such a good dancer," Madura said.

"So is Lucien," Laslo said.

"Hobbes can but he isn't that fond of it," Edict said with a grin. "He's going to dance anyway."

"You can dance with me," Madura said with a grin. "I'm bringing the baby," he said. "I don't want to not have him with us. Rugur has never been away from one of us since he was separated so we're going to keep him with us. I think there's going to be other babies there. Ratchet's bringing his kids, too."

"Prima should be there and the twinnies as well. Don't worry, Madura. You won't have trouble getting anyone to help you with him," Edict said. "I wish my kids would get on with it. I WANT GRAND CHILDREN!"

Huge laughter and agreement on that score happened.

-0-Around the colony

He sat on the medical docking station having been pulled into the hangar by ships designed to lift massive loads. Omega was getting a complete rebuild of the affected areas. All of the destroyed material was removed and new was getting implemented. It also included a number of upgrades and permanent pretender software and hardware as well. He was in medical stasis, a light level, and it was helping with his discomfort at the sight of a gaping hole down the middle of his chassis. He had been wounded many times before. He and Xantium were warriors. Yet, it never got easy.

Sitting nearby waiting to hear the outcome of a system replacement, Silverbolt chatted with First Aid and Gamma in pretender gear. They were discussing the long term rehabilitation program for Omega. He would have to assimilate and sync everything and that would take a bit of time. He was getting a lot of work done internally that affected other systems that hadn't been directly affected so his off time would be longer than smaller less intricate mechanisms.

The sun shown in the big open doors as the day progressed throwing long shadows on the hard concrete floor of the massive facility. Huge lights allowed for more illumination which was a good thing. A mech could walk into Omega's chassis and look up a long way. Some of the repairs required handling very tiny parts. Mechs came and went, some bringing new parts and others carrying old out. He was the biggest rebuild ever attempted here and a lot of newbie engineers and doctors were watching and assisting. This was a rare opportunity to learn, as craptastic as it was to happen.

-0-Lancer

She stepped down from the platform at The Paint Box after getting the full treatment. Joining Arcee, Elita and Moonracer, they walked out to have a bite at The Diner On The Corner. Entering, sitting to order, they leaned back and grinned at each other. "I remember sitting in a bombed out building wondering if there was ever going to be a better life anywhere once upon more times than I care t0 think about. Funny how things change," Arcee said with a grin.

The other three nodded. "What about Magnus? How long have you had a thing for him?"

"Since we were young. I always liked Magnus. He's genuine and big. I like them big," Arcee said with a chuckle. "But I also like a good mech. He's really the only mech I ever liked that way. It was good to see him step down from that ship in Diego."

Elita nodded. "I hear ya." She looked at Lancer. "Tell me again … what's the story between you and Partition?"

Lancer grinned at the big femme she idolized. "He's a good guy. He just needed to remember that. He's working as hard as he can to be that mech. He makes me laugh. He worships Ratchet and Ironhide. He's sort of awestruck by them. He wants a bond like that."

"Who doesn't?" Moonracer said. "Does he want that many kids?"

Lancer laughed. "We want kids someday. We both know its not today. Or soon. As for that, we're still negotiating."

"Play hardball," Elita said with a grin. "Tomorrow, you make the pledge. You can't turn back. You sure?"

Lancer nodded. "I am. You'll see in time. He's just not the same guy he was. I sorta think he was trying to break out of the prison he'd been living in his whole life."

"I hope so," Moonracer said. "He'll face a gauntlet with us if he doesn't."

"I was thinking Ada could make him a pie. That should just about do it," Arcee said with a smile.

-0-Earth 1

"We can't bring Angus so I'm going to take him to The Fortress and the Army Daycare there. They have facilities for human infants and we can keep in touch."

"What about Earth2? Do they have a trustworthy person there?" Jarrod asked.

Hildie shrugged as she put Angus on the floor. He ran off to the living room of their apartment toward his toy box. "I don't know anyone that well yet."

Jarrod nodded. "Alright. We can see how long we stay."

"If they dance like I heard they will, I might just take up residence there," Hildie said with a smile.

-0-Earth2

"I wish they had let more of us come," Mariah Davis said with a slight pout. "They should have allowed the wives of the leadership here to come. Just you, Kyle and Hamilton. And Jameson. Why not more?"

"We aren't cleared yet, Mariah," Kyle Davis said as they sat in his office. The place was filled with monitors and tech that allowed him to run his businesses on Earth long distance. What he didn't know was every transmission he made was recorded as per protocols. He had deep business ties with a lot of the bot opposition around Earth and therefore was on Prowl's Personal Shit List.

"Well, this should be interesting. I wonder what their parties are like?" she said as she stood up to go.

"We'll find out tomorrow," Kyle said with a grin. "I'm actually looking forward to this."

She grinned back. "I think I am, too."

-0-Home later that day

"ADA! YOU GOING TO DOING?! WE GOING, TOO!?" Orion asked in his usual indoor voice as all around him stood little kids looking upward hopefully. They had just finished up at the detailer and were shiny as new pennies. Halo was standing with them, something that was causing gyros to whirl in every adult's helm that had seen her lately. She smiled, too, though she had no idea why. Hero stood beside her with her arm around the baby's shoulders.

"You are," Ratchet said as he stuffed the last dish in the washer. "That's why we had you detailed. We do like that new car smell." He smiled at the tykes who looked at him without comprehension. He grinned, then hugged them gently as a group. "Go play. It's almost berth time."

They squealed, then ran off. Halo clung to Hero as she tottered off with them. Ironhide who was sitting in his chair and Ratchet watched her go with intense amazement. "Frag," Ironhide said. "Don't tell anyone. We still have munitions to sort out and all that."

"Don't worry. Mums the word." Ratchet sat down, then grinned. "Tomorrow reminds me of another time earlier. Remember when we pranked you and I called you out over Arcee. 'Our little girl is in a pre-bond'? Remember that?"

"Vaguely," Ironhide said with a chuckle. "You lot are a first class set of slaggers."

"We are," Ratchet said. "Tomorrow we party."

"We do," Ironhide said. "As hard as you can with a load of kids."

"ADA!"

They glanced in the general direction of the berth rooms. Then Sunspot came by leading Fireball down the hallway. They were discussing a new Transformer novel that he had found at the book store that afternoon. They disappeared into Sunny's berth room just as laughter erupted from the general direction of the big kid's lounge. It was silent a moment, then Ratchet grinned. "I sort of feel like a spectator in my own life," he said as Spot and Cousin danced by to go to Sunspot's room.

"I hear ya," Ironhide said with a grin.

-0-TBC 5-31-18 edited 7-7-18

Happy June 1st tomorrow. No holiday for us. Just a deep sense of happiness that its getting on toward summer. :D