The Diego Diaries: Moving On (dd6 393)
-0-Later that afternoon
They fogged in running for the kitchen and the endless supply of food left there for hungry kids and adults. Reaching the dishes, they plated up, grabbed juice, then ran for a table nearby. Sitting, they began to eat. Mama Fig and her little dogs along with half a dozen other elders were sitting nearby. "How was school?" she asked.
"It was great. We found out that some of us are going to go camping with a scout troop in Alaska. Some of the bots are coming including Uncle Prowl and Uncle Ironhide," Annie said with a smile. "THAT'S GOING TO BE SO FUN! I hope its us."
The others nodded as they chatted with the elders who were amused and as interested as they were. No one knew which kids would go.
-0-N.E.S.T. HQ
"So that's that." Niall grinned. "My kids are too young. Enjoy Alaska. I understand that this time of year their state bird is in abundance."
"The willow ptarmigan?" Epps asked because he was stationed at the base there for special training once upon a very long rainy summer.
"No, the mosquito," Niall said. He sat at the table where everyone was gathered going over data on a training exercise. "I hear they leave scars when they bite and they actually fly in clouds."
"Fuck," Epps said. "I never got out that far and when I did go out, the weather kept them down. Bring bug spray."
"I'll check with Wheeljack," Lennox said with a grin. "They better not pick us."
They would.
-0-On The Hourly News
"On the lighter side of the news, it was mentioned earlier today in a press release by the Autobot City Council of Autobot Scouts that a troop of human scouts in Alaska on Earth have invited Autobot City to send a group of our own scouts to spend a few orns in the wilds of that great state doing scouting adventures together. We called the Office of the Primes and were told the following by Commander Prowl."
A film rolled showing a tense winger staring at Jacx with a hard expression on his handsome face. "We received a request from Earth to join a troop camping in the wilds of Alaska for a few orns in a short while. It was suggested to be a get together to introduce our children to theirs and to allow a number of different film companies to record the encounters to develop for programming on the National Geographic Channel and by Galaxy Productions here on Mars. The Prime has approved it and therefore, we are going to carry through."
"Who will go, Commander, and what is the program going to be? The duration and so forth?" Jacx asked.
"It will be in four orns and will last three or four there. We are asking that five of the N.E.S.T. children come along to help host our children and the Council here has drawn seven children at random from the entire scout population to be the ones who will go. It seemed the most fair way to choose. They are getting with families for permissions and when all is in order, we go. As for the events planned while there … I am not aware of them." Prowl was stiff and formal, even more so than usual.
"Who will be among the adults going? Are any of the leaders of the Council going? Will genitors? How does this work? This is rather monumental given its the first cultural exchange since the art exhibition that's going to Earth. What will security be like?" Jacx asked.
"Since Commander Ironhide, Commander Springer and Commander Drift have administrative responsibilities for Scouting and some of the children's sports, they will be going. Apparently, Autobots Springer and Drift will go as well to support the event and to help provide security. We will send a shuttle that will be housed out of view of the camp so that the children aren't frightened by it being there but it will be sent to support the security of the event and to house the adults overnight. The children will take their scouting equipment and tents, that sort of thing. Those who will be going beyond those already named is still being worked out. It is monumental. Apparently, there are requests to the school board about children visiting Earth to see it and meet humans. It's all preliminary but its in the planning stages."
"Given that you're part of the scouting council as a board member, will you be going as well?" Jacx asked.
Prowl tensed. "There is a lot going on and with Cybertron in transition, that might not be possible."
"Thank you, Commander Prowl. Back to you in the studio, Lim-Lee," Jacx said as the light on the camera went out to show the broadcast had switched. Jacx grinned at Prowl. "You hate this, right?"
"You have no idea," Prowl said as he shook his helm.
-0-At the CMO's office
"Holi, I have camping gear. What about you?" Lee-Lee asked as she sat at her desk chatting with her besties as she worked on this and that thing for Ratchet.
"We go camping a lot. We have our stuff. I think bringing tents and sleeping bags will do it. What about you, Ceelie?" Holi asked from the multi screen that held her and the others in the conference call.
"I'm going to The Sports Center tonight with my mech and we're going to get things. Will we need to bring food things or what?" Ceelie asked.
"I asked Springer and he grumped, so I called Ratchet. Food will be brought forward by the bridge in the shuttle that will hold security. I think we might have a chance to recharge there but I was thinking it might be fun to set up our tents or at least one or two near the shuttle so we can go there at night. This is going to be fun," Maxi said with a chuckle. "What about Prowl, Ceelie? I caught his broadcast and he seems to be intense about this."
Ceelie grinned. "He always has a good time but he has this formal thing he does. He's going to get over it. He can always punch Ratchet."
They all laughed, then planned their strategy to run the show like they did here. They were the ones who made the system run, rather like the sergeants in the military, the nurses in the hospitals, the secretaries, cashiers, and others who did the hard stuff to keep the rest of the stuff running. It was going to be fun.
-0-Home
They reached the apartment, then walked in as Ratchet carried Corr in his arms. He had insisted upon doing that so Corr wouldn't be worn out just getting home. They walked in and watched as Ratchet sat Corr on his soft comfortable chair by the window. He tucked in his lap blanket, then grinned at the little mech. "You look good sitting there. Are you hungry?"
"I think I could use a little bite, Sonny. Don't worry about me. I can get it shortly," Corr said in his usual meek and mild manner.
"You all sit and I'll slap something together," Ratchet said as he turned to the others and herded them to chairs. They sat and watched as he checked the fridge and began to prepare plates for all of them. "You'll be having Home Healthcare come by every orn. They'll check all of you out and make lunch for you. They're going to want to know what you eat every orn so be ready to tell them. What and how much you eat matters right now. It helps them formulate your protoform medications.
"You need to rest, read, sleep, watch television. No one goes out. You order in. Amma, that's your job," he said glancing at Docker. "You stay in and order in. If you need something call me and I'll come or send someone. I have an entire army at my command. You do not have permission to leave this apartment for the next three orns. Doctors orders. I'm going from here to the shop and meet some of the customers. They make appointments and I take care of them. No arguments. I'll put you back in the hospital if you break any of these conditions. Understand?" he asked as he began to carry plates to them.
"We understand, Sonny," Appa Ratchet said as he took his plate. "Right, Docker?"
"If Sonny says so, Ratchet," Docker said. "Right, Chan?"
Chan nodded, then looked at Corr. "Corr?"
"What Sonny wants. He's a doctor."
Ratchet looked at them, four little bots who he would fight Predaking single handed to defend and felt a warmth rise up through him that was almost overpowering. "You do this and I'll be glad. The sooner you reach 95% protoform function, then you can do what you want. You're going up and down on this and that's because you aren't resting as much as you need. It will all be there waiting for you when you recover."
They looked at him, their big gangling smart little mech and felt emotion rising through them. "WHATEVER YOU SAY, SONNY!" Appa Ratchet said with emotion. "YOU'RE OUR GOOD LITTLE MECH! You tell us. WE'LL DO IT!"
Ratchet bent down and kissed his appa's helm. "You better believe it. Are you alright now?"
They glanced at each other, then Ratchet. "We are, Sonny. Are you?"
"When you hit 95%, then I'm going to be 100%. Right now, I'll get your drinks, then go to the store. You do what I ask and I'm going to be happy," he said. He got them drinks, checked and fussed, then stepped out. The door closed behind him.
"That's one fine little mech," Chan said. "He takes care of his old folks so well."
"He was raised to be a good mech. I wonder how their fun night out went last night? We're going to have to get better, Corr. We have to go with the Squad, too, remember?" Docker asked.
Corr nodded, then grinned. "It's always fun with them. I wonder how much fun they had last night?"
Mercifully, they would never know.
-0-At the store
Ratchet laid out the items that were going to be picked up. There were several daggers, two tool kits, a ceremonial sword for a Knight initiation and two for Circle kids who were reaching initiation as well. They were glorious, all of them, and were sheathed in the trademark RTR scabbards made of scarlet dyed leather-like material. The door opened and a number of mechs entered, closing it behind themselves. Walking to the counter, the oldest with them grinned. "Hi. We're here to pick up a sword for my grandson here," he said glancing toward a young good looking mech who was lighter framed and had youthful eagerness but was the son of his elders. They all were a handsome group.
"So, you're going to be initiated into the Circle are you?" Ratchet asked with a grin.
"I am," he said glancing at his elders with a smile. "Is that my sword?" There was awe on his face and in his voice.
"Maybe. A sword chooses its master," Ratchet said as he held up the long blade. It glinted and the scabbard was beautiful. It bore incised glyphs of a prayer and the name of the youngster along with images of their culture. It was extremely beautiful and hand tooled. Ratchet pulled the sword, then held it up. The movement seemed to leave a smear of light as he expertly manipulated it. There were glyphs carved into the blade, a prayer to Primus and a promise to Cybertron. It was a gloriously beautiful work of art.
The youngster stared at it mesmerized by its beauty. The elders were as well. The first looked at Ratchet. "No one makes swords like this, not before and not now. This is unbelievably beautiful. I wanted my son to have his sword be a thing of mystery and beauty but this … its a work of art."
"It is," Ratchet said. "Never touch the blade with your digits. Always use soft cloths to wipe it and bring it here if you need anything done. Don't do it yourself. It's blade is infinite. It was made that way. Always treat it with respect. Prayers were put into it as it was forged. The Pantheon hears them when we make them. These blades are or will become sentient with use and care. Let's see if it will claim you." Ratchet flipped the blade catching it by the hilt. It was wrapped with scarlet wire, tightly woven and brilliant. "Hold out your servo but don't grasp it."
The kid did, the expression on his face a thing of wonderment as he held out his servo toward the sword. Ratchet felt it, the energy of the blade move slightly. He moved the hilt closer and the magnetic effect of acceptance began. It slid toward the kid, moving out of his hand. Ratchet caught the blade so it wouldn't fall with his other servo clothed in a yellow piece of cloth. He held it, then grinned at the kid. "It would appear to accept you. Take the sword by the hilt, hold it and close your optics to listen."
The kid grasped it, then lifted the heavy blade toward his face. He closed his optics and all was silent. Then he glanced at his elders and Ratchet. "I feel something."
"That's good. The sword accepts you. Now be worthy of it. Remember what they taught you in the Circle and be worthy," Ratchet said as he handed the scabbard to the elder who appeared to be his appa.
"Thank you," the kid said with a big smile. He glanced at the others, then held the sword as his appa slid the scabbard over it. He looked at Ratchet, then bowed. "Thank you. I will treasure this and use it only to bring honor to our House and to our brotherhood."
"Then I give it to you with happiness," Ratchet said finishing the salutation.
His elders smiled. "I may have to get a sword made here. That's the most beautiful sword I've ever seen. Please tell Ravel and Tie Down how much we appreciate this. We wanted out boy to have a great sword for his initiation but this was beyond hope."
Ratchet grinned. "I'll tell them," he said as the group bowed and began to leave. He bowed back, then watched as the door closed behind them. "No problem. Your wish is my command." He grinned as the door opened again and more eager customers came to claim their treasures.
-0-TBC 6-24-18 edited 7-17-18
swords that are sentient (sen-tee-ent- alive, self aware) are canon in TF. Drift's long blade is and so are those on the ship during TF:5 when Prime runs onto it and says, "recognize, a knight', then pulls one. :D