The Diego Diaries: Crader (dd6 484)
Ragemoose: That name is on my list. It isn't this mech but I'm going to research him. If you can think of bad civilians, good civilians, bad ass Decepticons and Autobots, drop me a note and they go on the list. I love having as much diversity as possible. HUGS, darling!
-0-In the med center at the Port of Mars
Prowl lay on a berth in mild stasis as Ratchet deconstructed his arm. The huge fist of the maniac had crushed his wrist and part of his lower arm with his unbelievable power and malice. Prime sat across the room facing away with Ironhide standing with him. Springer and Drift along with Lon and Bezel who heard and came from their orn off and a few others watched grimly, quietly as Ratchet worked with a couple of med techs who were on duty here. They hurried to get things and discreetly carried things away.
Ratchet who was acutely aware of Prime's distress glanced at the med panel overhead with Prowl's stats. "Well, this is going to be fixed easily if I say so myself. He's going to need a repaint and some therapy. You can count us all fortunate that the damage didn't puncture into his protoform. If it had, we'd be dealing with bleeds and maybe possible complete replacements. This isn't even close, though I will say that fragger needs to be off line until we figure out what can bring him down. Shock doesn't appear to be effective."
"Do you want him in secure stasis at Metro Femme, Ada?" Springer asked.
"I think that's a good idea. He's so enhanced, I think he's a clear and present danger. I'd also like to know how he defeats pain. Is he on stimulants? Is he mentally sound? I do know who he is," Ratchet said glancing over his shoulder to peer at the pensive group of mechs waiting with Prime. "That's Crader of Crader Transport." A pall hung in the room. "I imagine how fragged off Prowl is going to be when he hears that."
Springer glanced at Lon. "Pull what's known, Lon. Access the Cybertronian databases especially those related to Iacon, Praxus, Nova Cronum, Capital City and Tarn."
Lon nodded, then walked to a computer panel nearby. He wouldn't take long to find it.
It and more.
-0-Jetta
He stood in the construction of Crater District #2 and watched as crews began to landscape the place. All of the roads were laid in, striped with lines and directional markers and swept clear of sand and construction debris. The sidewalks were pristine and the light systems for the highway and radial streets which cut this city into blocks were working at all corners of the grid. Across the way gleaming in the distance he could see the others. This was the hub and ranging out from it were six more massive cityscapes, two in transition toward completion and four others still in basic construction with towers stretching up without enclosures.
They were huge and each of them could grant homes to two and a half million individuals. This seven city array would be home at some point to slightly over seventeen and a half million individuals. They had two and a half million homes still available in Crater District #1 which were being filled now. When they were through with this initial send there would be room for the next and the next and the next. He would see to it. "I'm going to see Scar next. Anything you want him to know, Bulk?" he asked.
"Keep sending us steel. Also, tell him the wiring is good. I like this better. Tyro will send him the next set of specs for the new construction's electrical and plumbing. I hope we have more dozers in the migration. I could use some more. We're trying to beat the deadlines," Bulkhead said as Copperton grinned. They were the team that got things done on the jobs. They were also extremely good friends.
"I will," Jetta said as he slapped them on the shoulder. He then transformed and took off heading to the new crater development in the distance.
They watched him go, then Bulkhead grinned. "That mech works too hard."
"He does," Copperton said with a grin. "How about going to E Street to check on that tower?"
Bulk nodded. "On it," he said as he transformed.
Copperton did as well and buzzed down the beautiful boulevard after Bulkhead.
-0-Medic Center
Prowl sat up on the berth with Optimus's help. He was dizzy, then it all cleared. He looked at his arm with new plating and internal wiring. Two of his digits were replaced and most of the inside of his arm to his elbow. It gleamed a silver color. Prowl frowned. "Frag."
"That'll teach you to get into a fight between two phase six level mechanisms," Ratchet said with a slight grin. "You're lucky as frag. Consider if he'd punctured your protoform with that grip. I'd be dealing with bleeding, infections and serious replacement surgery. As it was, he didn't. Here's what you need to know about your new parts. They aren't energon but like all replacements they're energon based. That means that over timeyour protoform is going to leach into them and replace every molecule of the metal that the parts are made of with protoform. You can transform with them but its going to feel stiff and weird until the leaching process is complete. It won't take as long with the internal replacements. They're laying right against your protoform but the outer plating and your digits? Give it a decaorn before full assimilation. Until then, get a repaint and be ready for physical therapy."
Prowl glanced up at him as he turned his arm this way and that. "Physical therapy?"
Ratchet nodded. "You'll need it to assimilate quicker and get full range of motion again. There's exercises that speed up the process and consider, you lost part of your hand. There are two digits replaced here. You're going to need exercise to get the limb synced again. This isn't a small thing, Prowler."
Prowl sighed, then nodded. "Can they come to the Ops Center? I was under the opinion that I was essential equipment."
"You are," Prime said. He stood, then turned to Ratchet. "What else does he need to do, Ratchet?"
"Do his therapy until they say he's fit. I'm going to gauge his assimilation progress every orn so that's covered. It pays to have a private doctor," he said with a smirk. Prime didn't smirk. Ratchet would have to talk to him later. "He's going to be up to it. What amazes me is that your Metallikato moves didn't budge his skin. You never got purchase, Prowl. It took a grip like Prime's to breach him. I've seen a lot of Metallikato and Metallikato-like injuries and I've seen Arcee do that to a fragger. But you never budged his shell, Prowl. There's something different about this one. We need to figure it out. Right now, he's a huge and present danger, Prime."
Prime nodded. He glanced at Springer. "Is he in the lock up at Metro Femme?"
Springer paused a moment to check, then nodded. "I asked Gypsy to put him into stasis as deep as Sentinel's and she did. He's in the lock up and will stay there under guard until you say otherwise."
Prime nodded. "Thank you. Right now, sit here, Prowl. I have to reassure the civilians, then we're going to The Fortress by Metro." He glanced at Springer. "Find the rest of his partY and isolate them if he came with someone. I want this danger checked before they disperse into the colony." Then he walked to the door and left with Springer, Ironhide and the other mechs.
It was quiet a moment, then Ratchet took Prowl's servo to give it a critical once over. "You were pretty awesome, Prowler, and normally it would be enough. More than enough. But this fragger is something else. We have to take him apart if for nothing else then to remove his embellishments."
"I want to be there when you do. I want to know what prevented me from ripping him apart. Nothing short of eight feet of cybertanium can stop the grips I used," Prowl said.
Ratchet nodded, then grinned slightly. "Expect to be treated with kid gloves and get the lecture tonight. Prime was stricken when you were hurt. I think you're never going to see combat again."
Prowl frowned slightly. "I will always serve where needed," he said, then his expression softened. "But I won't add more to him than he carries now. I saw red."
"You two are a pair," Ratchet said as he hopped up to sit beside Prowl. "By the way, when are you going to tell Prime you're sparked?"
It was deeply and profoundly silent in the room.
-0-Moments later
"What the frag."
"There's a cure for this, you know. There's a cure but no one ever comes for it. NO ONE! Don't look at me like that. I wasn't there when this happened, though I wouldn't mind if you gave me the heads u-"
[The sounds of feet running around a med berth in hot pursuit of another set of feet]
-0-Moments later
"That hurt."
"Sorry. Maybe."
"There's fixes. How is it that you fraggers never come? I'd ask you if you wanted it but you're not a sparkling. You do hit like a femme-"
[The sounds of feet running around a med berth in hot pursuit of another set of feet]
-0-Moments later again
"I don't know. Maybe I should tell him when he's not wound up in this."
"That could be good, Prowler. Or you could be an adult and tell him now- … OW!"
[The sound of red and white feet chasing a faux cop car around a med berth]
-0-Moments later
Prime walked in to see two mech sitting on the med berth rubbing sore parts of their bodies. Both of them sat straighter and smiled. "Hi. Got it all in servo?" Ratchet asked.
Prime nodded. He was aware that there was a subtext here from sheer experience with both but what it was he didn't know. He stared at both of them. "What is going on?"
"I don't know. No one ever tells me slag. I sit here all orn long applying servos on and does anyone ever notice the healing going on? NO. They never do."
Prowl stared at Ratchet appallingly aware that he was working up to full disclosure. "I do. In fact, I think a long visit to Charon or maybe Camp Recluse would be a good way to thank you."
"Ah, Prowler," Ratchet said as he leaned into the mech a moment. "You're too self sacrificing. That's what makes you a good genitor … your love of infants and the afflicted."
Prime and the others watched the back and forth knowing full well something had happened and that they were and weren't going to tell without a good grip on the neck. "What is it you are not telling, Prowl?" he asked with his beautiful voice.
Prowl stared at him, then Ratchet, then him, then his arm, then Prime, then Ratchet …
-0-Moments later
They stood together in a tight hug. Everyone else was shuffling their peds with grins on their faces as they watched the two. Ironhide was sitting next to Ratchet who was leaning on him. "You're a menace to society."
"Consider these servos," Ratchet said as he held up his two big red hands. "Without them and the diabolical mind they serve, those two would be hopelessly apart. I'm doing a service to our kind, to the greater good, to the overall love quotient in the universe. Why, The One consults me in the love department."
Everyone including Prime and Prowl stopped their hugging, shuffling, grinning and overall goobering to stare at Ratchet. He in turn gave them a dazzling smile ala Orion when he was in deep doo doo.
Prowl smirked at him, his improbable, implacable, imperturbable best friend forever then turned back to Prime. He hugged him tightly and was hugged in return.
Springer slapped Prime on the shoulder. "Congratulations, Optimus, Prowl."
Prime grinned at him, then nodded. "Thank you," he said as the spell was broken. Everyone congratulated them.
Ratchet stepped down, then rubbed his servos together. "There's a few here not bonded and children? I can see candidates. How about those three grandchildren you two keep talking about?" he asked Drift and Springer.
"See ya," Springer said as everyone of the group with him turned to the door and ran. They were gone in seconds.
Ratchet grinned. "Fraggers," he said as he turned to Ironhide. "You. Out," he said as Ironhide ambled past, slapping his servo with Prime. Ratchet followed with a grin.
It was quiet, then Prime walked to the med berth to sit. He stared at Prowl. "All I could think of was that he would kill you and all that was good for me would be over forever. I do not know what would happen to me if that ever occurred. I am never going to allow you to go to a fight or battle again, Prowl. It may be selfish but it is what I require to be happy."
Prowl stared at him, then nodded. "Fair enough. You can imagine my own feelings then."
"I always have. But I tell you with all I have to do, you are the center of my happiness. Just coming home to you and the children heals all that happens to me that orn," Prime said. "I never expected any of it but I have it now and I am deeply unwilling to risk it. I love you. I hope you know how much."
Prowl nodded as he walked to Prime. He touched his face, then rested his servos, one glinting with silver parts on Prime's broad shoulders. "That is how much and more I love you. I … I have no moderation about you. Anything you need I will give. I designed our home for you and your prestige. It was difficult all these years to see how disrespectfully you were treated. You're the Prime of Cybertron, the bearer of the Matrix … the spark of Primus Himself. You're the First Disciple of Primus. You go to the Matrix and you're called brother by the Pantheon. That's holy to me. You are holy. You're good. You are the most decent and genuinely good person I ever met. I'm yours, Optimus. I will always be yours. I will fight when the need is there but this I will do for you."
Prime nodded, then pulled Prowl into his arms. "I can not live a life without you in it. All I could see was him killing you and a great yawning despair filled me. To see you wounded is as bad as if it were me. Worse, even."
Prowl squeezed him. "It'll get better." He looked at Prime, then grinned. "We get a new one. I think we need to discuss the size of our family and maybe take measures, temporary ones if we feel that more would be hard for us right now. I don't personally see it myself," he said as Prime chuckled.
"You never do. All of them are yours or so I am told," Prime said with a grin. He kissed Prowl, then hugged him. "You will go to therapy. We need to design a protoform and choose a name. Mech or femme?"
"What do you wish?" Prowl asked.
"Whatever you want, Prowler," he said softly, then he hugged Prowl tightly.
Prowl hugged him back as well.
-0-Outside
"When did you know, Ada?" Springer asked Ratchet with a grin. Everyone was waiting outside together because they were friends, family and nosy.
Not necessarily in that order, of course.
"When I plugged him in for a systems check," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile. "THESE SERVOS! THESE HEALING SERVOS-"
That was as far as he got.
-0-TBC 9-30-18 EDITED 10-29-18