The Diego Diaries: Stuff (dd6 501)
-0-Around
Raptor spotted the one he wanted, then walked into the bar to sit. Grinning at the twins, he leaned forward onto his elbows. "I need to ask you a few things," he said as he gave his order to the waiter.
"Okay," Sideswipe and Sunstreaker said with grins and expectation. Uncle 'Tap-Tap' was smart, unpredictable, amusing as frag, fun and someone they worshiped in their Mayhem Pantheon. "What?"
He would quiz them for a while, then rise to go. They would follow along with him on his Quest.
-0-At a pre-trial meeting in the Office of the Attorney General of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire
"Then we're ready to go, Sherrod?" Barron asked as he looked at the documents and evidence gleaned from Crader's ship and many the mainframe all over the place. "Does he understand the gravity of what's happening and how he can take more time to organize a defense?"
"He does. He doesn't seem to care. I'm not sure that he's normal upstairs, if you get my drift," Sherrod said tiredly. "We had him examined, at least as far as he would cooperate and it'll be part of the pre-trial record. The reports have been given to you, Colie, and to you, No-a as a resource for the trial."
"They have been," No-a said as Coln-2 nodded.
"Does he understand that the Praxians in question, though totally honorable, are Ironhide and his family? I'm told three other Praxians, mostly Piro's family will be part of this," Barron said.
"He does. He knows all of them but it doesn't seem to compute," Sherrod said as the members of his team nodded in agreement.
"Do you want to call a halt to the timeline? Do you need more time or what?" Barron asked worriedly.
"It won't matter." Sherrod sat back. "This mech is bound and determined to have his say. You do know that he never had to come to heel ever in the old orns. He had Cassio and Ebio Imperialis and the rest of the government, business and the like covering his aft. I think he doesn't get it that that ship has sailed."
Barron nodded. "Well, he will now. I'll send the request for trial to Hardie and get back to you then. Alor put the notices in last night when you told us you were ready. Everything is in place now."
"Oh, joy," Sherrod said with resignation.
"For me," Coln-2 said with a slight smirk.
-0-Raptor, et al
He got off the horn from Prime, then grinned at the others. "Never underestimate the dignity and decency of a real Prime," he said. "We're go." With that, he headed for the bridge room, threading himself through the tables and chairs that filled the rec room of The Fortress. The twins followed with big grins and all disappeared immediately.
-0-Ratchet
He sat in his office finishing the last bit of stuff that needed done. Glancing around, he checked in with Ironhide on Cybertron, then rose to go on shut in rounds. He had a list of very difficult cases that he handled himself so he would be busy until lunchtime.
-0-San Diego, California
They drove out of a side street toward the city beyond. It would seem like one long connected metropolis, the Greater San Diego area but it was a series of smaller towns and cities that merged one into the other in typical human design and practice. Raptor drove ahead in a black TopKick pick up format followed by two incredible luminous Lamborghinis. They sped onward to a beach where they would park, then make a call. It would be raining cats and dogs when they did.
-0-About
"Well, you're doing a lot better, you little slagger, you," Ratchet said with a big grin.
A little mech with a cheerful attitude and a huge interest in puzzles grinned at him. "I can't complain. I can actually walk to the wash rack by myself now."
Ratchet grinned at him, then his attentive family. "You're doing a great job. He's taking hold in the joints. All he has to do is what he's told. No stepping out until I okay it. A fall could set you way back and we don't want that. How are you ever going to dance if you don't mend?"
"I don't know," he said with a smile.
Ratchet laughed, checked his meds, then rose for the next few on his list. It would make his orn. He loved, loved, loved to make house calls.
-0-At a beach in the pouring rain
Ring, ring, ring.
"Hello?"
"Carrie? Is that you?"
"Who is this?"
"Sideswipe."
[Pause]
"SIDESWIPE! Is that you?"
[grin] "All orn long. How are you doing? What's happening?"
"I'm … I'm doing great, Sideswipe. I had a baby, a little boy and he's just starting to walk. My husband is doing great. So am I. I'm on maternity leave." Her happiness and surprise was gratifying to everyone listening. "Where are you? Are you on Mars?"
"No. I'm on Earth. San Diego to tell the truth. Where are you? I want to talk."
[Pause]
"Okay. Do you know how to find addresses if I give them to you cold?"
"There isn't anywhere on this slagging marble that I can't find."
[huge amusement from the other two punters including 'you can't find your aft with both servos']
She gave it, then Sideswipe signed off after telling her to come when she saw the beautiful Lambo that was going to arrive in front of her condominium. Revving up, Sideswipe laughed. :Follow me, slaggers: With that, he pulled out and drove off followed by a yellow Lambo and a TopKick pick up truck.
-0-Carrie
She sat a moment staring at her phone, then walked to the bedroom where her son lay. Staring at him a moment, she walked to the office in her condo and leaned on the door. "John … you won't believe what just happened," she began.
-0-Twenty-five minutes later, outside at the curb
They stared down from their condo in the complex to see a sight. A beautiful red and black Lamborghini was parked at the curb. Behind it was a yellow one and behind it was a black pick up truck. Somehow, Carrie knew they were all three sentient. "John, I think they want us to go for a ride."
"Do you think its wise?" John asked as he held their bundled son.
Carrie smiled a moment, then looked up at him. "Do you want fifty years from now to regret that you didn't get into the car?" she asked.
He snickered at the reference, then shook his head. "No. Let's go. They're the good guys, right?"
"The best guys," Carrie said as she walked to the door and held it open. The three stepped out and went down to the ground floor. It was sheeting rain as they stood in the doorway watching the cars. A door swung open to they ran for it, climbing into the back and front seats before it swung shut. Then when all were settled, they drove off in tandem for a quiet place to talk.
-0-Ratchet
Ops Center was swinging as they gathered data on the Tall Whites and Razorclaw, two issues that had come onto their radar in the last few. He sat at the table, then grinned at Prowl. "So what does the protoform look like?"
"Like I can tell you," Prowl said with a grin.
"Fragging Praxians. Speaking of which, where are all of mine?" Ratchet asked. "I thought I'd go to lunch with the handsomest mechs in the colony."
"Optimus and Tagg are busy so I guess you'll have to make do with Ironhide and his family," Prowl said as Ratchet stepped on his ped. "Ow, slagger. CASTE COURT!" He grinned. "By the way, Crader wants one in the next orn or so."
"That fast?" Ratchet asked with surprise.
"Maybe he's going for an insanity defense. I want to strip mine him for information on Imperialis."
"You and me both. Come with. I'll put out the all call," Ratchet said. He called Ironhide, Turbine, Delphi, Alor, Blackjack, Flint, Lissie and Raptor. All of them signaled back but Raptor. He gave his usual response when he wasn't available or busy: "TALK TO THE MACHINE, SLAGGERS! I'M BUSY! BWAHAHAHA! BYE!"
"Everyone but Raptor. Where is that slagger?" Ratchet asked as Prowl rose to come.
"Have you checked the drunk tank?" Prowl asked as they walked to the door.
Ratchet laughed. "Score!"
-0-San Diego
They parked side-by-side, then three men materialized out of nowhere. They grinned at the three inside Sideswipe's format, then pointed to the wooden picnic area covered space in the tiny park nearby. None of them appeared to be getting wet as they stood in front of Sideswipe's Lambo format. John glanced at Carrie. "They want us to go outside. Those are holograms, right?"
"They are," Carrie said, then opened the door. Stepping out, she helped John get out of the backseat by taking the baby. Running with the holograms, they made it to the covered area which served as a picnic space for the little park they were at. She made it, then watched as the Lambo closed its door by itself. John took the baby, then the three turned to the other three as everyone took the measure of everyone else.
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were reasonable facsimiles and ultra familiar. They had the same handsome faces and figures, the same amusement and danger, the same personalities. They were young, tough, impossibly handsome and identical but for hair color. Sunny was blond. Sideswipe was brunet. Apparently, Sideswipe favored adding the black color of his format into his look.
The other mech was different. He was huge, a big well made and balanced man who was as tall if not a bit taller than the others at well over six feet. He was handsome with intelligence in his face and eyes which were the deepest blue. He had thick black hair and a slight tan to his features. He was a very handsome, very amusing, very competent appearing individual who carried his experience and authority easily.
Carrie had him pegged as military-officer material right away. She glanced at John who was holding their son as he stared at them with a riveted gaze. "Sideswipe. What are you doing here? Why did you three come here? Are you on a mission?"
"We are," Raptor said.
The twins grinned at him, then the three. "This is General Raptor of Praxus. He's Ironhide's grandfather. He's also our appa. He wanted to speak to you and we came along to keep him out of jail. He's not as clear on what a bunch of fraggers humans can be," Sideswipe said.
Raptor laughed. "Ignore him, infants," he said to the humans. "He's just bitter he isn't me."
The three laughed, then grinned at the three humans. John was mesmerized, the baby was reaching out to Raptor and Carrie was laughing. It was amazing to her at that moment how much she missed the military, the sense of camaraderie that soldiers shared and the bots themselves. "Tell me what I can do for you. Semper fi, Sideswipe."
Raptor grinned. "We're here to tell you what we can do for you, infant."
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker nodded. "Semper fi," they said softly.
-0-TBC 10-21-18 edited 11-1-18