The Diego Diaries: Stuff (dd6 503)
-0-Unidad
"We can get this organized, Ratchet," Carly said. "If you can authorize the command deck to allow us to bridge, then we can get them gathered up and here in shorter time with less fuss."
"It's done," Ratchet said as he turned to Raptor. "Tell me, big boy, how many more strays are you going to be bringing home?"
Raptor grinned, then looked at the twins and Springer. "Who else needs an atta boy?"
"Michael Bay?" Sunstreaker suggested before Springer put him into a head lock. After a moments scuffle, they began to leave.
John and Carrie stared at Raptor. "Thank you, General," Carrie said. "I wish you could know how much we always wanted this."
John nodded as well.
"Done deal. Semper fi as you humans say," Raptor said. "Your baby is good while you get this started. I'm sure William Lennox is happy to care for him."
The look on Will's face was priceless.
-0-On the road back
They drove in convoy as they headed back. "You're a fraud, Raptor," Ratchet said.
"Don't tell anyone. I feel the need for ice cream. See ya," he said as he peeled out and took the turn off toward Terra. He was gone in seconds.
"We have to go back to the Center. We have stuff coming in," Prowl said as he stepped up the speed. They would weave their way through traffic to Autobot City while others headed out to do whatever it was senior Autobot soldiers did when they weren't slagging Decepticons.
Driving to The Fortress through a lot of traffic, Ratchet and Prowl transformed, then walked through the courtyard and into the building. A short stroll to Paragon who was in from overall supervision of the DMZ was accomplished, then all sat down. "We have a sense that Razorclaw has been a very bad mech," Prowl said as he handed the updated reports and Seeker data to Paragon. "He's been strong arming a lot of individuals out there in the surrounding portions of space we don't directly access. We have to consider the trouble he's made for a lot of emergent species and other places that might be space going and thereby are afraid of what this means for their sovereignty."
Paragon nodded. "I assumed he would venture out where we wouldn't have a direct line of sight. Perhaps meeting his roving gangs with a clenched fist is a good idea."
"I'm inclined to feel the same way. We also have some soundings of settlements or groups in the Rim that are close to the area where we left Imperialis and his brother. There were all manner of directions for our people to go and even the less obvious ones need attention. We also have a report from the humans on Earth who work for us hunting human connections that part of the MECH network has been outlined. There's also intel that Silas Bishop might be with that bunch again. He hasn't been seen since he was broken out of prison but he appears to be sensed here and there. Nothing too definite but that's not good news."
"No," Ratchet said. "That group … Ghost? … they're good kids and one of them has a mother who's Owen Harris's left frontal lobe. His father is a big deal in international security. It would appear that he didn't fall far from the tree."
"I want you to go see them, Ratchet. Take a couple of mechs with you but go and see what's going on with that side of things. Go tomorrow and just drop in," Prowl said. "Try not to get arrested in New York."
"New York is my kind of town. It's a city that never sleeps," Ratchet said with a grin.
"You combined Chicago and New York. Just so you know," Paragon said with a smirk.
"You like Sinatra, too? My Appa Scout found him and is dazzled. Me? He's very good but he isn't Ironhide," Ratchet said.
"Ironhide sings?" Paragon asked with bemused surprise.
"Like a nightingale. Why, the other night in the berth-"
A moment was taken for Prowl to rise and slap the crap out of Ratchet, then sit back down with his dignity intact. Ratchet smirked at him. "That hurt, slagger."
"I've only just begun," Prowl said.
"I'll remember that when you're lying on the berth screaming and not in a good way," Ratchet said as he sat back in his chair to eyeball his nemesis.
Both of them groaned, then grinned. "As I was saying ..." Prowl continued. "I want to know about intermittent low, low subterranean band broadcasting that we missed for a while but have monitored since it was discovered two years ago. It's an odd mix of Cybertronian and mathematics. It's a signal to the slaggers out here … Razorclaw, for contact."
"Maybe we should have a meet up for old Owen and Buzzsaw himself. If he ever saw that fragger in person he'd need to change his pants. By the way, tell Caro to invest in adult diapers will you?" Ratchet said as he ducked Prowl's fist. "What else, slagger?"
"We were asked to oversee in a hearing setting the transfer of children from the families of the Functionalists at the Monastery into the homes of members due to the lack of progress in the adult family group. They're actually holding back their children. Apparently, they have them controlled by mere glances. The children are as flat in their affect as boards and aren't making progress. That won't be fun but Cyclonus wants it to be legal and has asked Prime to consult on the hearing as head of state which has an abiding interest in the children, their safety and well being."
"Frag," Ratchet said. "I suppose I have to be there, too."
"You do. If Prime does, I do and that means you, too. Caste Court and this. I got a memo that when Optimus has a moment, then Caste Court can happen. Apparently, Crader is nuts or so the legals have concluded. I don't know what Jarro and Company think."
"We'll find out. So we have to rescue children from a life without happiness, hold a Caste Court with Special Circumstances for a nut job, perhaps provoke a shooting war with Razorclaw and rescue a bunch of our people stranded in the Rim with the Imperialis brothers. Some would call that Wednesday," Ratchet said with a smile.
"You would, Loon," Prowl said with a grin. "You left out going to Earth to get the details on Owen Harris and his network. I want a breakdown of his organization. He now owns Intel Martin and has Nast and the Daniels here. I want to know what if anything those three and Galloway still do in terms of the push back against us. Go in human format and don't be too odd ball. We want to know about something more than your latest police record."
"Ye of little faith," Ratchet said as he stood. "I'm assuming there's a meeting tomorrow morning about this and all manner of sundry items?"
"You reckoned right," Prowl said with a tight grin. "Come on time and be sober."
"For you, Prowler, the moon," Ratchet said as he walked toward the door to leave.
Paragon and Prowl watched him go, then stared at the data. "Enjoy that," Paragon said. "It might be the last laugh you get for a while. You left off the Tall Whites who are getting close to their home world any moment now."
Prowl sighed. "Fraggers," he whispered under his breath. They bent their helms to the task together.
-0-Wheeljack and Perceptor
"That was the last one," Percy said as orderlies wheeled out the tenth member of Crader's group that had come to Mars fully developed in whatever it was caused their uber physiques. All of them were mini-cons now and when they were finally prepped, they were ready to go to a cell block in the prison. Crader was already there and so were most of them. The fifteen mutating would be monitored out the wazoo and if there was even a small chance that they'd be full blown whatever Crader was, the artillery placed around their cell block was outstanding. They were given an even higher level of security than anyone else as Sciences worked feverishly to figure out what the frag was going on.
They walked out and headed for the train station across the way to go to Sciences past the prison. This would be priority problem number one. How do we denature these fraggers?
-0-School
Hercy sat on a bench in the lab watching the kids working. The big kids were here and there, three of them as they worked out something with microscopes. He had come to see them, to watch Lumi and Fireball. They were sweethearts in the most innocent and kindly manner. The idea of them getting teased for what was essentially a sweet friendship was galling a bit. Everyone was glad he was there. He was a very famous Autobot and someone they had said was exempt. That was rare and so was he, this old mech with a spark of gold and a fearlessness that was unyielding in the face of tyranny.
Other kids were there including two that were part of the 'problem'. It wasn't so much a problem as a mild irritation. Some of the kids were getting the idea that romance was fine and dandy and some thought it gag worthy. That was just normal development among a spread of kids the same age. Others were thinking about romance and having fun with other kids in groups with the usual wing man configuration while others were still just that short of interest.
Lumi and Fireball were sort of in the middle. They were sweet on each other, something that would probably develop into a bond some fine orn but they weren't 'romantic'. That part of things beyond holding hands and sitting with their arms around each other, it wasn't in the equation yet. They were just sweet.
Their lab instructor, Mr. Delios walked over to sit with Hercy. He grinned. "We're very happy when the soldiers come in. Our kids are very enamored of the military for all the obvious reasons but you're sort of in a special class. You might want to talk to Majio who is instruction supervisor here about being a speaker for different things and classes here, Commander. You have a unique history and you're exempt. We've all suffered from the caste system. It might be instructive to hear from someone who didn't have to worry about such things."
"I will take it under advisement, Mr. Delios. You're aware that General Hard Drive and Commander Delphi are exempt as well. They also helped develop the Praxian Elites and all of us including Commander Kup were part of The Immortals." Hercy grinned. "We all go back a long way."
"That would be incredibly wonderful. We need to remember who we are and if we don't learn that, we repeat it. I hope you will," Delios said.
"I will do so," Hercy said. "Thank you for the interest." They chatted together peacefully and when the class ended, the two kids walked out with Uncle Hercy and Delios sent Hercy, Hardie and Delphi's names to Majio. The kids would have three more resources to aid them on their way.
-0-About
:Ironhide:
:WHAT!?:
:OoooooOOOOooh. You send tingles:
:I do don't I. What's up, Ratchet?:
:I have to go in drag to New York and talk to our group there that monitors Harris and the network. Just so you know:
:You're not going alone. You just got shot, slag it. Who's going with you?:
:Well, I was going through the personnel directory and I picked a couple of the most handsome mechs in the colon-:
:WHAT THE FRAG!?:
[Pause]
:Ironhide?:
:What?:
:I just want you to know as I screw my audials back into my head that none of them are as cute as you:
[Grin] :Only cute?:
:I'd say handsome but then I'd have to frag ya: [Grin]
[Grin] :When are you going?:
:Tomorrow. I have to go finish house calls and then there's a meeting tomorrow. Things are piling up. I'll be there until I can ditch. Then I'm going to Earth. See ya shortly. Pick up dinner. I don't feel like slagging something together:
:You and me both. Will do. Ironhide out and ABOUT!:
Ratchet grinned as he rode an elevator up the tower where a child lived who had no immune system. She lived in her apartment as Ratchet worked out the protocols to create one for her. She couldn't go outside without getting sick and risking death. He was close to it and would start the preliminary treatments today that would begin the long climb back to normal. Right now, she went to school over the monitor in her apartment, getting instruction from Special Services and was cared for by her devoted and doting genitors. Even her appas and ammas, uncles, aunts and cousins couldn't visit her, so delicate was her situation for now.
He reached their door, then activated his field of protection, one he could generate around himself for just such a situation. Rapping on the door, it opened and he stepped inside through the energy barrier that enclosed the entire apartment. Sitting on a chair holding her sippy cup, a darling little femme smiled at him. He smiled back, then at the parents who were young and tense. "Well, doesn't she look good," he said as he picked her up.
When he was finished adding the scripts, programming and supplements to her system, she would be a smidge better. The formulation skillfully applied was doing its job. It was with a lighter step that Ratchet stepped out and headed for his other patients around the colony.
Sometimes, you could actually win one.
-0-TBC 10-23-18 edited 11-2-18