The Diego Diaries: Trick-R-Treat! (dd6 512)
-0-Just before the fun begins
They stood in front of Ironhide in their costumes. Staring up at him with big grins, Ironhide nearly had a spasm from the cuteness. "You infants exceeded expectations."
Huge laughter and awkward hugs ensued as the door opened. Ammas, Appas, an uncle and an auntie walked in, then halted before the cuteness. Bedlam ensued for a moment, then everyone stared at each other in delight.
IRONHIDE! YOU DID IT AGAIN!" -everyone
Ironhide grinned. "They wanted to be birds this year. They showed me which ones, then I got my lady in Vermont to make them along with someone in Switzerland for Sunspot."
Everyone looked at Sunspot who beamed back a smile as he stood in his costume holding his little pumpkin candy basket. He was a rubber ducky. He wore a rubber ducky body that hung from his shoulders from suspenders. A rubber ducky face helmet was on his helm and his little red optics shined from the eye holes. Long sleeves that were feathered covered his arms and his legs were orange leggings with big orange feet. "I LOVE THIS! I LOVE RUBBER DUCKS! I HAVE A COLLECTION!"
"He does," Ironhide said. "I have the soldiers and humans find them when they go to Earth. He has sailor ducks and soldiers ducks. All kind of rubber ducks."
They glanced at the others who smiled almost as one. Hero, Orion, Praxus and Prowler were ruby throated hummingbirds. They were garbed in crimson and emerald green suits with a long stiff tail and black leggings that covered their feet. Their chests shimmered with crimson red and their helms were covered with green helmets that had a long black beak sticking out. Orion turned to look at the others and for a moment they all bumped beaks. Then they looked up at Ironhide and smiled. He grinned back.
Everyone then turned to Halo or what appeared to be her. She was covered helm to ped in floofy white feathers that stuck out everywhere. Her arms were floofy wings, her legs covered in feathers that stuck out every which way. They went down to her peds and looked like a pile of down. On her helm was a floofy hat so filled with feathers sticking out everywhere that her little face wasn't easily seen. Feathers poofed upward and around her face and helm covering her while a huge plume of feathers on her little bottom sprayed out to nearly drag on the ground.
Everyone stared at her, then Ironhide. He grinned. "She's a fancy chicken."
Everyone stared at her, then they dived on the kids. They were snatched up immediately. Spot and Cousin who was left at home while the big kids went clubbing but would go with Ironhide sat side-by-side as they watched the show. Ironhide stared at his family, then frowned slightly. "Grabby slaggers."
"LET'S GO TRICK OR TREAT, ATAR!" Sunspot said as he held Uncle Flint and 'Uncle' STU-RT's hands.
"LET'S GO TRICK OR TREAT, WHINER!" -everyone there
They walked out with Big Grumpy regretting that Ratchet wasn't here to join the parade. It was hoped as they left that he would be able to come as soon as possible. Down the elevator they went, then out to the lobby where they trick or treated from the building supervisor and the Autobot City Homeowners Association which had a rep in every building for the kids.
Sunspot ambled along with his duck's body swaying with his every step. Outside they went where Prime's family and that of Bos, Co-D and Reflector were waiting. Everyone had a cute costume but few took it as far as Ironhide. All of them were acclaimed, Halo was admired in particular as she stood next to her amma looking like an exploded feather pillow. Then they walked onward to the slow amble up the street to the Temple, then back again that constituted trick or treating to the families.
Ratchet would be heavily missed.
-0-At Oasis Base in the medical infirmary
Ratchet watched as the patient was scanned, someone who had been too close to a fire fight and had lost half their face. He'd seen worse but not in a long time. It would take careful planning, a lot of hand work and nerves of steel to bring this one back. Two others waited, the bond of this one and their little daughter. He hated the Decepticons with a passion for a moment, then put it all aside. There would be no time for that now he thought as the gurney came back to him with his patient.
There would be no time for Halloween either.
-0-Temple at last
They stood at the balcony on the Temple steps overlooking the AllSpark and Well. Going downward with a firm grip on his hand, Hero with Drift made their way to the relics. Everyone watched as a tiny hummingbird walked to the Well and began to leave treats on the edge for the Pantheon. Maelstrom who held Halo listened as she asked endless questions and pointed here and there. He didn't know half of what she was saying but he nodded and said yes a lot.
After Hero was finished 'sharing, Drift because They give us a lot of Their own stuff', he carried her up and the mob continued, heading back to the barn on the other side of the street toward home. It took a while and many were the times the birds flocked toward the street before they were curbed. When they reached the intersection in front of their building a number of adult siblings took their leave to go on patrol or to parties all over the colony. Children were glommed by ammas and appas leaving Prowl, Prime, Ironhide and Cousin to watch the others go onward happily.
"WE'LL GET THEM TO SCHOOL! SEE YA! WOULDN'T WANT TO BE YA!"
"Fraggers," Ironhide said with a grin. He glanced at Prime and Prowl. "Well, I guess these means I get to eat anything I want and drink all the beer in the house."
"Sounds like it. Do you want to come to our place so I can hold your servo?" Prime asked with a grin.
"I'll let you know," Ironhide said as they turned to walk across the street to home. "I think I know where Ratchet's candy stash is."
They were gone in seconds.
-0-Upstairs
He sat in his chair with Cousin on his lap and Ratchet's big and varied candy stash in a bowl on the table next to him. He had a beer, a candy bar and a cat. Life was good. :Ratchet:
:WHAT!?:
:Bad timing?:
:Always bad timing when I'm fragged over. I have two more to go. How was trick or treating, you fragger:
:Don't hate me because I'm beautiful: Ironhide said as he peeled open another fine big candy bar. Amusement reached him over the bond as he took a big bite. :When you getting home?:
:Hard to say. These three are really slagged but if we do this slowly and methodically we can put them back together with very little to no data loss. How's Prowl?:
:Looked good to me when they went upward. Might not pop tonight. Wait until you get back to supervise. You supervised all of them so far: Ironhide said as he dug through the big pile of candy for something especially good, though all of it was. Ratchet did like his candy.
:He better not. Missing Halloween and all is bad enough. I'll really be fragged if he pulls that stunt on me:
-0-Upstairs
'WHAT DO I DO!?"
"Just sit a moment, Optimus. Let's let it pass first."
"OKAY! WHERE DO I SIT!?"
-0-Downstairs
"Ah, this is a Snickers bar. Let's see," Ironhide said as he peeled his next victim. "I like their commercials, slaggers. This better be good."
It was.
-0-Upstairs
"Do I call the ambulance now?"
"I think I can walk there, Optimus. It's only across the street."
"WHAT IF YOU CAN'T?! WHAT IF THE INFANT WANTS OUT NOW!?"
"I just think we -"
"I'M CALLING AN AIRLIFT! THEY CAN LAND ON THE BIG PATIO OUT BACK!"
"Optimus ..."
-0-Downstairs
"Mr. Goodbar. Mr … uh, Crunch bar. Mr. Salted Nutty Thing … yes, good stuff." Ironhide dug through and read names to himself of Cybertronian knockoffs of Earth candy. "Warheads. No mister there. I like the name. Warheads. Warrior food. Hmmm … not a lot in the pack. Maybe I'll just eat the whole thing and find something else …" Ironhide dumped the small packet of Warheads into his mouth and began to dig for something else.
Then he stood up and screamed.
-0-A rap on the door
Ironhide ran around the room screaming loudly as the door rapped. It opened and a frantic Optimus Prime glanced in along with a stammering placating Prowl. Then they both stopped in their tracks as Ironhide flashed past running in circles around the living room. "ARRRRBUAAAARRRRRR!" he exclaimed before he went to the sink and stuck his helm under the faucet. Water poured in and gushed as he swallowed and spit it out in turn. Bellowing in agony, he finally stood up water splashed and nearly cross eyed. "PWIME! WHATH THE FWAG! THOOT ME DEATH! NOW!"
-0-Metro Femme
Gypsy got the separation room in order as her team worked to get things organized. The protoform was laying in its box in a small device that would warm it up thereby making it extra enticing to the infant. It was quiet, soft music was playing and the chair was warmed up for Prowl who evidently was coming. There would be low lighting to create a nice calm atmosphere and nowhere would there be a sign of upset or distress anywhere-
The door swung open as Prime sidled in sideways. Carrying a protesting Prowl, he walked to the chair and gently placed him there. Turning to Gypsy, his affect one of disarray, he updated her on the sit-rep. "We took an air ambulance here. I was supposed to sit."
Gypsy stared at the Messiah of The People babbling, then stepped back as Ironhide lurched into the room with a purple tongue hanging out. "GETH THOME THITHORS! CUT ITH OTH! CUT ITH ALL OTH!"
So much for quiet and calm.
-0-In the hallway
They came in droves, the family and the usual crowd. Gathering to wait, they chatted softly together. The genitors of all concerned were already in there with Prowl and Prime who had been a bit on the flustered side this time around if the story was told. Ironhide was in emergency getting his own problems settled as the duty officer there swabbed a neutralizing agent on the inside of Ironhide's mouth. It was immediately effective and Ironhide in his gratitude hugged the doctor tightly. He then headed like a homing missile to the separation room and the vigil there.
-0-Out there
He finished the two adults including rebuilding the faces of both. Now the child would be taken care of with a deft touch and two replacement limbs. By the time that the three were wheeled into intensive care to recover, and they would, Halloween would be over and Team Prime would have a new player.
-0-Later that night
Ratchet tiptoed in, noted that no one was there but Ironhide, then lay down on the berth in weariness. He vented a petulant sigh. "You awake?"
"I am."
"I missed it all?"
"I have film." It was quiet a moment. "Uh, Ratchet? What do you know about a candy called Warheads?"
Ratchet grinned. "Well, you eat them one at a time. They're damned near lethal and I use them for booby trapping boobs."
It was silent.
[Grin] "You slagger."
"That's ME!" Ratchet said with a chuckle. "How's the mouth?"
"It'll recover in about a week."
"Good. Serves you right." [Grin]
[Grin] "Goodnight, Ratchet."
[Grin and hug] "Goodnight, Ironhide."
-0-TBC 11-4-18 edited 11-19-18
Google Warheads. Only someone with a death wish eats the whole pack at once. :D