The Diego Diaries: Onward (dd6 523)
-0-Later that night
Prowl lay the baby on the berth tucking it in with the softest blankets, those used by the other babies. He in his own way was as sentimental as Ironhide about memory and ties that bound. Staring at the infant who had fallen into sleep, he considered the next orn. They would go to work at Ops Center while Bluestreak commandeering the twins would manage the party which would host several hundred individuals. The bulk of the well wishers would make their comments and contacts through the page he had created online for them to do so.
It would be ungainly and unmanageable to do otherwise. He had checked the list of those who were given direct invites, then those who were mentioning they would come. The humans would come, those who had freedom and those who didn't would get the ceremony via close circuit broadcast. All of the habitats but for The Resort would see the ceremony which would be broadcast to the colony. They had already taped an interview of the event which would be broadcast on The Hourly News later that orn.
Fireworks would be part of the celebration all over the colony for the new infant and Prime's happiness. That was a given. Until then, it was just the family who knew and had seen the baby, the perfect little infant that had been so unexpected.
He turned to Prime who was sitting on the chair in their berth room reading a data pad that had the latest intel from all over. "Anything important?"
"Earth is divided between deep dismay and a sort of strange resignation and surprise that it didn't happen sooner. Much is being made over our early objections that having a mass of humans here would lead to something like this. There are noises being made about sending a team here from a lot of different agencies to assist and help to oversee the investigation."
Prowl sniffed with insult. "Do you suppose they know that a senior detective of the Praxus Municipal Police who was on loan to everyone is heading the investigation?"
Prime sat back and grinned at Prowl. "No, but I will be glad to tell them."
Prowl chuckled, then sat on his lap. Hugging Prime's neck, he looked at him. "Did you know that Halo was supposed to be separated on Halloween last year? Now we have this one on Halloween. Trick or treat," he said with a grin.
Prime hugged him. "Thanks. Its the best prank ever."
-0-Down below
"Ada?"
"What?"
"Lou good me?"
"Yep."
Silence a moment.
"Atar?"
"What?"
'Lou good me?"
"Yep."
Silence a moment.
"Ho-Ho?"
"What, Orion?"
"Lou good me?"
"I am, Orion. Atar? Are you good?"
"I am, Hero. Are you?"
"I am." [Pause] "Ada?"
"What?"
"Are you good? Atar and Orion are."
"I'm good."
Silence.
"Ada?"
"What, Praxus?"
"I love you."
[grin] "I love you, too."
"Atar? Ada?"
"What, Hero?" -Both
"I love you. Thank you for letting us recharge with you."
"No problem. What about you, Sunspot?" -Both
"I'm great. What about you, Orion?"
"I LOVE POT! I, ORION LOVE POT! DO YOU LOVE POT, HO-HO!?"
"I LOVE SUNSPOT! THIS IS SO FUN!"
It would go on like that for a while.
-0-Morning at last
They sat at the table eating with the big kids who didn't mind sleeping in their own beds for some reason. Mostly, the little ones had fallen asleep at last only to be awakened by Halo standing in her bassinet beside the big berth looking at them as she waited for company. When no one awakened she threw her bed toys at them until they did. Then it all began again.
"Atar? Do you love Halo? SHE'S MY SISTER!"
"I do, Hero. I love her best when she's recharging. She looks silent then."
"I love Hay-po. She my she."
"She's your she, Orion?" -Praxus
"She my she. She you she, Pax?"
"She is my she," Praxus said as he lay in his spot with his dollie. Beside him, Spot lay with a bemused expression as they all lined the vast cavern that was the space between their genitors. It would go on again for a bit.
In the here and now ...
"The buses are going to be here and you're still eating. Hustle, you little slaggers and get this … you recharge in your own berths tonight. Our bed springs can't take it." Ratchet hustled to get them up and running, then the big kids gathered their gear. Ratchet glanced at them. "Any lunches needed?"
"No," Fireball said with a smile. "You looked scared a moment there."
"I was," Ratchet said with a laugh. "HUSTLE, SHORTIES! BUSES WAIT FOR NO ONE!"
The usual bedlam ensued before the elders came and collected them. Out they went and the place was silent again. Ironhide and Ratchet stared at the door. "That was … something," Ratchet said.
"It was. I'll figure out what later on. Come on. We have to hustle." Ironhide slammed the door on the dishwasher, set the dial and timer, then both headed out for Ops Center.
-0-Ops Center
It was quiet there as the morning began to gather from the darkness outside into the brightness inside. No one was going to their districts today because of the ceremony and party. Some of them worked in their offices in direct contact with Cybertron but they would stay for the hoo-hah, then go there in the afternoon.
Ratchet and Ironhide walked across the vast floor to the table where Prowl sat working like the dedicated former cop and all around obsessive individual that he was. They pulled chairs to sit and he looked up. "Hello, Prowler. What's the plan for the party?" Ratchet asked.
"Well, it's going to be perfection as usual. Great food, a lot to drink, mostly exceptional company … oh, wait. You two are going to be there," he said with a grin.
"You're full of it already and you haven't had your first drink," Ratchet said with a snicker.
"Don't tie one on yet," Prowl said. "You're going to do the speech."
Ratchet grinned, then nodded. "Okay."
Prowl looked at Ironhide. "You'll do the introduction."
"Is that an order?" Ironhide asked.
"Consider it. I could always put a few demerits on your performance evaluations if you'd rather," Prowl said as he sat back to shoot the shit.
"Do we have those?" Ratchet asked as he filched a donut from Prowl's plate before Ironhide ate them all with both hands.
"We do now," Prowl said as he frowned at both.
"Where's the infant?" Ratchet asked.
"Here," Prowl said with a grin as he patted his chassis. "This kid stays there until I show the baby off." He grinned again. "You thought I'd use a pronoun and let you know gender didn't you. But I, Prowl of Praxus didn't fall for that slag."
"No, you didn't and that's why you're my hero," Ratchet said.
"You better not say another word, Prowl because he's winding up to get you to make a slip," Ironhide said as Prime walked into the room, then headed toward the table to sit.
"Saved by the boss," Prowl said as Prime sat.
"I will not ask," Prime said.
"Good on you," Prowl said.
"How are the funeral arrangements for Dobbs coming along?" Ratchet asked.
"We are giving him a state processional, a full salute and a send off with Silverbolt and a Seeker flight. You will ride along as Ambassador and officiate at the point of arrival at Ramstein Airbase," Prime said as he took one of Prowl's donuts.
"That'll be a good idea. No sense being as small as some are on Earth. Though, I think I can imagine their feelings," Ratchet said. "They want to come here and be part of the investigation? Did I read that right?"
"They want to. We're going to invite a few of their policemen to come, perhaps the FBI and Interpol … maybe a group from around Earth but the investigation remains with me. I'm running it," Prowl said.
Everyone nodded. They chatted away for a while, cleared up some things for Earth, then broke to go their way before meeting up at the Central Labor Hall for the party at 1150 hours on the TMC.
-0-Elsewhere just before show time
The Family humans had gathered to eat lunch earlier and were going to the Central Labor Hall in groups. It was going to be easier to get everyone there who wanted to go by driving in a convoy. By the time they swung by N.E.S.T. HQ and the Sciences Habitat, it was nearly noon. Driving madly, a long line of heavy duty heavily packed vehicles were already inside and rolling down the road that led to the room where the party was to be held. It would be a ten mile drive to get there.
-0-Inside
They came, hordes of family, friends and well wishers. Arriving at the door, chatting with Bluestreak, Miler, Kes, Tagg and Venture who were there to greet them, they walked in, got a loaded plate and a drink, then walked to tables to sit. Arriving just behind them and ahead of the humans, Prime and Prowl were feted in along with Ratchet, Ironhide and their mob. They came and came, soldiers, friends, family and all the rest to pay their respects and check out the newest little Autobot. It was happy, familial and fun.
There were no little kids running around. They would stay in school and the parental units would par-tay.
Win-win.
They came and came and came. Among them would be Shadow and Zenith.
-0-At human habitats all around the place
Earth 1 was busy in the swing of their orn as Brandon Clark and his wife walked to the hatch with the Wilkersons and Angus. They were going to represent the facility at the party and took with them all the bitching and whining of them what couldn't come. It was a happy trio and a small child that walked out to their vehicle and pulled out to go to town.
Earth 2 was busy in their day as the humans gathered near screens or in the big theater to watch the party which was already being broadcast. The images were amazing, the crowds were as well and everyone wished they were there. No one was coming from this facility due to the circumstances so they made due with the broadcast.
The management sat in a conference room watching the screen and commenting now and again about this and that bot, this and that group. It would be educational and oddly warm and familiar.
Unidad had sent their delegation, the Epps family, the Haddens as well as Carly and Sam. They all drove together and reached the party at about the same time as the others. No one was coming from the Consulate so they were the last humans to arrive. Much was made of them by commentators on the M.C.A. as they pulled up outside, walked to the door and ended up being carried to tables to join in on the fun. It was amusing, entertaining and illuminating to both the humans watching here and those on the other end of the M.C.A.
Ratchet sat with his food and drink across from Prime and Prowl. "I'm surprised you're allowing this broadcast to Earth."
"I think they need to see some of their assumptions are wrong. Besides, who wouldn't want to be here?" Prowl asked with a grin.
"Who indeed?" Ratchet replied. Then he rapped his knuckles. Everyone everywhere halted their business, then turned toward him. He smiled brilliantly. "Thanksgiving is Thursday upcoming and we're having our annual food contest, remember. It's candy and I plan to win," he continued before getting buried in derision and laughter. He smirked back. "Slaggers. Wait until you see the statues."
"I have just the place for mine," Hercy said as Kup nodded. "I don't know about everyone else but the first place trophy is going next to the others."
Huge laughter and derision, some fear and some resignation met that declaration.
Ratchet chuckled, then looked at Prowl. "You really, really need to see this year's trophies."
A shudder ran through Prowl's central strut in spite of himself.
-0-TBC 11-16-18 edited 11-24-18
:D