The Diego Diaries: Date Knight (dd6 654)

=0=Clubbin'

They wandered to the metro and took the train to Retriades. Getting on a car one down from them, Rockwell and three of his friends and family joined them. Prime sat down heavily as the unaccustomed feeling of high grade and the accompanying sensation of 'letting go' made itself known. Prowl stood beside him leaning against Prime's big body as he held onto a rail.

Ironhide held a strap and was showing the beginning of an epic buzz. He had stuck to beer which was a slower train to Oblivion Town than high grade but would get him there eventually. Ratchet was feeling no pain. He smiled and waved at the other passengers as he stood behind Ironhide so he wouldn't fall over.

It was an epic ride to the stop they wanted and when they arrived they walked out and headed for the stairs. Behind them, Rockwell and Company followed. Reaching the street, they walked down the sidewalk and took a left at 8th and Carbide as 'C' Street was officially known here. The store fronts were lit but most places were closed except for bars and restaurants.

They walked two blocks and saw ahead of them the gigantic figure of The Sports Center at Retriades. It was lit with lights and there were games going, local pick up games by clubs that played each other. Other facilities inside allowed its multiple use by both professionals and civilians sportsmen and femmes.

Because it was such a busy and sports oriented place, there were a lot of bars, restaurants and clubs all around it. Some of the clubs were bars that served food and drink while a few others were dance clubs. They were heading for one now, The Wilted Flower. No one could parse the story behind the name but most liked it. They entered the busy noisy club and found a booth against the back wall.

A waiter materialized out of thin air, took their order, touched Prime, then hurried off.

Ratchet smiled at Prime. "I can see you're still holy."

Prime laughed. "Give it time."

"You're always going to be holy, Osimus," Prowl said. "First Disciple of Primus," he said, then looked around at the other dancers, booth patrons and worker bees. "FIRST DISCIPLE OF PRIMUS, HERE!" he called out.

Others paused their merriment to look, then grinned and nodded their helms.

"Prowl is blitzed. Prowler," Ratchet said leaning closer to the big cop. "You're drunk."

Prowl leaned forward to Ratchet. "No, I'm not drunk. You are," he said, then sat back to giggle.

Prime slipped his arm around Prowl. "You are loyal, Prowl. Did I ever tell you how much I liked that about you?"

Prowl looked up at him with a sickly look of unabashed love on his face. "No, but you can."

The drinks came, mercifully, then they swagged them down.

Ironhide who was buzzing somewhere in his processor looked at Ratchet. "HOW ABOUT A DANCE, OLD MECH!? LET'S SHOW THEM HOW ITS DONE!"

"You're on," Ratchet said. He slid out and nearly fell, catching himself before turning to Ironhide.

Ironhide slid out then they hugged each other. Ratchet wrapped his legs around Ironhide, then the two staggered toward the dance floor. Ratchet who was smiling as he looked over Ironhide's broad shoulder waved happily to Prime and Prowl before they disappeared into the mob.

Prime who was guffawing glanced down at Prowler. "How about a dance?"

"Sure," Prowl said as he slid out. He swayed a moment, then straightened.

Prime slid, stood, then the two walked to the dance floor to show the others how it was done.

Rockwell and the others who were standing at the end of the long, long bar nearby watched them go.

Ironhide and Ratchet 'danced' madly around the dance floor sometimes together and sometimes not as they let their hair down. It was hilarious and they were terrific at it. It would have been better if they had stayed together but both of them were three sheets to the wind and didn't even notice they were wandering.

At the edge of the boiling pot, Prime and Prowl swayed together, holding each other tightly. The music didn't match their movements but neither cared. They were making their own.

=0=At the Jail House (Now)

Springer and Drift watched the five kids follow the guards to the lock up. A medic had checked Rudy over and found him bruised but sound. He limped off with a bad attitude but didn't say a word. Springer turned to the group. "Thanks for coming. The floor show is over so tip your waitresses."

A lot of laughter and rude commentary came back to him as he walked out with Drift. Everyone saddled up and began to ride out again as another police van arrived with its treasures.

=0=Dancin'

They danced and drank, joked, laughed and talked about everything but work. When it was time to meander onward, they rose together and staggered out. The air outside was bracing but because they weren't organic it didn't do much for their sobriety. Walking to the metro, they gathered together before going down the stairs.

Ironhide was still upright, holding his own against the beer-tsunami that he was surfing.

Prime was tipsy and coherent but his 'little buddy' was feeling it a lot.

Prowl leaned into him, holding his arm.

Everyone glanced at Ratchet. He was shit faced. He smiled. "HOW ABOUT DONUTS!?"

Prime giggled then glanced at Prowl. "How about donuts, little buddy?"

"WHATEVER YOU WANT!" Prowl said. He saw a couple walk past, then straightened up. "FIRST DISCIPLE OF PRIMUS, HERE!" he called out as he pointed at Prime.

Prime laughed loudly, then steered Prowl toward the steps. Ironhide followed then so did Ratchet. Ironhide only fell down the last three stairs before standing up again.

Ratchet went down them so fast he ran off the platform and fell onto the train tracks. Optimus pulled him back up. They stood together merrily waiting.

"That was fun. I wish I was sober enough to enjoy this more," Ratchet said with a laugh.

Prowl grinned. "You're a drunk. You're a … a … a drunken."

Ratchet stared at him, then laughed loudly. "YOU ARE, TOO!"

The train arrived so they turned to it. A number of individuals got off before they could get on but then they did occupying a car by themselves. That was when Rockwell and his friends got on, too, moving to the back to sit unobtrusively. The train then sped off heading for the city of Tyger Pax.

Ratchet sat heavily and so did Ironhide. Prime and Prowl stood as Prowl gripped Prime around the waist. They swayed with the train, then when it halted walked to the door together. Ironhide joined them as Ratchet floundered trying to rise. The three of them walked out the train door without noticing. By the time the train began to move, the door was closing on Ratchet. Away they went, Ratchet this time lost to the ages on the Circle Line.

By the time Prime, Ironhide and Prowl reached The Donut Hole, they sat before they saw that Ratchet wasn't with them. They stared at each other, then Prime stood. "Where's Ratchet?" he asked no one in particular.

=0=On the 'A' Train

Ratchet stared at the door as the train began to pick up speed. Sitting nearby unnoticed, Rockwell and his three friends watched. Ratchet placed his servos on the door and watched the lights flash by as they sped along. They were going toward The City and would reach the first stop, The Basilica in moments.

Rockwell glanced at the others and they nodded back. When the train slid into the station, they got up to go and gently pushed Ratchet out the door with them. The train platform was empty as they began to walk to the stairs with a groggy Ratchet with them. They disappeared upward.

=0=At The Donut Hole

Prime sat down again, then dialed in Springer. :Prime to Springer. You there?:

:Springer to Prime. Are you sober?:

:No. We're missing Ratchet. We got on the train and got off at Tyger Pax to go to The Donut Hole. When we got here we found we were missing Ratchet:

:Stay there. We're on it. Springer out: He glanced at the others who were riding along with him. "Prime just called. He's slag faced with Ironhide and Prowl. They lost Ratchet at Tyger Pax. Maybe. They're at The Donut Hole. I told them to stay there and we'd find Ada."

The mechs with him grinned as Springer put in a call to the Emergency Command Center and asked them to find Ratchet on the grid. They did. He was at The Basilica.

Springer grinned at the others. "He's at The Basilica. Let's book it," he said as he tapped his horse to get going. The entire group rode like the wind along the side of the highway heading toward The Basilica of the Primes.

=0=The Donut Hole

"Springer'll find him. He's a drunken," Prowl said. "He's probably … he got lost. Poor Ratchet. HE'S SUCH A GOOD MECH!" Prowl said near to tears.

Ironhide and Prime stared at him as the waiter brought strong 'coffee' and more donuts. "Here, Lord Optimus. All of you drink this. It helps," he said as he grinned at two big drunks and a maudlin crybaby who was the second most powerful person among their species, Prowl himself.

"Thank you, youngling," Prime said sweetly as he picked up the cup. "I do not usually do this but its date night."

The youngster grinned. "I'm glad you do it. You're welcome here any time."

They chatted sweetly together, Optimus, a stuperous Ironhide, a nice waiter and a sniffling Prowl.

=0=Springer and the Boyz

They reached The Basilica, then dismounted. The entire area was lit so they saw here he wasn't. Scanning the area, they spread out. It was Lon who found him. "SPRINGER!"

Springer and the others came running then saw Ratchet lying flat on his back. He was unconscious and looked like he'd been beaten up. He scanned Ratchet even as Drift put in a call for pick up by the Med Center. "Ada?" he asked with a churning gut.

Ratchet groaned then glanced at him. "Springer."

"What the frag happened to you?" Springer asked with a sense of relief that almost was overwhelming.

"Hell if I know," he said then closed his optics.

It would be a tense wait for the roundabout to take them to the Medical Center Annex in Tyger Pax.

=0=A half joor later

First Aid, Drift and Kup walked into The Donut Hole. They halted by Prime's table. "Hi, Optimus. You tied one on?"

Prime grinned. "I think so. Date night."

Drift grinned then nodded to First Aid. He WiFi-ed the cure to each of them and it slammed in almost immediately.

Ironhide sat straighter then held his helm. "Frag. That was … that hurt."

"Come on," Drift said. "We found Ratchet."

Ironhide glanced up sharply. "Where is he?"

"At the Med Center in Tyger Pax," Drift said. "He fell down."

"What the frag? Is he alright?" Ironhide said as he stood up nearly tipping the table over. Prime and Prowl stood up right behind him.

"He is. He's getting patched," Drift said. "Come on."

They hurried outside, transformed and began to drive to Tyger Pax. Riding along behind and keeping up, Drift and Kup followed. They themselves were followed by First Aid.

=0=Emergency Room, Autobot City Medical Center Annex #15, Tyger Pax

Ironhide, Prime and Prowl walked past a group of Watch mechs, the 'usual crowd' that worked with Drift and Springer, then entered the room.

Ratchet was sprawled on the med berth and doctors were working on him.

Ironhide froze in place, then hurried to the berth. He leaned over Ratchet. "Ratchet?" he asked with fear.

Ratchet opened his optics then looked up. "Hi, Only One. Where the frag were you?" he asked. Then he closed them again.

=0=TBC 5-6-19