The Diego Diaries: Carry On (dd6 666) (lucky number) ;)
=0=The morning after
/ … nice tile .../
Ratchet rolled over to stare at the ceiling of his wash room. He was laying on the floor in his own because he saw familiar things here and there related to child care. There was no sound in the apartment so he got up on his hands and knees, then crawled toward the door.
Somewhere in his fogged skull was the script to launch his cure but that was muddled at the moment. He crawled into the hallway, remembered the configuration, then sent the cure in to fill his processor with light. It did. He sat back, groaned slightly, then glanced around. Ironhide was no where to be seen.
He vaguely remembered the game, another win for Iacon and dancing with wild abandon at the club. He remembered drinking a lot, eating a lot and laughing. Standing slowly, he walked to the berth room to pause in the doorway. Sprawling where he fell on the huge berth, Ironhide was sawing logs. Grinning at the big galoot, Ratchet walked out to check out who, what, where and when he was.
He looked at the pet bowls, a dish for Spot and Cousin and a little low slung manger for the cow. None of them appeared to be here and he wondered foggily where they were. Everyone had gotten everyone it would appear so they would have to dine out. That is, if he could get Ironhide up. That's when he remembered his bagpipes and regretted that Alor had stolen them. He knew Alie would but still … his tambourine, his bagpipes and the like. He'd bring a grand piano next time.
/ … try and frisbee *that* across the parking lot, Prowl .../ He chuckled, rummaged in the cupboard for a heavy pot and heavy spoon, then walked to the berth room to deliver reveille on Ironhide's helm.
[Silence]
[Loud bashing sounds of metal on metal]
[Inhuman roar and much flouncing around as huge mechanism rises straight up, loses balance and falls backward to bounce off the berth and land on the floor]
[Silence]
"RISE AND SHINE!"
"FRAG THAT!"
"GET UP, SLAGGER! LEAST YOU CAN DO LEAVING ME ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR ALL NIGHT!"
"YOU WERE DRUNK OFF YOUR AFT, OLD MECH! *I AM IRONHIDE*!"
"FRAG YOU, *IRONHIDE*! TAKE ME TO BREAKFAST!"
"I, IRONHIDE WILL TAKE YOU TO BREAKFAST! *GET OFF MY SLAGGING FOOT*!"
"Oh, sorry."
"I should hope so."
[Sounds of a huge mechanism getting off the floor, then walking to the wash rack. Sound of water running, then the overhead dryer. Sounds of the other big mech straightening the berth]
"Where is everyone?"
"Still with the others. Frankly, Ironhide, I don't really believe we have kids sometimes."
"You and me both. Let's have a half dozen more."
"I'll catch. I promise not to drop them."
"You're slagging delusional, old mech. I AM IRONHIDE! I DON'T PITCH!"
[Sounds of two big mechanisms walking out of the hallway]
"Diner On The Corner?" Ironhide asked as Ratchet checked the mail.
"Sounds good to me. Should we do reveille on everyone?" Ratchet asked.
Ironhide tossed Ratchet the spoon and pan. "After you."
Ratchet chuckled as he walked to the door, then out into the hallway with a smirking Ironhide. "Your folks first, then?"
"Indubitably," Ironhide replied as the door closed behind him.
=0=Blackjack and Allie's
They snored loudly as the cow slept on his little soft bed by their berth room window. The cow heard someone come in and was watching the doorway as Ironhide and Ratchet sneaked in.
Ironhide liberated Flipper, putting him in his carry hold before dialing down the sound. He grinned at Ratchet who walked to the berth, held out the pan, then began to beat on it with the spoon.
Blackjack rose up and so did his guns. Alor was levitating next to him and as he did he jumped up to fight. Both of them turned on Ratchet. "WHAT THE FRAG!?" -both of them
"RISE AND SHINE!" Ratchet said with a chuckle. "What about Diner On The Corner?"
They stared at Ratchet as Blackjack subbed his guns. "You're lucky to be alive, slagger," he said with a grin.
"You're lucky to have me," Ratchet said with a grin. "Let's go. I'm hungry."
Grumbling was supreme as they gathered themselves together. They walked out to see Ratchet 'subtly' searching for his bagpipes.
Alor laughed. "They're still in my hold, slagger. HA-HA!"
"You'll need me, slagger," Ratchet said with a grin. "Some fine orn, you will need me."
"HA-HA!" Alie said. "Never." He grinned at Ratchet, slapped Ironhide on the butt, then walked to the door. "Get a move on, slackers. Mama needs a platter this morning. I'm hungry."
They followed, grousing all the way. Picking up the elders across the hallway who were already up, they headed out with kids in holds, levity in mind and a spring in their step. Iacon was just that much closer to the crown.
=0=Topside
Prowl took a vial of the cure, sipped it down, then walked to the berth where Optimus sat slumped over with a hangover. "Here. This will take care of it," he said as he handed Prime one.
He sipped it gratefully, then rose to stretch. "Thank you, Prowl. That made the difference."
"I have a pipeline into Gypsy," Prowl said with a grin. "We have to go to the Diner. Everyone will be there and the kids will be with them. By the way, the news is filled with reports about the game last night both here, Cybertron and Earth. You looked marvelous in them."
Prime grinned as he watched Prowl bus the bed. The winger was so loyal it hurt sometimes. "Iacon is that much closer to a championship."
"That's because you captain and mentor the team. It makes the difference," Prowl said as he finished, then turned to Prime.
"I was thinking about joining Iacon for football next season. So was Raptor and his family," Prime said. He was teasing but some part of him wanted to do it. He was always athletic and loved sports. All of the sports his people excelled in, he loved. It amused him to see the look of surprise, then grimness that animated Prowl at this news.
"I don't think you need to worry about that, Optimus," Prowl said as he began to gently push Prime to the door. "No need to get over enthused. You're a champion at basketball and we know you'd be the same at football but that's much more dangerous."
"It is a bit of a thrilling game. We used to play it on the empty lot near our district. I was a good center and kept the fast mechs from getting easy scores. I was thinking about how much good will we create when we show something of our selves to the humans." Every part of his helm was laughing loudly as he poked Prowl's propriety.
It would be a very humorous discussion all the way to the lobby and the walk to the Diner down the way.
=0=At breakfast
They came in, some later, some sooner and joined the group. Breakfast and drinks were served, highlights of the game revisited and children shared around the room.
"Where are you going to put the championship trophy, Prime?" Hercy asked down table.
Prime grinned. "If we win, I am going to put it on the mantle in my genitor's house."
Kes and Tagg glanced up at him from their conversation with Miler and Ravel. They grinned at him and he, them. "That would be uncommonly kind, son," Kestrel said. "I do believe that you will win this championship. You always were good at sports."
Awws went up for Kes and Tagg as everyone chowed down again.
Springer and Drift walked in with a couple of mechs who usually joined them. Most of the night crew was already here but for them. They pulled chairs, then sat heavily.
"What's the word, infant?" Kup asked.
"We had a long night. Lots of arrests for drunk and disorderly. A few really rough fights. Magistrate's Court will require most of us there to get through pleadings," Drift said.
"Gangs. Gangs will be the end of me," Springer said. "Coppos, Southies and all of them including a new one that came in the last few decaorns and is known only by a sign, a streak of red paint with a star at one end."
"I've seen that around," Lon said. "Most of the places it shows up remove the marks right away. The business district in Crater District, City Four has a lot of them. Maybe they're marking their territory there."
"Hauser thinks so. He's going to canvass that area and see if anyone is putting the arm on anyone," Springer said as his food arrived.
"Get them," Chromia said as Maelstrom nodded.
"I want the gangs ended," Prime said. "I am not sure that it can happen but I want them over."
The discussion of how to do that lasted a bit, then the conversation turned to the humans.
Bezel glanced at Ratchet. "I saw a bunch of humans at the gate of the Temple, Ratchet. They were looking inside but not going in. I didn't recognize them. They were in trucks that bore the insignias of Earth2. I thought you might want to know."
Ratchet glanced at Bezel. "Thanks, infant. I know that more of them are certified to be outside. I imagine that they want to go inside but I don't see it happening any time soon. I do like Cynthia Tomas. She's a good person and cares about making things right between us and that group. Any word on the murders?"
Springer shrugged. "No. We have the balance problem. Do we prosecute and lose an opportunity or do we just maintain?"
"How are the two in jail?" Prime asked.
Springer glanced down table toward him. "They're bored and restless but they're not ready to speak. They're represented by a law firm here, Diablo and Sons, that did a lot of alien related law on Cybertron. They're going to be taking care of the business end of their arrests and will represent them if there's a hearing or trial ahead."
"Good," Prime said. "Can you alert my legal aide who they are so we can be fully appraised of their status and desires?"
"I will," Springer said.
They dined onward, sitting back to talk a bit, then it was time to move onward. Little kids were plucked up to go to their homes, adults chatted and made plans. A camp out was on the books for some of them so they could practice their barbecue. Since it was the theme for their next Thanksgiving contest, some of them were getting on it now.
Outside, the city was bustling. Horns honked as mechs and femmes waved when they spotted Iaconian players in the group. By the time infants were gathered, they were on their way. Heading toward home, Ironhide and Company parted with Prime and Company toward the tower.
Prime and Company were going to the Temple with Venture and Miler to attend to a private ceremony for Praxians of their persuasion that coincided with the orn.
Reaching the apartment at last, infants rushed in, dancing and chattering as they were unharnessed. Running off to the berth rooms of choice, the living room was vacated in seconds.
Ratchet and Ironhide stood in a big empty as even Cousin, Robby the Bruce and Spot ambled off. Then after a second, before they could even find their chairs, all of the smallest kids were back. They stared down at them, then Orion who was smiling like a Halloween pumpkin began his plea.
"ADA! ATAR! I, ORION DOED COMING TO THIS THING? PAX COMED TO DOIN'? I, ORION GOOD! I DOIN'! COMED ME TO THIS!? I DOIN'?"
Ironhide and Ratchet stared at Orion, then each other, then Orion and finally Hero The Translator. "What?" -both of them
Hero who was holding Halo's servo smiled. "Orion wants to know if he and Praxus can sleep in Sunspot's room now."
Both Ironhide and Ratchet blinked with surprise as Ironhide leaned closer to Orion and Praxus. "Why?"
"I DOIN'! I GOED DERE TO DOIN'! I LOVE POT! I LOVE PAX! WE DOIN'!" Then he smiled a giant smile of hope and hopefulness.
It was silent a moment, then Ratchet called down to the other end of the apartment. "SUNSPOT!"
Running feet led to a smiling Seeker infant, a bouncing dog, a shambling cow and a slightly intrigued cat. "WHAT!?" he asked with a giant smile.
"Orion and Praxus want to sleep in your room," Ironhide said.
Sunspot brightened. "YOU DO!?"
Orion hugged himself, then Praxus, then Hero and Halo together, then himself again. "YES!"
Sunny smiled at them, then upward to Ironhide and Ratchet. "THAT WOULD BE FUN!"
It was bedlam a moment, then it settled as half a dozen hopeful little kids looked up at their genitors.
"Okay." -both of them
Cue the Hallelujah Chorus
=0=Moments later
Ratchet and Ironhide sat in their chairs watching the parade as Orion and Praxus moved their night time babies and blankies to the other end of the apartment, dragging them along as they set up for the evening's sleep. They tried to take other bigger things such as their furniture but that was disallowed.
Prowler who usually just watched life cavort around him was following behind each trip, holding his tiny bear with a giant smile. Whatever they were doing, he was good to go.
Halo and Hero were in the berth room with Hero supervising the placement of babies and blankies, night toys and doodads on the two lowest berths.
It was hilarious.
"Little mechs are brothers," Ironhide said with a slightly maudlin tone to his voice.
"They are." Ratchet grinned. "Maybe you can have Scout over to bunk with Robby. No sense letting these little slaggers get ahead of you."
Ironhide laughed. "I AM IRONHIDE! NO ONE GETS THE DROP ON ME!"
Ratchet laughed. "Get me a soda, Ironhide."
"Okay," he said as he rose with a grin.
It would be good times in the apartment for a while longer.
=0=TBC 5-21-19