The Diego Diaries: Thanksgiving (dd8 577)

=0=Morning

The kids left with the usual suspects giving that today was Thanksgiving, an official holiday shared with humans and one liked by the bots for obvious reasons, which meant the schools were closed . Today was a day to eat, drink and give thanks. The first two parts were favored activities in the martial society of the Cybertronians. The femmes and the appas had the kids. The rest of them could goof off if their portion of the contest and food was finished. Or they could hustle their tin cans to get things organized.

Ratchet sat on his chair eating chocolate covered popcorn out of his favorite dish as he watched the news. Everyone was gone. He had a huge box of buns, several kinds of flavored butter and his candy entry all tended to. Now he could relax and get caught up on the world.

=0=The Hourly News: THANKSGIVING DAY! 0800 TMC

"Welcome. My name is Battery and I'm filling in for Lim-Lee until 1300 joors on the TMC when music will be played on the channel until 2000 joors to allow everyone to have Thanksgiving off for food and family. Today is a shared holiday with our human community where many celebrate a day of Thanksgiving in different countries on Earth. Even though they don't fall on the same orn, each of them, the sentiment is similar.

"Today, this is a time to gather with family and friends to spend time together, share a meal and relax. For those of you who don't have family or any place to go for whatever reason you may have, there are gathering places all over the colony for you to attend. Every senior citizen location on world will be hosting a buffet and music for those who wish to attend. You do not have to be a senior to do so. Also, the clubs for sub adults will also be hosting supervised parties for sub adult children.

"In all the Recreational Rooms located everywhere in the colony, the Colonial Committee has arranged a buffet and no host bar. Games from the football as well as the current basketball seasons will be played as will a full length presentation of the Father's Day Golf Tournament held at our very own course earlier in the year.

If you want to mingle, even if you have a place to go, check The Community Bulletin Board files for 'Thanksgiving Amusements' to see where dining, dancing and community can be found.

"Given the national status of this holiday, the emergency services and military will be on shortened joors, two apiece before being relieved. There will be no slacking in vigilance and response times for emergencies will not be affected. All of the individuals involved in both groups are on-call for anything that might emerge. By Primal Decree, the mechs and femmes who protect and take care of us have the orn off as well pending unforeseen circumstances.

"Turning to other Thanksgiving news, the Human Habitat Consortium Council issued invitations for any humans who wish to attend a large dance at Unidad Terra 1. In the past there have been banquets for everyone held there but given the enormity of the population now, the decision made was to have banquets at home habitats, then come for a party and dancing at Terra. Prima Station is sending their leadership delegation while the remaining population will stay on station to have a group party. Humans will be on the road and on the Metro this evening coming and going so everyone is asked to be vigilant themselves."

=0=Ratchet

"Do. I hate goo and I don't really know how to put the slaggers together again," he said as he ate popcorn and chatted off line with Prowl, Turbine and Delphi. Alor was making the last part of the thing he was bringing, then he'd come to shoot the slag with Ratchet.

All was good in their world.

=0=The Boyz, Grrlz and the Kidz

They stood in the Play Land watching the kids chase around in a tiny maze. They could see each other, something that was HYSTERICAL! but they couldn't go to each other directly. Running up and down and around, they screeched and played furiously.

"Genius." -Raptor

Everyone of the mechs and femmes nodded.

"Wouldn't need a babysitter with this." -Raptor

Everyone of the mechs and femmes nodded.

"I could have used one for you, hoodlum. I could've put you in the maze and taken a vacation." Hard Drive with a grin

Everyone of the mechs and femmes including Raptor nodded.

=0=At the party site, Maxi, Blondi and The Teamâ„¢

They organized the place to the nth degree, then sat down together to plan the contest like it was the Normandy Invasion. By the time the first guests began to arrive shortly all would be well. More than well, it would be perfect.

=0=Around the place

"You got the entry?" Hercy asked as he picked up a box with pies, Cybertronian sweet buns and other delicacies.

"I do. I also dusted the spot for it on the mantle," Kup said with a smirk.

"Good thing, Recruit. I feel lucky," Hercy said as the two walked out of their comfortable homey apartment. Between Kup's minimalist tendencies, Hercy's latent need to recreate his old home in Helex and their army trained neat streaks, their apartment was beautiful. The door closed behind them both.

=0=Around the place

"Are you ready, Neo?" Laret asked as she stood by the door with a madly smiling Fifi. The tiny femme wore a green onesie with a Christmas ornament hoodie and little mittens that looked like gingerbread men.

Neo hurried out of the hallway carrying Fifi's baby bag and rushed to the kitchen to pick up the hamper with their dishes and entry. "I can't wait. Let's go, La-La," she said, calling her bond by the name most of the kids used in their schools.

They hurried out the door and it closed silently behind them.

=0=Riding the Metro and having a great time

Joon and Vinn along with their three sons, three sons-in-law and four grandchildren sat on the Metro with Lucien, Lazlo, Partition and Lancer, Morius, Inweld and their two beaus. They were heading for the next stop where Proteus, Madura and their baby Rugur would join them. All of the others were on their way already and would meet them at Banquet Room 113 in the Central Labor Hall where their bashes were always held.

Chatting together about football, Lucien and Vinn along with Inweld who wanted to play in the next season were debating the merits of Iacon and Praxus when the train slowed into a station. On the platform waiting were Edict and Hobbes with sons along with Proteus and his family. The doors opened and they all stepped on board.

"Hobbes. Edict. I thought you went ahead," Lazlo said as he made room on the seat.

Edict sat, then grinned at Lazlo. "We decided to go together. Everyone else will be at the party. I can't wait to see who wins."

Lucien grinned at Lazlo enjoying his happiness. "I think that should be fairly obvious by now."

Laughter filled the car as it took off down the tracks.

=0=At the house

Ratchet picked up the box of trophies while stowing the buns in his carry hold. His entry fit into the trophy box but the buns were a tight fit. He swished out the door, hit the elevator, then paused in the lobby.

Mechs and femmes were going here and there, some of them parents who waited at the bus stop everyday along with them. They chatted together a bit until Prowl appeared. After a moment of hoo-hah, they walked onward toward Fort Max and the entry way to Central Labor Hall and its massive possibilities. It would take a four mile hike down there before they reached their reserved room and when they did the music and crowds would be rocking.

Entering the room, they were met by Maxi. She took the trophy box while Prowl and Ratchet set their entries on the table, took their dishes to the overwhelmingly awesome buffet nearby, then grabbed a beer to go and sit. Relaxing among the children, friends, strangers, family and other reprobates, they popped their brews, then took a deep sip.

"Ah," Prowl said. "So good."

Ratchet nodded. "Finally, we're here for the party."

"Don't speak too loudly. You never know," Prowl said as the door opened and family began to arrive.

Children by the dozens, tall, small and cute to boot fogged in with their fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers. Behind them nine big kids walked in with Rambler, joking and laughing as they helped unload their bounty.

"I was asked by Santee if the six of them could live with us," Ratchet said.

Prowl glanced at him. "Why?"

"He wants to have the family thing," Ratchet said. "Ty has some friends coming who'd move in if they had room."

"Do you have room?" Prowl asked.

"If the apartment by the elevator on our side moved out, we could expand the boy's end of the apartment. That would give us four, count them, four wash racks."

"Have you talked to Ty and the others?" Prowl asked.

"Not until the holiday is over. I want to talk to Santee again before I do. It just could be a phase or something," Ratchet glanced up as Prime and Ironhide walked over to sit with them. "How was the morning?"

"Great. They have a maze at Play Land in Iacon. I may leave them there one of these orns. We had to rescue them because they couldn't find the way out," Ironhide said.

"Sounds like a winner," Ratchet said.

"You mean it sounds like Prowl? Winner. Prowl. You see where I'm going with this, right?" Prowl said as he relaxed into Prime's chassis.

Prime grinned at Ratchet as he draped his arm around Prowl. "I see it."

"You have to," Ratchet said as the partiers kept fogging in. The place was just getting started.

=0=Jail

He sat in his cell isolated from everyone in the holding. He would remain here until he was indicted and a plea taken. His genitors had arranged legal defense, the whole nine yards. He would say nothing to no one. Right now, he would sit silently and get through the orns. Gravity was as hard headed today as ever he was.

=0=Unidad Terra 1

She stood at the doors greeting people with her staff. Carly Brooks-Spencer Witwicky was happy to see that thousands had RSVP'd and that the place would have a swinging time until 0200 when the curtains would come down. Anyone who couldn't make it safely to their habitat would stay here even though there were endless lines of buses, vans, regular outdoor vehicles and cabs coming and going.

The concourse was beautiful and the remnants of the habitat-wide party had been swept away to be replaced by dancing and a huge open bar. Christmas decorations and trees, both standing and suspended from the ceiling gave a cheerfully beautiful affect for the next holiday down the road.

Sam stood beside her with Warren Roberts and Glenn Morshower greeting arriving guests. The leadership of Prima Station came and gathered with them to greet arrivals, too. It was a great party to come.

Happy Holidays indeed.

=0=RAP! RAP! RAP!

Everyone paused their chats and other antics to turn toward several small femmes standing in front of the table. Blondi who was generalissimo along with Docker smiled.

"Now that I got your attention, I'd like any remaining entries for the contest to be turned in to Lee-Lee and Lim-Lee at the table over there," Blondi said.

Two smiling femmes waved to great laughter, then everyone turned back to Blondi.

"We're going to have dinner and when everyone is packed to the maximum our contest will start. We have as first round judges the Board of the Former Decepticon Association."

HUGE APPLAUSE!

"The final judges," Blondi said, "will be the wondrous Clan Council of the Seekerkin of Cybertron."

Bedlam.

Starscream grinned slightly as he held Dart. "You're welcome."

Clamorous applause and snarking.

"DINNER IS OPEN!" Docker said.

And it was.

=0=TBC 11-28-2022