The Diego Diaries: Party Time (dd8 331)
This was supposed to go out last night. I haven't edited it but it was supposed to GO OUT LAST NIGHT! Well, you get a twofer tonight. :D:D:D
=0=Getting on toward evening
Ratchet breezed into his apartment in the Central Labor Hall's newest hotel and saw that everyone was there waiting for him. He dazzled them with a smile. "I see you waited."
"About time you showed up, Sonny," Ravel said as he picked up Orion. "Everyone is waiting for us there. Let's roll out as a certain genius individual usually says."
"How Primal of you, Ada," Ratchet said as he picked up Sunspot.
"RATCHET!"
They wandered out laughing together to head for the street where cabs were waiting. The ride to Iacon and The Tower in the Sky was amusing.
=0=There
The room was huge and all of the tables were taken up for the party. The lights were low and there were candles, flameless candles twinkling everywhere. The tables decorations were beautiful and the bar was open already. A large dance floor was by the windows and the piano was decorated with lights and holly. Christmas was a thing here as there were three giant decorated Christmas trees at points in the room throwing beautiful light everywhere. It was warm and inviting, something all of them needed at the moment.
The staff would be leaving early given that there was a buffet and an open bar. The mechs were going to take care of that and there would be no one needed to help them with their meal, so the place would be closed by Bluestreak and the twins after everything was locked down and put away. For now, they hurried about getting things ready before leaving to have Christmas Surprise Eve with their own families and friends.
Bluestreak checked his list with his posse, a number of bonds and significant others of the younger set. They had planned it all, arranged things and it was their show. Given that it was always a great show was the cherry on the top.
Hercy, Kup and the usual crowd of mechs augmented by even more and their latest paramour walked in a few moments early, stopped at the bar to get a drink, they huddle with Blue for the sit-rep. As they did others began to come as well including Ironhide's elders.
"Well, this looks wonderful," Delphi said with a smile. "Bluestreak, you and the infants have done it again. Who is in charge of this for the restaurant? I want to tell them it looks beautiful."
Blue pointed out the manager.
Delphi and Turbine walked over to him with Blackjack and Alor to compliment the frag out of him and his staff. That they'd let everyone close the place up for them was a major show of trust.
Ratchet could be heard before he walked in with a crowd behind him. Kids were placed on the floor, backs were slapped, drinks handed out and tables picked out as they waited for everyone to come. They were expecting about 400 people. More would come but who counts?
The buzz of conversation hummed in the room as children ran here and there followed by ammas and appas. Numerous pets hopped around hoping for a handout as even more mechs and the odd femme arrived.
Springer and Drift walked in, got a beer, then walked to Ratchet. "Where's Prime?"
"On his way," Ratchet replied as he liberated Tell from Springer. The baby grinned at his amma from his silent world as he gazed around with his expressive little optics. "How's my sweet baby?" Ratchet discreetly scanned him, then glanced at Springer and Drift. "Very well."
"Good to know," Springer said as he sipped his beer. "He's due for another extended exam in two orns. He's going to get his hearing back out of the blue they say. He's going to hear noise but he won't know what it means."
"Sounds about right. Genetic corrections sometimes happen that way," Ratchet replied as Prowl walked in followed by a crowd of family and Optimus who was carrying Possibility.
He set the baby down and watched him run to a crowd of kids nearby before walking to where Ratchet stood. "This is very nice."
"Thank Bluestreak and his posse," Ratchet replied. "He's a miracle worker, Our Bluestreak."
A tapping against a glass drew everyone's attention. They glanced toward Bluestreak.
"Welcome to Christmas Surprise dinner," he said. "We're having a buffet and open bar. We've got it covered so that the staff can go home and have time with their families. That means we clean up so no one leaves until this place is spic-and-span."
Huge groaning and laughter greeted that, much of it from the twins.
"We're glad everyone is here. There's going to be dinner, dancing, drinks and fun. The kids go first so grab them if you can," Blue said.
It was a madhouse for a moment before children were grabbed and sat in chairs to wait while their family brought them food. There were a surprising number of kids in the room. Tell was the newest and youngest among them.
Neo and Laret holding Fifi paused beside Ratchet. "Merry Christmas Surprise, all," Neo said with a big smile. "This is such a good idea. We need more happiness and celebration in our lives."
Prowl nodded. "I agree," he said as he watched his genitors take care of the kids with their genitors. It was still a strange but wonderful sight to see. "At least this is only partly spoiled."
"I'm so sorry about that, Prowl," Laret said with a sad expression. "It never seems to fail does it?"
"No," Prowl said grimly.
"Tonight we forget about that and celebrate our families and being together," Optimus said. "All of the rest can wait for tomorrow."
"I think we can begin to get our food now, Orion," Kestrel said as he came up behind his son. "The children are all having their meals now."
They walked to the line and took their places, the Prime of all their people waiting his turn along with everyone else. It would be remarkable that such a thing could occur among the humans but it was the way of things here. Optimus Prime honored his traditions but didn't stand on them when he could. He preferred to be one of the people when he could.
"Prime seems preoccupied," Hercy said as he stood nearby sipping a beer. He and the others would dig in when the line slacked given that the food supply appeared to be endless. "I think he's taking this personal."
Kup nodded. "I know. Its like some of the early defeats when he was starting out. He takes things to spark and blames himself. This Paladin will be caught. He isn't that far out there from what I've heard. He's digging in. I expect that Prime will have something to say about that before too long."
Hercy nodded. "I'm hungry," he said as he started toward the line.
The others followed.
Around the room the tables were filling up. Mechs and the odd femme sat with their children, friends and family. The trees twinkled and the atmosphere was beautiful. It was long past time for them to relax together in celebration.
Ratchet sat, then grinned at the adults with him. "We missed Halloween. We missed Thanksgiving. We sort of got this slag turned upside down. I think we're living the dream if you ask me."
Huge laughter greeted that.
"Sit and eat, Old Mech. We have some dancing to do later on," Ironhide said.
Ratchet snickered. "Try and stay a little bit sober, you old mech. I have a reputation to protect. By the way … Waldeen is discharged during the orn to work at the stables. He's getting to be a really good rider and he loves the horses. They love him, I'm told."
"That's great news," Alor said as he sat beside Ratchet. "What about Millow and Traachon?"
"Traachon is sort of coming back to himself. Millow is as opaque as ever. I don't know what goes on in his helm but he's Rung's patient so he has no chance of not getting better," Ratchet said.
Others joined them and the night waxed onward with soft music, good food, ice cold beer and friends.
=0=Elsewhere
Ominous considered the news he received from a low bandwidth message from Razorclaw. Another slagger was in the area and had taken Prime on directly. It was unclear how much damage, if any, Paladin made but Ominous didn't believe it could be much. Prime had slagging Metrotitans on his side. He sat on his throne and considered the odds.
Small groups has made it to him, joining up rather than wandering on their own. He had about 100,000 mechs and a lot of ships but it wasn't even a drop in the bucket with Prime's armadas. Plural.
Razorclaw was getting the odd group and had more than double the mechs he had himself. That made them formidable but unable to take Prime on.
HE HAD SLAGGING METROTITANS!
What they both had, he and Razorclaw was patience. There was going to be a meet up with all three of them in the way out beyond the easy reach of Prime where they could compare situations and see what presented itself. Prime might notice three small vessels out of a joy ride but coming for them was something he didn't do lately. Maybe their luck would hold and they could talk.
Two phase sixers and a student of Jhiaxus. It couldn't be good. Not at all. He alone was tracking what might be three phase sixers out his way, or the echoes of them. They gave off a unique signature. Whether anyone else had detected them was unclear. Maybe they would be a chip in the high stakes poker game they were playing with Prime. Who knew.
He rose, then walked to his quarters. When he was there he would go over the star maps of the area again to try and find the sixers before anyone else did. If they were really there he would find them.
=0=TBC 12-24-2021
Hi. Given the family slag going on I won't be on the regular schedule until tomorrow night. I prefer a new piece every night but holidays put that into a cocked hat as they say. I wish everyone a beautiful Christmas who celebrate it and a wonderful holiday season if you don't. I love you all so much. Just know how much you're loved. I will kick it again tomorrow. I will also edit this tomorrow and answer notes and reviews. I'm sort of pooped tonight. Hopefully, there aren't too many boo-boos in this. :D
Good night, my darlings. -Nana
