The Diego Diaries: Convo (dd8 333)

=0=A party in Iacon, Mars

"That was always on the table though its become that much harder with the three of them should they hook up. I'm not sure they'll just wait for their turn from us even if they don't link up before then," Ratchet said.

Prime nodded. "It will take such a gathering of forces against them to ensure that they cannot get off the ground. It will also make too many casualties for me to feel comfortable."

"There was always that," Ratchet agreed. "I think it'd be wise for you to tell me how you feel about the attack. I'm getting a bunch of self punishing vibrations from you that usually don't bode well."

Prime considered Ratchet, someone he confided in almost as much as Prowl. He wasn't the disclosing kind. Few had known, if anyone, about the relationship he had for a long time with Springer. Few were privy to his private fears and concerns. Prowl was. His genitors divined them. Even Sojourner.

"Atar?"

Prime glanced at the ground where his daughter stood with a serious expression on her cute little face. "What, Sojourner?"

She held up a tiny teddy bear, one of her favorites. "Here," she said as she reached it up toward him.

Prime took the bear, such a tiny thing in his servo, then grinned. "You want me to take care of Teddy?"

She nodded, then smiled. "You'll feel better if you do. I do," she said.

He picked her up, kissed her cheek, then set her down. "I will then," he said with a slight grin. Even as he did so he felt that much better.

She smiled, then ran for the hallway toward the berth rooms where everyone was playing.

Wherever Prime went, the tiny bear resided in a small compartment on his left arm. It did help.

"I do not like to lose," Prime said simply.

"I know. You seldom do in the long run and in the past few years? You've been a winner with every idea you have. I want to know about this," Ratchet said. "You do know that you're damned good but you're not infallible."

"The People need a home that's safe. We are almost too big to go to the shelters now," Prime said. "It took joors to get everyone underground."

"But they got there. All of them. We build them like we did on Cybertron. They're in there so we can defend them up here. You can't take the whole blame. You're dealing with a smart and ruthless opponent. Sometimes you win and sometimes it takes longer to win but in the end we win. We have to. Incentives aren't lacking here," Ratchet said.

Prime nodded. "This mech … he is smart and tough. You had to be to become a manager on the docks. I remember him faintly. He is no one to underestimate and maybe I did."

"I don't know. The plan was sound. The tech edge he had he doesn't have now. We live and learn. Let it go and be clear about the next one," Ratchet said. "We haven't lost yet and we won't. He's fighting for booty. We're fighting for solid gold." He glanced toward the party, then Prime. Then he grinned. "Do you still have Sojie's teddy bear?"

Prime relaxed slightly, then grinned. "You know about that?"

"I know it all," Ratchet said with a chuckle. "The girls talk about things together. Sojie said you needed Mr. Teddy to Hero. She said you were brave and she wanted you to have a friend with you."

Prime felt his spark tighten with emotion. "I find it helps."

"Then think about that. Right now, this battle is over. We bloodied his nose. He's wondering what the frag he saw when he attacked. He didn't expect this, I know. We're ready for him. No element of surprise. Win-win," Ratchet said with his best and biggest smile.

Prime snorted, then shook his helm. "From your vocal processor to the audials of Primus."

"Well," Ratchet said. "Who has that mech's audials better than you?"

Prime vented a sigh, then slipped the cover of a small compartment on his arm. Lying inside was the tiny figure of a teddy bear. He grinned, then slid it shut. "There is a party that way. Join me, old friend."

Ratchet grinned. "It isn't a party without you and me. I can tell you about my basketball outfits while we go back inside."

Prime chuckled, then walked with Ratchet into the crowded room where the loves of his life were having a night of it. He would join them and when he did he felt infinitely better. He also had the same slow burning fury he had before he walked out to stared at the colony.

=0=Out there

Razorclaw watched his kingdom from his quarters. There were cameras everywhere thus he was in touch with the way things were going at all times. He considered his brothers in Prime's custody and the one who deserted them in their moment of triumph. If Rampage had stayed with them they could have overrun Prime at the time of their landing here. Now he was alone but that was of no consequence. He was always the brains of the combiner and even alone he was as formidable as any phase sixer created in a lab.

Outside, the base was humming. Everyone was working to dig in and redouble their efforts to prevent a return incident like the last time Prime came. They were exploring space and its bounty as far from Mars as they could travel. Space bridges were good here, finally brought on line following Prime's attack. He could reach Mars and that comforted him. Maybe they all could together. Then he'd kill the others afterward and be king of the hill.

He considered the idea of it and knew he had to have a lot of things going his way. He would never underestimate Prime or his resolve again.

=0=Temple

Mraz stared at the Allspark with reverence. It was a beautiful ancient object and he could feel its sentience all around him. The relic rotated slowly in the space over the Well which was silent and covered with the white haze that it emitted. The night had settled and it was quiet here, though there were those in the big room sitting in alcoves or talking quietly together as they paid their visits. The place was never closed except on certain orns or under certain circumstances.

An uptick in visitors had occurred following the attack and they were working overtime to help their people settle their anxieties over the pirates coming their way. The peace of the colony had been the making of many and now there was some fears about the future.

He bowed, then walked to the stairs to climb them again. He would wander the area and the grounds, check the Pavilion to check on its contents, then return to indoors again. It would be a quiet and peaceful night, this Christmas Surprise Eve. It wasn't going to be as festive and there would be few celebrations beyond private parties but they were safe and well together.

That counted to him as he walked to a group to wish them well.

=0=Out in the colony

They gathered together, a former kid gang in the Diaspora. Now they were going to school or working so the gang stuff had faded to a distant memory. Having to be tough and learn to fight helped as they floated around the universe never staying too long because the 'metallics' weren't welcome in many places due to their 'robot civil war' and their need for energy. Their skills for different things were welcome but in time they always had to leave.

It built weariness in their elders and deep burning resentment in their group. Often when they left the kids sabotaged something or broke it. They left their own memory behind to whatever group it was of beings they considered 'ungrateful'. It had been a memory of someone else, the Prime and their culture. The idea of Cybertron had been golden but belonged to someone else. They were all born in the Diaspora and had few loyalties to anyone but their families.

Sitting in a cafe on the sidewalk, noting the mechs who walked by, they chatted and laughed, eating snacks and drinking beer. They were in a sports league, played games and pool together and hung out. None of them were bonded, all of them were close and life was finally good.

The attack had been a blow, a huge one and going into the shelters had been nerve wracking. When the all clear had sounded it was a relief. When they saw what had happened it had been a moment of deep rage. Now sitting on sidewalk portion of a little bistro in City 3, District 5, all was well again. Such was the resilience of youth.

Merry Christmas Eve Surprise.

=0=Later that night

They began to leave a few at a time until everyone had departed. The beautiful restaurant had been cleaned and cleared to a fair thee well. No one was there to do the job from the owners and crew but the party goers. Bluestreak and his gang along with the bonds and significant others of that group had made short work of everything. The silence of the room was pleasing after the raucous joy of the party.

Tomorrow, things would open again and elegant dining would be had. All was well in the world.

=0=Home again jiggity jig

They put infants to bed, then walked to their own. Lying back at last, Prime watched as Prowl shut off the lights. It was like old times. Prowl joined him and it was silent a moment.

"Did you and Ratchet have that chat?" Prowl asked.

"We talked."

"I'm glad. I don't like you second guessing yourself when this was what it was," Prowl said as he slid his servo into Prime's. The big mech squeezed it gently. "We all did what we could short of clairvoyance."

"So said Ratchet. We also talked about what we have to do," Prime said.

Prowl nodded. "Take out the slaggers," he said. "We can do that. We're going to need huge help from Soft Space."

"I would think so. It will be in my processor a while. I want to have time to relax from this and not let anyone think its a problem by going after them now," Prime said.

Prowl rolled over, settled, then patted Prime's chassis. "Good," he said simply.

=0=Elsewhere

"What did you and Prime talk about if I can ask," Ironhide said as he lay back.

Ratchet joined him and the lights went off. "His feelings, the future. The usual thing. I also told him about my rather awesome basketball ensembles."

Ironhide snickered. "You're insane. Did I ever tell you that I liked that about you?"

"Often," Ratchet said as he flipped over to sprawl on the big mech. "Its going to be fun to have fun again. What a bust the holidays have been. All three of them missed."

"There's always next time. They roll around fast," Ironhide said.

"They do," Ratchet replied.

=0=Another place

They crept into their apartment as the door closed behind them. In a carry basket a tiny little mech lay sleeping soundly. Walking to Tell's room, Springer and Drift carefully pulled him out, changed out his gear, then lay him in his berth. His little armor shined as they gently covered him in very soft blankets. Staring at him a moment, they crept out again.

"I'm pooped," Springer said as he entered their room, then sprawled on the berth.

Drift walked into the wash rack a moment, then joined him. "I hear ya. Tell can sleep through anything."

"Well, he is deaf," Springer said with a grin. "We have a check up tomorrow at 1230 on the TMC."

Drift nodded. "I expect good news."

"I think so," Springer said. "Little mech is a miracle."

Drift nodded. "He is. So is this place. Thanks for being here when I came though I hated you at first sight."

"You're welcome. But to know me is to love me," Springer said with a chuckle. "All my mechs say so."

It was silent a moment as Drift allowed the jealously that always followed that statement to filter through him. Then he grinned. "That's what all my mechs said, too."

Springer would take longer.

=0=TBC 12-27-2021

Welcome all you newbies and huggies to all the veterans. I love you all so much. -Nana

I love the word ensembles as related to clothing. Its pronounced where I hear it as on-sommes. Love that word.