The Diego Diaries: BASKETBALL! (dd8 355)

=0=Later that afternoon

Ratchet stuffed food and snacks into the kitchen fridge and in cupboards while leaving a note for Ironhide that it was there for the boyz night in. There were also snacks for the kids. The big kids would be going to their club to post celebrate the game with friends before getting home to their appa and ammas before things really began to reverberate around the colony.

That their 'teen' club was in Iacon now was a good thing. It was only six blocks from the housing tower that was the home space for any titan who wanted to live in the colony with pretender gear. The townhouse-style apartment that was home to Clipper, Dangerous, Typhoon and the six titan kids was located in a residential tower block of the city. Ten blocks the other way was their Intermediate School.

He walked to the door, picked up his bag with his cheer gear, then walked out with a hold empty of children. Turbine, Delphi and Ravel were going to manage the kids knowing full well that no matter what Ravel might think Ratchet was going to be a spectacle. They would spare the kids time on the jumbotron by keeping them in their own holds.

It was going to be a swinging time in the old colony tonight.

=0=Watch Tower, Metrotitan, Mars

They went over the plan after dropping Tell into Ironhide's capable servos. Given that he was in charge of such a tiny tot, he was designated 'sober guy' for the evening. Grumping just a smidge, he was pleased as peas to care for the baby.

"Well, it looks as sorted as its going to get," Springer said to his group leaders, all of whom were in charge of security for a large section of the colony. "I think its time to go."

The large group of mechs and two femmes walked from the office to go to their stations since the dusk of Mars was hard upon them. Special Weapons teams were on standby from the Army and Ratchet as the chief negotiator for problems like that was aware that he might have to sober up and join them if a hostage situation brewed up. Horse Guard Patrols would be everywhere, especially in the club areas. Club Cybertron and the downtown of bars, restaurants and other places of congregation were added to the plan.

Checking how it all was laid out once more, Springer and Drift checked their weapons, saluted the office staff, then walked out to meet up with Inferno and Red Alert at the Emergency Services Command Center at Fort Max. They had already visited the emergency call center that was direct to the Watch earlier. Everything was up to speed and waiting.

Hopefully no one would need to utilize it.

=0=Teams

They began to arrive early with both teams getting a chance separately to shoot baskets and re-acquaint themselves with the arenas. The space was massive and allowed for their roughhouse style of play. No matter where they worked out, all of them in secret, it wasn't in a space this big. For the first couple of games, the size of the court was almost like an opponent until they got used to playing on it.

The twins and their team were on the court now having arrived to sign in and get ready for the game. The Comets were in their dressing room waiting for their turn. Both teams wouldn't see each other as it was considered bad luck to get into a fight before the game actually started. The seats were empty as yet, the sounds of their play echoed in the massive expanse but soon it would be filled with 100,000+ screaming maniacs.

It was going to be awesome.

=0=At a club house in the Central Labor Hall, Autobot City, Mars

They were gathered, the now fifty-five advanced students of the Autobot City Watch and Medical Mentorship Programs. Commander Coros and Sub-Commander Jessine were going over the plan with the 'squads' that made up the group. Each of them were small and 'commanded' by 'senior group leaders' who were among the original 13 kids who founded the program.

"Does everyone know their spots in the arenas?" Sub-Commander Jessine asked as she studied her data pad.

Everyone nodded.

"Does everyone understand that your squad group leader will tell you what and when to do everything?" Commander Coros asked.

Everyone nodded.

Sil smiled. "Does everyone understand how awesome this is?"

Huge squealing and jumping in place acknowledged that. It was then they gathered their medical kits, found their group leaders, then walked out to the Metro to take cabs to the arena. There they would enter with their passes. All of those hung on a lanyard around their necks that said, "Autobot City Junior Auxiliary Watch and Medical Student-Allow Entry'. A picture of their proudly smiling faces was on the card tag that held their data. It would be slotted into every checkpoint to allow them to pass each locked door until they reached the substation located in the arena for the Watch. There they would be welcomed, feted, then taken to their spots for their duties.

It wouldn't be a game without the kids being there.

=0=Broadcast booth in the arena that would be hosting Kaon v Comets

Blaster and Jazz sat for the countdown that would take them live to the Earth MCA feed. Revet was engineer as usual and sat in the chair behind them at the intricate panel. He was zooming in the profession and was scheduled to direct an episode of The Bridge for its upcoming season. He was considered an up and comer in the local film scene and a go-to individual for technical advice for films and sound. It was Revet who managed the feed that went out to the masses. He was the director and producer for the sporting events that Blaster and Jazz narrated.

"What's the word, Revet?" Blaster asked as he glanced over his shoulder.

"We're going live in five minutes," Revet said as he set up the last camera and primed the link up to the sportscasters of Earth. "I'll count down in five when its time."

"Thanks," Blaster said as he hooked in and got his data pads in a row.

Jazz who already was linked was having an off line conversation with Mirage about the after games parties that they would attend. They had a very active social life in the colony.

The moments passed, then Revet counted down. "You're live."

"Good afternoon from Mars and Autobot City, minions of Earth. This is Jazz and that's Blaster. We're here for the pre-game show before the match up with the Kaon Kavaliers and the defending champions, the Crater Comets. The defending champions are led by our very own Optimus Prime himself. They will be defending their title against very improved teams including the always aggressive Kaon Kavaliers. Since Kaon is my home town I don't think I have to tell you who I hope to win," Jazz said with a smile.

Blaster snickered. "So much for neutrality."

"Forget neutrality, Blaster. THIS IS BASKETBALL!" Jazz said. "Before we link up with the home crowd on Earth for a bit of chat, we have a special guest who is a fixture on the sports scene, someone who is famed for his enthusiasm and creativity in showing his team spirit. We'd like to have a chat with the number one Iacon sports fan on this or any other world, Ratchet of Iacon. Can you show him in?" he asked an intern standing by the door.

The kid nodded, opened the door, then stepped back. It was a good thing, too.

=0=Around

Prowl was finishing up the plans for kids to go here, there and everywhere when he glanced up at the monitor playing in the apartment. He blanched as he saw Ratchet walk into the booth and try to sit down on a chair offered by Jazz. "What the unholy frag …"

Ravel was gathering up children with the monitor playing the pre-game show. He glanced up in time to see Ratchet appear and try to sit on a chair offered by Jazz. "OH, SONNY! TIE! GET IN HERE!"

Chan, Corr and Tie Down hurried into the room with babies in arms. They stared at the screen then burst into laughter.

Ravel was not amused. Ravel also had his hat with the several flags of the Comets and Iacon sticking out of it. The irony would be lost upon him.

=0=Broadcaster booth

"Can you sit down there, Ratchet?" Blaster asked.

"Barely," Ratchet said as he smiled at the group who were laughing loudly.

"Thanks for coming by to talk about the style of team spirit that's been a thing for Iaconian fans since as long as I can remember," Jazz said.

"We always loved our teams. Even if we couldn't go to the games because we weren't allowed to, we supported them in the tenements. We grew up a tradition of costumes and paint. You can see it at sporting events on Earth with team supporters wearing gear and painting themselves up. I personally favor garish ensembles, the more awful the better. I have a friend, you see, who has a problem letting go and this helps." Ratchet smiled his most blazingly beautiful smile. Every Cybertronian looking at it was dazzled. It would fly over the head of humans everywhere.

"Would you like to explain what you're wearing right now?" Blaster asked with a chuckle while Revet was taking snaps in the background.

"Well, this is a specially made piece of art which I had fabricated here. My in-laws are artists and run the Performing Arts Center so we're on the same page for cosplay," Ratchet said with another dazzler. "This is a rubber duck costume. It fits over me and sticks out in all the right directions. This hat on my head was my suggestion. Its a straw sun hat and the corks hanging from strings all around the edges of the brim keep the flies away. Like I said, I have this friend."

=0=A friend, watching

"I WILL KILL HIM!"

=0=A genitor, watching

"THAT BOY! I DON'T KNOW ABOUT HIM, TIE DOWN!"

=0=Booth

"Talk about the rest of your outfit." Revet continued to take snaps.

"Well, I had these big duck feet made because you know, duck. I also have a beak. Do you want to see it?" Ratchet asked with a dazzling smile.

"YES!" -all three of them

With that, Ratchet unsubbed a big orange duck beak and slapped it on his face. It magnetized immediately.

=0=Kaon

"Oh Primus." -everyone howling with laughter

"Ada is a god. A king." -Sunstreaker

Nodding. -Sideswipe

=0=Booth

"What does the writing on both sides of your duck thing say?" Jazz asked as he leaned closer to look.

"It says 'Iacon Forever. Praxus Science Never."

Howling laughter greeted that.

It was a different kind of howling that accompanied Prowl to the arena.

=0=Comets

"That old mech of mine is a maniac but it keeps things interesting," Ironhide said with pride.

"Ratchet is a colossal loon but I love him," Arcee said as Ultra Magnus stared with disbelief at the screen. "I think he's my spirit animal."

Magnus glanced at Arcee sharply. "Never."

Huge laughter greeted that.

"Well, we must win tonight for Iacon's Greatest Fan," Optimus Prime said with a chuckle.

In a joor the game would begin. And the one on the floor would be just as entertaining.

=0=TBC 01-29-2022