The Diego Diaries: Callow (403 DD8)

=0=Clubbin'

They drove out of The City heading for a club in Tyger Pax. Passing around the roundabout, they made it to the outskirts of Tyger Pax where the nightlife was great in a town built around young families and bachelors. Like Iacon, it was a good place to live to meet others and date.

They reached a club called Parlor and transformed on the fly. Gathering on the sidewalk, they glanced around at the traffic which was heavy and the pedestrians which were everywhere.

"Talley ho," Ratchet said as he walked toward the club. Everyone with him followed into the beautiful brightly lighted establishment.

Inside, the club was beautiful, calm before the night time rush and the music was soft and low for now. They found booths and pushed tables over to them until everyone sat. Orders were given as the mechs and Starlet relaxed.

"Did you know that the lights would be out at Speaker's Corner in Iacon, Prime?" Hardie asked. He grinned at Prime who looked like he was prepared to have a good time.

"I was not aware of that," Optimus said as he glanced at Hard Drive.

"I was," Prowl said with a hard edge sense of triumph. "Slagger is going to know that if he wants to negotiate with us he better bring his 'A' game."

"That's my Prowler. I'm the diplomat just so you know," Ratchet said as he drained his first beer. "That's my territory, Granny."

"Well, two can play at that game," Prowl said as he knocked back his own. "I intend to celebrate our great victory over Tempo and his ilk."

"To Prime and his ilk," Raptor said as he raised his glass.

Everyone saluted him.

Prime grinned. "I wish to thank Prowl and Starlet for helping me through this, my darkest joor."

"Consider it the first of many," Prowl said darkly as he took his second beer.

"You do know, all of you, that Tempo won't give up," Raptor said. "He has all the time in the world to plot his revenge."

"Let him," Prowl said as he sat back into Prime's chassis. That mech's big arm lay across the back of the booth draped behind Prowl. He grinned up at Prime. "He can take a hike."

Snickers rounded the tables and booths as the beer came, some danced while Steiner and Starlet chatted oblivious to the crowd around them.

=0=Elsewhere

He paced in his genitor's apartment, furious with the outcome of the suit. His attorneys told him that the agreement was satisfied if not satisfying and that the threshold had been met. He could sue again but to what end?

"Prime is a slagger," Tempo said as he paced. "He set me up."

"He is Prime after all. There's a certain native intelligence he would possess. The last few who underestimated him lived to regret it," his father said. "You would do well to remember that. As for the suit, its over."

He spun on his father. "Then what? What about this outrage?"

"You'll win nothing by being aggressive and foolish. Prime has been with the Matrix a while and for now It favors him. We have to be careful around this place. The high castes are very underground and that's for a reason. If you want to honor fight Prime then continue on this road." His father rose. "I'm going to bed. I would suggest that you do as well. You're now on Prowl's radar if not Prime's. You'll have to find employment or he'll make you sorry."

"I don't HAVE to do anything," Tempo said. "Frag Prowl."

"I'll visit you in jail then," his father said, then walked from the room to go to bed.

His ada rose and followed him.

He watched them go, then swore softly under his breath. Without a backward glance, Tempo walked to the door and left the apartment. He didn't go home to his own.

=0=Party, party, party time

Ratchet and Ironhide danced putting to shame a lot of others who hadn't been skippy-hopping in the Cybertronian way as long as they had. Back at the table the mechs were drinking, laughing and telling jokes. Mechs came and mechs went, most of them to their graveyard jobs with the Watch until it was a hardcore group of slaggers who were mostly related.

Ironhide walked to the table where he sat with Ratchet following. Ratchet was feeling no pain nor his peds when he sat down and missed his chair. Ironhide looked down at Ratchet. "Old Mech, what are you doing down there?"

"Admiring your aft, big boy," Ratchet said with a smile.

Ironhide helped him up, then both sat. "I have a nice aft don't I."

"I won't argue," Ratchet said as he took another beer in servo. That is was Alor's didn't matter. Beer was beer.

"You have my beer, slagger," Alor said as he waved the waiter over. More beer came, more slag was delivered, then they rose to go to Retriades and The Crystal Ball Club that was the 'go to' club of the moment.

They walked out, staggered to the Metro and were on their way.

=0=Tempo

He walked along the street spoiling for a fight. He felt furious with the end around that Prime had pulled. His options were still open as far as he was concerned. He and Prime were now avowed enemies. He walked to the Metro and decided to go to the districts up north. He knew a number of high castes from Praxus who lived in Crater District 9, City 6. He would vent his spleen to them.

Down he went and disappeared from sight.

=0=E2

Cameron Frazer sat at his desk working on a report that was due. He'd eaten with the family, then headed for the office to finish a summary of the imports Unidad had requested from Off World Requisitions. As expediter for all human habitats but Prima Station, he'd be responsible for inventories and summaries of imports to the auditor who managed disbursements for payment if needed, Caro.

He finished the report, sent it to the required individuals, then set his computer to sleep mode. Rising to stretch, he walked out of the building to go to the bar where he'd play cards with the mercs including the new boss guy, Martin Polaski. Polaski was a button down sort of guy but highly likable. He would enjoy the evening with the boys.

They had a lot in common.

=0=Tempo

He walked out of the station at Main and 'B' Street in City 6 of Crater District 9. It was busy on the highway passing through the city and there were a lot of pedestrians in this part of town this time of night. It was the cafe and theater district where a lot of shows were staged at the clubs which catered to such things. Stand up comedy, poetry and small plays could be had here in the theater clubs that served humor, culture, good food and drinks.

It was a lively place to be.

He walked onward heading for a tower district several miles away. As he did the crowds began to thin.

=0=Retriades, The Strip

They walked up from the Metro laughing and weaving, some of them as they headed for the club down the strip. The entertainment district here was getting to be ground zero for clubbing, dancing, good music, food and drink, cruising and parties.

The clubs and restaurants lined this street for miles which was anchored by the Arena where basketball games would be held over the next two days. The Crater Comets would be playing in there the following day on the long march to the second championship of the Adult Basketball League.

Tomorrow at noon the Intermediate Schools would use the arenas to play their games as they worked their way upward to the championship of the District's basketball program. All nine of the titan kids were on teams. It would be an outing for Ratchet's family to come watch them.

They walked to the club, then entered its crowded noisy confines. The wall and ceiling mirrors dazzled the group as they made their way to the lounges in the back. Lights sparkled off the chandeliers and reflected in the mirrors along with everyone there. It was almost psychedelic the affect.

Finding room in the back, they pushed tables together, then sat.

Ratchet was feeling no pain, Prowl was almost maudlin and Prime was happy and relaxed.

Steiner and Starlet were dancing already, both of them consumed by the other.

It was sweet and Lissie was delighted. "My Steiner needs a diversion from work. All work and no play makes you-"

"Prowler," Ratchet said with big smile. "Amirite?"

Huge laughter and atomic optics from Prowl greeted that.

"I'll have you know that fun pastimes are my thing," Prowl said with a big smirk. "Ask Osimus."

Everyone looked at Osimus who was staring down at Prowl with amusement.

"Osimus concurs," he said to loud and sustained laughter.

That's when Raptor caught the call on his internal police band.

=0=Tempo

He heard a scuffle nearby and paused to listen. He almost started walking past again when a shot rang out and the bullet meant for someone else found him, pierced his processor and dropped him like a rock.

The sound of running peds fading away was the last thing he heard before he fell into stasis.

=0=Raptor

He listened to the call, then glanced at his father. :The police just reported that Tempo got shot in District 9, City 6:

Hardie glanced at him with surprise. :Tempo? Our Tempo?:

:Sounds like it. The Watch has it and they're sending him to the hospital. It doesn't say how badly he's hurt or if he's alive:

Hardie considered the news, then glanced at Prime. He rose. "I have to take care of something, Prime. I'll be right back." He walked out past the group heading for the door and was gone right away. \

Following him after getting the message, too, Drift and Springer moved with speed.

They watched the three go, then returned to the fun again.

=0=On the scene

The forensics team finished up the scene with pictures and what evidence they could find. It was sparse indeed. A pool of energon stained the sidewalk nearby as Drift knelt to look at it. Rising, he walked toward the alley nearby between two towers that allowed utility vehicles to enter.

Springer was talking to a couple of officers and Sky when he joined them. "I'd need that report as well sent to Barron and to Prime's office. Because its this slagger he'll want to be kept up on this."

"Where is he now?" Sky asked.

"Barhopping with Prowl and the family," Springer replied. "We were with them since dusk. Everyone's with Prowl and Ratchet so they're not going to end up in a culvert. Maybe." He grinned. "We decided to stay anyway. They might need a character witness."

Sky laughed. "Well, good. We're done here, Springer. We'll get on it right away."

"Thanks, Sky," Springer said as the big mech walked down the alley to the street and the Forensics truck nearby. "This is fragged. Any witnesses?"

"No," Drift said. "No one heard or saw a thing. This is a neighborhood of older individuals and they don't go out as much at night."

Springer said. "This needs done right away."

Drift nodded, then both of them began to walk up the alleyway to the street beyond. As they did Hardie walked to the two.

"What's the word?" he asked as he watched Forensics leave and Sky transform to fly back to Metrotitan.

"The word, Appa, is zero. Zip. We don't have much of anything to go on," Springer said. "No one saw, no one heard, nothing."

=0=TBC 4-3-2022 4-12-2022

ESL

concur: (kun-krrr) to agree