The Diego Diaries: Callow (dd8 412)

=0=At a restaurant after the game

Everyone sat back from a good meal and a win. All was well in their world after a really good scan and scope out by Ratchet of some of the hobbling players. Bells were rung but they were on the rebound.

"One down and eleven more to go," Hardie said as he sat next to Delphi with the twinnies on his lap. "Sounds like a grind."

"It is," Optimus said. "This was a hard game. Polyhex has a lot of big tough players."

"We'll beat them," Chromia said with confidence.

"We won't if you get the game forfeited, Maelstrom," Raptor said with a snicker.

"Chrome got biffed. No one biffs Chromia into a wall," Maelstrom said with no compromise in his voice.

Chromia patted his servo. "You were the boss, Maelstrom."

He grinned at her. Whatever she wanted she got. Even a double homicide.

"Well, my ensemble made it to the sports news," Ratchet said as he nodded to a monitor nearby doing the sports news before weather. On the screen a gorilla was making a spectacle in the Primal Box next to a tense winger with binoculars.

"Vote for Ironhide for School Board," Raptor said with a guffaw. "I wonder what Callo is thinking right now?"

=0=In an elegant apartment surrounded by friends and family

"That circus is why I'm running," Callow said as he fumed at the news report playing on the monitor nearby.

A game watch party had been held here and while the negativity ran high for Crater's Comets, the piece de resistance was Ratchet in a gorilla suit pimping for Ironhide's candidacy.

"I wonder if that's even legal," an elder mused.

"I'll check on it tomorrow," Callo said. "You have to register complaints according to the Community Bulletin Board folder at the City Hall in Terra."

"Well, do it," Callo's amma said as he sat back with a cocktail of some kind, his third. "I don't want him to have any kind of advantage, Callo. It won't do to lose."

"I don't intend to," Callo said darkly as they ate finger food and drank together while watching the breakdown of the game on the MCA.

=0=Restaurant

"I'm sure he's the picture of restraint," Ratchet said as the room erupted in laughter. The gorilla suit and sign was in his carry hold stuffed there after Prowl pulled a gun in the corridor on the way out. He wasn't going to be allowed to wear it to their post game dinner.

"What do you have to do, Ironhide, to be re-elected?" Hercy asked to be ornery. He couldn't vote for Ironhide because he didn't live in that district. Everyone else but the twins and Blue could.

Ironhide's district was Autobot City, all of the Terra hub and Seven Cities-West. His usual vote count was 99.99% given that no one had ever ran against him for the seat. Now it was up in the air what would happen. There was also rumors of a televised debate, another experiment and step forward in representative democracy for the colony.

"I was told that there would be debates," Kup said.

Ironhide glanced at Kup sharply. "I didn't hear that."

"You'll ace it," Ratchet replied. "You just talk about what you do and have done. He'll pop up with some high class slag about reviving hedge schools and you'll be in forever."

"True that," Prowl said. "This whole business really frags me off," he said with dark emotion as he sipped his second beer. "What can he possibly know about our schools and the system? He's only been here about three decaorns."

"You'll do fine. Get Milie to coach you. He's in a debate club," Blue said. He glanced at Miler who grinned. "You're getting to be a great debater."

"Good. You can go in my place," Ironhide grumped.

Ratchet snickered. "In case you don't know, Callo for Ironhide is what Han is to Orion."

Huge laughter and light bulbs going on greeted that remark.

"I want a front row seat," everyone there said at the same time.

Ironhide frowned. "And frag all of you, too."

=0=Home that night

"Little slaggers. Took a bit of work to get them to bed," Ironhide said as he walked out to sit in his chair. His plate and beer were waiting for him as Ratchet unmuted the TV. "I'm proud of you, Only One. Score one for you."

"I'm going to need it," Ironhide grumped. He sat back to listen to the news and the sports reviews of the games.

"Good evening again. I'm Aleph with the news at 2200 joors on the TMC. Our top story is the ongoing investigation into the homicide of Tempo of Praxus who was found shot to death on Marley and 15th Avenue in City 6, Crater District 8 two orns ago.

"The investigation is ongoing with little new information released from the Watch or the Office of the Primes. All deaths by means unknown or foul play are reported to the Office of the Primes where they are handled by the Attorney of Record, Starlet of Canopus 5. Neither she nor the Watch have released anything new.

"A controversy arose immediately upon notification of the family of the deceased regarding an earlier incident involving him and the Prime, Optimus of Iacon. Apparently there was a clash involving the two that resulted in a lawsuit filed by the deceased against the Prime. It was settled a few joors before Tempo was found dead. The family issued a statement insinuating that Lord Optimus might be involved and demanded an independent investigation.

"A statement by Lord Optimus outlined the event that resulted in a suit and the resulting settlement. He denied having anything to do with the death of Tempo and granted the request for the independent investigation.

"The Watch released a statement that over 40 individuals had called the Watch Emergency Call Center to report that they'd seen Lord Optimus with friends and family before, during and after the event of Tempo's murder. A notation added to the information on the Watch website about the murder indicates that this number has since risen to 252 witnesses, all of which state they will testify that they had seen him when the murder occurred.

"It should be noted that there has been an uptick in gang activity and that their graffiti has been spotted all around the colony. Gang Task Force Commander, Chief of Detectives Hauser of Capitol City was asked about that by Jacx earlier in the orn."

(Cut to the Watch steps in Metrotitan)

"Sir, tell us about the gang situation here in the colony if you can," Jacx asked.

Hauser who was big, handsome and relatable in the same way Springer was considered the question. "I head the task force that's working on the gang problem here in the colony. Most of the gangs formed as security for settlements and some have criminals who still keep their groups going even here.

"We've identified fifteen gangs with a couple more still unclear. We believe given our cashless society that they're still around due to fights over turf and pride. Since there's no point going after money through crime or items to fence which are two staples for gangs in the past, they fight over territory and power. The graffiti that everyone sees are markers to themselves and others about this.

"I would suggest that if you find graffiti that you call us on the gang task force number so we can come look at it and get it in the database if its new before removing it. Every little bit helps."

"Is there a possibility that Tempo who was recently murdered could have been killed by a gang member or maybe was in the wrong place at the wrong time?" Jacx asked.

"Anything can be possible especially if there's no one out there who had a grudge against him. I don't say there isn't. I'm not working the case directly. Our homicide department is. But its highly likely and could be the reason," Hauser said.

"The family is declaring that the Prime had something to do with it. What do you make of that?" Jacx asked.

"They're bereaved. There was an incident where Tempo slurred a member of Optimus's family. It was a moment, then it was settled. There are witnesses coming out of the woodwork about Optimus Prime being elsewhere at the time this happened. I know Optimus Prime. This is not who he is."

"Do you expect any breakthroughs any time soon?" Jacx asked.

"I hope so. The family deserves the truth," Hauser said.

"Thank you. Back to the studio," Jacx said.

(Cut to the studio)

"We'll be right back after these messages," Aleph said as the Community Bulletin Board began to roll.

"Frag," Ratchet said. "I hate this slag. I also hate that its coal for the high caste's fire."

Ironhide nodded. "I think we better let the Watch know that we saw Prime, too."

Ratchet grinned. "Osimus you mean."

Snickers were had.

=0=Far away

They gathered together all that they needed and wanted, stuffed ships and set out. They weren't having that slag anymore. They were headed toward the promised land.

A huge armada of Decepticon ships gathered together then flew into deep space post haste. They disappeared nearly immediately as behind them on planets, outpost bases and other sites of bondage and toil, everything there began to explode into splinters.

There was no turning back now.

=0=More news

"And in sports today, the Crater Comets beat the Polyhex Polyhexagons 45 to 5 in a hard contested game at the Arena in Retriades. There were great shots, great fights and drama when a flight of Seeker mini-cons and micro mini-cons decided to dive bomb the players. Fortunately, the Great Elder halted that impromptu half time show before anyone got injured.

The offense of Crater's Comets cannot be denied as the powerhouse duo of Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus anchored the offense and defense of a team honed to a razor's edge. They were able to block Polyhex from scoring through the strenuous efforts and teamwork by their players who have so many standouts its making them the favorites to repeat the championship this season.

"Chromia of Praxus and Jetta of Iacon managed to score and turned over the ball several times to Crater's advantage. All in all they were an impressive team with even more impressive fans," Sprocket said with a grin. He then put up films of Ratchet in the gorilla suit.

"HAHAHAHAHA!" -Ironhide

Elsewhere:

"How did you allow yourself to be adopted again?"

Arcee who was lounging on Magnus' lap grinned. "I got lucky I guess."

"Ada is a god. You heard it here first."

Sideswipe nodded. "I agree. I want a gorilla suit, too."

Sunstreaker nodded. "Include me in."

Bluestreak: "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Ironhide for School Board. Is that legal?" Kyle Davis asked. "Do we get to vote for School Board? I thought that was under discussion."

Cindy Tomas glanced at him. "It was approved. No-A is our school board member, not Ironhide. He's got some former high caste running against him, too. I think they want to pack the board and take over the world."

Kyle glanced at her. "Could it be worse?"

"You have to ask?" Rick Harris asked as his father and Rain grinned.

Callo stared at the screen. "I really hate that mech."

"We did the best we could with what we had," Ravel said with a slight grin as he watched his son's antics.

"And we did a slagging fine job," Appa Ratchet said with a chuckle.

"You won't get an argument out of me," Docker said with pride.

=0=TBC 4-15-2022

Notes:

Light bulbs going on: Its a saying that when someone gets or understands something a light bulb goes on in their head to clear away the confusion and darkness. That's why when someone has that moment a cartoonist will draw a light bulb over their heads. :D