The Diego Diaries: Family and Stuff (dd8 429)

Sorry about last night. We have covid. I'm exposed and my brother-in-law got it. I'm off work for five days and will write earlier each day. No symptoms. I had it before and was asymptomatic. Sometimes you have it and not much happens. :D In the meantime, be careful. Its still raging out there. HUGS!

=0=Shortly later

They were wheeled into the surgery section of the hospital on floor 11. Both of them were sedated and ready to be repaired. Covered in a warm thermal blanket as thin as a sheet but effective to -300 degrees below zero, they were gently handled.

The surgical team that was there were the best on world, veterans of the tide of suffering both on Cybertron and here. Normally they were staffed at Compassion which was an anchor hospital created by the metrotitan, Compassion who was a medical ship all his long life. They came at Ratchet's request as they often did when extreme abuse was part of the repair process. They were experts at cataloging and reporting, both under oath and not, any signs of malice on the bodies of their patients.

Standing at the door to Mystic's surgery was Libby and Trigger. They were also with Har-Lee and Eugenie who were available and would witness this, one of the worst cases of trafficking that had been found so far. Perceptor for Sciences would alternate between both to ensure that his forensics expertise on bodies which had no parallel was available for the findings.

Ratchet stood beside Budge staring at his sweet face. It was smoothed in stasis and all the cares, shadows of bad memories and wear were missing. It was the same with Mystic who looked peaceful and sweet as well. It made him feel better.

His family would be waiting in a lounge near their room where they'd be returned if all went well. There was a lot to fix but Ratchet felt strongly that this would go well. It was hard getting his Appa to believe it though he wanted to with all his spark. He sat in the lounge holding Docker's servo as he waited in great anxiety.

They were wheeled in as everyone took their places including the several who would walk between both to observe and ask questions. Ratchet would observe, gathering his own information. If there was a hearing it would be the word of many against just his own, something that would help solidify findings as they were discovered.

They were plugged in, then the experts began the long gentle search around the body for problems, their sources and the planned reconstruction that would make it happen for the two little mechs. It would take five joors for it to be done.

=0=At a new military installation

They sat in their classroom, one of three being briefed by their commander, Jackson Davis, something that would take four days to accomplish before anyone could leave the facility. He paused a moment to take a call, then put his phone back in his pocket. It was a modified simpler version of the one most of the Cybertronian citizens and all the senior soldiers carried on world.

"I just took a call. There was an emergency for Commander Ratchet. He won't be here today. Commander Prowl will come and so will Colonel Lennox. Commander Ratchet will be here tomorrow. We're going to continue for a half an hour, then break. When Prowl and Lennox arrive we will signal the siren," Davis said. "You will come back here immediately."

Then they continued onward.

=0=Cybertron

The overall inspection of the newest additions to the skyline of Altihex was undertaken, passed inspection and was being celebrated by everyone with a huge lunch and beer fest with the crews, those who were going to move in and the local authorities. Raptor who was having a great old time joined them. He was aware of the newest family and was kept in the loop by Turbine who was on call to speak to Mystic when he could. They were in the same business, that of the seen unexplainable and the unseen unknowable. Kindred spirits, both.

"This is great," Tellur, Raptor's chief of staff said as he clicked glasses with Raptor. "We're up to 52% housed in the city and 72% in the outlying areas. This is going to be amazing when its finished. At this rate Altihex will meet Transboreal Gulf, then cross over to Uraya in no time. My family comes from Uraya."

"Some of mine on my son's son-in-law's side does as well. Plucky little town, Uraya," Raptor said. "Now its going to be done the way it should with the urban areas connecting neatly. I like this area myself. I loved to hike and camp in the Transboreal. Very interesting area all in all."

They would chat together enjoying the people's joy, then move onto another area enjoying more completed living and business accommodations. It would take them all day long.

=0=Surgery

They leaned in to watch over the shoulders of the surgeons as they worked to repair, replace and clean up the interior of the two little mechs. They were long past due for attention and it'd be almost incomprehensible for the two when they were in recovery to feel as good as they would. It wouldn't even be close to how well they'd feel after they went through the program Ratchet and his team had set up for them.

Perceptor talked into a microphone telling of the work as it went, offering his professional takes on the type and kinds of injury and neglect and how he believed it was delivered. It was hard to hear as Ratchet walked between the two theaters checking, handing things to the surgeons and waiting grimly. It was going to take a while.

=0=At a new school

They walked out of their classroom heading for the Art Center which was nearby. The entire area of this school was still under construction but this one would have all the amenities of any other but on a smaller scale than the huge schools all over the colony. The classes were smaller as well so that was a consideration. You had to meet a lot of criteria to be a student here. This would have been a possibility for Rambler if they were expanded to his age group.

"Neo? Where we go?" Orion asked as he held onto the strap on the rope that Laret used to move them from place to place.

"Art," Neo said as she smiled at her little group. She would have 12 when it was all said and done. It was the automatic cutoff for kids. Right now, she had eight. Four more and she would be topped off. The four being considered were Kaon, Miracle, Uraya and Iacon. Even though they were younger than the eight with her now, these kids were ready to try more.

The permissions were needed for Miracle but the other three were signed the moment the trine was told about this.

-* Confab about kids *-

"This is great. Where do we sign?" Sideswipe asked as he looked over Bluestreak's shoulder at the data pad in his servo.

"What do you think, Sunny?" Blue asked as both of them glanced at the solemn-faced mech standing by the window.

He turned to them, then nodded. "I agree," he said.

The request was signed and sent. Later after dinner, Sunstreaker would leave and walk the streets of Tyger Pax as he absorbed the idea that three of his kids were gifted. They were going to be someone some day and this was their first step toward that. It would take him all night long to work through the incredible emotion that this brought up in him.

Someone thought his kids were great. Someone who knew kids thought that Kaon and the twinnies were amazing. It was almost more than he could absorb.

=0=Six joors later

They were wheeled out under medical stasis, then brought back to the recovery room on their floor. Plugging in, the nurses fussed while Ratchet conferred with the surgeons, the expert witnesses and Percy. When they left Ratchet walked in to check them himself. They were in stasis, monitored and relaxed.

Mystic was a partial rebuild, so worn out was a number of his systems. Budge was only just slightly less a problem but his left ped and right servo had to be replaced. Ratchet looked at the small servo of his uncle and remembered stories of him carving things for his atar to play with. He was a gifted artist, something that his nephew picked up on to create sentient tools and weapons.

Now he was small, repaired but worn, tired, had the refugee 'resignation' that so many had when they had hoped too many times and was needful of a lot of attention to get better. Ratchet had considered the forms he filled out to get them the best placement possible.

They would start at the Central Point Medical Center with a private room that had a lot of homey touches. When that was complete, they would be transferred to Mountain Top Rehabilitation Center where they'd live in a private room that looked like the combined bedroom and living room of an apartment. It would have shelves for books, places for photos, a small snack center and a big television for them to watch while resting.

Outside the door was a community room with lots of lounge spaces, game areas, a dining area with food and drink available all orn and night and great views. Nurses and doctors would be there along with orderlies to help clients. This would be like living at home but with assistance in all areas.

Next would come Mountain Top Assisted Living Center. They would be living in a small apartment with the option of cooking for themselves. It would be self contained but at intervals all orn and night someone would check in to see if they were doing well. The monitors they would wear would help staff to keep them safe and respond swiftly when something was registered.

The patients would be allowed at this time to wander 'The Village' as the locals called it with its little shops and restaurants. They could attend movies, sit on the sidewalk on benches or at cafes and watch the world. When you got this far you were on your way.

For those who would never be able to live alone no matter how well they were physically, there were apartment buildings with the same safeguards where they could live in safety for the rest of their orns if necessary. All of the effort of this place was to gradually help clients work their way out of here and back into the world. If they couldn't they would be cared for here.

Families were given massive visitation so that the client wouldn't lose track of where they were and what was happening.

All hail Paragon.

He pleased himself that all was well, set an internal timer for them, then walked down the corridor to the lounge where everyone was waiting. He reached it, paused in the doorway to scan everyone there.

They looked up at him startled, then stood.

Appa Ratchet walked to Ratchet to look up at his beloved grandson. "How is Mystic and Budge, Sonny?"

"They were champions, Appa," Ratchet said. "They have every boo-boo that they have fixed up. Dancing will commence before you know it."

Appa Ratchet stared at him a moment, then stepped into Ratchet's arms. He would cry for a long, long time.

=0=TBC 5-8-2022

The genitor carrier thing is still being tinkered with. The node that's affected is that delicate that it holds nearly all that makes a mech a mech, his personality, etc. They have the cure, now they have to create the treatment. :D Nothing is ever easy in this story.

NOTES:

Misty Legionnaire chapter 427 . May 6

I'm glad Ratchet and the whole health community is on this. Looking forward to seeing how the tiny kids take the new school. I'm sure Sunstreaker helped paint the rooms with brilliant murals, since he'd insist on continuing to do so even as an elected official of the school system. :)

ME: He will now. Sunny is having a moment about his kids. ;)

I am very curious how the Seer community will respond to one of the oldest families showing up? Did they have feelings of a positive sort something was coming?

ME: Turbine is going to get that rolling. They sort of share the same gig. The Seer community is going to be coming into its own through Mystic. More to come with them.

I hope the two new members of Ratchet/Ironhide family adore the children.

ME: They're modeled after my Uncle Barney and Aunt Margaret. They ranched and such since the 1920's and were the relatives that all the kids adored at first sight. My uncle Barney was the cutest tiny little cowboy with the sweetest heart and the quietest manner. They both were and that's how I plan to write them. :D

I sure hope there's evidence behind to rescue the others who weren't dumped. Looking forward to more slaggers getting their comeuppance.
ME: That group is going to go out tomorrow. More to come.

Have a great weekend. May good fortune follow you.

ME: You, too, on both accounts. Happy wonderful spring for you, darling. HUGS! And to all of you.