The Diego Diaries: GAMES! (dd8 451)

This covid stuff is so nuts. Great one moment and flat on your face the next. I am going to write these in the morning. Take care, my chickadees. XO, Nana

=0=At a man cave with the boyz

"What then, Appa?" Fireball asked with beathlessness. Truly.

"We gathered it the square, all of us there, and began to run for the Citadel which was the last place they were," Hardie said as he recounted the last push for freedom from the Quintessans during the war for freedom long, long ago. "There was little firepower against us by then but we were all running there as fast as possible before they could get organized to stop us."

The war had raged and much destruction had happened to the strongholds of the invaders. The intensity of the fury, the reckless abandon by which everyone raged and the defeat in waves of collaborators and the overseer class had made the rush toward Iacon as swift as a wind driven forest fire.

He'd been in the final charge with Merrick, later Guardian Prime and all of the family he had at the time. Sun, Blackjack, Delphi and so many others including Wirelight, Lynette who'd become the Empress of Stanix with her unerring rifle, Alpha Trion with Lauren the chief priest of Primus at some point, Stephonia and her eventual bond raced with fury and hope toward the last hold out on world.

There was fighting and ships lifting off carrying away the enemy as the net began to fall. Across the great square toward the doors of the Citadel they ran, all of them determined to snuff out the last bastards still here before they could escape in a ship.

They ran together, these leaders of the Revolutionary Council that had planned for this since forever. From other directions they came, Czar and the others, even Hercy who had come from Kaon to kill the last fragger himself, all of them swooped up the steps to the great doors which were blockaded.

In fits of fury they would never surpass, Sun and Blackjack began to dismantle the doors, assisted by Hardie and the others. The pieces fell away, things were shoved back and the end times came to the Quintessans huddled inside. It would be brutal and terrible. The mob would tear them apart with their bare hands.

"It must have been amazing, Appa," Genesis whispered with awe.

"It was a time no one should ever forget. There are femmes and mechs walking around this colony and Cybertron, ordinary appearing individuals who had extraordinary courage. When the moment came they stepped up and made the future possible," Hardie said.

"But it kept happening over and over again. The Functionalists and the System of Exception. All of the stuff kept happening," Quadrus said.

"It happens as long as you allow it," Sun said. "If you don't want something to happen, then you have to make it clear what you believe and step up."

"What can one person do?" Fireball asked.

Sun considered the question. "Have you ever heard of a human girl, a young one named Greta Thunberg? She was the one who led the environmental awakening on Earth a while back."

"We do," Fireball said as the others nodded. "When Beachcomber comes to speak to us he talks about her and says we need to do what she does especially now that we can vote."

"We should care and do something," Quadrus said as the other two nodded.

"She was a little girl so affected by the catastrophe they have she tried to starve herself to death in despair. Then she decided to do something about it. What could she do she thought. She made a sign and sat in front of her country's government building every Friday by herself. She did it for a year with them walking past ignoring her. Then she was noticed.

"She continued and the whole world began to hear about her. She erupted the world into concern. She did it by herself. She educated herself to the truth, then fearlessly presented it. Sometimes it only takes one spark to ignite the fire. She did it and so can anyone. The System only happens, bad only happens when good people are silent," Sun said.

They stared at him, then each other.

Fireball leaned forward. "Then we should do that, too, when something like that happens."

Sun nodded as the mechs watched the three kids. "They say on Earth that evil flourishes when good people are do nothing. Be a big noise when trouble comes and be fearless."

Springer and Drift who were standing by the door glanced at Ironhide. "Its almost time to go."

Ironhide glanced at the others, then rose. "Time to go for another win for the championship."

Prime rose, then grinned. "I think you have the right attitude, Ironhide."

They gathered up, the team and the three big kids, then walked out the door to the Metro that would take them to the Arena in Retriades.

=0=At the Arena in Retriades

They began to arrive, those that were going to watch in the Primal Box. The only ones that would be missing this time would be Appa Ratchet, Ravel, Corr, Chan and Docker. Tie would come along to help with the kids.

"Where's everyone?" Miler asked as he set the carry basket that held a dozing Prima.

"They're coming. Some are staying in Central Point with Budge and Mystic," said Trooper. "I hope they can get well enough to come to some of these games."

"I do as well. We have to meet them," Miler said as the others settled with their particular kid in the Primal Box.

It would be a bit before the game started, long enough for everyone to arrive and the game participants to organize.

=0=In a tunnel

They stood together with their medical kits. They were their jackets with their identification clear to view. With them on a segway wearing a jacket that was only a smidge too big for him was the group's newest member, Barrett Walters of Earth. A member for just a couple of days, no one knew including his family. This would be their introduction to his new pastime, seeing him with the group at the game. They watched Cybertronian sporting events religiously.

=0=In a habitat lounge

They gathered, the wives and husbands of the movers and shakers, the billionaires who had financed the push to put this place on the map, who lived and worked here a perk of doing so. Some of them were even free from indictment.

"Well, I'm supporting the Comets. I have a huge bet back home and I expect to collect it," Louis Richardson said. He grinned at his son. "Too bad you're not the gambling type."

The television set was on and its huge screen filled half of one wall. Relaxing all round the richly appointed room on the comfortable chairs and couches, they watched the roving camera feed. The fans coming in were exotic and colorful, some carrying children and others cameras and cheer gear. As it scanned the arena as the backdrop for the pregame show by Blaster and Jazz, it began to rove around at ground level.

As it passed around the array, a group of kids were spotted at three of the four tunnels holding medical kits as they waited.

"Wait a minute," Clark Walters said. He sat forward but the camera had moved onward. "Wait. Stop the cameras."

"Where? Why?" his wife asked.

He glanced at her. "I think I saw Barrett standing in a tunnel with the kids."

It would be tense wait for the view to come around again. When it did there would be a forest of very tall and very imposing mechs and femmes standing around them waiting to be called onto the court.

=0=Locker room just before that moment

They sat on the benches having quiet chats about things none of which were basketball related. There was no tension, just a sense of confidence. They were the only undefeated team in the league once more and the game tonight with Simfur looked to be if not easy, then a reasonably rauccous win.

Simfur was tough and big but still in the learning the game's range of skills. Traveling was a big thing for them with bots running without dribbling the ball when they did. Their biggest weakness for this skill was when pivoting. They just took too many steps.

A rap on the door led them to gather up. Walking to line up, they followed Prime out to go to the tunnel entrance were a number of kids were waiting for them including a human.

=0=Lounge

"WHAT THE FUCK IS HE DOING THERE!?" Clark Walters inquired. Loudly.

"HOW WOULD *I* KNOW!?" Willow Walters responded. Loudly.

=0=Tunnel at the game

Prime paused by the door to the tunnel, then looked down. A good fifteen bot kids and one human kid looked upward. "Good afternoon."

Jessine smiled. "Good afternoon, Lord Optimus."

"WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER!" Echo said in her tiny micro-mini-con voice.

Loudly.

For her.

"I see that." Prime glanced at Barrett. "I am proud to see you branching out, Barrett Walters. You have joined a good organization and I for one am happy to see it."

Barrett stared upward at the impossibly tall and imposing figure who seemed happy for him. :Thank you. I'm glad, too:

"Who's going to win, Lord Optimus?" Sil asked.

He grinned at her, then the kids. "Why, we will."

They laughed uproariously, then Prime was called out by the themes to present himself. He walked out to the medallion in the center of the floor, then paused in the roar and approval of the crowd of thousands and thousands of spectators.

Barrett watched him, this massive strange alien with a beautiful voice, eyes that could stare through to all the things you wanted to hide and then congratulate you when you did something good. Maybe he was what everyone thought about him, wise and kind.

The kids were singing the anthems and he listened to the beautiful melody and the amazing sound of their language. Then Prime walked back to stand with the team until called. When they were, they walked out followed by the kids who paused at the tunnel entrance.

Barrett parked his segway, then joined them, a tall thin boy who was nearly the same height as the kids. He didn't look very out-of-place at all.

Looking out, he marveled at the tiers of seats filled with bots and the human segment near the Primal Box. He watched the big mechs and femmes warming up and saw the refs huddled nearby. It was exhilarating.

=0=Lounge

"GET HIM ON THE PHONE, CLARK!"

"I AM, WILLOW! GIVE ME A MOMENT!"

=0=Game

A buzz from his comm gear alerted his attention. :Hi, Dad:

:BARRETT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE! YOU'RE AT THE GAME!?:

Barrett grinned. :I am. I'm with friends:

:YOU NEVER SAID A WORD TO US! WHY ARE YOU WEARING A JACKET LIKE THOSE OTHER KIDS!?:

:Because I belong to their group. We come to the games to help. I have to run, Dad. I'm on the job. I'll see you at home after the game. Barrett out: With that, he signed off the line. Grinning to himself, he walked closer to Faun and Coros. Pulley and some others he knew were across the arena in another tunnel. They waved to him and he waved back. He was as happy at that moment as he'd been in a long time.

It would be a hair raising experience for his parents who were told that the game arenas were off limits to humans if they wanted to go late. Be on time, you could go. Be late, stay home.

At the game, the toss was made. Prime would begin and the Templars would defend. The game was on.

=0=TBC 6-7-2022

I will answer notes tomorrow. :D:D:D HI, FANCYSPINNER!