The Diego Diaries: Placebo (dd7 73)
=0=In an office on the 49th floor
"Uh, Pico is fine. I think you need to hold a moment," Ratchet said as he muted the comm device. :Ratchet to Hard Drive:
:Hardie here. Why aren't you at the man cave?: a familiar voice asked.
Ratchet chuckled. :On my way. By the way, I have Pico's bond on the comm line. He's wanting to know where he is and he isn't happy:
:That's a violation of the rules. Route me through and I'll handle it. Man cave. We're ordering in. A sort of post game party: Hardie said.
:On my way: Ratchet replied. :Ratchet out: He stared at his mass of work, then did the only thing reasonable. He walked out to join the hoo-haw at the man cave.
=0=Man Cave, in the hallway concluding a call
Hardie stepped back into the room, then walked to the table where his grandsons, great or otherwise sat. Sitting himself, he grinned. "I don't think Pico's bond will be calling any time soon," he said as he glanced at Pico who paused his pizza in front of his face to look his way. "Your bond called. I told him you were with me. Its all in servo."
Pico almost looked relieved, then nodded. "Thank you," he said softly.
Carbide stared at Hardie, then Pico. They were sitting together at a table with Lon, Bezel, Terradive and Roto. All of them had begun to attend to man cave gatherings including post game hoo-haws. They were among a couple of dozen who did regularly. Food and drink were ordered for all, then the slag flowed like water in the roomful of mechs sitting on couches, tables and chairs around the space.
"So … now that you're in the finals, Optimus, what's the word?" Kup asked with the utmost seriousness.
Prime who was eating a big slice of pizza glanced at Kup. "Why, the word is 'win'."
Huge laughter greeted that as Ratchet walked into the room, paused at the door to pull his camera and take several pictures of the assembled, some of who made ridiculous faces for just his viewing pleasure.
His pleasure and every social media outlet on world later.
Slipping it into subspace, he smiled a dazzler. "Mama is in the house. Hand me a beer."
Four were tossed his way and it was to his credit that he caught them all. Smirking, he tossed three back into the cooler, filled a plate, then glanced at Ironhide. "Who ate my salad?"
No one did.
There was no salad.
Sitting down beside Hardie, he grinned. :How did he call go?:
Hardie grinned. :It was educational. We reviewed the rules and he hung up. Needless to say, he's not a happy camper. We have to make a meeting shortly and get this out in the open. We're keeping the two. We can shorten the period of emotional trauma and assimilation of the new paradigm if we do. As for the others, they can get with the program:
"You're the epitome of the milk of human kindness: Ratchet said with a chuckle. :I salute you: he said as they clinked their bottles.
"Ada," Genesis said as he sat nearby with the titanic kids and his two dread brothers. "We all have to go overnight to the Valles with the Science Club."
Rambler who was sitting with them nodded. "Me, too, Ada."
"What's the short of it, infants? What do you need?" Ratchet asked as he whisked out his household data pad and began to set up a page.
Prowl did the same and was finished with the list in seconds. One kid and all ...
"We're going to spend three orns there. We're going to camp," Genesis said with a grin. "I love to camp."
"Then we better pencil in camping," Ironhide said. "OLD MECH! PENCIL IN CAMPING! I HAVE SPOKEN!"
Laughter that could be heard on Jupiter countered that bit of bravado but the idea had merit as everyone in the room began to debate when they would.
All of them.
Such was the Way of the Hanger On.
"Slaggers. Don't expect me to cook for ya," Ratchet said as he began to add a list up for his kids. "You're going to need tents and sleeping bags. We have those in the storage unit in Pax. Have your old pa get them for you. Food. I suppose you'll need food."
They would.
Lots of it.
Ratchet glanced at Prowl who was feeding Possibility with a smirk on his face. Watching Ratchet organize apparently was amusing. "Hey, Granny."
Prowl stared at Ratchet. "Who are you talking to, Loon?"
"Why you, slagger," Ratchet replied with a brilliant smile. "Who do you recommend me to call to cheat me up some food for my little imps?"
Genesis snickered. "We're taller than you, Ada."
"You'll always be my little baby boys," Ratchet said with a grin. "Which takeout place, cheater?"
Prowl stared at him coolly. "I don't know which one you mean, Lunatic."
"The Catering Place for breakfasts and Autobot City Catering Service for the other meals and snacks," Miler said as he held a sleeping Prima. "Prowl has a list of the best takeout and catering places in the colony."
Prowl stared at his ada like he'd sold him to the Decepticons, then frowned at Ratchet. "Don't hang out with my Ada, Loon. You're corrupting him."
"Aww. If you say so, Granny," Ratchet said as he hooked up the links, ordered the food in bulk, put in delivery times, then linked off. "I'm going to order you transportable bags to put everything in. I'll make some of them coolers for your food and drinks. The food will come in packages that heat themselves so you won't have to worry about camp stoves."
"Cooking over a fire is your job, Ironhide. Or so you told me," Optimus said. "You did not want … 'the little woman'? Is that what you said? You did not want them to fool with complicated equipment."
Everyone glanced at Ironhide who halted a slice of pizza just before his pie hole. He gazed at Prime with a frown. "Slagger." He glanced at Ratchet who was smirking at him. "Just a joke, other slagger."
"Jokes make me laugh, like when you put your big old ped in your pie hole and end up on the couch. I find that hilarious," Ratchet said as he linked into other places to make sure that the kid's stuff was huge and complete.
Candy included.
"That's my boy, the jerk," Blackjack said with a chuckle.
"That's my little mech you're talking about, 'Jack," Delphi said with a grin.
"He's yours," Blackjack said as he slipped a piece of pizza to Pudding. He was standing at 'Jack's chair begging with Robby and Flipper. Spot was sitting next to Sunspot eating off his plate as they 'shared'.
No middle man for him.
The conversation continued as the evening began to quicken. Soon they would leave, most of them with kids, while the others started the card game that would last all night long.
Ironhide and Blackjack stay after and play cards with the mechs until the early morning.
=0=In a tower in City Four, Crater District 1
They gathered, the bonds of Pico, Carbide and Rockwell along with many family, some of whom were lawyers. They were along mostly for moral support since there was nothing the legal system could do about their problem without Hard Drive turning the cases back to local court and he wouldn't do that.
Some of them had run-ins with Hardie in the past and knew him well. He was no ones fool and he was tenacious about doing what the courts ordered to the bitter end.
They would sit and commiserate for a long time. In the end it would be the same. They couldn't do anything about what was happening to their family members. They would, however, formerly petition the court for an update hearing.
Hardie who was waiting for them to do it would accept their petition.
=0=Later that night on the eleventh floor of Tower 2 in the Mare Tranquilitatis
They walked to the apartment of Hardie and Delphi, then Hardie let the three inside. Lights came on in the beautiful apartment, one filled with images of family and mementos of life living all over the galaxy in the military.
Delphi turned to Pico. "You can have the spare berth room. Our babies sleep there when they overnight on dates but we can re-arrange that. Come on." He walked to the hallway and into a spare room. The light came on as Pico followed.
"This is your space. Keep it tidy. We eat breakfast here or at The Diner On The Corner depending on the family and our day's activities. You'll be with us on Cybertron and here. All you have to do is ask if you need something. We hope you do," Delphi said.
Pico nodded. "Thank you. Its going to be a … its nice."
Delphi stared at him a moment. "Always when there's a shift of attitude, its hard. Lots of high castes learned it in the Diaspora and some only here. Its a good thing what's happening to you."
"My bond worries me. My family," Pico said as he sat wearily on the berth. "They won't understand. They'll blame it on everything and everyone else but me."
"Then maybe they need to dig in the ground on Cybertron as well," Delphi said. "You're in a bond. The link is there and always will be. Your bond will change. It might not be fast or easy but everyone changes."
It was silent a moment.
Pico glanced up at Delphi. "Thank you," he whispered.
Delphi nodded. "Lay back and recharge. Don't do anything else. When you don't feel tired then things will get better. You're going to be administrative at the HQ. No more field work."
Pico looked at Delphi with pained optics. "Thank you."
Delphi nodded. "Get some rest. Tomorrow will come soon enough." He walked to the door, glanced at Pico, then walked out closing it behind him.
Pico would stare at the door, then lay back. He'd be asleep in seconds.
=0=On the fifteenth floor
They entered their apartment, then turned to Carbide who was carrying Pudding.
Raptor grinned. "That's a slagging fine cow you have there. You can put him down. He's a bit of a lover boy. Don't be surprised if he follows you around."
Turbine chuckled. "Come on. Your room is this way."
Carbide followed Turbine into a spare berth room, one that had a lot of family pictures, a pair of hand carved toy boxes in the corner by the window and a tent furled up in the same corner.
"Our infants stay here but as long as you are we can shift them around. They can recharge with us," Turbine said. "Why not sleep now? We can face whatever tomorrow brings together."
"You're a Maker of the Elder Clan," Carbide said.
Turbine nodded. "I am."
"What they said about Primus and The One … its true," Carbide said rather than asked.
Turbine nodded. "It is. The One and Primus are made of love. They would never agree to The System. No one can expect that. Think about this. If The One and Primus are love, then what isn't love, isn't either of Them. Think about what you know and ask yourself a simple question … 'what would love do now?' If there's no good answer to that then you know you've wandered off.
"We were created to learn, live, grow, be happy, love each other and remember who we are. You can't do that when the biggest part of your people and culture are subjugated under the boot and iron fist of the smallest part. There are no words in the Chronicles nor any of the other texts that support The System. Its all a lie and illusion because there isn't one part of it that speaks to love."
Turbine stepped closer, then put his servo gently on Carbide's shoulder. "Love is all that matters. There's two roads in life … one of love and one of fear. The System is built on fear. Choose love and you will never regret anything in your life. Remember … 'what would love do now'?"
Turbine walked to the door, then looked at Carbide. "Go to sleep, infant. It's always better in the daylight." Then he stepped out and the door closed.
Carbide stared at the door, then walked to the berth. He sat, then lay back. It would take him a bit of time to get to recharge but he would eventually.
=0=TBC 8-29-19
NOTES! :D:D:D
kattenbelletje chapter 71 . Aug 28
Ah yes, nobility and their inbreeding to keep the bloodline pure. That was a mess.
ME: It is something, isn't it? There was a Spanish king who had a lot of close family inbreeding. He was handicapped and an imbecilic mentality. When he finally died after a life of playing with his toys and being a sad sack, they did an autopsy and his brain was missing. His head was filled with water. YIKES! :D:D:D HUGS!
fancyspinner chapter 71 . Aug 28
Orion cracks me up!
ME: When I need a laugh, I add him. He's the little kid I wish I had been. He cuts a 'wide swath' as the cowboys used to say about people like him. HUGS! :D
fancyspinner chapter 70 . Aug 28
I was worried when you didn't post, because you had mentioned this in a response to one of my reviews. I prayed a lot for you. I'm glad you guys all made it safe.
ME: AWWW! I love ya back. As for the drive, it was terrible but we're planning to get rain this weekend. It might quiet it down a bit. That's the hope. My two cats, the chihuahua and this boy were amazing. HUGS! My sweet fancy.
Sunstreaker's Girl chapter 70 . Aug 28
Holy moly... I'm sorry the fire is still raging and I'm sorry you needed to drive through it! Hopefully it will be contained soon.
I was worried when you didn't post but figured you were busy with your new pup. Stay safe!
ME: It was one of the strange things about living in the wilderness. We've had a summer that was over 70 most of the time and no rain. It was a disaster waiting to happen but if you don't go you can't get out of my area. One road in and out. Thank you, darling. HUGS! :D
SkyenhaMarisa chapter 70 . Aug 27
Now you know why they call them smoke eaters.
ME: BWAHAHAHA! You got THAT right. :D:D:D What a mess that was. Hugs, honey. :D
leoness chapter 70 . Aug 27
Jeez. Glad you and the puppers are ok!
ME: Yeah. Its the weirdest thing I ever did. All my kids came through like champions. HUGS, my dear Leoness. :D:D
Sunstreaker's Girl chapter 68 . Aug 23
Oh wow... This was a great game! I'm glad the final game will be between Kaon and Iacon. I definitely want Iacon to win though. The Twins are good but Optimus was made to win!
ME: They seemed the most capable of doing a good game and Prime has a huge hunger for winning that I didn't know about. He also is a good athlete and it was only a matter of them before he joined a football team. LOL! I can't wait to see Prowl lose his stuff. Both of them are going to hate football seaons. HUGS! :D:D
fancyspinner chapter 67 . Aug 21
I love Cybertron in sports! They are just the best. How is the new doggie settling in. I hope everyone gets along.
ME: The new dog is doing great. He's more rested and relaxed without all that tooth pain. He had several pulled. Everyone is so nice, my cats and dogs that I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop as my family used to say. LOL! Hugs!
To everyone who reads this, know you're loved. Driving through a forest fire makes things really clear in importance. You guys are among the best things ever. Thank you and take care out there. :D:D:D