The Diego Diaries: Fixin' (dd7 118)
I was dragging a let last night. Sorry. HERE WE GO!
=0=Med Center
"They're going to need a good detailing," Sideswipe said as he glanced at Sunstreaker. The big yellow mech was in a bad way. "How about getting your big cases or do you have enough in your personal kit?"
Sunstreaker glanced at his brother. "We'll need the big kit to do this right. I'll be right back. Settle on colors. Any color will do no matter what they think they can get. Show them, Sideswipe," he said as he pivoted, then hurried out.
Sideswipe took Siphon's battered arm. "Do you remember your original colors?" he asked.
The little mech thought. "I think it was blue."
"Do you want blue or is there another color or colors you like?" Sideswipe asked as he scanned the infant's arm with his specialized optics and internal detailing programs. "I can give you any color you want."
"Any color?" Siphon asked with surprise.
Sideswipe grinned. "Any color. The best tones and finishes. You're going to shine when we get done."
Siphon thought a moment, then smiled. "I like yellow! Yellow with these things being silver." He pointed to his metallic embellishments and finial flashes which were dulled from lack of attention.
"You got it. How yellow?" Sideswipe asked with a grin.
"Really yellow," Siphon said. He glanced at Rocco. "Would that be okay?"
Rocco nodded. "It'd be great, Siphon."
Siphon smiled, then looked at Sideswipe. "Rocco says okay. He's like my atar."
Sideswipe glanced at Rocco who was staring at Siphon like Sunny stared at children when upset by their state. "Atar. He's going to be one, right? You're going to adopt them?"
Rocco stared at Sideswipe, then glanced at Prime. "What's the deal with them? I'm going to keep them, right? They're used to me and there's going to be help, right?"
Prime nodded. "We support all our families. If you want to be their guardian, then you sign a petition for temporary permanent guardianship. After a period of time it defaults to permanent. Ratchet can send you the forms. The place to file them will be on them so you can just forward them onward."
Ratchet sent the files to Rocco who received them, took a moment to read them, then signed and sent them onward. "It says they're going to the court. What then?"
"The court will sign them, then forward them to Child Services, Ratchet and me," Prime said. "I will sign them and so will they if I do."
Rocco relaxed slightly, then watched as Sunstreaker returned carrying a kit. He set it on the floor, then opened it. It was an amazing collection of all manner of detailing devices and products. He pulled a little platform out that he used with his kids, put a small tarp over it for the sprayer, then turned to Siphon. "Hop on."
They helped Siphon stand on the little platform while Rocco held his bear. Discussing the need for finishes that dried instantly, they mixed a yellow format that Siphon agreed to. It was very yellow. Then they began to spray the relevant primer coats after fixing a few of the minor dents and scratches that he had accumulated.
The two infants watched as they worked, staring raptly as Siphon changed from white primer coats to ten layers of yellow that built one upon the other. When that was finished, ten layers of shine, two layers of finish and three layers of scratch coating were applied. They then carefully cleaned and hand painted all of his silver features.
Sunstreaker looked at him critically. "Gorgeous," he said as Siphon marveled at himself. He glanced at Rocco. "All the kids have Autobot sigils on their shoulders. I paint them myself. What about these kids?"
Rocco considered that, an amazing concession he'd have to make for the kids considering his own faction, then he nodded as images of his friends being decimated came into his mind. "Alright."
Sunstreaker mixed the paint, then with an almost supernatural ease, he affixed an Autobot sigil on each of Siphon's shoulders. "There. Perfect as usual."
Snickers rounded the room as Siphon marveled. He looked at Rocco with delight. "LOOK AT THIS! I'M PRETTY!" he said with joy.
Rocco handed him his teddy bear. "You are, Siphon."
"What about Boo and Tiko?" Siphon asked as he sat down between the two babies who immediately leaned against him.
Rocco picked up Boo. "Time to get pretty, too." He gently placed the baby on the platform where he half crouched with his bear. "Time to get a clean up, Boo," he said gently. "I can hold your bear. Okay?"
Boo looked at him near to tears, then reluctantly gave him the bear. The twins then began swiftly to take care of him. They were used to this given that all of the kids in the colony, thousand of them were their special project and they got all manner of kids in all manner of condition to work on. There were more to go given the number of kids now on world but they were working down the list together. No one knew they did. The two just new it made them feel better about a lot of things.
When the last primer was covering Boo, Sunny leaned in. "What color do you want, Boo?" he asked gently.
Boo stared at him, then Siphon. He pointed to Siphon.
Sunny nodded. "Okay." With a swiftness and teamwork that was admirable, the two transformed the baby and when his Autobrand was finished, they set him carefully next to Siphon who wrapped his arm around Boo.
"Look at Boo, Rocco. He looks just like me," Siphon said happily.
Rocco handed him back his bear which he gripped tightly. As this was happening, Prowl and Ratchet slipped out to put into motion something they had ordered together off line.
Sunny looked at the little femme who stared at him with fearful optics. "Time to get pretty, too, little femme."
"Make her yellow, too. EVERYONE WILL KNOW WE'RE A FAMILY!" Siphon said in an eerie echo of someone else they knew.
Sunny picked her up, heated up his chassis, then swayed a few moments before putting her gently on the stand.
She looked panicked a second, then Sunny leaned in pulsing her loving energy. He petted her tiny arm, then gently took her bear. It would be a coordinated race to paint her fully during which the entire time she cried tiny weeps.
=-=Moments later
Prowl and Ratchet walked back in, slipping into place as they watched Sunny paint the Autobrand on the tiny femme. She was handed her bear which she clutched, then pressed her little face.
Rocco picked her up. "What's the deal about gear? Siphon had some on."
"Its cold here, colder than Cybertron because the core here is mostly dead. They can't regulate their heat," Ratchet said as he pulled blankets he had grabbed at The Infant Center on the way back. "No one knew because we forgot about kids and had to learn the hard way going forward. They need gear to go out or they freeze until they become at least sub adult. Their processor goes first, then their neural network. These blankets can get them home. Prowl and I set you up with stuff so you can get along for now."
"I'm assigning Sunstreaker and Sideswipe to you for the next two orns," Prowl said. "They will help you set up and teach you how to handle kids. They'll go to the meet ups for the specialized day care and counseling. Siphon will be tested and we can see what school he can attend."
"I get to go to school? Is that okay, Rocco?" Siphon asked with surprise and growing hopefulness.
"I guess so," Rocco said as the enormity of what he'd taken on began to hit hard. "They have to go to school, right?"
"It is the law," Prime said solemnly. He felt for the guy. This was a lot, fast.
"Sunny is on the District School Board. He knows what to do and how to do it. There's a new school opening in Metrotitan that's going to take on kids like Siphon who have problems and need help with schooling. We don't want them to fail or have more problems because school isn't geared to their situation. We created this one for them," Ironhide said. "It's a need we're trying to meet. I'm on the School Board, too."
Rocco stared at the two, a pair of Autobots that were ferocious warriors. It didn't compute. But then a lot didn't at the moment. "Okay."
"I took the liberty of moving you to new quarters," Prowl said. "You have three children. We moved you to an apartment in our building that was open. A big family moved out for bigger housing so we moved you in. The turn around team finished getting it ready this morning. Scar will still be your mentor," Prowl said glancing at Scar who nodded. "He can help you with the rest of your repatriation. We … all of us can help you with the rest."
Rocco stared at them, then shifted uneasily. It was overwhelming. He had no idea of the blind spot that Prowl had for children nor the overwhelming need to help and support of Ratchet. He just saw his life moving fast as the enemy stepped up to do more for him in a few minutes than his entire experience in the Decepticons had ever done. When he came back down to earth, he might just like this place.
A lot.
"What's the idea now, Ratchet? Are they ready to go home?" Prowl asked.
Ratchet nodded. "They are. We can help," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile.
Huge guff and laughs greeted that as the group gathered up to go. Babies were stowed, Rocco was hoo-hawed onward by the mechs and everyone exited to walk across the public space to the tower next to the Medical Center. It was a short ride upward to the 27th floor where Rocco and Company would now live.
That it was Prowl's building was not lost on anyone.
But Rocco.
Laughing and joking around, a relieved group paused before the 18th apartment door. Prowl opened it, then walked in. Everyone followed. The place was immaculate, there were baskets of food and other delicacies on the table and counter as well as a huge basket of toys by the window nearby. Also there were the trucks that made up 'Siphon's Construction Company'.
"We took the liberty of getting things you would need and bringing your things from the transitional apartment. The berth rooms beyond were designed for the children with everything they need. The big one is yours and there is a wash rack for all of you to use. The monitor will keep you linked in and entertained. If there is anything you need to help you, this datapad," Prowl said as he unsubbed a small handheld, "contains all of our numbers. Call us, any of us any time you have need.
"We support our families and children, all of us and we understand how jarring this can be for people who've had rough lives. They're the future. We understand your situation and how new and strange this all is. The moment you gave your oath you became one of us. I hope you understand that and what it fully means."
Rocco took the handheld. It had a long list of call designations including that of Prowl, Ratchet and even Prime. He looked at them. "Thanks. This is weird." He looked at the list again. "Chromia? She's here?"
"Keep up, infant. She's my daughter," Ratchet said as he preened. "She's bonded with Maelstrom."
Rocco glanced at Ratchet with surprise. "Maelstrom? Turmoil's brother?"
"The one and only," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile.
"Maelstrom … I grew up with him. He and I were best friends. We robb-," He paused a moment, then changed the subject as everyone in the room laughed. "I haven't seen him in a long time. He's bonded? He isn't in jail?" Rocco asked with surprise.
"No. Young love and all," Ratchet said.
Gagging sounds and groaning filled the room along with laughter.
Rocco smiled for the first time. "Miracles then?"
"Sometimes," Prime said.
He looked at the kids who were on the floor looking into the toy box. Then he looked at the group around him. "Uh, thanks," he said gruffly. "This is all … new and … uh, thanks."
"Don't mention it. Seriously," Sideswipe said with a chuckle.
"But do realize that you're within striking distance of The Prowl," Ratchet said. "He suffers the delusion that all the kids in this colony are his."
"They are," Prowl said as he watched the children put down their bears to reach for toys in the big box.
HUGE laughter greeted that.
They stayed a while to explain things and wind down from a harrowing few joors for everyone. When everyone finally left, Rocco turned to the kids. They were sitting on the floor helping Siphon put together the tracks for a train. He glanced around, then shook his helm. "What the frag?" he said to no one there. Then he grinned and walked over to help them.
=0=TBC 10-26-19