The Diego Diaries: Clubbin' (dd7 257)
=0=Early evening
"WE'RE HERE, ADA!"
Big kids came through the door, all nine of them and the hugs never seemed to end. Add to the soup a mix of shorties, a cow, dog and slightly aloof cat and it was madness for a while.
"You came for dinner, I take it," Ratchet said with a grin as he held Lumi.
The youngster was hugging him with a happy expression on his face. It was good to come home. If truth be told, they spent more than half their free time here hanging out, wandering around with the elders and playing with the little kids.
"LOU COMED TO ME, ORION!"
Everyone looked down at a tiny Ironhide-like tootsie who was striking a superman pose at their peds. He being overcome by the attention smiled his biggest jaw unhinging smile. "I, ORION LOVE YOU!"
It would take a while before he was set on the ground again given the hugging he was getting in the moment. At their feet, little kids lined up for their turn.
Ratchet grinned at the mob, then glanced at Quasar. "What's the drill for tonight, infant?"
"We came for dinner, Ada. We can help you," Lumi said. "Then we're going to go to Appa and Ammas and play cards. When we beat them enough we're coming back. Everyone is going to be here and we want to as well."
"The door is open always," Ratchet said as Genesis stepped behind him to hug. He leaned on Ratchet who was strong enough to take it. "Dinner is just about ready."
"We'll help you, Ada," Saber said as he glanced at the counter. "Wow. Look at the food."
"That's waiting for you when you come back," Ratchet said.
Kids were rounded up, sat on bigger kid's laps and their dinners commenced around the table.
Ironhide who had walked from in from the berth room loaded up a plate, then joined them.
"Aren't you eating, too, Ada?" Santee asked as he helped Halo eat her dinner.
"I'm going clubbing with the Squad. We're hitting up some kind of restaurant that Joonie likes." Ratchet grinned as he ladled more food out.
"I want to go clubbing with you sometime," Quasar said with a grin. "I hear you end up in jail."
Everyone glanced at Ratchet who gave them a megawatt smile. "Do as I say, not as I do."
Huge laughter greeted that.
Dinner was funny, festive and soon infants were on their peds rushing to the wash room to clean up, then play madly. As they danced away, Ratchet turned to everyone. "The big boys are coming. All the appas and such. Friends of friends, hangers-on and hobos. Just be good mechs and try not to drunk dial Earth."
Huge laughter greeted that, too.
Hugs were had, infants passed around for seconds, explanations given again and all the like before Ratchet headed toward the door. He paused there, then turned to them. They were sitting and standing around the room staring at him. He sniffled a moment, then looked at them with teary optics. "Don't move. I want to remember you like this. It might get me through my prison sentence, the memories of your cute little faces." He grinned, then left.
"ATAR!"
"What?" Ironhide asked as he stared down at Orion and the imps.
"WHERE ADA DO!? GOIN' HIM TO DERE!?"
Ironhide stared at his son and felt flowers bloom in his soul. He looked at the others, all the flowers in his garden. "Yep," he said.
Orion blazed a smile at him. "Okey, dokey." Then he danced for the berth rooms and the toy boxes. Everyone who was under five feet danced off with him.
The big kids stared at them, then Ironhide.
"They're so cute, Atar," Verilus said as he walked over to sit on Ratchet's chair. "So cute."
"They are. But then YOU ALL ARE!" Ironhide said with a chuckle.
That's when the door opened and the slaggers began to file in.
=0=On the street corner moments before
Ratchet waited for the mob across the street to cross. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were there with the children. Hugging and kissing commenced. Springer and Drift were there as well. A brisk exchange of hand signals and numbers of who to call to bail everyone out was made. Maelstrom and Partition appeared out of the metro and joined them. Sun and Jack, Hercy, Kup and half a dozen Wreckers followed. By the time they were gathered on Ratchet's side of the street, Ratchet was almost ready to join them upstairs.
"So when you get arrested, call us," Sun said as Alor, Delphi and Turbine walked out of the tower to join him.
"Will do," Ratchet said with a dazzler. "Where's Chromia and Lancer?"
"They're waiting at the restaurant," Maelstrom said with a grin. "They decided to cut to the chase."
"Just like their old ma," Ratchet said. He glanced at Drift and Springer. "I'm going to miss having you along. There's something missing, something special between a son and his old ma when you're not there to witness, yea, supervise the arrest."
Huge laughter and lots of promises to be there ensued, then Ratchet turned to the bemused slaggers. "Where's the elders? Kes, my ada and ammas … where the frag are they? I suppose that Miler will meet us somewhere?"
"We have all the directions and everyone went ahead. We're supposed to bring you, sobriety preferred," Alor said with a grin.
"Party pooper," Ratchet said. "Well, my fans await. See ya." Ratchet strode past everyone with his freak flag flying followed by highly amused and highly anticipating elders.
The group watched them go, then Maelstrom chuckled. "I want to go with them."
"Me, too," Springer said. "Last one up is a slagger."
It would be a foot race to the elevators and the door of Dear Old Dad.
=0=Upstairs
"I have to go, Optimus," Prowl said as the last dish was stashed. Old Tight Aft™ was army all the way, He turned to the big mech leaning on the doorjamb with amusement on his handsome face. "What?"
"You." Optimus picked up Solus. "Go. You are going to be late."
"Well, alright," Prowl said as he glanced around. "The children … they're ready to go?"
"On it," Optimus said as his hold opened. He gently placed Solus inside with Possibility, Miracle and Sojourner. "The little mechs are waiting by the door. They do not want to go without saying goodnight to you."
Prowl grinned. "Let's go."
They walked to the door, everyone was hugged and kissed, then the elevator beckoned. Everyone got off on Ironhide's floor as Prowl continued downward. Stepping out, he noted no one was there. Sighing loudly, he hurried to the station nearby.
=0=At the Hoo-Haw™
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"COME IN!"
The door opened as Optimus walked in with his father, Tagg, Tie Down, Appa Ratchet and Appa Chan. They had arrived from their homes next door about the same time and all entered to the almost unnerving sound of infants BWAHAHAHA-ing and dancing madly around. Kids were hugged, then they ran for berth rooms.
The titanic kids watched with amusement, then turned to Ironhide. "We're going to go play cards with Ammas and Appas for a while, Atar. We'll be back shortly," Lumi said.
"Go and have fun. Ping me when you get there," Ironhide said. "It's Second Friday and everyone is going to be partying around."
"On it," the kids said as they walked to the door. When it closed, it was only marginally quieter.
"I'll set the soundproofing, Ironhide," Appa Ratchet said as he walked to the panel nearby. In seconds, the hoo-haw from the kid's rooms was almost unheard. He looked at the counters. "My, Ratchet piled it on."
"Grab a plate and a beer, Ratch. Everyone, go ahead," Ironhide said as he ruled benevolently from his red chair.
They did.
=0=Metro
Prowl took the stairs downward several at a time arriving in the midst of Ratchet and the others who waited for him. "Well, you waited. Quelle surprise."
"OH, PROWLER! DON'T DO ME THAT WAY!" Ratchet said with a chuckle. "Where's Kes and the others?"
"They went ahead. They had to stop by some guild hall or something. Some of us actually have hobbies and things to do," Prowl said as they stepped onto a train.
"It's going to be one of those nights, I see," Alor said with amusement. "By the way, does anyone know where we're going?"
Everyone glanced at everyone else. "I thought you did." -Everyone but those who did and they weren't telling.
Yet.
=0=At a restaurant in City 4, Crater District 3
A number of tables had been pushed together as those there waited for those coming. It was going to be a huge group as the Squad had grown to include adult children and some friends. Joon was sitting with Neo, Docker and Laret. Chatting about this and that social thing that they were involved with through the Circle, they weren't the only femmes there.
Elita and Arcee were present with Elita stepping out for a bit. Lancer and Chromia had joined them along with Bron-E who was an ada now. She and her bond, Borealis had made Edict a grand ada with a son, Silo. The images going around the table would rival even Prowl and Miler in numbers.
There was a stir by the door as Ratchet waltzed in with the others laughing at something or other that appeared to be at Prowl's expense. Greetings filled the room as they took their seats. When all were, they smiled at each other.
"Well, here we are to praise Ratchet and not bury him. I'm paraphrasing from Ironhide's caste court sentencing," Ratchet said to huge laughter.
"How is that going?" Joon asked with a chuckle.
"He's going to be on his fourth orn tomorrow. So far, he's memorized five chapters of The Chronicles with Amma Tub-Tub, walked all over the hills and dales with Sun and Jack and hung out with Hardie. All in all, a character building exercise."
"Is he still working at the hospital?" Miler asked.
"He is. He's got the dish washing thing down pat. He also has to help sing the Prayers for the Dead with Amma Tub-Tub," Ratchet said as he smirked at Turbine. "I love your nickname."
"Do you?" Turbine asked with a smirk.
Ratchet flashed him a dazzler.
Waiters came to save the day as orders were taken, drinks requested and all manner of good things lined up to make the night memorable. When they flew off to make magic happen, everyone sat back with grins on their faces.
"I now call this meeting to order," Ratchet said.
"What meeting, Loon?" Prowl asked as he accepted from a waiter the first of many beers he would imbibe this very night.
"Why, we always have a meeting when we meet. Keep up, Prowler," Ratchet said. "Any old business?"
"Yes. When we got arrested last time, is that on my permanent record?" Madura asked as he passed more pictures of his son out for everyone to ogle.
"I do believe it is. You have a rap sheet, Madura. I'm so proud," Ratchet said.
Prowl glanced at him with a narrowing optical ridge. "You would, criminal."
"Says a desperado with an arrest record as long as your arm. Why, Prowler, I'm surprised your ada didn't slap your aft and invoke on you," Ratchet said as he savored the first part of his second beer.
Prowl winced almost involuntarily at the sound of the Dread Word amongst Praxian hipsters. "As if," he sniffed.
"It wasn't like we didn't chat about it, your atar and me, Prowl," Miler said with a smile. "We did almost bring it to the attention of the Court when you used to slip out at night when we told you not to."
"You mean … Prowl broke rules?" Chromia asked as she nailed her third beer. She had a capacity to hold liquor that could be met only by tanker ships.
"He did. My little Prowl was quite a mischievous little mech," Miler said with a dreamy sound to his voice at the memories. "He liked to buck convention."
It was silent as everyone stared at Prowl. He stared back tensing under the scrutiny. "I did. I could. I've done that."
"When?" -everyone there
It was going to be one of those nights.
=0=TBC 4-16-2020 4-22-2020