The Diego Diaries: Aftermath and Storms (dd7 282)
Had to do a thing last night. Sorry. :D:D:D:D
=0=Early morning in The City
He walked along relying more on his inner GPS than his optics. Around him, the storm raged with sand and dirt, small rocks and debris grinding against him as he headed toward the Temple. The storm would howl all orn long into the night but the forecast still held that it would begin to die down starting at midnight. He hoped so. For the millionth time, he felt glad to be himself and not an organic who'd be abraded if not smothered in the sand wailing around and against him.
Traffic lights could be made out through the haze as he came to a cross street. Halting long enough to ascertain traffic which was nearly nonexistent this early, he crossed and continued. Today was the sixth day of his penance. His Amma Turbine was going to hold him to his sentence, adding his rather fine voice to the solemnities of the Prayer Cycle #17 for the Dead, something he'd loved to hear for its amazing harmonies among other hymns and prayers that his amma had always cheerfully sung around the house when he stayed with him and Appa Raptor. Sometimes Turbine would sing them out of tune for his own amusement, drawing big laughter from the beloved grandson that Ironhide was.
Lights from businesses getting ready for the orn could be seen here and there as well as the two or three that stayed open all night. He passed them heading for the District down the road including the road to the Diner even though he was hungry.
He was always hungry.
Or so he was told by old Tight Aft.
That slagger was snoring away on the couch, a sight that made him grin as he sneaked out. It wasn't often that he got past Ratchet without waking him but he'd been at this six orns and it seemed like the pattern of his life now. Go to the Temple and help sing the prayers, something that was even more important to him now after seeing the poignancy of the hidden shrine, then he would go to the Medical Center and hustle them pots and pans. He had a rhythm now and getting that done faster than the orn before made it a game.
Sorta.
It beat anything worse.
Bed pans.
He grinned as he reached the gate, then entered to walk to the platform seemingly far away. Crossing it through the piling sand, something that the priests swept off during the orn almost constantly for the pilgrims, he entered its dark confines. The moment he did the howling was over, stilled by the design and seemingly the sanctity of the place. The Allspark turned silently in its pride of place, hanging like a miracle in the spotlights that shone on it orn and night. He walked to the steps, then down to the Well where everyone was gathered including Rockwell.
Sun and Jack were there, chatting with Turbine and several priests. Turbine was also, standing to one side conversing with Lady Sela. There were dozens of priests there, all of them from Cybertron and it appeared to Ironhide that they were here to join the sing along. He grinned. He wondered if that would excuse him, their participation. It wouldn't but it might earn him a patted servo. He glanced at Rockwell who was going through the material on his data pad.
Turbine turned toward everyone, then grinned. "Shall we begin? They're about to conclude their portion on Cybertron," he said.
Everyone gathered around the Well as Turbine listened off line to the verses that were playing for him from Simfur. He waited for them to end, then nodded to the others. It was then that he picked it up and began to sing. He had a beautiful voice, strong and mellow, smooth and tenor-ish. It could soar into the heavens, then whisper like a child. He began as the others listened, then all their voices joined. The acoustics of the building were phenomenal and the sound was magnified. For the few early birds there, it was divine. They gathered at the balcony, the banister and the steps to listen. It would go on like this for some time.
Ironhide and Rockwell would add their own voices at the right time.
=0=At the scene of the crime
Ratchet juggled those pots and pans. Children were wolfing down food like they were starving, a cow, cat and dog were pigging out nearby and he was in a hurry. He had to discharge Drift and Springer, something he'd earmarked for himself. He was going to make sure those two slaggers were up to it. He was also going to visit Imaldo and Corsair to see their improvements, then head out for a couple of home cases before sprinting to The Fortress for the Senior Autobot meeting about Polity and everyone else.
"Ada, are you going to eat? Can I help you?" Sunspot asked as he watched Ratchet refill plates.
Ratchet glanced at him. "Sit still a moment."
Everyone paused their movements to stare at Sunspot, then Ratchet. Sunny had frozen in place as Ratchet stared at him. Then Ratchet smiled and began to dish up food again. "There. That was more help than you can imagine."
Everyone laughed as Sunspot slid down, walked around the table, then embraced Ratchet's leg. "You're funny," he said with a chuckle.
"You're a miracle of cuteness," Ratchet replied as he rubbed Sunny's wings gently.
"ADA! LOU DOIN' POT!?"
Ratchet glanced at Orion who smiled brilliantly. He chuckled himself. "Sure."
Huge laughter greeted that as they continued to eat, chat and hustle for the buses. The big kids finished, then began to help gather dishes, set babies down and organize clean up. They were a godsend to Ratchet as he hustled to put treats in book bags, organize infants and sort out messages and home work. When everyone was ready, five infants lined up at the door, a dog with a boy and three kids bigger than him, he laughed. "ONWARD HO!"
They filed out, the big kids picking up little ones as Ratchet stowed Halo. Down they went, then over to the door. Staring out at the brown swirl and haze, they all glanced at Ratchet. He considered the slag outside. "You stay inside," he said. "Come out when I call you." With that, he walked outside.
It was astonishing the intensity of the wind. He leaned into it to reach the stop where Prowl was hunkered down with Miler. The children were in carry holds, it would appear. "WELL! ISN'T THIS GREAT!"
They glanced at him, two almost identical black and white mechs, then one grinned. "It's sort of interesting," Miler said as he held onto the bus stop sign. All around them mechs and a femme were waiting with their children either in arms or stowed.
"THIS IS THE PIT!" Prowl said over the roar of the wind. "I'M THINKING EVERYONE SHOULD STAY HOME WHO ISN'T ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL!"
"I AGREE! I'LL TELL PRIME YOU AREN'T COMING!" Ratchet replied, earning a fist in the gut.
Fortunately, buses began to come and as they arrived, Ratchet called for the relevant kids. A cab came for Hero who was gently placed inside by Ratchet, then waved off until she disappeared from sight almost immediately. Prowler went by bus today and then the titanic kids. When he was finished with this, he glanced at the others. "SEE YOU SHORTLY!"
"NOT IF I CAN SEE YOU FIRST!" Prowl said to Ratchet's retreating back.
"HA! HA! GRANNY!" Ratchet replied though it was possible the wind swallowed his retort up.
They stared after him, then Miler looked at Prowl. "THIS IS MADNESS!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY!?" Prowl asked.
"I THINK VENTURE WANTS TO SPEND THE ORN WITH HIS GENITORS! WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE THEM TO THE CLUB SCENE!" Miler replied.
Prowl stared at his little ada who had no idea that there were two possible applications to that statement, 'club scene. One led to nice doilies for your house and maybe a stamp collection and the other, usually for him anyway, to jail. He grinned. "HOW ABOUT LUNCH LATER, THEN! I'LL CALL YOU!"
"I LIKE THAT IDEA! HOW ABOUT LETTING ME TAKE POSSIBILITY WITH ME! CORSAIR ADORES THE CHILDREN!" Miler asked.
Prowl passed the baby over, then walked his ada to the Metro. When they were safely inside, he continued onward, battling the gale force winds to The Fortress where he would find that Optimus had already called an orn off for the weather. Only the essential personnel of the colony would be working and then only on the emergency rotation … two joor service, then home.
=0=45th floor, Autobot City Medical Center, Autobot City, Private Room #311
Ratchet carefully removed the braces that had forced Drift to recharge sitting up in a chair. He checked him over gently, then plugged in. Data whirled, then he unplugged, tucking the cord back inside his wrist. "Well, the welds and other slag are doing gangbusters reintegrating. I'd say that they're good enough for you to go home. I'm having Home Healthcare come twice an orn to do baselines on you. I want to see how fast the protoform regenerates along your back and neck struts. Your hardware replacements are doing very well but you might feel a bit of fatigue and maybe even dizziness for a few. That's natural but the way you react to it is sit down until it passes
"Your orders are to go home, sit and sleep, rest for about two orns, then we can see how you're doing. If you don't follow these orders, you'll return here. If you frag around or even frag, you can disturb the healing process and we START ALL OVER AGAIN!" he said as he leaned in close to Drift.
Drift leaned back, his noggin reverberating. "What did you say?"
Ratchet smirked. "You're handsome. Figure it out."
Drift chuckled, then glanced at Springer. "How's he?"
"He's ornery, handsome and tall. He's got it all," Ratchet said as he scanned Springer. He glanced at Drift. "I don't suppose I need to tell you that."
Drift snickered. "You might. I been sick."
"Excuses," Springer said with a snicker. "Are we go?"
"To your house. I'm putting you on the radar, my personal radar. If you leave the plan, I will El Kabong your noggins. Then you come back here. That will be an order. Savvy?" he asked with a brilliant smile.
They laughed, then agreed.
"Come on," Ratchet said as he steadied Drift as he rose. "We're taking a bridge to your living room. NO jostling. I can't emphasize how important this is."
They followed him out, down and into their living room from one of the small Med Center on-site bridges. After settling, Ratchet walked to the door to answer a knock. He opened it and a couple of kids came in with boxes. He took them, snarked with them, then they left.
Springer and Drift watched Ratchet walk to the table to set the boxes down. He began to unpack them. "I'll fix your meal now. Home Healthcare will come at meal times for the next few orns. You sit and watch the boob tube, play games, do phone Sexy and behave." He carried two large meal cartons over, then returned for beer. After that, he went back for funny hats, then put them both on the two mech's helms. Stepping back, he took copious snaps, then subbed his camera. "There. Old Ma took care of ya. I'll see ya later. You have full permission to call me at any time." He smiled brilliantly.
"Okay," Springer said with a snicker.
Ratchet patted his arm, then walked to the door. He left in seconds.
Drift and Springer stared at the door then each other. "That was fun. I love your fascinator."
Drift grinned. "Well, you know ..."
Both of them laughed loudly, opened their food boxes and turned on the television. It was good to be home again.
=0=TBC 5-17-2020
fascinator: a tiny hat usually sitting oddly on a person's head almost as if glued on. I think fascinators are the greatest thing IN THE GALAXY! Some of them are so damned cute and others … think Beatrice and Eugenie at I believe it was William and Kate's wedding. :D:D:D:D:D