The Diego Diaries: Cloudy (dd7 375)
=0=Conference Room in The Fortress
They absorbed that a moment, then Turbine continued.
"I came to the Beach House of the Primes. It was all different. The sky, sand and sea were silver. I walked to the house through a forest of beautiful plants, then up the deck to the door which was open. No one was inside until I introduced myself, then Solomus Prime came into the room. We sat down and talked. He knew what I was there for."
"What did He say?" Kestrel asked as he sat tensely beside Tagg.
"He said that we were incredibly loved and never alone. There's always something or someone with us from the beginning of us. We talked about some things I always wanted to know, then He talked about the cloud. He said its very ancient and should be considered like brain cells or storage for processing units. These clouds are all over the universe, remnants of the Beginning and They gather information for The One so that He can learn and in return create more possible worlds and experiences for us.
"He said that we plan things before we come our lives and experiences and if this is a choice that Ironhide and Orion made then it won't be overturned because its their free will. There's nothing that can happen by anyone, even The One, that will interfere with free will choices by sparks."
"Then that's … this is a free will choice?" Tagg asked.
Turbine nodded. "It is. Solomus said it was, that both of them chose this and when it was concluded and they got from it what they wanted, it would end by itself."
"But what could it mean?" Prowl asked with slight irritation. He would pull out his optics before he would acknowledge being disappointed with a Prime but it was clear he was with Solomus, disappointed and frustrated.
"That's up to Ironhide and Orion to discover. When they do, the problem will cease to exist," Turbine concluded.
Orion who was listening glanced at Ironhide who looked as perplexed. "I do not suppose this means anything to you either."
Ironhide shook his helm. "Maybe you and I need to hang out together so when whatever it is happens we're there to see it through."
Everyone glanced at Turbine who shrugged. "It might be a good idea. Its a team decision and choice here between them. It might mean something big or it could be small and personal. My money is the small and personal." Turbine sat back to consider both. "We make these compacts in our life contracts all the time. The only difference between this one and those is we know that this is a choice the two of you made."
"What if its big?" Prowl asked him.
Turbine considered that as he listened to his intuition. "I don't feel it is. This feels small and personal."
"Frag," Prowl murmured.
"It would happen anyway, Prowl. We just know the backstory on this which is the only difference," Turbine replied.
"Then what's our role here?" Ironhide asked. "Do we impersonate ourselves or what?"
"You don't have the skills or background to do that," Perceptor said. "It's one thing to bear your face and physique and another to lead an armada in the possibility of conflict. No offense to either of you but you're younger versions of yourself and have missed a lot."
"That is true," Orion said. "What can we deduce about this now?"
Perceptor considered that as the others thought. "We know its a choice between you and Ironhide. Therefore, its something that pertains to both of you, something personal. It will clear up when you reach that point and have that experience. For now, you need to explore the relationship between you and the territory you've crossed together. Maybe it wants you to go there and learn something from the friendship and events you have actually shared."
It was quiet, then Kes glanced at his son. "Maybe you and Ironhide should spend time together, Orion. Maybe it will trigger what you are supposed to do and end this sooner. I do not believe its a negative thing. Just something that you wanted to do together."
Orion glanced at his father who nodded. He turned toward Ironhide. "I would like to explore the colony. Why not do it together?"
Ironhide nodded. "I don't mind." He glanced at his Amma. "What do you think?"
"I think that what's going to happen will in the manner its supposed to go. I think this is a good idea," Turbine replied. "It wouldn't hurt anything and is likely the path you're to take anyway."
"What about my obligations, Prowl, to the colony? What would it mean if we explored the city?" Orion asked.
Prowl looked doubtful a moment. "I will keep you apprised. As for the colony itself … if you think you can be Optimus then I think you should. However ..."
"If you see someone you don't know but knows you jet us an image and we'll fill you in," Ratchet said.
"You go with them, too," Prowl said pointedly at Ratchet.
"Do you think we need a guide?" Orion asked Prowl.
"I don't know. I know I'll feel better if you do," Prowl replied.
"I suppose no fragging then," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile.
Ironhide nearly unscrewed his helm glancing at Ratchet. "I suppose not."
"There's a story there. Right?" Prowl asked.
"No." Ironhide rose. "Let's go."
"I'd have to go with you anyway, Ironhide. You're in my custody," Ratchet said as he rose to go.
"I don't suppose you can use your magic fingers to make that go away?" Ironhide asked Prowl.
"If you tell me the secret you two are bantering around about, yes," Prowl said.
Ironhide frowned at him. "No thanks. I'd rather get prison than that."
"I can tell with the right price," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile.
They left immediately after that remark.
Prowl, Kestrel, Tagg and the others watched them go.
Kestrel glanced at Prowl. "If you need us we will be here. We are going to visit with Ravel and Tie at RTR Tools. Call us, please, if they need help."
"I will," Prowl said.
He would.
=0=On a Metro to somewhere
Orion and Ironhide sat facing Ratchet as they rolled along. He grinned. "You look like an old bonded couple."
Orion and Ironhide glanced at each other, then Orion rose to sit beside Ratchet.
Everyone grinned. This might be fun.
=0=Prowl
He stood at the communications station waiting for a message from Earth. The European Union had wanted them to attend a conference on trade and trademarks. It was due soon. He waited with less than his fabled patience. Optimus was going around the colony by himself and it was enough to make him tense. This open ended possibility required that Optimus show the flag but when the big mech was out of his sight all manner of flights of fancy filled his processor.
Ratchet would keep them safe and he was tuned in for any informational saves that might be needed. It surprised Prowl that Ironhide had been arrested the night before. the surprise wasn't because he had been jailed. Things like that happened a lot among the senior officers over the vorns. It had surprised him that Ironhide had gone off by himself to do something without Ratchet or a genitor along. It was like sending your kid to the first orn of school and not being there to protect and defend.
Prowl mused on it, then internally sighed. This was going to be a strange and hopefully short venture. The communication came and he was back in the game again.
=0=The Mall of Tyger Pax
They stood before the big swimming pools of the Water Park at Tyger Pax. They were many including pools for children or those with impairments. Several mechs were riding the slide around the vast roof, then crashing out into the biggest pool. It was mesmerizing to both mechs.
Ironhide glanced at Ratchet who grinned at him. "This is a wonder."
"You should try it," Ratchet said as he glanced at Prime.
Orion was staring at it with incredulity, then glanced at Ratchet. "How does this work?"
"Well, you follow me and do what I do," Ratchet said.
Both mechs stared at him, then nodded.
Ratchet led the way to the stairs that went upward to several platforms of varying degrees of difficulty where mechs or anyone else could thunder to their sparks content. He paused before the gushing water of the one that ran around the ceiling. "This is Old Thrasher. Do you wanna try it?"
They both did.
"Then do what I do," Ratchet said as he stood over the torrent, stepped into it, then fell back with his arms over his chassis. Away he went with a whoop.
Both mechs watched him, then glanced at each other.
Ironhide grinned. "You go first. You're Prime."
Orion grinned. "If you say so." He positioned himself, then stepped down and was swooped away almost before he could put both peds in. He disappeared screaming at the top of his vocal processor into the torrent.
Ironhide watched him go, then grinned. "Wait for me, slaggers." He got less time to settle before the gusher swept him away, too. He yelled until he was gone from sight.
Moments later …
Ratchet floated on his back staring at the overhead tubes. He saw them both pass overhead, come back and get flung into the air from the ride. Both of them landed with an enormous splash, sunk, then swam back up.
"That was great. I'm going again," Ironhide said.
Orion laughed. "Last one up is a loser," he said with more humor than Ratchet had seen in most of the intervening soul killing vorns of war. They swam off together in a race.
Ratchet watched them go, then grinned. "Kids." He would spend a joor floating on his back reading a novel he kept on file while the two younger mechs played on the slides. It was spark warming to watch them do it. It had been a long time since they'd felt the complete freedom of uninhibited youth apparently.
=0=On line
:Ratchet:
:What?:
:What's going on? How are things?:
:Well, Prowler, its going great. He's getting touched by some pilgrims and has managed two conversations in passing without a problem:
:That's good. What are you doing now?:
:Playing on the water slide. I don't know how old Optimus is right now but I'd wager he's still a bit of a kid. I know Ironhide is. Its fun to watch:
:I can come:
:If you want, Prowler: Ratchet grinned. :I can send you video:
:If you could. I'm going to be free for lunch. Where are you going to be?:
:I thought I'd take them to Gambian. The food court will be there. Join us at 1230 joors on 14th Street and Main at the park. All the food trucks will be there. I want both of them to get the idea that we're a currency-free society:
:I'll be there. Send film, Ratchet:
:Will do, Prowler. Ratchet out and having a ball:
Prowl sat at the center desk with a slight frown. Ratchet was having fun and he was here. It was like he was being punished for being the best student in the class by going to after-school school. Prowl grinned slightly. He'd actually had to do after school school as a kid because he was just that, extremely smart and talented.
It sucked.
He sat at the table, the adult version of the little Gothic Emo who had defied traditions and his entire family working hard to get things under control so he could bridge, mind you, to Gambian for lunch. Prowl was a lot of things but slacker he wasn't.
It would grind on in the Ops Center.
=0=Elsewhere
"What's this?" Ironhide had asked as they walked through The Sports Museum of Mars which was part of the Autobot City Sports Arena. It was filled with huge portraits of great moments in various sports, several championship cups and trophies for the burgeoning amateur and professional sports that were played competitively here now, sports memorabilia both ancient and new, huge team portraits and games to watch on huge monitors. Ironhide had stopped before The Primus Cup for professional football which was in its trophy case here. "You play football here? The Primus Cup?"
Ratchet nodded. "The two of you are on a team, the Crater Comets and you both play in other sports as well. You're the complete package." Ratchet shot them a dazzling smile to their amusement.
"That is what we are then," Orion said with amusement. He was staring at the team picture which had half his childhood friends and a lot of strangers. "Are we any good?"
"Finest kind," Ratchet said. "Of course, Prowl cheats."
They both looked at him, then the picture again.
Orion grinned. "He does not look the type."
Ratchet laughed. "He's still water, Orion. That mech also caters when we camp because he can't stand my culinary mastery. He also can't hold his booze. I sort of consider him perfect."
Orion grinned. "This is not going to be normal, our situation?"
Ratchet grinned. "Not if I have a say." He glanced around. "Let's go. We're having lunch in Gambian. I have some exquisite cuisine I want you to try. Have you ever heard of a corn dog?" he asked as they walked to the door and disappeared into the crowd of pedestrians outside.
=0=TBC 9-9-2020 edited