The Diego Diaries: Rumbling On (dd8 614)
=0=Home
Ratchet walked in to the usual clamor of shorties, ticked off cats, a bouncy dog and bigger kids grinning at him. He hugged them all, then they dispersed into the life again because dinner would only happen when Ironhide came home. Ratchet watched them go, then glanced at Santee and Saber. "Don't you two looked beautiful?" he asked with a brilliant smile.
Both of them grinned, then hugged Ratchet.
"Ada, can we ask you something?" Santee asked.
"Anything," Ratchet said as he walked to his chair to sit. The kids took chairs, then stared at him. "What, baby-mines?"
They grinned at him.
"How can we help Uncle Budge and Uncle Mystie?" Santee asked. "We got them home on the Metro and they looked so little in their chairs at home. We tucked them in and got them everything they needed. They make dinner there for them there so we made sure it was coming."
"That was mighty kind of you, infants. You can help them by being handy, hugging them a lot and listening to their tales. They had a terrible life. They were trafficked by a corporation who stole their youth. What we all can do now is love them ten times ten," Ratchet said.
The kids stared at him with solemn expressions.
"How can anyone do that to anyone?" Saber asked.
"When your spark is so small because it never got loved, anything is possible. I debated whether to tell you but I know you'll hear it soon enough. Just know that those two are strong, good and made of love. Primus had His hand on them. Now they're ours, our own little jewels. We can take care of them, help them and love them. That's all you need to do," Ratchet said.
"Whenever they need us, any or all of us, for anything, tell us, Ada. We want to help you take care of our elders. All of them are so good," Saber said as Santee nodded. "Its part of our function, you know, but its also something we want to do. We've talked about this together."
"You'll be the first called," Ratchet said. He grinned. "Having all you kids here together is the best thing ever. I always felt sort of bad that the six of you didn't get to stay here and be a part of the circus."
Santee grinned. "It sort of seems like one but its the most fun. We didn't get a chance to be like everyone else. This is the best thing ever. We have our appa and ammas, the rest of our frame and we have you and Atar with our brothers and sisters. Its amazing to have so many nice brothers and sisters. We have fun all the time and school is great."
Ratchet grinned. "How's your love life?"
Both of them grinned at Ratchet.
"Someone told me about Yenta Claus," Santee said.
"Then you know who to come to about your love life when you decide to have one. Right?" Ratchet asked. He grinned as he waggled his optical ridges at them comically.
"Okay," Saber said with a chuckle.
"One of these orns. Down the road," Santee said. He rose to hug Ratchet, then Saber did as well. "Thanks, Ada," they said before heading down the corridor for the long trek to wherever the others were hanging out.
Ratchet watched them go, then grinned. "One of these fine orns, infants." He then ordered a buffet of food for dinner to be delivered at the proper time. When that was concluded he turned on the teevee and began to watch 'his stories'.
=0=Elsewhere
He walked from the berth room to the living room with a baby sitting on his arm. He was washed, hugged, fed and ready to go to the office when the boys left to go for their night time ride around the colony. Putting Tell down, the baby toddled over to Springer to grab his leg. He smiled upward at his father as he patted him.
Springer grinned. "Hi, shortie. You look amazing." He glanced up at Drift who walked over to sit on his chair. "You look good, too, Tell."
"Har-har. You're a comedian?" Drift asked as he picked up the open food boxes of take out delivered in to finish his dinner.
"I try," Springer said as he put Tell on his lap.
The baby lay back contented as he chewed on a bracelet on his wrist that had little cars on it that he liked and wore around. It was back from his 'teething' time when the need to bite something was strong.
"We're getting how many humans tonight to go for the ride around?" Drift asked as he ate Chinese food out of the carton.
"Ten. I'm also taking Lennox, Epps and Graham. They can double up. The carriers can seat two in a pinch. I asked that to be so because you never know when you have to grab humans." Springer handed his son a tiny cookie from a container that sat by his chair. "If this works out we can take the full 20 capacity."
"At least the containers won't be in the way. Hanging them off the pommel rather than mounting it on them is brilliant. One slagger on each side." Drift grinned. "Yancy doesn't mind them being there. How did King take it on the trial runs?"
"Like the lord of the dance," Springer said. "I think the chance of comedy tonight is pretty high. Given this is basketball weekend and the playoffs are going on, the likelihood for fights and drunks is pretty high."
"Good. A little bit of reality won't hurt anyone," Drift said as he sipped his beer.
=0=United Nations International Garrison-Earth, Metro Districts, Mars
They gathered in a room with Lennox, Epps and Graham. Everyone who was coming including Lars Hammarstrom and Jackson Davis were sitting around big tables getting the sit-rep from Lennox. Everyone was highly stoked for the adventure.
"The Watch came about on Diego when it was clear that the need for a group to protect The People was coming from Daniels and that ilk. Springer was made head of it and he commands the entire Empire's policing forces. They practice the Community Policing model which is designed to give civilians and others confidence, end conflict without escalating it, listen to all sides and scale down the problem. You might still go to jail but there's always a chance given to settle things before that.
"The mechs have a lot of latitude. They can call an arrest or not depending on the situation. Kids who get caught drinking get delivered home, usually. The punishment from their parents is often worse than jail for them," Lennox said with a grin. "I know I'd rather have been in jail then face my parents the two times I got caught as a kid."
Laughter and murmurs of agreement rolled through the group, then they settled again.
"The focus on the Watch is de-escalation. Its based on the fact that violence isn't the first or even the fiftieth answer to problems. Given that nearly half a billion people live here and there has only been about five murders and no other really big crime, it might behoove all of us to follow it. This is a very highly traumatized population yet they live together in almost a supernatural state of cooperation and peacefulness," Graham said. "They have family structures, clans and other things in place that help make that happen but its still remarkable how peaceful and cooperative this society is."
Lennox nodded. "It is. When you consider that most of the population is armed at all times, even sleeping with guns somewhere on them, its a miracle this isn't a shooting gallery. So far, the ones who use the fire arms are mostly the kids when they get drunk. Tonight, we're going to see anything or nothing. Its a high energy time with the basketball championship and football starting shortly. Everyone has a side and they defend it heartily. We could see some really interesting things tonight."
"The patrols have highly trained horses that know what to do when trouble starts. They also have the younger mechs handle the horses when the older warriors have to dismount. You should be fine. Remember, do what they say without question when they say it. Its a matter of pride that no human on these things, and they include the Mentor kids doing their ride alongs, has ever been hurt. Okay? Questions?"
There were many.
=0=At the stables
Waldeen listened to the stable master telling the grooms and handlers about the change in tack. There would be more than saddle and bridle tonight. There would be a carry case for human ride alongs. It was shown to them, then Mitzy, a nice roan mare was brought out to be saddled. She stood quietly as the blanket and saddle was placed on her smooth back, then cinched. A bridle replaced her halter as she swished her tail contentedly. When she wasn't riding each night she was miffed. She would stand at the paddock fence and whinny until someone gave in.
"This is the new piece." Sevel, the stable master held up a saddle bag-like arrangement that fit over the pummel, allowing it to stick out through a hole in the dense fabric. Laying over her shoulders like a very sleek saddle bag, it was cinched on with straps and a chest band which was adjusted until it was comfortable for her.
Misty was her own girl. When it didn't feel right she would toss her helm until they fixed it. She was content with the addition to her tack.
"The humans will ride in the containers," Sevel said. "They're designed to flow with the horse and not inhibit their movements. Comfort was the main decision for their design. The humans are going to sit in a narrow case but the seat is comfortable and they'll be safe. There can be one on each side and the view will be amazing."
"What about the rider?" a stable hand asked.
"They won't really feel it. That's why the cases are so carefully designed and molded. Both the horse and the rider come first."
"This should be a hoot," a groomer said as he patted Mitzy. "Should we saddle everyone up?"
"I think so. The Boss and Springer will be here shortly," Sevel said as the kids walked out to bring in the night's team.
Waldeen would happily be among them.
=0=Dinner at the homestead
Food went around the table as dishes were served. More sat on the counters and would be eaten down to the bowls before this was over. Small children sat between big ones, the oldsters helping the youngsters with their meal. It was boisterous and happy as Ironhide and Ratchet ruled over their kingdom.
They would tell about their orns, update everyone on upcoming things especially those that require lunches and when it was over the big kids would take care of clean up with the little ones.
"You go and sit. We can do this and help the little kids learn how to do it, too," Verilas said as everyone nodded.
Ratchet and Ironhide stared at them, then each other.
"The Matrix, right," Ratchet said. "This is the Matrix?"
Ironhide grinned. "I won't argue with you."
They both stared at their kids with giant smiles, then walked to their chairs to watch. It would be golden.
=0=Stables
They drove up in their vehicles, parking them to one side. Walking toward a forest of horses standing nearby with Watchmen, grooms and stable hands watching them, the humans gathered together. Both sides grinned at each other.
:What now, cowboys?: Lennox asked with a chuckle. :I'll have you know I was raised on a farm:
Sandstorm snorted. "I'll have you know I was raised in a youth center for vandalism and other crimes not to be named. Does that make us even?"
Lennox grinned at Sandy who he liked a lot. :I think so, bandito:
Springer who was watching with amusement reached out to grab Lennox. He brought him to his face. "How about we ride at dawn?"
:How about we ride now, slagger?: Lennox said with as much pizzazz as he could muster.
HUGE laughter greeted that as Lennox was placed into one of the two carriers that donned the tack of Springer's horse, the white stallion King. Everyone watched as Lennox slid into the seat, buckled in, then turned on the comm channels. :This is a bit narrow but I get it. All in all comfortable. I get to see half of what you have going on:
"Being half assed is better than nothing," Sandstorm said as the humans were gathered up together.
When they were secured, everyone mounted up and began to slow walk through the Stables to go to the roadway nearby. Then they would gallop to the Terra Roundabout to head out on their usual rounds together. It would be a good thing that the carriers had stabilizers among all the other advantages they had built in or there wouldn't be a view left to see around the vomit that would've covered the windows on the inside.
Talley ho!
=0=TBC 1-15-2023
Mitzy was the name of my mom's little dog when she was a kid. Her brother has an old picture of himself as a little boy of six or seven with his mutt dog, Bob. Old pioneers often named their dogs and horses Bob. :D My mom's family were ranchers who did the rodeos when the queen and her court had to ride bucking horses and rope like the boys. My cousin Cheer was a rodeo queen in the 1920's. I wish you could see how beautiful she was flying through the air on the back of a bucking horse. Ah, the good old dazes. :D