The Diego Diaries: Chaos 24
=0=Later that evening
Sunstreaker paused on the street and looked down. Pausing themselves as they looked up, two humans smiled. "What are you following me for?" the big Lambo asked in his scary deeply masculine voice.
"We want to film you," one of them said nodding his head to the camera-bearing man standing on the back of his specially extended hopped up heavy duty segway.
Sunstreaker looked at them considering what he had gotten himself into, then grinned slightly. "Lucky you," he said as he turned and walked onward. He was in ped mode, a more leisurely method of travel than skates which were his preferred battle mode. Putting them squarely on his sensors, Sunstreaker headed for the studio to study Sadee's after school additions to her newest canvas, "Whirlpool".
The little segway followed him all the way there.
-0-Ratchet and his genitors
They walked along the street heading for the grocery store. Tie Down and Ravel seemed to be recovered. Turning down the street, entering Metroplex District, they chatted about this and that as they passed their time until the Plaza reopened. The two elders had stood in the roped off area watching as big mechs shored up the building and removed structural damage.
Their store was in the front and as soon as the building was sound again they would be able to go inside. Nothing would run because the building's plant was shot. However, it would be nice to go inside and straighten things up, assess the situation and organize for business when it opened.
Entering the Mall, itself busy with grateful patrons, they walked to the grocery store and got what his genitors needed, something good for the breakfast meal. They were recharging longer but the habits of a lifetime were hard to break. Breakfast was essential. It was also early.
"Are you energizing properly?" Ravel asked as they wandered back out heading for home.
"I am, Ada. Are you both?" Ratchet asked as he walked alongside of them carrying their little basket of goodies. "How do you feel?"
"I don't have anymore aches and pains, Ratchet," Ravel said. "How about you, Tie?"
"My arm feels rather well thanks to you, Ratchet. My processor doesn't hurt anymore either," Tie Down said.
Ratchet grinned. "You both better stay in one piece. I didn't wait all this time for you to come here just to have you fall apart."
"We won't," Ravel said looking up at his son. "We have too many sparklings to help you take care of."
"Remember that," Ratchet said with a grin. They walked onward heading for the cobblestone path that would take them to their tower and home.
-0-Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars
They stood around Teletraan III studying the data that was flowing in from the far out arrays. It spoke of a growing presence in space that could be of consequence to their security.
"I wonder what Soundwave is up to here?" Jazz speculated. "What about the idea that this is a fall back position for him if Megatron comes back unhappy?"
They mulled that over. "That could be a reason for this. I think we need to go there and reconnoiter. If that is so then Megatron might be closer to us than we know. Either way, we will have to go and see for ourselves," Optimus said.
Prowl nodded. "We have to do so with great stealth," he said.
"We can help you there. We honed stealth skills, both in ships and with our Seekers to come and go in all manner of circumstances, sir," Flint said. "We would be honored for the opportunity to gather intell for this problem."
"We will include you. Prowl is putting together the mission. I would like you to discuss with him ideas and participation," Optimus replied nodding.
"I will," Flint said.
Ironhide grinned at his uncle. "You're not going without me."
"Or me," Blackjack said. "With your leave, Prime," he said glancing at Optimus.
"I don't have a problem. You have to convince Prowl," Prime said with a grin. He looked at the intell. "We need everything that we can detect about this. We also have a migration coming that needs to be addressed. Tomorrow, we will have a military staff meeting to address this and a few other issues."
They nodded. The conversation continued onward.
=0=At the studio
He walked in and paused, studying the intense little figure of his student looking closely at her canvas. He didn't notice that the segway followed moving to a place in the room where they could film but not be intrusive.
"Hi." She smiled up at her mentor, a spark melting affect on the tall front-liner. "You came."
"This is my studio," Sunstreaker said with a smirk. He stared down at her, this little powerhouse of goodsparked energy and knelt. Looking at her canvas, he nodded. "This is better. There's organization that the optic can access almost immediately."
She nodded. "I took your suggestions and sketched all night. Here," she said walking to her little paint box and pulling out a drawing datapad. "These I did last night."
She held it for Sunstreaker as he looked at the dozens of little sketches, some of them facets of Sunstreaker's own body and face. They would discuss the images, the scariest member of the 'Platoon' and the tiniest perkiest little femme possible.
It was dynamite footage.
-0-At the school
Ratchet stood in the foyer of the Sparkling Day School waiting for the infants to be let out. He had delegated some of his duties for the day and wanted to do something that he usually never did.
Get the infants from school.
Knockout had turned out to be a bit better than adequate. He wasn't much for bedside manner but he did the job. Another orn was added to his work schedule by Ratchet himself. That would help the wiley bot to learn discipline and stay off the street. Or so he hoped.
Genitors waited around him, some of them chatting with the big medic. When the doors opened, babies were carried out or they toddled. Sky Warp entered the lobby and walked to Ratchet. "How are your genitors?"
"They're well, thank you, Sky Warp. It was more scare than harm," Ratchet said.
He nodded. "Good." The hatchlings came through the door, an aide herding them along and when they saw their atar they squeed. Running quickly, they grabbed Sky Warp's legs and hugged him. Looking upward at him with giant smiles, the Seeker leaned down and rubbed their little wings. "Ready to go?" he asked.
They babbled at him, their happiness infectious. He gathered them up and with a nod to Ratchet, turned and walked to an elevator to go home.
Ratchet turned and watched as a chattering little black bot walked out on a leash. He was waving his arms and talking to Mr. Roto who was having infant release duty today. Carrying Praxus, he walked to Ratchet and handed the little mini-me to his ada. "Hi, Ratchet. They had good days. I hope you keep track of Praxus's words. He's starting to pick up because of Orion I think."
"I will," Ratchet said as Bluestreak stepped off the elevator and walked to the pair. "Hi, Ratchet," the winger said leaning in and kissing Praxus. That little bot smiled and reached out for Blue. Blue kissed him again and smiled as his infants came out of the school. Neo had Kaon in arms and the femmes in their basket. She handed them over.
"They were so good," Neo said. "Kaon is starting to speak. Roto has scheduled him for an assessment of his speech for tomorrow."
"That's wonderful. I will make a list," Bluestreak said nodding. "Sunstreaker and Sideswipe will be ecstatic."
Neo smiled and nodded. "The little girls love the pool. They sit on my servos and pat the water. They're just so sweet."
Bluestreak looked at his daughters and grinned. "You are so good."
"They are," Neo agreed as an elevator opened and the little mechs along with Sunspot boiled out laughing and running.
"Hi, Ada!" Sunspot said with a big grin. "I had a good flying lesson. I flew to the Aerie and back."
"That is tremendous," Ratchet said. "That is a very long way to go for a little jet like you."
"I loved it! I didn't forget one thing! I transformed and flew there and back!" he said looking up at Ratchet with an enormous smile.
"Sunny is a good flier," Spirit said looking upward too. "He's a good flier and transformer."
"All of you little mechs are spectacular," Ratchet said with a grin. "How about a treat at my house?"
The agreement was deafening as they all turned and walked out heading for the tower and home.
-0-Later that night
They sat in their chairs watching the television as a locally produced program played. It was a love triangle that had students from the drama class at the University acting the parts. 'City Air' was highly rated and closely followed by the local population.
IntraComm was in discussions with Earth about broadcasting it since a scientist inadvertantly mentioned it on their blog. It was doubtful if Prime would approve because of the romantic content and the possiblities that taboo subjects -'facing, romance and the like would become general knowledge to the humans.
Bonds were reasonably understood in the context of their 'male' dominated society. Their mech-mech relationships were accepted as 'their ways'. What Prime wasn't probably going to release was information beyond generalities because of the invasion of privacy and the opportunities for ridicule it might unleash.
When it concluded, Ratchet looked at Ironhide. "What's the word on going out and checking on Soundwave's little scheme?"
"We probably will. There's a military officer meeting tomorrow at Ops Center to discuss the situation," Ironhide said. "I think Flint is locked in and maybe Atar."
"Sounds good," Ratchet said with a grin. "I suppose you'll go too."
"We have a bridge. Anyone can go no matter what's going on."
"True, that," Ratchet said.
The sound of infants laughing, three little mechs in Sunspot's room was the soft music playing under the sound of Pa Cartwright saddling up to ride the range on 'Bonanza'.
-0-Around town
Sunstreaker walked to his home, Sadee dropping off heading toward her own. She was a funny little femme and he liked her. She was her own bot and that mattered to him. He hoped as he walked along that his own girls would be the same. He didn't want them to suffer fools anymore than he did. He paused at the corner of the highway waiting for traffic to pass. He looked down. The camera crew was still there. "I'm going home."
They nodded. The lights changed and they watched as he transformed to skates leaving them in the dust. In seconds, he was gone. They watched a moment and then the camera was stopped. "This is getting interesting," one of the two said.
The other nodded.
-0-Night
The Night Watch made their rounds heightened by the Plaza incident earlier. The usual suspects were rounded up, their carousing notable for its affability most of the time. The moons overhead continued on their way, Phobos making its fourth revolution that orn and Deimos making its first full rotation overhead.
The city was filled with light in the housing districts and happy times in the cafes and clubs. Bots walked here and there going about their business, some stopping for directions from the officers on the beat. It could have been any city on Earth.
-0-The next morning
They walked to the Fortress after dropping off the infants for school. The senior Autobot portion of the Community Committee was gathering to discuss the rising mystery of Soundwave's newest moves. The day was filled with activity. The sounds of construction from the area of the Plaza was heartening.
Walking into the Fortress, entering the Ops Center, they traded sass and overnight information before gathering in the conference room. Sitting around the table, Jazz, Mirage, Ironhide, Blackjack, Alor, Ratchet, Jetta, Wheeljack and Perceptor waited.
"How is the filming going, Ratchet?" Mirage asked with a smirk. "I hear the twins are being followed day and night. That should make Sunstreaker feel validated."
Ratchet snorted. "Like he needs it," the big white and red bot said. "They're following about five of the soldiers so far. I don't know what their plan is but they're having a good time with Kup and Drift."
"You left out the star of the show," Springer said as he entered and drew a chair. Kup and Drift followed, the two sitting as well. At that moment, Prowl and Prime entered and everyone turned to the problem at servo.
"We need to discuss a problem we've been tracking for a while. Prowl has the details," Prime said nodding to the winger.
Prowl nodded. "We have been tracking Decepticon activity in a sector far from here for some time. It is at the extreme range of our arrays but after adjustments we were able to detect some information that concerns. It would appear that three or more migrations from Cybertron have all deadended in the same area. We don't know if he's building a base, preparing for invasion, making a fall back space for himself or what. For all we know, he could be dead and this is Megatron's doing."
It was silent a moment, then Blackjack looked at the monitor overhead that showed the data. "I wouldn't put it past Soundwave making a fall back position. He always has an escape hatch."
Prime nodded. "It might be a good idea to renew our acquaintance with the resistance on Cybertron to see what's happening."
"Then you're considering a two prong exercise," Alor asked.
The mastermind of their own resistance, the Prowl to Blackjack's Prime, he considered the possibilities. "Go to Cybertron and check out the new anomalies."
Prime nodded. That was when Ratchet's helm hit the table top.
=0=TBC
2012 (9)