The Diego Diaries: Chaos (dd3 69)
-0-Ratchet's office
The two little mechs sat on chairs watching everyone as they gathered in the CMO's office to work out the rest of the tests. They seemed to be what they were to everyone gathered, two kids that had a terrible life, had done the best they could to fit in and had suffered for it. That they were happy and goofy anyway was a testimony to their resilience.
"Well, you little slaggers," Ratchet said staring down at them with a grin. "I get to look inside your helms."
"You won't find much there," Skids said with a grin. "At least in his," he said glancing at his brother.
Mudflap looked at him and punched his face. Before they could go further rounds, the mere clearing of Prowl's throat cut them off. They sat still and looked up at Ratchet. "Will this hurt?"
"Frag no." Ratchet grinned. "You know I save the hurt for Ironhide."
They chuckled and grinned at Ironhide. "We can see that," Skids said. His brother nodded.
"Come in here," Ratchet said walking to the door where several techs and Gypsy stood waiting. They got down, their little peds not even reaching the ground where they sat and followed him. When they were gone, everyone else sat down to wait.
"What a sad species we are," Alor said shaking his helm. Hero lay in his arms recharging. "Those little twerps should have had better protoforms, food and education. Frag the system."
Everyone nodded. "Well, we can make it better here. Maybe there's something Ratchet can do," Ironhide said.
Alor nodded. "I hope so."
-0-In another room
They lay on med berths as techs and Gypsy plugged them in. There were dozens of cords plugged into the bots or into the other plugs themselves. All of the many monitors were scrolling rapidly with information.
"What do the screens say, Ratchet?" Skids asked.
Ratchet grinned. "They're telling me you're long overdue for a physical. I told you two to come in when you came and you should've. Be glad I'm a doctor or I would slag you hard."
"We're glad," Mudflap said with a grin. "Aren't we glad, Skids?"
His brother nodded. "We are."
Jarro who was watching chuckled. "That is real telepathy," he said.
"The twins have it, too. The big ones," Ironhide said nodding.
"I like the big twins. They fight real good," Skids said from the nest of plugs and cords that was his face.
"They do," Mudflap echoed.
Jarro walked closer and leaned against the berth where Skids was laying. "You're really rare, you know. Only three pair in the species. You two, the big twins and their daughters. How about letting me study you a bit so we can know more about twins?"
They looked at Jarro, then each other. Skids looked at Jarro again. "You ain't going to take us apart are you?"
"Nope," Jarro said with a grin. "I'm studying the little femmes and I talk to the big twins when I can. You two are special and I would like to know more about how you tick."
"Oh, well then," Skids said glancing at his brother. "That's different. It's different isn't it, Mudflap?"
"It is. I think so. Different," he said from the middle of his mass of plugs and jacks.
"Okay," Skids said. He grinned around the mess and Jarro grinned back squeezing his servo gently. As he did, Leader-1 stepped into the room. Looking gravely at the two bots, he looked at Prime. "I hear you need mentors and someone to look after them."
Prime and Jetta looked down at him. "We do. Do you understand the problem?"
He nodded. "I know they're a handful but I'll take them. My bond and I will help them get on their peds."
"We can arrange an apartment next to yours, Leader-1 if it helps. You can do this in-house or next door. However you want it," Jetta said.
"We can start in-house. I have a spare room. They can have it." Leader-1 walked to Skids and looked at him. "I hear you've been living here and there all over town."
Skids looked at Leader-1, then Prime, then Leader-1 again. He nodded. "Maybe," he said.
"You have," Leader-1 said. "My bond and I have a great apartment in a tower with a view of Aerie Hill. How about living with us? You and your brother both."
Skids looked at him a moment, then his brother who was staring at him as well. There was the pause of internal conversation, then Skids looked back at him. "Okay," he said with a grin.
"We have a great place and you can stay with us. We have a few rules," he said. The little bots glanced at each other, then Leader-1. They both nodded. "We will expect you to have dinner with us every night. We expect you to recharge at home and keep reasonable joors. We expect you to keep your stuff neat and in order. We will help you with whatever Ratchet or Jarro needs to do for you. You can live with us and be a part of our family. All you have to do is behave and learn."
They stared at him for a moment. "We're soldiers. We can keep stuff neat." Skids glanced at Prime. "We're soldiers you know."
"I know. You are brave and strong. That is why I want you to join the Home Guard and be an example to the troops. You have skills. You can be a strong component of that force if you apply yourselves." Prime stood holding his breath figuratively as the two little bots processed the offer.
Leader-1 stepped closer. "You do know there are thousands of mini-cons living here and we have a great social life together. We work at jobs and go to school."
"We don't want no school," Mudflap said. Skids merely looked at Leader-1.
"We don't require you to do anything you don't think you can do. We wouldn't want to force you to do something that you just can't do," Leader-1 said.
Skids looked at him. "I could go to school. I could do real good at school. I just don't want to go."
Leader-1 nodded. "We understand. No one is going to force you to do anything like that if you can't."
"I can read. A little," Skids said. "I could learn. I just … maybe one of these orns I could learn more. But I know a bunch of stuff."
Mudflap nodded. "I can. I know my glyphs and a bunch of stuff."
"I bet you're awesome at whatever you want to do," Leader-1 said quietly. "The entire mini-con community is going to help you. You don't have to be alone anymore. You can come with me and I'll help you do whatever the Prime and the doctors say."
They looked at him, then each other, then him again. They nodded. "Okay," they said in unison.
The tension in the room deflated like a balloon.
-0-Moments later
They sat in the conference room next to Ratchet's office, all of the concerned bots on the case. Leader-1 had called his bond and after a hurried conference both agreed to help the twins. Ratchet sat beside Jarro looking over data as Alor with Hero, Ironhide, Jetta, Prime, and Prowl waited with Leader-1 and his bond, Luminus. Ratchet finally turned to the group. "Well, we have preliminary data. These little slaggers must have bounced on their helms more than once because there's processor damage that may account for just a tad of their lunacy.
"I'm not saying they'll be geniuses when I replace a few circuits but their hyperactivity might slow down a little. They're reasonably intact for bots that had no nourishment during critical times, had hard knocks continuously from infanthood, had no direction, no protection but what they could manage. I think they're going to be simple in their processing for good but they can learn a lot more than they presently know. I think they're good candidates for a more stable life and I commend you both, Leader-1 and Luminus for taking these two little slaggers on."
Leader-1 grinned. "What about their processor damage? You'll need to do surgery to effect repairs?"
"We will. It isn't critical but it should be done. I will clear my schedule and let you know when to drag them in. I wouldn't be too informative about this. I couldn't get them to come in for a slagging physical. I don't think they'll be too happy with surgery on their helms."
Leader-1 nodded. He looked at Jetta. "I would like to talk to you about their work schedules. I want them to be with me for a while. I want to try and get them organized. I know they can be off the walls. We want to do this positively."
Jetta nodded. "We can give them a tour of the Guild and Union Hall. Maybe they'll tell us something they've done or let us know what they might like to do or learn. Tomorrow?"
Leader-1 nodded. "Sounds good to me." He looked at Prime. "I would like to bring them to staff meetings now and again. I want them to see what a bot can do and become if they apply themselves."
"I would be honored for you to do that, Leader-1. You are an inspiration to us all," Prime said nodding.
Leader-1 smiled and nodded back. "It's my pleasure, sir." He looked at Ratchet. "Can we have them now?"
Ratchet nodded. "They're all yours. By the way. You and Lumi are my new heroes."
Leader-1 grinned and Luminus smiled. "We'll see," he said to general laughter. The two walked into Ratchet's office and talked to the pair who sat listening with interest. They jumped down and followed the pair to the door. Pausing, Skids and walked into the conference room. "Thank you, Prime."
Prime nodded with a grin. "Thank you, Skids, for your service. I am content knowing you and your brother will bring your experience to the Home Guard and that you have a good mentor in Leader-1 and Luminus."
He nodded. Then he walked to his brother and the two who had opened their home to them. They walked out chattering to a smiling Leader-1 and an amused Luminus until they were out of sight.
The room was silent a moment. Then Ratchet turned to the others. "That was easier than I thought it would be."
They nodded. "I hope it holds," Prowl said.
"Leader-1 will kick their afts," Ironhide said with a chuckle. "That little mech is as decent and tough as they come." He looked at Prime. "Who knew?" he asked.
-0-Evening coming on
They left the schools, little mechs on leashes dawdling along as they examined every stone, dust bunny and interesting passer-by in optical range. Alor walked with Ratchet and Ironhide as they began to walk back to the barn so to speak. Overhead, lights began to come on as sensors were tripped by the dying of the light.
"Halloween is in two orns, Ironhide," Ratchet said tugging on Orion.
"I CAN'T WAIT!" Sunspot said as he walked along holding Alor's servo. "I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MY COSTUME!"
"I don't pretend to understand Halloween," Alor said with a grin. "But the idea sounds like fun."
"I agree," Ironhide said.
"What is your costume going to be, Atar?" Sunspot asked in all his pure and all consuming sweetness.
Ratchet laughed long and hard.
-0-Later that night in the Bosom of Love
He patted her dry and smiled. "You're very cute." Then he turned to the dresser and pulled it open. In neat stacks were blankets from a lot of friends, all of them soft and cozy. Matching booties were next to them in little soft bundles. He didn't know if she liked them but he did. He liked them on his little mechs and he liked them on his daughter. He pulled a light blue blanket and matching booties out for the next day along with her little coat and leggings. He liked them because they matched her optics.
Wrapping her in a soft white swaddling blanket … whatever that was … he walked into the living room to sit. Ratchet was holding Praxus and they were 'chatting'. Orion was playing hide and seek with Sunspot.
All was well with his world.
-0-Nearby
Tie Down and Ravel sat at the table with Alor and Blackjack who had himself just gotten back from the field. They sat together talking and laughing, renewing the friendship that they had on Cybertron. It wasn't typical. High castes usually bonded in their caste and so did low. Their paths never crossed. But the bond of their younglings wasn't typical. Neither was the great friendship that had grown out of it.
The night was filled with lights as the security and commercial shipping continued onward outside the big windows of the apartment. Inside the comfortable abode, a fine evening was had by all.
Again.
-0-At an apartment in a tower nearby
They looked at the room that had been decorated just for them. There were two berths facing the windows with comfortable blankets and pillows. The room was simple but comfortable, ready for someone to make it their own with their achievements and personal effects. They glanced at each other and grinned. "This is nice. Look at the view."
Mudflap nodded. "The view is nice."
"Put your gear in the closet," Leader-1 said nodding to the empty storage nearby. "Then wash up. Dinner is about ready."
They looked at him. Then they looked at each other. "Okay," they said as they walked to the closet.
Leader-1 walked out and down the hallway to the kitchen/dining and living room. Luminus had the table set and delicious different items filled big plates. The table was set with Luminus's usual amazing flair. He grinned as he waited by the table which was mini-con sized just for his own body type. "Thank you, Lumi. This is a servoful but they're the neediest little mechs I've ever seen."
Luminus nodded. "Thank you, Lea, for being a good mech and taking them in. I hear they're tyros."
"They are," he said turning to see them walking out of their room. "For now."
They halted by the table and looked at the food. "Looks real good."
"It does," Skids replied.
"Sit at the table, boys," Leader-1 said pulling out a chair. They all sat and the twins looked at the two older mechs. "Pass the plates as you take something, boys. That's how we eat here."
Skids and Mudflap looked at each other. Then Skids took a plate putting some of its contents on his own with a spoon. He handed it to his brother and he did the same. They continued the same way until everyone was served all of the dishes. Then they looked at Leader-1 and Luminus. "What now?" they asked in unison.
"Now," Leader-1 said, "we eat."
And they did.
-0-TBC 2012 edited 8-18-18