NOTE: Sorry this took so long. Phone call. I will be answering notes from readers. I try to do that for all. Your notes are so awesome and they have great ideas. Thank you, readers. You make my day. :D
-0-And now, back to the fun and game(s)
The Diego Diaries: Game Day 5
-0-The Stadium
They walked slowly to the stairs that led to the ground and the gate nearby. The crowds were extraordinary. Nearly everyone in the city had come to the games both in this arena and the other one nearby. The screen projection had been enormous and the sound quality perfection. It was almost as good as being in the actual stadium for the game.
Alor paused to allow a little femme to go past, then continued onward, Praxus sitting in his arms babbling to Orion who followed. Blackjack followed carrying Orion. That little bot was singing.
Hero rode with Ravel and Sunspot followed with the little mechs, all four of them chatting together about this or that move and how they were going to try it themselves. Prowl held the tiny mech as he waited, his genitors and Prime following. Venture held Miracle and Miler held Kaon. The femmes were in their little carry device clutched firmly in Sunstreaker's big servo. He was having an argument with Sideswipe and Bluestreak, the winger zinging them both handily.
Ratchet watched as he waited for the line to move. His big oversized younglings didn't have any advantage over Blue it seemed when the winger decided to 'handle' them. It was hilarious. Ironhide nudged Ratchet so he moved forward reaching the steps to go downward. Standing across the crowd from his group, Ratchet saw Barricade and Scorponok, themselves held up by the press of bodies.
Stiletto stood behind them talking to another ex-Con and in the mix stood Breakdown and Knock Out. Nitro could be seen behind them and on and on. It was amazing to Ratchet how many mechs he knew, including slaggers. He grinned and began to climb downward.
"There's your long lost mech," Stiletto said nodding to Prowl who he could see reaching the steps.
Barricade let the remark slide, a totally uncharacteristic thing. If he was going to the brig for punishment, it would have to be for something better than slagging Stiletto. He stared at Prowl as he made his way to the stairs. Being stuck, he didn't worry that they would be upset to see him.
He also didn't care.
Ratchet reached the bottom of the steps and turned to wait. The others worked their way downward until all were there. They were squeezed against the wall that funneled everyone through the gate. Mechs chatted with them, some spoke to Prime of their delight in the city and all of them waited as the bottleneck began to loosen up.
Ratchet glanced around and saw them, a lot of mechs he knew and the hard afts. Barricade was his usual unreadable self, though his optics were firmly set on the winger moving to stand behind Ratchet. He turned and smirked. :Your boy friend is here:
:You have a sick processor, Ratchet: Prowl said with a smirk of his own.
They turned and walked together in the crush, the sound of laughter, happiness and the good energy that enveloped them making their treads light. Overhead, the sky was light blue tinging toward orange and the breeze equally mild. The sandstorms that were epic had not arrived and with the efforts of Sciences, they might be averted all together. It was a win-win.
-0-In a place not so 'winning!'
They stood around the open space that marked their common grounds. The mechs of Cell Block A had the best view of the city and the arenas beyond the tower districts. It was obvious what was happening and they stood angst-filled and stoic as they listened to the screaming and yelling.
"They have football here," Decimus said shaking his helm. "I cannot believe that they have football."
"It sounds like Polyhex and Altihex," Proteus said. "I wonder about a lot of things. This is a huge city in the middle of a desert. The towers go into the distance and I cannot see the end of them. The airfield is enormous and the facilities rival Iacon. There are Guardians here, Fortress Maximus and Metroplex in city modes as well. I am stunned."
Ratbat nodded. "This Prime is not the same as the one we knew back on Cybertron. He's tough and has enough charisma to make a habitation for our people out of nothing. We will have a hard time making our way with him."
"You think you can outsmart Optimus Prime?" Sentinel asked glancing at his companions. "This is a mature individual and he has the Matrix, do not forget. He will not be easily fooled."
"We must bide our time," Decimus said as he paced, pausing now and again to listen to the crowds beyond. "This is unacceptable," he blustered. "I won't be spending my entire life in this prison."
"Be glad he let you keep your life," Ratbat said sourly.
"Optimus Prime doesn't kill needlessly. He has something foreign to you, Ratbat. He has ethics and if you think you can out think him, consider which side of this fence you are on," Sentinel said quietly.
They sat and listened to the game as it continued. It would be replayed on the monitor in their common room later that orn.
-0-Cell Block C
They sat staring at the arenas far away well aware of what was happening. A game was being played and they were here. There was no justice. Motormaster shook his helm. "This is fragged. We came here to surrender and here we are."
"You didn't come here to do that. You came to spy for Megatron," Blind Spot said. "Or Soundwave."
"What would you know?" Motormaster said rising.
His brother looked at him and shook his helm. "Look at the artillery pointed at us. Sit down or they'll ventilate you."
"I hear your other brother is living in the city," Blind Spot said. "I hear he and that frag toy of his are doing great. How do you feel about that, Motormaster?"
The big bot turned and glared at his cell mate. "What do you care?"
"I don't," Blind Spot said sitting on the table that was outside the barracks where they all lived. "Just passing the time."
"Frag that. Frag all of this. Barron was supposed to get us out of here. We're due a hearing."
"Ask him. I'm sure he's dying to get back to you on that. Right now, I imagine he's at the football game having a good time."
"Frag," Motormaster said under his breath as he stood by the bars staring at the arenas in the distance.
-0-On the way to Club Cybertron
They walked on different sides of the street but paralleled each other all the way. Barricade, Scorponok and Stiletto paused by the door and watched as Prowl and his party walked away. Barricade stared at Prowl until he was gone from sight, then he turned and walked inside the bar with his companions.
-0-Nearing the Fortress
"Barricade is one hopeless slagger," Ratchet said. He paused and then crossed the highway leading their party as they walked to dinner in Cafe Praxus.
"He is. That is why I almost enjoy his misery," Prowl said quietly. "Don't tell Optimus. He would love to beat Barricade to a pulp."
"I would love to watch him," Ratchet said as they walked through the courtyard.
Entering the building, they wend their way to the cafe, entering the bar and moving to the dining room beyond. It was huge and tables were set together for their party. Infants were parceled, parked on the table with sippy cups and orders made by all.
"That was a good game, Ratchet. Thank you for taking us, son," Ravel said with a big smile. "I do love my football."
"We noticed," Optimus said with a chuckle. "Ratchet comes by it naturally."
"Didn't ruin two families, you two," Prowl said with a grin.
"Oh, ha ha, Prowl," Ironhide said.
They chuckled. Drinks arrived. Dinner followed. The afternoon moved along in a most pleasant manner.
-0-Around town
Drift, Springer, Kup, Lon and Sandstorm walked to the bar of Club Cybertron and ordered. Leaning on the bar, they turned and glanced around. "Looks like the usual crowd," Kup said nodding to the table by the wall nearby.
"Those slaggers are always in here. Where else can they go? To a museum?" Kup asked.
"Hope springs eternal," Springer said with a grin. He took his drink and turned walking into the crowded room to find their usual spot. The others followed and they sat.
"Barricade is watching you, Springer," Lon said as he glanced surreptitiously in the big 'Con's direction. Or at least as surreptitiously as a youngling could.
"He's blinded by my beauty," Springer said with a grin.
Hoo-hah immediately broke out.
Sitting nearby, the younger set turned and grinned. Rising, they took their drinks and moved to sit. Hot Rod settled and clicked his cube with Springer. "Salute."
They all took a sip.
"What are you going on about?" Jolt asked with a grin.
"We were discussing my great beauty," Springer said.
"Yeah. His beauty," Kup said rolling his optics.
"Frag that. If anyone has great beauty at this table its me," Blurr said with his usual trademark smirk.
Hoo-hah immediately broke out.
Again.
"What's the word on your bar?" Sandstorm asked.
"We're going to put it in at the end of the new business center north of Autobot City Business Plaza. I want it to be as close to the original as possible," Blurr said nodding.
"I can't wait. Are you going to offer the same kinds of brew or what? I miss my old brand," Hot Rod asked.
"We have the recipes. There's a brewer from the last migration who is making a brewery in the same building so he can supply everyone from the grocery stores to the bars. My bar will have the same array of fine labels as it did on Cybertron," Blurr said.
"Good. Mech needs a brew when he needs it. I will say, you have to go a long way to top Wheeljack's high grade," Kup said nodding.
"He's going to supply the best stuff and maybe if you mind your manners I'll let you have some," Blurr said remembering more than one epic bar fight involving Kup.
"Manners? Kup? Mech, please," Springer said.
Lon grinned and sipped his brew. Drift looked at him and smiled. "You're corrupting the sparkling."
"Good," Kup said chomping down on his stogie once more.
Hoo-hah commenced immediately.
-0-Nearby
"They make me sick," Stiletto said.
"You could be doing time in the prison," Scorponok replied mildly.
"Sentinel is in there," Stiletto said.
Barricade glanced at him. "That fragger was supposed to be killed on Cybertron. I saw the mourning period."
"He got away along with a number of others including Ratbat," Stiletto said.
"That little fragger. He's a treacherous little runt," Barricade said. "He will sell you out to the highest bidder."
"And he won't?" Scorponok asked nodding toward Stiletto.
That big bot slammed his servo on the table leaning toward Scorponok. Scorponok to his credit didn't appear to be phased at all. "If you had a processor in your helm, you would understand that the only way we get out of here is by finding and making allies."
"Where would you go? Back to Cybertron? Back to Megatron?" Scorponok asked mildly. "If you haven't noticed, we aren't welcome in very many places and there isn't anywhere else to go. Everyone is coming here for a reason."
"They're being driven here," Stiletto said. "There are 'Cons here and if we work this right, we can build a coalition to wait until our time comes."
"You're delusional," Scorponok said shaking his helm.
"Remember what I said some orn," Stiletto said. "I won't forget what you said. Some orn you will be sorry."
Barricade shifted in his chair. "If you ever get off this rock, there's no place to go where Megatron won't hunt you down and kill you. This is the only safe place."
"We'll see," Stiletto said quietly.
They sat together sipping their drinks as their guards sat nearby chatting together quietly.
-0-TBC
2012 (11)