The Diego Diaries: Santa Ho-Ho 8
-0-On the way home
The thousands of bots moved slowly, the sounds of laughter and happiness a balm to everyone present. The Night Watch was standing here and there laughing and bantering as they helped move the traffic along. No one was in vehicle mode, all walked including a number of tiny elders who had been seated in the front row of the stage area to watch. They were surrounded by mechs from the Electrical Workers Union who were ensuring their arrival and departure in one piece.
Optimus Prime was feted and congratulated all the way to the highway and the right turn upward to the Mare Tranquilitatus. The city was full on lit up with the beautiful additions of Christmas Surprise decorations and colorful lighting adding a warmth to the evening that was affirming. Younglings who stood in rows with their teachers at the edge of the air field were released to their genitors who stood waiting in long lines to retrieve infants and their older siblings.
Silverbow ran forward and hugged Hound's leg before being lifted upward by Trailbreaker. They took her datapad and turned walking toward home in the Metroplex District, Silverbow exclaiming to both about the moment when she told her story and helped give the femmes their citizenship emblems.
Ratchet waited with Prime, Hero in arms as Ironhide and Prowl joined the lines to pick up the infants. Ratchet grinned and looked at Prime. "It is a great idea to take the good and make it ours. This holiday may be something completely different to the humans but the way it is done here is lifesaving to a lot of our people."
Prime nodded and grinned down at Ratchet. "You are responsible for Halloween and Christmas Surprise. Thank you, Ratchet for what you do. You are a very important mech in the life of our city. It can't be discounted or overlooked."
Ratchet looked at Prime and grinned slightly. "I live to serve," he said with a seriousness that Prime recognized. Prime nodded and they turned watching as Olo was gathered up by her genitors. She was luminously beautiful, pure white with a tiny red chevron and red winglets. She smiled a gigantic smile, the kind infants in all galaxies and dimensions have when they express their purity in delight. She wore her reindeer antler hat and her ada held her belt with the silver bells. Both of them, giant sized mechs who looked like they could lift buildings with their bare servos hugged and kissed her. "Olo, you are so beautiful," her ada said tucking her into his arm. They turned with great joy and received congratulations all the way to their apartment door in Metroplex District.
Prime and Ratchet grinned at each other. "That was satisfying," Ratchet said.
Prime snorted and laughed. "Almost as satisfying as watching my younglings excel."
"Alor has a knack with younglings," Ratchet said nodding. "Is that talented mech of yours going to continue with music?"
"He better," Prime said with a proud grin. "We got him what he asked for. We had a keyboard made and set into a copper and silver frame. Its waiting in the living room of the apartment when we get home."
Ratchet grinned. "You are a good atar, Optimus," Ratchet said as he saw Prowl and Ironhide turning to come back with a clutch of infants all singing, chatting and laughing in arms.
Optimus reached for Miracle and lifted Spirit handing him to Miler who caught up with them. He took Spirit and hugged him, kissing him on the cheek. "You and T-Bar were brilliant. What a wonderful idea speaking together like that. I am so proud of you, sparkling."
Spirit blooming under the attention hugged his grandada and lay against him worn out from the relief of getting through the program and being received so well.
Prowl had T-Bar in arms and Rambler hopped along beside him. Ratchet knelt and hugged Rambler. "You are a brilliant musician. I hope you continue, sparkling."
Rambler did the Cybertronian version of a blush. "Thank you, Uncle Ratchet. I love music. Grandada Alor is going to be my teacher. I want to write songs."
"I want to hear them," Ratchet said with a grin. Sunspot appeared before him tackling Ratchet who rose and squeezed him. "You are also my hero, Sunspot. Between you and Rambler, I am well content."
"That was so fun, Ada. I got to tell them about our family." Sunspot grinned in that uncomplicated way that infants who feel safe and wanted did when they wanted to tell the deepest part of their hearts.
Or in this case, sparks.
"I told them about how fun our family is. I told them about my brothers. I love my family, Ada," he said hugging Ratchet hard.
"Your family loves you, Sunspot," Ratchet said.
Silverclaw appeared and waited beside Miler as Sunspot hugged his ada. Then he sat back up and spied his mentor. "Uncle Silverclaw! I saw you in the crowd!"
Silverclaw nodded and lent his staff to his son who stood beside him with a look of intense pride on his face. Silverclaw took Sunspot and hugged him, holding him for a moment. Sunspot sat up and looked at the big Clan Elder. "Sunspot, you did Seekerkin a great service tonight with your skill at telling your story. You spoke about our longing in a way that touched everyone's spark. We couldn't do things on Cybertron because we were Seekers. But here on this world you are showing the city that Seekers can do what they want and do it well. Our people are proud of you. You are a fine example for the hatchlings who are going to need one."
Sunspot looked at him and smiled, glancing at Ratchet and back to Silverclaw. "I wanted to do a good thing," he said. "I wanted the city to know we love them too."
Silverclaw nodded and hugged the youngling, gently stroking his wings. His sons, all three of them looked at the infant with expressions of great pride on their faces. They were an amazing group, the four of them. Others stood with them as it seemed every Seeker in the great mob conglomerated around Sunspot. One of them stroked Sunspot's wings, smiling when they flickered from the attention. Silverclaw looked at Ratchet who was watching with Ironhide and his genitors. "You have done great things for our son. We are well pleased," he said nodding in the old fashioned way to indicate equality between speakers.
Ratchet nodded back, returning the compliment. "We are honored to be able to raise and love such a beautiful child," he replied in the formal manner.
Silverclaw nodded and looked at Sunspot who was smiling at all the Seekers around him. "You have a flying lesson in two orns. I am looking forward to watching you glide."
"I love gliding!" Sunspot said with excitement. "Are you going to be there to watch me?" he asked looking at the Seekers around him.
They grinned and nodded, many of them giving their assent. They would all keep it too.
Sunspot looked at Ratchet. "They love me, Ada." He almost sounded surprised.
"Who wouldn't, Sunny Bunny?" Ratchet replied as the group nodded in agreement.
-0-Ravel and Tie Down
They walked along trailing Bluestreak who 'broke trail' for them. Sideswipe had surrendered Iacon to them and was following making sure they got through safely. The 'fam' was ahead of them gathering sparklings and younglings. Dinner would be held at Prime's house for both sides of the family. One present each would be opened there. If there were any more, they would be a home affair. Dinner would be catered and delivered with notable exceptions. Miler, Venture, Tie Down and Ravel along with Alor insisted on bringing special items that were family celebration food as well. Blackjack volunteered to be the taster.
Alor merely smirked.
"Ravel, watch your step," Tie Down said slipping his arm through the little mech's.
"I didn't see that," Ravel replied stepping over a bundle of cords on the ground. They continued. "I haven't remembered a better time except when Ratchet was home from school."
Tie Down nodded. "This was so much fun. I still find myself surprised that we aren't back in the Jumble."
"That was a miracle, Tie, that we could leave. I still feel badly for those still there," Ravel said shaking his helm.
"We'll get them out, Ravie," Tie Down said. "Our army and the Seekers will get them out. Optimus is too smart for those Decepticons."
Ravel nodded. "He is."
Sideswipe merely followed along grinning.
-0-On the way to the Tower of Fun (tm)
They reached the doors of their building pausing to wait. Miler, Venture and two of the infants were still coming but close. Ratchet, Ironhide and their younglings were in sight as well. Bluestreak standing beside Ravel with Uraya and Tie Down who had Iacon in arms could be seen with Sideswipe. Sunstreaker turned from Ratchet, Praxus in his arms and looked back. "Hurry up, slowpokes," he called out with a grin.
A lot of snark was handed back as they made their way forward. Through a crowded lobby and into a crowded elevator they made their way. "I hope this elevator doesn't get stuck," Sideswipe said.
He wouldn't say it twice.
Stepping off at the penthouse, they waited in the lobby entrance of the Residence for all to arrive. When they did, Prowl led the way. Inside they walked and stepped aside as the infants came along behind them. Standing in a corner by the window, a beautiful piano like device awaited. Rambler paused, glanced at his genitors with joy, then ran to it. "Wow! This is so beautiful! It was just what I wanted! Look, Uncle Alor! A keyboard of my own!"
Alor walked over, Orion in his arms. "This is a beautiful instrument, Rambler. We will have a chance for you to practice your lessons."
"I will!" he exclaimed. Then he turned and ran to Prowl. He hugged Prowl's legs, then Prime's. They knelt and hugged him, enjoying his joy as much if not more than him.
Prowl stood up and smiled at his botlets, all of them including Ironhide's shivering with excitement. "All of you find a place on the floor around the Christmas Surprise tree," he said. They did moving swiftly to sit, grinning at each other with excitement. Prowl looked at Prime, then drew a hat out of subspace tossing it to Optimus. "You do the honors. You're so good at it."
Optimus caught the Santa hat amid the hilarity and moved to the tree slipping it on. "Yes, Prowl," he said with a smirk.
A lot of banter, snark and hilarity met that remark as all of the adults moved to sit on the chairs and couches around the room, nearly all of them flipping out cameras. Prime reached taking a box from a stack of boxes turning to walk to T-Bar. "This is for you from Santa Prime."
T-Bar looked at him with a giant awe-filled smile. "How did he come in here and leave this for me, Atar?" he asked.
Prime grinned and shrugged. "Santa Prime knows but he isn't telling is he, Prowl?"
That bot lounging on a chair beside his genitors smirked. "Nope," he said.
Hilarity ensued.
Santa Prime gripped another package and turned pausing before T-Bar. "Don't you want to open it, son?"
"When everyone does," T-Bar said with a smile.
Prime grinned and handed another to Sunspot. "This one is for you, Sunny."
That little bot smiled a side splitting smile and took it glancing at T-Bar with delight. "Thank you, Uncle Santa Prime," he said because he was awesomely well mannered. Rather up that end of the scale if you want to know.
Turning, he picked up a present and walked to Miler handing it over. "Ho-ho-ho, Miler," Optimus said with a grin.
Miler chuckled and shook his helm. "I can't believe a Prime could be this much fun."
Hilarity ensued again.
Prime gave a present to Blackjack who harrumphed with delight. To Alor who smiled and hugged him. To Ratchet who sassed him, to Ironhide who snarked at him, to Sunstreaker, Sideswipe and Bluestreak who alone of the three didn't tweak his stunning "Santa Prime couture'. Bluestreak merely hugged him.
Prime turned to Ravel and Tie Down who looked at him with startled optics. Taking the presents, they sat up and nodded in great humility to the Prime of their world who was gifting them. "I don't know what to say," Ravie said looking up at him.
"Say nothing, Ada," Ratchet said his own present sitting on his lap. "Works for me."
Double hilarity ensued including much tut-tutting about 'sassing a Prime, Ratchet'. -BOTH his genitors.
Optimus saw the presents for Miracle, Praxus and Orion. He handed them to Ironhide and Prowl, then walked to a seat to sit. Miler glanced at Prime, then Prowl. "Where is Optimus's present?" he asked his son.
"He's getting his later," Ratchet interjected to the undying laughter of most of the room and the mortifying nearly death defying angst of the remaining traditionalists.
"RATCHET!" -RAVEL!
Ratchet leaned over and hugged his ada winning back some cred with the little bot. Then he leaned back and grinned. "Can we open them now, Dad?" he asked.
Prime snorted and laughed. "Yep," he said with a grin.
Much opening commenced. Exclamations of WOW! I REALLY NEEDED THAT! And OH ADA/ATAR/GRANDADA/GRANDATAR! I REALLY NEED THAT! filled the room.
Here was the breakdown on the loot.
Rambler: Keyboard piano thingy by the window. Which he wanted to play with but didn't because he was well mannered and occupied that end of the awesome scale with Sunspot.
T-Bar: Half a dozen Kre-O sets of 'Transformers' including someone's idea of 'OPTIMUS SLAGGING PRIME!', Bumblebee, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Prowl no less and something called 'micro changers. Reaction: "WOW! THESE ARE SO CUTE! LOOK, ADA! YOU AND ATAR ARE INCLUDED!"
Spirit: Forty pounds of LEGOS including a game boy that transformed into a bot of some sort, enough legos to make a bot his own size and a lot of pictures to help him build. Reaction: "WOW! THESE ARE SO CUTE! YOU CAN HELP ME, RIGHT ATAR?!"
Hilarity ensued.
Sunspot: Forty pounds of Legos and about twenty-four pounds of Lincoln Logs. Reaction: "WOW! I *LOVE* LEGOS! WHAT ARE THESE?" (Holds up Lincoln logs with a giant smile) (He would learn and love them as much as Sam Witwicky who had suggested them.)
Ironhide grinned and leaned closer to the little bot. "I think I will ask Sam Witwicky when he gets here tomorrow to show you. He suggested them himself."
Sunspot looked at his atar. "Is he an organic?"
Ironhide blinking sat back and nodded. "He is. I will help you too."
Sunspot looked at his atar, then his toys. "I am afraid of them, Atar."
"Alright," Ironhide said. "I will help you myself," he said picking up the tiny booklet in his giant servo, a totally comic affect. "You and me, Sunny."
Sunspot looked up and smiled gigantically. "*Maybe you can help us too, Grandatar*," he said looking at Blackjack. He would. It would be hilarious. Two giant black chaos bringers kneeling on the floor building forts with a tiny yellow and white Seeker complete with sound effects of battle and building. Pictures would be had by all.
The chaos bringers would have a ball.
Everyone looked at Prowl. He looked back at them, then Prime with a wary optic. "Can I open this in mixed company?"
"You may have a point. He reads Maxim and Cosmopolitan. It could be edible panties," Ratchet said with a grin.
Initiate, search, panties, edible, noun, definition retrieved, cut transmission!. All of the adult optics in the room turned to Ratchet. "You are deeply disturbed," Prowl said with a smirk as Ravel nearly achieved vapor lock. Tie Down for his part merely smiled. As did Miler in spite of himself, Venture who laughed for some time, Prime who filed the notion away for other less public possibilities, Blackjack who thanked Primus once more that his son-in-law wasn't a bluestocking, Alor who joined Venture in a guffaw, Bluestreak who struggled not to laugh and the twins who looked at their ada with expressions just this short of worship.
Prowl opened his gift. He looked inside and smiled. Glancing at Prime, he nodded slightly. "Thank you," he said quietly.
"Show us," Ratchet said.
Prowl looked at him and obliged. He pulled out a trophy and turned it. It said, "Praxus Science, Martian Adult League Football Champions of Autobot City, Mars" with the date left off.
Hilarity partisan as the Pit ensued.
The twins opened their boxes and smiled.
Sunstreaker: "Wow. Nice. Thanks." - an array of ultra exclusive expensive waxes that he would use in the most important occasions that usually involved fragging Bluestreak.
Sideswipe: "Wow. Thank you." -an array of exclusive expensive waxes that he would use in the most important occasions that usually involved fragging Bluestreak.
Lucky bot, Bluestreak.
Bluestreak opened his own box. "Wow," he said smiling. "Thank you." Inside were an array of beautiful tools made for his hobby that he had just begun to learn. He had begun to learn etching, or tattooing as the humans called it. They had the signature label of the most exclusive impressive tools known on Cybertron. They read RTR Tools on the handles. He looked at Tie and Ravel who smiled with delight. "These are awesome. Thank you."
They both nodded with delight.
Blackjack and Alor were next.
Blackjack: "Slagging yeah!" -Gun tool kit from RTR Tools.
Alor: WOW! I CAN USE THIS!" -A musical notation computer upon which to compose songs, the Cadillac version of the one he had had to use since the fall of Cybertron.
Tie Down and Ravel looked at each other as everyone turned to them. "Oh my, Tie," Ravel said as he opened his box. He grinned. Reaching in, he pulled out a picture album that would contain carefully selected images of Ratchet, Ironhide and the younglings of their life over the past six million years. He looked at it, his optics misting. "Thank you so much. I only had that one image of you, Ratchet. It was partially burned."
Ratchet nodded. "I know."
Tie Down gathered himself and opened his box. He looked inside and smiled pulling out a book with actual hair thin steel pages. It was the story of the colony in all its detailed glory complete with images on nearly every page. It was six inches thick, beautifully bound and would be much loved and consulted. The wafer thin pages were chock-a-block with Cybertronian and Martian history. He looked up at Ratchet and grinned. "I wanted one of these so badly."
Ratchet grinned. "I know."
All optics shifted to Miler and Venture who glanced at each other with a smirk. "I guess its show time."
Prowl snorted and grinned. "Open the boxes. I searched my digits to the exoskeleton for you two."
Venture snorting opened his box and paused. Pulling out the object inside, he stood and opened it up. It was an exact copy of the story of Primus and the beginning of their species tapestry that hung over Prowl and Prime's berth in the Residence. Miler blinking with surprise opened his and pulled out an exact copy of the glass sculpture that was residing on the dining room table in the next room over. They looked at Prowl nearly in tears. "Thank you, son," Venture managed. Miler merely nodded.
"You are very welcome," Prowl said with intense delight.
"Well, it looks like you, me and the sparklings, Only One," Ratchet said breezily as he leaned back in his chair.
Ironhide snorted and opened his box pausing as he looked inside. He grinned and pulled out a long black box with his glyphs carved into it. "Ironhide, Master of the Autobot Armed Forces, Chaos Bringer of the Autobots and Only One of his Only One." Ironhide began to laugh and shook his helm. "You are still in your detached from dignity phase I see." It held in all their greatest glory tools that rated a museum spot, etched with blessings from Primus and The one, all of them carefully handmade at RTR Tools. "You two are making out like bandits here," Ratchet said grinning at Ravel and Tie Down. They grinned and nodded.
"I am detached and very attached to that detachment, Only One," Ratchet said with a grin. He opened his box and smiled, reaching in to pull out a special wrench. It wasn't like any other. This one was carved out of a single large diamond that was found in the lowlands of Olympus Mons. Ironhide had asked for a big one from the Energon teams and they found a flawless blue diamond as large as a Cybertronian football. Taking it to Specialty Fabrications' Central Office, he found someone who could carve it into a wrench of the type Ratchet usually threw at malcontents. He also had a heart shape drawn with Ratchet on one side, Ironhide on the other.
Everyone paused to initiate, search, retrieve and download, cutting initiation in the end. An 'awwww' moment ensued. Ratchet looked at it, then Ironhide with misty optics. "Ah, Only One. I will always think of this moment when I hit you on the helm with this. Thank you."
Hilarity ensued.
"That leaves the sparklings and Prime," Ironhide said.
Ratchet leaned down and handed presents to Praxus and Orion who were noodling around on the floor. Prowl handed one to Miracle and the twins sat on the floor with the infants to help them and Kaon open the boxes. Kaon pulled out an overly large Prime dollie and exclaimed as he hugged it. Praxus and Orion pausing to smile at him opened their boxes and pulled out fluffy shoes that had dog faces on them. Holding them up, Orion and Praxus looking at Ratchet, the twins put them on their peds. After a moment or two of trying to pull them off, they accepted the soft brown shoes and looked inside once more. Little toys that stimulated their fine motor skills were pulled out and all of them put them into their mouths.
Typical kids.
Bluestreak opened the girls' toys and dollies were had by both to their delight. Hero got her own first toy, a fluffy dog her size. She gripped it with a smile. Her second toy was a micro-mini-con dummy grenade in a shade of turquoise that meshed nicely with her satiny black paint scheme. This toy wouldn't blow up even accidentally. She put it immediately into her mouth. Ironhide nearly threw a rod in pride.
Sitting back, all optics went to Prime. Prowl handed him a gift and he opened it. A tool set for his weapon was inside and he looked at it with great appreciation. "You can retire your old kit," Prowl said with a grin. "This one is luxe."
Prime grinned and nodded. "I think you're right. Thank you so much," he said opening it to marvel on the tools inside.
They chatted a moment, everyone relaxing, then Sunspot laughed out loud. Everyone paused and looked at him. He was pointing to the floor in front of Ratchet. Lying here and there were dollies and slippers. Here and there sitting in boxes were Orion, Praxus, Kaon and Miracle.
Hilarity ensued.
=0=TBC
2012 (12)