NOTE: Last night I put the last touches on the segment to post and my computer died. :*( I am fixing that today hopefully and will persevere on my little Acer) Here it is recreated. :D
Edited for boo boos :D
-0-Here we go!
The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box Interlude 3 (230/68)
-0-At the great adventure
"Look!"
Optimus reclining on the ground holding a tiny bucket for his son grinned. "What is it?" he asked peering down into the tiny hole which Spirit had dug out so diligently. The little mech pulled out a dark rock and hefted it. "It's heavy, Atar. Maybe its a meteor," he said with a giant smile.
Optimus subspaced a small magnet and handed it to Spirit who touched it to the rock. It stuck. He grinned. "Look, Atar. We found a meteor! Wait until Ada sees this!"
Optimus grinned. "Save it in the bucket. Do you think more is down there?" He sent the film to Prowl as he enjoyed the moment.
Spirit put the rock into the bucket and peered down. "Let's look!" He began to dig again. Optimus looked at the others. Sunspot was looking at shiny rocks with Miracle. They were 'discussing' them before putting them in the bucket. Miracle then turned and knelt reaching down into the hole. He slipped and fell helm first. Rambler helped pull him out with Sunspot, the infant sputtering sand as he sat on the ground again. "Bad!" he said comically.
Optimus blinked. "Miracle."
The baby turned and grinned at his atar. "Bad?" Optimus asked curiously.
"Bad," the baby said pointing into the hole. Optimus grinned and sent the film to Prowl. Prowl also grinned.
Ironhide sitting nearby watched the infants working away, then turned to look at Orion. He was standing with a rock in each servo. He was licking them. "Orion."
The infant paused and looked at his atar with a grin. "ATAR!"
"What are you doing licking those rocks?" Ironhide said taking one of them away. Rambler who paused to watch grinned. "They look like Spirit's rocks, Uncle Ironhide. Maybe they're meteorites." He took the magnet from Spirit's bucket and walked over tapping the rock with it. It stuck. "See?" he said with a grin.
"You're right. Smart youngling," Ironhide said with a grin. He looked at Orion who was still licking the other rock. "Sparkling, stop that."
Rambler looked at Orion who had a red streaked face. "He's licking the iron."
They all paused to look at him. Rambler looked at Ironhide. "There's a lot of iron here. See? The oxidation? He's eating the iron."
"Oh great. That's his favorite flavor," Ironhide said taking the other rock. He subbed a wash cloth and gripping Orion gently wiped him clean.
Orion who was FAIRLY SCANDALIZED! looked at Ironhide with a frown. "ATAR! NO ME! I GOOD!"
"You're a hoodlum. We're looking for stuff not eating it," Ironhide replied with a grin.
"Do you think he's hungry?" Rambler asked.
"He's always hungry but we're ready for anything and everything, right Prime," Ironhide said glancing at Optimus who regarded him with a grin. "The Autobot Scouts are always prepared. It says so in the manual."
Prime smirked. "Right."
With that, Ironhide subbed cookies and they all took a break to nosh and chat. It was a glorious morning to be alive.
-0-Ops Center, Prowl
He filed the video of Miracle and Spirit away for further distribution among the family. He sat at the table and considered the tasks before them. First, there was the mission to Cybertron. Pings had been had so all was well so far. The thought of Optimus's genitors being there made him uneasy. They would be in terrible danger if anyone ever found out about them. He thought about the other pending items that threatened their tranquility and advancement. Paragon, an oddly named mech was gathering more soldiers to his cause. Whether he posed a threat to them or to Soundwave first, he had no idea. They were just a threat period.
Then there was the big migration heading their way followed orns apart by more. Construction was going at a mad pace everywhere in the city. Employment ranged around 95% of the fit population with the remaining injured and debilitated either in training programs or retired. Many was the disabled mech who was doing something in the schools, museum or libraries to feel like they were contributing, such was the buy in for their population in the good of the order.
The new aliens were breaking ground on their large habitat which would house them in a style more like their home. That was a good thing he thought. Of course, when the humans found out some would feel slighted. There was always the United Nations meet up as well. Lots to do he thought with a softly vented sigh.
The Family and the Resistance if that was what it was called were rumored to be planning a campaign against aliens in the system on Earth. It bothered him in the extreme that blowing up your own space to protest them here in this one was somehow an idea anyone would embrace. But then, he was logical and practical. He was also observant and had begun a campaign to find and listen in on their communication lines as well as read their texts and electronic chat too. He was determined to take them down with as little harm to humans as possible by these individuals.
Sitting back, he considered two other seriously important things pending. Tomorrow, Iacon United would play Altihex. They could both lose as far as he was concerned. He smirked at that notion. The city arenas would only hold about 410,000 mechanisms so IntraComm and the city electrical staff were building a system in the main stadium where the game would be played to pipe to the airfield where unlimited space could be managed for anyone else who wanted to watch. A three-D system so perfect that it actually made what was broadcast seem completely real was being made, the best one ever attempted in the solar system. If one walked forward into the broadcast, one could circle players and things broadcast so perfect was the process displayed.
Iacon would lose because losers lost. He grinned. Then it would be one less step to the championship for his team, undefeated Praxus Science. GO PRAXUS! He paused and looked around noting that no one noticed his internal burst of joy.
Good.
THe last big event on his calendar was the visit tonight to the camp to check on the nascent Autobot Scout movement that was going to be sweeping Mars.
Eventually.
He grinned again.
-0-Apartment 23/24, Ratchet
He walked into the apartment and put down a number of things that he had ordered from Requisitions. Turning, he walked to Sunspot's berthroom to straighten it up. He paused. It was immaculate. Grinning, he walked to the wash rack to find it was immaculate too. The rest of the apartment was in good shape with a neat bunk for Orion because Ironhide was helping him to make it. They spent time learning the limitations of sparkling assistance every morning. He turned picking up the forlorn little crib in a corner and carried it to the new berthroom for the upcoming sparkling. Setting it just so, he looked around. It would need furniture. He would have to go by The Home Store to get what they needed.
He walked out and bussed the apartment, putting away the few things he had gotten from Requisitions. They were go for playdoh and edible fingerpaint. He grinned and thought about taking the rest of the orn off in preparation for the evening out yonder. He thought about his morning...
...He walked into the high security ward at the Femme Hospital orderlies, doctors, aides, nurses and security in tow. Pausing by a berth with a glowering mech looking at him with fury, he grinned. "The notes say you can go. That is, you can go straight to jail. How about that?" he asked with a giant smile.
"Frag you, Autobot."
"Thanks. I'll treasure that always," Ratchet said with a grin. They moved to the next bed where a big gnarly bot lay looking at him with rage. "My, aren't you a sweet one."
"Frag off, Autobot."
"That sounds familiar," he replied with a chuckle. "Kick this slagger out too."
He went through the rest of them bantering and trading barbs as all fifteen were reviewed. Two were still too debilitated to go and when they were released at some point both would require rehabilitation. They would never fight again.
By the time he was finished, a short jaunt to the Autobot City Business Plaza was had. Picking up an order of playdoh, paint and a game called checkers from Requisitions, he walked back to the apartment to tidy up. Patting his carry hold, he grinned. "How are you doing, infant?"
Hero was slumbering in a bundle of blankets, her dollies in her little servos. Her old Pa was off being a scout and she was hanging with Ada. All was well in her little world.
Ratchet glanced around and felt all was well, so he turned and headed out making for Ops Center and a catch up with Prowl.
-0-On Cybertron
They walked through the drainage system heading for the previously agreed upon spot they had settled on their last venture. The smell was metallic and the steady drip of dark water spoke of the systemic sickness that infected their planet. It was depressing as they walked silently, all of them carrying their part of the replication machines they had in their packs. It would be another five miles before they would meet up with the Resistance, then another four before they met up with Dai Atlas.
-0-At the campsite
They stood on the ridge and looked at the vast cavern that not only stretched out for what seemed forever both ways they looked but upward as well. The walls were enormously tall and craggy. It was an astonishing sight, a canyon so big that the grand one in America would be lost within. They were working on understanding weather with wind socks and other devices.
Orion stood beside Miracle and watched as the older mechs worked out the data of the canyon. The wind was coming up and the sand from dust devils on the plateau filtered down. It was cold but not bitter. Everyone felt comfortable. Ironhide who was watching Sunspot discuss the sun with Rambler turned to look at the sparklings. They were standing in a row, their optics fixed on the older mechs. They were watching and trying to understand. It was hilarious.
Praxus glanced over his shoulder, then turned walking to the boxes that held the tools they had used earlier. He looked into one that had its lid off and smiled. There were AWESOME THINGS INSIDE. He reached in as far as he could, then looked around. No one was paying attention.
"ATAR!"
Ironhide turned. "Come here, sparkling."
Praxus grinned and turned running as fast as his tiny legs could carry him away from the group. Ironhide turned and walked after him, smirking as the youngster glanced backward as he hurried away.
HIS PA WAS CHASING HIM!
Life was perfect.
-0-Ops Center
"No word yet about his genitors?" Ratchet asked.
"Not so far," Prowl said.
"We can but hope." He settled back. "I let all of the 'Cons go to the lockup but two. They're still not up to it."
Prowl nodded. "That's good to know. We can hope they come to their senses right away rather than linger."
Ratchet nodded. "Two of them told me to frag off. Does that help?"
Prowl snorted. "I find it edifying."
"You would." Ratchet grinned. "Game tomorrow."
"I know. Loser."
"Whiner."
"Looooser."
"I would punch you, Prowl but I'm rather impressed."
Prowl grinned. "So am I."
-0-At the campsite
The younglings sat together munching on something that Rampage called burritos. They were just this side of wowzer. Even the sparklings managed them. The sun was setting and down here in the valley it would be dark sooner rather than later. The campfire was throwing out an immense amount of light and an equal amount of heat. They sat on little flat stones that Ironhide and Optimus had found, shaped and parked.
The light of the stove was throwing shadows against the cliffsides and the big tents. Orion holding his burrito looked at them and paused. He looked at his atar. "ATAR! WHAT?!" he said pointing to shadows nearby that were wavering in the light.
"It's nothing," Ironhide said. "Eat your dinner."
"This is fun, Atar," Spirit said glancing up at Optimus. "When is Ada coming?"
"Tonight," Optimus said taking another 'burrito'. "So is everyone else."
"That is going to be so fun. They can watch us tell stories," Spirit replied with a grin.
Ironhide grinned. "I can't wait to hear your story, Prime."
"I'm just an observer. The story telling is your job, SCOUT," Prime replied.
Ironhide's grin faded. "Slag."
Optimus grinned for the both of them.
-0-On the airfield that evening
They gathered together, all of the family and the remaining younglings. Ratchet stood by the ramp and watched as the twinnies ambled up in their harnesses. When they reached him, they reached up. He took them, kissed their little faces and handed one each to Venture and Miler. As Ravel and Tie Down approached, everyone was there. Blackjack looked out of the vessel and grinned. "Mount up!" he said.
Almost as one, Venture, Miler, Bluestreak, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Ravel, Tie Down, Ratchet and Prowl joined Alor and Blackjack inside the runabout for the ten minute ride to Valles Marineras and the little plucky group camping on a plateau in the desolation of Mars.
It would be epic.
-0-TBC
2013 (3)