The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box Returns 4 (246) edited for boo boos :D
-0-Emergency Room
Ratchet felt the warmth from Ironhide seeping through the intensity of his concentration. He sent it back knowing that the big mechanism was as upset for Optimus as everyone else. When the data began to flow Ratchet turned, then paused. Standing in the doorway with a worried expression was one of the mechs who had come with Tagg and Kestrel. "Knockout!"
That bot appeared out of nowhere. "What?"
"You and Breakdown find the bots who came with these two. Pull them into theaters and examine them. Get some of the other doctors to help. I want them scanned, energized and slated for repair if they need anything bigger than a tweak right now."
"On it," Knockout said turning. "Step aside. Doctor coming through," he said as he exited, dragging the big mech from the doorway with him.
Ratchet snorted, then turned back. Kestrel was looking better as the energon began to filter into his systems. "Cambo!"
After a moment, Cambo materialized at his side. "What, Ratchet?"
"How's Tagg?"
"He's stabilizing," Cambo said. "He's got a lot of work to be done to be fully functional. He's been worked to death." He changed to internal communication. :I think I see signs of abuse. Beatings, Ratchet:
:FRAG!: Ratchet said nodding. :I will give Prime the 411. No questions answered by him. I want the big picture handed to him all at once so he can function. This is sad, Cambo. We keep the lid on or helms roll:
:Got ya: he said turning to return to the other suite.
A vented sigh caught Ratchet's attention. Blue optics came online and a helm turned to stare at Ratchet. He leaned down close. "Kestrel?"
The big bot looked at him focusing, then nodded almost imperceptibly. He tried to speak but couldn't. He was depleted and exhausted. Shifting slightly, he relaxed under Ratchet's gentle servo. Turning to an orderly, he spoke softly. "Get Prime in here."
The orderly nearly spun out turning to move. A moment later the impression of a massive figure materialized beside Ratchet. He looked up. "Kestrel is awake. Let him see you, Optimus."
Optimus nodded and moved taking his ada's servo. He leaned down closer. "Ada," he said softly, his voice cracking with emotion.
The mechanism looked at Optimus as if studying his face. He managed a ghost of a smile before slipping into recharge again. Optimus glanced at Ratchet with alarm. Ratchet squeezed his arm. "He's exhausted. He's sleeping. He just saw his son, Optimus. I would be wasted too after all this time."
"Will they be alright?" he asked anxiously.
"I don't see anything here that can't be fixed," Ratchet said honestly.
Optimus felt light helmed at the news, then looked at Ratchet again. "What about Tagg?"
Ratchet nodded. "Let's go see." Ratchet turned and led the way back to the other theater. He stood staring at the data, then looked at the big mechanism on the medberth. "I am convinced he will recover too."
Prime nodded, pulling Prowl closer to his side. "Thank you."
"Are you kidding?" Ratchet asked with a grin. "This is good news. I could do this all orn long."
The mood lightened considerably at that. Ironhide looked light helmed and Magnus smiled, Arcee's arms around his waist as they stood by a wall.
"What do we do, Ratchet?" Prime asked.
"Well, we keep them in the hospital until we fix all their hurts and they're strong enough to leave here for home care. I can see a number of replacements are going to have to happen. Both of them have bad knees. I see a bad hip on your atar. He also has worn shoulder assemblies. All of that will be easy fixes. We will look internally. That's what these scans are doing. Their internal repair systems might need adjustment. We need to re-energize them. I am convinced we will find protoform wasting but we have elder formulations that are easily tolerated no matter how frail you are. They will take time and medical attention." Ratchet paused. "You don't seem to recognize them do you."
"No. I don't," Prime said. "I recognize their energy and the bond with Kestrel … I feel it. They're both weak, Ratchet. It … I hate it."
"I know," Ratchet said with great sympathy. "They will get better. I would also like to say that I will have Jarro personally conduct examinations of their processor health. Given that they were in such peril for so long, it might make them anxious. Their recovery might take a while, Optimus. Just know that."
He nodded. "I know. Thank you, Ratchet, for everything you're doing."
"We're lucky, you and me. We're twins almost. We both got our genitors back from Cybertron. How lucky we are. Remember that."
Prime nodded. "I will."
Ratchet patted his arm. "Go talk to Elita. Find out what happened. It might be useful and will keep you busy."
Prime nodded and with Prowl hovering at his side, he turned to walk to the lobby where Elita and Jetta stood waiting. He hugged them, all of them, his friends. Then he paused, noting a number of silent mechs in rather diminished condition watching them. Elita looked at them, then Prime. "Those mechs … there's ten of them … they've been hiding and protecting your genitors since the Fall, Optimus."
He looked at then, his gaze slowly taking them all in. Then he turned walking to where they stood. All of them straightened, one of them extending his servo. "Optimus Prime, we are the Elite Guards of the Palace of the Primes. Its been our great privilege to protect and care for your genitors since the Fall of Cybertron."
They nodded, all of them standing tall in the presence of the Prime. He looked at them, then engulfed their spokesman in his arms. He hugged that mech tightly, then gripped the servos of the others equally tightly. It would take nearly a breem before he could haltingly express out loud the enormity of his gratitude for their incredible feat.
-0-A joor later
Ironhide brought a box of food up to the emergency room. It had been put together by Rampage who upon hearing the news sweeping the city had wanted to do something. Mechs had come to take the Guard mechs in servo, two of them ecstatic family members as well as several friends and old comrades. The joy was intense and after wrangling with the ten that their charges were in good servos, they finally left when Prime asked them to take care of themselves.
They would be washed, detailed, fed and feted in Maccadam's Old Oil House by their friends and family before taken in to the apartments of all involved for the next few orns. The city would find out the amazing details of their effort in the morning with Autobot City's media dogging the story like rats.
Ironhide set the box down, turning to everyone sitting or standing in the lobby of the emergency room. "Come and get something to eat and drink. Rampage will slag me if you don't."
As he said that, Rambler walked into the room holding Miler's servo. T-Bar rode on the arm of his grandatar, Venture as Spirit walked in looking around curiously. "Hi, Uncle Ironhide," Spirit said smiling gigantically.
Ironhide hoisted him up, kissing his cheek. "Hi, Spirit. Hungry?"
"I am," he said with a smile.
Ironhide set the baby down and they both began to look in the box. In minutes, food was being circulated and ravenously downed.
Prime stood beside the berth of his atar, Tagg groggily looking at the impossible sight of his son. "Orion," he finally managed.
"I'm here, Atar," Optimus said leaning down closer. "You rest. You and Ada are here with me at Autobot City in the hospital. Ratchet's helping to get you both on your peds."
"Kes," he croaked.
"He's next door. When Ratchet finishes stabilizing you, he will put you together in a room. You can stay together."
Tagg nodded. "What about our boys?"
"They are fine, Atar," Optimus said gently. "Some of them have family here and friends. They came and are settling them."
"They saved us. From the first moment, they took us away," Tagg whispered. "Our faces … they're different."
"I know, but your energy is you," Optimus said. "All of it can be fixed, Atar. All I want you to do is recharge now."
Tagg nodded. "I want … to look at you, son."
Optimus felt fluid fill his optics. He nodded. "Just rest. I am going to stay here tonight. Until you get settled, I will be right here."
"I love you. I missed you. You make me proud," Tagg said as he slowly drifted into recharge.
Optimus held his servo, then tucked his arm under the thermo blanket covering his father. He turned, pausing as he saw Ratchet behind him. "I … I'm going to check on my ada."
"It feels good doesn't it, saying those words again," Ratchet said quietly.
Optimus nodded. "Thank you, Ratchet, for what you are doing."
"Your welcome," Ratchet said squeezing his arm. "Go. Look in on your ada, then get something to eat."
Optimus nodded, then turned to walk out. He hugged Prowl who was standing in the lobby.
"Atar?"
He turned and saw his children. Rambler was holding a 'milkshake'. He put it down and walked to Prime. "Atar? Are you alright? I saw your ada. He's recharging. You don't have to worry. Uncle Ratchet is taking care of both of them."
Optimus picked up his son and held him a moment, hugging his tightly. "I know. Your grandgenitors are here. My ada and atar. Its just a surprise that's all."
"We know," Rambler said as Spirit and T-Bar gathered around him. Miracle sitting on Jetta's arm chewing on a rust stick looked at his atar, his poor energy distressing. "ATAR!"
Everyone paused, then looked at the normally taciturn infant. He looked at everyone looking at him, then smiled in his usual sweet manner. "Atar?"
"He said your name, Atar," Spirit said. "He can say your name."
"I see that," Optimus said smiling for the first time.
Prime put Rambler down and petted the other two, patting them gently. Stroking the cheek of Miracle, he turned and walked into the theater where Kestrel lay. He paused and took his ada's servo. He looked at it, the battered servo that had been so strong, so tender, so loving to him all his life. Kissing it, he put it under the covers. His ada was sleeping.
"His vitals are pretty good, Optimus. I think we can put them both in a room tonight," Ratchet said behind him. "And I don't mean intensive care."
Prime turned and looked at him. "Thank you, Ratchet. I … wish I could express what I feel right now. All of you are here, the friends and comrades of my life. All of you are here and I feel great comfort."
"I assure you, Optimus that it is a small return on the enormous comfort, strength and hope that your presence gives to all of us. We love you, you know," Ratchet said, his expression deeply serious.
"Then you know right now how I feel for all of you," Optimus replied as Prowl enveloped him with his arms.
-0-Maccadam's Old Oil House
Ten mechs, their friends and families stood at the bar. Blurr was tending it himself, their drinks never emptying as he kept the good stuff coming. They were being celebrated, these Autobots who had kept the faith. Their story would become known to the community, their city finding out that they had stepped away from the rubble of the Prime's Palace to search in the Jumble for the family of their moral center. They had found them running through the shelling, the burning, the shots and kept them safe since that orn. That they did was a testament to their dedication to duty and Prime.
That none of them were lost in the long hard battle was the miracle.
-0-TBC
2013 (3)