The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box (260) edited for boo boos :D

-0-On the ground

Omega disgorged his crew complement, all of the bots walking wearily down the ramp to the tarmac. Things were lighter but still busy as the wind down began in earnest. The main problems facing them were the mountains of ships that would be taken apart, smelted and made into other things. It would take three decaorns but they would do it. Their spare parts storage facilities would bulge with content.

The mid morning sun was bright overhead as the orn meandered onward. They gathered together, the Alpha crew touching base before leaving for home and family. Ironhide and Ratchet turned walking together toward the schools where the infants were being kept. The crowds were greater than ever as newbies walked around, visited places and got used to safety, plenty and a secure home.

Moving through the crowds, they angled to the nearest underground station disappearing below with the foot traffic. It would take three trains passing by before they would find one with room for them. They entered heading off on the roundabout line to the school station. The Orange Line trains were too full.

Stepping off, they wound through the crowds as newbies came to see the miracle of free compulsory education for their infants and younglings. Entering, they made their way to an elevator and went up three floors to the place where the infants were kept overnight for the past three orns. Stepping off, they could hear them.

Pausing by the door, they peered inside to see a roomful of sparklings playing together, by themselves or with aides and teachers. They spotted Praxus in the corner playing with other infants. Looking around, they spotted Orion standing by the window whimpering. They both felt punched in the spark.

Mr. Roto was kneeling with Orion speaking to him quietly. He was clutching a dollie in both servos, his expression one of someone who had cried a long time. Ironhide glanced at Ratchet, then stepped inside walking to Roto. That mech stood up and spoke to Ironhide a moment as Orion stared out the window.

"He's tired and wants his parents," Roto said with a grin. "He's doing better about separations but still, there's no place like home."

Ironhide nodded. "Thank you for all you do," Ironhide said picking up his son. Orion startled burst into tears. He cuddled down against Ironhide and cried. "You don't get enough appreciation for what you do."

"I don't think you do either, Ironhide," Roto said with a chuckle. Ratchet walked over with Praxus who was sobbing as well. "You would think we beat them."

Ratchet grinned. "It's clear to us that you do. Not," he said with a chuckle. "Thank you, Roto. We'll take them away and give you a break."

"Two down, many to go," he said with a grin.

"Three. Did you get Hero?" Ironhide asked Ratchet.

Ratchet patted his carry hold. "Done deal."

They chatted a moment, then stepped out heading for the door. An elevator trip down and a crowded ride to the Tower District/School Station was accomplished and they climbed out to the crowded street above. A short jog to the Youngling Schools was made through crowds, some pausing to look around, some pausing to talk.

Entering, they went up three floors to the common areas and exited. Younglings were sitting together by class eating a mid morning snack. Sunspot saw them and got up running to them for a hug. They hugged and petted him. "YOU CAME BACK!"

"We always will, son," Ratchet said with a grin. "You ready to come home or do you have things to do with your class?"

He turned and ran to Terradive who waved from his place at their table. They talked a moment, then he ran back. "I can come. Do you want me to get my stuff?"

Ratchet nodded and he turned holding Ironhide's servo as they walked to the door and the elevator ride to his floor above. Ratchet walked over and took a cookie from the tray. Offering a bite to Praxus who was too emotional to eat, Ratchet took a big bite. "This is good," he said looking down at Terradive,

"They are. Rampage and the Genitor-Teacher Committee make sure we have snacks when we have to stay over," Terradive said. "What is the final tally?"

"More than half a million."

Terradive looked at him and swallowed hard. "That is ... amazing."

"It blows my processor off. We will have a lot of new students for you but they won't be coming until we get things organized." Ratchet looked at the doorway where Ironhide and Sunspot were waiting. "Thank you for looking after Sunny. You teachers don't get enough appreciation for what you do."

"I love this, Ratchet," he said with a smile. "I just love it to pieces."

Ratchet nodded. "I hear you." He turned walking to the door following Ironhide and a chatty happy Sunspot to the elevator and the outside world beyond. The walk to their tower was crowded and short, the ride up shorter. When they entered their apartment Ratchet put Praxus down. He wailed and raised his arms. Picking him up again, Ratchet grinned. "I wonder if Praxus and Orion would mind if I joined them?"

Ironhide snorted. "I hear ya." He looked at Sunspot who stood staring up at them, his book bag on his back and a small box in his servos. "I think I remember you. Cute little Seeker with a big spark. I think you live here."

Sunspot laughed. "YOU'RE FUNNY!"

"I'm hungry too," Ironhide said walking to his chair to sit. Ratchet plopped Praxus down alongside of Orion and the two snuggled down emotionally exhausted from the ordeal of wondering where their cozy life went for almost three orns.

Ratchet plucked a smiling Hero from the happy hour in his carry hold and placed her with her dollies, blanket and favorite toy, a big spoon, on the floor. She was totally content.

Sunspot stood with his bookbag on his back and his box in servos. A giant smile was on his face. Ratchet looked at him and smiled back. "What do you have, son? Another treasure for us to display to the world?"

He nodded. Raising the box to Ratchet, he looked at him with hopeful optics. Ratchet took it and moved to his seat pulling the little Seeker to his side. Taking Sunny's bookbag and putting it on the floor next to the chair, he looked at Ironhide who was beside him in his big chair. "We have a treasure box, Only One. Sunspot created another wonder of the universe for the display case by the window."

They glanced at it, a silver four shelf that allowed the light to shine through. Pictures of the infants and family such as in-laws and uncles occupied the top shelf. Frames made by Tie and Ravel held pictures of every single sparkling in the family. The shelves below were consigned to the objects made in school by the infants. Several of Sunspot's clay efforts already graced the shelf.

Ratchet looked at him. "Do you want to open this or do we?"

"You, Ada. I made it for you and Atar." He glanced at Orion and Praxus, then Hero. Hero was smiling. Praxus and Orion were sniffling. "I think I can also make if for the sparklings. Orion and Praxus look sad." He looked at both of them. "They missed you. I missed you. I hate it when you go away. I feel sometimes like you won't come back and it scares me."

Ratchet scooped him up hugging him tightly. "You must not feel that way, son. You know us. We don't really even fight anymore. Your old pa would love it but he's sort of an officer and helps Uncle Optimus direct things."

He nodded as he leaned against Ratchet. Ironhide looked sucker punched and reached out stroking Sunspot's little solemn face. "Don't worry, sparkling. We didn't decide to raise infants without planning on seeing you grow up."

Sunny nodded and looked at the box in Ratchet's servos. "I made this for both of you. It is a present for coming back."

"Then it will be awesome," Ratchet said removing the lid. He reached in and pulled out a tiny statue. He knew right away what it was. It was a dog. Sunspot was obsessed with dogs. His bookshelf was filled with books on dogs and dog books. 'Ginny, A Dog Who Saves Cats', 'Lad, A Dog' and 'Lassie' were among them.

The little dog statue was very well made and showed a dog standing looking up at someone. His pink tongue was hanging out of his mouth, his tail looked like it was wagging and the expression on the dog's face almost looked like a smile. It had a tiny stump of a tail, erect ears that bent over at the tips and a collar around his neck. He was pure white but for the ears and a large dark circle around his left eye. Those were black.

Ratchet held it up for Ironhide to see. "What a beautiful dog."

Ironhide nodded. "You made a master work, son. I am proud of you."

Sunspot leaned against Ratchet. "Thank you." He then looked in the box sitting on the floor now and pulled out a folded piece of parchment. "I wrote this to you," he said suddenly shy. He handed it to Ratchet, then walked to stand on the other side of the arm of the chair gripping it tightly with his servos. He looked at both of them with hopeful optics and a needy expression.

Ratchet took it and carefully unfolded the paper. The glyphs were Sunspot's alone and were beautifully carefully crafted to say what he wanted to say. It read thusly...

Dear Ada and Atar,

I would like to have a dog. I love dogs. They are pretty and love you. When you go on missions, I will have a dog to stay with me and the sparklings. A dog can sleep on my bed. (Unless you don't want them to.) A dog can play with me and be a friend when everyone is busy. I would throw a ball for a dog and we can go on walks together. We can take our dog camping and be safe. I really love dogs. You said once that we should have a dog. I hope we can. I love you, Sunspot.

PS. I found this and it really is a nice saying about dogs.

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring-it was peace." -Milan Kunden

I like those words. I had to look up Eden. Its sort of like the Matrix. I hope we can get a dog. I will take care of it myself. I love you, Atar and Ada. I don't think there is anything you can't do. Love, Sunspot

Ratchet handed the little letter to Ironhide who read it. He looked at Ratchet. :Oh-oh:

:I am going to be on the horn to Wheeljack and Perceptor right now. Don't ask me anything until I get off. Right now, we need to tell Sunny we're looking in on it. Can you find dinner in the fridge and cupboard while I have a 'shower'?:

:Done deal: Ironhide said. He looked at Sunspot. "You know, Sunny, that there were animals on Cybertron and even if they are not a part of life here, maybe we can see."

He looked like the sun, his delight was so instantaneous and enormous. Ratchet slipped his arm around Sunspot. "Understand. We don't know if its possible to get a dog for you but we will see what the prospects are."

He hugged Ratchet tightly. "I WOULD LOVE A DOG! I WOULD TAKE CARE OF HIM AND HE WILL BE A PART OF OUR FAMILY! A DOG WOULD BE SO FUN! I WOULD CALL HIM SPOT!"

Ironhide snorted. "Spot?"

"See?" he said holding up the little statue. "A spot," he said pointing to the dog's eye.

Ratchet having downloaded every dog thing he could find on the canine species some time ago when Sunspot asked him for books on dogs grinned. "Dick and Jane would be proud to hear this."

Sunspot turned his giant smile on his Ada. "Who is Dick and Jane?"

-0-TBC

2013 (3)

For those who don't know who Dick and Jane are, they are characters from a reading series used in the United States for decades to teach kids to read. I learned with Dick and Jane, their sister and her big black umbrella as well as Spot, their dog and a cat I think was named Fluffy. Maybe. :D