The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box (262) edited for boo boos :D
-0-Back at the home front
Ratchet walked back into the apartment espying his family immediately. Ironhide sat in his chair watching the teevee while Orion, Praxus, Hero and Sunspot sat on his lap huddling together. They were watching Sunspot's favorite show and when it was through a short strategy session would commence.
It was Dragonball Z Kai.
"You look comfortable." Ratchet sat down in his chair and retrieved Hero. Settling her on his lap, he checked her wings finding them tip top. "What a spectacular sparkling you are, my Hero."
She looked up at him and smiled. "Adaba."
Everyone looked at her with surprise and she looked at them with the biggest smile possible. Clapping her servos, she waited for the praise.
She got it.
-0-In an apartment across town
"This is good."
"Someone else made it. That makes it automatically good."
Drift glanced at Springer who was eating a 'rib'. "Messy."
"It is." He wiped his face with a small dish towel. "I heard something funny."
"What?" Drift asked.
"Someone told me that the high castes are going to try and influence things here by forming an association. They want to have their own enclave."
Drift paused his fork, then snorted. "That will be the orn."
"Probably," Springer said with a smirk. "But it will make things lively for a while."
"We can put them in the prison with Sentinel," Drift said with a chuckle. "I wish I could be Mirage sometimes to hear the good stuff."
"You and me both. By the way, Retro's petition to be moved from the brig to the prison has been granted. We're supposed to take him over when we go on shift again."
"Prime's okayed it then," Drift asked.
"He did. Keeping him in the brig is cruel and unusual punishment," Springer said nodding. "Apparently dragging him out to the Valles and leaving him there is considered inhumane."
"That's why he's the Prime," Drift said. "But then you would know, Missus Optimus Prime."
Springer smirked. "It was fun while it lasted."
"Unlucky in love?" Drift asked with a smirk of his own.
Springer looked at Drift with a grin. "Nope."
They continued to watch the news as the night came slowly to Autobot City.
-0-At home
They walked into their apartment and looked around. It was neat, pretty and home. Ravel turned to Tie Down. "Do you want to have dinner or go to Ratchet's house?"
"I think we should ask Ratchet if we can fix dinner for them. I am sure he and Ironhide are very tired. The little ones will probably need someone to help them get settled" Tie paused and walked to the monitor which was buzzing a call. He commed it on and Bluestreak's smiling face could be seen. "Hi, Ravel, Tie. How are you? Do you need to have us come by and help you? You were in the apartment taking care of Optimus's genitors all this time. If you want help we can come."
"We're fine, Blue. We had such a nice visit taking care of them. They're such nice mechs. I don't know where you are but if you need us to get the sparklings we can," Ravie asked.
"We have them, Grandada, here at home," Sideswipe said peering over Blue's shoulder. "Are you home or are Optimus and Prowl still busy? We can spot you if you're tired."
"We just left the Residence," Ravel said. "Don't worry about us, youngling. We're home having dinner. Did you eat? We can make you something if you need it."
Sideswipe grinned. "We're good. We just want to know if you are alright."
"We are, darling youngling. Optimus and Prowl came home with the babies and his genitors are napping. All seems to be well," Ravel said nodding. "I think we will go check on Ratchet and Ironhide, then see if Alor and Blackjack are back. Everyone has been busy so long, I imagine they might need help getting things going again. We will help."
Sideswipe nodded with a grin. "We know. Take it easy tonight. Are you going to open the store tomorrow?"
"We will. We have a number of orders to get ready," Tie Down said with a nod. They chatted a bit, then commed off. Dinner was ready so they sat and ate together, The Hourly News playing on the monitor nearby giving them a view of the outside world of the reclamation.
-0-In Sciences that same moment
They sat together, two former naturalists cum engineers who had been called out of night class to discuss a 'special project'. They listened, looked at the design specs and images of a small white and black animal called a dog.
They were professional naturalists who had taken care of wild areas where the interesting cyber animals and other creations had lived. There were ant-droids, astro ticks, bolt bats and bot spiders. There were cybercats, flies, drillers and dwellers. There were ducks, leeches, mice, gnats and moosebots. There were also foxes, slaargs, chickens, possums, snakes and an animal called a hellhound. Other animals existed including bats and other flying beasts but they were likely extinct.
They were preparing to revive animals that had not been seen in literally eons. It was astonishing and the idea of not only recreating Cybertronian animals but some of the human species was stupefying. When the proposal was clear to all, Wheeljack asked, "Well? You in?"
"Are you kidding?" Tullen replied. "I'm so in, I'm out. If this works, we can get a set aside area of land, enclose it and make a preserve."
"This dog is going to be a service dog for a youngling with anxiety issues. When its clear that pets are possible, there will be a big interest in the city for more," Perceptor said. "We will have to consider how we can meet that need."
They all nodded. "The potential for this is huge. If it works and the animals are healthy and viable, we can think about creating more. The process for devising protoforms is something that we do for our own species so making them for animals is no problem. What will be key to this process is making sure that the spark that is granted is happy and healthy in the protoform. The melding of the canine database with the spark of a cyberfox seems reasonable but until we get it organized and try, we can only conjecture," Hunter said nodding.
"Then we better get on it," Wheeljack said rising. "Percy and I are making the protoform because we have the clearest idea of what is needed and a plan for helping the spark integrate the data about dogs into their processes." He turned and walked to a lab nearby, the others following. They entered a big room where protoforms were made for infants in the community. On a table nearby was a protoform unlike any the two naturalists had ever seen before. It was unlike any that Percy and 'Jack had ever attempted. They gathered around the table to look at it.
It was the shape of the images they had studied. It was a large dog and would if standing be able to look into Sunspot's optics. He was powerful in build, rather like the dog he was patterned upon, a pit bull. He had a dull finish because without a spark, he was merely a format. There were dull spots of a dark color on his ears and around one optic but the rest of him was colorless. He was big, smooth armored and deeply intriguing.
They would spend the rest of the night working on it, shaping its processor to be ready to think and act for a spark. When the light of morning came over the top of the sloping dome of Olympus Mons, they would be ready to receive a spark for the dog named Spot.
-0-At the apartment that morning
Ratchet moved around the apartment clearing up the place, getting it ready for the infants to stay during the day as the schools reorganized to take in an as yet undetermined number of new students. Ironhide stumbled out and flopped in his chair. "What's to eat?" he asked just to be ornery.
Ratchet snorted. "How about my ped, old mech?"
Ironhide grinned. "I thought we agreed never to speak about my ped fetish around the younglings." At that moment, Sunspot stumbled out rubbing his optics. "Good morning, Sunshine."
He grinned and walked to Ironhide laying his helm on Ironhide's leg. "Hi, Atar. I love you."
Ironhide pulled him up and hugged him. "I love you too. How did you sleep?"
"Pretty good. The sparklings stayed in their berths. I think Orion likes his big boy bed a lot."
"I think he does," Ironhide said.
Ratchet walked out of the corridor with a sparkling in each servo, then paused to listen to a communication. He looked at Ironhide and handed him the two babies. "Here's Praxus and Orion. I have to go see Wheeljack and Perceptor. Apparently, they need my input on a project."
Ironhide nodded. "Sneaking out and leaving me with the sparklings to feed. Slagger," he said with a smirk.
"Hero is awake and you wanted another one. Who's the slagger here?" Ratchet asked walking to the door. He paused and looked at the four sets of optics watching him. "I'll let you know how it goes."
Ironhide nodded. "Do."
Ratchet walked out and headed toward the Temple where the group would be waiting. They had worked on the project all night long. The protoform although different in shape and design hadn't daunted Percy or 'Jack. They were the greatest designers living. What had taken tweaking and lots of intriguing conversation was the processor that would be the command center for the spark. Making an ethical effort at every step, they finally felt that the protoform was ready for a spark.
Ratchet felt his own spark flutter a bit as he hurried up the steps of the Temple to the platform where the building stood. Entering, walking through the quiet space, he spotted the party at the Well. Chevron and three priests were waiting for him and when he reached them he nodded respectfully to all as well as the AllSpark and Well. "Did you stay up all night to do this?"
Wheeljack nodded. "How often do we get a really intriguing project to work on?" he replied.
Ratchet nodded and looked at Chevron. "We don't want to do anything that is harmful or unethical. This is a project that is going to be for good. We need a spark that is willing to be a guardian, friend and service animal to a little mech who will love him intensely forever."
Chevron nodded. "I meditated on this matter last night and found only peaceful energy when I sought advice. I would believe that any spark that consents to come will do so willingly and assume the responsibilities that you are seeking for your son."
"I hope so," Ratchet replied. "I love my son and want his happiness. We will take good care of this spark. You have my word."
Chevron nodded and smiled. "We know. I believe that Primus approves or he would have let me know." He turned and looked at the Well which shimmered with soft blue energy. The AllSpark which was turning slowed down and paused. Energy began to sparkle across its surface, then the mist of the Well began to rise.
Chevron and the priests stood together chanting so softly that Ratchet couldn't understand the wording. But he had seen a lot of spark requests and this was just like them. Nearby, the former Councilors watched with interest as the energy began to gather. The protoform lay on the wall of the Well lifelessly. The energy intensified, then burst into light blinding everyone to the moment and all its happenings.
It suffused them, a warmth and loving embrace that included everyone in the room. They were surrounded by perfection, then it began to fade. When it subsided, the mist vanishing and the energy falling back into the confines of the Well, they all turned to look at the protoform. The AllSpark began to turn slowly again, indifferent it would seem to the drama it played a part in creating.
Wheeljack knelt and scanned the protoform, its color dramatically transformed. It was a luminously beautiful white from tip to top, the exceptions being ears and the circle around one optic. They were black. He touched it, running a servo down its sleek white body. Then it flinched. It lay quietly a moment, then blue optics opened looking around.
The dog creature sat up and looked at them, his optics looking all around him with agitation. Wheeljack stepped back to the group.
=0=TBC
2013 (4)