The Diego Diaries: Downtime Again (263) edited for boo boos :D
-0-The Well of AllSparks
The animal stood up and shook itself as if to fill out the edges of a space that was new. It stood looking around with wary optics and Ratchet was reminded of the foxes he had seen in the arms of the wealthy who sometimes owned them. They never seemed fully resigned to their captivity and he felt a sinking in his spark that maybe he was consigning another one to a fate they wouldn't really come to love.
The animal looked around, then leaped onto the wall that encircled the Well. He sat and paused a moment, his brown optics gazing into the nether as if listening. Wheeljack held a meter and scanned the animal as it sat stilled. "The download is in progress. The fox accessed the message we put there for him. Its do or die now, Ratchet."
The room was silent as others gathered to watch the strange creature come to sentience. Ratchet felt a flutter in his chassis as the sparkling began to become upset. Something was going on and he was afraid. Ratchet pulsed calm energy he didn't feel and the spark relaxed a bit. He himself was afraid for Sunspot. He was afraid for the creature who had an appeal Ratchet could understand. Humans loved this creature. They had for hundreds of thousands of years. There was conjecture among scientists that humans learned familial organization from watching and living with wolves. He hoped that the instinct to be a part of a pack would help this creature make the leap that his pack was Ratchet and his family.
The creature stood and stretched, then leaped down to the stone floor. He stood a moment looking at all of them, then turned to walk to Ratchet. Looking up at him, he sat and waited. Ratchet glanced at the others, then knelt. He put his servo on the dog's helm. It was soft and smooth.
Humans didn't know that Cybertronian armor had texture and flexibility. It was supple to the right touch. A human's hand couldn't know that. Their strength was limited and therefore when they touched a Cybertronian they felt the cold hard surface of metal, the substance from which all Cybertronians were made. However, to the touch of another Cybertronian, there was texture. There was suppleness in the armor because their strength and sensor capabilities made that possible.
Ratchet felt the soft texture of the creature's armor because he was strong enough to feel it. Without that flexibility and supple give, no Cybertronian could clasp servos in greeting. The angles and turns of their basic design would not allow for it if there was no give. They would not be able to hold each other, to kiss or to love. Without the give they could feel, they would not be able to touch the cheeks of their infants and feel the universal softness of a baby's face.
Ratchet petted the creature watching his face as he did. The creature moved his helm, pressing his head more completely into Ratchet's servo. Then his tongue lolled out in the way of dogs when they were content. If a dog ever curled its lip at another thing, it was signaling a bite. That and an unwavering stare at the target of interest were a given sign of aggression and the guaranteed promise of a bite. This dog was giving the universal sign of welcome and belonging because at that moment it rolled over on its back. Batting Ratchet's servo with a paw, it looked at him and the others expectantly.
Ratchet grinned and rubbed the dog's belly. "I do believe, Wheeljack and Perceptor, you have created another miracle."
Everyone relaxed as Hunter and Tullen knelt to look at the dog. "How do you know he's trustworthy?"
"When they roll over and show their vulnerability … their unguarded belly … that is submission and acceptance of your leadership." Ratchet grinned. "I know this to be true because that's what Ironhide does."
A groan met that remark and the dog jumped to his feet, his tail wagging madly. He began to leap upward so Ratchet reached down and picked him up. He was a big muscular dog but relatively smaller appearing in Ratchet's arms. He looked up and licked Ratchet's face excitedly. Ratchet laughed and put through a call. :Ironhide, we have lift off. Come to the Temple as fast as you can:
Ironhide stood up immediately and grabbed harnesses. Plopping a surprised Hero and a jumble of her 'stuff' unceremoniously into his carry hold, he called to Sunspot. "Come on, Sunny. We're going to the Temple to meet up with Ada."
He peered out and nodded. "Is it a holy orn?" he asked walking to go with his father.
Ironhide grinned as he whipped the reins on the sparklings to move it along. "I think it just might be." Then he put in a call.
-0-Trine
"We have to go to the Temple. Can you watch the sparklings, Miler? Ven?" Sideswipe asked as he rose from the floor to go.
Bluestreak and Sunstreaker looked at him. "What's up?"
"Atar wants us at the Temple," Sideswipe replied with a shrug.
Venture looked up from the floor where he sat doing 'art' with Kaon. "We have it covered," he said. Miler nodded from the rocking chair by the window where he sat with the twinnies. "Go. If its interesting, comm us. We can come too." He grinned.
"We will. Thank you," Bluestreak said before he was tugged out the door.
They hurried to the Temple and arrived about the same time as Ironhide and his crew. "Pick up the sparklings and keep them with you," he said as Orion and Praxus were plucked off their peds.
"What's up?" Sunstreaker asked as the group turned to walk through the courtyard and ascend the steps beyond.
"A miracle. I hope," Ironhide said as he picked up Sunspot. They hurried up the steps and into the Temple with haste.
-0-Inside
Ratchet stood holding the dog as the group around him looked at it with amazement. He was profuse in his thanks to the four mechs who had created him and the priests who had been essential as well. When the commotion at the door alerted him, he put the dog down and it sat. Stepping in front of it, he grinned. "Hey."
They walked to him and paused. "What's up, Ada?" Sideswipe asked. Bluestreak looked down and paused glancing sharply up at Ratchet. Then he grinned, nodding. Ratchet grinned back, then looked at Ironhide. "Wheeljack, Perceptor and these two mechs, Hunter and Tullen have been cooking. Chevron has been holy. Between the two, we have a miracle, Ironhide."
Ironhide nodded and looked at the group, his emotions rising. "You did a good deed for this little mech," he said nodding at the solemn infant in his arms.
Sunspot looked at Ironhide. "What is happening, Atar?" he asked sweetly.
"Something good, son, I hope," Ironhide said with emotion.
He set the little Seeker on the ground, then stepped back. Sunspot looked up at him, then turned and looked up at Ratchet. Ratchet stood smiling, then stepped out of the way. Sunspot watched him, then looked down. He froze, a look of such surprise and shock on his face that it gave everyone pause. He stood staring, his servos balling into fists. He pressed them against his chassis as he stepped forward tentatively.
Sunspot couldn't speak. He could barely move. The object of his dreams and longing was there just as he envisioned. A dog, his dog was looking at him, sitting in front of him, his little tail wagging. Sunny looked up at Ratchet, then turned slowly looking up at Ironhide.
Sunstreaker stood beside Ironhide, then knelt. "Sunny?" he asked gently. He caressed the baby's face with his servo. "You have a dog."
He nodded, then turned looking at the patient animal sitting before him. It seemed to know him, to sense that this creature was going to be important, even central to his own existence. It was as if he was being given the memory of his acceptance at the edge of the Matrix, that to come here meant being the guardian of this little being and the others that he loved. But this little being in particular. This was his boy. He remembered it and waited.
Sunspot walked to him and touched his ears, the softness of the shape intensely pleasing. It was what he expected. He looked at his optics, brown like his dog dreams and then slipped his arms around the dog's neck. He burst into tears, howling tears and hugged the dog's neck tightly. He cried, wailing cries. "I HAVE A DOG! MY DOG IS HERE! YOU GAVE ME A DOG, ADA! YOU GAVE ME A DOG, ATAR! I KNEW YOU COULD! WE WILL BE FRIENDS FOREVER!" He wailed and cried, hugging the dog tightly. The dog sat silently, leaning slightly into the wailing baby.
Ratchet felt his tanks churn and he knew that everyone watching felt it too. He glanced at Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. They looked crushed, emotionally in turmoil as they stood with Bluestreak. He looked devastated too, his arms around the twins as they stood watching. All of them had terrors. All of them had nightmares. All of them knew what the youngling felt and revisited some of it themselves as they watched.
Sunspot's cries echoed off the walls of the holy sanctuary as he wailed to Primus and The One his utter and complete vulnerability. He leaned back and looked at his dog. The dog licked his face several times. Sunspot looked up at Ironhide. "HE LICKED MY FACE! DOGS DO THAT! LAD DID! SO DID LASSIE! MY DOG LICKED MY FACE!"
Ironhide knelt. "He loves you, Sunspot."
"I LOVE HIM! ATAR, I LOVE MY DOG!" Sunspot turned and hugged Ironhide tightly. "I LOVE HIM! I WILL THROW A BALL WITH HIM! HE CAN COME WITH US CAMPING! CAN HE SLEEP ON MY BED?"
Ironhide nodded. "I think that's required don't you?"
He nodded and looked at his dog. "HIS NAME IS SPOT! SEE? HE HAS A SPOT JUST LIKE PETEY! HE'S SO BEAUTIFUL! HE'S A PERFECT DOG ISN'T HE!"
"I think so," Ratchet said softly. "I think he will be your best friend forever, Sunspot."
"I WILL BE HIS! CAN I TAKE HIM TO SCHOOL!? CAN I SHOW MY FRIENDS MY DOG!?" he asked with a hopeful anguished expression.
"We can talk to Mr. Herling. I want this to be a service dog for you as well as a buddy, Sunspot. I think having a dog is going to help you with so many things," Ratchet said nodding.
"HE WILL! I FEEL BETTER ALREADY! I LOVE HIM, ADA! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!" He turned and looked at his dog. The dog scrutinizing his face offered a paw.
Sunspot took it and smiled like the sun. "HE GAVE ME HIS PAW! HE WANTS TO SHAKE! I BET HE KNOWS A MILLION THINGS!"
Ratchet snorted. "I bet he does," he said glancing at the group who created him. They were staring at Sunspot and the dog mesmerized.
Wheeljack looked at Ratchet. "Thanks for letting us do this. I can't remember when I was so happy to be part of something before."
The others nodded as well. Chevron walked forward and put his servo on the dog. He whispered a prayer of thanksgiving and a blessing for the dog. "You are a lucky little mech, Sunspot, to have such a friend and he is lucky to have you."
Sunspot looked at the priest, his spark so filled with happiness he felt light helmed. "I love him. He's so wonderful. How do I thank Primus?" he asked.
"You already have," the priest said with a smile.
-0-On the way home
They had chatted a moment, profuse thanks given. The two naturalists were also thankful. They were going to set up a business venture with some of the younger protoform makers in Sciences. They were going to make protoforms for various fauna and make them available for the public. The first would have to be service animals. A note from the public health services-processor health would be required. When that need was met, then the public would be allowed to have pets if they chose or were prescribed them as companions.
They would be limited to acceptable Cybertronian formats … no hell hounds allowed … and a list of human formats that might be compatible if they passed muster. Right now, that list was limited to dogs of various kinds powered by willing Cyberfox sparks. The New Cybertron would once again have animals. Vulnerable individuals would have companions to help them through their orns.
It was a win-win.
Heading out, Ratchet carried Spot and Ironhide carried a shaken Sunspot. The twins had the sparklings and Bluestreak kept a steady stream of conversation with Sunspot whose optics never left his dog.
"He's so pretty, Sunny. I hear that you designed him," Blue said sweetly.
Sunspot nodded. "He's like Petey in Little Rascals. He's a pit bull. He's so pretty and I like his spot. I named him Spot for his spot." He turned and looked at Blue. "ISN'T HE BEAUTIFUL!?"
"He is," Blue said squeezing Sunspot's ped. "Where are we going, Ratchet?"
"To the store in Metroplex. We have to get a collar like Sunspot wants. I ordered one at The Sparkling Store." Ratchet grinned. "I might get one for Ironhide too while I'm at it."
"Oh ha-ha, Ratchet," Ironhide with a smile.
They detoured down Metroplex Highway 1 and entered the Mall. A short walk to The Sparkling store and out again produced a black collar with a little bone shaped tag with Spot in big black letters inscribed on it. Holding a matching black leash, a very proud little Seeker walked his dog, Spot for the first time. Crowds parted to look at the strange creature as the group walked back to the doorway.
Sunspot held the leash to his dog, Spot and felt like the Prime of Cybertron. He felt like a king, a sovereign, a prince. He felt a lot of things but the thing he most didn't feel was any anxiety whatsoever.
They exited into the light of a new orn and the first orn of a new paradigm. They had awakened just an average normal everyday family. Now they were that family with a dog. They were the very first family on Mars to do so. They would not be the last.
-0-TBC
2013 (4)