The Diego Diaries: Down Time Again 2 (264) edited for boo boos :D
-0-On the way home
Sunspot walked beside his dog, Spot heeling almost instinctively. He was a big dog, his back reaching Sunspot's shoulders. The little Seeker looked taller somehow as he walked with the leash in servo, a giant smile on his face. He looked at others who paused stepping aside, pride for his dog firmly in place on his cute little face. They looked at Spot and his spark soared.
THEY WERE LOOKING AT HIS DOG!
He reached out and lay his arm over Spot's back as they walked, his joy to be with the big canine almost overwhelming to him. The dog looked at him and licked his face. Sunspot laughed. "Ada! Atar! He licked my face!"
"We see that, Sunny Bunny," Ratchet said as he followed, an intensely focused Orion in his arms. They all followed smirking and smiling, genuine relief and joy in their sparks that this could be possible. They were delighted by Sunspot's overwhelming delight.
They reached the intersection of Tower Highway 1A and Cultural Center Road East crossing with the lights as they headed for the path to home. As they entered the tower lobby, mechs who were talking paused. A youngling Sunspot went to school with, Kerri, ran to him and paused. "Sunny, what is that?" he asked hovering somewhere between curious and fearful.
"THIS IS MY DOG, SPOT! ISN'T HE AWESOME!? I LOVE MY DOG!" Sunny replied quivering with excitement. He wanted his friend to love his dog too, it was overwhelmingly apparent. "YOU CAN PET HIM! HIS NAME IS SPOT!"
Kerri looked at the dog, then Sunspot. Then he stepped forward and touched Spot's helm. Spot licked his face and Kerri stood a moment with surprise. Then he smiled. "He licked me!"
"He's kissing you!" Sunspot said with almost too much happiness. "He likes you!"
Kerri stepped closer and petted Spot a moment, then turned to his attentive genitors. "LOOK! A DOG! SUNSPOT HAS A DOG!"
At that point, Sunspot burst into tears again. "I do. I have my dog," he said before Sunstreaker picked him up. The leash fell to the floor as Spot looked at Sunpot. He sat.
"That is one well mannered dog," Ratchet said watching.
Ironhide nodded. "He is. Good dog, Spot."
The dog looked at Ironhide and leaned forward licking Ironhide's ped. It was love at first optic at that moment between a front-lining mayhem bringer and the family dog.
Kerri's genitors listened to The Story of Spot and watched as Sunspot who had gathered himself hugged his dog tightly. He took up the leash again and turned to walk toward the elevator. The others followed with a grin.
Kerri would spend the entire night talking about Spot. His genitors would contact the format team in Sciences and get the lowdown. Contacting Social and Processor Health Services the next day, they would put their son on the list for a service dog. It would be warranted. He had lost a limb to an explosion during the evacuation of their colony and had only recently gotten full movement back in the replacement due to protoform regeneration finally reaching minimally optimal. He would fall into the category of greatest needs with ease. His nightmares alone would attest to that.
-0-In the apartment
(pet, pet, pet) "Atar?"
"What, son?"
(Pet) "Do you think Spot needs anything?" (pet, pet, pet)
"I don't know how he could. You're sitting on the couch by the window. He's laying on the couch beside you. His helm is in your lap and he's loving on you. What more can he need?" (grin)
(pet) (Ginormous smile) "He's so nice. He likes to sit with me." (pet, pet, pet, pat, pet)
"Who doesn't like to sit with you?" Sideswipe smiled as he sat on another couch with Sunstreaker. Sunstreaker himself was looking at Sunspot with intensity. His trigger had been budged and he would be intense for a while longer even when they left. A sparkling he loved had shown pain and his condition was reacting. The trine had become expert at spotting the signs.
"We need a pet for the sparklings," Sunstreaker said quietly.
(pet, pet, pet) "YOU NEED A DOG!" (pet, pet, pet, hug, pet)
:I think we need a pet for Sunstreaker: Bluestreak said. Then he paused. :What about it? All of the carrier soldiers need a dog. There are what? Thirty-two of them? Look at what its done for Sunny already?:
Sideswipe looked at him, then his brother. :I agree. I'll be right back: He rose and stretched. "I think I need to check on something. I'll be right back."
Sunstreaker nodded absently, his gaze focused on Sunny's energy aura and the dog's own. They were both white indicating peace and contentment. This was a good thing. He watched Sunspot pet the dog and felt his own intensity relax a tiny bit.
(pet, pet, pet) "Ada?"
"What, Sunny Boo-boo?" Ratchet asked as he sat in the rocking chair by the window relaxing.
"You're funny," Sunspot said with a smile. "Ada? What do we do for his dinner? Can we get a bowl for his food and water?"
Ratchet grinned. "I don't think they need water. We can put energon in a bowl I think and we can feed him scraps tonight. Uncle Wheeljack and Uncle Percy are working out the formulas for feeding Spot with the naturalists."
"I will write them a thank you letter. If you tell me who they are I will thank them. Them and the priests," Sunspot said kissing his dog.
"You always were a polite little sparkling," Ratchet said with a grin. Then he paused. A kerfluffle was going on inside his chest, then it settled. Pulling a meter from subspace, he relaxed. Nothing was out of order.
Yet.
"What's wrong?" Sunstreaker asked glancing sharply at Ratchet.
"I had a surge but that's from the drama. Nothing to worry about," Ratchet said putting the meter back into subspace.
"When are you due to separate?" Bluestreak asked with a trace of anxiety.
"Not for seven more orns," Ratchet replied. Then a knock on the door changed the subject. It opened as Blackjack and Alor peeked inside.
"GRAND-ADA! GRAND-ATAR! YOU CAN SEE MY DOG!" Sunspot said with an impossible amount of happiness.
They looked at him, then the dog who had lifted his helm and was wagging his tail. They looked at Ratchet and Ironhide who grinned. "Welcome to Pleasantville," Ironhide said with a grin.
They looked at him without comprehension but they didn't care. A big animal was lying on the couch with their grandson and it was pause making. "What is this, Ironhide?"
"This is Spot, Sunspot's new dog. He's going to be his best friend, his companion and protector. He wanted a dog and we got him one to love on but he's a service dog as well," Ironhide replied. "He's going to protect Sunspot, be his companion and help him."
They nodded as Alor paused in front of Sunspot and knelt. The little Seeker was smiling like the sun. "ISN'T HE BEAUTIFUL!? THE NEXT TIME WE GO CAMPING, HE CAN COME! I WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM AND LOVE HIM! I WANT HIM TO GO TO SCHOOL WITH ME! HE'S GOING TO SLEEP ON MY BED! ISN'T THAT GREAT!?"
Alor grinned and leaned down kissing Sunspot on the helm. "I can't think of a better thing and I don't think I've ever seen a better dog."
Spot looked at the two, scoped them out and put them in the friendly category, perhaps family. All family fell under his purview as his programming as a service animal required a level of protection to all that were important to his main charge, his little Seeker buddy. That included the two silent sparklings that had stood in front of the couch earlier …
Orion and Praxus stared at Spot as he jumped up on the couch with Sunspot to lie by his side, his big helm laying on Sunspot's lap. The little Seeker overcome with the pleasure of HIS DOG LOVING ON HIM sat and began to pet his soft smooth helm and neck.
The sparklings unnerved by the things turned to look at Ironhide and the trine who had sat down in chairs across from them. Ratchet sitting in a rocker looked at them and nodded. "That is Spot. He's our dog and Sunspot's great buddy. You will love him too and be nice. You will have to learn how to be good to this dog because I know he will be good to you."
At that, Spot sat up straighter and stretched his neck to lean in and sniff the sparklings. He was storing information about who was who and what was what as the spark inside began to warm up to his new life. These two were friendlies. Then Orion grabbed an ear and pulled.
Hard.
Spot jerked back and leaned against the couch analyzing several dozen things instantly.
First, the entire room nearly levitated off their chairs and couches. Secondly, the little black and yellow infant let go and nearly tumbled backwards. Third, the big version of him grabbed his aft and hoisted him away as the big red and white adult grabbed the other. Fourth, his boy turned and hugged his neck, his neediness overriding the surprise Spot had felt. He then turned and leaned into his boy licking his shoulder and arm as he did.
Orion spent a breem in the chair of doom by the window. Praxus was shifted to Ironhide and all settled again.
"That is a good dog. He didn't rip Orion to shreds," Sideswipe said.
Ironhide nodded. "No. Good dog, Spot."
Spot looked at Ironhide with the dog equivalent of 'no sweat'. Then he lay his helm on Sunspot's lap...
Somewhere else at the moment …
He stood in Sciences, Wheeljack, Perceptor and the two naturalists with three protoform makers listening to his spiel. Sideswipe was intensely earnest so they listened equally earnestly.
"You know that the carrier-soldiers are one hurt sparkling away from mayhem. The idea of service dogs is a good one. Right now, Sunstreaker is sitting at Ada's house with Sunspot. The dog has lowered his intensity a bit and with one in the apartment it could do even more. All of the carrier-soldiers could benefit from a dog or an animal like them. What do you think?"
"I think you have a point," Wheeljack said, the memories of Kudon flooding his processor. "Go and clear it with Jarro and we will put them on the list. We have to get with the Temple to find out if there are anymore willing fox sparks and how fast we can get them from the Well. They have their own time table but the more we know, the better this will be."
Sideswipe nodded. "Thanks. I will and I'll let you know." With that, he turned and skated out heading for Processor Health in the hospital in Metroplex and the Temple afterwards. He would have good news for Wheeljack when he was finished.
-0-At the home front
(pet, pet, pet) "I bet he would love to play ball." Sunspot sat up and so did Spot. He hopped down and so did Spot. He headed for his berthroom and so did Spot.
"Someone has a shadow," Ratchet said with a grin.
Sunspot came out with a ball and Spot followed. The big dog paused and looked at Hero who sat on Alor's lap. She smiled and clapped her servos. "ABADABADA!" She looked at him with a gigantic smile. She got a gigantic lick for her reward.
She blinked and glanced up at Alor, then back again to Spot. She laughed loudly for her, a musical sound. Leaning forward, she smiled. Spot stood and licked her until she fell back all laughed out. Orion looked at her from Blackjack's lap and then the dog. Leaning forward, he waited. Spot looked at him, then stepped closer licking Orion several times. He sat back and sputtered a moment, then grinned ginormously. "ATAR! WHO SHE!?"
"Spot."
Orion looked at him a moment, then Sunny. Then he looked at Ironhide, "Spot." It was crystal clear.
The dog leaned in and licked him several times. Sunspot who was watching laughed. "HE LIKES THE SPARKLINGS AND THEY LIKE HIM!"
"What's not to like," Ratchet said with a smile.
"Here, Spot!" Sunny said with a ball in his servo.
Spot looked at it, then set. He bent down, his optics focused in that manner that scares the pants off most people. His senses were focused, his optics on the prize and his overall appearance was scary. Sunspot bounced the ball and before it could come down again, Spot had it. He gripped it, then walked to Sunspot dropping it in his hand. He turned and poised, waiting.
"HE'S SO SMART! DID YOU SEE WHAT HE DID!?" Sunspot said with almost too much joy.
"We did." Alor grinned. "Smart dog, Spot."
Spot looked at him a moment, his tongue lolling, then he set again. Sunspot threw the ball and Spot ran after it, his grace an amazing sight to see. He caught the ball and brought it back. They would play a little bit more, then Sideswipe would return. Watching the dog play, he sat with a grin. :We are on the list:
:That is so great: Bluestreak said. :Let's not tell Sunstreaker. Try and figure out what kind of dog he would want, okay? We can get the specs to Wheeljack and the team. This is going to be so exciting, Sideswipe. I really like dogs:
:Me too: he replied as they watched Sunspot instroduce his dog to Orion and Praxus. The dog lay on the floor as the sparklings climbed all over him, patting and kissing him in their inimitable child way.
He just lay on his side and let them.
Good dog, Spot.
-0-Later that night
He climbed into his berth pulling up the blankets. Then he lifted them as Spot jumped up on the bed. Walking over, the big dog went under the covers, then turned and lay down next to Sunspot. He lay his helm on the pillow next to Sunny's, his tail wagging through the blankets.
Ratchet and Ironhide looked at them and smiled. "Do you want your night light on, Sunspot?"
"No. I don't need it," he said. (pet, pet, hug, kiss) "I'm okay. Spot is here."
"He is. We're very happy for you, Sunny Bunny. Spot is a good dog," Ratchet said. Ironhide nodded, his emotion welling up through his processor. "He's a great dog."
"He is. I love him. Thank you, Ada and Atar. I knew you would do this. I don't think there's anything you can't do. You are my heros." Sunspot looked at them as he cuddled against his dog, spooning behind him as he settled. "I love you both so much. I love my family, all of them. I love this city and my school. I love my teachers. I love football and camping with you. I love my dog. I want to tell you all the time. Thank you, Ada and Atar. Thank you for being my genitors. I love you."
They stood together, their optics filling up. "We love you too, Sunny. You know there is nothing we won't try to do for all of our sparklings. We knew you wanted a dog and look how helpful Spot has been already."
"I know. I don't want my night light. I have Spot," Sunspot said with a smile as he put his arm around the big dog. Spot wagged his tail, his tongue lolling as he lay quietly for Sunspot.
"Good. If you need us you know where we are. Good night, son," Ratchet said.
"Good night, Sunspot," Ironhide managed.
"Good night, Ada and Atar. Spot says good night too."
They chuckled. "Good night, Spot," Ratchet said as they turned to go, night light darkened as per request.
-0-Three joors later
A sharp pain pulled him from recharge and Ratchet onlined with a jolt. He lay a moment, then another one came just as sharply and just as insistently. He waited and counted, then another one came right on cue. "Ironhide?"
A groan met that and Ironhide settled. Ratchet turned to look at him. Then he sat up as another pain jolted him. "Ironhide."
Ironhide onlined and looked at Ratchet sitting up in the berth. "What?"
"I have a problem," Ratchet began as he rubbed his chassis.
Ironhide nearly levitated off the berth.
-0-TBC
2013 (3)