The Diego Diaries Part 3

by arctapus

This is the story of Ratchet and Ironhide's prank war which goes global and intergalactic. It is essentially a humorous/dramatic love story. This is the third part because the second part is giving me fits for uploading just like part one. (It is currently in Part Eight) I love my readers. :D

360. Chapter 360

The Diego Diaries: Retraction (360) (For OptimusPrime101) :D edited

-0-On the streets of Autobot City, Mars

They rolled along heading back from IntraComm where they had given an interview about the troubles on Earth. Pausing by the intersection of Metroplex Highway 1 and Cultural Center Road, they watched as public works mechs were working on a project on the plaza in front of the Administration Building of City Hall in Metroplex. Crossing at the lights, they rolled up and paused. There had been work going on outside since the day before but they had been busy watching and worrying about the situation on Earth to concern themselves here.

Parking nearby, Leonora Huttle stepped down from her segway and walked to where two were working on a big round hole in front of a row of what looked like more than a dozen enormously tall flagpoles. She tapped on a ped and they both paused looking down at her with a grin. :Hello, Leonora Huttle. What can I do for you?: the first asked, knowing full well the 'nice femme who liked us on the movie crew' was asking.

She grinned. :What are you working on?: she asked as a big flatbed non-sentient crane arm truck pulled up next to them.

:We're remodeling the plaza for the Festival: he replied. :You might want to step back, Leonora Huttle. You don't want to get hurt:

She moved to the steps nearby and climbed up watching from a safe distance as the two mechs turned to help the driver and crane operator leash up the copper device on the truck bed. The copper cylinder rose up and they turned it carefully, slowly toward the hole. Lowering it, they seated it on the platform. Welding followed, hooking the form to the fuel source under it. When they stepped back, the shining metallic device intriguing to see was finished. It was a cylinder that rose straight up about twelve feet. It was probably as big around as it was tall. At the end of the first twelve feet, the cylinder rose to a peak another twelve feet ending in a pointed tip. All around the part that formed the peak were tiny holes. From them a flame would emit.

:What is this going to be?: Leonora asked as she stared upward.

:A memorial flame: the mech said. :This whole area will be dedicated as part of the Festival of Primus: he said. :I don't know more than that: he said glancing around the plaza.

:Thank you: she said with a smile. She turned and ran to the segway jumping on board. With the others, she sped off for the Science Habitat for dinner with the rest of the human population of Mars.

-0-At the big hangars nearby

Kappa walked into the big hangar that was home with Swoop on her servo. If she had been a pirate, Swoop would have been her parrot. She loved him madly and he loved her equally. Even though she was 'going with' the Wrecker 'bad boy' Xantium since forever, she shared her spark for the tiny dinobot with the simple mind and good attitude. Pausing at the door, she grinned down at Silverbolt. "You look down. Missing Omega?"

Silverbolt nodded. "I am," he said to his sister-in-law. "He's supposed to be wrapping up the mission on Diego maybe tomorrow. I hope so."

"You and me both. The Festival is coming soon. They're decorating the city and beyond."

Silverbolt nodded. "I hope they can play the game eventually. I want to see if Kaon can take out Praxus."

"That will be fun," she said sitting down on the special platform built for them inside the building. "I heard that they have a new holographic program they want to try at the game. They set up the equipment at either end of the field and project the game through it. Its so clear that it looks like the game is being played in front of you. Its life sized with great clarity. They have one for the children's stadium and the airport. I don't think that we can accommodate everyone but a lot of them will see it. The rest will have to catch the broadcast on the IntraComm. There's word that a rotating lottery will be used to allow more equitable viewing for the public for the next season. There is also word that more teams will be made up too."

"I hope so. We need something happy to lighten the mood. The humans getting killed has really rocked the colony. Its a terrible thing, Kappa. I like the humans a lot." Silverbolt glanced up as Xantium came in walking toward them with a big grin.

"Don't you two look happy," he said dropping a kiss on Kappa. He looked at Swoop, then picked him off Kappa's servo. "Hi, Swoop. You hanging with my femme?"

He grinned. "I am," he said simply.

They both chuckled.

-0-London, England, Earth

They walked from the venue after spending about an hour answering questions about the alliance between them and the Americans who were forming a political campaign to end the treaties between their countries and Autobot Nation. It had been raucous as the reporters cut straight to the point. They had stated the same goals, the end of the treaties, the end of aliens on the Earth and hopefully, the solar system. They had the same funding and determination. They would not be the last group to state their desires. France, Germany and Italy also had civilians making their announcements.

By the time the day was over, groups in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Canada, Australia and Russia would state the exact same goals. That they were the first ten countries to sign the treaty with the Autobots was not lost on anyone.

-0-Autobot City, Mars

Kestrel sat at the window looking out at the city. He felt an unspecific anxiety in his spark but had no really specific reason for it. He was living in his son's home, nearly up to par physically and safe for the first time since The Fall. Tagg was with him and they had the family to surround them. They were a tremendous comfort too. Infants were unexpected. That their only son had a bond that was so fulfilling was also a surprise. They were used to Orion being self sacrificing and last in line for the good things. He was a good mech, one of the best ones they had ever met. That he was their son was a tremendous delight. He had built this city from the debris of everyone's life and made them come to him.

Kestrel had never expected to ever see Orion again. He was so utterly defeated on Cybertron that he was merely holding on for Tagg. He was on his last bit of strength when they were rescued. The Circle had found them with Their Boys and helped a lot to protect them and coax their failing health to return to some stability. Prolonged deprivation and starvation had made his processor fuzzy. Only now was he putting together things so that they made sense. He remembered a conversation with his son just the day before...

"Son, we want to know what we have to do to make our way. We need to find a home of our own and jobs. If you can tell us what to do, we can do it," Kestrel said as he sat down next to Orion in his study. He had waited until the family was in other rooms before broaching the subject. He felt emotion suffuse him as he asked. He still had the idea that asking for something was a punishment offense.

Old habits die hard.

Orion had looked at him for a moment before responding. "Do you want an apartment, Ada?" he asked gently.

Kestrel had fidgeted even though he hadn't wanted to show his son anything that might spark his worry. Orion had enough of those. He wanted to be calm and reasonable in his request but his nerves were firing on all cylinders. "Don't you think we should, son? What about your family? Don't you want to have your bond and family without us in the way?"

Orion had looked at his ada, then took his servo, one that had been worn from unrelenting work in a lifetime that had been long and arduous. "You do not understand what it means to me that you are both here. I have had a hole in my spark for so long. I worried where you were. I worried that you were hurt or hungry … maybe lost and separated. I tried not to think about you because it was an agony. When the world fell and we could not come back for you I wanted to die. But I could not let down when I wanted to. I had to go on because that is what you would expect me to do. I tried to be worthy of you and Atar. I tried to be half the mech you both are. You are my heroes. Do you understand that?" he asked gently.

Kestrel looked at him a moment, then nodded slightly. "Maybe. I will try." He reached out and touched his son's face. "I cannot begin to explain to you how much we have longed to see you. You are our best collaboration. You have learned everything we tried to teach you and made yourself into the best mech I have ever known."

"What do you want to do, Ada? You can live here forever and we, all of us will be grateful for every moment. If you want a home of your own I will make it happen. I would build it with my bare servos if necessary. I would do whatever you want because you are mine and I am yours. If you want work, I will help you find some that will give you dignity and respect the contribution you have already made for our people without wearing you down. You do not have to work at all you know. No one has to when they are not up to it and I do not know that you are yet. You feel you have to do it to earn your way. Do you not know you already have?" he asked quietly. "Just being here makes me want to do better, do more, do all of it. Just having you here is a miracle. You cannot know how much I am gladdened."

Kestrel looked at his son, his wonderful mech and nodded. "Your atar and I feel the same way. I wish I could explain how much I feel the need to help."

"You already do, Ada. Just being here," Orion said nodding. "Think about it. If you need a space of your own, I will make it so. I will keep you close to me. I do not want you to go too far. Sometimes I think when I turn around you will not be there, that it will be a hole where you should be. I have dreamed when I dared for you to come to me and I have always been disappointed until now. Now, I can face any demand because I am working for you too. Think about it and tell me. I will do whatever you want but understand … you are not required to work unless you want to. No one is compelled to do more than they can. We cherish our elders here."

Kestrel sat holding his son's servo, then nodded. "I am so glad to be here. Maybe the time will come when I actually believe it isn't a dream."

"You and me both, Ada," Optimus said with a nod...

The door opened and Tagg walked in pausing beside the chair where Kestrel sat. "Are you alright, Kes?" he asked.

Kestrel nodded. "I think so, Tagg. I just … I have a hard time believing that our boy will be here when I close my optics. I am almost afraid to recharge."

Tagg walked to the chair and sat down on the ottoman in front of Kestrel. "He will be, Kessy. I think you need to talk to the doctors again. Your anxiety is worrisome."

Kestrel looked at the airfield beyond, then his bond. "If you think so, Tagg. I will do what you want."

Tagg squeezed Kestrel's servo. "You will feel better. There are moments when I do. I was looking at the jobs listings at the Employment Office. I think I can get work at the Temple. I can be part of the cleaning crew."

"That would be nice, Tagg. Are you up to it?" Kes asked with anxious optics.

"I think so," Tagg said nodding. "I can see."

Optimus Prime pausing on the way to the airfield put in a call to Jarro. He would kiss and hug his genitors, then leave meeting Jarro on the way out of the lobby of the building. After a moment's chat, Jarro would continue onward upward and spend the afternoon listening to the fears and anxieties of two mechs who hid for the lifetimes of some small stars in plain sight, fearing every second that their discovery would lead to the death of their son. It would be a long painful conversation.

-0-On the road to Mandalay. Sort of.

Ratchet ambled along, a baby laying wrapped in blankets on one arm, a small femme-let on the other in her fawn gear. She wore the red dog hat with floppy ears, her finials poking out of the holes for them.

"Ada?"

"What, Hero?" Ratchet asked earlier as he gathered their lunch dishes together in a stack for the waiter. The Pit Stop was beginning to fill up so they were going to go on their way.

"Can I wear my new hat? I like the ears," she said, a huge smile on her face.

Ratchet grinned and removed her little fawn beanie. Putting the red little hat on her helm, adjusting for her delicate little finials, he tied a big bow with the strings underneath her chin. Taking a picture, he sent it to Ironhide. "You look adorable," Ratchet said stowing the little bags and her fawn hat in his hold. He began to swaddle Prowler for the chilly ride to the next stop when Ironhide checked in.

:RATCHET! WHAT THE FRAG!?:

:What, ba-bee?:

:SHE HAS A NEW HAT!:

:You should see the sweater. She picked it out herself. Little femme has incredible taste:

:I wasn't there:

:Oh. I wasn't aware of THAT! HOW DOES IT FEEL, IRONHIDE!?:

(Pause) :You are a slagger:

:Really? You weren't here so I sent a snap. You get your big aft in a twist over me doing you a solid. I could have not sent pictures. I could not have sent video all day, you big pantie waist. What the frag more can I do?:

:Wait for me:

:You're working. Remember? We're slagging regular army:

(Pause) :You are a slagger:

:You knew that going in:

:True, that. Did the Requisition Office call? I have stuff coming in:

:No. I'll check: (Pause) :They said you have packages:

:Can you get them? DON'T OPEN THEM!:

(grin) :I can do that:

:Good: (Pause) :What are you two doing now? How's Prowler? Does he miss me?:

:He cried the entire time we were gone, Ironhide. He only stopped when I came home and got him:

(Pause ) :I better spend some quality time with him, Ratchet. All of them:

:You're going to play hookey then?:

:You can't complain. You are:

:Little femme asked me. YOU TRY AND SAY NO TO HER LITTLE SELF!:

:Mech up, Ratchet:

:OH REALLY!? THIS IS THE SLAGGER THAT WEPT LIKE A TARG WHEN YOU HAD TO HAND HERO OVER!:

:I did. A mech loves his sparklings. What can I say?:

:You can give me a ball park about when you're coming home:

:I don't know yet, Ratchet. You better get your 'A' game going. They are announcing groups that want to post hole us all over the signatory countries. Looks like you're going to have to razzle dazzle them but good:

:I'll try, Ironhide. A mech only has so much razzle in their dazzler you know: (grin)

:You'll do it: (grin) :Tell little femme that her old atar loves her. Tell the others too:

:I will. Come home, Ironhide:

:Soon. I'm out for now. Prime is going to the communications hangar. Morshower wants a chat:

:Tell him hi for me:

:I will. Ironhide out:

The soft energy that indicated Ironhide soothed Ratchet as he gathered up his children. They turned and walked out heading for RTR Tools and the happy energy of his genitors. It would be a very peaceful afternoon.

-0-TBC July 9, 2013