The Diego Diaries: WHAT THE!? (494) edited
-0-At a sidewalk cafe
"Tell us about this move."
Everyone's optics fastened upon them. "They tossed us out. Magnus told us that the Courthouse needed the space," Sunstreaker replied as he held a cookie for Hero. She was sitting rather awkwardly on the edge of the table in her hoop skirt adjusting her tiara. "He suggested Tyger Pax."
"That's so far out," Ironhide said with a frown.
"I think they want some of the older citizens living there when the newbies come. That way they can get directions and help better if everyone there isn't completely new," Bluestreak said. He grinned. "Some of you will have to travel. You should see the apartment. Sunny suggested one at the end of the corridor. It gives us extra windows. The view is tremendous."
"Are you trying to get us to move too?" Ratchet asked with a grin.
"It crossed our minds," Blue replied with a smile.
"Maybe they can reserve an entire floor just for us. We can leave the doors open so the sparklings can go where they want to and still be supervised," Ravel said with a wink.
"You'd never have a free moment, Ada," Ratchet said with a chuckle. He looked at his ada, his unsuspecting sweet little ada and felt a pang. He glanced at Sideswipe. "Need help?"
"We might. We've accumulated a lot of slag. The kid's toys will be the big thing, that and all their other slag," Sideswipe said nodding.
"If you pack it up there are about three moving, transfer and delivery companies in the colony that will take all of it to your doorstep," Ironhide said moving slightly to allow others to pass on the sidewalk. "We speak from experience."
"We thought about that," Sunstreaker said, "but what's the fun of that when we can get you to help?"
That got the love it deserved. They chatted, sipped stuff, then got up to continue. A few more rounds and the group headed for the barn. Trick or treaters would be heading their way soon.
-0-Moments later
Ironhide closed the door, then walked to the table putting the basket filled with treats down. He turned watching as Ratchet shucked the infants piling their costumes up on the couch. Hero looked up at him a moment, then sniffled. "Can I keep it in my room, Ada?" She looked up with her little blue optics and tiny face.
"Sure," Ratchet said turning to putty.
She smiled, then glanced at Ironhide who was slipping Prowler out of his harness. "ADA SAID I CAN KEEP MY COSTUME OUT!"
"Ada is a softie," Ironhide said with a smirk. He shucked his own and found that it folded into a small flat cube rather easily. "BERTH TIME!" he said with a grin.
Raucous hoo-hah greeted that but shortly they were in their berths tucked in. A tiny princess costume hung on a hanger on the closet door handle of a tiny happy femme. Walking out, they both crashed.
"I have to go to the hospital to help Appa," Ratchet said tiredly.
"What about tomorrow?" Ironhide asked.
"I think we can eat breakfast together after dropping the kids at school. Then we can all go to the hospital and tell them then," Ratchet said rising slowly. He looked down at Ironhide. "You were an awesome Hut."
"That's what all my mechs say," Ironhide said smugly.
Ratchet snorted, then leaned down dropping a kiss. "Be back soon." He then turned and walked out the door. Ironhide watched him go. "I count on it, white aft slagger."
-0-On the way
Ratchet walked through the nearly deserted pathways from his tower to the Medical. It stood illuminated here and there in the vastness of its great height, another light against the darkness of their past. He entered, rode up and walked down the corridor to the private room where his appa was lying in medical stasis. He entered the darkened room, checked everything finding it greatly improved. He pulled a chair up, then sat. Taking a tube of armor salve, he applied it here and there as he fussed over this, one of the most important individuals of his life.
When he had satisfied every concern he gently allowed Ratchet to come back to sentience. It was a slow process that Ratchet monitored as his appa slowly stirred. Blue optics blinked on, then glanced around. They fixed on Ratchet, someone he didn't recognize. "Where am I?" he asked.
Ratchet looked at his appa, then took his servo gently. "You are safe. Do you recognize me?"
The little mech looked at him, then shook his helm. "No."
"I had a change of armor," Ratchet replied. "I did it for my bond. He had this dream about me with white and red paint and a chevron."
The little mech nodded. "Oh," he said wearily.
"I used to be a yellowish green. I didn't have a chevron. But you didn't care. You liked me the way I was," Ratchet said.
The little mech stared at him, then reached out his energy field to Ratchet's. It synced, then he knew. "You're my little mech."
Ratchet nodded. "I am, Appa."
That was when Ratchet of Iacon, Appa to Ratchet the Younger burst into tears. Ratchet would hold the little bot in his arms. He would cry too.
-0-Trine
They stood in the living room looking around. "I think if we put things into groups we can have stuff boxed for shipping in a faster more organized way."
"We don't have boxes, Babe," Sideswipe said watching as Bluestreak began to take pictures off the walls.
"Go to the post office," Bluestreak said glancing at both mechs. "Get enough boxes for your studio, Sunstreaker. What we can salvage we can bring with us the same orn."
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe glanced at each other. "Now?" they asked together.
"Yes. Now," Bluestreak said looking at them with The Look. "The Post Office is open all night. Hurry up. The more we do tonight, the less we have to do tomorrow. I want to have the house set up for the infants by end of school tomorrow."
They glanced at each other, then turned walking out. On the way down the elevator to the lobby Sunstreaker glanced at Sideswipe. "Are you turned on too?"
Sideswipe nodded. "I am." It was silent a moment. "Tomorrow is going to be the Pit."
Sunstreaker nodded. They both stepped out of the elevator and skated off the to post office.
-0-Drift and Springer
"It's good to be home."
Springer nodded. They crossed the street heading toward Metroplex Childrens Park nearby. "I like it here. First home I have had since Cybertron." He glanced at Drift. "We have to move the dojo tomorrow."
"Some Knights and Circle will be there. They want to help make the dojo up at the tower."
"It amuses me that we'll be across from Sunny's studio again. I think Magnus thinks he's slagging us," Springer said with a chuckle.
Drift grinned. As they crossed the street they saw a number of younglings sparring. Then a brawl broke out. They were on it as the humans liked to say... 'flies on shit'.
-0-Human Habitat, Temple Road, The City, Mars
They gathered in the dining room enjoying a snack together. Outside, the festivities involving infants were winding down. They had gone about themselves watching another species applying their holiday to themselves. The astrobiologists as well as behavioral this and thats amongst them had all manner of textbook models and explanations for this cross cultural, cross species pollination. What stood out to them was the genuine joy of the participants. Apparently that was universal.
All of them had crossed paths with Ironhide. His costume was exclaimed over, images captured and slag exchanged. It took a while to find Ratchet's but the idea of knowing such esoterica as the third eye was sobering. They were complex and direct, unknowable yet utterly accessible. It was astonishing. The blog posts that night on the NASA website would be epic. The images they put there would make the rounds of the Earth including Buzzfeed awesome lists and the conservative thunder mills.
Mearing and Simmons had disappeared into the city together sharing a powerful segway. They were going to go to the farthest reaches of the colony to see what was what in the hinterlands. They would not return until early morning. They would have nothing to say beyond the usual pleasantries.
No one would care.
-0-Dawn
Ironhide rolled over and felt around. His old mech wasn't back. Rolling back, he relaxed. :Ratchet:
:What?:
:How's Ratch?:
:He is awake and aware. He's very upset. I'm going to let him relax a moment, then tell him about my folks. When you get through breakfast with the family, bring them here, Ironhide. I'm going to stay here until they come and see this through:
:All right. Did you recharge?:
:No. I didn't with you both times if I recall:
:You are a dedicated slagger I will grant you that, Ratchet:
:That's me. Ironhide?:
:What?:
:I sort of love you. Don't tell anyone:
Ironhide grinned. :Count on it:
The line fell slack, the warm loving presence of Ratchet felt anyway between them. He drifted off on that warm cloud.
-0-Three joors later
"ATAR! WHERE ADA!?"
Ironhide glanced at Orion who sat on his chair, his sippy cup in his tiny servos. "Ada workin'."
Orion stared at Ironhide, then smiled brilliantly. "Okay."
Ironhide snorted, then toweled Prowler off. He had bathed the little bit in the sink so he could watch the younglings eat. Their spread was a two bot operation. A rap on the door signaled the cavalry. "Come on in."
Flint entered with a grin followed by Alor and Blackjack. "Don't you lot look great?" their great uncle said as five pairs of arms turned toward him. He hugged and kissed each taking Sunspot into his arms. Spot danced around until he got the pats and treats he always got. Then he lay down again by the window contented. "How's it coming?"
"Need another pair of servos. Old mech has a lot of nerve not being here," Ironhide said with a grin as Alor took Prowler.
"Well, that's to be expected, son. Don't whine." Blackjack took Hero and Praxus kissing each. Then he looked at his son who was wrangling Orion. "Whiner."
Ironhide sorted, then grinned at his genitors. "No wonder I didn't grow up to be worth a frag."
"That's not our fault," three bots said at the same time. At that moment Ravel and Tie appeared at the door. "Trick or treat," Ravel said with a big smile. Squees were had by all.
-0-At a cafe on the sidewalk near the Medical Tower
They finally gathered, then ordered. "Ratchet wants everyone at the office up there after breakfast. He wants to do exams," Ironhide lied.
Ravel looked at him, then nodded meekly. "If Ratchet thinks so," he said sweetly. Everyone looked at him like he was golden, which he was. They chatted and dined, the sunlight overhead relatively warm. Then they would go to the hospital for their 'exam'.
-0-Up topside nearby
"Are you going to be alright, Appa?" Ratchet asked anxiously. Ratchet the Elder sat in a chair by the window wiping his optics with a soft towel. He nodded. Then he looked at his grandson. "My son … my Ravie is here? Tie is too?"
Ratchet nodded, then squeezed his servo. "We found them on Cybertron, in the Jumble. A team understood who they were and brought them here. Appa, they have their shop, a beautiful big shop and they make their stuff for themselves. Everyone wants their tools and weapons."
Ratchet looked at his grandson, then nodded. "I don't know what to think."
You don't have to, Appa. Its enough that you're here. Understand something," Ratchet said lifting the little mech's chin, fixing him with a serious expression. "We will get the rest. We have an underground on Cybertron. Its trying to link everyone up. Prime wants to liberate Cybertron and help all the people. We will get the rest of the family. I promise you on my spark."
Ratchet looked at his grandson, then nodded. As he did sounds in the corridor caught their attention. Bluestreak, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe appeared in the doorway. Ratchet looked at his grandfather. "Appa, these are very important mechs. This is Bluestreak. He's Prowl's youngling. The handsome mechs with him are Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. Ironhide and I adopted them. They are your great grandchildren."
Ratchet looked at them, then tried to stand. His grandson gently pushed him back, then nodded at the three. They came in gathering around the little mech with the battered paint scheme. "Don't get up," Sunstreaker said quietly. "We will take care of you, Appa. Sideswipe and I will fix your armor and make sure you have what you need to get better."
He looked at Sunstreaker, then touched his face. "Grandchildren. We have great grandchildren, Docker and me." He sniffled, then composed himself. Bluestreak and Sideswipe each took a servo squeezing it gently. :Shall I tell him about Kaon and the twinnies?: Bluestreak asked glancing at Ratchet. The medic nodded.
"Appa?" The little bot nodded looking up at the three who looked at him with expressions ranging from the fiercely emotional to gentle tender regard. "You are a great great grandparent. The three of us are a trine and we have infants. You have a great great grandson and twin great great granddaughters," Bluestreak said gently, a smile on his handsome face.
He considered that, then glanced at Ratchet who nodded with a smile. "You have no idea, Appa, what you have yet."
Ratchet nodded, then sat back wearily. "This is wonderful, grandson. I have great great grandchildren. I don't know what to say."
Before Ratchet could reply he glanced to the door spying the rest of the family coming down the hallway. He stood up walking out the door to greet them. The trine watched him go.
-0-TBC November 2, 2013
I looked at the dates of this story and even though I had written several pieces at the end of October, 2010 I posted them November 2, 2010. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US! Huggles, Me considering having cake. :D:D