The Diego Diaries: Unveil (495) edited
-0-At the hospital
Ratchet walked to the door, then out. He met the group in the middle of the hallway, then steered them to a small consultation room nearby. When the door closed, he looked at his genitors. "Have a seat," he said with more joviality than he felt. They did and the rest relaxed on the remaining chairs or leaned against the wall. Ratchet took a moment, then decided to plow ahead. "You know in the raid we got a lot of oddities … younglings that didn't belong there and civilians that were requisitioned off Cybertron and the like."
His genitors nodded, then glanced at the others.
Ratchet sat forward. "One of them was an electrician who was helping wire the last camp. He didn't want to come and he left others behind on Cybertron. Ada … we rescued Appa."
Ravie looked at him a moment, then Tie. He looked at Ratchet again, his face devoid of an expression. He stood up turning to the door. He opened it and walked out pausing to turn slowly in the corridor. "Where is my atar, Ratchet?" he asked in a tight voice.
Ratchet took him by the arm and they walked to the private room where the trine sat waiting. They stood as Ravel stepped in pausing before his father. Ratchet sat staring at the floor, then glanced up his optics fixing upon a face he thought he would never see again. "Ravel."
"Atar?" Ravel said softly. He stepped closer, then knelt. He lay his helm on his father's lap, his optics dimming as he tried to absorb the reality of the one thing he had never hoped to see again. His father.
Ironhide stood next to Ratchet taking his servo into his own. The others stood in the doorway waiting. All of them knew Ratchet, Docker, Chan and Corr and liked them greatly. Blackjack was aware that Ratchet was stealing food and medicine not only for them but for others in the Jumble and with Alor's help had covered his tracks. They were a unit, these two families and functioned with mutual respect, friendship and appreciation. It was devastating to see Ratchet without Docker, Chan and Corr. They were one in their poverty.
Ravel sat up looking at his father with anguished optics. "Where's Ada? Where's Chan and Corr?"
"They're on Cybertron. They were moved from Iacon to Kaon to help in the rebuild. Things are better there, Ravel. Don't worry about your ada. She is strong and she will be fine. Sonny said that the Prime is going to get them. He said that they have a network on Cybertron." Ratchet looked up at his grandson. "You did didn't you, Ratchet?"
Ratchet nodded. "It will take time but we have all pledged to Primus that no one will ever not be found and rescued. Look at you, Appa. We got you back didn't we?" Ratchet asked with a catch in his voice.
His appa looked at him for a moment, then nodded. He looked at his son. "Ravel, you are so beautiful. I never thought I would see you but Primus is kind. He will help us. The One and Primus will."
Ravel leaned in against his father, a soft sigh venting. "Appa, you have to get better. Tie and I will take care of you. All of us will. You will live with us and when Ama comes we will take care of both of you. You and Chan and Corr too."
Tie looked strained, the idea of his genitors being alive a knife thrust into his spark. "They are well? How are they, Ratch?"
"They were pretty well. Docker has a sore shoulder but the energon was getting better. There is an underground source that makes sure that we get better food. I'm not so bad am I, Sonny?" Ratchet asked of his grandson using the name he always teased Ratchet with as a youngling.
"You are in good shape, Appa. All you need is rest, some medicine for your armor and protoform and good food. You never have to work again. You can go with Ada and Atar to their shop and sit in a good chair. We can get you books and you can rest," Ratchet said moving closer to his grandfather. He rested a servo on the bot's helm a moment. "We will take care of you. I will take care of all of you. No more will you have to do without to make sure I get something. It's my turn now for all of you," Ratchet said with emotion.
Ravel stood then enveloped his son. "We will do it together."
Ratchet hugged his ada, then they turned to Ratch. "Is he ready to go?" Ravel asked.
"Only if he does what I ask of him. If he doesn't," Ratchet said casting a gimlet optic at the grandfather most likely to go on as loopy a road as his grandson. "Then we can get you to the apartment to rest. We can make up the spare room into his own. He can stay here until things are ready."
Ravel nodded. "Who do I call, son, to do this?" he asked flustered.
"Let me do it, Ada," Ratchet said. He turned to the twins. "Front and center. I need muscle. Only good looking mechs need apply."
Sunstreaker grinned. Sideswipe glanced at Ironhide. "That lets you out."
The tension was broken as Ravel patted Sideswipe. The twins turned with Ratchet who paused at the door. "Stay put. All of you, okay?"
His genitors and grandfather nodded, so Ratchet departed with the twins. Ironhide and his family stepped into the room sitting on the chairs and berth. "It's good to see you again, Ratch," Blackjack said.
"I could cry its so good to know you survived, 'Jack. Ali, you look wonderful," Ratchet said with a teary smile. "Who is this with you?"
"This is Flint, my brother. I don't think you two ever met," Alor said as Flint clasped Ratchet's servo. "I am so honored to meet you, Ratchet. I heard that Ratchet gets his insanity from you."
Ratchet grinned, then chuckled. "So I am told."
-0-On the street
The twins skated along with Ratchet as he thundered to The Home Store in the Mall of Metroplex. By the time they left a berth, bedding, a nice dresser and night stand were being readied for his genitors' apartment. They stepped out and thundered to the Mare, the twins rolling along on either side of Ratchet.
"You walk fast for an old geezer," Sideswipe said as he turned to roll backward so he could look at Ratchet as they hurried along.
Ratchet glanced at him, then grinned. "You have more extended family. Not only does that make you unique, it means you owe me large."
They howled and bantered as they motored along, then rambled in the elevator to the 24th floor. It was a swift journey down the corridor to Ravel and Tie's apartment. Ratchet opened it and they entered, the homey warm utterly Cybertronian apartment enveloping them with its old fashioned appeal. Pausing a moment to take in the ambiance, they moved to the little berth room that had been a crafts area for the pair. With incredible care, they packed up the contents and arranged the craftsy part in the closet. Then the twins carted the tables, chairs and desk to the locker in the basement that was part of their apartment. By the time they came up, the first arrival of The Home Store was coming off the elevator too.
Ratchet stood in the apartment directing the campaign like General Pershing, giving out directions for his Appa's new room. The berth was just the right size and design, the best his Appa would know in his life. The other furniture was perfect, the bedding elegant and soft, the curtains on the floor to ceiling windows open to the light.
He thanked the movers, then hit the elevator with Sunstreaker and Sideswipe barely keeping up. The ride down was snarky, the journey to the hospital fast, the ride up to the proper floor amusing and the march down the hallway short. He entered the room and grinned. "Get ready to be carried, Appa. Your room is ready for you."
Ratchet who was feeling better looked up and nodded. "If you say so, Sonny."
There wasn't a single solemn face in the room.
-0-On the way
They had gathered supplements, medications and plugged in monitoring devices to help Ratchet keep an optic on the little mech. Ratchet had gently picked up his Appa even though others had volunteered. "I am the specialist. I know how to carry a patient without hurting them. We're good," Ratchet said as they turned to go. It was a slow careful walk to the apartment.
"What is this place, Sonny?" Ratchet asked as he looked around. "Is that Metroplex?"
Ratchet nodded. "Metroplex is there. Fortress Maximus is down the road and so is the Temple. The AllSpark, Well and Flame are in the Temple."
"The Prime is blessed, Atar," Ravel said as he walked beside Ratchet. "He is blessed by Primus and The One. So are we to get you back."
Ratchet looked at his son. "I am to find you, Ravel. I missed you and Tie so much."
"We'll take care of you, Atar," Ravel said with emotion. "You should see our house. When you can you can come to the store. Ratchet talked to the City Manager. You should see what your grandson helped us to get."
Ratchet grinned faintly, the sweetness of his gentle ada more piercing than usual. They entered the building and all took the elevator stepping off at the 24th floor. The walk down the hallway was punctuated by Ratchet. "This is where Blackjack, Alor and Flint live, Appa."
Farther down. "This is our apartment, Appa."
Still farther. "This is yours now. You get to live here."
Ravel opened the door and all of them stepped inside, Ratchet turning slowly so his appa could look around. He glanced at Ravel. "This is very nice. It was what I always hoped for you and Tie, Ravel."
"I know, Atar. It's ours now. Ours and yours. Tie and I will take care of you. All of the family is here. We will all take care of you." Ravel turned walking to the hallway. Pausing outside the little room, he looked at Ratchet. "This is lovely, son. Thank you for making it so nice for your Appa."
Ratchet walked to the door, then entered. The two of them tucked Ratchet in, then closed the curtains a bit. "Recharge, Appa. Then you can sit up a while. Recharge is the best medicine."
He nodded. "Thank you, Sonny," he said as he drifted off. They stood together a moment, then turned to walk out. Everyone sat a moment emotionally wrung out.
"We're just down the corridor, Tie. If there is anything you need call on us," Blackjack said as Alor and Flint nodded. "We can sit with him or carry him where he needs to go. All you have to do is ask."
"Thank you, 'Jack," Tie Down said with a nod. "This is a miracle. But then this whole place is."
Everyone nodded, then Ratchet grinned. "Wait until he gets a load of the younglings."
It was the right touch for the right moment.
-0-At the Polyhex Tower a short time later
They had filled a bunch of boxes the night before. Now they were filling the rest. Room by room, the load was boxed. Sideswipe paused a moment looking around in Kaon's berth room. "That looks like the rest of it. We can clean out the locker downstairs later." He glanced at Sunstreaker who was closing the last box. "What do you think about having an appa?"
Sunstreaker glanced at him, then stood. "It rules."
Sideswipe grinned, then nodded. "It does. His name is Ratchet too. I hear he's hell on wheels."
Sunstreaker smirked slightly, then shook his helm. "We are hell on wheels, bro. Never forget that."
Sideswipe snorted. "No doubt."
"Hey," Bluestreak said. "The movers are coming. I'm going on ahead to meet them there. I called Autobot City Moving Company. They will be here in a moment."
"That's a mini-con company, right?" Sunstreaker said with a slight frown.
"It is," Bluestreak said folding his arms, his expression becoming serious and no nonsense. "No arguing or fighting. I want the house in order before school is out. Understood?"
Sideswipe grinned broadly. "Da, my commandant."
"If you say so, Babe," Sunstreaker said with a slight grin.
"I do," Blue said, then he turned and huffed out. The door closed seconds later.
It was silent a moment. Then Sunstreaker grinned. "I think I'm going to need a shower if he keeps this up."
"I hear ya," Sideswipe said walking to living room to answer the door. He opened it spying three mini-cons and a hovering hand truck outside.
"Hi. We're from Autobot City Moving. You the mechs moving to Tyger Pax?" one asked.
Sideswipe nodded. "We are."
"Good. Step aside and let us work our magic," the tiny mech said cheerfully.
Sideswipe did. So did they.
-0-TBC November 2, 2013 For Lockdownthegunner.