The Diego Diaries: Things (597) edited
-0-On the job
"Hey, Sunstreaker."
"What?" He paused,then looked back at his brother. Sideswipe caught up, a grin on his face.
"Your format got arrested in Florida today," Sideswipe said as Sunstreaker turned to walk along side of him as they made their rounds.
"What are you talking about?" Sunstreaker asked as they rolled across the street.
"Some kid singer named Justin Beiber got arrested for drunk driving and resisting arrest. He was driving a yellow Lambo."
"Did it look as good as me?" Sunstreaker asked with a grin.
"Nope," Sideswipe said with a wolfish grin.
"Didn't think so," Sunstreaker said with a grin of his own as they merged into the crowd on the streets of Kalis.
-0-Ironhide
He sat Prowler on his tiny aft in the pillow lined box that he used in the armory to keep his infant contented and contained. He pulled Prowler's tiny traveling toy bag out of his carry hold dumping dollies and other toys on the baby's lap. He smiled enormously at his atar, then picked one up. Putting it in his mouth, he gummed it happily.
Content that the infant was safe, Ironhide turned to begin the rest of his shift looking over stockpiles of munitions with a master's optic. When he had to move, he gently carried the little box filled with a happily 'chatting' baby and his toys to the next place.
It was a glorious orn for Ironhide.
-0-Ratchet and Prowl
They sat together discussing the preliminary information that would be used by committees to formulate changes to the Code of Military Conduct. It would be enhanced and enlarged to meet a frightful need among the humans as well as include a component for their allies, the Autobots. They were working on a deadline to have a group meeting at Diego Garcia where they would speak to several hundred of the most relevant individuals who would put the regulations in order.
Since the military was going through an annual review of the Code already, it wouldn't take months to tweak and revise. It would take intensive days of discussion, texting and conference calling before the presentation that Ratchet promised was given. It would be a nice impetus to those writing the revisions and those implementing the regulations to have a day or two in the company of their elders in the profession. Until then, they would work together through channels getting things moving.
-0-Nap time in the old school house
He lay in his crib staring at the ceiling. Even though he slept in a big boy berth at home, he still napped in a crib at school. He needed his naps and took them philosophically. Sometimes he slept like a rock. Others, he would stare at the ceiling talking to himself. Orion was nothing if not a team player.
Usually.
On one side of his crib was that of Olo, Mimi and Bleu. On the other, Han, Kiko and Lu-2 finished out their row. It was dark in the room, their aide was reading a book and all seemed well. He looked at his digits, tiny fat little fingers that were playing at puppets as he chatted to himself softly. One set of fingers was talking to the other, going through some sort of pantomime that tickled him intensely.
Lying in her crib, Olo listened, a smile on her face. She sat up and peered over the edge, her tiny servos gripping the railing tightly. She smiled, then stood on her tiny micro mini-con tip toes as she tried to look into Orion's crib. The little beds nearly touched so she managed to see tiny black digits making shapes. "O." She paused a moment looking toward the door where the aide sat. No one came so she looked over again.
A gigantic smile greeted her own.
She smiled brilliantly. "O," she whispered.
"Olo. I love you, Olo." Orion smiled, then raised up peering into her crib. He began to place his peds on the bars, scraping away until he was halfway poised on top the railing.
Olo looked at him, then smiled. She was smiling when he tipped over falling into her crib. He lay bunched up on his helm kicking his legs until he tipped over. He lay on his back for a moment, then clambered up. Turning, he smiled at Olo. Then they hugged.
The aide continued reading blissfully. Down the row, Mimi and Bleu roused and stood up. They stared toward the door, then smiled. Standing side-by-side, Orion and Olo smiled back.
-0-Ratchet and Prowl
They worked through the information to be detailed about conduct around Autobots, all of which was simple and to the point. Most of the new regs would merely be dovetailed into existing ones, the few added being those which dedicated a pathway to reporting any incidents between humans and aliens to be applied to both groups equally. Given the difference in format and aggressive potential, it was decided that encounters, blow ups and other mishaps with Autobots would be dealt with IMMEDIATELY to diffuse anything metastasizing into something ugly.
It would be a long afternoon.
-0-At the Primal Basilica
Optimus Prime walked through the gathered crowd waiting for the family to leave the facility with their son. The crowd nodded respectfully as he passed, his optics focused on the huge open doors.
He saw humans gathered to one side, almost as if to pay their respects but he knew since they were all scientists minus Epps, Lennox and Graham, they were there to study and try to understand their species.
He was glad of that. The scientists had proven themselves to him as well as any soldier. They were an asset to the Cause. He reached the steps, then began to climb. Those who were there filled the Basilica as well. Gathered silently, nodding as he passed, they waited for Prime to lead the funeral to the Mausoleum.
He walked toward the catafalque, sun streaming through the great windows casting pools of light on the vast floor. The body lay covered in the flag of Cybertron with family and their closest friends all around it. The three free members of Commotion's small cliche, Kale, Default and Gravity stood sullenly, each clearly not comfortable in the company of the other. That was a good thing Prime considered as he reached the body, pausing before it. He bowed slightly, properly as he went through the simple but highly stylized format of a high caste funeral. Their son was being sent off by the Prime of Cybertron so he did for them what small effort he could offer.
Armour stood in front of the catafalque waiting for Prime, then he and the other priests and acolytes bowed lowly. Turning, he picked up the picture as he waited for the body to be hoisted by the bearers. Once that happened, they stepped forward followed by the family and their friends. Prime turned and began to lead the way, the rest of them following the body.
He walked through the crowd who bowed as he and the party passed them. Then they fell into line. Down the broad stairs they walked in measured steps, the stillness extraordinary considering the crowd who was there. He lead the crowd to the sidewalk that bordered the highway walking toward the Mausoleum nearby. That stone walled structure shown in the sunlight, its beige rock finishes covered with glyphs of encouragement to families about the Matrix.
It would take a while for them to arrive.
-0-At the nursery
They smiled at each other across the distance of a number of cribs. Bleu looked down, then at Orion. He smiled, then began to pull himself up. Up, down, up, down, at last he was balancing on the brink. With almost no more effort, he tipped over into Mimi's crib. Both disappeared in the tumble.
Orion and Olo looked at each other, both of them alarmed. Then a servo appeared gripping the railing as a tiny bot clambered back up. Mimi, her expression filled with concern bent down and tugged Bleu back to his peds. They stood together, then smiled. At that point both turned to look at Orion and Olo, both of whom smiled at the sight of Bleu and Mimi being in the same bed.
"Come," Orion whispered as best he could, then he turned to look at the aide. No movement, no worries. He turned back to the pair and nodded.
Mimi who could barely peer over the top looked at Bleu. He looked at Mimi, then bent down gripping her around her tiny waist. Rising as best he could, an aghast Mimi rose upward. Teetering madly, she gripped the railing, then fell over the top into Olo's crib. Landing on her tiny micro mini-con helm, she rolled over and looked up. Olo and Orion were leaning over looking at her with concern. She smiled, they smiled, all stood up. They looked down the row and saw Bleu. He had two cribs to go, his and Mimi's. It was the sparkling equivalent of climbing Mount Everest.
-0-Mausoleum
They walked along the stone wall that surrounded the vast enclosure that would hold the remains of their species here on this, their newly claimed new world. When they reached the open gates, Prime led them inside, then paused allowing the priests to pass. When Armour led them by, Prime followed as they walked to the tomb that bore their family name. There were half a dozen tombs built by request by families. Four of them were low casts, another a mid, all of whom buried members of their families who had either died on the way or when they arrived from their migrations. The tomb for Commotion was along the far wall, its door open for the burial.
The crowd followed, then gathered together in front of the tomb. Armour paused, then handed the image of Commotion to Vraz. He turned, then walked to the stretcher with the body. All of the priests but Vraz joined him placing a servo on the stretcher. They began to chant prayers and poems, the sad sound of send off to a youngling who should not have passed. When they were finished, they turned and led the stretcher and family inside. Everyone bowed, Prime included as the stretcher passed by.
When it had, Prime turned and with great dignity walked down the path toward the gates. The crowd would wait for the family who were there to watch the priests lay their son's body in a stone sarcophagus. When it was closed, when the last consolation was offered, they would turn with the priests and walk together with the crowd back to the city and a reception to follow at The Rookery in Tyger Pax.
-0-In a cribbery (so to speak)
Bleu looked at the three, then the vast open expanse between them. He had to cross Mimi's crib and manage the climb into Olo's. Then the four musketeer-lets would be in one bed together. The three looked at him, then he made up his mind. Gripping the railing, he clambered up making enormous effort for a micro mini-con mech-let. He hung on the brink, then tipped over falling into Mimi's crib. He landed on his helm and decided it would be less fun to wail than to be with the others.
Rising, he looked at the three. They came across the berth gripping and patting him. Then they grabbed his helm and pulled up, all three of them adding their little gusto to the moment. He stifled a desire to scream as he stepped back, a look of utter outrage on his face. He looked at them with volcanic optics, then walked forward to make his move. Gathering his tiny guts, he gripped the railing and rose up almost too fast. He came down on top of the other three faster.
-0-Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars
Prime walked inside pausing by the table. Paragon was working on the daily intel and info dump. He looked up. "Slacker knows we are gone and has buzzed the fort. Seekers with the ground team drove them off."
Prime nodded. "I expected they would come to look."
Paragon nodded. "We had the best location. I am glad they don't possess it."
"You and I agree," Optimus said with a grin. "I will be in my office if there is a need for me." He turned walking for the door, exiting the room.
Paragon watched him go, then turned back to the job at servo. Prowl was busy working on a project with Ratchet and the humans. He had that option now. It was fine with Paragon. This was stimulating, various and interesting. It was what he loved.
-0-Earlier in the crib room with the shorties
Bleu stood up staring at the crowd on the other side of the last boundary. He stood a moment gathering his wits and strength. Then he gripped the rail for the last climb. The three on the other side watched him with expectation. He gripped the rail, pulled hard, braced his tiny blue peds, then rolled over the top into the upturned faces of three tiny bots watching in a small space.
It was a train wreck.
Moments later...
They managed to untangle without crying or harming themselves. At last, they all managed to stand up together. They stared a moment, then smiled brilliantly. They walked to each other to group hug, then fell down again.
Seconds later...
They stood again, all of them holding onto a bar of the crib. They were in the same one, standing together smiling at each other with a clear shot at whatever they wanted to do in a tiny space. That was when they heard the aide stand up. They turned and peered through the bars.
Nearby...
She stood up stretching. Putting down her datapad, Hallin turned to make her rounds. All of the babies were halfway through their naps. That usually meant that blankets would need rearranging. She moved along the rows looking in, caressing an infant here, rearranging a blanket there. When she passed the second row checking on a deeply recharging Han, Lu-2 and Kiko, she paused as she stared into Orion's crib. He wasn't there. Turning, looking around the floor with concern, she hurried to the door peering out. Laret who was holding El after her swim saw her. She walked over to the door. "What is wrong, Hallin?"
"Orion is not in his crib," Hallin said with worry.
"Let's go in and check again," Laret said more than aware that a certain optimal sparkling could be anywhere at any time. They walked down the first row, then the second peering at Kiko, Lu-2 and Han. When they reached Orion's bed, it was empty. Laret took another step, then peered into Olo's crib. She paused, then grinned. "Look, Hallin."
She stepped closer, then looked down. Four sparklings were laying in the crib, all of them seemingly in recharge. They barely fit. Hallin looked into the other cribs, then back at Olo's. She glanced at Laret with amazement. "Those little … I thought I had lost him."
"That one is a stealth mech," Laret said chuckling softly. "I think we should go and let them sleep," she said turning to Hallin with a wink. Making a gesture to remain quiet, the two stared into the crib together.
The infants were 'recharging' madly together. It was silent and still once again. That was when Orion opened one optic to peep.
-0-TBC January 23, 2014 UPDATE: When Beiber was arrested, he was driving a yellow Lambo and the other car with him was a red one. :D