The Diego Diaries: New 2 (626)
-0-In the CMO's office
They sat together giving each other the gimlet optic as Prowler sat on Ratchet's desk beating on the tabletop with a stylus. Ratchet glared at Ironhide who glared back. "Well? Spit it out."
"You already know it," Ironhide said.
"Has someone spotted Prowler yet? You know he can't stay free range forever." -Ratchet
"No but they have to pry him from my cold dead digits," Ironhide said as he admired his son's tiny pert little mech winglets. They were adorable.
"Until that moment comes, this is a futile exercise," Ratchet said exulting in the power he held over the big crafty mechanism sitting sprawled on the couch in front of him.
Ironhide knowing Ratchet was exulting considered the battleground before him. He had a losing hand. "That was a cute little femme."
"It will be when I see it." -R
"All of them are cute." -IH
"I agree." -R
"We have a lot of things coming down the pike," Ironhide said shifting topic. "We have to move Gliese 581 g, spike up the sensor grid out that way, pick up two migrations, find out what those fragging pirates are up to, monitor the shenanigans of Cyclonus and Soundwave, get Arachnid, find out who is stealing humans and why, attend two funerals-"
"Which ones?" Ratchet asked.
"The 'Con who fried himself with the oath. Prime is attending and so am I. I have to go when Prime is being Prime. Needs me there."
Ratchet grinned. "That is true, Only One."
"It is. I have spoken," Ironhide said with a miniscule preen. "Then there is the funeral of the drone."
"That is an interesting thing. I know why Prime wants to do that because without the drone we would be here struggling to feed a population explosion and make the things we need." -R
Ironhide nodded. "We owe that drone. There's something different about this one," he said pausing a moment. "It had a lonely end. But in the end, it saved us. He had to have seeded this world and the area around it. I don't know what caused him to crash on Gliese, but without him life here would be terribly hard."
Ratchet nodded. "No sentience there but a lot of allegiance to programming." He sat a moment. "But it still seems sad. Ending so far from home. Reminds me of Astrotrain. He thought he would die out there far from anyone, all alone. It terrified him. I think it still does."
"He's got a good life here now, the slagger. Many was the time I slagged him myself," Ironhide said. "Glad I didn't send him to the Matrix."
Ratchet nodded. "So would be Slingshot if you mentioned it."
They both grinned. It was silent a moment.
"When is the funeral?" Ratchet asked.
"Tomorrow. Noon," Ironhide said. "It will be high caste but Prime will give a short speech fitting for a Primal funeral."
"I will come too," Ratchet said. "Least I can do for that format. Every time we can build something or feed the younglings, we owe that drone."
Ironhide nodded. Then he grinned. "We sure can feed a lot of infants can't we. Thanks to that drone of course."
Ratchet snorted, then guffawed. He looked at Ironhide with fondness. "You have zero subtlety."
"Its part of my charm," Ironhide said. "CANDY, OLD MECH! PRONTO!"
It was amusing to see how high a box of candy could bounce off an old mech's head.
-0-At the Residence
They finally left, some of them reluctantly. Prowl who was standing by the door turned and paused. Prime was sitting in a chair with the infant in his arms. Prowl walked to his own sitting beside Prime. "What do you think?" he asked softly.
"I think you have the protoform design process nailed down," Optimus said with a grin.
Prowl smirked. "I have a lot of good designs to work from. The infants are going to be terribly happy. So were your genitors."
Optimus nodded. "I know. They appear to be getting stronger and more at peace every orn."
Prowl nodded. "The Public Health Department does miracles with shell shocked mechs." He looked at the infant. "I am as happy now as I ever thought I could be. This was never in the works."
Prime nodded. "I never expected to live long enough to consider what might be possible besides war." He looked at Prowl. "We are a good team. We always were."
Prowl nodded. "I know. You are the best mech I know."
Prime nodded. "That goes for you too, Prowl."
It was silent a moment as they watched their daughter drift into recharge for the first time. All of the next few orns would be filled with first time things. Right now, it was peaceful and quiet. They sat together talking quietly and none of the comments would relate to their jobs.
-0-Armory, Tyger Pax
Ironhide stood beside a pallet of bombs, the kind designed for battle cruisers. They were enormous, four to a stack and disarmed. Even one of them if detonated here could not only destroy the armory but the city that sat over it seven underground levels above him. He looked at Prowler who sat on his arm teething on a thick rubber O ring. "What do you think? These are pretty high octane. They can cut through shields like a knife if you apply them just right."
Prowler paused, O ring in mouth and grinned around it. He pulled it out, then offered it to Ironhide who pretended to bite it. Chuckling a fat low chuckle, he put it back in his mouth. Ironhide grinned. "You are one cute sparkling. You're smart, good looking and nice. You have good manners. Not every sparkling would share an O ring with someone else."
Prowler grinned around his toy. Then he looked at the stack. Patting it with his tiny servo, he looked at his father. "Atar."
It was as clear as the driven show. Ironhide alternating between fierce pride at his son's achievement and intense fear at his son's achievement smirked. "Slagger," he said, then kissed Prowler's cheek. "Come on. Let's see some more of the big bombs. You'll like them. They smell good." With that, they turned and walked onward down the huge stacks toward an area with the big bunker busters.
-0-At an apartment in the Mare Tranquilitatis
Springer lounged in his chair sipping a beer. Drift took the takeout delivery at the door from a cheerful youngling, then turned to walk to his own chair. Sitting, he set the bag down. "Dinner is served."
Springer snickered. "You have style. Somewhere."
"I have all the style you need, Springer." He began to take out the boxes and containers opening them to sit on the coffee table. When they were busy with their dinners, the games from Earth muted on the monitor, Drift glanced at Springer. "What do you think about sparklings?"
"I like them. Maybe some fine orn but not now. You?" he asked glancing at the big good looking mechanism sitting beside him.
"Same here. Not now though. I like Orion a lot. That little mech has spunk," Drift replied.
"I do too. If we ever have sparklings, I want one like him. And Praxus. He's really sweet. Hero is beautiful. Prowler is a really cute baby. Sunspot … there is a little mech to draw to," Springer said as his voice trailed off.
"Every time he says something I cringe. That poor little mech," Drift said. "He leaves skid marks."
Springer nodded. "But he's happy now. Happy and doing well."
Drift nodded. "He is. How many others are like him out there? Him and those three Seeker younglings?"
"I don't know. Until I can do something, I can't think about it. It makes me restless," Springer said.
Drift nodded. "I'm glad you like sparklings. I will be glad someday when you have one."
Swearing is a fine art in some circles …
-0-Here and there
"Congratulations, Grand Ada!"
Miler took the thanks in a figurative victory lap as Sciences swarmed him with congratulations. That two of the mechs there were sparked was icing on the cake to him as they took a moment to celebrate their newest little Autobot.
Venture stood in the corridor of the City Hall, paused outside of his office to take the well wishes of everyone including Fenix. Ultra Magnus told him he could go home to be with the family but he demurred telling him that Prowl and the infant were resting. They discussed infants, showed each other pictures and exulted. Each new spark was a step away from the abyss, something everyone knew firmly and clearly. This infant was no exception.
Nearby, Kestrel and Tagg walked into the Veteran's Center at the Central Labor Hall. Kestrel had therapy with a group of individuals just like him, overworked, overburdened, filled with fright and disbelief that life was safe and secure now. Tagg brought his books and datapads finding a table from which to wait and work. Taking Kestrel's book bag, he watched as the big mech walked to the door of the Counseling Center to join his therapy group.
Kestrel was recharging better. He was less apologetic for what happened around him and his inability at this time to help contribute to that well being. He understood that being a student was a contribution now. Between the joy of school and that of the family, the ten Elite Guards who had protected them so well and volunteer work at the schools and public library, Kestrel was finding his way.
Tagg on the other servo was less estranged from their new reality and therefore his first and only concern beyond college, family and community was helping his mech find his way again. Nothing was as important to Tagg of Iacon than helping Kestrel become well again.
-0-In the Autobot City Business Plaza above ground and nearby
The door opened as a customer came inside. Ravel who was finishing a transaction with another one smiled. "You came! I cannot wait to show you."
Halsi who was one of the curators at the Museum of Autobot City smiled. "I can't wait to see them too, Ravel. By the way, congratulations on the new sparkling. I know you are related in a second degree manner through bonding with the Prime, but that still makes you immediate family."
"Thank you, Halsi. I am so humbled to be related in even such a small manner to the Prime. He is such a holy personage. I feel so inadequate to claim such a distinction."
"Nonsense, Ravel. You are a truly good mech. I am also in awe of your talent and Tie's. What a great orn it is to get a permanent exhibit of your weapons for the Museum."
Ravel smiled. "Come with me. Let us show you." He turned and walked to the door of the work room waiting for Halsi to follow. They walked inside, then paused by a series of shelves that were laden with carefully and beautifully wrapped or boxed items of all sizes.
Tie Down came around the corner followed by Appa Ratchet. He smiled and shook Halsi's servo. "Halsi. You came. Allow me to introduce you to Ravel's atar. Halsi is a curator of the Museum and has commissioned a series of weapons from us. This is Appa Ratchet of Iacon."
They gripped servos, Ratchet bowing his helm slightly. "I am so glad to meet you. I love going to the museum. My son told me that you want all the weapons they made for permanent display in the museums of Cybertron. They have outdone themselves, even for RTR Tools."
Ravel grinned. "We do try, Atar," he said with his usual self effacing manner. He turned and pulled a beautiful long box from the shelf. Turning, he placed it on the table next to the door for such a purpose. Opening it, they all looked inside.
Two long swords perhaps ten feet long lay inside on soft velvet-like material. They were enormous, heavy and astonishingly beautiful. Their surfaces shown with a silvery glow, their mirror finish reflecting all of them. Their hilts were bound by blood colored burnished layers of carefully folded metal that mimicked leather. Their hilts bore a round bezel that held the carefully carved Emblem of the Primes. On their mirror-like surfaces were carved glyphs that told of Solus the Maker. There were prayers to her and to the Pantheon, Primus and The One. They were so beautiful they looked like they were made by Solus herself.
Halsi stared at them, touching their surfaces gently. Then he turned to the trio who were looking at him with expectation, pride and anxiety. Ravel who was anxious glanced at them, then Halsi. "We did our best to make an heirloom worthy of our people."
Halsi looked at it, then the three. "When was the orn ever, Ravel and Tie, when you didn't achieve that goal three fold?" he asked softly with amazement in his voice.
-0-On the way to the schools
Ratchet ambled along aware that he was to gather Prowl and Prime's younglings. He had already retrieved Rambler and was heading across the great lobby to grab the other two. They ran screaming out with Sunspot and Spot who were laughing and barking over something funny. They paused, then looked up at Ratchet.
"ADA! YOU CAME!" Sunspot said with a blinding smile.
"I did," Ratchet said. "Come with me, sparklings. I have something awesome to show you." With that, he turned to walk to the elevators nearby. As he did, four happy little mechs and a bouncy dog turned with him. It would be a short ride down, a shorter walk over and a fast ride upward to the Residence and the new paradigm for all of them.
-0-TBC February 16, 2014 edited 2-16-14
NOTES: I really liked Brains and Wheelie in the Dark of the Moon. There are segments and bits that really stand out for me. I am thinking that they might be a good addition to the tale here. The TF world can stand two Wheelies. :D