The Diego Diaries: Them 3 (682)
-0-(A studio in a tower in Tyger Pax)
"Sunstreaker, tell us about your show in the Met that's coming up." -OSV
(Intense optics look downward) "The show will be in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to start, then continue around the world. My art, my student's art and a lot of others will be there, too, including some from my grandgenitors."
"Explain 'grandgenitors', Sunny." -OSV
(Pause) "Grandparents."
"Who are your grandparents, Sunny?" -OSV
"Ravel and Tie Down for Ratchet, Blackjack and Alor for Ironhide." (Turns back to add a dot of color to a windswept view of Olympus Mons. It's moody and extraordinary in the economy of strokes that were used to make complexity)
"Tell us about them. I understand intact families aren't common here." -OSV
(Intense optics look down again as brush pauses) "They're getting more common but not like the old orns on Cybertron. Extended family matters and that includes close family friends and adopted mechs and femmes. Ravel and Tie Down were the most famous tool and die makers on Cybertron. They made tools, swords and knives so perfect, so artfully, that they were put into museums.
"They never made a shanix on them. No low caste ever benefited from their labor. The System made sure of it. But they're the acknowledged ultimate masters of their skills. They invented processes that no one else knows or can reproduce. No one is better. No one is more sought after."
"RTR Tools is their business, right? What does RTR stand for?" -OSV
"Their names. Ravel, Tie Down and Ratchet. That was how Ratchet was given a chance to be a doctor. The System recognized his talent and let him go to medical school. He wouldn't have been allowed for any other reason. The high castes saw a benefit to themselves or Ratchet wouldn't have been allowed."
"What about Blackjack and Alor?" -OSV
"Blackjack comes from a military family and so does Alor, though Alor's family is also incredibly famous in the arts and music. They were always soldiers, their families. Blackjack was Praxian Military Elite which is the highest caste of all. Even a Prime doesn't rise to that level.
"Back in the past, Cybertron was conquered by aliens. We defeated them and the soldiers were revered for it. Some of them, the families of the greatest warriors had a caste created for them that honored their valor because they kept the caste system going, the slaggers. They tended to gather in Praxus, a university city that has a lot of amenities and science institutes. That sort of thing.
"They became known as Praxian Military Elite. Blackjack was born into that caste. You wouldn't know it by hanging with him. Ironhide is the same because of his father. There isn't a Cybertronian anywhere who could surpass them if the System was still working.
"Alor was mid caste like Bluestreak. He told me that its like being between …." (Pause to check references) "Between heaven and hell. Nice enough to see the gates of paradise but close enough to hell to feel the heat."
"Alor has a special place in your culture doesn't he? -OSV
(Nod, look of pride) "He's the only one of us that's revered by both sides equally. Every piece of music that we have that's universally loved, all of the important music, all of the music that we learn as children … everything that makes us feel Cybertronian, it came from him. Our anthems, those for the Prime, music for holidays and special occasions … all of it is his. He's the one thing every Cybertronian can agree upon. Alor of Iacon is our greatest musician and composer. I don't think there's anyone more famous than him. Ever."
"They play the Anthem of the Primes every time Optimus does something official. For alien music, I find it incredibly understandable and beautiful." -OSV
(Nod) "It doesn't have to be too hard. If you slaggers spent five more minutes thinking about things before you decided them, you'd be better off."
(Laughter) "What do you think about the next Bey movie?" -0SV pushing a button he knows about from experience
(Huge intense frown forms on handsome face) "THAT FRAGGER! HOW CAN HE PUT SIDESWIPE IN THE MOVIES AND NOT ME!?"
(Loud laughter) -OSV
Michael Bey would be asked about that on Earth the very next day.
-0-Sitting on a servo of a Omega Supreme
"Xantium, who are those bots?" -OSV looking way down to the ground where a number of bots were talking together
(Looks down) "Those slaggers? That's a special team. In more ways than one." (Huge grin)
"What are they called as a team and what's their specialty?" -OSV peering down
"They're called the Dinobots around here because their alt formats look like some kind of ancient reptiles your planet once had and their specialty is breaking things." -Xantium here to be referred to as X
"I thought that was yours." -OSV chuckling
(Huge grin) "It is. I was built to fight. My siblings are more refined. I'd rather play in the dirt if you know what I mean." (grin)
"I do. Tell me about your family and what you've been doing." -OSV
"There are over 20 of us. I was created last out of need. My brother, Zeta is a command platform. He worked for the Primes as their flag ship among other things. He's not up on the nuances. I had to help him and Kappa reconfigure their formats to hold prisoners in the last few expeditions.
"Neither of them were warriors. None of them are, really. But some of them can fight really well and the others are learning. Mostly they're platforms for the migrations to assist medical and to carry slaggers back. We've fought a few times. I remember flying out of a space bridge together and ending up doing evasive maneuvers that I didn't know they had in them. It was fun. I love to fight." -X
"I hear that you and Kappa have a thing." -OSV with a grin
"You got that right. Kappa is my femme. She's incredible. So beautiful and smart. I like smart." -X
"What about Gamma, Beta, Alpha … what are their specialties?" -OSV
"They were science platforms. They did exploration and carried scientific groups to this and that place through the space bridges. We all had a city-state to tend to but me. I'm a warrior straight up. Omega was guardian of Crystal City, Metroplex was guardian of Iacon … like that. I was the Wrecker's transport and sparring partner from orn one. I like to fight and I'm good at it." (grin) "We have fun, the Wreckers and me."
"I see your tattoos. Lots of them." OSV
"Yeah. I have the Autobrand, the Wrecker tat, the Elite Guard because I transport them sometimes to fight, a few others that are group tats and the other one." -X
"What is the 'other one'? Is it that small blue one?" -OSV
(Nod) "That one is for Primus." -X
"Are you religious?" -OSV
"I'm Cybertronian. How can I be different? I also feel like it won't hurt to have it. Battle can be rough. Primus was a warrior and He gets it." (Grin) -X
(Glances down at Dinobots on the ground) "I think some of them are fighting."
(Giant glanced down) "Yeah. Cute isn't it?"
-0-End credits rolling after a number more scenes
"I love Xantium. He doesn't fragging give a hoot." Ratchet glanced at Ironhide who was holding a rapt Sunspot. "Lots to dream about isn't there, infant?"
Overwhelmed optics turn to Ratchet. "MY BROTHERS WERE IN THE MOVIE!"
"They were," Ironhide said hugging the baby. "They were and maybe next time you can be. I hear that they got permission to show one episode of the younglings and elders."
"That'll be great. They couldn't show one without our little mech. He's so handsome, how could they?" Ratchet replied with a grin.
Sunspot looked at him with a giant smile. "I WOULD BE ON THE TEEVEE?"
"I hope so," Ironhide said patting Sunspot's back.
"I WOULD LIKE THAT! I WOULD HAVE TO TELL MY FRIENDS! I BET SPOT WOULD BE ON IT, TOO!" Sunspot said with great joy.
"Then you better get to recharge, infant," Ratchet said. He watched as Ironhide rose with the little mech. "Good night, son."
"GOOD NIGHT, ADA!" Sunspot said over Ironhide's shoulder as the big mech walked toward the hallway. Spot bounded off Ratchet's lap joining them. Ratchet sat back relaxing as he considered the next two orns.
He'd be on Earth.
He hadn't told Ironhide.
-0-Moments later in a big berth in the dark
"FRAG THAT!"
"Ironhide-"
"I SAID FRAG THAT!"
"Only On-"
"FRAG THAT!"
-0-The next morning
They glared at each other over the 'cornflakes and toast' as they held fire for the sake of the infants. Those little bits babbled, ran around and were their usual happy self. When the grandgenitors arrived and roped their little doggies, it was only half better.
"What's with you two?" Alor asked softly leaning in toward Ratchet as Appa Ratchet held a brightly smiling Prowler nearby.
"I have to go ambassador at Diego for two orns to sort out the ground rules for the permanent human city and Ironhide's his usual supportive self."
Both grinned at that.
"Ironhide!"
A big ferocious bot froze at that tone, then turned warily. Seeing his ada standing next to his Onliest Only One gave him a momentary pause. "What?"
"Come here." Alor of The Voice, commanding.
Ironhide recipient of 'The Voice' whenever and wherever he did a 'bad' came over almost meekly.
Alor who could barely quash his laughter stared at his son sternly. "Are you making this soldier's duty difficult?"
Ironhide shot a withering glance at a smirking Ratchet, then looked meekly at his ada. "No."
"You better not, soldier. Understand?" Alor of the No Nonsense Tone said.
"Ada, I don't like the civilian humans. They have ties to the rich fraggers who're making things hard for us," Ironhide said just this short of a snivel.
"Doesn't matter. He has his duty and you have yours. Right now, your main duty is to avoid the corner. Understand?"
Even Ironhide snorted at that one. "You're not the boss of me," Ironhide said with a chuckle.
"Technically, he is. Your ada outranks you in seniority and service, Ironhide."
Ironhide turned to stare at his father who was watching things with a grin on his identical face.
"Frag," Ironhide said. He looked at Ratchet. "I'll get even later."
"Oh, Ironhide. You say the sweetest things," Ratchet said to loud laughter.
"Bringing in The Sexy won't save you, old mech. I AM IRONHIDE, CHAOS BRINGER AND DESTROYER OF WORLDS!"
"Get moving. Your kids will be late," Alor said as a mass of sparklings grinned up at the adults from the ground where they stood.
"Yes, Ada," Ironhide said meekly as he winked at Tie Down.
Laughter greeted that as all began to leave.
Alor paused by the door grinning to Ratchet. "How do you think it'll go, Ratchet?"
"I don't know, Ali, but if the past is prologue, this could be nasty," Ratchet said as they stepped into the hallway.
"Call me then. No adventures or brig time without me," Alor said with a grin.
"Count on it," Ratchet replied with a laugh.
They both continued onward to the elevator, Ratchet to a meeting before transport to Earth and Alor to Camp Gliese.
Typical day on Mars.
-0-TBC April 13, 2014 edited 4-15-14 7-24-19