The Diego Diaries: Visitin' (dd8 163)
OOPS! I will post this now and today's shortly. SORRY!
=0=A couple of joors later, deep in the morning
Ratchet walked out of The Fortress heading for the Medical Center. He'd been apprised of Springer and Drift throughout their treatment and knew both would be downed for a few orns until things solidified. When he got there they'd already left heading for the emergency command center in City 4. Frowning when he heard, he dialed in. :Springer. Drift:
=0=There
They glanced at each other at the same time, then answered. :Ada?:
"WHAT THE FRAG ARE YOU DOING THERE!? GET YOUR AFTS HOME!: -a concerned 'mother'
"I think he's blown a fuse," Springer said as he shifted painfully.
"I think so. He's going to pull strips off you," Drift said with a chuckle. "I'd hide."
"Well, I would but I'm not like you. I'm going to let you explain this."
=0=Getting there
:Where's that baby?: Ratchet asked as he transformed at the site, then crossed the police line to walk to the command center in one of the public rooms inside.
:Amma Scout and Appa Trooper have him. We thought they could use the exercise: Drift said.
:I'm telling them: Ratchet said as he stopped at the door jamb of the huge room to stare at the two sitting nearby in the busy center.
:You would, snitch: Springer said as he caught a glimpse of Ratchet. :Oh, oh. Buzzkill at 11:00:
Ratchet smirked as he walked to where they were sitting, pulled up a chair, then sat himself. "What's the word?"
"They're sending messages and programming. Nothing's changed thus far and even though a couple tried to cut the transmission, they have it playing anyway by remote control," Drift said. "Pretty slick trick."
"All my mechs call me that," Ratchet said with a dazzler.
Raucous laughter greeted that.
"You're off duty for two orns," Ratchet said as he scanned the patches and new servo. "Good work. You do understand that if they have to replace that again, they'll saw it down to the wrist, then build it out from there. Welding, lots of infection inhibitors. Lots and lots of pain." He smiled again. "I'm volunteering to use this," he said as a HUGE rotary saw blade flashed into view and spun madly, its jagged teeth gleaming in the light.
Everyone around them as well as Springer and Drift leaned away in surprise and revulsion.
Ratchet subbed it, then sat back casually. "I'm a mech of many talents."
"Is that what that is? Do I report you for child abuse?" Springer said with a chuckle as he leaned back himself.
"I would," Ratchet replied.
=0=A few joors later everywhere
The sun was barely breaking the horizon casting a light orange glow everywhere. The colony was well lit with light poles at intervals. The open businesses still were humming, clubs, restaurants, groceries and takeaways, but most everything else was still closed. That didn't mean there weren't lights there as well, those that advertised the businesses. Downtown glittered with lights from open and closed venues both.
Overhead, disappearing into the dark sky, towers that were beyond the ability to see all the way to the top filled the view in all directions. The downtown was the heart of each city while neighborhoods were spread out around that area, grouped together to add a calm atmosphere for the traumatized population to live in. The streets on all sides of the huge blocks were immaculate, well lined and served by lights that were constant orn and night. Sidewalks were everywhere.
Lights from apartments gave a dazzling glow to the cities with their patchwork of those who were awake in the light and those who were recharging or not home in the darkened apartments. Towers had communications and other devices on their roofs which were lit with lights for ships and others buzzing around to see where they were going. Wide streets ran into the super highway system that linked everyone, roads that were eight lanes deep running through the pitch darkness of Mars.
Towers at intervals gave light to those driving which by now included mostly delivery trucks and other vehicles getting goods to businesses for another orn or workers coming to or getting off shift. Some of the vehicles were non-sentient, programmed to drive where they were needed and negotiate traffic beautifully. Turning off the highways, they drove into the cities, stopping here and there to off load.
Among them were members of the Colonial Sanitation Department making their runs for the garbage that would require the big incinerators rather than those in the basements of the towers. Some of the garbage collectors were non-sentient robotic machines that buzzed along streets and alleyways scanning bins for forbidden items or some drunk looking for a berth before collecting the contents. It was incredibly efficient, held to the high standard of sanitation the colony demanded and worked at night.
Cars and other vehicles were on the roadways and so were squad cars policing for drunk drivers. Other cops walked their foot beats and the odd horseback teams of Watchmen could be seen riding along on their colony-wide patrols. It was a low key night given the tension about the standoff and there would be few additions to the group from Meadow Lands sitting in jails waiting for magistrate court to occur than were already there.
It would be a long night for everyone.
=0=A loading and unloading dock on Prima Station
They worked moving pallets of equipment, books, medical items and medicines as well as hardware from the hold of the delivery ship, Codus. Autobot City Touring Company had diversified into private freight hauling between Earth and Mars so this was one of their several ships that carried everything but passengers.
The incident on Mars had been broadcast everywhere including the MCA and everyone here knew about it. It was a topic of conversation from the docks to the clubs and bars, to households all over the massive station.
The Prima Station was now home to 20,000 humans who lived in big apartments on the several decks that were open for their habitation. They'd kept the areas relatively close together to allow people to build community. They lived up in the upper decks and worked everywhere else. Three schools had been added to handle the new children from the families who came to live and work here. The downtown was expanding as businesses grew up, many of them small public relations outposts of major human food and clothing brands. Those worked on the same economic model as the bots used, just like the Mall in Autobot City. There were no complaints this time, however.
It was nearly time for everyone to go to school and work leaving behind family members to do things at home, hang out, go to jobs that were volunteer oriented or take care of smaller younger members. Buses were on the street picking up kids. Cabs were everywhere and many were the workers and business owners walking to work in this, a very broad and well planned pedestrian area.
The news kiosks blared the headlines. The Hourly News was on many a phone as people hiked to work. It would be a long tense day for everyone here on Prima Station, too.
=0=There
They ate food brought to them as they monitored the situation. Nothing had changed. Everyone was quietly waiting to see what everyone was going to do. Laying on a table were datapads with the colony's newspapers and some from Earth downloaded. The headlines were about the standoff and the stories told as much as Prime allowed to be known at the moment. Information about the change in traffic patterns and all cancellations were listed. But in the context of new news, that was about it.
It was a wait and see game now.
=0=0653 on the TMC
Ironhide crept into the apartment to find everyone staring back at him. A brief interlude of hysterical crying and hugs was had before everyone sat back at the table to finish breakfast. He sat himself to help and chat.
"Where Ada?" Orion asked.
"Ada is a workin'," Ironhide replied.
Orion stared at him. "When Ada comed to I, Orion?"
"Ada comed when he come. You eat and I'll put ya on the bus," Ironhide replied.
Everyone dug in as Ravel, Tie, Docker, Chan, Corr and Appa Ratchet helped. Chat was had, plans made and roles assigned. It would take a lot of coordination getting everyone ready.
"Uh, Atar …" Fireball began before petering out. He stared at Ironhide sheepishly. "I have a field trip to Mount Olympus and don't have a lunch made."
Ironhide stared at him, then rose to walk to the fridge. He stared inside, declared defeat, then glanced at his son. "All three of you?"
"Just me and Genesis," Fireball replied.
"Today, anyway. I go tomorrow," Quadrus said.
"Oh. I got it covered. I'll send it to you at school. When do you go?" Ironhide asked.
"About 1000 joors on the TMC," Genesis replied.
"You'll get it," Ironhide said soothingly.
"We can do it," Chan said.
"You do too much already, Chan," Ironhide said. "I'll get it organized and drop it off. Thanks, though."
The hoo-haw continued, then they walked out to go downward. At the curb, the usual group was there including Bluestreak with Prime's kids and his own. "I see you made it."
"I did. Where are the twins?" Ironhide asked as Hero called her cab.
"They're assigned to the scene. I don't expect them to be home for a while. No one is answering anything but Ratchet is expected to begin a negotiation later today. We're letting them see the videos and hear the messages made by the elders."
"That's good," Ironhide said as he watched Hero drive away. Soon buses would come, Halo would be delivered and he'd be organizing two lunches for two big boys heading for a geology and vulcanology station in the caldera of Olympus Mons.
He had to haul ass.
=0=Messages
A stern face appeared on the screen of every refugee monitor who'd come from Meadow Lands. Some had tried to end the broadcast either by trying to break the monitor or turning it off but the devices were that sturdy and the tech prevailed against them. The face on the screen began to talk.
"My name is Cyclonus and I am Master of the Monastery of the Clavis Aurea. I command the monastery here and the one on Cybertron. We have come to you to ask you to use your common sense and end the standoff. The Monastery is offering you and your families a place to come to for sanctuary. Prime has agreed to allow it.
"I know some of you are Guiding Hand. We offer you a place to come so you can think about the path you're on. We have some experience with this because we shelter the grandchildren of the families of the Functionalist Council that came here some time back.
"They go to our school designed just for them and they're growing and maturing in a good way. If you come to us in sanctuary, we'll defend that decision. I'm a former Decepticon commander in the general staff of Megatron. I have Prime's word and I know he will keep it.
"Choose wisely. If you cannot come yourself send out your elders and children. We will protect and defend them. If you stay you risk getting hurt and if you keep your vulnerable people they will as well. Come to us and we will keep you safe until a good resolution is met. Let the Prime know and we will come to escort you to our haven. Even if only some of you come, there's that many who aren't in harms way. Cyclonus, out."
That was followed by the Temple offer.
"Hello. My name is Sela and I'm a priestess in the Temple of Simfur here in the colony as well as an educational consultant and officiate at the original on Cybertron. I'm aware of your fears and confusion. We're here to assist you. With the permission of the Prime and the assistance of Master Cyclonus of the Monastery of the Clavis Aurea, we're prepared to extend to you the rite of sanctuary here in the Temple.
"We can take whoever you send; hopefully that would mean all of you. Even if you don't, send us those who are ill, elderly, ready to leave or children. I know you're confused but it can be sorted out. Come here to us, here with the Allspark and the Well. We can care for you until things are sorted. We mean to give you refuge and we have the Prime's word as a warrior that you can come here or the Monastery freely and safely."
She paused a moment, then continued. "Please trust someone. Please be assured that you'll be safe. We are all Cybertronians. We have a difference of opinion here but we can work it out. Primus meant it when He gave us the creed. Until all are one. Please. Come to us. Let us help you." She stared at the screen, then nodded. "Sela, out."
The screen faded to black.
=0=TBC 05-14-2021