The Diego Diaries: Visitin' (dd8 165)
=0=Outside the Tomsa Tower, City 4, District 7, Mars: 0322 AM on the TMC
They walked across the plaza area that surrounded towers giving areas for congregating together for conversation or children to play. Even here, skateboard-like devices were popular among children. They were older, most of them and they were amazingly well kept for those who hadn't contact with The People for eons. The children were like any refugee child anywhere, clinging to their family members while staring silently with the dark fear that all bore.
It was silent but for their footfalls even here in a residential district close to the downtown business area and the main highway that pierced the city cutting it into North City 4 and South City 4 on the diagram of its confines. Lights were still lit, those that illuminated the area after dark while above and around them towers glittered, though most of them were dark from the evening tide of recharge.
They came close, then slowed. One of them holding a small mech called out to the Gatekeeper. "Master," he said bowing his helm probably out of habit, "we're here."
"Then please climb onto the bus so we can leave. Are there more who wish sanctuary?" he asked in his deep voice.
"I'm not sure. There's turmoil and we …" He glanced at Hard Drive who was silently watching, then fell silent.
"The General is here to ensure that you leave safely. We need to go," the Gatekeeper said.
It was tense a moment as an internal conversation was obviously had. Then they walked forward and began to climb onto the bus. When all of them were inside, the Gatekeeper turned toward Hardie. Bowing slightly, he turned back without a word and climbed aboard as the driver began to pull away from the curb. In seconds, with two police units of the Watch following, they began the drive to the Monastery on the other side of the colony.
Hardie watched him go, then the soldiers and Jacx came across the street toward him.
Jacx who was holding a microphone stepped up to Hardie. "General, what can you tell us about what has happened here?"
"It is the will of the Prime that these refugees find their way to a peaceful resolution of this problem. They've had a hard time and we want them to conclude in a good way. If that takes time, then we have time. We asked anyone who was vulnerable, ill, elderly or young to come out and take the rite of sanctuary in the Temple and the Monastery. Lord Lauren and Master Cyclonus have guaranteed their safety in agreement with the Prime. We hope that all of the refugees who want to come out do so. We can get you to safety where you can rest and rejuvenate after this ordeal."
"How many left and who were they, if you know?" Jacx asked.
"They were elders and children. Their names are being withheld to protect their privacy. Sixteen have left with the Gatekeeper of the Monastery and were given Watch escort to help them get there without incident. We are determined to protect everyone on both sides of this argument to the maximum," Hardie said.
"Then the Prime is making headway?" Jacx asked.
"The Prime is patient and good. He will do what it takes to assist everyone to a good end. We have time. No one on the other side of this disagreement needs to feel pressured. We will take the time it takes," Hardie said. "I have to get back. Just know we are here to ensure a good end." With that, Hardie walked to the street, transformed, then drove off as a brilliant black Bugatti Chiron. Our Hardie was nothing if not a car aficionado.
They watched him go, then Jacx turned back to the bots who were part of the guard detail. "So what do you think?"
"I'm glad they're in charge and not me," Sideswipe said with a grin.
Everyone there nodded in agreement.
=0=Unidad Terra 1
She sat in the living room of her apartment, one she shared with Sam. Sam was on his way to Earth to do business in New York with Warren and the team. Carly had seen him off, then walked to the living room to watch the coverage of the standoff on the monitor even though it was very early in the morning. It was showing the refugees leaving the Tomsa Tower in City 4. The group looked wary and hurried after a short exchange with General Hard Drive to enter a bus.
The Gatekeeper was someone she had seen before when she led tours of business, government and entertainment officials around the colony. There was always a stop at the Monastery because it was one of its most unknown features. Given how open and free the colony was, most of the biggest parts of it were understood and reasonably known to the people of Earth, both those there and those who came. The Temple was off limits but it was understood and relatively clear what it was.
The Monastery of the Clavis Aurea wasn't.
The Gatekeeper was about 29 feet tall, a Seeker who was completely black without the usual offsetting secondary coloration most affected and because he was he had a stern appearance that was intimidating. He was also a scholar of some substantial standing, a father and grandfather with a bond who was a scribe, living in the quarters provided for his position and came from a long line of gatekeepers.
His name was Chino which in Simkeen meant 'good'. He was. He was fair, loved to play with the children of the Functionalist Council who loved him back, was a great warrior in his own right and took his religion and duties wholly to spark. He would defend the Monastery up to his own end and the refugees had no better champion than him. They also knew it when they saw him.
The ride to the monastery was shown on television as a drone followed the vehicles to the roundabout that led to The City and the junction by the stadiums that headed toward The Resort of Autobot City, the Monastery of the Clavis Aurea and beyond that the district of Aerie Hill. They reached it, took the correct turn off, then drove onward until they reached Resort Road which led past the building to Monastery Drive and the huge sprawling monastery where they would become refugees again inside its great confines.
Standing on the platform that led into the building, Optimus Prime and Master Cyclonus with a pair of what humans would call deacons waited for the bus which had just turned in. The Watch cars blinked their lights, then turned around to drive back to City 4. The bus drove into the huge parking lot to come to a stop before the building and the waiting group.
It took a moment, then the Gatekeeper stepped out, walking toward those waiting to bow. He turned to the group which was starting to come off, halting with surprise when they saw Prime.
"Come forward," Cyclonus said in his deep voice.
The refugees whether out of habit, reverence or fear did, gathering together before the group.
"I am Master Cyclonus and I pledge before the Prime of Cybertron that I accept you as refugees in the rite of sanctuary here at the Monastery. I have accepted your word, Lord Optimus, that this is so." He turned toward Prime. "On my honor it is so."
"It is on my honor that I pledge to you that this is so, Master Cyclonus," Prime answered formally.
The refugees would find a safe haven here. No one would bother them.
Prime turned toward the group. "You are in the custody and care of Master Cyclonus and the Monastery. I have asked my chief medical officer," he said glancing at Ratchet who was standing slightly behind Cyclonus, "to scan you so that anything you may need to have in terms of medical attention can be provided. I do not want the burden of such things to fall upon the Monastery." He glanced at Ratchet again. "Commander."
Ratchet stepped forward, then began to scan everyone with a handheld and his arm sensors. The beams fell over all of them, then he glanced at Cyclonus and Prime. "All is well. I do believe they could use rest but little else." He glanced at the Gatekeeper. "I am on call at a moments notice for this group."
The Gatekeeper bowed slightly. Then he looked at the group. Gesturing with his arm, he led them forward until they disappeared inside.
It was quiet a moment, then Prime turned to Cyclonus. "I am not clear how many you can accommodate, Cyclonus. We can assist you with housing if this is their place of choice, any of them that might follow this group."
"We can handle many but I will bear that in mind," Cyclonus said.
"Very well. Let us know what you might need to assist you in this venture. Thank you, my friend, for your help," Prime said as they gripped servos in the warrior manner.
"It is my honor to assist," Cyclonus said formally. Then he walked with his group toward the Monastery to disappear inside.
Prime and Ratchet watched him go, then Ratchet glanced at Prime. "Sixteen down and nine hundred twenty-six to go."
Prime nodded. "From your lips to Primus's audials," he said as the two began to walk to the park lot to transform and drive back to City 4. As they did the night time began to lighten with the coming of the dawn.
Watching from her living room, Carly marveled once again how open the colony was that this part of the very dangerous situation was as public as any other part. It was a miracle to her that the refugees who came every day in the thousands could come as well intended and composed as they did. Some of them came from terrible circumstances but even that was attended to here.
It was always in her mind as well as that of most humans who lived here how much the bots worked at putting themselves together. The Autobot code of no one left behind was the daily business of this vast sprawling metropolitan civilization. Once again, she felt the gift of being here, of having a position of importance and being friends with these alien beings. It was at moments like this, watching this play out that she felt the distance between them fade into nothingness. This was a group of individuals struggling to fit in and the colony was rising to meet that fear with as much assistance as possible. At moments like this, there was nothing between them that wasn't relatable and familiar.
She held her breath as much as any Cybertronian here.
The night would pass slowly and the habitat would wake up to the daytime routine but on every monitor in the place short of the schools, the scenario would be playing. Everyone here including the humans had a vested interest in a good outcome, too.
=0=At the bus stop some time later
They boarded their buses and cabs, waving and riding onward. Ironhide held Halo on his arm waving as the kids left. He glanced at her. She leaned against him. The struggle was real. Heading out, he began to walk to the Temple when he got the word on the Senior Autobot message line that the Temple was closing. Apparently, about 70 refugees were seeking rite of sanctuary there.
He slowed, then looked at his daughter. "I guess you're not going to kool today."
Halo glanced up at him, then sat up on his arm. "I not goin' to kool?"
"No. Someone else is," Ironhide said.
She smiled like the sun. "I NOT GOIN'?! I DOIN' WIF LOU?!"
"Nope and yep," he said smiling in spite of himself.
She grinned at him, then leaned against him. "I goin' wif lou."
"For now," he said. "Maybe Appa Scout might want you to come and sing for him."
She looked up at him. "I doin'. I doin' stuff," she said utilizing her all purpose word. "Keem?"
Ironhide chuckled. "Soon." He walked onward to the Temple to see what was what. Genitors were arriving to get their children back given the word was given so late.
Sela was in the main room at the school door handing babies back to their concerned genitors. "We have refugees coming for sanctuary," she was telling a young genitor and their ada apparently who were part of a small clan that cared for the Temple grounds for eons. "We want to ensure that things are as smooth as possible. Right now, we have no timeline for when the children come back. We'll message you. We've made arrangements with Sparkling Day School in Terra to have them visit and be cared for if you need that. Also, the Circle of Light Prep Academy in the Business Plaza has agreed as well."
"Will it affect our work schedule, Lady? We're installing new plants at the Visitation Center," the femme asked. "My mech and his brother would need to know if that's okay," she said as her ada nodded beside her holding a delightful little mech who smiled and waved at everyone he saw.
"Any of the outbuildings are okay," Sela said. "That won't be a problem. The refugees have to stay inside this building so outside is fine."
"Thank you, Lady," the femme said as she and her ada bowed slightly. "Call on us if you need help. We can come."
Sela hugged them. "I know. Thank you so much."
The two walked off before Sela noticed Ironhide and Halo standing nearby. "Well, I see that smiley is smiling for a change."
Ironhide grinned. "How is she doing then?"
"She's still sad to come but its fading really fast," Sela said as she squeezed Halo's ped. "The group is small and very sweet."
"I doin'?" Halo asked as she looked up at her old dad.
"You're doin', slagger. How are you here? Do you need anything?" Ironhide asked.
"No," Sela said. "Not at the moment. We're hooked in for assistance."
"Good. We're putting Watchmen outside for security. You never know what's going to happen. Same for the junction heading for the Monastery and the highway leading from it on the other side. Hopefully, this will resolve swiftly," Ironhide said.
"Do you think so?" Sela asked hopefully.
"No," Ironhide said with a grin. "When do they ever?"
Sela chuckled. "Never."
Halo looked up at her old dad. "Keem?" she asked, then pointed to Sela. "Keem, too?"
Sela grinned. "Stop by later. I'll probably take you up on it."
Ironhide grinned back. "Done deal," he said. Then he walked toward the door with his daughter to go back to the command center in City 4.
Sela watched them go with amusement. "Keem, huh?" she mused, then walked toward another set of genitors coming for their baby.
=0=TBC 5-16-2021