The Diego Diaries: War and Aftermath (dd6 109)
Sorry about last night. I went to Anchorage in a tiny rental car with three dogs. YEE-HAW! This was supposed to be posted. I will post it now and the one for today. A TWO-FER! Hugs, my darlings!
-0-Late afternoon
Ratchet walked to the bridge of Phobos with Partition. Ironhide had gone to the galley to get food for the three of them. Things were really moving and there was little for him to do as a doctor in this group. The settlers had lived here since The Fall so they weren't damaged goods. They were just gloriously relieved to be found and rescued. Some of them cried for their homes, a prospect greatly lessened by Prime's decree that they could bring what they wanted. Many would be the big transport ship that would come here and fly back to Mars heavily laden.
It helped a great deal and for many would help the transition when they had a moment to decompress.
Ratchet walked forward and sat on a comfortable couch that was placed along the forward view port. Outside, the scene was amazing as the armada supported the operation. Partition sat down next to him, then leaned back wearily. "You okay, kid?" Ratchet asked.
He didn't answer a moment, then he glanced at Ratchet. "Remind me that I hate you."
Ratchet laughed, then sprawled himself. "Okay."
It was quiet a moment as the kid looked around, then he looked at Ratchet. "Do you like being a soldier?"
Ratchet considered that a moment. "Sure. I like the life, especially when we didn't have a family. I like the humor, the friendships, the freedom … the fighting and dying, no."
"I like being a soldier. I think I want to be one full time. Of course, I'd be a diplomat, too, but I like this better." He looked at the mech at Tactical who was laughing at a joke with the mech next to him. "I like the easy manner of everyone. Here, we're at war, but there's jokes. There were never jokes and fun when I was just a diplomat."
Ratchet watched the kid as he struggled to understand the new path before him. Obviously, friends and fun were not a common thing in his experience. It made Ratchet feel sad a moment. "I like it. There's something really deep down honest about this, about being a soldier. You go out to risk your life for the good of others, most of which you will never know. They don't know what you go through but it makes you feel good to know that you did it. Taking care of others is a good thing. It feels clean inside. Do you understand?"
Partition stared at him a moment, then nodded. "Yeah."
"This is something that we do without the expectation of anything in return. It's a thing we do for the good of all," Ratchet said as Ironhide appeared from the elevator. "Dinner."
Partition watched Ironhide as he paused beside the Officer of the Deck at Command. "He's a soldier for a long time, right? His family are generals?"
Ratchet nodded. "He's the Master of the Armed Forces, infant. He's the boss hog of all of us."
"Wow," Partition said softly. "He's Praxian Elite. That's the best there is, right?"
Ratchet grinned. "It is. Have him teach you their code. The Code. Sometime, let him tell you about it. Its why the Elites are the best."
Ironhide reached them, then handed both a box. Sitting across from them in a chair with his own, he grinned. "Beer inside. I snatched a few bottles."
Ratchet opened his box filled with Cybertron's version of sandwiches, sides and nestled among them a bottle of Praxus Black Label. Ratchet pulled his out, opened it and took a swig. "Best thing out of Praxus since you, Ironhide."
Ironhide preened just so, then grinned. "That's true isn't it?"
"Won't get an argument out of me," Ratchet said as Partition watched both of them intently. "What do you say, infant?"
Partition glanced at Ratchet, then Ironhide. "No argument from me either."
They sat together eating their food before being recalled to Salton Sea for a debrief session. Partition would follow Ratchet like a big puppy dog.
-0-Later that night on Mars
Partition stood on the tarmac at Autobot City watching the steady stream of refugees filing past. Both had attended the meeting, then came here to The City. There were 35 stations where they were greeted by Immigration, where their particulars were taken. They were entered into the system with a series of numbers. The first were those of their identity. Their personal data came next ... name, clan, tribe, city, city-state, familial designations and memberships, special dispensations for personal beliefs related to religion and other aspects that were held dear to the sparks of the practitioners due to taboos, skills, educational attainment if any, preferences for living with family, friends and neighbors, criminal records if any, (these searches were going on during the interview and anyone with an outstanding warrant was led off by Watch mechs posing as civilian helpers to prevent shootouts or other scenes), health issues and conditions, and other pertinent data. All of this was for the most part on the tags everyone carried which were slotted into the system and the data fed directly. It usually only took a minute to find out what and where they needed to go and to match them to anyone here that might be theirs. Once their personal effects numbers were loaded in, the orders to deliver them in three orns time or less were sent to the refugee baggage and effects warehouse in Industrial Park City #5 where the teams there would take them to their owners.
This was when they were led away to hospitals, mental holds, jail, or their new homes. It was extremely efficient and ever streamlined by the 'Boss Hog', Ultra Magnus each time they finished an intake.
No one called Magnus Boss Hog to his face.
Well, maybe Arcee …
Partition and Ratchet watched as a small mech and his family were led toward the road by of all mechs, Morius. Partition startled, then waved him over. The family followed Morius who was carrying a small shy child who looked exhausted and afraid. "What are you doing?" Partition asked.
"I'm helping. Inweld is here somewhere," Morius said as he glanced around. "I have to take this family to their new home in the Crater District. Why don't you come if you can? That little mech is tired."
They all turned to a little mech who looked weary, but under scrutiny slipped behind another carrying a baby, obviously his ada. Partition looked at Ratchet who was grinning. He nodded. "Go. Do more good."
Partition stared at him, then his hopeful brother. Walking to the little mech, picking him up awkwardly, he turned to Ratchet. "Don't go anywhere. You're with me." With that, the group walked back toward Metroplex Highway #1 and forward into their new life.
Ironhide who was standing behind Ratchet glanced at him. "Voodoo. You got voodoo."
"These blessed servos," Ratchet said with a smile as he raised his big red hands up. "I lay healing on blasted afts, miraculous servos-on blessings to the wretched."
Ironhide smirked, then leaned in. "I can think of a few places you can heal, slagger."
Ratchet grinned. "I can too, big boy."
"I am, aren't I?" Ironhide preened.
"I think so," a voice behind him said with a hint of amusement.
Both turned to see Ravel and Tie Down standing with a family. Ironhide blanched as Ratchet laughed. "Where are you two going?" he asked.
"To city 4 in the Crater District. We're going to work here. Are you off or even back from the front lines yet?" Tie asked as his son hugged both of them.
"Not clear yet. Where are the kids?" Ratchet asked as he grinned at the new family behind his genitors. They grinned back.
"We wanted to keep them but they're in The Fortress Military Day Care Center. Ada and the others want to help," Ravel said with a smile.
"I'm going to paddle them," Ratchet said. "Not for the day care but for the overworking."
"You do that, Sonny," Ravel said as he took the newbie mech closest to him by the servo. "We're going out there. Say hello to everyone for us," he said as the two of them led the family past them heading for the underground station, Metro #1 nearby.
Ironhide and Ratchet watched them go. "Cute but difficult. Slaggers are as happy as I've seen them. They're hardwired to serve."
Ironhide nodded. "I hear ya.'
They would stand together watching, kibitzing and altogether enjoying their own company until Partition came back. Ratchet would make sure they did.
-0-On the way to the Crater District
The group stood up on a crowded train that was winding its way toward the huge junction at Terra where it would take a straight line without any stops to the Crater District, the newly finished mass habitation that was just now being signed off and readied for populations. It was estimated to be able to hold more than seven million individuals as it stood now, a giant hub with seven cities on spokes spinning out from it. It was almost magical to see, glittering habitations that were well within sight of each other. Only the Metro Districts in the colony could see each other this well. The Terra Hub cities couldn't. The Tri-Cities couldn't. Even the seven cities east-north-west- and south were hard pressed to see each other, such was the amount of space left between them.
The ride was noisy with children fussing, elders swaying in an agonized weariness as the train bulleted along at a speed Earth could only dream about. No one in the colony was more than a few minutes away from ground zero, Autobot city itself. It made it to Terra and because it was designated to go to the Crater District, it was routed through the hub until it was lined up with the straight line to that place. It took a split second to turn the train on the turntable, then it was off. Streaking down the four track system, heading in the well lit underground past future turnoff sites to Earth 1, Earth2, the Consulate ,and a roadway back to the Industrial Park Cities, it blasted along. Soon, it would have a stop because the station for Industrial Park Cities was almost completed. Digging out the tunnels, reinforcing them against any kind of collapse or failure, laying several dozen miles of track on four lanes, they were ready to open it for workers. The other turnoffs were still on the books awaiting Prime's approval. He wasn't ready to give it.
They sped almost more swiftly than they planned for because soon they were sliding into the station. "Crater District Hub Station-Central Terminus-City One" a mechanical voice intoned. The doors slid open and the voice was back. "Mind the gap" it said as a horde stepped off.
Partition turned to his brother. "Wait. We get off at the third stop, not the first one."
The doors closed, the whistle for all clear sounded, then they were on their way. The second stop cleared more but took on some too. At the third, they were the only ones getting off but a lot were getting on. They passed, then headed for the escalators that led upward. The family followed, silent and weary. They were expectant and a little afraid. The child sat on Partition's arm staring at him, then his ada with silent frightened optics. They reached the top, walked through the beautiful enormous marble lined station, then out into the cold air. The child in Partition's arms huddled against him. "It's cold," he said.
"Put him in your carry hold, Partition. You do the same," Morius said as he stowed his child. "The Community Bulletin Board will help you about the cold here," he said as the mech holding the baby stowed it. "Follow me," Morius said as he looked around. He began to walk down the street. They followed and they would walk a long time before they reached the tower where the family would live. The family felt faint by the time they reached their new apartment on the tenth floor. There was nothing this fine nor amazing in their lifetimes to make this feel normal.
Morius keyed the door and it opened. He turned to them with a grin. "This is your home. Come on inside and I'll show you what you need to know." They followed him and after a second to digest the moment, so did Partition. The door closed behind them.
-0-At the Port of Immigration
Ratchet saw him coming with his brother, Morius, then waved him over. The two came to Ironhide and Ratchet. "You both look great doing good deeds. Impressions?"
Morius glanced at his brother, then stepped closer to Ratchet. "That was fun. It was so amazing. I'm going back for more." He looked at his brother. "You coming?" he asked.
Partition glanced at Ratchet, then his brother. He stood a bit straighter. "I can't. I'm on duty. I'm a soldier, remember? I'm on duty with the army until this ends." He looked at Ratchet for verification.
"Slag right, recruit," Ratchet said with a grin. "He's under my command, Morius. But I have to say, I'm proud of you and what you're doing. You're very selfless tonight."
Morius stared at Ratchet a moment, then grinned. "Uh, well … it's fun. Thanks."
"You're welcome. Better get in line. There's families and little kids that need you." Ratchet watched as he slapped his brother's arm, then hurried to get back in line.
Partition stared at him a moment, then looked at Ratchet with a wary expression. "What do we do now?" he asked.
"We go back to the migration and work. You up to it, recruit?" Ironhide asked.
Partition stared at him seeing the Praxian Elite warrior, the Master of the Army and the seasoned veteran and scion of generals. He felt an overpowering desire to win his approval wash over him. "Yes, sir." For a moment, he felt surprise at his answer, then it didn't matter. He nodded. "I want to be with the army."
"Then let's go," Ironhide said. He and Ratchet began to thread their way back toward The Fortress and the Bridge Room, Partition tagging along with them. It would take a while with the crowds.
-0-A moment before
Partition watched as his brother explained the apartment, the monitor system, the Community Bulletin Board where everything could be found and their orns of leisure before work to learn it all. He showed them the food facilities, the wash rack which had amazed them, low castes that their tats showed, and all the rest. One of them cried making him feel very uncomfortable and the other, a mech who appeared to be the head of the household was profuse in his thanks. He took the call designation numbers for Morius if they were needed, then the two stepped out to head back. They hit the street, then walked toward the station some distance down. The second and third metro station for the city were being worked on under their feet so everyone used metro #1 for this city, hence the long walk.
Morius walked with a spring in his step. "I don't know about you but that was great. I'm doing it again. Inweld is in Tarn with a couple putting them together with their genitors. Isn't that great?" he asked his brother with a big smile.
Partition stared at him a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. Weird, isn't it?"
Morius nodded. "Weird but good. I like this place, Partition. I'm glad for a second chance. How was your orn this far?"
Images of being a captive filled Partition's processor as the two hurried down the steps into the station below.
-0-Back
They walked out of the bridge, then went to the command deck of Salton Sea. Everyone was debriefing and Partition watched as the seasoned warriors and civilian bosses of the colony filled Prime in on the big picture. He listened well asked great questions. Partition watched with a hurricane of confusion warring in his spark.
-0-TBC 6-25-17 edited 8-18-17