The Diego Diaries: Playah (dd6 220)
-0-In the Cooper District of Iacon
It was silent in the room, a slum room where people had once lived. It was cramped and tiny. Keystock looked around himself. "How did they fit?"
"Well …" Raptor began, "I would think that Optimus slept on the couch his whole life. His genitors had the closet." He grinned. "You have bigger closets than they had for their room. "All three of them are tall and big. All three of them labored hard but this is all our society believed they deserved. Fragged isn't it."
They didn't say anything, the two of them. Their faces were solemn but what else they were was hard to tell. They were affected by this place but how, he didn't know. Repulsed? Yes. They hated to be here, like standing in this space would impart a disease or something. "Imagine in the summer when it got so hot you could fry an egg on the street outside. Even though you could manage the heat, it still was stifling. You couldn't afford to go to the shore and the sea. You couldn't afford to cool this place. Frag, this place should have fallen down. I wonder how many infants were waiting here for their genitors to come home and they never did because your family was too cheap to make the factories, mines and shops safe? Imagine working all orn at the steel mill or on the docks, then coming home to this? Can you or is that too much to ask?"
Cargo flinched, a slight movement but Raptor caught it. Keystock looked around, then turned to him. "This was the way it was-" he began before Raptor cut him off.
"No," he said cutting off the standard line given when a high caste was confronted with this sort of thing. "No. This was a choice made by individuals who knew the circumstances but didn't care. This was deliberate. This was policy. Everyone knew about this but no one cared. No one in the high castes outside of the Praxians and a handful of others gave a frag. Something that was supposed to be the way it was to be was the commandment, 'until all are one'. That was the commandment from Primus Himself and The One. Tell me how this," he said sweeping his arm around the room, "fits that demand from Primus and The One?"
It was as silent as a tomb in the cramped space that had spawned a colossus. Keystock stared at him. "You want an answer?"
"Entertain me," Raptor replied.
"Not today," Keystock said as his expression hardened. "Are we through?" he asked.
"No," Raptor said with a cold grin. "We've only just begun, slaggers. Keep up." With that, he walked between them, bumping them contemptuously apart as he walked to the door and the long winding trip down to the street. His entourage waited until the two passed them, then walked down behind them. It was amusing to them, some who had been with the General since forever. He had a new project, something that happened often on their journeys before coming to Mars. Many were the high tones that still expected deference when picked up from whatever hell hole they were squatting in. It didn't last long around the General and his bond.
They reached the street, then Raptor glanced around. "This is the building where Optimus Prime and his genitors lived. This is their historical home. I put in for it to be preserved the way it is now. I never want anyone to forget, nor do I want anyone to be fooled." He turned to the two grim-faced youngsters with a slight grin. "It doesn't matter what you got. It doesn't matter how you came up. It doesn't matter if you have a lot or a little. What matters is your character, your spark and your actions. Optimus Prime didn't have a pot or a window but he had amazing genitors and a great enduring spark. He cared then and he cares now. He's courageous, brilliant, almost unbearably decent, and the greatest Prime … frag, the greatest FIGHTING Prime in the history of our people. He's a gift from Primus and The One in this, our joor of greatest need. I don't tolerate slag from anyone, myself. Don't let my manner fool you, infants. I'm a professional soldier and what I don't know doesn't matter but I'd follow Prime off a slagging cliff. I would never do that for the other four Primes I served under. They were fraggers, the entire lot of them. They had nothing and gave us only misery.
"Sometimes, I'm so ashamed of being high caste, its unbearable. The System brought about a war that nearly destroyed us but make no mistake. It destroyed us long before with this," he said glancing up at the slum building. The rest did, too, then turned back to the General. "This is a building that could tell stories. Generations of broken dreams, suffering and death. Our culture under The System killed all that's good and great about us everyday a million times a day in a million homes all over this planet. Deaths by a thousand cuts. Yet, somehow, we're supposed to be superior. How can that be when we knew about this and allowed it? Are our babies somehow more important and tender than theirs were? They died, you know. Our infant mortality rate was horrendous and we had orphans out the aft because their genitors died in factories, mines and from untreated injuries and illnesses. THEY WERE UNTREATED BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T TAKE CARE OF IT! THE FRAGGING MONEY WAS THERE BUT IT WENT UP AND NOT TO THE ONES WHO MADE IT AND DESERVED THEIR SHARE!"
He looked around himself, then the two youngsters standing stoically in the group of grim-faced mechs. "The System is death. Anyone who supports it supports the death of babies. It's that simple. If you do, then you better get it straight with The One and hope you live forever. I personally want to be there when you stand before The One and He asks you, what did you do for the least among you?" He stared at the two, then glanced around. "We have miles to go, yet. Let's get going." He walked off toward the gates of the district and the shuttle nearby. Everyone would follow.
Silently.
-0-Prowl
He walked to the Ops Center from his office after clearing the decks, approving the force plan should it come to launch and a myriad other things that needed doing. He also had a file going for the festivities that were coming up. Optimus would have to fete Earth2 because they were having their first big holiday here, fete Earth 1 and the Resort as well. It didn't really require it but it gave the tourists another nice story for their conversations back home. He had plans for all three events and would manage that with the proper sources later today when he got off to get the shopping done for the family hoo-haws. He grinned. His aides, a pair of youngling mechs with political degrees had cornered him one fine afternoon.
"Commander, you do realize that we're not just your work aides. We're also your life aides. We can get the kids, do the shopping, care for the Residence, and the like. All you have to do is remember that. Your time is so precious, why not avail yourself of our help? We're ready orn and night to help you with your burdens," Homestead said with a concerned expression. His partner, a mech named Cordial nodded as well. They were his left and right servo on the job and after absorbing the notion of others knowing his business on duty, he had fallen into their help with both peds. However, it was still a learning curve.
"Gentlemen, my gratitude is boundless. I'll consider your fine offers," Prowl had said. He had delegated a lot but not the family stuff. Who knew what his children liked to eat and what sort of sauces Optimus favored over others, though he would never say so, the big patient mech. Cooking and designing anything for his bond was a long learning curve given their different starting points in life. After 'interrogating' Kes and Tagg, he had come to the conclusion that if he put dog dung on a plate, Optimus would eat it and say it was good. Ghetto kids were sometimes very gentle with their genitor's inability to give better than they could and Optimus was no exception. He loved good food well made but he was kind and ate anything given.
Prowl had taken to this conundrum like it was a mathematical problem and had figured it out almost to a veritable tee. That part of his life, he kept to himself. It made him ridiculously happy to make his family happy. If anyone who knew him as a cold blooded, Machiavellian-style, bull-headed, hardcore fragger saw him now, they'd be amazed.
He amazed himself, sometimes, too.
Entering Ops Center, he sat down beside Paragon who was awash in work. "Anything new, Pari?"
"Not so far, Prowl."
"What about your children? How do they like Christmas Surprise so far?" Prowl asked.
Paragon looked up with a smile. "They love it. I don't understand trees and what they mean but the children love them. They love the lights and sparkle. Arrow and I are going to put them into the Prep Academy after New Years during the new intake. We want them with us and we want them to develop friends both here and among the Seekers. When they're old enough, they'll go to the Seeker Academy for the good cultural stuff but the Academy for their foundational educational experience. Sparkling Day will get them next."
"Wonderful," Prowl said. "You do know that when Optimus goes to Sparkling Day, your children can come to see him. All of the home school and home bound kids come to this place and the others to see him. He's coming by horse drawn wagon. Apparently, they figured out how to hitch several horses together for that moment."
Paragon grinned. "That sounds wonderful. We'll be there. I don't understand the holiday particularly, but I'm grateful for it."
"That's the point of the season, I'm told. Gratitude. I'll be grateful if the slaggers don't interrupt things. I have to put on a spread Christmas orn. If you have the time, stop in with your family. Everyone does. Usually."
Paragon nodded. "We will. I hear you have endless numbers."
Prowl nodded. "Thank goodness for a huge kitchen and deliveries from The Catering Place. Its BYOB."
"BYOB?" Paragon asked.
"Human for 'bring your own bottle'," Prowl said with a grin.
"Ah. Another human custom. We shall," Paragon said as Dexter, a Home Guardsman walked to them with a datapad. Prowl read it, then nodded to the kid who walked back to communications. Prowl glanced at Paragon. "The other groups have arrived at the meet up. We have our sensor teams and their back ups waiting far enough to be out of the way but close enough to do a more articulated scan. We should have hard complete data shortly."
"Frag," Paragon said as he sat back with a frown. "Just move along, mechs. Just move along."
"From your lips to Primus's audials," Prowl said as he messaged Optimus.
-0-In the Industrial Park City #3's Special Warehouse District, Hangar #32
Optimus walked along with several mechs through the mountains of pallets that contained the gifts that the different industries and businesses of the colony had made for all the children, elders and others who were going to be honored. This was a warehouse set aside for this purpose because those who contributed began to make the next year's presents practically the orn after Christmas Surprise. They were stored by types and such, then after their future recipients were assessed, names and locations were added to each and they were bagged. Boxed together according to locations they would go, they waited for the volunteers of the various guilds and unions to carry them to the proper places for distribution.
Sitting on a pallet nearby, a throne that bore fresh paint and embellishment waited for its occupant. Optimus grinned, then walked to it to sit. "How do I look?" he asked with a smile.
After the cameras were re-subbed, Jetta laughed. "Like a potentate from some despotic kingdom."
Optimus laughed, then stood up. "I hear I will be arriving at my locations in a horse drawn carriage. The full Santa treatment?" he asked.
"Absolutely," Bulkhead said with a chuckle. "Nothing but the best for our Santa Prime."
Everyone laughed, then they toured some more. The plan was explained, Jetta and Mack would be his guide to get him and his elves where they needed to be and all was well. The other Santa Primes … Magnus, Ironhide and Springer would also go by carriage. No one had told Magnus yet but it was a thing.
-0-Mayor, Empire and Colonial Administrator's office
"WHAT!?"
"Now, Magnus ..." Arcee grinned as Elita and Greenlight lounged on one of his couches in his huge sunlit office. "You know you want to. You'll be driven to each center. They've consolidated the senior center clientele so you'll only have to visit one per city. The home bound will be visited as well. I have the maps, Greenlight and Moonracer will help us. You'll have fun." She smiled brilliantly.
"You do remember what fun is, right, Magnus?" Elita asked with a big grin.
He frowned at her. "Of course, I do."
"Good," Arcee said as she hugged him tightly. "It makes me terribly happy to see you do this. I want everyone to know what a great mech you are. How can I be the only one who really knows that, Magnus?" she asked.
He hugged her back. "I'll do it. FOR YOU."
Arcee grinned up at him, a mech several feet taller than even her. "That's my mech." She looked at the others. "We have slag to do. We have to bring a dessert and drinks to Ada's dinner and to Prime's. What do you want me to bring for the drinks, Magnus?" she asked.
"Whatever you wish," Magnus said.
She grinned, then with the others walked out as Magnus sat to continue his work. Slowing outside, Elita turned to Arcee. "It's magic how you play that mech. He's no one's fool but he's putty in your servos."
Arcee laughed. "That's my mech you're talking about. Magnus is such a good mech. It pains me that he's his own worst enemy."
"I know. Let's go find Atar. I want to see that baby again," Greenlight said as they walked toward the half door and the bigger world outside. They would do so with a light step.
-0-TBC 12-16-17 edited 1-4-18
NOTES:
fete: (feh-tay) salute, party