The Diego Diaries: Ho-Ho-Ho (dd6 232)
-0-0630 TMC, Industrial Park City
They gathered in the warehouse to see what was supposed to happen. All of the Santa Primes were there along with their elves. Given that some of the Primes had more elves than could sit in the wagons outside, there were horses for some to ride. Prime and Ironhide, Raptor, Springer, Blackjack, Starscream, Ultra Magnus, Hard Drive, and Jetta stood around Bulkhead, Payload, Nitro, Copperton, and Slacker who were organizing the delivery of the carefully collated pallets of gifts, each managed by someone from Blondi's professional assistant association. It was noisy but utterly under control. Maxi Herself was queen of the process and as she got things lined out, Blondi and Holi were giving everyone else the last few words.
"Everyone who is a Santa rides in the carriages. The company braided the horses up, put wreathes and bells on the vehicles and horse harnesses and have everything ready. You will ride to the destination, then wait for your site manager who are members of our association to get it organized. You will go inside and there will be the presentation. For those of you who are visiting home bound or those who aren't affiliated with schools or centers, most of the families contacted have agreed to bring them to local youth centers. Those who can't come have been identified and you will go to them on foot. That means some of you elves will show up with the gifts because even if we've narrowed down the list, there's still a lot of houses to hit for any one Santa. Any questions?" she asked.
No one had any so she herded them outside. Standing in a long row, dazzlingly shined and polished carriages pulled by two horses each waited. Their black finish glistened and the harness was rubbed with harness polish until it glowed. The horses, washed, brushed, hooves blacked and polished along with their tails and manes braided, waited with gathering impatience for their passengers. The drivers sat in their seats, a jaunty elf hat on their helms as they waited with good natured laughter and commentary.
Walking out, Ratchet hopped up on his followed by Ironhide. Roto and Docker joined them as others boarded. Huge laughter at Prime along with the others followed as everyone clambered aboard. A number of off duty police were waiting to accompany Springer who sat back in his coach with a big grin and a Santa hat. All around them, the media swirled, recording the event live for IntraComm. Galaxy was there as well, adding the event to their future broadcast features. It was lively and loud. In a car nearby, Lennox, Epps and Graham watched.
"This is insane," Epps said with a laugh. "We better beat them to the school."
"I don't think that's going to be hard," Will Lennox said.
"What now?" Ratchet asked as he lounged in the cart. Maxi was standing at the head of the line of vehicles, then climbed into Raptor's carriage. The femmes in charge clambered aboard and sat down, one to each vehicle. Maxi who was standing in Raptor's waved her servo. "TIME TO GO!" she cried.
The first carriage driver gently tapped his horses with the whip in his servos, then they began to move. Bells filled the air as they began to leave one by one. Down the main drive of the Industrial City complex they rolled cheered on by those who were finishing up the last shift before the area closed down for Christmas Surprise. Prime who was lounging in his own beside Prowl waved to the multitudes, received the love of the Nation and relaxed. He would attend to Sparkling Day and all of the hospitals in the hope that perhaps the Matrix might want to weigh in. His father, Tagg and his ada, Kestrel along with Venture sat with them waving as they rolled out to the highway heading back to the colony proper. Behind him in a long line, the rest of the eight wagons followed. Police were transformed into vehicle mode and drove slowly ahead and behind them, their lights flashing. It could have been an event on Earth if all the cars were alive and the horses were robots.
"This is fun," Ratchet said as he sat beside Ironhide. Across from him were Docker, Roto and Lee-Lee. "I suppose Terradive is in class."
"He's waiting," Roto said as he adjusted his elf hat. "Poor slagger. He's missing a great time."
Docker smiled. "THIS IS SO MUCH FUN! Honestly, Ratchet, I've never had so much fun until now."
"You deserved it forever, Amma," Ratchet said with a grin. "Everyone is at the schools, right?"
Docker nodded. "They are. What is our route, Lee-Lee?"
"They're mostly going to be at the Academy in Terra. All of the others have consolidated at the Academy in Retriades. Then we have to do home bound in Seven Cities-North. Most of them will be at the care centers and treatment places because they have appointments but some will be in apartments. Most of them will be consolidated, though," Lee-Lee said.
"Good," Ratchet said. "This would be impossible otherwise. We may have to divide things up next year into zones and get more Santa Primes."
"I think so," Ironhide agreed as he waved at Lennox, Epps and Graham who were speeding past heading for the city on the sidewalk of the highway. "Slaggers. Where's a traffic cop when you need one?"
"Prowl is probably already texting them a ticket as we speak," Ratchet said.
Huge laughter greeted that as they rolled along, heading for the turnoffs that would take them all in different directions. When they did, so would go the media. The entire procession from the Industrial City to their destined stops would be filmed and play on the screen. It would be edited and given to the MCA in a shorter, less undignified form which would play well on Earth. Robots in jaunty hats being hauled around by robot horses would trend large on twitter.
-0-Later down the road...
They headed toward Terra and a rendezvous with the little tots at the Circle of Light Preparatory Academy. A number of Missionary schools would be there as well, gathering to meet up with Santa Prime in whatever incarnation presented itself. Rolling down the crowded streets toward the Academy on 'L' Street, Ironhide and Company waved to the crowds. Many were the residents who waited on the sidewalks for a glimpse of the strange but utterly entertaining procession. Ironhide smiled, waved and when they arrived, stood up in the carriage with his arms spread wide to take the acclaim of the crowd. There was a lot of laughter, catcalls, applause, commentary, and the like as he stepped down off the carriage. Docker, Ratchet, Lee-Lee, and Roto followed, then gathered on the sidewalk out front with the directors of the Academy and a highly amused Miss Birdie.
"I AM SANTA IRONHIDE! I AM HERE TO GIFT LITTLE KIDS!" Ironhide said to great acclaim.
"Then come inside," Miss Birdie said with a grin. "Inside voices."
Ironhide grinned. "Okay," he said quietly to much abuse as he followed the teachers and Miss Birdie inside.
The lobby was crowded with genitors and other family as Ironhide walked in, spotted his chair, then walked toward it to sit. Nearby, coming in through a freight door sat the pallet of gifts in big boxes. All of them were sorted and retrieval was expected to be flawless. Ratchet, Docker and Roto walked to the gift boxes to get things explained by the Guild member who was going to organize the retrieval. Ironhide grinned at everyone, most of whom he knew from Prowler's attendance, then he glanced at Ratchet. "HUSTLE, ELVES! PRESENTS WAIT FOR NO INFANT!"
Huge laughter and a rap on the helm greeted that as the doors opened and a class of infants clutching a rope were led into the room. They glanced all around, then froze as one. Staring at Ironhide, they then ran for him to fling themselves onto his peds. It was hilarious. He leaned down and patted, rubbed and chatted with them as their teachers gathered them back again. "Well, well, well … LOOK AT YOU!" he said with a grin. "WHO'S A CUTE LITTLE SPARKLING!?" he asked.
Of course, tots being literal, they ran back up to tell him personally. It took a moment to retrieve them. He grinned. "When I say your name, you come to me and let old Santa Ironhide give you a present. I just know you've been good."
A little mech walked up and stopped before him. "Santa Prime?"
Ironhide leaned down. "What, infant?"
"I been good. I do good," he said, then turned enough to point at another tiny mech standing nearby. "He beens not good."
Ironhide nearly split a gut holding in his laughter as the teacher retrieved the little snitch. Ratchet and the others including most of the room, on the other servo, laughed loudly. Ironhide grinned at Miss Birdie who grinned at him. "Well, let's see what we have," he said as he glanced at Lee-Lee who had gotten the correct box open. Gifts began to come out. Ironhide took one. "Comet," he read.
Two little kids stepped forward with giant smiles. Ironhide glanced at Lee-Lee who fished out the other 'Comet', felt up the package to figure out what it was, then gave it to Ratchet to give to Ironhide. After a bit of monkey motion, the correct Comet got the correct gift. They sat down to open them but were carried to their line by aides. More little kids came, then a new line and then another.
Family were parted out to take films with the Prime and Ironhide family kids. Sojourner and Solus walked up holding hands. They peered up at Ironhide. "Uncle Ironhide?" Sojourner asked.
"What, Princess?" Ironhide asked.
"Are you Santa Prime, too?" she asked as Solus leaned against his ped.
"I help him. Santa Prime has a lot of infants to take care of. You'll have to tell your atar about it," Ironhide said.
She smiled and nodded. "I will."
He handed both a gift, then Prowler who was loved up, then more kids and a few elder volunteers. When they were finished here, they picked up to roll toward two other prep schools, then onward to Seven Cities-North and a lot of stops around town.
-0-Prime and Company
They rolled along taking in the view, getting honks and waves. Waving back, they relaxed into a peaceful ride. Venture was taking videos with his camera while Tagg and Kestrel just enjoyed the ride.
"We've taken these rides in different places, Orion. I sure enjoy them," Tagg said.
"I do as well," Kestrel said. "This is a very kind thing you are all doing, son."
"We want our children to be happy and look forward to good things rather than bad," Optimus said. "I want these memories to overlay the others. This holiday is beautiful and comforting to families, their elders and children."
"I agree," Kestrel said as he waved to someone who called out to them. "What do the humans think about us utilizing one of their holidays?"
"I have mostly heard only good things, Ada. We do not touch on the religious aspects of the holiday. We take the secular side for our own. There are studies going on in different places about cultural exchanging and influencing like this. I find it interesting," Optimus replied.
They turned toward Terra and pulled up after some travel before Sparkling Day School. Nova was there and after a lot of laughter, led the way inside. In the immense lobby was the throne built by the guilds and unions for him. Huge mechs were waiting and after a bit of monkey motion, the first classes began to come down in the elevators. The doors opened and they were led out, halting with great amazement and delight at the crowds, the glitz, the presents, and Santa Prime. Standing around him in their various elf and Mrs. Santa hats (minus the wig and glasses ripped out by Prowl aka Mrs. Prime), Kestrel, Tagg, Prowl, and Venture waited expectantly. Nearby filming, Miler watched with great expectation. One of the infants for the gifting was Prima, coming here to have Santa Prime give it personally.
The children halted, then broke ranks, running for Prime as fast as they could go. They swarmed him, patting and getting patted. Then they were brought back into their lines to wait, loudly, impatiently, with a bit of angst thrown in. "Hello," Optimus said before they charged him again. For a moment, it was bedlam, then it was organized again. "If you wait for your turn, I will be giving you a gift from our colony for all the good that you have done for all of us. We are proud of you, infants. I am proud of you."
A gift was given him and he called a line forward. They took their gift, some of them shyly, some happily, some who wanted to tell him their entire life story, and others without a word. Each line waited, came forward, were loved on, given a gift, then walked back to class for their party. By the time Groups A-D, Level One appeared, their own kids began to show up.
Prima who was placed in line with Praxus walked forward with group D. They smiled as they stopped at the line where they were expected to wait. Orion glanced upward. "OSIMUS!"
Huge laughter was had.
Orion stepped out of line and marched up to Prime. "You she! I love you!" he said in a reasonable voice. It triggered a stampede which took a moment to unwind.
"I love you, too, Orion. I love all of you. I want to give you something for being so wonderful." He began again, posing as all of them would for family snapshots and to chat a bit with their hero, Santa Prime. That he was Optimus Prime in a Santa suit didn't compute at all with them. Even with his own kids, there was that unreal sense of awe around Santa Prime, rather than Daddy.
They came and came, hopping up, running, being carried for injuries or shyness, but all of them got a present as well as some time with Santa and the elves. When the last infant was gifted and the elder volunteers as well, they gathered up their squad to head for the major hospitals around the colony and the Autobot City Processor Hospital and Outpatient Center.
-0-Senior Citizen Land
They pulled up before the Vos Tower Senior Center in Autobot City. Climbing down, Ultra Magnus and Arcee, a large number of the femmes who rode there on horseback, Partition who was riding behind Lancer, and a number of other mechs who had come along for the lulz walked to the door through the crowds of family, friends and passersby who had stopped to watch. A large number of humans were among them. He walked inside, met the group in charge, then sat down on his chair. Faun would be his straw boss and he would the king of the mountain. With smirking elves around him, the first elders were escorted up by their families or the directors of the senior program.
"Welcome," Magnus said as he leaned forward to look at a small pair of elders. One of them looked gruff and the other shy. "I would like to present you both a gift that is a token of our respect, admiration and love for you and your contribution to our society. We are very proud to do this for you," he said as he took two gifts in servo. They had the names of the recipients on them and he handed them over. They bowed, the gruff mech stiffly and the other deeply. He looked at Magnus. "Thanks. I heard that you did this. It's nice."
Magnus nodded to him. "We are glad to do it."
"Thank you," the other said. "I never got a gift until this place. It wasn't like Tray-C didn't provide. He did. This is just unexpected."
"I worked hard, Cyro. I always provided," Tray-C said gruffly. "Don't think I ever slacked."
"We know you didn't," Magnus said. "We are honored to reward your great service to our people. Thank you and Merry Christmas Surprise."
They both nodded, then limped to their table to sit. The shy mech would open his but the gruff one would wait until he got home. No one ever rewarded him before and he didn't know what to make of it but he would love the thick book that told of the wildlife and plant life of Cybertron. He wouldn't be the only one who would find this strange and unusual but they would all have one thing in common in the end. A sense of happiness and pride.
They were beginning to believe, these who had lived in The System the longest, that they had a value beyond their utility after all.
-0-TBC 12-29-17 edited 1-11-18