The Diego Diaries: Return (dd6 260)
-0-On the street after breakfast
They stood on a street corner watching the traffic go past. There were vehicles both manned and otherwise along with trucks doing their business, going their own way on the spacious highways and roads that were lit with real traffic lights. Businesses were open with customers coming and going along with pedestrians on the sidewalks. There were also street vendors with immaculate carts 'selling' street food which was especially huge in the colony. It was like Cybertron in the orn but organic.
Prowl, Miler, Venture, and Optimus Prime watched Zenith and Shadow stare around themselves. They were perfectly mannered, self contained, non emotionally demonstrative, and ready to go wherever the family was ready to take them. It made the four nervous down to their superstructure. Miler had fallen back into the 'referee' role, the one who kept both sides calm and happy at their own expense, Venture was silent again, Prime was concerned for all of them, and the shadow of Gothic angst shaded Prowl's usually forward moving personality. Only Prima in his carryall was relaxed as he watched the sky from the swaddling of his soft blankets.
"This is the main thoroughfare of Autobot City," Miler was saying. "This is the main highway and it runs three directions through the colony. Down that way is Aerie Hill, the enclave where most Seekers live. It's designed for them to fly in and out without crashing into the buildings of this part of the colony. That direction is the Terra Hub, the Industrial Park Cities and your home in the Crater District. This way," he said pointing down the street beyond, "is the Temple District, the route to the Mausoleum, the Primal Basilica with the Shrine to the Thirteenth Prime, the Tri-Cities and Metro Districts, and almost all of the human habitats and consulates."
They nodded, then Zenith turned to his son. "Humans are the organics from Earth?"
"They are," Venture said. "They're our first friends, the closest we have and our partners in many ventures. You will see them buzzing around town in vehicles of many stripes. There are also other organics rescued from the Decepticons who live in a large habitat on the other side of the airfield who are call the Hu-An. They usually stay in their quarters tending their gardens. They require them for food."
Zenith nodded. "Where do we go next?" he asked.
"I thought we would take the trains to the Terra Hub, then go through the Tri-Cities. We have a number of other developments, the Seven Cities-East, North, West, and South which can also be explored. Over 23 million of our people reside here with more coming shortly in migrations prepared by Dai Atlas and the Knights of Cybertron," Miler said. "They're very heroic with what they do as are all our soldiers and people." He began to lead the group and they followed, heading toward Metro Station #1.
Down they went to halt on the platform. There were a happy group of youngling kids, apprentices most likely who were either heading to work or play. They were boisterous and friendly, laughing together at one end of the platform. Prime's presence drew a wave which he returned as trains came and went. They boarded their train and were gone. When the Circle Line came, all of them stepped aboard. The doors closed and they sped onward.
Sitting in seats, they watched the lights as they came and went down the tunnel. "How long does it take to get from place to place, Prowl?" Shadow asked after a moment of silence.
"The trains are very fast and travel to every corner of the colony. They run continuously, all orn and night, so you can always travel for your needs. There are multiple stations in each city and therefore, you should find the one closest to you. The station we took is the first and the most busy of all in the colony," Miler said. "There are trains that carry only children to and from school, the Orange Line and The Bus as two are called. Those are busy in the morning and evening as well as being dedicated to children, though between times you can ride them."
"There are many schools it would appear," Zenith said.
Prowl nodded. "We have always supplied education for all our people. Our schools for all ages are stellar. We have renowned individuals supplying opportunities and education to our children. Our university is excellent, staffed by many of the best in their field from Cybertron. They're very happy to do what they did before and we're happy to have them."
Zenith nodded. "That is good," he said as the train slowed when it reached Terra.
This hub was the premier station in the system with lines going from it to everywhere, north, south, east, and west. It had ten different platforms that fed different directions but most used the three that were the main transfer lines. They walked to the stairs and with a lot of pedestrians going up as on the other side of the rail lots went down, they reached the main station proper and walked out of its marble confines to the street. It was busy as they emerged in the light to find themselves on the Grand Plaza as the locals called the City Center.
It was vast and open with places to sit, fountains recently placed, sculpture of famous Cybertronians and moments or works from artists commissioned in contests. Around it were the tall towers that they favored, huge buildings that were homes and businesses for the two million who lived here or came to the city for whatever reason. At the end of the long plaza, the tower of Sparkling Day School #1 gleamed in the sunlight. It rose up to the bright sky along with the others, its fenced environs with its carefully designed and frolicsome playgrounds distinguishing it from other places.
"That is Sparkling Day School #1. We have two each of it and Youngling Day as well as one advanced school we call Intermediate Day for older children. This is the jewel in our crown. Everyone attends and we're expected to do service in the classrooms with our children," Miler said.
Prime turned to the two who were looking at the building down the way. "School is compulsory for sub adult children without exception. We have other alternatives such as the Circle of Light Preparatory Academies, the Hub Schools which are administered by the Primus Peace Mission and a number of others. Most of those students are funneled to the public schools at a certain age, such is their quality. There is no barrier to anyone wanting to have an education any longer."
Zenith and Shadow turned to him, then nodded. "I see," Zenith said. "I'm told that there are technical schools as well."
"There are. We are constructing a University Center across from the Basilica in which we shall consolidate all of our higher education opportunities including trade and technical schools. We have many individuals from Cybertron coming here to be trained, retrain or learn vital skills to take back with them when they return. We want to house them in a comfortable and collegial setting to help them with their educational plans. It will be opening in three decaorns."
Zenith nodded. "Shadow is a mathematics professor and was one of renown in Praxus. I, myself, have much to offer in physics and mathematics. It is our hope to contribute to those areas in some manner."
"You will meet Wheeljack, Appa," Prowl said. "He and Perceptor manage and direct all sciences for the Empire."
"Perceptor … he lives?" Zenith asked with a micro hint of surprise.
"He survived with the Wreckers before coming here. He and Wheeljack have a bond and a son, Resolve, named after Percy's father," Prowl said.
"Resolve," Zenith said. "I knew him well, a most brilliant processor. Does he live here, too?"
"No," Prowl said. "We're still rounding up our people from everywhere so we have hope."
Zenith nodded. Shadow stared at Prowl a moment. "Hope. It's a good thing," he said quietly. "I'm most impressed, Prowl. I'm assuming that some of the children attend this school."
"Miracle attends here. Solus and Sojourner attend the Circle Academy. They will eventually be shifted here to continue. Both are rigorous educational programs," Prowl said.
Shadow nodded. "That's good to know. You and Miler were given the best educations we could find. You've both excelled greatly."
Prowl considered this, the closest to a compliment that they ever allowed. "Thank you, Amma. Shall we go?" He walked forward leading the group toward the school. Before they would enter, they continued down the main street to The Confectionare. He held the door open as they walked inside. Smirking slightly at Optimus, he followed the big mech in.
Half a joor later …
They walked out and gathered to get their bearings. "That was most tasty," Shadow said. "I find it strange to walk out without paying for it."
"We are a cashless society here," Optimus said as he carried Prima in his basket. The baby was sleeping peacefully. "We began that way from the start and its what our people prefer. I bow to their wishes."
Zenith stared at him as if to say something, then glanced at Shadow. "Interesting," he said as Shadow nodded. "Where to now?"
"The station again. We're going to The Basilica," Prowl said as he lead the way. He gripped his ada's servo as they walked together, Miler clutching his hand gratefully. It would be a quiet ride to the district.
-0-Ratchet
He sat at his desk running information on the new refugees. They were a healthy bunch. He dialed up a number, chatted a moment, then signed off. Sitting back, he watched the monitor nearby playing a number of stations he watched for a few moments every day to get a bead on things on Earth. They were discussing a number of stories related to humans as well as bots. One station was uniformly against them while the others reported the news as they saw fit. That usually translated to reasonably good and accurate coverage with an emphasis on the strange. Most of them saw the need for the alliances, though they often focused on discussion items such as Jim Johnson's arrest and Earth2 to discuss ad infinitum with any number of talking heads of every possible political and social persuasion.
Lee-Lee peeked in. "He's here, Ratchet."
"Thanks, Lee-Lee. Send him in," Ratchet said as he stood.
A small slender mech entered, glanced around in awe, then turned to Ratchet. "Doctor … you wanted to see me?"
"I did," Ratchet said with a grin. He shook the mech's servo, then directed him to sit. Pulling two cans of candy out of his desk, he tossed the mech one. "Candy … old recipes from Cybertron. How long has it been?"
"Forever, or so it seemed like," the mech said. He was Princep, a doctor of some skill and reputation back in the orn who had been the main physician of the refugee group just arrived.
"How are you settled in? Is there anything you need?" Ratchet asked as he sat on the chair next to Princep to eat fudge.
"We're good right now. The apartment is astonishing. I don't think my apartment in Capital City was that nice," he said. "I'm hoping to be a physician here as well."
"That can be arranged. Relax a few orns, then come here and we'll put you to work. What I'm sort of interested in was how your colony functioned. You're aware that The System is banned here, right?" Ratchet asked.
Princep nodded. "I don't mind."
Ratchet grinned. "That's good. I was wondering what your colony was like? Did The System work there?"
"Yes, unfortunately," Princep said with a slightly bitter tone. "We were divided. There was the high caste contingent and the rest."
"You're high caste," Ratchet posed.
A cold expression formed on the small mech's handsome face. "We die just as easily, maybe even easier than anyone else."
Ratchet nodded. "I would agree."
"We were divided. We had our part of the colony and they had theirs. It was interesting how they were able to build their own homes and services when we refused. There were more of us than them and in the end they had to heft their own weight. We traded with each other, goods and services, but that was it. There was no mingling, no detente. We were barely civil, most of us, most of the time."
"Where did you fit in? I'm assuming you're a dissident high caste breakaway," Ratchet said.
He nodded. "It didn't work did it? The System. It was the cause of everyone's misery. It was hard to see it before The Fall. Some of us genuinely didn't see the problem. Some did and didn't care. For those of us who could and felt the shame, we didn't align with the slag. We couldn't. I couldn't. My bond is high caste and our kids … they had friends of all stripe. That's the thing … the young get it. They have to be taught to see the differences that aren't there unless we say they are. In the end, the Decepticon's bullets killed the high and low together. There's equality in the grave."
It was silent a moment. "We have counselors of the greatest degree here. I would suggest you see one."
He nodded. "Survivor's guilt … tension … I hope it bleeds out with peace and comforts. I don't intend to do less than what my people … all of my people require of me. That ship has sailed," he said.
Ratchet nodded. "It has. Do you know two mechs named Zenith and Shadow of Praxus?"
A cold expression formed once again. "I do. They were among the leadership of the high castes. They expected everyone to cater to their needs. We didn't. They especially hated those of us who didn't uphold 'The Life' as it was called. We were invisible to them. They shunned us but we didn't care. It was hard for a long time, then it got better. Frag them."
"What are they like?" Ratchet asked.
"They're cold and formal, the old style type of high caste. They never show emotion, they're always watching and listening, figuring out how things work … how YOU work. They're ultra smart but they're old school, really high end old school. They're hardcore high castes, the kind where the lines are drawn in titanium. Do you know them?"
"They're relatives of a friend. He wasn't very happy to see them come," Ratchet said.
"Lucky him," Princep said with no small amount of heat. "I'd shoot myself with family like that."
"I hear ya," Ratchet said. They sat together eating candy, discussing the upgrade education Princep would need to be current, then he went his separate way. Ratchet sat by the window considering Prowl's problem. For once, Lucien faded into the background as he considered the newcomers.
-0-Primal Basilica
They stood on the platform staring upward at the incredible building before them. Glancing at the Shrine to the Thirteenth Prime nearby, Zenith turned to Miler. "Are there other shrines as well?"
"There are, Appa," Prowl said. "Our family shrine is the one for Solus which is in town by the City Hall. She is patron of Optimus, his personal patron," he said for emphasis.
"I see," Zenith said. "It would appear that you put them where they would be on Cybertron."
"When we could," Miler said as he walked forward.
The others followed, Prime bringing up the rear with a solemn Venture as they all disappeared into the building together.
-0-TBC 1-29-18 edited 2-3-18
Notes tomorrow. I tripped and crashed to the floor like a big doofus. Nothing broke or bent. It's surprising how little it really hurts. :D:D:D No harm, not much foul. I'm one sturdy old geezer. ;)
HUGS!
If something is ad infinitum (in-fin-nigh-tum), then it goes on forever.