The Diego Diaries: Return (dd6 262)
-0-Later that afternoon in The Residence
They gathered there to chat after Zenith and Shadow had rested from the morning. The children were home from school and they were playing noisily. Having been introduced, they had galloped away to their berth rooms to have fun. As they did, Prowl remembered running in their house was a major taboo in his own childhood. He admired his children as they ran freely away, unaware that limitations of that kind existed.
It was silent a moment, then Zenith looked at Prowl. "They attend school. How do they do academically? I am curious how the travails affect such things."
"They do well. Rambler was accelerated. He attends the Intermediate School, has music lessons and attends classes at the Performing Arts Center for our gifted children," Prowl said without disguising his pride for his oldest son (minus Bluestreak). "Spirit and T-Bar were more adversely affected but they've achieved equilibrium in Youngling Day. Miracle attends Sparkling Day and is excelling in all the academic areas while the girls attend Circle Prep. They have strong academic precursors that bode well for the future. They are laboring at the moment to recover their speech from an audial difficulty that was corrected. All of them are at or above their officially tested and predicted placements."
"That is very good to hear," Shadow said. "Education is a very important factor in our family's life. Without a sound rigorous education, the doors to dreams are hard to open." He looked at Miler. "You were profoundly gifted in mathematics, Miler, though physics was more difficult."
"Ada is the navigator and Alpha Team mathematician for the space bridge program," Prowl said. "His physics have few equals."
Zenith nodded. "That is marvelous to hear. After all, physics and mathematics are our strong points. We hope to find avenues to bring our skills to bear. It would be a waste otherwise."
"There are opportunities in the colony for original new voices. Have you discussed such things with the Employment Department of the Department of Economic Development?" Prime asked. He glanced at Venture. "You might know who they can meet with, Venture."
He nodded. "Meet with Paradis. She's the director for employment and can match skills with programs, jobs and the like better than anyone else. She's in the City Hall and part of my department. I don't work in that building anymore. They moved us to a new development in Terra but she's there because of the refugee waves. It's closer to the Bureau of Refugees and those that come."
"I will see to it, Venture. Thank you," Zenith said. He looked at Miler. "We would be interested in developing our research into the multiverse and other interests that have been put on hold too long. It would dovetail with the bridge program at some point. Right now, we are working on theoretical models of our theories. We need a bigger computer than we had. We have even considered working privately, creating a business entity of our own, that is … if hard and theoretical science is allowed here." He looked at Prime.
"We allow our people to do the things that they desire as long as they are legal and ethical. If you wish to do hard science, it is welcome. I would suggest that you discuss your model with Wheeljack and Perceptor. They are co-directors of all science in the Empire and on world," Optimus said as Prowl nodded.
"Maybe having your own space to think and work is the ideal, Amma," Prowl said. "You do have a tendency, if memory serves me, to get lost in your work. Being on your own schedule might be the thing for both of you."
Zenith nodded. He looked at Prime, then Prowl. "Thank you for the wonderful lunch and the conversation. I am anxious to figure things out, so perhaps Shadow and I can visit the names suggested and find out what is possible. I am not adverse to working in the system but our focus is rather esoteric and not especially useful at the moment."
"I can help you, Atar," Miler said.
"That's alright, Miler. Your ada and I want to see if we can navigate the colony. Since you all have complicated and full time jobs, its probably a good thing for us to start doing that," Zenith said as he stood. "Take the Fortress Line from Metro #1 to the Sciences stop five from here. That will bring us to them. The City Hall is across the street from here. I'm assuming I'm correct?" he asked Prowl.
Prowl grinned slightly. "You are, Appa," he said as he stood. Everyone else stood, all chatted a moment, then the two took their leave. When the door closed, everyone sat again. It was quiet a moment.
"Maybe they'll be so engrossed in their work that they won't be a problem, Ada," Prowl said. "Sorry to be so bold but they do. Did. Will."
"Don't apologize, Prowl. They do and it might be a … a solution," Miler said as he vented a sigh. "I don't think they'd be happy in a system that they can't control. Having their own business will be better."
"We can but hope," Venture said.
Then the children came in and made everything right.
-0-On a train to Sciences
"Having our own situation would appear a good idea," Shadow said. "We can do what we want without all of the problems this is going to bring having to depend on others or share space."
Zenith nodded. "I agree."
The train sped onward and when they came to the Sciences station, they stepped off, walked upward, then out to the double lane road that led to the ten story Sciences building in the distance. Transforming, they drove there, transformed again, then entered. The building was beautiful, the lobby large and hanging from the ceiling, a giant slowly turning globe of Cybertron rotated. They stared at it, then walked to the desk nearby where all visitors had to go.
"Can I help you?" a youngling mech asked.
"Yes," Zenith said. "My name is Zenith of Praxus and this is my bond, Shadow of Praxus. We've just immigrated and were told that all science on world is derived here. We are mathematicians and physicists. We would like to talk to Perceptor who is an old friend."
"Allow me to check," the youngster replied as he did. Then he pointed to the elevator. "Go there, step off at the tenth floor, then walk to the end of the corridor. Their office is there."
"Thank you," Zenith said as they walked toward a bank of elevators. It was a short trip up as they stepped off on the tenth floor, a place abuzz with offices, massive libraries of both hard copy and digital information floor to ceiling. They walked onward passing conference rooms where groups were going over things, offices both occupied and not by their owners, a viewing room for groups to watch presentations, then finally, the office space of Perceptor and Wheeljack.
The receptionist-assistant in the outer office looked up from their desk. "Welcome. They're expecting you. Please go in."
They nodded and did, walking into a huge office that had started out as two but were joined together. The views were amazing of the desert beyond through floor-to-ceiling windows. Two desks were pushed together to face each other so that conversation was enhanced as several tables around the space held any number of projects, devices and who knew what for their work. A wall was covered with shelves that held books, datapads and various devices. A lounge area with couches and chairs was nearby next to an entire wall of electronics, computers and monitors. Data flowed faster than could be followed on some of them while others held the Emblem of the Primes and the symbols of Mars and Cybertron as they waited to be utilized.
In a corner, playing inside a playpen with his toys, Resolve entertained himself as he ate his snack of cookies and juice.
Wheeljack noticed them first, then grinned. "Come in."
They did, all shook their hands, then Zenith asked his questions. "We're looking to do our work here but we want to have your opinion about working on our own privately or not," he said to Perceptor.
Percy glanced at Wheeljack. "What do you think, 'Jack? I suppose that it depends on your work, its purpose and how much you wish to be free to make your own schedule and do what you want."
Wheeljack nodded. "I think so," he said. "I suppose you wish to continue your theoretical work regarding multi-dimensional realities."
They both nodded. "We're not sure how that fits with the projects you have going on and we're not at the point where a direct application can be devised. Our work is highly theoretical," Zenith said to Perceptor.
Percy glanced at Wheeljack, then the two. "I would suggest that until you have something solid, you might want to have the quietude and freedom that having your own space provides. Paradis would be who you should see."
"That's who we were suggested to contact. Perhaps when we have something more operational, we can sit down and discuss things," Zenith said as he glanced at Perceptor.
"That would be optimal, I think," Percy said with a cold tone.
Zenith nodded, then everyone shook hands. Walking out, the door closed behind them. Then Perceptor turned toward Wheeljack with fury. "DID YOU SEE THAT!?"
"Percy-" Wheeljack began but was cut off.
"They directed the conversation to me, Wheeljack. They ignored you and talked to me. I WON'T HAVE THAT! THAT KIND OF HIGH CASTE SLAG HOW NO PLACE HERE AND CERTAINLY NOT WITH YOU! I WON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF INSULT DIRECTED AT YOU!" Perceptor said with heat.
Wheeljack grinned. "They'll learn the hard way, obviously. Poor Prowl."
Perceptor stared at the doors with fury. "They'll learn it from me if they do that again, Wheeljack. NO one will disrespect you in front of me. I won't allow it." He looked at Wheeljack. "I was a Wrecker, 'Jack. I know how to fight."
Wheeljack gently stroked the Wrecker tat on Percy's arm. "I never doubted it, Percy. Not for one moment.
-0-On the way to the City Hall
They got off the train at Metro District #1 and walked to the street. Stepping out, they made their way to the City Hall, entering the lobby together. It was busy. They walked to the counter. Faun was there doing something for Fenix when they walked up. "Can I help you?" she asked sweetly.
"We would like to speak to Paradis. We were directed to do so by Optimus Prime," Zenith said.
"Ah. Please wait here and I will find her," Faun said as she finished her task, then walked to the corridor that led to the offices of the worker bees and officials of the colony and empire.
"This is a busy place," Shadow said as he glanced around. "Ultra Magnus is the chief administrator."
"So I heard," Zenith said as a small femme walked out to greet them.
"I'm Paradis. Please, come this way," she said as she opened the half door. In they walked, down the hallway they followed her and into her nice office they went. Everyone sat, then she smiled. "How may I help you?"
Zenith explained their situation, their desired plan and how they would do hard science that didn't necessarily have a direct application yet.
Paradis listened. "Hard science is going on all over the colony. There's room for it here as long as its safe and ethical. If you can fill out this datapad, I can submit it to Ultra Magnus who okays all of the non-essential operations in the colony. That is, those businesses that do not produce a direct product immediately. All of the science-oriented operations, private or not, fall under the purview of Wheeljack and Perceptor. You need to submit a detailed plan of what you're doing so it can be reviewed for safety and ethics, then filed. You will be required to submit a paper or report every 20 decaorns to their office to be filed. Otherwise, you would be an independent entity."
"What happens to the annual reports?" Shadow asked.
"They're reviewed, checked for safety and perhaps for any sort of support or added resources that might assist the research. No one is allowed to do anything that might be dangerous or unethical. We have 23 million individuals here and their safety is paramount. That being said, unless it suffers from either, you'll be given free rein to work. We don't want any budding Jhiaxus wannabees running around."
Both of them knew Jhiaxus and both found him distasteful. They nodded. "We understand," Zenith said as he began to fill out the application. He handed it back when he finished. "What happens now?" he asked.
"We will review this, Ultra Magnus will have a chat with Wheeljack and Perceptor because its their purview, then if granted, you will be fast tracked to a facility that will be yours to operate. The system of supply and other features will be explained and a sector of Teletraan that manages such things will be granted. Anything that's necessary to the functioning of your operation will be designed, delivered and set up by the Foundry Exchange and the Office of Business Management. At that point, you'll be listed and ready to go."
Shadow nodded. "Very efficient."
"It is. Our purpose is to support our business and science community and get them up and running." She rose. "I will have an answer for you in a joor if you wish to go to a cafe and wait. We also have one in the building on the second floor."
"We will wait here then," Zenith said as he rose with Shadow. "Thank you."
She nodded, then watched them walk out. "You two look like twins to Prowl. Weird," she said as she walked out to deliver the datapad to Magnus.
He would discuss things with Wheeljack and Perceptor. Then he would discuss the situation with Prowl and Optimus. Ratchet would be consulted, then he would grant the request. Shadow and Zenith would be up and running in two orns.
-0-TBC 1-31-18 edited 2-3-18