The Diego Diaries: Farmville (dd6 400) (Sixth time we have passed 400 since 2010) :D
-0-University of Minnesota Administration Building
He ran in, then paused to catch his breath. Glancing around, he ran toward the office of the President down the corridor nearby, flashed through the outer office startling everyone there, then opened the door to the office of the Big Kahuna himself. He stopped before the desk of the President who nearly jumped out of his chair in surprise. Eric Kaler stared at Leslie Hadden with fright. "WHAT!?"
Leslie caught his breath. "ERIC! TERRIE AND I NEED A SABBATICAL STAT!"
-0-Terrie Hadden
She sat in her office quivering with surprise after Les had called her. She stood up, then sat down, then stood again.
Mars.
They were going to Mars.
To work.
On a farm.
On Mars.
For Optimus Prime.
With their son and daughter-in-law.
On a farm.
On Mars.
She rose and walked to the door of her office in the Science Building at the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences. She opened it, looked at everyone there who glanced up to look at her, then screamed as loudly as she could.
-0-Kaler v Hadden
"You have classes for a few more weeks, Les, before we can let you have one."
"My grad students can finish them. They have my notes, they have my tests, they have my confidence. I'm going to be director for agriculture on Mars for the Prime of Cybertron."
"I know that, Les. Congratulations, by the way. However, we do have this matter of your classes."
"I have two classes, master students. My grads can finish. I NEED THAT SABBATICAL, ERIC!"
-0-Terrie
"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! TAKE ME!" -everyone in her office
-0-Les
He walked out of the building with a grin and sabbaticals in hand. He didn't expect to honor them by coming back when they were completed but he was a man of his generation. His Depression era parents would hate for him to take a high flying risk without a net. Heading for his office, he would rent a u-haul trailer, load his slag before dinnertime and head for home after prepping his SERIOUSLY JEALOUS grad students to finish the three weeks left of his master classes, all two of them. He would park in the driveway of his house beside his wife's car and u-haul trailer when he got home. It would be a very screamy evening in their house as they Skyped with their son and called their entire family including their three sons who were farmers in Iowa to tell them.
They would scream, too.
Christmas was going to be awesome this year for everyone.
-0-Back at the habitat
They were dropped off by Inferno and entered from the darkness outside. Waiting at the door was Owen Harris, Pierre Beliveau, Kyle Davis, Hamilton Brown, Steven Jameson, and some of their wives who hung back to watch. Also hanging back were the Daniels and nearby, Nast. It was amazing how alive the grapevine was in the habitat. Everyone wanted to know everything.
"Hello. You're back," Owen said as the two slowed to halt in front of the group.
"We are." Zak took Monica's hand into his. They both squeezed.
"Where did you go? Did you go to the new ships? I'm curious what Prime is planning here," Owen asked smoothly.
Zak glanced at Monica, the two thinking about what Prime had suggested they tell anyone who asked.
The truth.
Zak looked at the group, then Owen. "Optimus Prime is opening another habitat dedicated to research and development in the areas of farming, manufacturing and construction techniques. We've been asked about the farming aspect for some time and they wanted us to see what they created."
The group looked shocked and surprised, then Owen stepped closer. "What did they create?"
Zak grinned internally even as his face was solemn externally. "They created a ten story habitation with a complete city inside, more spacious state of the art labs and facilities than I've seen at international corporations on Earth, a plan for helping Earth with all the discoveries, and 80 square miles of dome-enclosed farming land."
It was so silent among the group that they appeared to be statues to Zak and Monica, then Steve Jameson spoke. "And you never saw fit to tell us about this?"
"No," Zak said equally coldly. "I'm not obligated to tell you everything that I do, think and believe. The United Nations Charter and our Constitution apply here, too. Prime asked. We answered."
"You're employed here. Your first responsibility is to here. I'm disappointed in you both," Owen said.
"Then we resign," Zak said following the plan Prime had laid out. "Both of us. We'll leave now. I'm not your slave, Owen, and neither is my wife. We resign. We'll gather our stuff and call a cab." He started to walk around Owen who stepped in front of him.
"Just like that. You'll quit," Owen said with suspicion.
"You have no confidence in us and I'm tired of negative scrutiny. I think having worked here all this time that it won't be hard to find a job somewhere," Zak said.
"At the other habitat, I suppose?" Pierre asked.
"None of your business. We've resigned," Zak tugged Monica's hand as he walked past Owen, bumping him with his shoulder as he did.
Fury flashed in Owen, then died equally quickly. He watched them go, then turned to the others. "Who wants to bet that Prime has his first employees?"
No one did.
-0-Upstairs
They gathered at the door and in the living room of the Haddens. They were packing, which wouldn't take long, and chatting. There were upset individuals watching them gather up, but it was inevitable. Everyone knew that the Haddens had gotten on the bad side of management and this was the result. Zak turned to them. "When we get where we're going, I'll call you. Bonny? I'll call you. You tell everyone and give them our numbers. Okay?"
Bonny who looked emotional nodded. Everyone hugged, then helped the Haddens carry their things to the elevator and the habitat doors below. They walked across the concourse drawing more and more as they passed by. Reaching the door, they opened it to see a white cab waiting. It was Hot Rod detailed to imitate one to get the Haddens safely away. He would bring both to Unidad-Terra 1 when he left here.
They hugged again, then boarded with their things, waving to everyone on the other side of the door. They drove away and a silent tense group walked back to their jobs. They passed a pensive Owen Harris and Company when they did.
-0-Moments later
It was a jarring ride through the sand dunes that were drifted everywhere with the odd boulder piled here and there. The air looked clearer as Wheeljack and Perceptor managed the same programming and equipment that prevented sandstorms to form worldwide on this problem. It would be 85% clearer soon but they would only be able to see 50% of what was before the blasts. They didn't care. They were heading for The Ranch as Unidad-Terra 1 would become known. From The Farm at Earth2 to The Ranch. It was all for the good.
They entered the vast building as Hot Rod transformed, shifting their gear to his carry hold. It barely filled the palm of his servo as he walked in with a grin behind them. The doors closed, atmosphere rectified and they walked into the facility through the hatches. Prime and his mechs were waiting for them, expecting them to be swiftly returned. He grinned. "Was there any trouble for you to leave?" he asked.
"They wanted to make it, Lord Optimus," Zak said as he paused before the giant mech. "They wanted a fight. I told them I'd be resigning with Monica and they had suspicions. I didn't tell them a thing beyond what you said to say, but I think they know where we're headed." He grinned. "It felt so good to resign. Everyone in our group would come as well if they could."
"We will look at that as we go," Prime said. "Any word from your father?"
"He called when we were packing and I took the call in private," Zak said handing the phone back to Will. "Thanks," he said. "Dad has a sabbatical and so does Mom. They're home getting organized to come. To say they're excited and ready to go is an understatement."
Prime grinned. "I can imagine," he said as he looked at the humans gathered around. "It would appear you will be the first to live here. It's rather large but should soon be filled with occupants. Warren Roberts is going to handle that prospect for us. If you know those who would be an asset and who can work well with others which I consider a vital component to our success, send my office their names and I will forward them to Warren. Until the public announcement is made, this is not for publication."
"Understood," Zak said. "I won't … neither of us … we won't let you down. Thank you for this incredible honor, sir."
Prime nodded. "I look forward to what you can create here. Omar and Harley Epps are masters at their craft and so are the Hu-An. I know you will do us all proud here."
They chatted a moment, going over what they would do. Omar and Harley Epps would be moving into large adjoining apartments on the top floor with room for their spouses, grandchildren and other family when they visited. They would be able to see into the vast wastelands of Mars toward the cliff sides near the blue dunes. It would be amazing. It would be from that height that housing would begin to be assigned until the last human required was placed here. Most of the housing would be locked up and kept for later on. The Haddens, Junior and Senior, would live in big apartments on the same floor across the hall from the Epps. It would be a very, very congenial association.
It would be a very empty place for the few who would first come, who would walk around the silent storefronts and streets of the habitat. The only place that felt alive and welcoming until more humans came was the vast and fertile lands of the farm itself.
-0-Minneapolis-St Paul Airport, Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota, USA, Earth
It was the evening of the second day since they were informed that they were going to be going to Mars. It took an entire day to put everything on auto pay, call his son to come by and be shown how to manage the house and grounds while they were gone, something he did always anyway since they were so internationally in demand, help pack and kennel the three dogs that were their babies, then drive them to the airport for transport to Mars by an Autobot cargo ship heading this way to deliver goods to the Autobot Outpost Store here in the city.
Everyone was excited as they walked through security at the VIP sector, then into the lounge where they would wait. A number of young wealthy individuals were there waiting for their private jets to refuel as well as a couple of famous actors going home to California. They walked in, two trim but ordinarily dressed individuals with a son who hugged them, then headed back out. They walked to the bar, then sat. Smiling at the bartender, they ordered beer and a sandwich. Neither had eaten much in the frenzy to get ready to go.
They sat quietly eating as the bartender and a waiter took care of everyone. Outside on the lighted runway a ship was rolling their way. It was big, had a HUGE Autobrand on the sides and was a sleek white. Everyone inside paused their business to look. The actors stood up and walked to the windows. "I've never been around to see an Autobot ship in person before. I wonder if its sentient?"
"I don't know," the other said.
The wealthy kids rose and walked to the window to watch. "I wonder where its going?" one asked.
"To Mars. Autobot City," Leslie said with a wink to his wife. They were wolfing down their food and drinking their beer as best they could.
"Well, most of them do," one of the actors said.
Leslie stood, paid the bartender with a big, big tip, then turned to go with his wife's stuff. "We know. See you there," he said as an airport security guard entered. "Mr and Mrs. Hadden?" he asked.
"That's us," Les said as he grinned at the youngster.
He grinned back. "The Autobots are ready for you to board. They have your baggage already and your dogs."
"Thank you so much," Terrie said with relief. "How do we board?" she asked.
"Follow me," the guard said as he walked to a door, unlocked it and let them out. He stepped out and locked the door behind him.
The others stared at the door, then the outside where the two were walking to the ship. A beam of light shot out to the ground, then with hesitation, the two walked up it to the ship. The guard stepped back as the ship signaled lift off. Rising gently into the air, it then sped upward into the night to disappear in seconds.
No one said much in the VIP lounge after that for a while.
-0-In an apartment in the sky
"Hello. Bonny?"
Here, Zak. Where are you?" Bonny Evers asked as she paused at the pond. She was measuring its pH values, something she did every day.
"At Unidad-Terra 1, or as Monica and I call it … The Ranch," Zak said as he stood with Monica and looked out at the far away dunes.
"Oh, my god," Bonny whispered. "How do I get out of this prison?" she asked.
-0-TBC 7-1-18 edited 7-5-18
NOTES:
Eric Kaler is the current president of the University of Minnesota. There. He's now infamous. ;)