The Diego Diaries: Giving Thanks (dd6 535)
-0-Water Park
Docker stood in the shallow pool watching the infants 'swamming'. She was in up to her waist in the pool, the tiny petite mini-con femme watching a host of babies floating in the inner tubes and other toys that the shallow baby pool offered. They bobbed and laughed as they splashed here and there. She grinned. They never had this for Sonny. It would have been wonderful if they had something like this for him when he was little.
She had heard the news that the Jumble would be preserved as a historical artifact and it had been strange to her for a bit. Their tiny homes would be among those that would be restored to their less than decrepit pre-annihilation 'glory'.
After reflection, she realized that she had 'seen' Tagg and on occasion Kestrel around. It was a teeming place, the Jumble and one often 'saw' many while not really 'seeing' them. They had been just a few blocks over, Optimus and his family and yet they were far enough apart that there was no overlap.
Sonny had grown up without being childhood friends of Prime. Prime had grown up being childhood friends of Magnus, Arcee, Elita and Jetta.
Odd how things worked.
Now they were all part of the same squad. She grinned.
Yes. Life was odd.
She glanced to the big slide and saw a train careening out of it, fly through the air spreadeagled, then land in the water with a titanic splash. Her Sonny, Optimus, Prowl, Raptor and Venture had gone through the big slide and landed in the water half emptying the pool. It would be worth her life to join them.
Glancing at the babies, she chuckled. Life was indeed very strange.
In a good way.
-0-Sitting nearby watching the mayhem
"That baby is so good," Turbine said as Kestrel sat with Possibility. "Did I tell you that I love his name?"
"I do as well," Kestrel said as he smiled at the sleeping baby in his arms. "It is so full of promise. It rather says it all about this place."
Turbine nodded. "I agree. It was a long time in the wilderness for all of us. Now we have a chance to get it right."
Ratchet clambered out of the pool in front of them as water cascaded out of his body. He swayed a bit, laughed loudly, then walked to a chair to sit. "I think I bent a gyro on the last one."
"You're insane. That's the problem," Turbine said with a grin. "I'm afraid to go in the pool with those lunatics coming down like ordinance."
They watched as Blackjack, Springer and Drift cascaded out, all of them sliding out head first, flying through the air with shrieks and laughs, then belly flopping onto the water. They sunk rather abruptly as the waves drove water up to everyone's knees on the sidelines.
"I'm never going to get dry this way," Ratchet said as they watched the mechs swim to the pool side, clamber over each other to get out first, then punch each other getting to the stairs once more.
They laughed, then Turbine stared at Ratchet. "They're putting up the trees around the colony. It's going to be really pretty."
"I know. By the way, Prowler is expanding the list of Santa Primes. I think all of us are going to be one," Ratchet said. "I think I'm going to borrow that mule at the Stable, the one that someone in Oz has and ride it on my rounds."
They both laughed as Prowl climbed out, drained, then joined them. Turbine grinned at him. "I hear there's more Santa Primes."
"There are. This colony is too big for the few we have. I think there's going to come an orn when we can't do this anymore, or at least with the ones we have now," Prowl said. "All of the senior Autobots are going to be drafted."
"Where will I go?" Ratchet asked with a giant smile.
"Processor Health. Hopefully on a hold," Prowl said with a grin.
They signaled the staff for food and drinks, then began to critique the slaggers as they careened out of the slide. Most of them stuck their landings and a few actually showed promise as bunker busters. It was an amusing time for all.
-0-On the way to Earth2
Ultra Magnus drove swiftly along the highway heading toward the invitation extended to him by the teachers of the high school aged kids at the International School there and its 14 kids. Among them, those who would also come to hear him were 25 younger kids who were studying the planet as well. He drove into the huge parking lot and pulled up in front of the building.
Inside watching him arrive were a gathering crowd of locals and the teachers who were having him in. The principal and all of the leadership of the habitat were there as well, though most of those stood back just to watch. Among them, Louis Richardson who was the son of the second largest investment 'owner' of Earth2 Corporation watched as Magnus transformed outside. It astonished him how swiftly that happened. It surely was only a second or two before a massive truck bearing missile launchers changed into a big metallic mech.
Louis had finally arrived just before the murder, settling into his space with his business and to become the eyes and ears for his father, Harvey. Even thought he had seen the bots and videos of them before, nothing was the same as being here to see it yourself. Magnus was massive. He was so huge that Louis struggled to find words.
Walking toward the doors, Magnus walked in as they opened. When they closed and everything equalized, the inside hatch opened and he entered the facility. The humans had pulled back to allow him inside. He stared around, then down from a height of nearly 29 feet. "Hello."
His voice was well modulated, masculine and unemotional. He was straight forward, calm and intensely confident in a manner that wasn't showy or ego driven. He was Ultra Magnus and that was that.
"Commander," Jill Mestner, acting school principal said with a smile. "Welcome. We are so happy to have you come to speak to our children."
"I am happy to do so," Magnus said. "Where shall we go from here?"
"I have a space set up at the windows over there," Jill said as she pointed toward the far end of the vast concourse. "If you want to follow Miles," she said nodding to a man standing beside a segway, "he can take you to the spot."
Magnus nodded. "Very well."
Miles jumped onto the segway and drove forward toward the windows beyond. Following along, Magnus stepped forward. His treads weren't felt in the floor unlike when he came to the facility outside. The floors were designed to absorb weight without tremors, fortunately for everyone there. It was a facet of life on Cybertron and everywhere else that this be so or it would be unbearable to live and unacceptable to stealth soldiers.
They watched him go, some of the civilians waving to him as he passed by. He waved back as he walked into the huge building making his way to the front window where they had placed a con-ex box for him to sit. He noted it then turned to Miles. "That will do."
"Thank you for coming, Commander. My kids want to know more about the colony and how things work. They want to know what a prime is and how that works, too. I hope you can answer as much as you can. We know some things are off limits for us yet but the kids are very curious and without agendas," Miles said.
"I will do my best. Children are very pure. I am honored to be asked," Magnus said.
Beyond him walking in lines, kids began to come with their teachers. They were excited to see him, dazzled at his size and power and they pointed, giggled and looked like all kids everywhere who were in the presence of greatness. Magnus looked like greatness to them. It would surprise him greatly that they did. They began to sit in chairs that were there in rows as around them adults began to gather, lots and lots of adults. Even the leadership brought their coffee cups to sit at tables nearby.
Magnus noted that. He didn't care, however. Few things about humans bothered him if they stayed inside the lines. If they didn't then he was all about it.
When the last kid sat and several hundred humans had gathered with more coming, their cameras focused on the improbable alien standing before them, Miles turned to the crowd. "Welcome everyone. I would like to welcome to our habitat Commander Ultra Magnus."
Huge applause erupted as Magnus nodded.
"Senior Commander Magnus is a member of the Prime's Senior Military staff, colonial administrator of Mars as well as the Chief Administrator of Cybertron and the Cybertronian Empire. He is an active duty soldier in the Cybertronian Army and the Chief Enforcer of the Tyrest Accords and the Code of Interplanetary Conduct. We have asked him to come and talk to our students about the colony, what he does and a number of other things. He's been so gracious to come and we thank him."
Huge applause and welcome erupted especially from the kids. Magnus felt the trace of a grin. Kids were good everywhere.
"Please make yourself comfortable, sir and thank you," Miles said as he walked to a chair nearby to sit.
Magnus looked at the bench then slowly lowered himself to sit. Staring at the mesmerized crowd, he began. "You wish to know about our system of government and how things work. I will endeavor to tell you within the framework of limitations that apply to you," he said gravely. "I am Ultra Magnus of Iacon. On Cybertron, your home town is your place name. I am Magnus of Iacon. Ratchet is also 'of Iacon'. Their son, Orion is Orion of Mars or Orion of Autobot City because he was … born here. Both are correct.
"Cybertron is a massive planet that is unique in the universe. It is a metallic planet and the life that originated there is metallic in derivation." He considered that word then the kids watching. "We are metallic in make up because our world is metallic. You are organic because your world is.
"Our planet is four times bigger than yours and is known as the 'planet of light'. I am sure you've seen images of it and the light it generates?"
The kids nodded and replied.
"We have a planet wide government. It's federal. There are 46 states with their own governments but the overall one is federal and is housed at Capital City with different parts in Iacon. Iacon is our largest city with Tarn second. I am Iaconian as is the Prime and most of my circle of friends and colleagues. But there are many from other places. Senior Commander Hercy of Helex, Commander Springer of Polyhex, Commander Drift of Kaon … we are from different states and city-states of which we bear their designation as our own place name.
"Each city-state takes care of a lot of its own business but it elects members to attend to a senate at the Grand Imperium in Capital City. They work together to make laws and serve the people. When they don't, things fall apart. It is there that they are overseen by a Prime. The Prime is a multi level position that is hard to explain sometimes to outsiders."
He shifted in his seat to lean closer to the children. "A prime is supposed to be authentic, incorruptible, just, filled with integrity and honor. They often weren't. They were among the greatest disappointments of our people, some of the Primes who were given the responsibility. Optimus Prime is the only one who lives up to the office, who is the epitome of integrity and dignity. He is who our people believes is the prophesied 'One Who Comes'."
"Do you believe that?" a little girl in the front row asked. She stared at him entranced.
Magnus looked at her, then nodded. "I do."
-0-TBC 12-3-18 edited 12-3-18