The Diego Diaries: Post Turkey (dd6 537)
-0-At the meet up
Magnus considered the question. "We have a great deal of respect for humans and we include them in as many experiences as we can. When we came here it was a desert world with dangers everywhere for those unprepared to live here the way we do. We don't need to breathe an atmosphere nor do we have a problem with the radiation that bathes this planet due to its minimal atmosphere. We are able to self regulate to the cold which can drop to -220 degrees Fahrenheit. The dust storms used to last months before we controlled them, there are any number of other dangers and none of them are humans equipped to handle. Even as that's said, we never once discounted humans living here.
"We are very clear on our safety rules and what you as organics can and can't do here. It isn't out of a surfeit of disharmony that prompts us to do so. You would last about 10 seconds out there without the proper protection. If there are going to be a lot of humans here then they must accept the limitations we impose because of the dangers. We have personally taken a lot of abuse from humans especially in your media and we still have you here," Magnus said.
"I was wondering, Commander, if you could talk about the kids here. The boys and the girls," a young girl asked. "There are so many boys but you don't have many girls. Is that normal?"
Magnus considered Arcee and her anguish over this subject for a moment. "Not every species has to look like your own. I know alien species that have no organic or metallic bodies. They are light beings. I've seen some that require five or more individuals to make one complete one and I know more species that don't declare genders than I do those that will. Our species has no gender distinctions. We are all mechs. However, when it helps other aliens to have us do that we will. Our differences are mostly due to the different processors or brains that some of us have. It makes us different but in the end we are all one," he said as he fudged the truth just a smidge.
"It simplifies everything for us. We don't have gender strife and there is no way anyone can point to someone and declare that their 'gender' makes them exempt from something. No one can say that your gender bars you from doing or becoming whatever it is you want. Obviously, there are some exceptions due to size differentials but other than that, nothing holds anyone from becoming what they dream of but themselves."
"Some of you fly and some don't," another kid, a boy asked.
Magnus nodded. "That is so. Some of us have that capability and some don't, though all of us can fly in some fashion or the other. Some are by design tremendous aerialists. Seekers are aviators. The rest of us are called grounders by short hand. I can fly but I don't do it often. Its very strenuous when you are my size."
"Will we ever be able to go to different places like the Temple and the shrines?" a child asked.
"If at some point in future that you prove your trustworthiness, I imagine that might happen. Right now, we don't know you well enough to do that. Some things are very precious to us and we guard them with diligence. It's not that you aren't trustworthy. Its that you are new and we don't know you. The other humans have earned their way around because they understand boundaries and accord respect. We are appreciative of them and allow more because we trust them. Some day, you might have the same opportunity. It depends on you if and when that happens."
And the beat went on …
-0-Home again
The place was a mess as Ratchet herded the infants to the shower room. "Take them. I have to triage the living room."
"GET IN HERE, PEEWEES! I HAVE SPOKEN!"
Huge shrieks blasted through the room as five tots tottered in followed by a cow, a cat and a dog. Ratchet watched them, checked his pulse to see if he still had one, then bent to the task of busing up the room. "Frag, this is my life," he said with a grin.
The monitor beeped. Walking to it, he tagged on the message, read it, then walked to the wash rack. The kids were standing on the table together but for Halo who waited as Ironhide soaped them all up. "I have to go to the airfield. A small group was found. They want an overview then I'll be back."
"Now you leave, slagger," Ironhide said with a laugh.
Ratchet smirked, then walked out for the door and the short trip to the airfield. A group long on the journey had made their way here and a doctor was just what they needed. It was cold when he reached the street. Lights were on and the night was busy with revelers and others still holding onto the spirit of Thanksgiving. It was probably true that some parties were still on given the propensity for others to party. He reached Club Cybertron, waved to a couple of soldiers who called out, then continued.
Ships were landing, some that looked the worse for wear. They were setting down one after the other as they came in lead by Seekers who had apparently gotten their signal and then had them bridged in the final distance. They were a mixed bag of Neutrals, Peace Mission and Circle with a small contingent of Autobot soldiers holding things together. The leadership was civilian, mechs named Ophir, Skimmer and Fermi. There were very sick elders that needed attention, some very close to death.
Optimus, Prowl, Raptor and Arcee were there waiting for the landing as Ratchet joined them. "What do we have?"
"About 2500 individuals who are very much the worse for the wear," Raptor said with a grim expression. "Someone told me to come because there was someone on board that I knew."
Ratchet nodded as the big ship landed, then sagged a bit from the long unbearable trip that they had completed across the Bootes Barren. That they weren't raided was a miracle. The ship hissed and released smoke from its compromised engines. Then it shut down. After a moment a ramp came down and a number of mechs stepped out in a daze.
Ratchet ran to the ship scanning them as he did. Pointing to the group approaching, he ran up the ramp to go inside. The ship was crammed with bots of all ages, all of them looking weary, sick and hungry. They stared at him without much emotion as somewhere a wan baby began to cry. He knelt as he called for help, looking at an elder who was listless beside a bigger bot who held him against his side. "We're going to help everyone. You made it to Prime. Just hold on a second. I have a lot of help coming."
That's when half of them began to cry and shout.
Outside, Prime and his group stood with the leadership, a tall youngling mech named Ophir, his bond, Fermi and another mech from a group that joined them some time back, Skimmer. They were nearly hysterical with relief as Ophir clung to Prime's servo. "We never had a place to stay. We were always fleeing and the ships are just about done. My family, my genitors are sick and my atar is in dire shape."
"We are going to help you," Prime said as he watched a fleet of runabouts from the hospital land nearby and disgorge a horde of doctors and medics. They ran to the ships and climbed in as even more began to land. This group was too debilitated to go through customs at the port. They were being retrieved here as a group of immigration and refugee bureau mechs showed up to assist.
Raptor glanced at a ship, then turned to Prime. "I'm going to help. Someone is here that knows me but I didn't get his name."
Prime nodded. "Go on ahead. Tell me what you find when you can especially about soldiers and what's happening out there. I want to know about Shrike and his group."
Raptor nodded, then hurried forward to board a ship nearby that had just landed. A gear gave out and it crunched down to the tarmac. He would help them get the hatches open so the tow ships could winch them up and fly them off to the depot 200 miles from here. It would take a while to do so.
Mechs and femmes, children and babies began to be carried off as most of them couldn't walk on their own from debilitation and sheer relief at rescue by a non lethal Cybertronian force. It was pitiful, the sight. The ship was crammed with individuals who had been picked up from groups they had passed, groups fleeing the new hard line of the Decepticons. No one had been left and they had scanned wide as they flew. Listening to the radio traffic for danger as well as distress signals, they had nearly capsized their ships taking everyone. Reaching the promised land was their dream and it kept them going through very dark orns.
"We saw a battle group on sensors, Lord Optimus," Fermi said as he swayed in front of Prime and his officers. "They were heading toward a small system and I think they knew we were there but they didn't come. I though they would. I thought we were as good as dead," he said with emotion.
Ophir gripped his servo. "We didn't think we would make it. We thought we were dead."
"What sort of group?" Arcee said.
"The usual renegade group. We detected ships that were giving civilian signatures among the military profiles. We hoped they wouldn't come to us, we were so helpless. I don't think I've recharged since then. We were so afraid. Our families ..." Fermi paused a moment to gather himself. "They've suffered so much. We just wanted refuge. We found a shuttle with Autobot soldiers who were coming the round about way to the colony as well so they helped us. We were in dire need and their medic helped us."
"I would like to speak to you tomorrow when you've had a chance to get some attention, food and rest. I would imagine all of you will be in the hospital. If you can give me your transponder numbers, I can find you and we can talk when you're more settled and well," Prime said.
Fermi and Ophir did, then a medic helped them along to a runabout where Orphir's genitors and their three children were waiting. The children were crying and their grand genitors were lying on stretchers looking worn and sick.
"That group had to be Shrike. They must be really damaged not to make mayhem on this group in their retreat," Arcee said. "This group would have been helpless to that sort of thing." She looked furious a moment. "We need to look out that way. If some are coming that direction, he's thrown a wrench into that route, he and anyone else out there."
Prime nodded, then glanced at Paragon. "Would you please devise a plan with Starscream and designate a bridge to support that traffic if they have to come back or be supported on short notice?"
Paragon nodded, then stepped aside as a stretcher filled with small ill appearing children was carried past them to an ambulance parked nearby. It was difficult to see.
-0-On board a ship
Raptor helped hand children and elders to the orderlies and soldiers who were getting them out of a ship that was wheezing with age and wear. They were nearly stacked on top of each other and it was wearying to despair for all of them. They were almost too tired to cry or express anything. Raptor cheerfully told them of the greatness ahead of them as he gently carried individuals to the door where stretchers were waiting. As he did a booming voice rang out behind him.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the infant recruit who thinks he can be in this mech's army."
Raptor handed off a femme, then turned to the voice who was standing in the doorway that led to the flight deck. Apparently, he was the pilot. He stared with disbelief, then laughed loudly. "YOU PIRATE! YOU LIVED!"
"FRAG YEAH!" He helped the last two individuals to their peds, then gently led them to the door. "Come on, May and Bunko. Time to get fixed up," he said.
The two looked up at him, then Raptor. He helped the two out to a pair of orderlies who took them, then led them down the ramp to the ground. Raptor watched them go, then turned to the mech who was grinning at him. He was big, tall and very powerful. He was jet black, had fancy finials adorned with silver he had collected off the back sides of mechs too stupid to walk away and hash marks on his arms from the number of battles he'd been in over a long and very colorful life.
He had intelligent optics, a handsome face and a big grin. His tats were many and storied were the divisions they represented including The Immortals. His declarations for his occupation and culture were evident and so were the weapons he carried in view. He held out a big servo and clasped Raptor's. "You're all growed up, infant. Is your old atar and ada around?"
"Everyone is around," Raptor said. He had put in the call on the family 'hot list' when he saw who this was and they had pinged that they were coming. "I figured you winter killed."
"Oh yea of little faith," he said as he pulled Raptor in for a big hug.
Raptor was a very big mech but this one lifted him up in a bear hug. Setting him down, he looked him over. "You're still as ugly as I remember."
Raptor guffawed. "Are you sure you aren't talking about yourself?"
He grinned. "What's this place? I heard of it but you know me. I have to see things for myself."
"Then you haven't changed a bit. Come on. Everyone should be there outside." Raptor turned to walk down the ramp and the big mech followed.
The night was dark but the airfield was lit as ships began to land around the area on every available surface. It was busy and the vast city beyond along with The Fortress was a sight for sore optics. He followed, staring around himself, then saw Prime. He slowed, then continued toward him where he went down on a knee and bowed his helm old school. "Prime, I am here, returned. Command me."
Prime who couldn't believe it either pulled him to his feet. "Welcome home, General. It is unbelievably good to see you."
He grinned, then hugged and shook hands with everyone. It was then that Alor, Lissie and Blackjack arrived. They slowed, then stopped, nearly bumping into each other. It was silent, then Lissie stepped closer, stopping beside a widely grinning Hercy and Kup. "You came back from the dead."
He stared at her with emotional optics, then picked her up in a gentle hug. "So did you. Praise Primus."
They hugged together a moment, then he put Lissie down gently. She stared up at him with amazement and joy, then turned to some of the others. "I don't know how many of you know this mech," she said to the youngsters there, "but this is a miracle. This is my brother, Steiner."
"THAT'S SLAGGING RIGHT!" Raptor said with a laugh.
"All orn long," Steiner said with a grin.
-0-TBC 12-5-18