The Diego Diaries: Moving onward to the Ho-Ho-Ho and Hoops (dd6 546)
=0=Earth 2 Public Works
Three young men who were walking to work at City Hall noted that Doxie, one of the mechs who worked in the Public Works Department as a millwright was pulling off the caps that were covers for holes placed in the middle of the intersections of all roads by design. Walking into the street to look downward, Lyle, Mike and Tim who were engineers glanced up at the ten foot tall mini-con with a great bond and a little son who was the apple of his optic. "What are you doing, Doxie?" Lyle asked.
"Pulling the caps for those," he said as he glanced down the street.
Rounding the corner, three mini-cons from the main warehouse in town were carrying a 35 foot tall fully decorated Christmas tree toward them. Moving out of the way as two small cabs coming the other direction on the street slowed to a stop behind them, they watched the mechs turn the tree, then gently lower it into the hole. It was huge, had amazing details for authenticity and was fully lit and ornamented. At the top, a lighted figure of Earth was placed. When it went into the hole, it slotted into power and became lighted.
It was beautiful.
"Wow," Lyle said as the others nodded. "That's really great."
Doxie grinned. "That's the first one. We have eight more to go on the downtown and the rest of the decorations for the facility. If you want a tree of your own, go to the Community Bulletin Board and sign up. You can choose the decorations you want and Specialty Fabrication: Miniatures and Decorations will make it for you. Our policy on world is to leave them up until the end of January so that they can be enjoyed. Everyone likes them."
"That's amazing," Mike said with a grin.
Down the road another tree was coming so he moved on to take off another cap for it. He would have a trio of humans following along. By the time they reached the last capped hole, there were public works mechs driving all around the facility to hang up lights, decorations, wreaths and other Christmas cheer. It was going onward everywhere else in the human community on world.
=0=At a meeting in the Resort's big conference room
They had gathered, the individuals in each of the human habitats that organized such things to plan for a party on Christmas Eve that would host everyone on world at Unidad. The idea of a dinner was set aside given that the community at Unidad would be over 11,000 individuals itself. There were 2,540 hired workers, their 8,000+ family and significant others at Unidad who worked and lived there. They were expecting about 2,100 more family for the holidays.
By the time everyone was counted there would be about 15-16,000 individuals who would come to Unidad for the fun. Dinner was out of the question for now. Each of the habitats would be holding their own dinners before arriving for the dancing, comradery and festivities at Unidad. Right now, they had to get things organized.
"Well, here we go," Judy Fulton said as she glanced at the group sitting around the big table. "What we're going to need for this is transport. I will tell you that the transit system which goes to each of the habitats underground as part of the overall metro lines is going to be open and running system wide for the party and we can use it to arrive at Unidad to make this doable. All of us have that system under our habitats but the only ones open full time are Sciences and N.E.S.T. Eventually I was told they will make them accessible to all of us so that we can use them for daily transport. The bots are going to have transit officers available to help us use them for the party so we won't get messed up. The trains will be programmed to come to Unidad and nowhere else.
"As for the party, Carly is going to tell us about the arrangements and what she wants each of us to bring," Judy said as she sat back.
The next two hours would yield a plan where thousands of humans would come to dance and have fun. There would be a DJ who would manage the music. The different habitats would bring a portion of the drinks planned as well as their part of the hors d'oerves that would be available. Children would have a place to go to play with a nursery for infants to be cared for. All of those present troubleshot their part of the plan which would begin after dinner at 1700 on the TMC and go on into the morning hours. Given that they could use the train system to their own doors on the way back as well, the trouble of getting around was taken care of.
The socialites from Earth2 would be on it.
=0=Steiner and Lissie about the same time that morning
They sat on the train heading toward Autobot City to speak with Optimus about a position that he wanted Steiner to undertake. They were going to be instructors, the two of them for the army officer corps as well as specialist operations. The trains were between rush hours so they were alone as they sped along. Lissie grinned. "If you decide to do this, Steiner, we'll be stationed here. Its so nice to have you. Are you going to be looking into your own place?" she finally asked.
"Not if you don't mind having me," Steiner said as she wrapped her arms around his own big solid one.
"I would love that. Its so nice to see you again, Stein. Its been so long," Lissie said with a smile. "You can stay with me as long as you want."
He squeezed her servo. "I'd like to have a place to stay put. We spent so long traveling that I'd like to sit somewhere for a while."
Lissie squeezed his arm. "Scout and Trooper want us to come over for dinner tonight. They want to teach you a game called poker. Its the rage around here."
"Sounds great," Steiner said as they rose at their stop to get off. Walking out servo in servo, Lissie and Steiner of Iacon, two of the smartest and toughest soldiers in the senior ranks of Optimus Prime headed for the street and an acceptance by Steiner to be overall director of all Special Operations for Optimus Prime. They disappeared into the early afternoon crowds as a horse drawn wagon clip clopped by, bells jingling.
=0=School
"That's good, Praxus. You have a good talent for this," Tolie-2 said as he fastened a metallic hook on the ornament that Praxus had just finished making for his home tree. It was red, covered in silver glitter and had a tiny tree he had painted himself on it.
Praxus smiled. "I did this one."
"You sure did, baby," Tolie said with a grin.
"I can make it for Ada. Ada will like it. Ada likes my things," he said with a big smile. "I hanged it on the tree. Then Spot can see it."
"Your dog likes the ornaments?" Tolie asked.
"He does. So does Cousin." Praxus followed Tolie to the rack where the ornaments were placed to finish drying. "My cat loves them. My cow does. He likes them."
"You have a cow, I heard. Your family has cows." Tolie sat down to chat with the sweet little boy who was undergoing an assessment without knowing he was.
"We like cows. My atar is a cowboy. My appas cowboys. We like cows. I want a horse. Can you tell my ada?" Praxus asked hopefully.
Tolie laughed. "I can try," he said as he picked up the baby. "Come on, infant. Let's go see what you can read for me." They walked out to the main room to find a book for Praxus to read to him. He would. It would be amazing how articulate he would read. The bigger surprise was how clearly he understood what he had read.
=0=Pioneer School, Metrotitan
They stood on the counter, two tiny twigs watching as the room aide, Bron-E stirred the ingredients that she had them measure. Ferri and Hero watched and chatted with her as the other students worked their way around the different stations they were using because it was 'fun day'. They would make cookies, paint and read books at the different set ups as a reward for all their hard work.
"I like cookies," Ferri said with a smile as she stood on the counter holding Hero's servo.
Hero nodded. "I do, too. My ada lets me make them. Does yours, Ferri?"
"He does. He does the stirring but I get to put the chips on the top when they're done. I get to put candy and stuff on top. Does your ada do it that way, Hero?" Ferri asked.
Bron-E grinned at them as they chatted together waiting for her to finish mixing. They would help her put the dough on a sheet before it went into the classroom oven. Soon the place would smell wonderful and when it was ready to eat the cookies, three different groups would have made their cookie choices and everyone would share.
It would be high times in the Pioneer School today.
=0=Planning for parties at The Resort
The plans were finalized, then they had their catered lunch. It was good to have things figured out for this, the largest human party on world in the history of the human community. Mariah glanced at Judy. "How many can be hosted for a party at Unidad? Do you know?"
"The facility can handle over 25,000 safely for these kinds of get togethers. When they expand it then that will probably double or triple," Judy replied.
"Expand it?" Mariah asked as the women from Earth 1 and 2 turned to listen.
"They plan to expand it to handle between 70,000 to 100,000 workers. The land around it, over 2,000 square miles is planned development area for the facility," Judy Fulton said. "The majority of it will be enclosed for agriculture but the buildings themselves will be added to by either titan colonial ships or more dreadnoughts. Its up to the committee to decide when and with who."
"I'm wondering when they might consider Earth2 for expansion. We're sitting on a lot of expansion area ourselves," Mariah said as the others nodded.
"I don't know. Have you petitioned Jetta? He's the access point for any construction in the colony. Right now, they're preparing for major expansion in the craters to handle new found refugee colonies they have to move. I heard that they confirmed 75,000,000 Cybertronians out there that they can verify. The Knights are going to be bringing them to Oasis Base starting with the most endangered and those farthest out," Judy Fulton said.
"I'll let Owen know. He wants to expand the Farm," Mariah said.
"Well, Jetta heads the Public Works department and Colonial Planning Commission. He's the first step for someone who wants to build something," Judy Witwicky said. "Jetta is a good son. He built this place and he's a great guy."
"I'll let Owen know," Mariah said as they finished their lunch.
The last group of humans walked out to head back for their habitats. As they did, Judy texted Jetta.
To: Jetta
From: Judy-Judy-Judy
Hi, handsome. We just finished our lunch. I mentioned that Unidad might expand. Mariah Harris-Davis has habitat envy. Just thought you might want to know. They want more farm land apparently. Thanks for opening the trains for the party. You're a good son, sweetie. -Judy W
Jetta read the message, then grinned. He wrote back …
To: Rampaging Judy-Judy-Judy
From: Jetta You Betta
Thanks for the tip off. Habitat envy, eh? Ha-ha-ha! I'll let Optimus know. Springer is going to have mechs from the Watch there to help anyone coming and going by trains. Enjoy! -Jetta
=0=Prowl
He read the message from Jetta, then glanced at Prime. "Earth2 feels inadequate about Unidad. They might be wanting to petition for expansion. Apparently, they want more farmland."
"I have no problem with more land. But for now, I think it might be fun to let them stew," Prime said.
Prowl nodded. "I wonder how the party will go? That's a lot of people coming."
Prime nodded. "Too bad we were not invited."
Prowl snickered. "Yeah. Too bad."
"There's always Christmas Surprise. Maybe you can go there and Santa Prime the kids," Prime said as he rose to walk to his office. He had Possibility in his arms as he did.
Prowl grinned as he watched him leave, then dropped an email to Blondi.
To: Blondi at cityhall
From: Prowl at Ops Center, your overall boss, remember?
Concerning the expansion of the Santa Prime program, I am asking to be excluded from this golden opportunity because I'm essential equipment. Just so you know. – Prowl, your overall boss
=0=Blondi
She grinned when she saw the email, then dropped one to Prime.
To: Optimus Prime
From: Blondi at city-hall
I received an email from Prowl asking to be included in the expanded Santa Prime program but I wanted to check with you first. He as we all know is 'essential equipment' and thereby finds it hard to do his civic duty to the depth that I know he wants. Therefore, I'm asking you to allow it somehow for Prowl to affirm his great and abiding love for all of us by being one of the newest Santa Primes for Christmas Surprise. Thank you, Optimus Prime, my real overall boss. -Blondi, affirming the goodness in everyone.
Prime read it including the attachment with Prowl's email then laughed loudly. Then he emailed Blondi back.
To: Blondi at city-hall
From: Optimus Prime, your real lord and master :D (I really like emojis)
Sure. :D
Optimus Prime bowing to your every wish (I wish they had a bowing emoji) :D
Prowl wouldn't know until it was too late.
=0=TBC 12-16-18 edited 12-20-18