The Diego Diaries: Living the Life (dd8 319)
=0=On the way to The Fortress
They ambled along after putting kids on the buses and cabs that led to schools that were open and not flattened. Praxus and Orion walked between Ratchet and Ironhide as they headed across the Junction to the other side of the street. It was a straight shot to The Fortress and the staff meeting that was called to go over things before Prime addressed Earth later in the evening over the MCA.
"This bees fun, Ada," Orion was saying as he looked up, down and all around. He was walking along waving to cars and pedestrians as he stared at everything and everyone. It was amusing to watch both of them as they walked their tiny steps between their huge genitors.
"Little mechs could use the time off," Ironhide said. "They can come with me."
"They can this morning. I have rounds," Ratchet said as he grinned down at the two little bots who had decided to hold servos.
They reached the Courtyard, then entered to go inside the huge stone fort with workers putting to rights the shooting damage that marred its forbidding features.
The Rec Room was filled with individuals, some waiting to go on shift, others eating breakfast and chatting with friends. They passed through, then crossed the Ops Center to the big conference room where mechs were gathering. Entering, they put the two imps on the table, then Ironhide went out to get food and drinks.
Springer was lounging in a chair, then rose to walk to Ratchet. Holding a sleepy Tell in a blanket, he handed him to Ratchet. "Can you scan him and give us your opinion?"
"Easy duty," Ratchet said as he plugged into the little mech's neck jack.
Tell yawned, then settled back to sleep again bringing proud smiles from his fathers.
"This is one spectacular sparkling," Ratchet said as data flooded him. "Just a really calm little baby."
"He's so easy its almost scary. We wanted three to grow up all at the same time together. It was like that with both of us, having siblings and a family life." Springer glanced at Drift who was grinning at his son. "Drift has a brother and genitors. I know they'll be found. My own has already told me they intend to come. They said so during a blessing."
"That's good to hear, thought I want you to know you're both still ours," Ratchet said. He grinned. "I don't give back what I get especially when its this handsome."
Both of them grinned at Ratchet, then Springer put his servo on Ratchet's arm. "You don't have to worry. We don't intend to go."
"You'll have an embarrassment of riches then with the emphasis on embarrassment," Ratchet said with his biggest and best smile. An unspoken story had been told and all was well.
Both Drift and Springer laughed, then leaned closer.
"How is he?" Drift asked hopefully.
Ratchet stared at the two big rough mechs and felt a burning fire of love for them that he felt for everyone in his family, extended circle and friends. "I see that the medication isn't needed because he kicked in and is doing the job himself. Once the CNA segment that is damaged is overwritten, he'll hear again. It'll be that quick. When he does he's going to be terrorized and scream because he's lived in a silent world. When that happens call me."
"Count on it," Springer said. "He won't get hurt, right? This is just … its not going to cause pain or hurt him."
"He's going to be scared and that might take a while but if he sees both of you with him it'll help. This is not a process we can predict that at this moment the repair is completed. This is body-wide CNA and that's a script with literally thousands of trillions of numbers and letters. Its great that he's doing it himself and that his protoform is so solid now. Its healthy and producing itself at a decent rate. He's really a healthy little tyke otherwise."
"ADA! WHO DIS!?"
The three turned to the table where two little mechs were standing. They were staring at the baby with intense interest.
"Back up. 'Dis' is Tell, your nephew, hoodlums," Ratchet said. "He's asleep. Hush your little pie holes or I'll punt ya."
"Directly to me," Prowl said as he walked in with agendas. "He's mine after all no matter what delusion you speak of." He slid the agendas around, sat, then patted the table. "Come to me, my little children. Get away from that lunatic."
The kids stared at Prowl, then began to run toward him across the vast table, stopping now and again to 'kip' someone before heading to the big smirking winger at the head of it. They jumped at him and he caught them, hugging them tightly.
Ironhide entered, then walked to Prowl to hand him a plate of finger food for the kids. They sat and he fed them as others came in including Optimus. When everyone was there the door closed and it was silent for a moment.
Optimus who was helping Orion with a couple of chips glanced at the group. "Good morning. I hope."
Jetta chuckled. "It's a lot better than last night."
An actual groan of relief went around the room as the door opened again and the human members drove in to park against the wall. They got out and were put on the table to sit in chairs and couches. They glanced around, then at Prime.
:Sorry we're late. Traffic is terrible today: Carly said as the others nodded.
"It's going to get better shortly," Jetta said.
"Well, now that the stragglers have sobered up enough to join us, let's begin. Magnus?" Prowl said as he handed the two little mechs a cookie.
Magnus who was watching the kids picked up his data pad. "I want to say that the sporting arenas in Retriades are untouched and basketball can commence when you okay it, Optimus."
Great appreciation rounded on that one, then settled as Magnus continued.
"We have the final results in for damage to housing around the colony. Most of it was cosmetic but for five fighters crashing into or on towers. Three apartments had to be rebuilt when fighters either crashed into them or glanced off to fall to the ground. The windows held but the impact pushed three of them into the apartment itself. The fighters struck them hard enough to do that but they didn't break. Some fell onto the top of buildings but most on the plain.
"We have the apartments and towers inspected and repaired. Private firms will do the finish work for the inhabitants who can specify what they want. Other than the Consulate, the housing condition of our people is back to normal within those parameters.
"The Sciences Habitat was vandalized but no one got inside. The fighting in the area was too intense. There will need be cosmetic repairs outside as will also the Monastery, The Resort, the various areas in Terra, downtown Autobot City, The Fortress, the Courthouse and IntraCom and the Medical Center where there was shooting.
"High impact repair sites include the Commercial Hangar District, the Military Airfield and the human habitat areas of the Interplanetary Airport, several blocks of downtown Terra and the Sparkling School, the Train Hub Station, several energon and electrical grid sites, the Consulate, The Pit Stop, several business buildings across the street and the tower here in town, of course."
"What is the progress, if any, for the Train Hub Station? Where are the trains going to be handled until its online and what is the schedule for that service to begin, especially overland?" Prowl asked.
"We have the groundwork underway for the Hub Station and there is a warehouse in Industrial Park City #4 that is the staging area for the industrial trains to be loaded and taken care of. We utilize that for cargo to keep the chaos at the Hub Station down. We're going to use that. As for the service to begin again, workers are out on the lines going over the entire system to see what needs to be replaced. We have to replace over a quarter of the tracks, right, Jetta?" he asked as he glanced at his brother-in-law.
"That's right. If we get some sections up to speed and signed off then we can add that route. Right now we see at least a decaorn to get this organized and righted. Most of the track is fine. Our trains hover over the rail. But that depends on the grid now that the Hub was destroyed. The Hub supplied power itself to all the trains and tracks. Its given us ideas to diversify things to keep this from happening should a disaster occur again," Jetta said.
Magnus nodded. "The energon and power line being built to Crater District 4 from the Consulate and that junction is halfway laid. When the pipes are in the ground the steel casings will be placed over it and then the ground layered in concrete, dirt and sand until its buried. Inside, the tunnel will be ready for the workers to enter and get things welded, set up and running. We expect anywhere from a few orns to a decaorn. We believe its going to go fast once the pipes are all laid and the coverings built."
"That will be a relief," Prime said.
"OTIS!"
Prime glanced at Orion who was watching him. "Orion."
"Why you?" Orion asked as he pointed at Optimus with his cookie.
Prime stared at him, then Praxus who grinned. "What does he mean, Praxus?"
"Why you sad?" Praxus replied.
It was silent in the room as everyone stared at the babies, then Prime.
Optimus moved them over into the circle of his massive arms. He stared at the babies. "I do not like our people to experience violence. We have had enough."
The two kids stared at Optimus for a moment. Orion put down his cookie, stood and then walked toward the big mech. He held out his arms.
Optimus picked him up and hugged him tightly.
Orion hugged him back, then kissed his cheek. "I, Orion love you. I, Orion do helpeded you. I go pow-pow on bad ones. I doin' this." He pointed to the table, then Prime set him down. He went into his kata, a much improved but still wild assed affair. He finally ended, then looked up at Prime. "I doin', Otis. I doin' dis for lou."
Prime grinned in spite of himself. "I am glad."
Orion smiled brilliantly, then patted Prime on the arm. "Good, you. I good you. You good me." He turned to the crowd around the room, then grinned. "Otis good me. I good Otis. We good." Then he walked back to his cookie, sat down and began to eat it.
The laughter was long, loud and welcomed. Orion got another cookie as well.
=0=Into the meeting
Cindy Tomas stood to give the report for Earth2. It was tense for her as she studiously avoided looking at a pensive Owen Harris sitting nearby with the others. :Earth2 is back on track, Lord Optimus. All of the damage to the door and inside the building is repaired. Our wonderful mech and femme staff is completing on the finish work and will have the last marred spaces restored this afternoon. I wish you to know how hard they worked and how much we appreciate them.
:The environmental entrances are restored and up to specifications. I'm clear that the Metro downstairs is optimal but still off line for us as per your instructions.
:The protection of the people inside from Striker and Victorious was insured by their skill and bravery. I want it known to everyone of you how much we're in their debt that they would protect us like they did. We love and appreciate them so much. Paribolus helped at Earth 1 and between the three of them and others whose names I don't know yet saved us from harm. Thank you so much:
"It is our intention that no one who comes here from Earth ever suffers from harm. We work hard, all of us, to achieve that goal," Prime said.
:We know and I want you to know that Carly, Brandon and I have made it clear among each other that we will speak for Autobot Nation to Earth when you do to support The People and how they fought to bravely against this enemy. We're one with The People, all of us from the habitats and Prima Station. We've signed a letter, all of us, and will forward it wherever and whenever you feel the best use of it can come:
It was silent a moment, then Prime nodded. "Thank you," he said quietly. "Until all are one."
Cindy Tomas and the others nodded. :Until all are one:
=0=TBC 12-08-2021
