The Diego Diaries: Getting On (dd8 371)

=0=About the same time

They entered the apartment, Prowl and Prime followed by Ultra Magnus, Fort Max as architect and Bulkhead as construction overseer. Scar and Payload who were construction bosses were already there waiting. It was time for them to see the finished product because today was the day everyone would be allowed to go home later this afternoon. It was quiet as they did, gathering in the entry space by the huge double doors.

Prime and Prowl glanced around silently, then turned to the group of mechs who had rebuilt all of the broken bits of the building including the top four floors that had been sheared off by a downed shuttle.

"This looks lovely," Prime said. "It looks like home, gentlemen. Thank you."

The tension bled off as the group relaxed.

"We took the blueprints and using your suggestions recreated what you wanted and changed the rest. Why don't we walk around and look?" Max suggested.

The tour was made of the huge apartment, the biggest personal residence in the colony and even Cybertron. It covered the entire penthouse floor space of the tower with panoramic views no matter where you were abetted by a balcony that encircled the building. The kitchen was bigger and the dining room as well. Their personal suite was bigger and the apartment-style suites for visitors more spacious.

There was a larger swimming pool given how many used it and the room it was in was bigger for lounging and playing. The room for trains was there but stood empty but for shelving and other storage for that well known family hobby. Rooms for other hobbies were available and the kids' rooms were bigger allowing for a school nook for their studies. Their home offices were bigger and had more tech artfully arranged as was everything here behind what appeared to be wooden cabinet facades.

By the time they were finished it was obvious that a lot of love had gone into the reconstruction. It was clear that home beckoned.

"There are no words to thank you for the kindness of this rebuild, gentlemen. Having a few tweaks here and there mean a lot to us and our family. I have to tell you, the first time I saw this I was astonished. I felt inadequate for the luxury but over the years as we made our family life here it has become home, the first real one I have ever had. You cannot be thanked enough," Optimus said as Prowl nodded with an emotional expression.

The mechs were pleased and after a bit more conversation, spark felt thanks and back slaps, the crew left very pleased with themselves carrying with them the praise and gratitude of both Prowl and Prime to the crews who built the structure again.

It was silent a moment after the doors closed.

"What do you think, Prowl?" Optimus asked the pensive bot beside him.

"I miss all the things we can't replace, Optimus, but its astonishing how good I feel being home. This is the first home I ever had since leaving mine and I missed it terribly," he said as Optimus enfolded him in his arms.

"I know," Optimus replied.

Prowl glanced around. "We have to get this place in order. I've made all the furnishing choices for us including the ones you wanted for our living space including this room, all the berth rooms and our offices. They will be delivered today so we can come home here. The children will like it. The rest will come with time." He glanced at the cupboards nearby, the ones where he stored the books he created for his kids. He walked toward them, then opened the cupboard.

It was silent a moment.

"We have them saved on the nexus, Prowl," Optimus began. "You can maybe recreate-"

"Come here please," Prowl said as he stared at the cupboard.

Prime hesitated, then walked to Prowl. He looked inside as well.

Lined as Prowl left them were books, the ones he created for his kids out of Praxian cultural expectation. Also in the drawers that were there were the most precious things the children had created right where he left them. He pulled Rambler's first tome, then opened it. On the pages as he had written it were the words of pride and love that he put there to tell the tale of his oldest son. All of them were the same. Prowl glanced up at him as he shelved the book in his hand, then glanced at the corridor nearby. "Come with me." He hurried as fast as he dared toward it.

Prime was behind him.

=0=Central Point, Midway, Mars

They stepped off the Metro train that would service this new development which was a construction process itself given it set up high on a ridge with a plateau at the top. Walking through the brand new station toward the street beyond, they paused on the sidewalk to look around.

The 'city' of Central Point was very pretty and bright with color and a soothing design. It was very Cybertron in the old days in some of the oldest corners of their urban culture. Streets were pedestrian but would allow small public works vehicles and mini-cons to roll over them to do the service aspects of public works. It wasn't planned to be urban in the sense that the residents would have to navigate traffic like everywhere else. They were a special population and care was taken everywhere to make it as safe and homey as possible. Signage was large, direction devices were large and bright as all of it was designed to meet the needs of those who might be impaired.

Several cafes were interspersed along the winding main street, all of them welcoming with indoor and outdoor seating. Colorful awnings sheltered the sidewalks of many locations allowing respite for those outside. Book and craft stores were located here along with a number of 'senior center' type places for those who lived here to go and chat, read and relax with friends and family. A Watch substation took care of the place and the mechs and femmes who were stationed there were beat cops with specialized training.

In the distance a tall sprawling building with windows glinting in the sun could be seen along with several others that looked like fancy apartment buildings. The biggest building was the hospital, the ground zero of admissions in the transitional plan to help people get better and work toward independent living with minimal assistance. Or if they could, a return to life in the colony at large.

There were also beautiful apartment buildings as the main lodging with none taller than ten floors. Gardens with plenty of benches and picnic tables were here and there across the huge ridge which had been made into a plateau for the building site. Given that food carts were planned for the area shortly, it would be a good way to get out and enjoy lunch in the sunshine. Enclosed energy spheres set in the parks held Cybertronian plants for the edification of the locals and rock formations were here and there to add to the design.

A small golf course, a big indoor swimming pool along with rehabilitation facilities attached were also part of the development. The design was made to make hospitalization and facilitated living feel 'real' and not 'hospital'. The development disappeared into the distance both directions indicating a huge option for whoever needed it and the need was huge.

Ratchet paused in the street, then pointed toward Autobot City. "Look at the view," he said as they walked toward it down a side street between businesses.

Beyond in the glow of morning's sunrise, the glistening vista of the colony could be seen. It sparkled in the sunlight as the pace of the big urban areas picked up. The highways were bustling with weekend travelers going to who knew here. The airfield could be seen and farther away was the new prison. One could even see the spires of Sciences in the crater beyond the city.

"What a great view." Bando glanced at the apartments arrayed along the plateau behind them. "I imagine the view is good for everyone living here?"

"We planned it that way. Come on," Ratchet said. "Let me show you the hospital, the rehab places and the permanent housing for people who come here to live safely." He led them off through a bustling little picturesque 'downtown' toward the big beautiful hospital nearby.

=0=Residence

They hurried into the room after Prowl opened the door, then froze in place. The series of specially designed tables that Prime built himself were in the same place in the middle of the room. Upon them lay the incredibly intricate and handmade colony that he and the kids had made together. Lining the walls of the room on the shelves Prime had attached himself once upon a time were the engines and rolling stock, all of the hand picked trains and those they had made from many Prime had seen on other worlds in his travel.

Prime walked to the diorama carefully checking this and that as he walked around the table. He paused by the little train yard to glance at Prowl. "It is perfect."

Prowl nodded, then turned to rush out again. Prime was right behind him.

=0=Man cave tending the youngin's needs and such

A lot of little kids played with toys or ran around the huge man cave as the elders sat tinkering with the latest iteration of their remote toys.

Hard Drive took an internal call. He grinned. "It would appear that we can move home today. Apparently the Residence is a miracle."

Everyone grinned, then glanced at the kids. As one they rose, stuffed their holds and walked out to see.

=0=Hospital, Central Point

The tour of the hospital was enlightening. It was immaculate, colorful rather than antiseptic and had an air of homey peacefulness about it. The ICU was immense and busy. The wards and private rooms were busy as well. Staff worked together getting things done in a quieter manner than most places. This was filled with individuals who were terrorized of noise or had mental conditions that were exacerbated by sound.

This place was designed to be different. It was evident to the group following Ratchet listening to his cheerful monologue that it was. Interspersed around the floors were lounges with great views. They were either filled with a sick person or two and their visitors or waiting for someone. There were planters with Cybertronian plants, reading material, good chairs and couches and lots of sunlight.

They walked into the cafeteria for patients and families, something that was stocked all day long and into the night. It was like a cafe anywhere and soft music was playing.

"We want recovery as best a patient came made it and we decided that creating spaces like this would make that faster or even possible for some. This is the first step. The next step will be the rehabilitation centers. Your genitors would start here, then move to this next step. Follow me," he said as he headed for the door.

They would.

=0=Tower

They took the elevator downward then rushed to the door of Tagg and Kestrel's apartment. Hesitating to open it, Prime did and they stepped in. The door closed behind them.

=0=On their way upward

It was mid afternoon when the word came to them in the man cave so they trudged upward to their apartments. One by one, they reached each other's house, paused to straighten things and congratulate each other that the carnage was simple, then move onward. It took longer at Ironhide's house but in the end it was put to rights. Up they went.

Reaching the Residence, they navigated the workers bringing furniture, then entered. Prime and Prowl were in the living room, Prowl directing traffic and Prime watching with amusement.

"Looks great in here. I think I'll move in," Ironhide said as he glanced around.

His elders laughed.

"The frag you will," Prowl said as he directed children's beds to the corridor. Like a good general, he had marked all the rooms with numbers, then was directing the arrivals to the right place. He would move things around later but they'd be set up by the experts.

Good natured kids walked in with heavy boxes and out with lighter ones. It was enlightening to see the palace their Prime lived in. Stories would make the rounds and people everywhere would be pleased as peas.

Mostly.

"How are your homes?" Prime asked.

"Finer than frog's hair," Turbine said with a chuckle. "Where and when do you want your babies?" he asked as he patted his chassis.

"How about taking them to the pool, Turbine?" Prowl asked. "Dive in yourself. Adults can now, I'm told."

With a lot of amusement they walked off to go to the pool.

Hardie watched them go, then turned to Prime. "I'm glad for your home. All of us are."

Prime nodded. "Thank you, Hard Drive. Come with me," he said as he led the way toward the corridor.

Hardie followed.

Prowl watched them go, then grinned. "Play. Have fun."

Both of them would, both in a sense of wonderment.

=0=Floor 49, an apartment, earlier

They stared around themselves at an apartment untouched. Everything that was in the cozy home before was still here, the images of the family on the walls or framed around the various book shelves and counter tops adding to the family ambiance. All of the furnishings were the same and the personal items as well.

Prime walked through the apartment, noting nothing was missing down to a plate of brownies sitting on the desk his genitors shared in their office. He walked out pausing before Prowl before he felt it.

A soft breeze seemed to fill his senses as he felt love in all its perfection caress him. It felt cool, like the touch of a snowflake against his neural net, then it passed taking with it the hint of amusement and laughter. He was frozen, then he wasn't.

"Optimus?"

He glanced downward at Prowl. "Solus. She was just here."

"She did this."

Prime nodded as he pulled Prowl into his arms. "I cannot find the words to say what I feel. My genitors deserved this."

Prowl hugged Prime. "They did. How do we thank Her?"

"I will," Prime said. "Right now, we have to get my genitors and help put to rights our house. When that is done we can get the children and come home again.

They would. It would take a lot of work but but the time Kestrel and Tagg came to the Residence it would be recognizable again. Then they would go downstairs to their own house.

=0=TBC 02-19-2022

ESL, BABY!

iteration: (ih-terr-ay-shun) latest version

Central Point: the name of the town I grew up in which was the central point in the long winding Rogue River Valley. A historic old timey town with giant red brick school and bell tower in the middle of it. A truly great place to grow up, this place.

abet(ted): (uh-bet, uh-betd) to abet is to aid something along or help. Abetted means you did. "He aided and abetted a criminal to escape."

edification: (eh-dih-fuh-kay-shun) understanding and moral uplifting as well sometimes

exacerbate: (X-ass-ur-bait) to make worse

ambiance: the feeling of some place or thing. "Their house had such a nice and homey ambiance."