The Diego Diaries: Moving Forward. Again. (dd8 433)

Sorry about this being a day late. Slag happens. Unfortunately. Meanwhile, here WE GO! (Have a good weekend if you have one where you are. Love you all madly)

=0=Later that night

The city settled back into a quiet rhythm as the sun settled over the dome of Olympus Mons. The peculiar darkness of a space that held minimal illumination fell over the urban landscape as metered lights came on everywhere. If one could fly over the colony one could see the highways below by the snaking of light poles along their lengths. It was the same way flying over cities like London on Earth who put lights along their rivers, the ones that cut them in half.

Springer and his group rode along the highway as the routine of work came back into play. Tell was with the sitter aka communications data clerk at the office so they were good to go.

"What do you think about what Mystic had to say about Tell?" Drift asked.

"I appreciate the news," Springer replied. "He's doing well in school. When is our first review?"

"Three orns," Drift said as they halted to allow traffic to pass on the street where they were riding. "It sounds like he's doing well."

"I hope so," Springer replied. "The twins want him to get to know the kids. Apparently they're planning some kind of camping thing when things calm down a bit. That dome campground at the Valles is a good place for the kids to play."

"Sounds good. When do we put him into the Scouts?" Drift asked.

They laughed about it all the way down the street.

=0=Ops Center, graveyard crew

They sat at their stations running the show of the empire. Even though Cybertron had huge operational centers at Kaon, Iacon and Nova Cronum, this was the prime one. The lights were dimmed slightly as a concession to the night but the intensity and professionalism took second stage to no one.

They were setting up a deep space scan by turning dishes along the trail of sensors laid out all over their sphere of influence. There was something going on out in the farthest reaches that they'd mapped along the path that the armada had taken to rescue 55 or so settlements shortly before. Now they had to figure out whether it was friend or foe. That and any other number of things were on the agenda and they worked diligently to comply.

=0=At the homestead

They sat side-by-side in their chairs watching The Hourly News. Everyone was settled and sedated so normalcy was trying to resurrect itself once again …

-*At the Central Point Medical Center, Central Point, Midtown, Autobot City, Mars, Cybertron and the Empire of the Primes

"Everyone looks so comfortable," Ratchet said gently. "I think its time to go home and get some sleep. How that they have their new home we should let them rest, too."

Appa Ratchet who was holding his brother's servo glanced at Ratchet. "How about I stay here? Just overnight?"

"How about you go home and sleep in your own bed, come here with breakfast pastries and have some with them? I want you to sleep, eat right and do this better so you can really help them. If you fall apart how can they be happy?" Ratchet asked as everyone glanced at Budge and Mystic.

They were laying on berths that had devices for their vital signs, thermal blankets to comfort their neural net and softness to uphold their battered frames. They looked better if that was a help and both of them stared at each as they spoke.

"Ratch, you need to get some rest. Mystie and I are going to be okay," Budge finally managed to say.

"What if you need something?" Ratchet asked anxiously.

"That's where I come in, Abba," a nursing student said. She was Sylvie and a dynamo on her way to a degree in elder care. She was planning on becoming a doctor for general medicine for elders after getting some more experience at the nursing end of things. It was a good thing for her to know both sides of the same coin she would say. "I'm going to be their night carer," she said with a sweet smile.

"You're going to be a great doctor some day," Mystic said softly. "You have a kind spark, infant."

Everyone glanced at Mystic.

Sylvie stepped closer. "I never told you my dream, Abba."

"Mystic is a Seer, the Old Clan," Appa Ratchet said proudly. "He's holy."

Sylvie considered that, then moved to Mystic to take his servo. "You are. Thank you, Abba. I'm so glad to know that. Its my dream." She looked at Appa Ratchet, then smiled beautifully. "I'll take great care of them, Abba. Don't you worry."

Ratchet waffled a moment, then turned to Docker. "Maybe we can get something really nice for them and bring it in the morning."

"I think that's a brilliant idea, Only One," Docker said gently.

They walked out and took cabs home. Ratchet tucked them all in, then walked to the apartment. Ironhide would be waiting for him with dinner. The kids would be in bed.

-*In the here and now

"They're tracking something in the area we just cleared," Ironhide said. "I'm thinking that the 'Cons are leaving. We believed there were five bases there."

"I hope they come peacefully or we're going to be on duty forever," Ratchet said as he turned up the news again.

=0=Earth2

It was quiet when Owen Harris walked to his quarters. Rain and Rick had been with him for dinner before going out to visit friends. He was inordinately happy that they were getting to be very close, often in tandem against him. But he didn't care. Rain was turning out to be the daughter he'd hoped for, excelling at school, being mannerly and caring for something beyond her own selfishness.

Coming here had been a good thing.

For now, he had to prepare to discuss the future of Earth2 with or without him in charge with the bots shortly. He wasn't going anywhere. He wasn't involved in the corruption that was the Panama Papers. Some of the others had been and it was tense.

Camilla Brown had even made arrangements to stay with others if her dad got yanked to Earth to stand trial for this. She loved it here. She found her footing and like almost all the kids here had grown up in a good way from being here. At least most of the first group. Some of the girls in the second group were a work in progress.

Owen considered Hamilton Brown. He was a smart businessman and of all the accused probably in the whole business, he was the least involved. It might even be determined that it wasn't his decision to send his money away through this convoluted scheme. A money manager that held part of his fortune had been arrested for theft and it could be that he was using the scheme to steal from Hamilton. If he was, then Hamilton and by proxy Camilla would be off the hook.

He was also sure that Kyle wouldn't be.

Reaching his door, he entered and it closed behind him. Being preoccupied, he didn't notice that Martin Polanski was following him.

Martin aka Silas waited in the shadows watching his prey enter his apartment. It pleased him that the normally savvy former soldier hadn't made him. He wasn't in any hurry to exact his revenge. He had all the time in the world. He would use it to enjoy his position and this amazing place. It was good to be him among the titans.

He faded away into the habitat.

=0=Earlier in the day at the new human habitat

They worked through a number of issues when heavy treads drew their attention. Jackson Davis, Commanding, rose to walk to the door and peer out down the concourse. He stepped back in, then turned to the troops. "Attention."

Everyone rose to stand thusly as a huge figure appeared in the doorway. He was red, white and black, mostly red. He bore a dark monocle-like embellishment on his face that was tech so far ahead of what humans could ever expect to make for measurement, sighting and other features it couldn't be determined. He was powerful and tall, perfectly proportioned and curious.

"Sir, I'm Colonel Jackson Davis of the United States Army. I'd like to welcome you to our gathering and thank you for taking the time to tell us things we need to know," Davis said.

Perceptor nodded. "Thank you, Colonel. Perhaps your people would come out to the concourse so I may speak to them. I believe it would take too much trouble to rearrange this room to suit my size."

"Of course," Davis said. He turned to his people. "At ease." He looked at Percy. "As you desire, sir."

Perceptor stepped back, then walked to a more open space. As he did the humans began to stream out, some of them looking at him with awe while the others stared without expression. There were many reactions to the marvels that Cybertronians were and all of them were here now.

The humans gathered in a half circle.

"If you wish to become comfortable, even bringing chairs, please do so," Perceptor said with his highly cultured voice.

There was monkey motion as they complied then all sat in a half circle before him.

Perceptor stared at them, then scanned all of them. He checked his data, then looked at them. "I have scanned you. I have a science function overall but I am also a forensic pathologist and a doctor. My data tells me that you are a healthy group overall. Some of you have stress fractions on your legs, however, from over training.

"I am going to send this data to Doctor Phoebe Grant who is managing all of the health data profiles of all humans on world. Your doctor here will also receive it. It will be very detailed and also allow you to foresee future illnesses that you can plan to defeat through due diligence."

They stared at him, then each other.

A man raised his hand. "Sir? Did you just detect anything that might go wrong with us? Even in the future?"

Perceptor nodded. "Yes. Its something that those of us who can, do for the humans here. You will be scanned from time-to-time by those of us who are medical oriented. Ratchet will do so as well. We care for your well being."

It was silent a moment as they took that in, then Davis arose. "Thank you, sir. I wish I could tell you how much we appreciate that. Its just another reason we're honored to be here."

Perceptor looked at him. "Thank you," he said. He looked at the group who were almost mesmerized by his manner and his handsome completely relatable face. "My name is Perceptor of Crystal City of Cybertron. I am Co-Director of all Sciences here on Mars, on Cybertron and throughout the Empire wherever Autobots and Cybertronians exist with my bond, Wheeljack.

"We are in charge of all that is scientific, on call to medical and serve on the Prime's General Staff as Senior Autobots. I have been in the Civil War in various functions since your species was still living in trees and the science that I know spans many tens of millions of years, vast stretches of space and multiple dimensions. A great deal of the knowledge that I possess and the science that I can do has been acquired in service.

"I am a graduate of the Science Academy in Crystal City, the Science Academy of Praxus, a fellow of the Academy of Sciences of Cybertron and served on or headed various scientific projects and divisions under five Primes. I am here, therefore, to tell you things that you might not understand perhaps. Feel free to raise your servos to ask."

They stared at him silently, then nodded silently.

"Sir?"

"Yes," Perceptor said.

"Are you also a soldier?" the man asked.

Perceptor flashed on the eons of his service, then nodded. "I have been a full time soldier since the ascension of Optimus Prime. I have also been a Wrecker," he said with the faintest suggestion of pride.

They looked at him with something akin to awe. Perceptor had all of them in the palm of his servo.

=0=TBC 5-13-2022

Fancyspinner chapter 419 . 17h ago

I love that Ironhide and his family have a rou with as well as Hon and Orion; I think the little ones will be much more reasonable than their elders! LOL

ME: I think its hilarious that the adults could be just as goofy as the babies. Callo and the others are going to be good for the family dynamic. LOL! Raptor was a hellion as a child apparently. ;)

I love the investment they put into care. Would that we took the same interest.

ME: It tells you something about a society how they treat their most vulnerable people, the sick, the disabled and the hurt. I wish the same thing, my darling Fancy. Some day, my darling, some day. HUGS!

Jackalkat chapter 432 . May 11

(googles heretech). oh. Oh dear.

ME: Isn't Heretech a piece of work? I always wondered what it was like for the families of outlaws? I wondered what it might be like to be Hitler's sister. She, Paula Hitler loved her brother. She never did anything less. She was a piece of work herself but imagine. There are two or three sons of Hitler's nephew living in the United States. They changed their name from Hitler to something else. I would be surprised if they were still alive.

ESL:

inordinate: unbelievable, an extreme amount, overwhelming(ly), could be emotion or something else. A large amount of something.