The Diego Diaries: Stuff and More Stuff (dd4 434)

=0=Around the vastness of Primal territory

Hamilton Brown walked down the main housing block corridor to the 'street' that led from the habitation elevators to the 'city proper'. He paused to note the traffic, vehicular and pedestrian before crossing at the light. He felt an inordinate urge to obey rules at the moment given the news he carried with him.

Overhead, the lights simulated the sun and warmth of its rays making the ambient temperature a calm balmy 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Being a math addict he calculated Celsius as 23.8889 degrees. Either way, it was great to go jacket-less all the time.

In New York the weather was variable, at the moment 70 degrees Fahrenheit and raining. Here the weather was always the same and the day and night comfortable. His wife had necessitated a complete change of wardrobe for both her and his daughter. That part of things was nothing he was interested in. What interested him was the mathematical acquisition of wealth and the deployment of it for pleasure and more wealth.

Living here as one among a good dozen billionaires all of which conducted their business here, he'd felt the competition among them. That they were now standing in front of a probable guillotine it was even more amusing than usual.

He walked into the office building where all of the businesses and businessmen held offices. Taking an elevator to the ninth floor of the ten story building, he stepped out to walk along the bright corridor to Owen Harris's office. He rapped on the door, then stepped in.

It was nice, comfortable and filled with Owen's possessions. His business stuff. It hadn't been tossed around by Forensics like his was but it showed the new paradigm better than just about anything else. The office on the top floor of the building, the luxurious penthouse had defaulted to Cindy Tomas as part of the leadership package. A scramble had gotten Owen this one by default.

He was chatting with Pierre Beliveau and Cam Frazer. "Hello."

"Hamilton. Come in and join us," Owen said smoothly.

Hamilton did. He relaxed then nodded to the two men who were sitting on a couch by the window. "Gentlemen."

"What brings you here so cheerily?" Owen asked though he'd guessed already.

"I just got word from my lawyers that the charges that were pending against me are going to be dropped. My accountant was stealing from me and using the system to hide the money. I'm in the clear."

The men considered that, then Owen sat back with a slight grin. "You missed a train wreck. There but for the grace of God …"

Hamilton smirked slightly. "Truer words were never spoken. However, now maybe my daughter and wife will speak to me again."

There was that.

=0=Out there

They made their way with a swiftly growing migration. Seekers and refugee groups had come out of the woodwork as they were sought out or responded to the low key signal being sent by them to everyone in the sectors through which they were passing. As they went they were charting the territory against the future of coming back for anyone overlooked.

Raven and Rattler worked together to devise a search grid. It was obvious that the need was here and that their broadcasts and searches were bringing up those who were stranded, hiding or making their way on their own. At the moment their combined tally of those with them was approaching 75,00.

"I think we need to send a message to Prime. We need support," Rattler said as Raven nodded.

They worked together to devise a bullet message that would be discharged toward the source of the Omega Beacon and hopefully reach Prime. When, that was still debatable.

=0=At a conference

"We understand that you operate under a different set of circumstances than other habitats but in the end they belong to the Nation and are part of the sovereignty of Optimus Prime. Every habitat is an experiment and all of them have been successful so far. Its our hope that this one will be as well," Perceptor said.

"Its our hope, too, sir," Davis said as everyone nodded.

"Those are the rules of space and the conditions you must demonstrate to be allowed to go on missions with the armadas. Most of you will go on the larger ships. The N.E.S.T. soldiers who've been going for years on any vessel will be on the shuttles or smaller ships if they are the vessels of the mission. Their officers have the option of bringing some of you along no matter the vessel but you have to prove to them that you're up to it.

"We utilize space bridges and can go to the other side of the universe if necessary. You have to prove you are psychologically fit to go that far away and believe you will return," he said. "There is, of course, in all warlike situations the possibility of not coming back so you must be sure you wish to come."

It was silent in the room.

"Are there any more questions?" Perceptor asked.

There were.

=0=Conference room at the Watch Tower

"That's what we got so far. We've narrowed it down to a gang but the gang is still unknown. The red streak gang is the most likely. Tempo was just in the wrong place at the right time to get killed," Sky said.

Hauser nodded. "We're strapped for leads but the tip line is still dribbling them in. Eventually we hope someone spills and we can put this to rest. Its said to be part of the high caste unrest that's leading them to run for positions of power."

Springer sat back to consider the problem. "Its not going to be fast and they could make headway with this issue. They could fan the flames that they're not safe here against retribution by some."

"There's been almost no cross caste violence from the beginning and its a miracle," Drift said. "I truly expected more. The violence has come from the high castes themselves. We have to solve this thing. I want to get that gang."

"They're very good at hiding," Hauser said with a softly vented sigh. "I hope someone rats them out."

Springer took an off line call, then glanced at the others. "Kelsie just told me that Hamilton Brown had all the charges dropped. Apparently, his accountant or something was the one funneling money away."

"He got lucky," Hercy said. "Or he's smarter than he looks."

No one could agree on which it might be.

=0=Elsewhere at recess time, Youngling Day School, Centurion

Lilly Brown ran from the building toward her friends who were gathered at a bench where they sat to talk after lunch most days. She reached them almost breathlessly.

:What's the matter, Lilly?: Rain Harris asked.

:My mom just called me. Daddy isn't in trouble anymore. Someone else was stealing from him and using his name to transfer the money through that network. My dad isn't in trouble with the law: She looked almost sick with relief.

Rain hugged her. :That's awesome:

:You were still going to live with us anyway: Camilla Baker replied.

:Me and my mom: she said with a big relieved laugh.

Lunch break would breeze by.

=0=Ops Center

"Did you hear that Hamilton Brown had charges dropped? Apparently his accountant was stealing money from him and using the network to hide it off shore," Jazz said as he walked in to sit down at the command table.

Prowl stared at him, then Prime. "Apparently Autobot Brown got lucky."

Prime snickered. "Well, we do have a nice assortment of the others. I have to know how Barron is doing on that case. What is the situation on the named individuals here?"

"They're keeping a low profile," Jazz said. "We're tracking them on the grid. They mostly stay at home at Earth2 but a few make daily treks to Unidad. The word is they like to ride and hang out in the country."

"I would," Prime said. "I rather like the cows."

"The bulls are my new heroes," Prowl said as he remembered big bovines of different types mauling the squad of 'Cons that had breached the habitat. "Bison especially. Phase six-type mechanisms, all of them."

Prime grinned. "I concur."

=0=Central Point Medical Center, Central Point District, Autobot City, Mars, Cybertron and the Empire of the Primes

They rested in the darkened room as soft beeps from machines fed data to the nursing station down the corridor and nutrients to the patients. It was a private room with a homey touch. There was a nice big monitor on the wall in front of them with a couch and two chairs that could be used as beds if need be. The color scheme of the room and its furnishings were soft pastels designed to soothe the patients through their hurts both mental and physical.

The windows were tinted, dialed up for night time as the two recharged with a mild sedative. Their hurts weren't hurting, something that Ratchet ensured and the pain would be gone by morning. Stiffness would have to be exercised and therapied out but the actual pain of surgery wouldn't return.

The night attendant was Sylvie. She walked into their room periodically to take measurements and tuck them in gently. She was very good and an attentive femme who had elders in her family that she delighted in caring for. Taking up this kind of medicine would be some way to pay them back for their goodness and to help them as well.

She grinned at Budge. He reminded her of her grandfather. "Get well, Budge. The world needs both of you. I'll take care of you. Don't worry," she said as she noted a few things on their charts. Putting them back in the slot, she walked silently out to take care of other patients. She would continue to do so all night with the rest of the nursing and tech team that worked this shift.

=0=Morning

Ratchet rose and stepped out heading for the Med Center next door where he would check up on the doings there, then head for the Diner where everyone would be having breakfast including the kids. Going early, they would then put the kids in a cab while Ironhide followed discreetly to their new school in Titan. Hero would supervise Orion and Praxus. This would be the day that Kaon and the twinnies would join them in Neo's classroom.

Another one would be opening in a couple of days with a former University professor teaching it, one who wanted to be with little kids and go down that yellow brick road. If Sojourner and Solus passed their testing and other checks on a long list, they would go there.

Prowler wouldn't. He was still too much of a cream puff. A much more Praxus Prowler, if you got the drift.

When that was settled they would all go to Central Point to check on Budge and Mystic who'd be ready to get out of bed and sit in the sunny day lounge for patients, the first step of a long rehabilitation process. It would help their re-calibration to do so.

He hustled into the darkness to do battle with the job. Later that orn he would go to the new soldier habitat to pick up where Percy left off. He was one busy mech, Our Ratchet,

=0=About a joor later

"ATAR!"

"Inside voice, slagger. What?"

"Where Ada?"

Ironhide glanced down at Orion as he wrangled the infants. "He's going to meet us at the Diner. Then you're going to school."

"New school?" Praxus asked.

"Yes. You like it?" Ironhide asked.

"I do. I like it. Do you like it, Orion?" he asked.

Orion glanced at Praxus, then smiled his best smile. "I LOVE KOOL! I DOIN', ATAR!" He looked up at Ironhide with joy. "I DOIN' WIF THE SHES!"

Ironhide grinned, then chuckled. "I'm glad. You can't have fun if you don't doin' wif the shes."

Orion nodded. "I love the shes."

The door opened as adults walked in. Blackjack was carrying a smiling Scout.

"Ready to go?" Ravel asked as he picked up Hero.

Ironhide grinned. "Yep. Let's doin' wif the shes."

It would be bedlam for a second, then they'd go out the door to the Diner, then the cab stand, then the Medical Center in Central Point. They'd do a days worth of work before the sun was fully on the rise.

=0=TBC 5-14-2022

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! HUGS!

Wow. When I got hit by the car it jazzed up my nervous system. Sometimes when I type I lose feeling in the fingers of my right hand and it feels like I'm hammering the keys with real hammers. LOL! Oh well. :D Take care out there. :D