The Diego Diaries: Civics (dd8 455)

=0=In a corridor

:Mom and Dad … what are you doing here?: Barrett managed around his surprise.

His parents glanced at each other, then him. :We couldn't find you:

:Didn't Gina tell you?: he asked with exasperation and no small amount of teenaged embarrassment.

:Gina forgot: his father replied.

:We just wanted to make sure you were okay: Willow Walters replied.

Barrett glanced at his friends, then them. :I'm fine. I'm helping canvas the vote for Coros. He's running for the Delegate Assembly: He stiffened as if expecting a fight. :I'm helping my club:

His parents stared at him for a moment without a word, then they drove closer.

:I can see that. You're doing a good thing, Barrett. Its very … civic minded: his father said as his mom nodded.

:My friends …: He glanced at Sil and Rambler. :This is Sil and this is Rambler. They're members of the club, too. Sil is one of the leaders and Rambler and I, we just joined. Right, Rambler?" Barrett asked.

He nodded then grinned. "Barrett is a friend. We're helping Coros with his campaign since he was elected to the School Board. He's running for Delegate Assembly and we're part of the campaign team."

Sil nodded, then smiled. "Having Barrett in the group is great. He's our first human member." She looked at Barrett, then smiled at him.

Barrett grinned at her, then turned a serious expression toward his parents. :I'm happy, Mom and Dad. I'm doing what I think is the best thing for me and … and everyone:

His parents stared at him, then both nodded.

:We can't be happier for you, son, than we are. We just couldn't find you. That's a touchy subject for us as you remember: his father said.

Barrett relaxed. :I know. I should've known better than to tell Gina. We're good here:

:That's evident: Willow said. :Do you need volunteers? We'd like to help:

Barrett stared at his parents with a dubious expression, then his grinning companions.

"That would be great," Sil said as she glanced at Rambler who nodded. "The more, the better. We're going there," she said nodding to the next door.

:Why don't you move back and watch? That might be better. I don't want a bunch of humans standing around to make this hard. We're here for Coros, Mom and Dad. I don't want it to be about us: Barrett said to his uncomprehending parents. There wasn't a time in the past where it wasn't about them.

:Alright, son: Clark Walters said as he drove his segway out of view of the door. :How about here?:

"That's great," Rambler said. He glanced at Barrett who was still feeling oddly. "Your parents seem nice, Barrett. They care about you just like ours. We know it already but its good to see. Sometimes what you know isn't what's real. Do you know?"

Barrett glanced at Rambler. :I know:

"Then onward, Barrett. Why don't you knock on the door. Do you think they'll hear you?" Sil asked with a smile.

Barrett smiled at her, then chuckled. :We'll find out:

They wouldn't. They would hear Rambler though.

Clark and Willow Barrett watched as their son helped tell about their candidate, get assurances that the inhabitants would vote and perhaps vote for the kid who was such a surprise to most of the adults in the colony. When the door closed, they would move on to the next one and the next until everyone of the names on their list were checked off.

Willow and Clark Walters would go with them.

=0=Rattler

He'd gone to the game as a spectator in the Prime's box. Joining him were the other four base commanders who'd surrendered with them, invited guests all. They'd also gone to the party and were welcomed there in the midst of the families and friends who always attended the dinner when the games were over.

It was a revelation to be there hanging out with Hercy, Kup and Springer. Drift was busy with their baby, something that shocked him. He knew a lot of the hardcore mechs in the room by reputation and the idea of those two having a son was something that sat sideways in his mind it was so out character of what he knew about them.

Speaking of sideways, he also had heard that slimy mech was in the prison here. Sideways was lucky he was, the turncoat traitor.

Rattler finally walked toward home and the Metro that would take him to his apartment. It was beautiful, still a bit spartan in décor but for the pictures he had made of family that adorned the walls and comfortable beyond belief. Being an officer, his life wasn't as sparing of the finer things than the ranks but this was next level. He walked in, checked his mail and noted nothing had come back yet from his family inquiry.

"Your inquiry is processing," the text said. "We hope you are well while we search. It will take an estimated 4 orns before the entire search through databases is completed and all criteria submitted checked. The next mail may included information for you to corroborate to confine its authenticity and there may be more questions asked to begin a follow up search. Be patient. We are very good at this and understand your desire for information. Your alarm will be alerted. Thank you for your patience. The Bureau of Refugees, Family Restoration Division."

Even their emails and messages were polite. He couldn't remember the last time he'd received a message that wasn't a kick in the codpiece. The 'Cons were short on manners and intense about compliance.

He sat down, then felt it. He felt the genuine absence of tension, something that was always there with the Decepticons. He felt nothing churning in his tanks or the constant lowkey buzz of nervous energy on his neural net, nor did he feel the urge to check the room for threat like before.

He took the remote and clicked on the teevee monitor. The Community Bulletin Board was scrolling. This was the most open place he'd ever lived in the entirety of his life including Cybertron. He watched the news, then sat back to enjoy a movie. It was Cybertronian, a story about the history of their northern climes. It would be entertaining.

That would be new as well. It would also be greatly welcomed.

=0=At a clubhouse in the Central Labor Hall, Autobot City some time later

They gathered, all of them, 31 kids and two adults who hung back to listen with interest. They gathered with 'their guy' Coros to discuss the success or otherwise of their canvassing. Everyone sat on chairs or in Barrett's case, on a filing cabinet nearby. The nine titanic kids sat on a bench along the wall made just for them. They had joined up when Rambler, their best non-family friend decided to.

"So we covered nearly everyone. How was the reception?" Pulley asked as he led the debrief. His 'twin', Coros sat on a chair next to Barrett.

"We did our entire list," Rambler began. "Everyone was polite and all of them said they'd vote. We feel hopeful that they'll vote for you, Coros. Most of them said they'd never been greeted by a candidate or their workers until us so we feel that's important."

Everyone nodded. All would report the same thing.

Coros grinned. "It went well," he said. He glanced toward the door. "Who are those two people, Sil?" he asked.

She stood up and walked toward them. Turning around to glance at everyone, she grinned. "This is Willow and Clark Walters. They're Barrett's genitors. They're really nice."

Everyone looked at them, at a slightly embarrassed and nervous Barrett, then Sil.

"Your genitors are interested in this?" Echo asked. "That's really great, Barrett. It must be nice to be their son," she said with complete sincerity in her Mini Mouse voice. She'd never known anything but a loving adult in her unique family.

Echo was a micro mini-con femme, the lowest rank in The System for a grounder. The only thing lower were the Seekers who because they flew were considered the lowest of the low. She was extremely beautiful in the classic femme manner, highly protected and gently raised. There were low caste tattoos on her face at one time but they were carefully removed by her adoptive family, all of whom were high caste.

No one in their family wore them.

Her mini-con family which included an ada, atar, three brothers and one sister, both ammas and appas and their 'bachelor' uncle had been adopted into a very high caste family. It was extremely unusual and much remarked upon, both in a good way by everyone who wasn't high caste and in a negative way by the hardcore high caste community.

It was never done. Ever.

Yet they loved that family, the high castes, and wanted them safe and with them. They formally adopted them on the run, kept them safe with them, the tiny little bits and loved them like they were their own descended kinfolk. It was a beautiful story of love, unity and growth that was much written about in the newspapers.

Sil had never known a harsh word in her life. Thus the emotional dynamics of discord that was often part of family life was beyond her experience. No one DARED to say a harsh word to her or her family among the high caste community. That part of her family was very, very skilled at protecting them as a couple of mechs found out early in their arrival. Word spread and if there was commentary it was never overt.

Barrett stared at her, the purest person besides babies that he'd ever met. He found himself nodding in the glow of her light. :I think so:

Willow and Clark stared at him, then her.

:We feel the same way. How can we help you with your campaign? The human community votes, too: Clark found himself saying as his wife nodded fervently beside him.

Coros brightened. "Our district includes the new human habitat, the soldiers. According to the Primal ruling, anyone who's a 'resident alien-immigrant with permanent status' can vote. I didn't know how we could go there and talk to them. Would you help us? You and Barrett?"

Barrett stared at his parents like they were aliens. Then he looked at Coros. :I'll go:

:We can help you: Willow said. :Just tell us how and we'll help you:

Barrett stared at his parents as Sil walked toward him. "Echo and I can go with you. Maybe you and your genitors can make a time when we can come talk to them. Maybe Coros can come, too. Won't that be fun?"

Everyone in the room nodded and agreed.

Barrett stared around the room feeling like he was having an out-of-body experience. He and his parents were actually agreeing to do something together, something that was important to him and there was none of the nagging, tension and unspoken disapproval and desire to dominate him between them. He nodded in spite of himself. :It would: he said as he gazed at his parents.

They nodded.

:We'll call the commandant and get it organized around your schedule. They're still remanded to base and I think they'd be glad to hear you. At your convenience, Coros, of course: his father said as his organizational mind kicked in.

"Awesome," Echo said with joy.

The others agreed.

They would continue to debrief and when they got ready to leave there would be plans in place to do more canvassing. Willow and Clark would help with Barrett at the only other place in the district Coros was still aiming for, Earth 1.

=0=Home again jiggity-jig

They fogged in, nine big kids heading for the barn. Hoo-haw happened a moment, then the group settled to get food, all of it catered and sit to relax and talk.

"We had a great time canvassing, Ada," Santee said as he settled Halo in his lap. She smiled as she held his cup and he fed her from his plate. "We had a human join the group, too."

"A human?" Ironhide asked.

"Yes," Quasar said. "Barrett Walters. He seems really nice. He's a hard worker. He went with Sil and Rambler. They really like him."

Ratchet and Ironhide glanced at each other, then grinned.

"That's good to know, son," Ironhide replied.

"His genitors showed up and they're nice. They're helping us. They're going to set up an appointment to go to Earth 1 and the new habitat to talk about the voting," Lumi said.

"Well," Ratchet replied. "That might be interesting. I'm the one who okays that."

"You will, won't you?" Fireball asked.

"Sure enough," Ratchet said with a grin. "I'm glad you kids joined that group. You meet all manner of interesting folks."

All of the nine agreed.

=0=At another house

They walked into their apartment after a silent ride home. Barrett headed for the kitchen to fix something to eat. His parents followed. It was silent a moment, awkwardly so, then Barrett turned to them with sandwich in hand. "I hope you aren't there to ruin things. I love what I'm doing. Please don't mess it up or embarrass me."

The two stared at him, then his father stepped closer. "We're happy for you. We … its amazing the change in you since we came here. I'm sorry that it took all this time to help you be happy."

"We worried where you were, then we saw you with those kids. You were so happy and you were doing important good things with those you liked. You were a sad boy for so long, Barrett and that's our fault. We didn't do right by you and the girls. We're sorry. Right, Clark?" she asked her husband.

Clark nodded. "You weren't helped when you needed it. You made your way alone. We were at fault, both of us. We had our own ideas and we were so stupid. We put something … some dumb idea about being someone ahead of all of you. You put that to the torch."

Barrett stared at them. "I want to be happy. I'm happy here. School is harder than college, I think, but I'm doing a good job. I'm keeping up and learning things. The kids, the bot kids are so nice to me. They help me and like me. They like me for me. I never felt that before. I just want to be their friend and help them with this and all the rest. I want to do a good job in the club. That's all."

Clark nodded to him. "I was all business before. It mattered, things that didn't matter. When you disappeared I thought I'd die. It was the most terrible moment of my life. All I could think of was you lying somewhere suffering all alone. I'm sorry, Barrett, for being a terrible father but I want another chance."

"We both do, Barry," his mom said. "This place … its made you happy. I didn't know how unhappy you were until here. I'm sorry for not being what you needed. We want to help you find what you want. We're sorry it was all about the two of us before. We've talked a lot about this. We hope you want us to be what you need and not you being what we want. Or thought we wanted. I was so proud of you, son, watching what you were doing."

Barrett stared at them, then put his sandwich down on the counter. He walked to his mom and hugged her tightly. Then he hugged his father. He stared at them tearfully. "That's all I ever wanted."

A sound by the door caught their attention. Gina and Tynsley stood there uncertainly. "We can come back."

"The hell you will," Clark said as he pulled his daughters into his arms.

=0=TBC 6-12-2022

ESL

overt: (OH-vert) to do something that everyone can see and understand, to not be sneaky.

covert: (COH-vert) to be sneaky or underhanded.