The Diego Diaries: (dd8 459)

=0=There

They waited by the hatch as they watched a van drive into the airlock entrance. Jackson Davis, his lieutenant and a couple of human liaisons watched as well as it slowed, stopped, then began to allow passengers to leave its confines. Several kids came down the single step, some of them enormously tall while others who were shorter followed. Last of all came a human child.

The driver watched as they gathered, spoke a second, then with mentor in tow walked to the door to enter.

"This is going to be amazing," Ahmed Bensaid of Algeria, a United Nations liaison whispered. He glanced at the others who were equally entranced. "Those kids must be 30 feet tall."

Nine giant child mechanisms followed the others, two holding hands as they entered. They gathered together, then looked at the humans from varying heights.

It was silent a moment, then Davis stepped forward. "Welcome to the base. I'm Commandant Jackson Davis." He introduced the others, then Coros turned to his group and introduced them. He looked at Davis. "We're here to canvas for the election coming up. This base is in the district which I'm hoping to represent in the Delegate Assembly. I would like to speak to your residents if I can."

"It would be a pleasure," Davis said. "If you'd follow me," he said as he began to walk toward the auditorium that functioned for such things. All habitats had them of varying sizes and this was no exception.

The place appeared to be devoid of inhabitants until they reached the auditorium. The soldiers inside stood at attention as the group walked along the side to get to the small stage. The big kids lined the wall as the smaller ones and the human with them climbed the steps to stand behind Davis.

"As you were," Davis said.

Everyone sat down and gave their full intensely interested attention to the most surprising visitors they would ever meet. As they did the camera crew that began filming them when they arrived carried on. This would go out over the live stream as it happened to the Earth channel that carried their habitat. Each habitat had a dedicated channel for people on Earth to watch.

"Its my honor and privilege to introduce to you visitors from the colony who want to talk to you about the upcoming elections which by Primal Decree we can join. This youngster," he said turning to Coros, "is the candidate for the seat that falls into this jurisdiction. His name is Coros of Polyhex of Cybertron and he's here to tell you about his candidacy. Please make him welcome, he and his comrades."

The place exploded in clapping and whistling drawing smiles from the kids and a chuckle from their mentor.

Coros stepped forward. "Thank you, Commandant Davis and your welcoming committee. I'm so happy to come here and talk to you about our election. You can vote in it now because Lord Optimus decreed it. I hope you do even if you don't vote for me. I hope you do though."

Chuckles rounded the room as Coros began to relax a bit. He glanced at the group behind him and along the wall. "We're students from Intermediate Day School #1 in Iacon, a city in a urban hub not that far from here. When you can go out you'll see it. I live in the city called Polyhex which is part of that urban hub. We asked for and got space in our home world city for sentimental reasons. We miss our home world, though I was never born there.

"I know you come from another world and maybe you feel the same but here we are, together and living in harmony here. I want to help you with that. I'm running for Delegate Assembly seat 122 serving District 122A-1B. It encompasses the Metro Districts, this habitat, Earth 1 and the Consulate. Its an interesting district because it serves both humans and bots.

"I want to help you with your needs, represent you when you need help with things and help build up the district to become everything we want it to be. The district is one of the most unique ones and I want to be your representative.

"In our school we work together, humans and bots. Barrett Walters, here," he said glancing back to the pensive looking kid standing beside Rambler and the femmes, "is getting to be one of my best friends."

Barrett felt that same strange warmth suffuse him as he nodded toward Coros.

Coros grinned, then looked at the humans. "We have experience together, human and bot. Now I want to help this district become the best in the colony. I know that there's issues with the Metro here. I also know that the Metro Districts are looking at adding amenities for their populations, some that would attract others in the colony to this area both human and bot. That means more roads and more services.

"I've made a study of this district, me and my team," he said glancing at the kids behind him, some of whom waved, drawing chuckles. "I think I'm best poised to serve."

He looked at the humans, taking a step forward with an earnest serious expression on his surprisingly handsome face. "I realize that I'm a kid. A lot of people might find that disqualifying. But I assure you that all of us here know things beyond our years. All of us have been in terrible circumstances, all of us know about not having security. Some of us know about getting shot and being hungry. We've been made older than our years by the things that we've experienced. I wouldn't be doing this if I thought I couldn't. Our people and you would deserve better than that.

"I just won a seat on the School Board which is the first time that the student representative can vote on issues. I want to be a delegate to help this district soar. My team will help me. I have great mentors and the desire. All I need is your consideration for the election in four days. I hope that you aren't blinded by my age. None of us are adult but all of us have lived that life already. I'm asking for your vote in the upcoming Delegate Assembly election. I promise you I'll work hard for you and I won't let you down."

Applause exploded in the room, then settled.

Coros glanced back as Barrett walked forward. "Barrett."

Barrett stepped toward the edge of the stage to stare at the humans who stared back with intensity. :My name is Barrett Walters and I'm a student at Youngling Day School #1 in Centurion. I live in Earth2 and chose to go to school in the bot system. At first I was a dick, a real entitled idiot but that all changed.

:I met kids that really know how hard life can be and they had experiences I hope I never have. They accepted me and some of them are the best friends I ever had. These kids are smart, dedicated to what they believe and each other. They mean what they say.

:I grew up rich and privileged. I never had to prove anything because I had money and parents who could open any door. What I never had was a sense that the whole group of us mattered. That changed here. I wish I was better at words to tell you how much I love it here and how much I love and respect the bots.

:Lord Optimus trusts us enough to vote in their elections. No one on Earth does that. If you don't live there you can't vote. Because he trusts us we have to return it. We have to vote in the election for the best candidates we can find.

:Coros is that candidate. I never met a person more interested in other people's well being than him. I work on his campaign. I'm his friend. I would hope that you don't think he's just a kid and vote for someone else. If you need him he'll come. He's one of the founders of the Autobot City Watch and Medical Youth Auxiliary. They do that to serve. I joined it along with the titan kids," he said nodding to the wall of big kids who nodded back. "And Rambler, too: He glanced at Rambler who smiled.

:I'm going to help Coros no matter what he needs to do. All we need is your vote: He glanced back. :I think the others need to tell why they want you to do this, too:

Sil smiled, then walked forward with Echo and Jessine as Barrett walked back to stand beside Rambler. Echo hugged him, Jessine and Sil pattted him, then turned to the group watching with abject fascination. "Hi. I'm Sil of Polyhex. This is Echo of Tarn and Jessine of Capital City."

HUGE applause greeted them.

=0=Meeting

Ratchet glanced at Prime. "I just got a message that the children went to the soldier habitat to campaign for Coros."

"I wish I lived in that district so I could vote for him," Venture said. "What an outstanding group of children."

"We live there," Caro said. "Just the leading edge of our city falls into that district."

"We're voting for him. He's a great kid and smart as they come," Payload said. "We have to support our kids."

Everyone agreed. Everyone also hoped he'd succeed including his fellow School Board member, Ironhide.

=0=There

"Coros is an exceptional person," Sil began.

"He's also your boyfriend," Echo said with a snicker and a twinkle in her optic.

Huge laughter and applause went around the room.

"He's a good person," Sil said with a chuckle. "He's also leading in grades in our level with Pulley, our other founding member of the Youth Auxiliary. We all have an optic on service careers for our futures so working this way isn't going to be a thing we choose to do for fun. We're very serious about serving our colony and people. You are part of that.

"We know that you have issues about travel restrictions and other lifestyle items. Coros and his office which is going to include us as well will be your contact persons. If you have a need in the habitat, we'll be your first responders.

"We're in the Watch, we do patrols with the mechs and femmes, we work in the hospital and all of us are rated Medics-First Responders. We have our auxiliary which is several years old now and we recruit others to join.

"Some of us were held 'at risk' when we came due to war, famine and other things," Sil began.

:Some were entitled people like me: Barrett said almost emotionally. :But this place, it saved me and everyone else: he said as the kid group nodded in agreement. :No one here takes anything for granted and everyone wants to make it better:

"Barrett is right. All of us here but Rambler and the big boys were born high caste but all of us here are dedicated to helping and bringing up the life of everyone including our human community." She glanced at the wall. "How about you, Fireball?" she asked.

Fireball startled, then looked at the humans. "I hope you vote for Coros. He's smart, good and will work so hard to make things better for everyone. I hope you don't think he's just a kid. My brothers and I," he said glancing at the others, "we were in hunter-killer groups and no one thought we were just kids. We did our job as well as any adult. We can do what we say and Coros is the most true mech I know."

The humans stared at the sincere big boy a moment. Then one leaned slightly forward. "Hunter-killer groups?" he asked with surprise.

=0=Meeting

"Anything for the good of the order?" Optimus asked with an almost wistful tone.

There would be. Lots.

=0=TBC 6-20-2022