The Diego Diaries: Ho-Ho-Shit (dd8 52)
=0=Late that night after the festivities wound down
She saw off the hordes, enjoying the moments as everyone gathered to leave with friends she'd made over the whole of the human community. Buses came and loaded up. Trucks and vans, a new innovation here, took their passengers as more came behind them. No one had arrived by segway on a night where the potential to have headers with drunk Cybertronians in car mode was so high. By the time they were nearly all gone, she had gone to the office to check her mail, answered a couple, then made the long walk to her apartment in the administrative officer wing of Earth2's habitat.
Cynthia Tomas was tired but happy. The problem with Cameron Frazer and the black eye she felt he'd given them had faded just slightly into the background as she considered the party for the next night at Unidad and dancing with her boyfriend, Paolo from Brazil. Her friends, a tight circle of folks from Ohio who hung out and did things together were also going to be going to the Valles with Cybertronian friends the next day to hang out in the domed campsite, a heavily utilized area from back in the orn with Ratchet's mob. It was a given that more humans and Cybertronians would come there as well. It would be a blast.
She stepped out of the elevator, then walked down the long ramp-like corridor that faced the tall stack of apartments that were open to the facility all around them like an island and had a great view of the outdoors. Pausing by her door, she noticed a pretty bowed box on the ground. Picking it up, she walked inside.
Lights came on automatically as they were timed to the night schedule of the facility. She walked to the couch and sat heavily, holding the box before her to read a small card with immaculate English printing attached to the front.
"For Cynthia Tomas, Earth2 Habitat from Optimus, the Prime of Cybertron, Mars and the Empire."
She stared at it with surprise, then set it down on the coffee table before her. Lifting the bow covered lid, she peered inside, then pulled a letter out. She sat back to read it.
"To Cynthia Tomas of Cincinnati, Ohio for her outstanding service to the peace between the Empire of the Primes and Planet Earth.
"It is a blessing to have a colleague such as you to represent your world so beautifully here on Mars. For that and other service that has generated such good will between our two peoples, I, Optimus Prime bestow Cybertronian citizenship upon you. You will have all of the rights, privileges and duties of any Cybertronian citizen for as long as you may live. It is my great honor to bestow this upon you and I welcome you into the Cybertronian fold.
"Merry Christmas Surprise, Friend of The People. Until all are one, Cynthia Tomas.
"Optimus Prime of Iacon
"Prime of Cybertron, Mars and the Empire
First Disciple of Primus
Bearer of the Matrix of Leadership, the Autobot Creation Matrix"
She stared at the letter, then set it down. Looking into the box, she gently removed a brilliant crystal device that was a carved representation of Cybertron. She held it in her hands, noting that her name was etched into the base with the words 'Citizen of Cybertron and the Empire' after her own name. Also in the box were the papers that made this so and a metallic chip that functioned as a 'passport' among The People. Her name and details were inscribed along with a pretty picture of her face.
It would be a while before the enormity would sink in. Then she'd be up all night making calls to Earth and around the colony to share the news. To her, it was the single best Christmas present she would ever receive in her life.
=0=Home
By the time Ratchet, Drift and Springer arrived back at the homestead most of the partiers were leaving or already had. Snarking and slagging greeted that as the three walked to the couches to sit.
"Big Jim is harassing a girl and Cam Frazer did an impromptu stand up routine about his feelings concerning cars and slag," Ratchet said with a big smile. "The usual."
"I really don't think Cameron Frazer has gotten into the spirit of this place. Do you?" Drift asked Springer.
"Nope," Springer replied. "Maybe his daddy will spank him."
"What did he say?" Prime asked as he sat up a bit straighter. As he did Prowl slid into an awkward lean. A moment of monkey motion occurred, then peace and equilibrium was restored.
"Yeah, Loon, what happened?" Prowl asked with a grin as he settled against Prime again.
"Granny is still drunk," Ratchet said. He glanced at Prime. "We came there to the call, then Harris and Company said all was well. I asked to speak to the girl in question. She came out and told us that she was followed, bothered and all around discomfited for about six months. Instead of complaining, something she didn't feel would work given the culture of Earth2 presented by Harris and his team, she took a position at Unidad to resolve her situation. He'd grabbed her arm on the dance floor and a couple of men stepped forward to defend her. That's when security arrested him."
"Well … this is not good," Optimus said. "The young lady did not feel making a complaint would work?"
"No. She said Harris isn't friendly and that everyone has no faith in him or the system since he made so much trouble for Monica and her husband," Ratchet replied. "I had security take her to Unidad where she's moving tomorrow anyway. That's when Cam Frazer decided to opine. It got quite festive after that in keeping with the season." Ratchet made his best giant smile for everyone who took a moment to enjoy it.
"What did he say?" Prowl asked. "As if I don't know already."
"Well … he said 'smug', 'arrogant' and 'disgusting' a lot. In fact, allow me to send you the video. I can't do this justice," Ratchet said as he sent The Cure first. Everyone in their group, Ironhide elders, Prowl's and other family relaxed into The Cure minus Ratchet's and Prime's who'd taken children home to overnight. Everyone else watched and listened to the video, coming to the same shocked face at the same time.
It was a sobered group who sat up straight.
"That was slag," Sun said. "He thinks that we wanted our catastrophe and that it just happened to us. Right now, Earth could use a friend given how they're treating it. Its not like they can pull another one out of their butts."
"This one is a spoiled brat, Sun," Ratchet said. "His father is aghast and that's legit in my book. He's a diplomat and spent his whole life thinking about his words. I'm not sure how he really feels about us but he'd never say this kind of slag himself. His angst is genuine."
"He's never been to Cybertron, has he, this kid guy?" Jack asked.
"No. I don't think a trip there would make a difference. He's see it as the aftermath of the galaxy's biggest demolition derby, I think. You have to see us as living beings worthy of empathy and he doesn't. He was pretty drunk there and he's still nursing his grievance with Sunstreaker," Ratchet said. "I confined him to the habitat. We'll see if he stays."
"Why wouldn't he?" Miler asked. He was holding a sleeping Prima and looked upset as did the other civilians sitting with them.
"He goes to Diego Garcia once a week, to an office there where he orders and arranges for the supply chain not just for Earth2 but the other habitats. He's really good at requisitions apparently," Ratchet replied. "He's also not going to take no for an answer. I expect that he's going to keep his schedule."
"That means he has to pass through the bridge there, the Embassy bridge?" Prowl asked.
"Actually, they send him through one of the ready-go shuttle bridges, the ships we keep there. That means he doesn't see our Embassy. Its standard policy for non-Cybertronian citizens," Ratchet replied. "The N.E.S.T. slaggers and their families use the Embassy bridge because they have citizenship. By the way, someone noticed me that Cynthia Tomas got her present. She probably needed it, she was so upset with Frazer."
Prime nodded. "It was a pleasure for me to do that."
"She's good folks, Our Cynthia," Ratchet replied as everyone nodded. "What do you want to do about Frazer? What if he decides to go to Diego? Do we pick him up?"
Prime considered that. "What do you think Harris and his father might do about this? I cannot imagine they are happy about it."
"I think Harris is. I think he keeps short fuses like this around him to see how far he can go. He likes what they do. Everyone was mortified by this but him. He wasn't the least bit concerned about this when it happened. He was taking notes. Frazer's father on the other hand was upset. That could be the diplomat or it could be actual consideration for us for what his son was saying. Fifty-fifty, maybe." Ratchet considered things a moment. "A diplomat is almost constitutionally unable to be a verbal slagger. I feel for him that he has such a son."
"You get back what you give," Prowl said darkly.
"Is that true, Miler?" Springer asked.
Miler grinned slightly. "Most of the time."
Prowl frowned at Miler while everyone else grinned.
"I want him taken into custody if he goes to Diego, Ratchet. You do it. You carry the force of law over the habitats. They know that. If he wants to push this we can accommodate him," Prime said.
Ratchet glanced at Drift and Springer. "Stand by."
=0=Merry Hoo-Haw the next morning
The noise was instructive as infants ran about opening a present before going to school to have their room parties and a visit from Santa Prime and his Minions™. As they danced around, the elders picked them up, then disappeared out the door with them and a bouncing dog.
Ratchet who was walking back from the tot's bedrooms with book bags in hand stared into the quiet room. The only one still there was Ironhide. "Well, what happened? Did they get sucked down the central vacuum system again?"
"Would that you had one, Old Mech," Ironhide said with a snicker.
Ratchet dropped the book bags on a couch, noted that treats for each kid and their class were also gone, then turned to Ironhide. "The Fortress, Santa Ironhide. Holi's orders."
Ironhide rose, tossed his glass into the sink where it broke into a zillion pieces. "I AM IRONHIDE! I SANTA AND I BREAK THINGS!"
A punch to the gut was accomplished, then they ambled out to go about do-gooding for the next few joors.
And a beer blast at The Fortress when it was done.
Win-win.
=0=E2
It was a tense group that sat in the conference room following the very successful and only slightly marred party the night before. About 20,000 people had showed up, near the capacity for such a gathering for the monster facility. Now, the entire administrative team was sitting together to go over things and that included Cameron Frazer.
Harris listened a moment, then glanced at Cynthia. "I heard you got a surprise last night."
Cynthia glanced at him, then the others. "I did. I'm more honored than you can know about it."
"What is it?" Kyle Davis asked.
"Cynthia was gifted with Cybertronian citizenship from Prime for Christmas," Harris was silent a moment as everyone there digested that news.
Cam sat back in his chair and folded his arms. "Interesting.:
"No, Cam. Incredible. Wonderful. Life changing. Those match the honor," Cynthia said with an edge. "I am honored and delighted with this."
"To each his own," Cam said.
Cynthia glanced at Harris, then a slightly shame-faced Beliveau. "We can't have immature legacies shooting their mouths off making trouble and inciting bad will between us and the Cybertronians. They hold the keys to this place and nothing in the agreements or treaties precludes them from kicking you out of here. If you can't figure out how marvelous these people are and find a way to act like you have manners around them, then it behooves you to learn or leave."
"I'm not going anywhere. I do my job to peak," Cameron said.
Harris who was watching them spar grinned slightly. Never were truer words spoken he considered. Never more true than that.
=0=TBC 12-28-2020
ESL:
opine: (oh-p-eye-n) To offer an opinion, to speak.