The Diego Diaries: Getting There (dd8 99)
=0=Later that afternoon
:Thank you, Lord Optimus, for seeing me sooner than my appointment later this week:
Prime who was sitting in the conference room of the Ops Center nodded. "You are welcome, Mr. Harris."
:I watched the interview you gave on IntraCom with Aleph and I would like to say that I think I owe you, all of us do, an apology. We seem to have had a miscommunication between your point of view and ours: Harris said. He'd driven here after seeing the interview, given time by Prime out of his schedule at his request.
It was a good thing because the tide had turned on Earth following broadcast of both his and Prime's conversations and people there were wondering how in touch they, the human community were with the sensibilities of the 'locals'. :I'd like to apologize for the comments that were made by me and my colleagues as well as the misunderstanding of what you meant by your remarks. I'm sorry for the consternation and discord its created. Somehow, we didn't get the nuance of your comments and its led to a breach of courtesy and collegiality. We don't want that between your government and our operation:
Prime considered Harris, then sat back. :I am an ancient being, Mr. Harris, much older than you can probably imagine. I have seen things that you would struggle to understand, things that even your physics cannot explain. My government even in exile has been an arbitrator and negotiator of a lot of things between sides that were so different there was no common ground at all. We were not just in contact with our own. Many were the different species that needed delicate handling or support from us over the eons.
"One of the biggest problems in our encounters with different species all over the galaxy was the differences that had to be understood and bridged to make communication and life possible amongst us. Between humans and Cybertronians, there is a lot of agreement, similarities and common ground. It is one of the things that make living with humans so comfortable and interesting. Your people are so much like my own that it makes this all possible, peaceful and friendly.
"That being said, we do not hold to some of the practices that you and your species do as a matter of course. Even though we do not practice them, we do not criticize you for what you do as long as we find common ground and agreement in the greater areas of overlap between us in our life here together.
"We, ourselves are weary of war, poverty and inequity. We believe that the highest good is to achieve the dreams and goals of everyone and not the few. We share our wealth because we have lived eons of time when it was not a priority to do so. Bigotry. greed, malice and other base notions we are very familiar with and have paid a heavy price for their presence among us.
"You are a very young species. You have a lot to learn. You are in the middle of that, going through a growth period that has been tumultuous and dangerous. Until you learn that the worth of any society is not found in material things but in the solidarity and unity that you develop amongst each other, you will find peace and prosperity, even longevity a fleeting thing.
"We will expand the mall. We have added more amenities to it for the well being and enjoyment of your people. We do require that the economy there become our model so that you can have a chance to see the value of it. Sometimes the greatest benefits come from something other than the material. It is part of the unity, amity and peace of our colony and the empire that this model has created everything that we hoped to achieve even in the face of recent history between factions. Until you face the utter void of oblivion, then perhaps trying other pathways seems less sensible."
:I don't pretend to understand what you and your people have endured. Over the oceans of time you speak about, having no home, security and hope would be like a living death. We're open to learning and are grateful in a way that defies words about the extent of your participation and help for us to reach our dreams. We do thank you more than you can know. But there are things we do that we choose and prefer. We understand the conflict but we stand firm.
:We accept the decision about the Mall, Lord Optimus. It might be interesting to see the way it works out. I'll discuss this with our partners and we'll abide by your decision. What I don't want to have between us is discord and anger. We would like to try to be good neighbors and put this behind us. From now on, if there's anything that needs clarification, I promise we will seek it: Harris said. :I'm especially sorry about Kyle Davis, his actions and remarks. Please accept my apology for all of it. As the leader of the habitat, its my ultimate responsibility when things happen:
Prime nodded. "Your apologies are accepted." Prime considered him a moment. "I am aware of your career and record, Mr. Harris. I would hope that association with us here in this place will allow you to understand other pathways to achieving your goals that do not require anyone else to have to undergo difficulties. I am not a friend of the concept of a hedge fund or a venture capitalist. We do not thrive here by the destruction of each other."
Harris considered this, the first direct approach by Prime against him. :Our system isn't for everyone but it serves us. Perhaps we can learn something through association with each other's operations:
"I do believe I understand that of which you speak all too well. That we are living here and not peacefully and prosperously on Cybertron is because of your system as it was practiced on my home world over eons of time. There is very little about the economics of worlds that I have not seen or experienced. Systems like yours and the similar one that we had on Cybertron from our beginnings inevitably leads to destruction in the end if they do not undertake to mitigate their worst traits. We fully chose how we would live based on our past. You will find no takers for your system here."
Owen Harris grinned. :I didn't think so. I'm sorry for this business, Lord Optimus and hope that we're back on track again:
Prime nodded. "I am."
:Then I won't take up anymore of your time. I intend to set this to rights on Earth. Thank you for seeing me ahead of the appointed time. I know your schedule must be limited for such things: Harris said.
Prime nodded again. "You are welcome."
Harris glanced at the steps, then nodded to Prime before walking across the table to climb down. He entered the vehicle and with a driver headed out to leave.
Prime watched him go, then rose. He walked out to see them disappear out the big doors. He walked to Prowl and sat down at the command table. "That was as I expected. I do not know if he truly believes that I did what everyone seems to believe but he was conciliatory and said he would take care of the uproar on Earth." Prime grinned slightly. "I think this might be a good thing to look at other paths. Maybe this might be something that inspires humans on Earth to do for the greater good what only seems to be done for the few."
"From your lips to Primus's audials," Prowl said. "He better fix it. That's all I'm going to say."
Prime grinned. "You always were loyal."
Prowl glanced at him. "Mostly."
With a snicker and a pat of Prowl's arm, Prime rose to walk to his office and clear the decks for trials. When he did, he would see a petition from the lawyers of the Imperialis brothers to seek a deal for their own lying on the corner of his desk.
=0=Around
Ironhide walked out of the armory after checking things out, then headed for the train to Tyger Pax. It was with a chatty baby sitting on his arm that he arrived, walked upward, then head down the street to the tower where the Dai Atlas Dojo was. They entered, went upward and got off on the floor where it and Sunstreaker's studio were located. Entering the dojo, he put Halo on the floor, then followed her slowly as she ran as fast as her tiny legs could carry her to the lounge where the big mechs sat.
Her 'hair' sparkled as she ran with a giant smile on her little face. She finally made it and was scooped up by Kup who sat her on his lap. "HI! I LOVE YOU!" she said to everyone there.
As her old pa sat, she'd be passed around to LOVE! everyone before landing on Ironhide's lap again. A cookie made the journey memorable for the happy little femme.
"I hear you put her in the Temple school," Twin Twist said with a smirk. "Want a priestess do ya?"
"Frag no. Unless little femme wants it," Ironhide said. "Little femme only has to go four orns then has two off. Its a lighter schedule than the others."
"You don't want her in school?" Sandstorm asked.
"I do but not now. Much. We work well as a team in the armory. Little femme is leaning toward mini-con anti personnel poppers. I still don't know what she thinks about rockets and other ordinance. That doesn't even speak to handguns. Everyone of my kids have found their favorites. We still have a ways to go with Halo," Ironhide said.
The mechs laughed, then beer appeared. The junk food on the table in front of everyone was a nosher's delight. Donuts and pizza were available and so were other pastries and finger food. Ironhide helped himself.
"I think things have leveled out a bit," Hercy said. "Good thing. I have a lot of training to do with Lissie. We fell behind with all the slag."
"Whip their afts, Hercy. I have standards you know," Ironhide said to great laughter.
"On it, recruit," Hercy said with a snicker. "Trials coming up. I know the Wheelus Faction is on the line and maybe the Imperialis brothers. Apparently, some of us might have to testify. Maybe we can see the films of Springer and Drift getting slagged again."
"I heard your prod doesn't work on Cousin and Buc," Splice said remembering the huge non-twin 'twins' who were muscle for Karyll Wheelus. Not twins but cousins nevertheless, they were a lethal pair.
"Slaggers slapped me around. I don't forgive easily. If Coln needs me I'm there," Hercy said.
"They were awful," Smokey said as he sipped a beer. "It was funny, though, when one of them grabbed Hot Rod's fancy stupid gun and bent the barrel straight up."
"That gun should have blown up and killed us all," Kup said. "I'll never understand why it didn't."
"He had so much plating and slag on it the thing probably couldn't shoot," Smokey said with a little heat.
"You infants … you like fancy shooters," Hercy said with a smirk. Apparently, 'Not Rod' was still a thing with the youngster. "Show us your fanciest gun, infant."
Smokey paused the beer before his mouth, then glanced at the others. Everyone was staring at him including Halo. "Uh, I don't have a fancy gun. Probably."
"Show us or I'll shake you upside down," Twin said as he cracked his knuckle joints.
Smokey frowned at him. "It's in the gun closet at hom-"
After a moment of shaking him upside down, a pile of weapons lay on the floor underneath him as Smokey hung in the strong grips of Twin and Splice. They set him down nearby, then everyone bent down to look including Halo. Laying in the pile was a very shiny silver gun that had enormous amounts of embellishments and scroll work done to it.
"Well, look at that," Twin said with a chuckle.
A very pissed off youngster walked over and gathered his hardware, subbing it, then sat with a frown. "Show me yours, fragger. Don't tell me you don't have a ceremonial gun?"
"Ah, ceremonial gun. Is that what they're called?" Twin asked as Drift and Springer walked in.
Drift sat, then slid Tell into his carry hold where the sleeping baby could have a more quiet time in dream land. "What's going on?"
"Smokey has a Hot Rod gun," Splice said with a snicker.
"I imagine everyone does," Springer said with a smirk. He subbed a nice shiny gun with nothing added but his name. "This is mine."
"Nice gun but nothing special," Smokey sulked. None too wisely.
"Ah, poor baby," Twin said with a chuckle. "What about you, Drift?"
"I don't use guns," Drift said. He glanced at Hercy. "What about you, Abba?"
Hercy who finished his last bite of pizza drank a sip of beer. Then he flipped out a gun that was small, covered in an amazing grade of silver and had a single word carved into it, apparently by Hercy's own servo. "You mean this one?"
Kup snickered but didn't say anything.
"What gun is that? That's old," Smokey said.
Hercy tossed it to the kid. "Check it out. It is old and unusual."
Smokey looked it over then glanced at Hercy. "What makes it unusual?"
"Well, infant," Hercy said as he helped himself to more pizza. "That there gun is embellished with re-smelted debris caps of traitors from the War of Liberation from the Quintessans."
Smokey stared at him, then the gun with growing disquiet. "Debris caps?"
Hercy grinned, then nodded. "I don't think they were washed before they were inlaid."
The gun landed in the middle of the table and just missed landing in the re-fried beans.
=0=TBC 02-23-2021 03-01-2021
ESL
nosh, noshers: (nah-sh) To eat, someone who eats.