The Diego Diaries: Visitin' (dd8 168)
=0=Moving onward
They reached the Temple to drive through the gates at the service entrance of the complex which all group visitors and delivery trucks utilized. They were followed and lead from City 4 by Watch patrolmen driving with their lights flashing. The entire escort from there to the grounds of the Temple were filmed by various outlets for local viewing and download feed to the MCA as well. It had been a speedy drive without incidents as they made their way to sanctuary.
A drone followed their progress as they drove inside on the paved two lane highway that wound through the outbuildings, past the Pavilion and toward the administrative area of the main building next to the Temple itself. All of the functions, leadership apparatus and other services such as education, mental health, group meetings, services for those who lived here or parties as well as charitable functions were held in the buildings all around the Temple's 'back yard'. Nothing but Temple activities were held in the building proper.
The buses pulled into a parking lot and were met with a number of personnel who worked at the facility. They halted, the doors opened and the refugees were greeted. They were also greeted by Ratchet.
"We need a baseline for your health so while you walk to that building over there," Lauren said pointing toward a large rectangle two story where all of the major meals and comforts were prepared, "Commander Ratchet will scan you. Please go in a line so that he can tell us what we may need to do to help make you more comfortable," he said as he turned to Ratchet. "Commander."
Ratchet grinned, then pointed his handheld at the group who stared at him stonily. "You can go now."
They began to walk toward the building nearby passing through a ray of light that took all their data almost at once. By the time the last one strode by, Ratchet had all he needed. "I think all is well thus far. If you need us call The Fortress or Watch Substation #6, Lauren. I will come myself. Its my main focus, that and negotiating until this is finished."
"Thank you, Commander. I will remember that," Lauren said. "I think I'll help start the process of getting them settled in. Thank you again." He walked after the line and into the building where he disappeared from sight.
Ratchet glanced at Sela and Chevron. "You make sure you call me. I will come."
"We will. We'll see how this goes. We used to hide dissidents, remember?" Sela asked with a grin.
"I remember," Ratchet replied. He watched them walk to the building to disappear inside, then headed for the gates to go back to City 5 via the Med Center. He disappeared into the crowd gathered at the gates watching the show almost immediately.
=0=Med Center
Ratchet walked into the Orthopedic sector of the emergency clinic for outpatients. He saw Drift holding Tell standing in the doorway of a suite. Walking toward him, he leaned in to kiss the baby, then peeked inside. "Why am I not surprised?"
"He might need you to kiss his boo-boo. He feels really low," Drift replied.
Ratchet stepped inside to see Springer lying on a med berth while a couple of staff orthopedic surgeons discussed his wound. Peering down, he saw that the wrist had been bent about two or three degrees away from plumb. "What did you do, Springer, to cause this? If I may ask."
Springer glanced at him, then frowned. "You're supposed to be on my side."
"I am," Ratchet replied. "What happened?"
"Someone was coming in when I was going out and the door slammed me in the wrist. After I got through staggering around, I ended up here," Springer said. "Wherever here is."
"Well, it looks like more work is needed," Ratchet said as he glanced at the two doctors consulting a set of scans on a big monitor nearby. "What's the verdict, boys?"
One of them glanced at Ratchet. "He's out of alignment. We have to make an adjustment."
"Which is?" Ratchet asked knowing full well what it would be. He wasn't going to tell Springer.
"We have to break the joints and re-weld them, then pack the whole servo in stimulants."
Springer groaned. "Frag."
"There, there," Ratchet placated. "He's going to have an encased bandage then. What's the prognosis time wise?"
"Easily five or six orns," the doctor replied. "We have to make sure we don't have infection given the new trauma. This is going to take a few to rebound and its going to hurt a bit."
"Script him good, boys. My son here is a square jawed wonder but a big whiner about pain," Ratchet replied with a dazzling smile.
Both doctors laughed, Springer frowned (at Ratchet) while Drift looked pained. Tell was snoring so he didn't have a face to show other than his cute sleep one.
"Do you want to keep him in the hospital to observe the situation or what?" Ratchet asked.
"We're sending him home with a strongly worded suggestion that he rest and stay down. If he keeps this up we have to start over and chop a bit," the other doctor said earnestly.
"HELLO! I'M DOWN HERE!"
Everyone looked down at Springer who glanced at each of them. "Hi," he said weakly.
Ratchet snickered. "It looks like you get to stay home and take care of the infant while this one goes out and brings home the bacon."
"That's me," Drift replied. "You just lay there and look pretty," he said to Springer.
Springer smirked slightly. "Well, that won't be too hard."
HUGE laughter greeted that. A frown from Springer greeted the laughter.
Ratchet would stay until Springer's procedure was over, then walk with them to the cab stand to put Drift, Tell and Springer into one with his heavily wrapped round bandage covering his new servo adjustment. He would be feeling no pain when he did. That would come later in physical therapy and adjustments.
=0=Later that afternoon
Ratchet walked into the command center where everyone was working. He sat down and brainstormed a negotiation plan with Prime. Walking to a monitor to sit, he waited for Prime to cut him into their transponders and link him into the conversational feature. He waited until Prime nodded.
Gathering his thoughts, he began. "Good afternoon. This is Ratchet of Iacon, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Negotiator for the Prime. I want to update you on the 86 members of your refugee group that have taken up the offer to seek the rite of sanctuary in the Temple and the Monastery.
About 86 adults, children and babies two joors ago left their apartment buildings under a flag of truce to walk to buses provided by the Monastery and Temple which carried them to both places for sanctuary. All of them were screened for health issues long distance before leaving and were found to be tired, stressed but otherwise fit and well.
"We're prepared to take more. Some of you are fulfilling combatant roles for your party. Fair enough. But there are babies, children and elders that need relief. There are some who may have health issues which are complicated by this and we are prepared to help them leave safely. It would do you a lot of good to remove those who by virtue of who they are and their ages might be harmed in any further interactions. It would be difficult to all involved if innocents get hurt.
"We're extending our offer for the rite of passage at the Monastery and the Temple. We need to know how many and from where they're coming so we can make arrangements for transport. We need to have them come unarmed. No one will be allowed to leave with arms. We have the special number available for you to call for pick up of those who wish to leave that will bring your messages directly to us. 999-1 is the number. Tell us where you'll be coming and we can let the Temple and Monastery know.
"We'll wait for your answer. Consider it well. No one wants anyone hurt so let those who are innocent bystanders to go to safety. Commander Ratchet on behalf of the Prime, out."
Ratchet sat back, then glanced at Prime and Prowl. "It's in their hands now."
=0=The Hourly News: STAND OFF IN CITY 4!
Lim-Lee was nearly off shift when the update was handed to her. She read it, then looked at the camera. "We have reports, preliminary at the moment, that more refugees are going to be leaving the standoff. How many that is to be is unknown but buses are arriving at the spot on Blackstone and 14th that other groups have used to leave. There are four buses, two from each of the spots offering sanctuary, the Temple and the Monastery.
"Its reported that the Gatekeeper from the Monastery and Lady Sela from the Temple are with General Hard Drive of Praxus who has overall military command of the situation. Its not known when they're coming out or their configuration but the buses indicate a larger number are leaving than before.
"It has been determined that this refugee group is pretty evenly Guiding Hand and Temple in their devotions. Its not known how many are going to which place but the movement of civilians and dependents out of the buildings is a good sign. Its been said that the Prime's chief negotiator, Commander Ratchet of Iacon is leading the talks.
"We also received a report that Commander Springer who is Watch Director and one of several wounded in the altercation that precipitated this lock down has returned to the hospital for further treatment on his wounds. What the nature of them are or their severity is unknown. He is said to be home resting in recovery."
=0=home
"Well, you're famous," Drift said as he held Tell after a warm bath. The baby was dozing in blankets before his bedtime.
"I always was. The media is just catching up," Springer quipped.
Drift grinned. "Well, there's always that."
"This is highly inconvenient," Springer said as he held up his servo which was encased in a nearly round wrapping of bandages designed to stimulate protoform.
(Stop me if you're heard this before.-ED)
"No 'facing then?" Drift asked.
"With this? There goes my famous technique," Springer replied. "Its going to be a long convalescence."
"Beats laying in a ditch wishing someone would kiss your boo-boo," Drift said.
"That's true," Springer said as he held his servo up toward Drift. "You volunteering?"
"Not in front of the kid," Drift replied.
"Damn," Springer said with a slight grin. "Is tomorrow or the next orn when he starts his head start thing at the deaf school?"
"Tomorrow," Drift replied. "I can take him and pick him up. You better stay here. If you have one more problem they're going to take it off and start again."
"I'm coming. Its a first time thing. Someone once told me those were important," Springer said.
Drift grinned. "Ada is coming, too."
"Good," Springer said. "I'm sort of out of my element."
"You and me both," Drift said as they sat in their chairs watching the show down on the monitor.
Given how high Springer was and how comfortable Drift was with Tell, neither of them minded not being there.
This time.
=0=Outside
They came in a steady stream heading for the buses to climb into the one they wanted to take to the destination they wanted to reach. Babies, some of them weary and others afraid stared at Hardie with solemn faces. No one spoke to Hardie and he didn't speak to them. When they were loaded, the Gatekeeper and Sela took their leave. As they drove off, the standoff would find itself with 124 less individuals in their ranks.
206 gone. 726 more to go.
=0=TBC 05-20-2021
NOTE;
If something is plumb, its in line.