The Diego Diaries: Elder (dd8 186)
=0=Staff meeting at The Fortress
"We plan for the elders in the colony to have parties at the senior centers, music is going to be played at the Temple Pavilion and the grounds will be open for those who wish to come and watch. Elders will be given preference. There is a line where they can call for party and treat delivery with a priority. There will also be a lot of programming on Channel 111 with elders reminiscing about the good old days as well as a number of documentaries from the Talking History Project conducted by the University. We're also going to be programming a lot of documentaries about Cybertron and the Empire as well," Neo said as she went down her data list. "A lot of attention will be given to shut-in elders not only because this is their day but because it gives us a chance to find them and have them in the database so if there's need we can come swiftly."
She glanced up. "We're happy that you approved the Senior Facility in Oz and the new one that will be in Central Point. We want a place that has all the amenities of a resort for elders to come and be pampered and socialize. Sports, spas, all of it. Thank you, Jetta and Magnus for helping us design the facilities and to have a dedicated bus line to take them there and bring them back. They can dine, play, visit and teach their skills there. It will be wonderful." She glanced at Paragon. "You as well, Pari. Thank you all."
"This is a great concept and the opportunity for our elders is broad spectrum," Prime said. "Thank you, all of you," he said as they all nodded. "Has the project's designation been chosen yet?"
"We let Paragon name it after his amma," Magnus said. "Paragon has been instrumental in making the lives of our most vulnerable elders better through the care facilities and some of the programs of the Senior Centers. Its going to be called the 'Prodigy Center for Elders'."
Applause greeted that for Paragon who felt the love but held to his usual good natured professionalism.
Who knew?
"Thank you. My Amma Prodigy was injured and never fully recovered. It was difficult to give him the quality of life he deserved even with our resources. I want this to be a full service and opportunity place for every elder and their families. Being a caregiver is very difficult as I know everyone here is aware of. I don't like the isolation that those with these problems and caregiver individuals feel," Paragon said.
"I agree," Prime said. "Honoring your Amma is a wonderful thing. Thank you for making this one of your personal aims."
He nodded to Prime, then sat back filled with a sense of accomplishment and pleasure that would be hard to describe. The image of his sweet amma came to him and he felt the warmth.
"Then the facility is going to be part of the new development?" Prowl asked. "Where will it be located?"
"Its a many sectional facility with the greatest part of it on the peak of the rise," Magnus said. "There will be five different smaller centers located all over the town to allow elders to come more easily to one close to their homes. The full facility will be at the peak and regular bus lines and cabs will make that accessible to them easily orn and night. It will be open full time. That allows those who have night patterns to come and be around others. Some who have impairments find it difficult to recharge on a regular schedule. We aim to plan for what is needed as it arises."
"The medical component will be located there with a Medical Center, albeit small as part of the facility. There will be a landing pad for runabouts that can airlift those who need it to other hospitals with the one here in The City priority along with Metro Femme," Ratchet said.
"Kudos to you all," Prowl said as everyone agreed. "Now … what are your plans for the weekend and Elders Day?" he asked with a slight smirk.
"Checking in or checking up, Dad?" Ratchet asked with a snicker.
"Both," Prowl said. "We plan to have a barbecue in the public space of our tower. We've reserved two of them given the number of freeloaders and hangers-on that stop by to mooch. I]d like to tell you and you don't have to consider it an order though it is," he said as he was drowned out by catcalls. "If you come to our rather spectacular gathering you have to bring something to eat and drink. Sides or whatever. We will be barbecuing."
"Who is this 'we'?" Ironhide asked.
"The boys, of course," Ratchet said. "We bought you the slagging barbecues. Now you can burn a bunch of stuff for us to eat."
"I don't know what this is but count me in," Sun said as Jack and the others nodded in agreement.
"We'll clue you in when the meeting is over," Hard Drive said. "Prepare to have stuff."
"Stuff," Jack said.
Hardie grinned. "Yep."
"So, when is this thing and when do we eat?" Springer asked.
"Well, the price of admission is your son and we're going to start eating at 1200 on the TMC. You can come from any time when the sun is solid over the Mons," Ratchet said. "It takes time to set up and I expect the beer to be plentiful."
"Ah, the best brands, of course," Flint said with a snicker. "Class and elegance all the way."
"I suppose there's going to be horse shoes, drunk mini-con punting and that sort of thing," Hercy mentioned as Kup nodded.
"Of course. I will have the pleasure of watching Optimus Prime slag all of you once again," Prowl said as he leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and prepared to bullshit. The agenda was pretty much over and now was the time to assess how many slaggers would be standing in his food line with their mouths open. He was nothing if not a thorough planner.
"How about drunk riding of horses?" someone in the back said. "I do remember Ratchet making a spectacle of himself once upon a time."
Ratchet dazzled them with a smile. "I remember that. Barely."
:What about us? Can we come?: Corey McFarlane asked with a smirk.
"I'll save you a drumstick," Ratchet said to great acclaim. They were voted onto the island by the inmates.
:Does that include us?: Harris ventured.
Prime glanced his way, then nodded. "We do not make rules about who can come or not, Mr. Harris."
Harris nodded. :Thank you. This sounds like a lot of fun:
"We're told it is," Drift said dryly.
Huge laughter and much agreement attended to that.
:Lord Optimus, when will basketball season start and are you playing again?: Andre Baudin asked. :I prefer your version of basketball to our own:
Huge agreement everywhere greeted that.
"Our season starts in about two decaorns. I will be with the team again," Prime said as he relaxed to bullshit with the crew.
"What about golf? I heard something said in the staff room about Cybertronian golf. Laret and I are golfing regularly now and admire the game a great deal," Neo said.
Prime grinned at her. "Apparently, the humans want to lose at golf on their Father's Day."
"Losing in front of your daddies is a brave thing, boys," Sun said. "We who are about to win salute you."
Between the laughter and hoots the donut bowl began to rotate around the room. It was instructive to a lot of the newer humans to see donuts that were bigger than they were pushed past them to others around the table.
:What are the rules? I'd like to represent Earth2 in the tournament: Pierre Beliveau asked.
"They will be disseminated shortly," Prime replied.
"Translation: I haven't figured them out yet," Springer said with a chuckle. He grinned at the others. "We go back a long way."
"That's the former Mrs. Optimus Prime," Hercy said with a twinkle. "Way back, indeed."
Prowl shot him caustic optics, then glanced coolly at Springer. "I'm told that possession is nine points of the law."
HUGE laughter.
Owen Harris watched the byplay with amusement. These individuals were very comfortable with each other. :I suppose there's stories to tell then: he ventured.
Springer glanced at him, then smirked. "I don't kiss and tell."
Bedlam.
"Well, I don't know about anyone else but we're coming to the party," Hercy said. "I'll make a cake. An award winning one."
Huge snickering met that, then everyone glanced at Ratchet.
"Pending disaster, what's the theme of the contest at Thanksgiving?" Sela asked.
"I thought it was barbecue last time when we were interrupted," Ratchet thought. "How about candy?"
That was universally approved.
"Speaking of cakes," Ratchet said brightly. "I'm making a huge one so bring your appetites." Then he smiled his biggest most beautiful smile.
It took a moment to admire it before a wag started in.
"Thanks for the warning."
Ironhide would be rubbing his servo for a while.
=0=Moments later
They began to leave after touching base about the weekend. Most of them were coming. It was wise to have asked.
Sun, Jack, Delphi and Hardie left to get barbecues and a clue while everyone else wandered out to go about the rest of their orn. The three orn weekend and Elder Day on Last Sunday was beckoning. Elder Day would be a federal holiday so it'd have the two joor shift for essential personnel while everything else would be closed for fun and frivolity. Everyone had to lay in the 'necessaries' soon.
Walking to the Ops Center, they sat around the command table, the usual suspects, to check the sit-rep and sort out the requirements to be 'hostess(es) with the mostest'. Some of them.
"We should have enough barbecues to manage the crowds," Prime was saying.
"I've arranged for a back up stack of barbecue from The Smoke Shop to be delivered about a joor after we begin to eat. We can make a lot but it would appear that the hands raised in there is just the tip of the iceberg," Prowl said. "I also ordered a lot of sides so if no one comes we're eating barbecue, beans and potato salad for a while."
"Hard duty," Ironhide said with a grin. "Drinks won't be a problem."
"No but garbage will. I appoint you and the twins to do garbage detail," Prowl said.
"Frag that," Ironhide replied.
"I outrank you," Prowl said smugly. "I outrank all of you but him."
That's when he fell on his aft when Ratchet slid a ped under his chair and upended him. It was comical the look on his face as he fell. He rose, glared at Ratchet, then sat again. "I meant to do that."
"I believe you," Prime said as he lounged in his own chair.
Prowl smirked at him then returned to frowning at Ratchet.
"What's the sit-rep, goon?" Ratchet asked as he chuckled.
Prowl stared at him almost too long for comfort with The Look™, then glanced around. "Since I've been handed nothing I do believe we're five by five."
"Good," Ratchet said rising to stretch. "Now that the snoozefest is over, I'm going home to finish things."
"Your cake," Prowl said with a slight grin. "What sort of magic are you performing on this one, slagger?"
"The finest kind, Prowler," Ratchet said. "I'll see ya." With that, he swished onward to disappear out the door.
They stared at it, then Ironhide.
"Lucky you," Prime said with a chuckle.
"Maybe." Ironhide grinned. "Don't tell him I said so."
Both of them glanced at each other as they silently sent their recordings off to Ratchet via WIFI.
"Never," both of them said with a grin.
Thus, another epic weekend and holiday beganeth in the landeth of the Prime. Eth.
=0=TBC 06-10-2021
Notes replied to tomorrow. HI, FANCY!