The Diego Diaries: Home (dd8 593)
=0=Later that evening
"And that's what happened. I'm surprised that she even paid attention to my presentation," Ratchet replied as they sat together watching the news after the kids were put to bed.
"Maybe there's hope for them then," Ironhide said. "What can you do about this situation?"
"I don't know. The geneticists would have to take the job on," Ratchet said. "I just want them to understand and cooperate."
"I hope so, then," Ironhide said.
The news came back from the Community Bulletin Board and pressed onward.
"Today, the colony is marching toward Christmas Surprise and the four orn holiday that embodies. The schools will have their last orn on Second Friday with school parties and small programs within classes. The little programs have been recorded by teams from IntraCom and will be broadcast on a continual basis on Channel 147, the educational community wide channel for your viewing pleasure on Christmas Surprise morning through the evening.
"The usual practice of gifting children, elders, shut-ins, small religious schools, the school at the Monastery of the Clavis Aurea and homeschoolers will be continued with the arrival of Santa Prime and his helpers on Second Friday. Santa Prime will visit all the schools, the designated senior centers, care facilities as well as children and elder wards at the hospitals around the colony. He will be assisted by his elves and others who work tirelessly to bring cheer to our people on this, our most festive children and family holiday on the calendar.
"The places where you can take your elders or children to participate if you wish are listed on the Community Bulletin Board by city and district. For tiny infants wishing to be a part of the fun, you are welcome to come to any day care center in the colony. We will be filming the scenes around the arrival of this, our wonderful Santa Prime for broadcast throughout the orn.
"There will be special meals taken to shut-ins, all recreational rooms throughout the colony including those of the Central Labor Hall and the Halls of Order will be supplied with food and drink for those of you who wish to partake in the fun and perhaps don't have children or are bachelors. Everyone is invited to attend to some feature of the orn as a guest of the colony. All features of the holiday community-wide will be listed in the file 'Holidays-Colonial Wide' in the Community Bulletin Board Celebrations folder.
"In other news, the Temple Office reported that relics from the Pantheonic Era will be placed in the Pavilion and the Museum Annex next to it for your viewing pleasure as part of the celebration of the Convocation of the Will just recently past. Demand for information about the Pantheon and what the event means to the Cybertronian people has been great, thus the showing in the display areas. Jacx spoke to Lord Lauren and Lady Sela about that this morning."
The scene cut to the Pavilion where in the background a shining disk could be seen suspended in a gravity display that allowed it to turn slowly in the artful lighting highlighting it.
"Lord Lauren, we are here in the Pavilion and the Museum Annex just next to it to discuss displays the Temple and the Museum of Cybertron and Mars has coordinated to attend to the recently concluded Convocation of the Will. Can you tell us why this is happening and something about what will be seen here?" Jacx asked.
Lauren smiled, the little mech as filled with light as ever. "We had a lot of requests to help our people, especially the younger ones to understand the recent event that drew to our very persons the Powers. A Convocation is never a small thing and its in the rights of Lord Optimus to hold one to ask the body of our people to help come to a conclusion about whatever is vexing us. Its also within the power of the Pantheon to attend and even hold one Themselves as they did this time. There have only been two in our history, one at the end of the First War of Liberation and the following legal assembly and Convocation to draw up our historical and foundational documents.
"What we are attempting to do is explain both of those events, what they mean and how important to us this event just past was. We have combed our archives in conjunction with the Museum and the Halls of Order utilizing such important and impressive scholars as Heatout from the Halls of Order, Milanius from the Monastery, Pious Maximus and Alpha Trion to put together a display of artifacts and subsequent documentation that will explain what happened, what it means and how important it is for all of us to go forward together.
"The displays will include artifacts that haven't been seen since the end of the Functionalist rule and there will be docents available to explain things to anyone who is puzzled by what you will see. The artifacts are glorious. Among them will be a scroll display from the shrine discovered in the Manganese Mountains that dates from the very beginning. All of it is lovingly offered to our people for their benefit and for their edification."
"How long will this be available, Lady Sela?" Jacx asked.
"We have decided to leave it up for four decaorns. Through the New Year and Veterans Day, beyond the calendar celebrations so that our people, more than half a billion now, can come and take their time to admire the wonderful creativity of our species," she said. "We will be presenting in the classes that come to the Temple for their instruction lessons based on this and tours of the displays will be part of that."
"It sounds wonderful," Jacx said as he bowed his helm respectfully. He turned to the camera. "Now back to the studio."
Lim-Lee grinned at the camera. "We'll be right back after a look at the menus for the district schools, senior centers, hospitals and care centers of our colony."
The camera cut to a slow scrolling Community Bulletin Board.
Ironhide glanced at Ratchet. "Vos has a nice lunch at the Senior Center."
Ratchet grinned. "I've sort of taken to hitting the cafe at the Med Center for second breakfast lately."
They snickered, then Ironhide got up to get more snacks.
Ratchet let him.
=0=Earth2
They worked around a table in the conference room off the Administration Center to plan their annual Christmas dance and dinner. A rep from each of the habitats on world including the United Nations Garrison, the 'new kid on the block' sat around it working out the 'what fors' and the rest of it.
Given the gigantic size of the human population, it was decided that each habitat would have its own dance with an invited habitat, relieving Unidad of hosting tens of thousands of humans on site. The delegation from Prima Station was planning a teen dance and dinner, one for families and a big dance at the Concourse for the actual night of Christmas. Their population now stood at over 10,000 people so the glory days of everyone getting together for the potluck and party were over.
The Family Tower, N.E.S.T. along with the new garrison and Resort locals were going to be attending the party at Earth2. The smaller population of Earth 1 would have their own celebration with the locals from Sciences. Unidad would host those who lived at the Consulate as well as a delegation from Prima Station for a short while. It was the only way that the enormous numbers could have anything resembling an 'intimate' affair'.
"The Prima delegation, if they want to, can stay over, Lacy," Carly was saying as they worked through the details. We have the space but you can also use the bridge at the terminal at the Port. They said they'd be happy to bridge you back if you needed to get home and the N.E.S.T. soldiers have volunteered to get you there if you choose that."
"They did?" Lacy Florentine replied with surprise. "I've never been through a bridge."
"It looks scary but its an amazing simple experience. I can go with you if you go back and walk you through. I've been through bridges before," Judy Witwicky said. "Its the least strange thing that's ever happened to me, I assure you."
Huge laughter greeted that as they sat in the sunny room planning a party that would be shared with the Earth through each habitat's camera system in a live stream.
=0=At a home watching the teevee
"I think that Ratchet and Prowl want the Squad to go on a dinner and freak out tour," Madura said as he folded the few things that Prima used for his bathing into a neat stack of tiny soft towels.
Porteus laughed. "Freak out tour?"
Madura grinned. "I think some are secretly hoping we get arrested again. Its a status thing, perhaps."
"I will bring Rugur to the hearing the next orn in Magistrate's Court," Proteus said as Madura rose to put things away.
"I count upon it," Madura said as he walked down the hallway with a tottering baby following him.
Proteus grinned. Then he turned back to the news and his data pad holding his novels, the ones where the detectives caught the bad guys, figuring out the puzzles miles ahead of himself. Evening would pass quietly and peacefully at his house.
=0=Prowl
He finished adding to the books that he kept for the children, filing them on the shelf they occupied in the cabinet that had been restored by the Pantheon. He closed the door, then walked out to the living room where Optimus sat sprawled on a couch. Prowl joined him, slipping into his huge arms as he made himself comfortable. "You have to be Santa Prime in three orns."
"I am looking forward to it though I miss the intimacy of the old orns," Prime said as he muted the sound of the teevee. A speed skating competition was playing on the monitor.
"The Squad might be hitting the trail after Christmas Surprise. I thought I'd tell you so you could alert the police."
Optimus chuckled. "Perhaps a boy's night in is warranted."
"I think it is," Prowl said. "I'll alert the police. And the Caste Court."
Memories of Ironhide blotto in a box in the middle of the living room during the convalescence of Prime filled their memories. The part where he had an allergic reaction to his meds and tried to jump off the balcony didn't.
The evening would pass quietly and gently in the Residence of the Primes.
=0=Here and there
"What do you do now?" Hard Drive asked.
Delphi who was reading his novel while directing Hardie to make his 'famous holiday desserts' glanced at him. "You take the blue and red bowls, dump the contents in, then stir it until its smooth."
Hardie did, stirring the batter that would make a bread similar to stollen. He made it for the celebrations of their family but didn't bother to memorize the recipe. It was a good thing that Delphi did.
The evening would pass quietly and peacefully here.
=0=There and Here
"What the frag, Raptor."
"Turbine, I just want to put the bow here."
"It looks odd. The bows are supposed to go on top, not the sides. That looks like two headlights on a bus. This is for your grandson. Try."
Raptor grinned at the bond. "You seem to have forgotten what sort of grandson we have. Ironhide will appreciate this wrapping."
"You're hopeless," Turbine said as he finished wrapping a present for Delphi. He glanced at Raptor, then grinned. "Never a dull moment, Only One."
Raptor grinned. "Nope," he said with a big smile, an eerily familiar one that was born on the faces of many mechs and femmes great and small.
The evening would pass with fun and banter here.
=0=In a cell block at the prison
She stood by the bars staring up at the inky sky above, a sky that held nothing familiar to her. She was lost in a whirl of information that was difficult to understand. A possibility had asserted itself to her that had the familiar ring of truth, but what that meant overall was still unclear. Her mind was in a tornado of emotions and confusion. She stared at the city lights on the horizon nearby, knowing that they signified freedom, their people and a holiday that held light to be somehow sacred, something called Christmas Surprise. She didn't know what it meant either.
With a troubled spark, Fila would walk back to her barracks for the night. It would pass slowly and with a great deal of unsettled turmoil for her.
=0=TBC 12-18-2022
NOTES!
Jackalkat chapter 591 . Dec 17
The xmas day piece sounds awesome
And ratchet is freaking brilliant. I love how you write his cleverness
ME: I love checking in with others. As for Ratchet, he's just a good guy with smarts. He loves his life and he has all the confidence in the world. He's such a fun character to write. I mashed up all the different ways he's been portrayed in canon and this is the result. I wish I was Ratchet to tell you the truth. LOL! HUGS!
fancyspinner chapter 587 . Dec 16
Ratchet tis just the best!
ME: Ratchet is me if I had the guts. LOL! He reminds me of my mom. :D
fancyspinner chapter 586 . Dec 16
Lots of cuteness! Love the cats! I miss having a furry baby of my own.
ME: My feral cat finally moved in to stay. She doesn't even want to go outside, really. She's lost two or three pounds off her fat butt by living inside now. VICTORY! I have three. A huge tabby, a tuxedo cat and a Main coon. Love them, too.
fancyspinner chapter 583 . Dec 16
I'm assuming Orion knocked over tree, again!? Lol I love that kid! I will take him home with me if nobody wants him. As for a hot rod and smoky, they either need to get it together or move on. I'm about to get their helmets and smash them!
ME: Orion will. Its in his genes. LOL! I live with him and the others in my head all the time. He might was well have a room here in my house. Roddy aka Not Rod and Smokey aka Pokey are hopeless. I hear you. Dev and Smokey, on the other hand, are having a great time with both of them. LOL! HUGS!
fancyspinner chapter 582 . Dec 16
the shows are very visual, except for the 80s stuff I get upset because it's hard for me to follow up. It's hard to get people to sit and describe everything to me. Although, my sister will if I bribe her. Others try, but they don't do a good job.
Another amazing chapter!
ME: That is so frustrating. I wish you everything, my darling fancy. HUGS!
fancyspinner chapter 581 . Dec 16
I loved all the little check ins in this chapter. Hugs, the entire chapter to self.
ME: BWAHAHAHAA! More to come. I'm editing this tank so I'm remembering and re-reading about individuals that are going to have a turn in the spotlight again. HUGS, my darling.