The Diego Diaries: Things (dd7 37)
Have you ever lay down for a nap around 5 and woke up the next day at the same time? Welcome to my world. :D:D:D
=0=At Earth2 later that afternoon, after school
"We're going now. Our cab is here," Rain Harris told her mom as they stood on the corner of the downtown waiting together.
"I'm not sure I like this, Rain. I think maybe one of the security team should go with you kids," Mariah Harris-Davis said as she watched a dozen or so kids run for the door.
"I'm not a kid, Mom. I passed the outdoors test. See ya!" she said as she ran toward the hatch and a white cab waiting for all of them.
They boarded with a wave, the hatch closed and they were soon on their way to the new mall just for humans which was located on land set aside for it and any future expansions across the highway from the Mall of the Tri-Cities.
=0=Going there
:Your mom worries too much: Camilla Brown said as the kids sat on the comfortable benches inside put there just for them. The cabs were designed for both bot and human transport.
:She does. She'll get over it. I'm going to hang out more now that I've past the test: she said as they sped along the Habitat Highway as their stretch of road was known locally.
They chatted as the cab rolled along, then watched out the windows as they passed the massive Tri-Cities mall heading for their own. It had been a proposal of a consortium of major corporations across the Earth who wanted a beach head on Mars. It was one of several that Prime accepted from the meet up at Earth2.
None of the stores were expected to make money. They were here for publicity, future concessions for when even more humans resided and worked here, optics for their brand and the hope that humans would be seen wearing, eating and otherwise showcasing their products in all of the endless video streams that reached the Earth from all over the colony where humans were.
It would be good advertising.
None of the businesses were cashless though their prices weren't as steep as Earth due to Prime's intervention. All of the humans here were very well paid and their accounts were stacking up because none of the habitats charged anything for what they provided in their business sectors nor was there any charges for residence and personal services provided. It was understood that this was a rather well-to-do community with money to spend and no real place to spend it but here.
Given that the bots supplied logistics for the new businesses to keep things in stock without charge, the overhead for operation was very low but for salaries and other incidentals for worker bees. Employees were drawn among the family members and friends of the local humans who wanted to work and many did though general managers came from Earth.
Businesses here were drawn by lots with many of the familiar names winning and some surprisingly not. They would have to wait for the next drawing if the mall expanded. As of now, there were 35 small business shops in the mall for the locals to have for their own recreation and shopping.
The cab pulled into the big parking lot, then drove to one of two habitat doors. This was the smaller one for cars and cabs. The other accommodated buses and soon would be another destination for those at the Resort. When things were equal, the kids piled out, pulled their masks and booked it inside.
The mall was beautiful with businesses winding along walls that curved around and out of sight. It wasn't a big box but rather a huge 'S' shape, one that covered a lot of ground while offering a different visual aspect. It was immaculately clean, a service provided by a mini-con firm who came at night and made things almost frighteningly bright and cheery.
There was a kiosk with directions, soft music playing and artful lighting to make things enticing. The bots had done it again.
The kids ran along the mall heading for McDonalds and Yoshi's among others. The rest of the afternoon before heading home would be a long browse through the clothing, electronics and shoe stores. Their fathers would be a lot lighter in the wallet when they were finished.
=0=Millow
Ratchet left Waldeen and Traachon playing a board game together in the solarium to walk upstairs where Millow was now an admitted patient. He stepped off the elevator, paused long enough to check data on the big mech, then continued to the solarium on this deck to see Millow sitting by the window staring out at the busy street below. He walked up, then sat next to him on a chair. "Hi, Millow. How do you feel today?"
He didn't answer a moment, then glanced at Ratchet. "I'm held here now. I was told this morning."
"We're worried about you. Here, you can have company and help. I don't like the idea of you being so alone," Ratchet said. "Vinn wants to be your therapist. He's gentle and good. He'll help you through this."
Millow stared at him, then the street again.
It would be a one-sided conversation between them as Ratchet made his best effort. It would take a while for Millow to feel anything again.
=0=Out there
The plan for the Processional was firmly in place and the only change amongst the players would be a representative for the Functionalists who lived here. They would be added because of the fiasco of their hardcore compatriots. It was so by Prime's request. It would be the usual suspects in the procession. The Elite Guard escort with someone representing every aspect of life here on Mars would follow in the usual order.
It was also decided that General Morshower would represent the human population which was now vast and ever present. He was delighted to do so.
The downtown of Autobot City would be cordoned off for the millions that were expected to show up. Huge monitors were going to be placed in the plaza center of every city to help those participate who couldn't fit in The City. It was expected that everyone who could would come somewhere to be with others on this, the holiest orn of their calendar.
The last count by Refugees and Immigration had set their population at over 62,500,000 and growing. It was going to be a par-tay in the old colony afterwards with fireworks over every city on world. They would be held all at the same time which promised to be AWESOME!
Springer who had the nightmare duty of policing the situation as well as riding at the tail end of the Processional with Drift sat with the planning committee to go over what they'd decided would be the way of things. There would be a major presence of the Watch everywhere along with horseback patrols. All of the Watch would be policing their own hometowns, so they would be close to their families and friends even while on duty. Joining them would be a rotation of soldiers and air force personnel to assist.
Medics and their stations would be everywhere, ready to meet any emergency while runabouts were stationed at strategic spots on rooftops to assist. They'd be on overtime and regular duty until the end of the process, then they would rotate on and off a joor apiece to be with their families for the celebration.
Gypsy who was representing Ratchet outlined their own emergency plans and meshed them with Springer's. All was well in hand when they broke up to head out and get things on the ball.
=0=IntraCom
They sat in their meeting with Jazz and Blaster to coordinate the presentation of the Festival to the various cities, for the archival record and for that of Earth and Cybertron. All of the different places in the Empire would have an unedited program and that included the various enemy encampments. The only one getting an edited version was Earth.
It was fewer and fewer pieces of the grand display that would be omitted from Earth's viewing pleasure. As the comfort level rose between the bots and humans, so would the level of information they'd present. They still wouldn't see Optimus deliver the Matrix Blessing but they'd finally see the Blessings of The One and Primus erupt from the Temple to envelope The People. The Blessings would also reach the humans, the bad guys and everywhere in the Empire and universe where Cybertronians were with one exception.
Megatron and his group wouldn't receive It. Again.
=0=In detention
They sat in their cells in the Prison Center watching television as they whiled away the time. Since being picked up and charged with murder, espionage and false representation in a video appearance in federal court here, they were in limbo.
Their requests to be given access to Earth and its legal reps was denied. They were denied their freedom with all their motions quashed. They weren't allowed to speak to anyone here besides the two bot lawyers granted to them nor anyone on Earth. They were being held according to Primal Discretion which could mean they would never live long enough to be free.
They were charged with the highest of offenses and the clauses of their participation on world through treaties and agreements were invoked. You were subject to the Prime's intervention if you broke laws here. No one on Earth need be told of your hold until it was warranted by circumstances. Since the investigation was still underway concerning the murders and treason, there was a blanket silence accorded to the two given the severity of their offenses. They were working with those on Earth who if they got their way would leave everyone including Earth itself open to Decepticon marauding and annihilation.
It was hard luck for Horst Mueller and Colin Anderson formerly of N.E.S.T. The afternoon would pass slowly for the two.
=0=At a catch up meeting with aides in the small conference room in the Ops Center
Optimus Prime listened to his smart kids as they caught him up on the business of empire. He listened as each of the five filled him in on everything they were delegated to undertake on his behalf. They were life savers, all of them.
He found out that …
1. Cybertron was meeting all targeted goals and standards set at the last meeting of the Cybertron Planning Commission. The overall housing rebuild now stood at 22% of the overall need in finished housing towers.
2. The temporary housing effort now covered every urban city, medium sized town and was now reaching heavily into the hinterlands to find and house everyone still living in wretchedness. That didn't mean that they had it all in hand. There were still groups being found that were either unable to see what was going on vis-a-vis mental and physical impairments or there were groups being found that had been missed the first dozen sweeps.
It was highly relieving.
3. Festival was in hand. All he had to do was show up. The siren would sound the Solemnities. Once he reached the Temple the Meditation would begin. When he gave the Blessings along with The One and Primus, the Celebration would begin with the fast being broken by the siren for those who were going the traditional route. All of the rec rooms all over the colony along with some public buildings would provide food, drink and gathering places for those who had no one, wanted company on the grand scale or who didn't fast.
4. Springer had it in hand. So did Gypsy. Medical and Public Safety were assured. Communications and the broadcasts were on track as reported by Jazz and Blaster. Everyone would shift on and off for a joor as per the usual and Public Works had worked to end vehicular access in the greater Autobot City area to manage foot traffic flow. About six million pilgrims were expected to head toward the Temple District from dawn forward.
5. Sciences had fireworks for midnight in order. Every city would have them and they would be identical as well as start at the same time. It was promised to be wondrous.
6. All governmental activities including the courts would suspend operation at the sound of the siren and not resume again until the morning after the Festival. The prison and other essential places would still be manned with the rotation plan to allow personnel to go and have fun themselves.
7. Forward bases would rotate in and out including those far away and the DMZ. Those manning the enemy including the dreads near Caminus would be allowed to do so as well. Those on the war world-type commercial station on the 'Silk Road' would follow suit.
8. Schools would close tonight and not open until five orns later to allow families to celebrate together. That included the humans who were students in the bot schools. The human schools were closing down as well in honor of the festival.
8-A: Every human habitation from The Resort to the new mall had sent their best wishes to Prime and The People on this, the holiest event held among them. They were happy to be a part of this moment and wanted him to know it. Prime was deeply gratified and requested that a return salutation be made back to all of them.
9. The human mall would be closed tonight, through the Festival itself, then re-open when everyone else did. It was mentioned that the Mall was a HUGE hit among the human community and everyone wished to express their gratitude for this 'little bit of home' here on world.
Optimus was gratified to hear that. It was an easy agreement for him to make to the humans who'd come here to seek them.
9-A. All of the habitats agreed to keep residents inside during the Festival commencement itself through the dispersal of all of the pilgrims who would come on July 16th to prevent problems and accidents. They'd return to their usual activities after The Gathering.
Prime was well pleased. He'd considered asking them to do so for safety sake. There were new groups here and even though the old groups minus the usual participants stayed in during these activities, he was unaware if the others would or knew.
Problem solved.
10. Cybertron was being stockpiled with special food and other entertainments for the Festival and Prime's visit to the site of the Temple of Primus in Simfur after the ceremonies here was finalized. He would go there after the Solemnities were finished and visit the space in clear view of everyone there and everyone watching on television. That would now include Earth.
11. All other pending business was briefly outlined, small decisions were made, then everyone happily walked out to do the work of Prime and The People once more.
Prime would take a moment to mentally thank Ratchet for harping on him to get 'smart kids with limitless energy and talent' to help him with his job. He did. He had five. So did Prowl. Because they did, they both had a life.
Win-win, he thought as he rose to walk to the door and the eighty million decisions awaiting him outside. As he did he didn't feel nor see two beings standing in the room watching him go. They were there the whole time but silent and unseen as they listened.
One of them grinned. "He's a very good soul."
Solus Prime nodded. "He is. A good brother and mech."
The old lady spirit, one who was ancient and wise glanced at her friend, Solus Prime. "I am well pleased with him. Thank you, Solus, for helping him come here and bring back life. He is, indeed, a very good brother and mech."
Solus grinned back. "Ditto," she said as the two faded from view.
=0=TBC 7-14-19
Happy Birthday, Dad. My hero and friend.
Love to all everywhere. :D