The Diego Diaries: Stuff (dd7 246)
=0=Around
"You ready?"
"I am," Drift said as he stacked the last data pad on the table. They were going through data and reports that piled up over the past few. Now was time to head out on the beat. He turned to Springer who was watching him work. "You're the laziest slagger I ever met."
"You knew that going in," Springer said. He glanced around the palatial palace that was their office here at the top of Metrotitan who was the home base of just about every utility and governmental agency in the colony.
Towers around the vastness of Tyke's confines were dedicated to each different function and operation. Across the highway from them that ran through the city was the Central Office of the Autobot City Unified School District. It was there on the 18th floor that Hero went to Pioneer School. Next to the Watch Tower was the Autobot City Unified Fire Department. On and on it went through most of the city itself. The rest of the inhabited towers were divided between bachelor living spaces, a few barracks for those who preferred it and stores for colonial department's supplies and such.
They walked to the door, then headed for the elevator. Riding downward, they walked through the lobby which was nearly empty to head for the metro station nearby and a short ride to the Stables. It had almost seemed like vorns had passed before they rode out to do their bit. It was cold and clear overhead with the sight of stars appearing here and there in the sky.
Almost no one was in their train car as they took the short ride to the Mausoleum Station and a shorter drive down the roadway nearby to the stables. They passed mechs coming off beat, honking and flashing lights as they passed. Apparently, there were clan celebrations in a few of the cities in the Crater Districts and not all of them were friendly to each other. They were on the watch list for potential trouble along with wild aft kids who liked to 'party hearty'.
They drove to the parking lot in front of the stables, transformed, then walked inside. Down the rows of private stalls filled with drowsing horses or sick/injured ones, they made their way to the Day/Night Watch Tack Room where they retrieved their saddles and gear.
Nearby in the paddock, there were horses for the night's ride waiting for them. The 'Squad' was already there getting ready themselves as they joined the two.
"What kept you, slaggers?" Hercy asked as they seated their saddles on the broad backs of Rowdy and King, which were Ironhide and Prime's horses.
"Pushing data pads. You have the easy part. We have to try to read your slagging writing," Springer said as he tightening the cinch around his horse.
"Is that so? You do know that there's a program in the data pad that translates our writing to text?" Kup asked.
Springer who might know that or not but didn't care smirked at Kup. "Ready to ride?"
"Born ready," Kup said. "I heard that fights are going to be a big thing tonight. Party time in the Crater Districts."
"That's what I heard," Springer said as he checked King's tack, then led him out toward the stables. "Get your medical card ready."
They watched him go, then glanced at each other. "Medical cards?"
They followed him out, mounted up, then began to ride out to the highways and byways of the colony. It had become dark and cold outside.
=0=Night time at Prima Station, Midway
The lights inside the station began to dim in time sync with Mars. It would be in unison with the home world of their employers rather than Earth. It would also have the extra nearly 30 minutes of daytime that Mars enjoyed. The two hundred humans staying on board were settled in their new homes and ready to work. It would take a lot more people to make the place seem like it was 'alive' than them.
They would come in groups over the week before 2,000 individuals were on site. They would begin their projects and live in the station a bit before the next 2,000 would arrive. The population would be capped at 4,000 for a while until routines were established. The station could easily house over 50,000 individuals at peak but that wouldn't happen any time soon.
Downtown, the traffic lights turned to red so the little car from the motor poor slowed to a stop. There weren't any people downtown but them. They were Jack Lovett and Carrew Dallas. They were both statisticians for the station and were out having a spin. Across the street, a tiny McDonalds was waiting for customers. Next to it was a veterinarian's office and next to that was a small pocket park with a lot of vegetation and trees along with green grass.
"I don't know how they manage to make the plants live here. There's no direct sunlight anywhere," Carrew said.
Jack Lovett nodded. 'I think its a spectrum lighting thing here. I think the tech here is going to be astonishing for a long time."
As they waited, a tiny police vehicle drove through the intersection continuing on its rounds. The station was so big that the policing force, half human and half mini-con patrolled it by small vehicle. They both waved to each other, then the police car was gone. The lights changed so they rolled onward. It would be a leisurely drive around the huge downtown looking at what would be home.
It would be eye opening.
=0=Crater District 3
They rode along the sidewalk patrolling the downtown area of the vast cityscape of City 3. A huge party was going on at a big venue called The Hot Spot where one could come with or without anyone to drink, eat, play pool, dance and have private parties in the big facility. Two were going on now in rooms at either end of the business. In the main room were a couple of hundred bots having dinner, playing cards as they drank, talked and danced.
Lights were bright here from the windows of clubs and restaurants as the crowds walked to bars and other places of entertainment. The traffic on streets nearby was relatively heavy as cars drove past, some with individuals inside. Some pulled to the curb where bots leaned in the windows to talk. Others stood on the corners chatting, hitting on each other and doing things that individuals did everywhere else when they were out having a good time.
The Hot Spot was a big attraction for its large multi purpose rooms for private gatherings and many were the bonding parties and other milestones spent in its confines. Drift and Springer with the others clopped along the sidewalk, pulling up to kibitz in front of the club. It was calm and happy, then it wasn't.
=0=Elsewhere
"Ada."
"What, Hero?"
"I need cookies for tomorrow."
[Silence]
"When did you know?"
[Pause in conversation for a tiny femme holding a Yoda dollie to think] "Two orns ago."
"Sigh..."
Moments later ….
"WHISKA-WHISKA-WISK!"
"Cracker, splort, WHISKA-WHISKA-WISK!"
"That looks yummy, Ada." -Little femme with an oddly nodding Yoda dollie.
"Good lou, Ada! I doin'?" -Littler femme staring into the bowl from the chair she's standing on with the slightly bigger little femme.
"Nope." Huge smile greets pouty surprise of little femmes. "Not this time. I have to get this done. Next time, Hero, try and tell me sooner. Me or the Ammas. They make good cookies."
"They do," Hero said.
"Doin'. Them good doin'." -A smaller femme channeling an older brother
Ratchet stared at Halo mentally calculating the number and kinds of speech therapy she would have for who knew how long. "Good thing you're cute, you little slagger. I think Mr. A-C and I are going to be talking about you and your brother for a long, long time." He put the dough onto a tray, then put it in the oven for the five or so minutes it would take to bake them.
Washing up took little time especially with chatty infants who wanted to help but were content to watch. It was a pleasant interlude in the kitchen.
Sitting by the window with a number of kids, the window about halfway down the enormous apartment, Ironhide and three titan kids watched as three little mechs tried to explain how they wanted their little race track to be put together.
Prowler holding his teddy bear nodded at appropriate places in the stream of consciousness that passed for Orion's explanation.
Praxus who was holding the race cars for all three nodded and smiled as Orion 'explained'.
Ironhide and the three titan kids listened, trying to parse out what he was telling them.
Then Orion looked at them with a level gaze. "We want to make a track," he said.
The room froze.
Time probably did as well as they stared at Orion with surprise.
Orion sensing the attention was his to lose smiled brilliantly.
Ironhide leaned closer. "What do you want? Tell me what you want."
It was silent for a moment that seemed to stretch into infinity. Then Orion smiled. "LOU DOIN' DIS? I DOIN'! GOOD ME! YOU GOOD ME!?"
Ironhide stared at him, then sat back with a laugh. "Okay," he said.
It would take a while to get it all right but when they did the kids would show the older and taller ones how they raced. Then they would have cookies to celebrate victory.
=0=The Hot Spot
A lot of shouting erupted in a crowd by the door as a fight broke out inside and began to make its way out. Those at the door who were just standing there moved out of the way as two big mechs came out grappling. Behind him came a few others, one of whom tried to grab one of the combatants in a futile effort to end it while the others gripped him to keep him out of jail.
Springer glanced at Drift. "Oh, joy."
Drift smirked, then slid from his saddle. "Talley ho?" he asked as he walked toward the fight.
That's when more poured out with broken bottles and fire in their optics.
"Oh frag," Springer said as the surge headed toward them in haste.
=0=A bit later
They walked out of the berth rooms shutting out lights, then headed for their own. It was quiet in the house. Cousin and Robby were curled up on the dog bed in the living room. Spot was with Sunspot in his room. Everyone was in their 'crib', Halo literally, in the room she shared with Hero and all was well.
Ironhide walked in then fell on the berth.
Ratchet scrubbed up, then joined him. "How was religion class?"
Ironhide chuckled. "Good. I had fun. You?"
"The space station is great. I almost wish I could be one of them, the place has it all," Ratchet replied. "In two orns we get 500 humans. We'll get them that way until the first 2,000 arrive and settle in. Its going well and the humans are nice."
"Good," Ironhide said. "I'm glad to be home."
"You and me both. It seemed like it was three months ago that it was Christmas Surprise and we were going to have some fun. Its only been a human week." Ratchet grinned as Ironhide rolled over to relax.
"I know. I'm glad Ratch and the others took the decorations down. They're back at Speedy Delivery and Storage." It was silent a moment. "What's the drill for tomorrow?"
"The usual slag," Ratchet replied.
Ironhide grinned. "Good," he said. "Good night, Ratchet."
"Good night, Ironhide."
=0=The Hot Spot
The paddy wagons arrived to make their collection of those already subdued, those who were pulled in to be sorted out later and those still going hot and heavy.
Drift and Springer were going along with them as Hercy and Kup critiqued them from the sidelines.
Drift decked one, spotted them watching, then frowned. "You could help."
"We could but you'd miss a good learning opportunity," Hercy said as Kup nodded.
"That's when a fist connected with Drift's face.
=0=TBC 4-2-2020 4-20-2020