The Diego Diaries: Down Time (dd7 322)
=0=The sunrise at Autobot City
Trucks were rumbling here and there, delivery, automated garbage collectors, 'long haul' and some for different governmental agencies. Public lights were about to click off as meters gauged the growing illumination, ending officially the web of lights all over the colony that made it a network of 'rivers' twisting everywhere when viewed from the sky overhead.
The Military Airfield was busy with the return and turn around of the fleet, getting those of the 'Ready-Go' flight cared for and returned to the several military runways nearby where they were parked at all times. Little trucks and a plethora of workers ran here and there, some working on ships and others carting things on and off the vessels. A few hoods were popped as mechanics and specialists inspected under the cowlings.
The airfield hub below ground accepted tons of ammunition, weapons and other paraphernalia of war, loading it on the underground train system that would return it to stock in various armories. Guns of soldiers were there as well and would be delivered to their home hubs, serviced, then stored or returned to their owners from there. It was a very busy and exciting place to be, watching the choreographed spectacle unfold.
Add to it the hubbub at the Hangar District where major commerce both on and off world was undertaken and the download of all the supplies, medical and otherwise that made the fleet self sufficient no matter how long the mission took and you had a busy mini-sub city in the center of the heartbeat of Mars, 'The City', Autobot City.
Automated street sweepers from the Public Works Department rolled out as they did most mornings before traffic became 'normal'. The department was also out checking a number of items, all of which were related to the Festival upcoming on July 16th on the human calendar. That would require ongoing preparations for the run up where it was expected that 5-6 million individuals minimum would be heading for the Temple District and the most holy and anticipated moment in the year.
The sand storms that had been a problem for a while were concluded apparently, the season's temperature fluctuations passing like clouds. Some of it had remained, blown into rock hard formations that were being incorporated by some into their landscaping décor. Most of it was carted off to the Industrial Park City to be used for glass making.
Sun began to shine forcefully, breaking swiftly over the gigantic rolling bulge of the volcano that defined life on Mars. As it did, traffic picked up and businesses that closed at night time began to receive employees to open up for the orn. Masses of products from just about everywhere were being carted in by delivery mechs and femmes from their trucks. It was homely and welcoming.
A group of mounted Watchmen rode past, pausing long enough to talk to someone from a bakery. Hilarity was shared, then they continued onward. Their shift would end about the time that school buses took to the roads.
Up there …
They staggered out, soaped up, rinsed off and stood under the dryer together bantering. Everywhere else, the family and its ancillary members were getting up to greet Second Wednesday like the endless abyss that orn usually felt to be as it squatted in the middle of the decaorn … passing slowly and doggedly.
"The infants will be sent to school from the Center. Want to get them?" Ironhide asked as he checked the endless stream of mail. He read one, then glanced at Ratchet who was straightening up the living room from the slight muss that it harbored.
Army.
"What's this?" Ironhide asked.
Ratchet walked over, read the email, then glanced at him. "Roto wants to meet up about Orion and also Halo. Time we got an update."
"There isn't something I should know, right?" Ironhide asked through narrowing optical ridges.
Ratchet flashed him a super nova smile that almost seemed sincere. "What? Me withhold?"
Ironhide frowned. "What happened?"
Ratchet told him.
They would take the kids to school personally.
=0=At The Diner On The Corner
The usual crowd was filing in and it included extended family of Ratchet, Prime, Ironhide and Prowl. Elders filled the place up along with the usual suspects from the Watch Patrol. When Ironhide and Ratchet wandered in, most everyone was there. They got their slag, gave it back squared, then sat down to eat.
"Where did you go?" Alor asked with a grin.
Ironhide glanced at him with troubled optics. "We took the kids to school."
Alor stared at Ironhide, then Ratchet. "What happened?"
Conversation slid to a halt as everyone turned in their seats to stare at Ironhide and Ratchet. The two stared back, then at Alor. Ratchet sucked it up. "Orion is getting bullied at school for his speech problem."
It was glacial and deeply silent a moment, then the mechs and femmes there shifted in unease and surprise.
Ravel looked sucker punched. "WHO WOULD BULLY MY BABY!?" he asked with wretchedness. All around him a shocked murmur greeted that.
"A couple of little kids who don't know better, new kids to the school. We're going to a meeting this afternoon to discuss it," Ratchet began.
"We're coming, too." -every elder in the place.
"What about our little Halo?" Corr asked, himself near to tears.
Everyone stared at Ratchet with pained expressions.
"Well, no one has said a word about or to her," Ratchet explained gently.
"This is unacceptable," Magnus said gruffly as Arcee nodded. "Bullying leads to no good ends."
Optimus looked shocked as he considered the situation. "Do we have a program about this sort of thing in the schools?"
"I don't know but I'll check. Roto and Herling along with Jarro will be there to go over this. I don't want him feeling like he's got something wrong with him. He's always been a little ham bone about attention and I know he understands that some of it's funny, the way he speaks but he's so consistent over time with the glitch that this is a processor-generated problem. We need to decide what to do about his situation and eventually hers."
"I don't feel hungry anymore," Corr said as he stared tearfully at his plate. "I just want to hold my babies."
"You will, Amma," Ironhide said gently. "You should eat and keep up your strength. You know what live wires they are."
"THEY ARE!" Corr glanced at Ratchet, then the others. "They're perfect to me."
"All of us can probably agree to that, Amma," Magnus said as everyone there nodded in agreement.
Prowl vented a soft sigh. "This is unacceptable."
"Kids will be kids but they must be guided to be their better selves," Optimus said finally. "It will be handled well. I have faith in our schools and we will assist both children. They are our future and our hope."
Everyone agreed, then eating and chatting commenced again.
=0=At a swift informal meeting before school begins
"This is going to become a teachable moment if we do our part," Herling summarized. "I asked Jarro to come help us put together a bullying program. I want it nipped in the bud right away for both the bully and the bullied. We've had very little of it considering what our children have been through and we must meet their need with the rise of it every time, swiftly and compassionately."
Roto nodded. "I've been with Orion so long he feels like mine. This is going to be something. The biggest part is the angst of the family."
"We know," Herling said with a sigh. "We cross each bridge as we come to it. You'll go take a peek and bring whatever you see with you? I've reviewed the security tapes."
Roto rose. "On it now." With that, he left the room to walk to the eighteenth floor to watch Group D and its two newest members.
=0=Sitting in a cell in a special detention area at the Autobot City Civilian and Military Prison
Xeon sat on his bunk in the spare drab room. It had a berth and a table and chair. Nothing looked like it would help him get out which was the point. A window was over his berth and the view was of a barren desert sprawling out with an electrified fence and guard towers. He was here for the duration. It was fragged.
In a cell nearby …
Straxus slept the sleep of the oblivious. This was the first berth in what seemed like forever that felt comfortable and the food was amazing. He stuffed his face, then fell into recharge. Whatever came, came. This wasn't a deep thinker, Our Straxus.
=0=N.E.S.T. HQ, Autobot City
Niall Graham walked into the office where Epps and Lennox were working on their end of the decaorn reports. They glanced up, then sat back. Niall was grinning.
"What's up?" Lennox asked.
Graham pulled up a chair, then sat. "When we left they had a prisoner brought up. There was a fight on the deck and both Springer and Drift got their asses tossed. So did Ratchet and Ironhide. Finally, Ironhide head butted the idiot and put him down."
It was silent a moment, then Epps grinned. "Damn. Every time, this happens. I would've loved to see that."
"Ratchet actually put his head through a panel," Graham said.
"We left too soon. It was funny, though, with Hot Rod and Smokey. Raptor's going to kick their asses for a while I heard," Lennox said. "I would've loved to see the fight, though."
"Not a problem," Graham said as he pulled a data wafer from his pocket. "Here we go." He loaded it and they sat back to watch it. Every angle was covered lovingly and every fist blow, every wild swing and every flattening of Our Guys™ was there for all the world to see. So were sound effects, Benny Hill-style music and added little embellishments like a coo-coo bird sound and stars over Ratchet's head when he sat up after being cremated.
When it was over they glanced at Graham. "Where did you get this?" Epps asked.
"From a friend who knows someone who runs an electronic shop who added all the good stuff. That guy likes the Keystone Cops and Buster Keaton."
"That's worthy of an Oscar nomination in the category of the biggest fail in history," Epps replied.
They laughed loudly, then played it again.
=0=Up in an apartment after breakfast
Springer sprawled on the couch as Drift took a shower. He was tired and pained, both physically and emotionally. The battle royal was a bummer and so was the news about Orion. It might even extend to Halo who was the very definition of a sunny personality.
Drift walked out, then flopped in a chair. "You look bummed. I believe that's the human word for it."
"Orion."
Drift nodded. "I hate this part of parenting. If anyone bothered my kid I'd be hard to live with."
"You mean you aren't now?" Springer asked with a grin.
Drift grinned back.
A ping on the computer drew their attention as Drift rose to answer it.
A number of cheery faces appeared on the phone portion of the monitor. "HEY! You alive?" Lennox asked.
"No. This is a ghost. What's up?" Drift asked with a chuckle.
"We were watching cartoons. We have a new one and thought you might want to see it." Epps replied.
Drift smirked. "I don't but maybe grandpa here would." He glanced at Springer who gave him the Cybertronian version of the finger.
"Well, we're sending it to you with one condition. You have to watch it right away," Epps said.
Drift studied the expression on the human, then shrugged. "Okay."
"Sending. Bye," Epps said as he signed off. A ping signaled that a priority message had arrived. He opened it. Glancing at Springer, he started the message.
"FRAG YOU, SPRINGER! FRAG YOU, DEADLOCK! YOU'RE NOT MECH ENOUGH TO TAKE ME ON! DROP THESE CUFFS AND MECH UP!"
Springer who had risen to join Drift sighed. "Oh frag."
"It's not a total loss," Drift said with a grin. "They appear to have gotten your best side."
Springer grinned slightly. "I can see that."
"Both of them," Drift replied.
It would be a high time in the apartment for a while.
=0=TBC 7-8-2020 7-8-2020 7-22-2020
ESL: If a name starts with an X, it makes a Z sound when pronounced. (Xeon: Zee-on)