The Diego Diaries: After the Dance (dd8 640)
=0=That afternoon
"Ironhide."
The big mech peered around the corner of his office. "What?"
"Did you know you have a School Board meeting tonight?"
Ironhide stared at Holi for a moment. "Oh yeah. That."
"You better get started on the agenda. You're not completely on friendly soil now with Timber elected."
Ironhide frowned slightly. He glanced at the message data pad on his desk where all his Board stuff arrived, then punched a key. A meet up at The Pub in Metrotitan was on tap. Literally. He glanced at Holi. "I'm going to have to go. Duty calls."
She glanced at the stack of reports on his desk. "Is that so. Where is duty calling? The Pub?"
"You didn't hear it from me," Ironhide said as he jauntily rounded the desk to hurry out. He was gone in seconds.
=0=Elsewhere about the same time
Ratchet walked into the house to check on things given that the big kids were taking care of the little ones, three cows, a lot of cats and Spot by themselves for about four joors. When he entered there was no one in sight so he meandered down to the kids lounge halting in the doorway.
Sitting on the couches and sprawled on the floor, nine big kids, a lot of little ones, a grinning Seeker-let mech of some great cuteness and half the animals in the house were lounging on them or couches before the giant screen monitor watching Dragon Ball Z. He grinned, then stepped back out to leave the apartment as quietly as possible.
Riding down to the street again, Ratchet hurried off to Ops Center and the afternoon catch up with Prowler.
=0=The Pub
Sunstreaker finally walked into the bar to find the group in a snug in the back. They waved him over so he sat, ordered, then leaned back. "Elections tonight. I'm going to go for the same seat."
"All of us are. That leaves Timbre odd mech out," No-A said.
"Then we have nothing more to discuss," Sunny said with a smirk. "Anyone got any cards?"
All of them did.
=0=Ops Center
"And that's when I knew I struck the jackpot," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile.
"So you're putting your oldest children, who I would remind you are just loaners into servitude to slave over the younger ones while you do what? Bar hop? I will also remind you that doing so is also long overdue," Prowl said as he lounged in his chair at the command table.
"Yes," Ratchet said. "Check the film." He sent Prowl the snippet he took of all the kids before leaving unnoticed.
Prowl grinned. "Those kids are all too good for you. Unhand them now and send them upstairs We have room."
"If I did I can turn the apartment into a bowling alley and opium den," Ratchet said as they both glanced up to see Prime walked toward them.
Optimus took a seat. "What is this about an opium den?"
"We're going on the town shortly. One of these orns," Ratchet said. "Of course, we do have arsonists running around, so …"
"Hopefully, we can get a bead on this. By the way, I have several meetings tomorrow morning with disaffected individuals who are not happy with surveillance," Optimus said as he slid Prowl's donut plate over to his side of the table.
Prowl frowned.
Prime grinned. He love Prowl's frowns.
Now.
"Do you need back up or is Starlet with her fabled right cross enough?" Ratchet asked.
"I do believe she could use back up, though I am impressed by her moxie," Optimus said as he finished Prowl's last donut.
Prowl frowned deeper.
Prime filed the images.
Ratchet snickered on the inside at the 'drama'. "I know three different mini-cons named Moxie."
"You would," Prowl said as he signaled a refill from the roving runner always on duty.
The kid picked up the plate, then loped out to the rec room to refill it after receiving a text from Prowl on types, glazes, where to put the plate when he got back and a formal thank you.
The prim slagger.
"So when is this drunken jubilee and when can I join you?" Prime asked as the runner came back with a heaping pile of donuts.
The kid put it on the spot that Prowl had asked, then grinned before heading back to whatever he was doing.
Everyone stared at the plate, then without a word three big mechs arose to jump for it, one to defend and two determined to block him.
"WHAT THE FRAG!?" Prowl bellowed before the plate ended up on Ratchet's servos who then frisbeed it to Prime.
Prime caught it with both hands, sat back down again and placed it before himself. "Thanks, Ratchet. That was very neighborly of you. Care for a donut?"
"I don't mind if I do, Prime," Ratchet said as he took several for himself. As he did Prime began to eat the rest. Sitting once again himself, Ratchet began to eat one of them all the while staring at the astonished and seething winger standing before them. "Sit and tell me lies, Prowler. Entertain me."
Prowl stared at Ratchet more than aware that everyone in the Operational Center was looking directly at the three of them. His glance their way took care of that. He pulled his chair, sat, then stared with molten rage at the two. "You are disgusting."
Ratchet glanced at Prime. "Thems fighting words, partner."
Prime who had finished his last donut took two of Ratchet's. "Truer words never spoken," he said with a chuckle.
"I loathe both of you. When's the boozer?" Prowl asked as he folded his arms over his rather nice chassis.
"Soon, Prowler. Soon," Ratchet said with a snicker. "We have a championship basketball game to settle first."
"You mean the 'Optimus Prime Is A Winner and World Champion Two Times In A Row' contest?"
"Actually, I was thinking about basketball but if you want to talk about your sad little face life do continue," Ratchet said with a giant smile.
Prime's laughter drew mechs from the Flight Center as well as the Rec Room.
=0=Roto and Terradive
They walked out of the auditorium where a massive district-wide conference call had just concluded. A long conversation about the arsons, kid's fears and the return to regular life in the midst of martial law had been discussed, plans texted out and input taken. Now they had the rest of the orn off with schools starting the next morning.
What was going to be expected was mass parental/familial delivery of children to their schools. Buses, cabs and the Metro were a topic of concern on the social media outlets even though the head of all transportation on world, Dextrus of Iacon had gone on the media to allay fears. It'd be a tough road ahead until someone was busted for the fires.
"So we can get here early and set up for the kids. You'll be roving in the classrooms?" Terradive asked as they walked toward the street to head out.
Roto nodded. "All orn long."
It would be on toward evening when they reached home and settled in to relax.
=0=Dusk
The streets weren't as crowded as they usually were on this, First Friday. It was usually a busy restaurant and bar night with all manner and age of Cybertronian indulging in hanging out with others. An urban species who lived in tight neighborhoods, the general tone of life revolved around family, friends, your neighborhood and hanging out. That meant clubs, bars and the tenement stoop with your old Nana and Papa telling about life back in the orn. Here was no different.
What was different was the unease of the population about the situation. That the military and Watch were out in numbers helped but there was always that thought that maybe it might be you. It had to be someone, right?, so why not you?
Many were the mech and femme spending time at home tonight as the sun faded in the distance over the mound of the great Olympus Mons.
=0=At a meeting of the Autobot City Unified School District School Board
The meeting began with the newest members, Timbre and Ron Witwicky being sworn in along with Coros. The room was filled with spectators including those who were there to watch the fireworks. It was evident that Timbre was 'one of those' as many former low and mid castes often said behind their backs.
And not in a good way.
The Board was seated as No-A led the meeting.
"Tonight we are going to elect and or reaffirm our officers. As the current President of the Board, I've checked the bylaws for elections just so everyone is clear. The way this works is simple. If the President of the Board chooses not to stand for their position, it automatically defaults to the Vice President. The same goes for the rest of the seats. The Vice President becomes President, the Secretary becomes the Vice President and the Records Office becomes the Secretary. The other members including our new peer, Coros as Student Representative remain members without portfolio. As terms progress, all will be given in turn access to the named positions."
"That appears to hardly be fair," Timbre said. "You're talking about the School Board of a planet and a massive enterprise such as the district. What if the individual rolling into the position has no talents nor interest in it? I'm not casting any aspersions against anyone. I'm just asking a reasonable question."
Ron glanced at Timbre. He'd done his home work and knew that this mech wasn't a 'good fit' for the Board as someone at the Family Tower had so diplomatically put it. :On Earth, I've heard about this being the process. Its a good way for everyone to learn a different part of things and to have a chance to serve in a larger capacity. I'm sure I'm not looking at a named position myself. Its a good thing. It gives all the newbies a chance to learn from those who have greater experience with this. Given that Sunstreaker and No-a have been there from the beginning, I'm willing to wait and learn:
"That might be true on Earth but this isn't Earth," Timbre said.
"But it is the bylaws for us," No-a said. He glanced at the others. "I'll save you a lot of time and trouble. I have one more term before the rotation happens again. At that point I'll become a member without portfolio just like the rest of you."
"And when would say, Coros and I have a chance to 'move up'? Timbre asked. "I'm assuming that Coros is a member in good standing with the rest of us."
"You assumed rightly," Sunstreaker replied. "The kid is a full member and has a full vote and one orn when it comes, a position to uphold. Right now, No-a is the President until the end of his term. That means we all stay where we are."
It was silent as Timbre sat back. "The bylaws can be amended or changed."
"It takes a majority vote. I don't expect given all that we have to do here that this is the way we want to go," Hugh-e said.
Coros watched without comment. He'd read the bylaws and knew what they said. He had no problem holding to them. It was clear to him that Timbre was going to be 'interesting'.
He would be.
=0=TBC 2-17-2023
ALL NOTES ANSWERED IN THE NEXT PIECE! HUGGIES!
ESL:
Snug: a seated space in a bar we call a nook or booth
In boxing there are a number of terms for types of punches. A right cross is usually a follow up blow to the face by a boxer's right fist.
Aspersion: (ass-purr-zhun) to cast doubt, to call into question, sometimes to insult someone.
Being someone without portfolio means that you either have a job description so wide it expands the universe or you don't have one at all. No-a would become just another board member when his term is up. This practice is more common than you'd know.