The Diego Diaries: Chaos 9 (dd3 18)
=0=At the site
The dust settled and the city finished its long upward spiral as the familiar skyline of Autobot City began to return. As everyone around the area watched it happen, it was astonishing to them how much it'd been missed during Metroplex's absence from city mode. It was as if the beating heart of the colony had been removed.
The sound began to diminish until there was only a low hum of internal devices and fixtures in residences coming into shape and solidity. His electrical systems were part of that, the giant enormous outlay of lights, outlets and other features to both run his systems and promote the features of his residential and commercial superstructure making themselves known once again.
Daylight glinted off masses of windows in the towers that filled the city with shape and structure. The streets were back, lined and super clean. Sidewalks returned, storefronts and businesses as well. The City Hall appeared and the Sparkling, Youngling and Femme Hospital was nearby. It was possible to look into lobbies which gleamed brightly, their welcoming interiors waiting for their mechs, femmes and sparklings to return.
Above the City Hall snapping in the late spring breeze, the colors and emblem of the Primes could be seen on poles and in windows of personal and public residences. It was obvious that Metroplex was intent on restoring things the way they were down to the smallest details.
The street lights came on and so did those of commercial businesses. Lights on top of the towers that signaled their height or some function located there also sprang on. The clubs and Mall lights and signs came on signaling that the space was ready for their occupants.
Prime and Prowl stood together with Ratchet, Ironhide, Flint and Jazz nearby. They watched as Prowl counted down the list of functions as they checked off on the data pad that he held. The hum of activity continued, then at last stopped.
Prime glanced at Prowl who looked up from his device. "He's done the hard work. Residents can go inside and reclaim their homes." Behind and all around them mechs and humans clapped and cheered their delight.
Prime commed Ops Center. The signal for those to return was a long siren. It'd been broadcast on the Hourly News that one long blast meant all could return. As he watched, the siren at Fort Max sounded, rolling through the city. Even before it shut off bots were coming out of other places heading for their homes.
"That's us," Sunstreaker said as he leaned against the wall in the rec room.
Bluestreak and Sideswipe headed toward home as Sunstreaker drained the cube in his servo and rose to following.
The mechs who were not on duty were heading toward Metroplex, all of them anxious to go home. They'd bunked everywhere and with anyone who had the room.
They walked down streets turning their own neighborhood corners heading for the towers that were home. Some lingered to chat with the leadership. Others waved and walked onward. The trine joined with Ratchet and Ironhide, watching as mechs walked past.
"When will Miler and Venture go home? We can help them if they need it," Bluestreak said.
"The elders are going to be taken over to their apartments with someone who can help them if they need it. We don't want them to have a hard time," Ratchet said.
"We can help," Bluestreak said glancing at the twins. "We can put things back together."
"I'll remember that," Ratchet said. "Do you need an assist?"
"I don't know. We're going now. Do you want to come?" Blue asked.
"I will," Ratchet said slipping his arm through Sunstreaker's. They fell into the migration heading for Polyhex Tower.
"I miss you living across the street, Ratchet," Blue said following along behind. "It was fun looking over to see Orion licking the window."
"That bot takes after his atar," Ratchet said with a chuckle. "He had it out with Han this morning at school."
"He did?" Sunstreaker asked glancing down at Ratchet sharply. "What happened?"
"I had them on leashes and harnesses. Remember? I showed them to you before Metroplex went down. Anyway, he was walking in and ran into Revo's leg. He fell flat on his aft. When he got up, Han slapped him. Then it was on."
"I wish I'd seen it," Sideswipe said chuckling with amusement. Little mech could wreck with the best of them.
"Can do," Ratchet said as he sent the film to all three. It was quiet a moment as they watched. Then two grins and one worried expression appeared. "Herling, Nova, Roto and Laret were watching. Flint controlled it. They got a lot done. Maybe they'll get along now."
"I don't know," Sunstreaker said. "He's a slagging martial artist."
Ratchet snorted. "That's my boy."
They continued onward to the tower. When they got there they waited until an elevator was free, then went up to the trine's floor. Stepping out, they walked to the door to enter.
After a second of bracing themselves, they opened the door and stepped inside. For a moment there was just silence, then Sideswipe shook his helm. "Metroplex is a slagging wonder of the world."
The room was in disarray but nothing was broken. It was scattered around with things falling out of cupboards and furnishings out of place. Pictures and paintings were on the floor but didn't appear to be damaged.
Bluestreak walked to the berth rooms and when he came out of Kaon's room, he was carrying a bent little 'trophy'. It was a gift from his grandatar who considered him a 'champion grandsparkling'. Venture had given it to him after seeing images of them in a magazine from Earth. "This is the only thing I found that's damaged."
Sunstreaker took it into servo and looked at it. "I can fix this."
"Good. You do that and I'll sit here. My old ada once said any job that doesn't have a straw boss is no job at all." Ratchet said moving to a couch to shove it back into place. Tossing the pillows back on top, he sat and grinned. "Don't let me slow you down."
Bluestreak chuckled. "You're hopeless."
They began to straighten out their apartment. When they were done, Bluestreak would send a message of thanks and gratitude to be home with the family to the command center of Metroplex. His would be among thousands.
-0-Temple of Primus
"Copperton, what can I do for you?"
Copperton looked at him with surprise. Gravitas was wearing a cowl, green for acolytes. He stood quietly in front of the Matrix Flame. He'd been staring at the Flame perhaps expecting an inspiration from The One when Copperton had entered.
Loathe as he was to interrupt Gravitas, he was the first of the Councilors that Copperton had found to speak with. "I would like to talk to you."
Gravitas nodded then watched as Copperton walked out to an empty alcove nearby. Following with dread at what Copperton might want to discuss, Gravitas put his most neutral expression on. "I'm here to listen, pilgrim."
Copperton listened to the formal expression then returned it. "I'm here to speak," he returned in kind. Stepping closer, he considered Gravitas. "I'm surprised to see you as an acolyte, Gravitas. I'd expect you in a more influential and leading occupation."
"I'm on a journey," Gravitas said. "It's my desire to serve in a manner that is humble and pleasing to The One."
Copperton considered that. "I haven't run into any of the others. I'm told that Templar, Eronus and Vras are here as well as Neo. I'm also aware that Kudon was slain."
"He was. That was settled by the Prime. Neo represents elders on the Council and Templar, Eronus and Vras are acolytes along with me. We in fact as an act of contrition began this Temple with our bare servos."
"Act of contrition? What are you talking about?" Copperton asked with surprise.
"It's a long story," Gravitas said.
"I have time. I would hope you'd tell it to me," Copperton said uneasily.
Gravitas stared at him a moment. Then he shook his helm. "You're here to restore the system."
"I'm concerned about the way life is here especially in light of Kudon's murder and the suspicious explosion. I believe that the system allowed order and progress which is preferable to this chaos," Copperton said.
"No. The system allowed privilege and social stagnation. I was so blind, Copperton. It took exile on the satellite of the third planet of this system before it came to me that I was a fool."
"What are you saying?" Copperton asked with surprise. "How can you say that? You, the one who was so sure, so relentless? What are you saying?"
Gravitas looked at him. "I'm saying, my friend, is that I was wrong. We were all wrong."
Copperton looked at him. "Is this the consensus opinion of everyone here?"
"I would say so. I'm sure there are those who haven't gotten the message but they're few, Copperton. We've agreed to do better here. We've taken on responsibility for each other. Understand, Copperton. The system is over."
Copperton stared at Gravitas for a while, then with a curt nod walked from the alcove, across the great floor and up the steps. He didn't look at the AllSpark or the Well. He walked to the door and left the Temple to disappear into the city once more.
-0-City Hall
Ultra Magnus stared around in his office after cleaning up the mess. Very little had broken. The systems inside residential mechanisms had some fail safe programming to prevent total destruction of contents should they transform in a hurry. The entire building was jumbled but staff were working goodnaturedly getting things put back together.
They were expecting another migration and the effort to absorb a great number of bots took a lot of coordination. The housing construction alone drew on dozens of individuals and city departments. They'd have to have a meeting to update the number of apartments they'd be able to field. There was also the need to be ahead of the school situation by having more floors of classrooms ready for students before they arrived.
Jetta peered in and rapped on the doorjamb. "Hey."
Magnus glanced his way. "Jetta?"
"The re-link is finished. Metroplex is hooked up and when his systems are optimal again he'll be back to normal."
"Good. Did they give you the go ahead to start a structural analysis of the Plaza?" Magnus asked.
"I'm going to Ops Center now to find out. I'll let you know," Jetta said. "Anything you want me to tell them?"
"No. There's a meeting later this afternoon to discuss the situation and maybe there'll be some news about who did this and how," Magnus said. "Be there, Jetta. We'll probably need your expertise."
He agreed, then headed out. By the time he reached Ops Center others were gathering, too.
-0-Sparkling Day School
"What do you think?"
"I don't know. We can try."
"Alright." Neo holding Han walked to the sandbox and gently placed the little bot in front of Orion who was patting the sand with a small spoon. Orion didn't know for a moment that he wasn't alone. Then he did.
Han who had been sitting on his tiny heinie stared at Orion, warily leaning back slightly when Orion finally saw him.
They stared at each other silently, then as one threw sand at each other. The sand flew and then it stopped.
Orion sat and brushed at his face. "Fpleh," he spit, wiping sand out of his mouth.
Han who had been doing the same thing laughed. "You bad!" he said as he sat cackling in the sand.
Orion stared at him with a frown then looked at his sandy servo. "Pleh. Pflt." He brushed his mouth. "Han bad."
Han looking at him laughed. "You bad."
Orion looked up. "Han bad. ORION ME." Then he laughed. "HAN BAD!"
Such was the inscrutable Tao of Sparklings.
=0=TBC 4-24-2022 edited