The Diego Diaries: Chaos 12 (dd3 22)
=0=Autobot City, Mars, out and about
Sunstreaker walked with Sideswipe to the airfield. The news that the filmmakers were in town was announced during The Hourly News that morning. They would be followed around by filmmakers according to their plan so both headed for Ops Center to get the word on their assignments for the next few decaorns. Crossing the street, they headed for the Fortress, a moment of sass with the old mechs playing games again in the courtyard and a short chat with Prowl in Ops Center.
Ratchet walked to the Medical Building from the Temple, the weight of Copperton and his family on his processor. Jarro had gone inside the conference room earlier and chatted a moment assuring the family that they would have help through their terrible ordeal. Turquoise had been distraught, Copperton numbed. They would have access to mental health assistance for the foreseeable future. Their son would be going through a series of mental health examinations to determine his condition and the possibility that he was impaired and not responsible for what he did.
Ratchet had stood behind Jarro as he sat with the pair, Chevron holding Turquoise's servo. Blackstone had told them of the charges and what he was going to be doing to represent the youngling. It had been agreed ahead of time by all parties as requested by Blackstone that the identities of the individuals involved would be held from the media given the nature of the crimes alleged.
"I don't know what to do, Copperton. I don't want to see anyone. I don't want to look at anyone. If this is true, then what will we be able to do to make amends?" Turquoise asked distraught.
Copperton looked at his bond, at the smaller mech with the warmest spark he had ever known. Turquoise was his world, that and his son, Now he couldn't comfort the mech. "We will go home and rest. Prime said he would conceal our identities, Turquoise. Don't worry. I will protect you."
Ratchet's tanks curdled as he listened. Transforming a digit, he gave an injection to both. "This will help you cope. I will be able to arrange for anxiety measures for both of you to help you."
Copperton . "What now?" he asked to no one in particular.
"I think it might do you some good to come and stay at the Temple," Chevron said gently.
"Can we?" Turquoise asked with great anxiety. "Will we be able to do that?"
"I think it is necessary," Chevron said. He rose and gently tugged Turquoise to his peds. Copperton joined him and with Ratchet's assistance, they all walked toward the Temple. It was a long misery-laden journey and when they reached that sacred space they entered and walked down to the lower levels below the sacred artifacts.
There were living quarters in the lower levels for the priests and their students. There were also quarters for those who needed or wanted to come to the Temple to contemplate or recover from events in their lives. They walked to a room with a pair of berths. Turquoise lay down on one and off lined his optics. Copperton sat on the other and stared at his bond with fear and despair.
Chevron spoke softly to them, then to Ratchet and Jarro who had followed along. "I think if you could stay a moment Jarro, we can leave them to their rest. Ratchet, thank you. I would like to call upon you if needed."
"You may, Chevron. Thank you," Ratchet said nodding. He and walked out leaving them to the tender care of the calmest nicest mechs ever created on Cybertron. He walked up the stairs and halfway across the floor. A couple of mechs stood with another priest, Collee before the pusating light of the AllSpark. The light of the Well was also pulsating as it grew in intensity.
A spark was being requested from the Well. He had not seen such an event since he was a doctor at the hospital in Iacon. He had been in Simfur with a friend and as they visited the Temple the event had happened.
Family and friends were gathered around the would-be genitors, all of them hushed and illuminated in the soft blue light of the Well. The AllSpark was slowly revolving, electrical flashes crossing its beautiful surface. It drew Ratchet closer and as he did the electrical feeling of expectation grew.
He could see the tiny protoform lying on the top of the wall that surrounded the Well. It lay in a box on soft material that had protected it since it was created by the protoform builders in Specialty Fabrication-Medical. Nearby watching with a smile was Cleery, a femme from Gypsy's team. She was here to affirm that the infant was well.
Collee stood slightly bowed before the Well softly chanting prayers to Primus and The One that a new life could be obtained for worthy genitors. Those two were standing side-by-side, servos gripped tightly, looks of fear and anticipation on their faces. Ratchet stepped closer to watch more fully and then it happened.
The soft blue-green light of the Well swelled and suffused the room so completely that everyone's optics shut down to prevent optical overload. It was a living thing, the light and it embraced them gently, holding them closely for a brief second.
At that moment there was nothing wrong in the world. There had never been anything wrong anywhere at anytime and for a brief second they were one with the Matrix. The love that suffused them, the peace that enveloped them was astonishing and then it was gone, the light settling back into the brilliant beauty of the Well itself.
For a moment no one moved, then the priest reached down and lifted the infant. Holding him a moment, blessing him with the prayers all infants received at birth, he and held out the little format to his genitors. They stood as if disbelieving, then reached forward taking the infant. After a moment it cried out breaking the spell in the room. They clapped, all of those present and Ratchet as well as the little family celebrated their new infant.
The atmosphere was wonderful and other mechs and femmes in the Temple came down drawn by it. The crowd gathered to see the new infant. Ratchet when his turn came smiled. "Good thing you aren't from Praxus."
They laughed. "Crystal City."
"Lucky you," Ratchet said with a grin.
The little party continued for a moment, then Cleery to the new genitors. "We need to check the infant and give you things to help you."
They and to the priest. Bowing deeply, they and bowed equally deeply to the AllSpark and the Well. They then recited the few lines of poetry they chose for the moment. "Across time, comes love. Across time, comes the future. We are temporary hosts to both. We ask the blessing of The One on our moment. Until all are one."
"Until all are one," everyone present said in reply. Then the little party and carried their bounty toward the door and the Youngling, Sparkling and Femme Hospital in Metroplex for a check up and short introduction to the multi-faceted world of sparklings.
Ratchet walked out feeling better than when he had come in.
-0-In the swimming pool at Sparkling Day School
He floated on his back, his arms and legs splayed wide as he drifted here and there on the placid surface of the warm water. Roto sitting in the deep end grinned as the bitty bot touched on him. A digit pressed against a ped produced a smile and a gentle momentum away. Orion floated along the surface, the water an extraordinarily soothing texture against his armor and he loved it. Swimming was one of his most enjoyable moments in a day chocked full of teachings, play, naps, snacks and caustic optics to mechs who were not unhappy to return the feelings in kind.
The detente was still in progress having its weak and strong moments. They were SUPER competitive. Dollies were deeply scrutinized and compared in the spheres of influence they occupied and all around cautious regard was the order of the day.
Reaching under Orion Roto lifted him slightly, bobbing him in the water. The little mech screeching with laughter nonetheless held his form and didn't sink.
This time.
"You're getting better, boo boo," Roto said with a grin. He leaned back against the edge of the pool and considered the 'weekend' coming up.
Dinner and dancing tonight with Terradive, his pre-bond.
Check.
Then the next orn they would go to the cliffs of Olympus Mons and gather rocks for Terri's geology test for his younglings in a few.
Check again.
That would be followed by hanging with their group at the Club, going to see the last four episodes of Transformers: Prime at the theater and intense all-night facing to unwind.
Checkmate.
He looked down at Orion who had drifted back his way, a ginormous twinkly smile on his funny little face. Roto snorted and tickled Orion with a digit on his belly. That little bot sunk and stood up sputtering. He looked up at Roto with a fierce expression on his cute little face. "TOTO! NOT ME! ME GOOD!"
Roto picked him up and kissed him, hugging him tightly. "You are, you little marauder. I love you." He looked at Orion who stared back listening as he tried to understand.
"Orion love Toto."
Roto looked at this, his first little assignment, the baby whose study had clinched his counseling degree. "Toto loves Orion."
Orion smiled. "TOTO GOOD! ORION *LOVE* TOTO!"
Roto laughed and hugged the little bot rising from the pool. He cocooned the baby in a warmed towel and walking from the pool. As he did, he passed Laret who was walking in with Han. Orion spotting his nemesis grinned. "HAN PFTLT!"
Han looked at Orion and laughed loudly. "YOU PLFLT!"
They both cackled all the way to the pool and the rocking chair. So did their handlers.
-0-In the habitat on the top of a tower in the Mare Tranquilitatis
They entered and looking around at an astonishing sight. The entire shared living area of the habitat created for long term habitation by soldiers, civilians that were associated with the Autobots and their families covered more than 20,000 square feet. There were sitting areas all over the place and near the wall of windows that wound around the entire floor, a kitchen and dining area could be found. Around three sides of the building were individual rooms for residents. They were large, had a sitting and sleeping area and private baths. They had a desk with work space and a large monitor on the state-of-the-art computer that came with it.
"Go and find your rooms. Rememer, if a name is on it, you can't go inside. We don't use locks here. We are on the honor system. Anyone who breaks that rule will get punched." Lennox grinned at them. "I'm not kidding," he said kidding. Sort of.
They looked at him doubtfully, then and walked to the residential part of the habitat. Moments later, thirteen human filmmakers were gathered in the living room sitting around the 'fire pit' that occupied the main 'discussion' area. Sitting nearby listening as well were the five N.E.S.T. Soldiers who were along to help.
"This is the place you will live. You will be expected to police the area to military standards. The habitat is designed to be comfortable to human standards. This is different than the Habitat Dome where the scientists live. This is a private residence for friends and family of the human group considered family by the Autobots. Anyone in that group can hitch a ride from Diego or go to one of four air force bases that Autobots regularly fly into to catch a ride no questions asked.
"Everyone on that list has a room here, loves this place and takes care of it. Make it sloppy, you will hear from us. This is your home when you aren't working or sightseeing. You are encouraged to wear your gear with your mask hung on the racks by the door. Your name is there. Put your mask in the right place. As we have already said, make sure the mask you take is yours. It is designed just for you.
"We eat when we want. Clean up after yourselves. We recycle here. You will find out about that when you use the kitchen. Some of you will be off world at times. Others will be here. All of you are responsible for each other. You are a team. You will act like one and be responsible for each other.
"Some of the places here are off limits for a reason. Don't try and be a smartass by sneaking in where you know you don't belong. You will be shipped home and the project might be cancelled. Breaking a rule or taboo isn't worth ending your visit here. This is one of the best places to be that I know of.
"You cannot communicate with Earth without it passing through the censors. You are a new commodity and they don't know if you are trustworthy. You could be spies for all we know. Be aware that when you send an e-mail or have a phone conversation over the IntraComm link up with Skype, you will be on a 30 second delay. If you post even accidentally anything compromising you will be censored. That is the way it is."
"Are you censored, Major Lennox?" a tech asked.
"No. None of us regulars are. We earned trust. You might if you work at respecting them, obeying the few rules they have made for you and never fucking around. They are good mechs and femmes but this is no vacation in the Gobi. You can die here in less than a minute, a terrible painful death. Don't do anything that will get yourself dead and when they tell you something obey immediately. They are aware of our fagility and go to great lengths to keep us safe and well.
"And I can't stress enough that you don't ask about Prime. There are security reasons that his identity is protected. We don't disclose. You won't. It is a violation of a Prime Directive if you do and you will be subject to their penalties if you do. Good luck getting out of that. Any questions on that simple taboo?"
There were none. They talked for a while and when the sun began to set they stood by the giant windows looking down as the city began to light up and the nightlife of Autobot City began once again.
-0-A few joors later
They sat at a table in Club Cybertron, half a dozen school teachers and some friends from data processing joining them. The music was great, the food and drink spot on. After a long 'week' of work, the 'weekend' had arrived. The city had begun to schedule work shifts and official activities such as school on a 'work week and weekend' model to allow families time to be together. Even through the schools weren't in session for three orns because of the 'weekend', Community Schools programs were going great guns to help those who still had to work or wanted to go and play without infants once in a while.
It had just been implemented with much input from citizens, businesses, work groups and officials through the official city page on the Community Bulletin Board. The official count against the idea was 12. The count for the change was still being tabulated it was so huge. It passed. This was the first 'weekend' of the rest of their lives and judging from the amount of activity in the clubs, restaurants and malls of the city it would be a hit.
After much discussion and troubleshooting of shifts, work schedules, infant care problems and general disbelief that a weekend was even possible, the schedule as primed to the Martian cycle was declared to be a 'weekend' of three orns followed by a 'work week' of twelve. It worked out more or less quite well given that there were 686+ orns in a solar cycle on Mars, an equivalent of 1.88 years on Earth.
It was a work in progress.
To great and rising acclaim.
Except for 12 bots.
The slaggers.
Prime and Prowl walked toward home where all of the infants and in-laws were waiting. He looked at the happiness surrounding him, a great improvement over the dread and stress of the past few orns and grinned. "Do you remember Six Lasers Over Cybertron?" he asked looking down at Prowl.
That worthy smirked. "I do. I even went on some of the crazier rides once."
"I never did," Prime said rather wistfully. No lower caste ever could but he didn't vocalize that part.
"I wish you could have," Prowl said his smile fading.
"One of these days maybe we can build it here," Prime said with a grin. "I'll go with you then."
"Done deal," Prowl said slipping his servo into Prime's arm. They both disappeared into the crowds on the street.
=0=TBC
2012 (9)