The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box 3 (dd3 167)
-0-Out there
They stood on a planetoid that was part of three which were left over fragments from the early formation of the solar system which Prime ruled. The cloud was aptly named although they had no idea that it was called that. It was just the debris field that would now be home. This was the biggest planetoid, one large enough to settle a very big contingent of Decepticons without much trouble. There were two others that would handle overflow or air fields, whatever his design would call for.
Floating nearby, dozens of pieces of ice circled their planetoid and in them were crystals of energon. It had been part of a larger cache that had been seeded they knew by ancient drone Seekers. The system had fragments going out for some ways. Some were as small as grains of sand while others were very large pure veins, enough to fuel and meet their needs for an enormous amount of time. And that was what they'd found scanning just the local area. It was thrilling.
:This will be our home base: Paragon said as he slowly took in the vistas. :There's a great amount of stone with which to build. We can build a steel making facility and reinforce all our structures. We'll start underground. If they come to attack us, that'll be the easiest to defend. We'll begin to refine the energon as well:
:Its such a pure grade: the Seeker who was their energon expert said. :We don't have to use much to make a lot. This is so pure that a little bit goes a long way:
Paragon nodded. :I want you to survey this system. I want every grain of it accounted for. If we're energon autonomous we're free:
He left to make it so.
Paragon looked at Arrow. :We can put our ships down here to be our temporary quarters. We can make repairs and rebuild them to higher specifications. Prime is technologically advanced and has a large base of expertise to draw from. We will be at a disadvantage until our allies arrive. Until then, we stand at a war footing and work around the clock to get dug in and ready to stand off anyone and everything that would strike us:
They nodded then head out to do what was asked of them. When the ships were landed, crews would be working everywhere on everything. 8,500 soldiers and 300 Seekers would be making their position secure while Paragon would be planning for the arrival of more.
-0-At the reclamation on the way to Fort Apache
Prime sat by the window watching the stars sweep by. They were heading back to Fort Apache, the reclamation firmly under control of the many ships and their commanders further out. Starscream on Silverbolt was given operational command of the process and would come back last ship the next orn when everyone else was safely through the bridge.
For now, they themselves were superfluous. They slipped into orbit around the Fortress and stepped into a runabout heading for the installation below. Stepping out, they walked to Ops Center entering through the rec room.
Alor who was sitting at the command table grinned. "I see you've signed off."
"We did," Optimus said with a grin. "Starscream has it well in servo."
"Who would have thought?" Alor said with a chuckle.
Optimus grinned. "I know. The cognitive dissonance is still there sometimes."
"I'm sure it is for him, too," Alor said watching as Ironhide moved to stand behind his atar.
Being well brought up and respectful of his genitors, Ironhide didn't dare ask for his daughter. He just stood behind his father waiting expectantly to be handed his little femme. His father, well aware that his son was well brought up held the little femme which he had come to adore as much as all the other infants, knowing full well that Ironhide would never ask for her.
It was a standoff.
Alor smirking at both turned to Optimus, determined to let them hash out their dilemma alone. "We have about 80,000 refugees left to go."
"That is good. How is it back on Mars?" Optimus said sitting down, one optic fixed on Ironhide's emotionally charged face. The depth of his angst was hilarious. The depth of his good manners was working against him.
Best show in town.
"The reclamation is going smoothly. They had to take a few mechs into custody due to mental anguish. They wanted to fight and are in the psyche ward of the hospital. Jarro's preliminary report is that they'd thought they were back on Cybertron and wanted to hurt someone."
Alor considered that. "The effect must be incredibly jarring. I can remember it myself. I'm still unclear fully that this is actually happening sometimes."
"You should have been here from the beginning. It would be worse," Ironhide said. "The five of us and a hangar on a forward base on Earth surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean and Arachnid. That was it."
Alor looked at Prime. "It's a slagging miracle but I'm not surprised. You are The One."
Prime grinned slightly. "Thank you but this is a major servos on project by all of us."
"Maybe," Ironhide said glancing over his father's shoulder.
Hero spotted him and smiled. She tweeted softly.
Blackjack grinned. "Are you tweeting to your old grandpa?" he asked to be ornery. "Did you hear that, Ali? She tweeted to me."
Alor grinned then glanced at Ironhide who looked like he was going to plotz. Yet still he kept his manners intact even as his tear ducts began to fill up.
Alor looked fixedly at Blackjack. "Is there something you need to do, 'Jack?"
Blackjack who was enjoying himself immensely nodded. "Yes. Jetta still doesn't know his brother has been found but I told Elita. She's elated. She really loves Mack. She said to hold the news until Mack gets there. She says he's as haywire as Jetta about staying and doing stuff before taking care of himself. Whoever raised those two younglings did a slagging fine job."
"I remember their genitors. Really nice mechs," Optimus said accessing an old video file. "I never did see much of Mack after he got older. But Jetta is one of the oldest mechs I know."
Blackjack nodded. "It's covered."
"Are you going back to the city now?" Alor asked.
"I think so. It might be helpful to meet and greet as well as check the stats on this and the intel on the situations on Earth. I think barring Paragon making trouble, that is the next set of fires to put out." He rose and looked at Ironhide. "Let us go. Comm Ratchet and see what is up with him. If he can come back, we'll wait. If not, we'll go now."
Ironhide nodded, pausing for a moment in his dilemma. Then with intense angst, he walked to the door and beyond.
Blackjack watched him go with a grin, then winced as Alor punched his arm. "Are you going to let him hold his daughter or do I punch you again?"
"I will," Blackjack said rising with a big grin on his face. He walked to the door heading into the rec room. As he did, a big black shadow followed him. With a swiftness that belied his size, Ironhide relieved his father of the infant, pausing to gloat at him with triumph. "Ha-ha."
Blackjack showing a finesse that even Alor hadn't known he possessed relieved Ironhide of the infant and began to walk onward. "Ha-ha yourself, you slagger."
Ironhide who stared at his servos followed purposefully after his atar until they disappeared together out of the door.
Alor who was watching grinned. "Those two are hopeless."
Optimus who was laughing agreed. "That is true," he said squeezing Alor's arm. "Let me know if things change. We are a space bridge away."
Alor watched as they left, then turned back to the desk and the business of keeping all the plates spinning in the air.
-0-On the other side
They slipped through the atmosphere, the enormous bulk of Omega getting priority. The detachable decal of the Primes affixed to his hull gleamed alongside the enormous Autobrand. Whenever a Prime flew in a ship, the decal of the Primes was affixed to its side. They descended and landed near the hangars to exit together.
Ratchet was still on Gamma helping the medical relief. Prowl was still on the City of Solitude soon to come through the gate with the next wave of cleared ships.
The twins were with the Wreckers back on board the Xantium. They would come through with the third group after Prowl. The Wrecker heavy fighters would remain along with half of the allotted Seekers to guard the remaining operation. The rest would come back to base to stand down on Code Yellow for the duration of the reclamation. They would be free to step back into their lives but on call if anything bad happened.
Walking toward the Port of Entry, they were spotted by refugees who mobbed them. Prime was touched, thanked, hugged and otherwise worshiped by the grateful, exhausted and utterly awestruck thousands. The word rippled out to the masses and they pressed forward.
Prime moved to a shipping box and climbed on top. Opening a frequency that all could hear through personal transponders he began to welcome them. "Welcome to Autobot City," he said before being drowned out by a massive roar so spark felt it made optics water. "We are honored to have you here safely. You will be housed, treated medically and offered opportunity. All of our infants go to school. That is the law," he said as the crowd hushed at the unbelievable idea of universal education.
"You will be given the opportunity to do so, too, infants and adults. There are jobs here that need you. You may choose what you want to do. The System is dead. I cannot emphasize it enough." He looked at the crowd, spotting high castes here and there. They were blank slates, their expressions the same as everyone elses: exhausted, worn out and weary to their spark.
"We do not allow the system and if you have a problem with that go to the Temple and talk to the priests. They will counsel you on the new life we have devised. You are protected. We have worked a miracle here. Decepticons have come to live among us and they are among our most dedicated citizens. Seekers are as well. There is no discord among us over faction. That part of our history is dead. No agitation will be allowed. You will be jailed if you try. We live by Cybertronian law, fairly applied and decently settled. You are equal to everyone else here. We all are one."
The crowd murmured, then began to chant. "Until all are one! Until all are one!" It continued onward and then settled as the crowd trained their attention back to the revered figure of their Prime.
"We are indeed all one. We all work for the common good. When you get settled use the Community Bulletin Board to find out what the opportunities are for you. Look at the maps. Walk around the city, eat at the restaurants, get what you need to be comfortable. You will be a part of our new Cybertron when you join us to work for the future and all the lost civilians, Seekers and soldiers who are trying to reach us even now. If you know anything about the galaxy out there make sure you tell your intake official. Remember, you are welcome here. You are safe. We all are one."
The roar was enormous and when he stepped down he was engulfed. It took a while to get things straightened out but the lines began to move again, this time with more zest and ease. Prime glanced at Ironhide who was standing slightly behind him with a 'cat ate canary' expression on his face. :You look happy:
Ironhide patted his hold where Hero was stowed, humming and playing with her dollie in the warmth of the center of her atar. :Got what I need:
Prime grinned. :Hopeless fraud:
:Can't make me feel badly, Prime: Ironhide said as they stood receiving grateful individuals. They would stay there until the last ship landed.
-0-RTR Tools
Ravel stood by the grinder smoothing the edge of a tool handle. Standing on a stool, Sunspot watched carefully. "That is so great, Grand Ada. You're so good at that. I bet there's no one who can do it as good as you."
Ravel smiled and leaned over kissing Sunspot on the helm. "I have had a lot of practice, Sunny Bunny. Some day, you will be so good at this that mechs will stand in line to get your tools."
"They do that here," he said turning to look as the door bell rang. Grand Atar was working on a steel mold in the warehouse so they were the ones who would 'help the customers, Grand Ada'.
Three youngling mechs entered then stared around. They looked at Ravel as he walked around the corner pausing by the counter. "Hello, younglings. What can I do for you?"
"You make the greatest knives," one of them said with a smile. "I just got here on the migration. I want to get a knife for my ada. He lost his. I think it would make him feel a lot better if he had something he remembers from home."
"Your ada is sad to be here?" Ravel asked as Sunspot came around the corner to stand beside him.
"No," the youngling said. "He's just so tired. He looked at the pack he had with him and the knife must have fallen out."
"They gather things off ships and store them until they can be returned. Maybe its in that," Ravel said helpfully.
"I hope so," the youngling said. "It belonged to his ada."
"What kind is it, youngling. Let's see if we can find one like it."
Ravel pulled a tray from below that held a sample of all their many beautiful knives including several that were already chosen by others. "Is it like one of these?"
They looked at the knives, wowing for a moment, then he pointed at one. "It was like this one."
Ravel noted that that particular knife was slated for someone else, someone who had been in the city a long time. It only had to be engraved. "Then this one he will have." Ravel pulled it out and put the tray away.
"I don't have any shanix," the young mech said haltingly. "I thought I could work for you to pay for it."
Ravel smiled seeing in the youngling something of himself. "You don't have to do that. I make things and preserve my skill. You commission things and get what you want. We don't have a money economy here. All you have to do is work or go to school. Find a way to earn your keep that way and improve yourself, too, youngling. But first, make sure you rest up. The city is wonderful. Explore it for a few orns."
"I love it here already. We took the subway to our home in Terra. We have an apartment, one with enough berth rooms for each of us to have our own," he marveled as the others nodded. "I've never lived in a place so beautiful. I thought it was a mistake," he said with a trace of awe in his voice.
The others nodded, his brother and cousin.
"It's your new home. What do you want to do with your life? You look like sub adults ready for university or work," Ravel said.
"I want to be a pilot," the youngling said. "At least, I always hoped to be one."
"Then be one," Ravel said simply.
Sunspot nodded. "I want to be a doctor and a soldier. I also want to be a fireman."
They looked down at Sunspot peering over the counter to see him smiling up at them. "I think that's great," the youngling said with a grin. "You have a lot of dreams."
"I do," Sunny said with a smile. "You can here."
They looked at him then Ravel. Grinning, he nodded. "I would like that knife for my ada please."
Ravel smiled. "Come on back and tell me names and verses. I'll engrave it and you can have it in a moment."
They did. Sunny followed and perched on his stool. He regaled them of the stories of his own life in the Decepticons and here in paradise with his family. He would do so innocently, unaware of the appalling horror they all felt for his life up until now.
When they left, they had a new knife and a greater appreciation for the lucky situation they found themselves in. Three orns later, they would apply for professions and be accepted. It would be the first orn of a new life for them all.
-0-TBC 2013 (1) edited 8-20-15 5-3-19