The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box 28 (Edited for boo-boos)
-0-Back on Mars
Prowl looked over the intel that had come into the Ops Center while they had been on Earth. It was a mass of many things, all of them important. A rumbling, rolling sound near the door entered the edge of his consciousness as he stood working. He waited until he had downloaded what he needed to attend to first into himself before looking up, the sound of segways entering the vast room fulfilling a request he had made earlier. Turning, looking down, he nodded. :Thank you for coming. I require information:
Lennox, Epps and Graham nodded back. :Not a problem, Prowl. What's up?"
:I am puzzled about the situation that happened on Earth. I am puzzled by the ideas and attitudes of the members of the committee. They hold opinions and beliefs that don't make sense to me. I was hoping you could shed some light:
The men looked at each other, then stepped off the segways. Prowl set them on the table and retrieved chairs. Sitting himself, he waited.
:There are some people on Earth that have such strong beliefs about things that they can't be moved by facts or logic: Lennox began. :They believe what they believe and you can't move them. Daniels was that sort of person and so were some of the committee members. They are illogical and even stupid about what they believe and they can't be swayed:
:Why?: Prowl asked as he tried to sort through the information. "Don't they understand that there is grave danger in sending us away?:
:Most of the committee did and do. If you had stayed longer you would have found most of them are like Steiner. The majority opinion everywhere that polls around the world is behind your presence. Anyone with a foot hold in reality is behind your presence. You can't beat yourself up trying to understand people who manufacture their own facts. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but no one is entitled to their own facts. You are very admired and loved in Europe and my country. The children will make the leap for some. They understand you have families to defend even if they don't understand how you actually manage that feat: Graham said nodding.
Epps nodded too. :Don't kill yourself trying to understand assholes, Prowl. They are a minority who thinks the world works the way they want it to rather than how it actually does. They are a small but noisy group:
Prowl nodded. :We must make sure that they remain that way:
The three nodded. Then they sat back and talked about really important things such as the first playoff game coming up in a decaorn.
-0-CMO's office, recording an interview for IntraComm
"Thanks for the comments, Ratchet," Blaster said as he shut down his recording equipment. "What do you think the outcome of this is really going to be rather than what you just told me for the news?"
Ratchet chuckled. "I think we have another Daniels like group working against us but we're prepared and experienced this time around. With MECH running amok and the Family as well, we can't underestimate anyone but I will tell you, these politicians have only about 19-24% of the American population listening to them. The rest of the country like the rest of the world understands that we are necessary to their well being. They might not like it but they will not be happy to see us go."
Blaster nodded. "I will agree with you because you're closer to the problem than the rest of us. But I do feel unloved."
Ratchet snorted and chuckled. "Take the afternoon off and frag that little mech of yours. Doctor's orders."
Blaster grinned. "I think I'll take you up on that," he said as he turned to walk to the door. Then he paused and glanced at Ratchet. "When's your conferences?"
"Tomorrow," Ratchet said with a grin. "I think it will be wonderful. The grandgenitors are going to be there too."
"That sounds great. I think I might have Revet's genitors come too," Blaster said. He grinned and nodded, walking out the door.
Ratchet watched him go for a moment. :Ironhide:
:What?:
:Where are you?:
:Finishing up my time in the schools, old mech. I got dragged out of the school for that meeting on Earth and now I have to finish up:
:They won't put you in prison if you don't complete your joors this educational period, Only One:
:No, but I'll feel badly. I am a good atar, Ratchet. I have a reputation to live up to:
:You do, Ironhide:
:So … what are you doing?:
:Thinking about you. Beats thinking about the meeting:
:Have you watched the human's talk shows afterward?:
:I am now. I channeled them into a file. Right now, I want to think about what a great looking bot you are:
(grin) :Well, that goes without saying, Ratchet: (Preen felt over the link)
Ratchet chuckled. :You really put the sparklings out there. They all looked like you and everyone was really impressed. Must be all that handsome everywhere. They were overcome by it:
:That's probably true: (grin)
:I have to say, Ironhide, that it's too bad you are working in the school. I could use a frag to unwind: Ratchet grinned.
:I would, Ratchet but I'm helping with the nap room. Might wake up a few sparklings if we tried the Sexy:
:Can't grow them up too fast, Ironhide., What would they look forward to?:
Ironhide snorted, then settled down. The infants were recharging in their bassinets that were lined in rows. The big room was darkened with the tinted windows dialed down to keep out the light of the orn. He had to sit and watch them as their regular caretakers took breaks or did other things that had to be done or gathered for the conferences that would begin the next orn.
It was quiet and the ambiance was wonderful. There was nothing like the peaceful happy energy of children to make things better. He could think of few places he wanted to be after the turmoil of the orn on Earth. Ratchet's energy was still filled with tension so he dialed in on the periphery to monitor the big mech through the afternoon.
Ratchet would do the same with him.
-0-In the reading pit of the Sparkling Day School, Group D
Orion sat on a tiny chair in the sparkling circle with a dollie in his servos as he listened to the teacher reading to his group. The other sparklings in his learning unit were there too, all of them focused on the story of a little sparkling who was sailing a little boat down a magical stream. He was entranced in the skillful reading and the pictures which were shown with each page that turned.
Books were filling the shelves of the school's library, the result of the city's effort to support the arts. The Art Guild supported writers, illustrators and storytellers as well as the more traditional arts. The Book Store in the Mall of Metroplex had a full time program of writers and artists working on recreating on hair thin steel pages as well as digital texts and frames the cultural content of their people's genius. The books were made for the store's customers and multiple copies of everything were given to all the schools.
That was what was going on now. The book that was being read was an old fairy tale that most adults knew. It would be remembered among the current generations because there was opportunity for them to reclaim it from the shadows of their past. Orion leaned forward in his chair to look at the pictures of 'Lala' who was walking through the park to get to the other side. The images were beautiful, hand painted for the template that printed it and shiny for the sparklings to look at.
"TO-TO, what she?" Orion asked pointing at 'Lala'.
Roto paused and grinned. "She is a he and Lala is going to see the pond on the other side of the park."
Orion looked at him, a serious expression on his face as he considered that. "Okay."
Roto blinked, then grinned. He began again and the group followed his every syllable.
-0-At the Sciences Center
Sheila Conroy and Michio Yamaha stood on the counter and watched as a protege of Wheeljack worked on a circuit for a ground bridge panel that would allow transport of individuals from space bridges that fit on board ships. They had worked on a way to miniaturize the technology from orn one. Space bridges for ships had been in use for a long time but forgotten in the fog of war.
:What do you expect to achieve with this new technology, Suva?: Sheila asked.
:We will be placing space bridges on the battle ships and the smaller military vehicles. Their range is going to be long because they will draw their fuel from the engines of the ships. We are also going to array them around Mars so that we can go here and there with speed and ease. There is also talk of placing one on Diego in the Embassy so that we can come and go with speed on a moments notice. We would also be able to go here and there on Earth with speed and be retrieved as quickly:
:That is awesome: Sheila said. :Can I leave my address with you?:
Suva chucked and looked at them pausing his welding device. :Consider it done:
-0-Prime's office
He sat at his desk and finished his last assignment for his physics class that night. He would not be able to attend due to other commitments so he worked to get the work ready to send to the University and his professor. He was more knowledgeable about the vagaries of the universe but he also knew he would never be a physicist.
Tapping the button that would send the file, he relaxed as it disappeared off the desktop of his personal computer. He stared at the screen and considered the meeting they had just finished. Ratchet had been right. The appearance of himself and the children had been a powerful affirmation of their commitment to Earth and her people.
The polls that were coming in were overwhelmingly in favor of the Autobots and their effort. It was strong enough that several of the committee members were back peddling from their hardline positions. He himself was given the once over as the media speculated on what a Prime was and what a Prime specimen, Prime was. Someone had also finally picked up on the tiny red, white and blue sparkling being his son. That had brought about a lot of speculation about the creation of children but in a different manner than usual.
There were the usual aft hats who made their 'humorous' remarks but the majority had been affected by the babies and had made more effort to discuss their existence based on science, not 'comedy'. Scientists were called onto talk shows to speculate and the speculation was respectful. They made the case that the aliens were 'alien' and therefore their processes and needs, culture and expectations would also be 'alien'.
It was a good thing. It elevated the discussion greatly.
He rolled his neck, the tension bleeding away. The door opened as Prowl entered. He paused by the desk and considered Optimus. "I can't remember a time when you were more handsome and noble."
"Thank you," he said with a grin.
"I talked to the soldiers about the committee. Apparently, they have delusional people living on Earth. They have their own facts and create their own reality."
"Sounds like Megatron," Optimus said nodding. "Speaking of reality, you were very beautiful. The camera captures that with ease."
Prowl smirked slightly. "It would appear you finished your assignments for class tonight."
"Does it show?" Optimus asked as he patted his lap.
Prowl nodded, then moved to sit on the big mechanism's lap settling in as he did. "It does."
Prime enveloped Prowl in his arms. "We are going to be okay. What we have to do is focus on MECH and The Family. And the wild cards out there. And the committee. Not to mention the rest of the Earth Firsters."
It was silent a moment.
"Buzz kill," Prowl said with a smirk.
Optimus just snickered.
-0-TBC
2013 (2)