The Diego Diaries: Moving forward (288) edited for boo boos
-0-That night at the apartment
They had eaten dinner together, chatted and finally made their way onward. The last individual left so Ratchet closed the door and turned to survey his domain. The night lights had come on outside and the city beyond was getting into the swing of evening. The other two cities, Terra and Aerie Hill were also getting their night life going. The next day would be the last work day of the 'week' so the loafing would continue afterwards for the three day Cybertronian weekend instituted by vote.
Entire city: Yes. Opposed: 12. It was rumored that one of the twelve was Ultra Magnus but it couldn't be proven.
It however was a rousing success for everyone. Unless of course your own weekend didn't coincide with the greater mass of citizenry. There would be one more orn on the job, then they would have three to futz around. Ironhide would be able to have his daughter and emotionally gear up for the start of school again on Cybertronian 'Monday'.
It was win-win, sort of.
"Are you going to recharge in that chair?" Ratchet said walking over to sit in his.
"Femme is dozing," Ironhide said about the tiny morsel lying on his chassis as he lounged, his big peds up on the low table before him. The Hourly News was nearly on so Ratchet relaxed. In the other rooms infants could be heard laughing and playing. Occasionally, Spot would bound out, bend down, his fanny in the air tail waggling, then bound back in to the screeching delight of the house shorties. Prowler lay in a sagging pile in his bouncy chair which was by the window. He dozed himself, comfortable in his discomfort.
"Sparkling is sagging," Ratchet observed.
Ironhide grinned. "He's still boneless."
"Aw. I must have missed that class at medical school," Ratchet said with a chuckle. "You good with my ada taking little femme to school?"
"No. But I see his point. Ravie will stay a while with her. Tie too. That might help." Ironhide looked like it wouldn't but then he was in the five stages of something and had still to surmount denial, rage, bargaining and fist shaking at the netherworld where Zeta Prime ruled in oblivion.
"I see. Did you know an apartment came open on the floor below the Residence?" Ratchet asked as the Community Bulletin Board scrolled slowly on the monitor.
"No," Ironhide said glancing at Prime. "How did that happen?"
"The family that lived there had a sparkling. They also found their genitors in the migration. They asked for a bigger apartment so they could keep their genitors with them and Prowl granted it. The apartment is a bit big but Prime is happy to give it to the genitors. They can be close to him and he can keep them close to him. Win-win."
Ironhide nodded. "That's a good idea. I know they worried that they were abusing something or other."
Ratchet nodded. "Prowl nearly lost a wing nut trying to explain to them that they were always and forever welcome in the Residence but I hear them about independence. I wonder if they have moved in yet or need help." Ratchet connected with Prowl. :Prowler: (giant bemused snoopiness)
:What?: (surprise tinged with something else)
:I hear the in-laws will have the mother-in-law apartment: (grin)
A momentary pause to do the necessary research returned a slightly bemused reply. :I know. Serendipity: (slight grin, bigger aggravation)
A momentary pause to do the necessary research returned a slightly bemused reply. :You don't say: (smirk on the half shell)
A momentary pause to do the necessary research returned a slightly puzzled reply. :I just did: (WTF?)
Ratchet snorted and grinned. :Its an expression, doofus: (smirking sneer)
A pause, then a reply. :That's doofus, SIR: (giant 'YOUR MAMA' back)
They both sat at their respective ends with a grin. :Prowler, do you need help setting up Kes and Tagg? If you do, you know where we live:
:I'll let you know. Right now, we're staying put until the weekend:
:Okay. Let us know. Ratchet out:
:Prowl out: He paused and looked up at Optimus who was staring down at him. "Sorry about that."
Optimus grinned. "Route everyone to the message box," he said. Then he didn't say anything more.
Neither did Prowl.
-0-Back in the Bosom of Love
"What did Prowl say?" Ironhide asked as he picked up the remote to turn up the sound of The Hourly News broadcast.
"Not much. He was fragging Prime but he did mention the weekend," Ratchet said with a grin.
Ironhide glanced at him, then smirked. "You two have been hanging around too much together. You're going to contaminate Prowl with your crazy."
"Too late, Only One. Too late," Ratchet said as the news began.
-0-On the beat
"What do you want to do this weekend?" Drift asked as they walked to the subway station to go to Aerie Hill. Shift had started and they were making their once decaorn tours of all the stations and substations of the Watch to show the flag and kill time, or so Drift would say with a grin. Walking down the stairs to the subway platform at Cultural Center Way, they paused waiting for the right train to come.
"I don't know. What about you? I'm always stuck making the decision," Springer said glancing pointedly at his bond mate. "Choose."
Drift looked at him and shrugged. "How about rock climbing in the Valles?"
"Sounds fun. I hear the rock faces near the campground at Sheer Cliffs are really challenging," Springer replied as they watched their train slow down to stop before them.
"Do you want to be challenged a lot or a little?" Drift asked as they entered. The train was filled with happy younglings, sub adults heading out for an evening. They saw the two enter the train and toned down their laughter which was just all right with a pair of old mechs heading back to the Metroplex District. They were the old geezers that played games everyday in the courtyard of the Fortress. One of them looked up at Springer who grinned down at the pair as they sat on their seats by the window. "'Bout time a Watch mech showed up. Those younglings over there," he said pointing out a number of giggling mechs with his cane. "They're too noisy. Can't hear a word edgewise."
Springer looked at them and they calmed down immediately, staring at the two big mechs with big optics. "They look pretty nice to me," he said glancing down with a grin at the pair.
They glanced at each other, then frowned. "Fat lot of good you are."
Springer grinned as Drift snorted. The big white mech sat down across from them. "You can talk to me. My hearing is great."
They looked at each other, then the big mech. "Young people these orns go out in public and have no concern about anyone else. They just want to make noise and be stupid," one said glaring at the younglings.
Drift looked at them and they got quieter. "Youth. They don't think some times. I bet you were a bandit when you were younger."
The old mechs looked at each other, then at him. "Who have you been talking to?" one of them asked with a wary optic.
Springer snorted as the train stopped at Metroplex District Station #2. The old mechs got up and walked off as Springer held the door for them. When they were off, he let go of the button waving as the two turned to watch the train leave. When it did, both mechs turned to look at the younglings. They looked at Springer and Drift sheepishly, then the two mechs focused on the one they knew.
"Hi, Sadee," Springer said as Drift grinned.
A tiny femme with a lot of talent and 'tude looked at them both with a weak smile and a slight wave of her servo. They all got off at the next stop.
-0-At an apartment in Terra
He saw the light blinking and opened the message. He grinned slightly and turned to his bond who was getting ready to go to recharge. "I have a message from the Patent Office, Tril."
Tril paused and turned. "What does it say, Fen?"
"I got the job," he said looking at his bond with great satisfaction.
-0-On a job site in the distance
They walked the high steel, their peds magnetizing to the structure as they guided new girders in. They were incredibly indestructible. The type of steel they maneuvered had been used on their home world and it took direct hits and intense fire to bring down the buildings. Some of them had been very old but were as sound as the day they were constructed.
They were in a housing district in a satellite city yet to be designated. Aerie Hill had been named by Starscream. It reflected the structure of the land and the purpose for which it had been build. Sound Cybertronian thinking. Autobot City was self explanatory. Terra had been named for their allies, the Terrans of Terra who called themselves humans. Their Terra, their Earth was a bright star in their night sky and it twinkled over them as they worked.
The city was working on expedited plans to meet the coming torrent. They had limited housing available right now but more was coming on line soon. Towers, some of them connected now with bridges at a level created for public space in the buildings added something of Cybertron to the new constructions. Residents could go between buildings in the new system without going outside. The sky bridges would be enclosed with transparent steel to allow views of the vast plain and industrial region beyond.
The night wore on as the mechs pulled steel and welded it into place. They would frame five towers at a time, then move on to the next as crews came behind them to add their piece of the puzzle. Still other crews would follow until each set of towers was completed. By the time the next group came there would be enough housing for immediate occupation for a colony-wide population planned to reach two million. In buildings to be constructed when the housing numbers were secured, commercial space, amenities and public buildings would rise as well to meet the needs of the residents. Until then, they would have to take subways or drive to Terra or Autobot City to get groceries or services.
None of them would care about the inconvenience.
-0-In the Bosom of Love
"And tomorrow's weather will be the same as today. The sandstorms that usually follow the season are now under control. Sciences representative spokesmech Beachcomber talked to Jacx today." The scene cut to the lab at the top of the Educational Tower. Beachcomber sat at a counter with scientific equipment on it, a spectacular view of the air field and Aerie Hill behind him.
"Beachcomber, you have been part of the team that has been working to bring the sandstorms under control for the past two Martian years. What can you tell us about it and the press release earlier today by Perceptor that they were under control?"
Beachcomber nodded. "I have been part of the study we have made since arriving on Mars. I handled the geological side of the data gathering. What we had to do was understand the relationship of the upper atmosphere and the land surface with all the temperature fluctuations. Wind funnels would form and gather sand, carrying it along until they ran out of energy. Then the funnel would collapse and the storm would subside. However, we found evidence that on occasion the funnels would grow greatly and combine shrouding the entire planet in a massive dust storm that could last for several decaorns. What we had to do was study the patterns of the upper atmosphere, detect what conditions had to be available for funnels to form and build counter measures. The interesting thing about this is we have found an easy way to create atmosphere here on Mars that would if carried to the furthest degree would make it possible for humans to live without environmental gear. It is byproduct of our efforts with the storms."
"Terraforming?" Jacx asked.
Beachcomber nodded. "There are a number of problems that would have to be solved to make that leap. First of all, the inner core temperature of Mars is much cooler than Earth so that would have to be compensated for. We would have to bring the atmosphere up a great degree to make enough oxygen for humans to be comfortable. There would be a mass melting of the ice packs at the poles which would flood the ancient seas that still can be seen here. We would have a lot of factors to weigh and balance to make a terraform that would change this from a relatively dead planet to one that could support life. It is an interesting academic exercise."
"The Hu An are terraforming their habitat. There were large shipments of plants and trees sent to them from Earth. They have been working in their sealed greenhouses to replicate their home world environment through genetically engineering those plants."
Beachcomber nodded. "The Hu An are extraordinary scientists when it comes to terraforming. They always recreate their favored living conditions wherever they are. When in captivity, it wasn't possible. But they can teach all of us a lot with their advanced techniques and skills."
"What is the likelihood that we will have a sandstorm now, Beachcomber? Will the big ones be a thing of the past or will we be dealing with small ones that never mass up?"
"We won't be dealing with sandstorms again," Beachcomber said. "We have the technology in place to prevent them from happening. The ecosystem here doesn't depend on them for positive necessary effects. They are just the fall out of a famished planet. We can prevent them from happening with what we have in place. The system is delivered from space and monitors the conditions of the entire planet constantly. It was a massive effort by a lot of mechs and femmes. I am proud to contribute to it myself."
"Thank you, Beachcomber and the team that has made spring, summer and fall a lot better around here," Jacx said with a grin. "Back to the studio," he said.
The scene switched and Lim-lee appeared on the screen. "Thank you, Jacx. "In other news, the Office of the Prime has released the figures of the last migration which brings the population of our colony nearly to one and a half million individuals." Lim-lee continued as Ratchet and Ironhide rounded up the hoodlums, bussed the rooms and tucked everyone in their beds. Praxus serenaded them as they tucked him in until they gave him his bear. He loved on it and turned on his side snuggling as he settled for recharge.
Sunspot and Spot were already in bed, their berth room immaculate.
"You could give youngling lessons, Sunny Bunny," Ratchet said kissing Sunspot's helm. He petted Spot, then moved so Ironhide could as well. "Go to recharge, sport," Ironhide said.
"I will. Are we going anywhere this weekend?" he asked with a smile.
"I hear that the pool is the place to be," Ratchet said with a smile.
Sunspot smiled. "Can I bring Spot?" he asked as the big dog lay down nearly on top of him. He chuckled and moved to make room for both of them.
"I'll find out," Ironhide said nodding. "Service animals get to go places."
Sunspot nodded. "I love you," he said to both of them as he turned and spooned behind Spot.
"We love you too, sparkling," Ratchet said as they turned and walked out. Crossing the hallway, they peered into Orion's room. He was still trying to gather his toys into the box. Turning to see them, he paused with a block in both servos. Smiling enormously, he waited. Ironhide obliged and helped him, then he tucked the little bot into his berth. Handing him the preferred dollies of the night, they kissed him and tip-toed out. He settled and went to recharge.
The little mech loved his big boy bed.
Walking out, pausing to look at Hero as she sat in Ironhide's chair, the remote in her servos, they grinned. "We were watching the news, Hero," Ironhide said as he picked up his daughter.
"You put her to bed and I'll park Prowler," Ratchet said as he walked to the window. The infant was sound asleep so Ratchet took the bouncy chair and all to Prowler's room at the end of the hallway.
Ironhide picked up Hero and looked at her. "I love you. I don't want you to be afraid. There isn't a force in the universe that would keep me from coming to find you. You and your brothers, your old ada and our family have saved my life. I have something to slag the 'Con's for besides anger." He kissed his daughter and she hugged his face as tightly as she could. He looked at her, sniffed her and grinned. "Old mech can really crank out the good ones," he said as he turned and carried his princess to her room.
Tomorrow would come but that was later.
-0-TBC
04-29-2013