The Diego Diaries: Onward Ho (314) OOPSIE! I posted the wrong part. Here we go... :D
-0-Out there in a Decepticon battle group
They flew onward following a series of calls. One of them was from Prime. It was the oldest. The next was one with Prime and Starscream. That one had lead to a lot of discussion among bots on the ships. Then there was one from Paragon. That one was the most discussed of all. All of the officers had gone to the main ship to review the data and decide how they would proceed. The images of Autobot City were much debated especially the football games which they had seen in full broadcast. They were apparently real. For an outpost to have amenities like that especially with the population they had to support was mind boggling. They considered the muddled picture before them and flew ever onward heading toward a system on the outer arm of the galaxy, one they would never have journeyed toward but for the messages.
-0-On the site
Jetta and Payload along with Bulkhead watched the steel going up the side of another tower in the fifth unnamed housing development slash city on their master plans. Behind them rising into the sunlight, windows glittering were Autobut City and Terra. They were well into the construction of three more, each of them spokes off the hub of Terra. They were going to be satellites of that satellite, habitations with amenities and businesses, medical facilities and governmental as well as educational towers. Another school would be founded here inside work station #4 where they stood talking, one for younglings, some of which would be shifted from the original school now called Public School #1, Autobot City Youngling Intermediate Day School. The one at Terra was Public School #2, Autobot City Sparkling Day School. They were being supplemented with this new facility, Public School #3, Autobot City Youngling Day School. This one would in the end hold all of those younglings as the Intermediate need had grown. They along with the cities would be supported by the underground train system and new roads that were still required paving yet. "That tower is nearly finished and we can diversify the construction teams around the others," Jetta said pointing out a tall habitation tower that was getting the finishing touches. "We have ten at final stages with 15 more to go. I am very happy about this, gentlemen."
Bulkhead grinned. "We're ahead of schedule and on track to have this city and the next one ready for the migration coming."
"Good. It's still only echoes but it appears to be a big one," Jetta said. He grinned and looked at the two big bots. "A little birdie told me." Striker, a Seeker liaison official between the Planning Commission and the city management just smiled.
-0-In Prime's Office
"That is the plan anyway, son."
Optimus looked at his genitors with emotional optics. "I think that is a wonderful plan, Ada. You and Atar need to do what you feel the urge to do."
"Well, we have a lot of catching up to do and Ravel said that he would be happy to have us help him at the store when things get busy as well. We can be a resource in the family too," Tagg said nodding.
They looked at their son searching his face for approval as they waited. They had discussed their situation and obligation to the city and their son for some time together, finally broaching the subject with Ravel and Tie Down. They had dinner together and figured out what to do, both sets of genitors feeling the burn themselves. Now they hesitantly broached the subject with their son in his big shiny office.
"You do know don't you," Optimus began in a gentle voice, "that you don't have to ever work again. If you want to do other things, learning and the rest you can. You can volunteer or do things you always dreamed of doing."
"That would be fine for hobbies, son, but we have a responsibility to our city and to you, to support all of it with our efforts," Kestrel replied, nodding his helm as he watched his son with anxious optics.
"I think your plan is outstanding," Optimus said nodding back. "I think it makes me terribly happy to know that you are getting to do things that you always wanted but never could."
They relaxed and smiled. "We want to be useful and help," Tagg said nodding. "We talked to the Adult Education Center and they are ready to help us."
"They are so nice over there, Orion. I think this will take some time. Both of us have to catch up but we will be ready to begin as soon as we can," Kestrel said.
"Take your time," Optimus said with a smile. "We do number about 2 million now. We have a lot of support for those of you taking this path."
"Well, we will do our best," Tagg said firmly.
"I know you will," Optimus said sitting back in his chair, a look of pride and love on his face. "You do know that the Adult Education Center holds graduations just like the University."
They glanced at each other, then their son. "We didn't know," they said.
Optimus grinned. "Count on it."
-0-A little while later
Two bots stood in the doorway, new datapads in servo. The room held a number of individuals who looked as uncomfortable as they did. A friendly bot in the corridor patted Kestrel on the back. "Let's go inside shall we?" he said cheerfully.
Kestrel and Tagg looked at him, then nodded moving inside to sit side-by-side at a table. Others entered and one joined them, a youngling with unease writ large on his face. At the front of the room, a friendly cheerful bot stood. "Thank you for coming. I want to ask your names to make sure all of you are here, then we will begin. By the time you finish this course the University will be your best friend." He picked up a datapad. "Armature?"
A bot answered.
"Genovese?"
A Seeker femme answered.
"Kestrel?"
He glanced at Tagg, then the teacher. "Here."
"Tagg?" he asked as the afternoon rolled on.
-0-Fenix
He sat at his desk in the cramped corner of the office that Caro ruled with a sweet attentive servo. He was vetting a number of contracts for various green technology ventures on Earth. They were good contracts that made a lot of money for the Nation even as the cost to those who wanted to use them was small. What they lost in point of sale was made up for in volume. His brain told him why. Earth was in dire need of alternatives and there was great demand. Yet, some part of him felt they were getting low balled even though Caro assured him they were on track.
"We know the Earth has great need and no one should be denied things just because they can't afford them, Fenix. We even do installment payments for things that people buy to improve their lot, low small payments so they can have the same opportunities as everyone else. We also work through foundations set up that give technology and grants to allow low income individuals to get things to help improve their lives even if they can't pay. Its the way we roll. Until all are one."
Fenix signed off on the last one, then rose walking to the door where Caro sat chatting with Warren Roberts via conference call. Rapping on the doorjamb, he smiled. "Lunch time. I'll be back."
"Thank you, Fenix," Caro said looking toward the door with a smile. He sat in his office, a very comfortable place filled with work and pictures of his family.
Fenix nodded and turned walking through the cramped quarters toward the door. In three orns, they would be in one of the new cities in new offices at the top of the building that would share schools, government offices and the medical center for the new site. It would be great. He would have an office of his own and windows that could see forever. It would be a vast improvement over what he had now. Taking a pause outside, he turned and walked toward the Cultural Center and Club Hoyle. His bond was going to be there and so would others in the Iacon Order leadership. Lunch would be a good strategy time for all he thought as he disappeared into the crowded streets.
-0-At the Sparkling Day School, Terra
Neo felt Ratchet before he appeared in the doorway, the sensation of being scanned touching her neural nets. Ratchet appeared and stepped inside walking to where Neo sat in a rocker by the window. Laying on her shoulder, Praxus sniffled. Ratchet paused and looked at his son, the infant unaware that he was there yet. "What happened?" he asked.
"Poor baby. He fell of the couch on his helm. The school medic looked him over and found nothing but I felt I should call you to come," Neo said as Ratchet took Praxus. He looked at Ratchet, then burst into tears wailing loudly. Ratchet settled him against his shoulder patting his tiny aft. "Poor sweetie."
"There's nothing wrong but a sore head," Ratchet said with relief. "Poor pup. I think I'll take him with me if there isn't anything big going on right now."
"No," Neo said rising. She squeezed his tiny ped. "He can go if you want him. I'll check him out."
"Thank you, Neo," Ratchet said. They chatted a bit, then Ratchet turned and walked out. The ride down to the lobby and the short jaunt to the door through staff and friends who chatted was accomplished finally. Ratchet stood outside watching the locals go about their business as the sun overhead continued on its journey. He patted Praxus who looked at him with sad optics from the middle of his little bunny hat. He wore his matching sweater and looked impossibly cute to Ratchet. "Come on, baby. Let's just walk around and look at things. I haven't had a chance to really explore Terra yet."
Praxus whimpered, then cuddled up to Ratchet as the warmth he sent began to gather on his ada's shoulder. Ratchet turned and walked down the street pausing at the intersection. Down to the right on Main Street were businesses and restaurants. He turned and ambled along looking at the windows as he went. He saw one across the way and crossed the street against traffic pausing before it.
It was an Art Guild affiliated business, one that produced art and other important things for Cybertronian tastes. It was called Full Circle and bore the symbol of the Circle of Light in the corner of the main window which was filled with samples of their wares. He entered and paused looking around the large shop that had a traditional Cybertronian hand loom in the back where a bot was working. Shelves and aisles bore objects any Cybertronian would know, books and different things that signified all sorts of aspects of their cultural and religious life.
He walked to the far wall to go up and down the aisles but paused, caught by the tapestries hanging on the wall. He had seen them in museums and high caste stores on Cybertron and he was aware that Prowl had one that was an heirloom, saved during the Fall. This one was made in shades of blue, from a luminous dark to a reflective shimmering light. On the surface woven into the fabric were images of the pantheon superimposed over an overall image of Cybertron itself, placed upon it like numbers on a clock face. The main image of course was Primus, his golden armor shining luminously as he looked out with a calm expression of confidence.
The images held famous quotations attributed to Primus that were woven in gold thread here and there. It was incredibly beautiful and held Ratchet's attention. He felt rather than saw someone at his side. Glancing left, he paused. "Hi."
A Seeker femme who wore the double gold bands of Circle of Light around her forearm smiled back. "Hi. Can I help you or are you just looking?"
"Both I think," Ratchet said with a grin. "I love this tapestry."
"It is beautiful. I am thinking that it belongs to you."
Ratchet paused, then looked down. "Its handmade."
The femme nodded. "It is. That tapestry was begun elsewhere and finished here. They take about ten years to make by their makers because they are made by hand one by one."
"I can't take it," Ratchet said glancing at it in wonder. Then he glanced at the femme. "Can I?" he asked with a grin. "They were always out of reach of mechs like me."
"That was wrong. They belong to all of us, our pantheon. This work was seeking the family it will belong to. You came and saw it so it is yours. I will get it ready for you," she said reaching up to take the big image down. She turned and walked to a table carefully rolling it into a tube before slipping it inside another, sealing it with a cap. She turned and walked back to Ratchet handing it to him. "This is a beautiful object. I hope it brings you happiness."
"It already has," Ratchet said nodding. "Thank you so much. I will put this in a place of honor in our home."
She nodded back. "You are welcome."
They chatted a moment, then Ratchet stepped out heading for the street again. "Well, this is a good orn, Praxus. How do you feel?" The infant was sagging into a light recharge in the company of his ada so they turned together and headed onward to the subway station nearby. Going down, they disappeared as they made their way to Ironhide.
She watched him go, then turned to the wall and its empty spot. Reaching for another laying on a display table nearby, she hung it up and stepped back to look. Smiling, she turned and walked back to the loom at the end of the big room sitting to begin once again on the tapestry she was weaving. Nearby, working on a copper plate with quotations from The Chronicles, another artist was hard at it.
-0-A bit later
He walked into the hub under Metroplex, one that took care of the armaments of the bachelor soldiers who still lived in the barracks under that big construction. Standing at the door of the gunnery station, Ironhide was talking to the depot master. Pausing, he looked over his shoulder to see Ratchet walking to him with his son. "What's up? What's little mech doing playing hooky?" he asked with a smirk.
"Little mech fell off the couch and bumped his noggin. I thought he needed to hang out with us," Ratchet said as Ironhide reached for the baby.
That big bot sniffed the half groggy infant, then looked at Ratchet with alarm. "He's hurt? Should he recharge?"
"He's alright. He has a sore helm but he's fine," Ratchet replied.
Ironhide tucked the baby into his arm, then looked at Ratchet. "What's that?" he asked looking down at the big tube in Ratchet's servo.
Ratchet smiled. "Come over here and I'll show you," he said as he turned and walked to a table nearby. They followed.
-0-TBC
05-26-13 NOTE: Happy Memorial Day weekend to all in the USA who celebrates it. It is a day set aside to think about those who are not among us and remember their lives.
Shout out to Elita-2, MegatronOwesMeMoney, Kami Count D, Kaekokat, Phoenyx Starr, Maraluch, Lockdownthegunner, optimusprime101, Cry4Me, Magebreaker, Skyenhamarisa, whackedgourd, panthothenate and everyone else who reads this story. You are my heroes.