Chapter 518: Chapter 518
The Diego Diaries: Grounder 1 (518) edited
-0-On the ground
Ultra Magnus stood before 1,500 anxious weary mechs and femmes, a scatter here and there of sparklings and older infants rounding out the group. The sun was high overhead as the late afternoon began to make its presence known. It was beginning to heat up as the crowds gathered to help the newbies.
"I am Ultra Magnus," he said as Elita and Arcee stopped beside him to listen. "I manage the administration of the colony and function as the Prime's designated manager of all the cities here. I am here to welcome you to the Primal colony of Mars and to give you a brief overview of what this place is and what is expected of you as citizens.
"You will go through a procedure where you give information and get it. The intake behind me will help you with your housing, employment and educational needs. You need to give as much information as you can so that anyone already here will be able to find you on the Refugee lists if you are relatives or friends as well as allowing the city to accommodate you more properly. Special adaptions are available as needed.
"First, last and foremost … the caste system is outlawed here. It is banished by Primal Decree. To incite the System's return or to encourage it is considered treason and will be dealt with through arrest and trial according to Cybertronian laws. Since the caste system brought about our present condition both directly and indirectly, it is forbidden." It was silent and tense, the sound of the light breeze actually audible in the near vacuum of the moment.
"You will be given housing and employment opportunities. What you want to do and what you can do can be met here. If you desire training for other opportunities, they exist for everyone. We have apprenticeship, adult education and tech training programs open to all. You can attend schools and University regardless of your educational standing. Everyone is eligible for adult classes that will assist you to advance in your trade or profession or to have the opportunity to try something else. University is universal."
He paused, his cool gaze moving over the crowd. There was discontent on the left in the smaller group, intense relief and delight on the right in the larger one.
"Infants are required to attend school. It is mandatory. For those who wish to keep their infants at home for a while, you may. Your infant will be entered into the system and the school outreach programs will help you at home. All infants attend one of three school divisions. The smallest attend the Sparkling Day School, older younglings the Youngling Day with the oldest pre-sub adults attending Youngling Intermediate. All sub adults or those children of any age who have not had education can get it here. Do not be afraid, shy or lack confidence. An educated populace in a free one."
Helms nodded and a murmur greeted that as Magnus glanced over the crowd again. The high castes were quiet and more tense.
"We have many amenities. The two stadiums," he said nodding to the northwest, "are both public and school arenas. We have both infant football Cybertronian-style and adult. The championship of Mars will be decided in a few orns," he said to universal delight. Leave it to sports to cross Cybertronians over he thought to himself.
"We have our own information and entertainment mechanisms as well as informational. Our colony is finishing up the construction of a public library," he said turning to nod at a glassed construction south of the Fortress. "It is public and will be available for everyone. If you have books, films or artifacts of cultural significance and importance, please see the Community Bulletin Board, the first image that comes onto your monitors when you turn them on and consider sharing. All personal items will be returned after duplicated and placed in the museum and library."
"There's a museum here?" someone on Insert's side called out.
"We believe in the amenities," Magnus said to general amusement. He soldiered on. "We have a mausoleum, a Primal Basilica in works, as well as a sports center for swimming, games and other entertainments. We have business centers with all manner and type of offering. There are book stores, theaters, pharmacies, private doctors and groceries. All of the businesses are aware that new refugees are here so they will be attuned to help you with the new paradigm.
"The allies from Earth, the next planet over are resident here and the alliance with them is of the highest possible importance to us and our continued security. I cannot stress that enough. I will ask everyone of you to put your proximity sensors on and leave them that way as long as you live here. Stepping on them would be disastrous. You will find them buzzing around on segways or walking among us. They know we use sensors so they expect us to know they are there. Be sure you do. If you look over there," he said nodding to the stack of shipping containers nearby covered with enviro-suit enclosed humans, "you will see them. A number of them through friendship and loyalty to our unity have been made Cybertronian citizens by the Prime."
Many were the exchanged glances but compliance was made with the request even for the infants.
"You will be housed in what is being called the Tri-Cities. There are a number of autonomous habitations here, this one being the first, Autobot City. It began underground, then after the Festival Of Primus and revelations to the Prime, we began to build upward. You will hear it referred to as The City sometimes. It is this one that is being discussed. The names of the other cities are," he said turning to point out their glittering locations around the plain, "Terra, Luna, Crystal City, Pax and south of us are Tyger Pax, Centurian and Kalis. Your likely destination will be Kalis and Centurian. The first group of cities and many place names were chosen from the schools after holding contests. The Tri-Cities were named by a vote of the entire citizenry. We have seven new cities being constructed for future influxes that will be named the same way. Democracy is a good thing and much prized here," he said with a caustic optic to a couple of mechs.
"Is that the Temple?" a voice called out.
"Yes," Magnus said. "The temple is restored and there is a contingent of Priests including Armour, Chevron and Lauren who will help you. Processor Health can as well. All medical treatments and programs are open to everyone. They are without personal cost. This is a cash free economy and no one is to be neglected over whether they can afford to pay anything. You work, you eat. If you are elderly, injured, disabled, need to stay at home with infants or are sparked, you will be given that opportunity to recover, take the time or stay at home. Our elder community is very active and organized as are those who are disabled. We will protect and support everyone but criminals, con men, troublemakers, liars, goof offs and the lazy. If you are fit and not fully involved in family care or education, you will work."
"Then we can assume our careers here," Electra said. Insert shot him a hard look, then waited for Magnus.
"There are a lot of jobs, apprenticeships and professions here. Whether there is an opening in your particular one is to be discovered. We have had mechs who feel they are entitled to slip into their former careers here even though others occupy them now. That is not going to be honored." Magnus looked at Electra pointedly.
"That seems to be a waste of talent, Magnus. Some of us were the top of our professions in the past," Electra interjected.
"The past. I would suggest you meditate upon it, then join us here in the present. No one will be moved away to make room for another. We are a meritocracy," Magnus said as he noticed Fenix walk to stand beside Electra.
"This is outrageous," Electra said glancing at Fenix. "Fenix. I don't believe my optics."
"Electra," Fenix said gripping Electra's servo. "Nice to see you again."
"We're hearing outrageous things about this colony. Everyone goes to school. We can't have our careers. What is the meaning of this?" he asked as others around him nodded worriedly.
"We can talk later. Right now, you need to go to your homes and rest," Fenix said soothingly. "We have mechs here to help you through the process."
"We will not countenance trouble," Magnus said. "Our army and Home Guard protect this colony. They also do service in our policing forces. The Day and Night Watch will be out in force to assist you in finding your way around but they will also be on the look out for disturbances. Act up on the System or provoke trouble because of caste and you will be brigged."
"You assume we will be the ones breaking the law," Electra said.
"So far that is how it has turned out," Magnus replied coldly. "There is much more to tell about the city but that will do for now. You have been welcomed and you have been warned. It's up to you. There are now three and a half million citizens here. None of them miss the System. It would be stupid and dangerous for you to foment its return." He looked at all of them a moment. "Any questions?"
"Not to you," someone called out from Electra's side.
Magnus glared at that area of the mass, then looked at Electra. "You will wait." He looked at Insert. "Please take your people forward, Insert."
"Why?" Electra asked. The others with him glared at Magnus.
"Because I say so," Magnus said icily, his towering format quashing further comment.
Everyone stood together as the larger group walked forward to be greeted by Prime and his party. When they were busy with intake, then and only then did Magnus let the other group go forward.
-0-Nearby
"I think they're haggling over privilege." -Ratchet
"Let 'em. Fraggers." -Ironhide.
"Check the slagger to fragger ratio... there are more possibles than impossibles." -Springer
"You're a poet, Springer." -Ratchet
"I am aren't I." -Springer, big grin
"You are, son." -Ratchet, bigger grin
Everyone turned to gawk including Prime. Springer blinked. Drift smirked. Ironhide flinched. Ratchet was affirmed. All optics returned to the front as the second group approached, Ultra Magnus, Elita and Arcee bringing up the rear.
They paused before Prime, then the front row bowed to Prime. One of them stepped up, an older mech with an impeccable paint scheme. "Prime."
Optimus nodded. "Welcome."
"It hardly seems so. Your welcoming committee was less than kind," he said glancing back at Magnus.
"Ultra Magnus is an extraordinary officer and city manager. I could not function nor would this colony without his wise counsel," Prime countered evenly.
"It would seem that you have displayed a less than grateful manner yourself," Starscream ventured as he stared down at the bot.
That bot looked up at him with a frown. "I would hardly be detracted to be judged by you, Starscream. In a decent world you would be long gone to the Matrix," he replied.
"In a decent world you would be in prison to pay for the destruction of Cybertron. Megatron was a symptom. You and your caste beliefs were the disease. Consider practicing gratitude. It might make your presence here more bearable," Starscream said coldly.
Anyone else would have been smart enough to let it go but the mech in question, Eck was a former member of the staff that supported the Senate. He wasn't used to not arguing his point to his own satisfaction.
"You tried to kill all of us. You killed the Council of Ancients. You were Megatron's right servo mech. Who are you to rant against me and my efforts to help Cybertron reach its full potential?" Eck asked.
"He is my protege," another said. All optics turned to the terrifyingly dignified powerful intelligent figure of the Great Elder. "He is my protege and counsel. He is a Seeker of the Mountain Clan of Vos, my clan. I am the Great Elder of Seekerkin and a servant to the Prime of Cybertron. He has earned his stature through his service to his people and his kin. What have you done that has not benefited you and a handful of like minds first, then Cybertron last? Where were you when those of us with factions to lead and protect came forward to demand justice and opportunity for all? Our infants were hungry. Our people powerless and disenfranchised. You were warm, well and safe. We were not. We owe you nothing. You owe us obedience to the law and service to this colony. Perhaps in some distant vorn you will have paid the debt you owe to all of us."
Electra began to speak, then Fenix gripped his arm. "We are all very tired. Perhaps later we can talk about many things. Right now, I think we need to go forward into our new opportunity. Thank you, Elder and Prime." With effort, Fenix tugged Electra and the group moved, all of them making the mannerly bow before following.
When they were past, Starscream turned to Rainmaker. "You were too gentle, Elder. Give the word and they are mulched."
Rainmaker grinned. "Don't tempt me, Starscream."
The sound of more ships coming discontinued the conversation as everyone turned to begin the dance once more.
-0-TBC November 18, 2013