The Diego Diaries: Titan 11 (547) edited
-0-Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars later that afternoon
Prime sat at the table waiting for everyone to come. They would go over the progress of refit for the titans and rebuild for the cities. He was tired but relieved. Two of the four were on their new sites, Max was back at his own. That alone relieved his processor greatly. What Ratchet could tell them about Acroplex and Metrotitan would take care of most of the rest.
Of course, there was also the Insecticon problem on Earth. That one. There was also the news of Paragon and Cyclonus arranging a meet up out in the local area. Then there was the shutdown of the colony due to the destruction of infrastructure. The schedules to put Christmas Surprise decorations in place around the colony, stalled commerce, construction and production as well as the upcoming Championship of the world were in limbo as well.
As they gathered, he relaxed sipping his drink as everyone settled. Ratchet hurried into the room sitting beside Ironhide. The door closed and they began.
"I want an overview of things and any new information about events that we all need to know," Prime said nodding to Prowl.
"We need to know the status of Metrobase and Metrocon. Also, what is the outline for Acroplex and Metrotitan, Ratchet? That is, if you have that information yet?" Prowl asked.
Ratchet nodded. "I have done the major systems refinements for Base and Con. There is a lot of work to be done on both of them but they can function and even host residents though I will hold off until both structures are brought up to at least 85% optimal over all. As for Ace, he can sit tomorrow. We are going to work on his armor today and into tomorrow. When we get the primers and additives painted on we can go from there. We're going to go over every square inch of all of them to update, tweak, fix and replace things to make them 100% optimal. They deserve it, they have suffered so much. I wish you could know how happy they are to be here. Base hasn't had anyone to talk to since the Fall."
A pause to ponder the enormity of that atrocity settled, then Ratchet shifted in his seat. "They are ready to serve. They are especially fascinated by Christmas Surprise."
Jetta grinned. "We will put them ahead on the list for public works."
Ratchet smiled. "They won't complain. Right now, they are feeling better, lighter in spirit and format and I hope in about three decaorns of methodical work they will be optimal. As for Tyke … he's a slagging mess. The virus is losing the war but its making things hard. There are flashes of his former self coming through that are then overtaken by the virus. Wheeljack and Perceptor told me that they should have it eradicated by evening."
"Permanently?" Prowl asked.
Ratchet nodded. "Straxus was a fragger's fragger but he wasn't the tech that those two are. They will defeat it, eradicate it out of the system and keep its script. They want to work on a quicker solution so they'll store it in the encryption files in a lock modality against the possibility of ever seeing the slagger again."
"Good. Teletraan would have a fit if it ever got it," Ironhide said with a nod.
"We would be so fragged if that ever happened," Ratchet said. "The system where they store this stuff is stand alone. No way for any of it to get out and its security system would paralyze it if it tried," Ratchet replied. "Tyke will take a massive rebuild but it won't disturb his personality. I want him towed to the shipyard so that we can help him in ship mode until he's stock again. The equipment there can handle large sections of heavy things like his armor. I would also suggest that we begin a production facility for large formats now that we have 13 Supreme and Metro class formers. That doesn't count the Trigger and other large vessels in our fleet. We need a place to quickly make all of the things they require internally as well as externally without shutting down plants that have other purposes."
"Good idea," Prime said nodding to Jetta.
"We will get on it. The expansion of the industrial park is in the works anyway, a project scheduled to begin after we finish the Basilica and the foundations of all seven of the new cities in the new construction. It will be a priority. We also I might remind you are expanding nearly everything out there anyway."
"I saw that," Prowl said. "To keep up with demand?"
Jetta nodded. "We are supporting over 3,700,000 individuals. That means all manner of demand for all manner of things. We also have nearly zero unemployment so expanding production capabilities will not only keep that down but be ready to host any new refugee waves that are coming." He glanced at Prowl. "There are more coming, right?"
Prowl nodded, glancing at Prime. Prime sat a moment thinking, then spoke. "We have a massive wave coming. I am thinking that they are being organized out there and brought off their worlds to come here by the Knights. I had a vision," he said.
Every optic in the room focused on Prime. Visions were part of his partnership with the Matrix but not all that common. They were usually personal, seldom mentioned but as real as a phone call in their intent and content.
"I had a vision watching Base and Con walk to their sites. It wasn't long nor was it especially informational. I just saw masses of individuals leaving their worlds. Their ships bore the markings of the Knights of Cybertron. They were coming this way," Prime said. "All of them were intent to come here."
"Dai Atlas spent an inordinate amount of time organizing in the galaxy to get our people to safety," Drift said. "You must be seeing that."
Prime nodded. "It could be so. There are shadows of refugees coming on the farthest reaches of our sensor net and they are now coming from another direction."
"Before, they were gathered and herded together, all of them hurried along by the Empire. Now a possibly large force are coming from another direction entirely. What it means is unclear at this time," Prowl said. "We can however assume that in all this time a lot of our people wandered far afield with and without our military to help and protect them."
It was quiet a moment, then Jetta grinned. "We'll work faster then."
Everyone relaxed, the moment broken. "What is the picture for transportation, Jetta?" Optimus asked.
"The highways are being dug out and smoothed. Tonight, we intend to repave. Some of them had to be completely rebuilt, refilled with the proper mix of gravel and dirt, then roller pressed and pounded hard to a flat surface. We can resurface, paint in the lines and directions and have it ready for tomorrow morning's traffic complete with the lights and direction towers. Our formulation dries hard on contact with the air. The undergrounds will take longer, perhaps an orn later but they are being deconstructed and repaired. Train tracks have to be replaced in a couple of places and a pair of stations … Metro Substation Hub 1 by Crystal City and Temple Station are damaged. They are priority projects and should be online with the trains running immediately after."
"Good," Optimus said. He glanced at Barron. "What is the situation regarding our numerous outstanding problems? It seems things are quiet for the moment."
Barron nodded. "It would seem so, Optimus. Apparently the death of Commotion has cast a pall over that segment of the community. There is going to be a remembrance gathering at the Rookery Restaurant in the Hope Tower in Tyger Pax in three orns. Then the funeral will commence afterward at the Basilica with the viewing to last the full orn on the platform. Gravity will be due for release in two orns. Right now, the case is still murky so we have to release him pending further investigation. Sio is not going to be released any time soon. You can speak to that more fully, Jari," he said glancing at Jarro.
Jarro nodded. "Sio is very skilled at playing the game, Prime. He is trying to gin the system for release. He is aware that he will stand trial for his behavior during the initial trial as well as the first offense at Club Cybertron but he seems convinced that he can tweak the outcome of that too. He believes supervision or something is in the cards. I find him highly dangerous to general release. He is clearly anti-social, sly, narcissistic, boldly lacking in empathy and filled with entitlement. I am clear myself that he is a danger to the community. Although our reports are still being finalized I will testify to that end."
"Are we capable of handling long term processor conditions or do you need some facility that we don't have right now to aid you. I am assuming as all of us are that the hope is he will be rehabilitated," Optimus asked.
"Some of us," Ironhide muttered.
Jarro grinned. He turned to Prime. "Our facilities are limited right now. He is in the psych wing of the hospital which will suffice for now but we could use a residential and out-patient treatment center that is stand alone somewhere else. It will be more conducive to our work and needs if we could design a facility that can do both."
Prime turned to Jetta who nodded. "Where is a good spot for that? I am assuming a quiet but secure place with access to the hospital perhaps will be required, one that is both homey and high tech for safety."
"We have space near the Temple," Jetta said musing on the request. "That entire area along the northwestern side of the Temple Precinct and Metroplex District is being redesigned and platted so that we can allow future expansion of the Temple grounds as well as facilities for governmental and community activities like the Autobot Sports Center. I can have it surveyed and we can draw up designs. When those are finalized, we can show them to you for approval."
Prime nodded. "I am sure that the need for proper processor health and social services is only going to grow. It should also be understood that we are going to be getting more and more individuals like Gravity and Sio as the refugees come back. The level of violence and crime here is pretty miraculous considering how many live here and how hard their lives were before."
"Thank you, sir. We will be happy to expand our programs to train more counselors and doctors for processor health. Vin has been a real help in that department with his family counseling clinic. We want both out and in patient opportunities so that if the court mandates, we can follow through thoroughly and decently."
Prime nodded. "And it is greatly appreciated. Please express my compliments to your department, Jarro."
Jarro nodded his helm respectfully. "I will do so happily."
They discussed a number of things, some went, others came, then they were caught up. Prime sat back with a grin. "Good of the order?" he asked with a slight hopeful grin.
-0-At Hangar Central
They walked out standing in the sunshine for a moment, happy to be in the pink again as it were. They were completely and lovingly restored by Roadie and his crew. Their armor sparkled, their systems were 100% optimal. All was good. They turned and nodded, then transformed. Driving off slowly, they began the traverse back to their hosts, the giant cities glistening in the distance, Metrobase and Metrocon. A small group were still being worked on inside, the symbionts of Acroplex. The symbionts of Metrotitan were still in security lock up at the hospital in Metroplex District. They would not be touched until the virus in their host was destroyed.
Ten symbiont mechanisms drove off across the Military Airfield following two Watch officers detailed to get them home safely. Roadie watched them disappear, then turned to go back inside the maintenance hangar that was his to command now that he had just been promoted. So far, so good he considered as he walked inside, his processor on the problems at servo already.
-0-At the meeting
"LOSER! JUST LIKE IACON!"
"WHINER! WAIT UNTIL MY YOUNGLINGS KICK YOUR TEAM'S AFT!"
-0-Sio
He sat in the recreation room of the hospital watching through the doors as personnel for the facility walked about on their duties. He was bored out of his skull and the afternoon sessions with Jarro were getting more and more difficult to finesse. He had done it before when the courts presumed to make him get counseling. It was either that or the public scandal of worse punishment. Even the caste to which he belonged had limits on their tolerance.
He sat back, a number of datapads on the table before him filled with books, the Autobot City Daily News and games. He wasn't particularly interested in anything at the moment but that could change. He had asked to speak to Default and Kale but neither was allowed. His atar would get him out of this, Fenix and his atar. It was only a matter of maintaining the facade of halting but growing awareness of his 'poor behavior' and a slowly building up of 'remorse for it' and 'understanding of what others felt'. When they completely bought the story, he would be out.
He couldn't wait. He had a dozen things in mind to do when he did. It was going to be epic.
-0-Meeting
"LITTLE GIRL!"
"WHAT?! *WHO* IS THE LITTLE FEMME? I don't have to stoop that low to make a point, LOSER!"
Ratchet leaned in toward Prowl. The winger sat with crossed arms and a look of pure malicious superiority on his handsome face. "Femme. Little girlie. You are such a fraud. You are a total fraud, whiner."
Maniacal laughter cut that short as Optimus threw back his helm. He laughed heartily, then looked at both. "You're both femmes."
"WHAT!? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT ME!" Prowl asked with big surprise overtaking his buttoned down prim propriety.
On the job anyway.
"How can he? He's the Prime. He can't tell a lie," Ratchet said with a smug grin. "Femme."
Prowl leaned forward, his wings arching up his back. Tapping his index digit on the table, he grinned smugly. "He said you were a femme too."
"This is delightful. For such a small percentage of our total population, we seem to have a surplus of little femmes on our committee," Starscream said with a smirk.
"Did you notice that too?" the Great Elder said with a smile. "I find it rather curious too."
Ratchet grinned at both of them. "Touche, PROWLER!"
"He's insulting you too, LOSER!" Prowl said as he sat back folding his arms over his chassis. He smirked.
Ratchet did too. Then he slid his ped under Prowl's chair. He would treasure the look of surprise as Prowl fell backwards on his aft.
So would Optimus Prime. He would just never say so.
-0-TBC December 9, 2013