Prowl
"I'm sorry you've had to go through life like that, Art. No one like you should know what that is like." -Prowl
Ch 3
000
The halls of A.G.C. were just as impressive as the walls outside and to be honest it had Artificer rather nervous. He wasn't use to this high horse kind of thing. It wasn't that he wasn't appreciative of it, far from it, this was just something completely new to him. His past working and even living conditions had never been this good. With just a slight polish Art was sure he could probably see his reflection in the shinny metal walls.
"How ya an the Praxian related kid?"
Artificer jumped again almost haven forgotten that Ironhide was walking just in front of him leading him to. . .where Art wasn't sure.
"W-we're not." He began looking straight head if not a little to the floor. "I'm not quite sure. . .we. . .we just met on the shuttle coming here."
The large mech glanced over his shoulder at the young mech and took in his expression, and stance. He was a timid thing that was for sure but what fascinated the older mech the most was the young mech's optics. It had been a really long time since he'd seen optics just like that boy's behind him had. The left was a glowing aqua blue while the other was a lustrous gold.
Turning his head back around watching where he was going Ironhide frowned as not so old memories floated back up from his processor. Frowning the old war vet mentally shook his head pushing those memories back down. His day had started out good and so far it still was, he wasn't going to let it end. Not now anyway.
"Well kid." Ironhide stated, "If he is ya friend, good for you, keep 'im close. A friend is a good thing to have."
Receavors fins spreading apart slightly on the sides of his head Art nodded in understanding taking in the older mech's words.
"I'll. . .I'll do that."
Ironhide hide a small smile that crept onto his faceplates.
"Well here we are."
Stopping just beside the black and red mech Artificer, once again, felt a slight ping of nervousness swell up inside of him not quite sure what to suspect next. Though he'd never been in a base like this, no, city/fortress he could tell that this sector he was in now was important. The security cameras were everywhere and the halls were spotless and had bulky, gun and electric staff wielding guards on duty.
And the doors, they were almost menacing though how they could be menacing, Art didn't know the only thing he knew was that they were. On another note they didn't have the most common touch access pads.
Artificer, always curious at some new gadget, any little device for that matter, watched Ironhide and what he did next.
From what the young mech could tell there was no security panel what so ever but as he looked closer there was a small five by five slightly lighter tented panel than the rest of the wall. Art blinked suddenly as a little circle just seemed to appear out of nowhere right in the middle of it. And on further inspection there was what looked like a little holo projector lens at its center. . .and it suddenly started glowing.
Very similar to your standard holo-vid screen that was used at desk terminals, a blue-green holo panel popped into existence and automatically fitted to the size of Ironhide's large black hand that was hovering just in front of him. After a flash—the device scanning Ironhide's hands faster than Art could follow it—disappeared along with the lens in the wall.
That was officially newest most fascinating thing Artificer had ever seen.
"Find it interesting do ya?"
Snapping back to reality Art looked up at Ironhide who was smiling down at him with an expression the younger couldn't quick identify. Finally after a moment what the bigger mech said registering with him; he blushed, fins sinking back.
Grinning sheepishly, "Y-yeah." He said, "I've never seen a security system like that. . .before."
Ironhide's chuckled as the door they'd been standing in front of slide open. "It's just been officially accepted and installed into parts of the city. So far it's only in the officer and other important sectors."
So engrossed in what the older mech was telling him Art hadn't really been paying attention where he was being led. It was fixing to come back and bit him in the aft though.
"It's a very great achievement from our science, engineering, and security teams here."
Snapping his head around to face the new voice and like that Art felt himself stall or at least something very close to it. At some point his receiver's fins had sunk back. There seating behind a large black desk with several piles of neatly stacked datapads and the like was the one mech Artificer would have never thought he'd meet, ever. And right now wished he hadn't met at least not right now.
'P-Prowl?!'
Second in command. Second only to the Prime. Tactician. Strategist.
Art forced himself almost painfully to relax just enough that he didn't completely look obvious, and like 'a stupid little youngling'. He hopped it worked. At least Ironhide didn't appear to notice.
"This is the younglin' I comm.ed ya about."
'When'd he do that?!'
Just like the little holo-cube projections (he'd been lucky to nab them too) seen of the second, Prowl was most defiantly from Praxus. But he didn't have that accent though. Maybe it didn't apply to all of them he thought. Even though Art had only spent a few moments with the black and white mech he could tell the files that he'd read on him where true. He was a stock demeanor, calm, and collected.
"Artificer correct."
He knew his name! Though the Autobot's second wasn't particularly known in any 'departments' Art preferred. The young mech highly respected him for what he did and held him in high regards. Artificer looked up toward Ironhide as the older mech put his large black hand on his shoulder.
"I'll leave ya in Prowl's capable hands. He'll get ya situated within the cities systems and get you into your own apartment. That sound good to ya?"
Art nodded meekly. The ivory mismatched opticed youngling couldn't really grasp what was happening to him around his processor though he completely understood at the same time. A few months ago he thought he'd never meet anyone from the Autobot's Prime's 'circle' yet he'd already met two. Both of which were really close to the Prime. And one was the said mech's right hand man. The other was basically Prime's self-appointed bodyguard at least that's what he presumed.
"Alright then," patting Art's shoulder "See ya around Prowl."
"Good day, Ironhide." He said briskly
Watching the large black and red mech leave the door sliding shoot behind him silently Artificer felt more exposed than he had ever been since getting here. Well considering it hadn't been that long Art thought it was rather pathetic but he couldn't help it, slag it! That's when an old memory showed its ugly face back in his processor again.
Thinking back to a certain time not to long ago back at his last moon post and when he was a newbie there. He'd been doing well so far until someone snuck up on him when he'd least excepted it and scared him half to death. That and making him successfully fry nearly a quarter of the generators in his sector, which successfully cut all power for nearly half an Earth week. He had to go up to his superior, humiliated, and explain what happened and take the big mech's verbal abuse without protest. That mech had been a mean glitch too and for all that he knew still was.
That was one good thing Art could think of that he was glad to be away from.
"Please have seat Artificer."
Art somehow stopped himself from jumping hearing the officer's voice break the silence of the room. Prowl was still seated behind his desk a faint smile on his light tented faceplate and was gesturing to the chairs positioned in front of his desk. Nodding his head he walked forward, slightly hesitantly and took one of the two offered seats.
Attentively Art watched Prowl lean over slightly probably going through one of his drawers in his desk. After a few moments of searching for something Prowl pulled out a thin black datapad with a laser pen clipped on to it.
"On this is a survey that will help me get a idea as to what your bested fitted for." Art leaned up coming out of his chair slightly to accept the thin black device from the second "While your felling that I'll quickly finish with what I was doing and I'll be right with you."
"O-okay."
Nodding his head lightly Prowl got back to doing what ever he was doing before the young mech and Ironhide arrived. Taking up the opportunity presented to him Art let his mismatched optics wonder for a moment curious as to what the Autobot second in command's office looked like.
It was large but not overly excessive Art guessed. He'd never actually seen a place like this let alone many offices. In his time those things he learned to try to avoid. To his right where selves starting midway up the wall and a few small file cabinets lining the lower half. The shelves were filled with all sorts of items bust mostly datapads, old records, datatracks, old holo scroll maps, and a lot of other things.
There were even a few little statues.
To his left was more bare. Seating against the wall taking up much of it was a couch, Art guessed, and was finally cushioned. Seating father back was another chair. There was a holographic picture just over the couch along with a canvas just beside it. Other than that the room was simple but still elegant to Art who was still newly exposed to these kinds of conditions.
Haven taken a few moments to look around Artificer turned back to the task at hand. Clicking on the black datapad Art gave it a few minutes; its screen a deep glowing blue this was a nice and not mentioning new. The ones back at his last moon station where old, beaten, warn, and well, just old. Nice improvement all the same even though it still worked basically the same it was just overly glorified. Picking up the pen he got to work, so to speak.
Before the young ivory mech knew it he'd finished his 'survey' and was giving the black datapad back to the tactician. Art didn't really remember exactly when his nerves finally started to calm around Prowl but when he did realized he was thankful for it.
Taking the datapad Prowl pulled a small black cord with a square plug on the end from a small space on the desk top, its cord running somewhere inside the desk. Taking the black datapad and plugging it to the cord a series of blue neon lights lit up down its side and sequence.
While he worked Prowl talked attempting to help the young mech's nerves a bit. He could tell even from where he sat that the ivory youngling was tense and uncomfortable, but that was understandable. He hadn't even been here a day yet for that matter.
"I believe more proper introductions are in order." Prowl began gathering the younglings attention. "Though I'm sure you already know my names Prowl. And yours is Artificer correct?" placing the laser pen in the drawer to his right but not looking away from the other
"Yes sir. Art works to if you'd prefer something simpler." Keeping his voice low and at a respectable tone
Prowl faltered, just slightly, for a moment and was glad that he had something else partially occupying his attention at the moment. Quickly regaining his poseur before his slip was noticed Prowl mentally shook his head and looked back up at the mechling.
"So Art from my understanding, back at your last post what did you do there?"
Glancing down at his hands that were lying on his white thighs he pondered on that question for a moment gathering his thoughts wondering how to answer.
"Mostly maintenance on a variety of things." He began "I helped keep the security devices in check and helped maintain the generators. Besides that if they needed extra hands or other workers where hurt or something like that I'd go into the mines and help man the transports that got the ore from one location to the next."
Prowl listened intently at what the young mech had to say without missing a beat. He was rather impressed for a young 'bot like this one was allowed to work with security. But that wasn't what got him though. Though it was likely this mechling probably only had one more upgrade to go or as equally likely not. He was still just a youngling. Prowl wasn't biased and let experience speak for its self.
Artificer didn't look all that strong honestly but a bit of training could be a good cure for that.
"Odd job for a mech young as you." Prowl stated looking the ivory mechling's mismatched optics "Protocol here, though I'm not saying everywhere, permits one to be a certain age to work in such. . .extreme conditions."
Artificer just shrugged a shoulder looking some where off of to his right, "Well unfortunately not there. But then again I really didn't have a choice in the matter." He stated as if I really just didn't bother him at all
Prowl cocked his head to the side curiosity peaked. "How so?"
He didn't reply at first and seemed more interested on his hands that where lying on his lap. Prowl wondered if he shouldn't have probed where he'd just went but there was no turning back now. While he waited in those sort moments in silence he wondered what this young mech had actually been throw in his short life span.
"I don't know if is obvious or not but I didn't grow up like. . .other Autobot younglings." He didn't know what to say or how he should have phrased it what he wanted to say. Here he chose to leave out the memories, which were still rather painful too remember about his only home he ever really remembered.
"I've lived on my own for at least three quarters of my life." He began again Prowl earnestly listening in "I've learned to how to work, and get by on what I had, accept what I had, was able to get, and well, deal with it and didn't complain."
Seating inside his chest cavity inside its chamber the Autobot's second spark's cringed in empathy and sadness. Outwardly Prowl didn't show most of anything on his faceplate keeping his cool, calm demeanor. He was sure there was a frown there and his sadness playing in his optics but he tied not to let the young mech across from him see.
He'd had his far share in his past of harsh times so Prowl sympathized.
Sighing, "I'm sorry you've had to go through life like that, Art. No one like you should know what that is like."
It was Art's turn to feel his spark squeeze slightly. It wasn't every day he got a comment like that sent to him. Empathy. It had been a long time and it felt good though for someone else it wouldn't have been as significant but it meant a lot to the young 'bot.
"I suppose." He shrugged "But I've grew use to it a long time ago."
"Still--" just about the time Prowl opened his mouth to speak further a beep sounded somewhere in his office. And nearly a second later Art turned to the sound of the door sliding open to reveal a mech with a visor over his optics and a smile on his face.
Since he wasn't facing the Autobot second Artificer didn't see the scowl suddenly spread across his faceplate.
000
A/N:
Yes I use the word 'couch', it sounds odd (to me) for a TF story but I couldn't think of anything else. So deal with it, 'kay. If anyone would like to see a sketch of Ironhide drop me a note. I'll get Current up sometime.
Review please!
Transformers and all related char(s) belong to HasTak and associated co.
Except for Artificer(Art), Current(DC) and the plot, which are mine.
Names of/and char(s) are entirely coincidental