« How is this place so huge ! » Ricci exclaimed, moving to stand a little further out into the empty parking lot.
Lennox chuckled : « Well.. It wasn't built specifically to accomodate our big friends, but it was evacuated for them. It's one of the largest un-assigned bases we've got. Well… Previously un-assigned. Obviously, now : It's got a very detailed purpose. »
« How do you keep from getting lost ? » Laurelin said, almost as stunned as her friend. Though, her time with Optimus had clearly influenced how she handled dealing with things that were overwhelmingly... large.
« Practice. » Lennox chirped.
« Maps and phone GPS. Lot of GPS. » Epps grumbled, from beside the girls. « I still get freakin' lost even with my phone locator's on. »
« So, as far as your workload goes : Are you familliar with Microsoft Office Suites ? Excel, Word, etc ? » Lennox pressed glancing down at a clipboard, he was attempting to carry in a nonchalant way.
« I wouldn't say I'm an expert, but I'm pretty well versed. » Ricci said proudly.
« Whatever I don't know, I can pick up pretty quick. » Laurelin added. « I'm tech-savvyish. And, anything I can't get : I'm sure Ricci can teach me. » Laurelin playfully smacked her friend in the arm.
« Righ. Well... You'll be doing mostly data entry work. I'm not gonna lie : It can get pretty dull. But, it pays well. » Lennox explained. « From time to time : We'll need you to foot certain phone calls, maybe also take some dictation and write a few e-mails. We'll make sure you know the answers to any questions that would pop up in these situations, before we give you the reins. So, don't worry. »
« I haven't worried about anything since we got here. » Ricci said with a grin. « I admit I was reluctant to come here at first, but... Wow ! I'm glad Laurelin dragged me into this. »
« So are we. » Epps said quickly. « Our wives are getting fed-up with getting called in here every few days to do this shit. None of us – army types – know the first thing about proper data entry. I think Lennox's wife threatened to kill him if he touched her list, after the last time she was in to work on it. »
Lennox nodded sheepishly.
« You – Ladies – have any questions before Epps and I get back to work ? »
Ricci and Laurelin exchanged looks. They both shrugged.
« No, we don't. You – Guys – have been super helpful. Thank you. » Laurelin offered, grinning ear-to-ear.
The girls bid the men farewell and retreated to their rooms.
Laurelin – who had unpacked exactly nothing – was invited to have dinner on Ricci's side.
The girls spent diner prep laughing about old memories, playing a board game that neither of them really understood and discussing what freedom would come along with their new jobs.
Ricci thanked Laurelin again and agai,n for convincing her to pack up and move out to which Laurelin replied she was only doing her duty as a best friend.
Following diner : Ricci said she was ready to shower off the smell of army-men and hours in the hot sun.
Laurelin thanked her friend for diner and stepped outside, to breathe in the slightly cooler night air.
She let her eyes wander up to the setting sun.
Ribbons of pink and blue met over purple clouds.
She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the wall behind her. She lowered her gaze to the roof of the hangar, just about a mile in front of her. She could see movement inside, through the windows but could not make out which Cybertronian it was. A soft smile set upon her lips and refused to move, as she watched the movement and let her mind wander.
Optimus exited the hangar with a grumble, in Ironhide's direction.
They would continue their argument late. For now, the Prime was in no mood to deal with such child-like behavior.
As he stepped into the changing light of Earth's rotation : He immediately turned his head towards Laurelin's home. He was surprised to find her standing outside and looking in his direction. He offered a small, shy wave and started walking towards her. He took care to keep his steps slow and purposeful – though he wanted to run towards her – so as not to knock her or anything else over on his way. « I heard from Lennox that you and Ricci enjoyed your time on the base today. He told me you're both excited to begin work on Monday. » Optimus said, as he approached.
« Oh yes, we are ! Lennox and Epps are incredibly nice and very accomodating. They answered all our questions and let us know exactly what's going to be expected of us. It's... amazing, breathtaking. And… I owe it all to you. » Laurelin took a few steps forward and smiled up at Optimus.
Optimus felt his chest cavity shudder at Laurelin's smile. His words from the previous night to Ratchet came flooding back. He glanced away from her, and then back. « Would you... like to take a walk ? » He asked unsurely. He held out one hand, to indicate the direction in which they'd be walking and then the other, to indicate he intended to sit her on his shoulder.
« I... Yes ! I would like that very much. » Laurelin had to try hard not to scream her answer, in excitement. She waited, as Optimus lowered his hand then, carefully climbed into his palm. She held on and shifted, as he lifted his hand to his shoulder. She carefully climbed out and took a suprisingly comfortable seat along the wires and cables in his shoulder. She let out a small shout, as he began moving and had to shift to stay balanced.
« I apologize. » Optimus said with a slight chuckle. « Are you settled ? »
« Yes, I am now. It just took me a second. » Laurelin grinned.
« Tell me about what Lennox is going to have you do. I admit I have not discussed it at length with him » Optimus requested, as he walked quietly.
« Well… We'll essentially be handling data entry. Transfering things from one place to the next putting it all into various codes, various systems and computer programs. I think we'll also be taking phone calls. He said something about answering e-mails, too. But, I'm not sure what kind or what they'll be about. Probably all the information and data we'll be transcribing. He also mentioned dicatation which – hopefully – Ricci will be good at, because I hate dictation. »
« Hmm… Lennox is a kind man. I think that if you explain to him that you are uncomfortable with that portion of your job, he will not hesitate to see to it that you are in charge of little to none of that workload. »
« Yeah... Like I said : He's been incredibly accomodating. Anything we've asked for, he's gotten or promised to get. I'm flabbergasted at his generosity. »
« NEST takes care of its own, Laurelin. We are in a dangerous place, in a dangerous situation… It is good to have friends – loyal friends – and Lennox knows that. He will do his best to keep you both perfectly happy. »
Laurelin smiled and put a hand on Optimus' neck. « You're better at that, keeping me happy… But, let's not tell Lennox. »
« Certainly. » Optimus whispered with a soft chuckle.
Optimus led them through the base, through different ins and outs that Lennox had showed her.
They discussed family and old friends, no longer with them. They talked about societies, what it was like on their respective planets. They talked about popular social gatherings and ceremonies with special significants. They chatted about marriage, about courting and about all the ways two souls could express their love for each other from gifts to performances, to special words and ceremonies. It was a talk both of them took to heart, softly wishing they could express these things to each other.
Two hours came and went.
The base was now quite dark.
Optimus crouched down to set Laurelin on the ground, outside her room.
Laurelin frowned, as her feet touched the asphalt. She stretched, sorry for the loss of contact with Optimus. She turned to face him and smiled.
He returned the expression tenfold.
It was a strange, soft and knowing look exchanged between them. It was as if deeper things had been silently said. It was as if the conversation had been full of coded words, that built a world between just the two of them. They were starting down a new road together, now. The knew one else would understand, but that didn't scare them.
« Thank you. » Laurelin said quietly. « That was a lovely night. » She laughed and tucked her hair behind her ears.
« Your company is my pleasure. » Optimus responded, touching his chest. At the same time : He wondered to himself what kind of flowers Laurelin liked. She had told him Earth women often received flowers, as a gift, from their male partner.
Laurelin glanced over her shoulder at her door and then, back to Optimus. She frowned. « Why is it so much harder to leave you now that you're so close ? » She finally said quietly, not daring to meet his eyes. « I thought it would be easier… »
« I know. » Optimus related with a soft sigh. « It's as if bringing you here has only made the spaces between us more agonizing. I... apologize. I wish it was easier for us to part. » He frowned.
« It's not your fault. I think we both thought it would be easier. We were both fooled, huh ? » Laurelin chuckled again, glad to see the smile return to Optimus' face.
« And, as always : I am not far. If things are unbearable and you need only to seek me out : It won't take me hours anymore to arrive at your door. I can see you every morning and every evening now, without having to juggle time between you and my friends here. We should focus on that. »
Laurelin nodded. She tried to keep the tears in her eyes at bay. She felt foolish to feel the urge to cy because she was saying goodnight. She heard Optimus nod and stand.
« Dream well, Laurelin. » Optimus said, turning to leave.
« Goodnight, Optimus. »
