Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews. I have a friend who forwards emails and rule 280 is based on one about the value of timee-mail Cybertron style. The current story arc is ending shortly. My intended plot based on TF 3 will be its own fic, as about the time I create it the movie will be out next year and Director Bay will have changed everything. Another story arc is already in progress to replace it.
As for experts or advisors, it is not that they are all idiots. I have learned that by the time many people become an "expert" they quit listening to anyone else and tell you what to do without learning why, how or the normal of what is done. Regardless of the problems their new ways create. I have seen it in small two person businesses up to multi state corporations that change their practices based on outside advice then regret it. Onward to living and learning.
TR TR TR TR TR TR TR TR TR TRANSFORMERS
300. Do not automatically disregard a human advisor, politician, or expert because they are human. Even a sparkling can learn from them though the lesson is not always the one intended.
"I disagree," the human standing on his desk continued to argue. The fact the surface was the size of a small football field, or stood high in the air and made of a metal alloy not found on earth years before failed to daunt him. The heavyset young man blinked behind his thick eyeglasses and continued his side of the discussion. "You seem to lack the ability to think creatively, too much logic. These security measures are fine for your computing but on earth, dude! You really need to come up with the times! Think outside the box, or whatever you shift into. The military uses my start-up company to solve their problems. And now yours, how cool is that?"
Blue optics narrowed as energon flowed a little faster through his systems. The seasoned warrior and tactician contemplated a thousand ways to show the biological being on his desk unbreakable security measures and refrained. Instead, Prowl vented softly, tapping the security datapad sitting between them with a white armored finger. The touch was enough to make a sound without leaving the handprint impression he could have in its surface. "The term is transform and my alt mode is a law enforcement car, not a box. The Allspark cube resembles a box shape and is valuable second to our sparklings and your planet's continued existence. We would sacrifice it in an astro second if necessary. Barring that, we have sworn to protect it lest the Decepticons or rogue human agencies attempt to secure it. The implemented security measures cover physical, subspace, inter dimensional, and trans dimensional access. What is missing?"
"How about a small but intelligent being, like a human, ducking under your laser beams and grabbing it?" the man pointed at his own chest before grinning sheepishly, wiping at the jelly donut stain above the pocket.
"Covered by physical barriers of force field, 1126-bit key encryption on the files and an 87-character password. The infrared detection beams hover a mere .02354 of an inch apart and above the floor. They are for detection not injury or offlining. A dust mote, I believe the term, is detectable as it moves. "
"Impressive, to guard a sleeping metal cube. Okay, about the unexpected?"
"As in?" The tactician asked, his systems scanning the man's respiration, blood flow and increased mental neural patterning as he tried to create an answer. An internal comm line beeped. ::Yes Wheeljack?::
::Is he impressed yet with our work?:: Wheeljack sent, his mental tone excited.
::No. He demanded to view the Allspark to point out the flaws in our logic of securing it. I informed him if he could find a single flaw he imagines to exist, I would allow an in person visit to the Allspark. Until then, he has limited access to our technology and safety measures. To date, he has been argumentative, lecturing and unable to provide the requested flaw:: Prowl sent back, compressing the last hour of the conversation into a data packet.
::I thought you had the security expert and Prime the idiot Pentagon advisor?:: Wheeljack
::He is the security advisor:: Prowl vented softly, optics narrowing as the man slurped nosily on his iced coffee cup before dropping it to the desktop. White armored fingers precisely grabbed the empty container, moving it to the trash can under his desk.
::Whoops! Alarm sounding. Have to go, minor problem:: Wheeljack
::Which alarm and how minor?:: Prowl tilted his helm sideways, weighing using it as an excuse to leave the human talking to an empty room.
:: Antimatter containment is failing. Minor if the shielding cracks. Otherwise, you do not have to worry about filing my report. Neither of us will be here:: Wheeljack sent before closing the line. The human snapped his fingers, increased activity in his brain cortex clearly displaying to Prowl's sensors.
"Weather! Man, we got wildness on this planet. Ever thought of facing a hurricane, lightning, or giant sized hail?" The human began.
"The Allspark is secured stories underground beneath Hoover Dam. The same protections that guarded it before the Decepticons blew your power mains and unfroze Megatron," Prowl reminded.
"Okay, power failure? Happened before as you yourself just admitted," he countered.
"Sub nuclear reactor in the old manager's office, Autobot designed and built."
"Hopping through time?"
"Trans dimensional access of locked in molecular design on the surrounding force fields," he countered, knowing the man could not understand Wheeljack's' formulas or designs. 'Then again,' Prowl reasoned, 'Neither do I. Estimate 23% chance containment failure, 46% chance repeat occurrence in the next solar cycle. 100% peace if containment fails.'
::Problem handled. But I saw the twins heading towards the main hangar carrying boxes of supplies:: Wheeljack sent in a quick burst.
Prowl closed his optics, linking into the base security cameras. Searching , he found the footage, noting both Sunstreaker and Sideswipe avoiding the main cameras and their boxes were sealed, preventing a glimpse of the contents inside. His optics opened as sensors recognized the human tapping his foot followed by increased mental activity.
"Got it! Vampires?" he hissed, pretending to open his mouth and bite.
"Why would they want the Allspark? Useless as mechanical technology, they require fellow humans, such as yourself to survive," the mech reminded.
"Dude! I do not believe you are taking me seriously," the human scowled. His wrist beeped and he frowned at it before sighing dramatically. "Lunch time then my afternoon game shows are on." He continued talking the entire time Prowl lowered him to the floor, escorted him towards the base's main kitchen area until they stopped before the hangar doors.
"I need to talk to whoever is in command around here. And if the big guy is too busy, his assistant. Make that happen would you?" He stopped, wiping at the sweat on his brow. The tropical heat and distance began affecting him.
"I am second in command," Prowl stated, his wing doors straightening out fully as he stood fully upright.
"No wonder then! You are not the top gun of security but I ain't talking your boss," he gestured a swooshing go away motion. "I mean the big big bosses. Top couple of leaders of your group," raising his hand in an up and up height gesture.
"Prime is our highest rank and I am next in command. Stay here please, I have a situation I need to attend to," he instructed, wing doors dropping as red and yellow Lamborghini alt modes raced by.
Running, he cleared the short distance from the concrete to the road when the human scream had him turning. The man hung upside down, a metal chain wrapped around his legs from the main hangar door brace. Nearby the sparkling Ram sat on the ground, clapping his tiny hands at the man above him. His dark protoform disappeared in the shadow of his femme appearing out the main door. Her armored hands grabbed him instantly.
"Bad bot, wondering off like that," she crooned before tilting her head sideways to stare at human shape swinging back and forth. Reacting on maternal instinct, Chromia stepped back, her rifle falling into her hand from subspace as an orange blur ejected from beneath the beam to wrap around the swinging shape. Then four slots in the wall opened, spraying the human in bright orange foam.
"Shark repellent," Prowl realized before his blue optics snapped to the nearby lagoon then back to the hangar. The roof beam slid out, the end held in the grip of twin mini jets. Screaming, the man's vocals nearly drowned out the roar of the jets as they flew him over to the water.
:: Emergency ocean retrieval, main lagoon:: Prowl overrode the base frequency, attaching the coordinates. The jets eased down, lowering him to hover above the water before the chain clinked, releasing his body into the water. Seconds later, he bobbed to the surface, the orange life vest expanding to keep him afloat. Transformation sounds and chuckling behind his chassis confirmed Prowl's suspicions.
"I do not believe that was in the original designs," Prowl commented thoughtfully, turning to face the twins, as they exchanged a metal hand slap with each other.
"It wasn't. We uh, improved it. Can't be too careful around a sparkling. Anti- human grab and toss protection. And we know," Sideswipe vented.
"The way to the brig," Sunstreaker finished. The yellow mech's faceplates held a gleeful smile even as he shrugged his surrender.
"No," Prowl stated firmly, the barest twitch of his lip plates giving him away. Honking of air horns signaled the rescue boat reaching the lagoon edge at full speed.
"No? We do know the way to the brig," Sideswipe reminded.
"No, you are not required to go there," he said.
"Confined to med bay under arrest?" Sunstreaker guessed, exchanging a startled look with his twin.
"Not med bay," Prowl stated, optics distantly focused as the long metal hook grabbed the human in the water and up to the rescue boat 's side.
"House arrest in our quarters?" Sideswipe asked.
"No, not your quarters."
"Arrest in your quarters?" Sunstreaker said softly.
"NEVER!" Prowl yelled then locked down his emotions to face them. "The information, on our sparklings, the human was attempting to secure is protected from compromise, unauthorized disclosure, acquisition, access or other situations where unauthorized persons, such as him, could have access or potential access for unauthorized purposes. You demonstrated adequate safeguards that were...processing outside the box."
"We're not in trouble?" They asked at the same time, their vocal tone echoing their confusion.
"The measure did include administrative, technical and physical safeguards appropriate to the size and complexity of the nature and scope. Ironhide's suggestions were lethal and impractical. Your creative thinking is appreciated," he formed a rare smile on his lip plates. "Remove the upgrades then enjoy the afternoon. I'll be in my office, working on reports. I calculate a full joor before the man is released from the human med bay, to leave on the next plane available. Until I see him safely on board, the time is mine."
280. Do not let the length of our existence create a dismissal of small amounts of time. Humans live their moments within their short life spans in ways our race has forgotten. The war will end and we will have to adjust to a time of peace. We need to do more than exist until that event.
Prowl blinked as the e-mail message sound played from his office datapad. Raising an optic arch, he regarded the screen with mild amusement. "To my personal file and not me? Hmm, let me guess," he said, touching a button to pull its coding. "Has any bot not routed this one? Humans and their chain letters. Even Prime and Bumblebee added." He began scrolling through the letter.
To realize
The value of family,
Ask any bot
Who has lost them all to war - Bluestreak
To realize
The unending ache of the spark
Ask a brother
Who wars against his own brother – Optimus Prime
To realize
The value of a lifetime
Ask twins that are separated
Across space and time - Sideswipe
To realize
The value of 10,000 years,
Ask any bot
Who has searched for the Allspark - Ironhide
To realize
The value of 80 years
Ask any bot of
Friendship with a human – Bumblebee
To realize
The value of 18 years
Ask parents whose only
Son leaves for college – Ron & Judy Witwicky
To realize
The value of 4 years
Ask a graduate – Sam
To realize
The value of 2 years
Ask a couple that has broke up
Finally! I am not a bunny - Mikeala
To realize
The value of 1 year
Ask any student that partied instead of studying
And failed a final exam – Leo Spitz
To realize
The value of 1 month
Ask a NEST officer
About monthly reports – Major Lennox
To realize
The value of 5 days
Ask a femme
Who waits for her sparkling – Chromia
To realize
The value of 1 day
Ask a human and their Guardian
Who share time together - Annabelle
To realize
The value of 1 minute
Ask the difference between a great prank
And getting caught (again) – Sunstreaker
To realize
The value of 1 astro second
Ask of an experiment's success versus a
Second story lab fire – Wheeljack
Prowl added another stanza before sending it onward to Ultra Magnus.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with those you chose to be your family.
Story Arc – To find a Femme (pt 10)
European Countryside, modern day
Two minutes before the explosion
The Autobots rolled into the neighboring farm nearly silent, engines idle as they coasted forward. The nearby NATO installation appeared both visually and across a wide spectrum of careful scans. The red and blue flame decorated semi lead the way, followed by a black GMC top kick, a black and white patrol car, red and yellow twin Lamborghinis, and a white with green stripes race car.
"Cybertron presences confirmed within immediate area. At least two distinct signatures," Prowl relayed.
"Barricade!" Ironhide growled, rocking his alt mode on his axles.
"Unknown second signature," Prowl warned.
"Her name is Fracture, a Decepticon officer and dangerous. Do not underestimate her or the evil that surrounds her," Optimus stated. His Peterbilt truck alt mode glimmered in the sunlight, the red and blue flames mesmerizing.
"Did you?"
"No, though Megatron did. A night of pleasure shared left them vulnerable to an assassin's attack. Megatron saved Fracture taking an injury himself never knowing who hired the assassin. While recovering, he transferred to the ruins of Cobalt and returned to take control of the Decepticons, turning them into a fighting force. He left my brother and returned my enemy. That is for another time. We must discover if they tampered with the NATO installation. Communications can be very powerful," he said.
"Who did hire the assassin?" Ironhide asked.
"The Fallen. We believe he arranged for her to be there, knowing Megatron could not resist her. The attack was a test to see if he would fight or allow Fracture to offline to protect his own chassis in escape. Instead she became the first Decepticon femme command officer, blaming the ruling council for the attempt," Optimus answered.
"Mooooo," rang out, interrupting the conversation. Three black and white jersey cows plodded into view from the field path, their neck bells ringing. The lead cow mooed again before approaching closer to Prowl. Her muzzle dipped lower, sniffing over his hood.
"Please move back," Prowl asked politely. The cow ignored him, leaning down to grab a mouthful of grass by his bumper. Chewing, it dripped spit and grass pieces on his pristine hood. "Move or I will take appropriate action. " The cow continued chewing. Pulling a little more energon, Prowl routed the power to his simulated front headlights. "Say cheese," he quipped, flashing them in a sudden burst.
"MOOOOO!" Squealing, the cow kicked out with both back hooves before springing up and over Prowl's hood, landing with a solid thump on the gravel driveway. She lumbered a few steps forward to turn and look over her spotted shoulder and moo loudly.
"Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the Autobot," Ironhide quoted before snickering.
"Don't have a cow Prowler," Jazz quipped, rolling forward.
"It likes you, two of a kind. Black and white forever," Sideswipe teased, watching the four legged creature amble towards his twin's alt mode.
"Shoo! Go away!" The red Lamborghini ordered, rolling backwards. The cow lifted her tail and they all groaned, closing down auditory sensors. "Gross! That plop stinks!" Shaking itself, the cow munched her way across the grass, heading for the field.
"Explosives detected!" Ironhide yelled in warning before the world disappeared in a white flash and explosion of sounds. He felt his alt mode spinning through the air with the force of the blast, bouncing off a hard surface to strike a tree. Compensators flashed as systems fully charged. "Slagging pit spawned charges! I'm upside down!"
"Transform for battle!" Optimus ordered, parts shifting his semi into his bi pedal mode. Feet pads formed up to long blue legs and wheels, blue chassis topped by red-flamed broad split chest glass panels as parts rotated into his rounded helm and distinctive antenna sides. His silver battle mask engaged below blazing blue optics as he became the war leader Prime. "Report!"
"Not happy!" Ironhide growled, partially shifting on his back before falling over to complete his transform.
"Arrggh!" Sunstreaker transformed, both arms waving at the brown smears across his yellow chassis. "Get it off, get it off! Ewwww! I can't touch it!"
"Where's the cow?" Prowl glanced around, rubbing at the black paint groove across his side plating. A quick scan confirmed Ironhide's matching dent.
"Gone. It sprung the trap meant for us," Prime stated.
"Give you two guesses who processed it but you'll only need one," Ironhide vented.
"Fracture," Prowl answered.
"Her trademark. Sideswipe, Sunstreaker confirm the NATO detection systems. Jazz, link into the nearby satellite relays and find them. Prowl, Ironhide with me. We will hunt our foes. Weapons free, engage on sight. Transform!" Prime ordered.
To be continued...