The Diego Diaries: Home Front (DD4 36)
-0-Gathering in the Ops Center the next morning, Senior Autobots, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars
"The babies were wonderful," Alor said as he slipped Prowler out of Ironhide's arm with Prowl-esque suavity.
"They are if you can hold on to them long enough," Ironhide said with a smirk.
"Waa," Alor said with a smug grin. "The show was wonderful. I saw infants I didn't know we had." He turned toward Prowl who was checking a datapad for some minutiae that no one could imagine but him. "Rambler seems a shy little mech."
Prowl glanced up and nodded. "He still feels shy when he has to give speeches and present findings. We hope he becomes more confident over time."
"And proximity to the Matrix," Blackjack opined. "That heals a multitude of ills."
"It does," Prowl said with a nod.
The corridor to the office complex opened as Optimus stepped out walking to where they stood. "I think its time to warn the others out there. If Soundwave sent him via space bridge they may already know." He looked at Smokescreen sitting at communications for Blaster who was doing school genitor service. "Hook me up with Slacker, Smokescreen."
The big mech nodded, then turned to make it so. The sound of static filled the room, then Slacker appeared on the screens overhead. "Good morning, your Eminence. What brings you to me this early morn?" he asked with his usual snark.
"I am here, Slacker to warn you about a mech that we picked up on long range sensors. He appeared out of a space bridge and is headed your way," Optimus said with his usual calm.
"Who would that be I might ask?" Slacker replied.
"Black Shadow," Prime replied smoothly.
It was silent a moment, then Slacker nodded. "The mass murderer, Black Shadow. The Phase Sixer, Black Shadow."
Prime nodded. "That one."
Slacker considered that a moment, then nodded. "What do you mean by telling me? I would think you would be pleased if he eradicated us?"
"There are a number of reasons," Prime answered. "First and foremost, you are Cybertronian and therefore my responsibility whether you acknowledge that or not. Secondly, you do not seem like a total loser."
Ratchet turned his helm to glance at Alor who was grinning broadly in spite of himself at Prime's uncharacteristic vernacular. He turned back to watch Slacker who grinned slightly. "With endorsements like that its no wonder I'm such a success."
Prime considered him. "You are in a position not of your own choosing. You have talents and you had a life that fulfilled you once. You can come here and try again, Slacker. There is room for anyone who wants to rebuild a life for themselves."
"I had a life, Prime. I had a family and a business. I had what I needed and wanted. I have to say," he said sitting back to relax more in his chair. "I am a bit disappointed in you, Optimus. I trusted that you would save us and keep us safe but it didn't happen. I am just a little bit put out over that given the loss of my entire family and our life's work."
"You think you're the only one?" Wheeljack asked. "I had a big extended family but I don't know where they are. They might have died in the destruction of Polyhex for all I know or they're making their way here. They could be slaves mining for the Empire. Everyone here has lost everyone and everything. Come here and start over. We all did. The AllSpark is here and so are our people. Come here in peace and you will be welcome."
Slacker stared at Wheeljack, then sat forward, his expression serious and concerned. "We can't hold off a phase sixer. You know that. You could have let him thrash us, maybe kick us into line or bury us. I suppose I can see your quality that you warned us but I don't have just disgruntled businessmen in my group. I have actual piratical criminals and ex-'Cons. They might have other ideas about coming in from the cold."
Prime nodded. "Ask them. Let me speak to them. Do what you think is right. You are welcome here after taking the oath and learning the freedom and opportunity that you never truly had on Cybertron. We … I do not give up even one spark without a fight, Slacker. Come home."
He stared at Prime silently, intensely, then sat back again. "Give me a joor." Then the screen went blank.
"What is your opinion?" Prime asked as he turned to the group.
"You have him hooked. We shall see if you reel him in," Blackjack said. The others nodded.
"Put me through to Cyclonus, Smokescreen," Prime said as Blaster appeared in the doorway and began to cross the room. He paused beside Ironhide to wait.
The screen was blank for a moment, then Cyclonus appeared, his expression as enigmatic as ever. "Prime."
"Cyclonus," Prime replied. "I am making a courtesy call to you. Our sensors picked up a Cybertronian signature coming out of a space bridge 53 light years from your base. It is heading in your direction. Our computers searched the transponder registration and found that it was Black Shadow."
Cyclonus stared at Prime, then sat back nodding slightly. "It makes sense. If Soundwave is in charge, he would want to clean up loose ends before Megatron returns. That will take time and talents. Sending a phase sixer to do that is logical."
"He's coming to either kill you or kick you into line," Ironhide said. "There are no other options."
Cyclonus nodded. "We are tracking him now. He appeared on our sensors two joors ago our space time."
"What do you plan to do? Fight him or fall back?" Prime asked.
Cyclonus considered that. "We are dug in very deeply. We are many guns. We expect that if he comes we will fight him."
"We are prepared to render assistance, Cyclonus," Prime said to everyone's internal surprise. They stood around Prime without expression otherwise.
"I am not surprised at your offer but at the moment it is not necessary," Cyclonus said. He considered Prime. "I loathe Megatron. He has rendered our home world to ashes. Our people are scattered to the wind and we are in peril of disappearing from the universe. I came home shortly before coming here in force. What I saw hurt me deeply."
Prime nodded. "Join me to help end this war. Together, we can rebuild Cybertron and gather our people up."
"Do not misunderstand me, Prime. Because I hate Megatron doesn't mean that I stand with you. You were the enemy for a long time."
"Because Megatron was killing our people and destroying our world. He is the villain, not Prime. His cruelty has nearly driven us into extinction. He would not have warned you of Black Shadow. Prime did because you are Cybertronian. Give up and come in from the cold. At least, utilize our resources when Black Shadow comes. He killed three billion individuals for shanix. What do you matter to him?" Alor said.
Cyclonus looked at Alor for a moment. "I have always loved your music. I sing it myself. I would come in for your company alone but I am not convinced yet."
"Then let us help you defend against that sixer," Alor said with emphasis.
"I will consider it," he said. "Cyclonus out."
The screen went dead.
Ratchet vented an irritated sigh. "That mech has always driven me to the brink."
Prime nodded. "He has gotten the message. Let it percolate. Right now, my focus is on Slacker. Open a channel to the other groups out there that we have tracked, Blaster. Audio, not video."
Blaster walked to the console and took his seat from Smokescreen who walked over to stand beside a peeved Perceptor. "You're on, Optimus."
"This is Optimus Prime. I am making an all call to those of you within the sound of my voice that a dangerous foe has been detected in this sector. A scan of the transponder registry database has identified the intruder as Black Shadow of the Warrior Elite Strike Team, the Phase Sixers. It would appear that from his trajectory and the possibility of arriving here by space bridge, he was dispatched by either Soundwave or Megatron to bring Decepticon order, discipline and likely death to those of you in this sector.
"Since he came out of nowhere indicating a space bridge launch, he has not taken a trajectory toward our colony since we spotted him. He was not sent here for us. He was sent for you. We are prepared to offer you sanctuary if you are prepared to follow the simple rules for surrender … come disarmed, be prepared to be boarded at contact, disable and lock away both your ship and personal arms and prepare to take an oath to the Matrix. If you do and break it, the Matrix will exact whatever it feels necessary to achieve balance."
"I am prepared to assist you against this mech if you call for help but I will also come armed to protect myself if I do. I can summon Metro-formers and Guardian Supremes in numbers as well as Seekers and ground troops. Consider your situation. Black Shadow is responsible for many deaths including three billion individuals on Rigel IV. Choose well. Your life may be the price you pay for deciding the wrong way. Optimus Prime out."
They stood silently a moment, then Ratchet turned to Ironhide. "Aren't you supposed to be in school with sparkling?"
Everyone looked at Ironhide who glared back at Ratchet. "You don't think I can do it."
"Not if you're truant, old mech," Ratchet said moving closer with a bull dog expression of challenge on his normally sweet face.
"I have half a joor before he's due, Ratchet. IF I COULD GET HIM BACK FROM SOME MECHS I COULD DO MY JOB BETTER!" Ironhide snorted as he cast a gimlet optic at his ada.
Alor grinned. "I'll go with you and take a bridge to Gliese after you put him in. I want to make sure you two don't go off riding trains and eating candy. This sparkling is a bad influence on you, Ironhide." He turned to Optimus and Blackjack who were grinning at his audacity. "Are we square here, Optimus?"
He nodded. "All we can do is put the proposition. I only really had hopes for Slacker." As he spoke a signal reached Ops Center.
Blaster turned to Prime. "Slacker is back. Put him through?"
Prime nodded as the screen came to life with the pensive expression of Slacker. "Slacker."
"Prime," he replied with a nod. "I put your proposition to my mechs and all of them but a handful want to leave and come to your colony."
"What about you?" Prime asked.
"I am not sold just yet. I am going to see Cyclonus but my ships will be leaving shortly to go to your colony. Accept them. They're good. Mostly." He grinned. "I might be back. I might not. See ya."
The screen went dead.
"Well," Wheeljack drawled, "I didn't expect that."
"Me neither." Prime turned to Blaster. "Extend our reach to their territory. I want to know what's going on. Combine with sensors to make it possible to watch what happens." He turned to Prowl. "Put together striker teams with the fast Wrecker shuttles and have the Supremes on standby. We will launch through bridges if it looks like its taking a bad turn."
"It would be in our benefit if it did," Blackjack said as the alpha team began to coordinate their efforts.
"Perhaps but it would not be us," Optimus said.
"And that is why he's Prime and you aren't, 'Jack," Alor said with a grin as he shifted Prowler into his arms to leave. Glancing at Ironhide with a grin, he turned to go. "Come with me, Ironhide. This infant needs to go to school."
With a scowl and a grump, Ironhide turned to follow and they bantered all the way out. The others watched, then grinned at each other. "I can't imagine why Slacker wouldn't want to come here to live myself," Wheeljack said with a chuckle.
No one disagreed with him.
-0-At Sciences later
Perceptor paused, then turned to Wheeljack just as he was going to enter his office. "I am sorry, Wheeljack about your family. If there ever is one of them found somewhere, I will volunteer to go get them myself."
Wheeljack grinned, then squeezed Perceptor's arm. "Thank you, Perceptor."
"I was a Wrecker you know. I mean what I say," the tall distinguished scholar from a cloistered background said with feeling.
"I tell everyone you were," Wheeljack said with a grin. "It is the surprises, Percy that are the spice of life."
Perceptor stared at Wheeljack a moment, then nodded. "They are, Only One."
-0-TBC May 24, 2014 edited July 1, 2014