The Diego Diaries: Stuff To Do (dd8 135)
=0=Later
"They came in clouds, millions of them and then flew away," Ratchet said as he peered at the others in the monitor of the science shuttle. "They came and sort of announced themselves, or maybe they were watching to see what we'd do. They have a very irritating vocal pattern and in great numbers they can do damage with just that alone."
:What do you make of it, Lord Onyx?: Optimus asked.
"I do believe they want to put us all on notice and that they're working out their answer in a group way. It could take a while. I detected no danger from them, though I do believe they would do a lot of damage if they were so inclined. They aren't, fortunately. They are incredibly highly evolved and peaceful as such beings tend to be. I can't give you a timeline. I do find that linear time has no meaning to such beings, so they won't be on a schedule that we can divine."
:Very well. What about the other group?: Prime asked.
"We told them to start getting ready to bug out," Raptor said. "We have the humans doing the ground level work of messaging and taking inventory of the group and what we're going to need to get them and their stuff out of here when the time comes. I can tell you that they're ecstatic about leaving."
:Good. What about the group with Reset?:
"They number about 941. About half of them are sub adult or less. All of them are high caste and like any backwater area they've steeped themselves in their own venom. It might take a shooting or two to make this work. But have no fear," Jack said with a big grin. "Ultramus Prime is here. Right, Magnus?" he asked as he glanced over at a solemn appearing Magnus who was leaning against a counter with Arcee.
Arcee snickered.
Magnus rolled his optics.
Prime grinned at both. :Very well, then. Keep us posted and get everyone ready to leave. I want to take them out of there and alleviate the pain and discomfort for the local species as fast as possible:
"Gotcha," Ratchet said. "Hug everyone for me. Take pictures, especially of you and Ironhide, Optimus." He flashed Optimus his best smile.
With a snicker at both ends, the transmission ended. It was quiet a moment, then Jack stood. "How about some grub?"
Everyone was amenable for that but for Percy who was making a call to Wheeljack at Sciences. He would have new video of Resolve when he joined them for dinner after a short interlude and it would be MAGNIFICENT as ever.
Such a talented tiny microscope, Our Resolve.
=0=At camp
They sat in their chairs watching the youngsters hump their afts getting dinner and fake beer for the elders. It was comical to watch them grumble softly amongst themselves, the youngest ones as they worked out the food, then brought it to the circle. Even Red Wing, Devcon and Warlord waited for them to comply. They did with smirks and murmurs.
"I think I could get used to this," Ratchet said as he began to eat his dinner.
"Hey!"
Everyone looked down at a delegation of humans who were grinning upward at the group.
"What's up, shorties?" Jack asked.
"We have data for the other group. They've been hard at it getting things together. They're really glad they can bring their stuff. Some of its heirlooms from Cybertron and they hope they can get them to their last destination," Jessie Landon said.
"If all goes well, then we take it all. That includes the dead," Raptor said. "Any of those?"
"Nope," Will Lennox said. "What the hell are you eating?" He peered into Warlord's dish.
"Slurg," he said with a grin. Leaning forward with his dish which held a viscous food substance that wiggled like really ugly jello … think tuna jello … he held it out to the humans. "Want a bite?"
"Uh, fuck no, Warlord," Corey McFarlane said.
"Fragger. You don't know what's good for you," he said taking a big bite.
(Cue gagging and groaning noises from the tiny people.)
"Get some food, slaggers. Who knows what's coming and if it does you might not eat for a while. Stick some Oreos in your pockets or something," Ratchet said.
"What if the settlers want to shoot it out?" Trevor Smith asked as he stood beside his good friend, Rick Harris. "What do you want us to do?"
"I want you to run like frag down that pathway to the shuttles and get on board. We're going to defend your retreat because we've set up a defense here all around the area. If they try to come for us we're going to know and be ready. If we say run you do it without questions. Someone will cover you and grab anyone who's too slow. Make sure you have pants on." Raptor grinned. "I hear that's a thing."
Devcon laughed. "You had to be there. I will say that Drift isn't stinting in the places where you shouldn't. According to Ratchet's little videos on you know what."
The humans who knew snickered and the ones who didn't looked at everyone questioningly.
"I'll tell you the story later," Will said. "Let's eat."
The humans wandered off to get dinner.
Dev grinned. "That was a good story. But I think you had to have been there to get all the nuances. Ask Drift sometime for the nuances."
"So …," Devcon began. "Is that what its called now?"
Huge rude laughter greeted that.
=0=Far away about the same timeline
"Where to now?" Springer asked as they stepped out of the diner. Breakfast was over and the night shift put to bed.
"We have to go to the clinic to get Tell's baseline updated. Every three orns, remember?" Drift asked as they walked to the Metro nearby.
"Good thing you keep the calendar," Springer said as they walked down the stairs to the platform. "Among other things."
"Among everything, don't you mean?" Drift asked as a train slid into the station.
They would board it, go to the clinic, have the baseline taken, find out Tell was a winner and still champion, then head for the office to see if they needed to do anything.
If Drift needed to do anything, that is.
It would be another mellow day for the three in their home colony.
=0=Meanwhile, far away
The argument blew up between guards on both sides of the dividing line. Sunstreaker was nose-to-nose with a big mech and three others nearby who had guns and apparently no sense. Arguing over an imaginary line designed to keep both sides apart was a strange way to keep the peace.
Heavy treads were heard as both sides paused to watch the staggeringly big frame and ice cold optics of Ultra Magnus aka Ultramus Prime walk onto the scene followed by Arcee, Elita and Chromia. Standing nearby getting the executive version of what was happening from Sandstorm, Maelstrom smirked as he flipped a blade in his servo.
Chromia would take care of everything.
"What is going on here?" Magnus asked as he paused beside Sunstreaker.
Sunny who was no small bit of baggage himself looked puny next to the giant size and intimidating bulk of Magnus. "These slaggers want a fight. They said we have to move back."
Magnus glanced at the mech before him, a big one but not in his league. "We have set up our perimeter and will enforce it. You will stand down and retreat."
"And if I don't?" the mech said rather boldly. He bore the tattoos of the Capital City branch of the Elite Guard with flashes that stated he was an officer who provided security to VIP's. It would be interesting to test how much of a soldier he actually was.
Or not.
"Then I will punt you into orbit," Magnus said as he stepped a footfall closer.
"Reset said to make sure you keep the distance he demands," the mech said.
"Reset can make no demands of me," Magnus said. "If Reset has a problem with that, send him over and we can discuss it." Then Magnus slammed his fists together and the resounding force of it was chilling. "I have no tolerance for this. Tell Reset that if he crosses the lines in force around our camp I will come to his office and remove his helm from his shoulders."
The mech stared at Magnus, then the others, a hard bitten group of soldiers surrounding him, all. Without a word, he turned on his heels and with the others disappeared into the trees.
It was silent again.
"That was good. Ripping his helm off. It made the point."
Magnus glanced at Elita, then smirked slightly. "I concur," he said. "Keep on your toes. Don't engage unless you have to. I want to do this as painlessly as possible." He then began to walk back to the camp nearby with the femmes and Maelstrom as the soldiers on guard duty melted into the trees once again.
=0=At a campsite inside the 'toilet'
"So they were drunk on their asses and Drift decided to push the point," Niall was saying to the group gathered who listened with incredulous hilarity and new found respect for ninjas. "They would gather in the living room, all of them and at the count of three drop their pants."
"Oh, my god," Clarice said with a laugh. "I WISH I HAD BEEN THERE! I bet all of them in pretender gear are as handsome as hell."
"They are," Jessie said as she laughed. "I've seen them."
"What happened?" Rick Harris asked.
"Well, they counted to three and only Drift dropped his pants. The others were so frozen with fear that they didn't. Then they all screamed loudly, security came and it took a rather good lie to make it all better," Niall said with a chuckle. "I want to go on a duty with them on Earth. Think of the shit we can get into."
"You and me both," Jessie said. "Pants optional."
Huge laughter and agreement greeted that.
=0=Night in paradise
It was silent in the camp as everyone either sat together around the fire pit or on stones by their tents. Small portable lights sitting around the area illuminated the humans who sat together talking, seemingly content with the situation even as it was. The humans were stand up including the civilians, adding another echelon of respect in the processors of the bots whether they knew it or not.
They would have LOVED to know it.
Overhead, the sky was clear, it was warm and the dark clouds slowly passed over. Then they felt a tingling on their armor, rather like static electricity. It grew and grew until the humans called out.
"WHAT'S GOING ON!? SOMETHING IS TAZING US!" Will called out from nearby.
"Grab them and get into the shuttles. Seal the doors and defuse the effect," Raptor said to Perceptor and some of the others.
Humans were scooped up, then the mechs ran for it disappearing into the night.
Raptor stood up with Ratchet, Totem, Gypsum and Onyx. The others sat or stood where they were staring around for something that seemed to be there but wasn't. "If you came to see us know that you're welcome. We didn't know much about this place when we came. We just wanted to rescue our people. We're very sorry if we did something in ignorance. We want peace with you and the opportunity to leave this place for you alone."
It was silent a moment, then something began to coalesce. It grew brighter and brighter, taller and more humanoid. Then it drew itself into sight for the group watching with expectation. When it did, it solidified its form.
=0=TBC 4-11-2021
PS During the forties and fifties, tuna jello made with lime jello was a real thing. Google it if you dare.
Example headline:
50 years ago, Jell-O wanted you to combine it with anchovies, tuna, cream cheese and mayonnaise. (Separately, I presume. Maybe.)
ESL:
stinting: lacking
NOTES TOMORROW! :D:D:D