The Diego Diaries: Aftermath (dd6 138)
-0-Airfield
A heavily armed grim-faced Ultra Magnus strode across the airfield heading toward a Wrecker shuttle. Standing around the hatch door, Hercy, Kup, the twins, Roadbuster on loan from the Prison, Twin Twist, and Whirlaway waited. Magnus nodded to the group, then climbed upward with the rest following in his wake. A youngster who was pilot on loan from Home Guard entered behind them, seated himself, then quickly ran through pre-flight. They were airborne in seconds.
-0-The Family Tower
"We ran for it, making it to the elevator. I was in the back working on my notes when Will came in and told me to go to the shelter," Cindy Teasdale said as the entire crowd in the tower sat with the eight former hostages while they ate something. Angus was chewing on his truck as he sat in his father's lap with a big smile for anyone who looked his way. Jarrod was collected, listening to the story as Hildie ate something beside him. "We had to keep the elevator out of their hands so we shorted it out. We would have defended everyone," she said as her twin and Sheila nodded. "No one was coming down without a fight waiting."
"You're my kind of twins," Judy Witwicky said with a grin. "What is this about twins anyway?"
Huge laughter.
It would be a while before Bobby Epps and Will Lennox would join them and when they did not only would they get a hero's welcome but a rapt audience for the tale.
-0-Sciences Habitat
Prime stood in the main room which was designed to allow them inside. There was destruction but nothing that would be too hard to fix in a short time. The humans could double up in the other habitats until then. He looked at the pods which were environmental in nature, rather than strategic. "I think we need to improve the doors, Prowl," he said. "It is clear that it is not enough that they have a fall back site during a system failure. They have to be steadfast against entry during a crisis. It was luck that they had them at all but we can do better."
Prowl nodded. "I'll get with Jetta. He's down below getting the tunnels cleared," he said as they walked to the hole that had been cut in the floor with special welding tips attuned to cutting through double layered cybertanium. They looked down at the shelter below where a number of mechs were working on the elevator. The door that led outward, a highly secure hatch that led to tunnels between shelters was open but the passage beyond was filled with debris. "This is supposed to be up to specs by tomorrow. Jetta put teams on it from night shift Public Works."
"Good," Prime said. "All in all, it held. A real world test did not defeat the system but we can tweak it."
Prowl nodded, then they walked through the crowd who came to watch along the streets beyond. Prime halted by his mechs who stood on the sidewalk watching the show. "I think we can go. This is secured. What I want right now is to hear from Ultra Magnus. When they are in custody, book them through the jail, then transfer them to the prison into segregation. They can be arraigned in court tomorrow when I can be there. I do not believe they will be happy about any of it."
"If Magnus doesn't blast them, that is," Ironhide said with a slight smirk. "They aren't the sharpest tools in the box."
"No, they aren't, thank Primus," Ratchet said with a grin.
They chatted a bit more, then went on their way. Home was calling and morning would come soon enough.
-0-On the air
"We have some news to report from the Office of the Primes. A statement was issued that I will read now. 'Today, a pair of criminals who came to Mars after disguising their appearance were spotted and attempted to flee capture. They fled The Diner On The Corner, ran down Metroplex Highway #1, exchanged fire with the Day Watch officers in pursuit, then forced their way inside the United Nations Sciences Habitat on Sports Center Drive in downtown Autobot City this morning. They entered, then captured two humans who were inside while eight others including the infant, Angus Optimus Wilkerson, the first human born on Mars or any other planet, fled to the shelters below. The two captured were Major William Lennox, commandant of the N.E.S.T on world garrison and Master Sargent Robert Epps who were securing the others against harm.
"The Prime was notified and attended with his senior officers for the situation at hand. All through the orn, negotiations were ongoing, conducted by the Prime's chief diplomat and situation-negotiator, Ratchet of Iacon. It was during the last two joors that a solution was achieved in which the two criminals, tentatively identified as Sherma of Iacon and Momus of Helex would be allowed to leave the planet after surrendering Major Lennox and Sargent Epps. A ship was landed, the two hostages were released and the pair left Autobot City for space at 2250 hours on the TMC.
"It was then that Optimus Prime sent Ultra Magnus, City Manager, Chief Enforcement Officer of the Tyrest Treaties and senior member of the Prime's General Staff with a team of Wreckers to intercept and capture the pair. That part of the situation is still underway and when it's resolved, the news will be reported. As of now, the habitat is secured and under repair, all of the humans involved, ten including the Martian baby, Angus Wilkerson are safe and restored to their friends, family and community.
"As of now, the situation has been stood down to normal and all of the children who live in Autobot City itself will be returned to their genitor's care and custody tomorrow. It has been decided that since they are being held at their schools, rather than risk bringing them home through the fluid situation, that they will remain where they are for now. Any genitors who wish to pick them up in the morning may do so after they are fed at 0730 hours on the TMC.
"The damage relayed by the Communications Office of the Primes is minimal and currently being repaired. The Habitat is estimated to be returned on line tomorrow at 1400 hours on the TMC. We hope to have a conversation with Prime, Magnus and others involved shortly. Until then, please stay tuned to The Hourly News and the IntraCom network. Anything that requires mass dissemination of information will be transmitted by personal transponders by the Prime. As of now, that level of alert has not been reached.
"We will be back after this break," Aleph said as the Community Bulletin Board appeared on the screen.
"You're famous," Thelma Lennox said as she glanced at her son. "I suppose you're one of those who'll be interviewed?"
"I'm ready for my close up no matter what," Will said with a grin. "What worries me is the reaction on Earth."
"What about you two? Sorry you're here?" Judy Witwicky asked a pensive Jarrod and a calm Hildie. Angus was sleeping in his father's arms.
"We're good to go," Jarrod said with a grim expression. "This is our home and this is the birthplace of Angus. It's going to take more than this," he said glancing at Hildie who nodded. "We all knew the risks."
"We did. This is the first time in almost eight years that anything this weird has happened. Even with Black Shadow, this was the first real threat to me," Barbara Morshower said. "We met and conquered it. All of us. Together."
"Until all are one," Lola said as she grinned at Angus.
The room murmured in agreement.
-0-School
They sat in the small room that was built down the hallway from their classroom as a shelter during those moments when they couldn't get home. Two bots, Miss Iffa and Mr. Slipstream had gone out to have a break to allow the kids to take showers and get their jammies and other sleepwear on. They were riotously happy and down with the whole idea of 'camping' without adult supervision of the parental variety. Soon, they were seated on couches staring out the huge window that lined the entire wall of their elevated habitat.
It was designed like those on ships for human safety and comfort. It was a self contained unit that could be pulled out and carried off if the moment demanded but for now, it was slotted into a space in the wall of the corridor by the school's offices on the ground floor of the tower. They were in a space that had barrack-style berth rooms, boys and girls separate as per request of the human designers for reasons the bots couldn't fathom, with large showers (boys and girls again), lots of couches and chairs, a kitchen for the staff that cared for them to prepare this and that, and last but not least, enough electronics and TVs for everyone.
"This is weird. I feel like I'm a fish in an aquarium," Rain Harris said as she sat with half a dozen human girls by the window, all of them from Earth2. "My dad has one installed in the wall of his office." She looked down. "It must be twenty feet to the floor out there."
They all peered down, then sat again. "What do you think is going on?" Camilla asked. "They won't tell us."
"I don't know. I asked Anna Lennox and the others but they didn't say," Rain said. She glanced at them, then looked out again as the adult bots working overnight went about their business in the lobby of the school. "They won't tell us stuff. We're outsiders. Stuck ups."
"I don't know. I like them. Some of them are younger than me but they're alright," Jaycee said. She looked at the others who were laughing and talking in NeoCybex. "I hate it when they talk in bot, though."
"They're probably talking about us," Rain said sourly. "This is going to be a long night."
"Stop being a sourpuss," Jaycee said as she got up, then walked to the other group to sit. They switched to English for her and continued their conversation.
It would be a long night for the sourpuss.
-0-Magnus
"Sherma and Momus, this is Commander Ultra Magnus. Respond," Magnus said as he sat in the command seat behind the pilot. The crew sat along the bulkheads listening with grins. There was no answer. "Tell me what you can, pilot, about the ship ahead."
He checked, then the youngster from the Home Guard Air Armada glanced at Magnus. "They can't outrun us, sir, and they have no impairment against answering."
"Then let's give them one," Magnus said as he glanced at Kup. "Put a round into their propulsion unit, Kup."
Kup nodded, then turned his gun turret toward the fleeing ship which had started to zig-zag as they noted the advancement of their pursuers. Kup made the calculations, something he could do in his sleep, then lay down a line of fire that with the pilot's cooperation ahead in his futile effort to evade stitched the tail section and the area where the engines operated. Fire flared, then died as the hull fragmented and came apart. Trailing a stream of smoke and liquids, the ship slid erratically to a halt. It went dark as the systems of the vessel cascaded, then failed altogether.
Magnus glanced at Kup. "Nice shooting," he said, then arose. "Sherma, Momus, answer this time or I'll put you both permanently out of my misery."
It was silent a moment, then a static-filled voice was heard. "FRAG YOU, MAGNUS! PRIME GAVE HIS WORD!"
"Yeah? I didn't. Float out without arms and we'll pick you up or we're going to marker buoy this spot and no one will pick you up. You can hang here forever," Magnus said with a frown. This was taking time. He had things to do.
"FRAG YOU, MAGNUS! WE'RE COMING OUT!" Momus cried out. Then the line went dead.
After a few moments, the hatch opened and two mechs floated out. They were scanned, found to be clear, then pulled in. Energon cuffs and magnetizing to the hull took care of things as they put a marker on the ship. It would be towed by someone else. They were heading for the barn. It would be intensely tense all the way back to Autobot City as the two sat without speaking on the trip.
-0-On the ground again at the Prison Control Center, Autobot City
They entered the conference room under guard. Standing along the wall, most of the general officers were waiting for the rest of the story. Springer made room for Kup and Hercy as Magnus stood over the pair. They were given seats and sat with cold fury as they glared at Prime. "You gave us your word, Prime. You made an oath on the Matrix," Momus said as Sherma stared at him with fury.
"I kept it. Magnus, on the other hand, had no such oath to uphold. I let you go," Prime said. He leaned forward on his elbows. "Both of you are Decepticons. You sold out to their cause and our people. You came here under false pretenses and there was no way leaving here that you would not prey on others. You are now my prisoners and you will be held in the prison pending hearings. You will be given council and I would suggest that you listen to them. You will be given all the rights and privileges of citizenship that you did not feel anyone else deserved. What did you really think? That I would allow you to go out there and continue to make trouble?" Prime asked.
Sherma sat forward. "I don't know how and I don't know when but you're going to pay for this, Prime."
Prowl who was staring at both like he was staring at a stain on his ped, arms crossed and disgust in full bloom, shook his helm. "Yes. Right. Now, off you go," he said glancing at Springer. "Throw them in the slammer. Lose the key."
Springer grinned, then gripped Momus. He was lifted off his chair but it took two mechs to handle Sherma. It was amazing the swearing and cursing that came out of him as he was dragged out the door. It faded slowly in the distance until it was silent again.
"That was … interesting," Prowl said. He glanced at Optimus. "You enjoyed that."
Prime stared at the door, then Prowl. He sat back and grinned slightly. "I think I did."
-0-TBC 9-24-17 edited 10-04-17