The Diego Diaries: Stuff (dd6 189)
-0-At the grocery
Ratchet wandered the aisles looking for fixings to make the Thanksgiving treat that would earn a prize. He had already submitted his designs for the trophies, something that oozed out of his subconscious mind about ten minutes prior to spotting the shop on his way to the store. It would be amusing, he considered. It would also look nice on the shelf at Kup and Hercy's house. He grinned. He turned the corner and nearly collided with Lucien. "Lucien. What's up?" Lucien stared at him a moment with a slight look of confusion. "What brings you here?" Ratchet asked again with a grin.
"Oh. I need to … check in with you," he said. "I would like to apply for a position in the City Hall. It would extend and utilize my skill set better than my current one."
"What job is it?" Ratchet asked.
"Political liaison for the colony," Lucien said.
Ratchet considered that for a moment. "You know that puts you under my command given that the political aides all work through my office as Ambassador-At-Large and Ambassador of State for the colony and the Empire. You would, in the end, be working for me."
"I didn't know that," he said with a slight frown. It was silent a moment as he did the math. "Be that as it may, I would like to apply."
"Alright. You have my blessing," Ratchet said.
"You're joking, right?" Lucien asked as his optics narrowed.
"No," Ratchet said seriously. "If Magnus approves you, then fine. Tell him I have no reservations."
Lucien stared at Ratchet a moment, then nodded. "Thank you," he said, then turned to walk off toward the exit.
Ratchet watched him, then grinned. "Go ahead, slagger. Pull the noose tighter around your own neck." He grinned to himself as he walked onward stalking the perfect ingredients for his magnum opus.
-0-Elsewhere
He worked on the dummy Cybertronian lying on the table before him taking this and that course of action. Sitting nearby, watching with amusement, Lancer noted how skilled and fast Partition was. He was a good guy, working as hard as can be, as if to cram a lifetime of learning and skills into a few orns. She had been aware of him from the beginning, thinking him a colossal aft like everyone, but a very, very cute one. Given that few entered the Realm of Ratchet and Ironhide and came out the same way, she bided her time. If anyone could make a mech out of this clodhopper, it was the two of them.
They had succeeded. She not only had a boyfriend who was considered a mech with lots of promise by the elders of their profession and thus, included in exercises and ventures that nearly every Home Guardsman was prohibited from attending, he had bloomed into a really great guy. She, herself, was of a slightly nervous disposition. She had been a promising scientist when the war broke out and joining up with Elita, Chromia and Arcee had been amazing. She understood his intensity, his laser focus on the task at hand and his drive. He was the one for her.
Watching him work on the dummy under the direction of the coaches who were teaching advanced triage certification for those who were field medics, a thoroughly voluntary course of study, was a real treat. But then, just hanging out with him was the same. He had drive, ambition and a desire to be the best at whatever he chose to do. He loved the family, Ratchet especially, and respected Ironhide like a father. It was amusing to her how things had changed in her own circumstance and now he was part of that. The holidays were going to be jolly this year for sure.
"Very good, Partition. Now do this," the coach said as he outlined a bypass procedure that would redirect energon flow from a severed line that was too damaged to repair into another one, thereby saving the victim's life.
He would do it brilliantly and earn his stripes in this course that was a prelude to what he really wanted to do. Beyond being the best field medic he could be for the military, his first love, he wanted more than anything else to be an elder doctor. The afternoon would pass pleasantly, then the two would leave to join the family for dinner at the Tower In The Sky in Terra.
-0-Elsewhere
They sat side-by-side on the ship coming back from Fort Recluse. They would bridge jump from Fort Apache when they reached it across the Density. They would be bypassing the edge of the territory that Razorclaw claimed, the leading edge of the territory that Prime tolerated for him, if truth be told. They were part of a very powerful but lean battle group checking out things this direction as they searched for the nesting grounds of the acid monsters that surely existed out this way.
"Dinner tonight at the Tower In The Sky in Terra. Ada and Atar want us there if we can make it," Chromia said with a grin. Calling Ironhide 'dad' was still a hoot. Knowing that in fan fiction and even graphic novels and cartoons that she was his 'girlfriend' was even funnier. At least, she thought it was funny. Maelstrom, on the other servo, couldn't tolerate the thought that someone else even in fiction was Chromia's love interest.
Maelstrom nodded. "Sounds good," he said as he lounged next to 'his girl'. He called her that to anyone who asked and sometimes when they didn't. He was profoundly in love with Chromia, the only individual in his short term and probably long term memory who could kick his aft. She was beautiful, smart, kick aft, pragmatic, religious, and beautiful. Did he say beautiful? He said it anyone he met, ask or not. "Whatever you want, Chromia."
She chuckled, then slipped her arm though his. He was the beginning, middle and end for her, that mech she never forgot, the one who could give as good as he got. He was huge, a must for her, tough as cybertanium, a must for him, and someone who just 'got her'. She 'got him' and all was well. "Did you know that Lancer has a mech?"
"I saw him. He lives with Ratchet and Ironhide, right? Some kind of high caste?" he asked as he squeezed her servo.
"That's right. One of Ada's projects. He's turned into something pretty good. I'm glad for Lancer. She deserves to have fun."
"Like us?" Maelstrom asked as he glanced down at her, admiring her beautiful face and her elegant gray paint scheme.
"I wouldn't go that far," Chromia said. She laughed. That's when the jolt to the ship nearly knocked them off their seats.
-0-Prowl
He sat at the command table finalizing his cookie recipe before the report reached Ops Center. A mech turned at communications. "Commander, the convoy crossing the Density has been hit."
Prowl stood, then walked to Tactical. "What's the situation?" he asked the comm officer as he perused the screen at Tactical.
"They were hit, a ship in the convoy and are in defensive mode. The ship hit took evasive action and is functional. No one is hurt but everyone's at battle stations," the Home Guardsman said with big startled optics.
Prowl nodded, his outward appearance calm and unruffled for the troops, but inside he was working hard on possibilities. "Very well. Patch me through, Mr. Spencer."
Spencer did.
"This is Prowl at Ops Center. What is the status of the convoy?" he asked.
"This is Chromia, Prowl. Some slagger took a shot at us and hit my ship. We've gone into battle formation. No one shows up on the sensors but then, this area scatters signals."
"Very well," he said, "I'm bridging a Seeker flight with sensor specialists. Stand by. You have discretion to return fire."
"Understood," Chromia said.
-0-Out there
Chromia stood by a window staring out as the Home Guardsman at the engineer station searched as best one could for the culprit. She was seething as the mechs on board manned the guns. Sitting at one, grinning at his girl, Maelstrom watched her in her element, ready to kick someone's aft. "Could be cloaking. Could be sensor overload out there. Could be a new alien altogether who operates under different circumstances."
She nodded. "True." Then she looked at him with battle lust on her beautiful face. "They all still bleed."
Maelstrom would regret that he didn't have a picture of her at that moment.
-0-At the command table
They gathered, the leadership of the Cybertronian people who were charged with protecting them. The convoy was evident on the data pad on the table but there was nothing around it that the sensors had picked up. Something was either highly cloaked or there were other factors at work that weren't understood at the moment. Nothing could move that fast to their knowledge to get away from their sensor grid. It was built up out there to find everything and everyone unless it was so alien they didn't understand it or was cloaked.
"This is strange. No visible or sensor reading to indicate that anything was ever there," Wheeljack said as he studied the data. "Very good tech or something else."
"What could the something else be?" Prime asked.
"Someone able to phase in and out of this reality," Wheeljack said.
Ironhide grinned. "You've been watching too much science fiction," he said.
"We should be picking it up," Wheeljack said. "Maybe its signature is slightly askew from what we can detect. Maybe we need to re-calibrate everything to scope wider and deeper."
"Then do so, Wheeljack," Prime said. "We have triple escort out that way until we figure this out. What is the likelihood that Razorclaw is the offending party?"
"I would postulate highly unlikely, Prime," Perceptor said. "I don't want to sound high tone but I don't think he has scientists of this caliber in his employ, though I will be open to more data."
Ratchet grinned. "That's our Percy," he said. He stared at the map. "They've passed the point of no return. Maybe the offender is relegated to the Density and can't function or won't follow into our space or more open terrain."
"Tell the convoy to be aware and let us know," Prime said to Prowl who nodded. "I want to know if they do have a limited range or if they are loathe to venture into more open and therefore, more equal territory."
They chatted a bit, then broke up to go their separate ways as the convoy made its way to Fort Apache. They wouldn't be attacked again. The Seeker flight wouldn't find anything either, not even the signature residue of a ship.
-0-At the City Hall, Metroplex Administrative Plaza, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire
He walked into the City Hall, then paused at the counter. Blondi who was waiting for some data at the desk nearby turned to him and smiled. "Hello. Can I help you?"
The room was ultra busy with mechs and femmes walking in and out of offices and through the lobby helping a lot of individuals who were there for this and that thing. He turned to Blondi. "Yes, thank you. I would like to apply for the job listed on the Community Bulletin Board, the political liaison for the colony."
"Ah," Blondi said. "You came to the right femme. Come with me," she said as she took the datapad an office worker handed to her. "Thank you, Castille." She led the way to the half door, then opened it for him. Following her, they passed a number of offices, all of them big and busy. When she arrived at hers, one that said, "Blondi of Stanix, City Clerk and Clerk of Record, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire," they entered together. She sat in a chair by her desk. "Have a seat and let's talk."
Lucien sat, glancing around as he did. The room was large and impeccably furnished, had numerous monitors on one wall with a bank of computers and a work table strewn with datapads and other devices. All of the monitors featured some facet of finance, the colony, data necessary for her function, as well as a screen split four ways showing four different channels of Earth news including their own MCA broadcast.
She grinned. "Tell me who you are, what skills you possess for this endeavor and why you want it."
He considered her remarks, expertly tagged her tattoos as low caste, then began. "I am Lucien of Capital City, though I lived and worked in Iacon most of my life. My family originated from Capital City and we kept a family home there. I was a political liaison to the Senate during the beginning of my career and eventually worked my way up to the Private Council of the Primes. I was political counselor for Empire to the primeships of Nova, Nominus and Sentinel. I was reassigned to be political counselor to the Council of Ancients and the High Council of Elders. I would like to do this because the work fulfills me, gives me a sense of accomplishment and I believe I have a lot of skill to bring to the position. I was involved in direct negotiations with foreign entities and empires and reported to the Primes and Senate on a regular basis what I discovered. I was a standby envoy to the Ambassador of State as well."
"Very impressive," Blondi said. "Those are a lot of skills and your experience at this level of endeavor is admirable. The position would involve reporting to Ambassador Ratchet who is our senior ambassador and Ambassador of State. It would mean being part of envoys for a number of different purposes including economic as well as political. It would mean being part of his team and fulfilling those tasks that he would give you. That would include a bit of clerical in that you would be required to do a lot of reading and preparing briefs for both his department and that of the Prime. Prime's legal and political aides would be part of the process as well. This is a team effort, all of us working together, and you would also be loaned to other departments as the need arises including that of Ultra Magnus here at The City."
Lucien, though he was curdling inside, nodded. "I understand. I am also going to be standing for election in the next district voting period. I would like to represent my district to the committee and work through the system to learn what the colony needs and the greater empire beyond. I would like to assist that process, our efforts to rebuild and regroup."
Blondi nodded. "I think that's evident," she said as she rose. "You've passed my screening. Please sit here a moment while I go and talk to Magnus. He's the next step of the process."
"Thank you, Blondi. I would like to relay that I have spoken to Ambassador Ratchet and he expressed no objection to my petition."
She grinned. "That works in your favor as well. Sit tight. I'll be right back." She left the room.
Lucien looked around, noting the small touches of home that made this office her personal space. Family was a big deal for her but then, she was from Stanix and they were almost mob-like in their family intensity. It was impressive how wired in she was and how luxurious the décor was. But then, he was unaware of Prowl's hard and fast rule. If you're going to live in your office, it better feel like home.
She was back and gestured for him to follow. He did and when they reached the office of 'Ultra Magnus of Iacon, City Manager of The Primal Colony of Mars, Administrator-in-Chief for Mars, Cybertron and the Empire,' she turned to him and looked up. "Go on in. Magnus is waiting for you."
He thanked her, then watched her walk back to her office, nodding and smiling to others who were going this way and that. She was obviously highly liked. Squaring his shoulders, he walked inside. Magnus was standing by a monitor staring at data as Lucien paused by the door. His office was like the flight deck of a ship, monitors and computers artfully and elegantly arrayed along an entire wall. Huge monitors played any number of essential things as the furnishings of the huge room reflected the same luxury that all the others did. A huge desk was near the windows, close to the light that was streaming in, He turned to Lucien. "Hello, Lucien. Have a seat," Magnus said in his all business manner.
Lucien did, then watched as the massive bot, one with an incredible reputation of relentless, implacable menace and integrity walked to the desk to sit. Magnus was an amazing specimen of Cybertronian mech, a huge figure of remarkable physique and strength. He was close to Prime in size, though Prime had the edge and probably did before he became Prime. Lucien remembered Orion Pax and even then saw the huge mech as a unusually powerful figure. Magnus had a very direct gaze, one that often unnerved others. He was smart as a whip, absolutely the figure of integrity and honesty and completely, utterly devoted to Prime. When Lucien had found out they were children together, it rather explained Magnus. Ultra Magnus was no one's fool, a legend as the Tyrest Treaty enforcer and a soldier of extreme skill and boldness. "Thank you, Magnus."
"Blondi tells me you want the political liaison job. She told me that you had the skills and that you understand that Ratchet would have operational authority over you as Ambassador of State."
Lucien nodded. "She did. I also told her that I've spoken to Ratchet and he was good with the idea."
Magnus nodded. "Very well. There are duties that can be assigned that are outside the purview of the job itself, all of them at the discretion of Ambassador Ratchet. What I need to know is if you've learned anything from your recent experiences and the fact that you're still under the supervision of the courts."
Good old Magnus, Lucien thought. Straight and to the point. He nodded. "I have. I was told that this was the place to come to change, to claim another paradigm. My sons have certainly grasped that. My bond as well. What I want to do is be more useful and help where I can with the skill set that I have. I believe that I have a lot of skills that might be more useful here than in my current rather mundane job."
Magnus nodded. "I see," he said. "What I need to know is very simple and I'll be direct. The System of Exception is dead here. It's dead wherever Cybertronians exist. What I want to know is if you understand and accept that very real fact. Prime has said anyone who wishes otherwise must honor fight him. He has also mentioned that perhaps a Convocation of the Will might be necessary to instill that very profound reality."
"I've heard both and frankly, I want to be useful," Lucien said. "I want to do something that fulfills me, assists our society and is more interesting. I believe I'm best placed to do that among your applicants and hope that what has already passed isn't a problem for this moment and this application."
Magnus sat in his chair, a huge commanding figure. He was a handsome mech, very, very handsome with deeply blue optics that could peel paint off the wall with a mere gaze. He was totally unaware of all that and probably didn't care. He nodded. "Very well. If Ambassador Ratchet is good with the situation, then we'll begin. You'll be on a probationary period of several decaorns. If you're proficient and the fit is good, you'll become a permanent member of the Ambassador's staff. I will inform him that you have the position. Blondi will show you your office and begin you on your duties. From tomorrow forward, you'll be directed by Ambassador Ratchet on your work schedule and load."
Lucien rose. "Thank you, Magnus. I'm very happy."
Magnus rose, then nodded. "You're welcome," he said as they shook hands. "Report to Blondi and she will assist you to your office down the street. Be prompt and work hard. If you can do that, we're four by four."
Lucien nodded, then walked out. Magnus watched him go, then smirked slightly. "Ratchet will kick your aft, Lucien. You don't fool anyone," he said softly, then sat down to continue leading the Empire in its day-to-day business once again.
-0-On the road
A sociologist drove a vehicle from Earth2 that was loaded with security, seven former mercenaries that asked to go along to 'get the lay of the land'. Being a good sort and no one to 'spy versus spy' anyone, Corey Wilson got permission, then all bundled in. Corey was one of the individuals who had been cleared to drive in the colony. Many was the group he had ferried out with him as he went about the business of getting a baseline of life here. He was interested in the intersection of bot life and Earth. There were so many similarities that he was going to study them to see which came first, the humans or the Cybertronians. He was due at Sciences in a few minutes to discuss things with a long time scientist there, Alan Murray, a man who had published groundbreaking studies, one of which inspired Corey to come here.
They were in traffic moving along at a good clip. Silvio who was sitting next to Corey glanced around. :I wonder how many of the vehicles around us are sentient and which aren't?:
:I don't know. I would imagine most of them are sentient: Corey said with a grin. He loved, loved. LOVED this place. :I'm going to be at the Habitat about two hours. I hope you guys find something to do for that time:
:We can go outside: Lawrence Dobbs said.
:You aren't cleared for that: Corey said with a slight frown.
:He's joking: Silvio said soothingly.
:He better or he's going to get picked up: Corey said.
Silvio turned toward the men sitting in the back seats. :I heard one of you already was on Diego: he said with a snicker.
"Fuck you, Silvio: Todd Baseman said as the others laughed. Memories of being under Kup's foot and carried like a rag in Springer's hand came to mind.
:You're not my type, Todd: Silvio said as they sped ever onward toward the ever growing figure of the Basilica.
-0-At the Shrine of Solus Prime
Olivia Bowers sat on a small bench put there for children. She was meditating in the quiet beauty of the shrine dedicated to Solus the Maker. The shrine was smaller than that on Cybertron but as glorious here situated on the platform of the Basilica as there. The walls of the entire space were covered by hand in gold leaf. Icons and small statues, priceless heirlooms of Her greatness retrieved from Cybertron were set into niches where they would be in the original site. Lights from sconces lit by fire of a type that didn't require oxygen flickered in the room, shining with a gold glow on the endless gold, silver and copper artifacts and the walls themselves. The ceiling was painted with a mural showing Solus floating in the sky, looking directly at them with a loving gaze. Her long neural net flowed like silver locks of hair as her lavender cloak floated around her. She was beautiful and comforting in her direct gaze.
There were others here, some sitting like her and others standing before the jewel encrusted icons of events in Her life, their thoughts their own. Outside, a heavily laden truck from Earth2 passed by, staring at the Basilica and the smaller shrine nearby. It had been near the Basilica on Cybertron and was so now. When she was finished, Olivia Bowers of the Circle of Light, the Primus Peace Mission and applicant to be accepted into the Knights of Cybertron would hop on her segway and buzz off to the Sciences Habitat for lunch with her friends there. She would arrive only a short time after Corey and the mercs.
-0-At the Main Public Library
Hero sat on Arcee's lap as Arcee read the story in her servos to the tiny femme. It was 'femme's orn out', a makeup day for Hero with her sisters. Lancer and Chromia were away but the others picked her up and with Iacon and Uraya in servo, the group were doing the town. First, story time at the library where carefully chosen books designed to bolster a little femme's confidence were read, then swim time at the Water Park in Tri-Cities Mall was had. Everyone going down the slide together was a given. After that, lunch, then window shopping rounded out the orn. All was well in the femme squad. It would be a great time to be little femmes.
The big femmes walked behind the little ones, three little femmes holding servos as they walked along the street looking in windows. Hero holding servos with Uraya on one side and Iacon on the other would set a slow pace but it would be cute. A good time was had by all.
-0-Lucien
He walked into the CMO's office in the Autobot Medical Center with a datapad in hand. He halted before Ratchet's desk. Ratchet, hard at work, glanced up. "Lucien," he said with a grin. "I heard you got the job."
Lucien nodded as Ratchet sat back. "Here are my bonafides." He handed the datapad to Ratchet.
Ratchet gave it the once over, then nodded. "Okay. You have your space in the diplomatic office wing? I had it created along with the rest of the department in building. I'm here most of the time and its easier."
Lucien nodded, noting the big office that was Ratchet's as compared to his. He had to share secretarial and some of the work he had to do himself, clerical and the like, but it was big, sunny and well appointed. All in all, he felt better. "It's fine."
"Good," Ratchet said as he typed on a computer a moment. He then pressed a button and data began to compile. "Come on. I haven't had lunch yet." He breezed past Lucien and was out the door almost immediately.
Lucien watched him, then vented a soft sigh. He followed directly.
-0-On Cybertron
Cargo and Keystock were together today, following Raptor and Blackjack to a place where a lot of bodies had been found. They walked to the edge of a chasm that was two bomb craters. Down below, a large number of tagged bodies lay where they had fallen. They were already sorted, cataloged and as much information and images taken as could be gathered. Now they had to come out of the hole. Raptor stepped down followed by a number of soldiers, some specially trained in recovering the dead. Blackjack turned to the two youngling mechs who were staring downward with dread. "Put down the bag, infant, then join us. We have to remove the dead."
"I can't do it," Cargo said as he stared at the sight below. Keystock was silent.
"We have to do it. It's the last decent thing we can do," Blackjack said. "Come on. They're waiting for us to care." With that, he began to climb down the crumbling slopes after his father as behind him mechs with body bags appeared, sliding them down on sleds attached to ropes. The dead would be zipped in, placed on a sled, then hauled up to be shipped to a central burial site.
The two stared at the hole, then each other. "I don't know if I can do this, Keystock."
Keystock stared at the hole, then let the bag slide off his shoulders. "I don't know, either. Come on. Stay with me. We can try. We can't let those slaggers think we're weak."
They stared at the sight below, then slowly, with effort and revulsion, they walked down into a field of bodies and bent themselves into the job. It was as ghastly as they believed it would be.
-0-TBC 11-13-17 edited 1-4-18
NOTES:
Starting tomorrow, the new show Transformers: Titans Return. The first season was called Prime Wars which you can see there and it would help to see it first. This is the second part. This is the blurb for it on the on-line streaming service, go90.
"Transformers: Titans Return" will feature the voice talents of Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime — the role he originated for the original 1980s animated TV show – along with Wil Wheaton, Judd Nelson, Michael Dorn and Jason David Frank in the digital series from Warner Bros.' Machinima and toy giant Hasbro. (Nolan North, the 'Clark Gable of Game Voice Acting' and the voice of Smokescreen in Transformers: Prime will be in this, too. The list is long and filled with great voice actors.)
The series is the second installment in the Transformers "Prime Wars" trilogy. "Titans Return" will premiere in November on the 14th exclusively on Verizon's Go90 video service worldwide, except in China where it will be available on . The series comprises 10 episodes, each about 11 minutes long. Hasbro last year rolled out the Titans Return toy line in the Transformers Generations series.
The first chapter of the trilogy, "Transformers: Combiner Wars," has generated more than 125 million views since debuting in August 2016, exclusively on Go90 in the U.S., according to Machinima.
ENJOY! :D Its happening mostly on Cybertron.
ESL:
bide: (b-eye-d) to bide is to endure. "She bided her time until the cab came."
four by four: means things are done, finished, evened
(Just a cute note: the expression 'sixes and eights' means by the card dealers in the game of craps cleavage, boobies. Sixes and eights means women's breasts.) LOL! I love the urban dictionary. :D
bonafides: (bone-uh-fee-days) your credibility, your record, what makes you legitimate
physique: (fiz-eek) your body and its shape. A body builder is said to have a great physique