The Diego Diaries: Function Over Form (dd6 297)
-0-A bit later that same afternoon in an office of great power
She sat on his lap, leaning into his huge frame and pulled his massive arms around her body. He was one of the most powerful individuals in the Autobot Army and justifiable feared not just for his warrior abilities but also for his ruthlessness, relentlessness, dedication, integrity, and incorruptibility. She grinned. "This feels good."
"The door is closed, I will hand you that. It doesn't mean someone won't come inside," he said.
"Let them. I can't help it if they feel envious and jealous," Arcee said as she grinned.
Magnus grinned himself. "When do you go?"
"This evening at 1800 hours. We're bridging nearby and will do deep recon with Springer and the crews that're going. Wreckers and veterans, all," Arcee replied. "You'll have to cook for one tonight."
Magnus grinned. "You like to dream don't you."
"I do," Arcee said. "By the way, Ada called us to the little lounge down Engineer Corridor. Beer and confession time."
"He had that 'little talk' with you at last? It would appear he's a bit late," Magnus said.
Arcee smiled. The sense of humor that Magnus possessed was dry and delightful. He seldom showed it because he was wired to have dignity and integrity among the ranks but it was wonderful to her when he showed it. "That's funny," she said as she pulled his arms tighter around her. "He was there with beer and donuts."
"How did you all fit with the mini-cons in there? I think I'm going to weld the door shut," Magnus said with a grin. "That room is getting a reputation."
"You just noticed, did you?" Arcee asked with a chuckle.
"What did he disclose?" Magnus asked.
"A scientific finding. It would appear that the humans don't or forgot how to read energy fields and auras. It would appear that when humans look at us … the squad, they see mechs."
It was silent in the room, then Magnus turned his helm to look more directly at her. "They do? Forgive me, Arcee, but I don't."
"I know," Arcee said. "You've been infected so that all you see is what Jhiaxus wanted you to see. Fragger. I'm going to kill him, then pray to Primus to allow him to live so I can kill him again and again. I think if I spend about 2 vorns doing that every waking minute, I might be mollified."
"Perhaps. I don't know if this helps you but I hope it does," Magnus replied. "How long will it take, this mission? I'm sorry I wasn't there to assist in planning. I had to help sign off the University District with Jetta. Is he going?"
"That's alright. He's coming. He's running the ground reconn as usual. We expect an orn or two. It depends upon what we find. There's supposed to be a colony there, those that drove them off. We're going to have them come with. I don't know if they want to come but we'll make them an offer they can't refuse." She grinned.
"How very gangster of you," Magnus said with a slight grin.
Arcee smiled. "Very good, Magnus."
"I try, Arcee," he said before the door opened and Holi walked in.
-0-At the Secretariat of State, Autobot City Medical Center, Suite 32, Offices 1-32, Tranquilitatis District, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire, Postal District 2
Ratchet sat in a conference room with Lucien, his political adjunct, his ambassadorial scheduler, his departmental lawyers and two experts on the trade deals that the humans were seeking. The last two were part of the City Administration and worked in Venture's domain in Terra. They were going over the stack of requests and proposals from Earth.
"This first item, Ratchet," Porque said as he opened that item on the agenda, "is for a commercial venture centered on harvesting helium from either Saturn or Neptune and/or their moons. Given that they have huge quantities in their atmospheres, the companies venturing would seek a joint project that would allow harvesting. Earth is running out of helium to put it simply. It's getting to be a rare element on world if it isn't already, so they'd like to work out the science and make a joint arrangement with us. The details of the exchange are to be worked out, given we have a cashless society who doesn't need payment for this sort of thing and they're rapacious marauders economically … it would be a good place to begin something that could lead to other projects. It would be a test of how we work together on ideas and projects which tend to benefit them more than us. We could see this as a good public relations venture for our two not always unified societies."
"Do you have their proposal?" Ratchet asked.
"On the device," Porque said as Ratchet opened the proposal and read through it. "Sandy can write the contracts and help you negotiate if you feel this has value," he said nodding to one of Ratchet's departmental lawyers, "and go over it with Fenix. They want different things but are rather vague on how to achieve them. They seem to be willing to let us develop the tech and apply the heavy lifting. They want their engineers on this and they want to be at the site but they're rather loose about the path forward technically."
Ratchet nodded. "The need is there," he said. "This is vague because they can't get there by themselves and they can't harvest it alone. They hope we can do that. Put this on the list for the conference. I'll speak to them about it but make it clear that the tech and techniques are proprietary. They can come and watch but they can't have the tech."
"I agree," Porque said as he glanced at Simsit, Ratchet's departmental scheduler and general manager. "Very well. The next one is a joint venture to study the sun. Earth has concerns about the solar flares that ravage them periodically. They expect a 'big one' that will shut down their grid. They want to have access to see the sun better, perhaps a joint study on a science vessel with, maybe, access to the Science Habitat for scientists to stay and do research."
"That would require the agreement of the scientists there. Since they have half their families staying there half the time, they'd have to sort it out. I don't have a problem with this though I'd need a formal proposal ready to read through and discuss at the conference. Please write a letter to them on our letter head stating that. If this has the agreement of the locals, then fine. I'll hear it," Ratchet said.
"There was a report on Earth that the Prime is considering a habitat that would be controlled by us, where up to 20,000 humans would live and work. They'd work on things that would be necessary to Earth, her upkeep and repair but be employees of the Prime under his complete control. It's getting huge local and worldwide coverage so you can probably expect it at the United Nations meet up shortly. What do you want to say about that?" Porque asked as everyone looked at him.
"I don't know where that rumor came from but I've heard it a lot now," Ratchet said as he glanced at a pensive Lucien. "What have you heard, Lucien?"
"I've heard it around but nothing solid," he said. "I'm unaware of where it came from but its in the community."
Ratchet considered that. "It could be just a rumor that started like rumors do or it could be an idea planted into the community by certain humans who want more here. I'll discuss it with Optimus and see what he says."
"Do you think personally that its a good idea?" Carne, a departmental lawyer asked.
"I don't know," Ratchet said with a grin. "Having more humans here would be problematic because not all of them will have the buy-in that the locals have. Earth 1 is nearly ready to have enhanced access to things. We've studied them and feel they're ready. Earth 2? Not likely. Earth 3? I shudder to think but maybe we can call a bluff here and stock it with true believers. The more the leadership of Earth2 remain a minority opinion on world, the better. Put that pending," Ratchet said. "I'll fill you in after Optimus and I go over the notion."
They would continue.
-0-Armory
He took a moment to take a moment with the infant sitting up by herself in The Crate That Must Be Preserved As A Historical Artifact Because Every Baby In The Family Used It Since Orion. He grinned as he handed her a baby cookie. "Slagger. Sitting up just now. Your old ada is going to slag me to the Pit." He pulled his own and they took a break together. "How do you like the new arrangement? Moving the big rockets and bunker busters to a deeper and more secure armory near the Crater District gives us more room for the smaller stuff including your favorites, the little mini-con pop gun shells."
She paused in her efforts to find an edge to her cookie that was softer than the rest to smile at him. "AI!"
Ironhide's optics would take a while to crawl back to his face from their current location down near his debris valve.
-0-In the corridor on the way to the Ambassadorial meeting going on in the Secretariat
"Just remember, Halo, that you have to sit up and say Atar. 'Ah-tar'. That's all you have to do," Ironhide said as he walked along with the baby in the crook of his arm. "Don't tell the old ball and chain that you did this without him. He'll plant one in the middle of my face." He reached the door, walked in and headed to the big conference room where everyone was. Walking in, he sat down beside Ratchet who took Halo and kissed her sideways. She laughed her tiny laugh, smiled her giant baby smile, then tweeted.
It would take a moment for all of them to find their optics which were rolling around somewhere in the corners of the room.
-0-RTR Tools
Pausing before sliding a blade into an oil bath to blaze, Ravel turned to Tie Down who was hammering away on a sword. "Tie! Halo can sit up, tweet and talk baby speech."
Tie paused a moment with surprise, then smiled. "That's very early, right?"
"Very," Ravel said with a smile.
-0-Around the familial grapevine ...
He paused on top of a rubble pile with Keystock and his entourage. He listened off line, then smiled. Turning to slap Keystock on his (backpack-less) shoulder, he laughed. "MY INFANT CAN TWEET!"
The entourage grinned and congratulated him. Keystock would after it was all explained to him …
-0-And over there …
It was a long walk to the end of the potholed road where the junction came together. One road led to the old airfield of Shan, another to the highway that led to Furnace Ravine and the last to Helex. Behind him, walking with as much care as they could, their personal lights brightening up the darkness that was perpetual on Cybertron where repair was still just a plan on a list, Hard Drive and his crew gathered. He looked both ways, considering that this was the 'country' where a lot of manufacturing and very little housing beyond slums existed. Then he got a call. Then he grinned and turned to his entourage. "My little Halo can sit up and tweet. My little princess is trying to talk already."
He was heartily congratulated. Cargo would congratulate him, too, when he had it all explained to him …
-0-As well as here ...
Blackjack walked toward the bridge room in his district office on Cybertron with gusto as Turbine and Delphi followed having bridged in to tell him. They had gotten the message and were determined to be there to see a new thing for themselves. They had missed nearly everything before but now was a new orn. They stepped on board and disappeared …
-0-And still here ...
Prowl frowned. Another one of 'his' had excelled and he wasn't there to see it. There would be consequences. He glanced at Paragon. "I will be right back, Pari."
Paragon nodded, then watched as he left. Grinning, he turned back to the job at hand.
-0-Rec Room, Ops Center, The Fortress
Prowl nearly collided with Blackjack, Turbine and Delphi. "Where are you going in a hurry?" he asked as he fell in line with them.
"Our baby can tweet." -all of them
Prowl frowned slightly as they existed the building. / … mine, you mean, slaggers … they're all mine …/
-0-At a cafe following classes and just before going to do volunteer work at the Shrine for the Thirteenth Prime
Docker grinned. "Halo can sit up and tweet."
"Oh, my," Corr said as he glanced at Docker with surprise. "Isn't she rather young?"
"It would appear so, Corr," Chan said with a smile. "Our little princess is growing up fast. I'm not sure whether I'm happy or not."
"I know. We must have a party tonight. For her and all of them," Docker said as she began to mentally organize it. "We must always celebrate their little achievements. We did for Sonny and look how he turned out?" she asked with the most serious of expressions on her beautiful face.
It was unanimous. They would.
-0-Getting ready to leave
The airfield was getting ships on line to lift off shortly. There would be seven big shuttles, all of them armed and ready to go with veteran crews and pilots. Soldiers were called along with Seekers. When sundown came, they would be on their way. Sub Command below Ops Center was busy with the team that would set things up and do some of the work along with Ops Center above. Missions were now so complex it took extra servos, optics and even facilities to complete them effectively. The alpha armada was on standby in case there was a problem while the Bureau of Refugees sent their alert, 'standby to receive refugees' to their official and support personnel.
It was busy.
-0-At the Secretariat
They all converged, those that had zeroed in on their prize, as all came through the doors and office like a force of nature. Delphi who led them walked in, then picked up Halo. The tiny femme smiled that gigantic smile that babies are famous for as she greeted her great-great grand amma. "My sweet smart little baby. You can sit up and tweet. Tweet for us, infant. Make me love you even more."
"TWEET!"
It would take a moment for them to recover their body parts scattered all over the room.
-0-At the Diner On The Corner a short moment later
They sat together marveling on a certain little femme who was so far ahead of schedule, they thought, that everyone's main topic of conversation was how long Ironhide would be able to hold onto her before the truant officer came with a butterfly net.
"SLAG THAT! SHE'S LITTLE! SHE NEEDS TO BE HELD AND … AND ALL OF IT! SHE'S NOT GOING TO SCHOOL YET BECAUSE SHE'S SMALL! I, IRONHIDE, HAVE SPOKEN!"
Everyone stared at him for a moment, then laughter long and loud broke out. He frowned at all of them, unconsciously delighting his elders to the nth degree. Delphi leaned forward. "Relax, slagger. Whiner. Poor baby."
"You wonder why I grew up this way," Ironhide said with a big smile. As he did, Raptor and Hard Drive walked in without their charges. "Well, look who's here."
Hard Drive relieved him of the baby, then sat. Raptor, who was smiling at her as she lay in Hardie's arms with cameras going off all over the place, sniffed her. "You're so cute. I need a daughter." He looked at Turbine. "I say, old mech … we could use a princess of our own."
"I'm glad you volunteered," Turbine said with a grin. He was sitting back with his arms folded over his big chest smirking at the big lug as he made 'suggestions, loudly'. "I got you the 'slagging cow'. Now you want a daughter."
"I could use a son, too," Raptor said as he pulled his cow out of his hold.
Blackjack frowned. "Slagger," he said.
"Both of you are," Alor said as he walked in followed by Flint, Trooper and Scout. "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO TELL ME SLAG! FRAGGERS!" He picked up Halo, then smiled. "Who's a perfect little infant," he cooed.
"What's her pitch? Is she a singer?" Trooper asked as everyone gathered chairs and sat. Orders were taken, then everyone turned back to Halo.
"I don't know, Appa," Ironhide said. "She's just starting out."
"Well, we'll keep an optic on her. She looks like a singer, Scout," he said.
Scout nodded. "Could be, Troop. She's still small."
"Dibs on her when she's older. We can see what she likes," Scout said with a big smile as his drink came.
"What if she doesn't like anything, Appa?" Ironhide asked.
"Like you?" Trooper asked with a chuckle. "And you have such a great singing voice, Ironhide. You break my spark," he said dramatically. Overly dramatically.
"He does that, breaking sparks, but not in a good way," Ratchet said as huge laughter rose up.
Ironhide glared at him. "Slagger."
"I was talking about Megatron," Ratchet said with a dazzling smile.
Ironhide smirked at him. "If you say so, slagger."
"When do you take off, Appas?" Ironhide asked.
"1800 hours," Hardie said as Raptor nodded.
"Can I come?" Ironhide asked. "You might need me."
Half the elders of a certain age were halted a moment at that request. A certain menace to society shrank back down to a hopeful little mech ala Orion for a moment, then reality slipped back in. "You can come if we call up the alpha fleet. Right now, we got this," Hardie said.
Ironhide grumped a moment, then food came. It would be delish, too.
-0-TBC 3-12-18 edited 3-30-18
NOTES:
mollified: (mall-ih-f-eye-d) made okay, eased, made whole again, satisfied
Porque: (poor-kay) :D
Carne: (Car-nee)