The Diego Diaries: Housekeeping (dd6 499)
-0-Ops Center, Autobot City
They stood beside the command table at rigid attention. Jolt, however, being a wise aft mini-con worked only so much to keep the slight smirk off his face. Prowl was staring at the door down the way as he waited with arms crossed and a slow burn in effect. Ratchet was playing a game on a handheld and made no bones about it as he did. The humans were standing silently in groups on the table top as Gavin Pritchard walked to Ratchet. He looked at the game. :That's the craziest hardest looking version of Bubble Wars I've ever seen:
"Well, some think we're just glorified pinball machines, you know," Ratchet said with a wink.
Pritchard grinned. :I don't. You're more the claw hand machine that grabs little trinkets out of mechanized boxes down at the grocery stores:
Ratchet laughed. "That's probably true." He grinned, then followed Prowl's gaze to the doors down the way even as the tremors reached everyone through the floor. All of the construction of the colony was made to standards that would boggle the minds of the humans if they really knew. Everyone in the colony were varying degrees of heavy including small children so it was necessary that everywhere they walked was made to certain detailed specifications to support that. The floors had to hold and then some through intricate layering and materials construction. There could be no tremors and they would be muffled against the constant sound of walking and movement by heavy equipment-type loads like the bots were to a degree as metallic individuals.
It was much remarked upon how quiet things were though especially when a bot moved fast or pivoted. It was very seldom that the sound of their armor could be heard to make noise. The tromping and metal-on-metal action that movies and cartoons showed of them wasn't the reality here. The bots armor didn't clank unless it was an embellishment and most of those were removable portions of their personal artillery. They didn't make heavy or metallic sounds when they walked nor did the tremors often demonstrated in films happen. The joinings and joints, plates and other parts actually had texture if you were strong enough to grip and feel it. They had the ability to bend any part of their body any way they required to make movements and those movements were without noise 99.9% of the time. It was no more noisy here than it was among a human population on Earth.
Fortunately.
That being said, huge mechanisms like Bulkhead or Prime, the heavier members of their species and some of the big Seekers could cause a tremor when they walked. The paved roads and constructions that were home and city prevented that in their designs almost to a fault. If they didn't, the noise would be unbearable. It would be catastrophic and there would be no way to have a passable quality of life if every movement made a sound and every step caused a tremor. These mechanisms could stealth like nobody's business and if their bodies made the movements attributed to them by those who didn't know better, such as movie makers, they would give themselves away before they were even seen.
All that aside, Optimus Prime and the Praxians trailing him were some big mo-fo's.
They watched the mechs come with Optimus in the lead followed by Ironhide and Raptor. Optimus Prime was the personification of dignity and power, an effect that preceded him. The humans who watched never tired of it and the newbies felt the flutter of his enormity and dignity in their guts every time they saw him. To see him was to understand a lot. One could blow smoke rings out their ass anyway about the bots if they wanted and often did. But to see and be around him, one got it about these people. They were no one to trifle with and only the most arrogant, corrupt person or Decepticon forgot that.
Optimus paused at the end of the table after hearing about the situation all the way from the bridge room from Prowl off line. He was a bit amused and saw the good of coming here to personally see to this. What was amusing was Prowl's disgust and angst. He pulled out a chair, then sat. Everyone was facing him silently but for Smokey and Jolt who were boring holes into the far wall with their optics now that dad had arrived to spank/ground/bop them.
Prime glanced at Prowl. "I got your message. I suppose we should discuss this to some good end."
"I suppose we should," Prowl said with irritation. "Mr. Frazer filed a complaint. We had negotiated a settlement but it wasn't taken in the spirit I required by some of us," he said as he arched an optical ridge toward the two miscreant Autobots standing like statues beside the table. "I defer to your greater wisdom."
It was silent, then Prime settled his elbows on the table lacing his giant digits together, an altogether human and relatable sight to the humans waiting for him to speak. He looked at the newbies, Owen and the others as well as the uptight wary figure of Cameron Frazer and his equally tense father, Pierre. "Mr. Frazer … you were on Diego for the business of Earth2 and this happened. Correct?"
:Yes, sir: Frazer said as he straightened his posture.
"You assert it wasn't provoked by you," Prime said.
:It wasn't. I was insulted by this mech when I came out of the Officer's Club: He said pointing to Jolt, then Smokey. :I don't feel it reflects well on their professionalism to do that to me or anyone else for that matter. In some ways, we're on the same team: he said rather boldly.
"I have no problem with that concept, Mr. Frazer. You will find that our army is more informal than yours and that our soldiers are from mostly civilian lives prior to the war. That being said, I expect my soldiers to uphold both their honor and the Autobots when they are among the humans. I was filled in on the incident and you were also out of line in your commentary it was discovered. Some of it was profane and demeaning. You cannot demand for yourself what you do not give to others. Your best course of action was to walk away without remarking, thereby claiming the high ground in this incident. You did not do that." Prime stared at him but Frazer said nothing. He wanted to, clearly, but didn't.
"It would appear that both are at fault and both sides owe the other amends. I am not in charge of you, Mr. Frazer. I am leaving that to the leadership of Earth2. These two soldiers are my responsibility and I will handle that part of this encounter." He sat back to look at all the humans there. "I am open to your council, William."
Lennox stared at Frazer, then Prime. :I think what you've decided is good. You can't get respect unless you give it. Apparently, you aren't being very collegial or nice to others on Diego, Frazer. Mr. Harris might consider assigning your duties to someone with more tact and personal warmth: Will turned to Owen Harris and Pierre Beliveau. :We worked together just fine before Daniels. We worked just fine before you. How is it that the bots get the rap when the common thread isn't them?:
Owen Harris stared at Lennox for a moment, then turned to Prime. :It's the position of the board of Earth2 to have good working relationships with all areas of life on Mars and the individuals that live there. That includes our sites and yours on Earth. I would like to chalk this up to a steep learning curve and start again. We will handle this end of things if your end is satisfied:
Prime considered that, then nodded. "It is."
Owen relaxed a tad. :Thank you, Lord Optimus. We'd like to go then. We're withdrawing the complaint now that we understand each other better. We will do our best to work with everyone. We're still shaking out how things are done and if there are any further problems in future, a call to the habitat will go a long way toward keeping things clear and optimal between us:
Prime nodded. "Agreed."
Owen turned to the others including Frazer who didn't look happy but kept it to himself. They nodded to all, then walked to the steps and to the floor where they boarded up and drove off. Everyone watched them go, then turned back to Prime.
:That was interesting. Do you want me to go over the base and see what Frazer has been doing there when he goes?: Lennox asked.
"That would be helpful, William. The more intel you have, the better your options," Prime said with a nod. "Good afternoon, Thomas and Ron Witwicky."
:Good afternoon, Lord Optimus: as Thomas Lennox insisted upon calling Prime. He was old school, Will's dad. He loved and admired Optimus Prime deeply. :How was Cybertron? I heard on the news that a number of toxic sites are now nearing repaired status:
Prime leaned forward again. He liked and admired Thomas Lennox. He was an old school gentleman. "They are. We have much to do but a lot of the worst aspects of our disaster are being addressed. We cannot rebuild upward or out until all of the broken substructure and toxic materials are taken care of."
Thomas nodded. :I look forward to the day we can go there and see for ourselves what a beautiful world Cybertron is. The images will probably not do it justice:
"They never do," Ratchet said with a grin. "How was the sandwich, Ron?"
:Great. I could use another but Judy will slap me: Ron said with a grin. He glanced at the two tense bots standing at full attention behind him. :What about them? They make good bookends:
Smokey blanched and Jolt grinned, but that faded under the heat of Prowl's frown.
"Perhaps duty at Camp Recluse like *FOREVER* will do the trick," Prowl fumed.
Snickers and laughter rounded the room as the two stared at the walls. Prime was amused, if not a bit disappointed in a fatherly and grandfatherly way. "I understand that you mentioned Mr. Frazer's problem with his former companion and his fizzled naval career, Jolt."
Jolt glanced at him. "I heard he hit femmes. What kind of fragger hits a femme? Those Earth femmes … they break easy. He had no call to do that."
"No, he did not. I would hope that if you are going to be representing our people, Mars, Cybertron and the Empire you would do so with honor and dignity. When you represent them, you represent me," Prime said quietly.
The two glanced at him, then at the wall ahead of them, their postures tightening. It was like getting slagged by your granny. "Yes, sir." -both
"I am no one to come to about the mores and foibles of humans. Harming others isn't the Autobot way. We did not start our war and we do not favor violence, especially that which comes to no good end. Why he did or does what he does is not for me to say. Since he is now part of Earth2 and if he does such things again, we have access and control given the charters, I believe we have him where he needs to be to intervene. However, your conduct was unbecoming an Autobot."
It was still in the room as the disapproval of Prime hung over both like a shroud. There was something really bad about disappointing Prime to the two. Smokey glanced at him. "Permission to speak, sir."
"Granted," Prime said as the lines off line burned up with amusement, some of it coming from his watchful amma.
"Sir … we didn't mean disrespect. That is … we didn't mean to make others look bad. It's just … THIS GUY! HE'S A JERK!" Smokey caught himself, then stood straighter. "I mean … he's mean and says stuff about us to others. He sneers when he sees us and I WOULDN'T PUT IT PAST HIM IF HE HIT A FEMME AGAIN!" He caught himself. "Sir."
Jolt turned to Prime. "I agree. I heard him make comments to guys he knows about what a bunch of crap he thinks we are. He really has it out for the twins, Sideswipe in particular. I even think he can't figure out which of them that is. He treats us like slag, Optimus. I don't like it. No one in the garrison likes him and the humans tell me no one among them does either. He's a first class jerk."
Prime nodded. "That may be true but I expect you to be professional and hold it together. Report what you hear and see. Do not act on it or you will be brigged. I am going to give you this warning. If this happens again, I will brig you for three orns. Are we clear?"
"Sir! Yes, sir," they both said, then Jolt turned to him. "What do you want to do about him slagging us?"
"Report it," Prime said. "Tell the garrison shift commander and have them report it to Prowl. If you notice anything that looks like a pattern or alliance building, tell us about it. You may not act on your own. Neither of you are noted for your subtlety."
They stared at Prime, then nodded. "We will," Smokey said with relief. He laughed. "For a moment there, I though you were going to throw us in the brig!"
"I am not. It would do no good. But you will have maintenance duty at the Veteran's Center for the next decaorn. Three joors an orn for the next decaorn," Prime said as the two froze with surprise. "I am giving you a break with the brig. I am not letting you off the hook. You are dismissed back to Diego. Go and sin no more."
Jolt and Smokey stared at him, each other, then the others. Sagging listlessly a bit, they began to walk to the doors and the bridge room beyond.
Dev watched them, then called out. "Smokescreen."
He paused, then looked at the god who was his amma. "What?" he asked forlornly.
"Pie. My house after your punishment detail tonight." Dev grinned slightly and nodded just slightly.
Smokey perked up almost immediately. "Okay." He glanced at Jolt. "What about Jolt coming, too? Do you have enough?" he asked hopefully.
"There will always be enough," Dev said with a grin.
Smokey smiled at his amma, then slapped Jolt on the shoulder. "Wait until you eat my amma's pie. Praxian Humble Pie. Have you ever heard of it?" Smokey said as they reached the door.
"The kind with that stuff you pour on it?" Jolt asked as they turned to the left and wandered out of sight.
Everyone stared at the door, then at Devcon who stood and stretched. "I would like the rest of the afternoon off, Prowl, if you don't mind."
"No problem," Prowl said as the big mech turned to go. "Where you going if I may ask?"
"Home. To make pies," Dev said as he glanced back with a smile. He walked out as a Home Guardsman slid into his place. He was gone in a second.
:Humble Pie?: Bobby Epps asked with a smirk.
"Seems appropriate to me," Prowl said with a chuckle.
It seemed so to everyone else.
-0-TBC 10-18-18 edited 10-21-18
optimusprime101: I will always try for two a day. :D