The Diego Diaries: Steiner (dd6 538)
-0-The Diner On The Corner
"This is nice. I haven't been in a Cybertronian restaurant since The Fall. I got a few of your messages, Optimus and the odd rumor. What's the story?" he asked as he gave his order with assistance and sat back to wait for something that actually was going to taste good for once.
"We came here to find the AllSpark which we did, then built this place when calls for soldiers drew refugees. It lead from one thing to another and now we have the biggest Cybertronian habitation outside of Cybertron anywhere. We have also taken back Cybertron and the local group," Optimus said.
"Without firing a shot," Ironhide said to his great uncle. Cue convoluted genealogical of the average old timey Cybertronian family.
It sort of went like this.
Maybe.
Alor and Blackjack were genitors of Ironhide. On Alor's side, his genitors, Ironhide's grandparents, were Scout and Trooper. Given that Lissie and Steiner were Trooper's brother and sister, that made the two of them his great aunt and uncle. Their genitors were still missing and maybe always would be. It was the crap shoot of living Cybertronian.
That didn't count Hardie's own brothers, Ironhide and Blackjack who were constructed and spark infused from the Well at the same time, shared the same design and for all accounts and purposes were brothers as any other would be. Given that a lot of individuals were cold forged or constructed and thereby weren't retrieved by normal methods, masses could be made at the same time. Given also that most of the exempt members of their species and those who formed The Immortals were unfortunate enough to be created for sale and slavery, they were unable to make families the normal way. Ironhide, Hard Drive and Blackjack were brothers in every sense of the word otherwise and considered themselves so, a practice that continued with every protoform granted a spark at the Well even now.
"How did Soundwave take it? I heard he wasn't very happy when you decided to retrieve the planet," Steiner asked with a smirk.
"He wasn't. Its the finest part of my orn when I get to watch him squirm," Prowl said with a great satisfaction.
"I can imagine," Steiner said with a laugh. He looked at Lissie. "I suppose you train officers and the like?"
"I do," she said with a big smile. She sat next to him holding his servo. They were always close and now was no different. "You can stay with me, Stein. Until you get on your peds."
"That would be fine," he said with a grin. "I suppose you want to know what we know about the situation out there?"
"We do," Prime said.
"Well, its odd. We came around from the Ravages and through the farthest reaches of the empire. We mapped. That was our thing. We wanted to find everyone, chart them and help with rescue some fine orn. We went as far as we could into space before turning around. We've charted the farthest reaches of our dispersal. I think we located about 200,000,000 of our people living over a wide range of space, Prime. Some of them have developed strongholds and some are wandering. We sent those groups toward the safest places when we came across them and kept going.
"We also found that there's a hard core leadership in place with Megatron gone to unexplored space. I suppose you know about that," Steiner asked.
"We do," Prime said.
"This leadership isn't Cybertronian and they were put in place by Megatron before he left with the caveat that anyone who defies them will die either on the spot at the moment or when he got back. I don't know what's he's doing but looking for allies appears to be a large part of it. He's also killing a species he ran into that is adapting to him, changing up their defenses and giving him good sport. They must be so numerous that you could live a lifetime and not find them all. He's trying or so traders have said."
Prime nodded. "We heard that as well."
"Maybe they'll adapt and get him," Turbine said.
"Then come for us in revenge with our luck," Raptor said.
Everyone nodded.
"We will give you the maps. We don't have much information about the slaggers in charge but they're bad news for anyone who breaks ranks. Some have anyway. There are battle groups and freebooters out there that would come this way if they find out about the energon. Given that I know about it, then they will. The group we joined passed a battle group heading out of this area and Raptor says it might be the one you had a tift with. Shrike, I remember. He's never going to let this go. He's going to get a big group together and be back in force," Steiner said.
"I agree," Prime said. "We are building strength upon strength. It is less dire if they do than before."
Steiner nodded. "Good," he said.
"You are now on the General Staff and we have a meeting tomorrow to discuss things and will introduce you and go over your information," Prowl said. "We have a community committee with our general staff that runs the show here and advises Optimus who is the final word on decisions here. We also have human allies, small organic individuals who have about eight habitats here. Another ally is the Hu-An. They also have a space until their worlds are liberated."
Steiner nodded. "Sounds good to me."
"Then we need break this up and reconvene in the morning," Prime said as he glanced at Lissie. "Lissie, do you require anything for your brother's accommodation?"
"No," Lissie said with a big smile. "How about you and Trooper coming to my apartment and helping me tuck Steiner in?"
"We're coming, too," Alor said as he stood.
"We are?" Blackjack asked with a grin.
"We are," Alor said as he stepped back to let Lissie by. "How else will he know about Pudding?"
"What's a pudding?" Steiner asked with a big grin.
"A SLAGGING WORK AND WONDER!" Blackjack said with a smile as he followed everyone to the door. They stepped out and were gone.
It was silent a moment, then Lon and Bezel leaned closer to Raptor. "General, who was that besides a family member?"
Raptor grinned. 'That is my uncle, the slagging finest demolitions mech I ever knew. What he doesn't know about a munition isn't known. He's also one of the best stealth operators ever. Steiner is an Immortal and an exempt mech. Let that percolate down a bit, infants. Mech is a wonder of the world. THE GALAXY!"
The kids nodded, then sat back marveling as the others grinned.
"I better go see about the patients. You might all go back to your life or fragging, whichever came first," Ratchet said as he stood. Finishing his drink, he smirked at the punters, then walked out.
Prowl stared after him. "He's truly a crude, lewd dude."
Everyone turned to stare at Prowl who stiffened. "I can tell jokes."
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!" general consensus.
-0-On a metro to the city where Lissie lives
They swayed in the half empty train grinning at each other. It stopped at Bern as a bunch of rowdy kids got on board. They spotted the group, then sat down on benches to behave themselves. When the station they wanted arrived Lissie led the way off. They continued onward heading to the streets where Steiner paused to look around. "This is slagging awesome, Lis. Everyone has been busy but given the quality of the Prime who is surprised?"
"Not me," Lissie said as she took his servo. They walked onward. "We found Sentinel Prime near here, Stein. He wasn't assassinated. He was lying. He was coming here to find slave labor and energon to rebuild Cybertron. He was going to bring her here."
"He's not dead?" Steiner asked with surprise.
"No, he lived. He was tried in a Primal Hearing with Special Circumstances. The Pantheon weighed in and took him away, he, Decimus and Contrail. They were recalled."
Steiner considered that, then nodded. "Suits their crimes. I heard that the Functionalist Council has survived. Any word on that? We hunted them as best we could but they fled into the Ravages and that's worth your life to enter."
"We intercepted them and they were tried as well. They were recalled," Lissie said as they reached her building.
"Prime's been busy," Steiner said with a smile.
"We all have. Come in and see our home," Lissie said as she led the way to the elevators. They all entered and were gone.
-0-Medical Center
It was a riot of activity as several hundred patients were worked into the system. Both Femme and the Med Center were busy with patients. Some were even taken to the prison Medical Center to help with the crushing need. There were 2,582 individuals in the group and nearly all of them were in need of medical attention. Ratchet walked into elder intensive care and spotted Partition on loan from the Watch. Walking to his side, he watched the kid hook the elder up to data machines and infusion lines. "Nice work."
Partition glanced up, then grinned. "What a bunch of sick people. We have several hundred elders and adults in care. That doesn't count everyone else."
"I'm going to infant ICU but I thought I'd say hi. Alor's Uncle Steiner was in this group. He's Lissie's brother. You and Lancer need to meet him. He's gold, solid gold." Ratchet said with a grin.
"I will. Where's he staying? With Auntie Lissie?" Partition said as he turned on the machines and programmed them to do their job for this patient.
"He is. I'm going to be here a while, then head out. Carry on," Ratchet said.
Partition nodded as he watched Ratchet walk out. Then he turned to the four other patients he was assigned to prep for stayovers. He would be busy all night long.
-0-Up in a tower after everyone left
They sat in chairs by the window watching the lights of the city. Beyond them as a dim glow, they could see the lights of the massive Crater District. Steiner glanced at her. "This is amazing."
"I love to sit here and watch the colony. Either by orn or night, its all good, Stein. Over that way," she pointed, "is an enclave called Aerie Hill where the Seekers live. They like the higher ground. It has about 1,700,000 Seekers. Most of the clan leadership is here along with Rainmaker and his family. He has some very fine sons."
"Rainmaker is a fine mech. I love his bonds as well. I heard that Starscream defected," Steiner said.
"He was dying when Thundercracker brought him here. They defected and then Shockwave took over. He was stupid enough to fight with Prime and he's now in special stasis in the vault under The Fortress. That left Soundwave and he's no soldier. It was only a matter of time. He now works as an officer in some functionary position at the HQ in Iacon. It's very satisfying to me that he's fallen so low," Lissie said with a grin. "Mech could learn some humility."
Steiner laughed. "I agree. This is going to be fun."
"It will be when you meet everyone. Ratchet and Ironhide have a big family. They have about five or six infants of their own, about 50 adopted ones and half the army hanging out at their apartment. We will meet them tomorrow. We have a Seeker great nephew and a number of titanic children … six Metro-titans and three dreadnought kids."
"Oh Primus," Steiner said with a laugh. "Infant still thinks he can best Ratchet?"
Lissie nodded. "He does, poor infant. By the way, Ratchet's genitors were found and they have opened RTR Tools here. We can go by and you can stock up. I have two of their swords and they come sentient, Stein."
"Frag. That's great all around. I could use a tool kit. A knife or two. My sword can use an edge. They made it way back when," he said as he sat back in comfort for the first time in ages.
They would chat for hours, turn in, then greet the day with gusto.
Lissie and Steiner, tyros from infancy were back together again.
=0=TBC 12-6-18
Notes tomorrow. :D:D:D