Updated - 13~08~2019

Work, Pilots and Jaegers

Cybertron, Pan Pacific, 14th Paxian 3217, Iacon, 17:45 pm

We exited the Conn-Pod of Cherno Alpha few minutes after our arrival. The experience had being spectacular. I was amazed. We just ran few more tests on the Jaeger's programming and central computer performance, and then we guided the pilots into the simulation room, which mechanisms were just like the Conn-Pod, but reproducing a combat, just to have a look at the different situation the pilots could face and decisions they had to take.

It was quite boring, but the simulator gave us juicy data to analyse. The pilots had to coordinate themselves, like in a Jaeger, but without pilot-to-pilot engagement, simulation a interconnection failure between the commanders, leaving them controlling a suit by two hemispheres with no connection. It was fascinating to watch them working as one. Two minds one frame.

The effectiveness of the control with and without connections obviously had a difference, but in this case it was just the 7% of it, which meant that those two pilots had a real connection with each other. Wow, that meant to know and be able to share ones darkest secrets with someone you had to trust blindly. I felt a bit of envy about that. I remembered the confidence with my friends and family, and I realised that there was resemblance, but this took it all to a whole new level.

"Well, that was everything." Shockwave concluded. "We will analyse the outfit and we will start performing changes as soon as we get reliable results. Until then, Cherno Alpha will be operational and in duty."

"Good!" Silence grinned. "Actions is just what we need." He added with bright optics.

"That's our second name." His elder brother commented vainly. "We're leaving now. Dr. Shockwave, Knockout." They greeted. "By the way, whenever you want to hang around, call us kiddo." Skywarp said turning around one last time before they left. I nodded.

"Well, I think today I did good advances with the Steams." I grinned. "Let's get to the control room to get the videos of Cherno's training session." I suggested.

The purple nodded and we walked through the levels discussing the different changes we should do to Cherno Alpha. We both concluded the movement mechanisms had to be replaced for new ones, at least the legs management. We finally reached our destiny, the command station.

Alpha was commanding something when we entered in. "...Make sure that it is secured in each place, and that the energon levels are replaced, ready to use at any time..." We waited patiently until everything was set calm again.

"Scientist in the house." I announced vividly. Everything looked at us, most of them at me, with some soft laughs.

Alpha turned around with a light smile. "Well, how was the ride?" He asked as he approached me.

"It was... good." I tried to seem mature.

"Don't lie." Prowl replied with a grin as he sat up. "We all heard you shouting!"

I opened my optics wide in surprise and then embarrassment made its appearance. "Ok, you caught me." I blushed up. "It was awesome! I'm looking forward to do it again!" My optics couldn't go brighter.

"He's going to enjoy it, Alpha. He'll do it." The former pilot talked up, walking towards us. At that time I didn't understand whether he was talking about being on Pan Pacific or the project we were handling. Few years later did I fully understand what he meant, but not then. Anyway, I was having the adventure of my life, and those words were just a tiny detail in the huge story I was writing.

"Now, what have you get out from your little ride?" The eldest mech asked.

"Not much, just that there are mechanisms that need to be changed." I explained shortly.

"We came here to take the videos of the testing session." Shockwave added. "It would be logical to compare both internal and external performance, what would make our calculations more exact." Prowl gave him a data pad, which contained the material we needed. "We will start working now, and as soon as he get the results, we will let you know." Then he turned to me. "Let's get into the lab. We will have less disturbances there."

I just nodded as we exited the command station. We walked once more through the long corridors until we reached the laboratory and we settled down to work. We made the data pad bigger, until it was as big as a tv. Then Shockwave played the video of the different outside cameras first.

We took notes for a while and commenting different point of views and signalling the screen. Four hours were gone while we studied the data. We didn't even noticed some cybertronians had entered in few occasions, or that Pharma was back after his afternoon nap. He also got into his own work for some hours.

Suddenly we noticed someone by our side. "It's a pity we haven't got energon pops." Pharma had rolled his chair towards us and sat himself behind us. "It would have been a good action movie with the right OST." He bended over my shoulder as I was writing some formulas. "By the way I've heard you had a great time riding Cherno. Well, better said, everyone in Pan Pacific does know it, your joy cries were heard from here!" We both laughed.

"Yeah, it was spectacular." I replied, turning lightly the chair towards him. "If you ever ever are offered a ride on a Jaeger, do not never refuse, it would be the chance of your life. I assure you it."

"No doubt of it." He replied. "Now, I don't know you guys, but it's 21:30, and I'm starving. I wanna have dinner. You coming?"

"Sure!" I subspaced my notes.

Three of us walked through the corridors, as we chatted about the day we had. In the way we found Soundwave, who joined the conversation, in his way. Pharma was telling he wanted to take new samples from the next Terrorcon, as many as he could, while Shockwave said that the white and red mech had gone crazy and that the contact with the Terrorcon made him illogical and obsessed. Soundwave just giggled as I laughed hard. Discussion between experts were a great entertainment, but they were even better if Ratchet was around.

We entered the canteen, and we sat at the same place as before. The Steam brothers were next to us, but one of them was standing up, just telling their colleagues how had the training session been developed, and our reaction. Everyone was listening in complete silence, attentive to every word. "Oh, and you should have listened the joy cries of our friend right here." The youngest one approached me and offered a cube. "Tell us kiddo, did you enjoyed the ride?"

"Well, I think I will have to give another shot before I come to a conclusion." I answered grinning widely. "Being among Jaegers was great, but being inside Cherno and watch him come to life... My Mech that was awesome!"

Cybertronians around laughed. Pharma then raised his voice, "Hey Knockout, tell us about you a bit. How was your first day? How were you recruited?"

"Ok, I'll make long story short." I said taking a sip from my cube. "I'm Knockout Sky. I'm from Crystal City, I'm just 16, and I'm exceptionally gifted." I paused for a moment as I refuelled myself. Then I continued. "Alpha and I know each other since long before, he knew that I could help the R.R.D.C. So he has just recruited me." I drank a bit more.

"I was giving a lecture to some former classmates when Prowl..." I greeted him, "...Interrupted me. He escorted me here and... Well, I was informed about the project. Then I was shown the Jaegers, I had the chance to have a ride in one of theme... Shockwave and I spent quite a lot of time watching lobbing matches... Ups, I wanna say Cherno's training session videos." There were laughs as I could hear the purple mech complaining, saying it was illogical.

"To sum up, I would say that I'm honoured to be part of the Pan Pacific's scientist group, work with such a great colleagues, awesome pilots, impressive machines..." I stated while making reference to each cybertronian I met that day. "I never thought I would be given such an opportunity, and I think I could classify this day as one of the best days of my life." I quieted for a moment. "Thank you all."

There were claps all over the canteen room as I sat down. Then Alpha stood up, I noticed that him and Prowl were alone in the most separated table at the other side of the room. He just cleared his voice and talked to me, "We hope you feel comfortable in here and you find good companions around. For the incoming years among us." Everyone raised their glass. "Welcome, Knockout, to Pan Pacific." Claps filed the room as cheers were heard loud.

"Knockout, it seems that you're now part of us!" Ratchet patted my shoulder. We were having a good time, and I felt part of it. It was amazing.

I wasn't aware of what was going on at the other side of the canteen, were Alpha and Prowl discussed something, almost like whispering. "I really think he could do it well." The former pilot said. "I've seen that look before in myself. He's looking forward to it." They both looked at the red mech. "Look at him, he's young, fast, we would have to watch him in a sparring contest, but I think he's nimble enough for it. I've seen him fighting." He looked once more into his friends optics. "He has a strong mind, he could bear a mental handshake."

"You maybe right, but I'm afraid he's still too young, yet." Alpha replied. "And we don't know if the connection will failure, due to his memories."

"Do you think he's a trauma, so strong that would not let him complete the laze?" The cop asked silently.

Alpha didn't responded immediately, "I know him since he was five, I've seen him falling down and rising up again." He looked at the red young mech again. "We will let him grow until he becomes full grown mech. For then, he would have finished the updates of the actual Jaegers." He added. "Then, we will start training him."