Updated - 27~09~2019

The Genius

Cybertron, Pan Pacific, 04th Tarnian 3223, Iacon

Three months were already gone. I gave a month sketching the internal mechanisms of the limbs, now I was working on the joints between them and the next step was to figure out how to get a nuclear reactor into the chest. But well, it would take me quite a lot of time, after all, I still had the physical and mathematical work left. And of course, I was running out of time. Not proud of it.

Anyway, when I showed Alpha Trion the first drawing, he looked impressed, and also intrigued. Yeah, I presented him a Jaeger without a Conn-Pod. I explained him that I couldn't come up with any idea for it. He just told me to relax, that I would eventually sketch it with no problem. And that's how my Jaeger got green light to be continued, helmless.

Everything was going quite well, all things considered, but discretion wasn't a virtue among some of us. The Mark III project, even if just few knew about it, was soon known all over the base, thanks to a member of The Genius, Pharma. Oh! I haven't mentioned it before, my bad. Our scientist group was now called The Genius, and our lab was now The Genius Zone, obvious. At the really beginning we were called The Geniuses, but it turned out people around found it difficult to pronounce it, so said name was shorten, leaving us to be known as The Genius.

So, as I was saying, we entered the canteen, ready to have some energon. I had quite a lot of good suggestions going around my mind and yet not enough for what I needed. I hated to admit it, but I went blank and I had no idea how to go on. Pressure was starting to make me show fangs in some occasion and it was taking the worst out of me. I decided to dismiss it until I got back to work after a good and relaxed lunch.

Only that said lunch never happened. That was my luck, always a pothole on the way that never let me be at ease. As soon as we sat on our table, Pharma got up and called everyone's attention.

"Ok, everyone listen to me." The white and blue mech said. Once he got the rest attention he began to speak. "The Kiddo here, is gonna safe the R.R.D.C. and Cybertron. How? Easy, it's being a while since he started, but he is innovating the ultimate, most dangerous, fastest and newest Jaeger, the first Mark III, which will end up with every Terrorcon on its way. War days will be over soon comrades." In that moment I would have loved to offline him there, right in the spot where he was. "Not only that, he has dedicated the shoulder plates to The Genius, which will wear the number 34 on it. Come on Knockout, tell us a bit more."

Everyone turned to look at me, awaiting. I smiled nervously, and then I sat up, really slowly. What to do? Shockwave didn't show any emotion, as always. Ratchet on the contrary said everything with his optics, he was gonna kill Pharma, and Prowl was away in another table. "Well, is true that I'm working in a new Jaeger, a Mark III, but I still need to make a lot before it's send to construction zone." I tried to get out of the awkward situation by using the handy talk-much-and-say-nothing thing.

"Hey, Knockout, you aren't saying that your robot will be better than Cherno, are you?" The eldest Steam asked, in a tricky tone.

"I still have no idea how will it look like, nor how good will it be." I answered, trying not to gain them as enemies again. "Anyway, we all know that Cherno has offline more Terrorcons than any Jaeger. That will be difficult to overtake." I added, making the Kaonians relax, satisfying their ego.

"How will you name it?" A vehicon asked behind me.

"Ah... No idea." I answered.

"What colours will it have?" Another one spoke up, curious.

"Ah... No idea." I repeated.

"What weaponry are you giving it?" An azure and pink femme, with determined optics, inquired me at the very back of the room, next to Prowl.

I didn't really pay her much attention as I tried to figure out how to evade awkward questions. "Ah... Still no idea." I was getting nervous, like a trapped animal trying to look for a runaway.

"So, what do you have?" A security mech asked behind me. I turned to look at him. "I mean, if you have no idea about anything, is there anything done for sure or is it another unfounded rumour to keep us all easy down?"

"Ok, I think we should let him have lunch, so that he can come back to work as soon as possible." Prowl intervened. I thanked him silently, but this was something I had to do.

"No, this goes for real." I stated back, cold helm. "I will allow you to question my decision of not telling you yet, but you will not question my work." A really cold silence was settled. I made a pause and continued. "There is a work in process and it will eventually be finished. I'm still structuring and figuring out how to make up a perfect machine out of nowhere. Such works cannot be made in an afternoon, can be?" Another pause. "If someone here thinks they can design and build an new Mark III better than myself, I will gladly give them the project and I'll step aside." I inquired, gazing people around. "If not, I'm open to any ideas, suggestions and so on. So, if you're done criticising me, let me have lunch, and I just might finish earlier to keep working." I finally made myself clear, so I sat down and ate my energon, bad-tempered.

When I was done, I left the canteen and headed The Genius Zone, where I was tempted to tear apart all my scrawls and even the lab itself. I was mad. So mad that my mind refused to get down to work. After some minutes, I just sat down and vented deeply, maybe I could cool myself before getting into matter. It worked, at least for some time, until I got company again.

Some hours later, the rest of the scientist entered, followed by Prowl. "... Don't you see that you have gained him such a pressure apart from the one he already had? Now he will have to speed up in his work, what can lead to errors, and that to lose sparks." He was scolding the scientist. "He's gonna have the R.R.D.C. on, watching every move he does, even when he vents."

"I thought he had the Jaeger already on its finishing way and everyone would be thrilled about it, so why not letting them know?" Now I was starting to feel anxiety over my frame. My design wasn't completed, far from it. "People out there need a motivation, need to feel they are safe, need to know they are contributing to something big, something more than just themselves! And this Jaeger it's precisely that!" Pharma tried to explain himself.

"Yes, and now, if we want to complete the task and keep the R.R.D.C. content, he will have to finish it in two months, perhaps three." Prowl replied. "Good intention, Pharma, but incorrect action. You can't push someone who's over the edge of the hill further, and that's what you've done. Don't you see the res..."

"Ahhhrg! Can you two just shut your mouths up!" I growled so loud that they became muttered, piercing glare on my optics. "I do have enough pressure now, so thank you! You're not helping neither." I stated sardonically as I gathered my things. I decided to continue working in my quarters. "Now, with your permission, I'll be in my room." I stated as I stood up and I exited the lab, dark expression on.

I was heading my quarters when my pedes decided to lead me anywhere. I wandered for a moment through the metallic corridors, not minding cybertronians around nor their comments. I finally took a hint of where was I heading, Alpha's room. Yes, I needed to talk to him. Fortunately, I found him in his there, lucky me.

I knocked the door, I entered in and I waited in silence until he turned to face me. "Come here, Knockout, take a sit if you wish." I didn't know what to think, but I did as told. The project wasn't a secret, but it would have been more sensible to carry it out in a more discrete way. Things where getting sticky around lately, specially since R.R.D.C.' s warnings. I was about to hear an scolding, for sure.

Instead, Alpha sat by my side and took my data pad out my servos. I tried to explain the situation, but nothing came out of my mouth so I closed it and looked at the floor. For my surprise, he didn't look the progresses of the Jaeger, he just left the data pad on the table. Then he looked at me and laid a hand on my shoulder. "Prowl has told me what happened. You came here to talk about it, right?" I nodded. "Then, tell me, what's wrong?"

I didn't know how to explain it. "Alpha... I would have loved to have the Jaeger finished, and to be able to let know everyone this new Jaeger will make it well, but... I... I will not be able to fulfil the task." Those words hurt me in the very core of my spark. "I'm sorry." I still hadn't looked at him.

"Ok, I just want a reason why you want to throw in the towel." He let those last words sank in my processor. I reminded in silence, since I didn't even know the answer myself. He just snorted. "Anyway, I knew you weren't capable of it, but I least you have left quite good material for our next engineer." He stated a bit slyly. "I just have to add that I appreciate your work. Thank you." He was now been swindler, like I've never seen him before. "Oh! By the way, since you haven't completed the project, the next one will be given the congratulations for your work, and also put its signature on it." He knew that would make me tickle. "Well done."

I raised my gaze, with an expression between anger, frustration and disbelief. "What!?" I spatted angrily. "No way! No way other one takes my merits for granted. I'm not giving up." I stood up and I reached my data pad ready to leave. "Me, doing the job for somebody else, and become the great loser? Ha! Over by offlined frame!" I continued as I reached the door.

I could hear Alpha laughing behind me. I stoped in my tracks and turned around. He was looking at me with a genuine smile on his face plates. "What." I asked seriously. Suddenly the reality hit me hard, as my optics opened in astonishment. "Wait, you have been using inverse psychology on me!?" I couldn't believe it. "Have you!?"

He laughed hard as he nodded. "Come here, sit down." He said still smiling.

"I hate you, Alpha." I sat as before. "I hate you."

"I know you mean love." He answered back. He always had good come backs. "Good, I have achieved my objective, keeping you working on your Jaeger. Now, getting serious. I know that you can do it, and I know that you're under pressure, but you can perform the task perfectly well. I've seen you saving lives with cold helm in really dangerous and stressful situation, so I have no doubt that you will do it fine." He paused for a moment. "About dates, I'm not gonna cut down your deadline. I gave you almost a year, and you still have time. I want the work well done, not just done."

"Then, you're suggesting that I do not have to do it in a rush?" I asked, hoped.

"I know you do well your job and that you always finish everything before deadlines, with quite a lot of time left." He answered. "I'm not even afraid about this work." He said really calm.

"And Pan Pacific? What to do with curious people?" I was still trying to figure out how to avoid all those awkward questions. "I cannot hide in my room and hope they will leave me alone."

"I'm already on it." He winked an optic in confidence. "Now, don't stress yourself and keep working as before. Go for it."

"Thank you." I nodded and I exited the room, heading the lab again, determination filling my spark. I would feel more comfortable in company of my fellows rather than in a lonely and tiny cubicle. Plus, I owed then a really-really huge apology for my previous lame behaviour.

I found the scientist in there as I'd expected, working on their respective things, and Prowl sitting on my chair, chatting with Ratchet, quietly. They all muted and turned to face me. Pharma stood up and walked towards me. "Hey, Knockout... I'm sorry, I didn't meant to put you in such a situation... I..."

"No Pharma, there's nothing you have to apologise for." I said sincerely, laying my servo on his shoulder. "You were right. I'm the one who has to apologise, to all of you. I haven't treat you fairly this last months and I'm ashamed of it. I just hope you can forgive me." They looked confused. "And till now I haven't seen it so clear."

"You were under pressure. Any cybertronian would have acted like you did." Ratchet spoke shortly. "I don't think there's nothing to forgive at all."

"We were not even angry with you, Kiddo." Prowl replied. "But we do appreciate you gesture.

"Logical." We heard a murmur at the back. This kind of situation never were fully understood by our fellow scientist Shockwave.

"Well, I think we're not called The Genius for nothing." Pharma grinned, resting his arm on my shoulder. "What would we be without each other?"

"Precisely!" I smiled enthusiastically. "I've being too blind to really see what I had just in front of me. And it took me a while to see it crystal clear, but now have what I need just before me." I paused to look at the rest. "I need you, all of you in this project. I need your intelligence Shockwave, your precision Ratchet, your knowledge Pharma and your experience Prowl."

I walked forwards, to the centre of the room. "Shockwave, your numbers never fail. Ratchet, you're a surgeon, you act with precision and you do know when something is well done. I need your critic point of view for it. Pharma, you are the one who better understands the Terrorcons. You do know their weak points, and who better to make our Jaeger stronger than a Terrorcon expert? And Prowl, you have been a pilot. You know how a Jaeger and a Cybertronian need to be connected. You do know how does a Conn-Pod work." I let my words sank.

Alpha was right, all I needed was to ask for help. "I have realised I can't do this on my own, I need your help. I need you to work alongside me. I need you as my team." They looked between them, and then to me again. "Are you with me?"

"Kiddo, we're already in." Pharma walked up to me once more. "Terrorcons you said? That's what I know. Count on me!"

"It's logical to have a work team in such a big project." Shockwave concluded. "I'll supervise your calculations."

"I can tell you how to construct your missing Conn-Pod." Prowl added.

"I can critic your design as I criticised your medicine skills." Ratchet said ironically. "I need to get that habit back."

"Then, let's get down to work." I grinned. "Let's show Terrorcons what The Genius are able to do... Together."