The Diego Diaries: Incident and Around (dd8 264)
=0=Around dimensional planes
It was light in the apartment, a two story brownstone like building in an old neighborhood of Greater Iacon when he walked into the living room. A big marble hearth was burned down from the evening before. He and his bond had celebrated their bonding day anniversary at home alone. It was just the two of them, the way they liked it and though they had large happy families of brothers, sisters and the like, they'd had a dinner alone that they prepared together. After that, they sat together in a big overstuffed chair to watch the fire as they talked.
It was beautiful and tender, the evening.
Outside the spring morning was rising with the bright star that lit the world they loved. They were guardians of the people, soldiers who worked with the Prime to rebuild their unity and future together.
He glanced at the clock on the wall, an antique given to them by his genitors when they bonded. "You won't be late for anything now, son," his father had said with delight at his son's own. It had belonged to their great great grand amma.
It was a beautiful thing, old fashioned and delicately filigreed with curls of delicately shaped metal resembling vines. It said what it said so he walked to the stairs to hustle the love of his life. "You getting up? We can eat at the cafe before going in."
"I'm coming," a muffled voice called back.
That voice belonged to the only mech that he would ever love, who loved him back in the same way. They'd been friends growing up, attending the same school and playing in the games kids played, always together. Loving science and hoping for military careers, the two had been destined for each other.
It was an easy going partnership, one born of years of shared history and deep affection from the start. They had similar interests, loved to hike in the Manganese Mountains and shared similar tastes in books. They were together in the war standing by their now Prime with guts and determination. Now he was head of Empire security and his bond was his partner in this as he was in all things.
Down the stairs he bounded, grinning at Black Shadow. "I had to straighten things up. You never know when your ada is going to come by."
"Or yours," Black Shadow said. "Come on. I'm hungry."
Blue Bacchus followed Black Shadow out the door of this, their first and best home. It was a short walk to a cute cafe and breakfast. Before they left the sun would be above the horizon and the warmth of another day would be felt by everyone.
=0=There
They flew onward, the Autobots and Decepticons when the next drone pierced their ennui. It flashed nearby, then slowed as the other did. A piercing signal was flaring to let them know it came and it would only take a second to pull it in. When they did, the last message would be heard.
"This is Wheeljack. We've determined that you can go to the coordinates we sent you for pick up. A bridge should be fully out of the range of the floes for you to utilize. I don't know what's going on with the 'Cons but if they came to their senses they can come as well.
"We've got telemetry on the barrier with the armada. They have another orn or two before it flows far enough out to thin. Its then that they can come forward. We'd like to have you back to figure out what they are and what to do about it. We hope you picked up enough information to help. Otherwise, all is well. Go to these coordinates and we'll be able to signal you. The density of the problem is thinnest there. See ya soon. Wheeljack out."
Hercy and the others considered that. They were flying on his shuttle now that the danger of the 'Cons was over.
"Well, we can leave which means they can as well," Lissie said. "We need to be prepared to help Cord and his mechs get away. Maybe it'll spark a rebellion in the armada. They might not get away swiftly but we have to prepare as if he can."
Hercy nodded. "I agree."
"Sun to Cord."
:Cord here:
"We got another message and it says that we can bridge out of here. They sent coordinates to reach bridging territory. We're going to give them to you as well. Have you considered cutting your losses and coming with us?"
:I can't leave my squad behind, Sun. They're good and deserve better:
"We understand, Cord. You have the phase six code in your processor safe, sound and ready to use?" Sun asked.
:I do:
"Well, here's the bridging coordinates for you to use to call for one yourself. I wish you well and hope the plan works out," Sun replied.
:We're on it, Sun. I hope to see you on the other side sooner rather than later: Cord replied.
"Count on it, brother," Sun said. He glanced at the pilot. "Send the coordinates."
The pilot did and Cord acknowledged, then with the Autobots changed his course to follow Cord. They were headed for a point in space that had no name and wouldn't ever again when they bridged away.
=0=Ops Center
They sat silently waiting for Trigger Command to recall their missing mechs and ships. The crosstalk finally concluded as Miler Navigator made the countdown.
:Five … four … three … two … one. Engage the bridge. Engage:
There was silence for what seemed forever, then Wheeljack could be heard. :Trigger Control to Ops Center. We have five ships back:
It was a deflating moment to hear that as they glanced at each other with relief. Prime rose along with Prowl and the others. Heading toward the door, they walked out to the Military Airfield nearby to wait for the shuttles to land.
=0=Far away and near
He walked to the office from the elevator nodding to those he passed along the way. Entering, he gathered the overnight data pads with countless things he needed to do before attending the morning meet up where the day's agenda and jobs would be outlined.
He lived nearby in his same house, the three story building that had been in his family for generations as they served the government in science and finance. He, himself had been an anomaly, desiring adventure and mental challenges that didn't require a straight edge and calculator.
He'd become a policeman, then a soldier, making his way upward until he was the second-in-command of the show. When the war came he couldn't support Optimus Prime. That mech was batshit crazy and someone who didn't care if others were hurt. He was anathema to Prowl, someone from the same privileged background but missing the essential spark that made a person humane, decent and self aware in relation to others.
He'd agreed to stay in place and be their inside mech. He had. He did a damned fine job of it and Optimus never knew nor did anyone else. He wasn't inclined nor trained to understand what Prowl was doing and that he was the source of their many and sundry defeats by the intel that he snaked out of the Citadel. Nor were Prime's minions, all of whom Prowl hated and disdained.
Especially Jetta.
Prime and Jetta had been friends forever it seemed and if there was anything that inclined to softness and emotion in Prime, it was directed to Jetta.
Jetta was soft and weak, loved Prime to his own detriment and put up with all the violence, bitterness, rage and pettiness that Prime was made of.
That Prowl had been drawn to the obvious charisma of the huge mech wasn't surprising. That it'd turned to a desperate love and longing was. It was IMMENSELY surprising that the calm and self aware soldier had fallen HARD for the crazy bastard running the show.
Now Prime was in stasis somewhere he'd never be able to go and thus, he would never been seen here again, Prowl was at loose ends. His spark had felt like a fire that had died down, smoldering ashes and tiny embers. He felt empty and hollow inside. How long it would last and if it would ever be filled again with peace and light, he didn't know.
He walked to his office, opened the door, then headed toward his desk. As he did, he paused by the window to look outside. Mechs were arriving, mechs from the revolution and now the government and they would come to the meeting. Black Shadow and Blue Bacchus were on the street heading for the door. They were laughing together, chatting with Killmaster and Heretech. They entered and were gone.
He thought about their bond, Shadow and Blue as most called them. They had a passionate one. They were one as the poets said. Prowl wondered what that was like, this mech with genitors from a dynastic bond who had never fell in love like he did with Prime. It was rather typical he thought for a moment. Shoot for the unattainable and lose.
He glanced at his desk, then sat down to finalize the agenda. It would be soon that he would join Megatronus and the others in the conference room.
The morning would pass slowly at The Citadel in Iacon.
=0=On the tarmac
The ships came in, settling on the hard cold tarmac as gusts of wind blew all around them. It was cold like a deep well, penetrating cold that made things feel colder than they usually were. They settled, then shut down as ramps began to fall.
Families were gathered, bonds and adult children greeting their family as they walked from the ships. The group waiting embraced and shook servos with those arriving, greeting each other with happiness and delight. After a moment of hoo-haw, Prime glanced at Hercy. "Let's go and discuss this in the Center."
They followed him, a crowd of soldiers and their families. It would be with a light tread that they reached The Fortress and entered.
=0=Inside
"And that's the upshot of it, Optimus," Sun said as everyone nodded. "Hercy made the connection with him over Helex. We gave him the codes and that's the plan unless things change. He's a good mech, Cord and he's stand up about his kids. That makes him a brother in my book."
Prime nodded. "I agree. Thank you for making it back. We're going to have to wait and see. We know they can break through in two or three orns. The only question left is can they." He considered that a moment. "Serial is new to me and Lancer but Paladin is faintly familiar. I have to think about it but I've heard that name before. Until then, let's go home and get some rest. Meet us in the conference room tomorrow for a meeting. Try and remember all you can. We could end this threat with the intel or at least help ourselves when it comes."
Everyone nodded, then Prime stood. Chat was had, backslapping and the rest filled the space, then Ratchet whistled LOUDLY.
Turning to stare at him with twirling optics, Ratchet smiled his best smile. "Now that I have your attention, get your butts over to the Med Center for permanent patches and repairs. That's an order."
They stared at him, glanced at each other, then began to bitch and goodnaturedly head toward the door and a walk through the cold breezy growing darkness of early night time.
=0=At the triage center
They were worked on, patched and the edges smoothed. Professional detailers would take care of the aesthetics of things in the morning when and if they cared which most of them did.
Ratchet patched Sun, then grinned at him. "I put as much of the handsome back on but the rest of it is going to have to be repaired by your enduring charisma." Then he smiled his greatest smile from his wide and expansive repertoire.
Sun chuckled. "Easy fix then, you're saying?"
"Did I say that?" Ratchet asked through his smile.
Huge laughter greeted that, then everyone began to break up to leave.
They had two days to wait, three at the latest, then things would have to be sorted out one way or the other.
=0=TBC 9-30-2021
Happy October First tomorrow. Sigh. I hate winter. The Fat Bear contest is ongoing at Katmai where the bears sit all summer in the water, catch a fish swimming by, eat only the fattest and tastiest bits then throw the rest away. Some of them have guts so full they drag on the ground. Their tiny little feet disappear from view. (These bears run about 500 pounds before stuffing themselves before hibernating in a place where winter lasts about nine months. These bears are winners and will survive to help their cubs survive. If you want to see them and vote for the fattest babe, google Katmai bear cams and you should get there. You're welcome. :D:D:D
HUGGIES AND OCEANS OF LOVE TO ALL!-Granny
ESL:
aesthetics: (ass-thet-iks) the look and design of something.
"The aesthetics of the house matched those of mid century America."
filigree: (fill-uh-gree) The bent and curled parts of usually metallic constructs that curlicue or bend in shapes around, like wrought iron designs.
ennui: (on-wee) a drab sense of being down, depression, sadness (Good God, I love French. And Irish. Italian. You name it. Its sort of like music listening to people speak their languages. Someone in China once said English sounds like snakes hissing because of the S sound. I never forgot that. I love to hear Chinese. Its amazing and the up and down parts of some of them are dazzling. VIVA the WORLD!)
Also:
This is what you get, the top part, when you write while Enduring Young Charms by Celtic Ladies plays. Its one of my favorite Irish tunes and a lovely, lovely thing. Google it on Pandora or Youtube. You won't be disappointed. Slainte. (Forgive the missing diacritical marks. I am crap at flipping keyboard fonts around for them.)