The Diego Diaries: Stuff (dd7 6)
NOTE: My sore throat is winning so far. I'm having withdrawal not writing every day. HERE WE GO! (not edited yet)
=0=At RTR Tools, the next morning
The night mounted patrol heading off shift gathered in the shop surrounded by an astonishing array of swords of every length and style, all of them seemingly pulsing with energy at their presence. Drift who often came to watch Ravel and Tie create the devices looked at one he wanted some day to have for his own. He didn't know that Tie and Ravel were expert at such expressions and were keeping one in the back for him for Christmas Surprise.
"So you never saw them before now, Amma?" Springer asked as Lon downloaded their security footage.
"No, son," Ravel said. "They're new to me. Their manner and energy … it was worrisome. I don't want them to come here and try to take one of our swords only to find it might reject them." He leaned slightly closer to Springer. "They're holy, you understand."
Springer grinned. "I do," he said. He glanced at Lon and Bezel who were looking at the swords. "Pick one up."
They glanced at him, then Tie and Ravel. "We don't want to do anything, Amma and Abba. We're just admiring them," Lon said.
"It's alright, infant," Ravel said sweetly. "They won't let you take them into servo if you aren't worthy. They're connected through prayer and construction to The One Himself."
It took a moment for everyone in the room short of the two makers to absorb that, then Lon gently gripped the emerald green hilt of a ten foot long sword that was suspended in a force field. It should have weighed a ton, the blade which seemed almost liquid silver when it moved in his grip. "This is so light."
"It's a sign," Ravel said as Tie nodded.
"What sign, Amma?" Inweld asked as Morius nodded. They were in apprenticeships to the mounted patrol and thus, came here with The Boss and Springer to answer the call.
"That it accepts you," Tie replied. "These weapons are sentient. They become sentient when we make them and its done in a certain way. It came to us in dreams when we were young. We were tool and die makers and one decaorn we had all these dreams about making these weapons and tools. All of the formulas for all our creations … they came to us in dreams."
Everyone stared at them, then the sword in Lon's servo.
"I want your dreams, Abba and Amma," Drift said with a grin.
"Take the sword to the open space there," Tie said as he pointed to a part of the storefront that was left open for this purpose. "Utilize it."
Lon glanced at them, then the others. He felt suddenly ridiculous and inadequate in the presence of such individuals and the sword.
Ravel grinned. "It wants to see what you're made of. See it shine? That's interest."
Everyone stared at the two little mechs who they revered as the great and mighty artisans they were, then Lon who looked suddenly afraid.
"What are you waiting for, Lonny?" Kup asked.
He glanced at all of them, then walked to the empty space. The sword left a smear of light as it was moved, a luminous silvery illumination. He paused in the center of the space, then worked through the beginnings of a kata that was designed for sword play.
It was smooth and beautiful, the sword shining like diamonds and as he moved, it followed his lead perfectly. When Lon stopped, he stared at the blade. It had etchings on it, long flourishes that were important to their culture, then prayers to Primus and The One. This sword was dedicated to Onyx Prime and thus, his marks and other indicators were carved on the blade as well.
It was magnificent.
Lon walked back, then began to put it on the rack again.
Ravel touched his arm gently. "You cannot do that now."
"What do you mean, Amma?" Lon asked with surprise.
"It chose you," Tie said with a smile.
It was silent as a tomb in the room, then Lon looked at the sword. "I'm … I don't think I'm worthy of such a sword, Appa. This sword is holy."
"It is and it chose you, Lon," Ravel said. "These weapons are so important, they're some of the first things ever made among our people and we reverence Lady Solus who gives us a blessing to make them. They're part of the Pantheon, these weapons, and I think as does Tie that sometimes They live in them, some small part of Them."
"There's care for these weapons," Drift said. "Its simple. I'll show you because my swords are sentient as well. All you have to remember is to wield them honorably and courageously in the defense of those who need you. You have that part down pat, Lon."
Lon stared at them, then the sword in his hand. He looked at the two little mechs. "It chose me? I don't … I don't want to take something from you, Amma and Appa, if I don't ..." He trailed off as he stared at the sword. He looked at them again nearly akin to tears. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Ravel smiled, then walked to the case to pull out a beautiful scabbard that was scarlet with inlaid jewels and silver. He held it out. "This is sentient, too. Sheath the sword so they can be acquainted. They will take care of each other and you forever now."
Lon stared at Ravel, then the scabbard. With no small touch of reverence and awe, he took it, then awkwardly slid the blade into it. He blinked a moment as it seemed to gleam, then settled into its beautiful sheen again.
"They agree to be one." Tie smiled. "I'm so glad that sword is going to a good home, Springer. I don't want any of them to find themselves in a sad situation."
"They can't. They would make sure that whoever had them would regret it," Ravel said as he smiled upward at Lon.
Lon stepped forward and hugged Ravel. "Thank you, Amma. I didn't mean to do this but it was so beautiful I had to hold it."
"It was calling to you, Lonny," Tie said as Lon hugged him. "Its going to be a friend now. If there's danger, it will help you know that."
"I love this," Bezel said as he touched the smooth leather of the scabbard. "You'll look awesome with it, Lonny."
"Slag. I think I want one, too," Sandstorm said. He turned to the cases. "How about it?"
Nothing happened but the laughter and mockery of everyone there.
Springer grinned at his grandparents. "I notified the beat cops to check in with you. Push the panic button under the counter and we're here. The twins are off so I'll tell them to check in as well. If they ever show up again, call us."
Ravel and Tie nodded. They chatted a while, then everyone took their leave.
Walking outside to mount up, Lon with Bezel's help settled the sword on his back. It was a good look for him.
Sandstorm grinned at him. "Teacher's pet."
Lon who was still stunned laughed loudly. "YEAH! THAT'S ME!"
With a whoop, they rode back to the street where they would go to the stables and hang up their patrol for the orn.
=0=At the jailhouse now
Raptor walked down the corridor heading for the door where the three charges were being held. Pico, Rockwell and Carver rose when he walked into their cell block heading for where they were. The jailer grinned as he dropped the bars.
"RISE AND SHINE! TIME TO GO!" Raptor said as he turned around, then began to leave. He was gone in seconds.
The jailer who knew all Ironhide's family well chuckled. "You better hoof it. The General waits for no one."
They booked it to the door and disappeared as well.
=0=On the tarmac
They stood together each of them bearing a backpack which they'd been warned not to open. It was hilarious to everyone watching but no one gave the three the slightest clue. It was what it was.
Ironhide, Blackjack, Delphi, Turbine and Hardie walked up to get the word before going. Then Sun and Jack along with Steiner showed up.
"Ready to go?" Steiner asked.
"Now we are, slowpoke," Blackjack said to his uncle.
Ironhide who was basking in the awesomeness grinned. "Get the lead out."
Everyone turned to stare at Ironhide who fizzled like a punctured balloon under the scrutiny. Then Sun laughed and slapped him on the back. "The Look still works. Ironhide, never change."
With that and a glowering son, grand and great grandson in tow, everyone boarded the ship that would take them to the outlying bases before heading in for Cybertron.
It would be a riotously funny trip for everyone but three mechs bearing incredibly heavy backpacks.
=0=Around
They sat in a bar after spending the orn going about their business. They were new here, arriving just a few orns before and knew they were on the clock to get settled into work and other pass times to keep themselves out of trouble. It wasn't that they had done that already. Getting into a fight at a bar earlier and shooting it out on the mean streets of (New) Iacon had been at best stupid.
"I'm surprised that we're still free," one of the mechs said, the brains of their gang in the Diaspora. "They have cameras everywhere."
The others nodded. "Maybe we can catch a break. No one hangs out in the clubs until this blows over."
The music was flowing, the beer first class as they relaxed in the crowd that was coming in to fill the bar in the mid afternoon lunch period. It was amazing to them how familiar the ambiance of the space was. They didn't notice that a number of Watch officers had entered the bar and taken a table nearby.
Relaxing among them were a number of big mechs who were part of the intervention team for major actions for the Watch, the team that would be called S.W.A.T. or special weapons and tactics. Their leader was for the mission they were going to undertake was Hound, himself a part time Watch mech for events such as these.
They chatted as they waited for their drinks all the while watching the table filled with wanted mechs nearby. It was going to be a hard thing getting them like this with everyone coming in for a drink and bite so they sat back to wait them out. They would either leave themselves or the crowd here would thin.
It would be okay with him which it was as long as they were taken in and no one got hurt. It would take a while for their opportunity to show itself.
=0=Optimus
He sat in a van parked out in front of Club Domino waiting for the situation inside to present itself. Drift and Springer had checked off duty but had come here when the locate of their suspects had divulged the five mechs inside the club as their quarry. He, Optimus had been called to help make the interdiction and across from him sat Prowl. Prime was going to call the crowd out a bit at a time through their transponders so they could 'smash and grab' the suspects without giving things away. He was doing that now.
A Home Guard tech had scanned the group discreetly, walking in to say hi to someone as his cover. His ability to scan without detection had led his family to work in the forensics end of law enforcement for generations and he was no exception. Walking in, chatting a moment with Hound, then walking out with a wave and grin, he had gotten the wave length of everyone there.
In groups of two and three, the crowd inside was pulled out even as those who wanted to go inside were held back. They would have the place cleared enough in time and then the fun would begin. That would be when Hound and his party would jump the five big mechs who had a shoot first and chat later attitude about life.
It would be colorful.
=0=TBC 6-3-19