Nature of the Beast
One-Shot Series: First Star I See Tonight
Part 5: Oh For Pete's Sake!
IACON OBSERVATORY FOR STELLAR RESEARCH
PLANETARY SCIENCES WING, MAIN ROTUNDA
LOCATION: 88 KLICKS OUTSIDE IACON'S OUTER RING
Zodiac was beginning to feel overwhelmed. And by "beginning" she really meant "already was."
Corona had dropped in to visit her two solar cycles ago while she'd been settling back into her work routine. She had wanted to make sure she had been coping with the workload dropped on her after her return. The little Avioid's pride had spoken for her then. She'd told her she was managing; she'd been honest with her though, saying the workload was a bit much for one femme to deal with. But she'd assured her she could handle it on her own. She'd been work-swamped before and managed it. She didn't particularly like having to depend on others, liked her independence. Not that she didn't like her co-workers or her tribe she'd said quickly. She liked both. The Sky Painters were the very embodiment of team work, had shown her the value of it and still did.
She just worked better on her own she said to her, could concentrate better.
The head of Stellar Research had looked up at her with some pretty obvious skepticism but some understanding, too. She'd left without further argument though. She did stop by a few times during the past solar cycle or so to check on her, remind her to restock on fuel. Lattice had mentioned one evening, and some of her friends knew that Zodiac could become completely oblivious to the world around her, even her own health, when she really got into something. Only way to break her out was startle her or nag her until she broke and snapped at you with an exasperated "What?!" Luckily, judging by her attitude alone during Corona's visit today it didn't seem it would come to that. At least it hadn't thus far. She enjoyed her work even if the load was slightly too much for one individual to handle. But Zodiac was a fast worker. She could input formulas and solve equations faster than anyone in the CERF thanks to her speed talent, even if sometimes her hands or talons moved faster than her processor did. Zodiac always had some of the other planetary scientists go over her arithmetic before she submitted it. Sometimes small miscalculations were found, and Zodiac despised errors no matter how minuscule. Perfectionist would be the best word to describe her when working.
Corona gave one last wave to the Avioid up in the nooks of one of the side rotundas. She didn't expect a wave back as her optics appeared glued to the multiple data pads around her. So she was pleasantly surprised when a tiny hand waved back at her.
"You need any help –" she called up to her.
"Go find someone. I know, I know. Last resort. I'm doin' fine! Sheesh!" Zodiac responded.
She managed a laugh and a small smile.
"Alright. Take care. And be careful with those equations! Doesn't hurt to slow down! Take your time! We don't need 'em right away! And if I hear from any of the 'bots here that you've been skipping on refueling again I'm marching you straight to the clinic!"
A smile flashed down at Corona. "'Kay!" Her focus returned to the data pads.
Corona shook her helm and left. She hadn't yet brought up the issue of the Predacon Council. That could wait until she didn't have so much on her platter. With Zodiac concerned it was best to take single steps. If they jumped in she might bail on them and hide for the next lunar cycle. The little femme wasn't one to go getting involved in politics to start with. But maybe if they gave her enough of a reason, and once she was done with her work, she'd jump in. It was pretty well known she held politicians in deep contempt.
Smokescreen followed the wide road that led out into the expanse beyond Iacon, the same one he had taken to reach the Observatory before. He had seen the massive Intervention come in to port a few days previously and knew then that the little femme Zodiac must be back. He was worried though: the ship had suffered damage to its port-side and judging by the chatter of the repair-mechs and femmes it had suffered engine damage as well. He had heard them speaking among themselves a knew the cause: spark-eaters. No crew had been harmed though, thank Primus. Ultra Magnus had confirmed that for him, as had Knockout. Only the ship had been wounded, but the damage was not severe. The crew had been lucky. He'd heard a few of the Elite Guard speak of Golden Age expeditions never coming back, the ship found later in their last known location or somewhere relatively close by drained of energy and the crew similarly drained within. He'd also read a few accounts of spark-eaters in the Hall, some during the War and others read more recently. Those were pretty ugly accounts usually. Survivors weren't exactly common. Those things were freaking vicious.
He kind of hoped he'd find Coma or Corvus Rho at the Observatory. Maybe the sly Corvid had more news or knew where he might find the tiny captain. From Rho's account and his own encounter she was incredibly skittish and a little flighty. As an Avioid that kinda made sense. A lot of Avioids were sparked wanderers or nomads, their flocks never staying in one place for long. Sky Painters were no exception. He'd got a bit more info on them through Predaking and found they were already over near Kalis. He hadn't tried to arrange contact with them just yet. Frankly he was a little intimidated about trying to contact what was basically a professional dance troupe. The Elite Guard lieutenant pulled up to the outside of the main rotunda of Stellar Research. He recognized dimly a few of the mechs and femmes inside as ones who had waved to Coma that first visit. One of them waved at him and he waved back. Another approached him outright: a well-built burnt orange grounder with marigold optics. He introduced himself as Sunflare, the radiation specialist for the Intervention.
"You lookin' for Zodiac?"
He blinked. "Yeah, actually. Is she here?"
"Sure is. She's in one of the side rotundas. That-a-way." The mech pointed. "Just be careful. She doesn't like strangers. And she's busy."
"I'm not exactly a stranger. I mean, I'm the one she slammed into about a lunar cycle back. Nearly took my helm off. Been trying to get this back to her ever since." He produced the tiny data pad and showed it to him.
Sunflare's marigold optics widened as a smile split his faceplates. "Oh Primus. That was you? I thought Corvus was kidding! Wow. Uh..." he laughed. "If you want I could take it to her. She knows me pretty well. I was one of the crew to work with her the most on the mission. Had some interesting talks with her."
Smokescreen shook his helm, saying he'd much rather give it to her himself. That way maybe she'd get that there were no hard feelings over the accident. But he thanked him for the offer regardless. Sunflare nodded understandingly. Once more he warned him to be careful. Smokescreen assured him he would be. He had no intention of scaring the Avioid a second time. He'd done that pretty successfully the first time around, and he hadn't even been trying. Smiling, Sunflare left him to return to whatever it was radiation specialists did for a living. He headed off in the direction indicated. It wasn't the same way Coma had taken him the first time. The halls were emptier, noise levels were lower. When he entered the side rotunda there was only one or two 'bots in it diligently working on holo-boards, drawing out models and equations with styluses. He looked again to be sure but there was no sign of Zodiac. Weird. Sunflare said she was in here. So where was she? On an impulse he looked up. He dimly remembered Predaking mentioning that Avioids always liked to perch in places that gave them good views; seeing everything made them feel safe since it gave them more time to react. He looked round the dome of the rotunda...
And grinned at what he found nestled at the base of the dome, tucked between some support beams: a tiny midnight blue Avioid dotted with twinkling lights, her back against one beam and her legs hunched up close to her. Surrounding her were number of data pads magnetically stuck to the beams to permit more space. Two more were held in her tiny hands, royal blue optics fixated on them. Yep. That was the femme who'd crashed into him alright. So absorbed in her own thought she had no idea what was going on around her.
'Talk about a worker though! She's doing all this by herself! I thought I had it tough; 'least Magnus delegates.'
"Hey!" he called up to her, his voice echoing through the rotunda. The two stylus 'bots jerked their helms in his direction curiously. One had a somewhat annoyed expression. The other looked to be stunned for some reason.
She didn't look up. She switched one data pad for another, glanced between the two, then replaced that one with another.
"Uh, hello? I need to talk to you! I won't take up too much of your time! I can see you're super busy!"
For another few kliks she continued to remain oblivious to his echoing voice. He did notice she was busy typing in something on one of the pads. Then she grabbed another one that was stuck to the beams and seemed to compare them. Then she put it back. She gave a rather annoyed sounding sigh as she looked around for the 'bot who had disturbed her.
"Alright. Fine. But you better make this –"
She spotted him then. Her whole body tensed. Her optics widened in fright. Smokescreen smiled and waved at her, hoping this might put her at ease. Unfortunately it didn't seem to. She was staring at him with the same fright as the last time. Any astrosecond now she might zip off again.
"Yeah. Hi. Remember me? We met in the plaza where you gave me a nasty dent in the back of my helm?"
The Avioid, he noticed, was very closely watching him while at the same time reaching for the two data pads she laid aside. He tensed himself, ready to race after her this time.
"No, no! Wait! I just wanna talk! No, no, no..."
In a flash she grabbed the two data pads and shot past him. Smokescreen groaned then shouted as loud as he could, exasperated, in the hope she'd hear him this time around:
"OH FOR PETE'S SAKE! I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU YOUR DATA PAD BACK! NOT KILL YOU!"
He feared he'd lost her again. Then, he heard the tell-tale whoosh of a speed-gifted, saw a flash of midnight blue shoot back in and perch atop the telescope in the center of the chamber. Zodiac stood perched there in bipedal form, still clutching the two data pads. But her fear was suddenly less pronounced. Now, curiosity glittered in them as she peered down at him. The wariness was still there though. She was still nervous.
"D-Did you say data pad?" she asked cautiously.
Smokescreen heaved a sigh of relief and pulled the tiny device out of storage on his hip. He held it up to her. She transformed, zipped down, and snatched it from him with her talons. Quickly she examined it, and quickly she input the security code. Her optics lit up in happy relief and even joy. The hawk let out a keen, flew over to a nearby table and landed, reverting back to bipedal form. She was smiling he noted. That smile made it all worth it. She really was cute when she wasn't terrified to death of somebody.
"You...you kept it this whole time?!" she demanded.
"Uh, yeah? Because I'm not a jerk?"
"B-But I thought that after...Primus, I'm so sorry about that. I-I didn't mean to! I was just late for a meeting and I was rushing and you didn't react when I screamed at you and I couldn't slow down fast enough and –" she was rambling by then.
"Whoa! Whoa! Slow down! Geez. I'm not mad at you. Accidents happen," he laughed then: "Do you have any idea the amount of trouble I went to get this back to you? Any idea how hard you are to find? I hope it was worth it. I never found out what was on the thing. You put some kinda of home-made encryption on it."
She smiled again, looking a tad guilty, "Completely worth it! These are my research and findings on exo-planet formation, individual and system evolution, and the prevalence and type of rogue planets! It seems a lot of it depends on the type of star in the system and whether or not there is more than one gas or ice giant in the system causing gravitational disruption. Planetary scientists like myself also make a habit of investigating not only exo-planets we discover but ones the humans find as well. Despite how good some of their satellites are they still haven't quite puzzled out inter-stellar travel yet."
The most Smokescreen could do was stare blankly at her. It was like she was suddenly talking another language. But he was pleased to see her smile.
"I study planets, how they and the system form and change over time, and investigate exo-planets and rogue planets. Nothin' too complicated. Fun actually. Also means I get to go out into the galaxy and explore. Y'know, kinda like that Earth game Elite: Dangerous?"
"Oh! Okay." She knew about Earth video games? He never would've pegged her as being game savvy. Then again, someone as introverted as Zodiac was had to have some kinda hobby, and some games were pretty good when it came to passing the time. But that really wasn't the focus here. The focus here was showing her no hard feelings and maybe, just maybe, befriending her.
"Um, I guess I should introduce myself now: I'm Smokescreen," He held out a hand. Zodiac shied away, eyeing the limb warily. In comparison to her tiny hands she might as well have been shaking hands with a giant. He withdrew the limb. "Er, nice to meet you, captain. So, uh, now that you've got your research back in hand I guess I'll be going now..."
Smokescreen made to leave when Zodiac's voice met him:
"Wait."
He paused obediently. He turned back to face her.
"Thank you, Smokescreen. I don't have much to offer as a reward in compensation for all the trouble you went through to get this to me..."
"I'm not askin' for a reward. I'm just happy you got it back. But, uh – don't take this the wrong way or anything – maybe we could swap comm. frequencies? Y'know in case you run into some kinda trouble and need a hand or something. Maybe I could teach you some moves in case some Council crony starts givin' you trouble 'cause you're a Pred. I know they've had a lot of issues."
Once more the wariness flashed in her royal blue optics. He understood Predacons were mistrustful of city-dwellers due to the Council and its skewed politics concerning them, but this seemed to be a lot more than just general caution or mistrust or even introversion. Her anxiety and unwillingness to trust a kind stranger even slightly made it seem like she was mildly paranoid. He knew 'bots with unique or rare talents often came under scrutiny from the Council, who sought to use them seven times out of ten to further their own agenda. Speed-gifteds in particular made a point of remaining politically neutral. If she associated with an Autobot, things could get even more complicated for her.
And, speaking of which, now that he had a good look at her...there was no crest on her anywhere.
Was that why she was so mistrustful – the politics and the underlying introversion? Was she afraid others might use her?
But then she smiled. "Sure. Here."
She pinged him.
He thanked her and pinged her back.
"Ah, see you? I guess? I dunno? Maybe? Sort of? Yes? No? I have no idea? You're busy...?"
She laughed then. "I'm not super busy. They don't need these tomorrow or anything. I just like being early. And...thanks. Really. I-I'm sorry you went to all that trouble. If you'd just handed it to someone – anyone, really – at either one of the observatories or the docks it would've found its way back to me eventually. Someone was bound to recognize it..."
"Nah. It's fine. Honestly," he laughed himself. "Gave me something else to do not related to the Guard. And introduced me to some people I never thought I'd ever have a reason to meet. You space nuts are a lot nicer than I was expecting. Seriously though. You are crazy hard to find. You do know that, right?"
Zodiac massaged her neck cables awkwardly and admitted that she was kinda aware of that. Her circle of friends consisted of 'bots she knew with one hundred percent certainty she could trust. And she didn't extend that trust lightly or easily. Politics had a role in that but she was just...not good around others. Scared. Intimidated. Uncomfortable. Call it what he would. Even as he watched she suddenly became shyer, her wings folding against her sides stiffly. Her hands started wringing unconsciously.
"Maybe I could help you out there, too? I'm mean, I'm pretty good around others."
"I'm not as proud as other Preds. I'd appreciate some pointers. I'll be sure to ask if I need it. But, uh, if you don't mind –" she motioned to the other data pads still stuck on the beams with one hand while holding the other two up with the other. "I gotta get back to work. This is kinda my job? I don't get paid for slouching. Or talking with people I accidentally collide with."
He caught onto the dismissal right away, noting it was a bit sudden and seemed to go along with her statement of not being good around others. Her people skills were definitely in need of improvement. "Right. Sorry. Uh. Bye. I'll talk with you later, I guess."
She nodded. As he turned to leave he heard her fly up back to her nook in the beams. He glanced back just before exiting to see her right back at work, once more oblivious to the world around her. Smokescreen turned his focus back to the hall ahead of him. But he swore afterwards it felt like someone who wasn't Zodiac was watching him – watching him with approval and gratitude. He looked around the halls and the main rotunda on his way out, hoping to see a familiar face...
He saw nothing.
Sighing, he went on his way. He had a groundbridge waiting for him back to the city and a job of his own to do. And honest as the little Avioid was, he had sensed some typical Predacon stubbornness in her along with the teeniest hint of pride. He didn't exactly know when she would call him, and he didn't want to annoy her.
Author's Note: And here's the second mini-series off with a bang. The little one-shot's following this will be a lot shorter than the Tcsovan ones. Since Zodiac's not one for social interaction even among close friends, a good number of these will be wireless talks between them at random intervals. At least to start out. Once she gets more comfortable with him the personal interacts will start to crop up a lot more. (Don't worry. I'll touch on the instance Smoke mentioned in the beginning of NotB about him being in Charity's clinic. There's a good reason for that...)
But yeah. Zodiac's work habit is a lot like mine. She bites off more than she can chew sometimes but a lot of the times is too stubborn to ask for help, thinking she can handle it on her own. 'Zee also likes to, if she can, get work done early. Since she's busy ordinarily she likes her downtime.
