Chapter 75
-0-At the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Ratchet smiled as he waited fully aware that cameras were on him from every possible angle short of up his aft. Waiting patiently, he listened to Chairwoman Hoxley argue with the biggest obstacle on the panel, Senator Beau Weaver of Texas. He considered what he knew. That Senator never met a donation he didn't want to lick. He believed that the Autobots were a dangerous force that if they were allowed to stay would take over the world and enslave them.
He was a friend of money.
He was an embracer of every wacky movement in conservative politics that came blowing past.
He was addicted to the camera.
They settled their dispute so Senator Hoxley began. "Ambassador, I was hoping you could give us more information than we currently have about your species and the conflict that's dividing your people."
Ratchet nodded. "We're from Cybertron, one of the rarest types of planets in the universe. Its a metallic planet with some organic components. Because its a metallic planet the lifeforms there are metallic in composition because that is our course of evolution. We're autonomous robotic entities or Autobots as we prefer. Our planet which is about 900 light years from here was once peaceful but a divide occurred over political differences and the growing scarcity of our energy source, energon.
"There were also enormous and explosive long term social divisions, those who felt entitled to everything, the smallest part of our population and those who made the wealth and were denied it, the greatest portion. There are two major factions in the civil war that inevitably erupted out of this, ours, the Autobots and our foes, the Decepticons."
"What's the difference between the two factions. I'm asking so that the information that comes out of this committee is accurate. There's a lot of disinformation in the public right now."
Ratchet nodded. "I appreciate the opportunity to clear up any perceptions that may be inaccurate today. The Decepticons are interested in domination, annihilation of foes and control of independent worlds. They don't care about our own people and kill them when it suits their needs or just because they like it. They goaded entire city-states to nuke each other to create a diversion at one point in the war. The fact that millions were killed by doing so wasn't part of their calculations. Given that, you cannot expect them to embrace you. Who are you to them? Why would they care about you and your condition when they didn't care about the species they belong to? Anyone without concern for their own doesn't have concern for others.
"They don't have an appreciation for life, of the right for species to be free, to determine their own fate and they don't have a respect for anyone who has the audacity to oppose them when they come. They kill those who oppose them without mercy The moment you give them entry they will enslave you and kill anyone else who doesn't support their purpose. If you can't work, you're dead. If you're too young or too old, you're dead. It's happened over and over again. They believe in slavery, not freedom. They cannot be trusted. Ever.
"The Autobots on the other hand believe in the right for all sentient beings to be free and to determine their own futures. Our philosophy encompasses life and inherent rights for all beings and worlds. We believe that all life everywhere needs to be free and if endangered, protected."
"The Autobots … were they the armed forces of your world or did the two groups become factions out of some other source?" she asked.
"The Autobots grew out of the workers and civilian population of Cybertron who wanted a better life and wanted to preserve our people against tyranny and violence. The Armed Forces supplied a great deal of the Decepticons, especially the Seekers, though not all soldiers and air personnel became Decepticons. Seekers fly and can transform into planes and other flying machines."
"Can you fly?" she asked.
Ratchet grinned. "I have before to varying degrees of success but no, I'm not designed for flight. There are Autobots among us who can fly and my colleague, Sideswipe can fly short distances due to enhancements." Ratchet glanced back, then looked at the committee. "He has the Lamborghini alt vehicle form that you see behind me.
"Understand, we can transform into many different things and the formats that are chosen either suit our jobs and size or appeal to us in some fashion. I've noticed the younger the Autobot, the flashier the alt form."
"He's an Autobot," Hoxley said with a slight smile. "I know that you are and that the … vehicles behind you are Autobots … sentient beings, but its hard to fathom. When we think of alien lifeforms coming to Earth, cars and trucks don't naturally spring to mind."
There was laughter around the room and the mood was light, electric and fascinated. Ratchet had the room.
Ratchet grinned as he nodded in agreement. "We're an unusual species, the only one like us that we've ever encountered, though there are some species that are metallic in a different way and some that are part organic and part metallic. Even with all that said, no one else is can transform to other shapes like us. At least, so far. Let me show you."
Ratchet looked over his shoulder and over his internal comm system asked Sideswipe to transform. As everyone watched, the Lamborghini changed, twisting and turning, emerging from a vehicle into the robot format that he usual retained, a fearsome exotic body shape. "I asked Sideswipe to change so that you can see that we are what we are. He has two preferred conditions for his feet. Show them, Sideswipe."
Sideswipe who standing quietly, his swords sheathed completely as Ratchet had asked him to do if called upon to change tried to look as benign as he could. He reversed from peds to skates, to peds again. It was oohed and ahhed by the crowd. He smirked at Ratchet as he did.
Cameras clicked in a flood of light, then Ratchet grinned. "Thanks, Sideswipe."
Sideswipe glanced around with a smirk, then reversed the procedure to revert to his vehicle mode to sit as quietly as before.
"That was … I don't know what to say," Hoxley said speaking out loud what the committee thought.
"It takes getting used to, I'm told by the N.E.S.T. soldiers," Ratchet said with a grin. "But they also tell me it never gets old."
Hoxley grinned. "I can imagine."
-0-Ops Center, Autobot HQ
"He's going to be insufferable," Sunstreaker said shaking his helm in disgust. "He'll be in all the papers and it'll be awful."
"It could just as easily have been you," Bluestreak said as he slipped his arm around Sunstreaker's shoulders. Sunny tugged Bluestreak closer to settle him in his lap as they continued to watch, the camera every so often panning to Sideswipe. "Insufferable."
Bluestreak smirked. Sunny was sometimes hilarious.
-0-At the hoedown in D.C.
"I would appreciate a concise explanation of why you and your colleagues are here on Earth, Ambassador. Why are you and the Decepticons here?"
:You have discretion, Ratchet. Go lightly on the Allspark but tell them:
The internal com from Prime took only a slight moment, then Ratchet began. "We have an artifact that confers a great deal of prestige and power to our people. It also confers the Primeship on the mech who's chosen and thus it's powerful and symbolic to our good order. It's the greatest artifact in our culture. An icon revered by The People and thus granting reverence to the bearer of It's public portion, the Matrix of Leadership, the Autobot Creation Matrix.
"During the conflict, Megatron tried to take control of It and use Its power and prestige against us. Our Prime, our world's political and military leader had to save It by sending It into space depriving Megatron and the Decepticons from possessing It. With the power It contained It could destroy worlds and enslave entire galaxies.
"It disappeared and the war continued. Without the Allspark as It's called we were a dying people because a great deal of our well being and prosperity is ensured by Its presence. The psychological comfort It gives is hard to put into words, so great is the love for It among our people.
Megatron left Cybertron with a contingent to look for It. He was separated from them and landed here becoming entrapped in the ice at your pole when his telemetry was interrupted by the magnetic field in the north.
"He'd found the Allspark, following Its trail to the arctic where It had landed, too, for reasons no one will ever know. Your people held both of them. We were chasing It, too, to help our people for the greatest part of nine million of your Earth years to make sure that Megatron never controlled It. No one outside of us, the Autobots, can hold It safely. That led us here as well."
"Nine million years? Are you talking about yourselves or someone who started the search which you finished?" she asked. The room was as still as just before a lightning storm as they listened to Ratchet with fascination.
"No, Senator," Ratchet said as he considered his answer. "We're a tough people who once we get to a certain age remain fixed there unless life is overburdened. We don't age like you do. We were the ones who launched It and we were the ones who looked for It."
It was silent a moment as everyone took in what was confessed as immortality, then she continued. "The Allspark was destroyed then at Mission City, correct?" Hoxley said. "Why is this conflict still here?"
Ratchet considered Sam Witwicky, the living Allspark and began to formulate an answer that didn't include him. "The Allspark was destroyed seemingly but for a fragment. Understand, the Allspark cannot be destroyed. It can only transform. Thus, It exists and always will. The anger and vengeance that Megatron and the Decepticons feel about this defeat wasn't.
"The word has gotten out into their enslaved empire that they can be defeated. It's becoming a disaster for them, this whole business. That means they have to fix it and with that comes whatever level of punishment and punitive damage they deem necessary to correct this anomaly.
"Enslaved worlds are taking heart. If they don't subdue this one, if they let this one defeat them and not exact subjugation, then their empire will fall apart. It already is according to new bots that have arrived here. That's why the Decepticons are still here. They're trying to tidy up a disaster and they won't go until they have whatever cost it takes."
"And your part in all this?" she asked.
"We're here to protect you against them. We're what it takes to battle them back. You're out of their league, I'm afraid. For you to battle them alone would be to invite disaster and enslavement. Other worlds have tried, many of them more greatly advanced than yours and all of them have failed. We don't wish for you to fail because this isn't your fault to have the two land here. We wish to assist and stand with you against them so you won't fall and become enslaved."
-0-Ops Center, Autobot HQ
"Nice and concise," Jazz said leaning back in his chair.
"Enough information," Prime said. "Sam ca not be brought into this."
"No," Sam said sitting between them. "Sam can't."
Prime smiled and Jazz chuckled.
-0-At the thrilla in … D.C.
"You've taken part in a lot of interdictions of Decepticon activity on Earth, much of which is classified. Tell us more about the foe and their aims, particularly any individuals that may be involved in this if you know them."
Ratchet glanced at Morshower who was nearby listening to the questions. He nodded in encouragement. "I won't reveal details of classified events but to say that they wish to sow division between Autobots and humans is to understate their intentions. They want to drive a wedge so great that it'll cause the unthinkable. It would mean that you'd go the distance alone. The leader at the moment is a Seeker called Starscream," Ratchet began. "He's a Seeker, a very smart and dangerous individual who was Megatron's second-in-command."
"Your names," Hoxley said breaking in a moment. "I'm sorry to interrupt but your names are unusual. Starscream, Sideswipe. Could you explain a little about your names please and then continue. I apologize for the interruption but I'm fascinated with your names."
He grinned. "Our names in our native language are unpronounceable by most organics. I don't believe that it's physically possible for your species to ever be able to speak our language. I've yet to see it happen among organics. It might be possible but I'd be greatly surprised. Therefore, we've spent a bit of effort to find near matches of what our names are in your own language and we've learned your languages from the World Wide Web.
"Sideswipe has a name in Cybertronian but you can't pronounce it. His name equivalent in English is Sideswipe. More or less," Ratchet said. "Our names are designed to mean something, for us to attain because of them or they're a designation of beauty or history. What that might mean with a name like Sideswipe or Ironhide is understandably vague but I assure you names have great meaning in our culture."
She nodded. "I find them fascinating. Your flight over to the United States was on a jet names Silverbolt."
Ratchet nodded.
"That's a beautiful name. Please continue. I apologize for interrupting but where I can seek clarification and information for our people I will."
Ratchet nodded. "A noble aspiration," he said. "Starscream is a Seeker and a very cunning, very intelligent, utterly unscrupulous individual. He's leading the faction now and he's the one trying to distribute our weapons and other technology to shady humans who want to use it against you and your kind. He was Megatron's sub commander and he was Air Commander of the Seeker divisions in the Cybertronian Armed Forces. He's a bad sparkless individual."
"Sparkless?" Hoxley asked.
"Soulless," Ratchet answered simply.
"I would like to know more about your Prime," she asked.
"Our people have a leader that's a political and moral figure with enormous prestige and influence. There have been seven of them previous to our current one, Optimus Prime. He was chosen to be leader of our people and was so during the outbreak of the revolution begun by Megatron. It was so bad that the Senate conferred onto Optimus the mantle of Commander of the military. That was never done before him.
"He's our leader, our inspiration and rallying point. He's as good an individual, as respectful of others, as smart, strong and decent as anyone I've ever known. Our people follow him because he's our beacon. If he were a lesser being he would have called us to leave and we would go. But he understands that the situation brought about by holding Megatron without his consent, something you didn't understand, will never go unaddressed by the Decepticons. They never forgive so Prime and the rest of us are here to protect you."
"He couldn't come today," Hoxley asked.
"No," Ratchet said. "He couldn't. But he sends his most sincere regards."
The conversation continued as others took up the questioning, one by one asking what they needed while Ratchet answered them all. He spoke with humor and knowledge, telling the story of their people, the journey they'd made to get to where they were and their willingness to stay and protect Earth against an unforgiving enemy. By the time they reached Beau Weaver, the audience was on Ratchet's side, fully and solidly.
Then Beau Weaver got his turn.