Chapter 135
0=At the home of Shockwave
They entered, the four walking past a tall, cold looking figure of a man. The house was magnificent with a roaring fire in a stone fireplace dominating the room. The furnishings around it were sumptuous and expensive. They paused by it, staring into the flames then turned to face each other, silently appraising the other.
Their host was dressed in very expensive tailored clothing, a suit and tie oddly enough. Expensive handmade shoes adorned his feet and his hands showed the marks of manicures and light labor. He gestured them to come to the fire and they did, sitting to face him as he stood before them, assuming the domination position. He smiled, a not altogether convincing thing. "I am High Flyer," he said in a heavily accented voice.
They looked at him a moment in silence, then Galloway arose to walk toward him with his hand out.
Shockwave took it and they shook, each showing a firm grip.
"I'm Theodore Galloway but most people call me Ted." He introduced everyone present. "This is Senator Beau Weaver of Texas, Jason Daniels, who carries the brief for the State Department for the N.E.S.T. Program and the Autobot Treaties and Bill Nast who owns and operates Intel-Martin Corporation and its subsidiaries."
Shockwave stepped forward to shake hands, giving a slight old world style bow of his head as he did so. He stepped back to regard them as Galloway sat once more. "My actual name is Onda de Choque. But you may call me Ondo."
"We're very glad to meet you at last, Ondo. You've been very helpful to us in our goals in the past," Weaver said leaning back to make himself more comfortable. "We're all in positions to do a lot of good for our country and our various interests. This meet up is a godsend with the way things are going lately."
Shockwave nodded then gestured toward a beautifully laden table nearby a rather amazing wet bar. "May I offer you some refreshment before we get down to business? I know you are busy men and I am fielding a very full schedule myself."
They rose to help themselves to exquisite food and extremely good and some rare vintage wines. He stood with them deferring anything for himself as he played the good host and helped his guests. When they settled once more, Daniels leaned forward yo venture his position and that of his family. "Ondo, I think we all have the same goals here. We want to see the Autobots off the Earth. We want to see an end to the treaties, the security arrangements and the disbanding of N.E.S.T."
Shockwave, relaxing elegantly in a leather chair beside the fire nodded. "Do continue."
Daniels becoming emboldened leaned back. "All of us are either in positions of influence or aiming for them. My father and grandfather are important men. Majority Leader of the Senate has a lot of power and influence both inside and outside of government. My family business is very influential and powerful with ties everywhere. My family and I have discussed the many points of mutual interest all of us here share and they support me, my father and grandfather both."
Shockwave nodded. "That is good to know. Then they are willing to use their positions of influence to further the goals and aims of our little group?"
Daniels nodded. "They are."
"The Majority Leader and I have discussed this in detail and that's why I am holding hearings shortly with that Autobot Ambassador," Weaver interjected. "We agree that we have to take them down and if it means getting argumentative and combative we're prepared to do so."
"What we need, and all politicians here do, is funding," Galloway said. "Our campaigns are tremendously expensive and having unlimited funding through corporations thanks to the recent Supreme Court decision we can now spend large cash amounts through organizations without donation limits or disclosure." He leaned forward. "If I get elected, then there will be three Senators that are amenable to you and your goals, myself, Beau of course," he said nodding to Weaver, "and Senate Majority Leader Daniels."
"This would be extremely helpful and I will be forthcoming to your campaigns, I assure you," Shockwave said. "I am concerned about public opinion. It appears that your opinion of the Autobots is a minority one. The public is very much enamored of them."
"Then we'll take them down. We can use information we've acquired to get more. We have a mole in N.E.S.T. at Diego Garcia and he's been very active," Galloway said.
"I don't want to pry but it appears to me, Ondo, that the only way you could be as well informed as you appear to be is if you have contact with the Decepticons. I hope I'm not out of line suggesting this," Daniels said venturing his suggestion.
Shockwave looked at him, his cold blue eyes pause making. "I won't bore you with details but you are correct in your assumptions. They trust me and I trust them."
"We would like to be trusted, too," Galloway said, measuring de Choque appraisingly. "We don't subscribe to the idea that they're here to do us harm. They're here to remove the Autobot threat from their midst. Once the Autobots leave we're of no consequence to them."
Shockwave considered the foolishness being displayed before him but nodded anyway. "You have a very astute mind, Mr. Galloway."
Galloway leaned back pleased with himself.
Nast who was sitting next to him could only stare at Onda de Choque. He was aware that the creature before him was a very intricate holographic image and that somewhere, probably inside the house was the demon, Shockwave. He didn't speak, merely giving the good impression of listening and appraising in a believing sort of way what was being discussed.
Shockwave traded comments then turned to Nast. "Mr. Nast, you will be receiving a shipment of a special gift meant just for you from me."
Nast, jolting slightly nodded. "Thank you, Ondo. The Cybertronian weapon passed shortly ago, I remember. I'm sorry. I have a cold and the medication I take has made me a bit on the sleepy side."
Shockwave nodded. "Understood."
For a moment there was a pause in the flow and then the conversation began again. They discussed the political scene in America and the world, the economic instability that was plaguing everyone and the opportunities therein to profit personally as well as other ideas shared between individuals without souls.
Then Shockwave rose with the others following. "I must conclude our little visit for now. I have a few things that demand my time. However, I would like to meet again in one month."
"Again?" Galloway asked.
"Yes," Shockwave said. "I would like to discuss a number of things that I would like to do in the realm of energy and policy. I think it would be nice of you to suggest a few of your more … innovative friends in places of influence, perhaps even the Majority Leader himself to come and meet. I would be honored to host such distinguished and forward thinking individuals. We can meet and talk together, to make plans and strategies for our purposes."
"We can do that," Weaver said breezily. "I could bring a few of my fellow Senators and some key Congressmen as well."
"I would like that," Daniels said. "I will inform my father and grandfather to keep a date open when you let us know."
Nast nodded as he stood quietly with his hands in his pockets.
Shockwave stepped forward to shake their hands, then walked to the door to let them out. They exited the house and the door closed.
Nast without another word walked to his truck. They called to him and he waited as the others caught up.
"What's the matter, Bill?" Weaver asked.
"I think I'm going to vomit," he said, his pale shaking expression indicative of his remarks.
"Well, you better go then," Weaver said. The others nodded. "Next time try and not be ill."
Nast climbed aboard, backed out and left.
The others stood on the street a while and then the limousine was back. They boarded and drove off, unaware that they were on the radar of Autobot and Decepticon alike.
=0=Jazz, Prime and Fulton
"This is a hard call," Prime said as his voice came through the radio. "Nail him now and get him or get him the next time he comes and a lot of other people, too?"
Fulton was silent, thinking it through with all its possibilities.
Jazz was silent as well.
"It could bag them all next time. The hearings will be coming up and then anything that the three of them do between times will also be evidence of conspiracy. We could get him when he comes back," Fulton mused.
"Jazz?" Prime asked.
"I want him dead, Optimus," Jazz said. "But I also want the others. The way the justice system works here, rich people wiggling away from their crimes … it almost cries out to follow Shockwave."
Prime was silent a moment. "What if he does not come back and we miss our chance now to kill or take him alive?"
"What if he shoots it out? There's a lot of civilians here. If we let him go maybe we can influence the location next time," Jazz said. "No matter which way you go, you'll get criticism."
"I agree," Prime said. "Colonel, opinion?"
"I like his overconfidence. He came here once and 'bested' the system. I'd like to see what he wants the next time and I'd love to see these people act on their remarks. I don't want them any wiggle room when the net drops."
It was silent a moment, then Prime decided. "We let him leave." He almost sighed over the link. "Watch him, Jazz, all the way out of here. I will have Prowl track him off world and maybe we can have a notion of where he is going."
"On it, Optimus," Jazz said.
It was silent a moment, then Fulton patted the dashboard. "He'll be back. You know he will. Then we take him. We take him and all of them."
Prime considered that then agreed. "It will be a good day."
"The best."
=0=At Nast's house
He drove in and parked, then hopped out to run inside. Passing the two soldiers who were waiting for him, he ran into the bathroom to vomit. He heaved and heaved, then sagged to the floor to lean against the wall with his eyes closed. They stood at the door, neither feeling sympathy and listened on their ear pieces to the field team regrouping.
=0=Ops Center, Autobot Embassy, Diego Garcia
Prowl got the word and concurred with Prime, estimating that the likelihood of Shockwave returning was in the high nineties. The more evidence of conspiracy they had the better. Now the players were free to act on their discussion items and when the lid was dropped on them they would have no defense whatsoever. Having more conspirators meet meant digging out and getting all the tentacles of this organization which was building and spreading out from the main players.
As he stood at the comm station discussing the situation in Colorado with Prime, Prowl didn't tell him about the riot at Autobot City. He was still reeling over that and since it was Ultra Magnus' responsibility, he held it from Prime until he could come back and face him.
Dispatching Ratchet the night before had been shocking, that the situation needed him was hard to take. He was irritated with the garrison, with Ultra Magnus and with the extra worries Prime would have to shoulder because of it. There was just too much to do now to be stupid. He ordered Magnus to make an example of the instigators and to make the others work for their redemption.
Magnus who was mortified and angry agreed in his button down way and by dawn's light Gears had joined Cliffjumper in the brig for an extended holiday. The other soldiers during their off duty time were digging trenches for new habitat extensions. It would be a long, long decaorn for all concerned.
=0=Med Bay, Autobot City, Mars
Ratchet finished tidying up, taking the inordinate amount of broken and bent parts removed from Autobot knot helms and put them into the recycle medical waste bin in the back of the facility. Sunstreaker, his Mech Friday was helping and Bluestreak was playing with Orion. They'd spent the night on the med berths with Sideswipe being hauled off early to go and dig. The rec room was empty when they arrived for breakfast, mostly civilians and the few who hadn't partaken in the melee the night before.
"This place was wild last night," Bluestreak said. "I've seen drunken brawls on Cybertron and few other places but nothing like that."
"That was pretty awesome," Sunstreaker said. "I wish I had been there."
"You would be digging holes, Sunny," Bluestreak said with a grin. "Poor Sideswipe."
"Lucky-to-be-free-of-the-brig-Sidewipe you mean," Ratchet said tucking his feeding cable back into his wrist interface compartment. He wiped Orion's little face. He was all arms flapping and his pug nose wrinkling in distaste. Ratchet smiled at him then held him up to plant a big kiss on his little lips. "Aren't you just the perfect little mech this morning?" he cooed.
Bluestreak smiled. "He was so good last night," he said reaching over to take the sparkling into his arms.
Orion beat on Bluestreak with his rattle, chirping and bouncing as he did.
"He sure is talking a lot. Spirit might take lessons," Bluestreak said.
"Maybe he can be around Orion a little. It might help him learn to talk," Ratchet said.
Bluestreak nodded. "That would be nice."
They sat chatting amiably, then Ratchet remembered something. "I'll be right back." He rose and Orion fussed, reaching out for his old pa. Ratchet, melting on the spot held out his arms and took him. "I'll be right back. You two might start thinking about a protoform. Less than four decaorns now."
Sunny and Bluestreak nodded, watching as Ratchet walked to the doors and out into the courtyard.
"Ratchet rules," Bluestreak said quietly.
Sunstreaker nodded silently.
Ratchet and Orion walked around the corner, spotting their destination then headed for it. They paused before the bench out front. Sitting down to arrange the sparkling on his lap, Ratchet waited. For a moment they enjoyed the sunshine alone, then Starscream walked out to sit on the bench, spreading his wings behind him.
"I see you have a sparkling," Starscream said eyeing the infant critically.
The infant, glancing at him for a moment returned to his fist and his peds, waving his rattle as he tried to put both in his mouth. "Reminds me of Ironhide."
"Its my sparkling and Ironhide is the other father."
"No wonder." Starscream leaned back to off line his optics as he soaked up the sunshine as well.
"When were you going to tell me, Starscream?" Ratchet asked.
"Eventually," he said looking at the medico with one optic. "If the moment presented itself."
"A riot is the right moment? You could have injured them last night."
"It wasn't my intention nor my fault that the Autobots wanted to beat my aft," Starscream said quietly. "I doubt that it would have made a difference if they had known. They still would have attacked." It was silent a moment. "Odd, that. Kup has tried to kill me many times and the red twin, he has climbed onto my back in flight more times than I like to remember. They came to my rescue."
"They did," Ratchet said glancing over at Starscream. "Now so am I." He reached into subspace to pull up a scanner. Running it over the Seeker, he checked and correlated the data. "You have three hatchlings and they'll be due for transfer in a week."
"I was aware of that," Starscream said evenly.
"Do you have an incubator pod?" Ratchet asked.
"Not yet," Starscream replied.
"Then I'll have Perceptor and Wheeljack make one. Will you have them transfer here or on Earth?"
"Here, but of course," Starscream said looking at Ratchet with a slight frown. "The other rock is crawling with insects."
Ratchet smiled. "Still the same old sourpuss aren't you."
"Some things never change," Starscream said smiling to himself. Then he patted his chassis. "And some things do."
Ratchet grinned back.
(According to English-Portuguese dictionaries, Onda de Choque is Portuguese for Shockwave.)