Chapter 144

-0-At the hearing

Then Ironhide turned to the soldiers and spoke: "That's the problem. I came here to discuss that. I don't appreciate Ratchet being a joke to anyone let alone someone I'm supposed to trust on the battlefield."

It was dead silent in the auditorium as the video rolled on.

Then Sideswipe rolled into frame shaking his head with disgust. He spoke: "Look at us. We're not you. We're us. This is who we are supposed to be and we act like we're supposed to act. We come from a different world. We're fraggin' metallic for Primus sake! We don't have too many of your ways but most of us have learned as much as we can … some of us anyway." He glanced with a smirk at the yellow Lambo. Then he continued. "We did it so we can be a team because that's how we know we can stay alive and win. We've been a team for each other for longer than you can imagine. We deserve respect and if you can't accept how we are, especially the personal relationships some of us have because this is what we truly are, imagine how we feel about some of your slag? But I hope you noticed that we haven't dumped on you or let it affect us in combat. No matter what slag you think you know about us know that we are professionals."

Everyone was silent, then Lennox spoke: "You and us, we're brothers-in-arms. I felt it from the beginning. I would hope you understand that holds even now. The three of us, we stay here because we want to work with you, because we respect you and even more, we care about and like you. I'm sorry for the stupidity of a few. I don't want the relationship that we've built up in blood and effort to be compromised. That's why these two are taking the next plane out of here."

Sunstreaker spoke again: "And the others? The soldiers who listened and heard their slag?"

Graham spoke up. "We personally will take care of that."

Then Prowl asserted himself again: "Very well. We can talk further about how we can span this rift and build a closer relationship between you and us. We understand how alien we must be in some regards but that's a two way street."

Lennox looked deeply relieved then spoke: "Thank you, Prowl. We look forward to it. Right now these two are out of here." Lennox turned to Hedges and Johnson and spoke to them: "Get packing. Now."

The two were shown walking stiffly into the building, the hoots of the Lambos following them.

Lennox then looked up to stare into the faces of the others and spoke: "Can we do anything more now or are we okay?"

Then the point of view, the Senior Autobot Ambassador to All and Sundry Nations as well as Planets of the Galaxy and Beyond spoke as he stepped out from behind the big black Autobot: "There *is* something else. I want to know what some slagger said about me."

The room erupted in laughter and they almost didn't get the black Autobot's remark: "Oh, Primus."

Then Prowl called "Truce!" shooing everyone away. He walked to kneel with the soldiers to talk and wrap things up. It was at this point the video feed ended.

Ratchet turned to face Weaver and the committee. "As you can see, Senator, there's the soldier's 'truth' and there's the actual truth."

No one spoke for several seconds.

Then Senator Thomas leaned forward. "I don't have anymore questions. Do you, Senator Weaver?"

Weaver staring at Ratchet with an unreadable expression shook his head. "Ambassador, we're only as good as the information we get," he said quietly.

"You might try reading some once in a while," Ratchet replied slightly testily. "Are we free to go or do I get my thirty minutes to try and save you from yourself?"

Weaver flushed. "There's some of us that genuinely believe you leaving is the best option to our security."

Ratchet shook his head. "We know some of those, too, in our long experience. All of them are now dead worlds."

The room was hushed then Hoxley leaned forward. "I will never agree to sever the agreements and treaties. I don't think our committee is interested in this line of inquiry any further. Am I correct in assessing this point of view?" She looked up and down counting the nods of yes until she had a bulletproof majority in any votes Weaver and his coalition might force. She smiled at Ratchet. "I do believe, Mr. Ambassador, that you're free to go with our support and appreciation. I don't think I'm out of line in sending our best regards to your Prime and your soldiers."

Ratchet nodded. "Thank you, Madam Senator. I will personally relay them to our Prime. You know you have them in return."

Everyone glanced at Weaver who was staring at the Autobots. Then he raised his gavel and hit the table. "Adjourned," was all he said.

The place exploded in noise, applause, shouts and stomping.

-0-In a quiet moment outside of the arena

Andrea Hoxley sat in the cab of Ratchet's search and rescue hummer. She'd asked to speak to him and entered the truck with a bit of excitement to settle into the best seats she had or ever would experience with a vehicle. She sat a moment and felt foolish a moment. "Hello, Senator Hoxley."

Ratchet's voice came out of the speakers. She startled, then chuckled. "You're a remarkable individual," she said.

"Thank you. As I said before, we try," Ratchet said with his own chuckle. "I wish to thank you for the help and support you've given us over these last few months that we've been battling these people. It means a lot and the Prime and all of us call you a friend."

"I'm honored to be your friend, Ambassador," she replied greatly pleased.

"Ratchet," he said. "The formalities are over and we don't usually stand on them unless we have to."

"I hope our alliance hasn't suffered. You know, I get the reports on what you do and I know how dangerous it is. I know what it costs you to be here and help us. I wanted to thank you personally."

"Our fight landed on your doorstep through no fault of your own, Senator," Ratchet said. "We couldn't go and leave you alone. All the Weavers in the world won't keep us from helping and protecting you."

"Please tell your Prime that the majority of the committee is pro-Autobot and that we'll do our best to contain Weaver. I don't believe he helped his cause today."

"No," Ratchet said with a chuckle. "I've been the Autobot's diplomat for more years than I care to admit to and I find today to have been a very bad day for our Beau Weaver."

"I agree," she said. "I wish you to know that the children, the sparklings and younglings, they were precious. I found them to be so precious. The infant, the sparkling with the yellow bands on his arm … he was delightful."

Ratchet felt his spark flutter. "He is as I'm told by his genitor somewhere along the far end of the awesome scale."

Hoxley grinned. "I agree. I'd like to let you know that there'll be those for whom your relationships fall along the lines of the two soldiers. I want you to be ready for certain criticisms and attitudes. I'll be vigilant in guarding the interests of both of us, the United States and the Autobots because I believe they coincide. I also find it ridiculous and extremely immature to judge another species of life with our own personal values and judgments. The Senator said that he believes all life is from God and starts at conception. He does not speak for our entire species. We're a contradictory and young life form. We have a lot of distance to go. You must find us primitive."

"No," Ratchet said a smile in his voice. "You're young but you're goodhearted all told. For every Weaver there's you, Lennox, Epps, Graham and the soldiers that we work with, the civilians and personnel on the base that support our effort. The people in the audience today as well are worthy and appreciated. We're an old species and have seen a lot of strange and wonderful things. We understand. You mustn't worry."

"That makes me feel better. No one of us speaks for all of us. For every definite point of view like those, there's twelve others. I thank you for the afternoon. I haven't been so entertained in a long time. Seeing Beau Weaver fall on his face is a wonderful thing."

Ratchet chuckled. "It's our honor to entertain you then," he said.

"Please convey our regards and mine in particular to your Prime and all the others and hug that sparkling for me."

"Come to Diego Garcia and hug him yourself," Ratchet suggested.

"You give me wonderful ideas," she said suddenly inspired. "Thank you and take care, Ratchet. Perhaps we shall be seeing you some time."

"I'll look forward to it," Ratchet said waiting as she climbed down. Then he closed the door and signaled to the N.E.S.T. liaison that they were ready to go. With Bumblebee and Mirage in front, Springer and Jazz behind, the Ambassador of Cybertron, Chief Medical Officer of the Autobot Armed Forces, Senior Autobot Officer on the Prime's personal staff, creator of the luminous and slightly wobbly Orion of Mars, and the personal squeeze toy of Ironhide the Awesome slowly made his way to the airport. A very patient Silverbolt waited to go home to Diego Garcia and soon they would all fly away.

-0-On the way

Lennox sat on his safe seat in the cordoned off section of the hold. He held his Kindle but he wasn't ready to read. Blowing off steam with Bee, Mirage and Springer as Jazz lounged nearby with his music playing internally, he glanced at Ratchet. Walking under the cordon, making his way around Jazz's long legs, he walked to Ratchet to lean against his ped. "You did real good."

"So did you," Ratchet said. "I was proud of you, William."

Lennox blushed. "I have chastising e-mails from my mother. My wife and dad think I'm great, though. Language." He grinned. "You're always a son of your mother."

"Best two out of three then," Ratchet said with a chuckle. "You made the difference, your loyalty to us and your support. You, Epps and Graham, we don't thank you enough. We should. You're our greatest friends. Comrades and brothers, all."

Lennox nodded. "You're our brothers, too. I hope if no one gets anything else out of this that's understood. Brothers-in-arms, brothers in all ways."

Ratchet nodded. "I can't wait for Weaver to go to jail."

"You and me both, Ratchet," William said patting Ratchet's ped. Then he wound his way back to settle in the cordoned area and spent his time telling lies with the boys in the back. Ratchet on the other hand considered the pull of home, of his big smoldering mech hunk, the wondrous Ironhide and his wonderful sparkling, Orion. Then he added into his thinking the two other younglings that he'd come to make his own.

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe had stood up not just for Blue that day. They had stood up for them all. It was pure dumb luck that that moment would become so powerful and important to them all.

Ratchet grinned. All-in-all, he was proud of his family. His big old mech. His sparkling and his two younglings. Now all he had to do was arm wrestle Prowl for snugly time with his soon-to-be grandson. The idea of it made him laugh out loud.

-0-Home again, home again, jiggity jig

They came out of the hold where the entire garrison was waiting for them. To one side stood almost all of N.E.S.T. which included soldiers from America, England and all over the world from among the 122 treaty signatory countries. They cheered and clapped, joking and laughing as Ratchet and his companions walked toward Prime.

Ratchet pranced and bowed, coquettishly working the crowd as he preened, posed and ambled toward the Embassy.

Lennox who was sitting on Springer's shoulder held on for dear life as Bumblebee followed carrying his duffel bag. It looked like a tiny doll's purse and he held it like it was a fragile thing.

It was. It held Lennox's Kindle.

By the time they reached Prime, they were hurrahed half to death. Prime hugged Prowl, then hugged Ratchet. Ironhide who was standing beside him with Orion grinned from audial to audial, that is until Ratchet took Orion. A pout formed and he was quickly shamed out of it. Then it all died down.

Prime looked down at a hummer where Colonel Fulton had climbed up onto the hood.

He grinned up at Prime. "Optimus, you don't pay Ratchet enough."

"I do not pay him anything, Colonel," Prime replied as they all burst into laughter. He reached over to pluck Lennox off Springer, putting him down gently on the hummer. He smiled. "Thank you, William, for being a comrade to us."

Lennox nodded. "We are. All of us. They can't know what that's like but we do. Until all are one," he said.

The Autobots and soldiers clapped and laughed, some of them stamping their peds.

"Until all are one," Prime said clapping himself.

The words rang out from all kinds of voices and for a moment they were one, united in relief, united in a cause and united in brotherhood.

Standing off to one side silent and without expression, Jason Daniels and four of his mercs watched silently. They had no idea of what they just saw really meant and they never ever would.