Well my chapters are starting to run together so I will try to have one that completes its theme. I am enjoying writing this story and I hope everyone is enjoying reading it. Please take a moment to leave a review. I read all of them and I even take ideas from time to time. Enjoy!
Optimus walked into the dining area and noticed that all the main officers were not there. He did see some of his officers and mechs milling about. He smiled as some flirted with femmes and he noticed that even the Decepticons were starting to integrate with his soldiers. Last night Allie's appetite had been insatiable. Even after the first CPU blowing spark bonding, she had gone down on him again. It was as if she was driven by her need to be sparked. Optimus had never seen her so desperate. Today, he could feel the drain on his systems from spending a day in the sun, tending to a sick femme, and then interfacing until he passed out.
What was even stranger was that he woke from recharge and she had already begun her day without getting him up. Usually they woke up and rebooted together but she was nowhere in sight. He saw Ratchet sitting at the table talking to Hook and decided to go and sit with them.
"Good morning Ratchet, Hook." He said as he took the seat to Ratchet's right. Hook was sitting to his left as Optimus poured him a cube of energon. He drank half the contents in one gulp which surprised the both medics.
"Easy Optimus. We don't need another one purging on us." Hook said and Ratchet laughed.
"I take it Shalon had an upset this morning?" Optimus asked, a twinkle in his optic.
"Yes, all over Megatron of course." Ratchet said as both medic laughed. "You should have seen the horrific face he made and poor Shalon apologizing and then slapping him telling him that he should have let her walk. I don't think the twins could have pulled a better prank than that!" All three chuckled and Optimus sighed, glad that everyone was getting along so well.
"I do have another question for you two." Optimus said. "Have you seen Allie or any of the others?"
"No, Doc has the infirmary squared away and this morning she said that she would be meeting with Allie and some of the others so I figured she would be here. We haven't seen several of the officers and when I asked no one could give me an answer." Ratchet said as he took another drink of his cube.
"There's Barricade. Let's ask him if he knows anything." Hook said as he motioned for Barricade to come and sit with them. Barricade did so but before Ratchet or Optimus could ask him anything he beat them to it.
"Have you seen Chelsea?" He asked. "I woke up and she was gone this morning. I was hoping that she would be here."
"Ratchet said that Allie called an early morning meeting and tonight I know we have the benefit concert." Optimus said.
"Well, I would like to see Doc sometime today. We have another shipment coming from Moon base 5 and then she had mentioned something about a youngling mech coming in with some kind of head injury. Doc's the one that specializes in neural affairs, not me." Ratchet grouched. Hook laughed as he listened.
"Well I was just thankful that you two were on duty and not I last night." Hook stated. Optimus groaned.
"I was one of the ones who heard her purging in the wash racks." Optimus said as he shook his helm.
"By the way, how is it working out having to share with Megatron and Shalon?" Barricade asked. He was curious how the two leaders were getting along.
"Not bad. With the exception of last night we have not had any run ins and although we share a living room we each have an office and berth room to ourselves." Optimus said. His hand came up to rub his battle mask as he reflected on the past few days.
"Well I had no complaints until last night." Megatron said as he sauntered in.
"What do you mean? Oh!" Optimus' optics widen as he realized what Megatron was implying and Ratchet smirked.
"Let me guess? Allie has sparkling fever?" Hook asked laughing.
"Somebody got something!" Megatron teased and everyone laughed at Optimus' expense.
"Well what can I say? When Allie wants something, Allie gets it and she wants a sparkling so I suggested we practice." Megatron slapped him on the back hard as Ratchet just cackled. Barricade and Hook laughed until Hook almost fell double over and fell out of his chair. Everyone else looked wondering what was so funny. Optimus took the teasing and razzing with good nature.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"When are we telling the mechs about our rituals?" Cassie asked. "We haven't even told Alpha Trion. All he knows is that at certain times of the year we all disappear but if we have both the Autobots and the Decepticons here then we are going to have to tell them something."
Allie thought about her questions carefully. She knew that they would eventually have to tell them something about their rituals and she would have to soon. Already they could feel the oracle calling to them spiritually and Allie would have to say something to Optimus when the call became so strong that he would feel it through the bond.
"Cassie is right. I have been monitoring the crystals and they are singing which is a prerequisite of the oracle coming up to demand our attention." Chelsea said as she looked at each of the officers that Allie had assembled.
"I assembled us for the purpose of making our wishes into formal requests. I know what lies in each of your sparks. I can feel it through our bond of sisterhood as well as read it from each of you telepathically. Before we can decide what to tell the mechs we need to make our wishes and desires known so that we will have a say in negotiations tomorrow. The concert is tonight, Alpha Trion and Ultra Magnus are assembled, and the governor of the Cybertronian colony will be arriving in the morning." Allie stated to her officers as she looked around the assembly room in the lower chamber of the temple. They had agreed to meet here so that they wouldn't be disturbed. Allie looked at each of her officers as they gazed back.
"How do we go about assessing our requests?" Saraphina asked. She was curious about how they were going to merge three cultures together because that would be what they were attempting to do. It would not be easy and she sensed that Allie knew this as well.
"First we need to talk about what we want." Allie stated calmly.
"Well I am not giving up my charges." Said one officer. Others agreed with her.
"I agree. We made a commitment to these sparklings and youngling and we need to see it through. I know that some of you have adopted these poor sparks and they should not suffer now that some of you are taking mates. What is another issue?" Allie asked.
"We live in a world where femmes subjugate to mechs. So far we have never had any of our kind mistreated or abused but now we have mechs that have been in war for long periods of time. Can we trust them not to hurt us? I know that the seekers, despite being highly aggressive in the skies, are very gentle while courting but can we trust all of them. I mean that Autobot medic, I know he is bonded to Doc, but he seems rough so it may not just be Decepticons we have to worry about." There was some chatter among officers as Allie listened to this next concern. After a few minutes of discussion among the officers Allie held up her hand and the room quieted.
"This is a concern. I cannot condone anyone being abused or beaten. However I do know that in any society there are laws that are made to protect from such mechs and femmes, "Allie looked pointedly at Saraphina "from abuse. All I can do is make it known that we will not tolerate any femme being hurt in such a way that is immoral or humiliating. I do think that this is a very plausible and valid reason to bring up. Now I have something that I want to discuss." Allie said. She started very slowly as if in deep thought.
"I want to ease up. I know that we will always be the first line of defense when it comes to protecting the Realm, but I want to ease up on the daily routines. We have floated so many of the local governments and I think that they need to start standing on their own. I want to take actions that will move these local governments to that objective and I want to place Megatron in charge of that. I know that is a big step and I know that there are risks, but if we are going to bring them into the Realm then they are going to need jobs. Prime is the spiritual leader and he is unique because he can fight though he rather not. Megatron has no such qualms so if a government rebels then he can handle it. We will be there to back him but we will also be there to intervene so that neither part is abused."
Everyone in the meeting sat there silently as they absorbed Allie's words. She was proposing a daring and possibly dangerous idea and all the officers knew it.
"I know you may not like the idea, but he was the Lord High Protector…"
"Who started a civil war that destroyed our home planet." Mia interrupted.
"I know but the Decepticons had some good reasons for going to war even if it wasn't with the right intentions." Allie said. "It's just a thought. He can't come here and be a subordinate. He will never be able to conform. He can't be a sire and stay at home while Shalon works. He will have to have something and let's face it, he has the training. He's arrogant enough to take on the over lords in the Realm and they won't be able to push him around. If he can agree not to rampage and destroy then he would be perfect for the job. He can retain his title and extend it into the Realm. It will pacify his desire to rule and at the same time we benefit from his personality. He becomes a help instead of a hindrance."
It sounded plausible and Allie hoped that they would see her idea in both positive and negative sides so that if there was any holes in her idea they could iron it out now before later when it might be too late.
"Well, it's an idea and if you don't like it I need an alternative because I have already training him on our routines and procedures as well as introducing him and Prime to the key leaders here in the Realm." Allie stated to her officers.
"What will your role be if you don't mind my asking?" Chelsea asked. She still could remember his cruelty as he had punished her and Barricade and she was very concerned about his temper.
"I will of course remain as Leator and I will always be there has a mediator. I will not let him abuse his power if that is what concerns you because I know that you suffered when you were on the Nemesis." Allie said as she folded her hands under her chin and braced her head on her elbows on the table.
"I think that it is a good idea as long as there are checks and balances concerning his personality. He can be very effective and is an eloquent speaker. I was there in Kaon and heard his speeches. He was very powerful and mesmerizing." Aura stated as she remember how moving those times were and how desperate femmes and mechs were.
"I can't really see any major negative reasons for not asking him to take a position like this. He would be good, but I want it known that our ways work for us or we will rebel." Mia said emphatically.
"I agree with Mia. I know firsthand how he can be. I will not let him hurt any of us like he did to me on the Nemesis." Chelsea stated.
"I agree with all of you and that is why I will retain my title as well." Allie said. "I think we have exhausted this subject for now. Doc, what about your infirmary?"
"Both Ratchet and Hook are adjusting well. In all honesty, I like having a day off and as we continue in peace I think that we will start using the infirmary as an out-patient office for our troops as well as any of the locals that might need medical assistance." Doc replied.
"Good. I think I have an idea what to demand or ask for. I will not deviate from the issues of abuse or neglect nor will I allow them to push concerning the youngsters that we have taken in." Allie stated.
"If there are no other major concerns then I will dismiss each of you." Allie rose as did all the officers. Everyone filed out as Allie went to Chelsea.
"Do you think he would be cruel if we don't blindly follow?" She asked Chelsea.
"Only time will tell. Already he seems more at peace since he has bonded with Shalon. His focus has changed and everyone that has known him or been around him can tell." Chelsea said. "What do you think?"
"When I read him I sense he is tired of the war. He had accepted that Cybertron is pretty much lost at this time. Also he knows that as long as he stays on earth Optimus will never let him enslave its inhabitants." Allie replied. "I think he is ready. We just need to sit down and hash out the details."
"Then I will support you in whatever decision is made." Chelsea said. She felt her sparkling move and reached down to rub him in comfort.
"How are you feeling?" Allie asked.
"Much better." Chelsea replied. She looked directly at Allie. "I want this peace more than anything I have ever wanted. If you even suspect that he is playing us…"
"I'll kill him myself regardless of how it will affect Shalon." Allie stated softly so no one would overhear.
