The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box Returns 8 (250) edited for boo boos. :D
-0-Out there
They found the coordinates that would take them in the shortest route to the signal that was beckoning. They were making their way through new space as they left the Empire behind. Their leader was a very dangerous mech named Hydro and he commanded a large force that was loyal only to him. Seven battle cruisers and a number of ships carrying troops and support flew in a tight formation as they entered a quadrant that was unknown to them.
Hydro sat in his command chair in the first and largest of the battle ships. He considered the signals that he had received. The first one was from Prime alone. It was a signal for his soldiers to come to him as he had found sanctuary in the stars on a planet with resources. That had titillated Hydro no end. Cybertronians had specific needs that had to be met, the most important being fuel for their vessels and themselves. Very few of the species they had come across that weren't basic plankton-type organisms ate products made from minerals that could burn with the touch of a match.
Prime had found a fuel and food source. That was very important since their own sources were low grade energon made from ores and other minerals converted through a laborious process. Getting fuel for the ships was always a concern. However, it would appear that Prime didn't have that problem.
Then they heard the one with Starscream, Prime included again. That had been a shocker. It would appear that Megatron's lunatic decision had forced the Seekers into the arms of the enemy. He really couldn't blame them. He was a mech who understood the odds, played them and weighed them with every decision. Outside of a home world to base their most vulnerable positions -food, energy, dependents- there was only uncertainty and the steady companion of anxiety.
Starscream was calling the Seekers home and they were going. He had seen their echoes on his sensors. They were flying well around him but all heading toward the same direction.
Prime.
He on the other servo was going to another place, one with their own call. A mech he knew, someone smarter than Megatron and just as ruthless was seeking lost souls. He was going to meet up with Paragon and see what he was doing. Perhaps there was a space for his team. He wouldn't mind serving someone in a capacity befitting his dignity and personal goals. Paragon was smart, smooth and had nearly the same agenda as he had. He wanted Cybertron back and he wanted it now.
Hydro wouldn't mind allowing him to do the planning, leading and all the rest. At the end of the road when things were secure, he could always slip a knife into Paragon's neck and take the reins himself. Once all the hard stuff was done, he could become the lord and master of Cybertron.
Besides, from the sounds of things neither were strong enough to take on Prime and win. Between the two of them and others they could coax, they might have a chance. Then again, they might take Soundwave apart then go after Prime. With enough resources they would have the luxury of choice.
He had worked with Paragon before and knew him reasonably well. He knew he wouldn't be trusted but that was the way of the Decepticons. The spoils go to the strongest. With that, he set his course and turned his battle group toward the settlement and piercing signal of Paragon.
-0-Out there too
They watched the battle group pass with loathing. They were stunned when they continued onward. Their migration was relatively helpless though they did have arks and soldiers in their midst. On their tail, a faint signal giving them hope, two Supreme Guardians followed. They were low on fuel and suffering but making their way forward doggedly.
The group leader composed his message and considered the possibilities that if one Decepticon battle group was around, there could be more. They had seen literally hundreds of Seekers heading this way too. All of them were going toward the Prime. All of them were in dire straits. He made up his mind and with trembling servos sent the message into the darkness of night.
All was in play. There was no turning back. It was in Primus's servos now.
-0-In the darkness, following
They flew together, their non-essential systems shut down. Chi was silent as they continued onward, Phi chattering on the comm link between to keep himself awake. They were part of a migration but had downloaded so much of their energon to keep the vulnerable going that it had depleted them. Now they could only hope that the flotilla ahead would signal Prime and send help. The Guardians flew onward in the wake of the migration which when it was claimed would number around 550,000 individual sparks.
-0-Out there as well
Paragon read the data and felt satisfaction. Hydro's group was coming. They were battle tested and veteran. Their addition to his own group would be an excellent thing. They would bring ships and soldiers. There would be no Seekers among them but still, Hydro would bring an Achilles heel with him. He would be bringing families.
They were among two such groups that he knew of that had ignored Megatron's order about extinguishing the sparks of families including infants. They had defied Megatron and had he not gone off in his frenzy to seek allies elsewhere, there would have been civil war in their ranks between those with families and those loyal to Megatron.
He himself didn't mind families and offspring. They were an asset that Megatron never recognized. A mech will fight like a tyro for his family, his infants. They will be loyal to a place and a situation for that reason a lot longer than they would for loyalty to some cause. Most of them started out as single mechs with a burning need for revenge, treasure or political triumph. The Clampdown had been the utmost worst idea perpetuated on the citizenry of Cybertron since the caste system. It had made enemies of patriots.
Now a big group was coming and there were faint pings here and there of others. A massive migration was heading this way and now he might have other options regarding it. He was heavily leaning toward letting Prime have the civilians but not the soldiers. He was wanting to drive them away along with their ships and technology. Before, he had no chance to do that. Prime was too strong. But now, perhaps there would be a chance to prevent assets from falling into Prime's servos. He glanced at the command table in the fortress that they had built. "Arrow."
The big handsome Seeker who was working on creating an accurate star chart of the local area up to and including their still spotty intel of the system of Prime glanced at his lover. Rising, he walked to the command chair and leaned in. "Yes?" he asked in his husky voice.
"I would like to know more about the battle group Hydro is bringing. I would like a fly by. Nothing threatening. Just a scouting party. Don't have them hide but don't have them provoke. I want Hydro to know that I am aware that he's there and I want to have him know that we aren't pushovers."
Arrow nodded and smirked. "I will be back by dinner."
Paragon allowed a small smile. "I count upon it."
The big mechanism turned and walked away, disappearing into the common room of the fortress that being typically Cybertronian was nearly a carbon copy of Fort Apache and the Fortress of Autobot City. He considered the potential of the next few orns, then allowed another smile. Hydro wasn't the only group looking for leadership heading this way. Soundwave was falling apart. Cybertron would be a ripe fruit ready to be picked and he would be the one to do it.
-0-On a barren planetoid out there
They gathered, more arriving behind them in a steady stream. They were battered and weary, hungry and angry. The group had been running together going a circuitous route around the major sphere of Decepticon influence as they tried to follow the signal of Starscream and his utterly unlikely ally, Optimus Prime. They had flown until refueling was essential, choosing among the flotsam of space a planetoid fragment big enough for them to pause upon.
There were infants clinging to their genitors, their famished faces painful to look upon. Injured mechs and a pair of sparked femmes staggered to the ground and lay there, their ability to continue seriously compromised by their state. Their leadership gathered together, five big mechs and an old femme.
:I am going to gather a flight of mechs to follow me. I am going to go straight across this sector to reach communication range of Prime. The last group we passed told us that there were relays out there and perhaps we can get a message to Prime and Starscream that our young are in danger of dying."
They looked at him, the Elder among them one of very high status among the Vos Seekers of the Mountain Clan. She nodded. "We have to stay here and gather the ones coming. They will hear our signal and come. We can make energon here, as much as we can to keep the sick and young alive. You must hurry, Rattler. You must hurry and bring the word to Prime. If Starscream trusts him, we can too:
The big youngling, Rattler bowed to the Elder. :I will tell them, Mother, that we need help. I will take my brothers. We know how to fly together and make our energon last:
She nodded and he turned calling for his brothers. Four of them gathered and they paused looking around. Hundreds of Seekers in dire condition lay and sat here and there while others in better shape began to make energon out of ores found on the ground as even more Seekers came out of the darkness of space. Their machines, battered and overworked would have to do the job. Without them, they were lost. They looked at the hatchlings who sat wanly in the laps of their genitors. Then they turned and transformed heading out into space to follow the thin signal of hope and plenty that flowed through the darkness like an invisible thread.
The five sons of Silverclaw disappeared into the darkness without a sound.
-0-At home
Ratchet entered the apartment tiptoeing around as best he could. No one was up. The lights were out and so he sneaked into the berthroom to go to recharge. Foregoing the wash rack, he walked to the berth and lowered himself, every inch of his frame calling out for recharge. The sparkling was recharging already, if that is what they did and he decided without ceremony to join him. He relaxed.
"Ratchet?"
"Ironhide."
"Just getting done are ya?"
"Yep. Tomorrow, we take care of Kestrel and Tagg. Then they stay one more night before going to the Residence to convalesce. All in an orn's work."
"That's good."
Silence.
"They seem like stand up mechs, both of them."
"They are. I like Prime's genitors, Only One. They're just so kind and self effacing. Reminds me of Prime."
"Yeah. I noticed that. I wonder how hard it will be for them to find themselves, Ratchet. They sure seem beat down."
"They do. Jarro will let us know how to help them when he's through with his survey."
Silence.
"Sparklings are doing well. Sunspot got a good score on his science test. He was worried."
"I will have to hug him. You studying with him makes a difference, Ironhide. You're a first class genitor."
Silence.
"Did you already get the new sparkling's protoform made, Ratchet?"
"I did."
Silence.
"I suppose Wheeljack and Perceptor put it in the protoform vault in the Protoform Division."
"Might. Might not of."
Silence.
"You might have suggested that they hide it?"
(grin) "Might be even simpler. I might have hid it."
Silence as big mechanism's thought processes almost make noise as they work. "What if you forget where it is?"
"I won't."
"But what if you do?"
"We have generic protoforms in the hospital. Emergency protoforms for just such an eventuality. Of course, it won't happen."
Silence.
"I'm just saying … maybe someone else should know where it is in case you need it and forget."
(Enormous grin) "Okay. I'll tell someone."
Pause.
"Who? You know, just in case there's a need and they can't be reached. Someone can then reach them."
(Enormously suppressed snicker) "I'll take that under advisement, Only One. You are a wonder in that you troubleshoot things so well, Ironhide."
Pauses to consider the nothingness contained in the complimentary sounding blow off remark. "I'm just saying … you know, just in case. If you tell me who it is, I can call them when the sparkling comes and you can't tell us where the protoform is. Double security. You know I'm the security chief of the whole shebang."
"I thought Springer was."
"He is but I'm security chief of the security chiefs. Ironhide, body guard to the Prime, security chief of the city."
"I didn't know that, Ironhide. You are a mech of many talents."
Silence.
"You aren't going to tell me are you."
"Nope."
"Slagger."
"Takes one to know one. You wanted another dollie for when they finally snag Hero. I told you my terms and you agreed. Now you want to worm your way into my confidence and expect me to think that you won't peek."
Silence.
"I won't."
"Liar. Liar, liar, pants on fire."
"I don't wear pants."
(grin) "But if you did, you would be the same awesome mechanism you are now naked."
(grin) "I would wouldn't I." Pause. "You are still are a slagger."
"Takes one to know one."
"Slagger."
"Shame, shame, we know your name."
"Good night, Ratchet." (grin)
"Good night, Only One." (grin)
-0-Out there
Five weary Seekers continued onward aware that their trajectory would put them into the sensor range of the Decepticons nearby in a newly constructed fortress. They could only hope that they would pass not only them but the battle group heading that way before they were spotted. Only time would tell.
-0-TBC
2013 (3)