The Diego Diaries: Festivale (380) Edited
-0-On the way to the Habitat
They rode in the grip of the two bots, a slightly less comfortable journey than by vehicle mode. :How come you aren't driving?: Simmons asked staring up into the handsome bemused face of Drift.
:Traffic. It sucks. This is shorter: he replied raising Simmons up to eye level.
:It's uncomfortable: Mearing said as she clung to Springer's servo. :But then that's why you're doing it, right?: she asked with indignation.
Springer glanced at Drift, then the human sputtering in his grip. :No. But I can see why you think so. I mean … it might seem so but it would be against my nature. Right, Drift?:
Drift snorted, then nodded as the two continued onward skirting a plane as they walked across the airfield. :That's it. Your nature. Everyone knows you're kind to old people and little children:
:That's me: Springer grinned. :Bet they don't know you were one of the most violent Decepticons of all time:
Drift grinned. :Probably true: he said as both humans gazed at him with deep wariness and not a little fright. :But don't worry. I reformed:
:He did. All he needed was a little lovin': Springer said before both of them burst into laughter.
Simmons and Mearing didn't.
-0-Conference Room
:What do you want us to do now that we're stuck with those two?: Lennox asked with no small tone of angst and disapproval.
Optimus grinned in spite of himself. :We are counting on you schooling them on their wayward thinking:
:Count on it: Lennox glanced at his superior officers. :I rank any human here. Do I get to boss them around too?:
:Do you have to ask?: Morshower replied to general laughter.
:Good: Lennox said with a wolfish grin.
Morshower looked at Prime. :I'm going to go after the archives and anything that might even be accidentally Cybertronian from Sector 7. No more dancing around:
Prime nodded. :The mole cannot help us. He was found eviscerated in a corn field in the midwest. Apparently, his usefulness was over:
:Who do you suppose was responsible for that happening? Do you suspect 'Cons or is it The Resistance?: Fulton asked.
:I believe the humans did it. The style of the killing was not what the Decepticons usually do and they would have obliterated him rather than allow any trace to be found. They cover their tracks well in deep cover: Prime said.
The discussion and planning continued a bit longer, then the conversation turned to more important things.
:Is the football game on for the Festival?: Lennox asked.
Prime smirked slightly. :Of course:
Everyone relaxed a bit as the events upcoming shortly were discussed in detail.
:We will take the masks from Simmons and Mearing when the Festival comes. We will also deactivate the feed from IntraComm for the duration: Lennox said. :If they can't get out, they can't come:
Prime nodded. :Good. Only friends of the Cybertronian people may come:
:That was Primus wasn't it. That was Primus showing himself to us, right?: Lennox asked.
Prime nodded. "It was. I carry a fragment of his spark in my chest, in the Matrix of Leadership. The rest of him resides in the core of Cybertron sleeping until the day he can awaken again. When he wishes to make himself known, he does:
:That felt intense, like knowing someone loves you more than anything: Fulton said.
Prime nodded. :Our creator god is real. He is not removed from our lives and makes Himself known when He wishes. The sparks that we bear as individuals are part of His own. We are the descendents of Him:
:What must he think of the Decepticons?: Morshower asked.
Optimus looked at him. :Disappointment. They bear the defect of Megatronus, The Fallen. We are all part of Primus but in the CNA of some of us lies the defect of Megatronus Prime:
Starscream nodded. :It leads to ruin. Some of us have overcome it and moved onward. Some of us … Megatron, Shockwave and Six Shot … there is no hope for them. Only a swift death by Autobot. Or Seeker: His expression hardened at the thought.
Ratchet nodded. :We are subject to genetic possibilities just like your species. We sometimes preserve in our CNA both the good and bad. Megatronus has lingered in our species for far too long. Perhaps we are seeing the beginning of the end of his influence:
:From your lips to Primus's audials: Morshower said to general amusement.
:I am not fond of insects as you may have noticed: Starscream purred. :But I am finding it amazingly easy to tolerate those present. Of course … that could change...:
Laughter greeted that remark as the humans gazed upon the most unlikely ally of all. Starscream merely enjoyed the attention. As usual.
-0-At the Habitat
They walked to the front where the humans usually entered and paused in front of the airlock. Having notified the Officer of the Day, they waited for it to open. And they bantered.
:I wonder how strong the Habitat is? I wonder what it would take to breach it?: Springer said. Then he tapped the airlock in front with his ped. Mearing stared at it, then him with a horrified expression. :WHAT ARE YOU DOING?:
:Nothing: Springer said with an exaggerated expression of innocence on his face.
Drift grinned and tapped it with his ped too. :Wouldn't be a good thing for this to fail. Without your gear, you wouldn't last more than a minute before you turned into a pile of dust. You might remember that. Keep your mask and gear close: He knelt and put his human down as Springer did too. The door was opening so the humans ran inside. They waited until it closed and the humans were safe, then turned to walk back to the Fortress. "I don't think they'll forget their gear," Drift said.
"I don't think so either," Springer replied with a grin. They bantered all the way back.
-0-Ops Center, Conference Room, Autobot City, Mars
"They're delivered," Springer said.
Prime nodded. "You imparted the importance of gear?" he asked with a grin.
Springer grinned back and nodded. "Yup."
The bots grinned, then turned back to the humans on their channel again. :The two are delivered: Prowl said sitting back in his chair. Hero sat on his chassis smiling brilliantly.
Alor on the other servo stood counting his digits, his optics fastened upon Prowl. Then he turned and fixed Ironhide with a stern expression. :Prowler. Now:
Ironhide blinked as he stared up at his ada. With ill grace, he reached into his hold and slid out the infant into his ada's servos. Alor grinned and walked to sit beside Ironhide at the table staring at the infant who he lay gently down on its surface with great happiness. :You are such a perfect consolation prize:
Everyone glanced at Prowl who sat with a big grin on his face. :You can't make me feel badly:
:We are aware of that: Ratchet said smirking. :Have you heard Hero talk? She's a champion:
Hero smiled gigantically at the sound of her name. She leaned against Prowl. :I can talk good. I was helping Ada, Uncle Prowl:
Prowl blinked along with everyone else. :You were?: he managed to ask.
Hero nodded. :I was helping clean:
:I made her a dust bunny killer out of cue tips. I cut three in half and banded them. They are the right size for her. Femme is a worker: Everyone had an awww moment, then Ratchet grinned. :You wouldn't know a cleaning service who wants a good worker do you? Femme cuts school so much she won't be getting into University anytime soon. She's failing pre-school as we speak:
Everyone looked at Ironhide who flinched slightly from the scrutiny. :Don't look at me:
:Hopeless: Blackjack said as he slid his grandson over in front of him. Grinning down at the infant, he shook his helm. :Your atar is hopeless:
:Can't make me feel bad, Atar: Ironhide said sitting back with a smug look on his comical face, his happiness at his children epic.
:That's my job: Ratchet said to general hilarity.
-0-Later at IntraComm Studios, Autobot City, Mars
Blaster and Jazz sat in the booth doing their show. It was mid afternoon and the living was easy.
"The game is back on, the front liners all returned and 'in the pink' as humans like to say. For some reason," Blaster said with a grin. "Vos versus Kaon. Makes you wonder who will win."
"I think Kaon has the edge. The twins are on that team and Prowl is rootin' for Praxus," Jazz said just to be onery. :It might lead to some interesting dinner conversations at the Prime Residence if they triumph. Prowl pretty much has made it clear that Praxus will win."
"He stacked the team are you saying?" Blaster asked knowing full well that redoubtable winger did just that.
"I wouldn't say that. I'm not stupid," Jazz said with a chuckle. "I'm just sayin' he's given it a lot of thought."
Prowl stood in Ops Center on shift, the !*JAZZ AND BLASTER SHOW*! playing softly on the radio channel through the intercom. He paused a moment, shocked that someone would accuse him of cheating although it was true, then gathered himself. He glanced surreptitiously around and saw no optics upon him. He just didn't dial in to the subtext.
:Smokescreen:
:What, Sideswipe?:
:Jazz is going to be circling Pluto without a ship if he keeps it up:
:I want to watch:
:Say something: Sideswipe suggested. :I'm sure Prowl will arrange it so you can:
:I ain't suicidal: Smokescreen replied with a grin.
And so it went around the bridge. The duty would fly by.
-0-Outside
The crowds at the Temple were enormous as bots turned from the moment to go there. The priests circulated among them including the acolytes who would become full fledged priests during the Festival. The good feeling of the moment lingered in them as they gathered at their holiest site to give thanks and ask questions. Inside, the relics of Primus gave their inscrutible comfort to all who had come to see.
-0-At the schools
The moment the feeling faded all sat quietly, then the babies looked around when it ceased. Orion suddenly bereft stood up and looked around, his expression falling. Then he burst into tears along with every other infant in the building. The loss to them was that big.
-0-On the way back to the CMO's office
Ironhide walked along the street without infants in servo. Prowl had 'confiscated' Hero and Alor had Prowler. He had nothing but a quivering lower lip and a soured attitude. Ratchet on the other servo had a big grin and a bounce in his step. "You need to get over it. The infants are being feted by their loved ones. You get Prowler every orn that you are on world. You would begrudge your own *ada*?"
"No. Maybe," Ironhide said with a sharply vented sigh. They continued onward, Ratchet chiding him gently, Ironhide bitching and whining loudly.
-0-Lennox
He tooled back and entered the habitat, waiting through the process, then entering. He parked, then walked through the rec room pulling his mask. Pausing beside a table filled with soldiers, he smirked. "Where are they?"
Fig nodded toward Ops Center. "There. Of course."
Lennox nodded, then turned and walked with stern intention into the big operations room. Pausing by the main table, he watched the pair as they walked around the room taking in the sights. They wore their suits too having been briefed that showering with it on was enough to clean it and their bodies too. It was that high tech and that important. It was designed to be permanent wear while on world. They turned and saw him, pausing their wandering. Simmons walked over to him. "This is amazing."
"It is," Lennox said nodding. "You have no authority here, on world and in theater and that includes the civilians. This is a military program, all of it and we have civil and military authority over all the humans on Mars. The Autobots have civil and military authority over us when the situation calls for it. We handle our own shit internally but that is subordinate to the bots. I don't think I need to explain why do I?"
"Not to me," Simmons said casting a gimlet optic at Mearing, though he had no idea that he was. "I want to know what I can do to help?"
"Get your attitudes together. Stop lying and holding back information. If Megatron and his allies come, they will kill all of us equally. Don't even think there will be moss left on the rocks if they come." Lennox looked at Mearing. "We have a festival coming up. It is the most sacred festival of all and you aren't invited. We are but not you. You will be here during the festival which lasts all day long … 24/7. The information channels are going to be censored here too. You aren't trusted. You haven't earned any trust so you will have to be here in the dark. When the festival is over, then it will come back."
Simmons nodded. "What about the football? I love the football."
"I'll ask," Lennox said even though he already knew the answer. Optimus would allow it as part of their rehabilitation. "You have limited access to the base. You have limited access to information. Any violation of the rules will land you in the brig. Understand this. We take care of each other, the bots and us. We fight together, we are one. Fuck up and you will do time. Understand?"
They both looked at him and nodded wordlessly. Then Lennox turned and walked out of the Center. The two watched, then Simmons hurried after him. "Major," he said as Lennox paused. "I want to know if I can go out and look around? You know … on one of those segway things."
"Do you understand that the prospect of survival if you mess up with your gear is zero?" Lennox asked.
He nodded, his gaze as intense as ever. "Yeah. I know. I want to look around. I waited all my life to see aliens and now I'm on another world hip deep in them. This is heaven to me."
Lennox snorted, then nodded. "Alright. Take mine. Don't fuck it up or I'll beat you to a pulp. Observe the courtesies, watch out and don't embarrass us further. You already have enough." Then Lennox turned and walked to a table where Epps and Graham sat watching with amusement and some small amount of disgust. As he did Mearing came out of Ops Center and grabbed Simmons by the arm. "I'm going too."
"Get your own ride, Charlotte. I'm going out alone."
"The hell you will," she said as she ran after him. He had broken free and hurried to the airlock, the female hot in pursuit.
Sitting and standing nearby, the soldiers watched. "I wonder if they will get their gear right?" Graham asked.
"I don't know. If they don't, we call Ratchet. I don't want to see the mess," Lennox said.
Everyone at the table nodded in agreement.
-0-On the street
They buzzed along weaving in and out, Mearing standing behind Simmons as they gawked like tourists at the splendor before them. It was magnificent and they felt like ants at a picnic, the size differential was so vast. Ahead of them, they recognized the bots so they followed along the street, across an intersection and into a building. The two entered an elevator and so did they. The two bots who were in conversation didn't notice them. The two had no idea that the humans were ubiquitous and little noticed anymore by the locals.
Up they went and the door opened, the big bots stepping out to walk to a big glassed-in office nearby. They sped along and paused at the doorway. The room was beautiful, completely windowed and smartly furnished. One bot sagged onto the couch, a slight air of angst suffusing him. The other was grinning, reaching into his big desk for something, then tossing it to the big pouting bot. He caught it, opened it and began to eat what looked like rusty iron bars. Only when the bot sat behind his desk were they noticed.
Ratchet looked down at the door and saw them, Mearing and Simmons. Sitting back, glancing at Ironhide, he grinned. "Well, look what the targs dragged in."
Ironhide glanced at the doorway, his bad mood dropping considerably. "What do you want, insects?" he asked sourly.
"Maybe they're here for candy," Ratchet said with a chuckle.
"Is that what that is?" Simmons asked driving into the room. "They look like rusty railroad ties."
"You who will eat bull balls and snails dare critique our food?" Ratchet asked with a grin. "My, you humans are a caution."
"They're fraggers," Ironhide said helping himself to more of his favorite candy.
"Fraggers … that means what? Fuckers?" Simmons asked.
Ratchet snorted. "Bingo."
Simmons smirked in spite of himself. Mearing on the other hand didn't.
-0-TBC July 28, 2013
NOTE: Season 3 Beast Hunters (NO SPOILERS) just ended Friday, the last season of Transformers Prime. The two hour movie is coming in the fall and from the spoilers I have heard should be suitably epic. This series is first class and for those of you abroad that haven't seen it yet, search for season three or Transformers Beast Hunters to find it on youtube. All thirteen eps are there. What a joy it has been and you will suitably MIND BOGGLED! -Me.
PS The theories about CNA are canon.