The Diego Diaries: Aftermath 4 (421)
-0-Data Processing, Fortress, Autobot City, Mars
Ratchet ambled in walking to the intake counter with a box of data disks containing the Decepticon migration's stats. He gave it to the intake officer, a youngling former Decepticon who found out in the University that he had an exceedingly advanced aptitude for numbers. Turning to leave, he paused. Sitting nearby inputting data with a grumpy expression was a familiar face. Walking over, he paused at the side of the cubicle that held the youngling. "Hello, Sunshine."
Blue optics looked up as Smokey gazed at someone he'd heard a lot about growing up. "Hi."
"You look morose," Ratchet said.
He nodded. "I am."
"Care to unburden?" Ratchet asked pulling a chair over to sit.
"Its my grandada. He doesn't think I can make my own decisions about things," Smokey said.
"About what? Your love life? What you want for dinner?" Ratchet asked with a grin.
Smokey smirked. "The first one."
"Who's the bot in question? I want to see if Dev and I can still read each others processors."
Smokey grinned, then shrugged. "I like Hot Rod."
"We still sync," Ratchet said with a chuckle.
"What's wrong with him? He's got it all," Smokey asked sitting closer. "He likes me. I like him."
"I like Roddy, too, but he's a player. He's sort of fast and furious if you know what I mean," Ratchet replied.
Smokey nodded, then grinned. "I do and I don't mind."
"Dev does. What do your genitors say?"
"They don't know. I think. You know, I have my own place, I'm a soldier and I do my duty. Why can't I have someone over?" Smokey asked.
"For 'facing?" Ratchet asked.
"What's wrong with that?" Smokey asked. "I'm not a little youngling anymore. I have needs. What's wrong with 'facing?"
"Nothing. Unless you get caught and you know what I mean," Ratchet said pointedly.
"I'm not merging," Smokey said.
"You can get caught without merging, sparkling," Ratchet said leaning back in his chair.
Smokey considered that. "You know, I think they don't believe I'm grown up."
"I think they do. What they can't get around is your inexperience."
Smokey looked at Ratchet with offense. "I have experience." Those around him glanced over, then turned back to their work. Staring at them a moment, he leaned closer lowering his voice. "I'm not a … a … inexperienced."
Ratchet grinned as he leaned closer with his voice lowered. "Have you ever 'faced before? Actual 'facing, not fragging around?"
Smokey looked at him a moment, then leaned in closer. "I have. Sort of." Leaning back, he vented a sigh. "I don't frag around but I'm not a … a ..."
Ratchet leaned forward and whispered. "A virgin?"
Smokey blinked with surprise and he leaned back. "NO!"
The entire room paused to look at him.
He glanced around, then leaned in closer. "No. Not really."
Ratchet grinned then leaned in himself. :It's not a crime to be a virgin. It's not a crime to have a small 'face life. You're a very young mech who's been out of the loop for most of your career. I also know the captain of the ship you were on all this time and he's not a mech who allows anyone to take advantage of his crew:
Smokey looked at him a moment, then leaned closer. :How's a mech supposed to get … experienced if his grandada pops up everywhere? I like Hot Rod. I want to 'face him in the worst way. Its on my processor all the time:
:Congratulations, son. You're normal: Ratchet grinned. :Your grandada loves you more than the moon and stars. Every time we would meet up with him, he has nothing but words for you, your ada and atar and even your Grand Ada. Nothing but pictures. Nothing but love:
:I love him, too. He and Grand Ada are my heroes. They're the ones who made me want to be a warrior. But I want to get laid, too. I want to have someone to hang with and go clubbing. I want to have a love life, Ratchet. I want one soooooooooooo bad: He vented another sigh. :Hot Rod is so good looking. He's sexy and experienced and I want to 'face him so much it makes my processor spin:
:You have it bad: Ratchet agreed. :I don't know what to tell ya but you might ask your grandada who he likes for you. Maybe it'll be a great mech:
:Someone who's an accountant and is safe most likely. He makes me go to University: Smokey said with a frown.
:Not much excitement there:
"No. I want that. The ride here was pretty uneventful. I would love to have some excitement. Hot Rod is fun: Smokey said.
"Well, you have to understand that every choice has consequences. Make sure that you understand the dangers of what you want to do," Ratchet said.
Smokey nodded. "Thanks. If you could talk to my grandada, I would sure appreciate it."
Ratchet grinned. "Dev? Not a chance. He's got his mind made up, youngling. Good luck and remember, don't take chances:
He nodded and watched as Ratchet walked to the door and left. Sagging slightly, he turned back to the data and continued.
-0-In a meadow in Michigan
They looked up at the faces of doom, two Autobots with dangerous and lethal backgrounds. "What do you want from us?" the assistant asked as he stepped backward behind Bay.
Bay looked at them, then the assistant. He grabbed the kid holding him as a shield as they squabbled. The assistant punched him and Bay let go. Turning to stare upward, both froze again.
"What a pair to draw to," Drift said in his dry deadpan voice. He grinned slightly, amused by the moment.
Springer wasn't grinning. He was furious. "Deuces." He knelt and leaned closer. The humans who were petrified stood silently. "I don't like you." He looked at the assistant, then reached for him. Turning, he handed the kid to Drift who took him. Turning back, he leaned into Bay again. "You don't like us. We're learning to not like you."
Bay looked likely to hyperventilate, then he gathered himself. "I don't know what you mean."
"You kill us. You destroy us and you don't ask permission. I hear that you're going to kill Ratchet and Drift in the new movie. What do you want to tell us about that?"
"Uh … I just … it's just a movie," he stammered. "I just … I make movies."
"You've killed nearly everyone of us and we don't like it," Springer said leaning in until they were nearly nose to nose. "I'm tired of it. What gives you the right to do that?"
Bay stood stiffly, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Uh, creative license?"
"You can't win," Drift said as he stood by holding the assistant who was watching Bay's ordeal with a slight smirk.
"Probably," Springer said standing up straight. "I will, however, be watching," he said. "Put the kid down. Let's go," he said as he moved back to transform into a ship.
Drift put the kid down, then with a smirk and a head shake he turned to climb onto Springer. That worthy lifted off and they flew into the darkening skies.
Bay and the kid watched them go, then glanced at each other.
"What the hell," Bay said.
As they passed over the treeline heading for the ocean and Diego Garcia, Springer finally spoke. :Did you get the kid's phone?:
Drift who was hanging on chuckled. :I have it. What about Bay's?:
:I took it when he was in the car," Springer said with a chuckle. "That wasn't as satisfying as smashing him flat but it'll have to do:
:Do you think it'll change things?: Drift asked.
:I doubt it. 'Creative license' don't you know:
They flew onward together and soon the ocean beckoned. It would take five minutes to cross it to Diego, five minutes that their signature would be the size of a grain of sand, then they would land. A short hop through the bridges and they'd be home.
With two i phones.
And their contact lists.
And their messages.
And their bookmarked websites.
And their credit card numbers.
And their …
-0-On the way back
They tramped along the road heading back the way they came. Bay bitched. The assistant bitched back. They would take hours getting to the city after hitching a ride from a van filled with missionaries. It would be the sweet ending of a horrible, terrible, very bad day.
It would also change nothing.
-0-After shift
He walked down the corridor heading for the rec room when a door opened and an arm reached out. It grabbed hold and yanked him into the room with the door closing to lock behind him. It was dark and he was pressed into the wall, his chassis flattened against the cool stones. Considering how he was pinned, he pondered his attack options. Then he didn't. Big servos were caressing his cod piece. His optics fluttered, then brightened. A snicker behind him gave him the story so he pushed backward grinding his aft against Hot Rod.
A deep chuckle greeted that, then the servos went farther up caressing everything Smokey had. It felt exhilarating with a capital ex. "That feels good."
"I know," Roddy said as he began to nibble on Smokey's neck.
Smokey groaned, then turned hard to push Roddy into the other wall. Grinning at him, he kissed Hot Rod hard. "Stealth attack?"
Roddy grinned. "Do you know anything better?"
"I can think of a few things," Smokey said with more verve and chutzpah than he actually could back up in real life.
Hot Rod pushed him back against the other wall. "So can I," he said. Then he didn't talk.
Neither did Smokey.
The tussle between the two began to grow as they fumbled in the dark. Smokey felt himself ignite in the nether regions as the start of a beautiful lust story began in the electrical room off Engineer Corridor.
Roddy spun him around and pressed him hard into the wall as he fumbled for the appropriate critical energy ports. As he did a loud rap broke through the haze and ozone. They both froze, their optics blazing.
:What's that?: -Smokey
:Ignore it: -Hot Rod as he struggled to get into Smokey's metaphorical pants
BANG! BANG! BANG!
:WTF!: -both
:Don't move. Don't say a thing: -Hot Rod
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"OPEN THE DOOR!"
:Do you know that voice? Is it your grandada?: -Hot Rod
:No. I … Hot Rod, I'm hot for your rod: -Smokey
(Both glance at each other. Both smother snickers)
:Keep your engine running. He'll go away:
BANG! BANG! BANG! "OPEN THE FRAGGING DOOR!"
:SLAG!: -both
The sounds of fumbling, standing straighter with effort and mild cursing resound as two bodies in a small space pull themselves together. They affect a look of nonchalance.
Hot Rod opens the door. "Hi."
"Hi. What are you two slaggers doing? I have to work on the electrical here." A big mech with Guild tattoos stood before them.
"Uh, we were just leaving," Hot Rod said as he moved around the big mech.
Smokey joined him and they stood in the corridor watching the big mech go inside. The lights went on and the door closed.
For a moment they didn't move. Then they did, walking toward the Rec Room and beyond. It was silent a second or two, then the door opened and a big mech peered out. He looked down the hallway to a figure stepping out of the shadows. He grinned and nodded.
Devcon grinned and nodded back. Then he stepped back into the shadows and was gone. The big mech moved out, closed the door and went on his way. It was silent in the corridor once more.
-0-TBC September 4, 2013 12-04-2022