The Diego Diaries: Skills (479) edited
-0-That same night
Springer and Drift stepped out of Watch Station #6 heading for the cities beyond. The new cities had businesses and the odd resident who had asked to move there for the adventure, the nostalgia or because their family had increased and the opportunity for a home in a new place was too great to resist.
"Should we go by the slaggers' business and check on the younglings if they're there?" Drift asked with a smirk.
Springer considered that, then nodded. "Sure. It might be fun."
They turned and walked down Metroplex Highway 2 heading for the newly repaired Metroplex Subway #2. They disappeared down the station on their way to Tyger Pax.
-0-At Five Mechs, Inc., a new business in Tyger Pax
They sat around the table listening as Gravity explained the device that they had put together. Each of them had their own specialties and had contributed to the finished project. It was a very high tech device of their own design filled with their own unique parts of the puzzle. It was unlike anything that was commonly used in the Empire or by the Autobots. There was only one individual who would understand its properties, the one whose plans and designs they had stolen back on Cybertron.
Jhiaxus would understand it completely.
"This is ready to deploy," Kale said sitting back with a grin. "If Sio were here we would probably shove it up Prowl's aft or something. We don't need that kind of heat yet. How about a lesser being."
"Those fragging twins," Commotion said as he screwed the cover on the device.
"They are too related to Ratchet. If we choose them it will dilute the effect we want. We can always just shoot them," Default offered.
"Then again, if they are targeted it will send their investigation down a tunnel away from the truth," Gravity said. He smirked. Then someone passing by caught their attention through the open door of their workroom.
On the street outside that ran past their enormous windows several mechs had gathered. Pulling the device aside, setting it under the table the group sat back to watch. They saw the twins and two other mechs. Gravity glanced at the others. "Those fraggers were the Watch that came to stop the fight in the Club. Those fraggers clobbered Sio."
"Who are they?" Commotion asked.
Default consulted a hand held, then glanced at him. "The white one is Drift. He's Circle, Knight and a Watch mech. The other is his bond, Springer. He's a Wrecker. Both of them are Wreckers. Springer is head of security for all of Mars and is a senior Autobot on the Prime's staff."
"Well, we know who this device is for," Kale said with a grin. "Can't choose better fraggers."
"Where do we deploy it?" Commotion asked.
"The Dojo. He hangs out at the Dai Atlas Dojo in the Cultural Center. We can kill two targs with one device. The Courthouse is there along with the Parole Office and the Public Defender Office. Frag all of them." Default paused a moment. "Guess who else has a place there?"
"Sunstreaker," Kale said sitting forward to watch the group outside more easily. "His studio is there."
"Well, that settles it. I can take it there. You can detonate it when I get back. If anyone is on to us and comes we can all be here and be each others alibi," Gravity said. "Is the cloaking device activated? I want to be back here before it goes off and I don't want anyone around when it does."
"It will be when you go," Commotion said picking up a small control. He set it and the box before them disappeared from view. "Get going and get back here. They lock up most of the buildings around 2200."
He nodded, then took an invisible box into his servos. Fading from view himself, he walked to the door and out. As he did, the four mechs outside turned to walk onward together. It was perfect. The three who sat waiting broke out some cards to while away the time.
-0-On the way to the Cultural Center
He crept down the steps to the train platform. The third train going past would take him directly to the scene of his second crime. Getting off at Metro Station #2, he walked up the stairs to the street, then hurried through the gathering darkness to Cultural Center Road across the street. No one and nothing would be able to detect his presence coming or going.
-0-On the street earlier
They met the twins in front of the suspects' business. They waited on the sidewalk as the twins rolled toward them. When they reached Springer, Sideswipe grinned. :What brings you here besides these slaggers?:
"Isn't your beauty enough?" Springer asked.
The twins snorted. "Mine maybe. His?" Sunstreaker asked shrugging.
Ducking a punch, they stood together going over the local situation. "There's not much going on," Sunstreaker said. "Its going to take a few mechs living here to liven things up."
Drift nodded. "I hear ya. We're going to have to get the Home Guard up to snuff before we cover this place the way it has to be covered. Five teams are fine now per city but not when they fill up."
Springer nodded. "I'm going to pair the newbies with the veterans. I think its time for Lon to be a shift supervisor. Don't tell him but I'm going to make him Supervisor of Shifts here in Tyger Pax. I think we can spread out the veterans elsewhere. I want Kup to manage training as well as supervising the shifts at Centurion."
"Who's boss at Kalis?" Sideswipe asked.
"I don't know yet. I'm thinking of someone from the Wreckers. I want to have a stable personality but I can't think of anyone off hand," Springer said with a grin.
They all laughed uproariously.
:What do you suppose they're doing in there?: Sunstreaker asked.
:Hanging themselves I hope: Drift said with a grin. :Have you had a break yet?:
:No. We're too fragging dedicated," Sideswipe replied with a grin.
That received the respect it was due. Then they turned and walked onward toward the grocery store for a snack and a brew.
-0-At the Cultural Center
He entered the building through the open doors taking an elevator to the third floor. There was no one around but for the stenographers at the courthouse. They were getting records together for the next orn's docket. They were on the seventh floor however so he felt that no one would be close enough to be harmed. Putting the device down in the corner of the hallway where it would deliver its payload at the joins of the back walls he turned and walked away.
No one would see him including the sensors and cameras.
-0-Later back at Tyger Pax
Gravity walked into the business appearing visible again as he returned to the workroom where everyone sat. Pulling out a chair, he grinned. "Payload delivered."
"Good," Commotion said pulling up the datapad beside him. "Shall I?"
The others glanced at each other, then nodded. He pressed the code into the ignition slot, then pressed go. It went.
-0-At the Cultural Center
A rumble, then blast could be heard as something happened in the Cultural Center. Lon who was walking his beat with Kup paused halfway across the airfield. They turned toward the Cultural Center across the way and saw a burst of flame, then smoke billowing out of a blast hole in the corner walls on the third floor. Turning, they began to run toward it.
-0-In Tyger Pax
They paused as the call went out over the internal comm line that all emergency personnel shared. There were calls specific to each particular department. This one went out to the fire department, the Watch and the senior Autobot staff. It also included a call for medical personnel. They originated out of the Emergency Command Center at Fortress Maximus.
They glanced at each other, then Sunstreaker swore. "That's my studio," he said with emotion. They turned as one and hurried forward for the nearest subway station back to The City.
-0-In the bosom of love
Ratchet paused along with Ironhide, then glanced at the door. "I'll get Ada." He ran for the door, then paused putting Orion on the ground. He exited swiftly.
"ADA! WHY YOU GO!?" Orion said as he ran out the door after Ratchet.
"Orion!" Ironhide yelled, then paused looking at the others as they stood staring up at him uncertainly. "We have to go help Uncle Optimus," he said.
Tie Down appeared in the doorway holding Orion. He was followed by Ravel. "We have the infants, Ironhide. Go," Ravel said walking to kneel with Hero and Praxus. Spot and Sunspot walked from the corridor. "What's happening?" he asked.
"Uncle Optimus needs your genitors a minute," Ravie said sweetly.
Ironhide and Ratchet left, walking out the door in a hurry. By the time they reached the elevator Alor and Blackjack were with them. They went down together.
-0-On the ground at the scene
Lon and Kup ran into the doorways heading for the elevators. They were stalled from the fail safe measures all of them had. The smoke was thick and there was scraps of the ceiling on the floors everywhere. They glanced at each other, then ran for the stairs.
Ratchet, Ironhide, Alor and Blackjack crossed the Mare and ran down the sidewalk toward the Cultural Center where emergency vehicles were converging. They got to the doors, then turned toward Inferno who was there organizing the scene. "INFERNO! ARE THERE VICTIMS INSIDE!?" Ratchet called.
"We don't know, Ratchet!" Inferno called back.
Ratchet turned and ran into the smoke filled interior. Ironhide, Alor and Blackjack were right behind him. Inside, Ratchet paused. "Go check those offices. I'm going upward."
The three turned as Ratchet ran for the stairs. Upward he went to second floor. A cursory scan cleared the scene for him so he went upward to the third. His treads on the stairs were muffled as the smoke funneled up the staircase enshrouding him. He reached the third floor, then paused looking in. The blast must have happened there because the smoke was intense and the amount of debris around was enormous.
He moved forward testing the floor with each step. It held him as he inched forward, his sensors wide spread to find anyone who might be harmed. No one was in the area either dead or alive so he inched back to the stairs. The sound of peds caught his attention so he turned to wait. Firemen came out of the stairwell with gear and tools "The explosion was here I think," Ratchet said. "The floor is solid about ten feet out but I don't know beyond that. I only made it that far."
They nodded, then moved around Ratchet with devices and long handled poles to test the floor. He watched, then turned to run up the stairs further.
-0-Prime
He walked to the living room, then paused. Information was coming into him at a fast pace. The door opened and his atar peered in. "Orion? You called us?" Tagg walked into the room followed by Kestrel.
"I need to go to an emergency, Atar. If you could watch the infants," Optimus asked.
"Of course, son. Is something wrong?" Kes asked worriedly.
Prowl exited the corridor pausing next to Kes. "Don't worry, Kestrel. We get called out for everything that happens."
He looked at Prowl, then nodded. "Very well. We are going to be fine here. You two take care out there."
Optimus kissed his genitors, then he and Prowl walked out. They watched him, then glanced at each other. Turning, they walked to chairs and sat. The infants were already in bed.
-0-On the scene
Springer, Drift and the twins made it to the scene about the same time as Prowl and Prime. They stood on the sidewalk watching as the emergency teams did what they were supposed to do. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe stared at the debacle with fury.
"Those fraggers destroyed my studio," Sunstreaker said.
"How do you know, Sunstreaker?" Prime asked.
"The windows. Look at them," Sunny said as everyone looked upward.
A huge black smudge in the windows of the last set on the third floor of the building was the only outward mar they could see. The blown walls were along the side of the building where the greatest force had been, the side next to his studio. The windows had borne a blast all could tell. The force had hit the transparent steel windows leaving a blackened mark.
"Let's assume that's true," Prowl said glancing at Optimus. "First, there is the Metro. Then Ratchet and Ironhide's apartment followed by this. It would appear to be a grudge match."
"Or they want it to seem so," Optimus said grimly. "What about the idea of another common thread for the last two at least. Ratchet helped with the aftermath of the fight. You were in the fight."
It was quiet a moment. "That leaves you, Prowl, to take one for the team." Sunstreaker looked at Prime. "Have we checked the apartments? What if this isn't the only bomb?"
Prime glanced sharply at Springer and Drift. They nodded, then left. After half a joor, they would report back. All was clear.
For now.
-0-TBC October 20, 2013
DONNIE ROSE: What a great idea. Sunstreaker wants to have Bob be a Insecticon finder. This is a good idea. I wonder … :D:D:D
I noted as I posted edited parts 473 and 474 were the same thing. :D:D:D I put a place holder in 474 so that it doesn't look so dumb. I added a few comments, rumors and the like for your edification. HUGS! (That's what I get for having an ear ache while posting. :D)