The Diego Diaries: Mission (490) edited
-0-On the way back
They slipped through space into the sector where their last target was located. It was nearby, close enough to make a 'journey' seem implausible. All they could hope for was the downed communications lines would hold up for one more deception.
"Camp 19-1A, Sector 324.56 answer. This is the commander of the battle group Terror." Blackjack waited, then a nervous voice spoke over the intercom.
"This is Camp 19-1A. What can we do for you, Battle group Terror. I am Lute, Commandant of the camp."
"We are here to take the camp down and transfer the prisoners to another site. You are off duty the moment we make surface fall. We will transfer you to our ships," Blackjack said. "Megatron wishes us to tighten up the prison system."
It was silent a moment. "We had orders, sir, to expand this camp. We have workers here from Cybertron brought in for the expansion."
"Those orders are countermanded. Prepare to be transferred to our ships, Commandant. None of us want to displease Megatron."
"No," the voice said rather swiftly. "I will make the preparations. We will be ready for the transfer when you arrive. Commandant Lute out."
Blackjack glanced at Alor who was sitting at the command table staring at the intercom. "That was easy."
"From your lips to Primus's audials," Alor replied.
-0-On the ground
Springer and his ships including the two shuttles landed, the mechs stepping off with their formidable size and confident swagger. They turned to look at the camp crew who had gathered. They stared at each other, then Springer gestured to the shuttle. :Go up and relax. We'll take it from here:
Commandant Lute nodded, then led the way for his little crew to follow. When they were gone Springer turned to the others. :Let's get this group. There can't be more than thirty or so I was told. This camp is still being constructed so its small:
The others nodded, then walked to the fences. Dropping them, they began to gently gather the inmates together. Most of them were grateful to a painful degree and followed the mechs like puppies. There were an inordinate number of tiny femmes in this group, something that didn't sit well with the mechs.
Sunstreaker looked around, then walked to a barracks. It was empty so he searched it for anything that might be useful or personal to the inmates. He walked from that barracks to another, peering inside. A small mech was sitting on a bunk holding a little picture cube in his servos. He didn't seem to notice Sunstreaker.
:Hey: Sunstreaker said. The little mech didn't look up. Sunny walked inside and gently approached the mech. Sitting down beside him, he lay his servo on the mech's battered armored arm.
He startled, then looked up at Sunstreaker. :Are you hear to kill me?:
A sharp pain impaled Sunstreaker's spark. He shook his helm. :No. I'm an Autobot. I'm here to rescue you. We're here to raid the camps. We want to take you away from here. Why don't we go?:
He looked at Sunstreaker, then the battered little picture cube in his work worn servos. :I don't care. It doesn't matter. I am alone:
:No: Sunstreaker said gently. :You're with me:
He sat a moment, then leaned into Sunstreaker. :I don't care if I live or die. My bond is on Cybertron and I'm here. I am afraid for her. Can we go get her? Her and the others?: he asked looking up at Sunstreaker with hopeful yet despairing optics.
Sunstreaker looked at him a moment, then gently took the cube. :Is this her?: he asked as he looked at a sweet faced smiling tiny femme.
:That's her: the weary little mech said. :We and the others were getting by on Cybertron. I worked and so did the others. My little femme has a sore shoulder. I had to work for both of us. Then they needed an electrician. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They took me away. I could barely tell her over the bond before I was shipped out. I have to go get her.:
Sunstreaker nodded. :We will: He gave the mech back his cube, then gently lifted him as he stood. Cradling the little mech carefully, he turned to walk out. Boarding the shuttle, they all lifted off at last. By the time they reached Moonbase the scans would be made, 4 dead bodies retrieved and the detonations set. The camps would be dust molecules by the time they were heading for the space bridges and home.
-0-Moonbase
Sunstreaker rolled down the corridor moving around patients and equipment as he headed for the emergency care center where Ratchet and the others worked. Sideswipe followed him drawn by Sunstreaker's story. They entered and found a gurney where they laid the little bot down tucking heated blankets around him.
Sideswipe watched as Sunstreaker tenderly cared for the older mech. He saw the little cube and picked it up. He stared at the pictures, then rapped Sunstreaker on the shoulder. "Did you see this?"
"I saw it," Sunstreaker said taking the cube from Sideswipe. "Some of it." He turned it checking the faces and their images. He paused on one, then glanced at Sideswipe. "Oh."
Sideswipe nodded. They both stared at the little mech, then Sideswipe turned to find a computer terminal.
-0-Phobos
"Ironhide here."
"Atar, can you come over here? To Moonbase?"
"Why, Sideswipe?"
"It's that important. Get over here."
"On my way."
Ironhide relinquished command to Nitro, then turned to hurry out of the door. He made his way down to the space bridge and ended up on Moonbase in seconds. Walking to the elevator, he took a ride up to the medical level following the signal sent to him by Sideswipe. That mech was leaning on the wall outside a designated ward waiting for him. "What's going on?"
"Come in here and check someone out," Sideswipe said moving inside the room to pause beside Sunstreaker who was looking after a bundled up recharging mech from a refugee group.
Ironhide walked over, then looked down. He stared at the mech, then all things blurred. He blinked, then leaned down looking closely. A rap on Ironhide's arm brought him out of his shocked stupor.
"He had this with him," Sideswipe said handing him a little picture cube. Ironhide looked at it studying the images, then glanced with alarm at Sideswipe. "This can't be."
"Is it?" Sunstreaker asked.
"I have to see Ratchet. You two stay here with him," Ironhide said.
They nodded, then watched him go. "I guess that settles it," Sideswipe said. Sunstreaker nodded without a sound.
-0-At the door of emergency receiving
Ironhide spotted Ratchet standing over a mech who was listening to him and another medic. "Ratchet."
Ratchet turned spotting Ironhide at the door. "What?"
"You got a moment?" Ironhide asked as nervous electricity suffused him.
Ratchet turned to the medics, spoke a moment, then turned to walk to the door. Ironhide took his arm and the two stepped out heading for a utility closet nearby. Entering, Ironhide pulled Ratchet inside, then shut the door sealing it. He looked at Ratchet. "Ratchet, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker brought a bot over. He had this in his servos."
Ratchet looked at the cube, then took it into his servos. He stared at the images for a moment, then it sunk in. Glancing sharply at Ironhide, he flustered. "Where is he?" he managed to say. "Where is he, Ironhide?"
"Come with me. Try and be calm," Ironhide said as he opened the door. He led the way outside and down the hallway, a rattled Ratchet dogging his steps. They entered the room where Sunstreaker and Sideswipe stood. Ratchet paused gathering himself, then moved to the gurney to look at the mech lying there. Ratchet stared unable to move, then he did. Leaning down, he gently cradled the mech's face in his servos. "Appa? Are you awake, Appa? It's me, Ratchet," he asked.
Nothing happened a moment, then weary blue optics looked at him with only partial understanding. Ratchet kissed his helm. "Appa. It's me, Ratchet. I'm going to take care of you. Where is Ama?"
He didn't speak a moment, then he did. "Cybertron." He relaxed into a weary recharge as Ratchet screamed.
-0-Moments later
They sat on a bench in the hallway, Ironhide rubbing Ratchet's back, the twins looking intensely uneasy. "Ratchet, what do you want me to do?"
"Get my ama," Ratchet said tearfully. He looked at his servos. He saw them but he couldn't feel them. He was in shock he considered so he organized remedies. In seconds the fog began to clear and his sight sharpened. "What happened? What is he doing here?"
"He was needed. They're constructing the camp. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I think he was able to tell your ama what was happening but he's really upset about this. He didn't care if he was going to die. He thought we were there to kill him and he didn't care," Sunstreaker said uneasily.
"Did he say anything about my ama? Or the others? Did he mention anyone else?" Ratchet asked with a tone of desperation.
"He mentioned her and the others. He never said who they were," Sunstreaker said.
"The others. My other grandgenitors. They lived in the same building. They had to have survived The Fall. My grandgenitors are alive, Ironhide," Ratchet said looking at Ironhide with barely controlled emotion.
"We will get them. Dai is getting energon out to the population. Docker is smart and tough. It sounds like Chan and Corr are with her. Don't worry. We will get them," Ironhide said as a sense of helplessness overwhelmed him. The twins stood nodding.
"We have to get all of them, Ironhide," Ratchet said looking at him with enormous emotion. "All of them everywhere." He stood a moment uncertain what to do, then he turned to the three of them. "Don't tell my genitors. I have to do that."
They nodded, then turned to follow Ratchet to the room where his namesake lay in agonized recharge.
-0-On the way through
Ironhide transferred to the Salton Sea once things were under control. Walking to the bridge, he paused by his genitors who were standing in front of the command chairs. "What are you doing here, son? Your ship is yonder," Blackjack said nodding in the general direction of Phobos.
"Ratchet's grandatar was in the last crew. Ratchet was in the group we just brought up," Ironhide said in a quiet voice.
Both stared at him a moment, then Alor turned and hurried to the elevator. Blackjack watched him go, then looked at Ironhide. "Ratchet is found? Where is Docker?"
"Cybertron. She had no idea he was taken to do electrical work on the camp. She must be in a state," Ironhide said. "Ratchet said she was with the others. That could be Chan and Corr."
"I hope so." Blackjack vented a weary sigh. "This is fragged."
Ironhide nodded. "I know." He said nothing more as the aperture flared up before them. They would ride it to the other side and whatever problems it brought together.
-0-TBC October 30, 2013