The Diego Diaries: Phase Six (510) edited
-0-Out there, on the command deck of Phobos
"This is Optimus Prime, Decepticon battle group. Identify yourself or die."
A channel opened and a voice was heard. "Prime, I am Target. I command this group."
"You have joined this migration. Why?" Prime asked.
There was a pause, then he was back. "We are moving with this migration to cross the Empire without attracting attention."
"You have. Ours. We are here to retrieve these civilians as well as everyone who comes in peace and is prepared to follow our rules. Anyone else we are prepared to shoot dead," Prime said.
"We are prepared to fire back," Target said, then cut the channel.
"Move everyone away," Prime said.
Blaster sent the message as everyone turned to watch the movement of refugee ships away from the fourteen vessel mass in their midst. Seekers flew to the top of civilian ships, magnetizing. They pointed their firepower at the ships who sat like sharks in shallow water, visible and menacing. As the migration began to stand away from them, Target was back. "Prime."
"I am here," Optimus answered with a quiet menace.
"Moving them away won't matter. We will take as many as we can with us if you fire," Target said.
"That will be pale consolation when you are circling the Pit. Your compatriots have surrendered," Prime said.
"Those fools are on their own. We will do what we need to satisfy our own agenda," Target said calmly.
"What would that be pray tell?" Starscream asked. He waited until he was sure their computers had identified and confirmed Target's identity. "After all, the first had one too but have reconsidered their weaker position rather swiftly."
"They're fools, Starscream," Target said smoothly. "We are going to Paragon. We have also heard from Cyclonus. We will weight the offers, then take the best one. It is our way. Surely, Starscream, you remember that."
Starscream mulled that remark, his helm turning this way and that in a birdlike motion that Prime had always found charming among Seekers. Then he sat back. "I remember when 'our way' was for the betterment of Cybertron. I don't see how your group joining either mech abets that. Fill me in if you will," he said, his voice dripping with condescension as only he could manufacture.
A humorless chuckle filtered over the comm system, then Target replied. "Whatever makes me happy serves my cause."
"Do you really think that we will allow you to add to their arsenals when we are the main targets of their ire?" Starscream asked casually.
"Their current agendas don't have to continue. There is room enough for all of us out here. I am clear that energon is in good supply. We can build our own empires, Prime. We don't have to be enemies."
Ironhide and Revo were clearly visible to the Decepticon as were everyone else on the bridge, most of them well known to the 'Cons and anyone else in the conflict. It was also not lost on anyone on both sides that the Prime of Cybertron was having this discussion in possession of three among the largest class ships in the Decepticon fleet. It was clear that they had either been surrendered or taken by force, refitted and re-painted, the giant Autobrand on their gleaming white surfaces evidence of his personal might.
Prime was silent on the Decepticon's remarks, something that Target hadn't expected. He considered that, then glanced at his communications officer with a nod. His image filled the forward view port of the Phobos. "Prime, I would like to discuss this humanely."
"Speak," Prime said curtly.
Target considered that, then grinned. "You have changed. I was aware that the Empire was funneling the overflow of our people toward you with the intention of swamping your resources. I thought that a strange thing given that our people are blameless in this war and you are more resourceful than most would understand. It would appear that I am right."
No one spoke. They sat staring at the 'Con whose data was sparse in their records, another shadow in the manner of Paragon. He had been regular army, a graduate with honors of the Autobot Military Academy that had created warriors the like of Blackjack, Ironhide, Alor and three of the last few Primes. He was smart, strategic and no one's fool. He would be tough. He was appraising them even as they were him. "I would like the right to pass, Prime. I would like the right to choose my side. I would like to speak with Paragon and Cyclonus, then finalize the decision I will make for my ships and crew."
"I don't think that will be possible," Prime said. :Send the Seekers into configuration along with the fighter-shuttles, General: Blackjack nodded. "If we let you choose, we create a dagger at our own throat. That would also put the migration path into jeopardy making an already wretched journey more so. That cannot be allowed."
At that moment sensor screens on both sides flashed with yellow lights indicating hundreds and hundreds of Seekers moving to converge on the 'Con group. Prime glanced at Starscream. :I want 500 more Seekers here now to join the ones already there: Starscream nodded. :Ironhide, I want all of the Supremes here now: Ironhide nodded. Prime looked at Target. "We have taken Silo's group into custody. We obliterated an earlier group that wasn't so smart. You may have noticed."
"We saw that. You mentioned the Decepticon Justice Division," Target said nodding.
"Allow me," Starscream said standing up slowly. He walked to the box and reached inside. Pulling up an object, he looked at Target. "Behold, Target, your future if you aren't more clever than you look."
Target looked at the face of Vos, its optics and placid white surface betraying nothing of its diabolical nature. It was rather calm and undistinguished on the face of it.
Literally.
Target looked up at Starscream. "That is Vos you say?"
"Yes," Starscream said tossing it to the ground. It bounced, then stopped face down, all of the demonic particles of its psychotic intentions gleaming in the light.
Target looked at it, then Prime. "You did what many of us dreamed of. Kudos to you, Prime. I am assuming that the others are as decomposed as Vos?"
Starscream kicked the box and its contents spilled out, various enough to the optic to be exactly what they were … fragments of the five mechs who composed the Decepticon Justice Division. It was a sobering moment. "What say you now? Do you really believe that you can escape from us when these mechs didn't? Give up or die, Target. That is your menu of choices." Starscream walked back to his seat to sit, regarding the 'Con with a bemused expression.
"What are the terms of surrender. That is, what would they be should I so choose that path for me and my crews?" Target asked with his smooth educated manner. He had been mid caste, highly educated and had been a part of the 'managerial' cliché to which Paragon had belonged. They were smart, unemotional, played the odds in their favor, cutting their losses without a tear. He was a more sociable, polished and unknowable Paragon.
"You would have to surrender completely. Power down your weapons, take personal arms … all of them and put them into gun lockers. You would then fuse the lockers shut. Gather in your main recreation rooms, all of you to wait for teams to muster you up. You will be frisked and brought to our colony for detention. At some point you will be asked to give your oaths to me and the Matrix. I will be unhappy if you break your oath to me. On the hand, the Matrix will kill you. Or worse … it will wipe your processor. It has less patience than I do," Prime said quietly.
Target considered that, then nodded. "Nothing in the deal speaks to me, Prime. There is very little incentive for me to become a cog in your machinery when I am on this ship the wheel."
"Then you leave us no choice," Prime said glancing at the youngling. The youngling watching entranced jolted, then stepped forward with the cage in his servo. "You are aware that the Decepticon Justice Division kept a sparkeater?"
Target looked at Prime, then nodded. "I am aware of it," he answered with a touch of wariness in his voice.
"We captured it," Prime said. He sat forward taking the cage from the nervous youngling putting it on the table next to him. It was clear through the bars that a turbofox was sitting inside looking out at everyone warily. "This animal is that turbofox. Kaon called it 'The Pet' and kept it satiated with sparks fed to it from their many victims. I like it. Do you like it, Starscream?"
"I am glad to see a turbofox again. This one is diabolical, evil and viscous however. In short, I love it," Starscream said with a smirk. He glanced at Target. "Don't you love it too, Target?"
That mech sat for a moment, then shifted slightly. "I am assuming you have fed it? Or is that a mistaken assumption?"
"It is at the end of its feeding cycle, Target," Prime said glancing at the innocuous animal that sat looking at him with a sweet expression on its beautiful face. It had no idea what was going on but the seed had been planted. It looked diabolical to the 'Cons because Prime had named it thus. Therefore, it was serving its purpose well. "It would be a shame to let it go on your ship. You do understand that it can change formats. If you kill the fox, it will find a mech that can host it. I hear that nothing short of injection into a star can kill it."
The bridge crew listened to Prime well aware that he was making some of his story up. There was nearly nothing known about them beyond their ability to assume turbofoxes with great facility and some mechs once in a while. It would be a ghost running wild on their ship if placed there in the tale Prime was spinning, viscious and unstoppable. Ironhide looked at Target studying his seemingly calm exterior. The mech was getting worried, his small almost invisible tells a dead giveaway.
"What makes you think that I will allow you to put it on one of my ships?" Target asked.
"I would put it on your ship, Target. Why harm anyone else when I can harm you?" Prime answered calmly. "They will bypass others for the brightest sparks possible, something they can sense easily or so I have been told by those who have lived to tell the tale. I would guess on your ship that would be yours."
Starscream chuckled. "I wish I had had a 'pet' back in the orn. I would have loved to let one loose on a ship or two of my acquaintance. What about it, Target? Once this beast gets hungry you will be an enticing target. My, you are aptly named."
At that moment the screen burst into bloom as waves of Seekers began to fly through a nearby bridge aperture. Behind that torrential flood came the gleaming forms of Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Zeta, Xantium, Kappa and Omega Supreme. They flashed through one after another like leviathans, then arrayed themselves in a fan shape in front of the migration. With a stealth one would not associate with such beings, they began to move slowly forward under the command of Omega Supreme. The Seekers moved with them to be arrayed around the big battle group under the direction of Red Wing. The scene bristled with firepower dwarfing the Decepticons entirely.
They watched Target as he gazed at the monitors on his end. The expression on his face never changed but small things were evident. He was overwhelmed with the new arrivals. Glancing up at Prime, he relaxed himself. "Impressive show."
"I'm glad you like it. We put it together with you in mind," Starscream said with a smirk. He wasn't alone. Everyone but Prime on the bridge joined him. "What say you? We have a turbofox with your name on it. Personally, I would like it elsewhere than here, Prime. Even if Target doesn't agree to surrender, the fox will be killed along with him in the fusillade. Maybe."
Prime nodded, then glanced at the youngling. He came forward pausing nervously by the Prime. It was an unintended affect but very visually suggestive. That the youngling was nervous to be around them at this dramatic moment would be misinterpreted as fear of the fox. "Take this fox to the hangar deck. Have Red Wing take it with him. Pound a hole in the ship third from the front of this group. It is Target's ship. Release the fox into the hole."
The youngling nodded, then picked up the cage. He held it out in his servos, then turned for the door.
"Youngling." The mech handler paused looking back at Starscream. "You need to hurry. It's coming up on its feeding time. When that happens the sparkeater will kill you."
The youngling blanched, then nodded with a frightened expression. He turned with the cage gingerly in his servos and ran out the doorway. He disappeared as the security youngling watched, then turned with a pensive expression toward the rest of them. They all returned to Target who had allowed an expression of alarm. "You aren't really going to put that on my ship."
"Yes," Prime said. "It can't stay here. If anyone's spark gets eaten it won't be one of my crew."
Target hit the mute button, then looked over his shoulder. He talked to someone, then sat back turning on the volume again. "You have an impressive array of strength here, Prime. What if I make an alliance with you?"
"It would take meeting my terms. You will begin from prison and work your way out," Prime said. As he spoke 1,000 Seekers were arrayed in a circle around Target's group. In the blizzard of ship lights, running lights and spotlights the shadows of Supreme giants, seven of them cast their powerful presence over everyone and everything.
In the midst of all of it, Wrecker fighter-shuttles were taking possession of Silo's group.
-0-TBC November 12, 2013
NOTE: Today is 11-12-13. It won't happen again for 100 years. :D
PERSONAL NOTE: I began to write in TF's without the hope that I might do it right. It was so technical. But after a marathon of G1 videos and reading zillions of stories I stepped into the AWESOME world of mechanized robots and have never had more fun than here writing for people's entertainment and my own. I worried about writing battles and conflict. Now I find the only thing more fun that writing fighting, battles, arguments and the like is Orion having a speech lesson with MR. TOTO! Did I tell you lately that I love you, Readers? I do. Hugs, me.