The Diego Diaries: Old Hercy 2 (517) edited

-0-Command deck, Phobos

:Who is this, Jazz? Old Hercy?: Epps asked.

Jazz grinned, then looked down at the little group of humans. :Old Hercy is one of the oldest Autobots of all time. He was in the Quintessan War and some say he helped Primus defeat Unicron: the smiling bot said.

:What was the Quintessan War?: Simmons asked.

:You haven't got the time to hear it. Ask Hercy or Kup. They can tell ya: Jazz said as the sound of peds in the doorway drew everyone's attention.

Kup entered followed by Springer and Drift. In the middle of them came a tiny little old mech, one with a deceptively simple old timey frame. He was barely as tall as Bumblebee and a lot smaller in mass. His armor had few flourishes or embellishments but was boxy and simple, smooth in its contours. Rounded even.

He walked with the big mechs, then paused, his optics fixed on Prime who had stood up when he came in. Everyone in the room stood staring down at the little mech. Even the humans did as they watched intently.

Hercy paused, then almost seemed to tear up. "PRIME! YOU REALLY MADE IT!"

"Hercy," Prime said with a grin. He extended his servo swallowing Hercy's as the little mech gripped it tightly. "I am honored to see you again, old friend."

"PRIME! I never expected to see you again. Its been a zillion orns. I heard your voice but I didn't hope. Won't get disappointed that way," he said.

Optimus nodded. "I figured they got you, Hercy."

"SLAG NO! Takes a lot to slag me to the Pit. I came here to serve. I brought a bunch with me. There are 1,000 mechs on board that can fight. I brought them up myself. Old standards. All of 'em first class. No one ever attacked our colony twice," he said with a proud expression. "They are at your disposal and so am I. I came here to serve you and the colony, Prime. All you have to do is ask."

Everyone looked at Hercy with profound expressions of emotion, then Ironhide extended his servo. "What the frag took you so long, Hercy? I expected you in the first wave."

"Frag that, Ironhide, you old slagger," Hercy said with intense delight. "How's that good looking bond of yours? Come to his senses yet?"

Ironhide for once snorted, then grinned. "No such luck."

Guffaws met that.

"Hercy, its good to see you," Alor said as he moved to stand next to Blackjack.

Hercy looked at them with emotional optics. "You two. I am glad to see ya. It's been too long," he said gripping their servos.

"Do you know everyone here?" Blackjack asked.

Hercy glanced around. "Can't say I do. Maybe."

Alor grinned. "That's Jazz. And this is Smokescreen. He's Devcon's bond."

"DEV!? I love that mech. Good looking," Hercy said as he gazed at Smokescreen with a gimlet optic. "You treating him right? I may have to slag you. Dev knows how to treat an old mech. Good manners and a good spark."

Smokescreen grinned sheepishly. "I'm being good."

That weak ass remark got the love it deserved. All around the room bots were introduced including Springer, Drift and the twins. Hercy looked at them critically. Then he became Hercy. Old Hercy.

"YOUNGLINGS! WHAT THE FRAG ARE YOU DOING DRIPPING ON THE DECK!?" he asked in his Master Sargent manner.

They glanced at each other, then the patters of energon dripping on the deck.

"WHAT SORT OF SLAGGER DRIPS ENERGON ON THE DECKS?! GET YOUR AFTS TO THE MEDBAY AND PLUG THE LEAKS!"

The twins blinked, then turned and hurried off to comply almost without conscious thought. Drift grinned as he turned slightly so the wound on his arm would be hidden. "That was nice. I must perfect the vocal tone you used."

Hercy smirked. "If you think its all vocal, then you need to think again, youngling."

Everyone grinned. Prime turned to Kup. "Kup, take Hercy to the medbay and make sure he's up to specs. Then take him to the city and square him away. I want you to be his guide for a while."

Kup grinned, then nodded. "Whatever you say, Prime." He turned to the little bot and nodded. "Come on. I got surprises for you."

Hercy nodded, then looked at Prime. "I am yours to command, Optimus."

Optimus nodded. "I am honored to have you back."

With that, the little bot walked out with Kup toward medical treatment and a short ride through the bridge. It was silent a moment then Epps chuckled. Everyone looked at him. :That old dude reminds me of my grandpa:

Simmons grinned. :That old dude reminds me of my mother:

Both got the love they deserved.

-0-Surgical suite, Moonbase

Ratchet reattached the panels that covered the helm of the bot known as Carnivac. It had been all microsurgery with a great deal of replacements. His spark had fluttered a couple of times but he was stable now. He might even be more healthy at this moment than at any time in the recent past. Ratchet had repaired and replaced a lot of stuff, removing all his warrior weaponry, armor and embellishment. The big slagger was now as close to stock as he could be made. Ratchet watched as the orderlies wheeled him out to post op. :Ironhide:

:What?:

:Where's Old Hercy?:

:Kup took him through the bridge. He got the once over. Little mech is in good condition. His colony had good doctors:

:How does he look, Ironhide: (grin)

:Short. Old fashioned. Slagger is the same as he was. Bossed the twins right out of their peds: (enormous grin)

:I want film, Ironhide: Ratchet walked across the hallway to the big port window nearby. :What's our status?:

:Let me check: Pause. :We have almost 900,000 through the bridge. All that are left are the 156,000 or so questionables: Ironhide checked the data again. :The slagger dregs:

:Oh. Medical is winding down. Are we going to finish up on the other side?:

:I think so. Prime wants to take the slaggers down on the other side. Expect word to bug out:

:Got ya. Meet you on the other side, Ironhide. Ratchet out: Two breems later, the word to go back was given. Medical would leave to pick up patients on the other side. All of the serious, dangerous and life threatening cases had been handled. The rest would be minor but the potential for trouble would be major. He stood on the bridge with Revo as the Moonbase slipped into the maw of time heading for Mars on the other side.

-0-On the tarmac on the other side

The groups at the air field were making their way through processing, the last few hundred moving well. Magnus was standing on the tarmac with a number of others, Jetta and Elita, Arcee, Ratchet who had just arrived and Bluestreak. The Priests, seven of them with three acolytes followed Alpha Trion along the way to where Magnus waited. Herling, Bulkhead, Nitro, Squint and Scar, Rampage, Thundercracker and Venture were making their way forward as well.

There would be Decepticons, Neutrals, Circle, Knight, Missionary and Autobots to greet the last few possible troublemakers along with strategic civilians. It was hopeful among them that there would be no trouble but just in case, 200 Autobots stood casually in groups around the edge of the airfield, their weapons slung casually in plain sight.

Moonbase had taxied away after off loading its cargo of medical patients. Ratchet had moseyed over to where the group had gathered as the huge formats of Phobos and Salton Sea appeared above. They watched as the monster crafts landed, their gear sagging to ground mode. Behind them came a couple of other ships with elderly on board to off load. The tarmac was busy for a moment as individuals were retrieved by vehicle or walked off on their own.

Prime and the command staff stepped off Phobos heading toward the waiting group. Starscream walked to Thundercracker to get the intel of the armada which was currently scanning sector upon sector to the rear of the newbies to make sure there were no stragglers. Ironhide hugged Ratchet as Prowl could be seen walking to the group in the distance. When he arrived he was accosted by Ironhide who retrieved Prowler from a reluctant Prowl. Ironhide was good to go at that point. So were the slaggers in space.

-0-The ships that came

Five big ships began to land on the tarmac which was now strangely silent but for filmmakers, IntraComm camera teams and reporters as well as humans standing on cargo boxes nearby. Those on the ships had sped toward the Science Habitat for a pee break and a donut. Not wanting to waste more time on anything more elaborate, they sped back and crowded the tops of containers in their usual safe spot with a view. Even the politicians were there to watch the show.

When the ramps came down and hatches popped groups walked out, civilians all. They were numerous, perhaps 1500 and seemed to be forming two groups. One group, the smaller of the two contained those with splendid formats and finishes. The others were less so though there were many who seemed high caste in appearance mingled among them. They gathered, each group staring at the other, then turned to look at the greeting committee.

Optimus Prime was unmistakable. So were many of the others scattered among those no one in the refugee masses knew. For a moment it was silent, appraising, then three mechs from the larger group stepped out to walk to Prime. A pair of mechs from the other side followed. No one else spoke or moved, all of them waiting as they watched tensely, anxiously. All five bowed their helms in respect when they reached Optimus. Prime reciprocated. "Welcome to Mars and Autobot City," Prime said in his deeply luxurious voice.

The five looked up at him, three with intense emotion, two others guardedly. One of them stepped closer. "Sir, I am Insert. I lead a large contingent of the migration, perhaps over 25,000. We seek refuge here and the opportunity to contribute."

Optimus offered his servo which was gratefully gripped by Insert and his two mechs. "It is my honor to welcome you to this colony."

The other two mechs looked at Prime, then one offered his servo. "I am Electra, Prime."

Prime gripped his servo. "Welcome."

"Sir, we want to help our people who are weary. How can we help you help them? Can you manage this many individuals?" Insert asked with worry.

"We can take you in," Prime said turning to Magnus. "What is the count of this migration, Magnus, thus far?"

Magnus paused, then turned to Prime. "We are at 900,000 plus or minus 2,000. We will be able to handle the estimated population of this migration easily, sir."

The refugees looked at him with surprise, then nodded. "Tell us what we must do, sir, and we will do it," Insert said with urgency.

"There are rules to living here," Prime said. "They cannot be transgressed. We exist under modified martial law due to the threat. When it passes, so will martial law. The caste system is banned by Primal Decree. It does not exist here and any attempts to resurrect it will be met with prosecution for treason."

It was silent a moment as they absorbed the statement. Then Insert nodded, a look of relief on his face. "I am glad to hear that. We have lived free of the taint of The System since The Fall. Most of us."

"I find it rather insulting, Prime, that interest in The System is considered treason here," Electra said.

"It is. It is treason," Prime said firmly. "This colony practices unity. If the Decepticons come they will kill everyone, not just those whose caste offends them. We have to practice unity to survive. We were at death's door and we still are. Our people need us to find and rescue them. We do that as part of our main mission in this colony. Everyone who able is expected to choose employment to contribute to the common good. Anyone who wants school may go. The life of this colony is free, fair and open." Prime turned to Magnus. "Perhaps you can tell them what to expect and how the colony functions, Magnus."

Magnus nodded, then looked at the five. "Come with me and we will begin the process of living here." He turned to walk toward the masses standing nearby. The five followed.

"What do you think?" Ratchet asked to no one in particular. "Do you dread some of them like I do?"

Several nodded. "I do," Springer said as he considered the groups with an appraising optic.

"Don't worry about that. Its nothing a properly placed rocket can't fix," Starscream said. He did so without a smirk.

-0-TBC November 17, 2013

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