The Diego Diaries: Aperitif 1 (557) edited
-0-After the ball is over
They closed the door, the three miscreants leaving in the embrace of the Elite Household Guard. Everyone else stood a moment, glasses in servo, then sat down to mull over the long and surprisingly intriguing meeting.
"Well, impressions?" Optimus asked as he sprawled in a big chair, his chair.
Elita who sat down looked at him. "They are keenly aware that we outclass them and if we chose to we can obliterate them into dust particles. They are here to fact check their impressions and to see if they can gain a reprieve or negotiate some sort of reasonable position in relation to us."
Jetta nodded. "They know they can't beat us. They just want us to not beat them up. I don't trust their word but I trust their assessment of their vulnerability."
"I do too," Blackjack said as Alor nodded. "They have few cards in their hand," he said. "I think we play a hand of strength. I doubt that we have to worry about our migrations from them. I would also suggest that Slacker is a misnomer. He's smarter than he acts and I think more of a danger than we give him credit."
Prowl nodded. "I agree."
"What do you think about their chances of redemption and rehabilitation?" Alpha Trion asked of Lauren.
That priest who was sitting comfortably on a couch with Neo and Nitro considered that. "I don't know that anyone is beyond redemption. I'm not sure that Megatron can be totally discounted. But I do know that all sparks are on their own path and their direction can take many long miles and turns before they reach port and safety. We all go back to the Matrix no matter what. Even them."
"You are too nice for your own good, Lauren," Ironhide replied with a grin. "By the way, where is Armour?"
"He's doing the prayers for Cybertron tonight," Lauren replied with a grin. "It is his turn."
"You do that for how long?" Ratchet asked as vague memories came to his processor.
"They do it for half an orn every decaorn. They pray for Cybertron, the People and for peace," Prowl said. "I heard that the Missionaries want to network with you for various things. I hear it includes instruction in our sacred history for little ones."
"They do. They also want to record our mythology and the history of the Temples. We are happy to have it. Some of them are university graduates in history," Chevron replied. "They want to record all the history of the different parts of our culture and society. They don't want anything forgotten."
"Neither do we," Alor said. "They are a good group, that one. Lots of guts and goodness." He looked at Prime. "I think we can count on them minding their p's and q's as the humans say. I think all three groups are smart enough to know a loser when they see one. Slacker is smarter than he looks and the other two … they aren't fools either."
Prime nodded. "I am concerned about their soldiers and the pirates … do they have what it takes to hang it up if their leaders do? I don't know that I would feel good about any of them coming here."
"I hear ya," Jazz said nodding his helm. "The Former Decepticon Association does a good job of slagging slaggers but how many of these characters are either incorrigible or war criminals?"
It was quiet a moment. Then Ratchet sat forward. "If we look at this in terms of what we can get out of it, we have accomplished our goals. They were the ones seeking peaceful co-existence. We didn't bring it up. Even if they don't feel or want it, they know its their only course because we grow from strength to strength while they go downward. The only place big enough to challenge us is Cybertron and that is iffy too. Who can Megatron bring back to help him that would? And I would conjecture that he's not in his right processor anyway. Who would help him? We have the momentum and whatever they came here to find out and secure, they know it will be with them in second place. We win, they lose no matter what happens."
"That is my feeling as well," Alor said.
"They have no air wing, something essential to making their point felt beyond risking large ships without support. They have limited resources even if they have good positions and are pulling in soldiers along the way. I don't fear them," Starscream said as the other Seekers nodded.
"We can make tentative contingency plans for taking them out and keep them updated as things change. That should take care of them becoming bold, joining together and doing something foolish," Magnus said.
Elita nodded. "We can monitor the intel for deep space movements and communications. We can extrapolate what they might and most likely will do. I feel that their presence here is more conciliatory than anything else," Elita said as Arcee nodded.
"We can turn some of the satellites and sensors on the Proxima array, Prime, to monitor them and their areas more completely. We have been working on refining our deep space reach all along. We don't intend to stop either. We get more technicians and ideas with every migration," Perceptor said as Wheeljack nodded.
"What is the status among the new recruits, Scar? Nitro?" Prime asked.
"We'll know more after the game," Scar said with a grin. "The younger mechs are better candidates for rehabilitation but a large number of the overall crowd have put in papers for citizenship. We're separating them from the others. We may have a hard core of mechs who won't turn but I am hoping that we can bring the others over. Semi is going to arrange a parole commission for them to come serve out their court assigned punishments under our direction if they frag up and get into the courts when they come out. No one is going to be getting away with anything, especially disturbing the city with slaggery."
Prime nodded, then glanced at Wheeljack and Perceptor. "Make it one of our priorities to boost scrutiny of these mechs, gentlemen. We need to be aware of any changes they might make in their forts and their overall behavior in the sector. If Megatron ever returns in force, they will be overrun or pressed into service. They already have bases in place. That might give us leverage over them in the long run."
"What should we do about Soundwave? Should we invite him to the game?" Ratchet asked with a grin.
Prime looked at Ratchet a moment, then nodded. "Why not?" He glanced at Prowl. "Can you get him on the line?"
Prowl looked at him a moment, then rose walking to a communications console hiding in a beautiful copper cabinet nearby. He pulled up the file of codes, then glanced at Optimus. He nodded, so Prowl called him up, sent it to the Trigger who sent it out on the tight beam communications bridge link up. It would send messages but block unwanted returns of any kind whatsoever. Prowl stood a moment, then looked at Prime. "He's on."
"Open the link," Prime said.
"Open," Prowl said as he keyed the operation.
"Optimus Prime to Soundwave."
A pause. "Soundwave here."
"Soundwave, I am calling to invite you to attend a football championship game here at Autobot City tomorrow."
There was a pause, then Soundwave was back. "I am not aware of what you mean, Prime."
"We are having guests to a game. Our league has their championship game tomorrow. We would like you to be a guest of the Colony."
The pause almost went too long, then Soundwave was back. "Very well. I accept. I am assuming that you will bridge me to your colony?"
"You assume correctly."
"I would bring my chief of staff and head of security."
"We would accept that. Come unarmed. We will provide your security and send you back. You have my word sworn on the Matrix, Soundwave."
"Very well. I will await your signal. Soundwave out."
The line went dead. It was quiet a moment, then Ratchet chuckled. "This is going to be epic."
"Only you would find the potential for conflict amusing," Magnus said to Ratchet.
Ratchet grinned. "You're right again, Magnus."
"I think its going to be illuminating. If Paragon and Cyclonus are transporting energon to Soundwave it might be illuminating to have then together without each others knowledge," Prime said.
Springer nodded. "I think so too but I'm also disappointed. No one asked about our bond and the younglings. After all the work I do around here they could have complimented me on the dinner and the apartment. I feel hurt."
"I thought it was kind of awesome of you, Optimus, to invite your frag toy to a dinner like this," Ratchet said with a grin. "No one caught on to the subtext I think."
"They did. I heard at least one snide remark directed toward you, Prowl," Ironhide said with a grin. "We may get through this and out the other side without them saying or seeing anything that might tell them differently."
"What a shame," Ratchet said with a grin. "I will have to keep them up on the intrigue with emails."
Prowl looked at him with a bland expression. "You are certifiable."
"I am aren't I, whiner," Ratchet said with a grin.
"Yes, you are. Loser," Prowl said. "Tomorrow, it will all become clear. Ratchet is a loser. I, Prowl am a winner."
"Whiner." -Ratchet
"Loser. Looooooser." -Prowl
"Oh Primus." -Ironhide and Optimus
-0-Up in the clouds nearby
"What do you think?"
Cyclonus looked at him as he sat in a comfortable chair near the windows, the night lights of Autobot City shining brightly everywhere he looked. "I think that Prime wants peace. If we keep our word, he will keep his."
"The game is going to be amazing," Slacker said. "I have been watching them over the leaking link. I hope Kaon kicks Praxus in the aft."
"It will be brutal," Paragon said. "Some of the players were professional on Cybertron and Blurr is unstoppable."
"I wonder if they have races here," Slacker said. "I would love to see that."
"Nothing would seem to be impossible here," Paragon said nodding. "I saw Blurr race on Cybertron. No one can beat him."
"I could never get a bet made with him in a race. It was a forgone conclusion," Slacker said with a grin. "Tomorrow is going to be memorable. I think the stadiums here are bigger than the ones on Cybertron."
Cyclonus nodded. "It will be interesting."
"You have a way with understatement, Cyclonus," Slacker said with a chuckle.
-0-Nearby
"Are you ready for the game?"
"We are," Sunstreaker said as they lounged around the living room. The infants were in bed and the lights were turned down.
"You will do great tomorrow," Bluestreak said.
"We will. Kaon depends on us," Sideswipe said.
"I know. No matter what happens, Kaon has to be reckoned with," Bluestreak said.
"Kaon will show its quality," Sunstreaker said as Bob scuttled over and clambered up onto his belly. Sunstreaker was lounging on a couch while Sideswipe lay on the floor, his peds up on the coffee table.
Bluestreak grinned, then glanced at Dawg. "You're still going to take Dawg as your team mascot? The humans might lose their marbles if they see a robot dog."
"Maybe. I can't wait for them to see Bob too," Sunstreaker said with a grin.
"Oh Primus." -Sideswipe and Bluestreak
-0-Early morning at the stadium
He walked in with a basket filled with towels and other things necessary to keep roomfuls of athletes happy. There were drinks and power snacks. There were plenty of medical supplies as well. They would need them. They always did. Cybertronian professional football wasn't for the faint of spark. First Aid and Goldwing were both on the list to provide medical attention along with four field medics.
That stuff was covered.
What wasn't clear was the mayhem from the crowds watching. After all, in the last game a mass of drunk micro mini cons lost their shit, transformed and drove all over the place. ESPN considered it in the top three most excellent half time shows of all time. He glanced all around, checking his list, then walked out the door for the other locker room. The door closed silently behind him.
-0-TBC December 18, 2013