The Diego Diaries: Surprise 2 (560) edited
-0-Introductions at The Rookery, Tyger Pax, Primal Colony of Mars
They stared at each other, Paragon and Cyclonus surprised and discomfited by Soundwave's surprise appearance. It was one thing to talk to your former master and overlord over a comm line and quite another to stand in the same room with him among Autobots. Slacker on the other hand had no such qualms. He grinned, then glanced at Prime. "You have a great sense of humor."
For a moment they just stared at each other, then Prime nodded to Prowl. "Shall we sit?" he asked moving toward a number of tables that had been arranged into a long rectangle. Everyone could see everyone from any seat. They moved, spotting their name tags, then sat.
Waiters who were standing nearby came forward to bring service to the luncheon as well as beverages. Soup and the appropriate drinks were placed as the group sat staring at each other. Ratchet grinned. "I've seen happier faces at inquests."
Slacker snorted, then grinned. "I personally have no problem being here. However, I am sure that these three," he said nodding to Paragon, Cyclonus and Soundwave, "have other feelings. After all, I do believe that two of you are deserters."
Sharp glances his way did nothing to discourage his comfort at their discomfort. He grinned again. "Deserters yet you supply Cybertron with energon."
"If that is even true … you appear to be against repairing Cybertron and helping our people," Soundwave said coldly.
"No. I just think it helps if each of us are honest and truthful," Slacker replied.
"A pirate cares about the truth," Ironhide said with a smirk of his own.
Slacker shrugged. "Just a comment."
It was silent a moment as the waiters placed food before the diners. Soft music played in the background as outside the slowly turning building, the view of the airfield beyond could be easily seen. The Supremes were there in clear view as well.
"Tell us about Cybertron, Soundwave. We all have a vested interest in it," Alor said fixing his optics firmly on the commanding officer of Cybertron.
He looked at Alor, a musician he revered as much as nearly everyone else, then shrugged slightly. "It is slowly reviving."
"You have our people … how many stayed?" Blackjack asked.
"Enough to be helpful and too many to give each all that they need," Soundwave said. "But the situation is being relieved to a degree," he replied.
"So the two of you work to supply Cybertron," Prowl asked.
Everyone turned to him. "I can't say," Cyclonus said meeting Prowl's direct gaze.
"It wouldn't hurt a bit to tell us," Ratchet said. "When Megatron comes back and you know he will, none of you will be allowed to live. You can't appease a psychopath."
No one spoke as the wine stewards circulated discreetly. Prime watched the four listening carefully to their words. It was a good feeling to operate from a position of power rather than disadvantage for once he thought.
"No, we can't," Slacker said. "I can move onward. There's always somewhere to go and someone to plunder but I prefer here. I prefer being closer to home and seeing my own kind once in a while. But that's not a hard fast rule. If Bucket Head comes back, I expect to adapt." He looked at Soundwave, Cyclonus and Paragon. "What do you expect to do? Besides die?"
Paragon sipped his drink. "You assume he won't hunt you down. You should know better. Once he's angry with someone, that is it."
"Yet you left," Ratchet said. "That's a very provocative thing to do even for his level of intolerance."
"I don't answer to the Decepticons any longer," Cyclonus said in his low voice. "I don't care what Megatron thinks. He isn't here. The Cause has debased itself so I owe him nothing."
"He won't return the sentiments," Ratchet said. "It might do all of you good to remember that and come to the only reasonable conclusion anyone with a measurable processor IQ would reach."
"And what exactly would that be, Doctor?" Paragon replied.
"Give it up," Ratchet said with a grin. "You know we will crush you. If we have a slow orn we might bring our Home Guard out ourselves to take some target practice on your afts."
"You have a local militia organized," Paragon asked.
Prime grinned slightly. "We had too many guns for the standing army because the number of volunteers who want to see you and your Cause in the ground is overwhelming. It was a solution and make no mistake. They are excellent soldiers and pilots."
"This colony is huge. How many civilians do you have living here?" Slacker asked as he looked at the entree dinner plate just placed in front of him.
"That's classified information," Ultra Magnus said giving the three enemy at the table a chance to retain any anxiety that might have about the growing power and self sufficiency of the Colony. Outside, the sun rose even farther up in the mid orn sky casting long shadows as it made its way toward 1300 on the Terran Military Clock. That would be when the football game would start.
-0-In a team dressing room
They sat together sharing small talk or outlining this or that play. The field was immaculate, the pitch perfect so they waited it out in the locker rooms. Soon the stadiums and viewing area out west of Terra would be swarming with individuals getting ready to see how the World Championship would shake out.
Lying on the floor nearby, a Kaon sash circling him, Dawg snored quietly. He would be given pride of place and lead Kaon to the pitch. He would sit on the sidelines to watch. He would be their mascot. He would also be awesome.
-0-Dessert
They sat sipping their after-luncheon drinks while plates filled with Cybertronian confections were placed before them. The food and drinks were impeccable. Slacker glanced at Prowl. "You set a great table. I haven't eaten this well in ages. I find it hard to believe that Rampage is a chef. I assume there is a story there?"
Ratchet grinned. "That mech had a processor glitch that was an easy fix. When it was gone, so was his psychosis. I wouldn't count him out as a fighter or an opponent however. He just saves it for our side."
Slacker nodded. "There are a lot of pretty well known Decepticons on your side here. I can't say I blame them. Megatron doesn't care. He decimates his troops for no reason and everyone is on pins and needles. He also has that mangy son of his around him. Galvatron is insane."
"Consider the CNA pool he comes from," Ratchet said. "He is his genitors' son."
"I won't argue with you on that," Slacker said. He glanced at Paragon. "Tell me you aren't glad to be away from him. You did after all give up a pretty cushy job because he decided he didn't like you."
Paragon looked at Slacker with contempt. "You would know that how?"
"Everyone knows that, Paragon. What everyone doesn't know about is what happened to Shockwave," Slacker said.
"He disappeared along with you, Starscream. No one misses him but Megatron. He asks for him when he comes around," Paragon said. "Odd that he does given how he doesn't care about anyone outside of that son of his. That is one mech that I don't miss."
"He used to be rather decent, Shockwave. He hid scientists slated for personality adjustments during the Clampdown until they caught him. Then he was changed and even disfigured," Ratchet said. "The Senate and Sentinel Prime had zero tolerance for discontent."
Cyclonus nodded. "The feeling was mutual toward them."
"You have six of them in the prison? Five or six?" Soundwave asked looking at Prime. "Sentinel Prime was a shock."
The others looked at Soundwave. "Sentinel Prime? Here?" Paragon asked with surprise.
Soundwave nodded. "I saw him along with Decimus, Proteus and Ratbat. They are in the prison."
"Sentinel was killed. You were on his guard detail, Starscream," Slacker said with a grin. "I guess you can't get good help these orns like they say."
Starscream grinned in spite of himself. "That slagger was a two face from the beginning. It works out in the end. Having him here in a cage for future target practice works just fine for me."
"If everyone is finished, it is time to go to the stadium," Blackjack said pausing from taking a message. "The guard detail will clear the way."
Prime nodded, then stood, the rest following. He glanced at the maitre d. "Thank you for a wonderful lunch. My compliments to the chef and staff."
The staff and maitre d nodded, their smiles genuinely pleased. Turning, Prime led the group out to the elevators which they took downward. The streets outside were beginning to be filled with individuals waiting to go to the game. The Elite Household Guard waited, then explained the route. A train car nearby in the underground was being held for them and would carry the party to the Cultural Center Road Station down from the main junction in front of the Mare Tranquilitatis. They all turned to walk onward disappearing down into the station and its expedited journey to the stadium.
-0-A short time later
They stood together at the gate which would lead them inside. Guards were around in force and would be standing in strategic places with their weapons. Prime turned to the four guests, then nodded to the stairs nearby. "Follow Prowl. He will show you to your seats. I will come later along with Alor."
"Come with me," Prowl said as he turned. He climbed the stairs, then walked down the aisle aiming for the seats reserved at the mid field line. When they reached it, all took their seats. The stadium like the other was beginning to fill up. The jumbotron was flashing messages, images of the city and plays from previous games as Blaster and Jazz held their pre-game download bull session with Earth sportscasters over the MCA.
Slacker sat with a grin on his face, taken into the energy of the soon-to-be epic game. Cyclonus was attentive but reserved. Paragon was attentive and discreet in his questions to Prowl. No one could see the children. They would sit with the family two sections over as prearranged. They would be gathered up after the game for the afternoon. All that would be left to do with the visitors would be this game, a dinner at the Residence, then fire works. After that, they would be punted back to their meet up asteroid.
Until then, they would only see, hear and do what Optimus Prime wanted. He himself stood in the gateway chatting with Alor and a few of the civilians that passed in to take their seats. The sun was warm overhead in the blue sky, banners and flags snapped in the light breeze. All was well with the world.
So far.
TBC December 21, 2013
NOTES on Cyclonus: (IDW GEN 1 continuity): (Tfwiki) "After being a religious youth, Cyclonus ultimately became a senior officer on Nova Prime's Ark, which plunged into the Benzuli Expanse millions of meta-cycles ago and hence continued to serve Nemesis Prime. He had a fierce love of Cybertron and wanted to see it bring about an ordered universe, bringing structure to a chaotic universe and hoped ordering the universe might order him. After the failure of Nemesis Prime's Expansion plans (Revelation), he settled down to die for good on Gorlam Prime, until Galvatron healed him with the Heart of Darkness and "suborned him to its will". He followed Galvatron on his quest to stop D-Void, despite misgivings on the truth of D-Void's existence (Heart of Darkness), until he realized at the last, after an assault on Cybertron that left many Autobots dead, that Galvatron had forced him to hurt Cybertron, giving Optimus Prime an opening to heal Vector Sigma at the cost of the Matrix of Leadership. (Chaos)
Afterward, healed of his undead state by Vector Sigma but having been mistaken for a Decepticon by the Autobots, he was initially penned up with the Decepticons until a deal with Rodimus, who had been there when he turned on Galvatron allowed him to join the crew of the Lost Light. Rooming with fellow ancient Tailgate, who he swings between contempt and affection for, and mourning the loss of "his" Cybertron (occasionally in song) he mostly keeps himself to himself. And hates Whirl. (The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye) (I hit a function key and rather than try and fix it messing it up further, half this part is italics and half isn't) :}