The Diego Diaries: New Paradigm (578) edited
-0-In Ravel and Tie Down's apartment
"This is Optimus Prime."
He stood before their monitor, his image and voice transmitted to the Fortress over the encrypted line, jetting upward through the massive transmission antenna on the roof, outward to the routing satellite array in high orbit around Mars. It sped forward over a frequency used for the most encrypted communications toward the Proxima Centauri Deep Space Array, then outward along the bullet line of sub stations that caught the transmission, then shot it swiftly along. It reached Paragon in seconds. It did because Prime permitted it.
"Optimus, I would like to meet with you again," Paragon replied. Behind the big mech, Optimus could see a pensive Seeker. Arrow, he considered.
"About what topics, Paragon?" Optimus asked. Nearby out of the view of the cameras, Ironhide, Blackjack and Prowl stood listening. Prowl held his doppelganger as he swayed gently, the infant beginning to fall into recharge in the quieter atmosphere of his grandada's apartment. "I wish to discuss the possibility of joining forces with you," Paragon replied.
"You do understand that I do not make alliances with Decepticons. I would require full surrender and subordination to my command with assurances that you would become an ally, not a ticking time bomb. I hope you understand that my reluctance is built on experience with your side," Prime replied.
"We left the Cause, Prime. We are aware that it is not just in disarray but falling to pieces. We do not want you to misunderstand us. We will be allies," Paragon said making a last ditch attempt to retain some form of position and command.
Prime was aware that he was. "I find nothing in your comments that I feel warrants my time. Full surrender, subordination to my command, obedience to the Matrix and our laws as well as a thorough understanding of your place in and responsibility to our society is what is required. I will allow no competing kingdoms."
Paragon stared at him a moment, then nodded nearly imperceptibly. "Very well. I will come and discuss this as well as the disposition of my people. There will be those that likely will not find this a good idea. I will release them to go to Cyclonus or Slacker. I wish to know if you are offended by this courtesy to their service to me."
Prime considered that. "I am but it is your action to take. Anyone who comes here with the intention to stay must follow simple rules. They must come in peace and follow the rules and laws, all of which fall into my purview as Prime, all of which are Cybertronian from before the Clampdown. We are on modified martial law but that can change swiftly. Do not feel you will have supporters here. You do not. You will be given great opportunity but you must obey the law, work if you are fit or go to school, contribute positively and not be a force of division. Our prisons are ready for those who decide otherwise. The caste system is dead and will not be returning. You will come to detention and earn your way out. The Former Decepticon Association mentors and monitors newly arrived Decepticons. They are autonomous in their authority. All who wish to live in the colony freely must give their oath to the Matrix. It will enforce any betrayal it feels and understand. The Matrix has participated in the life of the colony directly many times. It will punish infractions."
Paragon nodded. "Give me an orn. Then I will signal you that we are ready to come."
Optimus nodded. "Very well. Tomorrow at this time, I will be waiting."
Paragon nodded, then cut the transmission. Prime turned to his officers. "Well? It seems someone is ready to come in from the cold."
"Maybe. Maybe not," Ironhide the Ever Suspicious said. "Either way, we have a new forward base."
"We do don't we," Prime said with a grin as he walked toward the door. "Nice of him to let us have Christmas Surprise orn."
"Indeed," Blackjack said with a grin. They walked back to the hoo-haw together, Prowl carrying Prowler, Ironhide watching Prowl carrying Prowler.
The whiner.
Both of them.
-0-Several orns later
They wandered into the Residence adding their own offerings to the mountain of presents gathered around the big and little trees. Orion nearly overcome by the sight ran for it and leaped. He landed on a pile of presents, then ended up in the corner. All of the infants stood around him whimpering as he sobbed.
"This better get going. Infants are going to lose sprockets if we don't," Ironhide said unhappily.
"I see your point," Prime said with a grin. "How about all the kids finding a place, all the adults sitting as Spirit acts for Santa Prime."
The little mech paused, then smiled brightly at his father. Prowl who was walking out of the corridor that led to the berth rooms and other parts of the enormous apartment carried Spirit's Santa hat. Putting it on him, Prowl sat next to Optimus with a grin. "You're on, Santa."
Spirit nearly exploded with surprise and happiness. He patted his hat, then turned to the pile of things. "Which one is first, Ada?"
Ratchet stood and pulled out a large square red foiled box. "How about this one, sweetie?"
He smiled up at Ratchet, then looked at the tag. "This is for Grandada Ravel, Grandatar Tagg and … this is for me too." He looked up at Ratchet. "Maybe Grandada and Grandatar can help you," Ratchet said with a smile.
Ravel stood up along with Tagg, then walked to the box. Tagg nodded to Ravel who bent down to take off the lid. The three of them stared inside, then Spirit looked up, an expression of joy on his face. "GRANDATAR! GRANDADA! LOOK!"
Ravel whose expression was astonished smiled, then looked at Ratchet. "Son! Look!"
Ratchet chuckled, then leaned down and plucked two little colored bits of fluff from the box. Reading a tag that was fastened to a tiny collar, he grinned. "This one is for you, Spirit," Ratchet said handing a black kitten with luminous yellow optics to the youngling, "and this is for you, Ada." Ratchet handed a white kitten with blue optics to his ada. Reaching in, he handed a yellow tabby kitten with brown optics to Tagg. They stood mesmerized. Then they turned to Ratchet.
"This is what I wanted," Tagg said. "I love cat videos on the internet."
The kittens were still as the welcoming message was downloaded into their processors. Then they relaxed on the servos of their new family member. Spirit turned and ran to Prowl and Optimus. "LOOK! I HAVE A KITTEN! I WANTED A KITTEN AND I HAVE ONE!"
They both smiled at him, petting his little cheek. "You have to take good care of him, son," Optimus said with a grin. "You too, Atar."
They laughed as the three moved to sit, their cats curled against their chests. They were in every manner but the most obvious kitten versions of Terran cats. Synthetic fur covered them, a soft luxurious tip of the hat to the original versions. Spirit who was as mesmerized as Ravel and Tagg was oblivious to the rest. Ratchet retrieved the Santa hat and tossed it to Rambler. "Your turn."
He grinned, then rose walking to the tree. He picked up a card with Alor's name on it. He handed it to that mech who opened it. A picture of a baby grand piano was inside. He glanced at Ratchet with surprise. "Did you get me a piano like the human kind? Where is it?"
"In your apartment. I had it delivered earlier. That's why I never let you go home, Ali. Ironhide and I knew you wanted one. It's by the big windows in the living room," Ratchet replied.
Alor smiled brilliantly. "Thank you. I wanted one of those so much."
"Oh great. More music," Blackjack said with a grin. He got an elbow for it. Glancing at Alor, he rubbed his chassis. "How was that an insult?"
Alor grinned. "Whiner."
Even Rambler laughed at that one. He turned and began to pull out boxes and bags for the infants. New toys were added, some of them educational (from Sunstreaker), most of them fun (from everyone else) They sat playing happily as Prowler snoozed on, his own tiny pile of things to be opened here waiting in his atar's carry hold.
Rambler continued to deliver presents to his family and friends as Santa Prime. It broke down like this:
Kup and Hercy: A beautiful knife with their names engraved on the hilts from RTR Tools. To say they were impressed and pleased was an understatement. As professional mechs-at-arms, RTR Tools was the pinnacle for bladed weapons but neither ever owned one. Everyone wanted one but few could afford them in the past. Their thanks were profuse. Even for taciturn little mechanisms like Hercy.
He beamed.
So did Tie and Ravel.
It was adorable.
Tie Down and Appa Ratchet: Both got books. Appa got a spectacular lavishly illustrated enormous book about the solar system they now occupied. It was what he had wanted. Tie got a new set of books on Mars including a number of places he slated to visit with Ravel on their vacations.
If he and Ravel ever took one.
They were very pleased.
Springer and Drift: Springer received a much coveted sight with built in laser pointer for precision targeting for his primary gun and Drift received a copper bound Book of Quotations from the Knights of Cybertron and one from the Circle of Light that he had coveted.
Grins were had.
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe: They both received identical knives, long bladed and lethal upon whose gleaming surfaces their names as well as the symbol and name of their team was engraved.
It was awesome.
So was their pleasure.
Flint: A famous book, The History of Cybertron from the Chronicles had been recovered in the migration, copies of which were placed in the Museum, the Library of Autobot City and the printing presses of the Book Consortium, an author's guild. Copies were printed and snatched up almost immediately which alleviated the long list of those waiting to read it at the Library and Consortium. This one was custom in its cover and a collector's item.
He was deeply pleased.
Sunspot and Rambler: As older sparklings, the thought into their gifts required more care. Beyond awesome toys that were mostly along the lines of video games, they received two other thoughtful gifts. Sunspot received a lavishly illustrated history of flight that started with Earth and ended with Cybertron. He was ecstatic: "ATAR! HERE IS A PICTURE OF UNCLE STARSCREAM!" he helpfully pointed out. Rambler received a silver flute and a guitar. He couldn't play either at the moment but he would by the next morning.
Yes, he was a prodigy.
T-Bar: He was finding science the bomb so the microscope and chemistry set he received was just the right touch.
Kestrel received a telescope, a gift that nearly caused too much happiness. "I can see the stars, Orion. I can see the Trigger where Milie works and the top of the mountains!"
Optimus Prime was very pleased. He picked it out himself.
Then they got to the fun gifts.
Prowl who was a tough gift in the minds of most of them actually wasn't. A beautifully crafted book recording the history of the Pantheon hit the spot. It would go on the shelf with his other beautiful tomes to be heavily read and referenced.
Ironhide and Blackjack were easy too. They received heavy duty remote controlled helicopters with all manner of camera and weapon systems on their sturdy frames.
"WHAT THE FRAG, OLD MECH! HOW DID YOU KNOW?!" Ironhide asked with an eerie impression of Sunspot.
"Guess?" Ratchet asked with a smirk.
"WOW! THIS IS GREAT!" Blackjack said as he looked over the little helicopter. He grinned at his son. "Better watch your aft, Ironhide. This is going to be fun."
"I will shoot you down," Ironhide said as he studied the schematics on the box. "Prepare to surrender."
Blackjack snorted. "In your dreams, sparkling."
"Well, that is a great gift. You and I need to get a set," Drift said chuckling as he watched his brand new in-laws declare war on each other. "I think I really like this family."
"You should. We don't let just anyone in. Only the handsomest mechs," Ratchet said with a chuckle.
"Then when do Kup and I get adopted?" Hercy said as he looked up from admiring his knife.
Bluestreak who had gotten a completed updated family album which he had asked for chuckled. "Any time." He glanced at Prowl. "Where is Optimus and Ratchet's gifts?"
Both mechanisms looked at Rambler who scrambled under the now empty tree. He pulled out a huge box and a smaller one. Reading the tags, he took the small one to his atar, then the other to Ratchet.
"You first, Optimus, being the Messiah and all," Ratchet said earning a stern look from his ada and appa. He blew them both kisses and they relented with a grin.
Optimus opened his gift, then smiled. "A game control?"
"The game is set up in the berth room along with a wall sized monitor. My remote controller is in there too," Prowl said with a grin.
Prime half turned, then smiled. "You challenging me to games?"
"Oh, yes I am," Prowl said smirking at Ratchet. "I'm on a roll. I beat out loser over there. You're next."
"Slam him to the Pit, Optimus. The entire colony depends upon you," Ratchet said as the room erupted in laughter.
"Count on it," Optimus said with a grin. "This is going to be fun."
Prowl grinned, then looked at Ratchet. "Open your gift, Loser."
"Don't mind if I do, whiner," Ratchet replied. He opened the lid, then drew out a smaller box. He opened that lid and drew out another. Two more smaller boxes appeared, then a card. Ratchet took it, then sat back. "Will fisticuffs ensue?" he asked holding up the card.
Ironhide's smirk faded a little. "I hope not."
Ratchet opened the card, then snorted. He smirked at Ironhide. "Fragger."
"What is it?" Sunstreaker asked as Ratchet handed him the card. He laughed aloud, then looked at Sideswipe. "Cooking lessons with Rampage."
Bedlam ensued.
-0-Later that night
They sat on the berth after tucking in all the younglings. The monitor was on showing a strangely alien version of a human idea of their home world. It was filled with darkness, danger and strongly alienated both. They stared at it, then each other. "You up for this?" Prowl asked.
"I was born ready," Optimus said as he activated his character from a game called, 'The War for Cybertron'.
"No cheating with the Matrix," Prowl said as he sat cross legged on the berth beside Optimus. "May the mech who cheats the least win."
"You're on," Prime said with a grin.
-0-A few floors below
It flew through the door hunting for the one it wanted. It was dark but the little spotlight from the helicopter lit up the space. It searched for the enemy as it flew onward. Its operator on the other servo was propped up in bed next door, a small monitor screen on his control device showing what the helicopter saw. It had been steered through the conveniently open door of his atar's apartment, entering the darkness to do deep recon with great stealth. The little thing was amazingly silent.
As it flew onward another mechanism relaxed on his own berth, his chopper hovering by the door waiting for the attack. Lying next to him playing hangman with Ratchet over their internal line, Alor gave intel to Ratchet without Blackjack knowing.
:The helicopter is hovering by the door waiting for Ironhide's bird to arrive: -Alor
:Ironhide is maneuvering his into your apartment. Is Flint there?: -Ratchet
:He's with his very good friend if you know what I mean: -Alor
:Fragging I suppose: -Ironhide with a grin
:What else?: -Alor with his own grin
:If we were actually bonded to fully developed mechs, so would we: -R
:I did the best I could with what I had, Ratchet: -A with a chuckle.
The helicopter moved with great stealth forward and entered the berth room. A chopper flew out of nowhere and it was on. Tiny projectiles were fired, lights flared on the vehicles and attack sounds could be heard.
Also to be heard was Alor's bellow as three of the little projectiles hit him on the face. He rose up and so did Blackjack. "RETREAT! RETREAT! UNICRON IS AWAKENED! I REPEAT! UNICRON IS AWAKENED!"
"I WILL SHOW YOU UNICRON!" Alor said as he threw a pillow at Blackjack. He retreated along with two hasty little helicopters, barely making it out of the room in one piece.
Moments later …
:What's the sitrep, Atar?: -Ironhide
:Unicron is sleeping. I on the other servo am on the couch: -Blackjack peering around the corner of the berth room.
:Need company? Old Tight Aft kicked me out too: -Ironhide saying internally what he didn't have the bearings to say aloud.
:Bring the cribbage board, son: -BJ
:On my way. Over and out: -Ironhide with a chuckle.
A huge black stealth mechanism stealthed out the door carrying his cribbage board. He would spend the night playing cribbage and drinking beer with his atar. It would be a most spectacular Christmas Surprise evening of all.
-0-Several floors up
"Are you sure you're not using the Matrix?" -Gimlet optics impale spouse like the whiner optics they were
Spouse who is reclining smugly with his control in servo, a plate of his favorite cookies on the stand next to his berth and a grin on his face shook his helm. "Nope."
"Well," Prowl said getting up to insert another game altogether. "Let's try this one. It's called 'Grand Theft Auto'."
"Sounds sinister. Promise me that if someone steals a car you won't throw on your lights and siren."
Prowl smirked as he rejoined his partner. "I thought you liked my lights and siren."
Optimus laughed aloud. "I do."
Prowl grinned, then began the game. After the initial shock and a short pause to discuss the moral dilemma of playing a game that ran over old ladies for points, they played on and on. Prime would still win. Whether the Matrix helped or not, no one would ever know.
"But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
Happy Christmas (Surprise) to all, and to all a good-night!"
TBC January 5, 2014