The Diego Diaries: Early the next day (586)

-0-On the flight deck

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker stood with the rest of the crew heading out, their gear piled up to go with them. They were heading for duty at Diego Garcia along with Smokey, Hot Rod until Moda got that changed, Blurr and a Home Guard youngling named Speedy. They stood in the early morning cold admiring the city as it sparkled all around them. Today, Public Works would remove the Christmas Surprise decorations, lights, banners and all the rest.

"Its going to look dark," Sideswipe said as he turned to walk up the ramp of their transport. They were going with a load of electronic parts that were upgrades for sensors on base.

Sunstreaker nodded. "I like the holiday. The kids like it. Good enough for me."

They entered the ship, the ramp went up and the hatch closed. It turned and rolled forward joining the line heading out to the runways for lift off.

-0-Bluestreak

He lay on the berth with Bob and Dawg. The pair had watched the twins go, then ambled in. Bob sat on the floor resting his odd little face on the berth until Blue noticed him. Dawg was already up flopped in his usual spot. "Bob, come up."

Bob jumped up and groveled to Blue burrowing down beside him. He vented a sigh, then fell into recharge. Blue grinned as he patted the infant. "You are a little wussie."

It was quiet, then a sound by the door caught his attention. Kaon stood with his sleepy bed bear as he called it. "Atar? I can come?"

Blue nodded and pulled the infant onto the berth. He stood up and walked to Bluestreak nestling into Blue's arms. It was silent a moment as Blue checked Kaon's little wings. "Atar? Where Ada? Where Atar?"

"On duty, baby. They're working."

It was silent a moment. "I don't want them working."

Blue grinned. "They'll be home soon. You and me, we can rule the world together."

Kaon looked up at his atar. "Okay." He nestled in again and they lay together, the four of them as outside the sun barely broke the edge of the curved mound that was the foothills of Olympus Mons.

-0-In an apartment in Kalis

He stood by the window staring at the lightening skies beyond the cities. The curve of the world made the sunlight which played all along its length seem like an opening optic. He thought about that, about his own awakening. He was still filled with turmoil but not as much as the path to his decision.

It was being here that did it. He had underestimated his homesickness for his world, his culture and his people. Being here in the midst of millions, walking around Cybertronian cities filled with Cybetronian things was powerful. The Temple was here. Buildings almost as if lifted from Cybertron whole were here. Now he was, he and Arrow.

This place was somewhere Arrow could live without the fear of being killed. Turning on the Seekers had driven an icicle into his spark that had remained there. It was the major reason he had stepped away. That the leadership was incoherent in their rivalries half the time offended his professionalism and organization. That Arrow could be destroyed on a whim was enough impetus to leave.

He had taken his teams, his crews, his ships. Megatron had lost a brilliant processor when he left. He was as Prowl even if Prowl held the edge on him. That part he didn't put into thought too much. His pride and perfectionism didn't allow it. Megatron had his Prowl in Paragon. He just never took it. Megatron was a barbarian and did what he wanted no matter how useless, pointless, losing or stupid it was. There were competing agendas around him that played off each other to win his favor. It had led to losses and a general downward spiral in the army and factions. He left to find in his own efforts that which he knew Megatron would never give him... respect, opportunities and consideration for what he could do and who he was.

Then he ran into Prime.

He almost grinned. If he didn't have bad luck he would have no luck at all. A noise behind him drew his attention. "Hi."

"Hi yourself. How come you're up this early?" Arrow asked as he walked to the kitchen. He looked around. "This is insane. Look at this place. We have energon delivered into the apartment."

"We did at my house in Iacon," Paragon said watching the big handsome mech looking in cupboards.

Arrow paused, then looked at him. "I didn't. I grew up hungry. I was a Seeker, remember?"

Paragon paused, then leaned against the window. "I am sorry."

"I know. That's then though, Pari. This is now. What are you up for? Can't you recharge?" Arrow asked filling a cup with liquid energon from the delivery device. "Want some?"

"I thought we could eat out," Paragon said. "Real Cybertronian food at a Cybertronian restaurant."

Arrow nodded, then looked at his cup filled with light blue energon. He looked around, then pulled open a refrigerator. It was empty so he put his cup inside. Closing the door, he grinned. "I have heard about these," he said with a smirk.

"You aren't going to tell me more poor stories are you?" Paragon asked with a smirk.

"Sure," Arrow said. He looked at Paragon. "What are you going to do?"

"I am going to ask Prime to allow me to be of service. I will ask to be part of his team."

"Do you think he will?" Arrow asked considering the hard set of Paragon's expression. "Trust is an earned thing."

"It is," Paragon said. "I just want to get on with it. We made this move, Arrow. We are here and the feat is accomplished. Now we have to do something besides amble around."

"You can. I want to amble some more," Arrow said moving to the window. He looked out. "I have never had such luxury. Even the ship with all the comforts we added does not match this. This is high caste living, Paragon. Maybe for you, its home sweet home. For me, its a miracle. I want to see things, taste some really good food and decide on my role. I will have a role won't I?" he asked.

Paragon smiled. "You already have one."

Arrow grinned. "Together? One for all and such?"

Paragon grinned back. "Always."

They stood looking at the sun rising in the distance, the city waking up, then turned heading for the door. It closed silently behind them.

-0-Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth

They stepped off the ship transforming peds to skates. Rolling forward, their bags over their shoulders, they made their way for the Embassy nearby. As they rolled images were snapped by civilians who worked there and sailors out roaming around.

"Look at them. Those are the twins," a sailor said as he shot a video clip. "Damn. They look bad ass."

"They do," another said as they watched the two breeze past, then enter the Embassy together.

"I loved the game. I was betting on Kaon," the first sailor said.

The other nodded. "I expected them to get Blurr. I bet on them too."

Behind them, contract employees of several companies that did business on Diego watched them go by too. They took their pictures and videos, then continued onward.

Inside the Embassy, they slagged their way through the rec room and headed for the barracks where they would stay. It had been remodeled, the entire installation. The hangar was gone. A new modern Cybetronian installation took its place along with different amenities. It was okay but it wasn't home anymore. Not in the way it was seemingly long ago. Seven years here had changed much and when they settled in, they rolled back up heading for the door.

"What do you want to do?" Sideswipe asked glancing around in the doorway.

"I don't know. Wander around. The humans were taking pictures and movies," Sunstreaker said. "Let's go be famous."

Sideswipe snorted, then looked at his brother. "We already are."

Sunstreaker smirked, then headed forward slowly. Down the long road around and between buildings humans were working. They moved slowly, rolling along as they headed toward the far end of the island. They were beautiful, powerful and dangerous. Their armor glinted in the sunlight and their solar receptors pulled in energy without their conscious thought.

They passed humans who paused to watch. Even among the bots that were there in the garrison all the time, the twins stood out. They were players and front liners. They were among the most well known of all of the bots. They were … 'men'. Hard, professional, skilled and fearless … men.

The humans, many of them, had lists of bots that they respected. In the top ten of most of them, the twins were named. They were ballsy and fearless … 'manly' in a way most of them could relate to as men-at-arms themselves. When they saw the twins, they saw maleness in a way that was scary and at the same time totally familiar and easy to relate to.

Sideswipe rolled along, then paused to stare down at a group of officers who were sitting on a patio watching them. They looked up at him. He looked down at them. "Hi."

They looked at each other, then nodded. "Hi."

Sideswipe chuckled. "See ya."

"See ya," the human mimicked.

Sideswipe rolled forward catching up with Sunstreaker who was looking over his shoulder with a smirk. "You trying for autographs or something?"

Sideswipe laughed aloud. "Yeah. That's me."

They picked up speed heading for the beach and a rave. They would speed around chasing each other, spar with their swords and wrestle. As they did, they would be aware of the mass of humans who were sitting or standing on the higher ground up from the beach watching. They just wouldn't care.

-0-Femme, Elder and Youngling Hospital, Metroplex District, Autobot City, Mars

Gypsy stood in the waiting room next to a med table that had been covered with a cloth. On it lying on a stretcher was the body of Commotion. He had been cleaned by friends and the brands put on his body with his genitors watching. It had been a heavy moment, but when the flag of Cybertron was lain over him, they all turned to walk to a waiting room for the few moments it would take to organize the march to the Basilica.

Dar and Bar sat on a couch, Chevron standing next to them. He would follow Prime who would lead the procession. Prime had been asked to do this as a courtesy, something that high castes often did if they were well placed back in the day. Even though the caste system was abolished, Optimus Prime had agreed. He waited on the plaza for the procession to come. He had only done this a couple of times before, mostly for friends who had died after he had become Prime. He had been called on it as well by the Council because they weren't high caste but he ignored the outcry.

Now the sun was up, the city stirring and the air field busy. As he waited Prowl arrived. "Hi. Are they ready?"

"Almost," Prime replied. "You don't have to go."

"I know. But I do. I don't want you in this without back up," Prowl said as the doors nearby opened. They turned to watch.

Chevron stepped out, a large picture of Commotion in his servos. He would carry it as he followed Prime to the Basilica. Behind him came the stretcher, the figure of Commotion covered by the flag of his people. They carried him to an open space, then shifted raising the stretcher to their shoulders. Behind them, walking with friends and family, the genitors appeared with Fenix and several others including the grim featured friends, Default, Kale and Gravity. Their genitors followed and as they did mechs and femmes began to appear from all directions.

The Iacon Order was there in force. They came toward the party, then waited. Chevron looked back, then turned to Optimus Prime. Nodding, he gave an encouraging look to the big mech. Prime nodded back, then turned to walk a slow measured step forward. Chevron followed, then the stretcher and family. Prowl joined that group which grew as the silent mechs and femmes standing around them began to follow.

Will Lennox waiting on a street corner getting ready to cross saw the procession. A solemn Optimus Prime was walking on the sidewalk heading down Metroplex Highway 1 as if heading for the Fortress. Behind him came a priest, a stretcher and an ever growing crowd. Prowl was among them and as they came closer, others joined from the Senior team.

Prime passed him without acknowledgement. The others followed, their steps measured, their features solemn. No one spoke. No one acknowledged anyone. Lennox stared upward at Chevron. The image on the picture he had seen before. It was the kid who died running toward them. This was a funeral.

:Epps, Graham. Come to the corner of Metro 1 and Sports Center Road. Come alone:

:Affirmative: both said over the link. Moments later, the two drove up followed by others who had seen the crowd passing nearby through the transparent dome of the habitat.

:What's up?: Graham asked as silent masses of mechs and the odd femme walked past them.

:Remember that kid who got killed in the shoot out? I think this is his funeral: Will said. :Optimus is leading the procession. I think I'm going to go too:

the others looked at him, then nodded. :Let's go: Graham said.

They did.

-0-TBC January 14, 2014 I almost didn't post this. FF was down a long while. Hugs tonight! edited 3-10-14