The Diego Diaries: Beach Head 2 (588)
-0-Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth
He sat at the console of Teletraan II. Plugged in, he began to make a discreet search, something that he as a combat instructor, multi-skilled soldier and former criminal was very skilled at doing without detection. Accessing human information without anyone detecting his presence was something they all found ridiculously easy to do and often did. Sideswipe was no exception.
His duty along with his brother was security this time around. There would be no Ops Center for either. However, he had taken Speedy's place for a few joors so that the youngling could finish some of his school work for college and he himself could sleuth. The youngling's genitors had plans for their sweet smart boy.
At the moment, Sideswipe was trolling through the Naval databases in America culling information about a Commander Cameron Frazer, USN. He was a careerist, something he had in common with Sideswipe. He was good at his job earning promotions right and left. Ditto. He was divorced, childless and married to the Navy. Best one out of three, Sideswipe thought.
When he had absorbed all that the Navy could provide, he began to search the databases of law enforcement and other promising agencies in the World Wide Web of Endless Trivia of Just About Everyone Everywhere. He found out many interesting things.
Cameron Frazer claimed American citizenship although his father was a French national, his mother American. They met in college and affaire d'amour ended up in a solid marriage, one son born in Paris and a career filled with travel and opportunity.
/... frag … a high caste …/ He considered that, then decided he didn't know much about what constituted a high caste-type human. He would have to read more.
Cameron had been a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis on senatorial appointment, had attended all the requisite private prep and officer schools all while earning a master's degree in business management.
/... fragger is a wise aft too …/
He had been fast tracked in his career, adjutant of this up and coming Captain, aide-de-camp of that swiftly rising Admiral … that he was fluent in French, English and Italian made him a valuable commodity and allowed him to serve in very nice postings around the world.
/... what's he doing running the business end of the Navy at Diego? …/ Sideswipe read on. /... I see … Diego is a prestigious posting now because of us … slag yeah! …/ He grinned, then continued.
Cameron Frazer had married a woman from a good family but there were no children. Apparently old hose monkey fires blanks Sideswipe thought with a malicious grin. The divorce was acrimonious.
Acrimonious. Violent? Disturbed?
He continued onward even as he put the idea of divorce, an untenable and unknown concept among his own kind out of his processor.
They were divorced and he disappeared into his career, his appointment to the head administrative post for naval personnel short of a commandant position here at Diego coming shortly afterward. Apparently, he had a few 'rabbis'* who furthered him in his career, Sideswipe thought. Now he was here. He was with Carrie Field. He was a slagger. There had to be a record of violence with this fragger he thought for her to feel the way she does around him. He continued.
He dug in deep looking through all of the cities and municipalities where Frazer had lived growing up. He checked out his school. Each time he hit a sealed record at any point in Frazer's life, he opened it. When he was finished, he knew Frazer well. Rising, unplugging, he gave way to Speedy with a nod. Rolling to the door, he exited.
-0-Autobot City, Mars
Ratchet sat at his desk going through data as Bluestreak walked in to sit on the couch by the window. "Hello, Sunshine. What's up?"
"Nothing really," Bluestreak said. "I'm off duty for a few. The twins are off world. Sideswipe seems to be upset about something. Has he talked to you?"
Ratchet shrugged. "No. What's upsetting him?"
"I don't know but his energy changed right after he got to Diego."
Ratchet nodded. "Take a stroll."
"What?" Blue asked with confusion.
"Go to Diego, my little Padwan. Go see what's up?" Ratchet said with a grin.
"Come with," Blue said with a grin of his own. "Go and tweak something."
"Tweak?" Ratchet asked with a smirk.
"Sure," Blue said rising. "You can say you're there for a good reason even if its a lie. Come."
Ratchet considered his work for a split nano second, then stood up. "Okay," he said with a brilliant smile.
Bluestreak snorted, then grabbed Ratchet's arm. "Come on. Sideswipe will talk to you even if he doesn't talk to me." They turned and walked out the door.
-0-Diego Garcia Bridge Room, Ops Center, Autobot Embassy, Indian Ocean, Earth
They stepped off, then walked to the door after trading slag with the duty officer. Heading upward to the main floor, they entered the rec room where the real slag was stored. Back and forth, framed in hoots and smirks, they stood a moment 'chatting'.
"Where's Sideswipe?" Bluestreak asked at last.
"Ops Center last time I saw him," Smokey said. He was here for muscle as well. "Uh, Ratchet? Can I talk to you before you go back?"
Ratchet nodded. "Sure." He then turned to follow Bluestreak across the room to the Ops Center. Walking inside, they didn't see him in the room. Pausing beside Speedy, Blue glanced around again. "Where's Sideswipe, Speedy?" he asked.
"He was here a moment ago," Speedy replied. "I had to do something and he sat in for me."
Ratchet nodded, then turned to the humans sitting at their stations on a table top nearby. "Did you two see where he went?"
"He went out, Ratchet," one of them said. "He left about ten minutes ago."
Ratchet nodded. "Thank you, Marty." He looked at Blue. "Onward and out."
Blue smirked, then nodded. The two walked to the door disappearing outside once more.
-0-Outside on the prowl
It was warm, the breeze light. All felt enormously good to him even though his thoughts were filled with a growing sense of aggravation. He rolled along the tarmac heading for the Army and Air Force Administration buildings that were part of the group housing the local N.E.S.T. contingent. Greeting those who waved, chatting with those who paused to talk, most of them femmes, he made his way.
He rolled between the buildings checking the offices. Andrew Settles, the adjutant to Colonel Fulton glanced up from his desk spotting Sideswipe as he rolled slowly past. Rising, heading for the door that led to the outside stairway, he opened it and stepped out. "Sideswipe!"
The big mechanism paused, then turned to come back. "Andrew."
"What's up, Sideswipe?" Andrew asked. "Everyone is still on Mars."
Sideswipe nodded. "I am trying to find out about a human named Cameron Frazer. Do you know him?"
Andrew considered things a moment, then nodded. "I do. I don't care for him. He has a regulation book stuck up his ass. Why?"
Sideswipe grinned. "A mutual friend made me aware of him. I don't like how he's treating her."
Andrew looked at Sideswipe a moment. He and the twins got along famously. Andrew loved Lamborghinis, Bluestreak, going to Mars to hang out and their awesome prowess. He also liked them. Since most humans were afraid of the pair and he wasn't, they returned the friendship. Andrew Settles was one of the few humans that both actually truly liked. He was a good man and soldier in their estimation. "I heard stories," he said. "Nothing firm. I heard that he's controlling and mean."
Sideswipe nodded grimly. "I checked him out. He's got a juvenile record and he's a high caste fragger."
"Wouldn't surprise me. Is he bothering a femme?" Andrew asked grimly, falling into Cybertronian vernacular out of habit in their company.
"I think he is," Sideswipe said. "What is the deal with your military not taking care of this slag? Frag. I would squeeze him like a tomato if I was in charge."
"I would help you, Sideswipe," Andrew said nodding. "I don't know. I don't like it. Most of us don't. Your guess is as good as mine."
Sideswipe nodded. "Fulton needs to get on it. I'm going to the docks and look around. If you hear an explosion, ignore it." He grinned, then winked before turning to roll onward toward the big naval installations nearby.
"Oh, oh," Andrew said to no one in particular.
-0-At the docks
Sideswipe stood nearby staring at the busy berth area of the local fleet. There were American and British naval vessels, sailors and all the related infrastructure both fixed and ambulatory that one would expect. Cybertronians usually didn't go to this part of the base, their greatest comfort level expended in the company of N.E.S.T soldiers and each other.
Beyond him, the docks were relatively busy with sailors and their officers coming and going. Officers of the Day were on duty at the top of each gang plank as small vehicles sped here and there carrying passengers and cargo alike. He scanned the area, set his sensors, then rolled slowly forward. As he did, the entire area became aware of him, a most unusual sight and paused to watch.
The sea sparkled with a billion diamond points of light on its deeply blue surface. It blended with the sky on the horizon. It was beautiful, a deceptive background to what Sideswipe was sure to be something more deeply sinister. He passed hummers, trucks, groups of humans, ships and their moorings. He rolled forward carefully until he was halfway down the ship lineup. He found the one he wanted, then turned to the Officer of the Day. "I want to see Frazer."
The Officer of the Day looked up at Sideswipe, his awe of the big mechanism clear to see on his face. "Sir, I … Commander Frazer?"
Sideswipe nodded. "That one."
The officer stared at him a moment along with the other sailors and two Marines who were with him. "Sir, you usually don't come down here. What is your business? I have to ask," he said almost apologetically.
Sideswipe nodded. "I have personal business with Commander Frazer. Private business."
The officer looked at Sideswipe, then turned to the phone on the podium next to him. He turned his back to Sideswipe and talked softly, but Sideswipe could hear him clearly anyway. "Sir, I need to speak to Commander Frazer. This is Officer of the Day Mahan." There was a pause, then he talked again. "Sir, there is an Autobot out here looking to speak to you." Pause. "I think its Sideswipe, the red and black twin." Pause. "Yes, sir."
The Officer of the Day put the phone down, then turned to stare upward at Sideswipe. "Sir, Commander Frazer declines to meet with you. He is occupied with other things." The youngster looked at Sideswipe nervously. "Those were his words, sir."
Sideswipe nodded. "Sounds like him." Sideswipe looked at the ship, a huge cruiser with turrets and menace written large on its gray frame. "Maybe I should go visit him then," he said looking down at the OD.
That individual became ashen faced at the possibilities. "Sir, I would respectfully suggest that you don't do that. Sir."
Sideswipe looked at the youngster, then grinned slightly. "Do you think I might capsize the ship?"
The OD flustered a moment, then looked around himself. "Uh, you are large."
"I am," Sideswipe said thoroughly enjoying himself. "I could just rip the top off that tub and rummage around inside instead if you think its a better idea. I am nothing if not flexible."
"Uh, sir … I'm going to have to alert the Shore Patrol and the base commandant if you do. I would hope you won't. Sir." He stared up at Sideswipe with a scared expression. The humans around him looked worried too as a couple of the marines nervously gripped their rifles.
-0-TBC January 16, 2014 edited 3-10-14
NOTES: Cops refer to their mentors as 'rabbis' meaning counselors and helpers. Now you know some new slang. :D:D:D