The Diego Diaries: Fillip (590) NOTE ON BOTTOM ABOUT SIDESWIPE :D edited
-0-At the N.E.S.T. Habitat, Autobot City, Mars
Ratchet watched the hatch slide back as he waited in the airlock. When it was high enough for him, he slipped under it entering the huge room where they had their conversations. Nodding to the officer of the day, Ratchet knelt down on the floor. "Bobby, could you get General Morshower and Colonel Fulton for me please?"
He nodded. "Sure, Ratchet," then walked out the door to do so.
Glenn Morshower and John Fulton entered the big room, then paused. "Hi, Ratchet. What's up?" Morshower asked.
"We have a problem. Sideswipe is detailed to Diego. He met a femme there that appears to be in an abusive relationship with a naval officer. He wanted to talk to that mech but wasn't allowed. He did however frag off the commander of a ship. The mech he wanted was on it and the commander wouldn't allow him off to speak. I expect that you will get complaints about it."
Morshower glanced at Fulton, then back to Ratchet. "I expect we will."
"What concerns me is simple. If this femme is in an abusive relationship why is it allowed?" Ratchet asked.
"It's not allowed, Ratchet," Fulton replied.
"I did some research on the way over here and I think you need to study this problem among the ranks further, John," Ratchet replied.
They were both silent a moment, then Morshower nodded. "You're right. Where is Sideswipe?"
"Diego," Ratchet replied. "He's purely upset about this. I would suggest that you move on it. I trust Sideswipe but he comes from a town where there wasn't any justice unless you made your own. You do get the meaning don't you?"
Morshower nodded. "I do. Thank you, Ratchet."
Ratchet nodded, then stood. "I have to go do something but I wouldn't wait. I also don't want poor relations with the Navy. We didn't exactly part well, the Captain and me. Sorry. I am an ada too." With that, he turned and walked to the airlock.
Morshower and Fulton watched him go, then turned as one to go to the other airlock where segways were stored. They entered it and left heading for the Fortress and the bridge to Diego Garcia.
-0-Earth
They stepped off the platform in the Embassy pausing to chat with the operator. They walked silently through the Embassy still clad in survival gear to the waiting hummer outside. Climbing inside, Andrew Settles drove the vehicle down the wide main road of the base heading for the docks nearby.
-0-Standing on a hillock watching the docks nearby
Sideswipe stood on a sand mound staring at the ships berthed several miles away. His optics could read print a hundred miles away so scrutinizing activity on the wharfs and in the bustle of the naval station was no problem. He spotted the hummer with Morshower and Fulton buzzing along to the USS Gonzalez. Considering that, he waited. He was either in deep shit or he wasn't. At the moment, he didn't care.
-0-On the USS Gonzalez
Morshower considered the officer standing at attention before him. He was sitting in the officer's lounge with Fulton, Settles and Captain Cardinelli. Cameron Frazer's file had been scrutinized by e-mail from the Pentagon in America over the encrypted phones that Morshower and Fulton carried as major figures in Autobot-Human military alliance. It was silent and tense.
"Commander Frazer, I would like to know what you did to provoke the need for a conversation with Autobot Sideswipe," Morshower said in his low slow Texas tone.
"Sir, I did nothing to provoke a conversation. I am as in the dark about why he would want to speak to me as you are," Frazer said. He stood at attention having not been given the opportunity to stand down. He didn't betray a thing even though he was worried. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Commandant of the Global N.E.S.T.-Autobot Military Command and the base commandant, Colonel John Fulton were peeved. It wasn't the normal Friday for him.
"Is that so? I have known Sideswipe for seven years. Both of us have. He is not given to inviting himself to the ball without a reason. I would appreciate you being truthful with us because I assure you that I will get to the bottom of this incident," Morshower said quietly. His resolve was steely.
"I have had only one contact with him on a personal level, sir. I drove to the Embassy to pick up Captain Carrie Field. It was an innocuous moment. I really can't figure out what this means," Frazer said, his eyes forward, his posture stiff and correct.
"You are in a relationship with Captain Field," Morshower said.
"Sir, Captain Field and I are friends."
"Are you abusing Captain Field in any manner whatsoever?" Morshower asked, his voice becoming more dark with the question.
"Permission to speak freely, sir," Frazer asked.
"Granted," Morshower responded.
"With all due respect, sir, my private life is my own. As for any accusations of abusing Captain Field or anyone else, I deny it fully."
"I am opening an investigation into this matter not only for the fact that it transgresses on the relationship with the Autobots, but because I won't tolerate any abuse of any officer by another in my Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines. Captain Field is eligible by her length of service for a sabbatical and she will be leaving today to go home for a while. You are forbidden on penalty of courts martial to have contact with her until the investigation is completed. I hope you understand my resolve on this issue."
Frazer looked at Morshower, then stood at attention again. "Yes, sir."
"You are dismissed, Frazer," Morshower said.
He came to attention, then exited the room. It was silent a moment, then Morshower looked at Cardinelli. "I want you to understand a few things about the bots. They have another way of doing things. Some of them like Sideswipe make an effort to understand us. But there are nuances in our character and behavior that they haven't learned or don't get. The alliance is critical for our planet's survival. I don't expect you to like the bots but I do expect you to seek advice the next time something like this happens. It could have gone badly and understand me … you would be the one who would lose in an encounter with a warrior like Sideswipe. I hope I have made my point, Captain."
Cardinelli nodded. "Yes, sir."
Morshower rose along with Fulton. "Then for now, we have a stand off. I am going to instituting some changes in the way our military handles such things. I want zero tolerance for bullying, verbal abuse or any form of violence against our soldiers, sailors, air men and women and marines. We have dropped the ball. Utterly. We will fix that now. Understand?"
Cardinelli stood up and nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Good," Morshower said. "We have meetings on Mars, then we will be back. I have given orders for things to begin to bring about a framework and process to ensure that abuse of our men and women ends now. Commander Frazer will be transferred off Diego when the investigation is completed and if it finds that he is guilty of misconduct in any manner, he will not only be prosecuted for it, he will lose his career." Morshower turned, then walked out the hatch followed by John Fulton.
Cardinelli stared at the doorway, then walked to the phone nearby. He dialed a number, then waited.
"Hello."
"Cam, they just left. They are investigating what happened here. Is there something you aren't telling me?" Cardinelli asked.
There was silence, then he spoke. "No, there isn't."
"Good. You are going to be investigated, then transferred off Diego. If they find you did something, you are going to be prosecuted, then stripped of your career. You better be telling me the truth."
"You are my oldest friend," Frazer said. "I am telling you the truth."
Cardinelli was silent a moment, then sighed. "Alright. I have to go, Cam."
"Alright. Thanks for the intel," Frazer said. Then the line went dead.
Cardinelli stood a moment with the phone in his hand. Then he put it down. Frazer was trouble he thought. Friends or not, Cardinelli decided to put that kryptonite down. Frazer would not be welcome on his ship again. He turned to walk out of the lounge and spend the afternoon on the bridge.
-0-Outside on the dock
Morshower watched the whirl of activity as he stood beside the hummer. Then he took his phone and called the Embassy.
"Speedy here, General. What can I do for you?" a youthful voice replied.
"Speedy, can you locate Sideswipe on the island? I would like to see him," Morshower said.
There was a pause, then the voice was back. "He's about three miles west of you, General. He's standing on a sand dune near the ocean. Go back the way you came, turn into the access recess two point nine miles from here and he will be there."
"Thank you, son," Morshower said. He nodded at the others, then climbed into the hummer. They were on their way in no time.
-0-Sideswipe
He stood on the sand dune waiting for the hummer which he knew was coming for him. Morshower, Fulton and Settles were driving his way. He stood absorbing the sunlight watching the port as he did. When the hummer pulled into the turnout space and parked, the three got out, then walked over the drifting edge of sand to where he was standing. He didn't look at them. He stared fixed at the docks three miles away.
Morshower watched the big mech as he came toward him. Sideswipe was one of his favorite bots. He liked most if not all of them. Jolt was a favorite along with the senior bots. But he liked the ranks too. The twins were admired by nearly everyone who worked with them but everyone knew they could be prickly sometimes. One of those times was now. He paused, then considered his words. "Sideswipe, I would like to talk to you."
Sideswipe considered that, then looked down turning slightly. He was standing on his peds, his blade tips flashing in the sunlight as they peeped out of his sheaths. He never fully retracted them. Neither did Sunstreaker. That way, he could fight faster than not. Only when he was with his children did he pull them completely out of sight. "General."
"I heard about your visit to the docks." Morshower couldn't read Sideswipe's expression today. The big mech was handsome in a way that was hard to quantify. His format was lethal. His face was beautiful. All around for Morshower, Sideswipe was a construction of considerable perfection. He was also dangerous. "I would like you to tell to me what you wanted to tell Frazer. I am here to listen to you."
Sideswipe looked at the three men, men he respected. Men whom he had trusted. The turmoil of his failure on objective thus far tainted the view. "I wanted to tell him to leave Carrie Field alone. He's causing her harm and upset. I don't like it. No one bothers a femme around me. Not femmes. Not children. I don't like it, General."
"I don't either," Morshower agreed. "Did she tell you?"
"Not directly, no. I can read energy, General. I am capable of knowing things someone hides. I am equipped for special ops. I have added upgrades and tech that aids me in combat over the eons. I can tell things to a high degree. We have ways of knowing things without you opening your mouth. She's afraid of him. She fears him. I don't like it."
"I have sent her home on sabbatical while I investigate this matter," Morshower said. "She is going to be at home and Frazer will be here. If he has harmed her in any way, he will face charges and discharge."
"She leaves and he stays. She flies choppers. She flies," Sideswipe said. "Not many femmes do the combat jobs. How does this help her beyond removing her from this fragger? What about her career if she still wants it?"
"She will have it. But she won't have the abuse," Fulton said.
"I don't get it," Sideswipe said. "We don't have this among our own. Maybe our bonds are different. We can't hide from each other but nothing about Blue makes him less to me to the point where I can hurt him and feel like a mech. I want Carrie Field safe because she is a good human. I don't like too many humans. I like her."
"I want her safe too," Morshower said. "She will be home getting attention to her condition while we take care of this here."
"What condition?" Sideswipe said.
"Sometimes when a person is in an abusive relationship, they lose the ability to make good decisions about their situation. She can get help at home and we will offer it to her," Fulton said.
He considered the remarks, nothing about them resonating with him. He had always defended himself, sometimes against great odds. Not being able to get away from harm was something only the dead mastered. "I don't like this man, Colonel. He doesn't belong in the military," Sideswipe said. "We have to be united. All must be one."
Morshower nodded. "I agree," he said. "I just want to be right with you and the alliance. I want you to know that we take care of our own."
Sideswipe looked at him, then glanced at sea. "Save her from this and we will be good," Sideswipe said. "I don't know how to do it. On Cybertron, we had no help when things went wrong. The government was not our friend. If there was going to be judgment, we had to seek it our own way. I don't know how to help her but if you don't, I will."
Morshower looked at Sideswipe for a moment, then nodded. "It's already done, Sideswipe."
He nodded, then turned transforming his peds. He sped up the hill and disappeared around a row of palm trees. They watched him go, then entered the hummer. They drove back to the base administration office again.
-0-At the tarmac
He rolled up slowing as he got close. Stopping on the edge of the tarmac, he watched a line of people boarding a Globemaster transport plane to leave Diego. She was there standing in line to leave. Glancing over her shoulder, she paused. She whispered to another, handing him her gear. Turning, she began to jog to where he was. He moved up, slowing, then knelt. "Carrie Field," Sideswipe said in a soft voice.
She looked at him. "Sideswipe. I'm being put on sabbatical. I'm going home for a while."
Sideswipe nodded. "I heard. You will be safe there. You can get better there. I don't know how you do it but I know you will be okay."
She looked at him, then moved forward hugging his servo. "I don't know what I feel, Sideswipe but something tells me I owe you one."
Sideswipe grinned. "Just tell me where you live and I'll visit you. I can take you for another mad ride."
She grinned. "I'd like that." They stared at each other a moment, then she looked at the plane nearby. "I have to go."
Sideswipe nodded. "Take care. Until all are one, Carrie Field."
She looked at him, then nodded. "I hope so, Sideswipe. I'll see you."
"Count on it," Sideswipe said nodding.
"Did you make this happen?" she asked pausing again to turn to look at him.
He shook his helm. "No. Morshower did."
She nodded. "Okay," she said. She stared at him, then nodded again. Turning, she walked to the plane and climbed the stairs. Pausing at the top, she waved then entered.
Sideswipe waved back as he stood on the fringes. He would watch the plane until it left the range of his sight. He would return to the Embassy unsettled.
-0-TBC January 17, 2014
NOTE: I love the notes in the reviews. All of them are wonderful. I know some people don't want constructive criticism of their writing or they have offense when people say what they want or see about a story. That has never been my problem. You never grow if you don't know. Readers are critical to an author's growth. Never feel hesitant about your review, unless of course they sort of run … "HEY COW! GET OFF THE INTERNET! YOU'RE RUINING MY CHILDHOOD!" :D:D:D
Sideswipe: He is part of one of the pillars of this story right now. This is a clash of two world views. Both groups work together and the bots seem very familiar in the way they live, their societal organization, their hopes, dreams and even parts of their culture. But they aren't. They are aliens.
For Sideswipe, the answer is simple to this problem. He likes the femmes, feels real friendship and concern for them and has what I have come to believe is the consensus opinion of most of this mech society … they like the gender distinction even if they don't really understand it. The femmes are loved, liked and they are military just like the Autobots. They are tough, good, they like the bots and their kids and aren't squeamish about them or their society.
Sideswipe approached the problem of Carrie Field with a Cybertronian low caste understanding. He doesn't know about the complexities of the human race and how what they do to each other affects each other. Hence, his current conundrum. The clash of world views, of perceptions and culture is going to be a big part of this story and this is part of that. He has a Cybertronian warrior point of view and acts on it. That isn't one that understands the nuances of human behavior and interaction. I like putting two different understandings together to see what happens.
If you feel anything triggering bad memories, skip the next few and it will be fine with me. I don't want to hurt anyone with the topics of this story. I just find them fascinating and worth a look from a totally different point of view.
Keep the reviews coming if you have something to say. You will always be welcome here. -Me, tip tapping away