The Diego Diaries: Go (615)
-0-Out there
He heard the calls for some time, one a singular signal and one with another voice entwined. They had changed their direction turning into the signal to follow it to a far away unknown place. They were privateers … pirates. He had a terrible reputation for marauding and killing. His hatred was for any Cybertronian. Woe be it for them if they ever crossed his path. There would be nothing left of them to show that they had ever existed if they did.
His format was feline, all vicious claws and terrible fangs. He was capable of fighting big formats to the death and he was afraid of nothing. His group was ruthless in a way many others could only dream of being. They were on their way to the sector where the signal originated. Any who crossed their paths, Cybertronian or not would not survive to tell the tale.
-0-Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean, Earth
They occupied the far side of the open tarmac that separated the Embassy from the rest of the base. Anyone who had been here very long knew where the invisible line was between the Embassy and the base that was the difference between being in the brig or not. Every possible place to sit was occupied as humans watched the embassy. There were women and men chatting and lounging expectantly from the services of more than five nations.
Outside the reconstructed Embassy with the giant Aubobrand on the open doors there were no Autobots. The humans could see them inside sitting at tables chatting and eating something that looked oddly enough like human donuts. There were individuals walking here and there inside apparently on duty even as down the tarmac alien ships were coming and going. Three Aerialbots had taken up their usual residence here sharing out a hangar farther down field from them.
Then bots came out.
-0-Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars
Prowl and Paragon looked at the datapad watching as new information updated the situation beyond their sphere of influence. There were a number of things coming toward them that were being tracked. There were the two migrations which were coming into focus. One was passing through the sectors held by Cyclonus and Slacker. Now that they had a fortress in the area thanks to Paragon's surrender, that group would be easier to police through those still yet unknown waters.
The main migration trail was still clear of menace. It could be disturbed by Soundwave but that individual had been silent for some time. There were always wild cards but they hadn't shown themselves yet. It was a good thing because three new things were being monitored as well.
First, the situation at Gliese 581 g were of the utmost importance. That problem was priority one. If the Decepticons had even the smallest clue of what it held in its rocky heart it would change the course of the war escalating it into a death spiral that couldn't be stopped. The second problem was the continual probing of their perimeter space by what had been determined to be the aliens of earlier encounters and their acid monsters. Seekers had been flying in long range sweeps in their vicinity but no contact had been made.
The third problem was echoes of ships beyond Cyclonus, Cybertronian signals that were picked up on the deep space array that been linked on Gliese 581 g to the rest of their sensor systems. That had deepened their reach, making intel about Cybertron and the Empire possible at some point.
"This is priority," Prowl said pointing out a number of signals on the map to Paragon.
He nodded. "I agree. I would think that this," he said pointing at the echoes that had begun to show up signaling deep space attention by someone, "could be privateers or breakaway Decepticon battle groups going their way. I would suggest that they are the downside of Prime's call."
Prowl nodded. "I concur," he said as they spent the rest of their shift working out the colony's response to new threats.
-0-Diego
The two walked out, then paused. There were a lot of humans sitting around staring at them. Jolt glanced at Smokey. "Interesting."
"Weird," Smokey said nodding. "What now?"
"I don't know. Maybe we go to the beach."
"And do what?"
"I don't know. Swim? Play catch?" Jolt asked.
"Do you have a ball?" Smokey asked as he stared at the humans who were taking his picture while they talked about him, pointing as they always did.
"I can get one," Jolt said with a grin.
Smokey nodded as he stared nearly transfixed by the attention. Part of him was appalled like a specimen in a zoo but another part of him was totally good with the whole thing. Young and green as he was, getting attention like this was AWESOME!
Jolt returned with a ball in his servo. "Come on. Let's play catch." He rapped Smokey on the arm, then turned heading off to the beach through the wide gate in the fence. It had been added a while back to allow vehicular access for Cybertronian nationals.
Smokey followed.
So did all the humans.
-0-Gliese 581 g
The camp was quiet as night settled. The light from Gliese 581 was as bright as ever but the alpha crew stood down. Kup and Hercy sat in one of the rec rooms of Phobos eating their meal as the alpha crew entered. Drift walked to their table and sat.
"You're off?" Kup asked as he sipping his 'tea'.
Drift nodded. "I am," he said. "When do you two go on?"
"We don't. We supervise." Hercy refilled his glass again. "Salute." He downed it.
Drift glanced over his shoulder as Springer walked into the room. He came to their table to sit. "What's up?"
"These slaggers don't do shifts. They supervise," Drift replied.
"Is that so?" Springer said as he put up his peds. "Lazy afts. We're going to be here a while. We expect you to pull your weight."
"I ALWAYS HAVE, YOUNGLING! Mech can take a break once in a while to let you younglings have a chance to learn and improve," Hercy said. "Can't hog the spotlight. How will you ever learn?"
"That's my thoughts exactly," Kup said as he stared at the stogie in his servo. He bit down on it again and grinned. "Never truer thoughts ever spoken. Listen to your elders."
"Okay, grandpa," Springer said with a smile.
"What he said," Drift replied.
Drift and Springer would bring dessert promptly to both.
With a smile.
-0-Diego
They stood on the beach tossing the Cybertronian football back and forth. It was huge, 300 pounds of smooth steel with a handle for passing or carrying by players. They tossed it easily, this ball that was taller than a grown human male standing next to it. It was white with the crest of Cybertron and the Primes stamped on its sides.
Back and forth, the ball flew as the two tried to outdo the other. Lining the road side of the stretch of beach where the two played, dozens upon dozens of humans stood or sat as they all watched. Cameras both still and video took in the action as the strangest ball players worked out. As they did a femme stepped down from the slight incline to walk toward them.
Jolt paused, then held the ball waiting for the human to reach him. He grinned. "Aisha Mohammed. Hi."
"Hi, Jolt. Who is this new mech?" she asked with a smile. She had finished shift, then walked to the beach to run. Spying the mass of spectators, she walked through the crowd heading for the bots that she had loved from day one to find out who the new bots were.
"This is Smokey. He's the grandson of Smokescreen," Jolt said.
Aisha smiled. "No kidding?"
"Nope," Jolt said with a grin. "His ada is Devcon. Do you know about him?"
"I heard. He's a kick ass bounty hunter and Autobot tracker," Aisha said. "Jessie met him. Your grandada is kick ass."
Smokey paused to get the meaning, then nodded. "He is."
"He's kicking Smokey's ass right now," Jolt said with a grin. He dodged Smokey's fist. "His family invoked."
"Oh shit. No kidding?" Aisha asked staring upward with sympathy. "That sucks."
Smokey looked at her with surprise. "It does. How do you know?"
"Aisha is one of the military femmes that were friends from the beginning," Jolt replied. "She's one of us."
Aisha basked in the warmth of that for a moment, then grinned. "You are going to be on youtube by midnight. Give them a show."
Jolt nodded. "I suppose we should. How about you, sunshine?"
Smokey glared at him a moment. "Bring it!"
Aisha turned and ran backwards out of the way. "PLAY BALL!" she said just as the two cut loose.
Jolt flung the ball at Smokey who leaped to catch it. Back and forth, running this way and that, they demonstrated in spite of themselves the formidable abilities that they possessed. Cameras and videos would be constant as they did.
Aisha stood to one side as the mayhem continued. A sailor glanced at her. "You know them?"
"Yeah. I'm Cybertronian too," she said with a grin.
"What are you talking about?" he asked with a double take.
She looked at him, then shrugged. "I'm Cybertronian too. Ask them."
The sailor and his two friends stared at her, then looked at the two bots thundering around the beach nearby. "Them?" he asked.
"Who else?" Aisha replied, then grinned. "You aren't afraid of them are you?"
The sailors stared at her, then the two bots who were slamming into each other trying to take the ball. Down the beach Speedy and another Home Guard mech newly arrived, Buddi were walking toward the pair, grins on their faces. "You want us to just walk over there and ask them? Seriously?"
"Sure. Unless of course you're scared," Aisha asked as she folded her arms over her chest. She was shorter than all of them including the rest of the men around them who watched the group with growing interest.
"They'll step on us. Look at them. They're kicking the shit out of each other," the sailor said.
"They playing 'kill the carrier'," she said glancing at the bots who now had two to a side. They clashed as Speedy and Buddi tried to take the ball from Smokey who was defended by Jolt. "They use proximity sensors. They will know you're there. Go and ask them. They'll tell you."
"Fuck that!" the sailor said as the sounds of cars having headers rang out.
"Okay. I'll do it," Aisha said as she turned to calmly walk toward the clash.
"DON'T GO OUT THERE! YOU'LL GET KILLED!" the sailor cried out. Everyone on the beach paused to watch with growing alarm as Aisha crossed the sand.
Jolt who had been listening to her conversation grinned, then winked at the others. He leaped, then landed on Speedy as the two fell to the ground. It was a jolt hard enough to make everyone bounce including Aisha who was used to their horseplay. She stood hands on hips watching the two roll around. Then Jolt zapped Speedy who yelped. "Hi, Aisha. What's up?" Jolt asked as he sat straddling the civilian youngling who had the ball in his servos. Everyone turned to stare down at the smirking human femme.
"I told the sailors that I was Cybertronian. I don't think they believed me," she said with a grin.
Four pairs of Cybertronian optics turned to the crowd of humans watching with increasing wariness. "Which ones, Aisha?" Jolt asked.
She turned and pointed out the little group who looked at her with alarm. Jolt rose, then moved closer kneeling before them. Leaning in close to them, he grinned slightly. "Aisha is Cybertronian. She, other femmes and the N.E.S.T. soldiers are Cybertronian. Any questions?"
They looked at him, then each other. "No," the sailor managed.
"Good." Jolt grinned, then rose. "What's up with you guys? Don't you have games of your own?"
"Yours are better," the sailor said.
Jolt chuckled, then glanced at the others who were watching the exchange. "I think I agree. I saw your Super Bowl. Seattle kicked the slag out of Denver. What a sad exercise."
The sailors, some of whom showed but didn't voice their affront of their hometown moved closer. "It was sorta sad. We did watch your games. They were awesome. Are any of you players?"
Smokey knelt looking at the humans as Jolt held out his servo. Aisha sat on it and was elevated. She leaned against a digit with a grin. "I'm going to play for Praxus in the league expansion next season."
"I lost my shirt beating on Kaon. The twins rule," a marine said.
"Those two? Praxus slagged them to the Pit," Smokey said. "Praxus is the league champion … the WORLD CHAMPIONS!"
"For now," Jolt said standing up with Aisha held gently in his servo. "Next year all bets are off. Prowl won't be able to cheat and stock the team with ringers."
"Prowl? What are you talking about?" Smokey said rising to stand as well.
"He stacked the team," Jolt said with a smirk. "Really, you need to keep up."
"Frag that! I'm going to be on the team. I'm going to be an offensive wing," Smokey said jerking the ball out of Speedy's servos. "IT'S MY DESTINY!"
Jolt looked at Aisha who looked at him. Then both snickered. "From his lips to Primus's audials," she said.
"That's what its going to take next time," Jolt said as he felt the burn of Polyhex's loss once more. He looked at the humans again. "Aisha is one of us. She's Cybertronian. End of discussion." He set her gently down. "Now watch me kick Smokey's aft into the ozone."
"YOU CAN TRY!" Smokey said as he slapped Speedy's arm. "You're on my team."
Aisha moved back to the sidelines with the others and sat on a piece of drift wood as four youngling mechs from another planet played 'kill the carrier' to the delight of everyone watching on the shores of an entirely different world.
-0-TBC February 8, 2014
NOTE: WOW! WHAT A WIND STORM! Usually when this happens there is a blizzard that turns into a white out. We aren't having much of a winter this year so there was only a terrible windstorm that lasted about two days. Trees bit the dust along with power outages. Things are fine now. I was sitting here typing this when outside my window in the blue blue sky I could see a fully mature bald eagle flying in circles looking for food on the ground. If they have a white head and tail, they are over five years old. :D:D:D I'M BACK! I will be typing madly for the rest of the day. I feel like I'm having withdrawal when I don't post everyday. TAKE CARE OUT THERE, MY DARLINGS! Hugs... Me