The Diego Diaries: New 11 (635)
-0-At the Basilica
Prime walked down the steps, Prowl by his side. The family who were enveloped by the Elite Guardsmen followed as the crowd began to move. They turned and began to follow Prime back to the City and the festivities that would last all day. Given that a Primal sparkling was as rare as hen's teeth, a party was the logical extension of the event. Parties were planned all over the colony followed by fireworks. There were two such infants in the colony now and most took it as a good sign from Primus that this place would stand the weather no matter how difficult and prolonged.
Given that the infant would not survive the touch of the multitudes, a web link on the Community Bulletin Board would carry the well wishes of all. The walk back with Prime would take a bit of time but in the end many would peel off to go to the Tri-Cities and to Terra and its hubs. As the crowd thinned the humans made better progress following the mass of Hu-An who walked along talking together.
Larc was making her way to Prime, moving to the side of the road to pass the greatest bulk of the crowd. They nodded, many pausing to allow her passage. She was their chieftain, their leader and a great ally and friend of Cybertron. She and her people were highly respected among the civilians and military of the colony. When she reached him, she fell into step.
Optimus looked down, then grinned. :Good morning: he said.
:Good morning, Optimus: Larc replied through a speech device attached to her throat. The thin atmosphere didn't allow for good communications outside of their habitat so they applied their own tech to solve that problem. They were a band device around their neck, one that heard the words spoken, then transmitted them through the comm system that the Cybertronians used themselves. An ear piece that was small enough to be unseen clipped to her long ears allowing her to hear in return what everyone else said. :We congratulate you and your family on the good fortune of your child:
:Thank you: Prime replied. :You have increased as well and for that we are very happy. We shall both continue into the future when that happens:
Larc nodded. :We must do that. The universe needs our presence:
Prime nodded. They chatted together as they walked back to The City where they would part, each going their own way. The Hu-An would continue to work their lush gardens which were a green oasis in the bland dessicated landscape of Mars. They would build new habitations even as they worked to finalize the plan to expand their habitat. They would need the room. Four more infants were on their way.
-0-On the air field
Omega stood at the edge of town returned from the funeral. He surveyed the scene at the military air field. Half a dozen big vessels would stand out heading for the migration which would cross dangerous and now uncertain territory. They would pass through space that was now seemingly swarming with bad actors … pirates, renegade 'Cons and other vermin. That didn't count Slacker's raiders and Cyclonus. Among the vermin were the echoes of the organics and their acid monsters. Something in his spark and great years told him that this would be a shooting mission. He turned to walk toward his siblings and the Aerialbots standing nearby with Astrotrain.
"I am concerned about this mission," Omega said as he paused before them. "I am concerned there will be shooting and our helpless people will be caught in the crossfire."
Kappa nodded. "As am I. But we have bridges, brother. We can come at a moment's notice."
Swoop who sat on her shoulder like a deformed parrot nodded. "We can come."
Kappa smiled, then rubbed his little ped. "You are brave but I won't risk you."
He looked at Kappa, then grinned slightly. "You love Swoop?"
She grinned. "I love Swoop."
He looked at her, then smiled. Looking down at the ground, he spotted his siblings. "KAPPA LOVES SWOOP! KAPPA SAID SO!"
The Dinobots who were waiting on the ground with ill grace looked up.
Grimlock stared at her. "Kappa? You love Swoop?"
She grinned. "I do."
"Do you love me, Grimlock? I love Kappa too," he said.
She chuckled. "I love Grimlock when he behaves."
"You don't love me. No one loves Slag," he said with a degree of satisfaction. "Slag loves no one. Slag loves to fight."
"Slag fights good," Snarl said. "Slag fights almost as good as me."
Slag looked at Snarl, then frowned. "Slag fights better than Snarl."
Snarl punched Slag's face dropping him on his butt. "Snarl fights better than Slag."
Slag jumped up and landed on Snarl, the two rolling around on the ground punching each other with gusto. Swoop looked at them, then Kappa. "Do you want to stop them?" he asked.
"Not yet," she said as the group watched them thrash each other.
"Frag yeah," Xantium said with a grin.
They would fight for about five minutes, then big servos would separate them. They would be in 'time out' in the vast holds of the big mechanisms that held responsibility for them, then they would start all over again. It would be a normal moment in the abnormal life of the 'boy band of the Autobots', the Dinobots of Mars.
-0-Around the city having parties
Ratchet sat by the window watching the family gathering to sit down for lunch. They had reserved a place at The Rookery, the rotating restaurant that sat on the top of the tallest building in Tyger Pax. Appa Ratchet was being seated with assistance by Ravel who was fussing over his father. The older mech held a happily singing Orion. Everyone had pushed tables together to dine making room for everyone.
Prime sat at the end of the table like some kind of shiny patriarch at a NASCAR party. He sat holding his daughter as everyone settled. Bluestreak ever practical had taken orders and sent them to the restaurant which was a good thing because half the party would be leaving in three orns to go on the mission to rescue and probably slag it out with the bad guys.
Ratchet leaned forward and rapped his knuckles on the table. "Fork her over."
Prime grinned. "You didn't say please," he said as he slipped the baby to the person sitting next to him. After Miler loved her up, he handed her to Venture, then Sunstreaker, Bluestreak and Ironhide before she finally reached Ratchet. Her tiny optics were twirling from all that lurve as Ratchet held her, smiling at her incredible petite cuteness.
"Aren't you just the most familiar little femme I ever gandered," Ratchet said as he kissed Sojourner on her little blue helm. He looked at Prowl. "Whiner."
"Loser," Prowl said with a grin. "She is a spectacular specimen of Cybertronian if I say so myself. Her wings are brilliant."
Ratchet took in the tiny 'to serve and protect' along the side of one and smirked. "I see that."
Food and drink came in a tidal wave of waitering so the infants were parted out, food stuffed into their little pie holes as they sat grinning at the three little mechs and Sunspot being mannerly and sweet. Many was the food article that was slipped under the table by young and old to the three critters that waited there walking up and down under the tables to take a morsel from a willing servo.
Even Bob.
"How much trouble are you looking for?" Venture asked Optimus with a hint of worry.
"I expect some," Prime said. "The echoes indicate that there are Decepticon battle groups out there that are moving this direction following the messages."
"Blast," Venture said shaking his helm. "We can field as many fighters as is needed, right?"
"It will be a matter of finesse rather than muscle. The group heading this way is coming across a heavy debris zone. There are literally millions of asteroids, planetary fragments and comets to hide in. We have to employ other tactics in that terrain. Overwhelming force is a good psychological weapon but rather useless in such confusion."
"You are leading the mission, right, Ironhide?" Appa Ratchet asked with a tone of worry in his voice. Praxus who was sitting on his lap looked up and patted Ratchet's face. The elder kissed Praxus's servo placating his interest. "What will you do if they dig in or they try and oppose you?"
Ironhide shrugged. "Our job, Ratch. We're pretty good at this sort of thing. Don't worry too much about it."
"We all do, Ironhide," Ravel replied. "Anytime one of you leaves us to go fight them we worry. We care about all of you."
An aww moment passed by, then Prowl looked at Ravel. "We are very good at this, Ravel. Whatever comes, we have done it literally millions of times. Don't be too concerned. It is almost second nature to take on ventures like this."
"I hope so, Prowl. We need to save our people and provide peace. You know that all of us will help you if you ask," Ravel replied.
"That is completely true," Kestrel said nodding in agreement as he sat holding Sojourner.
Prime looked at his family, all of them. A few Terran years ago he was traveling through space on a long spark killing journey in pursuit of the AllSpark. It had been arduous traversing the great distances involved, fighting here and there as he pursued the relic. His path was lit by the Matrix. When the signal came to him from Bumblebee who he had sent this way to search a hunch, the incredible anxiety that overtook him a moment was almost frightening. They were holding Megatron.
It was do or die time.
A planet filled with organics with limited technology, no knowledge or experience with aliens and a complete lack of understanding of their peril with holding Megatron and the relic, he had nearly been undone in his zeal to come to the planet and take back the AllSpark for their people. All of the insanity that ensued was agonizing as they fought to prevent the relic from falling to Megatron. They had come to retrieve it and they fought like demons, one of them paying a huge price while doing so. But for the AllSpark, Jazz would still be gone.
After all the fighting and battles, the humor and terror, the suffering and loyalty involved in their eons long journey, they were here at last as a family together. Even before they were related they were family. He didn't try to think about the recent past. It was too hard and painful. What mattered was the here and now.
"We are strong and determined. We have the advantage in this sector and we have bridge technology. I have confidence that no matter what we face we will prevail in the end," Prime said as he settled Miracle on his lap. The infant smiled, then reached onto Prime's plate. It was the right gesture at the right moment.
-0-A few joors later
Hot Rod stood on the tarmac with Smokey, both of them talking quietly together. Roddy was staying. Smokey was leaving. Around them, gear and guns in servo, the crowds of soldiers and pilots began to gather. Conversation was about a number of things … the mission, what the families of soldiers were going to do while they were gone, the migration itself and the events of the orn. There was a major amount of bitching about missing parties.
Bluestreak stood on the tarmac with Sunstreaker and Sideswipe waiting for them to board the battle shuttles to leave for the mission. The infants were parted out for now, both mechs taking their leave from everyone after dinner at The Rookery. Bluestreak who would work in Ops Center would manage the home front with help. In the milling crowds they stood chatting internally. Nearby watching them, Blind Spot and Turmoil walked along with their guards.
"There's that good looking winger," Blind Spot said. "I hate those twins. They were fraggers in Kaon and they're fraggers here."
Turmoil said nothing as he watched the forces massing. Nearby in numbers, Seekers were gathered around Starscream, Red Wing and the Great Elder. They were discussing the mission which would be in close quarters among rubble from behind which any number of bad guys could hide. It would be a guerilla war, this mission. There would be danger to all. Thundercracker would be leading the overall command of the wing.
Turmoil slowed, then halted. He looked at Starscream and the others assessing what it would take to kill them. It was what he did. It was who he was. He always assessed the moment and what it would take to win every encounter real or imaginary against whoever was standing around him. He had always hated the Starscream who had a love-hate relationship with Megatron. All of them did but Starscream had pushed things. It was said that Megatron used him as a punching bag often.
He, himself had managed to stay away from the center and Megatron's focus. He had a lot of things going on the side, none of which he thought Megatron had known about. That is, he didn't think Megatron knew until it was clear he did. That was when he cut and ran too. The boldest of the 'Cons had fled. He knew about Paragon and Cyclonus among the others. They had fled the turmoil and uncertainty. Who was in charge anymore, he didn't know.
He felt a gun barrel prod him. Quelling the urge to turn and kill, he began again walking toward the road to the prison. They would remain there until the mission was over and the refugees were brought here safely. How long that would last, he had no idea. But he was formulating a plan for himself to see the colony and its settlers as he wandered during his outings. It would take a while but he would gather the necessary intel.
What he would do with it when he did, he had no idea. But he wanted to talk to the Stunticons nearby. When he was ready, he would. He had heard from idle talk in bars that Breakdown was in the city living free. That would be useful somehow he thought. How, he would have to consider. It would be something to do in his boredom.
They continued onward to the prison.
Behind them, ships and Seekers began to lift off.
TBC February 25, 2014 edited 3-13-14