The Diego Diaries: Go (642)
-0-Out there
They huddled in their ships, the controls taken from them. They were tired, terrified and sick. They had little to nothing of value beyond their own lives. How that was supposed to work, they didn't know. They just knew that armed goons had overtaken their vessels and they were being taken away. They had heard Prime and felt for the first time in eons a sense of hope. That had fled with the forcing of their hatches, the battering of those inside who had stood up against the big brutal mechs who had seized them. Now they sat huddled numbly staring at evil strangers who had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. It was excruciating.
What now thought a young mech holding a very small infant. He sat huddled against the wall as his bond sat hunched against another across from him. They stared at each other with fear. What now?
-0-Salton Sea
Prime stepped into space and buzzed to the lead ship of the migration nearby. It was held by a Wrecker crew and several Seekers magnetized to the hull. He entered through the open door, then paused. Looking around, he saw the usual sights... a ship with little left to recommend it but the precious cargo it carried. A number of civilians stood or sat nearby looking at him with incredulity. Infants in arms stared at him without a sound.
A young mech and a slightly younger one stood staring at him with disbelief, then walked to where Prime stood. "Sir, I am Marboro and this is my brother, Flet. We are so glad to see you. They took some of our people. We have to get them back! I promised to lead them to safety, all of them!"
Prime rested a massive servo on the shoulder of Marboro. "We will. We need all the information you can give us. Then we will do what we have to do to get them."
Marboro stood a moment, the crestfallen exhausted emotionally drained youngster feeling every inch of their ordeal before he gathered himself again. "What do we do, sir?" he asked.
Prime began to tell them.
-0-Farther away
"How long will we have to sit here without doing anything?" Smokey asked as he leaned forward enough to stare down the row of mechs resting against the bulkhead.
Springer, the object of his question looked at the youngling. "However long it takes for them to make a mistake. The steel is strong enough that without blasters we can't break free. No matter what happens, something tells me that a swarm of acid monsters is awaiting us if we try to leave on our own."
Smokey leaned back, then grinned slightly. "My Ama is coming for us. I can feel it. He will never quit until he comes to free us."
"Dev will come. I would hate to be them. Between Hercy and Smokey's ama, they don't stand a chance," Kup said calmly.
It was a nice moment for all of them.
-0-Out there
The hole that Salton Sea had plowed through and left in its wake closed almost immediately as the mass around them abhorred the vacuum and did what physics demanded. If the migration vessels were going out swiftly, they would have to follow in close order behind the battle ship. They would even have to do it in waves. The ice breaking properties of Salton Sea were tremendous but holes close.
Space bridges in the reflective mass of the debris field would be unsafe, the signals wouldn't find themselves easily locked on target and risks enough were already taken so far. This trail was a serious problem. It would take another meeting with Cyclonus and Slacker to improve what they were finding here.
"We can bring through the cleared opening any number of ships if they stay together and move swiftly. Ironhide will direct that. I would like to go through the migration and talk to the civilians," Prime said. He looked at the wan younglings who had brought them thus far. He looked at the Seekers who had joined them who were ill and injured but determined. "You will go with your group. They will gather you outside of this menace and from there you will be bridged to our colony. There will be doctors and civilians waiting who will help you. You will be given aid, directions and a place to live. There will be lists of those who came before you on the Community Bulletin Board. Consult it. You may find friends and family. If they aren't there now, they will be with future migrations. Our people are returning from all over the galaxy."
"I need to stay here, sir. I led them. I have to be the last to leave," Marboro said.
"You are relieved. I relieve you from your burdens. You were honorable, all of you," Optimus said looking at the group. "Now you must go and revive yourself. Your people will need your good example and courage again."
They glanced at each other uncertainly, then nodded to Prime. "We will help when we get there. You can count on us," Flet said.
"I never doubted it," Optimus said gently.
"I am Cloud. Rainmaker is my atar," the handsome Seeker said. "I am told that he's there with my family and brothers."
"He is. He is a very great resource and support for me in this struggle. He will be happy to retrieve a lost son again," Optimus said.
The youngling nodded, then looked around. "We will go then," he said with more weariness than he probably intended.
Optimus looked at Ironhide. "I turn this over to you. I will come through with the last ship. I want to know what happened to our people and what is going on out there." With that, he turned to walk to the door. Stepping out, he flew toward the mass of ships that loomed in the darkness, the sparkling of their running lights defining where they were.
"We need to go," Ironhide said. "I will lead you back with the Salton Sea, then return." He looked at the monitor, then back at Flet and the others. "We will take the first 300 ships through. Keep them together. Tell the others to wait. We will sync the navigation computers here with the battle ship. How can we tell the others to wait?"
"I will open a channel. If you could tell them what you want, they will obey. We are a team," Marboro said with a nod, his impossibly young face belying the leadership he had provided.
"Good," Ironhide said as he waited. When the line was open, he began. "This is Ironhide, Master of the Autobot Armed Forces. I am here to guide you through this mess. We are taking the first 300 ships. You will be pinged if you are in the first group. You will come close together … enough to bump energy fields but not close enough to touch. Follow the wake of the battle ship. We will break open a path. When you are through, you will be taken onward through bridges. Do what they ask and you will be rescued. The battle ship will come back and take the next 300 ships. You will all be rescued. You will all be taken to safety. Just wait. You are so close and we are here to protect you. Ironhide out."
It was silent in the room as they stared at him, a fabled Autobot and companion of their Prime who had come to lead them to safety. Ironhide walked to the door. "We will signal you. Wait for it, then follow. Battle shuttles and other ships will be on the other side to help you. You will follow Seekers through the bridges. It will be fast," he said. Then he stepped out and flew into the darkness making his way through the densely packed debris to the hangar deck of his ship. He would make the bridge in no time and when the pings had been returned from the designated ships, they would move forward. Everyone would follow behind.
-0-Optimus
He buzzed to the Seekers on a enormous ship that was a passenger liner of the oldest company for such things on Cybertron. Its glyphs trumpeting its name and service were battered and weathered but decipherable. He rapped on the hatch. It slid back as an armed youngling appeared looking at him with a mix of fear, despair and incredulous joy. Prime stepped in, then the door slid shut. "Sir, its you. You're here!" the youngster said.
Prime nodded. "I am. You are safe. Who is in change of this ship?"
"Uh, we …," he paused a moment, then nodded. "We have two leaders, sir. The ship is divided."
"Between castes?" Prime asked as they turned to walk forward.
The youngling nodded. "Yes. It has been … strange. Tough mostly. We have had nothing but arguments so we divided. I'm so glad you're here," he said as they walked down corridors reaching the bridge at last.
Prime entered, then paused. About fifty individuals were there, all of them bearing the markings and unmistakable bearing of high castes. It was something a low or mid caste individual could see in their dreams, something that could not be hidden away. They stared at him, he stared back. "I am Optimus Prime. I am here to lead you to safety."
The group relaxed a bit. "I am Hadrian, former governor of the city-state of Crystal City on Cybertron. I have led my group in this migration ever since. We are honored to see you again, Optimus Prime and are ready to follow you to safety."
Prime nodded. "We have divided the migration into segments that are manageable. When you are granted the leave to go, you will be taken to the colony by Seekers. Follow them and those waiting for you will take care of your injuries and problems. You will be given housing and instructions about the life of our colony.
"I would like to tell you that education for sub adult younglings and infants is compulsory. University is open to all who wish it. Work is encouraged and expected once you get back on your peds. We are under modified martial law given our status right now. We also have forbidden the System. It is outlawed. There are no artificial divisions anymore among our people. I cannot stress that enough."
"You never did care much for tradition, Optimus," Hadrian said. "That was always clear."
Behind him, ped falls could be heard. A mech entered followed by several others. He paused behind Prime and when Optimus turned the newcomer bowed his helm respectfully. "Optimus Prime, I am grateful to see you again. We almost didn't have hope."
Prime nodded. "You are safe now. We will take you through this to our colony in order. I am telling everyone here that our colony values everyone equally. There is no caste system. It is outlawed. Our children attend school from infancy to sub adulthood together. I would like you to convey that to your people as well."
The mech reached out his servo so Prime grasped it. "It will be my pleasure. I am Flyer. I am leader of my half of the mechs and femmes on this journey. We are divided as you can see. Apparently, the news about the System didn't reach us. Some of us still cling to old harmful ways."
"I don't expect you to understand, Flyer. As for this news, Prime … I am not surprised given your history but I am disappointed. Our people's greatness was reflected in our way of life."
"Frag 'your way of life'!" Flyer said. He looked at Prime. "Our people are hungry, sir. They won't share their food. We could barely convert enough energy to feed everyone."
"There will be bounty awaiting for you at our colony," Prime said as he turned to Hadrian. "I will be looking into this. If it can be determined that you didn't share food with the others on this ship you will face charges. The laws of space still apply. Common decency should have compelled you to share. This will not be countenanced. I hope I make myself clear."
It was silent a moment, then Hadrian nodded. "Perfectly."
"I would like a tour of this ship. I would require both you and Hadrian to come with me on it, the rest of you remaining where you are. Shall we?" Prime asked gesturing to the doorway. The guard who was standing there grinned, then stepped aside as Prime walked through. Flyer with a grin of his own followed. Hadrian wasn't grinning when he came last.
-0-Out there farther
They pulled into orbit around a large nondescript planet, their ships falling into parking orbits with ease. A large number of individuals with guns and monsters walked to the hold where their hostages were held. The door dragged open, the shrill metallic sound grating. Stepping inside, the biggest of the group gestured for the mechanicals to stand up.
Slowly, insolently, they complied. One of them with a long metallic stick gestured for them to leave the room. Lon who was closest moved as he was told but it wasn't fast enough for the big alien. He stuck the youngling with the prod which elicited a loud bellow. Lon fell to his knees. The alien who stuck Lon was bouncing off the walls nearby at about the same time courtesy of Hercy. The old mech stood over Lon with his fists ready.
It was incredibly silent a moment, then the monsters began to bellow.
-0-TBC March 5, 2014 edited 3-6-14
NOTE: Here is the notation of the remarks about how ugly non traditional formats are viewed by Cybertronians. I don't think its about prejudice. I am of the opinion that its more visceral. I think it would be like us transforming from human to spider. I think I would need a body bag if I ever saw that happen or God forbid, could do it myself.
:*}
Swoop is the friendliest and most outgoing of the Dinobots. He's surprisingly good-natured, kind and upbeat. Few of his comrades realize this however as his team's reputation and his alt-form, considered (for some reason) particularly "horrifying" to Transformer aesthetics makes others wary of getting close enough to learn about the bot himself. Swoop is an excellent aerial combatant and bombardier and has become skilled at using the fear his alt-mode creates in battle. He considers it his greatest weapon. Like all the Dinobots, Swoop tends to be arrogant, disobedient, and generally disagree with Optimus Prime's leadership style. He's also a bit of a show-off. (TF WIKI)
The caste system is detailed at tf wiki. Put in caste system or caste and you can see it there.
Interesting folks, our TF's. :D