The Diego Diaries: Oh (648)
-0-On the bridge of the Salton Sea
They entered the bridge and paused by the table where Prime and Ironhide sat. "We have some more of your people, Larc. They found a portion of our team who had been taken by the predator species that has plagued us for a while," Prime said.
Larc nodded. "Did they ask for me by name?" she asked.
Prime nodded. "I am not clear about that but our team asked for you to come speak."
Larc nodded, then looked at the monitor. Prime glanced at Blaster. "Can you make the link up?"
Blaster nodded, then turned to his console. For a moment they stared at the screen which showed only the world outside the ship. Then a test pattern appeared, one with alien writing. Larc turned to it moving closer in anticipation. The pattern changed as a figure appeared. It was a huge Hu An, the female kind with black hair and piercing black eyes. Larc looked at her. "I am here."
The big female nodded. "I am here too, Larc. It is a miracle that you escaped the metallics."
"They saved us, these metallics. They are the Autobots. You have some with you. Bring them to me. Come to me," Larc said with emotion.
The big alien stared at her, then nodded. "Send us your signal and we will come."
Larc glanced at Prime who nodded to Hound. The signal was sent. "Tell us what is happening. What about the home system?"
"We fell back when you did," Harper said. "I don't know more than you. We were following you as best we could, then we lost you. For the time passing we were fighting them wherever they could be found."
Larc nodded. "We were prisoners. The Prime," Larc said nodding to the big metallic sitting nearby, "He and his people found us, liberating us from bondage. We live in their colony in our own manner. Come to us. Join us."
Harper nodded. "Very well. Harper out."
The image on the screen returned to one of local space. Larc turned to Prime. "That is my friend, Harper. She is a clan chieftain related to my own. We were friends, good friends. I am overcome to see her here."
"I am happy for you. They are welcome to stay on Mars and we will help you extend the habitat to support all of you in comfort."
Larc nodded. "Thank you, Prime. We will do our best to serve."
"You already do," Prime said. He glanced at Hound. "Send a message to Devcon to return."
Hound nodded, then complied.
-0-Out there
Devcon hovered over a tall canopy as he used his sensors to seek from below information on the strange pod-like formations that seemed to stretch forever in the local area. They were endless, all of them seemingly deposited because their formulation didn't match the genetic configuration that was at heart the main chemical alignment of this world and its contents. They had to come from somewhere else, somewhere extraterrestrial.
As he slipped along slowly analyzing the strange formations he could detect a lot of shielded forms in the trees. They were moving with him, all of them staring upward as he hovered. He could have obliterated them at that point but he had no reason yet to make havoc happen. He was after the team and his grandson. That took precedent over everything else.
:Ramson to Devcon:
:Devcon here:
:They found everyone. We have to rejoin Salton Sea:
Devcon felt a sickening sense of relief overtake him. Turning to depart, he jetted away leaving behind the strange figures with a burst of speed that startled them. They watched him go, then slipped back into the vegetation. They had their world intact and more information on the metallics. It was a win-win for them.
They would never know that it was a win for the metallic too.
-0-At the homestead
They ran around the living room getting ready for school. Sunspot and Spot were sitting on the couch book bag in lap watching with his usual sweet grin and calm contented manner. Grandada … Other Ada Ravie was chasing after Praxus who was squeeing at the top of his voice, his smile brilliant on his little white face. Ravel caught him and kissed his little face. Placing him gently on a chair, he grinned. "Stay, baby. Grandada has other babies to catch. Okay?"
"Okay, OTHER ADA!" Praxus said with a giant smile.
Hero ran out chased by Appa Ratchet. He caught her, kissing her face. "There's my little infant," he said putting her in the chair with Praxus. Turning, he headed for Orion's room and the last free range sparkling of the group. Tie Down who moved for him to pass held Prowler in his arms. "He's in his room, Appa."
"Thank you, Tie. I will bring him along," Appa Ratchet said disappearing into the bedroom. Laughter rang out, then both came out, Orion in arms. Everyone looked at Orion, then grinned. "That sparkling is a caution, Ravel," Appa Ratchet said with a smile.
"He is," Ravel said as he began to gather the infants to leave. With a lot of hoo-ha and laughter, they left the apartment for the schools.
-0-Out there
Devcon landed at the site where the rest of the team were waiting for him. He transformed, then walked to the shuttle. :Everyone is found. We have to rendezvous with Salton Sea: He entered and the rest followed as the squadron of Seekers jumped into the air to transform and fly onward. When they lifted off it would be problematic if anyone of any sentient type would ever land where they had just been ever again.
-0-Salton Sea
They slowed the great ship waiting for their people to rejoin. Prime caught up on details from Autobot City regarding the assimilation of the newcomers. It was going well, the two cities in the new construction that were finished were taking the new citizens. At 40,000 individuals, they would barely dent the housing of the first city, City 1 it was called until it was named in three orns. This city would have two towers dedicated to the schools, public needs agencies governmental or social of the citizens who lived there. It would become a busy place as businesses opened along with a library and museum annex as well as governmental offices to serve needs locally.
It was going well all around.
Quelle surprise, Prowl.
-0-In the hangar deck of Salton Sea
The shuttle set down and the hatch opened. They stepped off as the Seekers landed, all of them ready to energize and take a break on board. Devcon continued onward heading for the command bridge. As he did he was clear that the ship bearing his grandson had not arrived yet. He took the elevator to the command deck stepping out into the calm professionalism of the soldiers on duty. Walking to the command desk, he pulled a chair. Sitting, he leaned back wearily. "I'm glad they were found. Who did it?" he asked.
"A group of Hu An found them and are on their way. What can you tell us about the sector?" Jazz asked as he pulled up a chair as well.
"I followed their fuel signature to a planet that is mostly jungle. It's close enough to this new route to be a problem. They have a lot of strange plants and there were cloaked aliens. They stood in the trees and watched. I know they were there but how our guys got off that rock, that will be a story in and of itself."
Jazz nodded. "The predator species with their acid monsters appears to be the culprits."
Devcon nodded. "I saw them in the trees. They have some sort of primitive cloaking ability. I also saw pods on the ground, zillions of them. I think that we found out how they grow their monsters. It would do all of us a solid to go back there and torch the planet from one end to the other until all of them are burned up."
"Fill out a report. We can see what Kup and the others say. We can't have a monster nursery this close to us. Their acid causes us real harm. It could be that we'll have to do that. Come to the next staff meeting. I want you to be there to speak to this."
"I will," Dev said. "File it with you?"
Jazz nodded. "Yeah." He turned to look at the monitor. "Here they come. You might want to go see about your grandson."
Dev grinned slightly. "You have to tell me?" He rose and walked to the elevator. He would be on the flight deck when the team would be returned by their saviors.
-0-Ratchet
He stood at the monitor going over the protocols for acid burns, a probability almost assured among the rescued and the seekers of the lost. He turned, then walked to the emergency level from an elevator. There was a steady stream of refugees coming in for treatment. Some of them were serious but the overall condition of the group was good. All in all, it was a welcome relief.
-0-On the Salton Sea
"Optimus, I'm getting a new signal. Someone is sending a message to us," Hound said turning to glance at Prime who was in conversation with Jazz and Ironhide about the predators and their nursery world so close by.
"Put it through, Hound," Prime said turning to the monitors forward.
A crackle of static could be heard, then a voice. "Corlie-1 to Optimus Prime. Please come in."
"Where is it coming from and what do we know?" Optimus asked his crew.
"They are following the trail, Prime," Hound said. He glanced at the mech at sensors. "Overlay the possible route on the one just accomplished." The mech did. They were nearly identical.
"This is Optimus Prime." It was silent a moment, then the voice was back.
"Optimus Prime, this is Corlie-1. I am leader of a group of Cybertronians that have wandered since the Fall. We heard your signal and would like to come to you. Will you accept us?" the voice said.
"How many are you?" Prime asked.
"We are travelers … 700 or so. We live in generation ships. We have three large ones and two smaller," the voice said.
"Follow the signal of my voice," Prime said. "Come with your arms powered down. We are going to send a Seeker escort to help you come to us. We will assume protection of your group. If those terms are acceptable, then come to us now."
"They are. We're coming. We haven't been around our own people for eons. We want to come in to safety. We have families and children. Elderly. We need a safe port. No one will let us stay anywhere," Corlie said.
"Come to us," Prime replied. He turned to his pilot. "Hold us here until we ascertain what this means. Hound, send a message to Autobot City and Prowl. Update him and have the Trigger stand by."
Hound nodded, then turned to make it so. Prime sat back and watched five dots turn toward their signal and begin to make their way through the rubble of space to find him. As he did he watched a large ship parallel them, following at a distance.
It gave the signature of predator mother ship.
-0-On the hangar deck
Larc stood to one side watching as medics and others gathered to help with the rescued mechs. A ship was moving alongside to allow Salton Sea to pull the wounded on board. It was precise and swift as the hangar deck doors parted allowing the shuttle to move closer.
Devcon stood at the doors waiting for the others to jump out of the cramped hold of the alien vessel that was transporting them. Two more shuttles were in line to off load metallics. A hatch opened on one allowing Kup to slide out and float to the hangar deck. Magnetizing, he turned to catch Sandstorm who was crossing over unconscious. Behind him, Hercy floated over as the ship moved forward. It would take the third ship to off load before a wounded and burned Smokey stepped out floating to the deck to magnetized. When he did, he would hug his grandada with all his strength.
Grandada would hug him back.
-0-TBC March 11, 2014 edited 3-14-14
I am working on a Chronicles of Orion to add tomorrow. I would do it tonight but its late. Hugs, my dear readers. :D