The Diego Diaries: Swan (665)
-0-Back in home space again
They broke through the Trigger vortex into the brilliant light and sights of home space. Mars was a giant red sphere with a light side and one curving away into darkness. It was mid morning on the home front as the colony went about its business. A migration had been assimilated, some of them in horrendous condition.
An update from Refugee Intake on the ground suggested that the group as a whole were taken in relatively well but for some of the individuals becoming intensely upset at the news of their children and elders. They were taken to the hospital right away where they were shown their family members. It had been a grim experience for all concerned.
Sander sat watching the spectacle around and below him as the forward monitor showed the outside view around, below, beside and above their ship. Satellites were in orbit, some alone and some on platforms with other devices. Nearby in a solid orbital platform just like Cybertron a communications array stood in stationary orbit doing its job constantly with outlying relays it appeared to him.
There was the standard three level orbital pattern for ships. Theirs was in the highest orbit thereby getting the lowest priority. Below were shuttles in lined up to go downward, some already descending to the planet as they were called to come. A city could be seen on the ground, one that ranged out in all directions. He had expected a military camp, one with few amenities and lots of hardship.
This wasn't it.
Around him Decepticon and Autobot soldiers did their job along with what had to be civilians. All of them wore the Autobrand. He finally understood that the former 'Cons wore it on the underside of their left forearm. There had to be a story there. He glanced at the corner spotting organics pointing what appeared to be primitive cameras his way. He looked at Ratchet. "What's their story?" he asked nodding to the segway with Leonora and Camera Man Zeb.
"They had Megatron in custody for nearly a vorn. They didn't know how bad he was and they didn't know that they possessed the AllSpark too. We found it and Megatron got free. Between only five of us and all of them, we killed Megatron. He was revived with a shard of the AllSpark and … its a long story. These are the highlights. He came with the Fallen and tried it again. Optimus killed the Fallen by tearing his face apart with his bare servos. Megatron left and we stayed. This is the outcome of cooperation," Ratchet said. "Bad mechs dead, city of our dreams rises from the ashes."
Sander grinned. "Just the highlights?"
Ratchet nodded. "Yes. Check the Community Bulletin Board file later to get the nuances."
"I will," Sander said with a nod. Below and around him the business of a miracle was underway and he had a ring side seat. It was amazing to go from Trannis to Prime in a single orn.
Hound turned to Prime. "All of the refugee shuttles are down and cleared, Prime. They are signaling about the formers."
"Alright," Prime said turning to the forward monitor. "Fortress Maximus, this is Prime."
"Fortress Maximus here, Prime."
"What is the status of the set up for Metro-Hex and Hydrax?" Prime asked.
The forward screen turned from a space view to a ground oversight of a large area next to the four city-formats already in place. Three were vast, filled with activity and one was vacant waiting for Titan's return. Off to the side bordering Acroplex and Metrocon a new set of pads were being built. They were connected to the other four formats and the main highway passing by them was as yet still a dirt road. Machinery and trucks could be seen cleaning up the area where two more giant formats would live.
"It is prepared. Teams worked through the night, Prime, to prepare a permanent pad for both Hex and Hydrax. Fortunately, the major subsurface infrastructure was extended from the others rather than laid as a primary project," Fort Max replied. "They will be ready to vacate the area for the two of them in moments."
"What does Swan need?" Prime asked.
A deep voice ancient with wisdom and years spoke. "Swan will not be seated. He is too young. We require a smooth pad next to us for him to rest upon but he won't be securing himself. If there is a system in place for him to hook up to feed that can be released and secured when he is finished, that will be the best possible situation for him," Metro-Hex replied.
"You must tell us what he needs. I am assuming he requires activity and perhaps education. We require all of our young to attend school," Prime said. "We have never had an infant of your format so educate us, Metro-Hex so we can do right by your child."
"We will," Hex replied. "Right now, we must teach him how to be around others. He has never had playmates nor has he been around anyone but adults. It will be a learning curve to keep him from harming things due to his size and youth."
"We can help you," Prime said. A momentary flash of a massive Omega size infant floundering around in the city filled his processor, then he quashed it. "I believe that Jetta is the mech you need to contact to see about seating yourself, Metro-Hex. I will inform him that you are ready to be guided."
"Thank you, Prime. We are delighted by what we see. For now, we will release Swan from my hold," Metro-Hex said. "He must come down with us out of the hold. We will hold him in a light tractor to make sure he lands safely. He is very obedient on the difficult things but he is very young and brave. That is a combination fraught with potential for problems."
"I understand," Prime said with a grin. "Prime to Jetta."
"Jetta here. I assume you have something wonderful for me," a happy voice said over the speakers.
"I do," Prime said with a grin. "Metro-Hex and Hydrax are ready to descend. Their infant needs a smooth pad next to them so they can take care of him more easily. He won't be settled in place. He will need an energon delivery system through a hose-type set up that should handle his needs."
"Awesome. We will get on it. We'll clear the decks for Hex and Hydrax. Is the baby going to be alright with that set up for a little bit? I will fast track his pad and pump system. We can branch that off of his genitors' systems," Jetta said.
"I do not know. Interface with Metro-Hex. He will tell you the particulars," Prime said.
"Will do. Jetta out."
They sat a moment, then the hatch door of Metro-Hex began to open on the vast hangar deck of the ship which was ahead of them in orbit with Titan and Hydrax. As it opened a smaller simpler version of the three could be seen inside. Swan was there, his running lights coming on as he listened to his atar explain their situation. Hound tuned it so they all could listen.
"Swan, we are going to slip you out, then cradle you as we descend. Please be ready to be tractored, son," Hex said in a gentle voice.
"Atar, where are we going? Are we going to a planet again?" a sweet toned youthful voice asked.
"We are, Swan," Hydrax said, his deep voice soothingly soft. "We need you to really listen to atar."
"I will," the cheery voice asked. "Will I be able to play when we're there?"
"We will make sure you can, son," Hex answered gently.
There was nothing happening a moment, then something did. Swan began to slide backward out of the hangar, then fell away from his father's hold. A very light yellow beam shot out from Hydrax gripping the infant holding him in place behind his father. The hangar doors slid shut, then another beam reached out to hold the infant. They moved pulling the small being to ride between them, then they banked and began to descend.
Ratchet who watched them grinned. "More older genitors. Those two are in love with their child."
Ironhide nodded. "They are. What a fine little infant he is."
"They all are," Starscream said.
They all nodded watching as the three slipped down into the atmosphere guided in by Fort Max. His voice then intoned. "Fort Max Flight Center, you are cleared to land, Salton Sea. Welcome home."
"Thank you, Fort Max Flight Center. We're glad to be home, Tobin." Revo turned the ship slightly and began the slow glide to the Military Airport in the center of the colony, steps from the Fortress which was ground zero of their redemption.
When Salton Sea was landed, they gathered to step out. Walking to the hatch and gangway midships, Sander glanced at Prime. "What now?" he asked.
"Your greeting party is waiting outside," Prime said with a grin.
As they reached the gang plank, they walked down it to a group of mechs standing at the bottom. When they were reached Nitro stepped forward. "Are you Sander?" he asked.
Sander nodded. "The one and only."
"Good. Come with us. We have a bunch of slaggers on our servos and we heard you aren't as dumb as them," the big Seeker said as the other hard looking mechs nodded.
Sander laughed aloud, then glanced at Prime with a grin. "Pray for me." Then he turned to follow them toward the prison where he would sort out the few among the many who were already trustworthy. They would give their oaths to the Prime that evening, then spend the rest of the orn looking around the city under escort. Night time would bring them a berth in apartments in the transitional former Decepticon tower in Centurian.
The quality of the city, the beauty and class of their apartments and reuniting with friends along with several family members long thought deceased would be enough for them to know which was a better deal all around.
The rest? It would take a while.
-0-Trio
They came in slowly, burning up energon they coundn't spare to make the landing safely. The tiny ship that they held between them was level and stable. This was the hardest part of their process, making sure their son was safely down. He was big enough now that landing with him in a hold was dangerous. It also made his dismount difficult depending upon terrain.
Dust kicked up from the plain nearby their new home as they began to descend. Lights and sirens from sentient city-formats all over the colony went off to welcome them. They flashed their lights and raised their own sirens to return the salute. At last with a tremor felt for miles, two of the oldest, biggest and most storied of the metro-formers settled down. Only when they were stable did they gently set the infant down, the tractors winking out when he assured his parents he was good to go.
By this time Optimus and the command crew had arrived on scene to watch and assist if needed. Jetta and his crews were standing near the big pads ready to direct them to sit from robotic form. As they did Alpha Trion arrived to stand beside Prime. "I heard that Hex and Hydrax had come back to us. The infant startles me."
"Then its unanimous," Prime said with a grin. "I don't know what it means to have a small child that big running around."
"I guess we will find out," Alpha said with a grin.
As they chatted, the ground began to tremble as Metro-Hex began to change format. His body began to swiftly change as he rose upward to assume his root mode. Upward he went, ever upward until with the last click of his antenna and the last snap of his incredible cannons he was standing a half mile tall. He looked around, his yellow visors giving him an enigmatic expression. Then he looked down at the ground. Bending slowly, he gently took the body of his son into his servo. Cradling him in his arms, he stepped back for Hydrax to transform.
Hydrax did.
-0-TBC March 27, 2014 edited 3-27-14