The Diego Diaries: Here and There (672)

-0-In a dark place

They stood beside the bubbling tube where the facsimile avatar was nearly ready to release. Arachnid smiled slightly as she considered the possibilities. Listening to the insect transmissions had paid off. This one was the agent for the humans who wanted a permanent habitat on Mars. She would have someone in the heart of their colony, someone who would obey her without a single hesitation.

It would be amazing.

She turned from the station walking to the tube where a human copy was nearly reaching release stage. He would be a perfect copy of Brandon Clark. He would know everything that Clark knew and react as that human would. Anyone who studied him, took blood or other readings would find Brandon Clark staring back.

He wasn't Brandon Clark though. That individual was occupying space in the dirt several yards away. When they got what they needed, they terminated the real Clark casting him into a pit where the others were. A light coating of dirt to hold down the smell was enough for her. Humans didn't bother her very much. Now Autobots ... that was another story.

The light flickered from the machines that brewed her spy. They were part of the equipment that all infiltration protocol teams carried. They would be put to good use here. Arachnid would make sure of it.

-0-At a billionaire's house in Nevada

They stood on the banks of the lake skipping rocks across its cold blue surface. Tahoe was great duty they had agreed. Being in the classy house of their benefactor was a improvement over the road. Being the face of the opposition was hard work. Dodging army retribution was another. The steps they had taken and the road they were on was a violation of their confidentiality agreements as special ops soldiers. So far the lawyers provided them kept the army at bay. It wouldn't last forever.

"We have interviews on Fox in three days. That means we'll be back in the news cycle," Jim Johnson said as he sat on a rock by the water's edge.

"You never seemed to mind before," Sam Hedges said glancing at his partner from the beginning of their odd road to fame and fortune.

"I'm not. I just like it here," Jim replied. "Nice house, nice food. Lots of perks. Don't tell me you like being out there."

"No," Sam said. "I don't like the blow back from what we're doing. But it has to be done," he said.

Johnson nodded. "The sooner the treaties are broken, the better."

Hedges nodded. "I agree."

What they never bothered to offer anyone who asked was what they would do if the Decepticons came back and there were no Autobots to assist in defending the planet. That never entered Johnson's mind. It did with Hedges. He was actually a pretty smart man. He however enjoyed the perks and attention as well as the next guy so he didn't raise the obvious problem in their faction's thinking.

They sat by the water's edge texting friends and hanging out. In two days the newest public relations onslaught against the Autobots would begin. They would be the face of it once more.

-0-On Mars

The night was dark and quiet. Bots made their way here and there assisted by Night Watch when needed. The industrial complex shone bright in the dark night in the distance. A halo of light from that vast manufacturing city glowed in the black sky. It was cold and still, no wind and no indication of the dust storms that plagued the planet through eons of centuries anywhere to be seen.

In the metro city area, a small ship slumbered next to two giant cities. The little vessel had been a little bot playing with new friends well within the sensor range of his dedicated genitors. The school had tested him in the early evening and reported that Swan was a very bright infant who would be the recipient of a complex educational plan that would allow him to be a part of a classroom in spite of his great size.

Mr. Terradive would be the first instructor he would have delivering instruction via television. Swan would participate in classes, then have private tutors who would work with him one-on-one. Even though his genitors wanted him to have a life with friends and experiences, a life that allowed him to participate, they were also relieved that he would be tutored at their site where they could watch and learn what he needed from them as well. All plans would be adapted as they went forward in the process. Nothing was carved in stone.

It would be a first for the schools, educating a child this big and specialized.

-0-In the haven above

Ratchet stretched out relaxing. Their evening had gone well ...

"ADA!"

"WHAT!?"

"ADA FUNNY!"

Ratchet grinned staring down at a thoroughly tickled Orion. He was standing in the doorway of his room smiling up at his ada. "Orion, come in and put things away."

He looked at Ratchet, then his room. Then with a full head of steam and steely purpose, he walked in and looked around. "Ada, this dirty."

Ratchet snorted. "Messy."

Orion looked up at him. "Dirty?"

"Messy," Ratchet said. "It's messy."

Orion looked at his ada, then shook his helm. "Ada silly." He bent down and began to pick up toys. Turning, he threw them at the toy box. As usual, they fell everywhere but there.

Ratchet grinned. "You will never be good at sports will ya, Spud?" he asked rhetorically. Orion looked up and smiled brilliantly. "But you will win every badge out there for cute." They worked together putting things away, then Orion turned to walk out. Ratchet watched him, then looked at the empty bed with the blankets turned down. "Come back here." Ratchet followed Orion into Hero's room where the little femme was arranging things just so.

"Ho-Ho! I comed here. You me help?" he asked with his quizzical expression that made Ratchet want to fall down and laugh every time.

She turned from her row of dollies and smiled. "I will. Let's look and see," she said walking to the closet where her dress up stuff was kept. The lowest drawer in her dresser held more things. They looked in the closet, then began to assess items. Ratchet who was filming the entire exchange stood grinning.

When the proper things were chosen, Orion leaned in to kiss Hero. She smiled, then glanced at Ratchet. "ADA! ORION KISSED ME!"

"He is quite the lover boy, our Orion," Ratchet said with a grin. "Got what you need?"

Orion nodded, then walked to his room laden with things. Ratchet watched him go, then grinned at Hero. "Mech leads his own parade."

"Orion likes to do things. He's fun to play with. I love him," Hero said with a giant smile.

Ratchet grinned. "I do too. You ready for recharge?"

She nodded, then turned to climb into her bed. Ratchet tucked her in, then kissed her little helm. "You're a good sister, Hero. I love you."

"I love you, Ada. I'm glad you and Atar are home," she said with a smile.

"I am too," Ratchet replied. "Atar will be here in a minute. Happy recharge, baby."

"Happy recharge, Ada," Hero replied as she snuggled with her favorite night time dollie, a big version of the smaller version of Ironhide who sat on a shelf nearby.

Ratchet walked out passing Ironhide. Entering the room of Praxus, he found the little doppelganger already in his berth. Grinning, Ratchet kissed his little helm. "You are such a nice little mech. Unlucky you to be the middle child."

He smiled. "You stay home?" he asked.

"I will be here for you, infant. Things are pretty nice now," Ratchet replied. He grinned. "Atar will come."

Praxus nodded as he lay in his big boy berth, the lights of glowing stars attached to his ceiling throwing off a green illumination. "I like them," he said pointing upward.

"Did Other Ada get those for you?" Ratchet asked.

"He did. Pretty," Praxus said sweetly.

Ratchet kissed him, fussed with his blankets, then turned to walk to another room. Sunspot was in bed with Spot beside him. "You look comfy."

"I am," Sunspot said with a grin. "I like you and Atar being home."

"We like being home. I heard you were all pretty wonderful," Ratchet said patting Spot.

"We did our best," Sunspot said sleepily.

"You always do," Ratchet said kissing his helm. "Recharge well, baby."

"You too," Sunspot said as he slowly drifted off. Missing your genitors took a lot out of a mech.

Ratchet walked to the last room where Ironhide was taking care of business. A little mech had been washed, dried, had his trap emptied and was oiled with the baby armor lotion that Ironhide had made specially for his infants. He had studied up on it and designed a formulation with the same intensity that he brought to making bombs. It was actually a great formula that Ratchet often snatched to rub onto his servos. "I see a very shiny infant," he said pausing next to the changing dresser.

"Little mech needs the essentials," Ironhide said as he finished rubbing oil onto Prowler's peds. The little mech smiled up at both of them. "Little mech gets the best just like the others."

"I noticed that," Ratchet said with a grin. "Everyone is in bed waiting for you to kiss them good night."

"I'll be there," Ironhide said with a grin. He looked at his smallest progeny, then picked him up. "Time to recharge, infant." He carried the baby to his crib tucking him in with his favorite dollies and blankets. After kisses were given, the two stepped out turning off the lights. A line of infants awaited in their beds, so Ironhide with Ratchet in tow made their rounds.

Moments later ...

They stretched out on their own berth tired out and contented. Ratchet glanced at Ironhide. "I made an appointment at The Paint Box for you to get a decent detailing. That interim stuff you have is not up to specifications. I have a reputation to protect."

"Is that so?" Ironhide said with a grin.

"It is," Ratchet replied with a grin. "The infants missed us."

"I missed them," Ironhide replied. "I think Prowler grew two feet since we were gone."

Ratchet grinned. "I think you're right. He is getting up there. When are you going to bite the bullet and put him into infant school? He could end up the oldest preschooler in the colony at this rate."

"I have more to show him," Ironhide said. "Unless you have a bun in the oven."

"What an absurd expression," Ratchet said. "I don't have an oven on my person."

They chuckled. Ratchet looked at Ironhide. "Be faster on your big old peds, mech. If the bridge hadn't been there you would have been smashed flat."

"I AM IRONHIDE! I DON'T NEED TO BE FAST!"

"Frag that, you big goon. I have spoken," Ratchet said with a grin.

"Is that so?" Ironhide asked.

"Yes. I have spoken-eth," Ratchet replied.

"You're never going to let me forget about that pickle are you," Ironhide asked.

"Never," Ratchet replied.

Both of them grinned.

-0-Elsewhere

"Good to be back on the beat."

Springer nodded. "How are your peds?"

"Passable fair," Drift said as they walked across the plaza in the center of Terra.

Springer nodded again. "Those monsters are fragged. We had better drive them off that world. It's too close."

Drift nodded. "I agree. That acid burns hot."

"What do you think about Trannis and the Stunticons bunking together?" Springer asked.

"I think Prime has a great sense of humor," Drift replied with a chuckle. "I hear that they are already in segregation for fighting."

"Idiots," Springer said. "I doubt that they can expect privileges any time soon."

"Turmoil and Blind Spot will be back out again along with Barricade, Skorponok and Stiletto. It makes me nervous to see them together," Drift said as they walked down the main street of the hub city. Businesses were mostly closed but for bars and restaurants. People were mostly home but some were out. It was like any prosperous section of any city on Cybertron back in the orn. They crossed the street and continued onward taking their usual beat with the rest of the Night Watch.

-0-Burnoff

Burnoff finished his work and locked it away. His ada had left earlier after bringing him dinner. Now that Turquoise had found the data break that caused the carrier-warrior glitch, it was up to Sciences to take that information and figure out the fix. That meant that his ada would have time to compile data for him before getting another assignment for analysis. They were a happy team working at his shop, making his ideas reality. Turquoise was the public face of his business and all was well in his family.

His atar was a laborer and control analyst slash supervisor in the construction sites nearby. Seven cities were rising and more plans were being made to expand businesses, facilities and amenities. His father was a mech who helped make it possible in a real hands on way.

His ada was already to begin a new project having helped medical solve a terrible problem for the carrier-warriors. He was also the receptionist for his business and a sounding board for his mathematics.

He could not be more proud of his genitors if he tried. He was at peace with almost every trial of his life and so were they. He walked to the reception area of his business turning off lights, then paused. Standing outside the window was Default. He looked nervous but wanted inside. Burnoff hesitated, then walked to the door. Opening it, Default walked through. They stood a moment self consciously, then Default nodded. "Can I talk to you?"

Burnoff hesitated again, then nodded. "Come on." He turned, then walked back down the hallway to the conference room where he talked to clients and did his data work. They both sat in an uneasy silence. "What can I do for you, Default?"

Default looked at him, then sat back. "I was hoping I could work for you, Burnoff. I miss electronics and I want a life. It has been terrible since Commotion died. I don't like not being busy. I was wondering if you could use a technician. You know how good I am with electronics."

Burnoff nodded. "I know," he said. Then he bit the bullet. "Did you and the others have anything to do with setting the bombs?"

Default flinched, then deflated. "I ..."

"I take that as a yes," Burnoff said.

Default looked at his servos. "We were incredibly stupid. We did a stupid thing. I can't undo it. I want to," he said looking at Burnoff with imploring optics. "I wish I could every orn. But I can't. I can just do what I can. I want to help you with your projects. You could use a technician, right?"

Burnoff considered that, his weakest skill set, then nodded. "I could but you're trouble. I don't want any trouble. How can I know you and the others aren't setting me up to be a fall guy for your stupid ideas?"

"I don't speak to them anymore. We sort of fell apart. Sio is in the mental institution and I don't think they'll let him out. Gravity and I ... all of us avoid each other. Its like that time ... all that stuff is another life. I hate my life now. I hide out. I work at The Grocery At Tyger Pax. I can hardly look anyone in the optics."

"Go and tell Prime," Burnoff said.

Default looked at him with shock. "Tell him? I would be in the prison in ten seconds."

"No you won't. Tell him you are sorry. Tell him you mean it. You do don't you?" Burnoff asked.

Default looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "Every orn."

"What about the System? What do you think about the way you lived before? Do you want it back? Do you want to stay the stupid idiot you were or what? What's changed in you?" Burnoff pressed.

"Everything," Default said quietly. "My family wants the System back but even if it was I don't think I could live like that again. It makes me feel ..."

"Ashamed?" Burnoff suggested.

Default nodded. "I work with bots I would never look at back home. I ... they make me feel like I fit in. Do you understand?"

Burnoff nodded. "I do." It was silent a moment. "What if you and I go to see Prime tomorrow and you tell him how you feel, how you've changed and all of it. Ask for mercy. Tell him how you are sorry and mean it. Prime is a good mech. He has the Matrix helping him. He will surprise you."

"I don't know. I don't want to go to jail. I just want ... to feel better. I feel so bad, Burnoff. Its like barbed wire inside," he said rubbing his chest.

"I think they call it shame," Burnoff said gently. "The only way to feel better is to talk to Prime, change and really mean it, then work hard to show that you are different. Believe me, I know this stuff."

Default looked at him intently. "Come with me?"

"I will," Burnoff said.

"Now? I don't know if I will be able to do it if I have to wait too long," Default said with rising anxiety.

Burnoff considered the time, then nodded. "I will. Let's go," he said rising.

They walked to the door, then out into the night heading for the Mare Tranquilitatis and the Prime of Cybertron.

-0-TBC April 3, 2014 edited 4-4-14