The Diego Diaries: Them 2 (681)
-0-The Show (At the Dai Atlas Dojo)
"You're from Cybertron, Hercy. What can you tell us about what happened to you and your planet? How did this come to be?" -OSV
(Old mech with a deceptively simple format considers the question) "When people don't really see each other, they don't care what they do to them. When you can't feel the unity that is real and the biggest part of ourselves, then we act like we want. They treat them wrong and when it gets bad enough, this happens. Mechs and femmes only take so much before they pick up clubs.
"What happened to us was preventable. Megatron was an outcome of a sickness that was started a long time ago when someone thought they were better than everyone else for the stupidest, dumbest reasons. We'll still slag his aft, though." (Old mech looks directly at the camera) "Fragged him once. We'll do it again. It's what we do."
(Nods all around coupled with grins and fond expressions. Apparently, the old mech has high standing in the group)
"Where did you come from, Hercy? What did you do before becoming an Autobot soldier?" -OSV
"I'm from Helex. I was always a soldier though my family took up a trade after the first War of Liberation. It was what I was supposed to be, a mech of arms when the Quintessans were in charge. Didn't have a choice then. Didn't mind. Slagging bad guys is fun."
(Nods and grins all around coupled with smirks and fond expressions)
"Do you have family then? Like you mentioned?" -OSV asking the BIG UNSPOKEN
(Old mech stares at camera) "We all did. Most of us don't know. Maybe they're still alive. That's a loaded question for most of us. You might remember that."
"I'm sorry." -OSV
(Old mech shrugs. All around him mechs sit with pensive expressions)
"How many of you have family here?"
(No one raises their servo)
"Actually ..." (Springer begins before he's buried under beer cans and slag)
-0-(Cut to school)
(Payload is sitting on a chair in the Sparkling Day School doing his family service. Infants are running around all over the place during a free moment)
"Payload, what are you doing here today?" -off screen voice
"I'm doing my two joors every three decaorns in the school."
"You have to volunteer two hours every thirty days in the school. Right?" -OSV
(Momentary pause as calculations are made, then a nod) "Yes. I have to come and work in the school two hours every month. All genitors do. Its good for the babies and kids and good for us. I love this duty. We all do."
"Your son is Mars, named after this planet. Which baby is it?" -OSV
(Huge mechanism turned to point at a laughing little mech who was playing some kind of incomprehensible hopping game with other little mechs and a couple of tiny femmes) "There he is. Isn't he perfect? He's a smart little mech. He's got skills for learning that are going to get him through university some day. He's going to be important to our city, that little mech."
"What do you want for him some day, Payload?" -OSV
"Everything. I want him to be anything he wants. But it won't be a soldier. I don't want my son in jeopardy nor do I want him put in the position of having to fight another Cybertronian. That's my life. That's my burden, you know?" (Intense gaze turns to OSV) "I've made a lot of mistakes in my time. It won't be his life. I'm going to make sure of it, Caro and I. Caro is important to this city and our son will be, too."
"You are, too, aren't you? You have a role on the ruling council, too, representing your construction union." -OSV
"I do that. I'm proud to do that. Caro manages the contracts and other stuff related to our patent businesses and helps build contracts. He's as smart as it gets. My Caro is a genius." (Intense pride is evident)
"What is it like as a former Decepticon to work in this army, to give your allegiance to the Prime, your former nemesis?" -OSV
(Long pause) "Its one of the easiest things I ever did. Prime has something that Megatron doesn't even know is missing. He has integrity. Prime is a mech that makes me proud. He's got everything that our people need. Look at this place. Look at this school. It came out of our effort but it was what Prime considers important.
"We couldn't even have families with Megatron. Anything that distracts from his goals he eliminates. My son would be killed. Caro and I'd be killed if we were back there. How could anyone support that?"
"I don't know." -OSV
"It was wrong … all of it. All of what happened was slag. We'll rise up again. Cybertron will be ours again. Then all of us will do it right this time. It can't be any other way."
(Several sparklings run up including Mars. They smile up at Payload who looks at them with intense admiration. Conversation in an electronic language commenced, then hugs were administered. All of the infants then ran back to their game)
"How adorable they are." -OSV
(Pride filled optics stare at the camera) "They are. These are our treasure. These mean we won't die out. Frag Megatron if he thinks he can ever come here and harm anyone let alone them." (Intense determined rage informs his face) "I'll personally tear him apart with my own servos."
"I think you'd have to stand in line." -OSV
"You got that right."
Then a flight of sparklings winged their way en mass.
-0-(Cut to Sciences)
"What are you doing, Perceptor?" -OSV
(A handsome figure glances at the camera) "I'm working on the mathematics required to allow us to coordinate space bridges for use in single action events."
"Sounds difficult." 0SV
"It is but we have very good mathematicians in our midst as well as the computational abilities of Teletraan, our master computer."
"I see. What else are you working on, Perceptor?" -OSV
"We have a lot of projects ongoing right now. We want to work out the science and processes that will allow human habitation here."
"Do you look forward to that prospect? What's the feeling in the colony about having an autonomous human habitation here?" -OSV
"We're of mixed emotions about it. Its always good to work collegially with allies. We're just concerned that autonomy will be taken advantage of by humans. We haven't always had good experiences with your people."
"Jason Daniels and Ted Galloway?" -OSV
(Nod coupled with grave expression) "Yes. They were a real problem for us. We're very determined to be good allies, to protect and ensure that everyone is safe. We're just not always sure that humans want the same things."
"Does Prime and the leadership feel the same way?" -OSV
"You'll have to ask them. It's not our way to speak for each other. Prime is a very patient mech. He will never give up on an ally no matter what. All sentient beings have the right to freedom and choice. Prime believes that with all his spark."
"I do, too." -OSV
"Then we are one." (Red mech stares at the questioner for a moment) "It's the only way. Megatron is a very merciless mech. He's not in his right processor, I think. He's already destroyed one world … our own. You cannot have the opinion that you won't be next. He destroyed his own world and his own people. What is there to you and your own that he'd spare you from the same fate?"
"I would imagine nothing." -OSV
"That would be correct."
-0-(Cut to dojo again)
"Springer, you're head of security for the colony and Mars. You're the head of the Wreckers, your legendary special ops/last resort team and Prime puts a lot of trust and expectation in you. How does it feel to have that much responsibility?" -OSV
(Grins met that as Drift glanced at Drift, his bond) "Yeah, Springer. How do you feel about that?"
"Well, Drift … I actually feel mighty fine. I think that I have the moxie and the … the grit to be a boon to our people." Springer with a shit eating grin as Epps would say
"A boon. That's a good word. Sort of explains it." -Old Hercy as Kup nods.
"You do a fine job, youngling." -Kup
"Yeah. That's you, Springer. Teacher's pet." -Tracks with his usual smirk
"That's my mech you're talking about." -Drift with a smirk of his own
"You and Springer have a bond, right?" -OSV
"In a weak moment." -Drift
"Best move youever made." -Springer
"Leaving the 'Cons was the best move." -Hercy
"Can't argue there." -Kup, staring at his stogie
"What does a bond mean?" -OSV taking a chance someone would talk
(Room goes quiet as all of them glance at the camera, then Drift and Springer)
"It doesn't really mean much." -Drift
"Nope." (Glances at bond) "Not like you do anything around the apartment."
"No." -Drift the Amiable
"All those Decepticon ways. They sort of … put a damper on things." -Springer
"True, that." -Drift
"You two are bullshitting me, aren't you?" -OSV the Amused
"Yep." -Drift and Springer the Ever Truthful
-0-(Cut to Autobot City Medical Tower)
"Hi." -OSV
"Hello." (White and red mech with red optics stares down at OSV)
"Who are you?" -OSV
"You're from that insec- ... human film company." -Bot
"We are. Can we talk to you?" -OSV
"You want to interview me? For your show?" -Bot
"Sure. You don't mind do you?" -OSV
(Bot glances around, then looks downward) "No. What do you want to know?"
"What's your name and are you Autobot or Decepticon?" -OSV
"Puh-lease. I was a Decepticon. My name is Knockout. Perhaps you've heard of me?" -Miffed Bot
"I heard your name before. You and Ratchet are enemies." -OSV
(Bot glances around, then looks down) "Where did you hear that?"
"I was told." -OSV
"By whom?" -Bot leans in close, his exotic optics narrowing.
"Ratchet." -OSV
Bot leans back sharply. "Really?" (Intense surprise)
"No." -OSV
(Frown forms as bot regards OSV with loathing) "Insects."
"You're Enemies, that's true." -(Voice comes from around the corner. A large mech leans around the doorjamb and grins. He is enormous with an orange face. Looks at OSV, then leans back slightly with wariness)
"Who are you?" -OSV
(Pause) "Uh ... Breakdown."
"Were you Decepticon, too? I hear that you and Knockout here are partners." -OSV
"Who told you?" -Both bots
"I heard it around." -OSV
(Knockout looks at Breakdown with a frown) "Gossips." (Both turn to the OSV)
"Were you a Decepticon?" -OSV persisting
"He was more than that." (Knockout the Ever Dramatic on the rebound) "He's part of a gestalt." (Turns to sweep his servo over the wary Breakdown who was eyeballing both him and the OSV with a measure of loathing)
"Gestalt?" -OSV
"My, my ... humans! You have no idea do you. Listen up closely. This mech is a ... STUNTICON!" -Knockout, with enthusiasm
"?" -OSV with a look of dafuq?
"Hmm. You aren't very fast on the uptake are you." Knockout, with consternation. "This," sweeps arm toward a slightly amused, highly wary, enormous orange-faced mechanism, "is Breakdown, part of a gestalt combiner."
"?" -OSV listening to the crickets chirp
(Knockout glances at Breakdown) "Rough room," he purrs in his refined and slightly amused voice. (Looks at OSV with a determined expression. Then sweeps servo grandiosely again) "One more time. This is Breakdown, the RIGHT LEG OF MENASOR!"
Down the hallway doubled over laughing madly, the cameras search, then finally focus onto Ratchet.
Seconds later
"Well ... I'm glad YOU'RE ENTERTAINED!" -Knockout
"I was." Ratchet turning to grin at Breakdown. "Sorry."
"Don't mention it." -Breakdown smirking in spite of himself
"What can you tell us about combiners, Breakdown? Ratchet?" -OSV trawling for an answer
(All the bots stare at each other, then the OSV) "Combiners are a bit of mad science created by a bot named Jhiaxus. Its a dodgy business, combiners. Taking five individuals and making them combine to become one big one is harmful to the bots involved. At least it is for Decepticon gestalts.
"Our combiners don't have the bigger problems. Computron is enormously brilliant when the Technobots combine. However, they take forever to come to a plan. Superion on the other servo shuts down all the differences to work together which makes them seem to be stuck up to others but they aren't. They're concentrating.
"Your team, Breakdown ... Menasor is improperly configured. When you combine with your brothers, you become a psychotic maniac. The Decepticons wanted combiners. They didn't take care to help the bots do it and they suffer." -Ratchet, explaining.
"Then its an imperfect science?" -OSV
"It's a war crime instituted by a war criminal who I shall dissect if I ever get my servos around his neck." -Ratchet, promising
"You better be faster than Arcee. She has nothing good to say about him." -Knockout filling in the blanks
"You're a complex people." OSV with a grin
"YOU JUST NOTICED?" -three bots asking in unison
-0-TBC April 12, 2014 edited 4-15-14 7-24-19
NOTE: If you ever saw 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest', the head nurse in the movie is Nurse Ratchet. She's the source of Ratchet's naming and he's homage to her.