The Diego Diaries: Habitat 2 (684) {} Cybertronian speech
-0-A hangar at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean, Earth
"We want to join the universe, Ambassador. We want to step into space and what lies beyond," Brandon Clark replied. "We want to go forward."
Ratchet nodded. "That's a good thing." He considered the humans looking at him around the horseshoe table before him. "You do know that our relationship in the past with civilian humans wasn't good. We have no problem with the soldiers and the civilian scientists at the Science Habitat. They fit in. They make an effort to understand us and how we live. What we don't want to do is introduce discord into our lives. We are one on Mars."
Brandon nodded. "We know. But we want to start with a clean slate. We want to have a presence on Mars, something that I believe will only strengthen the partnership between your people and ours."
"Those are lofty ideals," Ratchet said. "We'd like only the best rapport between you and us but I think it would be good for everyone to understand that we've seen both sides of a relationship with you."
"We understand," Lowell Marks replied. "We'll all be feeling our way along this path. Nothing is set in stone. This will be a collaboration and a joint venture. We're in need of your expertise and assistance. We acknowledge that clearly. We'd like to change the future for both sides."
Ratchet nodded. "Alright. Tell us what you're going to do, what you've solved, what you need and what you can't fix. Remember, what you hold back might kill you. There are no second chances for your species on Mars if you conceal information or miscalculate."
Brandon Clark nodded. He glanced at Jerry Skura. "Tell them what we designed and what we'll do."
Skura did.
-0-Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars
They stood on their segways waiting for the word from Prowl that the next two episodes were passed through the censors for broadcast. Aaron Belcher looked at the handsome winger who was communicating with someone, probably Prime. He considered the program that had been brewing in his helm and whether he would ask Prowl about it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, he thought, so he did.
Prowl looked down. "The review board has cleared them for broadcast."
:Thank you, Prowl. May I ask you a question?: Belcher asked.
Prowl nodded. "Proceed."
:I have wanted to do a 'special' … a program on a topic that's a one shot affair. I want to do a lock up special. This would be a show based on the prison, jail and brig system here. We pick a couple of bots and follow them through the process showcasing Cybertronian law and the lock up system here. We'd call it 'Lock Up: Autobot City' and show it as a special event. What do you think?:
Prowl stared at them a moment defying an overwhelming desire to laugh in their faces. "I will put the proposal to Prime," he said calmly.
:Thanks: Belcher said with a grin. :See ya: With that, he motored around and with the others sped off toward the door beyond.
Prowl watched him go, then glanced at Prowler who was sitting on the table chewing on a stylus. "What do you think? Good idea?" Prowl asked the infant fondly.
Prowler smiled brilliantly.
Prowl grinned slightly. "You're easy. I better get another opinion." He gazed at his daughter who was recharging in her little bed next to him. She had no opinion at the time.
-0-Trine
Sunstreaker walked from the museum where he and the others had met to discuss the exhibition. Ravel had joined him at the time until Tie Down could come, too. They had been asked to do a tool set, a brace of knives and a sword. It had been a long term project that they'd used to make them once given the heads up by Sunstreaker. He had told them of this project before he'd started the ball rolling for it to even happen with their leadership. He was convinced that it would be a good idea so he pursued it with the single minded doggedness that was a hallmark of his life.
His family would be amply represented in the show. He would show his paintings, Tie and Ravel their tools and weapons while Alor would provide the music which would play softly in the background. It would be playing in the exhibition halls where the show would be based. He trekked to the Metro station, then descended to go to Tyger Pax and the studio. It would be a short uncrowded ride at this time in the mid morning.
-0-At a dojo
He carefully explained the footwork of the close quarters obliteration that he was teaching intensely interested youngling mechs of the Home Guard on the big mats of the dojo. They were here for lessons which Sideswipe as a Master Trainer in the army was prepared to teach them. There were very few martial skills that mattered that he hadn't acquired over his wanderings. He was a lethal weapon in every sense of the word.
Sunstreaker entered, then walked to the lounge to sit with the mechs who were hanging out there. "New younglings?" he asked as he watched the kids work out what Sideswipe was patiently teaching.
"New ones," Kup said. "Came from the last migration. They want to help defend the colony."
Sunstreaker nodded. "Good." He looked at Kup. "The show is going to be leaving in a half decaorn. It'll start in New York City and end in San Francisco."
Kup nodded. "Sounds good. I hear your grandgenitors are sending some of their best work."
Sunstreaker nodded. "I may have to steal the tool kit they made for this show. They're sending two long knives and a specially made sword. That sword is a beauty. Its etched and you can see your face in it." He grinned. "I may have to keep it for a mirror."
"Like you don't have any already," Tracks said with a grin.
"Look who's talking?" Sunstreaker said with a grin.
"Ratchet is on Earth. I wonder how that'll go," Kup mused. "I don't want to see another Daniels here. I don't think I really like the idea of the humans having their own rules."
Sunstreaker nodded. "I know. They'll cause trouble. They always do."
"I hear that bunch of slaggers … Johnson and Hedges are making noise on Earth. I wondered how long it would take before they showed up again, the slaggers."
"Give us a joor or two alone with them and they won't be anyone's problem," Sideswipe said as he walked to the lounge with his three students. "Fraggers."
"I'll go with ya," Sunstreaker said. "You might get lost."
Sideswipe laughed aloud. "Not lost enough to stay out of the movies."
Sunstreaker rose, then tackled his brother. The younglings would get a real demonstration of honed skills as they rolled around on the mats, two mechs who had an almost supernatural connection to each other.
It would also be hilarious.
-0-In the Sparkling Day School
Orion stood in line for lunch. They were getting their drink. The rest would be delivered to their places at the little table. They were in their usual spot to eat, a low table in the lunch room. That is, the general purpose room which doubled as lunchroom and dance class space among other things. He took his drink, then walked carefully back to his table. Sitting, adjusting his tu-tu so he could fit his chair, he waited politely for his lunch tray.
The lunch staff and volunteers carefully placed a balanced tasty traditional meal on the tiny trays, then placed them before each child. They waited with smiles, their manners part of their curriculum. When all were served, they began to eat.
"Ho-Ho."
"What, Orion?" Hero asked from her chair behind him. She sat at a table with a number of younglings about her age including the twinnies.
"Good, this," he said pointing to the food on his tray.
"It is. I like this, too," Hero said in her cheerful sweet manner. "What do you like best, Uraya?" she asked her niece.
"I like this," Uraya said holding up a carrot-like stick.
"I like it, too," that little femme added.
"Orion likes it, too," Hero said glancing over her shoulder at her older brother.
He turned in his seat to look at her, nearly sliding out on his tu-tu before catching himself. "Whoa!" He smiled enormously. "I falled down."
"You did," Hero said with a smile. "You look nice. Doesn't he look nice, Iacon?"
Iacon looked at Orion, then smiled as she nodded her helm. "I like him. Orion is nice."
Hero agreed and so did the others. They talked together about it, about Orion's 'nice' tu-tu and other topics of import among the short statured. As they did it'd be recorded by the filmmakers who'd listen to it through their translators with a sense of enchantment.
It was impressive how well the little ones got along together.
-0-Bluestreak
He finished up his shift, then searched the grid for the twins. They were at the dojo so he left work to find them. It was warming up a little as he walked under the bluish sky above. Entering the subway, he rode to Tyger Pax and the tower where the twins could be found when not on duty.
Riding up, stepping off, he entered the dojo. Everyone was sitting in the lounge area shooting the breeze. He walked to them and was pulled into Sideswipe's lap. "How's your exhibit, Sunny? Did the Museum box it correctly?" Bluestreak asked.
"They did. I helped them. Sadee's stuff is going with mine. It's all marked and we went over the presentation set up together. We're video conferencing when they get ready to place it in the museum," Sunstreaker said.
"Will you be going there?" Hound asked.
"No. Maybe. I don't know," Sunstreaker replied. "If nothing goes wrong, then no. They plan to do interviews through the film crew here and IntraComm so I suppose there'll be that," Sunstreaker said.
"Your moment to shine," Tracks said with a smirk.
"Jealous much?" Sunstreaker asked the big narcissist.
That led to a good half joor of slag and snark before the time came for lunch. They'd order in.
The younglings who were there for lessons would sit and listen with rapt audials as the toughest mechs in the colony shot the breeze and discussed art. It'd be awesome.
So would the 'pizza'.
-0-A break on Earth
Ratchet stood up and walked to the doorway where Drift and Springer were watching the process. {I'm surprised you're still here}
{I'm not. I don't like about half of them} Springer said as he cast a gimlet optic on the group sitting or standing around the long table. {I smell a Daniels}
{If I can find a screwdriver I can fix that for ya} Ratchet said with a grin.
Drift snorted, then laughed.
Springer glanced at him, then Ratchet. {I'll remember that. How much longer is this going to last?}
{I don't know. Percy and 'Jack are trouble shooting their plans. I'd say they're only fifty years short of their goal if we weren't here to do the heavy lifting} Ratchet said with a grin.
{Do you really think they're coming?} Drift asked as he glanced their way.
{They are. We just have to remain vigilant} Ratchet said. Then he grinned. {But I wouldn't worry. After all, we have Deputy Dawg here on the job} He slapped Springer on the shoulder.
Springer chuckled. {Lucky you to have the full effect of my magnificence}
{Lucky Drift} Ratchet replied.
Drift grinned. {You won't get an argument out of me}
They laughed together.
Nearby watching with interest to the strange language and easy manner of the bots, the humans considered what they saw. Ratchet was tough and gave little away. He was listening and forming opinions of their abilities to be a threat or an asset to the Autobot's goals and plans. It was going to be a long hard process. It was clear that the humans would be dependent on the Autobots for help and assistance for a long time.
"We need to cultivate that mech," Lowell Marks said to Brandon Clark.
Clark nodded. "We do. Fuck Daniels for making it harder."
Marks shook his head in exasperation. "I agree. We just have to be better at this game than he was."
Clark nodded. "We better be. That fucker is going to spend the rest of his life in a maximum security prison."
Marks had nothing to add to that.
-0-TBC April 15, 2014 edited 4-25-14 7-24-19