Fandom: Transformers G1
Pairing: Prowl/Noitefel
Rating: PG
Codes: Het
Summary:

Wanderer's Home acr 2 pt 38: Settling In

Optimus looked up from the data files that Whippoorwill had given him on the remaining Cybertronians who were waiting for bodies in the Well. The hardest part of this was picking who would be the most useful - who would come out first. Especially now that he was running out of names he recognized from before. He looked over at Windsong, standing guard by his door, and spoke.

"What can you tell me about Blastfire, Freighter, and Arcweld?" He asked the most social of the Guards, hoping he'd know more about them than Whippoorwill had.

The mid-sized mech brightened instantly at the opportunity to talk. His body language relaxed into a much more pleasant eagerness and his face animated with delight.

"A great deal, Prime," he answered with his best entertainer's voice, and once again Optimus was reminded of the old type, the bard, rather than what the word meant now. "Blastfire's a demolitions expert and top-notch saboteur of buildings and bridges. If it sits still, she'll find it's weakest point on instinct and put just the right charge there. As a civilian she specialized in implosion demolition and improving the blast-resistance of buildings. She was an Autobot stationed out of Kalis for two and a half ganon before being captured in a raid. She credits her deactivation to Hotspike and Coldspike under Shockwave's orders."

"How was she about collateral damage when she was going after a Decepticon target?" Prime asked him. "She could be useful, but the humans are touchy about blowing up more than you mean to."

"She's a civilian demolitions specialist," Windsong said firmly with extra emphasis on civilian. "Extremely proud of her zero collateral damage record. That can, and likely has, worked against her in the war, though you'll have no problems with her damaging what she shouldn't. Just be clear with her about what is and is not Con property. She'll assume anything she doesn't know is Con is to be spared, even if a Con is standing on it."

"I'm perfectly happy with that," Optimus chuckled lowly, making a note to put her near the top of the list for rebuilds along with most of the combat-built fliers. "And the humans will be as well, especially given her specialty. Our contacts are nervous about mechs who might be willing to take out slave labor along with a target."

"Understandable," Windsong nodded easily. "I believe you'll find she suits your desires perfectly. She is also very well suited to going back into civilian life quickly and smoothly, as well as assisting in the rebuilding efforts in a professional function."

"And helping us work with the humans," Prime nodded. "Especially with Cybertron so close by, it will be good to foster a sense that we're their allies with more than just the government ... so, Freighter and Arcweld?"

"Arcweld is a top-notch surgeon and doctor. He was classified as a field medic because he thought he'd do more good that way. Ratchet may have more of an opinion of him, but I wouldn't hesitate to put you under his care."

"I'll talk to Ratchet yet, but I can't ask for better than that," the larger mech nodded slightly and put Arcweld at the very top of the list. "It'll be good to have another dedicated medic available. Wheeljack has to spend too much time helping Ratchet after battles; he's better used elsewhere. Does he have any known work that Teletraan-1 would have access to?"

Windsong had to think about that for a time. "He mentioned being awarded the Medal of Healers for his work with a survivor when a twin dies. Most of what he talked about was somehow related to spark-twins or a surviving spark-bound partner. Most of it was beyond what I could understand, but his focus was related to sparks and bonding. He put a lot of his energy in our time in the Well to helping the dead twin or bonded mech deal with the separation until their other half arrived."

"Very important, these days," Prime nodded. "Though, thankfully, not as much as it used to be ... he might be able to help with Starscream and Skyfire as well. Anything else?"

"He's only been dead a ganon and a half." He shifted, a bit of unease entering his manner before he met Prime's optics. "I'm sure he visited the living as a ghost."

"That's... not entirely unheard of, but very strange," Prime murmured. "If he responds, we'll have to try and find out what was so strong for him."

Windsong nodded and relaxed a bit. "Freighter has a good spark, but for all his desire to help the war effort, I would not recommend bringing him back soon," Windsong said. "He's a strong willed, good sparked mech that is everything you can hope for in an Autobot except he has no combat experience and little temperament for battle. Early in the war, he would have learned quickly and done well. At this stage experienced warriors and those with skills are much more valuable. He was a laborer killed in the Kaon revolt while trying to get word to us about it. He was in the Well before I was. He wants to help the war effort, to prove that not all Kaonians are Decepticon supporters. He will be a great asset when it comes time to rebuild. Until then, he has no skills to offer."

"He sounds like it," Optimus nodded. "Any other's you'd recommend putting in the front of the queue?" Optimus leaned back in his chair and watched his Guard think. Asking these open-ended questions told him so much about a bot. Their thought processes, their processor speed, their goals, hopes and fears. With those he knew he'd be spending an unprecedented amount of time with for the rest of his life, they were invaluable insights.

"At least two more Guard," he answered with the resolution of one who expected to be chastised.

"Do you feel they're necessary?" Optimus asked him easily. "So far, as far as I'm aware, there haven't been any lapses, and you all seem to be handling things well."

"Strictly necessary, no," Windsong admitted. "No more than air power being a priority is. We have not had any lapses, and it is unlikely to happen while the situation remains as it is," he said almost formally and with a well-suppressed touch of defensiveness. "It is, however, a significant strain on all of us to have twice the number to protect and less than half our team.

"In addition, you have had very little of the education you will need to do well as Prime in peacetime. If you intend to lead after the war, neither Noitefel nor myself should be on protection detail. Whippoorwill really shouldn't be either. While Noitefel is doing his best, he is not an aid de camp either. Because of the size of this group and the weak political ties of the war, he is managing. No peacetime Prime, and few in wartime, have done well without a strong aid to organize their time and keep check on the rest of the universe before they meet the Prime.

"You have done very well with what you have," Windsong said without a trace of patronization. "That does not mean you would not do much better with the proper skills at your disposal."

"Who would you recommend, then?" Prime asked him, setting Whippoorwill's list to the side. "And, just so I understand, why would you recommend removing yourself, Noitefel, and Whippoorwill from the protection detail?"

"I do not have names for you, only what to ask for from Primus," Windsong answered. "Noitefel is a political and campaign tactician, not a protector. His time and energy is best spend absorbing political and situational information to plan the best way to win the war and rebuild our world, and in this case, educating you in the skills you will soon need to lead in peacetime.

"Whippoorwill and I are both socializers. Our best use is to quietly mold other's minds towards supporting the Prime and his goals, and finding dissention within the population. She is also our Intel specialist. Every hour she spends on guard duty is time she can not devote to learning the secrets you will need to succeed, and time she can not spend cultivating the contacts that keep us ahead of trouble."

"Understood," Optimus nodded. "Then you'd suggest an additional two 'typical' Guards?"

"Yes, Prime," he inclined his head respectfully. "Specifically two shields. Heavy frames like Crashcourse and Skjöldur."

"How many Sparks are left waiting to come back, before we run out of them?" Optimus asked him.

"Assuming you only want the Autobots and neutrals, there are another hundred and two in the Well," he answered smoothly. "We have vetted them all. There are at least three times that many Decepticons."

"And no Guard sparks remaining ... beyond the two Guard, who would you recommend for being brought back online soon? I'd prefer to bring on mechs who are already prepared, if possible, now that we know they're there."

He watched as Windsong thought, ran over possibilities, and likely debated on whether to try to hand the question off to Noitefel as the unit tactician.

"The first thirty in the order; Arcweld, Sunsharp, Windsheer, Jackpot, Blastfire, Nitro, Chemfire, Stardust, Starcry, Starflair, Winterquick, Vibrance, Pantheon, Darkwit, Longstrike, Thunderblast, Skyquake, Stormwake, Lancer, Quill, Medstar, Softly, Hollowpoint, Quasar, Timerist, Sunsharp, Windstorm, Mindstrike, Archangel, and Seashark."

"Thank you," Optimus nodded. "How strong is the drive to get back out?"

"It varies, to a degree, Prime, but please realize that it takes a very intense need to live to remain a spark for more than a vorn within the Well," he tried to explain something not even he had words for. "Most of those trying to come back have been dead for ganon. The only reason the Aerialbots were not filled with old sparks is that there were not five who could live as a gestalt. Megatron did receive old sparks for his gestalt. Cons are not nearly as fussy about how they live, just that they live."

"I understand," Optimus nodded. "That's why I'm asking. Would you think I was completely off-base if I told you that I consider this, in a way, a rescue mission?"

"No Prime," he smiled. "It is how we feel about it. The opening you gave with the two Seeker-frames was definitely a breakout."

"Then you understand why I want to get as many different Sparks out of the Well as I can," Optimus said, a smile of his own behind his battle mask. "The additional Guards may have to wait a little while - but at the rate that we can retrieve them now, particularly with Skyfire able to ship components on his own, it shouldn't be too long if we're lucky."

"I understand," Windsong said easily, his body language backing up that he felt what he was saying. "There is good reason I'm not a commander. It is ... unpleasant ... not to follow my first purpose, Prime. Given an opening, I will try to do what I was created to do."

"I understand," Optimus nodded. "As will I," he added. "Though I understand that makes things more difficult for the rest of you."

"We are at war," he gave Prime a small, rueful smile of understanding. "Even I understand that priorities can't always be what makes life easiest for a few."

"What did you mean, about doing what you were initially programmed to do?" Prime asked him, settling back in his seat.

Windsong gave him a charming smile and shifted his body language to something just on the polite side of seductive. It left Prime with no doubts this one could win over most mechs in a sparkbeat. Painted something other than the matte dusty rose of the Guard, he'd be stunning. "I was commissioned by Senator Vicrest as an entertainer to sway others to his desires, be it by music, talk or blackmail. My programmed loyalty and purpose meshed well with the Guard programming once Vicrest turned me over to Sentinel Prime."

"I imagine he wasn't expecting you to be converted to a Guard," he nodded slightly. "Do you plan on retiring after the War?"

"Decidedly not," Windsong seemed to find it amusing. "If I leave the Guard is entirely to you, Prime."

"I don't plan to change the roster too much," Prime promised him. "However, I will ask that you only take a shot if you think that you're more capable of it than I am, while you're on the protection detail. I'm capable of taking some fairly impressive hits without being seriously damaged, from most opponents, and I wouldn't want one of the Guard injured trying to take a shot that I could withstand."

"I will try to keep it in mind," Windsong promised. "I'm not keen on going back to Primus so soon after getting out, Prime."

"Thank you. Sometimes I think you're the only Guard who isn't," he admitted. "About what you said - I'd been under the impression that the Guard handled their own membership, independent of the Prime. Not quite accurate?"

Windsong looked thoughtful for a bit. "Primus grants the Guard life to protect the bearer of the Matrix. If a Guard is not capable of protecting a given Matrix-bearer because the bearer does not want them to, Primus will call them back and send one better suited to that bearer. That is why most of the Guard changes with each Prime. The Matrix chooses a very different mech each time, so those well-suited to protect and serve one do not do so well with the next."

"Just how does Primus call them back?" Optimus asked him seriously.

"I do not know, Prime," he answered quietly. "There are some things invited Guards don't know. Noitefel, Crashcourse or Skjöldur should be able to answer."

"Understood," he nodded. "I'll be talking to them later either way. Do you ever regret joining the Guard?"

"No," Windsong shook his head quickly. "Sentinel was a far better master than Vicrest. He willingly allowed me to indulge my talents, even when it was not to his direct benefit."

"I don't mind if you do either, as long as it doesn't interfere with anybody," Optimus told him. "I'm assuming you've already figured out the assorted bondings here."

"I believe so," he smiled warmly. "Prowl to his work, for now. Jazz and Blaster are spark-bound, as are Sunsteaker and Sideswipe, as twins and lovers. Neither pairing are exclusive. You and Elita-1. Stardancer and Skysong. Ratchet bonded to Wheeljack and with Ironhide, but it's not a triad.

"Hound and Mirage. Rollover and Tailgater. Ezara with Jazz and yourself, though both are expected to end. Ezara and Skywarp are likely to continue. Windfall is trying to get with Jazz again, but he's a little occupied at the moment. I believe those are all the serious pairings.

"Jazz, the Twins, Tracks, Nightstalker, Tread Bolt, Whippoorwill and I all have a reputation for playing around more than most. Skyfire is holding out hope for Starscream for now. Have we missed any, Prime?"

"I actually wasn't even aware of Hound and Mirage," Optimus said approvingly. "And I don't see Prowl's interests changing too quickly, but beyond that, I'd say you did quite well. I only ask that you don't interfere with them. I doubt you would, but it bears commenting on, especially with Ezara on-base."

"I only interfere when authorized to by you," he promised.

"Thank you," Optimus smiled behind his battle mask. "Do you think there are any particular prospects for Prowl?"

The look that flashed across Windsong's face was pure mischievous glee. "Noitefel is already courting him. I think they're a good match."

"Assuming it's not just professional interest on both sides," Optimus chuckled at the idea of anyone courting his SIC successfully, especially another tactician. "Judging by the dedication both have to their duties, they may not be seeking out anything more than mutual planning."

"It's possible," Windsong flashed a winning grin. "All four of us agree that Noitefel is more interested than that. Though if they get past the first stage within hundred vorn, it'll be a miracle. Tacticians are infamously slow about getting into a relationship, though when they do it is very rarely the wrong choice."

"I think you've just described how tacticians do everything," Optimus chuckled. "Well, I hope you're right - it would be good for both of them to have somebody they can relax with."

"Agreed, Prime," he laughed easily; a soft, musical sound that suited the singing voice of the Jazz-sized mech. "They are both wound quite tight on the best of days."

"Very true," he chuckled, standing from his seat. "I believe I'm going to go see how things are going elsewhere. Find out if there are any updates on the Decepticon activity."

Windsong nodded and shifted his stance, ready to follow his charge wherever Prime wanted to go.

"So, does anybody outside of the Guard know about Prowl and Noitefel possibly being interested?" Prime asked as he went to the door.

"Given how much Whippoorwill loves a betting pool, I expect the entire crew will know before decaorn's end," he chuckled lightly and fell into step easily with the much taller mech as they began their tour of the Ark.

"Just how much trouble does she end up creating, when left to her own devices?" Optimus asked him seriously. "Or does she keep it under control?"

"It depends on your definition of trouble," Windsong said with easy cheer. "Until we have a full team, she won't have enough time or energy to do much more than a few betting pools and sit in on any gambling already going on. She's still got a lot of catching up to do, just not as much as the three of us, and Ezara is not an easy charge, for all she's more accustomed to the situation than you are. As long as their are off-base outlets, an underworld or 'Cons, to suffer her attentions you'll hardly notice when she gets restless. Guard or not, she's a grifter at spark. She can get fidgety when she hasn't been able to work her skills for a while. It's true for most of us, really. Hers is just a talent that's best kept off base."

"How about the rest of them?" He asked Windsong easily. "Any other hobbies or talents I should know about?"

"Mine is making music and entertaining others. Give me an audience and I'm happy. Rather like Jazz, but without the prankster coding," he grinned up.

"Noitefel is a tactician, though Prowl seems to be his hobby now. Just keep the sparing ring supplied with combat drones or opponents and Crashcourse will be content. You've handled Sunstreaker and Sideswipe for more than long enough to have the care and handling of the under socialized, ill-tempered killing mech down pat.

"Skjöldur is an avid student of everything. She's been here long enough she's probably downloaded everything on this planet and anything Teletraan-1 has let her. She may be quiet and foreboding, but the processor behind those optics is top of the line."

"How dangerous would it be to pit the Twins and Crashcourse against each other? Not as a fight, but to keep each other busy?"

"In the sparing ring? They've already found each other," Windsong laughed in honest amusement. "You may see less trouble from the Twins for it, though I don't be sure yet. Skjöldur definitely enjoys sparing with them."

"Well, the Ark's still in one piece and Ratchet hasn't blown a circuit, so that answers my main two concerns," Optimus chuckled as they entered the control room. "Any activity to report?" He asked the mechs on duty.

"The Cons are laying low, Prime," Smokescreen reported professionally from his station at Teletraan-1. "The beating we gave them in the rescue mission seems to have them still licking their wounds. Ultra Magnus reported that Whiplash has arrived safely on Cybertron, along with the energon shipment we sent with Skyfire. There is increased activity there, but he has it under control."

"Good," Prime nodded. "How is progress going with Operation: Citadel?"

"Ultra Magnus reports that progress is ahead of schedule. He indicated that he should have a new schedule calculated within the orn now that his tactician is back," Smokescreen answered. "He did ask if we were going to increase the pace of Operation: WellSpark."

"Affirmative," Optimus nodded. "We want to get as many of them back out as we can as quickly as possible. We're already contacting some of the humans for help, where it's feasible."

"I will pass that along with the next sitrep, sir" Smokescreen acknowledged smartly.

Optimus nodded and turned to leave, Windsong a nearly silent, easy to forget shadow just behind him as he made his way to the common room. The sounds that first reached his ears were the familiar cadence of a betting pool getting stated in the general population.

True to form, Jazz's amused drawl was one of the voices in charge as the words became clear. He quickly identified Whippoorwill's energetic lilt as the other.

"I did warn you she'd have it common knowledge within the decaorn," Windsong all but giggled. "Now it's a matter of how long it'll take everyone else to believe that those two have romantic programming."

"I'm sure," Optimus nodded before stepping into the common room and making his presence known to those there. "What's this all about?" He asked, even though he was sure Windsong was right. It was still a good idea to make sure they knew he was keeping an eye on things.

Whippoorwill looked up with a grin that was all innocent delight. "Good evening, Prime," she greeted him cheerfully. "Just a little betting pool for how long it'll take Prowl and Noitefel to 'face," she said easily, much to the distress of several bots around her.

"Which is between the two of them," Prime said firmly. "And should stay that way." All the same, he didn't come right out and tell them to stop... mostly because he knew it wouldn't do any good. "Get back to work," he told them all, knowing it wouldn't be long before they were back at it once he moved on.

Even though no one had actual work to do, since they were all off shift, the gathering broke up quickly as Prime turned to leave.

"You do know that won't stop it, Prime?" Windsong asked quietly when they were out of audio range.

"Of course not," he acknowledged, shaking his head. "I still need to keep some appearance of maintaining discipline. If it bothers Prowl or Noitefel, they'll be much more effective at stopping it than I will."

"Very true," he nodded and relaxed as they made their way to the de-Forging workshop that had been carved out of the mountain surrounding the Ark by Mitrix's nanites. The sound of the two Tezita femmes talking rapid-fire in their own language reached them before anything else. For all he knew what the words were, he still had no clue what they were talking about - highly technical information that was beyond him, at any rate.

"How are things progressing?" He asked as he entered the lab with Windsong.

The pair paused, and he realized that Ratchet and Perceptor were in the room as well. Between them they had two Seekers laid out and in various states of dis-and-reassembly. The femmes were working on Starscream, with Skyfire alternating between trying to help and staying out of their way.

"Very well," Mitrix responded with a smile when she glanced over her shoulder at him. "Starscream was unstable before the Forge, but we should be able to bring him level again."

Even after this long, it was strange to see the long-dead pair walking around, knowing they'd usurped Ezara's body to do so.

"That's good to hear... how long do you believe it will take?" He asked them, glancing at Ratchet to see how he was doing. He still wasn't looking particularly thrilled with all of this, but now that they had better odds and intended subject survival, he was clearly more comfortable with the process and his involvement in it.

"Without interruption, I believe we're down to eight months," Mitrix said smoothly. "By the time we get through these, we'll likely have it down to a month, average. The learning phase is what takes the longest."

"Of course," he nodded. "Projected survival rates?"

"Sunstorm, 26.9912%. Starscream, 68.5319%, largely thanks to Skyfire's involvement. More baseline Seekers, 83.3958%," Mitrix responded with pride evident in her voice.

"Is Sunstorm's lower odds related to his inner radiation?" Prime asked them, glancing back as he realized Windsong wasn't there anymore; Noitefel had taken his place, and was much quieter generally. "Shift change?" He asked briefly.

"Yes, Prime," Noitefel inclined his head politely.

"Yes," Singer answered. "That and his much less stable personality. He makes Starscream seem positively sane. There is only so much fixing we can do with that."

"Basically, the less there is to work with, the lower the odds," Wheeljack offered. "Harder to separate it all out. Probably going to be a fair number of 'Cons in that boat, but they'd be the ones who'd be trouble anyways."

"Yes," Mitrix nodded. "Even Sunstorm has better chances with this procedure than he would without it."

"Life expectancy as a warrior is nearly doubled, should he survive the process," Noitefel offered.

"You've been keeping up on our notes," Wheeljack said approvingly. "He'll have an easier time of controlling the radiation as well, making it easier for him to be socialized."

"It sounds like you're making a great deal of progress," Optimus nodded slightly. "Will it work as well for non-Seekers? Or will you be back at square one?"

"It should be the same process for any Con," Ratchet spoke up gruffly. "Hotspike and Coldspike weren't Seekers and the differences seem minimal. Individual variance and psychological condition have more effect than frametype."

"Seekers are just more valuable to us, and the Cons, so they've been a focus," Mitrix told him. "We want as many of them to survive as possible."

"You hope to bring natural flight back to the Tezita," he guessed, nodding slightly. "Carry on then, you seem to have everything under control here for now. Have we found a way to avoid another 'rescue' attempt?"

"Yes, we do," Singer inclined her head. "We never agreed with Paulla's destruction of them. Perhaps with it coming from outside blood, they will be more stable."

"It is unlikely that he will attempt for Starscream again," Mitrix added. "I displayed rather pointedly that I can control him, send him back to the Ark, at will."

"And the others? I understand that after we were taken, we found there was a way to disable Skywarp's ability to teleport in and out, it was just prohibitively expensive to use," Optimus offered.

"They haven't tried yet," she pointed out. "Even when they knew we were critically vulnerable. I can install the code I did on Starscream if it would make you feel better."

"No need," he said, shaking his head. "You're right, it seems unlikely that they'll attack at this stage. If anything does happen, set off an alarm before anything else."

"Prime, the most efficient solution is to turn Ezara loose without her Guard with orders to capture him," Noitefel spoke up. "There is a 98.68% probability that he will be neutralized as a threat within three orn."

"The main concern is that I'm worried that if we continue capturing Decepticon soldiers this way, Megatron will respond by increasing his depredations on Cybertron," Prime admitted. "Besides, Ezara has indicated that she'd rather not capture him until we're sure the process will work safely. Since she's the one who'd have to catch him, that does limit our options."

Noitefel nodded his acceptance of the fact and made no counter-statement, which was the behavior Optimus was beginning to realize was normal. His campaign tactician had a very different view on things than Prowl or Smokescreen and tended to avoid confrontation with him more than most. It was something else to ask Windsong about when he came on duty next. This was the kind of situation Noitefel should have an opinion, or at least statistical analysis, about.

"Mostly that last one," Singer gave a rueful smile. "She enjoys time with her Seeker very much."

"I could install an override code in Skywarp the next time they are together," Mitrix offered. "Similar to Starscream's but with a prohibition about taking anything from the Ark."

"I think it would be a good measure to take," Optimus agreed.

Mitrix flicked her chin up in agreement and turned back to her work on Starscream.

"Prime," Skyfire's stopped him from leaving just yet. "Thank you for giving me a second chance with Starscream."

"You're welcome, Skyfire," he said, reaching up to put a hand on the taller mech's shoulder. "I hope you get that second chance when this is all through. On a peaceful Cybertron," he added.

Skyfire smiled down at him, something wistful in his optics. "And among peaceful stars."

It took Optimus a moment to work out what that meant, and he chided himself for it. "Among peaceful stars," he corrected himself, though he hadn't been asked to. Of course two explorers would want the stars, not the world they willingly left behind for tens if not hundreds of vorn at a time.

"Skyfire," Mitrix's voice got the shuttle's attention and he turned to help work on Starscream again.

"I think that's our cue to leave the medical types to their work," Optimus chuckled, turning to leave with Noitefel. "Serious question for you. How much of a strain is the current workload for the Guard?"

As they walked, he watched the familiar sight of a tactician dropping every bit of attention he could from the world around him to fully analyze the question. It was a process that never ceased to amaze him.

"Efficiency is currently at six-three percent and is expected to decrease at point five percent per two decaorn we maintain this schedule," Noitefel answered. "Critical measures will need to be taken when we reach twenty-six percent."

"And I'm assuming I'll get further trying to convince Wheeljack and Sparkplug to put in some extra time making a few spare chassis than I will trying to convince all of you that I can be allowed to walk around the Ark without constant supervision," Prime summarized. "Are you willing to accept some help that isn't Guard-sparked?"

"The Decepticons held you captive less than a decaorn ago," Noitefel said with the faint hint of stiffness in his voice that was all too reminiscent of Prowl when he'd had the spark scared out of him too recently to cope with. "They are capable of doing so again at any time. Help would depend on who, Prime."

'Mother hen' popped unbidden into Prime's processor and he had to stifle a laugh. Yes, that was exactly what they were acting like, all five of them and half of the crew. Leave it to the humans to have a saying that so perfectly described a Cybertronian. Of them all though, Noitefel seemed to take it as a personal affront more than anyone else.

Hopefully he'd settle down after a while when things didn't go so drastically wrong with any regularity.

"Of those who are already here on Earth, there's Ironhide, Blastfire and Hound, just to name those who aren't already on full assignment to other tasks that make better use of their skills," Optimus offered. "As for when I was captured - bear in mind that it was, first of all, before you had been reactivated, and second, that I had two Guard in the room with me already at the time. The capture was arranged in such a way that there could have been a full battalion in the room and it wouldn't have helped."

Noitefel looked thoughtful, and displeased, then nodded slightly. "Their addition will help the strain greatly. Thank you, Prime."

"You're welcome," he nodded. "Besides, it will help keep them out of trouble. So ... how are things going with Prowl?" He asked him easily.

"Quite well," a small smile crept across his face. "It is very pleasant to have another to talk to. Pre-programmed tacticians are not prone to remain in the Well for long."

"I imagine not," Prime nodded slightly. "You probably know about this already, but Whippoorwill is already starting a betting pool on how long the two of you will be courting."

A small, disgruntled sound greeted that statement. "I am aware. She is pestering me to ask for a few days free time to take him somewhere. Apparently the idea that either of us have such programming amuses her to no end."

"You'd best get used to it," Optimus chuckled. "I got the same sort of response after they found out about Elita-1 and myself. Does it actually bother you?"

Noitefel considered the question as only a tactician could, then shook his head. "No. It is in her core programming to be like that. I would prefer she direct her energy to more useful pursuits, but I know that is not her way. I can perceive it serves a vital purpose, even if I can not understand what that is."

"One of these days, I'm going to convince you that you can answer a question with more than efficiency ratings and logic," Optimus chuckled. "I won't talk to her about stopping it then. Do you have any particular intentions towards courting him, or is it more friendship?" He asked. With Prowl, it was almost impossible to tell - he was friendly to so few of the others.

"I am courting him," Noitefel answered easily and immediately. No trace of reservation or question in him at all. He knew his goal and he knew that goal's place in the greater scheme of things.

It was a clarity of purpose that Optimus was more than slightly envious of on occasion.

"Has it worked on Prowl yet, convincing him to answer with his emotional center?" Noitefel asked in what seemed to be actual curiosity to Optimus.

"Occasionally," Optimus chuckled. "Once I convinced him that I considered the morale of my SIC to be a key efficiency issue. Once we've got Ironhide and the others up to speed as temporary guards - by my satisfaction," he added, knowing they'd never really measure up to Noitefel's standards, "you might consider taking a few days to decompress. Maybe find something that would interest the both of you; Prowl could use some leave as well, after having to take charge while I was POW."

"It was immensely stressful to his systems," Noitefel predictably accepted the idea of seeing to another's welfare better than his own. "There is an international law enforcement summit in Las Vegas in six local months. It could be a useful PR event for us. Making contacts within the law enforcement community from many countries could smooth relations after we fight on their soil."

It gave Optimus a small sense of satisfaction knowing he could, to an extent, manipulate these logic driven officers to do what he thought was needed for their own good. It would be much easier now, with the ability to play one against the other. If calling it a PR event would make it easier to get them to go, he was all for it.

"It sounds like an excellent idea," Prime nodded. "It would also allow us to introduce some of the elements of Cybertronian law enforcement, which will do them quite a bit of good when they finally get off-world. Are you planning on going as you are?"

"If you permit," Noitefel said evenly. "I believe it is best to be as honest as possible with the locals, within law and reason. The regulations regarding interactions with the local population seem ... contradictory."

"Unfortunately, that's an element of dealing with humans in general," Prime admitted. "I'll have to speak with the local governments about it, but I believe it's time that we acknowledge that we are here, and living alongside them without attempting to conquer or destroy them. Particularly after Megatron's gambit with bringing Cybertron here."

"Yes. That is a rather difficult event to explain as anything other than alien contact," Noitefel said thoughtfully, his logic center and tactical programming going full tilt. "If you would give me a few orn, I can provide a plan for becoming public that is most likely to work, including variants for the likely issues."

"You've got it," Optimus nodded. "Just understand that you may have additional issues thrown at you by stubborn world leaders," he added, heading back towards his quarters.

"Of course," Noitefel responded with the calm assurance that came so naturally to his kind. "Accounting for the motives and methods of all major players are necessary for any successful campaign plan. I have downloaded everything available about those involved, including secondary powers such as GI Joe and Cobra."

"Unfortunately," Prime explained, "significant parts of it simply don't make logical sense. There's a contingent of them who refuse to acknowledge that we're aliens despite the fact that they've met us. Not the majority, thankfully, but they're there."

"I believe they fall under the same category as those of our kind that can not accept that biological life can be sentient, and the group of biological life that can not believe a machine can be," he agreed. "They do make logical sense, and follow a predictable pattern, once one understands their internal logic. For us, it is little different than predicting Decepticons, or our own forces. Once one understands how a group thinks one can predict their reactions to events with reasonable success."

"Maybe I should assign you to diplomacy," Optimus chuckled, reaching his quarters and opening the door. "One more thing I'd like you to work on - I have a list of prospects for restoration that I went over with Windsong. I'd appreciate it if you'd go through it, pay particular attention to individuals you think would make good temporary Guard members, and good liaisons with the humans. Given what we saw in that sim, I would like to see that we have good relations with them in the future. Particularly given Cybertron's new orbit."

"Of course, Prime," Noitefel inclined his head in a respectful bow and followed him into his quarters. "I will have those recommendations before shift change. From experience, I make a better advisor than diplomat," he added as he made a quick, efficient sweep of the two rooms; the living/work space and the private wash rack. "My programming is too tightly linked to proving you with victory to manage the more balanced needs of a diplomat."

"It was a joke, Noitefel," Optimus offered. "I know that Arcweld won't be a suitable Guard member, but I want to be sure to get him as soon as we can; medical needs some more true medics as much as the Guard need some extra help, even if Ratchet would rather work himself to a system lock than admit it. Beyond that, I'm very much open to suggestions."

"Fliers, particularly Seekers, will be very useful. We need air power badly, even inexperienced air power. They'll learn fast and hang on to life harder than anyone else, knowing what's waiting for them when they go give in. Given the current state of Earth and Cybertron, engineers and architects should also rate high. Now that we know how, gestalts are very useful in so many ways."

He paused, watching as Optimus retreated into the private wash rack. It wasn't a large space given the mech it was meant for, but it served its purpose. He very much hoped his abortive move to join him and assist with the task of cleaning The Prime didn't show.

The offer wasn't going to be welcome, he knew. This Prime wanted to do things for himself.

Neither fact eased the ache in his spark at being unneeded. Unwanted he could cope with. Sometimes a Guard had to do things their charge did not approve of or appreciate. Not being needed ... he wasn't sure how long he could deal with that. He knew he didn't want to deal with it at all. It hurt too much to contemplate being unneeded by his Prime.

He knew, though he would admit it to no one but Prowl and only if he asked directly, that it was why he was courting the other tactician. Sparked mechs could never understand the core-deep need pre-programmed ones had to serve their purpose. It frightened and distressed them greatly to hear him calmly speak of deactivating himself when his purpose was served as if it was nothing more than going into recharge.

They could never understand that it really was that simple to him. He was given life to serve a purpose. When that purpose was fulfilled, he had no desire to continue. It simply wasn't in his programming to fear death any more than he feared life.

Yet now the thought of deactivating himself sent tremors through his spark and unleashed rebellion in every corner of his CPU. He'd spent too long fighting to keep his spark away from the pool that all came from in the heart of Primus to accept going back. He was sure he would obey a direct order to deactivate himself. He also knew that this Prime would never be able to give such an order.

It left him in the uncomfortable position, less than a two decaorns after reclaiming a body, of trying to work out some way to have purpose if his growing fears that the Prime did not need him as a Guard became too obvious to ignore.

If not that, he needed someone who had the processor and programming to sooth his agitation and convince him that deactivation was the right choice.

Prowl could do both. Whatever logic demanded of the situation, Noitefel could trust the other pre-programmed tactician to do what was best for the greater good.

It was what they both did.

He caught Prime looking at him with an unusual, almost concerned expression from under the rain of mild solvent, and immediately wondered how much of his thoughts had made it to his expression.

"Is there something wrong?" Prime asked him, letting the dirt wash down the drain along with any cracked paint, glad to see there wasn't much of the latter.

"No, Prime," Noitefel assured him quickly. "My tactical computer occasionally creates disturbing outcomes. It is a core reason we have limited emotional programming. It is disturbing enough I may visibly react to it, but with full emotional programming it would be crippling."

"That sounds like something I should know about," Optimus offered. "Outcomes related to anything in particular, or just running through possible assassination attempts in your processor?"

Noitefel hesitated, not actually wishing to talk about what was plaguing him, at least not with his Prime.

"Possible outcomes after the Tezita arrive in force," he said instead, for those too produced some highly disturbing results. "At a minimum, they will completely unbalance the power in this galaxy. At worst they can wipe out all life as we know it."

"I'm well aware of that, I'm afraid," Optimus agreed. "It's very much a matter of honor that she won't conquer Cybertron. Fortunately, the Toe'Emirc's word is, to a large extent, inviolable."

"It is disturbing non the less," Noitefel said softly, once again checking his impulse to step forward and assist in cleaning and repairing the Prime's finish. It made him ache to do so, but there was no question in his CPU that he must keep his distance. This was not Sentinel or Nova. Optimus did not want to be attended to. "Their assistance has provided the only probable chance we have to win the war. The probability that the Decepticons can stand against even the preliminary group is negligible given the data I have."

"Have you read the files we have on the Tezita and their history?" Optimus asked him. "Particularly regarding the proportion of military to non-military."

"Yes, Prime," he inclined his head slightly. "Approximately one military for two civilians. They have a cyclical form of civil war, approximately one ganon in length, that does not seem to revolve around any function other than to assure themselves that the new Toe'Emirc is suitable for leading an army with no one but itself to fight."

"What she's hoping to accomplish is to give her army somebody else to fight," Optimus explained. "It's an entirely alien way of life to us - even sparks like the Twins and Ironhide would rather that peace exist, but it's anathema to the Tezita. I'm hoping that we'll be able to direct their aggression in more constructive ways through. The Quintessons, for example."

Noitefel didn't bother to stop the small but savage smile that crossed his face at that prospect. "It would certainly be am effective use of such a force," he did try not to rumble his pleasure at the thought. In fact, he wasn't even sure why the idea pleased him so much, only that it lit something deep inside his coding on fire like nothing else ever had. "It seems that dealing with them will be much like trying to control the Decepticons if they were not trying to destroy us. Possible, even plausible, with the correct plans in place, but very dangerous at the best of times."

"Very true - and something we'll have to be very, very careful with," Optimus nodded and turned off the shower, pausing while blowers dried him off. "We want to make sure they keep busy - we also want to be sure that they keep busy doing things that ultimately make the galaxy a safer place. Preferably far, far away from Cybertron and Earth. Keep them satisfied that there are better fights out there against foes who will cause them less diplomatic trouble. Consider diplomacy a necessary evil for them - I have the feeling it's quite accurate, especially under Ezara. They'd prefer to pass up one opponent that will force them to placate allies and take on a foe who their allies would like to see subjugated."

Noitefel nodded, adding that phrasing to the very similar conclusion he'd already drawn about the Tezita's military leader. "Prime, I have gathered, from Jazz's files, that the distinction between military and civilian among the Tezita are at least as much a factor of what technology one is based on as their coding. He has indicated that there are non-combatants who are military, and very violent civilians," he spoke even as he continued to process the massive data backlog he'd downloaded when he'd arrived.

"While I have no doubt that keeping them occupied is of paramount importance, there is a 43% probability with current data that the percentage of military Tezita that need to be kept busy with conquest is much smaller than the full ten billion who bear the military designation. Current data indicates less than thirty percent are warriors, those who must be kept busy with conflict, though at least ninety-seven percent are combat-trained."

"That sounds about right," Optimus agreed. "And she'll be factoring that in as well, I'm sure. Unfortunately, even thirty percent of their population can create a massive imbalance of power."

"Yes, three billion warriors, even without factoring in their unique technology, will have a devastating effect on any area they appear in," Noitefel agreed. "That is still a far more controllable number than ten billion."

"Noitefel... I need you to do something for me, and I need you to keep it very much a secret," Prime said after a few kliks to think it over. "I need a few contingency plans, in case things go awry with the Tezita. The last thing we need to do is to introduce a new conqueror into the galaxy who we can't at least try to control."

"Of course, Prime," he said with an absolutely even voice. "I would normally request to bring the head of Intelligence into the loop, as it will be his forces that feature prominently in any plan that may succeed. Can he keep it a secret, given his relationship with the Toe'Emirc?"

A lifetime around Prowl gave Optimus the insight into their muted body language to read the excitement at the order. It was a difficult tactical problem, and an important one. A challenge.

"Jazz can," Prime nodded. "Bring him into it, but make sure he understands that, until I say otherwise, he's the only one. Also, try to minimize the number of casualties involved. I understand that we can't prevent them entirely, but any plan that involved assassinating the Toe'Emirc would likely bring the rest of the warrior class crashing down on us... which I'm sure you've already realized," he acknowledged.

"I have, Prime," he inclined his head slightly. "Any effective plan will require a much better understanding of their culture and command structure than I have at the moment. I will prepare the plans after I have consulted Jazz about any details not in Teletraan-1."

"A good plan," Optimus nodded. "I'm going to shut down for recharge; you may call Jazz in to talk to him, rouse me if you have anything that needs my input."

"Thank you, Prime, I will," Noitefel inclined his head and walked over to his preferred spot to watch the room while Prime recharged before comming Jazz.

And thus the end of arc 2. Arc 3 (of 5) up next.