Ep. 0.5 - Prime Example -Closed-

[velocity]

Quartermaster. It was both a job and a title but to Velocity it was a purpose, a meaning. No reason to leave now, except to get in a nice drive every now and then. She was home, she was back, she wasn't going anywhere. Even so it still took her time to come to terms with the fact she was needed finally, once again. The end has been near, her end to the relationship with the Autobots. Vel had been painfully close to walking away and never coming back. Going Neutral as it were. Not like she didn't personally know any of them, maybe...but that didn't matter now.

She had a place here, she was being utilized and all was as right in her world as could be, all things considered.

For once she was sitting. A lesson had been learned earlier, one that would be forgotten soon enough like it always was. No standing while doing work. Vel had tripped over something across the floor and ran faceplate first into a wall, narrowly missing Ratchet. After hastily apologizing she had beat it out of there, just a little embarrassed of course. This was something she did often however and it probably wouldn't stop now. Either way she made sure to sit down as she went over the schedule she had made for maintenance checks for both the base and the Autobots themselves. Everything needed so much work but this one was up to the task and in fact looked forward to it.

As aware as she was of every single blip and movement and pixel on her prized data pad, she wasn't about anything around her. When she had started to finish this up she had been completely alone. Her faceplate lit up with the glow from the tablet in her claws, optics scanning rapidly and one claw tip ever so gently but authoritatively flicking through things. She came across Prime then, everyone had an entry in her data pad, and she realized she needed to work with him, and on him. Even he was a mess!

With that thought she shut down the data pad and stood up suddenly, turned and nearly slammed right into someone who had been nearby. If they had called her name it was likely she hadn't even heard them, this was typical but most here didn't know that, yet anyway. “OH! I am so terribly sorry, please forgive me. I get so caught up in my work.”

[Deleted]

“It’s quite alright,” said Optimus, who’d stepped back to narrowly evade the quarter masters sudden change in direction. He offered her a small apologetic pulse of EMF. “I should have known better than to get in your way when you have objectives in mind, Velocity.”

She’d been powering around the base near-missing every mech and femme she crossed. He was certain she’d probably stepped on Steeljaw and tripped over Bumblebee while he was parked in his alt, waiting for Rafael, and of course nearly mowed Ratchet over. It was about then that Optimus supposed he should maybe break he stride for at least a moment, to speak with her. She was in the middle of double checking the duty roster, inventory, and the various reports from Team Axalon on their progress with the power draw from the energy converters which Optimus was also appraised of. Their human benefactors had been questioning the necessity of such a power draw and with the drop down the less than half of what it had been; suddenly Fowler’s end of the line had gone contentedly quiet again.

“I just wanted a moment of your time to ask how you are settling in and remind you that you’re off shift as of twenty kilks ago.” He tilted his head, a wry smile in the pitch of his engines. “Jazz may blow circuits if he hears his quartermaster is over working herself on as her new position, however grateful we may be fore that effort.”

[velocity]

Peering up, something she wasn't entirely used to, she locked optics with the Prime. Her faceplate froze for a moment and her field snapped so tightly close to her that it gave away nothing. It wasn't that she didn't feel comfortable around Prime it was just an immediate reflex. Though Velocity wouldn't be fooling anyone if she tried to say she felt fine, there wasn't anyone here that she trusted or felt close to, even if Ratchet was at least almost climbing on to that list. Still, regardless of all of that she shouldn't have shut down so quickly after offering up a friendly and rather nice apology. One of these days she might be better...maybe.

“Yes I am known for running roughshod over everyone and everything when I have a task at hand. Which I always prefer to have.” She offered up the taller bot a genuine smile as she ever so slowly tried to force her frame and field into some semblance of relaxation. Vel felt like a wild animal sometimes, don't startle her she might freak out. Too much time alone after what happened, it seemed to screw her up. She didn't want to like or care about anyone ever again. One time she allowed herself to really care and the backlash was devastating.

Her mouth thinned into a straight line and she waved one hand in the air in a dismissive manner. “Oh, I know I was off shift. It never hurts to finish things or even to keep working. Someone here has to start taking everything seriously and thankfully there is finally more order.” If Jazz was going to blow circuits over her overworking than it would probably happen soon. Vel was notorious for working twice as much time as she was given. Work kept her sane, kept her busy and now it was a solace, a chance to not think.

“Is that a problem Prime?” She knew she was coming off as cold and tried very hard to loosen her hold on her field more so that he could see she wasn't, entirely. Though there would be no letting him see everything he could at least feel that she was relaxing some and anxious for a reason.

[Deleted]

Optimus didn’t need to feel Velocity’s field against sensor arrays to know what an instinctive reduction of EMF was indicative of. He didn’t take it any particular way, however, being used that that kind of reaction from those still getting accustomed to the notion of his being a Prime. The word meant a lot of different things to a lot of different mechanisms, was said with varying tones of reverence – from holy to mere title and none were inaccurate. So he didn’t react either to that or to the sudden sharpness in Velocity’s tone; he knew her well enough to know any perceived haughtiness was not malicious, just… instinctive for her.

“No, it’s not,” said Prime, EM field still even and unworried. He set on hand against his hip, the other gesturing vaguely. “Down time is just important and it’s important to me and the other officers that everyone gets time to rest. Your work is appreciated, Velocity. Appreciated enough that we don’t want to see you over taxed at any point.” He met Velocity’s gaze steadily. “I know you know your limits. Just know you have the option to take the time you need.”

Though, I understand that not everyone wants time to think. That internal quiet is a dangerous thing.

[velocity]

If she had a clue, an inkling, to how he thought she would immediately respect him more than she currently did and wasn't going to infer to. Most assumed her haughty tone and demeanor meant she thought less of everyone else, and sometimes that wasn't far from the truth, but this was not one of those times. Precaution, wariness, a thin thread of hope that she couldn't quite contain. Velocity was a mess and this she knew but she had a job, a purpose...everything should be fine now. Impatience was the name of the game and because things were not immediately alright and okay, she was annoyed, stressed and bothered.

He was something to marvel at, so calm and unflappable at least right now. There was a reason he was Prime and she knew this and would be watching him intently from now on, keeping notes on everything and making her own decisions on how he led things. “I'm glad to hear you say that.” Slowly it showed itself, a genuine smile, small but a sign that she was not completely shut off from everyone, just very hard to reach. Her optics followed his movement which had her unknowingly ogling his hips for a moment and she made a face when she realized it.

“I don't believe in downtime Prime, not for myself. I know my limitations, I won't overdo it to the point of making myself useless.” Her gaze was back upon his face plating when she spoke to him this time. “The only time I need is time dedicated to working. This place is still a mess and so much needs to be handled. I could have been doing this since I got here, in fact I am the only one here qualified for this type of work currently.” Was that the lecturing tone entering her words? Definitely and she wanted to make sure that her intentions were clear here. “I swear once I get this all in a row the first bot to mess anything up is going to rue the day they were sparked.”

“So, did you come to talk to me about overworking myself? I can save you the time and the effort, I have heard it all before. It's something I have had 'problems' with in the past apparently. How working this hard is a problem I will never understand.”

[Deleted]

“No, I only came to see that you were settling in comfortably to your work,” said Optimus, thinking vaguely of some of his past officers.

He had more than a fair share who were party to Velocities haughty mannerisms, all with good intentions at their core, however. (The presence or absence of a good spark determined everything.) Mecha resented them sometimes, talked badly about them, or dislike them but when it came down to the wire it was always mechs and femmes like Velocity – tireless, tough, and clear on the objective – whom they relied upon. Velocity was no officer, obviously, but she’d been sparked to responsibility and organization and even if she was no Jazz, insinuating himself like family among strangers in less than a week, Velocity was showing her care in the manner that suited her.

Much like Rachet slapping mechs upside the helm or forcing them to undergo extra checkups or system maintenance – it was annoying and tiresome at times, but if one understood the language of it, what it meant… it tended to make the exchanges more tolerable after eons of abuse.

“Only recently did we enter into active military confrontation with the Decepticons. Prior to that, you were on long-range scouting duty. I wanted to make sure the change up to more active defense was not troubling you. I know you served on the frontlines for some time but your background is oriented more toward support operations.” He left off at that, clearly inviting her opinion on her current duties and her past.

[velocity]

She transitioned so fluidly and seamlessly from one job to the next that she hadn't even thought that others might find it odd how easily it had happened. So long as she viewed things as a job she never had trouble changing over from one thing to another. It was when that viewpoint became obscured that there could be trouble. Hearing Prime mention this though had her tilting her helm and looking up into the others optics curiously.

“Not to worry Prime, I am fine. This is work and I love to work so nothing right now could make me happier.” An offhand gesture with her claws, waving at her side. She talked with her hands and knew it but rarely paid it any attention. Unless she was poking someone that is. Her fingers, those sharp red claws of hers, were terribly sensitive. Vel liked to touch others because of how much she felt when she did but hated it too. Shaking her head she tried to get her thoughts back on track. Not working right now was going to make it difficult.

Cupping her chin she rubbed it thoughtfully while eying the Prime. There were no questions asked but she was almost certain he was curious about her past. Her file was nothing but good she knew that: hard working, loyal, attention to detail. It made her out to be the perfect worker and she probably was, if it wasn't for her trying to take over everything she got her servos on. It had to be done her way or it was usually the wrong way and she liked to wriggle her way into everything and fix it.

“I am an excellent support personnel. I had opportunity to lead things but never did, I didn't want to be bogged down with things like that. The one behind the person leading is truly the one who works the hardest they just do not have to make the difficult decisions.” She placed one of those hands upon Prime's arm and spoke quietly then. “There is a lot I could tell you but I do not know you. I share very little with anyone and have always preferred it that way. I am a worker, I can be depended upon in a pinch but I am no one's friend.” There was bitterness in her tone and she pulled back with a shrug, the smile from earlier no where to be seen.

[Deleted]

“Your personal life and past are yours, Velocity, and your friends likewise are yours to choose,” said Prime, perfectly matter-of-factly, unoffended by the unprompted line of cynicism in her voice. It was plain to anyone who spoke to her for longer than ten minutes that Velocity was, in general, emotionally unavailable and disinterested in general with the business of making casual friends. It was Optimus’ suspicion that Velocity’s true friends – though they would be few and far between – would be of utmost importance to her. ‘I am friend to no one’ seemed… hyperbolic to him, but time would tell.

“But for what it is worth,” he added, optics flicking toward her. “Making friends of your teammates is seldom a poor idea. It reminds us why we are fighting.”

[velocity]

Velocity had a feeling that Prime might not be too keen on what she had to say but that was exactly how she felt. It wasn't that she didn't care for others, she was very fond of keeping the Autobots alive in her own way really. This particular femme however was planning on keeping everyone at arms length. There had been enough pain and suffering from the last time she had made friends and gotten far too close to them, the last thing she wanted was to deal with more deaths of others she was close to. They would all be taken care of, watched over and organized within a micron of their lives, but that was it.

She did like Prime, he wasn't what she had expected. He spoke plainly and though calm and soft of voice he didn't mince words. "I know it isn't a bad idea Prime it just isn't how I work. I fight for the future, the one I hope others can have some day. I fight for a promise of happier days for everyone." Though they were there the words didn't come out. Vel was also sure that this future didn't involve her though she couldn't say why or how and was not about to mention it. It wasn't a doom or gloom type of thing just, that future seemed unlikely in her time frame.

Peering back up at the Prime she hazarded a small but genuine smile once more. "I just want to make things better, for everyone, regardless of faction or affiliation."

[Deleted]

Prime tilted his head slightly, a small approving flicker crossing his field. “That is a worthy goal, Velocity, one that I can say we share.” Optimus’ gaze trailed away for a moment before moving back to her. “The situation here on earth has been precarious, as you well know, and it has only been lately that good fortune, resources, and success has afforded us the capacity to improve our situation here beyond simple survival and defense. Very shortly, we will be looking to take the offensive the moment the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, we need mechanisms like yourself looking out for the team.”

He held her gaze, a small smile reflecting her own back. “Your work here is appreciated, Velocity, though some of the team may not know how to express it or even feel the need to do so, your efforts affect them and they would feel their loss. More than that, you are a valued member of the team for your care and attention and who you are… not only the work you do.” He left that hang a moment before adding, somewhat ruefully, “I hope that is something you take my word on when you take your downtime… which is still mandatory, by the way.”

Seriously, Jazz will have fits. his tone seemed to say.

[velocity]

“It is nice to know that the both of us have a common goal. Makes it easier accepting you as Prime, no disrespect meant of course.” She liked this Prime, he was an interesting one and gentle. Velocity wasn't used to the gentle. Not that everyone she had come in contact with that had authority was a complete jerk but most of them had been very aggressive. It was very interesting to see someone in such an extremely high station not be like any of them, and it gave her something she hadn't had in a long time...hope.

“Taking the offensive, how interesting.” The thought was a surprise to her especially considering all the humans that this Prime was so fond of. She didn't hate them but she wasn't fond of them and this was common knowledge. Their world or not she didn't like how small and easily squashed they were. Accidentally now, twice, she had killed them. It was gross and they got in areas she had a pit of a time cleaning!

She bowed her head a little and smiled actually feeling just a little happier at his words. “I might end up feeling somewhat wanted if you aren't careful, saying things like that and telling me my work is appreciated.” Her tone was joking and her field was even more relaxed now and full of mischief, yet another new thing, at least to the bots here on base currently. “My efforts are so new I wonder if anyone notices yet? I just don't want to be taken for granted, that is all. I expect no praise and no rewards.” Though she could be terribly vain and was often egotistical she was oddly humble when it came to many things in her life, being acknowledged for her hard work was one of them.

He kept saying things she wasn't sure how to take and her helm tilted as she regarded him. Wisdom beyond her years filtering through her bright optics before she nodded to something only she was hearing. “Who I am? How am I valued as a team member for who I am? I'm snarky, rude, bossy and rather stern. I don't even know if anyone likes me as it is. Airazor perhaps. Most of the others I have actually spoken to aren't Autobots and I think I scare Ratchet even!” That caused her to laugh and clap a hand on Prime's shoulder once again, a bit more affectionate but not too much.

“Downtime?” Shoulders sagged and she looked rather like a petulant child. “What am I to do during downtime? It's no fun and it's boring and I'm often just alone. I'd rather work even in my downtime, at least things get done. Then again I can still work, just, hide it.” Quickly a grin and a straightening of the shoulders once more.

[Deleted]

Optimus inclined his head slightly, a very faint smile at one corner of his mouth. “R&R is there for you to de-stress, Velocity. Do with it what you need to let off steam, be that taking a break or simply allowing yourself some leeway to slow down if need be. No one is ordering you to do any particular thing with your free time.”

The perfectly petulant look Velocity gave him at the prospect of taking a load of was nigh unto hilarious considering what kind of gear-busting he usually had to do to get most troops moving. As numbers dwindled over the years, however, the survivors Optimus ended up in direct command over tended to be less… lazy generally. Wither it was because all the lazy mechs defected to Neutrality or died, leaving only the competent and the survival saavy left, the need for to force troops to toe the line had fallen off dramatically. And here, on earth, with a team comprised of none but the best the Autobot Army had to offer (or at the very least some very competent refugees) he rarely needed to spell out his commands.

With the arrivals of so many new mechanisms, adjusting to work with those who were not so well networked to him would take some time and patience. Time they had some of… patience, Optimus at least had in ready supply. Velocity seemed to be in better spirits already at simply having her work acknowledged.

His gaze this time, looking at her, softened slightly from the acquaintance-like business-as-usual demeanor he’d adopted up to this point. “On the topic of being alone, however, it’s my hope that you’ll settle into the team here more comfortably. All of us have been separated from our own, friends, cohort, allies, and flung far and wide into isolation at times. Here on earth there is no need that any Autobot be alone. And for all that you have said about yourself, rude, snarky, stern… I speak from millions of years in command when I say I have seen far worse and even they had allies.” That small smile again. “Sometimes purely by accident on their part. Something to keep in mind.”

[velocity]

It was nice to hear that the Prime wasn't going to force her to actually stop working. Then again she didn't want to slow down with it either but that was an argument that was not needed. No reason to nitpick over such a silly thing, at least not right now. If she continued to work her aft off that was all on her and no one would really notice anyway. No one paid much attention to her anyway, or at least not enough that they were going to go and tattle on her to Jazz or Prime. Velocity was pretty sure her workaholic tendencies were going to be safe and that she could continue to do the things she wanted to without much interference.

“I won't hold out hope for anything. I spent a great deal of time alone many vorns ago and had no trouble with it because I didn't understand otherwise.” Optics focused skyward, not really seeing the ceiling as she seemed to be thinking about something. “There was always someone around but I held no attachments, didn't see the point.” Even now after she had found others to become attached to it was harder to see the point of such relationships. She had gone from being just fine to feeling more than necessary and always upset after the incident. If Vel had never cared about anyone, specifically them...then things could have gone on as they always had.

One hand indicated Prime himself, a claw pointed to the middle of his chassis. “Did you have a cohort Prime?” It was something that made her curious and she still did have to add to her own notes on everyone. Her opinion of the Prime wasn't bad but it wasn't all that great as of yet either. She kind of saw him as a young sparkling, all high ideals and hopefulness, sweet and caring and clueless. Still he did keep surprising her and that was what she wanted, good surprises one after another. That hope was still there and each day it seemed to grow just a little. Though it seemed unlikely, maybe...just maybe she would come to trust the Prime and confide in him as well.

“Well if anyone actually gets to liking me I will be flattered. It only happened once, that was genuine. I am not opposed to it.” Her voice took on a slight tone of wonder. Just pondering the idea that someone would like her for who she was seemed so odd, but it had happened before. “I apologize Prime. I have not been giving you due credit for how hard your job must be and honestly have been cutting you short. If you ever need anything from me I am at your disposal. I could definitely help you out. My background is heavily steeped in helping those in positions of power.”

[Deleted]

Optimus’ optics flickered at the sudden question, the Prime’s field shifting, stance tensing slightly at the femme’s pointing. No one had asked him a personal question like that in a long time. During the beginning of the war, his position at the head of the Autobot Army and defacto Prime – a political position enviable to no one in the history of Cybertron – there had been very little in the way of personal friendships forged. With the exception of long standing military cohort like Ironhide and Ratchet, there were not many mechanoids who knew him well enough to make inquiries like that, though it was a perfectly casual question.

“No,” said Optimus quietly. “Before I took the title of Prime I was an archivist at the Iacon Hall of Records. My model-type was not sparked part of a cohort-based function-class. My work… required the attention of a single mech.” Though he didn’t often speak of it, much of his early life had been experienced within the walls of the Iacon Hall, alone most of the time. His very rare field assignments had been to cover in person the events of political rallies and – one very, very rare time – to cover a civilian rally in Kaon. “Most of what I would consider my cohort… I developed after the war began. Like most alliances forged in strife… those are the ones I consider my strongest.”

He neglected to mention that one of his first and best cohort links… had been with a mech named Megatronus. He only nodded to Velocity’s parting offer of support at her position. “Thank you, Velocity. I am certain I will be calling on your expertise often in the coming days.”