Redeem 12: Dispatches

[niyazi-a.livejournal.com]

Bayverse
PG-13
Optimus Prime, Lennox


Meh. Essential backstory and theme work here.  Next week, Barricade settles in to his new digs.

 

12. Dispatches from Fort Livingroom

A/N  Lennox is facing what a lot of long-deploying SF and Delta guys face when they’re back home for a long time: families that have grown accustomed to getting along without them suddenly have them…cluttering up the landscape. 

Optimus makes a weird distinction—it’s not diplomacy if he’s telling the truth.  Or…selected truths and hiding other truths.  Is he right?

Optimus tried to mask the pleasure in his voice, but it was good to hear from Major Lennox.  He had to admit, he felt more than a little let down by the Americans’ decision, but he knew that Lennox had nothing to do with that decision.  Lennox, like a good soldier, simply had to obey orders he did not like.  But that did not mean, apparently, that he was not still their friend. On their side. Optimus hated that he’d started thinking about ‘sides’.

“It’s not just me,” Lennox was saying. “A bunch of us feel that way.  You know, those of us who have actually had to face the ‘cons in combat.  We’re on your side.” Yes, Optimus thought, he thinks it too. 

“But your Colonel Axelrod said that if we left, they would leave, too.”

Lennox muttered something Optimus didn’t quite catch.  Then added, “It’s a hypothesis.  A stupid one.”

“Leaving will present considerable challenges for us.  Not least of which will be leaving friends like you, Major Lennox.” 

Over the phone line, Optimus could almost feel Lennox’s emotion. “Yeah, us too.  Look, we did get upset, you know. About what Ironhide said.”

Optimus tried not to sigh.  “I know.”

“It was a pride thing, really.  You know, because he said we got in the way and stuff.  But,” a pause, “we’re professionals.  Sure, we got a little bruise there, but we know the mission is more important.  We’re doing our best to talk the Beltway bozos into seeing some common sense.” 

“That’s very kind of you.” Optimus always felt that no matter how much he meant things like this, they always came out sounding flat and insincere. 

“So, first, if you could apologize for us to Ironhide—no hard feelings, really. Not sure we’re the people that count, but, Ironhide’s one of us. In a way.” Optimus understood.

“Ironhide considers you one of ‘us’ as well. We all do.”

A gratified noise.  “And then, just thought you wanted to know we were working on fixing the little ego tantrum the President pulled on you guys.  The ‘cons are still out there.”

“And we do need you, Major,” Optimus said.  “We do not currently have the resources to fight them.  We had to use your Air Force assets to get to and from Tunguska.”

“Yeah, we heard about that.  Heard you even got a prisoner.”  Naked envy in his voice.  Optimus wondered if Lennox was thinking that they’d gotten a prisoner because they hadn’t been dealing with in-the-way humans.  If only he knew.

“Your government has taken him.”

“Have they?” A flare of irritation. Major Lennox’s sources had failed him apparently.

“Only one of your solars ago.  They are keeping him in one of your aircraft carriers. Apparently there is some significance about keeping him in ‘international waters’?” 

“Yeah,” Lennox’s voice sounded distracted.  He was writing something down. “We’ll check up on that. I’ve got some good friends who are legal beagles. So, how are you guys holding up?”

“Cliffjumper was seriously injured, but he should be released from CR within a solar.  All of the other injuries are repaired.”

“That wasn’t exactly what I meant.” 

Optimus knew.  But he couldn’t admit, even to himself, how let down he was feeling by the humans. First the Americans, then the Russians.  They both fought with Decepticon tactics.  Decepticon ego.  “We are fine.  The hardest part is that many of us, myself included, have come to love this planet.”  That was absolute truth.  “And how are you? Are you enjoying your family?”

Lennox’s grin shone through his voice. “Sitting outside of Annabelle’s preschool right now, getting ready to hear every little detail about the story the teacher read them and how gross boys are for chasing her across the playground with crickets.” 

“She is developing well, then?”

“Yeah.” Pride. “She looks like her mom, so she’s going to have to get used to boys chasing her.”

“And your wife?”

“She’s great, too.” A little of the smile left his voice. “I think she’s a little tired of me getting underfoot.  You know, so used to me being deployed.”  He tried to make it a joke, but it failed.  Optimus did not know quite how to respond—to the attempt at humor or the real sentiment.

“War,” he managed, finally, “is difficult on relationships.”  Again, nothing but truth.  Optimus was sick of diplomatic shuffling.

“Yeah,” Lennox said, “but this time it’s the lack of war that’s the problem.” A bitter laugh. “Probably why the men and I are fighting so hard to go back to fighting.” 

“We would very much like to work with you again.” Maybe, one day, Optimus thought, NOT fighting.  But until then, Optimus had to admit that the NEST team members, all of them, were good humans.  Straightforward, Honorable. Open.  The same values as the Autobots.  The difference was, their political leaders thought like Decepticons. 

He hoped that Major Lennox’s actions would go well. Or else, on this planet, the Autobots would rebel against the Decepticons—a reverse image of how all this pain and torment began on Cybertron. 

He doubted the results would be much better.

 

Comments

[wicked3659.livejournal.com]

I think you wrote Lennox brilliantly, you could hear the back and forth between them and sense that he wasn't happy with his situation either. You Optimus was perfect in this scene, diplomatic and understanding with hidden turmoil, trying to be the strong leader.

Gives the story a whole larger sense of foreboding.

[kamiraptor.livejournal.com]

Aww,I'm feeling for Lennox, here. He's getting that "underfoot" thing at home, now, too! Poor guy.

In my opinion, Optimus is a pretty hard character to write, especially for something serious. But for the angle of the story and the characterization that you're driving at, you're doing it excellently. Caught between a rock and a hard place, disappointed in many things, and he can't give in to his emotions, instead playing the ever-polite.... Yeah, that all comes across really well. :)

I must admit, though: I'm looking forward to Barricade's next chapter. (You've made me love him!!!)