Gift for Maria/hal0prime
Solenoid KK - Gift for Maria/ @hal0prime
Brainstorm, Nautica and Perceptor
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This had become rather tedious.
Walking the streets during the holiday season had once been a relaxing experience when it was just himself and his conjunx endura. However, with Rodimus inviting the entire crew to a Christmas celebration and imposing an odd tradition called ‘Kris Kringle’, Perceptor now had to find the perfect gift for his allocated guest. Most of the crew were easy to find gifts for; most being rather rudimentary with High grade, new polishes and otherwise practical gifts. One certain member, the one he was unfortunate to receive, was proving to be rather difficult. Without any choice in selection, picking numbers and allowing a program to randomly generate another number, Perceptor was now left with finding a gift for Brainstorm.
The former incarcerated scientist had been adamant in spouting rather auspicious and rather outrageous potential gifts. New tools and equipment for his station, a rather rare grade of vintage Golden high grade, alien power crystals or technology. All items rather impossible to obtain or too outrageous to even begin searching for. He knew the braincase had only wished such things to gloat after his chosen failed to meet his expectations. One would have thought after the whole ‘briefcase’ incident he would have change parts of his personality. His migraine stated otherwise.
The large alien market certainly had a plethora of ideas and potential gifts he could choose from, but the overwhelming dread of the overbearing scientist boasting and bragging about his self-proposed ‘failed gift’, he didn’t wish to deal with such trivial farce.
Walking through yet another laneway of stalls and stores, something in a nearby window caught his optics. It wasn’t too flashy nor was it dull. Unsure of what it was, Perceptor entered the store.
“Perhaps this will suffice.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Brainstorm had walked the streets of this market for what seemed like hours.
The alien bazaar was a haven of multiple races selling, trading and buying goods from across the galaxy. Given its neutral status to most galactic councils or federations, it allowed the crew of the Lost Light to wander in relative peace. Though the local law enforcement had warned that any undue behaviour would be swiftly reprimanded, the scientist had little care for such things. He was here to find a gift and nothing more, why waste the time and effort of causing a ruckus when all he wanted was to get a gift and leave, both in swift and equal measure.
Nautica had been his allocated crewmate. Recalling all the fond times and riveting conversations he had had with the endearing and ever curious femme, it would’ve been a cinch for the suave and debonair mech to find the perfect gift.
He was proven otherwise.
“How is it this difficult to find a simple gift for a femme?!” he snapped, hushed as not to cause a scene and embarrass himself. He had walked these streets end to end and could still not find what he would consider a ‘perfect gift’.
He had been to stores containing datapads and books on subjects he was sure she had never read or come across before, and yet upon checking with her – minding not to reveal he was her chosen giver – only to curse when discovering she had already glanced a subject or came across it once before.
Grumbling, leaving the fifth store to fail his needs, he came upon the last laneway before returning to the ship. If he couldn’t find her a gift, he would fail this ridiculous, ludicrous challenge. Rodimus must’ve found enjoyment in their misery. He was juvenile and immature so such an idea wasn’t farfetched.
However, one of the brighter stalls in the street caught his optic. Turning to the window, his curiosity took hold and drew him into the building. Moving through the small benches and shelves, he came upon his prize.
“Finally.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Walking down the streets alone was one thing, but in case her curious mind got the better of her, Nautica found walking the streets with Skids and Rung to be even more enjoyable. The trio had walked the length of every street twice and always found something new as they went. Skids had revealed his recipient to be Tailgate and had bought several soft plush creatures. They appeared cute and Tailgate had once mentioned something similar he had seen on the extranet.
Rung, after considerable persuasion and assurance, revealed his recipient was Drift. As clear cut and obvious a mech in his interests, Rung had managed to find several crystals harvested for their calming properties as well as small rhythmic balls one would juggle in their servos to cause calming and soothing rings and dings. Buy two sets, one for Drift and one for himself, he believes they might help in any future sessions he had with more delicate patients.
Nautica, in revealing Perceptor was her chosen recipient, had yet to hunt down something for her fellow scientist and friend. He had a brilliant mind, one of the foremost in Cybertronian history along with his numerous contributions to their society. He had created theorems long standing to this day. Discovered new energy sources used in state-of-the-art space crafts and transport. His mind was one built on stimulants, ideas and inspirations that led to some of the greatest discoveries of their species. She had scoured stores for just such stimulants only to find those to marvel young minds rather than one as wisen as his.
So she had turned to his other drive; marksmanship. Learning of his fall and rise during the Great war, how he had joined the Wreakers and grew into the steely and precise marksmen of his age, he never turned aside upgrades or supplies to maintain his own assortment of weapons. He was no warrior but even his mind found stimulis with the weaponry.
“Don’t worry Nautica, you’ll find something for Percy,” Skids smiled, though found himself chided for using Perceptor’s disliked nickname.
“I just want to find something practical for him, something to stimulate his brilliant mind,” she huffed, wandering to another stand.
“Why not try there?” Turning from the stand, returning a small bauble to its place, Nautica followed Rung’s direction.
What was the harm? This was the last street that lead back to the ship. Their time was scarce and this may very well be her last opportunity to find something. Entering the little store, her optics shuttered wide and marvelled at all the exotic knick-knacks and delicate crafted tools.
“Oh there! I’m sure Perceptor would love this!”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Shore leave concluded and all members of the Lost Light trickled back from the bazaar. Rodimus had announced the exchange could happen when the crew wished but had to conclude with all gifts given and received before they made it to the next system; so the time it takes to complete an interstellar jump.
Perceptor, gingerly cradling his gift, moved for the labs. It was practical to surmise that Brainstorm would be in the lab also. The sooner he presented the gift, the sooner he could be relieved for this burden and return to sharing the season spirit with Drift. Eagerly anticipating just what surprise the samurai mech had in mind.
Walking into the lab, Perceptor paused to find Nautica chatting with Brainstorm. Both of them held similar gifts to his own. Curious, perking an optic ridge, the similarity in wrapping and storage would conclude they all visited the same boutique to procure their gifts. A startling coincidence though it is often times stated that ‘great minds think alike’. He questioned Brainstorm’s connection to the term but left the fleeting quip for the chance of handing over the gift.
“Ah the Chief Technician returns!” Brainstorm’s flurry and overbearing snark could choke a Sparkeater, pulling a small chuckle from Nautica and barely a twitch from Perceptor.
“Quaint. I am to assume we all received one another? I must remember to discuss the meaning of ‘random’ to our esteemed co-captain. The term seems lost on him,” Perceptor stewed, coming to sit with his fellow scientists, showing a small smile as Nautica offered him a container of Spiced Energon.
“It doesn’t really matter,” Nautica cooed, soothing the bristled scientist. “The whole point of this season is to spread peace and offer gifts to those we truly care for.”
“Despite the difficulty of finding such gifts for certain individuals, the act of the gift is oft times obscured,” though not directed at him, Brainstorm stiffened. A tense glare shot to the unobservant Perceptor, deliberate in ignoring the bot.
“Come on you two, let’s just enjoy the peace and Energon,” Nautica sighed, handing Perceptor her gift. Sighing, Perceptor accepted her oddly shaped gift. His own was passed to Brainstorm while his passed to Nautica. The room fell silent as all three stared at the almost identical presents.
“This isn’t going to turn into one of those ‘we all bought the same gift’ deals is it?” Brainstorm mused, glancing between the pair. “Because as much as I love to push the impossible and mess with probabilities, this just seems far too strange.”
“This coming from the mech who created a time machine briefcase to alter the course of time?”
“Oh will you drop it!”
“Hold on!” Nautica paused the argument before it could begin. “Let’s…just open them. I’m sure the reason for their similarities is merely the wrapping.
Nodding, all three took to unwrapping their gifts. One by one, each held in their hands a small encased orb. Crafted out of a fine metal, similar to gold or copper, it detailed intricate and marvellous designs. Truly an artisan’s work.
“I believe this is some kind of mass storage device,” Perceptor mused, taking in the dazzling details. “Given the nature of my gift, there was no other fathomable way to store the object within just a small environment.”
“Impressive for a primitive alien species,” Brainstorm quipped, turning the orb around to find its release. Their surprise came from the differing releases. Nautica found her release, jumping as the orb bloomed like an organic flower. Brainstorm’s orb shifted in complex patterns, collapsing on itself to allow the object within to materialise. Perceptor gasped, watching the elegant twist of the orb, rings twisting and opening up as if suspended in mid-air.
“This is…” Nautica felt tears well in her optics, grasping the small object. Within, was a religious idol depicting Solus Prime. Memories of her homeworld Caminus overwhelmed her processor, it was often given to the builders and inventors of the fallen titan, an honour meant to symbolise the gift of creation Solus Prime bestowed upon them.
“This…” Brainstorm, in a rare moment, was lost for words as a model appeared before him. It looked like a highly detailed miron-scope. An advanced design to say the least. But the way he held it, almost cradled it, there was a small wisp of a tear threatening to fall.
“I…” Perceptor watched as within the orb, the object emerged. They were two intertwined rings. Far too large to be slipped onto or over a servo. But spying the metal, the small encased groove and the finely etched symbols written into the side. ‘From one to another. Innermost blood shared as one.’ Tears welled as he covered his mouth.
“Just what the scrap are these?” Brainstorm questioned, carefully placing his new tool on the desk. “The alien spoke in such gibberish I couldn’t recall.”
“I can’t say for sure, but it had something to do with…”
“Desire,” Perceptor interrupted Nautica, both turning to him. “The clerk…had said something of ‘desire’, ‘happiness’ and that the orb ‘would bring life’.”
“Then…it must be some kind of nano technology. There is no conceivable way that alien could possibly know anything of our desires…not to this level,” Brainstorm’s optics looked longingly at the scope. Confusion crossing his farrowed brows but his spark leaping in his chassis.
“That…would make sense. Must’ve scanned us within the briefest of second to discover this,” she hummed, running servos over her figurine. “Thank you Brainstorm.”
Taken aback, the mech calmed and offered his own smile. Removing his mask, something only down around those he considered close, and embraced the touched femme. Before she could utter any words to Perceptor, his own rare smile emerged and drew the femme close.
“Thank you too, Nautica,” beset with emotion, Perceptor’s otherwise stern and firm voice clipped and rolled an octave higher, as if trying to supress his emotion.
“And…I guess,” Brainstorm turned the pair, holding out his servo if only begrudgingly. “Thanks…it was…thoughtful.” Perceptor, shaking his helm and smiling, shook the mech’s hand. Both knew their standings, there was no need for anything more.
“Great minds often think alike.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Returning to their hubsuites for the night, the three bots were forever changed.
Nautica situated her new figurine on a small table by her recharge berth. Around it, she decorated with traditional ornaments as well as pictures of her Amicas and inventions. Her trusty wrench took the front, since it was her tool of choice and tradition stated it rest before the idol for Solus to ‘bless’. Religion might not be a big deal to most Cybertronian born or those who survived the war, but it was faith that pushed Caminus through hardship and loss.
Brainstorm refused to leave the scope in the lab, instead keeping it on his private desk in his suite. He inspected and ensured the scope was clean and polished. Taking extra care, he posed it in a way that he could admire it even from across the room. But, the one thing his marred its surface with, was a small inscription that read: Quark.
Perceptor returned to his shared suite nervous. Sitting on the berth, he had waited for Drift to return. The smiling mech had returned late, having shared drinks with his chosen giver. He turned concerned seeing him on the berth, leaving the small crystal tree on the countertop and sitting next to him. With some coercing, Perceptor revealed the rings – something Drift recognised immediately. They spoke softly, ensuring they were aware of their choices and knew where this would take them. Sharing happy smiles and tender kisses, both drew a small vial of innermost Energon. Injected into the rings, they took their opposite and secured the rings around their spark chambers. Vows exchanged and now a physical sign. It was the perfect gift.
None would forget this kindness.
