The Start of Something Interesting...

[lastonepercent]

The day was calm, with no recent Decepticon attacks, and none suspected to be incoming for some time.  The cons were too busy licking their wounds from the last battle, one that the Autobots had decidedly come out ahead on.  The celebrations had gone on long into the night and the recreation room was already a mess.

Thus, it was the perfect chance for a lone Autobot to slip casually outside.

Mirage had no shift currently scheduled, so he was free to spend his time as he pleased.  He certainly made no move to hide his departure, greeting his comrades in the halls on the way out, but the box in his hands remained unopened despite any passing curiosity.  It was quietly shifted into subspace before long, and  the former noble shifted into alt mode just as smoothly when he reached the doors.  Despite the completely inappropriate earthen race car mode, the mech had little trouble self-adjusting before driving off into the forest covering the mountain, for business unknown...

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[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper, compared to Mirage, hadn't thought about packing until Bee had mentioned it yesterday, and he'd given his friend a blank stare before he'd reset his optics and shook his helm.

In the end, no matter how he'd went through his room, he hadn't actually packed much. He wasn't sure what to bring, except that Jazz had made a quiet but stern comment about not bringing the usual arsenal.

Annoyed and offended, he had, in the end, still left most of the weaponry he usually carried in subspace in his room. He did have a normal gun and his glass gas gun with him, however.

He refused to leave the Ark with at least a little protection, even if it was too little in his opinion. The other things weren't many; two emergency rations of energon both from paranoia and a feeling of needing to be ready, a few personal datapads, and not just to hide the annoying informational ones... but not much else.

The chiming ping on the door, despite that he was ready to leave (kind of) and knew it was around time to start to move, still startled him and left him staring at the door for a few moments before he...

Cliffjumper would've insisted that he'd been stomping, but really, it'd been more of a hesitant meandering across the room and opening the door, staring up at Mirage.

He should probably say something, but even the vaguely desired defensive growl and glare didn't come.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage raised a brow at the reception at the door, but he smoothly took a step back, gesturing toward the hall.

"...Packed and ready to go? They will be expecting us soon."

His own subspace was packed full, with a few small, sealed crates floating behind him on a hoverlift.

[cliffjumper]

Optics flickering at the question, Cliffjumper shook his helm slightly, yanked out of the blank staring.

"Uh, yeah. Think so, anyway," grimacing, Cliffjumper cast one last look behind him and didn't at all like the pile of weapons he was leaving behind, then grunted and stepped out of the room.

And then he saw the crates and stared at them before glancing up at Mirage.

"What the slag are ya even bringing?" He could understand if Mirage had packed more than he had, but enough he'd need to use extra crates in addition to subspace, and more than one such?

[lastonepercent]

"Good." Mirage didn't miss that glance back, and he was relieved - and somewhat startled by the amount of weapons decorating Cliffjumper's floor. It didn't want to think of how much of a problem that amount of weaponry could have become.

He started down the hall, hoverlift following behind him obediently.

"Gifts for the Priests and the Paradron commanders, of course."

Mirage gestured back toward the crates with a casual shrug.

"It is a tradition for First Contacts."

[cliffjumper]

"Huh." He hadn't really thought of things like that at all, but then, he wasn't really required or expected to.

... To Cliffjumper's relief, frankly.

"What's even in there? I mean, it ain't like we've got a lot around here that's not just supplies and whatever else," Cliffjumper said after a moment of deliberating on whether to ask or not, but frag it.

He was far too curious not to, especially given their living and supply situation. The Ark had been well-supplied, but as a military ship, not... a diplomatic one.

[lastonepercent]

"Oh, mostly what the humans would call 'knickknacks'," Mirage said, making air quotes with his fingers. "But cultural things that the Paradronians should appreciate."

He grinned, gesturing back toward the boxes.

"A lot of it is datapads or holocubes, filled with copies of various Cybertronian art and stories. Replicas of various physical art pieces. A few genuine Cybertronian Crystals - cuttings, of course, carved from live specimens a few of us around the ship keep. Optimus helped with gathering a great deal of it."

He gave Cliffjumper a mildly apologetic look as he finished.

"And, of course, items necessary for any rites I might wish to be involved with while we are away."

[cliffjumper]

None of those things would've occurred to him as viable gifts, but it sort of made sense, didn't it? Especially as they would be interested in reconnecting in any way with Cybertron.

"... as long as I don't have to," Cliffjumper said, grimacing, "'cause I'd probably mess something up." It wasn't like he'd had anything more than a bare week to learn basics real acolytes would be allowed at least a few years to wear into their processors.

It wasn't just, after all, the retention of information, but also the physical motions and whatever else necessary, and that took longer to learn. Not that he'd had much more luck with the information alone, though.

[lastonepercent]

Mirage paused, giving Cliffjumper a long look.

"...You should largely be in the clear, but I can't promise you won't be invited - or asked - to assist in one or two minor ways."

The taller mech tried and failed to suppress a sigh, motioning them onward down the hall toward the hanger bay.

"Do try to read through the data I sent you again when you have a chance."

It was worded politely enough, but there was the steel of an order hidden under it.

[cliffjumper]

"As if I fraggin' haven't already!" Cliffjumper bristled, inexplicably annoyed that Mirage might think he'd only read it once. He might not like it, but it was necessary information...

Okay, so he'd almost just read it once, but the thought that he might be asked to do something, anything, even a little such, had been enough to scare him into reading at least twice more.

Not that it'd really helped.

"Don't think it's gonna help, though," he added after another moment, sulky where he trailed half a step behind Mirage. This was going to be a slagging catastrophe, he was sure.

[lastonepercent]

"I didn't say you haven't read," Mirage huffed, ruthlessly quashing the urge to snipe more than necessary.

"I'm just saying, if you still think you might mess up if called to preform anything in the packet I sent you, I would read it again and repeat until you feel more comfortable with it."

He really did not want to consider what might happen if it really did not help, like Cliffjumper feared.

"If nothing else, we at least have the excuse that there is a war on, and you haven't had time to practice in millennium," he muttered, almost to himself.

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper glowered and huffed as a response, letting the rest of his frustration escape as unintelligible, almost sub-sonic muttering. It wasn't as if he was being deliberately obtuse here!

"Can't we just fraggin' claim I'm really new to this? That ain't even a lie and it'd solve a lot of slag!" Cliffjumper snapped as he stomped after Mirage, almost wishing he had something to fiddle with, but he didn't have any small bits or bobs in his subspace now to do that.

Especially as those "bits and bobs" had been things like wires, bits of inert explosive paste or other parts of bombs. Which he'd been forced to leave behind.

[lastonepercent]

"We could, but it would not look good for our story, or in the optics of the Paradrons." Mirage grimaced, his own engine giving a rev of frustration.

"Indeed, the entire point of this charade is to imply that I have had a partner for most of my time as an active priest."

And that was more lying than he wanted to trust to someone inexperienced in the ways of spying and espionage like Cliffjumper. But they had little choice.

"Having a sensitive, bonded partner who hasn't ever shared the more basic of rites with their supposedly loving priest? Does not look good. The best we can manage is the idea that you are out of practice thanks to the war."

[cliffjumper]

"Great." Except not. "What's wrong with just havin' met recently?" And now he was just being recalcitrant and he should probably have suggested this earlier, but he hadn't considered that then...

But on the other hand, it would probably not have worked, either way. Since even if they'd had met recently, Cliffjumper knew he 'should' still have been an Acolyte. Part of Mirage's reaction when they found out he was sensitive was, after all, surprise that he hadn't been snapped up by a temple.

Frankly, Cliffjumper was nervous. There was a lot hinging on them in general not being found out as lying, and him in particular. Cliffjumper resisted the urge to wrap his arms around himself.

Like slag he'd do that where Mirage (or anyone else except Bee) could see.

[lastonepercent]

"Because then that would have them asking about where my previous nonexistent bonded was for all the earlier years and years of my being in the priesthood."

Mirage huffed, increasingly vexed with the smaller mech's attempts to change the plan at the last minute. Cliffjumper's question was honestly reasonable, but unfortunately with the Paradrons being as they were, it simply wasn't possible.

"I really do wish it was an option, but it is already bad enough to have to falsify a current bonded without having to reminisce about a 'tragically departed' one as well."

[cliffjumper]

"Right," Cliffjumper muttered and indulged in scrubbing a hand over his faceplates, "way too complicated, like it fraggin' ain't already." He couldn't quite stop the nearly explosive static sigh that escaped him.

So it was what it was, and Cliffjumper wasn't petty enough to demand to make things more complicated on Mirage just to make it (maybe) easier for himself. Mirage would be carrying most of the weight anyway.

And Cliffjumper, while he might have been difficult if he actually hated Mirage - not 'just' disliked him - wasn't about to go that far here and now. Especially as he didn't actually even dislike the noble.

"So we just gotta hope it goes well, then..." Cliffjumper said while he glowered at the floor, wishing the Ark was larger... despite that it was plenty large enough as it was, really.

[lastonepercent]

"Agreed," Mirage said pointedly, giving Cliffjumper a shrug. He had thought this all out, after all. Having to convince the smaller mech about everything all over again was not how he wanted to spend his time right before going on said mission.

"It will be fine."

Mirage stepped closer with a smile suddenly plastered on his face, hand curling around a red shoulder.

::And we're almost there, so keep the classified talk about said mission confined to private comms from now on. Who knows where they may have bugs planted or audials listening.::

[cliffjumper]

Cliffjumper sighed, missing the look Mirage threw him in favour of grimacing at the floor, which he was still staring at.

Of course, that also meant he missed Mirage stepping closer, but not the hand on his shoulder and the jerked, helm snapping up and he was not ready for this. Not for Mirage's smile, either, even if he couldstay put, Cliffjumper was surprised he could tell the slight strain in Mirage's expression. Not that that was something he'd actually want to see, but...

"Uh... right," Cliffjumper mumbled, realising too late he'd responded out loud in his distraction, but really, it probably didn't matter. He was more concerned (and embarrassed) to feel his optics bright with a blush and this was stupid.

... At least it wasn't anything different than he would react in a situation like this, but that, in itself, was a bit embarrassing.

And then they finally dropped into the wide corridor that led to the hangar they were going to, and Cliffjumper shook his helm and straightened up, pushing down his embarrassment with a frown.

[lastonepercent]

::Better,:: Mirage sighed, before pulling away from Cliffjumper with a pat on the shoulder to greet the Paradronians gathering outside the transport ships.

"Ambassadors! Good to see you again."

Sliding smoothly forward, Mirage gave them the traditional morning greeting with posed hands and a flare of his field.

[cliffjumper]

While Cliffjumper watched and felt increasingly awkward - and a little angry at that, as well - the paradronians all responded in kind to Mirage's greeting, and this was probably a thing he "should" know, but hopefully the excuse they had would be good enough.

"High priest, welcome. A fine morning to set off, isn't it?" the ambassador smiled and turned slightly so she faced Cliffjumper, giving him the same greeting and causing the minibot to take half a step back as his field flexed fitfully.

"It should be a few easy jumps," she said, mercifully turning back to Mirage even if there was faint, if sympathetic, amusement glittering in her optics.

Cliffjumper wasn't sure whether he was relieved she hadn't expected anything else, and why that was, but if she thought him shy... Well, that wasn't what he was, but he'd gladly take that over any suspicion to their ruse.

[lastonepercent]

"Quite so," Mirage agreed, giving the blue Earth sky a brief glance out the nearest porthole. He glanced back to give Cliffjumper an encouraging smile and motioned him gently toward the ship, before driving his hovercart up toward the nearest loading ramp. A eager attendant quickly took it off his hands, and he gave the mech loading directions with a quick private ping and a brief bow of thanks.

"How did you enjoy your tour of the local areas?" Mirage asked, freed up to turn back toward the ambassador.

[cliffjumper]

It was completely impossible to not grimace at the gesture towards the ship, because he was not fragging ready for this. Not that it mattered or was anything to do about it, though the extra little ping he got from Prime of all mechs helped.

A little.

So Cliffjumper stomped off to wait at the passenger ramp, arms crossed over his chestplates.

"Very... organic," the ambassador said with a smile that might have been a shade awkward, but then she chuckled, "but, even so, very stunning. The local species have a pretty impressive development."

She then turned to the Prime and bowed with a flowing flare of her field.

"Thank you for hosting us. May this be the beginning of a proper reconnection."

[lastonepercent]

"I feel the same way," Mirage laughed softly, before approaching Optimus for a proper departure.

Standing near the ambassador, Optimus returned the gesture, strong field kept carefully modulated.

"It was our pleasure. We hope your time with the our High Priest proves as equally productive." He turned toward Mirage, reaching out and clasping the offered hand in a far more informal farewell; Mirage didn't bother with keeping his chiding glance for more than a second.

"Have a good journey, my friend. I wish you well during your stay."

The quick databurst between them went unnoticed, and Mirage nodded more formally.

"Thank you. I hope things go well in our absence."

Namely, the espionage jobs now left solely to Jazz and Bumblebee without him.

[cliffjumper]

There's a brief, muted chuckle, and Optimus tilted his helm.

"While none can replace your particular position and talents, the rest will be managed well enough."

Jazz and Bumblebee were, after all, very skilled. Even if they lacked Mirage's invisibility.

Glowering at the ship, Cliffjumper was currently wishing for sudden, catastrophic engine failure to strand them here for a little longer. The allure of seeing Paradron, to be on a properly cybertronian planet again, was right now pretty distant.

But nothing happened in the time it took the others to finish up their farewell... scene... thing, and Cliffjumper huffed and turned to glance up at Mirage with a smile he didn't really feel, but thought was probably a good thing to put in there.

How the slag was he going to survive this thing?!

And he didn't particularly just mean pretending to be an acolyte knowing far more than he did, either.

[lastonepercent]

"I have confidence they will, of course." Mirage had little doubt that Jazz would find a way to make up for the lack of his talents, even if it wouldn't be quite up to his own standards.

Grinning and giving Optimus a more formal bow of departure (and a private ping with a few, final notes on his more recent Decepticon observations,) the priest turned back to the ambassadors.

"We are ready to depart when you are."

[cliffjumper]

"Then it seems now is as good as time as any," the ambassador said with a smile and turned to face Optimus again, bending shortly at the waist with her fingertips pressed to the metal over her spark chamber, "we pledge the sparks we bring with us will be returned as they left, and may your endeavours not suffer for their absence."

Cliffjumper turned enough so he could roll his optics, just a little. Not that the sentiment was a bad one, and as long as they were sincere it was even somewhat reassuring.

It was more the fancy wording and the bowing and everything being done around it that seemed ridiculous and overdone.