The Diego Diaries: Free (dd8 110)
=0=There
Will Lennox glanced around sharply to see everyone standing in the same orderly place they were sitting back in the courtroom. The bots were there staring into the distance but the humans were still stunned at the change and were staring at the ground or each other in confusion. He reached down to the ground, startled at the silver sand to pick up a handful. That's when he noticed he wasn't in his gear. He stood up immediately then glanced at Ratchet who was staring at him nearby.
"You're safe," Ratchet said.
Will stared at him, then the handful of sand. It sifted out of his grip through his fingers falling to the ground again, a sparkling effect that was mesmerizing for a moment. A cry caught his attention so he spun around to see who it was.
Kyle Davis was looking all around himself, staring at the ground, the sky, the view down what was obviously the most beautiful beach anyone had ever seen, then the others. "I DON'T HAVE GEAR ON!"
Everyone startled, then glanced at themselves and each other.
"YOU'RE SAFE!"
Everyone paused their panic to turn toward Ratchet.
"You're safe here," he said.
"Where is here!?" Kyle asked.
"The Matrix," Raptor replied. "The safest place there is."
It was darkly quiet a moment, then Kyle stepped toward Lennox. "What is this? A desert? What are we doing in a desert?"
The surroundings seemed to warp, then they weren't there. They were 'hanging' in open space with all of the possibilities there but death and danger. There was no 'floor', nor walls or ceiling. There was only open space all around them with a concentrated appearing array of spacial wonders flying past or visible in all directions, up, down and around.
A cry brought Lennox forward to grip his mother. "Its okay, Mom. Nothing is real in the Matrix."
"THEN WHY ARE WE HERE!?" Kyle asked with gathering fury.
The scene changed again and they were standing on a plain that stretched out in all directions seemingly forever. They were surrounded everywhere by flowers, beautiful ones of all kind and color. The sky was cornflower blue and there were no clouds. It was intensely quiet and the air was warm like a nice summer morning.
They stared at the flowers, some with colors they'd never seen and shapes that didn't exist on Earth but the beauty and peace here was as familiar as could be.
Rick Harris stepped forward toward Ratchet. "Ambassador, this is a construct, right?"
Ratchet nodded.
"Built to make us feel more comfortable?" Rick asked.
Ratchet nodded again.
"THE COURTROOM WAS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH!" Kyle said as he tried to deal with his fear which surged, subsided, then surged again. It was perplexing and maddening at the same time.
The scene changed again placing them in a desert. It was hot, the mountains that were there were far away, ringed the entire bleached scene and wavered in the throes of mirages. The heat was on the edge of uncomfortable.
Robert Epps glanced at Davis. "Thanks, asshole. Now we're going to broil in this."
"NOT IF WE WERE BACK AT … AT SOME OF THE OTHERS! THE BEACH! WHAT WAS THAT!?" Davis replied hotly.
The scene changed and they were back at the beach.
Will Lennox stepped into the middle of the group whose emotions were either tightly drawn or ready to fly. "SHUT UP! EVERYONE SHUT UP! NOW!"
It stilled immediately.
He glanced at the bots, some of whom were overwhelmed with emotion at being here and others who were amused at their reactions. "No one say another damned word. When you do the scene changes." He turned to Ratchet. "What is this place, Ratchet?"
"This is the Matrix. It makes scenarios for everyone to be comfortable. It was trying to give you something that would be a place where you'd feel okay," he said. He glanced at Davis. "It was trying to make you feel better, slagger."
"Then we just shut up and relax. Look around and see things," Lennox said as he glanced at the other humans. "Just relax, look around, see things. Nothing is going to hurt anyone. Right?" he asked as he glanced upward at Ratchet.
"Yep," Ratchet replied with a grin.
The entire group seemed to deflate as they glanced around themselves. Several picked up sand and a couple put some in their pockets. As they did Jonathan Lennox glanced up at Ratchet. "Where is Lord Optimus, Ratchet?"
Everyone glanced around, then Hercy stepped forward. "The slaggers are gone as well."
=0=Elsewhere at the same time
They sat on a boat, a small one that bobbed in a blue ocean. The sky overhead was blue as well and there was nothing in it, cloud or otherwise to mar its perfection. The sun was warm and shown down on the three as they sat on the bottom of the small boat, leaning against the sides as it drifted aimlessly. There was nothing as far as the optics could see but water.
Optimus Prime leaned against the side of the little boat, then draped his arms on the railing around it. He relaxed, waiting for whatever would come to do so as they bobbed on the calm water. He stared at the pair while waiting, wondering who would crack first.
Ebio Imperialis sat beside his brother, startled by the change from the courtroom to this.
His brother glanced around, then relaxed again, watching Prime with wary optics.
Ebio sat up straighter. "What the frag is this?"
Optimus didn't reply as he watched Ebio, the weaker link make all the moves. He wasn't concerned about them or their current situation. He was an expert on the Matrix and Its many different powers and designs. He was also intimately aware that it taught lessons and revelations through its imagery.
"What's this, Prime? Where are we?" Ebio asked as he sat forward gripping the railings of the boat tightly.
Prime didn't answer.
Ebio stood up, staring in all directions. Then he turned on Prime with growing concern. "What's going on? You're the fragging Disciple of Primus. What's this place?"
Prime stared at him a moment, then swiftly placed his ped against Ebio's midsection. He pushed slightly and with great satisfaction, watching as Ebio lifted up and landed in the water to sink out of sight.
It was silent again before Ebio clambered back up and thrashed a moment in the water. "YOU FRAGGER! I'LL KILL YOU, PRIME!" he shouted as he grabbed the edge of the boat rocking it slightly.
Prime stared at him without a comment, noting that Cassio was taking stock of everything.
"Ebio, get back in here without tipping us over," Cassio said calmly.
Ebio cursed him, the Matrix and the universe as he clambered back in. Water gushed out of his body as he sat back down to stare at Prime with murderous optics. "You'll be sorry you did that."
"I doubt it," Prime finally said.
They sat in a silent standoff for a while as the sun beat down.
=0=There
They stared around themselves at the silver sea which curved away into a silver horizon. The sky was a mother of pearl kind of silvery blue, something too beautiful for words to describe. The beach was perfect in its configuration as waves lapped against it. The real show was in the sky. Filling it were features of the universe, galaxies and comets, planets with their moons or not, all of it overwhelmingly close to the place where they stood.
Three large planets were visible at the far end of the beach which disappeared into the distance, filling the sky with their masses, seemingly layered over each other. They appeared to be almost self lit with light to feature their own beauty, most of it pockmarked with impact craters. They hung in the sky and nearly filled it. It was an impossibility in real time but here it was so. The scene was of an indescribable beauty.
That's when Ratchet noticed that several groups of individuals had disappeared.
=0=Elsewhere but very near
They stood with Drift and Springer, then the scene seemed to melt around them. When things solidified again it was then that they were alone on a street in Iacon, so said a sign nearby. With them looking equally surprised was Drift, Lon, Bezel and Springer.
"What the frag?" Springer asked as he glanced around. "Come closer to me, children."
The children who were staring around with surprise stepped closer to Springer and the other adults.
"What happened, Commander?" Coros asked.
"I want to give you a tour," a voice said.
Everyone turned to the sound of the voice, then relaxed a tiny bit.
"Ada, what are you doing here? Where is this?" Springer asked with surprise.
"What is this?" Drift asked.
Ratchet grinned at him. "This is Iacon in the orn. We're going to walk around and get the local flavor. They think its good for the kids."
"They?" Springer asked.
"You know. Them," Ratchet replied with a brilliant smile.
Drift stared at Springer, than Ratchet. "Who are you really?"
Ratchet shot him a dazzling smile again. "Guess. You know you wanna" He grinned at the kids. "Follow me." He then set off down the street toward an area that was the main detour route to The Jumble.
They watched him go, then the kids glanced at Springer and Drift.
"We better catch up," Springer said as he glanced around. "This is the Matrix. Nothing bad can happen here. Maybe."
With that, the group put medal to the pedal and hustled to catch up to the fading backside of Ratchet.
=0=There
There was a moment of yelling and fearful babbling, then Ratchet whistled. "CALM DOWN!"
Everyone stopped at once, then turned toward Ratchet.
"What's happening, Ratchet? Where did the children go?" Jonathan Lennox asked.
"Count Springer, Drift, Lon and Bezel in as well," Niall Graham said as he held his wife's hand.
"Don't panic. They're off having an adventure. No one is in any danger in the Matrix. All we have to do is stand right here and all will be well," Ratchet said as the entire delegation from Earth 1 and N.E.S.T. disappeared. "Or not."
The yelling loudly began once again.
=0=Sitting nearby watching
"I think this is going to be a good show," Primus said with a grin.
The Matrix who was sitting next to him chuckled. "If you say so, my dear."
Primus laughed. "I do."
=0=Elsewhere
They materialized together, then glanced around in surprise and alarm. Lennox and the soldiers who were used to weirdness turned toward the civilians who weren't. Even Owen Harris was startled.
"I want everyone's attention. NOW!" Lennox said.
They glanced at Lennox, then Davis walked toward him with a cold expression of fury. "What the fuck is going on here, Lennox?"
Lennox who just about had ALL THE SHIT he was going to take from Davis rounded on him to do battle, verbal or otherwise when a voice stopped all of them in their tracks. They turned almost as one to look way, way, the frag upward at the most startling beautiful face they'd ever seen.
"My, my, my, my children. What the hell are you arguing for?" Primus asked the tiny organic beings standing below in His shadow.
=0=TBC 03-10-2021
HUGGIES! :D:D:D
Just so you know … :D:D:D
The beach in the story is a strange dream I had once where I was with someone whose hand I was holding. He was tall, wore a black pea coat and had black hair. We were walking along that beach toward the planets and moons down the way. I remember feeling awesome and loved while it lasted because the ocean was beautiful and so was the sky. Something woke me up and I could still feel his hand in mine. If I really think about it now I still can. It was more than a dream to me and I think we all have them but seldom remember until they come to you this strongly. When they do, I believe you're really having it. :D:D:D I never saw his face but it appeared to me that I knew him very well. HUGS!