The Diego Diaries: Festival (dd6 69)

NOTE: Sorry. Had company. ON WITH THE SHOW!

-0-In another dimension

He didn't have the sensation of falling after jumping into the Well. Why he did, he probably couldn't say. A cool mist surrounded him as he found himself materializing in a gray place. There wasn't anything around him but gray drabness. It felt cool on his neural net as he turned slowly in a circle to take in his surroundings. His sensors didn't work here he noted. Sound was muffled, sight was limited and he felt amazingly good.

-0-In the world

They stood together, millions of Cybertronians and their allies gathered around the steps of the Temple. It was oddly quiet in the big crowd. Most of the conversations were likely going on off line. The sun was moving the other direction heading for the afternoon. A horse stamped his hoof drawing Springer's attention. He rubbed the big horse's neck and he settled. The afternoon slowly wore onward.

-0-Earth

"What can you tell us about what's going on inside the Temple?" a commentator asked.

Colonel Reynolds who was the short straw this time glanced at the group of experts on this and that. "There isn't much I can tell you about what Prime's doing because it's a taboo subject for those who aren't in the loop. Suffice it to say, Prime is at this moment doing the most important thing possible for his people. Only he can do it. No one else."

"Millions of individuals are waiting for him to come out. How long does it usually take?" another asked.

"It depends on what he's seeking and how long it takes for him to get it. Sometimes, it takes hours and other times less," Reynolds said. "They will wait as long as it takes. When he walks out its over. Until then, they wait."

"I was told that they fast," a woman said. "Is that some sort of religious obligation or what?"

"I can't say much on that but it's a choice that a lot of them make. It has to do with denial so that you can focus internally, with the way your life is going and other important things. It's believed that it sharpens the thought process. Children don't usually fast. Most of the adults do and some of the humans on world are as well but its a choice and if you don't, then there's no shame," Reynolds said.

"Some of the humans on world are invited. When will those in the other habitats, especially Earth2 be part of the invited guests?" another asked.

"Earth2 hasn't proven themselves yet. It's a matter of trust with the bots. They give it and we return it. I've been on world over and over and each time I figure something new out. They give their word and keep it. It mystifies them how unethical we can be. Understand. They know something about unethical conduct. The Decepticons name even means the same thing. But they give their word and open their doors to us. It matters to us to return the favor. Not only are we a representative of our people but we're friends. I would hate to see any human there abuse their privileged status because living on world is a privilege."

It went on.

-0-Earth2

They sat in the theater and everywhere else watching the screen. It's image was roving around as cameras everywhere got their few seconds of screen time before another scene was shown. The only excitement so far besides seeing so many different kinds of bots and their children was an elder who needed a medic.

Rain Harris sat in the theater with three other kids who were the children of the upper management team. They had pulled rank to come and now all of them were students in Youngling Day in Centurion. Right now, school was out. Before this holiday came there were discussions about it in the classroom which they weren't allowed to attend. They were held during their pullout sessions in the remedial classroom, a deliberate way to skirt taboos with their presence. Three new kids from Earth2 were part of Terradive's responsibility making a total of eight humans in his class.

She was adjusting well enough though because it was shocking to find out that her skills were lacking. She was given a first class international education and she was gifted in sciences and mathematics. Here, she was behind and it was obvious even to her. She was working harder here than she had anywhere else and so were the several dozen kids that filled her classes half day in the 'remedial room' as they called it. It was embarrassing.

"What do you think?" a girl asked her, Lilly, the daughter of Hamilton Brown.

"This is boring," Rain replied. "I want something to happen."

"It will," another said. "When Prime comes out, I think."

"He better make it soon," Rain grumped with teenaged angst. It wouldn't be for a while.

-0-Inside

The sound of humming, like bee wings slowly began to rise as sparkling lights came to be seen in the haze. They were twinkling and very tiny but many, flying toward him in a number of clouds. They swarmed when they reached him, landing on his body to cover him helm to ped. They were warm, then they spoke to him. "Remember ..."

Prime listened to the voices, a sort of small collective of sound, but he couldn't remember ever seeing beings like this before. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice echoing in a muffled way off the substances around him. "What must I remember?"

"Remember ..." Then they were gone. They winked out like someone switched off the lights and with them went the scene. He was now standing in a meadow on a mountainside, one of great tall leafy trees and nearby, a rutted dirt roadway. He stared at it, then began to walk, compelled as he was by its presence.

Under the tall canopies he walked feeling oddly dwarfed by their presence. It was beautiful and he could hear forest sounds, the type you heard on Earth. As he walked around a turn in the road, he halted. Ahead, sitting on a horse in full armor was a being. The horse was armored but he was flesh and blood. The humanoid was indeterminate given the amount of armor that they wore. It was medieval in appearance, the figure. He didn't move, but sat his horse with sword in hand. The sword tip pointed to the ground.

Prime stared at him, then noted the figure and his horse were bigger than a normal human but not as big as him. The moment seemed surreal, then the horse moved forward. The 'knight' on board raised his sword as the horse picked up speed, riding in a straight line toward Prime.

-0-In the crowd

Paragon and Arrow stood with friends near the Temple. They were part of the general staff but took a place near the back to be closer to friends they had made over the orns. Their two children were sleeping in Arrow's carry hold. They would stay asleep in the warm and sound proofed enclosure. Nearby, others waited, all manner of mech and some femmes. He knew some and not others.

"We're invited to dinner at Patton's place after the siren," Arrow said as he turned toward Paragon. He had been chatting with Patton, another Seeker from Arrow's old squadron.

Paragon nodded. "Do we bring anything?" he asked.

"Just the kids," Arrow said with a grin.

Paragon grinned back. "Hard detail," he said as the crowd shifted and they disappeared from view in it.

-0-Prime

He stood his ground bracing himself. It was hard to tell if the bot was real or not, though he knew two things about his journeys here. Nothing was real in the sense of third dimensional energy and no one could hurt more than your feelings. The mech bore down, then slammed on the breaks, his horse skidding to a halt before Prime. He spurred the great beast who snorted and pawed the ground as they circled Prime. The knight waved his sword wildly but said nothing, oddly enough.

Prime turned warily with him until he stopped. The mech stared at Prime, then with effort raised his visor. Micronus smirked at Prime. "You don't seem to be afraid of Me, brother."

"Lord Micronus, I am aware that no harm comes to those who come here on this mission," Prime said with a slight grin of his own. "Though, I must compliment you on the splendor of your armor and steed."

Micronus laughed as the horse and armor disappeared. The sword stayed. He hovered in the air, then tossed the blade to Prime. "There. Excalibur."

Prime considered the comment, then shook his helm. "I am unaware of what the sword of Arthur has to do with me."

Micronus laughed aloud. "Then you're getting behind. The current magnum opus of your favorite director and mine contains references to both. This is my way of making a jest, though I will say, the film contained some very amusing moments. I do, however, dislike that you get slapped around as much as you do in his films. He has, after all, said he favors you and your colleague, Bumblebee, the most. With friends like that," he said with a smirk, trailing off the comment.

"I have not seen that epic yet. I shall pencil it in," Optimus said with a grin. The sword in his servo was beautiful, but disappeared into the ether as he held it. "How may I serve you and what wisdom may I hope to find here, Lord Micronus?"

"Much, my dear brother, though it might seem cryptic for a while. Come with me," he said as the image dissolved, then formed again. They were in the center of the great henge circle, Stonehenge in England under a vast night sky of stars and galaxies. A very ornate table with chairs around it was in the middle. Sitting in all the places but two, the rest of the Pantheon waited.

Prime stared at them, then knelt down on one knee bowing his helm. "I am honored to see you again, Great ones."

Solus grinned. "Your manners are lovely, brother, but You are here among Us as an equal."

"I am Your servant and Your disciple. I do not think I shall ever be Your equal, Lady," he said rising.

"Come. Sit, Optimus," Prima said, patting the table on his right with his big silvery servo.

Optimus walked around to sit while Micronus took his place. It was silent a moment, then Prima produced what could only be tarot cards. He shuffled them with a grin. "Well, this is quite nice. If Alpha and a couple of others were here, it would be like old times."

"Some will never be welcome," Onyx said darkly as the others murmured their agreement. "What say you, Optimus? How is your venture among The People? We look at you and your efforts with great favor."

"Thank you, Lord Onyx. I am doing all that I can to make a safe haven for our people. They are very weary and battered but the colony and Cybertron are rising again."

"You look for the Keys. Look off world. No more are to be found on Cybertron," Vector Prime said.

Prima finished shuffling, then laid out the cards. "I am fond of things that tell hidden truths, Optimus. I find tarot cards amusing. They are oracles for what might be and what might not, used among the humans. Let us see what they tell us," he said as he looked at the array he had made. "Ah, the page of wands. I would say you have been busy and that the work you have in progress is of the best possible nature. Have confidence in what you do now, Optimus. I am aware that you have plans for Cybertron. You moved Caminus. She is most pleased."

"The star," Optimus said. "He came to me. What happened to him?"

"He has done what all do when the time comes," Micronus said. "He returned to source energy. He is a very old and wise individual, his sweet bond with Caminus prompted him to save her. You have aided the universe and universal love with your actions, Optimus. All of it counts, the good that is done. It ripples through time and space, touching all things. What you do right now touches everything."

The others nodded. "That is why we are so proud of you," Solus said with a serious expression. She looked at Prima. "Tell us more, brother."

He looked at another card, the Hierophant. "Hmm. You appear to be on track regarding reviving our culture. The traditions that are important are ever present in your processor. I do recall, brother, that you had a dim view of some aspects of our society in the beginning but have grown over time. I rather favor the Circle but I am aware that you called them a cult once upon a time."

Prime grinned slightly. "I did. That was then."

Prima nodded. "I am not terribly knowledgeable about tarot as yet. I have some notion of their meaning. This arrangement gives me cards that have specific meanings. I won't bore you with the way they interact or what their extra meanings are. I do want you to have the most clear information possible," he said picking up another card. "This is amusing. The chariot." He glanced at Optimus, then grinned. "I don't think we need to talk about your willpower and control as it relates to victory."

A murmur of chuckles rounded the table.

"Tell me, Optimus … what say you about moving Cybertron? What about the aliens you have encountered? I do believe I am behind the times," Vector said as he looked up from a timepiece in his servo to affix Prime with a stern gaze.

"You need to stay more in the world, brother. Optimus is working on securing Primus. He will succeed," Solus said with an amused expression. "As for the aliens, they are still organizing their response." She looked at Optimus. "The Reptilians have a long drawn out process to greetings and new meetings."

"We are still waiting," Optimus said with a nod.

"Those that were lost … it still plagues you?" Nexus asked. He was the first combiner and a fierce warrior.

"It will always," Optimus agreed. "We could not save them."

"You misunderstand life," Vector said as the others nodded. "You come to this life with a path laid out. No one leaves it without permission. All of those involved in that affair knew that they would be leaving the way they did. No one was taken without agreement."

"Then what is the point?" Optimus asked.

"They came with lessons desired and left with answers," Prima said with a serious expression on his handsome face. "They came here to live and learn, this classroom of classrooms, and when they learned what they sought, they left. That they left together was only a surprise to you."

"What am I here to learn then?" Optimus asked.

"To lead fearlessly, to love completely, to show The People the way again," Prima said as the others nodded. "Sometimes when the moment requires it, a great spark comes to lead the way. You are that great spark. We have not given you too much advice, Optimus, because you don't need it. You have all that you need inside. There is much to do. You must do it fearlessly."

"And Megatron? He hangs over my helm like a sword," Prime said.

They nodded. "That path is murky," Prima mused, "but the light that surrounds you is very bright. I take that as a good sign." He grinned. "Sometimes our father is deliberately obtuse."

"He knows you will protect Him. The efforts on Cybertron are welcomed," Solomus said. "Well done, brother."

"We have to go now, Optimus," Prima said as he looked at a couple of cards. He grinned. "I must take more time to learn this. I do believe I rather get it."

Solus grinned. "Bravo," she said as the others faded. Sitting at the table alone, Solus stared at Optimus. "How are you really, brother?"

"I am happy. I have a family that makes my life complete," he replied. "A family, good friends and a purpose of service. That makes me happy."

"That femme … Solus. She is so pretty," Solus said. "Thank you for that. I am so pleased. I am often with you and your family. I am glad for you. Your self denying nature began to worry me. You are not an island."

"No," Prime said in agreement. "I am a mech with many burdens and I vow to serve as best I can."

"You already do, brother," she said. "I am a mere breathe away," she said as the room faded and another took its place. He was sitting in a hiring hall in Iacon, the one for longshoremen for the docks. It was a memory from his own life. Sitting beside him was Deion.

-0-TBC 7-20-17 edited 8-2-17