The Diego Diaries: Festival (dd6 70)
-0-In a dream state
Prime looked around himself as he sat on the bench with Deion. They were the biggest mechs in the room, the two of them, but there were many others. It was the time they went to the hall to get a better job than the one they had. Deion had come with him as the two hoped to get longshoreman jobs on the same energon docks down at the main depot in Iacon. It would be a step up and slightly better pay than day laborers. They were called, discussed the job with the jobber, then walked out the door together to go to the docks.
They had gotten the same depot and would work together.
He walked with Deion who looked like he did when they were young but Prime's reflection in windows as he passed by showed himself to look as he did now. The streets were filled with traffic and pedestrians going about their business as the two made their way to the commercial center of the great city. It was almost overwhelming to be home and see so much that was so familiar and loved. He glanced at Deion. "What do you think?" he asked.
Deion glanced at him. "It's a better job. A little bit better pay."
Prime nodded. "We should not have to live this way."
Deion glanced at him. "We can go to the rally tonight. You and I know nothing changes without pressure." He glanced at the ground as they walked past two policemen who were watching them as they went by. When they rounded the corner, Deion glanced at him. "More guards and more police. It's getting more dangerous to oppose the establishment."
Prime considered that. "Sometimes you have to do just that," he remembered himself saying as the scene changed. He was on the shore of the vast ocean and there were two mechs standing there, both of whom he recognized. "Hello, Nominus and Zeta."
The two mechs looked as handsome and beautifully turned out as they did as Primes when alive. They nodded to Optimus respectfully.
"Hello, Optimus," Nominus said. "It is good to see you."
Zeta stepped forward to offer his hand which Prime gripped. He shook the hand of Nominus as well. "Why are you here?" Optimus asked.
"We owe penance," Nominus said. "We're here to begin it. I have been in darkness for some time, wandering through cold lands. I remember dying. Someone killed me."
"Who did it?" Prime asked.
He seemed to be thinking. "It was strange. I was warned but I didn't believe them. I was put into office by the Senate and there was little that I didn't do. It was to my shame that I did but there was no reason for them to cause me harm because I was their servant. I believe it was Sentinel. He was head of security. I believe he killed me for the Matrix. He failed because I saw him and moved enough to survive. Those who were with me got me to the hospital where they tried to save me but I saw him standing over me before I died. It was … unnerving." He was silent a moment. "I do believe he killed me there when he saw that what he wanted wasn't there. The real Matrix was in the hands of the Council. He was so enraged he killed me. I do believe that is what happened."
Prime nodded. "Did you know the Matrix you bore was false?"
Nominus nodded, then grinned ruefully. "I did when I crossed over. Before that, I just thought it was me, that the Matrix didn't feel me as Its bearer."
"The Senate or Council … who had it, really?" Prime asked.
"The Council. Not Neo. Kudon. Neo was a very cold and calculating femme then but she was and is truly religious. She would have never agreed to manipulating the Matrix and she wouldn't have agreed to assassination. It was Sentinel." Nominus shook his helm. "I was cruel to you and I apologize. It's a small thing for what I caused but I feel it here," he said tapping his chassis. "I am going to do my best to appease my wrongs and make things right. Here, I can. I can help you, Optimus. Call upon me when you think I may assist you. I don't know how I can but I will. That part of my rehabilitation is allowed."
Zeta nodded. "And I. I fell away from the truth and allowed bad things to happen in the course for justice. I strayed from the path of reform and reconstruction because I thought it would help return Cybertron to itself faster. I am sorry for that, Optimus. I will help you, too."
Prime nodded. "I will remember."
Nominus grinned slightly. "You always were a mech who loved a good redemption story. Proteus is much enamored of you and your merciful goodness, Optimus. You have a very great ally there, Proteus, Neo and Gravitas. The others. You help the lost find their way home in more than the obvious manner."
"We have to go. There is much happiness and support for you here," Zeta said. "Most of us cannot help you but some of us, we get another chance. Remember," he said as the two faded.
Prime glanced around. He was in the Temple again. The journey was over. It was strange and disjointed. It would take some time to figure out. Glancing up at the AllSpark, he felt warmth from It, an ancient kind of sentience and once again, he wondered what It was and where It had come from. Glancing around again, he walked toward the door across the empty Great Room, his ped falls the only sound he could hear. Reaching the doorway, he paused to look out. The crowd was stupendous and silent, their optics riveted upon him as he began to walk out onto the platform of the massive building.
The priests, Cyclonus and his group along with Alpha Trion bowed lowly. He looked at them, then nodded. It was then that he turned to the vast gathering and felt It, the movement in his chest of divinity. He gripped his chassis, then it opened and a brilliant light shot out, one that spread out everywhere to everyone instantly.
Prime flung his arms wide as the light blanked out everything and everyone. He felt only ecstasy as the Matrix cast Its blessings to all. Everyone on world and everywhere else that Cybertronians could be found felt It, pausing in their moments everywhere to absorb Its warmth. In the Delta Quadrant, only Megatron and his group would be spared inclusion in the blessings.
As the energy flowed out, Optimus felt ghosts rising, the loved ones and friends of other times and perhaps other lives. This was new. It was as if the multitudes of the dead and missing were asserting themselves to partake of the love and inclusion he was showering on his people. Then the light extinguished, falling away instantly.
All of the crowd who were standing entranced in the moment seemed to shift, as if bewildered that such overpowering love could ever leave them. Then a vast light shot up through the Temple, a massive roiling fountain of light that streaked upward to peak, then fall backward to the ground. It rolled out of the building, through all the doors to almost instantly engulf everyone. Whispers in the loving white light greeted the people, comforting whispers as The One gave His love to The People. It seemed to last forever but in an instant It too was gone.
Before The People could even register their dismay another light burst upward from the Temple, then out. It rolled swiftly away engulfing everyone as Primus Himself gave to The People His unconditional love and blessings. They seemed suspended in a white fog that felt sentient, then It too was gone. All over Mars, Cybertron, the bases and even Razorclaw's own, the Great Ones had weighed in. Only Megatron and his group would miss the moment.
Prime lowered his arms, pulling back from the perfection surrounding him, then looked at his people. "The Solemnities are concluded. Until all are one."
It came out of the people, the creed, the defining statement of who they were as they almost as one roared it into life.
"UNTIL ALL ARE ONE! UNTIL ALL ARE ONE! UNTIL ALL ARE ONE!"
Millions of peds began to stamp as millions of voices and millions of fists punctuated the air. It was primal, the sentiment of The People and it seemed to go on forever. Then it died down and was quiet again. Everyone stared at Prime, watching him as he stood like a god on the steps of the Temple. He glanced at the Guard, they snapped to attention, then formed on either side of him.
Prime walked down the steps under guard, waited for his family, then leading the way walked down the street through the mobs of people on both sides. Many were the spectators who dashed out to touch him, absorbing themselves some of the holiness that this moment conferred upon him. He walked with enormous dignity taking the appreciation of his people as he showed himself to them. When he reached his tower, he turned to bow, then walked inside. Behind him came the family, the Guards and then it was over.
All it would take now to end the orn was the siren at midnight.
-0-Moments later
The Guards left, heading off to their families and friends as the family milled in the lobby. Heading upward, they would go to their homes, then meet at Prime's home in a few joors. Blue, the twins and kids went upward to the Residence while the rest headed with Ironhide and Company to their own apartments.
Turbine, Delphi, Raptor, and Hard Drive followed Ironhide and Company into the apartment to sit along with Ratchet's family. They lived other places but had brought their food over when they gathered for the event.
Ratchet turned to Turbine. "You looked good out there, Amma."
Turbine grinned. "That was amazing. It's been eons since one of mine could honor a Prime like that. It was amazing how uncomfortable it is to be the center of attention. Anyone who wants to be famous is nuts. Your anonymity is a gift."
"That's what I tell Ironhide about my own fame. It isn't easy but I do try and find balance between meeting the expectation of my fans and being a house wipe," Ratchet said with a giant smile.
"You have a screw loose, Old Mech," Ironhide said as he tossed beer around. "How long until dinner?" he asked.
"Six joors," Delphi said.
"Frag," Ironhide said as he sat down. "He was in there a long time. I imagine he thought only a few minutes passed."
"Time has no meaning on the Matrix, sparkling," Turbine said. "There is no time there. We have linear time here to explain and organize our lives but time exists in all places at the same time."
"Save the physics for Prime. He took a class," Ironhide said with a grin.
"You did, too," Turbine replied.
"What do you suppose he saw?" Raptor mused.
"Great things," Turbine said. "He's the One Who Comes."
Everyone nodded.
"AMMA!"
Everyone looked down at Orion who smiled like Pac man. "What, baby?" Delphi asked.
"I, ORION, HONEY!"
Ratchet snickered. "He's hungry."
"So am I," Ironhide said as he watched Delphi rise. His amma walked to a box with infant meals that Ravel had arranged. The ammas in the room rose to organize the infants to eat a dinner. It was controlled chaos a moment, then they were seated to eat.
Sunspot glanced at his family. "Will you eat, too?"
"Later, son. You eat and tell us how good it is," Ravel said with a smile.
He would.
Ironhide would hate that he did.
-0-TBC 7-22-17 edited 8-2-17 01-2022