The Diego Diaries: Pantheon (dd6 265)

-0-Up there

"Atar … what you?"

Ironhide glanced up at Orion. "I'm on it."

Standing around him with concern and grave expressions, Prowler, Hero, Praxus, and Orion kibitzed the 'operation'. Ironhide, for his part, was on his knees, holding a tiny tire in one hand as he looked over a tiny truck with the other. It had come off and they had run to him in near tears with a 'hurt fruck' and its tiny little boo-boo. He had come in, knelt down and was working his mojo so the kids who had *!*ABSOLUTE*!* faith that he could 'help the little truck, Atar' wouldn't be disappointed.

"Atar … fruck broked. This falled off. It owed. Poor fruck. Owie," Orion said near to tears.

Ironhide looked at the others who looked ready to cry as well. "Don't worry. We're going to do this," he said, though he had no idea. He smothered a grin. Everyday, something about children unveiled itself to him and he was dazzled. Every truck, even the toy size brought out the tears in the kids. They must believe it was alive. He heard a rustle behind him. Glancing up, he looked at Ratchet who was grinning. "The medic is here. All is well."

"ADA! YOU GOOD THIS!?" Orion asked with hopeful optics as he pointed to the little yellow truck.

"I can see," Ratchet said as Ironhide handed it to him, then the tiny tire. Ratchet made a show of examining it, watching the concerned faces and tension in the kids. It was hilarious. Then he subbed a finger into a micro welder. With infinite care, he welded the piece that held the tire, then snapped it back on. Pretending to look at it closely with his specialized optics, putting it against his audial to listen for its … something … he handed it back to Ironhide. "The operation is a success."

Ironhide grinned as he put it on the floor.

The children who were near to vapor lock stared at it. Orion knelt, then rolled it a little. He then applied vroom-vroom sounds to the operation. Looking up, he smiled at his genitors. "YOU DOING DIS! YOU DID DIS FOR US! GOOD YOU, ADA AND ATAR! YOU DOED DIS!" He stood up, then began to hug his siblings. He hugged Spot who had wandered in, then saw that the big kids and Sunspot were standing in the doorway grinning at everyone. "YOU, WAYMAR! YOU SEED DIS!? ADA AND ATAR DO GOOD US! POT! YOU SEE!?" he asked as he pointed to the toy car. He bent down and patted it. "You good. I, Orion, doing good you." He stood up and looked at his siblings. "WE DOING GOOD, DIS!" he said. Then they group hugged.

Ratchet stepped out with the three dread kids to laugh as Sunspot walked in to get group hugged. Ironhide stood, grinned at the infants, then checked the time. "BERTH TIME!"

Huge disagreement that went nowhere ensued as they were scooped up, then deposited. Waymar aka Quasar, Sissy aka Genesis and Pooh-Ball aka Fireball, the latest version of Orion's designation currently in use for the big dread kid gathered in the living room with Sunspot after the four were tucked in. The oldsters sat down with Quasar holding a sleeping Halo, then gave their full attention to their older younger infants.

"So … tell us everything. Especially how you and Lumi are doing in your great friendship," Ratchet began.

Everyone grinned. "Lumi is so great. He's my best friend. I really like him almost better than anyone. He's my ..." Fireball paused a moment as he struggled with the concept. He looked intently at Ironhide and Ratchet. "He's my boyfriend. You don't mind do you?"

Ironhide grinned. :Your subject area, old mech:

"Thanks, fragger: Ratchet grinned. "We don't mind a bit. Why would we? You don't do anything we would frown on, right?"

Fireball looked embarrassed a moment, glancing at the other two who were smirking with self conscious amusement. Yes, they were good boys. "No, Ada. We talked. Remember?"

Ratchet did …

"I just … he's so nice. We like to do everything together," Fireball said as he sat in the CMO's office eating candy. The others were coming. He had just gotten here first.

"You do know the limits, right? Sometimes, when you like someone more than anything, feelings take over and things happen. Have you noticed that?"

Fireball stared at him, straining to understand, then he did. He swallowed. "Uh … maybe."

Ratchet laughed. "It's normal. When you have those feelings, try not to act on them. I'll be clobbered by your amma and appa if you do. You're young. You like each other. Just go with that. Later on, if you still have feelings for each other, then we'll have The Talk."

Fireball nodded, solemnly agreeing but if truth were told, he had no idea what The Talk was …

"We did, didn't we? And what a talk it was," Ratchet said with a brilliant smile. He looked at the other two. "What about you? How's your love life?"

"OLD MECH! LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE!" Ironhide said with a big grin.

"Frag you, Ironhide. We know that Sunspot still has a trine going, right? You, Comet and Silverbow?" Ratchet asked.

Sunspot smiled, then nodded. "That's right," he said as he sat on Fireball's lap.

"We approve of that relationship, too," Ratchet said as Ironhide nodded. "What about school? Anyone giving any of you fits? What's the scoop? The gossip? Assignments or projects? What?"

"Our class is trying out for the Science Bowl," Quasar said. "It would be fun to get on it."

Science Bowl was a game show on IntraCom where kids from Intermediate Day competed in teams against each other in an elimination system. It was science and the odd factoid about Cybertron and the Empire. It was one of the highest rated shows locally.

"That's outstanding," Ironhide said. "No matter how it works out, we're proud of all of ya."

They grinned at him. "We're going to Trypticon next Second Friday. We won't need lunches, Ada. They have a cafeteria there now that scientists are living on board to do research," Genesis said. "Humans are going to be coming there for tours. We might see them. They'll go to the school section to see what we do. Maybe they can see the human kids, too."

"What's that like, Sunny, having humans in your classes?" Ironhide asked as he glanced at Sunspot.

"I don't mind. The kids aren't scary. When their genitors come, I don't like it. Mr. Terradive helps me when they do," he said. "The femmes aren't asking so much about our lives now. They're more normal."

"That's good to know," Ratchet said. "I heard that Jaycee Jameson in Mrs. Lyrica's class is fitting in really well. So are some of the others. What about Rain Harris and the ones in your room?"

"They play with the other humans at recess, mostly. Jaycee plays with us and the Family kids. Annabelle and the others play football with us and Jaycee does, too. The others hang out with themselves," Sunspot said.

"Maybe they're shy," Ironhide said.

Sunspot shrugged. "Maybe. They want to come to the Temple and learn about Cybertron and the Empire. We're going to the Tempe of Thirteen orn after tomorrow. They were told they could come to the shrines but they couldn't listen to the lectures, Ada. That's our shrine, isn't it?"

"That one is," Ratchet said. "It was mine when I was your age. It was in Iacon so I could go there more often. You had Solus, right?" he asked as he glanced at Ironhide.

"Solus was ours," Ironhide said. "I rather like Thirteen. He's the calm one. Reminds me of Optimus."

Ratchet smirked and he smirked back. "We have both but my favorite is Thirteen."

"Solus is where? Downtown here? I wonder why they didn't put it in Praxus?" Quasar asked.

"They would but there were no spaces in the downtown where they try to put them, so they compromised and put Her shrine near Optimus. Everyone knows that She's his patron now. He sees Her more than the Others. I was told She was pleased Uncle Optimus named his daughter after Her."

"I wonder what its like to see Them. I think they might come when we go to the Temple or shrines," Fireball said.

"They come. They're there. You just can't see Them unless They will it," Ratchet said. "I heard that they show themselves to great little mechs like you."

"I hope so," Genesis said with a grin. "I would love that."

-0-Nearby and far, far away

He stood on the white sandy beach. Overhead, a silvery sky with the twinkling lights of stars shimmered. He looked around, then saw the beach house, the one set aside for Primes at the Sea of Mercury. Walking through the immaculate sand, he reached the path, walked to the porch and climbed the steps. The double doors were open so he walked inside. Sitting around the living room with a roaring fire in the big stone fireplace, the Pantheon awaited. They were all there including those reverenced by the Guiding Hand. He bowed from the waist, then waited to be acknowledged.

"Optimus ... brother … come sit with us. We have much to discuss," Prima said as he patted the arm of a big empty chair.

Optimus walked toward it, then noticed the array of greatness before him. Vector, Prima, Solus who smiled at him, Micronus, Onyx, Solomus, Epistemus, Solomus, Adaptus, Quintus, Nexus, Alchemist, and of all individuals, Alpha sat in the couches and chairs arrayed around the fireplace, each of them grinning or smiling at him. He slowed, then knelt on a knee. "I am honored to be in the presence of such greatness," he said.

"Rise, brother," Prima said with a grin. "You're in the company of family."

Optimus rose, then walked to the chair. Glancing at Solus who nodded to him, he sat. It was silent a moment, then Prima stood. "My dear brother, you have a very hard task before you regarding the Functionalist Council and their outrage against the Peace of The One."

Optimus nodded. "There will be a Primal Councilor Hearing. I have a duty to find the right way forward amongst a mine field of terrible possibilities. I will need Your wise counsel."

"You rather don't, dear one," Prima said, "though I understand your desire. We are very much aware of your wisdom and compassion. There is much to discuss now. You bear a heavy spark for the planets as well."

"All things are sentient, Lord Prima, as I have learned, both great and small. I had to take lives out of a desperate need to save the dignity of the dead. I am unclear that the balance was equal in that transaction."

Prima nodded. He glanced at another. "Solomus. You are wise. What would You have done in that situation."

Solomus, the embodiment of wisdom looked at Optimus was kindly optics. "It was a zero sum proposition, brother. No matter which road you took, the toll would be high. You did change the future that had the least possibility for peace and a good outcome. If they had been left there, the local aliens would have pillaged them and created a terrible possibility for those around the area and those encountered. But you prevented that. However ..." he said as he thought a moment. He glanced at Onyx. "You and I have discussed this together, Onyx. The possible ways forward are many and some without good ends. Perhaps You can tell us of Your thinking and what You have seen."

Onyx, beautiful and fierce in his beast aspect glanced at Optimus. "I can see the past, present and future, my dear Optimus. I have seen many outcomes for the actions you have taken. First, the prospect that you had left them to lie where they died, all of the innocent ones. The aliens would have pillaged them, which for many species such as the organic kind would have smaller and less terrible consequences. Most species cannot be reformatted into weapons the way We can. They would have become a tyranny, the sword arm of their unity God. It would have been a problem to a great number of individuals including Cybertron if they had been allowed to do so.

"Then there's the aspect where they didn't, one of several threads of that action that's playing out now. You do understand, do you not, brother, that there are branches for every possibility and if you choose one, the others do play anyway. They go in all conceivable directions to fulfill the other paths not taken. Since they were deprived of the dead, one thread has them adapting to their loss without any resulting problems coming of it other than anger and a futile sense of vengeance that leads nowhere. Another has them meeting Megatron and being obliterated for possessing what Cybertronian tech they have. Still another has them being nearly destroyed by other coalitions that come across them. They utilize the rifts and dimensional breaches there to fight back and save themselves. There are more but I think you get the drift."

"I do, Lord Onyx. Which one have I set in motion by my actions?" Optimus asked with a slight tremor of anxiety in his beautiful voice.

"That is not your burden," Onyx replied. "I am leaning toward none. There are so many, you see. But you must understand that for every road not taken, the road ever goes onward. What comes of it is not your concern or responsibility. I would think you would understand that with the Alternative Megatron that you have encountered through what We, Ourselves call the 'shattered glass universe'. That's a possibility of this dimension. There are some where Megatron loses, you win … Megatron wins and you lose … some where Megatron doesn't exist and some where you don't. You do understand that the only universe and path you bear responsibility for is this one."

Optimus vented a sigh, then nodded. "Thank you. I … feared for worse news."

"You are an empath, my dear Optimus," Prima said. "You feel deeply and that is what makes you a good mech. Of course, you can feel TOO deeply. Do not borrow the burdens of other dimensions or empires to yourself. They are grown up and able to think, therefore, if they take a difficult road and meet up with Megatron at some point, in some dimension, that is their choice and their path."

Optimus nodded. "Lords and Lady … I found out that all things bear energy … a consciousness. I knew that as we all do to whatever degree our personal development allows. However …" He trailed off as he thought of planets and stars.

"The planets," Micronus said with a slight grin. "You are worried that you destroyed sentient beings."

Optimus nodded. "Yes, Lord Micronus. I am."

"You did," Micronus said as the others shifted or smirked.

"Ever the diplomat," Quintus said with a chuckle. "Optimus … there is a universal law that applies to all sentient beings in the Great All That Is of The One. NO one leaves life without consent. There is never a death without consent."

Optimus looked at him. "Forgive me, Lord Quintus … I am merely a being of metal and circuits and the wisdom that you give to me is out of my ability to reference. Please … explain."

Quintus glanced at Prima. "If you would do the honors, Great One."

Prima laughed. "Of course." He looked toward the window nearby where the view of the ocean was great and no chairs or furnishings filled the space. As he did, a light appeared, small and bright, then began to grow. It filled up the space, was tall and oval in appearance, the rough size and shape of a humanoid figure and out of it sparkles of silver emerged, circled it, then re-entered. When it finally reached the size it wanted, it stopped growing but the sparkling effect, one of great beauty and oddly enough, a sense of great age continued. "This is the group consciousness that created the planets upon which the Functionalists settled. They have much wisdom and will address your questions, brother."

Optimus slowly stood, his optics fixed on the being. He knelt on both knees, then placed his servos on the ground. He leaned down and touched the floor with his helm. "Forgive me," he said.

The figure gleamed, then a voice appeared, one that touched his processor but not his audials. "Rise, brother."

Optimus stood, then stared at the being. "How may I apologize?"

The sound of laughter greeted that. "You do not understand. We shall help you." The being sparkled a moment, then began. "We are a group consciousness, one that is ancient and highly developed. Three of us live here together in great harmony. We have lived many lives and some of them are concurrent. They are lives lived as many things all at the same time. We are a multiversal singularity as are you, great ones," it said. "We come into form for knowledge. Sometimes we do it alone, mostly together, always to learn something. There is so much to learn, Optimus Prime. Sometimes it takes billions of years to learn a single thing and sometimes it takes minutes. We have lived as butterflies and mountains, as planets, quasars, dust motes, and rivers. We were molecules floating in space and one of us is the satellite moon that the humans call Luna. We embody things to learn and when its time, we leave them.

"We are so old that sometimes we know when our end will come and how. Such was it with the planets that the Functionalists occupied. We were learning a great deal from them. Empathy, solidarity, compassion, perseverance, grief … all from the interactions of all who lived upon us. They taught us by example many things that we craved to learn and we did. No life lived is a wasted one. No matter how long or short, how hard or easy, your spark learns and so do others because you lived. So was it for us as the planets. We embodied them from their beginning five billion years ago, a part of our group consciousness, and we have lived that life beautifully. When the Functionalists came, we knew they would and that it would lead to our demise as those planets."

"You knew how it would end?" Optimus asked.

The figure pulsed. "Yes. We knew but that's part of the wisdom. We lived our life there, watched the lessons of the Functionalists and knew that you would either destroy us or not. You have a Hobbesian choice, as they say. You could end the alien's ability to take the dead and pillage them, creating a new future for someone else that is filled with death and destruction, or you did what you did and ended a tyranny before it started. For you who dwell without insight into the endless possibilities, it was a terrible choice that had only one solution. You are the Prime of Cybertron and they were your people."

"What should I have done? I could see no other path," Optimus said.

"You took the path that your conscience and responsibilities dictated," the being said. "We knew you would. We were prepared. We left that incarnation with much wisdom. You may not see that but its true. You live your life to learn. What did you learn, Optimus Prime, from this encounter?"

Optimus stared at them a moment. "I … I am greatly grieved to have not understood how things worked earlier in my life. That all things have consciousness. That everything is interlinked even if we cannot see it. When the star who saved Caminus passed onward, he showed me many things. The silver threads that interconnects all life … the sacredness of unconditional love. I believe I am not wise. There is so much that I do not understand. I believe in the right for all sentient beings to be free and live as they wish but now … sentient life is all life."

They considered that. "You are right but understand, Optimus, intention is the distinguishing featured that separates bestiality from everything else. Your intention with Caminus was to save her life. The star was at the end and ready to go. Because you care and have compassion, you saved Caminus. Your nemesis would not have done so. Your intention with us was to spare not only the dead who were beyond caring one way or the other, but to spare others you do not know from the affects of those species getting tech they might use to harm them. Your intentions mitigated your actions. Do you understand?"

Prime stared at the beings who were unfathomably ancient and wise. He considered their words, then nodded. "I believe I do."

There was a musical effect, more feeling than sound that felt like light laughter. "There is a saying among the humans, Optimus, that it is a wise man who knows he isn't wise. Knowledge is the beginning of wisdom. You are an ancient being and you will learn more and more. Your spark is filled with empathy and goodness, yet you are also pragmatic and realistic. Every decision you make is taken with care. Your intentions were honorable, so there is no offense. We knew this day would come and it did. Besides, we all live in the protection and love of The One. We are never alone and we are always safe. Remember that."

It was silent, then Prime bowed. "I would have done anything else if there was a better way out for my people. I am still very sorry. Your kindness to me I will never forget."

The light laughter was back. "Life doesn't end at death, Optimus Prime. You have come back many times from what too many think is a finality. Consciousness cannot die. It doesn't end. It's immortal. You have done your best and we hold no animus toward you. We wish you well in your endeavor. Follow your soul. It will be your guide." The entity grew in intensity, then faded out.

It was silent in the room for a moment. Then Prime turned to the others.

-0-TBC 2-18 edited 2-22-18

Hobbesian choice:

A Hobson's or Hobbesian choice is a free choice in which only one thing is offered. ... The phrase is said to have originated with Thomas Hobson (1544–1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England, who offered customers the choice of either taking the horse in his stall nearest to the door or taking none at all.

Prime's choice was that no matter what he had to do, someone would suffer.