The Diego Diaries: Pantheon (dd6 266)
-0-In the ether
He turned to the gods who sat around the room watching him with expectation. "Lords and Lady … thank you for that, though I will tell you … it is my nature to feel the loss anyway."
"You always were the one with empathy and deeply held consideration for everyone else, brother," Prima said with a slight grin. "What do you know now that you did not before."
Optimus considered that. "That life is eternal." He grinned faintly. "I, who have died more than a dozen times know this to be true."
"Your stays were short, Optimus. You will to serve The People is legendary among Us. That is why We watch what you do," Micronus said.
"I am glad for that," Optimus said with conviction. "It once was a hard thing, leading alone."
"But Prowl is your companion," Solus said.
Prime nodded. "He is. He's my boon and my solace."
"You do know that all of Us have been at this a long time, those of Us in Our one life and the rest of All That Is, The People and everyone else, through many. As everyone goes through their lives, they do not go alone," Nexus said as the others nodded. "No one does. You forget a lot so that you can learn a lot unencumbered by prior knowledge. You, yourself, know that. You could not come as you are to a world and do what you have to do without forgetting. But as you are not alone with Us, so it is with all others. A veil falls over their memories to protect them against knowing too much. There is no purpose to a life if you know everything before you come. What would you learn? Had you known about the planets sooner, would it have changed your mind? Caminus had only hinted at the magnitude of All That Is."
Prime sat down and considered the question. He shrugged helplessly. "There was no really good alternative. The dead required, for me, solace and respect. Yet, being dead, they were removed from the equation, thereby, having no real say one way or the other. They would have been pillaged and used against others anyway. As for the planets, they also were sentient beings who deserved their lives as well. The dead were, in the strictest sense, out of danger but for their utility to the others. I had no really good option."
"You do," Prima said as the others nodded. "Err on the side of the greatest good. You always have, sometimes to your own doom. There is no perfect solution. You have to choose the best one among them and live with it. Sometimes, you will be right, sometimes not, but that is the world you live in and that is the burden of leadership. Primus had the same zero sum game and chose to default to the greater good, thereby, taking his own wants and needs out of the picture to do the greatest good for the greatest number."
Prime considered that. "So it must be," he said quietly.
It was silent a moment, then Onyx leaned forward. "You are faced with an equally hard decision, Optimus. You must decide what is suitable for the mass genocide of our people, one that satisfies honor and fits the crime. We are interested in your thinking on this matter."
"You will have to partake in it, too, Lord Onyx," Optimus said.
"We shall. This is beyond the ability of one to decide," Prima said. "What is your theory about this?"
Optimus considered that. "I was there to see the ending. I wasn't there to see the beginning. There will be a major effort to see to it that they explain themselves. I do not believe there is any explanation that will suffice to mitigate this matter. However, they must and will be given a chance to speak fully on it."
"That is a good thing," Alpha said. "I, however, reserve judgment."
"How is it, Alpha, that you are here?" Optimus asked. "You never seem aware of that when I see you back on Mars."
Solus grinned. "We bring him here to help us, then send him back."
"I never remember a thing," Alpha said with a grin. He glanced at Prima. "I rather would like to lodge a protest, brother."
"And I give to you all the consideration your protest deserves," Prima said with a smile. "That is to say, none."
Huge laughter in the group filled the space, then subsided as everyone looked at Prime. "Optimus," Solus said. "We will be watching this. This is an outrage of enormous proportions but the Matrix has already told you of those who passed, has It not?"
Prime considered that. "Over the past few Festivals, I have had visions of everyone who ever lived walking out of the water to look at me, each and everyone. Then they walked back in to disappear. One stopped last time to tell me that it was too late. I now know was too late to help them. I remember feeling deep disquiet at the time, though I didn't know why."
"They were telling you from the Matrix that they were already gone. They were telling you, also, that they were safe and well again. No one is ever not safe, Optimus, whether in or out of the Matrix. No one is ever alone. Everyone, no matter who, what, when, and where is ever in danger. This life is a hologram in which you come to gain wisdom. Nothing is really what it seems. That goes for everyone everywhere. Most do not know that but many do. Do not worry or grieve for them. They are safely with Us in the Matrix and they will have another chance, like you have now and every other time you left the world. You came back to help The People each time because that is your nature. You are not the only one who can. Everyone can. Just listen to the facts and follow your spark. We will, too. Then when you make your decision, We will call you here," Prima said. "Do not over think, brother. All is well. It always was and it always will be."
Prime bowed his helm. "Thank you. All of you. This is a terrible thing to decide upon by myself. There are children involved who are innocent. I do not want to be the source of their sorrows."
"You won't," Epistemus said. "They are ancillary to the main culprits. It's unfortunate but part of their life's path whatever follows. Do what you are good at, Optimus. Be honest and honorable."
The others nodded, then rose to stand. They shook Prime's servo, smiling at him as they enjoyed his company, the disappeared along with Alpha. Solus stood beside Prime to see them fade, then turned to face Optimus. "You always were the one who could bring Us all together, the hub to Our spokes. Are you going to be alright?" she asked.
He nodded. "I will, Lady. I will do my best."
Solus smiled at him. "Oh, Optimus … do you know how to do other?" she asked before she faded away. The room shimmered and he was back on the balcony.
He shifted, then noted he was gripping the balcony railing tightly. Releasing his grip, he took a moment then turned to go into the Residence. He halted as he saw Prowl standing inside the doorway, watching him with his usual intensity.
Prowl stepped out and walked to Optimus to embrace him. They held each other, then Prowl looked up. "Did you find balance for yourself?" he asked.
Prime nodded. "Always," he said.
Prowl nodded. "Good. Someone else needs balance. Several children want their father to kiss them good night."
Optimus grinned. "Then we shall," he said as they walked back in together.
-0-Morning
They stood on the sidewalk with kids, adults, ammas and appas, watching as the buses came to get kids and a cab slid in to get a little femme. The 'baby bus' came to get Solus, Sojourner, Prowler, and Prima, taking them away to 'all day school' at the Academy while Scout would go with his old dad because he wasn't full intake yet. They watched the last bus go, then glanced at each other, the Prime-Prowl family and the Ironhide-Ratchet family. "Breakfast, anyone?" Ratchet suggested with a dazzling smile.
The suggestion was universally accepted so they ambled across the street for the Diner On The Corner. The morning crowd was brisk as individuals walked to work or wherever, filling the sidewalks and taking metros all over town and the colony. It was Second Tuesday. The next orn would be the opening of the Primal Councilor Hearing and the first step to figuring out the situation with the Functionalists. They walked in and took seats, watching as off duty police and soldiers began to arrive at this, ground zero of off duty eats.
Ratchet glanced at Prowl. "Tomorrow, the hearing?"
Prowl nodded. "Yes," he said. "I dread it."
"You and me both. I have to testify. Medical."
Hercy and Kup followed by a number of Wreckers ambled in along with their youngling 'infant Watch officers' who were worshipfully following their 'elders'. They pushed tables together, greeted everyone, then made their orders. Hard Drive leaned over toward Hercy. "I would like to speak with you at some point about an issue that isn't quite one yet. It will help me to have you be there given your exempt status."
"I'm there when you need me, General," Hercy said.
Hardie glanced at Lissie. "You too, Lissie."
"Just call, Hardie," Lissie said.
The odds of having any exempt Cybertronians let alone four in the same room were astronomically next to impossible but there they were. If one calculated the four individual's ages together, it would still outnumber the entire calculation of everyone else in the room. They were now as rare as could be, but they knew things that most didn't, including what slavery felt like.
Hardie turned toward Delphi and nodded. He nodded back and the conversation continued. Springer and Drift walked in, took a seat, an order and a cup of something hot before relaxing. Ratchet grinned at them and they grinned back. "What's the word, boys?"
"The word is 'in servo'," Springer said smugly.
"That's two words," Drift said. Springer glanced at him with a bland expression. Drift smirked in spite of himself.
"He's right. Two words," Hercy said dryly. "Wouldn't you say so, General?" he asked Hardie.
Hardie nodded. "Two words and three syllables. Sorta mouthy this morning aren't you, infant?" he asked Springer with a straight face.
Springer glanced at him, then Drift, Hercy, then Hard Drive. "Frag you. Sir." Huge laughter greeted that. "Who's going to the game Wednesday?" Most were but not all of them. "We got a high caste sub adult with potential named Pulley. He's going to show up and hang around. I want all hands on deck. This kid has potential and not a lot of support at home to change."
Everyone murmured agreement. Food came, so everyone dug in. It was silent a moment.
"General, I heard you were going to Helex today," Hercy said.
"I am. You coming? I hear that's your town," Hardie said.
"I would be obliged," Hercy said as the younger kids watched him with something akin to awe. He was like the cowboys they loved on teevee … quiet, powerful, a mech of few words.
"We leave at 1000 on the TMC," Hardie said. "My man, Cargo, will be there. Maybe you can do some servos on when the moment presents."
"On it," Hercy replied.
Several of the kids who were trainee cops looked at each other, then Hercy. "Commander, General, do you think you need help? We'd be happy to help you," one of them, a kid named Timber asked who was a mid caste sub adult learning to be a cop which he always wanted to do, especially now that they had a horse patrol.
Like that.
"What do you think, General? Do you think you can use three strong smart kids who listen well and learn fast?" Hercy asked.
Hardie who was open to any kid with potential looked at them appraisingly. They sat up straighter and watched him with hopeful optics. They were adorable. "Sure. Just keep up and obey your officers, infants. We can always used good hands."
They smiled at him, then each other, then Hercy. "We will, General, sir," Timber said as the others nodded.
It was highly amusing to watch them, eager kids who wanted to learn and do things. They'd be a lovely counterpart to the drab display that Cargo presented every day as he did what he was supposed to do the way he was told. There might be a teachable moment in the venture.
Raptor grinned as he sat in his chair eating breakfast, slipping this and that to his cow. "No fair getting the good kids. I have Keystock. How about finding me two or three good kids to show him the error of his ways?"
"Doesn't Pudding do that every day?" Springer asked.
"This is a slagging fine cow," Raptor said as he petted his cow. "Couldn't hurt to have someone else along to be a good example for Keystock. Pudding can't carry the load all by himself."
"If you keep messing with the back pack, neither will Keystock," Kup said as everyone laughed loudly.
It was then that the door opened and the two aforementioned kids walked in. They took a booth and ordered something light along with a hot drink. Eating together, they ignored everyone else but sitting beside his foot, a heavy back pack waited for Keystock to pick it up and carry it forward. When he did, he would be trailed by three hyped up trainee policemen and one contented cow.
-0-TBC 2-6-18 edited 2-22-18