The Diego Diaries: Ascension (dd6 282)
-0-At the conference room in the Ops Center
Ratchet stood in the secondary large conference room, the one used for big meetings but not the massive community type that ran the colony, Cybertron and the Empire. This one had the same features of transparent 2-way walls and electronics, but it was more intimate a setting for part two of The Event. He stood at the door as Rung sat in a chair at the table. He would be back up and Ratchet would run the table. He knew most of the players very well and he had even called friends for support of those on their way.
They came through the doorway, several of them together. Burris walked in with Anders who was with Joon, Vinn, Madura, Proteus, Laslo, Lon, Bezel, Neo, Laret, and last but not least, the sphinx-like perfection of Millow, bond of Traachon. He had considered calling for Denita and Stormy but that would take too much time and hassle. Behind them, Maddow and Hauser followed. They were waved in by Ratchet and came, their curiosity high and their cluelessness at eleven.
"Ratchet … what's going on?" Laslo asked, then he slowed. "Is Lucien alright?"
"Everyone is alright. I need to talk to you about a miraculous experience that happened just a moment ago today," he said as they fogged in. "Have a seat and let me tell you. Then we can talk about it." They walked in, nodded to Rung, then sat. When Ratchet closed the door, several of those from the other room who were sitting with Lucien, Waldeen, Keystock, Cargo, and Traachon walked over and lit up the wall to watch and listen to the conversation. Everyone was sitting in the room waiting for Ratchet to speak.
"I would hate to be him right now," Prowl said as the others nodded.
Ratchet began. "Today, we held the trial for the Functionalists. I have to ask for and get your personal solemn oaths that what I tell you about it is confidential until after Prime announces the results to the colony and Cybertron. It seems a reasonable request given that so many have lost family and friends. Do I have them?"
Everyone nodded. "You have mine, Ratchet," Laslo said as he stared at Ratchet with concern. "I don't envy Optimus having to do that."
"I didn't either but all was not lost. We held the trial and as you may know … some of the mechs in this room have struggled with assimilating and others are soaring. I can't tell you enough what a blessing Burris is to have on staff. I've only heard good words about you, Proteus, and I go to The Circle Guild store as often as I can. It feels more like a clubhouse than a business."
Everyone grinned. "We do love what we do, Ratchet. Our squad is very supportive and happy to be friends together," Madura said as the others nodded. "We love each other. We're family to each other."
"And that's the way it was always supposed to be, Maddie," Ratchet replied as the others nodded. "It was very traumatic, the trial. We have a number of caste exempts in the colony. You might not have known that Wirelite and Chromo were heroes of the War for Freedom from the Quintessons. They were part of the revolution along with Cezr of the Villages, Delphi and Hard Drive, Alejate and his bond, Elba … did you know their son is Ramcharger who likes to game in the courtyard of this building?" Everyone nodded and murmured. "Hercy was exempt as well. They spoke of their heroism and how it was that the poison of the system came from alien slavers. We're all the descendants of slaves without exemption, equipment to be sold or destroyed at the whim of the slavers. Then they talked about the Functionalists coming. And after that, it was inevitable that the System of Exception would be formed. It was long and ghastly. In the end, it was also inevitable that they be found guilty. The only real question at stake was … what form of obligation that they would have to pay that could be enough for the magnitude of their offenses? What could society take from them that would even slightly mitigate the debt that they owed to us by their actions? And the greater question was ... how could we structure this so that this kind of oppression and practice never happen again?
"They murdered in their recalls a roughly known figure over the eons. One billion of our people during their oppression. We've estimated that's slightly under the number who died in the war just finished with Megatron. How do you stand in payment for that? What judgment is just? That was Optimus's great question and his duty to answer it and make judgment."
The room was silent. Even Millow was listening. He had a small tell when Ratchet named the System but he was as marble now, cold, unmoved and contained. He was the one that Ratchet had number one on his list. The others … they were already on their way home. Millow had none to go to.
"When he declared them guilty, he also levied a million year sentence on the Council. They tried to explain that they were living prior to the laws of Cybertron and the Primes and he had no authority over them. But the Charter is clear. It extends into the Beginning … from the moment Primus birthed the Thirteen and it extends into the now and the future until time ends. That is the Primeship. That's why there's a Matrix to guide Primes. It was granted by Primus, upheld by The One and no one who is, was or will be Cybertronian is exempt from it. We concluded and they went to their cells. The 22 also in charges were held over because the guilt or level of responsibility for their actions was still a muddle to Optimus."
Ratchet pulled a chair, then sat. "It was exhausting to the counsels. Blackstone is a work and wonder. He's as honorable a mech as I know. So is Coln but Blackstone … you'd never think he was imprisoned and tortured during the Fall the way he takes on anyone and fights for them with all he's got. We have to take him on a boozer with the squad. He has a great bond as well, a little femme."
The squad nodded. "Tell us who and when, Ratchet," Madura said as the others nodded.
Proteus who was sitting with his arm on the back of Madura's chair nodded. "I can come and hold doors open."
Ratchet smiled a dazzler. "Done deal." He looked at the table, then the group. "I asked Lucien, Keystock, Cargo, Traachon, and Waldeen to come because their progress and understanding of how things are as opposed to what they want them to be is key to their futures and their happiness. I wanted them to see the flip side of their swank life and from which swamp it came from. The System wasn't some proclamation of The One. This is the taint of Unicron and it was introduced into our body politic by aliens. The Quintessons tricked us into slavery, the Functionalists codified it and The System reaped the bitter harvest.
"Prime told us that this was a Primal Councilor Hearing and that the Matrix would weigh in as ever on the big issues. He also said that he was clear that the Pantheon and maybe even The One Himself would as well. It's designed to be this way. If Megatron was ever held and tried, the Pantheon and maybe, indeed, The One would be there to render the final verdict. Prime's verdict is only reviewed and any appeal granted or not through the Pantheon. He said if They didn't move on this in one decaorn, the verdict was final and they would spend the next million years in stasis in the dungeon under this building. They would go through that time with Arachnid and Shockwave."
The room was deeply silent. Glancing here and there, but studying Millow the most, he had them in his power. Rung was focused on Burris and Millow and didn't try to hide it. He said nothing but sat silently watching everyone, but those two in particular.
"Lucien was shaken, I will say, Ratchet," Laslo said. "He came home and was very quiet, something that's unusual. We've taken to having chats in the evening. It's lovely and we talk about all the things we never could before. I wondered what had happened but he wouldn't say."
Ratchet glanced at Millow. "What, if anything, did Traachon and Waldeen say, Millow?"
"Nothing," he said quietly. He sat very still, his servos clasped together. He looked relaxed and poised but his servos showed tension.
Ratchet and Rung considered that. They were making dents. "We were called back, everyone in the trial from the two slaves who had the great courage to speak, to the exempts, law enforcement, medical and processor health, everyone who had anything to do or say in this trial from Temple Priests to the Monks at the Monastery, from Neo and Heatout on religion and history to all of the Elites who were there to witness and keep order … to the five of your family members who were there to witness and learn, everyone came back. When we were all gathered, Optimus stood, slipped into his trance and we all went to the Matrix together. The Guardian had taken him over and because He did, we could all go to the Matrix with Optimus. We had permission to pass into the vision."
Ratchet let that sink in as everyone in the room registered intense surprise and shock. Maddow leaned forward slightly. "Everyone went? Did you, Ratchet?"
Ratchet nodded. "We all did. I know some of you don't know what this is but we ended up at a facsimile of the Beach House of the Primes on the Sea of Mercury. I never got to go there as a child but Ironhide's family had homes on the shore, the slaggers. They had the right tattoo to go. I didn't. It's funny how that still hurts sometimes, but I digress. We stood there on a silver sand beach, then the water roiled and They began to walk out of it. They shed the mercury, showing Themselves. They were all there but Mortilius, the Liege Maximo and Megatronus, of course. They were beautiful, massive and filled with love for Optimus and for us. We could all feel it.
"They greeted us one-by-one, giving us Their personal blessings. They weren't happy with the Functionalists. They also weren't happy with Lucien, Traachon, Keystock, Cargo, and Waldeen," Ratchet said as everyone around him tensed.
"Is Traachon alright?" Millow asked with a jolt of emotion.
"All of them are fine and nearby. I, however, have been given the job of telling you what happened. This is no small thing," Ratchet said firmly. Millow sat back silently, his optics fixed on Ratchet. "They discussed what The One wanted for everyone, that ALL of us were one and equal to EACH OTHER in every way. They discussed the sacrifices of Primus to keep us safe, how we had free will to choose the right path, and our sterling lack of gratitude for our life and the way before us. They were very unhappy about the lack of love for one another that seems to persist in our culture over the vorns and a lack of gratitude to Primus who sacrificed everything for us.
"Then they set aside Prime's sentence. Prima said the crimes were too great, the threat if they ever got loose too high, so They took them back to the Matrix. For all intents of purposes, the Council of 12 is dead. They will be in safety, they will be given help to understand their failures, and eventually come back to live other lives. I don't expect that any time soon. However, the other 22 were taken back to learn and mend their ways as well. If they do, they get to come back as themselves." Ratchet sat back. "What do you say about the story so far?"
Maddow who was sitting next to Hauser looked at Millow. "Millow? Are you alright?"
Millow glanced at him. "Of course, I am fine."
"I wouldn't be if someone told me that Prima had words with my bond," Ratchet said as he studied the figure sitting two seats down from him across the table. "Allow me to continue. When that was done and everyone was gone, it should be remembered that Optimus was unclear what punishment the 22 deserved. They served the system. They carried out the orders. They didn't create them but they didn't stop them. They didn't challenge anything. But they had children, so Prime being Prime, he tried to work out a merciful process where the children wouldn't suffer for the sins of their genitors." Ratchet sat forward toward Millow. "That's why Prime is Prime. He's merciful and everyone matters. The Pantheon called him 'brother.'"
Ratchet sat back, then considered the room. Everyone was tense but they were listening. No one had asked again how everyone was. It was interesting. The Squad trusted his aft to the bitter end. He almost smiled he was so proud of the mechs in front of him. "That was when Primus came out of the sea."
They gasped, then sat back. "You say 'Them'. All of Them. They talked to you and you knew it was Them," Madura asked.
Ratchet nodded. "Primus acknowledged each of us. His aura was so golden and white, radiant with light and love. He talked to everyone, then he turned to Traachon, Keystock, Waldeen, Lucien, and Cargo. He said he wasn't proud of them. He was hurt, it felt, hurt that anyone would abuse each other and Him. He was hurt that the level of respect and love He gave and still gives to us every orn isn't returned, not to Him and not to each other. He told us that we are ALWAYS connected, that there are no hierarchies of any kind because we all matter equally. No one spark is greater or lesser than another because we come from the same source. He included the Pantheon and Himself in that statement.
"He said He chose Optimus to be Prime because he was the one who was best, the best to do it, and he will be so until Primus or Optimus come to the conclusion that he shouldn't be. No one has control of the Matrix but Primus and The One. All souls are precious and equal because they come from Him and all come through the Matrix which comes though Him. He was very, very clear. He suffered and still does because of this. He knows of and about everyone, their life and their pain. He's always with us no matter how awful things are or how far away we seem. He's always there. Then he condemned the System, fundamental Functionalism and the Quintessans. He banned them forever more. He says that these systems lead to mass murder and they were banned forever. He would personally step in if they were continued or arise again.
"He condemned the greed, ignorance and bigotry of the System. He said that this had broken Him, that it had caused Him great suffering," Ratchet said as he glanced at Rung. "Am I on target with my summary thus far, Rung? You were there as well."
Rung nodded. "Yes."
"He told us that He expects us to live with unconditional love and respect for each other. He expects us to be responsible for each other and to practice our creed. He said … use Optimus for a template because he's good, decent, brave, and wise. Then ..." Ratchet grinned.
Laslo who was transfixed leaned closer. "Yes?" he asked tensely.
"Primus asked us to empty our carry holds." Ratchet grinned and so did Rung.
It was silent a moment, then Millow shook his helm. "Whatever for?"
"Unbeknownst to each other, we … some of us, had gone to the schools and gotten our smallest children out of class to bring with us. We hoped that they would be able to be in the presence of the Pantheon." Ratchet grinned. "They loved the children. Primus called them the blossoms in our garden and that He was tired of receiving dead children's souls. They had to comfort the dead because their murder was so fast, they had no idea they were dead or what had happened. Babies sparks returning to the Matrix were beyond terrible for Them and for Him especially. He said they had no way to live and love, to feel and know because of this. He won't allow it to continue.
"You may not know that my son, Orion, fell down the Well of AllSparks at the Temple a while back trying to grab another baby who fell in. While they were there, they met Onyx and Micronus Prime. They saw them at this gathering and Orion told that story. It was a very beautiful moment for me and the Pantheon was pleased with all the children. They are very, very unhappy that children have suffered under these oppressive practices."
"Their words, 'oppressive practices'," Rung interjected. "It was then with the children that Primus said that some practices are so detrimental to our people that They personally will step in if they continue. These systems of oppression are banned forever. They will step in if they continue. I hope you understand that simple fact. Primus made it extremely clear. He's tired of greeting dead children at the Matrix."
"This path is over, he said," Ratchet intoned. "Vector and Onyx said there is no road down which this path goes that doesn't end in mass murder and death. You now know the story. Primus charged Traachon, Lucien, Waldeen, Cargo, and Keystock to make it right among the high castes. They have a duty to make them change their ways. That's how it went. We just got back a moment ago. That's when it happened, moments ago, though I will say, it seems like vorns."
Rung nodded. "There is no time in the Matrix. They exist outside of time. Time is a linear three-D dimensional conceit."
It was silent in the room, then Ratchet walked to the door, opened it and leaned out. "I think we can have them come in now."
It was silent a moment, then footfalls indicated individuals coming. They entered the room one-by-one, slowing as they saw their families sitting there. Laslo stood up, then turned to Lucien. "Lucien? Lou?" he asked almost fearfully.
Lucien gripped him in an embrace, clinging to Laslo. Laslo embraced him back. They came in, Keystock and Cargo near to tears. It was awkward, then Burris and Anders embraced their sons. Waldeen stood in the hallway waiting to leave with Rung while Ratchet watched Traachon walk into the room. He looked drawn and imploded. When Millow stood, he looked at Traachon with a fearful sense. "Tray, talk to me."
Traachon stared at Millow who he loved with all his spark. The others watched, the sons and brothers, friends and family gathered. Traachon shook his helm. "I don't know. I feel empty," he said.
Millow gripped him, pulling him to one side. He held Traachon's helm in his servos. "Traachon? Tell me something, anything ..."
"Everything that we were taught, everything that we believed, everything that we did was a lie. Primus made it clear. I don't know what to think. I'm very tired." Traachon leaned against the wall wearily. "All of it … all of it," he repeated.
"Sit down, Traachon. Maddow, help your brother," Ratchet said almost as an experiment.
Maddow hesitated, then walked toward Traachon. Millow spun on him. "Don't you touch him. Don't."
"Millow."
Millow turned toward Optimus who was standing in the doorway. "It is over. Your bond is in trouble. Let him have the assistance of his brother."
"No," Millow said. "He's coming home with me. Is there anything else or is he free to go?"
It was silent a moment, then Prime nodded. "He can stay with you but you both gave an oath to keep this to yourself until I speak to The People. I will expect you to do so."
A look of great bitterness crossed Millow's face. "I give my oaths and keep them. Unlike others," he said as he glanced at Maddow. "Come, Tray. Let's go home." He took Traachon's arm, leading him to the door. They stepped out and continued onward.
"Springer," Ratchet said. "Send someone to follow them discreetly. I want them home safely. I'm going to see him tomorrow and if he's not better, I'll need a Primal hold, Optimus."
Prime nodded. He looked at the others, then pulled a chair to sit. "We should all sit together and talk," he said as the others found their chairs. It was silent in the room as more participants from the actual event found a space to join them.
-0-TBC 2-23-18 edited 2-24-18