The Diego Diaries: Trials and Tribulations
-0-Freedom
He was tall and beautiful, someone who looked as if never having a care in their life. He seemed powerful in a way that was internally lit. He radiated a sense about himself that nothing nor anyone could ever hold him back. He nodded to Prime, then smiled. It was beautiful and made Prime feel connected and special. "Optimus Prime, I am Freedom. I am an elusive thing that some chase all their lives and never find, though I am always there. I would say that everyone is always free but for the limitations of their beliefs. You are always free in your processor and spark. I was the ultimate destination of everyone who ever had a dream. I was the one everyone chased as they pursued that which they loved.
"But I was never allowed to live fully among you. There was always someone collecting what I represent and holding it to themselves. Don't feel poorly about it, Prime. Everyone does that at some point in their development. The humans on Earth hoard me, too. But I am for everyone. I am here for you and everyone else. I have not been welcome among your people for a long time. I was seen as the enemy or as a goal so elusive that it would never be found except in the halls of power and fortune. I am here, Prime. Remind everyone. I am here for everyone with great abiding love," he said as he disappeared. With him went a sense of happiness that was slightly shocking to Prime.
Optimus looked at Elder. "He said he wasn't welcome. He is a feeling or desire? … that is always there no matter the circumstances in my experience?"
"More will be foretold," Elder said cryptically.
Another stood, then smiled. "I am Life, Optimus Prime. I am that thing that they never took from you no matter the circumstances, the desire to have what is your due, to live in delight and love, to explore fully who you are without someone deciding it for you. You are ever questing, Optimus Prime, which is why we love you. It's all about love, Prime. Everyone deserves the life they desire and no one has the right to deny them. As long as its motivated by love, then all life is welcome. You are showing The People with your efforts. I salute you. Do not forget those who had no lives because others denied them. Don't forget me," he said as he faded into a gossamer mist then disappeared.
Prime stared at the others, then another stood. This one radiated good feeling and cheer, qualities of happiness that seemed golden in their personal aura. They pulsed light to him and he felt elevated beyond himself to a level of goodwill he hadn't felt since Prowl said he loved him. "I am Happiness, Prime. I am here for you." She stepped closer and touched his spark chamber with her small shining servo. He felt himself soar, the delight inside almost blinding him, then she removed her servo and it receded. She smiled. "That is the legacy and birthright of All That Is. Everything no matter how great or small deserves to feel that. No one has the right to deny it. Remember me, Optimus Prime," she said with a beautiful smile as she became a pulsing ball of light. She then faded away.
It rang through him, the gladness he felt, then he glanced up to see another. Two others. They grinned at him. "I am Truth and my twin is Hope. We Are One."
The other nodded. "Where there is Truth, there is Hope. Lies are the enemy, Prime. Those for whom truth is malleable, those who believe that the truth is what they decide it is are the death of All That Is. I am Truth. I exist in facts and the provable. There are those for whom truth is whatever they say it is. It isn't. Seek the truth and I will be there, Prime. We are waiting for you," he said, then glanced at his partner, a beautiful youth like himself. Both of them felt old and wise to Prime, though they looked young.
"I am Hope. Hope dies last. Many were the multitudes who did what they were expected to do, who did everything right, who were faithful and hopeful up to the moment of their deaths. Some believe in others who abuse them and they cannot see it. They are so faithful, so true. They hope, you see. They believe so much they cannot see how they're duped. I am often the last thing anyone feels before they die. I am The Covenant. Do you understand? I am The Covenant that they keep. Don't let them down. Let them know that Hope lives. Truth and Hope live," he said as they both faded away.
Prime sat in his chair staring at the empty space where the two youths had stood, then glanced at Elder. He was watching Prime. "Elder, what do you want me to know?"
"You already know, Optimus Prime."
"What were they? Are they spirits? Do they exist as themselves?" Optimus asked.
Elder considered that, then leaned toward him slightly. "They are who they say they are. They exist in the great ether that surrounds every soul, borne of the thoughts of Primus and The One. Societies, even species can choose to make them important in their cultures and lives by common agreement and practice. Most do. They exist as they are. They are real like you and me and their great task is to show those who choose them their personal value across time, dimensions and places. They are as old as the multiverse."
"What about the negative emotions and ideals?" Prime asked.
"They exist as well and their destruction is felt everywhere, especially on Cybertron. They are universal elementals … universal elemental emotions that are everywhere. There are many kinds of elementals but these deal with the spark or soul, with emotions and feelings. All of them are chosen or not by individuals and even species by their freewill, though they might not know it themselves when they do. Or it could be a part of their cultures and societies at creation. Not every species holds the same elementals as dearly as others. They are the reason some survive hopeless situations, because they choose hope for themselves. That's why some are free even in prison, others happy in spite of great adversity. They are there for all to choose, or none, or even one. But know that there are some who would deny them to their own kind with their machinations. They are there for you anyway but if you don't know that, if you don't know that they are waiting for you to call out to them to come, then how will you feel the gifts that they bring?"
"I do not know, Elder," Prime said. "You are wisdom? Are you great wisdom?"
Elder nodded. "I am. I am also the old who feel abandoned or are abandoned in fact. We have much to tell. We hold the knowledge of our species, the History of The People. I'm glad that you're having them tell their tales to the museums. That is a good thing. Those who fail to learn from and about their own history are doomed to repeat it. Cybertron didn't learn and thereby, the Functionalists, then the corporate-political oligarchy doomed everyone to more of the same. You have broken the cycle. Learn from this what you will and teach it, Optimus Prime," he said as he stood. "Someone else, someone who is also an elemental emotion wishes to speak to you, perhaps the greatest one." He bowed, then faded away. As he did, a great light appeared outside, white, warm and filled with emotion.
Prime rose, then walked to the door. He opened it and stepped out, pausing on the porch to stare at a beautiful orb of light shaped rather in the form of a humanoid. "I am here, Great One," Optimus said, then bowed.
A soft laugh like music reached him, then the figure came closer. "Optimus Prime, I am Love," a soft voice replied. Then it enveloped him completely.
Love.
It WAS the universe. It made everything bearable and possible. It was the basis for all things. It was clear to Prime immediately.
He was held in a formless feeling, one that felt endless, one that felt like it knew him like no other did. Then he was back, standing before a beautiful youthful androgynous being. This being seemed to radiate light and just being this close made him want to weep with happiness. The being was floating before him with streams of light radiating off like scarves blowing in an unseen breeze. The being was smiling at him, absorbing his confusion. It laughed again, a soft achingly beautiful sound. "You are confused. But that is okay. Love can sometimes be that way. But in the end, love that is unconditional, love that includes everyone regardless of who, what and how they are is the end goal. Wouldn't you think so, Optimus Prime?"
"I do," he managed around the soaring of his spark. "It is our creed."
"It is. I have always loved the Cybertronians but it has been a long time since I was allowed to come among you and be part of your sparks in an unconditional, unfettered way. There was always love there, born into you. But it has been difficult. I have to be permitted, do you see? I will come to anyone who wants me, though a portion of me always remains in you from birth as part of your eternal being. All you have to do is ask."
Prime nodded. "I seek you for my people. We need you and so do the humans. I seek your presence, that and the others among both of our peoples."
The being smiled. "I will remember that, Optimus Prime," he said as he began to fade.
Optimus started, then sat straighter as he glanced around. Prowl who was nearby was up and at his side, sitting on the small table beside him. "Optimus?" he asked.
Optimus relaxed a moment, then slipped his arm around Prowl tightly. He felt as bereft as he did when he had to leave Cybertron abandoned and unprotected to find the AllSpark. "I am alright, Prowl. The Matrix … it had visions for me."
"I won't ask," Prowl said as he gently stroked Prime's arm.
"You can," he said. "They want fairness. They want truth and fairness. Freedom. But more than anything else, they want love for everyone including the defendants."
A rap on the door drew their attention as Springer peered in. "We're ready when you are, Optimus," he said.
Prime nodded, then rose with Prowl holding his arm. "I am ready now, Springer."
Springer glanced at Prowl. Prowl nodded so he pulled the door open. "Okay. Let's go."
Prime reached the door, then put his servo on Springer's shoulder. "Together. Always."
Springer nodded, then stepped back as Prime walked out followed by a pensive Prowl. Springer followed behind them as the door closed silently. The trial of Decimus and Contrail versus The Prime of Cybertron and The Cybertronian People had begun.
-0-Meanwhile at Unidad ...
They entered and gathered in the great space. Turning to stare at Ratchet, they were advised by Will Lennox, Niall Graham and Corey McFarlane how to take off their helmets. When they quieted, Ratchet smiled. "Welcome to Unidad Terra 1, a project owned and operated by Autobot Nation, Incorporated and overseen by Optimus Prime on behalf of the Cybertronian People. You are welcome here and will learn today and the next two how to live here. There are hard and fast rules especially for the n00bs that will allow you to be happy here and not die a terrible, terrible death.
"I am Ambassador Ratchet of Iacon. That is … I am the ambassador for all things for the Prime of Cybertron. I am Ratchet. That's my name. I was named for my grandfather. Because I was born in Iacon, that is my place name. Prowl is Prowl of Praxus as is my old mech, Ironhide. My son is Springer of Polyhex and my other son, among many, is Drift of Kaon. I have three grown sons from Kaon. We have other names but they aren't usually known outside of family or court."
The human soldiers chuckled as they watched Ratchet do his magic. He was expert in bringing ease to a situation and now was no different. Lennox, Graham and McFarlane stood beside him with grins.
"This is Unidad Terra 1 … Earth Unity 1. Maybe there'll be 2, 3 or 7. Who knows? Just know that unity is the first word in our name here. Everything you see that's constructed around you is a sentient being. I know that you've seen and are aware of the city-formers, our great titan class brothers and sisters. The two that have formed this habitat are Thrasher and Invincible. You would have to go a long way to find greater, nicer or more handsome individuals than those two." Ratchet smiled brilliantly as he turned to two huge mechs standing nearby laughing at him. "May I introduce the building to you in Pretender gear, Thrasher and Invincible."
They waved as they stood by the elevator that went to the Operational Center. Ratchet grinned as the applause, shouts, exclamations of delight, and other signs of appreciation filled the gargantuan space as others who were already here came from different directions to join in on the lecture. Ratchet turned to the humans. "Those two mechs are the body of this place. Their infinite greatness created this space and the 80 square miles outside that's enclosed to be turned into habitat. They are the buildings. Nothing can be hammered into the walls, attached or detached, burned, swiped, slammed, cut, or assailed in anyway without harming them.
"They have consented to be the building for us and we have the ABSOLUTE obligation to be honorable, respectful and follow all rules about this to the fullest including those pertaining to the operational center and all the tech here. They're our greatness, our titan class. They're the soul of who we are. Respect them." He turned to the two grinning mechs and curtsied bringing a round of applause and laughter from everyone. "We're going to have our locals here, those who are resident two days longer than you take you around but for now, have a seat on the floor and I'll give you The Talk. Because I couldn't do that for the first group … slag happens … I have to do it now, all of you. Are all the folks here?" Ratchet asked Lennox with a big cheese eating smile.
Huge laughter greeted that as everyone sat down on the floor. Down the concourse were the dining area chairs but they weren't enough to have this many at any one time. 1,000 was the limit at the dining area without much modification from stores and there were almost 2,000 humans here. Gathering with them were the Epps', though Harley was allowed to sit on Will's segway.
"Okay," Ratchet said when everyone sat. "Here's what you need to know ..."
-0-TBC 7-27-18 edited 7-28-18
TIP OF THE HAT TO FANCYSPINNER FOR A GREAT PLACEMENT CHANGE IN THE EP!
ESL
androgynous (an-droj-ih-nus) not being specifically male or female. One could say the Cybertronians are androgynous because they are neither male or female unless someone else is around who is.