The Diego Diaries: (dd6 443)
-0-That morning
She stood by the window staring out at the Martian landscape, or at least that enclosed in the dome. She and her family had an apartment that faced outward toward it and the vast colony beyond whose glittering towers could be seen from this, the tenth floor. Her kids were getting ready and she was already to go herself, though breakfast dishes were piled in the sink. She had cooked breakfast, marveling in her new kitchen after spending a moment shopping in the newly opened grocery store in the town below.
It was striking how comfortable and familiar this place already was given the meticulous care undertaken to create an atmosphere and facility that was as homelike as their little towns on Earth. Fort Max as architect of record was enamored of small towns in Europe and America circa the late 1880's and the city itself reflected that sensibility down to signage and street lamps.
Sunlight entered everywhere and it gave the feeling of being outdoors. The downtown was remarkable, huge and filling up with businesses, some of them getting ready to open while others were still waiting for their directors and staff. The people in shops, restaurants and other businesses were delighted to help and the atmosphere in the facility was outstanding.
"Mom, you ready?" Jamie Crosby, 13, asked as he stood by the door with his sisters Sarah, 12, and Julie, 10. They were all wearing casual clothing but had the environmental suit and mask in their backpacks or in a fanny pack that the facility called a 'just in case'. Everyone had theirs near or with them 'just in case'. It was a rule of the road here.
Ramsey Crosby walked out of the office of their apartment with his gear bag, then grinned at Grace. "You coming?"
Grace Crosby grabbed her own bag, then walked to the door. "I've been ready for a while." She looked at her kids. "What's on your agendas?"
"We have to go to school to check in and get our books and lockers. Then we're going to run around. A lot of the kids hang out at the Rec Center. I'm going swimming," Jamie said as they walked out the door. "Then I'm going exploring."
"You do remember that if you can't enter an area, your microchip will lock you out," Ramsey said as they waved to others coming and going from their apartments as they walked down the wide beautifully appointed corridor. On the wall were representations of Cybertronian art, though they didn't know that themselves yet. Entering the elevator, one of four, they rode it downward. Stepping out, they were on First Street near the back elevator bank of the facility where the habitat started outside. Huge windows allowed a view outside as they paused a moment to take it.
The grounds were nearly terraformed for plantings thanks to the genius of the Hu-An and Autobots. Everyone was asked not to go out there beyond the chapel and it was programmed into their microchips for a while, those who weren't needed due to ongoing construction but they could see the vast improvements made through the big windows that fronted that area. There was green out there and it was actually showing up all over the place. Of the 55,000 plus acres under the dome, 800 of them were already seeded for pasture for animals. The canal system which was hosting all manner of plants, bushes and trees along its winding expanses was flowing wherever it was needed and sprinklers in ground were watering the newly seeded fields on a regularly scheduled basis. Beyond, the forest and meadow area could barely be seen rising upward in the distance. It was dazzling.
Given the genius of the Hu-An and the even indoor environment of the dome, the grass was growing in fast and thick. The horses and dairy cows were already grazing in the fields every day and more animals were scheduled to arrive shortly. The sunlight filled the expanse which seemed to disappear into the distance as they looked, then moved onward toward their respective destinations. Walking down sidewalks, passing buildings with businesses, some of them five stories high, all of them elegant and ornamental in design, they made their way. There were many others going about their business, some of them going to work in the buildings and some walking around taking in the sights. They waved to each other as they walked onward.
Reaching the end of the street and the beginning of the main concourse that ran the length of the building, they halted to see the sights. Nearby, grouped around Ratchet, 1,500 plus newbie employees and 3,931 members of their families were getting the greeting and orientation. They had arrived with their stuff, families, pets, and happiness. It was palpable in the air. They would be the final official crew bringing the staff thus far up to 2,511 employees of Autobot Nation, Incorporated. Though the eventual number of staff living and working here would top 10,000 some fine orn, it wouldn't be this soon. The next group of 2,500 would be coming once the shakedown was accomplished. They watched a moment, then the kids ran off heading for the school on 5th Street and D Avenue.
Grace and Ramsey watched the group, waving to someone they knew, then walked onward toward work. Vehicles were driving on the streets, hauling things and delivering individuals. They flagged a cab which was computerized, then rode with a couple already aboard to the elevators down concourse that would take them to their floor and its state-of-the-art offices and labs. It would be a terrifically wonderful day for all five of them.
-0-In the school
It was a big building with several entries. There was a side entry for the babies, or Unidad Nursery School and a front entry for Unidad Elementary and Unidad Intermediate Schools. The kids climbed the steps then dashed inside. It was beautiful, old fashioned in design and appointment, rather like an ornate school in 1930's America but the tech was space age all the way. They walked to the desk, got a nod to the direction they needed to go as well as their teacher and room number, then ran up the winding staircase on both sides of the main lobby that led to the two different schools. Long corridors ran the length of the building as each class door held the name of their teacher fronted on to them.
Sarah and Jamie entered their different rooms in their different schools. Julie continued onward toward hers which was in the same building as Sarah's. Inside, the classrooms were as advanced at the Day Schools of the Unified School District which would run the schools as their own. The teachers would be mentored with those of the district schools, learning how to teach their program and how to utilize the advanced equipment and materials. The overall program would be the one the Unified School District used with the addition of international school curriculums. A portion of it would be humanized, protecting things that were not yet common to anyone who came here. The rooms were designed just like the colonial schools and it was a marveling group of kids who found their lockers, got their books and other items including the three datapads that everyone used elsewhere.
It would be an eye opening morning for the 2,310 kids who would be attending the schools of Unidad Terra 1.
-0-On the street
Devcon walked toward the metro to go to Metrotitan. He was now a full time member of the police when he wasn't soldiering and was heading the investigations department designed to find war criminals, normal civilian criminals, Decepticon (former and otherwise) criminals, and serial killers. Who better to hunt them than him? As he did, he saw a big mech, a Praxian from the orn who was heading his way. They paused together, chatted, then the big mech moved on. Devcon stood on the sidewalk a moment, then turned back to go to the Ops Center. As he did, he commed Smokescreen to meet him there.
-0-Unidad
Ratchet laughed, then answered the question posed by a jovial astronomer. As he did, the alert reached him. Freezing to read it, he glanced at Lennox, Epps and Graham. "I have to go. Take it away for me and I'll be back." With that, he rose up, walked a few steps, then leaped into the air. He transformed, then sped out heading for the opening hatch doors and the world beyond. Everyone watched him go with googly optics, then turned toward the soldiers.
"Well, okay," Lennox said.
"What's happening?" someone called out. "Other than that was the greatest thing I've ever seen … him transforming like that."
"Ratchet is a senior Autobot, the Prime's diplomat and a senior adviser on his general staff. He gets called to come for all kinds of things. I don't know what it is but he's needed so he goes," Lennox said. "Right now, lets go over the alarm system and what to do in an emergency. The alarm for the shelters is a long continuous blast," he said as he picked up for Ratchet.
-0-Ops Center
"He's at the Courthouse. You can get him there, Dev," Blaster said as he sat at the comm station.
Devcon nodded and with a grim faced Smokescreen in tow walked to the door and the long walk across the airfield. They would arrive just in time.
-0-At the Courthouse
They fogged in, nervous and tense. The jury, the legal teams, all of the witnesses, those who saw something happening and came anyway, the crowd outside including a number of family members called to come walked in to sit or stand against the wall. Kes and Tagg, Venture and Miler, all manner of mech who hung around the family and soldiers galore came and sat down in the huge room. The judges were there but for Prime and Prowl. Ratchet walked in, found Ironhide and his family, then sat. :Do you have cargo?: he asked with a smirk.
:I do: Ironhide said patting his carry hold. :So does everyone else. The only ones who aren't here are the big kids. Look over here: Ironhide said as he looked to his side. Standing there with a curious expression, Sunspot leaned against him.
:That's genius: Ratchet said with a smile.
:I thought so: Ironhide said with a grin of his own.
The room filled up then the doors were closed by pensive Springer and Drift. There was a murmur in the room, then the door opened to the judges chambers as Prime and Prowl walked out. Everyone stood automatically. Prime appeared to be there and not there. Given that they read energy the way they did, it was apparent to everyone there that Prime's central energy was only half registering as present. No human watching would know that. Prime sat and then so did everyone there. It was silent as they waited for something, anything to happen.
The buzz of conversation stopped immediately, then it became tensely silent. As they waited, the door opened and the four defendants entered. The jailers walked them through along the side of the room, then to the tables that had been removed to allow chairs. Decimus and Contrail looked nervously around, then sat. Ratbat was his usual self, ill humored and sullen. He sat, too. Sentinel walked in slowly, staring at Prime. He paused before him. "I would like to speak to you, Optimus," he said.
Prime felt himself slip away and as he did, so did Sentinel.
It was silent a moment as the crowd watched, then they startled almost as one. Prime and Sentinel had winked out of sight. Chevron who understood better than most stood. "Please be seated and silent. The Powers are here," he said in a reverent tone.
The three defendants left glanced around with fear and concern before Chevron and Sela reached them. They put their servos on their shoulders as Chrome and Lauren joined them. Whispering a prayer, they waited as a group as the room crackled with energy.
Angry energy.
-0-Elsewhere
The world was dense and blank, without anything to tell them where they were. It was like moving in sludge as the space around them held them in its grasp. Prime was standing by himself as nearby Sentinel attempted to turn toward him. He was speaking but nothing could be heard. All that could be determined was that the density wasn't amused.
:Solus Prime … I am here: Prime said to himself as echoes of voices began to fill his helm. Beyond him, Optimus could see Sentinel listening as well. Then the scene changed and they were on the desert plain where Optimus often found himself. It was the place that he found himself when a point was going to be made. Nearby, Sentinel was staring around, then he saw Optimus. He walked toward Prime, then paused before him. "Optimus … I'm sure you know where we are?" he asked.
Prime glanced around and noted the familiar terrain. "This is a construct used by the Pantheon where The point of the visitation is usually made." He stared at Sentinel. "You wanted to speak to me. I am here."
Sentinel considered that, then glanced around. "I suppose this means ill for me and the others."
"Did you really believe otherwise?" Prime asked.
Sentinel considered that. "No. I don't expect to be understood." He looked at Prime. "All I want you to understand, just between you and me, is that I love Cybertron with all my spark and that all that I tried to do was designed to save her. I even made a deal with that barbarian to stop the fighting and rebuild our home world. You may not understand anything else but I would hope you would remember that."
"I will remember a lot of things, Sentinel. If you wish for me to hold this memory, I will," Prime said.
Sentinel stared at him. "I never felt It. I never felt the Matrix. It would appear that It fooled all of us. Hiding away from me, me who wanted It more than anything, that is hard to take."
Prime considered that. "It cannot occupy the same space as evil, Sentinel. It is good. Good and evil cannot occupy the same space."
"Perhaps. I did many things, Optimus, but never did I not love Cybertron."
"I know that," Prime said. "But you never seemed to love The People. Cybertron is not fully a place, its a people. Primus did not give up His freedom and life for just a few. He did it for all of us. There is not a single Cybertronian who He does not love."
"Well, we shall see. I expect that the Pit will be the test of that great possibility," Sentinel said.
"I will tell you a secret, Sentinel, one that I know and one that They have told me over and over," Optimus said. "There is no Pit. There is no place of hell, of torment and punishment. It does not exist as a real place. You are not bound there and neither is Megatron. When you leave this world, however it may come, you go to the same place as everyone else."
"You know that to be true," Sentinel said.
Prime nodded. "Yes. Do you want to know where the Pit exists? It exists in the empty spark of those who would tear apart worlds for personal gain, consign others to a life of suffering and feel justified by reasons that have no meaning. Being separated intentionally and irresponsibly from The One and the Pantheon ... that is the Pit. The System is the Pit. Living in it and not having the life you deserve by just being ALIVE … that is the Pit. We kept creating it over and over again. We had a chance to make the Matrix real among us but we turned away from It every time. No one should be surprised that the Matrix hid Itself away. Even It, loving, forgiving and comforting as It was, It hid away from the machinations of you and your caste. The Pit is between your audials, Sentinel. It resides in your spark and in no other place. Good and evil cannot exist together. The One and the Pantheon embody perfect love. They would never cast us into desolation. Ever."
Sentinel stared at Optimus, then the scene changed. They were in a hospital hallway and beside the door to a room, Sentinel, Proteus, Ratbat, Halogen, Kudon, and Decimus stood together. Cassio Imperialis was standing inside the doorway talking to someone unseen. Others of the Senate and the High Imperium were there and it was tense. Sentinel was talking to Kudon and Cassio who had walked out to join them. "He has It. I'm going to take It now."
"I don't know," Decimus said as he stood nearby nervously watching them. "What if It doesn't like that you do?"
"Well, you never know until you try," Sentinel said with a cold expression. He walked into the room and ordered out the caregivers as the scene changed. Sentinel and Prime were in a corner watching the what was happening. Lying on a bed was Nominus Prime. He was attached to devices and looked really bad. Sentinel walked to him and leaned over slightly. "Nominus, this is Sentinel. Do you hear me?"
It was silent a moment, then Nominus looked up at him. "You came for It, did you? You came to take the Matrix," he said with a slight coughing laugh. "I have a secret for you, Sentinel. Come closer."
Sentinel leaned closer.
Nominus grinned faintly. "I know you shot me. You had me shot. So does the Matrix. I think you're going to have a surprise," he said.
Sentinel stared at Nominus, then forced open his spark chamber. Below it, glowing like the self animated sentient being that It was, the Matrix was placed. Sentinel gripped It and pulled. It slipped out easily. The chamber closed as Nominus shifted slightly. Sentinel stared at him, then the Matrix. At long last, It was his. He held It up, then Its lights dimmed. It dimmed again until It went out. Sentinel stared at It with a stunned expression, then looked at Nominus.
Nominus was staring at him with a grin. "It isn't the real one. I don't know where It is but I think It's hiding. The joke is on you, Sentinel. Don't mind me if I laugh," he said as he did.
Sentinel stared at It. "It was glowing."
"Because It was attached to me. When It isn't, It doesn't. The joke is on you, Sentinel," he said again with a chuckle.
Sentinel walked to the door with the device in servo. Kudon looked shocked, then moved so the others there couldn't see. He stepped back in with Sentinel and Cassio. "What's happened to It?"
"It's fake. Nominus had a fake," Sentinel said with barely concealed fury.
"But I saw It kill a mech for mocking It … at the party," Cassio said. "We were all there."
"We were," Sentinel hissed. "Apparently, It didn't have to be there to do that. Where is It?"
Kudon and Cassio shrugged helplessly. "How would we know, Sentinel?"
Sentinel walked to the berth with fury. "Tell me where It is, Nominus."
"I wouldn't tell you even if I knew. For once in my life, I'm going to do the right thing. Frag you, Sentinel. Frag you and all the others," he said.
Sentinel put the Matrix on the table nearby, then turned to Nominus. "I'm going to rip out your spark chamber if you don't tell me, Nominus."
"Do it," Nominus said as he felt himself slipping away. "I'm already dead."
When Sentinel finished with him, he finally was.
-0-TBC 8-15-18 edited 8-16-18