The Diego Diaries: (dd6 444)

-0-There

The scene faded out and they were back in the desert. Sentinel stared at Prime. "It was a fake. I never found It though I tried. We all did."

"It was hiding in the Matrix Chamber," Optimus said. "It made Its own decision."

"Perhaps," Sentinel said.

"You canceled the Festivals and shuttered the shrines. I thought that a very poor decision all around, Sentinel. You took the people's comfort away because you did not have the real Matrix."

"I had to perform miracles," Sentinel said with anger. "People expected me to perform miracles and I couldn't."

"When we found you on Luna you did not have the Matrix with you, the one rumored to be with Nominus. It never occurred to me following my ascension to consider where the fake might be. When they buried the double of you in the Basilica, where was the fake Matrix? In the sarcophagus?" Optimus asked.

"It was with Kudon," a voice said behind them.

They turned to it, then Sentinel froze. Standing behind Optimus was Kudon himself. He looked brilliant and beautiful, his armor repaired and his optics bright with a different light, a light resembling love and joy. He grinned at Prime, then bowed lowly. "Optimus Prime, it is my very great honor to see you again."

"Kudon, you are healed," Optimus said with gladness in his voice. "I am pleased for you."

"I am myself, as I am suppose to be, not what I was," Kudon said. He looked at Sentinel. "I am the essence of Kudon who survives and lives here in the Matrix, who has come to talk to you, Sentinel Prime. Or shall I say Major? It would appear that having a false Matrix, you really don't qualify for the Line of Secession."

"I was made Prime and I will always be there," Sentinel said stubbornly. "What do you want?"

"I have come for you, Sentinel Prime." Kudon said as Sentinel took a step backward.

"You're an illusion. You're from the Pit," Sentinel said with rising concern.

"No," Kudon said. "I'm real and I'm here. I am here for you, Sentinel, but I didn't come alone." As he said that several individuals stepped from the ether materializing in front of both Optimus and Sentinel. They were ragged and broken, their debilitation evident. They were Zeta and Nominus Prime. They stared at Sentinel without a word, something deeply unnerving to both Sentinel and Optimus.

Optimus moved to stand between them and Sentinel. "What does this mean, Kudon?"

"We're here to help Sentinel. He's been recalled. We're here to help him heal and make restitution for his actions. You saved me, Prime. You allowed me to help you from here, something you didn't have to do. I was healed. I'm whole and now my spirit is in service to our people. I'm here to help Sentinel find his way even as I'm helping Zeta and Nominus Prime. They're with me bearing their burdens, healing themselves even as they sift through their lies and deceits to find the truth. It's what I do now. Sentinel will be safe. He will be with me as long as it takes. It is to be, so says The One." He bowed at the name of Prime Source, then turned to Sentinel. "You know the others, Sentinel."

He looked at Zeta and Nominus who appeared as he glanced their way to have minute portions of themselves turn from dross to perfection, then stepped back. As he did, someone behind him put his servo on Sentinel's shoulder. Sentinel spun, then stepped back with surprise.

"Hello, Sentinel," the figure said. He was beautiful and seemed filled with warmth and love. "I am Guardian Prime. I am here to help you."

"No. I'm not ready to go. Cybertron needs me," Sentinel said with rising emotion.

"Cybertron has Optimus. You cannot help anyone in your delusion if you don't help yourself first," Guardian said as another being blinked into life. Everyone looked at him, then knelt on their knees but Sentinel who was too overcome to follow suit.

"Sentinel Prime, you must listen," the figure said. "You do not have the right to turn away," he said. "I, Prima Prime commands it."

The name echoed in the dense energy of the moment as Sentinel stared at Prima dumbfounded. Prima stepped closer, the great silvery and golden beauty of his energy something they could feel against their armor. "I could obliterate your energy into the universe so that your molecules never meet again. I could crush your spark until it disintegrates and vanishes. But We are merciful. Because you were a Prime, Kudon and the others, our brother Primes are here to help you and doing so, help themselves. Kudon and Guardian are my heralds. Both serve me and The People. I have designated Kudon to help heal these two," he said nodding to Nominus and Zeta. "They were Primes once and because of that I have given to them this mercy. Choose which path you will go with care. Your very continued existence depends upon your decision."

Sentinel stared at him dumbfounded, then sank to his knees. "I loved Cybertron. I love her. I tried to save her. Nothing could stand in the way of that very thing," he said with emotion. "I have to stay and help save her."

"You helped destroy Cybertron, the body of My brother. You did things that no one who bears the Matrix can do and walk away from. The Matrix fled every Prime since Nova. When Nova left, It left him. It hid and waited until this one could come forward to his destiny," he said nodding to Optimus who had knelt before him. " You abused everything you say you loved and when Highrode tried to save you, you were indifferent. Now you must do penance toward redemption. We, the Pantheon, have learned to love redemption. We do not believe you are without saving graces but you must learn what you have done. You must work to retrieve what you are from what you have become. YOU ARE A PERFECT SPARK! YOU CAME HERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE BUT YOU HAVE DONE GREAT HARM WITH THE OTHERS! YOU MUST FIND THAT CORE OF YOU AND BECOME IT AGAIN! All of you must pay your debts. You will." He looked at Kudon and the other two. "Rise and take him," Prima said.

Kudon stood up with the others who bowed with him to Prima. Then they began to walk toward Sentinel. He stepped back raising his fists and as he did, the three grabbed his arms and all of them disappeared. It was silent, then Prime looked at Prima with concern. "I am disturbed, Lord Prima. What will happen to him?"

"He will recover no matter how long it takes. Being in perfection here will ascertain that will happen. What We have to do now is clean up the mess that exists. You will return to tell them what has happened. I trust you will be honest and honorable. I will go and gather My siblings. We will meet again shortly," He said before He and Guardian Prime faded away.

Optimus was back in the room.

Sentinel Prime wasn't.

-0-Moments earlier

Prime and Sentinel disappeared. Sunspot who was watching jolted backward into the wall as they did. Ironhide reached down to pick him up, holding him closely. "ATAR! WHERE IS UNCLE OPTIMUS!?" he said fearfully as he clung to Ironhide.

Ironhide hugged him. "He's at the Matrix with Sentinel. Remember? He can come and go. He's safe. Everyone is safe."

Sunspot looked at him, then burrowed down into his arms. "Okay," he said fearfully. He stared at the front of the room as the priests converged on the remaining defendants. Prowl had stood up to stare at him with concern.

"Do you want to go to Uncle Prowl?" Ironhide asked.

Sunspot nodded, then slipped down. Threading through the crowd who petted and patted him, he reached Prowl. Prowl picked him up, hugged him tightly, then walked to the corner to speak with him in a soft voice. Ratchet who was watching leaned toward Ironhide. :Maybe this wasn't a good idea:

:It will be. They won't hurt him and maybe he can feel better when this is over: Ironhide said.

It was quiet for a while. Then Prime was back without Sentinel. Sunspot jolted, then glanced at Prowl. "HE CAME BACK!"

"He will always come back," Prowl said as he swayed with Sunspot in his arms.

Optimus turned toward them, then walked to Sunspot. He stroked his wings, then kissed his cheek. "We are fine, Sunspot. All is well," he said, then he turned to the packed room. Walking back to his chair, he paused in front of it to think a moment. "I have journeyed to the Matrix with Sentinel Prime."

The room shifted with half of them standing to bow. Prime nodded back. "Please, friends … sit. I have to tell you of the journey." Everyone sat and all stared at him including the three remaining defendants who looked paralyzed with fear.

Ratbat stood, then jerked lose from Sela. "Where's Sentinel? What happened to him? Are you going to let them kill us, too?" he practically snarled.

Prime stared at Ratbat. "Sit down."

Ratbat stared at Prime, did the math, then sat. When he was quiet, Prime began. "Sentinel and I went to the Matrix, to a place where decisions are made. Its a flat desert plain with little in any direction but emptiness. When we arrived we were met with the spirit of Kudon of Iacon."

Neo and Laret gasped and so did Gravitas, Eronus, Templar, and Mraz. The tension ratcheted up enormously as Bluestreak slid his servo into Sunstreaker's. He was as bleak and attentive as Sideswipe.

"Kudon was completely repaired in body and spark. With him were the recovering spirits of Nominus and Zeta Prime. Both of them were on the path to redemption, bearing on their armor the mark of their duplicity and crimes. As they make their way forward, their outward appearance repairs to reflect the internal changes they make. Kudon is their mentor and guide along that path. He has undergone the process himself. He is not the same mech as he was. He understands and has fully embraced what he did and the affect it had on others. He is the herald of Prima Prime."

"Oh, Lord Optimus! This is great news!" Neo exclaimed as she began to weep. Laret held her servo. "I did so love him as a friend!"

"He knows, Neo. He is staying in the Matrix to help those who have lost their way find the right path forward, both here and there," Optimus said. "Kudon came to take Sentinel away to begin the process. He was afraid. As he tried to step away, Guardian Prime arrived. He also is a herald of Prima and told Sentinel that he would come and be reborn through the process of understanding his life and drawing conclusions from its lessons. When he further resisted, Prima Himself arrived.

"He told Sentinel he had two choices … he could agree to repentance and the chance of another life of freedom and choice or oblivion. In the end, he was taken away by Kudon and the others. Prima said that the rest of this must be resolved and He then left to gather his brothers and Solus together. They will be coming shortly."

"And you just think I'm going to take a stroll with Kudon do you?" Ratbat said as he stood up again, his servos balled into fists.

"What makes you think, Ratbat, that you have a choice?" A voice disconnected from a body spoke to the group, seemingly emanating from the ether.

Ratbat glanced around himself. "Who said that!" he asked.

"Why, I did," the voice answered as a mech appeared behind Optimus. He was small, gloriously radiant, beautiful, and he floated in the air. It was obvious who It was as everyone in the room stood with incredulity.

Micronus Prime had arrived on the physical plane.

-0-TBC 8-15-18 edited 8-17-18