The Diego Diaries: Cross Hairs (dd6 458)
ME: Whoops. :D When I say there are no children, there are none for the mechs involved. There will be children but not among the alternative characters yet. :D:D:D
-0-Out there in another dimensional plane, The Residence, Iacon
Jazz grinned at Optimus. "I see you're back. I don't suppose you're going to let Prowl go anytime soon."
Optimus glanced at Prowl, then Jazz. "No. Sorry."
"Okay. I figured that would be so. I'll catch you at the lodge later," Jazz said to Prowl. Then he stepped closer and kissed him. "See ya then," he said, then walked to the door and left.
Prowl looked like a statue so great was his shock. He glanced at Prime, then hurried to the computer. It would be quiet in the room as he not only gathered intel about how the relationships were here but how the schedule of upcoming events for Optimus were supposed to play out.
They would both be stunned when they found out.
-0-Here, at The Fortress, Autobot City, Mars
"We're no more clear on how you got here than you seem to be. Tell us everything that you can about this," Hardie said.
Prowl glanced at Prime, his own Prime who nodded slightly. He sat back and regarded Hardie a moment. "I was part of the fleet that found itself here. We were going home and then we were here. It took a long time to figure out what had happened. When we heard your call into deep space, we came to it to seek information about what was going on. We found that if we cloaked to a certain frequency no one could see us on sensors. We were able to download specific information from your databases which made it clear to us that we were not in our own spatial dimension." He glanced at Prime and the two seemed to chat off line a moment, then look at everyone there. "We don't know what's happening. We just turned up here," Prowl said as across the table from him Optimus Prime disappeared.
Prowl stood up nearly upending the table as he stared at the empty chair. The entire group had been shocked, then Raptor rose and walked to a computer. He began to seek where Optimus Prime would be if the pattern held. They had swapped places again. This Prowl's Prime was gone but theirs had to be somewhere. He had to find him.
-0-Iacon, far away
"It would appear that I'm in a bond with Jazz. You're in a relationship with Sentinel. We have no families with children here. This is fragged. I can't read it all. Their written language is just that much different from ours," Prowl said as he turned toward Prime. Optimus nodded, then disappeared. Prowl stared at the empty spot and felt electrocuted. It was as if two hundred million needles flew at him and buried themselves deeply into his entire being. Walking to the space where Optimus had stood, glancing around nearly in a panic, Prowl wondered what to do.
-0-Optimus Prime of Mars
He glanced around when it all came clear again. He was in Kaon and all around him the destruction was obvious. He was back but a swift scan indicated that Prowl wasn't. "Optimus Prime to Ops Center, Autobot City."
There was a pause, then Hardie's strained voice was heard in his helm. "Hardie here. Where are you, Prime?"
"I am in Kaon. Send a bridge. I need to be wherever the team is. We have a serious problem," he said just as a bridge burst into view in front of him. Racing down the steps of The Citadel HQ, he ran into the bridge and it winked out.
-0-Optimus Prime of Iacon far away
He stood in Kaon which all around him was as pristine as the orn he last was here. He moved out of view so that he wouldn't be inundated with civilians as he called for a bridge to The Residence. It appeared and he stepped into it. He was gone immediately.
-0-Conference Room, Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars
Prime ran from the bridge room to the Ops Center, skidding to a halt in front of the conference room door. Most of those inside were there, all of them looking grim and fearful. He motioned them to re-enter, then closed the door himself. He stared at Prowl. "You are the other one. Correct?"
That Prowl nodded. "You don't bear his tattoos or markings, nor his color. Where is he?"
"I can imagine he is back in your dimension. I was in The Residence at Iacon but it was not Iacon. It was notably different." He glanced at Ironhide. "Where is Prowl? What happened?"
Ironhide filled him in.
-0-The Residence, Iacon, in another dimensional plane
He ran up the steps from the front courtyard of his home residence where he had bridged, bursting in to run to the office where he began this waking nightmare. As he entered the room, he froze in place. Standing in front of him was Prowl and not Prowl. The stranger faced him and so did his big, big gun.
-0-Autobot City
It was silent a moment, then Prime leaned forward. "How long has this been going on?"
The alternative Prowl stared at him, quashing his growing fright with practiced care. "Some time. I can't put a date on it. I don't know your system of time keeping."
Prime considered that. "Tell me everything you know. If you can figure out why Iacon and Kaon are part of this, tell me. Your hopes and mine hinge on the same thing."
Prowl nodded and began.
-0-Residence, Iacon
Prime stood before a stranger who was one of his closest friends. This Prowl was less and more at the same time. He was identical in form and frame, but the markings on his body were either missing or different. He pointed his gun directly at Prime's head and nothing in Prime prevented him from thinking he wouldn't pull the trigger. "You do not need the gun. Let us sit and figure this out. I am directly back from your dimension."
"Where is Optimus?" Prowl asked coldly.
"That is for you and me to figure out," Prime said as he walked to his desk to sit. He stared at Prowl who subbed his weapon, then sat on a comfortable chair nearby.
"You were back there then, my reality."
Prime nodded. "I was. They have no more idea than we do about this. My people are working on it the same as yours. We have to figure this out and if this continues, share information with both sides. We have the same goals, to return to our respective dimensional planes."
Prowl nodded. "What do I call you? This is hard enough already."
"Orion. That is my private name," Prime said.
"It's his, too," Prowl said as he gazed at the figure before him with appraising optics. "How do you have family when you came from the Pantheon? If you're a god, then Primus is your genitor, Primus and The One." He leaned slightly forward. "You do know of Them. Right?"
Prime grinned slightly. "I do. And you are correct. When the Pantheon left this world to free will and The People, I elected to stay. However, that required that I enter the Matrix and be reborn. I was born aware and awake, without the amnesia that prevents new sparks from knowing about old lives. From that, the prophecies and other aspects that heralded me here took care of the rest. My genitors are real and my own."
"I see photos … images," Prowl said. "Optimus was surprised to see them. He has almost no images of his grandgenitors. You do."
Orion nodded. "I do. My life was and is good and productive. My genitors sent me to school to learn all I could. I believe they knew early on and care was given to help me ascend to the path I had chosen, to serve The People here and everywhere else."
"What about Sentinel?" Prowl asked.
"He is … personal," Orion said, considering with their differences how much he could say.
"In our dimension, he's a major war criminal. We didn't have just one Prime. We had a series of them but before that we had slavery and war. We're digging out now because Optimus is The One Who Comes. Sentinel was just tried in court for his crimes and the Pantheon weighed in. He was recalled, he was considered so dangerous to our future and continuation. He was an abysmal war criminal and among the worst and most corrupt Primes in our existence."
Orion listened and felt pangs. "I see."
Prowl stared at Prime, then stood. He walked to the windows to stare out tensely. "We were overrun in the beginning when the Pantheon left the world. Quintus Prime created the Quintessans who enslaved us first. We were sold as machines. We overthrew them, then the collaborators for their government slid into their place, killing us without mercy as they set the poison of the caste system into our very psyches. We overthrew them, too, but it was too late. The System of Exception, caste slavery was already the way everyone lived. It led to major unrest, the rise of a tyrant and his Decepticon army, and the near extinction of our people. We have never known peace. We have never been free and Sentinel Prime had a big hand in all of it."
"He is a good mech here," Orion said. "He is a scientist and scholar. He works for the good of The People."
Prowl turned to Prime, staring at him coldly. "Are you sure?" he asked bitterly. Prowl walked to his chair to sit. "I've been the second-in-command of the Autobots for four Primes. Nova, Nominus, Sentinel, and Optimus. There was only one good Prime in all that time. Right now, he's my bond. We have seven children. I'm here. They are there. What are we going to do about it?"
Orion sat back in his chair. "We will do what we always do with problems. We will work together to solve it."
"What about Jazz?" Prowl asked.
Orion considered that, then pressed a button. "Prime to Jazz."
After a second, the voice of Jazz emerged from the speaker. "Here, Prime."
"Jazz, I need a quick update on the southern bases here and those going out to the Rim. I have discussed this with others and they have their own long term projects. I wanted to have that information on hand but it slipped through. Will you take care of it?" Orion asked.
"Frag. Prowl and I were going to the lodge. Do you need it now?" Jazz asked.
"I do, old friend. I am sorry but things are coming due. I have great faith in your ability to judge," Orion said as he watched the tense winger in a chair across from him, the familiar stranger.
"Alright. Is Prowl there?" Jazz asked.
"He is," Orion said.
"Prowl, sorry about this. I won't be back for a couple of decaorns. Tell your folks that I'm sorry and I'll make it up to both them and you when I get back," Jazz said.
"I will," Prowl replied uneasily.
"Okay. You're a slave driver, Prime," Jazz said with a chuckle. "Jazz out."
The line cut and a mountain fell off Prowl's back. He sat back looking more relieved. Orion watched him a moment, then leaned forward. "You have children."
Prowl nodded. "We do. My adult son, Bluestreak, then six infants. Four sons and two daughters."
Prime sat back, then nodded. "That is wonderful."
"It is and I'm going to get back to them if I have to shoot a hole in the dimensional divide and walk through," Prowl said.
Orion grinned slightly. "Understood." He rose. "I do not know what is going on but we need to adjust your personal markers. I will have my personal detailer come here and apply temporary fixes to your armor to match Prowl here. If you stay long or short, you have to fit in here." He walked to the door, then turned to wait for Prowl.
Prowl stared at him, then stood. He followed Orion Pax out and the door closed behind them.
-0-Autobot City
"What's the situation with their personal lives?" Hardie asked as he kept notes.
Prowl stared at him, then the strange Prime sitting at the end of the table, one devoid of the holy ornamentation on his armor but who held the same aura his own did. "I'm bonded with Autobot Jazz. Prime has no bond but he's in a close relationship with Sentinel Major."
The room was silent a moment, then Ratchet leaned forward. "Prowl, Sentinel was recalled by the Pantheon for being a major and incorrigible war criminal."
Prowl stared at him. "Not where I live. That's absurd. He's … he's a scholar and very capable bridge scientist. What an absurd ..." He paused a moment. "Forgive me. I'm … this is very different from where I'm from."
"We understand," Optimus said. "We have to figure this out. We have to get back to where we belong. What about the Senate and the Councils? Do you have them?"
"We do but they work for the common good and obey the Will of Primus and The One to serve The People. Optimus Prime is the leader of all our people and they reverence him as I do."
It was silent almost too long, then Ratchet glanced at Ironhide. "Where do we sign up?" he asked.
-0-TBC 9-1-18 edited 9-7-18
Guest chapter 457 . 12h ago
Well, this is getting interesting. I am curious to see how you will continue this. I wish you could write faster though...
ME: :D I am writing madly just for you guys. More time since its Labor Day weekend. HUGS!
Lackwit chapter 457 . 13h ago
Prowl x Jazz? Lol, naughty , naughty! Inspired AU pairing for this story. I can see some opportunities for horrible teasing once all is resolved.
ME: the first TF I ever read was Jazz/Prowl. I love them but somehow, Prowl and Prime sort of clicked, the repressed little things. :D
No kids at all? For the entire civilization? Not capable or no interest. Wow. Hard to see a vibrant future. I like this twist.
ME: I think I didn't explain it well. LOL! The alternative bots have no personal kids. :D:D:D:D:D
fancyspinner chapter 457 . 22h ago
Well, no kids could be a problem? Right?
ME: It would be but I goofed and meant only the alternate bots, Prime, Prowl and Jazz. They have kids otherwise in the culture. :D:D:D:D:D (I may put that notion though about no kids at all on the list anyway. It would be interesting)
kattenbelletje chapter 453 . Aug 28
I think that most scientists who are looking for alien life are aware that alien life can be completely different than earth live. It is, how ever very difficult to look for something if you don't know what to look for. I would be like putting me in a Chinese library and telling me to look for a book on cicadas. I can't read Chinese so I would look around and hope for an English section. (or Dutch, but I would put my bets on English:)) We won't know what to look for when searching for alien life until we have actually stumbled upon them.
ME: I hear ya. :D I watched a space marathon last weekend and thought my head would explode. :D As for Dutch, I once tried to learn it from tapes and it was sooooo hard. It sounds really, really cool but hard. :D
I love the world building you put in this story. Sometimes I think they are a bit too American, but the truly alien cultural/biological parts are great. It can't get too alien for me. :)
ME: I try to make it as different as possible. Being American, its hard to pivot to other points of view. I like to add characters from everywhere on Earth, though its hard to work them in as much as I want because the story is so big. This is a multi-national thing and more will come of it. The world building and background creating is the frosting on the cake for me. I love writing this thing. Love your note, sweetie. HUGS! :D