The Diego Diaries: Inter Face (dd6 467
-0-In a bar on Peaceful Cybertron
Drift of Mars walked slowly toward the Springer sitting at the bar in a state of drunkenness that was making those around him nervous. Drinking to be shit faced was common in his universe and obviously was the same in that of the Shattered Glass where this Springer came from. A pang went through him that this Springer was such a slagger when his own was the mellow center of his world, the greatest and only love of his life. Sitting on the bar stool next to him, he looked at Springer. "You and I should go bar hopping. I'm stuck here, too."
Bleary optics stared at him, then a servo shoved him. "Frag off, Drift. Or should I say Deadlock. Frag you and your sorry turncoat aft."
The bartender who was a youngster looked from one to the other with fear and uncertainty in his optics. "If there's trouble, I'm calling the Peacekeepers."
"Is that what they're called here?" Springer hissed. "Fragging police. Peacekeepers. Whose peace? How about I show you a few things you don't look like you've ever seen, boy?"
Drift glanced at the kid, then gestured for him to move away. He did swiftly as those watching began to stir behind both of them. "Springer … you want to slag me? Step outside and let's do it. Just don't make a scene here. These people don't look like they can handle it."
Springer glanced at Drift with a cold smirk. "Then maybe we can give them a show."
"Nah. I don't like being the center of attention. There's an alley around here somewhere. I'll let you take the first shot."
Springer stood up and flexed his frame. "Thanks. I will." Then he swung on Drift catching him on the shoulder.
Drift stumbled sideways, straightened and caught Springer as he charged. They fell backwards onto a table of civilians who scrambled to get away. That was just the start of the mayhem.
-0-Prowl of Mars
They sat in the Ops Center of Autobot City going over the information he had brought with a group of mechs feverishly working to find a solution. They had assembled nearly immediately and were waiting for Peaceful Universe Springer to join them. When he didn't return their calls, they paged Drift. When he didn't return calls, Prime sent Raptor and Ironhide to investigate. In the meantime, Peaceful Universe Prowl was gone for sure and no one could hazard where he was. It was massively processor blowing to sit down with a chart to figure this out but Perceptor explained where they had been and possibly were now.
Maybe.
"We know that for the sake of clarity that Prowl from the Peaceful Universe was here, then is now gone. Where? It is impossible to say. He does, however, carry information that should be helpful to the place he attends. Is there no word of him yet with you that he went to your universe?"
Megatronus Prime shook his helm. "Not yet. We are trying to locate him but we have nothing so far." He sat next to Optimus Prime, a huge frame, too, but with subtleties of design and energy that clued one in that something different with this one was going on here. He had spoken to Prime through the link to find out if Prowl was safely home, then bridged here without his own Prowl to keep things simpler through Tennyson's space bridge. They were all clued in including Megatron's Prowl now that the Martian Prowl had been transferred to this universe. Their universe, the Shattered Glass dimension appeared by Martian Prowl's appearance there was now in play as well. It was all colossally mindbogglingly hard.
"Then we will keep him in reserve, missing but in play," Perceptor said. "Our Martian Prowl was in the Peaceful Universe along with you, Optimus, and both of you are back. Our Martian Springer who is the other affected individual is somewhere. For your sake, Lord Megatron, we are annotating home bases to each to keep them straight."
"He's in the Peaceful Universe, Perceptor. I was talking with him and the others when I jumped," Prowl said.
"The others meaning Optimus?" Wheeljack asked.
Prowl nodded. "Optimus and Sentinel."
They took that in for a moment, then Perceptor continued. "We can assume that two Springers are with Peaceful Optimus Prime. Both Optimus Primes, our own and him, are in their own universes. Our Prowl is home here and the Peaceful Universe Prowl is missing."
"You better add Drift to that list," Raptor said as he walked across the Ops Center to the table where everyone sat. "He's gone. I checked the grid. He's not on it."
"Frag," Ratchet said with fear. "This is fragged."
It was.
-0-Peaceful Universe Prowl in a terrifying dark void
He floated in darkness, a terrible howling darkness. It surrounded him, shifting shapes and horror so deep he felt his energon run cold. They swirled and shrieked, then he was gone. Standing on a desiccated surface that looked like a moon, he didn't recognize a thing. He glanced around with gathering fear, then calmed himself. :Prowl to Prime. Prowl to anyone:
-0-Mars
Prime froze as a voice called to him. "Martian Prime to Prowl."
Conversation froze as everyone stared at Prime. He listened, then spoke again.
"On our way," he said. He glanced at Wheeljack. "Prowl … the peaceful universe version is somewhere on a harsh moon surface. He's close enough to reach me. Scan the area and get him through a bridge. When you do, bring him here."
Wheeljack nodded, then sprinted to the door and the steps that led down to the bridge room. Prowl watched him go, then glanced at Optimus. "I'm not clear that we can be in the same space at the same time. Give me all you got and let's test that hypothesis. If we can stay, then maybe its a clue."
"This is a terrible way to test the theory," Optimus said with concern. "Go to the corridor door. Maybe close in proximity triggers something."
Prowl nodded, then hustled to the doorway, slipping inside to wait. It was incredibly tense as they sat silently, staring at the doorway beyond that led to the rec room. Soon, the sound of hurrying peds could be heard as Wheeljack and a Prowl like their own but not appeared. Walking to the group, they halted. "Optimus Prime," Prowl of the Peaceful Universe said with a nod.
"Prowl. What happened? You were here then you were gone. Drift is gone as well," Prime said.
Peaceful Universe Prowl considered that, then shook his helm. "Another individual. What if … what if proximity to one of us in the loop draws you in?"
"We can find out. Our Prowl is behind that door there," Ratchet said nodding to the corridor doorway that led to senior Autobot offices. "Maybe."
Prime rose, then walked to the door. Steeling himself, he gripped the door handle, then pulled it open. Stepping halfway inside, he stayed a moment, then stepped back. Prowl of Mars appeared in the doorway eyeing his doppelganger with concern. "So … we're still both here. Maybe being far enough apart matters. I feel a slight buzzing on my exoskeleton."
"So do I," Prowl of the Peaceful Universe replied. He stepped slightly closer and it increased. Then he stepped back and it faded. Moving to the doorway to Ops Center, he turned to them. "I almost feel nothing."
"Then we have a clue. Stay where you are Prowl," Ratchet said as two mechs appeared before them out of nowhere.
It was Drift of Mars and Springer of the Shattered Glass Universe warring with each other like it was the end of the world.
-0-Peaceful Universe, The Residence of the Primes
Ironhide, Springer and their son, Drift walked into the lobby of The Residence, then Ironhide turned to his son. "You will sit here. You'll wait for us and we'll go home. Hopefully."
"I want to come," Drift said. "Let me come, too, Ada," he said appealing to the tall strained mech who was his carrier. "Uncle Optimus … I want to talk to him. I want to see what's happening, too. We're a part of this, all three of us."
Ironhide considered that, then nodded. "You'll sit silently. You aren't a part of this, son. I'll take you out if you don't obey my requests."
Drift nodded. "I will."
The three of them walked up the staircase to the residential portion of the house of a mech who was like a brother to Ironhide and an official godfather/guardian designate of their son. They were received by an aide and led to the suite where the strangers were housed. Opening the door, they walked in. Sitting on the couches and chairs of the big room were Optimus himself, his partner, Sentinel and a tall pensive looking version of Springer. They halted near them to stare at each other.
Springer of Mars looked at his doppelganger. "Do you feel weird on your exoskeleton?"
That Springer nodded. "Yes," he said, then stepped back a bit. "It's less."
Martian Springer walked to the balcony, then turned toward them. "What about now? I can barely feel you."
Springer nodded. "I can hardly feel you, too."
"It might mean something," Optimus said. "Springer, sit over there," he said nodding to a chair by the wall. "Drift, I assume you are here because of all of this?"
Drift nodded, then walked over to sit beside Optimus. "This is the one who was with us? Who went to my amma and appa's house with us?"
Springer of Mars nodded, then walked back to his own chair to sit. "I was. In this universe you have them. In mine, I don't know. War decimated my world. We're only guessing who survived and who didn't. It was good to see them, both of them and my grand genitors. I don't know where they are back home."
It was heavy a moment, then the other Springer stood. He moved closer but not too much. "I'm sorry about that. I don't blame you for going along with seeing them. I would have as well in your place."
"War destroyed Cybertron?" Drift asked with teenaged astonishment and morbid curiosity. "What's that like?"
"You don't want to know," Springer said as he stared at the cute kid with an astonishingly youthful and handsome face.
"You asked me to give you the names of my bullies, names and addresses. What were you going to do about them?" he asked with an eager and curious expression.
"Nothing," Ironhide said as he eyeballed the stranger with the familiar face and slightly familiar energy. "We're going to take care of it."
"When?" Drift asked plaintively.
"Yeah, Ironhide. When?" Springer of Mars asked.
"I don't think that's your problem," Drift's ada said. "We need to focus on this one."
There was a rap on the door. "Enter," Optimus said.
An aide walked in with a note. Optimus read it, then thanked them. They left. He stared at the note, then looked at the others. "It would appear that we might have located the Springer from the Shattered Glass Universe and someone else," he said glancing at Drift. "Someone who bears an astonishing resemblance to you."
Drift stared at him, then stood. "Where are they? We better go, right?"
Springer stared at the kid, then grinned. "You remind me of someone."
Drift turned to him clenching his fists tightly. "I can help. I want to see this."
"No. You're going to stay here," Ironhide said.
Before he could say a word an aide walked back in without knocking and handed a datapad to Prime. He left just as swiftly. Prime read it, then sat back. "It would appear no one is going. Springer and Drift were brawling in a bar and in the mists of the fight disappeared."
Springer sat forward with dismay. "Then Drift has been dragged into this."
Springer of the Peaceful Universe grabbed his son into his arms.
-0-TBC 9-11-18 :D edited 9-13-18