The Diego Diaries: Inter Face (dd6 470)
-0-At The Residence in the safest place in creation
Drift glanced at Springer, then took his servo. Holding it tightly, they turned to face each other. "We're stuck here," Drift said "Maybe forever ..."
-0-On a galactic plane elsewhere
"Are you really going to do this?"Solus asked Vector as He stared at a device in His servo.
"I would say no but it will get them back to their own dimensional planes. Do it, Vector," Prima said as he stared at the scenario playing before them with simmering rage. "Let Us start this again from square one."
"If you say so, brother," Vector said as He made it so.
-0-Residence, Iacon, in a strange and peaceful Cybertron
They held each others servos tightly as they waited tensely. Springer shook his helm. "This is -"
Then they both disappeared.
Prime stood up, then walked to the space to feel around it, finding nothing with his keen perceptions, ones that were finer than anyone elses. He turned to look at the grim faces of everyone there as Drift stood. "What now?" he asked. "I liked that Springer."
His own ada stood, then slipped his arm around Drift's slim shoulders. "You should. He's me."
-0-Mars, Ops Center
" - not going to … work," Springer said as he stared at the startled expressions of everyone in the Ops Center that looked just like his own. Sitting with them was a softer version of Megatron, Megatron Prime to be exact. "I spoke too soon." He looked at Drift, then hugged him tightly. "That was too stupid to work."
"But it did," Drift said as he hugged Springer back. They walked to the table to sit. "What happened here? Are we all back?"
"Pretty much," Raptor said with relief. "Though for how long, I don't know."
"Thanks," Springer said to him grimly. "What now?"
"We wait," Prime said. "Everyone is back. We sit and wait. No word on Prowl?"
"He's back there. He told us how to get here. We just clicked our heels and we're back in Kansas again," Springer said.
Megatron glanced at Prime who grinned slightly. "I take it that you know what that means."
"I do and its very applicable, my friend," Optimus said.
Megatron stood and everyone else did. "Then I must be going. I am assuming that the situation with some of your … special guests is in hand?"
"They have been deactivated and placed in deep stasis in specialty lock ups here," Prime replied. "Do you require further assistance on this subject?"
"We are tracking several individuals who are too dangerous to be there for the work at hand. I would be deeply grateful if our export-import program can continue until all is in balance again. We are exceeding expectations but its still a lot of unwinding and replacing, if you get my meaning," Megatron said in his elegant and highly polished manner.
"I do. Call upon us and we shall attend," Prime said as they gripped each others servos.
"I am glad," Megatron said. He glanced at the others, bowed slightly, then followed a technician to the bridge room where he would head back home via Tennyson.
They watched him go, then Raptor shook his helm. "You don't see that every orn."
Everyone sat down slightly more relaxed, then a debrief began. Prowl lead it. The situation as it stood was simple. Both Springers were in their respective homes. Both Prowls were and the Shattered Glass Prowl wasn't affected in this round. Both Optimus Primes ruled in their respective domains and Drift was back. All of the 'bad actors' from Megatron's realm were disabled and would stay that way for some time including the civilians like Neo and Kudon. It would be heavily difficult to contain that much evil across more timelines than the one they currently rendered.
"Impressions," Prime asked as he stared at Springer and Drift.
"I'm a child, Ironhide and Springer's only son. He's a great kid from what little I saw," Drift said with a slight grin. "And did I say handsome?"
Chuckles rounded the room.
"He's a really good kid but he's getting bullied at school and he doesn't want to settle it with violence. I got the names and addresses of the bullies and if I ever go there again I'm taking care of it. Ironhide and the other Springer, his ada I might add said they would. They better. Their Springer is a good guy with a tough spark."
"Prowl is Prowl no matter where you are but he is bonded there with Jazz, not me," Prime said.
"Prime over there is keeping company with Sentinel. I can't tell you what a sight that was to see," Springer said as Prowl nodded.
"We learned that we can be in some proximity to Peaceful Universe doppelgangers but not too close without triggering the change up. Yet, we can be close to Shattered Glass Universe doppelgangers without a problem. I would conjecture that the energetic signatures up close and personal with Shattered Glass individuals are close enough to be relatively compatible to us. The others are far enough different from us energetically and may I venture, more highly evolved, so it matters and causes some kind of unknown reaction or clash," Prowl said.
"That could be a start," Wheeljack said. "What about if it happens again?"
"I do not know. What about tracking devices? Do we have anything that can track us multi dimensionally? Maybe that might be a possibility," Prime said.
"We can see. Right now, I would like you to activate your finder beacons and leave them on. Calibrate it to sensors here," Perceptor said. "That way if your device goes off we will know you were jumped again. As long as you're on the grid, you're here."
Everyone complied, then it was silent.
"Watch the Matrix Flame for Optimus," Ratchet said as he sat back. "I feel like I was beaten with a stick."
Everyone agreed.
Prime sat forward. "Leave the beacons on. Wheeljack and Perceptor … you have the task ahead of us. I want to know what is happening, especially with Ratchet going to a demonic dimension. What has that got to do with this? I want to know everything you can find out. I know that the other Prime is doing likewise." He stood. "In the meantime, you are off duty unless called until tomorrow."
Everyone stood wearily, then gathered to go here and there. Drift and Springer walked out together first, then the others. Ratchet, Ironhide, Raptor. and Hard Drive walked out followed by Turbine and Delphi. Blackjack and Alor were at their posts and would be filled in later whereupon they would both yell loudly. They walked to The Diner On The Corner and got a booth. Sitting heavily, they gave their orders and kicked back.
"I forgot where we live, Ironhide. You'll have to show me," Ratchet said with a grin.
"I forgot, too. Someone lives there besides us if a vague memory is correct," Ironhide said as he took drinks from the waiter and passed them around. They sipped, then he sat back. "That weird universe worries me."
"Me, too," Hard Drive said. "We need to get this sorted out fast. It all feels malevolent and directed."
Ratchet nodded. "It's also fragging with the senior team. Frag whoever this is." He halted, then glanced around. "Do you really think the walls have audials?"
"Until the walls say no, then yes," Turbine said as food arrived. They began to eat and things began to calm down just a little bit. It was deeply, deeply welcomed.
-0-At an apartment in the sky
They lay together, relaxing from their exertions. Drift glanced at Springer, noting once again his handsome and distinctive profile. "What happened to you there?"
"Well," Springer began, then halted with a sheepish grin. "I sort of made out with Ironhide."
"I was afraid of that. The moment you go away for the weekend there's another mech," Drift replied as he shifted to snuggle into Springer's frame.
The big mech pulled him closer. "That's me. Unreliable." It was quiet a moment, then he continued. "I ended up at their home. I saw their house. It was beautiful but then, I think everyone's home is. That place is pristine. I tried to sneak out but he said I had to pick the kid up. So I sorta stumbled around, then went outside. I should've left but he told me before I did that we were going to Polyhex for dinner with my family."
Drift considered that sore subject. "Did you?"
"I did."
[Silence]
"I got to hug my genitors and my grandgenitors. I saw my uncles and met a few of their kids who I don't think exist here. We never had a chance to expand the family after me when they stole our business. That was the thing. They were waiting for the chance to afford kids and it was too late. I'm the sole product of their line."
"It's a helluva product," Drift said loyally. "I'm sorry."
"I know. I'm sorry for yours. Do you really think they're gone?" Springer asked as he pressed his cheek against Drift's helm.
"Yeah. Miracles happen … but, yeah. I think so," Drift replied.
[Silence]
"I look at their lives and they're great. They never had any of the slag we've had and they acknowledge their Prime as a god. They have it all. It was sort of … dull. I hate to say that. I've wanted nothing but what they have all my life but its pretty calm over there," Springer said.
Drift nodded. "I noticed that. I don't know what to think but my vibe is closer to that than yours. You're sort of ultra masculine and the like." [Grin]
"Is that so?" Springer asked with a grin of his own.
"I think so," Drift said. He was silent a moment as emotions began to emerge. "I … I thought I'd never see you again. I can't tell you what that was like."
"You don't have to," Springer said. "I know."
They were quiet a moment, then Springer squeezed his shoulders. "That Drift kid was aces. He was a great kid."
[Silence]
"One of these orns," Drift said softly.
Springer nodded. "One of them. Three, a femme and two mechs, from the Well."
Drift nodded. "All at once. So they can grow up together and feel friendship and family all their lives. They won't live like we did. It won't happen."
Springer nodded. "It won't." He rubbed Drift's shoulder. "Not for some time though, right?"
Drift nodded. "Right."
[Silence]
"I love you, Drift."
[Nod] "I love you, Springer."
[Pause]
[Grin] "Don't tell anyone," Springer said.
[Grin] "I won't."
Springer pulled Drift closer and they lay together quietly as the late afternoon slowly passed by.
-0-Upstairs
They walked in to a house filled with kids. Bedlam broke out as they hugged, kissed, listened to tales of woe and valor, examined and exclaimed over any oddball thing that excited babies decided their genitors had to see, then dinner was had. It would take a long time in the Ironhide v Ratchet house for everyone to get their equilibrium back, kids included.
-0-On a galactic plane
"They appear to be back in place," Vector said approvingly.
"For now," Prima said. "They can still be disturbed from their dimensions, but He's shown his hand." A grim tightly held grin appeared on the shining visage of the leader of the Pantheon, the uncontested warrior-god of Their exalted band. "Something tells Me He's not even close to being finished."
Neither Vector nor Solus disagreed. They faded away to gather together elsewhere. There was a lot to discuss about this whole business and Prima being Prima, They wouldn't waste a minute.
-0-In a void without end at the end of infinity
He stood on a gray glassy plain that went away in all directions unchanged and without features. He had been imprisoned here because of His recalcitrant nature and defiant ways. No one was to blame but Him though He wouldn't see it that way. Brooding endlessly on his circumstances, He heard at last a faint pounding sound, like someone trying to knock a hole in the wall.
With curiosity and the coiled intensity He always brought to a fight, Megatronus Prime walked across the endless emptiness of His prison toward a sound that was faintly echoing, distorting its location as it did. It was out there. Someone outside was trying to get in. It made His exoskeleton tingle to wonder. It was also something to do.
The tap-tap-tap of His heavy treads on the glassine ground was the only other sound in the entire universe. He had given up screaming a long time ago. Nothing had broken up the deadly emptiness of the space He occupied all this time until now. It was with a furious sense of curiosity that He began to track the echoing boom-boom-boom down.
-0-TBC 9-13-18