The Diego Diaries: Soldiering On (dd6 571)
=0=On the way to Mandalay
They gathered on the sidewalk, then moved onward heading for the train station to take a ride to Unidad. Given that their station was open just for the evening, the bots were going to take the easy route. Given the number of parties and hoo-haws going on in the clubs around town, it would take a while to get there otherwise.
All of the senior Autobots, the families of said Autobots, the committee civilians and their families, the masses of hangers on, a passel of titan mechanisms, mini-con mechanisms including Buzzie and Cliffjumper who were going to show their little Agnus that the possibilities of doing slag were endless here along with a bunch of dazzled newcomers to the whole process made their way to the metro station to head downward. It would take four full cars to carry everyone there.
When they arrived after going around the habitat trail on the special Circle Line operated just for this reason this night, they reached Unidad Metro Station. It was immaculate, as big as any of the others and the tiles that lined the walls were patterned alternately with tiny images of Earth and the logo of Unidad which was an art nouveau image of itself superimposed on it. The name Unidad Terra 1, United Nations District of Earth was etched in tiny print underneath.
Walking the other direction away from the route upward, they reached the locked and secured door that led upward. They began to trudge that way, an endless stream of bots and their buds as they reached the surface above. Gathering around Prime, they waited until everyone was ready, then transformed, drove to the road and headed toward the driveway and parking lot with their lights on. The caravan was huge and inside the building people began to see it.
"PRIME IS HERE! EVERYONE, THE SENIOR AUTOBOTS AND COMMITTEE ARE HERE TO SALUTE US!" someone yelled. It was picked up across the room and the stampede for the windows was on. As they began to surge that way, the long line of vehicles was heading into the driveway where their lights blinded everyone inside. When they were all there, they began to transform. It was amazing how the lights flashed off or upward as the mechs and femmes outside morphed to root mode and walked forward with Prime.
They reached the windows, halting about 40 feet away to stare at the humans who stared back at them, waving, clapping and patting the window with big smiles. Both sides grinned at each other. Then Prime pulled his big big gun. Having decided upon their trajectory on the way, they all pulled guns and raised them. After a beat, Prime fired and so did everyone else. It was blinding, howling loud and spectacular to see a fusillade that powerful and massed blast off and fly into the dark sky. Prime subbed his weapon, then walked forward to the window. He knelt down and peered inside, grinning at the humans who were wildly ecstatic to see him.
Sam Witwicky squeezed between a space in the line of tables, then pressed his hand against the smooth surface of the window. He could feel the cold outside leach slightly into his hand. Night time outside was reaching -150 F.
Prime grinned at Sam, then placed his giant servo against the window. It was massive, unbelievably strong, it was obvious but transmitted a sense of gentleness that all of them could feel. Sam grinned and Prime grinned back. Then Prime stood. He stared at the humans with great affection, then walked back to the group. It was then that he knelt down and bowed his helm, the entire group with him following suit.
The roar inside the habitat could be heard outside as the humans inside whipped into a frenzy of happiness and applause. They roared their approval and waved, smiling with joy at the salute. They'd heard about this before and now it was happening, this very rare salute from the Prime of an interplanetary empire of vast size and power. They returned the love back to the bots.
Prime rose, then the others turned around slowly to transform to drive back to the metro nearby. When the last one drove out, Prime was still there, watching them with amusement and a sense of great pleasure as they watched back. Then he nodded, turning toward the road where he transformed, flashed on his lights and drove off to follow his party.
The humans watched them go, the room quieting down as they did. The honor was extraordinary, personal and emotional. At that moment, they felt as one, unified as they had never had been before. The rest of the evening would be wonderful.
=0=On the way to Mandalay, Part 2
They reached the metro station at Public Arena 2. It was the one closest to Monastery Road and The Resort at Autobot City. Walking to the surface, they followed Prime with their lights on as he walked across the parking lot toward the hillside nearby and then up the bank to the road. They climbed up until they reached Monastery Road, laughing and talking as they clambered upward. By then, the humans in the resort were aware they were coming and had lined the windows five deep. All 2,200 humans were there including the humans who worked for Autobot City Transportation Company and their families, all of them having their Christmas vacation here.
They walked across the road heading for the driveway that led inside. When they reached the windows the humans were nearly rioting inside in delight. It was a HUGE thing to get a vacation here during the Christmas holidays. Everyone knew that the Prime, his committee and general staff would come to salute the humans. This was no exception. The bots gathered around Prime, then he pulled his big gun. A huge fusillade went up and streaked into the wasteland beyond.
In the greensward habitat sections of the Resort nearby sleeping birds were rousted into the night, fluttering at the unexpected lights and sounds. The humans roared their approval, then Prime walked closer and knelt. There were a row of children at the window standing with their families. He grinned at them, then put his giant servo against the glass.
The kids smiled, then ran forward to place theirs on his. It was comical in the extreme how small they were. They patted his servo, smiled and laughed, chattering excitedly at the sight of the huge mech before them. Then Prime stood up, smiling at the children, then the rest of the group who were filming, snapping pictures and waving madly. He nodded back, then walked to the group he came with. Turning to face the humans again, he knelt and the others followed, nodding their helms in salute.
A huge roar inside greeted that and when Prime stood again the others began to file out, heading for their next location. When they were gone, Prime waved to the group inside, then turned away to follow. When they reached the street they walked on to the Monastery to fete those there including the children before ending the parade in Aerie Hill.
It was cold, everyone was feeling amazing and when the lights of the Monastery were clearly seen, the leadership of the facility was there waiting for Cyclonus to come with Prime. The children were inside the building near the door. It was cold and they weren't able to withstand the temperatures so they were gathered, all of the Monastery's children inside. They reached the waiting leadership, exchanged greetings, then Prime walked inside with Cyclonus and his mechs.
The others waited outside, their numbers and configurations possibly scary for the kids if they came inside with Prime. He entered, then saw them. He walked to where they were gathered, then knelt. All around them were the families who took them on, caring for them along with the school here and the counseling program set up just for them. They had arrived for the party and stayed for Prime when most of the other Guiding Hand kids went home with their families.
There were a good 2 dozen or so of them staring at him solemnly as he knelt down on a knee before them. A bag was brought out, one Prowl had supervised with the counseling staff and placed beside him. They stared at him without expression. "Merry Christmas Surprise, infants," Prime said. "I am very pleased and happy to see you here."
No one answered. They stared at him, then a child whose genitors were members of the Monastery walked forward to hug Optimus. He hugged the child back and as if signally something good and safe, the other member's kids came forward as well. The Functionalist kids however stared at them, then a child hesitated. He looked at the others, then stepped forward. Another child caught his arm and he stopped. Staring at everyone around him, the plain appearing little mech looked at Prime with an expression of uncertainty.
Prime who was holding a good dozen children in the circle of his arms extended his servo to the hesitant child. He stared at it, then the other kids, then Prime. He began to step backward when Cyclonus knelt. "Infant, you are loved. Come here," he said holding out his servo.
Prime watched the incongruous sight of Cyclonus delivering anything but pain. The child glanced at the others, then walked to Cyclonus. He leaned into the big mech who stroked his back gently. "You are our treasure. This holiday is for you and this mech has something for you that is yours forever." Cyclonus looked at Prime.
Prowl picked up the bag, then gently slid the contents out onto the floor, a spray of bright shiny bags filled with presents and candy. "I think it would be wonderful to do a treasure hunt."
The kids turned toward Prowl including the Functionalists. He grinned. "How about we hunt down our own names? There's a bag with your name on it hidden in this pile. Maybe you can be the first treasure hunter and show everyone what to do?" he asked the child with Cyclonus.
The little mech stared at Prowl, then the pile with something akin to longing. Holding onto Cyclonus's digit, he moved closer to it, edging nervously along all the while watching Prowl the whole time. He looked at the pile, then pulled on a couple of the bags.
"Do you want your friends to help you?" Cyclonus asked gently.
The child gripped Cyclonus's digit against his chassis, then looked at the other kids. He looked up at Cyclonus, at his stern visage and direct stare. The others saw that aspect of the huge mech. The child saw kindness, a soft edge to his aura that was comforting. He nodded.
Cyclonus looked at the others. "Treasure hunt time, infants. Find your name and what you find is yours."
They stared at him almost too long, then two more stepped forward hesitantly. They walked to the pile and bent down to look at each bag. Three more came, then all of them did. They looked at the bags, some of them finding their own, then walked back to their group holding them tightly against their chassis. The one with Cyclonus watched them do so and then only one was left. He looked up at his leader.
Cyclonus looked at him with a gentler expression. "That one belongs to you forever."
The child stared at him, then the gift. He wanted it, clearly, but he was unsure what to do so Cyclonus picked it up and gave it to him. The little mech clung to the bag, then let go of Cyclonus's digit. Holding up his arm, he stepped closer.
Cyclonus picked him up, tucking him into his arm with his gift. It was a breakthrough but still a nauseating experience for these little kids who were so limited in their emotional state.
Prime rose, then gently stroked the infant's arm. "Thank you, Master Cyclonus for the privilege of coming here to greet and celebrate with these wonderful children."
Cyclonus nodded. "Thank you for coming, Lord Optimus," he said with a slight nod of his helm.
"You are wonderful. You are good and needed. You are wanted. There is nothing we will not do for you, children. Thank you, all of you, for this mercy," Prime said to the silent little kids.
Everyone there bowed their helm. Prime shook servos, chatted a moment, then he and Prowl walked out of the Monastery to the group waiting outside.
:I could just die sometimes: Prowl said as he slipped his servo into Prime's.
:I know: Prime said.
They transformed, the group, and began the winding drive to Aerie Hill.
=0=TBC 1-16-19 edited 1-17-19