The Diego Diaries: Convocation (dd8 534)
This is late due to family problems. Two elder cousins have passed and one younger one is on the same path. Its tough when you care about people. Take care and hug each other. -Me
=0=At the moment of commandment
The lights burst around them flashing across the colony like a wild fire. It filled every space up to the edge of the footprint of the cities, then halted. Around the world where there were those on the roadways, in the campgrounds or other places outside the urban center, islands of light surrounded those present.
It pulsed softly, its gentleness remarkable, a signal reminder of The Blessings during the Festival of Primus. It soothed everyone It surrounded including the humans on world and from It they felt the intensity of love that the Pantheon had for each of them. It wasn't just a remark that was made to them, it was a promise and guarantee of Their fealty and regard.
It felt like cool fog, then It winked out.
=0=Prime and the Prison
He felt the luxuriousness of the caress of light, a moist seeming fog that tingled on their neural nets. It felt like a menthol sensation of soothing emotions, then It was ended just as fast as It came. Prime glanced upward, then around. The giants were gone and everyone was staring around themselves with amazement and a sense of loss.
He noted that Fila was staring at him through the bars as if gauging his mettle. He stared back at her, then she turned away from him to walk back to the group standing behind her.
"What do you think?" Prowl asked as he materialized beside Prime.
"It is hard to say," Optimus replied. "If they do not have the capacity to understand then we will continue to have this problem from them and risk an intervention by Primus."
"He would just recall them, right?" Prowl asked.
"They will do what They require to assist whoever it is that They have before them," Optimus said. "I would expect that to be the logical course." He glanced at the others, then stepped closer. "I think we should adjourn to the conference room at The Fortress for a conversation."
Everyone there who was staring at him nodded, then waited to follow him as he left with Prowl's servo in his. It was a solemn and grim faced group that left through the silent grim faced mechs who filled pens up and down the prison.
It would be very quiet in the prison this night.
=0=E2
"Then its over," Mariah said. "This felt like The Blessing."
"They love us, the Pantheon. They aren't any other way," Camilla Brown replied.
"They're impressive," Owen Harris said as he considered the show that had just concluded. "Everyone has to obey the will of the Congregation then?"
The kids who attended Youngling Day nodded.
"If they don't they have to honor fight Primus Himself," one of the May kids replied, their son Elliott. "The question is closed now."
"Someone will break the rules. I think that's a given," Kyle Davis said.
Most of those present nodded.
"They better not. Primus knows everything and you have to fight Him." Rain Harris glanced at her father. "Everything."
=0=Resort
They stared at the colony after the mist faded and they were returned to themselves albeit disturbed that the sensations they felt had ended. It was silent on the concourse, then everyone broke into conversation with each other. It would be a bubbling sound fest for a while among the hundreds and hundreds who were there.
=0=Conference Room, The Fortress
They sat a moment in silence, then Ratchet leaned forward on his elbows. "That was beautiful and definitive. Now we have to sort out what's in front of us. First, the high castes might not have the capacity to understand the new changes. Then there's the problem with saying something about this to the humans on Earth who might freak out. When this group of vacationers go home then we're going to have stories that might not serve us from their own points of view. They might not have ill intentions but they probably don't understand what just happened."
"I will be addressing this on IntraCom shortly. We also have to make a message for Earth. I think we can link Earth in on the message as well," Optimus said. "I think this might be a good thing for all of us but I do not think that everyone will have buy in beyond the prison. I do not think they will give up without a fight. Even with this intervention, it would be unwise to assume everyone will comply." Optimus sat back in his chair. "I would hope so but life has taught me that what I want and what I get seldom match up."
They would sit a while and decompress, question the priests about this and that point, then the seniors would go with Optimus to IntraCom to make a message for the Empire and Earth.
=0=Shortly later at the studio
Prime waited for the lights to change and when they did he went live. "Good evening. I am Optimus Prime. I am here to talk to you about the event that just transpired here on Mars and everywhere else that our people live. I must preface it for our audience on Earth so I hope you will bear with me.
"Humans of Earth, an event from our past just occurred on world that I would like to address with you especially given that humans were here to witness it as well. When we became a free people at the beginning of our world, we held a Convocation of the Will in which everyone among us had a chance to decide who and what we wished to become as a nation and people. This event meant that everyone on world was given a chance to hear what was planned for our future, have a voice to weigh in with commentary, then vote for the outcome.
"This has only happened one time before in our history until tonight. We have just concluded one to answer for all time the cancer of our people's history, the caste system or the System of Exception as it is known to us. In The Beginning we were not free. Over the course of our history as a people we continued to fail to end class distinctions, the slavery that resulted from it and the warfare that came from having them. Tonight, we held a Convocation and ended the question forever.
"Only a Prime can call them into being but it was not me who did so tonight. There is an option to this event where The Pantheon, our warrior-gods can either call it into being or attend. They have not done so until tonight. Tonight, all of Them came to preside over this event and discuss why artificial structures of hierarchy that create a class system are detrimental to all that we believe and hold dear.
"After the presentation of the case, discussion was held by those both for and against the idea before us. Then we voted, all of us all over the universe. The vote among the Congregation was clear. 98.4% want it ended and 1.6% wanted it continued. Because of the vote our warrior-king, Primus declared The System and all structures like it banned for all time.
"The penalties for breaking this declaration are severe. Since The Pantheon weighed in and convened this Convocation, it is understood among us the seriousness with which They desire this to end. They made it very clear that They are through with welcoming those to the Matrix who had no life and who suffered because of this.
"Therefore, I am declaring as Prime of our people, as the bearer of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, the Creation Matrix of Primus that The System of Exception and all like it, those that would make some more virtuous and therefore more entitled than others are banned here and everywhere Cybertronians have been, are and ever will be. There will be no exceptions to this declaration. There will be no cut outs, loopholes or other artificial carve outs for any reason whatsoever.
"Primus Himself called this Convocation to help us move forward in unity. He desires it to be so. Given the enormity of the damage that has been wrought upon us and Him as well through this kind of thinking we are going to comply. He has suffered from war and destruction to the near extinction of our people. His own suffering is of a magnitude that should shame us all given that He has given up everything for all of us. We are, all of us, going to defer to Him. He who has given us everything will be obeyed.
"I am also clear that there will be some who will persist. Some of you may not ever change. We are here to provide counseling and support for you to do so but we are also here to provide jail and prison if that is the only step left to us. I am not going to be Sentinel and repress you unlawfully to the detriment of all of us. This is not going to be Cybertron during the Days of Chaos that led to the destruction of our world and people. I am, however, as First Disciple of Primus going to enforce His desires that were backed by nearly every Cybertronian who lives.
"I understand this is a shocking thing but know that They came here in love and a desire to save us from hurt and trouble. There is nothing to fear from Them. They are made of love. I would hope that some fine day so will we also. Take care and avail yourself of the Temple, Monastery and counseling centers we provide for you. Know you are safe and loved. Good evening, my People. Until all are one."
The monitor changed to the Emblem of the Primes, then the regular programming which was supposed to be there was cut to a panel of individuals to discuss the events on The Hourly News special presentation.
=0=E1
"They better not continue this," a young girl said, one who was a student at Youngling Day in Centurion. "Primus means business."
Everyone stared at her, then the windows.
"Okay," someone said quietly.
=0=E2
"What now?" someone asked from the crowd as the Emblem of the Primes appeared on the screen. "I think I've just reached sci-fi overload."
Owen Harris nodded. "There is more here than meets the eye."
Rain grinned. "You have no idea."
=0=Unidad Terra 1
"Well, that's going to break minds on Earth," Sam said as he glanced at the crowd with him who were watching the monitors that dotted the concourse.
A scientist glanced at him. "Only Earth?"
=0=Caminus
The Mistress of Flame watched the sun rise on the horizon as the greatness that she'd just witnessed settled in her processor. They were here as well, the towering lights that surrounded their colony. It had been overwhelming to her to see Them and all of the people here were having a high that they hadn't experienced since their move to this new system with its bright star.
"You are the One Who Comes, Lord Optimus. I am your servant," she whispered before she began a prayer of thanksgiving to Solus Prime and Primus.
=0=At a social club in the Central Labor Hall, Autobot City, Mars
"What now?"
Callo glanced at an older mech who was sitting on a chair nearby looking as deflated and drab as he felt himself. "We wait."
"For what?" the older mech asked.
Callo had no answer.
=0=All over the colony
There were millions on the streets of every city, most of them having congregated around the god or goddess who had been closest to them where they lived. Now that the dreaded and hated System was dead there would be partying all night long. Mobs would walk down the street singing songs, laughing and horsing around as they celebrated.
The Watch would be out in force and but for a few drunks there would be no arrests this night. It was a time to be free at last for every single one of them.
Forever.
=0=TBC 10-01-2022
JackalKat: I agree with you. Some will never get the memo. HUGS!
ESL:
To gauge someone's mettle (character, toughness, personality type) is to see what they're made of.
For Buddy who I love.
