The Diego Diaries: Prodigal Son (dd8 337)

=0=In a place no one can follow

For a moment the fury was clear, then it was replaced by Megatron's facade of control and calm. "Well, he was a better scientist than he was an administrator."

Primus sat down in a chair that appeared out of nowhere. "I imagine he was. He was a very good scientist before empurata took care of his emotions. I am very unhappy with that procedure though its part of the plan of some to face it and not others."

"Plan. You speak like this is planned. I am Megatron. I make my own destiny," he replied boldly.

"And that's a plan in and of itself," Primus replied dryly. "You are an interesting yet wayward child. You laid waste to Me for your own ego gratification."

"I was the one who should have be Prime. I was the one who could have kept Cybertron safe," Megatron countered.

"I coulda, woulda, shoulda. I like that human expression. It rather summarizes your tantrum. Your actions bely that as truth. If you really cared about Cybertron and about Me who embodies it you would have done all you could to protect all of it including My own incomparable treasures, those who lived there, my children."

"Is that so? Where You when things fell down?" Megatron asked boldly. He stared at Primus Himself, the warrior god of all and Someone who had once been a hero of his own.

"I was there," He said as He held up an arm. Fixtured to it were all the cities, buildings and features of Cybertron. They covered the exoskeleton of the mech. It was the topography of the planet He embodied, a magnificent map of the greatness of The People. Now it was broken and recovering, some of it changed and when it was finally rebuilt, the map of His body would reflect that. "I was always there, infant. It was not My consideration at the time to interfere with the debacle you were brewing. You had and will always have free will with caveats."

"Caveats? What are they, pray tell?" he asked imperiously.

"You do not have the right to kill Me. I am an autonomous individual with My own plans and designs. I will have My ultimate bodily integrity honored even by you," Primus replied. "It is what the humans say … 'your freedom ends where my nose begins'." He sat more comfortably. "Amusing creatures, humans. I will enjoy orbiting a sun nearer to them."

"You? You would have to be moved," Megatron said. "You cannot shift your shape without destroying everyone on the surface."

"You are behind the times, it would appear. My son, Optimus Prime has been moving planets for some time in practice for moving Me. I shall enjoy illumination again and blue skies for My people."

"There is no atmosphere even if You are moved," Megatron said. "That doesn't exist now and all there will be is space overhead and light shining in the darkness on world."

"I have not told anyone yet but when I am moved I will create an atmosphere in celebration for My children's suffering to end. I miss one," Primus said almost wistfully. "Its been a long time without light and clouds in the skies. I want the children to have blue skies and clouds. I will have it."

Megatron stared at Him, parsing the slight elevation of anger in the big mech's voice. "Why are you here other than to torment me this way?"

Primus considered him. Then the scene shifted and they were at a science station on world, Tarn to be exact where scientists were creating him long ago. It was quiet but for the work undergoing and in the middle of it was the sparkless but nearly finished body of the mech who would terrorize his world.

"That is me," Megatron said as he considered the tableau before him.

"Yes. I am partial to sparks from the Well and Matrix. This seems terribly cold and could account for your abnormal personality quirks. You were forged to become a fighter and for nothing else. You would have to go back to the Quintessans to find a similar action and mind set," Primus said.

"I am the greatest warrior that ever came from Cybertron," Megatron said calmly and matter-of-factually. "Tell me that there is another."

"Actually, now that you ask," Primus said with a slight grin.

=0=Sparkling Day School

They walked through the construction which was now putting the aesthetically marred places back to rights. All of the schools were constructed to be works of art in themselves with marble, precious metals and stone work galore. This place was the first one made and a point of pride for everyone. Nothing was too small a detail to make it right.

"Then we can open the school in two orns?" Herling asked as Nova listened tensely.

"We can," Jetta said. "This place checks out and the areas of damage are now as strong, if not stronger than anywhere else. The teachers and staff can come and get their classrooms and things in order tomorrow. We know they need to regroup and be ready so in two orns its your call when things resume. The kitchen is as you saw ready to go and the elevators check out completely. The cracks in the pool were an easy fix. All is going to be well."

Herling and Nova sagged with relief. "That's so good to know, Jetta. How can we thank you for this? I know its your job but this place is sacred space and we love it so," Herling said as Nova nodded.

"Getting back to the swing of things is thanks enough though cards and pictures from the kids would be fun," Jetta said with a grin.

He would get them. And some.

=0=A different plane

"There is a mech, My son, who is special. I will tell you about him but when I am done and you are on your way you will not remember any of it," Primus said.

"And why so?" Megatron asked.

"Because I say so," Primus said with a chuckle. "I find that refreshing somehow to tell you that. As for the mech, He is My son who is called Thirteen. He is a marvel of construction, patient, good and self sacrificing. He is the best of Them and I love Them all equally."

"Yet You find Him better than the Others," Megatron replied.

"I would think having a son would enlighten you about such matters. All of My children are exceptional including Liege Maximo and Megatronus. They faltered and turned toward the negative but They are both My sons and I love Them unconditionally. Thirteen, however, is what all genitors hope for in Their children and for Him I am well pleased. I do not love Him more than the Others but the qualities He bears that are fine and good. I hold that in great esteem. He makes Me proud every single orn of His life."

Megatron stared at Primus marveling silently at the mech's great beauty and pure aura. "And so this son is good. Why wouldn't He be living with the Pantheon, never having to get His hands dirty with a real life."

"That is where you are wrong," Primus said. "When all of Them left the mortal plane He alone didn't. His selfless nature ensured that He would go through the birthing process and live among The People to help and serve them. He has died there more than eighteen times but keeps going back. He is very tenacious, that one. He also bears a spark identical to Mine so that might be a part of His impetus to do so. I have not asked Him."

"Eighteen times," Megatron said. "What a fool."

"I would prefer 'good mech'," Primus said with amusement. "You would do well to emulate Him more. Your method has done nothing for your advancement unless you don't mind being hated and feared while He is loved and admired."

"I am not against it," Megatron replied. "It works in its own way and I try not to be either predictable nor boring."

"Yet in the end you never beat Optimus fully," Primus said. "Did I tell you that Optimus Prime is my son, Thirteen?" Primus grinned slightly. "I may have forgotten to tell you that."

Megatron stared at Primus, then shifted slightly. "I do not believe you."

=0=Down the block from the school

Construction on the block was well in hand as machinery worked hard to dig out the damaged footprint and replace everything that was there to get it ready for upward construction. It would be different inside, designed to display the Circle's merchandise and the areas for relaxation much better. It would be bigger and take up the first two floors for the business which would expand services, its cafe and the areas for artists to work.

Three looms, all of them old and beautiful would be placed there for the weavers, though they wouldn't be the artifacts that were lost. Joon would supervise their placement and begin once again on the pattern she was working on when the building burned to the ground. It was an iconic image of Primus in city mode that she had spent 4 years completing to the point she reached.

It was a terrible blow to the weaving community that this had happened.

The construction would go on for three decaorns before the building was replaced and ready to move into. Edict would be relieved and delighted that the cafe was bigger, newer and as homey as ever. He would be even more delighted when Madura was 'hired' permanently to work with him on the business. It would be a delightful community center for the locals and the Circle folks eventually. Now it was a big gaping hole in the ground filled with workers, wires and the beginnings of a high tech business much beloved in the colony.

=0=Elsewhere

"I do not believe you."

Primus shrugged. "It does not matter if you believe in it for something to be true. Honestly. I figured you would be wiser than that."

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I am not Optimus after all."

"You could be. Easily. But you chose the road less marred by self restraint and empathy. A road that leads to a bad end usually. I will say that I'm rather amazed you've lasted this long. Given the fighting and your imbibing of dark energon, I expected you at the Matrix before now." Primus considered the negative force before Him. It was clear that his malevolence was enhanced.

"The Blood of Unicron, Your brother. I find it a bold statement that I, an acolyte of His greatness should be so lucky," Megatron replied haughtily. "I don't suppose You approve."

"I neither approve nor disapprove. I only intervene to protect My own right to exist at the level below which I will not sink," Primus replied. "You are working out your own path. Just suffice it to say that experimenting with My brother is a road to an early grave. He is not the kind of mech who is grateful for such things and is temperamental enough to punish you for the audacity."

"I suppose I will find that out myself," Megatron said.

"You expect to find Him then, this mech I tricked into a planet that could be anywhere in the universe?" Primus asked.

"That is why I am here," Megatron said. "I feel that He is sleeping but within the power of my enhanced features to find. When I do I will awaken Him and by His side finish what He started."

Primus grinned. "He never has partners nor does He care about the feelings of others. He is Chaos. I am Order. Duality at its most bare. You have no value to Him beyond your utility. Once you awaken Him He will kill you because that is His nature. You would do better coming to My side. At least I would allow you to live your misguided life. He will not."

"That's another thing I must solve for myself," Megatron said forcefully.

"Yes. About that," Primus said as He sat back with amusement.

=0=TBC 01-02-2022