The Diego Diaries: Morning of the Day (dd8 348)

=0=Unidad at the Chapel in the Trees

Light streamed in as the sun broke over the curve of Olympus Mons. The building was so beautiful that it had a dream like quality. The simplicity of the interior underscored the depth of the building's ability to blend with the natural setting all around it. The few inside were putting the final touches on the décor of the wedding that would transpire about 1 pm that afternoon.

The motif was white. Flowers were everywhere, bunched at the aisle end of the pews and outlining the altar area where the ceremony would be held. All of it was carefully designed to give a sense of peace and calm. The aisle would be strewn with white rose petals from the two flower girls, Annabelle Lennox and Lucy Epps.

All was ready and waiting.

In the largest meet up room with the walls of two others pushed back, the décor of the party room off the main concourse was equally beautiful. Trees brought in to create an atmosphere of a winter landscape were wired up with lights and stood all around the place giving a wintery wonder to the unique room. Most of the walls that ran along the curve of the building were floor-to-ceiling windows that had been strung along their edges with small bright white lights. Streams of white lights hung down from the ceiling giving a twinkling night time effect when the lights were low or out which they would be during the party.

Tables were covered in white cloths, had beautiful flower displays as well as candles that would be lit when the party came into the giant space to eat a congratulatory dinner, then dance. That space was part of the two extra rooms where dancing would be held with a dj from the community. A bar would be open but not before dinner was served. All was in place, it looked like a wedding from a magazine and all it needed were the participants.

=0=Participating

Carly Brooks-Spencer soon-to-become Witwicky sat in her dressing room off the main conference area where the parties would happen with her family and friends around her. Her magnificent gown hung on a rack nearby along with the blood red bridesmaids dresses. The only different one from them was a low cut scarlet gown that the maid of honor, Jessie Landon would wear.

The women chatted away as things were smoothed out and placed where they could be donned in a hurry. Everyone was getting ready to go to the Praxian ceremony that would be held outside for the benefit of the residents of Unidad to see. Prime and Company would be coming shortly and the ceremony would happen then.

The excitement in the facility was electric.

=0=At the same time

Truck after vehicle drove into the environmental entrance of Unidad to disgorge passengers who were coming from all over the human community to be at a wedding that would probably last all day long and into the night. The wedding would be televised for the community channel given the individuals involved and the desire to prevent profiteering over the ceremony and its process.

News organizations and magazines on Earth offered millions for exclusive rights but were turned down by both. Images and short interviews would be granted but nothing more invasive. The different organizations would pay a fee to charities to have that access. This wasn't about money. It was about community and family.

Judy Witwicky rose to walk to the window nearby. "We have about half an hour to get ready. Prowl just texted me that everyone is on their way."

It would be a rush to get things sorted before the big mechs arrived, then transformed to join the party in pretender gear. The ceremony would be held, the Praxian one on the steps of the City Hall.

=0=In the boy's chambers

Nearby getting ready and having a drink or two, Sam Witwicky, his dad, a large number of friends including grooms and James Brooks-Spencer were gathered. Rick Harris would be a groom and so would Will Lennox, Bobby Epps, Niall Graham and Warren Roberts. James would be the best man. It was amusing in the tightly packed room as the men lounged in their gear awaiting the call.

"Judy just told me that the bots are on their way," Ron said as he checked his phone. "We have a moment to get ready, then the families and such will go to the City Hall. We come out when called."

Everyone hustled to be ready, then rose to go. It would be an amusing walk to the City Hall of Unidad Terra 1. All along the way the flower boxes and baskets of the downtown would be blooming with all manner of flowers, all of them white and red in color. It would be beautiful.

=0=The parking lot

The mechs drove in, a large contingent of them, then parked together. Almost like magic the forms of people who oddly matched the vehicles began to appear as formally dressed human men in front of them. When they were all transformed, they began to walk toward the building and its environmental entrance. A door was open so they entered. It closed behind them, the area returned its oxygen supply and the big doors opened to let them inside.

Ironhide and Ratchet walked in with Prowl, Prime, Springer, Drift, Hercy, Kup, Lon, Bezel, Ultra Magnus and Arcee, Jetta and Elita, Venture because he worked with Sam, Miler, Dev because he liked Praxian ceremonies, Smokescreen because he liked Dev and Warlord who was repping the Seeker contingent. All of Ironhide's genitors came as well. It was an astonishing number of good looking well dressed men who entered. Even Arcee and Elita looked handsome and masculine to the humans applauding their arrival. They would be the only group that would see them as such.

"Don't you look like a million bucks," Judy Fulton said as she hugged a number of them.

"Thank you," Prowl said. "Some of us clean up well," he said as he glanced at Ratchet. "Some of us."

All of them wore suits and looked fabulous including Ratchet who arguably was the handsomest among them even in human form.

"Speak for yourself, Granny," Ratchet said. "Where do we go?"

"City Hall. Follow me," Judy said as she began to lead the group toward the roadways that led to the heart of the downtown area of Unidad. It would be an amusing stroll for all of them.

=0=Gathering

The human men reached the City Hall before the women but they gathered into the family groups that were being presented. That included friends of the family which all of the soldiers were. It was crowded in the two big offices where they waited. They were gabbing together nervously when Ratchet poked his helm into the room filled with Carly's family and friends.

Ratchet grinned. "Don't you all look good."

"Thanks, Ratchet. You don't think its weird that we wanted to wear environmental gear for this part? I wanted to honor your contribution to us being able to live here," Carly said.

"No. Its your day, Missy. I'm delegated to get you moving when its time. I'm going to see the others now. Wait for me," Ratchet said as he slipped back out. He walked to the side where the other family waited, Sam's. "Is everyone ready?"

"NO!" some of them said before Judy's gimlet optics ended that slag.

"I'll come get you. Wait until I do," Ratchet said as he stepped back out and walked to the door of the city hall building where others were waiting. "You better take your places. Prowl just told me to 'move it, sister'. I think that's idiot for time to start."

A slap on the back of the head greeted that as the crowd gathered below laughed and applauded. Among them ready to go was Optimus Prime.

Ratchet walked back in to get the families moving.

Out of the door came the elders, friends and youths that made up family for Sam Witwicky. They moved to the side of the steps and gathered. Behind them came Carly's group, gathering next to the others on the steps. Everyone was there but Carly, her parents, Sam and his, along with Ratchet.

It began to get very quiet. That was when Prime spoke. "Welcome to the bonding ceremony between Sam Witwicky of California and Carly Brooks-Spencer of England. We are here to join together two families with a ceremony that is as ancient as our species. These are not the first humans who have agreed to this occasion. Others have before. These two individuals are just the latest in the continuum that binds us together here on world. I would like the genitors of Carly and Sam to step forward."

Ron and Judy stepped down a stair or two to wait as Carly's parents followed. It grew silent again.

"I need Sam and Carly to step forward," Optimus said.

The two of them came from the doorway with Ratchet who moved past them to walk down the steps to stand beside the impressive form of Ironhide. Carly and Sam paused on the steps between their parents.

Prime began the questions that needed asking and witnessing. "Sam, are you prepared to bond with Carly and have no other before you?"

Sam glanced at Carly, then Prime. "I do."

"Carly, are you prepared to bond with Sam and have no other before you?" Optimus asked.

There was no sound in the crowd but the energy was amazing.

She smiled. "Yes."

Prime grinned, then nodded to the two groups of family who stepped forward, closer to the ceremony and crowds below them. "George Martin Brooks-Spencer, do you promise to be responsible for them, to assist them if they need you and to stand by any infants as guardian if such need comes?"

George, Carly's dad nodded. "I do."

Prime asked Margaret, Carly's mom the same thing. He asked it of Sam's parents who gave their wholly enthusiastic consent to support and protect this bond. Laughter and applause was loud and long.

Prime continued. "The Witwickys and Brooks-Spencers have as principle genitors agreed to protect this bond and to step in when the need arises. That is their responsibility to you and their family. Now you have to decide, Carly and Sam. Do you give freely genitor rights to both genitors, the Witwicky's and Brooks-Spencers?"

Sam squeezed Carly's hand. "Sure. I do."

Chuckles and laughter went around the vast room.

Carly nodded. "I do."

Prime then drew the ending together. "This is a Primus blessed event, witnessed by all and freely agreed upon. This is now a public record that Sam and Carly are a bond, that they are adult in the eyes of the community and that a new family is born today. Congratulations."

The place burst into flames.

=0=Earth

"That was an interesting ceremony," a moderator was saying on a network carrying the ceremony both with Prime and with the Chapel. "What do you think about giving your parents the right to manage your life?"

Colonel Mick Moran, Morshower's chief of staff sat back to consider the question. He was here until the ceremonies were over, then he would head back for the parties and dancing. "Its a ceremony that's incredibly old, as old as The People. Some of the ceremonies were designed to prevent families from having calamities. I've discussed this with some of the Praxian elders on world and almost to the last one they can't really remember enacting the right granted by invoking as they call it this power. Its also enacted in Cybertronian law, perhaps the only cultural development to be accorded such treatment.

"It was usually designed to break up bad matches, the power to invoke. That most can't tell you the last one they knew or its only one or two that they do shows you how this isn't abused," Mick said.

"So its more a bogey man than an actual enacted process," she asked.

Mick nodded. "Sometimes the idea of it was enough."

"I hate it," another panelist replied as others nodded. "I'm glad I'm not Praxian."

Mick grinned. "I don't think you ever have to worry about it, Nancy."

=0=TBC 1-19-2022