The Diego Diaries: Getting into the Game (dd8 475)

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=0=On the deck of Songbird

Huge Praxian males sat in the lounge at the front of the command deck of Songbird. They were chatting among themselves as the reclamation began again in earnest. They were standby to handle any problems with the rather large former high caste group among them. At the moment they relaxed together snarking with the humans in the box as outside the huge windows the show was spectacularly underway again.

The soldiers in the box chatted with the mechs who showed them guns, knives and other implements of destruction that had been heirlooms from their elders, personal weapons of stretches of time that beggared the imagination and among a surprising number, weapons made by RTR Tools.

"What is RTR Tools?" a soldier from eastern Europe asked.

Li glanced at Ironhide who grinned. "The best tool and weapons makers that ever lived anywhere in the universe. Ironhide's bond, Ratchet is the 'R' in RTR. His genitors, Tie Down and Ravel are the most incredible artisan metallurgists I've ever seen and I've seen them all. Most of us who have the weapons would fight anyone to take them and those who don't want them that badly."

Micro who was listening nodded. "I have several of their weapons. I've never seen better. I have a sentient sword and three daggers. I love them like my family because in an odd way they are."

"Sentient sword?" the soldier asked as several listened beside him.

Micro nodded. "The sword is made so perfectly, so beautifully and well that the Pantheon themselves, most notably Solus Prime blesses them and they become self aware. You do know that all things have consciousness. Swords do anyway but because of how they're made they actually become self aware and know what's going on around them. They actually can help you when you use them. Solus Prime is The Maker and made the weapons and tools for the Pantheon. They come out to be seen during the Festival.

"They won't bond with you if they don't like you. They have to sense that you have honor and are worthy or they'll bite your hand if you hold them. They won't go with anyone who isn't worthy."

The soldiers stared at him, then glanced at Lennox who nodded.

Lennox glanced at Davis. "Field trip when we get back."

"Count me in," Davis said as Ratchet walked to the group from the command desk.

"We're talking about your stuff. They never saw a sentient blade," Ironhide said.

Ratchet glanced at the humans, then grinned. "Our stuff is the best and the process we use no one knows but us. We've never shared it because its complex and no one can do it but my genitors and me. No one else probably ever will. Its connected to Them Up There and all," he said pointing to the ceiling. He smiled a brilliant smile that went over the head of every human there but Lennox, Epps and Graham. Every time Ratchet smiled, they took extra effort to try and see it through Cybertronian optics.

Every time they failed.

None of the mechs around them did.

"Sit down old mech. We'd edjumicating the slaggers." Ironhide made room.

Ratchet scrunched into the seat, then grinned at the humans. "What's up, shorties."

"We wish we could go with you into this. I'd love to see how you manage with some of the individuals there. What's the deal with the high castes, Commander?" a female soldier asked.

Ratchet grinned. "We had a hierarchy problem that never went away. It sort of got made into law and we suffered for it before we understood that laws like this are just words on paper. If a small number of people can con the greatest number into believing that had to be obeyed then its almost on us that things happened this way. How could we ever go along with that? I sort of see it on Earth as well. Some dumb slagger gets their country to believe that they have to follow stupid rules and there you go. Chaos and austerity for all but the few who have all the stuff."

"That's a big problem on Earth," Epps said. "Fuckers think they can tell nearly eight billion people how to live. There's only what … 5 thousand of them?"

Ratchet nodded. "Someday when this ends you'll be amazed that you waited that long to do something about it. When your kids get hungry enough and it happens to people who never faced it before, then and only then does it seem to people to do anything. We never did until it was so hot and heavy that nothing could put out the fires but war. I hope you never see the day."

"Raptor?"

Everyone glanced toward the deck.

"I want you, Sun, Jack and anyone else who wants to go to rove out among the high caste ships that have been identified. Help the soldiers get them sorted and get their oaths taken. Prime has made you the one who can take them, you and Jack. He's cleared it with the Matrix," Hard Drive said as the big mechs stood up with Songbird and Titan.

"I would like to go with you," Songbird said. "I've never had combat in this form. Ace says its fun."

They began to walk together allowing Songbird to go first like the gents they were.

Raptor grinned. "Ace would know. That slagger has some big, big guns."

"So do I," Songbird said with a chuckle.

They walked onward as everyone else relaxed.

"Who's Ace and what did Prime do with the Matrix?" the female soldier from South Korea asked.

The mechs stared at her, then Micro.

He grinned, then leaned forward to look down the row toward the travel case. "Ace is a metrotitan from Metro District #1. He's a big slagger and the best shot among the metrotitans that exists. If he's on your aft then you're over. No one shoots straighter or better. As for the Matrix, its an object of veneration and prestige that the Prime has that gives him the authority to do what needs be done."

"I would love to go with them. How many of them are there?" she asked.

"No one knows. Thousands. Tens of thousands. They are the best of the best," Micro said.

Listening nearby as they watched the data, Prime and Kudon relaxed together.

Kudon glanced at Prime. "I think things are going well. The humans appear to be kindly disposed to the colony and The People."

"I am well pleased so far," Prime replied. "I think we do better in the long haul to have humans among us."

Standing nearby around a seated Metroplex, several titans watched the two. All of them could see Kudon though no one else seemed capable.

"Kudon is Prima's Herald," Metrobon said as the others nodded. "He looks good. Its a mercy and blessing that he got his helm out of his backside."

All of them nodded.

Kudon who heard them chuckled. "I'm being blasphemed in a good way by the titans over there."

Prime glanced at them, then grinned. "They are a miracle to be among us in this fashion. Are you aware that Metrotitan had a bonding ceremony with a femme named 2Lip?"

"We attended. Micronus is enamored of this bond, a mini-con femme and a titan. I personally find them terribly cute," Kudon replied. He glanced at Optimus. "Did you know that the titans still ranging and there are Supremes among them can find Soft Space in the most simple manner?"

Prime glanced sharply at Kudon. "How?"

"They are multi-dimensional singularities. All they have to do is think about being there, just think 'Soft Space', then they will be there." Kudon watched the astonishment on Prime's face. "Even if they're captured, injured or free, all they need to do is that." He stared at Prime hoping he would act, then Prime rose to walk swiftly to the gathered mechs.

They leaned in to listen, their shock at the news reverberating a moment before Metroplex turned to the console next to him, plugged in and began to furiously type. As he did, the others walked toward Kudon with Prime.

=0=Nearby in the lounge

"Look at that," Ambler, a huge Praxian mech said as he nodded toward Prime.

Everyone looked to see Prime and some of the titan mechs gathered around an empty space, seemingly having a conversation with it. They stared at it, then each other.

"It would appear that someone in the Pantheon or someone else is here," Ambler said as the others nodded.

The humans who were watching glanced from the scene to Lennox.

"What are they doing?" Davis asked.

"I think someone from the Pantheon is here," Lennox said. He glanced at the mechs. "Who are they talking to, Micro? Is a member of the Pantheon here?"

Micro stared at the group, then dialed into Fort Max who was walking toward the group with Prime with a tense expression. :Max, who are they speaking with?:

Fort Max slowed to look at Micro, then sped up again. :Kudon, Prima's Herald: He joined the group as Metroplex unplugged, then hurried to join Prime.

Micro stared at them, then the group. "He's speaking to Kudon. He's Prima's Herald."

Everyone nodded but the humans. They didn't have a clue.

=0=Far, far away

He flew as best he could with the wounds he had followed by alien pirates who wanted to kill him for his tech. He'd sent his will and farewells over the encrypted lines to those who might find it and remember him. It was only a matter of minutes before they caught up to board and carve him up from the inside out.

The pirates closed the distance with one group flying into his hangar deck. They always destroyed the doors to facilitate this action. They began to climb out when the deck quivered and they found themselves thrown around. Then it stopped.

A shuddering ship hung in the mist of Soft Space. As far as their optics could see, the mass of titanic ships, there were vessels everywhere.

The pirates stood up and stared around as the hangar showed a small ship landing on the battered deck. Out of it stepped big metallic mechs, the sentient and non-sentient symbionts of many of the vessels around them. They walked forward with pipes in their servos and when they reached the pirates, they would never pirate again.

=0=On the deck of Songbird

Kudon turned to them with an expression of elation. "It is done."

"All of them?" Metroplex asked with almost overpowering hope.

"There are none left in this universe dead or alive who are not in the safety of Soft Space," Kudon said. "I hope you know it is a special circumstance that led me to tell you this. Primus wants His children in safety from the pirates. You are dearly loved."

Metroplex nodded, then smiled. "Well then, how about we do our part for all of us?" He glanced at the others. "I think the migration could use some help getting rescued. What about you?"

The others grinned, then unsubbed massive guns. Checking them out, they subbed them as Metroplex glanced at the others sitting in the lounge nearby. "Come hunting with us, brothers. We have a joyful story to tell."

The Praxian mechs stood up and followed the big frames toward the elevators with laughter and back slaps as the story was related. When they were gone, Prime turned to Kudon. "Thank you, Kudon. There are no words."

Kudon nodded. "What you said is enough," he replied.

=0=TBC 7-12-2022 7-24-2022

edjumicating: a goofy pronunciation of educating :D:D:D