The Diego Diaries: (dd8 508)

=0=There

"I will never give you or the Matrix my oath," Decca said as the others nodded. "Never."

"Then you will force my hand, Decca. I will have to take you and anyone else who desires to disobey the rules and laws of Cybertron to prison," Prime said.

It was as cold and tense in the room as the moment before a charge over the hill of a fox hole into enemy fire. It was obvious that a lot of things were computing for Decca. The peculiar feelings that filled him about Kudon were probably just making sense now. A bond was a deep and emotional thing with physical consequences and nothing to lose lightly.

It was believed that the loss of a bond meant the loss of both partners. Sometimes that happened. Many were the bonds that decided to end themselves rather than live alone both mentally, physically and spiritually. The connection defied distance, circumstances and sometimes even reality. What it usually didn't do was kill the other partner. Some wished it had but most survived albeit some in very reduced circumstances.

It was like that now though Decca looked solid to Ratchet who was studying him for signs of a downward spiral that sometimes happened when a bond was broken. Megatron had the idea that bonds meant the death of two when one was taken away. Sometimes it did. Mostly it didn't. Mechs and femmes could revitalize themselves with another bond and most did. They were a social people, the Cybertronians and bonds or tight personal relationships were part of their health and well being.

"I am going to ask these mechs to take you into custody, those of you who do not comply but before that happens I am asking you again. Are you going to cooperate with this and enter the colony to live within the rules or not?" Prime asked.

"We don't acknowledge your rules, Prime," Correlate replied.

"Is that the decision of all of you?" Prime asked the others.

All of them nodded.

Prime glanced at Springer. "Take them into custody. Transfer them to the prison ship. Take them to Mars and put them into the detention area until they get their hearing."

Springer nodded, then looked at the others as big mechs stepped closer. "You can do this the easy way, the way where you don't get hurt or you can fight us and lose. No way you win. I hope that's clear," Springer said. "You, Decca, lets go."

Decca stared at him with all manner of things warring on his face, then stepped forward. He walked to Springer, then past him to the corridor to disappear from view.

The others watched with surprise and fear. Then they began to follow. The last one to go was Correlate. "You will regret this, Prime."

Prime watched him pass, then followed with a silent Ironhide. The group was boarding the prison ship when he reached the hatch. They entered, there was verbal resistance, then they were put into cells with others. Prime watched as the ship pulled away to take its contents to Mars.

"This is fragged, Prime. Decca will be stirring the pot when he finds out about Sunstreaker," Ironhide said.

Prime nodded. "We must be vigilant. If you can go ahead of me I would like to make a call."

Ironhide nodded, then jumped to the shuttle they were traveling upon to wait as Prime stepped back out of sight. The ship was being boarded forward by tech crews and pilots to fly it away so no one could see him where he was. He glanced around. "Kudon. Do you hear me?"

There was nothing a moment then Kudon was standing in front of him with a pensive expression. "I am here, Prime."

"This has taken a sad turn, my friend. I am sorry," Prime said.

Kudon nodded. "It has. I am sad for them, my family. I will tell you that its tempered over here a lot, the size and understanding of loss and pain. I would be distraught for them otherwise. I have been aware of their journey since they fled but I have stayed away given my inclination to 'help'. Even though I know better now, I am still surprised that before we were separated that Decca and I agreed to this situation." He grinned ruefully. "The 'rules' are so strange on your side but utterly understandable and sensible here." He shook his helm sadly. "You don't stop loving someone just because you transitioned and they didn't."

"This will be trouble," Prime said. "Decca will not take the verdict and circumstances of your death well. I fear caste discontent and fomentation toward bad acting because of him. I mean you no offense."

Kudon nodded. "None is taken, I assure you. The Illusion that you live in is a play, Optimus, and everyone has their parts. Until every rock is overturned and the contents therein is examined there will be no enlightenment for anyone nor peace and unity. The reason things become poorly and chaotic while this happens now is because the process of seeing them as they are must be undertaken.

"Decca and my children have their part in this process. They don't know it but they do. When the last bit of darkness is exposed to the light everyone will change for the better. Keeping secrets led to our downfall, secrets, lying and the rest."

Prime nodded. "I will hope for the best but I have my duty, Kudon. I hope that you know how much this kind of thing violates my own desires for peace and unity. I have no animus toward you or your family. They grieve and suffer right now but my duty is clear, old friend."

Kudon nodded. "And I would expect nothing short of that. I cannot help you beyond support and the odd commentary. Twenty Questions is a friend," he said pointedly. "I will be here for some time now. Prima wants me to assist the end of The System."

Prime nodded. "It comforts me that you will be."

Kudon grinned, then faded away. It was calm and silent on the ship as crews tromped in to gather up the group's personal belongings for transport to storage and strip the ship of anything useful beyond that. It was slated to be destroyed with several hundred others in its group.

Prime left the ship, jumped to the shuttle and they flew on to help others.

=0=Earth1

The school day concluded so everyone left the buildings to walk home or wherever they were to go when the day was over. The sound of kids running, walking and laughing filled the air as the doors opened into the warm 'summer' day while outside the storm raged onward. It was due to end in three joors but the habitats on world were microcosms of their own making.

Traffic on the streets was brisk as the business of the inhabitants whirled onward. Kids ran home to get their bikes or to hang out together. Little kids were walked to daycare by their teacher aides, some of them, while others were picked up by their parents or some other member of their family like grandparents or aunt and uncle.

In the big habitats, Unidad, Earth2 and Earth 1 no matter what the weather was like outside school continued. Work continued. Travel about the 'town' continued. It was clear from the beige clouds swirling outside that a huge front was still slowly moving over them.

Overhead, satellites hovered over it manipulating the ions of the air to dissipate it and it was working. A new idea that had been in the works for just this season had been launched by drones, fifteen satellites with the ability to follow and disrupt weather patterns. They were leading the mass of the storm away, the four biggest ones while the other eleven 'textured' the pattern of the air.

It was explained to the scientists who got the toddler version of the science. It was the one they best understood. The applications for Earth were unnervingly spectacular and thus a joint project was born. For now it was the goal just to get this thing ended and life back on tracks.

For the inmates it was just another day.

=0=The Family Tower

They finished their writing assignments breaking into groups to read them together over the monitors of their data pads. Sitting in different corners, the kids chatted with their partners who were sitting in their own homes attending with them.

Sunspot, Spirit and T-Bar were sitting in the big lounge of the Primal Residence working with their teacher and classmates over the same system. Downstairs in different rooms of the Ironhide v Ratchet house, Hero, Halo, Prowler, Orion, Praxus and the three big dread kids were doing the same thing.

It was a busy academic orn for all of them.

For their fascinated ammas and appas, it was a marvelous orn for all of them, too.

=0=Sitting in a lounge, E2

The several kids that were students at Youngling Day sat together in class mode. They were divided into three groups given that all of them were students of three of the Level 1 teachers including Miss Lyrica and Mr. Terradive. They were going through their day with them, participating in the activities posed by their teachers as parents sat nearby listening, watching and going along themselves on their own handhelds.

A delegation of scientists and commercial interest individuals sat with them listening to the kids work out their studies, heading the sing-song of NeoCybex and the careful detailed instruction of their teachers.

"This is very advanced for young children I think," a possible investor said as he studied the text for Mathematics that was used at Youngling Day at their level. "How do they manage to learn this?"

"They have excellent pull out instruction for those who need it. The class is taught in NeoCybex but for the human kids there's the translation channels so they can get it. Their materials can be altered for whatever language you need. Apparently, there's over 250 different languages and dialects among The People," Rick Harris said.

"My sister and the others attended half day pull out but they're mostly mainstreamed back in. They work with you until you get it."

"Their science is fascinating," the investor said as others nodded. "I would hope they can show us things that might help us."

"They have rules. Ultra Magnus enforces them," Rick said as he smiled thinking about a mech he respected greatly. "Magnus is no one's fool. I would hate to have him as an enemy."

"That should take care of it," Terradive could be heard to say. "The assignment is due for discussion tomorrow. If you find anything difficult or confusing flag it on the screen. Try going to the Help page for clues and step-by-step explanations. If not, keep it open and we'll work on it then. You can take a break but be back in ten minutes."

Everyone rose slowly, stretched, then ran for the bathroom and snacks. The adults watched them leave, then glanced at each other.

"They like school then," another investor asked.

"I like their school and I don't even go," Rick Harris said. "My sister really was good at school on Earth and it wasn't easy there. It doesn't compare to this."

It wouldn't.

=0=On the ground here

Their ship landed at the prison and as it did the crew inside including Winnie of Stanix were getting things organized. Gee-Gee was waiting outside in the sand storm with guards. The walk to the lock up for this group, part of it anyway would be dusty and frought. The wind was moving things out as per the protocols of the new weather technology but it was still as thick as sludge everywhere she looked.

They came out, most in cuffs but not a group that huddled around a tall mech with an emotional expression. That would be Decca and his family, she thought. The guards were taking care of the others so she walked to them. "You're Decca."

He stared coldly at Winnie, then nodded curtly as he straightened in silent defiance.

"Come with me, you and your party. I'll show you where we're going to be keeping you for the duration." She began to walk down the pathway marked by lights on the tarmac toward a building that was an actual lockup and not an outdoor holding pen. Prime had ordered comforts for Decca and the family.

They saw her walk away, then grudgingly followed her, an uptight, silent, furious group of mechs and femmes.

=0=TBC 8-24-2022

Some believe that when a bond dies so does the partner. It happens but it also happens that many don't. Even in pro fiction they make it. I prefer that they do. I'm a Pollyanna that way. (Google it. I'm showing my age.) There are some good stories about a bond losing a bond. They're incredibly sad. Oh and frag Megatron. :D:D:D

I sort of err on the side of not having all my characters drop dead all the time. LOL!

Your notes are gold. I will be sifting the story line for the inclusion of the ideas contained. I love them when I get them. Thank you for the great notes, the great ideas and I hope you're well and doing great, too, cball671 and Misty. HUGS to one and all. :D:D:D

microcosm: (micro-kosm) a small usually enclosed system like a terrarium or fish tank. its a small version of a bigger thing

fraught: (frot) shot through, something that is filled with problems, the feeling of being filled with problems

animus: (an-IH-muss) anger