The Diego Diaries: 13 (dd8 6)
=0=In a botanical park in the middle of Greater Iacon
Megatronus stared at the mech with a big gun pointed at him. That mech was smirking at him, seemingly going over something in his processor that was amusing. Megatronus stared at Optimus laying face down on the ground, then Rotor. "May I check out my friend?" he asked calmly.
"You don't have to. I never miss," Rotor said. He grinned. "I always wanted to shoot you but I never did. I had plans and they required you."
"What sort of plans? You do understand that I am not your Megatron," he asked.
"It doesn't matter. For some reason here, you're a Prime. I'm going to eliminate all the Primes dimension by dimension," he said.
"How many have you notched? Professionally speaking as a Decepticon and a Prime," Megatronus asked.
Rotor studied him a moment, then stepped closer. "Not enough." He raised his gun and when he did Optimus rolled over and began the sequence that would put the monster down. "RESET: PI-ORION-ACTUAL-"
Rotor felt something begin to click inside his helm, then rousing from his surprise that Optimus was rising to his feet began to shoot him over and over.
"-ORBIT. ENABLE!"
It was as if time had slowed down to a stop as the three stared at each other. Inside the big killer processes were flashing into operation and as they did Rotor could feel his senses slipping away from his control. The gun fell from his servo as he lost feeling in his limbs. He crumpled to the ground and as he gazed upward at the two who were watching him with tense expressions, he felt the darkness overtake him. He fell backward into a silent stupor, then everything that showed light on his body shut down.
Rotor aka Xylon was out for good.
It was then that the holograms of Megatronus Prime and Optimus Prime faded from view.
By then the sound of many pounding peds could be heard from all directions of the park as the support armada beat feet to the mech. They reached him where he lay alone, then parted as Ratchet slid in with a meter.
Ratchet read it, then glanced up. "Help me turn him. He weighs a slagging ton with the armor he has."
Black Shadow and Sixshot helped roll Rotor over, an existential bit of weirdness that Ratchet would remember a long time. He opened a panel, noted the interior, then glanced upward. "Fall back. I'm taking down a reactor. You never know," he said with a giant smile.
Everyone glanced at each other, then most turned back toward the edge of the park.
Hard Drive and Raptor who stayed watched them, then Ratchet. "I love when you do that."
"So do I," Ratchet said with a chuckle. "When will I ever be able to say that I chased off a good dozen phase sixers with just my charisma?"
Both mechs chuckled, then knelt to watch the show as Ratchet pulled out slotted gear and disconnected a lot of wiring. As he did, Orion, Prowl and Megatronus came into view.
Black Shadow intercepted them so they waited and watched as well.
"There," Ratchet said. "Let's turn him over and complete this. Their deactivation panel is in front because of the reactor."
They managed to do so and watched as Ratchet pulled the plug on the beast. He wasn't going to come out of this sleep without a lot of work and Ratchet's personal codes that he gave to no one. The three stood at last, staring down at the scary mech that by himself could destroy an entire solar system and its star without any assistance.
Hardie glanced at the others, then waved the all clear.
They walked up to where the three stood over Xylon, then stared down at him.
Sixshot knelt and touched his armor. "Smooth, dense. Odd stuff."
"Well, you need to get it out of a black hole's event horizon, so ..." Sun said as he stood between Jack and Blackjack.
Huge laughter, relieved and amused greeted that.
"This is over then," Megatronus said as Orion nodded. He held out his servo. "Thank you, Orion, for what you have done here."
The big mech gripped Megatronus's servo. "Optimus Prime, old friend."
It was as if they were jolted with electricity when he said that.
Prowl stepped closer staring at Prime with a searching expression. "You're back?"
"I am," Optimus said. "When I stepped off the pretender platform on Tennyson I stepped off as myself. The younger version is not present any longer."
"That's too bad. I was thinking of making a play for you this weekend, good looking," Ratchet said with a dazzler before Prowl punched his gut.
Huge laughter greeted that with all the relief that being saved from dooms too many to count could bring. It took a moment to load the big mech onto a stretcher, then walk him through a bridge to the ship. When they were gone everyone turned to the other.
Megatronus grinned. "Are you still on for our festival in five orns?"
"I would be honored. I would need for you to advise me on what to do. There are some differences between our two dimensions," he said glancing at the array of mechs standing behind Megatronus.
He laughed, a nice lighthearted sound, then nodded. "I can see how that might look. I will send a protocol officer to your Operational Center in a couple of orns with the information so you may ask what questions you need. Thank you, Optimus Prime. What a delight it is to have a friend like you after all of this."
Optimus grinned. "I share the sentiment about you."
They shook hands, traded quips with the mechs, then when a bridge came walked through it to Tennyson. The group watched them go, then turned toward Megatronus.
"We dodged a very big bullet there. I wonder what the whole story is about?" Sixshot said.
Megatronus nodded. "I agree. However, when we work together we are greater than alone. We have a very great ally here. I hope that having him with us for the Festival will be solace and balm to our people."
"I hope so. I'd hate to see something go wrong," Black Shadow said.
Megatronus grinned, then glanced at him. "That is why you make the big shanix."
They laughed as they followed him in a walk to The Citadel. On the way he would talk to his people, listen to their comments and something would happen that had never been seen in generations as he did. Someone would reach out to touch him and receive The Blessing of the First Disciple of Primus.
=0=Tennyson moments later
They walked onto the bridge of the great vessel after stowing Xylon in security with special codes that Prime and Ratchet shared. The container would be put into security lock up at the Prison Hospital when they arrived home again. Until now, they were ready to go back to Mars.
Prime walked beside Prowl, then took the command seat. He turned the chair to look at Ironhide who was watching expectantly.
"Well?" Ironhide asked as he searched everyone's faces for a clue.
"Well," Prowl began as he leaned against the command chair. "All went well. We have him in stasis. What about you? Anything you have to report from here?"
Ironhide stared at him, then the others. "No. Should I?"
Ratchet grinned. "We were hoping for some of that good old Academy know how."
Ironhide frowned at Ratchet. "Frag you, too."
Optimus glanced at Prowl, then Ironhide. "So … you are still a youngster."
Ironhide nodded. "Yeah. Aren't you?"
Optimus nodded. "I am afraid not."
"Then this wasn't the thing we were slagged for," Ironhide said as everyone in the room grinned at him. "WHAT ARE YOU GRINNING AT!? THIS IS FRAGGED!?"
"Not for us, infant," Hardie said as he sat down on a chair nearby. "How about we go home now? It's past your bed time."
HUGE laughter greeted that as a steaming Ironhide sat down on a bench nearby. It would be a short trip through the bridge and home again. A silent fuming ride to the ground was accomplished, then everyone gathered on the tarmac of the airfield as the darkness was leavened by the lights all around them.
"We can debrief in the morning," Prowl said. "How about we all go home?"
"HOW ABOUT I GO HOME BY MYSELF AND YOU SLAGGERS CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT!?" Ironhide walked off in a huff as everyone watched him with amusement.
"He's better when he has his nap," Turbine said. "Don't tell him I said so."
Everyone would.
"Well, time to hoof it," Ratchet said as he hurried after Ironhide.
"I'm glad this is over. I don't know why the infant isn't fully adult but I'm glad you are, Optimus. Welcome back, though I will say you're as good a mech as a youngster as you are a full adult," Hardie said as everyone gathered agreed.
"Thank you, General. Thank all of you for stepping up. I am proud of everyone," Optimus said.
Everyone began to disperse after a chat and barb or two.
Prowl and Optimus watched them go, then Prowl turned to him. "How do you feel? I loved all of you and it was good to know you as a young mech."
"I am fine," Optimus said. "It was an interesting experience. I hope we do not have it again, however. I rather like my life at this age."
"I like all of them," Prowl said as he took Prime's servo. They walked back quietly toward home together.
=0=Home, up there
"How long are you going to pout?"
"I'll pout forever, Ratchet, and I don't pout. I merely muse on slag negatively until I get my way."
Ratchet laughed. "So … tell me how long you and Prime are going to run this ruse?"
Ironhide glanced at Ratchet. "I don't know what you mean."
"Of course you do. I'll keep your secret, though. I'd like to see you try and gaslight your elders. Raptor is the God of Chaos in case you forgot."
"If I knew what you were saying I'd agree but I don't so I don't. Until then, I'll ignore your unworthy comments about my character and such."
"Wanna frag, Ironhide?"
"In the worst possible way."
A few joors later …
:Ironhide to Prime:
[Pause]
:Prime here:
:Ratchet figured it out:
:He always was too smart for his own good:
Ironhide could feel the grin over their line. :He's good for keeping quiet. Old mech loves a good prank:
:Then we shall continue:
:Got it. Ironhide out: He glanced at the mech walking to the berth across from him. He was cracking his knuckles and his neck. Ironhide grinned. "You up for it then?"
Ratchet grinned, a slightly feral sight, then nodded. "I dampened the soundproofing. Besides, I was BORN to do this," he said as he leaped into the air and dropped onto Ironhide spreadeagled.
It was on.
=0=In an apartment one floor below his own
"Who was that, son? Do you need to go and do something?"
Optimus Prime aka Orion Pax glanced toward his ada who was making tea and snacks for them as they sat together, the three of them to chat. He remembered his ada doing this very thing for him and his father many times when they sat down to talk. Often it was books, work or the world. Mostly it was private things, family and the neighborhood. Now, it was to work back into the groove of Orion the full grown mech of great and actual accomplishment rather than Orion the youngling son with great promise. He sat back with a grin. "It was just Ironhide checking in."
"Its so sad that he did not find himself back to order, son," Tagg said with a slight worried tone. "I am so very happy with you whatever age you are but having you back is so freeing of worry. I wish that for Blackjack, Alor and Ratchet."
Kestrel walked over with a tray and set it down. He served everyone, then glanced at his son. "I know you will help him. You are a very good son, Orion."
For a moment Optimus felt badly, then he remembered the prank streak that few knew about him but Ironhide and Ratchet. Even Prowl wasn't that versed on this side of him. "Well, I was told by some very knowledgeable individuals that it was not that hard to be so with genitors like you."
It would be beautiful, peaceful and warm that night in the house of Kestrel and Tagg of Iacon as they had a conversation with their only child, the magnificent Optimus Prime of Cybertron.
=0=Elsewhere at the same time
"Do you think he's gaslighting us, 'Jack?"
"Maybe, Alie. We better be on it."
"No problem, 'Jack. COME HERE, SCOUT! BEDDY BYE TIME!"
"BWAHAHAHAAHA! CATCH ME, ADA!"
He would. Eventually.
=0=At a diner having a late meal together
"I think he's gaslighting us."
"I agree, Sun."
Everyone there agreed. It would take a lot to prank the elders of Ironhide's family but they were game to go.
=0=TBC 11-5-2020 11-7-2029