The Diego Diaries: Polity and The Shit Show (dd8 17)
=0=N.E.S.T. HQ, Autobot City earlier that day
Will Lennox sat in the meeting with Glenn Morshower, Niall Graham, General Sir Alfred 'Alan' Hart, Robert Stanford who was the N.E.S.T. Director of Special Communications and Marjorie Snyder who was a NATO official who was the liaison with N.E.S.T. Global. Charlotte Mearing and Seymour Simmons were also there. They were discussing the situation as it stood considering Glenn Morshower and Alan Hart were briefed in a mass call by Prowl before he stood out with the armada. They were on Mars discussing future plans to have training for N.E.S.T. soldiers and other special ops teams from all over the Earth on the forbiddingly dangerous topography of Europa.
"It would appear that we're going down the drain again in relation to a peaceful stretch. Given we're this close to the holidays, I'm not surprised," Glenn said in his usual unsurprised manner. "I wonder if the time will come when we actually have an entire holiday season without a shit show."
"I wouldn't count on it," Charlotte said. She sat back. "The size of this force gives me worries all over. This is the biggest group that they've encountered. What do we do if for some reason they cross paths with someone who's just that much more forceful than us?"
"Pray?" Will Lennox replied.
"The only thing that gives me a reasonable chance to sleep at night is the very real notion that they'd come anyway and we'd be slaughtered without the bots. At least we have a fighting chance," Seymour said. "This force will be overcome. Prime is caretaking Primus. He won't let anything happen that we can't face."
"That's a thought," Alan Hart said. "I'm holding to that."
It was universally approved by all there.
=0=Out there
"You."
Polity stiffened as Prime stood, rising to his greatest height.
He wasn't warrior class, Our Optimus, but much, much more. He was a 'worker class - heavy duty' mech. It had been the bane and salvation of his family to be giant mechs with enormous strength. Their sparks demanded large frames and their large frames predicated vast strength. Prime was agile as well and fast. No one expected it and many had found out that the thing they wanted most, to fight a phase six type mechanism like him was a very sad, short and painful experience. Few could match Optimus Prime in full fight and few could stand against him.
When the average for the warrior class was 25 feet, his own nearly 29 was a game changer. But then, Optimus Prime was above average in all measures of Cybertronian mechs. Smart as well as intelligent and able to pivot on a dime, he was an extraordinary being. That he had the charisma and ability to lead even the most hardened mechs into battle, the wisdom to resurrect his destroyed people and culture and the ability to be all things in all moments no matter the problem was his glory.
Optimus Prime was a glorious magnificent specimen of Cybertronian mech and given the moment it was obvious to everyone on the deck. They sat or stood where they were observing his aura and feeling the power of his charisma. Optimus Prime was well and truly pissed.
To his credit Polity stood his ground. He bore up under the enraged gaze of the biggest mech he'd ever had to face in a matter of personal honor and ire better than most on the deck would have.
:What do you think, Hardie? Do you think this is going to be a situation?: Steiner asked as he stood behind the big opticed Home Guard femme sitting at Tactical.
:It will be right whatever it is. I believe in this mech and trust him: Hardie said. :He is the One Who Comes:
:True, that: Steiner replied as he turned to watch the show.
All of the senior officers moved closer to put themselves between the pair and the staff who were watching with varying degrees of concern and surprise, depending on their term of service in the military. For the newbie kids, this would be an epic story if it turned out the way their elders seemed to be positioning themselves to expect.
Springer and Drift leaned against a computer console watching as Prime stepped down to the deck and moved closer to Polity. :What do you wanna bet this won't be as great as it could be but better than the normal run of the mill beating?:
Drift smirked. :No takers, son:
Prime stepped closer to Polity and balled up his fists. "Who are you to challenge me? Who are you to put our people in danger? Who are you to challenge the Will of Primus and The Matrix?"
Polity considered the mech before him, almost a stranger to what he thought he knew. "Where were you when the world failed?"
"He was at Simfur keeping your master from getting the Allspark and ending the universe, slagger," Ironhide said darkly as he stepped closer himself, his big fists full in view.
As he did, Ratchet entered the deck, paused a moment, then walked over to stand between Springer and Drift. :I got here in time:
:You did: Springer said as he squeezed Ratchet's servo.
"Who are you to hurt anyone? You had everything handed to you and it was never enough," Optimus hissed. "YOU HAD EVERYTHING AND STILL IT DID NOT SATISFY YOU! MILLIONS ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF MECHS LIKE YOU!"
Behind him, Prowl moved back, more than aware of the rage and turmoil in Optimus's processor. This was personal, it was clear, though he had no memories of Optimus that would explain this. This had to be a heavily firewalled event. Prowl watched with intensity as he planned fifty-seven ways to break Polity into fifty-seven things if he so much as dented his bond's paint scheme.
"You were given all the bounty of Cybertron without lifting a finger and you squat here in my territory with your servos out to be filled with the energon and tears of those who are unfortunate enough to cross your path," Optimus hissed. "Who are you to demand of me? Who are you to THINK that you have the RIGHT TO DEMAND OF ME! I AM OPTIMUS PRIME, THE PRIME OF CYBERTRON! THE FIRST DISCIPLE OF PRIMUS AND THE LORD OF THE CYBERTRONIAN WORLD! I AM THE KING OF CYBERTRON! WHO ARE YOU TO DEMAND ANYTHING OF OUR GREAT PEOPLE, YOU WHO HELPED DESTROY OUR ENTIRE WORLD!? YOU WHO WEREN'T EVEN AFRAID OF PRIMUS AND THE ONE!"
The rage in his words echoed over the deck filling the corners of the room. The crew watched with the kind of fascination one would seeing a spider eat a fly. You wanted to look away but you couldn't. Few of the crew had ever seen him this angry but the soldiers and elders had. It was righteous and the flame of it burned hot.
Polity flinched then got control of himself again. He didn't expect this from Optimus Prime. Prime was 'too soft', 'too principled', 'too good sparked', 'too simple' to be as dark as them or to do the things that came naturally to Polity and his class. That's why he 'lost' to Megatron. That's why in the end he'd be turfed out and the strongest of the Decepticons would then take over. That Decepticon, of course, would be him. Now standing here burning in the righteous fire of Prime's rage, it didn't seem so clear what and who this mech was. Polity stepped back slightly. "Are you going to kill me? Or maybe beat me to a pulp?"
"Understand me, Polity, I can do anything to you that I want. I AM THE PRIME OF CYBERTRON! YOU WILL ACKNOWLEDGE ME!"
Polity stared at Prime with a startled expression, then it was replaced by loathing and revulsion. "I will never do that, slagger. Never."
The blow that landed was brutal. Polity flew backward and landed hard, skidding across the floor of the deck. He landed at the peds of Ratchet, Drift and Springer.
Ratchet scanned him, then glanced at Prime who was staring at Polity with incredible fury. He looked over at Prowl who was staring at him with a guarded expression. Nodding slightly, he saw Prowl relax slightly but no one intervened.
A frightened femme who was Home Guard doing duty at environmental with two older and more experienced Army femmes glanced at Raptor who was standing nearby. :What's happening, Appa?: she asked with fear.
Raptor glanced at her then shifted position to stand next to her. :Justice, femme. This mech is going to give it up to Prime or he's going to suffer. Do you understand your history?:
:I don't know, Appa: she replied.
:In the ancient times when a mech challenged the monarchy they had to slag it out in an honor fight with the Prime. Polity has challenged Prime's leadership and thus, he has to duel it out. Either he does or he kneels. Prime knows his history: Raptor replied with pride.
:Then what, Appa? If he does … Polity?: she asked.
"Then he has no name unless Prime gives it back to him. He's the property of the Prime: He glanced at her. :We were basic way back then, all of us. There was a thing called honor and when it was transgressed the only way to get it back was to take it. Polity will bend his knee or Prime will bend him. Do you want me to stand in front of you?:
She stared at Polity who was rising up, then Prime, then Raptor. :I don't know, Appa. I think I can … I want to watch. This is history and culture? From the past?:
Raptor nodded. "It is, femme."
She stared at him, then straightened in her chair. "I want to watch."
Raptor grinned at her, then sent warmth. "You and me both, granddaughter."
She looked with admiration at Raptor, then Prime. Her feelings were still surprised but she felt proud that Prime was unafraid and good. It was going to be an interesting exercise in frightening power between behemoths.
Polity rose, then adjusted his internals. "I will never kneel, Prime."
It would surprise the newbies how fast Optimus Prime closed the gap. The blow that landed on Polity was colossal. He flew back again to skid on the floor.
As he did Ratchet walked over to him and knelt. Ratchet scanned him, then glanced at Prime who stood nearby, fists balled and immaculate in his rage. "He's out but I can bring him around."
"Do it," Prime hissed.
=0=Closing ground
Nitrate sat in his command vessel, the enhanced battleship Vulture and considered the future here in this place. Traders had drawn his attention when they said that energon could be found everywhere, even floating in space. It as a literal El Dorado of energon and thus, he put into motion what he'd worked on for a couple of years. He was going to take a vast armada with him but to where, that wasn't clear until now.
With unlimited energon he would rule space and all the worlds his armada could reach. He had dreams of Cybertron that were enhanced by tales that Optimus Prime had taken it without a fight. He had to find out the truth and as he traveled he picked up Seekers. He knew about the kill order but he had no illusion that they would stay if they could peel off. He would see about that. After all, they came with their dependents, a weak move in his book.
The night swallowed his fleet as he flew onward. The only thing better than beating Polity and taking his battle group was meeting up with Optimus Prime. He would see what was true and what wasn't. The time for war had arrived.
When the others came it would be a thing of wonder, he considered.
A thing of wonder.
=0=TBC 11=17=2020 12-08-2020
ESL: ire: (eye-er) anger, rage
NOTE: This is what you get when you listen to The Song of Beren and Luthien by Clamavi de Profundis (I cry into the depths) while writing about one of the most honorable and masterful fictional characters ever written in my opinion. Did I ever tell you how much I admire Optimus Prime?
:D:D:D
The lovely music can be found on u-tube. They have no ability to make music that isn't exquisite.
LOVE YOU ALL MADLY! -Me.