The Diego Diaries: Free (dd8 116)
=0=In a courtroom at last
"What?"
Prime grinned. "My experience was with the Imperialis brothers and the attempt to get them to divulge their information was colorful. It was interesting and diverse."
"I can imagine," Hardie said with a slight grin.
:We're back in our gear: Thelma Lennox said glancing down at her hands.
Everyone took a moment to fuddle around, then turned to Prime again.
:What happened here and how do we respond, Optimus?: Brandon Clark asked.
"We had a trial that allowed for an intervention by the Powers. Its Their right and duty to step in and give Their perspective about crimes that are so egregious that they offend the common order. Its not often that things are taken to this level. I believe that the reason for the rest of you to be there was to teach or show you something of us and our way of life. I am glad that you had good adventures during this excursion.
"As for the two, they are where they will be the most able to transform themselves. The Pantheon are not vengeful and Rhey will take care of them the same way They take care of others. The safest and best place for them is there," Prime said.
"What about the Keys? He said something about the Keys, Lord Optimus," Coros ventured.
"We are going to rebuild our home world. Our people's courage and determination will make that so. Everywhere I go I see it and the self respect it builds in them makes me proud. No matter what it takes we will succeed. We will not be held hostage to anyone. I wish we could have the data to locate the two remaining Omega Keys but it will not be possible," he said.
:I was told that they could rebuild Cybertron entirely in minutes any way you wanted them to do so: Owen Harris replied.
Prime nodded. "They utilize a device and its possible to do this thing. However, it is not possible to take the data without triggering security protocols. I would not be willing to take it otherwise without consent."
:But it could rebuild your entire world in seconds: Jase Daniels said. :Why not?:
Prime stared at him a moment. "Because I am not Sentinel Prime."
"Consider this," Hardie said from a chair nearby. "You make one allowance, then another scenario presents itself. Do you do the same thing or is this the line? Where is the line when every scenario is taken? When do you become that thing you hate?"
:But you'd have your planet restored: Kyle Davis said. :All would be well:
"Do you really think so?" Sun said. "That was the start of our downfall. Just do this one thing and all will be well. Then another thing came and another and another. There is no end when there's no line. If you can cross one you can find a way to rationalize crossing another. In the end, you end up here. No man's land with the dead, the dying and the 'wish they were deads'."
It was silent a moment, then Echo walked over to Optimus. "I believe that we'll do this thing. When we came here we didn't have the best idea of what our people needed and how we could help. We were selfish," she said as she glanced at the others. "Right?"
They nodded and murmured.
She looked up at him. "We didn't know better. They don't either. They're not better than they are because they don't know how. They didn't have mechs like these," she said pointing to the soldiers and some of the civilians in the room. "They didn't have mechs like these and the femmes … they didn't learn. We did. We can help rebuild our home world and help people. We're only kids but we care. We can help you, Lord Optimus."
Prime stared at her, a tiny micro mini-con femme who was beautiful and wise. She was the adopted daughter of a high caste mech who liked her family. She had both her own family and this one, hence, her entree into high caste circles and that way of life. She was never made aware of the deeply low caste nature of her frame, so loved was she and her family. "I am honored. I depend upon the goodness of our people. It makes the burdens light when you do this, Echo. That is how we will prevail."
She smiled at him, then patted his ped. "You can call upon us. We will come."
The kids murmured and agreed.
"You are our most precious creations and why we work so hard. The world you will live in will not carry the sorrows of the one we did. As for the two, do not worry about them. We are going to rise into the light again." He watched her walk back to her chair to sit. "I am here for your questions and will answer any text messages sent to my office for the next few orns. Sometimes it takes a few to figure out the symbolism of this kind of journey, though I do believe that for the most of you it was as straightforward as it seemed."
Ratchet stood. "Then my work is done here. I thank all of you for the many compliments and applause for my stirring performance as Solus Prime. Thank you and tip your waitresses."
Huge laughter greeted that.
"This court is adjourned. I ask that you keep your counsel over what happened until noon tomorrow when I will speak to the nation about this. After that, you may discuss this as you please. I would ask all of the humans here to have respect for what you saw and who you saw. It is an enormous honor to be in the presence of such august greatness as the Pantheon and Primus."
:You have to ask?: Will Lennox said with a grin. He turned to the humans. :The universe, I hope you finally see, is vast and strange. Its filled with wonders. I'd expect you to treat this with dignity and respect. You saw something of the other side of life we can only guess at. Respect that:
There were murmurs, then everyone began to gather to leave. They chatted with Prime, asked a few questions, then gathered to go. When most of them were gone, Owen Harris was there. His party was waiting by the door to drive away but he wanted to speak to Prime alone. When the last mech walked away he stepped up. :Lord Optimus:
"Owen Harris."
:I want to thank you for allowing me to go with you on this journey. I don't pretend to understand all of it. Religion and this sort of thing isn't my forte but I do believe that I saw something of a life beyond what my own senses can take in. It was an astounding thing:
Prime nodded. "It is a privilege."
:How is it possible to get to know Them better? Lord Primus is a remarkable individual. Its one thing to know Cybertron constitutes His body but quite another to meet Him as an individual:
Prime considered that. "I find that when I want to speak to anyone that going to a quiet place and having that conversation with them as if They were sitting in front of me is enough to accomplish my goal. No matter if you never hear Them, They hear you. Practice that and perhaps He will grant your wish. It is up to Him and He is very merciful and kind."
Owen nodded. :I don't quite know how to process this yet. I just know it was an extraordinary thing:
Prime nodded again. "It is. I am wondering with what level of respect this will be treated by your group?"
Owen considered that. :I can't speak for others but for me I find that part easy. I will speak to my group to make sure that the feelings of The People aren't bruised by impolitic remarks."
"That would be reasonable for me to expect," Optimus said. "They could have left you behind. They did not do that. Perhaps that might be the starting point for your thoughts and gratitude."
Owen nodded, then grinned. "Good evening, Lord Optimus. Thank you: With that, he walked toward the door and out with the others.
Prowl who was sitting nearby rose, then shut off the computer system which was still running. "I'll put that in the system with a transcription of the events there. I don't have film. They didn't allow it."
"No. I did not expect it," Prime said as he rose to leave.
Together they walked outside where the others waited, then together they walked out to go to The Pit Stop for a late lunch and a chat.
Meanwhile, everywhere else with everyone else …
She ran into the apartment after being dropped off by Springer and Drift. Hoofing it toward her adult family, both mini-con and regular who were sitting on the couch waiting for her to get home for dinner, Echo screeched to a stop. They all turned to look at her. "GUESS WHAT!"
At Sil's house …
"WE GOT TO SEE PRIMUS! AND …"
At Coro's house …
"HE WAS SO BIG AND BEAUTIFUL! HE …"
Pulley's house …
"LET US HELP JUDGE THE TRIAL! THEN THE MATRIX CAME AND …"
Sil's house …
"HE WAS ALL GOLD! AND …"
Everyone else's house in just about the same manner …
"HE WAS SO FUNNY! THE MATRIX IS FUNNY AND PRIMUS IS SO NICE! HE LOVES US!"
All of the adults in all of the families who were listening to their child tell the story …
"OMG!"
"You were just going on a field trip. WHAT HAPPENED AGAIN!?"
"WHY WASN'T/WEREN'T I/WE THERE, TOO!?"
=0=The Pit Stop after everyone began to leave
Springer sat with Tell in his arms. The baby was awake and grinning at everyone.
"Are you going to work tonight? We can overnight him," Turbine said as he smirked at Springer and Drift.
"We took the night off," Drift said. "We hoped that what happened would."
"They don't disappoint," Ratchet said. "Rather like my turn as Solus Prime."
"Old mech, Solus Prime was you, not the other way around," Ironhide said.
Ratchet grinned. "The end result was She recognized my greatness and utilized it to make Her point. See?" Ratchet ended with a glorious smile that nearly glistened with greatness.
"Don't give me that smile, Old Mech. The Sexy won't save your brand of crazy," Ironhide said to general guffawing. "You're giving a speech then tomorrow. I wonder what the news outlets on Earth are going to say about this?"
"We're aliens. We proved it again today. End of story," Delphi said as he held Tell gently. His sleight of hand was ALMOST as good as Prowl's.
Prowl who was coveting the baby considered the time. "We're officially going to be off duty in three joors. Better motor to get things done."
"Grind. Drudge. We have a Squad luncheon First Saturday. Don't forget," Ratchet said as he rose to go.
"I'll try," Prowl said with smirk.
It would be a very mellow group that would head out to the grind.
=0=Later that evening after dinner
They sat side-by-side watching the news. In a bouncy chair nearly drowsing himself to sleep, Tell of Polyhex-Kaon was feeling no pain. Food, a nice bath to relax a mech and the adoration of his genitors was enough.
"This was a landmark orn," Drift said as he sat beside Springer. He was tucked into Springer and their peds were on the coffee table. Tell was recharging like a champion and the news was without major police incident. The only real mention of the trial was the notice that Prime would speak to it at noon the next orn.
"It was. Anytime I can see them I feel good," Springer said.
"We have to get a baseline on him in the morning," Drift said as he tucked the blanket into the baby's chair. "He's doing well. So Ada says."
"Which one?" Springer asked.
They chuckled.
"Prime was a good ball player all his life. He's a ringer. Pass it on," Drift said.
Springer grinned. "I will," he said as the weather news came on.
Evening would be a really peaceful thing in the afterglow of such energy.
=0=Owen Harris's living room at E2
"I wish I had been there," Pierre Beliveau said regretfully.
"I wish you were as well," Owen said. "I don't think some of the others will get it the way it was intended."
"How was it intended?" Perri asked.
Owen Harris considered that question a moment. "I think Primus put all of us on notice."
=0=TBC 03-17-2021