The Diego Diaries: Boo (dd8 134)
NOTE about last night: The chihuahua bumped his knee again, a deeply painful thing and it was long hours in the rocking chair. Here we go!
=0=On the phone with Dad
"And that's pretty much where it stands," Ratchet said as Raptor and Onyx nodded solemnly beside him, relaxing in their chairs.
"It would be very helpful for a Prime to be here, Lord Optimus. We're waiting for the answer to the question I posed from a collective hive mind. It would help if they could greet the leadership of the invasive species against which they've been protecting themselves all this time. It would help them understand what we can do about fixing this," Onyx said. "We can most likely end this to everyone's satisfaction if things are done gently and with care."
Optimus considered that. "Would that include Reset and his people in the talks, if that is what this is leading toward?"
Onyx considered that. "I think it would give him some kind of understanding about the futility of disagreement. We're dealing with a collective mentality that is powerful enough to bring ships from space and quarantine them rather effectively. I personally have never seen one so powerful myself. I would hate to see what they can do when they feel a greater threat. Given that all of us are alive and allowed to live to the benefit of our well being, that indicates they function at a higher level of possibility than some here."
Jetta glanced at Prime, then Onyx who was filling the screen with the others. "When would this meet up happen and when should the Prime be there?"
"I would come now," Onyx said. "It's my understanding that time is meaningless as a construct to the hive mind here. They might wish to settle this, or not, right now or maybe in a few orns. I would prefer to be prepared."
"Very well," Prime said. "Thank you. If we come, then we can expect to be pulled in right away?"
Onyx nodded. "I don't see any lessening of their resolve to protect what they have. I would expect it."
"When you get here you'll be in orbit almost immediately. Search for our signal and come to it. You can avoid the colony right away," Raptor said.
"Alright. Prime out."
The screen went back to the Emblem of the Primes as they sat in the shuttle, The City of Helex.
"Well, expect a fight from Reset. I don't expect him to leave willingly," Raptor said grimly.
"I don't think I need a crystal ball to tell you that," Onyx said. "Expect it. I'll study the threads of possibility and give you what advice I can. Its safe to say that the situation is very fluid right now and much can happen."
"Well, we'll meet that when we have to but anything you can tell us would be greatly appreciated," Raptor said as they rose to walk back to the camp through the trees. It would be with a greater awareness of them as possibly part of the hive mind and not just beautiful adornments of the land.
=0=On a shuttle coming out of a space bridge
They sat on the ship, soldiers, a few more scientists and a Prime. Before they could even calibrate their location they were whisked away.
=0=Sideswipe a few minutes later ...
He rolled up to the camp center where everyone was lounging around the camp's fire pit. It wasn't operating at the moment but was a good gathering place of the elders who were swapping stories with the Seers and a few of the senior Seekers. "They just ended up in orbit. We sent them to signal. I expect that-" He silenced as a shuttle descended toward them heading for the clearing beyond where the other shuttles were parked.
It flew over silently, then disappeared beyond.
"I'll get them," Sideswipe said as he peeled out toward the meadows beyond.
"About time," Kup said drolly as Hercy nodded. "Mech took his time."
Laughter greeted that as the sound of mechs coming back was heard. The group walked with a smirking Sideswipe to the clearing to gather around the others sitting there.
Raptor grinned upward at the party. "Glad to see you came, Prime. Welcome to Camp Frag This."
Everyone laughed, then offered chairs. The party sat, then it was silent a moment.
"Who is the idiot responsible for this? If I have to ask?" Ultramus Prime said even though he knew the answer.
"Why, Magnus … I get you a promotion and this is the thanks I get?" Ratchet asked with a blazing smile.
"What's the sit-rep so far? Any changes?" Magnus asked as Arcee stood behind him massaging his shoulders with a big grin on her beautiful face.
"Nope," Raptor said. "We don't know what to expect. It might take such a big collective a while to make up their mind. I've had experiences with hive minds before and it could take a while."
Magnus nodded. "Where is this Reset? We passed over a colony and saw the other settlement beyond."
"He's in the colony. Maybe you might want to introduce yourself," Ratchet said.
Magnus considered that, then stood, rising to his imposing height of nearly 28 feet. He was as dangerous and massive appearing as any Primal frame. "Let's go. Jack, Raptor, the twins, Onyx, Totem, Hercy and Warlord. Kup, you're in control." With that, he began to walk toward the dirt road that led to the colony.
"CAN I COME, TOO?" Ratchet called from his chair.
"Yes," Magnus answered as the others began to hike after him.
Ratchet rose, then smiled at the others. "Duty calls," he said, then he began to skippity-do-dah after the group in an exaggerated manner.
Huge laughter greeted that, then it became quiet again.
"Are we going to have to fight them to get the party back?" he asked.
Kup considered that. "Probably."
It was a tense and silent wait for something, or nothing to happen.
=0=Nearing the colony
They walked onward following Magnus who looked neither left or right as he walked toward the colony with resolve. He was ferocious appearing, this mech who was no one's fool and the closest thing besides Jetta to a brother that Optimus Prime ever had. He was the bodyguard of Orion Pax, the tough no nonsense soldier who did the jobs assigned without complaint, the one who was the confidant for Prime from the beginning. Between Arcee, Jetta, Elita and Magnus, they'd become a formidable team against what seemed like long odds from day one.
"There's mechs in the woods and down the alleys," Arcee said as she walked alongside Magnus. She'd come anyway.
"I see them," Magnus said. "No one is to shoot anyone without good cause and Warlord, I expect you to take off and cover us."
"Understood," Warlord said as he walked alongside Ratchet. Both were having a humorous conversation off line.
The colony seemed empty as they walked along as leisurely as if this place were normal. There was individuals in windows staring out but no one came to oppose them. They reached the plaza in the middle, then Ratchet pointed out the administration building ahead. As he did the doors opened and mechs stepped out, one of them Reset himself.
They stared at each other, then Reset and his mechs walked out toward Magnus and his group, pausing when both sides were face-to-face together. It was silent as both sides took in the other.
Finally, Reset broke the silence. "I suppose you're Utramus Prime?"
Magnus considered the alienness of the sound of his titled name, then nodded. "I am. You are Reset."
"I am."
"We've discovered the situation as it stands here. You are living on a world dominated by two collective species, both of them highly advanced and collectively sentient. They have a symbiotic relationship where one helps the other. The mushroom species work in tandem with the butterfly species to maintain and grow each other to their mutual benefit. All of the other species are simpler without connection. The two that are have a capacity as a hive mind to bring ships from space and confine their passengers here," Magnus said.
"How do you know that? We've worked on this problem forever," a mech said who was part of Reset's group.
"We brought Seers here," Magnus said. He glanced at Totem and Onyx, then Reset. "They have contacted the collective and are waiting to hear from them now."
"What did you say to them?" Reset said with a wary expression.
"I told their central spokesman that we were unaware of their society, that we were not here to harm anyone, but were fleeing war. We want to leave and need to know what we can do to do that and make amends to them for anything we've done in ignorance that harmed anyone," Onyx said.
"Leave?" Reset asked. He glanced at Magnus with a firm expression. "What makes you think we want to leave here?" he asked. The group with him became tense.
"There is no way you will stay here and cause even accidentally harm to this planet and their species. We do not settle on planets that are emerging as you well know. This planet is beyond that point, having species that are highly advanced and deserving of their autonomy. The laws of space, Cybertronian law and the Colonial Accords of the Golden Age which still apply to our colonial aspirations are going to be enforced. That says nothing of the Primal Charter and other foundational documents both from the Great Assembly of the post revolution and the Will of Primus," Magnus replied equally coldly.
"Will of Primus? What's that?" another asked with scorn. "How would you know about the Will of Primus?"
"I don't know …" Hercy mused. "Maybe the Matrix in his chest would give him a foot up in that department."
"Understand, we've been through this before," Magnus said icily. "I have the authority and duty to attend to The People wherever and whenever they are, to tend to the reputation and treaty obligations of The People and to protect not just them but other species with whom we come into contact. Your presence here, our presence is an affront to the autonomy of the species who call this world home."
"Butterflies. Mushrooms," another colonial mech said. "You'd believe that they have sway here? We've been here for eons."
"Without permission and in violation of the laws of our people. I have the duty and responsibility to remove this colony and every Cybertronian here to protect this world, its ecosystems and species. You should be aware of this considering all of the authority came from the Senate. I do remember, Reset, that you were a member of the Senate from time-to-time," Magnus replied. "As for Primus … we've conducted several Primal Hearings with Special Circumstances for war criminals and the Pantheon has intervened. Primus Himself made it clear what He expects. We will honor His wishes."
It was deeply silent, then a buzzing sound could be heard. It was soft, then grew into something just short of irritating.
The group glanced around, then looked upward. Flying in the sky, swirling madly in waves that were something to behold, literally millions of butterflies began to come their way.
"Run for it!" someone said in Reset's group.
"Why?" Ratchet asked as he watched mesmerized.
"If they touch you they shock you. If enough of them do then you might die," someone said as Reset and his group began to run. They were inside the administration building in seconds.
Magnus glanced around. "Go there!" he yelled, then bolted for a building with big doors nearby. Everyone followed him, then slammed to a stop as he grabbed the door handles. The door didn't budge, so he slammed his body into it. It gave, so everyone ran inside. The door closed before the shimmering mass reached them. It seemed that they wove around the buildings, hovering and fluttering as they made their buzzing sounds. After what seemed like forever, they gathered up and swirled away, fading from sight almost immediately.
Inside, the Autobots, Seeker and Seers watched, then Magnus turned around at the sound of footsteps. Standing behind them holding guns, the occupants of the building looked at the Autobots with raging anger.
=0=TBC 04-09-2021