The Diego Diaries: Seeing It All (dd8 195)
=0=Around
The city was bright with activity as the afternoon of the first orn of weekend flew ever onward. Pedestrian traffic everywhere had grown explosively the past two orns since the construction component on world, a vast and extraordinarily varied contingent was on a two decaorn vacation. Given that the plans for the next several phases were being tweaked and the workforce which was incredible hadn't had a real extended holiday in some time, it was decided to shut down and relax starting with the new holiday, Elders Day.
Some of the workers were uncertain what that would be like since they worked all their lives and even the concept of weekend was still a 'thing'. Others were happy. Some wanted to explore the world while others wanted to relax, stay home and do things they'd always wanted to do. However they decided, the density of population was easier to see when tens of millions of worker bees who built the buildings, roads and amenities of the colony had time of their own.
Ravel and Tie had gone in to the shop because a number of mechs from the Knights were coming for swords. They were also coming for a special creation that had taken a great deal of time to make.
"Tie, they're here," Ravel had said as he walked to the counter to meet a good dozen mechs who bore a plethora of tattoos of most of the notable warrior and service organizations of their people. Some of them were ancient and others new. They came in with an older mech who would do the talking for their transaction as per custom.
A tall mech with a certain air of authority and age paused before the counter, then bowed. "We are here, Masters."
"We are glad you are," Tie said as he paused beside Ravel. He replied in the old fashioned manner of the artisan to a client. The Knight before them was a venerated elder who was here to get three swords for grandsons and pick up a special one for a special individual.
He glanced at some of the mechs with him, two of them sons and three who were grandsons. The others were older mechs in their order and all were related family. This was a significant moment for this would be the first sword the grandsons would receive. That it would be a handcrafted sword by the finest master craftsmen who ever made them was an astonishing thing. Most of the Knights would lose body parts to have a sword at any time made by Tie and Ravel let alone their first one. "This is my son, Harden and my youngest, Parlee. They're atars of these three youngsters, my grandsons Severe, Carbon and Tailor."
The three kids stepped forward, then bowed. "We're so happy to be here, Masters. Thank you for the honor of allowing it."
Ravel smiled. "It's our honor." He glanced at Tie who walked into the work room and came out with three heavy velvet covered boxes that were scarlet in color, a trademark shade of RTR Tools along with copper, midnight blue, emerald green and a shimmering silver that only they could coax from metal. He lay them on the counter, then opened one.
A gleaming sword lay in the box next to its scabbard, an intricate silver inlaid sleeve of midnight blue in color. He turned the box toward the kids, then glanced at them. "Close your optics, then wait for it to choose you, or not."
The three kids closed their optics and the room stilled. It was incredibly dense, the energy, then Carbon glanced sharply at Tie. "I sort of felt something."
Tie grinned. "If the sword chooses you, then pick it up. If it doesn't it'll let you know."
Carbon stared at Tie with a slight concern, then hesitantly touched the sword's hilt. Gently, carefully, he picked it up. It should have weighed a very great deal but it felt light in his servo. He stepped back, then swung it gently. As he did a flash of electrical light across his wrist appeared. He froze, then glanced at the elder mechs.
"It would appear that you've been chosen," Ravel said with a smile.
The youngster stared at the sword, then Tie and Ravel with astonishment. "It shocked me. It didn't hurt but it should have. Shouldn't it?" he asked as he glanced from the mechs to his grandfather and the two metallurgists.
"No," Ravel said gently. "It would hurt if it didn't choose you. It would bite you hard but it didn't. That flash of light was the sword bonding with you. It chose you."
The mech looked ready to cry as he stared at the sword, then his proud elders. "Then its mine?" he asked almost in a whisper.
His grandfather, Ferrus grinned. "It would appear so," he said, then he bowed to Ravel and Tie. "He will cherish it and wield it only in the proper manner as befits a Knight acolyte." He glanced at his other grandsons who closed their optics determined in expression to find their own sword.
For a moment nothing happened, then both boys flashed a look of surprise.
Severe glanced at Tailor, then his grandfather. "I felt something."
"So did I," Tailor said.
Ravel grinned. "Then come and see which one wants to be your weapon."
Severe stepped forward, then reached for one. It repulsed his hand, shoving it back. He looked shocked as he glanced at Tie.
"Try the other one," Tie said gently.
Severe hesitated, then reached for the other. It allowed him to pick it up. His smile was amazing as he did.
Tailor hesitated, then reached for the other one. It allowed the contact, then two bright flashes flared. "It wants to be my sword."
"It just bonded to each of you," Ravel said. "I'm so glad. Sometimes they won't and its always such a disappointment when that happens."
"Those who fail have something in their character or their path that needs tending. A sword of this caliber is Prima quality and demands not only respect but a good and honorable partner." He glanced at his three dazzled grandsons. "You must bear those swords with honor and never be frivolous or foolish with them." He reached behind his back and drew a sword. It was dazzling. He turned to Ravel and Tie, then bowed again. Holding out the sword, he grinned. "You might remember this."
Tie took the sword, then grinned back. "I do."
Ravel glanced at the etching on the blade, a very old style that was inspired by the life of Prima. "I etched that sword. I said the prayers to Prima and sorted the etchings on the blade." He looked at Ferrus a moment in thought, then grinned. "You were a very young mech when you came for it."
"I was, Master. I made a vow that my grandsons would have a sword made by you both. Its such a great blade. Its saved me over and over. My grandsons will be trained in their care and be worthy of them. Thank you for this. It makes me very happy today," Ferrus said as he took back his sword and sheathed it with an easy grace.
"I am delighted to be of service to you and your House," Tie said in the formal manner. "I also have the sword that you wished for your gift." He walked into the workroom and got a big box off the pick up shelf carrying it back to the counter. He lay it there, then opened the case.
The sword inside was what humans would call a 'hand and a half' sword meaning that it was extra long and heavy. Its hilt was wrapped with the trademark scarlet metallic cord of RTR Tools. Its shaft was golden and the guard was copper. The blade was long and etched with the most marvelous script and images from the life of Primus. It shown like quicksilver so polished was its blade.
The scabbard was scarlet, covered with embellishments handmade and attached to tell the story of Primus and Unicron. It showed Cybertron in the most intricate detail in the center on both sides. It was luminously beautiful and everyone stared at it in an awed silence for a moment.
"This sword is a gift to Heatout. He's an amazing swordsman and worthy of a sword of this caliber. We will present it on Elder's Day, Masters. If you can come to see it then it would be greatly appreciated," Cordie, the older son of Ferrus said.
"What time would this be?" Tie asked.
"1200 joors at the Halls of Order. We're having a celebration of our elders and this will be presented to him. If you were there to do the honors it would be wonderful," Cordie said.
"I think that will be possible," Tie said as Ravel nodded. "We know it will accept him. Its very calm right now," Tie said as he held his servo over the blade. It rippled with light, then dimmed to its normal shiny tone.
The mechs stared at it, then the two. They knew both were blessed in their skill but to see it happen was startling and amazing.
"I'm in awe of your abilities and the idea of you presenting it to Heatout would be a moment to remember, Masters," Ferrus said.
Tie closed the box, then held it out to Ferrus who took it.
He bowed. "Thank you, Masters. We will bring honor to the swords, I assure you." He glanced at his grandsons who were holding their sword boxes, too.
They jolted, then bowed. "Thank you, Masters, for the honor of one of your swords. We will always wield it with honor." They bowed again.
Tie and Ravel who were grinning at them bowed back. "We are glad," Tie said as Ravel nodded.
They chatted a moment, then the group left with smiles on their faces that almost, ALMOST matched the three kids. The door closed behind them.
"What a great day seeing that sword again, Ravel," Tie said. "That sword was made before Ratchet was born."
Ravel nodded. "What a lovely old style. Maybe we can make a few and see what happens. It might be that some will find the old manner acceptable."
Tie grinned at Ravel. "Your calligraphy is legendary. I don't think that will be a problem."
Ravel grinned. "Noon it is on Elder's Day. Right now, I could use a grandchild or two. What about you, Tie?"
"Truer words never spoken," he said as they began to get ready to leave. It would take a moment to catch up to the group with the babies, then things would really swing when Amma Rappy and Appa Tyke showed up.
=0=On the road to the rest of the orn
"I think it might due for you to get a few rounds in before the tournament," Blackjack said.
"Its in two orns. What the frag do you expect in two orns?" Ironhide asked his father as he grumped along beside him.
Blackjack snickered. "I don't know. I'm making conversation."
"Oh. Is that what this is?" Ironhide asked as the elders walking with him snickered. He glanced around himself as they reached the train platform for town. "I'm glad you find this funny."
Ratchet patted his aft. "I do."
"Fraggers," Ironhide said as he stepped out to go to the edge to wait for a train. By the time most of the family was standing where they needed to be an altercation on the platform across from them erupted and it included gunfire.
=0=Springer, Drift and Tell
They sat on a train going to Metrotitan when the report came through. Glancing at each other with surprise, they rose, got off on the next station, then ran up the stairs to the street. Transforming, then turning on sirens and lights, they blasted their way toward Crater District 5 and City 2 as fast as they could go.
=0=Prime and Prowl
They sat in the bar of the golf course having a conversation with friends and family when the call came through. Rising almost as one, they handed off kids as they ran from the bar to the street beyond. They transformed and peeled out with Prowl leading the way with his lights and sirens.
It would be no end of amazing to the humans that the leader of the whole magilla wouldn't hesitate to attend to such things himself.
=0=TBC 06-22-2021
Sentient swords are canon even without the swords, great and small of the Knights of Cybertron. In the movie where Prime comes to a stand of swords he says, "Recognize a Knight." Prime, therefore is a Knight of Cybertron, too. :D See how I did that? Given who they are and what they are, sentient swords are not far off and the long sword that Drift carries bonds to his spark. If he uses it the sword draws energy from Drift's spark. Using it can kill the bearer.