The Diego Diaries Part Seven

by arctapus

This is a continuation of the universe started in Diego Diaries and continued through parts two to six. The premise is a joke that led to world building. This is about family, friendship, overcoming adversity and finding the best parts of yourself. This is an adventure, a trek through the world of Transformers and its a comedy/drama. Everyone is here and if you are, too, then YAY!

41. Chapter 41

The Diego Diaries: Festival (dd7 41)

=0=Nearing dawn, T-minus seven joors

They walked through the downtown center of Autobot City. They were on a tour of the barricades that were present to send the flow of pilgrims down the right paths to the Temple District and all the environs that caught the overflow. Already, there were a lot of individuals camped out waiting for the Processional to begin.

They were mostly youngsters with a lot of comforts which they would stow once things picked up. Right now, they kicked back in chairs, chatted together and greeted the Watch with high fives and cheer.

Springer and Drift had been traveling all over the colony to see about security arrangements and had just arrived at the Temple. The steps and the area where Prime's family, the Hu-An and human reps would wait was also cordoned off. There were techs from IntraCom running checks, Public Works going over last minute sets ups and workers at the Temple getting the building itself, its grounds and the glittering Pavilion ready for the celebration in less than seven hours Earth time.

"It looks good. Too bad we can't go to The Diner and have a brew," Springer said.

Drift grinned. "You can. I'm not."

"Too religious for you? You're hanging out with a heathen," Springer said as they walked to their horses.

"Right," Drift said dryly as they both mounted up. "Where to now?"

"How about the jail house?" Springer said.

"Okay," Drift replied with a grin.

They cut across the highway which would remain closed until early evening the next orn. There would be literally millions of visitors to both the Temple and Pavilion for days.

Their horses' hooves echoed in the big empty as they made their way to Cultural Center Road and the Courthouse in the far distance.

=0=Unidad

They had heard the siren and for a large number of those living in the big habitat, that was the signal to fast. A larger number were there in spirit and it wouldn't be a problem if they didn't. All of them were curious about the situation and what would come, most having not been here for a Festival. Until then, life went on. Tomorrow would be a holiday in all the habitats saluting the bots and their ways. The school kids were ecstatic.

=0=Early morning

Prime walked to the patio and slid open a door. Stepping out, he closed it and gazed out over his domain. It still was a strange thing thinking thoughts like that but it was true. He was the king of his empire, a benevolent king who went to pains to be a regular and fair minded mech.

The stars were fading slightly as the morning came on. The city was still, the airfield was winding down and all was well in his world. Nothing had come yet over the sensor system and there were no pressing issues in his message box. Right now, he would stay here and look out as he walked around the entire apartment and penthouse floor utilizing the wrap around veranda that was built for such things.

At no time would the Pantheon and Matrix call out to him as usual.

=0=Later that morning, T-minus four joors

They were up almost against their will having been the recipient of several children wanting to sleep with them. It was either something they ate or a group delusion because they all told of the same dream. Someone in a clown suit wanted to play.

Apparently, it was universal to hate clowns.

Ratchet stumbled into the kitchen, opened the fridge, drained an entire bottle of 'orange juice', dropped it in the recycler, then stumbled back to his room to fall on his berth.

Ironhide who bounced gave him a gimlet optic as he lay with three sleeping children draped on his chassis. "You nearly bounced them onto the floor."

"Hmmsszzzzz..." Ratchet drifted off almost immediately.

Ironhide glanced down at his chassis where Prowler, Hero and Praxus lay sprawled. He pulled a cover over them effectively blocking them from view. He grinned. "Cute," he whispered before falling back to sleep.

=0=Jailhouse earlier

They walked in noting that most of the regular crew was gone. There were soldiers and Home Guardsmen training to be military police working here, all of them taking a joor unless something came up which required their presence longer. They chatted a moment, Drift and Springer inspected 'the haul' which wasn't much, then walked out to go on a spin around once more. They were ready to be at the end of the Professional when the moment called.

=0=At the Special Prisoner's section of Autobot City Military and Civilian Prison

Kudon had come in from outside after taking his nightly walk around the perimeter. If he did that fifty times it was what his usual walk back home constituted. He entered, then sat down taking the snack and drink that Neo had given him.

The food was excellent here and even though the drinks were pablum for teetotalers, they were passable enough. The monitor was showing a revolving image via the camera security system of the colony. It astounded them that the Prime would allow such open scrutiny of his domain. They wouldn't have allowed it. Their Prime would have one but it would be for him alone.

"This Festival is strange," Neo was saying. "The news states that there will be blessings from The One, Primus and the Matrix. I've never heard of such things."

"None of the Primes that we knew would be lucky to have such access to The Powers. Our Optimus would be lucky not to receive thunderbolts from them," Kudon said sourly. "I suppose this will be on all the channels all orn long?"

"It would appear so," Neo said.

It would be a quiet night in their cell block that orn. In others, not so much.

=0=Rousing

"Ada."

"What, Hero?" Ratchet asked as he pulled the children's meals out of the warmer.

"That dream was so weird. A clown was chasing me," Hero said as Ironhide laid a meal in front of her and Orion.

"I had that one, too. A clown was chasing me," Praxus said.

Ratchet glanced at Prowler. "What about you, Prowler? Did you see the clown, too?"

Prowler glanced up from his food to stare at his ada. "I do." He looked at Praxus and Hero. "A clown. You see him?"

They both nodded, then looked at Orion who was wolfing it down as usual. He caught their stare, then smiled. "WHAT!?"

Hero grinned back. "Did you dream about a clown, Orion?" she asked.

He thought a moment, then shook his helm. "No." Then he spent a few moments telling about how he dreamed he pow-powed a big red balloon. It would be amazingly like a story book that he was reading in school, The Big Red Balloon.

Ironhide who was helping him read it here before taking it to school grinned. "Little mech is telling about his book."

"Little mech is a piggy," Ratchet said. "Everyone eat up. We'll watch. Don't feel sorry for us because we can't eat anything. Don't let that make you feel badly."

Half a dozen kids held out part of their meal to their 'mommy'.

=0=Elsewhere

Lazlo and Lucien walked toward the station with Vinn, Joon, Burris and Anders. They were going to meet up with Hobbes, Edict and their grown kids at the Temple. Partition, Lancer, Inweld and Morius would join them along with Rad-R, Riff, Bron-E and her now bond, Borealis. It was a mellow group that entered the metro and took the Circle line to The City.

They would be only several of millions.

=0=At the Temple itself

Lady Sela walked across the main concourse toward the big open double doors that led to the winding path across the immaculate grounds to the streets beyond. The Temple District was huge and the grounds themselves were quiet and an oasis of reflection and relaxation in the whirl of the colony.

All of the shrines were ready to receive pilgrims and all of the different parts of the Temple as well. The Pavilion was filled with treasures, many of them making their debut here. Most of the new things were almost myths, so long had they been lost to memory and possession. Now, they were all held in trust to the nation and would someday be part of displays on Cybertron as well.

The priests had their last meeting, things were set up for them to assist anyone who might get sick or need advice and the facility was ready to receive the Prime. The AllSpark had been turning more frequently, the lights across Its surface sparkling and snapping.

The Well was inscrutable and the Flame was the Flame. All was well for the orn. One more festival with their Makers was about to happen again. This time, Cybertron would be fully plugged in to it as well.

=0=The Temple of Primus, Simfur, Cybertron

The usual workmen were gone today, all of them taking off the time to be with families and friends. The place was rising up swiftly, with most of the walls framed in and ready for the decorative embellishments. The inside was nearly completed, waiting for the ceiling to be added in full. Most of this was pre-fabrication, each piece made to be added to the others, all of them building up the gem that this place once was.

There was no AllSpark here and no Flame or Well. It wasn't finished and it would be up to the Pantheon what would happen when it was completed. For now, it was ready to receive a delegation from Mars lead for the first time in years by a prime.

It was going to be a historical and momentous occasion for everyone.

Maybe even The Powers would show them a sign.

=0=At the house(s)

"Then we give the kids to Venture and Miler. We're going to have them in holds today," Bluestreak was saying as he fitted out the carry basket that the twinnies were going to be riding in to the Temple. Jostling would be a thing today in the crowds.

"When's dinner?" Sideswipe asked with a grin as he coveted Kaon's breakfast.

"Ha-ha," Blue said with a grin. "You should have stuffed yourself last night."

"I did." Sideswipe glanced at Sunstreaker who was untangling leashes for the kids.

"Dawg and Bob are staying here," Sunstreaker said. "No sense getting everyone lost."

"Good idea. I think I'll join them," Sideswipe said as he glanced at the window nearby. A bug and dog were happily snoozing. It was incredibly enticing to see.

=0=Elsewhere

"Then we take the girls. Kaon will be given to Appa Ratchet," Miler said as he slipped Prima into his onesie. "We better hurry. We have to speak to Lord Optimus while he is still in this dimension."

Venture nodded as he picked up the baby carrier. They stowed him, then walked for the door. They would be among the millions moving toward the Temple outside.

=0=Elsewhere

"Orion, come here," Ratchet said. The baby came and was snapped into his leash. "You will go with Amma Tub-Tub. Okay?"

"I, ORION LOVE AMMA TUB-TUB!" he said with a giant smile just as the door opened.

Several big mechs walked inside, then Turbine picked Orion up. "Did someone call my name?"

"AMMA TUB-TUB! I, ORION LOVE LOU!" He hugged Turbine tightly.

"Don't smudge Tub-Tub's make up," Ratchet said with a grin. "He has to walk behind Prime."

"As if," Turbine said as he hugged Orion. "The make up part, that is."

"About time you got here. We have younglings galore. By the way, the big kids are coming with their ammas and appa." Ironhide picked up Halo and slid her into his chassis hold.

By the time they grabbed everyone, gathered in the hallway and met up with everyone else, it was time to hoof it. Ratchet's family would head out to the lobby along with most of Ironhide's to wait for the long walk to the Temple. It was still a strange experience for someone like Kestrel, Ravel, Chan and Corr to have.

If truth be told, the others would agree as well.

=0=TBC 7-18-19