The Diego Diaries: Processional (dd7 42)
This was supposed to go out last night. :(
=0=Home Tower, The City, just before the Processional
They gathered on the different floors of the tower which would allow them to go downward and join the Processional when their part of the parade was called without bunching up or overcrowding the lobby. There were too many of them to wait there so they waited here. It would be down below that the Elite Guards waited along with those who would directly follow Prime, the priests and Turbine, the Maker of the Elder Clan.
The families were already gathering to go out. Prowl's family, Ratchet's and the families of Bos, Co-D and Reflector gathered along with Hildie and Jarrod Wilkerson and their son, Angus Optimus. They still didn't know that they were as much family as the three little mechs and thus, merited a place in the family group which would walk together to the Temple alone, then follow Prime back when the Solemnities were over.
They, of course would be going in a segway.
Waiting on a bigger segway next to them, sharing the surprise at being included, Glenn Morshower and the leaders of all the several habitats were gathered as well. Owen Harris, Carly Brooks-Spencer, Sam Witwicky formerly the AllSpark of Cybertron as a person of honor, Mikaela Banes as another, Brandon Clark and Larc of the Hu-An were waiting together. All of them but Larc would travel down the highway under the banner of the United Nations and the NEST Global Alliance. Larc would bear a weapon that was priceless and recovered when they found the second group of Hu-An some time before.
Chevron got the word, then turned to Prowl. He bowed. "You may lead the officials to the Temple, Commander."
Prowl bowed, then with Miracle in arms, glanced around. "Shall we go?" he asked.
Everyone grinned then nodded, some of them fairly quivering with excitement. That was when Prowl led the way and everyone there followed.
=0=Outside at the Temple itself
They gathered in the millions, a sight that stretched out of view. In every city center in the colony The People gathered. The scene would be projected against the side of a tall building nearby so that everyone could watch the event as it rolled out. Those who couldn't come could watch it on every channel of IntraCom including those who lived on Earth, Cybertron, the inner Empire and various enemy camps all over the place.
It was being monitored by Teletraan who would blank those portions that weren't going to be sent to Earth. Everyone else would get the full program. It would be shown as long as it took, swiftly or not.
=0=Earth 1
The humans from Sciences had gathered in the Tower to watch the show but for a handful that were hanging with friends at the habitat. The groups at Unidad and Earth2 would stay in their own habitats to watch, most of them in the big theaters or the auditoriums. Anyone who had a job that required their presence was within viewing distance of a monitor which played the only show in town.
At Unidad, Zak and Monica Hadden along with Zak's parents sat in his father's office watching the show. In the lounge nearby with about 140 other settlers Carrie Fields-Calley, her husband, John and their son watched as well. It was going to be a long event, possibly, but they were here to see it all in person. Having watched the broadcast the past year, it felt surreal being here for this one. It was a given they would be feeling more strongly the sensation that transpired last time for everyone including the Earth.
But then just being here was surreal to her as she silently thanked Sideswipe and Raptor for their new life and all its wonders among The People on Mars.
=0=Getting there
Prowl walked in front with Miracle as his personal family and Prime's walked beside or just behind him. They were followed by Bluestreak, his children, Ratchet's family including the titan and dread kids and the little tykes in arms and carry holds. It was notable that Zenith and Shadow were here, solemn faced with their observance. They had come without fanfare and joined as was their right and duty to Prime.
Behind them came the rest of the group representatives. The dreads and titans came, all three of the kid's ammas and appa as bespeaking their now family ties to Ratchet and Ironhide through the children. It would take an abacus, slide rule, compass, electron microscope and police barricade tape to sort out the family connections in this group. Those included some who were related to Ratchet v Ironhide .., Lucien and Laslo … who weren't here because they weren't related to Prime through Ratchet v Ironhide directly and those who were … Partition and Lancer. All of them who were here were related to those most senior groups.
That included Bos, Reflector and Co-D's family, Ultra Magnus, Arcee, Partition, Chromia, Lancer and a very intimidated looking Maelstrom. Among them, walking between Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, Silverbow strode. Children were carried, families were silent and all was of the proper decorum for the moment.
The street to the Temple was cleared and open with all of the space along and above it in the windows of buildings that lined it filled with civilians and soldiers, air personnel and banners. It was almost scary how quiet it was as they followed Prowl. The only sound was odd shuffling of peds, the movement of bodies, theirs and those here and there, the sound of a child or the flapping of flags in the light morning breeze. The colors of adults were only surpassed by the spectacle of infant garb.
The sun overhead was bright and it was -58 below Fahrenheit with a high of -57 expected. The sunlight glinted off the buildings around them and added to the scene as the cameras relayed it to billions and billions all over the Orion Arm.
The sound of their pedfalls could be heard dully as the family group nearly reached the Temple. Standing on the platform up the winding path at the Temple itself, the cordon of priests was amazing. There were nearly 259 found so far with several in care until they could come back to their jobs at shrines, care centers all over Cybertron where they managed orphan and elder care as well as the Temple at Simfur which was coming along well.
Their presence was greatly loved and there were more scattered to the winds, though many wouldn't and didn't leave when they could. There were many who gave their places to others to stay with those who couldn't go themselves. They were loved and respected, the priests and monks of Cybertron.
Prowl reached the area, then the group gathered into it. The humans, Hu-An and others were already there, the titanic frames in pretender gear as well. That was when a murmur began down the way and everyone here knew that Optimus Prime was coming.
=0=At the Home Tower
Prime stepped out of his apartment to the sight of Turbine, Chevron and Armour waiting at the elevator. They bowed deeply, then followed him downward. As he went with them each group followed from the different floors where they were gathered in their turn of order. Prime and the three reached the lobby where the Elite Guard snapped to attention.
Prime walked to the middle of the crowded room, paused to look at everyone, then headed for the door. It would appear to others that he was beginning his trance journey to the Matrix but oddly enough, this time he wasn't. He was here in this dimension wholly and complete. It was odd but not impossible to him that he was. The Pantheon did things in Their own manner and time so he went with the moment, exercising some of that famous patience he had in droves.
He walked to the door and exited as the Guards followed. They arrayed themselves as they would at any other Primal event as they did and when Turbine and the priests came out, they began to step out to go to the Temple. Behind them would come the representatives of every group, organization and the military that served here including a delegation from Cybertron herself.
The crowds bowed as he walked past looking neither to the left nor the right. He was heading for the Temple and a spirit walk for insight. It occupied his mind but he wasn't drawn partly in the way he usually was. He felt this time it would be more light hearted and clear cut. How he knew, he couldn't say but he did.
The crowd bowed as they watched him go by. Some held up their children or elders to see better while others stepped off discreetly to touch him and partake of the holiness that he represented especially now in this moment. The crowd behind him followed quietly, their small handheld placards bearing the names of the groups or organizations they were giving honor toward. Behind the group riding slowly along, Springer and Drift followed.
It would take a while to get there but Optimus would at last. He paused in the open space before the masses, the family and organics who were watching him in their set aside sections. He looked at them, nodded slightly to his genitors and Prowl, then glanced down the pathway to the Temple.
Turning without a word, Prime continued onward followed by Turbine, Chevron and Armour under escort from the guards. Everyone else moved to their places after putting their placards on stands on the pathway to the Temple for pilgrims to see when they could go inside. They walked back out to stand with everyone else until Prime came back out.
As he walked up the stairs, two Guards would halt on each one, step to one side and turn to the crowd. They would assume parade rest and stand without moving the entire time Prime was inside. The priests continued until Prime reached the delegation at the top.
Alpha Trion and the priests bowed lowly to Prime. So did Cyclonus and two of his most holy and consulted advisers. Prime nodded to all of them, then Lauren stepped forward. He bowed low again, then looked up to the massive mech before him. "Welcome, Pilgrim. We are here to serve you."
"I am here to find wisdom," Prime replied.
"Then continue," Lauren said as all of them bowed together.
Prime continued onward joined by Alpha. They reached the door, then Prime paused to look back. Standing on the streets and highways as far as the optic could see were the ones who depended upon him, his loved ones and all the friends of zillions of vorns in horrible places and good. He felt their dependency but he also felt their love. He stared a moment, then walked inside.
Alpha and Prime walked across the floor to the railing of the balcony. They paused there to look at the Well and AllSpark. The Well was shedding white mist as Its sky blue center ruffled slightly. Electricity arced across the AllSpark as It stopped spinning at their approach.
"The signs and portends are optimal," Alpha said with a grin. "It's good to see the relics acknowledge you and the Matrix. I suppose you have your questions?"
Prime nodded, then looked at Alpha. "They have not seen fit to call me in yet."
"They will," Alpha said. "Good journey."
"Thank you, old friend," Optimus said as he turned toward the stairs that led downward. He walked to them and began to descend.
"Old friend, indeed, Thirteen … my brother," Alpha whispered as he watched Prime reach the bottom, walk to the Well and stand by it to stare into the surface. That was when Optimus Prime left the third dimension, body and all, to enter into infinity and beyond.
Alpha stared at the spot, then turned to go. He would walk out and stand with his brethren until that momentous moment when Optimus would walk out and present himself to the masses.
It would take a while.
=0=Over there, wherever that was
Optimus Prime stood on the white sand plain and felt the intense heat of the sun overhead on his armor. He'd seen the Salton Sea on Earth, the Bonneville Salt Flats and other places but this didn't resemble them. It was somewhere that didn't exist in reality, perhaps. It was the place he had come before.
He waited for something to happen.
It would.
=0=TBC 7-20-19