The Diego Diaries: Simfur (dd7 334)
=0=The City
They walked down the wide highway as the crowd parted. The noise and happiness was nearly overwhelming among the mechs and femmes who filled every nook and cranny, every window and roof top on both sides of the street. Cheering, laughter, chants of the creed and ped stomps accompanied the group as they walked along. When they reached the junction, Prime slowed.
Watchmen there had parted the crowd just enough for a bridge to appear. When Prime arrived it burst into sight, swirling and howling, then settling into a vortex of energy. Prime turned to the crowd that had quieted around them, then nodded his helm.
Miracle who glanced up at him, then looked at the crowd. He bowed his own helm drawing laughter from everyone before Prime turned to walk into the bridge. Behind them everyone came in order followed by Drift and Springer riding along. They entered, then the bridge collapsed, disappearing immediately.
That was when the street dance that was the Colony of Mars began in earnest.
=0=There
They walked out onto the long boulevard that led straight to the Temple of Primus down the way. Filling every single possible nook and cranny, about two and a half million Cybertronians from the camps around the area and the rising cityscape watched in silence. Then they all bowed.
Optimus glanced around, then nodded to them. Ahead was the spiritual center of their kind, the access point to the spark of Primus Himself. He began to walk forward with the groups following, flanked on each side by the Elite Household Guard. He gleamed in the lights that threw illumination everywhere.
Overhead, the stars of space and all of the heavenly bodies carried on their inscrutable ways as the pageant below on the perhaps universally unique planet of Cybertron played out. Cameras both in space and on the ground caught every loving feature of this, an intensely historic moment of a Prime saluting their Warrior God in the actual center of His being. It would be the first time in tens of millions of years.
The crowds watched with almost messianic zeal, their optics following him silently as he passed them by. Some touched him, most just nodded their helms in overwhelming happiness and respect. The air virtually crackled with emotions as the group walked along the boulevard past the multitudes. It didn't matter that there were Decepticons among the Autobots. No one cared at this moment. Differences were no difference today.
The Temple came closer to their view, its elegant form towering over an open plaza. It was identical in format to Mars and the steps that led upward were occupied near the door with the local priests. Alpha was in the crowd following Prime but he and Turbine would follow Optimus to the doorway to wait as they had on Mars.
The plaza opened up the area, some of it redesigned for better access and across the way the steps beckoned. Just before he reached them the crowd following halted to watch him go. The Guards continued, then halted along the way until one pair stood on each step at parade rest, space apart on the steps to protect the Temple and Prime.
He made it to the top with Turbine and Alpha, then took a moment to speak to all of them. It was quiet and reverent, this period after the blessings and no one there knew what would happen here on Cybertron at this point. This would be a new frontier with the relics on Mars and nothing here but the love and devotion of millions of vorns of prayers, hopes and dreams.
Prime turned to the crowds which had filled the highway, following everyone to the Temple Square itself. He glanced at Prowl who nodded to him as he held Miracle. It was at that point that Prime nodded to all, then began to walk to the door of the Temple. He entered and it was silent.
Everyone outside watched for his return. No one knew what would happen now. Nothing like this had ever happened before. It was as silent as a tomb on the streets and boulevards of the Temple District in Simfur.
Inside, ornamental torches burned and threw light against the walls. Shadows shaded the statues of their gods, shadows that made them seem slightly sinister. He continued onward, his peds making hollow sounds as he walked to the railing that overlooked the relics. In the places where they were supposed to be, the Well and Allspark, there was nothing. The most realistic holographic projections would be begun from equipment that would be hidden when he came out. They would showcase the relics until the Pantheon and Primus decided what They wanted to happen about this singular problem.
No one knew if They would change a single thing.
It seemed sad and solemn to Prime, like a body that had been desecrated after death. He stared at the space where They both should have been, then things changed …
=0=Outside and everywhere else
They watched, literally billions and billions of individuals. The Temple was beautiful, settled in the familiar but only slightly changed space and spoke of their oldest and most persistent memories about the warrior god who It honored. It was then that a blast of light ignited within, flowed out of the building, then enclosed it in a dome of undulating brilliance. It was shocking and startling …
=0=Inside
He felt he should have been blinded by the light but it wasn't that sort. This was the kind he was very familiar with, the kind that gave the blessings, the kind that he knew underpinned every image and journey to the Matrix he undertook, the light that signaled Their presence. It surrounded him blocking every other view and seemed to hold him. He felt movement, as if sliding sideways swiftly, then he came to a gentle stop. The light was his floor, ceiling and walls. It was sentient and warm with emotion. He glanced around. "Who do I owe this honor, Lords?"
Some of the light seemed to thicken, formulating a humanoid shape. It was taller than him but had only a nebulous format. It wasn't a Cybertronian but it wasn't a human. It was just a humanoid shaped mass of light. It didn't pulse but rather coalesced into this form for his convenience, obviously. "You are here. I AM well pleased."
The voice was masculine, yet light with humor, wisdom and kindness. It was ancient, this voice but filled with love. It didn't seem to come from any particular point, but rather from everywhere around Optimus. He sank to a knee, then bowed his helm. "I am glad to come."
The voice chuckled softly. "I AM glad. Please stand, My son."
Optimus looked upward, then stood. "I … who am I speaking to?"
The light pulsed slightly, perhaps in amusement. "Who do you believe I AM?"
Optimus knew but he felt a slight fear that he did, that This could be who he believed It was. "You are The One."
"I AM. I AM that I AM. I AM all that is. The beginning, middle and end. I will tell you a secret, my son."
Prime nodded. "Lord?"
"There is no end. I have no beginning, no end. I AM that I AM."
Prime considered all of this around the siren in his helm. "I would like to know what I might do now, Lord. I am your servant."
"You are My son. All creation are My children. I love all My children equally. The good, bad and indifferent receive unconditionally My love. I send all My teachers to you, to lead and teach All That Matters to everyone. Mostly, the students kill and abuse them. Its a hard thing to be a leader. But a father loves their children and I AM no exception."
Optimus considered the multitudinous number of questions that he had in his processor, then the entity spoke.
"You have many questions. I will give you answers that suit the plan for you and for lose who you lead. I will not tell you more. I will tell you that everyone is loved intensely and you are never alone. You are of Me. You are part of Me. You would not exist if you weren't. Therefore, I AM for you and you are for Me. Simple."
Prime considered that. "Simple?"
"Ah. You wish to make it hard? I can do that, too. I AM that I AM." A soft chuckle could be heard.
It felt almost odd to consider that The One had a sense of humor. He was the underpinning of all life everywhere, a serious force altogether in Prime's processor. "I wish to understand all that I am supposed to do so that I may do it to the level the situation requires."
"You fulfill your tasks well. If you live your life with love and compassion, it will live itself for you," the figure said. "You are here to re-dedicate this sacred space to my son."
"I am, Lord," Optimus said. "It pains me to see It this way. The life of the building is elsewhere."
"It gives comfort there, yes?"
"It does," Optimus replied.
"Then It is where It is supposed to be," the figure replied. "What to do about this one, though … what do you suggest?"
Optimus stared at the facsimile of a being that had created everything that existed. There was nothing he could suggest that this being wouldn't know ahead of the thought. It shocked him that The One would need a consultant. "I am unclear. Both places deserve and require comfort. This place is comfort."
The figure nodded. "I know. I have already decided what to do about this, this thing that shouldn't have happened but did. You have free will after all. I AM also going to do something else to compliment the actions taken here. I do this because I AM well pleased with you, Optimus Prime. Go forth."
With that, the light disappeared. Then another light erupted nearby. He turned to the banister, then stared with surprise. A blue pool with a white mist was on the floor below and turning silently in the space above It, the Allspark glowed with Its inscrutable light. They were here, here in Simfur. After the initial surprise, he rushed to the stairs, then went down the steps. Halting before the two relics, he called Mars. :Prime to The Master of the Temple:
:I am here, Lord Optimus. How may I serve you?:
:Please … check on the Allspark and Well:
It was silent a moment, then the voice was back. :They are here and well. Is there something I may do?:
Prime considered the situation, then replied. :No. Thank you. Prime out: He stared at the Well a moment before he felt anyone there with him. He looked around, then down. Orion and Halo were on the floor looking up at him. He knelt. "What is happening, Orion? Who are you really?"
Orion smiled his pac man way and so did Halo. "We are the heralds of Onyx Prime. We are here to answer your questions. Onyx likes this form."
Prime nodded. "I do as well." He thought a moment. "How is this possible?"
"The One is All That Is. The One can do anything. Usually He doesn't interfere but this is different. They are both one and the same, the relics here and on Mars. You do understand that They and The One are multiversal singularities and can exist on all dimensions and universes at the same time?"
Prime nodded. "Then They are the same. One is not a lesser copy of the other, but two versions of the same original."
The kids smiled. "Yes," they said together.
That was when the floor began to rumble.
=0=TBC 7-22-2020 Sorry this took a bit of time. Slag happens. :D 7-22-2020