The Diego Diaries: Cloudy (dd7 381)
=0=Around
It was busy at the Med Center. A number of the refugees coming from Omega Base which was run by the Network and the Knights of Cybertron had things that needed attention by doctors who were specialists. They were brought from there every orn through bridges to be repatriated and given a new life. Many of them came with ailments that needed further repair in a formal facility with specialist doctors. Some needed cosmetic surgery and repair. Limbs were a big thing here. The list was endless and the scheduling was amazing to see. Most of them didn't need someone like Ratchet though he was on call and often just took some patients to 'keep his servo in'.
He sat on his chair in his amazing office staring at a pile of data pads while more data spun away on his computer. It was compiling to give him stats for the medical report he would give to Prowler at a staff meeting eventually.
If they ever had one again anyway.
Prowler and Orion/Optimus were at The Citadel at Iacon City on Cybertron. Prowl was determined to cover all bases and ensure that the youngster would be able to fake his way through any event that came up. Ironhide on the other hand was dogging along with the elders on Cybertron.
He grinned. It was inevitable that the big lug would find himself in the 'tug-of-war of love' as Ironhide had so (drunkenly) announced once (to others) and that they would have their usual bout of fisticuffs followed by laughs. This was no different. Apparently, 'rock 'em, sock 'em robots™' was a genetic hand-me-down in Ironhide's family. It would never have happened without the permission of his family who loved the joke. The final compilation of data that Ratchet had been sneakily taking of both Prime and Ironhide to ascertain their ages sealed the deal. Both were the age of consent.
Barely.
Ironhide was adult but just so. Orion was just a bit behind, far enough out of sub adulthood to be considered mature but not fully adult in the classical sense. Ironhide and Ratchet were both older than Optimus Prime. The cloud entity had fixed the two into interesting age groups complicating things markedly but also making it interesting.
Prowl had once confided in Ratchet when he was slag faced that he kept a few images of Optimus Prime from Transformers: Prime because he didn't have them for Optimus when he was a youngling. Now he'd confided stone cold soberly that he was nearly filming every moment of Orion's orn to have that blank spot filled.
Ratchet had considered doing the same with Ironhide but he had the fulsome files of his doting elders to fill in all the blanks he needed. Ratchet knew that Alie and Blackjack weren't supposed to be able to have a child 'naturally' so they were going to the Well when Ironhide happened. He was the infant they weren't supposed to have so he was doted upon, spoiled as much as his elder's ethics allowed and never aged an orn. It amused Ratchet terribly to see Ironhide fussed over. That Ironhide actually liked it and adored the ground they walked on helped a great deal with the tomfoolery.
Ironhide was supposed to be the only one.
Watching him around Scout was amusing. He even confused Orion and Scout when they were together until tats were pointed out, admired and exclaimed over.
"So … he's a femme killer already is he?" Ironhide had asked with amusement and pride.
Ratchet nodded. "Little mech has The Touch."
Ironhide had glanced at him. "The touch?"
Ratchet grinned. "He has it. You got the power."
"Do I?" he asked with a trace of confusion.
"Long story," Ratchet replied as he laughed loudly.
"No doubt," Ironhide said as he glanced back at the sibling he wouldn't know he would have for some time to come.
Right now, Ratchet was trapped at the office. Maybe later he could chase everyone down to have a few laughs. His computer pinged so he turned himself to the task.
=0=Cybertron, here and there
Orion Pax looked around the massive, ornate and historical office of the Prime of Cybertron that was in The Citadel. It was on top of the building, had incredible views of the city and was luxurious in a way he'd never seen before. Their apartment was spectacular and had better views given they had daylight on Mars. But this was over the top and a slow burn filled him.
"What are you thinking?" Prowl asked him as he stared at the big kid. He was an expert on the moods and temperament of Optimus Prime at any age.
He glanced at Prowl considering his words. "This is rather ornate."
Prowl nodded. "It's been embellished over the vorns. Most of this building has."
Orion nodded. "I can see that."
"And? What are you thinking, Orion?" Prowl asked though he already knew.
"I am thinking that a lot of suffering could have been assuaged if this had been a lesser priority than our people," Orion said as he walked to the vast desk where his seat had carvings of the symbols of the Primes. "I have seen luxury lately that is hard to comprehend. I do believe that it is compounded by the fact that I am still in the perspective of my younger self."
Prowl nodded as he glanced around. "I know," he said as he sat on a very ornate and old chair in front of Prime's desk. "Why don't you try it on for size?"
Orion stared at it. "I am not sure I wish to do so."
"It belongs to you. You and Guardian carried yourself with dignity and honor. You shouldn't be held back by some of the others," Prowl said. "You have nothing to be ashamed of or to hold against yourself. Give to the others their just due."
Orion stared at Prowl a moment, then the chair. Slowly, he walked forward drawn to what it represented, the allure of what was essentially a throne for a sovereign lord of which he was. It radiated the power of a vast and mighty empire, perhaps the oldest that had ever existed and one that was space going almost from the beginning. It represented their great genius, those who had built the empire upward into the marvel that it was, based as it was on the living body of their originator and warrior god, Primus.
It also represented oppression on a scale that beggared the imagination. An oppression that actually put to death or maimed those who didn't follow the path set out for them by their overlords to the nth degree. If you deviated even a fraction in some incarnations of their history, the punishment was swift and harsh. For both of them, there was never a time when they didn't live under the oppression. They had no memories before Mars of any other kind of life.
"Banning The System is the greatest moment of my life up to that point," Prowl said. "You made it so from the moment you settled anywhere. We set up a lot of camps and made the rules specific until we came to Mars and built the world we wanted for everyone. Then there were trials of political prisoners and the Pantheon weighed in along with Primus that The System was abolished. There would be interventions by Them if it was transgressed."
"The Pantheon," Orion said. "They intervened?"
Prowl nodded. "We captured a number of political actors and tried them in court. Since their crimes were so enormous it necessitated a Primal Hearing with Special Circumstances. They weighed in on all of them and we have more to come. I don't believe They will miss any of them."
"Who were they? The criminals?" Orion asked as he sat in the chair with a grave expression on his handsome face.
"Sentinel Prime. A number of Senators … Ratbat, Proteus, Decimus among others. We also tried the Functionalist Council."
Orion felt the shock of that one. "Them? How did … they did not come back did they?"
"No," Prowl said. "They came to us in a migration. Before they did they recalled a number of our people that had worn out their welcome apparently."
Orion considered that with a sinking feeling. "How many?" he asked quietly.
Prowl stared at him a moment, then answered. "About half a million."
It was deep in the room, the shock and dismay from the big youngster with Prime's face. He stared at Prowl, then glanced around the room. "It was said that they ruled from this room."
Prowl nodded. "They say that. Records are spotty from that time but I would believe it."
"Then I am not sure that I can."
Prowl rose, then walked to Prime. He placed a servo on his shoulder. "If you do, then it transforms into a place of honor graced by a good mech. Otherwise, it won't."
Orion stared at him, then the room. "What sort of a people did we become?"
Prowl considered that. "We were a people waiting for you."
=0=Some farther place away
Ironhide sat on a chair in a row with his elders. All around them children were dancing and singing, putting on a show for 'Appa Raptor' who administered the district they were traveling through for inspections. He watched them as they showed Raptor their learning and abilities. He was the best kind of audience, an enthusiastic supporter and lover of children. When the festivities were concluded, they rushed him to climb into his lap and sit on his arms.
They rushed Ironhide as well and he held them, too, as the elders hurried around to set up refreshments. They were happy to have their district administrator visit the newly erected schools for the local area. The show was meticulously produced and the happiness and pride of genitors with kids in school for the first time since who could really remember was deep and genuine.
:Is it always like this?: Ironhide had asked.
Raptor who was hugging little mechs who were looking admiringly at his scars grinned. :No. Sometimes its even better:
It would be a happy half orn wandering through the rural area of Raptor's district admiring the work, happiness and children of the local residents.
=0=Mars: Ops Center
"We have a message coming through, Commander," a young Home Guardsman said from the Communications Center.
"Put it through," Paragon said.
:I would like to speak with Optimus Prime:
"Identify yourself," Paragon said. He glanced at Tactical. They were tracking the signal.
:I'm only going to talk to Optimus Prime:
"I require identification so that I can put the call through. Its standard procedure and a common courtesy," Paragon said with a cool reply.
:Tell him Xylon wants to speak to him. He will know: the deep voice said.
"Stand by," Paragon said. "Put me through to The Citadel."
The kid did and when Prowl's voice replied Parry made the request. "He states that Prime will know who he is."
Prowl considered that. "Stand by a moment, Paragon." Prowl turned to Prime. "Do you know someone named Xylon?"
Orion stared at him with a blank expression. "No."
Prowl considered that. "Paragon, run the name, please, on everything."
It was silent a moment, then Paragon was back. :We draw a blank, Commander:
"Put the call through to me," Prowl said. He glanced at Orion. "Listen and see if you know who this is but say nothing."
Orion nodded with a solemn expression.
The call came through. :I wish to speak to Optimus Prime:
"The Prime is not available at the moment. I am his sub commander, Prowl. What may I do for you in his place?"
:You can tell him that I wish to speak to him:
"In what capacity and for what reasons? He has a lot of individuals who wish to speak to him," Prowl replied.
It was silent a moment, then the voice was back. : Tell him Xylon wishes to speak to him. He will know. Xylon out:
It was silent a moment, then Prowl glanced at Orion.
He shrugged. He didn't know who it was either.
=0=TBC 9-16-2020 10-24-2020
You got the touch. :D