The Diego Diaries: Cloudy (dd7 386)
=0=Them, there
They stared at the light almost afraid to speak. It was insistent on answering every question or comment posed so they spoke to each other off line.
:Ratchet is going to be fragged about this: Ironhide said as he stared at the light.
:So will Prowl: Orion answered. "Light."
"I AM here."
"Tell me your mission. Please be explicit."
"I AM here to answer questions. I AM here to be available to those who need advice, assistance or understanding."
Both of them stared at the light, then each other. :Ask him: Ironhide said.
Orion stared at Ironhide for a moment with slight resentment, then looked at the light. "What are the clouds that float around the universe?"
"Specify."
:This is going to take a while: Ironhide noted.
:Jump in any time: Orion replied.
:You're the Prime. Be one: Ironhide retorted.
They stared at each other a moment, then Orion looked at the light. "A cloud is floating near our home and it does not like to be scanned. It scans back and changes whoever does that to It."
"It is Its purpose, to learn and grow. It brings information back to Prime Source. It has many functions but It is that one that matters. It is ancient and benign."
"How is It benign when It scanned us back and made both of us younger … our younger selves?" Ironhide noted.
There was silence a moment, then the light seemed to 'shrug'. "You were not harmed."
"We are younger versions of ourselves and we are living the life of our older ones. We do not have a clue how to make it work," Orion said. "How can we be made ourselves again?"
"It is in your hands."
They stared at the cloud.
"What does that mean?" Ironhide asked with rising frustration.
"Fulfill what you came to do. It will resolve itself. It is learning from you."
"Who is?" Ironhide asked.
"The cloud and via the cloud, Prime Source."
"You mean It did this to watch us?" Orion asked.
There was a pause as if to think, then the light spoke. "Yes."
"It didn't have our permission," Ironhide said.
"Why would the rain ask the grass for permission to fall?" the light said enigmatically. "It just does."
:Frag this: Ironhide said.
"We have to figure this out. Is this something we chose to do?" Orion asked.
"Yes."
"We have to figure it out, then it will correct itself," Orion asked.
"Yes."
:What is the objective of this thing? What are we supposed to find out?: Ironhide asked.
Orion shrugged slightly. :You are asking me?:
"Light, how can we talk to this cloud thing?" Ironhide asked. "We want to get this straightened out."
"You cannot. You are to It as a single flake of snow is to the blizzard that made it."
"Well," Ironhide fumed slightly. "Nothing like a little ego building to make a mech feel good about themselves."
Orion grinned in spite of himself. "He has a point."
"No, he doesn't," Ironhide fumed contrarily.
Orion glanced at the light with a slight grin. Ironhide was hilarious. "Cloud, where is this place? Is it in the Matrix?"
"Yes."
"Then its possible to speak to a member of the Pantheon?" Orion asked.
"Perhaps."
"If we ask for someone, would They come?" Orion asked.
"Perhaps."
"Why are you making this harder than it already is, slagger?" Ironhide asked with impatience.
"I AM not. You are immature and impatient."
Orion suppressed a desire to laugh as he glanced at a very frowning Ironhide. "Light, may we speak to Solus Prime?"
"Perhaps."
"Perhaps? Is that all you can say?" Ironhide asked with growing irritation in his voice.
"I can say absolutely everything in any language you wish to require. I can say many things."
"I think I hurt its feelings," Ironhide said feeling a minuscule amount of satisfaction.
"If you could ask, I would appreciate it," Orion said with a grin.
Then the whole place disappeared.
=0=Temple
Ratchet sat on a bench with the others as Prowl paced. It would go like that for a while.
=0=Elsewhere
They found themselves standing on a street. It was a nice street with nice shops. Praxus as a university town had dining districts and this was one. Ironhide recognized it right away. What was odd was that every place was closed but one and there was no one around.
"This is weird," Ironhide said. "That place is open. I like it. Come on."
"I am not allowed to enter," Orion said.
Ironhide frowned. "If anyone objects I'll plant them." He walked on as Orion joined him.
They walked to the restaurant, entered, then walked to a table. There was no one here but there were sounds in the back. Pulling chairs, they sat to wait. It wouldn't take long for them to do that.
A tall femme that was very beautiful walked out and toward them with a couple of beers in her servos. She set them down, then grinned. "What will you have? The beer is on the house."
"We are waiting for Solus Prime," Orion said as he glanced around. The place was beautiful, the most beautiful restaurant he'd ever been in.
The figure pulled a chair, then sat. "What can I do for you?" she asked with a grin.
Both mechs stared at Her a moment as the veil that prevented them from recognizing Her lifted in their processors. Both stood up immediately. They bowed.
"Lady," Orion said as Ironhide murmured the same thing.
"Please sit and let's talk," Solus said with a smile on Her ravishingly beautiful face.
They did, awkwardly, then it was silent a moment.
A beer appeared out of nowhere in Her servos, so She sipped it. Setting it down, She grinned. "Please. Enjoy your drink."
Both mechs picked up their glasses and sipped. It was amazing how good and cold it was.
Solus scrutinized them both. "I take it that you had a bump in with a fragment of The One. In the Beginning, They were everywhere because The One had to create everything and needed information so He allowed part of his processor to drift and do so. Now They've traveled farther afield. Most species never see Them."
"They saw us and we're paying a price, Lady. It makes us kids again. Or so they say. I don't see myself changed at all," Ironhide said.
"I suppose you don't," Solus said with amusement. "I gather that being young in the middle of your successful older life isn't much fun."
"It has its features," Orion said. "I find it difficult given the things that come up. I think the other Prime needs to come back."
"Don't you think you can do it anyway? If there's a shooting war, you don't think you can step up and be the Prime? I don't remember you having any special powers for it when the war broke out. You learned fast and had oceans of natural talent and charisma, Orion Pax. You need to remember that," She said.
"Is that what this is about?" Ironhide asked. "What about me? How do I fit into all of this."
"Did I say that?" Solus asked with a big grin.
"Not in so many words," Orion offered.
"There is a plan here, Orion Pax and Ironhide. Its very small and personal. It is something that you wanted to work out. It does not apply to this end of your life. It applied to the time you came here from. It is between you and another. The cloud was merely a vehicle to deliver the space for it to happen."
"What to happen, Lady? If we knew, we could help here," Ironhide asked.
"Where would be the fun in that?" Solus asked. "Be bold. You are a Prime. You were born to be one. You are his friend. Figure it out." With that, Solus Prime and the restaurant disappeared and both mechs were back in the Temple.
Ratchet had been staring at the mist over the Well when both mechs materialized before them. He blinked in surprise.
Prowl who was pacing stopped, then hurried to Prime. "Are you alright?" he asked as he checked the big youngster over.
"I am well," Orion said as he glanced at Ironhide who nodded.
Ratchet scanned them both, then nodded to Prowl. "How about we go somewhere and discuss this?"
After a moment with the priests, Turbine followed the four back to the Ops Center even as he ordered pizza for delivery. It always felt better if you weren't hungry.
=0=Moments later
They sat at the table eating pizza. Drinks were had at the food buffet in the Rec Room. It was silent, then Prowl glanced at Orion. "What happened?"
Both told them as the three older mechs listened to the tale. It was silent for a moment afterward.
"Neither of you have a clue do you," Ratchet said rather than asked.
For a moment they were miffed, then Orion nodded. "No. Apparently, its small and personal."
"When did you two meet?" Ratchet asked. "Was there any moments from when you remember that possibility?"
Both youngsters glanced at each other, then the three elders. "No," both of them said.
"Then we have to wait. You're here to do this and it'll happen. It wouldn't have been set up if this wasn't to be cleared up between you. This includes both of you. I think that the cloud would be able to decide which one it wanted to watch. Apparently this takes the two of you," Turbine said.
"The Lady told us it was small and personal," Orion said.
Turbine nodded. "I said it felt that way."
"Then we let it play out," Orion said grimly.
"Barring a miracle, I think its the only path forward," Turbine said sympathetically. "Stay together as much as you can. This is a two prong plan."
"Why do I feel this is going to be just that? A pronged plan in my aft," Ironhide said.
Ratchet grinned. "Practice. By the way, where is Halo?"
Ironhide startled then opened his carry hold. She was laying on blankets sleeping away. "I forget she was there."
"That's why you can't have the keys to the car, Ironhide. Your older self wouldn't have forgotten. Slagger," Ratchet said.
Ironhide frowned. "You be me for a while."
Ratchet laughed. "Orion in a few years. What a colossal frag up that's going to be."
No one argued with him.
=0=TBC 9-22-2020 10-24-2020