The Diego Diaries: (dd7 398)
My computer is dying, busted screen and all. I am working around it. :D
=0=Elsewhere on another plane of existence
"Megatron …"
The big mech stared around, then at Orion. He frowned slightly. "Optimus … you seem different somehow."
Orion stared at the mech who was his friend, mostly. "Megatron."
The big mech walked to him, then halted. He looked around. "I have less experience with the Matrix than you. Is this a different location than the usual places?"
Orion stared at him with surprise. "I do not understand."
"Then allow Me to explain," a rich voice said.
They turned together to see a mech walk out of the middle of an empty space. He was beautiful, shimmered in light that reflected off His armor identifying Him right away as Pantheonic. Orion, then Megatron took a knee, then bowed their helms.
The figure before them nodded back. "Rise, please. We must talk."
Megatron and Orion stood, taking in the brilliant figure of a mech that was probably the most unknown among the Pantheon but among the most beloved. He was the one who was self effacing, approachable and kind. He was the one who was most like those who were down at heel given He never asked for anything for Himself but gave everything He had to and for others. It was no accident that His spark was identical to Primus, the only one to be so among the Pantheon. It had been the deciding factor in putting Unicron into stasis.
Thirteen stepped closer, his silver armor brilliant. He was taller than both of them but not so tall that he towered. He had kept that disparity between them to a minimum. Light radiated from Him giving an auric affect around His tall beautiful body. "We have a mutual problem," He began. He stared at both of them silently a moment. "You are a Prime?" He asked Megatron. "You are the Prime from the … what it is the Others tend to call it? The shattered glass universe?"
Megatron stepped closer. "It is my honor to bear the Matrix for my people. Where I come from, Lord, the Autobots are the enemy of our people and the Decepticons are not."
Thirteen nodded as He stared at the sigil on Megatron's shoulders. "You have blended them. I take it then that you are a mixed configuration."
Megatron nodded. "We are. It is the best way to go forward, to do it as one. All of those who cannot be rehabilitated and pose the highest risk to us are sent to Optimus, here." He glanced at Orion. "He takes them into custody and saves us trauma in our reclamation. We are comrades together."
Thirteen nodded. "How is it then that you are different than the mech I met when We had our inter-dimensional problems some time ago?"
Orion stared at Thirteen totally unaware of what He was talking about. He shifted uneasily as the two stared at him. "Lord, there has been some kind of accident. I am Optimus Prime but as a younger mech. A spacial anomaly created this in me, something that we are trying to reconcile." He turned off his pretender gear and the gangling youngster was back. "This technology, pretender technology allows me to pass as my older self. We do so to prevent trauma among our people."
Thirteen considered that. "We have a very great problem. There is an individual, someone I read as enhanced who can jump dimensions and possibly time given how interrelated these concepts are. His intention is malevolent. I do believe that he holds murderous desires against Primes, all Primes. I do believe that he plans to go from dimension to dimension to enact murder against all of them."
"We are tracking, or were, a Decepticon mechanism that is retrofitted to be a killing machine. They have internal reactors to allow them to travel orn and night without stopping, have armor fitted from the metal harvested from the event horizons of black holes and because of the process of fitting it hot upon them, whatever little empathy and regard they may have had before is lost. Apparently, I have some sort of disagreement with him, though I cannot remember it," Optimus said.
"It appears that that moment occurred farther down your timeline," Thirteen said.
"Is it possible for you to foresee it, perhaps finding what the core of the disagreement is?" Megatron asked. "Is there anything linking me into this equation besides being a Prime myself? Perhaps I am part of the problem, thus, needing to be part of the solution as well."
Thirteen appeared introspective a moment, then gazed at both. "You are a part of this by virtue of being a Prime. You, Optimus, are living this as a life choice and I cannot help you even if I know what must happen. However, that part of your story is blocked to even Me."
It was silent a moment, then Megatron stepped closer. "Lord, you can traverse dimensions. What does this mean? Have you seen this one? Does he exist where You do? I do not know the whole story but I am aware of the trans-dimensional anomaly that you experienced with Optimus," he said nodding to the big kid beside him. "We have talked together on many occasions and he counsels me about this responsibility, being a Prime. I am coming up on Festival orn and I would like to know if it will be a good experience for my people and if I am going to be what they need."
Thirteen regarded Megatron. "I am aware of many versions of you across the dimensional multiverse and only a handful of them have honor. You lead the pack. You will be all your people need and more. Just remember them and your responsibilities without neglecting yourself. Find balance and the Pantheon will bless you. It will be a beautiful experience for both of you.
"As for this one … I have seen him. He came to My home and walked into My private quarters at The Residence. My partner and I were taken off guard. I asked him to let Me help him, that shooting Me would be a step he did not want to take but he fled. We tracked him until he jumped dimensions. I discerned his malevolence and have come to the conclusion that he will jump dimensions and kill you, Optimus Prime, until he's satisfied that no more exist."
"I do not know why," Orion said. "I cannot figure it out and no one can decide more than that he is a psychopathic personality who stalks others for real or imagined hurts."
Thirteen nodded. "That is so. We must be vigilant. I am aware that you two communicate. I have to come in this manner to communicate with you. There is no dimensional breach to make it different. We must work together to track this individual. I have discussed this with The One and the conclusion is that none of the Primes he wishes dead have this on their life plans. This is an outlier and we have therefore permission to take this difficulty on. Otherwise, We would have to let it unfold."
"Like my situation," Orion said.
Thirteen nodded. "Yes."
"If I may be so bold, my Lord … would it be against some grand plan of the universe if the three of us would come together to help our people prosper and promote peaceful coexistence for them with the rest of the universe even after this is concluded? I am honored to be here and meet with you. Optimus, here is my very great and good friend. Our association has paid peace dividends for both of our dimensional versions of Cybertron."
Thirteen considered that as if listening to someone speak to Him that neither could see. Then He nodded. "It would be allowed."
Megatron bowed his helm, then Orion followed. "Is there more we can do now or is there more we need to know, Lord?"
Thirteen considered the two. "Not at the moment. We must be vigilant. I will bend Myself toward your dimensions. I will feel your need. As for you, Orion Pax … you will find your way. I personally know this to be true," He said enigmatically. "Until We come together again," He said, then faded away.
Both mechs stared at the empty space where the glittering calm figure of a god had stood.
Then Megatron turned toward Orion. "I am new to this. I am never going to be used to such things happening before me. I am glad that you are my mentor, Optimus Prime, even as you are Orion Pax for now."
"I am unsure how to progress toward restoration. I cannot remember or perhaps I have not lived the events that precipitated this yet. It is very frustrating."
Megatron nodded, then put a powerful servo on the youngster's shoulder. "I have faith in you. Sometimes in your darkest hour, that is enough."
Orion nodded. "Thank you," he said.
=0=A short time before
Prowl who was standing beside Megatron startled as the big mech disappeared. The others with him gasped.
"What just happened?" Black Shadow asked with shock and surprise.
Prowl scanned the room, then analyzed the data. "I … I think he's with the Matrix."
It was silent in the shocked room.
"I didn't know they actually disappeared when they left for that place," Blue Bacchus whispered.
"They do. A lot. The real ones," Ultra Magnus said. "We have to wait now. He will be back."
=0=A short time before
Prowl froze with surprise and fright as Orion disappeared. He glanced swiftly around the room, then scanned. Walking to the computer station nearby, he called up a search. Waiting, he fidgeted as Teletraan 1 did the job. "What is the news?"
"The individual that you have requested is not in this universal dimension."
Prowl's internals seized, then his energon ran cold. "Extrapolate."
A moment passed, then Teletraan was back. "Optimus Prime alias Orion Pax is not in this dimensional plane. It is possible that he was called to the Matrix as it would appear that a powerful force enveloped him before he disappeared off the grid."
"What force? I didn't see one," Prowl said testily.
"The force is Pantheonic in configuration," Teletraan replied.
Prowl stood rooted to the floor, controlling his panic as he put through a call to Turbine.
=0=Matrix
"That is the Prime that traded places with you then? The one who is considered a god in His dimension?"
Orion shrugged helplessly. "I have read the reports and it would appear that it is Him. He is a god, acknowledged and living among The People on His plane of existence."
Megatron nodded. "I am new to this, Orion. I am learning but given that I have a master teacher in you, it has helped me immeasurably."
"I am unaware that this is so but gratified anyway," Orion said.
"Then maybe you should alter your thinking. Embrace who you are even if its different now. Something tells me that no matter what form you take, you are a Prime at spark. Be the Prime," he said as he faded away.
Orion froze with surprise, then stepped forward but Megatron was gone. This Megatron was warm, empathetic and decent. There was a depth to him that his own was missing. It felt like he'd lost a very great friend. Glancing around, he waited. Something had to happen. When would he get to go home?
"Why not now, infant?" a voice asked.
=0=Far away
The God Optimus Prime alias Thirteen Prime came to himself in the Temple where He had begun His journey. Instead of returning in the brilliant light and spectacle that He was in reality, He came as the big mech with the handsome face and soothing aura. It was a way to relate to The People that would allow Him to be Himself, a self effacing mech with a genuine concern for others. Walking to the stairs, He continued upward, walked across the main floor, then outside for His waiting vehicle. All along the way His people greeted and touched Him. He would be home shortly.
=0=Far away
He returned to the same place he left. Appearing among his mechs, Megatron looked around.
"You were at the Matrix?" Prowl asked.
Megatron nodded. "Yes. It would appear that we have a very great problem before us."
=0=Far away
He turned to face the voice and found himself looking into the bemused optics of Solomus Prime. He bowed. "Lord Solomus, I am honored."
"As I am, infant. I came to see you off. I came to tell you to trust your intuition and it will surprise you how much will come back. You weren't just chosen to be a Prime, Orion Pax. You were born to be one. Go in a good way, Orion Pax."
With that, Orion Pax alias Optimus Prime disappeared to reappear next to Prowl. He turned to Prowl in time to be hugged tightly. He hugged the big mech back.
=0=Far away
He found a hotel and checked in. Next he would find dinner and a drink, then begin his surveillance of Megatronus Prime as he found out his old boss was named here. It didn't matter that he didn't have much of a grudge against Megatron that made him stay here. It was that even here there was a Prime who needed his complete attention.
=0=TBC 10-7-2020 10-24-2020