The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box 59 Edited for boo-boos :D
-0-At the site
Optimus stood next to Hu An as she looked at the computer panel before them. This was the one which controlled the energy aliens allowing someone in real space to speak and motivate them in cyberspace.
:I will input the exit codes. They will be able to retreat out of the system. You will need to stand back. As for them: she said nodding to the glowing containment vessel, :I think its time to let them out too before they get anymore debilitated:
She walked to the containment vessel and read the panel data. Then she put her big hand on the vessel and closed her dark eyes. The vessel pulsation paused as the seconds passed by, then the Hu An stepped back. :They wish to speak to you, Optimus Prime:
He looked at the Hu An, then nodded. :How?:
:I will release them. They will find you: With that, the big alien pressed a code into the panel and the lights went off, a tiny door sliding back into a recess. A flash of light occurred and the room was illuminated. A cloud of brilliance issued from a tiny port in the small door and filled the room for a moment. It overawed everyone, then settled near the ceiling as a pulsating ball of light.
Optimus looked at it, then felt the room fading away. He found himself in a darkness surrounded by nothingness. Reaching out, he felt nothing. Kneeling, he felt the support of nothingness under his peds. It felt slightly nauseating. So he stood and waited. Nothing happened so he spoke. "I am here."
A pinpoint of light in the distance seemed to beckon him and he walked toward it, the image of a great window filling his processor. It grew and grew until he stood before it looking out into the darkness before him. There was nothing, then a gigantic explosion occurred and light filled the space overwhelming him. It was an enormous fury, then it settled and things began to form. There were clusters of stars living and dying. There were gases forming into shapes, then crashing into pieces, falling away into bits.
Stars pulled planets together. Stars formed galaxies as the yawning death of black holes, sometimes more than one drew them into ovals and spirals and galactic shapes unimaginable by the sheer fury of their raging power.
Quasars and pulsars, comets and debris from the moment of creation flashed past him along with settled planets and unknown civilizations galore. The death, birth and death of all things was evident to him in the flash of an optic.
He stood at the window watching it, then he was aware of someone beside him. He glanced sideways and saw Solis, the Maker. She was watching too, enjoying the sights as well.
"Solus," Prime said turning to look at her. She wore her cape and her incredible beauty was evident along with the weapons she wore or held in her servo. She was the Maker, the one who armed all of her fellows and among the greatest of all the original Primes. "Where is this? Why am I here?"
"This is the beginning, one of so many I've lost track. This is the beginning of your own. This universe had a moment of being, then it became. The light beings were there then. They have always been there."
"What are they? Who are they?" Optimus asked.
"I would tell you their name but you couldn't pronounce it." She smiled at him a moment. "They are a part of The One, a part of Him out seeking that which He created. They are Him seeking to experience His own creation. That is as simple as it gets."
"The Decepticons ... they used them for their own purposes. They harmed them. Some died," Optimus said.
"They cannot die," Solus said. "They are infinite. They are force elementals. They cannot die, Optimus Prime."
He looked at her, then the view changed and a cloud of lovely light drifted past them heading out into the universe. "Is that them? In their natural state?"
"Yes, it is," Solus said nodding. "I was once one of them until I chose this form to be a part of your people. I came to the aid of Primus, my brother when it was apparent that Unicron was a detriment to the balance of life. We came to the aid of our brother and assisted you, our wonderful children as you began your way in the universe. We have always been with you. Some of us are very aware of you and your efforts. We are well pleased."
Optimus looked at her. "Do you know how things will end?"
She looked at him. "The path is laid out before you, Optimus Prime. But you have free will. The road is filled with possible routes. You get to choose. What you choose influences what happens but the road is still there. You must never forget, all roads lead to safety. The journey may be hard but the destination is always going to be home."
"The Matrix," Optimus said. "The One."
she nodded. "Yes."
"I have to free them."
"You do."
"I wish to keep their good will. I don't want them to feel all of us would do this," Optimus said.
"They already know that. Elementals are wise, old and neutral. They do not carry a grudge but they do not forget anything. They will remember who was their friend and who was their enemy." She smiled. "You are doing well. Be brave and hold true to your principles. Remember, you are not alone."
With that, the images faded and Optimus found himself in the control room, everyone there watching him silently. He looked at Hu An. :Are they free?:
She nodded. :You had a vision:
Optimus nodded. :I did. These creatures, these force elementals need released and sent on their way:
Hu An nodded. :I have told them that they can leave now. They are waiting for you:
:Why? What do I do?:
Hu An smiled slightly. :Press the button: She pointed to the panel. :I have done it already and they haven't left. They want you to do it:
Prime looked at Hu An, then the light pulsating near the ceiling. So he turned and pressed the button. A flash of light blinded them for a moment, then the room was filled with color and sound, light and dark swirling in a strange mix. :They are thanking you, Optimus Prime: Hu An said.
The room seemed to expand, then contract as the lights mingled together, coming in and out of each other like eels. The atmosphere was filled with sound but there was nothing real to hear. It was the impression of it, of the background noise of the universe from the beginning of the big bang. Ambient noise pulsed around them, as if the beings were speaking. Yet it said nothing they could understand. Then it faded and the room was still again.
:They're all gone? They're safe?: Prime asked.
:They are: Hu An said nodding.
Prime looked at her. :Then its your turn:
The Hu An looked at him, then extended a big strong hand. :My name is Larc:
Prime extended his own and carefully gripped it. :I am honored to know you:
:I am leader of this group. I will help you with this rescue. Our people are grateful for your help: Larc said nodding.
Prime nodded back. :I think we need to leave here. We will take you to our colony. This is Wheeljack and that is Perceptor. If you can tell them what you require for habitat and sustenance, we can organize it while we leave:
:We have our own food. We grow it here: Larc said. :We can take it with us:
Prime nodded. :Let us know what you require in the form of assistance and it will be done:
Larc nodded. He turned to Wheeljack and Perceptor, the three conversing. Prime turned and walked to the door, Blackjack, Alor and Ironhide following. Ratchet who was standing in the doorway stepped back. :Was your vision personal or can you tell us?: Ratchet asked.
Prime considered that. :Solus showed me the birth of the universe. She told me that the light aliens are parts of The One off to explore His own creation. She told me that they were force elementals, wise, old and neutral. They will not forget this orn:
:You always have the best dreams: Ratchet said with a grin.
Prime grinned and looked at the wreckage. :We need to leave as soon as possible. Are the two locations taken and ready to be in transit for departure?:
Blackjack nodded. :They are, Prime. We can leave in about three breams at this rate:
:Good. I would like to do that: Prime said as he turned to walk to the prison camp. He passed it heading to where the prisoners were confined, most of them sitting on the ground looking glum, pissed or wary. He paused. :I am Optimus Prime. You are my prisoners. You will be transported to our colony, put into confinement and what happens after that is in your own servos. We are almost a million strong and we have among our numbers thousands of former Decepticons and Seekers. Starscream you may know is among the Seekerkin. But we also have among our most diligent and stalwart citizens Rampage, Scar and Nitro. Discuss among each other who they are. They will be meeting with you among others to tell you the rules and responsibilities of being a full fledged citizen of our colony. But the duty of achieving that status is up to you. We have plenty of prison space if you want to be stupid:
With that, he turned to Ironhide. :Box them up. We will send for more transport if you need it. Have the Seekers run security as you load up. We need to be gone as soon as possible:
Ironhide nodded and turned walking to the Wreckers who stood guard. Prime turned and walked to the prison to watch the Hu An gather themselves to go. On a planetoid nearby, a thousand battered and weary civilians were loaded into ships and carried through the gate to the city. By the time the rest of the group arrived with the prisoners, the hospitals would be filled with civilian patients and their ills.
-0-On 'Impactor's Revenge
:What do you think?:
:I think I'm glad they're on our side:
:This was amazing. These ships are something else. Too bad we don't have them in our fleets: Will Lennox said.
:You have enough toys to blow yourselves up a hundred times: Revo said with a smirk as he looked at the humans in the box behind his seat. :You don't need our stuff:
:A man can dream can't he?: Robert Epps asked with a grin.
:Dream on, humans: Revo said with a grin of his own.
-0-On the ground in Autobot City, Mars
The cameras rolled as big transports touched down, the stretchers and walking bedraggled registering on the view screens with a crystal clarity. The mission of rescue had been great with only a few shots taken on the winning side. Those soldiers were among the ones limping and being helped off the transports carrying the former prisoners. None of the featured players were among them and all felt a sigh of relief although the cinematic and dramatic possibilities of one of them being injured were not lost on Mellar and Belcher.
The slaggers.
-0-On the firing line
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe stood guarding the masses of Decepticons who sat on the ground, their cuffs giving a bit of light to the darkness. Drift was standing with them, all three discussing the brawl that ended the fighting.
:I miss all the good slag: Sunstreaker said with a frown. :Call me, you slagger. Make sure I'm there next time:
Drift grinned and nodded. :I'll put that in my date planner:
Sideswipe snorted. :Slagger:
:Don't tell Springer. He doesn't know yet: Drift said as he watched his bond walking toward them.
:Time to move these little ladies: Springer said drawing hostile looks from the 'ladies'. "We have a ship with space. We can take half of them now:
They turned and culled the herd, half of the 'Cons standing and heading out to a cargo hold for transport. The other half sat and glared at the four as they bantered about which among them was the ugliest and which one was the runner up.
-0-Hu An
They sat in the hold of a big vessel that they could tell was sentient. Its energy had life in it, wisdom and intelligence as well. Kappa could feel them reaching her and she sent them back soothing emotions. When all of them were loaded, they lifted off and headed toward a new future on a strange world, in a strange system far from their home.
They would have more in common with their hosts than they realized.
-0-A joor later at the rescue site
The ground was littered with trash that would remain where it fell in the airless vacuum of space. Unless it was touched by something or someone, it would stay where it was in the same condition for thousands of years before at last it reached the end of its endurance. Only then would it turn to dust.
The building against the ridge was already starting to disappear. An explosion of untended machinery had taken out the structural integrity of the facility and it was falling apart steadily. The odd impact of a small rock or shrapnel of a collision at some place and time in the past kicked up the odd bit of dust that would hang in vacuum until it slowly fell back to the surface.
Artifacts of occupation were scattered everywhere. They would stay there forgotten until at some point in the faraway future someone landed to see what was here.
It wouldn't happen in thousands of years. And when they did, they would still be Cybertronian.
-0-TBC For Pip
2013 (3)
NOTE:
Envy: WOW! Thank you for the kind words to the furries. What a fun time that must have been. I think we all should do what we can to grow this fandom. I sort of feel responsible for every fandom I write it to do that. Springer and Drift don't play football. They watch. :D If there ever is a Wrecker league, they will be awesome. :D HUGS, SWEETIE!
PS Envy, if you want to do that pm me an addie and I will send you a list of what they look like to me. :D :D :D