The Diego Diaries: Festivale: Amends 10 (389) edited

-0-Prime Residence

Prowl stared at his genitors and did the math. He then capitulated. "I admit to that."

Venture nodded. "We knew it was you. We are sorry that you were so unhappy that this was the only way you could assert yourself."

Prowl blinked. Optimus looked from his in-laws to his Only One and back again, a number of images from Prowl flooding his processor over the link. Most of them were embarrassment writ large. "Why are you apologizing to me? I owe you."

Miler shook his helm. "No. If you had been happy, you would never have done that. You were miserable. I would say, you were as miserable as us."

Venture nodded. "We did what we knew. We were in a life with a pre-determined path. We tried to do for you the same thing just as it was for us. We failed you. We failed to allow you to be who you actually were."

It was quiet a moment, then Prowl sat up straighter. "That was then."

"it was yesterday," Miler said. "You understand this moment and this orn. You understand what and why we say this. We don't hold you for this prank. It was your spark trying to be free."

T-Bar hopped down from the couch and paused next to his ada. "Ada, you got into trouble?"

Prowl looked at him, then scooped him up. "I was a punk," he said with a slight grin. "I was a moody little sulker."

"We all were," Miler said with a grin. "We are sorry, son. We didn't know better. That isn't the best excuse but it is the truth."

Rambler who was standing beside Optimus walked to Miler and hugged him tightly. "Ada was a troublemaker?" he asked with a grin.

Miler snorted, then glanced at Prowl. "Sometimes. It was his great glory."

Prowl relaxed a moment, then snuck a glance at Optimus. That worthy was smirking slightly at Prowl's discomfort. "You are forgiven only if you forgive me."

"I'm not sure I can. I remember the governor of Vos bending over to purge his tanks on the antique rug in the great room. That was a memory that I will cherish forever," Miler said with a grin. "It didn't seem so at the time but it does now."

Venture grinned. "He was in a world of hurt." He glanced at Prowl. "Given his horrendous record at caring for the poor, I salute you, son."

Prowl blinked. T-Bar hugged him tightly. "Good job, Ada," he said to general laughter.

The door opened as Bluestreak walked in with Kaon in his arms. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe came behind. Sideswipe had the twins. Sunstreaker had Dawg and Bob on leashes. Bob hustled along in his peculiar gate, his little legs churning to keep up. When he reached the party in the room he cowered and moved to hide behind Sunstreaker.

Prime leaned forward and peered at the Insecticon. "That's Bob?" he asked.

Sunstreaker nodded. "He's an underdeveloped Insecticon that was dumped because he has defects. He was dying when I found him. He was a big help this morning."

Bluestreak handed Kaon to Kestrel and took Uraya. "Uri fell out of the crib and crunched her winglet. Ratchet had to put it back in joint and she has some tiny welds to help support it. She really was hurting but we didn't hear her. Dawg got us and Bob was comforting her."

Everyone looked at the two creatures, one hiding, the other sitting with a lolling tongue, his overall magnificence without question as superb as the last time they saw him.

"The bug helped her?" Rambler said as he walked to Bob and knelt. The insect moved closer, his abject submissive behavior almost painful to watch. Rambler pet him and the bug moved swiftly to lean against him, his purring filling the room. Rambler looked up and smiled at the group. "THEY PURR!"

"They do," Sunstreaker said dropping the leashes. "They do as babies. He's an abandoned baby left to die. He probably won't ever be as big as he was supposed to become. He's lucky to be alive. He's ours now. He comes with us. Primus made him. He deserves to be there."

"He's very afraid acting, Sunstreaker. Do you think the event will be too scary for him?" Prowl asked as he studied the insect.

"He's going to be with me. If he gets afraid, I'll hold him." Sunstreaker had the expression he used when he couldn't be argued with, the expression of determination that made him such a menace on the battlefield and such a sterling son-in-law and father.

"You can remove him too if it becomes too much, Sunstreaker," Optimus said. "You can bring him into the Temple. You have my permission."

Sunstreaker glanced at Optimus surprised, then nodded. "Thanks. I like him. He's helpless and alone. He took care of Uri and that matters to me."

"And to me too," Optimus said nodding. He held out his servos and Bluestreak filled them with the silent infant with the pained sad energy. He lay her against his chassis and when he did a light emanated from it, a light that engulfed her. She relaxed and held onto her grandatar's armor with her tiny servos. The glow engulfed her, then faded. She was relaxed and her energy improved as she lay in her grandatar's arms.

"That was amazing," Miler said. He rose and bowed his helm as Venture did as well. Kestrel looked at Tagg, then rose too. The room was silent a moment, then Spirit broke the spell. "Why is everyone standing?" he asked from the couch.

Everyone glanced at him, then chuckled. Sitting, Venture explained. "Uraya got hurt. Your atar held her and the Matrix helped her. That was a blessing, Spirit. A very holy moment."

He looked at his grandatar, then Optimus. "That's my atar," he said sweetly.

Optimus chuckled and patted Uraya who was laying quietly. "I am," he said winking at the little white and red botlet.

"It is time to go to the Temple," Prowl said glancing at a chronometer. He rose and reached for Uraya. "Rambler, will you get their basket please?" he asked.

Rambler hopped off and returned with the basket that the infants sat in during games and other outings. It was soft, blankets lining it for warmth and comfort. Toys were there along with treats. Rambler set it on the coffee table. Prowl gently put Uraya inside and she lay back sleepily. He tucked a blanket around her, then took Iacon from Sideswipe. When they were settled and all the infants enclosed in jackets and hats against the -65 degree weather outside, they turned to Optimus.

For a moment, he was just Optimus, father, bond and son. But as they watched, they saw it happen. The soft energy of the Matrix began to assert itself, the sensation rather than the image of its warmth and loving embrace reaching them a moment, then receding. They bowed for a moment infants including, then turned quietly to leave for the Temple.

Optimus rose and walked them to the door closing it behind them. For a moment, he listened to the gathering energies inside his body, then walked to the doors that led to the verandah that wrapped around the massive rooftop apartment. Stepping out, the cold was refreshing to him as he walked to the railing to look around. Down below a steady stream of individuals were making their way to the Temple. It was amazing to see as he walked slowly around the penthouse along the verandah. From all sides, he could see the city and beyond. The roads were filled with traffic as they drove toward the Temple. The crowds when all were present would stretch out for nearly two miles in all direction. They came and stood as close as they could until everyone was there. Two and a half million bots would show up minus four in the process of separating at the Metroplex Youngling, Elder and Femme Hospital. Even there, they would not be left out.

Prime looked at the sky, the cold pale blue soothing. It reminded him of Prowl's optics. They were a beautiful blue as well. They looked at him and he felt complete. There was nothing lacking for him now. He had his family, his children, friends of a lifetime and a purpose that tested his limits every orn. Before him, the accomplishment of a million lonely dismal orns was stood testament to their indomitable will and it healed something deep down to see it. He watched his people when they worked. They did so with purpose, pride and resolve. They worked for each other and themselves. This was all their world and their resurrection was dependent upon even the least among them.

Bob was welcome here. He was almost emblematic of their plight. Lost, thrown away, abandoned, alone, at death's door. No one wanted him either. He had no home but here. Now he was cared for and wanted. That was the glory of this place. Anyone could come here and find that too. All they had to do was remember who they were. That had been forgotten too long. This place was the monument to their greatness. He was as proud of the smallest sparkling as he was of anyone on his senior team. This place was for them. All of them.

A tug in his chest gave him pause, then he turned and walked through his apartment. Reaching the door, he opened it and stepped out. He knew rather than saw that no one was in the building but him. Everyone who could move was outside waiting for him. He walked to the elevator and disappeared downward to the lobby.

-0-On the street

The family walked along with the gathering crowd. Arriving just as a crowd surge was occurring, they found themselves in the place they were the year before. The humans were there, scientists, soldiers and their families, civilians like Sam, Mikaela and the Roberts'. Leonora Huttle was there too, the only filmmaker invited. She waved to the twins and they grinned, nodding back. The crowd stood talking with expectation as they gathered at the steps of the beautiful perfect replica of the ancient holy Temple of Primus at Simfur.

Ratchet and his crew arrived, Spot finding Dawg with a lick and a bark. Then he saw Bob. That little bot was hugging Sunstreaker's leg nervously as he peered around. No one had particularly noticed him yet. Orion and Praxus were in the carry hold of Ironhide playing with dollies and chatting. They were used to being carried that way so this wasn't new. The sound was muffled by Ironhide as he slowly dialed up the soundproofing. Hero was with Ratchet playing with her dollies inside Ratchet's hold. Prowler was in Alor's hold recharging after eating his breakfast.

Sunspot sat in Blackjack's arms asking about this and that thing. Alor and Blackjack explained as he pointed while they waited like everyone else. Kestrel, Tagg and Prowl came up behind them finding their places. The infants were picked up and held as the press of bodies increased, the three pets moving to stand between the legs of the twins and Ratchet. It was warming up slightly as the sun broke finally over the top of the Temple. It was as if the sun was rising from the building itself.

-0-Optimus

He stood in the lobby gathering himself. Then he started toward the door. As he did, the door opened and mechs began to file in. They stood in front of him, their bodies glistening from detailing. They were the mechs of the Imperial Guard that had protected his genitors for the duration of their ordeal on Cybertron following The Fall. One of them, the senior member of the bodyguard stepped forward and bowed. Straightening, he looked at Prime with emotional optics. "Sir," he said. "Please allow us the honor of escorting you to the Temple today. It is our brief and we would be grateful to do so again."

Prime looked at them, ten steadfast mechs to whom he owed his peace of mind. He nodded. "It is I who would be honored," he said.

They bowed again, then moved to form a line on each side of him. One held the door opened, then they stepped out, a Prime beyond all dimensions of the meaning and ten remarkably dignified guards. The crowd saw them come, then became stilled. Optimus stood a moment getting his bearings, then they turned to walk through the massive crowd to the Temple across town. His guards formed an escort on both sides of him. The crowds bowed as he approached and straightened only when he passed. They parted like the sea against the prow of a great ship, then closed behind him. He traveled in a bubble of space that from overhead was remarkable to see.

-0-N.E.S.T. HQ, Earth and Autobot City, IntraComm Channels 2, 4 and 9, MCA Downcast to Earth, multi channel broadcast as well as video leak to the far reaches of out there (Paragon, Cyclonus, Soundwave, unknown and unnamed but located space pirates as well, we are speaking to you)

The overhead shots were remarkable. The city was scanned low level from space satellites four and six of Teletraan III, the images so clear that viewers could see the individual bots. The crowds were stupefying. In the center of the overhead shots was the glittering roof of the Temple and another building, a pavilion that would house for exhibition their greatest treasures including one that was given to Prime with the arrival of Metroplex and considered the most important of all the relics in the collection so far.

Shots were varied as the automatic camera relays around the city and environs showed what they were set up to film. Familiar faces like the soldiers, Morshowers, Roberts', Fultons and scientists were seen. Others not so familiar including hundreds if not thousands of Seekers and former Decepticons were also seen. It appeared that everyone in the city had come to take part in this mystical deeply important event.

They had.

-0-TBC August 6, 2013