The Diego Diaries: Relics (396) edited
-0-At the Relics Pavilion
They stood staring at the last two exhibits before the great doors lead outside once more. Before them suspended in a force field, the enormous hammer glistened in the light.
"OTHER ATAR! WHAT?" Orion asked Blackjack as he pointed at the implement. Sitting on his grandatar's arm, he wanted the hammer IN THE WORST WAY!
Blackjack grinned at his grandson, then looked at the giant artifact. "That is the Forge of Solus Prime, Orion. It is a relic that was made by Solus the Maker and it can create or repair anything it touches. It can make things for our internal body, our insides. Nothing else can. Only the ability of the Prime holding it are the limits of the device. It responds only to Primes. I remember seeing this in exhibitions once in a while in Iacon."
They stared at it slowing moving about the space that surrounded it to observe its beauty and detail. Sunspot sat in Ironhide's arms watching. "This is beautiful. Does Uncle Optimus use it?"
"He could. No one can beat him if he does," Ironhide said with a grin. "Anyone hit with it wouldn't be walking away too easily."
"I can see," Sunspot said with a touch of awe.
"Look at that, Ada," Hero said glancing ahead to the spherical ball in the last exhibit. They turned to look at it, then began to walk that direction. Several mechs stood around it discussing the glittering golden orb as it turned slowly in the force field that held it at optic level.
It was a round sphere made of golden metal by an unknown source. A round glass-like optic-like focal point was on the front side of the device and around it at intervals were red jewel-like embellishments. No one knew what they were for or how the device worked. They just knew it did. It was an astonishing artifact and immensely ancient. It had been part of the Iacon relic collection at one time but taken away by Alpha Trion and given to Metroplex. He kept it safe until he could return it to Optimus Prime. Now it was here where it belonged, safely kept in the collection in the vaults under the Temple.
"What is that?" Sunspot asked staring at the slowly turning ball.
"I am," a voice said. Everyone around them paused and turned staring at the sphere which had stopped turning. It had poised itself with the optical shaped portion directly at Sunspot. He stared at it, then glanced at Ironhide relaxing against his atar nervously. "Why did it speak?"
"You asked a question next to it," Alor said studying it closely a moment. "Let's step back." They did and the ball began to spin again.
"It could hear me," Sunspot said as Chevron walked up to stand with them.
"It can," Chevron said staring at the device with a slight frown. "It answers questions truthfully. It is also a map of every useable resource that exists in the universe. The database inside is comprehensive. Perhaps I will stand here and monitor the artifact. I don't want anyone asking a question they aren't prepared to get answered."
Alor nodded. "That could be painful in the extreme for some of us here."
Chevron nodded, then gestured to attendants. "We need a rope around this to keep the visitors back. We don't want to activate the artifact unnecessarily."
The attendants nodded, then turned to hurry and make it so. They stood watching the device along with a growing number of bots, then turned to walk outside into the fading light of evening. Lights from the city were coming on as families and individuals began to return home to spend the evening waiting for the siren signaling the end of the festival and the fast. Walking down the broad staircase from the Pavilion, the bots around them a welcome collection of sentiment and company, they began the long trek to the Mare Tranquilitas up Metroplex Highway against and sometimes with the masses.
Orion and Praxus gave a running commentary as they went. Hero was quiet and watchful. She was garbed in her new white coat and hat, a nice contrast to the satiny black of her infant armor. The temperature was dropping fast, the fading light taking with it what warmth the orn had granted. Chatting, starting and stopping, they continued toward home, family in tow. Somewhere in the mix was the rest of them, the trine and all the extended family.
Reaching the intersection, they crossed and found the path that led to home. By the time they got there the infants were in holds and the cold was deep. Entering the building, they took a crowded mirth filled elevator to their floor and stepped out. A short walk to their apartment was accomplished down a corridor filled with individuals either going home or leaving. Entering, they put the infants down and collapsed.
"That was one long meditation," Alor said. "I wonder what Prime learned?"
"He sometimes doesn't know. It takes a while to sort it out." Ratchet picked up Hero who was sans coat and hat but held a Wheeljack dollie. She nestled into his chassis and vented a tiny sigh. "Do you want to go to recharge, Hero?"
She shook her helm. "No."
"Okay," Ratchet said with a grin.
Sunspot was sitting on Alor's lap as Spot stretched out at his peds. "I'm glad that we went to that festival, Grandada. It was fun."
"I think so too, sparkling," Alor said kissing Sunspot's cheek. "This only comes once a year. They will be putting the relics away in a decaorn until next time."
"What will they put there in the meantime?" Blackjack asked glancing at his bond as he patted Praxus's bottom. That infant was lying on his grandgenitor's shoulder fighting recharge.
"They're keeping it clear for bond ceremonies and things like that," Alor said. "They want concerts there and lectures. Even a space for art shows I'm told."
A knock on the door led to Ravel and Tie Down stepping in, the trine behind them.
"We wondered where you went, Ada," Ratchet said with a grin.
"The twins were so kind," Ravel said sweetly. "They took care of us in the crowd."
"So we heard," Ironhide said as he moved over on the couch. Ravel sat and took Prowler from his pillow paradise next to him. Tie sat down next to Blackjack and Sunspot kissing the Seeker on the cheek. "I can take the twinnies," Tie said with a hopeful look. He was given their basket and settled it on the floor removing the little girls to sit on his lap.
At the door cringing slightly, Bob hunched. Sunstreaker sat and patted the floor. "Come here, Bob."
The little bug hustled over and tried to crawl behind Sunstreaker's legs. Reaching down, Sunstreaker soothed the infant who sat between Sunny's legs at last. Dawg waddled over to the window, Spot bounding along. Then Spot paused looking at Bob. Turning, he walked over and sniffed the Insecticon who tried to sink back into the floor. Staring down at the hapless little bug, Spot bounded over and settled beside Dawg who had already parked his big frame on the rug by the window.
"They seem to like each other," Sideswipe said relaxing on the chair by the window. The table and counters nearby groaned with food and drink, a totally inviting sight but no one made a move. "Are the kids hungry?" he asked.
"Are you hungry?" Ratchet asked Hero.
She nodded yes, then shook her helm no as she struggled to stay awake.
"It's been a long orn for them," Bluestreak said as he swayed, a sleepy Kaon in his arms.
A rap on the door led to Venture and Miler stepping in. They snatched the requisite infants, then sat with Tie and Ravel. "Optimus and Prowl are heading this way. Kes and Tagg will come down with them and bring some things and the infants."
"More food and drink," Ratchet said with a chuckle. "I imagine they're falling on their faces."
"They are," Miler said nodding. "They have greeted literally everyone. The Pavilion is going to be going on all night. The priests will be monitoring the relics and attendance through tomorrow night. Then a regular guard will be posted."
Ironhide nodded. "Good thing too. Those relics are dangerous, some of them." Prowler yawned, a tiny thing as he lay in his atar's arms. Ironhide grinned. "Little bit needs to go to bed."
Ravel stood and walked to Ironhide taking the infant. He turned and walked to the hallway to put Prowler to bed. As he did the door opened with a knock and Rambler walked inside followed by the fam.
-0-At the Pavilion
They stood together looking at the relics, all of them spectacular and personally meaningful for the Cybertronians. A number of devices were kept in the Fortress under lock and key in the high security vaults. Among them were the Decepticon weapons of war. The spark extractor and the phase shifter were among them. These here on display were the treasures of their people, not the devices of their destruction.
Jade and Beray stood together, Jade enclosed in the arms of his protector and spark mate. They stood looking at the Chronicles and Quill. "I wonder what the pages say. I don't recognize the language."
"I heard that some of the writings are yet to come. The languages sometimes aren't known yet and some are so old that no one remembers them," Beray said nodding.
"This is nice. I'm so glad you're here," Jade said quietly.
He nodded. "I am too, Jade. It will be alright. Tomorrow we can go to the football game together."
Jade nodded. They continued onward to other relics with the crowd around them.
-0-At an apartment
"Have a seat, Optimus. You look beat," Ratchet said nodding to another couch. He walked to it and sat tiredly, Prowl sitting beside him. "Dinner in a few moments."
"Good thing. I could eat anything right now," Optimus said.
"I think we can supply that," Ratchet said glancing at the enormous array of food and drink. "Do you want to put any of the babies down?"
Miracle was listing in Tagg's lap, his little helm falling forward as he fought sleep. Tagg grinned. "Maybe that will be a good idea."
"Down the hallway, Tagg," Ironhide said. "Put him in Hero's room," he said standing up. Leading the tall mech, they disappeared down the hallway. As he did, the sound of the siren rang out marking the end of the festival orn and the fast most of the city was undertaking.
-0-Apartments here and there
Drift sat on the couch watching as Springer walked to the window to stare. "Dinner time," the big Wrecker said glancing at his partner on the couch.
"You hungry?" Drift asked as he pulled up a 'beer' and popped the top.
"Starved," Springer said. "You?"
"Famished," Drift replied.
Springer nodded. "Good." He turned back to the window and grinned. "You cook."
Drift snorted, then rose walking to the counter. He took out the food they had chosen and stuck it in the warming oven. Pushing a button, the heat enveloped the meals and in only a few seconds it was ready. The oven beeped. Drift opened it pulling it out. "There."
Springer grinned and turned. "See? You have the knack."
Drift chuckled. "Slagger," he said with a grin.
-0-TBC August 13, 2013
NOTE: SyFy has a show called the Heroes of Cosplay that is a hoot. I would also like to tell you that a reader, my dear, dear indupidably-tara has decided to make this story into an audiocast. (Give me a moment to enjoy the awesomeness of this … there)
:D:D:D
She has asked for this:
"And I was hoping for your help on something - specifically your readers'. I need a podcast cover image designed. The recommended specs: 1400x1400-pixel and a JPG image. If inspiration is needed, they can always go to the top podcast page on iTunes and look for recurring themes."
If you could do this, it would be AWESOME. This is such an honor to have this done. I am thinking of how reading or sight impaired fans can benefit. This will make the story accessible for everyone. Thank you, readers. You are awesome. Thank you, tara. So are you, honey. :D:D:D