The Diego Diaries: Over At Last 1 (571) EDITED
-0-The door
The rap was small and when the door opened, the source of it was too. Standing in the doorway, his anxious optics searching the room, Sunspot peered inside. Walking in, his servos balled into fists from tension, he paused, then spotted his family. Behind him Blackjack, Ironhide and Spot followed. Blackjack closed the door, then turned to stand silently by the door with Ironhide. Spot walked to his boy, then waited watchfully.
"SUNSTREAKER! SIDESWIPE!" Sunspot said with intense emotion. "I SAW YOU PLAYING!"
Sunstreaker felt his programming slam into his processor as the agonized tone of the baby drilled its way inside. He held out his servo to Sunspot who ran to him pausing before the big front liner and his solemn twin.
"SUNSTREAKER, YOU WERE GREAT! I SAW YOU PLAYING, YOU AND SIDESWIPE AND YOU WERE AMAZING! I THOUGHT YOU WOULD WIN THE GAME. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD!"
"So did we, baby," Sunstreaker said caressing Sunspot's face gently with his digits. The tiny yellow and white Seeker looked even tinier in the company of so many big bots. He put his servo on Sunstreaker's knee and leaned into the gentle touch.
"I THINK YOU WERE SO GREAT! I SAW YOU RUN AND SCORE, YOU AND SIDESWIPE!" He turned peering around at everyone who sat or stood silently, their optics fixed on the infant. "YOU WERE ALL SO GREAT! I SAW YOU ALL PLAY! I WAS SO AMAZED. YOU ARE MY HEROES!"
Sunstreaker picked him up hugging the baby as he rested on Sunstreaker's shoulder. Sunspot hugged him tightly as Sunny rubbed his wings gently. "You're mine," Sunstreaker said softly. He patted the baby, then Sunspot sat up taking Sunstreaker's face into his servos. "I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU AND SIDESWIPE! YOU'RE MY BROTHERS! YOU WERE SO GREAT IN THE GAME! I CHEERED YOU! I CHEERED ALL OF YOU!"
Sunstreaker grinned, nodding. "I probably heard you."
"APPA RATCHET LOVES YOU! HE CHEERED FOR YOU! HE SAID IT WAS A GREAT GAME AND EVERYONE PLAYED SO HARD! I THINK HE'S RIGHT! I WANT TO PLAY LIKE YOU IN MY FOOTBALL!"
Sunstreaker snorted, then grinned. "You will. You got what it takes, Sunspot. You run really fast."
"NOT AS FAST AS YOU TWO! I COULD HARDLY SEE WHERE YOU WENT! YOU SHOWED PRAXUS WHO WAS A GOOD TEAM, ALL OF YOU!"
Sideswipe took Sunspot, then hugged him. "We sure did," he said softly. "Too bad we didn't win."
"YOU WILL! NEXT TIME! I KNOW THIS! YOU WILL WIN THE NEXT GAMES!" Sunspot said clinging to Sideswipe. He hugged the baby, then set him on the ground.
Sunspot looked around at all the players, then walked to Bracket. "YOU ARE A GOOD PLAYER!"
Bracket grinned, then knelt. "Thank you."
Ratchet glanced at the twins, then smirked. "You going to sulk in here or are all of you going to hold your helms up and go out? We have fire works tonight and Christmas Surprise tomorrow. What about it? Your fan has spoken," he said nodding to the little mech who was patting everyone as he walked to each player to comfort them. They patted him back.
"Dinner?" Sideswipe said standing up to stretch. "I suppose we have to dine with the slaggers."
"You're right. Will you take the spudnik or do you want us to drop him off with my family?" Ratchet said standing himself.
"We'll take him," Sunstreaker said watching the little mech as he hugged and patted his way around the room complimenting all the players as he did. They grinned at him and the atmosphere was lightened. "He can be our team mascot. He and Spot. Dawg could use the company."
Sideswipe grinned. "He can be the coach's helper. Sunspot is a good worker."
Sunspot paused, then looked up at Sunstreaker and Sideswipe with almost too much surprise and emotion. "I CAN!?"
They glanced at the coach who nodded with a grin. "Good luck charmer if I say so myself."
Sunspot looked hopefully from one face to another as they all nodded. Then he looked at Sunstreaker with astonishment on his face. "I CAN HELP THE TEAM!? I CAN HELP YOU WIN THE GAMES!?"
Sunstreaker laughed, then nodded. "Yes."
That was when Sunspot burst into tears.
-0-Moments later
Sunstreaker swayed gently as he held Sunspot. The infant was overcome with emotion, with the crowd, with getting a trophy with his team during halftime and his overwhelming love for his family as well as 'his' team, Kaon. Ratchet and Ironhide stood beside them waiting for the infant to calm down. "I think you have a nap coming on, Sunspot," Ratchet said with a grin.
"We'll see to him. You can go do your duty," Sideswipe said as he rubbed one of Sunspot's peds.
"We'll come by when the fire works are over," Ratchet said. "Everyone needs to get some recharge. I hear that elves will be out and about tomorrow."
Slag unmeasured was given and got at that remark. Ironhide, Blackjack and Ratchet slipped out heading through the thinning crowd to the Museum nearby off Cultural Center Road. They walked in, the mid orn sun filling the huge multi-story building of glass and stone that housed their resurrecting cultural and intellectual achievements and artifacts.
Walking up the stone steps, they entered and found the group staring at the enormous holographic projection globe of Cybertron hanging in the lobby. Beyond were two staircases on either side of the lobby that led to the floors beyond. A huge doorway beyond led to the first floor of displays, interactive exhibits and a Primal relic on loan from the Temple. It was decided by the curator and the priests that having a relic in a central place of honor in their brilliantly lighted, spectacular cultural center was a good thing and a fine introduction to them as a people.
Paragon stared at the globe, then touched Iacon as instructed. A projection of the city appeared including streets and buildings in all the multiple levels of that towering urban center.
"You can find your street and home too if you touch the grid. Each touch will take you closer until you are back at your home," the curator was saying.
Paragon did until his home in a high caste neighborhood appeared. He stared at it, then looked at Prime who was watching him silently. "This is very impressive. I forgot what my family house looked like."
Prime nodded. "We do not want to forget anything more than we have. We have a duty to our people to regroup, rebuild and remember."
Paragon nodded. "We do."
"Then when are you?" Ratchet asked with a pointed question.
Paragon looked at him a moment, then turned to Prime. "This is a most impressive building."
"You have much more to see inside," the curator said turning to move toward the great doors.
Everyone glanced at each other, then turned to follow. Inside, held in a stasis field suspending it tip down, hilt up, the Star Saber glittered, its enormous size instructive. It hung in the air over a pedestal bathed in light from the ceiling. It turned slowly, its great beauty, extraordinary workmanship and seemingly internally generated power fully evident in its place of honor.
They paused to stare at it. "That is the Star Saber which once bore the Matrix of Leadership in its hilt," Cyclonus said quietly. He turned to Prime. "I assume you have others?"
"You assume correctly," Prowl said firmly.
Prime turned and nodded to the curator. He led them through the museum showing them exhibit after exhibit of their culture, arts, literature and important artifacts running the spectrum of possibilities of their people until they reached the top floor where the national art gallery was contained.
Images hung in the darkened room, lights illuminating them to great effect. They walked along pausing to consider the art, then continued until they were once again ready to move forward. Prime turned to the curator who was standing nearby chatting with Alor about an important portrait of Prima that was recovered in the migrations. "Thank you for this tour, Salvee. Your knowledge of the collection added so much to this visit."
The curator, a mech named Salvee beamed. "It is my honor to take part, sir. It is an honor to show visitors the greatness of our people."
Prime nodded, then turned to the group. "We have another place to show you before dinner. If you will follow me," he said as he turned.
They did.
-0-Several moments later
They paused at the entrance of the Temple of Simfur Restored. Its precinct was vast encompassing the reclaimed land surrounding it that had been cleared for Temple usage. On the steps inside a number of bots waited. Lauren, Armour and his priests along with Alpha Trion and Ultra Magnus waited. Prime turned to the group. "Let's go inside."
They turned and walked into the immaculately manicured space. There were benches to sit upon, small islands of stone gardens with a zen-like design all around as well as quotations of The Chronicles and other books carved into the walls at intervals. There were stone paths that took one all over the compound, some to the Temple, others out into the grounds where different features were placed.
A huge low walled space could be seen behind a curved row of copper plates upon which names were inscribed of the dead and missing. Stones engraved to celebrate sparklings could be seen lying where they were placed in the low slung walled enclosure. Among them were those of Miracle and all the other family infants. Literally thousands covered the ground inside the vast space.
An enormous open air pavilion covered with a ceremonial Cybertronian roof could be seen in the distance as they walked to the final platform on the long staircase that led inside the Temple. Pausing at the top, they all bowed their helm. "Armour, thank you for taking the time to show our guests the Temple," Prime said.
Armour who had been head priest in Simfur and was so here nodded back. "It is our very great honor, First Disciple of Primus. There is always hope that sparks can be changed by proximity to holiness."
Ratchet grinned and glanced at Ironhide who was glowering at the guests. "Hope springs eternal?" Ratchet asked.
Armour chuckled. "We can but hope," he said. Then he turned to the others. "Please come with us. We are honored to assist you, pilgrims."
Paragon and Cyclonus, both raised religious and were still so to a degree that surprised even them nodded. "We are honored for the assistance," Cyclonus replied correctly.
They followed Armour passing a number more including nearly all of the Councilors of the Council of Ancients as well as other priests and new acolytes. Several attending religious members of the Primus Peace Mission or Missionaries were nearby cleaning and checking out the torches that lit the building at dusk, their tattoos evident to those walking inside. Part of their practice was service to the community, the Temple included. They paused to watch the enemy enter the sanctuary dedicated to Primus.
The room was enormous, vast enough to echo their treads as they walked to the center where the massive AllSpark turned slowly, lights illuminating its inscrutable format for all to see. They paused before it, its entrancing beauty, power and loving presence comforting and shocking to see. The Well beneath it was shocking as well in the lower floor beneath it, its luminous blue energy and soft foggy haze was calm, as still as deep waters sometimes are.
The building around and above them was covered with symbology, images and quotations of holy books and individuals just like the one on Cybertron was. Statues in niches ringed the vast room at intervals declaring to the viewer the greatness of this, one of the most ancient of peoples anywhere. It declared its cultural, intellectual and spiritual greatness.
Lauren and the priests bowed to the Well and AllSpark, then he turned to the group. "Welcome to the Temple of Simfur, the Temple of Primus Restored. Due to the love for and appreciation of our Prime who is brave and good, the relics of our people were returned to us by Primus himself. The Pantheon resides here in multi-dimensional space."
They stared at him, then the relics. "It is most impressive. I have despaired of ever standing in a temple with our heritage on such display," Paragon said quietly. He turned to Lauren. "I remember you from the Temple at Simfur." Soundwave who was silent nodded as well.
"We were there, all of us. We were serving our people, the Temple and the very great need brought about by war. Alpha Trion managed to help some of us escape. It was the worst orn of my life leaving our people and the sacred space behind. I struggle to forgive the Decepticons on occasion for that, the lowest memory I hold. But today is a new orn and our people are here in peace, Decepticon, Autobot, Neutral, Circle, Knight and Missionary.
"We have found our footing here and the Pantheon along with Primus has weighed in on our efforts. They gave to us the AllSpark and Well. They restored the Matrix Flame and our relics. But more than anything else, they have assisted our Prime to gather our lost and suffering people to come here. Even the city-formers are coming to his call. We are blessed here. We will not be moved by anyone." Lauren looked firmly at everyone, then turned bowing to the AllSpark. He looked at Prime, then bowed his helm again. "Sir, we are yours to command."
Prime nodded back. "Your service to our people is all I require," he said in proper response. Glancing at the others, noting that all were moved including the more accessible Slacker, he turned. "We will go and see things that have been brought here or restored by the Pantheon. We do this to show you our resolve and the support our efforts receive from beyond even this dimension."
Lauren walked toward the steps that led downward and the others followed. Down they went on one of the several wide staircases that led to the floor below and the Well. It was huge, wide and its energy felt warm and protective. The AllSpark that turned slowly hung over it and all paused to look a moment before walking on again. A giant door, ornate inscribed copper opened into a wide corridor. A metal vaulted doorway stood at the end, its combination locks evident.
Lauren punched in the sequence, then pulled it open, the heavy door swinging easily. Stepping inside, the lights came on and the room was seen to be filled with shelves that held amazing things for safekeeping. The group walked in and paused looking around. There were things that for some of them only seemed to have been mythological. Others were known from replicas that had been given to other city-states for display.
The Forge of Solus Prime was featured in all its enormous simplicity on a self by itself. Nearby were the Apex Armour, the Chaos Edge, Cyber Caliber and amazingly enough, the legendary Magnificence. There were other relics as well, too many to name. The room had been filled with them as they were brought back by subsequent migrations.
Cyclonus stared at the Magnificence, an incredible mythological creation that would answer any question asked of it. Soundwave who stood next to him turned to Prime. "Have you asked it if there would ever be an end to Megatron?"
Prime looked at him a moment, then shook his helm. "I have not. I will not."
"Are you afraid of the answer?" Slacker asked with a serious expression.
Prime considered that, then shook his helm. "I am not. Megatron had better be afraid of us."
Slacker grinned, then nodded. "Remind me never to play cards with you."
They turned and looked around. Then Slacker nodded. "You made your point, Prime. I am duly impressed."
"Good," Ironhide said coldly. "You should remember that we choose to let you live."
Slacker looked at Ironhide, then grinned. "I will."
They turned and walked back out. Lauren closed the door and spun the lock combination. Their ped falls down the corridor echoed, then they climbed up and out once more. The door closed quietly behind them.
-0-TBC December 31, 2013
NOTE: Well here we are, the start of the fifth calendar year of this story. I wish to thank you greatly. The idea of entertaining you is so delightful and I am glad you are here reading along. I hope your new year has all that you wish. I know I am quite content having you along for the ride. Take care and Happy New Year. :D
PS We are a bit off schedule due to the ball game so Christmas Surprise is next, then the New Year which is going to coincide here with their Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. Just because. Ah, it is good to be king... uh, the writer. :D:D:D