The Diego Diaries: Himself, the ELF 2 (576) edited
-0-On to Autobot City
The five sportscasters were silent a moment as they waited in the train car as it headed toward The City from Terra. Then Sue Barker turned to the soldiers. :What just happened?: she asked as the others glanced at the soldiers too.
:What do you think? Get a promise, then tell them?: Niall asked.
Lennox nodded. :Yeah. Then you tell them. You're more poetic than the rest of us:
Graham snorted, then turned to the five sportscasters. :I need your solemn oath on the lives of all you hold dear that what I tell you doesn't end up in the world when you go home. It is a huge act of trust by all of us to answer your question:
They glanced at each other, then nodded. :Of course: Keith Olbermann said solemnly. The others nodded again.
:Optimus Prime is the leader of the entire Cybertronian race including Megatron. Right now, they are at war but even Megatron knows that legally, Optimus rules. He rules because he was chosen by the Matrix of Leadership, the Creation Matrix that he carries inside his chest. It is a relic of incredible antiquity that confers complete authority and prestige on the Prime who bears it. Everyone acknowledges his legitimacy because he was chosen by it and because it bears a fragment of the spark of their creator, Primus. That warmth and power that you felt, power great enough to easily repair that child … that was Primus:
It was silent a moment, then Bob Costas turned to look at them. :They don't have to have faith that God is among them. They know with certainty?:
Graham and the others nodded. :Yes:
They turned and were silent for the rest of the ride to Autobot City. Standing in the place made just for humans to use when taking a train, a little enclosed structure by the doorway, they waited until the big bots disembarked, then joined them speeding along to the Central Labor Council Hall under Fortress Maximus. A tunnel passage well lit and wide would take them from the train platform to the old underground installation still in use that was the Old City.
The Central Labor Hall, a very busy place during the work week was decked out beautifully for the Christmas Surprise festivities that had begun two orns before and would continue for two more. It was vast, filled with glittering trees here and there, groaning tables of food and drink with merrymakers everywhere. The space held lounge areas in great numbers since the guilds, unions and associations along with numerous groups and more numerous individuals considered the space their hangout.
At the end near the enormous doors where deliveries were made, Prime's Santa throne awaited. More family and friends had gathered, all of them with cameras and slag to spare. Sitting on a couch nearby, Kup and Hercy considered the magnificence swirling all around them.
"Nice holiday." -Hercy
Nod. -Kup
"Good for the sparklings." -H
Nod. -K
"Hear we got the invite to Ironhide's for dinner." -H
Nod. -K
"Do we bring anything?" -H
"An appetite." -K
Nod. Pause. "Got one of those." -H
Grin. -K
Elders came in droves, some of them brought by families and friends, others because this was now one of their sacred obligations, to meet with the Prime and celebrate thankfulness. Older younglings, the sub adults came too, their families filled with good cheer. The conversation level was a buzz in the room as the humans made their way to the platform that all public buildings and spaces had for their protection and viewing comfort.
Prime made his way forward exclaiming over sparklings, smiling and chatting with everyone else. When he got to his 'throne', he sat and relaxed with a big smile. "Elves, attend to me."
Ironhide and Jazz snorted, then kicked his ped as they moved to stand behind him. Magnus who stood before him gazed at Prime with a pained expression. Prime looked at him, then smiled. "Your hat is askew, Magnus."
Magnus gripped his hat with a servo straightening it a bit.
"Good. Looks fetching," Prime said with a grin.
Magnus rolled his optics, then moved to his place assuming a severe full attention pose. Ironhide glanced at Magnus, then grinned. :Relax, Magnus. It isn't contagious."
Magnus harrumphed. :If you say so:
The line was called to form and it did. Magnus eyed the crowd, then quashed a grin. He would never tell any of them that he was enjoying himself.
Arcee would do that for him.
An elder came forward, a small mechanism that looked very old. Optimus grinned. "Welcome. Allow me to honor your service to our people with a gift," he said gently. Taking the gift from Jazz, he held it out to the little mech.
He looked at it, then took it hesitantly. Looking at Optimus with pained optics, he bowed lowly. "I have never seen a Prime in person before. I am so honored, Optimus Prime. I am so grateful that you would allow us to come here and live in this city. I can't work now. I have a condition. It's getting better though," he said glancing up at Optimus with anxious optics. "I will pull my weight."
His bond looked worried and anxious. Tall sons behind them hovered. "Our genitors have always worked hard. We take care of them, Prime," one said glancing at his siblings nervously. They all nodded, their own faces grim.
Prime nodded, then looked at the little pair. "You have always worked hard. You have always served Cybertron. Now it is Cybertron's great honor to serve you. You do not ever have to work if you can not or do not feel you want to do that anymore. You can do what you want. It is your choice. That is the way it always was supposed to be. I am relieved and delighted that you are here. No one who is out there will be left behind. Understand. Your mere presence here makes us stronger and more secure. You will always be needed and supported. All you have to do, elders, is be happy."
They looked at him a moment, then the little mech's bond stepped forward, helm bowed, servos out in supplication. Prime held his own out and the little mech placed his servos on top in a very old fashioned gesture of respect. Touching his helm to his servos, the little mech vented a soft sigh. "I worried that I would die before I ever saw my sons in a safe place. We have struggled so hard. It is still unbelievable that we are here and that you are too."
Prime nodded. "We are all here, all of us and we are safe. You are welcome here."
He looked up at Prime, then nodded. "Command us, Optimus Prime. We are yours to command."
"Then I command you to be happy and do what you wish to reach that goal even if it means you never work at a job of work for the rest of your lives." He glanced at the sons who were watching with emotional optics. "There are services with the Public Processor Health office for elders who struggle. Are they in elder clubs? Have they spoken to the Museum about their lives? They have a spoken history project ongoing. All of our elders are precious and so are their lives and memories."
"We will see to it, Prime. Thank you," one of the big mechs said.
Optimus took another present and put it in the little mech's servos. "Merry Christmas Surprise," he said to both.
They looked at him, then the pretty gifts. Bowing lowly, they smiled. "And to you, Optimus Prime." Bowing again, they turned to their sons with big smiles, the little group stepping away as another came forward.
Prime spoke to all, chatting about this and that, acknowledging grief in some, counseling hope in others. Sub adults spoke of their schooling, apprenticeships and sports. They spoke of their families and their dreams, their great joy at being here and their dreams of the future. It took a very long time but in the end all were served. When the last mech, femme, home bound infant and youngling stepped away, Prime relaxed in his chair. Patting the arm, he looked up at his three elves. "I may have to have this put in the Residence, minions. This is going to be hard to give up."
That got the layers of 'love' that it deserved.
-0-At the Bosom of Love, Inc.
Tables were laid out, brought from other apartments as Ravel began to marshal the troops. They had left the Central Labor Hall when the sparklings became fussy. They couldn't understand why all of everyone's presents weren't theirs. Parked at the apartment of Ven and Milie, the rest hurried to Ironhide's house to get the dinner going.
All manner of dishes were brought from apartments including Ven's to be added to the side boards that filled one end of the house. Chairs from other apartments including Blackjack's were purloined and arranged. It would be snug, yet happy, insane but fun, nuts but joyful.
As they put things into the ovens of two residences to stay warm, more food arrived from the caterer. Ratchet had no time to cook and everyone rejoiced to Primus that he hadn't. He had slapped helms at their impertinence, then ordered HIS favorite food.
The slaggers.
It arrived.
The sound of running peds could be heard, so everyone paused to stare at the open doors. Through it came the Fam: Sunstreaker leading, a torrent of sparklings following along with Bluestreak, Sideswipe, Drift, Springer, Appa Ratchet who was kibitzing at the corner outside with Milie, Kestrel and Tagg who had finally broken away with Venture, a bug, two dogs and a passel of adults to be named later.
It culminated in the living room of the apartment where joie de vivre broke out all over the place. On the last day of Christmas (Surprise) a daft medico gave to me! (They!) five infants dancing, four calling adas, three smirking adult siblings, two senior Autobots grinning and a Prowler ready to cap a round through the roof.
Infants were grabbed and passed around until everyone was settled. Glancing around, smirking like a banshee, Ratchet turned to Prowl. "Looks like the usual Saturday night at the old watering hole."
"Loser," Prowl said with a smug expression.
"Slagger," Sunstreaker ventured. "Nothing like a little loyalty."
"That's true," Sideswipe said. "Prowl has as little loyalty as anyone in this room."
"Alright then," Miler said brightly. "Let's eat."
Laughter was loud and long as the adas in the room began to fix plates for the infants. They were parted out to benevolent overlords to manage while the adults filled their plates from the ridiculous array of food available. With suitable beverage in servo, they walked to a chair, couch or the floor to sit.
"This is so good," Appa Ratchet said as he took a bite of his favorite 'casserole'. "I haven't eaten this in vorns."
"Get used to it," Ratchet said with a grin. He glanced at Optimus who was sitting next to Springer on a couch. "Ah, I need my camera," Ratchet said putting down his plate. He snapped a couple of images, then subbed his camera once more. "Those will go in the family album. So nice that you two get along after the divorce."
"What divorce?" Hercy asked glancing at Ratchet with surprise.
"Didn't you hear? Springer was, is and always will be the Former Mrs. Optimus Prime." Ratchet grinned at the little mech, then took a sip of his beer.
"What the frag? I go away a few million vorns and miss out on all the good stuff," Hercy said with his usual flare. He looked at Springer assessing with optics that missed nothing. Ever. "You're a looker, I will hand you that but you have things to learn."
Raucous laughter and slag met that remark. Spirit who was sitting at the table with the older younger younglings looked at his father. "Atar?"
"What, son?" Optimus said between guffaws.
"Aren't you bonded to Ada?" he asked with a dark expression of fear on his face.
Ratchet turned to Spirit and petted his arm. "It's a joke, baby. Of course he is."
He looked from Ratchet to his genitors who sat straighter as they looked at his distress. "Oh." Then he grinned and turned back to his dinner.
The adults glanced at each other, then relaxed a bit. Prime shook his helm. "That was awful."
"Yes it was," Prowl offered with a pointed expression at Ratchet.
"I hear ya," Ratchet said shaking his helm. "Imagine what Paragon will feel one of these orns?"
A cookie bounced off Ratchet's helm.
-0-TBC January 4, 2014