"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Groove's optics are earnest, his arms warm and tight and safe around me.

"Of course I do." I rest my forehead against his for a moment. "But you have a shift to get to. This is important, but not to the exclusion of everything else. We'll be fine."

"You're the most important part to me," Groove argues. "I can blow it off."

I pull back slightly so I can frown a bit at him. "You can, but from what I heard they asked for you specifically. Rebuilding is important, Groove. All First Aid and I will be doing is listening to a meeting." I kiss him briefly. "We'll be fine. Now go, you don't want to be late."

"I love you." Groove kisses me back, deeper and fiercer, and I let him. Of course I let him. I have no resistance when it comes to my Protectobots.

Thankfully, First Aid is less immune to his brother. He places a hand on Groove's neck and gently tugs him away. "Come on, bro. You've got somewhere to be, and so do we. I'll keep you posted, okay?"

"Please do." Groove's grin isn't quite as carefree as usual. "I'll be a nervous wreck all day anyway, but I'd like to know as soon as you do."

"You will." First Aid presses their foreheads together, then lets him go. "Now get. Scrapper's waiting for you."

I watch Groove transform and dart away. He's chunkier than me, more robust, can undoubtedly take more punishment offroad, and he's so fricking gorgeous. I stare until he's out of sight.

First Aid holds out a hand to me. "Ready?"

"Not by a long shot." I shake my head. "But let's go."

We're walking today. We're not going far, and I'm too nervous to drive. Even with Arcee's lessons, I need to focus to be on my wheels. I have a ways to go yet on that front.

First Aid holds my hand, a secure anchor by my side, and lets me think. I'm no good for conversation today, and he knows it. I'm way too stressed.

Getting to the council building takes an eternity and no time at all.

We're not going to sit in the main council chamber when they call Earth. There's really no need for me to be there, and besides, Prowl decided to forbid it for good measure. Apparently he thinks I don't need the stress of sitting there and acting normal about the whole thing.

He's not wrong.

So instead, we're waiting in one of the conference rooms. It's been tastefully furnished with lounges and low tables, and has its own energon dispenser in the corner, and I don't really care about any of it. What I care about is First Aid still holding on to my hand when we walk inside.

Ratchet and Optimus are already there. So is Soundwave and Thundercracker. No one looks very calm. Ratchet is sitting ramrod straight at Optimus' side, a painfully neutral expression on his face. Optimus is running a hand up and down his back.

I get Ratchet. I feel exactly the same way.

Soundwave is a lot less composed. He's almost curled up next to Thundercracker, almost hidden behind strong arms and wide wings. None of them are speaking, but Thundercracker nods at me as we walk in.

I sit down next to Ratchet. As soon as First Aid's seated as well, I curl up in his arms and pull Ratchet closer. Surprisingly he allows it, and Optimus follows. Soon we're a huddle of warm metal.

It's nice. And I'll need it to get through this morning.

"Hey, sparklet." Ratchet sounds hoarse. "You okay?"

"Way you look, I should be asking you that." I take one of Ratchet's hands and squeeze it. "None of us are okay right now."

And this is just waiting for the arrangements to be made. I can't help wondering how stressed out we'll be when it comes to the actual trial.

There's a large screen on one of the walls. It blinks on suddenly, half of it showing Ultra Magnus and the rest of the present council mecha. The other side is still black.

Optimus straightens slightly. "It's almost time."

No one comments. Soundwave burrows deeper into Thundercracker's arms.

On the right side of the screen, the UN flag appears. To distract myself, I focus on what's wrong with the damn thing. It really doesn't look like I remember it.

It's almost like all the land edges are blurry somehow.

I pull away from Ratchet and First Aid and walk toward the screen. It's thankfully big enough to show the map in detail.

The edges aren't blurry. They're gone.

There's a lot less of Europe than there should be. South America, too. It looks almost pock-marked, like the land's been –

Like it's been eroded. By the water.

I'm so close to the screen that when the flag is replaced by Ameryn Clarke's face, the surprise is enough to knock me on my aft. Literally. I wince as I push myself back up.

"You okay, sparklet? That was some fall." Ratchet sounds concerned, but he's grinning at me, the fragger.

Good. He needed some cheering up.

I sit back down between him and First Aid. "I'm okay. Now shush, they're starting."

I'll worry about the land and the sea level later.

"Ultra Magnus," Ameryn Clarke says, inclining her head. "Prowl. Thank you for your promptness."

"Of course," Ultra Magnus replies. "Thank you for taking the time to talk to us."

I take Ratchet's hand again as they exchange pleasantries. And discuss the state of the UN. And clarify the transit time between Cybertron and Earth. And discuss how Cybertron's new government is doing.

Primus, are they ever going to get to the point?

It seems to take forever before Prowl nods and says "Mrs. Clarke, do you have an answer for us?"

"I do." She looks strict, papers gathered in a neat stack in front of her. "Earth Plus and the United Nations hereby accept the petition to act as judicial power in the conflict between the Intergalactic Alliance and the united people of Cybertron."

Besides Ratchet, Optimus in-vents in what has to be relief.

"Did you think they'd turn us down?" I wonder.

"I feared it." He reaches out with his free hand and touches my helm. "Now we know who we're dealing with."

"Thank you," Ultra Magnus says on the screen. There's a small, relieved smile on Prowl's face, a quirk of one corner of his mouth that wouldn't be recognizable for anyone who doesn't know him well. "May I ask what timeframe you consider appropriate?"

"You may." Mrs. Clarke looks down at her documents again. I don't know why, but it feels like an act. I'm sure she knows everything on those pages by heart. "Considering the transit time between Earth and Cybertron, and the need for Earth and the Security Council to prepare for your arrival, we suggest an initial court date on March fourteenth, our calendar. That's seven Earth weeks from now."

Seven weeks.

My optics are fritzing. Next to me, Ratchet is as tense as I've ever felt him.

Clarke looks up. "Would that be acceptable?"

It has to be. We have no choice.

"That is acceptable," Ultra Magnus replies. "Please forward any questions and inquiries you have, and we'll get started."

I tune them out after that.

"How long is the transit time?" I ask weakly. "I missed that info somehow."

"Three Earth weeks," Thundercracker says heavily. "Three Earth weeks on Blast Off and Astrotrain's top speed."

God-fucking-dammit.

"I need to comm Skywarp." Thundercracker's voice is bleak.

"Have him come to our house," Optimus says softly. "Groove, too. All of you, come to our house. You're off duty for today. We're going to sit down and digest this."

Sitting down and digesting looks an awful lot like a party. Or maybe a wake, considering everyone's mood.

Skywarp showed up directly in Optimus' living room with Bluestreak in tow. He fell on his trinemate as soon as he warped in, and hasn't let go since. Soundwave is in Optimus' big chair, covered in cassettes. Ratchet is nursing a cube of high-grade, and he's stuck to Optimus' side like he's been magnetized to his mate.

I'm clinging to First Aid. I can't not.

"We'll be okay," he murmurs, hands steady on my frame. Groove is leaning against his back, arms around his waist. "You'll be okay, and I'll be okay. We'll be fine. It's four weeks. You'll be back a few months after that. We can do this."

I just cling harder.

Optimus makes a noise. If he was human, I'd say he was clearing his throat. "My friends. My family."

I turn enough to see him. First Aid, bless him, turns with me.

"I know this feels like the end of what has been for many a happy time." Optimus glances at Skywarp and Bluestreak. His arm tightens around Ratchet. "But it's not. It's not the end of anything. Yes, we'll have to prepare for the worst. But I do not believe the worst will come to pass. I have faith that we'll all be back here in six months, reunited with friends and loved ones, ready to keep rebuilding our world. And there's not a one of you I don't want here with me."

Optimus is good at speeches. But even he can't settle us completely.

Ratchet sighs and pulls away slightly. "Come on. You're all staying here tonight. We're pulling all the pillows and meshes and berth pads into the living room."

"Why?" Skywarp cants his head.

Ratchet grins. There's nothing happy about it. "Because I'm not sending anyone home tonight. We're having a sleepover."

I giggle. I don't know what else to do. "Why?"

"Because we're in this together," Optimus says, almost sadly. "And I want you all here with me tonight."

Well, frag. There's no way anyone's going to say no to that.

It doesn't take long before there's a nest of soft materials on the floor. Optimus reclines in the middle of it and opens his arms for Ratchet, who is of course a grump and makes a fuss about lying down with his mate. Silly medic.

I have no such qualms. I snuggle up to Optimus' side, First Aid next to me and Groove across both of our frames. Thundercracker and Soundwave settle on Ratchet's other side, and Bluestreak crawls into the space between Optimus' legs and Ratchet, with Skywarp resting on his chest. It's a cuddlepile of epic proportions, and as the lights dim I'm almost content.

"We'll move up the bonding ceremony," Bluestreak murmurs in the dark. "It won't be as grand if we rush it, but we're not that grand anyway. And I want everyone there. I don't want to wait until after we come back from Earth."

"You're going to Earth?" I hadn't realized Skywarp and Bluestreak were coming too.

"Skywarp's trinemate will be on trial, as will his other trinemate's partner. There's nothing you could offer either of us to make us stay behind."

"Your company and assistance will be appreciated," Optimus says. I can feel the way his voice rumbles through my plating. "It will be a trying time."

No one seems to want to comment on that.

I'm almost asleep when someone speaks to me. "Hey, Cynosura?"

I lift my head enough to spot Thundercracker's dim red optics. "Yes?"

"Do you think we can win?"

"I don't know." I drop my head again and sigh. "I really don't know."

Dear diary,

Waking up this morning was so surreal. It reminded me of back on Earth when I stayed with the Aerialbots or the Protectobots, and spent my nights on someone's back. Except now I'm the same size as everyone else.

Well. Almost everyone.

At one point I ended up on top of Optimus. I don't know how, but I woke up with my face pressed against his windshield. I could feel his spark spinning. It was awesome.

So of course I started crying. That was embarrassing. I guess there's just something about the complete… acceptance, I guess, that he radiates. He's just got this vibe of caring for everyone, this grace about him. None of which really excuses me from bawling on his chest like a sparkling, but there you go.

Ratchet just laughed and said he should see it as practice. That of course led to a bunch of sparkling talk. Ratchet's very excited, I can tell, even with how worried he is about the trial. Skywarp was over the moon when he heard, and he pestered Optimus about it until Optimus opened his chest and let us look.

I wish I knew how to describe the way I felt when I saw that tiny spinning ball around his spark. Awe doesn't even begin to cover it.

Skywarp wants a sparkling, I can tell. Bluestreak does too, but he's got more of an 'in the future' kind of attitude about it. Soundwave was almost wistful as he stared. For that matter, Laserbeak was practically in Optimus' chest, cooing at it.

Everybody wants a sparkling. Pit, I want a sparkling. I want a whole lap of sparklings.

Something to discuss with Groove and First Aid when this whole ordeal is behind us.

I got a comm from Inferno earlier today too. Breakdown is doing well. He still hasn't come out of his room, but he talks to Red Alert through the door. That counts as progress. Inferno says they're handling him fine for now, and that he hasn't shown any indication of being aggressive.

I'm glad at least some of my clients are doing well, and aren't burdened by this whole Alliance thing. I won't have to worry for the Stunticons on that front.

Ultra Magnus commed me earlier too. He wants to set up a meeting to discuss what we can expect from the Earth's legal system, and since I am – was – human, I should be present. I told him that anything I know will be woefully out of date by now, but apparently some knowledge is better than none.

There's a lot to consider. We'll need to get a lawyer, I suppose. Maybe we should talk to Ameryn Clarke about representation and such. I know how regular courts work, but I've never seen a case in the International Criminal Court. Logically enough.

Optimus told me yesterday that I should focus on Star and Soundwave. He's probably right about that. I'm assuming they're bringing some other form of defense for Optimus. He can't hide behind coercion, or insanity. His defense is that he was basically defending everything from Megatron.

I really hope that is enough.

"Thank you for coming." Ultra Magnus looks at each of us in turn. "This will be the first of many planning sessions before departure. I hope we can come up with something useful."

Well, yeah. Hopefully. The alternative kind of sucks.

I look at the others around the table. Prowl looks all business, as usual, while Jazz is almost lounging by his side. Streetwise has a stack of datapads in front of him. Ratchet is scowling, which is becoming a default expression these days – I know it's a mask, to hide his worry. The same worry is clear on Thundercracker's face, but he looks calm despite it. Hook looks almost aloof.

Hopefully we're enough to come up with something good.

"Cynosura." Ultra Magnus' optics bore into mine. "You have previous experience with the Earth courts."

Of course he would start with me. "Yes. I've been an expert witness in several trials back on Earth."

"What can you tell us?"

Oh, like it's that easy. Lucky I came prepared. "I'm sending you all a brief summary of how the American justice system works. Please remember that the ICC may be different. I have no way of verifying this."

"We're working on that," Prowl says. "Mrs. Clarke has promised us an information package later this week."

Well, that's good. Then we won't be completely unprepared.

Hook glances at his datapad. "According to this there will be opening statements from the attorneys. Do we have one of those?"

"I'm not sure if we should get a human attorney or not," Prowl admits. "It could be advantageous."

"Or it could come back an' bite us in the aft," Jazz adds. "I still say we should bring a Cybertronian defense attorney."

Thundercracker looks doubtfully at him. "Do we have a Cybertronian defense attorney?"

"Maybe." Prowl narrows his optics. "We're looking into some options."

"We should have both, if possible." Streetwise meets Prowl's gaze head-on. "It couldn't hurt."

"Or we should stick with a human." I shrug as they look at me. "Come on. We maybe have a Cybetronian defense attorney? As in there might be someone who maybe practiced that craft millions of years ago, and might remember some of it? Are you going to stack Optimus' life on that? Starscream's, Soundwave's?"

Prowl sighs. "You may be right. Still. Having both would be good."

"Then let's try for both," Ultra Magnus says, "and if that doesn't work, we'll go for a human."

"How are we handling the trial itself, anyway?" Thundercracker asks, looking from Ultra Magnus to Prowl. "Are we bringing witnesses?"

"We'll need to." Ultra Magnus frowns. "Unfortunately, we won't be able to bring near enough. If I had the option, I'd send enough witnesses to prove their innocence beyond all doubt. Unfortunately, since we're going to Earth and not the other way around, that's not possible."

I listen as they debate back and forth on who would be most advantageous to bring. They're trying to muster a defense for four million years of war. It's hard to even wrap my head around it.

"Cynosura, will Thundercracker's testimony be enough to prove that Starscream was coerced?" Ultra Magnus looks at me again. "Or will it be discredited because they're so close?"

"Usually, testimony from near family would be given a lot of weight. At least by the defense." I glance at Thundercracker. "The prosecutor will try to discredit you, though."

"Which is where Hook's written files and Ratchet's testimony will be critical," Prowl agrees. "To show the physical damages to Starscream and Soundwave, prove that they were being coerced."

I feel like a lightbulb is going off over my head. "Soundwave. Does he have any recordings we can use? I know his cassettes were monitoring everything."

"He may have." Ultra Magnus frowns. "I'm afraid they'll try to discredit that too, though. Since he would then technically be the source of his own defense material, they'd say he could have doctored it."

"Well, can we use his footage in Optimus' defense, then?" Ratchet asks, suddenly intent. "I bet he has hours and hours of spy footage."

"Maybe." Prowl writes something on his datapad. "I will ask him."

"Wait. What about Reflector?"

Prowl stares at me like my words make no sense.

"Reflector records too," I insist. "Just images, sure, but I bet they've got a bunch of them."

"That's a good idea." Ultra Magnus actually smiles. "Thank you, Cynosura."

Jazz leans forward, looks at me. "Ya's witnessed this kinda abuse trial before, sweetspark. What do we need t' do?"

"Prove that the abuse happened. That's critical." I pick up my datapad and fiddle with it, mainly to gather my thoughts. "There are two sides to this. One is to prove that Soundwave and Starscream were being emotionally, verbally and physically abused by Megatron. The other is to prove that because of this, they can't be held responsible for their actions. As far as I can remember, Earth tends to holds high-ranking military commanders responsible for their underlings' actions. We need to pin Starscream's and Soundwave's actions on Megatron." I look at Hook and Thundercracker. "Please tell me that whatever atrocities they committed can be pinned on him."

"For the latter part of the war, I believe so," Thundercracker says slowly. "By then Starscream had had any tendency to initiative beaten out of him. Soundwave was loyal, until Megatron damaged Buzzsaw. After that he was too scared for his cassettes."

"For the first part of the war it doesn't matter," Prowl supplies. "The war didn't spill out from Cybertron until later. The Alliance doesn't care about what we did to ourselves." There's a touch of bitterness in his voice.

"The earlier part of the war is well documented," Ratchet adds as Jazz reaches out to take Prowl's hand. "We'll need those records for Optimus' defense."

Ultra Magnus focuses on me again. "Cynosura, will Optimus being sparked make a difference in the trial?"

I sigh. "You're asking more than I can answer. It probably won't work against him, though I suspect the humans will have a hard time believing someone who considers themselves male can carry offspring. If you want to bring it up in court, you might have to be prepared to explain Cybertronian reproduction."

Hook glances at Ratchet. "Good luck with that."

"We'll have to consider whether that's something we want to be public knowledge on Earth." Ultra Magnus sighs. "I'm not sure it is."

Prowl puts his datapad down. "Let's start in one end. Proving Starscream's abuse. Cynosura, what do we need to do that?"

I'm on firmer ground here. This part I've been through before. "Medical records, if there are any. On Earth, it would be x-rays, doctors' statements, transcripts from 911 calls, that sort of thing. Any surveillance, both video and audio and photographic. Statements from any other medical professionals. Witness statements."

"So, Ratchet." Jazz points at Ratchet, then at me. "You. Reflector. Thundercracker. Skywarp, maybe. Anyone else?"

"For Starscream? There were always plenty of witnesses," Thundercracker growls. "Megatron enjoyed making the punishments public. It probably won't hurt to put Skywarp on the stand. But for Soundwave…" He slumps a bit in his seat. "Soundwave kept everything very quiet. Everything was less public. Megatron enjoyed punishing Starscream, enjoyed discrediting him, but he didn't want anyone suspecting Soundwave. Soundwave was too good at keeping the united Decepticon front. So I don't know how many witnesses there are."

"I hate t' ask this, but…" Jazz is frowning behind that visor of his, I can tell. "The cassettes?"

"Sheltered. Soundwave kept as much as possible from them, I know, especially of what Megatron did to him. They would still notice." Thundercracker nods, but it's hesitant, like he doesn't really want to. "Ask them."

"There are medical records of Soundwave's abuse," Hook says. "I had to bury it deep, but I managed to keep it. Just in case."

"I have some too, from the check-ups after Megatron was… dispatched." Ratchet's smile is grim. "I have enough medical data to prove that he was abusing his entire army."

"That on top of Cynosura's testimony should be enough to prove that they were both abused and how," Ultra Magnus says, and I don't think I'm imagining the touch of hope in his voice. "How do we go about proving that the abuse was enough to coerce them to go along with whatever Megatron was planning?"

Oh boy. This is going to be a long meeting.

"You were dead on your feet when you walked in." First Aid pulls me closer. "Long meeting?"

"The longest." I relax against his chest. "You've been on duty all day. You're probably tired too."

"Well, yeah. But it was a slow day." He's rubbing one of my finials. It feels like heaven, like he's pulling my exhaustion out through the thin metal. "I didn't have to plan the defense of three people I care about and feel responsible for."

I can feel his spark spinning beneath his plating. It's very soothing. "Who would have thought I'd ever care about Soundwave?"

"You cared about Parker Jamieson. You cared about Mirage." First Aid's smiling, I can hear it. "Face it, love, if someone hurts you because they've been hurt, you will end up forgiving them. And you do have a wide protective streak."

Hmm. He's probably got me there.

"You'll tell me if there's anything I can help you out with?" He shifts on the berth until we fit together like a puzzle.

"This helps." I burrow as close as I can get. "Groove on the way home yet?"

"He'll be here shortly."

Good. We're still missing a puzzle piece.

I blame the discussions that have stormed around me all day. I'm too tired to be quiet, strange as that is. "I really don't want to leave you in a few weeks. Being away from you for that long again… It's going to be hell."

"Yeah." First Aid kisses the top of my head. "It will. For all of us. But we have something we didn't last time we were separated."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"Groove." First Aid's hand moves to my shoulder blade, stroking along the whole edge. "The bond. Merge with him, and you'll feel me. Remember?"

Oh, thank all the powers. I'd forgotten about that.

"And speaking of…" First Aid is smiling again, and I can hear the front door closing. A few moments later, our missing puzzle piece slides in against my back.

"Hey, you," Groove purrs against my neck. "I'm going to guess you both need some cheering up."

I turn around to face him. First Aid follows, arm sliding around my waist. "Sparks?" he murmurs.

"Plugs?" Groove teases the cover on my waist.

"Both of them. All of it." I chase Groove's lips. "Make me forget my own name."

We only have a few weeks. I plan to make the most of them.