The Diego Diaries: Sidebar (dd8 104)
=0=There
It was silent a moment, then the four turned toward Prima and Onyx.
Prime stepped slightly forward. "How may we serve you?" he asked.
Prima grinned slightly. "You have a good spark, Optimus Prime. You are doing all you need to do by bringing The People back together. The trials back-to-back are a good idea. The other one is serious and deserves a separate focus."
"Lord Prima, if I may be so bold …" Semi began, then caught himself. He was speaking to a GOD.
Prima glanced at him. "I would hear what you have to say, Semi, because you exist."
Semi considered the statement, then bowed slightly. "I wondered … does the Pantheon ever come to the trials themselves? Do You ever appear there?"
Prima grinned. "What makes you think We have not been there already?"
Onyx smirked slightly. "Do you ever really know who all of those mechs and femmes are who come to these trials?"
Semi glanced at No-a who was mute from overcome emotion. "Thank you, Lord Prima and Lord Onyx," he said as he fell into quiet again.
Prowl glanced at both, then the two figures sprung out of the depths of the deepest and greatest mythological wells of their collective identity. "We're working hard to get ready to move Lord Primus. It's a concern of all of us that we do this well given His greatness and the reality of being unable to take our people off world to safety while we do. I'm not privy to what my bond asks but for my sake and perhaps his as well, will it be safe to do so? I wish Him to be safe, to orbit a star again and to be out of the reach of those who don't love Him as we do. If that's even possible for you to tell me, Great Ones," Prowl said as he bowed his helm in respect.
Prima glanced at Prime, then Prowl. "We are well pleased that Optimus has a good bond who would couch his greatest fear in a question of your own. Primus is aware and wishes it. He has pledged His help and We pledge Ours as well. It will happen in good time. There are adventures to go before it is time but understand, He is aware and would not allow problems to jeopardize His children."
Prowl felt deflated inside as the enormity of the worry fled him. He bowed deeply. "Thank you. We owe Him everything including the safest possible haven we can find."
"We all do, Prowl of Praxus," Onyx said. He glanced at Prime. "Thank you for the chat with Our problem child. Everyone who is recalled comes to unconditional love. There is no judgment nor is there eternal damnation. Those concepts exist outside of love. Consider this. If The One is the personification of love, then what isn't love isn't The One. No one who is pulled back to the Matrix is recalled as punishment. They are recalled to receive the help and love they cannot find otherwise. Their danger to others because of it is too great not to step in, even as We do so reluctantly. You are aware, Optimus, that We do not interfere otherwise."
"It is against the principle of free will and a sacred law of the universe. I do remember, Lord Onyx," Prime answered. "What is the disposition of the Functionalist Council and their functionaries?"
"They are as difficult as Sentinel. We are coming to the idea that they will not be coming back to Cybertron for a few million years, if ever. If they come consumed by their present concepts and ideas, then woe be to Our Father. We will banish them from reincarnating onto Cybertron forever. The functionaries of the Council have made more progress but they have a long way to go. We are pleased with the growth of the children but some of their genitors are having a rough sea."
"We will never give up," Optimus said.
Prima nodded. "You never did, brother," He said. "Go and do honor to yourself and the Creed, Optimus Prime. We are well pleased with you and you as well," He said as He glanced at the others.
Then they were back in the hallway.
=0=Out in another hallway
Ratchet sat on one side of Springer while Drift sat on the others. The three were staring at Tell who was looking at them with a big smile. "Kids are good tonic."
Springer nodded. "They are. I wish my folks and yours," he said as he glanced at Drift, "could see him."
"They will," Ratchet said. "I have intuitions. Ironhide calls them voodoo but I feel good for both of you when I think about that sort of thing."
"I hope so," Springer said as he leaned back in the chair. "You and Ironhide have always been like genitors to me and it was a good orn when you adopted me. I have two sets of genitors and two big families now. This will still be that to me even when they come."
"I hope so," Ratchet said. "I gave you … what … the best two years of my life? That counts for something."
Springer grinned. "I think it was longer. Or maybe it just seemed that long."
"Fragger," Ratchet said. He scanned the baby. "He's coming along good. I'll get with the audial specialists and see their data. You bring him in regularly?"
Drift nodded. "We do."
"Good," Ratchet said. "When he can hear he'll talk. It sort of follows."
"Then you're saying we better enjoy the quiet now?" Springer asked with a grin.
"Bingo," Ratchet replied.
They chatted a few moments, then walked back into the courtroom taking their seats or standing by the doors again. A number of witnesses had come and gone and it was looking badly for the defendants.
But then, who would believe it could be otherwise.
=0=A few moments before
They stood in the hallway staring at each other.
"I'll never get used to that," Semi said.
No-a agreed. "You see that a lot. Right?"
Prime nodded. "They come and go when They need to, giving me what I need when I need it and nothing more. Free will is a sacred gift."
"Well, I think They're going to come at this rate, if I may be so bold," No-A said. "It's a privilege to be here when They do." He glanced at Prime. "Cybertron will move safely won't it?"
"They have promised me as has Primus. I think He is tired and wants peace for Himself and for us," Prime replied.
No-A gripped the door handle. "There aren't enough good things to say about Him. Its always a privilege to be around Them. Thank you, Optimus, for all of it."
Prime nodded. "It is my duty and honor."
No-A and Semi walked through the door but when Prowl started, Prime gripped his arm. "Thank you for asking that question. I know the truth of it but it helps to hear it again."
"In front of witnesses. It makes it more real," Prowl said. "I'm holding Them to it, just so you know."
Prime grinned. "Okay."
Prowl snickered, then held open the door. Both of them re-entered the courtroom and things began again. Witnesses came through the door, said their piece, were cross examined to little avail, then allowed to leave. It was a damning case against the defendants.
Prime sat on the dais listening to the testimony well aware that Karyll Wheelus was staring at him. Wheelus was studying the big mech for whatever reasons of his own. Given that this was out of Prime's servos, mostly, it wasn't as traumatic to his belief in the possibility of The Good as it normally would be. Optimus Prime preferred to believe that there was good in everyone and it was only a matter of time or reason for them to remember that.
He also wasn't a fool and knew some were what they were.
Like Karyll and the defendants.
It would be a long afternoon. Halfway there, MaR-lo would have her turn and it wouldn't take long for her to conclude.
No one there would be surprised. Not even most of the defendants.
=0=Along the wall
They sat or stood on the steps as they listened to the horrifying tale of life on Cybertron among those who were working class or less on the social scales. Even those relatively higher and better off were victimized as well. The tales were terrible, the injustices that were a fact of life were hard to believe. What society would just come in and take someone's livelihood, their personal business away? It made sympathy for Springer and Ratchet's genitors greater than even before.
Owen Harris, Kyle Davis, Beau Weaver, Jase Daniels and Rick Harris sat on a step together listening without comment to the testimony. They were asked by Lennox to come and get another slice of life from the tale of The People. Owen was going to use it as a step by the management of Earth2 to show they were educating themselves about the other side of this Martian partnership. What surprised all of them was the rank and glaring criminality that passed for life on Cybertron.
Even they couldn't believe it.
Mostly.
Jonathan Lennox and Ron Witwicky held a running commentary of outrage as they listened, sharing with their wives and the others present their own feelings about this 'whole business'.
:I have a store. I do a good business and have licensees running three others. If someone came to my store and told me what these people were told there'd be bullet holes in their heads: Ron said.
:They'd behead you: Will Lennox said. :Or worse:
:What's worse than beheading?: Jase Daniels of all individuals asked.
Lennox glanced at him, then explained empurata and shadow play. From the looks of everyone there including Daniels, there actually were worse things.
"Lady MaR-lo, are you ready for closing arguments?" Prowl asked as the conversation among the humans stopped.
:Two days and this is over?: Beau Weaver asked with surprise.
:It only takes as long as it takes here. Another reason why I love them: Rick Harris said.
"I am, Lord Optimus," she said with a slight bow.
:They treat him like a king: Kyle Davis mused.
Rick glanced at him. :The words are different but that's what he is. He's a king, has an empire and reigns. He's the only king I've ever seen that I didn't want to guillotine:
Judy Witwicky laughed. :Optimus Prime is king in my book. If I ever got into this kind of trouble, he's the only one I'd want to hear my case:
"Coln-2, we are ready for your closing argument," Prowl said.
Coln stood. "It would be shocking to you to know how many more witnesses we prepared who asked to tell their stories about the defendants. Its cathartic to some to stand in front of them and speak their truth. The evidence more than meets the standard and I believe that there's little more to add.
"The People have suffered because of these individuals. They were part of the conspiracy that led to the mutual bombing of Vos and Tarn. How many dead do we recover every day who were victims of their criminality? How many suffered because they stole and deprived them of their life's work because their greed knew no bounds?
"I'm asking for conviction but so is the evidence. I'm asking for justice at last for our people, our civilization and the common good. I'm honored to speak for the millions and billions who've suffered because of their actions and words. Thank you, Lord Optimus, for the honor of doing so. I yield to the court," Coln said as he concluded. He sat and relaxed at last.
Prime nodded to him, then glanced at MaR-lo. "Lady, please speak."
MaR-lo of Star Station rose to do battle for the very sparks of her sparkless clients. It was grimly tense in the room.
=0=TBC -3-03-2021 03-09-2021
NOTES: I will answer all notes tomorrow. Tonight, I had to get slag sorted. I love ya all forever. :D
Observation: In the Bay movie with Sentinel, note that Sentinel called Optimus a 'young warrior'. Consider how old Optimus is and it varies by continuity. In one, Starscream yells in a clinch situation where someone is trying to kill him that he's too young to die, he's only 126 million years old. It was a canon piece, too, I believe a graphic novel. He and Prime are contemporaries.
How old must Sentinel be to call Prime young and how old must Hardie and his family, especially his brothers, be to know Sentinel as a child and his elders as contemporaries? Interesting, no? :D:D:D