The Diego Diaries: Omega (dd8 107)
NOTE: It was Tarn v Vos, not Polyhex. Thanks for spotting the goof, my darling. It will be ironed out. :D:D:D
=0=Conference Room
"What would Prime ever want from you?" MaR-lo asked.
Cassio glanced at her, then back to Prime. "I know where the last two Omega Keys are."
It was amazing the expressions on the faces of Hemmer and MaR-lo. They stared at the two, then each other.
MaR-lo glanced at Prime, then turned to Cassio and slapped him on the face as hard as she could. It rang out in the room and then she slapped him again. Hemmer had to grab her arm or she would've slapped him until he was dead.
Pulling her gently back, Hemmer watched as Springer gripped Cassio by the scruff of his neck. Jerking him back, Springer sat him roughly on a chair. Ebio swiftly joined him as mechs stepped closer with guns in view.
"Well, you run a tight show, Prime," Cassio said as he rubbed his face. He glanced at MaR-lo. "Does this mean we need a new lawyer?"
No one answered him as everyone stared at the two with various expressions of emotion on their faces.
Prime stared at them as well and it was easy to see what he thought himself. He sat back slowly. "You will tell me where they are now."
"Or what?" Ebio asked. "Are you going to do a Sentinel on us?"
"No," Sun said dangerously. "I will."
They stared at Sun, then Prime.
"If anyone hurts either of us you'll never get that information," Cassio said pointedly at Prime.
"He doesn't have to ask, slaggers," Ratchet said. "I can plug into your processors and take it."
"And you don't think we know that?" Cassio asked with irritation. "If you do then it derezzes into thousands of overwritten pieces. I have encryption from the Infectious Disease and Germ Warfare Division of Galaxy Industries covering that. If I don't release it willingly, it destroys it."
"Given that we got this far without them, I'd be willing to take that risk. What do we really lose either way?" Hardie said softly as he sat composed but flamingly furious near Ironhide.
That mech was livid and didn't hide it.
"You can do that but if you do the data is gone. Given that you'd risk that and I'd have to defend, then what came next would be irrelevant. I'd have to care at that point either way and I don't. Win-win for me," Cassio said as he stared at Prime.
"Then all the better parting you out, slagger," Jack said. He moved closer to the table. "I knew your old mech. Devio was a traitor to The People. He licked the peds of the Quintessans and then the Functionalist Council. He's the biggest, most criminal coward I ever met."
It struck hard, the remarks about the father they idolized but for once Ebio didn't take the bait. He glared molten hatred to Jack, then glanced at Prime. "You can do what you want but unless we get what we want you get nothing."
"We get the pleasure of taking you apart screw, by weld, by join. Think of it as a living autopsy," Perceptor said with uncharacteristic malice.
Wheeljack glanced at him with surprise, then at the pair. "I'll help you, Perceptor."
It was silent a moment, then Magnus leaned forward to look down table. "What makes you think in this or any other universe that we'd allow the two of you to live on Cybertron ever again?"
"You could end the building dilemma in a moment. Given that Primus has already removed all the scrap and broken bits, repairing the greatest damage Himself, this can recreate and build up again in the picture that you want in a breem. You'd be dumber than you probably are, Prime, to throw this moment away," Ebio said.
A rap on his helm drew his ire as he glanced upward into the furious face of Drift. "Fragger. Just your speed, Deadlock."
Drift gripped Ebio's neck and squeezed it before letting it go. "If you continue to speak to Lord Optimus in this manner, Ebio, I'll be forced to drop you from a high up place to the ground far, far below. Accidentally, of course."
"Of course," Springer said with a grim expression.
It was silent again as everyone glanced between the two maniacs and Prime.
MaR-lo who was talking to Hemmer off line rose a bit unsteadily. "Lord Optimus … my … my colleague and I wish to ask for a continuation of this trial so that we can go through this revelation. It's as serious a breach as I've experienced with a client in my career. I'm not sure I can defend mechs who would hold our people hostage like this. I'm giving notice that I'll be considering withdrawing from their representation but for the penalty phase. I'm not sure I can be their advocate for the whole trial now."
"That's my feeling as well, Lord Optimus. I'm shaken here," Hemmer said. "This is as brazen and cruel a moment I've had in law."
Prime nodded to both, then looked at the two prisoners. "Springer, take them to the prison. I am granting your continuation for today and perhaps tomorrow. I will wait to see what the Powers feel about this new information. Then I will make my decision regarding the trial following that time."
Springer nodded, then jerked Cassio off his peds. "Done."
"You're making a mistake not taking up my offer, Prime. All I have to do is erase it," Cassio said.
"Then you have nothing," Magnus said.
Both of them were dragged out of the room shouting as they went.
The door slammed, then it was quiet. Everyone sat down, taking in the news for a moment.
Then Jack leaned back in his chair. "I knew the father, Devio. Didn't know the ada. He was as bad as they came, Devio, and these two never had a chance. They were late in life, these two. Devio was an overseer who hid out and missed being killed during the aftermath of the revolution. He slid in with the Functionalist Council and when they were driven off, the mob got Devio and very little was left of him after that."
Hardie nodded. "I remember. You do what you know unless you have a functional conscience and the ability to think within the bounds of reality to overcome things. They never had to pay a consequence and so here we are." He glanced at Prime. "Do you really believe he can find the rest of the Keys?"
"I am not sure," Prime replied. "I need that time to allow the Pantheon to tell me what I need to know. Our people deserve everything that we can do for them. They have suffered enough. The only consolation that I have if this does not pan out is that we are making our way forward as it is. Its going to be done in the end but the idea of skipping the time its going to take for everyone to be safe and happy in a home is what makes me so angry."
"They never did a thing in their life that didn't benefit themselves and that's on Devio," Sun said. "What do you want us to do, Optimus? Command us."
"Wait for now," Prime said. "I want to give the Powers time. As for the two of you, I will accept your resignations, Lady MaR-lo and Hemmer, if that is what your ethics and consciences demand. I would ask that you consider at least waiting until I figure out what to do about this. I understand your situation and there is no dishonor in what you have asked for."
MaR-lo sat back deflated. "I've tried all manner of mech and femme who faced terrible circumstances over a very long period of time. Some of them were guilty as sin. Others weren't. I've had terrible clients but I never regretted doing what I did for the principle. This with them, however, is different." She stared at Prime a moment. "How do you not love our people?"
It was leaden in the room.
Prime shook his helm. "I do not know the answer to that, Lady MaR-lo."
Prowl vented a sigh. "Then I'll put this in limbo for two orns."
Prime nodded. "Do. For now, I think we can all step away from this until I know more."
MaR-lo and Hemmer rose, bowed slightly, then walked to the door and out. Everyone there watched them leave, then glanced back to Prime.
"Optimus, whatever you do we'll support you," Hercy said. "We remember Devio, too, and what he did. Those two never had a chance to grow up to be any different but that doesn't help us now. There's ways to get information but I remember that level of encryption. Its highly unlikely that you'd get it before Cassio crashed it for good."
Prime sat back, then nodded. "I know. I will need the advice of the Pantheon. We will adjourn this until the same time two orns from now. Given the outcry it would cause if our people found out, I do not have to tell you that it is as secret as can be."
"We know, Optimus," Magnus said. "No matter what happens, we're going to build what we will for all the people. Nothing is going to stop that from happening."
"That is true but our people deserve the best we can give them in the quickest manner. The Keys would make that happen," Prime said.
"Then we have to wait and see. The Pantheon is aware of this. We have to see what They'll do about it," Turbine said.
It was a solemn group that dismissed from the conference room to go back to their duties.
=0=On the way to the prison
They sat on chairs again magnetized to the seats. No one spoke for a moment but the tension was nearly unbearable.
Then Ebio relaxed. "You don't like anyone remembering that you're Deadlock."
Drift said nothing and neither did Springer. They stared at the pair with unvarnished hatred.
"I think we got to them," Ebio said to his brother who nodded silently.
"It doesn't matter what we think. Prime's the one you have to budge and he won't. I've known Optimus Prime since the revolution and he's never allowed blackmail to rule his decisions or hinder his duty."
"Too bad for him," Ebio said. "He needs the Keys and he won't get them if he doesn't play ball."
"If no one needs what you're selling, you have nothing. We can do this without the Keys. We have already," Springer replied. "You never planned for him not buying what you're selling did you?"
"I don't have worries. Prime needs the Keys. We have them and we're going to get what we want," Cassio said with uncharacteristic fervor.
"Must be difficult being the sons of a double traitor. Both the Quintessans AND the Council. Your old mech was a real loser," Springer said with a smirk. "No matter what you might think of anyone else and whatever they have or don't have, your atar was a traitor to everything that's Cybertronian and to Cybertron. There's nothing in his life that wasn't cowardly, cheap and cruel. You must be very proud."
Ebio leaned forward to argue but Cassio put his ped on Ebio's. "Don't take the bait. We're holding the line, Springer. Tell Prime. We want what we want or you can kiss the Keys goodbye."
The train slid to a halt, the door opened, then Roadbuster and a couple of huge mechs entered. "What now, Boss?" he asked Drift.
"They're yours," Springer said.
They watched as the two were dragged off, then the door closed, waiting on the tracks for Springer to send it back.
He sat down to lean back against the car. "What if we get them and Cybertron's programmed to transform to the new design?"
Drift sat down beside him, then pulled Tell out of his carry hold. The baby was sleeping so the noise and drama never reached him in his silent world. "It'd be a miracle." He glanced at Springer. "We're sort of on a roll in that department."
Springer grinned. "From your lips to The One's audials," he said as he pressed the control panel to send the train back to The Fortress.
It sped away into the tunnel at speed.
=0=Somewhere else
"Well if that doesn't beat all," Micronus said with a smirk.
"We have a situation here," Onyx said with a frown. "This is a major negative impact on Primus on the timeline. There's so many swarming together in anticipation to how this turns out that We need a council."
"I think I agree," Micronus said as both of Them faded away.
=0=TBC 03-06-2021 03-10-2021