The Diego Diaries: Petition (dd6 55)

-0-Shunning

Prime watched Partition rise with an outward sense of calm and an inward sense of foreboding. He had been aware of what it would take to end a shunning and given what he knew of Partition, it was anyone's guess if he could do it. Prime was a student of his people. He had taken a lot of time to learn the differences and agreements between them, regional, historical, religious, cultural, and caste-oriented to be able to be all that he needed to be for everyone. There was probably no nuance, no tick, no small twist or turn in any feature of their existence that he didn't know about. He could answer any formality with the correct response and spot something forming before him almost reflexively. He had been incredibly well-raised and it showed. Optimus Prime loved his people and their culture in all its many facets. Thus, nothing that was happening was a surprise but all of it was awful.

Optimus Prime wasn't a vindictive mech.

Partition bowed to the judges, the elders who raised the petition, and the congregation. With optics averted, he began. "I am Partition of Iacon and I come here before you humbled and sorrowful. I ask for the raising of this action against my family in the hope that we can show you with our efforts our contrition and humble repentence."

Prowl shifted. Partition was going back to the most humble pathway forward.

"I'm the one responsible for I didn't adjust, adapt and make my way forward in the proper manner. I'm filled with regret at any offense I've caused and I'm prepared to do humble repentence at the Temple to show both you and The One my true spark. I seek the lifting of the sanction on my family so that we may show you our true regret and help The People forward in the new paradigm. I say this most humbly," he said as he sunk to his knees and pressed his servos and helm against the floor.

It was dead quiet in the room as the most unlikely and unlikable mech probably in the colony outside processor health confinement bowed and humbled himself before the congregation. The panel watched without comment, a long row of Buddha-like individuals watching the congregation slap the shit out of the petitioners to show them their contempt and intentions toward the future if they continued to fuck up. They, themselves were merely observers for now.

A mech arose as Stephonia, Allie and Revue chatted together off line with Spuria, Stephonia's bond. "Partition, I came in the migration with you and your family," he said angrily. "There was a lot of slag going on and you didn't help. We had a lot of ship problems and hunger … you didn't help us. My bond is a low caste." He paused a moment as rage informed his handsome face. A mech sitting next to him looked up as he shifted in his seat. "Let me start again. Our society decided that my bond was a low caste when there was NOTHING in him that was. His ENTIRE FAMILY is wonderful. They did nothing to deserve being treated like that. When we left the colony we fled together, all of us helping each other because it was the way we had come to be. When we met up with your group we talked. Remenber? You found out that my bond wasn't high caste and we had a fight. Remember that?"

Partition nodded from the floor. "I do."

"So do I," the mech said darkly. "I doubt I will ever forget it. STAND UP!"

Partition hesitated a moment, then glanced at Revue who nodded. He stood, then turned to face the angry mech. The mech shook his helm. "I don't believe you changed. You insulted my bond not because he deserved or earned it. You did it because you could. And that's the problem here with all of us, right? We did slag because we could and frag it all. Why should I ever believe you've changed? Maybe your brothers. They actually look ashamed but you? Convince me."

Partition stared at him. "I can't. I can only tell you. I want my family to be free and I want that too but I want it for them more. I can handle whatever comes. They need and deserve a life. I've given you my word that I'll do this. I don't have more to give."

The two stared at each other a moment, then the big mech sat down, taking his bond's servo into his own. It was tense a moment, then a small femme stood. "Partition, I've known you all your life, you and your family. You have your atar's temperament and sense of entitlement. You have a hard manner about you. Your father was so full of himself he never noticed that he had no real friends. Only one mech has stood up for your family and it was for your brothers. Thayne believes in them, but you? You're a lot like your father. You would have to work a while to convince me. Who vouches for you?" She looked around the room at the stony faces of the congregation. "Who will vouch for these mechs?" she asked.

Thayne stood. "I have and will vouch for Inweld and Morius, Abbas. I give you my word of honor."

Inweld and Morius turned toward him nearly in tears, then bowed lowly. It was silent a moment, then Ratchet began to stir. Prowl caught his arm, then stood. "I am Prowl of Praxus, Second-in-Command to the Prime of Cybertron. I am also his bond and we share children. I am high caste and the son of Venture and Miler of Praxus.

"I think its important for anyone who might vouch for these individuals to understand what that means. Sherrod? Would you please explain or perhaps one of the judges?" Prowl asked as he turned toward Hard Drive.

That worthy stood. "To vouch for someone at this juncture is to take charge of that person to a high degree. You'll be responsible to assist them to the good path, ensure that they keep their obligations and stay out of trouble. If they get arrested, you'll follow. You don't have to serve any sentence imposed but you'll be arrested and jailed until the problem is settled judicially. This is not to punish those who wish to help. It's to help them understand that if they do, they must be serious in their intentions to help whoever it is find their way. You'll be their mentor, teacher, friend and if necessary, the one who slags them to the Pit if they decide to take another path. It's a serious thing to vouch for someone and if you do you must take it seriously. A lot rides upon your assistance to those being assisted." Hard Drive sat.

Prowl who sat turned to Ratchet. :ARE YOU INSANE!?:

Ratchet gave him a brilliant smile. :Yes:

Prowl sat back rolling his optics. Ironhide was staring at Ratchet from the panel. :Ratchet, what are you going to do?:

:You already know: Ratchet said as he stood. He grinned at Ironhide who would have frowned but that was a function that needed more than 15% effort on his part at the moment. "I am Ratchet of Iacon. I am the Chief Medical Officer of the Autobot Armed Forces, Mars, Cybertron and the Empire. I'm also the Ambassador Plenipotentiary holding the Prime's Brief and always have. I am the Autobot's diplomat.

"I haven't got a slagging clue about this court stuff. I didn't know that you had so many rules. It reminds me of the human story, 'The Sword of Damacles'. There was this king who had a courtier who envied him. One orn, they changed places and as the courtier lounged on the throne as king he noticed a sword hanging over him tip down held from falling by a hair-like thread . He glanced at the king who was lounging in the courtier's chair. "What is this?" he asked.

"'This, the king said, was responsibility. This was the price of being king. The sword is hanging by a hair. At any moment, it could fall and kill the king. Welcome to my life.' It seems to me that this feels like that. You had this entitled life filled with slag and hanging over it was this rule. I'm glad. I would hate to think you never had a brake on your business.

"I have no idea the full extent of what vouching for these hoodlums will entail. I've already decided to take Partition on as a trainee for myself and what I do. I guess I like lost causes. He wants to be a diplomat. So be it. But he has to pass my inspection and learn all the things I teach him. Some of that involves medicine and I'm not talking starting at the top. There's a lot of slag work that goes into making things run. We did it, those of us who weren't exalted like you. Without us, the wheels wouldn't turn, nothing would get done and you'd be sitting here having to feed yourselves.

"You have to do what I tell you, when I tell you, how I tell you, and where I tell you without back talk, slag, fragging up, sneaking around, or having any kind of fit. If you do, I'll beat the slag out of you. I've been bonded for nine million years to the biggest, baddest mech in the Autobot Army. What I know about fighting hand-to-hand or with weapons, you'll never learn. If I decide you need pulverized, you'll be pulverized. I'll whip the absolute slag out of you as many times as it takes to make you see the light." Ratchet turned to Laslo and Lucien. "Do they need someone?"

Allie who was smirking slightly nodded. "They do."

"What if no one agrees?" Ratchet asked.

"The sanctions would be lifted but trust would take longer, if at all. We may not shun them but we don't have to congregate with them. Consider it a bit of a social death," Stephonia said with a slight grin of her own. The energy in the room was lighter as everyone waited with expectation for the unpredictable collector of mechs to make up his mind. Everyone in the colony knew that Ironhide and especially Ratchet was a sucker for a lost cause.

Well, Ratchet, anyway.

Ratchet grinned. "I agree to vouce for Partition. I'm not convinced he means it but I have a great right cross. As for Laslo and Lucien … I vouch for them too."

Ironhide shifted in his seat but didn't say anything. Laslo and Lucien stared at Ratchet aghast with surprise. Ratchet grinned. "What say you or do they get a say?"

Allie stood, a tiny femme with a glorious paint scheme. She was a cafeteria worker at Sparkling Day who mothered the babies, all of them, with a lovely energy and manner. She LOVED to work there and was generous with the food, her time and her love. She was Amma Allie amongst the infants. "I believe they have a say but I'm unclear if they should." she turned to Laslo and Lucien. "You may receive a retraction of the decree but you know as well as I, if you don't have a sponsor for a period of time, then it's not going to be much better for you. Ratchet has generously volunteered. Revue and I will stand with Ratchet. When the three of us are convinced, then you will be completely released without petitioning the court for it. You will be utterly free. You have that choice now. Make it good," she said.

Laslo glanced at Lucien who looked gray with emotion. Then he nodded. "We accept." Laslo looked at him, then nodded.

"Very well, Lord Judges," Allie said. "We leave it to you to find what you will." She sat. Prowl pulled Ratchet down as a murmur of amusement went through the crowd.

Lucien and his family turned to the judges as Sherrod joined them. It was up to them now.

Time seemed to drag as they chatted off line. Then after almost too much time, Hard Drive stood. He was glorious. "I am Hard Drive, General of the Army and soldier in the General Staff of the great Optimus Prime. I speak for all of us here. We have heard the petition and considered all the factors including Thayne of Capital City and Ratchet of Iacon vouching for this family. We have set the boundaries. You are free of shunning for a trial period of two years on the Terran Calendar. You will be under the mentorship of Ratchet and Thayne for that period of time. If you succeed, then the petition of exclusion will be ended. It will end without comment, meaning you will be completely free.

"Mentors, you will have a great deal of influence and some legal authority over these five individuals during that period. I would expect, Ratchet, that you will give this court your plans for Partition before the weekend. Until then, you are free to go. I would tell you that the optics of our caste shall be upon you. Be worthy of the sacrifice of Thayne and Ratchet to place their honor in your servos." He turned to the congregation. "Amma Allie and Stephonia, Appa Revue and Spuri, you are made whole?"

They nodded. "Yes, Lord Hard Drive," Spuri replied with a nod of his helm.

"Very well," Hard Drive said. "The burden is upon you, House of Lucien, and the fall will be yours alone if you fail. It is my hope that we shall not have another caste court on any matter relating to you or your family again. I, Hard Drive of Praxus, have spoken."

"Please be upstanding in court," Piro said as he stood himself.

Everyone did as the judges rose and walked out in reverse senior order with Hardie taking up the rear. Partition and his family were allowed to leave next and they did shimmering with humiliation. Sherrod was hugged out, then Ratchet and the family followed. Kup, Hercy, Drift, and Springer mocked Ratchet to the door and the hallway outside. They reached it as Ironhide turned from the middle of his family toward Ratchet. "OLD MECH! WHAT THE FRAG DID YOU JUST DO!?"

-0-7-4-17 edited 7-4-17

HAPPY FOURTH, EVERYONE! It's finally sunny up here. :D:D:D:D:D:D:D