The Diego Diaries: Redemption? (dd6 127)
-0-The Prison Tour – 2017
They walked along the paved road through the prison following it toward rows of massed housing groupings, cell barracks holding up to 30 prisoners comfortably. They were overall managed in groups of eight by a supervisor that reported to Gee-Gee directly. Each larger fence had a main gate with sniper towers on each side and at intervals around the managing installation. Patrols walked routes, snipers were placed with the ability to cross fire over more than one big fenced segment of the prison and they were supported by block houses at every intersection of the facility itself. It was maximum, super maximum in design and execution.
The mechs inside, most of them mechs, had a lot to say though a number stared at them sullenly and silently. Everywhere, they could see the apparatus of security and when they came to a sector that was highly secured, it was apparent they were heading into new territory. As the guards with them and those at the gate punched in and out of the coded protocols for entering or leaving, the four and their two interested family-opponents read the signs...
'HIGH SECURITY-MAXIMUM SECURITY, POLITICAL PRISONERS- SPECIAL ACCESS PERMITS REQUIRED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRIMES'. Beyond the sign, the road went inward past high walls of opaque shimmering energy that were set to deter viewing of those inside. That was a new feature designed to lessen the verbal warfare that happened between this area and that outside the perimeter. Traachon, ever watchful, noted other signs that listed the rules regarding this sector and its inmates.
"HIGH SECURITY: Any prisoner attempting to escape this lock up or who intends to harm a guard, tech, medic, or other worker will be risking becoming shot. There are six guard towers with heavy grid sensors overlapping in a Level 8 security system. If you harm someone you will be struck down immediately.
"MAXIMUM SECURITY: Armed guards watch this area of the prison orn and night. You will be on grid security orn and night. There is no place in the confines of your housing unit that isn't open to visual, audial and digital optical scrutiny. Any violation of the rules will result in an immediate extraction and confinement at the Warden's Pleasure in ad-seg or solitary confinement. This prison stands at modified martial law and at level 3 security. You have been warned."
It was blunt and cold, rather familiar to them as the caste signs warning the lesser beings were made up of this kind of stuff. The guards went through the process of opening the gates to the huge area which contained eight self-contained highly guarded barracks areas, each fenced off from the others. The rules were simple and designed for the inmates.
Gee-Gee looked at the group. "Let me give you the standard speech I give anyone incarcerated here. These are the few simple rules of this unit. The level of security maintained here is consummate to the level of threat that you pose. The Stunticons are here. Barricade, Turmoil, Maelstrom, Scorponok, Stiletto, and others are also here. This is the end of the line for the worst offenders short of specialty segregation or a court ordered stasis imprisonment. Act well in here and you'll be treated well. Our food and medical care is exceptional even by high caste standards of Cybertron during the orn. Act up and you're out. Zero tolerance for substances, fighting, violence, and intimidation rules here. Breaking any of them will make you sorry and you will be caught." She turned to her mechs. "Shall we enter?"
They grinned at the tough little femme who ruled the place with a benevolent optic and a major jones for rehabilitation. They were entering territory that precluded rehab for most of the inmates. Walking down the paved road, they went through the gates again, then headed toward the first group of barracks. These were those of Motormaster and the Boyz. He was out pacing around for whatever reason, then came to the fence. He smirked at the mechs, then looked at Gee-Gee. "What brings you here, Shortie?"
"I missed your handsome face," Gee-Gee said smoothly. "I want you to meet some mechs," she said turning toward the four who became tense immediately. "This is Lucien, Traachon, Hobbes, and the luminous Burris. They made you possible and they came here to say they were sorry."
The four mechs glanced at Gee-Gee as if she had lost her mind but the mechs around her were grinning at their discomfort. Motormaster looked at them, then Gee-Gee. "What are you talking about, femme?"
"These are the mechs who made the System of Exception work. These are the mechs who made clowns like you possible. They made the Fall and the war inevitable. That's what I'm talking about," Gee-Gee said as she stepped up as agreed upon in Ratchet's 'Tour of Tough Love' aka 'Scared Straight. Maybe'.
Motormaster turned to them giving them the full view of his incredibly big physique and phenomenally volatile personality. He was lit like a Roman candle almost immediately. "Is that so?" he asked as he moved as close to the bars as he could. "You're the fraggers who made war possible? You're the fraggers that made us hungry and fragged off? How about you come in here and we can discuss this. How about you come in here and meet the family."
Behind him, the door of their barracks opened and a number of mechs stepped out to watch. After a moment of seething silence from Motormaster, the group walked over to gather around him. Most of those watching dialed down their receptors. The combined energetic auras of Motormaster and the boys were actually painfully touching those outside the fence. Most of the guards knew to do this but the newbie civilians just learned the hard way what real, immense and probably sociopathic anger felt like. They also stepped back. Even Maddow. Hauser who was used to idiots grinned at Maddow who looked at him sheepishly.
Ratchet glanced at Lucien. "This handsome group of marauders are called the Stunticons. They drive like maniacs and if they crack up, they don't care. Right, Dead End?"
That mech glanced at Ratchet, then back to the four civilians. "It doesn't matter in the end. We'll get them no matter what, anyway."
Motormaster glanced at his brother. "Finally, you say something that makes sense." It was then that all four of them threw themselves at the fence. The static that it generated zapped the four civilians and Sunstreaker who cursed loudly. They staggered back, then Gee-Gee stepped forward rather fearlessly. "Either stop or its ad-seg. My discretion."
Everyone but Motormaster stepped back, clenching their fists in genuine psychotic rage. Motormaster who was a genuine psycho rushed again. He hit the sizzling screen, then staggered back. Ratchet turned to the group. "Maybe we should move on. Poor things appear to be having a moment." He walked onward with the group following but for Roadbuster and his mechs. Gee-Gee took the control from the Officer of the Orn, then grinned at her mechs. "You ready?" she asked as Ratchet and his party stopped nearby to watch.
"We were born ready, Warden," Roadbuster said as he pulled up his specialized gun. It was designed to shock the slag out of someone and drop them. The other three, Dead End, Wild Rider and Drag Strip backed up some more, moving out of the range of the incoming Armageddon that would give them respite from Motormaster.
Motormaster gathered himself, bracing for the fight as the gate went down and mechs poured inside. Dead End, Wild Rider and Drag Strip moved swiftly away, making room for the group to jump on Motormaster. Several did, then Roadbuster zapped the mech. They stepped back as he twitched on the ground. By the time he was still, the mechs were grabbing him to cart out. Gee-Gee grinned as he went by to head for ad-seg. Again. She looked at the mechs watching. "You boys going to be okay or do you want a jolt?"
Dead End nodded. "Now that he's gone, yeah. We're good."
The other two grinned, then nodded to her. She grinned back. "Have a good one," she said as they walked out and headed onward.
Down the road they went, glancing here and there before they came to the cells that Ratchet wanted them to see. The inmates were sitting out on chairs, taking the sun. They turned to look, then registered surprise. Obviously, the groups knew each other. Traachon after slowing, walked to the bars where he looked at the group inside with surprise. "I knew you were here but this … it's shocking, Sentinel."
Sentinel glanced at all of them, then Ratchet who still visited on a regular basis for chats. "I'm here. Hello, Doctor."
"Hi, Sentinel. We're taking a tour and thought we'd pay a visit," Ratchet said with a grin. "Does everyone know each other?"
They did but they stared at each other silently, the odd juxtaposition of the most powerful, wealthy and influential Cybertronians in a cage overpowering them for a moment. Sunstreaker glanced at his brother. "Do you think this is the time to tell everyone here that we used to rob their houses and apartments regularly?"
Sideswipe grinned. "I don't know," he said as he looked at Sentinel. "What about it, Sentinel? Is it time?"
"You need to to watch your mouth," Burris said as he turned toward Sideswipe. "Know your place and your betters." Burris regretted the remarks the moment they left his mouth as the mechs around him stiffened with insult.
Ratbat who was sitting next to Sentinel laughed. "You're not too bright, Burris. You never were. Amazing."
Sideswipe looked at Burris like he was a target before Ratchet stepped between them. "Allow me. His place and everyone elses is wherever they want to be. Secondly, you mean these felons behind bars are just that much better than the rest of us, Burris? Them? Behind the bars here? You do see my point, right?"
"Alleged felons," Sentinel replied with the ghost of a grin.
Ratchet grinned back, then looked at Burris. "An apology would help."
Burris stared at Ratchet, then the others. "My apologies," he said.
Ratchet grinned. "Your sincerity is topped only by your clueless oblivion, Burris. Never change."
Sentinel grinned at Ratchet. "Have you come to chat?"
"Not right now," Ratchet replied. "We're giving the newbies a tour. Later on, maybe."
Sentinel nodded. "I look forward to it."
"Whatever for?" Burris asked with surprise.
"Because, Burris," Sentinel said as he looked at the big handsome mech trying to commit suicide by prison guard, "unlike you, Ratchet is interesting."
"Ouch," Splice said with a laugh. "BURNED!"
The group laughed, then bid adieu as they walked onward to see the sights of the prison. Sentinel's group would watch them until they disappeared.
-0-At the main prison entry intersection again
They had made it through the prison with enormous slag given and none sent back to the slaggers behind the bars. Some had watched sullenly while most others berated and insulted the procession. Most of them were still in the hopeless range but an entire cell block was occupied by those working to get out some fine orn. They were 'Gee-Gee's Kids' or so everyone called them. Ratchet turned to his group and looked at them a moment with a serious expression. "We're going to a part of the prison that very few enter. This is the 'highest security/imminent risk' portion where absolutely the most dangerous mechs and femmes are kept. At no point should you engage them unless I say so. No matter what they say or do, keep your traps shut. Are there any questions?"
There were none as the six newbies stared at Ratchet solemnly. He turned with a grin, then they began the laborious process of entering through the almost draconian security that held the crazies in and everyone else out. Through the three gates they went, then entered the open space around the enclosures inside. Around them, three high powered fences surrounded a facility with 56 barracks that could hold between 3 and 14 individuals each of such a violent character that they couldn't be placed anywhere else. They were spaced farther apart than the others due to the inmate caliber and their willingness to get into trouble together.
Ratchet turned to the group. "This group is so dangerous that only the most screened individuals can come here with only with Prime's permission. I want you to stay back from the fences because anything can happen." His expression hardened. "I want you to know, Traachon, Hobbes, Burris, and Lucien, that I hold you responsible for these inmates, you, Sentinel and his clique. These mechs are what happened because of you." Then he walked onward toward the first cell block where a mech was hurrying toward them.
Ratchet stopped near the fence, gathered his thoughts, then greeted the mech who looked delighted to see him. "Hi, Seevo. I brought some people to meet you."
Seevo who suffered paranoid delusions and had only a tenuous grasp of reality looked at the others, then stepped closer to the bars. "They aren't with you. You know … you aren't seeing anyone but me are you?" he asked almost plaintively.
"No. They're just wanting to meet interesting mechs and I thought of you first," Ratchet said gently.
Seevo looked at the group, then Ratchet. "You're still my bond, right?"
Ratchet nodded.
"Sometimes I forget things," Seevo said as he stared at Ratchet with intensity. He was a soldier who had done terrible things and bore the terrible consequences of that sort of life. Two others lived with him and they got along well even though they were in their own way more dangerous than he was. They were deeply psychotic and always asked Ratchet to let them out to kill Autobots. Seevo wanted to run away and take Ratchet with him. The three would kill Autobots with Ratchet in their company.
"That's okay," Ratchet said. "I'll remember for you. Did you decide about taking my medications? I made them just for you, Seevo. I made them taste good because I love you that much."
"I'm thinking about it. I'm waiting for Onyx."
"Onyx?" Ratchet asked.
He nodded. "Onyx Prime comes by sometimes. I talk to Him. He helps me decide things … you know … about hunting Autobots. He wants them all dead and He's thinking about making me his mech to do it. Right now, I have to talk to Him about what you want. BUT I'LL LET YOU KNOW! SOON!"
Ratchet grinned. "Just call me and I'll be here with the medications. They'll help you feel better ... like vitamins and supplements, even candy."
He nodded. "Okay," he said with a grin. His optics never left Ratchet, so fixed on the big mech was he. He was devolving into something even less than the last time Ratchet had come by. Ratchet had put a plea into the Office of the Primes to have him pulled out and given treatment without consent. It was feared that he would cascade and crash his processor, falling into suicide or worse. With a nod and grin, Ratchet walked onward with his silent entourage.
Seevo ran along the fence calling to Ratchet, telling him that he was loyal and would never cheat on him. It was excruciating to see and hear. Ratchet waved to him as they walked onward toward a special area behind this one that held even more dangerous and damaged mechs and femmes. He paused after they entered the secured area through double gates. "We're going to see a femme that's such a danger that I never turn my back even outside the fences. This is Mar-C who is a sniper, someone who enjoys killing and can kill with anything lying around no matter how tame it might look to you and me. She's killed children, elders … she likes to go out to snipe when she's bored, then keep a body part as a trophy. Even hardened Decepticons fear her. No one recharges around her. No one goes around her. No one would live through the experience."
They walked onward, then paused by an enclosure that held a solitary femme. She was watching them but didn't appear to be doing so. Ratchet called to her. "Mar-C! Hi!"
She looked at him, then gracefully stepped down from the table where she was sitting. Walking to the bars, she looked at him, then the others. There was no life in her optics. They were dark, bottomless and hard to fathom. "Ratchet. You came to visit? I hope you did. I would like you to come inside."
"I can't. I have to take this group on a tour," Ratchet said.
"Come inside."
"I can't. I just wanted to say hello."
"Come inside. Come."
Ratchet nodded, then began to walk onward. She followed him along the fence. "Come in, Ratchet. Come in and sit. We can talk. Come inside."
Ratchet ignored her as they continued along, a group of frightened newbies and solemn-looking mechs, some of whom had seen it all. Ratchet glanced back to see her standing there watching them leave. Then she walked back to the outdoor table to sit again.
"Frag," Springer said as they stopped to regroup. "That was weird."
"If you ever went inside that enclosure she'd kill you the moment you crossed the threshold. It would be so fast you wouldn't know you were dead until you fell on the ground. There isn't anything she hasn't figured out how to make into a weapon," Ratchet said. He continued onward halting before a fence where a mech was standing, his mad optics watching all of them. "Hello, Luminous. How are you today?"
The huge mech considered that, then shrugged. "Luminous isn't home today. He's gone out."
"Who are you then? The Caretaker or the Guardian?" Ratchet asked.
The big mech considered that, then grinned. "No. I'm the Boss."
"Do the others know you, Boss?" Ratchet asked as he took notes and very low key scans inside his chassis with special internal equipment.
"No. I'm the one they don't know about. I hide from them until they go out, then its my turn," he said.
"What about Primus? He was here the last time we talked," Ratchet asked.
"He's not present just yet. I am. Only me," Luminous said.
"What happened to the others?" Ratchet asked with growing foreboding.
The big mech leaned in closer. "I've killed them."
"Oh frag," Ratchet said softly.
-0-TBC 9-14-17 edited 9-19-17
ESL: "Scared Straight"-This is an end of the road program for hardcore kids before entering the prison system. They are chosen, then brought to jails or prison to interact with lifers, that is, prisoners who are in for life sentences. They have been screened and are working on a program where they scare the living shit out of the kids when they come in so that there's no way they won't know what's coming if they continue. They don't pull punches, show them the abuse and how young kids become property of old hardcore prisoners and that it destroys you forever. Most of the kids, almost all of them benefit and change from this experience. I find I feel real love for the prisoners who are trying to make a terrible thing right. That's what Scared Straight is.
Ragemoose chapter 126 . 20h ago
they're somehow not putting together that... even if they did reinstate the caste system... the new high caste would PROBABLY be the old low caste. there is 100% no guarantee that the system means "the system where we get our way" and that's hilarious to me, that they assume it is. you can kinda tell Lucien is sorta trying, which is good. the other guys... i don't know. i dunno how such a sweet kid could come from a dude like Burris. then again that's sort of always the joke, you see a sweet kid and their parents are very rarely also sweet. its sort of a game of opposites. anyway, i hope these friggin bottom-of-the-pond mud eating slime balls straighten up soon, they're getting on my nerves. ratchet's got a lot more patience than i do, ha ha, good on him.
ME: I agree. There is no guarantee. But they can't figure it out. Bezel is a good kid and sometimes they happen no matter what dolts their family might be. I believe in the resilience of young people. They're getting some tough love. It reminds me of Scared Straight where hardcore offending kids go to jail and prison where lifers and others scare them down another road. They have an amazing track record of saving kids. This is coming up on the moment of truth. They just need a run out of their bubbles. :D
Burningrose194 chapter 126 . 22h ago
I want Cordon to get out of prison, I like him, he seems nice XD
ME: There are few people, I think, that don't have some good in them and Cordon is one of them. He's a product of the system and somewhere in his core, a good mech waits for the moment to come about. Sometimes, it never does.
Ragemoose chapter 125 . 23h ago
you replaced this chapter with chapter 123!
ME: THANKS! I fixed it, eagle eyes LOL! :D:D:D
Silverhornd chapter 126 . Sep 13
Hi, question if they almost threw with finding the trap code are they about to find those two high-class criminals who are in hiding. I know that the were close once and are there going to be more migrations coming.
ME: Sherma and Moma are there but they're still hiding. Their turn on the catwalk is coming. :D I just love how they slip past Drift and Springer. I love Drift and Springer when they get frustrated. They have an element of humor that I love. :D
Leoness chapter 126 . Sep 13
Burris could use a beat down. Nothing else appears to be getting through.
ME: Some are just hopeless. The best case for him would be to render him harmless. He's going to get a beat down from someone eventually, maybe in a bar or restaurant. He's been entitled so long that he can't see how his words can provoke violence. He's his own worst enemy. Some can't be changed but they can be neutered. :D
Guest chapter 125 . Sep 13
Chapters 123 and 125 are the same chapter. You double posted 123. Chapter 125 was the chapter about the vessel of treasures in the Sea of Mithril that belonged to Traachon Hobbes and the rest of that ilk that had sunk in the Sea when they evacuated Cybertron.
ME: FIXED! Thanks, honey bun. :D:D:D