The Diego Diaries: Redemption? (dd6 129)

-0-Inside the Control Center, Autobot City Military and Civilian Prison, Autobot City, Primal Colony of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire, late evening

They sat on chairs at the big conference room table waiting for the hammer to fall. Maddow and Hauser were in the hallway chatting with the soldiers about something or other law enforcement. Lucien glanced at Burris, Hobbes, and Traachon. Traachon was stoic, something that never changed. He always played his cards close to his vest. Burris looked subdued, as if proximity to the dangers and madness here had drained something out of him. Hobbes looked quiet too, not filled with the surety and bluster that was part and parcel of his persona. He sat back willing himself to relax. He had to hand it to Ratchet. That mech knew how to deliver a blow no one could see coming. First round to Ratchet.

Burris glanced at him. :This was a tour of the Pit. What do you have to say, Lucien?:

Lucien shrugged. :I don't know what there is to say. It happened and this is the result. What do you want me to say?:

:I don't know: Burris said. :I don't trust Ratchet. He's concocting something. Mark my words:

Traachon glanced out the door, then leaned back with something akin to weariness. :We're going to be in for it. He's in redemption mode and he's not going to stop until he wins:

:Edict won't be unhappy about it: Hobbes said bitterly. :Edict has changed and I don't know about it. I don't think he's happy but he's different:

:My bond is furious that I'm in prison but lately, I've detected that its less at the system that put me here than it is at me personally: Burris said ruefully. :I hate it when Farrah is angry with me. And my son? Bezel? He's a policeman and soldier. My son!: He still seemed astonished, then he deflated a bit. :The world is upside down:

:Prime said anyone pushing for things to go back to normal risks an honor fight with him. No one, certainly not us could best that venture: Traachon said. :This is a pretty tight vice they've concocted:

It was silent for a while, then Ratchet, Gee-Gee and the new mech entered to sit and stare at the group for a moment.

"I want impressions, ideas, comments," Ratchet said. "You've been where almost no one else can go. No one else is allowed. Tell me what you saw, what you feel and what you think. It's not an invitation," he said leaning closer to stare at them pointedly.

Burris leaned back, staring at Ratchet with a stern gaze. Then it deflated. Burris was a bully but when confronted, crumbled. "It was terrible. How likely is it that they will ever get out? They would destroy everything and everyone everywhere."

"Not likely at all. We did have a power problem once and the Stunticons were the last recaptured," Gee-Gee said with a growing grin. "Those fools are the most fun I have in my orn."

"Those maniacs are fun?" Burris asked with surprise.

Gee-Gee nodded. "Yes. You see … I pose goals for myself. I want to reform one mech a week. If I do more, then good on me. I want them all pulling in the same direction but I have to undo eons of conditioning and lack. When you grow up hungry, you don't have as many loyalties to things than if you don't. You don't feel as much love for the institutions of the state when you're very aware that they don't love you back. It amazes me how you never saw that. You expected loyalty from a populace that you systematically suppressed, starved and denied. How does that work, gentlemen? I always wanted to ask someone about it? How do you expect obedience and loyalty from mechs and femmes who never ever got what they wanted and dreamed of all their lives?"

"We were cogs in the wheels," Lucien said.

"No, you weren't," Ratchet said. "You were on the private council of the Prime. You were the one with his audials. Several Primes, in fact. The words that you whispered were for the advancement of you and yours. If you wanted to change the narrative, you had the access." He looked at Burris. "Sentinel was bribed. They all were. You could have changed things with your fortune, you and Traachon both, but you didn't. You had access, opportunity and you didn't take it. Tell another tale, my friends. We all know better."

"Well, I'm done with this," Traachon said sitting back with disgust.

"You're done, Traachon, when I say you are," Ratchet said. It was tense a moment as they glared at each other, then Ratchet looked at Burris. "You're the most oblivious mech I ever met. You haven't the slightest clue. You used mechs and femmes as slaves and stored them as equipment when they weren't being worked to death. Do you even understand the offense you've created by your actions or are you beyond help?"

"I realize ..." Burris hesitated. "You don't seem to think that we're capable of feelings."

"I'm the Autobot's diplomat, Burris. I've been one since forever and I know the power of words. I can tell a bullshitter from a mile away. You know the word, right? Bullshit? It's a great human word for lies. I know that words are easy. You can only tell the truth about someone from what they do, not what they say. There are some very skilled liars in this room and they aren't us. You're a bullshitter, Burris, you and these three. You have to prove to me by your actions, not your words, that you've changed, that you understand what you did and how wrong and anti-Cybertronian it was. You would have to denounce The System from the bottom of your spark. That takes change, real change measured in actions, not words. All of you … you're good at words but your actions always told your true story."

It was silent a moment, then Lucien spoke. "We lived our lives in the world we were raised in, the world that was given to us by our fathers. We tried to live what we were expected to live. Hindsight is a virtue that didn't exist for us then."

Ratchet glanced at Maddow. "How did that work for you? When did you awaken to the truth?"

"Since before I was born. My family were the black sheep, as the humans say, of our family," Maddow said with bitterness. "My father believed in equality as per the Will of Primus and my ada became a priest. He was a temple priest at the Shrine for Micronus Prime. They raised us accordingly and we never had that distance. My friends were whoever I liked. We were always being called out by the family. Your father used to berate mine. It was a terrible tension that existed in our family because I believe, Traachon, that they knew my genitors were right and they were a mirror to show how awful yours were."

A hard expression formed on Traachon's face, but he didn't say anything.

"Your arguments were destroyed by your own cousin, Traachon," Ratchet said. "The high tones knew that their life and its underpinnings were lies thought up by the Quintessan slavers and carried on by your caste. You imposed and carried on alien slavery against the Will of Primus and The One and you want to bring it back here. Your entire life has been a lie and now if you want out of your cages, you have to prove that you're trustworthy." Ratchet leaned in closer. "I won't hold my breath as the humans say."

"What furious hell are you going to put us through?" Burris asked with impotent fury.

"Why, Burris … I'm so glad you asked," Ratchet replied as he sat back with a smile. "See this handsome youngster?" Everyone looked at a youngish mech with a beautiful smile sitting silently next to Gee-Gee. He waggled his fingers to them in a wave. "This is Dornee. He's the night shift probation officer. I called him in and after a chat with the Warden here, the luminous and lovely Gee-Gee, we've come to a conclusion. You slaggers have had it way too easy."

If the four could pale, they would have. They glanced at each other, then turned almost as one to Gee-Gee and Dornee. "What does this mean? The courts have imposed their decisions."

"The Caste Court gives me priority over Lucien and by a small rule in The Code that governs courts, over you too, boys," Ratchet said as the door opened and a line of big black-armored mechs began to file in. Ratchet smiled his usual dazzling smile. "Hello, Boys. Welcome."

Hard Drive nodded as Blackjack, Piro, his newly found father, Micro, Delphi, Turbine, and Raptor lined up against the back wall in a row. "Ratchet," Hardie said as he nodded to his favorite (and only) insane-in-law. "I do believe that Court is now in session."

-0-Earlier

A rap on the door brought Ironhide away from his shows. Opening the door, he noted his father grinning at him. "Since when do you knock?" Ironhide asked.

"Since I sent him to get you, infant. Come on. They need the court at the prison," Raptor said with a grin.

Glancing at Partition and the three dread kids, the six titans having just left, he nodded. "Mind the store, infants. I'll be right back." With that, he left.

The big kids took good care of the little ones.

-0-Prison

"As senior court official, I am now entertaining arguments," Hard Drive said as Piro turned on the recorder. His father, a huge mech of great reputation as a warrior had come from the rescued settlements. He had been the defacto leader all the time they were lost, he and his Praxian Elite bond, Hazmat, who was at the moment involved with grandchildren but was ready to come if needed. He was a great mech with a good sense of humor and a decided bent that his long lost children wouldn't be involved in their military life. They weren't. Piro and his brother, father of said grandchildren, owned a restaurant. Their genitors were HIGHLY pleased.

"The new judge with us is Micro of Praxus, commander of the Fifth Division of the Northern Army of Cybertron. All hail, Micro," Hard Drive said.

They did, all of them, as Micro nodded his helm in return. "All hail, Optimus Prime," Micro said and they did. It was tense, he was relaxed and composed, hanging with some of his closest lifelong friends as they worked together to sort slaggers.

It was just like the old orns.

"Ratchet, please present the proposition," Hardie said as everyone waited, their emotions at full throttle. A hearing didn't require otherwise.

"We have four mechs who had a tour of the prison, the most secured and specialist parts included. It was a hard thing to see but I think it was absolutely necessary to make the impression that I think these mechs earned. But what I want is more. I want them to have to work here, wear their crimes, former caste and jobs on a placard on their body and feel the reaction of the prisoners when they see them. I want them to feel what they created. It's not enough that they tell me that they understand the inequities and all that slag. Words are cheap. I want them to get a gander of what it feels like to be nothing, to be seen as nothing and to feel the impact of it. They don't have to be in danger. That's not the point. No danger but they should know what it feels like to be hated for no reason and to be worth nothing. It has to be in the prison itself and not in some office or other where they can't feel the impact of what they helped create."

The four stared at Ratchet with growing horror, then turned to the judges. Traachon rose. "You can't be serious. That would be suicide for us. They will kill us. You could create chaos here."

"Maybe." Ratchet sat back regarding the four with a serious expression. "You came here and were scared by what you saw. You haven't, however, taken your share of the responsibility for it. This prison is filled with destroyed lives. I see your fear but not your sense of shame, that which comes from you understanding and admitting to having a part in making this come to pass. We're here on this world having to take care of what happened to Cybertron and everywhere else our people are because of the system, which you not only worked to create and continue but benefited from as well." He looked at the judges. "Micro came from the settlements we just saved. He's the genitor of Piro. He put his sons and the rest of his family, along with most of those they could find in the chaos who had no one else to help them, onto the last three ships out of Altihex where they were stationed. He and his bond stayed behind because they're soldiers and slagging awesome to organize everyone they found to fix ships and leave together. They made settlements in the density and defended them. When Cassio Imperialis and his armada came, they helped keep everyone calm during the occupation. He had to wonder about his children and friends, the family that he saved all this time until now. This mech," he said nodding to Piro, "is that son who had to leave his genitors behind in The Fall and The Great Exodus."

It was silent as the Praxians stared at the four, their overpowering masculinity and solid no nonsense grit enough of a force to command silence in the room. Ratchet looked at them. "There was hurt everywhere. No one here is unmarked and what else is happening to our people everywhere that we haven't found? You owe a debt in repayment to that and if it makes you nervous or scared, then you have something in common with everyone else. Because of you and your actions, everyone has trauma. Why should we be concerned with yours when you had nothing to say or do about ours?"

Traachon stared at Ratchet. "So … you think making us suffer will pay that back or do you think it will make a difference in our beliefs and attitudes?"

"I don't have any ideas about what will make you feel something about what you did other than smug satisfaction and a sense of entitlement. I just want you to know what it feels like to be uneasy and uncertain, to wonder what will come out of nowhere at you and make you weep," Ratchet said. "No one will be able to reach you for direct harm but I'm not above letting you have a taste of what three billion of our people have felt for four million years because of you and your ideas. Machines don't run without all the cogs working together. If even one of you had opposed the system in place, it would have saved someone somewhere else." He leaned in closer. "It's not like I'm asking for empurata as down payment on what you owe."

Looks of fear appeared, then vanished off their faces. Burris leaned closer. "You wouldn't."

"Stormy and Denita are in security stasis at the medical center because they can't be trusted and their special function removed without harming them. They will stay there, too, until we can render them safe to come out. Whatever it takes, Burris." Ratchet held his optic, then glanced at Gee-Gee. "I'll speak to their current employers. Since you're the new one, let them in on the fun."

Gee-Gee nodded, then looked at the four as her 'command face' fell into place. "You're now mine. You'll appear here ready for work at 0600 on the TMC. If you're even five nanoseconds late you'll do punitive details. Early is acceptable. Come to this facility where I will be waiting. You'll be given a supervisor who will be with you the entire shift. Your shift will begin at 0600 and end at 1800 hours on the TMC. There will be one joor for lunch here in this building and a small break in the mid morning and one in the mid afternoon. Your presence here will be supervised. You will never be alone in this facility. You'd do something stupid, then get killed and I'd have to do the paperwork. I hate paperwork. You will wear the inscription when you get here all through your orn. If the mechs and femmes in the cells express their opinions about it, that's yours to bear. I'd suggest that you do it in silence. When Ratchet and Dornee, or whoever has shift at the time says you're excused, you will be. Until then, no. Frag up, disagree with the assigned duties, not show up on time or at all, give anyone backtalk or otherwise conduct yourself poorly and you will be incarcerated for the express amount of time such an infraction would extract from any other inmate. Remember … you still are on my docket. I could pull your special circumstances releases at my own discretion and the courts will back me."

"That's right," Hardie said. "We're interested in seeing personal growth and responsibility in all of you. We don't see it. We're pleased with Inweld, Morius and Partition. We have the petition from Ratchet and Thayne that they be excused from their penance. They've changed and by all measures are a benefit to this colony and themselves. Partition has exceeded expectations and our family, all of us mechs," he said nodding to everyone in the row including Micro who nodded, "have taken him on as a family project. So it is by the command of The Code of the Praxian Military Elites of Praxus. You, however, are still unknown. Therefore, we accept the change of circumstances as is our duty as those who stand in judgment of you by your own request. Burris, we've asked for and received command of you, Traachon and Hobbes as well. You may refuse but it must be with real objections and not be fear based or entitled."

They stared at the big mechs with astonishment and fear. Traachon turned to the Praxians. "Hard Drive, if they read the sign they'll want to kill us, if not in the prison then later when they get out. They'll know us and kill us."

"Ah, that matters?" Ratchet asked.

The four looked at him with astonishment. "OF COURSE IT DOES!"

"You mean, and let me know if I get this right ..." Ratchet said as he appeared to be thinking deeply. "You're afraid for what might happen to you because you'd bear a sign that was a go ahead signal to give you abuse and maybe hurt you. Is that right?" He turned slightly to Gee-Gee as if to get a clue, thus allowing his low caste tats required by law when he was separated to be applied to be seen. It would take a lot to obliterate or cover them and some did. However, most wore them either because it was an indifferent thing now or they were a badge of honor. "What do you think about that, Gee-Gee?"

Gee-Gee shrugged, then turned toward Springer, an action that showed her own mid caste tattoos. "What about you, Springer? I'm trying to remember something similar. Right, Ratchet?" she asked as she turned back to her partner in crime on the path to rehabilitation for both their charges.

Ratchet shrugged. "I don't know. What about you?" he asked as he glanced at Raptor.

That big mech was grinning at the turn in the conversation. Ratchet was a find, he had always said. A real find, Ironhide. Remember that. "I can't imagine, you slippery slagger, you," he replied with a wink.

Ratchet grinned at the mech who had been his partner in many a prank war and all around drinking buddy. Raptor got funnier and cuter the drunker he got. He turned to the mechs who were looking at everyone with gathering concern.

Traachon gathered himself together faster than the others, then glared at Ratchet. "You would put us into harms way without a backward glance. You want revenge and if we get killed you don't care."

"And that would be where you'd be wrong again, Traachon. If I didn't care I wouldn't be trying so hard to give you a clue," Ratchet said. "I'd be home with my 27 children having dinner and being entertained. But I'm here dragging you though the prison filled with mechs and femmes your small minded, parched, half wit world view created. I might even be on Cybertron living the life if any one of you had a spark. But you didn't, so all this happened. Now its time to change and you won't. I'm TRYING to HELP you but you just won't see it. FRAGGERS! Look at us. All of us are here to HELP YOU. WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SO STUPID!?"

They stared at him unable to figure out what to say, the situation was so convoluted so Ratchet spoke for him. "I'm asking in the court mandate, Hard Drive, to have the following items fulfilled so that these mechs can undertake the project at hand. Do I have full and complete mentor management of Lucien?"

"You do," Hard Drive said as the others nodded.

"What about Traachon, Hobbes and Burris? What was that part of the court rules that can contact the Primal Court System and petition that any high caste that breaks the rules and is sentenced in Primal Court be transferred to yours?" Ratchet asked as Traachon, Burris and Hobbes sat up straight in surprise and wariness. Apparently, they remembered it, too. Lucien sat silently with grim futility clearly drawn on his handsome face.

"Section 22, Parts A.3 and C-7, which I will paraphrase, stipulate given the hierarchy of The System of Exception, that it's in the interests of the state that the miscreants be received into and be dealt with by a Caste Court and thereby, the Primal Court short of a Convocation of the Will must surrender those affected forthwith." Hardie grinned. "That rule was to prevent too much punishment for players on our team in the real world of jail and floggings."

Traachon turned to Hard Drive. "What are you going to do with us? The Prime has to consent."

The door opened allowing Optimus Prime and Prowl of Praxus to enter. They halted at the end of the table. Springer who had called them in as he played his part in Ratchet's magnum opus slid back into his place by the wall with a big grin. His old ada was indeed the outlawish in-law of conductors. Prime glanced at Ratchet who sat back and nodded. "These slaggers are in the midst of a revelation. They want to clarify a point of law, Optimus."

Prime nodded, then turned to Hard Drive. "I am of the opinion that you want to transfer jurisdiction from our courts to yours for the felons, Traachon, Hobbes and Burris?"

"Felons?" Burris asked with umbrage.

"You were convicted," Prowl offered with a grin. "If I remember it, they were serious crimes. Trying to overthrow the colony and rule of law, attempting to commit treason with your daughters with the humans on Earth who are against us, slavery, conspiracy, aggravated assault and battery, conspiracy to harm others to the point of death … shall I continue or is that enough to speak to the 'felon' part of the conversation?"

They glared at Prowl, then Prime. "We want representation," Burris said.

"In the Caste Court proceedings you're given a representative to be declared by me, senior judge. I thereby appoint Springer to be your representation." Hard Drive didn't pretend to hide his small grin.

It would tickle both Prowl and Ratchet how fast the smile on Springer's face was wiped off. He stood from the wall and fixed Hard Drive with an astonished expression. "ME!?"

"I have spoken," Hard Drive said calmly though the entire judicial panel was howling together on the inside.

"You must be joking," Burris said with astonishment.

"You have me confused with Raptor," Hardie said dryly. "Springer, give us an argument why they shouldn't be turned over to the Caste Court?"

Springer stared at him mentally sputtering for a moment, then glanced around the room. "Uh … how about the idea that the verdict was reached in Primal Court and therefore, Prime carries precedence over you slaggers."

Hardie grinned. "That's exactly it. Now you will see something that in my lifetime only happened rarely." He looked at Prime. "I am Hard Drive, Head Judge of the Caste Court of Mars, Cybertron and the Empire hearing the case of Traachon, Hobbes and Burris. Being that the caste of my fathers, that of the Praxian Military Elite holds an entitlement that bears more honor than even that of the Primes, I am ordering you to release the three named individuals over to the Caste Court without argument or due prejudice. We assert our superior will. What say you, Prime?"

It was as bleak and still in the room as any Ratchet could remember in some time. There simply was in Cybertronian life no more naked a display of caste entitlement than this, the humbling of a Prime before the court. He had never seen a Praxian assert caste over a prime but he knew it happened and that they had the right. Given that it almost never happened but for the times when a bad prime would try and twist the world into pretzels was to their very great credit. Nova Prime was visited by a delegation of Praxian Elites on at least two occasions he knew about and maybe more. They were feared and respected, loved and honored more than any other group on Cybertron outside of the priesthood for good reason.

Optimus who had never had rank pulled on him pulled up the protocols as on the inside, Raptor, Blackjack, Ironhide, and Delphi were giving him slag about being a wimp. He quashed his grin, then bowed slightly from the waist drawing gasps from around the room. "I surrender the aforementioned felons into your purview, Hard Drive of Praxus. So says The Code, so say I." He straightened, then winked at Hardie, a gesture that the three 'aforementions' didn't see happen from where they sat.

Prowl, on the other hand, was almost preening. A look of almost malicious triumphalism appeared on his handsome face as he crossed his arms over his chest. He had had bad dealings with all four of them and to have the caste that he dreaded but belonged to actually do a good deed was almost unbearably wonderful. He took videos.

Hard Drive nodded to Prime, then looked at Ratchet. "Ratchet of Iacon, mentor to Lucien and his kin, I give you mentorship rights over Traachon, Burris and Hobbes as well. That includes their families. They will obey you without comment, discharging themselves in a manner that brings honor to their Houses and this caste. What say you, fellow judges?"

Micro who didn't even pretend to hide his grin glanced at Hard Drive. "I concur. This is justice to me. When one frags up, one discharges the debt like a mech. That's how The Code directs and so shall it be. I have spoken."

Raptor grinned. "I concur." He looked at Ratchet who grinned at him. "You really have a thing for losers, Ratchet. I don't include Ironhide in that category, by the way." Huge laughter erupted from everyone but the four. "I will say to you four that you're lucky that Ratchet does. The rest of us would be just as happy to have you behind bars forever. But some of us like Edict and the kids. Man up. Get the job done. Learn your lessons and have a life. If you think that The System, your privileges or even a chance to lead will ever come your way again, better think twice. Just asking for it means an honor fight with Prime. I have spoken."

Blackjack nodded. "What he said." Laughter. "You're getting off light. Only because of Prime and Gee-Gee did you get day passes. For what you did, a life sentence isn't long enough. For you, Burris, mistreating those mechs and femmes on your ship should get you punitive stasis. Count your slagging blessings and be a mech. Your boy, Bezel, found his way. Find yours. I, too, have spoken and may I say … rather brilliantly."

Huge laughter and slag greeted that as Ratchet and Gee-Gee sat at the table relaxed and amused.

"Delphi?" Hardie asked. "Piro? What about you, Ironhide?"

Delphi pulled a chair, then sat, turning his body to face the four who sat on the same side of the table. "You know us. You know that we had real power, wealth and possibility. We never abused it and we used it to help others as much as we could. We raised our boy, Raptor, to be a good mech. He raised his son, Blackjack, to be the same. He, in turn, raised Ironhide and even though Blackjack failed, Ironhide has his moments."

It was bedlam for a moment as the comments sunk in. Ironhide smirked at his amma. "HA-HA!"

Delphi winked at him, then turned to the others again. "You get my point. None of us liked The System and none of us followed it. You know how we got slagged for it. My grandsons had as many low and mid caste friends as the rest of us. We got passed over for promotions on occasion because of our views but we don't regret it."

"Speak for yourself, Ada," Raptor said with a grin. A punch to the arm by his father settled that remark.

Delphi smirked at his wayward son, then looked at the four. "We could do it. You can too. Get over your prejudices. Your bigotry. That's what this is. Hatred. Get over it and join the rest of us in reality. The free ride is over and you can only face endless jail and eventually, permanent shunning if you don't get yourself right. Primus and The One demand that we get this right. Who are you four to stand in opposition to Them? I have spoken. You … you need to listen." He stood, then walked back to stand beside Hard Drive.

Piro glanced at Ironhide who nodded. He looked uncertain a moment, then glanced at his father who nodded with an expression of pride. "You need to get it together," he began. "I own a great restaurant with five other mechs. One of them is my brother but the others aren't. They're all low castes and I love them. We never had a chance to be what we wanted to be until now. No one supports you. Just know that. You're now Ratchet's property according to The Code. You're owned by him. If he wants you to lick his peds, you have to. That's the way The Code works. The court exists to make society as fair as its going to get and you KNOW you have to obey a caste court. Do it. I have spoken." He glanced nervously at his father as he stepped back. Micro looked like he could burst with pride as he nodded to his son.

Ironhide moved to a chair, then sat. He looked at Ratchet. "I'm getting a bit tired of you trying to help mechs. First, you adopted Sunspot. That was genius. That was the best thing we ever did. Then it became an arms race. Springer for me, Drift for you. Then the femmes. Then all the in-laws. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were genius too. Our family is a glory to the world and every orn I fear you're going to add to it with some stray slagger with sad optics. Breakdown ... PRIME! Who's next? It better not be these slaggers. I draw the line."

Huge laughter filled the room as Ratchet smirked at Ironhide. "Where's the fun in that?"

Ironhide grinned, then looked at the four. "Yeah. Where's the fun? Did you know, Lucien, that your son is living with us? Right now, he's babysitting the infants so we could come here and slag you? He's a nice kid but before he changed he was so nasty that I wanted to punt him. Ratchet never gave up because he told me he saw something in the kid. He saw a good thing. I didn't believe it but LO AND BEHOLD! Ratchet was right." He looked at Ratchet. "What shiny thing do you see in these losers?"

Ratchet looked at them, then Ironhide. "In Hobbes, I see Edict, Bron-E, Riff and Rad-R. In Lucien, I see a suffering Lazlo, a changed Inweld and Morius, and a miracle in Partition. In Traachon and Burris, I don't know. I struggle to find anything good but I'm up to the challenge."

"So … you want to help the others?" Ironhide said.

"If they're the only ones who can be helped, the families including Sunee, then its worth the slag to me," Ratchet said. "I may be low caste but I'm a doctor and I don't give up."

Ironhide stared at Ratchet with emotion for a moment, then the four who were watching them with wariness and confusion. "I'M IRONHIDE OF PRAXUS! THERE IS NOTHING LOW CASTE ABOUT YOU! YOU'RE RATCHET OF IACON! YOU'RE A DOCTOR AND DIPLOMAT! YOU'RE MY OLD MECH AND YOU'RE PERFECT!" He rose with balled fists. "NO ONE IN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE HAD BETTER EVER CALL YOU ANYTHING BUT GOOD! THERE'S NOTHING LOW OR UNWORTHY ABOUT YOU! I HAD TO GET PERMISSION TO BOND WITH YOU! FRAG THE SYSTEM OF EXCEPTION!" He glared at the four who looked at him with fear and uncertainty. "If you want to find an exceptional person, then here he is," Ironhide said as he nodded to Ratchet. "You had better learn. The next step is jail for a long, long time and you know it. Without Ratchet working on this orn and night, without him helping Partition, Edict and the rest of them, they'd be dying of sorrow from your SELFISH BULLSHIT! YOU'RE SELFISH, WEAK AND COWARDLY! GET OVER IT! NOW!" He looked at Ratchet who was watching him with a slight grin. "Break them apart and put them back together with your voodoo, then get your aft home." He looked at the four again. "I AM IRONHIDE! I HAVE SPOKEN!" With that, he walked to the wall to stand with clenched fists and smoldering optics.

"This decision is made and will only be overturned by petition to us by Ratchet. I have spoken," Hard Drive said.

It was silent in the room, then Ratchet leaned forward. "Here's what we're going to do," he said.

-0-TBC 9-16-17 edited 9-17-17

NOTES: "D"D"D

Umbrage: anger