The Diego Diaries: Full Circle (dd6 158)

-0-Full Circle, Terra, start of the orn

The soft tinkle of bells hanging on leather strings on the door sang out as Anders opened the door. He walked in and so did everyone else. They gathered near the front where the 'cash register' was located. Joon who stood up to peer around her loom smiled and waved. "ANDERS! YOU'RE HERE!" She glanced toward a room in the back where inventory and others looms were located. "EDICT! ANDERS IS HERE!"

Edict walked out of the backroom wearing an apron and holding statues of Primus in each hand. "Anders!"

"Edict," Ratchet said with surprise. "I didn't know you worked here."

"Joon is very kind and persuasive," Edict said. "I love art and helping here feels like play. I divide my time between Sparkling Day and here. Anders and I have the same therapy group with Vinn, don't we?"

Anders smiled, then nodded. "We do."

Joon walked around the loom, then hurried to hug Anders. As they chatted, Lon and Bezel looked at the big tapestries. "We had one of those in our house, Atar. Remember?" Bezel asked.

Burris who was happy watching Anders be happy turned to his son. "I remember. An emerald one as a bonding gift from your Amma and Appa."

"You don't have one now?" Joon asked as all of them shook their helms. "Then you must pick out one you like and have it."

They all turned to look at works of art that would have cost the lifetime earnings of entire neighborhoods in Ratchet's district, then walked over to look at them. Anders glanced at his son. "You must have a creation tapestry for your home, Bezel and Lon. It will bless you forever."

The two nodded, then began to look in earnest, settling on a midnight blue one. Joon pulled them down, then turned to Anders. "Let's have you do the honors. That way you can learn how to do this, Anders."

He smiled, then they followed Edict and Joon to the check out area. Helping Anders to mark them in inventory by passing them over a scanner, they rolled them gently and soon two tubes were in the servos of their new owners.

"Its really quite simple, Anders," Edict said. "We scan for inventory control and wrap things as beautifully as possible. Everything they take from here is a treasure."

Anders nodded, then smiled at Burris. "I'm going to be fine, Burris. Why don't you go with Ratchet and I will meet you at 1600 in the …" He hesitated, then nodded. "The place."

"Very well, Andy," Burris said hugging his bond. "We can go out to dinner afterward. All of us, hopefully."

:Get time off, boys: Ratchet said to Lon and Bezel off line. :Tell them why and I was there to vet it:

Lon and Bezel nodded, then watched as Burris and Ratchet walked out together. They turned to their ada who was chatting happily with Edict and Joon. "Have you had anything to eat yet, Ada?" Bezel asked.

"Don't worry about that. There's always good things to eat in the back. We have a little lounge for us," Joon said. She smiled at the boys, then steered Anders back toward the room in the rear.

Edict grinned. "Don't worry about Anders. We will help him."

Bezel hugged Edict and so did Lon. "Thank you, Edict. This is the greatest orn so far for me."

"Sometimes its slow but this place is paved with miracles," Edict said. He watched as the boys left, then walked to the back to eat and chat with friends.

They walked out, tube in hand, then stood together on the sidewalk. "I could cry, Lon."

"You should," Lon said.

"At home," Bezel said as they walked toward the metro line.

He would.

-0-On the way to The Confectionaire

"I thought we were heading to the Medical Center," Burris asked as they walked along side-by-side.

"We will, but you need a bit of medicinal servos on first," Ratchet said as they entered the beautiful shop together. They walked to the case to stare at the bounty as all around them the delights of talented servos were on display in cases and lying on shelves.

"What is this, Ratchet?" he asked.

"This is a wonder drug. They call it ice cream but I call it nectar of the gods," Ratchet replied. He called for two banana splits, then carried them to a table by the window. He set them down, then sat. "Have a seat and a bite. Then tell me what you think about this."

Burris sat, then took a bite. Savoring it, he grinned slightly. "This is great."

Ratchet nodded. "It is."

They ate a moment in silence, savoring the delicious feast before them, then Burris looked at him. "I thank you for talking to me. For having me along. You didn't have to."

"Some might say so, but I have a different opinion of what I should do. I don't consider anyone expendable. Certainly not those willing to open up a little. You are, you know … opening up. What do you think about that?"

"I … I find it hard to do that. It wasn't encouraged. The things that they wanted from me was success and focus, they called it. Optics on the prize, Burris. You're the fourteenth or fifteenth family member to head the company. Make it big, make it rich, it doesn't matter how." He was silent a moment, a slightly bitter look forming on his face. "Anders and I come from old fashioned families and we were bonded between dynasties, you know? It happened. It wasn't a choice. It took me a long time to consider someone else before myself because even though I liked Anders, I didn't know him very well and I was heading the firm so I was in the game," he said. Then he grinned bitterly. "I don't think you must have thought I was much when I showed up."

"No, Burris, most of us didn't," Ratchet said truthfully.

He nodded. "I don't blame you. I was a cad and many other things but it was so ingrained, so patterned, so ..."

Ratchet watched him as he struggled. "Disclosure and self awareness are hard for you. What made it different? You've been other places and you didn't change. Why here?"

"My son, Bezel, is a wonderful youngster. I never understood him before. I thought he was just trying to be defiant to me. You see," he said bitterly, "it was one thing you could never be … defiant. I bonded as I was told and I did what I was told. No one ever corrected me or told me how I must have looked. My ego was my light and it took me down the most terrible paths but I never saw it. I could never see it and how it hurt others. I know it did, you know … hurt others. I was so … thoughtless. I think that bothers me the most … how awful I must have looked to others. I hurt a lot of people, Ratchet, and I have a burden to bear about Cybertron. I neglected my sons and my bond. Sweet Anders I call him. He was left alone a lot and he didn't come to the parties and meetings. Neither did Edict. They wilted in the darkness, both of them." He grinned slightly. "My sweet Anders … he thinks that Hardie chose Cargo to be his aide. We know better don't we."

"No one needs to know. If it helps Anders through his orn, then good on all of us. Hardie will whip the sad sack out of Cargo. You do know Hardie's exempt, he's that old," Ratchet said.

Burris glanced up with surprise. "I've only met two in my life. I had no idea that Hardie was one. It explains a lot."

Ratchet nodded. "He's a work and wonder. Right now, Burris, I need to help you find your way. Sometimes, a high caste will sit and stew in their own misery and not move ahead. I have a bunch of them as patients … substance abuse and self injury. This place puts to lie everything you were ever told. It shouldn't work but it does. Have you considered counseling at the Temple? You're religious, right?"

He nodded. "I am. Look what I did with it?" he asked grimly. "I turned away from The One. I feel so far away from everything I was supposed to be and do."

"You know … I grew up dirt poor. I never had much but I had a fortune in love and teachings from my family. When you go to the Matrix, nothing goes with you but love and memories. Nothing that you can hold in your servo is as important as that and it never goes with you. If you find any other conclusion to all of this for yourself, get it clear that only the people you love and love you matter. Nothing else does. The moment I got my genitors back … I will never forget it. It was as if Primus had given me all the wealth in the universe at one moment. Think on that. It will heal you. You have great kids in Lon and Bezel and the other two will learn. Your bond is a jewel. He's a genuinely good spark."

"He is," Burris said with emotion. "I never really treated him right. I was an arrogant slagger and left him alone a lot. He never liked our life and thinking back on it, he didn't like the way I became. He never hurt anyone. He never hurt the others. He just sat in his room and suffered. That's on me, all of it. He was the son of scholars. His family is the House of Froso."

"The historians and writers? I think I had a collection of their books somewhere," Ratchet said.

Burris nodded. "They had more talent and smarts than money so they tied our houses together with our bonding. Money meets prestige." He was bitter a moment, then his face relaxed a little. "We were strangers and I never took the time to find out better for a long time. Then I did, but Anders was already sad. To see him smile and be excited about something, Ratchet … it sets my spark free. I have so much guilt and torment."

Ratchet nodded. "I can help you there," he said as he WiFi'ed a script to the big mech. It hit him immediately, relaxing him visibly. He held his helm in relief. "This is a timed release. It will help you, Burris. The rest of it? You're mine. You report to work at the Medical Center. Come to my office at 0900 every morning to work. You and Anders … go to breakfast out. Go for walks. Visit places, galleries, bookstores. Go to the races, the games, the shows when the Performing Arts Center opens. You have to go out and get involved in life."

"What if someone sees me? What if they turn on me? I don't want Anders to be frightened," Burris said with genuine concern.

Ratchet grinned. "Leave that to me," he said. "Eat your banana split, then we go to work. Okay?"

Burris stared at him, then nodded. "Okay," he said.

-0-A half joor later

They stood in a room with the equipment pushed back. Standing on a small box, Burris was subjected to the scrutiny of a mad artist. Sunstreaker walked around him taking his measure. He was going to repaint the big mech and add texture and contours to change the overall appearance of him. No one who would see him next would know he was the big aft from Iacon who had been so terrible to as many as it seemed he could.

Ratchet sat on a med berth eating candy out of a can with Sideswipe. "I do believe if anyone can hide a mech in plain site, this one can. This is a genius mech, Our Sunstreaker. He's one of my heroes. I have 54 or so of them, did you know that?"

Sideswipe snickered. "Is that how many of us there are in the family now?"

"Just about. I've added Burris, Anders and Bezel as well. Lon, too. The word is out on Cargo and Keystock yet. I also added Edict and his kids. Hobbes is still a work in progress."

"They tell me it's voodoo, this thing you do," Sideswipe said.

Ratchet grinned. "It's not voodoo. It's empathy. It's forgiveness. It's the only way forward to heal us as a society and to give a future to the children. If you can forgive, you should. You might not always be able to do it but it should be part of what you try to achieve in your life. It makes room for light. It makes you the better mech."

"Then you're a better mech than me, Ada," Sideswipe said. "You got a plan, Sunny?"

"I do," he said with that fiercely attendant manner he had when presented a challenge. He would make it happen, too. Burris would be another mech, another color, a better combination with all the measures of shine and coverage that defined Sunstreaker as a detailer and artist. It would be a miracle.

-0-1555 at Courtroom #11

Anders and Bezel walked in together, Lon following. Ratchet was already there. Burris was with him and they sat together as Ironhide met in the front of the room with Raptor, Hard Drive and Blackjack. Cargo was sitting in the front seat talking together with a strange mech who looked terribly familiar. That mech stood, then walked to Anders who recognized him with a jolt. They stepped to one side to talk, then hugged tightly. Bezel and Lon stared at Burris with surprise. They turned to glance at Ratchet who gave them the thumbs up. They grinned at him, then turned to Burris and Anders. Walking toward the two, they gathered as Cargo sat in the front row watching. He had obviously returned with Hardie.

When they judges were finished chatting off line, they turned toward everyone which now included Coln-2 to watch and Blackstone to speak. Hardie, Blackjack and Raptor sat down in a row up front while Ironhide called everyone to order. Everyone sat with expectation, then the prisoner entered at 1600 exactly. He walked to the front, then stood on the line as the bailiff walked to stand against the wall. It was at that time as well that Prime entered with Prowl and walked to the wall to sit with Ratchet.

"I am Ironhide of Praxus, Praxian Military Elite and I'm calling this petit court to order at the request of Keystock of Iacon," Ironhide said as he dialed down his emotions. His voice echoed that as it took on a metallic tang. "The court will be led by General Hard Drive of Praxus and served by General Raptor and General Blackjack of Praxus. This is a case to settle the crimes alleged about Keystock in accordance to a Primal Hold. The case will be presented by Blackstone and Keystock. It will be judged by the court. All decisions are final pertaining to the case itself. If there are other points not discussed that you wish to carry forward, you will have to do so with the Prime. As long as everyone understands, we are ready to listen."

No one spoke, so Ironhide sat down, unsubbed a recorder, then started it. It was silent in the room, a stifled breathless silence.

Blackstone stood. "Sirs, I am Blackstone and I speak for Keystock. What we would like to say is very simple. Unless information is presented to show that harm was committed by my client, himself, then there is no way to charge him. We haven't received evidence from witnesses or those who are alleged to have been directly harmed by my client. It's difficult to defend my client without the information."

"May I speak?" Coln asked. "I don't have standing here but I can clear up informational points and offer to do so if allowed."

Hardie was silent a moment, then nodded. "You may. Make your comments directly to the point and do not embellish beyond that."

Coln nodded. "We are gathering the information for the trial going forward. Given the condition of the victims, its been a long slow process. It will be presented during discovery."

"That is interesting to hear but it doesn't help me with the case," Blackstone said. "My problems are right now and that information is needed. I also believe that the length of time my client has had to wait to have his case presented should be considered as detrimental to the idea that we are entitled to speedy trials. Justice delayed is justice denied. My client wishes to make some statements about his thoughts on these proceedings. I have counseled him to hold his opinions but he is adamant." Blackstone looked at Keystock, then sat. He was obviously doing his duty though it was clear there was no buy in for him in this client and his ideas. There was also a slim case at present for him to work with.

Keystock looked at the judges who sat stony-faced and silent before him. Behind him, the energy of his family was terrible. He knew Prime and Prowl were there and he didn't care. He began anyway. "Your honors, I am asking for the case to be dropped against me. There are a number of reasons for my request. First and foremost, it is not clear to me that the actions alleged fell under the purview of the Prime. We were not in the sphere of influence prior to arrival and when we did, we were still autonomous. We had not come through customs and immigration yet so were still stateless and free of his jurisdiction. We were not given the option of leaving either. Our ships were searched and conclusions were drawn. I also do not believe that blame will be decisively assigned. I feel that our rights have been taken advantage of and we are being charged with things that you don't have the power to insist upon.

"I also believe that The System is still pertinent to our situation because it wasn't legally discounted. There was no Senate vote nor was there a convocation to decide upon the validity of the law. I have found no rulings in the databases that give the Prime the authority to unilaterally declare a law and/or system of this magnitude and age without more authority."

Blackstone stared at the desk before him as he listened. He was a good and honorable person, taking hard cases and those who needed assistance because of traumas. He was high caste himself but never one who held to The System. He was always brave, decent and generous. This was a hard thing to hear. It was clear to him that the findings of previous courts had not reached his client and those things that he had given to him informationally had been discarded.

Keystone stared at the court. "I don't expect to prevail but I am here to be judged by my peers. That matters to me. Blackstone has told me a number of things that have transpired from this court prior to today but I would like you to consider the new information I bring. I would also like you to consider the Cybertronian practice of reasonable haste for those accused to have their day in court. I would also like you to understand that I am entitled to know who and what I am facing. I believe my points are valid and I hope you will consider them carefully. Thank you," he said as he bowed slightly.

It was silent a moment, then Ironhide stood. "Is there more to your presentation?" he asked.

"No," Keystock said. "I doubt that anything I say will much matter here but I want my situation to be tried by a court of my peers."

Ironhide looked at Blackstone. He shook his helm. "Nothing more, Commander."

Ironhide nodded, then looked around the room. "This is a petit court but those of you who are here are here for a reason. If you want to add something to the proceedings, then do now." Ironhide sat.

It was silent a moment, then Burris stood up hesitantly.

-0-TBC 10-13-17 edited 12-09-17