The Diego Diaries: Finish (dd6 211)
-0-Courtroom
He stood on the table having left his safety box. Staring at the bots he faced, it struck him again how fraught this was. He was going through a first, trial by aliens for offenses against the Peace of The People. There were humans here but he was, at essence, alone. Jim Johnson stared at Semi who calmly stared back. This was a mechanism that was said to be as sentient as he was. He struggled to understand this, the deepest, most incomprehensible part of this whole process. These beings were alive, but how? He wouldn't be alone. Coming to the conclusion that anyone who wasn't from Earth was a 'person', let alone those who turned out to be this type of alien was hard for many. What did it mean to their hitherto for position as supreme and central in the scheme of creation? What did these beings really think? What did they really believe? When no one was looking, what were they really like. Did they believe in God? Did God believe in them?
What? What? Double what?
All of it flashed through his mind as he contemplated what he would say. Then he began. :I would like to ask that my charges be dropped. First of all, I didn't strike first which is absolutely key to any claim on Earth. Secondly, I was impaired. I admit I was drunk. But I had some cause: Johnson began in a more reasoned and reasonable manner than Prowl would have credited him. :I had bad news from Earth and I was drinking more than I should have. I apologize for that. I don't believe the charges of assault and battery are fair. I admit that I entered the elevator and went topside but that was … I was having a hard time with something from back home and I wasn't thinking as clearly as I should.
:On Earth, I tried to be part of N.E.S.T. I wanted to be a striker more than anything else. I wanted to serve my country and have an adventure. Since I was washed out, my career in the military was a dead end and all my dreams of being a warrior over but for this security job. I was hired because I'm damned good at being a soldier, because I have a little experience around you and your people and because Earth2 needs me. I would like a second chance. I made mistakes and broke the rules. But the spirit of being here, to serve my country and people is still intact.
:I would like a second chance. I'm prepared to take my medicine. I'm a warrior and sometimes things aren't always rosy but I'd like to stay and work here. I want to be here. Who wouldn't? I want to serve Earth2 and protect the installation and the people there. That's my hope and that's what I want. Thank you: he said grimly.
Semi stared at him, then his counsel. Glancing at Coln-2, he considered that bot's carefully crafted look of neutrality. "Mr. Johnson … without being too bold, what happened on Earth that would cause such an outburst from you? If you wish it to be extenuating circumstance for my decision, and I believe you do, you will have to give me something to work with. This is a very serious set of charges against you. You will also have to tell me how I can ever believe that you would rise above this given your past history with us."
Johnson stared at him. :I would prefer not to do that. It's personal:
Semi glanced at his counsel. Highrode shrugged helplessly. "Then how may I weigh against what you've done with this set of circumstances? You wish that to help your argument but you refuse to share it."
Johnson stared at him, then sighed. "I have a grandfather who was given the diagnosis of cancer. All the members of his family died from it. They smoked. I have little reason to believe that he won't as well. My grandfather is my hero and best friend:
It was quiet in the room as Semi weighed the information. Then he sat back. "Is there more you need to tell me?"
:No. Just that I wish to have a second chance. I'm not afraid to take my lumps. I'm a warrior. But I want to stay and work here: Johnson said.
Semi nodded. "If you wish to give final arguments or summaries, gentlemen, then begin. Mr. Johnson, please stay where you are."
Coln-2 stood. "Your honor, as it stands, Mr. Johnson came here with a predisposition to be trouble. He didn't last very long before he demonstrated it. He assaulted with the intent to batter a citizen and he trespassed on sovereign territory of The People, which in and of itself is an interplanetary breach of the peace. He has an attitude of contempt toward our people and our presence in this system. He has made that clear on television over and over. Even our children aren't exempt from his contempt. I would ask for prison time and expulsion. One or both would satisfy the claim against his behavior for the Prime."
Coln sat.
Highrode who was talking with the three lawyers off line turned to Semi and stood. "Your honor … I'm no expert on humans, their ideas or emotions, but I know about how family problems can make you do stupid things. I appreciate the outrage of the Prime but I ask for mercy. He's ready to pay a penalty with the hope that he can stay and prove himself worthy. I agree that his behavior is egregious and his past troubling but this place is the birthplace of hope and second chances. I would ask for mercy for my client and the possibility of paying a fair debt for his actions. It's our hope that a tracking device and house arrest with the proviso that deportation is the next step will satisfy the Prime. Thank you." He sat.
Semi nodded. "I will consider all of this," he said as he sat and thought about the arguments and testimony. It seemed to take hours before he sat forward to stare at Johnson. Johnson, for his part, stared back equally calmly. "I have gone over the evidence including the film of the ops center showing a very stupid and brutal set of behaviors by you. I've heard testimony and pleas by both sides. I have come to my conclusion.
"You were allowed to come here, a very great honor given that seven billion of your fellow humans can't. You have a history that should have prevented the honor given you to work here but it didn't. I can only imagine what's on your mind, Mr. Harris, for having him here. Given that being said, apparently, there are extenuating circumstances for these actions. I will check them out, Mr. Johnson, and you better be telling the truth. I would hate for you to think I'm a fool."
He considered everyone a moment. "This is a historic moment when the first human being stands in a Cybertronian court for their actions. I am very aware of my responsibilities and duties. I find that you are guilty of trespassing on Cybertronian soil and disturbing the peace. I find you guilty of assault against Tika but not guilty of assault and battery with William Lennox. That's a pass I give you because Lennox was doing his duty and thus, the action falls into a different, more muddled category of action.
"I sentence you to thirty days in jail. You will be returned to the jail here where you will serve all 30 days credited against you. Then you will be transferred to Earth2 where you will be under house arrest for 30 more days. Any further misbehavior from you will result in jail time for the offenses and a lifetime expulsion from Autobot domains. You will be deported and never come back again. I don't believe very much of what you're projecting. I'm no fool. I've seen everything but I also know that this is the place where second chances and redemption was born. You have one more chance after you pay your debt to act accordingly or I will throw you away from here so fast you'll be orbiting Venus before you even notice it. Do I make myself clear?"
Johnson who looked enormously ready to explode nodded curtly. :I do:
Semi sat back. "I will also request from the Office of the Primes that a letter be sent to the United Nations governing board for Human Habitation and Development on Mars detailing this offense and our unhappiness that this happened. I don't want anyone anywhere in the human community to think that they will have an easy time if they come here with bad intentions nor do I want misinformation or lies to dictate what has happened here." He leaned forward to the humans on the table. "Spread the word." He sat back, then glanced at Matins. "Prepare to receive the prisoner. If you wish to appeal, you must do so in writing and have points of law that show there are grounds. Append it to Prime's legal aide, Chime. This case is closed." He rose, then watched as Matins picked up Johnson, then walked to the door to disappear inside.
The humans stood up, stretched and turned to Highrode. They began to talk as Coln-2 walked over to them. Blackstone came bearing Bill Tillis and Warren Roberts. Semi who had paused to chat with Silver walked to the door and left the room. Ratchet looked down at Lennox. "Looks like you have half a victory."
:Give him time: Lennox said with a slight grin. :He didn't get to stay because Prime wants him here did he?:
Ratchet grinned. :Ask Prowler:
Prowl glanced at Ratchet, then Lennox. :I can't say:
:Right: Ratchet said as he stood. They gathered, the group, then walked out to the world again. The news would be local any second now, then it would hit the Earth. Literally.
-0-The Hourly News
"Today, a first transpired that most wouldn't want to claim at the Courthouse," Lim-Lee began. "A human security guard at Earth2 was arrested on Thanksgiving Day at the facility for causing an incident during the celebration for the holiday. All of the humans on Mars, from Sciences Habitat, The Family Tower, The United Nations Consulate, Earth1, The Resort, and N.E.S.T. Headquarters gathered at Earth2 to celebrate together. Nearly 6,700 humans were present when an altercation broke out between a security guard by the name of James Wayne Johnson of Chicago, Illinois of the United States of America and a Cybertronian member of the Earth2 support staff, Tika of the Villages. During the altercation, Tika fearing bodily harm fled to the elevator that led upward to the rooftop Operational Center. Johnson followed him and breached Cybertronian sovereign territory by doing so. The elevator rose to the center, then both departed it.
"Director for Human Habitation and senior military officer of the N.E.S.T garrison on-world, Captain William Lennox overrode the codes and with colleagues in tow, followed the two to the operational center. In the heated argument that ensued, there were fisticuffs resulting in Johnson's overpowering and subsequent arrest.
"Preliminary information suggests that Mr. Owen Harris, Director and Comptroller of Earth2 attempted to negotiate a solution but was denied. Chief Springer and Sub Commander Drift of Autobot Empire Security and The Day and Night Watch arrived and took Mr. Johnson into custody. This morning, the hearing and subsequent decision was reached regarding this case. Judge Semi of Iacon has concluded that James Johnson is guilty of territorial trespass, assault upon a Cybertronian national but not of assault and battery regarding Captain Lennox. Mr. Johnson will be spending thirty orns in jail followed by 30 orns of house arrest at Earth2. Any further infractions by Mr. Johnson will be dealt with vis-a-vis further court action and a permanent lifelong expulsion from any and all Autobot territories including Mars.
"The Office of the Primes has just received the finding, then reviewed and affirmed it. Mr. Johnson has the right of appeal though it isn't clear that he will exercise it. Right now, he was taken into the jail to spend his time in special quarters for humans. This entire process follows the charters and treaties designed and ratified by the leadership of Earth2 and the Prime via his ambassador and chief negotiator, Ratchet of Iacon.
"After the break for local news from the Community Bulletin Board, we will come back to discuss this with Warren Roberts, Chief Agent for the Prime and Autobot Nation, Robert Gleason, chief counsel for the Earth2 Corporation, Coln-2, Prosecutor of the Prime's Brief, and Highrode who was lead attorney for Johnson. We will be right back."
-0-MCA
"What do you think? This is a historic if depressing moment in human-bot history," a talking head said on a news show linked in to the story.
"It was bound to happen. Johnson, James Johnson is a strange individual to be on Mars. His history against the whole idea of aliens even being in the system is well known. He was washed out of N.E.S.T. because of his views and has been outspoken in his beliefs. Owen Harris who leads Earth2 should have to explain his inclusion and that of Sam Hedges on-world." a military commentator said.
"I've not been very happy about the arrangement myself," a conservative former congressman said, "regarding the control center of Earth2. No human is allowed up there and they've made it their sovereign territory, right in the middle of ours."
"They can't share the tech with outsiders but they worked around their treaty prohibitions by running the tech themselves and sharing it that way. We've been through this a million times. They have treaties that prevent others from having or knowing about their tech. They could just as well have told us we couldn't be there because of that but they haven't. We have how many habitats on Mars now?" another commentator asked.
"That one, Earth2, Earth1, the U.N. Consulate, Sciences, the N.E.S.T. garrison, The Resort, The Family Tower … seven? How hard can it be to follow the rules? It was only a matter of time before this happened," another said.
It would go on like that for days all over the world.
-0-Outside on the way out
"You're going to be famous for a while, Lennox. There's going to be those that will burn you in effigy," Ratchet said to the human rolling along with them.
:Fuck 'em: Lennox said with a grin.
"Succinct and to the point," Drift said with a chuckle. "Where are you going now?"
:To lunch at the Science Habitat. Everyone is going there to celebrate the verdict: Lennox said. :I hope him being here still is worth the hassle of him still being here:
"I have no idea what you mean," Prowl said with a grin. They waved as he took off across the airfield as he made his way to the Science Habitat. Prowl glanced at the others. "I have no idea why Optimus wants him to stay but I've learned to be patient."
"He's a loose cannon and therefore, someone who can be useful in some future moment," Ratchet said. "Take it from me, the 'mother of loose cannons'. Optimus has his ways."
"He does," Prowl said.
"Do tell," Ratchet said as he waggled his optical ridges.
Prowl stared coolly at Ratchet, then smirked slightly. "Loon."
"I never said I was perfect," Ratchet said as he stepped out to head for town.
"And you never will," Prowl said with a grin as he stepped out to follow him.
Drift and Springer watched them, then glanced at each other. "I do believe that winger insulted Mom."
"He did," Drift said as they stepped out together. "What a cad," he said as they hoofed it after the two and faded into the hangar district hoo-haw.
-0-TBC 12-07-17 edited 1-10-18
cad: someone who isn't nice or honorable. A very old fashioned word. :D