The Diego Diaries: Carry On (dd6 267)
-0-All around the next orn
He walked in and sat down beside Alor. Alie who was working out something on a datapad focused on the moment, then glanced up. "Well, well, handsome … where have you been all my life?"
Sideswipe laughed. "Does Blackjack know you're a player?"
"Blackjack knows what I tell him," Alor said with a chuckle. He studied the kid next to him, noting how handsome he was. He was working off his pretender gear and it looked as good on him as a human as his normal Cybertronian form. "What are you doing here, infant?"
"I'm assigned here for the next three decaorns. I got day shifts with you," Sideswipe said.
"No kidding. Prowl let this happen?" Alor asked with surprise.
"He did. Apparently, he's losing his touch," Sideswipe said.
Alor reached for the comm link on the console in front of him. "I'll ask him," he said before Sideswipe grabbed his hand. Alor laughed. "You do know the limitations of this form, right?"
"Don't eat or drink," Sideswipe said.
"That's right," Alie said as he stood up and walked toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Sideswipe said as he got up to follow.
"Lunch," he said as he walked to the garage.
Sideswipe stopped, then glanced at the others who were smirking at him. With a chuckle, he grinned himself as he followed.
-0-Playground during the before-school-starts recess
The human kids made their way to the playground on their segways. They were parked by the door, small single rider machines built for the human kids who attended here to get around when they weren't being transported by box carried by their aides. They were kept in a small alcove by the outside doorway where they could grab them to go play. Sometimes, small as they were, it took a while to get to the playground on foot, just in time to be called to come inside.
Problem solved.
Jaycee Jameson rode out with Annie and Sandy, heading for a group of bot kids who were hanging out at the swing set laughing and talking together. Camilla Baker, Rain Harris and Lilly Brown rode out to the hard top where it was clear of bots for the moment. :Did you hear the rumor? There's going to be a trial for the bots who killed everyone any day now. I wonder what you have to do to go see it?: Rain Harris asked.
:I hadn't heard. I wouldn't want to go. I would hate to see that they'd do to anyone who did something like that: Camilla said.
:I heard they don't have the death penalty. Prime won't allow it: Lilly said. :I don't like it either. What if they're wrong and you didn't do something terrible? They could kill you and be wrong:
:Dad said that Prime uses the Matrix. It helps him make good decisions: Rain said. :They're going to the Temple today. I wish we could go:
:Write a letter: Lilly said with a grin. :Couldn't hurt:
:It would if I did: Rain said gloomily. :I have to help my mom after school. I have to help her with a luncheon for the women in that group they have here, the Autobot City Ladies Auxiliary. Mom wants join and some of the women at Earth2 to as well. Your moms and a few others: She sighed with deep teenaged angst. :I hate social stuff. I want to go ride horses:
:Ask Annie. She's got the bots on her side: Lilly said as the siren sounded to go inside. :When you get it, tell me. I want to ride, too: she said as they turned around and began to race back to the door and their transport box. Riding segways was one of the best things EVER so far.
-0-Optimus
He walked through the crowds heading for the Temple. Nodding back to those who nodded to him, noting abstractly when someone touched him as they passed, he walked toward Sports Center Road, crossed the street, then headed toward the Temple District. The short hand among the bots was growing as everyone became more and more invested in the colony. The City was Autobot City, the downtown and the main settled district. The Hill was Aerie Hill. The Hub was Terra. Tri-Cities was Tyger Pax, Kalis and Centurion but it also applied to the Mall there.
The Eights was the huge district made by the eight metro-formers who had come when they were being overrun with newbies. The Seven City districts were becoming known as Seven South, Seven North, Seven East, and Seven West. The Industrial Park Cities were called The Parks. The Metro Districts were Metros One, Two or Three. All in all, the colony was getting a homey vibe as the huge population took to it with a dire need for normal.
Right now, it wasn't. Prime entered the Temple, passing crowds who were there for whatever reason or like Ratchet's family and Prowl's, came to make their morning prayers for their family, Mars, Cybertron, and the Empire. Some of the smaller sects were working out how to pray for the lost and wandering around the clock so that they could be found and returned. What the Monastery did, Prime didn't know. He would eventually when he consulted with Cyclonus over the children of the prisoners if their verdict went the way he believed it would.
Climbing the steps, he entered the confines. Standing at the railing helms bent in prayer, a number of Missionaries were hard at it, beckoning the Universe to return their lost sheep. He walked past, then took the stairs, heading downward to the Well and AllSpark. Both of them were inscrutable as he halted before them, bowing to their magnificence and holiness as per custom. The AllSpark continued to turn slowly, though there was more electricity passing over its surface at his approach, almost as a welcome. The roiling white mist of the Well stayed in its confines even as it rose slightly as if in greeting.
He stared at both, then closed his optics. He recited a prayer that his grand genitors had taught him, one of fealty to his people and world, one of love and respect to the relics and Pantheon, closing with a call to wisdom and the ability to remain good in a system poisoned by everyone elses poor choices. He listened for a response but felt only a soft soothing energy. Bowing deeply, he walked back out, heading for the streets and the long journey to the Courthouse. Today would be a very, very heavy orn.
-0-At the Monastery of the Clavis Aurea
Cyclonus walked from the niche where he said his daily prayers and meditations. He was to be at the hearing to listen as the ultimate source of any information necessary to explain what the Guiding Hand really stood for and what it didn't. He would be there with Heatout, Lauren, Alpha, Chrome, and Neo who all were religious and historical experts at the more esoteric features of religious belief among their people so that the information supplied would be accurate and fulsome. He walked to the main doors where the Guardian and the two mechs, one who was Master of the Scriptorium and the other who was his second waited. They bowed and so did he. "I will be back, though when I can't say. Call me if needed. If there is any trouble or decisions necessary with the plans for the children, I will come."
They nodded, bowed and watched him walk to the platform, the steps, then transform to fly to the Courthouse. "This is going to be a tightrope. Prime and Cyclonus must be very clear about what they are and what we represent."
"So far, so good," the Guardian said as they watched Cyclonus disappear.
-0-At the Courthouse
The hallway was cleared and there were guards there with visible firearms. Prowl and Prime walked down the corridor, pausing to clear things with the guards. Entering the big courtroom, they walked to the dais where they would sit. Prime would officiate and Prowl would record. Coln-2, his assistants and legal team were already there. Blackstone was with his clients in the jails beyond the door. It was very tense and solemn in the room as Ratchet, Rung and Jarro joined the group to sit in the audience. Ironhide who was going to come would be in later due to a situation in the Armory that required his expertise. Hard Drive, Delphi, Hercy, Wirelite, Alejate and his bond, Elba along with a mech named Cezr sat together, all of them the only exempt caste individuals found in the colony. Lissie got called to Cybertron for something in her field of expertise but could and would speak by communications feed if need be. They were there to speak to the ancient times of the Quintessan Enslavement and the resultant Functionalist Tyranny.
No one else was there so far, though a long list of individuals was filed and ready to consult should a defender or prosecutor choose to do so. This was a closed hearing, one of the most serious levels of review open to their species. It was not unknown for a member of the Pantheon to actually show up to speak about this or that, so egregious was the past and some of the players. One could read from the pages of their history books of the Fallacious Pretender who claimed to be Solus Herself and others who were there to wreak havoc on The People.
At that moment, Neo, Heatout, Alpha, Chrome, Lauren, and Cyclonus walked in and sat in the audience with the others. No one spoke to each other, so intense was the energy in the room.
The door nearby opened as Blackstone and his team walked out to take their place at their table. They organized, then Blackstone walked to Coln to whisper together. Ratchet watched them, then glanced at Prowl who had set up the recorder, plugged in, then opened the computer that would be his interface with the process, one he could find whatever was needed or replay whatever point was to be heard. :Hey:
Prowl glanced at him. :Hey:
:This sucks as the humans say: -Ratchet
Prowl nodded. :That's an understatement:
:How's the grand genitors?: -R
:They have their office now and I expect they're hip assemblies deep in research. Thank, Primus: -P with a rueful grin.
:I will hope for the best, pal: Ratchet said.
Prowl grinned slightly. :Thanks:
:How long will this last, do you think?: -R
:I don't know. I was told that Coln plans to indict the entire movement and that means putting history on the table. This could take a while: -P
:Did they find the Book?: -R
:We found it. Grand Cybertron Taxonomy. Hilarious how 'grand' they are, isn't it, for mechs with no real face: Prowl said with bitterness.
:Well, empurata had to come from somewhere: -R
:That was listed last night as one of their charges. Coln is going for their throats: -P
:Good thing Optimus is making the final decision. Maybe: -R
Blackstone sat, then nodded to Prowl. Prowl glanced at Coln who nodded as well. "Everyone stand," Prowl said as he rose. Everyone did. "Let it be known that we are here to ascertain the truth. Only the truth will be allowed to prevail here and the judgment, if any, will be reached by Prime through consultation with the Matrix and the Pantheon. Anyone who acts against good conscience or the good order of things will be removed. Please sit. The Honorable Optimus Prime, the Prime of Cybertron, Mars, the Empire, and anywhere Cybertronians exist, bearer of the Creation Matrix, the Autobot Matrix of Leadership presides." He sat, checked his gear, then glanced at Prime with a nod.
Prime nodded back. He was silent a moment, then spoke. "We are here to listen to the facts of a very grievous and terrible set of actions and circumstances that have cost the lives of half a million of our people. This event has caused trauma to all of us but we must put that aside. We are duty bound, all of us, to find the way forward for everyone without bias or vengeance. We are here to find the truth, assess judgment if any, then allow the Holy Ones to speak Their truth." He looked around the room. "Coln-2, are you and your colleagues ready?"
He stood and bowed. "Yes, Lord Optimus. We are."
"Blackstone, are you and your colleagues ready?"
He stood. "Yes, Lord Optimus."
"Ratchet for medical, Rung and Jarro for processor health, Heatout, Neo, Alpha, Chrome, Lauren, and Master Cyclonus, are you ready to speak to matters of religion, practice and doctrine?"
They rose. "Yes, Lord Optimus," Heatout said. "I am." He looked at the others who bowed. "We are," Neo said as the others nodded.
"Alejate, Hard Drive, Delphi, Hercy, Wirelite, Chromo, Alejate, Elba, and Cezr … as exempt status individuals, are you ready to speak to the times before and during the relevant periods in question?"
They arose, then bowed deeply. "Lord Optimus," Chromo said. "I speak for all of us in that we will do so with the greatest of effort to be truthful without bias. Lissie of Iacon is on world and ready to speak via comm link as called."
"Thank you. Please, you may all sit." Prime sat back. "Let this process begin."
Prowl looked at the data before him. "Heatout, Neo, Lauren, Alpha, Chrome, and Cyclonus, you will give informational presentations about the times before the Functionalists gained power and the religious implications of their practice of the Guiding Hand system of belief. I am told you have worked out how this will go?"
They nodded, then Heatout stood and walked to the witness box. He stepped in and turned to Prowl. He rose. "Heatout of Praxus, do you promise to tell the truth without embellishment or subterfuge?"
"I do," Heatout said solemnly.
Prowl sat. "Then begin."
Heatout turned to Prime, then the two sets of lawyers. "In the beginning, there was only The One ..." he began.
TBC 2-7-18 edited 2-22-18
Fallacious – (fuh-lay-shis) false, wrong, could apply to actions and ideas