The Diego Diaries: Requiescat In Pace (dd6 276)

-0-Courtroom

Blackstone stared at the table in front of him as the Functionalists carried on their mutually agreed self defense. He remembered the last meeting he had before this happened …

"You can't carry that as a defense. There is no basis for it. Others have tried only to be told in no uncertain terms that they had no standing in law. The foundational documents, the precedent from the Pantheon Themselves and the Primal Charter will put lie to your arguments. You have to understand, if we don't take the path that there's a psychological reason for what you did, then you have no argument against the charges of genocide and murder. You have to put aside your egos and your self belief in your own omnipotence and face reality for once. You're not in charge of this outcome. Do you understand?"

He stared at them with concern but they were featureless and hard to read. They were as tied together as if they were one unit. One shook his helm. "You do not understand. You are asking us to betray our values and process. We are not going to do that, Blackstone. You can sit and listen but you may not intervene. We will handle this and take the verdict delivered, whatever it is. We are going to hold to our culture and our values no matter what transpires."

"You could be placed in punitive stasis or even dismantled. Have you considered that? Perhaps its a symptom of your processor status that you can't seem to grasp that. This isn't Cybertron during the Oppression. This is Mars now with a Prime who will stand by the Charter, the Matrix and consult with the Pantheon. They will weigh in," Blackstone countered. "They won't take it well, your lack of self awareness. You have to show some kind of understanding."

"They will. We shall see what They say. Our Pantheon will tell us what is right about this situation. They have always stood with us and They will now," One said ...

-0-Courtroom

"We were the government of Cybertron after the Quintessans were driven away. There was no one else to step in and provide order and safety," One said. "We did it. We provided work, shelter and other things that provided quality of life. The Guiding Hand helped us devise the Taxonomy and everyone had work according to their best qualifications. It was a just and fair system and we prospered. We became a great empire and our culture grew to great heights. We are not subject to the Charter because our life and culture developed before it. We are not in the realm of your rule, Prime, so we ask to be set free to go on our way," One said as the others nodded.

"Do you speak for the others?" Prime asked.

They nodded as One did. "I do."

"Blackstone, you were charged with their defense. I understand the difficulty here so I am asking you to speak for them," Prime said. He looked at One and the others. "Blackstone will speak. You will listen for your own good."

Blackstone stood wearily. "We've talked long and hard about this tactic, Lord Optimus. They refuse to understand that the Cybertronian people are bound wherever and whenever they are to the Charter of the Primes and the foundational documents created by the Convocations with the aid of the Pantheon in the beginning. There's no exception written into them and they've been upheld by the Pantheon and courts through the vorns as the Law. We have eons of case law that protects The People from capricious and arbitrary actions of those who through their actions and delusions discount themselves as bound by them. It's designed to prevent a repeat of the eons of terrible decisions that came from these early times when no one had a view but the few. Caste Court has refined them over the years until its clear and of record that all Cybertronians are bound by the same laws in the same ways as any other no matter how artificial their stature may be in the society. They've held onto the delusion that they're exempt when its clear here and now that they never were."

"Then tell me where the System of Exception came from if this is true," One interjected. "If such laws are so apparent to everyone, where did the System come from? Why did The People tolerate it again if it was so intolerable?"

Prime looked at One. "Your counselor is trying to save your life. You would do well to listen."

"Then answer the question," One said.

Coln glanced at Prime and Prime nodded. "To answer the question … you have a population abused and tormented by the slavery of the Quintessans. When they leave, an equally nefarious group slips in, you and yours, and applies a lesser brand of slavery to a traumatized and reeling population. I'm sure that Rung and Jarro can tell it more exactly but that's what it is. You took advantage of a ravaged society and applied a more carefully dressed but equally evil system onto them that led to a second civil war."

Prime nodded to Blackstone who looked gray and defeated. "Please, counselor, continue."

"I do believe that they suffer a group delusion, as you can see, that makes them unaware of the danger they present to themselves by pursuing this line of defense. I also believe that it prevents them from understanding what may come of it if they continue. It's my contention, Lord Optimus, that they're delusional, psychologically and morally deficient, and thereby unaware of how their actions have caused so much havoc. That includes their own precarious position now. They believe in their system to the greatest possible degree, relying on it now to free them from this and therefore in my estimation, none of them are aware of the consequences of what they do here. I believe they're mentally ill and therefore, deserve consideration and mitigation.

"I've never felt it more strongly before. These mechs have no idea of what they've done and why its so deplorable. They see it as 'decluttering' and 'cleaning house' … getting rid of old equipment to make way for new. They don't see nor do they understand that they ended a half million sparks. It has no weight or consequence to them because they can't understand what they did is wrong. I'm asking … I'm begging for mercy for them. They're so self deluding that they have no idea the jeopardy they're in at this moment." Blackstone bowed lowly, then sat wearily. His team looked exhausted and defeated as well.

Prime looked at One. "Do you have more to add, One?" he asked.

One looked at him. "We have stated our case. I reject Blackstone's comments. They have no bearing on us. We acted within the bounds of our culture and our life mores. We believe what we say and frankly, we deplore this whole proceedings. We're autonomous and you have no hold."

Prime looked at Coln. "I hold my questions to the end. Coln, do you have questions for this mech or any of the others?"

"I would like to speak to Twelve," Coln said.

One stepped down and the light blue cipher called Twelve took his place and then the oath.

"Twelve, you had the job of implementing the orders reached by the group. Correct?" Coln asked.

Twelve nodded. "Correct."

"It was your job to implement the recall. Correct?" - Coln

"Incorrect. We cannot recall without everyone's participation," he said. No one in their group seemed phased by his comment. They sat as still as statues. "I plan the event and we all implement it."

Coln stared at him for a moment. "There were babies and children … elders in this group. One half million of them. You called for them to return to their homes, then you all implemented the recall."

He hesitated, then nodded. "That is correct."

"There were children and babies. What did you think about ending the lives of children, babies … elders and adults? Did you hesitate? Did you think about the children and the others?" Coln asked.

Twelve appeared to be thinking. "We had orders. We reached agreement. They were no longer helpful or necessary to our colony. The recall was merciful and necessary."

The room was funereal. No one moved, not even the Council. They sat as emotionless as ever.

"Twelve … you killed half a million sparks that were granted by the Pantheon. You killed babies. Yet you talk about it as if there was no other way. Why didn't you just abandon them? That would have been more merciful than this," Coln asked.

"No," Twelve said. "They would've had to function without us. That would have been a terrible thing to do. How would they function without our direction? How would that have been merciful?"

Coln stared at them a moment. "Then murdering them was merciful from your viewpoint. What do you really think that The One feels about this?"

"The One would have approved," Twelve said as Blackstone shifted in his chair. He leaned on his elbows, his helm in his servos. "It's our way. It's the way of the Functionalists. If you serve no purpose, then you're recalled." He thought a moment. "It isn't terrible. They go to the Matrix and The One."

Coln stared at him a moment that stretched and stretched, then turned to Prime. "I don't think I need more, Lord Optimus. I rest my case."

Prime nodded, then glanced at Blackstone. "Blackstone … do you need a moment?"

"No," Blackstone said emotionally. "I'm fine." He looked at One. "Are you finished?" he asked. One nodded. "We are concluded. I wish to seek appeal directly for Them, Lord Optimus. I don't want to wait pending the verdict."

Prime nodded. "I will grant that," he said. "I would require closing arguments. My questions are irrelevant now. Are there any redirects that need fulfillment?" No one spoke so he glanced at Coln. "Counselor?"

Coln stood, his posture and aura suffused with rage. "We've heard testimony from a number of mechs including a couple of the members of this cult. I'm calling it a cult as well because it fits. This is to all intents and purposes a criminal organization of long standing who've used religion as a screen for their murderous and life annihilating practices. They were part of a criminal organization that took over Cybertron and ground into our consciousnesses the idea that some are better than others and what you were became who you were. The fact that among those who came with them to this planet are rare transformational patterns, mechs and a femme who were spared shows their priorities. They were so rare that they were nearly exempt themselves and declared so because the Council saw in them something unique.

"What they weren't ready to see in anyone else was the simple fact that ALL OF US are rare and unique. There is only one each of all of us. ALL OF US matter and ALL OF US deserved to live as we choose, to become and attain that which we wanted. Many of us have stories in our families where someone tried to become what they wanted during their reign and were hurt, arrested and even killed for doing so. You were what your form dictated. You got whatever that gave you.

"Isn't it interesting that those who dictate such things always live better than anyone else. They also get to do what they want, live how they choose and at a level of luxury that the rest can only dream about. It isn't limited to us alone. The humans do the same thing. Conformity for convenience. Conformity by the majority to benefit the fewest. This is an act of astonishing cruelty and they disposed of half a million of our people when they became inconvenient. They expect to be able to leave or to stay here on their own terms. They see nothing wrong with what they did though their cruel actions can only be matched by Megatron. Do we let him stay among us unpunished as well for his despicable crimes? I'm sure he has his own reasons for killing millions as well.

"This was purely reasoned, they knew what they were doing and they have to face a commensurate punishment. Five hundred thousand dead cry out for justice. Five hundred thousand will never have a chance to live their dreams which they would had they lived long enough to come back to us here. That's the biggest and most terrible cruelty of all, that they were so close and fell before they could come to us. That's the worst part for me personally. They were almost home. I ask you for justice, Optimus Prime. I ask it for the half a million dead who can't speak for themselves. This isn't a culture or a religion or a way of life. It's a criminal organization without mercy, morals or shame. Thank you for the honor of speaking for the dead who should be foremost in the minds and sparks of everyone here." He bowed and sat, his weariness evident.

Prime looked at Blackstone. He rose and bowed deeply. "I reiterate my plea, Lord Optimus. These are not fully well mechs. They have no idea the magnitude of their offense. There's something deep and profound missing from them. They're defenseless against their own guilt. They have no idea of their own peril. I would hope that you understand and account for that. No sound, sane individual would be that oblivious to their own peril. I ask for mercy from the court. I ask it with great hope and despair." He bowed and sat.

It was silent in the room as Prime considered their comments. "I have heard all of you. I have considered all of it. I am to make my own judgment, then the Pantheon will weigh in. I cannot tell you when that will happen. I know that you will receive my decision now. When the Pantheon weighs in, I will call you to hear Their decision. It could be that it will overturn my own or uphold it. I have a heavy responsibility to justice and the best path forward for our people, living and dead. All of their sparks weigh upon me and nothing I decide will be done with vengeance nor taken lightly. I do so with the Matrix in combination with myself. The defendants will now stand."

Blackstone stood and turned to them. He nodded, so they stood. Everyone in the room watched Prime with dread and tension as he stared at them.

"You have had outstanding counsel, yet you have not availed yourself of it. Your counselors were very correct in their assessment of your peril. That you ignored them and plead your case yourself using the outdated, outmoded and clearly illegal irrelevant arguments of your time in charge of our people shows a lack of understanding of your situation.

"This is not Cybertron under your rule. I am not Zeta Sentinel Prime. Even though he was aware of your selfish, cruel and criminal regime, he was unable to overturn you. It took the massed agonies of The People to accomplish that and the poisoned legacy of your command made it possible for The System of Exception to come to pass and all of its horrors to prevail. You have no idea how powerless you are right now. You have no idea how empty your arguments still are after all this time. The foundation documents and the Charter of the Primes gives me responsibility and authority over ALL Cybertronians wherever and whenever they are. You have ignored that to your own peril.

"Your lack of cooperation with the doctors who sought to help you by identifying whatever it was that drove you to be so cruel and sparkless was a bad idea. Now there is question about your mental fitness but I have no data in which to temper my decision. Having a 'feeling' about it is not the same as knowing. Believing that a damaged spark would be the only kind to act how you have acted is not enough to suggest that you have one. Group think makes one do terrible things, yet seldom in that group is there a damaged processor. The closed circuit of your lives and the echo chamber of your thinking can make terrible things happen even by the servos of sane individuals.

"It is in my power as Prime to end your sparks. You have given nothing to me that mitigates your situation, nor have you helped others who wished to try. Your counsels are weary of trying. Your doctors cannot tell me what makes you tick. Therefore, I am hampered in my deliberations by your self belief that you can talk your way out of this. I am afraid that was a very bad calculation."

Prime stood before them like a god. He stared at the Functionalists for a moment. "I am Optimus Prime, the Prime of Cybertron, the bearer of the Matrix of Leadership, the Creation Matrix of the Autobots. I am ruler of a great and ancient people and I am Prime to all of them. Those who were born, yet died, those who live and those yet to be born … all of them are mine to serve. You are enemy to the peace. You always were. You came here divested of the greatest treasure of our world and culture, our very great people who you destroyed without a second thought. You are an enemy of our people and I declare you so.

"It is my judgment made in tandem with the Matrix that you, the Functionalist Council shall be placed in punitive stasis for one million years. There will only be an appeal of this verdict from the Pantheon. When They allow me to know Their Will, I will call everyone forward. It could be that They reverse or mitigate it, or they could call for more and worse for you.

"I saw them, those you murdered. I saw them in a vision. They came from an ocean, all of them. They stared at me with hopeful optics the first time I saw them. In the second vision they were walking back into the ocean. One of them stopped to look at me. "You are too late" they told me. I saw all their faces, each of them before they disappeared and I had no idea until you came what the vision meant. They are safe in the Matrix and that is the only thing that gives me comfort now. If you cannot find it in yourself to feel despair and sorrow for them, then I will. You will be taken to the jail and held there until the Pantheon weighs in. If they do not in one decaorn, the verdict stands. If you know any prayers that are contrite and convey anything but pride and self importance, I would suggest that you direct them to the Pantheon. If you are to have any mercy, you will have to find it from Them." Prime nodded to the bailiff and he led them away.

They stumbled out in shock.

The room was intensely silent as the door closed behind them.

-0-TBC 2-17-18 edited 2-22-18

capricious: (uh-pree-shus) -arbitrary, spur of the moment actions or words, no thought put into something

mores: (more-ays) – the beliefs and ideas that you have with which you live your life.