The Diego Diaries: Trials and Tribulations 1 (dd6 424)

-0-Diego Officer's Club

Albert 'Al' Michaels sat down with John Fulton and Andrew Settles. They looked up at him as he put his drink down along with his ubiquitous i-pad.

Fulton frowned. "Have a seat, Michaels."

"Don't mind if I do," Simpson said with a grin devoid of humor. "When can I get to Unidad? When are you going to arrange the trip, Fulton?"

"Well," John said as he considered the request. He actually enjoyed sparring with Michaels. He had a lot of practice from Daniels and Nast so this wasn't that big a deal. "Given that you asked so nicely, that you have no business being at Unidad because its Prime's business and not ours, that you're a colossal dick who has no more business being in the job you have then a fish … maybe never."

Michaels grinned at him. "You enjoy our little moments don't you. What if I call the President and ask for a new commander for this base?"

"You can. It won't do you any good. There's nothing like alienating the entire US military, too, right?" Fulton asked. "I don't think he'd want to do that. Diminishing allies and all that."

"I have every right to go to Mars and tour the habitats there. I have the entire brief for the Autobots and our government. I'm going to go there, Fulton, and you can't do a thing about it."

"You can go. I'd book a flight with the Resort, then try to get appointments without my help or Warren's. That should take you … oh … forever. Then once you show them how you disrespect me here every time we talk together, that should get you nowhere fast with them. Since you never served anyone or anything but yourself, look up esprit de corps. It's something that we have in spades with the bots. Just so you know. You shit on one soldier, you shit on all of us. Could you pass the salt, please?" Fulton asked.

Michaels grinned, then passed the salt. He liked duking it out with Fulton as much as Fulton seemed to do so with him. "I have an appointment with Autobot City Adventuring. I'm friends with Owen Harris. I'm going there in two weeks to do an adventure." He sat back as his food was delivered. "You can't thwart me, Fulton. I'm unstoppable."

"Then maybe you can go out on the next mission," Andrew said. "Maybe after a taste of what we do, you might show some respect. Though, something tells me that's a forlorn prospect."

Michaels stared at Settles. "I saw your wedding. Your wife is very beautiful. I can imagine it must test your loyalties being that close to Prime and the bots."

"When you figure out what loyalty is, then you can judge," Fulton said. "And just between us … given a choice to hang with the bots or you, its bots hands down every time."

It would go like that through lunch.

-0-Late that night

"That was fun." Ratchet flopped back on the berth with a grin. Ironhide who was already there bounced slightly. "The water park was an inspiration."

"It was," Ironhide said. "Maybe we can build 6 Lasers again one of these orns. The bare bones are still there on Cybertron."

"That would be great. This time I get to go, too," Ratchet said just to get Ironhide's goat.

He did.

"I'll take ya, slagger," Ironhide said knowing his goat was got.

"I have to meet and greet the next human group to Unidad. About 1,200 individuals including their families and such. That makes 1,000 actual employees on site. We're going to continue until 2,500 of the employees are there, then add them again after the system boots up," Ratchet said. "I'll be at the Courthouse right after."

"You're an expert witness so there's no rush. Heatout has to set the background narrative and the witnesses have to speak," Ironhide said. "Jetta isn't going to speak then. He's a witness for the prosecution. He also is for Sentinel. I'll record it for ya. Should be interesting."

"Thanks. Jetta is a tough customer and the fairest mech I ever met. That's a good son, that one," Ratchet said. He grinned at Ironhide. "Fine job of parenting on that one and the others."

Ironhide snickered. "I won't argue," he said as they chatted a while, then turned in.

-0-Later that morning

He stood on the balcony staring at the sky. The orbits of Earth and Mars were closer now than at any other time of the year. Mars was a bright red light in the night sky of Earth. Earth was a bright white light in the sky of Mars. He stared at it, considered the time, then walked for the door. He paused a moment to feel the slight restlessness of the Matrix, something that always happened before a big event, then walked inside. He would disappear from view almost immediately. The lights went off behind him as he walked down the corridor to his berth room and Prowl.

-0-Prison

Decimus paced by the fence as he worried about the next orn. His case and that of the others were Primal with Special Circumstances. He knew what that meant and it mystified him that his case should reach that level. He had heard about the Functionalist Council and the intervention of the Pantheon. It had terrified him and the coldness never left his spark. Tomorrow, they would begin the trials that had interminably taken forever to commence. His team was solid and seemingly on his side. He would be tried with Contrail, though he wavered now if that was a good idea. He wavered at everything if truth be told. He would ask his team again in the morning which was rapidly coming forward upon him. It would be a long night for him in the prison.

-0-Nearby

Sentinel lay on his berth considering the possibilities. He knew he was the most responsible for whatever they threw at him. He was, after all, the Prime of record. The shanix stopped with him. He felt tense and around the others' bad energy, it only grew more so. Prime would oversee his trial and make the decision about his future. The Matrix would keep his baser instincts in check, though Sentinel's experiences with Optimus didn't indicate to him that Prime had any. That part was comforting. There would be no summary executions for him. If the process was reversed, Sentinel couldn't guarantee that he'd return the favor. What was totally frightening to him was the Special Circumstances part. The Pantheon could and probably would weigh in on the verdict. Or, They could come during any point of the trial itself.

He lay quietly in his bunk in a cabin that might not be his very much longer. Outside, the prison was quiet, as if everyone there knew that there would be a reckoning soon for the architects of their life's choices. He lay quietly and thought about something he loved with all his spark, without qualifications, that he would gladly die, connive, kill, or steal for …

Cybertron.

-0-Morning

Coln-2 stood in his office going over the plan of the trial given its rarity and complexity with his team. He felt nervous energy just like everyone else at the thought that a member of the Pantheon could just pop into view to attend to the trial or some point of it. They could come to speak, offer Their own testimony or even if desired take the accused away before the verdict was delivered. Given the level of offenses before everyone, the range and possibility of the Pantheon's options were unlimited. He and his team were still dealing with assimilating the last trial with Pantheonic participation.

A rap on the door caught their attention as all turned toward it. Heatout was there with a couple of his lieutenants. "I am ready when you are."

"Thank you, Heatout. If you want to go to the courtroom, we'll be right behind you," Colie said.

Heatout nodded, then walked out again. Coln-2 watched him go, then looked at his team. "Let's go and do what's right, just and true. That's all we can do and should."

The group nodded, then rose with their gear. They would follow Heatout and his mechs to the big courtroom which was already secured for the trial. The trial would include a petit jury.

-0-Security earlier in the morning of the trail date

They came for the two defendants, Decimus and Contrail. Putting them into energon cuffs as the others stared at the group from that cell and others around them, a tight assembly of mechs escorted the pair out, through their cell unit and down the road to the train station at the hospital center nearby. It was the closed security train that ran from the prison to the courthouse to the Medical Center in town and back again. They walked into the station, went down the steps, then entered a train. It was a short ride to the Courthouse and a climb up the security metro to the main floor where an elevator took them to the jail cell portion. They would be put into separate holding cells to await their legal team and eventually, the trial itself. It was a quiet and solemn place.

Springer directed his mechs, none of them from cities or city-states heavily and directly impacted by the defendants actions to their places. They were heavily armed and given a crash course in 'disabling but not breaking' disrupters. The trial would be without audience given the volatility of the cases going forward but they were prepared for anything. Hercy and Kup were there along with the twins and Roadbuster for the prison. Seventeen mechs were there both inside the jail below as well as the corridors and courtroom itself. There was not going to be a problem of violence from any outside sources.

The witnesses would be many and Springer would escort them himself along with Drift and the twins so they could come when needed to speak to the points at hand. It wasn't hard finding those who could speak to the decisions and policies of Decimus and Contrail. What would be hard was finding a way to mitigate them for the defense. There was little point in trying to deny. What was important was finding a way to take most of the poison out of the charges to save the lives of the two charged. Blackstone and the teams for the defendants had a very hard road ahead of themselves.

Semi and No-a were both here to sit with Prime and give the court the gravitas that it required. Prowl would record unless drawn away, then Silver would step in to do the job. Barron would sit nearby with a table covered in devices where he could access points of law both here and from Cybertron. He had two of his smart kids with him to assist.

The courtroom was simple. The usual flags and banners were seen tastefully but fully in view. A huge set of framed document had been added to the walls of this, the biggest courtroom and they held the Charter of the Primes, all of the documents related to his authority and the statement of intention and law from the first Convocations of The People when the Quintessans were expelled. No one was going to deny Prime his authority if Prowl of Praxus had his way. Prime would sit in a chair with a table before him, No-a and Semi on either side. The defense and prosecution would have tables for themselves, their aides and the defendants. It was organized, simple and secured. It was also only two joors away from beginning.

The prisoners had been transferred early in the morning on the underground train that ran from the Courthouse to the Prison. They were waiting in cells, silent and sullen as the minutes ticked past. The petit jury had been chosen and gathered in a room nearby, six individuals who were tense but willing. They were a former longshoreman now electrician, a business owner, a bar owner, two construction workers, and a teacher. Two were former high castes, one a former mid and the rest former low castes. It represented an eclectic mix and was determined after a long consultation between the defense and prosecution with Barron refereeing. They would sit in chairs to the left of the witness stand which was closest to the defendant.

Silver was in the room setting up the recording equipment. He would stay to witness that process and step in seamlessly if needed. The bailiff would be Springer this time, with the others on standby, though off duty. If Springer was called out, one of them would come replace him. All was ready to go.

-0-On the way to Unidad

The group had arrived, 1,200 individuals including families, friends of some note to the hired guns, pets, baggage out the wazoo, and the odd important knickknack carried in someone's arms. They had been greeted by Ratchet in the immigration side of the terminal, had laughed, gathered together at his direction, and lined up for Immigration to pass on them. Their gear including pets had been gathered and taken away to Unidad by the crew who had been designated to help. Smokey and Hot Rod, chosen by Ratchet because he was curious to see where they stood … as far apart as possible, it would seem … Sandstorm, and Blurr carted things out to ensure their safe arrival. The roads to the habitat, though not landscaped yet were fully paved and marked with bright lines and directional signals. It would be a better journey there this time than before.

They got their gear checked, then entered buses, six of them, for the ride to the habitat. Watching Ratchet transform outside, something that he received a standing ovation for, they began to drive toward the habitat through the early morning traffic whooping his lights and siren for a moment.

It would take a while.

-0-Ops Center

Prowl went through the overnight dump with Paragon, secretly thanking his lucky stars for the big mech's membership on the Alpha Team. They worked out things, got this and that obnoxious business sorted out, then Prowl handed over command. "Call me, Pari, if you need me. This is going to be a long process."

"Call me if the Pantheon arrives." Paragon glanced up to him from the datapad in his servos. "No, seriously. Call me."

Prowl grinned. "If no one is aiming the Requiem Blaster at Cybertron when They come, I'll call you."

Paragon laughed. "That's good to know."

Prowl slapped his arm with affection, then gathered his stuff. "See ya later."

"I hope so. Call me." Paragon watched Prowl leave with a chuckle, then glanced at his datapad. "Call me, slagger. Do it."

-0-Prime

He was already there, waiting in the room where he would go when things were in recess. He was already in touch with the Matrix, the low level energy thrumming through him something he was used to feeling when It was engaged in things of the world. He sat in a comfortable chair losing himself in the energy, then as he did, he lost himself into the Matrix.

-0-Outside

Prowl walked in with his datapad, then checked with Silver over the recording gear. They chatted, then Prowl glanced around. "Where is Optimus and the judges, Silver?"

"That way. Semi and No-a are in their offices when I was there a moment ago but Optimus is in the lounge," Silver said.

Prowl nodded, then walked to the door behind the judge's bench. Walking inside, he passed offices until he came to the lounge. Opening the door, he peered inside. Prime had the familiar energy, half there and half not that signaled his situation. Moving extremely quietly, Prowl walked in, sat on a couch and settled in to wait.

-0-Elsewhere

He was back at the old fashioned house. He walked to the door and opened it. Inside, there were several individuals seemingly waiting for him. He entered, then waited, staring at them while understanding somehow that they were archetypal figures and not just anyone in particular. He nodded to them and they nodded back. An elder mech, one whose age could be seen upon him, something not necessarily so among their kind who understood age on others through their energetic aura, patted a chair beside him. "Sit, Optimus Prime. We are expecting you."

Optimus walked to the chair to sit, then turned toward the elder. "I am here, Abba."

"We are glad, Optimus Prime. We would like to speak to you. I am Elder," he said, then pointed to the others. "That is Youth. That is Femme. That is Freedom. That is Life. That is Hope. That is Happiness. That is Truth. We are here to speak for those who have no voice."

Prime nodded. "I am here to listen, Elder."

Youth stood. He was a beautiful mech filled with the brio of the young for whom life hadn't dampened their zeal with injustice, others' expectations and limitations, and reality. He was happy and filled with potential, it seemed to Prime, then he began to morph slowly. It was as if age had descended upon him sucking all the vitality out of him. He stood before Prime. "You will be hearing tales from those who had much and denied more. They killed dreams with their actions and ideas. There are youths who had the ability to save the world, to save the universe but never were allowed to be who they were entirely. You must remember them in your deliberations. There must only be truth and justice here. There was too little before, but remember me. I could have changed everything," he said before he began to disappear, falling to dust before Prime's optics.

Optimus reached out but it was too late. The young mech had disappeared. He sat back, then glanced at Elder. That mech looked sad. "The youth … they believe in everything … that all is possible. It's a crime to have that denied by artificial constructs and ideas that have no basis in love. Love is the only way forward, Optimus Prime. There are too many who have had no life, no dreams, no future. They could have changed the world. Imagine what they never created because they were denied. You must remember them."

Prime bowed his helm, then another stood. It was Femme.

She bowed to him. "Lord Optimus … I am Femme. I am few. I am concerned about how our type came into being. We were born of lies and deceit. Some still bear the scars. They were harmed by others and exploited along with everyone else. Some of us broke the chains of our tormentors, then found ourselves in chains again. There is only unity, Optimus Prime. Our creed means ALL are one. Do not forget us, those of us born in a lie," she said before her image dissolved into butterflies. They were yellow and seemed internally lit as they fluttered around him, then burst into sparkles that faded away.

It was silent, then Freedom stood slowly and walked to stand in front of him.

-0-TBC 7-27-18 edited 7-30-18

ESL:

get your goat: when someone sets out to make you mad, they 'get your goat' :D

turn in: go to sleep, go to bed, go home in some cases but mostly having to do with sleep

interminable, interminably: something that takes forever, or something that takes forever to happen and be concluded.

ubiquitous (you-bik-kwi-tus) something that is seen everywhere or is everywhere, like McDonald's or Starbucks. This can mean good or bad. A stalker can be ubiquitous.

archetypal (ark-ih-tipe-ul) something that is symbolic of something … Gandhi is archetypal for peaceful resistance. (I always thought it would make a great name for a dinosaur) :D Yes, I am a loon.

"SING IT SISTER!" -Ratchet

Just a side note on the femmes ... apparently Solus Prime was considered different because her processor processed information differently than the mechs. That was perceived and she was considered different. It was only through the comfort of others that the idea of mech and femme as different genders came to be because its canon that they have no genders, that they're androgynous and thus, are one.