The Diego Diaries: Trials and Tribulations (dd6 435)
-0-Courtroom
"Tell me what happened when Sentinel 'died'," Coln asked.
It was quiet in the room as Proteus thought back to the desperation move proposed by Sentinel and which all of them in the pressure of the moment and the mania in their sparks agreed to help create. "We met in the Citadel, in his office. Prowl was in the Operational Center and I remember he seemed disturbed to see us walk into the building together. He didn't say anything but he watched us walk to the corridor that led to Sentinel's office.
"We talked a long time. Sentinel had a ship, he had the scientists and the bridge devices, the type that expedited long distance travel, the ones just before the Trigger was developed and bridging was enlarged and refined. There wasn't enough time to wait for the Trigger to be finished and there were plans to blow it up if Megatron succeeded anyway. Sentinel didn't trust him to be on Cybertron with bridges if he wasn't there. The war was going badly, we didn't assist Optimus as much as we could have because we still lived in the delusion that we would prevail and things would be put back together." He thought a moment. "We were insane."
"Sentinel gathered us up, Ratbat who had just obliterated Tarn and Vos with Contrail, Halogen, Decimus, myself, a number of soldiers, and the scientists, bridge techs all of them. We were going to leave Iacon through the chaos and hopefully, after leaving a trail of expediter pillars for the bridge, bring Cybertron to this system to have a rebuild made. He was aware of energon here from ancient texts regarding the drone Seekers that he had discovered through private investigation and therefore, felt the only chance to rebuild Cybertron was here. He would bring it here, then slave the humans to do the work. It was madness."
Proteus stared at Sentinel, then turned to Prime. "The plan was to fake his death, leave Cybertron during a huge moment of combat, the wait until Megatron beat you. He had made a deal with Megatron using Ratbat and Contrail as intermediaries. The would share leadership until Cybertron was repaired, then he would kill Megatron. He needed him to help handle the Decepticons once things were over with Prime. He didn't trust Megatron but he also needed the fighting to stop and allow rebuild to begin. It was decided that he would be 'shot', then swiftly 'buried' in the Basilica. That way in the chaos, we could leave and make the whole business swifter.
"No one believed that Megatron wouldn't get the AllSpark, though the plan that Optimus made to secure it at the Temple, then launch it into space was sound. It all depended upon execution and we felt that Megatron had the upper hand. Sentinel was 'shot', a duplicate protoform designed to look like him was placed in the sarcophagus, then we left after fobbing off Ratchet and Prowl who came to do their due diligence. No one could know that the sarcophagus contained a fake body. We left and as we were speeding through the chaos our ship was hit. It made things difficult but along the trail we launched the bridge pillars until we came to Earth. We were going to land on the moon but we came in hard due to the destruction from the hit and were knocked into stasis from impact. We didn't know what had transpired, nor the time that had passed by until we came to sentience here. We were to be gone a few decaorns but it was interminable, the time lapse."
"You're aware that a big fly in your ointment was the fact that the real Matrix appeared and took on a different mech for the Primeship. What was supposed to happen?" Coln asked.
"The plan called for the Matrix to go to another placeholder, a nondescript mech who was a Major at the time, Suton. I am not aware of what happened to him but he was supposed to be given the Matrix by Kudon who could manipulate the Ancients with ease. Apparently, Suton was there providing security when Megatron and Orion Pax broke into the chamber during discussions about who would reign next. They tried to get things under order but the Matrix appeared rising up out of Its Chamber.
"It ascended, chose Orion Pax and sealed all our fates. Megatron would never allow anyone to stand in his way, especially since he had a deal with Sentinel to rebuild Cybertron immediately in partnership. Without the Matrix, Megatron had less power so he turned his efforts to securing the AllSpark. That's when all out war began in sheer ferocious earnest. So I'm told," Proteus said.
"Who can corroborate any of this, Proteus?" Coln said.
"Gravitas, Eronus and Templar as close colleagues of Kudon can speak to this. Neo can't because she's truly religious and would never have agreed to anything blasphemous regarding the relics. Sentinel can," Proteus said bitterly. "So can Decimus, Ratbat and Contrail. They would be privy to all the discussions because they were there with us."
"No further questions of this witness, though I reserve the right to recall," Coln said as he sat.
"Blackstone?" Prime asked.
"Proteus, you had no ethics, no honor and no shame. You were right in the thick of things, giving as well as getting. Why should we believe a word you say? How can we believe such a moral black hole as you can be telling anything true now?" Highrode asked.
"Because I'm laying myself bare, Highrode. I have to be a mech. I have to tell the truth. Our people can tear me limb from limb but I will tell the truth. I want my son and bond to be proud of me. Some day my family will come. I do believe they still live, somehow. When they do, I have the burden and duty to help them change, too. I don't expect everyone to understand how tremendously I feel about this whole business. I will live my life every day to earn some small portion of my honor back."
Highrode thought about the masses and mountains of documents that he had tried in pre-trial to discard but it was there in damning detail. He had very little to work with here and Sentinel wasn't helping. He sat beside Highrode a cold mechanism, staring at those before him with rage and disdain. "I have no questions for this witness, Lord Optimus. I consider him to be without honor."
Proteus who was a lawyer understood what Highrode was doing and for the first time in his life he felt exaltation anyway. Highrode had nothing with which to save Sentinel. He, Proteus had prevailed. Now he had to live with others knowing who he really was. The ease of his life going forward lay in the servos of half a dozen jurors. He knew that the others would protect his identity. He stepped down with the same sense of freedom in his spark that had only been his since Prime's mercy had been accorded to him.
Stepping out, nodding to Springer who held the door, he spotted Madura sitting on a chair with the baby carrier next to him. He ran and embraced his bond. "It's all going to be good, Maddie. It's all going to be good."
-0-Inside
Witnesses came, documents were served and explained, questions began to come from the jury, and things began to go downhill fast for Sentinel Prime. Highrode did his best to challenge, impeach and otherwise drive a reasonable doubt wedge into the testimony but it would be nigh onto impossible to refute what had been retrieved that bore Sentinel's own signature. He had known about everything. He had participated in all of it. He was coming clear in the optics of everyone there to being the most corrupt, selfish, egocentric, and dishonorable Prime in the history of the office. "I have no further questions," Highrode said as he sat with no small amount of frustration.
Prime nodded. "Then I would like to adjourn for the orn and take up the case in the morning. Are there any objections, counsels? If there are, I will continue."
"No, Lord Optimus," Coln said.
"No, sir," Highrode said.
"Very well," Prime said. "Springer, please return the prisoner to his detention."
Springer walked toward Sentinel who stood. The huge mech glanced at Optimus. "I would like a private audience with you before this is over."
Prime nodded. "I will entertain the idea."
With that, Sentinel stepped out and slowly, almost regally walked to the door with Springer, Drift and the rest of the security team to disappear inside and the corridors beyond. Everyone watched him, then Prime glanced at the attorneys. "Gentlemen, you have done a remarkable job of protecting your case and clients. I look forward to hearing you tomorrow. Please remember that there is an information blackout for this case. No one is aware that it is being undertaken for obvious reasons. This order applies to the jury. No one is to talk about this, to anyone else or each other. This is part of the instructions given during jury choice and you agreed. I hope you will continue to honor that pledge even as you honor our people with your service."
They nodded and murmured agreement.
"Prowl, please assist the jury to transport to Hotel Praxus. We will reconvene at 0900 on the TMC at this place tomorrow," Prime said.
The jury stood and walked out with a bailiff who Prowl had made their security chief. When they were gone everyone there sat quietly. Prime glanced around. "I would like to inform both counsels that I have had two visitations from the Pantheon during this trial, one that involved just me and one that involved both me and Ratchet. Neither of them applied to this case specifically. Both were philosophical discussions about capital punishment and an expressed concern about suicide among our people. We are taking precautions with all the defendants to ensure their safety and should this continue, the Matrix making these gestures, I will inform you about them given this is an ongoing trial. Otherwise, I would not."
They stared at him, Coln and Highrode, their teams listening to the unusual and holy information, then both nodded in respect. "Thank you, Lord Optimus," Highrode said. "Are They specifically worried about my client or is this a general discussion?"
"I do not believe its specific. Sometimes, They use a moment to press their concerns about other things. They understand the difficulty this is imposing on us and send Their unconditional love," Prime said.
Everyone digested that, then Ratchet stood. "I can attest to that. We have to do better all around as a people and keep everyone close."
Prime nodded. "I agree. This court stands in adjournment until tomorrow at 0900 on the TMC."
Everyone stood as Prime did, then bowed. Walking to Prowl, Prime glanced at the others. "I am going to eat dinner at The Pit Stop. All who wish it as well are invited. I will understand if you have other things to attend to." He walked forward with Prowl's servo in his, a rare display of public affection and behind him came the others. They walked with the security mechs in tow, then stepped out into the gathering dusk of evening.
"I remember a home and kids somewhere," Ratchet said as he slipped his arm around Ironhide.
He chuckled. "Dreams. It's all dreams. I doubt that they remember who we are by now." Then he patted his hold. "Most of them anyway."
Ratchet chuckled. "Cough her up."
Pouting, Ironhide pulled a sleepy Halo out in a Seeker bag in time for her to slip into Ratchet's. All was well with Ratchet as they ambled along. That is, until Hard Drive demanded her.
They began to walk down the street heading for the diner that was the main social focus around the area. It had just finished its third expansion. Nearby, the finishing touches were being made to the Autobot City Museum of Cybertron and Autobot City Professional Business Building nearby. The Courthouse had been finished some time back. It almost felt normal again in the district as the recovering figure of Omega could be seen walking somewhere in the distance with Silverbolt.
They entered, then sat, a huge group including the teams of Blackstone and Coln. Highrode's crew was meeting with Sentinel in a conference room. Food came and conversation was had. It was a tense night and one that would lead to another tense day. It seemed like it was a month ago that their biggest crisis was finding 50,000,000 Cybertronians in danger in the Diaspora with the odds of it reaching a billion higher than most liked to think about, though it was a wonderful thing they survived.
-0-Highrode
He walked into his home and closed the door quietly. His bond came out of the hallway and walked to him. "You look terrible. That bad?" he asked.
"It was. I literally have no defense. None," Highrode said as he walked to the couch to sit heavily.
Porous aka Pip sat next to him, then kissed his cheek. "You can only do what you can, High. Don't take it personally. Defending Sentinel Prime is a lost cause since they got back the Cybertronian-Net Database Network. Proteus really nailed him didn't he."
Highrode nodded. "He impaled him, then ran him through over and over." He looked at Porous. "Would it be surrender if I tell you I have to admire his determination? I do. It is motivated by selflessness. Weird sight to see, Pip, Proteus being utterly selfless. Hanging around Optimus Prime does a spark good."
Porous grinned slightly. "Being a realist is never surrender. If Sentinel had been as aware of the world as he should have been, he might not be here like this."
Highrode shook his helm. "No, Pip, I knew him then. He'd be here. This is who he is."
They talked together a while, then went to bed. The next morning, they would join Coln-2 and Blackstone at The Diner On The Corner with their bonds, all of whom were friends.
-0-Coln-2
"And that's how it is so far."
Coln's bond nodded. "What an orn, Colie. You're going to be the one who got Sentinel Prime convicted."
He stared at her, then their three little kids. "I never want anyone like him in a position to hurt another again, Lani. He has to go somewhere. I don't know how Prime does it. I admire him even more every time I'm around him. He's a genuine hero to me."
"And to me," Lani said. "We're coming back as a people because of him."
Coln nodded. "We are. I have to hand it to Proteus. He didn't spare himself. Even though he did what he did, it feels like he's talking about someone else when he does. It's all very strange, Lani."
She nodded. "I know. Soon, it'll be done and we're that closer to being truly free."
He nodded. "I'm proud to be a part of it. I have to go to the court by 0800. Eat breakfast with me at The Diner On The Corner and let Briar take the kids to school. You can be a little bit late to work can't you?"
She smiled at him. "Sure," she said as they chatted away the evening together in their apartment in a glittering tower in Bern.
-0-Semi and No-a
They sat in a bar sipping a beer as they wound down from a day unlike any other in their careers. This was the biggest and most historic trial they would ever have as a species until Megatron came before them. It was quiet in the bar as they relaxed.
"The Pantheon will come back. I know this," No-a said.
Semi nodded. "I agree. They've weighed in twice. They want to know how the situation is viewed by us, I think. I don't know. I'm just on pins and needles. I'm glad They will. I'd hate to be Prime and decide. He won't do capital punishment and I'm glad. Punitive stasis is about as bad but what else is there?"
"I know," No-a said. "I wouldn't be Prime for anything."
On that, they both concurred.
-0-Springer and Drift
*Tussle*
*Slam*
"Frag. You weren't kidding about Engineer Corridor," Springer said as he spun Drift and pushed him into the wall of the electrical closet that was frag site of choice back when they were a blazing hot pair of dynamos who appeared to hate each other even though they combusted into cold fusion at the sight of each other in Med Bay that orn.
Who knew?
He pressed against Drift hard. "Well, baby … talk. How did you know Megatron?"
"Well," he grunted as Springer pressed hard. "He had a bounty on me."
"I thought that was Turmoil."
"It was. He put one on all of us, too. I was worth a ton of shanix in the orn," Drift said as he reached around to spin Springer.
He missed his target as Springer pinned his arm behind him. He chuckled. "You're slowing down, Drift. By now, you're usually bouncing me off the walls."
"I'm overcome by your beauty," Drift croaked.
Springer laughed loudly, then spun Drift around. Gripping him by the aft, he pressed him hard into the wall. "I see you."
Drift laughed. "Good. I once saw Megatron at a camp. He was checking out munitions manufacture. I hid from him but watched. That fragger is so powerful I think Prime would have a tough time besting him. He's slagging brutal."
"Optimus has before, though Megatron can whip anyone he wants," Springer said as he leaned closer into Drift.
"Even you?" Drift barely managed.
"Well, I don't want to toot my own horn but … yes," he said as they both laughed. Then they didn't talk anymore for a while.
-0-Proteus
He sat on the couch holding his son. They had eaten in, discussed the trial and were unwinding. He felt cleaner and clearer than he ever felt before. It was cathartic to do what he did, though there were risks.
"I'm proud of you, Proteus. No matter what. You did the right thing. Perhaps you can get a new paint scheme and a slight modification of your finials," Madura said as he sat with his arm around Proteus's shoulders.
"We can see, Maddie. I'm just glad I did this. When Coln asked, I was afraid. But now, I decided I'm not going to be afraid anymore. No more, Maddie."
Madura nodded as they sat together talking. The night would pass by and the next day would come. Proteus would be ready if they needed him again.
-0-Lucien
Laslo stood in the doorway of their home office watching as Lucien took care of something that had to go out in the morning. They were going to dinner together, something that gave both a great deal of pleasure lately. Lucien looked tense. "Are you alright, Lucien? You aren't concerned about tomorrow are you?"
"I'd be lying if I said no, Laslo," Lucien said as he shut down his computer. "I'm going to be testifying against Sentinel Prime."
"You do know why you're doing it," Laslo asked anxiously.
He nodded. "I do."
Laslo put his servos on Lucien's shoulders. "I know why you're going to do it, too, Lucien. You're doing it because you're my hero."
Lucien stared at Laslo, then pulled him into his arms. "Thank you, Lassie."
-0-Magnus and Arcee, Jetta and Elita
They sat in the living room of Jetta and Elita's apartment. It was comfortable, filled with mementos of a fabled lifetime together and objects of work … guns, knives and engineering implements. They were sharing a bottle of high grade after a very debilitating orn. Magnus sat next to Jetta who he loved like a brother, the two of them lounging with peds on the coffee table before them. "You alright?" he asked Jetta.
"Some orns. Most of the time I work," Jetta said.
"You need to talk to someone about that. There's no harm nor shame, Jetta." Magnus looked at Jetta, his handsome profile close to his own.
Elita and Arcee sat on another couch sipping high grade as they chatted, their optics straying to their boys from time to time. "Jetta needs a shrink," Arcee said.
Elita nodded. "I'm going to talk to Ada tomorrow. He gets stirred up when this slag happens. I don't like my boy to be upset."
"Jetta, you have to talk to Ada about this," Arcee said. "We all need a shoulder once in a while."
Jetta smirked. "Ada, huh."
"Sure. Then you can go out and tie one on. I'll spring your bail," Elita said with a grin.
"Sounds like a deal. Let's make it a foursome," Jetta said.
"A six some. Let's invite Springer and Drift," Arcee said.
They would.
-0-Home
They came into the door and as they did Ravel and Tie Down smiled at them. Ratchet stared at them, the golden center of his beginning and spread his arms wide. "Ada and Atar, guess what I heard about you today," he said before he enveloped them in his arms.
-0-TBC 8-7-18 edited 8-12-18
Suton: (soo-tahn)