The Diego Diaries: Trials and Tribulations (dd6 439)

-0-Courtroom

Ratchet leaped up followed by Raptor, Hard Drive and Ironhide. Running to the door, he opened it and shouted to the crowd. "COME HERE NOW!"

They jumped up and found themselves with arms filled with startled children. Then the four hurried back in followed by Drift. The door closed. Then the bellowing and bashing of a fight echoed out anyway. Gently handing Hero to Sandstorm, Hercy unsubbed his tazer device and calmly walked in followed by Kup who had no children. The others went to the door and peered in.

Sentinel leaped at Maelstrom with a speed that defied physics. He gripped that giant by the neck and began to squeeze. Maelstrom laughed loudly and began to pummel Sentinel in the chest. Prime who was slammed backward stood up and shoved No-a and Semi toward the wall where the door to the corridor for judges was. "GO!" he shouted as they did, No-a albeit slowly. He wanted to stay and slug it out. Semi who was no coward edged away. He was completely outclassed, so No-a pushed him forward, shielding him with his own huge body. Onward across the room, Barron, the lawyers, Highrode, and Coln-2 were being assisted by Blackstone through the door to the jail.

Springer who was guarding their retreat glanced toward Drift and the others as they poured in. "Nail him!" Springer shouted.

Hercy nodded, then move forward in time to get slammed by Sentinel's long wing-like appendages. He hadn't set himself so he flew backward and hurled into Hard Drive and Raptor. They grunted as they absorbed the blow, flying together into the wall behind them. By then, Prime was on the fight but he couldn't get to Sentinel around the mass of Maelstrom. Prowl who had helped the others, too, while saving the datapads of all involved turned in time to see Prime grip Sentinel's servos which were choking Maelstrom tightly.

It was fortunate that they didn't need air to breathe or Maelstrom would have been dead by now. What he did need, however, was energon flow to his processor. He began to stagger as the flow was cut off adding more impediment to Prime who was trying to get past him in the tight area. By them, Chromia was up and rushing forward. She leaped into the air to land on Sentinel's back where she put on her own arm clamp around his neck. It didn't seem to phase him. He, after all, was a Primal frame and they were designed to take phenomenal amounts of punishment before giving in. All of the vital areas of a Primal frame were over designed for maximum invulnerability. She really wasn't making a dent on him.

Raptor swept past everyone heading toward Sentinel with a roar. He gripped Chromia and pried her off, spinning her away as gently as he could. Then he gripped Sentinel's long wings and pulled hard. Sentinel feeling it bellowed like a bull. He let go of Maelstrom who was beginning to grow hazy from energon deprivation, then slammed his face with his fist. Maelstrom flew off his feet backwards taking Prime with him into the back wall. Freed of Maelstrom, Sentinel began to spin in an effort to get Raptor. Even though Raptor was huge and strong, he was no match for Sentinel. He actually flew off his peds as Sentinel spun trying to grip him.

Springer and Drift closed in on him and he traded blows easily with both, then slammed them into the wall just as the door opened. Drift flew into the corridor to the jail as Springer slid down the wall in a daze. Standing in the corridor heading back to the courtroom, Prowl watched in astonishment as Drift hit the wall, then fell forward. He unsubbed his small stun gun, then hurried out. He paused in the doorway, looking with disbelief at the sight.

Maelstrom was dazed behind the podium as he sprawled on a slightly dazed Prime. Optimus was trying to get back up again after the full force of Maelstrom landed on him. Raptor was hanging onto Sentinel who was maddened in his desire to rip Raptor in two. Ratchet was watching with that look … the one that was calculating injuries. Hard Drive was looking for an opening and so was Ironhide who then threw caution to the wind and ran forward to help his grandfather. It was then that Sentinel spun hard with a bellow of rage and with that, Raptor's foot clipped Ironhide by the side of the helm. He fell back and took out Hard Drive and Kup. Ratchet dodged them as they slammed into the wall beside him.

It was chaos.

Prowl felt molten rage rise up through him at Sentinel, at his own memories of the fragger and all the insanity before him. With a roar of his own, he ran forward, aimed at Sentinel, then shot him. A bolt like plasma flew out and hit him in the arm, but did little more than madden him further. He lunged forward toward Prowl. Prowl subbed the gun, then slammed Sentinel in the face. It slowed but didn't stop him. As he did, Prime finally got free. He saw Sentinel charge Prowl and it set off things in his processor that he had never felt before. All he wanted to do now was kill Sentinel. He charged forward leaping over furniture until he gripped Sentinel's arm. He had it cocked back to hit Prowl but found himself spun around.

A fist hit Sentinel in the face staggering him a moment before another one dropped him to his knees. It was then that Hercy touched him with his device and Sentinel fell to the ground to quiver as electrical currents sparkled all over his chassis. Everyone paused as Raptor who had leaped clear when he saw Hercy's arm rise up, device in grip, stood up to seethe with rage over Sentinel.

"Ground him, Hercy," Prime said as he seethed beside Prowl.

"Not yet," Raptor said as Hercy did.

Sentinel relaxed but unlike everyone else who had felt the bite of it, he was awake and aware. A Primal frame took more than one taze to go out like a light. He lay on his back a moment, then he laughed. "So you think you can insult me and not feel the burn?" He stood up as guns all over the room flipped up, all of which were pointed at him. "I'm a Prime, Optimus. Who but you should know better?"

"Were a Prime. Were," Optimus said. "Cuff him and get this place together." He turned to go to the podium and noted six terrified jurors huddling together in a corner. "Ratchet, please attend to the jury. Prowl?" Then he walked onward to the door and exited into the corridor with Prowl.

Ratchet climbed over furniture as Drift, Springer and Raptor cuffed Sentinel none too gently. "Are you alright?" he asked as the six relaxed slightly.

"I think so," the femme juror said as she stared fearfully at Sentinel. "Is everyone alright?"

Ratchet grinned as he scanned them. "Sure. You need to attend more trials," he said.

The jurors relaxed, then an older mech chuckled. "I think I might." They helped set up the courtroom again as the legal teams and judges walked back out. It was amazing how tough the furnishings were. Nothing was broken or damaged. The courtroom was back in order and everyone sat, albeit without their datapads. It was stony silent in the courtroom. It wasn't in the corridor outside.

-0-Outside in the corridor

Wailing filled the space as terrified children cried. Hard Drive walked out and all of them held up their arms for him. He laughed as he took them one at a time to comfort, then slide into his carry hold. When all of them were secured, he grinned. "You missed a slagging fine show."

"We saw it from the doorway," Sandstorm said with a grin. "Too bad it was so crowded," he said as he glanced at Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. "You could have gotten paybacks."

"I know," Sunny said darkly.

"You will anyway. I have no doubt that the Pantheon will come for him," Hard Drive said. "Have a seat. This is going to start shortly." With that, he walked back inside to the bench where he had sat and parked himself. Raptor and Ironhide walked to him to stand in shimmering rage. "I have the kids. They're upset but okay."

Ironhide nodded. "Good."

The door to the judges chambers opened as Semi, Barron and No-a walked out. They called the attorneys forward and huddled in the corner conferencing. Everyone had sat down but for more muscle with obvious guns in sight who were around Sentinel. He sat on his chair glowing with energon cuffs as he waited without expression for what was to come. Maelstrom sat in the audience with Chromia. He looked like he wanted to kill Sentinel, not for his own fisticuffs which was sport for him but because he hit Chromia. She looked proud as slag of him as she sat with his arm around her.

Ratchet paused beside them to scan. They were fine and only slightly banged up. "You're a caution, Maelstrom. You and the femme here."

He grinned with pride. "Did you see her? Isn't she the greatest?"

"You won't get an argument from me," Ratchet said with a chuckle as Prime and Prowl walked back in.

-0-Moments before

They walked into the corridor, then Prime hugged Prowl tightly. They stood together holding each other, then Prime stared down at Prowl. "Are you alright, Prowl?"

"I am," Prowl said ruefully. "I wanted to obliterate him."

Prime nodded. "I would have had he hurt you. I knew it was galling for him to hear the witnesses goading him but it was their testimony. I suppose I should have cautioned against it."

"It's part of their testimony. I don't think they'd listen anyway," Prowl said as he hugged Prime. Leaning against him, he shook his helm. "He's a big mech. Not as big as you though," he said loyally.

Prime chuckled. "You are loyal."

Prowl looked up with a fierce expression. "You better remember that I am. You're Prime. You're holy. You're mine. Our family and you … that's my world."

Prime nodded. "And it is my world, too." They held each other, then Prime vented a sigh. "This is a mess. We better go sort it out."

Standing nearby, forgotten, Semi, Blackstone and Coln-2 who had followed them inside waited. Prime startled as he saw them, then grinned. "I forgot you were there. Are you alright?"

Semi grinned. "We are. Are you? I heard the ruckus and it sounded like an artillery barrage."

"We are fine. We need to get organized again. I am assuming there will be motions about what happened and I am resolved myself that this incident is not going to change anything in the case," Prime said.

"I agree." No-a glanced at Semi who nodded. "We have to stay the course. Perhaps polling the jury about this will help. Given that they don't have a vote in the outcome, it shouldn't be much of a problem."

"Agree," Optimus said. "Let us go now."

Semi and No-a nodded, then walked past, leaving the room as the door closed. Prime grinned at Prowl who grinned back as he hugged Prime. "I do believe our great romance is now a public feature."

"Pity them," Prowl said with a chuckle. He squeezed Prime, then looked upward to his face. "You were a champion. Remember that."

Prime kissed Prowl. "So were you," he said with a grin. "Onward into the breach."

Prowl chuckled as he walked to the door to open it. They both walked out, Prime to sit again and Prowl to give everyone their datapads and work items which they accepted with gratitude. He walked to his seat as clerk and sat checking the station which was unharmed. He didn't look at Sentinel even though he could feel his optics staring. Glancing at the judges, he nodded.

It was silent a moment, then Optimus looked at Ratchet. "Is there any harm to anyone who was in here, Ratchet?"

"Only the odd bump and bruise. Add in a lot of scare for the civilians who aren't used to half cocked fraggers going off and you have a miracle. No one got hurt, Optimus, but the furniture." Ratchet was seated between Raptor and Ironhide who were seething still.

"Are the children alright?" Prime asked.

Hard Drive patted his chest. "They were evacuated and are fine."

"Good," Prime said. He looked at the jury. "It was unfortunate that you were caught in the middle of something like this. I apologize for the court. These are highly charged affairs and sometimes things happen. I would excuse any of you who feel that this is more than you bargained for. There will be no recriminations toward any of you if you wish to be relieved of what is essentially an advisory role."

They glanced at each other, then the femme grinned. "I think I want to see how this story ends, Lord Optimus. I'm staying."

The others nodded in agreement. Prime sat back. "Thank you for your service." He glanced at Coln. "You were questioning Maelstrom. Do you require further testimony?"

"No. I reserve the right to cross," Coln said.

"Understood," Prime said. He looked at a shaken Highrode. "Highrode … do you need a moment to gather yourself? This was unexpected. We are willing to allow you time."

"Thank you, Lord Optimus. I am … I am fine. I would like to question Maelstrom," Highrode said.

"Very well," Prime said as he glanced at Sentinel. "I am directing Commander Hercy to taze you, Sentinel, if you attempt to try this again. Commander, please stand between the defendant and the jury box. It's fortunate that the jury is advisory, Sentinel, rather than the group who decides your fate."

Hercy rose and walked to the jury box to stand beside it, tazer in servo. Prime nodded to Highrode who stood as Maelstrom took the stand, re-iterated his oath and waited. "Maelstrom, you intimated a number of things, yet there are no witnesses beyond you and a number of very bad and in some cases very dead Decepticons who can back your commentary. What other evidence do you possess that supports your allegations?"

"My brother was there. So were the twins. There's paperwork, data trails. Coln said so. You have my slagging word. I gave it to the Matrix and to my girl. I'm a slagging Autobot now. I'm not a Decepticon. My in-laws would never allow me to bond with my girl if I was one. A lot of us here were Decepticons. You can't find a worse one than Drift," he said nodding to a startled bot standing next to a frowning Springer. "He had bounties on him from Megatron, my brother, the Decepticon Justice Division-"

"I did?" Drift asked with surprise. "Those slaggers were after everyone."

Maelstrom grinned slightly. "They got a separate bounty on you, slagger How bad do you have to be to have the DJD be given a special bounty on someone?" He looked at Highrode. "Did you know he's my brother-in-law? He's also second-in-command of security for here, Cybertron and the Empire. We change. I changed. Ask my girl. She's a goddess. She'll tell you."

Chromia grinned at Maelstrom, her spark bursting with pride. He was her mech, her one and only. He was showing his quality and she wanted to dance. She glanced at Ratchet who grinned at her. She grinned back, then sat taller in her chair as she watched her mech with pride.

"You were a very dangerous, very wanted Decepticon," Highrode continued.

"Not as wanted as Drift. Sort of made me feel bad how much more wanted he was than me," Maelstrom said with a snicker.

Drift smirked at him, then glanced at a still frowning Springer. He slid closer to Springer who leaned slightly in toward him in response. It was silent in the room. Highrode stared at the impossibility of Maelstrom, then threw in the towel. "No more questions. This witness is hostile. Please mark him so." He sat heavily.

Coln stood. "I would like to call Rainmaker, the Great Elder of Seekerkin."

Everyone stared at the door as Springer opened it, leaned out, then back as Rainmaker stepped in, his staff gleaming in the lights. He walked to the stand, took the oath, bowed to Prime who nodded back, then turned toward Coln. "I am here. Command from me whatever you will," he said with gravity, enormous integrity and dignity.

-0-TBC 8-12-18 edited 8-12-18

ESL:

Cross or cross examination: to re-question someone who they already spoke with. If a prosecutor questions a witness, the defense has the right to do the same. Anything that comes up there can be discussed by the prosecutor in cross-examination, or re-examination.

Re-iterate: (ree-ih-tur-rate) to repeat something.

Intimate: (in-tuh-mate) to suggest something without directly telling