The Diego Diaries: Function Over Form (dd6 531)
-0-Courtroom to decide the fate of children at risk
"May I ask some questions?"
Everyone turned to look at Ratchet who was sitting in the audience. Prime nodded. "You brought with you some very rare transformations and body types when you came. Correct?"
N-3 glanced at Prime, then Ratchet. He nodded. "Yes, we did. We find them remarkable and worth preserving. Even perpetuating."
"What about mine?" Ratchet asked.
N-3 considered the question. "I see nothing about you that stands out. You appear to be a rather pedestrian and unremarkable figure."
Ratchet grinned. "Indeed. No one who would be missed then."
N-3 considered that, then nodded. "In our point of view, no."
"You talked about the rare formats as if they were things rather than individuals. You speak about them perpetuating."
"Yes," N-3 said.
"If they did they wouldn't be rare. Would they still have as much value to you if they did?" Ratchet asked.
"They would and wouldn't. At some point they wouldn't be rare and thereby, they wouldn't be as interesting," N-3 said.
"All of them have a spark and their own minds. Yet you speak of them like they were furniture or possessions," Ratchet said. 'That doesn't appear to be too normal if I may say so."
"We have a different world view than you," N-3 said with a shrug. "We don't see things your way."
"The Pantheon banned your point of view and your thinking," Ratchet said. "I was there to hear Primus, Prima and the others as well speak about and then declare the ban. What makes you think that Primus won't come from the ether and slap the slag out of you for not doing what He commanded?"
N-3 stared at him. "I don't believe you."
"The others were recalled by the Pantheon. Primus Himself recalled everyone. The Twelve are dead as door knobs and the 22 are going to stay that way if they don't change their ways. How long do you think you can last defying Them before They swat the slag out of you?" Ratchet asked.
N-3 shrugged. "We do what our consciences dictate."
"Where were your consciences when you murdered all those mechs and femmes? You have a real concern for your children but the others? You murdered thousands of children, you and your notions. Why should we care about your feelings about your kids in this instance? You're raising your children to be serial killers and we won't allow it. If you feel sad about that, too bad. You didn't give a frag about the others and their children. Why should we care about you and yours?" Ratchet asked.
N-3 glanced at him, then Prime. "You will have to put me in jail before I give you leave to do anything with my children that I don't agree to."
"First of all, you don't give Prime anything let alone leave. You're still free because he has character and compassion. He's trying to help you, you dumb slagger. Your orns of ordering things short of lunch are over and done. Your children are being raised to be killers. You just told me that I wouldn't have survived the recall of the colonies. I wouldn't have, right?" Ratchet asked.
"I see nothing about you that is interesting, necessary or needed. We have good doctors. You would be superfluous," N-3 said calmly.
The room was appalled.
"Optimus, we have a mech who is asserting his world view, one that helped murder thousands. He is not going to change and the children are in deep peril. I personally recommend that they be removed from their homes and these slaggers either hospitalized in Processor Health or jailed. They're endangering the children by their actions and beliefs. They're endangering everyone else as well."
Prime nodded. "N-3, you have not helped your case. You are asserting your right to continue that which is outlawed and banned by the Pantheon as well as well as me as Prime. You are asserting your right to teach your children how to devalue others to the point where killing them is of little consequence to them as it is to you."
"I am asserting my right to raise my kids as I see fit," N-3 said.
"You are training your kids to be killers," Jarro said. "If they are raised to adulthood in your point of view and you could recall those you feel are insufficiently worthy you would expect them to do so. Correct?"
N-3 stared at him. "I would expect them to follow the dictates of our practice and do their duty. I don't expect you to understand that."
"We do," Prime said. "You are a danger to your children and a danger to our community. I am asking you if you are going to deny fundamental Functionalism and renounce the pattern of living and thinking that the Pantheon has ordered banned. Are you or not?"
N-3 balled his servos into fists. "I will not deny that which has served our purposes so well over the eons. You cannot make me."
"No, perhaps not. But I can give your children a chance to be normal. Springer, I want this mech taken to jail for breaking a Prime Directive regarding fundamental Functionalism, fomenting civil unrest and other charges to be made later. I want the rest of them to come in here. Take him away," Prime said with real anger in his voice.
N-3 was gripped by the arm and tugged out by Lon and Bezel as Springer and Drift walked across the hallway to the other conference rooms. Fortunately they were soundproofed so N-3's bellowing wasn't heard. When he was gone, Springer and Drift opened the doors and told the others to come with them to the courtroom. They entered, gathered to face Prime, then were silent as was everyone already there.
Prime was grim faced with anger as he stared at them. "I want to know now and I want to have the truth. You have been undermining all efforts to help your children adapt to the new reality here. Understand, the Pantheon has condemned your practice and ideas and so have I. I am asking you now … are you prepared to do that and allow your children to become who they were destined to be?"
They stared at him, then each other. Conversation was held off line, then they turned to him, 23 mechs and 3 femmes. "We are Functionalists, Prime. We don't renounce anything."
"Your sect or should I say cartel murdered 500,000 individuals including children and babies. Do you renounce that?" Prime asked.
They stared at him, then each other, then Prime again. "We do not denounce our way of life, our views and our religion. You cannot ask that of us," a tall femme said.
"The hell I can," Prime said betraying the anger he felt. "The Pantheon, Primus specifically said all of this was banned and that He was prepared personally to intervene on anyone who held to either fundamental Functionalism or any of the views and actions your group utilizes. I have outlawed it. They have as well. Do you denounce and renounce all of this as per the demands of Cybertronian law and the Pantheon's express wishes?"
They stared at him, each other, then him again. "No," one of them said as the others nodded.
"That is your final word?" Prime asked tensely.
"Yes," the femme said as the others nodded.
Prime sat back, then glanced at Springer. "Lock them up pending charges."
Springer nodded, then gripped a mech. He jerked his arm but was dragged out. Mechs from around the room pulled weapons and pointed to the door. They stared at him, then one whirled on Prime. "OUR CHILDREN! WHAT ABOUT THEM!?"
"Now you worry about them?" Ratchet said with outrage. "NOW!? WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER CHILDREN!? YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR OWN BUT NOT THEM?! WHAT THE FRAG IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"
It took a tazer to take three of them out but the room was cleared. It was obvious that no one in management and above in this faction was skilled in self defense. No one present was surprised. They did their killing and mayhem long distance.
The door closed, then everyone turned to Prime. He was livid but gaining control. Sitting back, he waited until everyone sat. "I am granting custody of all the children in this group to Master Cyclonus and the Monastery for care and placement. I would like to know where they are, how they are doing and if anything else is needed to help them periodically, Cyclonus. I feel a vested interest in their progress. This is a no win situation but the state has an abiding interest in their welfare. Being trained to be serial killers is not in their best interest.
"Thank you, Cyclonus for doing this and pursuing their well being. I do not know how this will go for them but be vigilant. I am assuming that they will be affected by this in some unknowable manner," Prime said.
Cyclonus nodded. "I will. Thank you." He was grim and enraged but had the usual iron clad control.
They discussed the situation for a moment then the case was concluded. Everyone rose with relief and walked to the door. At the elevator they stood to wait for a car, then Ratchet looked at all of them. "Tomorrow at 1200 in Room 412 of the Central Labor Hall. Bring your candy entries if you want to shoot for second place," he said with a dazzling smile.
Slag met that as they entered and went down to go back to their regular lives. No one envied Cyclonus, the staff who managed the kids and their task ahead.
-0-Later that night
"So no one goes to school tomorrow and everyone has to be where they're supposed to be by 1200 hours. The big boys are going to their Appa and Ammas for dinner with the big frames but they're going to be there for the contest," Ratchet said as he lounged in his chair with a bowl of chocolate covered popcorn and the house data pad. "Everyone is going to the diner for breakfast, then run back to get slag together. We have the kids parted out then just so you know."
"Sounds good. I have Hero and Halo," Ironhide said.
"Turbine and Raptor have Hero and Halo and will take them at breakfast," Ratchet said. "Just so you know."
"Frag. He's going to have to leave his cow for a deposit then," Ironhide said with a grin.
At that moment the door opened and big mechs walked in. They grinned at Ratchet and Ironhide as they purloined infants. Stalking them into their berth rooms, they walked out with all the house shorties, a smiling Seeker mech and a bouncing dog.
"See ya, suckers. Change of plans," Raptor said as he and Turbine left with Halo and Hero.
"What he said," Blackjack said as he and Alor walked out with Prowler and Sunspot. Spot hip hopped along with them.
Delphi and Hard Drive grinned at them as they held Orion and Praxus. "Don't expect them back for a bit. We have two orns off and school is out. See ya," Delphi said. They walked out and the door closed.
Ratchet who was sitting beside a perturbed Ironhide stared at the door with the data pad in his servo. :Ratchet to Springer:
:Springer here: a voice said in Ratchet's helm. He cut Ironhide in.
:I want to report a theft: Ratchet said with a grin.
:They got the kids already? I heard they were: Springer said with a laugh. :By the way, we have our own candy thing. We plan to win:
:Ah, everyone should have a dream. We're going to be at the Diner On The Corner tomorrow with half the world. Be there or be square:
:On it. See ya then: Springer said.
Ratchet stared at Ironhide who stared at him. "This is fragged."
"It is. Let's wrap Christmas Surprise presents while we have a chance," Ratchet said.
Ironhide grinned. "You should see what my Vermont lady did for the kids holiday cold weather gear. Two sets of cute stuff I designed myself."
"Show me, slagger," Ratchet said with a grin as he stood to follow Ironhide into the berth room, the big fraud.
He would.
It would be dazzlingly cute.
Ho-ho-ho, slaggers.
-0-TBC 11-27-18 edited 12-22-18