The Diego Diaries: Stuff (dd6 541)
=0=Later that afternoon in the Public Safety Tower in Metrotitan
Sky left the office where Springer and Drift were holed up working on data for their meeting report. It was quiet in the room as they mulled over the information that the forensics team had concluded in the murder investigation. There were odd energy bursts that were being picked up way down on a low band that were emanating within the colony itself. Whether they were related to the murder, it was unknown. However, Sciences and Forensics were working to track them down.
It had been a down beat afternoon given the news delivered to Prime from Earth. The Dobbs family was going to ask for an independent investigation into the murder of their son and they were going to sue Earth2 and Autobot Nation for failure to provide protection for him. A letter of intent was received by both entities that morning. It was expected rather that this would happen but it was still a stinging thing.
"What do you want to tell Prime?" Drift asked Springer who was sitting back in his chair considering the new information.
"When Sky finishes his report, we need to have him come over here and we can discuss this. Right now, we need to nip the independent investigation in the bud. I don't want a bunch of humans tramping around making this any more political than it is," Springer said.
Drift nodded. "Prowl won't like it. It's his turf."
Springer nodded, then glanced at the monitor playing the news nearby. "I suppose you're going to support the Kaon Kowboys." He grinned. "No one from Kaon can spell evidently. Quelle surprise."
Drift smirked. "Polyhex Panthers or the newest definition of loser."
Springer laughed. "I heard that Prime is going to play for Iacon. Can you imagine what the humans are going to think?"
"Imagine what Prima is going to think," Drift said as he pulled another data pad out to scrutinize.
"There is that," Springer said with a grin.
=0=Ops Center, Conference Room
"This letter was received this morning and is a statement of intent to file suit against both Earth2 Corporation and Autobot Nation for wrongful death. Considering that the facility of Earth2 is only leased and we're the primary owners, they're going to hold us liable in their effort," Barron said. "I've researched human law and will be putting together a response for you shortly. Often grieving families take these steps and I'm not going to comment on that part of this. The big hang up here will be over standing. Do they have standing in the courts here to pursue a suit? Given that we operate our businesses on Earth in many countries, we're also subject to their jurisdictions and legal systems. It's precedent.
"I think they will have standing in America if they file there. We would have to defend the suit or make a settlement if you believe it has merit. Or not. Sometimes a settlement is made to end these sorts of things, Optimus. It would depend upon a lot of things. We need to find out who did this and then go from there. It will have an effect on the entire process if we can prove that a human killed Dobbs and that they belong to a habitat, work for someone on the Earth who is against us and clearly shows that we didn't have a part in this," Barron said.
Prime nodded. "I agree, though I am not going to bash a grieving family. That being said, I am not going to allow the nation to be bullied into answering for a crime we did not commit. I have a meeting with Springer in the morning to go over the final report from Forensics with him and Sky. If you could be there with anyone you need to bring to address this then we can decide what response to make, if any. We do not have to respond to the letter from here? We could from Earth?"
Barron nodded. "No one from Earth has standing in our courts. We do allow humans who break the law to choose their defenders and bring them from Earth as a courtesy. That is why Earth2 brought lawyers from Earth for Johnson's trial, though they weren't allowed to speak in our courts. They had Highrode do that. Perhaps we can make a few changes to allow human legals to speak before our courts, though they don't have standing now."
Prime nodded. "Very well. I will be getting with Springer tomorrow at 0900 here. If you get Warren Roberts here and come as well then we can figure out a response and get it in the works. I am not willing to have them think that we are being devious or are indifferent to their feelings and actions."
Barron nodded, then rose. "I will be here." He walked out the door to Ops Center and was gone.
Prime stared at the door, then Prowl walked in. His wings were taut on his back, his energy was churning and he was loaded for bear. "Prowl?" he asked almost weakly as the mech walked toward him with a dark expression.
It was 1410 hours on the TMC
=0=The Hourly News at 1400 hours, TMC
"And now for sports and weather. Rascal, what is the word on the new professional adult league?" Lim-Lee asked sweetly.
Rascal, a tall youngster who loved sports and wrote columns, did broadcasts and was a liaison for the sports news world of Mars with Earth grinned. "Well, the word about teams is out for the newest professional league sport on world, Lim-Lee," he said as he turned to face the camera. "Domino, the president of the Martian Professional Basketball League released team rosters just moments ago and they provide a great deal of interest for those seeking an exciting sports diversion until football starts again. There will be eight teams for now and their rosters make for exciting reading.
"The entire football team of Kaon has signed to play for the Kaon Kowboys. No surprise there. They're a tight team and deliver the goods. Vos who now fields the Volcanoes is going to be an interesting team because the entire group is going to be Seekers. Rattler and Warlord, two sons of the Great Elder of Seekerkin himself, Rainmaker are going to play as are Sky Warp, Red Wing, Cloudburst, Wren and Thundercracker. It's notable that no Seekers play football for obvious reasons. Damage to wings can be especially gruesome in that game but in basketball there are less opportunities for those kind of debilitating injuries.
"The other teams have scores of members from football coming to play in the new league. The most surprising and interesting news is the make up of Iacon's Invaders. Given that Praxus has no team as of now in the league, its interesting that most of the players for Iacon's team are Praxians. The roster as of now consists of Blackjack, Hard Drive, Raptor and Ironhide of Praxus along with Chromia of Kaon, Elita, Jetta, Ultra Magnus and Arcee of Iacon. The lists aren't final yet so there may be new additions or not. However, the big take away from this announcement is the addition of Optimus Prime on the roster of Iacon's Invaders."
That's when Prowl of Praxus listening nearby with half an audial blew his mind.
Rascal continued. "Some of the other teams are notable for their players as well. It would appear that some of our greatest warriors, our titanic frames will be playing for Simfur's Sensations. They include but are not limited to Typhoon, Metroplex and Accutus." Rascal grinned. "To counterbalance that, the team list for Tarn's Terrors have players that live up amply to their name. "It would appear that Grimlock of Simfur, Omega and Xantium Supreme will be playing for that town.
"I don't know about you but I'm REALLY looking forward to basketball at the Sports Arena in Retriarius in ten orns. I'll be posting the team listings on the Community Bulletin Board. We're going to take a break for a moment, then come back to discuss the developing story with a couple of basketball sportscasters from ESPN on Earth. The rules are just as fascinating as the team line ups."
The broadcast cut to the Board and Prowl cut to the conference room.
Inside …
"You must be out of your processor. YOU'RE A PRIME!"
"Now, Prowl ..."
"YOU ARE THE DIGNITY OF THE NATION PERSONIFIED!"
"Prowl ..."
"YOU ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF PRIMUS AND YOU BEAR THE MATRIX!"
"Pro-"
"YOU … YOU ARE THE … THE PRIME!"
"P-"
"SINCERELY! YOU ARE THE *PRIME*!"
It was fortunate that the walls were soundproof.
=0=Around the merry-go-round …
"WHAT THE FRAG!? OLD MECH IS GOING TO PLAY BASKETBALL!? IN FRONT OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND SPECTATORS!?"
Pause.
"I think I need a new hat."
"You're certifiable, Ratchet," Lee-Lee said with a big laugh.
=0=Elsewhere …
"You may have to play against Grimlock, Hardie. You're not a spring chicken anymore."
"Thank you, Delph, for the vote of confidence." (grin)
(grin) "Don't mention it. I have to get new team gear." [Pause] "Don't let little mech get hurt."
"I won't. I will however let him be as big a spectacle as he wants to be. How will he ever grow and learn?"
"There is that, Hardie. What about the cow? Team mascot?"
[Pause]
"Which one?"
HUGE laughter.
=0=Conference room
"GRIMLOCK IS A PLAYER!"
"I know and I do not fear him."
"GRIMLOCK! GRIMLOCK WHO BREATHES FIRE!"
"I am impervious to flames."
"GRIMLOCK! THAT *FRAGGER*! I *HATE* DINOBOTS!"
Prime watched him vent with a grin. Prowl had a lot of cute moods, he thought, even as he prepared to duck his fists.
=0=Sportscaster chat on The Hourly News
"You have your world leader, the leader of an empire playing for a team?" an ESPN sportscaster asked with incredulity. "No one on Earth who is a leader of a nation would do that. They would need traction after the first play."
"Optimus Prime plays basketball and has for some time. He likes it a lot and his accuracy I was told is phenomenal," Rascal said. "Let's take a look at the positions of play and the new rules. Of course, we changed things up a bit to suit our types and tastes, just so you know," he said with a grin at the screen where several sportscasters sat staring back at him. "We have three forwards and one is the center. Then we have two defensive players and a goalie."
There was a slight pause, then Dan Patrick leaned forward. "A goalie? In basketball?"
Rascal nodded with a grin. "There will be a goalie near the hoop whose entire job is to stay inside a marked off area and prevent baskets."
"Damn. I want to come. Continue," another said. "This is getting more brilliant by the moment."
Rascal laughed, then continued. "There will be two refs on the court and one at each end. You have to dribble the ball when you move and if you don't you get penalized for traveling. That's standard for the game on Earth. Your scores are five points per score, anywhere from 3 to 30 points for infractions and-"
"What sort of infractions, Rascal?" Dan Patrick asked. "Fighting? Punching?"
"No. Those are allowed," Rascal said as he perused the data pad in his hands.
"I want to be on your broadcast team. I'll work for free," Daniel Patrick said as the others clambered to join.
=0=Conference room
He stared at the data pad with teams listed, nearly sweaty browed with concentration. He reminded Prime of a thwarted mad scientist trying to find out why his plans for world domination failed. Given that Praxus didn't have a dog in this fight, he probably was. As it was, Prowl read through the lists muttering darkly about the names posted on it.
Prime didn't mind. Prowl was sitting on his lap as he did.
All was right in his world.
=0=School
They watched the news during their once a decaorn class current affairs session. They would watch, discuss the events and know something about the doings and goings on in their fair dominion. When the names were read for some of the new teams it was nearly bedlam. Four kids had genitors and other family on teams. Five of them were Sunspot, T-Bar, Reflector, Co-D and Rambler.
Reflector turned to them and smiled. "DO THEY NEED TEAM COACHES, DO YOU THINK!?"
"I DON'T KNOW! I'LL ASK THEM! KAON HAS A TEAM, TOO!" Sunspot said nearly swooning with surprise.
"YOU CAN BE TEAM COACHES FOR THEM! T-BAR, REFLECTOR AND ME CAN BE TEAM COACHES FOR IACON!" Spirit said with almost too much delight.
Terradive who was marveling over an all Seeker team glanced at the kids with a smile. "Well, I think that just about sums things up."
Then he laughed long and loud.
=0=TBC 12-10-18 edited 12-22-18