The Diego Diaries: Boom (dd6 617)
=0=Conference room at the Medical Center
They sat around the room on the couches and chairs ruminating on the situation. Jazz was in Ratchet's office running down the whereabouts of the usual suspects, ie., the two ringers that were plants in N.E.S.T. for the Resistance back on Earth. It was tense and silent as they sat together. Then Jazz walked back in. He paused in the middle of the room. "They were in their quarters at the garrison. During the time frame that we need, they weren't anywhere but there."
Prime glanced at Perceptor and Wheeljack who was holding a sleeping Resolve. They were called to come. "What kind of tech do we have that would allow them to be in two places at the same time?"
"Not much," Wheeljack said, "when you consider the extenuating circumstances of the situation. They could be in two places by leaving their signal makers in some form behind to allow the grid to be fooled. That would mean they would still be seen by others in the spaces the situation occurred. The only way they could do that would be to fool the sensor grid at the garrison, then do what they did, one or both by going around invisible. We have a lot of great tech and are working on this since the first murder to have it for ourselves but we don't now."
"Our tech is still being tracked on Earth, the tech sold to whomever by that slagger in Sector 7. We don't know what Sentinel brought and we can't ask him now even if he would talk to us, which he wouldn't. If Sentinel had access to Decepticon or even other alien tech, he might have had such devices in his archives. They would be very handy in getting around Earth without being detected and they very well could be more slag from Shockwave and Jhiaxus," Ratchet replied.
"What is the likelihood that they would have such tech from those two mechs and have found a way to build it?" Prime asked.
Wheeljack and Perceptor talked off line, then Percy looked at Prime. "There is nothing that didn't interest either mech. They would have had a lot of interest in such tech and the willingness to use it. Nothing would surprise me about either, Prime. Shockwave has long ago been robbed of any ethical or moral center."
Prime mused on that. "What is the status on our tech among the humans?"
"We're tracking it, Optimus," Jazz said. "We don't know how much Sentinel brought and we even interviewed Proteus. He had no idea what was on the ship in the databases either. He would tell us if he could."
"He would," Ratchet said as he sat back wearily. "Mech has turned a leaf."
"What do we do about this then?" Prowl asked. "The humans are going to be unhappy at both ends that the pipeline is cut and there's the issue of Lombardi. His family will want to have him back."
"The lawsuit against us from the Dobbs family is in the pipeline. I'm going to be working with a team from Boston who specializes in wrongful death actions. I will keep you apprised," Barron said.
"Thank you, Barron. I do not want to make this worse for the family. The sooner we catch this killer, the better," Prime said. He glanced at Springer and Drift who were sprawled on a couch together. "How do you feel?" he asked.
"Sort of sparkly," Springer said.
"That's because your nodes are syncing, slagger. I really am going to find a hammer, Springer. You were told a few more orns off. Until the tingling and other sensations leave, you're at risk for a repeat session in surgery," Ratchet said with a gimlet optic torpedoing visual bombs his way.
Drift frowned at Springer, then looked at Ratchet. "He won't do what I tell him. He's a slagger when he gets hurt."
"Then you are off duty until you are medically cleared, Springer. I will not have my officers resisting their orders for recovery from injury," Prime said. "You could set yourself back and make it longer rather than shorter for active duty."
Springer frowned at Drift, then Ratchet. "Frag."
"Obey your mother, slagger," Prowl said with a slight grin of amusement at his nemesis.
"Frag Ma, too," Springer said as he smirked at Ratchet.
"Desk or home. That's it. No riding, no investigating, nothing, Springer, or I will never release you to anyone but First Aid," Ratchet said.
Everyone in the room felt their sphincter tighten, then grinned at Springer. He was not pleased, Our Springer.
"I think we have to shake the trees both here and on Earth," Prime said. "I want the databases we have searched thoroughly and the Shockwave archives. Go to Cybertron and scan the big frames that they're working on or are just putting online. I want every record and/or citation Jhiaxus and Shockwave ever made. Use advanced search modalities. We need to find the answer here as fast as we can."
"On it," Jazz said.
"What about the autopsy? Are you finished? I am unaware that it requires any tampering with the body," Prime asked Ratchet.
"I'm done and it doesn't. I'll write the report and get it to the usual suspects. We don't have to chop them up. Some we do like the acid monsters because it helps immeasurably to discover who and what they are. We know the humans, thus he's spared," Ratchet said.
"That is a relief. I am not allowing any public notice of this situation. Block any habitat to colony and habitat to habitat communications, Blaster. I do not want anyone to have a chance to discard evidence or get stories right together. I want this expedited as best we can. We owe it ourselves and to the family of this man. I did not like the mercenaries nor having them here but I like it less that two have been murdered. It would appear that someone has a deep grudge with them," Prime said. "Prowl, head the investigation. All findings, testimonies and evidence goes to him. You will build the policing case and work with Barron, Coln-2 and Blackstone to prepare it for me."
Prowl nodded. "I will. We better hit it then. We'll know more with Sky's report but I put a tip line open at Earth2 for anyone to report to us what they can't say otherwise. What is the status of it, Blaster?"
Blaster turned to a computer, then pulled up the message box for the link. "No one yet, Prowl. I'll monitor it and send them to you and Prime when they come in, if they do."
Prowl nodded, then looked at Prime. "We need to formally interview the people at Earth2 to get better and more clear impressions and information from them. Right now, they're dealing with shock and the idea of another death in their community. They may have more that they haven't expressed."
"Head that up with Hauser and Springer," Prime said as he glanced at Springer. "You will not be endangering yourself asking questions."
Springer smirked. "Thanks, Dad."
"That's my job, slagger," Ironhide said with a smirk. "The mechs are outside. They want to know what you want to do about the incarceration of the other mercs. They have them in their holds and wanted to know if you wanted to watch the show with them."
Prime stared at Ironhide, then grinned. "I think so. Then maybe supper at The Pit Stop." He rose and the others did as well, following him out the door to the street below. Among those walking out of the Medical Center into the cold darkness of night were the mechs with the mercs in their holds.
=0=At the Prison Control Center
Gee-Gee sat in her office going over a lot of details as she waited for the humans who were coming to stay here in protective custody. Prime must have pretty mad to bring them here even though this was where the expanded jail for humans was now located. Having them in the receiving area of the jail at the Courthouse just wasn't practical.
Nearby, in a common room sectioned into the wall, fourteen small 'apartments' were ready for some business. They were transparent, wired for entertainment and sensors to ascertain the inmates well being as well as being completely debugged against calamity. Even the bed covers, furniture and walls but for a low one that protected the inmates from scrutiny during lavatory visits were see through. It was strange and aesthetically beautiful at the same time.
A mech leaned in. "They're here, Gee-Gee."
She nodded, then rose to walk out to the lobby off the rest of the high security facility to greet them. "Hello, Lord Optimus. You have my presents?"
Optimus grinned slightly. "We do. Thank you for taking on their care. I do not know if this is a personal vendetta against the two dead humans or if someone is just killing mercenaries. I want them out of harms way."
"Understood. Please … come with me," she said as she walked toward the hallway and the doorway into their new home. The room itself was a law library for staff and filled with high tech, tomes of laws and precedents as well as wall to ceiling windows that let in the light during the orn. Right now, it was dark as the Pit outside, though the glow of Aerie Hill way in the distance could be faintly seen.
She watched as the mechs opened up and pulled out the mercs. They were furious, scared and uncertain about the whole business. Gripping the benches where they were sitting, they turned almost as one to look at Prime.
:WHAT THE HELL IS THIS, PRIME!?: Jim Johnson said as he walked to the wall and pressed his hands against the cool impregnable transparent aluminum wall before him. :YOU'RE TREATING US LIKE CRIMINALS! WHAT IS THE CHARGE!?"
"There is no charge," Prime replied calmly. "We are keeping you here in protective custody."
Sunstreaker leaned in with a savage grin. "Someone is working their way down the merc list at Earth2, slagger. Where's the gratitude?"
"Fuck you, Sunstreaker. How do we know it isn't you?" Johnson growled.
The other mercs stared at the two with looks of ominous loathing.
Sunny leaned in closer. "Because if it was me there would be nothing left to find, fragger."
"Load them up, boys," Gee-Gee said. She took one, then walked to a wall slot. She slid the box in where it opened its door into the containment space automatically. "Go inside."
Steve Anson stared at her, then tentatively stepped over the threshold into the secured space. The box door closed behind him and she left it there for when he was removed. It was an enhanced containment most zoos on Cybertron used when there was an organic specific atmosphere dependent exhibit in town.
One by one, Sam Hedges, Jim Johnson, Todd Baseman and Carlos Ortega were placed in lock ups. Fortunately for the bots, there were enough cells that they were able to leave one between each of the mercs. Unfortunately for the mercs, they wouldn't be able to communicate with each other.
Gee-Gee tapped on the communications channel to the boxes. "My name is Warden Gee-Gee. I'm given custody of you for the duration. This will be easy duty for smart inmates. You have entertainment. The food is remarkable and plentiful. You can read, sleep, listen to entertainment and relax. In here, the killer can't reach you. Out there, you would be dead. Two already are. Don't make this hard on anyone including yourselves. The charters and agreements grant Lord Optimus the right to do this when he invokes. You're being watched day and night. Remember that." She turned to Prime. "I have this now."
"Thank you, Warden. I appreciate everything you do."
"What about the news? When do you suppose Earth will know and will it be bad?" she asked as they walked out of the room together, the mob and the warden.
"As soon as we know ourselves, Warden, and I don't expect that it will go over well," Prime said. They chatted, then everyone walked out to go to supper at The Pit Stop. It would be the only break any of them would have for the rest of the night.
=0=TBC 3-18-19 edited 4-6-19