The Diego Diaries: Cat and Mouse (dd6 631)
=0=An auditorium stage in Unidad
They stood together, three behemoths, though one was slightly slimmer and shorter. They stared without blinking, an oddity that the bots did when their emotions were very low. It always surprised humans new to them when they saw the bots blink their eyes. Whether it kept their optics lubricated the way lids did for human eyeballs, no one watching knew. They didn't care at the moment either because all of them were riven with nervous agitation which some could barely contain.
Clark Walters was as frustrated and unnerved as he had ever been in the cut throat world of international banking and venture capitalism where he had spent his life. He'd been raised to good standards by a strict, wealthy and highly placed father and mother. He, himself was determined that his own kids would live a less structured life and have fun and opportunities that he could supply at will.
They attended expensive private schools, had luxuries few could imagine and lived a very fulsome and high flying life. They had presences on social media, flew to exotic vacations, would attend the best colleges eventually and go into the family businesses at some point. The life they led never touched the ground.
Until now.
Barnett Walters was a good solid student in school, was active in sports, had a 'thing' about expensive sports cars which his father fed as a shared passion, led an active social life and had never had to pay a price for any of his shortcomings in his life. He was often in the news as part of a rowdy gang of kids who constituted his circle who liked to push the edges of legalities and convention. It was fun because he knew he would pay no consequences of any real significance. If he was arrested for drunkenness or other antics that disturbed the peace, he knew he would be rescued by his family who thought 'boys would be boys'.
Both he and his father were the products of affluence and the poisoned possibilities of such without self discipline, a social or legal consequence for actions undertaken or a clear understanding of how societies only thrived within an agreed upon set of ideas, rules and laws. Now they were here in a culture and among individuals who knew something about unchecked entitlement and they were going to be schooled about it in short time.
Prowl who knew something about this himself was listening with half an audial at Ops Center as he went through the intel from the DMZ that would show that Razorclaw was stunting along the line of demarcation but not crossing it. Frustration with that was offset by a sense of amusement that high caste slaggers were going to see where the rubber met the road.
Or so Appa Ratchet often said.
Ratchet sat on the deck watching the humans sitting in the chairs waiting even as he chatted with the humans gathered around him. They were gossiping together, studiously avoiding anything more complex as they waited for Raptor, Ironhide and Hard Drive to render a verdict.
They didn't have to wait long.
When it was almost too much the big mechs turned from each other and toward the group. The humans on the stage hurried down to stand with the humans all of whom arose. Ratchet stood as well as all of them waited for the verdict.
Hard Drive looked at all of them as he dialed up his emotions once more. The others did as well, then stared at the humans without a sound. "We have reached a decision which in the end is mine alone. We discussed the evidence and testimony which included the security tapes of The Pub where this happened. Given that they only advise," he said nodding to the others, "I alone make the decision and the decision is final. If you feel there are circumstances not covered here which you wish to introduce or that something demonstrated or spoken here is provably at fault, you may petition me to give you a hearing. All other rationales for a rehearing or appeal do not apply."
He looked at the kids. "Step forward, Barrett Walker, Lawrence Mott and Lucas Thomas."
The three kids stepped around family, then walked up to Will Lennox and Niall Graham. They were tense, noticeably scared but stiff with defiance anyway. It was instructive to see. Two were defiant for their sisters, that much was obvious. They would always believe they did the right thing defending them. The other one was just defiant.
Ratchet flashed on a sullen defiant winger child as he watched them. Prowl would have loved to be here for this, Ratchet knew. No one enjoyed a good entitlement take down better than Prowler.
"I am excusing Lawrence Mott and Lucas Thomas from any consequences for what happened. They did not start this situation, they did not throw the first punch and thus, they are excused. I will say that fighting is a very poor choice of actions to undertake without the most extreme provocation. I am aware that this was prompted by Walker but you need to know that fighting is the last resort. It represents failure. There is no other word to describe the use of violence in disputes. Stand back," Hardie said.
Walters was staring at the three with surprise and growing emotions. He didn't say anything yet and neither did anyone else.
"You, Barrett Walters are the instigator of this action. You attacked two girls for not going with you. When you didn't get your way you fell into wounding remarks and insults. It was cowardly to do that, to attack anyone when you don't get your way but to do that to girls the way you did is shaming.
"You are supposed to be a guest here. They have taken you in to keep you safe and this is your 'gratitude'? You started this with your sense of entitlement and your lack of manners, social graces and the ability to understand that when a woman or girl says no, it means just that. No.
"I am holding you solely responsible for this interaction and for that you bear the greatest consequences. You will report to the waste management section of this facility after school and work there three hours a day for ten days before you may stand down. That will be fulfilled even if you return to Earth2 before the decaorn is over.
"If you do not do that then I will ask the Prime to step in and allow us to remove you to the juvenile detention facility in The City to serve your time in lock up. Three days of jail will be the penalty if you decide you're above such duties as I have commanded or if you do not do them to the highest possibility. You will bring manners as well as respect and use them.
I would also like to say to you, Mr. and Mrs. Barrett that you have been deeply negligent with your son in his growth to be a man. He attacked two girls for declining his company which is their right. Your son has no manners that I can see that are appropriate for his age. He believes that he can call out and treat people with contempt and disrespect as he chooses and that is your fault and failure.
"A duty of good parenting is to ensure that your children will be able to function in any gathering in an appropriate manner. Your son does not know how to do that. I expect a decaorn working in waste management with the men and mechs there will help him learn that his place in society is not in the front of the line as a matter of course but wherever he is as he waits his turn.
"We know something of the entitlement personality." He stared at Barrett. "If you took the value of this facility and that of Earth2 and Earth 1, then you would know something of the resources that my family commanded on Cybertron. I would venture, Barrett Walters, that if anyone could buy someone and their parents, it would be me in relation to your own. I am tired of people who assume that money and things make them superior to those who have less. It does not.
"Our world went up in flames because some of our most powerful and affluent individuals didn't learn that simple truth. I suspect that you will. You will start tomorrow, be on time, do your job with good manners and ability and obey those who have you in their charge. If you don't, I will be back and you will go into the juvenile system here to fulfill your debt."
Hardie looked at the humans from Earth2. "I am General Hard Drive of Praxus and I have spoken. This court stands in adjournment." He glanced at Ratchet. "Please monitor this sentence, Ratchet. I want to know if he so much as whimpers at the workmen who will supervise him. I have no patience anymore for this sort of thing."
Ratchet nodded. "I will, General. Thank you and the court."
"It is our pleasure to help someone get back on the good path," Hardie said to the humans staring at him, some with great relief and others with shock. He nodded to the soldiers, then looked at his family. "I'm going to Cybertron. I have things to do. What about you?"
"I have to go to Cybertron. Infant here has to finish work at the armory," Raptor said as both looked at Ironhide.
"I'm on it," Ironhide said with a grin.
"Very well," Hardie said. "Let's go. Good afternoon," he said to everyone there, then the three walked to the habitat doors nearby and left, transforming to drive away together.
It was silent, then Barrett turned to his father. "I'm not going to be a garbage man. Fuck this."
Clark glanced sharply at his son. "You will do what you've been ordered to do." His face was flushed and he was deeply embarrassed and shocked.
His wife, Annie looked pale but didn't say a word.
"This is a joke, right?" Barrett asked with surprise. He glanced at the others, then Lennox. "I'm not doing this."
"Then you come with me," Lennox said. "We're heading for the juvenile detention center and you can pay your debt there. A real stand up man would do his penalty like a man. What's it going to be? This sentence stands."
"Give me a moment, Colonel," Clark said as he gripped his son's arm and dragged him away to talk in harsh whispers. Annie followed them.
The Motts and Thomas families stood beside Niall Graham. They glanced at Ratchet, then Abram Mott stepped closer. "Please thank the generals for us, Ambassador. This is not something we want to be part of."
"None of us do," Ratchet said. "I'll tell them. You might want to go and if anything happens let security know immediately. Tell your kids they have a duty to you to tell you if it does. The Watch can call me and I will intervene. I want this to be the end it and given that this is a big facility and this stay over should be short, its going to be reasonably likely that paths won't cross."
"I hope not," he said, then turned to his family. They gathered to leave but not before thanking Ratchet and the soldiers.
Owen Harris stepped forward as they walked up the steps to the concourse nearby. "This is unfortunate. We will abide by the ruling. I am sorry that this happened. It's been a trying time for everyone."
"It has," Ratchet said. "We want unity and harmony. This kid needs to get with the program and so do his parents. General Hard Drive means what he says and this kid will end up in the juvenile hall if he doesn't do this the right way."
"We shall see to it," Owen said as the Walters walked back toward the group.
"We're going to fulfill the order," Clark Walters said. He looked furious but at whom, it was hard to tell. "A decaorn is tens days, right?"
"It is. I'm going to have the shift workers give a short report of attendance, attitude and effort each day to my office. If there is any slacking, bad attitude or insults, then all bets are off. I hope that's clear," Ratchet said.
Clark stared at him, then nodded. "Crystal." He turned to his wife and son. "Let's go. Show me where you're staying. We can talk there." With that, the three of them began to leave.
Owen watched them, then turned to Ratchet. "There are many things happening all at the same time. Do you have any time table on the requests and presentations yet, Ambassador?"
Ratchet grinned. "Prime has made his decisions. He'll be at the airport to tell you what they are when you get ready to go. We're sending you off with Lombardi. Everyone will be dropped off at the various stops they used to come here with a detour to Ramstein Air Base for Lombardi."
Harris nodded. "Thank you. Please give my best regards to Prime and my regrets for this unfortunate happening."
"I will," Ratchet said with a nod and a grin.
They watched him leave with the others, walking up the stairs to the doors beyond. Lennox turned to Ratchet. "It stung to be called out for being a bad parent."
"It did. I guess the key to Mr. Walters is personal embarrassment."
"I was embarrassed for them. I don't know anyone that embarrassment doesn't work on," Niall Graham said with a shake of his head.
Ratchet laughed. "You do remember who you're talking to don't you?"
They did and they laughed loudly as they gathered up to go. They would go up the stairs and Ratchet out the back door. It would be neck and neck, the race back to The City between them.
=0=TBC 4-6-19 edited 4-7-19
I am basing the character of Barrett and his sisters on some social media kids and in particular, Barron Hilton, the slacker brother of Paris. Conrad is a bit of a character as well.