The Diego Dairies: Stuff and More Stuff (dd6 658)
=0=Arraignment earlier in the orn
They walked in, all eight of them, and stood on the white line. Their attorneys, family members and the relevant policing officers were here for this, a potentially loud and uncooperative affair given the participants and their families.
Springer walked to the wall bench seating and sat down with Ironhide and Prime. Prowl was by the door talking to someone as family members of the accused walked in to sit together. There were the usual court watchers, those who liked trials, those who were studying various aspects of law and those who were nosy as well sitting here and there around the court room.
Prowl walked to the bench, then sat as Drift, Hercy, Lon, Bezel and the others waited outside to be called if they opted to fast march this or something to a conclusion.
Springer was supposed to be with them but no one said anything so he sat. "How's Ada?" he asked.
"Home being a slagger," Ironhide said. "I had him tracked at the Emergency Center and he wouldn't stay home. I told him to stay put and I'd take care of this."
"It's the arraignment for pleas and bail," Springer said. "Nothing is going to happen here unless they plead guilty."
The bailiff stood beside the eight as lawyers gathered to defend their clients. Silver who was clerk and Carbide who was magistrate chatted, then sat.
Silver stood again. "Everyone stand for the judge of record today, Magistrate Carbide of Jekka City." He glanced at everyone. "Please sit and observe the decorum."
Everyone did.
"Please begin, Silver," Carbide said. He was a tall mech who'd been a data manager on Cybertron at Galaxy Industries Headquarters in Polyhex. He was a lawyer here because he could be and he was a very good one rising to become a magistrate through his fair even handed manner and ability to find the best path forward for everyone without rancor.
"The Prime vs Rudy, Endo and Pisces of Capital City as well as Habit and Terris of Iacon," Silver said. "They're accused of disturbing the peace, assault and battery and acting against a Primal Directive."
Carbide stared at the five sullen mechs with a better paint scheme than he'd ever been able to have for himself and his family until moving here. "You have serious charges against you. Who represents you?"
"We do, your Honor," Highrode and Sherrod said as they stood. "Both of us represent all five of them."
Carbide nodded. "I'm here to take your pleas. I wish to tell you that since you haven't been here long … apparently only about three orns … you might not understand that the Prime has made a decree about The System of Exception. Anyone who violates it after being instructed that its banned here and everywhere that a Cybertronian lives from now until eternity, that you risk not only a personal honor fight with him, a phase six class mechanism but you also defy the express and stated wishes of Prima Prime and Primus Himself. Do they understand that, gentlemen?"
Sherrod nodded. "We've had a chance to talk and they understand. That's why they wish to plead guilty and take the mercy of the court. They're new, have had a long and perilous journey here and wish to have a chance to do things over. They regret their actions."
Carbide stared at Highrode and Sherrod who were good friends. They were former high castes who worked in both a private practice geared to high castes for these specific instances and in the Public Defender's Office with Blackstone and the others.
The private practice allowed them to take the slaggers that still held their own worth above others and save them from themselves. They also did legal work for the self same individuals who wanted that status and kept them out of trouble doing so. It was scut work and they were both admired for it among the local legal profession. Someone had to do it and they were bound and determined to soft land hard heads into the new paradigm.
Partition, anyone?
"I wish to hear it from all of you. Tell me what you've learned that you wish mercy from this court," Carbide said quietly. His tone was firm and the five felt it.
Rudy glanced at the others, then Carbide. "We made a mistake. It won't happen again." The others nodded. "We've only been here three orns. We want to start over."
Carbide looked at the others who nodded. "Any other comment?"
The youngsters glanced at each other, then the judge. "No, sir. Rudy speaks for us."
Carbide read through the case file on the data pad in his servo, then glanced at Springer. "Commander, please relate the situation for me."
Springer stood, then nodded to Sherrod and Highrode. "We got a call about a fight in a bar in the Sports Center District in Retriades. They were outside and we interviewed everyone separately, the victims, bouncers and the accused. Two of the groups told the same story. This group didn't. We arrested them and brought them in. They weren't very cooperative and ..." He grinned slightly. "I asked Rudy there how long he was here and he said 'three orns'. He also said the colony was just 'okay'."
Carbide stared at Rudy who stared back stiff necked with tension. "I see," he replied. "You plead guilty then?"
"They do, your Honor. We'd like them to have probation for this, a first offense with special circumstances. The camps were tough and they're feeling it during this assimilation process," Sherrod said.
Carbide nodded. "Then I accept your pleas. You give them freely?" he asked the youngsters who nodded.
Behind them, a number of family members sat tensely, their expressions running the gamut from outrage to fear. They watched a mid caste mech decide what would happen to their high caste sons. It was a very strange situation for all of them. That included the families and bonds of the other three waiting for their turn.
Carbide stared at the five youngsters. "Your pleas are accepted. You're found guilty of assault and battery, disturbing the peace and provoking a Primal Directive regarding The System of Exception. If you hadn't agreed to a guilty plea, you would've had to fight Optimus Prime personally one by one or all of you together.
"Given that Optimus Prime is a masterful soldier, a strategist without parallel, a phase six quality mech who possesses a Primal frame and the wisdom of leading battles over millions of years, I don't hold out much hope that it would end well for you.
"You've pled but you left out several things. First and foremost, I haven't heard one word of regret from you about the feelings and personal autonomy of your victims. You spilled a drink on purpose, an action of extreme contempt, then hit one of them without provocation. It's fortunate for you that the individual, a veteran soldier and member of the Knights of Cybertron didn't teach you the error of your ways.
"You express no remorse whatsoever. You want to start over for yourself. But you show no reasonable emotions about what you did. Therefore, I must show you myself why you will never do this again.
"I pronounce you guilty as charged and sentence all of you to six decaorns in prison with six decaorns probation to follow. You're to go there immediately and serve your terms without incident. If you cannot do that more sentencing time will be added for each new offense. While you're there, consider what you did in the light of someone else who didn't deserve nor provoke what you did to them and maybe you'll grow up to be a decent person some fine orn." He glanced at the bailiff. "Mako, take them to the jail."
They stared at Carbide with disbelief as their families began to rise in their seats. Sherrod and Highrode were having conversations with them off line.
One of them called out to Carbide. "Your honor, what if they change their pleas?"
Carbide stared at him a moment. "They'd have to take their chances with the evidence and testimony of a good dozen eye witnesses. They'd likely be found guilty and at that point, because they chose to challenge the sentence and by extension the Primal Decree they would have to honor fight Optimus Prime."
It was leaden in the room as the families glanced from Prime to their attorneys, their kids and the judge. The mech sat down and it was silent again. The bailiff moved the kids out and it was down to Rockwell, Carver and Pico.
Prime watched without expression as they walked out, then Carbide glanced at Prime. "Sir, I think it would be instructive to the court if you would outline the decree that you made and had outlined by the Great Ones as well."
Prime nodded, then rose. He was beautiful, massive and utterly impressive. He stared at the families, then began.
"Shortly ago, the Functionalist Council and several others were tried for war crimes against Cybertron and her people and the recent mass murder of half a million individuals under their command. The case was judged, then the wait began. It was a special circumstances case as you would well know and required a wait for the Pantheon to decide if They would weigh in. They did ..."
... Primus towered over everyone. "I am disappointed in you, that you would hold yourself better than others. Cezr was a slave and he showed courage and a desire for freedom for all. Your actions have undercut his sacrifices. You have undercut everyone your entire lives and that of your ancestors to the detriment of Myself. It led to the inevitable, civil war. You didn't listen. I have suffered enormously. My body is broken and cast apart. I suffer. Do you understand?" ...
Optimus continued ...
... "You broke Me on the wheel of your indifference, greed, self worship and bigotry. You seem to believe that you are by virtue of your existence better than anyone else here. You have heard their tales. You have seen their dignity and courage. Some serve all of Us with their whole sparks. The smallest child anywhere by anyone is a part of Me. You are a part of Me. I feel all of your pains, triumphs and tragedies because you come from ME. I come from The One directly and it is MY responsibility to create you. The Matrix is the gateway to The One but it GOES THROUGH ME!
"There is no hierarchy anywhere. Even in the Matrix. No one is better, higher, more exalted nor more deserving of anything than any other. None of you are greater than Us, nor are We greater than you. We all come from the same source, from The One. All of Us are part of Him seeking experiences in the Creation that He has wrought.
"For you to assume hierarchy is to blaspheme the love and connection that keeps all of everything in balance. There is an attachment unseen from you to Us and to everything else no matter how large or small, how defenseless or powerful, how whole or broken, how close or far away nor how wise or unwise they may be that makes Us all one.
"It is the bond of love and commitment that The One makes to ALL of Us that we are never alone, that we are never disconnected from Him or His unconditional love. If you feel differently, its because YOU believe that you are alone. You have forgotten that and in your lazy ego-driven self love you have laid waste to ME! TO MY VERY BODY!" ...
"It was silent a moment, then Lord Primus made his commandments clear," Optimus said as he continued.
... "You have no authority by right of birth over anyone else. You follow that practice at your peril. You have a duty to others of your thinking to disabuse them of it. Your happiness lies in the unity of all of Us, not in the unctuous luxury and smug elitism of the few. You will take care of this. I am the one who holds My brother at bay, He who would kill ALL of you without a thought. I do so through the WILLING sacrifice of My own life and desires. YOU WILL LEARN THIS HIGHER LEVEL IDEAL AND LIVE IT. IT IS YOUR BIRTHRIGHT! REMEMBER IT AND PRACTICE IT!'
Optimus left out the part about using himself as a template of someone who lived with honor and decency.
The room was silent.
Carbide stared at Optimus a moment, then nodded his helm in respect. "Thank you, sir."
Prime sat down again. Ironhide and Springer sat next to Prowl who looked lit and smug at the same time. It was obvious to them that he remembered what Prime was unwilling to tell everyone here. 'Use Prime as a template' and he was 'The One Who Comes'.
Carbide looked at everyone in the room. "You will deal with the new paradigm and get assistance from Processor Health if you must, all of you. Vinn of Tyger Pax is a very skilled counselor for high caste individuals who still feel they're more special than everyone else because of the birth lottery. Right now, are you ready for pleadings for the next case?" he asked Sherrod and Highrode.
The two nodded with bleak expressions. "We are, your Honor."
"Silver, call the next case," Carbide said as he sat back to listen.
It was silent as a tomb in the room as Silver stood to do so. "The Prime versus Rockwell of Iacon, Carver of Capital City and Pico of Praxus."
=0=TBC 5-11-19 edited 5-18-19
NOTE: Jekka City is a location on Cybertron that boasts the oldest gladiatorial arena on the planet.
ESL: rancor (rang-cor) ill feeling, bad feelings, anger