The Diego Diaries: Wind Down (dd8 568)

=0=At an apartment

They sat on the couch, all five of them, as the bots finished looking through things. Blandon had read them their rights and they'd elected to say nothing. Energon cuffs glowing on their wrists gave an odd green tinge to their faces. When Drift walked in with the gun in a bag four of the boys glanced at Gravity. He stared at them with an impassive expression.

"We have all we can get thus far. Sky can come and check things out," Drift said as he stubbed the gun after Springer had pictures taken of him holding it, then subbing it. He glanced at the kids. "The wagon is on the way."

Springer nodded, then walked to the door. Glancing down the corridor, he called up Lady Sela. She replied after a moment. :Lady Sela, I have a situation and I was wondering if you can find someone to come to the address that I send you to be here when someone returns to their home:

:I will come and bring Mraz. We're on call tonight: Sela said then commed off.

Springer watched as Drift, Blandon and Clamp walked the kids out and into the elevator. All of them took elevators down to the lobby, then walked outside. The wagon was waiting so the kids were loaded.

As they were Sela and Mraz showed up. Springer pulled them both aside. "Thank you for coming. We have a problem here in that the kids who just left," he said nodding toward the disappearing police van, "may have been part of the murders that happened tonight. That and Tempo as well."

Both looked shocked, then stepped closer. "What would you like us to do, Springer?" Sela asked.

"I know the one who probably did it. Its Gravity, Humr and Shel's son. If you could be here when they get home that would be a big help. I don't think this is going to go over very well," Springer said as Drift nodded with sympathy. "We think they went out to dinner with friends. Pawz and Como to be exact."

"Oh, my," Sela said. "That's a very star crossed group."

Mraz nodded. "We will do this for you, Commander. Perhaps we can see the boys later on then?" he asked.

"I don't have a problem with that, Mraz. I just don't think you can expect a lot if you do," Springer said as Sky drove up with his crew, then walked toward Springer. A short conversation, then the big mechs went up to go over the apartment.

Springer and Drift mounted up and left with their posse. It would be two and a half joors before Como, Pawz, Humr and Shel returned to meet Sela and Mraz in the lobby of the building. It would be a long terrible night for everyone involved.

=0=Autobot City Courthouse, Iacon, Mars

The van parked, then the kids came down from it walking in a silent line for the jail entrance. Once inside they lined up on the mark to wait for directions. There was shouting from the back by drunks that had come in before them. The outer room with the jailers sitting nearby reading or playing cards was quiet for a change between 'deliveries'.

Springer and Drift entered along with others from the posse that weren't in the migration standoff.

The desk sargent glanced up at them, then pulled up screens. He sat back, then looked at Springer. "What's the charges, Chief?"

"We're holding some charges against consultation with Prime, they rise to that level. Right now, we want to hold them for illegal substances and resisting arrest," Springer said.

The sargent glanced at the boys. "I want your details. Name, address, etc. Give it the way you should and you can go and wait for whoever comes."

The five boys gave their details then walked to cells where they would sit until their genitors and a lawyer from a big firm that did criminal cases showed up at midnight to talk to them. Como and Pawz would be with them. So would Lady Sela and Mraz.

=0=Home again

They bridged to the airfield from the Bridge Room of Radical Wind. He was making his place to a parking orbit around Ceres, then would find a couch at Hammer of Primus and Tennyson's apartment in the Big Frame Development, Siri Park, that was part of Iacon. The ship would be on drone crew management after the shuttles left and everyone went home but for those still tied into the migration. That bunch would be heading for the prison, standing down due to their almost pathological insistence in obeying the dictates of The System. If they didn't it would be pointless to resist its ending.

Prime and Prowl along with Ratchet and the others walked across the airfield to go home. The night had settled and it was cold and clear overhead. Stars and other lights made by mechanical constructs could be seen in the sky. It was devoid of pollution and other inhibitors so the stars looked like a smear in the velvet darkness.

Parting the ways, the various individuals went toward home. Reaching their tower, Ratchet and Prime along with Prowl walked into elevators then went straight upward given no one else was around this time of night.

Ratchet stepped off as the others went upward heading toward his apartment down the way. He stepped into the dark apartment, checked things over, then headed for his berth and recharge. It was a miracle that the mission outcome made it possible and he counted his blessings as he disappeared down the corridor.

=0=Up there

Prowl checked the mail as Prime checked the kids. He came back out, then sat as Miss Kitty jumped up to lie on his lap. Prowl walked over to sit beside him. "They arrested Gravity for the murder and bagged him at his genitors' house with four other kids. They were surprised enough to be taken without a shot but they found a gun there that matches the description of the one also used in Tempo's murder. Its with Forensics at the moment."

"I am sorry to hear this," Prime replied. "He made little effort to try to become part of the normal life here. I am sorry for his genitors."

Prowl nodded. "I know. Gravity was more like Sio than Default. There's probably not going to be any easy rehabilitation for this one. No-a and Semi can flip for the case. You'll be the final court of appeal."

Prime considered that. "At least there was no shoot out today with either group. I will go see them in the morning at the Prison."

They would chat a bit, then rise to go to recharge. Tomorrow was already today when they did.

=0=Airfield

The shuttles landed one after another, a fantastically coordinated bit of flying that would impress any helicopter pilot on Earth. They landed, shut down and the mechs stepped out leaving the ships on the Ready-Go Flight Line for the crews to care for.

Overhead, Radical Wind at the upper most level of atmosphere for the planet began to make his way toward Ceres where he waited for deployments as part of the Unassigned Titan Security Force here. As he did the mechs on board would be bridging the refugees to the Prison where they'd be taken into servo by Gee-Gee and her wonder workers. That they would do so without one to three detonators in their helms would be a plus.

The shuttle crews walked onward heading for home, restaurants, bars or clubs. The operation had been a 'winner'. No one got shot, no one died, it was a complete success. It would be a rarity in that it was.

Overhead, the moon Phobos continued on its never ending path around the Red Planet. It would do so until some fine orn way the hell and gone it would be slingshot off its path into free space or crash to the planet below.

=0=Autobot City Maximum Security Prison, Autobot City, Mars

They came through the Prison bridge to walk outside onto the tarmac where they were lining up to go forward. The families and children were separated already and were being held in the Family Unit of the Prison made specially for such things. The others were lined up on the yellow lines until the last few walked out to join them.

Gee-Gee who had identified the leadership and troublemakers by experience and training walked to the front to speak to them. "I'm Warren Gee-Gee of Stanix. Listen up."

They did pausing what little conversation they had going. It was silent and tense as the refugees watched and listened.

"I'm warden of this prison and what I say goes. No hierarchies. No competing kingdoms. You're here for unspecified reasons and are categorized as a level 1A risk. That means your accommodations are going to be less severe. Your compatriots are now housed there and so will you also. All you have to do is obey the rules, don't abuse each other, my staff, other personnel and substances. If you do that we get along and your disposition will be determined that much faster.

"The children and the elders along with one genitor for each of the kids are being housed in a special confinement designed for just such a population. They're in great care and will remain so until things are sorted out. Tomorrow, counsel will be contacted and those among you who wish such will be granted one. Do not abuse them or you'll be removed to administrative segregation where you stay until I decide you can come back.

"This is an easy place to do time. Its also a Level 9 prison," she said as some of them shifted uneasily. "This place has some of the worst kinds of inmates ever produced by our species. I would suggest that no matter how much other inmates may taunt you that you don't respond. Keep your comments to yourself.

"We're going to move you out and place you. Do what you're told and all of us will be happier. The food is first rate, entertainments are given and there's doctors on call here at our own Medical Center orn and night. Get smart and stay that way," Gee-Gee said. "Turn to the right, then follow your guards. They'll place you as you go. Remember, there's no way out of here and there are guns and guards everywhere."

They stared at her, then turned to the right. Following a guard with others on every side of them, they made their way to the cell blocks in the distance. There would only be a few troublemakers to mock them as they walked onward. Most of them were inside in recharge.

=At an apartment in District 11, City 4

He came in and closed the door. Turning to the others who were drinking beer, playing cards and watching sports on the teevee, he halted halfway into the room. "Gravity got arrested."

Everyone froze in place. Then their leader, a former high caste son of a senator rose. "What happened?"

He told them.

=0=Riding out

Springer and Drift rode out for a bit, then headed back to the Stables. They had to organize the arrest records and get it ready for Prime. They also had to see Tell. Ravel had him but he told them that they could come anytime to get him if 'your duty allows it, boys. Babies need their papas' he'd said in his sweet kindly way.

He meant it.

They rode to the stable, cared for their kit and horses, then drove to the Tower where most of their elders lived. Riding up in the elevator, then tip-toeing into the apartment, Ravel helped them get the sleepy baby together. Hugs later, they were going down the elevator to the ground floor.

Springer who was holding the bundled form of Tell glanced at Drift. "I don't mind getting home early."

Drift nodded, then grinned. "Neutered are ya?"

Springer grinned. "Are you looking into a mirror?"

Drift chuckled, then led the way out. Both mechs walked to a cab stand to take one to their home in Iacon. It'd be a nice ride in a glittering urbanscape. Taking the night off was a good thing for all three of them.

=0=Prison

The last refugee walked into their pen which closed behind them. Tarrier watched as Gee-Gee and her mechs walked away. He patrolled his cell and located the group he wanted several away from them. At least they were here, he thought. At least that worry was alleviated. Fila, his mother was close by. He felt better as he walked to the cabin that was going to be home for a while. He entered it and the door closed.

The prison was mostly silent but for the odd shout or insult from somewhere. It would stay that way until daylight came and then it would be the madhouse it always was.

=0=TBC 11-14-2022