The Diego Diaries: After the Ball (dd8 580)
Big oops here, one of the biggest in a while. Gravity's genitors are Humr and Shel. I will go forward with that now and change it in the back story after I post this. I feel sort of glad. Como and Pawz are friends with Burnoff's genitors and in my thinking they're trying and pretty nice. Good thing I caught this in time. :D:D:D
ON WITH THE SHOW ON MY NEW COMPUTER! (Its a new keyboard and I have to move my hands over a bit. I hate it when that happens. LOL! I'm such a stick in the mud.)
=0=The next morning
Ironhide sat in the waiting room of the Colonial Housing Management Division of City Hall in their annex in Oz. Given the size of the colony now, just having past half a billion individuals, they moved to three floors of the government tower in Oz. The main office was in City Hall in Autobot City with the rest covering six floors of an office building in Gambian. This one was the starting point to any problems or changes requested for housing.
He considered the couple of mechs, bachelor brothers who lived in the apartment near the elevator. The three apartments after theirs, Alor and Blackjack's, the young noisy couple who moved out long ago and Ironhide's own were joined over the years to make it short of Prime's house and that of some of the Stanix families that specialized in enormous numbers of kids, one of the biggest in the colony. They had three wash racks and with another apartment it would be four. Given that they'd have over 14 kids living at home all the amenities they could get would help.
He grinned. No one he knew from his wild aft days could have predicted this.
Even him.
Especially him.
"Ironhide? The agent can see you now," a youngling mech said, one who was running reception.
He rose. "Thanks, infant." He followed the kid to a door, then entered. He would be in there a while.
=0=Prowl
He sat in the audience waiting for the arraignment. This was a closed hearing by request from both sides, prosecution and defense. The grand jury had handed down a sealed indictment that would remain so while pre-trial efforts were underway. It would be determined whether the defendant would request a jury trial, a Primal Hearing or take a plea. Either way he went, the privacy of those affected would be held at request.
Optimus had gone with the district commanders to hit the ground running on Cybertron. Thanksgiving had been made available to everyone there and they welcomed the diversion. He was there to see how things were going and meet people. Ironhide would join him later that morning.
The door opened as Semi came in. This was federal so he would hear the charges and pleas. He nodded to Prowl who nodded back. Just then the clerk and bailiff came out of the jail door to chat with Semi quietly a moment.
The doors nearby opened from a lounge and conference area that lawyers used as Highrode, J-Bar and Saire walked out to gather at the defendant's table. They were specialists in high caste mentalities which all three were once upon a time as well as high profile cases jurists. J-Bar was a specialist in violent crimes including murder.
Prowl knew all three. They were formidable and good choices. Highrode would lead the case and the others would do their parts.
The side door to the corridor that led to the elevators opened as Coln-2 and his team walked out. They'd come straight down from the Office of the Prosecution on the seventh floor to meet here to manage the Prime's Brief. They were very good and would be a match for the defense.
The bailiff stood by the door chatting to someone on the other side as he waited for the show to begin.
The door opened to the corridor outside as Humr and a grim faced Shel walked in followed by Como, Pawz, Dex of all mechs, his bond, Cartier and a priest from the Temple. They sat down studiously avoiding Prowl as they waited. The door opened as Ratchet hurried in, glanced around, then walked over to sit with Prowl.
:I'm here, slagger, with my elephant tranquilizer. What do you expect will happen?: he asked.
Prowl shrugged then glanced at him. :Your guess is as good as mine. What have they been doing since Commotion died?:
:I checked and they, the group but for Como and Pawz has been keeping company with like minds, working and nothing more that anyone knows. I'm surprised that Dex isn't in prison. I do remember him throwing fits the last time he was in court for being an entitled slagger: Ratchet replied.
Prowl nodded, then both faced the court as Silver, the clerk called the place to order. "The court is now in session. The right honorable Semi will be presiding. Please stand."
Everyone did as Semi walked from a computer nearby to sit.
Everyone sat themselves.
Silver continued. "The case before us, a hearing into the indictment, pleas, discovery and scheduling will go in good order. Because this is a serious charge which falls into federal law, Senior Judge Semi will preside over it. We will present in good order. Anyone who cannot contain themselves will be asked to leave. So says I, so say we all." He sat, glanced at Semi who nodded, then began. "We will unseal the indictment from the grand jury." He did, rose, then gave it to Semi before sitting again to run the record of court.
Semi stared at the datapad in his servo, then glanced at both Coln-2 and Highrode. "Gentlemen, the grand jury has come to the following finding. 'We the entitled grand jury #122 have reviewed the evidence and have come to the conclusion unanimously that there is sufficient evidence to indict Gravity of Capital City of Cybertron, a youngling mech, of three counts of murder, two counts of use of a deadly fire arm in violation of a Primal Decree forbidding their use by civilians and non-security individuals and attempting to destroy evidence. So say we, so say we all'."
Silver rose and handed copies to the defense and prosecution who read them. He sat again.
"We will entertain motions now and for the next three orns. If you wish to take that time then please file them with Silver and the court. If you have any now you can hand them to Silver and I will review them. I will give you my findings by 1200 joors today."
The defense handed theirs to Silver but Coln had nothing to add.
"I will entertain comments before I ask for a plea," Semi said. "Highrode?"
"We would like a timely receipt of all evidence from the police and anyone else who is part of this case including recordings of any interviews. A list of witnesses, if any, would be appreciated as well, your Honor," Highrode said.
"You will have it," Semi said as he glanced at Coln.
"We wish the same as well, your Honor," Coln said.
"Silver will facilitate that with Forensics and the Watch. Right now, I would like to hear the defendant's plea," Semi said as he glanced at the youngling mech sitting with a shuttered expression in a chair at the defendant's table. His emotional genitors sat with friends and a priest nearly behind him.
Gravity glanced at Highrode, then sat back silently.
"Your honor, we wish to enter a not guilty plea at this time," Highrode said.
Silver entered it.
Semi stared at Gravity remembering him from earlier terrible times, then glanced at both mechs. "We have an order of confidentiality over this case in relation to the press. We don't feel because of the nature of the charges that it helps anyone if the colony hears about it too soon. We have just come off a Convocation of the Will, we've lived with this business a long time and we, the court, feels that its going to be hard on families, both the accused and the dead. We don't wish to stir up resentment nor to make life for those directly involved any worse than it is. Do you agree or do you wish to discuss this?"
"We have no objection, your Honor," Coln-2 said.
"No. Nor do we. Thank you for this offer, your Honor," Highrode said.
"Very well. I am not going to offer house arrest or bail for the accused. Given the nature and number of the charges I can see nothing good coming out of that. Therefore, I am assigning him to jail at the Brig in The Fortress where his needs and anonymity can be assured much better than the prison. I will allow unlimited visitation and consultation to his team and four joor visitations of his family daily. If there is a problem with family during a visit they will be curtailed. Are there anymore outstanding issues, concerns or questions, gentlemen?" Semi asked.
"No, your honor," Coln replied.
"No," Highrode said.
"Very well," Semi said. "Gravity of Capital City is remanded into the custody of the state pending trial of crimes of which he stands accused. I have spoken."
With that, the bailiff gripped Gravity's arm, then walked him to the door for the short train ride to The Fortress and a walk to the Brig below.
When he was gone, Silver called the court to adjournment, then followed Semi out the door to the lounges behind the courtroom.
Ratchet stood with Prowl, then glanced at the family.
They were talking quietly with Como and Pawz. The priest, a sweet gentle mech named Bylia was patting Shel who looked devastated. Humr had his servo in a tight grip with Shel as Dex glanced at Ratchet and Prowl. The look on his face was amazing but he said nothing.
Ratchet stepped forward. "Humr … Shel. Can I do anything for your anxiety? I can script long lasting sedatives that won't impair you but help with the anxiety."
Humr glanced at Ratchet with memories of Commotion's death flashing unbidden. He wavered, then nodded.
Ratchet sent them both a long term script that would ease their free floating anxiety a great deal. He watched as they both relaxed a bit.
"Thank you, Doctor," Humr said stiffly. "That was … helpful."
"I am on call for your family orn and night. I hope you know and understand that truth," Ratchet said.
Shel nodded, then they began to walk out. The priest led the way with Como and Pawz following.
Dex stood in place staring at Ratchet.
"What's on your processor, Dex?" Ratchet asked evenly.
"You wouldn't really want to know," Dex answered.
"Too bad. I might have a remedy somewhere," Ratchet said. "Or maybe Primus can remind you Himself. Again."
Dex glared, then walked out to follow the others with his silent bond. The door closed behind them.
Prowl walked to Ratchet. "You really like to get beatings don't you?"
"You're finding that out now?" Ratchet asked with smirk. "We have brunch with the Squad this First Friday. Are you up to it or are you still intimidated by Dex's death stare?"
Prowl grinned. "I was born to do it."
The door closed silently behind them.
TBC 12-02-2022
~JUST SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THIS STORY~
Started October 26, 2010 and finally posted November 2, 2010: it has been posted nearly every day for 12 years
Number of Books: 8 so far. When the upload dies I have to do another one.
Number of words as of 12-02-2022: 10,433,974
Number of chapters: 4,333
Number of pages if you print this out: 21,315
Number of computers worn out to write it: 6
Average number of words per chapter: 2,408
I love this stuff. HUGS!
