The Diego Diaries: Avalone and Other Things (dd8 281)
=0=Earth2
Springer commed off with the Emergency Command Center. All was well so he elected to stay and 'supervise' the show.
Sitting nearby with a grin on his face, Drift stared at the humans who were sitting like a row of outraged Buddhas on couches across from him.
Nearby, the crew was tossing Harris's office from top to bottom while the ante room they were sitting in was being peeled like a grape. Boxes of stuff were carted out, downloads of the system while written records and data pads were stacked into carriers before proceeding out the door. Snarky commentary between the forensics mechs and N.E.S.T. soldiers was amusing to most there. It was relaxed everywhere but with the ten humans.
A commotion at the door greeted them as all of them turned to look. Coming in with dark emotions on their faces in the custody of several N.E.S.T. soldiers were Eino Vertanen pf Finland and Micah Rivera of Mexico. They slowed before the group gathered, staring around themselves then at Lennox.
"What's this about, Lennox?" Rivera asked.
"This is reality catching up with you," Lennox said. "Prime's invoked the morals clauses given the news and you have no power. You're going to be frisked, your stuff confiscated, then you're under in-house detention at Unidad. You have no power, no friends and no escape. Any call or email you make will be recorded, nothing should be considered privileged except for your attorney conversations and you'll be arrested if you act up in any manner," Lennox said.
The two stared at him, then the others.
"Where is Owen?" Eino asked.
"He's getting spanked by Prime," Epps said with still seething resentment. "Line up and I'll do the honors here."
Rivera glanced at Kyle Davis who nodded silently to him. "This is about the lies on Earth, right?"
"Call it what you want, you cheapskate," Epps replied hotly. "We call it the end of the line. Get ready to be searched. Hands on the desk."
The two stared at him silently, seemingly baffled at the command.
"Gentlemen, do what they ask. We can talk later," Kyle Davis replied.
Hesitating, the two finally walked to the desk and were frisked. Their surprise at losing devices and other things was clear but they said nothing.
Therow sealed that information as well, then placed it in a box passing by carried by a younger Seeker who was amused at the humans and their angst. "I think we're done here, Springer. We put seals on things that are possibles that are built-ins like the cabinets and safe. Cindy will have all the access she needs. We made sure she's good here."
"Thanks, Boss," Springer said to the affable scholar who was a research scientist and handled all evidence for major crimes through his office as Evidentiary Science Director for Forensics: Major Crimes. He was incredibly instrumental in sorting out the war crimes that were being gathered for prosecutions throughout the Empire as well as business crimes from the ancient past to the downfall of the planet.
They watched him walk out with his cases of tools and collection devices to work in the outer offices to clear up a couple of remaining things.
It was silent for a moment, then Springer turned to Lennox. "I was just alerted that all of the apartments have been searched and things collected. They were instructed to be careful but if there's any complaints I'll personally take them. The apartments have been fully recorded as were the searches for this reason alone.
You can go home now," He said to the humans watching him with various emotional states.
Without a discussion they stood and glanced at each other.
Then Kyle stepped forward. "How about we go to the lounge by the window and talk." He glanced at Springer and Lennox. "Is that private or do we have to expect to be recorded everywhere in here?"
"It's private," Springer replied.
Kyle glanced at the others then walked to the door. In various states of outrage and stiff backed humiliation the group followed him. It would be through a gauntlet of the population of the facility that they had to walk to get on the street that would lead to the nice lounge by a window across the facility. The crowd would be silent as they did, staring at them as they passed by.
It would be excruciating.
=0=The Hourly News: THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS!
"Good evening. I'm Lim-Lee and I have the latest updates on stories that we're following. The first is information coming to the colony on the news feed from Earth that several of the individuals who were instrumental in getting the human habitations of Earth 1 and Earth2 created are in jeopardy of being indicted over a number of serious crimes that are financial, criminal and political in nature. The Earth2 Corporation of The United Nations is being investigated at the moment for evidence that would link some of its residents and leadership committee to criminal activity that can include financial fraud, wire fraud, bribery, tax evasion, criminal conspiracy and other as yet unnamed charges.
"This morning the District Attorney for the Southern District of New York City released information that a coordinated effort by their office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Interpol and other agencies both local and international are looking into a coordinated conspiracy related to the data that was released in the hacked Panama Papers download. That information was released in April of 2016 on the Terran calendar and outlines major financial irregularities by heads of state, royal houses, banks and wealthy people. Only now has it come to a conclusive effort to organize prosecutions due to its vast nature and complexity. Hundreds of individuals have taken this long to sort through the material to get to the meat of the story.
"The situation as it applies to the colony indicates that fourteen and as many as fifteen individuals who are part of the Earth2 Corporation who live here at Earth2 may be accomplices to these alleged crimes.
"Those who were named are Christoper and Damon Pallas of Greece, James Brickerson of the United Kingdom, Dimitri Petrov of Russia, Cossimo Rossi of Italy, William Pearl, Kyle Davis and Hamilton Brown of the United States, Michael Pare of Canada, Hans Webber of Austria, Thomas Barnard and his wife, Clare Hilliard-Barnard of Australia, Micah Rivera of Mexico and Eino Vertanen of Finland.
"The general director of Earth2 Corporation and chief executive officer of the habitat, Owen Harris is not named in the data dump and is at this moment not considered a person of interest in the investigation. All of the individuals named live on world and many returned this morning via Autobot City Transportation commercial shipping from a conference on Earth. Of them, all live at Earth2 but for four individuals who reside at Unidad Terra 1."
=0=E2
The news ran on the monitor as the mechs sat in the outer offices of the Administration module of Earth2. Hanging at the door watching them as they chatted inside, the Daniels, Galloway and Nast congregated. They were silent, appraising and tense.
"Come in," Drift said. "Have a seat."
They stared at Drift then Nast walked in. He pulled a chair at the table then sat. The others hesitated then walked inside the huge space finding seats at different desks.
"What do you think about this?" Drift asked curiously. "All comments are off the table, of course."
"Of course," Galloway replied curtly. "Do we dare believe?"
Drift considered that. "I see your point but I made the gesture. You can trust it."
Nast considered him. "I find it inevitable. I'm not surprised if that's what you mean. None of us are unaware of the way the world works."
"You've been here a long while now. What do you think? Do you understand why Prime allowed you here?" Drift asked.
It was silent in the room as the two sides stared over the abyss.
"Prime wants to keep his friends close and his enemies closer," Nast finally said. "Frankly, I have no opinions to share with anyone on any subject. I do the job. By the way, if Harris loses control do we get shipped out?"
Springer put through a call then glanced at Nast. "Do you really think Prime's that kind of person?"
"I wouldn't know," Nast said.
"I just asked him," Springer replied. "He doesn't … how did he put it? He doesn't visit the sins of the fathers upon the generations."
It was silent a moment then William Daniels sighed. "I rather like it here. This place feels … positive."
"I would hate to leave here," Jase Daniels said as his father nodded. "I hope that we can turn this around."
Springer stared at his former nemesis with surprise. "You like it here? Its filled with bots."
"Not this place and … I kind of like the pace of the cities. I like looking around. Driving around is fun," Jase said with a shrug.
"Well, will wonders never cease," Lennox said. "This place is rubbing off on you." He glanced at Drift. "Prime never gives up does he."
Drift shook his helm. "No. Sensei looks for and tries to help grow the good in someone. Sometimes he's the only one who sees it. Like the lot of you." It was silent a moment. "If you care enough to try you can find peace wherever you are no matter what you did. You were the masters of the universe and look what happened to you. You were examples to those who came next and they didn't take your example. Too bad. I'd hate to have to leave here, too."
Sky leaned in. "We're done, Boss. We're heading out to do the work. Preliminary data will be shipped to you, Barron, Prime's office and Prowl. Do you want Ratchet to have it and General Hard Drive?"
"I do," Drift said before Springer could reply.
They both grinned at each other.
"Okay," Sky said with a chuckle. Then he left.
It was silent in the room as the humans stared at each other, seemingly not wanting to leave for whatever reason they had. It was getting interesting, the conversation.
Graham who recognized it sat back on his chair. "Truth or dare. Tell us what you really feel. All of you. Protected space. And frankly, I'm genuinely curious after all this time."
The Daniels, Galloway and Nast stared silently at him. It was suddenly tense and wary in the room.
"Protected space. Just between us. We all have history for the good and bad. I'm genuinely interested in your honest views," Graham said.
The four glanced around noting the nods between the humans and mechs, then it grew silent again.
=0=Ratchet
"What do you think, Doctor?" Gullwing asked as he and Goldwing gathered around the console where Ratchet was working.
"I believe I've opened up his processor to direct communication. He's still in deep stasis but it looks like a clear path to his main node."
Goldwing slumped a little with relief. "Then we can make this happen if all else holds."
"I think so but don't quote me," Ratchet said as he continued to input code.
Running alongside that information was a called up list of things that were malfunctioning. None of those items on the list were processor related. It was as hopeful as sign as they could ask for.
=0=Temple
Banner stood in front of the Well of Allsparks staring into the murky blue surface. It wasn't its usual brilliant blue but a cloudy color like an overcast sky. The sound of footfalls caught his attention. He glanced over his shoulder to note Gravitas approaching.
Gravitas walked toward Banner, then paused to bow. "Banner. I'm delighted to see you up and about again. How may I serve you?"
Banner turned toward Gravitas. "I heard my bond's name. I heard Avalone. He's been gone so long I worry that I'm malfunctioning."
"Then you should come with me," Gravitas said with a grave expression. "Lord Chevron will help you." He gently took Banner's servo then tugged him to follow. They walked together to the private area to disappear inside.
=0=Earth2
"You expect us to tell you something about what we feel … about this place and being here, I suppose," Nast said.
"We're all grownups. You can tell us," Lennox said.
Nast stared at him levelly.
=0=TBC 10-20-2021
NOTE to protesters: The most damning and difficult demonstration to get through is to go through a crowd that does nothing but stare at you. People expect shouting and the like to be hard and they are on those which they are directed toward. However. The hardest demonstration that can be formulated against someone is a silent staring one.
Its unexpected and the impact is incredible. The faculty of a university in Seattle did this to their awful head chancellor person and by the time she made it through their silent staring to her getaway car parked a distance away she looked like a broken pile of sticks.
It was great. :D
