The Diego Diaries: Toe Dance (dd8 466)

=0=Game

Galio stared at a mech he never expected to see again, one who he and his class blamed for the mess before them. If Prime had been like Sentinel, he fervently believed, and had turned the screws on the Decepticons instead of trying to find a peaceful solution then they'd be back home living the life. As it was, they made as close to a copy of 'back home' as they could where they lived in a large group of high caste colonies who were hard wired together.

Half of them were in this migration and the rest were coming in another that was just off sensor range of the Prime. Galio knew that. He felt that Prime didn't or guessed he didn't. It was his super power, the idea of their numbers. Whatever happened now would be temporary to his thinking. Prime would have to listen to them when they were assembled.

Hard Drive who was going through his internal files to figure out who this was stepped forward to halt beside a very rattled appearing Lauren. "Lord Lauren, may I?" he asked gently.

"Of course, General," Lauren said as he walked back to Sela and the others. She put her arm around his shoulders as he stared at Galio and the group with concern. Disrespecting a Prime, especially this one was like disrespecting Primus of whom Optimus was the First Disciple.

Hard Drive watched him walk to the group, then turned back to the newcomers. "I am Hard Drive of Praxus, General of the Army and third lieutenant to the Prime of Cybertron, this Prime," he said nodding to Optimus who stared at them like a statue. "I am the highest ranking Praxian Elite of my caste known to exist, one who is both exempt and Immortal. I also helped write The Code with rules all high castes everywhere must adhere to and served the very great Guardian Prime as his General of the Army.

"Our caste is the most powerful and highest elevated among The System, acknowledged and obeyed by all. I am here to listen to you. Speak. I command it."

The room was silent with surprise among those who didn't understand how things like this worked and who hadn't seen the exercise of raw power too many times in their lives. That is, those who never were denizens of such places as Kaon's Wilderness and the Jumble of Iacon, for instance.

Galio stared at Hard Drive with hatred on his face, naked hatred. The appearance of Hard Drive and by extension the row of Praxian Elites standing with him was surprising. No one had expected anyone from Praxus to survive the Seeker Obliteration let alone the highest ranking caste members in The System. He was bound by their rules to not only answer but to do so with outward respect.

With an expression of fury anyway, Galio nodded his helm acknowledging Hard Drive's higher rank, then stepped closer. It looked like it felt hard to say the words but he did. "Lord Hard Drive, I acknowledge your authority and come before you to express our opposition to the way of life that's practiced here. We've heard that The System of Exception is banned and that to follow it or expect it followed is to court treason. I wish to express my vehement opposition to such a ban for me and our party."

"Is that so," Hardie said quietly. "And why do you believe that the law is detrimental to you?"

"We've lived on Cybertron for eons making the greatest spacegoing civilization, perhaps even the first within its confines with it. We cannot participate in a society that hasn't taken up its greatest attributes, ones that have made our species an apex cultural entity over the endless reaches of time that we've existed," Galio said as the others nodded.

"Do you wish to add to this petition?" Hard Drive asked the others.

They glanced at each other, then him. He was listening to them speak but formulating it as a petition. Caste Court was before them if they weren't careful.

A femme stepped forward, one beautiful and who held the aura of an elder. "Lord Hard Drive, surely you see the wisdom of this. We're more than aware of your opposition in the past to some of the aspects of our cultural artifact. But surely even you cannot deny the greatness and necessity of the restoration of The System."

"He does," Neo said as she stepped forward. "You're Melitus of Crystal City. I know you."

She stared at Neo, then stiffened. "Neo. I didn't know that you survived. The Council was feared dead."

"Look harder, Melitus. You can see some of my colleagues," she said as she gestured toward Mraz and Gravitas. "We survived. We also serve as you can see."

"I see them," Melitus said as she stared at Mraz and Gravitas who stared at her with dread on their faces. "What about you, Neo? What should I see in you?"

Neo stepped closer with balled first. "Implacable will to oppose you. A spark that is duty bound to Primus and The One, to this Prime, to stand between you and evil."

"You didn't think that life was evil once when you were benefiting from it," Melitus said coldly. "I do believe you have … what is it that they say? A body count."

The expression on Neo's face was astonishing as raw hatred flashed, then was buried. "We all do, all of us in our caste. Do you declare yourself exempt? Do you hold that delusion as well?" She stepped even closer. "I was Neo, a Councillor and I have my sins to atone for. I do so here and I am welcome in the congregation."

A murmur on the group all over the deck greeted that including a nod from Prime.

She turned slowly, staring at them with naked love on her face. Then she toward the femme with steely determination. "I am Neo of Iacon. I bring to the Prime and this colony, to our people everywhere all of the formidable skill that I possess. I, Neo call you out, femme. You are a detriment to the Peace of The People. I call you out now, here."

Ironhide stepped forward. "I am Ironhide of Praxus, Praxian Elite by caste designation. I stand by Neo as her second. Either back down, femme, and accept the new path forward or step forward to meet the challenge. Otherwise, there are penalties to pay beyond just this moment. I have spoken."

Melitus stared at Ironhide, a brutal appearing member of a caste that was the bane of her existence. But because he was at the top of it she was bound by him and the rules. She looked at Neo coldly. "I accept."

"What the frag is happening?" Smokescreen said from nearby as the spell was broken.

Ironhide glanced at him and the others. "I am Ironhide. Do not interfere. A challenge has been given and accepted. You, Melitus, have placed your personal freedoms and identity before the assembled by accepting the challenge by Neo of Iacon. I am her second. Anyone who interferes will deal with me. Who seconds you, Melitus?"

"I do," another femme said, one younger. "I am Castius of Crystal City, daughter of Melitus. I am her second."

"Very well," Hardie said. "Everyone back up and stay out of this. If you interfere you will be dealt with according to The Code."

A small femme Home Guardsman, the one who had seen Prime beat Polity into the ground in a similar circumstance leaned toward Raptor. "Appa?" she whispered.

He glanced at her, then pulled her closer. "What, daughter?"

"What does this mean? What about Neo?" she whispered.

"It means an honor fight. Neo challenged and Melitus accepted," Raptor replied louder than needed for the benefit of everyone watching. "If Neo wins, Melitus has no name and no freedom unless Neo gives it back. If Neo loses its the same. Castius and Ironhide will police the encounter. There's nothing that can stop this except either backing down," he said gently. "I don't believe that will happen."

Neo who was seething glanced at him. "No. It will not."

=0=In the mix at the ship of Galio and Company

"What the frag?"

Everyone glanced at Springer.

"What?" Drift asked.

"Neo is challenging a femme to some kind of honor fight. On the deck." He glanced at the others. "Neo is going to kick some femme's backside into the next century."

"Who?" someone in the group facing the Autobots asked.

"Some femme called Melitus," Springer replied.

That mech laughed. "Kiss Neo goodbye then."

Springer walked to a console, then plugged into the deck of Prime's ship, Songbird. A big group was watching two small femmes glaring at each other. As they did the elevator opened and a group of big femmes walked into the room. It was silent on Springer's vessel as everyone there watched.

=0=In the mix elsewhere

"Come on. Follow me," Elita said as she jumped up and ran for the ship's bridge. All of the femmes there joined her.

Jetta and the boys stared after them, then Jetta commed on a monitor as Elita jetted him a message. "Oh oh," he said as the bridge scene came on.

=0=Songbird

The femmes walked to Songbird and a group of titans who were leaning against the console nearby. Joining the group and Songbird who was a good friend from back in the orn, they watched with deep intensity as Neo and an unknown femme began to circle each other. Both of them were consumed with fury as they stalked each other.

"If that slagger harms Neo, she's mine," Chromia said as the elevator opened and more came.

Jetta, Magnus and Maelstrom walked to the femmes to watch.

It was then that Melitus struck hard.

Optimus Prime watched with foreboding knowing full well that all high castes were taught to fight in school. All of them were given martial training, though the levels varied by the interests of the individual and it was impossible to ascertain the skill either had.

Neo was a jewel in their box, a good redeemed soul who was a confidante of Prime and a mainstay for his efforts to make a new world where everyone could live in peace and prosperity. She was a teacher now in the Pioneer School with some of the family's children in her class. His own daughters were slated to go into her class shortly, transferred from their own school to hers because of the programs they provided for gifted kids.

Prime loved Neo of Iacon.

Now she staggered back struck in the chassis by an experienced and powerful blow. Before Melitus could double down on her efforts, Neo blocked her fist and struck Melitus in the face with the heel of her servo. It was a blow that staggered Melitus who stepped back rubbing her face. She stared at her servo, at the energon drawn from a split on her chin.

Neo got first blood.

The mechs and femmes in the room, especially the ones with experience considered that blow with appreciation. It was a good countermeasure and gave the femme, Melitus a clue that this wouldn't be a walk in the park. Melitus had skills and so it seemed did Neo.

The femmes held a raging conversation off line as the boys with them watched the two femmes with deep concentration. The others, Hard Drive included looked calm and measured though the conversation off line was blazing there as well.

:Well, isn't this a pair to draw to: Ratchet said as he cut Prowl and Prime into his conversation.

:Neo will take her. Fury does that: Prowl said as he watched critically. He would invite her to his twice a decaorn workouts at the dojo and she would join him.

Prime held his peace as he watched the improbable duel. He knew it was for him and his honor and at that moment Neo would never be loved as much by anyone else in her life.

=0=TBC June 28/29, 2022 7-23-2022

I find high castes hilarious foils for the mechs. If anyone believes these characters are cartoons, then look around Earth right now. They aren't. But they are hilarious to skewer. HUGS!