The Diego Diaries: Stuff Continues: Later that afternoon (dd7 12)
=0=Ratchet
He caught the message when he walked from an appointment with a private patient. Chatting for a moment with Hardie on line, he then walked to the Ops Center across town. Hardie was coming there for a moment as were the individuals involved. It was show time for the problem.
Either it was resolved or not.
Traffic was heavy and the orn was blasting along. He'd stayed a moment to watch the processor operation for Zerk, a beastly affair that would be led by Goldwing and be witnessed by about fifteen different doctors from Cybertron or the University who'd be doing such things themselves as a specialist in the near future.
It was in good servos.
Crossing the road, he walked to the courtyard, sparred with the little elders, then walked inside. Prowl who looked up nodded him to the conference room nearby. Ratchet walked to it, entered, then sat down at the table.
Sitting in chairs on the table top, a good dozen humans including the teenager, Barrett Walters watched him with tension and some small amount of fear among his family. His father and mother were there along with Andre Baudin, Cynthia Tomas, James Daniels as attorney of record, Pierre Beliveau and Louis Richardson. They stared at him, then Owen Harris stood and walked up to Ratchet. :Ambassador, good afternoon:
Ratchet grinned. "Good afternoon, Mr. Harris. Everyone looks tense. Anything you want to unburden yourselves about?"
:No. It's just the situation as it stands: Harris said as heavy footfalls behind them drew everyone's attention.
At the door, entering himself, Hard Drive of Praxus entered. He nodded to Ratchet, then sat down beside him.
Everyone stared at everyone.
:General Hard Drive, good afternoon. Some of us came to listen to the outcome and hope that honor has been satisfied: Harris said.
"We can but hope," Hardie replied. He glanced at the others, then fixed his gaze upon Barrett.
For his part, Barrett appeared to be subdued and sat tensely between his parents.
Hardie sat back. "We will resume this court for the disposition of the individual, Barrett Walters of Earth as per my authority under Cybertronian law and your consent that this be so. I've received reports from your supervisors. Stand, Barrett Walters."
Barrett glanced at his nervous parents, then stood uneasily.
"Your offenses were without provocation and they speak very ill of your sense of yourself. You assume that girls are there for your purposes and if they don't comply, then you can attack them at their most vulnerable places, their appearance and their humanity.
"That smacks of entitlement and that is not allowed here. We do not allow entitled behavior or words in our society anymore. That was made very clear to all of you by both us and the soldiers. I have discussed the instructions that Colonel Lennox gave to you when you were met at the airport on day one and they were very clear."
It hung in the air as the silent group watched Hardie for clues. They could find nothing in his expression.
"You were taken on board by the maintenance crews to earn back by your efforts and contrition your honor. The reports I've been given do not reflect much effort on your part to do so," Hardie continued in his calm voice. "You were rude, sullen, worked below reasonable capacity and were late three times out of the ten you were assigned. You appear to feel that honest labor is beneath you and you didn't treat the workers there with the respect their age, profession and essential efforts for the habitat deserved. I want you to tell me about this." Hardie sat back to listen as he stared at the boy who looked more and more uncomfortable.
Barrett glanced at the others, then Hardie. "I … I came everyday. School kept me late a couple of times. I did the thing you told me to do. I don't know why they would say I didn't." He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry for what I said," he managed though it stuck sideways in his throat to say so.
Hardie leaned forward, resting his arms on the table top. "You have a hard time apologizing."
Barrett said nothing, nor did anyone else.
"You seem to feel that you have entitlements. Our planet was run by those who felt the same way. We're living here and not there because of it. Tell me … what would it take for you to be responsible and to have genuine regret for your actions and the beginnings of self respect?" Hardie asked.
"Sir?" Clark Walters said as he stood.
"Yes?" Hardie asked as he glanced at the man.
"Sir … my son discharged his requirements. He's genuinely sorry for his actions and he won't do them again. I would hope that we could resolve this here and now," he said as his wife stood, then walked to her son to lay her hands on his shoulders. He, for one, stepped back toward her.
"Your son was negligent of his requirements. He was rude and neglectful to the others. He has no self respect. He does have you running interference for him and saying what you want us to believe he feels. I see nothing that you posed for him FROM him. I don't believe he regrets what he did nor does he respect the others with whom he worked. I see a boy who is sorry he got caught and who has a very high sense of entitlement." Hardie sat back. "When he graduates from sullenness and the simpler abuses to something bigger and more worrisome … assault, battery, perhaps even killing someone because he finds he doesn't have to care about anyone but himself … what then?"
"My son made intemperate comments to girls. He was boorish and out of line. He paid his service and plans to be a better person because of it. We would hope you could see that," Clark said.
"I see a family where things are so easily come by that its made you indifferent to the feelings of others. I see parents who have blocked natural consequences for their children to the point where your children feel they don't have to genuinely feel remorse for what they do. I am not satisfied that this young man has done due diligence for the offense."
Walters turned to Ratchet. "Ambassador, surely you can see that this has gone far enough."
"In what way, Mr. Walters?" Ratchet asked with genuine fascination.
"We paid the price. He has fulfilled his obligation," Walters said. "Surely, you can explain this to the General."
Ratchet grinned, then glanced at Hardie. "I'm supposed to explain things to you."
"Please do," Hardie said with the ghost of a grin.
Ratchet stared at the humans. "Understand us … few can tell you about entitled privilege the way we can. You're staring at the heights and depths of entitled thinking. I'm low caste and Hardie is the highest caste possible. He can even outrank a prime.
"Your son wasn't raised to fit in normal society where mostly everyone lives. He was raised to bypass the usual means and go straight to the top even if he doesn't deserve it. He wasn't respectful to the mechs. He wasn't up to the tasks … not because he wasn't, but because he didn't care enough to be responsible. His job was designed to get him to notice that the distance between the false heights he occupies and the bottom is a short straight fall. He hasn't learned a thing."
Ratchet leaned forward on his elbows. "I have two small daughters and about seven or so grown. If anyone had spoken to them the way you did the human girls, I would've punted you through a wall. When did it become the 'way of things' on Earth that women and girls were the play toys of men and boys? We've been through this before on Diego with a pilot.
"I don't understand what there is about you, young man, that entitles you to have anyone you want and to treat them this poorly when you don't get your way. They're autonomous beings, girls and women. You're not in control of anything nor do you have dominion over anyone but yourself. Especially yourself."
Ratchet sat back, then glanced at the adults all of whom were looking very grim. "What standard of wisdom do you use to raise a boy who has nothing but contempt for anything and anyone who doesn't bend to his will? This is also a failure to parent."
Clark glanced at James Daniels, his attorney for this matter and Harris. :What the hell are you standing there not helping me?: he demanded.
James Daniels turned to Ratchet. :Ambassador, what is the path forward here? I would hope this isn't a problem for Barrett because of me:
Ratchet shook his helm. "No. Besides … I've made a fetish concerning redemption, Mr. Daniels, so no one is a lost cause to me including you and yours. We all want better than this in this boy but he doesn't see the wrong."
:I do believe he does: Willow Walters said. :Surely, you can see that:
"I don't. He was rude, condescending and late for his details. That doesn't show growth or understanding. I don't care what he says. You tell your truth by what you do. He's not done the thing he was told to do to the satisfaction needed. General Hard Drive is the final authority here," Ratchet said. "His word is final and there is no appeal."
:WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?!: Willow Walters demanded.
Hard Drive stared at them, then rose. "He's coming to Cybertron with me."
Bedlam.
=0=Moments later
Will Lennox, Bobby Epps, Gavin Pritchard and Niall Graham stood on their segways by the hatch door of a ship heading for Cybertron through the small space bridge. Joining them were Hard Drive, Ratchet, Prowl, Owen Harris, Willow, Barrett and Clark Walters, James Daniels and Andre Baudin. They were given permission to come and hopefully, they would connect the dots not just for the kid but for themselves by doing so.
The bots entered the ship, then the hatch closed.
Barrett Walters stood between his parents on Bobby Epps' segway. The others were with the other soldiers and Pritchard who were going to be witnesses to the next few joors in the visit.
Rem turned to Hardie. "We're go, General."
"Then take us out," Hardie said as he sat, unsubbed a data pad, then began to peruse it. Everyone was on the translation from NeoCybex channel so they could speak together and understand each other.
The ship went up into the suddenly dark sky, then headed toward the small Autobot City Space Bridge nearby. The two Triggers were immense as they flew past, then shot forward into the swirling vortex of the smaller bridge which was running nearly constantly most of the time. They came out in Cybertronian space and the highly visible planet of Primus almost instantly. It was deeply and thickly silent on the vessel.
Hardie read his data pad calmly as the ship began to head into a deep highly lit canyon that would lead into the shattered world of Lower Polyhex. Down they want past dark and light levels until they landed on a platform that was a space port.
Exiting, the humans entered an anti-gravity cart that was waiting with several of Hardie's aides and officers. One of them pulled it along as they headed for an elevator that would take them topside. The doors closed and they began to lift upward, a flight that was astonishingly fast. When they arrived, the doors opened and they exited into the deccimated financial district of that huge metro area.
It was filled with activity, mechs, ships, platforms, vehicles … literally as far as the eye could see was an ant hill of bots busy carting off broken things and piling up materials for the maze of building that was going on. The sky overhead was dark and the only light that wasn't powered by their tech was weak streams from the far away stars overhead.
Hardie stepped out and the others followed. The humans stared around themselves unaware of where they were headed but Hardie knew. The others would very, very soon.
=0=Nearby
They waited for him to arrive, Raptor and Ironhide. Napping in her great grandpa's hold, Halo sawed logs. In the distance they could see Hard Drive coming with his team and a number of humans in an anti-gravity cart. Ratchet and Prowl walked with them bringing up the rear.
"This should be good. Appa is not happy," Ironhide said.
Raptor grinned slightly. "I know. When Appa isn't happy, no one is happy," he said as the group closed the distance toward them.
=0=TBC 6-11-19
NOTES! NOTESY NOTESY NOTES!
Sunstreaker's Girl chapter 11 . 15h ago
Hopefully the wild fire is out. If not, stay safe Arctapus.
ME: Its down pretty good but they smolder up here even under snow for sometimes years flaring up now and again. It rained madly so I hope this one is dead. Hugs, honey, and thank you. :D:D
leoness chapter 11 . Jun 10
Scary guy. And props to Sunny for working through his fear.
Stay safe out there!
ME: He is. I like the bad boyz. ;) Sunny is a work in progress. I like that there are characters in shows where everything should be flawless. It makes it more real for me. HUGS, darling, and thank you. :D:D:D
Ragemoose chapter 11 . Jun 10
ahh Gee-Gee, you endear yourself to me more and more every day. Winnie's a new favorite, too. I love a good kick-aft femme! I hope she and Ratchet can save Zerk like Ratchet saved rampage :D Gotta love a redemption arc!
I hope someone calls Rain out on her bad attitude. I don't find it surprising that she thinks "friends" are synonymous with "tools" given who her father is. I wish she could be taken on as a project, to really set her straight. On the other hand, I hope Owen gets sloppy soon so they can nail his skeevy aft and get him off planet- but then again, nailing Nast and co. didn't do any good in terms of keeping them out of the picture, so maybe its better to just have him be inert for now.
Fantastic as always! thank you for the great story. You're the best!
ME: HUGS! I love playing with bad guys who think they can win even when the odds are so long. Rain is one of those characters and so is Owen. The humans here would be the bosses and if you have this kind of money, its hard to keep yourself and your family normal. All of them tie into the Resistance, Family and MECH so there is that layer.
Characters like Winnie are the greatest. The Autobot femme team is so much fun so I added her with Gee-Gee to show strong, smart femmes who can run with the big boys.
HUGS, darling Rage honey. :D:D:D
SunnyandSidesexcellentadventur chapter 9 . Jun 9
Have you ever seen the minions movies? The part where Prowl and Ratchet have a slap fest, remind me of minions how they slap each other.
ME: I have. I also remember that Abbott and Costello used to do that and the Three Stooges which shows you how old I am. LOL! I love the Minions. :D:D:D
Sunstreaker's Girl chapter 9 . Jun 8 Using the pretenders as hostages was brilliant! I never even thought about that! The last few chapters were great. I love how devious Ratchet is.
ME: Its a new thing I'm fiddling with, using non-lethal methods of getting things done. Ratchet is a loon but a very cunning loon. Right, Prowl?
"Truer words never spoken," says The Prowl. :D
Ragemoose chapter 8 . Jun 7
Ratchet's up to something sneaky and I have a feeling these gangster nerds are gonna get played :9
ME: Ratchet can think on his peds. I think that's his special feature. He also has a lot of confidence in himself and the mechs around him. I love Ratchet. He's never dull. :D:D:D
Sunstreaker's Girl chapter 7 . Jun 6
I'm not sure you realize it but chapter 7 and 8 are the same. Unless you've switched 7 and it hasn't updated on my phone yet…
ME: I can't count. LOL! It should be good now. :D:D:D
Lackwit chapter 7 . Jun 6
Hope you are feeling better! It reads as if a chapter is missing, which makes sense given the chapter numbering.
ME: There was. I left one out. All should be in order now. HUGS!
leoness chapter 7 . Jun 6
Ratchet has some intriguing negotiating tactics…
ME: Ratchet would be me if I had this confidence. He always is two steps ahead. Bonding with Ironhide will do that to a mech. LOL! HUGS!
SkyenhaMarisa chapter 7 . Jun 5
You put up dd7-8, sb/dd7-7.
ME: I screwed it up but fixed it. :D
Guest chapter 6 . Jun 5
And the wand chooses the wizard:)
Hope you will get better soon.
ME: I love this post. :D Hugs back to you, honey. :D
SunnyandSidesexcellentadventur chapter 6 . Jun 5
I loving this story! Will Sandstorm get a blade from Tiedown and Ravel? I love Ratchet's ada
ME: I think its required. :D:D I love Ravel. He's sweet just like my mom. :D
Ragemoose chapter 1 . Jun 4
Ahh, I'm finally all caught up! ive been lagging behind since around the middle of April, because i was transcribing the covenant of Primus onto my computer so i could read it whenever i wanted without having to get the book down from its display case. at the beginning of may i went to a convention and got to meet, get pictures with, and get autographs from peter cullen and frank welker. after that there was a bunch of little stuff making the rest of may and all of june crazy so far. Thankfully they've calmed down enough to let me catch up with this fic! I was getting homesick, going for so long without reading it. It was well worth the wait, too. I love this fic so much! my fiends are getting tired of me gushing about it by now, for sure. They all know and Revere you for writing something thats so long and still ongoing. :P
Lots of love and thanks from Dallas, and I hope your throat starts feeling better soon!
ME: BWAHAHAHA! EVERYONE HAS MORE FUN THAN ME! :D:D:D What a great time you've had. Frank and Peter are my heroes. :D That's a great idea to put the Covenant on your computer. I may have to do that since I use it as such a resource. :D Glad to have you on this story. Hug your friends and tell them I love them. :D Love you, too, rage honey. :D:D:D PS I hope the rain stops through that part of the world soon. Take care. :D PS I know about homesick. I miss it terribly when I don't write one every day. (Or more.) :D
Megatron Owes Me Money chapter 1 . Jun 4
You may want to check the category your fic is now in... Misc Misc. Movies?
ME: I know. I think I hit the wrong button. :( I'm going to try and get them to change it because I can't. I would have to delete the story, then try again. :D
leoness chapter 6 . Jun 4
I know how writing withdrawal feels, but rest up!
ME: Feeling a bit better. I hate smoke. I grew up in fire country in southern Oregon. :D MORE TO COME, MISS KITTY! :D