Nature of the Beast
One-Shot Series: First Star I See Tonight
Part 11: Sisi Ni Sawa
*Note: Sisi Ni Sawa song belongs to Disney. I just really, really, really want to use it here. :3 It's such a good message, and the song is goddamn catchy. Funny thing with Sky Painters – they don't fight with beaks and claws. They have a more refined manner of solving disputes and getting their points across... ;)
It's finally here – the big meet-up between the Councils! We are in for one crazy ride here folks! O: (Yes, I know I said 'Bee would get this chapter, but let's get this outta the way first. I've been puttin' it off long enough! Let's get some political progress made here to make up for the idiots that be in my country decided to repeal every good thing ever passed in the past eight years!
*Went to the Houston Women's March in January! :D That was so much fun! There were something like 23,000 people there, women and men. It was NUTS! O.O It was peaceful, no one got hurt, no one got arrested, and drivers were even honking at us from the road and waving and egging us on! :D I only stayed for the speeches and march and stuff, but apparently there was a massive dance party outside city hall where the march ended. XD God, I love Houston.
*Warning: Long chapter.
EDIT: Decided to do some rewriting.
IACON OBSERVATORY FOR STELLAR RESEARCH
88 KLICKS OUTSIDE IACON'S OUTER RING
BLUE LASER CAFE
TIME: 2200 HOURS
Corona sat and listened with her fellow CERF members to the arguments being made by the Avioid sitting across from them. One of them was actually a crew-mate from the speaker's vessel and was there acting as a speaking guide: Jackdaw. Perched atop the building were fellow Painters Skyshine and Nightscream. All of them were smiling and trying not to laugh at points, because the femme was more "coherent ranting" to them than "coherent arguing," and she certainly wasn't afraid to use profanities. She had to admit that when she wanted to she could really talk. Only the occasional stammer or stumble betrayed how nervous the femme really was inside. But this strategy of desensitizing they'd been doing for almost three deca-cycles now seemed to be working. They'd started out with just Corona at first, but each time they'd done this speech practice they had added another close friend to the audience.
"Ah, ah." Jackdaw interrupted quickly in his suave voice, "You're rushing again, cap'n. You're a musician. Just like songs there's always a tempo to speech. You can go allegretto at points, when you're trying to display an anger or suchlike but trys to keep it steady as much as you can. Faster you speak, the harder it is to enunciate. And with i'tzocl like Star Saber up there ready to grill you, you want to be as clear as possible so he can't twist your words, 'cause you bloody well know he'll try."
Zodiac nodded: "Right. Sorry. Just...nervous about tomorrow."
"That's expected," Jackdaw said. "Carry on, then. But remember: tempo and enunciate. Pit, I'll even act as a metronome for you if you'd like. That's what Terran musicians use to keep the beat when playing and composing, right?"
Her optics rolled. "I don't deserve you," she joked. Jackdaw was too good for her. She still had no idea how she'd managed to get him on her crew when first starting out as a captain. He was much older than her and had far more experience, and yet he'd joined up with a status quo-breaker Avioid who'd manage to get herself a prototype survey ship right out of the Crystal City docks.
Jackdaw merely smiled back. "I don't deserve a Sky Painter as a commanding officer, but I'm not about to argue my good fortune. Come on. No stalling, cap'n. Meeting's tomorrow, remember? Practice makes perfect so the humans say."
She shuddered but endeavored to put a brave face on it. Better it were tomorrow so she could get it over with. Maybe then she'd get some decent power down for the first time since this whole progressive meet-up thing had been conceived. The whole thing was exciting yet terrifying at the same time, like that rush a flier got during First Flight's preliminary free-fall – you were scared scrapless at the thought of failing and turning into a metal pancake but the feeling itself was exhilarating.
Neutrino had to admit that as she continued her argument that she looked buzzed yet exhausted at the same time. He had to ask himself: how many solid joors had she gotten lately? For someone who manned a star-ship of her own she was dangerously susceptible to stress. That didn't bring into account her bad habit of biting off more than she could chew, which led to overworking and even more stress.
Corona just had to hope all this practice would be enough. Come tomorrow, the real performance would begin.
IACON'S OUTER RING
TIME: 3200 HOURS
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Unable to power down, Zodiac sat at her personal console tapping a stylus on the desk. She wanted to give one of her crew a call and just talk to them but she honestly didn't even know what to say to them. The ramifications of the political arena weren't their forte. Pit, Jackdaw was the only one who had any degree of experience with it, and that was mostly because 'bots with political or spiritual views tended to take offense with his constant questioning of pretty much everything. Plus, she felt a bit guilty for interrupting their shore leave.
"To call or not to call. That is the question..." she murmured.
Confident as she was about this whole thing the femme wanted to cover all her bases. She believed what Jackdaw had warned her about concerning Star Saber: the i'tzocl would try to twist her words around to make her sound like the villain of the story. How else could someone as bigoted as he have gotten into political office in the first place? Honestly it was a bit under-handed, but she did in fact have some kind of...call it leverage against that outcome. It wasn't blackmail per say, but something that shared a bed with it. Neutrino was the creator of that contingency should worse come to worse, but the particle physicist had said he'd rather avoid using it for the trouble it could cause – not to mention it could very well get him thrown in a cell. If he used it his career might as well go down the drainage pipe. He hadn't said exactly what it was though.
She finally made her decision. The Avioid pulled up the comm. frequency of a certain crew member who was a notorious night owl and pinged her. She needed someone to talk to.
"Shatterveil?" she prompted.
A tab popped up on the console. In the darkened room on the other end sat a dismal looking femme colored deep grey-blue and silver, little strips of white light providing the only easy means of picking out her bat-like features. Bright green optics shone through the shadows, green beacons in the black.
"The star-watcher rings at the war-moon's rising;
the currents stir,
the people gather
as policy-writers work
on devising
a tactic to fracture or fetter.
But uncertainty shimmers like wisps on water
Does star-watcher call to have it dispelled?"
Zodiac blinked. Thank Onyx her time as a Sky Painter rendered it easy (well easier) to interpret verse.
"No, not really," she said. "Just...wanted to talk and not, y'know, bother anyone. Didn't think anyone else would be up so late at night. You're the only one on my crew who's nocturnal, but I wasn't sure you'd answer and I hope I'm not bothering you. I do have a question though."
"Ask then, but know
the answer you seek may not be common
by this night's warden or persimmon-winged gossip."
"I just want to know: is Neutrino bluffing about his contingency or is he actually serious? Has Hearsay heard anything about some kind of special project he's been working on?'"
Shatterveil didn't answer right away, her expression reflective. Instead she rose and left the room, returning shortly with her minuscule helper Hearsay perched on her shoulder. The little Insectoid mini-con fluttered over to the desk where the console was and cheerfully tapped the screen, antennae waving around. Smiling, Zodiac waved back. Most 'bots were stunned to know that someone this dangerously cute was a shameless but well-meaning scandalmonger. He had a thick romance with the phrases "just happened to overhear this" or "a little turbo-hawk told me that."
"So, you hear anything?"
"Well," Hearsay started, leaning in closer. "I've not heard anything directly so don't go quoting me in a court of law or nothing, but I did overhear some of the satellite-builders at the IO talking about a special project. Didn't hear the names of those involved so it might be something completely different, but the fact they've managed to keep it so on the DL means they don't want anyone else hearing about it who's not involved with the IO. Maybe the Council? They sure as the Pit don't like it when 'bots go off the books like that."
"So you really think that special project has political implications."
The Insectoid nodded. "With it so far on the DL that yours truly can't get more than a few peeps? Oooh, you betcha."
"You hear any details? What is it?"
He shrugged and said: "No name, no specs. But they were talkin' about it all quiet-like. I did overhear 'beam' and 'Council' though. Someone on the CERF, naming no names, certainly is willing to play dirty if that means what I think it means."
Zodiac's optics went round. That sounded like Neutrino had – but there was no way someone like him would stoop that low...was there?
"I may need to have a talk with Neutrino about this. I don't want him getting fired on anyone's behalf, especially not mine. I-I know he means well but...this is taking it a little too far. That kind of thing can have serious legal repercussions."
Shatterveil mused aloud:
"The lines between color are blurred
in the twilight hour.
Black and White are as separate
as the bound;
Turbulent Grey reigns over the battling halves
as Ethics drowns
on a stormy path."
Zodiac cast her a withering look. "...I hate you."
The bat-looking femme returned with a wry smile. She said nothing. Her captain was not one for playing truant from the rule book. Neutrino obviously was. She may not approve of what the particle physicist was doing, but Shatterveil had to admit to herself that the mech had courage to go through with such a risky strategy. Not many scientists were in a position to openly threaten or coerce the High Council.
"Has clarity been given
where clouds once hovered?
Or are more answers in need
of being uncovered?"
Zodiac nodded. "Yeah, I think so. I mean, yeah – you answered what I needed answered. Sorry for bothering you so late at night, Shakespeare. You, too, Fuzzy."
"Oh, it's fine!" Hearsay interjected in his merry voice. "You know 'veil and I are night owls, boss. Part of our coding. It's no biggie."
She smiled a little at that. She'd been worried she might've been bothering the nocturnal duo. They liked their privacy even if they enjoyed visits.
"Good luck tomorrow though," Hearsay encouraged with a returning smile of his own, "We Bolties are all rootin' for ya. Rampart and Sirocco are already planning a party on the Bolt for when you score one over the Council."
Twin royal blue optics rolled, partnered with a sighing groan. "You guys are way too optimistic about this. But...tell 'em that's sweet of 'em."
"Will do, boss."
Another optic roll. "And stop calling me boss, Fuzzy. We've been over this. It's either 'captain' or just 'Zodiac,' alright?"
Hearsay smiled and giggled.
Leaning forward, she hit a holo-key and ended the call. A hush fell over the astronomer's quarters, one she had come to dread. She longed for the purring hum of the Bolt's power core over the dull rush of the outer ring. Mostly though she longed for the stellar chorus that pervaded deep space. Here, on the ground, below the atmosphere, their songs were nothing more than a faint tintinnabulation tainted by suspended molecules. She was tired of the artificial noises on the surface. Some of those sounds were comforting come certain solar cycles, like the thrumming chug of the planet itself, or the engines of Seekers and fliers. But they weren't musical the same way the stars were. The astronomer desired music from the universe – to hear the orchestra of the stars.
"No offense to you though..." she muttered almost on impulse, glancing at the floor.
She thought she heard a low rumbling in reply, but she wasn't sure.
Sighing, she flitted over to her perch and tried to power down. Big solar cycle tomorrow; might as well rest up while she could.
ONE KLICK OUTSIDE IACON HIGH COUNCIL CHAMBER
TIME: 1145 HOURS
The city below her bustled with more life than she thought it could possibly contain. Any moment now she felt the city might burst at the seams. And that was terrifying in its own right. Never had she seen Iacon so crammed full of 'bots – and she paid attention to the city's ebb and flow of people the same way a hunter paid attention to prey population. How in the name of Onyx Prime, she wondered, was the Elite Guard managing to keep the peace? There were far more civilians than Guardsmechs. They had to be stretched pretty thin even with their numbers.
Ahead, the Council Hall's dome glimmered a pale translucent silver. Fellow flying Predacons were circling or else perched on its minarets, but they were vastly outnumbers by the jets, planes, and helicopters circling, eager scraplets hungry for video feed of Predacus alphas and city Councilors in dispute – or else a fight on the Hall's steps. Guardsmechs and femmes were on duty at various points around the Hall, and she'd spotted some in the streets. She hadn't seen Smokescreen though. Those medics really weren't taking any chances with him it seemed. He had apparently managed to sneak out not too long ago though, and had managed to save a little tunnel-rat drakeling from dying alone after being tortured.
Her fuel had boiled at that. Who in the Pit was sick enough to attack a kid? He'd said he didn't know, but he, some Guard members, and a Tigerhawk were looking into it.
She found a street light a few streets away and took up a perch, hooking the metal book-bag's strap under one claw. 'Bots and beasts passed by beneath her, some looking at her curiously or with a touch of wariness. Some didn't even seem to notice her, which was fine by her. There were no friendly faceplates that she recognized, but most of the Predacus reps were probably nearer the building. There was still some time before the meeting to review her notes, so she sunk her beak into the book-bag and pulled out the tiny datapad. Balancing, she used her other leg to hold up. She read through the tips Jackdaw and her IO colleagues had been dishing out:
*Tempo. No rushing.
*No cursing. Tempting, but don't. Be civil about this. Prove their misconceptions wrong. (She made a face at that one)
*Enunciate. Make your words clear!
*Remember to –
The datapad suddenly flew sideways as a piece of metal struck it like a bullet. She looked around wildly for the firer, looking to port in time for a Seeker to knock her off her perch with a startled squawk. Her form hit ground with a thud that made her side ache. A heavier thud followed to reveal a Seeker mech looming over her, field flaring in pride and disgust. A snort from somewhere nearby made her look to see a pure white Equinine with a burning horn watching the event unfold, a tribal crest of a flaming, charging horse on his shoulder. The fires on his mane and tail burned brighter in anger.
A Charger. Oh, frack. This could only end badly. Those beasts didn't mess around.
"Aw. What's the matter little birdy?" the Seeker, a mech, taunted. "Lost your balance? Wind knock you down?"
She rose, transformed, and glared at him. "I'm not looking for trouble. Please go away." Her voice came out quiet, not at all infused with the calm threat she'd aimed for.
His y'tla flared. "What? You think if you just ask nicely I'll give you what you want?" He smirked. "You Preds think you're sooo high and mighty, don't chu? I think you need a reminder about who's really in charge in this city..."
His tone was not something she liked. A subspace pocket was opened and out came a thick bundle of titanium cabling. She needed to get out of here, closer to the Council building where those Guardsmechs and femmes were. But she couldn't move. She was too scared – scared of the Seeker and what he might do her, but also scared that instinct would take over and she would lash out in defense. Her optics almost didn't register the white Equinine charge forward. But she definitely registered him rearing back just behind the Seeker with a frightening, hellish cry that was both whiny and bellow at once, brazen hooves kicking, horn ablaze.
"AWAY!" he bellowed in his own primal language. "AWAY!"
The Seeker whirled in a flash, startled. The blazing beast bucked and kicked and shook his helm around him in a display of warning and fury, trying to make himself look as big and bad and intimidating as possible. A kick of the brazen hooves came dangerously close to the Seeker's helm, and he stumbled back instinctively, tripping over his own heel struts. He fell ingloriously. But the Equinine wasn't done. Rearing back one final time, he put his hooves out and brought them down –
The Seeker's mouth gaped open with his optics, his frame frightened into the same immobility that had just afflicted her. He and his victim could only watch as those hooves came slamming down.
NO! she wanted to scream. He was going to crush him!
But there came no crush of warping, dented metal. There was only the resonating clangor of twin hooves striking the ground like thunder mere i'qxa away from the Seeker's frame. The Charger leaned in, horn ablaze, and snorted smoke and ember. Frightened beyond reason, the Seeker scrambled to his trods and hastily retreated, the Charger snorting and chasing him for good measure. Within only a klik or so he was gone, vanished over the roof of a building. Satisfied, the white Charger turned away and came over to her, bowing his helm whilst dimming his many fires.
"You are well, little paintbrush?" he wondered in a voice far gentler than the one he had used moments ago, "Unharmed?"
The Avioid could do little but nod. Her vocalizer refused to work. Pit, she was still trying to process what in the name of Onyx had just happened. She'd never had someone act like that to her before. To top that, Predacons usually looked out for their own tribe mates only; no further unless there was a formal alliance of tribal alphas. As far as she could remember, the Painters and the Chargers weren't buddy-buddy. No formal alliance. What reason did the Charger have to assist a Painter?
The Charger nodded.
"Good. But permit me to offer you an escort to the Council Hall, little paintbrush. To be alone at a time like this can invite trouble, and the Hall is better guarded than the streets. Better to be inside with more friendly optics than out with fewer. We can report this to the sentries there."
Her voice box kicked back into gear at that. She thanked him but stayed where she was. Apparently amused, the Charger trotted over and plucked the datapad and the book-bag from he ground, returning to her side and pushing both items on her with a soft snort. Her hand reached out and took one, then the other without thought. What was it with hitting and book-bags and nice guys lately? It was starting to get uncanny. When she didn't move right away he knelt down and plucked her off the ground, carrying her like a Tigerhawk might carry a kit.
"Thank you..." she managed to squeak, "but I can walk. I-If it's all the same to you..."
He let her down, and together they headed for the Council Hall. The Guardsmechs at the open doors nodded and let them pass.
Though the meeting was scheduled for 1200 hours, it took a few breems longer for everyone to arrive and fill the vast circular hearing room. Even then it was delayed what with the general babel and commotion of dozens of individuals from all over the planet. The noise and the numbers was overwhelming. This was the largest official gathering she had ever been to, and she wasn't sure she was such a fan of it. At the very least the Guardsmechs and femmes were keeping things under control. Above, the reporters not let in continued to circle like Scavengebots.
Zodiac bade a retreat towards the Lost Children's alpha, Farleap where the Artist, Skyshine, and Nightscream were standing. The blade-horn snorted and stamped a hoof in greeting before letting her take up residence on his great antlers. It didn't help by much, but she at least had a better view of the hall and everyone in it. At his side, Clouddancer issued a low hiss and shook her helm, looking and feeling about as cramped as she felt. Her titanic wingspan wasn't making things easy on her, modifications aside. If she could get away with being on the roof she probably would.
A Guardsmech, tall and sturdy and colored dark blue and burgundy (with some stylish pale seafoam accents the Avioid quite liked) came up and handed the Iaconian femme Councilor a datapad. Sharing nods, the mech retreated and took up a post off to one side of the chamber with another Guardsmech. She felt she recognized him but she wasn't sure. She was terrible with names and faceplates.
"Settle down, everyone! Please!" Elita-One implored. "We'll get down the business at hand now. Ultra Magnus and the Elite Guard have confirmed every representative's presence, so we'll forge ahead as planned."
Her optics snapped wide and her helm jerked over towards the mech who had delivered the datapad. So that was Awkward Uncle Dragonslayer! Huh. Smokescreen hadn't been kidding in describing him as a bad-aft. Perfect military posture, expressionless faceplates, but he still looked like he could wail on someone if they caused trouble. Smokescreen had said he'd earned that nickname for repeatedly giving Predaking a bashing way back when. Definitely someone with the strength of the mountains.
"I don't even see why we're bothering with these brutes..." Star Saber grumbled.
Instantly a fraction of the beasts turned on him and issued noises of warning and anger.
"Star Saber, I'll ask you to please keep your personal biases and contempt in check," Avalon cautioned. "We're here to compromise, not start a fight."
"A decision made in anger is never sound," Councilor Rhinox advised Star Saber in his low, resonating baritone, "as evidenced by your presence here, Councilor..."
The face Star Saber made at that caused some badly stifled snickers and snorts. Rhinox merely smiled back with his ever-placid expression. She thought she heard one of the Guardsmechs behind her group mutter "Buurrn..." She officially liked Rhinox – and whoever that Guard was. It was made even better by some rebel-youth of a Councilor laughing aloud when Star Saber sputtered, trying to retort through his offense, but failed.
"What's tha matta, pretty 'bot? Cyber-cat got cher glossa?" he roared in mirth. "Or should I say a Rhinox?"
He devolved into laughter at that point, banging his hand on the table. Councilor Elita-One and some of the other progressives had to hide their smiles. She'd heard stories about Screwloose and his personality through Vignette, but to see him in person was another thing altogether. That hysterical laughter made it seem like he really did have a screw or two loose up top, but his progressive policies concerning Predacons and pseudo-beasts showed an intelligent, kind-sparked mech. He cared about those who lived in his city, no matter what they happened to look like.
"Sorry, sorry," Screwloose excused himself. He snorted then: "Pfft. Who'm I kidding? Not sorry. But let's get this ball rolling along, yeah? Let's hear what they have to say. A Pred's voice is no less important than a 'bot's. They got voices. Let 'em use 'em."
Thundering agreement swept through the ranks of the beasts in the hall, applause not withstanding. Star Saber's faceplates were less than pleased but a glare from a great snowy Seeker across from him kept any retort bottled. Jetfire towered over the other Councilors in the hall so when he gave you any attention, good or bad, you kind of had to listen.
"Speak up then, Predacus!" said Blare of the Sonic Canyons in her megaphone voice. "We assembled to listen to ya'll. Tell us yer concerns."
The hall went silent as Predaking and Ser-Ket stepped to the fore. As the Predacus's supreme leaders they outranked all others gathered, and thus they were to speak first.
"We come here to argue your discrimination of our kind," Predaking growled. "We inhabit the same world as you, emerged from the same Well, yet many treat us as inferior. Many city-dwellers refuse to employ us, our easiest employment outside of Altihex (he nodded to Screwloose) and Kaon (he nodded to Contrail and Ratbat) being trackers for police precincts. One of my charges has only recently managed to find employment in a rescue squadron within Iacon, and even then he faces scrutiny a city-dweller would not be subject to. We are here to argue against discrimination in the city-based workplace, excluding Kaon and Altihex, and that is but one of our grievances. We have much to offer, and yet you deny us the chance to prove so."
"You realize the irony of your statement I hope," Star Saber mocked. "It is difficult to find employment, yet you have easy access to employment. Besides, what do you even do with city-based currency? Eat it?"
Predaking's y'tla flared. He snapped that just because a job was easy to access did not mean it paid well, and they were no less discriminatory in nature. He asked him to name one Predacon who had obtained a permanent position in a precinct that went beyond that of a simple tracker. Star Saber tried to cite Altihex, but Screwloose cut him off, saying his city was the exception to many Predacon problems and not to be used as a general example. They were here to look at the bigger picture, not blindfold themselves, point digits at him, and pretend there wasn't problem. That earned him more thundering cheers from the Predacus. They quieted on their own.
Ser-Ket intervened and said they used such currency for access to medical supplies, while some cities demanded an entry fee of all things of Predacons.
"The fees are not absurd, Councilor Ser-Ket," said Blitzwing. "It helps the city gain a small side-income for public vorks projects."
"Just 'cause it's got good intent don't make it ethical," Blare snapped. "If you're gonna fee someone for comin' in, you gotta apply it to all newcomers, not just Preds. That's segregation if I ever saw it. I admit I had my own...issues with Predacons in the Canyons, but that was a trust and legal issue. We got that squared away alright after the incident on the Edge. They're welcome s'long as they stick to the rules everyone else sticks to."
A murmur of agreement swept over some of the Council and Predacus.
"They attacked your people and you let them in? Just like that?" Cointoss spat.
"The Chargers 'attacked' because they felt Blare's people would not agree to their terms," Jetfire retorted. "Which they did not. We are all under the pre-conceived idea that they aren't as harsh on their own kind when it comes to crimes or misbehavior. That simply isn't true. Take note that Predacon criminals are a rarity in every sense."
"The xoctocl'ezt kt'or strictly forbids criminal behavior, and punishment rises sharply depending on the deed itself. Any with a basic knowledge of their structure would know that. Or have none of attended a cultural seminar in Kalis?" wondered Beachcomber, aiming his question at the likes of Star Saber and his ilk. "If not, I will advise it. Educate yourselves before you blindly sling accusations around. Predacons are welcome in my city; I haven't had a single issue with them to date."
Star Saber harrumphed. The beasts were dangerous. Was he really the only one here who could see that?
Smokescreen was riveted to the holo-display in the lobby of the clinic. Jazz was even kind enough to funnel direct audial feed from the meeting, in the process keeping him informed on how Zodiac was faring. So far, she seemed to be alright. No one had called on her to speak just yet, she hadn't flipped out or anything about the crowd, but this meeting might last a while considering how stubborn some Councilors tended to be on racial matters.
He shot a glance at the door to see the Najoid mech named Virulance stride out, transform to a great feathered serpent, and rise up into the skies. Envy shot through him. He felt fine, for crying out loud! Why couldn't he go out? He wanted to get a word in edgewise.
Or...wait a klik...
There was no medic around...
The door was just over there...
A smirk formed. He turned away from the display and strolled over to the door. He had almost reached the threshold when he heard an engine not unlike Arcee's rev up from behind him somewhere. Astroseconds later he felt slender hands grab hold of his audials. She dragged him away from the sliding doors, Smokescreen protesting as loud as he could. Primus, for a dainty looking femme like her she had one heck of a vice grip!
"OW! Charity! Come on! Lemme out already! I'm dying in here!"
"We've already agreed you'll be free to leave tomorrow," she said as she guided him back to the main foyer, "You can wait another few joors. That impatience needs to be curbed or it could wind up digging your grave."
"OW! Ow! Okay! Now let go of my audial, would you?!"
She released him, apologizing. As she returned down the corridor she'd come in by Smokescreen couldn't help looking at her with an increased respect. That sweetness was only half of who she was. The other half was a heck of a lot firmer. Geez. She was actually a little bit terrifying now.
"Prowl? You've abstained an opinion thus far," noted Rhinox. "What are your thoughts?"
The Praxian Councilor remained silent for almost half a breem as his blue gaze swept around the assembly, almost like he was looking for something.
"Predacons have been helpful to precincts in my city on numerous occasions, though in the past I was hesitant to permit them, " he admitted, "and because of the concluding reports I believe the idea that they are savages is untrue. There has not been one instance of a Predacon committing a crime or heckling a civilian. One cold case stellar cycles ago might have been solved if a Predacon had been allowed to assist. But merely working in one field is hampering their talents. They are no less intelligent than we are. Correct me if I err, but there is a Predacon astronomer and ship captain currently present, and she's made valuable contributions to her specific field."
Zodiac wanted to smack Farleap for gently bucking and snorting to earn Prowl's attention. He caught the movement and gestured, "Ah, yes. There. Captain Zodiac. Planetary scientist at the Iacon Observatory."
"H-Hi...?" she squeaked.
"Never a finer pilot, if ya ask me," Neutrino vouched. "Saved my crew's aft not too long ago during our Hydrax mission. We of the CERF are just here to ask if you'll consider letting Predacon fliers – Tigerhawks, Painters, Draconians, Chimerans, you name 'em – into the CERF as pilots. Pit, just let Preds of all variety in while you're at it. They have intelligence, they have talent. Let 'em use those things. If you give 'em the chance to prove they're not mindless savages, they will."
"No chance, no proof," a Harian mech added.
Star Saber snorted. A glare from Dustdevil, Vizanthus's Councilor, silenced him.
Corona argued with some heat in her voice, "Ask anyone in the IO and they'll tell you she's a helpful femme. She enjoys running errands for colleagues. She's not a vicious monster. All she wants to do is help and do her work in peace. And she's managed that. She's never given anyone any trouble, no one has ever given her any trouble."
"But in the latter case she's one of the lucky ones," Sunflare pointed out. "My friend Darter couldn't make it for personal reasons, but she's heckled almost on a deca-cycle basis, and she's just one of many. I'm not sure if you've heard this one, but not too long ago a sparkling Draconian, a tunnel-rat, was found by an Elite Guardsmech in the Talon Quarter, muzzled, maimed, and tortured. It's not just verbal abuse they deal with – it's physical too. Just look at cities like the Tagan Heights, where such crimes are commonplace."
"I protest!" Star Saber shrieked. "They are not commonplace! Watch your tone, young mech!"
"I reviewed the report," droned Shockwave, "Owing to the sparkling's adverse reactions upon sighting Seekers it is logical to assume his attacker was a Seeker."
"The Elite Guard is presently investigating," Ultra Magnus clipped at the former Decepticon scientist, "and we are receiving aid from an eyewitness after-the-fact. When we find the one responsible you can rest assured their act will not go without severe penalty."
"This has to stop," Neutrino growled. "They're no less 'bots than we are. They don't deserve this kind of callousness."
"And vhat would you have us do about it?" Blitzwing wondered. "Ve merely create the laws. Ve cannot enforce them ourselves. That is the task of local law enforcement."
"Then here's a suggestion: condemn that sort of behavior," Farleap rumbled. "If such attacks happened in our society we would disarm the tvraad'aar and brand them before exiling them. Imprisonment alone is not enough to convince the attackers to stop."
"See!" Star Saber cried. "This is what I've been talking about all along! Their methods are extreme and –"
"And they work," Predaking snarled. "We suffer no repeat offenders. Can your society say the same?"
"I refuse to accept such barbarity into our society! The Talon Quarter decision was bad enough!"
"There have been no reports of Predacons causing Iaconians any harm in or out of the Talon Quarter," Elita-One reminded him curtly. "In fact, any problems they suffer are from Iaconians themselves."
"Would you deny facts?" Neutrino spat. "If you don't change your tone, I have just the thing to change the tune you're singing."
"Are you threatening me?" Star Saber wondered, shocked.
"Not unless you and any closet or open xenophobes change your tone and start accepting that your 'facts' are incorrect. If you don't, then yes – I'm threatening you. Got a satellite in orbit that the IO launched in secret armed with a gamma beam aimed dead center on this building. In short, the CERF is holding all of you hostage unless you play nice for once."
Every pair of optics on the Council riveted on the particle physicist, and nearly all of them widened in shock.
"You've got bearings, Neutrino," Contrail rasped. "I'll give you that much."
"I don't think that'll be necessary, Neutrino," Corona whispered. "Threats are beneath a scientist."
Zodiac, uncomfortable, lifted her hand up as if she were back in an Academy class.
"Em, excuse me," she squeaked. "Can I get a word in? And just so you know, I didn't approve this."
Elita-One and Ser-Ket conceded together.
"Look, I know some of you guys think we're savages or cannibals or dumb or whatever, but we're not. You think you're higher up the totem pole because you're not based on an animal. According to your mythology and belief system you were based on the designs of the Thirteen. Learned that in my cultural history class. Newsflash: so were we. Learned that from Tarot, our Æ'vit. You were based on the frames of beings like Vector, and Solus, and Micronous – Primes all. So were we. Onyx Prime, the Lord of the Beasts, is our common ancestor, the reason our kind exists. Actually, if any of you bothered to remember your origins you would know that if not for Onyx, none of you would even be here. He surrendered himself to the core at the beginning and aided Primus in forging our entire race, beast and 'bot alike."
She hopped off Farleap's antlers and flew towards the front, alighting on the helm of Darksteel. The entire hall had gone quieter than a tomb.
"The Autobot rally cry during the War was 'Till all are One.' I have a better one for this dispute: Sisi ni sawa. It's an old Terran phrase that means 'We're the same.' We are the same. Both our races come from the same place, both our races are based on one or more of the Firstforged. Why is that so hard to accept?" She laughed nervously. "Race isn't even a thing if you think about it. Just because we look different and have different cultures doesn't make us any different from each other."
Something amazing and unplanned happened then. Sunflare switched on his speakers and a bouncy guitar tune danced around the hall. Winking, he handed the floor to Nightscream and Skyshine, and impress they did. Their respective voices rang out over the assembled:
"You got to look past what you see,
try not to judge so easily.
Believe it or not, you're a lot like me.
Say believe it or not you're a lot like me!
Sisi ni sawa means we're the same!
"I'm hearin' what you're saying, but you need to explain!" Sunflare requested in a voice that made the Artist look at him in admiration. It could use a little tone work but it was an excellent voice.
"At the end of the day it's like water in the rain!
Sisi ni sawa we are the same!"
Screwloose was practically dancing in his seat to the beat already. Star Saber seemed flabbergasted at this impromptu performance, but most of the other Councilors seemed fascinated by it. It certainly was a unique manner of getting a point across.
"Maybe I laugh, maybe you purr,
but take a look under the fur.
Deep in our hearts is what matters for sure!
'Cause we all know a higher call
like every creature big and small:
the circle of life should be what's guiding us all.
The circle of life will guide us all!
Sisi ni sawa means we're the same!
A beast broke in then, a companion to the Chargers' alpha, apparently knowing the old lyrics: "Though you've got your claws and I have a mane!" He bucked and his flaming mane danced. He, too, had a surprisingly good voice.
Nightscream laughed. Exactly! she said.
"At the end of the day it's like water in the rain.
Sisi ni sawa we are the same!"
"Never thought that we'd see eye-to-eye!" Sunflare joked.
Nightscream laughed again.
"I can't imagine why!
It's very easy if you try-y!"
"Still, to me, that brand new thought, not to judge hyenas by their spots!"
"Sisi ni sawa!"
Skyshine took over for a brief lull: "Sisi ni sawa means we're the same."
"Forget about the past when there's nothin' to gain..." Screwloose sang.
Both Painters gave cries of joy and swept over to him. The rest of the Predacus roared agreement.
"At the end of the day it's like water in the rain.
Sisi ni sawa we are the same!"
The Altihexian Councilor forwent his seat and joined the Painters, singing himself:
"Sisi ni sawa means we're the same! (Oooh!)
Forget about the past when there's nothin' to gain! (Ooooh!)
At the end of the day it's like water in the rain.
Sisi ni sawa we are the same!"
A Tigerhawk high-pawed with a smaller Harian and added their own voices. "Sisi ni sawa we are the same!"
Zodiac, enjoying the song far too much, finished with her voice:
"Sisi ni sawa we are the same..."
A thundering cheer rang out, hooves and paws stomped on the ground in a bestial display of applause. A majority of the Councilors were moved to applause of their own. Screwloose gave a bow and returned to his seat, grinning like he'd just gotten the opportunity to fire Star Saber right out of his city.
"And the point of that was...?" wondered Contrail.
"Sight without optics..." Rhinox sighed, shaking his helm.
"Regardless of their performance, I must admit they have a point with their wording," conceded Prowl. "Judging an entire race based on outdated beliefs and misunderstandings is an ineffective model for ra – (he stopped himself) inter-species relations."
"Hear, hear!" chimed Dustdevil, Beachcomber, Beltway, Rhinox, and Avalon.
"They make a scientific argument as well," Shockwave noted in his emotionless drone of a voice. "Knockout and I together have conducted many studies on Predacons since the Well was reactivated at the end of the War. We found something that might startle any conservatives here: their sparks are no different than our own. The waveform and energy output is nearly the exact same as with any vehicle-former. We are no less beast as they are mech or femme. It is illogical to base one's conclusions on only one or two points of data. Such narrow-mindedness leads to inaccurate conclusions. All variables must be accounted for."
"Are you suggesting," Star Saber sputtered, "that we actually agree to their terms? They're a threat to society as we know it!"
"How?" retorted Zodiac. "Name five ways, Mr. Know-It-All. Go. Prove you're smarter than someone who obtained a professional's mark in astronomy."
"I-I, well – you hunt other life-forms on this planet! Who's to say you won't one solar cycle come after us?!"
"Are you serious?" Ser-Ket hissed. "Is that how ignorant you are?! We do your kind a favor by hunting what you call 'vermin!' If not for us your precious cities would be overrun!"
"Councilor Star Saber, be intelligent for once I beg of you," the Artist chided. "We are extremely careful about what we hunt. If it displays sentience we wouldn't dare come within five klicks of it. I repeat, we do not hunt anything that is fully sentient. Our race is more evolved than our precursors in the Rust Age. Hunter builds do not cannibalize other sentient beings for the fuel we need to survive, nor do we solely rely on prey to live."
"Not all of us hunt, either," Flame-Horn added in. "Builds like Equinines, Harians, and Blade-Horns rely on the same springs and rivers that city-dwellers do. We lack the necessary fangs and claws that hunter-builds employ to hunt. Would you label us cannibals as well?"
"A solid point, Flame-Horn," Beltway said. "One often overlooked."
"And your society is violent!" continued the Tagan Councilor. "Predaking admitted it just now! If a 'bot so much as looks at a beast the wrong way they –"
Tigatron, alpha of the Tigerhawks, snarled and made his own point. The noble beast code was simple in regards to interaction. Respect was a two way street: get into the wrong lane and you'd get plowed over by oncoming traffic. They respected their city-dweller cousins whenever they interacted with them. They did not instigate trouble; they only reacted if someone else struck first. Stand-offs like with the Chargers near the Canyons were flukes in the grand scheme of the code, and that instance had been out of desperation, not a lack of respect. They had only attacked because they had felt they were out of options. Flame-Horn and his younger followers snorted and bucked agreement.
"So you openly admit your kind have harmed us," Cointoss hissed. "Not exactly an argument based in innocence, is it?"
"I'm sorry," Nightflame growled. "How would you feel if your secretary was shut in a prison for an accident? We Chargers are nomads, sir. We rarely come into the cities and so we know little about city laws. At any rate, Fireflight hadn't meant harm! He was just looking for a medical dispensary for one of our wounded! So what if he wandered onto private property? The appropriate response would have been to issue a warning, not put him in a cell!"
Blitzwing murmured something and a Wrangler nearest the front of the hall hissed and bared his fangs, jerking forward in a feigning lunge. A lean young Guardsmech colored yellow, orange, and silver darted forward to intervene before things could get ugly between the two. The Wrangler stood down with bad grace, coiling back up.
"I agree, my officers could have behaved better about that," Blare admitted. "I was unaware of that until the stand-off, and the officers who did the deed are on administrative leave in Kalis, taking cultural courses focusing on Predacons. I'd prefer if that didn't happen again."
"At leassst you are ssssensible about thissss, Counccccilor Blare," said the Wrangler alpha, Constrictor.
Blare nodded.
"I think the Predacus has made their point," said Elita-One, raising her voice. "They want to be treated as equal citizens and have the same opportunities that we enjoy within our cities. Any criminal behavior against them is to be condemned – same as with crimes city-dwellers commit. The CERF in particular desires them as members of their organization. I see no problem whatsoever with those proposals myself. Altihex, Kalis, and Kaon have seen firsthand the benefits of allowing Predacons within their borders, and the Talon Quarter here in Iacon is a hub of culture that is studied by Kalian students. Is that right?"
"I'd also request that pseudo-beasts be treated with better civility as well," Zodiac pointed out. "As half-beasts they suffer a social limbo. My entire crew are pseudos and they had almost as tough a time getting into their positions as I did, and again – they're no different than anyone else. The fact they're neither fully beast and neither fully 'bot actually gives them a bit of an advantage: they have the abilities and partial appearance of Predacons, but the freedom to take what form they wish. No offense, but what in the heck is with some of you 'bots and this association of animal-frames being bad or whatever? Where did that outdated idea even come from?"
Silence met that remark. Contrail and Ratbat looked uncomfortable.
"Avalon? What do you think? Does this sound reasonable to you?" Dustdevil wondered.
Avalon shook his helm and said he saw no problems either. To his mind it was a sensible request put off for far too long.
Progress was like a mag-lev rail, Rhinox rumbled: you could alter the schedule, you in-put delays, but sooner or later the rail would start again.
"All in favor of the proposition?" Elita-One prompted.
Multiple hands rose: hers, Avalon's, Rhinox's, Beltway's, Beachcomber's, Dustdevil's, Jetfire's, Blare's, Shockwave's, and even normally neutral Prowl's. Screwloose's was by far held the highest.
"And all opposed?"
Cointoss, Blitzwing's, Contrail's, and Star Saber's.
That only left Ratbat's vote, his hand remaining down on both counts. Right now they were just one away from the critical eighty-percent needed. His vote would determine success or failure. For almost a breem he did nothing, and he seemed to enjoy the suspense in which he was holding two entire governing bodies in. Neutrino frowned and lifted one hand to his right audial in warning. The little mini-con mech leaned forward. Then, he said:
"Ah, what the Pit. I agree. Keeping these guys out of the workforce is bad for business; we're losing out on a big market here. Besides, as a half-beast I do feel a little for their plight and those of half beasts like me. Emphasis on a little."
Those words echoed twice in the chamber. There was dead silence for a moment as those life-changing words were processed. A great rumble rose then, transforming into a cacophonous, booming roar of cheers, hoots, hollers, and paw-and-hoof pounding approval. Chargers reared back and whinnied. Draconians gaped wide their maws and roared. Avioids let loose audial-splitting keens. Even the Elite Guardsmechs on duty couldn't help themselves and joined in, swept up in the charged energy that buzzed throughout the hall. One of them, a silvery mech with a blue visor shielding his optics, grinned and began pumping a fist into the air, chanting:
"Yes we did! Yes we did!"
The beasts took up the chant. The dome practically trembled under the force of their joined voices.
"YES WE DID! YES WE DID!"
And that was the cue for the reporters to swarm in from their posts on the fringes.
[SMOKE! WE DID IT!] came the ecstatic, boyish shriek.
Smokescreen couldn't help laughing even as his audials rang from the sheer volume of her voice. He'd never heard her this happy before, even when talking about her field, but it was a hard-earned happiness. After sitting on the sidelines for stellar cycles on end in many cases, Predacons were finally allowed to join in the race. Now Star Saber had a real thorn in his side – one that wasn't going to get taken out.
"I saw! I even saw that song you guys did! That was so cool! I didn't think you'd be brave enough to even speak up, much less sing! Cool way to get an argument across!"
[Once a Sky Painter, always a Sky Painter! Even if I don't show it much. Just 'cause I don't like performing doesn't mean I don't have their affinity for music.]
He laughed again. True that.
"What are you gonna do now?"
[Half-tempted to actually let a reporter interview me, but I also gotta head over to the docks where the Bolt is. Sirocco and some of my Bolties said they'd have a victory party when we won.]
"Victory party?" he repeated in surprise.
Unconsciously his gaze flicked over to where Charity was busy walking around and analyzing reports. On hearing him say that her jade optics jerked up to look at him. One slender brow ridge rose as if she were daring him to try something.
"Why don't you do both? You could invite a reporter over and have them interview you and your crew for the record."
[HOLY FRACK YOU'RE A GENIUS!]
He winced. Primus, for an introvert she had one heck of a voice box in her. But he still managed a smile.
"Think I could meet them some point soon, too?" he wondered. "I've never actually met one of your guys before."
[Of course! I'll make sure the whole crew is there! They'd love to meet you – even Danger Noodle and Shakespeare!]
He blinked.
"Danger Noodle and Shakespeare? What?"
Note: Hoo! Longest First Star Chapter by far. Not sure how well I did on it (suck at writing politics because it's not my favorite subject lately) but I like political progress to make up for the idiots that be trying to rollback every progressive thing done in the past 8-10 years. I:
*Also, Star Saber is xenophobic in this iterations since a.) he was never introduced in RiD and b.) I was told he appeared as a "knight in shining armor" in an anime he showed up in, but I don't watch anime since animes are animes, not cartoons, and I've never been a fan of them. He's like this because I'm using ArdentAspen's version of him from DA.
