Chapter 143

-0-The Hearings

Will Lennox moved over to stand beside Prowl and he was joined by General Morshower. Together, the four of them faced Beau Weaver who was flipping through his thick notebook.

Ratchet looked down at the agitated soldiers and smiled. They relaxed only slightly as they dealt with their irritation. Ratchet reached out to pick up their two chairs in his servo, then raise them out of the audience. He then set them down so the soldiers could sit.

The room chuckled, the idea of the normal sized human furniture being but toys in the hands of such big creatures was an amusing and welcomed juxtaposition.

Then Weaver began. "Earlier this year, two soldiers named Johnson and Hedges were members of the N.E.S.T. team. They were accosted by two of the Autobots on base, someone named Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. They were made to feel in danger of their lives and they were attacked. Not only did you, Major Lennox not protect them, you sided with the Autobots and made them confront their attackers. You put them willingly into harms way."

"That's bullshit," Lennox replied angrily.

The room murmured and there was clapping and whistling.

Weaver gaveled as he glared at the crowd. "That's enough of that." He turned to Lennox. "Is that all you have to say?"

"No," Lennox said rising from his chair in his agitation "Those two lied about what happened."

"Then please," Weaver said leaning back in his chair. "Enlighten us."

Ratchet watched him then put a call through to Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, Ironhide, First Aid and Bluestreak. While Lennox was defending himself Ratchet was doing the same thing.

"Our soldiers are trained to be a team. Those two were trainees trying to make a striker team but they weren't working out. They were making themselves disposable."

"What do you mean?" Weaver asked leaning forward.

"They were mocking the Autobots behind their backs. They were mocking them personally, their lifestyle and their relationships, undermining team cohesiveness and making humans look like bastards and bigots. They didn't learn who they were as individuals nor did they treat them with respect when they were with them in exercises as everyone is expected to do to build team cohesion. They weren't even trying to attempt to understand them, to accept that there's things about them that are different, that they even were aliens. They made a dangerous divide with their bigoted behavior and when it got too much for one of the Autobots to take he came peacefully to the barracks to talk to them about it."

Ratchet got what he wanted, then drew Prime and Prowl into an offline examination of what he'd gotten and whether it would help or hinder the moment at hand.

"They hid like little cowards in the barracks and wouldn't come out."

"If two twenty-five foot killing machines were after me I'd be hiding, too," Weaver said.

"You might. I wouldn't. I didn't. Not me, not Sergeant Epps, not Lieutenant Graham who constitute the command team for all striker units appended to the Autobot brief. We didn't hide. We went into the barracks and told them that they were through but before they'd leave they had to go out and help us mend the hole in our solidarity that their bigotry had made. They refused to do it but they did when I told them to go out there and man up. We patched it up. No thanks to them and their bullshit attitudes and judgments. We're one with the Autobots in spite of their actions and attitudes."

"You made them face these dangerous killers," Weaver said motioning to an aide. The aide pulled a large picture out and walked to an easel behind the senator. Placing it on the easel, everyone could see the Lambos, both of them blasting along the tarmac, their sword tips peeping out of wrist sheaths, their looks of satisfaction and their beauty frightening and alien. "These are the Autobots that came to kill those two men."

"Are you nuts?" Lennox said. "Look at them. If Sideswipe and Sunstreaker had wanted them dead, if they'd gone there to kill or do harm to them do you think they'd be alive now to lie about what happened?"

The room erupted.

Weaver gaveled.

Lennox quivered with outrage.

Ratchet sat armed, locked and loaded.

Prowl allowed a tiny smile.

Starscream reached for his null ray gun. He frowned. Then he remembered it was gone. Then he smiled. This was entertaining.

"I think we've heard all we need to hear from you, Major Lennox," Weaver said dismissively.

The room booed, a couple of people clapped and were shouted down.

Weaver looked at Ratchet. "I suppose you have something to add?"

"I do," Ratchet said. "By the way, those two are what we call in our army 'front-liners'. They're two of the most feared warriors in the entire Autobot Army. They find it entertaining to jump onto the backs of Seekers, the Decepticon flying warriors and play what they call 'jet judo'. The Seekers fear them deeply."

-0-Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars

Starscream snorted. "Fraggers. Insane fraggers, those two."

It was Magnus' turn to smile.

-0-The Hearings

"If they wanted to kill you, you'd be dead. If you walk away from an encounter with them it's because they let you. I'd also like to say two things, Mr. Weaver, before I present irrefutable evidence of this encounter. First, that likeness doesn't do them justice. Their beauty is well known among all who see them. Secondly, they're mine, my sons. I'm one of their adopted parents and I don't appreciate you exploiting my sons for any reason whatsoever. If anyone understands them well, its me. I tell you, if they wanted those two dead, if they'd come there for any other reason than to just talk they would be dead. As for the evidence, if you would direct your attention to the blank space at the end of the panel."

"What are you doing?" Weaver asked, immediately defensive.

"I'm going to 'run the video' as you're so wont to say. We told our soldiers to stay away from harassers but we also in that protocol ask them to film any encounters so that we can present evidence should a moment like this arise. I have the evidence from Sunstreaker, from Sideswipe and from all the others who showed up including both me and Prowl. All of the video is in English which is what we speak around the soldiers at all times unless other languages are in order. The N.E.S.T. program is multi cultural and national."

"I don't give you permission to show it."

The room erupted again. On the screens, commentators already agreeing that the hearing was a fiasco bemoaned as only they could the bias and ineptitude of the Senator from the Great State of Texas.

In Ops Centers all over this world and another one laughter was heard on all sides.

Weaver finally gaveled the room silent.

"I'm going to play this video either here or outside, Senator. You made this an issue. You can't pick and choose the evidence you'll allow to be shown to directly address your accusations or you'll look like a charlatan and a fool," Ratchet said quietly.

Weaver who was staring blankly at him tossed his pen down before him. "By all means," he said his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ratchet turned toward the wall, then touched his helm. An image appeared solidifying into a very clear picture. It was a barracks and the viewpoint was Sunstreaker's as the subtitles indicated. He rolled to the barracks and as he got closer one who was outside began to hurry inside with Sunstreaker's words ringing in his ears. "I want to see Hedges and Johnson! Send those two fraggers out! NOW!"

The scene was one of movements, the line of sight never leaving the barracks proper even as the body watching turned in a tight continuous circle The door opened and a soldier, Arne Feltman stepped out. "Hey, Sunstreaker? What's up?" they heard him say. Nothing in his body language suggested worry or fear.

The viewpoint lowered coming more even with Feltman. "I want to speak with Hedges and Johnson. I hear they're saying slag about us and our culture behind our backs. I want them to tell me to my face."

Feltman nodded. The point of view glanced upward to the barracks then back to Feltman. The point of view changed as whoever was watching Feltman looked back to see the figure of the red Lambo rolling toward them swiftly. The point of view raised up to take in the other, himself a fiercesome image of pointed finials and danger.

"Sunny, what are you doing?" that red one asked in a low voice in perfect English.

"I found out who the fraggers are who are slagging us, Sideswipe. I want them to come out and talk to us," the point of view said. Then it changed. The speaker became the watched and the one called Sideswipe was viewing. Sunstreaker was his mirror image in a luminous yellow and black though their finials were different. His optics were filled with rage but his temper was under control.

They stood rolled in circles around each other, talking together in Cybertronian, all of it subtitled. The discussion was the insult felt, the desire to see the faces of such bigots and to have them understand that slagging was anathema.

Then Lennox appeared running as fast as he could. They bantered with him when he arrived out of breath and showing it. "You calling me a wimp?" he said with a grin.

"Yes," the two bots said together.

Then Feltman appeared in Sideswipe's view and said, "Sunstreaker wants to speak with Jim Johnson."

The view focused on Lennox. "Why do you want to speak with our guys, Sunstreaker? I gotta know as their commanding officer."

Then the viewpoint, obviously still the red Lambo, focused on Sunstreaker. "I hear rumors, Lennox." His low guttural voice sounded frightening.

Lennox: "What kind of rumors, Sunstreaker? Maybe I can help you."

The yellow Lambo stared at the barracks sheathing and unsheathing his swords. Some of the faces in the window staring out moved back. He grinned savagely then turned to Lennox who stood unafraid before him, a tiny figure all in all.

Sunstreaker who was rolling around the little group, his face never turning away from the barracks then paused to look down at Lennox: "Maybe. Maybe not."

The point of view, Sideswipe, could be heard speaking in the same voice but with a lighter tone: "There's rumors that some of your soldiers are talking slag about us behind our backs. "Some of them are talking slag about our relationships and us in general. We don't like it, Will."

Then the view turned to spot Epps running to them, also out of breath.

He spoke: "What's going on?" He listened silently as Lennox filled him in, the situation tense and emotional. The two looked at both bots.

Lennox spoke: "Who are the soldiers? Do you know?"

The bot named Sunstreaker replied: "Some fraggers called Johnson and Hedges. "I don't like them, Will. We're fraggin' front-liners, warriors and all of our side are the same kind. We don't need some little meat sacks slaggin' us behind our backs, running down what we can do and what we are. I don't think I need to hear about some puny little fraggers slagging our species when we're bleeding and getting slagged protecting this little marble. We get enough of that slag from Galloway." His expression was ferocious. The viewpoint must have agreed because the visual feed bobbed up and down.

Prowl glanced around. Everyone including Weaver was entranced and enthralled with the visual. He then watched himself, remembering that day like it was yesterday.

Lennox listened, nodding at the commentary. Then he spoke: "No you don't, Sunny. If you'd let me I'd like to take care of it. I'll do that because I agree with you and I apologize for any offense that you and the others might feel."

Sunstreaker was not having it. He said, "I'd like them to come out first. I want to see their faces when they know that we know. I want them to tell us to our faces that they think we're lesser beings."-

The point of view, Sideswipe spoke: "Will will take care of it, Sunny."

Sunstreaker shook his head and replied: "I want to see them."

Then Lennox bowing to the inevitable spoke: "If we bring them out is there going to be anything I have to worry about here? Is there going to be a fight, Sunny, because if there is I can't allow it." Lennox looked tense but sounded relaxed in his manner. He spoke calmly but his eyes never left Sunstreaker.

The yellow Autobot frowned as he shook his helm. "Do you think I'd kill him? If that was my goal you'd still be searching for his parts."

Lennox looked at the point of view, Sideswipe who nodded ever so slightly. Then he spoke again: "All right. I'll get them. Wait here."

Then he and Epps disappeared into the barracks.

At this point the view turned backwards as two more bots could be seen coming toward them, a tall black and white bot with mech wings and a dark chevron on their head who would be Bluestreak and a white and red one with medical markings. That would be a Protectobot, First Aid who was chasing Bluestreak who himself was limping. They connected and talked for a moment in Cybertronian which was subtitled in English again. The conversation was about what was going on, that the soldiers were there and general disbelief and disappointment in the soldiers for slagging them.

Then the door opened as Epps, Lennox, Graham and two terribly frightened but rigid soldiers joined Feltman once again.

They gathered around Lennox who spoke: "I have them here and they're prepared to not only listen to whatever you wish to say about their actions, they're going to personally apologize to you before they ship out."

The point of view, Sideswipe spoke: "Ship out?"

Lennox nodded and spoke: "They're going to be leaving N.E.S.T. We hold our alliance with you and the Autobots in the highest regard. We won't allow anything to sully that, no way, no how."

Sunstreaker bracing his seven foot long sword tips in the concrete considered that. He spoke: "A good partial solution."

The new soldier, Lt. Graham spoke: "The only one for us. We're all for one or you're out."

The point of view nodded. Then he spoke with approval in his voice: "Till all are one. That's what it has to be.

The yellow bot thought a moment then spoke, his voice harsh and angry: "I want you to tell us just what we've heard you saying here and there among the meat sacks. I want to hear your insults to our warriors and our way of life."

The point of view interjected: "Who is this Johnson and Hedges?"

Lennox, angry and firm in his expression and demeanor turned to the two rigid men, then spoke: "Johnson and Hedges. Front and center."

The two hesitated then stepped forward to stand at rigid attention, their eyes forward.

"Talk," Lennox said standing at parade rest, his acute embarrassment evident.

"*Sir*, I respectfully decline to speak, *sir*," Johnson said.

Hedges himself rigid with fear repeated the same remarks.

Lennox who was caught off guard whirled on them and demanded that they speak. They declined together again.

At that point the viewpoint changed to another farther away. The clarity was crystal and the audio perfection but all the players could be seen including a huge black Autobot and another one with wings which everyone in the room recognized as Prowl. They were hurrying to catch up. Behind the crowd at the barrack's door, the soldiers inside standing at the windows were waving their arms trying to alert Lennox, Epps and Graham to more Autobots coming.

The point of view was Ratchet's and he would remain the main point of view for the rest of the film. Sunstreaker, surprised, turned to Bluestreak, the new winged Autobot.

That Autobot was afraid and spoke: "Sunny, what's going on? Is there going to be trouble?"

Sunstreaker pulled Bluestreak close and spoke angrily: "A couple of these organic fraggers have a problem with us and our way of life. They think they can slag you and me, Blue."

The bot designated Bluestreak turned toward the soldiers and spoke: "You do?" His voice sounded hurt.

Several soldiers assured him no they didn't. It was the two standing rigidly on the porch.

Then Lennox spoke: "No. Not the soldiers who were on the last operation. Two slaggers who are going to be leaving here as soon as they apologize."

They, of course, refused a direct order. Again.

By this time Prowl reached the mix just behind Ironhide, Bluestreak and First Aid.

There was a lot of conversation going on at the same time:

Sideswipe to Sunstreaker: "They're going, Sunny."

Sunstreaker to Sideswipe: "They slagged Blue, Sides. They slagged him and Ratchet and the others."

Then the black Autobot, Ironhide spoke: "I want to talk to you, Lennox. I want to know what you're going to do about the slagging they gave Ratchet."

At this point Prowl walked between the soldiers and the Autobots giving them a withering stare. Two stepped backward but Sunstreaker didn't. They tugged on his arm, the winger speaking: "Come on, Sunny. Let's step back and let Prowl sort this out."

Sunstreaker shook his head and spoke: "Prowl? He's one of the targets. Prowl and Prime."

A gasp in the room greeted that. Prowl sat as impassive as a sphinx on the bench with Ratchet even though his bond link with Prime was burning up off line.

Then Prowl, a target of their hate spoke: "Step back and calm down. We'll solve this peacefully."

Sunstreaker interjected: "They mocked you and *Prime*, Prowl. They mocked us, they mocked you and Prime and they mocked Ratchet. Maybe you don't mind but I do."

Then the point of view jolted and a voice, a familiar ambassadorial voice spoke: "Who mocked me, the slaggers?"

A ripple of laughter greeted that affronted tone and even Ratchet had to smile.

Then the big black Autobot was seen and he spoke: "I want to discuss that. I don't appreciate bond being made a joke."

And the cat was out of the bag.

The point of view, testy sounding, spoke: "Who's a slagging joke? What the frag is going on here?"

Then Prowl stepped forward, hands seen placating. He spoke: "Everyone stand down."

But everyone was still angry and a number of them began to speak:

Sunstreaker: "I want to know what you're going to do. I don't appreciate Bluestreak being slagged. Or our life. Or the idea that who we're with is a big joke to someone else. Who the frag are they to criticize us? We're here helping them against the fraggin' Decepticons and this is the thanks we get?"

Prowl tried again but it wasn't flying.

Sideswipe turned to Sunstreaker. "Sunny, they're going to be sent away."

Sunstreaker arguing with his twin was not placated: "So what? The damage is done. They all heard the jokes, they all heard the slag. How are we supposed to trust them in combat?"

Then the white and red physician-looking bot, First Aid spoke, "I agree," then shyly stepped back into the crowd surprised at himself for speaking.

The point of view, Ratchet defended the physician bot's remark: "I agree too. How are we supposed to trust the soldiers if they think we're a joke? And why the frag do you find us so damned funny?"

Prowl who was seen turning in circles finally gave up and the whole gigantic group turned to the soldiers silently. After a bit of fumbling amongst themselves Lennox stepped forward and spoke from his heart: "I'm sorry. I don't know why. I don't know why some of our own people hate others of our own people for things that don't matter. I would hope after all that we've been through that you would know how much we appreciate and respect you. I and the two others of us here know what you do and we care about you and your well being. I apologize for what's happened and we'll do our best to repair the relationship, first by cutting our loses with the main offenders." Graham and Epps nodded in agreement.

There was a pause. Then the yellow Lambo spoke: "That's a start. But what about the rest of you? How many of the rest of you feel the same way? I'm not going to apologize or be embarrassed about me and Blue. We're together and we'll stay together and if you don't like it frag off."

Then more story came out:

Ironhide: "This whole mess started when those two slagged Ratchet." He pointed to the two rigidly attentive soldiers, Hedges and Johnson.

Ratchet: "What? You never told me that?'

Ironhide: "Why would I tell you that? You don't need to know that sort of thing."

Ratchet: "Why not? What if I'm supposed to fight with these two idiots? How can I know they think I'm pit spawn and how can I know they will cover me under fire?"

Then Ironhide turned to the soldiers and spoke: "That's the problem. I came here to discuss that. I don't appreciate Ratchet being a joke to anyone let alone someone I'm supposed to trust on the battlefield."

It was dead silent in the auditorium as the video rolled on.