The Diego Diaries: Game Changer 16 (dd3 7)
=0=Magistrate's Court the next morning, Autobot City, Mars
She sat on a chair in the courtroom with her attorney by her side. She stared at Barron who stared at Semi, her attorney. He'd volunteered to represent her.
Again.
Her genitors sat in the seats directly behind both Semi and their daughter, their demeanor suffused with mortification of a magnitude not measurable.
Semi looking down at his client repressed a grin. He had a lot of love for this energetic wayward femme. She reminded him of his own son, Chipper.
"Sadee, what are you doing in here again?" Barron asked in a stern tone that did not match the mirth he felt inside.
She looked at him, her sweet little face alternating between remorse and amusement. "I was painting again."
"You were. You were defacing the Business Plaza this time," Barron said.
"I know. I just saw the wall with the light coming through it. I used translucent paint and made the Autobrand just so. When the light came up this morning I was thrilled." She smiled, then stared at the ground aware of the disapproval wafting through the air from her genitors just behind her. "It was beautiful."
"It was," Barron said.
She looked up surprised. "You like it?"
"I do," Barron said.
She beamed.
"I ordered it removed."
Her expression faded.
"You understand the idea of private property don't you, Sadee? Even though the Plaza is owned collectively by the colony you don't have permission to put your pictures anywhere you want. Do you understand? I thought we went through this already last time."
She slumped, her forlorn demeanor tugging at everyone's spark.
"I know you're a good femme. You're young and filled with enthusiasm. Art appears to be your great pleasure."
"It is," she said looking up with passion. "It wasn't until art classes here in school that I found out I have talent."
"You have it. Lots of it. But you're wasting it this way, Sadee. What are you looking to accomplish? Being the first little youngling in your class to be in the brig?" Barron asked.
Her genitors looked ill as they listened. One of them raised his servo. "Sir?"
Barron looked at the mech. "Yes?"
"Uh, if our little daughter ends up in the brig, I volunteer to do her sentence. We can even take turns so one of us can take care of Sadee."
It was silent a moment.
Then Barron sat back in his chair. "That's very noble of you to offer. Do you understand what your ada just did, Sadee?"
She listened with her optics focused on the floor. Looking up with a miserable expression on her pretty face, she nodded. "I do. Thank you, Ada."
Her voice was tiny and regretful.
"Semi?" Barron asked.
"The images are being removed. She's doing exemplary work in the Youngling Intermediate School as a level 3 student. She's well liked with many friends and is a good little youngling, sir," Semi said with a slight grin.
"Then you've investigated our proposed course of action and have the affirmations of all involved?" Barron asked.
He grinned. "I do."
"Very well," Barron said. "Sadee, you're guilty. The films show you doing the graffiti and no one else. This is your second offense. We're very disappointed in your behavior and the fact that you let down your genitors when you said you'd behave."
She looked at them with a face filled with misery . They looked at her equally miserably. "I'm sorry, Ada, Atar. I'm sorry."
"We know, Sadee. We just want you to behave," her ada said.
"Sadee, this calls for a behavior plan that you must follow. If you don't, I'll put you in the brig for half an orn. Imagine, a youngling like you with a jail record," Barron said sternly. The room was chilled with emotion. "I want you to promise to the court and to your genitors that you won't tag again and that you won't break your promise."
She nodded mournfully. "I promise," she said looking at Barron, then her genitors.
"Then, youngling, I want you to apprentice yourself to the Art Guild. I also want you to enter a mentor program that the Guild supports for younglings with talent. You'll work in the mentorship program which will allow you to watch, learn and produce art under the supervision of the Guild's artists. You won't be allowed to wander the city at night and draw on walls. Do you understand me?"
She looked at him a moment in amazement, then smiled. "I get to paint with real artists?" she asked with astonishment. "Like Sunstreaker and the others?"
"You will. Unless you prefer the brig?" Barron asked with a slight grin.
"Oh, I would love that! Not the brig, I mean. I ... I want to learn. I want to make art. I heard that the humans like our art. I want to have a show of my art in New York City!"
Barron chuckled. "Not if you're in the brig."
"I won't be. I just want to paint," she said looking from Barron to Semi and her genitors.
"Very well. Your case is held in abeyance. Get through the probationary period and your record will be wiped clean. Mess up, little issy and you'll see the blank walls of the brig." Barron smiled. "Case closed for now."
Semi looked at his client. "Come on to a conference room and we'll explain how this works." He looked at her genitors. "We need to talk."
They stood up almost sick with relief. "Thank you, your honor. Our youngling is a good femme," her ada said.
"We know," Barron said with a grin.
They walked out and the room was silent for a moment.
Barron grinned and pulled the file for the next case. Drunk and disorderly. It would be a colorful day in Magistrate's Court.
-0-On the airfield
They gathered, the crew heading for California. They were buff, handsome and ready to rumble. Gathering with them were Epps, Lennox and Graham. They were going along, too, as backup to Warren Roberts.
Cosmos was kneeling as he chatted with Kup waiting to transform and carry them to Earth.
The sun was bright and the city hummed. The siren signaling school beginning filtered through the weak atmosphere.
Prowl walked to the gathering with data pad in servo. He halted before them. "I see you're all here. I want Scar and Nitro to know that you'll be fine. I got word from bonds that you were nervous. I hope you understand that everyone on Earth will see your Autobrand and know you're with us."
"If not, your bonds will come over and kick tailpipe," Springer said with a grin.
Nitro grinned. "He would."
A moment of guff ensued, then Cosmos transformed, the moderate sized shuttle settling on his gear as his hatch opened and the ramp came down. They walk upward, the twins trading slag with Prowl, then the hatch closed. Almost without effort, Cosmos rose and flew into the darkness of space with ease. When they were gone Prowl walked back to The Fortress.
-0-Somewhere over Ohio
Warren Roberts sat in his seat looking out the window. He took first class for the comfort and privacy. His face was nearly as famous as Ratchet's and the continuous interest in the Autobots made it impossible to sleep in coach. His New England upbringing has been frugal and giving in to upgrades almost seemed sinful. That is, it did until he actually flew first class. From that moment forward it was a necessity.
He'd negotiated this movie into a series when the scope the producers had outlined appeared too big for a single film. The idea of a series showing the bots, their lives and work was considered a good thing. Humans would learn about the bots and see how necessary they were to battle the foe they all faced.
He'd be there to ensure that the mechs were treated right and not exploited. Confidential conversations over the relay system with Optimus, Jazz and Prowl had established the ground rules and what was go or not. He would enforce the rules at his end, Prowl and Jazz on Mars. It was all good. He enjoyed the company of the extraordinary beings that were his great good fortune to know. That a large number of them were friends was the icing on the cake. Settling back to pull his mask on, he slept like a kitten all the way to California.
-0-Paramount Studios, Hollywood, California
They had big security at the studio as well as still photographers to take as many angles of the bots as they could. They'd set up the corner of the huge sound stage with the intention of casting shadows to create an illusion. Seven Autobots were coming and everyone was on pins and needles. In less than two hours the entire first cadre would arrive.
-0-Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segunda, California
Cosmos set down as gently as could be. The soldiers, airmen and N.E.S.T. officers waiting were impressed. Most of them hadn't been this close to the aliens and this was a first hands-on experience.
The hatch opened and the ramp slid down, the dark inside quiet for a moment. Then movement was seen as cars began to appear. A yellow Lamborghini followed by a red one rolled down and moved toward the group of humans watching entranced.
A big yellow and green Top kick pickup truck followed as a white Ferrari with red accents rolled down after. A green and gray Top kick came next followed by two Cybertronian ground vehicles that resembled trucks but unlike anything seen on the Earth until now.
Nitro and Scar had chosen ground formats but had stayed with the familiar while on unfamiliar ground.
They rolled together.
Then Warren Roberts stepped out of the crowd walking to the lead car. Leaning in, he chatted a moment then walked to Kup to enter his cab. Kup drove around the others and the vehicles followed with all of them heading out toward the road together. It would take about an hour and a half to arrive at Paramount Studios on Melrose Avenue.
-0-At the store
Ravel opened the door to walk in followed by Tie Down. The two halted a moment to take things in, then walked to the back. The smelter and furnace were on track. The bins lining the wall nearby were filled with the raw materials to do what they did best.
It was silent for a moment, then Ravel looked at Tie. "I'm ... I don't know what to say, Tie. Look at this place. We never had such a nice workplace. Not even when Ratchet managed to get us the last place we had."
"I know." Tie looked around. Then he heard the door open. Walking out to see someone come inside the show room, he looked at a mech standing behind their counter.
Ravel came behind him and stopped by his side.
"Hi. I was wondering if I could order a tool kit for my blaster," the youngling mech said. "I'm in the Home Guard."
"Oh," Ravel said. He looked around, then walked to the computer. It came on when it clued in on his presence on. There was a program already on that would meet their needs.
A long conversation between Ratchet and Venture had led to a personally derived program that would take care of everything they required.
"Why don't you tell me what you need and we can make it for you."
The youngling complied. He wouldn't be the last. Word was getting around. RTR Tools was back in business again.
-0-Paramount Studios, Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California
The guard post at the studio saw them coming and alerted the crowd waiting nearby. Jack Mellar, the director and Aaron Belcher, the main producer of the production hurried over.
Kup pulled up as Warren Roberts leaned out. They chatted a moment, then Mellar and Belcher entered the vehicle.
"Gentlemen, let me introduce Kup. Kup, this is Jack Mellar and Aaron Belcher."
The two men stared at the Autobot emblem on the steering wheel. "Hello?"
"Are we clear to go? My mechs are in the road."
They blinked. They were sitting inside the body of an alien.
Moments later ...
They pulled up in front of the sound stage that had been set aside for them. The humans stepped out including Graham, Epps and Lennox.
Will Lennox patted Kup's hood and the magic began. By the time that Kup was fully transformed, he was standing before them with stogie in servo. He stared at them with a gimlet optic. Then he bit down on his stogie. Looking at Lennox, he shrugged. "What now, youngling?"
Jack Mellar and Aaron Belcher were in love.
=0=TBC 2012 (9) edited 4-23-2022