The Diego Diaries: Chaos 31
=0=In an apartment in the top of a tower in Autobot City, Mars
"Copperton, I cannot accept your proposal."
"Please, Optimus … it is my fault that my son did what he did. I am his atar. I taught him what he knows. I am so sorry. Please let me pay the penalty. In the end, it is my fault."
"We are responsible for our children. I know as a father what I want for my sons. I am as sorry for this as you are. But this is your son's burden. I do however have in my powers discretion for anything that happens against the common good during martial law."
Copperton looked at him, a flicker of hope flashing across his face. "Please … I want to do the penalty. I failed my son. I failed him and I should do the penalty."
"He would learn nothing, Copperton. He would only know that his atar was a hero. Who would take care of Turquoise? What would happen to him? He is distraught and needs you."
Turquoise looked at Copperton and then Prime. "Optimus, you are a good mech. You always were. My father didn't agree with you on some things but he respected you utterly. So do I. I am asking for mercy for my son. If there is a penalty to pay, I will serve it. Copperton and I will. I can work. I will rebuild the damage with my own servos. I will apologize to everyone hurt. If you tell me who they are, I will go to them now."
Prime felt a pang of sorrow suffuse him and then he made his decision. "I will make a decision here and now, Copperton … Turquoise. I believe it is your son's duty to make a restitution for what he did. He harmed a lot of mechs. He nearly killed Metroplex. That bot was burned. Burnoff did that. He's personally responsible for that harm."
They looked at the floor, a sense of defeat so complete they almost didn't hear the rest.
"I am exiling Burnoff to the satellite of Earth for a period of two years."
They sat a moment, then looked at him focusing hard. "I don't understand," Copperton said.
"There is a large satellite circling Earth that has a fully functional and habitable station. I am exiling your son there for a period that encompasses two Terran solar cycles."
They looked at him, then each other. "Exile? What does that mean, Optimus?" Turquoise asked as he struggled to concentrate.
"That means, Turquoise, that your son will live at the station by himself for two years," Optimus said gently. "He will be alone but for calibration teams coming every six months to check the electronics. He will not be allowed to contact Autobot City more than a joor once a decaorn. He will have access to food, a place to sleep and a chance to think. He will not be allowed to see or hear from you personally except for that joor the entire time."
Copperton looked at him sorting through the noise in his processor. "All alone."
Prime nodded. "He owes a debt. There will be those that say this is too lenient but I believe in redemption. Your son will either come back a changed mech or not. Anything he does after that will result in punative stasis."
They looked at him and blinked. "I feared that would be the court's decision," Copperton said. "I feared that he would be put into stasis and we would never see him again."
"His crime was severe, the most severe our colony has ever experienced. There is no way to mitigate that. But there is always a chance for rehabilitation. I promise you, Copperton, any further actions on his part when this is fulfilled will result in long term stasis."
Copperton nodded. "When? When will he go and can we see him? Can we tell him what we hope he will do to overcome this shame?"
"We want to know what we can do to achieve the same," Turquoise asked. "I feel so much shame, Optimus. So much hurt. How can I help to make it right?"
"You can work for the colony like everyone else, Turquoise. You can also talk to Neo. She had the same problem. She came to the colony after doing harm in her migration. Talk to her and Laret. They will help you." Prime paused a moment. "I am going to conceal your identities. I don't do that just for you. I do that because I don't want bad feelings and any sense of retribution spreading among those who your son harmed. We have many here who live on the edge of a blade. The less uproar the better."
"How will you explain this?" Copperton asked.
"I will explain it in general terms. Identities will be withheld for the very reasons I said. I don't want anymore trouble from this in future. I also think it might do well to speak with Metroplex. He is the most forgiving bot I know. Having his forgiveness will help you a lot."
They looked at him and Turquoise nodded. "It is more than fair. I am so very sorry," he said as tears slid down his face. "I wish to help. I wish to make amends. I am sorry for this and everything. I am in your debt for the mercy you showed. My son will live to earn it. He will overcome and be a blessing. I promise you, Optimus. Thank you."
Copperton nodded. "You are generous in your mercy, Prime. But then, you are the Matrix bearer and that worthy would not chose someone who wouldn't be magnanimous and wise. I am sorry for everything, Optimus. I am wretched in my sorrow over all the length of my life when I did things contrary to the common good. I am sorry that my son had to pay the price of our thinking and that others suffered too. You are wise and just. For that, I am ever your servant."
Prime listened to the formal apologies and knew they were spark felt. A burden fell from him and he considered the youngling. "I will speak to him to tell him of his sentence and your abject misery. He was the architect of that and he deserves to know. Even though you may feel that you deserve to bear the sentence here, you are not the ones who placed the devices. You can move forward as he can. But you cannot make him do it. It has to come from him." He leaned forward slightly. "It is in my nature to hope."
They looked at him and nodded. "I almost forgot what that meant. I am your servant, Optimus Prime," Turquoise said quietly. He bowed his helm deeply and gripped Copperton's servo tightly. He did the same. Sitting back up, they rose. "Please ask of us that you wish. We will do it with all our strength," Copperton said as Turquoise nodded.
"I will remember," he replied in the proper manner. Nodding to both, he turned and left the room.
They stood together a moment and then sat down exhausted. He would have a chance. Their son would have a chance of redemption. They would too.
-0-Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars
He sat down at the center table, Prowl walking over to join him. Leaning forward, Prowl looked at him curiously. "How did it go?"
"I gave him exile on the Lunar station. Two solar cycles of Earth," Optimus replied.
Prowl considered that. "How will this news be announced, if ever?"
"I don't wish details to be made public," Optimus said. "No more turmoil. Just an announcement by me over IntraComm to explain that it was handled, the guilty party punished and amends are being made. I will explain it."
Prowl nodded and sat back regarding his bond. "You are a good mech, Optimus. I like your decision. I wouldn't have before our bond. I might even have thought it too lenient and soft helmed."
Optimus grinned. "Soft helmed?"
Prowl nodded, a grin on his handsome face. "I was a completely different bot then. Now? I think you are a good mech with a just spark."
"Thank you," Optimus said. "I'm tired of endless retribution. I want this place to have peace and if the population knew, Copperton and Turquoise would never have peace. Their son when he came back would never have a chance to be useful. That sort of unforgiving pointlessness led to the situation we are in. We have to change and grow."
"I agree," Prowl said nodding. "We have to hope that redemption is going to be possible. The old way has to die."
Optimus nodded. "I hope so." He rose and paused. "I have to go deliver the sentence. Could you please call Barron to come? I will have to discuss this with him. Copperton and Turquoise also wish to see him before he leaves."
"Done," Prowl said watching as the big bot turned and walked to the doorway that led to the brig below. One down, several more to go he thought as he turned and made the necessary calls.
-0-Brig
He stood in the conference room waiting for the prisoner. Inferno poked his helm inside and nodded. Stepping out, the youngling mech came inside bracing himself when he saw Prime. Optimus nodded. "Please sit."
The youngling meekly complied, staring at the table top without a word. Prime sat and looked at him for a moment. "Youngling, do you understand the magnitude of what you did?"
Burnoff heard his words but the engulfing fear swallowed his response. All he could do was nod.
Prime considered that. "You could have killed Metroplex. I don't know if you understand that mechanism's life but he is a genuinely good spark. His greatness is so massive there is a legend that if he killed Trypticon, the war would end. He is the only mechanism alive that actually scares Megatron but he is the gentlest of gentle beings. He is weary of war. He loves children. He treasures his residents and he serves me and our Cause without hesitation or fear. He is genuinely good."
Burnoff heard the words and felt an ocean of tears begin to churn. He ducked his helm further, clenching his servos against the flood that threatened. He barely nodded.
"I have made a decision about you and your debt to our mutual society. I have that latitude especially during martial law."
The youngling looked up, his optics filled with genuine fright. He didn't say a word. They wouldn't come but his expression said all he could have said to the mech who held his spark in his servos.
"I spoke to your genitors. They are deeply distraught that their beloved only youngling would do such a thing. They asked me to take your punishment. Your atar especially was grief-stricken and begged me to have your punishment. He blames himself for your actions. He feels the system poisoned you and this was the outcome, the outcome of their sins for raising you to believe what you believe."
That did it. Tears fell and sobs emerged. He held his face in his servos, hunched over and shaking as he cried. He looked at Prime. "No! I did this. Not them! They don't need to do anything. I did this!"
Prime nodded. "I know." It was silent a moment. "I also know that the path to redemption is not always an easy one. Therefore, I am exiling you to the sensor station on the lunar body that circles the Earth. You will be exiled there for two years alone. You will be allowed to speak to your family one joor a decaorn. You will be there by yourself to think about what you did. You will be there to consider what a blessing it was that no one died from your thoughtless actions."
The youngling's expression crumpled into tears and he nodded, hanging his helm. "I am so sorry," he said softly.
"I believe you are," Prime said quietly. "I also believe you can learn from this and become a stronger, better youngling. You have the rest of your life ahead of you and a wonderful family. Your genitors are shattered from this. I hope you understand that when you do something, you do it to everyone who loves you."
He nodded. "Can I see them? Are they alright?"
"You can. They will be if you change and learn from this. Your ada wanted to go door to door in the Metroplex District and apologize for this. Do you understand that?"
He burst into tears again, rocking gently as he digested that bit of news. "I don't want him to. Will people know? I don't want them hurt by anyone because of this."
"I am going to conceal your identity and that of your genitors. I don't want that either. I also want you to have a clean slate when you come back. I don't want you to spend the rest of your life fighting public opinion. You have an amazing opportunity to have a chance to come back and start over fresh. No one will tell this tale to anyone else. You have my word."
He nodded. "I don't want my family to suffer. This isn't their fault. I don't want to be afraid for them because of me."
"You have my word," Prime said resting a servo on the youngling's shoulder.
"Thank you," he said softly. "Thank you for that."
Prime nodded. "You are welcome. I believe in redemption. It can only come from you. If you don't learn and there is anything more, I will put you into punative stasis and lock you in the vault below. Do you understand?"
The youngling looked at him and nodded, his tears falling like rain. He sat and gulped, staring at Prime with frightened optics. "I get a chance to do better? I won't be punished when I get back? My family? They will be safe?"
Prime nodded. "Yes. You have my word."
He stared at Prime for a moment, then nodded. "I'm so sorry."
"I know," Prime said nodding. "We are very aware that you are. But your ultimate redemption must come from within. Do you understand?"
He nodded. "Yes, sir," he said. He looked at his servos. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could tell you how much. I don't know what I was thinking. I like this place. It's the nicest place I've ever lived. I'm sorry, Prime. Do you believe me?" he asked, his expression a desolation.
"I do," Prime answered quietly. "I do believe you and think you will change. Be an asset and help your family and our people. We don't have time nor will we ever allow the system to be a part of our lives again. Do you understand that?"
He nodded, wiping away tears. "I do. I'm sorry."
Prime felt a flicker in his spark and he reached out squeezing the youngling's shoulder. "Don't become bitter. Forgive yourself when you can. Learn from this. You are valuable to our colony and our future but no more than anyone else. The system has to die. Now you understand why."
"I do," he said gripping Prime's arm. He looked deeply into Prime's optics. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Prime nodded and squeezed the youngling's arm. "I'm going to get your genitors. They are very sad and all they want is for you to change and come home. Remember, what you do never just affects you. There is always collateral damage." Prime rose, the youngling rising with him, fear and emotion on his face. Walking to the door, he opened it and leaned out. Stepping out, he made way for Burnoff's emotional genitors. They entered and engulfed him, the sounds of tears and wails drifting out into the corridor.
Prime shut the door and turned, a pensive Inferno and Barron waiting. "Barron, I have sentenced the youngling to two years exile on the station on the satellite of Earth. One joor of conversation per decaorn between him and his genitors for now. If you could have the Public Defender's Parole Officer manage his case, I will entertain more talk time in six months. They need also to coordinate with Mental Health the progress of the youngling. He will be alone for two years and if visits from a counselor are warranted, set the schedule and frequency from their recommendations. His family is in tatters as well. That might be a goal of the parole officer to help them mend."
Barron nodded. "I will facilitate it, Prime. I would like to say I salute your sentence. It gives him a chance to make amends."
Prime nodded. "I want the identities of all three sealed. I will make a statement about this to the city but no disclosures. I don't want vengeance problems."
Barron nodded. "Good idea."
"Inferno, I want this youngling on Luna after dark. Arrange for drop off. If you could personally check the station to make sure he's going to be maintained, I would consider it a personal favor."
Inferno nodded. "I will go myself."
Prime nodded. "Thank you. If you could call Chevron here, he can help Coppertron and Turquoise get through this. Thank you all for your discretion."
They nodded and watched as Prime walked down the corridor heading for Ops Center. Inside the room, there were tears, pleas for forgiveness from all concerned and plans for helping their little family get through the ordeal to come. By the time morning came, Copperton would voluntarily be working in a quarry digging gravel for footings and doing whatever Copper, the project boss asked. Turquoise would be working overtime to find the error that would lead to a treatment for the curse of the carrier-soldiers. In time, he would. They would both go and abjectly ask for forgiveness from Metroplex. That great spark would grant it unconditionally. He would also grant it to their son in two years when he would step off a shuttle and walk to the command center of Metroplex, asking with great emotion and remorse for forgiveness on his knees. Until then, Burnoff would be standing by a big window in the station on Luna staring out at the slowly rotating blue world of the human allies. It would be the first of 730 orns that he would.
-0-Later that night, Channel 1-9, IntraComm, no download to Earth or the Habitat
"Good evening, Autobot City. This is Optimus Prime," the grave figure on the screen said. He sat behind a desk in a studio at IntraComm, the insignia of the Primes hanging on the wall behind him. Before him, Jazz directed the transmission, Blaster himself running the cameras as Prowl stood beside them. "I would like to talk to you tonight about the explosion that damaged the Business Plaza and harmed Metroplex.
"The investigation has located the individual involved and he has been retained in custody. All of the evidence was conclusive and the individual involved has confessed. He is deeply, deeply remorseful. I cannot personally stress enough that this is so. He was a young foolish mech who wishes more than anything that he could take back his actions. But he cannot and he knows he has a debt to society that must be paid. I have enacted a penalty that will be paid. The details do not matter. What should comfort all of those who were harmed even indirectly is that the threat has been removed and will not return.
"I know that there will be those among you who wish to know who this mech is. I will not be identifying him to you because of a number of factors. First, he is very young. He will be working on his rehabilitation and he understands the enormity of his debt to society. However, once that is accomplished, it is in my mind that his debt is paid. To have to be always remembered as the mech who did this is punishment beyond the possibility to live productively. There is also his family to consider. I am sure most of the genitors of this city can understand that the actions of their younglings are an impact that can be heavy. They don't deserve the scorn of the city because they are innocent. They didn't do this but they would be shunned or worse because of their son and that would be unjust.
"That is not where redemption can flourish. That is not what we are about. A debt to society had been made. The debtor is paying his penalty. When it is paid, I wish to have a credit to society come back to us. I want that mech to have another chance to become who they should be and not what they currently are. I don't want vengeance to become the self appointed behavior of anyone. We are not what we were on Cybertron. I won't tolerate it. This book is closed.
"I want this colony to reflect the better angels of our natures. I want it to be the place where we can be who we authentically are and not what we were pressured to become under an unjust system. That life is over. Let us rise up together into a better future. For that reason, I am calling a convocation to discuss the system. It is not lawful here. There have been some who wished its return. I disagree. I wish to have a convocation to come to agreement together over the direction this colony will take in future. I have faith in your common sense. I have faith that you can understand that this action has been dealt with fairly and well. Thank you, Autobot City. Good night."
"Cut," said Jazz.
=0=TBC
2012 (10)