The Diego Diaries: Interlude 10
-0-Later in Ops Center, Autobot City, Mars
"You look pensive."
He glanced up and grinned slightly. "I have a lot of things on my processor," he replied quietly.
Prowl nodded, sitting across from Optimus. "You can share the load."
"You always carry yours and two others," Optimus replied.
"Its about Shockwave," Prowl offered.
He nodded, then leaned forward on his elbows. "I have an idea about him," he began. They leaned closely and talked quietly for a half hour before Prowl rose and began to make it so.
-0-At the Hearing in the Magistrate's Court
"I am going to speak to you of the processor status of the femmes. Both are at the relative age mentioned by Gypsy but they are in some ways more mature than their age merely because of circumstance. At the same time, they are less mature than others their age for the same reason. They can manage a lot of things that pertain to their upkeep and work as lived on their own. But they don't have a lot of information about what they should be doing or how they should be at their age. That part got skipped over which is common for many of our refugee younglings.
"They have some education, Aurora in particular but need to go to school and receive remedial as well as formal instruction in all the content areas. They are not well informed about Cybertron or what it means to live in a Cybertronian society. Overall processor health is good considering their life so far. I would recommend that they be placed into mentoring families, attend school until they reach the level of sub-adult and can formally apply for emancipation. I would also recommend counseling for both of them to help them process the events of their life, some of which aren't good," Comber said. "I would assign them to a counselor through our office and assign the management of this part of their rehabilitation to their caseworker, Jericho who I suggest stays with the younglings in that capacity through to sub-adulthood."
"Thank you, Comber. I have your full report," Semi said nodding. He looked at Herling. "Sir, if you would explain what you know and will do for these femmes."
Herling nodded and rose walking to the podium. He looked at his datapad. "We forwarded you our findings," he said. Semi nodded. "We have done extensive testing of the two femmes and find that they are competent in rudimentary reading, writing and mathematics. There are entire curriculums that are deficient in their databases that need remediation. They are good candidates for the Youngling Intermediate School in one of the three refugee classrooms where all our deficient students begin. As they progress, they can move into other placements in the school.
"We feel that they will do well in a structured setting coupled with counseling which all our high risk students receive. These are both high risk individuals due to their background and experiences. I fully believe that they will do fine with adequate instruction and support. Their have normal PQ's … processor quotients and therefore should catch up fairly quickly. I don't see anything in their visual, auditory or mental acuities that should be much of a problem. Therefore I am registering them in the Intermediate School and will supervise their placement in the propoer classroom following the end of this hearing."
"Thank you, Herling. I have read your report. It appears promising," Semi said.
He nodded. "Some of the skills they know are advanced and when the time comes if they wish to continue to explore them I would arrange it but for now I am suggesting that their focus be on remediating the deficiencies in their intellectual databases. That is the most glaring feature of this situation as we have studied it."
Semi nodded and Herling stepped down walking to sit again.
"Jericho, do you and Summit have anything to add?" he asked.
"We are prepared to support the two until they get on their peds," Summit said. Jericho nodded. "I will be happy to manage the case until emancipation or a review of their status and placements make Protective Services unnecessary," he said.
"Very well. Thank you," Semi said. He studied a number of things a moment, then glanced at Starscream and Silverclaw. "I would have you speak to this matter, gentlemen."
They both nodded and rose, Starscream giving way for Silverclaw who was higher status as a clan leader and an Elder. When they stood before the judge, Silverclaw began. "We are here to seek primary custody of the femme, Aurora. We do have rights and privileges over the youth and infants of our kin. Since this femme is without a family, we are seeking the right to place her among our own. We take responsibility for her, to help her understand who and what she is and to ensure that she undertakes an education and whatever support is provided to help her. We do not take this lightly and ask the court to grant our petition." He nodded his helm in respect. Semi nodded his. Then he looked at Starscream. That big mech glanced at Silverclaw, then spoke. "We do not take lightly our responsibilities to our young," he began. "We protect and raise them within the culture of our clans and we petition to do so with this femme.
"We have infants in families outside of the Seekerkin that are doing well. I have no reservations about Sunspot at all. This femme however is an unknown entity and therefore we feel a much deeper need to ensure that she understands who and what she is as well as grows up to be an asset to our community. To place her outside of the Seekerkin is to ensure that this doesn't happen. We are aware that the court is aware of our standing in issues involving Seekerlings and will therefore grant our petition."
Semi nodded. "I am aware and I grant it."
The two big Seekers nodded and turned walking to sit once more. "Jericho, I am sure you have consulted the orphan mentor/guardianship list to find suitable placements for the femmes?"
Jericho nodded. "I have. I have chosen for Aurora to place her with Red Wing and his bond. He is the field operations commander for all battle flights for the air wing. He is very responsible, a dedicated atar to his own three hatchlings and has expressed willingness to take in Aurora.
"As for Inspire, there are two families that have offered to be her mentor. One of them is Copper and his bond, Gearshift. They know parenting because they have a sparkling. The other bond that has offered to be a fall back placement is Jetta and Elita-1. They don't have sparklings or younglings but Elita is a femme and Jetta is a conscientious individual as all of us know."
"Who do you recommend?" Semi asked.
"Copper's family. They have a child and a more ready made family," Jericho said nodding. "They are both civilians with a less sketchy ornly schedule rather than Jetta and Elita who are soldiers and therefore are on call at all times of the orn and night."
"Very well," Semi said making notes. He looked at the femmes. "This may be bewildering for you, younglings but we take good care of our infants. You aren't old enough to live alone. On the other servo, you need good homes. We have chosen wonderful families for you to live with. You will both be in the same classes at school and offered assistance as long as you require it. Enjoy the city. Be a part of your family. Christmas Surprise is coming. It is a good time for younglings. I know you may not feel completely calm about circumstances but it will work out I assure you. This is a good place for you." He looked at Jericho. "Will you take care of the next steps and let me know if the court can be helpful?"
He nodded so Semi sat back. "The disposition of the underage femmes, Aurora and Inspire is now finalized with the usual reservations made should genitors or other family appear in future to exercise their familial rights. The case is closed until further notice. Thank you, all for your effort and interest. The court is now in recess." He stood and smiled, walking to speak to Steelshaft and the younglings. They would speak for several minutes, both femmes asking questions.
As they did a big red Seeker appeared in the doorway with another. They stood with Silverclaw and Starscream until introduced to their ward. Copper and Gearshift arrived about the same time. They applied their glyphs to datapads sealing their commitments, then all of them turned with their femme in tow as the courtroom cleared for the next case.
A previously drunken youngling suffering extreme mortification with a suitably angry pair of genitors wandered into the courtroom with their lawyer to sit and wait for the music.
-0-Nearby
"O!"
Orion paused and looked over his shoulder. Praxus was standing behind him grinning. Orion grinned and turned holding out his shovel. Praxus looked at it, then reached capsizing the overly large spoon and its load of sand. They both looked at it, then Orion climbed out of the sandbox. Staring down at the sand on the rug, he looked at his brother who looked at him with an incredulous expression. "Pax. Me?" Orion asked pointing at the sand.
"O," Praxus said pointing too. "O, Pax me."
Orion considered that, then leaned down gripping a fistful of sand. He turned to carry it to the box but by the time he reached it all of the grains had fallen to the ground. He looked at his empty servo. Turning, fixing a gaze on his brother he blinked. "Pax. All it."
Praxus unaware of what Orion was saying but delighted to have a chat nodded. "O. O good."
Orion smiled and walked back pausing long enough to kiss Praxus's cheek. Then he bent and tried to carry sand again with the same result. Praxus walked over and bent down scrutinizing Orion's servo. "O, no. O, good. O, me."
Orion looking intently at his brother nodded, "Pax, good. Help me." They walked back and bent down grabbing a fistful of sand. The same outcome was the result of their do-gooding. Both stared at their servos and each other.
Nearby sitting on a couch, Roto and Nova watched. "I could watch this all day," Nova said.
"You and me both," Roto said with a grin.
"I think Pax has more new words," Nova said with a grin.
"I agree," Roto said.
It would go on like that until snack time.
-0-*!JAZZ AND BLASTER SHOW!*
"So you see, Jazz, Revet thinks I was separated yesterday," Blaster said with a chuckle.
Jazz snickered. "I know you weren't. You're almost as old as Ratchet."
"No one's that old. Maybe Ironhide and Unicron but not me," Blaster said cuing up a call.
"You're going to be sorry you said that, Blaster," Jazz said opening the lines. "This is the Jazz. What's on your processor?"
"OLD AS UNICRON!?"
"Hi, Ratchet," Jazz said. He turned and grinned at Blaster. "I think this one is for you."
-0-In the mall
Payload walked to the Jewel Box and entered pausing to look for someone. The mech behind the counter was helping someone else so he waited. When he was finished, Payload walked to the clerk and smiled nervously. "I'm Payload. I'm here to pick up my bond's present."
The clerk nodded with a grin and looked in the back room for the box Payload had ordered for Caro. When he came out he showed all the features to the big mech. It was carved amber colored stone with a poem expressing undying love and devotion etched into the sides and top in a very romantic script font that high castes often used on similar offerings on Cybertron. That he could give one to his bond was almost more than he could manage. "Can it come in a box or something so Caro won't see what it is?"
The clerk smiled and nodded. Pulling a shimmering silver bag out of a stack of aluminum-like shiny bags, he slipped the gift inside and drew the strings tightly. "There you go, Payload. Perfection. Caro is going to love this on Christmas Surprise orn."
"Thanks. I can't wait myself," Payload said taking it with great care. He slipped it into his subspace and with a profuse thank you, he turned walking out to the Labor Hall for his study group. Night classes from the Tech Center would be ending just before Christmas Surprise for the semester. The time he would have he could give to Caro and Mars, his son. Things were truly looking up as he walked to the subway station nearby to catch a train to the Hall.
As Payload walked down the steps to the platform below, Caro hurried out of City Hall on his break to go to the mall and RTR Tools. He would pick up the set of measuring tools that he had ordered for Caro and Christmas Surprise the moment RTR opened. By the time Caro tucked them into subspace and hurried back to the office, Payload would be immersed in his studies with his friends.
All would be good.
-0-In Prime's Office
They came in at short notice taking seats. Prime grinned at them and considered his proposition. Neo, Vraz, Templar, Gravitas and Eronus sat looking at him with curiosity. He had asked for their help and they had dropped everything to hurry over to do so. Prime leaned forward. "I am in dire need of your services, friends. I would like you to assist me in a charade," he said with a grin.
They glanced at each other, then looked at him. "What do you want us to do, Optimus?" Gravitas asked with all his spark.
=0=TBC
2012 (12) I made a change in the families mentoring the femmes. This story is so big I forgot a couple of things. I changed to Gearshift and corrected Red Wing's family. :D I need a secretary! LOL!