The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box 9 (dd3 173)
-0-Magistrate's Court later that orn, Autobot City, Mars
They sat in the seats, lines of youngling mechs with their genitors occupying chairs in the audience. They were tense, their genitors. The high castes had been made clear at their arrival intake as well as by other high castes in the city that the system was dead and the tolerance level of acting up because of or for it was in the negative numbers of colonial support. They were tense because their younglings had brought attention to their status in a way that portended bad things to come.
The low castes sat dreading the courts which always slammed them to the Pit even when they were innocent. The 'justice' system was a laugh on Cybertron. Justice and system in one statement usually meant injustice for them and their own applied systematically. No one expected any but everyone on their side of the former status divide held hope that in this place the idea of equality was more than lip service.
Semi sat at the judge's podium with the case datapads before him. He was in conference with lawyers for both sides, his clerk blocking the view of the spectators and defendants as he took the record. No one noticed that Prowl had entered until he walked to the front row and took an empty seat. They all glanced at him a moment, then turned their optics on him to stare.
/...This couldn't be good.../ -Both sides
Prowl sat impassively, his dignity and gravitas speaking volumes for him without a word uttered. He was spectacular in his personal appearance … as usual … and he stared at the banner of the Primes and the Seal of Cybertron that graced the wall of the courtroom behind the judge. It was restful.
Finally, the lawyers walked back to their clients and the prosecutor who had been standing beside Semi nodding from time to time took his place as well. Semi began. "We are here to ascertain the facts in the case of Jolun, Carris, Talin, Flashpoint, Lotin, Barin, Ture, Reese, Mako and Swin versus the Prime of Cybertron. I'm assuming that both counsels have discussed the legal ramifications of this matter with their respective clients?"
Highrode, attorney of record for the high castes nodded. "We have, your honor."
Sims, a youngling lawyer with a burning sensibility for justice nodded. "Yes, your honor."
Semi nodded. "Very well. I would like the Prime's counsel to present the state's case against the defendants." He looked at Lash, a dissident lawyer who specialized in the rights of younglings. He was the senior prosecutor for the state under the directorship of Blackstone and would begin the proceedings.
He nodded respectfully and rose walking to the podium. "Last night, an incident occurred that disturbed the peace, broke a number of misdemeanor laws regarding public conduct that resulted in damage to property and the discomfort of a number of individuals that were caught in the middle of a melee through no fault of their own. Two of the civilians that were walking into the establishment where this happened had to be treated at the hospital for injuries.
"The facts of the case are these. Two groups had come to Macadam's Old Oil House to recreate. One group composed of formerly high caste individuals who are represented by Highrode were already seated and drinking heavily as reported by witnesses who are available to offer testimony. The group represented by Sims were formerly low caste status mechs. They entered moving to the bar and began to drink as well.
"It was reported by the bartender and an off duty Day Watch security mech who was there with family that the high castes began to taunt the group at the bar. Apparently, the former high castes are from Praxus and the former low castes from Kaon. Their sports rivalry was a catalyst for what the state intends to present is high caste hatred for low castes. It is our theory that this was motivated by hatred.
"It was at this point that a youngling, Mako stood and threw a bottle at Talin who had his back to his taunters. It landed on him and a melee began. Before security restored order, there were two mechs who were innocent bystanders who needed medical attention. The security officer there placed responsibility for this on Mako and Swin. I would like to call Rover to the stand," he concluded.
The bailiff walked to the door and opened it, leaning out to speak to someone. A big mech entered and walked to the podium pausing to look at the judge. "Are you prepared to state the facts without prejudice or embellishment on the matter at servo?"
The mech nodded then looked at Lash. He began the questioning. "I would appreciate if you would relay the events as they happened last night in the bar between the younglings sitting over there,"he said nodding to the younglings all of whom looked like they wished the floor would swallow them up whole.
"We were having a relatively quiet evening when the younglings there," he said pointing to the high castes, "came in to drink and talk. We checked their ages and found they were old enough to be there. They sat by the window near the bar and drank a lot."
"What happened then?" Lash asked.
"That group of younglings walked in," he said pointing to the low castes, "and stood at the bar talking and laughing about whatever younglings talk about."
"Did they notice the others?" Lash asked.
"I'm not sure. The mirror reflected that part of the room but they didn't do anything so I'm assuming they either noticed and ignored them or didn't see them."
"What happened then?"
"The mechs at the table began to taunt the mechs at the bar. My partner and I were in the back helping the bartender change a keg. We weren't aware of the trouble until someone came and got us. By the time we got there the taunting had become a fight with things flying and mechs getting hit."
"You saw the two innocent victims get hurt?" Lash asked.
He nodded. "I saw a bottle flying toward the bar and bounce off the helm of a mech who wasn't involved. A chair hit another customer who wasn't a part of this. Both items were thrown by the younglings, Swin and Mako. The other mechs were fighting with their fists."
"What did you and your partner do?"
"We called for the bartender to signal the Night Watch to come and we both waded in separating the two sides. I had to drop a couple of them before they stopped. By then, the Night Watch was there and arrested them, hauling all off to jail."
Lash nodded. "You weren't there to see the first blow landed or to see the taunting. How do you know the individuals did what you say they did?"
"We interviewed the bartender who was there for all of it and reviewed the cameras. Cybertronian law requires security cameras in bars and restaurants that serve high grade. We submitted the data to your office as you requested."
Lash nodded. "No further questions at this time, your honor." He walked back to the prosecution table to sit.
Highrode and Sims leaned in together a moment, then Highrode arose. "Your honor, our clients are not disputing the evidence that there was a fight. Both sides take responsibility for what they did. What we would like to do is discuss what can be done to prevent this from happening again and to make restitution to those injured from this unfortunate incident. Our clients are remorseful about this matter and would like a second chance to prove themselves worthy of it.
"All of the younglings before you are employed or attending school full-time. All of them have good genitors who are concerned about their behavior and wish to make changes. They're ready to step up and take the punishment deserved for their immature and inappropriate actions. We're asking the court to take into account that they've been busy adjusting themselves into this new, more secure environment. They were among the new arrivals just recently and are having to shift to the idea that they're safe and well in a new and complicated city."
Sims nodded. "The younglings have expressed great remorse and a willingness to make restitution to those injured. They implore the court to take into account the dissonance of their life here compared to what it was mere orns ago."
Semi considered that. "I'd be willing to take that into account in any decision I make regarding this incident but there is someone who has petitioned the court to speak regarding these younglings and their actions." He looked at Prowl and nodded. "I grant the petition of Commander Prowl, Sub Commander of the Autobot Armed Forces."
The room became silent and tense as Prowl rose. As he did, Highrode looked at Sims, then Semi. "With all due respect, your Honor, what standing does the Commander have in these proceedings?"
"The Commander has petitioned to speak as a citizen and as a senior official tasked with the protection and guardianship of our planet and everyone who lives here. He would like to speak to the court regarding the situation that's underlying this event, the caste system and its status, or lack of one in the colony." He looked at Prowl. "Sir, you may speak." Semi leaned back to listen.
The younglings and their genitors watched him walk to the podium and turn to look at them with his cold blue optics, his gravitas as a seriously dangerous soldier and his emotion-free, unknowable expression intimidating. He looked at them a moment then began. "I am Prowl, a high caste mech from Praxus. I was born into the high caste and lived with advantages all of my life that such a stroke of fortune and luck granted to me without effort, without even needing to actually earn such favors.
"I attended the best schools, had opportunity all of my life and knew what it meant to be warm, housed and content every night. As with most high castes, I didn't know there was any other life because I didn't find myself in those places, among those mechs. When I did it changed me forever because underlying the caste system is a fundamental set of facts that too many of us ignored and continue to ignore.
"The system was a brutal repression regime with a basic racist undertone and a callous disregard for the fundamental idea that all of us were one from Primus. That some of us could feel that we had an intrinsic right to everything while denying others even the basics is a seriously evil set of beliefs that have led to us being here arguing this case on another world and not on Cybertron. It's only because we are here living with the rulings of a decent Prime that we're having a trial at all.
"The Caste System is repressive, evil, immoral, blasphemous and over forever among The People. To create a system that favors some over others for reasons that cannot even be articulated without the sensation of shame is a blow to the sovereignty of Primus and The One. They were very clear from the beginning that all are one. All. Not some. All of us. But some of us didn't listen. They created an artificial system that gave a gloss to some that wasn't even evident in order to preserve a social and economic disparity that led directly to the near annihilation of our species.
"We're on the brink. We could still disappear. Our civilization is in tatters and much of our learning is still gone from us. We've just now begun to reproduce and there are many … too many who've never seen a sparkling or youngling until now. All of this happened because someone imposed the blasphemous, evil construct of caste upon a people designed to be united from birth as one.
"Our army is filled with low and middle caste mechs and femmes. They stepped up to defend us and always have. Three meals a day and a roof over their helms motivated a lot of them but they stayed because they loved Cybertron and wanted to protect our people, our culture and our world, a world that denied them even their basic parity with others as a child of Primus and the One.
"Yet in the end Cybertron fell anyway. There was no acknowledgment of the terrible deprivations and hardships of the many by the few who held all the power. Not once unto this very orn was there an apology or even simple nod for their suffering and sacrifices.
"War was inevitable. Unrest and revolution were dictated by how The People suffered and how long they were willing that to continue. What genitor would passively allow their infants to starve because someone somewhere said that what you had no matter how inadequate it was would be all you would get? What mech would allow his genitors to suffer in their old age? What kind of society were we to allow this?
"We have evidence in this matter that the former high castes started the fight and created the injuries. I believe that the former low castes were victimized by these mechs," he said turning to fix his cold emotionless gaze on the five high caste younglings and their squirming genitors. "They deserve a punishment fit to the crime. They didn't care that they were attacking mechs who did nothing to provoke it and they didn't care that their actions could and did hurt others who were innocent. It would be a miscarriage of justice for the most guilty to get a slap on the wrist for what they did.
"They're bringing the caste system to our shores. They may have a football rivalry but make no mistake. This is about caste. This is the cancer of the caste system revisiting itself upon our shores and I speak for the Prime and the majority of our citizenry that it won't be tolerated.
"We have a prison for those who wish to undermine our unity with their bigotry. I respect the lawyers present who've done their jobs well but I would ask the court to make the punishment fit the crime. Our unity is at stake if they receive less. They won't understand that we're resolved. Thank you for the opportunity to address this matter, your honor." He nodded respectfully to the two lawyers. "Gentlemen."
They nodded back and looked at Semi. "Your honor, with all due respect, I would like to point out that Commander Prowl is the bond of the Prime. I don't wish to imply that he has a vested interest here beyond a desire to see the system end and these younglings to understand that they have to obey the laws and change their opinions, but that is a factor we don't wish to have precedence over the actual facts. We wish that our desires for leniency and the opportunity for restitution be granted so that they can have a chance to change for the better without prejudice."
Semi looked at them and felt a tiny smile grace his lips. "I appreciate your arguments, gentlemen, but the opportunity to change is in their servos no matter what I decide about this case. They have the burden to change. The state has the burden to protect the population from the depredations of those who feel above the law and make no mistake, this is a case of those who knew better but feel they're above the law." He looked at the younglings. "Stand up, younglings."
They did, uneasily glancing at their worried genitors and then the judge. Highrode and Sims along with Lash stood as well.
Semi thought a moment, then looked at Prowl. "Sir, I agree with all your points. I think and know that effort has been made to ensure that everyone who lives here knows The System is dead. They know it. Maybe their journey has made thinking about change and the new order slower or even difficult but that doesn't change the facts."
He looked at the younglings. "You were told from orn one that the system was dead, that your complaints from Cybertron even if they're sports derived would not be tolerated and that the Prime and the laws of Cybertron were in force here. All are one here. Yet, when younglings walk into a bar as they're allowed to do you make a fight happen," he said looking at the high castes who looked like they wanted the earth to swallow them up.
"You acted with callous disregard when you threw things and injured two innocent mechs. That won't be tolerated here. It isn't like I have to guess what was what and who is the most culpable. I have video evidence. Your lawyers acknowledge your guilt by asking for mercy. What else can they say and do? Some things are just that evident. And indefensible.
"Jolun, Carris, Talin, Flashpoint and Lotin, you are remanded into the custody of your genitors. You're under house detention for a decaorn. You may go to school or work but nowhere else. I'm going to ask the Day Watch to put you on the detention grid. If you go anywhere at any time without asking permission of the Court you will find yourself in jail for two decaorns. One for the sentencing and one for contempt of court. Your detention will be supervised by the Parole Office and you will tell them if you need to leave for any other reason. It will be a good reason, younglings, if you ask."
They nodded to him with expressions filled with relief. Their genitors nodded behind them, their expressions filled with determination and relief as well.
Semi looked at the other five. "Barin, Ture, Reese, Mako and Swin, you're remanded to the jail for two decaorns where you'll serve your sentence in full. You harmed innocent mechs with your behavior. You'll undergo anger management training through the Parole Office so that in future you'll be mindful of your behavior and the consequences if you act on your bigotry again. You've shamed your families. It's up to you to redeem that. Do you understand?"
They nodded as their genitors stood up behind them stiff with mortification and upset.
"Very well," Semi said. "This case is closed and the younglings are remanded to their places of punishment for the duration. Any attempts to short-circuit your sentences will be met with resistance from the Courts. We're in recess. Bailiff, take the younglings to the jail in the Fortress."
The genitors of the jailed looked at their younglings as they walked away into the courthouse with the bailiff. The others walked out silently with their increasingly aggravated genitors. It was a fine line between intense fear and anger and gut wrenching relief. They'd find out when they got home and the word was laid down.
Prowl nodded to the lawyers, prosecutor and judge before turning to leave, pausing a moment as the genitors of the high castes looked at him. He looked at them without expression, then moved onward. Exiting the room, he was halfway down the corridor when a voice asked him to wait. He turned to watch as all the high caste genitors walked to catch up to him.
-0-TBC 2013 (1) edited 5-4-19
NOTE: HOWWDDDEEE! It is -25 here. I hope you are warm as toast where you are. :D :D :D Just saying. ;0)