The Diego Diaries: On the Hook 1 (410)
NOTE: SEASON THREE TF:PRIME IS ON NETFLIX NOW!
-0-At the press gaggle
"How can you be 23 tons and be light enough after the transformation that I can pick you up?" a reporter asked.
"Displacement of weight," Ratchet replied not telling them that at that moment the body of a transformer who could do this was occupying subspace to the degree necessary. "The physics may be beyond you but it happens. I've seen Soundwave go from a bot my size to a small musical device that a sparkling can pick up."
"Can any of you do this?" another reporter asked.
Everyone shook their helm. They looked at Ratchet. He grinned. "I have the physics. I could figure it out. I don't want to."
"Does it hurt?" a reporter, the first one asked.
"No. It's just creepy," Ratchet replied.
"What do you mechs do when you aren't here?" a reporter asked.
"Most of us are soldiers. Some of us have school, security occupations on world and the like," Blurr said. "I own a bar."
They looked at him and one reporter nodded. "Maccadam's Old Oil House is what its called, right?"
Blurr nodded. "The best bar in Autobot City and one of the most famous on Cybertron."
"What do you serve?" a reporter asked.
"Vintage and new brews, all manner of high grade and other types of drinks. We have microbreweries who supply their specialty labels that are really popular. Some of them are recreating small batches of old vintages as well as regional. We serve bar food, dinner, have room for card games and other things we liked to do in the bars back home. It recreates the bar down to the rivets."
"Sounds awesome. You're a full time soldier?" he asked.
Blurr nodded. "All of us are except the kid here," he said nodding to Smokey. "He attends college."
"FRAG THAT!" Smokey said before getting punched from all sides.
"Your grandada rules the roost," Springer said with a grin.
"What is a grandada? Grandmother, right?" a reporter asked.
All of the mechs paused, then looked at the reporter. Drift snorted, then grinned. "Ada means father. Atar means father. Whoever ..." he paused glancing at Ratchet. Ratchet shook his helm. Drift looked at the reporters. "Ada and Atar are different words for father. Grandada is the word for grandfather, grandpa."
"Ambassador, you have grandchildren don't you?
"Yes, I do. Call me lucky," Ratchet said with a grin. "And any more questions regarding this subject are off limits."
The conversation continued with a number of off limits questions disallowed and more of the bots chiming in from around the room. It was fun.
-0-Nearby
Andrew Settles walked to the set up for the hearings which would be starting shortly. As he did, the base swirled on around him. It was hard to tell that there had been an attack not that long before. All of the buildings were up including a number from expansion plans through 2020. The white crushed stone roads were immaculate and the replacement plants and trees flown in by Autobot from air bases around the world where they were gathered were already showing their happiness with the island as their new home.
The set was a platform built in front of a barracks where Ratchet would sit and watch the proceedings on big monitors. He would have the repairs as a backdrop and not have to see the committee in person. They were coming with tough questions and he was prepared for anything.
Mostly.
-0-On Autobot City, Mars
Barron walked to the Courthouse in the Cultural Center where the two hearings he was going to help decide were going to be held. One of them concerned Jade and his current status. The other was the first hearing for the petition by Burnoff to serve the rest of his sentence on Mars and work at projects that he had started on the Moon. He crossed the street, then entered the big building, the Courthouse taking over half of the huge structure. The dojo, Sunstreaker's studio and many other artists and crafts individuals still occupied their spaces but the legal profession was making their mark on the space. The offices of various legal departments as well as the judges' offices, the local jail in the sub basements and the courtrooms themselves were contained here in the seven floors of space that once held the Museum.
He crossed the broad building entering the Courthouse proper on his way to the fourth floor where a big conference room was scheduled for both hearings. Pausing to chat with a couple of clerks and some friends, he walked to the elevator and went up. Stepping out on that floor, he paused to speak with Burnoff and his genitors, all of whom looked petrified but determined as they sat in the waiting area.
Moving onward past them after a moment, he entered the hearing room and greeted the judge, a mech named Rheno who was a magistrate on Cybertron and now worked as a arbitrator, judge and hearing officer on domestic and lesser cases. The defender's office would supply an advocate for the defendant-petitioners and the state, i.e., the Prime would be represented by Coln-2. He moved to sit as the door opened and the two advocates stepped in. "Should I get the defendant?" Hydro, a defender asked.
"Thank you, Hydro," Rheno said glancing up with a grin. "We can begin when both of you are ready."
Coln-2 nodded. "I'm good to go."
Hydro turned walking out and returned with Copperton, a very nervous Turquoise and a scared but determined Burnoff. Directed to sit in chairs, the three complied silently. When the group was ready, Rheno turned to them and nodded. "Welcome to the hearing. Burnoff, we are here to hear your petition. The Prime is going to be represented by Coln-2. You have the assistance of Hydro who is an advocate for your interests, Burnoff. I am told that you have met with him to discuss your petition and that your genitors have been in touch as well?"
Burnoff nodded. "We have all talked to him, sir."
"Very good. I have read through your petition and met with the probation officer who manages your case, Burnoff and I am finding a lot of good things about you that enhance your petition. I would ask your advocate to outline your efforts over the past year or so that you have been in detention on Luna and here as well."
Hydro glanced at the tense family, then turned to Barron and Rheno. "When Burnoff went into custody by the state, he was an angry defiant caste motivated individual. He had come to the colony in a migration in advance of his genitors. He didn't adjust nor did he make effort to fit in.
"He was involved with fighting and had to be forced to work for his upkeep. When he was sentenced and sent to Luna, he was forced to confront himself and make his own way without the enabling of his family, a fact that they state about themselves," he said glancing at Copperton and Turquoise who nodded in agreement. He glanced at the two hearing officers, then continued. "On Luna, he was alone at the station with only one visit a decaorn by his probation officer and a counselor. A medic would attend to him every three decaorns. He was given access to education, allowed to view programming on the IntraComm and talk to his genitors every few orns for an joor.
"He had to rely on himself, come to grips with his actions and decide what he could do about his situation. He enrolled in the University and graduated with a degree in engineering. As he worked toward it, in a shorter period of time than normally done, he began to devise different devices that could be used to enhance the production of energon and raise efficiency in a number of our automated processes. He has worked to improve himself and when he finishes his obligation to the state he wants to open a consulting firm that addresses what he has designed already for the good of the colony." Hydro leaned back and looked at the judges. "The young mech sitting before you isn't the one that left here. This mech is genuinely remorseful, educated and ready to be useful to the overall well-being of all of us."
They nodded and it was silent a moment. Rheno looked at Coln-2. "What do you wish to say about the case before us, Coli?"
Coln-2 considered that. "This crime was extraordinarily callous and I am concerned that the interests of the offended parties will be overcome by the zeal of this defendant to be given more privileges and perhaps a reduced sentence. The injuries to Metroplex were the most severe of all but the residences of his precincts were harmed as well."
Barron nodded. "That is a consideration we will take into account. Do you feel that the candidate will be a risk to the population if he is allowed to finish his sentence here or get more privileges?"
Coln-2 shook his helm. "The reports from his counselor show that he's making great progress in his understanding of his behavior. I am not here to obstruct. I am here to ensure that if this youngling's conditions of incarceration are changed that it has no detrimental effects on the population."
Rheno nodded. He looked at Burnoff who sat looking quiet but anguished. "You have changed a great deal according to your probation officer and counselor. I would like you to discuss this if you can."
He nodded, glancing at his genitors for a moment. "I had no respect for anything or myself. I didn't know that. I was high caste and didn't have to worry about anyone else. It wasn't until I had no one to talk to that made me think about what I was and what I was doing. I was so ashamed," he said quietly. He paused a moment, then continued. "I hurt everyone. All of the mechs and families that live in Metroplex, all of the city who didn't need to be reminded about war and harm … Metroplex ..." He sat a moment, then continued, his voice strained slightly. "I went to see Metroplex when I came back. I had to go. I needed to apologize and let him know how incredibly sorry I was. It ate at me on Luna, not telling him how sorry I was and how I wanted to do something for him to make some kind of amends."
It was quiet a moment, then Barron shifted in his seat. "What did he tell you when you did?"
Emotional optics met Barron's. "He told me that I can't ask for what I already have."
It was silent a moment, then Rheno pulled a datapad out of the stack before him. "I have an affidavit from Metroplex asking for leniency for you. He sent it to us when he was given an update on you. He asked that we do that when you were transported to Luna. He has been following your progress all along."
"Metroplex asked about our son?" Copperton asked with surprise.
Barron nodded. "He did. He has kept up with your son and added his own remarks to this hearing."
"What does he say?" Turquoise asked in a soft voice, the moment he had met with Metroplex filling his processor. "I told him that I would take my son's punishment. He told me that he had already forgiven him. He saved my life when he told me that." He looked at his son. "He told me that too … that you can't ask for what you already have."
"Metroplex is in favor of leniency. As the major victim of the crime involved here, I am giving him major weight in this decision," Rheno said. "I am inclined to believe that it is in favor of the good that you be allowed to finish your sentence here as probation, that you have opportunity to open your consulting business and that you meet with your counselor and probation officer on the schedule already set down. What do you think, Barron?" he asked.
Barron nodded. "I think that there is adequate evidence that this youngster has made major changes that are permanent, that he understands what he did and bears genuine remorse over it. I would also make all of the records of this case sealed. It would do no good for anyone if this came out in the population. The Prime already addressed this and mentioned his intention that this be fulfilled as part of any decision made today."
Rheno nodded. He glanced at the two advocates who nodded too. Then he looked at Burnoff. "It is evident to this court that you have understanding of your actions and real remorse about them. It is evident that you have worked hard, improved and educated yourself and applied the lessons learned into your life and spark. Therefore, we order that you fulfill the rest of your sentence here under supervisory probation. We would have you finish your sentence in the custody of your genitors. Live with them, report to your officer and counselor and stay out of trouble."
Burnoff nodded. "I will. I want to ..." He paused a moment, then glanced at his genitors who looked sick with relief and hopefulness. "I want to be a blessing," he said simply.
His genitors looked at the mechs gathered. "We will make sure that he is. He already is a different mech in all ways than he was. It is our fault," Turquoise said before pausing, his emotions clear on his face. "He never had a chance to do better because we didn't demand it. We didn't see the hurt we were causing him with our beliefs. We will do our best, all of us to be a blessing to the colony and each other. I promise you."
Copperton nodded. "You have our word."
Rheno nodded. "Good. Then you may go. You should report to the Probation Office downstairs and square the meeting schedule with your particular mech. Then go and sin no more as the humans say." He grinned.
The three rose with a weariness and elation that was amazing. Smiling, squeezing each others servos, they gave profuse thanks as they left. It was silent a moment, then a knock on the door was followed by a frightened young mech's face peering inside. "Hello. I'm Beray. We … that is, Jade and I were told to come in here."
Barron nodded. "Do come in, Beray. Both of you … come inside."
Beray stepped in towing Jade by servo. The door closed behind them.
"Please … sit," Barron said kindly as the door opened and a number of doctors and experts walked in to help figure out Jade's disposition before his hearing into the murder could commence.
They entered and did sitting side-by-side, their servos tightly clenched. When they were, everyone began.
-0-Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth
They had left the hangar, about eight youngling warriors. Some went to the airfield to leave and others tore out to run around, giving the reporters the spectacle of concept cars peeling out with the rev of impossibly powerful engines and the squeal of tires on gravel and asphalt.
Ratchet walked to the set with a chuckle parking himself on the bench waiting for him there, a cargo container from a ship. The reporters came and settled in too. They were going to be watching the hearings in America from ground zero. After a moment, the soldier running audio turned and pointed to Ratchet. The monitors came on and there were on them the hearing rooms of the House of Representatives and a few familiar faces.
"Good afternoon, Ambassador," the chairman said.
"Good afternoon, Representative Piccolo."
It was on.
-0-TBC August 26, 2013 edited 7-5-14