The Diego Diaries: Strategy 2 (dd3 429)
-0-Io, Forward Base #3
"I want to discuss a few things with you, Roddy."
Hot Rod nodded to Smokescreen, then both sat down. It was silent a moment as they both watched the amazing panorama outside.
Hot Rod glanced at Smokescreen. "This is about Smokey, right?"
Smokescreen nodded. "Yes."
It was silent again.
Roddy who was growing a tad nervous looked at the profile of the older mech. Then he looked out the window again. It was quiet, then Roddy shifted. "Uh, Smokescreen … what do you want?"
"I want to know what you're doing with my grandson? I want to know your intentions?" Smokescreen said without emotion. He continued to stare out the window.
Hot Rod considered that. "I like him a lot. He's fun and good company. I want to go out with him and hang out."
Smokescreen nodded. "I gathered that. What bothers Dev and me is your track record."
Hot Rod sat back. "Oh."
"You get our concern, right?"
Hot Rod nodded. Then he looked at Smokescreen. "I do. But that was then, Smokescreen. That was before Mars and things were different."
"How?" Smokescreen asked calmly.
Hot Rod thought furiously. "Smokescreen, I don't want you to think that I'm just fragging around with Smokey. He's a great kid and I wouldn't hurt him."
"Those are words, Roddy." Smokescreen looked at Hot Rod. "I want assurances. I'm not just asking as a grandfather. I'm asking as a Praxian appa."
Hot Rod glanced at him a moment, then turned to face him. "What does that mean?" he asked.
Smokescreen grinned. "Look it up." He rose and stood a moment looking down at Hot Rod. "I am and was a lot of things, some not always very good. But never at any moment was I ever not a Praxian. Figure it out." He nodded, then walked out of the room, down the stairs and out the door. Climbing into the shuttle outside, he sat and waited for it to go. It would lift off and after five joors, he'd be back on Mars.
-0-Mars
He walked along the street sightseeing. This was the first city he'd ever been part of. He had lived in colonies, settlements and on ships most of his life. He'd been part of the group that had come with Barc, a famished youngling with a bond mate who was still in the hospital. He was a conscripted Decepticon miner, a young mech born in a settlement that had been overtaken by Megatron.
His bond was a youngling mech who was his best friend growing up. They'd been inseparable and when they'd been old enough to work it was a simple thing to bond. Their families were friends.
When Megatron came they had both joined to save their families from being forced to fight, too. Their genitors were instead made to work at the base where they would be stationed. The only good thing was they were together.
When the time came to escape it had almost been too late. Their genitors were starving, he, himself had been forced to fight in the 'games' and his bond was beaten half to death in front of him for 'offenses'. It had almost killed them to get this far but they'd made it. Now he as the most fit member of the family group was hesitantly looking around. He walked slowly, staring with a dazed expression at the city swirling around him.
"You alright, youngling?"
He turned to the voice. "I'm new."
Bulkhead walked to the kid. "I'm Bulkhead. Are you just looking around or are you lost?"
"I'm both, I think," the kid said. He thought a moment, then shook his helm at the time it took to remember. "I'm A-cee."
Bulkhead nodded. "Come on, kid. You look hungry."
"I am," he said. Walking off with Bulkhead, A-cee went for the first real meal he'd had in over two years.
-0-A Prime Hearing
They came in under heavy guard and sat, visible guns held casually by security who stood around the room. Prime sat at the front of the room in Courtroom 3 as Prowl briefed him on the order of procedure. Then Prowl took his place as Clerk of Court. Semi sat with Optimus to help him formulate findings.
A young lawyer from the Public Defenders Office was representing the group of petitioners. For a moment they conferred with Prime, then took their places at their tables.
Prowl stood. "Rise."
All did, some grudgingly. "The court is now in session. Those who disrupt will be removed. Let there be order in the court." He nodded and all sat again.
Barron as the Prime Attorney General, the 'attorney general' of Mars stood. "I've asked for this hearing to air the petitions of the following … Blindspot, Turmoil, Barricade, Sideways and Scorponok for privileges. They are represented by counsel who will present their petitions. Then questions of the court can be asked."
Barron sat, then Tarro stood to present the combined petitions of Barricade, Scorponok and Sideways. They'd gone ballistic to be included together but had been overruled. Sitting side-by-side, simmering with rage and aggravation, the three watched with barely contained agitation as the process began.
Tarro stood and nodded his helm in respect to Prime. "Sir, I'm the counsel of the petitioners Barricade, Scorponok and Sideways. They've asked for a restoration of the limited privileges that they had shortly ago. They've not gotten into any trouble nor broken any laws when they were allowed to go about the city before. They pledge themselves to uphold the conditions of any agreement you allow. It's hoped that the trust they've engendered by their behavior before is applied to your decision.
"Barricade has a clean record in the city as does Scorponok. Although Sideways has been returned to prison incarceration from prior incidents he's attempted to show with his behavior that he's serious about his appeal to be given another chance to prove himself. We're aware that they would be returning to limited release but it's a start. We hope that you will read through the petition and feel confidence in their request. Thank you, sir." Tarro sat.
Optimus who had read through the petitions earlier glanced at the three. "I would like to ask Sideways how he has changed. Last time you were out you weren't working although you are able bodied and capable. There was also the matter of the youngling whom you were seeing. The family was outraged and so am I. How is it, Sideways, that anyone can believe that you are worthy of any kind of trust?"
Sideways straightened in his chair. "You have my word, Prime."
Snorts from everyone around the room greeted that remark.
Prime stared at the mech with amusement. "Your word is worth very little, Sideways. I have read the petition presented to me and I have in consultation with Semi decided to grant limited opportunities beyond the prison for Barricade and Scorponok. You will leave at the siren for school in the morning and return at the same siren call at mid afternoon. If there are no problems in three decaorns I will consider an extension of your joors outside of the prison. That, however, is up to you. The standard caveats remain. Sideways, your petition is denied. Show some initiative and maybe I can be persuaded. Until then, you remain behind bars."
Prowl finished the input, then glanced at the bailiffs. "You may take the prisoners," he said.
Barricade stood and smirked at Prime. "Thanks." He glanced at Prowl who ignored him, then he and Scorponok began to leave with their guards. Sideways who was stunned rose more slowly. "This isn't fair."
"It is more than fair. You failed to do your part last time and you have made no progress in prison. You do not merit a release," Optimus said. "Take him away."
He was taken away bitching at the top of his voice, something that amused Blindspot greatly. What Turmoil thought of it was anyone's guess. That sphinx sat quietly.
Prowl looked at the next data pad. "We have the petitions of Blindspot and Turmoil, a first petition of the court." He glanced at Tarro and another bot named L-23 from Mental Health. "Please begin when ready."
They nodded, then Tarro stood. "This is a first petition but one that has been unheard due to various reasons for nearly a year and a half. My clients wish to have limited access to the city as per the conditions of Barricade and Scorponok. They've complied with the prison on all matters and have been model prisoners. Transfer from the brig has been much appreciated and has helped the prisoners to live in a better frame of processor with access to the outside and the greater space of their cell block.
"Now they wish to have a chance to go about the city albeit under guard and see the sights, have dinner, see movies and games. They wish for the opportunity to be more free. I'm asking on their behalf that this be so and accept the limitations on their movements as per the agreement with the other prisoners or whatever the court pleases." He sat and looked at L-23.
That bot rose and spoke for the record.
"I'm L-23 and I'm here as part of the hearing structure to provide a mental health overview of the prisoners relating to their viability as candidates for limited release. I've interviewed the two and gone over their records as well as talked to former members of their crews. The information is limited from the pair because they wouldn't participate seriously in the questioning and testing phase of my part of the process.
"I found them both to be argumentative, aggressive, non-cooperative and hostile. They were snide, flippant and insincere. It was difficult to get a straight answer out of either of them so my report is truncated by their own attitudes. I explained to them that this was a part of the release process but they appeared to assume that it would happen regardless of their behavior with me.
"I find them to be a high risk release. I find them to be unpredictable, volatile and dangerous to the general well being of the public as of this moment. I'm not clear given the limited desire to participate in my screening if they're going to be able to be rehabilitated to the point where they're capable of being in society. I wouldn't recommend the release of either one, Prime, because I believe both of them pose a danger to the city and everyone there." He then sat.
Blindspot looked at him with outrage. "You little rat. We answered your questions. Both of us."
"No, you didn't," L-23 said calmly. "You smarted off, gave me flippant answers and fragged around. There was nothing in your behavior or responses that gives me the confidence that you won't go out and kill someone over the smallest provocation. I know that Tarro is asking for your release and has striven to present your case in the kindest manner but he'd be asking for two dangerous mechs with serious personality disorders and criminal tendencies to be put into the public. That cannot end well, Prime."
Prime nodded. "I did not expect this to turn out well. Neither of you have the slightest intention to change. I have a responsibility to the city and her people. Your petition is denied. Do something about yourselves and I might change but for now, no."
"Bailiff, take them," Prowl said.
Blindspot stood up seething with rage. He looked at Prime like he could kill him, then stomped out. Turmoil stood up staring at Prime with his opaque face, then left silently. It was quiet a moment.
"Thank you, gentlemen. You have thankless jobs with these five. You did the best you could in a difficult circumstance," Optimus said to the two young mechs. "I suppose this is the time to schedule the preliminary hearings for the others and to hear petitions."
Barron nodded. "Burris is first. We want to have a preliminary hearing so that we can put into evidence testimony of the witnesses to his charges. They're very afraid and only now making progress on their treatments. El can tell you more."
L-23 nodded. "We've had them in counseling since they arrived and its been harrowing. They've been through a lot but they're serious about testifying. They want their evidence on the record."
Prime nodded, then glanced at Prowl. "You and Semi can put that together. We have a number of events upcoming so it is subject to change. I would like to hear your solution to this problem, Barron."
"We could create a board of judges that hear and try a case short of those that require a Prime decision alone. They rule on it and the findings can be appealed to you. The entire presentation of the case including transcripts are kept, then given to you to review. You have the right to overrule or let stand the decision. You are a court of appeals.
"All of the information that the board gets you'll get as well. We're there to provide a timely hearing for defendants while also allowing you to be the arbitrator of the final judgment. It wouldn't usurp your powers but allow a stand in to facilitate the rights of the accused. It would also allow the court's judgment to be taken as an advisory in some cases."
Prime nodded. "Why not work out the process so we can sit down to discuss and finalize it. This would be a court of convenience around my schedule?"
Barron nodded. "It would. It would be used seldom but would allow due process for all when you're not available."
"Very well," Prime said with a nod. "Burris is going to be heard by me. I believe it is that important. What about the others?"
"There were several lower court settlements. The next case for a Prime Hearing is Jade."
Prime nodded. "Alright. That one I would like to hear myself. I am assuming that all of the essential data is being collected?"
Barron nodded. "He is making headway as well."
"Good. That leaves the Senators and Sentinel."
"It does. We've delegated the cases among our most experienced lawyers. They've indicated more time was necessary," Barron replied.
"It is granted," Prime said. "The first two have priority to me. The last can hold longer."
They discussed things for a while, then the court adjourned. As they did, Barricade and Scorponok were back at their table in Club Cybertron watching others have the life they were too intractably hardcore to have for themselves.
Some things change, some don't change.
-0-TBC September 11, 2013