The Diego Diaries: Slammer (dd3 442)

-0-In the courtroom

He stood on the stand after taking the oath waiting for the questions to begin. He was an impressive mech, 25 feet tall, black with white accents, his power evident. What was also evident was his famous good nature, his sense of humor and his intelligence. Alor of Iacon was famous to his people in a way that humans might struggle to comprehend.

It was as if Mozart, Bach, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and the Beatles were combined into one body. That would be the reference point with which to try and understand the impact of this mech and his genitors on Cybertronian cultural history. That even the Decepticons held him in the same reverence was testament to his universal talent and good nature.

He was mid caste, the oldest sparkling of a well respected military and musical family who had supplied soldiers to Cybertron since the time of The Thirteen. They'd noted this child's precocious musical talents early and because they were famous musicians themselves, known universally with reverence, had sought and been granted leave to have him attend schools to build on them.

There was no instrument Cybertronian or alien that he didn't master when handed and no form of musical notation or composition that he not only understood but improved upon. It was uncanny. He began to compose music from sparklinghood and it was devoured by a fascinated public.

As he grew into adulthood, he joined the army as his family trade and continued to make music. It was embraced by the public, became the background accompaniment to nearly every important occasion and event in both private and public life and ensured his fame throughout the empire.

He bonded with Blackjack, his best friend from sparklinghood because the hulking mech followed him everywhere giving the stink optic to anyone who DARED TO SPEAK TO HIS MECH, SLAG IT!

They were meant to be.

As Blackjack rose through the ranks to become a general and Master of the Autobot Armed Forces, Alor rose with him becoming a master tactician, THE tactician before the rise of Prowl. Music = math = tactics. It was a perfect fit.

They had a sparkling, a little mech they named Ironhide after Blackjack's atar's brother and took him everywhere they went. Modeled after 'the handsomest mech' he ever knew, Blackjack, Alor foreshadowed Ratchet by many vorns. Ironhide grew up on ships, at outposts and in the glittering social capital of Iacon. They kept an apartment there and entertained all along the social spectrum introducing some of the elite to their first ever interpersonal relationship with the lower castes. Two bonds came of that, something that Alor held dear.

There were all manner of bots who came to their home because of this or that policy that the military needed or wanted. Parties at their apartment or house were often the chosen venue by command to get support in the government.

Many was the unacceptable bot invited that was suffered in the pursuit of the common good by the affable mech including the most insufferable to him of all, Neo of the Council of Ancients. Her dismissive attitude about the greater mass of their population rankled. It was only at Autobot City that he was able to let that go after watching her sincere transformation from a cold-blooded machine into a dedicated remorseful loving asset to all who needed help.

It was good for Alor, too. They'd actually become friends real friends.

Their home in Praxus was also a salon, a place for the intelligentsia to gather for conversation and laughs. Alor was a great host and Blackjack incredibly amusing company. They would show their little mech and when most would put him to bed kept him with them. He grew up with all 'the advantages' and an incredible amount of love. Ironhide knew how to dance, play several instruments and even sing.

Sort of.

When he brought home his medic, Alor and Blackjack enveloped Ratchet into the fold including his parents whom they came to love. There was no artifice about either mech. You knew where they stood and they taught their son to look at each mech or femme as individual and a gift from Primus to their people's future and well being.

As Alor stood on the stand waiting, he was aware of the unease among the crowd that Their Alor was on the spot. He considered that a good thing. Maybe they could change. He was ever hopeful, this pragmatist. He looked toward Coln-2 who began.

"Commander, you've heard testimony about the events. Do you agree and is there anything you can add that might clarify or correct any testimony thus far?"

Alor shook his helm. "I concur with Commanders Prowl and Ratchet."

"You struck a bot yourself. Could you tell us about that?" Coln-2 asked as he sat.

Alor nodded. "Blackjack and I had dinner at the Cafe Praxus and were heading for the Club to see if the trine was there, my grandchildren, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Bluestreak. When we entered, the brawl was pretty much over as Prowl had managed to secure control of the combatants.

However, when he did, one of the younglings decided to insult him, then worse, the Prime. Prowl dropped him. Anyone who knows Prowl knows that slagging the Prime is like slagging Primus to him. I also feel the same way. Blasphemy is a sad commentary on that bot's spark. Another was dropped by Ratchet for attempting to fight and when I picked the two up, someone shoved my arm. My reflexes ended that foolish mech's bad behavior."

"The three of you were incarcerated," Coln-2 said.

"It seemed the prudent thing to do. We'd ended the altercation but the ultimate judge of what happened would and should always be the responsibility of the courts both military and civilian. This isn't Cybertron during the Clampdown so we entered lock up, too."

Coln-2 considered that. "What happened in the night? We have heard many tales. What if anything else can you add, Commander?"

Alor thought a moment. "There were a lot of remarks made by the defendants to the soldiers, especially to Prowl. The soldiers for their part held their peace. I feel that the presence of three commanders including the S.I.C. was helpful toward achieving that end. They were provoked each time an exchange was made. The mini-cons for their part were stand up. They knew they were in the wrong and took their punishment. I have to say it puts a whole new spin on mini-cons for me."

A chuckle floated up, then subsided. Everyone knew about the pugnacious personalities of that format very well.

"Tell us about Sio," Coln-2 asked.

"Objection. He isn't here and we don't know where he is. I object to discussion about him without his presence," Fenix said.

"Overruled. He was part of the situation at servo. His participation and actions are fair and reasonable to examine. Continue," Semi said.

Alor nodded back. "He's worrisome. I say that as an ada, amma. He seems to be lacking a few common sense virtues that keep a mech alive. He was in a lock up with about a dozen front line soldiers and about half a dozen Wreckers. These are the toughest most fearless troops we field in our armed forces. Even the Decepticons fear them. Their abilities and lore are well known. Yet this youngling kept prodding and insulting them. He was relentless. Everyone would calm down and he would come back. It made me wonder about his psyche and feel deep gratitude for the bars."

"Objection. Speculation." Fenix stared at Semi, then Alor who was in spite of things the only one whose music he had in his collection to the last simple ballad.

"Sustained with caveats. Commander, we'll consider your comments speculation rather than something more and weight them in the final decision as that. I'm only allowing your speculation as observation because of the rough sketch that Commander Ratchet has already given. I'll have this line of questioning dropped. Coli, you need to move onward."

"Yes, your honor," he said with a small amount of satisfaction. Sio was corroborated as an ass hat. "Commander, your bond and son arrived at the scene at some point. Please tell us about that."

"My bond can burn water so I was on the link helping him prepare his dinner," Alor said as a slight snicker went through the room. He grinned minutely. "Blackjack is a cracker jack soldier but I cook, he cleans. When it was obvious that there was a youngling in their cell who was going to continue to incite, I asked them to get security to remove him.

"What we had was a tinderbox. I was concerned that this would become so inflamed that it would continue when everyone was out of detention or jail. My bond and son arrived. I expected security but my bond ranks so he had authority. I've also learned that the Prime detailed him to go take care of it. Prime had other things to do at the moment.

"Blackjack and Ironhide arrived with security and the youngling named Sio was removed. The law was laid down and everyone toed it. It was peaceful if not tense the rest of the night. Fenix can attest to that," Alor said glancing at the lawyer. "He was there."

"Thank you, Commander. No more questions."

Fenix stared at Alor a moment, one of the few less than high castes for whom he had nothing but enormous respect. "Commander, tell us about the demeanor and commentary of your bond and son."

"They were as brisk with the prisoners as they would be with miscreant soldiers. They laid down the law and meant it."

"They threw down challenges to fight as well," Fenix said as a slight groan of surprise filled the room.

Alor noted that, then fixed a stern optic on Fenix. "The younglings were insistent on stirring the pot. They called both me and my son-in-law, Ratchet, dirt. Dirt lickers to be precise."

A chill settled on the room as the audience listened, the expressions on their faces a mix between OMG and Oh-Oh. It was one thing to speak among themselves such things but it was another to get caught by the greater world. The sentiment was shared by nearly all of them but they seldom were vulgar enough to make a spectacle in public saying such things where they could be caught doing it.

It was embarrassing for them in that manner, but not because the sentiment was so terrible. They all held the same views. It was only the reckless young who actually would say such things in public.

"They called my bond a dirt licking mixer. The one called Sio challenged my bond and Blackjack for his part told him to shove it. He told him if he was so secure about what he believed and that no one else rated to step out and try his hand with a real Cybertronian soldier.

"He didn't, of course. None of them did. Apparently, they believed that the same structure that protected them when they acted this way on Cybertron and other places existed here. They found out last night it didn't."

"Your bond threatened to fight the incarcerated younglings," Fenix said.

"He told them after their insults if they wanted to show how tough they were to step out. Big difference. My bond is a Praxian Warrior Elite and so is my son. There isn't one person in this room that's higher caste than either. Look at them," Alor said nodding to the wall nearby.

Everyone glanced their way.

"They're standing against the wall because there's others here who can benefit from sitting. Elderly, upset mechs and femmes are sitting. They aren't. Caste doesn't mean a thing to them and caste will never trump good manners and empathy to them either. But if this were Cybertron and they wanted to, they could bump anyone in this room and no one could dare complain.

"Even in the fragging caste system there's caste. My son and bond are the kings of this room and they could make Optimus stand, too, if they felt the way you do! They don't! My boy was raised by us to value everyone equally because it's right and Primus-instructed behavior. Too bad these younglings weren't raised to believe the same things. None of us would be here now.

"I told Prowl and Ratchet last night that this is what you get when you don't raise younglings right. You didn't. They're a disgrace. I tell you that as an ada and amma myself. I'd slag them all if they were mine." He paused, then grinned. "My grand babies are awesome, all of them. I don't have your problem," he said looking out at the crowd. "Even as a mid caste lowlife, I don't have that PROBLEM!"

Most of them looked down or away. A couple looked irritated but this was Alor of Iacon. No one felt the nerve to argue back. He looked at Fenix. "They brought the heat. Blackjack and Ironhide brought the water. The rancor ended when that youngling was removed by security. You were there. You saw it yourself."

"Is it standard procedure to threaten incarcerated prisoners?" Fenix persisted. "Is it standard procedure to make mechs with no way to escape fear for their sparks?"

"IT WAS ON CYBERTRON! It was in the jail system maintained by the government. I do remember the Clampdown and the brutality in the prison system. I remember the brutality in the camps. YOU DIDN'T COMPLAIN THEN, FENIX! I find it amusing that an exchange of words brings you into high dungeon but what happened on Cybertron that was murder, torture and blasphemy raises no concern for you. You need to get out more," Alor said with a grin.

A chuckle from a few of the gathered broke the stillness of the room.

Then Fenix cut his loses. "I would like Alor listed as a hostile witness. I would also like to challenge some of his testimony. It's clear that this witness is abetting the grossly unprofessional behavior of his bond and son."

Alor snorted, then grinned. "Okay," he said with his usual jaunty flare. He looked at Semi. "Do I go now?"

Semi grinned. "You're excused, Ali."

Alor stepped down and walked to his seat. He squeezed Ratchet's servo. :That was fun:

Ratchet who was grinning leaned against Alor's shoulder. :Did I ever tell you that you were awesome?:

:Not enough times, Ratchet: Alor said as both quashed a guffaw.

Coln-2 looked at Semi. "I would like to call Optimus Prime to the stand."

The courtroom hushed as all turned to look at Optimus. He rose with great dignity and walked to the platform. Taking the oath, he looked out at the gathered group. They were staring back with guarded expressions, some averting their optics. He turned toward Coln-2 and waited.

"Sir, I'd like you to touch on all of your participation in this event that you can remember please."

Optimus nodded. "I was home with the sparklings helping with homework when the call came to me that there was a major altercation happening at Club Cybertron. I called both Springer as Head of Security for our civilization here and the duty officer at the Ops Center. Prowl answered and said he would take the call. He would be met there by Springer and a detail. I visited the brig for a moment to see for myself what was happening. Once there, I considered it under control and returned to tending to my children and genitors who were also at my home."

"What was the next communication you received, sir?" Coln-2 asked.

"I received word from General Blackjack that the major miscreant had been removed to solitary confinement and that he felt the situation was under control. I did not receive anything further that night."

"Your bond was a part of this altercation. What can you add to the testimony that has been given by him and the implications of that testimony to this situation if any, sir?" Coln-2 asked.

"Commander Prowl is the greatest strategist in our armed forces. Along with Commander Alor, there are no better in our history. They have both planned military operations and had responsibility for sending troops into harms way. I trust him and Commander Alor implicitly.

"Commander Prowl was raised in a deeply religious family and has strong feelings for the teachings of Primus especially as they allude to equality and the premise of our civilization that we will not achieve our greatest potential until all are indeed one. He has never been a believer in the caste system even though he was born into the high castes.

"He has always considered criticism toward me that is in his estimation unjust or unworthy of my office and by extension the Matrix and Primus to be blasphemy. I do not excuse his actions but I understand them. I trust Prowl with my spark and depend upon him greatly. We have achieved much of what we have through his wise counsel."

"He has a number of incidents on his record since the colony that indicate a readiness to fight." Coln-2 proffered.

"I do not condone violence but they are understandable in context. A formerly high caste mech criticized our grandson when he was very tiny in front of Prowl. He acted on love for that baby when the youngling insulted what he perceived to be Kaon's caste. Knowing caste doesn't exist here, the individual did that anyway. Prowl took his sentence without comment or disagreement.

"The other two incidents were also understandable in context but given their sensitivity regarding what was involved, I will not speak to them here. If you wish commentary about them, I would request your chambers as the venue. Prowl assumes his responsibility and any penalties without comment. I accept that."

"This persistence of caste by the defendants and others … what are your thoughts on this?" Coln-2 asked.

"I have made it clear by Primal Decree that the caste system is dead and all refugees are given that information at intake. Given that I am Prime to all of our people wherever they exist even outside the reach of our colony, that decree prevails. I am the only legally appointed remaining government official left in leadership of our species and civilization. I bear the Matrix and by extension the authority of Primus. I declare that The System is dead. For this persistence of disobedience to the law, I am almost compelled by events like this to order a Convocation of the Will."

A murmur ran through the room, then ended with a rap from Semi. When it settled, Coln-2 sat. "Thank you, sir."

Prime nodded, then looked toward Fenix who sat thoughtfully. "Sir, I would like to know about Kudon. It was a major consideration among the mechs last night. I would also like to know about Retro, another former high caste who was murdered. It would appear that high castes are being murdered here and the penalties to their killers seem negligible. If you could elaborate it would be helpful to this proceedings and in the community."

Prime considered the request, then began.

-0-TBC September 22, 2013 7-31-19