The Diego Diaries: Slammer (dd3 444)
-0-In the courtroom
The room erupted as the release of agonized emotion from all present burst forth. Low, mid and high castes jumped up as Sio leaped on Silver. That formidable bot, himself no stranger to security even as clerk of court grabbed Sio and began to grapple. Coming up behind him swiftly, Prowl and Ratchet gripped him as well. He was in the throes of his highest peak of outrage, so Sio gave them a thrashing.
Silver went flying backwards crashing into the door that led to the holding cells for miscreants awaiting their appearance in their court cases.
Prowl managed an arm, gripping it to slow Sio down.
Semi stepped back to prevent getting tangled up.
Ratchet reached around the mech and gripped his neck switching off his body into stasis. Sio fell to the floor dragging Ratchet and Prowl to their knees.
Alor had arisen stepping forward to grip civilians one by one, shaking them. He managed to bring some sort of control to everyone he could reach.
At the back of the room Ironhide was reaching out to the wild mass of genitors who were yelling and grabbing each other. "ENOUGH!" he called out stilling a number of individuals.
In the middle, two mechs were fighting against the tide trying to make their way forward. "SIO! LET ME THROUGH! THAT'S MY SON! SIO!"
A number of mechs moved allowing them to pass until they were at the place where Sio lay on the floor unconscious.
Prowl was next to him rubbing his arm as Sio's ada knelt by his son.
He touched Sio, then looked at Ratchet with wild optics. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!?"
"He's in stasis so he won't hurt himself. Move so we can get him out of here," Ratchet said as he pulled on the youngling to turn him over.
"LET GO OF HIM!" the mech said pushing Ratchet.
Prowl leaned down to grip the mech's arm pulling him to his feet. The mech, Carbo turned and swung on Prowl who ducked it easily. "YOU SCUM! LET GO OF ME! I WANT MY SON!" He swung again as Prowl dodged to grip his arm.
Prowl spun the mech and bent his arm behind his back pinning Carbo to the floor. As he did a mech behind him grabbed a chair and hit Prowl across the back hard.
Prowl staggered, then fell onto Carbo, a sickening cracking sound from the blow heard over the hoo-haw. Before he could do it again, Prime grabbed it, then decked the mech who used it. He fell backward, then Prime turned and subbed his big gun. "ENOUGH! I WILL SHOOT YOU IF YOU DO NOT STOP NOW!"
The mayhem in the room paused as everyone froze in place, turning to look at Prime. He looked back with outrage on his face.
They stopped their rampage, stepping back to bunch into groups. As they did the side door opened as Springer with Drift and a couple of Watch mechs entered. "Gather them up. Everyone. Move them out out here into the holding cells."
Drift and Springer motioned to the open door nearby. "See that door? Go through it. Now," Springer said with aggravation. "You two, go now and get them locked up." The Watch mechs went back through the door and waited inside by the holding cells as everyone began to move backward toward it guided by the malice of the soldiers in the room and Prime's command. Soon they were gone and the door closed.
Prime knelt to help Prowl up. He stretched and rubbed his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Prowl nodded. "This is a mess," he said.
Fenix who stood next to Coln-2 and Semi watched silently.
Prime glanced at them, then looked at Sio out cold on the floor. "What can we do about him, Ratchet?"
"I've called Jarro to come with techs. We can put him on a psych hold for evaluation. Something's wrong with this bot that's exacerbated by his hatred, probably egged on by family. He's a slagger with or without the hatred but there's something feeding it."
Prime nodded. "Alright." He looked at Semi. "What is your suggestion, Semi?"
"I'll close the proceedings until this is sorted, then I reopen for closing arguments. I'll also take any motions that you feel will be useful for my decisions in light of what happened. I'll instruct the bailiff to process the crowd if that's what you wish, sir."
Prime considered that, then shook his helm. "I think I want to talk to them for a moment. If there are any that warrant arrest, I will leave that to you and the Watch."
"Yes, sir," Semi said solemnly.
Prime turned to the attorneys. "Will you be ready for closing arguments or will you need more court time to make your cases?"
"I'm ready, sir," Coln-2 said.
Fenix looking flustered a moment composed himself. "I will be ready."
Prime nodded, then turned to Prowl. "Are you alright?"
Prowl nodded as all moved aside for Jarro, a stretcher and several mechs.
"He's in light stasis, Jari. I'd put a psych hold on him. I'll expedite the data work for the evaluation purposes. He's incredibly manic and out of touch so be careful when you bring him out," Ratchet said.
Jarro nodded, then moved back as the mechs loaded up Sio. They walked out heading for the hospital at Metroplex where mental health cases were housed. It was silent a moment, then Prime turned to the door to the jail holding cells. He stared at it a moment, then stepped forward with everyone following him. Entering, the others slipped from view. Then the door shut.
Standing in the disheveled room, a shaken Venture and Miler, an emotional Kestrel and Tagg and a livid Ironhide and Blackjack stood.
Alor walked over, then enveloped Kestrel. "It'll be alright. You'll see. Your son is that kind of awesome."
-0-Inside
Prime stood before the row of cells that housed the entire contingent of high caste families and friends that had come to see the proceedings. The mechs responsible for all of it, the high caste younglings, were in a cell by themselves. They were staring at the proceedings incredulously.
One of them, Haro-n, stepped forward. "WHAT THE FRAG IS THIS! WHY ARE YOU ARRESTING MY FAMILY!"
A voice called out from the cage next to him and they all turned toward it. "SHUT UP, HARO-N! NOW!" A tall exquisitely armored mech moved to stand in full view. He craned his neck to see his son. "NOW!"
Haro-n with a confused expression on his face nodded, then stared back at the Prime. It fell silent.
Optimus looked at them taking their measure. It pained him beyond belief to see the mess before him because it would require strong measures to solve. He didn't feel short of something drastic they'd change and be an asset. He'd learned over the vorns of his leadership in spite of his hopeful nature to read a losing hand when he held it. "I am going to say this once. I expect that you will listen closely. I would expect you to do this because I am advised and guided by the Matrix."
They looked at him with expressions ranging from fearful and wary to angry. They stared but said nothing, all of them listening with dread for whatever Prime decided. It didn't matter to them that he was led by the wisdom of the Matrix. They were behind bars so nothing made sense at the moment.
Fenix moved to stand to one side along with Coln-2, Silver and Semi. Prowl and Ratchet joined Prime stepping behind him as well to lend gravitas and menace.
Springer and Drift were by the wall with the rest of security watching with interest.
"This colony is the refuge of everyone. All are welcome including aliens without a home or world to go to. We have built a city, retrieved our culture and artifacts and become a focal point of all who wish to come back to us. Our city is a glory and it was built and imagined by all manner of bots.
"The idea of some having greater influence, wealth and presence than others by virtue of an idea that is rooted in bigotry is hatred. Its a sickness that infected our world until we were undone. It won't happen here. There is no caste system here or anywhere else that Cybertronians reside.
"When you talk about your status in relation to that, you are talking about something that no longer exists. I will jail anyone who attempts to bring it back. I will find a way to remove you like a virus from the body of our city and quarantine you until you either understand it or find another place to live.
"I will exile you if you continue. I do not know any other way to impress to you that the System is over. You have driven your children to ruin. You have made them a hazard to the rest of us because they have decided to act upon your teachings. I want you to understand that I will be relentless in my efforts to protect our people, to enforce my decree regarding the System and ensure that the second chance all of us are getting doesn't fail because of your hatred. You will remain in these cells until the case is over and the judge makes a decision. Then you will be released. There will be no more discussion on this matter."
It was silent a moment, then Prime walked out with the others following. Springer and Drift who stood by the walls with the rest of the security grinned. "Interesting orn," Drift said.
Springer nodded. "I know. Never a dull orn here."
It would take a moment before the shock wore off and the real yelling and dissent to begin. It would be immensely entertaining to all on their side of the brig divide.
-0-Inside the courtroom
The families who were left, Smokescreen and Devcon with son and son-in-law, the genitors of the senior Autobots and a number of others who came in from other places to watch gathered. Moving to chairs, they sat as Prime consoled his genitors and Prowl's.
After a moment of conversation at the desk with Semi, Fenix and Coln-2 walked to their tables and sat. Semi gaveled the group, then sat again.
"I'm calling this court to order. I'd like everyone to put aside the events that just transpired and gather themselves together. We're ready for closing statements. Coln-2?" Semi asked.
Coln-2 nodded, then stood. "Your honor, it's clear to the court that the situation at the club was a shared experience in relation to the blame. Had the younglings in this case not made remarks there wouldn't be any need for this hearing. However, they did. It was the gasoline and the mini-con reaction which was clearly understandable if not deplorable was the match.
"The continued argumentative combative stance of the defendants indicates a lack of respect for the law along with their clearly stated lack of regard for others. We've made it very evident from orn one that the caste system is illegal here. It's over. The cancer that destroyed our home world is taking root here and the consequences for the future of our unity are catastrophic.
"Their genitors are responsible for their condition. But they're all adults now and are clearly able to choose the path they take. They've chosen the caste system, mayhem and abuse of their fellows. I'm asking for a sentence commensurate with the enormity of this situation.
"I believe that if they think they can game the system they'll be back for much worse offenses. We who live here have suffered greatly under The System of Exception. No one deserves to hear themselves discussed offensively and no one deserves to hear the epithets that they've given out so freely.
"I would ask the court to make a statement with them to help them and anyone like them to understand that this behavior has no place here. That we won't tolerate it and that they'll face real consequences if it continues. Thank you, sir." Coln-2 sat.
Fenix considered the remarks, then stood. "Your honor, I'm sorry for the outburst that happened. You may not believe that but I am. Sio obviously needs assistance. However, the others are not the ones who started the fight in the bar. They're not the ones who made the terrible comments in the brig. Sio is. They're deserving of a sentence that matches their actual behavior and actions. It would be easy to vent on them and make them pay a price that feels good now. It would, however, not be just. I ask for justice for the defendants over the behavior that they actually did that night. Thank you." He sat tiredly.
Semi considered their pleas, then glanced at the Prime. "Sir, you have the right of statement."
Prime nodded. "I waive it, Semi."
Semi nodded, then gathered his thoughts. "I have to say this was an unusual orn. What we have here are a number of things that must be factored into the judgment that are important threads that make up this case. First, there's the issue of their conduct regarding the caste system decree. It's evident that they ignored and transgressed the decree which is Primal and thereby federal in stature.
"They did so at the club and in the brig. That alone isn't enough to warrant a sentence of any magnitude. Their rioting is. They were involved in fighting that their caste commentary generated. That cannot be be minimized.
"For the fighting, I sentence all of them to four orns in jail. For the caste violation, I add six more orns. If they continue down this path, there'll be more severe penalties for them, I assure you. They're adult. They will have adult penalties for their actions. This case is closed." He rapped the table, then stood up. "Sir, I understand you wish to use the courtroom for a drum head?"
Prime nodded. "I do."
"Very well," Semi said. "I see the bailiffs are cleaning up the mess," he said as the room was being put to rights by staff. "Thank you by the way," he said as the staff paused to nod and grin. "Gentlemen," he said to Fenix and Coln-2. "Let me buy you a drink and we can talk about the genitors."
They walked out of the room.
Prime vented a sigh, then walked to his genitors who still looked upset. He sat and squeezed his ada's servo. "Are you all alright?"
They nodded.
"I'm sorry, Optimus," Venture began before being cut off.
"Do not be," Prime said. "Its over for now."
"Do you think they will behave, Orion?" Kestrel asked worriedly.
"No, but we know who they are, Ada," Optimus said with a slight grin. "How about all of you go to get a cup of something while we finish business here? Then we can join you."
"Some of us, anyway," Ratchet said with a grin.
"I'll expect you to behave no matter what, Ratchet," Ravel said standing up to look upward at his wayward boy.
Ratchet hugged him, then set him down. "Go together and we'll see you shortly."
The genitors left reluctantly until only Smokescreen, Dev, Moda and Tress were left. "We'd like to stay for the boy," Dev asked with a slight grin.
Prime nodded. "You can."
Prime walked to the door. He rapped on it and Springer peered out. "Bring them up, Springer."
He nodded and the door closed.
Prowl walked to the front of the room. He took his place and assumed parade rest, his optics focused into the ether as Ratchet and Alor joined him. A buzz of comments, then a sharp muffled retort was heard behind the door. It opened as soldiers walked out. They began to stand in a line behind their commanding officers, assuming parade rest while their optics focused ahead.
They knew the routine and then some.
Sitting down to watch the show, Devcon and the family relaxed as best they could in their chairs. Prime walked to the front of the group, his optics scanning each one of them. It was sharp, strangely elegant and tense.
Then Prime began.
-0-TBC September 22, 20137-31-19