The Diego Diaries: Skills (465) edited
-0-Ops Center, the next orn
Ratchet sat at the table with Prowl going over the final touches to the medical portion of the mission ahead. He had everything in order but needed the check off with mission control. Sitting back, he grinned. "How does if feel to be out of stir?"
"I feel good. You?" Prowl asked glancing up from the pile of work before him.
"Okay."
Prowl nodded. "I am sorry for your house. I would be angry too."
Ratchet nodded. "I hate the loss of little things. All of the things on the book shelf that the infants made. That stings."
Prowl nodded sympathetically. "I'm still sorry."
Ratchet nodded. "Thanks."
The door nearby opened as Optimus walked out pausing next to the table. "Ratchet, take a walk with me."
Ratchet rose and the two walked to the door and beyond. Jazz who was sitting with Prowl noted that. "A spark to spark?"
"A clearing of the processor I think," Prowl said. They both turned back to their work.
The rec room was buzzing as they traversed it heading for the greater world beyond. They walked toward the prison side-by-side. Ratchet waited as he always did when Prime needed a sounding board, one who could grasp the depth of emotional illogic that usually underpinned things at task.
"What do you think about the bombing?" he asked at last.
Ratchet vented a soft sigh. "I hate it personally. But I also think that the high castes have a break away group that is escalating this. I don't personally think that they all know about each other. Given the profiling programming I have and the experience of seeing this sort of thing, I would say that this is a renegade group striking out on their own without a lot of concern for what happens from their actions. They are arrogant, smart and capable. The first one can work to our advantage in the end when it comes to nailing them for this. The other two are going to make us earn it."
Prime nodded. "We have two difficult things before us. The mission is going ahead at the same time this is evolving. I do not like having my senior officers dispersed when things could get ugly here. We have capped the first bombing with the cover story. If another one happens there will be no way to do that again."
Ratchet nodded. "You have the power of martial law. Right now we are at modified martial law. You might have to invoke if another bombing happens."
"What do you think about a Convocation of the Will?" Optimus asked glancing at Ratchet as he did. They were halfway to the prison by then as Ratchet considered the question.
"I think that it will probably have to be done. I am aware that the riot at the club drew a lot of attention and members to the Iacon Order. I know they don't amount to very many but they are large enough to cause trouble. What worries me is that those who have suffered from high caste behavior and policies will take up the big stick and slag them back. A convocation is a tool that could lay this to rest for 99% of us. The 1% may never be mollified. It should be remembered that 99% of the 1% have joined in to make this a new project over the old."
Optimus nodded. "I agree. If we hold the Convocation, then it could lead to events that we cannot control."
"Primus might show Himself. The Pantheon might show up. I don't see that as a bad thing," Ratchet said as they walked along the road. "What does the Matrix counsel if I may be so bold?" Ratchet asked.
Prime considered that. "I feel that the Matrix supports what we are doing completely. I feel strength and confidence about this. I feel that there will be strife before this is over. I wish it wasn't so because individuals will get hurt. I loathe that part of it."
"What do you want us to do? You know that the city will line up behind you. Understand this, Optimus … the Festival has shown the power of the Matrix and its support for you, its bearer. Everyone felt the blessings of Primus and by extension, His love for you. They feel it for you, Optimus, themselves. We have the AllSpark and Flame again because of you. We have this place. Millions are coming here to your call. The lions have laid down with the lambs. You are going to win. It may be a rocky road but we will get there together."
"I agree but it bothers me deeply that harm has to befall anyone on the way to the end game," Optimus said. They had reached the turn off on Fortress Highway that led to the prison. It was a companionable silence that reigned as they continued to the Control Center. Entering, the door closed behind them.
-0-Moments later in the Control Center, Autobot City Prison, Mars
He came in and paused staring at the two bots who were quietly sitting at the table. He looked at both, then the guard. "I want my attorney."
The guard looked at Prime. "Sir?"
"We have already called him to come, Burris. Sit down and we can wait for him to get here," Optimus said.
The big mech hesitated, then sat down. Sitting back, he stared at the two warily. Ratchet was as calm and pleasant as he always was in combat with the forces of darkness and Prime was inscrutable. He considered that. "Why do you want to talk to me?"
"We are prepared to wait for your counsel, Burris," Optimus said.
It was silent a moment, then Burris shifted nervously. "What do you want?"
Ratchet glanced at Optimus, then Burris. "We want information, Burris. You don't have to tell us. You have the right to say no but it means that lives can be saved if you do."
Burris considered that. "What do you mean?"
"Did you notice the news story about a boiler blowing up in a tower in town?" Ratchet asked.
"I did. So what?" Burris asked.
"That wasn't a boiler. It was a bomb," Ratchet said.
It was quiet a moment, then Burris sat up straighter. "I suppose that you're going to blame that on our caste."
"You don't see any connection then?" Ratchet asked. Prime sat listening and observing as the ethereal energy of the Matrix made itself known to him. "We do."
Burris frowned. "You think that if a glass falls off a table its our fault."
"This time you and I know that it is true," Ratchet said. "We want to know who you would think could do this and has the skills. You have a chance to stand up and do a good deed. How about it? Who would do this and who can?"
Burris thought a moment. "No one in my group."
The door opened and a tall lawyer walked in. "Gentlemen … I would like to speak to my client alone please."
Prime nodded and rose, Ratchet following as he walked out the door. They stood in the hallway as the door closed, its soundproofing protecting the conversation that would happen between counsel and client. Optimus looked at Ratchet. "What do you think?"
"I don't know that he has a clue. He always was a loud mouthed blow hard. If they came with him he probably didn't notice he's that big an idiot. I believe that it is a youngling mech or small tight group that have a lot of skills, probably some that others aren't aware of. They have ability and they have been inculcated with the poison of superiority. They will do it again. That is what I believe."
"I agree," Optimus said. "I have given Elita the task of evaluating the younglings that have been identified as high caste for this threat. I want to know what they know and what they can do. I do not want this to be a Clampdown. I want this done right."
Ratchet nodded as the door opened. Brennen who was one of Burris's lawyers nodded. "Please come inside."
They followed Brennan in and all of them sat. The attorney turned to Prime. "I have counseled Burris that discussing anything right now is against his best interests. We are willing to listen to your questions and if there is a way to address things with you we will under my direction. I am charged to protect this mech and I intend to do it."
Prime nodded. "Those ground rules are acceptable. What we want to know from Burris are the names of individuals who are capable and willing to do great harm to the general population. I do not want to invoke martial law but I will if necessary. No one is going to be safe from the marauders that are behind this."
Brennan nodded. "Understood." He turned to Burris. "Is there anything that you can suggest that might allow the Prime to investigate that might prevent harm befalling anyone else?"
"Your apartment blew up did it?" Burris asked with his famous lack of tact. "Someone put a bomb by your door did they?"
"How did you know that?" Ratchet asked smoothly.
"I heard that the doors were blown off. Are you suggesting that I know about this any more clearly than that?" Burris asked coldly.
"It sounded that way to me," Optimus said equally coldly.
Burris looked at him for a moment. "I don't care what either of you think. You are the roadblocks to the future and we have to get there against great odds."
"Burris," Brennan said softly. "You would do well to answer the questions directly. This isn't about philosophy. It is about staying on track."
Burris looked at him a moment, then sat back. "What I said is true. As for the so-called bombers … I am not aware of who it might be. No one on my ships had skills like this. We were leaders, educators, we did the work that needed to be done. Bombing and shooting were the provinces of others."
A surge of rage and fury rose in the processors of three of the four individuals in the room, then subsided. Prime leaned forward resting his elbows on the table top. "You have a question. Answer it or go back to jail."
He looked at Prime. "I don't like you. I never approved of your Primeship and I don't now."
"Its a mental illness isn't it," Ratchet said leaning back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chassis as he stared at Burris like a specimen. "Its a mental illness to believe you are intrinsically better than everyone else because you won the CNA lottery. For you to believe that you deserve by virtue of your birth status all that is good and decent in life then I believe you are mental."
"I don't care what you believe. You serve a purpose. You are equipment and nothing more. That is the way it always was and always will be. The greatness of our culture and people came from our caste."
"I wonder if Sentinel would agree," Ratchet replied. "He was the failure that caused the Fall. He was a high caste failure … a total flop. Must rankle doesn't it, Sentinel failing," Ratchet said leaning in to needle the mech sitting before them with The Look. There wasn't a low caste that didn't know it, the condescension and contempt that came as naturally as the sunlight in the morning on the faces of high castes. "Flop. Failure. Fool. How do you reconcile that, Burris?"
"I think this conversation is over," Brennan said glancing at his client.
"This conversation is over when I say it is," Burris said venomously. He looked at Ratchet. "I never thought much of you. Ironhide bonded down when he hooked up with you. It still amuses me that you had to get a permit to bond. I suppose its like any other license one must have when assuming equipment."
Ratchet looked at him, his emotional and psychological programming absorbing what the mech was saying and how he was saying it. "Really? I find it hilarious that if Ironhide or Blackjack came into this room to kick your aft that you would have to stand up the moment they appeared. Even among high castes some of you are low. Right, Burris?"
"I don't think this is productive," Brennan said rising slowly.
"I don't care what you think, Brennan. This low caste hack won't speak to me in this fashion. It amuses me, Ratchet that you actually believe that you matter. That you have a place among decent society. You were a dispenser of medicine and nothing more." He looked at Prime. "You were a mistake. The Matrix deserves a decent host and you aren't it."
"I advise, Prime that we leave and Burris return to his cell to calm down," Brennan said appealing to Optimus.
"You are dismissed," Burris said. "I terminate your brief. You may go."
Brennan looked at the table for a moment gathering himself, then turned to the mech sitting before him with a contemptuous expression. "That suits me, Burris. You are a contemptible swine and I hope you swing from a girder for your crimes. I will inform the other two lawyers struggling to find a defense for your behavior that they are also relieved of this brief, correct?"
"I don't give a frag what you do, Brennan. I will retain Fenix," Burris said.
Brennan grinned a moment. "That's smart. A contract attorney to defend you against charges that could get you put into stasis for the next millennium. Good luck with that, you first class fragger." He looked at Prime. "I am sorry, sir. I will be tending my separation from Burris along with my colleagues to the court. I am not sure they will grant it." He looked at Burris. "I would shut your big fat mouth if I were you, fragger. Every word you say is a torpedo to your aft." He nodded to Prime, then left.
It was quiet a moment, then Ratchet laughed. "I bet that really felt good for Brennan. He is what you will never understand, Burris. He is a thoroughly ethical decent mech. If you had talked to me like that you would be in triage right now."
"Bring it, Ratchet. Make my case for me. This is about low caste revenge." Burris sat back with a disgusted expression on his face. "I don't expect you to get the nuances but think about it a few orns. It might become clear to you."
That is when Optimus Prime's fist slammed onto the table.
Burris jumped, then sat calmly again as a bulldog determination settled on his frame. "What's next? Are you going to beat me up? I want Fenix here now."
Ratchet glanced at Prime who sat back equally as coldly as Burris. "He invoked. Or do my audials need repair?"
Optimus stared at Burris a moment, then nodded. "He did. Get Fenix here. I am not done with this fragger."
Ratchet nodded, then walked to the door stepping out. The door closed and it was just the two of them. Burris considered Prime. "The Matrix made a mistake picking you."
"The Matrix does not make mistakes. It might pick an interim carrier but the one it chooses is the one it wants. You would do well to remember that."
"Whatever makes you happy, *Orion Pax*," Burris said spitting Prime's name out. "That is your real name, anarchist. You think I don't remember?"
Prime didn't answer. He sat studying the mech before him waiting for more unguarded talk because Burris always had to. He never learned when to shut his mouth. Prime remembered him too.
Burris sat closer resting his elbows on the table. "You should have been in prison. We arrested all of your associates. There were even plans to arrest your genitors. I wish you could understand the revulsion all of us felt that they were living in the Residence."
Prime immediately dialed his emotional subroutines and programming down to zero at those words. The volcanic fury that had almost come into being was gone immediately. He sat waiting for more.
"Low castes in the Residence of the Primes. You leading the planet. No wonder we lost. I don't know how the Matrix does it," he said needling the calm being before him ruthlessly. "You can see what happened, Orion. If you had been worthy of the Matrix, if you had actually been what you should have been we would still be on Cybertron.
It was at that moment the door burst open and Prowl appeared. Optimus who had felt his presence at last stood and lunged. When he dialed down his emotions he had not been aware of either Prowl's concern or him tapping into the conversation to understand the problem. He was also unaware that Prowl had burst out of Ops Center ready for murder. He just knew he had to catch him before it was too late.
He didn't.
Prowl leaped over the table and landed on his peds turning with infinite grace and the enormous control that half a dozen martial arts honed to mastery including some which were illegal can give a bot. He struck out in a mist-covered fury at the bot rising out of his chair which fell backward with a clatter. Before he could connect Ratchet reached him and slipped his arms through Prowl's. Bringing his servos around behind Prowl's neck, he pinned the incredibly strong, incredibly enraged bot to a standstill. Ratchet had applied his enormous prowess and special design as a search and rescue vehicle to holding Prowl in a death grip.
Prowl raged as Optimus gripped Burris by the arm and yanked him off his peds, Turning, he threw Burris out of the room where he landed in a ball on the floor of the corridor. Mechs who had chased Prowl as he ran through the door looked at Prime. "GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" Prime said before turning to the struggle in front of him. Slamming the door, he reached out gripping Prowl's helm. "No," Prime said quietly.
The white hot fury that had propelled Prowl from the Ops Center greeted Prime. He struggled, then he stopped. For a moment he stood silently, then relaxed. "You can let go."
Prime moved to stand in front of the door, then nodded to Ratchet. He let go and Prowl slumped forward as he struggled to gather himself. Then he moved swiftly and embraced Prime tightly. They hugged each other furiously. Ratchet slumped against the wall, a weariness settling over him that was deep and emotional. The fury of his reaction was universal he thought as he watched the pair. "Prime. Dial up."
Optimus glanced at him, then complied and the intensity of Prowl's rage, emotional disturbance and shame hit him like a punch in the face. "Prowl?"
The winger stood a moment struggling for control, then he nodded. "I'm okay."
"Sit," Prime said. The three of them did, the room's static energy draining away slowly. "Prowl?"
Prowl looked at him, then Ratchet. "I felt you dial down so I tapped in. When he said those things to you … I wanted to kill him. I am so ashamed. I am so sorry, Ratchet … Optimus. I wish I had known you as Orion. I saw you once and I could have ended you then. I didn't. I saw your goodness, Optimus. I don't know what to say about this. I am so sorry to both of you. I am so ashamed."
"Don't be," Ratchet said. "Ironhide and I had this conversation too. There is nothing to apologize for. We have bled together all over this universe, Prowl. We are brothers. All of us. We are brothers forever."
Prowl sat back and nodded. "I feel the same way."
"Then put the blame where it belongs. Burris is suffering from a number of illnesses. He has some real problems. They all do. It was a gamble to risk this confrontation. Fenix is coming. Do you want to do a few rounds with him or what?"
Prime looked at Ratchet, then nodded. "Yes. I do."
-0-TBC October 8, 2013
NOTE: Voice actor Casey Kasem who voiced Bluestreak and Cliffjumper in G1 is very ill, has advanced Parkinsons Disease and early onset dementia. Very sad all around.