The Diego Diaries: Skills (482) edited
-0-At the search site, Luna
Springer glanced at Drift who smirked slightly. "Move." Springer stepped to one side as Drift transformed a digit. A specialized key insert device appeared as Drift slid it into the door lock. It hummed, then a click was heard. He retrieved his digit, then both looked at the door. Springer gripped the door knob and it turned. Swinging back, it opened on a wary mech who stood in the middle of his living room staring at them with surprise. "What? This is preposterous!"
"No, sir," Springer said stepping in followed by Drift. "This is a search warrant." He buzzed it to Humr who paused to review it.
He stared at them with intense astonishment, then stepped closer, his rage rising. "What do you mean you are looking for bombing components and bombs? What are you talking about?"
"Sir, you need to buzz Semi or Barron. Even the Prime. We're just here to execute the warrant," Springer said politely. Drift turned to walk down the hallway to the other rooms as Springer began to look around the open living area.
"STOP! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" Humr said with astonishment.
"We can and we will. The sooner you relax, the sooner we go," Springer said as he began to open cupboards in the kitchen.
Humr watched them, then paused. He was in discussion with someone but Springer ignored it. He had to get through this and leave.
-0-At Five Mechs, Inc. earlier
They entered with their warrant and stood in the office area of the small business. Blackjack walked to the desk to search not just it but the computer system. He was very good at finding things hidden or buried within.
Alor turned to walk to the first room, the conference space that they used to talk, play cards and finish their assemblies. It was devoid of anything incriminating. Prowl had passed them heading for the work space and storage that they had been granted. Those places were filled with electronics, bits of things and all manner of technical stuff he only vaguely recognized. A lot of what they were doing was outside his purview. Sciences would have their chance to analyze what lay all around him. It was oddly enough well organized, structured in design for maximum utilization of their area and resources as well as supplied with all manner of intriguing items. Whatever these mechs were, they were neat.
Wheeljack and Perceptor followed Prowl into the workroom glancing around. "This is very high tech," Percy said shaking his helm. "They are obviously more than dabblers. I would say that there are enough different things here to fashion any number of destructive devices. But then," he said turning to Wheeljack, "one could say that of half the electronic workshops in the city."
Wheeljack nodded. "Let us analyze what we know against what is here, Percy. Maybe we can figure out how they do this. I don't know as yet what triggers their devices. It perplexes me."
Percy nodded, then the two turned to begin. Prowl watched them silently.
-0-At an apartment in Luna
Humr stood staring silently at the both of them as they walked about taking care to keep things neat. When the door opened unexpectedly, Springer paused from checking a hand held that was lying on the coffee table. Into the room five big mechs walked. None of them were too happy to be there.
-0-At the Hospital
Ratchet scanned the youngling, then popped his chassis. He stared at it, at the number of additions that had been applied, then glanced at Goldwing who had joined him. "Look at this," he said.
Goldwing leaned over and stared at the plethora of add-ons that the mech himself or his genitors had placed on his chassis. "I have never seen these kind of functions."
"I think I recognize a couple of them but the rest are new to me," Ratchet said. "I just sent for Percy and Wheeljack."
Goldwing nodded. "Good call," he replied.
-0-At an apartment in Luna
The mechs looked around, then turned as one to Springer. Nearby, Drift had come from a back room to watch. "What's going on here?"
"I am executing a search warrant as per the direction of the City Court on these premises. I am going to have to ask you to step back outside so that can be done swiftly and thoroughly," Springer said politely.
"Why would the court allow this?" another mech asked.
"I am not at liberty to tell you. I cannot divulge the matter due to privacy issues involved," Springer continued.
It was silent a moment, then a mech looked at Humr. "What's he here for, Humr? We came when you called. What is going on?"
"We are being accused of being the bombers. These two are looking for bombs here," Humr replied.
The five blinked, then looked at Springer. "You have to be kidding," one said.
"No," a voice in the doorway said. "He is not."
Everyone turned as Optimus Prime stepped into the apartment followed by Barron and Blackstone. The five turned to him, then one gestured to Humr. "Humr called us to come. He said that he was being hassled by the Watch. He was worried and afraid of what is happening here and I have to say so are we. What is going on?"
Barron glanced at Prime, then the group. "We have suspicions about the individuals who may be responsible for the bombings lately. We are seeking evidence in a number of places including this one. That is all that can be said for now. The Prime is working along with our army and police to ensure the safety of everyone in accordance with the laws of Cybertron in consultation with the Matrix."
"Then you are accusing my son of being a bomber," Humr said as a sick realization dawned upon him.
"We have accused no one," Barron countered gently. "We are following leads."
"Where is my son?" Humr asked.
"He is in the Watch Substation #6. He is being held as a material witness," Prime replied. "He is there by my order. When this is concluded he can be released faster."
"You're accusing my son of being a bomber," Humr said more to himself than anyone else.
"No one is accused of anything yet," Prime said.
The mechs looked at him with shocked expressions, then turned to Humr who stood rooted to the floor in his own dismay and fright. "Humr … what is this? Is this about Gravity?"
He glanced at the five mechs, then Prime. "You are going to hang this bombing business on my son and his friends. You have decided to make an example of us to the colony."
"We have no such intention and it would be for the ease of the colony that you wait until the warrants are exercised," Prime said. "I have a duty to pursue the evidence wherever it leads me and I don't do this without advisement from the Matrix."
At that moment Chevron and Lauren, the High Priest and his closest colleague appeared at the door. Prime turned to them. "Gentlemen, I would like you to sit with Humr and counsel him until this business is concluded."
They both bowed their helms. "Of course," Lauren said as both walked to Humr and stood by his side.
"As for the rest of you, stay and be useful to Humr's anxiety or leave," Prime said.
The five looked at him, then glanced at each other. One of the mechs turned to Humr. "Do you need us to stay? We can stay for you, Humr."
Lauren smiled. "We will be happy to sit with him," he said nodding to the five mechs.
They stood a moment, then nodded back. Turning without a word, they walked out into the hallway. Prime turned with them and was followed by Springer and Drift. When the door closed everyone in the hallway turned to Prime. He looked at the five mechs. "I appreciate your concern for a friend but this is a serious matter and I don't take lightly my responsibilities and duties to all our people."
"Then there is a possibility that Gravity set the bombs," the big mech who spoke inside said.
"I cannot speculate," Prime said.
The mech shook his helm. "I hope not. Things are tense already between the former castes. I belong to the Iacon Order for reasons of friendships. I don't want the caste system to do here what it did on Cybertron. I am afraid that ship has sailed."
It was silent a moment, then he turned and the others followed. Prime and the two Wreckers watched them go. "What did you find?" Prime asked.
"Nothing," Springer said. "They're too cautious to do anything that simple minded. Nothing about this is simple."
Prime nodded. "Then we go to the Hospital and see what Ratchet has discovered." They turned and walked to the elevator too.
-0-Emergency Suite 7, Autobot City Medical Center, The City, Mars
Ratchet considered the array of tech that they had discovered in the youngling. It was Cybertronian for the most part but there were other things, different things that had been modified for him. He was waiting for Perceptor and Wheeljack to come from Tyger Pax. Turning, he looked at Knockout who was staring at the devices with interest. "Anything you recognize?"
"Some of it," Knockout said picking up a small device that was plugged into Gravity's neural hub. "This makes the invisibility happen. I remember seeing it in a database once." He glanced up at Ratchet with a smirk. "I was snooping. I wanted something like this for myself, although it would have been a shame to deny this finish to discerning optics."
Ratchet snorted, then grinned. "What database?"
"The one Shockwave administered when he was overtaking all data on and off world," Knockout said putting it down. "I found a file of secret above top secret things and opened it. For a file that would have gotten you beheaded upon contact, it was immensely easy to open if I say so myself."
"And you do. What else did you see?" Ratchet asked with a grin.
"A lot of weapons designs, some of ships, others of strange energy devices that made no sense," Knockout said with a shrug.
"Great. Nothing like plans for devious arsenals left on Cybertron," Ratchet said. "Did you notice any name for the inventor for that particular one?"
Knockout nodded. "You already know. It belonged to Jhiaxus."
Ratchet nodded. "I thought so. We're fragged aren't we."
Knockout nodded. "We are unless you want me to find out what this slagger knows my way."
"I will recommend it to Prime. Don't hold your breath," Ratchet said with a chuckle as everyone began to walk into the room.
"Good thing I don't breathe," Knockout said as he turned to watch the fun.
-0-Outside in the hallway
Fenix was waiting for Prime as he and his group that now included all the mechs from the search of their business filed in from the elevator. "I would appreciate an update, sir."
Prime paused, then nodded. "Shall we go inside?"
They all did gathering around Ratchet and Knockout, the stasis bound youngling laying on the berth with his cowlings open, body parts here and there. Semi, Blackstone and Barron entered as well. Prime turned to all. He looked at Fenix. "I would like the information laid out under Semi's direction and jurisdiction."
Semi nodded. "Court is in session. Please proceed."
Prime nodded, then looked at Prowl. "Prowl?"
He turned to Semi, the detective firmly in place. "We looked at the business and executed the warrant. There are no records in the computer data system that would give a hint that anyone worked there. They are only two orns into their operation. Perceptor and Wheeljack can speak to the workshop and its contents."
Everyone turned to the two. "There are the usual things one would expect in an electronics shop, Prime," Perceptor said. "There are tools for creating different things, cutting, melding and modifying. I would say that the potential to make bombs is certainly there."
"What about Fabrications-Electronics, Perceptor? Do they have the same capabilities?" Fenix asked.
"They do. But the missing factor there would be detonation material. Since the Metroplex disaster the access to that kind of material is nearly nil," Wheeljack said.
"But it is possible," Fenix asked.
"I am not the expert on that," Wheeljack said glancing at Ironhide.
"That stuff is locked down hard. We have multiple fail safes and safeties in place before it ever leaves a depot. The work sites keep it under lock and key. Only the site foremen have the combination and it is unique to each shipment. Even those change every orn. There is no way anyone can lay servos on combustible material from the armories," Ironhide said.
"As far as you know," Fenix replied.
"We do inventories three times an orn," Ironhide countered. "There hasn't been one missing item since this system. You can look at the records."
Semi looked at Ratchet. "Doctor?" he asked.
"Yes?" -Knockout and Ratchet.
TBC October 22, 2013
PS: I am thinking good thoughts for all the Australian readers out there dealing with giant fires. Please take care.