The Diego Diaries: Skills (483) edited
-0-At the Hospital
Ratchet and Knockout glanced at each other, then Ratchet smirked. "We have removed a number of items from this mech that are not standard issue in a civilian's protoform even for high castes. It is a rare event to find devices and functions with a military application in the body of a high caste who has no intention of entering military service. Mechs like Mirage with the ability to become invisible are not the norm. These devices," Ratchet said turning to gesture with his servo at the array on the table next to the supine youngling, "are very high tech and of a caliber and design that is usually attributed to one mech alone … Jhiaxus."
It was silent a moment, then Prime nodded. "You are sure?"
Ratchet glanced at Knockout. "I have an unimpeachable source."
Knockout shrugged, then folded his arms over his chassis. "What can I say? I'm snoopy."
Ratchet snorted, then looked at the group. "We have devices that can formulate invisibility and one that causes signature dampening. They are highly sophisticated and that makes this youngling a very intriguing individual to have hardware that was devised by someone like Jhiaxus."
It was silent a moment, then Fenix stepped to the table to examine the devices. He glanced at Ratchet. "What if they didn't somehow find a set of plans by Jhiaxus? What if they devised these things by themselves. They are very gifted individuals."
"That is possible but not as probable as finding these things in a database you hacked for the sport of it," Ratchet said shooting a gimlet optic at Knockout. That worthy merely grinned.
"But you can't say with finality that these things were devised by Jhiaxus," Fenix asked.
"That is outside my purview, Fenix," Ratchet said. "I am merely relaying my findings."
Perceptor walked to the table and picked up a piece of the puzzle. "I was a colleague of Jhiaxus before he lost his processor. I am familiar with his work." He turned to walk to a computer nearby. Putting the devise on a tray under a big microscope, he began to study the magnified images on the monitor. It was silent as he did, then Perceptor turned to the group. "This is the work of Jhiaxus. I know him professionally enough to see his markers. There are some modifications in the design but they are not enough to obscure the true author."
"Then what are you saying here? That this kid is a spy for Jhiaxus? That he's here to do harm to the colony as a spy for Nova Prime?" Fenix asked.
No one said anything a moment, then Ratchet turned to him. "I am going to theorize here. I see a group of very smart younglings with genitors that don't have a slagging clue. I see a bunch of wise afts breaking into systems to steal information for their own fun and games, information that allowed them to make devises that made their perverse antics easier to accomplish.
"I see younglings that were never slagged when they acted up, younglings that already feel like kings of their particular world who brought their slag here. As the recipient of the first bombing, I am less inclined to be merciful. Your client destroyed the sweet things my infants made in school, things that are gone forever. Be glad I am not on a petit jury to hear this case."
Semi turned to Coln-2. "Sir?"
"I am inclined to agree with Ratchet. The evidence indicates that they had ability, access and motive. They want the return of the System so they can continue down the road they are going, a road that presents a clear and present danger to us all. The evidence points to them as the culprits."
Semi looked at Fenix. "Sir?"
"I disagree. We have smart younglings with bad attitudes, I agree. They are being blamed on evidence that would indict and convict half the workshops in this colony. No matter who authored the hardware on that table, they are not proven to be the bombers by any stretch of the imagination. The fact that this youngling walks in and out of his business cloaked or uncloaked proves nothing. We all have functions, even if some are off beat."
It was silent a moment, then Semi turned to Prime. "Sir?"
"I will hold my say until you find your own verdict, Semi," Optimus said.
Semi nodded, then he stood a moment thinking through the problem before him. "I find there is not enough evidence to hold or indict the three in the Substation. It is slim and circumstantial. I believe that they have the ability and even the motive but the State has not met the threshold of evidence in the court's opinion to be held accountable."
Fenix looked relieved as they all stood listening to Semi who paused once more to think. "I do however find there is enough evidence to hold Gravity. I remand him into the custody of the State for the matter of a decaorn. If the State cannot present a case that is solid and factual, then according to Cybertronian law he must be released."
"We will have ten orns to build the case against Gravity." Coln-2 asked to clarify as he wrote it on the datapad in his servo. Semi nodded in agreement.
"I would like to add something to this ruling if I may, Semi," Prime said glancing at the judge.
"You have that right as Prime and because we are in modified martial law," Semi said nodding.
"I would like the following caveats added to this ruling," Prime said. "The business they started will be closed for now. I want it padlocked and monitored. Anyone who goes to it will be arrested for trespassing. I want them to work at their jobs as they are now. All of them are employed by the colony in useful endeavors. I will tell you as their attorney, Fenix, that I will be assigning Watchmen to each of them orn and night. Until this matter is resolved I have a responsibility to the colony as a whole. I am giving you the heads up, Fenix, as a courtesy. I am not required by law to tell you." He looked at Fenix who merely nodded. "Until this matter is resolved to the satisfaction of all of us, I cannot do less. We have a massive migration coming this way through dangerous terrain and we have postponed a vital military rescue mission because of this issue. I will not allow anyone coming here after the travails they have already survived to be greeted by bombs."
Semi nodded. "Very well. It is the ruling of this court that Default, Commotion and Kale may be released. They will continue to work and they will be monitored orn and night. Gravity is remanded into the custody of the State. This court is now in adjournment."
It was silent a moment, then Fenix nodded glancing at the youngling lying on the med berth. He turned and walked out the door heading for Substation 6, the HQ for the Day and Night Watch and the office of Springer as Head of Security for everyone and everywhere.
Prime turned. "Springer, could you make the arrangements. I want them covered from top to bottom. I do not take lightly that this one bore military hardware from a suspect source on his body." Springer nodded, then turned with Drift to leave. Prime looked at Gravity. "I assume he is relatively stock now."
"You are correct," Ratchet said with a nod.
"Good. Then have him hauled to the jail. I hear its in Substation 1 for now. Let him come out of stasis there," Prime said.
Ratchet nodded, then looked at Breakdown. "Why don't you and Knockout do the honors?" he asked with a grin.
"My pleasure," Knockout said with a smirk. Breakdown picked Gravity up, slung him over his shoulder and the two left.
"We have ten orns to bring this to court and convict them," Ironhide said. "What about starting with the implants?"
Ratchet looked at them. "Percy, they are yours."
"Thank you, Ratchet," the red Autobot said with a nod.
Ratchet turned to the group and grinned. "We better get some slag settled. We have seven orns … barely … before Halloween."
For a moment they stared at Ratchet, then Prime grinned. "I almost forgot."
"Check your kids notices, Optimus. They are planning parties and costumes. I have already picked out the costumes for my sparklings. What about you?"
"That's what he has me for," Prowl said with a slight grin.
"What's Halloween?" Alor asked as Blackjack nodded.
Ratchet glanced at Ironhide, then chuckled. "This is going to be epic."
-0-At Substation 1
They laid Gravity down on the berth in a cell, then stepped out. The bars went up, then Knockout induced sentience in the youngling with a meter in his servo. He blinked, then sat up. Glancing around a moment he jumped to his peds. "What is this? Where am I?"
"In the pokey," Knockout said with a grin. "Where you belong, slagger. Count your blessings. I asked them if I could have you for a moment. You wouldn't be waking up after that."
"FRAG YOU! WHERE IS FENIX!?" the livid youngling shouted.
"'Frag you.' How clever he is, Breakdown," Knockout said as he turned to go. "Give my regards to Jhiaxus!" They both left and the cell block was empty again. The youngling stood a moment or two wondering how they knew about Jhiaxus. Then he sat down and tried to relax.
-0-On the way back to Ops Center
Prowl and Ratchet walked together talking about Halloween and the mission ahead. Prime and Ironhide walked side-by-side discussing the mission which was go now. They had contained the bombing group but what it meant in the former high caste community was still not clear. Alor and Blackjack walked together amiably.
"Ratchet."
Ratchet paused and turned to Alor. "What?"
"What the frag is Halloween. I just ran the word through the databases and I am rather puzzled by it," Alor said.
"You're over thinking, Ali," Ratchet said as he turned to continue. "It's a children's holiday where they dress up in costumes and get treats. All you have to do is have treats ready for your door, go around with the sparklings a little and laugh. Easy."
"Sounds like a winner," Alor said with a grin. Blackjack nodded as they continued onward.
-0-Ops Center
"I want the mission go by tonight," Optimus said. "That will give us time for the migration to get to optimal point."
"What about Halloween?" Alor asked with a grin.
Prime snorted. "Get back fast."
"Done deal," Ironhide said nodding.
-0-Two joors later
They walked into their apartment after stopping by the Cultural Center. Knights had gathered there to salvage what they could. It wasn't much. Most of the weapons and the altar along with other mementos from their rambles all over the galaxy were destroyed. Ratchet and Ironhide commiserated for a bit, then walked farther down the pockmarked corridor to what once was the door of Sunstreaker's studio. The windows inside bore the brunt but didn't break. Transparent steel was tough.
Sunstreaker was piling up the destroyed inventory on the floor. Most of his commissions were already delivered and the others weren't begun. What pissed him off the most was the things he had kept here including a lot of work of his kids. They stayed and helped him, chatting to take his temperature, then left. The four of them, Ironhide, Ratchet, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker would leave that night. Everyone had a lot to do.
Ratchet walked to the berth room and took out their duffels. Sitting them by the door, he turned to watch Ironhide who was sitting in his smokin' red chair. "Lazy."
"Been busy. Hunting terrorists makes a mech thirsty," he said waggling his optical ridges.
Ratchet snorted, then walked to the fridge getting a couple of beers out. He popped the tops, then handed one to Ironhide sitting in his green chair as he did. They clicked them, then Ironhide looked at Ratchet. "What are the sparklings going to be this year for Halloween?"
Ratchet told him.
-0-TBC October 24, 2013