A Plee for Endport: Part 1
The trial is finally starting, the fate of Endport, the Maximals and the Predacons resting in the nads in a small group of elders. The tence Endport Saga comes to a close with one final deiscion
PART ONE
Rhapsody awoke to a buzzing alarm clock. She sat up in her bed and gazed around the room only seeing a few maximals awake and thier escorts standing at each end of the room, plasma rifles still fully charged. She looked over at Wraith laying next to her andgently tapped him sitrring the wolf. "Time to go." She said. After a few minutes all the maximals and been coxed to awake as Garrak entered from the main entrance of the barraks.
"Commander Rhapsody, a word with you?" The elder said his deep enducated voice echoing through the hollow barraks.
"Yes sir." She said walking quickly from her statments and other documents. The two exited the barraks and stood just outside the main door.
"Have all you maximals showed up commander?"
"We are only missing one but i am sure he can take care of himself."
"Excellent. Commander i would like to tell you that i wouldn't have taken this this far unless i beleieved in you. You have somthing to say and i am going to do my best to make sure it is said." With that Rhapsody saluted and headed back within the barraks.
-------
Citidel
-------
All the maximals head been led into the main courtroom that looked more like a Palace then a courtroom. Fine stone and wood was carved into much of what the counicul used as furniture. THe bulk of the maximals sat in two rows of seats behind the main table and thats where Rhapsody, buckshot, burnout, solarflare, rita and Wraith all sat, some of the most experienced resistance members each with unquie perspectives.
To Rhapsodys suprise a hoard of news reporters sat in the rest of the room. At the other table sat 3 of the most highest paid and most ruthless lawyers that the predacon conciul could find. A lion, a tiger and a bear. "Oh my." Rhapsody thought tapping a folder she had in her hand. Everyone stood as the members of the elders entered from private chambers. All 12 came and sat and adjusted their seats as servants brought out water and placed it on all the tables. "We will begin with the defenses opening statement."
Rhapody rose and cleared her throat.
"One entire year, one entire year of these soldiers lifes" RHapsody said pointing to the veterans and the lead table. "One entire year of struggle, pain and suffering for one thing, All of you *rhapsody pointing at the council members*. This year for every council memeber and every maximal on cybertron. These soliders foguht with all their hearts just for the freedom of a small planet and Cybertron. THe Triped council has led you to beleive that we are but mere rogues and terrorists. The triped council though are the real terrorists!" A gasp rose from the reporters. Rhapsody new it was all or nothing and she wasn't holding back. She new the Predacons wouldn't "They have sercretly formulated a plan to take over the planet of giana and set up a military shipping port, to INVADE cybertron. My soliders have spent one year of their lives fighting against that very threat not becuase i asked them, forced them or made them do it becuase they knew it was right and they wanted their freedom. Now we coem to find out that our own goverment who we were fighting for has turned against us! During this tiral i will prove to every single one of you that we have fought a noble battle and the truth of the tripedicous council will come out. THank you."
Rhapsody sat down her mind racing going through afew papers and waiting for the Predacons return.
"We will now hear the opening statement for the prosecution."
Metal Mug
the night before the trial
Cycles fly when dancing.
Who knew how long Rubmur and Weede had been dancing. Never really dancing with each other, but rather dancing with the music. Then, the music stopped. It was time for the Metal Mug to close, and as such, the two were pushed out onto the street. With no music, Weede immediately fell to the ground and lay against the smooth wall of the bar. Rubmur sighed and sat down beside him, elbows on knees.
“What am I to do? Sure, I danced tonight, but I have no job. Nothing to wake up to in the morning. Right now, my future is nothing.”
Rumbur watched as the owner and other works of the Metal Mug headed out to go home or to business elsewhere.
“Maybe I should apply here. I’m a warrior, but that has to bring abilities useful for bartending or bussing tables. Right? Right?”
Rubmur brings his head up and looks over to Weede, who had fallen asleep, long ago. He points a finger at him.
“You, you have to have a job. All I have to do is follow you, and get you to help me. Yes.”
Rubmur extends the “s” on ‘yes,’ and then wakes Weede up. Weede stirs a little and his eyes open to their normal halfway mark.
“Hey, um, it’s time for you to go back home, um, what I mean to say is, you shouldn’t sleep here, but rather in your own room.”
So Weede stood up, and walked. Rubmur followed behind him, surprisingly enough to his own hotel. Although, that shouldn’t have surprised him, seeing as how he met Weede there. Their walk ended up as Weede walked into the room next to his and fell down onto the bed, presumably asleep. Rubmur smiled and went to his room to wait, and follow.
Outside Citadel
Rubmur was tired. He sat awake all night, a glass to the wall, listening to the sounds of Weede. He might’ve dozed off once or twice, but was jolted back to reality with the knowledge that Weede was his ticket to a job. Here he was with a group of Maximals, trying to blend in. He had followed Weede after he was awakened by one of the Maximals in this small crowd. Now, Rubmur was fairly sure who was the leader. So slowly, he approached her, and tapped her on her should.
“Um,” Rubmur said straightening his back, “You don’t know me, but I met Weede last night outside my hotel room.”
The femme-bot sighed, “Whatever damage he did, I’ll pay for later.”
“Oh, no, no, no, it was nothing like that. You see, I was a warrior, pretty high ranking. But I quit that job on a matter of principal. Now though, I have no job, and I was wondering if you needed someone to do something for your crew? I can do whatever, I’m rather flexible. I just need something steady to keep me on my feet, before I find out what I really want to do.”
The other ‘bot stood their for a moment, “Listen, I’ve got a very important trial I have to prepare for right now. And while I don’t want you to think you don’t concern me, it would be best if we talked after it, okay?”
“Ah, yes, I understand completely. I guess I’ll just tag along. Thank-you very much, Ms…?”
“Rhapsody.”
“Thank-you Rhapsody, I am Rubmur.”
--Citadel Courtroom--
"We will now hear the opening statement for the prosecution."
*KNOCK KNOCK*
The heavy door swung open slightly, as a slouchy-looking Transformer stepped in. His feet shuffled across the cold marble floor as he stepped in, his hands deep in his jacket pockets, and he raised his cap slightly in salute, and bowed towards the judge. He was quickly ushered to a side, a small dark corner, where he sat down and listened.
Querion drummed his fingers contemplatively on his bench, watching the entire spectacle. He pulled his cap over his eyes, and acted like the drifter he appeared to be. There were people from all walks of Cybertronian life, for this case was once in a century; surely everyone wanted a piece of the action. What was one more drifter in an entire courtroom of busybody onlookers? The wolf-bot wondered why the authorities would allow for the public to be present, but stuffed that thought, as the prosecutors started to speak.
[The Council Chamber]
Slowly, confidently, the lead Predacon attorney stood and moved to an open space before the Elder’s oversized benches. He was taller than he had looked, bent over his papers, and held a Grizzly Bear Beast Mode. Tufts of gray fur crisscrossed his furry Beast components, denoting him an older ‘bot. Perhaps even a reformatted Decepticon. No one knew his age. He was known simply as Mauler, for the brutality of his cross-examination routine.
“The Earthmen had a saying,” he began. “They called it Ockham’s Razor. It held that, ‘when all things are equal, the simplest explanation is invariably the correct one,” The bear paused to let the saying sink in. “Now, I have never had any high regard for Earth law. There are too many exceptions and loopholes. It has always lacked the clarity and grace of our own code. Yet, in this, I think that they might have hit upon a nugget of truth,” Mauler took a measured step forward. None too slow, and none too fast. “If a vase is found lying on the floor in pieces, and a dishonest child told you that it had ‘fallen by itself’, do you believe it? Or is it more reasonable to infer that the child knocked it down him or herself? If a child told his teacher that a family pet ate his data disk, has the disk truly been eaten? Or, more likely, did the disk never exist at all?”
Mauler turned and made a lazy circuit of the Council bench. “Life, my honored Councilmen, is nothing more than a string of simple definable events, one leading to another. Anyone who believes otherwise practices questionable logic. And anyone who would have another believe that such is truth…” He turned to look at Rhapsody and the assembled Maximals. “Is lying,” The words hung in the air for a moment before falling like lead. All eyes in the courtroom turned to the Maximals as well, wondering…
“And a lie is such a delicate thing, isn’t it, though. I should know this better than anyone,” he boomed heartily, “After all, I am a lawyer am I not?” Behind the Maximals a few members of the assembled press let out quiet chuckles. Mauler smiled, an expression that looked somehow lost on his face. In a moment’s time, however, the smile disappeared. It was replaced by something much more dour, and a little bit sinister. “Yes, lies are delicate, and difficult to maintain too. It begins small and then grows, devouring truth and decency like some primordial monster in its quest to perpetuate itself. And if who cares if anyone else is harmed by the lie? Who cares if innocent citizens suffer…if innocents die, as long as the lie endures? Who cares if soldiers, especially the less scrupulous ones, are hunted down like animals? Murdered. Because, in the end, they’re only butchers, and rapists, drunkards, and perverts…and of course, Predacons as well.” Mauler sneered. “Though I suppose that last bit hasn’t factored into this at all, has it though?” His words dripped with sarcasm.
The Grizzly Bear Predacon spun languidly on a metal shod heel and locked gazes with Wraith. No one else, just him. “Who cares if a Predacon Military Commandant of the highest order has his throat cut by some Maximal military operative, for the crime of commanding a perfectly legal blockade, sanctioned I might remind you, with the full knowledge and support of your Council of Elders? His last words were almost a scream.
“I care,” he said, colder than ice. “My government cares. And given the great steps recently made by the Tripredacus Council toward peace and prosperity, so should this Council. The fact that this hearing is even taking place is a grave insult to all Predacons,” Mauler turned once again to face the Elders.
“Given that both are equal, which is more plausible? These rebels would have you believe that we deliberately attacked and occupied an entire city, oppressed its citizens, killing its young and old alike, closed its access to space, and instituted a military blockade in order to facilitate an armed invasion of Cybertron. Cybertron! Did you hear me? The best fortified, heavily defended Maximal world in known space! After the steps toward peace we have so recently made, and after all the time and effort that went into their approval among our own kind, they would make us villainous barbarians, like the Decepticons of old. Always scheming to gain power for themselves. I would have you believe that we were well within our rights in every action on the planet Gaiana and in the space above it. I would have you believe, as has been shown in record, that this was all done in agreement with Council. And, I would have you know that these monsters sitting before you today deliberately murdered members of our garrison, including the Commandant of the occupational force,”
The Predacon returned to his seat. “These charges are nothing but lies, and these Maximals murderers instead of heroes. I ask you, which is more believable? Our above board dealings, or the spider web of lies with which they’ve no doubt already filled your ears. I am confident that you will rule justly in this matter,”
And then he was done. If it were anywhere else, Mauler would have smiled. It was all just a dance to him, and one, despite his age, that he danced exquisitely well.
Nocticia sat uneasily in her chair. That was all she could do. Why? Because she wasn't supposed to be here with these Maximals and she knew it. She knew that if she was called to the stand, she could be found out and if that happened at a court proceeding, PRIMUS!!! She could possibly have blown everything for Tempered Metal. Why did she have to help people out? Why couldn't she just spit blood at them and go on? Why hadn't she feasted before the trial? She was already starting to get loagy.
Wraith glared daggers at the Predacon lawyer. Stupid piece of *@$# I ripped his spark out, I didn't slit his throat. He also wondered how the bear had known he was the one who assassinated the officer. He planned to find out after the trial. Somewhere in a dark alley...
Last night went by so fast, so quick. The introductions and greetings seemed so short, but at least Cross knew more of the members of the resistance. For that he was pround. Yet he was really happy today. Sitting in the court room, listening to a pred ramble about justice wasn't all fun and laughs. Yet what was going to happen next?
Rhapsody glared at the predacon just long enough for only him to notice. This was going to be harder then she thought. She sighed for a minute and waited for the conciul to announce the next proceeding. "Defence may call its first witness."
"The defence call Maximal Resistance Member Solarflare to the stand." Solarflare nodded and approached the stand. The room was very quiet the finch was sworn in. He looked tired from the fight and mentally tired from just one night ago.
"Could you state your name for the record." Rhapsody said still sitting.
"Maximal Resistance Memeber Solarflare. Small arms specialist."
Rhaposdy rose from her seat and approached him as if they were having a misson meeting. "How long ago and how did you come to serving in the Resitance?"
"I was put into stasis to go on a long exploration trip but i was "Misplaced" and woke up on a ship and sorta fell into place. This was about a stellar cycle ago or longer."
"DId you voulenteer or did we force you."
"I could have left if i wanted to but i stayed."
"What was your impression of endport when you first arrived."
"I couldn't believe places like that still existed. THe predacons had complete control, everything was run by them or the crime lords. The city was in a world of @#%$."
Prime ubtt in suddenly, "This conciul will not accept that kind of brash language."
"Sorry." SOlarflare said as curtly as possible.
"Moving on. What was your role and what events did you witness during the year you were on Giana."
"On Giana i was a soldier for the resistance, i fought in any mission we went on. While there some of things witnessed was the predacons attempt at bombbarding the city, several attempts on our lives, the space battle and other incident."
"We're any of these instagated by our team?"
"No, the closest would be the space battle, we were trying to flee the city but the predacons tried to stop us, so that wasn't out fault."
"What was your objective while on Endport?"
"Help the people there, as i said the city was in trouble, also once we found out that the predacons were trying to take over Cybertron it became personal for everyone."
"No more questions." Rhaposdy said sitting back down. With solarflare she just wanted to set up a a general outline and not release any tump cards yet.
"Prosecution?"
Mauler stood and adjusted himself and stared directly into solarflare. "You were involved in the Space battle around endport correct?"
"Yes."
"The battle in which you and your team destroyed 8 predacon warships and took countless lives?"
"Objection! The porcecuter is leading the witness."
"Overruled!"
"Yes that battle."
"And how exactly did you get into the battle."
"We highjacked the Disrupter a predacon destoryer."
"All to escape the planet?"
"If we didn't they were going to destroy Endport in a bombbardment."
"But none of the ships have logged bombing runs against endport?"
"ALl the ships were destoryed. The onyl ship that was saved was a predacon crusier that wasn't part of the bombing run."
"So you destroyed evidence?"
"Objection!" Rhapsody slammed a folder onto her table.
"Overruled." Prime said calmly. THe rest of the elders shifted slightly and Rhapsody could have killed Prime with a glare.
"We didn't destory it, the ship was destoryed by a large Ion cannon on the flagship before that was destoryed by the Maximal Ship that assisted us."
"How conveinet, so that ship was destoryed as well?"
"Yes." Solarflare said narrowing his eyes.
"Tell me Solarflare is it? How many people did you kill while on Giana."
"I don't know."
"As in you aren't sure or you lost count."
"Somthing like that."
"Answer the question!"
"Look i don't like killing people but we had no choice! I hate killing people but we were threatened first!"
"ANSWER the question!" Mauler said staring daggers into Solarflare.
"46." SOlarflare said sighing.
"Now why would you remember that number, exactly 46."
"Becuase it was terrible and i didn't want to but it had to be done."
"Oh it had to be done? Did someone tell you to?"
"We were trying to save Cybertron, I didn't have a choice."
Mauler saw this would go nowhere and turned around quickly "No more questions."
The courtroom fell into silence as Mauler walked away. Everybody knew that he had scored an important point with his argument. Suddenly, a loud sound pierced through the courtroom like a rusty buzzsaw going through wood. Everybody turned to see Nocticia with her head hangin back over the lip of the chair, her mouth open and her hands slumped at her sides as she snored loudly. Somebody gave her a nudge and she fell out of the chair and onto the floor where she continued sleeping and snorting loudly. Cross bent over and put smelling salts to her nose. She awoke with a start. "What? Who? What's going on?" she saw everybody looking at her and blushed getting back into her seat.
"Uh huh uh huh huh uh huh." Weede chuckled. "She fell down. Shyeah."
He blinked, and glanced at Cross.
"What's up, dude?" he asked. "Do you know, like, where I could get some munchies?"
-----------
Buckshot shook his head and glanced at Querion, who sat behind him.
"Are you hearing this bulls**t?" he asked his friend.
"I am." Querion replied.
"We're in it deep. And if he brings up my time in the slammer, I'm screwed."
"We've all spent time in the slammer." Querion replied wryly. "As I recall, you helped us all escape. We're all in the same boat."
"Good point."
Rhapsody glarred at the PRedacon Attorney and called Buckshot to the stand interupting his conversation. After geting settled Rhapsody approached Buckshot.
"How long have you been on the resistance?"
"Couple of months, somethin' like that."
"HOw would you descibe Endport when you were there?"
"A crapfest little city run by a bunch of power-hungry Preds."
"Did the predacons Have complete control of the city?"
"Yeah."
"Did you or you team ever instatgate a battle between the Predacons unless acted upon first?"
"Um...no."
"No further question" Rhapsody sat down and waited for Mauler to TRY and take on Buckshot. The point of this was for Buckshot to break the lawyer down, Rhapsody grinned as mauler approacked Buckshot with a grin of his own.
"Tell me Buckshot, where were you before you joined the resistance."
Buckshot frowned, muttered "Damn." under his breath.
"Prison."
H\
"Prison? Prison you say. And why were you in prison?"
"Um, er, I got framed."
"Framed, indeed. did you hold a vendeta against the Predacons after that?"
"Kinda...I mean, I get framed by a bunch of the bastards and just barely escaped, 'course I'm gonna be a little pissed at them, but I didn't really do a lot about it on Gaiana."
"SO when did you do alot about it? WHen did you take your Revenge?"
"OBjection! Your execlency he is leading my witness!" Rahpsody said.
"Overruled" PRime said cooly, "Answer the question." Buckshot glared at him, starting to get annoyed.
"I never took any revenge. I only fought them when they started screwing with me, which was pretty damn often."
"Right right, like at the hotel were you savagly murdered two predacon Generals." Rhapsody smiled, Big mistake, for one thing Buckshot is about to be set off and two they should have never brought that up!
"Savagely murdered?! Savagely murdered!" Buckshot repeated, rising slightly. "Maybe because those Predacon generals led an unprovoked attack on our damn hotel!!! Maybe because they broke in and started shooting at us, wounding us, trying to kill our Maximal asses!!! Maybe because we had to defend ourselves against the sons of b**tches!!!"
"SIr calm yourself or you will be removed from this courtroom!" Prime BOomed at Buckshot.
"IF YOU REMOVE ME FROM THIS COURTROOM YOU'LL BE REMOVING MY FOOT FROM YOUR ASS!!!! This stupid bastard is manipulating me and making us sound like the f**king bad guys, when we're the ones getting our asses kicked by @#%$ Predacon mercenaries, SO SHUT YOUR F**KING PIE HOLE!!!!" Rhapsody stood quickly and glared at Buckshot and ran quickly up the stand. Two bailfs quicky approached but were waved off as Rhaposdy had another maximal lead him out of the courtroom.
"It is clear this "Resistance in nothing more then savage beasts! I move for a mistrial unless The good Commander has any REAL Evidence.
"WHy yes i do. The defence calls Retro-Virus to the stand." Retro stood in the back and approached and was sworn in.
"Retro do you know what this is?" RHaposdy said holding up a small silver ball.
"Yes its a image projector we found on Giana."
"WHat is this!" Mauler said standing and shouting.
"Defence evidence A6. Its clearly marked." RHaposdy sad grining more by the moment. "Lights please!" Rhapsody said happily. The lights dimmed in the court. "Could you activate the projector Retro."
"Yes" Retro Pressed a red a button and the Image of Giana appeared.
"Now how exctly does this work?"
"Well its locked on a pred frequency but it will operate on its set program just nothing else."
"And what is this program." A sound that sounded like a smack to the forehead was heard from the Proecutions table.
"This shows a map of Giana over a time lasp." Retro pressed another button. The green on the map extedn out and up as Predacon Space port Logos began to sprout up. One large one over Endport. The eniter courtroom let out a gasp as RHaposdy held back laughter. This wouldn't win it, but it was a step in the right directoin.
"No more questions!" She said Happily.
"No umm no questions." Mauler said quietly. Prime was in complete shock.
"This court with recess for 30 cycles!" He said and the conciul stood quickly and exited.
Retro shrugged and hopped over the railing of the witness stand. He joined the others as they all filed into a medium sized room that served as a waiting room. Since they were potential criminals, the guards wouldn’t let anyone out without a darn good reason.
The rest of the resistance members were making the best of their time in that room, being fed closed circuit television feeds of the trial on several monitors around the room. Everyone was pretty pissed at the audacity of the Predacon layer, but that sort of thing wasn’t totally unexpected.
Ret calmly sat down next to Tundra and gave her a peck on the cheek when her brother wasn’t watching. “Hey babe, did I look good on tv?”
Tundra looked down at Ret, and said "Yeah, you looked real good, i think you made that layer angry. And thats not neccesarily a bad thing."
Rhapsody and the rest of the team returned only a half og mega cycle later. The maximals and the press retook their seats, as did the conciul. "The defence may call its next witness." Prime said treding a bit lighter then before.
"The defence calls Special Hunter Wraith to the stand." Wraith got up from his seat and walked slowly to the witness stand. A few murmers and hushed voices echoed from the council. "Now Wraith you were employeed by the conciul itself for a short while?"
"I always have been, since I came online. I'm a pirate hunter."
Quiet chatter and confusion was heard from Predacon defence team. "Please tell is the condition of Endport while you were there and what you postion was."
Wraith thought for a moment. "Well, I was called there under orders. I was told there were pirate problems there. When I arrived, my fighter was shot down by what I soon learned were not pirates, but Predacons. Once I learned the truth, that there were no pirates, I intended to leave. I'm a pirate hunter, not a freedom fighter. After a short time though, I saw what the Preds had done there. It was like a world-wide labor camp, the Preds had a steel grip on everything. I decided to stay and help."
"And this does not violate your postion with the concuil?"
"No, I was dispatched to help the people who requested my service. That's exactly what I did, nothing more. I fulfilled my duties to the letter."
"So a member of the councils own security force agrees with the actions that took place on endport?"
Wraith nodded. "I am fully charged to use my own best judgement when in the field. I believe that the Resistance had full legal right for all their actions, and I support the movement."
"Thank you." Rhapsody said sitting down at her own table. Mauler stood for a minute and looked over a file that he had in his hands.
"True or false Wraith. You assassinated the lead commander of the Predacons in Endport?"
Wraith hesitated. This wasn't going to look good. He glanced at Rhapsody. Rhapsody didn't know the answer to that question but she figured that the only thing they could use was tthe ttruth. She solemly nodded.
He took in a deep breath and stared the Predacon lawyer in the optics, showing the bear he couldn't be intimidated. "I did."
"And this was in your better judgement?"
Wraith's expression changed to what could almost be identified as a sneer. "Yes, it was."
"And why was that "Special Hunter" Wraith
Wraith stared down the laywer. It was in his better judgement to gut him too, but that wouldn't help their case. "Because it works the same way with pirates, kill the captain, the crew falls apart."
"And you figured that the Predacons would fall apart around endport. Well there you have it, one of the resistance members blatently admited to killling a highly respected Predacon General becuase it was in his better judgement." Wraith began to talk but was cut off. "NO more questions!"
Wraith slammed his fist down on the table and stood up. "I'M NOT FINISHED!!! He roared.
Prime's eyes lit up as he interupted. "Wraith you are out of line!"
"I believe i would like to hear what he has to say." Elder Garrak said motioning to Wraith. Prime wrived with anger behind a calm face.
Wraith thanked Elder Garrak and sat back down after shooting a very sour look at Prime. "If one were to look into my dossier, he would see that I have full permission to take whatever actions neccessary to accomplish my mission. My "judgement", mister lawyer, has been far more trusted in the past than yours." Wraith slowly rose and exited the stand mouthing the words "I am gonna get you." To Mauler as he sat.
Rhapsody stood a moment and smiled. "Defence rests." She said. That was her last trump card. Now it was time to see what the prosecution had to say.
Caska took a deep breath. Sleazy lawyers and young warriors were a volatile mix. She was positioned several feet to the side of the witness stand, in a position where she hoped she could defend the witness, the defendants, or the prosecution if a fight broke out. This case just continued to surprise her. In a situation like this, she would have expected the Council to detain the Resistance, take statements from them and the Preds, dispatch a fact finding mission to Endport. As it was, the thing was going as quickly and loudly as possible, though she couldn't be sure that the same people were responsible for the quickness and the loudness. Something was definitely afoot here. Eyeing Prime and Garrak, it seemed there was something bigger than the fate of a some Maximal soldiers at stake here, perhaps even bigger than the true intentions of the Preds. And what could possibly concern Council members more than that? Themselves, of course.
Penji sat at the back of the Resistance, keeping an even lower profile than usual.
Nocticia sat as bored as ever hearing "blah-de-dah" about that spaceship and "whoop-di-slag" about that planet and was pretty bored about the whole thing. But suddenly, she saw something out of the corner of her eye, a small rodent scurrying across the ground. <i>Thank Primus!</i> She grabbed the small, furry animal and bit into its neck allowing the warm, organic blood to fill her veins. Oh how sweet the blood tasted. She hadn't fed on organic blood since before the hotel where she got into all this trouble. She drank greedily and suddenly, the realization came. Everybody was looking at her.
[Council Chambers]
Prime surveyed the audience before him with mounting unrest. Too many cameras, he thought. And it was true. The mob of camera ‘bots, reporters, and the like seemed to have doubled while they had been in recess. Tachyous gave and inward snort of disapproval. It had Cicadon’s name written all over it. The sleazy Predacon, it seemed, would do anything and everything in his power to ride down his little Resistance members, short of actually appearing, that was. The High Elder took a moment to reflect on the depth of his hate for the Tripred, before turning back to the matter at hand.
“I think that we’ve heard enough from the defense’s side of bench,” Tachyous boomed in his deep resonant voice. “We’ve a long way go before we are finished with this, and if possible I would like to move on to more important matters before we adjourn today’s session,” The High Elder made a cursory check of those in favor, and those against. He could have done it with his eyes closed if he’d wanted to. The votes fell as they ever did. Those who owed their positions to him (a majority), voted for. Everyone else voted with Garrak. The elder statesman seemed to be brooding at his far end of the table. About what Prime could not begin to imagine.
Not that it mattered. He had his votes.
“Motion carried,” the High Elder continued. “The floor shall henceforth belong to the Prosecution. Prosecution, you may call your first witness,”
Mauler stood slowly. “If it please the Council, the Prosecution calls the Maximal ‘Rhapsody’, to the stand,” The bear ‘bot glanced to the Defense table, only to find the songbird staring back with contempt. The Predacon returned a frosty smile. He had left out her title of ‘Commander’ deliberately. It was a meaningless little cut at her pride, but who knew? People often get upset over the strangest things. If his jape garnered even the smallest bit of anger from the Maximal, well then, he approved of it. Mauler wanted Rhapsody angry for this. Completely, ragingly, and insensibly angry. She wouldn’t blow up like some of her more juvenile cohorts, but it would make her careless.
And that was all he wanted.
Behind her own table, Rhapsody pushed her chair back lightly. Before she could stand, however, a hand moved, catching her own. She stopped. “What is it Wraith?” she asked softly.
“Rhapsody, I…” The wolf ’bot paused, reconsidering his words. “Be careful up there, ok?” he said instead. “You’re a good person, and didn’t do anything that didn’t need doing. Don’t let ‘dead meat’ get to you. He’s…”
“ Commander!” barked a new voice, raspier than Mauler’s and higher pitched. “I might remind you that this is a Court of Inquiry, not a dating service. Take your seat” Rhapsody stood abruptly, letting her hand disentangle itself from Wraiths loose grip. When she looked up, she saw one of the Predacon co-councils, Bengal, the tiger ‘bot, standing in front of the table. Without a word she complied, taking up her place in the witness booth.
“How does it feel?” the razor thin Predacon said, approaching the stand.
“How does what feel?” Rhapsody replied.
“Why, being a killer, of course,” the tiger hissed. “And one of such excellent prowess. Why, in all this courtroom, I do not believe there is anyone quite so accomplished as you when it comes to mass murder,”
“Objection,” called Nova from across the room.
“I shall rephrase the question,” Bengal said. “Commander, how does it feel to be a murderer?”
“Objection,” Nova again.
“Objection or not,” Bengal replied, “The truth speaks for itself,” He produced a small data pad and tossing it onto Rhapsody’s lap. “One hundred and twenty three Predacon deaths, directly or indirectly linked to your illegal, immoral, and irresponsible actions on the planet of Gaiana. And those are only the military figures. Eighty-five fatalities among those independently contracted or recruited from Endport to help maintain our occupational forces. Horrible, yes? And I haven‘t even come to my favorite yet,” Bengal came close and looked her in the eyes. His face was twisted in to a cruel smile. “Six hundred and sixty confirmed civilian casualties. Most of which came the day you attacked a multi-faction Science Exposition, earlier this year,” Bengal stepped back.
“Your honors, exhibits for the Prosecution designated ‘C-6’ through ‘C-8’. Security footage from the Predacon Science Fair, uncovered while digging through what remained of the exhibition hall,”
The tiger tapped a device on his wrist, causing the air in front of the Council bench to shimmer with silvery light. Many of the Elders leaned forward, anxious for a better look. The first hologram, befret of any sound was from one of the hall’s overhead cameras. It showed all as a shadowy figure detached itself from a rafter, creeping slowly to the next major structural support. Once there, it planted a small black device, topped by a dimly flashing red light. The ‘bot turned and cloaked, but not before he had been caught in profile. The holo suddenly froze, a Maximal military dossier appearing next to the frozen figure. The picture on the dossier matched the figure.
“His name Redwing, formerly member of the Maximal Intelligence community. Confirmed sightings with the Resistance, most notably during the raid on Jester’s Tavern late last year. He is shown here rigging the building’s major support points with Claussen Mark V time charges. Military issue. Very likely stolen. Next,”
The hologram changed again. This time the picture was taken from the floor, accompanied by a recorded sound track. It was a panicked scene. Everywhere, ‘bots were screaming and pressing for the doors. Among them could be seen a handful of heavily armored Predacon military guards, moving in on individual members of the Resistance. A blinding lance of energy swept out, cleaving the nearest guard in half. Mech fluid sprayed everywhere as the ‘bot fell, trampled by the onrushing mob. In the background, a civilian Pred of indeterminate age was crushed as a gigantic block of synthetic concrete fell from the roof.
“This scene is taken twenty minutes later, as the structural integrity of the building began to fail, presumably due to the planted charges. You can see members of the exhibition’s military guard attempting to intervene, and protect the civilians,”
The hologram changed a third time. It was a short scene, showing a thin female Maximal with a badger Beast Mode hurdling a row of booths and darting forward, throwing knife in hand. With a flick of her wrist, the figure threw, knife blossoming forth…and lodging in the throat of a fleeing Maximal child. The young ‘bot was modeless, colored silver with blue green detailing. The holo froze as Switchblade’s dossier appeared.
“Switchblade,” Bengal called out. “An armed courier we had employed to shuttle high level computer components to our systems in Endport. Kiber microprocessors to be exact, which she later stole from us. Also responsible for the brutal murder of General Spat of the Predacon Army. It should be noted that miss Switchblade did not turn herself over to the Councils custody, and is therefore not present today. She chose instead to run and hide her guilt,”
Solarflare’s eyes widened in rage. Buckshot had to hold him down to keep him from leaping the table. He stopped struggling as the hologram died.
“I’ve a question for you Commander,” the tiger drawled out once even the shimmering had faded. “It’s a simple one, so please just answer yes or no. Were you and your ‘freedom fighters’ responsible, in any way, for the deaths we have just seen?”
“You take the images out of context,” Rhapsody began. “We…”
“I do NOT recall asking you for any extraneous comments!” Bengal yelled, drowning her out. “Answer me!”
“I…” Rhapsody ventured.
“ANSWER,” the tiger snapped.
“This is badgering ,” Garrak cut in.
“Sustained,” Prime agreed. “The attorney for the Prosecution is instructed to refrain from harassing the witness,” Tachyous paused. “Now Commander, please answer the question. Yes or no, as requested,”
Rhapsody remained silent for and interminable moment, weighing the answer she knew to be true, against the damage it would cause. Damn them for bringing this up first of all. “Yes,” she finally conceded. Bengal favored her another of his hateful smiles.
“So, if you and your ilk hadn’t been present, perhaps none of this would have come to pass?”
“Perhaps,” the songbird answered.
“More than perhaps, I think,” Bengal crooned. “Buildings such as this hall was rarely fall to pieces on their own. And I am most certain that Predacon military personnel are not spontaneously lased in half,” Bengal stepped up close to Rhapsody. “How does it feel to have perpetrated the most heinous act of terrorism in the last decade?” he said softly, so that only Rhapsody could hear.
“Go to hell,” the Resistance leader said coldly. Bengal stepped back.
“Go to hell?” the lawyer said loudly for the benefit of the court. “Oh, I very much doubt that. Hell is for soulless worms and murderers such as yourself. I on the other hand, have never harmed a soul,” The Predacon paced back to the center of the space encompassed by the Council’s horseshoe bench. “And speaking of souls, that is the next thing I would like to discuss with you,” He tapped his wrist device and the holo screen reappeared. On it was the frozen image of three ‘bots. Rapier she knew, but not the others. One was a fuzor, made out to look like a griffin of sorts. The other was a winzied old ‘bot, covered in a heavy robe. Their Commander she thought with a shock. Wraith had told her about this. She braced herself for the blow.
Meanwhile, Bengal continued. “No,” he said, “It’s more sparks I want to talk about. The true essence of a Transformer. His heart and soul all rolled up in to one. You are familiar with the spark, yes?” he asked. Rhapsody nodded. “Good, then perhaps you can tell me the traditional penalty for spark ripping?”
She froze. “Death,” she managed. Barely.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Bengal congratulated her. “It is indeed death. One of the few instances of corporal punishment we Transformers practice, regardless of faction. Be it Autobot or Decepticon; Maximal or Predacon, the law is the same. Spark rippers are held to be the lowest of the low and the vilest of the vile.” The Predacon turned to address the Council directly. “My good friend and colleague Mauler is a gentle ‘bot, despite his trade, and no doubt had your welfare in mind when he first told you the manner of death for the old Predacon you see in the hologram. He is…or was, the Supreme Commander of the Predacon Occupational Forces on Gaiana. This is the surveillance holo of his death. As you will see, his throat was far from cut,”
The hologram sprung to life. First there was nothing. The trio walked and walked, the old Commander making small gestures with one of his hands, trying to impress something he never lived to impress on his two foremost Generals. Then, from out of nowhere, Wraith appeared. In a fraction of a second his work was finished, and he was gone once again. The Commander gave a short gasp of pain and fell. Rapier spun, searching for the threat, but by that time, the assassin was gone. The holo froze again, Wraith’s dossier flashing to life beside it. The holo blinked and disappeared.
“The assassination of a high Predacon military officer. That alone would command a very painful death, even if not for the spark ripping. Whatever his past employment, this ‘Wraith”, this…cold-blooded ‘pirate’ killer, wrapped in a cloak of ‘better judgment’, slew this ‘bot. But why, I wonder? Was it something that this fine Commander had done to Wraith personally? Some sleight or offense given? Or was he ordered to do it? Commander Rhapsody, I won’t presume that a fine and upstanding ‘bot such as yourself would have ordered such a thing, so I will ask you instead, did you know that the assassination would take place?”
Rhapsody held silent.
“Commander, did you know about it?” Bengal repeated. “Please, you can tell the truth. It won’t hurt you a bit. I myself have always found the truth…liberating,” The tiger’s eyes shone with the cruel irony of his statement.
Lie! Rhapsody’s mind screamed. Lie. Save yourself. Save your friends; your soldiers. Save them! Just lie! And another part screamed. Tell them truthfully. The Council is just. They will see this badgering for what it is. The will see how he has twisted events. They will give you justice! Her lips pressed into a thin hard line.
“Is something wrong?” Bengal asked harshly. “Either you knew or you didn’t. It’s as simple as that. Answer my question. Did you know?”
In the end she told the truth. “I knew,” she said. Doing was honest and right had never seemed so wrong to her as in that instant.
Bengal shook his head solemnly. “Then you let it happen,” the tiger said. “You knew, an you failed to stop it. You are as guilty as damned boyfriend,” the tiger seemed truly disgusted. “Commander, you have claimed the moral high ground ever since you set foot in this courtroom. It has been the rock upon which you have built a feeble and unsubstantiated case. Yet the sad truth is that you occupy no such ground. From where I sit, or from where they sit,” he indicated the Elders in their seats, “I cannot see you as anything but a murderer and an anarchist,” Bengal paced back to his table and sat. “If the Council approves, co-council, Ferros, will continue the examination,”
Prime nodded, and the Lion ‘bot stood. He smiled as he approached the bench, warmly where Bengal’s smile had been pure ice. Rhapsody held her breath and waited for the second wave of verbal battery.
It came, but not as expected.
Wraith's optics burned with fury. This lawyer, this...Bengal, was gutter trash. The lowest of the low, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was his fault. After all, it was Wrath that assassinated the General in that manner. Now his handiwork was causing trouble for Rhapsody and probably just @#%$ up their whole case. That made two 'bots to butcher after the trial. Mauler...and Bengal. Especially Bengal for that comment he made to Rhapsody: "You are as guilty as your damned boyfriend." That would bring the council to believe Rhapsody's judgement was compromised, having personal relationships in the ranks always did. He didn't know how, but some way, he was going to make sure everybody got out of here alive...whether they won the trial or not.
Trance, for some unknown reason, had decided to attend this little trial of these Maximals. All through the trial, he kept eyeing up Buckshot, who was having a hard time trying to restrain himself, which only caused Trance to chuckle. He knew, in his mind, that one way or the other, Buckshot would end up either dead or in prison, and Trance hoped his walle would be thickened because of it. He had managed, however, to pull his attention away from Buckshot for a while and watch the trial. As he watched Rhapsody being questioned, he shook his head slightly. They're getting to these Maximals, which is exactly what they want. The fools. His thoughts were ended, however, as he watched prosecutors switch, which he found interesting.
The Predacon Prosecuter was not making any friends today. Solarflare would have just loved to melt him into a pile of burning metal at any moment. The finch managed to contain himself and sit down with the help of buckshot pinning his shoulder to the seat.
Graphics Provided by Riboflavin
