rwn. /Lost Light/ and Cybertron. Trials and New Beginnings Part 1

[dens_extra_pups]

Windblade: *just a bit worn out from trying to tie up loose ends regarding everything that's happened over the past few solar cycles* *sighs and finishes yet another bit of paperwork. She hasn't really left her office except to refuel and recharge in awhile*

door: *slides open*

Windblade: *looks up* Not now, Chromia.

bot: *is tall, iridescent black, coldly beautiful, and very definitely female. Also has a set of delta wings standing up proudly from her back. Fiery golden eyes study Windblade as she stops just inside the office* Chromia is getting Ironhide's hand out of a jar.

Windblade: ... Who are you?

bot: *coolly* My name's Nightwish. I'm here to see Megatron.

Windblade: ... *as she moves to get to her feet* What business do you have with Megatron? *concerned*

Nightwish: I mean him no harm. *doesn't look toward the sound of Ironhide and Chromia cursing aimed toward her person*

Windblade: *a bit hesitant, but will square her shoulders* Alright.

Nightwish: *still cool and impassive* Do I need an escort? *DOES quirk a brow at the sound of Chromia socking Ironhide*

Windblade: *calmly, though she's still a bit spooked inside* It's either that I escort you, or you don't get to see him.

Nightwish: *brow quirks further* I sense aggression.

Windblade: I really don't want to hear about letting someone go down to the brig alone.

Nightwish: I have no intention of injuring your guards. *crash from the two in the other room*

Windblade: *sigh* They're too busy injuring each other... But they're not the ones I'm concerned about catching heat from.

Nightwish: *turns and goes over to Ironhide. Rips open the unbreakable jar*

Ironhide: ...

Chromia: 0.o?

Nightwish: Here's your key back. *returns to Windblade* Can we go now?

Windblade: ... Er... Yes.

Nightwish: *steps aside so that the shorter Seeker woman can reach the door*

Windblade: *will move to head for the door*

Chromia: Where are you going, Windy? *protective scowl*

Windblade: I'm taking a break.

Chromia: With her? *suspicious look for the stranger*

Ironhide: *growls at Nightwish*

Nightwish: *snerks at him* I don't have time to play right now.

Windblade: *quietly* It will be alright, Chromia.

Chromia: I'm coming too.

Windblade: *sigh* Alright, but no fighting with the guards this time, Chromia.

Chromia: Sideswipe 'n Sideburn are idiots.

Nightwish: Yet it was Ironhide who got his hand stuck in a jar.

Ironhide: *stomps off to the screen on the wall to pretend he's not sulking*

Windblade: *so much sigh*

Chromia: *ornery look for the stranger*

Nightwish: *ignores it. Is watching Windblade and waiting*

Windblade: Let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get back.

Nightwish: Ready when you are.

Windblade: *will move to lead the way*


at the lockup


Sideswipe: *has Sideburn's head under his arm and is banging on it with his knuckles* I don't hear anything there but air!

Sideburn: AHHHHHHH!

Sideswipe: *so amused, will rap on Sideburn's head a few more times* Yeah, nothing but echoes that wanted to be thoughts!

Windblade: ... *facepalm* Sideswipe, Sideburn, that's enough.

Nightwish: *looking over Windblade's shoulder (and through her wing)* I don't think they heard you.

Windblade: They never do.

Sideburn: *flailing and trying to get out of the headlock* *muffled protests*

Nightwish: *trumpet sound*

Sideswipe: Waugh! *startles and runs into the wall*

Sideburn: Awk! *just got slammed into the wall, too*

Nightwish: ... I promised not to damage the guards.

Windblade: ...They damaged each other.

Nightwish: Alright. *walks through the room and over to the cell door, then stops and seems to gaze at it*

Megatron: *laying on the berth in his cell. Isn't moving*

Windblade: ... Er... The comm button is by the lock... *will point it out*

Nightwish: *glances at her* I know. Let me in.

Windblade: ...

Sideburn: *picking himself up off the floor* Why do you want to go in there?

Nightwish: *ignores Sideburn and looks at Windblade*

Windblade: *hesitates for a moment, then keys in the sequence to unlock the door*

Nightwish: Thank you. *steps into the cell*

Sideswipe: *picking himself up now* Are you sure that's a good idea? That's Megatron in there...

Windblade: *quietly* I think she knows that already, Sideswipe.

Sideburn: Then why's she going in?

Windblade: She said she wanted a word with Megatron...

Sideburn and Sideswipe: *exchange doubtful glances, then look toward the door of the cell*

Nightwish: *stops by the berth and looks down at its occupant, her face inscrutable*

Megatron: *has his optics shuttered, and doesn't seem to be awake at first glance*

Nightwish: I know you're awake, old man.

Megatron: *unshutters his optics just enough to see who is speaking to him*

Nightwish: *one perfectly formed brow quirks* You need a medic.

Megatron: *quietly* For what little good it would do... *soft snort*

Nightwish: Your time's not up yet.

Megatron: You sound certain of that.

Nightwish: I am.

Megatron: *snorts again*

Nightwish: *grabs him by the collar, lifts him up, and gives him a good shot of energy*

Sideburn and Sideswipe: :o

Windblade: 0_0

Megatron: *very startled by that!* *arms flared out and eyes flashing*

Nightwish: *continues the treatment*

Megatron: *sags as the charge hits his systems fully*

Nightwish: *lifts her head and looks at him. Quietly* How do you feel now?

Megatron: *has a bewildered expression on his face, and his optics are very bright now*

Nightwish: *sits him up on his berth* Better?

Megatron: *slowly* Yes. Better. *still a bit bewildered* Who are you?

Nightwish: My name is Nightwish. I'm the project that's never spoken of. *the one that Shockwave had reported to be a failure*

Megatron: ... *much frown* Shockwave reported that project as a failure...

Nightwish: He feared what he'd created, and tried to launch me into a sun.

Megatron: ... *scowl*

Nightwish: I've read your history. *folds arms*

Megatron: He lied to me. *yuuup. He's drunk*

Nightwish: Yeah. He did it a lot. Are you still surprised?

Megatron: *much frown now. Trying to make sense of this* What is your name?

Nightwish: *mouth quirks up at one corner* Nightwish.

Megatron: *silent and still for a few moments, then he's nodding slowly*

Nightwish: *lifts one hand and rests it on his shoulder*

Megatron: *looks to the hand on his shoulder* ...

Nightwish: *gentle pressure as she turns to look at Windblade* He needs medical attention.

Windblade: *small nod, will try and call a medic*

Nightwish: *will supervise the medic's visit, and then refuse to leave the cell when asked. Instead stands guard over Megatron as he sleeps that night*


the next morning


Drift: *watching on the big screen as the ship settles onto Cybertron's surface* ...You know, this isn't the same without Rodimus wisecracks.

Dion: *looks up at him with big eyes* Huh?

Drift: *quieter* Never mind.

Dion: *frowns thoughtfully up at his friend, then turns and runs toward the sound of quiet beeping and complaining* Dad? Dad?

Ultra Magnus: *trying to get Mini Jazz away from sensitive spots*

Mini Jazz: *loving this game! Is beeping laughter as he dodges big fingers*

Dion: *hand on Magnus' knee, unconsciously curling his fingers under the plating* Dad?

Ultra Magnus: *just made a sound that has Mini Jazz beeping and hopping even more*

Dion: *frowns deeply, then turns and runs off the bridge* Mom? *pauses to hug Swerve in passing, but continues toward his goal*

Swerve: *always glad to accept a hug!*

Ratchet: *was already coming to remind Ultra Magnus to go off-shift* Dion? Is something wrong?

Dion: *slides to a stop* Drift's sad about Rodimus again, and Dad's chasing Mini Jazz 'n making funny noises again. *doesn't turn as Swerve puts on a burst of speed toward the bridge*

Ratchet: *small frown* After we finish our business here, I'm going to call the other crew and ask for directions to Terra.

Dion: ...Why? *arms up to be lifted*

Ratchet: *as she moves to lift Dion* We'll be able to ask around and we might be able to find a few leads on where Rodimus went.

Dion: Oh. I know where he is. *looks toward the bridge*

Ratchet: *blink, will begin walking toward the bridge* You do?

Dion: Yup. *grins as the door opens and he hears the familiar beeping and griping*

Ratchet: *snerks as she hears the 'Magnus and Mini Jazz Show' in progress* *to Dion* So where should we start looking?

Dion: *looks at her and puts his finger in his mouth*

Rachel: ... Let me guess, spoilers?

Dion: *little face shows intent thought, and then he pulls his finger out of his mouth* She said not to tell until she told me.

Ratchet: *blink* Rung said that?

Dion: *shakes his head* Someone else did.

Ratchet: ... Oh. *wonders again if there's a Nightwish in this reality*

Dion: *points the nommed finger* See? Drift isn't even watching Dad.

Ratchet: *looks, much frown* The sooner we find Rodimus, the better.

Dion: *pushes out his lower lip, but then blinks as the whole ship jolts slightly*

Ratchet: *didn't just squeak, you can't prove anything*

Dion: ...Did we hit something?

Swerve: *from where he's sitting on his butt and blinking* Yeah... Cybertron.

Verity: *comming the bridge* //The *bleep* was that just now? Did we hit someone?//

Ultra Magnus: *soothing his startled and crying hugmonster as he reaches to reply* //Primus, if you believe the old stories about the core of Cybertron.//

Verity: //...Okay then.//

Drift: ... Is it just me, or has Blaster's ability to land gotten worse?

Blaster: THRRRPT!

Mini Jazz: *laughing again! And making funny noises of his own*

Ultra Magnus: *pinching the bridge of his nose now*

Windblade: *face appears on the forward screen* //Welcome home, Lost Light.//

Ultra Magnus: *hand down, nobody saw that, right?* *confused, but not letting it show*

Ratchet: *blinks when she sees an unfamiliar bot on the screen* Er...

Windblade: //I am Windblade, governor of Cybertron. Is Rodimus there?//

Ratchet: *quietly, as Drift stiffens slightly* Unfortunately, no, he's not.

Windblade: *slight confusion on her face* //...May I speak to Ultra Magnus?//

Dion: *hides shyly*

Ultra Magnus: Rodimus has not been present on the Lost Light in almost thirty orns, Governor Windblade.

Windblade: *worried expression* //I see. I wonder how that, on top of other recent events, is going to affect the trial.//

Ultra Magnus: ... Trial?

Windblade: *surprised* //You aren't here for Megatron's trial?//

Ultra Magnus: ... Megatron is on trial?!

Ratchet: Bhuh?!

Windblade: *slowly* //Yes... And just yesterday someone arrived to defend him.//

Ultra Magnus: ... Who arrived?

Windblade: //A female Seeker named Nightwish. She seems to be a Neutral.//

Dion: Ooooooo.

Windblade: *looks at the sparklet, who hides against Ratchet's shoulder again*

Ratchet: *Blink blink* So we do have one.

Windblade: *eyes toward the white and red bot* //I beg your pardon?//

Ratchet: It's a long story.

Windblade: *confusion is apparent, but she nods slightly* //So if you didn't know about the trial, why have you come back?//

Swerve: To restock. I'm running short on supplies for the bar.

Windblade: *small nod* //I see...// *bit of a frown* //Megatron's trial will be starting soon. Ultra Magnus, you're currently the most well-versed being on Cybertron regarding laws, will you stand as prosecutor?//

Ultra Magnus: *seriously* Where is the trial being held?

Windblade: //The Plains of Capaldi.// *doesn't blink as something crashes behind her* //We're going to need the seating.//

Swerve: *perk*

Dion: *sternly* You better ask Dad before you sell any clips.

Swerve: *meepgone*

Ultra Magnus: *makes a mental note to discuss the clips with Swerve after he signs off with Windblade* And what time does the trial begin?

Ratchet: *trying not to snickerfitdie at Swerve's rapid departure*

Windblade: *blinking with confusion at that exchange and departure* //Er... it starts at *nine o'clock* in the morning.//

Ultra Magnus: *small nod* Very well. I will be there.

Windblade: *as another crash sounds behind her* //Thank you. We'll see you then.//

Ultra Magnus: *nod* Ultra Magnus, out.

Windblade: *something that fizzles out as a third crash puts the screen into static*

Dion: *looks up at his mom worriedly* Did it break?

Ratchet: *long-suffering sigh* Ironhide got slugged, and probably crashed into part of the computer. It wouldn't be the first time he's done that, either.

Ultra Magnus: *frowns at her quizzically while absently scritching his hugmonster's head with one finger as the little guy hangs onto his chest* How do you know?

Ratchet: Because I've been there when it's happened in the past.

Ultra Magnus: It could have been something else.

Blaster: Nah. That's 'Hide's ring.

Ratchet: I'd recognize it anywhere.

Ultra Magnus: ...Ring? *funny sound as Mini Jazz noms the scritchy finger*

Ratchet: The sound his head makes when it collides with a flat surface.

Ultra Magnus: *gives her an incredulous look, clearly suspecting her of pulling his leg*

Ratchet: *headshake* I just hope they have good technicians working on fixing the computer.

Dion: *tank ping*

Ultra Magnus: *forgets about the sound of Ironhide's head as concern for his son comes to the fore* Do you have time to feed him?

Ratchet: I do. But you'd better get going if you want to be at the trial early enough to go over all the protocols. *KNOWS how you are, Mags*

Ultra Magnus: *tucks Mini Jazz inside his plating, and then leans forward without thinking and touches his forehead to Ratchet's* I'll see you there.

Ratchet: *must not squee. MUST. NOT. SQUEE* Drive carefully.

Ultra Magnus: I always do. *hand on Dion's little head for a moment, and then turns, stink eyes everyone else on the bridge without really seeing them, and walks out*

Blaster: *sitting there with his jaw hanging*

Drift: ... So, that happened.

Dion: *puzzled look for Drift* What happened?

Drift: Ultra Magnus showing affection in public.

Dion: *knows not what "in public" means yet* Dad shows affection all the time.

Blaster: *bibble sound* Swerve's gonna die when he finds out what he just missed.

Ratchet: I'm not repairing him if he does. *will move to bring Dion to get breakfast*


Later, at the trial


crowd: *barely contained, and extremely restless. They've come from all corners of the planet, and some even came from distant worlds, just to see the worst war criminal in history face his fate. Enforcers are working overtime to keep the crowd from making an already tense situation worse*

Swerve: *running from an irately scolding little black creature as he clutches a handful of nicely decorated entertainment chips* Ultra Maaaaaagnuuuus!

Ultra Magnus: *has gone over every protocol, including the security ones for the venue. At Swerve's yell, he turns, easily schooling his features into calm neutrality*

Mini Jazz: *scoldies as he chases the man his nice man told him to keep out of trouble!*

Swerve: Call off the chicken! Aack! *flinches away from another scoldy leap*

Jazz: *looks into the room* Hey, Mags, this critter yers?

Ultra Magnus: He is. *calls to Mini Jazz. No more chasing Swerve, come back*

Mini Jazz: *Oh? Okay! You got lucky this time, white man! Will make his way back to his nice man*

Jazz: *indicates the collar that the tiny leaping lizard is wearing* Y'DO know that ain't no turbofox, right? *amused*

Ultra Magnus: Because he's not a turbofox. He's a hugmonster.

Mini Jazz: *funny sound, is agreeing with his nice man!*

Jazz: Collar sez turbofox. *more amused*

Ultra Magnus: It's the same glyph used for "pet", Jazz.

Mini Jazz: *beep!*

Ultra Magnus: Go to bed, Mini Jazz.

Mini Jazz: *huh? Aww... wait. Issa sleepy! Goes to bed!*

Jazz: o_0 Whaaadchu jes' call that thing?

Swerve: *tries to hold in a snerk with both hands*

Ultra Magnus: *calmly* Mini Jazz.

Jazz: I... *finger to audio receiver* I gotta go. *gone*

crowd: *roaring as Megatron is brought out*

Ultra Magnus: *squares his shoulders and moves to where he needs to be*

Swerve: *watches him go, and then scoots to see if anyone wants to buy some of the 'Magnus and Mini Jazz Show'*

Megatron: *looks old and tired there in the box. Unlike the files that Ultra Magnus found online in the Backwater nexus, the former warlord's shoulders are slumped, and his optics are dull. And he startles slightly as Windblade calls for order*

Windblade: *tries Nightwish's trick and lets off a trumpet blast*

amphitheatre: *sudden dead silence except for Swerve's voice hawking his chips*

Windblade: Thank you, people. I now introduce the prosecutor. Ultra Magnus.

Ultra Magnus: *will step forward, quickly studying the crowd and assessing the situation. With any luck, the trial won't be a long, drawn-out affair...*

Dion: *is a single tiny cheer from the nearest rank of seating*

Ultra Magnus: *very slight smile*

Megatron: *glances toward that cheer, his expression showing a faint, dim wondering*

Ultra Magnus: *throat clearing type sound* *seriously* Megatron of Kaon, you are accused of crimes against the Cybertronian race, genocide, treason, terrorism...

Megatron: Guilty.

Ultra Magnus: *very slight scowl. Is quite irritated at being interrupted and at protocol not being followed* What?

Megatron: *quietly but clearly* I plead guilty to all charges.

Ultra Magnus: *trying to keep his brow from twitching* You don't even want to hear the defense's arguments?

Megatron: *steadily* No.

Ultra Magnus: ... *frowns as something occurs to him* Where is the defense?

Nightwish: *from behind him* I'm right here.

Megatron: *weariness turns to a confused frown as he looks at the woman*

Ultra Magnus: *quickly turns. He wasn't startled, nope*

Nightwish: *quirks a brow at him. Is more angular than that other Nightwish you've met, Magnus. And her expression is cooler and much less animated*

Ultra Magnus: ...Megatron has stated that he does not wish to hear the defense.

Nightwish: *nods* I suggest that living with the knowledge of what he's done would be more fitting than the death penalty.

Ultra Magnus: Imprisoning him would present too much of a risk of his being emancipated by loyalist Decepticons.

Nightwish: *calmly* I never suggested imprisonment.

Ultra Magnus: ... *raised brow* What do you suggest, then?

Nightwish: Protective custody. With myself as the guardian.

juror: *angry and mocking* Why should we trust you with that?

Ultra Magnus: *looks to the jury, optics narrowing* Because death isn't the only solution.

juror: It is for him. Besides, we don't know or trust that Seeker.

Ultra Magnus: You don't know or trust her, but I do.

juror: We're the jury.

Windblade: *with a curious glance for Ultra Magnus* Jury is overruled. Ultra Magnus, will you explain yourself?

Ultra Magnus: Her name is Nightwish. I've read reports of her activities in other sectors.

Windblade: Are you certain she would be a fit warden for Megatron? *looks toward said bot and startles as she sees that he's sound asleep in the box*

Ultra Magnus: *attention going to Megatron* ... *looks to Windblade* I'm certain.

Windblade: Can you give reasons why you agree that the death penalty is inappropriate? *looks from Magnus to Nightwish and back, inviting them both to answer*

Nightwish: How many people will killing him bring back?

Ultra Magnus: What chances for him to do good in the universe would be lost by killing him?

Windblade: What proof do you have that he will do good?

Nightwish: He saved Cybertron.

Ultra Magnus: His early writings and actions. *seriously* When he was a miner, before the mine he worked was shut down, he shared his rations with a fellow miner who had been injured and was to be decommissioned. He also had no prior incidents of participation in fights during that time-frame.

Nightwish: *looks at him thoughtfully, and then projects an image of Megatron hiding under a table during a brawl... that involves very familiar people*

Ultra Magnus: ... *very obviously confused* I don't understand...

Nightwish: *soft snort* It's evidence to back up one of your claims.

Ultra Magnus: ...I see. *still a bit confused about the appearance of some of the crew in the image*

Windblade: Where will you take Megatron, should he be put in your custody, Nightwish?

Ultra Magnus: It would be safer to have Megatron leave Cybertron. We have room on the Lost Light.

Prowl: *miffed* He needs to be locked up in jail!

Windblade: *sharp look toward the shout* Prowl of Polyhex, you're out of line!

Prowl: You don't know what he's done, Windblade of Caminus.

Windblade: Stand down or you will be removed.

Nightwish: *watching all this silently. Is also watching Megatron start to lean as he sleeps*

Ultra Magnus: *scowling at Prowl* I don't think you're in a position to argue anything, Prowl.

Prowl: *brr, did it get cold all of a sudden? Oh, no. He's just leveling an icy glare at Ultra Magnus* Says the second in command of a ship whose captain went AWOL.

Windblade: *gestures with her hand and watches as two hulking neutral enforcers approach the former police chief* You were warned.

Prowl: *coldly* Fine. But don't come to me if everything goes to the Pit because you let a known war criminal essentially go free. *will leave*

someone else: *loudly* There's no point in convicting Megatron if we can't get Prime at the same time. They're both just as guilty.

Megatron: *startles awake and scowls toward the voice*

talker: All those *bad word* 'Bots and 'Cons should be snuffed.

Ultra Magnus: ...

Ratchet: ... *looks like she's going to be sick*

Windblade: Order in the court! *watches one of the neutral bruisers punch the loudmouth in the head and facepalms* Ultra Magnus, get Megatron out of here quickly.

Ultra Magnus: Understood. *will move to approach Megatron* *will also comm Ratchet and tell her to go back to the ship*

Megatron: *is a startled sound as slender arms lift him up off his feet* What? Put me down!

Nightwish: *turns and looks at Ultra Magnus, then nods and leaps into the air. She and Megatron are gone with a sonic boom*

Ultra Magnus: ...Well, that's one way to do things.

Windblade: *standing on top of her podium now as she calls for order*

Wheeljack: *just got punted out of the stands along with the guy who's trying to rip his head off*

Bluestreak: *upset rambling is a go*

Eclipse: *SQUEAL!!!!*

Ultra Magnus: *hurrying to try and break up the fight*

Wheeljack: *doing his best to dent his attacker. Can't really say much because of the throttle hold*

Ultra Magnus: *will try and separate the two* Wheeljack, stand down! You're upsetting Eclipse.

Wheeljack: Gett'm off! *bucks*

Ultra Magnus: *long-suffering sigh* *will work on that*

attacker: *decides to try and throttle Ultra Magnus instead. And yell curses at all "Autobot murderers" as he does*

Wheeljack: *meanwhile crawls over to where he can hear his baby's voice and hold out his arms* Throw 'er here, Blue!

Ultra Magnus: *doing his best to restrain the attacker without hurting the idiot*

Bluestreak: *will do so, still rambling*

Eclipse: *squeal! Will cling to Daddy once she's with him*

Ultra Magnus: *getting an idea on how to get away from the attacker... If he can just get an opening....*

Wheeljack: *over by the podium now, his arms wrapped protectively around Eclipse as he looks around warily*

Bluestreak: *put herself between Wheeljack and the crowd, doorwings practically buzzing*

Ultra Magnus: *goes still*

Ratchet: *worried scowl from where she's stumbled to a stop beside Wheeljack, Dion a worried whisper in her arms*

Mini Jazz: *suddenly making an appearance and then the hugmonster is SCOLDING the mean man*

attacker: *monster in the face!* AHHHH!

((Written with random_xtras))

Continued here