This story is a crossover with a novel by Mildred Taylor called Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry that I have been doing for English Lit class. After reading the whole novel, this fic was inspired. Just a brief overview of how this story came to be.
Space bridge technology is very unstable, that I can tell you. Obviously there were no tests on what would happen if a bot that could use them ripped his spark out. Well, now I know. The energy becomes so unstable it rips open the fabric of time and space. How I know that, you younglings might be asking. That would be because I did just that and am now stuck on Earth in Primus knows what time period!!
"Yo, Jetfire, you done ranting?" the small silver Autobot said, making me realise I'd just said all that out loud. Another side effect of what I stated, any wandering sparks get caught up in the rip and, joy of joys, I'm stuck with this guy.
"I'm done youngling, now where are we!" I snapped, my joints creaking as I got off my aft. Putting my weight on my cane, I stretched, trying to ease up my joints.
"We're in a forest clearing that, goin' by geographic scans, is near a small town called Strawberry in Mississippi. The year is in the 1930's," the bot said, going over more data. All that was on my mind was how stupid half the names on this planet were. I mean, naming the planet after dirt is one thing, but naming a town after a small red fruit? That is uninspired!
"Well, no time to waste just standing here son, we've got to look around, survey the area!" I said, falling on my aft again as I sat down rather ungracefully.
"Okay, but two things old man. First, we'll have to use holo-forms and second, my name is Jazz," he answered, already shifting into his alt mode. I did the same, groaning as I parts got stuck and joints creaked painfully. Finally in my SR-71 jet mode, I set about creating a human form for myself.
When I opened my holo-form's eyes, I got up, still feeling pains in my joints. I was apparently lying down, seeing as a boy with bright blue eyes and silvery blond hair was standing over me.
"Not bad Jets, not bad for an old man," he said, whistling in an impressive manner. He helped me up and handed me what I guess was my holo-form cane. Walking over to Jazz's alt mode, I looked in his mirror, seeing why Jazz had whistled.
"Now that's an attractive old man," I said, running my free hand through my dark grey hair. My eyes were a brown that was bordering on my usual red shade of optics. I was in a black denim overall and a white shirt, also sporting a pair of blue jeans and black boots. I did have my beard, only it was more like morning stubble now. Certainly a look I could work with.
"Well, you gonna stand there all day or are yo comin'," Jazz said, already leaving the forest clearing we were hiding our robot bodies in. Sighing at his impatience, I followed.
Considering how small and shanty Strawberry is, I guessed there was some sort of market or big event going on considering how many people were around. Following Jazz towards a general store, I groaned.
"Why are we heading into a store? We have no money and we don't need to eat," I whispered in his ear, smiling at a fleshling femme as she walked past.
"Notice how some folk here have guns. We're here for guns," Jazz whispered back, distractedly turning to something that clearly wasn't a gun. Rolling my eyes, I walked to where the guns were kept.
"Not my Cybertronian pistol, but it should do the job nicely," I said, looking over a nice shotgun. Beside me were two boys and a younger girl, all three with brown skin and black hair. The skinniest boy was right next to me, looking at the same gun as I was.
"Not as well as that one there," he said, pointing to a pearl handled pistol. I had to agree, it was a really nice looking gun, but it looked puny compared to the shotgun.
"T.J, come on," the other boy said, leading "T.J" away. I watched them go, then saw someone step behind the gun counter.
"May I help you sir?" she asked, seeming kind enough.
"Why yes miss, I would like to purchase two shotguns of reasonable quality. And some bullets for them, if it's not too much trouble," I said politely. As she got the two guns, I quickly holo-formed the money into my pocket just as she got the items ready. Handing over the cash and taking the items, I found Jazz standing there, watching something.
"While you were busy being a femme, I got us weapons," I said, smacking the boy on the head.
"Now might be a good time to use it," he said, pointing to the young girl I'd seen earlier standing up to who I guessed was the store owner. I heard some of the things he was saying, my grip on my cane growing until my fingers hurt. I was relieved when the boy, who I guessed was the girl's brother, came in and took her outside. I didn't want her to hear what I was going to say.
"Now what was the point of that, making a scene?" I yelled, noticing everyone jump at my outburst. This didn't stop me. "She was just a little girl clearly just wanting service and you yell such filth ridden words at her! I hope your soul goes to the pits and gets tortured by Unicron!!" I finished, turning and leaving, slamming the door open as I did.
"You tryin' to draw attention to us?" Jazz said, half yelling, half whispering in my ear.
"What you expect me to do, let him get away with it!?" I said loudly. Catching sight of the girl, I decided to go over and talk to her, you know, help her forget the incident. Handing a shotgun to Jazzy boy, I put the bullets in my pocket and made my way over.
"Why don't y'all watch were y'all goin'," said a white skinned girl. I had seen the dark skinned girl accidently bump into her, and heard her apologise so I assumed all was well. Until the white girl blocked the way, then I knew something wasn't right. Increasing my pace, I arrived just in time to stop a potential fight.
"Now now, there's no reason to fight. She apologised, so all's well," I said, getting up onto the raised sidewalk.
"She didn't address me as Miss Lillian Jean or get down into the road when I told her to! How can you say all's well?" "Miss" Lillian Jean said, coming close to spitting at the other girl.
"Well, I believe I could say the same for you youngling. First, you forgot to address me as "sir" and you should learn respect for your elders and fellow citizens," I said, now realizing that a crowd seemed to have gathered and that Lillian Jean's father was behind me.
"What y'all think y'all doin, harassing my daughter like that?" he demanded, looking up at me. I must say, even while leaning on my cane I was taller than him. And he looked as threatening as that tiny perverted blue bot.
"I believe she was harassing this young girl here. I was merely being a good natured citizen and stepping in before further problems arose," I said, leading the dark skinned girl away.
"She ain't goin nowhere till she apologises!" Lillian Jean exclaimed. I could see tears in the girl's eyes, my anger at these meat bags flaring.
"She apologised and you know it! I hear her with my own ears and I'll bet that that boy there heard as well as I did!" I almost yelled. The boy was about to say something, but the father turned and stared angrily at him.
"She didn't address me as...." Lillian Jean started before I interrupted. "You'll be called Miss Lillian Jean when you deserve that title! If you want that, then learn to respect your fellow human beings! And you better too young man, or I'll show you how we brought the pain in my day!!" I said stabbing my cane in the father's chest to prove my point before turning and leading the young girl off.
As I came to a horse drawn wagon, the girl ran to it, hugging an older dark skinned woman who must be related to the child in some way. Jazz was also there, helping the two boys with items from the store.
"Thank you sir," the older woman said.
"Not a problem Miss. I do hate to see injustice done, especially to one so young," I said kindly.
"I wish I could repay you in some way..." she said, but I held up my hand to ask for silence.
"Actually, if it's not too much trouble, my friend and I would like to work under your employ, if you don't mind," I said, earning a surprised look from Jazz.
"I can take you back to our land where you can ask the rest of the family. But please, tell us y'all names," she asked.
"My name is Jeffery Firewell, and my friend here is called Jack Pontiac, or as he likes to be called, Jazz," I said, winking discretely to Jazz. He caught on quickly.
"Nice to meet you. But please, tell us your names," he said, helping load up the wagon.
"My name is Caroline Logan, and this here's Stacey and Cassie, my grandkids, and T.J Avery," she said, gesturing first to the only boy whose name I didn't know, then the girl and finally to the boy who was admiring the pearl handled pistol. I bowed politely, then set about helping to load up the wagon.