Obligatory disclaimer: I do not own the Transformers. My name is not Hasbro if it was...I'd own the Autobots, and I'd definitely have more Hot Rod, more Ironhide, more Soundwave and would have DEFINITELY not allowed Jazz to die in the movie.
... please read and review.
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Sam watched the somber ceremony quietly. He had barely known the being that lay in the center of the empty auto-repair shop but he felt the loss all the same. At his side, dressed in a black tee shirt as he was, Mikaela took his hand to give it a soothing gentle squeeze. That small act gave him a deep comfort as he listened to Optimus Prime give the final eulogy and Sam's thoughts fell back to only a few days ago.
Only a week ago, Sam was struggling to earn 2000 dollars to buy a car. He had taken odd jobs, done all he could around the house, he had even tried to hoc his great-grandfathers belongings on Ebay. He had found a car, it chose him really, and he had thought himself on top of the world. Two days after that, he had found that those very same items he tried to sell that no human wanted...were the very lynchpins to the survival of the human race. He had discovered that the car he had purchased was a mechanical being from a distant planet. Three days ago, he had been pursued by several of the galaxies most powerful beings, intent of ripping him apart. He held, in his small hands, a cube known only as the AllSpark, creator of the beings that now fought to possess it. Two days ago, he had risked his life to protect the cube and, in doing so, he earned the respect and friendship of several of those same sentient creatures. Autobots.
But knowing had its price. Knowing had put his family in the custody of the US government. Sector 7. Knowing had put his life, the lives of his parents, and that of Mikaela's, in danger. And knowing had gained him friendship and love.
As Sam listened to Optimus eulogize the Autobot Jazz, he wished he could have known more about him. Jazz had been Optimus's lieutenant, an officer in the Autobot army. From the bit that Sam HAD known about the smallest Autobot, he sounded like not only was he a good soldier and a strong warrior, but also that he knew how to have a good time while doing it. Jazz was irrepressible and he his job well, with style.
Unfortunately, during the battle in Mission City two days ago, the Autobots – Jazz, Ironhide, Ratchet, Bumbleebee and Optimus had been pitted first against Starscream, Bonecrusher, Barricade, Rampage, Blackout, and finally Megatron. The start of the battle had not gone well. Starscream had managed to get the drop on the group, including several human soldiers that had previously fought Scorponok and Blackout. Starscream's missiles had blown both of Bumblebee's legs off and injured Ironhide. As a team they took down the immensely powerful, but slow, Brawl using team battle tactics learned after years of fighting together. The battle started looking up.
But then Megatron arrived. Optimus, delayed because of an encounter with Bonecrusher, was absent to face the powerful, newly revived Decepticon leader and that left only his courageous Autobot allies to stand before him.
Megatron easily blew them down with his power, and Jazz had always been adept at dodging. With his swift and efficient evasion subroutines he'd been able to avoid the brunt of the giant mech's assault. It was impossible for him to armor up like Ironhide, or even Ratchet, as his enormous speed advantage would decrease. He also didn't have the frame to carry such a heavy load, and speed would decrease further. Therefore, he swore by his avoidance algorithms and his advanced maneuvering protocols. But, though his weapons were insufficient to blow through Megatron's armor directly, he was able to still damage the larger 'bot quite a bit.
The damage though, poorly aimed, was mainly superficial and enough only to annoy the Decepticon leader. Megatron was fast, faster than Jazz had anticipated and he caught the diminutive Autobot and launched the two of them into the air together, all the while hearing Jazz yell threats and taunts at him.
You wanna piece of me Jazz had said as Megatron stood on him, pinning him down. Below, Ratchet and Ironhide clamored up the side of the building to reach their ensnared friend. "No." Megatron had laughed even as Jazz shot plasma bolts into his knee while he dangled upside down. "I want two pieces..." And then Megatron had ripped him apart.
Ironhide and Rachet failed, and Megatron engaged Prime, who arrived just moments too late.
Even now, several of the Autobots nursed battle wounds. Bumblebee, Sam's closest friend and guardian, his legs newly reattached, was only recently able to walk again without a noticeable limp. Ironhide still had several gaping rends through his dark grey and black metal body that Ratchet, the Autobot medic, slowly rebuilt. Rachet himself had not escaped the battle unscathed but, as was his way, nobly strove to help the others first. Even Optimus Prime, nearly beaten by Megatron, still looked battered and weary. Again Sam found himself wishing he could do more to help his friends.
It was obvious that the Autobot leader felt Jazz's loss keenly, and though Sam didn't think the mechanoids were able to cry as humans did, he knew they felt the same emotions, the same sense of tragic loss. The eulogy came to an end and the sun was low on the horizon. There were still massive casualties in Mission city and the Autobots could spare little time to rest, repair, or reminisce about their lost comrade. They were needed and they would work with the humans as much as they could.
Through vision blurred by his own unwept tears, Sam glanced over to Mikaela, to see her wipe the same away from her face. It was his turn to comfort her. He felt a light touch on his shoulder as Bumblebee offered his support to them both. Soon, it was time to leave, to find a new home among the humans. It was time to move forward.
Ratchet had pulled a few parts from Jazz's body already to use to repair Bumblebee, and he would further disassemble him for spare parts later. It was a bit distasteful for the humans, so, in deference to them, Ratchet had pulled Jazz's body to the side and hid it underneath a large canvas. He'd work on him later as he, along with the others, headed back to find Lennox and Epps to do what more they could.
The building was quiet once more as the last vestiges of Autobot engine noise faded against the background noise of Mission city. A figure peered into the doorway and then approached the covered body. The figure was female, and made no real attempt to hide, confident that she was alone in the building now. Shoulder-length platinum hair fell in wisps across her bronzed face even though it was tied back with a purple ribbon. Icy-blue eyes glowed dimly in the waning light. She glanced off in the direction where the other bots had gone then back to the shrouded figure. Timidly she reached out towards it, curiosity gaining the upper hand, and touched the cold metallic surface of the blanket.
Beneath her fingers, the body twitched.
