Disclaimer: 'Transformers' does not belong to me. It belongs to ye olde Hasbro.
Summary: Chapter 2 is a fair bit longer then chapter 1 was. My mind went into overdrive.
AUTOBOT HQ: 22:15
Inside Autobot HQ Ultra Magnus was waiting patiently for the return of three of his best: Prowl, Ironhide and Jazz. Waiting was something Magnus was more than used too, and he had the patience of an automated system. He had waited years sometimes for the right moment to strike to capture notorious criminals. It was always worth it in the end.
Soon enough, they came strolling through the doors of the Operations room. Magnus was visibly relieved to see Jazz completely functional, though he noted someone had done a job on his body work.
"Jazz, I'm glad to see you are okay," Magnus nodded his head.
"Thanks, Sir, wasn't so bad," He grinned
"Your body work says otherwise," Ironhide smirked.
"Your face says otherwise, man!"
"Ahem, okay," Magnus motioned everyone to sit around the meeting table. "Are you ready to give me a report on the incident, please?"
"Yes, Sir," Jazz nodded.
"Okay. Go ahead, Jazz."
"Sir, as you're aware, I was returning back to HQ when I was attacked. This 'bot had insane strength and was just completely out of control. Not the kinda mech you'd like to bump into down a dark alley, except for I did. I couldn't get through to him at all, Sir. I had to result to using my photon rifle on him with fatal force. That thing should only be meant for Decepticon trash," Jazz finished, looking down at the table.
Magnus' logic circuits were sparked. "He wasn't a Decepticon?" the commander asked, crossing his bulky arms with a frown on his face.
"Nope. No insignia, and scans brought up nothing."
"Hmmm, I trust your judgement, Jazz."
"Thanks, Sir"
"Sir", Prowl jumped in, "I have a sample with me that I collected from the scene of the incident. It's an energon sample from the attacker. I think Ratchet should examine it, it's…special," He trailed off, optics intense.
"In what way, Prowl?" Magnus inquired.
"Well, it's green sir."
"How peculiar, I've never heard of green energon," Magnus frowned, taking the sample off of Prowl, and studied it harshly with his optics.
"Smelt different too. Where's Red Alert when you need him?" Ironhide quipped.
"Okay, Prowl, take this down to Ratchet, have him analyse it. He's just about done working on Optimus' arm now. Also, I will need your written report of the incident by tomorrow."
"Of course, Sir," Prowl got up from his seat, saluted, and left for the medical bay immediately.
"Good to hear about Optimus," Ironhide said. "Everything went well then, huh?"
"Yes. Nothing can hold Prime down for long, especially a Decepticon attack. His arm has been reattached with no complications."
"Thank Primus for that," Jazz said, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
"Indeed. Well, you two and Prowl can call it a cycle. Please remember to hand in your written reports by tomorrow. Report for duty tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Sir"
"You did good work. Well done."
The two thanked him before leaving for some well deserved recharging.
It was early morning, and most of the Autobots were gathered in the operations room for a briefing. Their leader, Optimus Prime, stood at the front of the room in front of Teletraan, Ultra Magnus to his right.
"Autobots," The room quietened when Optimus began. "There was an incident last night…and in the early hours of this morning," Optimus' authoritative voice came across calmly.
Jazz frowned, "This mornin'?"
"Both involved our fellow Autobots being attacked by, as of yet, an unknown enemy. These were not Decepticon attacks."
Small groups of hushed chatter broke out through the room, looks of confusion on the majority of faces, anger on others.
"Prowl, there was another attack? Who man?"
Prowl turned to face Jazz, arms crossed over his broad chest, "I don't know, Jazz. For the love of Primus though, I hope they're okay."
Across the other side of the room, the twins were two of the mechs favouring angered faces.
"The slag? First the Decepticons wanna piece of us, who now?" Sideswipe said fiercely.
"Who cares? We'll just give them some special treatment too. More circuits to fry," Sunstreaker smirked menacingly.
"Autobots," Prime cut in, silence once again filling the room. "These attackers were strong. Whilst the first incident went through without too many problems, the second did not go so well. Bluestreak is, as of now, fighting for his life, I'm sad to say. He has the best doctor working on him in the whole of Cybertron though, so let's not lose hope," Prime tried to add on a positive note.
"All I can tell you about these attackers is that both were found to have unusually coloured energon in their systems. As of yet, we are unaware of the significance of this, but Ratchet will be investigating once time permits. I've organised a small recon team to enter the city and investigate. Please heed the information you have been given and operate about the city with extreme caution and a state of suspicious alertness. That is all for now. Jazz, Hound, Bumblebee, and Sunstreaker, please remain behind."
All of the Autobots, other than those asked to stay behind, filed out of the Operations room in groups, chattering. Ultra Magnus remained at the front of the room with Prime.
"You four are the ones I have chosen for this mission. Jazz, you will be in command. Any questions?" Optimus looked around at each of them.
There were none. Everyone remained still, except for Bumblebee who was bristling with excitement, his circuits practically crackling with an electrical rush at being chosen for the mission.
Suddenly Jazz shot his hand up.
"Prime…Bluestreak. What happened ta' him?" Worry was evident in his voice.
"Yes, Bluestreak. Ultra Magnus will explain," Prime took a seat at the meeting table, everyone else following suit.
The big security commander begun once he was seated. "About two hours after Jazz and the others returned from the first incident and went into recharging, we received reports from locals of a minor disturbance down in the city. Bluestreak, capable of dealing with such situations, volunteered himself to go and investigate. It was, after all, only 'minor'…regardless, I acted very unprofessionally, I should have provided him with back up-"
"Magnus," Prime cut in, "we discussed this. You could not possibly have foreseen the situation ahead," Prime flexed his left shoulder a little.
"My apologies, Prime. It still eats away at my circuitry, however. But the topic at hand…Bluestreak went to downtown Iacon by himself. Not once did I think that this would be in anyway related to the incident involving you, Jazz. It simply seemed like an isolated case to me at the time, but it was wrong of me to make my own assumptions. The aggressor sounded awfully similar to the one you had encountered, from the little information the back up team were told by Bluestreak when they first arrived at the scene. The attacker had fled by then, leaving Bluestreak for deactivation, but an energon sample was recovered from the scene. All the required tests are yet to be done, but my logic circuits cannot find any reason for denying that these cases are related. Thus, we will be sending you four out to further investigate this threat. We need you to gather any information you can. Subtlety and caution will be required. Questions?" Magnus finished, looking around the table with his blue optics.
Bumblebee put his hand up, "Sir, if we encounter one of these threats, do we destroy them or take them prisoner?"
"Prime?" Magnus turned to the commander.
Optimus leaned back in his chair. "Whilst taking one prisoner would be of great value to us, I do not want anyone putting their life in danger to do so. Remember, this is a recon mission. Use lethal force if you must. Look out for each other."
"Right."
"Well," Optimus continued, "going by the information we have, it would be logical to proceed about the mission in the following way: both attacks occurred at night, therefore you will not leave base until later tonight. Secondly, the attacks took place in quiet, back street areas. Why? We need you to find that out, and Primus help us if they end up kicking up in more populated areas. It's unfortunate we have such little information to go by, but it's something. The mission is in your hands now. Good luck, Autobots. If anyone can do it, I know you can. You are dismissed," Optimus finished.
"Yes, Sir," they all acknowledged before getting up from their seats to leave, except for Jazz who remained behind.
"Yes, Jazz?" Optimus looked at him calmly.
Jazz looked behind himself to make sure Sunstreaker was out of audio shot before speaking.
"Errr, Sir…," Jazz seemed a little confused, one hand on the back of his neck, "I was just wonderin'…why has Sunstreaker been assigned to this mission? I mean, he's hardly known for his subtlety and patience. I'm not puttin' him down or anything, just he's…," Jazz paused, tilting his head, "…not really recon material."
"Back up," Optimus replied simply. "You may require his strength if you run into any more trouble."
"Ahh right, cool. I understand," Jazz nodded his head. "Well, that was all. I better start preparing for the mission," He got up and saluted before turning to leave. Before he went through the door, Optimus spoke, "Jazz, just one thing."
"What's up, Sir?" Jazz spun around.
"Please keep an optic on Bumblebee tonight. I know he's excited about the mission, but he's still learning and I don't want him acting out of his capacity."
"No problem, Prime, I'll look out for the lil' yella' fella," Jazz smiled.
"Thanks, Jazz. Have a good one."
"Oh, I'm sure we will," Jazz grinned and left.
"How's he doing, Ratchet?" Optimus asked quietly, deep concern in his voice. The tall leader stood beside the operating table Bluestreak lay on. Bluestreak was completely still, his optics dark.
Ratchet was rifling through some draws close by, looking for something.
"Well, he's still in stasis lock as of now, Prime, brought on by critical system trauma," Ratchet answered matter-of-factly. Optimus admired the way Ratchet kept his calm. It was a good trait for a medic – good at keeping others from exessive worrying. Primus knew, Ratchet did enough of that himself.
"Hmmmm...," Optimus sighed, looking down at the too-still Bluestreak.
Ratchet closed the draws he'd been searching through, walked over and leaned on the operating table.
"I'm doing the best I can, Prime. Don't give up on him yet."
"I don't doubt you for a second, Ratchet. I'd never give up on one of my Autobots," Optimus' optics seemed to dim a little.
"I'm gonna work on getting all his internal systems recovered and operating again, then he'll be out of stasis lock."
"I understand, Ratchet."
The doors to the med bay slid open and Mirage walk in slowly, unsure as to whether he was disturbing something.
"What can I do for you, Mirage?" Ratchet asked, beginning to move equipment about in the room.
"Oh, nothing, Doc, just came to see how an old friend is doing," He walked over to where Blue lay.
"Well, Ratchet, I'd better be going," Optimus said, walking towards the door. "I'll check up on Blue again soon."
Optimus walked through the door and was gone. Ratchet stared at the closed door for a moment before going back to work.
Later on
Optimus strode into the Operations room, and looked around. He walked over to Magnus who was hunched in a corner with some data pads. Optimus simply stood beside him and looked at the data pads for a moment, raising an eyebrow ridge with a slightly amused look on his face. "Magnus, you can't report yourself."
"There's no protocol that says otherwise, Prime. Besides, it's only right that I should do so, my conduct was in error," Magnus said, still fiddling about with various data pads.
"Magnus…we all make mistakes, some are punishable by protocol, but yours isn't. Please let this go."
"Sorry Prime, I can't. I can't allow myself special treatment."
Optimus simply pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.
DOWNTOWN IACON: 21:04
"Bumblebee in position, over," Bee sent over the group comm. link.
"Roger. You got those two in your sights, Bee?" Jazz sent back.
"Ohhhh yeah, I see 'em."
"Hound?"
"Yeah, I see them Jazz, got my optics trained on 'em."
"Sunstreaker?"
"Frag it, yes. Been here for the last vorn already, could have chromed and waxed myself by now."
"Take it that's a no then," Jazz joked.
"..."
Each of the Autobots had closed in around the two suspicious characters they had been tracking for the last 3 breems. Each had a different vantage point of the scene in the dark alley.
"They both look dodgy, I'll give you that, but they're hardly like the other two you described. They're not completely out of it," Sunstreaker sent to Jazz over the link.
"Either way, we have to stick around to see what these 'bots are up to," Jazz replied.
Sunstreaker was staring down at the two mechs from above, perched on the outside ledge of a building, hidden well in shadows that seemed to curl around him. His blue optics glowed strongly in the dark, he was itching to get fighting. Hound was crouched in front of a shattered window in an abandoned, wrecked building across the road from the alley where the two mechs stood. He rubbed his hands together and stared intensely at the figures, ready to make a move if necessary.
Both Bumblebee and Jazz were positioned at opposite ends of the back alley, hidden behind mounds of scrap and debris. Jazz had offlined his olfactory sensors not long after settling there because of the 'funky' smell. Now they all remained as still and silent as deactivated 'bots, simply watching and listening. Little were they aware that someone else was doing exactly the same as they were, looking down on the scene from a position even higher than Sunstreaker's…
The two robots huddled to the side of the alley, looking extremely suspicious, not that they didn't already look extremely suspicious huddled in a deserted, downtown alley.
"Have you done this before?" The bigger of the two asked quietly. Not particularly big by Autobot standards, he stood perhaps 2-3 feet taller than Bumblebee, and was silver in colour. His smaller accomplice was about the same height as Bee, and orange.
"No. No, never," The smaller mech said, shaking his head vigorously.
"Wooo, you're gonna love it, trust me," He pulled out what looked like a needle.
"What the frag?" Sunstreaker sent over the group link.
"How long does is last?" The smaller 'bot asked.
"About 4 and a half breems, maybe 6 if you're lucky. You've never felt anything like it before, it's amazing. You feel like you can take on the entire slaggin' universe. Nothing'll prepare you for the rush through you're circuits."
The smaller mech was nodding his head nervously, watching as the other filled the needle with a bright green liquid from a vial.
"Ready?"
"Yeah, yeah, do it."
"It'll burn a bit at first."
The bigger 'bot leaned forward and carefully stuck the needle into one of the bigger cables in the others neck, injecting the bright liquid steadily. "You owe me, buddy."
"Ahhhhhhhhhh! My cir-CUITSSSS---!" The 'bot glitched slightly, before dropping to his knees on the ground, heaving as the fierce liquid circulated around him.
"In the name of the Matrix?!" Bee sent through the group link.
Hound stared ahead at the scene, his mouth wide open and optics wide. It looked horrifying. Why would someone subject themselves to that? Then, very abruptly, after a minute or two, the mech seemed to change. He pushed himself up off the ground with ease, still heaving lightly, but his entire countenance had changed from before when he had been injected. That's when Jazz noticed it: the glowing neon green optics, the same as on the mech he had tumbled with and destroyed before. Optics wide beneath his visor, Jazz watched as the bigger robot prepared to inject himself.
"Not tonight ya don't, big fella," He said to himself before communicating with the others on the group link,"Guys, we've watched enough of this show, I think I know what happens next, let's join in on the action. Surround them!"
The Autobots moved with speed and surprise, surrounding the two startled mechs in astro seconds. Sunstreaker leapt down from above. Each of the Autobots had their weapons pointed at the suspects.
"Okay, put the needle down on the floor, the vial too, and any weapons you may have. And no funny business!" Jazz ordered.
"Yeah, put 'em on the fraggin' floor you glitches!" Sunstreaker shouted.
"Easy there, Sunny."
Sunstreaker frowned at the nick name, but kept quiet.
The bigger robot acted sensibly and put the needle and vial on the ground in front of him. Apparently, he had no weapons. The other robot remained where he was, not making any moves.
"Bee," Jazz said.
Bee quickly scooted forward, retrieved the needle and vial, then slid back into formation again.
"Hey, shorty, if you got any weapons, you better drop 'em. NOW!" Sunstreaker pointed his electron-pulse gun to the floor for emphasis.
Suddenly, the small robot lashed out, his speed catching Sunstreaker out as he pounced on him. The rest of the Autobots turned their attention towards him, along with their weapons at break neck speed. There was no need however, as Sunstreaker soon flipped the smaller mech onto his back and straddled him, throwing metal-crunching punches into his face repeatedly. During the short time that this had taken to occur, the other robot had turned and fled, seizing his opportunity for escape.
"Hound, after him!" Jazz shouted, noticing the 'bot running out of view of the alley. Hound transformed and sped after the escapee.
Sunstreaker was still throwing powerful punches into the face of the injected mech, who seemed to have gone limp. Bumblebee stared at Sunstreaker's face as he did this. Sunstreaker's extremely composed, cold face sent shivers through him. Bee could never get over how ruthless, and at times, psychotic, Sunstreaker seemed in battle.
Jazz's voice brought him back into focus. "I think that's enough, Sunstreaker. Let's cuff him."
Sunstreaker threw a few more punches before stopping and turning to face Jazz with a grin on his face, energon splattered on it. "Think he's had enough?"
The supposed limp robot shot up, fixing his hands around Sunstreaker's neck with a strength too incredible to be his own.
"WOAH!" Jazz jumped.
"Erghhhh!" Sunstreaker choked.
Bumblebee and Jazz leapt forward, both trying to help pry the mechs hand off of Sunstreaker's neck.
"Primus, he's strong!" Bumblebee gasped, feeling like he was having little effect, despite trying his hardest.
"Don't give up, man!" Jazz shouted back. "And definitely don't shake his hand!"
They struggled to uncurl the powerful fingers from around Sunstreaker's neck, but they were getting nowhere. Jazz thought this all too familiar, realizing the next course of action that would be required…
Sunny started waving his hands about as his optics were steadily dimming, as if to warn Jazz and Bee to stand back. Jazz noticed Sunny bringing his gun up.
"Bee, get back!"
Jazz and Bee turned and ran back, just as Sunny brought his electron-pulse gun up point blank to the mechs face and pulled the trigger. There was a deafening bang, followed by dead silence. Jazz and Bee looked back. The mech's head was gone, it had been completely vaporised. The rest of his body still sat upright and as they watched his hands fell away from Sunstreaker's neck, to rest lifelessly at his sides.
Having seen all he needed from above the scene, Laserbeak's eye's flashed before taking flight and swiftly flying away. He was to return to his master and divulge all the information collected.
Jazz trudged slowly towards Sunstreaker, looking down at him.
"Sunny's been knocked offline for the moment. The blast shorted him out. Come help me get him up, Bee."
Bee ran over, kneeling down and putting one of Sunstreaker's big arms over his shoulders. Jazz did the same with the other arm, and together they both lifted him up between them.
"He's a pretty heavy guy, ain't he?" Jazz smirked, as they begun walking down the alley in the direction Hound had gone.
"Sure is. Doesn't look nearly as scary when he's offline either. In fact, he actually looks kinda…peaceful," Bumblebee said, almost baffled.
"Pfft! Sunny peaceful?! Never thought I'd hear those two words in the same sentence together!" Jazz laughed.
Bumblebee chuckled a little.
"Hey, do you think Hound's okay, Jazz?"
"Let me just get him up on the comm. link right now."
They stopped walking as Jazz tried to raise Hound through the comm. link. "Jazz to Hound, over."
A few astro seconds later, Hound replied. "This is Hound, over."
"How'd things go down your way? You alright?"
"I'm fine, thank you. Things didn't go so well though, I'm afraid. He got away. Transformed and was off like a shot. My bulkier form wasn't much of a match for him in the speed arena."
"Hey, man, you did your best. Anyways, it's cool, we got some pretty good evidence here, not to mention some interesting info."
"Everything went well for you guys, then?"
"Err, for the most part, yeah. Sunny's out of it at the moment, but he should be fine. So how's about we return to base now and share our interesting findings with Prime?"
"Indeed. I could do with a nice can of high grade after this."
"Yeah, I think we all could. Hound, meet you back at base for that drink."
"Will do. Hound out."
Jazz switched off the comm. link, and turned to Bumblebee.
"Well, lil' Bee, lets transform and roll outta here. I'll take Sunny."
"Sure thing, Jazz," Bee grinned.
Jazz transformed and Bee helped ease Sunstreaker onto Jazz's roof securely, before transforming himself. Both drove away steadily, looking forward to drinking some good high grade when they got back to base, leaving behind the eerie quietness that now fell on the empty alley in downtown Iacon.
A/N: (The hand shake line may sound familiar if you've seen the season 2 episode, 'Enter the Nightbird', seemed fitting to stick it in here…)
I've just finished typing up and editing chapter 2 at 1.37 in the morning, wooo. My eye's are really dry now, I need to get off the computer! Once again, I would like to say thank you to my wonderful beta reader, tomorrow4eva, you are fantastic! Anyways, I hope people enjoyed it, reviews are always extremely appreciated. Thank you for reading.