Jazz didn't waste any precious time. When Cliffjumper told him that Bluestreak was gone, he followed the red minibot down the corridor, demanding to know what exactly happened.
"I just wanted to apologise," Cliffjumper explained as they both ran. "I pressed his call button and I didn't get any answer, but then I noticed that the door wasn't locked. I punched the enter button, and that was when I saw the place was empty. I then called Tracks next door to see if he had any idea about Bluestreak's whereabouts, but he hadn't even realised Bluestreak had left. That's when we both decided to tell the others."
"Did anyone inform Rodimus?" Jazz asked.
"Blaster did. He's given us the order to form search parties, and you'll be co-ordinating them."
"Where are the others?"
"At the common room in sector B-2. They're waiting for us."
Sure enough, the common room was filled with the Ark Autobots, who were currently talking wildly amongst themselves in an attempt to figure out what might have happened to Bluestreak. Jazz walked up in the centre of the room, and everyone present fell silent at once; they wanted to hear what the saboteur had to say.
"Blaster, Perceptor, have you been able to see anythin' in the monitors?" was the first thing Jazz asked.
"Not a thing," Blaster answered, shaking his head.
"It should be expected," Perceptor said. "He knows perfectly well where the security cameras have been placed."
"I hate it when that happens," Red Alert muttered under his breath.
Jazz clenched his hands into fists involuntarily. Yes, Bluestreak knew where the cameras were, but that wasn't the real problem. The real problem was the fact that Bluestreak found it necessary to stay hidden. It meant that, whatever the kid was up to, he didn't want anyone else to know about it. Jazz could only think of one thing that Bluestreak might have wanted to do in secrecy, and it horrified him.
"Sunstreaker, Sideswipe and Minibots, you'll search the streets. Aerialbots, Tracks and Powerglide, you'll search from the sky. Inferno, Smokescreen, stay in Bluestreak's room in case Bluestreak returns there. Mirage, Hound and Red Alert… go to the weapons' room and see if there's anythin' missing."
Everyone tensed, because they understood what Jazz was implying.
"Jazz…" Sunstreaker said hesitantly, "You don't really think that--?"
"We have to be sure," Jazz said. "Perceptor, Blaster, keep lookin' at the cameras in case you might catch something. Grapple, Hoist, Trailbreaker, start searchin' every other room you can find. Bluestreak's got to be around here somewhere."
"And when we find him, what then?" Bumblebee asked.
"Make sure he doesn't do anythin' stupid," Jazz replied.
"But what if he's already--?" Gears started.
"Just go!"
And with that, the Autobots dispersed at once. As for Jazz, he remained behind and kept his transmitter open at all times in order to hear anything the others had to report. But whatever news he got were quite discouraging. No one was able to find the former gunner, even though they looked at every nook and cranny of the city.
At least he didn't enter the weapons' room, Jazz thought. Mirage and Hound had already reported so after Red Alert rechecked and triple-checked the number of weapons and found them all there.
Still, that didn't make much sense. It looked like Bluestreak had disappeared without a trace, something impossible. For starters, he couldn't leave the City undetected. He would have to get permission from Rodimus or Ultra Magnus to cross the gates. But if he didn't leave the City, where did he go? There wasn't a single spot that at least one of the Autobots hadn't already looked.
Wait a moment…
It was then that a terrible realisation dawned on Jazz.
There was one place they hadn't looked.
Without a second thought, Jazz transformed and headed at full speed at the mausoleum, hoping with all the strength of his spark that he wouldn't be too late. For now the words that had been uttered hours ago started haunting his processor, making him fear the worst.
Damn it, Bluestreak, whatever for? So we can build a tomb for you too?!
Maybe it would help.
He reached the launch site in no time at all. The mausoleum was there, of course; but Jazz could see no sign of Bluestreak anywhere.
Unless…
"Blaster," he said via his transmitter, "run a scan of the interior of the mausoleum for me."
"Stay tuned, Jazz. Get back to you in five."
Jazz waited, although that was easier said than done. Five seconds later, Blaster radioed his report.
"There are nine mechs detected in the main room."
Nine. Not eight.
"Right." Jazz transformed to his robot mode and took a step forward.
"Jazz, there's something else."
"What?" The saboteur suspected it wouldn't be good news, but he had to know.
"None of them are moving."
At that moment, it felt like the whole world had come to a halt.
"Are you sure?" Jazz asked.
"Positive."
Jazz didn't know what to think at first. Because Blaster couldn't be implying that; it was impossible. Bluestreak had no weapon.
But… he could still short-circuit himself…
No, Jazz couldn't afford to believe that either.
"I'm goin' in," he said. And with that, he rushed up to the shuttle and through the open door; then headed straight to the main hall behind the Veil of Remembrance.
"Bluestreak?"
He first saw the bodies of his friends, lying inside the still open tombs. It was a sight that made Jazz feel quite guilty - he thought he had no right disturbing them in their eternal sleep.
Even so, Jazz had to find one hopefully living mech as quickly as possible.
"Bluestreak?"
There was no answer once more. But Jazz noticed a silver-coloured leg at the end of the hall, right where Prowl's tombwas.
"Bluestreak!" Worry and fear controlling his actions, Jazz crossed the room and walked up to the last resting place of the tactician.
And there, on the floor, was the motionless body of the young mech.
No… Please, no…
It was with that single thought that Jazz knelt beside Bluestreak and checked him visually from head to toe.
He could see no damage – not at first glance anyway. Nevertheless, he had to make sure.
"Hey… Bluestreak…" He gripped one of the former gunner's shoulders and shook him slightly. "Wake up, man."
Finally, Bluestreak stirred. "Hmm?"
Thank Primus.
"It's me… Jazz. Wake up."
Bluestreak lifted his head, his optics coming online.
"Jazz? What is it?" he asked groggily. He brought himself in a sitting position and rubbed the bridge of his nose in a tired manner. But he quickly snapped his head up when he remembered something even more important. "Is it… time?"
It didn't take a great mind to understand to what Bluestreak was referring.
"No, not yet," Jazz answered with a sad smile. He extended his right hand in a beckoning motion. "Come on, let's get you back to your room."
Bluestreak shook his head. "No."
Jazz stared at the young mech, not really understanding. "Why?"
Bluestreak's optics dimmed. "Because he's here."
Jazz flinched, taken aback at those words. "Bluestreak…"
Bluestreak simply carried on.
"Because that's the last day I can be with him… Because I'll only be able to see him in my dreams after he leaves." He reached for Jazz's hand and curled his white fingers around the black ones tightly as though his life depended on it. "Please, Jazz, let me stay." His voice faltered as his vocaliser failed him. "I beg you."
Truth be told, Jazz didn't know what to say to that at first. He could only remain there, frozen, his spark torn and his processor trying to find an answer. But as he looked into the young one's optics and saw the beseeching expression reflected in there, he could say one thing only.
"Of course you can stay."
A wan smile appeared on Bluestreak's lip components. "Thank you."
Jazz nodded slowly with a small reassuring smile of his own; then sighed and made a motion to stand up. "I should leave. I'll tell you when it's time for the launch."
Bluestreak didn't let go of the black and white mech.
"What?" Jazz asked, surprised.
"You can stay… if you want," the young mech said. "I think… I think he would want you here too."
Though Jazz didn't expect that, he didn't deny the kid's invitation. He sat next to Bluestreak in silence, then shifted so that their shoulders were slightly touching. It was a small touch of companionship and comfort in place of the words that didn't need to be spoken, and Jazz hoped Bluestreak understood that.
It seemed that Bluestreak did. Because when he relaxed and surrendered himself again to the deep sleep that had claimed him before, he leaned his head against Jazz's shoulder. All that was left in Jazz to do was wrap an arm around the silver form and remain close to the exhausted kid, watching him as he slept on.
It was only once he deemed Bluestreak wouldn't wake up from the noise that he activated his transmitter again.
"Blaster, call off the search. I've found him."
"Got that loud and clear. Is he okay?" Blaster said.
Jazz didn't answer at once. He first looked at Bluestreak, noticing a couple of tears that still clung stubbornly on the silver cheeks. Sighing, Jazz wiped them away with a single, gentle stroke.
No, Bluestreak wasn't okay. But Jazz hoped that he would be… in time.
"Jazz?" Blaster asked.
"Yeah," the saboteur finally answered. "He wanted to say goodbye."
The End