Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine. I just like to write about them.

And alone.

Chapter 4

They'd been on the trail of the Decepticon known as Shockwave for almost half a vorn before it finally led them to Crystal City but Jazz had barely stopped until that moment. He knew that Shockwave was cruel, suspected that he had been involved in the destruction of Uraya (although he had no proof) and was determined that he would not slip through his fingers.

Just the energy waves coming off the city was enough to make Jazz pull up and watch but he wished that he could see it. He'd visited the same place a long time ago, before the war, before he'd even met Prowl and he knew that it was beautiful.

"Now that just shows you what we're capable of doesn't it." Wheeljack said approvingly as he stepped up next to him. "Hope Shockwave doesn't cause any trouble here."

"He's on his own, deep in Autobot territory so I doubt he will." Jazz observed. "But the mech's a monster so let's get him out as quick as we can." With a quick shake he focused his attention on what needed doing and pushed on.

Three other Autobots followed him. His old friend Wheeljack first, then two younger mechs named Cliffjumper and Smokescreen who Jazz had met back in Perihex and recruited to his unit not long after his promotion to commander.

To Jazz being back in a city felt wonderful, the noise of it, the excitement and everything else greeted his senses and scanners like old friends. "Any idea how to find him in all this?" Wheeljack asked him.

"Decepticon energy signatures are just different enough from ours for me to follow him." Jazz explained. "And he went that way." He pointed down a road that led straight through the city. "I don't think he's intending to stay here. He's just hoping that we'll get distracted for long enough so he can slip away."

The four mechs hurried on, the trail twisted and turned, taking different roads in what seemed to Jazz to be a desperate attempt to confuse them but Jazz managed to keep track of him and eventually they started to gain ground.

"I see him." Smokescreen cried triumphantly as he pointed through the crowd.

"Sorry sparkling of a glitch won't get away this time." Cliffjumper snapped and he levelled his cannon at the mech who had caused them so much trouble.

"Not here Jumper. There are too many civilians around." Jazz warned "Wheeljack, Smokescreen get ahead of him, there's a side street up a head, wait for him to pass it then force him back and all of you remember that we want him alive. He's to stand trail for what he's done."

"You got it Boss." Wheeljack responded enthusiastically before he transformed and headed off with Smokescreen close behind him.

"Great they get all the action." Cliffjumper moaned.

Jazz shook his head. "No. We'll be the ones waiting for him." He snapped. "Now move it!"

For once Cliffjumper had the sense to keep quiet as they got into position, there was only one 'bot close by and he stopped dead when he saw the two armed mechs coming toward him. "I don't want to fight." He said calmly.

"Then I suggest you run." Cliffjumper snarled.

"Too late for that, just hide and pray that we win." Jazz corrected as Shockwave rounded the corner and headed straight for them.

"Oh slag." The mech cursed.

"Where'd he go?" Jazz heard Cliffjumper ask but he didn't have time to worry about anything other than the Decepticon.

"One chance Shockwave." He warned. "You're surrounded and outnumbered."

"You really think four of you outmatch me?" Shockwave droned.

"Jumper, Screen." Jazz yelled.

Both mechs did exactly as Jazz had hoped, Cliffjumper opened fire while Smokescreen who was still in his alt-mode raced in trailing a thick cloud of dust and exhaust fumes behind him.

Somewhere in the middle of the chaos there was an explosion and rubble rained down on them but Jazz refused to be distracted by any of it. "'Jack now." He bellowed and in the same moment he released the energy net that he'd been saving for the occasion.

"Got him." Wheeljack confirmed unnecessarily but the pleasure in his voice was enough for Jazz.

"Well done mechs." Jazz congratulated them.

"Who is that?" The mech from before asked quietly.

"One of the Decepticons worst war criminals." Jazz answered without turning around "I thought I told you to hide."

"I did. It seemed safe to stop."

"You hardly moved the whole time." Jazz snapped.

"Jazz he disappeared when you told him to." Cliffjumper put in.

"Maybe you should get your optics checked." The mech said clearly amused by the confusion he was causing.

"My optics." Jazz growled as he looked over his shoulder. "Haven't worked in vorns."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." The mech said instantly sounding embarrassed. "Let me explain, my creator didn't want me to get involved in the war so she fitted me with an invisibility field that she invented. I can disappear at will but I guess it doesn't make much difference to a blind mech."

"Must come in handy." Jazz mused. "Look we gotta get moving but I will say this. If you ever want a job in Special Ops tell the C.O. that Jazz said you'd probably be pretty good at it…" He cut himself off realising that he didn't know the mechs name.

"Mirage." He filled in for him. "I'll bear it in mind but I can't see it happening."

Jazz gave him a nod before he dismissed the mech from his thoughts. "Okay. Move it. Next stop Autobot H.Q. where hopefully there'll be a few shots of high-grade with our names on them. We've earned a bit of a break."

Keeping Shockwave under close guard they marched him through the city to the large building that housed the Autobot base where they were greeted as heroes. Once there prisoner was safely in the brig Jazz and Wheeljack joined the others in the bar within the complex.

There were plenty of mechs around that wanted to buy them drinks and it wasn't long before the air of celebration spread though the crowd.

Relaxed and happy but also very tired Jazz took a seat at one of the tables and surveyed the room, he'd already decided that the cup of energon in his hand would be his last before he turned in but he really wanted to just enjoy the moment for a little longer. He was almost done when his scanners picked up something familiar.

"Well there's an energy signature I'd recognise anywhere." He grinned as he turned to address the mech behind him.

"Jazz." The mech exclaimed. "Primus it's good to see you again. What are you doing here?"

"I'm with the team that brought Shockwave in." Jazz responded proudly. "Have a seat 'Breaker. It's been a long time."

"Certainly has and we've both come a long way from the bars of Iacon."

Jazz was about to confirm the statement when he realised what was different about the readings he was receiving. "Trailbreaker if you don't mind me asking what happened to your optics?

"About a vorn ago I was doing a long haul flight when the Decepticons attacked. I didn't have the energy left to put up a force field and they shot me down, made a slagging mess of me and destroyed my cargo but fortunately I wasn't too far from here, the Autobots rescued me and not just that. They've got a scientist here who's an absolute genius, he rebuilt me and designed a visor that would give me back my sight."

Jazz felt all of his systems grind to a halt at the last few words. He couldn't speak, couldn't think and could barely keep his vents working.

"I'm sure he can do the same for you." Trailbreaker anticipated. "I can take you down to meet him. If that's what you want?"

"More than anything." Jazz whispered. "You sure it's not too late for him? He might be in recharge by now."

"Doubt it. Perceptor's a real workaholic. I'm not even sure he does recharge. Come on." Trailbreaker led him through the crowd and several corridors before he knocked loudly on a door.

A mech a little shorter than Jazz answered a few moments later. "Hello Trailbreaker." He said warmly. "Can I help you?"

"Not me." Trailbreaker answered. "I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine called Jazz. I was wondering if you could help him?"

"Of coarse. Come on in. You will have to excuse the mess in here Jazz but my inventions tend to take over. Sit down there would you?"

Jazz found himself a seat and with his spark pulsing faster than it had in vorns did his best to stay still as the scientist examined him. "How long have your optics been like this?" He asked in an attempt at conversation.

"Just over twenty-seven vorns." Jazz answered. "Will that effect what you can do?"

"Not at all. I was just curious. When Trailbreaker came to me he was always disorientated but you give off no sign of that so I guessed that it had been some time. Can I just say that you have a very impressive scanner array? Is that how you know where you're going?"

"That's right. I friend of mine is an engineer. He's spent a lot of time helping me."

"Is that so? I'd like to meet him." Perceptor said thoughtfully.

"Anything you want." Jazz grinned but he couldn't keep his body from shaking any longer. "Tell me please could this really work?"

"I can find no reason as to why it should not." Perceptor informed him. "It will take me a few cycles to create the visor and your helm will have to be modified to accommodate it but once that is done you'll be able to see as well as you did before."

"Better if mine is anything to go by." Trailbreaker added.

"I can't believe it." Jazz exclaimed. "I never dared hope that…" He trailed off too overwhelmed by what he was feeling to continue.

Perceptor dismissed them not long after and knowing that he wouldn't be able to recharge for a while Jazz headed back to the bar to find a few shots of high-grade to settle his circuits. Wheeljack must have noticed that something had changed and joined them quickly. Jazz explained what had occurred with a little help from Trailbreaker when what he had to say got too much for him. It was very late when Jazz eventually reached his berth but he didn't care.

He introduced Wheeljack to Perceptor the next cycle and wasn't at all surprised that it took them less than a breem to start bouncing ideas off each other and only a little longer before the conversation started using a lot of words he wasn't even sure he wanted to understand.

Four cycles later Jazz lay down on Perceptors table, it had already been agreed that while he was out Wheeljack would up-grade his armour too. The pair of scientists had managed to perfect a compound Perceptor had been working on that would be both lighter than his current protection and stronger. He could barely contain his excitement at the idea of on-lining and being able to see but he let the other mechs concentrate and said nothing.

As always his audio sensors were the first system to come back on line, he could hear Wheeljack talking softly close by. "Hey Jazz." He said to him. "Take it slowly." He cautioned.

"Primus please let this work." He prayed before he powered up the new systems in his processor and for the first time in twenty-seven vorns light greeted his visual unit. His vents stalled at the same moment and he covered his face with hands noticing as he did so that a thick band of something that felt a little like glass covered his optics. He forced his hands away and looked around slowly pulling the room into focus before he looked around to see his friends face for the first time. "Good to see you Wheeljack." He beamed. "This… is amazing. There are so many colours. I'd forgotten them. I can't thank you enough for this. Either of you." He said as he spotted the smaller, red mech on the other side of the lab. "You must be Perceptor."

"That is correct." Perceptor nodded. "It will probably take you a few cycles to get used to all the modifications we've made so I am going to advise to not to take some time off duty."

Jazz nodded then laughed as his view of the room bobbed up and down as he did so. "Oh this is fantastic." He cried. "I need a window. I want to see the sky."

"Jazz you need to rest." Wheeljack informed him.

"No I don't." Jazz retorted. "'Jack I've missed out on so much but not any more."

"Alright but I'm coming with you."

"There's an observation platform three levels up." Perceptor told them.

"Thank you." Jazz grinned. "You have no idea how much this means to me." With those words he headed out of the lab, Wheeljack was right behind him and it didn't take them long to find the place Perceptor had told them about.

"It's beautiful." Jazz observed as he looked out across the city and then up to see the stars.

"So." Wheeljack said after a few breems of silence. "Shockwave's on his way to trial and you've got your sight back. What's next for you Jazz?"

"Me?" Jazz questioned. "Surely that should be us?"

"Not for a while." Wheeljack told him hesitantly. "I'm taking Perceptor to Nova Cronum first. The facilities are better there and with the new armour we've created there's going to be too much for him to do alone."

"Of coarse." Jazz agreed. "Hopefully it'll save a lot of lives. I'm going to take a few cycles leave anyway."

"Where will you go?" Wheeljack asked.

"Iacon." Jazz answered firmly. "I need to see Prowl and Blue. If they reject me then so be it but just to see their faces… you can't know what that would mean to me 'Jack."

"No but I have a fair idea." Wheeljack chuckled. "I wish you all the happiness in the world Jazz. You've earned it."

They stood together for a little while longer before going back into that main body of the base. "Don't about you but I could use a boost?" Wheeljack asked.

"Sounds like a good idea." Jazz nodded and they walked together to the bar.

They had barely sat down when Cliffjumper ran up. "Wheeljack I've been looking for you everywhere. Do you know where…?" he halted mid-sentence. "Jazz?"

"That's right." Jazz agreed.

"Sorry I didn't… anyway it doesn't matter."

"What's wrong?" Wheeljack asked.

"It's Shockwave. The shuttle taking him to Iacon was ambushed and I hate to tell you this but he escaped."

"Oh slag." Jazz cursed. "Find Smokescreen. We're leaving." He ordered before he looked at Wheeljack. "I'll keep you posted as to where we are. When you get bored of fixing up mechs we'll be waiting for you."

"Thank you." Wheeljack said gratefully.

"It's the least I can do." Jazz smiled.

"What about…?"

"Don't." Jazz said quietly. "I have to do this. Iacon will just have to wait. Now if you'll excuse me I have to see a mech before I go."

Wheeljack nodded in farewell and Jazz walked away to find Trailbreakers quarters. Fortunately the mech was off duty. "Everything worked then." He grinned as he answered the door.

"Perfectly. Listen 'Breaker I don't have much time but I need to thank you…"

"I couldn't leave you in the dark could I?" Trailbreaker interrupted him.

"Not just for that. For what you did in Perihex. That was more than I should ever have asked of you."

"Jazz we made it out safely." Trailbreaker reassured him. "You were the one who suggested the force fields and they've saved my life more times than I want to count since then. If anything I owe you."

"Call it even?" Jazz asked. "I wish I wasn't in such a hurry but Shockwave is on the loose and I have to at least try to catch him again."

"Let me come with you?" Trailbreaker asked. "I want to help."

"It's gonna be dangerous 'Breaker." Jazz warned him.

"Doesn't matter. It took me a while to see that this war isn't going to just go away like I wanted it too but now I want to do my part and there isn't really a lot for me to do here. I know I haven't had all the training you've had but I know I can be useful."

Jazz smiled warmly. "Okay." He agreed. "Let's go, find the bad mech."

A few breams later as he and Trailbreaker waited for the others to join them Jazz caught sight of his reflection in a pane of glass that separated two rooms. He couldn't remember the last time he had stopped to look at himself and he was a little bulkier than he recalled thanks to his up-grades but it was two things that caught his attention.

The first was the deep blue visor that covered his optics and the second was the red Autobot symbol on his chest plate. He had known it was there for a long time but he had never seen it. He nodded at himself approvingly and smiled. "It's good to know what I'm fighting for." He thought to himself.

Authors note; As usual I'm fairly certain that I'm done with this fic but with the way my mind works I never can be sure. I hope that you've enjoyed reading it as much as I have writing it and I can assure you that it's been a lot of fun. Until next time thank you for reading/reviewing. Feeling Brave.