Jazz

"Yeah to make sure 'at ya can fight. It's suspected of all new recruits such as. . .yaself. What's that look for?" -Jazz

Ch 4

000

Again, like Prowl, this new mech was mostly black and white except he had a bright blue stripe running down his chest plate with what Art recognized as a 'four' in the middle. The mech held him self with an air of confidence without being full of himself and optimism completely the opposite as Prowl.

Turning to look at the recruit that Prowl had mentioned and he was surprised to find a youngling or at least a mech who looked like one. Appearances could be deceiving like his self. He appeared and even acted young but unfortunately he did have his own share of years on him.

"So" he began "Who do we 'ave here?"

"That is Artificer. He just arrived on the shuttle from Xeris Five."

Nodding his head Jazz leaned forward and offered a black hand, "Ya can call me, Jazz."

Art quickly took noticed that Jazz had a similar pattern of speech as Current. He found it an oddity. Both of them had that odd speech yet Prowl didn't and naturally he wondered why, but he wouldn't ask.

One; because it would have been perfectly rude under the circumstances succeeding in most likely embarrassing him and showing his ignorance, which he hated showing though he seemed to show it just by how young he was. And two; because there was a likely chance from his past experience he'd be scolded for it.

He thought rationally that these two mech wouldn't do that but well, these new transitions of life styles and manners just throw him for a serious loop.

Tenderly, Art leaned forward taking the black hand that was offered to him and shaking it remembering to use a firm confident grip but not to strong. A whole lot could be said with a simple handshake and learned from it. "You can call me Art." Letting go of the mech's black hand

He'd been right in the middle of leaning back against Prowl's desk arms crossing leisurely over his chest. What the younger ivory mech said caught him off guard and nearly slipped, missing the desk but quickly regained him self.

"Art?" Jazz said a slight edge of something in his voice even he wasn't sure what it was as he was fixing to turn to look at Prowl. Art watched the visored mech open his mouth as to speak then closed it without uttering a word. Behind his desk Prowl was staring at Jazz with an look in his optics the youngling couldn't quite place.

"Jazz if you'll be so kind could you escort Art here to his new quarters?" Prowl began casually after a few odd quiet moments in his office. "Since you deemed it fit to intrude while I was working."

Art felt his receiver fins sink back sighing mentally, 'I missed something.'

Art sat up a little straighter in his chair reservoirs spreading apart of the side of his helm. 'Quarters?' He knew it was kind of obvious that he was going to get assigned quarters the Autobot's who stayed here in A.G.C. had to stay somewhere. But the idea of his own quarters in a place like this it just peaked his curiosity. It was a privilege he'd thought he'd never have. Okay, yeah he'd had his own quarters in the past but here, was a completely different matter. Then something suddenly occurred to him causing him to sit back again.

'Do I have to pay for it like my other chambers though? I couldn't afford it I know that. In a place like this.'

A hand on his shoulder snapped him out of his anxiety musing. Looking up it was Jazz who had his hand on his shoulder but the black helmed mech was looking over at Prowl.

"If ya done boring the kid to death then, yeah, I'm up for it." Jazz was saying

"Yes I'm done." Nodding his helm before turning to Art "By the time you get to your quarters all the data I've made up will be ready and waiting in your terminal. Here take this."

Art stood and walked up to Prowls desk taking another data-pad the older mech offered.

"All the information you will need in on there including your access codes to your terminal. Only myself and few other higher-ups with top security clearance know the codes but we'd never access them unless absolutely necessary."

Giving the datapad a quick once over Art nodded his head in understanding. "Thank you, Prowl."

The Autobot tactician let a small kind smile appear on his faceplate "My pleasure Art. If you have any trouble or have any questions don't be afraid to ask alright."

"Yes sir."

"Well if ya two are all done, I'll escort ya to your chambers Art-y boy."

Inclining his head in respect to Prowl who returned it, Art jogged after Jazz who was already waiting at the open officer door. Artificer hoped that he'd be able to pay Prowl back for what he didn't for him today.

Though he knew that it wasn't actually Prowl his self you did it all, it was his duty but still the Autobot second had shown him a lot of kindness. That kind of kindness he'd never been shown before from a mech with even the equivalent to Prowls rank. It was an completely alien experience for him but he'd treasure it for the rest of his existence.

It felt good in a way Art couldn't quite explain.

Artificer was lead through the massive city for a while but the time being led through the halls just passed to fast for him. He wanted time to explore and just trying to hide his curiously was a challenge. It was time like this that Art really hated being as young as he was compared to everyone else. He still had that annoying youngling habits that were just down right embarrassing for him if he let himself slip.

But this place, this city was just amazing. At one point they crossed along a skywalk that showed a complete view of a small plaza. For what Jazz said it was designed after a Japanese garden you might see in Kyoto just more futuristic and the plants where imported. It was just spectacular.

Some of the views looked down on the city itself and all the types of mech's and femmes of all sizes and colors walking about.

But it just didn't last and that left him where he was now feeling somewhat deprived. Walking down another hall behind Jazz occasionally passing someone who greeted Jazz and went on with his or her business.

Artificer was slightly envious of Jazz well not the mech himself but his personality. Though Art was sure it was because that the mech had been here so long and knew a good handful of the people here. That was just Jazz's personality. He had no problem interacting with someone else didn't have to worry about being or feeling awkward like he did all the time.

That along was embarrassing all on its own.

"Ya sure are being quiet back there ya know."

Art lowered his head hiding his mismatched optics under his helm visor. "Sorry" he murmured

Jazz just chuckled slowing his pace so he could walk beside the youngling. "Hey, no need ta apologize. I can understand ya being nervous in a new huge place like this. I'd be too I guess." Wrapping his arm around the younglings shoulder

Art glanced out of a window as he passed it on his left "It's big." Turning back to looking ahead "I've never been a place like this."

"You'll get use to it kid-o."

Glancing up at Jazz Art briefly had this odd feeling cross over him. It lasted only for a moments but it had lasting effects and it made Artificer's processor but spin not in a dizzyingly way. He'd never had a feeling like that but it felt for some reason familiar. Then it occurred to him.

Had he met Jazz before?

Art mentally shook his head. No that wasn't possible. Jazz was a high-ranking Autobot officer who had been working under the current Prime long before Artificer had been online.

That's about when Art realized that Jazz had let go of his shoulder and had his arm back at his side. He didn't know it but the black and white had a very similar feeling come over him and it made the hinges of his doorwings ache slightly. He had to concentrate on making sure he didn't frown from it.

"Urm. . .Jazz, sir."

Said mech turned and looked into those mismatched optics mentally thanking the young mech for the distraction and chuckled. "Just Jazz. I'm not as formal as Prowl, I'm not all rules and regs."

Nodding his head slightly confused by that Art looked back ahead. Hey, he'd been suspected to call his superiors 'sir' for a pretty long time. It became a force of habit that became etched into you sometimes.

". . .Jazz." he tried again "Can I ask you a question?"

Jazz chuckled again not minding the boys struggle for words. "Yeah. Shoot!"

Nodding his head, "What. . .what is suspected of me here? Expatiations. . .I guess?"

The third hadn't really suspected that question to come up but didn't let it get to him or anything. It seemed quite obvious really. Musing of what the mech had said for a moment he ran it throw his processor.

"I'm not quite sure I follow." Looking down at the ivory mech

Art bit his bottom lip and looked back down the hall trying to figure it out in his processor. He really wasn't sure how to say it without over stepping his self.

"E-Each station I've been at in the past had their own set of rules along with the Autobot standard ones." Looking up at the officer "Here is no different I'm sure."

Art watched Jazz face light up realizing what he wanted to know. Cocking his head back he nodded his head bringing a black hand up tapping his chin.

"We'll, if 'ere are needs for mech's ta be on shift some where ya might be called an' ya will be su'pected to apply." Jazz suddenly snapping his black digits made Art blink. "Oh! Ratchet will have to give ya a personal exam, physical, and some other slag." Looking down making sure that Art was getting all this. "You'll also be suspected to participate in exercises with Ironhide, well, really whom ever is on shift but most likely the big guy."

"Exercises?" Artificer exclaimed not liking how the word

Waving a hand in front of him. By now Jazz had led both of them up to the lift that would be taken both of them down and to Art's new chambers. The slight silver door slide open opening into a surprisingly spacious red and gray plated room. Walking in Art watched Jazz press a single button, the door close, and with a jerk that was hardly noticeable they started going down.

"Yeah to make sure 'at ya can fight. It's suspected of all new recruits such as. . .yaself. What's that look for?"

Art's receiver fins had sunken back slighting on the sides of his head and there was a clear uncertain look on the youngling's faceplate.

"I. . .I'm not a fighter."

For just a moment Jazz just looked at him with an expression Art couldn't decipher then the next minutes it changed. Smiling and letting out a good natured chuckle from somewhere in his chest Jazz leaned over and wrapped his arm around the mechling's shoulder. Both still walking down the hall.

"Don't worry Art. That's what the sessions are for. Ironhide will make sure that if ya do need to fight you'll be ready."

Art frowned not saying anything at first watching a mech he didn't know walk past them not paying the two any mind. That was fine with him. Jazz didn't understand what he was trying to say. Okay yeah he could fight if he wanted to anyone could but he'd end up getting himself killed. Most importantly his body wouldn't allow him to take to much abuse.

He suddenly found himself tired and slightly agitated for no particular reason and no reason that he would tell Jazz. He wasn't a fighter for many different reasons. Artificer would preferred to finish exploring the city and figure things out about it. Stuff like that.

"That's good then I suppose."

Jazz patted his back slight. "Yeah. Oh and here's your new chambers."

That sounded really good to his audios right then. Chambers meant solitude to get some work done, though he didn't have much and a recharge berth. Yeah that sounded really good right now.

000

A/N:

I Like how this one came out even if it was a pain in the aft at points. Anyhoo, I have a slightly different second version of this chapter (the way I was really going to do this story) but I chickened out on posting it since it contains what you'd consider slash. Nothing major. If you're interested on reading it, send me a note. Next update may take a little longer hit a fork in the road with it. Shouldn't be much of a hold up though.

Thanks for reading, please review, it fuels me. Constructive crit. welcomed.

TF's and all related char(s) belong to Has/Tak and co.

Except for Artificer(Art), Xeris Five, and the plot, are my creations.

Names and/of char(s) are entirely coincidental