Never an Easy Road
Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers. They officially belong to Hasbro and Takara. I'm taking them for a short spin.
Kup's favorite earth phrase in recent days has become "herding cats." He feels a group of domesticated Earth felines has to be easier to deal with than the mechs he's currently dealing with. Ultra Magnus is overbearing and obtuse, mostly toward Rodimus Prime. Springer's cluelessness about part of his best friend's grief is understandable, yet the mech hasn't been brave enough to talk to Rodimus himself. Ratchet is working himself to death, and will listen to no one.
He'd pull rank, but he doesn't think anyone will listen. One mech might, but he's busy with a personal matter. Kup doesn't want to bother Jazz, but he's the one person who can help him try and set things back to rights.
The ancient mech earns himself a suspicious glare from the CMO as he enters the med bay, and Jazz doesn't pay him the slightest bit of attention because he's telling Prowl some inane story about the latest prank by the twins.
". . .an' that's how they ended up hiding in the Dinobot lagoon for a couple of hours before anyone found them," Jazz finished.
"Yeah, and they were supposed to be helping with repairs," Kup said. "Eh, but it was worth it, considering morale. Prowl, I'm glad to see you're doing better. Jazz, we need to talk."
"About?"
"Lots," Kup said, turning toward Ratchet's office. "And you and I'll have words after I'm finished with Jazz."
Kup blew a kiss at Ratchet, who huffed back into his office.
"Ya know, tauntin' him isn't a good idea right now," Jazz said.
"It's never a good idea," Prowl suggested.
"Nope, but it's always fun," Kup said. "Prowl, I need to borrow Jazz for a bit, and I hope you don't mind."
"I don't," Prowl said.
"Be back in a few," Jazz said, bending down to kiss Prowl's forehead.
Prowl jerked away in surprise.
"What was that for?" he asked.
"Because I felt like it," Jazz said, grabbing Kup by the arm, dragging him from the room.
Once outside the med bay, he stopped.
"What's up?"
"Plenty," Kup said. "I know Rodimus gave you his blessing to spend time with Prowl, but things around here could be better. I need your help."
"In what capacity?"
"Autobot third in command?" Kup said. "I thought you called yourself the "morale officer." Well, consider this a promotion, and an official one at that."
"You're kiddin,'" Jazz said.
"Nope. I have Rodimus' permission. It's your official job for now."
"What about my job as third in command?" Jazz asked. "Is that gonna change?"
"I don't know," Kup said. "That depends on you, and Rodimus, and how quick Prowl recovers. Nothing has to change. I'd rather have Prowl as SIC than Ultra Magnus. Prowl's been in on the transition of two Primes, and I think he's gonna be needed for this one."
"He still doesn't know about Optimus," Jazz said.
"I know," Kup said. "I just need you for a couple of hours a day, Jazz. Show up in the rec room, or command, let the others know Prowl's doing better. Has he had any visitors yet?"
"The twins an' half the Ark have tried ta see him, but Ratchet won't let him have visitors. He's afraid somebody will run their mouths off before we can tell Prowl what's happened," Jazz said.
"Then Ratchet needs to get off his aft and let somebody tell him, because he's not doing you or Prowl any favors by keeping his friends away," Kup said. "I'll fix that medic."
"Have fun," Jazz said.
"Another thing—go easy on Rodimus, will you? Magnus is riding him especially hard, and the lad isn't taking any of this well. He's got his reasons, and if you wanna know, talk to him when you get a chance," Kup said. "He'll probably be angry for mentioning it, but you need to know. Ratchet knows, and I haven't told anyone else, but I can trust you. Lad lost his fated. It's not making any of this any easier for him."
"Primus," Jazz muttered.
"Yeah," Kup said. "I better go have that talk with Ratchet now. Wish me luck."
"Have fun. I think I'll go find Rodimus," Jazz said. "Might as well get that over, too."
Kup clapped the other mech on the shoulder, and let himself back into the med bay. As he walked past Prowl's berth, the other mech grabbed his hand as he passed.
"What is everyone not telling me?" Prowl asked.
Kup squeezed his hand. "Prowl, let me talk to Ratchet, and I'll see what I can do," he said.
"I know it's about Optimus. He's gone, isn't he?"
Ratchet was hanging out the the door of his office, and he met Kup's gaze, giving him a slight nod.
"He died defending the city," Kup said. "Took a lotta Decepticons with him."
"Who bears the Matrix now?" Prowl asked. "Ultra Magnus, I assume?"
"No," Kup said.
"Then who?"
"Rodimus Prime," Ratchet said.
"The Matrix chose Hot Rod," Kup said. "Long story, which I probably shouldn't try telling right now."
"You are correct in that deduction," Ratchet said. "I think you should go."
Kup gave Prowl's hand one last squeeze, and took off before the medic could inflict any damage, as his field suggested.
"How did you guess Optimus was gone?"
"Nothing ever keeps him from visiting the wounded after a battle," Prowl said. "And how no one, including you or Jazz, has mentioned his name."
"I should have told you sooner, but I don't want to impede your recovery. Do you have any idea how badly you're hurt?"
"I remember a point-blank range shot from Megatron hitting my chest. The charge from the blast went through my body, blowing off one door wing and severely damaging the other. My spark is weakened, but I believe it's doing better, is it not?"
"Much better," Ratchet said. "A few more days in here, and once a CR chamber is free, you'll be placed into medical stasis for regeneration."
"For how long?"
"A week, maybe two. It depends," Ratchet said.
"How are Wheeljack and Ironhide?"
"Wheeljack is coming out of stasis first. Ironhide. . .it'll take more time," Ratchet said.
"Is Megatron really dead?"
"Yes," Ratchet said. Technically, he wasn't lying. Prowl didn't need to know that yet."
"What else aren't you telling me?"
"Plenty," Ratchet said. "None of it pertinent to your recovery."
"The more I know, the sooner I can get back to duty. That is if the new Prime has a place for me," Prowl said.
"Believe me, Prowl. Rodimus needs all the help he can get," Ratchet said. "And you will take all the time necessary for your recovery. Rodimus even said so himself. You can help all of us by taking the time you need to heal."
"Time is a luxury we don't have. The Decepticons could regroup. . ."
"Time is a luxury you have, you fragger. The rest of us aren't so lucky," Ratchet said. "From what I understand, the Decepticon command structure is in tatters. Megatron is dead, Shockwave is missing, Starscream is rumored dead and what's left of the Decepticons are hiding on some backwater planet without fuel or direction."
"How?"
"No. More. Questions." Ratchet said, annoyed. He'd already told Prowl too much.
"Why did Jazz kiss me?" Prowl asked.
"Did you not hear anything he said to you while you were out?" Ratchet said.
"I remember some of it, but I mainly remember him pleading with me to not die," Prowl said.
"You're a smart mech. If I have to explain it. . ."
Prowl glared.
"You're fated. Do the math," Ratchet said.
"We agreed. . ."
"Yes, but this is a matter you're going to have to discuss with Jazz," Ratchet said.
"Jazz is my friend," Prowl said. "Anything more would complicate our relationship."
"Prowl, you've already had a complicated relationship," Ratchet said. "You've had a long-term mostly monogamous relationship, and you've raised a sparkling together. The only thing missing is one little four-letter word and fragging each other senseless. The one thing you need to figure out is if you care for Jazz as much as he cares for you."
"Of course I care for Jazz," Prowl said.
"But are you in love with Jazz like he is with you?"
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Jazz found Rodimus Prime in the Ark's small conference room, data pads scattered on the table in front of the young mech. A mech who had his feet up on the table, cursing under his breath, and snapped the data pad in his hands in two in frustration.
"What do you want?" Rodimus growled.
"Kup said I should come talk to you," Jazz said, hopping up on the table.
"Kup can get slagged," Rodimus said.
"I hear I've added a new title to my name," Jazz said.
"Yeah. Morale officer. Can't hurt, can it? Morale is in the dumps," Rodimus said. "Everyone that can is pulling double or triple shifts to get the city repaired, and Magnus is talking about getting a team together to go to Cybertron to look for the female Autobots. And somebody has to be in charge on there. I'm not going."
Jazz bit back a grin. "Slow down. Has anyone helped you prioritize things?"
"No," Rodimus said.
"OK. City's important. We need quarters, the med bay, command and security back up and running. What took the worst hit in the battle?"
"I know the secondary med bay and the communications/command deck are in decent shape. The communications deck needs some glass replaced. Secondary med bay is completely intact. Teletraan 2 is functional, so that's something."
"With Teletraan 2 functioning, and Metroplex back online, security shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Weapons systems need replaced," Rodimus said.
"Get the humans ta step up ground and aerial patrols in the area, and see if they're willing ta station some tanks around the city just in case," Jazz said. "The least they can do considering they were no help during the battle. I can contact Marissa."
"Good," Rodimus said.
"Next," Jazz said.
"Cybertron," Rodimus said.
"Send Magnus and a search team ta look for the femmes," Jazz said. "This is a good opportunity too ta try and find Shockwave's energon stores and his lab. Mirage can head that up. He's itchin' ta do somethin' useful. We can also spare Hound, the twins, Tracks and the Aerialbots."
"Can I put you in charge?" Rodimus asked.
"I like my job," Jazz said.
"All of this helps," Rodimus said. "How's Prowl?"
"Better," Jazz said. "He'll be going into a CR chamber when Wheeljack gets out."
"Ironhide?"
"Don't know," Jazz said.
"Ratchet told me you and Prowl are fated," Rodimus said.
"We are," Jazz said. "And I heard you lost yours in the battle. I'm sorry."
Rodimus' field suddenly shifted from relieved to furious.
"Did Kup tell you?"
"Yeah, but he didn't tell me who," Jazz said.
"He's going crazy and senile," Rodimus said.
"Uh huh," Jazz said. "Who was it?"
"No. We're not having this conversation," Rodimus said.
"I could go down the casualty list," Jazz said.
"Get out," Rodimus said.
The kid was volatile before, but even more so now. Not good. And apparently, he hadn't take time to grieve, or more to the point, allowed. Yeah, Ultra Magnus needed his aft kicked.
"There's no shame in talking things out," Jazz offered. "You're Prime now, and you probably have whiplash from it all. Becoming the battle, becoming Prime, the Unmaker. . ."
He shuddered.
"Talking won't help," Rodimus said.
"Primus, you're stubborn," Jazz said.
Rodimus stuck out his gloss at the other mech.
"Optimus was just as stubborn," Jazz said. "Maybe it's a Prime thing. And don't think he was perfect, because he wasn't. Prowl and I can attest to that. Or ask Kup, Ultra Magnus. We knew Optimus longest. He was a good mech, and you have a good example to follow, but you can't be him. Just remember that."
Rodimus sat back in his chair. "It was him," he said.
"What?" Jazz asked.
"Optimus was my fated," Rodimus said.
Jazz hopped off the table, hugging the younger mech. "I'm sorry," he said, pulling Rodimus closer as he relaxed a little. He held him for a few moments before letting him go, leaning back against the table.
"I've got questions. . ." Jazz said. "But we can talk about that later. And believe me, we will talk. But back ta currently important stuff we don't want ta be dealin' with but have to—just do what we just went over, OK? And as for Cybertron, if Magnus can find the femmes, and Elita One is still alive and up to it, put her in charge. She'll know the situation there better than anyone except maybe Shockwave. Which reminds me. . .do you want us to investigate just how the Decepticons found out about the moon bases?"
"Slag," Rodimus said. "I hadn't thought of that. Does it even matter at this point?"
"We could have a security breach among the ranks," Jazz said. "Or not. Wouldn't hurt to check it out."
"It's what your command staff is for," Jazz said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Can I get back to Prowler now?"
"Go," Rodimus said. "And thanks for the help."
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Prowl wakes from his fitful recharge when he hears the familiar footsteps of the twins approaching, along with their usual bickering, which isn't quiet. He onlines his optics, surprised when Sunstreaker hugs him, and not so surprised when Sideswipe does the same and sits down on his berth beside him.
Both mechs give Ratchet rude looks when he steps out of the office. "Five minutes," Ratchet said.
"Thanks, Hatchet," Sideswipe said.
"He's only doing his job," Prowl said. "What trouble are you two in now?"
"None so far," Sideswipe said. "Jazz told us we could come see you. I know you've probably felt better. . ."
"I'm grateful to be alive," Prowl said. "Others were not so fortunate."
"We're just glad you're all right," Sunstreaker said. "We told Jazz we want you to be our Amica Endura, if you want."
"Me? Why?"
"Prowlie, just say yes," Sideswipe said.
"But. . ."
"Don't even try and give us an argument about being your subordinates," Sideswipe said.
"Even Optimus had and an Amica, and it was Ultra Magnus, who was his subordinate," Sunstreaker said.
"Just think about it, OK?" Sideswipe said. "We wouldn't ask if we didn't mean it."
"I'll take it into consideration," Prowl said.
"Do more than consider it," Sunstreaker said, grinning at the Praxian.
"But why me?"
"Because you've never treated us different because we're split-sparks, or because we didn't start out Autobots, and a million other reasons," Sideswipe said. "And we've always had your back in return."
"Fine," Prowl said.
Another pair of hugs, and Ratchet was throwing them out.
"Was that so hard?" Ratchet asked, coming over to Prowl's berth, checking the monitors.
"No," Prowl said. "I'm assuming I'll continue functioning?"
"So far," Ratchet said. "Get some rest."
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