Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers, I just like to write about them.
A/n: I'm skipping ahead a little here, imagine that the Cybertronian equivalent of a few months has passed, and preparations for leaving the planet are in the final phase. I know I'm changing time here but even the idea of trying to write 5 million years worth of stories is insane. I had a bit of a chat with Daebereth while I was trying to work out how to end this and it seemed right to both of us that one of the mechs should have a chance to tell us this part of their story, so I'm going to take this chance to thank her from the bottom of my heart for the trouble she took to correct my lousy grammar while keeping things in character, and hand you over to Bluestreak.
Epilogue
It won't be long now, a couple of cycles at the most and then it'll be farewell Cybertron, hello adventure. I'm looking forward to leaving, anything that takes me further away from the ruins of Uraya is fine by me, but not everyone is so happy. I know Mirage in particular is struggling with his decision. I've spent a fair bit of time with him over the last few cycles as he, the twins and I have been helping Wheeljack with some of the repairs and up-grades that needed to be done to our ship.
You should see The Ark, it's beautiful, well I think so, Sunny doesn't like the colour scheme, he can be a hard mech to please when it comes to things like that, but I like it, being on the ship makes me feel free even if it hasn't taken off yet.
My musing is interrupted by a very short comm from Prowl, but I don't mind, as it's two words I've been waiting to hear for a few cycles now: "He's back." There's definite relief in his tone and I can't help grinning as I tidy away the tools I've been using. Jazz has been running the missions that have been keeping us in energon for almost a quarter of a vorn and I've only seen him twice in that time.
From what I know, he's done a good job at keeping us supplied, but Wheeljack was the last to report any success, he didn't find much though, and Prowl called everyone home earlier in the cycle, Jazz is the last to return.
I smile when I see him, even if he does look exhausted, and he breaks away from Prowl just long enough to give me a hug. I can tell by the way that they're standing together that they've been apart for too long, the distance they are willing to put between them is a pretty good indicator of that and right now they won't move out of arms reach of each other.
"Can I show you around The Ark?" I ask. Prowl told me a few cycles ago that Jazz was looking forward to seeing it, but it's plain to see that he's also worn out and should probably refuel at least before he does anything else.
"Sure," he grins and I lead him back down to the docks.
It worries me that he won't recharge until everything is done, it's odd because he's the one that makes sure everyone else gets a break, but that's Jazz. His tiredness disappears as he follows me into the ship, partly because he's found something that interests him, but mostly because there are other mechs about, and while he trusts Prowl and I enough to let us see how he's feeling, not many mechs get to see that.
"What are these?" he asks as I lead him into what used to be a cargo bay.
"Stasis booths," I answer, "Most of the crew will be travelling in them to save energy."
"Including you?" he queries as he studies one closer.
"Sunny and I volunteered, he doesn't like being cooped up and I don't mind, it's only really the bridge crew that will be on-line for the journey, and there won't be much for me to do."
Jazz looks at the booth sceptically, then at Prowl, "I hope you're not thinking of putting me in one of these things."
"Tempting but no," Prowl says with a smirk, "I have plans for you."
"Really?" Jazz asks playfully.
Sometimes I can't help but wonder if Primus created Jazz simply to tease Prowl, but in an odd way he needs it, needs reminding that there is more to life than plans and data-pads, which he can quite easily bury himself in if he's given the chance.
We pass through the living section of the ship quickly as there isn't really much to see there and head for the bridge.
Prowl leads Jazz over to the helm before he says, "This is where you'll be."
"I'm no pilot," Jazz protests. "Ask 'Breaker."
"He'll be helping you," Prowl assures him, "but having bonded mechs at the helm and on tactical gives us a better chance should we run into trouble. We can react to each other faster than any other mechs on board, and we need to use every advantage we have."
There seems to be more to the conversation than I get to hear, so I wait patiently for them to finish and it's not long before Jazz is chuckling, my guess is that that they weren't just talking about who's going to be where once everything is ready to go.
The back part of the bridge is where I've spent most of my time and at the moment it's my favourite place on the Ark, I've been helping to install some of the consoles and I have to say that it's really nice to make something for a change, even if I have had Wheeljack or Perceptor watching over my shoulder most of the time.
"Jazz, I'd like you to meet Teletraan I," I say proudly, "I've been helping Wheeljack build him and he's the best computer ever made."
"Greetings," Teletraan says instantly.
"Hello," Jazz smiles indulgently, "It's nice to meet you."
"Voice recognition activated, please confirm designation Jazz, rank Special Operations Commander and third to Optimus Prime."
"Yep, that's me," Jazz nods and with a murmur of appreciation he starts looking over the terminal.
He seems impressed but doesn't get the chance to say anything before Wheeljack arrives, takes one look at him and snaps, "Jazz if you hack that computer before we even get of the ground I'm gonna…"
"Good to see you too 'Jack," he interrupts him warmly, "and I'm just looking… for now." He gives our engineer one of those grins that makes everyone forget that he's the Special Ops Commander and one of the most lethal mechs in our unit, for now he's just a mech, just Jazz and Wheeljack responds with a flash of his vocal indicators that signifies a fond smile.
Within a breem, both of them have their heads inside the computer and are giggling like younglings as 'Jack explains some of the upgrades he has invented to make Teletraan the most advanced computer on our planet.
Their playful interaction is interrupted suddenly when Wheeljack lets out a rather undignified yelp and an instant later Mirage appears close to his feet.
"Hey 'Raj," Jazz greets him without missing a beat, "How's things?" As they emerge, Wheeljack shoots him a 'You could have warned me' look before he wraps an arm around our spy's waist.
"It was too good a chance to pass up," Mirage admits shamelessly before he looks at Jazz, "I won't say that I'm looking forward to leaving, but I would rather be among the stars with Wheeljack than in Iacon on my own."
Who'd have thought that 'Raj could be so romantic? But I know what he means. I'll admit that I was as surprised as anyone when those two got together, but I've never seen either of them as happy as when they are like this so I guess things are going well.
"How's about we leave these two alone?" Jazz suggests. "Where's next?" he asks me.
"Wait and see," I tease him.
If Teletraan and the command centre are the processor of The Ark, then the rec room must be its spark, some of us are already living on-board so there's nearly always someone there and even if there isn't, it's a good place to go for an energon ration, which I'm fairly certain Jazz could use.
As we head to our destination I watch Jazz out of the corner of my optic, he and Prowl are walking arm in arm, looking comfortable and carefree which is always nice to see, Jazz's free hand trails lightly across the walls of the corridor as he moves and I notice this only because I remember doing the exact same thing while I was being shown around.
Three mechs look up as we enter the rec room, Hound and Trailbreaker nod greetings but they're halfway through wiring a panel and can't afford the distraction, while Sunstreaker leaves the chair he was putting together, dusts himself off and saunters over to join us.
Primus but he's beautiful and I'm a lucky mech, I just hope that this mission doesn't last long, because I can't wait to bond with him, we may both be young but we've been through so much together that I don't think either of us can imagine being with anyone else.
"Hey Jazz," he says before he slips an arm across my shoulders.
"Sunny," Jazz nods, "How are you?"
"I'm good."
For once he's telling the truth, Sunstreaker has been calmer than I've ever known him for a while now, he didn't even have much of a grumble while we were working in one of the coolant shafts a few cycles ago and we both got filthy doing that.
While they're talking, Prowl takes the chance to grab a ration from the dispenser and hands it over to Jazz. He takes it with a grateful nod and drinks it quickly, only Primus knows when he last had the chance to refuel and I can't help feeling guilty that I've kept him busy for so long but he doesn't give me time to say anything before he starts poking around, everything seems to meet with his approval and he turns to Prowl.
"You haven't stopped, have you?" he asks.
"Neither have you," Prowl points out, "But everything will be ready soon, shall we move on?"
"Sooner this is done, sooner I can get some recharge," Jazz agrees.
There's only really one more place in the Ark to go, some of the crew are already referring to it as Ratchet's lair, but its true name is the med-bay.
The sound of laughter greets us as we enter, Ratchet is standing in the centre of the room, hands on hips and a tangle of wires caught in his chevron, Sideswipe is using one of the berths to hold himself up while he tries to stop laughing.
"It's a good look Ratch," Jazz smirks.
Our C.M.O. snarls at him, removes his decoration, scrunches it up in his hands and throws it at Sideswipe.
"Don't be like that Ratchet," Sideswipe says cheerfully, "It wasn't my fault."
"Actually, yes it was," Ratchet scolds him, a smile is starting to pull at his lip components, but whether it's at the thought of whatever they were doing or at what he's going to do to Sideswipe later I honestly don't know.
"So that's the Ark," I say hoping I can give Sideswipe time to make his escape if he thinks he needs to, but he doesn't seem to acknowledge that he's in any danger and hops up to perch on the edge of the berth.
Jazz takes a seat too, before he speaks, "It's an odd thing," he says in thoughtful tone, "but all this gettin' ready to leave has made me think about how far we've already come."
Prowl lays a hand on his shoulder and nods in agreement. A more sombre mood settles over all of us, even Sideswipe, as we think on Jazz's words, they're true, each and everyone of us has changed so much in the time we've know each other.
Three of us are officers, the twins are warriors and I'm one of the best sharp shooters in Prime's army, but there's a lot more to it than that, we're all so much more than we were, we've suffered and there have been times when each of has struggled but we've pulled together, supported each other, shared the pain, and if that's the price of being part of something so much stronger than we would be if we were alone, then I'm happy to pay it.
A/n #2: So that's it, goodbye Cybertron, next stop Earth. I've got to say that it's been a blast, and thank everyone who has made it this far, I write to keep myself sane, but knowing that others have read and enjoyed my stories gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling that I'm truly grateful for. Thank you. FB.