Back In The Game
Jazz dropped the two men off at a decently priced restaurant and sat outside sipping from a large bowl of sake – a strong Japanese rice wine. Luckily, instead of getting him drunk, his systems wouldjust convert the alcohol into fuel. His brain unconsciously calculated the time difference between Japan and the US, and he figured that once they got back to Mazda HQ, it would be sufficiently late enough in the morning to call home and get an update on his case, and possibly a flight back out.
Upon returning, that was exactly what he did. Dr. Fujiyama helped him tap into a phone line and he dialled up Dashiel Faireborn's home. A woman answered on the fourth ring.
"Hey Amanda," he greeted Dash's wife cheerfully as he sat down on the floor and leaned back against a wall. "How're you and the family?"
"This is Autobot Jazz right?" she asked.
"The one and only," he replied. "And its quite the pleasure to speakwith you ma'am."
"The feeling's mutual, but I thought Dash said you were in Japan?"
"That's where I'm calling from. Had a small accident so got sent down here to be repaired. Came back online today."
"Then you havent heard," Amanda said.
Jazz sat up little straighter. "I ain't heard a lot of things, which one in particular are we talkin' about?"
"Is that Jazz?" Dash's slurry voice asked in the back, as if he'd just woken up from sleep.
"The EDC was attacked three days ago," Amanda said.
Jazz jerked upright. "What! Primus! Is Dash alright?"
"I'm fine! Jazz, I'm fine, I'm alright!" Dash shouted.
"How is he?" Jazz asked.
"He had a concussion and sprained his left wrist. The doctors released him from hospital last morning."
"Let me talk to him."
There was some rustling and movement on the other end during which time Jazz got to his feet and started pacing.
"Jazz? How are you?" Dash asked.
"I'm fine man, but what happened over there?"
"The Decepticons attacked the EDC. They distracted the defense team long enough for one of the Insecticons to break into the prisons. Tried to stop them. I think they took Jonathon. His cell was empty when they checked the wreckage."
The white and black mech was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, it was with great reluctance.
"I want you off this case," he said.
"You've got to be kidding me," Dash replied incredulous.
"I've never been more serious. I mean it Dash. This only shows how dangerous it's gonna get, and I don't want to risk anything more happenin' to you."
"This is my case as much as yours Jazz, and lest we forget, you got hurt a lot worse than I did."
"I'm a robot Dash. I get hurt, they can always rebuild me or replace parts. You get hurt like I did, how are they gonna repair you?"
"Well, I'm still standing arent I?"
"Listen Dash, ya gotta think here. They got Jon. What's to say they're not gonna come after you next? Or Amanda and Marissa? Are you willing to risk your family?"
"Are you willing to risk yours?"
"It ain't the same thing. My 'family' as you put it, have been fighting this war before you humans even evolved. They know how to take care of themselves. I ain't riskin' you Dash, or your family. I'm not even gonna argue on this one. You're off this case Dash, I'm sorry."
"You cant do this alone."
"I've been workin' alone ever since I was assigned to this division, so I'm gonna try. I don't want anyone's innocent blood or mech fluid on my hands this time. Now if ya don't mind, I need to call my commander and get some details. Get well soon Dash."
"Jazz…."
Jazz hung up, feeling bad about being so blunt, but knowing that this time he didn't have a choice. He really didn't want anyone else getting hurt, or worse. Neither could he afford the time to feel sorry for himself or others. He was back on the case now, and the stakes had risen. There was a life on the line and it was upto him to save it.
With a deep sigh he patched into a computer and connected to Teleran One down at Autobot City. In minutes he had Prime and Prowl on the screen. They seemed relieved to see him again, but he didn't give them a chance to ask him how he was.
"I just spoke to Dash. He said the 'Cons attacked the EDC and took Jonathon. Where were you guys?"
"Autobot City came under attack from a human military contingent," Prowl said. "They were not affiliated with any world government that we know of. It became apparent later that they were in league with the Decepticons, as their attack provided enough of a diversion to keep us from aiding the EDC."
Jazz shook his head in frustration. "So what now? What do we know? Any idea why they did this?"
"This was all Starscream's doing. He contacted us after the attack and told us that if we Jonathon Mason back alive, you had to come and get him," said Prime.
"You do realize it is a trap," Prowl said.
"Yeah? Now what gave you that idea?" Jazz asked rather sarcastically. "Who'da thought the ol' Jazz-man'd be so popular with the 'Cons?"
"Nice to see you can still laugh over something like this," Prime said, while Prowl, who knew Jazz a little better, smiled ever so slightly.
"Ever hearda gallows humor?" Jazz shrugged. "Were ya able to trace the call to a source?"
"You're not seriously thinking of going after him?" a note of alarm crept into Prime's voice.
"No, I'm not thinking of going after him, I AM going after him. So get me a location and make ma job easier or I'll just go out and find one maself."
"We managed to trace the call as far as the north-east sector of China," Prowl said. "It may have gone on further, but its hard to tell."
"Further? But beyond China is…" Jazz began.
"Mongolia," Prime finished for him. "The Mongolian desert."
"One of the most remote and isolated areas in the world, it makes sense," Jazz said. "So that's gotta be where old Starscream's holed up. It ties in with the clues Dr. Archeville left behind in the parking lot."
"It also explains why he keeps disappearing so easily," Prowl added. "He's had free passage over the Pacific Ocean between north-western America and north-eastern China."
"Until now." Jazz's tone grew serious.
"Jazz this is far too dangerous," Prime said.
"Prime c'mon, when have I ever taken a mission that wasn't dangerous? You know as well as I do, I'm the best and only 'Bot for the job. Ain't that why ya called me back in the first place? 'Sides, I'm just gonna creep in, find Jon and the missing blueprints, and get out again."
"I am inclined to agree with him Prime," said Prowl. "One Special Operations Officer may have more success in getting in there, than a large group of warriors trying to storm the place. And the fewer humans involved the better."
Prime sighed. "At least take some back-up with you."
Jazz shook his head. "No way Prime. You just said this is gonna be dangerous, and it will be. I ain't gonna risk any innocent mech's life. They just don't have the skills I do, and I don't trust no one but myself on this. I already pulled Dash Faireborn off the case."
Apprehension rolled off the Autobot leader in waves. Prowl too looked a little uneasy, but did show a little more confidence than Prime did. Jazz could see it in their faces, and he didn't blame them. He was more afraid than he was letting on too.
"C'mon guys," he said. "Have a little faith in me will ya? Have I ever let ya down before? Besides, ol' Screamer probably thinks he's gonna get the half-recovered old me. He ain't got a clue about my Binaltech upgrade."
"That certainly is an advantage," Prowl agreed.
"Sure is. Alright, so have ol' Teletran send me whatever information ya got, and I'll be on my merry way first thing tomorrow."
"How do you plan on getting from Japan to China?" Prime asked.
"The old-fashioned way – human transport. Besides, it'll give me some time to gather a few more clues and come up with some sort of plan."
"We're sending you the information right now," Prime told him. "Good luck Jazz."
"Thanks Prime. Oh, and tell Ratchet I'm fine, and say 'Hi' to everyone else for me will ya?"
"Consider it done."
"Alrighty then, Jazz out."
The screen went blank. Optimus Prime cast a worried look at his Second-In-Command.
"Do you think he can do it?" he asked.
"Let's put it this way," Prowl replied. "If he cant do it, no one can."
A/N: yes.. envy those butterflies...