AN: Another chapter, woo! This ones longer than most of the others. I used an online translator for the morse code. http: .it /lab minus the spaces.
And okay, I know people do actually read these, cuz I'll occasionally check the story stats. I want at least five reviews before I post the next chapter! five! That shouldn't be too difficult. By the way, could someone explain to me the difference between hits and visitors on that?
Bookworm Gal: Yes, Barricade is now pink! Or, was. Not by the end of this, anyway. Thanks, I figured the civilian fighting would be a bit easier to write since I was inexperienced. Miles will have to learn not to be so cocky in the heat of battle, though.
The Allspark shard retrieval group
After the fight the Autobots had gone about attending to any and all wounds on each other. Will worked on Miles while he was sitting in the back of Ironhide's alt form, complaining that he now needed a new pair of pants. Epps offered to buy him the new pair after they got to Jazz and resurrected him in Oklahoma. Miles was surprised by the nice offer, and accepted it. He didn't know about the bet that Will, Sam, and Epps had made over his and Barricade's fight, or that the money Epps would be using on his new pants was the money from the winnings of said bet.
Once what they could take care of had been taking care of, the group set off towards Oklahoma, with a newly welcomed Wheeljack and Trailbreaker. None of the mechs had that much medical experience, and could only do the basics. They planned on having First Aid work on them once they met up. Once again they abused Prowl's alt form, using the sirens to make quick time in crowded cities or highways. Most of the humans slept on the way to the state, tired from the adrenaline crashes they were experiencing. Out of all of them Miles was the most unused to having his adrenaline suddenly spike up so high to keep him going, and he slept the entire trip away. He still had the shard with him. The others woke up around the same time, about two to three hours away from where they were supposed to meet First Aid and Inferno. They'd have Jazz with them.
When they arrived at the building where the two living Autobots and the dead Autobots' body were, they had all gone inside. There had been very brief introductions, and then the 'bots had left the humans alone with Jazz's body. Ironhide, Prowl, Sunstreaker, and Sideswipe hadn't gotten a decent recharge in in almost three days. Light rechargers while the humans were busy doing human things, but all of them were still tired, and agreed that resurrecting Jazz could wait until tomorrow. Not even Prowl complained that they'd most likely miss the four day mark of the mission that way.
The fact that the four had been so tired had probably been why one of them had slipped up, had a lapse in judgment, that none of the others called the mech on. It couldn't be blamed on First Aid and Inferno because that hadn't gotten to know how humans could be just yet, hadn't had any living with them for such a long period of time. Maybe it was because they had forgotten that Miles still had the shard, or it really was they were just too tired to really go any deeper than basic processor thinking. Either way, when Will had asked what they were supposed to do with Jazz if all the 'bots were leaving them, Sunstreaker had sarcastically replied that they use the shard on him to bring him back.
And maybe it was a testament to just how stupid humans could be sometimes, because they had decided to take him seriously. And so they ended up sending Fig out to get four sticks, and when he brought them back they evened them out and then broke one in half. All the humans were still a bit tired, especially those that were used to having a pick me up when they reached a certain point. This mainly related to Epps though, since Will hadn't reached that point yet. So they agreed that whoever got the shorter end of the stick had to do it.
Epps cursed loudly as he looked at his tiny stick, then glared at the three who had the bigger ones. "Seriously? Fuck fate." He grabbed the container that held the shard from Miles, popped it open and clasped the shard in a hand, starting to climb up on to Jazz.
"Sorry, Epps!" Miles said, not sounding sorry at all as he grinned. "Let's just pray that it doesn't do anything freaky to you."
"W-what?" Epps froze, mind coming to a screeching halt as the thought hit him fully. Oh Primus, what if it did do something to him? What if it made him into some weird cyborg, or joined his soul and Jazz's and they lived on in his body together, or in Jazz's body together? What if it sent it's energy into him and he became like the Cybertronian birthing unit, or if it changed him into a Cybertronian completely? Would it make him into one like the mountain dew dispensor in Mission City, would he be himself anymore? What if it killed him?
"Epps?" Will called, seeing his friend frozen while still in the process of climbing Jazz. "Epps, earth to Epps? Jesus, Miles, I think you broke him!" He didn't notice Epps move after he said Jesus.
"You mean Primus." Epps muttered sarcastically. "And it's nothing. If I don't make it tell everyone I love them. Including Barricade and Mojo."
Will and Fig shared bewildered glances, but Miles grinned as he slowly realized what had freaked Epps out. Oh, this will be good, he thought.
Epps finally made it up onto the chest of Jazz. "So what the fuck do I do?" He asked, the irrational fear of something happening to him sneaking up and settling at the bottom of his stomach like a heavy weight.
"Uhm… Try putting it in the Spark chamber?" Will suggested, muttering the next part under his breath. "Since that's where the spark goes and makes them live and all."
Epps couldn't hear what he muttered, but he shot a glare Will's way because he could just guess he wouldn't have appreciated it. He knelt down, and frowned when it felt like his hand had a magnetic pull, as if something else was controlling it. He averted his eyes as his hand traveled into the spark chamber, connecting with something. And then their was nothing but a bright light, so bright it blinded him, and the irrational fear grew and threatened to claw its way up his throat and out of his mouth. But just as quickly as it had come the light faded away. And just as quickly as the light had come he felt a sudden shifting underneath him, and then a weapon was pointing directly in his face.
"Aw, come on." He couldn't help but whine. "Ironhide's supposed to be the trigger happy one!"
Jazz faltered, deactivating his weapon as he looked around. Battle protocols had been some of the first to come online, and he had felt something near his open spark chamber and reacted. Glancing at the human, his slowly accessed his memory files. The last thing he remembered is arguing with Optimus under the bridge after Bumblebee had been taken away by the Sector Seven people. He didn't see anyone he could recognize, but the colored human had said Ironhide's name.
"We should probably call one of the 'bots in." Will said softly, not wanting to startle Jazz. "First Aid, maybe."
The newly reactivated Autobot sat up without thinking, knocking Epps off his chest. Epps cursed as he went flying, surprised when he landed in Jazz's hand. He grinned, looking up at Jazz. "I'm Robert Epps, but you can call me Epps. The other guy who just spoke is Will Lennox, or Will. Then there's Fig and Miles, Miles being the teenager." He patted Jazz's thumb as he talked.
"Where am Ah?" Jazz asked. "When did First Aid get here?"
"We can't tell you when he got here since we don't know. But the rest of the 'bots are in another room. We had a run in with Soundwave while retrieving the Allspark shard from Wheeljack and Trailbreaker." Epps explained.
Then Will took up the spot, filling in Jazz with more detail of what had happened. He went all the way back to Mission city, including how Jazz had been torn in half, and after that. How Miles had found Barricade and the 'con had decided to become slightly neutral, at least enough not to be directly hostile to the Autobots. Then he went over the battle with Soundwave in more detail. In return, Jazz mentioned that Soundwave could read minds. While Will filled Jazz in on everything he could, Fig went and got the other Autobots. Epps and Miles waved to them as they filed in, surprised by the odd looks on their face plates.
"We are happy that Jazz is back, but what in the world gave you idea to do it on your own?" Prowl asked, looking at the humans. "The consequences of Allspark contact are unknown on you."
"Sunstreaker told us too." Epps said, shrugging.
All of the 'bots looked at Sunstreaker, though the mech himself only looked a mixture of annoyed and surprised. "And you listened to me? Humans really are dumb!"
"Well Ah thank you for doing so. It's good to be back." Jazz said, putting Epps back down on the ground.
"As do we. But now I suggest the humans go do whatever they want to, sleep preferably, while we talk." Prowl said, Ironhide helping him in gently moving the four out of the room even as they complained.
"We might as well listen." Will sighed, watching the door be shut. "Don't really have any other options. We don't know how far the next town is and we don't have a car, sentient or non."
The other three sighed, but decided to listen. They all found places to sleep, Epps falling asleep almost immediately. Miles grinned to the others when he saw this, whispering to them. The three quietly planned, Will protesting for awhile until Miles threatened to do something to him if he didn't go along with it.
Epps woke up slowly to a light headache. He couldn't tell what time it was, but from the way the birds were creating a ruckus outside he decided to keep his eyes closed just a little longer. He heard the muffled sounds of movement, and metal on concrete as it neared him. He heard them pause directly beside where he was laying, wondering what the hell was going on.
"He's… different, a'ight." Jazz spoke softly. "Do humans usually do this?"
Will spoke up, voice sounding oddly strained. "N-no… We never change like that…"
Epps felt his heart drop into his stomach, that irrational fear that the Allspark shard would do something to him creeping back up.
"Do you think it's because of what he did for me? Ah'd hate that…" Jazz said, trailing off.
"Estimado Dios…" Fig muttered. "Will, we should… Should go tell his family…"
"Y-yeah." Will replied, and Epps could hear them walk towards the door. Heard it open and then close. It felt like his body had seized up with panic, not wanting to open his eyes or alert them that he was awake so that he wouldn't have to face reality.
"Slag, he's so different." Jazz said softly. "Ah don't think Ratchet would be able to do anything for 'im."
"How's he going to react?" Miles asked. "He'll be devastated."
And at that it finally seemed like Epps could move as his eyes snapped open and he looked at the ceiling. "Oh God! Oh Primus! I'm… I'm…" He sounded near hysterics as he brought his hand up to his face. "I'm…Black?" Here he sounded bewildered, looking to his side.
He saw Will and Fig beside the door, hands over their mouths as their body shook with laughter. He saw Miles trying hard not to laugh himself, and Jazz with a mischievous glint in his optics. He slowly realized that he had been played, Will's voice having sounded strained because he was trying so hard not to laugh.
"Seriously? Fuck you guys. I hate all of you." Epps groaned, sitting up and glaring at all of them. This just caused the humans to break down into laughter.
"Sorry, mah man. The young one can be very convincing." Jazz said, not sounding apologetic at all.
He glared at Miles, who was trying to stop laughing. "This means war. And Jazz is on my team from now on. You already have Fig and Will apparently, the slaggin' traitors."
Miles smirked, and the three humans started to tease him over how easily he had been duped. Jazz just shook his head, amused by their antics. It's definitely good to be alive, he thought.
A day later they were almost back to the Nevada base. There was only a few hours to go, and they were planning those without any stops. The humans had just been fed and allowed to use the restroom. Epps had switched from riding in Sideswipe to riding in Jazz. Neither of the 'bots minded, Jazz liking Epps just a bit more than the other humans because Epps was the one to bring him back, and he introduced Jazz to some good Earth music.
Unbeknownst to Prowl, Jazz had dared Miles to annoy the strict 'bot as much as he could. So far it had been going perfectly with asking unending questions, gum, drinks, and other things. Prowl was about on his last nerve concerning the human, and Jazz couldn't wait to see what he would do when it broke.
Epps and Miles were the only humans awake. Originally it had been because when they crossed into Nevada they both wanted to annoy all the 'bots until they honk, but now just neither of them could. Miles' back still felt sore and a bit raw from the run in with Ravage, and there wasn't much room to actually lay down in Prowl, much less lay down on his stomach. Epps just couldn't sleep. They were both surprised when Prowl said he was contacting the Autobot base.
"Prowl to base. Base come in." Prowl said.
"This is base. Barricade here, with the insect and Prime." They heard Barricade reply, not knowing that Optimus had left control of the radio to those two, and that they did rock paper scissors to see who could have it. Bumblebee lost.
Miles quickly spoke up before Prowl could say anything else, "Barry! I'm never cheating on you with another Cybertronian who has a cop car alt mode again! Prowl won't let me do anything! He's banned me from asking questions, answering questions, drinking anything, and even chewing gum! He's no fun at all!"
"You dropped the gum on my floor." Prowl replied calmly, having expected Miles out burst.
"I sneezed! It's a natural human thing!" Miles fought back.
"You squirted the liquid all over my dashboard." Prowl was trying desperately to keep his voice calm and devoid of annoyance.
"That was all Epps fault!" Miles exclaimed. "He's the one that mentioned sixty-nining with Jazz! Just to get me to do it, I tell you! It's a conspiracy!"
Prowl let out an annoyed sound, "No talking from now until we get to the base, Miles Lancaster. Since you are a minor we count as your guardians, and society claims that you must abide by their rules."
"What? You can't ground me!" Miles huffed, and Epps could be heard laughing his ass off in the back ground.
"You dropped gum in me, sprayed liquid all over my dashboard, fought with me to get me to honk once we crossed the Nevada state line and then attempted to honk me yourself, kept trying to use the sunglasses and hair dryer whenever we stopped to scare people, and there have been many other offenses. You even managed to trip my glitch, and we were lucky I wasn't driving. I believe I have every right to ground you, and I may even throw you in the brig when we get back. You are almost as annoying as the twins." Prowl explained, annoyance clear in his voice.
Miles was silent for a moment, and then he grinned. "Are there any rules that I broke in that rule book thing?"
"…No." Prowl said reluctantly. "But you are still on silent time unless you wish for me to let Ironhide practice his aim on you."
Miles groaned, while Jazz and Epps laughed. While Prowl began filling in Barricade, Optimus, and Bumblebee on what had happened, Miles started to tap out morse code on his dashboard, hoping that Barricade would recognize it and be able to catch it.
At the Nevada base
The three Cybertronians listened in silence as Miles and Prowl fought back and fourth. Optimus and Bumblebee where shocked, while Barricade just smirked inwardly. He was no longer pink, since Optimus had told Bumblebee to clean off all the paint. If he was the one who painted him, he could be the one to scrape it off. Bumblbee had begrudingly listened.
"Figures one of you stupid 'bots couldn't put up with what I can put up with on a daily basis." He said smugly.
Neither Optimus or Bumblebee bothered to reply to him. They listened as Prowl filled them in on all that had happened in the mission. They could hear an odd tapping sound in the background as he talked, but didn't pay any attention to it. They found out about Soundwave and the cassetticons attacking, of who got hurt and how badly, how Jazz was brought back by Epps.
"Jazz is do-" They heard Prowl start to say, then cut himself off. "Would you stop that infernal tapping?" They heard him growl soon after.
"Sorry." They heard Miles reply a second later, and the tapping stopped.
"As I was saying, Jazz is doing fine. That is all for now, Prowl out." Prowl continued hastily, then closed the connection quickly.
Barricade laughed as he realized why Miles had been tapping, and replayed the conversation from his memory file to figure out what he had said.
.. .-. - / ... - .-. .-. -.- .-.-.- / - ...- . .-. / .- -. -.. / - ..- - .-.-.-
I'm sorry. Over and out.