Disclaimer: I own none of the Transformers characters. I do own my OCs so if you use them you need to ask me first, please and thank you.


Key:

Sparklings talk/ Cybertronian= bold

Com. =::-::


Chapter 29

The constant sound or knocking on the hanger door snapped Jade out of her blank abyss of sleep. Groaning, the cherry red painted woman crawled carefully around the sprawled out children around her before using the wall for support as she walked to the annoying noise. Grumpily she opened her eyes and opened the door just the slightest bit with her foot blocking the opening. Since there were no large metal bodies in front of her she looked down and saw a very unhappy Galloway standing in front of her foot, obviously unhappy that he couldn't just walk into the hanger like he did every other place on base. She glanced at the sky; yep, the sun was just starting to rise if those colors told her anything.

"Wha' the heck do ya want at this time in the morn?" she drawled not happy in the least.

The man scowled up at her. "Watch how you talk to me."

"Or what? I'm not under your jurisdiction and neither are the kids or the Decepticons so what could ya possibly do ta us?" Jade snapped, kneeling down so she was closer so as to growl in his face.

"I could have you sent off this base," he snarled.

"An' then have both Autobots and Decepticons after you. Now if ya only wanted ta threaten me at this ungodly hour then I sugges' ya scurry back under the rock ya crawled out of." Damn, this man seemed to be the only one that didn't understand the Jade was at her most dangerous when woken up. Mornings were her greatest enemies.

Opening his mouth Galloway was about to respond when Jazz came over with a glare that sent him running.

"Ya alrigh'?" he asked.

"Yeah, idiot tried ta threaten me, but he ain't got the balls ta follow through." Placing a hand over her mouth Jade gave a big yawn. She shifted her weight to lean on the door. "Ya'd think he'd know by now ta leave me alone in the mornin's," she smirked.

The silver mech chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest as he settled his weight to one leg. "No' da brightes' is he?"

"Nope." Jade looked over her shoulder at the sound of someone moving and caught the sight of Cheatcode cuddling Carbonation like a teddy bear. A gentle smile appeared on her lips before she turned back to Jazz. "All right, what's wrong?"

"Go' news from Bee. Sam ain' le'in' 'im on campus. Rules an' stuff; we all understand dat, bu' he's doin' weird thin's accordin' to Bee."

Jade paused and thought over the words. Sam being crazy wasn't really that unusual, but if Bee was worried then it was the kind of crazy that should have her worried too.

"Bee's keepin' an eye on him right? Who am I kidding, of course he is." As she became more awake her drawl seemed to evaporate into thin air.

"Ya wanna get some oil before the sparkin's come out o' recharge?" The mech gave her a grin and held out a hand in invitation.

"Lead the way." She grinned back at him and closed the door behind her. Reaching out she took hold of the offered hand and linked their fingers together. Together they made their way to the mess hall for some oil and a relatively quiet morning before the day really started.


Watching the entirety of the Autobots speed out of the base Jade felt a lead weight drop in her stomach. Something horrible was going to happen despite Jazz giving her a kiss and reassurances. Someone was going to die today, and she just knew it was going to be someone of the metal variety. Taking a shaky breath Jade let Barricade lead her away from the gate where she had stationed herself to watch the slowly disappearing dust cloud trails. He guided her to her hanger where she knew it was time to enact their plan. Sucking in another shaky breath she set about grabbing things the children and her would need. While Barricade took the first load away Jade continued to work. Things were going south and going fast.


When the message was originally received Jade couldn't believe her ears. Then the Autobots came back without Bee or Sam and Optimus, Skids, and Mudflap were missing. Then that damn helicopter dropped the unmoving body of the Autobot leader on the ground.

The humans seemed split in their opinion of the situation, but they didn't matter. Jade held her children close as Jazz joined them and held them tight. She was surrounded by the pain of losing the large mech and she could feel those clinging to her shaking in grief. Sky was wailing into her shoulder; Optimus had been his role-model, the one mech out of all others that he looked up to and admired. Now his hero was gone.

Even as Galloway gave the order for the base to be packed up and sent back to Diego Garcia Jade couldn't tear her eyes away from the still body. Optimus was dead, well and truly dead. The one mech she thought she would never see like this was unmoving in front of her.

War was cruel and it always takes away that which you hold dear. It also rips away any semblance of safety you thought you had.


"Jazz, Jazz wake up."

Groggily, Jazz onlined his optics. It was "pitch black" as the humans say and the middle of the night. Shuttering his optics he looked around and saw the vague outline and blue optics of Jade standing next to his berth.

"Jade?"

"Shh, Jazz I need you to listen," she whispered, her soft voice almost lulling him back into recharge. "I'm running Jazz. I'm taking the kids and running away so Galloway can't try anything. Barricade will be with me so we'll be protected. Nod if you understand."

It took a few astroseconds before Jazz felt himself nodding. Jade smiled at him, such a pretty smile, and she kissed him on the derma. It was so soft and gentle and oh so perfect. Then she pulled away.

"I'll com you if something goes wrong. Let me know when the battle is over so we all can come back."

Jazz nodded again, and he watched her leave as he slipped back into recharge.


Solemnly, the Autobots were loading onto planes when Galloway stormed up to them demanding to know where Jade, Barricade, and the sparklings were. Startled shock hit the group when reports were given that somehow in the middle of the night the missing group had slipped by security and left base.

Once all on the planes Jazz kept to himself as the others started a com conversation about how in the world this could have happened and why.

:: You want to add anything into this conversation Jazz? :: Ratchet asked over the arguing on the line.

:: She told me she didn' trus' Galloway. Said Barricade was goin' with to keep 'er safe. :: The entire line went silent after he spoke.

:: Why didn' she talk to any of us? :: Ironhide demanded.

:: Why should she talk to you? :: Chromia challenged him back. Jade had turned out to be the topic of most of their arguments these orns. The two left the group com link to argue over a private line.

:: She say anything else? :: Arcee asked.

:: Jus' to le' 'er know when i's safe ta come back. :: Jazz left the conversation after that. His mind was consumed with images of Jade or the children getting hurt or Barricade making good on his threat to try and court the gorgeous red femme while they were away from everybot.