AN: Here it is here it is HERE IT IS! It's the showdown you all have been waiting for!

live and let die

The team is in position. Prowl and Jazz flank the side door, weapons drawn. Bluestreak has found a position high, his scope allowing him to sight the door without being in the line of fire. This is the door all the drones use, according to Deadshot, so their entrance shouldn't trip any of Shockwave's alarms. Still, best to approach with caution.

::Okay, I'm locked on.:: Blue says. ::Breach when you're ready.::

Jazz glances at Prowl, who nods sharply. ::Got it. Breachin' now.:: He reaches across and punches in the access code Deadshot got them. The door slides open, but neither mech moves.

Blue switches his scope over to night vision to penetrate the darkness. ::Clear.::

Prowl nods. ::If this takes longer than 30 minutes, contact Firestar and get the hell out of here.:: he orders.

::Please. 20 minutes, tops.:: comes Blue's rather cheerful reply. Prowl can't help but grin at that.

::I like that thought. Here we go.::

The instant they enter the base and the door slides shut behind them, they lose contact with the team. Prowl can still feel his own spark pulse, can somewhat use his doorwings, but he can no longer sense Jazz beside him. It's unnerving.

Jazz automatically grabs his wrist. ::Still wit meh?::

::I got you.:: Prowl leans into Jazz for just a moment before pulling away. ::Looks like Jack's invention worked.::

::An' it didn' explode. It's a frellin' miracle.::

They ease their way down the hall. It's quiet, and that's more unnerving than the effects of the dampener. Jazz keeps his grip on Prowl's wrist until they reach the T junction. Here is where they split up – Jazz to the left to take out the dampener, Prowl to the right to hunt down Shockwave. If Jazz wasn't thrilled with this plan before, he's even less thrilled now.

He turns to Prowl and finally lets go of his wrist. ::Ya die on meh, an' Ah'm gonna kill ya. Understand?::

Prowl flashes him a smirk. ::I'll be fine.::

Jazz nods sharply and takes off down the hall. Prowl watches him go before turning around and stalking off after his own prey.

Let Jazz be subtle. Prowl is going for shock and awe.

Which is why it doesn't surprise him to run into trouble as soon as he does.

He adjusts his grip on his swords and grins at the drones. "Only ten? Come on, I want a challenge." In a flash he's moving, swords glinting in the dim light, and it takes maybe a minute to decimate the drones. Prowl considers for a moment before continuing down the hall, completely disregarding the bodies.

At least he knows he's going in the right direction.

/-/

Jazz runs into very little interference on his way to the dampener, and that makes him very nervous.

This really shouldn't be going this smoothly. If this was Jazz's place, he would have at least six different trip wires installed to let him know about someone trying to break in. He really should be getting jumped by drones left and right at the very least.

Either Prowl's being one hell of a distraction, or Shockwave is focusing all of his attention on the Praxian, and Jazz really doesn't like that last option.

He finds the dampener. There isn't any security on the door or in the room. The device itself is extremely easy to spot – even if it wasn't the biggest thing in the room, it's putting out enough heat to show up beautifully on his thermal scans.

This is a trap. It has to be.

Jazz groans. This is going to suck.

/-/

The instant Prowl steps into the last room down the hall, he knows he's in trouble. He can feel the electronic sensor sweep (and how in the hell Shockwave got that to work with the dampener is beyond him), and the charge builds in the air. He jumps forward and summersaults to the center just as a blast of phaser fire hits the open doorway. He rolls into a crouch –

and bites back a scream as something hot cuts across his left doorwing. He spins around, raising his swords to block the next blow.

It's not a drone. It's Shockwave, laser scalpel in hand and dripping energon. Prowl smirks. "Finally got tired of sending your minions after me?"

Shockwave seems to smile. "You are a better fighter than I gave you credit for." He takes a step back and begins to circle. Prowl matches him step for step.

He could continue the banter. He can continue to stall until Jazz arrives, or Blue. Honestly, that would be the tactical thing to do.

But he doesn't like that smile. He doesn't like the way Shockwave holds that scalpel, the way he's looking at Prowl like he's trying to decide how best to dissect him. He'd really rather not give Shockwave time to think about that.

He adjusts his hold on his swords. "Then bring it – and let me show you just how good I am."

/-/

Jazz decides not to chance the glaringly obvious trap. He remembers the explosion Prowl caused taking out the dampener last time. Instead, he draws a knife and takes a few steps back. He can clearly see the shutoff switch from here. Hitting it will be a piece of cake.

Decision made, he throws the knife.

The resulting explosion knocks him back into the far wall of the hallway. It also takes out the power.

Good thing he can recover quickly.

::Team, mobilize! Prowler, we're comin' yer way!::

::Roger that.::

Prowl's voice is strained, and that worries Jazz more than anything. With a grunt, he takes off down the hall.

/-/

Bluestreak finds Prowl first.

There's actually a walkway that goes around the room near the ceiling. Blue takes up position there, sniper rifle set up and aimed straight at Shockwave. He can't get a clear shot, and he won't risk accidentally hitting Prowl. The two are simply moving around too much.

Prowl's venting hard, sliced up but not bleeding. The laser scalpel has cauterized the wounds its made, and it's all the more dangerous because of it. Shockwave isn't any better off, his armor covered in energon that's all his. Prowl's swords drip with it.

"Looks like your Polyhexian is dead." Shockwave says calmly. "No one could have survived that blast."

Prowl doesn't exactly smile, but it's close. "You clearly have never met Jazz. Something that simple isn't going to kill him."

Shockwave examines him a moment. "You truly are the oddest mech I've ever met. You just simply are not afraid of me."

This time Prowl does smile. He adjusts his swords and falls back into a fighting stance. "Hard to fear a dead mech."

"Brave words. If your team isn't already dead, they will be soon. I have far more drones than you've killed. You're on your own, tactician. Do you truly think you can kill me?"

From the door, Jazz's voice sounds loud, clear, and very, very angry.

"If he doesn', Ah will."