If you made it this far, then you should be aware of the warnings.
Ch. 24
Jazz was nervously shifting his weight as he stood beside Optimus and Elita-One. This had been the second party he had been too, and he never felt more nervous in his entire life. Optimus told him that it was nothing important, except that it was! How is having a sparkling not important? He saw how a lot of his old teammates were there, and over time he had been given chances to talk to them and ask for forgiveness. Some were willing right off the bat while others were more on the 'let's see day by day'. Tonight, was also the day before he would go into his spark transfer.
Ratchet told him that it would take about twenty solar cycles for his new protoform to fully develop, and they would copy all of the memories they could onto a new memory chip. Jazz had been nervous leading up to the big day, and all he could think about were the twins. The ones that believed into him from the start.
"Jazz, you look like you're ready to explode. Why don't you go get some high grade and relax?" Elita suggested.
"No thanks, I'm just nervous about the transfer. I don't want to forget but at the same time I don't want to be like… this." Jazz tried to smile through it, but the two could clearly see it was an act.
::Ricochet just walked in with Skids right behind him.:: Hot Rod said through the Councilor comm channel.
There was a collection of childish screams which caught everyone's attention. All optics followed a swarm of younglings attack the Kaon Lord and his brother. Skids was hugging all of them with a look of pure joy on his face while his brother was just subtly smiling. Ops were sticking close to the gathering, using the hidden microphones that they had put on everyone as they walked past one of them.
"Skids, Ricochet you're really here! Carrier said you were coming. Are you going to bring our Sire home?" One of the younglings asked as they were all removed from the twins.
"We're working on it. He's living in King Cog's home, and it's really hard to get in there. But don't worry your Sire will be returned to you soon." Skids said as cheerfully as possible.
"Ricochet, thank you so much for reuniting me with my sparklings. We couldn't have done it without you. Kaon needs more mechs like you." The femme said with absolute gratefulness in her words.
"Well with Tyger Pax and Vos actually thinking about backing me and the others, then we actually have a real chance at finally being free." Ricochet had a bit more excitement in his words before it got serious. "Now it's a matter of getting this council to listen to me."
A mech put a servo on both Skids and Ricochet's shoulders with a big smile on his face. "Ricochet, if you can convince Tyger Pax leadership to follow your lead then you can do it here. We all believe in you. You've brought hope back into me and everyone that you freed. My sons and daughters have a chance of going to school, getting good jobs, finding real love. You both are our beacon of hope."
"Oh Turbo, stop with the flattering. We only did what's right, what everyone deserve." Skids waved his servo dismissively before Seekerlets attacked his legs. "Why do sparklings have to be so adorable? I could just hug you all if I had the arms."
"I really hate to cut this meeting short, but I do have to 'seek council' with the Prime, King Cog is really trying me." Ricochet bowed to the group while his brother carefully removed all of the sparklings. Optimus pinged for Bumblebee to take Jazz to a different party of the party room, and then Mirage and Hound to join him to make it seem like they were engaged in conversation. It was all part of the plan, just long enough until Prowl and his brothers arrived to properly distract Jazz. The Noble and his mate each had a glass of energon in their servos and pretended to talk to the two council members until a cough behind them got their attention.
Ricochet was buffed to a shine, his gold visors hid his optics, he had a gold band secured around his left bicep, and Kaon's sigil was painted in the center of his chest. Skids had Praxus wing charms dangling from the corners of his wings, a sigil for Praxus painted on the right side of his chest plate, and a big smile on his face. The two folded their left arms across their chests and bowed their helms before standing straight. Skids gestured at his brother with a flick of his wings.
"Lord Mirage, Autobot Hound, Councilor Optimus Prime, and Conjux Elita-One may I present Lord Ricochet of Kaon. Here on behalf of his… esteemed highness King Cog." Skids felt like he had to purge every time he had to do introductions. I hate this.
I know, but it has to be done. The goons are standing in the corner near the east hallway watching. Ricochet put on his Lord act with a proud smile. "A pleasure to be in your home. It brings a smile to my face to see that those we have helped are being treated so kindly. And I believe congratulations are in order for the sparking."
"You certainly put up a decent act of being a Lord, Lord Ricochet." Mirage called him out before sipping his energon. Skids looked at his brother before speaking in Tarn and Ricochet responded with a nod of his helm.
"Just like your mate I suppose. I certainly hope your defenses have improved Lord Mirage. I came only on business before returning to my city and dealing with real problems. Councilors, I came here on behalf of the unrepresented city-states to ask for your support in helping those that wish to see the end of slavery in Kaon and her sister cities. We already have the Vos Monarch as well as Tyger Pax president willing to side with us if the Iacon council is willing to listen to our voices." Ricochet kept his attitude firm, his field was confident, and his posture matched his field. "I know there has been… ill feelings towards my city and those allied with them, but just like you I want to see freedom for all of Cybertron. But Optimus, I believe that you forgotten that part of yourself after the war ended. You freed your people, but what about those that scream into the nights as their loved ones die or their sparklings ripped from their arms? Do they not deserve those same rights?"
Optimus looked at his mate and friends before looking at the young mech once again. "I've heard those same words from a mech who wanted freedom, but he quickly became consumed by power."
Ricochet forced a laugh out; he knew it was too good to be true. This mech is never going to listen or actually be any help. Why did Tarn think Optimus is different from his predecessors? The Polyhexian pointed a digit at the taller mech, "I am nothing like Megatron in the slightest. You've seen my operation, you've snooped around in my files in Kaon's databanks, you know I gave Jazz his insignia, and I know your little spies have been tailing my brother around when he leaves the bounds of Kaon. If I was anything like that disgrace Megatron, then I would not come here asking… pleading for your help."
Before any of the four could respond, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker walked over with cubes of highgrade. They threw their arms over the Polyhexian's shoulder, both a bit tipsy, "hey there's the big mech him…self. How are th-those Seekers after we… kicked their afts?" Sideswipe asked before Sunstreaker cheered in agreement and they clinked their cubes together. "O.P ya… ya shoulda be there! I was like boom and Sunny was like… like… yeah."
"How many cubes did you have, Primus even Sunstreaker is happy?" Hound asked while the two were giggling messes.
"I ain't happy! I'm celebrating." Sunstreaker tried to glare, but he wasn't able to keep a straight face for long.
Ricochet sighed as he pinched his nasal ridge. "I am making you two work twice as hard tomorrow. And they are currently being repaired by Data and then isolation, they were doped up."
"I thought that stuff was banned?" Sunstreaker sobered up quickly as he growled and clenched his fists tightly. The Autobots could see that it was a topic that the yellow mech was passionate about, and not in a good way.
"Doesn't stop those that wish to cheat their way to the top. Speaking of the Pits, we need to discuss your contracts. Though it will be at a later date when you are not so inebriated." Where is Skids, he should have been back by now. He looked around for his brother, he started getting worried when he couldn't see his brother's Praxian wings. "Excuse me, I need to find my brother."
Jazz hadn't seen Prowl when Bumblebee took him off to a table that was covered in treats and highgrade. He was enjoying himself and laughing with the scout and a few of the Autobots that actually braved over to the two. The Polyhexian had his back turned to the rest of the party that he didn't notice a certain black and white Praxian walking up behind him. "No way in Pits would I ever be caught dead consuming that slag you call high grade Cliffjumper. I can guarantee that the stuff I make can make you so overcharged that you can't get out of the berth for three solar cycles."
"Now Jazz, I certainly hope that you don't actually give Cliffjumper highgrade that strong." The visored mech jumped with a small shout and turned around before instantly smiling. Jazz jumped into his arm with a big smile on his face, Prowl hugged him back and lowered him to the ground.
"Maybe I will if it makes you that upset." He chuckled behind his servo and rubbed the tip of ped rubbed into the floor. The others that had been chatting with Jazz just moments saw the sudden change in the mech. Some left with exaggerated groans of the chrono-puppy love and others just had to stay and see how this would play out. The Polyhexian instantly remembered why he was excited to see the Praxian. He opened his subspace and pulled out a small blue box with Prowl's sigil scrawled on the center of it. "I told you I'd have them ready."
Prowl's wing tips flicked as he accepted the gift with a very small smile. "Thank you Jazz, perhaps we could take these outside for a walk?" The Polyhexian looked at Bumblebee and then set his glass of energon on the table with his servo going into Prowl's servo. The yellow scout watched how his ex-commander was almost literally tripping over his peds following the enforcer through the crowd. Jazz locked optics with Prowl as his attention was all on the mech that had been the focus of his dreams. "How was your cycle? Is work treating you better than before?"
The visored mech looked up at the mech that was leading them outside, past where Blaster was stationed at, both were unaware of the optics following them. "Optimus told you huh? It's been okay I guess, still get a few glares here and there. My cycle was good, especially now when I get to see you try something." Jazz snickered before opening the box to show off nearly a dozen yellow frosty cubes that sat inside. The Polyhexian took one out and offered it to the Praxian when they stopped at the bottom of the stairs that led to the backyard.
"He was worried and told me about all of emails you got. I wish you had told someone about this." Prowl showed his disappointment in Jazz's choice before taking the cube from the black servo gently with his mouth. Jazz's engines stalled for a moment before he returned to the land of consciousness. The mech chuckled and took one of the gel cubes, and offered it to the visored mech. The Polyhexian heated up as he gently took it. "You could make a small business from these. I believe this could be considered cliché or cheesy, according to the humans, but I would be a regular if I get to eat these."
Jazz heated up and turned his face away with an embarrassed chuckle. "You're just saying that. They aren't that good. Prowl, I wanted to tell you that I've had a lot of fun these past few deca-cycles and I'm glad I was given a chance to be somewhat the real me I believe I'm meant to be. And you are the most important mech in my life, I couldn't live without you, and I hope that after tomorrow you'll give me a third chance?"
A third chance? Oh, right he's going in for his spark transfer. The Praxian closed the box of treats and subspaced them before taking both of the black servos that were inevitably shaking nervously. "I'm still no good at the romantic talk, but I will one hundred percent give you a third chance. You are, after all my seventy percent, and I can't function without you." Prowl gently pulled Jazz close to his frame and lowered to give the Polyhexian a kiss. Now is your chance Prowl, I've already calculated a 99.87% chance that I will have a positive reaction by kissing Jazz on the lips.
Their lips were just barely touching before someone interrupted the moment. "Hey Pro-" The two quickly pulled apart as if two teens got caught by their creators. Prowl looked up and saw that Bluestreak was the culprit at the interruption. "I'm so sorry, uh… I'll just um… yeah, sorry."
99.87% without interruptions. Prowl internally growled before looking over at the Polyhexian that was rubbing the back of his horn. He's scared once again, thanks Bluestreak. He gently touched his elbow and the mech jumped before looking up at Prowl. "Perhaps after your spark transfer, I'll have a better chance at kissing you with minimal interruptions."
"Y-Yeah. Could you maybe come and see me? I know there is little chance I'll remember, but I want you to be the first thing I online to." Jazz smiled shyly and hugged himself as he leaned against the white and black frame. His mood changed to fear as he leaned against the mech for comfort. "I… Prowl, I'm scared. No, terrified of doing the transfer. I'm not backing out or anything, but what if I forget everything? What if I remember only the things before the war?"
"I know it's scary to not know, but if you would like to know there is a twenty percent chance that you only remember that far back. If you somehow do forget everything, I will be there for you no matter what." Saying that comforted the nervous mech, and in all honesty it comforted the Praxian as well. They stood at the bottom of the steps with their arms around each other. Neither were in the mood to kiss now, but just hugging each other was enough.
"Okay Jazz, just to make sure you completely understand it will hurt only for a moment. It will feel like you only went into stasis for a few moments when in reality it will have been roughly five solar cycles. All of your systems will reboot slowly once energon enters your new protoform. Common side effects after a spark transfer are nausea, confusion, memory loss, pain, and in some cases dizziness. Before the surgery we're going to copy all of your memory files to a new memory chip that will be inserted after we pull you from the tank. We'll also cut a small piece of your original protoform to give your spark something to use as a source. After you online, we'll ask you a few basic questions to see how much you remember, we'll have you stay here for roughly fifteen solar cycles to ensure you are fit enough to hold your body weight, after that you'll be stay with Ironhide and go through physical therapy as well as visiting Bluestreak." Ratchet explained to the Polyhexian that was sitting in an empty hospital berth. He had a datapad in his servos before holding it out for him. "And Sunstreaker will also be delivering your new armor pieces once you are reaching the ending of your growth. We won't pull you out until you are roughly around your current age, just so your spark doesn't have the stress of being inside of a younger frame."
"What about language? If there's a chance I do forget everything, then won't I forget the basics? What about my sight?" Jazz looked up at the head medic, he knew that it was a long shot, but he wanted to have a fighting chance of seeing without his visors.
"If that does happen then I will download the Polyhexian language pack, that way one of our Polyhexian staff can communicate with you. I can do a CNA test on your coding, but there won't be much I can do until after your transfer." Ratchet tried to comfort his friend the best he could. "Don't worry Jazz, First Aid and I will be the two head medics involved in your transfer. And your CR tank will be placed in here under heavy lockdown, just in case anyone get curious. Only ones allowed in are those that you put in your visiting list."
Jazz nodded as he looked down at the datapad and took a deep intake. He signed it off and handed it to the medic. First Aid gave the Polyhexian a supportive smile of his optics before picking up the anesthesia. "Administering anesthesia. Anesthesia delivered. Good luck Jazz." The Polyhexian laid back and watched everything slowly become fuzzy until nothing.
Ratchet picked up his small light as he deactivated the visors, he checked the optics before looking at his assistant. "Wait five more kliks for it to fully set. Make a three-inch diameter cut on the thigh and then place it in the CR tank. I'll let the groupies know to go home now. And if his spark levels increase don't worry, it's only Blaster breaking the bond with Jazz."
"Got it Ratchet." First Aid said cheerfully. He started taking down notes while waiting for the time to be up.
Ratchet went out to the waiting room where he nearly stumbled when he noticed how many bots showed up. "Well I don't know how to feel about this. What happened to only a few bots at a time? Did the entire team show up?" The medic saw how all the seats were full, the windowsills had bots sitting in them, floor was consumed by frames, and mechs even lined the walls.
"The Dinos, Metro, and Omega sent their condolences." Mirage said from the wall. He looked at the others before looking at the medic. "Jazz is one of us, whether he wants to admit it or not. Once an Autobot always an Autobot."
There was a collection of agreements, the hardened medic had to actually smile at the thoughtful gesture. If only you were here to see this. Ratchet knew Jazz had a hard time accepting that the others were forgiving him, even if they actually said they did, but he knew if he saw how all of the team gathered to show their support then Jazz would've finally understood. "Okay well as sweet as this is, you're all taking up way too much space, and he only gave permission to a select few. Now get out of my hospital or I'll have to get my throwing wrench."
::Jazz is ready for the transfer. I removed his memory chip; did he say if he wanted anyone to view it?:: First Aid commed if after ten kliks of escorting Autobots out. The only ones allowed to stay were Optimus, Ironhide, Blaster, Bluestreak, Smokescreen, Ops, and Prowl.
::He gave us the okay, but Optimus and Prowl are currently observing the interrogation with Skids and Ricochet. I'll just let them know or one of the others will:: Ratchet said before looking at the mechs that were sitting for just today. "Blaster, whenever you're ready. I can't proceed until you severed it."
"Ah know, gimme a sec. It's a new thing for meh. Ah've never broken a bond with anybot, not even with my Cassettes." Blaster leaned forward with his helm resting in his servos. He could feel Jazz still in his mind and spark, just waiting for him. The Host knew it was for the best and that it wasn't going to be forever, but it still hurt a lot. His symbionts hugged their Carrier for comfort as the mech slowly closed all of the doors that connected his real creations with the false one. He felt the spike of fear, but he had to ignore it and keep going, mentally suffocating the bond. There was a moment of silence until Blaster started crying, his Host coding went haywire at the loss of the bond. "It's done."
Ratchet put a servo on his shoulder to give him a bit of comfort. "You did the right thing Blaster."
"Ah… Ah know, still hurts." He said softly.
Solar cycles dragged on, everyone either visited the growing protoform to talk about memories or to talk about their day. Prowl was a more frequent visitor just to sit and calm his glitch, playing the song they shared all those years ago. Bluestreak visited just to have the chance to see a mech grow in his very optics. Ironhide non-stop talked about Jazz's creators. Smokescreen went on about his bonding ceremony that was getting closer. Optimus turned to his unresponsive friend for guidance on what to do in his time of need. Blaster would play music in hopes of some sort of reaction. Ops always came together and would simply nap in the room, waiting for their old commander to bounce back. It was getting closer to the end of the growth, and everyone gathered in the viewing room with the Prime and Prowl being the exceptions.
"Okay, there is no guarantee that Jazz will remember all of these memories, but he entrusted us with them. Let's begin." Ratchet said as the lights turned off and Jazz's memories played from chronological order like a movie. Until it stopped with a large door with the Autobot insignia engraved on it, the failsafe was there, and he smiled before nodding his thanks. He disappeared as the doors opened to reveal the locked up memories.
Jazz was thrown onto Soundwave's berth, "M-Master you're overcharged. Please, don't do this. You're scaring me." He whimpered as the blue mech drunkenly climbed on top of him.
"Are you telling me what to do pet?" Soundwave smacked him across the face before attacking his mouth with an aggressive kiss. The Polyhexian was crying while Soundwave threw back the rest of his cube. His servo went around his neck and squeezed lightly. "As… punishment, time to go into heat and be the n-needy little pet you are! And you are going to be… be so full of my overload you'll be unable to move."
The Polyhexian tried to fight his drunken master, but even in his current state Soundwave was stronger if only by a little. "I can't go into heat, I'll get sparked. Please I-I'll do anything, Soundwave I'm begging you to stop. You're acting like your Carrier!"
The room echoed with a harsh smack and Jazz's vision glitched. Soundwave was enraged and that only encouraged him to get straight to the point. He removed the blockers Ratchet had put in his pet, forcefully pushed the valve plating to the side, and rammed his spike into his screaming pet. The blue mech silenced his screams with kisses, all the while Jazz stopped moving as he cried hard with each thrust. The Polyhexian continued to mentally beg for Soundwave to stop, but his begging was answered with a growl. "Now you wouldn't be in this position if you didn't mention my pleasure bot of a Carrier. You have no right to use my name so casual, you are not my conjux. Now, you want me to take the pain away don't you pet?" Jazz nodded as his engines hitched. "Then you know what to do, turn your heat protocols and frag me until we've overload into a crash."
Seven groons, seven straight groons of interfacing with Soundwave until Jazz was thrown to the ground. He went to turn it off, but he was blocked from his own systems. The Polyhexian limped to the washracks and cleaned himself the best he could to close his valve after deeply cleaning it. Jazz looked into the mirror and saw all the dents and markings on his face, and he covered his mouth as he broke down. "If you're going to be such a glitch about a little smack then leave!" Soundwave's voice called out tiredly.
Jazz had to force himself to be silent just a bit longer until he could move. Once able to feel his lower half, Jazz drove himself back to the ARK until stumbling into base. A pair of servos caught him, and Jazz recoiled away from the contact. "Jazz, what happened? You were gone all night. Were you… did someone beat you up?" Prowl's concerned voice was enough to bring the Polyhexian's heat protocols to life once again. He pressed his beaten frame against the Praxian's and kissed him firmly. They pulled apart despite the whine from the visored mech. "Jazz, what happened?"
"Don't worry 'bout it. Need ya Prowler, please. Ah want tah feel yer spike so far in my valve dat it's pressin' against my tanks." Jazz purred enticingly and went back to kissing his lover. Prowl pulled away once again to look with absolute concern, obviously not in the mood. "Ah just took a lil' tumble on dah way back. Now, please Prowler, Ah'll even let ya play with my spark."
"Tomorrow you see Ratchet." Prowl said firmly and Jazz nodded in quick agreement before the lovers went to Jazz's quarters. The two made passionate love, they never pulled apart to avoid any lubricant getting into Jazz's valve. After a few overloads, Prowl and Jazz merged their sparks together just momentarily to send the other into a crash. It wasn't enough to create a bond, but it was enough to create a spark of electricity between them.
It was nearly a month later when Jazz felt odd. He rubbed his chest and went to his quarters to figure out what was wrong with him. "It's just like with my false sp- no, no, no." Jazz rushed to his washracks and opened his chest plates to see a small spark attached to his own, and the saboteur pressed his back against the opposite wall as he looked down at the exposed spark. "No, no, no this can't be happening. Not again. I-I-I need to tell Ratchet… no what am I saying, if he finds out so will Soundwave. I can't let Soundwave find out."
The Polyhexian tried to continue acting as normal, but it did become gradually harder to hide his cravings or his increasing Carrier programing. He had to focus all of his mental strength to block Blaster and Soundwave from the growing spark inside him. He needed a medic's help, but he needed to get away as far as possible and that's how it led him here. In the remains of the Iacon hospital looking for a medic drone. "Come on, come one, come on Primus please just one drone. I just want to find a decent drone." Jazz had slinked around the tight spaces and maneuvered through the rubble. He pressed his back against a grimy wall with his helm going into his servo to cry.
The visored mech slowly stopped crying to slowly look up to a chrome cobalt medical drone that was laying across an overturned gurney, and when Jazz got closer he started laughing in relief to see how intact he looked. "Yes, yes this'll do. Come on, it's time to wake you up. You're no Ratchet, but you'll probably have better berth side manners." The black and white mech lifted the drone into one arm and fixed the gurney before laying him on it. He pushed it through the hall until coming across a family waiting room. He felt the tiny spark in his chest pulse to show its creator it was still functioning. "That's right little star, Carrier isn't going to lose you. I will make sure of it."
It took a couple months of scavenging and slipping questions to Wheeljack to know how to fix the drone. Jazz leaned against the gurney with heavy vents, and felt his systems drain faster now that the spark felt like it was getting bigger. The mech turned the drone on and waited a few minutes.
"What's your name drone? Anything broken?" Jazz looked over the slowly onlining drone as he held his side with a groan. The drone sat up and looked around with confusion. "Primus, should have paid more attention to Wheeljack about drones.
"My designation is Field Medic Data; I am a medical drone for dangerous battles where medical commanding officer Ratchet could be a high target. There are additional instructions that was not here previously. Only these features can be downloaded by the permission of an Autobot." Data said after examining himself.
Jazz pointed to his chest, "Autobot Second-in-command Jazz, and I give you permission to download all information from the data burst. I need you to help me with my current situation."
Data was silent for a moment before moving again. He climbed off the slab of metal that Jazz had him on. "I will see what I can do, Master Jazz." The Polyhexian looked genuinely shock before groaning and face palmed.
"Great spreading the slagging coding around. Data, erase that strand of coding. I just need you to have the Carrier coding." Jazz ordered as he vented hard, leaning against the wall for support.
"If I erase the compliance coding, then it will erase the Carrier coding. I will work for an alternative, in the time being your wellbeing is my concern." Data made his way over to Jazz and lifted him in his arms despite having been in stasis for millions of years. "I will get started on an expandable plate. I will also get this place in order while you rest." Data informed before getting to examining his patient.
Together, Jazz and Data, cleaned up the family waiting area as well sterilized one of the small delivery rooms for when the sparkling arrived. Jazz had removed the tight fitting metal from around his mid-section with a big sigh of relief. Data, who had been going over medical supplies, went over to his patient. "We will need energon for you and the sparkling, once it arrives. As well as power for me to be able to see what I am doing, Ma- Jazz."
"Y-Yeah give me a klik. Primus, carrying is so tiring. How much longer do you think until this little bugger is ready to emerge?" Jazz asked in between pants. "Do you know who the Sire is?"
"From what you said, it could be either of the two mechs, though in terms of events it will have most likely be sired by Decepticon Soundwave." Data said honestly as he went over to the bag that Jazz had carried in with him. He looked through it with a thoughtful hum until he produced an energon cube. "Drink this, what is your tank levels at?"
"Twenty. Thanks. Feel like I pulled a Prowl without doing anything." Jazz drank the energon slowly before dropping the empty cube. He shifted with a groan and then looked at Data. "Hey D, did the Carrier coding change you physically or just coding?"
The cobalt drone rose to his peds with a slight tilt of his helm before standing back straight. "You are asking if I am able to produce energon for sparklings? Unfortunately, I am not. All I can do is grant the sparkling comfort as a Carrier would." His digits glowed a medium green as he ran them around the growing mid-section. "Oh! Well this is a surprise."
Jazz sat up straight in full Carrier panic mode. "What? Is there something wrong with my sparkling?"
"Oh, no not at all. I simply was not expecting this result." Data's optics showed a holographic ultrasound of the oil sac that held not one but two sparklings with one energy line connecting them to their Carrier. "Congratulations Jazz, you are with split spark twins." The visored mech stared at the hologram as he tried to comprehend what was just said. His processor did a quick reboot when it glitched briefly.
"T-Twins!? Primus help me. Frag, frag, frag! I barely know what I'm doing now, and now I'm having twins?" Jazz didn't know how to feel except cry for a moment before throwing his empty cube beside him at the wall in front of him.
Jazz barely managed to get into the hospital before he screamed in pain. The pain had been very mild that he assumed it was just the twins moving around, but then the pain increased mid-day and Jazz made the executive decision to leave for Cybertron. He was not going to have his sparklings in a battle zone. Data must have heard his loud screams because he ran up to the Carrier that was doubled over in the hall. "We need to get you in the delivery room. Are you sure you want to be put under? It will increase the chance of you not making it, I'm only one drone Jazz."
"I'm sure Data! I can't have Soundwave getting in my helm when I'm fragging pushing out two sparklings! I tru- Ahh!" He held his side as he screamed harder. Data lifted him into his arms and carefully sprinted him to the delivery room. He had everything prepared for their arrival. "And whatever you do, d-aaah! D-Don't do a Ca-Carrier bond."
The medic drone looked at him with wide optics, "But Jazz." He saw the serious expression and he just silently obeyed the request. "As your medic, I do not agree with it." Jazz was laid in the berth just as a gush of oil fell from his exposed valve. Data didn't say anything as he administered the anesthesia. When Jazz onlined again, he heard two tiny cries and he cried with a huge smile on his face. "Congratulations Jazz, you have two perfectly healthy twin mechlings. And I believe Primus also smiled upon you."
Jazz was introduced to a tiny black and white Polyhexian mechling that was wrapped up in a thermal blanket. He started crying even harder with a smile on his face, "shh… shh little one Carrier is here." The mechling stopped his squirming and banshee crying in order to see his Carrier. Jazz saw the signature red optics staring up at him, and for a moment he was scared, and the sparkling started crying again. And the Carrier snapped out of his ridiculous fear. "Oh, no it's okay my little star. Carrier is here, shh it's okay I'm here."
"What's his name Ma- Jazz." Data asked as he cradled the other bundle to which Jazz noticed was being held at an odd angle. Data chuckled at his concern, "you will see in a moment."
The Polyhexian nodded before looking down at the staring mechling in his arms. He knew that despite who is Sire was, this little mechling was going to be his everything. His new life, something… no someone he has a reason to fight. His rebound to another chance of living the way he was meant to. "Ricochet… No… Ricochet Meister. My little Rico." The black and white mechling smiled and giggled as his Carrier held him tightly to his frame. Data switched the sparklings, instructing Jazz to be extremely careful. Jazz saw a pure blue sparkling that slowly opened his blue optics and gave happy chirps the second he saw his Carrier.
Jazz felt something move against his servo and it wasn't the sparkling. He lifted him up slowly as he pulled the blanket away to see a pair of tiny winglets twitching suddenly from the cool air. His optics widened and he shot his helm up at his friend who nodded in confirmation. "You spoke of how close the two merges were, it's a rare case outside of trines but you had a triad relationship of sorts. Ricochet Meister is sired by Decepticon Soundwave with minor traces of Praxian or Host coding, almost a pure Polyhexian-Tarn. but this mechling is sired by Autobot Prowl with no traces of Tarn or Host coding, pure Praxian-Polyhexian. I had to buff out a couple skid marks from Prowl's son, some time before their sparking Ricochet Meister left marks on his twin."
The Polyhexian chuckled and wrapped his other son back up in the blanket, minding the winglets. He knew Prowl carried blue because his younger brothers were both predominately blue, and Jazz had blue on his frame as well. He looked at the staring mechling in thought of a name, before lifting him to press their helms together. "Skids. My precious Skids. Data, let me see Ricochet. I want to hold both of my sons." Jazz was handed the other sparkling and he hugged them both close to his chest before looking up at the ceiling with a happy smile. "Merry Christmas Prowler."
Everyone on the ARK was getting suspicious, Jazz knew it, but the Carrier didn't care he needed to get this stuff back to the hospital. It's not like anyone was going to use any of the slag, especially the scraps of metal that were declared 'useless' after Wheeljack touched them. He also was gathering as much intel on Praxian sparklings from the resident Praxians. "Hey Blue, so Ah got an odd question. It's about Praxians, and Ah know Prowler will just dig way too deep into it."
The steel blue Praxian sat up straight with the datapad going down on the table that separated him. His wings flicked as he smiled, "sure Jazz wassup?"
"How are Praxians cared for differently than say a Polyhexian sparklin'?" Jazz mentally face palmed at how more obvious the question was.
Bluestreak stared at Jazz with a bit of confusion before he went back to smiling, clearly paying no mind to it. "Well for about a deca-cycle our wings are fragging sensitive, like hover a digit over the panel and they react. Carrier told me that a sparkling's wings are so malleable that she would have to take a stylus and carefully push any dents out. We also learn how to talk with our wings, so to speak, when he reach our second stage sparkling phase. Thinking about starting a family after the war? Now I see why you didn't want to go to Prowl, would've blown him into a whole speech. Usually after a Praxian is old enough to actually speak Praxian they're integrated into our family circle, which is the family in its entirety."
Jazz had to laugh and play along while internally crying at how much of a disadvantage Skids already had. "Yeah, Ah would like tah avoid dat conversation for a while. Ah just figured… ya know if all goes tah plan with ya know endin' dah war, Prowler and Ah could ya know… maybe have one."
"Well you have my full support and I know Smokey would absolutely love to have nieces and nephews. Can't have a circle with three mechs." The Praxian laughed and Jazz laughed along with. He bid a farewell before getting an idea, he may not have wings, but he had something else and he was going to teach Ricochet and Skids how he first saw the world.
The Carrier pushed the door jamb back in place while wiping off the sand that came from the heavy rust storm that was going on outside. He had a two large bags in his servos and he went to the family room where Data was gently pushing the gurney that was acting as a temporary crib. "After the storm passes, were moving to Kaon. I got a better place to hide and it's sealed off."
"I think we should wait until they are able to comprehend words." Data suggested while Jazz wiped himself clean. They looked through the duffle bags and the drone pulled out the clear tube with a smile. He went over to a machine that he had been trying to put together and finally felt as if he finished. "All done. This should solve your fuel pouch problems M-Jazz."
The Polyhexian walked over to it and poked it with uncertainty, "and you're sure it isn't going to blow up? I did get this stuff from the base's resident explosive expert."
"I am, they just fueled from the diluted energon I used from the cubes you brought us last time. Just connect this tube to your fuel nozzles and the machine will pump the reserves out and into the bottles I managed to find in the sparkling ward." Data explained to the Carrier while observing him rub his chest with extreme discomfort. Jazz gave up and did what the drone told him, he felt instant relief when the pain was gone. "Seven bottles! Impressive, this should last a few groons."
Skids started whimpering that soon turned into a cry, Jazz practically zoomed to the sparklings to see what caused his son to online. When the blue Praxian saw his Carrier he started giggling, flapping his little winglets unknowingly. "You are just the cutest thing ever. Your Sire would have loved meeting you." The visored mech gently stroked the length of Skids's wings, getting him to squirm and giggle, accidently onlining his brother. Ricochet flared his limbs with tears lining the rims of his optics. Jazz lifted him up in his arms and wiped them away, "it's okay little Rico, Carrier's here." When his Carrier said his nickname, Ricochet giggled and blew a raspberry.
"I will get the rest of this stuff cleaned up. I advise refueling and then recharging." Data said and he was answered with a thank you. Jazz picked Skids up and the twins laid their helms on the respective shoulder in front of them. He started humming a tune to them as he swayed to the little tune.
A bit of time had pass, and the twins were third stage sparklings. Ricochet waddled to his Carrier's side and looked up at Jazz with a frown and a pair of big red optics. "Co, what's wrong?" He sat a box down before kneeling in front of him.
"Chu scared of Co. I sowwy for be scary, is dat why chu weave? I pomise I not be scary no moe." He started getting upset and rubbed his optics. Jazz was quick to pull him into his arms. The small Polyhexian broke down into bawling his optics as he held his Carrier tightly.
"I'm not scared of you Co. I can never be afraid of you, and you have nothing to apologize for. I leave because I have friends that will get worried if I'm gone too long, and they wouldn't understand you or your brother that's why you both stay here with Data." Jazz sat on the ground with a smile on his face before pulling him into his lap. "Co, I want you to make me a promise okay? Never use your gifts to hurt others. I know hearing Carrier's thoughts may be fun, but Carrier has some things that are for adults only, okay?"
The youngling sniffled with a nod before putting his tiny servo on the Autobot insignia with a smile on his face. "When I big and stwong, I be just like chu! Skids wants to too, but he too scared to say! Can chu weed us stowy before chu go away?"
Jazz chuckled as he rose to his peds, "'Course I will Co."
The Polyhexian was glad that his sweet little Ricochet only got Soundwave's optics and telepathy. Everything else the little mechling got from him, and Jazz was all smiles about that. "Where is your brother at? It's bath time."
"Yay! He's wif Dada by dah naughty door." Ricochet said with excitement as his Carrier picked him up. The Carrier had told them to never touch or go near the front door because bad mechs were out there that wanted to hurt them. "Who Pow?"
His Carrier looked down at his son and shook his helm with a chuckle, "Rico, you need to ask permission before reading someone's thoughts. It's rude. And Prowl is… Prowl is a very important mech in Carrier's life."
"Why Pow not come wif chu?" Ricochet was curious, something else he got from his Carrier. Jazz noticed rather quickly that both were rather bright which he could argue they got from him, but he knew it was inherited from their Sires. Jazz led them through the halls to meet up with the medic drone and his other creation.
The visored mech sighed softly as he gave Ricochet's helm a small kiss. "No one knows about you or your brother. That's why you are here and why Carrier goes away." At the front entrance was Data messing with a light while Skids was sitting on the floor watching the mech with great concentration. His tiny wings flared before he quickly turned to see his Carrier and he squealed excitedly. "There's my precious Skids. Light went out Data?"
"Carrier! Uppy, uppy." Skids bounced in front of his Carrier with his arms in the air. Jazz adjusted the sparkling in his arm before picking up the other mechling. "Wee!"
"I was returning from the other side of the hospital with some equipment when I saw that the light was out." Data explained before stepping down as the flickered on. "I was able to find some toys for the twins."
Jazz looked down at the quiet mechlings, they knew that when the adults were talking they had to listen. He nodded and they went to where a large bowl sat in one of the other operating rooms. They used it only to give the twins a bath, especially Skids because he often got explorative when he got curious. "I'll have to go find some pads for them; Primus knows they'll need it. Rico, what's wrong?" Jazz heard the whimper from the tiny mech.
"Too loud, no wike." Ricochet covered his audio horns with tears falling from his face. Jazz didn't know what the sparkling was talking about and he didn't like not knowing. "Toughts too loud."
The visored mech stopped dead in his tracks and sat Skids down so he could focus his entire attention on the stressed mechling. "Rico, Rico sweetie I know it hurts and probably scary, but I need you to focus on Carrier's voice. Can you do that?" The crying Polyhexian shook his helm and whimpered, Jazz needed Blaster's help with this or at least advice. He started humming a song close to the Polyhexian's audio horn. Ricochet gradually stopped crying, letting it fall into sniffles and whimpers. "That's it Rico, you're okay now. Carrier is going to bring you something that will help okay? But until I come back, I need you to try really hard to block out the thoughts."
Ricochet nodded slowly as he rubbed his optics. "Meanie mech scary me."
"Carrier will always be here to protect you from the meanie mechs. Always, even when I'm not here." Jazz kissed his helm before picking up Skids once again. He sat them in the bowl halfway filled with water. "Skids, what's wrong? You're being really quiet."
The Praxian mechling looked up with the corner of the wash rag in his mouth. "Nuffin'." Jazz laughed and gently took it out of his mouth. "Hehe. Carrier when do we go pway outside?"
"I don't know Skids, outside isn't pretty. It's very dangerous out there." Jazz admitted while wiping the small faces. "How you get about as dirty as Wheeljack is beyond me."
"Weejack Carrier fwiend?" The Praxian asked while drowning one of the small blocks that had been tossed in there prior to the two being put in the tub.
Jazz nodded, "one of them. Maybe one day you can meet all of Carrier's friends. Okay time for your wings. You have to hold very still Skids; I don't want you squirming around like last time." He had a playful tone in his words. Skids nodded and took a deep intake before holding it in. The Polyhexian quickly, but carefully, cleaned the tiny appendages before pulling the rag away. The blue mechling released the intake before looking up happily. "Good job Skids, okay Rico you're turn."
Back on Earth, Jazz was rummaging through his things before pulling out his Sire's mask. A knock on the door got his attention, Prowl was leaning against his office door frame with his arms crossed. "Well hello handsome, what brings ya here tah dis side of dah neighborhood?" Jazz asked teasingly before walking over to his lover with a kiss on the lips.
"I came to ask if you would like to join me to watch a movie? Smokescreen is forcing me to go, but-" Prowl stopped and Jazz playfully ended his thought.
"But ya need somethin' pretty tah look at. Ah get it, Ah'll be just dat." Jazz kissed him again as he looked at Prowl.
Prowl chuckled behind sealed lips; his servo touched his cheek. "You could say that. Can I ask why you brought Blacklight's mask?"
Jazz looked down at it before looking back up at his lover. "Ah… Ah just was thinkin' about somethin' my Sire asked meh once." The silence coming from the Praxian was enough to get him to continue. "He asked meh if Ah had anythin' worth fightin' for. And after landin' on Earth, bein' with ya, Ah think Ah finally understand what it's like tah fight for somethin'."
"You, my brothers are something I have been fighting for." Prowl continued to smile, and Jazz knew that Prowl would only ever smile at him like this.
Jazz went to Blaster and threw himself into the chair across the communications officer with a lazy smile. "What's shakin' bacon? Don't know what bacon is, but Spike said it was cool so why not." Blaster greeted his friend before they both laughed.
"Well Ah got a question about telepaths. Let's say there's a sparklin' dat is telepathic, how do ya teach 'em tah block out dah voices? Could a placebo work?" Jazz kept his field neutral with a hint of curiosity just to keep the mech out of his mind.
"Sure, when Sounds and Ah were actually talkin' he used a blanket. Told meh if dah voices got too loud just hide under it, worked just long enough until Ah was old enough for him tah properly teach meh. Our Carrier wasn't exactly there tah teach meh." Blaster remained cool and Jazz nodded before ending that conversation.
"Thanks Blaster." Jazz snapped his digits at his friend before going back to his usual. Gather everything he needed before sneaking back to Cybertron.
The Carrier was greeted by one very happy third stage sparkling. "Skids, where's Rico? And you are covered in grime again! Primus son, you are going to live in that tub."
Skids giggled as he pulled at the bag that hung from his Carrier's shoulder. His wings fluttered uncontrollably. "Rico is in quiet space. He had bad dream. Did you bring me presents?"
"If Rico is in quiet space, you have to be quiet remember? And yes, I did, come on let's go see how your brother is doing. Have you been practicing your writing?" Jazz asked as they rounded the corner.
"Uh huh! Wanna see?" Skids hopped beside his Carrier until they spotted the Polyhexian sitting in a corner with Blacklight's mask held against his face. The Praxian calmed himself when his brother visibly flinched. He went over and crouched beside him. "Rico, Carrier brought presents. Ready to play?"
Ricochet looked up at their Carrier with a shake of his helm. "I saw bad mech in Carrier's helm. He hurt Carrier."
Jazz forced himself to be calm as he knelt beside the stressed mech. "Rico, it's okay. Carrier is right here. Come on sweetspark, want to see what I brought from Earth?"
"The meanie won't hurt you anymore?" The mask lowered just enough for the red optics to peek out from behind it. Jazz shook his helm with a brave smile on his face. "I wanna see presents."
"There's my big mechling. Okay, they're a bit big now, but I had these made just like Carrier's." Jazz opened the bag to reveal a pair of yellow visors. Ricochet took it with awe in his optics as he gently took it. "Remember when you asked why I wear them? Well it's because Carrier can't see without them, but with my visors I can."
"I get to be like you?" The mechling looked into his Carrier's optics with so much emotion that Jazz just couldn't help but smile.
"Me next! Me next! Whatcha get me Carrier!?" Skids bounced excitedly. Jazz told him to settle down as he pulled out a small silver disc. He took it and looked at it with wings moving thoughtfully. "What is it?"
Jazz sat it on the floor and pressed the button on the side before a large hologram of Optimus Prime and his chain of command fizzled into existence. The two mechlings stared in amazement as they reached out to touch it. Skids touched the hologram of Optimus with that look of admiration. "That Skids, is Optimus Prime. Leader of the Autobots. Ratchet, is a medic like Data. Ironhide, he was Carrier's Sire's best friends. And that right there, that's Prowl. Your Sire Skids."
"My Sire?" Skids looked at the mech that looked so serious. He looked at his Carrier with a slight tilt of the helm. "Where Rico's Sire?"
"Rico's Sire is… he… Soundwave, one of the bad mechs I'm protecting you both from. You have to promise me that if you see any mechs that don't have a symbol like me, that you will run as far away as possible. They are very mean and very bad, and they will hurt you." Jazz wasn't going to lie to them like he was lied to when he was their age.
Ricochet looked down at his peds before throwing himself into his Carrier's frame. "I don't want to be bad like him. I want to be like you, I want to be an Autobot. I want Prowl to be my Sire." He started crying as he held onto his frame.
Jazz held the shaking frame tightly before the other tiny frame joined them. "I promise you Ricochet, your Sire will never get you. I will make sure he doesn't get either of you as long as I'm functioning."
He was tucking the twins in per their routine. Before Jazz left Cybertron he would bathe them, make sure they were fueled, read a story or two, and then he would tuck them in. "It's time for me to go my little stars, but I promise to bring back some fun things from Earth." Jazz said softly as he sat on the edge of what looked like a makeshift berth. He leaned over who he was talking to and hugged them with love. "Remember what I said?"
"Uhuh. We are millions of light years away, but we can still find each other at the big blue star. When do we get to meet Sire?" Skids looked up with his big blue optics.
There was a bit of sadness from Jazz as he looked like he was in pain from thinking about it. "We don't get to do we?" Ricochet frowned as he held onto his tiny auditory horn.
"Co, what did I say about reading my mind without my permission? And you will get to meet Prowl, you just might be older. It depends on what the new Council says about me." Jazz went to stand up, but Ricochet jumped up with a fist in the air.
"Then I will tell 'em that if they don't give you back that they're a bunch of meanies. And Skids and I will throw big tantrums if they don't let us meet Sire!" His excitement got the mech beside him to jump up and copy his stance. "We're gonna be better Autobots than all of 'em!"
"Yeah!" The other said with even more excitement.
Jazz started laughing as he laid them back down. "Oh yeah? Better than all of us? Even Optimus?"
"Better than… better than Ratchet!" The Praxian threw his tiny arms in the air.
"Wow, that takes a lot of strength to be better than Ratchet. Now it's time for my little Autobots to get their recharge. Good night my loves." He kissed their helms before turning the lights off and turned the hologram on at Ricochet's request.
Jazz had a datapad that was connected to the one the twins used for school and just entertainment. He was trying to focus on a report but watching how Skids's mind worked fascinated him. Ricochet really liked reading and occasionally draw his feelings. Skids loved music and was almost always trying to understand how Earth music worked. While he looked at the pad his door opened, and he quickly tossed the pad in the drawer beside him.
"Yeah?" He tried to pretend to work, only stopping when Optimus walked in. "Prime! Somethin' on yer mind?"
The Prime sat down and shook his helm. "Just came to see why you're in such a good mood. Blacklight was only this level of happy when he found you again."
Jazz waved the innocent comment off with a laugh. "How could ya tell dah difference? Seemed tah always be dah same no matter what." He got a small chuckle of agreement. "Naw really just been feelin' really good for a while now. Prowler and Ah have been talkin' about our future, possibly bondin' after we kick Megatron's aft. He even wants meh tah go live in Praxus with him."
"Oh, really? Well I am pleased that you have found someone you wish to spend the rest of your life with." Optimus said completely unaware of the pop ups on Jazz's visors. It was an emergency ping from Data, saying something about the twins. He needed to get rid of Optimus somehow.
"Hey, Ah love chattin' with ya and all, but if Ah don't get dis report done Ah'll have Prowl holdin' my jams hostage." Jazz smirked playfully, hoping it was enough to fool his friend. He felt absolutely guilty for lying to Optimus, but he couldn't risk it. And as bad as it sounded, being on Cybertron with the twins was a way for him to forget the war and everything just for a solar cycle.
"And we wouldn't want that, alright I'll leave you too it." Once Optimus left, Jazz quickly replied to the ping.
::Data, what's wrong?:: He turned his back to the camera that had been staring at him for groons.
::Skids is getting worse and in turn affecting Ricochet. I hypothesize Skids inherited Autobot Prowl's glitch. I suggest getting here as soon as possible.:: Data had to remain calm for not only the twins but Jazz as well.
Jazz's Carrier coding snapped into high gear and he jumped to his peds. ::Okay, I'm on my way. Just… just keep my sparklings safe, I can't lose them too.::
When he made it to Cybertron, he pushed his way through the barricades to where Data was checking the vitals on a rigid Skids. Jazz glued himself to the gurney, Ricochet was connected to his twin by the spark to keep his other half strong. He finally moved away when he saw his Carrier. Jazz gently cradled Skids with worry in his entire being. "Skids, Skids come on I can't lose you. Skids open your optics for Carrier."
"Carrier, I'm scared. What's wrong with Skids?" Ricochet and Skids were first stage younglings and could speak much better than before. Data hushed the confused youngling as Jazz held the still Praxian.
Skids's optics flickered until they were bright once again. He gasped loudly for an intake before he started crying. Jazz sighed with absolute relief as he hugged his son close to his spark. "C-Carrier? You're b-back again? I-I thought you left?"
"Of course, I came back Skids dear. Do you know what happened? You really scared us sweetspark." Jazz paid no attention to the question, until Skids asked a really odd one.
"We were taking a bath after I climbed through the vents. Rico wanted to go exploring." Jazz's face twisted in confusion and Ricochet looked also confused. He looked at his twin as if feeling it through their bond. "What?"
Ricochet shook his helm, "that was solar cycles ago. Don't you 'member?"
Jazz looked at Data for help and the medic scanned the youngling that was confused why his Carrier and brother were being silly. "Skids seems to have experienced a ten solar cycle memory wipe. This is the first time this has happened, so it is unclear whether this is temporary or permanent. I believe that the high stress was the cause of this, I suggest a form of keeping Skids calm and grounded until he is able to control it himself."
"Stress? What happened?" Jazz looked at the drone while still holding the youngling. He was trying to calm his high strained coding.
"There were meanies walking around outside. Skids got scared and then he started shaking really weird." Ricochet explained how a youngling would. Jazz sat Skids down before wrapping both of the younglings in the thermal blanket that was bunched up in the corner of the gurney. The smaller Polyhexian looked up at his Carrier and whispered. "Carrier a meanie is walking the halls."
Once again Jazz snapped into protective mode. He dimmed the lights in the room before leaving the room silently with his blaster going into his servo. The Polyhexian wasn't going to let anyone find his home, his safe haven, or his creations. He was quick to get rid of Shockwave's mindless drones.
"Slaggit, I need to get them out of here. He's going to send more drones. Data pack the bag, get whatever equipment we need, I need to get you three to Kaon!" Jazz shouted as he rushed back to them. He subspaced his blaster and was in full Autobot mode, he went to the cabinets and started pulling out the thermal blankets that were neatly folded and tucked away.
"Carrier?" A tiny voice pulled Jazz back to reality. He turned around and saw his creations looking up at him with looks of confusion. Ricochet rose a tiny fist to his lips as he rubbed his horn with his other servo. "Why are we leaving?"
Skids's wings dipped down before rising briefly, "does this mean we get to see Sire? Sire and Optimus could-"
"No!" Jazz never once rose his voice or let his field flare in anger and the twins backed away with whimpers. The Carrier lowered to his knees with his arms opening wide, Ricochet and Skids ran into his waiting arms. He hugged them with his helm carefully resting on their shoulders. "I'm sorry, I should not have rose my voice at either of you. But you need to understand, as much as I wish you could meet your Sire and the other Autobots, Earth is too dangerous as long as the bad bots are there. You both will be much safer in one of my friend's home. We're going to Kaon, okay? I want you both to stay very quiet and do exactly what Carrier says. We're going to leave when I make sure it's clear, okay? Stay here with Data until I say we're ready to move. Okay?" They both nodded as they watched they're Carrier leave.
It took a couple of deca-cycles for Jazz to scout out a route that was easier for him to take everyone, clear out any drones that were along the way, and move all of the heavier stuff. He put his servos on his knees with his cooling fans go wild after long groons of back and forth. He looked up when he saw Skids's small frame standing in front of him, and he put on a brave smile. "H-Hi sweet spark. You ready to head to Kaon?"
"Carrier, why can't Sire know about us? Would he get mad at you like Rico's Sire? Did my Sire hurt you too?" He started tearing up and Jazz was quick to pull him in his arms.
"No, no, no your Sire would never hurt me or either of you. He just… you know how some times when you get really scared and then you forget? Well your Sire has something like that, but it's when something makes him feel very emotional. If he met you before I could explain, he would start getting sick and it's not either of your faults." Jazz cupped his face before kissing the center of his helm until he heard a tiny giggle. Skids's winglets went rigid and Jazz knew that Ricochet was talking to his brother. He waited until his winglets started moving again before talking, but he asked playfully. "What are you two silly mechlings talking about?"
Skids put his tiny servo on his Carrier's lips and spoke very soft. "Meanie is inside."
Jazz looked over his shoulder before gently pushing his creation back. "Go to Rico and hide." He was grateful that Ricochet was telepathic, he was like an early security warning. He rose to his peds as he picked up a pipe from the floor. The Polyhexian was going to make quick work of this drone. Jazz knew they were desperate to know what was happening to all of their units, but Jazz wasn't going to let them pass. He stood proudly with his field flared and his visors darkened.
Shockwave stepped out of the shadows and was genuinely surprised to see the Polyhexian in the building with a pipe in his servo. "Jazz, Soundwave did not order you to Cybertron. What are you doing here?"
"I'm here because I want to Shockwave. Leave or I'll rip your optic out of your ugly mug!" Jazz's engines roared, all he was doing was defending his territory, wanting to protect what was behind him. He wanted to protect his sons, protect them from that monster.
"It would seem being with those Autobots have scrambled your compliance chip. We'll just have to correct that, now won't we?" Shockwave stalked closer and Jazz took a wide swing at the mech, but he caught it and violently jerked the Polyhexian closer.
"I am a free mech Shockwave. I will never go back to being a slave!" He brought his legs up and kicked the purple mech away. The Polyhexian back flipped away from the mech's reach. "I will see to it that my new mission is carried out until I deactivate!"
The cyclops mockingly laughed, "and what is this new mission little pet?"
"Ending this war alongside my new family." Jazz pulled his blaster from his side and shot at the mech, striking him in several areas.
Shockwave went to say something, but something over Jazz's shoulders caught his optic. "Well hello, this would certainly explain your attitude. Defending your home, I see, just wait until Soundwave finds out." Something in Jazz clicked and he shouted in anger before tackling Shockwave to the ground. He started ripping his voice box out, ripping major fuel lines, and then ended with punching his graying form repeatedly in the face. The Polyhexian didn't stop even as he felt the floor beneath the frame. Jazz started pulling out of his berserk haze and slowly stood up with heavy vents.
"I'm okay, we're okay. We're safe. Data take Shockwave to his space bridge." Jazz ordered before turning and looked at his energon stained arms. The Polyhexian moved off of Shockwave with heavy vent. Skids and Ricochet ran out from cover and held onto their Carrier's frame. He hugged them as he started crying into their frames and shook hard. The Polyhexian felt as if several weights were lifted from his shoulders.
"C-Carrier is that a meanie? Did he hurt you?" Ricochet stared at the grayed form of Shockwave before looking back at his Carrier with a frown. "What did he mean by pet?"
Jazz shook his helm and the two mechlings knew that it was time for their Carrier's quiet time. Ricochet knew when it was quiet time and he started petting his Carrier's face. The older Polyhexian felt his processor fill with thoughts of him with Prowl and the twins, happy and being a family. He knew that this didn't come from his own thoughts, but he smiled anyways. "Thank you Rico, Carrier is okay now. As much as I am disappointed in you for using it on me without my permission."
"Sorry." The smaller Polyhexian left his processor. "Are we going to our new home?"
"Yes, and very soon. Let Carrier clean up first okay?" Jazz rose to his peds and led them to the tub before quickly washing the energon from his frame. Data had cleaned up the energon that was on the floor after he removed the scientist's body. He made sure that everyone was fueled and physically able to travel. No one was going to know that Shockwave was gone until he misses a check-in. Jazz wrapped himself in a thermal blanket as he held the younglings to his frame. They weren't used to the cold of Cybertron and were at risk of freezing faster than Jazz or Data.
"Carrier can you sing us a song?" Skids asked from inside the temporary shelter.
Dancing bears,
Painted wings,
Things I almost remember,
And a song someone sings,
Once upon a December.
Someone holds me safe and warm,
Horses prance through a silver storm,
Figures dancing gracefully across my memory
Someone holds me safe and warm,
Horses prance through a silver storm,
Figures dancing gracefully across my memory.
Far away,
Long ago,
Glowing dim as an ember,
Things my heart used to know,
Things it yearns to remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December
Jazz kept his voice soft, weary of the nocturnal life lurking around. He looked down in his arms after five groons of walking and saw his younglings in deep stasis while holding servos as much as they could. The Polyhexian smiled with pride, knowing that this was what his Sire would have done for him and his Carrier. "Don't worry Sire, I won't fail you." He was so determined to make it to Kaon that he gave Data the thermal blanket and the twins before trekking through a sandstorm. The drone used Jazz as a shield to protect the three of them from the front. The Polyhexian was reaching low tanks, but they were so close to Halifax's shop that he wasn't going to stop for anything.
::Jazz we need to stop, you are running on fumes and the twins need fuel as well.:: Data said through their comms because the wind made it impossible to hear anything.
::We're almost there though Data. Just a little further.:: Jazz held his arm above his helm as he took one more step forward before dropping to his knees. The drone went to the black and white mech's side and helped him behind rubble. He pulled out a cube for Jazz and then helped the younglings fuel. "Okay, I… I think a little break will be good. But we need to move again after we're all fueled. We're too exposed even in this storm!" He rose his voice whenever the wind got too loud.
"I agree! Though you really should get some recharge after we get there. I don't require recharge like you, and you are pushing yourself and the twins." Data gave his input before they covered their face when a gust of wind blew the red sands in their direction. Jazz knew his friend was right, but he knew their time was limited. He knew that only a few mechs knew about Halifax's shop and only a select few of those few mechs actually knew how to get in. The Polyhexian looked at the two mechlings that were peeking out from the thermal blanket.
"You two are being very brave, Carrier is very proud of you both. When we get to Carrier's friend's shop, I'll make energon goodies." Jazz said encouragingly and their slightly dull optics light brightly at the mention of goodies. After they finally arrived to the shop, Jazz turned on the generator which got the lights to all turn on. He knew it was a lot smaller than the hospital, but it was a lot easier to get supplies in the deserted city. Jazz had taken one of the large bombs and carved the inside out before filling it with a lot softer material. It wasn't ideal, but it would be better than a rusty gurney. Skids and Ricochet were laid inside it with a fresh thermal blanket while the two adults unpacked things for them.
Another year of the secret going by and Jazz was going to an abandoned warehouse. He was looking for something that Ratchet needed, completely unsure what it was again, and Data said that they needed some energon crystals. Jazz looked around quietly, knowing that he wasn't alone but if he moved quietly enough the scraplets wouldn't get him. He was moving fallen rubble until his audio horns picked up a high pitched scream. The visored mech dropped everything when he recognized the scream. The mech found Ricochet at the building entrance with a swarm of scraplets trying to get at him, one was eating his left hip and Jazz went into rage mode. He killed them in thirty seconds flat and Jazz quickly picked up his crying son.
Energon was everywhere and sparks came from the leg that was barely hanging on. Jazz was in too much shock and worry to ask how in the pits Ricochet got all the way out there. "Rico, Rico, Ricochet hold on. Hold on, we're going home just hold on." Jazz left the warehouse and rushed Ricochet back to the safety of the shop. Ricochet's optics were flickering, and Jazz risked his life by transferring spark energy like he did with his Sire. "You are not deactivating on me Ricochet Meister! I have to introduce you to everyone, to Sire. Remember that dream you told me? Tell me about it, come on Rico."
Ricochet stressed himself out into a stasis lock by the time Jazz got them back to Halifax's. The Carrier called out for Data and said it was an emergency. The drone ran out from the back room and spotted the Polyhexians. "What happened?"
"I don't know you tell me Data! You were supposed to watch him! He followed me to a scraplet infested building! Data, I can't lose him." Jazz went down an emotional spiral. One youngling was recovering from a minor virus and the other was fighting for his life. Data carefully took Ricochet and placed him on the counter behind him.
Jazz was fighting for the need to hover. He knew it wasn't going to make the medic go any faster. The Polyhexian paced near the entrance with him biting the back of a couple digits nervously, then rubbing his neck, and then repeat. He did this for several groons until Data said that Ricochet's leg was repaired. The visored mech went to Ricochet's side, the tiny leg was missing its entire hip plating, fuel lines and wiring were reconnected, and medical patches were wrapped around it.
"I told Ricochet to stay and do his studies while I checked on Skids. I will have to make new leg armor, but his self-repair systems will finish the rest of the repairs. Jazz, I am sorry, I should have kept a closer optic on him." Data apologized to Jazz as he held onto Ricochet's servo. "It may be a solar cycle before he onlines. Skids is completely virus free; he is online if you wish to see him."
Jazz nodded as he stayed with Ricochet a bit longer. When he went to see Skids, the Praxian was sitting up and playing on his datapad, only stopping when he saw his Carrier. He tossed the pad on the blankets and ran to him with a happy laugh but stopped when their fields merged, and his smile was replaced with a frown. "Carrier, what's wrong? Where's Rico at?"
"Rico's getting fixed, he… he snuck outside and got really hurt." Jazz tried to not burst into tears, needing to be strong for his sons. He hugged the smaller mech when he saw the tears rimming his optics. The Polyhexian knew that he had to keep Skids calm to avoid any memory episodes.
"W-Will he b-be okay? W-Why can't I-I feel him?" Skids started drawing his intakes harder, and Jazz sat on the mattress with his arms wrapped around him tightly. He started singing a song into his receptor, wanting him to remain calm.
The Carrier rocked the youngling back and forth before gently petting his wings. "Data said he will be okay after a while. My friends Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, they're twins just like you and sometimes when one of the is hurt they'll… put a door in front of their bond until they are ready to online. They came from here, Kaon. I think you four would become good friends."
"Carrier, why did Rico's Sire hurt you? Doesn't he love you?" Skids was far too curious for his own good, but Jazz wanted to encourage that trait just like Blacklight did when training Jazz.
The visored mech looked uncomfortable with the question, but he answered the best way he could. "Maybe a long time ago, but Carrier will always love Prowl. And maybe when you two are a bit older, I'll see if I can talk Prime and the others into letting you three stay with us on the ARK."
"We could live on Earth!? With you and Sire, like a family?!" The youngling's excitement came and went faster than Jazz could respond. He sat up and put a servo to his mouth nervously. "But won't I make Sire sick if he saw us? And that meanie had red optics like Rico, won't the Autobots be mean to Rico?"
"Oh, no, no sweetspark. They wouldn't hurt you, either of you. Your uncles, Bluestreak and Smokescreen would spoil you rotten. And Ricochet's uncle, Blaster, has his own creations and would love meeting you both. Plus, Blaster is a telepath like Rico, so he could help him keep the voices out." Jazz tried to be positive, but he knew that the chances of them staying on the ARK after what he plans on doing. He couldn't act yet, not with Shockwave's 'mysterious' deactivation still raw.
The twins were now a deci-vorn old and it was time for the first lieutenant to act. He tucked the twins in and sat down beside them with a heavy sigh. He hit record on the data pad and just stared at it before rubbing the back of his neck with another sigh.
"Hey Prowl… no scrap Ah… no I need to be honest with you about everything. My accent is fake, I had to use it to hide the fact that… that I'm a mole. The mech I belong… belonged to was Soundwave, but that all changed when you showed me the truth. You showed me something I've never experienced before, what it's liked to be truly loved and cherished. You are the most important mech in my life and I realized that what Bluestreak once told me about hurting those you love is true. And it hurts me to say this, but I'm ending this war. I'm going to kill Megatron, tell Optimus everything, and hope that you and the others can stop the Decepticons." Jazz tilted his helm up trying to keep his voice box from cracking and again. "And I have been keeping a secret from you, but I hope that when you see this you'll understand. I had twin sons, one of them belongs to you and the other is Soundwave's. It happened a deci-vorn ago, when you saw me all beaten up and we merged."
Jazz turned the pad around to show the recharging forms just long enough to get their details, and then it turned back to Jazz. "Operation: Europe was code for Cybertron, because it's foreign and why not right? Heh. Anyways, I have a medic drone from the war programmed to help me raise them safely. Prowler, I'm scared that I've made a terrible mistake. I should trust my team, my family, but… I'm terrified that they'll reject Ricochet because of who is Sire is. I'm scared you'll reject your own son because of my mistakes. And I… I don't deserve any of you, your friendships, your love. I'm no better than the Decepticons."
He cried into his servo for a while before pulling himself together again. "And I know it's a long shot, but I need you to protect my sparklings from the life I had. Come to Halifax's shop, they'll be there, and hide them from Soundwave. If somehow my plan to stopping the Decepticons fail, I need you to keep them safe for me. I can't lose another sparkling to Soundwave. Please Prowl, I'm asking… begging you to protect my little stars from that monster. And know that I will always love you because you're my seventy percent." And the recording ended.
Let me know if you guys if you saw this coming! And be honest! lol
Song: Once Upon a December- Anastasia
