A day late again, but here's the next chapter. Only two more left after this one! o_o
Anyways, thanks to everyone who reads this story, both old and new readers. :) Hope you enjoy.
Chapter Twenty-Three - Everything Fell Apart
Jazz reached up and gently pulled his young charge fully inside the transport. Steeldust didn't seem to notice as he was seated back down beside Jazz.
The investigator chuckled as he watched the nine-vorn-old immediately wiggle closer to the window.
Steeldust was fascinated by the scenery they passed, watching it fly by with wide optics.
Several times already, Jazz had had to pull the youngling back when he'd gotten too absorbed in looking outside. He'd stuck not only his helm, but almost his whole torso out the window trying to get a better look at something.
Jazz was seriously considering tying one of Steeldust's pedes to the seat so he wouldn't fall out of the transport. Or closing the window.
They'd only gotten on the transport a breem ago.
Still too much travel time to trust the curious speedster to sit still. Inside. On the seat.
"Annnnd cue da question..." Jazz thought to himself with a smirk.
"Hey, Jazz. Are we almost there yet?" Steeldust inquired, glancing over his shoulder. He was now kneeling in his seat facing the window.
"And there it is." Jazz shook his helm. "No, Steel. Not yet. Don't worry, we'll be in Iacon soon enough."
"Okay."
Attention was fully tuned back to what was out the window.
Jazz kept one optic on Steeldust and one on the rest of the mecha in the cab.
It was handy wearing a visor at times, you could watch mecha without their knowledge.
And you never knew when certain mecha could be wandering around where they weren't supposed to.
The investigator was fairly certain Barricade was still located in Kaon, but the enforcer had friends. And unless Megatronus was in the business of searching for younglings, then he had been working for at least one other mech.
Neither Prowl or Jazz had found out anything more about the mech that Barricade had spoken to that orn by the school.
And Barricade hadn't been seen in Praxus for jours now.
Then, neither had Jazz and Steeldust.
They'd visited a couple times, but that was it. And they came and left in the offcycle under the cover of darkness.
Now, it was time to visit someone else.
Jazz wondered how the meeting, unscheduled as it was, would go.
He glanced at Steeldust. The nine-vorn-old was excited, but nervous.
And rightly so. He was going to see someone he hadn't seen in almost two vorns.
Steeldust marched up the steps of the boarding school, shoulders and doorwings thrown back. At the doors, he hesitated, posture slumping a fraction.
This was it.
He glanced back at Jazz.
The black and white mech stood on the sidewalk. He gave Steeldust a smile and nodded. "You go get him, Steel. You can do it."
Steeldust nodded back, determination crossing his faceplate. "I can do this. I wanted to do this alone. I have to," he thought. Shoving his nervousness down, he walked inside.
A small sense of familiarity greeted him once he'd stepped in. Steeldust had been here a couple times in the past, but it felt like a long time ago.
Scanning the room, he spied a small name plaque on the wall beside the first door on the right.
"The headmaster should know where Blurr is," Steeldust thought as he walked swiftly to the door.
Lifting a hand, he knocked lightly, then waited for a response. His doorwings twitched slightly as he fidgeted in place.
"Come in," called a voice.
Tentatively, Steeldust opened the door and poked his helm in. There were two sections, to the room. The one out front was a waiting area with chairs. The back section was the actual office.
A mech was sitting behind a big desk near the back of the office. He glanced up when he heard the door opening. Spying the youngling, whom he did not recognize, the mech's expression become annoyed. "Can I help you?"
Steeldust fully entered the room and nervously moved to stand in front of the desk.
"Are you lost?" asked the headmaster, raising an optic ridge. "I'm quite sure I have not seen you here before. You look too young to attend here."
"No, Sir." Steeldust resisted the urge to roll his optics at the snobbish tone being used. He shook his helm instead. "I'm here to visit someone."
"I see," sniffed the mech, shuffling through some things on his desk. "And who is it that you wish to see?"
"Blurr. He's a student here. He's sixteen-vorns-old and-"
"Yes, yes. I know him, you do not need to describe him for me. Does he know you were coming?"
"No, Sir."
The headmaster rose an optic ridge again. "Well, then. I suppose you want me to tell him then?"
Steeldust tilted his helm. "No, Sir. If you could tell me where his room is, I can find him myself."
"Normally I would send for someone to go with you, but we are terribly busy. Here's his dorm number, it is on the third floor." The mech wrote down the information and handed it to Steeldust. "I believe he is here. If not, I cannot help you. If he is at the racetrack I do not know when he will return."
"Thank you!" Steeldust snatched the extended room number and zipped out of the room, leaving a rather shocked mech behind.
"Well, then. He is- Very fast."
As Jazz traveled towards the Hall of Records, he wondered how Steeldust's visit with his brother would go.
The youngling had wanted to go by himself, saying it was something he needed to do.
Jazz agreed. Blurr and Steeldust needed to talk, without him there.
Hopefully, the two brothers would make amends.
And hopefully, he and Orion could find some things. Not to mention talk about the several bombing incidents that had happened over the last few orns.
The mecha responsible claimed they were from the resistance group called the Decepticons.
Megatronus' followers.
Orion was likely not impressed with his friend if he knew for sure that it was Megatronus behind the attacks.
"He's said before dat him an' Megatronus have different ideas o' how ta carry out their plans."
The investigator wondered, as did many others, what this movement would come to.
Jazz had a bad feeling about it if he was honest.
Blurr was distracted from his homework by a knock at the door.
"Huh? I-wonder-who-that-is. Any-friends-would-just-come-in. A-teacher-would-comm-me. So-would-anyone-from-the-racetrack," he thought rapidly, rising from his chair.
Striding over to the door, he opened it. When he saw the mecha standing on the other side, his optics widened, mirroring the expression on the other mecha's faceplate.
"Blurr?" whispered the unexpected visitor.
Blurr swallowed hard. He looked the smaller version of himself up and down.
He was a lot taller than he had been the last time Blurr had seen him, but still was much shorter than him. He looked older too.
"Well, it-has-been-two-vorns," Blurr reminded himself. "I-guess-I-probably-look-different-too."
"Steeldust?"
The younger brother flew at the older one, knocking him over despite the height and weight difference.
Something he'd always somehow been able to do, even when Blurr thought he was ready for it.
"Blurr!" Steeldust cried, hugging his brother tight. "I've-missed-you-so-much!"
Blurr struggled to his pedes, shoving the clinging nine-vorn-old off of him. "Let-go! You're-squeezing-me!"
Steeldust stepped back and looked up at Blurr. "Didn't-you-get-my-letters? I-sent-a-bunch."
The sixteen-vorn-old glanced at his desk out of the corner of his optic. He had gotten Steeldust's letters, they were all in one of the desk drawers, shoved deep under everything else.
"Uhh, no. No-I-didn't," Blurr said.
"Oh." Steeldust quirked an optic ridge and tilted his helm. Flicking his doorwings, he shrugged. "That's-weird. At-least-I-found-you. Now-we-can-be-together-again-and-"
Blurr shook his helm rapidly, placing a hand on Steeldust's shoulderplate. "No-that's-not-a-good-idea-Steeldust."
Steeldust looked up at him, the happy expression on his faceplate fading. "Why- Why not? We're-brothers. We-should-be-together-Blurr."
"Because-Steeldust. We-both-have-our-own-lives-now. I'm-here-in-Iacon, you're-in-Praxus. I-can't-come-there-and-you-can't-stay-here."
"But- We-could-visit." Steeldust looked up at his brother hopefully. "And-I'm-in-Altihex-now. It's-closer."
Blurr sadly shook his helm again. "No Steeldust. We can't. You should go."
"But-"
Steeldust was gently turned around and pushed towards the door.
"I'm-sorry-Steeldust," Blurr said quietly. He took one more look at his brother's shocked and broken expression. Swiftly sliding the door shut, he locked it. Leaning against it, the speedster listened.
Steeldust stayed in the hallway for several kliks. He stared at the door, not believing what had just happened. Not believing what he'd just heard.
Blurr must be joking. He was going to open the door any klik and say he was kidding.
Right?
So Steeldust stood and waited, running their conversation through his helm.
Blurr stayed by the door, listening. He didn't want to send his brother away.
But what could he do? There was no way they could start again. Steeldust seemed to know exactly what he'd done from what he'd said in his letters. He didn't seem to be angry anymore, but Blurr couldn't face him.
Finally, Steeldust, standing in the empty hallway, realized something.
Blurr had meant it.
"He- He-doesn't-want-me-around. He-sent-me-away. Blurr-doesn't-want-me," Steeldust thought, optics widening in horror.
He stumbled away from his brother's dorm room, moving quickly down the hall.
"What-did-I-do-that-he-doesn't-want-me?"
Steeldust made his way out of the school and walked numbly down the street. He was supposed to meet Jazz at the Hall of Records, but his processor was occupied and he wasn't paying attention to where he was going.
He wasn't sure how long he went like that. All of a sudden, he was jerked from his thoughts. By what, Steeldust wasn't sure.
He looked around warily, realizing he had no idea where he was.
Before, he'd been in a nice section of the sector. Now, Steeldust wasn't so sure. It was kind of shadowy, despite it still being the oncycle, and not as well kept up.
"Why-do-I-keep-finding-all-the-creepy-places?"
There was a noise from his left.
Steeldust whipped around to face the direction it had come from, servos raised and ready. His quick optics scanned the shadows.
"Who's there?" he demanded, trying to make his voice sound like he wasn't afraid.
A retrorat scurried out from a hole, the movement catching Steeldust's optic. He moved to face it, temporarily forgetting about the previous noise he'd heard.
"Oh, hello," Steeldust said with a grimace, lowering his servos.
The small creature sat on its haunches, staring at the youngling with beady optics. Steeldust stared back, curiosity winning over initial disgust.
Suddenly, the retrorat squeaked and ran back into it's hole.
"Huh?" Steeldust quirked an optic ridge, tilting his helm in confusion. "Did I scare it?"
"It was probably afraid of me."
Steeldust froze. "That-voice-came-from-right-behind-me. And-it's-not-anyone-I-know. It-might-be-one-of-Barricade's-friends."
Astrokliks after the stranger spoke, Steeldust was moving again. He whirled, throwing a swift jab towards the stranger's midsection, then a kick to the side of his knee joint.
The mech stumbled, falling down on one knee, a look of shock on his faceplate.
Steeldust backed away, looking for more mecha. He spotted a few off to the side, watching him. One stepped forwards, but the first mech, the one Steeldust had attacked, waved him back.
"It's alright, youngling. I don't want to hurt you," the mech said, getting back to his pedes. He leaned down and rubbed his knee joint. "I'm sorry I scared you."
Steeldust stared up at him warily, still on guard. The mech seemed friendly.
"I was just coming to see if you were lost," the mech continued. He spread his servos. "You looked like you might be."
With another glance at the group of mecha to the side, Steeldust relaxed slightly. "I am lost actually. I'm sorry I attacked you, Sir."
The mech laughed, extending a hand. "No harm done, youngling. Though, you're a good fighter for your age. My name's Gasket, what's yours."
Cautiously taking the extended hand, Steeldust shook it. "I'm Steeldust."
"Well, Steeldust, I can try and help you find your way." Gasket smiled, down at the youngling. He then turned, waving the rest over. "You can come over now, he knows we won't hurt him."
The group of mecha made their way to join Gasket. Steeldust assumed that he must be their leader.
He noted that they were all lower class mecha, judging by the dull and scratched paint.
"They-must-be-on-the-streets," Steeldust thought.
He felt bad about what he'd done to Gasket.
"Mecha, this here's Steeldust," Gasket said, gesturing to the navy and black. "Steeldust, this is everyone."
Some of the mecha said their greetings, others just watched Steeldust carefully.
One mech, the one that had stepped forwards to help Gasket before, seemed to be keeping a very close optic on him. "Gasket, how are we supposed to help him?"
"Well, Drift, we'll start by asking him where he's going," the mech replied, turning his attention to Steeldust.
"I was going to the Hall of Records to meet my guardian, but I- I was distracted and got lost," Steeldust said quietly, flicking his doorwings.
"The Hall of Records? Well, Steeldust, you're a bit far from there," replied Gasket. He began walking, gesturing for the rest to follow. "Must have been quite the distraction. Your guardian is probably pretty worried about you by now."
Steeldust quickly caught up and fell in step with Gasket. "Where are we?"
"In the gutters basically," snapped Drift from behind. "We're the forgotten mecha that the higher castes have thrown away."
"Oh. I'm sorry," Steeldust murmured.
Jazz was not impressed.
The saddened Steeldust had told Jazz what had happened. The two had excused themselves for a few kliks, to talk in private.
Steeldust had finally made it to the Hall of Records, apparently getting lost on the way. He'd happened upon some mecha who had decided to help the youngling out.
However, the reason that Steeldust had gotten lost, was more or less because of Blurr.
The investigator didn't think their was anything he could do to persuade the young racer otherwise in his decision.
Steeldust didn't want him to bother trying, thinking it was pointless.
Jazz was concerned about that. Steeldust was affected by the visit, but it almost seemed like he was trying not to care.
That could be a harmful game to play with yourself.
The youngling had wandered off to explore while Jazz finished talking with Orion.
Orion, who had been introduced to Steeldust, wondered if something was wrong.
"Jazz, is something troubling Steeldust?"
The investigator sighed. "Yeah, he went ta talk ta someone an' it didn't go well."
"Oh, that is unfortunate." Orion frowned, furrowing his optic ridges. "Was it someone close, if I may ask?"
"Someone who should be close ta him."
Realizing it was a sensitive topic, the data clerk let it go.
"Megatronus is meeting me this offcycle," Orion said lowly. "He's coming to Iacon."
Jazz rose an optic ridge above his visor. "Really? What for?"
Orion shook his helm. "I am uncertain to what he wants to talk about. He said he wishes to show me something as well."
"Interestin'."
"You find everything interesting, don't you?"
"That's my job."
Steeldust followed Jazz, not really paying attention to where they were going.
Jazz had finished whatever it was he was doing with Orion and now they were on their way to somewhere else. To see another friend, Steeldust thought Jazz had said, but he wasn't sure.
He'd been having a hard time listening and paying attention to things since he'd left Blurr's school.
"Well, here we are," said Jazz, halting suddenly.
Steeldust didn't notice right away and ran into him.
"Oof!"
Turning around, Jazz looked down at the youngling. "Ya okay there, Zipper?"
Backing up a couple steps, Steeldust nodded his helm. "Yes. Sorry, Jazz."
"Dat's alright, Steel." Jazz grinned, gesturing with a hand. "Come on."
Steeldust followed Jazz into the house, noting that his guardian didn't bother to knock before going in.
"Yo, Blaster? Ya home?" Jazz called, walking further into the house.
Staying by the door, Steeldust smiled as he looked around. He knew Blaster, but hadn't actually been to his house before. From what the youngling could see from the door, he had a pretty nice place. And by the look of the decorations and the music coming from somewhere, he liked music.
But of course, Steeldust already knew that.
No wonder Jazz was friends with this mecha.
"Hey, Jazz!" Blaster said as he came down the short hallway.
As the two mechs began talking, Steeldust tilted his helm, watching and listening.
The taller mech looked over Jazz's helm and spotted Steeldust.
"Hey, you brought Steeldust!"
Steeldust lifted his hand in a wave and walked over to join them. "Hey, Blaster."
"It's nice of you two to drop in for a visit," the red and yellow said with a grin. "Come on and make yourselves at home!"
Jazz and Steeldust followed Blaster into his living room and seated themselves.
Blaster began chattering away again with Jazz, including Steeldust in the conversation also.
The youngling liked Blaster. He, unlike a lot of adult mecha, talked to him like he was one too. And he talked to Steeldust like a friend.
The three talked for a while, the two mechs exchanging stories. Suddenly, something clicked for Steeldust.
Blaster had seemed sort of familiar, like Steeldust knew him from somewhere before Jazz had introduced them. But he'd never been able to figure it out.
When he'd asked Blaster, the mech couldn't think of anything either.
"Hey, Blaster? You're a reporter right?"
Blaster looked over at the youngling and grinned. "Yep, I sure am. Why the question, little mech?"
"That's where I've seen you before!"
"Hey, nice work, Steeldust. You figured out our puzzle. Say, you going to be an investigator like Jazz?"
Steeldust shrugged. "I don't know, maybe. I want to be a racer."
"A racer, huh? Maybe we'll be seeing each other a lot more in the future," joked Blaster.
Jazz laughed. "Ah think that'd be da most entertainin' interview ever."
Looking at Jazz with mock confusion, Blaster pouted. "You think my interviews aren't entertaining already? I think you must be mixing me up with someone else, Jazz."
"Naw, you just losing yer touch," Jazz smirked.
Blaster waved him off. "Aw, whatever, mech. You just have a sad sense of humour."
Steeldust snickered, then was suddenly shoved off his chair. He looked around to see why Jazz had pushed him off.
It wasn't Jazz.
The investigator was trying his best not to laugh at Steeldust's shocked expression when he turned around.
A large cybercat, stared down at him. It was yellow with a mane around his neckcables and helm. It sat where Steeldust had been, and after staring the youngling down for a few astrokliks, began licking a paw with his glossa.
"Steeljaw!" Blaster chastised from his chair. "That was rude! Not how you treat a guest!"
The cybercat paused from grooming himself to glance over at Blaster. "He was in my chair. And besides, it was fun."
Steeldust's optics narrowed. He'd met the cybercat before, and he still wasn't sure about him.
He was still the biggest one he'd ever seen and the only one that could talk.
Plus, he seemed to act like he owned whatever place he was in.
"Hello, Steeldust," the cybercat said, turning his attention to the youngling he'd knocked on the floor. His optics glinted as he stared at the youngling.
"Be nice," warned Blaster. "Or I'll put you outside."
Sending the red and yellow mech a glare, the cybercat straightened. "How are you, Jazz? It's been awhile since you've visited."
Jazz, having recovered from his laughing fit, reached over and stroked the cybercat's helm. "Ah'm good. Yer right, Steeljaw, it's been too long."
Steeldust, meanwhile, had gotten to his pedes and crept closer, watching the giant cybercat.
"I didn't know it was your chair," the youngling said.
"They're all mine if I decide it," replied Steeljaw proudly, eyeing the youngling.
"I'm-not-sure-I-like-the-way-he's-looking-at-me," thought Steeldust. "I-wonder-if-he's-gonna-jump-on-me-again-"
Steeljaw did indeed attempt to surprise the youngling again, still rather smug about the whole thing and wanting to see the youngling's shocked faceplate again.
Unfortunately, Steeljaw didn't succeed in his fun.
Steeldust moved out of the way as the cat leapt for him. He darted back up onto the chair, leaving a surprised Steeljaw to catch empty air instead.
Blaster chuckled, reaching down to pet the cybercat. "Looks like he outsmarted you, Steeljaw."
Looking around, Steeljaw saw that the youngling had reclaimed his spot. Narrowing his optics, he sat down to watch him.
"I forget how quick you are, youngling. And I'm pretty sure you're faster than last time I seen you," Blaster continued. "Not many can dodge away from Steeljaw here. You would make a good racer."
"Yep, dis one's full o' surprises," grinned Jazz.
Half a breem later, Steeljaw decided that he wanted his chair back. Seeing that the youngling wasn't going to let him surprise him again, he decided to take a different route.
By climbing on top of and sitting on the youngling.
"Hey! Steeljaw!" Steeldust protested, shoving the cybercat's tail out of his face. "What're you doing?"
"Sitting on my chair," the yellow cat replied, shifting to be more comfortable.
Maybe Steeljaw was comfortable, not to mention very pleased with himself, but Steeldust wasn't.
After all, the cybercat was roughly the same size as him, perhaps even a bit bigger.
"You're not sitting on the chair. You're sitting on me!"
"You're sitting on my chair."
"Steel," Blaster called firmly.
Both cybercat and youngling looked up.
Jazz snickered while Blaster put a hand over his faceplate.
"Ya know, Blaster, dis is gonna get real confusing. Which one were ya talkin' ta?"
"The dumb cat," muttered Blaster. "Quit bothering, Steeldust."
Steeljaw simply stuck his glossa out and stayed where he was.
"I guess he's not bothering me too much," Steeldust mused, freeing his hand so he could pet the cybercat. "He can stay here."
Steeljaw began to make a rumbling noise in his throat. It startled the young speedster, who stopped what he was doing.
The noise stopped too. Steeljaw turned his helm to look up at Steeldust. "Why did you stop?"
"Why were you making that noise?" wondered Steeldust.
"It's what I do when I am happy."
"Oh. Okay."
Checking his internal chronometer, Jazz rose to his pedes. "Ah'd better get going. Sure ya don't mind watching Steel for awhile, Blaster?"
Both Steels glanced over at the investigator when they heard their name.
Blaster snickered. "Which one? Yeah, that's no problem. Go do what you gotta do. We'll stick around here." He paused, eyeing the two seated on the chair together. "You know, unless those two hoodlums run off on me. Again."
"Alright," Jazz said with a laugh. "See ya all later!"
"Bye, Jazz!" Steeldust said.
"See you!" added Blaster.
After Jazz had left, Blaster turned to the two Steels. "Investigator stuff was all he told me, do you know where he's going?"
Steeldust shrugged. "Nope."
"Oh well. What do you two think we should do?"
Steeljaw looked up. "Can we go for a walk? I haven't been outside for awhile."
"Can you behave yourself and not chase some scent you found without telling me this time?" Blaster asked sternly, crossing his servos.
"I will try," the cybercat returned.
Blaster nodded. "Steeldust? What do you think?"
"Sure." Steeldust looked down. "I might need Steeljaw to get off first though."
Orion followed Megatronus through the second level of Iacon. The gladiator seemed to know exactly where he was going, had he been to Iacon before?
Orion decided that he wouldn't be surprised if he had.
Sneaking around down here was a bit unerving to the data clerk. He had never been to this part of the city, despite living in it. He had no idea what was down here.
And was shocked when they reached their destination.
"A gladiator arena? In Iacon?" the astonished Orion Pax asked, staring down into the pit.
Two mechs viciously fought each other, the crowd cheering wildly, lusting for spilled energon.
Megatronus stood watching with his servos folded behind his back. "Not even Iacon is what it seems, Orion. The Council is corrupt, they likely are aware this place exists, willing to let it stay under the radar for their own twisted purposes."
Orion said nothing, only watching in horror as the two mechs in the ring tore into each other.
He lifted his optics to the mecha surrounding the ring. Most of them were enjoying this horrid display. Yelling and screaming for energon to be spilt, for the two fighters to offline their opponent.
The data clerk was again shocked when he saw a familiar paint job and faceplate.
"Why is Jazz here?"
Seeing his friend was staring, Megatronus followed Orion's line of sight.
"Friend of yours?" the gladiator asked.
"Yes. I would not of thought he would come here," Orion muttered.
"Well, brother," Megatronus grinned. "You never know who you might see."
"Indeed."
"Huh, there's Orion. And that must be Megatronus," thought Jazz, spotting his friend across the ring. "I was right. He was bringing him here."
Likely to further prove to the data clerk that change needed to happen.
Jazz wondered what exactly the revolutionary's next move would be. Maybe Orion would know, although Jazz doubted he would be pleased at seeing him there.
Suddenly, as the winner of the fight was being cheered on by the crowd, basking in his win, the screens around the arena changed.
Previously, they'd been connected to cameras, showing the audience a better look at what was going on in the pit.
Now, they showed scenes, seemingly live, of Altihex.
Seekers flew across, bombing the city. There was fire everywhere, illuminating the offcycle. In the sky, you could see Altihex Station.i
It too was being attacked.
The crowd began murmuring and pointing, shocked at what they were seeing.
Jazz took one look and began leaving as fast as he could.
"Steel."
Steeldust stood on top of Blaster's roof, staring north towards Altihex.
His home looked like it was being attacked.
By who, the youngling didn't know.
The sounds of explosions could be heard faintly from the neighbouring citystate. What must be the station in Cybertron's orbit flickered with light, probably fire.
"Steeldust!" Blaster called, climbing onto the roof. He hurried over to crouch beside the nine-vorn-old. "Steeldust, what are you doing up here?"
Steeldust merely pointed towards the lights and sounds that should not be there.
Blaster looked up, a look of shock coming over his faceplate. "Altihex. Somebody's bombing it."
Prowl walked over to the radio and switched it on. Immediately, the voice of the renowned gladiator-turned-political-speaker could be heard.
"Course he's talkin'," muttered Jazz from his chair across the room.
Jazz and Steeldust were currently staying with Prowl in Praxus. They'd arrived from Iacon late last offcycle. Luckily, they'd been there instead of Altihex.
Prowl didn't reply. He made his way back to his chair beside the investigator and reclaimed his seat. He wished to hear what Megatronus had to say about the most recent attack. The one which brought Prowl's guests to his door.
"The attack on Altihex was not from my command," the gladiator was saying. "Though the mecha responsible claimed to be of the resistance group called the Decepticons, they were not operating under my authority."
The black and white mechs glanced away from the radio as Steeldust wandered in from the kitchen. He'd been sitting under the table, one of his spots he often occupied when doing homework at Prowl's place. The youngling's brow furrowed as he listened, placing a hand on each of the backs of the two chairs.
"This tragedy is one of several that have happened over the past few orns," Megatronus said. "And as I have said about those incidents, my followers may have been involved, but I was not where the plan originated. There are those who are discontent with the caste system, myself included. But violence is not the answer. There are ways to accomplish change, peaceful ways."
"Like stealin' da Prime?" Jazz grumbled. "Ah don't believe he didn't know bout these things before dey happened."
The law enforcer turned to his friend. "Maybe. Megatronus has not said either way. He has claimed not to know Sentinel Prime's whereabouts either."
"Reports say seekers took 'im. Ain't dey operating under him?"
"Some are. One officer, Starscream, seems to at least have had contact with him," Prowl replied. "What does that data clerk you are friends with say about this? He is with Megatronus is he not?"
Jazz nodded. "Orion is. He says they have similar goals an' ideas, but want ta carry 'em out different. They talked last offcycle, Ah'm uncertain what about. Orion told me he was gonna go talk ta da Grand Archivist. Haven't heard from him since."
"I see."
A hand tapped Jazz on the shoulder. The investigator looked up at the nine-vorn-old. "Yeah, Steeldust?"
"Can I go to Blue's? I told him I was in town, he wants to hang out," Steeldust said flatly.
"Yep, be home before dark an' don't take da alleys," Jazz replied. He stood and walked around the chair. Crouching so he was optic to visor level with the navy and black, he gave him a pointed look. "Remember what Ah taught ya an' stay safe. Alright, Steeldust?"
Steeldust nodded his helm and grinned, "I will, Jazz. Don't worry, I can handle myself."
The investigator chuckled. "Ah know ya can. Now ya better go before Bluestreak thinks ya ain't comin'."
Prowl watched as Steeldust zipped out the door. He didn't bother to tell him not to slam it on the way out. Which Steeldust did.
Jazz straightened and went back to his chair. He frowned as he listened to the gladiator who was still speaking.
"Are you certain he will be alright, Jazz?" Prowl asked, watching the youngling through the window as he ran down the street. "From what you have told me, last orn had some- Difficulties."
Jazz was watching too. "He'll be okay. As far as Blurr goes, Ah think it'll take time, but at least now Steel ain't stuck wonderin' bout him. As for goin' by himself? It ain't that far. Praxus is safer then some places."
"Is Altihex not?"
The visored black and white gestured with a hand to the radio. "Woulda thought until last offcycle. Not sure if there'll be another attack. Didn't know bout dis one til it was too late."
"At least you two were unharmed."
"Mmm, unharmed yes. Except Steeldust gets another memory of stuff blowing up and sounds of gunfire."
"He saw then?"
Jazz laughed dryly. "The youngling was standing on Blaster's roof watching what you could actually see from Iacon. The station was smoking pretty good by the time Ah got there."
Prowl rubbed the red chevron on his forehelm. "Of course he ran up there. He seems to have lost his fear of loud noises."
"Yeah. Not sure that's a good thing or not."
The two were quiet for a few kliks. There had been many attacks the last several orns. First the Six Lasers over Cybertron had been bombed, off lining many who were on or around the ride. Then, Polyhex and Stanix had also suffered bombing. Now Altihex and it's orbital station, a casino and entertainment spot of many mecha, had been attacked. The count of offline or wounded hadn't been officially made.
Perhaps most worryingly, was the disappearance of Sentinel Prime.
No one seemed to know for sure whether the old Prime had escaped or been abducted. Since the Council hadn't heard from him and didn't know either, it would seem the latter had happened.
"Do you need to investigate this, Jazz?" Prowl inquired, glancing at his friend.
"Ah already got a call," Jazz returned, looking at the floor. "Ah gotta get started on it as soon as possible."
"Steeldust may stay here if you need somewhere to leave him," said Prowl quickly. "He would perhaps be safer here than in Altihex by himself."
Jazz's mouth upturned in a small smile. "Thanks, Prowl. Ah appreciate it."
"Well," the Praxian said stiffly, straightening in his seat. "Since you officially adopted him, I have been the one you tend to dump his care on when you're unavailable."
The investigator snickered. "Oops. It seems ta me ya don't mind as much anymore though."
Prowl shook his helm, but couldn't help but give his friend a small smile. "I don't know who got that excuse from the other. You or Steeldust."
Jazz feigned an expression of shock. "Ya accusin' me of teachin' dat youngling things he shouldn't be knowin'?"
"Maybe," Prowl said lightly. He rose momentarily to turn the radio off and get them both a cube of energon. "Make sure you wait to say goodbye to Steeldust before you leave, Jazz."
"Ah will, Prowl."
The black and whites settled into companionable silence, enjoying the peace they had at the moment.
They were unaware of how little peace there was left.
Councillor Halogen strode down the hall towards the Council Chamber. Behind him, two of his fellow Councillors, Council Secretary Contrail and Councillor Ratbat, followed.
This orn they had a very different case. Megatronus, the gladiator, and Orion Pax, the data clerk, wished to speak to them.
The Council decided to grant them a hearing. Perhaps they could see if the gladiator truly was responsible for his zealous followers' attacks, despite how he claimed otherwise.
And perhaps put and end to his nonsense once and for all.
Halogen could tell before they reached the Chamber, that it was full.
Full of mechs and femmes, from every caste and city state. All wanted to hear what the famous gladiator had to say to the High Council. Some hated the mech, holding him responsible for the attacks, but some were curious.
Halogen wondered how the orn would end.
"Twelve councilmembers are left. Halogen's offline."
Prowl stared at Jazz. The investigator had somehow returned to Praxus from Iacon before news of the hearing did.
"What happened?" the young Praxian asked.
Jazz rubbed his visor with one hand, other hand on his hip. "It was a mess, the hearing started out alright. There was a long argument between the Council and Megatronus, Who is now calling himself Megatron. After he talked for awhile, things got pretty heated up.
"Orion tried to reason with everyone. A lot of mecha seemed to side with what he said. Apparently Megatron didn't like what both his reasoning or that others agreed. Orion was then named the next Prime. There was an uprising and Halogen was shot by Megatron. A bunch of Decepticons left with him."
Prowl sat down, thinking hard. This did not bode well. He knew Jazz was attending the hearing, so he hadn't gone himself. Now, he could hardly believe what his friend was saying.
"I'm sure they'll get the rest of it out soon," Jazz said quietly, sitting beside Prowl.
"So it's started then?" Prowl asked, finally finding his words.
"War?" the young investigator asked. "I think it started awhile ago. Megatron just verbally declared it today."
"Jazz, if you are going to join Optimus Prime, what do you intend to do with Steeldust. You cannot bring him with you into a war."
"I know, Prowl. I'm working on figuring out what to do," said Jazz, looking dejectedly down at the table.
Prowl flicked his doorwings. "Mecha are saying they doubt this will last long, but I confess, I believe otherwise. This tension between castes and the Council has been building for too long."
"Yeah, Ah know what you mean. Megatron more or less pulled the pin and now everything's gonna blow." Jazz shook his helm. "If it hasn't already."
"What have you thought of so far as far as leaving Steeldust?" Prowl asked. "I would offer to take him, but I am considering joining you."
"Ah appreciate dat, Prowler," replied Jazz. "Ah hate ta ask anyone else ta take him, but don't want ta put him in an orphanage temporarily either."
"I do not believe Steeldust would do well there, Jazz." Prowl thought for a few kliks. "What about Aftershock and Aurora Star?"
Jazz shrugged. "Ah don't know. They might be willing..."
"Then ask them. It would be better for Steeldust to stay with someone he knows."
"And what about Barricade? We still haven't figured out who he was looking for Steeldust for."
Prowl scoffed. "I am certain that he will be too busy with whatever Megatron tells him to do."
"Ah suppose."
As the two mechs continued their discussion, neither noticed a small frame silently backtrack out of the house.
Steeldust had returned from the park where he'd been visiting Smokescreen and Bluestreak. Once he'd stepped in the door of Prowl's house, his happy mood had been shattered.
Unbeknownst to either Prowl or Jazz, Steeldust had heard the whole conversation.
They were leaving him.
"Why-are-they-going-to-leave-me? I-could-go-with-them-I-know-how-to-fight," Steeldust thought to himself as he trudged away.
As the oncycle began turning to offcycle, Steeldust continued to walk down the familiar streets.
"First-Carrier-and-Sire. Then-Blurr. Now-Jazz-and-Prowl-too? Will-everyone-eventually-leave-me?" wondered the youngling.
"Why-do-mecha-keep-leaving-me?"
Steeldust paused at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to turn. His hands balled into fists as he thought. Doorwings hitched upwards.
"Fine," he spat lowly. "Everybody can leave me." He glared at the light that still hadn't turned so he could cross the street. He continued, anger leaving his voice. Instead, his voice broke as he began to shake. "I don't need anyone."
He sat down on the curb, still shaking. Burying his helm in his servos, Steeldust cried. Loneliness crept through him, making him feel cold.
No one stopped to see why a youngling was sitting by himself on the curb.
Breems later, Steeldust made his way back to Prowl's.
Jazz asked where he'd been and if he was okay. Steeldust replied that he'd been wandering around and that he was just tired.
He went to go and recharge, hoping to forget the hurt and lonely feelings.
Prowl held Silver tightly in his servos, resting his chin on her helm.
"I don't want you to go," she said lowly, returning the embrace.
"I will come back, Silver. I promise," Prowl replied.
They pulled away, looking at each other sadly.
"I know you will." Silver expression firm. "And I'll be here. Waiting for you."
Prowl lifted a hand, brushing her cheek. Silver stood on the tip of her pedes and quickly kissed him.
A whistle blew.
"You had better go." She smiled sadly. "The transport is leaving."
Pulling Silver close again, Prowl leaned down and kissed her. She returned it, moving her servos around his neck. Then, she pushed him away.
"Be safe, Prowl. I love you."
"I love you, Silver." Prowl turned, hastily walking away. He got onto the transport, looking back at her through the window as it began moving.
Silver stood on the platform, her hand lifted as she waved. A few others around her were saying their goodbyes as well.
All of them hoped that those heading to join the Autobot army would return.
Not many from Praxus were joining. The leaders had still decided to stay out of the conflict.
There were some Praxians that left to join anyways. Prowl was one of them.
Silver and Prowl stayed as they were until the transport was out of sight of the station. Only then, did Silver let her tears fall.
She only hoped that Prowl would return unharmed. And soon.
Steeldust stood by the four-wheeled transport, a bag of his belongings beside him. He looked sadly up at Jazz.
"Please don't go," the youngling pleaded.
"I have to Steel. Somebody has to go and fight," Jazz replied sadly.
"But- Why does it have to be you?" Steeldust protested, looking away.
Jazz didn't have an answer.
He knelt down and brought his young charge into a hug. "I'll come back for you, Steeldust. I promise. As soon as I can, I'll come back."
Steeldust buried his faceplate in Jazz's shoulder, doorwings slumped as low as they could go. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Steel. Be strong and take care, okay?"
"Okay."
Steeldust let go and Jazz straightened. They glanced up, seeing the other mecha were already on the transport.
"Goodbye, Jazz," Steeldust sniffed, picking up his bag and climbing the stairs into the transport.
"Goodbye, Zipper."
The driver closed the doors and moved the transport away from the curb.
Steeldust rushed to the back of the transport, gazing out the back window.
Jazz stood where he'd left him, doorwings sagging. He lifted his hand in a wave.
Steeldust waved until the transport turned a corner.
Credit Song: The Call - Regina Spektor
Thanks for reading!
