Chapter 115 – Out of the Shadows
Jazz P.O.V
I crouched concealed in tha shadows. I dare not move, not yet. It was almos' time ta stop hidin', ta reveal maself and - what I knew.
I had ordered tha others ta stay back until I gave tha signal and then they would close in and join me. We had ta be swift. We had ta keep our element of surprise for this ta go as planned. A smile spread across ma dermas as I peered down at tha gathered figures from ma hidden position in tha balcony of the church. I had crept inside while they had all been off earlier today tryin' to gather intel on KSI. /Jus' over three years I have been waitin' for this moment – enjoy it Jazz/.
Tha whispered voices drifted up towards me, ''No respect these days.'' The disenchanted voice of tha human male, Cade, elicited another grin.
Prime casually leant against one of tha central pillars of tha church, foldin' his arms across his chest an' juttin' his hip out as he replied in a weary and sympathetic manner. ''Yeah. I went through that with Bumblebee.''
/NOW!/
Risin' ta ma pedes, I gave a loud chuckle and yelled out, ''Oh I remember that time well Prime. Bee jus' about drove ya ta commit murder.''
At once tha scene below me erupted inta chaos as Hound, Drift and Crosshairs produced their weapons and trained it upon my location. Rachet, Ironhide, Bumblebee and Prime refrained, their expressions alternatin' between shock and excitement as they searched for me. The human femme had screamed and dove for cover when tha weapons came out, tha boyfriend cowering with her. Cade had jumped ta his feet and stood protectively between his daughter and tha seeming disembodied voice. His eyes searchin' wildly. /I like him/.
Slowly, I stepped out from tha shadows, ma servos up in mock surrender and a massive grin on ma dermas. I gave a chuckle. ''Seems a shame ta shoot me after all this time searchin' for me, but by all means Hound, Drift and Crosshairs, fire away – but I'll take what I know with me.'' I gave 'em a wink.
''JAZZ!'' Prime's voice bellowed out and he took a step towards me, a look of pure happiness an' relief on his faceplates. ''Autobots, lower you weapons, now!''
''Well, if ya gonna go around skulking in shadows and tryin' to give me a spark attack, then you can bet your aft I'm gonna point one of these at your mug!'' Hound's irritated voice retorted.
Irohide an' Rachet both laughed and placed their servos on their hips. ''Hound, Crosshairs and Drift, you all might need a medical check-up if you can't place that voice, even after more than three years of not hearing it!'' Rachet teased and I smiled at ma friend.
''Thanks Hachet, missed you too man,'' I grinned down at him as I approached tha railing. Even tha use of tha hated nickname could not wipe tha smile from his dermas.
''I usually shoot first and then check to see if I should have later,'' Crosshairs spins his cannon about his digit and slides it back into its restin' place with deadly accuracy and speed.
''Well, hey man, thanks for thinkin' first an' decidin' ta shoot later,'' I grabbed hold of tha balcony railing and, using ma ninja like agility an' trainin', flipped over tha side, somersaulted to tha ground and landed on ma pedes with surprisingly little sound for a massive metallic robot. /Special Ops baby/.
There's a blurr of yella as Bee runs up and grabs me by tha shoulder struts, tha song ''Legends never die'' burstin' out of his radio and his face alight with happiness.
I place ma servos on Bee's shoulders and give him a pat. ''Thanks Bee, missed you too bro and mighty kind of ya to think that way 'bout lil' ol' me.'' I released his shoulders and gave him a big smile. The yella scout looked chuffed with seein' me.
''So,'' a confused voice interrupts our reunion. ''He's one of you? He's a good guy – an Autobot?'' Cade started ta approach me, one of his arms stretched out before him as if ta protect himself and one behind him ta try and protect his daughter and Shane, still not entirely sure I mean no harm ta him or his family.
I gave a low chuckle and flashed him a smile, ''Hey Cade. It's cool man. I'm an Autobot through and through brother. I mean ya no harm.''
At my words he seemed ta visibly relax as did tha other humans.
''Cade, Tessa, Shane, this is Jazz. He is my second lieutenant and head of special ops''. Prime introduced me with a warm smile on his dermas.
The Shane guy looked sceptically at me, ''Well if he's your 2IC Prime, where the hell has he been all this time? Why has he just shown up now?''
Ironhide took a step forward and placed his servos on hips, ''I'd like to know the answer to that question too. Where have you been all this time and why didn't you respond to any of Prime's, or Phoenix's urgent communiques?'' I felt a slight twinge of guilt as I took in 'Hide's expression. Though he was puttin' on a front, I could tell he had missed me and was a little hurt I had fallen off tha radar for over three years leavin' him ta deal with shit. Likely, Prime put him in charge in ma absence.
I gave a small smile, ''Fair question Shane and 'Hide. I've been – sight seein', layin' low ta avoid havin' ma spark snuffed out AND doin' what I do best - gatherin' intel.'' I grew serious for a moment, ''That's why I didn't respond ta tha comms 'Hide, I didn't want ta compromise all tha hard work we did tryin' ta find out who was behind all this shit by accidentally givin' away our location and intentions and I didn't want ta compromise anyone else's safety.'' Ironhide nodded his helm in silent acceptance.
Prime took another step towards me and placed a large servo on ma shoulder, ''Jazz, it is so good to see you again my friend,'' his optics shone brightly with emotion and his voice dropped ta almost a whisper as he struggled to speak, ''We thought the worst when we found out about Leadfoot.''
I grabbed Prime's servo and gave it a squeeze in a moment of shared loss. /Man have I missed the Big Guy!/. ''I could say tha same for you too Prime, sendin' that fraggin' message! You and me both almos' joined the Well of the Allspark but hey, guess we're tougher than we look.''
Prime smiled down at me, ''Indeed Jazz.'' He looked about for a moment, searchin'. ''Where are the others? Dino, Sideswipe, Roadbuster, Topspin? Do they live too, are they okay?''
Lookin' up at Prime I allowed a massive grin ta spread across ma dermas. ''Why don't you ask ''em for yaself Prime.'' With a loud whistle, the door to the church swung wide open and I took great delight in watchin' tha look of shock an' joy descend on everyone's faces as Dino, Sideswipe, Roadbuster and Topspin surged inta tha room.
''Hey Lucy, I'm home!'' Sideswipe rolled into tha room and around Bumblebee who beeped and chirped at him excitedly. Stoppin' near Prime 'Sides gave him a playful tap on tha arm, ''Gee, you look like you've been workin' out Boss Bot!'' 'Sides commented on Optimus' impressive new figure before he continued, ''Have the kids behaved while I was gone?'' Without waitin' for a reply, he rolled over and grabbed Bee in a headlock, rubbin' his helm. ''Did ya miss me Bee?'' I had to smile at ''Side's antics.
Bee elbowed him in tha chest and shoved him back roughly, though his optics shone brightly. ''Don't. Make me. Bust you up!''
''Sideswipe! Is thata way to talka to your friends after all this time? Sei diventato pazzo, have you gone crazy?'' Dino shook his helm in exasperation as he walked past Sideswipe and Bee and came ta stand near Drift, inclinin' his helm in a more civilised greetin'.
There's a flash of green and silver as tha Chevrolet Impala Nascar, Roadbuster, strode into tha room, his thick Scottish accent drawin' confused looks from tha humans. ''Don't be ridiculous Dino! We've all gone a bit fuckin' mental these past three or so years, layin' low, not really seein anyone…''
''Ahh. Brings back fond memories of our time workin' on the Xanthium hey Roadbuster. Didn't really see anyone much then neither 'cause a our ''attitude,'' Topspin the blue and white Chevrolet Impala Nascar interjected with his slightly southern drawl.
Roadbuster gave a derisive snort, ''What fuckin'' attitude would that be? We don't have a fuckin' attitude, that was just Mearing being a..''
''Roadbuster, Topspin, Sideswipe, Dino and Jazz,'' Prime thankfully and timely interrupted Roadbuster's outburst, ''I am sure I speak for everyone here when I say it is wonderful to see you all again.''
Crosshairs made a small snort and folded his arms across his chest mutterin', ''Well I preferred it when there weren't so many of us.''
''That can be arranged ya Nancy wanker!'' Roadbuster turned on Crosshairs, his frame tensin' up as he rounded on him. Crosshairs immediately drew his weapon and trained it on Roadbuster. Ironhide also produced his cannons aimin' 'em at Crosshairs as he raised an optic ridge at him, challengin' him.
Rachet merely rolled his optics in quiet frustration and pinched tha bridge of his olfactory sensor in risin' irritation. /Not long before he produces a wrench I bet/.
''Oh, please do it! Pull the trigger!'' Hound's optics seemed ta light up and he placed his servo on a grenade on his utility belt.
Sideswipe sighed out loud, drapin' an arm over Bumblebee's shoulder. ''Ahhh…. It's so good to have the family all together again for the holidays, isn't it?''
I found maself givin' a small, weary laugh and holdin' ma servos up. ''Tag! You're it Optimus.''
''Crosshairs! Roadbuster Ironhide, Hound – enough!'' Optimus growled at them all, standing up to his full imposin' height and takin' a few steps forward ta stand over them. ''What's the matter with you all? Don't you think we should be focusing our energies on the forces that seek to hunt us down and kill us, rather than turning on each other? We need to work together to infiltrate KSI, find out who Lockdown is working for and put a stop to all of it to clear our names, get all our lives back and – honour our fallen friends!'' Prime's commandin' voice silenced tha hostilities between Crosshairs and Roadbuster, though a quiet animosity continued ta simmer away.
I gave a small laugh. ''I guess that's why you're tha Prime!''
Prime turned ta me and gave me a small smile in return before a worryin' look flitted across his face. ''Jazz, you mentioned before that you'd take your secrets with you if Crosshairs shot you. What do you mean ''secrets?'' What do you know?'' Prime folded his arms across his chest and pinned me with an interrogative stare.
''Don't miss a trick do ya.'' Tha smile slowly faded from ma dermas. ''Oh, I know heaps Prime. I am sure my team and I can answer quite a few questions no doubt ya all have been askin' about these arseholes that keep huntin' us…''
''Nancy fuckin' wankers the lot of ''em!'' Roadbuster could no longer contain the anger he had bubblin' away and once again he exploded like a powder keg. ''When I get my servos on 'em, I'm gonna fuckin' bottle the lot of 'em for what they did te Leadfoot, gutless fuckin' Jessies the lot of 'em!'' He now paced agitatedly about tha room, a look of utter disgust on his face.
Tha human female, Tessa, stood behind her boyfriend Shane and Cade had moved to stand closer to her as he had watched the interchange between Roadbuster and Crosshairs. While I wanted ta tell Roadbuster ta watch what he said as there were youngens and ladies around, I knew it would only serve ta wind him up more, so I let him say his piece. Prime also thought better of it havin' jus' rebuked him, though he took a step towards Roadbuster and narrowed his optics in a silent warning to kerb his temper. Which Roadbuster, thankfully, took note of.
I sighed out loud, ''But,'' I spied a sturdy pile of rubbish on tha floor and made ma way over, lowerin' myself carefully. ''In order ta get ta that part, I need ta tell ya all what we have been doin' for tha past three or so and how we came ta know what we know.''
Prime nodded his helm and propped himself up against the same pillar he had leant against earlier. ''Very well Jazz. I am sure we are all keen to learn what happened to you all, not to mention what intel you have against those that hunt us. Please, proceed.''
