Chapter 125 – One Seed for One Prime

Jazz P.O.V

As I walked through tha corridors of tha ship, ma conversation with Phoenix echoed in ma processor. /Prime may be ready to give up on my planet and its people – but I am not! We continue as planned/. I had ta smile at Phoenix's stubbornness and commitment ta a cause – even one that seemed doomed ta failure. ''So similar ta her beloved Optimus in many ways. Perhaps that is why Primus saw fit ta bring them together?''

I sighed out loud – yet again. I was gatherin' tha necessary courage ta tell Prime about tha Seed – an' Phoenix. /You gotta tell him so he can make an informed decision Jazz. If he knows what they have in their possession and who is preparin' ta sacrifice themselves ta stop them!/.

''Jazz! We were just on our way back to the cockpit,'' the deep rumbling voice of the very mech I had come in search of addressed me and drew me out of my musings. Elita stood beside him and they were both smiling.

I flashed them both a quick grin, ''Ah, well let me save ya tha hassle of comin' ta find me Prime!'' I turned ma helm between them both, observin' an' tha corners of ma dermas turned up into a grin. ''So, I'm guessin' ya both managed to sort things out between tha two of ya and ya both on the same page?'' I folded ma arms across my chest and threw them both a cheeky grin.

Prime and Elita looked at each other an' then back at me. The ship's engines had slowed down, an' it was clear we were approachin' our destination. ''Yes Jazz, Elita and I have managed to as you say, ''sort things out,'' and have forgiven each other.''

Elita laughed out loud. ''Same page – same chapter, same book even Jazz.'' She smiled up at Prime once more an' he returned her smile with equal happiness.

/Primus help me but I am about ta burst his bubble of happiness/. For a brief moment I thought against sayin' anythin' to him, but I would not be doin' ma duty as Special Ops, 2IC and most importantly - his friend - if I didn't impart what I knew now. ''Say that's great 'Lita an' Prime,'' I smiled warmly at 'em both. ''Always good ta hear good news.'' /Really Jazz? Ya gonna make that comment now?/. I mentally chided maself.

Prime an' Elita made ta continue walkin' towards tha cockpit but I reached out an' grabbed Prime's arm. ''Ah Prime, before ya leave, can I steal a moment of ya time please? We need ta talk.''

Elita gave a small smile an' laughed. ''Seems to be the day for it Optimus.''

''Indeed. Very well Jazz.'' Prime nodded his helm towards Elita indicating she should continue on alone before he turned ta face me an' folded his arms across his massive chest. When Elita was out of audial range Prime spoke. His was voice low and carrying a warning, ''Jazz, if this is about my actions at KSI I do not feel I have to..''

''Prime; Joyce and Attinger have a Seed.'' Well. There you go. Nothing like getting straight to the point now is there Jazz. /Ironhide would be proud!/.

Prime's arms flew out ta his sides in alarm an' his dermas parted in shock for a moment as tha unexpected news filtered through his processor. After a spark beat, his optics narrowed dangerously, he ground his denta together an' a steely look descended over his features. His voice was almost a growl. ''How did they get that and what in the pit are they..'' He stopped himself short as his processor seemed ta connect the dots rapidly. He really was too smart for his own good – most of tha time. ''Lockdown! Lockdown gave it to them. That's why the humans were helping him to capture me!''

I felt maself sigh an' nodded ma helm. ''Yep. One seed for one Prime. That was tha deal. I'm sorry Prime.'' Truly I was.

Prime snorted steam through his enstrils and his servos clenched into fists. His voice was menacing and filled with hostility, ''They are going to use it to generate more transformium so they can make more soulless machines, aren't they?'' It was a rhetorical question. A sneer formed on his dermas for a moment, ''they are going to destroy their world with our technology.'' He snorted, ''They think that by turning our technology, our very elemental metals against us, they are saving their planet from us and the likes of us but really, they have just brought doom upon themselves.'' The sneer turned into a twisted grin. ''They deserve what they get.'' Prime began ta stalk towards tha cockpit, a darkness returning' ta settle around him.

My servo darted out an' grabbed his arm, haltin' his retreat. His optics travelled down slowly ta rest upon tha offending appendage. ''Jazz – I'll thank you to release my arm.''

I set ma dermas in a thin line of determination an' concern. I kept ma servo where it was. ''Prime. Listen to yaself! ''THEIR world? Where do ya think we have called home these past nine years and for tha most part been allowed ta?'' His optics narrowed and his dermas closed tightly, though he made no move to ignore me. ''I know the humans have let ya down big time,'' he grunted at this and shuttered his optics, pulling his arm out of my grip. But he stood where he was. ''And ya have every right ta be angry and disappointed after all we have done – all YOU have personally done and sacrificed for them. But Prime, walkin' away from something or someone you swear you'd protect, givin' up when you're needed tha most – that's not you!''

His chest rose and fell as he ex-vented heavily, his servos clenched tightly by his sides as he closed his optics, my words fightin' ta sink in. ''Jazz,'' his voice was almost inaudible. ''Lately, it's as though I don't know who I am anymore. I don't know why I bother to keep fighting, why I keep trying to have faith that everything will be okay, when I don't feel okay – I feel lost!'' He turned his optics towards me, and an anger an' pain swirled within them. He was fightin' alright. He lowered his helm as the ship began its descent, bringing him closer to a decision he would have to make.

I sent him a sad smile before I once again clasped his arm, but this time in comfort and support. ''Prime. I don't doubt for a moment with everythin' that has happened to ya in tha last five years, tha pain ya have suffered, tha sense of grief an' loss,'' he made a low groaning sound an' his shoulders slumped at tha meaning of ma words. I continued. ''That ya spark is overwhelmed an' you've had enough, but Prime, YOU gotta stay the course! You gotta find ya compass again, ya true north and let it lead ya back on tha right path.''

Prime closed his optics again an' sighed deeply, as if trying ta expel tha pain, tha darkness and tha anger that threatened ta consume him. ''But Jazz, I feel as though I have lost it.'' He opened his optics an' cast a truly sorrowful look in ma direction. ''I have lost her.'' The ship came ta an abrupt stop and tha engines began ta power down.

We had landed.

Prime's face once again hardened as tha cargo bay doors were opened an' tha sound of car engines revving in tha distance could faintly be heard over tha din of tha craft. Prime turned on his pedes an' began ta stride towards tha exit, sparin' a quick glance over his shoulder towards me. ''Thank you Jazz for coming to my aid on Lockdown's ship and for your…. information.'' I began ta walk after him. He turned back towards tha exit an' walked purposefully down tha ramp. ''It has been of great importance in helping me to reach a decision.''

/Top three chats hey Jazz?/ I mocked maself as I followed Prime's powerful figure down tha ramp towards tha approachin' Bumblebee, Drift, Ironhide, Rachet, Arcee and our human allies. I felt that sinkin' feelin' take hold of me. /I think that jus' got bumped up ta number two! Number one is yet ta take place/. I still hadn't told him about Phoenix yet an' after his reaction then – I wasn't sure how ta tell him, an' I wasn't really sure if I could do it.