Chapter 6

One of Mirage's optic ridges curved in an expression of skepticism. "I find that somewhat hard to believe." The spy replied coldly. There was a click as he thumbed the safety off. "You never did get your ankle looked at after you slashed your own tires did you? Or were you too busy tampering with evidence and covering your aft?" Mirage's optics narrowed slightly. "How could you? How could you DARE do that to one of your friends?"

"MIRAGE! Stand down!" Prime bellowed as he slid to a halt, Ironhide a few seconds behind. "What in Cybertron's name is going on here!"
Reluctantly, Mirage released his captive. "He's the shooter." The spy explained. "I was merely taking the appropriate course of action."

Prime's disbelieving optics turned to the Autobot. "Is that true?" He asked.
"Yeah." Jazz replied, looking down at the ground in shame. "It was me."
"But why?"
"Like I said b'fore. I didn't have a choice." Jazz sighed. "It was either Prowl or some buddies o' mine back home. I couldn't risk that, not even for th' Autobots."

"I think you'd better start at the beginning." Prime said, still trying to wrap his head around this unexpected revelation.
"Yeah. Guess I'd better."

Jazz leaned against the wall behind him, still not meeting anyone's optics. "It all started back in th' early days. I was a rookie, just outta th' Academy. 'Cause my mug-shot wasn't on anyone's wanted list yet, Prowl recruited me t' go undercover an' help t' break up a gang ring in Heliohex. Managed t' get inta th' inner circle of the boss-mech, a dude who called 'imself Chief. Long story short, th' sting went perfectly, but Chief escaped. He turned up on Earth a week ago an' contacted me fer a meetin'. Somehow he found out that I was th' undercover agent an' that Prowl had headed th' op. Gave me an ultimatum- kill Prowl or he'd have some o' my buddies knocked off."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Optimus asked.
Jazz shook his head. "Couldn't risk it. M' plan was t' make it look like I'd popped Prowl, then give th' heads up t' the boys back home once Chief took th' bait an' left th' planet. If I'd told ya, it'd make it that much harder t' keep th' plan quiet. A secret ain't a secret if more than one 'bot knows 'bout it. One wrong word and it'd be lights out fer a few folks."

"An' what about th' distributor cap an' the holograms?" Ironhide interrupted.
"Took the cap an' doctored it t' look like the cap off of Prowl's spark chamber as proof of th' kill f' Chief." Jazz explained. "Had t' alter th' holograms t' stall fer time. Otherwise, y' woulda caught me too quick."

The special ops officer stood up straight and squared his shoulders, visored head still hanging. "Do whatcha want t' me. I deserve it fer what I did."

Methinks there will be a few cries of 'I knew it!' at this point;) Many, many thanks to everyone who's been reading and reviewing this, but don't stop yet, for as the friendly telemarketer says 'But wait, there's more!'