Prowl kept coming, even though Jazz knew his headlights were visible for a good long way.
"Jazz to Prowl, I'm not moving man! If you're bent on meeting Primus you're going to have to take me with you!"
Jazz had no idea if the Datsun received him, but he skidded to a stop at the last possible astrotick, rear bumper just brushing the Porsche's grille, and spraying him with grit.
Jazz didn't know if it was common sense or a shred of his old self that had caused the Datsun to brake, but he didn't care.
"Out of my way Jazz, now," Prowl snapped, reversing a few feet.
"No. I could take you out with my rifle and drag you back to the Ark unconscious, but there's no way in the Universe I'm doing that again Prowl.
Please, please just tell me what's going on. If...if we're going to lose you, I just want to know why."
Prowl transformed and turned his back on the Porsche, fists clenched by his sides.
"I just can't shake you, can I," Prowl whispered to himself.
The saboteur transformed and took one hesitant step toward the Datsun.
He could sense Prowl silently struggling within, and it was all Jazz could do to just stay where he was and not reach out to him.
Prowl glanced at the sky and passed a hand over his optics.
He turned and looked the Porsche in the visor.
"Jazz, I've been acting under Prime's orders," Prowl said quietly, "And it's been extremely difficult."
Jazz stared at him for an astrotick, then threw his arms around the Datsun.
'Oh man, I knew it wasn't you!" he babbled, clinging tight to his friend in pure relief.
Prowl reciprocated.
"Prowl man, you're ok then? There's nothing wrong?" the saboteur begged.
"Not a thing Jazz, apart from feeling extremely awful, and very guilty, about my behaviour, even though it was ordered so,"
The tactician let go of the Porsche.
"I've missed you Jazz," Prowl said quietly, with a slight smile.
"But I'm sorry about everything I said or did-"
"Forget it man, though I have to say, you're a damn good actor,"
"Jazz. You don't know how close I was to spilling everything after I, uh, "trashed" my quarters, when you still insisted on some gentleness with those shackles...after everything I'd done.
That's why I had to keep quiet...and then suggest to Prime that we concoct something to facilitate me being put in the holding cell. I couldn't stand to see how I was affecting everyone any longer...I'm so sorry about this Jazz," Prowl whispered painfully, hesitantly reaching a hand out to the saboteur's midsection and faltering.
"I was aiming for the backs of your knees...I didn't intend to cause any damage, but I've injured you badly-"
"Man, it's just a cut," Jazz lied, trying to reassure him.
"I know it's more than a cut, and if it wasn't such an impracticality right now, I'd make you do the same to me to make up for it," Prowl said seriously, gazing directly at his feet.
"Come on, forget it," Jazz said softly, tipping his chin up.
"It's been difficult," Prowl said quietly, "I've been having trouble recharging, and I know you have too...I could only manage a few astrominutes each cycle,"
"This whole time? No wonder you were out of it for so long in the medbay...but I guess that knockout jab you got helped," Jazz couldn't help chuckling.
"And you were there the entire time Jazz. I-"
The saboteur held up his hand.
"Man, what are friends for?"
It came out with such ease and honesty...and that dazzling trademark grin.
"Jazz...thank you," Prowl whispered, with the slightest catch in his tone.
He suddenly recalled something else.
"Jazz, I am so sorry about that Energon, that was a disgraceful and uncouth thing to do, and-"
Prowl paused in amazement as the Porsche laughed.
"Prowl man, that threw me more than anything else you did, you know? It wasn't the best thing that's ever happened to me, but it's not the worst either. Forget it."
Prowl shook his head and sat on a boulder.
He folded his arms and gave the Porsche his minimalistic smile.
"I can't get over how tolerant you are Jazz...and that's why I had such a hard time shaking you off. That's when the 'incidents' became more violent...and even harder to carry out,"
Jazz watched the Datsun briefly lay face in hands, and saw how hard the situation had been on him.
"Oh Prowl. Why didn't you just tell me? I could've played along-"
Prowl straightened and gazed past him.
"Jazz, it wouldn't have worked. When everyone watched me turn on you, my closest friend, and other Autobots I trust unconditionally...and Prime, who I'd lay down my life for..."
He trailed off and Jazz silently laid a hand on his shoulder.
Prowl paused and composed himself.
"I had to alienate everyone, so my leaving wouldn't seem suspicious or out of character."
Prowl looked at Jazz.
"But that seems to have been an impossibility with you Jazz," he said softly.
"Man, there is nothing you could ever say or do that would dissolve our friendship, do you hear me?"
"I realize that," Prowl said quietly, with a slight smile, "And believe me, that's something I'll always hang onto, especially now."
"I'm happy to hear it Prowl...you're like a brother to me man," Jazz added softly.
The tactician was touched to his transistors at that, and it showed.
He sighed.
"I wish I hadn't had to do it this way. It was mainly for the Decepticons' benefit. If there were any spies about, it had to be completely plausible-"
Prowl stopped mid-sentence.
"Sorry Jazz," he barely whispered, and a split astrosecond later leapt up and landed a heavy blow on the unprepared saboteur's chin, sending him against the wall of the canyon.
Prowl lunged, pinning Jazz, and hissed, "Hit me back, now,"
Jazz caught on instantly.
Prowl had obviously detected an enemy spy or spies.
He tore himself out of the Datsun's grip and tackled him around the midsection.
Jazz drove him against the opposite rock wall, forcing himself to keep it real, but trying hard not to hurt him.
"Gutless wonder!" Jazz spat, "You don't deserve to be an Autobot!"
Prowl forced the saboteur back, trying just as desperately not to injure him any further.
As he did so, Jazz caught sight of the despised tin-foil turkey Laserbeak, openly gathering footage of them from a rocky overhang.
"He's just arrived," Prowl managed to mutter, "So keep it real,"
Jazz didn't dare risk answering him, instead he swept the tactician's feet from under him and put him on his back in the sand.
Prowl managed to pull the saboteur down with him, and as they tussled, hissed, "Jazz, we're being too quiet. Think up some more insults quick!"
"Oh man," Jazz muttered.
"I...I wish I'd taken you apart instead of just stunning you, traitor!"
"Autobot scum! I hope Megatron blows the Ark and everyone in it sky-high!" Prowl cursed loudly.
Jazz stumbled to his feet, dragged Prowl up, pulled his hands behind him and pushed him front-first against the rock wall.
"Man you ok?" he whispered quickly.
"Fine Jazz. Keep it up,"
Prowl struggled, Jazz raised a knee and leaned into the tactician's back as he freed a hand to pull out his rifle.
"Optimus Prime will probably thank me for this!" Jazz said, loud and clear.
Prowl suddenly forced himself backward, sending Jazz onto his aft, and yanked out his own rifle as the saboteur scrambled to his feet.
They circled one another, fifteen feet apart, knowing the target was Laserbeak.
At the moment the Casseticon rose and circled for a better angle, taking up a precarious perch on an unstable overhang.
Two lots of Autobot firepower at that would likely result in two flattened mechs.
Quick change of plan, Jazz read in Prowl's slight shift of door-panel position.
He stepped up close to the Porsche.
Prowl reached for his chest, and tore off the red insignia.
"Take this to Optimus Prime, you Autobot lackey," the tactician spat, flinging the symbol at the bigger mech.
tactician and saboteur held each other's icy glare for what felt like an eternity.
They finally caught a slight sound from above, and dared to turn their heads as the mechanical stool pigeon winged off, sending a handful of loose cliff face skittering down.
"Oh man," Jazz muttered.
He backed up a couple of unsteady steps and sat on a boulder, one hand across his midsection, head in the other, hoping his optics would stop fritzing soon.
Prowl had a mean punch.
The tactician kneeled in front of him, slightly off-balance and with a king-size headache of his own.
"Primus Jazz, I'm so sorry. It was the first thing that came to mind," he said ruefully, gently examining the Porsche's chin.
Jazz raised his head and grinned at him.
"Old Laserbeak wouldn't have bought it any other way man. But holy hexadynes, that improv stuff is hard!"
Prowl realized Jazz was going to live.
He got to his feet, forced to steady himself with a hand on the saboteur's shoulder.
Jazz had a hefty punch too.
"What about you man, you ok?" Jazz asked.
"I'll be fine. Jazz, listen to me. Go straight to Prime and tell him what you know. You cannot let on to anyone else that this was all a ruse.
It could put every Autobot in danger if the Decepticons were to get word of it,"
Jazz heard the urgency in the Datsun's tone.
"Man, where are you going? What's this all about?"
"Jazz, I have to get to Cybertron,"
The saboteur did a double take.
"Cybertron? Why? On your own?"
"Yes,"
"Prowl, tell me what's going on, and I'll come with you," he said quickly, "You can't-"
"Jazz, no," Prowl cut in firmly.
"Why man? You're going to need help, surely," Jazz said desperately.
Prowl glanced away for an astrotick.
"I'd like nothing more than to explain what's going on, but I'm under orders. I've already said too much, and I just hope I haven't placed you in jeopardy by doing so,"
Prowl looked at him.
"You know I hate to do this at the best of times, and I'm sorry. I'm giving you a direct order: don't try to follow me Jazz. I know you want to help, and I greatly appreciate it, but please, just get back to the Ark and to Prime."
Prowl glanced at the rapidly descending twilight.
"I have to go," he said softly, "Everything has been pre-arranged and I need to reach the spacebridge by nightfall,"
"Prowl...be careful," Jazz pleaded, gingerly standing up, "Are you sure there's no other way..."
"I have to do this Jazz, it could mean all our lives," Prowl said steadily.
"Thanks for not giving up on me," he added with a hint of a smile, offering a parting handshake.
Jazz grasped the white hand, then tugged him into a back-slap embrace.
"See you when you get back man," Jazz intoned, then let go of him.
"Will do Jazz."
Prowl transformed and took off, keeping to the darkest side of the narrow canyon.
Jazz watched him go, then bent down a little painfully and collected the Autobot insignia.
He flicked desert sand off and subspaced it.
Jazz transformed and ripped back to the Ark, feeling like one weight had been replaced by another.
Prowl was back, but now he was in a perilous situation...and Jazz couldn't help him.
X
X
X
X
The Porsche powered along one of the lesser-used tracks the Autobots had worn into the desert landscape.
He reviewed his conversation with Prowl, grateful that he'd been able to speak to him.
Jazz tried to think how to not let the turbo-fox out of the subspace pocket, so to speak, with the rest of the Autobots.
The saboteur tried to imagine how in the Universe he'd be able to defend Prowl's "desertion" to them.
Jazz was also being eaten alive with curiosity concerning the tactician's mission.
And with worry.
With all that chasing around in his CPU, he didn't pay attention to scanners, or an incoming transmission.
Nor did he notice the oncoming dust cloud, and nearly collected the Ark's resident spy in a small dip.
The Ligier swerved around him, hit the brakes, and came to a standstill after an almost two hundred and seventy degree slide.
Jazz came to a screeching halt, transformed, and dashed back.
"Primus sorry 'Raj man! Are you ok?"
"Not a scratch Jazz...but could you answer your radio next time? Or at least turn your headlights on?"
"Were you hailing me? Sorry man,"
"Yes. Prime sent me after you once he found out where you'd gone,"
Mirage transformed and Jazz was relieved to see everything still worked.
"Jazz! What happened?" Mirage exclaimed, gazing at the saboteur's damaged chin.
"What? Oh...um, I tried to stop Prowl," he said carefully, "Bad move."
"I still can't believe he'd do that to anyone, let alone you,"
"Well, he did worse," Jazz said flatly, throwing himself into perpetuating the anti-Prowl sentiments, thumbing his midsection.
Mirage glanced around uneasily.
"Um...where is Prowl?" he asked warily.
Oh man, here it comes. Jazz's acting debut, the saboteur said to himself, Break a leg.
"Prowl's gone," he said expressionlessly.
"Gone! Where?"
"Mirage, I wouldn't have a clue,"
Jazz watched the Ligier take that in, hoping madly he'd been convincing.
Mirage looked shell-shocked.
Not really surprising, considering how level-headed Prowl "used" to be.
"I can't believe it," the spy murmured, after several silent astroseconds.
Jazz quickly followed up the advantage.
"C'mon 'Raj man. Let's go home," Jazz said defeatedly, and transformed.
X
X
X
X
The entire Ark was buzzing with the news.
While only a handful of Autobots were openly verbal about being happy to see Prowl gone, Jazz noticed few were actually disagreeing with them.
The Porsche realized he'd been the only one to even consider going after the Datsun.
Several Autobots tackled him the moment he and Mirage set treads in the Ark, wanting to know what had occurred, where Prowl had gone, why Jazz hadn't simply dragged him back.
Jazz transformed and erupted.
"If you're all so slagging concerned, why didn't you come with me when I left! Prowl's gone, simple as that! And I have no idea what might happen to him!"
The last sentence slipped out before he could stop it.
And slipped out very shakily.
"I'm not listening to this," he snapped, and exited quickly.
Jazz went directly to Optimus Prime's office.
The commander answered the urgent knock, and one look was all he needed.
"You know," he said softly.