Finding Home
Chapter 54
By Voodoo Queen
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Author's Note: Hello Dear Readers! I hope you're all having a fantabulous day! I have made it back with another chapter. We're coming to a major story point (any guesses?) and I feel like it's getting more complicated to write as we go so I apologize for the time it's taking me to get new chapters out. There are things I've laid out in previous chapters that I want to make sure are properly tied into later chapters and I try really hard to give you guys quality over quantity…even though this story has become insanely longer than I originally intended. Plus this was kinda hard to write because there are people I don't want you to hate, but they are people with their own views and opinions that may not always sync up with our own. It doesn't make them bad people, but may make them come across as a butthole in some situations. That said, I do apologize for my lateness, but I hope you enjoy the chapter. Thank you to all who have taken the time to read this story and especially those who have taken the time to drop a review: bambam411, TenebrisSagittarius, monkeybaby, ScarletSea, 'Guests', Freya2Xana, Starflower525, squidibles14, SilverStorm5, hermonine, No-Shmucks-Given45, .Princess, fandomsbrokeme, FUNTIMESKYWAVE, xauroragoddessx, SkarletRacer, Deimoss, 13BloodyStitches, Voos Guest, fourtyfourb, the everchanging, TomRiddlesTwin, lostariel0716, emzydatffan, Mysine
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, just my own original characters, and plot.
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Jazz was absolutely furious. He could feel the energon pounding through his lines and his internal cooling system was doing little to quell the enraged heat smoldering in his spark. Gone was the easygoing, laid-back mech everyone knew and loved. In his place was a tense, glowering bastion of rage that put even Sunstreaker's infamous temper to shame. He paced the length of Prime's office, unable to sit still for long. Protective protocols fired off inside his processor. Who did that human think she was? How dare she threaten his family, his sparkling, and not expect him to do something about it. His temper was hanging by a tenuous thread and it was only Prowl's reassuring hand on his shoulder that prevented him from storming out of Prime's office to handle the situation himself.
Permanently.
He was somewhat proud of himself. He'd managed to keep himself cool and composed when Amy had returned from her lunch break and informed him that Galloway's lackey had been beating down the doors of everyone living in the barracks looking for her and that one of her human colleagues had warned her about the technician's erratic behavior on the premises. He'd reassured her and told her not to worry. After all, that alone could have been written off as some sort of weird response to the incident in their office. It was no secret the woman wasn't firing on all cylinders. However, when Prowl had commed him asking him to meet in his office, he'd felt his tank drop. The tone of his friend's voice had told him that he wouldn't like what he heard when he got there.
He'd actually been surprised when he'd walked into the SIC's office to find an enraged Sunstreaker and a worried Sideswipe awaiting his arrival. Disappointment had been his initial reaction to seeing the pair. The two of them had been spending all of their free time with Amy and it had been a blessed while since they'd gotten into trouble serious enough to warrant a reprimand from both Prime's Second and Third in Command. As Jazz mentally prepared himself to address whatever mischief the two had gotten themselves into, Prowl held up his hand in a gesture for him to wait before tearing into them.
"Explain to Jazz what transpired in the hangar," Prowl instructed the pair in an even, steady tone.
Sideswipe had opened his mouth to respond, but Sunny had erupted into an expletive fueled tirade before his brother could utter the first word. As Jazz listened, the twins going back and forth between their different points of view, he found himself growing angrier and more concerned. Their experience in the hangar, plus Amy's unwanted visitor in the barracks spelled trouble for the trio and Jazz refused to just sit back and let it happen. His processor was already trying to formulate a plan to tackle the situation before it could get out of hand, with Amy's security and well-being taking point.
Once the twins had finished recounting their experience, Prowl had cut them loose, relieving them both of their duties for the remainder of the cycle as neither were really in a state of mind to be productive and would only be in the way. After a moment of debate with himself over whether or not Amy would be better off remaining safe and sound in the bunker or roaming freely with the twins, he'd followed suit, calling Amy and advising her to pack it in for the rest of the day. She'd argued, of course, but Jazz had got her to relent by telling her that something else of importance had come up and that he'd fill her in later once he'd worked everything out. She'd been hesitant to walk away leaving the rest of her work undone, but had followed his direction nonetheless.
That taken care of, Jazz had turned to his oldest friend with a grim expression. "What do you think, Prowler? How worried do I need to be about this?"
Prowl vented and sank down to sit on the edge of his desk. He was quiet for a moment, a faraway expression on his face as he parsed and analyzed a million different ways the situation could play out. No matter how he ran the numbers, the result always ended up roughly the same. The outcome wasn't favorable.
Prowl shook his head. "Despite Sunstreaker's rather graphic threats, given Ms. Harmon's past behaviors and the fact that she's actively trying to engage Ms. Doe outside of working hours, and has gone so far as to confront the twins directly over the status of their relationship with her, I'd say there is approximately a 92.75 percent chance, give or take, that her suspicions and accusations reach someone higher within the human command structure, purposefully or not."
"Frag me," Jazz cursed. This was exactly what he'd been afraid of. The humans would never understand and, deep in his spark, he knew they'd never accept something so far beyond their realm of comprehension. It wouldn't matter that, for Cybertronians, it was the most beautiful and natural thing in the universe. All that would matter to them would be the fact that Amy wore a human body. If things escalated, there would be probing personal questions that would no doubt lead to intense scrutiny and ridicule and the thought of exposing Amy to any of that made him feel ill. Not to mention the professional ramifications the young woman would be faced with. The need to shelter her from the world was an almost palpable thing.
"Based upon what I've observed of human military operations and their rules governing the personal and private behaviors of those under their jurisdiction," the SIC continued, "the likelihood of some sort of inquiry or investigation resulting from said accusations are more probable than not. Given the circumstances, I've already taken the liberty of researching the punishments for violations of perceived infractions against the UCMJ pertaining to domestic situations. Depending on the severity it can run the gamut from wage garnishment, extra duty, and restriction of personal liberties, to loss of rank, revocation of security clearances, dishonorable dismissal from the armed services, and potential incarceration if it is deemed that inappropriate relations have impacted safety, security, or the combat readiness of the accused's command."
Jazz shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "She hasn't done anythin' wrong to be punished for. None of 'em have."
"I agree. Unfortunately," Prowl reminded, "we aren't completely operating under our own statutes and standards. Yes, she has been temporarily placed under Optimus' command, but at the end of the day, despite the arrangements we've made for her retention, Ms. Doe is still human and she ultimately falls under the jurisdiction of her affiliated branch of service once all is said and done."
"I'm tellin' ya right now," the TIC took on a gravely serious tone, "I'll be a dead mech before I allow some human bureaucrat to come in here and take her from me over somethin' perfectly healthy and natural, that she has no control over because some whacked out femme has a bug up her aft. You can quote me on that."
"I'm on your side here, Jazz." Prowl vented, "I understand..."
"No." Jazz shook his head, interrupting his friend. "I love ya like a brother, Prowler, but there is no way in Creation that you could ever begin to understand."
"I understand," Prowl carefully began again, "that there may be something going on here that defies logic and reason. I deal in numbers and hard facts. This, whatever is going on here, this is beyond that. I know this. I know you, Jazz, and I know this goes deeper than you've led everyone else to believe. I've not questioned you out of respect, but if I had to venture a guess, I'd say her compatibility with the twins is merely the tip of the iceberg."
Jazz was silent, studying Prowl carefully for a moment before venting and shaking his head. "You'll think I'm crazy. I think the scraplet already believes I've lost it." Jazz drew air down deep into his intakes and released it slowly. "Did ya know I received her personnel file in error?"
Prowl nodded hesitantly. "I skimmed through the candidates before I forwarded all the files on to you. I suspected as much, but," he quickly added, "I also trust your judgment. She's proven herself time and again to be a great ally and addition to the team, and I know you wouldn't have gone through the trouble of bringing her here if you didn't have a very good reason to do so."
"I did." Jazz nodded as he slowly explained. "Before Zeph died, I made her a promise."
A frown formed on Prowl's face, his brow furrowing in concern. The loss of his family was one of the few things Jazz refused to discuss, even with him. It was the one thing Jazz had always found too painful to address head-on. He knew Jazz kept Zephyr and their sparkling close to his spark where he could keep their memory safe and untarnished by the horrors he'd seen since. To hear the femme's name spoken out loud by the mech after so many vorns was almost startling and cause for worry. "Jazz..."
"Hear me out." Jazz held up a hand to stop whatever his friend had been about to say. He needed to get this out. He needed Prowl to understand. "Listen first and when I'm done, you can call Ratchet and have him lock me up in a padded room in the med bay if ya feel the need, but I need to tell ya this."
Prowl studied the other mech for a long moment before venting heavily and nodding his agreement. "Very well."
"Before Zeph died, she made me promise that I'd take care of our sparkling once she was gone. I thought it was the pain talkin'. There was no way she could have survived those kinds of injuries, let alone the sparkling she was carryin'. There wasn't anythin' that could have been done to save either of 'em. I don't need Ratchet's medical expertise to tell me that," Jazz confessed. "You were there. You saw her, Prowler. You know how bad it was."
Prowl nodded again, solemnly. They'd left a vibrant, bustling city behind and had returned home to a nightmare. Devastation stretched as far as the optic could see. Fires still smoldered, billowing thick, acrid smoke into the sky and causing the post-apocalyptic landscape to be bathed in a hellish red glow. The dying screams and moans of those trapped beneath the rubble carried on the stifling breeze. An entire city, mostly comprised of innocent civilians just trying to live their lives despite the growing hostility surrounding them—friends, family, and loved ones—were effectively and efficiently exterminated by the Decepticons that day. He'd helped recover the bodies and was all too aware of just how bad it had been.
Jazz's optics drifted closed and in his mind's eye, he could still see the crushed and mangled frame of the femme he'd planned to spend the rest of his eternity with, lain out before him on a medical gurney, a slowly oozing pool of energon forming beneath her. Other than the bottomless blue optics he'd often found himself lost in, she'd barely been recognizable when they'd found her. Her smooth, delicate faceplates were warped and gouged. Her once pristine white armor was twisted and blackened by the extreme heat of the fires that had engulfed the area of the city they'd lived in and the rubble she'd been buried beneath. Even so, even at that moment, she was still the most beautiful femme he'd ever lain his optics on. Barely clinging to life, she'd clutched at his hands, using the last of her energy to press them against the gaping hole that had been carved into her spark chamber, exposing her struggling spark and bringing a brutal and decisive end to the life they'd shared and their dreams of having a family.
She had to have known. She had to have felt it as the tiny life they'd sparked into being sputtered and flickered out of existence before it had even had a chance to really live. Primus knew Jazz could feel it—a dark fissure of emptiness and grief where the fledgling tie of a familial bond had once taken root. A small but bright light, nestled safely and securely in the depths of his own spark to be nurtured and cherished—unceremoniously and cruelly extinguished, leaving behind a dark, yawning chasm of pain and emptiness that Jazz was sure he'd never recover from. The fresh agony of loss was nearly suffocating, but he'd held himself together. For her. Only for her. All the while, he'd been all too aware that the worst was yet to come as he stood by helpless to stop the life from slowly draining from his mate's optics.
"Take...care of...our...Little One," she'd wheezed, her optics desperate as they'd searched his own. "Please..."
"Shh..." he'd attempted to soothe, stroking her face and feeling his spark break a little more with every word she managed to utter. "Ya need to save yer strength, starlight."
"N-no..." She'd shaken her head. "Pr-promise me, Jazz. Wa-wait for them," she'd gasped as a wave of pain wracked her body. "It's not...their time. Wasn't...supposed to happen. Not...not like this. When you find them...love them...love them en-enough for the both of us."
"You know I will." He'd pressed his lips to her temple, breathing the words into her audio canal in a whisper that only she could hear. "I promise."
Jazz's optics blinked open and he settled his gaze on Prowl. "None of this happened by chance," he stated quietly. "Not us bein' here, not me receivin' the scraplet's file, and not her bein' able to link up with Sides 'n' Sunny. Zeph knew," he stated emphatically. "I don't know how, but she knew. I know." He pressed a hand over his chest plates. "I knew there was somethin' special about the scraplet the first time I laid optics on her file. She belonged here. With me. I knew it as certainly as I knew my spark was burnin' in my chest. I didn't understand any of it at first, but I can feel it now. It's as real and as strong as when Zeph was alive. That's my little girl out there, Prowler," Jazz's voice cracked with emotion. "I may not know how any of this happened, but I'm tellin' ya, I'll be damned straight to the Pit before I let anythin' else hurt her."
Prowl looked contemplative for a moment, absorbing his friend's words, and then nodded. "I believe you," he stated simply. He seemed to reflect inwardly for a moment before nodding once more and adding, "You well know I'm not a mech that puts much stock into spiritual matters, but I'm also not one to discount something simply because it's beyond my realm of experience. As I said, I know you, Jazz, and I know this isn't a declaration you'd make lightly or without reason." He paused a moment, seeming to turn the situation over in his processor once more. "Things...make more sense now."
Jazz vented, his relief was nearly palpable. His shoulders slumped slightly as some of the tension left his frame. "Do ya still trust my judgment?"
"Your judgment was never in question, Jazz." The SIC stood and crossed the room to lay a supportive hand on the other mech's shoulder. "As I said, I know that whatever is happening here goes well beyond my ability to rationalize it and I can see how much she means to you...and you to her. A blind mech could clearly see there's a loving bond there. Speaking of which," Prowl dropped his hand and moved to lean against the wall. "You said you've spoken with her about this?"
Jazz scrubbed a hand over his face and nodded in confirmation.
Prowl frowned. "Am I to take it that it didn't go over well?"
"I wouldn't say that, exactly." Jazz shook his head. "She's been hurt and let down by almost every single human she's ever had contact with in some form or another. She's skittish and worried I've lost my mind."
"That's understandable given her history," Prowl commented. "I'd be concerned if she wasn't hesitant."
"Yeah," Jazz nodded in agreement. "I know, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. I wish there was somethin' I could do to make all this easier on her. Just...make it all go away. Wipe everythin' clean and just start over again."
"I'm sure she just needs time to process, Jazz," Prowl offered. "I've watched the two of you together. I think it's less that she's worried you've lost your mind and more that she's worried you may be right. I can't fathom spending my entire existence wondering who I was and where I came from only to end up here in this sort of situation. What she's going through is majorly life-altering on many fronts and overwhelming at the very least. I will say, though, despite everything that's been thrown at her, she's dealt with it better than the vast majority of people placed in her position would have."
"That's my girl," Jazz agreed with a touch of pride. "She's a lot tougher than she gives herself credit for, but she doesn't need this petty slag on top of everythin' else."
"Agreed," the SIC vented. He grew quiet for a moment, contemplative, before speaking again. "Optimus, of course, will need to be brought up to speed on this situation before anything else can be done to address it. Ratchet, as well, in case this new information has any bearing on Ms. Doe's physical health."
"Yeah," Jazz murmured quietly, a pensive look on his faceplates as he nodded agreement.
Perhaps," Prowl continued after a long, thoughtful pause, "the best way to address the current situation is head-on by proactively releasing the information ourselves before the rumor mill has a chance to shape the narrative."
Jazz frowned. "I dunno, Prowler. She's been through a lot already. I'd rather not hold her up to that kind of scrutiny unless necessary."
"I understand your concerns," the black and white mech acknowledged. "I don't like the idea any more than you do, but at this point, however, I calculate our best course of action is to get ahead of this before it spirals beyond our ability to contain it. That means putting the hard facts of the situation out there before other parties have a chance to use their own uneducated and unfounded accusations to twist this into something it isn't. Captain Lennox will need be briefed before that happens."
The TIC grimaced. "Remember how bent out of shape he got when he thought she and I were engaged in inappropriate relations? If he got that worked up over somethin' so innocent, imagine what'll happen when he finds out his concerns weren't completely unjustified." The mech shook his head. "It's like you said, Prowler, humans aren't as accepting as we are. When he finds out she's tangled up with Sides and Sunny..."
"We'll have to make sure he knows this isn't just a case of mutual infatuation; that it's a very real physical phenomenon with a potentially deadly outcome should there be any interference." Prowl continued to turn the situation over in his head as he pushed himself off the wall. "Captain Lennox is an intelligent man. We don't have to share the intimate details, in fact, I advise against it, but I believe he's more than capable of understanding the very serious health and safety risks posed to both Ms. Doe and the twins should any attempt at separation be made. Ratchet, certainly, would back that up."
Jazz didn't look happy, but he nodded in agreement. "I guess we don't have much choice."
"This is the best way," Prowl assured and moved back around his desk. "I wouldn't have suggested it otherwise. I care about Ms. Doe and the twins, as well, and don't want to see them hurt if it can be helped. We'll get a handle on this, Jazz. I promise you."
"Thanks, Prowler," Jazz let out a weary sigh, relieved that at least his friend had his back in this. "I don't know what I'd do without ya."
"You'd manage." Grabbing his datapad, Prowl fired off a quick comm to both Prime and Ratchet explaining that he and Jazz had something of great importance that needed to be urgently discussed and, upon receiving an immediate affirmative response from both mechs, sent a message to Captain Lennox requesting his presence in one hour in Prime's office for an important meeting. He quickly confirmed the details and set the datapad aside. "Not as efficiently, of course," he added with a quirk of his lips, "but you'd manage."
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Optimus Prime sat behind his desk, hands folded atop his desk, as he listened intently to Prowl while he provided him with a thorough synopsis of what he and Jazz had previously discussed. His optics, however, were trained on Jazz as the smaller mech practically wore a hole in the floor with his pacing, too agitated to recount his own tale once again. And what a tale it was. Though his SIC kept the briefing factual, it was impossible to disregard the deep implications of the information he was currently receiving.
He hadn't been at all shocked to hear Petty Officer Doe's introduction into their midst had been a clerical error. An error, yes, he acknowledged, but not a mistake. He'd known it the very moment Jazz had marched into his office all that time ago and slapped a well-read, dog-eared personnel file onto his desk and vehemently announced he'd found the person he wanted to work with. One glance at the pages within confirmed to him that her inclusion in the mountain of candidates had been a fluke. Still, he'd listened patiently as Jazz, more animated than he'd seen him in vorns, laid out a compelling argument for recruiting the then-unknown young woman to their cause.
Perhaps it had been Jazz's fiery speech, the intense look on his face, or the spark of determination that had blazed back to life in his optics, but Optimus had also found himself intrigued by his TIC's choice. It went without saying that the Autobots weren't merely a military detachment. Together they'd overcome countless trials, tribulations, and tragedies to coalesce into a patchwork family of sorts. Each individual equally precious in Prime's optics and utterly irreplaceable. That said, even before the tragedy at Mission City, even before they'd ever heard of planet Earth, Optimus had worried over Jazz.
Though the mech put on an excellent front, Optimus was well aware of the pain and grief he lived with. Unfortunately, many of their colleagues bore burdens of the same kind, an all too familiar agony born of war and violence. There was nothing that could ever truly soothe the loss of those closest to ones spark. Jazz carried on with his duties in an exemplary fashion, his care and concern for his comrades in arms obvious, but his own sense of self-preservation waned as both time and the war dragged on. Earth, Optimus believed, had been the tipping point for his friend; the prospect of seeing another bright, vibrant civilization crushed beneath the rule of the Decepticons too much for the mech to take. When the opportunity had presented itself to save his companions and end his own suffering, Jazz had seized it.
Thanks be to Primus, he hadn't succeeded.
It was more than that, however, that had prompted Optimus to sign off on the new recruit Jazz had presented to him. Primes, after all, weren't sparked—they were chosen. With the title came certain unavoidable burdens, among them the responsibility of carrying the Matrix of Leadership; an artifact of great power and whom some even referred to as the Matrix of Creation. Much like the Allspark, little was known of its origin. It was said to provide a means of communication to those who had carried it before, the wisdom of the previous Primes contained within. Those of the more spiritual persuasion considered it to be a conduit for Primus, himself. Regardless of where it came from or who was behind its power, Optimus had learned long ago to listen to its guidance whenever it chose to present itself.
'This is good', was the impression he'd been given as Jazz had wrapped up his recruitment speech. 'This is right. Give him this one thing.'
And so he had.
All that said, this new information was less shocking to the Autobot leader than it was further confirmation that whatever power dwelled within the Matrix of Leadership had some sort of omnipotent understanding of the universe around them. Rather than focus on the why's and how's, Optimus chose to focus on the immediate issue at hand. The situation, though not ideal for any of the parties involved, was something to be grateful for; something worth protecting.
"Jazz," Optimus rose from where he sat and spoke in a soothing rumble, "this is an unprecedented revelation, one which warrants further investigation. It would seem we've gained much more than a simple colleague."
Jazz halted his pacing long enough to scrub a hand down his face. "I know I shoulda said somethin' sooner."
"I understand why you didn't. Something of this magnitude takes time to process." Prime paused, turning the situation over carefully in his thoughts for a moment before continuing. "Though this certainly is cause for celebration, it does bring up some very pressing issues. The most urgent being any effects this may have on Petty Officer Doe and yourself. How has she handled this news?"
Jazz vented heavily. "As well as can be expected, I suppose. She hasn't had the easiest life."
Optimus hummed in understanding. "Give it time, Jazz. Familial bonds are strong, but some things can't be fixed overnight."
The TIC frowned but nodded his agreement.
"In fact," Optimus turned toward the back of the room where his CMO stood, "Ratchet, is there any way to validate Jazz's claims? Perhaps scientific backing can relieve doubts and assist in the bonding and healing process for them both."
Ratchet, looking perplexed, rubbed the bridge of his nasal plates as if trying to massage away the tension forming behind his optics, and shook his head. "Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue what's going on around here anymore. This obviously goes well beyond my ability to medically quantify it," he readily admitted. "There is some data I'd like to revisit. I believed it to be anomalous at the time given Teletraan's condition, but it may be worth giving it a second look, given this new information. Jazz, whenever you and Miss Doe have a free moment, I'd like you both to come by the med bay. Primus willing, we may be able to shed some light on whatever is happening here."
Jazz nodded. "Whatever ya need from me doc. If ya think it'll help my scraplet, I'll be there."
"I'll arrange for some noninvasive testing. Otherwise, physically speaking, you've shown amazing improvement and, despite the scare we had when the twins left on assignment, Miss Doe appears to have completely recovered and is otherwise a perfectly healthy young woman. I, of course, will continue to closely monitor the both of you, but I'm honestly more concerned about the psychological toll this is having on everyone involved." The medic vented and shook his head once again. "I'm certainly no psychiatrist, but I'd give my best set of wrenches to have one on call."
Optimus nodded in sympathy. Ratchet was doing his best under circumstances that seemed to grow exponentially in complexity as time passed. "I trust your abilities implicitly, old friend. Continue to keep me updated."
"Of course," Ratchet quickly agreed.
"As for the threatening behavior being displayed towards Petty Officer Doe and the twins, this can't be allowed to continue. I agree it's probably best Captain Lennox receive the appropriate details from us rather than," Optimus grimaced, "Ms. Harmon."
"That femme is utterly certifiable," Ratchet muttered. "Why she's allowed to remain here, I'll never understand."
"Like I already told Prowler," Jazz spoke, "I'm not just gonna stand by and let some human take her from me. I'm not losin' her again."
"We won't allow that to happen," Optimus reassured. "We'll present our concerns to the Captain once he arrives and proceed from there, but no one is going anywhere. That, I promise you."
Jazz tensed when, as if Prime's words had conjured him, there was a tentative knock on the office door.
"We'll get a good handle on this," Prowl once again assured his friend.
The knock came once more, prompting Prime to nod at his CMO. "If you would, please."
Squaring himself and putting on his most serious doctor persona, Ratchet moved to open the door to allow their guest entry.
Captain Lennox stood on the other side, hand poised as if preparing to knock once more. He paused, stepping back when suddenly confronted by the imposing stature of the Autobot medic filling the enormous doorway. "Uh, hey Ratchet," he greeted. "Prowl messaged me and told me I needed to sit in on a meeting?"
"Yes, yes…" Ratchet stepped back and motioned for the man to enter. "Come in."
Doing as he was told, Lennox entered the office, jumping slightly at the sound of the heavy door being secured behind him once again. A heavy weight seemed to settle into the pit of his stomach upon seeing the Autobots' entire upper chain of command crammed into the space. Meeting like this always seemed to leave him feeling anxious and popping antacid tablets like candy for the rest of the day. "No one told me it was going to be a party," he attempted a joke to lighten the atmosphere.
"Perhaps another time," Prime answered as he gestured for the Captain to climb the stairs and be make himself comfortable. "I hope we didn't pull you away from anything important."
"Nah," Lennox denied as he settled himself into the provided chair. "Everything is pretty quiet at the moment. Of course, that usually means all hell is gonna break loose sooner or later."
"That has often been my observation, as well," Prime solemnly agreed as he settled in behind his own desk.
Lennox swallowed, his gut-churning as Prowl took up his usual spot next to the platform, looking as unreadable as ever. Jazz filled in the space next to the black and white mech, his arms crossed over his chest and his foot tapping anxiously on the concrete floor. The look on his faceplates was one of dire seriousness that did absolutely nothing to quell Lennox's own burgeoning anxiety over this impromptu get-together.
Prime cleared his vocal processor, drawing the human's attention back to him. "I'm sure you're wondering why you were asked to join us."
"Yeah," Lennox hesitantly agreed. Taking another look around the room, he added, "I'm guessing this isn't a social call."
"You would be correct," Optimus confirmed. "Due to the sensitivity of the subject matter we'll be discussing, I'd like to start by asking that any information shared be kept in strict confidence and only shared outside these walls on a strict need-to-know basis."
"Shit," Lennox cursed and scrubbed a hand along his jaw. "That doesn't sound good."
"This meeting is purely proactive," Prowl chimed in. "We're attempting to head off issues before they can arise and hopefully save everyone time and trouble down the road."
"Alright," the Captain puffed out a breath. "Proactive is good. Lay it on me. What's going on?"
"We've become aware of a potential conflict involving our personnel and Macy Harmon," Optimus simply stated. "We're concerned that things could escalate."
"Fuck me." A disgusted look settled over the human's face. "What the hell has she done this time? Or do I even want to know?"
"She appears to have developed an unhealthy fixation centered on Petty Officer Doe and the twins," Prowl explained. "There was an incident recently in which she showed up at the barracks and went door-to-door looking for Petty Officer Doe. She caused quite a scene and had to be escorted from the premises. She also confronted Sideswipe and Sunstreaker in the hangar, making threats and accusing them both of inappropriate conduct with Petty Officer Doe. Of course, you're already aware of the previous incident in which Ms. Harmon ransacked Petty Officer Doe's office and destroyed her personal property."
"What?" Lennox shook his head, his expression morphing into one of confused disbelief. "What triggered this all of a sudden? I mean, I know she's batshit crazy, but this is a stretch even for her."
There was a brief moment of silence as the bots shifted uncomfortably. It was Jazz who finally straightened himself. Looking toward his leader, he received an almost imperceptible nod to proceed. He drew air down deep into his intakes and released it slowly before stepping around Prowl to look Lennox in the eye.
"Look, Will," the mech began, "I'm gonna level with ya…man to mech. Remember when ya came into Prowler's office concerned there mighta been somethin' untoward goin' on between me an' the scraplet?"
It was Lennox's turn to squirm in discomfort. He swallowed hard and raised a hand to scratch absently at the back of his neck as he nodded. "Uh, yeah…"
"Well," Jazz continued, "ya weren't entirely off the mark. I told ya that was somethin' you'd never had to worry about comin' from me, and that's the truth, but as far as the twins are concerned…it's…complicated."
"Wait," Lennox's brow furrowed as he pieced together the situation. "Hold up. Run that by me again. Are you implying that Petty Officer Doe is involved in a relationship with Sideswipe and Sunstreaker?"
"For a while now." Jazz nodded, confirming the soldier's statement. "We told 'em to stay under the radar, but apparently they still caught Harmon's eye. We're worried what she might be capable of doin' with that info given her history."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa…are you fucking serious right now?" Lennox's eyes had grown as wide as saucers and he shook his head. "You can't just breeze on by that like it's no big deal. You've just told me that one of my service members is involved in some sort of incestuous ménage à trois with a couple of giant, sentient robots and you're more worried about the crazy redhead?"
"Incest? That is absolutely not the case," Ratchet spoke authoritatively from where he stood. "No offense, Captain, but you're missing some very important context here. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are twins."
"They're brothers!" Lennox stared at the CMO incredulously. "So what if they're twins? Alien, robot twins, at that," he emphasized. "That's supposed to make me feel better? That's supposed to make this okay? Do you have any clue as to the kind of fallout something like this could cause if it got out there?"
"There's nothin' nefarious goin' on, Will," Jazz insisted. "We know not everyone will be on board with this sort of thing. That's why we wanted ya to hear it from us first. As I said, it's complicated, but what's happenin' between the three of them is perfectly natural."
"Natural?" Lennox scoffed as he stood from his seat and began to pace in agitation. "I can't believe we're having this conversation. This has to be some sort of sick joke. You can't be serious."
"We're quite serious, Captain," Prime interjected. "There are factors at play here that I'm not sure you would be able to relate to or completely understand given the physical and biological differences between our species. This is, however, of the utmost importance and all I ask is that you listen with an open mind."
The Captain planted his hands on his hips and clenched his jaw. He could feel a migraine coming on and acid beginning to churn in his stomach. Of all the bullshit he'd had to contend with since being appointed over NEST and their cooperation with the Autobots, this had to be the most outlandish and fucked up thing that had ever been dropped in his lap. He'd almost rather go head-to-head against Megatron than deal with this interpersonal insanity. Still, the Autobots had proven themselves time and again to be a friend of humanity. He supposed he could, at the very least, hear them out.
"Fine," he snapped. "You can start by explaining how the hell this even became a thing."
Ratchet cleared his vocalizer and stepped forward to address the human. "From what I've been able to piece together from my chats with Miss Doe and the twins, she and Sideswipe made physical contact upon her arrival and, unbeknownst to the two of them at the time, engaged in a mutual discharge and absorption of energy at the cellular level."
The Captain's brow furrowed as he thought back. "I do remember Epps saying Sides gave her a good shock."
"There was a bit more to it than that," Ratchet assured. "Sunstreaker made contact with her sometime later and the action repeated itself, effectively tying the three of them together energetically in a manner typically reserved for those involved in intimate relationships. This is where being twins comes into play," the CMO explained. "Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are true twins, meaning they're split-sparked. I won't bore you with the biological details, but I suppose the closest comparison in human terms would be that of conjoined twins. Though not physically attached, they are connected in every other sense, particularly in terms of intimate and emotional attachment. Medically, it's referred to as the Twin Bonding Dynamic. Though still not completely understood, it has been well researched and documented in several highly respected and peer-reviewed publications. This, of course, puts them in a unique position that, while allowances have been made within our own culture, may seem deviant in terms of your own."
Lennox paled and felt mildly sick to his stomach. He didn't consider himself particularly prudish, but this was beyond him. "So…what? Does that mean they get a free pass to do whatever the hell they want with whoever the hell they want to do it with? Why her? Why a human? How is this supposed to work? Do they take turns? Pass her back and forth? Draw straws? How is this even physically possible? I can't imagine another human being actually being alright being a part of something like this."
"There's no need to be crude, Captain," Prowl admonished. "We didn't call you here to debate the details of their intimate lives. Despite what your impression of the twins may be, they'd not be so crass as to treat Miss Doe in the manner you're implying. While trying at times, they're honorable mechs and have gone well out of their way to ensure her comfort and wellbeing. As for Miss Doe, after some initial angst and confusion, she's adapted quite well and seems content with the arrangement."
"They love one another, Will," Jazz stated emphatically. "They just wanna be left alone to enjoy it."
"Well, good for them!" Lennox laughed, but there was zero humor in it. "As long as they love each other we can completely disregard the political shit storm this will cause when it reaches the big guys higher up the food chain, which it inevitably will. I can't believe you're advocating for this. I'm sorry," the man shook his head. "This is…I can't get on board with this. The brass would chew me up and spit me out if they found out I knew something like this was going on and I didn't try to put a stop to it. This can't continue."
"I'm afraid that isn't something within your power to decide, Captain. Miss Doe's relationship with Sideswipe and Sunstreaker isn't something that can be altered or dissolved." Ratchet explained, "The how's and why's this happened are still being investigated, but I can state unequivocally that separation is a physical and biological impossibility. This situation has manifested some very real health concerns—mostly on Miss Doe's end, unfortunately—should they be forced to separate."
Lennox huffed and sucked his teeth. This just kept getting better and better. "Such as?"
Jazz asked, "Remember when she went MIA workin' on that data archive project for me?"
"Yeah," the Captain hesitantly answered.
"Turns out the scraplet can't be away from Sides an' Sunny without getting deathly ill." The mech stressed, "She was unconscious in the med bay with Ratchet the entire time they were gone to retrieve the Allspark. If Ratch and Prowler hadn't gone to the barracks lookin' for her when they did, she coulda died. That's why the three of 'em have been stayin' together in the twins' quarters since they got back."
Captain Lennox looked absolutely floored by this bit of information. "You're allowing them to live together?"
"It was in the best interest of all involved," The CMO attempted to rationalize before elaborating further. "As an adaptive measure, Miss Doe's cellular metabolism has been drastically altered. In purely layman's terms, she's completely dependent on close contact with the twins' spark energy to keep her vital processes functioning. Removing her from their presence would be akin to a death sentence. Over the long term, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker probably wouldn't fare much better. Allowing them to cohabitate has not only improved Miss Doe's general health but has also improved the twins' overall demeanor and attitude if you hadn't noticed."
"I can't believe this is actually happening. I can't believe you're all fine with this happening." Lennox looked torn between exasperation and disgust. "They're brothers," he insisted. "They're not even the same species."
"A minor obstacle," Prowl interjected. "One they've seemed to come to terms with and move beyond. Given their circumstances, it would be prudent if you followed suit and did the same."
"It's the right thing to do, Will," Jazz insisted. "They're happy and they're not hurtin' anyone. If ya can't or won't stand in the gap to keep that nut job of a femme from causin' 'em trouble, know this: Protectin' that little girl is a hill I'm prepared to literally die on, and I'm willin' to do whatever's necessary to make sure she stays safe and secure."
"So that's it," Lennox surmised. "You're all gung ho on this and I get fucked either way. Either I jump on the bandwagon and allow this insanity to continue and face the inevitable wrath of the Chain of Command, or I can be the bad guy, put my foot down, demand this stop immediately, and possibly kill them? What kind of a choice is that?"
"A difficult one, I'm sure," Optimus sympathized. "We were aware that bringing you into this would cause complications. It's one of the reasons we chose to handle it ourselves. Unfortunately, due to the introduction of outside interference, that is no longer an option. I apologize for putting you in this position, but I also know that you're an honorable and intelligent man who'll give this the appropriate time and action it deserves."
Lennox laced his hands together atop his head and glanced around the room, his eyes landing on each bot in turn, lingering for a moment as he tried to gauge their sincerity, before finally settling back on Optimus Prime. "What do you want from me?"
"Only your trust and compassion," Optimus calmly replied, "As I said, there are outside forces at play here outside of even our control. Strange though it may seem, Petty Officer Doe and the twins have done nothing to deserve being subjected to shame, ridicule, or harassment. They're completely innocent in this scenario. None of them had any say over what has happened to them, nor have any control over the changes it has had on their lives. In our culture, bonds like the one they share are to be cherished and celebrated. Unfortunately, this is one aspect in which our societies differ."
"We have rules against this kind of thing…between humans, anyway," the Captain reminded. "People get court marshaled over this shit. They get brig time. I can't imagine what would happen in this case."
"We are aware," Prime admitted. "That's why we're asking for your assistance."
"Fuck me," Lennox muttered. "Fuck me fucking sideways…"
End of Chapter 54
