Disclaimer: Hasbro owns the canon Transformers, I own the others. Songs are property of Jamie Brown and myself.
Symbol.
It was the fifth night of their commitment. The bar was now closed to the public, and the five sat at the large table where they'd sat the night they were hired, all of them bent over a large holo-map of the city-state of Dyacron that was spread across the table.
"So what are we looking at?" Lightshow asked.
"Well, basically the entire province of Dyacron is divided into 10 sectors," said Jazz. "We are currently between Sectors 1 and 2. Sector 10 ends at the border dividing Dyacron and Polyhex. So if we keep going north-east through all 10 sectors we should eventually reach Polyhex."
"And how long would that take?" asked Slowmotion.
"A few weeks to a month, it depends on how fast and how frequently we move," Jazz replied.
"Starting tomorrow," Strings said. "We should try and spend no longer than 3 to 5 days in each sector."
Electro leaned back. "I just wish we had some way of knowing what the Decepticon situation is like right now. That way we'd know how much time we have and how fast we should go."
Slowmotion shifted uncomfortably, but said nothing.
"I, for one, would rather not know," Lightshow said.
"So you'd rather the war come crashing down on your head with no warning at all?" Electro asked.
"Yeah. At least that way I wouldn't be counting down how many more days I had to live," Lightshow replied.
"Can the two of you please find another topic to argue about?" Strings asked.
"We're not arguing," said Electro.
"Yeah, I'm merely giving Electro my opinion," Lightshow added. "Its not arguing till I insult him."
"Nevermind," said Jazz. "Just pick another topic, or even better, shut up completely. We have more immediate concerns, and what's going on in the South ain't one of them."
"How do you know its just the South anymore?" Electro asked. "How do you know if the Decepticons haven't advanced any further?"
"We don't, now let it go," Jazz said firmly.
"You guys, quit it," Slowmotion interrupted. "Ignitio's coming this way."
They stopped as the black and red mech came up to them, a wide smile stretched across his face.
"Well kids," he said. "Thanks to you business has improved quite a bit. Are you sure I cant change your minds into staying on with me?"
"We're sorry Ignitio," Jazz said. "And you know what they say about too much of a good thing. We really cant stay. Y'know, the whole promise thing."
"Yes I know, but you cant blame a bot for trying. I hope all the accounts are in order."
"They're crystal clear," said Electro.
"That is good. What time do you plan to leave?"
"First thing in the morning," said Strings. "And, as a matter of fact, if we're going to do that, we should probably all go and get some sleep. It's late."
"Most definitely. You bots go. I will see you off tomorrow."
The group took their leave and dispersed to their respective rooms. Ignitio watched them go, then went over to the bar counter and activated a communicator.
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The next day, the group gathered at the front door, ready to leave.
"I wish we didn't have to go," said Slowmotion.
"I know SlowMo, but you know we have to," said Lightshow.
"Staying is not an option," Electro said. "We all decided on that."
"Well yeah Electro, but he's just a kid. He's allowed to feel a little apprehensive," Lightshow retorted.
Jazz and Strings shot them both warning looks that shut them both up. Lightshow crossed his arms and let his lip components curl into that insufferable grin of his, at which Electro frowned. Jazz sighed.
"The way you two sound, anyone would think you'd been partnered to each other for eons," he said. "Why do you two find it so hard to get along?"
"One of this existence's unexplained mysteries," Lightshow said.
"THAT'S why," Electro said. "He always tries to be so smart."
"Oh I don't TRY, I AM," the maroon mech retorted.
"Why are we waiting out here again?" Slowmotion asked.
"Because Ignitio asked us to. Though if he takes any longer we're gonna have to just go, 'cause we haven't got all day," said Strings.
Right then, however, Ignitio appeared. "Thank you for waiting. I just had a few last-minute calls to make. Here, take this." He summoned a datapad and gave it to Jazz. "I put in a few calls last night and again early this morning to some bars and clubs I know in the other sectors of Dyacron, and told them to expect you guys at some point. That datapad contains the list of bars and their owners, as well as the map you were looking at last night. They should be of help to you."
The group was stunned. Jazz recovered first.
"That's real nice of you Ignitio," he said. "Thanks a lot. We wont forget you."
"Nor will I forget you. Farewell my friends. I hope you reach Iacon safely."
The group said their goodbyes, transformed and drove off down the street together. Ignitio went back into his bar.
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"I really think we should have told him about the war," Slowmotion said once they'd driven out of range.
"Who says I didn't," said Jazz.
"What do you mean? What did you do?" Electro asked.
"Left a note behind the bar counter."
"Ooh, sneaky Jazz, you're good," said Lightshow, the smirk obvious in his voice. "So what now boss?"
"I'm not your boss," Jazz said quickly, rather disturbed to think that was how they saw him. "We're all equal in this, there are no bosses. Anyways I thought we'd go right through Sector 2 and into Sector 3 by at least tomorrow or the day after. We're all well energized so I don't see a reason to stop."
"Sure thing boss," Lightshow replied.
Jazz increased speed and rammed him from behind, inciting a mischievous cackle from the hover-cycle, indicating he'd gotten under Jazz's metallic hide once again.
"I just thought of something," he said once Jazz had put a little more distance between them.
"You can think?" Electro couldn't resist saying, earning himself a knock on his bumper from Strings.
"Ooh, try aiming a little more to the left there Electro, you missed the fuel pump completely," Lightshow retorted.
"Your thought Lightshow, either get to it or get another dent on the tailpipe. Your choice," Jazz warned.
"SlowMo doesn't have an Autobot symbol. And unless we can paint one on him, we're gonna have a hard time convincing folks that he is."
The others took a moment to digest this. It was true. The closer they got to more Autobot-dominated areas, the more the symbols would reinforce their identity. To be seen without one, well that would raise unwanted, and unjustified suspicion. Jazz veered to his left, braked and transformed. The others halted as well.
"Lightshow, get over here," he called.
The maroon mech switched back to robot form and went and stood on the sidewalk near Jazz.
"Turn around," the black and white ordered.
Making a puzzled face, Lightshow turned his back to Jazz. Jazz then knelt down and took a closer look at the Autobot symbol painted on his lower back. Lightshow glanced at him over his shoulder.
"Y'know, bots are watching us and I have a feeling the thoughts going through their processors about us aren't very nice," he said. "And I'll admit I don't blame them. I'd be thinking the same thing too."
"Well, I'm not the idiot who had the Autobot symbol painted on his skidplate now am I?" Jazz replied.
"Heh, it was rather funny really. You should've seen the look on the mech's face when I told him, but he couldn't say no 'cause there was no law on where it could or couldn't be painted. Flaire thought it was hilarious."
"Why does Lightshow say that other bots will think badly of him and Jazz?" Slowmotion asked.
"Because it was Lightshow who said it, and Lightshow is stupid. So you shouldn't always listen to the noise that comes out of his mouth," Electro said.
"Young bot's pretty naïve," Lightshow murmured.
"Shut up," Jazz snapped.
"Or what? You're gonna spank me? That might just get us locked up Jazz, remember the last time…."
"Lightshow, shut it!" this time it was Strings who spoke up.
Miraculously, Lightshow shut his mouth. Jazz stood up.
"Now all we need is some red paint and a stencil," he said. "And hopefully, there'll be a hardware store around here somewhere."
"Lets look then. Might as well get this over and done with," said Electro.
Jazz and Lightshow transformed and the group drove around looking for a place that might be selling what they needed. They finally found a store selling the exact shade of red paint that was used to paint the insignia, unfortunately, as they soon found out, that particular shade and paint was also very expensive, as it resisted just about every chemical and remover that could be found. It set them back a good 50 credits that Electro grudgingly paid for the small tin. They finally stopped in a by-road and transformed.
"Guess we can forget the stencil," said Jazz. "I'll just have to try and paint it free-hand."
"Here's a suggestion: just paint it on his skidplate where bots will barely look. That way you wont have to worry about anyone noticing flaws," Lightshow said.
"No posteriors please!" said Electro.
"But Lightshow does have a point. Shouldn't paint it somewhere too noticeable," said Jazz.
"What about a leg panel?" Strings asked.
"That could work," Jazz replied. "Slowmotion, place your foot against the wall and hold really still."
Once Slowmotion did that, Jazz straddled his leg, bent over and carefully began painting on the symbol.
Lightshow wisely kept all snarky comments to himself. "The things we do for an Autobot symbol," he muttered.
At last Jazz finished and Slowmotion lowered his leg.
"Just let it dry a while," Jazz said. "Hopefully, with Lightshow having the insignia on his aft, no one will think it too strange if you have one on your leg."
"Right then. If the whole debacle with the insignia is done, can we please get back to our original travel plan?" Electro asked. "We've already wasted a good few hours."
"Well frag, don't get your coolant tubes in a twist," Lightshow said. "This had to be done."
"Yes, and now its done. Lets go."
"Pushy ain't he?" Lightshow muttered to Jazz as they transformed and headed back onto the road.
Jazz sighed. "We might as well take it a bit easy," he said. "There's no way we'll get into Sector 3 by tomorrow anyway, so we might as well take our time and conserve some fuel for the long run."
"You're the boss," Electro muttered as he slowed.
Strings pulled up alongside Jazz. "No one ever said leadership was easy. Just do your best."
"But I never asked to be a leader," Jazz replied.
"A lot of us don't ask for things, but they happen anyway. Sometimes its just who we are. You cant run or hide from who you are, or say you don't want to be yourself."
"So you're saying its my destiny to be a leader?"
"Maybe. You may be destined to be a leader Jazz, but its up to you to decide where you want to lead your followers to. That's what makes a good leader."
"You're a good motivator Strings."
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I had alot of fun when writing this bit. Lightshow just came into his own and soon became a character I couldn't do without. He was every bit the loose cannon the others needed to spur them into action, including Jazz. At one point he even threatened to steal the spotlight away from Jazz, so I had fun trying to wrangle the role of main character away from him. If Jazz feels a little out of character in this fic, it's cos he probably is. This is a very very young Jazz, long before he ever heard of the word Special Operations and Optimus Prime. If you wanted to think of it in human ages, Jazz is somewhat akin to a teenager here, whereas in G1 he's probably in his early 30s.