Disclaimer: Sill doesn't belong to me, and I'm still not making money off of this.
Notes: The metal the artifact was made out of has been renamed: XJ-2n0. I would like to thank IbrokeThe4thWall for their ideas towards the story. And I would also like to thank everyone on the LJ comm that also helped.
Chapter 2: That which we often forget.
The black bot eyed the mech in the shadows. Darkness shrouded the frame, making it impossible to tell what the mech actually looked like. He shifted, uneasy as the mech leaned forward, the rooms meager light highlighting the large bots facial features.
"You failed."
The mechs cold voice sent shivers through his frame. "Sir, there were extenuating-"
"I do not accept failure. No matter the circumstances."
"But Sir! There were too many bots around. If we had risked finishing it then, there would have been questions."
He could feel the anger swelling from the bot in the shadows, and leaned thankfully closer to the blue seeker near his shoulder.
"You Idiots! You were supposed to kill Silver Claw! And if that failed you were supposed to discover just what information he gave Prowl. I never ordered you to attack the mech. If he dies, then so do my plans." During his outburst their boss leaned forward, the light glowing off of a blue and white frame.
The blue seeker seethed, but curtailed it at a touch from the black mech. "Just what plans are those?"
"That does not concern you at the moment. Now leave. I have to figure out a way to salvage this mess of yours. I will contact you when I need you again. Provided you don't mess up again." The bot melted back into the shadows, almost vanishing.
The two took their leave, transforming as soon as they were clear of the building and heading towards their apartment located on the outside edge of the city. The two did not speak as they traveled but the fury evident in both their frames was slowly worn off as they weaved through traffic on the ground and in the air.
By the time they had entered the apartment, the black mech was no longer angry. But then it was hard for him to stay angry, unlike his brother. They settled into the large area just inside their apartment and began the meticulous affair of deprogramming their systems to allow the removal of the modifications that had been added to their frames.
Sideswipe sighed as the heavy armor finally slid off to reveal his own red armor and stretched luxuriously before turning to see how his twin was managing. Sunstreaker was scowling, twisted nearly in half as he tried to remove the blue wings from his now golden yellow frame. He took pity on his brother and moved to help, swatting the others hands away and gently removing the wings himself.
Sunstreaker growled. "I could have removed them! I didn't need your help."
"Sunny..." Sideswipe sighed and moved to retrieve them a couple cubes of energon. "I know you could have done it, but I wanted to help."
The yellow mech took the cube and settled onto a couch nearby, anger evident in his faceplates. "Why are we doing this? Don't you ever get tired of taking orders or killing bots just because someone else wants them dead?"
"Because we have debts to pay off. Besides, after we are done with whatever this guy wants, we will be finally free to do whatever we wish." Sideswipe sat beside his brother and shifted over to nestle against his side, sipping on the cube slowly.
"Like what?" Sunstreaker sidled closer to the couch arm, away from his brother. But it did no good as Sideswipe followed him right over and pressed even closer against his side.
"Whatever we want to do. Once we pay off this last debt, it will be completely up to us." Sideswipe drained the last of his energon and tossed the cube over the back of the couch before snuggling down against his brother and allowing his systems to slowly wind down into recharge.
Sunstreaker watched his brother for a long while, contemplating his words as he nursed his own cube. Whatever they wanted to do? Would it be possible? It was a long while later before his own systems slowed enough for him to curl about his twins frame and sink into recharge.
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Prowl jerked as he felt something touch him gently. And yet he didn't feel it physically. Instinctively he knew the presence in his spark was a friendly one, familiar even. He didn't struggle as the presence slid forward into his mind fully. He relaxed, feeling safe and protected.
"Prowler." The name was not spoken aloud, but Prowl could hear it just as clearly as if it had been. His spark twisted slightly at the sadness that laced the voice.
"Why-" His thought process failed and he gave a mental shake before trying again. "Who are you?"
A soft chuckle came. "You ask that every time. I am Jazz."
Confusion flickered through Prowl. He didn't know a bot named Jazz. But he couldn't stay focused on that at the moment. The sadness so apparent in Jazz's voice twisted around him. "Why are you sad?"
A soft sigh this time and Prowl had the distinct feeling of being gathered close. "Because the only way you ever go deep enough into recharge that I'm able to be with you is if your injured. While I am always delighted to see you, I hate to think of you being hurt."
Injured. He had been in an accident. The memories flooded back and he leaned into the comforting warmth the other seemed to give off as he relived the accident. He felt the bolt of energy hit his body again and realized it hadn't been an accident but an attack. Even as he thought it, Jazz seemed to swell with a furious anger and Prowl found himself being the one to offer comfort this time.
Drawing his thoughts away from the attack and trying to find a subject that might dissipate the anger the other felt, Prowl searched for a topic before latching onto something Jazz had said.
"Have I spoken to you before?"
The anger evaporated and Jazz gave a soft chuckle. "A few times, Little one." There was another sigh and the sadness returned. "You never remember though."
Prowl stiffened. "I am not little!"
Another chuckle and he found himself relaxing against the others presence. "How is this possible?" He didn't consider that it might be a dream. Jazz felt much too real.
A gentle rhythmic movement began and Prowl experienced the sensation of being lightly stroked. He leaned into the contact with a soft noise. It continued for a little while, as Jazz contemplated his answer.
"My people believe that if two sparks are meant to be together, then they will be drawn to each other. But you are not here, and I do not really understand how this works. I only know that when you enter a deep enough recharge, your spark calls to mine."
Prowl latched onto the most important part of that. "Where are you? Maybe I can come-"
Jazz pulled a little away a little bit. "I can't tell. The only ones allowed to enter the city are the ones that find it on their own."
Prowl's spark dropped. "But certainly you coul-"
Prowl stiffened and suddenly reached out to clutch at Jazz as he felt his consciousness being jerked towards the outside world. Panic swirled through him. He couldn't leave now! Not when he had just found Jazz.
Jazz reacted sharply to the panic and the sudden removal of Prowls presence with a sharp keen as he tried to grasp a hold of the mech. But he passed through the others presence as it vanished.
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Prowl jerked awake to stare, startled, up into a grey faceplate surrounded by white armor. Panic and loss coiled through his spark, and he froze as he tried to figure out why. There was a brief moment of blankness before it all came flooding back.
"Jazz.." He whimpered the name, remembering the frantic way the other had tried to catch a hold of him.
"Prowl. It's ok. Your safe. It's me, Ratchet."
"What happened?" He forcibly shoved the memory of Jazz away for the moment. His spark still aching from being pulled away from what it considered to be its other half.
"You were attacked on the way back into Iacon. I've fixed the damage, but your going to have to take it easy for a while. No. Not even researching. Just relax for a couple of orns." Ratchet glared at the black and white mech until he got a nod of affirmation. He leaned over and continued running scans on the bots systems, concern prickling at him as he watched emotions flicker across Prowls faceplates.
Prowls creators had been dear friends of his, and when Prowl had come along he had doted on the little mechling. That doting had lasted well into Prowls mechhood, much to the bots dismay. Finishing his scans, Ratchet was about to question Prowl further when the door to the apartment opened and Wheeljack rushed in, the side panels on his helm flashing wildly.
Ratchet smiled slightly. His adoration for the bot currently stretched out on the berth in-front of him was nothing compared to what Wheeljack often demonstrated. Ever since Prowls creators had joined the Well of All Sparks, Wheeljack had put everything into raising his brothers only sparkling. And, Ratchet was forced to admit, he had done a wonderful job.
"Prowl! I came as soon as I could. Are you alright? Have the enforcers been by yet? Do you have any idea why they attacked you?"
Ratchet frowned in concern when Prowl didn't reply, glancing down he could see the mechs optics were open but unfocused. He reached out to touch the shoulder nearest to him and Prowl jerked hard. He glanced at them both, then pulled away from Ratchets hand, turning on the berth until he could bury his helm in his arms.
Wheeljack moved to touch Prowls back, but Ratchet stopped him. Motioning for the demolitions expert to follow him, he led the way into the adjoining room.
"I thought you said he was alright!" Wheeljack glared at the medic.
"Physically he is fine. I think the attack has just shaken him up some. Why don't you let me talk to him? Ill comm you later to let you know what comes of it."
A few minutes later, Wheeljack reluctantly left and Ratchet made his way back into the room where Prowl was. As he entered, he stopped and simply observed the mech on the berth. Prowl had straightened into a sitting position while he had been gone, but he still wore a slightly tortured look on his faceplates.
Prowl tilted his helm up, raising darkened optics to find the medic. He couldn't really understand it. His spark felt so empty. He'd never been bonded, but he was beginning to wonder if this was what losing a bonded might feel like.
"Ratchet, Is it possible for two sparks to bond without merging?" He spoke slowly, hesitantly.
The question startled the red and white medic, and his own spark felt like it had dropped. Could there have been more to the attack then he had managed to discover in his scans? "No Prowl, it is not possible. Any stories you may have heard about two sparks being in synch before an actual merge are just myths. There has never been any documented cases of such a thing happening."
Prowls wings drooped on his back. He barely noticed when Ratchet settled onto the berth beside him. The medic pulled Prowl to lean against him.
"You know you can tell me anything."
And so Prowl told him everything. About the presence in his spark, Everything Jazz had told him came pouring out. He finished by telling Ratchet how once he had woken up his spark had felt so empty. They talked well into the night.
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Prowl drifted slowly, searching for a hint of that other spark. He was aware, just barely, of Ratchets presence on the edge of his mind. What felt like a sudden ball of energy was suddenly flinging itself at him, wrapping around him tightly. He eagerly embraced Jazz, burying himself against the other. Shortly he became aware of Jazz's voice, carrying a constant litany of apologies and other short whispered phrases that he could barely understand.
He began to whisper back and it wasn't until he said the others name that he was able to get any other kind of response from him. But the instant he did so, Jazz pulled away and Prowl was aware of the sensation of being stared at.
"You remember?"
