DISCLAIMERS: I don't own Transformers. They came over from Hasbro to pester me, so I drafted them into my fics. I thought it sounded like a fair deal but somehow, they don't agree...
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story idea has been floating around my head for at least as long as Close Encounter. Never thought it would see the light of day, but Okami-chan talked me into sharing. Hope you have as much fun reading it as I am writing it.
Special thanks go out to Okami-chan for beta reading and Autumn Sparrow for cheering me on.
Chapter Two
Jazz opened his eyes, only to groan and quickly shut them again. It should be illegal for lights to be that bright and blinding.
"Jazz? Ah, slag, they got you too."
Jazz opened one eye, just a thin slit, and turned towards the voice. Hound sat nearby, bruised and battered but alive. "Hound my mech, you look like utter slag but you are the most beautiful thing I've seen in a long while."
Hound smiled ruefully. "I'd say I was glad to see you, but I'd rather you were somewhere safe."
"I'd rather we were both somewhere safe." Jazz slowly sat up and rubbed at his eyes. Everything hurt. "Where the frag are we?"
"Starscream's lab. It looks even more macabre than when we were larger."
Jazz snapped both eyes open, fully alert now. He looked at Hound again, carefully this time, taking in the ragged half-healed wounds and the haunted look in the scout's eyes.
"Awake already? Good, we can get started," a familiar voice purred. Jazz tensed, aches forgotten. He had this horrible, sinking feeling in his tanks. He slowly turned and faced the speaker.
Starscream smirked down at them. "Welcome to the Pit, Autoscum."
OoOoOoOoOoO
Sideswipe woke slowly, fighting the approaching consciousness. He was warm and comfortable, for the first time since he had become...
Slag. That did it. Definitely awake now.
He sighed. Might as well get up. Sideswipe tried to sit up and stretch, only to find out he couldn't move. He opened his eyes and glanced down, seeing only tousled dark locks. Guess that explained the warm feeling. Dee had snuggled up to him again. Fragging kid was worse than Carly's cat. The one she always complained about, that liked sleeping on her head.
Dee breathed softly in her sleep and as annoyed with her as he usually got, Sideswipe didn't have the spark to wake her. Not from the only escape this Pit had to offer. He tried to scoot backwards away from her but found that way blocked as well.
Well wasn't this just Prime?
Sideswipe sighed again, this time in annoyance. Who the frag was back there? He started to squirm, trying to see over his shoulder.
A slim hand reached up and stroked his cheek. "Be still Lord, you don't want to wake the child."
Sideswipe stopped squirming. "CeeCee, what are you doing back there? Move, so I can get up."
CeeCee-37 leisurely sat up, brushing her body against Sideswipe's back. It gave him the shivers and he didn't feel cold.
Soft hair brushed his cheek. Sideswipe looked up and brushed CeeCee-37's blond strands from his face. "Quit that."
CeeCee-37 smiled down at him. "It is custom amongst my people to rest together for warmth and comfort. I thought that you had started to follow it."
"No, but apparently Dee does. She just invites herself over."
"Is it so bad, my Lord? That she does this?" Sideswipe could never get over how CeeCee-37 could sound so polite and respectful yet utterly amused at the same time.
"Lord?" CeeCee-37 prompted him again.
He sighed. "No, it's not so bad. She's soft and warm. It's not that," Sideswipe replied. He really didn't want to be having this conversation.
"Oh? Well then, Lord Sideswipe, please enlighten this lost soul and perhaps I might assist you."
How did he get himself into these messes? Oh well, it was either ask CeeCee-37 or wait for their human experts to get back. "It's not Dee. It's the fact that every time I wake up, my pants feel too tight in front." Heat flooded his cheeks as he spoke.
CeeCee-37 blinked at him, then threw her head back and laughed. "Oh my Lord, such a small thing. Dee has nothing to do with that. That is just being male." She looked down at him again, lashes half-mast, lips curled in an almost predatory smile, voice dropping to a husky whisper. "I could help you with that, if you wish."
Sideswipe felt his pants get tighter and his cheeks grow hotter. "Uhm, no, that's alright. It goes away by itself. I'll, uh, just wait."
"As you wish, my Lord. The offer stands anytime you wish to accept it," CeeCee-37 purred, as she ran a light finger down his cheek again. He grabbed her wrist and sat up.
"Keep Dee warm. I'm going to get cleaned up." He stood and headed for the entrance to the alcove.
"As you command Lord Sideswipe. Please accept a suggestion from your loyal servant. Removing your garments when you shower allows you to get clean faster and easier."
Sideswipe stopped and stiffened, turning to glare at the blond woman. She had snuggled up to Dee and was feigning sleep. He left and headed for the showers, muttering unkind things under his breath in bastardized Cybertronian. She was never going to let him live that down.
OoOoOoOoOoO
From the hand of Prowl, Lieutenant Commander, 2IC of the Autobots, Chief Tactician
Date Unknown
I am Lt Cmdr Prowl of the Autobots, second to Optimus Prime and if recovered, I would ask that this journal be sent directly to him.
Prime,
Jazz and Hound were found by our allies, CeeCee-37's clan that style themselves the Tunnel Rats. They are alive, even if they are a little battered. They have also been able to gather some useful data regarding our current situation and possible escape. I can do little but highly praise them for their efforts. They deserve so much more.
Unfortunately, Sideswipe has disappeared. CeeCee-37 reported him leaving to go shower while the rest of us slept. Sunstreaker is inconsolable. He had been assigned to watch duty but had fallen asleep. I have been lenient with him due to his justified fear for his brother and the fact we are still learning the limitations of these bodies. I am confident that there will not a repeat incident.
Dee has been inseparable from Bluestreak. She doesn't speak much but she keeps looking towards the doorway, a fragile hope in her eyes that is dashed when Sideswipe does not come through. A sentiment shared by all of us.
OoOoOoOoOoO
Jazz winced as CeeCee-37 removed the bandage from his left arm. Waving off her apologies, he turned to the blond tactician sitting patiently beside him. "Prowl, my man, we have to talk. Grown up talk, without the kiddies around."
Prowl nodded. "Alright. Once CeeCee-37 finishes changing your bandages." He focused on the clone woman. "CeeCee, could you take your clansmen and Bluestreak, Sunstreaker, Hound and Dee back to your area for a while? So Jazz and I can talk in private?"
"Of course Lord Prowl. I am done here." CeeCee-37 bowed her head respectfully before turning to face Jazz. She took one of his hands and pressed it to her cheek, looking up at him through her long eyelashes. "Lord Jazz, I'd advise that you rest while your wounds heal. You'll be back to your normal charming self much faster. It pains my heart to see you hide your discomfort." She planted a quick kiss on his palm, then rose and collected everyone for the trek down the hall.
Prowl smiled at Jazz's wide-eyed startled look. "Yes Jazz, we're on to you. Even the clones are onto your act. Probably a good idea to take her advice."
"Probably. You know, Ratchet never used that tactic to get us to take it easy," Jazz mused, eyes still on the slim, blond wise woman.
"No, he didn't. I don't believe it would be as effective for him," Prowl agreed. He waited until everyone had trooped out of the alcove before addressing Jazz again. "Now that the distractions have left, what did you want to talk to me about, Jazz?"
"Huh? Wha- oh…" Jazz turned from staring at the empty entrance way.
Prowl couldn't help grinning as he waited patiently for the saboteur to gather his scattered wits. Fortunately, 'Jazz—being Jazz—didn't make him wait long.
"I have an idea to get out of here. It's a long shot and will involve a lot of pain on our parts." Jazz glanced down at his bandages. "In a way, I'm glad you're human. No logic circuits to short."
He could only sit and blink at Jazz in confusion for a moment. When they first woke up, Jazz and Hound had done a thorough search for even the most unlikely escape route. They had come up empty. "Jazz, you told me before that there is no way out of here."
"There is one way. That's where the pain comes in."
"Primus Jazz, you can't mean…" Prowl trailed off. Looking at Jazz, he could tell the saboteur was completely serious. He sighed. "All right, what's your plan?" He hoped he was wrong. Jazz had come up with some surprising solutions in the past.
"Well, we know that Rumble and Frenzy come in and collect clones, and sometimes us, for Starscream. They have to get in and out somehow. Both Hound and I were unconscious when they dragged us out and I'm betting that Sideswipe was too." Jazz paused, expression hardening. "Hound and I got a pretty good look around the lab; it seems to be the same one where... well… " he trailed off.
Prowl nodded. "Go on." No one wanted to dwell on that memory.
Jazz took a deep breath before continuing. "I figure if we went a little more quietly we could find a way to escape or get a message out."
"You are suggesting we go willingly to be used and tortured?" No, not wrong. Millennia of practice kept Prowl's voice neutral and steady. He didn't have to tell Jazz how ludicrous his suggestion was; Jazz knew. That's why he wanted privacy for this conversation.
"Don't say it like that, Prowl. It sounds horrible that way." Jazz shrugged helplessly.
"It sounds horrible no matter how it is said." Prowl closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He realized Jazz wouldn't have suggested it if they really had any other options. "I have a good imagination Jazz, all tacticians do. But I can't see any way to convince Sunstreaker or Sideswipe or even Bluestreak to go along with it. Hound would do it, if I ordered him to."
"And its goes against all you are to command someone to 'lie back and take it.'" Jazz nodded grimly.
Prowl opened his mouth to reply when a scream echoed down the hallway. Hearing random screaming wasn't unusual due to the barbaric nature of their fellow inhabitants. This scream stopped them cold with its spark-searing pain. Prowl and Jazz locked eyes in dread. They knew that voice.
Prowl jumped to his feet, extending a hand to help Jazz up. Jazz grunted involuntarily. "Why the frag does he always slag up my legs? Can't transform anymore but he still goes for the legs."
Prowl suppressed the sarcastic rejoinder that popped in his head, now was not the time for it. He slipped one of Jazz's arms over his shoulder and a steadying arm around the saboteur's waist. They limped towards the doorway, letting Jazz set the pace. Jazz's breathing became rapid and erratic, though he made no other complaint.
They had just cleared the entranceway to their alcove when one of the Tunnel Rat clones ran around the corner, bouncing off the wall in his haste. He staggered over to Prowl and Jazz and fell to his knees before them. "Lords," he panted. "CeeCee-37 requests your presence with all haste. The Lord of Destruction has fallen ill."
OoOoOoOoOoO
From the hand of Prowl, Lieutenant Commander, 2IC of the Autobots, Chief Tactician
Date Unknown
I am Lt Cmdr Prowl of the Autobots, second to Optimus Prime and if recovered, I would ask that this journal be sent directly to him.
Prime,
Sideswipe has not yet returned and whatever ordeal he is enduring is being echoed by Sunstreaker. While Jazz and I spoke privately, the others had gone to the Tunnel Rats quarters. CeeCee-37 reports that Sunstreaker had been standing quietly, observing her tending to Hound's wounds when he suddenly fell to the floor, holding his head and screaming. He lashed out viciously at anyone that approached him. He fell unconscious shortly before Jazz and I arrived and has drifted in and out of delirium since. In one of his rare lucid moments, Sunstreaker gave me an explanation of sorts for his condition. Twins that come from a split spark retain some sort of connection to one another that lasts their entire existence. Mostly, it is an unconscious awareness of the other. Nothing that can be qualified or measured, but there none the less. Sometimes, exceedingly strong emotions can be felt across that awareness, as a vague unsettling echo by the receiving twin.
Sunstreaker slipped back into delirium after that. I fear for Sideswipe.
CeeCee-37 came to me with an offer to join our groups. I agreed even though I do not fully understand her motivations. To be blunt, we need her and her people. I'm just not sure what they get out of the bargain. Regardless of my uncertainty, she has always been friendly and assisted us whenever we asked. Lately she hasn't even accepted payment for her services. Perhaps the Tunnel Rats already consider us a part of their group and this just formalizes it. I consulted with Jazz, but he's no help this time. He has become rather distracted by our blond ally.
Bluestreak, Dee and myself moved our camp from our alcove to the rooms the Tunnel Rats have claimed. Hound and Jazz rested and kept watch over Sunstreaker while we worked. Everyone is under orders to never leave the camp alone. Jazz calls it "the buddy system" and launched into a wild story about human children at a camp he once volunteered at. His comparisons make my head ache but in this, his logic is sound.
This place must be driving me mad if I am applauding logic from Jazz.
OoOoOoOoOoO
"Okay Auto-squishy, back you go!"
Sideswipe woke to the feeling of flying… and pain. He had a brief moment of confusion before impact. Darkness consumed him again.
Voices brought him to towards consciousness once again. Pain surrounded him like a heavy shroud, so it took him a couple fuzzy moments before he realized he was being handled.
Touch bad! Touch means… bad things happen next!
"NO!" he shrieked and flailed wildly, trying to escape, despite the fact he couldn't yet see or hear clearly.
"Hey! Whoa! Sideswipe! Easy! Calm down, it's Bluestreak! You're okay now. We're taking you back to the camp. You know, we moved it. Well, actually, you wouldn't know but we did move it. Dee was a big help with that. She's been my shadow since, well… you know. But anyways, she really missed you. We all did. Sunstreaker's been in rough shape since you vanished and oh! I forgot to mention that Jazz and Hound are back. They are pretty beat up but they'll be okay. Just like you're gonna be okay, so relax and let us help, will you?"
Sideswipe stopped thrashing. "Bl-blue?" He blinked furiously, trying to reboot his optic sensors… uh… eyes. His aud-… ears still were receiving a lot of static and an annoying ringing sound, but there was no mistaking that ramble.
"Yes Sideswipe, it's me. You're safe now. Prowl made a deal with CeeCee-37 and we've moved in with the Tunnel Rats. Not too bad, its kind of like being at the Ark when we first woke up and we hadn't cleared out most of the rooms yet. And its not cold like the alcove was. Hound says it's because there are so many people living so close together. You know they have some boxes stacked up on one side of the room to create a partition of some sort? They use that little section for doing stuff you don't want a big audience for like when they are interfacing. Funny thing is, if someone goes back there, everyone knows what they are doing, even though they pretend nothing is happening. You should have seen Prowl when one of the Tunnel Rat femmes asked him if he'd like to go back there. Thought he'd pop a gasket even though we don't have gaskets anymore…"
Sideswipe let Bluestreak's voice lull him into a daze, flinching only slightly when the gunner and his helper picked him up. Bluestreak chattering his audios off meant they were heading somewhere safe. That's all that mattered right now.
OoOoOoOoOoO
Prowl towelled his hair dry as he walked over to the corner where the rest of the humanized Autobots lay asleep. He paused by Sideswipe a moment, watching the red haired warrior twitch in his sleep. Sunstreaker lay nearby, as close as he could get without touching his brother. Sideswipe flinched from any sort of physical contact, even from his twin.
Well, almost any contact.
Dee snuggled closer to Sideswipe, tucking her head under his chin. Without waking up, he slipped his arms around her and pulled her close. Thus positioned, Sideswipe's breathing became deeper and even and his movements stilled.
Prowl smiled down at them. He'd never mention it to the warrior but he looked impossibly cute all curled up with Dee.
"Adorable, aren't they?"
Prowl turned and looked down at Jazz who now was sitting up, leaning against the wall. He grinned at the cuddling couple, then looked up and winked at Prowl. Prowl sighed and sat down beside Jazz. "I thought you were asleep."
"I was. I'm awake now. Why the late night shower?" Jazz turned to face Prowl.
Prowl leaned against the wall and turned his head to meet Jazz's gaze. It was strange, looking into violet eyes instead of Jazz's distinctive blue visor.
"Come on Prowl, talk to me," Jazz persisted.
"I needed some time to myself to think things through," Prowl replied. He looked over at Sunstreaker sleeping easily for the first time since Sideswipe was taken, at Sideswipe, newly returned and curled around Dee. He turned and watched Hound twitching, no doubt restless from a nightmare and Bluestreak sleepily reaching over to pat Hound's arm and murmur something before once more succumbing to sleep. The decision he had made while standing beneath the pounding water remained unchanged and for the first time he really understood Optimus Prime. "I've come to a decision."
Jazz narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Oh? What decision is that? You holding out on me?"
"Not hardly. We never finished our private conversation. I've been seriously considering your suggestion. As distasteful as it is, I can see no alternative. Only one small adjustment is needed on your plan."
"Huh? Prowl, a couple days ago you hated my plan. What changed?"
"As I said, I needed some quiet time to think about it and consider all the variables. I unfortunately need more time to do this without my battle computer but I unfortunately see no other alternative." Prowl took a deep breath. "I'm going to go forward with it."
"Okay, we'll get started on it tomorrow. So what's the change you are talking about then?" Jazz sat back, eyes widening.
"There is no 'we' in this plan Jazz. I'm going to do it. Alone."
"I was afraid you were going to say that. Prowler, if this plan could be executed by one bot, I'd have done it myself, without breathing a word to you." The saboteur crossed his arms and shook his head. "No way. We're in this together, we'll work together to get out."
Prowl calmly met Jazz's eyes. "Jazz, no. It has to be this way." He glanced over their sleeping comrades again. "Can you honestly ask this of them? Can you order Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to undergo that torture again? Or Hound?"
Jazz opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. He stared bleakly at the tactician.
Prowl continued. "I can order mechs into battle or on missions, knowing without a shadow of a doubt, right down to a ten thousandth of a percent, that they won't be coming back alive. I can't order them to willingly submit to extreme torture." He took a deep breath and smiled sadly at Jazz. "But it needs to get done, so I'll do it."
Jazz threw his hands up. "Fraggit Prowl, order me to do it then! I'm Special Ops, I do this thing all the time."
"Jazz, I can't order anyone into torture, not even you. There is a universe of difference between sending you on a suicide mission and commanding you to submit to torture."
"You've sent me on suicide missions?" Jazz blinked, mouth dropping open in shock.
Prowl nodded. "Yes, of course I have. You are, as you said, Special Ops."
"You've sent me on suicide missions?" Jazz blinked again. "And didn't tell me?"
"One thing I've learned about you over the vorn; you make your own luck. I cannot accurately calculate that but I do depend upon it." Prowl reached over and gripped Jazz's shoulder.
"Well, frag. Thanks, I think." Jazz shook his head ruefully. "But you still aren't doing this alone. I'm going to help you, we do it together."
"Jazz, I told you, I'm not ordering you to-..."
Jazz cut him off. "Not ordering me. I'm volunteering and don't bother trying to talk me out of it. You know I'll do it anyways."
Prowl smiled gratefully, clapping his friend on the shoulder again. "Thank you." As much as he didn't want Jazz to get hurt again, he also knew this was something he couldn't do alone.
"Hey, you didn't manipulate me into volunteering, now did you? Mr 'Send-buddy-on-suicide-mission-and-not-tell-him'?" Jazz tilted his head, grinning slyly at Prowl.
Prowl shook his head. "No Jazz, I didn't. I calculated that you probably would volunteer but as I said, this is something I can't ask of anyone. I'm grateful you did volunteer but I have to admit this scares the Pit out of me." He stole another glance at Sideswipe.
"I know, Prowl. Same here."
OoOoOoOoOoO
From the hand of Prowl, Lieutenant Commander, 2IC of the Autobots, Chief Tactician
Date Unknown
I am Lt Cmdr Prowl of the Autobots, second to Optimus Prime and if recovered, I would ask that this journal be sent directly to him.
Prime,
Jazz and I are enacting a plan to acquire information on a possible escape route. I cannot predict the possibility of success for this venture, not without my battle computer and tactical programs. I can only say the risk is extreme and it is our only option. If we should perish while pursuing this, I've left this journal with Hound and instructed him to watch over the others.
I find myself once again praying to Primus for assistance with this mad scheme. My only comfort is Jazz's involvement. To borrow a paraphrased quote from Ratchet, Primus watches over fools, sparklings and mechs named Jazz. Let us hope that Jazz's tendency to make his own luck has carried over to our new forms. We need it.