CHAPTER 12
First Lessons and Pleasant Surprises

"Primus, NO!" Sideswipe shouted when Jeff brought it up the day after "Do you realize what Prowl will do to you? He will eat you alive during that training."

Jeff knew that Sideswipe openly disliked the mech, but nothing had prepared him for that. Jeff shifted a bit, staring up at the large, silver mech. "I know it's crazy, but Prowl really thinks he can help me." Jeff smiled "I mean, me, a strategist? Coming from someone like him, even you have to admit that's a big honor." Sideswipe crossed his arms "I just... I want to give it a shot." He admitted.

Sideswipe rubbed his fore plate, and glanced at his charge silently. "Jeff, I understand you're having a hard time dealing with this... But being a help to the war is not something a sixteen year old should be doing." Sideswipe shook his head "Even if it's just an apprenticeship." He added.

"He never said it was for the war."

Sideswipe grunted, his optics turning towards Arcee, who had mostly been silent the entire time. "What do you think of this idea?" Sideswipe questioned "I mean, Primus, the kid has enough trouble as is. But Prowl's in a class all of his own." He explained "I've never even heard of him mentoring anyone. It's just... Unlike him." He shook his head "I don't get it." He admitted.

Arcee shook her head silently, putting a hand on his shoulder. "But if this is something he wants to do, and Prowl really thinks he can help him." Arcee spoke quietly "It's not our place to say "no" to him, we're supposed to be being supportive, remember." She nudged him gently "What's the worst that can happen? He learns nothing, and pulls out of it." She added.

Jeff nodded a bit, though Sideswipe still looked rather uncertain about all of it. There was no telling if putting Jeff with a stoic mech like Prowl was the least likely thing to end in good things. But at the same time, that may have been because their hatred for each other ran deep. Taking a deep breath, putting his hands on his hips and staring hard at Jeff, he nodded. "Fine, I'll back off, you can be his apprentice if it will make you happy." Sideswipe finally spoke "But don't say I didn't warn you about Prowl. You'd be better off finding a mentor in someone else." He added.

"We'll see." Jeff replied honestly "Thanks, Sides, Arcee, I should go let Prowl know!"

For the first time, Jeff seemed excited about something, something both his guardians couldn't help but notice. The boy bounded to his feet, and ran for the door quickly, at which point Sideswipe a smirk tugged at the edges of Sideswipe's lips. "Of course Prowl would want to take on the "problem" of the base." Sideswipe shook his head "Primus, I swear if he's-" He began.

"You ever considered that Prowl might see a lot of himself in Jeff?" Arcee questioned, Sideswipe raised an optic ridge at her slowly "Sure, he can be like you at times, but Prime has always stated he once had the same problem." Sideswipe was silent at that "All I'm saying is that Prowl may just want to do the same thing you did. He was mentored at one point to." She added.

Sideswipe straightened a bit, his optics peering over at Arcee. "And I'm just saying, if Prowl is trying to pull something other than that." Sideswipe replied "He'll need a new paint job by the time I'm done with him. Second-in-Command or not." He added "Listen, I have a meeting to get to, so I suppose I should get going." He noted "If Jeff comes back-" He began.

"I'm sure Prow'll keep him busy enough."

Sideswipe frowned a bit, shaking his head. "Well if he comes back, be sure to interrogate him twice as hard about how it went for me." Sideswipe replied honestly, shaking his head a little "And an "I told you so" from me if and when he comes home in tears." He added.

Arcee merely rolled her optics as Sideswipe rolled out of the apartment. Believing that, at the end of the day, Sideswipe would more than likely find himself feeling like an idiot.

...

"Where are we going, Prowl?"

Prowl's golden optics tilted to look at Jeff, who was seated on his shoulder plate. His optics focused on the path ahead after a few moments, quietly thinking of how to best put where they were going. "I believe you humans would put it as, "getting some fresh air"." Prowl finally spoke up "One cannot concentrate on my teachings, at least not without clearing their head first." He then added "Because of course, the first rule of proper strategy is to clear your processor." He tapped the side of his helm for emphasis.

Jeff nodded his head a little bit, leaning back against the white mech's plating. He'd only just agreed to be Prowl's latest apprentice, yet already, he had wanted to start with Jeff's training right away. "I'm not really the totally calm and zen type, Prowl." Jeff replied "I've got this thing called ADHD, it's hard for me to stay still if I'm going to be honest." He admitted.

Prowl stopped a moment, as if processing the meaning of his words. After a moment had passed, he simply turned his head with a smile. "Don't worry, we can work around that my young apprentice." Prowl explained "I have techniques that vary, we simply will keep your brain stimulated, it should not be too hard." As they exited the base, he held his palm out "Come along, I need you on the ground."

Jeff climbed onto the palm as the mech set him down on the grass beside him. Prowl seated himself cross-legged, and made a motion for Jeff to do the same. After a few moments, Jeff knew this would be a difficult task if nothing else. "Clear your mind, Jeffrey, it may seem hard at first. But it easy for those of us with our gifts to do so." Prowl began "Close your eyes, and take in the sounds of the Earth around you. The life, the fresh air..." He commented.

Jeff's eyes closed slowly, doing as Prowl told him. Five minutes into it, the young man could feel himself shift, and himself growing more and more antsy, Prowl opened one optic slowly, taking immediate notice. "Stand, if it helps you, Jeffrey, walk, do whatever you must. But do not open your eyes, the object of this action is not sight, but to see without your eyes." Jeff couldn't help but be confused "You will understand, given time." He added.

About a half an hour, and three walks around the nearest tree, Jeff was almost convinced that Prowl was a loon. Yet as Prowl instructed him to open his eyes, it would soon become quite clear what he intended. "Now tell me, Jeffrey. There are three different drones that were placed near us in this time." Jeff's eyes widened "Surely you heard them move. Their movements were loud enough." He then added "Tell me where they are."

Jeff was stunned for a moment, knowing that Prowl was right. He hd heard noises, even felt a slight shake in the Earth, and thus it all made quite a bit of sense. The question was where he had heard him, if he were going to admit it, he'd say that he didn't know. But he silently took a deep intake of air, his eyes closing again, he listened silently. "Two in the back of the third tree two the right." Jeff pointed towards the set of trees "One behind the door." He smirked "I heard a door open." He added.

Prowl couldn't help but smile, only slightly impressed. Most of his students passed this first test, simply because of that, it was the first test to see if all of their senses were sharp, or simply their eyesight. "Excellent." Prowl replied "But that was only stage one, Jeff. A simple and quick test of your skills." He snapped his fingers, and the drones seemed to scatter "And it was enough for today." He added.

Jeff blinked, dumbfounded. "Really, that's it?"

Prowl smirked. "Baby steps, youngling." Prowl replied "Your training will become more rigorous as time goes by." Prowl seated himself on the grass again, staring up at the now setting sun "Besides, the sun's going down, and no doubt you'll be expected by your guardians before long." He explained.

Jeff nodded his head a little bit, and started to head for the door when he suddenly stopped. Coming to a stop, and watching Prowl as he returned to "clearing his processor", Jeff chewed his lip gently. He couldn't quite figured out why, but he already liked Prowl, there was something about him that truly drew him to him in a way he wasn't quite sure he understood yet. Taking a deep breath, and checking his watch, he slowly made his way over. He carefully went into his cross-legged position beside Prowl, closing his eyes. "I dismissed you for the day." Prowl replied.

"I know." Jeff replied "But Sides and Arcee can wait and, well..." He smiled a bit "I'm just kinda curious to see if I can really totally clear my mind."

Prowl let another smile tug on his lips, his optics opening to look down upon his young apprentice. This was a first for his students, most were often happy to be away from him after the first day, and Jeff's attempts to learn further was definitely a pleasant surprise. "Very well, youngling." Prowl spoke calmly.

"It's Jeff, by the way." Jeff opened one of his eyes "Just Jeff."

Prowl only chuckled evenly, nodding his head in understanding. "Very well, Jeff." Prowl replied "Now take in a deep breath, clear your senses... And let your mind flow free." He added.

As Jeff proceeded to try, he already could tell this was the beginning of something great.