Title: The end of the world as we know it
Universe: G1
Rating: T
A/N: additional scenes for "Waiting's end", showing the fallout afterwards. Just for the fun of it. ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, I don't make any profit from this.
12:08 pm
Red Alert muttered dire things as he stalked along the corridor. His cameras had shown him Prowl returning to his quarters after his regular meeting with Prime, and the SIC had not re-emerged. That generally meant interference of one kind or another.
Either someone had done something to make him glitch, in which case he needed Ratchet; or he had worked himself to exhaustion, in which case again he needed Ratchet; or someone had played a prank on him which had resulted in him being trapped in his quarters and unable to summon assistance, in which case Red Alert would have to go to his rescue. Or the world was ending.
One of those, and far more likely one of the first three.
It was not actually as if Prowl was missing a duty shift. He was not on duty again until morning, in fact. But on duty or not he always posted the next day's schedule at noon, and he always double-checked and filed the security report, and he always checked in to see that everything was running smoothly.
None of this had happened this morning, which meant something was wrong. And since Prowl did not permit things to go wrong when he was in control, something - or someone, he was sure was more likely - had taken that control from him.
Reaching the SIC's quarters, he did not pause to call across the comm system. After all, Prowl had not made contact so it was very unlikely he was able to respond. Best to simply act quickly and get this over with.
Typing his override into the door's keypad he swept inside, then stopped in shock, his optics initially having difficulty registering what he was seeing. There was a figure in black and white armour on the couch, but he seemed to have too many limbs, including two legs wrapped around his own neck...
The scene came into abrupt focus with a twisting movement and he saw a brilliant blue visor tilt up towards him from an awkward angle.
"Prowl's a bit busy right now, Red, y'mind comin' back later?"
"Kguh. Gnnn. Argh!"
Red Alert fled, pressing himself up against the wall opposite the now-closed door and staring in horror.
It was not so much that Prowl was sharing with Jazz - practically everyone had, at some point - his hand had been... and his hand had been... and they had been... And it was the middle of the day!
He felt his processors starting to stall. Who would have guessed they were both that flexible?
"Red?" Wheeljack asked, walking past. "You okay?"
"The world is ending." he said numbly.
"Oh." Wheeljack commented vaguely, pausing, then smiled and patted him comfortingly on the shoulder. "I wouldn't worry, I'm sure Prowl will fix it. It's amazing what he's capable of."
Red Alert whimpered. Jack had no idea. None at all.
1:12 pm
The roster had finally gone up, but it was peculiar enough to raise comment. Neither Prowl nor Jazz were on the roster at all - they were both down as off duty except in the case of an emergency. And Red Alert had been taken off duty too, though his was for medical leave on Ratchet's authority which was not particularly uncommon.
Groups of Autobots congregated in worried clusters. Was there a major offensive in the works? They had to be involved in some heavy-duty plotting, to pull out of their usually tasks. But why now? What had changed?
Listening from the vents, Laserbeak and Ravage looked at each other anxiously. Unprecedented events usually meant trouble, particularly where the Autobot tactician and chief of special operations were involved. Soundwave had to hear about this immediately.
3:28 pm
Optimus nodded solemnly to another knot of anxious soldiers, offering reassurance but not lingering.
Everyone was nervous about the upcoming battle, which would make sense if only there was one coming.
It was always possible that Prowl had left their daily briefing and then been updated with new information by Jazz, but then why would they do the planning in his quarters and not his office? And why would they not bring the rest of the command team up to speed on the situation?
There had been nothing at all of concern in Prowl's report this morning. They had discussed the small decrease in energon consumption linked to the recent good weather; Huffer and Brawn's progress in establishing a small armaments manufactory in the depths of one of the mountain's caves which would help them replenish dwindling stocks; the public relations impact of the gift distribution over Christmas and the possibility of turning it into an annual event.
"Prime!" Trailbreaker called to him. "We've got a call from the Nemesis. From Megatron."
Now what? Or was this just the start of whatever had upset his Second and Third? Why in the name of Primus was he in this position of not knowing what was going on?
Glad as always for his ever-present battle mask, he strode into the command centre and stopped in front of the main screen.
"What do you want, Megatron?"
The gunmech sneered at him.
"Don't think I don't know what you're up to, Prime."
"And what would that be?"
In truth, he was quite curious. From the background he could hear Starscream arguing with someone, and a phrase made it through the comm in the brief silence.
"...overreaction to something that could be nothing at all!"
Megatron growled.
"Play innocent if you choose. My Decepticons are not going to fall for your trap, we have increased our defenses and are ready for you when you come. You will not catch us unprepared."
The screen went blank as the connection was cut, leaving him none the wiser.
"So we are going after them, Prime?" Ironhide asked eagerly.
Optimus turned away.
"Patience, my friend. All will be revealed in good time."
Hopefully to him, first.
6:32 pm
Prowl collected his evening energon ration and moved to his usual table, sipping at it as he read over the datapad in his hand.
Bluestreak sat down across the table from him, watching anxiously but saying nothing, and after a moment Prowl lowered his datapad and regarded the gunner curiously.
"Can I help you with something, Bluestreak?"
The question seemed to be the trigger the grey Praxian needed.
"Is it true? Are we really going to rout the Decepticons? How? Why now? I mean, they're a long way under the sea and really hard to get at and it seems really dangerous and most of us can't swim any better than they can. I know you've probably got some great plan for how it'll work, you always keep us safe, well, when you can, and you wouldn't send us out on something that wasn't safe when you had a choice, but this seems kinda risky and they already know we're planning something even though we don't know how they know..."
Jazz had entered during Bluestreak's monologue and now paused beside the table.
"Y'know, if you were tryin' t'plan somethin' y'shoulda just said."
"I assure you, I achieved every objective I had planned for, plus a few more."
Jazz's visor sparkled with mischief.
"Oh yeah? So you're bored o'me already, then?"
Prowl reached out and took Jazz's hand, tugging him down into his lap - somewhere he was quite willing to go - and kissing him soundly.
"No." he said when they broke off. "Not yet."
"Well that's a relief." Jazz chuckled, stealing Prowl's cube of energon and drinking almost all of it. "Ooh, needed that." he declared, sliding out of Prowl's lap and stealing another quick kiss. "Well, if there's a mission on I'd better go talk t'the boss. I'll shift m'stuff in later."
"That's fine." Prowl agreed, watching him leave, then turned his attention back to Bluestreak. "Now explain again why the Decepticons believe we are about to attack them?"
Bluestreak's jaw had dropped and the mech was silent. In fact, everyone in the room was staring at him in some degree of shock.
"You mean..." Smokescreen choked, "all this time you two've been... You weren't working at all?"
"We were both off duty." Prowl pointed out mildly. "Beyond that, it's no-one's business but our own."
"But you're both so different!" Windcharger blurted. "It'll never work."
"Perhaps, but that is our concern not yours. Now, about the Decepticons?"
There was a brief silence, then Trailbreaker spoke up.
"They were probably spying on us. When you two disappeared, we thought it was so you could plan a fresh assault on them - well that's what it's always meant before." he added defensively before continuing. "Megatron called Prime and said they were ready for whatever you were planning, and we haven't heard from them since. But if they knew you were just..."
"Pronging each other." Sideswipe put in helpfully, apparently regaining his equilibrium quicker than some of the others.
Trailbreaker coughed, embarrassed, but Prowl had already grasped the situation.
"Well." he said thoughtfully. "If it is the case that the absence of Jazz and myself has led to this misunderstanding, perhaps we should prolong the situation in order to gain the maximum benefit from it. If you will excuse me."
He left them gaping again and strode out heading towards the command centre only to find Jazz heading back towards him looking slightly irritated.
"You caught up on what's goin' on? Talk about makin' assumptions. Stupid fraggers think you have a one-track processor."
"Perhaps I do." Prowl offered, gesturing towards the corridor back to his quarters. "Since we are clearly not needed out here, shall we test that assumption?"
Jazz's irritation melted away and he laughed and linked his arm with Prowl's.
"Lead on, mech, I'm all yours."
The end.
