Update! ^^
Chapter: Five
Summary: When someone thinks that it can't get any worse than this, fate has a funny way of of telling you, oh yes it can.
Rating: T
Warnings: Violence, torture
Disclaimer: All if the charters belong to the rightful owners of Transformers. What you don't recognize it mine.
Author Notes: Well, pxjloverkyoto, I hope you're happy. I'm finally posting a new chapter :D
Beta'd by the wonderful gracesolo. She rocks.
Phenomenon
Jazz felt warm. He felt fuzzy and enveloped with a sense of coziness he had not felt in a long time. He wiggled a bit, trying to get his aching body more comfortable until he heard a low metallic rumble. That's when everything went down hill.
He remembered.
Prowl on lined suddenly when his sensors alerted him that the organic he was cradling in a polishing rag close to his chest was very much awake. And was very much trying to get away from him.
Jazz thrashed as best as he could. He ignored the protests his body kept sending him, following the primal need to get away, away, away!
"Jazz." Prowl spoke in English, trying to calm down the frightened human, but Jazz would have none of it.
"Jazz!" He slightly raised his voice, trying to get the smaller ones attention. He had to be careful not to grip Jazz to tight, otherwise he might aggravate his already damaged body. Prowl clamped both of his hands around the small body, securely holding it in place.
"Calm. Down." Those words seemed to have gotten through the frightened being as Jazz stopped his protest and pitifully whimpered.
Prowl brought the organic closer to his face, inspecting it. Jazz was breathing hard. He blinked a couple of times, clearing the image of Prowl, above him.
"Star?" Jazz whispered in a hoarse voice. His pounding heart started to finally calm down as he registered the familiar black and white. He completely stopped struggling and just slumped into Prowl's gentle hold.
"Damaged?" Prowl murmured, using his most gentle tone.
Jazz blinked a couple of times until he understood what Prowl was trying to ask him.
"F-fine."He wished it was true. And it would appear Prowl didn't believe him either. Jazz hummed in appreciation when he felt low magnetic pulses emit from Prowl's fingers. They caressed his battered body perfectly, soothing his pain.
"Thank you. Star." He gave a weak smile but it soon vanished as his stomach protested. He grimaced, "I'm all out of food..." He stated miserably, the reality of the situation taking it's toll on him. Prowl gave the small organic a gentle nudge, the equivalent of a pet. Jazz didn't mind that he was being treated like a pet. He felt like one and he welcomed any comfort offered at him.
"What happened?"Prowl asked, never stopping the gentle petting on Jazz, giving him the comfort he needed so much.
Jazz leaned in to the touch, basking in the gentle gesture.
"I went exploring. Wanted to see if I can go around the base or something. I have no idea why I did it." Actually he just wanted to get away from the room, from Prowl's slumped and broken form. He just needed to get away. And look where that led him.
Jazz motioned with his now thin hands to the ventilation system, hoping Prowl understood him. Luckily he did as the mech nodded. An awkward silence settled upon them. Jazz was tired, hungry, and injured. The SIC knew this and tried to focus Jazz's attention on to more pleasant things, like singing.
"Sorry, Star, not really in th'mood here."He muttered, but smiled when a finger touched his cheek, so gently it was feather-like.
As Jazz looked around the brig room, he spotted his bag. His tired mind finally remembered the recording he had made earlier. It probably was useless but Prowl would be the judge of that. He motioned for the bag. Prowl scooted Jazz on his chest plates and the human made himself comfortable in the huge polishing rag while looking for his phone in the bag.
"Can ya understand them?" He flipped the recording on and prayed his last battery will survive just a little longer.
Prowl expected a lot of things, but reviewing a discussion between Gundrop and Hook was not it. He felt a fondness kindle in his spark knowing his friends and comrades were trying to save him. He just prayed they reached him in time. He gazed at Jazz sadly. He was not worried about himself, he could still last for a while. But Jazz on the other hand...
"Is it good? I mean, you know...was it some helpful info?" Prowl didn't need to know the language to know what Jazz was asking. He didn't have the spark to tell him that although the information was welcomed, it was useless.
He smiled at Jazz and pressed him closer to his chest. Jazz sighed, enjoying the warmth. Prowl knew that even thought the Autobots were close they won't be able to override the decepticons cloaking devises... He brushed another finger over Jazz as an idea started to form in his mind. It was beyond bizarre and he didn't need his battle computer to point out that the chances of success were slim but... Was this what Starscream was on about?
He lifted Jazz's gaze, "Jazz." And pointed at the phone the human still held.
"Oh, you want it? Here."
He easily restored the batteries charge. He just hoped that the primitive device would be able to work as a flash drive... His spark nearly stopped when he was able to upload successfully a program. Hope started to grow as he contemplated on the situation. It was their only chance and Jazz was as good as dead anyway, even if it pained him to admit that.
"Jazz." He lifted the human to optic level and handed him the devise. "I have a plan." He said in perfect English and saw how curiosity perked up in the organic's eyes. They would either succeed or die trying.
Starscream stood in the command center, arms crossed over his chest as he observed the monitors before him. Gundrop, like usual, was growling beside him. Starscream had to smirk at that. Ever since the Decepticons SIC had found out that Shockwave would come soon, Gundrop was beyond restless.
'It's going to be such a nice reunion,' Starscream thought wickedly. Gundrop and Shockwave had a... history, so to speak. In truth Gundrop was Shockwave's 'creation'. But this was Shockwave. Nothing involving that mech was ever simple. Because Gundrop was not created using Vector Sigma or a spark kindled between two Cybertronians. No. Gundrop was Shockwave's first successful experiment at creating sparks without the use of Vector Sigma. Starscream had reviewed the logs and knew for a fact that Gundrop was created using organics. In a way, Shockwave was able to extract their 'soul' and form a spark.
Quite fascinating, thought Starscream.
But the organics Shockwave used were primitives and non sentient beings. Yes, he was able to successfully form a strong spark (after many failed attempts) that was able to power a mech's body. But it lacked 'stability'. The spark was too beast like - just like Gundrop. He is not able to control his emotions properly, he is in fact a beast that could think. Gundrop would not be able to bond or kindle with anyone. His spark is lacking, so to speak. But Gundrop was smart, otherwise he would not be Decepticon SIC, but when emotions where included, he easily got angered, provoked, and his judgment was clouded.
Starscream felt disgusted that such a beast had the position of SIC.
'Not for long.' The trine leader smiled wickedly, watching the small organic human creep its way in the command room. None of the 'cons paid mind to it. For them, it was just some mindless rodent that had slipped onto the ship during one of its departures and nothing else. They all failed to see the threat this rodent possessed. Starscream stood there, doing nothing. Gundrop will fail in extracting the information from Prowl and as well as Prowl escaping, with the help of an organic (oh, the humiliation, Starscream thought) he was surely to get demoted, giving Starscream free reign to become SIC.
The human apparently was going to use its primitive technology to send a message - anything - that would pinpoint where the their location was.
Starscream's claws twitched with excitement. He could barely wait.
'Two joors.' Prowl thought, cradling the sleeping human in his arms. It was barely two joors for Prowl, but for Jazz it was 12 earth hours. The human had lived quite some time with Prowl, but Jazz was reaching his limits. Now the pair could only wait and pray that their massage was received.
Prowl looked up as the brig door was opened. A twitching and growling Gundrop entered. He looked ready to kill something or someone. But apparently he wasn't alone. Prowl involuntary shivered at the sigh of the mech that entered with him.
"Shockwave."
"Prowl."
Shockwave looked over Prowl, noting his injuries. That one optic on his face betrayed nothing.
"I see they have taken good care of you," Shockwave noted as Prowl used his armor to hide his cargo.
Prowl said nothing, simply glaring at the mech.
"What? Is there nothing for you to say to your old friend?"
"Friend?" Prowl spat, "If you are asking me if I want to say something to a traitor, someone who I used to consider a friend..." Prowl's temper, without the battle computer to help him regulate his emotional responses, started to flare, "The 'friend' who not only betrayed the Autobots, but me personally... who experimented on me - then I have quite a few things to say actually." His plating trembled with rage, but Prowl was tired and he would not allow himself to lash out so recklessly, unless he wished for new dents. And Shockwave knew that.
"I did you a favor. Only thanks to that battle computer are you able to be SIC."
"But on the wrong side." Prowl said and couldn't help but be smug. After all, Shockwave gifted Prowl with the must advanced piece of technology on Cybertron, but Prowl didn't follow his ideals, he stayed with the Autobots. Fool.
Gundrop growled form beside, "Nothing I do works. Pain is not a factor. His battle computer is down, along with all of the valuable data. We tried extracting it, but the information started to destroy itself right after we started to disconnect him from it."
"That's a security measure, created so nothing would leak." Shockwave looked at Prowl's servos, or more precisely, what they were holding. After a scan the scientists interest perked up.
"Retrieve me that organic, Gundrop."
"Uhh, what?" Gundrop asked confused as Prowl sat up straighter, clutching the human closer. Jazz stirred due to the noise and movement.
"Star?" He mumbled tired. Malnutrition was having its toll on him.
Prowl said nothing, watching every one wary. Shockwave, as expressionlessly as ever, simply waited. Gundrop sighed, not daring to disobey him approached Prowl, only to back away when the mech lashed out.
"Whoa, still quite alive, I see." Gundrop smiled. This was going to be fun.
"Star? Wha's going on?" Jazz tried to see what was happening around him, but Prowl simply tucked the fabric over him, hiding the human from view.
Shockwave's optic brightened.
"The organic is sentient." It was not a question. Now Shockwave really needed the rodent. He could only imagine what type of spark it could produce. It was going to be a thinking, rational, normal spark. If this experiment turned out successful, then the Decepticons would no longer need Vector Sigma. They could create their own mechs using organics. Shockwave just needed to find the rest of its species and make sure they do not go extinct and the Decepticons would have a source that would turn the war in their favor. If Shockwave could, he would have smiled.
"It is?" Gundrop asked confused.
"Don't be ridiculous, Shockwave. Someone like you should know that there is no such thing as sentient organics." Prowl tried to defuse the situation.
"Then nothing is stopping you from giving it to us." Shockwave approached but stopped when Prowl's engine gave a dangerous rumble. Even bound and battered, Prowl still was dangerous. He used to be an Enforcer before the war. Prowl wasn't SIC just for his smarts.
"Ha!" Gundrop mocked, "Don't tell the mighty Autoscum's SIC got attached to that thing."
"Prowl, Prowl, Prowl." Shockwave shook his helm, "You will give us the organic - one way or another."
Prowl smirked, "You need him alive. Otherwise you would have taken him by now." The Praxian looked at the camera in the room, knowing this was being recorded. "Why do you, Shockwave, need a mere organic?" Prowl turned to look at the one opticed 'con. "What value is it to you?"
"You would be surprised how valuable this carbon fleshling is worth, Prowl."
Prowl couldn't disagree, but for entirely different reasons.
Jazz pushed the covers off of him. He needed to see what was happening. Just hiding was not going to cut it. He had to know what was happening. Were the Autobots here? But he doubted that, otherwise Gundrop would not be here. Jazz just started at the 'cons red visor, fear starting to build inside him.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get me that organic." Shockwave ordered.
A lot of things happened at the same time. First, Prowl went rigid. But before Gundrop could even touch Jazz the alarms blared to life. The ship was getting ready for battle. Suddenly the brig doors got blasted oped and a gush of cold air entered, causing Jazz to shiver. The human heard a lot of angry clicking and beeping noises before the world started to twirl in colors as he was shoved inside of something along with the cloth Prowl was covering him with.
It was dark. It felt like he was shoved in a dark box. In the darkness, along with the noises from outside his 'box' he heard the gushing of gas coming from the walls of the box. In order to stand up, Jazz pressed a hand on the walls and stood up on unsteady feet. The 'box' was not big but it was dark and he still heard a lot of shouting in a language he didn't understand.
"Star?" Jazz called confused. Where the hell was he? Again.
He noticed that the gas that was gushing from between the seams on the wall was oxygen. Puzzled, Jazz called for Prowl again. The human jumped back from the wall when he felt the familiar rumble of Prowl's engine.
'I couldn't be...' Jazz thought as he gave up on using his eyes, 'Am I...inside Star?'
Indeed he was. In the heat of the moment, when the doors burst open, Prowl used that time to shove Jazz in his subspace. He rerouted his lines and what oxygen he had in his systems was poured in his subspace, where Jazz stood hidden and hopefully safe. Prowl just hoped that the two figures at the door were who he though they were.
Prowl stared as the two figures engaged in combat with Gundrop and Shockwave. A third figure appeared at the doorway, keeping guard. Prowl felt something on his chains but saw nothing. Suddenly his EM field brushed against something...
"Mirage?" Prowl whispered, not trusting his voice. A figure materialized in front of him. Prowl wanted to sag in relief. They were saved. Jazz was going to live. He just needed to get him to their scientists for them to synthesize suitable energy source for him.
"Save the reunion for later!" Sunstreaker growled as he pushed Gundrop back.
"Yeah, 'cuz we have our servos full here, cop-bot." Sideswipe ducked a blast from Shockwave.
"'Raj, we're ready to go!" Hound shouted from the door just as Mirage helped Prowl to his feet.
"Can you transform?" The ex-noble asked.
"No." Prowl answered. Not only would his many wounds not allow it but he would have crushed Jazz as well. He felt the human in his subspace hit the walls still confused and frightened. He rumbled his engine, hoping the noise will calm Jazz.
The next thing Prowl knew, they were running. He tried not to think of how badly he was jostling Jazz. Prowl felt the air current speeding up. They were nearing the place where the extraction team must have blown the wall down. Prowl locked his subspace, preventing air from getting in and getting out as well. He just hoped he didn't have to stay in space for too long. His body would be able to handle it by locking all of his armor but with Jazz inside, the low temperatures would be lethal.
Prowl stopped, magnetizing his feet to the ground to prevent himself from being sucked in the vacuum created by the hole in the wall.
"C'mon Prowl!" Sideswipe tried to push him, "We have to go! All of us have jet packs. We can navigate in space."
'No...'Prowls CPU wanted to crash. Right at the end. He didn't want to lose Jazz now. Not now - not when he survived so much only to die like this.
"Is the ship far?" Prowl looked at Mirage ignoring the twins.
"Four clicks away. We have to go, now." Mirage looked impatient as well.
'Four clicks...' Prowl thought. That wasn't much. Not for them any way. But for Jazz...
The group looked back where the Decepticons were coming. Prowl didn't have a choice in the matter. They jumped from the wall as the group of four flew aimlessly in deep space. Prowl felt Mirage taking one of his arms, while Hound took the other as their jet packs flared to life.
TBC