Rescue Me (working title) - Chapter 2
This was supposed to be fic for mmouse15 as 'payment' for her contribution to the help_haiti fic auction. It was supposed to be a one-shot, (un)fortunately, it mutated and is looking to be my first multichapter fic in a long looooong time.
Rating: PG (for now). No slash warning as of yet because I still don't know if I'll put any slash in. You might see some ProwlxJazz if you squint through a microscope
Characters: Prowl, Jazz, Mirage, Triage (OC, supporting role, borrowed from tirya56)
Disclaimer: If I owned these guys I wouldnt be sitting here typing this
Notes: This version of Prowl is inspired by the character of Zhuge Liang (Kongming) from the historical Chinese saga "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Jazz will be sort of inspired by Zhao Yun (Zilong).
Certain elements, characters, situations and/or plot will also be loosely inspired by the Three Kingdoms story (and I cant recommend this story enough), which makes this whole thing slightly AU. States and territories are loosely based on Koi's map of Cybertron...
Chapter 2
Jazz strolled out to the Decagon entrance early the next day, the young blue-and-white spy Mirage at his side. The two had trained in espionage together after enrolling with the military, and when Jazz had been promoted to Captain, he’d chosen Mirage to be his second.
The mech had shown a cool head in more than one tight spot and had higher than average intelligence. Plus, he also had that electro-disruptor thingy that allowed him to turn invisible for short periods of time.
“You’re rather relaxed for a mission of this importance,” Mirage commented.
“We’re still in Iacon, nothin’ to get so worked up about yet,” Jazz replied.
“Do you have a plan?”
Jazz only grinned. “I’m keepin’ my options open and hopin’ one’ll come t’me along the way.”
Mirage smiled. Just like Jazz. “So why did you ask me along again?”
“C’mon mech, is that even a question? Outta this whole crew, the only one I’d trust with my life is you.”
“You sure about that ‘only one’ statement?” Mirage nodded to the mech that was waiting for them at the entrance.
Jazz looked over and saw none other than Prowl, along with another small femme, standing expectantly.
“Aww Prowl, you didn’t have ta come all the way out here just t’see me off. I don’t do the whole tearful goodbye thing.”
Prowl smiled, almost smirked. “Oh, I am not here to see you off. On the contrary, I am going to be accompanying you.”
“What?!” Jazz’s optics brightened considerably behind his visor. “Well you can march back in there and tell Prime that I don’t need no chaperone.”
“Peace, Jazz.” Prowl held up a hand. “I’m not here for that. Optimus Prime merely felt that I could use… oh, how did he put it… a little field experience as well.”
“I thought you were a master strategist?”
“I am, but even a master strategist needs to learn the lay of the land beyond his own borders. Iacon may not always be our chief place of refuge and it's best I learn what I can of the other states while they still remain Autobot territories.” Prowl smiled a little more. “And may I introduce Triage, our medic for the trip.”
The small femme startled to attention when she suddenly realized attention had turned to her. Jazz noted the single white cross on her shoulder and recognized that she was only an apprentice. She noticed his glance.
“Field experience,” she said with a sheepish smile. “Ratchet thinks I need some, too.”
Mirage laughed and introduced himself and Jazz. “Well then, shall we be off to gather some experience points?” he gave a small bow indicating that Triage should lead. “Femmes first, my good medic.”
Triage gave a little squeak and a pink tinge lit her cheekplates. “Oh… th-thank you good mech, but I don’t know which way we’re supposed to go.”
Jazz snorted and transformed to his cruiser mode. “Follow me.”
He sped off. Prowl only smiled, transformed swiftly and shot after him. Mirage and Triage looked at each other.
“Are they together or something?” she asked.
Mirage laughed. “No. Right now they’re too involved with their work and their mission to think about getting involved with each other…. Shall we?”
Triage nodded and they set off after the two black-and-whites….
… Ahead of them, Prowl caught up with Jazz and drove alongside him as the city of Iacon whizzed by.
“Have I offended you?” he asked.
Jazz checked his speed and slowed so he could talk and drive at the same time. “You? Nah. You backed me up, remember?”
“Yes, I recall. Then what troubles you?”
“They think I’m too young t’be a Captain. I’ve worked just as hard as any of them, but they think I ain’t capable ‘cause my joints don’t creak and I wasn’t built big. I’m tired of bein’ the younglin’, know what I mean?”
Prowl’s engine hummed gently. “When Prime appointed me to the post of chief strategist, many of them thought he’d lost his mind.” He chuckled. “Our current Prime is a young leader, with new methods, new ideals. The old-timers are still used to the previous regime’s way of doing things. They will take some time to warm up to him. So it’s only logical that he turn to younger mechs who share his ideals in the mean time. When he proves that new methods are just as affective as the old, they will come around.”
Jazz made a sound in his engine. “How the frag do you know all this?”
“Simple observation,” Prowl’s voice held some amusement. “There’s a lot you can learn by just observing someone and how he interacts.”
“They teach you that in strategy school?”
“Oh no, it’s merely a skill I picked up on my own.”
The mech was serious, Jazz realized. “So… what you’re sayin’ is that Optimus is usin’ us t’make a point.”
“Precisely. How we succeed or fail here will reflect on his capabilities as Prime.”
Jazz sighed. “Oh… no pressure at all… thanks a lot.”
“If it’s any consolation, he does believe in your abilities… and so do I.”
A small smile crept into Jazz’s voice. “Good to know.”
They drove in silence for a bit, then Prowl asked, “Do you have a plan?”
Jazz chuckled. “I’m making it up as I go.”
“I see…” Prowl actually sounded troubled.
“Hey relax, I’ve gotten by winging it before.”
“No two battles are the same.”
“It’s a good thing you’re here then, huh? Now you can come up with the plan and I’ll just carry it out.”
Prowl gave a slightly undignified snort. “No pressure at all.”
… Before long, they left Iacon behind them and now faced an open road that forked in three different directions. Jazz halted on a rise and looked over his three options. Mirage pulled on his other side.
“Whice way, Captain?”
Jazz’s engine rumbled. “Heading through Nova Cronum would be the obvious choice; it’s an Autobot state, and we could pick up supplies… and beyond that are Vos and Tarn, and some of the Independent States.”
“We certainly wont be lacking in supplies,” Mirage said. “But…”
“But our last reports said Megatron had attacked Stanix and seems to be focusing his attacks on the Eastern states,” Triage said. Then her hand flew to her mouth when she realized she’d spoken out of turn. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean…”
“You are quite right,” Prowl said. “To go East would be to meet Megatron’s forces head on. Well thought.”
Triage ducked her head shyly at the praise.
“Then the logical choice would be to head to Uraya in the West and then to Altihex. They’re Autobot states, too.” Mirage stopped when he noticed the look on Jazz’s face. “What?”
“What’s after Altihex?” Jazz asked.
The spy thought about this, then cursed. “Not much else till you get to Kalix.”
“Which would be alright if it was just us four on a pleasure drive, but we need to think about the return journey also,” Prowl said. “It will be harder going for a larger group with few supplies.”
“So what’s left?” Triage asked.
Prowl pointed straight ahead. “The state of Tagon. It is slightly further away than Nova Cronum and Uraya, and is considered an Autobot state, though I don’t know how strongly they hold to the Prime’s leadership.”
“But wouldn’t that be the same as going to Altihex?” Mirage asked. “There’s nothing between that and Tyrest either except the Gulf.”
“There is the Tagonic Ridge,” Triage said.
“Right again,” Prowl praised her. “And though few know of them, there are tribes of bots scattered across it.”
Jazz nodded. “And if we can talk them over to our side, they could help us when it comes t’things like fuel and shelter… and maybe even defense if we were pursued.”
“Not to mention it offers us a fairly straight run from there to Tyrest,” Triage added. “Um… Ratchet made me study some maps before I left.”
“As I should have done!” Mirage laughed. “However, I was drafted on short notice.” He gave his Captain a pointed look. “Tagon it is then. Let’s go!”
As one, the four transformed and set off down the slope for the middle road to Tagon, Prowl and Jazz leading, Mirage and Triage following close behind.
Enjoy! and reviews welcome!