30 Days and 30 Nights: day 22 finally!!
Title: 30 Days and 30 Nights
Day: 22
Prompt: When two become one
*Verse: G1 AU
Rating: pg-13
*Words: 7294
Other Characters: Prowl, Jazz, ensemble
Warnings: violence, language
Summary: Prowl and Jazz were always friends. Here's just one story about how an act of Primus brought these two mechs together...literally.
Notes: Finally its done!!!!! Now i can finish the final 3 prompts. Again, I went against the norm and chose not to do the obvious with this prompt. I do believe the wait is worth it too. I hope. lol
Cybertronian time references similar but not equal to our own: astrosecond ~ second, klick ~ minute, joor ~ hour, cycle ~ day, deca-cycle ~ week, orn ~ month, vorn ~ year
A/N: Special thanks to Dr. Oblivion, one of my readers on FFN and a guru for TF lore and trivia. I asked a few of my readers to throw me ideas on this one because I didn't want to do the obvious. And Doc delivered an idea that sparked my brain into remembering a certain SciFi episode from one of my favorite series! If there are any Stargate Atlantis fans out there, this one's for you - I'm sure as you read you'll recognized the episode that inspired my muse. I will not name it unless someone asks and it will be in a PM or something. I don't want to give anything away. And special thanks to prancingtiger for giving part of a fic a test run. Thanks you guys.
Also, this is meant for laughs. So a few mechs may be slightly out of character for comedy's sake. Let the mayhem begin!
"words" normal dialogue, "words" communications dialogue, 'words' internal dialogue
Day 22: When two become one
"Report," Optimus ordered as his CMO joined him in stride at the hallway intersection.
"We're lucky we didn't lose anyone but they'll be offline for repairs for a better part of the deca-cycle. Honestly, Optimus what the slag were you thinking allowing Wheeljack's to continue with another one of his cockamamie projects? Or do you just enjoy tormenting me?"
"Because he is brilliant, even if he is a bit accident prone. And I do need my CMO kept in top form even if he feels like its torture."
"Pfft! Well next time, limit the number of his senior staff he can use for an experiment or else next time more than a building might be destroyed."
"Duly noted."
"Which now brings me to the next lapse in judgment of yours…are you totally insane?"
"Lapse in judgment?"
"I can't believe you sent those two on a mission. Together!," Ratchet exclaimed. "They hate each other with a passion. Not a cycle goes by when they're not having a screaming competition over a mission in the war room."
"I admit I have my doubts," Optimus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as they came to a stop at a door. "However, I need all my officers, especially my second and third in command, on the same datafile. If forcing them to come to some sort of compromise by having them as partners on every mission from this cycle forward then so be it. We cannot afford to lose Prowl because of his battle plans and defense strategies. The mech is almost single handedly keeping the Autobot army from collapsing into defeat. Nor can we afford to lose the top saboteur and infiltrator this army has ever seen. The intel he gets is as important and essential to Prowl's tactical plans."
"I still say you're insane," Ratchet huffed. "Everyone thought Prowl was this emotionless drone until Jazz came along. Honestly, I never saw a bot turn that bright red from anger."
Optimus rolled his optics palming the door's control panel.
"Still, it's a good thing I came with you," the CMO smirked. "The two might have come to blows and damaged themselves."
The door opened and Optimus allowed himself a quiet chuckle as they entered the Trans-warp Gate Room.
"Optimus, Sir, Prowl and Jazz should be arriving on schedule, Sir," Hot Shot saluted.
"Relax kid you're gonna crack a bolt or something," Jetfire remarked.
"Is that before or after you corrupt his young processor?" Optimus countered, folding his arms across his wide chest.
"And they say you have no sense of humor," Jetfire grinned and then turned his attention to Ratchet.
"Don't even say anything nimbrod!" Ratchet growled, making Jetfire chuckled.
"Sir, message coming in from the SIC!" Hot Shot announced.
"Let's here it on the speakers," Jetfire ordered, slipping into his usual Flight Commander persona.
"This is Prowl, we're coming under heavy enemy fire! Seekers! I'm requesting that the Trans-warp Gate be activated immediately for emergency extraction!"
"An' he means now!" Jazz added with the sounds of explosions going of in rapid succession in the background.
"Confirmed. Six Decepticons bearing down on their location, Sir!" Hot Shot exclaimed with Optimus and Ratchet close behind him watching the monitor showing the Autobot and Decepticon energy signatures.
"You need to get clear of their weapons fire. Then I can warp you back to base," Jetfire said.
"Understood," Prowl replied.
"This is fragging brilliant!" Jazz remarked. "Got any idea, genius?"
"I always have ideas. Are you actually going to listen to one for once?"
"Focus, mechs, that's an order!" Optimus barked before the explosive due got into another heated argument.
"Yes, Sir!" the SIC and TIC promptly responded.
"There…"
"I see it!" Jazz responded.
"GO!"
"They're moving out of range, Sir."
"The Decepticons on circling around for their next assault. Now's our chance!" Jetfire pointed out.
"Do it," Optimus ordered watching with great anticipation.
"Prowl Jazz, hold your positions! Activating the warp gate now!" Jetfire announced and then activated the device.
They all watched with anticipation as the Trans-warp Gate's power levels efficiency climbed rapidly to one hundred percent.
"Beginning extraction," Jetfire said activating another switch.
"Seekers closing in!" Hot Shot exclaimed. "They're priming weapons!"
"Just a another couple of astroseconds!" Jetfire growled.
"They're firing!"
"Got them!" Jetfire announced a moment later and just before he could hit the final switched the main console sparked causing the mechs the jump back. "Oh slag! Power levels rising!"
"What's that mean?" Ratchet asked.
"Get down!" Optimus ordered, knocking all three mechs to the ground and shielding them just as the main console exploded.
The room's fire control systems immediately activated siphoning out the smoke and extinguishing the fires.
"This is not my deca-cycle," Ratchet groaned as flame retardant rained down from the ceiling. "Jetfire! Get your heavy aft off me!"
"Oh, sorry, Ratchet," Optimus said, rising up to his feet.
"Optimus!"
"I'm ok, Magnus. Everyone's alright."
"The explosion set off all the base alarms. I just happened to be in the area."
"We're all in one piece…relatively," Optimus replied glancing at an angry CMO. "Do you know if Prowl and Jazz still out there?"
"Systems down, cant see slag right now," Jetfire frowned, waving some smoke away front the dark control panel.
"Negative," Magnus chimed in. "Red Alert informed me their energy signatures vanished just before the alarms sounded."
"Told you I got them," Jetfire smirked but then his smirk faded looking at the main console.
"But how do we get them rematerialized? The controls are destroyed," Hot Shot pointed out.
"Just get Wheeljack and his crew in here, we'll have Prowl and Jazz up in no time," Jetfire smiled. Ratchet groaned loudly covering his optics. "What?"
"Magnus, send whatever Engineer staff is available as well as Perceptor from Science Division to the Trans-warp Room. Let's see if they can find out what caused the power surge and how to get back my mechs."
"As you wish, Sir."
A joor later Optimus was wishing he was the one MIA in cyberspace or wherever Prowl and Jazz went to. There was only so much scientific jargon that the Prime could endure from Perceptor or any scientist or engineer for that matter.
"Perceptor, I don't need a scientific lesson on transwarp theories. I just need to know what happened and how we can fix it," Optimus demanded, distinctly hearing Ratchet's whispered 'thank Primus' from behind him.
"Right, my apologies, Sir. I'm not an expert on the Trans-warp gate technology. What I have been able to conclude is loosely based on the data available…"
"For pits sake, spit it out already!" Ratchet roared.
"And excessive amount of radiation at the event horizon of the trans-warp field cause a feed-back of energy on the receiving end. So basically the excess energy built up to rapidly and could not be dispersed properly resulting in the explosion."
"So where are Prowl and Jazz?" Jetfire asked. "I know I retrieved their energy signals."
"For that, I'll let Skyfall explain," Perceptor said, indicating to the red and gold mech tinkering on the gate console. "He's a weapons engineer but is the closet thing to an expert we have until Wheeljack's team are all back online."
"As far as I can tell there are two energy signatures being stored in this warp gate's buffer," Skyfall explained, pulling up two energy blips on a hand held monitor that was plugged into the buffer. "The buffer temporarily stores the information until a command is sent to the interface drive to rematerialize the energy signatures."
"Excellent, command it to rematerialize Prowl and Jazz," Ratchet suggested.
"It's not that simple, Sir," Skyfall continued. "The interface drive's energy coils were damaged. It would take a deca-cycle alone to repair them. And because of the metallic refinery process required to make them it would take even longer to build a new one. Alternative power sources are useless as the energy coils are specific for trans-warp gate technology only. They have to be specifically calibrated. A marginal error you'd warp back inside out or in pieces."
"Ouch!" Jetfire commented.
"As of right now, there is only enough energy in the system to rematerialize one of them," Skyfall said.
"Then rematerialize Prowl," Optimus ordered. "I need my SIC for this briefing with the base commanders later this cycle."
"I'm sorry, Sir. Perhaps, I wasn't clear. There's no way to tell Prowl from Jazz. They only read as energy signatures," Skyfall said, showing Optimus the monitor.
"Frag," Optimus muttered under his breath. "Very well. Rematerialize that one."
"Of course, Sir. If everyone will stay back please."
Once everyone was out of the way, Skyfall sent the command. The console lit up dimly. There was a distinct popping noise in everyone's audio receptors and the warp field formed in the designated area. The field expanded and then collapsed, leaving a single black and white figure standing there, staring at them.
"Prowl?" Optimus called.
The tactician cocked his head to one side briefly before his optics offlined and he fell over onto his side.
"Perfect!" Ratchet griped, rushing to the SIC's side. "Why can't anything ever be easy around here?"
Typical of them all, no one replied to the irritable medic for fear he'd hit them in the head with a wrench. Not even the Prime was brave enough to reply and quickly made an exit, ordering Ultra Magnus to keep him posted.
Two joors later, medical bay…
Prowl onlined slowly, reluctantly. Everything ached. Everything. Even his optics because he instantly regretted activating them as the lights above were obscenely bright. He groaned covering his optics until they could adjust.
"Welcome back to the land of the functioning. I'm warning you now before you pull your impression of the Decepticons fleeing! Don't even think about leaving that berth or I will weld your doorwings to your aft for the duration of your stay here!"
"Ratchet, as usual your berth side manner continues to inspire your patients to heal quickly. Would you be so kind as to simply explain what happened and when I may leave?"
"It's a long story, one I don't care to repeat right now. So get comfortable!"
Prowl raised an optic ridge at the CMO but knew better than to question his response. Besides he'd find out the truth of the matter in due time.
"Anyways, as a result of your…accident…I've taken a few systems offline. Communications, weapons, transformations. I want to run a few more diagnostics to make sure all primary systems are fully functional before bringing your secondary systems back online."
"Very well, proceed at your leisure. May I be permitted to put my report together for Prime while you run the diagnostics."
"No!" Ratchet snapped, not so gently inserting a plug into Prowl's forearm port.
Prowl winced from the pain but kept his vocal processor silent.
'Yo, Ratchet, how's it hangin'?'
"Oh Primus, did you have to stick me in room with him?" Prowl groaned, rolling his optics.
"Him?" Ratchet inquired.
"Jazz of course," Prowl huffed, looking around. He quickly realized he was in a private room where there was only one medical berth. "Where is he?"
'I'm right 'ere!'
"Who said that?" Prowl asked.
"Prowl?" Ratchet asked, keeping a close optic on the SIC.
"You didn't just hear Jazz speaking?"
"No. He's not here, Prowl," Ratchet seriously replied, his normal frown deepening.
'What?'
"Who said that?" Prowl demanded, moving sitting forward.
"I did," Ratchet grumbled, shove Prowl back…hard.
"You said 'what?'?"
"No, I said that Jazz isn't here."
"No, you just didn't say the word 'what'?"
"No, I didn't Prowl," Ratchet growled, getting angrier by the astrosecond.
'Prowl?'
"Yes? Where are you?"
"I'm right here, Prowl," Ratchet grumbled grabbing a nearby medical scanner.
"I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to Jazz."
"He's not here for pits sake!" Ratchet snapped.
'Yes, I am so 'ere! Ya ol' fragger!'
"You didn't just hear Jazz right now?"
"No, I didn't hear Jazz. Hold your fragging head still so I can run a scan to see which screws fell out!"
"Are you sure my communicator is offline?"
"Positive," Ratchet replied attaching a lead to Prowl's left temple and then another lead to his right temple. "Now don't move."
'Ah, Prowl. Funny question…where are ya?' Jazz chuckled nervously.
"I'm lying in a reclined position on a medical berth in a private room of the medical bay. Ratchet is standing beside me to my left performing diagnostics. Why do you ask?"
'Oh no. Slag no!' Jazz gasped. 'Just bear wit' me. Could ya please put yar servos over ya optics?'
"Why do you wish for me to do that?" Prowl questioned, raising an optic ridge.
'Just do it!'
Ignoring the ever growing concerned look from Ratchet, Prowl put both his white hands up and covered his optics as requested.
"What the slag are you doing now?" Ratchet asked sounding stunned.
'Pit no! Primus Almight, this can't be happening!'
"What can't be happening?" Prowl asked.
'This is horrible! I can see that!'
"See what?" Prowl asked worriedly not liking Jazz's tone.
'Yar hands over yar optics as if they were my optics!'
Prowl arched his optic ridges worriedly. Then he slowly lowered his servos and calmly returning them to his lap. Then he looked squarely into Ratchet's optics.
"Ratchet, I think you'd better explain to precisely what happened to Jazz and myself. And I mean right now."
The CMO gave the SIC a long stare before nodding his head slowly.
"The Decepticons fired at you just as the trans-warp field was collapsing on you to bring you both back. The additional energy caused a feedback on our end destroying the gate's control console. Yours and Jazz's energy signatures were trapped inside the gate's buffer. There was only enough energy to rematerialize one of you. Since we didn't know who was who Optimus randomly picked an energy signature and it happened to be yours. Jazz's energy signature is still trapped inside the buffer until repairs can be made."
"No."
'This can't be happenin', mech! Slag, I even had a hot date tonight too!'
"Jazz isn't trapped in the buffer," Prowl seriously said.
"I beg your pardon?" Ratchet asked.
"He's in here," Prowl replied, tapping the side of his helm.
"Say that again," Ratchet remarked, narrowing his optics.
'I'm in his fraggin' head rust bucket!' Jazz yelled making Prowl wince slightly.
"It would seem that the consciousness of Jazz left the buffer when my energy signature did. Jazz is inside my processor and fully capable of seeing what I see, hearing what I hear, and speaking his processor to me."
Ratchet's optics darkened and then a long string of obscenities spewed rapidly from his vocal processor as he stomped out of the private room.
'He took that well,' Jazz commented sarcastically.
"Indeed."
'Whatcha think he's doin?'
"Perhaps he is going to self terminate and puts us all out of our misery," Prowl replied dryly making Jazz laugh.
'I bet in five klicks Optimus will be in 'ere 'long wit' Jack.'
"If I were a betting mech I'd have to agree with you."
'So ya do agree wit' me for once!'
"Hardly. If you were listening, said if I were a betting mech I'd agree with you. However, I'm not a betting mech. Logic tells me Optimus and Wheeljack will be here regardless of any odds."
'I can hear ya talkin' but ya just ain't makin' any sense.'
"Which proves the fact that you don't ever listen to what I have to say," Prowl countered and thus ended the conversation bringing a smirk to the tactician's lip components.
It was in fact seven klicks that had passed by the time Optimus showed. Only there was no Wheeljack. Instead Perceptor and a young mech whom Prowl recognized as Skyfall showed up with the Prime.
'This doesn't bode well,' Jazz commented and Prowl was inclined to agree. Not that he'd admit that to the irritating saboteur.
"Ratchet, report," Optimus ordered.
"So who's responsible for this frag up!" Ratchet snarled, making both Perceptor and Skyfall jump back a step.
"Ratchet, get to the point! Why are we here?"
"Sorry, Optimus. I ran a processor scan after Prowl enlightened me. The scan confirmed what he revealed. There are in fact two distinct consciences - Jazz and Prowl's - within his processor. As to how it happened, only numb nodes and crankshaft can explain precisely what happened during the rematerialization process…I hope."
"We're not trans-warp experts, I told you that to begin with, Sir," Perceptor said.
"We did the best we could under the circumstance. I mean at least they're both alive, Sir," Skyfall added moving back another step.
"Well if you had any sense maybe you'd have done a simulation or something before mashing away at the control panel and hoping for something to happen!" Ratchet yelled.
"Frag you!" Skyfall growled back. "I didn't see anyone else volunteering to get the job done!"
"QUIET!" Optimus roared silencing them all. "We're not here to lay blame. We're here to fix the problem."
"Excuse me, Sir, but why wasn't Wheeljack involved in our rematerialization?" Prowl asked.
'Good question!'
"Because the idiot blew up half the Engineering building and put himself as well as his senior staff in medical stasis! Not only to I have to repair them but I have to fabricate parts, including limbs!"
"That aside, what is the danger to Prowl and Jazz now?" Optimus asked pinching his nose bridge.
"The frag if I know. It's not like they teach anything like this at the medical academy, Optimus. But as far as I can tell, there are no dangers. From the diagnostics, both consciences appear stable. Prowl's systems are functioning within normal parameters."
'Pfft, barely,' Jazz snorted and it took a concerted effort for Prowl to ignore the jibe. He really didn't want to look like a fool in front of Optimus Prime by having an argument with Jazz when no one could hear Jazz. The situation was already crazy enough as it was and was straining his logic circuits. He didn't need to add to that.
"So, you can hear him?" Optimus asked and Prowl could swear mirth twinkled in his Prime's optics.
"Correct, Sir. And he can hear all of you."
"Can you read each other's thoughts?" Perceptor asked excitedly.
"No!" Prowl irritably huffed. Figures the science nerd would find something about his predicament fascinating.
'Thank Primus,' Jazz added even though no one could hear him.
"Anyways, I would like to keep his weapon and transformation systems offline for the time being," Ratchet continued. "Just in case. And I would like to keep him on light duty for the next two or three cycles while I make repairs on Wheeljack. If my staff works around the clock I believe in two, three cycles max I'll have his staff up on their peds so we can fix this debacle."
"Sir, I believe we are fully capable of handling this situation with maturity and I should be able to perform my duties without incident," Prowl added.
'Hey, what 'bout me?'
"Shh!" Prowl exclaimed.
"What was that Prowl?" Optimus asked.
"Nothing, Sir," Prowl responded calmly as if there was no outburst.
"Alright. Ratchet I need Prowl in two joors for the tactical briefing with the base commanders. Will he be ready?"
"Of course, Prime," Ratchet answered.
"Excellent. I'll see you in the briefing room then," Optimus said and then left.
'So what 'bout me? What am I supposed to do?'
"Ratchet, Jazz wants to know about his duties. What's he supposed to do?"
"Jazz is off duty for now. I don't really want to allow you on duty but I know Optimus needs you while the Autobot base commanders are here. Besides, it's not like Jazz can go anywhere. He's stuck with you, literally," Ratchet smirked.
"Frag," Prowl cursed under his breath.
'I heard that. Don't worry. Feelin's mutual.'
Prowl looked up to the heavens wondering if Primus was punishing him for some transgression in a past life.
Just under two joors later, briefing room…
Jazz was bored and there was nothing he could do about it. He tried singing only to get yelled at. He tried humming softly and got growled at. And all Prowl did was go over his notes for the upcoming briefing - boring with a capital 'B'.
'Do ya always arrive so early for meetin's?'
"I'm always first, if that's what you're implying. Only because I like to be prepared. And it's good to observe what kind of mood the other officers are in as they arrive."
'Why, so ya could bore them to death?' Jazz snickered.
Prowl exhaled loudly.
"Jazz, this meeting is very important to me and for our cause. It is essential that you control yourself and refrain from commenting or talking to me so that I may focus on my job."
'Easy for ya coz ya have yar body. I feel so constricted in here.'
"I find that illogical. You should feel nothing as it is my body."
'That's ma point.'
"Prowl."
"Optimus, Sir," Prowl greeting rising as his Prime came to join him near the head of the conference table.
"How are things going?"
"As well as could be expected under the circumstances."
'Could be betta though,' Jazz commented, making Prowl groan and cover his optics.
"How's Jazz doing?"
'Bored to death!'
"He is…as well as could be expected under the circumstances, Sir," Prowl answered.
'Ya said that already,' Jazz pointed out but got no reaction from Prowl.
"I just realized a few klicks ago that I feel I should warn you," Optimus said, keeping his voice low.
"Sir?"
"Jazz's old base Commander and his second in command will be here for this briefing."
Prowl flinched hearing Jazz growling within.
"I take it they're parting terms were not mutually friendly?"
Jazz snorted loudly to Prowl, 'ya could say that!'
"He got along with the base commander just fine. It was the second in command it had issues with. Jazz, since I know you can hear me, I need to know if you're ok with this."
'That fragger's just lucky I ain't in my body right now!'
"I believe Jazz would wish me to convey that he will restrain himself and if he were physically in control he would attempt to be civil towards…," Prowl translated.
'Springer,' Jazz growled.
"Springer?"
'Fragger never understood that some missions required finesse,' Jazz added. 'Said that special ops mechs were wimps! I mean he insulted my mechhood! And…'
"We'll be fine, Sir," Prowl said as Jazz continued ranting.
Jazz wasn't sure how long he was ranting but he suddenly realized Prowl's attention was focused on Optimus and that the Prime was addressing a now full briefing room. Jazz couldn't see the entire room because Prowl was facing away from the majority of the occupants. So the only mechs Jazz could see in attendance were Jetfire, Ultra Magnus, Optimus, and he could just see Kup's arm through Prowl's peripheral vision.
'I see Kup's here. Turn your head so I can see the afthead!'
Instead of complying, Prowl turned his vision more towards Optimus at the head of the table.
"You have the floor, Prowl," Optimus said.
"Thank you, Sir," Prowl said, rising to his feet.
'Ya sneaky fragger!' Jazz exclaimed as Prowl made his way to the maps being display. The mech turned to as not to block the map but also not get a clear view of the room. 'Turn around! I wanna see him!'
Prowl cleared his throat and then dived into his briefing with his usual monotone that usually tone that could easily put Jazz to recharge. Thankfully Prowl's briefings were short and to the point unlike Red Alert's who's just dragged on and on long enough to even put Prowl into recharge.
However, Jazz's more devious side couldn't leave well enough alone. Every so often he'd start singing or making noises or even started repeating Prowl word for word. Anything to get a rise out of the stoic tactician. For the most part, Prowl was doing a good job at ignoring Jazz which in turn nearly made the saboteur give up. His devious mind came up with one last idea.
'Hey Prowl, I have a question for ya? Is it true that Praxians have ultra sensitive spikes and ports?' Jazz asked and at the same time one of the officers in the room made a comment.
"Will you just shut up and let me finish!" Prowl shouted, clenching his fists.
"Excuse me?"
'Oops, some bot's in trouble,' Jazz snickered musically.
"My apologies, Kup," Prowl said, bowing his head flicking his optics towards Optimus.
"Prowl is still recovering from a head injury," Optimus said in defense of his SIC. "Ratchet warned me that he might get irritable."
Jazz laughed.
"Regardless, he can't talk to my CO that way!" a rather large green pissed off looking mech growled, rising to his feet.
Jazz stopped laughing and started growling.
"Springer, I assure you the comment wasn't directed at Kup. I meant no offense," Prowl insisted, holding his ground.
"Well too bad, I was offended!" Springer growled.
"Sit down," Kup ordered Springer.
"Yeah, sit that aft down ya fraggin' slaghead!" Jazz said out loud but it distinctly sounded like Prowl's voice.
Prowl's servo clamped over his mouth, mortified. Optimus just looked at him with wide optics.
"What did you do?" Prowl asked, ignoring the curious looks from everyone as he turned around to face away from them.
'I don't know! I got mad! And it just…I don't know…came out!'
"What did you call me?" Springer asked, glowering, stalking the SIC.
"Optimus, I believe it prudent to remove us from this meeting," Prowl quickly requested, facing his Prime.
'Oh no…this is gonna hurt…I suggest ya run, Prowl!'
"I'm afraid we need to finish this first Prowl then you will be confined to quarters," Optimus said, rising to stop Springer's advance. "Springer, you will stand down and I will explain. Now soldier!"
"This ought to be interesting," Jetfire snickered to Ultra Magnus who watched to make sure the wrecker took his seat as ordered.
"As I stated before Prowl was in an accident," Optimus explained. "What it was or how it happened is not important. The fact is that for a couple of cycles Prowl is stuck with the consciousness of another mech within his processor. He can hear this individual speak and this individual can see and hear all of us. Of course, I did order said individual to control himself during this meeting."
"Pfft, that minibot, fragger can't control himself," Springer snorted.
"You know who it is?" Jetfire questioned.
"Oh yeah. I'd recognize that Polyhexian drawl of Jazz's anywhere," Springer replied.
"Please, that information is not to leave this room," Optimus ordered. "Only a handful of mechs know what happened."
"We understand, Prime," Kup said as well as the other officers.
"I actually feel sorry for the Praxian prick to have to put up with that aft," Springer commented. "Jazz never could control himself or that vocal processor of his. He was a pain in my aft on a number of occasions."
Prowl suddenly leapt over the table with the quickness and agility of his form and before Springer, or anyone, could even react, Prowl slammed his fist hard into the wrecker's jaw dislocating it. One more leap and bound and he was out the doorway, racing down the hall.
'What the slag was that!' Jazz asked stunned.
"I know…I can't believe I just defended you!"
'Wow! Thanks. I think.'
"You're welcome. Besides, there's a ninety percent probability that Optimus will let us off the hook. All I have to do is blame it on you. Since it is obvious you can control my body."
'Gee, thanks!' Jazz growled. 'Wait…what?'
"Your outburst," Prowl said, slowing his stride to a fast walk as they entered the officer's residential section of the base.
'I still don't know how I did that.'
"Good. I would like to avoid a repeat occurrence of it," Prowl said as he keyed in his access code and entered his quarters. "I think we should remain confined to quarters until Wheeljack can correct this problem."
'Hey, since I'm stuck with ya, don'tcha think ya could get some things from my quarters, like some music or something?'
"Contrary to popular belief, I do have my own music file collection," Prowl answered, point to where he stored the music files. "You may choose from there first and if you still do not find something to your liking then we'll get something from your quarters."
"Sweet!" Jazz said, out loud and took a few steps towards before stumbling. "Whoa!"
"Hey!" Prowl shouted, taking control of his body back, looking a little miffed! "I told you not to do that!"
'Sorry, I just reacted without thinking',' Jazz said. 'That felt weird though.'
"I couldn't agree more."
'No, not the bein' in control of yar body. The walkin' bit. I felt off balanced.'
"Ah, it's my doorwings."
'They make ya feel off balanced?'
"Not me as I am accustomed to them. But I would imagine that they would be for you. You were not born with them. Praxian mechs take longer to learn how to walk because of their winglets. It takes time to learn how to control them."
'Can I try, please?'
"This goes against my better judgment," Prowl grumbled. "Go ahead. But be careful! Doorwings are very sensitive."
'I got it. I got it!'
"I must be insane," Prowl muttered relinquishing control.
"Nah, yar just a good mech," Jazz smiled, fully in control of Prowl's body. He raised an arm and clenched a white fist. "That is so weird."
'What is?'
"Talkin'. It's my words but yar voice."
'Do the little things always amuse you?'
"Ya, the li'l things often matta most to an individual."
'For once, we are in agreement on something,' Prowl replied.
"So got any pointas?"
'Well, I suggest trying to moving one of the doorwings. Keep the movement small. They're…'
"Sensitive. I got it mech. Relax."
'I can't. You are in control of my body.'
"Does anyone know ya actually do have a sense of humor?" Jazz asked, laughing.
'You're the first,' Prowl replied sadly.
"Sorry, mech. I guess it's hard on ya since ya're the second in command. Ya come off as unapproachable because ya're always workin' so hard. Most mechs are afraid of ya while the others have too much respect for ya."
'We all must make sacrifices for the greater good.'
"Well, not anymore. We're gonna do somethin' about it when Jack fixes us. Ok?"
'If you say so.'
"I do," Jazz said. "I'm a mech of my word. Now…let's see if I can…what was that?"
Jazz whirled around again when he felt something ghost over one of the doorwings. Then he spun around the other way when he felt it again. And then again and again.
'Jazz, don't that! For Primus sake! You look like a mecha-pup chasing its tail!'
"What is that?"
'It's the air current in the room blowing over the sensors in the panels.'
"That feels so weird!"
"I hardly notice it anymore unless there's a problem with the ventilation system," Prowl said resuming control of his body and heading over to his computer terminal. "No messages."
'That a good thing?' Jazz questioned.
"I suspect if Prime was angry with us he'd have had called us to his office by now."
'So what do we do now?' Jazz asked.
"Recharge. I'm not sure about you but I'm exhausted."
'Good idea, ma friend. How about some soft music?'
"Sure, I enjoy listening to it as I fall into recharge. Especially on my most stressful cycles."
'Me too,' Jazz said, wishing he could show Prowl a genuine smile. 'Ya know, we seem to have more in common that eitha of us ever thought.'
"We certainly do," Prowl yawned, getting comfortable on his side on the berth. "Recharge well, Jazz."
'Ya too, Prowl.'
Jazz distinctly heard Prowl's systems all cycling down. Yet he remained awake. Wide awake. After ten klicks he was still wide awake. It dawned on him that he wasn't going to be able to recharge unless he burned off some of this excess energy.
On command he cycled up all of Prowl's systems, grateful the mech's conscience remained in recharge. Then Jazz got up with a smirk on his face and waltzed in his usual way out the door and into the hallway.
The next cycle….
Prowl stretched out his arms and legs as he came online. Then he sat up and flexed his doorwings while rubbing his face with his servos.
'Ten more klicks, please?' Jazz groaned sleepily.
"Wow, it's been a long time since I woke feeling so relaxed," Prowl smiled, onlining his optics. He immediately noticed that he wasn't in his quarters. This room was a mess! "Where are we?"
'My quarters. I couldn't remember your code to get back in.'
"WHAT?" Prowl shouted leaping to his peds.
'Relax. I couldn't recharge so I went an' knocked out a few rounds with a sparrin' drone.'
Prowl let out an agitated sigh.
"Well, I suppose it could have been worse," he commented, carefully stepping around the mess scattered on the floor. But then he abruptly stopped when he caught a glimpse of himself in a full length mirror. His armor…it sparkled! He wasn't a slacker when it came to cleanliness and his armor always had a pristine shine but it never sparkled before! "What the…!"
'Oh yeah,' Jazz giggled. 'Ya like? After sparrin' I hit the wash racks an' gave ya armor a proper shine job.'
"Actually, yes. I do like it. What kind of polish are you using?"
'I'll get ya yar own supply. I know a mech.'
"Thank you, Jazz. You even managed to get the doorwings done. Impressive."
'About the doorwings…'
Prowl stiffened at Jazz's tone. Instinctively he knew this couldn't be good.
"What'd you do, Jazz?"
'Ok, I didn't know how to do the wings. I knew how sensitive they were and I didn't want to damage them. So...I asked my best friend to help me.'
Prowl groaned loudly.
'Blaster's cool. He won't tell anyone. I made him swear on Steeljaw's head. Ya know he loves his cassettes.'
"Why do I get the feeling there's more to it than that?"
'Well, neither Blaster nor myself have had experience wit' doorwings b'fore. We honestly, swear to Primus, never knew they were that sensitive! I mean, how were we to know touching them could cause that to happen!'
"You didn't…oh…Primus almighty! You overloaded!"
'It was an accident!' Jazz exclaimed. 'I mean I had no idea that was gonna happen!'
"Just…just don't talk to me for a klick. I feel violated in so many ways right now," Prowl moaned holding his face in his hands. To Jazz's credit, he kept quiet…for a short time.
'Well, if it's any consolation, it was one o' the best overloads I ever had an' since it's technically yar body ya had it too! '
"That's it! I can't handle this any longer."
Prowl stormed out of Jazz's quarters and stomped his way through the base. Checking his chronometer he was stunned to see it was almost mid-cycle which meant that Jazz deactivated his internal alarm! Pushing that thought aside, he headed to where his Prime should be at this time of the cycle. Prime was nearly as predicable as Prowl and thus the black and white Praxian found Optimus in his office.
"Prowl, how can I help you?" Optimus calmly asked.
"Sir! Something has to be done! I can't exist like this for another klick!" Prowl exclaimed, pacing irritably, wings fluttering agitatedly. "He hijacked my body after I went into recharge!"
"Hey, I told ya I couldn't recharge so I sparred to burn off some excess energy!" Jazz shouted.
"But you did so without my permission!" Prowl snapped. "You know what he did? He overloaded! That has to be some kind of violation or something!"
"Hey, it was an accident!" Jazz exclaimed.
"Accident?" Optimus questioned, arching an optic ridge.
"Sir, I'm begging you. Shoot me. Take me offline. Put me into stasis. I can't handle this!" Prowl pleaded.
"I thought we were gettin' to be friends! Is that how ya treat ya friends?" Jazz roared.
"Friends don't hijack their friend's body!" Prowl pointed out.
"True but they do, do stupid things they don't mean an' wish they could take back. I swear on ma spark, if I could take it back I would. I would neva betray the trust we've built togetha. Why else do ya think I told ya? I wanted to be honest wit' ya 'coz that's what friends do!"
Prowl's wings fell flat against his back. He knew in his spark Jazz was right and he felt bad for overreacting. He never overreacts! Except around Jazz.
"You just have a habit of bringing the worst out of me," Prowl spoke softly.
'I know an' I'm sorry,' Jazz replied.
"Prowl?" Prime called and was now standing beside his SIC.
"I apologize, Sir. This has been taxing on my systems."
"Our systems," Jazz added.
"Well, despite the circumstances it is good to see my SIC and TIC finally in agreement," Optimus smiled. "Even if it took an act by Primus to do it."
"It was probably the only way," Prowl smiled. "A shame too."
"Well, it seems Primus has intervened once again," Optimus said. "Although Ratchet will say differently. Wheeljack was brought online and fully repaired a joor ago. He's already in the trans-warp gate room and says he's ready to correct this accident."
'Woohoo!' Jazz cheered.
"Jazz and I are in perfect agreement. This is wonderful news, Sir!"
"Yes it is. It was rather unnerving hearing a mech having an argument with himself! It will be good to have things back to normal around here."
"About that…with Springer…"
"He will not be pressing charges," Optimus said. "If anything his ego wouldn't let him. Seems Jetfire and Magnus pointed out that a Praxian has never taken down a wrecker before and that shut Springer up instantly. Apparently, wreckers don't think too highly of door wingers or saboteurs."
"That's not right," Jazz said out loud. "Praxian forms are some of the most agile. Once ya figure out how to move wit' doorwings that is. The sensory panels actually help tremendously in hand to hand combat."
"Are you up to test your skills against mine?" Prowl asked.
"Yar on, mech. Let's go get my body!"
With that, they headed to the trans-warp room. Ratchet was already there as well, looking exhausted and pissed. Prowl avoided him like cosmic rust not even sparing a glance to see if the mech had a wrench in or near his servo.
"Perfect timing!" Wheeljack said excitedly greeting Prowl and Optimus. "I just ran a few simulations and we're looking good. So if you're ready. We're good to go."
"We are more than ready," Prowl said.
'Bet yar aft we are!'
"Ok, take your position then," Wheeljack said.
"Jazz…" Prowl whispered as he moved into the designate area for transwarping.
'I understand mech. It's been a wild ride, Prowler. One that was worth it.'
"I couldn't agree more," Prowl smiled, standing up tall. "Ready when you are, Wheeljack."
"Ok, activating transwarp field now."
Prowl's doorwings instantly picked up on the familiar change in the air's density surrounding him. He could literally feel the warp field expand and contract until a blinding flash occurred. Once the light faded and his optics adjusted he could see he was back in the warp room.
"Prowl…Jazz?" Optimus called but Prowl never heard him.
Darkness consumed Prowl instantly as he fell unconscious. He regained consciousness to the annoying bright lights of the medical bay.
"I do hope it worked," he muttered, rubbing his faceplates.
"How ya feelin'?"
"Jazz?" Prowl hesitantly asked.
"Yeah, it's me," Jazz responded coming into view.
"It's so good to not have you inside my processor…no offense."
"None taken," Jazz chuckled. "I'm just glad to have my body back."
"Where's Ratchet?"
"Rechargin'. Prime's orders."
With a nod and smirk, Prowl swung his legs over the side of the berth and stood up.
"So ya hate it in here as much as I do," Jazz grinned as they made they're wait out of the private room.
"With a passion," Prowl replied, glancing around the main room of the medical bay. Seeing it was clear he headed for the exit with Jazz at his side.
"And bots say yar sparkless. Yar just in control of yar emotions."
"I don't have the luxury of being emotional. I'm second in command. My decisions affect every mech I send into battle."
"Ya take it very personally when we lose a bot, dontcha?"
"Wouldn't you?"
"Ya, I would," Jazz seriously said. Then he put an arm around Prowl's shoulder. "Come on my friend, we're still off duty the cycle. Let's head to the recreation room an' get some high grade an' have a li'l fun."
Prowl laughed, "Why do I get the feeling that when you're involved in 'a li'l fun' it spells trouble."
Jazz smirked, "See we're gonna be good friends. Ya know me so well already, Prowler."
Epilogue
Optimus was a praying mech. He believed deeply in Primus' teachings. He even had enough faith that there were times when Primus intervened for the greater good. How could he not when the evidence was overwhelming?
Only two cycles ago Prowl and Jazz were literally at odds, arguing at the top over the vocal processors' capacity in front of him in his office. Enter the act of divine intervention and two cycles later those same two mechs were standing before him once again…only they were different. They were yelling only they were yelling to defend each other against Springer. It was an argument the wrecker was doomed to lose as Prowl and Jazz were far too intelligent and as it turns out devious.
"Enough!" The Prime commanded, holding back a chuckled.
Alas, while a part of him was absolutely thrilled Prowl and Jazz were finally working together as a team and appeared to have formed a budding friendship, Optimus was still Prime and had a duty to perform. He stared down at the three mechs whose frames were covered in dents, scrapes and dried energon.
"Perhaps I wasn't clear so I'll ask again. Who started the brawl in the recreation room that injured two dozen mechs, which included putting four wreckers being put into medical stasis, six femmes, destroyed nine tables, a dozen chairs, damaged the structural integrity of one wall, and demolished an energon dispenser?"
The End