Oh, what fun it is to write on a one-horse open sleigh
TITLE: Before and After
RATING: Teens
CHARACTER: Jazz
WARNING; Suggestive theme
T-VERSE: Any/All - G1(?)
SUMMARY: Significant others don't demand we change.
PROMPT: 1 Challenge: Combine a prompt from the 2010 list ( 04 Aug #4 The loneliest number is number 1) and 2011 (26 Jan #4 Scenario: trying to escape the past) - use both!
Before Prowl, Jazz flirted with every bot. Some cons too - though those encounters were more about saving his spark, or getting info that otherwise remained out of reach.
Before Jazz met Prowl, Jazz lived for the moment. Whenever an intimate encounter left him feeling used or dirty inside, he shrugged off the feeling and moved on to his next conquest. Or healed from the last forced interface.
Before he met Prowl and decided Prowl would be his, Jazz hopped from berth to berth, because he hated feeling alone. Flirting with Autobots made him the instant hit at any get-together. Jazz also knew how to back down or back off completely if the friends didn't feel comfortable with the attention or innuendos. And if his chosen companion for the evening wanted to move on, Jazz was happy to oblige.
Before Prowl came into his life, most everybot knew Jazz was friendly - he was as friendly as his current partner desired - but the relationship never lasted.
Before Prowl, Jazz had been everyone's friend-with-benefits.
After Prowl, Jazz remained friends with most of the bots - and a few of the cons too - yet he had changed. The benefits aspect of the friendship had disappeared, and Jazz never noticed the absence.
"Morning Prowler,” Jazz greeted the one mech who meant the galaxy to him.
"Morning, Jazz." Prowl accepted the energon cube.
After Prowl came into his life, Jazz stopped hiding how he truly felt. Prowl listened without reproach, and let Jazz be Jazz without any other expectations or desires. With Prowl, Jazz didn't have to run from his past, or hide who he had been.
TITLE: Global Worming
RATING: K+
CHARACTER: Ratchet
T-VERSE: Bayverse
WARNING: RANT (opinionated)
SUMMARY: Bots that can survive in space don't worry too much about changing temperatures.
PROMPT: 2 Scenario: a Natural Disaster
"Global Climate Change?" Ratchet huffed. "Why are you humans so obsessed over the fact your planet's global average temperature fluctuates?"
Lennox opened his mouth to explain, kept silent at a warning shake from Ironhide.
"Do none of your experts ever stop to think? PRIMUS!" Ratchet threw up his hands, paced around the room. "Suns go through times of intense solar flares, tides change, seasons cycle and repeat, you have 'El Nino' and 'La Nina' weather patter - then there are cicadas that spend seventeen years underground before emerging to start the next generation, while other insects complete their life cycle every year."
Epps looked at the giant muttering mech, turned his gaze towards Lennox, who only shrugged.
"Global Warming? HA! As if a billion cows fart enough methane to affect your planet - volcanoes release more green house gasses than all your cattle and farm animas.
"The temperature change you humans are so worried about, is simply a rebound from the global ice-age your planet had only recently"
"Ten thousand years is a long time ago," grumbled a soldier.
"Not to use," Ironhide spoke up before Ratchet could snap at the human who interrupted his rant.
Ratchet was still irked by the (to him) senseless worries and news articles talking about 'Global Climate Change' and humanity needing to 'protect the environment'. "Tell me you all missed it."
The humans traded confused glances.
Ratchet stopped his pacing. "You all missed it?" If the medic had hair, he'd be tearing it out by the fistfuls. "Planets have phases - their temperature fluctuates. Occasionally planets will cool down, at other times, they warm up - Just Like Everything Else!"
TITLE: Harsh Truths
RATING: K+
CHARACTER: Original Characters, Nameless individuals
T-VERSE: Unspecified (G1)
TIMELINE: Pre-civil War
SUMMARY: Not everyone wants to read between the lines.
PROMPT: 3 Challenge - Write an epistolary fic using only news reports and/or journalistic media
"This is WindShear, reporting live from the Senate Grounds.
"As you can see behind me, rescue crews are still searching the rubble, trying to reach the last, trapped survivors of the 'Bomb' that took out Nova Prime's advisors and many council members.
"Excuse me, WhiteCraft, but can you give Cybertron's News Listeners any information as to the origins of the attack?"
''What? Get this camera and reporter out of my face - There's work to be done, mech to rescue and confidentiality to uphold.''
"I understand, but if you could just reassure - "
''Weren't you listening? Get out before I have you arrested!''
"This is WindShear, signing off."
...
Transformers Bulletin Headlines
The improvised Explosive Device that took out the main Senate Building has been found to be an isolated incident. The one hundred sixty four mechs and femmes who lost their sparks were not targeted deliberately.
At the time of the explosion, the Senate Building had been closed to the public, and all meetings had been adjourned - the bomb did not intentionally deactivate our hard-working leaders and representatives, but seems to have eradicated a previously unknown group of insurrectionists and rebels working from within to destabilize our government...
...
"This is WindShear, transmitting a previously recorded interview. I am here with a special guest who prefers to remain anonymous -
"Can you tell me, sir, what happened the day of the attack?"
::Harsh chuckles:: ''For those ' ya reading that trash TBH, it ain't true. The writers o' tha' scrap just feedin' ya'll lies so no panic - truth is, Cybertron is at war''
"Could you elaborate on your curious statement? How can we be at war? The Senate - not the Council of Delegates - issues war declarations, and there have been no aggressive acts."
::Heavy venting:: ''Weren't ya' listenin'? The Senate's corrupt an' citizens wonna stand for it any longer. They've taken the law into their own servos!''
TITLE: Terminal Action
RATING: K+
CHARACTER: Optimus Prime, Prowl, Jazz
T-VERSE: Unspecified (G1)
TIMELINE: Pre-earth fall
SUMMARY: The needs of war necessitate much.
PROMPT: 4. Action Movie Title Generator
Optimus leaned heavily in his chair shoulders slumped. "I hate this."
Jazz glanced at Prowl, who looked up. They were the only others in Prime's office helping their leader plan an aggressive defense designed to save their world and protect everyone.
"I hate sending troops out on suicide missions, knowing they will die! " Optimus swiped his huge desk clean of all trinkets, reports to be filed, empty energon cubes, forms to be filled, ... everything got swept onto the floor. "Doing nothing gets civilians killed, asking the impossible gets my soldiers killed!"
Prowl stood up, ignoring Jazz's apprehensive look. Now was the time. "Optimus Prime, I recommend you accept this request." He dug a datapad out of his subspace.
Optimus eyed the datapad. He did not reach out to touch it. "What proposal am I to authorize and what will it cost the troops?"
Jazz leaned forward. "Ya need a team that understands the risks and is willing to take the opportunity - as volunteers, not because of orders."
Optimus Prime looked first at Jazz, then Prowl. "New division?" He asked hesitantly. "Under who's authority and where are the mechs going to come from?"
"Officially, the group - code name WRECKERS, led by Impactor - will not exist. These,” Here, Prowl hesitated a second, "renegades and outcasts, who won't be attached directly to the Autobot army, though they will obey any orders you, Ultra Magnus, or one of your Commanders, gives them." Prowl still held out the datapad. "All the details are on the padd. All it needs is your signature."
OPtimus grabbed the padd, waited to scroll down to the bottom. "You know I don't enjoy authorizing Special Operations. But I understand the necessity." Optimus skimmed the readout, signed it, handed it back. "Any retrieval or mole insurtations I need to know about?"
"Not at this time, Optimus" Jazz gave a sad smile. "I'll let you know when that changes."
"Good." Optimus stood up. "I need to refuel. Walk with me?"
TITLE: Unforgettable encounters
RATING: K
CHARACTER: Optimus Prime, Springer
T-VERSE: Unspecified (G1)
SUMMARY: Leaders can have people they look up to, too!
PROMPT: 5. Scenario: A character comes face to face with their idol/hero
Springer stepped off the shuttle first. The Wreckers, his team, his crew followed, just as glad to be on a planet.
The fact the Autobot forces, led by Optimus Prime, were waiting to great them, made the anticipated homecoming so much sweeter.
"Optimus Prime," Springer saluted.
"Springer," Optimus saluted back. "It's good to see your face." He scanned the faces of the Wreckers as they came down. "I see you have some new members. Introduce them, please."
"My troops." Springer named the Wreckers. Old members, new members, all of them, as they disembarked. It didn't matter how long the mechs and femmes had been Wreckers - they were Wreckers and that is all that mattered. Springer finished with "Kup, and his protégée, Hot Rod." He waited. "Sir?"
Optimus shook his head. "My apologies, Springer - you and your mechs are welcome to earth."
Coughs that sounded suspiciously like laugher caused Springer to examine Prime's officers wondering who'd ... they all looked amused.
The third in command, speed forward. "Excuse Optimus - apparently even Primes get tongue-tied when they meet their heroes."
"JAZZ!" Optimus spun, glaring at the smaller mech.
Jazz laughed even as Prime strolled over to Kup and appeared hesitant to speak.
Springer vented and shook his head. Now he'd have more tag-alongs to pull away from the ancient mech when it was time to move on.
TITLE: Normalcy Bias
RATING: Teens
CHARACTER: Bumblebee
T-VERSE: Bayverse
WARNING/SUMMARY: Introspective piece on what might have gone through some processors when they learn of man-made tragedies.
PROMPT: 2 Scenario: a Natural Disaster
Bumblebee had been in Australia when the Twin Towers fell.
September 11 made international headline, sensational news, but the full impact did not hit all the lands or all the peoples the same. Mostly those adversely effected came from America or knew someone who lived in New York.
Once, the initial panic wore off, Air Port security remained a little higher, a bit stricter than before, but for the most part, everywhere, life went back to normal, and the unfortunate 'incident' became old news.
The use of planes in the attack meant Bumblebee couldn't move onto the next country as fast as he liked, now that the Autobot was positive the All Spark and any clues that could lead to its discovery weren't in the Land Down Under. For the locals and travelers, those few thousand deaths never struck a deeper chord - they were just statistics, numbers, faceless people who boarded the wrong plane.
Strangers . Strangers had been murdered, and most people moved on like nothing happened.
The parallels to his own past, Struck Bee motionless when he made the comparison to Tyger Pax, to the fall of Crystal City, to Kaon's Gladiator Pits.
Stricken by the realization that senseless deaths of living people, of one's own species, meant little if the lost were unfamiliar, Bumblebee began to realize how the corruption of the Senate, had been allowed to remain unchecked for so long.
Every time more restrictive legislative had been passed, every time taxes had been raised, every time pay had been docked, the majority had gone, "It doesn't effect me personally," and ignored the cumulative side effects, the encroachment of freedoms everywhere.
"So sad, many people died - hope you feel better soon"
Meaningless sympathies, Bumblebee decided. If that was the attitude of the indigenous species, he hoped the All Spark hadn't landed on this planet - still his search had just begun and he couldn't rule out this planet just because he disliked one aspect of humanity.
RATING: Teens
CHARACTER: Jazz
WARNING; Suggestive theme
T-VERSE: Any/All - G1(?)
SUMMARY: Significant others don't demand we change.
PROMPT: 1 Challenge: Combine a prompt from the 2010 list ( 04 Aug #4 The loneliest number is number 1) and 2011 (26 Jan #4 Scenario: trying to escape the past) - use both!
Before Prowl, Jazz flirted with every bot. Some cons too - though those encounters were more about saving his spark, or getting info that otherwise remained out of reach.
Before Jazz met Prowl, Jazz lived for the moment. Whenever an intimate encounter left him feeling used or dirty inside, he shrugged off the feeling and moved on to his next conquest. Or healed from the last forced interface.
Before he met Prowl and decided Prowl would be his, Jazz hopped from berth to berth, because he hated feeling alone. Flirting with Autobots made him the instant hit at any get-together. Jazz also knew how to back down or back off completely if the friends didn't feel comfortable with the attention or innuendos. And if his chosen companion for the evening wanted to move on, Jazz was happy to oblige.
Before Prowl came into his life, most everybot knew Jazz was friendly - he was as friendly as his current partner desired - but the relationship never lasted.
Before Prowl, Jazz had been everyone's friend-with-benefits.
After Prowl, Jazz remained friends with most of the bots - and a few of the cons too - yet he had changed. The benefits aspect of the friendship had disappeared, and Jazz never noticed the absence.
"Morning Prowler,” Jazz greeted the one mech who meant the galaxy to him.
"Morning, Jazz." Prowl accepted the energon cube.
After Prowl came into his life, Jazz stopped hiding how he truly felt. Prowl listened without reproach, and let Jazz be Jazz without any other expectations or desires. With Prowl, Jazz didn't have to run from his past, or hide who he had been.
TITLE: Global Worming
RATING: K+
CHARACTER: Ratchet
T-VERSE: Bayverse
WARNING: RANT (opinionated)
SUMMARY: Bots that can survive in space don't worry too much about changing temperatures.
PROMPT: 2 Scenario: a Natural Disaster
"Global Climate Change?" Ratchet huffed. "Why are you humans so obsessed over the fact your planet's global average temperature fluctuates?"
Lennox opened his mouth to explain, kept silent at a warning shake from Ironhide.
"Do none of your experts ever stop to think? PRIMUS!" Ratchet threw up his hands, paced around the room. "Suns go through times of intense solar flares, tides change, seasons cycle and repeat, you have 'El Nino' and 'La Nina' weather patter - then there are cicadas that spend seventeen years underground before emerging to start the next generation, while other insects complete their life cycle every year."
Epps looked at the giant muttering mech, turned his gaze towards Lennox, who only shrugged.
"Global Warming? HA! As if a billion cows fart enough methane to affect your planet - volcanoes release more green house gasses than all your cattle and farm animas.
"The temperature change you humans are so worried about, is simply a rebound from the global ice-age your planet had only recently"
"Ten thousand years is a long time ago," grumbled a soldier.
"Not to use," Ironhide spoke up before Ratchet could snap at the human who interrupted his rant.
Ratchet was still irked by the (to him) senseless worries and news articles talking about 'Global Climate Change' and humanity needing to 'protect the environment'. "Tell me you all missed it."
The humans traded confused glances.
Ratchet stopped his pacing. "You all missed it?" If the medic had hair, he'd be tearing it out by the fistfuls. "Planets have phases - their temperature fluctuates. Occasionally planets will cool down, at other times, they warm up - Just Like Everything Else!"
TITLE: Harsh Truths
RATING: K+
CHARACTER: Original Characters, Nameless individuals
T-VERSE: Unspecified (G1)
TIMELINE: Pre-civil War
SUMMARY: Not everyone wants to read between the lines.
PROMPT: 3 Challenge - Write an epistolary fic using only news reports and/or journalistic media
"This is WindShear, reporting live from the Senate Grounds.
"As you can see behind me, rescue crews are still searching the rubble, trying to reach the last, trapped survivors of the 'Bomb' that took out Nova Prime's advisors and many council members.
"Excuse me, WhiteCraft, but can you give Cybertron's News Listeners any information as to the origins of the attack?"
''What? Get this camera and reporter out of my face - There's work to be done, mech to rescue and confidentiality to uphold.''
"I understand, but if you could just reassure - "
''Weren't you listening? Get out before I have you arrested!''
"This is WindShear, signing off."
...
Transformers Bulletin Headlines
The improvised Explosive Device that took out the main Senate Building has been found to be an isolated incident. The one hundred sixty four mechs and femmes who lost their sparks were not targeted deliberately.
At the time of the explosion, the Senate Building had been closed to the public, and all meetings had been adjourned - the bomb did not intentionally deactivate our hard-working leaders and representatives, but seems to have eradicated a previously unknown group of insurrectionists and rebels working from within to destabilize our government...
...
"This is WindShear, transmitting a previously recorded interview. I am here with a special guest who prefers to remain anonymous -
"Can you tell me, sir, what happened the day of the attack?"
::Harsh chuckles:: ''For those ' ya reading that trash TBH, it ain't true. The writers o' tha' scrap just feedin' ya'll lies so no panic - truth is, Cybertron is at war''
"Could you elaborate on your curious statement? How can we be at war? The Senate - not the Council of Delegates - issues war declarations, and there have been no aggressive acts."
::Heavy venting:: ''Weren't ya' listenin'? The Senate's corrupt an' citizens wonna stand for it any longer. They've taken the law into their own servos!''
TITLE: Terminal Action
RATING: K+
CHARACTER: Optimus Prime, Prowl, Jazz
T-VERSE: Unspecified (G1)
TIMELINE: Pre-earth fall
SUMMARY: The needs of war necessitate much.
PROMPT: 4. Action Movie Title Generator
Optimus leaned heavily in his chair shoulders slumped. "I hate this."
Jazz glanced at Prowl, who looked up. They were the only others in Prime's office helping their leader plan an aggressive defense designed to save their world and protect everyone.
"I hate sending troops out on suicide missions, knowing they will die! " Optimus swiped his huge desk clean of all trinkets, reports to be filed, empty energon cubes, forms to be filled, ... everything got swept onto the floor. "Doing nothing gets civilians killed, asking the impossible gets my soldiers killed!"
Prowl stood up, ignoring Jazz's apprehensive look. Now was the time. "Optimus Prime, I recommend you accept this request." He dug a datapad out of his subspace.
Optimus eyed the datapad. He did not reach out to touch it. "What proposal am I to authorize and what will it cost the troops?"
Jazz leaned forward. "Ya need a team that understands the risks and is willing to take the opportunity - as volunteers, not because of orders."
Optimus Prime looked first at Jazz, then Prowl. "New division?" He asked hesitantly. "Under who's authority and where are the mechs going to come from?"
"Officially, the group - code name WRECKERS, led by Impactor - will not exist. These,” Here, Prowl hesitated a second, "renegades and outcasts, who won't be attached directly to the Autobot army, though they will obey any orders you, Ultra Magnus, or one of your Commanders, gives them." Prowl still held out the datapad. "All the details are on the padd. All it needs is your signature."
OPtimus grabbed the padd, waited to scroll down to the bottom. "You know I don't enjoy authorizing Special Operations. But I understand the necessity." Optimus skimmed the readout, signed it, handed it back. "Any retrieval or mole insurtations I need to know about?"
"Not at this time, Optimus" Jazz gave a sad smile. "I'll let you know when that changes."
"Good." Optimus stood up. "I need to refuel. Walk with me?"
TITLE: Unforgettable encounters
RATING: K
CHARACTER: Optimus Prime, Springer
T-VERSE: Unspecified (G1)
SUMMARY: Leaders can have people they look up to, too!
PROMPT: 5. Scenario: A character comes face to face with their idol/hero
Springer stepped off the shuttle first. The Wreckers, his team, his crew followed, just as glad to be on a planet.
The fact the Autobot forces, led by Optimus Prime, were waiting to great them, made the anticipated homecoming so much sweeter.
"Optimus Prime," Springer saluted.
"Springer," Optimus saluted back. "It's good to see your face." He scanned the faces of the Wreckers as they came down. "I see you have some new members. Introduce them, please."
"My troops." Springer named the Wreckers. Old members, new members, all of them, as they disembarked. It didn't matter how long the mechs and femmes had been Wreckers - they were Wreckers and that is all that mattered. Springer finished with "Kup, and his protégée, Hot Rod." He waited. "Sir?"
Optimus shook his head. "My apologies, Springer - you and your mechs are welcome to earth."
Coughs that sounded suspiciously like laugher caused Springer to examine Prime's officers wondering who'd ... they all looked amused.
The third in command, speed forward. "Excuse Optimus - apparently even Primes get tongue-tied when they meet their heroes."
"JAZZ!" Optimus spun, glaring at the smaller mech.
Jazz laughed even as Prime strolled over to Kup and appeared hesitant to speak.
Springer vented and shook his head. Now he'd have more tag-alongs to pull away from the ancient mech when it was time to move on.
TITLE: Normalcy Bias
RATING: Teens
CHARACTER: Bumblebee
T-VERSE: Bayverse
WARNING/SUMMARY: Introspective piece on what might have gone through some processors when they learn of man-made tragedies.
PROMPT: 2 Scenario: a Natural Disaster
Bumblebee had been in Australia when the Twin Towers fell.
September 11 made international headline, sensational news, but the full impact did not hit all the lands or all the peoples the same. Mostly those adversely effected came from America or knew someone who lived in New York.
Once, the initial panic wore off, Air Port security remained a little higher, a bit stricter than before, but for the most part, everywhere, life went back to normal, and the unfortunate 'incident' became old news.
The use of planes in the attack meant Bumblebee couldn't move onto the next country as fast as he liked, now that the Autobot was positive the All Spark and any clues that could lead to its discovery weren't in the Land Down Under. For the locals and travelers, those few thousand deaths never struck a deeper chord - they were just statistics, numbers, faceless people who boarded the wrong plane.
Strangers . Strangers had been murdered, and most people moved on like nothing happened.
The parallels to his own past, Struck Bee motionless when he made the comparison to Tyger Pax, to the fall of Crystal City, to Kaon's Gladiator Pits.
Stricken by the realization that senseless deaths of living people, of one's own species, meant little if the lost were unfamiliar, Bumblebee began to realize how the corruption of the Senate, had been allowed to remain unchecked for so long.
Every time more restrictive legislative had been passed, every time taxes had been raised, every time pay had been docked, the majority had gone, "It doesn't effect me personally," and ignored the cumulative side effects, the encroachment of freedoms everywhere.
"So sad, many people died - hope you feel better soon"
Meaningless sympathies, Bumblebee decided. If that was the attitude of the indigenous species, he hoped the All Spark hadn't landed on this planet - still his search had just begun and he couldn't rule out this planet just because he disliked one aspect of humanity.