Chapter 14
Okay everybody, here's chapter 14 of To Catch a Thief, what you've all been waiting for! XD I decided I'd been cruel enough, so I decided to post today rather than wait a few more days. Let me know what you think.
Title: To Catch a Thief
Rating: T
Characters: Prowl, Jazz, Optimus Prime, Bluestreak, Smokescreen, Ratchet, Bumblebee, Mirage, Hound, Blurr, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe
“Prowler?” asked Jazz, shocked as he stared into the optics of the black and white door-winged mech.
“Jazz?” asked Prowl, equally shocked as he stared at the visor that hid the silver mech’s optics from the world.
“You two know each other?” asked Optimus as he watched the two mechs. Suddenly, Jazz dashed across the small space between the mechs and jumped, wrapping his arms around Prowl’s neck and causing Prowl to fall back on his aft.
“Prowler!” yelled Jazz. Prowl could only cry out in surprise as he was knocked to the ground, reflexively wrapping his arms around Jazz. “Primus, it’s been so long! I knew ya were in Iacon, but I didn’t think I’d get ta see ya right away! How’ve ya been? What have ya been up ta?”
“Jazz!” snapped Prowl, keeping the mech from continuing. He threw Optimus an annoyed look because the larger mech was trying, and failing, to hide his amusement. “Would you mind getting up? My door-wings are getting crushed.”
“Oh! Sorry Prowler,” said Jazz as he got off of Prowl and helped him to his feet. “Ya alright?”
“I’m fine,” said Prowl as he moved his door-wings back and forth and up and down, trying to relieve some of the pain.
“Ya sure?” asked Jazz.
“I’m fine Jazz,” said Prowl with a hint of amusement. “But you owe me a back massage.” Jazz laughed and Optimus chuckled.
“Mech, I missed ya,” said Jazz.
“The feeling is mutual,” said Prowl.
“So, you two know each other quite well. I guess I don’t have to worry about you two getting along then,” said Optimus with a smirk. “Do you mind if I ask how you know each other?”
“He’s the Enforcer that caught me before the war,” said Prowl simply and Jazz stared at Prowl, surprised that he had told Optimus about his past. Optimus raised an optic ridge in surprise.
“He knows?” asked Jazz and Prowl nodded. “Huh, never woulda thought you’d tell someone about it after Sentinel died.”
“I felt he should know, and I…acted differently back then,” said Prowl. Jazz caught the hesitance in Prowl’s tone and nudged him in the side.
“We really need ta catch up mech,” said Jazz with a grin and Prowl nodded with a very faint smile. “Ya’ll have ta tell me all about how ya got ta be SIC. Oh, and I’ve gotta ask before we go anywhere. Where’s Bluestreak and Smokescreen?”
“Both are in the rec room. They should be between shifts at this time,” said Prowl and Jazz sighed in relief. “Bluestreak is a sniper and Smokescreen is the base psychologist and he works under me as a diversionary tactician. Both joined after…after Praxus.”
“I heard about that, I’m sorry Prowler,” said Jazz. Prowl shook his head and gave Jazz a sad smile. Optimus had to admit, watching the two interact was an optic-opening experience. He got to see a side of Prowl he had never seen before. The SIC was almost completely relaxed and at ease in the silver mech’s presence.
“There was nothing anyone could have done. I should know, I was there,” muttered Prowl and Jazz’s intakes hitched. “Bluestreak was in the city when it happened. I dug him out of the rubble of our home once the Decepticons retreated. Smokescreen showed up shortly afterward. We’ve been together since, but none of the mechs on the base know I’m their brother.”
“What? Why not?” asked Jazz.
“For their safety and to keep the mechs on the base from thinking that their achievements are only because they’re related to me,” said Prowl. Jazz thought on the reasons and nodded in understanding. He knew quite well that mechs could be very judgmental for some of the littlest things.
“Sorry to pull you two out of your conversation,” said Optimus, very amused, “But there are things to discuss.” Both mechs looked a little embarrassed, but they nodded. “Prowl, I need you to assist Jazz in getting used to his new position since you know what his job entails. Also, all Ops mission plans must be looked over by you before they are executed. I have no doubt that since you know each other and Jazz knows of your particular skills Prowl, that there won’t be any problems.”
“Of course not sir,” said Prowl. Optimus nodded.
“Good, then you’re both dismissed. Prowl, you have the rest of the orn off,” said Optimus and Prowl gave him a dry look before nodding. The two mechs left the office and stood quietly in the hall for a few moments.
“Your team should be in the rec room. I told them where to find it and Bluestreak will most likely be talking to them, or he could be showing them around. If you’d like, we can go to my quarters so we can catch up,” said Prowl. Jazz grinned.
“There are lotsa things I gotta ask ya, and lotsa things I gotta tell ya,” said Jazz and Prowl nodded with a faint smile. He led the smaller mech through the halls, pointing out main rooms and hallways as they went, until they reached Prowl’s quarters. He let them inside and told Jazz to have a seat as he got them some energon. He sat down next to Jazz and handed over a cube. “I never thought we’d run inta each other like this, ya know?” Prowl nodded his agreement with a faint smile. “I always worried ya’d be mad at me, especially with how we parted.”
“You had no reason to be worried Jazz, I don’t think I could ever stay mad at you for long,” said Prowl and Jazz smiled gratefully. “And I understand why you did what you did. Also, with how you asked Sentinel Prime to help me, I couldn’t be mad at you all.”
“Ya gonna tell me your story now?” asked Jazz with a grin and Prowl nodded. The black and white mech began to tell Jazz all about what had happened since they had parted and all that he had done, omitting certain situations and the fact that he messed with his emotional programming. When he finished, Jazz was sitting quietly next to him taking in all that new information. He had also noticed that Prowl seemed…distant, almost closed off. He could distinctly remember one of their conversations back in Praxus before the war, and he was always able to see little flashes of emotion or some shift in Prowl’s door-wings that would hint at how he was feeling, but here…Prowl’s door-wings were high and stiff and his optics weren’t as bright as Jazz remembered. It worried him.
“Now, will you tell me what you’ve been up to?” asked Prowl. Jazz launched into his tale animatedly, sometimes even acting out parts making Prowl chuckle at Jazz’s familiar enthusiasm. After a while, Jazz finally finished his story and plopped back down on the couch with a sigh.
“Oh yeah, one other thin’, I went ta Praxus a while after it had fallen,” said Jazz and Prowl’s door-wings twitched minutely. “It was pretty desolate and it…made me sad ta see all of it gone, especially the Helix Gardens.” Prowl looked down at his hands which were clenched together in his lap. “But I found somethin’ where your favorite bench used ta be.” Prowl looked up curiously and Jazz pulled a bright blue crystal the size of his hand out of subspace.
“That’s…” muttered Prowl.
“One of the crystals, yeah,” said Jazz with a grin. He grabbed one of Prowl’s hands and placed the crystal on his palm. “Ya should keep it with ya.” Prowl stared at the crystal in his hand before rolling it around, studying it as it caught the light. Jazz watched as Prowl merely held the crystal close and his door-wings gave tiny twitches, as if restraining themselves from trembling.
“I miss it Jazz,” said Prowl dully and Jazz wrapped his arms around Prowl’s shoulders, noticing how the black and white mech tensed at the contact.
“I’m sorry Prowler,” said Jazz. “But one day, when this war is over, cities will be rebuilt and the Helix Gardens can return. That crystal is proof of that. We just can’t give up hope ‘til that happens.” Prowl leaned into his friend, taking comfort from the warmth of the smaller mech and his words. After a breem or so, Prowl sat up and gave Jazz a tiny grateful smile. “I ran inta some Decepticons there too. A trine. I don’t know what they were doin’ there, but there weren’t exactly the talkative type.”
“I don’t see why they would go back. Praxus was a neutral city without any strategic importance. It’s illogical.”
“The ‘Cons are rarely logical when it comes ta destroyin’ things.”
“Prime told me something along those lines as well,” said Prowl. “It’s…irritating that I can predict their movements in battle and can coordinate a counterattack planet-wide, but I can’t figure out how they can choose to attack a completely neutral city like that and justify killing for no reason other than the fact that they like to. How did things suddenly go so wrong?”
“I don’t know Prowler, we just gotta keep movin’ forward and hope this all comes to an end.” Prowl could only nod in response, but he looked up when he heard his door open.
“Prowl!” called Bluestreak as he stepped inside with a grin. “That new Special Ops team is here! They were in the rec room and we sat and talked for a while, but Sunny and Sides didn’t look too happy with them sitting with us. Then, I went to show them around, and-.” He froze when he spotted Jazz sitting on the couch with Prowl.
“Heya Blue,” called Jazz with a grin.
“Jazz!” yelled Bluestreak as he jumped to give Jazz a hug. Jazz laughed as Bluestreak babbled and Prowl watched with a smile.
“Alright Bluestreak, I think you should let go of Jazz now,” said Prowl. The younger mech looked embarrassed as he let go of Jazz. “That was much like the greeting Jazz gave me, and I was serious about that back massage Jazz.” Bluestreak laughed and Jazz raised an optic ridge.
“You crushed his door-wings didn’t you?” asked Bluestreak and Jazz looked sheepish. “A little piece of advice, door-wings are extremely sensitive.” Prowl directed a stern look at Bluestreak for the slightly cryptic comment as the gray mech gave his older brother an innocent look. “What? You know it’s true, especially after what happened that one battle.”
“What battle? What happened?” asked Jazz worriedly.
“It was nothing Jazz,” said Prowl with a shake of his head.
“Prowl was in battle and his door-wings got pretty badly damaged, so he was completely unresponsive on his way back to the base. Ratchet had to knock him out and when he woke up a little while later, he attacked Ratchet ‘cause he wasn’t really awake and when door-winged bots are injured, they’re really jumpy. Smokescreen says it’s like a defense mechanism. He also says he was surprised Prowl wasn’t in stasis lock because of the pain,” said Bluestreak.
“That was a while ago, and I’m fine now,” said Prowl when he saw Jazz’s worried look. “And I wasn’t in stasis lock because my battle computer took over. If it had judged anyone was a threat, I would have attacked, but there wasn’t, so I didn’t.”
“Your battle computer took over?” asked Jazz and Prowl nodded.
“It rarely happens, but when it does, I wake up with a processor ache. It usually happens when I’m about to fall into stasis lock or when I’m startled awake in order to protect the information stored in it and my logic processors,” explained Prowl. There was a knock at the door and the three glanced over as it opened.
“Hey Prowl, have you seen…oh, there you are Bluestreak. I was wondering where you’d run off to,” said Smokescreen as he stepped into the room. “What the…? Jazz?!”
“What’s up Smokey?” asked Jazz. He just loved the shocked looks on mechs’ faces when they saw him.
“Jazz, what are you doing here? When did you get here?” asked Smokescreen.
“I’m the new TIC and Head of Ops. Got here earlier today,” said Jazz with a grin and Smokescreen gaped at him. “I hear ya are workin’ under Prowl as a diversionary tactician.”
“Yeah, and base psychologist,” said Smokescreen as he walked over and took a seat on a chair. “It’s good to see you again Jazz. How’ve you been?”
“It’s good ta see ya too. I’ve been good, busy mostly,” said Jazz with a shrug. “How about ya?”
“Same,” said Smokescreen with a smirk. “By the way, I know how much you Ops bots hate psychologists, so could you please try and convince your team that I’m not going to eat them if they see me?” Jazz laughed.
“Sure Smokey,” said Jazz.
“Well, it is getting late and we all should get some recharge,” said Prowl as he stood up.
“Ya kickin’ us out already Prowler?” asked Jazz, a little perplexed. He had thought Prowl would want to spend time with him after being separated for so long, or at least talk a little longer.
“I have much work to do tomorrow since Optimus made me take this orn off and I’ll have to catch up on reports and tactical simulations. I also have to help you get used to your new position Jazz, so I think it’s best to get some rest. I’ll show you to your quarters now,” said Prowl. Jazz threw Smokescreen a confused look and the blue mech grimaced.
“I s’pose you’re right,” muttered Jazz as he stood up and followed Prowl to the door.
“Bluestreak, Smokescreen, I don’t want to find you two in here when I return,” said Prowl sternly as he glanced over his shoulder.
“Yes sir,” they said, though Jazz could tell Bluestreak was a little disappointed and Smokescreen was annoyed. Prowl led Jazz to a room just down the hall and entered the code to unlock it.
“These will be your quarters. If you need anything, let me know and I’ll do my best to get it for you. I’ll drop by in the morning so I can begin to show you your duties. I’m sure you already know you’re way around the base,” said Prowl and Jazz smirked at that last comment.
“Thanks Prowler,” said Jazz.
“Jazz, my name is Prowl, not Prowler,” said Prowl with a raised optic ridge and Jazz’s grin faltered. “Rest well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah…ya too,” said Jazz quietly as Prowl left the room. He stared at the door where Prowl had just exited and wondered what the frag had happened to his friend. Jazz pulled off his visor and rubbed his optics with his thumb and forefinger before replacing the piece of glass. “Whatever happened to ya Prowler, I’m gonna find out and I’ll find my friend again.”
The next morning, Jazz was already awake when Prowl dropped by his room with a couple of energon cubes. Jazz greeted Prowl warmly and merely got a small smile and a ‘good morning’ in return. Prowl then led him through the base towards the hall that had all the officers’ offices, nodding politely to those they passed along the way. As they walked, Jazz carefully studied his friend, trying to pick out all the differences he could find. The first and most obvious difference was his outward demeanor; though he wasn’t extroverted by any means in Praxus, he was certainly more open than he was now. Prowl seemed to move stiffly as well, and though he still kept his natural grace, Jazz noticed how Prowl kept his door-wings from moving too much and his body language from revealing anything about what he was thinking. It was unnerving to see Prowl this way.
“Here is your office,” said Prowl as he stopped in front of a door and typed in the code. “I’m sure as Head of Special Ops, you’ll change the code, and change it often, but I would suggest not doing it too often. Red Alert, our Chief of Security, is rather paranoid about such things and tends to overreact.”
“Overreact?” asked Jazz curiously as they stepped into his office.
“He has a glitch which is why he’s so paranoid, but he’s good at what he does and he’s saved a lot of lives being as paranoid as he is. At times though, when something becomes too stressful, he crashes. It hasn’t happened too often, but the twins like to aggravate him,” said Prowl. Jazz noticed a flicker of emotion in Prowl’s optics when he mentioned the twins, but it was gone too fast for Jazz to recognize it. He made a mental note to check on these twins later.
“Twins?”
“Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, front-liners and pranksters. They wreak havoc on the base and everyone on it when they get bored. They’re friends with Bluestreak.” Again, Jazz caught a flicker of emotion, and this time it was there long enough for Jazz to see that it was a mixture of annoyance, disapproval, and protectiveness, before it was gone like it had never existed. “It seems that they have a vendetta against me and have tried to prank me, but have not yet been successful.” Jazz grinned with a laugh at that and Prowl gave a tiny smirk that could have been confused for a trick of the light if he wasn’t looking for it.
“So, I take it things are lively here?”
“Lively is not exactly the term I would have chosen. You will see just how ‘lively’ it can get around here soon enough, so I’ll let you find out on your own.”
“Alright, but I don’t think it’ll be too bad.” Prowl gave him a dry look before turning to the desk to pick up a few data pads that were sitting on the surface.
“These are some of the most recent reports that are handled by the Head of Special Ops concerning missions and the status of different teams in different bases planet-wide. They need to be done as quickly as possible,” said Prowl and he continued on to explain the many duties Jazz now had to shoulder. After that, Prowl led Jazz to a large room just down the hall which was currently filled with a couple of bots from tactical who worked under Prowl. “This is where we do most of the tactical planning for battles and missions. At the moment, we have several simulations running about possible battle plans that could be implemented in the future.” The entire room was practically lit up with holo-screens showing different tactics and images of terrain.
“Prowl sir,” called one of the bots and Prowl walked over to him. Jazz watched, fascinated, as Prowl went over the simulation with the mech and pointed out several key points that needed to be reconsidered before leaving him to it to return to Jazz.
“Wow, ya really know what you’re doing,” said Jazz.
“I didn’t become Head of Tactical for my good looks Jazz,” said Prowl in a light tone and Jazz chuckled while several nearby mechs looked completely shocked that Prowl had just teased someone. They left the room and continued the tour of the main rooms Jazz would most often be in when he was working. “Now that that’s finished, have you been to see our CMO for your check-up?”
“Uh…no,” said Jazz hesitantly.
“Has your team?”
“…No.”
“Then order them to the med bay. None of you will be able to go on missions until you’re all checked.”
“Aw, come on Prowler,” protested Jazz. “Can’t we just wait another orn?”
“No, Jazz,” said Prowl sternly. “It’s protocol. Don’t make me pull rank.” Jazz stared at Prowl a little incredulously before letting a gust of air from his intakes. He knew Prowl was right, but no Ops bot liked medics. “Come, I’ll show you to the med bay.” Jazz followed Prowl down the halls and when they got close, his steps faltered slightly when he heard shouting, cursing, and several bangs. Prowl merely let a gust of air from his intakes before opening the med bay doors. “Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, enough.” Jazz jumped in surprise at Prowl’s cold tone and peeked around him to see two mechs, one red and one yellow, freeze in mid-stride. The silver mech was slightly surprised to see a tiny hint of fear in their expressions before it disappeared.
“Get out you slaggers!” yelled Ratchet, waving a wrench around. “I don’t need you two miscreants in my med bay!”
“What have you two done this time?” asked Prowl in a manner that suggested he asked that question way too many times.
“Nothing!” chorused the twins, but Ratchet advanced on them with his wrench.
“Okay, so maybe we played a little prank on the Hatchet,” said Sideswipe quickly and quietly.
“You two will clean up whatever mess you made and you will assist Ratchet with inventorying the medical supplies,” ordered Prowl and the two began to protest. “Would you rather spend time in the brig after a double-shift and long patrol?” That shut them up and they cleared out of the med bay quickly.
“That was kinda harsh, don’t ya think Prowler?” asked Jazz.
“Not for them Jazz, since they never seem to learn…and my name is Prowl, not Prowler,” said Prowl.
“Alright, what do you want Prowl?” asked Ratchet with a scowl.
“Ratchet, meet Jazz, our new Head of Special Ops and Third in Command. He has yet to have his exam, so I have brought him for you. His team should be here shortly,” said Prowl with a pointed look at Jazz.
“So, you’re the new TIC huh?” asked Ratchet as he looked over Jazz critically.
“Yep, nice ta meet ya,” said Jazz with a wide grin.
“Well, there’s one thing you’d better learn, and learn it fast. This is my med bay and what I say goes,” said Ratchet as he waved his wrench threateningly.
“Ratchet, please refrain from threatening our new TIC and his team,” said Prowl with a dry expression.
“Oh, don’t get me started on threats Prowl,” snapped Ratchet as he rounded on the black and white mech. “I still haven’t forgotten your recent actions concerning something you shouldn’t even be messing with and the fact that you kept important medical information from me.”
“I kept my glitch from you because I had it under control and the second part I had been informed that it was in my file so I had no way to know that you were unaware of the situation,” said Prowl and he glanced over his shoulder when the door opened, admitting Jazz’s team. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to catch up on in my office. Ratchet, I expect I’ll see the reports on their exams later in the orn?”
“Yeah, yeah, just get outta here you slagger,” muttered Ratchet.
“I will see you later Jazz,” said Prowl as he began to walk out of the room. Jazz wanted to call out to him, but was unsure of what to say, so he remained silent, watching as Prowl left the med bay.
“What’s up Jazz?” asked Bumblebee curiously.
“It’s nothin’,” said Jazz with a shake of his head. His team glanced at each other before shrugging. They were sure to get it out of him later.
“Alright, Jazz, you’re first, on the berth,” ordered Ratchet and Jazz complied.
“So, ya know about Prowl’s glitch? How’d ya find out?” asked Jazz and Ratchet looked at him with a raised optic ridge.
“I should be asking you how you know,” said Ratchet and Jazz chuckled. “It happened after Praxus. He’d been dealing with the loss alright, probably because of Bluestreak and Smokescreen, but when he was informed that there were no other survivors…he crashed.” Jazz winced in sympathy.
“Prowl and I were good friends before the war. He told me about it,” said Jazz and Ratchet stared at him with wide optics.
“Wait, you’re telling me you knew Prowl before the war?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Because no one knows anything about Prowl before the war, except for maybe Bluestreak and Smokescreen, and they aren’t talking. His past is a complete mystery to everyone.”
“Doesn’t surprise me,” said Jazz with a shrug. “He’s a very private mech…but…”
“But what?” asked Ratchet, his gruff tone softening hearing the troubled tone in the silver mech’s voice.
“He’s different, he’s changed,” said Jazz quietly. Ratchet gave him a curious look. “Back then, he didn’t act so…”
“Emotionless?” offered Ratchet and Jazz nodded. “The slagger.” Jazz looked at Ratchet and watched him carefully for several moments as he worked to check Jazz’s systems.
“Ya know why, don’t ya?”
“I do, but I can’t tell you; doctor-patient confidentiality.” Jazz merely sighed and nodded. He wanted to know what had caused Prowl to be so closed-off, but he supposed he’d have to figure it out himself. Once his exam was finished, he waited for all his teammates to finish theirs. “If you wait a couple breems, I’ll have the reports done and you can take them to Prowl in his office.” Jazz nodded and waved his team out of the med bay. A few breems later, Jazz was stepping through the doorway of Prowl’s office.
“Hey Prowler, I got those reports from Ratchet ya wanted,” said Jazz cheerfully. Prowl looked up from the data pad he had been reading.
“Thank you Jazz. Just place them on the desk and I’ll get to them,” said Prowl. Jazz did as he was told and then took a step back to look at the surface of Prowl’s desk. It was absolutely covered in stacks of data pads, but he could tell they were all organized in a manner that was familiar only to Prowl.
“Wow, that’s a lotta reports. How do ya get through them all?” asked Jazz.
“With a lot of patience,” said Prowl as he read over the data pad, signed it, and set it down on a stack to his left. He picked up another and read quickly through it before make a few marks here and there, signing it, and setting it on the stack to his left. Jazz marveled at the efficiency in which Prowl worked, looking over everything quickly but carefully. “Is there anything else you needed Jazz?”
“Well, no,” said Jazz. “I was just wonderin’ if ya wanted ta get some energon with me. You’ve been workin’ for a while now.” Prowl paused to check his chronometer and realized that it was indeed getting late and he was getting low on energy.
“I suppose I could take a short break,” said Prowl as he stood. “But I cannot be long.” Jazz merely nodded with a grin and the pair headed off to the rec room. When Prowl stepped through the doors, mechs all looked at the tactician incredulously and Jazz easily picked up all the expressions before noticing that Prowl was completely unaffected by the looks. Prowl sat down at one of the corner tables after getting a cube of energon and Jazz followed.
“I take it ya don’t come in here often,” said Jazz nodding towards the other mechs and Prowl’s door-wings twitched in acknowledgement.
“It’s too loud in here so I tend to keep to my office or quarters,” said Prowl as he sipped at his energon.
“Who are you and what have you done with Prowl?” asked Sideswipe as he stepped up to the table, his twin right behind him. Prowl merely gave them a blank look.
“I assure you Sideswipe, I am Prowl, but I’m sure if you really desire to prove it, we can go to the training room,” said Prowl with a raised optic ridge and the twins glanced at each other before quickly shaking their heads.
“You know what? You’re definitely Prowl,” said Sideswipe.
“So, you’re the new TIC and Head of Ops?” Sunstreaker asked Jazz.
“That’s right,” said Jazz with a grin. “Prowler here tells me ya two like ta get inta trouble.” The twins merely grinned as they sat down at the table, ignoring Prowl’s long-suffering sigh.
“’Prowler’?” asked Sideswipe with a mischievous look.
“If either of you start calling me that, you won’t see anything but the brig and storage rooms for over a vorn,” threatened Prowl and they both looked completely shocked. Obviously, Prowl had never gone that far to punish them for pranks, so it surprised them that he would because of a nickname. “The only reason Jazz is allowed to call me that is because I would never get him to stop no matter what I tried.”
“That’s right Prowler, and ‘cause I’m your best friend,” said Jazz with a laugh. “I told ya back before the war, good luck gettin’ rid of it.”
“Wait, you knew Prowl before the war?” asked the twins incredulously.
“Yeah, sure, what’s so suprisin’ about it?” asked Jazz.
“The fact that no one else here knew him then and he never says a thing about what he did before the war,” said Sunstreaker.
“Not true, Smokey and Blue knew him then, and so did a friend of mine who’s a Communications Officer in Crystal City,” said Jazz.
“Blaster is in Crystal City?” asked Prowl curiously and Jazz nodded with a grin. “It’s good to know he’s still alive though we were never close.”
“No kiddin’,” said Jazz with a laugh.
“Whatever happened to that other Enforcer, Stalker wasn’t it?” asked Prowl.
“He was arrested for workin’ with that crime boss. Heard he was judged pretty harshly. I think he ended up dead or with the ‘Cons ‘cause I can’t find any mention of him in the records after that,” said Jazz. Prowl nodded looking thoughtful.
“It still is hard to believe so much happened in such a short amount of time,” said Prowl softly and Jazz nodded his agreement. “And then we both joined the Autobots.” Sunstreaker and Sideswipe watched Prowl with wide optics; they had never heard him speak of anything other than work, discipline, or tactics. “And Jazz?”
“Yeah Prowler?” asked Jazz curiously.
“If you ever make me believe you’ve died ever again, I’ll kill you myself,” said Prowl as he stood up. Jazz shuttered his optics in surprise as the twins gaped at the door-winged mech. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.” With that, Prowl left the rec room.
“Whoa,” was all the twins could say.