A chance Chapter two ^^
Very, very pre-war.
Disclaimer: Transformers doesn't belong to me :)
Prowl gazed around the room. He felt a wave of nausea hit him as he took in the full picture. Energon everywhere, scattered limbs...it was gruesome.
"Well, I guess this is what happens when you piss of the Thief Lord." Clockwise looked around the room. He was not able to mask his disgusted expression as he gazed at the Cybertronian remains.
"Thief Lord?" Prowl looked at his partner. Anywhere was better than the splattered fluids of once living bots.
"It's what everyone calls him. Rumor has it he want to be know as such."
"The biggest mistake of villains like him are their cockiness." Prowl muttered and went to do his investigation. This was not a normal warehouse...
"He proclaims himself as the underground ruler of Praxus and wants everyone to know him as such." Smokescreen explained. "I can barely wait to catch him."
"If. If we catch him." Corrected Clockwise but only earned himself a couple of nasty glares.
"We will catch him." Prowl said. His voice was emotionless and yet it radiated confidence, "Self absorbed fools like him always make stupid mistakes. It's only a matter of time."
"Anyway," Started Smokescreen, "This was not a normal warehouse and a meaningless slaughter."
"Yes." Prowl looked around, noting the now missing vid cams, "This was their HQ. Apparently they found out we were closing in on them as fled the scene. These bots were probably executed as a warning."
"A warning for what?"
"So no one will dare double cross him Clockwise."
"Oh."
Prowl frowned ,'How did they found out we were on to them?'
"This base is very big." Smokescreen noted, "How many followers does he have?"
"Enough." Stated Prowl and looked at a message that popped up in his HUD.
:: We need to meet. The roof of City Hall. Midnight. ::
The encrypted message was anonymous but Prowl knew exactly who sent it.
"There's nothing here for us." The black and white Praxian concluded, "I need to file a report about this. You can let the forensics in now."
He didn't wait for their acknowledgment and left the warehouse.
Prowl gazed at the Crystal Gardens. It was there that he took an oath to protect this city. His creators bonding ceremony was held there... He dismissed the thought, not wanting to brood.
His wings flared when he felt the presence of another. He quickly turned and pointed his acid pallet gun only to lower it when he saw the familiar back of a mech.
"...Topspin." Prowl subspaced the gun, "You're late."
"Sorry." The black mech muttered without turning to face Prowl, gazing at the gently glowing crystals in the distance. Under the ever glowing stars the scene was breathtaking. They were on the roof of the tallest building in Praxus having the perfect view.
"What happened in that warehouse? Swindle never liked to get his hands dirty and yet the place was a massacre."
Topspin tightened his hands around the precious cargo he held and glared at nothing in particular, "You tell me Prowl. Everything was normal until all of a sudden Swindle stared killing bots."
"Why?" This didn't make any sense.
"Because he knows there's a snitch in his ranks!" The black mech growled. "Prowl, when I took on this mission I knew the risks, I can take care of my self. But you have a glitch-fraggin'-mouse under your watch and whoever the fragger is, knows you've placed a spy there. He just doesn't know who...Yet."
Prowl made a fist as his temper flared. So this is how Swindle found out and why he had fled.
"You do realize that I'm on my own." Topspin continued, "No one knows you've placed me there under a false name. If I get killed - I die as a tug. If the enforcers capture me - I'm held as one. If Swindle catches me... well lets just say you wont be able to find my parts."
Prowl frowned. He knew he placed his friend in a very delicate spot. The two of them worked alone and only alone. It was too risky to involve more bots, they couldn't trust them. So Prowl asked the one person he could trust most and placed him right under Swindles nose.
"Jazz." He used his real name.
"Don't you get it Prowler? You're my only link to the Enforcers. The only reminder that I'm one of the good guys."
"I know." He felt disgusted at himself for endangering his friend like that, "But we can't touch him. Not without hard evidence. Which, unfortunately we don't have."
Jazz smiled gently and looked at his cargo, "What if I tell you we have ourselves a witness."
Prowls wings perked up, "We do? Who?"
Finally, Jazz turned around in all of his black armor glory. There, against the dark metal stood out a small gray form curled in the bots arms. Prowl never expected seeing him again. Especially in the spy's arm.
"Bluestreak?"
"I knew you'd remember him."
Prowl quickly closed the distance between the himself and Jazz and gazed at the sleeping form in his arms. So this is why Jazz was late.
"Why in the name of Primus is he here?"
"Unfortunately - he's out witness."
Prowl optics widen as he looked shocked at Jazz and then at the child.
"How is he even involved in this? He's just a pickpocket..."
"Yeah, little Blue told me about his encounter with you. He was very worried. Poor kid." Jazz sighed, "Like ya said - he's a good thief. And Swindle uses the profit he makes to pay some of his mechs."
"But why would he agree?"
"He didn't. The fragger was blackmailing him." He looked sadly at the small form, "Blue had two friends - twins - held captive in Kaon..."
Prowl didn't need to point out that Jazz was speaking in past tense...so that means...
"When Swindle started killing bots left and right I hid Blue. And when the danger was over he could no longer stay there. I can't protect him anymore without blowing up my cover."
"Why didn't you bring him in earlier?"
"What do ya think?" Jazz's gaze hardened, "Not with all of the optics and audios Swindle has in the Enforcers HQ. I was even reluctant to bring him here but had no choice. I can trust him only with you and no one else."
"I promise you Jazz - I will find the loose ends here. Even if I have to question every enforcer there is." Anger again spiked up in his systems, voice no longer monotone.
Jazz smiled, "I'm sure you will. And in the mean time-" He literally dumped the small body in Prowl arms. Bluestreak didn't even twitch.
"Jazz? What-"
"I told you - I can trust only you and no one else with him." He started to leave, "New base is relocating in Kaon. I better hurry before it gets too late."
"Wait!" Prowl raised his voice but lowed it after the form in his arms stirred, "Jazz, you can't leave him with me." The stoic enforcer looked rather uncomfortable holding the small form.
"If not you, when who?" Remorse filled the air.
"I can't take care of a youngling. I don't know the first thing about childcare."
"Relax."Jazz stepped in to the shadows, "You'll figure it out. I'll call you when I call you." And with that Prowl was left alone with the recharging form on Bluestreak.
TBC
Short, I know, but the next chapters will be spent on bonding time between Bluestreak and Prowl! Till next time :)