New Story: Aftermath - Chapter 1: Ironhide

[silberstreif]

Universe: Till all are one
Beta: Starfire 201
Continuation: AU, G1
Genre: Adventure, drama
Characters: Prowl, Jazz, Ironhide

Note: The game Treck is from pjlover666's story "This is War" Chapter 4.

Summary: The Great War is only a memory now, yet far from being forgotten. As the Enforcers gather to arrest the former Autobot SIC and TIC, they know that this is the beginning of the end of two exceptional sparks. But as it is with endings, they affect all those that remain far more than maybe anticipated.

Aftermath

1. Ironhide

Ironhide didn't like this, and yet he knew what had to be done. He was a mech with clear principles and unshakeable loyalty to his Prime on whose orders he acted here. It was difficult to forget the pain in Optimus' optics as he had issued the order on behalf of the council, so that justice may be served and peace may be kept. It had to be done. It was just.

Still, it felt like betrayal.

"Sir?" asked an Enforcer behind him.

Ironhide looked at him. He was young, too young to remember the Great War, too young to truly understand why his superior looked as if walking to an execution.

"Sir, everyone is in place."

"Good."

From a neutral point of view, it was ridiculous to bring a whole special unit with 38 trained Enforcers with him, just for two mechs. Ironhide wasn't neutral by any definition and he knew exactly what those two mechs were capable of. He wished he could have brought more.

While checking his weapons, he turned back to the house in front of him. It was small and beautiful, peaceful even, situated next to a crystal field that was slowly recovering. Praxus was raising such fields everywhere for public enjoyment, but this special one seemed to be a private garden, with a small wall around it to keep strangers away. His mechs had ignored the boundary, and were now crouching behind the crystals. It would be a pity to see this garden destroyed.

Far away, he could already see curious citizens watching the spectacle. It was time.

"Howlback, Stungun, follow me."

The white door seemed to be normal, no strange holes or cracks. He pushed the button for the bell. No sign of weapons. Maybe he was just paranoid? Promptly, the door slid open and revealed a slightly smaller black and white mech with a blue visor, who smiled as he saw Ironhide:

"Ah, long time no see, Ironhide. Who are ya friends?"

It could be worse. Really, he could have attacked them, he could have been away, he could... and yet, Ironhide had the feeling that his spark was torn apart.

"Hello, Jazz. These are Stungun and Howlback. Can we come in?"

"Sure." He turned and walked into the house. "Do you want Energon?"

The three Enforcers entered the house, the door sliding close behind them. It was light inside, full of friendly colours and a few pieces of furniture. Neither of them had ever liked sentimental things.

"No, thank you, Jazz. I'm on the job." And he wouldn't put it above Jazz to have the cubes poisoned.

His old friend just shrugged. "As ya wish. Let's all go to the living room, 'kay? Prowl is already there and Ah don't think that ya're visiting 'cause ya missed us."

As always perceptive, even though it was kind of obvious. He could feel how tense his two subordinates were as they walked towards the living room. Prowl was sitting indeed there in a comfy armchair, as calm and regal as ever, his gaze resting contemplatively on a game of Treck.

It reminded Ironhide so much of scenes in various rec rooms in the past that he was thrown off for a moment. A dangerous mistake, though Jazz ignored his guests, as he strolled past them and took the armchair across from Prowl.

"You're still searching for a way to keep those two pieces?" he asked seemingly amused.

"Of course." Prowl looked up, directly at Jazz. "It's just a matter of how many sacrifices are acceptable."

"You're too fixated on them."

"I can't help it." Prowl looked at them. "Ironhide, it's wonderful to see you again. I've heard that you've achieved the rank of the head of all Enforcers. Congratulations."

"Thank you." He loved his job, just not today. "These are two of my most trusted lieutenants. Howlback, she's in charge of the special units and Stungun, a very good detective."

"Nice to meet you." Prowl stood and shook of each of them the hand. "Make yourself comfortable on the couch. How can we help you?"

Ironhide hesitated, but then both Jazz and Prowl were sitting. Stungun copied him, while Howlback kept standing as he expected. She was too unwilling to give up any advantage.

Prowl's question still hand in the room like a spectre. Time, to speak the blunt truth:

"Ah, well, the United Council and Optimus Prime have both issued an order to capture you and bring you back to Iacon for trial. You both will have to come with us."

He prayed that they wouldn't get angry, wouldn't blame him, wouldn't fight. Howlback shifted a bit aside, her hand near her weapon, while Stungun had ceased all movement. The caution was appropriate. These two black and white mechs were excellently trained, dangerous and he simply knew that this house had hidden corners and chambers with weapons. They were too paranoid not to have them. All this could get ugly so very, very fast.

Jazz and Prowl both nodded without a hint of surprise.

"'kay," said Jazz. "Are we allowed to take something with us? Maybe the game?"

Prowl glanced at the game. "I would appreciate it if we could end the game before we go. But it's not necessary."

The Enforcers gaped, then Stungun relaxed, his vents giving a deep sigh, and Howlback stood there with an expression of puzzlement. Ironhide wanted to grin. He should have known it. They never did what was expected of them.

"Well, you can certainly take a few things with you, but they have to be checked by Howlback here."

Howlback frowned. "As long as it's not too much."

Jazz smiled. "Don't worry, it's just the game, right Prowl?"

"Don't you want to take the book file you're reading, too?"

"Ah, yes, that's a good idea." Jazz smiled as he looked questioningly at Howlback. "A few book files and the game then. That 'kay?"

Howlback nodded shortly. If it were up to her, she would probably take them with nothing but their protoform, but she couldn't refuse. They were harmless enough things.

Stungun stood up. "Where are these book files? I'll collect them."

Good idea. So they wouldn't lose sight of them for a second. And as a detective he would take every chance to get a view around the house.

"Corridor, third door to the left," answered Jazz, while moving a piece on the game board. "Just take all the books on the desk."

"I will." And he left the room.

They waited quietly while Prowl and Jazz played. Not one word was spoken, and Ironhide felt his optics following the game. Prowl was winning, of course, but they didn't seem to play after the normal rules. Some pieces they didn't sacrifice even though Ironhide could see the strategical advantage, some pieces died far too easily. It took a while until he understood, that they had modified the game so, that the pieces got stronger or weaker if they won or lost, and that these data was kept for the next game. No wonder that they wanted to keep this special Treck board.

Howlback informed the special units that the situation was under control and that the suspects weren't resisting.

Ironhide would bet his whole high-grade storage that at least Jazz had already hacked into every single communication line available, if not both of them. But they showed no sign of hearing her orders.

Shotgun came back with various book files and laid them onto the couch.

"Is that everything?" he asked.

"More than enough," answered Jazz and Ironhide wondered what he could mean. Didn't they expect to be in prison for long?

"You're taking all this better than I expected," he finally said.

"We do?" Prowl's wings fluttered, a sure sign that he was amused. "Why should we resist? We're just normal citizens, aren't we?"

Well, officially yes. They had a small architecture office together, a modest income and tried to live a quiet life. Tried to, because no one had really forgotten that these two had been Second and Third in Command on the Autobot side, and had been one of the most feared and respected bots in the war. The first time Ironhide had watched Decepticons talking about Jazz and Prowl with the same expression of amazed horror he had seen on Autobots talking about, say Starscream, he had been amused. But later he had felt shame, and no small amount of disquiet. The stories told rang far too true.

"Yes, you are," said Stungun with a hard voice. Maybe he remembered those stories, too.

But Prowl only nodded and glanced at the board, surprised at Jazz's next move. "That's a dangerous move."

"Maybe." And Jazz's smile was the same as for every dangerous mission, sharp, wicked, with a hint of exhilaration.

"You risk the two arms of the leader."

"The shield is still there, so are his followers. And ya forget, from this position he can't fight effectively."

Prowl nodded and then smiled. "So you risk them, to keep your whole side stable." He moved a few figures. "Too bad they're now surrounded and the shield is helpless. The leader will have to stand alone."

"He's a leader. Different rules, he's never alone." Jazz looked up after his next move of bringing the shield into a safer zone. "In the end the two arms are just pieces too, and they can be sacrificed."

"And so they are," agreed Prowl and attacked, obliterating first the two pieces, and then the whole board of Jazz's defence.

Jazz sighed and fell back into the chair. "I wish I could win once."

Prowl stood and started packing the game. "You would, if you ever fought seriously."

"I do fight seriously!"

Prowl only looked at him, completely relaxed. "You don't." He turned towards the watching Enforcers. "Stungun, was it? Shall I give you the game?"

Howlback stepped forward. "I'll take it."

Ironhide tensed for an astrosecond. She was far too close to Prowl whose Praxian form hid the vicious combat expert far too good. But nothing happened. The game changed hands and Jazz stepped next to his lover.

"Time to go," said the ex-spy, as if they were just visiting a party. "We've already been hanging around here too long."

Ironhide nodded and sent the message towards the unit. "Your hands, please."

Stungun and Howlback handcuffed their hands behind them, while they stood just there. Their calmness started to freak Ironhide a bit out. Shouldn't they be angry? Or sad? Anything?

"Do you know what you're charged with?"

"Sure," answered Jazz, ignoring the fact that the investigation had been done in secret with trying to keep them in the dark as best they could. Obviously, they had failed. "But ya can repeat it."

Ironhide nodded to Stungun, who took out a data pad:

"Prowl and Jazz, now both citizens of Praxus, formerly SIC and TIC of the Autobot army among various other positions and titles. You are hereby accused of direct murder in over a hundred cases and torture in over 50 cases of prisoners, mindwipes in six cases, the bombing of Vos and its neutral citizens, manipulating Prime with wrong information, systematically starving out the Decepticons, technology theft from allies, killing allies in 26 cases and the abandonment of allies in four cases."

All three enforcers were looking for a reaction. Anything. But they just stood there as if they had expected all this. As of all of this was old news. In a way to them it was.

Ironhide felt sick.

"Journalists have appeared," warned Howlback suddenly and looked uncertainly at her boss.

Stungun, his arms full with the book files, groaned.

That was the last thing they needed. Journalists meant publicity, meant attention and maybe protests from fanatical Autobots. Every further investigation would be so much more difficult. But to hide them was impossible now and against the new open information policy of Prime. He looked towards Prowl and Jazz. Should they go through the journalists or not? He wasn't sure.

Jazz gave him a reassuring look. "Just lead us through them, 'hide. Doesn't make a diff'rence. Not to us. Can't avoid the public forev'r."

Next to him Prowl nodded. "Do your job and they will see justice and a functional legal system."

And Ironhide remembered why he had followed these two mechs into bloody battles and hopeless situations, into war and death and horror and eventually into peace. Even now, shackled and bound as they were, they had the ability to let him do the right thing. Just why had they themselves done the wrong thing so often?

He took both of them by their arms, unsure if it was a gesture of force or reassurance.

"Let's go."

Together they stepped outside the house into a flurry of camera flashes.

~silber

Comments

[in_excelsis_dea.livejournal.com]

Well. I like how cool Jazz and Prowl played it. I was certainly expecting an escape at the last minute, but they just walked out like they accepted the charges and everything. There has to be more going on -- I can't see Optimus just throwing his former SIC and TIC under the bus, though that list of crimes is surprising. But knowing how Prowl and Jazz operate, I can't see them just sticking around and waiting for their punishment if the charges were true, or without some background motive. I really felt for Ironhide in this too. He's clearly conflicted: he knows that this is his job and he does believe in it, but at the same time these mechs were his friends and superior officers once, so it's weighing on him. As for the reporters, I have to say that part of me wonders if Jazz or Prowl called them... Everything about their reactions just seems to me like they are definitely planning something...

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your fantastic review!
There is definitely more going on, that I can guarantee, but the greater game is far from obvious right now.
I can only agree with your assessment of how Prowl and Jazz operate.
For Optimus... there is later a chapter from his POV where a bit more is explained.
Very good catch with the reporters. They certainly were there too fast and early, weren't their? I can say that because the story is written in many different POV's that this question isn't answered in the story, and will remain a hint.

[bluebirdsoaring.livejournal.com]

I want to scream and yell and make a scene on their behalf right now!! Poor Ironhide being the one having to deliver this news to his former commanders and friends...I'm right along with Hide, expecting at each moment for Jazz or Prowl to react and try to save themselves from what I can only see as a huge injustice. But in a twisted way, it is a sacrifice they have resigned themselves to take on behalf of their world and their leader - someone must pay for the sins of war. Since Prime is needed to lead the whole race into the future of peace, the crimes it took to obtain that peace fall to them...But how is it true justice to blame two mechs for all of the command decisions of a war? And how did Prime get talked into this - my guess is the council threatened to take away the Matrix and hand it off to another if he tried to be a sacrifice for the sins of war as he no doubt would have preferred. And now Ironhide fears the press and the zealot Autobots who might try to rescue Prowl and Jazz...if you have to hide this, Ironhide, it can't be good nor right. I do wonder what is on those data pads, and if Jazz will ever win the game before the last chapter draws to a close

Needless to say, you caught me right at the start and I'm good and truly hooked. I like stories that pull at my emotions for a reason and challenge moral boundries. I fear it won't "end well" so to speak, but I don't get a veto and I have a feeling the story you have planned is much more rich in the telling. So I await your leisure.

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

Blue bird, you have catched the very very core of the story, congratualation! :D
Yes, you're absolutely right, someone has to pay for the sins of war. And Prime is Prime, not to mention that Prowl and Jazz probably to their best to protect him from the accusations.
"But how is it true justice to blame two mechs for all of the command decisions of a war?"
It's not, but then this is all a slightly manipulated game. ;)
Optimus POV comes later in chapter 5, so we'll see what pressured him into accepting this. ^^
They will not hide the trial though. But Ironhide's concerns are something real... after all radicals exist everywhere.
If Jazz wins, *grin* maybe? The datapads are just books, I expect the enforcers to check something like that.
The story IS about those moral boundaries. I hesistated to put it up, because it was written as a journey through moral boundaries and the question of what justice is for a society.
The ending... I hadn't decided in the first several chapters of how it ends, and it could so easily go in all direction. But the epilogue is now written, and if you really want to know you can PM me. But I don't want to put up spoilers in the comment section for other reader's sake. ^^

[bluebirdsoaring.livejournal.com]

Thnk you for the kind offer of more hints of what is to come, but I do like surprises =)

I am so glad you are sharing this story with the rest of us...things like this need to be wrestled with!! I have a mental image of Prowl quoting from the end of the Tale of Two Cities - "It is a far, far better thing that I do now than I have ever done...." so I wonder if that is one of the books he is reading? That would be more than a bit of foreshadowing, as much as the game and the sacrifice of the two arms for the leader, methinks =)

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

Understandable, they're the best thing about a story.

I did sent it to 3 persons in the beginning, because I wasn't sure but as all three loved it... ^^ I said to myself that the story deserves to be written and to be read.

I love that quote, it's deep. And it would fit into this story very well. ... now i want to include it later. ^^"
It would be totally a book he would be reading, along probably with other deep books like Oscar Wilde or Kafka.
It's the only foreshadowing you'll get in the story, I think... I like it as a writing tool, but too much and there is no story left. From now on there are hints at what is happening behind the scenes.

Calm before the storm

[missmaryr]

That's what this chapter feels like, espeically with that line about the arms being sacrificed. I love how you've ramped up the tension with their calm surrender.

Re: Calm before the storm

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your review.
Mmh, not sure if the rest of the fanfic can provide the storm, but there is definitely much more going on than Ironhide knows. ^^

[exactly-what.livejournal.com]

WOOO! You're posting this! I assume that means you wrote more than just the first three chapters I saw? (Speaking of which, I'd love to beta this/continue betaing. It was a long time ago (like, way back in January), but... I still remember it. :D )

Can't wait to see more! :D

And poor Prowl and Jazz, though good for them, too... :-/

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

Finally, yeah, it's seeing the light of the internet. ;)

I'm honoured that you still remember it. ^^ I had in January take a break because if exam and only got back into writing in March...
I've written the last chapter - chapter ten - yesterday. I'm still correcting a few things in it, but mostly the fanfic is now finished.

If you want to, I can sent the other chapters to you.^^ I'm always looking for critique.

[exactly-what.livejournal.com]

I'd love to read/beta/go over them. ^.^

And I course I remembered. ^.^ This is a very interesting story.

You sent them using docX on ff.net. :)

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

I'll sent you the fourth one then. :)

[exactly-what.livejournal.com]

Woot! :D

[rose0mary.livejournal.com]

Prowl and Jazz are being charged with WAR CRIMES committed during the no-holds-bar, entire world at war, conflict?

Yikes!

Now, Jazz I expect to do the unexpected, but Prowl? I guess the 3IC has rubbed off on the tactician - let me guess, both officers are treating this arrest like a game of Treck and have end goals no one, not Ironhide, not Optimus, not Howlback, and not Stungun.
(I'm also pretty sure, it's Jazz who tipped off the reporters/journalists, which is one reason why he requested the books).

This is good, and I look forward to seeing where it goes.
(at this point, an Anguish end would work out just as well - for me - as a fairy-tale ending. That might change as more chapters get up, and I'm pulled into the story. Cause everyone wants the good-guys to live, and when the story tugs at hearts, it's very good).

Thanks. (Oh, and you don't have to spoil it, or respond to questions posted in my reviews, cause it's better to be surprised)

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

Yes, they're exactly being charged with this. :) Cause now is peace and mechs want justice. After all, weren't they responsible for the war too? In a way...?

Oh they have definitely rubbed of on each other here. ;)

How to answer without spoiling...? I can say that for the first several chapters I myself wasn't sure what the ending would be. I'm not a friend of overly sad endings, but then the "all is well" endings can be not what a story needs either. I decided during chapter 5 and 6 though.

I plan to upload the next chapter next week, probably Wednesday too. ^^

[pjlover666.livejournal.com]

No matter how many times I read this, it puts me on the edge. This whole idea is new and so original and so damn true that is hurts... :( But this is the New Era, a time of peace that the mistakes from the past can't be repeated... *sad sigh*
I loved Ironhide here and his internal conflict that despite everything, he still keeps his respect for Prowl and Jazz. And the other Enforcers have good reason to be wary of them ;)
Speaking of the duo... leave it to them to do the unpredictable! I LOVED their calmness in the face of everything. And the way they spoke, the secret references and sentences hidden in the game <3 They have tough road ahead of them :(
Also, I can help but associate this quote to the fic: "It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it."

And my first reaction to this: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! IT'S SO NOT FAIR!!! They survive the war and not THIS?! Have they not suffered enough?! :(((((((((((((

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

As the only living human so far who has read everything, it's kind of amazing that you still love the first chapter so much. ^^
Yes, the mistakes from the past can't be repeated, or what would've be the reason of the war at all?
I lvoe this Ironhide too. I didn't like him as a character a year ago, but this chapter made me love him. Kind of silly, that I fall in love with my own characters... but then I always do. I can't write characters without loving them.
And what a beautiful quote, it's very fitting for this story.
*lol* I remember your first reaction. It was quite like this... just longer. XD
Thanks for supporting me all the time, even when I sent you rewritten chapters for the x-time. ^^

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

...I could have sworn I read this before... Doesn't the next chapter feature an ambitious (and in over his helm) young lawyer...? I read that, didn't I?

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

Yes you did. I sent it to you many months ago.
I like your description of the "hero" in the second chapter, it fits very, very well. :D

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

What I remember of him, he seemed very sweet - and in my imagination, he had a huge sweatdrop hanging over his helm, most of the time ;) So you continued writing this? Awesome! I'll be looking forward to more!

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

lol, you remember right.
I did continue writing it AND I nearly finsished it to. It will have 10 chapters all in all, and I'm just adding the finishing touched to 10 by now. ^^
Also there are now a few oneshots running around that I'll probably upload as well.

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

Very cool, I'm looking forward to the whole bunch :) So I see you overcame your writers block; now I'm the one lagging behind XD

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

Great! :D

No writer's block anymore at all. I've written so much in the last month... I have around 20 stories with 10 pages or so on my harddrive, which I began just because I had a bunny.

You'll catch up soon, I bet. ;)

[gilded-orchid.livejournal.com]

Hah! I love this so much! It's got a great mood brewing, and Prowl and Jazz are just plain epic--calm, in control, and mastering the situation without the slightest bit of effort.

I also *love* the parallels the Trek game represents. I just wonder how long it'll be before Ironhide realizes that the game has long evolved past the board and into reality itself.(And wow, I *love* the concept of storing previous game data in the pieces.)

That whole game conversation Prowl and Jazz were holding is going to take on verrry interesting connotations when/if Ironhide remembers it...

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :) I love them like this, calm, in control and running the show from behind the scenes. ^^

Trek was pjlover's idea and she descriped the game so good, that I just had to use it. :D

Ironhide... mmh, difficult to say, but I guess next chapter it becomes obvious for the first time, that they *planned* for this. ;)
The trouble is that nearly every chapter is from another POV, that adds to the story. I can promise though that by chapter 10 Ironhide will look back at this scene and feel very different...