Dare to dream 3

[silberstreif]

Dare to dream

Beta: Starfire 201
Continuation: AU, G1
Genre: Drama, adventure
Characters: Prowl and Jazz
Wordcount: 14 850

Summary: Life in Kaon is hard, tragic and more often than not short. Kaonite Enforcer Jazz knows all that and navigates the streets with experience. But when a Praxian officer on the hunt for a dangerous killer comes to visit some things can't be ignored any longer.

Jazz led them through a few more streets in this gloomy maze. From time to time Prowl asked a small question which Jazz was always able to answer. Once they passed the entrance to the lower levels of Kaon and Prowl showed concern that Glint might have fled downstairs. Jazz only shook his head and said that if Glint had been that stupid, he was lucky if he was deactivated by now. On further pushing, he made it clear that there was no Kaonite Enforcer crazy enough to go down there. Prowl let the subject drop.

Slowly the streets became wider again and more mechs met them without turning around the second they saw them. Then they walked below a highway bridge, where the poorest of mechs sought shelter. Above and around them was the constant noise of the traffic stream, while down here the shadows became dark enough that they had to dial up the sensitivity of their optics.

The first two times a mech crawled towards them, begging for credits Prowl flinched away, while Jazz only shook his helmet in denial. He was too used to this Cybertronian drama. In the corner laid mechs, grey and still, not moving anymore. No one touched them to make sure that they're already deactivated, it was just assumed they were. Jazz kept his helmet straight and walked on.

Until Prowl stopped abruptly. "They're sucking his fuel lines!" the Praxian exclaimed with wide optics, servo switching towards his weapon.

Jazz followed his gaze and saw that Prowl was indeed right. A group of five mechs were kneeling around a grey mech, their mouths placed on various places of the motionless frame, where open wounds were gaping wide open. It was an eerily silent scene, no one screamed or even moved. All of the leeches had their own optics deactivated, as if in prayer.

"They're sucking him dry," confirmed Jazz quietly, not moving an inch. It was illegal, one of the most heavily punished crimes around Cybertron. Also it had become something more than a crime in Kaon.

Prowl stepped forward, ready to take the five murderers on. But he'd walked less than two steps before he noticed that his partner didn't follow him. Agitated, he turned around: "Don't tell me, you'll watch this murder with another comment that this is the only way. I didn't take you for such a coward."

Jazz's visor flashed. "No," he said. "We're not watching." He took his gun out of subspace as well. "But it wouldn't help to run into the situation gunblazing and all."

"No?" Prowl stepped aside. "Then after you, Jazz."

With a sigh, Jazz walked forward and the two Enforcers approached the group. Around them the grey mechs crawled and ran away, most of them slowly as they didn't have the energy for more. No one wanted to be here when the situation blew up.

Jazz stopped two steps away from the group and looked at the scene. The dying mech in the middle had already entered stasis and was only breems away from deactivation. Jazz doubted that a medic would arrive in time – if a medic would even bother to come here. These mechs had been given up by everyone, often enough even by themselves.

"Gentlemechs, do you have a contract?" Jazz asked coldly, and pointed his gun directly at the spark of the nearest leecher. They froze like one mech, but didn't move. "A contract," snarled Jazz. "Do you hear me? If you haven't one, prepare for the consequences."

"No, no," whimpered the leech at the throat of the victim. "We have one, one contract. One. One is enough, yes?"

"If it's the right one, yes," confirmed Jazz. "Show me your contract."

The leech fumbled, then he produced an old, battered datapad from somewhere beneath a pile of dirt. He held it towards the Enforcers. Jazz didn't move, instead he said: "Prowl."

The Praxian Enforcer, even though he clearly didn't agree with what was happening, took the datapad with an expression as if the dirt had personally offended him.

Jazz didn't let the leeches out of his optics. They might be nearly starved, but desperation made every mech dangerous. "Step away and read it out loud," he ordered.

Prowl did and started to read: "Designation: Airstreak. Creation date: 12-5253 vorn Golden Age. I, Airstreak, do with this document relinquish all ownership to the fuel in my lines in return for an as peaceful deactivation as possible. To reach this deactivation, the new owners of my fuel must provide me with Xerox until I do not feel anything. I am of sound processor and spark and have reached this conclusion of my own free will. The new owners of my fuel are not responsible for what will happen to me. Signed by Airstreak." The Praxian stared at the datapad then added quietly: "It's a suicide contract."

Jazz nodded, considerably less surprised. "They became popular a few vorns ago when the energon famine became worse. As far as our expert could say, they're legal."

"Legal," repeated Prowl flatly. "How can this be legal?" He pointed at the leeches who had started sucking the fuel again the moment they had the feeling that the Enforcer wouldn't shoot them for it.

"The control over one's own spark is a Primus given right." Jazz quoted one of Cybertron's basic laws. "I've sent a query to main quarters and they've confirmed that his face structure is identical with a mech of the designation Airstreak. Is the signature real, too?"

Prowl checked it again. "Yes."

"Then we have nothing to do here anymore." Jazz stepped away from the leechers and the dying mech. "Come."

Prowl stood and stared, not moving. His doorwings were trembling a bit, but his optics were firmly set upon the cannibals. Jazz's face softened a bit and he put a hand on the arm of his partner. "Come," he said warmly. "This is nothing that we have to watch."

"But it's something that we should stop," argued the Praxian with a hint of desperation.

Jazz wanted to argue. Wanted to point out that it was free will and all. But really, was it free will when these mechs chose between starving to death and a death during which they wouldn't feel anything thanks to a highly illegal drug? No. Prowl was right. They should stop this. At its root. So he only said defeated: "Yes."

Prowl remained standing there, and Jazz next to him, his hand always on the arm of the Praxian Enforcer. Together they watched at the victim's grey changed in only nuances to the grey of the death, while the leeches sucked on and on.

Dare to dream. About a world without such scenes.

When it was finally over, they departed the scene quietly. There was nothing more they could do.

The relief of Prowl when they reached the energon plant was obvious. The street they were on ended in a heavily guarded gate, beyond which was an empty stretch of land of maybe 200 metres. Only then the buildings of the plant, that looked like giant grey toy cubes, arose. But Prowl's gaze was captured by the empty land. If once looked closer, the Enforcers could see grey, deformed heaps.

"Are these..." asked Prowl quietly, but with no real surprise. Joors ago this might have shaken him, now he was only taking it in with a deep feeling of loss.

"Corpses? Yes." Jazz stopped walking. "We call this the Zone. It once had a fence with warning signs, but it was destroyed so often no one bothered to built it anymore. Instead they just left the corpses as a warning."

Prowl's optics became darker. "Let me guess, the warning is: We kill everyone who walks here?"

Jazz chuckled. "Ya're learning Kaonite's language pretty fast."

The Praxian Enforcer didn't bother to answer as he took in the scene. The longer he looked, the more security details one could make out. At the gate were eight heavily armoured mechs, the whole area was covered in spring guns and sentinel drones were only half-covered in trenches. Between the trenches were a different kind of holes, made from missiles and exploded equipment. On the plant's buildings roofs one could see more metal glinting in the light – no doubt even more weaponry.

"This looks like a war zone," the Praxian commented.

"It is. How do ya think it got the nickname Zone?" Jazz sighed. "Mechs regularly attack this plant, but they never get in. Can't remember the last time a single cube was stolen. It's impossible."

"I can believe that now." Prowl made a step towards the gate, but Jazz quickly grabbed the edge of his wings. The Praxian hissed offended. "Let me go!"

"Sorry." Jazz released the wing. "Just don't get nearer, yes? The guards are famous for being trigger-happy."

Swinging the doorwing that Jazz had just touched, he said: "Surely, they wouldn't shoot down two Enforcers."

Jazz gave him a flat look. "Ah would not bet on it." He noticed a slight movement in the guard group. "We'd better move, they have noticed us and I don't wanna see any medic today."

Not having a better alternative, Prowl agreed.

There were several highways leading away from the plant, but Jazz remained stubbornly walking. Next to him, Prowl gave him a puzzled look: "Maybe we should return to the station. I still have to look into the archives, and maybe I can find a half-accurate map. That would surely help."

"Good luck with that." Jazz glanced at this partner, suddenly a bit uncomfortable. "If ya want to return faster, ya can. Are ya sure ya know the way?"

"Will you not accompany me?" Prowl's wings raised in sudden alarm. "I thought your superior made it clear that you're to help me in any way."

"He did, yes, just..." He sighed. "Look, we walked the whole time mostly because the streets here are so bad, but that wasn't the only reason. We Kaonite Enforcers are supposed to do most of our patrols on pede and well, some mech in the administration decided that meant we need less energon."

Prowl stared at his partner with sudden understanding. "You're starving...!"

"Nah, it's not that bad," Jazz tried to downplay it, embarrassed. "But I did give Softkey half a cube of ma own rations and well..." He shrugged. "Now Ah hafta pay for it."

"Half a cube shouldn't reduce you to not being able to transform, if you're not starving," explained Prowl sharply. "What is your usual ration for an orn? Two cubes?"

"One cube," corrected Jazz suddenly so very tiredly. "We have more energy efficient models, remember? Motorcycle here."

"Once cube for an entire orn, that's preposterous!" The Praxian seemed to be really shocked. "How can you be even doing your job still? No wonder you've all got the reputation of being easily bribed. Primus, how did you even give Ricochet some energon from such a meagre ration?"

"I managed, alright?" said Jazz testily, but was ignored.

"With one cube you shouldn't be able to do your job. Every high-speed chase uses more!"

"This is Kaon. No one has the energy for high-speed chases."

"Still... The state is starving their own Enforcers." Prowl shook his helmet. "That can't end well."

Jazz didn't have a reply for that, because it was true. His processor jumped back to Speedrake and his new Decepticon sign and wondered what the Enforcer had been offered. One cube an orn? Less? More? His own tank rumbled hungrily. It had been such a long time since he had had a full tank. Usually he didn't let himself think about it, but now he couldn't help but wonder what the Decepticons would offer him. Ricochet had seemed to be well fuelled...

"Here." Suddenly a full, pink cube was being held in front of Jazz. "Drink."

Jazz stared with wide optics at the cube, then at the Praxian next to him. One didn't give cubes up like that, one just didn't. At least not for free. That lesson was beaten into every Kaonite fast. "What da ya want for it?" he asked cautiously.

Prowl's face become darker. "Do you really think I would demand money from my own partner for a single energon cube, while his tank is nearly empty?"

Jazz stared back. No, he hadn't thought about money exactly... and in that moment, Prowl seemed to understand what kind of favours were traded between Enforcers in Kaon. "Just drink. I don't want to have my own partner starving."

He looked at Prowl who seemed so sincere, then at the full cube held so invitingly in front of him. "I don't need your pity," he tried a last time.

"This is not pity, it's common sense. My partner should be able to keep up with me." Prowl pressed the cube against Jazz's breast plates. "Take it."

Jazz took the cube as finally the demands of his tanks won out. With little sips, and then bigger more confident gulps, he began to drink, filling his tank faster and faster. It felt good. Very good. Especially as he passed the low mark to which he was usually energised and still had energon left in the cube. When all the energon had vanished into his tank, the world seemed brighter and lighter, and his movements suddenly came to him so easy... He wondered what it would feel like to have his tank full above the 50 per cent mark. Maybe he would dance again. He had loved doing it in Iacon, but here in Kaon it was considered foolish. Still, he had loved it.

"Thank you," he said quietly after a few astroseconds, his face plates burning. It wasn't that he was really ashamed, no, he couldn't help his circumstances. But something in Prowl's optics made him squirm.

A small smile danced across the Praxian's face. "You're welcome." He stepped back. "Can we now drive back?"

"Sure." Suddenly mischievous, he looked at his companion. "If ya can keep up if me."

A revv and the sound of transformation was all the answer to his challenge that he needed.

Oh, it felt so good to race again.

Needless to mention that they reached the station in record time and that Jazz was leading. Still laughing, he transformed back. "And the winner is da Jazz-master!"

Next to him, the Praxian transformed far more elegantly and stretched his doorwings. "I admit to having lost fair and square."

"Well," Jazz grinned. "You gave me a good challenge anyway."

The Praxian smiled as he walked into the station. "I admit that I regularly race in Praxus to catch some speeders."

Dare to dream: Part 4

Comments

[rose0mary.livejournal.com]

So life isn't just depressed and anguish - there are bright spots too.

Assisted suicide?
Yikes - but it was the mech's choice. Or lack of alternatives - he'd probably be sucked dry after deactivation even if he didn't give the leeches the contract.

Right, right, right. You mentioned Ricochet earlier - with all the continuities out there (and this being an origin piece), it may be easier to grab family from the various realities and meld them into one solid world.

Kind of makes me wonder which version of Prowl and Jazz you're using.
Then again, does it matter? So much of their personalities seem to have blended throughout all the official shows and series.

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

I want to show the bright spots too, always because I like the thought that no matter how bad your life is we all see the same sun dawn.

Definitely yikes. But it's probably one of the nicer ways to go in Kaon. Mmh, yes, he would've been sucked dry no matter what.

I mostly write G1 IDW comic Prowl and Jazz, but I like borrowing all the other G1 continuities freely. And sometimes there are mechs in other continuities that strike me as interesting and I incorporate them. Ricochet is one, Trypticon (Game Fall of Cybertron, I used him in Aftermath) another one. Or Knockout (TV series Prime), but him I didn't use yet.

I love the fact that there are so many continuities one can borrow from. ^^" That's why I by now always give the AU warning. It's just something I can't resist anymore.

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

Pretty heavy topics you touch on here - I like that. It feels very real. Even if it is sad, you only need to turn on the TV to get all the inspiration for something like this that you will ever need...

But I like this short hope spot, the race. At this point, that was sorely needed to not be thoroughly depressed ^.^" Still, it's horrible to think that even Jazz didn't have completely full tank in ages and that he was perfectly willing to do Prowl certain favors for the Energon, and that something freely given - even if Prowl is all logical about it - has become something that is to be treated with suspicion and disbelief.

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

I did get all the inspirations from real life... and isn't that a scary thought?

*poke* Hope you didn't get too depressed. ;)
Yeah, it's horrible. I thought it would be illogical if all the Enforcers in Kaon didn't have energon problems, and well... that scene was the result.
I didn't want to go too much into the favours traded. I think everyone can imagine it far more perfect than I could write it.

(By the way thank you so much on commenting all parts!)

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

A very scary thought, but then, I figured that out right away and it really isn't a stretch of the imagination. But it makes you sad and wonder for our future... I don't think we'll ever reach the state of having world peace, no hunger... And crime will always prosper.

No, no. I liked it! It shows us very important aspects about daily life in Kaon in a way that was real and thus moving. I really like it as background and explanation for the war that is to come and the rise of the Decepticon faction. I like it, because it throws those perceptions of 'bad' and 'good' into disarray. I love grey and gray morality ;) TV Tropes again XD

Honestly, I would have been squicked out if you had shown such an exchange of favors between Jazz and Prowl. It would have been horribly OOC on top for Prowl too, imho.

Sure thing! :)

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

We'll probably never reach perfection, but then we have at least something to strive for. <.< Yep, positive thinking. Forceful positive thinking, because else it's too depressing.

I'm happy that you liked it despoite the end. ^^ I always disliked the label Deceptions = bad, Autobots = good. It's a bit too easy.

*lol* I entirely blame you for HOURS of being lost in TV tropes. I have looked up entire series and everything.

I bet that somewhere is a fanfic floating around showing exactly such favours.... Yes, it would be horribly OOC. Which can be fun, I admit, but only with warning. :)

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

I'll be glad to take the blame! :) I personally think that TV Tropes is awesome, especially when you are a writer! And I did - and do - check all the movies/games/TV series I like too, to find out which tropes apply to them. Besides that, I really like the "Headscratcher" section - the one to "The Avengers" is really interesting, imho.

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

It is awesome. XD
Mmh. Headscratcher - Avenger.... this was intended, right? <.< *goes of to TV tropes*

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

It wasn't, but I'm glad you went - no wonder you're not back yet LOL

[silberstreif.livejournal.com]

Just came back.... *lost hours* I swear TV tropes is the advanced form of the Grey Men in Momo.
But the Headscratcher-Avenger section was worth it. :D And all that followed it too.

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that I never watched "Momo" nor read the book ^.^" A horrible lack of cultured attitude, I know...

I just checked out the TV Tropes entry to "Thor 2" (couldn't help myself), but not the 'main' entry, but the one with all the speculation about what will happen in the movie - I'm going to kill someone if there's Loki-redemption-through-death! *gr*