Aftermath - Epilogue

[silberstreif]

Universe: Till all are one
Beta: Starfire201 (Who still endures my mistake - for years now :) )
Continuation: AU, G1
Genre: Adventure, drama
Characters: Prowl, Jazz, many others mentioned

Summary: Now, though, was the time to read their last words. He read. And Cybertron listened.

11. Epilogue

The following orns were quiet; a stunned silence had overtaken the planet. The protesters had went home side by side with the supporters. Those that had demanded acquittal and threatened with revolution, were as a lost as those who had watched in glee and with deep burning satisfaction.

It was over.

Two heroes had fallen. Two villians had died. Two legends had left their legacy.

The Enforcers finished their investigation of the death of Prowl and Jazz with a bleak and short confirmation that it indeed had been a double suicide through poison. Mixmaster published its formula, and those of many other of his during the war invented poisons, with the wish, that this former lost knowledge would help medics to understand the matter of spark and frame better.

Two orns later, the young, by now famous lawyer, Sunburst, called in a  press conference. A colourful sea of reporters and journalists showed up to broadcast, when the flier stepped on the small stage with a dertermined face and a single datapad in hand. He looked older now than when the trial began, older and sadder and sharper.

With calm words, Sunburst explained that Prowl and Jazz had left a last message, which the Enforcers had kept under lock and key for the last several orns as it had been a central part of the investigation. Now, though, was the time to read their last words.

He read.

And Cybertron listened.

Ironhide behind him, arms crossed, face stoic, optics filled with nothing but sorrow.

Trypticon with every sensor and Fortress Maximus in his centre, both quiet and with acceptance.

Ravage and Nightbeat, together on the couch, on their fourth meeting in the detective's apartment that they still didn't call a date.

Optimus Prime, surrounded by friends, which he didn't see as tears blurred the world, but felt as they held him steadily.

Tyrest with his pen in hand, the first sentence of his biography in front of him, feeling the weight of justice on his shoulders.

Mirage and Hound over the radio, in the middle of the former tower ruins that have become wilderness, stopping and waiting for another word, another message that wouldn't came.

Ratchet and Wheeljack on the street, on the way to an apartment inspection, looking up at the screens; alone, until they took each other's hands; together, until the crowd cried with them in one voice.

Silverstreak in his tavern, trembling, knowing he was now alone, but as a hand touched his, another cleaned the spilled energon cube, and a third led him to a chair without asking why, he realised he would never be.

Sunburst read:

Dear Cybertronians,

for some of you our decision will be incomprehensible, for some it will bring satisfaction.

We know that we're guilty in every comprehensible way and our last wish was not to force another spark into a double-murder under the banner of justice. Let it end here. Let us be the last ones to die.

To all of you, we can only say: We tried our best and we're aware of how utterly we failed sometimes.

Please forgive us what we did.

Please forgive us what we did to you.

Even more, forgive us for what we didn't do.

Do not forget as we had forgotten that we all live on one planet, have one spark, are one race. Let this most wonderful, horrible truth be our good-bye and promise:

We all are one.


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For all those who wonder:
Prowl and Jazz did plan everything for a long time. They realised that lasting peace can only be restored by providing justice and began by themselves. But they weren't entirely selfless and also wanted a new life for themselves. So yes, they escaped. How? :) Well, we know from canon that sparks can survive within boxes. They simply left their own bodies, and replaced their spark chambers with Wheeljack's replicas - which were those Mirage brought. Wheeljack though made the mistake of copying his own sparkchamber. Nothing anyone could notice but Ratchet, who chose to keep quiet. Their spark's were put into storage within Trypticon, until things were quieter. Then the boxes were brought out and they received new bodies.

I want to admit though that it was a hard thing to not let them die. For most chapters I was undecided. In the end I really don't think that they're selfless enough to truly sacrifice themselves. Optimus Prime would've died without hesitation.

Future:
I've written more in this universe, which I will upload in as a separate stoy, because it happens before Aftermath. These stories follow the rise and fall of Starscream, as he struggles between love and power and Bluestreak as he tries to reinvent himself, while becoming Motormaster's best friend. A third story might follow Soundwave and his creations, especially Ravage who managed to become one of my favourite characters with only one chapter.

Next week I might update the oneshot "In a future far, far away" - which will play many many vorns after Aftermath, and shows a bit of the future of Prowl and Jazz.

Though, the next big project I want to turn to is again Orns of a Tactician.

Thank you to all who've read so far. I hope you enjoyed the scenario.

~silberstreif