silberstreif | Between death and eternity - Part 1

Universe: Between death and eternity
Beta: Starfire 201
Continuation: Pre-war
Genre: Adventure, drama
Characters: Prowl, Jazz, Optimus Prime

Summary: Sometimes, a war is decided by chance encounters and extraordinary persons. Optimus Prime's new consultants definitely fall into the latter category, but their harmless surface hides dark and terrible secrets that are better forgotten..

Between death and eternity

Part 1: Iacon
Chapter 3: Compromising

Sometimes Jazz wasn't quite the fastest mech around. Hence, it was only after this meeting that he logged into the data base and searched for the Prowl's record of service. It wasn't difficult to find. Highest Classification, top secret on Prime-Gamma level. Every other mech would have given up at this point or prepared for a hacking that would take orns and would probably still fail.

This was the safest database on Cybertron and it deserved its reputation. If it was classified, then you couldn't read it.

Except, of course, you were the head of the Intelligence Department and one of the few mechs with access to these sensible data. Grinning, Jazz entered the demanded codes and passwords, verified his core code, let his metric measures scanned and broke through one barrier after another.

And then, eventually... the file unfolded in front of him.

"Jazz, you're good..." he praised himself and started to read the displayed information.

Designation: Prowl

Creator: unknown

Age: 544 cycles

Abilities: sharpshooter (file S-234234), tactician (file T-000112), close combat (file A-2344990)

Position: Head of the Tactical Department, consultant of Prime

Noteworthy: Subject is extremely objective and logical, has had an additional CPU installed eighteen cycles ago, which is used for tactical analysis.

"So... that's not very much." Rather damn few.

Jazz didn't need to check to know that Prowl had manipulated his file. Still, he looked it through. From about six vorns before joining the Autobots, there was no information available. Had Prowl something to hide? Or did he only want to protect his friends and family? The fact that his creator was unknown hinted towards the latter. Because really, who didn't know his own creator?

The age was more interesting. Jazz was a bit surprised as he discerned that Prowl was younger than himself. To date he had thought that he was the youngest bot in command and had been proud of this. He could forget this with his 598 cycles now.

The abilities and attached files provided a diverting reading. As a tactician, Prowl was praised to the Centauri galaxy and back while he also received good remarks in close combat and as a sharpshooter. Good and very neutral remarks. Again and again Jazz read them, but learned nothing new but that you could deploy Prowl in a battle, too.

How effective he was, over what range he could hit a target reliably, which combat style he used: Nothing.

And it was this nothing that made Jazz wary. No mech, who knew nothing or just a little about combat would have known within astroseconds only on the basis of Jazz's posture and movements that he was a trained killer.

And this episode in his office was suspect, too.

Any normal Autobot would have panicked at Jazz's actions. He would have jumped back, attacked, something. Not Prowl. He did the only right thing, stopped his movements, reduced through this his threat factor, which allowed Jazz to come back to his senses in time.

That meant Prowl knew how to treat extremely dangerous mechs, didn't have a known past... and understood much more of battle for life and death than his file claimed. Maybe even more than Prime knew.

Jazz looked to the ceiling and smiled as he came to the conclusion that he wasn't the only one that had something to hide.

~O~

Prowl, in contrast, had looked at Jazz's file the second he arrived in his own office after the first meeting. Jazz' file was extensive, much thicker than his own, and described in detail the life of the older mech.

Jazz was the heir of two traders who supplied the outer colonies. He received a rudimentary education from them, which he continued on short visits in various colonies. The list of schools read as if it was a list of all colonised planets. From this phase in Jazz's life, Prowl deduced his skill to blend in everywhere and to be always liked. An irreplaceable skill for any spy.

More than a vorn ago, Jazz's creators died during a ship accident on a deserted planet. Jazz, who at this time brought his education on Turnos to a excellent conclusion, organised the mourning ceremony on Cybertron, where he eventually stayed and joined the Autobots.

Afterwards he passed through a completely normal training at the camps, where he showed an outstanding talent for espionage coupled with an irrepressible thirst for information. For a time, Jazz travelled through different departments, collectingnew skills here and there, until he created, as a part of the Public Relations Department, a small group whose only task was to gather information through any means.

When Optimus Prime, on the advice of his Tactical Department, decided to build a new Intelligence and Espionage Department, this well-trained and successful troop was the only choice. In personal discussion, Jazz impressed Prime so much that he was eventually promoted to the head of the new department.

And not only that. If Prowl was reading the information correctly, Prime wanted Jazz as his second consultant.

Prowl's processor wasn't able to calculate the enormous consequences should it turn out that Jazz harboured Decepticon sympathies. Not only had he in-depth information about every Autobot and project, additionally he had intimate knowledge about the method of operation in most departments and a direct access to Prime himself, who even listened to him.

His psychological knowledge was extensive enough, that he was able to assess Jazz.Based on the little information he had, there was sufficiently enough to say that the mech understood his position of power rudimentarily at best. Jazz saw his work, his mission and was in his area without a peer, but he didn't perceive the consequences of his actions in all the billion of possibilities that Prowl could compute. But the tactician saw them, and it was this knowledge that caused deep anxiety within him.

Jazz' hidden abilities had just been one hint, which led to Prowl's increased vigilance. He could only hope that Jazz felt threatened and, should he belong to their enemies, hesitate before doing something devastating.

If the young mech was truthful to himself, he had to admit, that such psychological games on emotional and personal basis normally were a weakness of his. He coped with cold, hard facts much better. They didn't change, they didn't leave room for interpretation and change.

While Prowl waited for Jazz in the seminar room, he yearned for his simple world of pure mathematical calculations in his office.

~O~

Buoyant Jazz entered the room and let himself fall directly into the chair next to Prowl.

"Hi, Prowl. Something new?"

The exaggerated intimacy and lack of respect was unprofessional and impolite to Prowl. His mood sank further.

"No. Did you read the data?"

"Sure." The spy put the datapad on the table. "In short, you suggest that we start negotiating with Vos while we equip the cities with heavy artillery and surface-to-air defences at the same time. But this would take time and in no case would the defence be fully guaranteed, because we can stall the fall of Vos for a maximum of four cycles in most scenarios."

"Correct."

"And that's why we build a partially orbital surveillance through satellites in secret which we can activate within twenty orns, after it's finished."

"Yes. Questions?"

"You bet." Jazz sucked the data from the pad and threw the projection on the wall. "You gave the cities different amounts of weapons. I mean, according to your plan Crystal City can rename itself Crystal Bunker, while Praxus is nearly unprotected!"

A good argument, but Prowl had thought about this and didn't decide haphazardly.

"We only have limited resources. Praxus is widely known as a training camp and stronghold of the Autobots. It's improbable that the Decepticon will attack there. Crystal City, on the other hand, lies in the middle between Kaon and Vos, has already many Decepticon supporters among its citizens and no noteworthy defence works. It's to be expected that the next target of the Decepticons is Crystal City."

"And what if not?"

"Risks." Prowl's gaze downright challenged the other to say something. It had been Jazz's idea to accept these risks and now he got his way.

However, the spy only looked quietly at the map, as if he suddenly had become aware what these risks really meant. Should they miscalculate, or should the information be passed onto their enemy, this would be a staggering blow to the Autobots. Oh, who was he trying to fool? Should this happen, they both would have thousands of Cybertronians on their conscience, cities would lay in ruins and the Autobots would have lost every advantage they had in this coming war.

"Risks..." Somehow the word had gotten a sour aftertaste. "Can I see the calculations and probabilities?"

Without a word the tactician handed them over. He doubted that Jazz understood everything, but even so they shed light on the proposals of weapons allocation. The spy had to admit that according to the calculations this really was the best way... but could you calculate all of this?

Uncertain, he looked at the map and to especially at Praxus.

"We'll need to feign weapon transports to Praxus, so your plan works," he eventually said.

Prowl, a bit surprised by this correct analysis, agreed. He didn't need to calculate everything anew to see wisdom of the idea. With this, the chances of all the cities would further improve... if Jazz was loyal. If not, the damage was already done.

"This is within your field of competence."

"I know." Jazz grinned. Already, he had more than a few ideas how to manage these empty weapon transports. It was an aspect of his work he loved.

"Before you initiate any action, please submit your plans to me, even after Prime has agreed."

The 'please' wasn't just a tiny gesture of courtesy. It was more of an order. Jazz felt the anger crawl up inside him. They had the same rank. Prowl had no right to treat him like this. It was only with tight self-control that he didn't do or say anything, he would have regretted. Instead he only said:

"If you insist."

"I do." Satisfied, Prowl turned to his data again. "So, we'll implement my proposal of the defence of the cities without any remarkable changes?"

"Your proposal?" This time he couldn't hold back. "This was teamwork!"

Prowl only looked at him, and Jazz realised that the mech couldn't care less how he called it. He only wanted a confirmation and to continue. The poor word choice was no reason to start an argument now, breems away from concluding this meeting. Forcefully, the spy pushed his emotions down, and said through clenched teeths:

"Yes, we'll carry out your plan, Prowl. It's just a rough drawing up, but everything else my mechs and I can improvise."

It had been the wrong thing to say. The tactician's blue optics became a bit cooler. "Improvise? I hope that your improvisation has plans which you can show me beforehand."

Anew, he felt rage. Anew, he controlled it, barely. How could this tactician be so arrogant?

"As you will."

"Good. About the negotiations in Vos. Who will be proposed as a negotiator to the senate and Prime?" Expectantly the tactician looked at his partner.

Jazz needed an astrosecond to calm down in order to process the question and to call up the right data. Apparently, Prowl didn't know much about the abilities of the various Autobot politicians, which was why this was the only area where he wanted to rely completely on Jazz.

"Kibbler would be the top candidate. He's around two thousands vorns old, has a reputation of fairness and sincerity. I have his file here." He pushed it across the table. "The most noteworthy fact is that he's bonded to a flier."

"A flier is his bondmate? Unusual, but useful."

Jazz resolved to take the initiative for once in this discussion. "We have to give him at least something he can negotiate with. Energon alone isn't enough."

Prowl knew that, too, but he knew the facts even better. "We can't change the law and the senate refuses unwaveringly to loosen the flight prohibitions."

"But what else can we offer?"

"Credits, exceptions with the sparkling rate..." Prowl stopped. He knew only too well that the Council would never allow exceptions and that the fliers weren't interested in money. They had nothing to offer.

"This will not be enough." Jazz shook slowly his head. Control, he admonished himself. The tactician wasn't to blame for the situation. Control! "If we don't have anything, we'll have to make sure that the Deceptions don't look better than us."

"Propaganda?"

"Propaganda, rumours, facts, truths... everything that will help us in making the Vosnians doubt the words of the Decepticons."

Prowl hesitated. He didn't like this unpredictable tactic, which would be dependent on the skill of a handful mechs. "And how would you spread the rumours?"

The spy looked at him confidently. "I can take care of it."

"Of course." The heavy tone of irony was unmistakeable. "I'm sure you have experience in this area."

The words brought Jazz' processor finally to melting point and he jumped up. Prowl thought him a traitor, okay! But then he should know that he was in the same boat as Jazz! They both had secrets and should he go down, he would take the tactician with him!

Sweeping, before the other could react, he stepped directly in front of him. Rage ruled his thought processes and for the first time he could discern a small insecurity in the posture of the tactician. It didn't matter. Instead, he leaned forward and braced both hands left and right on the armrests, so that Prowl was trapped. The closeness broke all dams and he hissed quietly and deadly serious:

"I'm not a traitor! Maybe I have a few skills that are unusual, who cares? It's not as if I'm the only one here whose file is incomplete and who keeps a few secrets from Optimus. Or does he know your past before the Autobots?"

With a deep satisfaction, he noted that Prowl had frozen.

"I thought as much. Listen, Prowl, if you find any tangible proof that I'm a Decepticon, then take your laser pistol and shoot through my spark!" He tapped on his breastplate. "But until that klik, treat me with the respect I deserve or by Primus, I will use your non-existing past to give rise to doubts about you."

For a moment he lingered, then he stumbled back as if the chair were suddenly ablaze. Primus... what had he been thinking? Had he really just threatened the younger bot? Surely, every future collaboration was now impossible. If Prime learned of this...

In a single fluent movement that betrayed intense and vorns-long training, Prowl took out his laser pistol and aimed at Jazz's Spark. At this range, missing was nearly impossible.

All worries about Prime and his reputation left Jazz' processors, just to be replaced by deadly terror. Prowl wouldn't shoot a fellow Autobot in the middle of the headquarters, right?!

But the calm hand and the cold expression made him doubt. He did think that the younger mech was capable of pulling the trigger here and right now for the right reasons. But he couldn't have any proof, right?

Neither of them moved. Neither spoke. Kliks went by in which Jazz's life was hanging by a thread. Then, finally, Prowl lowered the weapon.

"The moment I have evidence, I will deactivate you."

It wasn't a threat, just a matter of fact to the tactician. No matter where, or when, no matter what Prime would say... the next time Prowl turned the weapon on Jazz, he would pull the trigger and hit.

Jazz didn't know what he should say. Yes, in his anger he had suggested exactly that to the tactician, but with the weapon on his breastplate, his words had gained a new dimension.

"The destruction of the credibility of the Deceptions in Vos will be your jursidiction alone. Still, you should coordinate your progress and methods with me." Prowl still sat in the chair as if nothing happened, and turned towards his calculations. "Another worry will be the weapons, if a city is overrun despite the new defensive works. We can't let the equipment fall into enemy's hands. This is why I plan to rig all big artillery with a self-destruction mechanism."

A part of Jazz had to admire Prowl's calm and how he could change from near-murder to everyday life without a hitch. He sighed. Jazz, you're a professional, you can do this, too!

"Good idea. But he have to be sure that no Decepticon can activate them."

"I will talk about this with Wheeljack and the other scientists. They have my complete trust that they'll find a good solution."

The head of the Intelligence and Espionage Department nodded and couldn't deny a tiny emotion that felt similar to envy. This "complete trust" of Prowl's was something he would like to have, too... or at least enough trust that the tactician could bear to be in the same room with him without having the safety catch on his weapon off. The laser pistol was still lying openly on the table.

Prowl wrote something in his data pad and seemed to think for a moment:

"Any other improvement suggestions on our delaying tactic in Vos?"

It was obvious that this part of the plan didn't please the precise tactician. It was too precarious, too unstable... too incalculable. But that was exactly what Jazz didn't want to change.

"No, Prowl. The best thing will be to simply react on any given situation."

"To improvise." It sounded derogatory and it was also meant as such.

"Yes."

"We should use every possibility to improve the chances of success in this critical part of the plan. It could be a sign of our earnest efforts, not only to send diplomats such as Kibbler, but also highranking Autobots."

The alarm bells sounded within Jazz. The other planned something, but what? "Highranking? Vos is too dangerous for Prime and most of the other officers are everything but suited for the political circus."

An understatement. Ironhide or Wheeljack in Vos? He preferred buying tickets on a ferry to the other end of the galaxy

"Yes, I quite agree." A fine, barely visible smile graced Prowl's face. It was the smile of a predator who had herded its defenceless prey into a corner and prepared for the killing leap. "I thought about us."

"Us," repeated Jazz drily.

"Yes. We're well-versed in the situation, you can improvise directly on site and a better sign of our good intentions we can't possibly give. If you worry about our safety, the Decepticons wouldn't attack us directly. It would be interpreted as an act of war. We enjoy diplomatic immunity."

As if the immunity would protect them from everything! Jazz could barely count all the dangers. "The risks are far too high! If our knowledge falls into the wrong hands..."

"Wasn't it you that advised me to sometimes take risks?" Prowl slowly stood up from his chair and pushed the datapads together. "Additionally, our knowledge remains in our memory core as long as we don't pass it on out of our free will. And why should we do that, after all we both aren't traitors... right?"

Jazz gulped. "Of course not..."

"See." The mech smiled again as he clamped the datapads between arm and body. "I'll submit our proposal to our superiors. The departure will be in around twenty orns, I'll take care of everything. We'll remain in contact until then?"

As if he had a choice. "Sure."

"Good." With doorwings held high, the tactician walked towards the door. "For Cybertron, Jazz."

The spy had to clench his fist, to keep his control. "For Cybertron... Prowl."

The meeting was over and Jazz had lost their psychological feud on all fronts. Until further notice, they would have to work together, for better or worse.

~O~

Only half a joor later, Prowl brought their results to Optimus' office. With satisfaction and delight, Prime ascertained that his two officers had created a highly detailed, but still flexible plan, which looked very promising. Obviously the two extreme personalities cancelled the dangers of overboarding control and escalating improvisation in each other.

Excellent, his high hopes were being fulfilled. Relieved, he signed off the plan in complete trust to his subordinates, without more than skimming through the alternatives and probabilities.

Instead, he resolved to let the two of them work together more frequently from now on. The results really spoke for themselves.

Note: Part 2 is called "Vos", and Jazz will get his opportunity to show Prowl just how good he is. ;) But it will probably a while until it's up.
~silber