Whispers In The Dark

[Deleted]

Characters: Barricade , @jazz
Location: Harbringer
Content Warnings: Suggestive 
Plot Summary: After Ratchet stirs up some uneasy memories, Jazz leaves the base to clear his head. That's when he picks up on a familiar life signal... only it's not as familiar as he thought.

[Deleted]

     Those memories... they made Jazz uneasy. Why had they been hidden? What had CAUSED them to be hidden? None of this made sense to him. He couldn't hang around base knowing that some of what he knew wasn't was around him. This was an illusion! It had to be, right? Nothing here should have been as it seemed. He didn't make it to Earth, and yet here he was. There were memories here, but they didn't feel like his own. Implanted ones? A trick? Were the Decepticons behind this? Were the Quintessions? No, they couldn't be. They had been extinguished a long time ago, right? Or was that an illusion as well? 
Though them having a hand in this would have explained his uneasy, the clash of his memories to what was around him, and the discomforts of Prowl. They would have been able to do stuff like this. He had known the things they were able to do. 

     Was he losing it? Had something shorted out that caused a huge chunk of what he should have known to just not exist? A fault somewhere that he would to see a specialist about? That would take some serious inhibitors to keep him calm through such a procedure. He wouldn't be able to sit through it, to have everything in his memory core shifted through and put together like a puzzle. 

     For now Jazz just wanted to drive, forget about what he had been forced to relive and just... 

     He didn't really know. This all felt so foreign to him. He knew that Ratchet would look at him differently, but would anyone else? Would Optimus have to know? Would Ratchet tell? He only hoped that he wouldn't. He didn't want to have to explain himself, especially when he couldn't even figure it all out himself. All that he knew for certain was that Megatron had to pay. He was here on Earth, and Jazz wasn't about to let him just... get away. Not this time.

     Something shook him from his thoughts. There was a life signal popping up on his scanners but it confused him. Prowl? Why was he way out here? Was he looking for him? His partner rarely left the safety of the base- at least the Prowl he knew- but maybe this one wasn't really his Prowl? After all, he HAD been acting different. But he didn't want to think about it. He'd pretty much proposed to him so he hoped he wasn't.

     Maybe Prowl was coming after him to check on him. That's how he wanted to think about it. Prowl was just out here trying to find him after he took off out of base. He was just ahead about a mile and Jazz was closing that distance. He gunned it, taking off faster in the direction. Talking to Prowl may help him through this, so he was a little thankful that his partner was here. The two of them could just cruise like they used to on Cybertron and talk. It would be like old times.

     Then he saw the alt mode just ahead. It seemed.... different? Yeah, it was definitely different. Too close to turn around and drive off without being spotted, the confused Jazz instead slammed on his brakes and came to a skidding halt, only to then transformer into his root mode and stood straight, looking out towards the similar alt mode. Maybe he had just scanned another vehicle. That was simple enough, so he just brushed it off and sent out a comm to the vehicle now only a quarter of a mile from where he stood.

     :: Prowl! HEY! Didn't think I'd see ya comin' outta base this far. :: 

Barricade

[Barricade]

He really had no desire to deal with anyone else today. No, he was content to lick his wounds and try and sort through everything that had happened since he'd come to this worthless little mudball. Attacked by humans, damaging his internal systems with the fight he'd made to help the seeker he'd been in the company of. Too young to be left to her fate, and here he was suffering in the aftermath of that battle.

Delicate repairs needed to happen, and soon he'd approach the Prime about an answer one way or the other. He couldn't wait much longer, his spark would go out. As it was he was getting frequent warnings about the integrity of his spark casing and the spark within. So, despite how it chaffed him, he was sidelined. No fighting, as little stress as possible, and no traveling if he could at all help it. He wanted to live, so this was a reasonable thing to do for that cause.

His scanners caught the Autobot signal long before he heard the comm aimed at him. Jazz. Autobot spy, someone within their command structure. He called to him as if he knew him, though was speaking to someone else. Ah, so he'd been mistaken for the Autobot tactician Prowl. Interesting. He knew their altmodes were similar, but this similar? Well, perhaps his boredom would at least be eased for a few moments. Though that depended on rather or not the little mech tried to shoot him.

Barricade idled his engine and drove over closer to the smaller mech, only transforming when he was nearly on top of him. He already knew he outstood the tactician the other mistook him for, and made a show of putting his clawed hands away from his frame so as not to provoke the other. "You must have me mixed up with someone else, Autobot." He drawled his words, finding some amusement from the entire matter. "Your tactician would never come out this far." Especially not for leisure, though perhaps he would come for the little black and white mech before him? Now there was something to consider.



@jazz

[Deleted]

     When the vehicle approached him, Jazz started to feel that something really wasn't right. Though the signal had almost seemed the same, the differences to the alt mode were off. It wasn't until he was almost right on top of him that Jazz realized that the spark beat wasn't the same but by then it was too late. The mech had transformed and now towered over him. He didn't seem friendly, especially with those claws of his, but he wasn't attacking him so maybe that was a good thing? Either way, Jazz took a few steps back if just to give himself some distance from the other.

     "Ah, yeah, my mistake. Wouldn't be the first time I got signals mixed up! Oops." Jazz chuckled some. He wasn't nervous even though the size comparison alone should have made it so. Being by himself out here should have been the second rational reason for such a feeling. But, alas, not this little mech. He just stood there staring up at Barricade like they were old friends even if he had no clue who he even was. He did seem to maybe know Prowl since he right away addressed him as the 'tactician' after Jazz incorrectly called him by his partner's designation. Something to ask of Prow, not of this strange clawed one.

     Jazz had no reason to attack him since he hadn't fired first. Now, if the strange mech before him were to attack he'd react as necessary. Quite frankly? He really just wasn't up to battling right now. Ratchet had repaired him but he hadn't gotten everything as he had pretty much left up in the middle of the procedure. If he was going to face down with anyone it would have been Megatron... and this definitely wasn't him.

     "Well... guess I'll see ya! Later!"

     Jazz wouldn't let his back be turned to the other, past training just not permitting him to let anyone blindside him. He just kept backing up until he had enough clearance then folded up to transform and revved his engine once, tires screeching as his trunk spun around and he took off driving away from Barricade.

Barricade

[Barricade]

He canted his head at the smaller mech, regarding him with intent. Perhaps this little Autobot could alleviate his boredom after all, mistaken identity or not. He didn't seem to know who he was, perhaps for the best. Barricade had tried to kill him several times in the past after all. Even though he'd gone neutral his red optics were a dead give away as to where he'd originally been affiliated. His signal was neutral as well, but that didn't matter. "Mistake? I wonder."

But the little mech was beating a hasty retreat, which couldn't be allowed. Ooh, someone to chase. He thought his frame could take it, provided it didn't end up in a firefight. He had the energy, and if his spark started having fits he'd just have to stop. Protocols would give him hell later for stopping mid-hunt, but his own personal well-being had to come first. Unfortunately.

"What's your hurry, Jazz?" He didn't bother with his comm since the other wasn't yet out of range, and just gave a feral grin when the smaller mech tore a path away from him. "Five, four, three, two, and one..." He muttered before transforming and shifting his lights on.

Jazz was smaller than he was, and lighter built. Speed was something Barricade knew all about, and he knew that a mech of lighter build would go a lot faster than one of larger and heavier settings. Still, he gave a loud growl of his engine and gave pursuit, happily tailing after the other mech. And most likely, if the other mech answered his comm, he'd carry on a conversation with his prey while he was tracking him.

<<"So, what exactly brings you all the way out to the Harbringer? You're clearly not a Decepticon, nor are there any 'cons out here for you to face down. So, what brings an Autobot to a ruined Decepticon warship?">>

@jazz

[Deleted]

     Jazz picked up speed, kicking up dirt with his larger rear tires as he went. He knew that the other mech was following him without even having to check it on the tracker. The engine roaring behind him told him the rest of what he needed to know. There was a lot of horsepower under that hood which meant that he would be able to pick up speed should he need to. Jazz was built to handle the sharp turns and weaving in and out that a frame like the one behind him wasn't, so he had no doubt that should conflict arise between them that he didn't care to deal with he would be able to lose his tail.

     Unfortunately, Jazz wasn't one to run from anything, which was a sorry thing for him most of the time. Be it a battle or a simple little race, he was always up to it. This was something Prowl seemed to love about him, but also hate, especially after making it clear on several occasions that he hated the thought of sending him out 'on that last mission'. This? This was at least starting off as being one of those simple enough things where he didn't have to feel the need to draw a weapon. Now, if the blasted Decepticon behind him wanted to play a game of chase, then he would permit it, at least as long as he didn't fire on him. Until that point? This was just a casual little drive between enemy forces. Wasn't the first time he'd done this and he figured it probably wouldn't be the last. Nothing like challenging a con.

     :: So how do'ya know me? Or know Prowl? I don't think I ever came'cross ya before, kiddo. Unless ya know us through reputation, which I would say I'd be flattered since we're both pretty good at fryin' ya'lls circuits. ::

Barricade

[Barricade]

<<"A question with a question. Very clever.">> He paused in his words, gunning his engine and pleased when his frame simply picked up speed like it was supposed to. Excellent. Hmm...and the injury in his spark had eased down to a dull, if constant ache. Now then, what field was this mech putting out that did something like that and where could he get one for himself? Because it was useful. <<"I have given your tactician fits on the battlefield before. It is very difficult to predict someone who frequently changes what they are going to do mid-battle. He knows exactly who I am, and wishes me long since deactivated.">> He grinned internally at that. It had always pleased him to harass Prowl over the long years the war had worn on.

The little mech in front of him didn't seem inclined to shoot, so he weaved a little and let him keep his distance. He was smaller, but if he punched it Barricade knew he could overshoot him on flat terrain like this. It would expend a large amount of his energy to do so, but it was possible. Not an idea he wanted to toy with just yet. <<"It surprises me how quickly war tends to make mechs forget those that opposed them. We've been on opposite sides of the same battlefield many a time, and I've been on the foul side of one of your bombs. Or one of Mirage's, I never know which it is since you are both prone to the blasted things.">> A growl vibrated through his frame at that, tone dark.

Kiddo? What the frag did that mean? He accessed the internet and checked and let loose another roar of his engine at the insult. <<"I'm older than you are, you Pit-spawned spy.">> He hadn't yelled, but his tone was mildly annoyed. Frying their circuits? Oh, his optics.

<<"I happen to be Neutral. And it seems that, as I know your designation, you should know mine. I am called Barricade.">>

@jazz

[Deleted]

     :: Pit-spawned? Like Megasarus? Sorry, man, ya got me mixed up with a different spy! I was spawned in Polyhex.:: Jazz was grinning to himself, now toying audibly with Cade just to see how many buttons he could push on this guy. :: Also, if Prowl wants ya deactivated, all he's gotta do is ask the right mech and it's a done deal. Sorry about the bombs, by the way. If you were caught up in 'em ya were probably supposed ta offline with their boom boom-ness. Guess ya failed your team big time by not takin' one for the team. ::

     Jazz snorted some and kept on driving, weaving in and out of various rock formations that were in his path. He got to one in particular that was a narrow edge and he took it sharp, rounding it and turning around to where he was going right at Barricade. A game of chicken? No. He zipped past him with barely enough room to clear him entirely. It wouldn't be hard to turn around, but boy was he going to have to do it wide to avoid running into anything sticking out of the ground.

     :: Ah, sorry, I thought your question was a joke at first. Rhetorical, as the humans say. Just thought I'd find some Decepticons hangin' around that I could kick the tails of, but instead? Found you. A neutral. Shame, really. I ain't got any issue with the neuts except their stupidity. They're opportunists that leech off whatever side seems to give them the better deal without havin' to commit to either. Know the term blood-suckers or bottom feeders, Cadey? That's about the best way I see to describe them when you in the middle of a darn blasted war. No matter the outcome, they win. ::

Barricade

[Barricade]

<<"The finer points of sarcasm escape you, don't they?">> So the little annoyance wanted to play the rhetorical game? Very well then. He had no idea who he was dealing with here. Barricade liked games that involved wit and tactics. He snorted at the other's insincere apology, knowing he didn't mean a word he spoke. <<"I actually pitched it at Starscream, at the time. His squawking was worth the chewing out I got from Lord Megatron after the fact.">> He vented lowly, though the sound was lost in the roar of his engine and the sound of tires on the rocky territory.

When Jazz took a sharp turn and came right at him Cade didn't slow down or even swerve, long since used to games such as these. He was bigger and even if they did collide he wouldn't be too badly damaged with his ram-guard still in place. That's what it was there for, after all. When instead the other darted past him the former Decepticon transformed instead of taking the turn, snagging the top of the rock formation and swinging his frame back around before retaking his alternate mode and tearing back after the smaller mech. His transformation was swift, faster than most others of his make and model. And that was an ability he enjoyed very much.

The conversation about neutrals didn't phase him either. Jazz didn't know anything about him or his situation. He could think what he wanted to. <<"When one defects from the Decepticons then where should they then go? If you have the answers, little mech, then tell me that. I was a Decepticon soldier, I've killed so many of your fellows that I lost count. I have no wish to be shot on sight, so what path is left but that of the Neutral?">>

Logic rather than rage, common sense and questions instead of allowing himself to be riled. <<"You'll have to try much harder than this if you want to make me angry.">> He was herding the other mech back towards the Harbringer, and when they got close enough he transformed and used his claws to scale the massive remains of the downed warship. He hid himself, masked his life signal, then leaped down onto the smaller mech when he sped past under him.

"Now that I have your attention." He leaped back from the other, landing in a crouch nearby. "Care to stop running for a little while, Jazz?"

@jazz

[Deleted]

     :: If one defects from the Decepticons... :: 

     Jazz trailed off as he watched the other one scaling the ship ahead. He wasn't a fool. He knew what the con was up to even after he had masked his signal- after all, he had trained with Mirage, for Primus sake. That mech could hide his signal better than anyone, so this former con didn't stand a chance in comparison. When he leaped on him Jazz had braced himself and waited until the weight was eased off before he swung his frame around into transforming out of his alt mode. When his upper frame twisted around, he reached out and grabbed onto a piece of rock that was sticking out of the ground and pulled back, yanking his feet back under him as he came to stand up completely. He stared at the other mech and shrugged slightly. 

     "If one defects from the Decepticons, they should- as the human say- 'drop dead'. Cause the only good con, former or current, is one that is offlined with their spark back wherever it is that it came from." There was a moment of silence as Jazz reached his arms over his helm and stretched, as though bored now that their game had ended. Then he snorted again, as though finding something funny with what Cade had said. "Oh, Cadey baby, ya adorable little Prince! The fact that you still address Herr Megatron like that means that ya ain't quite over his tyranny. Somewhere in that spark of yours ya follow him, whether it be out of fear or just bein' a silly little fanboy. But he's got'cha caught up in his web just as he did the rest of the 'Con fools when he led the up-rise." With how he said the last bit, if he had been closer to Cade he probably would have tapped him on his chest just over his spark. 

     He turned, keeping his side to Cade at all times and watched him carefully, his visor registering any movements from the smallest flex in his vents to the twitch of his toe or flicker of a light in his optic. He was making his way to the Harbinger, fully intended on going inside. Honestly Jazz didn't care of Barricade decided to invite himself along or not but it wouldn't be until he had scaled around and found a way in that he would actually take his visuals off the former con. 

Barricade

[Barricade]

Barricade tilted his helm at the other mech, regarding him with the full weight of his red optics. So the other was still trying to rile him up, which wouldn't work. The former 'con often used the same tactics against his foes, often to his detriment. Still, with that being so the same thing wasn't likely to work on him. This one seemed to him more the 'aim and shoot' sort rather than the one that planned a battle. He knew from watching that Prowl often relayed orders across vast battlefields, but what was Jazz's purpose? Did the little mech just make a nuisance of himself? He was a spy, and a blasted good one at that he would acknowledge, but what else?

He sighed and simply walked away from the other, tired of his mouth and his inability to hold a civil conversation. He was already bored with the other mech once again, and didn't have the strength to fight with him. It was odd for him, wishing only for a bit of company while he did battle with the only foe he couldn't overpower; his injured spark. He knew his internal most injury was the reason he defected, just not why it had happened.

The larger black and white stopped and looked back at the Autobot, noticing he was looking over the warship. "If you think you can manage that mouth of yours, Autobot, I'll show you the way inside." He paused, shoulder angled towards Jazz in case the other chose to attack him. "Do you ever take the time to wonder why it is so many chose to follow Megatron? He wasn't always insane." And he spoke as one who had followed since the beginning, back when the cause had been one he agreed with and was willing to fight and even die for. Somehow, he doubted the other mech gave a flying frag.

"His proper title is 'Lord'. Its not something the Decepticons just call him. Its High Lord Protector Megatron, or Lord as they call him. Not that his title means anything anymore. Once you destroy the thing you are supposed to be protecting it ceases to matter what you call yourself." He snorted, clawed hands idling to either side of his frame as he spoke. "Not that any of that matters to you, but still."

@jazz

[Deleted]

      Just when Jazz thought that the former con was leaving? Well, he came back. Sort of. But at least he didn't walk away completely. If he knew a way into the ship then Jazz could at least use that to his advantage. Right now he just wanted to explore to get his mind off things and this ship was the best thing he could come up with on such short notice to check out. All the talk of Megatron, though? He could have done without all of that.

     "I don't wonder why so many followed him. I know why. I may have if I ain't seen them issue with him early on." Jazz frowned up at the ship as if he expected it to open up for him. When it didn't he looked back at the Decepticon then made a motion with his helm to show him where the entrance was. "Yeah, I know he wasn't always so insane. I knew him way back when he was still a gladiator. We used to be... friends." Jazz frowned more at that and visibly shuddered as the memory of all that tugged at him. It was discomforting, that was for sure.

     Now it was time for a subject change.

     "Alrighty, Cady baby. Ya know the way in? Awesome. I was about to try all those 'open says me' phrases that humans have in their stories and see if any of those opened it, but I think your idea is a lot easier." Jazz grinned at Barricade then stepped to the side and stood there to allow for the larger mech to bypass him and lead him to where the entrance was. "And I ain't gonna go first. I don't like the thought of a con starin' at my aft while I'm walkin'."

Barricade

[Barricade]

"My designation is Barricade." He bit it out, though he wasn't being truly hostile to the other mech. "I use yours properly, if you insist on using my kindly use it the way it is meant to be used or not at all." His words were clipped out, but held the undertone of a mech that always considered his words before he spoke them. It made him wonder when Jazz spoke of knowing Megatron before the insanity had overtaken him, and only dipped his head to acknowledge the other had told him that.

He started towards the ship at the others next comment, tipping his helm again and regarding the other seriously before leaning slightly to one side then delivering his words deadpanned. "Well, while its a nice aft I have better things to do than watch it while I am minding my steps." He started forward and laid his clawed hand against a panel on the ship. "I flight trained aboard the Harbringer." He offered by way of small talk as a door appeared in the side and slid to one side to allow them entrance. "If you failed to learn the tricks of this old ship you would not make it long. Walk where I walk, if you wish to remain in one piece. Or do not, it is your choice."

He strode forward with the confidence of one long used to the halls he beat a path through, and by the lack of dust in the area around them he'd obviously been there for some time. "It was mandatory for everyone to learn to pilot the ship. It always agitated Starscream that I, who am a land model, was a fairly talented pilot." He flashed a grin at the smaller mech over his shoulder, not the least bit bothered with sharing the information. "Flushed him out the airlock once."

@jazz

[Deleted]

     "Well, I gotta call ya somethin' since I think it's more rude ta'say 'hey you'. So Cadey Baby it is!" Jazz grinned at the little tinge of defiance at the request to properly use the designation. He'd either have to get used to it or just ignore it, for Jazz was bound and determined at that point. "Just know that this aft is reserved. Prowl's Optics Only. He ain't too pleased when he catches someone else lookin'."

     Now that they were making their way through the Harbinger, Jazz kept as close as he was comfortable with doing. Although he could probably dodge Barricade if he turned and tried to do something, but he knew that he was strolling through a field of hidden landmines. He had been on board several Decepticon ships in the past and knew how they were armed and alarmed tooth and nail to deter any form of Autobot intrusion. Taking a stroll on this one was no different to him except that he was in the company of a former con who was leading him around like this were some simple little sightseeing tour. 

     It was, actually. Not that Jazz was complaining, though. Having someone else who knew where all the traps were so he didn't have to figure them out himself made this rather enjoyable. So he kep to where Barricade walked, though he hummed softly and made more of a game of 'hopscotch' with skipping a spot that the other mech would walk to instead land on another piece that he would step on.

     Then there was a snort from the smaller mech. "Starscream flushed out the airlock? Now if only I coulda been a fly on the wall for THAT one! It's so easy to get that Seeker's spring sprung and really? Ya woulda thought it'd get old after a while... but it never does!" There was another chuckle which then turned into a light-sparked laugh. "He ain't too slick sometimes."

Barricade

[Barricade]

The hunter just shook his helm and chose to ignore the others banter. He had no energy to deal with smart mouthed Autobots who weren't smart enough to get his designation correctly. Not once had the other managed it thus far, so he was convinced that he was incapable for whatever reason. Seeing as he'd never pegged Jazz as one of the less intelligent mechs on the field he wondered why this deformity existed in the first place. He wasn't going to ask the other mech either. He didn't care that much. He snorted at the comment regarding the smaller mech's aft. "If you did not want me looking then you should not have said anything to draw attention to it." His head canted as he looked over his shoulder at the other to continue their conversation while he could. "Your tactician hardly seems the type to get possessive of anything. That one is very repressed." Which he knew from observing him.

Barricade stopped at the end of the hall where the corridor split off in two separate directions. He remained at the juncture long enough to let Jazz catch up to him then laid a clawed hand against the wall and opened another door. "Corridors lead to nothing." He said by way of explanation. "And they're rigged all the way down, no safe zone."

The area they stepped into had chairs and monitors in a ring around a central platform. "Battle-bridge." He told the other before drawing his shoulders back a little. "System override, Senior Helmsmech Barricade, sentry code Delta Seven Four Three, acknowledge." The entire bridge came online with the override command, with the consoles lighting and the overhead light coming on.

A deadpanned, feminine voice rang through the bridge. "Acknowledged, Pilot. Battle bridge systems online."

The black and white vented softly and motioned to the nearest chair. The entire room was clean and there were several datapads and other personal effects scattered around. "I've removed all the traps on the battle bridge, so you're safe to wander around." This was where he'd been living, one of the few functioning places on the Harbringer. "The computers are locked out and will erase the first time they are tampered with, so leave them be."

@jazz