A/N -- Thanks for everyone who has stayed with me this long and who have read this awfully long story of mine. I really didn't think it was going to go this long, and its been over a year in the writing. whew! Thanks to all those who have favorited it, alerted for it, and favorited me (squee!) and thanks to everyone who has left reviews! I need all the help I can get! haha! Take care.

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Beep…..beep….beep….beep….

“Prowl, can you hear me?”

“….”

“Damn…Arcee, demodulate the polarity on those in-line compensators. Hurry…” Ratchet jammed a tool into Prowl’s open chassis. This toxin that surged through his system was nearly gone, but it was tenacious like nothing he’d ever encountered before. Unfortunately Jamie, from what he’d garnered from the conversation outside, was wrong.

Although it was true that the Shard hadn’t directly harmed Prowl, it had not healed him either. Rather, the Shard’s energy had turned what started as a crude cyber toxin into a self-replicating cyber-disease. One that, given just a few more days, would have utterly destroyed Prowls cognitive process.

It would have left him a mechanical vegetable.

But now, two hours after Prowl had been returned to the base, his prognosis was good. Other then expunging the remains of the cyber-virus from his system the worst of the damage was to his primary transformation cog. He had several other minor wounds that Arcee was able to repair without Ratchet’s attention. It had taken a bit of a combined effort to restore his processing functions and his logic processor, but it wasn’t impossible, and now Ratchet leaned over his patient with impatience.

“Prowl,” He repeated. “Get the sludge out Commander.”

Arcee sighed with a bit of a chuckle. Ratchet never did have the friendliest of bedside mannerisms. “Prowl,” She said in a softer tone. “Come back to us sir, we need you.”

Slowly, dark blue optics flickered into being, internal servos and mechanisms whining faintly in operation.

The world was dark, with only a few bright spots of light to break the darkness, but it was fading into grey…grey and a pair of bright sky blue optics that gazed down on him hopefully. “Ar…Arcee?” A voice giggled and said something that registered as delight. “Where….where am …?”

“Whoa there…” Ratchet had to restrain Prowl as he attempted to sit up. “You’re not ready for that yet Commander. Let’s get you fully processing first.”

Rapidly Prowl’s systems began to come online and more and more of his cognitive functions became active. He was suddenly aware a good amount of time had passed. “Ratchet?” He said quietly and glanced around the room. This did not look like the medical bay in Iacon. For that matter, it didn’t look like any hospital he’d ever seen on Cybertron. Where was he now?

Memories came flooding back in a rush. Cybertron. J’Nwan. Then there was a strange organic planet. There were beings, soft scurrying creatures and intense cold. Intense pain.

Ratchet looked up sharply as diagnostics began to beep rapidly in alarm. Arcee glanced between the monitors and Prowl worriedly. “What’s going on, Ratch?” She asked. Something was distressing Prowl, and it seemed to be intensifying.

The CMO could only speculate. “Memories?” He said. “It might take a breem or two for him to get his bearings in a row.

Only faintly aware of Ratchet and Arcee, Prowl continued to fight the rising panic within him. Pain and combat. Repair and coldness. There had been hatred and then sudden friendship and trust. There were humans. It all became clearer. Team five. They had rescued him, escaped with him. At least one of them was his friend.

“Jamie.” Prowl said suddenly, optics suddenly clear. “Where is Jamie? Is he ok?” He looked around the unfamiliar surroundings. They weren’t on his ship or any Cybertronian space craft. He didn’t believe they were on a spacecraft at all; the air lacked that recycled, stale characteristic. “Ratchet.” He said a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “Arcee! You are both ok! What happened? Where am I? Where is Optimus?”

“Stick it in neutral for a breem, Commander,” Ratchet admonished. “How about we get you fully functional before we play twenty questions with you?”

Despite the situation and without regards to rank or station Arcee flung her slender arms around Prowl’s frame, while elicited a grunt of surprise from the Autobot commander. Servos froze into immobility for a click before he awkwardly returned the embrace. She’d always been a touchy sort of femme…when she wasn’t in her ‘kill everything and everybody’ mode…

Before he could stammer out a single word, Arcee had let him go, but the grin remained plastered to her faceplates. “I’ll go tell the others!” She announced.

Ratchet’s vents cycled but he didn’t deny her. He knew the others would crowd back into here, but Prowl deserved to see his friends, his comrades, and they needed to see him. His disappearance vorns and vorns ago had weighed heavily on many of the Autobots. Especially Jazz and Springer.

The two were unique among Optimus’ officers. Both were connected with the Autobot Special forces. Jazz was its commander, while Springer had once trained and worked under him. Springer was now leader of the Wrecker squadron, a splinter group of mercenary Autobots that worked for hire. He had replaced Impactor, the group’s former, and greatest, leader. Impactor had been Jazz’s mentor, teacher, and friend.

Both Jazz and Springer had also been affected by Prowl’s disappearance in similar ways as well. Both had voiced disagreement with Optiums’ choice of sending Prowl with Chromia on what was clearly a sabotage type mission. Sabotage was Jazz’s specialty, and Jazz thought it should be his mission. Springer also was familiar with the mission parameters and just as capable, but he was needed to head up a rescue mission elsewhere. Likewise, Jazz’s skills as an operative were also needed elsewhere. Neither had been happy with the arrangement but they had followed their orders.

When the mission went south and Prowl disappeared, it had been Jazz and Ironhide who found Chromia damaged and adrift in the Rust Sea. They had completed their mission to steal the codes to activate Sixshot, but Prowl had the datapad. When Prowl disappeared, so too, did the codes.

There had been so much loss during those days, Ratchet recalled. So many Autobots, friends, family, lost forever. But the loss of the Autobot second in command hadn’t weighed heavier on any mech more than it had upon Optimus. It had been his decision to send Prowl, who was the only remaining solider at the time with experience inside the Baird Beaming Facility. Chromia was as proficient as Ironhide when it came to weapons, and nearly as tough, not a single mech would have ever thought her to be capable of failure.

But no one is EVER perfect, Ratchet thought with a final sigh, glancing back at Alex’s body again.

He didn’t have time to reflect further as the doors flung open wide and Hot Rod rushed in, followed closely by Springer, the Twins, Optimus and Ironhide. “It about time you got off yer sluggish chassis.” Hot Rod grinned widely and took on a nonchalant air. “I mean, geeze, you should have told us about this little vacation spot of yours.”

For once Springer joined in the jest. “Yeah,” he agreed. “Is it our turn to have a one-hundred and twenty vorn hot-energon break? We’ve been working pretty hard you know…” He gathered around the repair table that Prowl lay on and got serious. “Are you doing ok, commander?”

The twins were quiet as well, both staring at Prowl with anxious interest, as Prowl’s expression went from a rare smile, to astonishment. “One-hundred twenty VORNS?!” he echoed. “What?”

“He said, ‘One hundred and twenty vorns.” Sunstreaker obligingly repeated before being elbowed by Arcee.

Prowl looked distraught. “That, that can’t be,” He said. “I…it…”

“Alright, back it up bots!” Ratchet growled out. Sheesh, like puppies they were. “Give the commander some room to process.” Ratchet stepped back himself as Optimus moved to Prowl's side.

His second in command looked up and managed a nod towards his commander. "Prowl.” Optimus said, “Welcome back.”

“Thank you sir.” He said, then, he paused. “One hundred and twenty vorns?” His voice had the tone of disbelief.

Optimus nodded. “Give or take. Prowl…do you feel up to telling us what happened?”

Prowl shook his head. “Perhaps later, if I may, Sir? It’s quite a story. But,” he reached into a sub-space pocket on his arm and drew out a small data-pad. “I do have this. Mission accomplished.”

The Autobot leader accepted the offered data pad and looked down at it. “Good job, Commander.” He smiled. “Join us when you feel ready.”

“Yes sir.” He paused a moment as he sat up from the table. “Sir…Where’s Jazz?”

Ratchet stepped forward. “He’s here. I’ll…go get him.” The CMO didn’t look forward to the task, but he turned and left the med-bay. It made him smile a bit, after all this time, Prowl still held a soft spot for the Lieutenant. Still, he wasn’t certain what he’d say to Jazz anyway. Ratchet was able to admit to himself he was rather fond of Zoe, perhaps more so then he should be. Was it that hug? His first hug. It had been so different, odd, but pleasant. But she was dead now, and they had to move on.

But was she dead? Alex wasn’t, and the original Shard was gone. Could it be…He didn’t want to hope as he raised his hand to knock on Jazz’s door.

A strange sound from the other side made him pause. It was a humming noise, foreign, but it was the sound of a motor of some sort. He He listened for a moment and heard…Jazz squeal? Laughter? Instead of knocking Ratchet hit the latch and the door slid open with a rush of pneumatic air.

Inside the room he could see Jazz sprawled out on his berth. He was prone, but his upper body was twisted awkwardly away from the door, and his lower body squirmed slightly. The humming sound was louder now as was Jazz’s giggling.

“What in the name of oil and energon is going on in here?” He demanded.

Jazz’s body jumped a bit in surprise, and he quickly twisted into a half sitting position, looking at Ratchet sheepishly. “Uh…well…” he stammered.

Ratchet narrowed his optics at Jazz, waiting for an answer.

From behind Jazz, Zoe jumped up over his shoulder grinning at Ratchet. “Jazz is ticklish!” she blurted out. In one hand she held the source of the noise. A handy-vac. She giggled as Jazz looked a bit embarrassed. “Psst!” She whispered in that not-a-whisper voice. “Don’t tell Jazz that you know, Ratch. It’s a secret.”

The LT looked back at Zoe with a mock glare, while Ratchet stood there speechless. “You know.” Zoe said, going on as if nothing at all were strange. “You must have sand in some pretty uncomfortable places too Ratch. If you lie down, I’ll help you. I have small hands you know.” She held up one for his inspection.

“Zoe!” Ratchet suddenly transformed and activated his holoform, which appeared beside her and swept her up in a tight hug. “You came back!” He was certain there was more he should say to her, more that should be said, but for now, he’d have to settle for crushing her body against his.

“Eerk!” Zoe grunted as the wind left her lungs. “Blame Jazz,” she said. “He came and got me.” Ratchet let her go and the holoform dissolved away. “He…found me.” She looked up at Jazz fondly.

Either way, Ratchet smiled and transformed, it was good news. He scanned her down and then scanned her again. “You’ve….changed!” He said peering at her closely. Physically, she was still the same, except the subtle AllSpark markings that traced down her back, now ran down the right side of her face. They weren’t so subtle anymore. He thought back to the recent nature vs. nurture debate. “Zoe…your nature has changed.”

When she looked at him oddly, he clarified. “You scan…as an Autobot now.”

She glanced to Jazz then back to Ratchet, then back to Jazz as she jumped into his arms. “YAY!” She said, hugging him. “That means my eyes will be blue!” Jazz could only laugh at her simplicity. He loved it. “Hey! What about Simon? Is he ok?”

Ratchet was suddenly somber. “Simon…left.”

Zoe nodded sadly. “I knew he would…what with both me and Alex dead there for while.” She looked up at Ratchet. “Where is Optimus? There is something I need to do.”

Jazz picked her up gently and held her against him and followed Ratchet back out into the main bay.

“ZOE!!” Harley jumped up as Jazz walked back in.

"Harley! Hunter!" Zoe cried, happy to see her friends. "Jamie! The teams all here!"

Team Five quickly embraced what remained of Team Three while the robots stood around and watched the humans in this strange new greeting ritual.

Springer glanced over at Jazz “What's up, Little Bot!”

“Grrr!”

Jazz reunited with his comrades and introduced them to Zoe, while she introduced Jazz to Team Three. After a few minutes she looked around as Optimus came back into the room, himself smiling slightly at the good news.

“It is good that you are well, Zoe.” He said cordially. “Ratchet said there was something important?”

Suddenly Zoe was serious. “Yes sir.” She said as she pulled out the Shard that they had left by her bedside. It was no longer a shard, now; it had shape, form…function. “It’s about this.”

The others gathered around her quietly, gazing down upon the artifact in her hand, and she continued. “I need you to take me to Cybertron.”

Prime looked a bit astonished at that declaration. “Alright….” He said slowly. “But why? What is that?”

She held up the shard, which began to glow with a dim yellowish-white light. “Because this…is the key.”

Hot Rod scratched the back of his head. “The key to what?”

Zoe looked down at it in reverence. “The key….to Vector Sigma.”

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-- TO BE CONTINUED

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-- EPILOGUE:

The sun was almost set as Jazz stood on a hill overlooking Boulder. The sky was deep with reds and oranges over the late fall desert landscape. Prowl made no attempts to hide his footfalls as he walked up to join him. “So, you’ve bonded with a human.” Prowl let out a short chuckle. “Actually, never thought you’d bond with anyone.”

Jazz didn’t turn around and let out a brief chuckle of his own. “Me neither, but love is a gift, given at random, and never ours to command.”

Prowl was silent for a long time, then finally. “Ok…who are you and what happened to Jazz?”

They shared a round of laughter for a moment before falling back into comfortable silence. “Prowl.” Jazz said finally as the sun dipped fully below the horizon. “Take care of her.” He said softly looking back at his friend. “Bring her back to me.”

For a moment Prowl didn’t answer, his optics locked with Jazz’s. “She’s important to you.” He stated. “So she’s important to me.”

Jazz nodded and then looked forward again, the seriousness of the moment fading like the last rays of the sun around them. It was a long trip to Cybertron, but he’d see her again soon.

Zoe walked outside to the two bots and looked up at them. “I’m ready, Prowl.” She held only a single bag; her motoroid and hardsuit, as well as Alex’s body, had already been brought on board. She was without worry. Ironhide, Jazz and Bee had their holoforms going and promised to help Roscoe in her stead, and Ratchet had reconfigured to orbital bouncer toward organic cargo.

Prowl nodded. “Have you informed the others of your departure?”

“If you mean ‘said my goodbyes’, then almost.” She responded and looked pointedly at Jazz. Prowl took several steps backwards to afford the two a bit of space.

Jazz knelt down in front of her and she jumped up into his arms. The past three days had been a gift. They’d gone camping and generally spent the time exploring each other. He wasn’t happy with their separation, but he knew nothing could truly separate them. Not time, not distance, not circumstance.

Neither said a word aloud, there was no need. Everything that passed between them in that moment came from their joined sparks. Crude spoken words were simply inadequate.

Likewise Zoe felt an ache in her heart that was lessened by the knowledge that if she wanted to see him, talk to him, feel him, she had no further to look then within her heart. He was never more than a thought away, and she smiled as he held her to his face for a moment. Finally, he put her down with a grin. “Don’t make me come after you ok?”

“Hey,” she said, “You’re stuck with me Lieutenant. Don’t make me come after you either.” She looked over at Prowl and picked up her bag again as Jazz stood back up. “Ok. NOW I’m ready.”

Prowl nodded once and joined the two. He put his hand on Jazz’s shoulder briefly in friendship and Jazz clasped his forearm. “Take care Lieutenant.” He activated his com-link. “Arcee…we’re ready.”

Jazz took a step back and watched as the bright light of the orbital bouncer enveloped them both before fading away, leaving nothing behind but the fading scent of Zoe’s honeysuckle shampoo.

He turned and walked back inside the base. The trip to Cybertron probably wouldn’t take that long. Right?

Jazz turned around; headed back into the barn. Without warning, Ratchet ambushed him with the medical scanner. “Jazz!” The medic shouted angrily, red scanning lines playing over Jazz’s body. “In the med bay, NOW.” He gave Jazz and none-too-gentle shove in that direction. “And tell me exactly HOW you managed to sprain two processors, overload your holomatrix generator, and flood your distribution system!”

The saboteur winced. Zoe had better get back soon….

-- FIN --

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Orbital bouncer - in the IDW comic the bouncer (basically a ship to planet teleporter) couldn't 'beam' organics...as it killed the three humans attached to the Autobots when they got bounced.

Arcee - In some continuities (IDW) Arcee was a creation by Jhiaxus who tampered with her 'genetic' makeup which caused Cybertronians to use female pronouns to refer to her, thus creating gender. It drove her insane and linked her Jhiaxus whom she chased. She was a killing machine...literally and her spark was kept seperate from her body in order to preserve the peace.

Baird Beaming Facility - a large scale radio transmitter in the city of Kalis on Cybertron.

Vector Sigma - is cybertrons computer brain...THE mega-computer

To be continued in "The Secrets of Cybertron" and in the short story "Gremlins" ... coming soon.