AUTOBOT LOG: Chapter 4

Jazz calls later that night.
“Hey, Swipes, how’s it goin’ down there?”
“Not bad. It was quiet today. We drag raced each other.”
“Nice! Did you win?”
“No. Blurr’s quite the speedster.” Soundwave suddenly appears and sits behind him.
“Hey, Soundwave.”
“Greetings, Sideswipe.” Jazz slowly sinks onto his lap.
“How’s the new recruit doing? He cooperating?”
“Now he is. His name’s Smokescreen. He’s got a bit of an ego issue, but we reigned it in nicely.”
“Good. You know how I am with big egos.”
“Yep. I know.” Jazz glances back at Soundwave a moment. “Are you feeling okay, Jazz?”
“Training today was rough. I’m a bit bent out of shape right now. Besides the fact that he’s not too keen on my leaving.”
“You won’t try to keep him, will you?”
“Negative. Jazz, will fight me. He is free to come and go.”
“Aren’t you just sweet? You’re too good for me, love.” Jazz turns back to me. “I’ll be there the day after tomorrow, provided I can still move tomorrow.”
“What happened?”
“I was working with those twins. They kicked the slag out of me. I don’t know how I got signed up for it, brother. Guess it was just my turn.” He leans back into Soundwave’s chest, resting his head in Soundwave’s neck.
“If you can’t make the trip to Earth-“
“No way are you leaving me here while you stay there. You know I love that planet. If you thin you can leave me here while you party down there, you’re- OW!” Soundwave and I both jump a little. “G-Got a little t-too worked up there…” Jazz presses a hand to his chest, pain crossing his face. Soundwave wraps his arms around him gently.
“Jazz, you can’t make the trip like this. Ratchet, Rodimus and Ironhide will have to make sure you’re ready before you even think about it.”
“B-But…y-you…”
“Think about it. You won’t be able to party in so much pain.”
“You’re just like him. Get me all excited, then pull me back down.”
“Just get some rest, Jazz. You need it.”
“I know, I know.” He smiles. “If you need me, I’ll be here tomorrow. They’re givin’ me a day to pack, and I’m spendin’ it with ‘Wave and the twins.”
“Alright. Talk to you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I’ll call to check in with you then.” I nod, and so does he. “Recharge well, Swipes.”
“Yeah, you too. Feel better.” I nod to Soundwave, which he returns, then he swings Jazz’s legs up into his other arm.
“Whoa, I guess this conversation is over, brother. Talk to you tomorrow.”

I’m almost done for the night when Smokescreen comes in to relieve me.
“Did I hear Soundwave’s voice earlier?”
“Yes. He’s retired, and Jazz lives with him.”
“Like, as a slave or-“
“No, as a couple.”
“Huh? But Soundwave’s-“
“Retired. If Jazz is happy, then I’m happy for him. He says Soundwave is really good to him.” Smokescreen shrugs.
“If you say it’s cool, I can be cool.” We get another call. I turn on the link.
“Ironhide, Rodimus, hello!”
“Good evening, Sideswipe. We are calling to check in with your progress. Ratchet gave us a very good report on Blurr’s recovery.”
“He was back on his pedes this morning and feeling much better.”
“Excellent. How is your new recruit? Any problems?” Smokescreen glances at me, nervously.
“Nope. He’s a hard worker, just what we need now.” Rodimus smiles, looking very pleased.
“Well, I will report this to your Elite Guard instructor. We always look for promising Elite Guard graduates to continue on.”
“Well, he shows a lot of promise.”
“Very good. Anything else to report?”
“Nope, I think that’s it.”
“Very well, then, we will be going. Good night to the both of you.”
“Goodnight, sirs.” The call ends, and I turn off the link.
“Thank you.” I turn.
“For what?”
“Covering for me. Not telling them how much of a jerk I was.”
“Eh, you’re one of us now. I cover for my team. Besides, they might’ve taken you back and stuck us with someone worse.”

Morning wakes me out of my recharge and I polish Nightbeat. His silver paint gleams at me as I rub his shoulders.
“There. I believe we are even, my friend.” He nods. I head out to the control room, but something stops me. Music. Like Jazz loves. I follow it, and find Sara in the observatory with a big instrument.
“Morning, Sideswipe, I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No, no, not at all. You’re very good.” She smiles brightly.
“Thank you. Always nice to be appreciated. Sentinel Prime hated it when we were back on Cybertron.”
“And Blurr?”
“Blurr loves it when I play.”
“Well, I’m no different than him. Do you mind if I listen?”
“Not at all!” She starts again, hugging the instrument into her hip.

Smokescreen and Blurr join me a little later. Sara’s notes reverberate around the room, and her low notes make my chest plating vibrate. Smokescreen sits against the wall and closes his optics to listen. Blurr sits up eagerly, and I watch her calmly. Her motions are smooth and strong, and she watches either hand carefully. Soon, though, she stops.
“That’s it?”
“You’re stopping?”
“I’m tired, you guys. I know I might make this look easy, but it’s not.” Blurr nods, reluctantly, and Smokescreen shrugs.
“Jazz is going to love you. He loves music.”
“And he’s not opposed to classical?”
“No, he loves everything. He’s not picky at all.”
“Well, we’ll get along fine, then."