Origin.

Chapter 6. 'Trust should be gained.'

The room was fulfilled with silence of the night time, darkness blending with the two figures on the recharge stations. And in that darkness of the room a pair of red optics brightened. Their warm-coloured light moved in the direction of the dreaming form of the bigger mech, scanning for the proof of his recharge process.

The Parxian was asleep.

Jazz slowly and silently cycled air out, gaining lightness, and moved. His ped carefully touched the surface of the floor with only a steady and gently hiss of moving details flowing through the lower layers of air. Skillfully he prepared his ped to gain the most of his weight, tensed and moved up, another ped smoothing down. Feeling as each detail of his protoform and armor moved, he let the air cycling right to work, yet made so with a deep control. Once his position was steady, Jazz was a darkened figure in middle of the unlighted room. His impaling, scanning gaze studied the recharging adult and, though he was satisfied once again, a feeling of success did not enter his spark yet. Emotions would have made his spark louder and distract from the details he had to consider. The mechling's each step was gentle and graced through the air not creating any sounds.

He looked at the data-pads lined on the table. Prowl had reduced their brightness to minimal, not wishing to disturb the sleeping youngling during his work. Jazz needed to see through – they could contain what he needed... And, as he had predicted, the light was dim – not enough to disturb a recharging mech.

His attention scanned the headlines: damage report, plans of reconstruction, plans of improvement and even a list of the unites arranged for the base – but nothing of what Jazz required.

Mechling went towards the door. The automatic opening was not activated – he pressed the control panel but did not put his digit away. Instead he reduced the pressure slowly, knowing that these door panels were not of the best quality and by doing so the door would not slide open at once. It started moving slowly, providing an opening and revealing a way out. The slim figure dived through and out. Now outside Jazz glanced back at the door. Nо, he wouldn't close the opening yet, he would need to go back inside. Finally letting a slight smirk appear on his faceplate as a result of his success, he turned around and went further through the corridor.

It was so silent, yet some sounds of metal works were brought through the air – Autobots were indeed working to restore the base... Cameras were another reason not to go further - he would be detected. Yet, no one seemed to be in the area close to the officers' quarters.

Jazz walked to the closed panel in the wall and sat on his knees. He retracted the knife and pressed it through the gap. Several moves and the panel clicked - was disconnected from the wall revealing an opening to the darkness of the in-wall space. Jazz went in and closed the gap from behind.

He cycled the dusty air of the unused space with cables and energy tubes. His direction was the communication center.

Youngling made his way, optics quickly getting used to the darkness. He squeezed through, climbed and kneeled, same as he had done so many times when Decepticons were still the owners of the base. He had used the circulation system as well but this time the wall-space was a faster route and rather soon mechling reached his destination.

Jazz had been inside of this rooms before and he knew that the panel was located by the desk. In the other room connected to this one through a doorframe was the location of the mechs at the monitor duty – either asleep, either with their attention still on the screens. At least it was like that when 'Cons were around.

Jazz cycled air once again and started working over panel's fixings. Once he pushed the panel further he grabbed the edges in case in started falling and the room's light, rather bright compared to the space he had just been, hit his optics.

Jazz heard talking but the room he entered was empty as predicted. However, he had to act fast and quite– door panel was open and the only thing separating him from the two Autobots was the wall they sat behind.

Yet Jazz needed to know and so he moved further. His figure straightened, gaze not leaving the open doorframe.

Steadily, silently... And fast to the desk.

Screen on.

Departure schedule.

Destination...

...Iacon.

'That's it.' Jazz spark made a triumphal beat. He was so close.

'Tomorrow'. He needed tomorrow-

Yes! There was one! There was indeed a departure planned. Who was it for?

Some members of Wrecker and Frontline unites. And... Mechling's optics run through the list of names and ranks but a sudden noise from the other room caused him to flinch and look at the doorframe with alarm. There was a movement - someone stood up.

He glanced back at the list, losing the line he stopped at, and hurriedly looked through again this time skipping all ranks, searching for a name. And there it was. Jazz captured 'Prowl' and switched the datapod off.

In no time he dived away into the hole and closed the panel behind him.

Hidden again he gave a deep breath out.

Jazz was used to sneaking yet sometimes this feeling of cold running over your back when the risk got higher would naturally appear. He sat still for several clicks and a joyful feeling of triumph brought a smile on his face. Not only he managed to get the information, he also got a proof that tomorrow his caretaker and so him were departing to Iacon.

The 'Bots kept their word on that one. He was going to see his friends.

... And he still needed to get back to the quarters, so Jazz moved through the wall tunnels again. He arrived and pushed the panel, a joyful smile now and then reappearing during his whole way back. The mechling went out and closed the panel behind. Silently he made the short distance through the corridor back to the slightly opened door and squeezed in, using the small gap he had left.

The mechling was inside and ready to close the door but his whole frame froze with dread after a short glance at the now empty recharge station of his guardian. Jazz didn't move his gaze wishing that his optics were fooling him.

Finally, realization came. That could not be good...

Suddenly the door behind slid open, lights turning on. Jazz jumped back and turned around, greeted by the figure of a high white and black armored mech. Prowl looked at him with this deep look and the neutral expression of his faceplate made Jazz feel his processor fail to aid him with ideas of action.

Mechling and mech stood like that for four yet very long clicks.

"Enjoyed your late trip?"

And the voice was neutral too. Jazz did not like it, he couldn't read and predict this mech. It looked as if he was not in trouble but that couldn't be true: he sneaked out and who knew whatever he might have done. He was still a Decepticon.

Not having any clue of what to expect, Jazz just let at least some words come out, fully knowing that the sentence was not convincing in a bit.

"Em... Yeh, got some fresh air..."

Worse, it was suspicious. Who would eat it?! And, of course, Prowl did not. Jazz watched the mech sign.

"Did you at least find what you wanted?"

The mechling blinked, confused even further and when he spoke his voice proved that, "Kind of..."

"Good. Then, I suppose, we both can go to recharge now."

Prowl passed by and walked to the recharge station, door panel sliding close, Jazz standing puzzled. The not understanding look of the mechling did not leave Prowl's figure as the 'Bot sat down, youngling expecting at least some remark.

"That's it?" he said, "Ah-I mean you won't even lecture me?"

"Is it really necessary?"

Again. Jazz tried hard to capture any hidden meaning.

"I believe that you are aware of a risk of using in-wall space as well as of my opinion on your base travels alone and during the night time. So, I supposed that you had good reasons for your actions."

Jazz stared.

"Though, I admit being curious of what was so desired this late?"

Mechling's features made a slight nervous flinch that could have been missed if Prowl wasn't so attentive towards the young one's reaction. There was the same neutrality in 'Bot's look yet it felt softer and this, for some reason, caused Jazz's sight retreat, his optics moving away.

"You don't want to tell? Then don't."

Jazz's optcs flinched back to mech.

"Should I be worried?"

This one surprised as well but youngling knew that the missed control over his expression was the only requited answer to the question. Prowl studied him for what seemed just two clicks and so was enough. He saw what he needed and lied down.

"Recharge."

Offlining his optics, mech still detected the lack of youngling's movement.

"It was true. We are leaving tomorrow."

"I had no reason for lying about such a thing."

When no reply followed, Prowl opened his optics again, looked at the mechling and sat up right so to continue the dialogue mechling seemed to want to continue, "And you had no reason for trusting, did you?"

"...So you decided to check. Flight arrangement list - recording room, next to monitors, am I right?"

Jazz hesitated, his attentive and once again suspicious scanning the mech. But then he nodded.

"And you managed to stay unnoticed?" Prowl raised an optic ridge. He was impressed. He was aware of mechling's capabilities but receiving another example of youngling's skills was one more proof of his talents.

Yet, if Jazz kept on uncontrollable scouting missions the outcome could be unpredictable. This youngling knew his own abilities and used them in his advantage. Prowl could not blame him for it. Jazz had the right of his trust being gained. He had the right to do what he believed was important for his survival and life in extreme surroundings.

"You are right, mechling, trust should be gained and the intentions for that must also be correct... As for your sneaking," Prowl looked at the mechling who was taking in every word he said, analyzing him as much as Prowl did with Jazz. The 'Bot knew that he had to be careful with the words he chose and things he did. The mechling did not know him and these first days were going to create Jazz's impression of his persona. He could not fail and risk missing a chance of Jazz seeing him more than just a mech he was expected to listen, "...You were right to do so. In this case. And the fact that you managed to perform this act unnoticed proves your talents... Speaking of truth, I wouldn't have detected without my door-wings." With that Prowl lifted his door panels up, "Praxians have extra sensors in them. Any other bot would most likely be still recharging. Let this be a small reveal for you. You gave me the truth, I told you mine."

It seemed that for now Prowl was doing a good job. Jazz listened attentively and did not interrupt. Possibly, it was the first time someone talked to him in that manner and so the confusion would have been expected. However, Jazz seemed rather flexible and Prowl managed to see the attempt to hide a surprise behind analyzing and observing. The mechling prove that, despite of his young age, he could perform rather well.

"It's late. Recharge."

Prowl lied down.

His charge, previously having demonstrated his impulsive nature, did not lack intelligence. May be Jazz and him had at least one similarity. Hopefully, it would help.

Jazz obviously had a spirit of a rebel. Push too hard and he will bring it out.

He was a drifting loner knowing to learn. Not being taught.

He grew with Decepticons, yet was fearless enough to break their codes.

But Prowl believed that was not all. Jazz was still to be explored.

---

The vibration of turbines could be felt inside of the shuttle. Jazz was exited to finally start a journey that would return him to his friends yet concealed due to his current surroundings.

He felt small. And that annoyed him. Sitting next to Prowl, he was surrounded by front liners seated by both sides of the shuttle. Massive bots mostly ignored his presence, their harsh and brutal voices breaking through the vibration of the air. However, some did not hide their stare.

"Mech, what's wrong with his servos?" a young, red-armored 'Bot finally commented with a frown. Another 'Bot, obviously his twin, continued, "Seems that they didn't bother to waste time on his design."

"Least Ah've gat' a proppa' face. In your case, failure was doubled." Jazz scowl but did not meet their optics trying to demonstrate his indifference to the offended mechs' reaction. Twins, on the other hand, wouldn't have tolerated the brat's disrespect. The two mechs would have taught a lesson. If only they weren't so shocked by the unforeseen impertinence... Their reaction was slowed and so interrupted by the sudden laugher of the older mechs. Amused by the little squirt, some shook their helms. Twins were a matter the most got used to and knew to ignore. It was nice to see some youngling shut their mouths.

"Watch it!" Sideswipe growled though not at the mechling but now at the older bots.

"He got you with that one." A mech said with amusement when the wave of laugher settled down as fast as it began.

"Nice kid you've got there, Prowl."

Surprised at first, Jazz grinned capturing several amused glances and, although there were two very unhappy bots sitting not that far, he could feel the change in the air. And he might have felt bigger this time. Jazz looked up and met Prowls unamused expression. Mech signed and shook his head.

Jazz grinned again.

Well, maybe things were not that bad.

IT TOOK LOOONG! It will get better! My last exam is on Wednesday:)

AND, YES, I AM PLANNING TO CONTINUE SOUNDWAVE'S SICRET! Sorry for these delays! I had a terrible writer's block and no time.