tonight we are victorious

Getting off the planet is easier than Prowl figured it would be.

Ratchet patches him up. The dagger cut near his fuel pump, but not close enough to do any damage. A scare, to be sure, but nothing as bad as it could have been. Good thing, too – death by drone is a piss-poor way to go. Optimus deals with the negotiations and politics. Jazz and Bee make sure the transport doesn't leave anything the humans shouldn't get their hands on.

That was an interesting conversation to have with Lennox.

"I'm surprised you don't want at least some weapons information. Something to give your team an edge."

"If I could guarantee my team would be the only ones to keep it. But humans like to hurt each other – we kinda suck that way. So it's best if we don't have any of it."

"I can understand that. We do the same thing."

Honestly, the only thing Prowl is going to miss about this small, organic planet is Lennox.

"Orele!"

"Fig, for the last time – we don't speak Spanish!"

He grins. Well, Lennox and probably Fig. If only because of Bluestreak. The sniper is leaning against the side of the transport, Fig up on his shoulder taunting Lennox in Spanish, while Lennox throws things at him, laughing the entire time. Bluestreak is egging Fig on, also in Spanish.

"Probably a good thing Lennox is throwing Nerf balls." Jazz says, coming to sit on the steps of the transport beside Prowl. "He takes out Blue's optic, he's gonna be pissed."

Prowl laughs. "Blue has better reflexes than that." he say with a grin. "I'm surprised Morshower is letting us go so easily."

"Eh, from what Ah gathered he's like a human Optimus. Don' want none of this alien shit on his turf." Jazz chuckles. "Basically Prime's just tellin' him ta give us a bit ta load up an he'll never see us again." Prowl nods. Jazz nudges him with his shoulder. "What's wrong? Ya still hurtin?"

"No. I'm almost healed up." Prowl shakes his head. "Just something Deadshot said."

"About what?"

"That Shockwave was the reason Megatron was even looking for the AllSpark in the first place." Prowl turns enough to look Jazz in the optic. "We've seen what that thing can do. But that wasn't really Barricade that it brought back, right? It was just a newspark with only a hint of Barricade inside." Jazz nods. Prowl continues. "So what would Shockwave have needed to do to actually be able to bring himself back like that, as he was, and not as just a drone?"

Jazz freezes for a moment. "Those ain' nice thoughts."

"That's an understatement."

"Sounds like a job fer when we get back home." Jazz says with a sigh. "Honestly, we jus' ended a civil war. Ah think we deserve ta not think about shit like that fer a while."

Prowl chuckles and reaches out over their bond. /I can think of other things we could think about./ He sends a bit of heat with the thought, and Jazz barely manages to suppress a shiver.

/Careful, Prowler, or we're gonna be givin' th' humans a crash-course on Cybertronian reproduction./ he warns, but the playfulness and the heat is more than returned. /We wouldn' wanna scar Bluestreak./

/If the Twins were here, he'd scar us in return./ Prowl laughs. /But you're right. We shouldn't corrupt the innocent./

At that moment, Optimus walks over, interrupting the banter. "A few more days and we'll be ready to leave." he says. "Our transport isn't too far away. Morshower said he would provide us with an escort to the location."

"Ya worried they might try ta pull somethin', boss?"

"Not really. They'd be stupid to, considering Lennox's team is to be our escort."

Prowl smirks. "Yeah, they won't do anything. Has Starscream showed back up yet?"

"Yep. Ratchet has him at the transport. Disconnected his transformation cog, so he won't be too much of a threat for a while at least." Optimus sighs. "It's hard to believe it's all over now. At least that part of it."

"There's still work to be done." Prowl muses. "Uprisings to put down, that sort of thing."

"At least for a while." Optimus points out. "Eventually, you'll have to figure out what you're going to do when this is all over."

Prowl and Jazz exchange looks. Jazz grins. "Ya pushin' fer grand-sparklin's, Prime?"

"Oh shut the hell up. The last thing Cybertron needs is mechs that are part you, part Prowl running around. Primus above."

"Would that be better or worse than part Mirage, part Hound?" Prowl wonders. Prime's responding groan has Jazz and Prowl cracking up.

At that moment, Hound and Mirage return from their brief patrol. Mirage gives Jazz a look before turning his attention to Optimus. "So, are we ready to go?"

Prime laughs and nods.

"Yeah. We're ready to go."

The End

Holy shit guys, it's done! 55 chapters, almost two years, and this monstrosity of a fic is FINALLY DONE! Thank you guys so much for sticking around to the end!

A few things to note – there will be a sequel, called Short Change Hero, coming out. But I'm not posting any of it until it's done, just to avoid the insane update schedule that I put you through with this one. This fic is being cross-posted over on AO3, and the sequel will be posted there as well.

Hop on over to AO3 to see some of the new fics I'm working on (mostly Venom right now), and if you like what you see and want to support me, consider donating on Ko-Fi (screenname sabotage-prowl).

And as always, until next time, I remain yours truly,

Shadowblade-tara