A Glitch in Time

Why did this take forever? Oh right, BUSY IN RL LIFE.

Enjoy enjoy.


Ships Hinted
Jazz x Prowl
Wheeljack x Perceptor
-----------------
Optimus noticed backup flying above him as his team rushed back to the shuttle. Ratchet was giving 'cover fire' by pushing the attacking bots into each other with his magnets. From above small Autobot stealth ship fired on the Elite bots. A few other stealth ships made an appearance.

"Looks like Cheetor blabbed to Goldbug," Ratchet stated. His tone was neither annoyed nor happy to see the help.

"Thank Primus," replied Optimus now glad there secret meeting with Ultra Jazzimus was found out. He then turned to face the fighting. Optimus made his axe handle extend longer before going into the fight. Prowl was right behind him throwing his ninja stars at the Elite soldiers closest to him. His attacks were precise. The blades landed right in the middle of the two bot's chests. They wouldn't damage their sparks, but effectively knock them unconscious.

Optimus fought the next soldiers to come their way. Prowl took the moment to look up and see what Jazzimus was doing. The Ultra bot was ordering some soldiers towards the Autobot Command ship that appeared.

The vessel seemed to wave warped out of nowhere. Instead of firing on the Elite bots it fired on their parked ship. It was a conflict avoiding technique. The Elite would hopefully retreat to the ship and leave. The other option would be to stay and fight, but risk not having a ship to leave in.

Ultra Jazzimus sent some soldiers to retreat to the ship while he made his way through the fighting. He was headed towards Optimus Prime. Prowl observed this action and went to intercept.

"Prowl! Wait!" yelled Ratchet. He knew Optimus did not give any orders for the ninja bot to separate from them. Jazzimus called out some orders. Two organic bots quickly flanked their leader.

Jazzimus knew the Autobots plan could not go through without Optimus Prime. Goldbug trusted the fire truck's leadership skills to turn the future around. All hope for the yellow bot's team rested on Optimus. If Jazzimus were to capture the Prime the Autobots would not go through with their plan. Also, Optimus could be converted. He would work as a diplomat between Autobot's and Elite relations.

Jazzimus was ironically thinking of future diplomacy as his left arm transformed to its spark blaster mode. His hand turned in as the lower part of his arm became a cannon muzzle.

Ratchet's fighting was still defensive. He kept the Elite off of Optimus with his magnets. The old bot did not make any clear attacks. These bots were still Autobots like his standard sensors told him. His med bot sensors started to tell a different story.

His med bot programming gave him text information in the lower corner of his optics. It was information only he could see. It was reading each of the Elite bots as being infected with an unidentifiable virus. Lines of information streamed by as each individual bot in the immediate area was scanned. The old bot multi tasked taking in all the information while protecting himself and Optimus.

>>Analyzing Complete

The test in the bottom corner showed,

>>Epidemic Levels
>>Wait for a Prime's instructions
>>Before taking further action

"Optimus, we need to grab Prowl and get out of here now. I think the 'calvary' knows how to fight these guys more than we do. And they're infected with something," explained Ratchet as he lifted one of the Elite bots and threw it against two others.

"Great. Head closer to the shuttle and give me cover. I'll grab Prowl," ordered Optimus Prime.

Prowl watched as Jazzimus' left arm became a cannon. The sound of the weapon transforming was a deep roar. It was different than the electronic clicks a Cybertronian made when changing a form. Jazzimus then shot at an Autobot stealth ship. The force knocked it back at least an Earth mile.

"Prowl! Get back to the shuttle!" yelled Optimus. The Prime used the back end of his axe to push off an Elite bot behind him. Optimus noticed Goldbug's Autobots did not come out to physical fight the Elite. It made sense now that Ratchet said they were infected. They may have been contagious in some way. The true reason Autobot's were trying to keep it ship combat was about to be relieved.

Jazzimus knew Prowl's intent was to keep him away from Optimus. Jazzimus gave Prowl a light smile. The Ultra bot knew it was pointless to fight with his sparkbond. With a hand gesture the Ultra directed the two organic bots to attack Prowl. The smaller of the two had a metal pack on his back along with pouches along his waist. He reached into a hip pouch and threw smoke bombs at Prowl. The bombs did not go off with the desired result.

"You fool! We're in space! Those aren't going to work!" The smaller organic bot's partner complained. The yelling organic's form looked as thought it would be a dinosaur of some form in beast mode. The larger organic carried himself like he had been trained to be a cyber ninja.

-------------
"I'm so soooo sorry," Bulkhead said, his expression of guilt apologized even more, "I trusted you! When Jazz called... Prowl suddenly doubted you, and-"

"I know. I know," Goldbug replied in a cold monotone voice. They were the first words he finally spoke to Bulkhead after brooding in silence. He then stood from the command chair and headed out of the bridge. Bulkhead followed though he was not told to do so. Before leaving the bridge Goldbug turned to Cheetor.

"Cheetor, handle the two organic bots while I get the others out of there," commanded Goldbug.

"Easier said than done," replied Cheetor. he recognized the two organic bots as his former friends.

"I can help!" offered Bulkhead. The look of guilt was still in the big bot's optics.

"No, I have to make sure the whole 'old team' survives. I have to send you all back," Goldbug said as he headed to the side bay. He and Cheetor went over to strange armors that hung beside that exit. The two speed bots were put on the armor over their chest plates. The dark red armor had a circular hole in the center of the front and back.

At first Bulkhead thought the armor was odd because it did not protect a bot's vital spark. Before Cheetor went out to bay door he powered up his armor. The holes in it were now filled with a blue force field that matched the bot's optics color.

"Its okay, I'm not mad at you," spoke Goldbug to Bulkhead. He then powered up his own armor and went out the side door.

"Shouldn't you get more bots to go with you?" asked Bulkhead. Goldbug shook his head.

"We may not have a proper command ship, but we have an impressive fleet of stealth ships," Goldbug Prime smirked slightly with the statement.

"So.... what's the plan?" asked Cheetor.

"Go out first and engage the organic bots, lead the fight out to behind our ship. Separate them as much as you can from the others. I'll be fighting Jazzimus so Prowl and Optimus can get to the shuttle,” explained Goldbug. Cheetor nodded confirming hte plan and then went out the side bay door. Goldbug watched him dodge a few shots from basic blasters. The yellow Prime soon followed.

"Get back to the shuttle, he's after you!" Prowl yelled to Optimus. He pulled out his last two ninja stars as the organic bots approached him. Jazzimus reached behind himself to attach the Ultra hammer to his back. While his upgraded size was much larger than a ninja bot, Jazzimus still had the moves. His energy-chucks dispensed from their leg holders. He then moved towards Optimus.

-----------

"Yo guys!" Cheetor started to taunt the two organic bots, "I see staying with the Elite didn't improve your faceplates much!"

"HEY! Why don't you come closer and say that!” the rat bot stopped his charge on Prowl to yell back at Cheetor. The organic dino bot stayed focused on Prowl. He unsheathed two swords that could be described as electrified katanas.

Prowl held his last two stars and used them to block the dino bot's katana swings. The Autobot ninja could over hear insults the rat bot and Cheetor were yelling at each other. He then focused on Optimus' predicament while blocking the dino bot's attacks.

-------------

Optimus prepared to block a nunchuck attack with the staff handle of his axe. The fire truck would block and then swing. Jazzimus knew this and would prepare for it accordingly.

Before Jazzimus and Optimus could engage in combat, Goldbug came up behind the Ultra bot. Optimus had seen a blur of yellow. Jazzimus' sensors had picked up the interloper. The Ultra bot turned to face the smaller bot. Jazzimus turned with his sides facing Goldbug and Optimus. On his left side he swung his nunchucks at the yellow blur. At his right his nunchucks came in contact with the handle of Optimus' axe.

-----------

"I don't know why you're even trying to keep up!" laughed Cheetor, "You could never keep up, could you Rattrap?" the cat bot teased the rat bot. Cheetor was luring Rattrap away from his partner.

"Why! I'll show you!" yelled the Elite bot as he reached back in his pack. Rattrap pulled out a strange sticky bomb and tossed it at Cheetor. The cat bot dodged it, only for it to stick to a nearby asteroid. In an instant the asteroid exploded, imbedding shrapnel in Cheetor's back. He hissed at the pain while Rattrap already had a second bomb in his hand. Cheetor had a plan and changed to animal mode.

---------

Prowl was able to block the dino bot's every swing. The organic bot's moves were basic ninja weapon combat moves. He hoped that meant Jazzimus had ordered this bot not to hurt him, just distract him. The Autobot ninja could also tell this bot was young. Under fifty years, which was young for a cybertronian. Prowl now knew the Elite bot's 'friend' was supposed to be fighting along side this young ninja. Young bots in fighting would usually be paired up by their leader. It was the two processors work better than one philosophy.

As Prowl dodged a few more sword swings he read the young bot more. Prowl was not a young bot like Bulkhead or that Bee once was. He remembered when he was first assigned to Optimus' team. The boss bot would always pair him up with Bee or Bulkhead. It was frustrating, but he realized it was not because Optimus assumed he was a young bot.

The experienced ninja could tell the dino bot was frustrated with being paired up with his partner. Prowl could tell this from the fact the bot did not yell at his partner when the rat bot left. Prowl deduced the dino bot was not any older than his partner or Cheetor. He felt he was superior to them because of his maturity. Prowl thought up a way to exploit this weakness.

-------

Optimus saw Goldbug's hands change to the familiar stinger weapons. The stingers were now black in color. They also were longer and thinner.. The long hand stingers blocked a nunchuck swing while Optimus pulled back his axe to swing it again.

"Optimus! Prowl! Go back to the shuttle, thats an order!" Goldbug Prime commanded. With great agility for his size, Jazzimus ducked down. Goldbug in turned had to dodge Optiimus' axe swing that was now headed for him. The yellow bot backed up with help from his heel jets to avoid the blow.

"Don't listen to him Optimus," Jazzimus spoke as he stood. He had his nunchucks ready for another attack, "I am the real leader. I have all the Autobot's interests in mind."

"Oh man, not that old thing again," Goldbug complained. He then turned his attention on Optimus and Prowl, "I said get out of here!"

------------

Prowl was moving back to the shuttle slowly while fighting the dino bot. The young bot kept swinging his simple katana moves while Prowl blocked easily. The dino ninja growled and then swiftly moved to Prowl's side. In the move the Elite ninja combined the handles of his two katanas into one bo staff. In another fast move he went to swing the weapon at Prowl's side. Prowl quickly used his jets to move forward and avoid the attack.

The younger ninja was proving to have some skill. In a moment his bo weapon was split to two again. He swung both his swords at the older ninja, only for them to be dodged again. As Prowl dodged he saw the image of the dino bot dissipate. Prowl had no time to be surprised by the detail of the hologram as he was attacked from behind with a powerful kick.

-------------

Despite some of the damage Cheetor took, he still taunted his adversary. To Rattrap and Cheetor it didn't feel like they were actually fighting. It felt like they were having a friendly sparing like they used to.

Now in animal mode, Cheetor ran and hopped between chunks of space debris. While Elite bots did not have any training for being in animal mode in space, Cheetor did. One of the lessons Ironhide made sure the organic bot knew was to not have a weakness. Animal mode in space was seen as a weakness so Cheetor worked to change that.

Rattrap had no training in such. However, his natural reaction when one bot went to animal mode was to go to that mode as well. His animal mode looked like a large grey rat. He still had his mustard yellow metal backpack of bombs still resting on his back.

"HEY! Don't run away from his fight!" complained Rattrap as he struggled to follow behind Cheetor. He realized turning to animal mode might not have been the best idea. In a whirl he changed back into bot mode, only to see Cheetor far ahead of him. Rattrap was far out of sight of the other Elite bots.

Next thing Rattrap knew, Cheetor rushed up to meet HIM! He hit the rat bot across the jaw hard. Rattrap did not expect the hit, and spun backward as he was thrown back by the punch. The rat bot's stabilizers did their best to react in a timely fashion. They set him upright to make another attack at Cheetor. The cat bot dodged a toss of a bomb, only to rush up and grab Rattrap's arms.

"Hey, hey now. We're out of sight and nearly out of signal of the Elite bots. If you wanted to leave them, nows your chance," offered Cheetor. Rattrap almost looked disgusted by Cheetor's proposal.

"Join a bunch of losers! As if! We're the winning side. You need to come back to us," the smaller organic bot growled, "We're taking out Decepticreeps while they're making friends with them!"

"They're not friends with all of them, just a certain group... its complicated! But comon! You and Dinobot need to be on this side! It's the right side!"

"I don't know... I...," Rattrap's face showed doubt as he stopped struggling. Cheetor released the smaller bot's arms. The rat bot then smirked and reached in his bag for another bomb, "SUCKER!"

----------

Despite Goldbug's commands Optimus stayed to help. The two Autobots attacked at Jazzimus with perfect timing. They made sure not to get in each other’s way.

"Just like old times, huh?" Goldbug Prime stated. He then realized that for Optimus he had just been fighting beside him in the past just a day ago, "Er, for me at least."

Optimus Prime was about to answer after taking an axe swing at Jazzimus. Both the bots were surprised one of the Ultra's energy chucks lengthened. The energy rope between it then lashed out at Optimus, tying around him like a lasso. Jazzimus then tugged the end of the nun-chuck still in his hand. Optimus didn't drop his axe, but his arms were now tied down to his sides.

Goldbug rushed in to free the other Prime, only to be hit by a forceful blast. Ultra Jazzimus had activated his spark cannon once again and fired it on Goldbug. Luckily the strange blue energy shield on Goldbug's armor absorbed it. The blue lights in the armor then went out.

The armor was only good for one shot, and then had a very long recharge. However, it was better than someone losing a spark. The smaller yellow bot was thrown back a bit by the blast, but quickly recovered. Ultra Jazzimus pulled Optimus close to him. His eyes then glowed a bright white.

"Everyone, back to the ship. Take down what traitors you can while retreating," Jazzimus then started to back up with a second shot aimed at Goldbug. The yellow Autobot gave a command over his com as well.

"Everyone, retreat. The Elite are syncing and arming their weapons," Goldbug Prime stated calmly. He glared at Jazzimus, await a moment he could get Optimus back.

----------

Prowl had been able noticed the younger ninja's eyes started to glow bright white. Dinobot backed away. Organic bots were not equipped with the spark destroying abilities as the other bots. His only choice when given such a command was just to retreat. He growled, wanting to fight Prowl more.

Dinobot took another swing at the older ninja, just for a large star to block his hit again. Prowl then kicked down at the bot's legs. Dinobot fell, yet gracefully got back onto his feet. if this Ninja bot was not going to let him retreat, the only thing left was to fight while trying to get back to his ship.

----------

As Ratchet started up the shuttle he plotted his next move. With no orders from Optimus or Goldbug he was left to go with his combuster feeling. His processors switched to old programs that rested inside him. They were combat programs from the Great War. They were meant for times when being a med bot was not enough. He started to raise the shuttle off the ground. Ratchet turned the ship towards his target.

Optimus didn't notice the shuttle headed right towards them. t slammed into the unsuspecting Ultra bot. Jazzimus let go of his weapon that held Optimus. He was pushed back by the shuttle and slammed into a nearby rock bed. Optimus overhead Goldbug mutter something to the effect of, 'Are all med bots crazy?!" As if on cue Ratchet chimed in.

"Well, then I'll leave you to here then," Ratchet replied over their coms as he opened the shuttle door. The two Primes headed inside.

"Where is Prowl?" Optimus asked moments before Goldbug was going to ask the same.

"I don't know! I thought he was with you! I saw him fighting some other bot earlier, " explained Ratchet.

"You two take the shuttle back to the ship. I'll find Prowl," Goldbug spoke as his face guard went up again. The Elite were retreating to their ship. Goldbug kept his optics trained to look for Prowl's form. The Elite bots followed blindly on the simple order to return to the ship. A few took shots at where they felt the stealth ships were. They paid no attention to the yellow bot in their mists, "Wheeljack! I need you to get a position on Prowl, now!"

----------------

Cheetor felt a twinge in his systems when his old team was syncing. Rattrap suddenly became silent, not being Rattrap anymore. The cat bot made a pounce for his former friend, doing his best to hold him back. Cheetor's optics offlined a moment as his spark felt a strange pull.

"Oh man, not again!" the cat bot muttered as he felt his systems lock up. Rattrap quickly scurried away from Cheetor's grasp. The organic bot's own spark flashed past images before his optics. He tried to pursue Rattrap despite this, but was slowed down.

----------------
Prowl realized the young ninja was moving the fighting back to the Elite ship. The older ninja decided to back off some. He raised back one of his ninja stars to throw at Dinobot. A hand from behind grabbed Prowl's wrist, preventing him from making the throw. At first he thought the young ninja had one upped him. Yet he then saw Dinobot disappear into the nearby ship. Prowl's wrist was still held as he managed to turn himself around to give a kick in the stomach to the one that held him.

Jazzimus grabbed the leg, now holding the smaller ninja by a wrist and an ankle. The former Autobot's eyes glowed white, "You will be coming with me, Prowler."

Prowl felt Jazz's spark pulsing again. Strongly. Four hundred years apart for Jazzimus. Prowl's spark had just 'seen' its mate days ago. Both sparks were confused at the difference in time they were feeling. They demanded it to be corrected now.

Jazzimus was not expecting this feeling. His original reason for grabbing Prowl was being the closest bot on Optimus' team to catch. The pull in his spark dazed him enough for the smaller ninja bot to kick him. Jazzimus released Prowl's other leg but still held his wrist firmly.

Prowl ignored his spark and fought to get free from his bondmate. He went to kick up both his legs against Jazzimus' chassis. He planned to pry his arm free with the force. To Prowl's surprise, the larger ninja pulled him tightly close, so both their chassis met each other. The smaller ninja was not expecting this, but still fought to get his arm loose. Jazzimus put his free arm around his bondmate.

"Don't you feel that man?" Jazzimus Prime asked softly in the old tone Prowl recognized. Through their metal armor Prowl could feel Jazz's spark beg for him. It was a intoxicating pull the smaller ninja could not describe. Prowl opened his mouth to sat something thought provoking before he fought himself free again. Before Prowl's audios could say anything, he felt the rush through his spark. His spark had decided Jazz's spark was right. They had been apart four hundred years, "Just chill dollface, it'll be alright."

Prowl's processor suddenly slowed down at this new information his spark was sharing. He gave one more violent shake of the arm Jazzimus Prime held. He then slipped into an unexpected power down. Jazz felt light headed but it wasn't strong enough to put him in stasis. He made his way back to the ship with his prize.

----------------

"I'm not picking him up anywhere!" Wheeljack muttered over the com. He then heard a strange screeching sound. He recognized it as his com being hacked.

"Still in the safety of the planet base, I see," Perceptor spoke calmly to Wheeljack. He always had an eerie way of speaking to Wheeljack; as though they were just chatting, as though they we still on the same side.

"Humph, I don't see you out and about either," retorted Wheeljack, "Jazz better not be taking Prowl with him. You KNOW Bee's plans are for a better future!"

"Yes, but we have a more suitable plan for a brighter future," Perceptor replied. He could be heard hitting some buttons on his end of the com, "I do miss you. You were an invaluable lab partner.... and more. Don't you find it ironic we both became second in command of our present factions?"

"If this is going to be another conversion speech, you're now muted," Wheeljack muttered at he flicked some switches on the panel in front of him. Once the com was off Wheeljack placed an elbow on the console. He let out a long sigh as he rested his face in his hand.

--------------

The yellow Prime still looked for Prowl. His concentration was broken when his com beeped. As Goldbug was busy retreating back to his ship he heard another steady beep. It was his Decepticon spy. They only communicated in a strange morse code Wheeljack invented. The beeps gave him a time and the next location to meet. After this battle it would be great to see a familiar face, a familiar face that had been through the last four hundred years.

To Goldbug, every member of his old team was important to return to the past. Every one of them had to go back for the future to be fixed. He saw that Jazzimus had already made it to his ship with an unconscious Prowl over his shoulder. Goldbug assumed the worse. Prowl was taken by the Elite bot leader.