ante_luce | June '10 PxJ Challenge - World Cup

Title: Zangalewa
'Verse: TFA Transformers
Characters: Ensemble
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: TF cussing
Notes: For the June '10 challenge at the PxJ comm. I took the history and the translations of the Waka Waka song from these two sites.

The term Zangalewa can also come from an expression in Ewondo: Loé wa za anga?, it would be “Who called you?” Cameroon is a multiethnic, multilingual, and not all the soldiers could speak Ewondo, so it is very likely that over time the term wa za anga Loé became the Zangalewa that we know today.

When the young recruits of the Republican Guard Cameroon complained about the rigors of military life, their employers or fellow old people used to raise this question: Loé wa za anga?, which actually meant something like: “(N)obody has forced (you) to join the army, so stop whining!"
~ Best Zamina mina (Zangalewa) Translation, Meaning, lyrics, Video World Cup Soccer Football 2010 Song

Waka waka = Do the job
Tsaminamina zangalewa = Where do you come from/Who called you?
anawam aa = Yes, I did.
Y vamos por todo = We go all out/Do our utmost

"These organics are savages! I knew it! Next they'll be chucking slime at us!"

They hadn't been inside the warehouse base for more than two minutes when Sentinel burst out in a fury, drawing an immediate and furious response from Bumblebee.

"Take that back, Sentinel! Sari's not a savage, and neither are the rest of the humans!"

"Explain what we saw on the way here then! Battle paint. Flags. Crowds of organics screaming and rabblerousing in the streets! And their airwaves are inundated with these... these war songs! What civilised world composes music for battle, and then celebrates it?!" The blue mech waved an arm at the main entrance of the warehouse, through which the faint sounds of cheering could be heard.

A chuckle, and the rest of the Autobots turned to look at the white mech clapping the incensed Prime on the shoulder. "SP, that's just the theme song for that big sporting competition our data gathering told us about. The humans aren't going to fight."

"Pah! They're still primitives compared to us Cybertronians. Getting all worked up over a fragging game."

"Mm, there's a reason they call it the World Cup. All the countries getting together to share a common joy. Sounds like a big deal to me, don't you think? We could learn a thing or two from them, and the music's got a real funky beat to it too."

Jazz's placating words were followed by their commander's own thoughtful observation. "It is an admirable accomplishment for their species. Particularly one at this stage of their own development."

Sentinel Prime subsided, though not without one last comment.

"It's still inappropriate."

"If you say so, SP. C'mon, we need to update our records with data on the situation here and it's best to do that while it's fresh in the CPU."

A friendly pat on the shoulder, and the white cyberninja was steering the blue Prime out of the simmering atmosphere of the warehouse and in the direction of their ship.

= = =

The white ninja returned a short while later, driving up just as Prowl, about to leave the warehouse for the park, exited the building. As Jazz braked and transformed, the darker mech commented. "I would have thought you'd stay on the ship with Ultra Magnus and Sentinel."

"Not one for being cooped up if I can help it. The Steelhaven's a real state of the art bird, but it gets a little closed in after a while, and there's only so many times I can go through my playlist." Jazz shrugged, and the black and gold mech nodded, turning to look behind him and back into the building.

"Prime is currently on patrol, but the others are about to watch a program on the competition you mentioned earlier, if you have no other plans."

"Mm. Will you be joining them?"

Prowl directed a sharp look at the white ninja, and when Jazz's friendly (and hopeful) expression didn't change, he replied slowly.

"... I might."

The other mech smiled, visor bright. "Then I might too."

= = =

"The 2010 World Cup was ground breaking in that it was the first to be hosted by an African nation, and at the time was seen as a major step forward for post-apartheid South Africa..."

The show was serious and packed with historical information, and as such Sari and Bumblebee grew bored about ten seconds into the broadcast. They sprawled over the couch, leaving the channel unchanged for their guest, theatrically (but silently) indicating their deaths by boredom. Ratchet too had emerged from his room to see what had the two keeping so quiet (a quiet Bumblebee was usually getting into trouble, after all), and paused behind the couch to watch for a couple of minutes. A burst of music snapped the lethargic duo out of their fugue, blinking as the catchy tune sank in.

The pressure's on; you feel it
But you got it all; believe it
When you fall, get up, oh oh
And if you fall, get up, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Cause this is Africa

Bumblebee grinned, pulling Sari to her feet, the pair of them moving to the beat as Bulkhead swayed from his seat on the ground. "Now this is more like it!"

Laughing in agreement, Sari bounced over to their audience and attempted to coax the other Autobots into joining them.

"C'mon guys, dance with us!"

"I have to go on patrol." Prowl immediately rose and headed for the exit, and Ratchet growled.

"I'm a medic, not a showbot. And Optimus will be coming back from his rounds soon and who has to get the dents out of his aft? Me, that's who."

"Aww, Ratchet, please?"

"Kid, the song's over. And I gotta get to the medbay."

"Well, we can download a copy and you can join us any time then!"

"This really isn't a song I can dance to, Sari."

"Why not? It's easy and it's got a really good beat too!"

The red and white mech stalled, unable to meet her earnest expression, looking up when Jazz called out to them from his spot by the couch.

"Hey, could one of you explain this 'offside rule' to me? Bulkhead and Bumblebee don't get it either."

Thrilled at the chance to impart such vital information to their visitor, Sari hurried to the white ninja's side. Thus momentarily forgotten, Ratchet made his escape.

= = =

Ratchet waited until the Elite ninja was on his way out of the base before falling into step beside him. Jazz stopped in his tracks, looking up at the night sky as if admiring it, and the medic did the same for a moment before muttering lowly.

"Thanks for the diversion."

"Was no trouble at all, doc."

Ratchet snorted at the visored mech's cheerful reply. "Been doing it for a while now, haven't you? Ever since that mechling made the Guard, I suppose."

"We all do what we can to keep the peace and get the job done."

"Why don't you drum a little sense into Sentinel's lead plate helm? Save you a lot of trouble."

The visored mech tilted his helm to one side casually. "He's a Prime and my CO. Gotta follow the regs and respect that."

"Prime. Pah! I was a medic long before that fragger was a high grade haze over his creators' optics. He never even saw real combat against the 'Cons and now he's bossing everyone around like he's the Great Hero of Cybertron. How do you put up with him? Why do you put up with him?"

The medic got a shrug in response. "Tsaminamina zangalewa, anawa aa."

Ratchet dealt the cyberninja a look, and then a slow sigh. "Fraggit Jazz. I signed on too, but there are limits to what any bot should have to put up with because of their choices. Do me a favour and don't let Sari know why I won't dance to that song. I'll figure out some other excuse."

"Scout's honour, doc." A brief salute and the ninja shifted to alt mode, driving off towards towards his ship, leaving the medic to grumble and glare at the stars.

= = =

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here?"

Jazz chuckled at Prowl, helm tilting to one side quizzically. "Mech, I'm starting to think you don't like me coming by."

"My apologies, I meant no offence. You are of course always welcome here, I simply did not expect any of the Guard to want to associate with us more than necessary."

The other ninja waved off his apology, sighing quietly, faceplates solemn. "No worries, Prowl. But this isn't a social call. I'm here to give you and yours the heads up. We're pulling out, and Magnus is thinking of having your team come with us."

"What? But Sari, we can't just leave her on her own! And the Decepticons are still at large! Even if Sentinel and the Magnus don't care about her, they have to see that our leaving would practically gift the Earth to them. Can't you say anything?"

"Look, I believe your team on the 'Con issue, but with no proof apart from what Optimus says, I don't have much to sway Ultra Magnus with. I'll do my best though."

"It's too late for that. He's given us our orders. We're leaving."

The two ninjas turned to see Optimus stalking in, visibly upset by the decision. As the Prime disappeared into the warehouse, most likely to break the news to the rest of the Earth team, Jazz watched him go, then looked at Prowl, sighing quietly.

"Orders have to be followed, I suppose."

"Even ones that countermand everything you feel should be more important?"

Prowl glanced at the white mech out of the corner of his visor, and Jazz smiled at him faintly, the expression rueful. "Even those. Go to Sari, she'll need all of you with her right now."

The darker ninja left without saying anything more and the Elite mech sighed again, turning to head back to his ship.

= = =

One AllSpark shard retrieval and seeker capture later, the Earth team were staying behind to defend the planet while the Elite Guard made their way back to Cybertron. As they watched the Earth recede through their screens, Jazz spoke up. "Magnus sir, this isn't a good idea. We can't just leave them like this. The 'Cons-"

Ultra Magnus cut him off, waving a hand wearily. "Your opinon is noted, Jazz, but we have no choice. With Starscream in custody, we need all the hands we have available to keep him secure on the trip back to Cybertron."

"Which translates to you keeping your aft parked on this ship as we leave this organic mudball behind."

"Sentinel. Enough. I'm sure Jazz knows where his duty lies. Go check on the prisoner."

"You have your orders, soldier, so listen to them." A blue finger jabbed the cyberninja abruptly in the chest, and Jazz nodded once at Sentinel, standing stiffly at attention until the Prime had left the helm of the ship. Slowly, the white mech unclenched his fists, turning at the sigh coming from behind him. Understanding optics met his visor as his commander spoke.

"What good would you staying behind do, Jazz? You're only one mech."

Jazz looked at him for a long moment, then glanced away, visor dimming, his reply quiet. "I understand that, sir." The ninja settled at his console again, focusing on the rapidly diminishing planet.

"Y vamos por todo, bots."

= = =

His second visit to Earth coming to a close, Jazz stood outside the Autobot's warehouse, visor fixed on the sky before turning to look at the mech approaching him.

"You're leaving again."

"I have to go where they send me, Prowl."

"The Decepticons are still here. Megatron is still here. We need backup, not abandonment."

"What good would one more bot be to you?"

"When our situation consists of five mechs holding off multiple Decepticons, one of whom is their leader, one more bot would do us a lot of good. I would have thought you'd be on our side, Jazz."

"... I am. But orders are orders."

"And of course, they override all other considerations."

"I'm sorry, Prowl."

"Go do as you're told, Jazz. We'll hold out, with or without you." The black and gold mech strode away, and behind him the other ninja sighed as he watched him leave, scrubbing a hand over his face wearily and murmuring to himself.

"Waka waka eh eh, tsaminamina zangalewa, anawa aa."

= = =

The white mech who followed Ratchet through the entrance of their warehouse was an unexpected, but not unwelcome sight. Jazz's half smile and easy shrug were met with a happy squeal and hug to his leg from Sari, enthusiasm from Bulkhead and Bumblebee, and even Optimus stood a little straighter, shoulders not as bowed as before. After they'd gotten the Elite mech set up in a room of his own and left him to settle in for the night, Prowl slipped inside.

"You came back."

Jazz glanced at him, his reply a simple agreement. "I did."

"why?"

"The AllSpark's here. This is where the front line's gonna be when it all comes down, no matter what anyone else thinks, and I have a feeling that it's getting closer."

"No orders?" Prowl drew closer, and the Elite ninja met his unreadable expression with a serious one.

"Some things are more important than orders. I'm choosing my battles, and this is where I need to be."

The motorcycle regarded him solemnly for a long moment, then murmured. "... Tsaminamina zangalewa?"

Jazz's visor glowed softly with determination. "Anawa aa."