Cliffjumper. His name was poison in Arcee's mouth, he had been her partner someone she'd trusted with her life and at one time she had believed that they might become more than friends. She turned her helm and stared at the bunker wall letting her optics unfocus. She could see him, alive and happy making jokes and smiling at her. She blinked away tears and stood up, it was no good sitting around and moping about his death. She gritted her denta, the con who had killed him was going to pay.
"Hey Arcee you up to a race?" Jack asked.
"Jack! You know what happened last time." Arcee scolded. Jack smiled,
"Not like that, I meant me and you against Bee and Raf." Bumblebee walked in and beeped in agreement and challenge.
"You're on Bee!" Arcee said.
Miko had insisted that Bulkhead join in and so the three bots and their human charges were lined up outside the base engines revving. Arcee rolled back and forth impatiently and Jack scrunched up his face.
"I'm going to be sick if you keep on doing that." he grumbled. Arcee stopped and rolled back next to Bumblebee. His window was down and she could hear Raf saying that they had this in the bag. Arcee grumbled and prepared for the beginning of the race although it was hard to concentrate since Bulkhead had his radio on full blast.
Can you turn that down? She snapped over the comm.
Sorry Arcee! Bulkhead replied turning the volume down slightly. Miko shouted over the roar of engines,
"Alright, ready!" Arcee revved her engine as well as the two other bots. "Set!" Jack tightened his helmet, smart boy he was, "Go!" All three autobots sped off of full speed tires squealing on the asphalt. Bumblebee beeped as he passed both Arcee and Bulkhead almost effortlessly. Arcee growled and urged herself forwards, her engine whining in protest as she tried to catch up with the muscle car. She'd beaten Vince and his car why couldn't she best Bee? Bulkhead was gaining on her and was now beside her.
"C'mon Arcee!" Jack said leaning forwards. Arcee sped up and then multiple things happened at once.
A car came out of nowhere and slammed into Bumblebee violently making the yellow Urbanna spin out into the ditch. Arcee had one second to think Knockout! Before the red car rammed into her throwing Jack into the air. Arcee was hit sideways and Jack fell onto the pavement with a sickening Smack! Bulkhead was right over Jack and at the last second swerved leaving Jack lying on the pavement groaning. Knockout had transformed and was advancing towards Jack when Arcee's fist met his faceplates. The red con staggered back his digits running over a cut on his mouth. He turned his red optics on Arcee and snarled,
"Give me the boy!" Arcee stepped protectively in front of Jack, she couldn't lose another partner, she couldn't.
"Why?" She questioned itching to fight but afraid that if she left Jack's side he would be taken from her. Before Knockout could answer Bulkhead's cannon whacked him in the chest. Miko and Raf ran towards Arcee while Bulkhead and Bumblebee grappled with Knockout and now Breakdown who had appeared out of no where to join the battle.
"Arcee get them away from here!" Bulkhead yelled. Arcee transformed and Miko helped Raf lift an unconscious Jack onto her seat before climbing on themselves. She took off fear coursing through her systems, Jack couldn't just die, not now….
Ratchet had stabilized Jack's condition with the help of June Darby. The murderous glares Arcee received from Jack's mother tore at her spark, this was her fault. She took one look at the bruised, broken body of her human partner and fled deep into the base before collapsing in a dark hallway somewhere. She curled up her optics offlining, first Tailgate, then Cliffjumper and now Jack how much pain and death would she have to endure? She could see each one, optics bright with life, smiles and warm voices. Jack was a human of course but his eyes were always full of light and his smile was small but very cute. Now it seemed like each was lost to her forever. She couldn't stop the sobs that racked her body, why was her life so difficult? Then a servo clamped around her shoulder. She looked up and saw the worried face of Optimus Prime staring back at her. She wiped away tears and stood up thinking that there must be another con attack somewhere.
"Optimus what is it?" she said hating the waver in her voice. His servo never left her shoulder.
"You Arcee." he said quietly. "I know that Jack's injuries and the recent death of Cliffjumper must be very hard to face." he waited for her reaction.
"It is sir." Arcee said in a small voice. He lifted his servo,
"Walk with me." Optimus demanded starting down the hallway. Arcee trotted beside him his large strides a bit hard to catch up to. Optimus noticed her struggle and slowed his pace allowing Arcee to walk comfortably beside him. "Tell me about what's been bothering you." Optimus said. Arcee opened her mouth and then shut it before opening again.
"It's just...every night I have memories of Tailgate...and Cliffjumper. I see Tailgate's death over and over again and I see Cliff's mangled body covered in dark energon…." he voice broke and she looked away not wanting her leader, her prime to see her weak like this.
"Arcee you cannot blame yourself for the deaths of your partners. You cannot blame yourself for Jack either, you can grieve yes, and mourn the losses but you must also stay strong and push forwards." Optimus's words were soft and comforting it was all Arcee could do not to break down.
"Thank you Optimus but...I don't know if I can ever let go…. i'm not the forgiving type." She said looking at him. The autobot leader nodded in understanding.
"Just know that you are not alone and never will be alone." That statement broke through the last emotional barrier Arcee had left and tears flowed from her cheek plates and Optimus pulled her to his side. She buried her helm into his warm chest plating sobs escaping her lips. Optimus turned and held her as she cried, his optics taking on a loving look. His little Arcee was going to be fine, he would make sure of it.