((Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers or any other possible franchises that may be feature in this story. This will be the first and last time you see this disclaimer.))

Here is my revised version of TFP: Rise of a Warrior. I hope that it's better than my original. Well, here goes everything.

Chapter #1: A Painful Reaction

The mood upon the return to Earth with the restored Optimus has been one both relief and joy. Everyone had made it back in one piece and relatively suffered little damage.

"Optimus, it has truly been our darkest hour, but know this: from every indication your spark never ceased being that of an Autobot." Ratchet said proudly.

Together, the gathered Autobots and humans appoarched to welcome back the esteemed commander. All but one.

As Jack took a step forward, he felt a wave of dizziness. The room seemed sway back and forth. Unable to properly balance himself, Jack crumpled to the floor, landing in a kneeling position. His head even started to throb.

"Jack," Ratchet called, "trust me when I say that we are all glad that Optimus is back, but there's no need to bow."

The group turned around to stare questionaly at the teenager, who immedialy looked up at them.

"That's not it," he stated firmly. He shakily stood up. "Just a little dizzy. That's all."

"Are you okay?" June went into 'over-protective-mother-mode' immedialy as she hurried to his side.

"Mom," he whined, trying to keep both her at a distance and regain his composure. "I'm fine."

His statement was swiftly contradicted as his complexion took a red hue and sweat started to form on his brow. At that moment, Jack Darby could only describe as pain. Pain like he'd never known exsisted. Fire seemed to swim through his veins, the throbbing of his head increased, all the while, his muscles expanded and contracted forcibly. His vision darkened as he fell forward.

"JACK!" June yelled, catching her son in her arms. Even as she held him, he convulsed, taking gasping breaths. She could feel the heat coming of his body through his suit. "My god, he's burning up!"

The group immedialy swarmed the woman and fallen young man. Fowler grabbed the thrashing Jack out of June's arms, taking him over to one of the nearby berths. Laying the agent layed him down, Ratchet took to start scanning the young man. The med-bot's metallic brow seem to furrow as he recieved the incoming results.

Raf noticed this. "What's wrong with him?"

"Nothing," Ratchet responed, tone disbelieving. "I am not picking up anything that could be wrong with him. There's no scannable cause for his pain."

June had taken to placing a hand on her son's forehead. "Could he have come in contact with anything on-"

Arcee intejected swiftly with a shake of her head. "No. Nothing got him while we were on the mission. Besides, Jack's suit isn't breached."

"Only Dark Energon has been seen to affect humans to our knowledge." Optimus added.

Over the next several minutes the groups talked amongst themselves, trying to come up with a possible explantion.

Nurse June Darby was beside herself with worry. She watched as her son clenched his fists, his body spasm and his face constantly contort in sheer agony. Her hands were clasped together in anxiety. 'He had been okay,' she thought desperately, 'he came back unharmed. He was okay!' As a nurse, she had training in being able to spot symptoms of illness or injury, and as far as she could tell, Jack had none. Hot tears threatened to spill from the corners her eyes.

Arcee looked upon her human partner and felt something a plethora of emotions swarm her. Worry for his condition, helplessness in her ability to aid him, anger at herself for not being able to protect him and the familiar sensation of dispair. This was just like with Tailgate and Cliffjumper. When they needed her, she was unable to help them either. But this was different, worse. They had been trained soldiers who knew battle and war. Jack Darby was a sixteen year old human who got wrapped up in a war that he shouldn't have been in anyway. 'I've lost Tailgate and Cliffjumper. I can't lose you too, Jack.'

Miko, Raf, Fowler, Bumblebee and Bulkhead were only a couple feet away, each feeling helpless as they awaited for any news. Optimus stepped towards Ratchet, his faceplate a mix between intense confusion and worry.

"Ratchet," he began, "can deduce you anything yet?"

The med-bot shook is head in fustration before turning to speak. "No. I admit to not being a expert on human anatomy, but no matter how many scans I run, they can't pick up anything wrong or out of place. Everything comes back green. I'm sorry."

With that, the bot turned back to his screens. Optimus looked back to his team and human charges. As he took in their expressions, he could only feel responsible. He'd promise to protect Jack, Miko and Raf. He was the one to entrust the Key to Vector Sigma to Jack. Jack had traveled to Cybertron in order to restore his memories and now, the young human was in terrible pain and possible danger.

Despite what the group saw from the outside, none of them could imagine what was going on inside the mind and soul of one Jack Darby.

((XXXX))

Jack felt weightless. He felt like he was free-floating, released from the pain he'd known moments before. He opened his heavy lidded eyes. The first thing that entered his sight was a hazy collage of color below him. The teenager rubbed his eyes with his hands in an attempt to clear is vision. His sight cleared enough to for him to make out the colors as the Autobots with mom, Miko, Raf and Fowler surrounding one of the medical berths.

'What the...?" His thought trailed off as he noticed what Fowler was doing. The agent was attempting to hold down him. Jack didn't know what to make of that.

'How can't be there if I'm right here?' A multitude of question sprung up in Jack's mind as he watched the sight below. What was going on? What happened? Why were there two of him?

Unable to take it anymore, he started to shout. "Guys, I'm up here! I don't know who that is, but it's not me!"

No one moved or reacted to his frantic yells, which only served to increase Jack's ever growing hysteria.

"Shit, shit, shit!" He cursed, holding his head.

"Do be quiet, fleshling!" A voice sneered, from behind the panicking human.

Jack froze instantly at its dark tone. He slowly turned his head to look over his shoulder. What he saw looked like something straight out of Hell. Behind him was a green, demonic-looking entity. It vaugley reminded Jack of an Autobot or Decepticon. The creature had green armor and light blue cables that flowed from the underside, obscuring it's legs. From it's head sprouted two long, curved horns that gave it the appearence of a ram. The faceplate was black with glowing red eyes and mouth. It hands had long claws instead of fingers.

"W-W-W," Jack stuttered.

"Do you not understand your own language?" the creature mocked.

"Th-That's n-not-"

The being narrowed its burning eyes at him. "Either form a coherent sentence or-"

"Maximo! That is enough!" A disembodied voice interuppted.

Suddenly, the space to the right of the newly dubbed 'Maximo' bursted into light, forcing Jack to cover his eyes with his arms. When it finally died down, Jack saw that the light had been replaced with another Transformer. However, it's appearence was far friendlier than Maximo's. The Transformer remined him vaguely of Optimus except that his armor was more like that of a knight's and he was completely white. A blue, etheral glow poured out around him and from his optics.

"Brother Prima, finally decided to grace us with your prescence?" Maximo replied sarcastically.

Prima turned towards the dark entity and offered up a slight glare. "We are here to speak to the young human. NOT frighten him!"

Maximo's response was a shrug and snort, but he said nothing.

Jack's head was on a swivel as he looked from Prima to Maximo. "What do you want?" He tried to keep a strong tone, but the best he could manage was a high pitch.

Prima held up his hands in a pacifying gesture and spoke in a warm voice. "As I said, we," he glanced to Maximo," are here to speak with you. We will not harm you."

"Feel grateful, human. This is the first time Primus has ever had a message for one such as you." Maximo added, his voice still dark but calm.

Jack blinked. He'd heard that name. The Autobots had said it before. Primus was like 'God', to them or something along those lines.

"Okay," Jack started, his voice carrying a slight shake to it. "What does Primus have to do with me? And who exactly are you two? And why don't the Autobots hear me?"

"I am Prima. The first Transformer of Cybertron, Warrior of Light and first wielder of the Matrix of Leadership." Prima stated, calmly.

"And I am Liege Maximo, his counterforce of good and the ultimate evil." Maximo said proudly.

"As for why no can hear you, young Jack, it is because your soul has been separated from your body," Prima continued, "You are little more than a spirit, if only for the moment."

Maximo decided to cut in a this point. "We both come to speak to you on the behalf of Primus. He has chosen to give you a gift, so listen closely human."

Jack managed to give a small nod.

"I understand that you are shocked, many would be. You must understand, Jack." Primus said. "When you downloaded the Matrix from Vector Sigma, Primus downloaded you as well."

The young man arched a brow in confusion. "Meaning...?"

Maximo answered. "Primus looked into your memories, into your soul and saw everything that makes you, you. He saw how you almost turned away from the Autobots." Jack looked down in shame. "Many would've done the same. The difference is that while many would've simply run away from the danger and responsibility, but you came back. Despite the fact you are no match for a Cybertronian and are physically fragile, you came back. Why did you?"

Jack stared at the two before speaking. "You said Primus already saw all of my memories."

"That, I did." Maximo agreed.

"Then why would it matter what I say, if you already know what happened?" Jack was so confused.

Prima stared directly into the teenager's eye, making him fidget a little. "I does not matter if Primus knows, what matters is if you understand your choices and yourself." He replied cryptically.

The human took a second to think. There were several reasons. After finding out about the Autobots, he had wanted to do nothing more than leave their war. Mainly because he didn't feel like he belonged. What was a frail little human like him going to contribute? But when he returned home, he found himself at a crossroads, even if he didn't show it. How could he just go back to a normal life after seeing the Autobots and Decepitcons? He tried so hard to push that thought out of his mind and focused on how dangerous it was to even be around the 'bots. His logic held up against Miko but when Arcee came, something just broke. He just couldn't say 'no'. After having risked his life so many times, he realized that the war was his as well now. The Autobots, Miko and Raf had become family to him. That was all the reason he'd ever need now.

"I understand now." Jack's tone was so full of conviction he surprised himself. "I know why I did come back, why I want to fight, and why I'll keep fighting. If for nothing else, I did it and will do it just to keep everyone safe!"

Prima smiled down at him. "A good reason. Just like Orion Pax, you want to fight for all the right reasons. I am here to give you the tools that you will need." Prima frowned slightly. "There is only one condition."

"Name it." His tone was still strong.

But Prima frowned and Maximo looked almost gleeful. They both then spoke in union.

"You must die first."

Author's note: Well that's the first of my revised story. What do you think? A little better than before?