The ghost of the desert.
This story has been asked for from my one shot ideas and has been long overdue, the usual go I own nothing but this version of Jack.
'It has been four years since Dad was gone it still plagues me that he left me and mom but he would always tell me "Soldiers don't cry." and "No sacrifice, no victory." Which I'm still trying to understand what it means but I guess I would never know since I never knew sacrifice or victories well except that time.' Jack thought as he rubbed his arm hearing the sound of gears turning and then a child and a mother steered well clear of me.
'Can't say I blame them since I have blood on my hands.' Jack thought as he remembered that time when he allowed someone to get the better of him and killed the only person he was entrusted to protect and when the government came for him, he was already gone they checked his home but found drawers opened with hidden compartments opened and objects missing and clothes were thrown about, they even saw a safe was opened and empty but noticed that a car was still in the driveway so they thought Jack couldn't have gotten far but how wrong they were since he was already out in the desert wearing an old army cap and carrying two duffle bags full of various items but he was able to carry them with ease.
"Heh, I wonder what dad thought about that?" Jack asked himself before entering a store to gather some things.
"Mourning ghost." Jack heard from the cashier since nobody really knew him they had chosen to call him ghost and they always saw him wearing combat boots with a desert-like trench coat and a desert-like hat that seemed to cover his face from the light.
"Mourning." Jack replied as grabbed some essentials before throwing the cashier the amount of money for what he grabbed.
"See ya." Jack said as he departed from the store and walking down the street he noticed a kid wearing an orange sweeter was being bullied by an orange haired asshole since Jack figured him as a coward who picked on people who are smaller and inferior to him which irritated Jack beyond anything.
"Come on. You too much of a chicken to stand up for yourself?" Jack heard the bully ask and that got on his nerves even more and started to march right over.
"Come on at least make this interesting?" The bully whined with disappointment.
"That's enough asshole." Jack said as he made his presence known.
"Move along geezer this doesn't concern you." The bully said but his friends turned around to see who interrupted them and seeing it was the ghost they swallowed with regret and Jack could feel the fear radiating of off them.
"It seems you should learn some manners and watch who you're talking to spoiled brat." Jack said and that got the bullies attention and as soon as he turned around he tried to throw a punch at Jack who dodges it effortlessly.
"Come on that's the best you can do? No wonder why you pick on the weaklings, cause your weak." Jack taunted and that made the bully try even harder to land a hit on him while his friends ran away.
"Wow it seems even your pals know more common sense than you do, that's a first." Jack stated with a chuckle and saw that the bully turned to see that indeed his two 'pals' ran away leaving him alone with Jack.
"Now this is what's going to happen, you're going to ran along now and hope to god that I don't see your face or your pals near this kid again and if I do." Jack said and his free hand to move his trench coat out of the way to reveal a custom made Deagle that had engravings on it and a quote. "No sacrifice, No victory." and the bully saw it with a gulp."Well, I think you get the picture." And he leaned even closer so that the bully could see his eyes that is like an untamed storm causing a rampage over land and sea. "Bang." Jack said and saw the bully ran screaming while also leaving a trail on the ground a liquid and Jack could guess what that is.
"He fucking pissed himself." Jack said with humour at that before he noticed the person that was being bullied was pretty beaten up and his stuff was all over the place and Jack did what he thought was right with him and what he thought was right for his dad so he started to pick up the kids stuff and place back in his backpack even the laptop that was still intact and put the bag on before picking up the kid and slung him over his shoulder before walking towards the desert.
"It seems today is full of surprises." Jack humoredly said to himself as it took him about an hour or so to make to his improvised home that was inside a cave where a crystal formation was on the ceiling where the light reached it, it had become a makeshift light source, Jack placed what he brought down on a table made of wood and then place the kid on his bed which was just a wooden frame that he carved out himself and once he was done with that he went looking for medical kit he got back to the kid and started to treat his injuries with practice as if he has done this before.
"I guess that training was good for something mom." Jack said as he waited patiently for the kid to wake which took about a day and Jack gathered they must've have knocked him out cold and when he was starting to come through Jack grabbed what looked to be a metal cup and filled it with water.
"Rise and shine kid." Jack said and the kid open his eyes and saw that they were brown and he could tell that in the kid's eyes he could see the confusion.
"Drink, it'll help." Jack said and presented him the metal cup which the kid drank its contents without even questioning and once he was finished he passed the cup back to Jack.
"Thank you." The kid said as he felt his body still in pain but only a little.
"No problem, I mean I did save you from that bully and the state I saw you in I knew I just couldn't leave ya on the street looking half dead." Jack said and pointed to the bruises and cuts that littered the ids body and the cut on his lip.
"Wow.. uh, well then you have my thanks. But could you tell me where we are?" The kid asked.
"If you tell me your name." Jack countered to which the kid looked sheepishly now.
"Its R-raf." Raf said.
"Well, Raf your in my home that is in the desert." Jack said and he saw Raf was looking quite shocked at that. "What you didn't think I could carry my shopping, your stuff and you all the way to my home that is about 5 miles distance from Jasper?" Jack asked and Raf was even more shocked.
"You carried me for 5 miles from Jasper?!" Raf questioned and all he got was a nod and a. "Damn right I did."
"Woah... How long have I've been out?" Raf asked.
"Let's... I say about a day and a half now since the sun is at its peak." Jack stated.
"I gotta get home, my mom could be so worried about me." Raf said with worry as he went to get up but felt a cold thing press down on him and when he looked he saw it was Jack's hand- no robotic hand.
"Your not moving an inch off that bed as your bones need time." Jack said since he counted a few broken ribs and now that Raf thought about he did feel some of his ribs are broken.
"And besides I already told her that I found battered and bruised and took you home to help you." Jack said as he chucked Raf's phone at him who caught it."Let me tell you she is one crazy lady." Jack said as went to go grab what looked like a rifle off the wall and placed it on the table and started to take it apart and then went to go grab some cleaning supplies.
"What are you doing?" Raf asked as he watched Jack grab some stuff.
"Maintenance." Jack simply said as he started to clean every part of the rifle but what Raf saw was that it has no scope but looks like a sniper rifle and wonder why it has no scope.
"Why does it not have a scope." Jack heard Raf ask.
"I don't need one since I can shoot around from this rifle up to 250 yards on a moving target." Jack stated with as he finished cleaning the weapon and started to put it back together.
"Wait you can shoot that far on a moving target? Can you shoot while both you and the target is moving?" Raf asked which got Jack thinking.
"Never tried but I would welcome the challenge with open arms." Jack stated as he put the rifle back."Tomorrow I'm going to take you back since I'm in need of spare parts for this piece of scrap metal." Jack said and as for emphasis he knocked on his metal arm."Try to get some rest Raf you're gonna need it ." Jack said and he left his home to watch the sky and vastness of the desert as the winds blew his trench coat in one direction then another as if trying to challenge him.
About a day later.
"Hey, Raf get up." Jack said not wasting any time as Raf was groaning now."Don't make me get a bucket of water and dump it on you." Jack threatened and it worked like a charm now that Raf was up Jack had started to walk outside but took a turn into a different tunnel and out of curiosity Raf followed since he was already fully clothed He found Jack getting in a military jeep that had a cabin and a flatbed on the back and Raf could tell it was a bit rusty and aged but what Raf heard had shocked him since the engine sound like it was brand new.
"What are you gawking at? Hurry and get in already." Jack said and Raf did just that and Jack drove straight forward with Raf becoming shocked but found out that the "wall" was a fake one and the two were out in the desert driving straight towards Jasper, as they were bouncing over the dunes but Jack wasn't concerned as if this was an everyday thing while Raf had to hold on for dear life but it had only taken them half an hour to make back to Jasper.
"Huh thought it would take longer to get here." Jack said with a bit of disappointment while Raf just felt like throwing up."Also don't you dare throw up." Jack warned Raf who had decided to lean his head out the window and let the contents of his stomach empty.
"Jesus kid you alright?" Jack asked and all he got was a nod."If you say so, anyway where's your home?" Jack asked and Raf instructed Jack which roads to take before coming across his house and just to make sure Jack asked Raf but he was already out the jeep and heading straight towards the door and so Jack followed him.
"Uh, I would like to thank you again for taking care of me." Raf sheepishly said but Jack dismissed it.
"There's no need little man besides its been a while since I had company." Jack said.
"Is that you Rafael?" Raf and Jack heard come from the door and Raf was instantly in hug already while Jack just stood there watching.
"Si mama." Raf said as he returned the hug.
"I'm glad now why don't you go get yourself cleaned up." Raf's mom said and with that Raf was gone just leaving Jack and Raf's mom.
"Listen I know who you are Ghost and I don't know why you helped Raf but thank you." Jack heard and fished in his pockets for something before getting out what looked to be a small card that had a phone number on it.
"Well here you know who I am but I'm willing to help your son and if you need my help just give me call." Jack said handing the card over before walking back to the jeep.
"Thank you." Was all Jack heard before he closed the door on the jeep once he got in and drove off heading to many different shops trying to find the correct parts which were a bit difficult since some places didn't even have any of the parts he wanted which ended up with drive back towards home.
"My fucking luck aye." Jack said and the radio crackled as if speaking to Jack in morse code.
"I know, I know but-" Jack was saying before what looked to be three purple cars chasing a sleek blue motorcycle and then something Jack didn't think would happen is the jeep chasing after them and the radio crackled again.
"Alright fine, now we know if there's more like you but do we have to save them?" Jack asked and the radio crackled sharply.
"Alright! You win we'll help." Jack said and what Raf had failed to notice earlier today was the rifle missing when he woke up and that same rifle was in the jeep behind the seats."Why did I have a feeling I was going to need this?" Jack asked himself before loading a cartridge into it.
"Wait till we're on the highway." Jack ordered and as he said that they made it onto a highway with the blue motorcycle right in front of the three purple cars.
"Pop the hatch!" Jack ordered and above the middle of the cabin a hatch opened and Jack popped out of it with the rifle in hand and took aim at one of the three cars.
"See you in hell." Jack said before firing which sounded like a loud thunder and the lead purple car had exploded into a ball of blue flame as the other two cars avoided the wreckage and if Jack looked closely he would have noticed the bike's mirrors move as if the bike was watching what happened.
"Strike one and here comes two." Jack was saying before a yellow and black striped camero drove past him and knocked the new leading purple car out of his way trying to stop them from going any further.
"I guess someone forgot to mention who unleashed the hounds of hell." Jack said as the radio crackled as if it was laughing.
but this time Jack put the rifle back in the cabin and then grabbed his Deagle and aim it right at the leading purple car that was stuck behind the camero and shot one bullet as it struck the cars front right wheel causing it to spin out of control and do a barrel roll as the Jeep that Jack was standing on avoided it and still pursuing the other purple car but then Jack noticed the bike had took a ramp, flying off the highway and down into a drainage ditch then the purple car had hit the camero making it swerve out of its way before it also took the ramp but Jack didn't move from his spot as the jeep he was standing on had took the ramp as well flying straight down into the drainage ditch where he saw a female robot fighting a purple one.
"Damn I lost?" Jack whined since he made a bet with someone then the radio crackled as if it was mocking Jack.
"Ghost?" Jack heard to his left and when he looked he saw Raf sitting there and a toy car at his feet.
"Raf what are you doing here?!" And at that moment Jack was incredulous at the fact Raf was sitting there when he should be at his home.
"I managed to get a break from the family and was planning to race my toy car in the quiet but after hearing that thunderous clap I don't think so." Raf said but then looked further down the drainage ditch and saw the two robots but then notice a third one that was about to jump off the highway.
"Ghost!" Raf exclaimed an pointed to the third robot and Jack saw what Raf was pointing at, taking aim another thunderous clap but not as loud as the first one was heard making the other robots stop fighting to see a identical robot drop to the floor with a thud and saw a hole in its chest that was looked like it had exploded from the inside but the other identical robot had taken this opportunity to strike his opponent and when it did the female robot had been sent back a few meters getting the attention of Jack and the jeeps as its radio was crackling like mad and Jack didn't like the sound of that.
"Uh oh he's pissed now." Jack said and decided to jump off the roof of the cabin and land right next to Raf.
"What do you mean Ghost?" Raf asked but got his answer in the sound of two engines one was coming from the jeep while the other had come from a green heavily armoured humvee that came jumping off the highway and the two went straight towards the drone with the green humvee behind it and the jeep heading at it from the front, at the same time the two transformed making the drone become a pancake between the two.
"Bloody Decepticreeps never learn." The jeep said as it had a cigar in its mouth while the green humvee did a double take.
"Wait! Hound?!" The green humvee asked and Hound looked at him before realisation dawned on him.
"Wait a bloody minute is that you Bulky the rookie?" Hound asked and for his answer Bulk had groaned from being called a nickname he hoped would be forgotten as the two didn't notice Jack and the female robot getting closer to them.
"Who's the boyfriend?" They both asked at the same time.
"Well, Ghost this is the rookie I told you about." Hound said with chuckle.
"Arcee this is Hound a veteran Wrecker." Bulk said then the yellow and black striped camero had shown up asking the same question.
"Geez, kid you got it bad didn't ya?" Hound asked since he could tell something was wrong with the yellow robot and for his answer, he nodded while Hound picked up Jack who took a seat on his shoulder before Hound opened his chest compartment and pulled out the same rifle Jack used.
"Ya' forgot it." Hound said handing the rifle over to Jack.
"thanks hope it's not damaged too much." Jack said as he inspected the rifle over for any damage.
"Hold it that rifle was able to kill a con?" Asked Arcee as she was sceptical at it being able to do that.
"Huh, oh yeah it is since I made some modifications to it and added a bit of energon to enhance the bullets capability." Jack said then Arcee spotted what Raf did earlier.
"Why does it have no scope?" Arcee asked then the other two looked at the rifle seeing it did indeed have no scope on it.
"He doesn't need it since he can shoot a snake in the desert as it's moving." Hound stated and it is true since Jack had seen a snake slithering in the desert and decided to try his luck.
"What was the range?" Arcee asked now intrigued at this.
"I would say about maybe 100 yards maybe more." Jack said while he scratched his chin in thought while they were impressed by this as Hound was beaming with pride at that.
"Little man would have been nice to have in the war back on Cybertron, I mean having someone like him to cover your back would have been helpful." Hound stated and like that, that was how Jacks day went then found out he was needed to go to the Autobot base with Raf who Bee had taken with him and after getting Hound to tell Jack his name, the two had gone back onto the road following right behind Arcee and had Bulkhead behind them but Jack didn't care as he was cleaning his rifle as the sun was going down and he was enjoying the peacefulness.
"Why are you always cleaning that rifle?" Hound asked breaking the silence.
"Because it was a gift from my father's army pals." Jack said remembering back to the day when they all came to the house him and his mother was in and they were carrying something to give to the family and one of them was a marksman who was saved by his dad and saved his dad a few times, what he was carrying was a rifle he made which was a combination of a Russian made PTSR rifle and a 50. cal barrette.
"They must've had some stories to tell ya'." Hound said since that was what some soldiers do.
"They did indeed, some of them had become living legends and I don't know if some of them are even alive still." Jack said looking out into the desert with the sun baring low.
"Well, you're going to meet a living legend." Hound said as they entered a mesa through some secret doors.
"A cold war nuclear missile silo, my dad had told me about these but I never thought one was here of all places." Jack said as they drove into the main hub of the base and they saw a red and white robot who had looked over from the console seeing them enter the main hub with Bulk and Arcee transforming but Bee had let Raf get out before transforming while Jack had gotten out and just went straight over to the highest catwalk before doing some climbing to reach the highest place possible before he had leaned his rifle against his shoulder and tipped his hat down indicating he was going to sleep.