Chapter 1: Returning Home

Autobot HQ…

Everyone stood at the entrance of the swirling vortex in anticipation, waiting for their close friend to return. Jack had spent over a two weeks in an alternate dimension waiting for the way back home to be complete. Several bots had gone through to help build the device, namely Wheeljack and Arcee.

Now Wheeljack and June where back, waiting for the last pair to arrive eager to see their friend. Jackson Darby, aka Kal-El or as the military had labeled him, the Superboy. Despite all outward appearances, he was far from your average human teen.

He was actually one of the last surviving members of the now dead Kryptonian race from the planet Krypton. He had been sent from his planet as an infant by his parents Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van to Earth where he was raised to believe he was human by his adopted mother June Darby.

Since then he'd eventually discovered his heritage and revealed it to the bots after General Zod launched an invasion on Earth attempting to terraform the planet into a new Krypton. Jack and the bots had managed to stop the general only for Jack to be sent to an alternate universe. After some misunderstandings, he was assisted by his counterpart in stopping the mad general once and for all.

And now it was time for the Kryptonian teenager to return to his home. Metal footsteps echoed through the portal as three figures became outlined against the bright white of the inter-dimensional portal. Slowly Arcee, Jack, and his sister Kara walked out of the portal, finally back in their home dimension.

The portal slowly flickered and died, closing the only access anyone would have to either universe ever again.

"Jack!" Miko and Raf said in unison running to their friend.

Jack let out a laugh as the two ran up to him "It's good to see you guys again," he said with a smile.

"So what was it like in the alternate dimension, was there another me, another you!?" Miko started listing off a barrage of question.

Jack lifted his hand trying to calm her "To answer your first two questions, yes there were counterparts of everyone there, even me," he said.

"Fantastic," Ratchet groaned "Two Miko's, exactly we what we needed," there were a few chuckles from Ratchets complaints when the others seemed to notice Kara for the first time.

"Ugh we only sent three people through right?" Bulkhead asked.

"Hmm?" Jack asked confused before realization dawned "Oh, I forgot, this is Kara my long lost sister," he explained.

"Your sister!?" everyone assembled minus those who knew and Optimus yelled in unison.

"When did you have a sister?" Miko demanded "And can she do everything you can do?" she asked excitedly.

"It's a long story Miko, but yes I can do everything my brother can," Kara answered.

"The higher ups are gonna have a field day with this," Fowler groaned "One super powered alien teenager was bad enough, but now we have two,"

"Agent Fowler, you don't need to worry about Kara, she'll be staying with Jack and I at home," June explained.

"Yes but there's going to be miles of paper work for this to register her as a citizen not to mention I'll have to convince them that like Jack she's not a threat to national security," he complained.

Jack frowned "How am I a threat to national security?" he demanded.

Fowler sighed "Look son," he started, inciting a glare from Jack "I know you're not a threat, we" he gestured to everyone in the room "know you're not a threat, but let's face it Jack. You are a teenage boy strong enough to leave Optimus Prime in pieces. Ol'Uncle Sam is scared of what would happen if you went off the deep end," Fowler let out a breath as he finished explaining his comment.

Jack's frown lessened "Fine, you have a point," he admitted.

"But my sister is not a threat to anyone," he finished.

There was a sound of loud thunderous footsteps as Optimus walked towards them "No one here doubts you or your sisters dedication or disinterest in personal gain Jack," Optimus said leaning down.

Kara looked at Optimus before whispering to Jack "He's a lot thinner in our universe," she commented.

Jack rolled his eyes "I know Optimus, just well… after everything I went through over the past week or so I thought people would be a little more… grateful I saved the world," he admitted.

"Son, the only people who even know that Kal-El and Jack Darby are the same people is Jasper," Fowler said getting Jacks attention.

Jack raised a brow "What do you mean?" he asked confused.

"Dude, you had a super powered brawl in the middle of town, everyone knows who you are," Miko said jumping up and down excitedly.

Jack gulped nervously "Everyone?"

"Well yeah, you're a town hero Jack," Raf said "everyone either loves you or hates you,"

"Hates me?" Jack asked even more confused.

"A lot of people are uncomfortable with the idea of someone like you existing Jack," June explained, and her undertones suggested that there was more to what she was saying.

Jack looked at his mother "Who exactly?" he asked.

June sighed "I didn't want to say anything, but a lot of our neighbors are… angry I lied to them about you, and a lot of people are upset with the damage that you and the others caused in Jasper,"

Jack opened his mouth to defend himself when Optimus interrupted him "Perhaps it would be best if we saved this discussion for later, I imagine that you would want to return home as it is late and you have had a long day,"

Jack rubbed the back of his head "Yeah that sounds good," he said.

Optimus nodded and turned to Ratchet "Open a bridge for them," he ordered. Ratchet turned to the terminal and began inputting coordinates

"Actually Optimus," Arcee said interrupting the medic "I would like to drive Jack home if that's fine," she said her optics flicking over Jack.

Jack could have sworn that he saw Optimus smile before the Prime spoke "I will allow it," he said.

Arcee smiled and transformed to motorcycle mode. Jack climbed on and the pair drove off down the tunnel.

"Jack where's your helmet!?" June called after the duo but they were gone.

"Isn't Jack indestructible?" Miko asked.

"I still worry," June said as she and Kara walked through the ground bridge to her new home…

On the Road…

Jack and Arcee raced down the street both glad to finally get a chance to go out for their first real drive together since before Zod had invaded. Jack smiled as the wind blew through his hair as he and his girlfriend zipped towards Jasper.

Optimus wasn't kidding when he said it was late out. The moon was resting high in the air, fully illuminating the area with its bright white glow. Stars dotted the clear sky, and the two were at peace as the purr of Arcee's engine was the only sound to keep them company.

The rest of the desert was clear and undisturbed as her engine echoed off the mesa's and cliff faces. With no one else around Arcee zipped forward going faster and faster. Jack lowered himself as the two raced towards the small cluster of lights that was Jasper Nevada.

Jack felt relief in seeing his home town still standing. After his time in that alternate dimension, a small part of himself was afraid he'd find his town in the same condition. A silly worry he knew, but it still relieved him to know that his fears were unfounded.

Arcee started to slow down as they came into town following the speed limit. She made her way through the maze of streets before the two finally came down Jacks street. They quickly pulled into the garage, closing the door behind them.

The whole garage seemed fresh and new, with actual walls on the inside, not just the inners exposed. Now that Jack thought about it, the garage had been destroyed during the invasion. It must have been rebuilt while he was gone, hence the clean fresh feeling it had.

Two windows occupied the wall directly in front of him and another to his left to let in some more light as well. There was a small metal work table under the window with a bunch of tools laying on it. They all belonged to his adopted father, but neither he nor June wanted to get rid of them. Besides, Jack wasn't a half bad mechanic himself either.

Jack got off of Arcee and stretched as the femme transformed to robot mode "It's good to be home," he said smiling at her.

"It's good to get out," was her response "and to be alone for once," she said a smile gracing her lips.

"That so?" he asked taking a small step to his girlfriend. Since the two had hooked up they had not gotten a single solitary moment together. Now though, they were the only ones in the house and even though Arcee was larger than Jack, that hadn't stopped them before.

Arcee lowered her head as she was already crouching inside the garage. Jacks lips met hers and they moved in unison as the two kissed. At that particular moment it seems thought that even Jacks own universe was convinced that keeping the two from having any alone time was in their best interest.

The door connecting the house to the garage opened up and the two broke apart to see Kara and June standing there. June was standing with her hands on her hips and Kara was giggling at the two.

"ugh…" Jack started, but June held up a hand.

"Not a word Jack, just come on in," she interrupted.

Jack blushed and walked to the door, June and Kara heading in as well. He stopped at the door and looked back at Arcee. Checking back inside to see if they were waiting for him, Jack rushed forward and kissed Arcee quickly before heading in.

"See you tomorrow Cee," he said softly as he walked in.

"See you tomorrow Superboy," she called back and sat back resting against the now reinforced walls of the garage, a faint smile gracing her faceplate as she went into recharge.

Jack walked into the house and into the kitchen where Kara and June were waiting for him "So mom got a room for you right?" he asked his sister.

Kara nodded "I gave her the guest room, figured we could decorate it later," June explained.

"Right," Jack said before yawning.

"You should probably get some rest, you have school tomorrow," June said.

Jack froze "Please tell me you're kidding mom?" he begged.

"No I'm not Jack, you need to continue going to school," she said firmly.

"I just got back from an alternate dimension, don't I get one day off?" he asked.

"You've already missed two weeks of school Jack, you're not missing another," June stated firmly.

Kara giggled again at her brothers defeated look on his face "Don't laugh missy, once Fowler has you registered you're going with him," she informed the Kryptonian female.

"What? But I've already been educated!" she protested and shot a glare at Jack who had started laughing at her now.

"Maybe so, but it'll be good for you to get some more human interaction," June countered.

Kara opened her mouth to respond, but one look from June's serious face and the girl shut her mouth. She walked off to her new room grumbling to herself as she did.

June looked to Jack "Now off to bed, you'll need your rest for tomorrow," she ordered.

Jack let out a groan but complied with his mother and sulked into his old room. He opened the door and let out a grateful sigh as he felt the familiarity of his room. He changed into something more comfortable and slipped into bed, quickly falling asleep…

The Next Day…

Jacks alarm rang, waking him from his slumber with an annoyed growl. He lightly slammed his fist on the infernal device only for it to shatter from the blow anyway.

"Great," he moaned as he sat up and ran his hands over his face.

"Save the world twice and I still have to go to school," he complained before he got up and went through his standard morning routine of showering getting dressed.

He wore his super suit under his clothes once he finished as he had no idea when he might be called into action. With the bots and the cons being worldwide news now, it might cause them to stop hiding in the shadows. If that was the case he wasn't going to be caught unaware, not this time.

Jack sat in the kitchen eating alone. His mom had left for the hospital and Kara was fast asleep in the guest room. Jack had made sure to check on her and was relieved to see that she wasn't floating in the air when she slept. Would have been another surprise for her if she was.

Jack wolfed down the rest of his breakfast and made his way to the garage and smiled to see Arcee herself was still in recharge resting her large frame against a wall. He smiled all those times he'd come in before she'd been in bike mode for fear of getting spotted. Apparently it also hid the fact that she was asleep too.

Jack walked up to the femme and floated up to next to her "Arcee, wake up," he whispered.

In almost a repeat of the aftermath of the goodbye part the femme moaned and slapped him away with her hand. The difference was Arcee was again twenty feet tall and made of metal, not a 6 foot tall human. So Jack actually went flying into the ground with a thud.

He shook his head as he got back up and flew up to her head again "Arcee," he said poking her helm. Apparently there was enough force behind it that the femme tipped to her side and proceeded to topple over.

Her optics shot open right as she landed on the floor. She let out a yelp of pain before readjusting herself to glare at her boyfriend. Jack just laughed at Arcee's clumsy wakeup call despite her glare.

"Was that necessary?" she demanded.

"Necessary? No," he said before smiling "Hilarious, very," he said laughing again.

Arcee snorted and transformed to vehicle mode "Come on Superboy let's get you to school," she said dryly.

Jack grabbed his helmet that was on the table and slipped it on before getting on Arcee. The garage opened and the two drove out towards Jasper high.

As they drove, Jack suddenly felt very nervous about what was going to happen. How where the people at school going to treat him now that they knew he wasn't even human? Would they treat him the same, be grateful to him for saving the town, or would they all fear him?

Jack unintentionally tightened his grip on Arcee's handle bars in worry, inciting a yelp of pain from the femme "Jack, you're crushing my handlebars," she warned.

"Oh, sorry," he said loosening his grip and falling back into his train of thought.

Arcee though noticed her partners trouble and decided to investigate "Something the matter Jack?" she asked.

Jack looked down at her dash "Just… nervous is all," he admitted.

"Nervous?" she asked, "About what?"

"Just… about how everyone's going to act towards me," he said "I was always the odd one the freak at school. People weren't sure what to make of me. How are they going to act now that my secret is out?" he asked.

Arcee directed one of her mirrors at Jack, the closest she could get to looking at him when in her alt "Jack, you saved Jasper, heck you saved the world. Fact is that what a bunch of high schoolers think of you doesn't matter. You have done more in the past few weeks then most of those kids will do in their entire lifetime," she said confidently.

Jack still had an unsure look on his face "Besides," she continued "you have one thing they never will," she said.

"Oh? And what might that be besides the list of powers?" he asked.

"Me," she replied simply.

Jack smiled "Guess you have a point there Arcee," he said.

"Of course I do, oh and look, we're here," she said as they pulled into the school parking lot.

Everyone seemed to have gone into the school already, and only a few cars were parked out front. Even Bulkhead and Bee were gone, the others must already be inside. Jack knew he wasn't late, he didn't have a first period anymore, but it was about time for the break between first and second period. Everyone would be up and about right now.

Arcee stopped in her typical parking spot and Jack got off, taking his helmet off as he did. He placed it in Arcee's subspace and looked at school, sighing as he did.

"Jack," Arcee said casing him to look to his bike slash girlfriend "it'll be fine, I have to go to base to give Optimus a full report but you'll be fine. Worse they can do is look at you funny," she comforted.

Jack smiled faintly "Thanks Cee," he said and walked towards the school entrance.

"Anytime partner," she whispered as she pulled back and drove slowly to base, one of her mirrors watching as he walked in.

Jack slowly eased open the door for the school and walked into the hallway. The hallways as usual were crowded with students who milled about doing whatever it is students do in their free time. Jack slowly walked to where his locker was.

As he did he felt more than saw the looks from his fellow students and he heard the halls slowly grow quiet as he walked through the halls. He made sure to avoid everyone's gaze as he walked, only wanting to survive today.

He made his way to his locker and noticed the entire school had fallen dead silent. So silent was it that one could practically hear a pen drop. He looked back up and turned around to see every student had stopped what they were doing to look at the alien teen.

Jack could almost feel his cheeks flush slightly as he was put at the center of attention. He'd spent his whole life trying to be invisible to the average student, and now he was the center of attention.

He wasn't sure what to say or do, everyone was just staring at him expecting… Something. What he wasn't sure, but they were expecting it. He just stood there silent when an odd sound echoed through the halls.

It repeated itself and Jack turned to it to see something he hadn't expected. Vince, the school bully, the one who'd taken personal pride in bullying Jack and his friends was… Clapping? At least, the best he could given how his hand was in a cast. A bitter reminder of less than pleasant times.

Vince continued to clap and slowly his friends joined him, the lone clap becoming a band of applause, then a group, and then a symphony of applause. Every student in the school seemed to be clapping and cheering!

Jack looked from side to side in wonder at this sudden development "H-how, w-why?" he asked.

Vince approached him "You're a hero Darby, you saved the whole friggin Earth," he pointed out.

"But I'm not even human," he protested.

He shrugged "That just makes you an even bigger human. You stood up for us even when we treated you like garbage when you could have let us die. It takes real courage to do something like that," Vince said.

"I… thanks," was all the stunned teen could get out. Today really would be an interesting day, but not quiet for the reasons he'd expect…

Later that day…

Arcee slowly drove back to Jasper high to pick up her boyfriend and bring him back to base. She was eager to see him again and had been unable to stay fully focused all day. Her processor kept drifting back to worry about how Jack would adapt to returning to his relatively dull life.

Still, she'd managed to make her full report to Optimus of the events that had happened. Wheeljack had taken off before Optimus could ask for his report, something about seeing the world. So Arcee had filled in the others on what exactly was different in the other universe and what had happened.

Of course she left a few details out, like her being shrunk, and the wildness of the party. No one needed to know that in her opinion. Still after that the day had been a dull drag with no sign of con activity. It had been like that since after Zod invaded, the cons had just disappeared after the Autobots existence was made public.

In fact no reports at all were coming in. After their existence was revealed, a new department had been formed to allow people to call and report sightings of Vehicons or their flying counterparts. A few calls had come in initially, but after that the cons wised up and disappeared.

So far the others had used their new found freedom to transform sparingly. They had little reason to outside of base, though when Raf and Miko introduce their guardians to their parents the results had been… Hilarious wasn't a good enough response to describe it.

Arcee had yet to transform in public as she'd left after only a week after the announcement after all. Maybe now that she and Jack were back she would find a reason to. And if not, she always had that certain item she'd swiped that could make things much easier for the two of them in public.

Arcee shook herself mentally as she pulled into the school parking lot that was once more mostly abandoned. She'd passed Bulk and Bee on her way as apparently Jack had to catch up on some work before he left. Arcee parked herself in her usual spot and waited for her boyfriend to emerge from the school.

She didn't have to wait long, about five minutes later Jack emerged… With Sierra in tow. Jack seemed to either be ignoring her or didn't know that she was following. Arcee had to guess the latter as Sierra appeared to be trying to work up the courage to talk to him.

"Ugh… Jack!" she called and her partner stopped by one of the small pillars at the front of the school.

Jack stopped and turned to her "Sierra? Something I can help you with?" he asked.

Arcee watched as the girl looked at her feet holding her books to her chest. She looked back up at her partner "I was wondering if maybe… you I don't know, wanted to go to the dance?" she asked.

Jack stiffened and Arcee felt her Energon boil in rage. Was this girl asking Jack, her Jack, out on a date!? No one noticed but Arcee un parked herself and rolled forward slightly. That girl had some nerve to ask him out! If only she could transform and tell her… wait a minute.

Arcee felt herself grin as Jack tried very awkwardly to get out of this situation "Well you see Sierra… I'm kinda…"

"He's already taken toots," a strong feminine voice said.

"Scrap" Jack thought, he knew what was coming. Sierra did not.

"Who said that?" the girl asked bewildered.

"I did," Arcee growled and transformed behind Jack assuming her full twenty foot height. She glared down at Sierra with narrow optics her arms crossed.

Sierra just gawked at the large femme before her "W-who are you?" she asked taking a step back.

Arcee kneeled down next to Jack till her faceplate was eye level with Sierra "Name's Arcee, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't ask my boyfriend out," she growled.

Sierra's eyes bugged out "B-boyfriend!?" she yelled in surprise before looking to Jack "she's your girlfriend!?"

"There a problem with that?" Arcee demanded angrily. Before Sierra could respond Jack put a hand on her arm.

"Arcee I think you've made your point, let's just go to base," he said trying to act as a mediator.

Arcee narrowed her optics at Sierra before nodding and transforming to vehicle mode. Jack put his helmet on and got on driving off and left a very stunned Sierra standing at the edge of the parking lot, her mind racing.

Jack was dating an Autobot? Autobots were in Jasper? No better yet, why was he dating an Autobot? Not like they could provide anything she couldn't. Hell they probably couldn't even do half of what she could, she was at least Jacks size.

Sierra narrowed her eyes as the two drove off. This challenge just got a whole lot more interesting…

On the road…

"You think you might have overreacted just a little Arcee?" Jack said as they drove to base.

"Jack, I wasn't going to let her try and steal you away," she replied simply.

Jack puzzled over this for several moments before a large grin dawned on his face "Arcee… were you jealous?" he asked,

Arcee scoffed "Jack, me jealous? Of what?" she demanded.

He shrugged "I don't know, you tell me, I was going to tell Sierra I was already take when you decided to scare her half to death," he answered calmly.

"I'm not jealous," she muttered.

"I think you are," he teased as they made their way onto the stretch to base.

"No, I'm not," she retorted. Jack opened his mouth to respond when both her mirrors flicked towards him "Another word Jackson and I will throw you at a cliff wall," she threatened.

Jack held a hand over his heart "Why Arcee you wound me. Why would you risk harming me by doing such a thing?" he quipped.

"Because I know you can take it Kryptonian," she deadpanned.

"Fine fine, you win you're not jealous," he said raising his hands in mock surrender.

"Thanks you," she said and they descended into a comfortable silence. That is until another thought entered into Arcee's processor.

"Jack, what exactly is the dance?" she asked.

Jack seemed to freeze up at the femmes question "W-what do you mean?" he asked.

"Well I know what dancing is, but what was it that Sierra asked you too?" she asked her curiosity peaked by Jacks sudden awkwardness.

"It's just a little school get together were couples get dressed up and… go dancing," he answered rather nervously "Why?"

"Just asking, wondering if you and I could go to something like that," she said.

Jack blinked in surprise as they grew closer to the mesa "A-Arcee, you're a bit… big for dancing don't you think?" he asked.

"Well not that Jack, I meant more along the lines of a date," she said.

Jack seemed to settle down slightly at this "Okay, that makes sense, where to exactly? Our options are kinda limited," he pointed out.

"Isn't there a drive in theater we could go to?" she asked not willing to unveil her secret quiet yet.

"Ugh yeah there is," he said "when would we go, I still have to catch up on school work," he admitted.

"Hmm," Arcee hummed thinking to herself as they approached the cliff wall. For her this would be a big deal, she wanted to spend more time with Jack that didn't involve almost dying or fighting. It would technically be their first date together so they needed a good time together.

"Don't humans normally go out on Friday's?" she asked as they drove into the tunnel.

"Yeah I shouldn't be busy then, it's in two days and I don't really have any work since the K.O burger is kinda…"

"Destroyed," Arcee finished.

"Yeah that," he said as they drove into the main lobby. Jack got off Arcee removing his helmet as the femme transformed.

"So I guess it's a date then," she said with a wink.

Jack nodded "I guess it is," he replied with a smile.

"Oh isn't that sweet, the couple's going on their first date!" Miko teased from the upper platform.

"So where you going, the car dealership, the car wash, NASCAR race?" she asked while teasing them at the same time.

Arcee rolled her optics while Jack flew up to the platform. He saw that Miko and Raf where there as well as his sister. Currently it seemed like Miko and Raf were engaged in a video game match while Kara watched.

Jack landed next to his sister and leaned against the railing, arms crossed "So how long have you been at base?" he asked.

"Flew over about two or three hours ago, asked Ratchet if he could teach me anything about Cybertronian tech," she answered.

"She is a surprisingly patient student and a quiet one to boot," Ratchet said while glaring at Miko.

Jack laughed a little at that "So any problems with your powers at all?" he asked in a more serious tone.

"None that I could tell, my senses and everything are under control, as well as my other abilities," she said proudly.

Jack smiled before an idea occurred to him "Ratchet, we still have that training room right?" he asked.

The medic nodded "I haven't finished it yet but for basic sparring purposes it should work," he said.

A questioning look appeared on his face "Why do you ask?"

"I want to spar with Kara, help her hone her abilities so I don't have to worry about her getting her aft kicked too much," he explained.

"Hey!" she shouted indignantly.

Jack smiled at her innocently "Well you wanted to help didn't you?" he asked.

Kara glared at him "Good point, but you're going down," she threatened.

Jack smiled again "We'll see little sister," he said and flew off the platform.

"I'm technically older than you," she called flying after him.

"You were older than me," he countered "but you spent a good sixteen years waiting for me to catch up," he pointed out flying to the training room, several of the bots and humans following behind them.

They quickly found the room and found Ratchet was right. Several terminals were missing there screens and had wires hanging out of them. Besides that though it was a large open room carved into the rock face, large enough to comfortably hold an entire platoon of Vehicons with room for a group of seekers floating over head.

The two landed while the bots, namely Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Arcee came in to watch them. The two mech's held their charges in their servos and watched as Kara and Jack landed a good distance apart from each other.

"Rules?" Kara asked.

"No heat vision, no flying, and no freeze breath," he answered "Besides that, don't hold back, I can handle anything you dish out," he stated.

Kara smiled as she struck a fighting position "We'll see brother," she said cryptically. The two circled each other, waiting for the other to expose themselves.

Kara struck first speeding towards her brother and jumping up to deliver a round house. Jack ducked underneath her and grabbed her by the leg, twisting and fling her away. She twisted in midair and managed to land on her feet, skidding back as she did.

She looked up at her brother and charged again. She feigned a punch to the left only to deliver a right hook instead knocking Jack to the side. He skipped across the ground before getting his feet under him and looking up at Kara with a smile. This was going to be an interesting fight…

A/N: And so it begins, the next part in my Superman TFP crossover. What did you guys think of this chapter? I want to know and I want to know what you guys want to see. Since I no longer have the Man of Steel plot to follow anymore I'll be following the TFP plot to an extent with some... Changes... So suggestions are welcomed. Otherwise, review with critique and PM me for questions or ideas. Bye!