"Though our homeworld is once again capable of supporting life, we have much rebuilding to do. Alas…we will miss our home away from home, and the family we've made here."
The war was over.
After untold millennia of endless struggle the valiant Autobots had finally defeated the evil Decepticons, saving both Earth and the planet Cybertron.
Now all that remained was to say goodbye.
Birdsong filled the air on a tranquil morning in the Nevada desert. Towering buttes and mesas pervaded the horizon, concealing an otherwise nondescript military base. Within its walls the members of Team Prime gathered together at Hangar E, the Autobots' secret headquarters on Earth.
Rafael Esquivel nervously asked the question that was on everyone's minds.
"If the 'Cons are still out there, won't Earth be on their radar?"
Bumblebee immediately replied, "Raf, if you ever need me, need us, for any reason…" He smiled, "…we're just a Space Bridge away."
Special Agent William Fowler added, "Besides, we'll be in good hands with you, Jack, and Miko, continuing to serve Unit: E, in a…semi-official capacity."
Her eyes widening to anime proportions, Miko Nakadai excitedly exclaimed, "Whoa, we're agents?!"
June Darby swiftly corrected Miko. "Consultants…" She shot a brief warning glare at Fowler before turning back to smile maternally at the kids, "…until you're of age."
Ratchet stepped forward. "I trust that Unit: E doesn't have any rules forbidding the enlistment of rusty old Autobot consultants?"
Arcee was incredulous. "Ratchet? You, of all - "
With a dismissive wave of his servo he interrupted her retort. "Yip, yip, yip. I know where I am needed."
…
Bumblebee hung his helm as he walked alongside the elevated steel mezzanine where Raf stood. He stopped and gazed sorrowfully at his relatively tiny human friend.
"Raf…" The Autobot scout abruptly clenched shut his optics, attempting to hold back the overwhelming wave of emotion.
Long ago the war robbed him of the ability to speak, unable to communicate by any means other than the warbling of coded beeps and tones. During the recent final battle against the Decepticons, an unforeseen chain of events had led to his voice's miraculous restoration.
He found it strange that words now eluded him.
Understanding, Raf murmured, "…I know, Bee." He blinked rapidly and sniffed, "You don't need to say anything."
Bumblebee felt an ironic smile appear on his metal faceplate.
"I never did."
Raf managed to return the smile, his bespectacled eyes wet with tears.
…
Bulkhead sat on the floor, dreading what was coming. Up until this moment the only thing the tough Autobot Wrecker had ever truly feared was a lethal swarm of metal-devouring Scraplets, but even that wasn't nearly as terrifying as the thought of never seeing his favorite human again.
He didn't move as Miko slowly shuffled closer. She momentarily glanced up before turning around and resting against him. She curled up into a ball and hid her face.
"M-Miko…I guess this is - "
His words trailed off suddenly, the sound of a muffled sob making him flinch.
During his millennia-long existence Bulkhead had experienced centuries of war, watched old friends perish in never-ending struggle, and endured torturous pain and suffering.
None of it hurt as much as hearing Miko cry.
Awkwardly hoping to soothe, Bulkhead reached out with his huge servo and gently brushed a single digit against Miko. She immediately wrapped her arms around him and didn't let go, holding on for dear life as the tears continued to fall.
…
Arcee was all business and stared straight ahead, her pedes clanking lightly as she strode towards the growing assembly of departing Autobots.
Standing atop a nearby landing, Jack Darby leaned against a metal guardrail and waited.
At first she pretended not to notice but then her steps began to falter. Almost against her will, her stiff forward gait slowed until she finally came to a stop beside him.
Out of the corner of her optics she glanced at Jack, hesitating momentarily before turning her helm to look directly upon him. Meeting his steady gaze, Arcee gracefully swiveled her lithe sapphire and silver chassis about as she faced her human partner.
Jack's eyes nervously darted to the side for just an instant, the edges of his mouth curling slightly upward in a melancholy smile.
"It's been quite a ride…"
At first Arcee smiled back but it quickly faded. Frowning abruptly she looked down, her expression uncertain and her tone strangely distant.
"Keep in touch, Jack…"
A mixture of surprise and hurt stole across Jack's features as he tried to make sense of Arcee's unexpectedly detached response. His hands gripped the guardrail tighter as he opened his mouth to interrupt, to protest, to say something…anything.
She looked up again and Jack froze.
Her glowing azure optics were filled to overflowing with an unmistakable, barely restrained longing as Arcee stared deeply into Jack's intense gunmetal-gray eyes. He was spellbound, stricken mute at the sight.
Her voice cracked with emotion as she whispered, "…don't make me hunt you down."
Without another word, she pivoted on her armored heel and briskly walked away.
Jack watched in stunned silence as Arcee left him with his unspoken thoughts…alone.
…
Ultra Magnus, Wheeljack and Smokescreen approached June and Agent Fowler. They quietly regarded one another for a moment until Fowler suddenly straightened his back and snapped to attention. He raised his right hand to his temple and saluted them.
The three Autobots returned the gesture, honored to have battled alongside the brave human.
As he watched them leave, Fowler slowly lowered his hand. The long years of fighting seemed to catch up to him all at once and his broad shoulders sagged slightly. He sighed, recalling another time of conflict, of faces that still haunted him. His eyes grew sad, remembering…
Fowler blinked with surprise as he felt a delicate hand rest comfortingly against his arm. He turned to see June regarding him with a knowing smile. He realized that she must have noticed his momentary emotional lapse, but felt no shame at being caught by the beautiful nurse.
…
The Space Bridge burst into existence, a spiraling emerald vortex remotely generated by the captured Decepticon warship Nemesis. It was a doorway through the extra-dimensional realm of transwarp space to the Autobots' planet of Cybertron...to home.
Optimus Prime stalwartly stood before Ratchet.
A rare smile appeared on the faceplate of the Autobot leader, and with his distinctively deep baritone he rumbled, "Until we meet again, old friend."
Optimus reached out, clasping servos with the Autobot medic as he bid his comrade farewell.
It was time.
The humans huddled close together as they watched the Autobots leave, one by one. The Space Bridge flared with a brilliant flash of light as each 'Bot stepped through and vanished.
Ultra Magnus.
Smokescreen.
Wheeljack.
Bumblebee.
Bulkhead.
Only Arcee remained.
Jack managed to put on a brave front, his lips pressed together in a determined, flat line.
At the last possible instant before she disappeared into infinity, she stopped.
She stood only a hairsbreadth away from the Space Bridge. With but one more step, Arcee would be gone forever.
She didn't budge.
Jack swallowed nervously as his mind reeled with confusion.
Wh-what's going on?
The wildly coruscating lightshow that was the Space Bridge caused Arcee to appear like a shapely silhouette eclipsing the sun. Shadows danced eerily about the entire interior of Hangar E.
Then, she looked back.
Her unearthly blue optics pierced through the gloom, shining like twin stars. They flit about as she frantically searched for something.
Arcee found Jack in the dark, her gaze instantly locking onto his.
He wordlessly stared back, not knowing what to do or say.
Her lips opened and she whispered a single word.
"…Jack…"
The Space Bridge flared bright as the sun. The blinding light enveloped Arcee, her faceplate twisting in unimaginable agony. She screamed…
The light abruptly faded, and nothing remained.
She was gone.
"ARCEEEEE!"
Jack awoke with a start and gasped, desperately sucking in deep lungfuls of air as he fought to catch his breath. At first he saw only darkness, but after a moment his eyes adjusted to the lack of light and he realized where he was.
Home…he was home.
More or less.
His real home had been destroyed months ago by Megatron along with the rest of Jasper, Nevada. Now, along with the rest of the displaced denizens from the tiny town, Jack and his mother June lived in temporary emergency housing within a cramped settlement while Jasper was being rebuilt.
He looked around at his still-unfamiliar surroundings and exhaled shakily.
Blinking back the burning tears that threatened to spill from his eyes, Jack buried his face in his trembling hands. He cursed softly to himself using a Cybertronian expletive he had picked up a long time ago from Arcee.
"S-Scrap…"
Jack angrily swung his fist and slammed it hard against the wall, gnashing his teeth before crying, "…scrap, SCRAP, SCRAP!"
The same dream...again.
The light to the restroom clicked on. Panting slightly, Jack stumbled to the sink and splashed handfuls of cold water from the faucet onto his face. He looked up and considered the haggard reflection staring back from the mirror, frowning at the dark circles underneath his painfully bloodshot eyes. There was a high-pitched ringing in his ears that sounded like a wind chime caught in a hurricane.
Jack was well aware what was to blame.
Ever since the Autobots left Earth a month ago, the nightmarish dream had plagued him. At first the troubled youth couldn't remember much about what happened in the nightmare, only that it involved Arcee somehow. As the days transformed into weeks it gradually became more and more intense, until Jack could now vividly recall every detail with crystal clarity. Unfortunately, in that time he had barely slept and the never-ending nightmare swiftly took its inevitable toll on his body.
He opened the door to the medicine cabinet, his weary gaze falling upon a small bottle. After every other treatment in the book for insomnolence had failed, his mother procured a prescription of sleep aids to help Jack get some rest.
He idly wondered if he should try taking one again.
Jack sighed miserably before closing the cabinet door, already knowing from previous experience that the pills simply didn't do any good.
Besides, no matter what he did, the nightmares never stopped.
Jack shook his head, hoping to quell the persistent ringing that seemed even louder than before.
Desperate for a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, Jack was about to return to his bed when he paused unexpectedly. He peered closer to the mirror, his attention drawn to the sight of a ghostly glow emanating from underneath his shirt.
He watched in fascination as the light pulsed slowly, its steady rhythm oddly similar to that of a human heartbeat. Jack's hand reflexively moved to rest against his chest, his palm flattening atop what was concealed there. He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, finding comfort in the hidden light's blissfully soothing warmth.
A memory began to emerge from the mists enshrouding his exhausted mind.
Always keep it close to your heart…
A sudden knock at the door startled him, jolting him back to reality.
Jack removed his hand, seeing that the light had faded.
Taking a deep breath, Jack mentally forced his turbulent feelings down until he was satisfied that they were sufficiently buried. He ran his fingers through his raven hair, putting on his best poker face before opening the door.
Tentatively peering through the doorway, he was greeted by a familiar face.
"DUDE!"
Squinting at the unexpected barrage of sound and color, both from the loud voice and even louder clothing, Jack blinked rapidly as he stammered, "M-Miko…?"
"Long time no see, Jack. You look terrible, by the way."
"Wow, thanks." Jack wiped his blurry eyes. "Miko, what are you doing out so late?"
"Late? Guess again, Jackrabbit. It's only eleven o'clock. Real question is why you're asleep so early?" She winked, grinning perkily at Jack.
Miko's wild, pink-fringed tresses billowed in the warm evening breeze, her impatient gaze darting to and fro before she finally asked, "Umm, I know it's been ages since we've talked, but can I come in…?"
Listlessly Jack replied, "Oh, right…sure. S-sorry."
"So…this is where you hang, huh?"
As she uttered the words, Miko felt a sudden pang of déjà vu. Ironically, she had said the same thing to him almost two years ago when she had first visited Jack at his original home.
She tried not to be too offended remembering that he hadn't exactly been thrilled to see her then, either.
Miko glanced around, not surprised to see that Jack and his mother's modest-sized quarters were practically barren, with little to no furnishings. There was only one restroom, a small area that served as a kitchen and a confined living room with two fold down bunk beds. This was the case with everybody who chose to remain in Jasper as they attempted to piece together their lives. Resources were spread paper-thin and there was only so much the government could do.
Still, the stark surroundings were a bit much for the flamboyant foreign exchange student to take.
"Whoa, Spartan."
Jack sighed, "Wasn't much left to salvage after Jasper was wiped off the map."
"Tell me about it. After Fowler gave us the all-clear to go back, I thought I was pretty lucky when I rescued my collection of Slash Monkey guitar picks. Too bad my guitar didn't survive…poor thing looked like a burnt Pocky Stick."
Jack managed to smile. "So that's why it's been so quiet lately…"
Miko swiftly repaid the affront with a playful punch to Jack's arm. He winced from the impact, having forgotten that the sole human member of the Wreckers was surprisingly stronger than she appeared.
She snickered, "Weakling. One more snarky comment like that and you're out of the band. Anyway, what about you? Come across anything still in one piece?" A sudden horrifying thought occurred to her. "Please tell me you didn't find your harmonica."
He answered by reaching into his pocket, intentionally taking his time before dramatically producing his sole surviving personal effect and handing it to Miko. She breathed a mock sigh of relief as she examined Jack's multi-function pocket knife and magnesium fire-starter, its edges slightly scorched and blackened.
Miko smirked, "Your survival kit, huh?"
Jack snatched it back and huffed, "Hey, don't laugh. Don't forget, this helped save my life once."
"Meh, who wants to live forever?" Miko glanced out the window and asked, "Nothing else, then?"
"Mom was able to save an old photo album, but that's about it. Like I said, there wasn't much left."
"Where is helicopter mom, anyway?"
Shuffling into the tiny kitchen area, Jack replied, "She's pulling another all-nighter at the base hospital." Jack did his best to stifle a groan, the joints of his aching body loudly protesting as he crouched to open a compact Mini Fridge. He got out a bottle of water and asked, "Can I get you anything?"
"Nah, I'm good." Miko quietly watched as he gulped the water, draining the bottle's contents in seconds. She took note of Jack's pale appearance and cautiously added, "I was going to ask you the same thing."
"What are you talking about?"
"I meant what I said earlier, Jack. You look awful…sick, even."
Standing back up, he tossed the empty bottle into a nearby recycling bin and managed a wan smile.
"I'm not sick, Miko. I…I guess I haven't been resting too well lately."
"Bad dreams…?"
Jack muttered, "You have no idea."
She frowned, "Wait, what?"
"N-nothing. Don't worry about me, I'm fine."
Miko tsked and prodded, "Yeah, right. If that's true then why haven't you bothered to call or anything? Look, I know it was crazy for awhile with all the catching up we had to do in school. Plus, I still remember you once telling me how you were raised to be responsible to your schoolwork, your mom and your job, but come on already! KO Burger is gone, your mom's always working, and final exams were last week! School's out, Jack…school's out forever."
She edged noticeably closer.
"What's going on with you, Jack?"
Suddenly feeling backed into a corner, Jack hurriedly turned away from her and moved back into the larger living room. He answered, "Y-you wouldn't understand."
Miko followed, hot on his heels.
"What, you think you're the only one with problems? Poor Raf's been on lockdown ever since he got back home! I tried calling but his mom wouldn't even let me speak with him! Not 100% sure with the language barrier and all, but I think she might've implied that I've been a bad influence or something!"
"Miko…"
"And before you say anything, the only reason I haven't been able to get in touch with you is because of my host parents! They refuse to let me out of their sights for more than a minute! Those two are driving me insane! I pretended to fall asleep early tonight just so I could sneak out and see you, Jack!"
"Miko, l-listen. I'm really beat. I've just been kinda busy and - "
"Busy with what? What are you hiding, Jack?!"
"I-I don't want to talk about this."
"Why are you shutting me out? I thought we were friends!"
"I'm not! W-we are…!"
"Don't you understand? Don't you get it, Jack?! I haven't felt this isolated and alone since I first came to Jasper, and I never want to feel like that again!"
"Miko…"
"I miss you!"
"Miko, please…"
"I miss Raf! I-I even miss ol' Doc Bot!"
Jack suddenly whirled about and snarled in Miko's face.
"MIKO! PLEASE! I said I don't want to TALK about it!"
Shocked at himself for losing his temper, Jack abruptly sat down in a huff at the foot of his bed. He mumbled, "S-sorry."
Miko blinked uncertainly before it finally dawned on her.
"So…that's what it is."
She tentatively joined him on the bed, sitting at the opposite end.
Quietly she replied, "I miss 'em too, y'know."
From out of nowhere Miko produced her beloved pink cellphone, her constant companion for as long as she could remember. It was a veritable treasure trove of memories, containing high-resolution images of their adventures with the Autobots.
Her finger moved across the phone's touchscreen as she began to cycle through the vast gallery of pictures. There were all manner of captured moments, from threatening Vehicons and specs for a Space Bridge to an especially uncomfortable encounter with Soundwave, from a Wrecker reunion for Wheeljack and Bulkhead to ancient Grecian frescoes of alien Energon Harvesters, from an intense skirmish between Bulk and Arcee against Breakdown and Airachnid to close-ups of Bulk's new battle scars from said skirmish.
Seeing their Cybertronian friends once more stirred a multitude of memories.
Becoming lost in the past, Miko smiled absently and murmured, "Sometimes I have to stop and look at the pics I've snapped, just to prove to myself that it wasn't all a crazy dream."
The smile slowly faded.
"I-I miss them…"
Tears began to well up in her eyes.
"…s-so much…!"
Miko was not normally one who allowed her private inner feelings to show. The mere fact that it was happening spoke volumes of just how distraught she really was. Blindly she continued to swipe away at the photos until it was too much for her to take. Embarrassed, she dropped her phone and reached for a nearby pillow, concealing her face behind it until the storm passed.
After a moment she managed to compose herself. She sniffled, "S-sorry…sometimes it just hits me when I least expect it, y'know?"
There was no reply from the other end of the bed.
Miko slowly lowered the pillow.
Jack sat there with an impassive expression on his face. Almost imperceptibly at first his shoulders began to quake, betraying his otherwise ironclad exterior as his bottled-up emotions screamed to erupt. He caught himself at the last possible instant before exploding and fought to rein everything back in, his eyes squeezed tightly shut and hands clenched into trembling fists.
Any feelings of personal loss that Miko had were immediately forgotten. She scooted next to Jack, gently placing her hand atop his.
"It's okay if you need to cry, too."
His voice wavered and caught as he struggled to answer, "I-I-I can't, Miko. If…if I do…" He gulped, "…I won't be able to stop."
"Jack, look at me."
Reluctantly, Jack opened his swollen eyes and looked back at Miko.
She smiled reassuringly.
"It's okay. I'm here."
The world around them seemed to blur and become indistinct, slowly fading away until Miko and Jack were all that remained.
Almost from the very beginning they had been friends, but in the years that Miko had known Jack there had been times when she asked herself if there was something more there.
Suddenly she simply couldn't bear not knowing any longer.
Feeling herself caught up in the confused swirl of emotions, Miko began to close the gap between them. Sliding even closer to Jack she reached out and gingerly turned his face towards her.
"M-Miko?"
"Shh…"
Miko slowly leaned towards Jack, uncertain of anything but the impulsive urge to kiss him.
Abruptly, almost desperately, he pulled away.
Bounding to his feet Jack almost fell over as he took several unsteady steps backward, putting some distance between himself and Miko. He turned away once again and shakily leaned against the far wall, his legs threatening to buckle beneath him.
"Jack?"
His chest heaving, Jack collected himself enough to stammer, "M-Miko, I'm…I'm sorry…I-I can't…please…"
Still seated on Jack's bed, Miko wiped her eyes. More confused than hurt, she said, "I don't understand."
Silence.
She ventured further, "Is it - is it Sierra?"
"N-no. Not Sierra."
More bewildered than ever, Miko demanded, "Then who - "
Jack slowly turned to face her.
Miko gasped, unprepared for the look of raw pain she saw.
She then realized that Jack's unblinking stare wasn't trained on her, but was instead focused like a laser to something behind her. Miko followed his line of sight until it led her to her own cellphone.
An image of Jack and Arcee was displayed on the phone's screen, a subtle look passing between the two. The Autobot and her so-called junior partner shared an almost secretive smile as they gazed at one another, a silent exchange that hinted at something definitely…more.
Everything suddenly clicked.
"Oh." Miko managed.
Jack's reddened eyes snapped wide open as he realized what he had unconsciously revealed. Panicking, he started to hyperventilate as he backpedaled and protested, "It-it's not what you think…! Miko, y-you're imagining things! I…I…!"
Without warning the words trailed off. He began to shudder violently before his eyes rolled back and his legs finally gave out.
"JACK!"
Miko leapt forward and caught him, holding him in her arms as she helped ease him to the floor. Softly she murmured, "I gotcha, Jack. Shh…it's okay, I gotcha."
She could immediately tell that he was sweating profusely, his skin clammy and cool to the touch. His breathing was erratic as he mumbled incoherently to himself.
"Y-you really are sick, aren't you?! That's it, I'm calling for help…!" Miko reached for her phone.
"NO!"
Jack's hand struck like a cobra and instantly grasped Miko by her wrist, preventing her from taking hold of her phone.
"N-no. I'm…I'm okay."
Miko watched as Jack took a deep cleansing breath, forcing himself to regain control. When he finally managed to stop trembling, he looked up at her and smiled as if nothing were the matter.
"Seriously, Miko. I'll be okay…I'm just tired, that's all."
Infuriated, she loudly retorted, "That's a load of scrap and you know it, Jack! What, d'you think I'm stupid or something?! I've seen tired! Remember how exhausted the three of us were when we were on the run from the 'Cons after they blew up the base? This is way past that point! You look like you're at the end of your rope and it's scaring me!" She grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him, shouting, "C'mon, talk to me, Darby!"
Jack struggled to break free from her grip but Miko stubbornly held on.
"Look, I'm not going anywhere until I get some answers. Either you come clean about what's going on, o-or else…or else I'm telling your mom!"
All at once, Jack sagged in her vice-like grasp, the fight gone out of him. He stared off into space and murmured in a distant, faraway voice, "I…I've been having this dream."
Miko let him go and frowned, "What kind of dream?"
"A nightmare, really…I-I don't know, it just…I keep reliving the moment when the Autobots left Earth."
"What, that's it? Booo-ring!"
Jack slowly shook his head, "N-no…there's more. I…I wish that's all it was, b-but it's after that when things start to get weird and…a-and then…something bad happens."
His flat, emotionless tone caused Miko to shiver despite the warmth. She gulped before asking, "Wh-what happens, Jack?"
He took another deep breath before forcing it out. "Wh-when Arcee steps towards the Space Bridge, sh-she stops, looks back at me and s-says my name. B-before she has a chance to say anything else, there's this-this explosion of light and she starts to s-scream. Sh-she's screaming, Miko…a-and then…suddenly Arcee's gone. She's gone like she never even existed."
Horrified, Miko whispered, "S-scrap…"
The words continued to fall uncontrollably from his lips, "I know it sounds insane and I don't understand any of it, but I keep seeing it! Every single night for a month, I-I keep seeing Arcee and it's like she's trying to tell me something important and then I know what's about to happen to her b-but I can't stop it! Over and over and over again, I can't stop it from happening and…a-and…"
"Wait, you've been having the same exact nightmare for a whole month? Are you serious?! The odds alone of that are - "
He snapped, "I KNOW!" Jack barely managed to catch himself once more. "I-I know. It just…doesn't make any s-sense…"
Miko shushed Jack again and pulled him close, slowly rocking him back and forth.
"I'm s-sorry, Miko."
Gently stroking her fingers through his hair, she quietly murmured, "What are you apologizing for? I'm the one who should be sorry." She shuddered sympathetically. "A month…God, no wonder you haven't been getting any sleep."
Miko slowly pulled away and sat down on the floor beside Jack.
"What does your mom think about all this?"
Jack stared at the floor and rasped, "Sh-she doesn't know. I…I didn't want her to worry."
Miko sighed, "Classic Jack Darby."
As she attempted to gather her thoughts, one in particular stood out among the rest. It was an unsettling realization, one that until now even she would have had considerable difficulty believing…at least, right up to the fateful moment when she took a closer look at that picture.
She couldn't believe she had missed something so blatantly obvious. Suddenly she knew that she could ignore the truth no longer. Steeling herself, Miko addressed the elephant in the room.
"Jack? How long have you and Arcee been…y'know?"
He jolted as if struck by a bolt of lightning and apprehensively met her almond eyes.
"M-Miko, I told you! You're imagining things! Sh-she was my Autobot guardian, my friend, m-my…"
She smiled, "That picture of you two on my phone says otherwise, Jackrabbit. Face facts, there is no way on Earth or on Cybertron that the looks you were giving each other were in the friend zone!"
"I…I…"
Grinning salaciously, Miko nudged him with her elbow. "Sooo…Arcee, huh?"
Jack hung his head low and muttered, "Y-you must think I'm crazy."
Miko considered it and answered, "No, not really. When you stop and think about everything…all the stuff we've seen and been through…it's not crazy at all."
Overwhelmed, Jack smiled gratefully and whispered, "Th-thanks."
She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and nodded, "Glad to be your bro, bro."
A peaceful calm settled upon the pair.
Miko snickered, "Kinda wish I had known what was going on before I went and embarrassed myself, though."
Jack grimaced, feeling a fresh wave of guilt crash over him.
She gave an unworried shrug. "It's cool. Yeah, I've sometimes wondered if anything was ever gonna happen between us and sure, I'm a little bit jealous but then again, who wouldn't be? You're a rock star, remember?"
Jack blushed at the unexpected praise.
"M-Miko…I - "
"Oh, don't worry! It's not like I'm so hung up on you that I'm gonna go nuts and try to hook up with Knock Out or something! The heart wants what the heart wants, Jack. Me? I'm partial to rock stars. You…? You apparently like 'em tall."
He snorted in spite of himself.
"So, what do you think it means…this dream you keep having?"
"…I don't know. S-sometimes…I've wondered if it's some kind of warning…y-you know, telling me Arcee's in danger or something."
Miko pondered that for a moment and then said, "Jack, there's something I've been wondering. Why didn't you ask Arcee to stay?"
He sputtered, "Wh-what?"
"You heard me. Why didn't you?"
Rolling his eyes, Jack helplessly flung up his hands and cried, "What was I going to do, Miko? Say that…that I…I…"
"Whoa. Are you for real? I mean, after seeing that picture I thought you two were already a done deal! You mean you never even told her?!"
"I…I didn't…c-couldn't…"
Miko sympathetically shook her head.
"Oh, Jack…"
"Besides, sh-she had a home to rebuild…we all did." Jack hung his head and sighed desolately. "Everyone had to get back to living their lives."
"Well, it's never too late to try."
"What are you talking about?"
Miko grinned excitedly, "Hear me out, I have an idea. Why don't you go see Ratchet?"
"R-Ratchet? But…"
"…I know, I know. We're not supposed to bother him while he's working on that big science project of his. Then again, since when have we ever let a little something like that stop us? Just this once, why don't you bend the rules and stop by the hangar? This might be just what the doctor ordered…for everybody! Besides, Ratchet's long overdue for a break."
"Sorry, but I still don't get it. What does seeing Ratchet have to do with anything, Miko?"
"Duh. Because I bet if you ask nice enough, he might be willing to arrange for you to visit Cybertron. You know, so you and a certain someone could have a nice little talk about things…?" Miko winked, "Remember, Bumblebee said they were just a Space Bridge away!"
Jack's tired eyes closed as he sighed again, "No."
She exclaimed, "No?!"
"It's not that I don't appreciate it, but I've been enough of a burden…on everyone."
Miko forced him to look at her. "Oh, stop it, Jack! You're not a burden! Quit being so darn responsible for everybody else and think about yourself for once! You keep bottling this stuff up and you're just gonna get even worse than you already are! You've got to unlock the door and let it all out!"
"And then what? What do you think is going to happen, Miko? Arcee and me live happily ever after and ride off into the sunset together? Nothing is going to happen, and nothing ever will."
"UGH! You are so impossible sometimes!" She huffed with exasperation, suddenly standing to her feet and forcefully pulling Jack with her.
Under her breath she muttered, "Jakku no baka."
Jack frowned. He knew the extremely rare occasions whenever Miko slipped into her native tongue usually meant she was upset about something.
Swaying unsteadily, he asked, "Wh-what'd I say?"
Miko didn't answer. In spite of how frustrated she felt, she knew that right now Jack needed her help. Firmly wrapping an arm around his waist, she supported his weight and slowly guided him back towards his bed. She eased him into a lying position before glaring threateningly at him.
"M-Miko…?"
It all came out in a rush.
"Sukino hitowo wasureyouto surunante kotowa, shiranai hitowo oboeyou to surunoto onajida!"
Yep. Definitely upset.
"Um, Miko…I don't speak Japanese, remember?"
She growled, "Then let me spell it out for you. I said that trying to forget someone you care about is like trying to remember someone you never met. You don't have a choice in the matter, Jack. Believe me, I know."
"B-but - !"
"Did you ever stop and ask yourself if the real reason you keep having these dreams isn't because Arcee's in any kind of danger, but it's because you've been trying to deny how you really feel? Face it, Jack…you're connected to Arcee. Trying to forget about her would really be crazy."
"I…I don't understand. Why are you doing all this, Miko? I-I thought - "
"That's your problem, you think too much!" Pushed well past the point of frustration, she grabbed a pillow and proceeded to pummel Jack mercilessly with it. Quickly casting the pillow aside she plopped down on the bed next to him, leaning nearer until their faces were only millimeters apart.
"Because, you big dummy! Your happiness means more to me than anything else! Oh, and in case you're worried about her forgetting about you…?"
"Y-yeah…?"
"Not. Possible."
Miko was abruptly aware of just how close they were and blushed furiously.
"S-sorry, got a little carried away there." She quickly leaned back, self-consciously tucking an errant strand of pink hair behind her ear before asking, "Look, I just want you to be all right. Will you promise me that you'll at least think about what I said?"
"I…I guess so, sure."
"Jack? You and me, w-we are still friends…aren't we?"
Jack managed to smile tiredly and answered, "Always, Miko. Best friends."
Miko regarded him for a long moment, her eyes shimmering. She finally took a deep breath before mustering her courage.
She kissed him.
It was an innocent, chaste little thing as Jack felt Miko's lips brush feather-light against his forehead. She slowly pulled away and nervously gazed into his eyes. He blinked back at her, the surprise on his face plainly evident even through his guarded exterior.
Suddenly she rose to leave.
"Miko?"
She hesitated but didn't turn around, finding herself utterly unable to face him.
He asked, "Are…are you going to be all right?"
Miko remained motionless, her voice steady as a rock. "Try to get some rest, Jack. We've got a big day tomorrow. Graduation, remember?"
"I remember. Th-thanks again, Miko…thanks for everything."
Before closing the door behind her, Miko finally looked back at Jack and smiled sadly.
"Oyasumi nasai, Jakku."
The door shut and once more Jack found himself alone.
It would be a very long time before he managed to fall asleep again.
To be continued…!
