Arc One- Old Memories
I don't own transformers and I dunno where this came from. Stupid scraplet bit me, dug it's teeth in, and wouldn't let go. And no, Jack and Miko are not together in case that puts off readers. Some knowledge of G1, Bayverse, and Prime is needed or this probably won't make sense. This focuses mainly on the children but the bots do play a prominent part.
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"If this was just an average day with the Autobots, then I don't want to be a part of it. Not anymore."
The words echoed through his head like circling vultures, waiting until he wasn't focused on the bike in front of him before descending to prod and tear. Jack clenched his hands into a fist, grabbed the tool he needed, and worked on tightening the greased chain. He would need to fix this before school tomorrow or get up earlier to walk there himself.
Primus knew how he was going to explain the disappearance of the blue motorbike to his mother.
It should have bothered him, made him more nervous. But his mother's reaction wasn't the most important thing at the moment. And all that came was a tired sort of exhaustion and distant buzz of anger. Right after followed shame. He had no reason to be angry, not really. He knew what he was getting into. The boy had no right to pace and scowl so when it had been his choice.
An engine rumbled, big and heavy, before Jack heard the vehicle pull into his driveway. Headlights shot through the glass of the half raised garage door and lit up the room, nearly blinding him before flickering off. The partially raised door allowed Jack the view of Bulkhead's tires as the mech rolled to a stop. Black boots with purple laces appeared and the boy heard Miko speak. Her voice was deceptively innocent, holding just the right mixture of female exasperation and concern.
"Can you let me talk with Jack alone for a bit, Bulk?"
"I'll be around the block." The bot's deep voice answered easily, before he peeled out to patrol the suburbs. Miko waited until Bulkhead was out of hearing and then ducked under the door. In sharp movements, the girl dropped it to close them into the garage and whirled on him.
"What the Pit are you thinking Witwicky?!" She crossed her arms and glared at him.
Jack glared right back. He was not happy with her. Setting his tools down, he snapped, "I'm thinking we just met the bots yesterday and we almost all died. I'm sorry if I'd really like to avoid being killed painfully. Been there, done that, don't want to repeat the experience." It was scary how quickly Miko's face went from aggravated to blank in response to his words. Both humans stared at each other in silence under the dull yellow light above. Finally the girl pulled the stool over and sat down.
"We promised Spike. We gave our word." Tired hazel eyes stared at Jack as he hung his head and sat down on the ground next to her. A thin hand reached over to muss up his black hair. "Your hair is getting long. Doesn't June bug you to cut it?" He batted her hand away.
"I know we promised Carly, I'm just tired. And I was already planning on coming back. I just... I need some calm. Just a little bit." The boy ignored the dig about his hair and looked up to see Miko staring forlornly into space. "Last time was rough."
"That's why we have to do better this time Sam!" Miko smacked a fist into her palm before turning thoughtful, "I like the name Sam better than Spike by the way."
Jack chuckled, "I like that name better too. I'm glad I had my original last name, but being Sam was... not so fun."
"I don't know. There were some pretty fun times. I love exploiting the stereotype that teens are idiots. Although I think you took it a little far last time." She mused, crossing her legs and smirking at him. A glower of blatant unamusement was the only response for a few seconds before Jack pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Teens being idiots? Miko, you ran through the ground bridge to see a bot-con fight! Which by the way was extremely stupid. I know you have self-preservation skills Mikaela." he growled, standing and moving back to the bench to finish bike repairs.
An exasperated sigh blew out and she dogmatically stood by her actions, "I was doing recon. We need to know what we're dealing with and the Cons aren't the same in every universe. I can't figure out contingency plans if I don't know anything about the Decepticons. Too many people died last time! We have to do better, even if that means jumping feet first into the conflict."
There was no answer to that, at first. Jack finished the last patch up on his bike and Miko looked out the window. Both of them let their minds wander to previous lives, previous conflicts, and how much it had cost them. Once long ago, Spike and Carly had become family with the Cybertronians. And when they'd died a god had given them an offer they accepted. Be reincarnated to help again and again.
But the weight of so many events and so many memories was heavy. Turning to look at Miko, the boy broke from his pensive reverie. "Promise you'll be more careful about recon. Although I doubt they'll be so unobservant after this."
"I would have been fine if you and Raf hadn't followed."
Jack groaned and leaned against the work bench, replying tersely, "I couldn't leave him alone at base and you're not running into something without me to help. Promise Carly."
Her eyebrow raised and the female gave him a look he was long familiar with. For a second, another image overlay reality; a Caucasian blonde with blue eyes and hands on her hips disbelieving that he'd helped the Terror Twins pull a prank on Prowl, a tan and dark haired woman hip deep in engine parts waving a wrench as he and Bumblebee took turns playing silly songs on the radio to get her attention. Then the memories disappeared and a younger Asian girl with impetuous behavior continued to stare at him for a long moment. "Alright Spike." she grumbled. " I promise I'll be more careful. As long as you keep the name Sam or Jack. They're better than Spike."
"Sixties names." The boy flashed a white-toothed grin.
A grimace, "Yeah. I think I'm sticking with Miko. Mikaela is sorta... one of those snotty girl names."
Jack struggled to hide his laugh, "Oh really?"
"Yes." Miko's eyes narrowed. "Miko is much better than my original name. I don't have a clue what my parents were thinking." She trailed off for a second before crossing her arms, a stray thought making thin eyebrows scrunch. "Does any of this have to do with Bumblebee?"
"What?" The boy startled, not expecting that turn in conversation.
Boots tapped quietly against the concrete, "You know what I mean. He's Raf's guardian but he's been you're best friend through a lot of different lives, and your original."
Shrugging, Jack made a so-so gesture with his hands, "I'm okay with it. Bee's... not the same as he used to be when we first met. Different universe, different events, I get that. And I'm glad he's found a new friend. I do miss how we used be though." Carly frowned and looked downward, knowing there was nothing more to say about it. She still missed hanging out with Ironhide at the Ark. Even last universe when he showed up the mech had been around Lennox more than her and she'd often ended up helping Ratchet in the repair bay. Spike was right, things changed and it hurt the heart because the bots never remembered them.
"Besides," Jack continued, "Bee's a good guardian and I don't want today's events to happen to Raf again."
Miko's head jerked up. "That kid's suspicious." She'd been wanting to say that since yesterday but hadn't had a good chance and then forgotten later.
"What, Raf?" An incredulous snort as he pulled some candy out of a drawer in the bench and tossed a piece to her. She caught it and tore open the wrapper but scowled before taking a bite. Miko wasn't letting this go.
"Yes. What kind of twelve year old can hack the Fed's mainframe? They have genius coders and hacker set up those firewalls. You do recall the one time Jazz needed to break into their records, right? He said they were pretty good for humans." That last part was mumbled around the candy.
Jack shrugged, "Yeah, but that was in our original universe."
"Government files are not easy to break into, no matter what universe. Unless you have a bot to help."
"Okay, point taken. Don't underestimate the gov. But what does that say about Raf except that he's really smart..." He trailed off as Miko finished her candy and continued to stare at him waiting. After a second it clicked. "You think he's Chip."
"If the armor fits." She retorted blandly using an old phrase they'd picked up somewhere. Miko couldn't remember anymore who'd taught it to her. "Super smart computer geek with glasses? Sounds pretty familiar."
Shaking his head, the boy tapped his fingers on the wood benchtop, "It's always been one or two of us. But three or even all four... We haven't been together since the beginning." Every time they either were alone to help the bots with unaware humans or they managed to find one of the others. But it had been lifetimes since Carly, Spike, and Chip had all been in the same place. Not since the beginning, as they referred to their original universe.
They both paused to turn their heads as an engine grew closer. Peering out the window, the girl noticed Bulkhead slowly driving back towards them. She turned around and gestured silently to the outside. Jack sighed and nodded. "I'll come back tomorrow and drop some hints to Raf, see how he reacts."
"Good. Want me to get Arcee to come talk some sense into you?" She moved over to pull him into a hug. They may not be together like they were originally, but they'd found they made better friends and close family than a couple. Jack hugged her back, arms wrapped tight to hold onto the one lifeline to the past that he still had.
"That would be nice. Thanks Miko."
He released her and she flicked his hair out of the way, an old habit that had started almost right after they'd met. "Seeya tomorrow Jack." She walked backwards and gave a Jazz salute, lazily with two fingers, before lifting the door and sliding out. By now, Bulkhead was in the drive and waiting. Cool night air rushed in with the sound of cicadas and Jack heard the girl climb into the truck before the mech voiced a question.
"Miko, why do you smell like chocolate?"
"It's called bribery Bulk." The boy grinned but remained silent to better hear the rest of her explanation, "Candy is a great way to bribe children."
The pair drove off into the night and Jack opened the door fully, standing at the entrance and staring up at the star strewn sky. The question had bothered him the last couple lives. Had they really made the right choice, coming back again and again to help the Autobots?
Listening to the silence and the dark, the boy closed his eyes and hummed the tune Bumblebee had taught him. They'd been in the repair bay after Megatron had messed with Bee's memories and Spike had been so worried. Ratchet had yelled at him to settle down and that everything was fine but he'd felt sick that his best friend had been so hurt. Then Bee had given him a hug and taught him songs the mech had learned on Cybertron, before the war had brought the Golden Age to it's knees.
Letting the Cybertronian lullaby twine with the night, Jack who was once Sam who was once Spike had to say things weren't perfect by a long shot, but he didn't regret being here.
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I back up my theory that Miko is a lot smarter than she acts because she admits to having all A's, learned piano at the age of three and speaks a foreign language without a trace of an accent. People can be smart and irresponsible. Trust me, I see that all the time. Also, in G1 Carly acted a bit like Miko when she went to the Decepticon base all by herself to retrieve a weapon.