Transformers Prime: The Ties That Bind II- Part Two
"We should go back! I don't even know why we're arguing about this…" Pacing back and forth in the same furious and continuous fashion as he had been doing in the hour since the Land-Bridge at dropped them in a Warehouse just on the city limits, Bulkhead was un-phased by Arcee's admonishing glare.
"Because Optimus ordered us to stay low and give him time to sort things out. You agreed, Bulk. We all did." Arcee's tone, though weary, was none the less resolute. "I might not like it anymore then you do, but I gave my word. I won't betray his trust. We have to believe he knows what he's doing."
"So what's the plan? We just sit here, let those Military fleshies try and haul him and Ratchet off to get dissected?" As if to emphasize his fury at even the notion of such a thing, Bulkhead smashed two massive fists together.
"They…they wouldn't really do that? Would they?" Raphael's small voice echoed in the mostly empty space of the warehouse. At his side, Bumblebee answered the question with a mournful, unsure bleat.
"No, Raf. Even if they think Prime did this, he doesn't deserve that. Whatever it is they think Optimus stole, it's got them wigged out and paranoid enough to try to hold him, but I don't believe they would go that far." Jack looked to Arcee, his face mirroring the steady calm in her bright, illuminated eyes. "I think that's what we should be focusing on right now. I mean, isn't that what Optimus wanted us to do while we're on the lamb? Find out who really did this?"
"Yes. And that's exactly what we're going to do." Arcee answered. "But first, we need to make sure all of you are safe. If this Government group really knows about all of you, they might try to make sure you can't cause trouble even if you're with us."
"Meaning…" Jack said quietly, almost finishing Arcee's train of thought before Miko chimed in.
"Our parents? But, they don't even know about the Autobots. My foster folks are as oblivious as they get; even if I told 'em about Bulk and the rest of you guys, they wouldn't believe me. They'd just think I was watching too much Anime."
"And my mom and dad aren't even here. They're at a business conference in Hong Kong. They won't be back for weeks." Raf added.
"Then you three need to do whatever you need to get in touch. We can help with that. We might not have the silo's resources, but we can make do." Arcee observed. "Jack, Miko? We need to find some way to get your parents out of town, or at least on the move."
Jack mulled over that quietly for a moment before coming up with an idea. "I have an aunt in Barstow. I might be able to talk my mom into taking a drive to see her. She's always talking about visiting. If I can convince her to leave on her own, I can just tell her I've got some last minute work stuff, and that I'll catch up with her on my Motor…well, you."
"That's if she's willing to let you take that long a drive on your own." Arcee warned.
"It's a long shot, I know. But, you said it yourself. Less then a year, and I'm out of school. Maybe it's time I reminded her of that."
"Okay. Well, at least that's something. Miko?" Arcee asked. "Any ideas for your folks?"
"Aside from torching their house? I've got zilch. Those two are as dull as dirt. They wouldn't know how to get out of this mom and pop town if their lives depended on it." Miko paused. "Let's hope that's not the case. Wouldn't want to have that conversation with my real parents back in Osaka."
"What if they had extra incentive?" Raf chimed in.
"Like what?" Miko questioned, eye-brow raised.
"Like…what if they won a trip. To, say, Vegas or something?" He offered.
"Ha. Yeah? You know anyone offering that kind of thing?"
"Well…I didn't say it would have to be real…"
"Wait. You mean pull a fast one on 'em?" Miko inquired, suddenly enthusiastic.
"Yeah, I guess. Bulk and Arcee have used their voice augmentation in the past to impersonate our teachers and the like. They could pose as someone else and tell your folks they won, like, a room at Cesar's Palace or something."
"That…just might be crazy enough to work," Arcee observed, long metallic fingers over her chin. "But, they'll need some kind of proof, won't they?"
"I can take of that," Raf answered. "I can put together a fake website and IP address. Just point them there and when they check it out they'll see whatever information we'll need to convince them." Raf looked to Miko. "I mean, they'll be pretty mad when they get there and the Casino tells them they don't have rooms, but they won't believe for a minute you had something to do with it."
For her part, Miko eyed Raf appreciatively, almost intensely, for a moment, making the boy fidget where he stood. "That's almost evil." She mused gleefully. "You know, if you were just a bit older, I might have to make you my boyfriend for that." As if to punctuate that possibility, Miko gave the younger teen a none too gentle punch in the shoulder.
"Thanks…I think." Was Raf's only response, his face suddenly flushed under his large glasses.
Seemingly oblivious to that, Miko looked back to Arcee. "So, we've got that handled. Our parents out of the way, and we're free to bust the real crooks!" That brought the girl up short. "Uh, so, how to do we find 'em?"
"We follow what little trail they've left behind." Replied the Autobot commander. "Starting with whatever it was they took from the Military. That said, we're going to need to find out what exactly that was."
"Well, we've got one sure way to do that." Jack observed. "Fowler. I heard him, and he defiantly got burned by his higher ups. If we can get in touch with him, without tipping off the guys who went after Optimus, he can give us what information he has."
"Agreed. In the meantime, we're going to need to get you three some food and a few changes of clothes. It's too risky to take you by your homes."
"Raf?" Jack asked. "You got your folks credit card?"
"Yeah. But I'm only supposed to use it for emergencies." The younger teen quietly appraised their current surroundings. "Which, I guess, this qualifies as."
"Okay, Raf, you and BB go with Bulkhead and Miko. Get what you need. Jack and I will try to get in touch with Fowler. I know a place that's safe to make the call. We meet back here before dawn." Arcee frowned slightly. "If any of us falls out of contact, the rest sticks to the mission. Find who did this. That's the best way to help Optimus. Only if all else fails, do we do this canon's blazing."
The group nodded or murmured consent. With so much left do be done, the humans and Autobots quickly set out, the chill of a strangely cold, and hostile, night closing in around them.
…
"They're coming, Optimus." Ratchet said as he watched the various monitors in the control center, half of which were no longer functioning after the barrage of missile strikes. The old medic could barely contain his anger and frustration at being unable to keep the silo secured.
Whether by hacks, or redundancies long ago built into the installation's security, which Ratchet had somehow never discovered, the Military had been able to bypass one system after another. Once he had realized what was happening, Ratchet had dumped any blue-prints or sensitive data from the mainframe into a portable drive. That was now secured on his person.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more." Added the medic.
"Do not concern yourself with such thoughts, my old friend. This is an enemy we did not believe we would ever need to face." Almost serenely, Optimus listened as the central lift, undamaged during the assault, began to descend. Elsewhere he knew, military forces would be finding other access points, fanning out across the whole of the installation.
"Do you think they'll attack us on sight? Should we ready ourselves?" Ratchet asked.
"No. As I said before, I believe they know less then what they attest to. They believe an Autobot has struck against them, taking what is theirs. They will seek to learn more, and to reclaim their property. That will give us the time to open their eyes to the real threat."
"I hope you're right, Optimus." Ratchet said solemnly.
"As do I, my friend." The Prime answered.
Only just above them, the doors to the lift opened. Almost immediately, several small projectiles were ejected, rolling across the arrival platform and over the side to nearly come to a stop at the Autobot's feet before detonating. The room was suddenly awash in electrical fire and light.
Though they had anticipated this, both Optimus and Ratchet were still left reeling by the effects of the small EMP devices. However, just as Prime had knew them to be, the explosives were not meant to be fatal, only to stun.
Taking several moments, the Autobot's optical systems slowly reset, giving the pair clear site once again. The view that greeted Optimus was sobering but not unexpected.
The room was now occupied by several squads of well armed soldiers glad in black fatigues and in various strategic positions. All together, the military units had the two Autobots covered in overlapping fields of fire. Were their weapons capable of doing so, it would take little effort to cripple either of them.
Letting his gaze sweep across the most immediate of the assembled troops, Optimus raised himself up slowly, hands held out in as much a gesture of non-aggression as he could manage. "We have no desire to engage you. However, you are trespassing. I ask to speak to whomever among you is in command."
"To be trespassing, this facility would have to no longer be U.S. Government property. Though you and your…kind, were permitted to use this silo, it has ever remained in the hands of the United States."
Stepping out from the lift to stand along the railing of the arrival platform was a tall human of considerable age, his face a series of worn lines with shortly trimmed hair which had long since turned nearly white. Dressed in fatigues of the type worn by the men and woman seemingly under his command, the man, four small metal stars along his collar, eyed the two Cybertronians with a cold animosity.
"I am General William North," the human drawled, his voice of unknown Southern origin. "Commanding officer of this Operation. And, I believe, you had something to say to me?"
"Indeed," Optimus answered, attempting to sound as at ease and cordial as he could. "General. You and your people have attacked us without provocation. Though we are aware of your mistaken assumptions concerning the theft of your secrets, I say again that we have committed no such crime against you." The Prime set his gaze directly onto the General.
"As such, I ask that you leave here and allow us to identify the true perpetrators in this. We will, of course, return what has been taken from you once it is located. This has been, for all parties, an unfortunate misunderstanding."
Appearing to listen quietly, the General paused to ensure that Optimus had finished speaking before he turned to speak to one of the nearest soldiers. "Major, please ensure the facility is secure. Then begin your search."
"Yes, sir." Came the officer's response. Motioning to several men and women about him, the Major slipped away, his squad in tow, down the nearest stairway and into the base proper. Watching the team depart, the General returned his attention to Optimus.
"As I see it, alien, everything you and your kind may feel inclined to say in their defense is a lie and woefully unnecessary. The Pentagon has allowed your species to operate with far too much autonomy and it has, unsurprisingly, cost us dearly. My presence here is the start of rectifying that mistake." Moving down the adjacent stairway, North continued to speak.
"Effective immediately, you and the rest of the Cybertronians on this planet will be considered hostile entities and will be dealt with accordingly. This of course includes those you have designated Decepticons. Measures have already been set in motion to deal with them. Now, tell me, where are the other members of your group?"
Attempting to process what the General had just said with as much diplomacy as possible, Optimus tried to move to intercept the General's path.
"General North. I assure you, the Autobots are humanities allies." Optimus said imploring.
"Well, if that is true, then you should have no problem in returning the technology you acquired from our R&D site." Came the General's casual response.
"General, as I have said, we have taken no such…"
"Don't lie to me, alien!" North suddenly screamed. Seeming to follow this sudden aggression, the soldiers took careful aim. The room became eerily quiet in the aftermath.
At last, it was the Autobot leader that spoke first.
"My name is Optimus Prime, General North. Though I may not be of your species, I have enough respect for your people to speak to them by name when those titles are known to me. I would ask that you show me the same level of courtesy."
Around the elder warriors of two different races, both Ratchet and the dozen or so squads watched the exchange almost in awe. Neither side believed the other's leader would bend or compromise first. After several more moments of near silence in the massive central chamber, the quiet was broken by gruff human laughter.
"Ha. You've got some serious stones, Prime. I guess that pansy Fowler wasn't exaggerating." The General mulled over some unspoken train of thought before continuing. "Alright, let's try this again, shall we?"
"Agreed, General." Answered Optimus. "Agent Fowler informed me that the Military possessed proof that I was responsible for the theft of your secrets. If this is so, then I request you show me this evidence."
"Yes," North replied. "Why don't we cut to the brass tacks." With that, the General reached up to activate a small wireless headset at his ear. "Bishop one? King. Route access to the central systems here."
Within moments, the previously overridden and locked control room computers came alive, now operated by unseen hands likely onboard one of the various gun-ships outside the silo. On the largest of the monitors still functioning a video file began loading. After a few seconds, it began to play.
The recording was of the interior of a massive hangar. Within it's confines, several assault vehicles from Humvees to personnel carriers were lined up facing the hangar's closed doors. Among the vehicles, military troops were manning defensive positions, taking aim at the aforementioned doors and waiting, weapons ready. Prime watched as, suddenly, the two massive steel doors of the hangar were torn away, flooding the space with daylight that, in turn, highlighted a bipedal form that tore into the space, laying waste to the military personnel within with energy blasts of a type that was clearly Cybertronian. The carnage continued until the General said something into his earpiece. The video stilled.
"Resolve and magnify." North said to the operator.
Coming into greater focus, Optimus watched as the form attacking the hangar's occupants took clear shape. Behind him, Prime could hear Ratchet's murmur of recognition, new pieces of the puzzle clicking into place, and immediately shared in it. Frozen in the image was the rampaging form of Optimus Prime.
"So tell me," said the General. "Do you still attest that you had nothing to do with this attack on our facility?"
Analyzing the image, Optimus felt his anger flare. Studying the image as well, Ratchet said aloud, "Optimus? It has to be…"
"I know, Ratchet. I have thought the same. The question is, how?"
"Excuse me." North interjected. "But I assume you have a no doubt fascinating explanation for this?"
"Indeed, General North. Though I fear it may take some explaining of a matter we had hoped to keep private among we Autobots."
"Well, given that you and your people face greater concerns then pride at the present time, perhaps you should explain quickly." North's tone inferred that it was not a request.
"Very well. Not long ago, we were…infiltrated, by a unique breed of Decepticon spy I have not seen since the earliest days of the conflict that destroyed our world. His name was Makeshift, a Decepticon capable of assuming the form of any Cybertronian he has been able to scan and study with great detail. Using this ability, he assumed the identity of a captured ally, attempting to gain the location of this base of operations. Had he succeeded, our enemy would have brought their warship down upon us and destroyed this place, along with any Autobot within."
"I see," replied the General, his expression unreadable. "And I take it you were able to discover and destroy this enemy spy?"
"It seems we should have made certain of that fact. However, from what I see here, he, or another of his design, remain in service to Starscream." Optimus's observed grimly.
For his part, the General's countenance remained unchanged. Then, as before, he began to laugh.
"You must really take we humans for fools. It would seem you do not respect us as much as you claim, alien." North gave the Prime an antagonizing glare. "I do not like being played a fool, and I will not spend any more time on this farce."
"There is no attempt at deceit here, General North. We are not responsible. If his spark has not been extinguished, Makeshift is the enemy you seek. It is with the Decepticons you will find your stolen technology."
"If there is even the slightest chance this is true, why have I never read anything concerning this in Fowler's reports?" Fumed the General.
"If you will recall, I stated this was a matter we chose to keep to ourselves. Clearly, a lack of good judgment on our parts. We feared that if our human allies learned of our breach of security, their trust in our ability to adequately protect you and combat the Decepticon threat would be compromised."
"You are asking me to swallow a great deal here, Prime." The General responded.
"I am merely asking you to trust in us as your government has for some time now. We have protected this planet from great destruction, and we will continue to do so, for this world has become as much a home to my kind as to yours." Optimus risked taking a step forward. Sensing his men preparing to take action, the General held up a single hand to keep them at bay.
"General North. Permit us to locate Makeshift. Once found, we can retrieve your secrets, and ensure this threat is brought to a close once and for all."
Staring up into the Prime's face with a tight expression, the only indication that the General was even considering Optimus's request was slight clenching of his jaw. Appearing to at last come to some resolution, North said evenly. "Very well. Bring your people in and I will consider it."
Fearing what his next words might incite, Optimus hesitated before responding.
"Respectfully, General North, I would not feel at ease bringing my people here before this matter is resolved completely. Given the drastic actions taken against us, I can not help but be concerned for their safety should Makeshift prove beyond our ability to locate quickly."
"You just assured me you could find this shape-shifter, Prime. Are you now saying that isn't something you can do?"
"It may not be a simple matter, but I have faith in the members of this team." Optimus replied. "However, their safety, and freedom, remain my primary concern. They will do everything they can to locate Makeshift, but they must be permitted to do so without fear of incarceration or mistaken reprisal."
"That's not how this works, Prime. You want me to trust you, to buy into this story of yours? Bring-Your- People-In." The General's words brokered no argument.
"That is something I can not do, General North." Optimus answered slowly, almost regretfully.
"Then, alien, we have a problem." North replied darkly.
"It would seem, much to my great sadness, that we do."
Exhaling his frustration, the General moved back up the stairwell to the upper platform, resuming his previous position above the two Autobots. After a moment, North turned, stepping back into the lift, hitting the button for the top level. Before the doors closed completely the General said simply, "Take them."
As the lift ascended to the surface, the control center became a battlefield.
…
"So, where is this place?" Jack asked over the radio in his helmet. Speeding along the interstate, Arcee and her passenger had been on the road only a little over half an hour, having left the warehouse far behind them. Though monitoring their secured frequency for any indication of a transmission from the formerly secured Autobot headquarters and Optimus, Arcee answered.
"It's an Alpha site. Back-up HQ. Ratchet had me and BB set it up a few months ago. It's not exactly state of the art, but it has an encrypted com unit and it would be a good place to lay low while we look for the 'cons."
"Wow. Good on Ratchet for thinking ahead." Jack observed.
"Yeah. Always figured if we had to use it we'd have Starscream or one of his lackeys to thank. Never figured we have to use it to hide from the people we're trying to protect." Arcee's tone was hollow and bitter. Jack hated hearing her so resentful. Their relationship was still a sensitive thing, and having her come to despise or think so little of humans as she once had would effectively form a wedge between them.
"Arcee, these guys that attacked the silo, they don't speak for everyone. For all we know, this whole thing could have been done without permission. From the way Fowler sounded, he wasn't the only one from the Pentagon who wasn't a fan of this call."
"Really? Then who should I be angry with more? The one's responsible, or the ones who stood by and let it happen after everything we've done?"
Jack didn't have an easy answer for that. Arcee didn't expect him to. The rest of the drive to the Alpha site was made in silence. Once they arrived, Arcee coasting to a stop at the base of a small mountain, Jack was almost grateful for the distraction. Likewise for Arcee, who set about looking for the almost invisible markers that would lead to the entry in the near darkness.
Using her optics, coded to a specific spectrum, it was easy enough to spot the specially treated chemical marks at various points to lead them. After several minutes of plodding along, Arcee at last stopped.
"This is it." She told Jack quietly.
Trying to see through the low light visibility, Jack observed Arcee's form as she moved aside a rather massive mound of tumbleweeds and broken stone. After a few moments of work, Jack was able to barely discern a darker spot among the shadows at the base. Checking to make sure Jack was close behind her, Arcee entered what turned out to be an artificial cleft, barely large enough for the Autobot, in the mountainside.
"Come on," she called back.
Trying his best to follow, Jack stumbled along until, after several feet, Arcee produced a sharp beam of light from her wrist, illuminating a narrow path between the stone ahead of them. Thankful for not having to avoid knocking his head, Jack moved ahead slowly on Arcee's heels. Before too long, they stopped.
"Here," Arcee said, running alloyed fingers along a section of stone wall. Unseen by Jack, Arcee transmitted a short burst signal to a device on the opposite side of the barrier. Around them came the sound of mechanical gears turning, accompanied by the appearance of a seam in the almost flawless stone. Moments later, the hidden hatch fully retracted, Arcee's light revealing an empty anti-chamber.
"Let's go." Without another word, Arcee entered. Trying not to marvel at the engineering behind the hidden door, Jack followed.
The pair found themselves moving past the anti-chamber, and down a short tunnel. Whatever system Arcee had activated when she had opened the concealed hatch, those systems were now bringing to life a series of red-lights along the passage, permitting the two to make their way easily along without aid. Eventually, after crossing several other tunnels Arcee indicated were decoys to counter intrusion, they arrived at another sealed hatch. This one, however, required the use of optical sensors and a full body scan. Once the security system confirmed Arcee's, and even Jack's, identity the second hatch opened slowly, admitting them into the Alpha site proper.
"Lights," Arcee called out to the dimly lit space. Almost immediately the control center was filled with the glow of halogen bulbs, the sudden brightness forcing Jack to blink his eyes back into focus. Once he could see clearly again, Jack looked about at the rather impressive suite of computers, servers, and other bits of technology that would have put Raphael into fits of joy. Off to the side, or tucked into various corners, were doors or small rooms carved into the stone of the already hollowed out space.
"Where do those lead?" Asked Jack. Following his gaze to the indicated spots, Arcee turned back to the terminal she was checking before she answered.
"Storage rooms and the medical bay. Neither have very much. We thought we would have more time to get the place fully stocked." Using the slightly oversized keyboard, Arcee typed in a series of commands, running a systems diagnostic.
"The rooms were for you, Miko, and Raf. Figured if we had to end up using this place, it'd likely mean bringing you along." Her tone at that last part made Jack flinch slightly. However, it was quickly replaced with a weary frustration.
He understood how betrayed Arcee, and all the Autobots, likely felt right now. They had lost their homeworld, had spend centuries fighting their way across the galaxy until finally finding their way to Earth, a planet that had seemed better then anywhere to start again. They had risked their lives, and had even lost one of their own, to keep humans safe from Megatron and the other Decepticons.
And now, after all of that, they had been forced to leave their leader and another of their family in the hands of humans that were apparently in service to the same government that had promised them safe-haven. Taking these things into account, Jack understood that Arcee's fury was warranted. He also understood that there was more to it.
Despite that, he wouldn't let her push him away just so she could keep her feelings bottled up inside. She had done that once before, when she had lost someone close to her. It had nearly left her as hollowed out as the chamber in which they now found themselves. Jack would not, could not, let that happen again.
"Arcee?" Jack asked, moving around a row of terminals towards her.
"Look, it might take some time to reach Fowler. It's been a long day. Why don't you get some sleep."
"No." Jack's tone brought Arcee up short. She turned to look at her human partner, seeing the stern expression on his face.
"What?" She asked defensively.
"I'm sorry about Optimus, Arcee. But he wouldn't want to see you like this. He knows you're stronger then that. So do I."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Besides, I need to work on this…"
"Don't do that!" Jack said, perhaps more harshly then he had intended. "Don't shut me out just because you're afraid to let someone see what you're really feeling."
"How dare you. Whatever it is you think you know, you've got it wrong. Don't push me, Jack."
"It wasn't your fault, Arcee. What happened to Optimus. It was his call. It wasn't humans, either. Not all of us." Jack insisted, firmly. "And it wasn't your fault what happened to Cliffjumper."
Arcee spun on the teen, her eyes even brighter then normal, her face a mask of rage.
"How dare you!" She yelled, her voice echoing in the small space. "I told you about Cliff because I wanted you to know that how I felt about him wouldn't effect how I feel…felt, about you. Not so you could throw in back in my face!"
"I didn't, and I'm sorry if you feel like I did. But I know it still eats at you. Not just because of how you felt, but because you are Optimus's second in command." Jack took a breath, eyes imploring. "Just like him, you want to keep everyone safe. You wanted to save Cliff, just like you wanted to pull Optimus out of there with us and not feel like you were leaving him behind. But it was his call. His decision to make. And he didn't make it so you could blame yourself for a failure that isn't there or confuse who the real enemy is!"
Jack watched the storm of anger and other emotions cause Arcee's entire body to shake, her hands clenched so tightly he could hear the strain of alloy.
Knowing he might not have the opportunity later, Jack pressed ahead.
"Optimus wanted us to stay free, because he knew you would complete the mission, not drag yourself down." Keeping his voice gentle, Jack moved up beside her. "I know why you have to always put on the brave face. Because you're a leader, just like Optimus. But that mask? I can see past it. I know you're afraid for him. For all of us. Because I am to. But you're not alone, Arcee. And when things are tough, like they are now, you shouldn't try so hard to be."
Standing there silently, Arcee kept her eyes sealed against the room, against Jack, and anything else she did not want to see. Then, slowly, she opened them, the optics now dimmer then before. With a sigh, Arcee lowered herself to the hard stone floor, settling with her legs drawn up to her armored chest.
Arcee finally met Jack's worried expression, letting him see for the first time just how weary she truly felt.
"I guess, even after all this time, its still so easy to fall back on old habits." Arcee reflected. "I told you before about how long it seems like we've been fighting. Even with all the friends and comrades I've seen lost, I'm still afraid to loose anyone. Especially Optimus."
"He's been there for so long, our unwavering center. I guess I just couldn't think about doing this without him. Over the centuries he's become more then just our leader. I guess, to compare it to something you humans have , he's like our father. Cybertronians don't have children the same way humans do, but I still understand the concept of parents. I see how you are with your mother, how much you love her and she loves you. And, when I look at Optimus, along with the respect, I know I feel the same thing you do." Arcee looked away, then back again.
"The thought that I didn't try hard enough to save him. That he might be in some lab or…" Her words broke off as her voice grew heavy with emotion.
Sitting so low to the ground as she was, Jack was able to, if just barely, reach up to touch her face, resting his hand against the polymorphic surface. Closing her eyes, Arcee silently savored the feel of Jack's warmth.
"He's going to be okay, Arcee. I promise. We'll find out who did this, and we'll get him back." Jack smiled, trying to project the confidence and certainty he was feeling. "We'll be busting 'cons and celebrating. You never know," He added. "We might even actually get a Prime to party."
At that, Arcee laughed, loud and freely. It was so rare a thing, Jack always found it beautiful.
Lowering herself slightly, Arcee let her brow gently come to rest against Jack's own. Though the Cybertronian woman was so much larger, nothing in the exchange felt awkward. It was a private moment for them to share just between them.
Arcee stared into Jacks cool gray eyes, saying all the things in that look that she knew she didn't have the words for. Jack, in turn, said just as much with not a syllable spoken.
Suddenly emboldened, Jack leaned forward. Momentarily taken aback, Arcee blinked, somewhat startled.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"Uh, sorry. Human…instinct, reaction…thing. I guess. Never mind." Jack quickly found himself flustered. His confidence of only a few moments before replaced by a flush to his face that would have put Raf's to shame.
For her part, Arcee looked genuinely bemused. "Just you try it, lover boy."
"Yeah. Sorry. I'll just, uh, go get some sleep." Before Jack could move away, Arcee stopped him with a gentle prod.
"No. I mean, try it." She told him evenly.
Eyes wide, Jack tried to see if she was merely teasing, or if she was being genuine in her encouragement. After a moment of looking into her steady gaze, watching her subtle, confidant smirk, he risked believing she wasn't out to make him hate himself for trying something so…spur of the moment.
"Okay…" Jack said slowly. "I, uh, might need you to meet me halfway here…"
Chuckling softly, Arcee lowered her face to his, saving the teen from a sprained neck. Though it was, overall, larger then his own, what constituted as Arcee's mouth was not overwhelming. Leaning forward, Jack joined Arcee in closing his eyes, their respective lips only inches apart.
The sound of a persistent chime suddenly filled the air around them. Both, equally startled by the noise, looked away from one another to the terminal Arcee had only recently been using.
"What's…? Jack ventured.
"The secure line I was testing. Looks like we got a hit." Arcee replied, rising out of her crouch to check the monitor on the console. Before she had moved too far, she halted, looking back down at Jack who could not help but suddenly feel small and somewhat foolish. Reaching out, Arcee ran a finger through his hair.
"To be continued, okay?" She offered gently.
"Yeah. Cool. I mean, defiantly." Jack answered, attempting to conceal the stupid grin trying to plaster itself across his features.
With a knowing smile, Arcee turned away, setting her attention to the data now on her screen. Reading the transmission code there, she almost gasped.
"Who sent the call?" Jack asked, trying to read what he could on the monitor.
Answering Jack's inquiry, she simply said, "It's Fowler."
To be continued…