Black Wolf
Chapter 3
Arcee's optics on-lined when she woke up from a short recharge. The new base wasn't that different from the one old, but the fact that her former safe haven had been discovered and destroyed made her feel a little homesick. Arcee missed Jasper and the wide desert plains that went on forever. It had been her home for so many years. But now, it was gone.
Arcee got up from her berth and walked to the medical bay.
"Optimus," she said when she saw the Autobot leader sitting on a berth, "How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine," he replied, "Thank you for asking."
Arcee left the med bay and continued walking. Things just felt a little awkward since Optimus had returned. Arcee just couldn't figure out why. Hopefully it would pass.
Arcee walked to the main computer and met up with Bulkhead and Bumblebee. Agent Fowler hadn't managed to locate Smokescreen or Wheeljack since the attack. Wheeljack must have been killed when Starscream shot down his ship. And no one could even try and guess where Smokescreen was.
"Where are the kids?" asked Arcee, noticing that they were gone.
"Fowler took them to go look for apartments," answered Bulkhead, "They might as well get settled in."
"Yeah," said Arcee. She felt terrible for them. Miko couldn't go home at the moment, Raf was still separated from the rest of his family, and Jack and his mother had lost everything. She couldn't imagine what they were going through. No, wait, she could.
"Are they going to be back soon?" she asked.
"[They haven't called in a while,]" beeped Bumblebee, "[But they said that they'd be back by two.]"
Arcee looked at the clock. 1:30 pm. They should be back soon. Maybe Miko would play her guitar or something when they got back. That would certainly add some excitement.
Arcee started heading back to her berth when a voice came on the main computer.
"Ratchet! Bee!" Raf's voice was shaken, "Is anyone there?"
"I'm here, Raf," Ratchet answered first, "What's the problem?"
"W-w-we were just about the come back when-" Raf sounded like he was on the verge of crying, "When that spider Con came and took Jack!"
Arcee ran up to the computer.
"Airachnid!" She did survive! And if she took Jack, then that meant Airachnid wanted something.
"Just stay calm, Raf," said Ratchet reassuringly, "I will bridge you and the others back now."
He walked over to the Ground-Bridge controls and activated the portal. When the humans came in, Agent Fowler was trying to calm down June Darby, who was crying uncontrollably. Miko and Raf were still shaking. Bumblebee grabbed a few blankets and gave one to each human. Agent Fowler denied and walked over to where Ratchet was.
"The creepy-crawly must've been watching our every move," said Fowler, "She attacked when we were out in a mostly abandoned parking lot."
"Did you see which direction she fled?" asked Arcee in a furious tone.
"It looked like she was heading North," said Fowler, "But it was difficult to tell."
Arcee felt like screaming. She wanted to tear Airachnid limb from limb! Optimus came into the room upon hearing the commotion.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
"Jack has been taken," explained Ratchet, "It would seem that Airachnid escaped the stasis pod during the explosion."
"Optimus," said Arcee, "We have to find him. If we wait, who knows what Airachnid could do to him!"
"I agree," said Optimus, "But since we do not yet know where Airachnid has taken Jack, we have no choice but to wait."
Arcee let out an angry vent and stormed back to her berth. The next time she saw Airachnid, she's send her to the Pit.
The next day, the computer was beeping very loudly.
Ratchet walked over immediately.
"It's a high frequency signal with an embedded message," he pressed a few buttons and a video started to play on the screen.
"Autobots," Arcee ran over at the sound of Airachnid's voice, "Fancy talking to you again. I just thought I'd let you know that Jack is unharmed and in my… care."
Arcee looked like she was ready to jump into the screen and strangle the Con.
"However," continued the spider femme, "I have some demands that I need to be made. If you want to see Jack again, alive that is, then have Arcee meet me at these coordinates. She must come alone. If anyone else shows up, then Arcee will have another fallen partner added to her list."
By this time, Arcee's optics were burning with fury and hatred. Everyone else had come in to listen to the video, but they made sure to stay at a reasonable distance from Arcee.
"Oh, and just so you know," Airachnid looked behind her at something hanging from the ceiling, "Say hello, Jack."
"Arcee!" Jack's voice was filled with terror.
"Jack!" said Arcee and June Darby in unison. June started crying again and Miko and Raf tried to comfort her.
"Tell Arcee she has three hours," the video ended.
Arcee started walking to the Ground-Bridge before Optimus stopped her.
"Arcee, this is clearly a well-orchestrated plan for revenge."
"I know," Arcee turned around to face him, "You aren't stopping me, are you?"
Optimus looked down for a minute.
"I'm not," he finally answered, "Against my better judgment, I think it would be best for you to go and help Jack."
"Ratchet," Arcee turned to the medic, "Send me to the coordinates."
Ratchet walked over to the controls and put in the coordinates Airachnid supplied. A green portal opened immediately and Arcee walked through it.
"She will most likely do something rash," said Ratchet.
"And I'm not sure we can do anything to stop her," replied Optimus.