Chapter 3 - Together or Alone.
Jack watched on in horror from the hallway of the crashed Decepticon ship, before his eyes his world seemed like it was coming to a close. Arcee his guardian his friend was broken her armor shattered, defenceless as she lay on the floor struggling to move, her optics staring down at him in sorrow, her mouth moves though he is too lost I his mind to hear them, above her the Monster which has haunted and hunted them both for months, but haunted Arcee for centuries. Airachnid. Her palm pointed at Arcee's torso aiming for her spark chamber, Arcee unable to fight back keeps her optics on Jack a purple light reflecting off of her alloy from the charging Energon blast building up in Airachnid's hand.
He feels the air blow against him as he start running moving as fast as he can towards his fallen friend. He must do something he think to himself anything, and if not, he hopes to catch himself in the blast, for he would rather die than live on without her.
Airachnid smirks her wicked smile her fangs baring from her metallic mouth.
Then suddenly an Energon blast is fired, a loud explosion and brilliant light and a hot burning sensation in the air, Jack falls back covering his eyes, he was too late, he only awaited to hear the sound of the laughing Airachnid then beg her to put him out of his misery. But no.
"ARRGGHHH!" Airachnid wails out in pain Jack turns seeing Airachnid slammed against the wall her blast hitting the ground near Arcee's leg. How? What caused her to miss? What caused this?
His answers came from the sound of an animalistic snarl, Airachnid looked up seeing the large hulking Dynobot leap out from another room, wrapping his large hand around Airachnid's head picking her up and slamming her into the ground.
"THIS WAS MY FIGHT!" the Decepticon roars out in a primal rage lifting Airachnid from the ground then throwing her across the hallway in Jack's direction, Jack watched on ducking low as he could only to see the venomous spider fly further after a green blast of Energon sends her hurtling through the air and smashing against the far wall her servos buckling on impact she screams out in torture as her limbs buckle out of place.
Dynobot snarled stomping up towards Airachnid, whom was forced to stand with Six of her eight spider legs the other two shattered beyond use.
"Hmm, come along big boy, let me see what you've got!" Airachnid spoke in a sick seductive way lifting her arms and firing off a powerful shot of webbing. Dynobot lifted his damaged shield the tail pieces spinning once more as the webbing splatted onto it, the tail not showing signs of stopping as the webbing merely melted and evaporated from the produced heat, Dynobot pull his sword from his back the large Decepticon snarling with murderous intent.
"So you've got a useful toy." Airachnid hissed charging towards the larger male type Decepticon firing her blasters only for his shield to render the shots useless. The spinning shield began to slow down, it's damage taking its toll from his battle with Arcee eventually stopping letting multiple blasts from Airachnid hit against his body, Dynobot snarled in rage, his rage which overcame his pain charged forward, Airachnid stopping suddenly and fired off more webbing at him. The segments of his blade began to twirl vigorous, he snarled dived and rolled under the shot of webbing then came up infront of Airachnid both hands on the sword's handle then drove the blade deep into her chest plates the blade grabbing a hold of wiring as it spun inside her snapping them, twisting them misshaping her inner alloy, she wretched out letting out a scream louder than anything Jack had ever heard then watched as Dynobot pulled out his sword Airachnid's body slumping on the ground.
Jack looked away from Dynobot and ran towards Arcee.
"Arcee come on, this is our chance." Jack grabbed her hand trying to move her. Tears still dripping onto the floor from his cheeks. Arcee turned her optics weakly to Jack.
"No Jack" she groaned "This is it, I can't fight back. My systems are too damaged." Arcee stopped just barely managing to turn onto her side using her arm as support, not like she had much choice, hearing metal thuds against the ground, both she and Jack looked seeing Dynobot walk towards them. Arcee looked at Jack in panic "Please Jack GO! While you can!" Arcee tried to move but her systems were too badly damaged. Jack didn't move and looked at Dynobot as he walked up to them blade in hand.
With a look of determination Jack walked bravely towards Arcee's feet.
"JACK NO RUN PLEASE!" Arcee cried out begging him. Jack didn't listen tears welling up in his eyes again yet he remained strong.
"You want her Con, you have to go through me!" Jack said in defiance of Dynobot, staring up at him, Dynobot looked in shock at the small. Hayman? Norman? The whatever. His eyes turned from Jack to Arcee who was trying her best to move.
"You want to kill her, you're going to have to kill me first" Jack spoke once more.
"NO…" Arcee cried out her body still refusing to move, "… Don't you dare hurt him! Leave the boy alone!" Arcee's voice had near broken her murderous words coming out more of a plea than a threat. Dynobot looked her over, she was damaged, she was defeated, and the only thing stopping him from ending her existence was a small Carbon based Hayman, Norman, an organism.
'No' Thought Dynobot, 'Not the only thing.'
Not a thing was said for minutes, not a muscle or servo twitched, Jack stared up at Dynobot, Arcee stared at Jack and Dynobot and Dynobot shifting his gaze from Jack to Arcee.
"I have no interest in hurt the boy" Dynobot finally spoke. Arcee looked at Dynobot in mix of confusion and shock. Normally cons would have destroyed anything connected to an Autobot.
"Be it far from me to fight an inferior foe" Dynobot continued looking down at Jack then up to Arcee, his gaze turning back down to Jack as he heard Jack speak.
"YOU'RE NOT HURTING ARCEE!" Jack yelled out to the large Decepticon. Arcee and Jack both expected different reactions, a loss of patience, possible leading to him killing Jack while Arcee, while she would be unable to stop him. But they heard chuckling, coming from the Con, then laughing, both watched on as Dynobot laughed loudly placing a hand on his forehead and one on his side. Neither said a word while the Con laughed then finally he calmed down enough and looked at Jack.
"You have bravery little one, I admire bravery." Dynobot smiled down to Jack with a large toothy grin, his face turned serious as he looked at Arcee.
"We had best get you out of range of the jammer"
Arcee and Jack stared at Dynobot in shock and disbelief. Was he trying to help them?
"What're you planning?" Arcee demanded to know, Dynobot looked at her with an unemotional face. "Like a Con would just help us if he didn't have something else in mind"
"I am NOT like them" He snarled defending himself. "I AM A WARRIOR!"
"And what's your point?" Jack called out. Dynobot looking down at him.
"If I were to kill you OR your femme it would be a kill lacking in HONOUR!"
"Since when do Decepticons care about honour?" Arcee spoke out not believe the Con for a minute.
"I care. Killing you now would be dishonourable, our battle was interrupted by another…" Dynobot tried to explain but was cut off short by Arcee.
"And how does that make a difference to a Decepticon?" anger boiling up in her circuits as she looked at him, she didn't believe him for one nano cycle
"… I wanted a fair fight, ONE ON ONE"
Jack looked up to Dynobot tilting his head a little, could they really trust a con, in the galaxy was there truly a Decepticon who believed in honour?
"What a load of scrap!" Arcee hissed staring daggers at Dynobot, he merely ignored her, normally he'd be enraged by any other who had questioned him and his code. But she was a Autobot, and he was a Decepticon, distrust came between their factions. Dynobot let out a soft snarl.
"My Code of honour dictates our fight cannot continue until you are capable of fighting back, at this time you are not." He snarled once more, Arcee couldn't believe her audio receptors, Jack couldn't believe his ears. A Decepticon who had a Code of Honour, even battling against an Autobot?
"So, it would seem we have a problem wouldn't it?" Dynobot looked at them
"How so?" Arcee asked calming down a little.
"I want to continue our fight, but you cannot fight back, you cannot move to get out of the jammer's range and no one knows where the scrap it could be."
"Then what are you saying?" Jack asked brushing the tears from his face.
Dynobot visibly twitched shaking his head in disgust.
"It would seem, I may have to give you a helping hand" Dynobot's words were venomous he didn't like the idea of helping an enemy. Regardless of their faction, although, Arcee had been a powerful and worthy adversary, much to his enjoyment.
"I will move you until we get our of jammer range then you can contact your allies and get you back to your base, but if we meet again, we are enemies. Do we have an understanding?" Dynobot asked reaching down and offering his hand to Arcee.
Arcee was silent for a moment, a Decepticon actually offering them help, a Decepticon seemingly ruled by a fierce code of honour which he seemed to live by even when helping an enemy.
"You've got a deal" Jack blurted out much to Arcee's surprise.
"Jack?!" she looked down at him best she could from her position, Jack turned around and looked at her.
"This is the best chance I… we've got of getting you to safety Arcee."
"The Hayman holds a point" Dynobot spoke out only to get two confused looks directed at him
"They're HUMAN" Arcee informed him, Dynobot merely shrugged, and looked back at her.
Arcee sighed and conceded nodding slowly to Dynobot.
"Fair enough" He said stepping back kneeling slightly as he reverted back to his Utah Raptor shape, the large reptile stomped up to Arcee picking her up and flung her over his back, he looked down to Jack offering his hand of which Jack climbed into.
"Never thought we'd be doing this today" Jack joked as he looked at Arcee slung over Dynobot's back like a saddle. Arcee looked at Jack and smiled best she could.
"You tell no one, understand? I do this only so I may fight you again one day. By myself!" he snarled and began stomping out of the ship, Jack and Arcee looked at one another worried, they were unsure of how long the Decepticon would keep his word and aid them. Him even aiding them in the first place was far beyond bizarre.
"I would suggest…" Dynobot voice spoke out as they both looked at him as he walked down the Hallway and out through the whole that lead further into the crevice. "that you enter stasis mode and allow your repair systems to do what they can." Arcee looked at Dynobot then at Jack who was already looking at her worried, he didn't know if he felt comfortable with that idea.
As if sensing the distrust Dynobot continued.
"You have my word I will no harm you nor the boy. And my word is bound by honour"
That was the best they were going to get, reluctantly she nodded her head.
"Alright but I'd prefer Jack be with me rather than in your hand." Arcee spoke weakly as she set her internal repairs to work. Dynobot grumbled under his metaphorical breath then reach back as best he could lifting Jack up near to Arcee. Jack reached out and climbed onto of her.
"I suggest you do the same boy." Dynobot finished and he continued to walk.
Arcee turned her optics only now noticing Jack's wound.
"Primus Jack, what happened?" She looked on in alarm at the blood soaked wound wrapped around the drenched material that was once his sleeve.
"I accidentally cut my arm trying to find the jammer on the ship" he explained to her Arcee's optic grew wider.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Jack, today couldn't have gone more wrong." She looked down in sorrow at the floor feeling defeated. "So much for a relaxing Saturday"
She felt a warm hand on her cheek, she turned her optics and looked at him.
"All that matter to me Arcee is that your alive, we'll get back to base and you'll be alright" he smiled at her she gazed into his eyes as he gazed into her optics, they felt they were staring into one another's very soul.
"Are you alright Jack?" Arcee asked not turning away from him her words were slow and soft. Jack hesitated to answer.
"No, everything great" he leaned forward to her Arcee's optics opening wide watching him.
Suddenly jack lost his balance and stumbled, Arcee too swerved a bit.
"I SAID SLEEP SLAG IT!" Dynobot yelled out from the front, the shaking from him shaking his body. Arcee felt warm in her cheeks and looked at Jack who was blushing.
"We better get some rest Arcee" jack said in a sheepish manner scratching the back of his head.
"I guess you're right Jack." She nodded in agreement, Jack laid down next to her closing his eyes.
"Jack?" she called
"Yes Arcee?" he replied without opening his eyes.
"Thank you for staying with me" she smiled, Jack opened his eyes and smiled at her before resting his head once more and closing his eyes. Arcee watched his peaceful face, his features so soothing, she closer her optics allowing her internal repairs to work.
Jack opened his eyes finding himself in an unknown place, he looked around slowly.
"Arcee?" he called out his voice echoing into the infinite "Arcee? Where are you?"
"She's Gone!" came his echo, Jack stumbled the words were from his own voice.
"Who's there?!" He called out, his only reply was the sound of blasters in the distance. He turned around now as if coming into focus was Cybertron, he stared at it fires raging across the city strange jet like forms in the skies, Eradicons. Jack looked around Cybertronian corpses lay across the battlefield torn twisted, wounds from blades wounds from blasters covering the bodies.
He looked back and made his way through the wreckage before him which lead up to the city, climbing the mountain sized fallen building he reached the top, placing his hands on his knees and he knelt down to catch his breath. He glanced up from his respite and looked at the carnage unfolding infront of him. Autobots and Decepticons at war unlike anything he'd seen before, what he had witnessed wasn't even the top of the metallic iceberg in comparison to this, bodies everywhere buildings like the one he'd climbed in ruin. Seeing this made Jack despise Megatron all the more, how could even he allow his home to come to such ruin. How could any living being allow their home to be ruined by war.
He closed his eyes from the horrific sight. He looked around. Bots and Cons in shapes of tanks blasting at one another with large energy cannons, foot soldiers like Vehicons and Eradicons on both sides, similar in shape but in contrast to colour and colour schemes. So these Vehicon like soldiers were the Autobots? Jack had often wondered if they the Autobots had their own take on the Vehicons.
Something suddenly came to Jack. How did he end up on Cybertron, here and now? He looked down at the floor his mind struggling to focus. The sound of blasters intensified the sound of heavy metal pounding against its own kind rattled the air around him.
"STAND FAST! THY SHALL NOT BREAK ME!" came a loud voice Jack looked up at the use of "ye old English" on Cybertron, he looked up seeing a Decepticon a blade in hand combating multiple Autobots, for his size he was swift and agile, his moves thought out beforehand.
These Autobot soldiers lashed out with bladed arms slashing at him with killer intent and purpose blocking the attacks with mere ease the Decepticon pushed back the Autobot with his sword turning on another unwary soldier brought his sword down upon it's knee shattering it then brought the blade up across it's chest making the soldier fall to the ground, the other attacked in force, the Con battling against the odds somehow tearing down the Autobots with its blade as it got close, leaving the five Autobot Vehicons down on the ground yet, they continued to move, they were online, he'd let them live as he walked off with purpose.
'Dynobot' Jack thought watching him leave. Suddenly like a car crash everything hit him with force. He remember, him and Arcee, the downed ship, the enormous Raptor turning Decepticon and…
"Airachnid" Jack spoke his voice cold and hollow without remorse of caring.
Jack walked out, and began making his way around the battlefield. He wondered if he's find Arcee somewhere, he wondered if in this place, she'd remember him. He wondered how he'd got here.
His questions halted as heard a loud Energon shot followed by a low roar from some Cybertronian , Jack turned his head seeing a large unknown metal body fly towards him backwards a shot of blue Energon plasma carrying it. He tried to run but his legs were frozen in place. Suddenly something grabbed him and moved out of the way. He turned and looked up.
And armor clad Cybertronian was running with him in its hand.
"Hey. Who are you?" he asked wondering if the Cybertronian would even understand him.
"It's me Jack" came Arcee's voice. Jack looked at her in shock not recognising her, she looked at him as she retracted the large helmet around her head, her face now like how he remembered her. She looked around and landed out of the battle zone.
"Arcee how did we get here?" Jack asked. Arcee looked at him and shrugged.
"I'm not sure, I thought I was dreaming and then I find you here" she replied to him looking at him confused who in turn looks at her with his own confused look.
"SO what's so weird if it IS your dream? Can't dream about your partner?" Jack asked teasingly Arcee felt her cheeks warm up again as she looked at Jack.
"No it's not that it's just, why would I be battling on Cybertron looking like THIS then find you here?" she asked again. Jack looked down at her very well armoured body then looked back to her face.
"You mean you didn't look like this?" he asked tilting his head. "Not even remotely?"
Arcee shuck her head quickly.
"No, I was more like I was before, this is just, I feel like a Gladiator." she looked up at Jack who was busy admiring her physique. "Or is this your dream?" she asked with a soft tone of voice catching Jack's attention.
"Well I think you look nice" he said coyly Arcee smiled then blinked at a sudden realisation.
"Do you hear that?" she asked looking at Jack, Jack listening carefully, then looked back at Arcee.
"No I don't hear anything" he admitted confused by what she meant.
"Exactly!" she blurted out "Where is the sound of blasters and war?"
Arcee had a point, he couldn't hear anything, they looked at one another then at their surroundings.
"A beach?" Jack asked in confusion when had the world around them turned into a beach?
"Beats me Jack, we were just on Cybertron a mome…WOAH!" Arcee yelled out in shock Jack turned to look at her, her body now how he remembered it but. He was looking at her eye to eye.
"Ugh Arcee?" he asked looking at her, she looked down. They were about the same height, albeit she was slightly taller than him.
"If this is my dream why are you taller than me still?" he asked her Arcee examined herself. Then looked back to Jack.
"Perhaps you like bigger older women" she jokingly said confused when she saw him blush.
They looked at one another, Arcee realised her arms were around his back, Jack looked up to her, she was so beautiful, he placed his hands on her hips, they felt so smooth like skin, Arcee blushed from the contact and pulled him closer, Jack's head planted between her breast plates. Or rather Arcee realised between her "bikini" she believed they were called.
Jack let out an loud gulp as they looked up one another. Arcee looked at him now only in shorts, there world seemed to be turning to what they wanted, was it? Regardless, the sun was setting over the ocean, Jack and Arcee were together they felt warm with each other, they felt closer than they'd ever felt. They felt their heads moving closer together their eyes closing, the tense moment when things would become awkward then suddenly…
"Alright get OFF!" came a voice.
Arcee and Jack opened their eyes and looked around, nightfall. They were on Dynobot's back. He laid flat on the ground.
Arcee looked at Dynobot then looked at herself.
"Are you functioning to a higher degree now? Or do I need to push you off?" Dynobot asked his patience running thin.
Arcee looked herself over as Jack stood up on the Raptor's back. She gritted her teeth as her legs began to move, her arms followed, she reached out and grabbed Jack before climbing slowly off the Decepticon.
"My systems seem to be in better condition than before. Thanks." She looked at Dynobot who turned around.
"We've been moving for Megacycles has your communications still jammed?" he asked impatiently
Arcee pressed two fingers to her head.
"Ratchet? Ratchet?" still there was static. "We're still in range of the jammer" she looked around confused. "It must be one hell of a jammer"
"Or a series of jammers" Jack added.
Arcee looked at Jack, she hadn't thought of that. That could pose a problem who knew how long they'd be till out of signal range. And June would tear her to piece if she didn't get Jack home.
"Oh Scrap!" Arcee cursed out as she fell back and landed on her metallic rear.
"look on the bright side I guess" Jack said smiling a half-hearted smile, Arcee turned her head to look at him.
"There's a bright side?" she asked in confusion, her communications, her systems were only just combat functional, and Jack would probably be hungry and they'd been missing nearly a whole day.
"Yeah." Jack said with his smile still on his face "We could pretend we're camping"
With that Arcee just leaned her head back and laughed, and laughed and laughed. Of all the things Jack could have said, he says something that makes her genuinely laugh, Jack laughed with her their laughter feeling like it lifted a large weight from their shoulders.
Dynobot merely watched them confused yet uninterested.
Later that night while sat down Arcee held Jack against her stomach plating to try and keep him warm, the wind had picked up and was blowing in cold.
"You going to be okay Jack?" Arcee looked down at her partner worried for his health and wellbeing, she could feel him shiver against her metallic body. He looked up to her slowly his arms wrapped around himself her hands covering him trying to keep him warm.
"I, I. I'll be okay A, A Arcee" he spoke in between the chattering of his teeth. He smiled at her best he could before leaning back against her and continued to shiver. She could feel a rumble coming from his body through her fingers, Jack was hungry too.
'There must be something I can do' Arcee thought to herself, she wouldn't allow him to be like this, not through the night. She looked around trying to get any inspiration for an idea. Nothing.
Dynobot had offered to go scouting the area in case of danger, in case Airachnid was coming for them, that had been some time ago. Arcee felt a fool, she'd believed a Decepticon would help her, and now he was missing and had been for some time, he'd left them to die there in the cold. Had he? Perhaps, perhaps he'd lied about his code of honour, perhaps he was sicker in the mind than Airachnid, helping them so far only to let Arcee watch Jack suffer from cold and hunger.
"Something on your mind?" came a raspy voice from behind Arcee. She turned quickly, her left bladed arm at the ready, she stopped seeing the large Raptor, he hadn't flinched.
"Where have you been?" she asked narrowing her brow plates. Dynobot didn't answer immediately, instead walking around them and dumping scrap of wood on the ground and a few dead animals.
"The boy needs heat and food you said that earlier, I decided to take it upon myself to try and fix that little problem, my honour to guide to safety counts to the boy as well as yourself. Letting him die in such a way would break my vow." Dynobot explained to a stunned Arcee, who was now feeling a little guilty about her previous thoughts.
"I know, you probably thought I'd abandoned you." Dynobot admitted looking down at her, her silence and averting gaze confirming this. "I do not blame you for taking that track of thought." Dynobot piled the wood together before shifting into robot mode.
Jack watched as the large Decepticon lowered himself to the floor his eyes firing small thin beams of Energon, that power would be useless against fighting another Cybertronian but it was strong enough to set the fire alight, with this done Dynobot shifted back into his raptor form and laid around the fire blocking the wind from it.
Arcee let Jack go and allowed him to get closer to the fire and look over the dead animals. Things he wouldn't even think of eating, but right now it was as good as any meal.
"I would suggest cooking it over the fire" Dynobot said finally before laying his head down against the floor. Jack looked at him and nodded using unlit wood as skewers putting them through the various animals, he felt guilty but, it was survival of the fittest, well it was survival of the human.
Arcee watched over the minutes as Jack warmed up by the fire finally he had stopped shivering and the now skinned animal, skinned from the use of one of Arcee's blades were now beginning to cook over the fire. She smiled watching Jack, the fire was comforting and rather beautiful under the starry night sky, the wind no longer causing so much of a problem with Dynobot using himself as a barricade.
'It's been such a rough day.' Arcee thought to herself allowing the day's events to go through her mind. ' Dynobot, Airachnid, but…' she sighed internally on the outside she was still looking down at Jack who was now beginning to eat the cooked meat.
' Things could have turned out much worse than they have, at least we're alive and functional and we're together' a warm tender smile came over her mouth she felt warm all over her body, suddenly Arcee did a fast double take on her own thoughts.
'Together as PARTNERS… as FRIENDS!' she yelled in her own mind, shaking her head. She mimicked a sigh causing Jack to turn around.
"You okay Arcee?" he asked his cheeks wide with food. Arcee looked with a raised brow at Jack, he must've been hungrier than she thought.
"I'm fine Jack, you enjoy your food" she smiled at him he looked back at the fire then back to Arcee.
"Why don't you come closer?" he asked then swallowed the meat in his mouth, Arcee tilted her head for a moment then shrugged dragging metallic rear across the ground and sat right behind Jack, wrapping her legs around the fire Jack looked around at her legs then up at her, he felt, comfortable, safe.
"Thanks for looking out for me Arcee." He said suddenly catching Arcee of guard.
"What do you mean Jack?" she asked confused by his words.
"I know I've never really said it before, maybe I hinted it at times" Jack tried to explain but trailed off leading to Arcee the speak out to try and get him to what he wanted to say.
"What are you trying to say Jack?"
"Just, thanks for looking out for me after everything we've been through." He smiled but blushed a sudden wave of embarrassment coming over him. Arcee looked at him confused, but soon enough she smiled placed a hand on his shoulder gently.
"You're worth looking out for Jack." Jack looked up at her sheepishly his blush deepening, Arcee felt awkward, she hadn't meant it to sound like that. "Besides." She continued trying to get out of the awkward moment. " You've done a lot to help me Jack."
"Like how?" he asked curiously
"Just being there for me, you've been like there for me even when I didn't ask you to be, even when I told you not to be, you always came back for me." She smiled at him her optics once again focused on Jack. Jack looked up at her seeing what he believed would be an embarrassed expression for Cybertronians, he knew if she could she'd be blushing.
Arcee placed a hand against the back of Jack's head stroking him gently. He sighed softly and relaxed, Arcee didn't know why she was stroking him, she felt in her spark it was just, the right thing to do at this moment, besides, Jack didn't look like he was about to complain. Arcee felt warm and not just because of the proximity of the fire, her spark felt warmer than it had been all day, but why? If Jack was the reason for this feeling, why? And what was it?
Arcee looked over to Dynobot he was powered down "sleeping" his pseudo-organic body replicating breathing in and out as he "slept". Arcee took this time to look down to Jack, she had been meaning to ask him since they awoke on Dynobot's back but didn't feel the time was right. It didn't feel right now but it was the best she was going to get.
"Jack?" she asked removing her hand from the back of his head. Jack shivered a little, not from the cold but from no longer having that comforting feeling.
"Yes Arcee?" he asked with a warm smile.
"Were you really there, in my dream?" she asked metaphorically biting her lip awaiting his answer, he stared at her for a moment. What was he going to say?
"That was your dream?" he asked in shock. Arcee blinked. She was sure it was her dream, but if it had been Jack's dream how could she remember it.
"Wait just to clarify it was the same dream. Cybertron?" she started awaiting a reply.
"Heavy looking battle armour, and war." Jack replied, both stunned.
"Then the beach you became my height" jack continued on.
"Me wearing a bikini" Arcee said putting her hands on her hips and looking down at Jack sternly. He felt really small all of a sudden, looking away with a deep red blush.
"You. Did look nice" he admitted. Arcee slumped her arms on the ground looking at him.
"So we shared the dream?" she asked shocked at the realisation, Jack looked at her and nodded.
"But how?" he asked plainly
"I'm not sure Jack, this planet…" she looked at Dynobot or more rather his "unique" alternate form. "It seems to do strange things" Arcee said finally looking back at Jack.
Eventually Arcee had allowed Jack to continue his meal then let him lay down for sleep she looked at her Partner laying there comfortably, innocently. She wondered what he was dreaming about, perhaps he was waiting for her to come into his dream again. Could they actually do that again? How did they do it in the first place? She reached down running her fingers gently over him from his head down to his feet, he shivered suddenly from the touch Arcee pulled back her hand hoping she hadn't hurt him, he didn't make any more movements so Arcee continued her optics picked up the sound of his gentle moans as she stroked him.
'Primus, why am I doing this?' she asked herself or more so Primus if he would answer her, there was no reply, though she didn't stop stroking Jack, he seemed to be liking it and in truth, she was enjoying it a little herself. She didn't understand what had been with the two of them today, other than their current predicament nothing had changed between them since yesterday. Had it?
"you like the boy, don't you?" came the groggy sleepy voice of Dynobot Arcee jumped at the sudden voice she turned looking at Dynobot whose eyes were still closed.
"Yes, we're Partners" she said quietly trying to not wake Jack, looking at him confused at the sudden question
"I see" he opened his eye lids and looked at her with one Jurassic looking eye, the slit lens focusing on her. "If you say so" he closed his eyes again.
'What was all that about?' she wondered. She continued to look at Dynobot looking him from snout to the tip of his curled up tail.
"You know" she whispered, gaining Dynobot's attention. " You're not too bad, for a Decepticon" she admitted. "you could have killed us both back in the ship and left us here to die just now."
"No I couldn't…" Dynobot started but Arcee butted back in.
"I know your Code of Honour, a lot of Cons would call that weakness"
She watched as Dynobot lifted his head from the ground.
"Weakness is when the mighty take advantage of the weak, when they crush them for being only what they are, when a wounded being is killed unjustly by someone who does not deserve to kill them, when you kick someone who is down THAT is weakness, if I am to be considered weak for my Honour, then I shall wear weakness with pride." Arcee could tell Dynobot was speaking from his spark, such honesty and passion in their own words was rare if not unheard of from a Decepticon.
'He sounds more like Optimus than a Con' Arcee thought to herself with a smile.
"You're not too bad you know" Arcee stated Dynobot tilted his large reptilian head. "For a Con I mean."
"I have told you before. I no longer consider myself a Decepticon, regardless of the insignia I wear" Dynobot informed her. Arcee recalled him saying that.
"So you were the one who "offed" those Cons?" she asked tilting her head. Dynobot nodded.
"They were on "Excelsior Five" on a Energon salvage, I had arrived via a small drop ship not too long after they had finished storing the cargo" Dynobot lowered his head to the ground, Arcee saw a look of sorrow in his eyes.
"What?" she asked
"The species that lived there had been decimated. The Decepticons using them as "target practise"." Dynobot snarled his words grew cold and ruthless. "I watch a small child hold onto an adult crying and screaming as their village was burned down. I saw Strength and I saw Weakness"
Arcee tilted her head in confusion.
"I saw Strength in their kind standing together, throwing simple sharp based tool at them, even myself, though I did not retaliate, I saw Strength in them helping their wounded some even giving their lives so others may live." Dynobot words were warm, he had seen such strength in a primitive species. "And then I saw the Decepticons laughing at the futile attacks, Switchblade dismembered a Proud Warrior of their race and used him as an example to show how weak they were, how weak he saw them. The Decepticons just laughed taking the Energon leaving the villagers to fend for their own."
Arcee watched Dynobot's eyes, his face was all but expressionless. But she could see his rage building from memory.
"You went after the Cons"
"I vowed to their chief, I would restore their honour, yes I went after them." He gritted his teeth his words becoming venomous and menacing "And I cut them down like the animals they were, driven by my RAGE! I would not allow them to leave that planet. Online"
"Then why join the Cons in the first place?" Arcee was now truly confused, she was seeing now for the first time what Dynobot was truly like an honourable Cybertronian, why would he be a con?
"Megatron's ideals at first were inspiring, for us all to be the same, to be equals, I joined his cause to be a "Decepticon" I saw it as glory a true and noble cause" Dynobot sighed. "How wrong I was, our cause became perverted by the rage of war, no longer would we be equal and free, no equal under Megatron's tyranny, time and time again I tried to break free, time and time again I wanted to do what was right. Then I got my chance, I found a ship and escaped"
"Why not join the Autobots?" she asked.
"I had … defeated … many an Autobot by time my realisation had come to me" Arcee stopped him.
"Defeated?" she queried, Dynobot nodded.
"Defeated, many an Autobot was an honourable foe, if given the chance I allowed them to function, though would leave them unable to continue our battle." Dynobot explained,
"But enough of the past, the past only brings back our darkest deeds, and our darkest times. The future we must concentrate on, and the only way to do so, is act in the present." With that Dynobot lowered his head and continued to sleep.
Arcee had been quiet thinking on the Decep… Dynobot's words, she found herself looking back at the silently sleeping Jack,.
'Concentrate on our future' she thought to herself reaching out and picking up Jack his skin was nice and warm from the close proximity to the fire, she laid herself down against the floor holding Jack in her hands then held him against her breastplates allowing herself to smile as she too began to sleep.
Jackson Darby awoke as he felt the sun's light beam over them, his eyes opened slowly, wincing from the light he used his hands to block it out so to allow his eyes to adapt. He tried to stand but couldn't move, thinking the worst he looked around at his surroundings.
Arcee?
Arcee was still in recharge, still sleeping her hands were carefully covering him, he admitted though, he was comfortable, and looking at her from this perspective, he wouldn't have minded waking up like this for the rest of his life. He blushed a deep red.
'Stop it Jack, come on, this is Arcee you're talking about. We're partners friends, nothing more' he sighed to himself before admitting to himself the truth of his feelings. 'Besides… she's a higher quality than me, she's too good for me and deserves better' he looked down in sadness. Straight at her breastplates which made him blush again. He wondered as he looked at them, she was asleep, maybe she wouldn't notice.
Gulping quietly he placed his hands on her left breastplate and gave it a soft stroke, he felt dirty, he felt immature, felt like he was going against her trust but his curiosity had gotten the better of him. He expected nothing, for as alive as he saw her and felt she was, she was sadly a robot, her body wasn't like a human body. With his curiosity gone he stopped, a big red blush over his face, he felt a rumble underneath him as Arcee awoke. He looked up worried, had he actually awoken her.
Arcee looked around at her surroundings the large Raptor still resting, she turned her gaze down to look at Jack and smiled.
"Sleep well Jack?"
"Great thanks" he replied smiling as innocently as he could after the act he just did.
Arcee sat up holding onto Jack still before putting him down on the floor allowing him to stretch his limbs and joints, Arcee's left optic twitched a little hearing his bones, joint and muscle crack under the stretching. Jack face was full of delight after his stretch he'd felt stiff earlier, but now felt limber enough.
"Sunday" was all Jack said, Arcee thought for a moment then nodded.
"Sorry again about what's happened" Arcee's tone was once again sad as she looked away from Jack, he smiled up at her still and placed his hand on her leg stroking it gently.
"I've told you, It's okay Arcee, we're alive and you're with me, that's all that matters"
Arcee looked at Jack she smiled at him, a sudden loud snort erupted from behind them, they both turned seeing Dynobot awaken the loud snort coming from his nostrils, confused he looked around at his surrounding then looked at Jack and Arcee a look of annoyance in his eyes.
"And here I thought I was merely having a Nightmare" he stated bluntly causing Jack and Arcee to laugh.
Jack finished off some leftover meat from last night for his breakfast to build up his energy, then the three of them were walking again, Dynobot again allowing Arcee and Jack to ride on his back, for reasons he himself didn't know.
Arcee now was straddling Dynobot's back like a jockey on a horse rather than straddling him like a the saddle the jockey sat upon. Likewise Jack was sat upon Arcee's leg.
"Don't forget to keep trying your communications!" Dynobot called out from the front his voice directed at Arcee.
"Will do" she said pressing her fingers to her head. "Arcee to base, come in. Arcee to base" she shuck her head. "Still nothing."
Dynobot snarled, Arcee "scraped" and Jack sighed. How were they still being jammed?
"Hey wait!" Arcee called out suddenly. Dynobot stopped turning his head to look at her best her could.
"What's up Arcee?" Jack looked up at her, "Have you gotten through to Ratchet?"
"No, but I hear something" she stated looking around slowly. Dynobot adjusted his audio receptors.
"Indeed, something is here, getting closer" he snarled. Jack couldn't hear anything looking around the area, flat lands for miles, if it wasn't around them. He looked up
"THERE!" yelled Arcee Jack turning his head to look to where she was pointing, but unable to due to her blocking his view.
"What is it?!" Jack asked only to be worried once Arcee's left arm shifted into a blaster.
Then he heard it, the sound of a Helicopter, it was getting closer, and closer quickly.
"Airachnid!" Arcee said gritting her teeth, Jack stared at Arcee now glad he couldn't see the psychotic Spider-Bot now in her Advanced Helicopter vehicle mode.
Dynobot turned around to look now allowing Jack to see the Helicopter flying up to them from the skies, the helicopter locked on and fired a missile at the trio, Dynobot snarled then turned and ran
"HANG ON!" he roared as he sprinted. Arcee held onto the raptor best she could, the missile missing them, only to have automatic gun fire rain down upon them, forcing Dynobot to change direction and continue into his powerful sprint. Arcee turned holding onto Dynobot with her right hand and aimed her blaster at Airachnid.
"You are in no condition to battle her now" Dynobot snarled knowing what she was doing without looking. "You need to reserve your Energon"
"He's right Arcee. You need to hold onto your Energon" Jack called out to her
"SCRAP!" Arcee cursed loudly, they were both right.
Airachnid continued to fire lazily at her targets from above, herding them according to plan.
"END OF THE ROAD HOLD ON!" Dynobot yelled out as they were being herded to the end of a cliff side. Arcee looked on and held onto Jack tightly, she felt Dynobot's tail lay on her back trying to secure them best he could as he leapt off the side going into free fall plummeting hundreds of feet towards the ground.
"OH GOD DON'T LET US DIE!" Jack yelled out from under Arcee.
"HE BETTER BE LISTENING!" Arcee replied her voice near muffled by the powerful gusts of air created by their descent.
Finally with a hard slam they landed a large dust cloud raising up around them, Dynobot landed on his feet but buckled at his left knee causing him to lose his balance and fall, he roared using his other leg to shift his weight causing him to fall forward the other landing on him. Arcee fell flat onto his back she shuck her head then gasped.
"JACK! OH PRIMUS, JACK!" She sat up quickly seeing Jack on his front. "Oh no, Jack" her body had a rush of cold overcome her, she'd crushed him? No, she could see him twitch, her spark twitched inside of her like a heart skipping a beat.
"Oh jack, don't scare me" she sighed looking down at him.
"ugh, I think I got up close and personal with your breastplates" he rubbed his head slowly. He was merely concussed.
"Not to be rude, but could you get off my back now?!" Dynobot asked as he laid on his stomach.
Arcee turned and saw his left leg twisted at the knee bent out of place, horrified she grabbed Jack and jumped off of him.
"Oh Primus." Arcee exclaimed as they got off him.
"I'll be fine" he grumbled shaking himself. Suddenly a new voice came from the dust cloud as it disappeared. The trio turned to look at the origin of the voice. Arcee's and Jack's faces went sour with rage.
"Silas" they both said in Unison. Before them was Silas and MECH the sound of the helicopter Airachnid was heard coming from behind them as she landed and transformed standing on her eight spider legs.
"We've been expecting you" Silas smirked looking at them "like flies to a spider web" .