"Yeah, Mom…it might be a little while before I get there. Yes, everything's all right. I just need to check on something. Yes, I promise. Love you, too. 'Bye."

Jack turned off his cell phone and put it away, taking a deep breath before entering Hangar E, the former home base of the Autobots. Looking around one last time, he went inside.

Inside was only darkness. Jack allowed his eyes to adjust, and then managed to find a breaker box. He switched the power on, and within moments his worst fears were realized.

The base was deserted.

Jack called out, "RATCHET…?" The echoes of his cry reverberated throughout the building's interior. No one answered.

It appeared as though it had been at least a week, if not longer, since anyone had been there. Jack dragged his finger along the top of one of the safety railings and he noted the amount of dust that had accumulated.

Jack slowly made his way to the command center. He saw that the controls for the Space Bridge had been activated recently.

That was the end of it, then. Ratchet was gone, probably forever.

Gone, too, was any possible chance of Jack somehow convincing the old Autobot medic to use the Space Bridge and send Jack to Cybertron. He knew that his mad gamble had failed.

Jack had been desperate, willing to try anything to see Arcee again. He needed to know that she was all right, and there was so much to tell her, but now…

"It's not fair."

Didn't he deserve some small happiness, some tiny measure of peace? Why must it always be outside his reach? Why?

Jack asked the question over and over, demanding an answer.

A tiny beep answered him. The sound came from Miko's phone, still in Jack's possession. He pulled it out, and saw that the "Low Battery" indicator was the reason for the beep. He brought up the photo gallery and scanned to the image of himself and Arcee. Jack made a noise somewhere between a choke and a sob.

Jack was suddenly overwhelmed by a torrent of memories…

…memories of when Jack left the Autobots…

"I know…you don't exist."

"Don't make me hunt you down."

…and of when Arcee went to Jack to bring him back…

"Jack, I just lost someone I cared about. Maybe it's the grief talking, maybe you're growing on me…whatever it is, I'm just not ready to say goodbye."

…when Arcee survived a brush with death…

"Arcee…"

"Jack, really…? There are other motorcycles in the world."

"But…you're my first."

…and when Arcee and Jack faced death together….

"I told you to wait for me!"

"Well, partners don't ditch partners!"

"Get this through your head: You're not my partner! You're a liability!"

"I don't believe you! I can see it in your eyes - you're afraid, Arcee! And you're never afraid!"

"You're right, Jack! I am afraid - of losing you!"

…when Jack confronted his Mother…

"You're always telling me to make responsible choices. Well, I chose her."

"Her?"

"And she would be your…?"

…and when his Mother confronted Arcee…

"You're…not quite the kind of girl I thought Jack would be ditching me for."

…and finally, Jack's deepest, innermost memory of Arcee, the moment that he first laid eyes on her…and the words that spilled from his lips…

"…I love you."

Everyone had their breaking point. Jack had reached his. He had fought a silent war for so long, keeping his personal demons buried deep.

He decided he was tired of fighting.

All of the pent-up loneliness, frustration, and anger boiled over and Jack focused it into a single anguished wail.

"AAARRCEEEEEEE!"

Jack hurled the phone at a nearby wall. Amazingly, it did not shatter, but Miko's beloved phone had taken its last picture. Panting, Jack slowly regained control. Somewhat dazed, he walked over to the phone and knelt down, gingerly picking it up. The screen was miraculously still on, although cracks marred the surface. Jack's trembling finger touched the image of Arcee, and he whispered her name. A teardrop fell on the image, and the power winked out.

Only darkness remained.

Jack slumped his shoulders and he remained seated on the floor. He hung his head and closed his eyes.

Time passed. Minutes? Hours? Jack could not say. He felt more physically and emotionally drained than he had ever been in his life. The quiet oblivion of sleep beckoned and would not be denied.

It was morning when Jack awakened to the familiar sound of the Space Bridge.

Jack quickly stood, expecting Ratchet to emerge.

A familiar figure appeared.

It was not Ratchet.

Time stopped.

"Arcee…"