The finale to Darkness Rising. let's see what happens. enjoy.
Chapter 4
The next day as Jack was leaving work, he noticed that Arcee was parked in the exact same place he had met her for the first time. Walking over, he wondered why she was here. Maybe to keep an eye on him? Who knows?
"Arcee really, Miko already tried last night. Tell Optimus that I respect him, but if you're fighting a war with the Decepticons, then I want no part of it." He said.
"Optimus didn't send me Jack." Arcee replied. Sighing she continued on. "Maybe it's the grief talking, but I just lost someone I cared about. Maybe you've grown on me. But whatever it is, I'm not ready to lose another partner."
"I truly am sorry for your loss Arcee, but…..I just don't think I can join in on your war." Jack said as he turned away from Arcee and looked at the KO Burger sign.
"I understand Jack. And goodbye." Arcee said before she activated her holoform and drove off.
Sighing, Jack turned to watch Arcee speed off, before he went to unlock his bike and head back to his workshop. Peddling his way to his workshop, Jack kept going back to what Miko had said about him last night, about him being a hero, about being born to do more. The more he thought about it, the more he thought about what his father had told him when he was six years old.
Flashback
Jack opened the front door as he returned from school and saw his mother preparing dinner, while his father was watching the TV.
"Welcome home Jack. How was – JACK!" His mother cried out as she saw the state that her son was in.
Getting off from the couch, Aaron Darby quickly made his way to Jack and knelt down in front of him while June went for the medical kit. Taking a closer look at Jack, Aaron saw that he had a busted lip and a few bruises on his face. Taking his bag away from him, Aaron carried Jack to the couch where June was waiting for them.
Setting Jack down and letting his wife help heal their son, Aaron sat down on the nearby chair and covered his face in his hand and sighed. Once June was done, Aaron looked at Jack, who was covering his face by curling into a ball, trying to be as small as possible.
"Jack." Aaron spoke up. "Jack look at me and tell me what happened."
Jack looked up at his father but kept silent. Sighing, Aaron got off his chair and knelt in front of his son. "Jack, please I need to know what happened to you. You're not going to be in trouble."
Sighing, Jack kept silent until he decided to speak up. "It was Vince and his friends, they were bullying one of my classmates after school. I told them to leave him alone, but they simply laughed at me. When I didn't they - ." at that Jack clammed shut.
"They what Jack? What did they do to you?" Aaron asked.
"They beat me up. After they were done they left. When I tried to help my classmate, he yelled at me for helping him. He told me that he didn't ask for my help and that I should just stay away from him." Jack explained. "Was he right dad? Did I do the right thing helping him? Even if he didn't ask for it."
Looking at his son, Aaron smiled at him and sat next to his son on the couch. "Listen to me Jack. What you did was indeed the right thing. I want you to remember what I'm about to tell you ok. Can you do that?" he asked. Getting a nod from Jack, Aaron continued. "Doing what is right sometimes doesn't always reward you with a thank you. What you did was heroic, Jack. Even if you don't believe it yourself. I believe there's a hero in all of us. That keeps us honest. Gives us strength. Makes us noble. And finally allow us to die with pride. Even though we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most….even our dreams."
"So doing what is right, makes us a hero?" Jack asked.
"Exactly Jack." Aaron praised. "You know those comics you read? The one's with the superheroes." He asked getting a nod from Jack. "You know how they don't always get praised for their deed? Have you ever wondered why they continue to be heroes?" Jack shook his head. "Well it's simply because they can do so. If you have the ability to help someone, then you should. No matter the outcome, good or bad, you can look in the mirror and say that you did good helping someone."
Flashback
Opening the door to his workshop and turning on the lights. Jack made his way to his work table and sat down.
"J.A.R.V.I.S, what are the Autobots doing?" he asked his AI
"They are currently at the Space Bridge, above Earth's atmosphere." J.A.R.V.I.S answered. "They hope to stop Megatron from bringing an army of undead Cybertronions to Earth, sir."
"Right then, do you have a fix on their location?" Jack asked.
"Yes sir." J.A.R.V.I.S answered back.
"Time to suit up J.A.R.V.I.S, get me the War Machine armour." Jack said as he went to change into his full bodysuit.
Once he was ready, Jack stepped onto the platform where the War Machine armour was waiting. It was mostly black coloured with gunmetal grey at certain areas such as the midriff and legs. It had a large machine gun attached to its back, two miniguns hidden in his arms and several missiles hidden beneath the exoskeleton. The suit was built to take a lot of punishment, as well as dish it out. The suit opened up from behind and closed around Jack when he stepped inside.
"J.A.R.V.I.S open a Ground Bridge to the Autobot Base. Once I'm in I need you to shut it off then open it again to the same coordinates Optimus and the others are in." Jack instructed.
The green vortex appeared in front of him. Stepping into it, Jack realised that Ratchet was the only one in the base, and was staring at him. As Ratchet turned was about to shut the Ground Bride down. It suddenly shut down by itself and then turned back on. Hovering, Jack shot forward through the bridge and was transported immediately in front of the Space Bridge.
"J.A.R.V.I.S patch me into the comms with Optimus and the others." Jack instructed as he made his way closer.
"Already done sir." J.A.R.V.I.S replied.
"Optimus, can you hear me. If you can, know that the cavalry is here." Jack spoke out.
There was nothing before the familiar baritone voice of Optimus Prime answered. "I hear you Jack. But I must ask that you leave quickly. You are no match for Megatron or his army."
"No can do Optimus. I came here to help and that's what I'm going to do." Jack replied before he shot forward towards a squadron of Decepticons flier's ad turned into scrap by firing his machine gun at their engines.
Continuing his flying, Jack continued to take out the Decepticon fliers till none came anymore. Suddenly there was a bright flash of light as the Space Bridge activated. Seeing Megatron rise from within the warship, holding a large purple crystal and then throwing it at the Space Bridge. Jack quickly sped forward, firing his missiles as well as his minigun to hopefully destroy it before it reached the Space Bridge. The missiles hit the crystal formation and caused a large chunk to break off, but not enough to stop it as the formation went through Space Bridge.
"So….how do we defeat a whole planet of the undead?" Jack heard Bulkhead ask through the comms.
"Optimus, I'm reading a rapidly increasing mass in their Space Bridge vortex. One with a peculiar Energon signature. Ratchet stated.
"Dark Energon." Optimus answered. "Ratchet, we must destroy the Space Brigde. There is enough live Energon coursing through it to cause to achieve detonation. But we lack the firepower to do so."
"If I had a technical readout of the Space Bridge, I could help you achieve such a feat. But Optimus, I must say that the Space Bridge is our only way back to Cybertron. Are you sure this is what you want?" Ratchet asked.
"I am afraid so, old friend." Optimus answered.
"Then by all means, let us light our darkest hour!" Ratchet cried out.
"Autobots, take your positions and follow Ratchet's lead." Optimus ordered. "While I deal with Megatron."
"You mean we deal with Megatron." Jack stated as he flew up next to Optimus. "And I'm not taking a no for an answer Optimus."
Before he could reply, Megatron landed in front of them. "Your fellow Autobots are wise Optimus, they know when to retreat." He stated, only to notice Jack. "And who is this? A minicon?"
"I have no illusions of engaging your army Megatron. Bit I might derail its objective, by removing its head." Optimus said as he transformed his arm into a sword.
Megatron simply laughed. "Highly unlikely Optimus, as I am infused with their very MIGHT!"
Optimus simply narrowed his optics. "One shall stand. One shall fall."
As if some unspoken signal was given, Megatron unsheathed his sword, gave a war cry and ran towards Optimus, as he did the same to Megatron. Meeting in the middle, they clashed their swords together, parrying and dodging each other's strike, until Optimus landed a punch to Megatron's head. Seeing his chance, Jack quickly shot forward from the side and punched Megatrons head, causing the warlord to stumble. Thrusting his hands forward, Jack fired off beams from his repulsors as well as firing his shoulder missiles. Megatron was thrown back from the impact the missiles had, but not before firing three shots at him, to which he avoided them all.
"Sir, I highly suggest that you do not get hit by those shots." J.A.R.V.I.S called out to Jack. "They contain Dark Energon. If you get hit by them, your suit would shut down, sir."
"Duly noted J.A.R.V.I.S." Jack replied.
Seeing Optimus was lying on the ground, with Megatron standing above him about to kill him, Jack shot forward. "J.A.R.V.I.S, put everything we have into the thrusters."
"I just did sir." J.A.R.V.I.S replied.
Flying as fast he could, Jack fired off his repulsors at Megatron to keep him busy while Optimus recovered. Landing a little ways away from Megatron, Jack activated every weapon he had and aimed it at him. Growling Megatron ran forward hoping to squish what he thought was a minicon. Hoping that he could slow him down, Jack fired everything at Megatron. Missiles blew up upon impact, bullets bounced off his armour, like hard pellets and his repulsor blasts slowed Megatron even more. Flying towards Megatron, Jack proceeded to deliver a beat down on Megatron, and due to his small size, Megatron had a hard time catching him.
Ultimately his luck had to have run out at some point, and that came when Megatron swatted him away with his arm, causing him to fall to the ground. Struggling to get up, he was suddenly picked up and thrown towards Optimus.
"Power at forty-two percent, sir." J.A.R.V.I.S stated.
Looking up, Optimus and Jack saw Megatron raise his sword before something seemed to have stopped him. Whatever seemed to have stopped him, caused him to look at them amused. "Ah, misdirection. You would have made a fine Decepticon, Prime."
Megatron swung his sword down, only for it to be stopped by Optimus' own broken one. "I chose my side." He said before changing his sword to that of a gun and fired.
Flying back Megatron quickly evaded the rest and transformed into his vehicle form and flew off. Jack quickly took off after him. As Megatron flew to where Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee were, Jack fired at his machine gun at his engines. When one of the bullets hit inside Megatron's engine, it caused him to lose control and transform back into robot form. Shooting forward, Jack continued to fire his weapons at Megatron. So focused was he at firing at Megatron, he did not realise that the Decepticon returned fire at him until he was thrown back from the blast.
The blast was a lot stronger than when the Decepticon drone fired at him yesterday. Jack was thrown back even further when Megatron continued to fire at him, most of the shots missing, but those that managed to hit made it harder for him to regain control of his suit.
"Power at twenty percent and dropping fast. I suggest a retreat, sir. Also the Space Bridge is about to explode" J.A.R.V.I.S said.
"Autobots, jump!" Optimus ordered as the Ground Bridge opened
"J.A.R.V.I.S reroute whatever power we have left to the unibeam and fire." Jack ordered. Charging up his unibeam.
Once the charge as complete, Jack fired it straight at Megatron, who returned fire by shooting two shots at Jack, both of which impacted him on the chest and sending blasting into the Ground Bridge.
"Is he okay, Ratchet?"
"What happened Prime?"
"And what of Megatron?"
"Come back to us Jack, please."
These were some of the things Jack heard as he slipped in and out of unconsciousness. But it was the last one that caused him to wake up from his lack of consciousness. Getting up, the first thing Jack saw was the Autobots, Miko, Raf and Agent Fowler all listen to Optimus. Knowing that none of them noticed him, he got up and staggered towards the 'bots. When they heard footsteps behind them, they turned to see Jack stagger towards them before stopping in front of them.
"Hey everyone." He greeted as he raised his visor.
"Hello Jack, are you well?" Optimus asked smiling down at him.
"I'll live Optimus. What about you and the others?" Jack asked as he looked at the scraps and dents they had.
"We are fine Jack. Thank you for your assistance in dealing with Megatron and his forces." Optimus answered.
"If it's all the same Optimus, I would like to join you guys. That is if you guys will have me." Jack asked.
Optimus nodded and smiled at him. "You are always welcome here Jack."
Nodding Jack turned to look at Raf, Fowler and Miko. He stepped forward and got out of his armour, before standing in front of them. He was suddenly hugged by Raf and Miko, smiling he hugged back.
"You came back." Raf stated with the biggest smile Jack had ever seen.
"You bet Raf." Jack assured him.
"Well done son, you've done your country and your race proud." Fowler praised as he put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll make sure you're properly rewarded for this."
Turning to Miko, Jack simply smiled at her. "Thank you Miko." Confused Miko gestured for him to continue. "For what you said last night. About me being born to do more and for believing in me." He finished before he kissed her on the cheek.
As the Autobots discussed about what would happen now that Megatron was gone and Starscream was in charge of the Decepticon. Jack knew that whatever was going to happen, he knew that they would not be alone in their fight with the Decepticons. Why?
Because he is Iron Man.
I'm not very good at writing romance, but i decided to give it a try.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter. anyway have an awesome day.
