A/N: Thanks for all of the reviews. Before we get started I just want you all to know how I want to portray the story. I hope to elements from both films. Spirit of Vengeance, while it was strong performance, was still good. For the story, I incorporated the second movie's design for Ghost Rider as I feel it suits him. I use the Peter Fonda Mephisto (sorry Ciarian Hinds, but Roarke was just pathetic) I hope to use some of the Rider's hellfire manipulation when he goes up against the 'Cons. As for Ghost Rider's bike, any of you who my Valentine's Day one-shot will know what I plan to do.
Chapter 4
Sitting in the storage room where he spoke to Primus, Jack was resting on a crate. He was thinking about him and how it was a matter of time before he sensed the Ghost Rider's return (if he didn't already). The only reason he'd agreed to use this power again was Primus' promise to be separated from the demon when it was over. But at the time, something didn't occur to Jack; what would happen to the spirit of the Rider? Even if Primus separated the two, there was no guarantee that Ghost Rider would (or even could) be destroyed.
If he got his hands on the Rider again, he would just bind him to another unfortunate soul. That was one of the reasons why Jack had hid the Rider away, so no one else would suffer from this curse. This creature knew no conscious, mercy, or forgiveness; he was nothing more than a monster. Yet something inside Jack always told him it had not always been so. He just chalked it up to the Rider trying to mess with him.
Jack was pulled from his thoughts when the door slid open, revealing Ratchet. Jack glared at the medic, "What do you want?"
"We need to see just how much power the Ghost Rider has before we go after the Decepticons."
"I already told you that I'm not letting him out until tomorrow night," Jack growled, "I may be able to transform in the day, but my power are weaker."
"Then it should be easier for you to take back control when this is over," Ratchet grabbed Jack and walked outside the base. Everyone was waiting for them. Jack glared at the people who called themselves his "friends" (except Arcee). She had been the only one other than mother who supported him without question. They knew each other well enough to sense when something was bothering them.
No words ever needed to be said. Ratchet placed Jack down and walked to the others, "No we must determine the Ghost Rider upper limits before we decide to make any moves." Jack simply stood, glaring at Ratchet, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee.
"Well," Bulkhead said, "What are you waiting for? Change!"
"No," Jack said, "I'm not gonna let him out just make you happy."
"It's not about our happiness, Jack, " Ratchet sighed, "We are simply trying to ensure Optimus' safety; we do not know what the Decepticons are doing right now. For all we know, they could be having Optimus kill innocent humans."
"Then the Ghost Rider is last person you want to meet Optimus," Jack replied, "If Optimus spills innocent blood, then the Rider will come out and destroy him and everything in his path."
"All the more the reason you should change, so we can get this done as quickly as possible," Bulkhead seethed.
"Frag off," Jack spat, walking back inside. He was almost there when Bulkhead grabbed him and threw him into a rock formation. Jack bounced against the rock and landed with a thud.
"Jack!" June screamed, running to her son.
"Bulkhead!" Arcee growled, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't blow your circuitry all over the place." Bulkhead opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by a fire ball, sending him back. Ghost Rider stood before them again, another fire ball ready for the Wrecker.
"You wanna play?" the Rider asked, "Let's go."
"We merely wished to test your abilities," Ratchet explained, "To see what your upper limits are."
"Ha!" Ghost Rider scoffed, "Far as I know, my powers don't have any limits. But to be sure, I could use a ride."
"A ride?" Ratchet raised an optic ridge.
"I'm called the Ghost Rider, I need something to get around on," he explained impatiently before looking at Arcee, "How 'bout her?" Arcee glared at the demon before transforming and rolling over to him. He hopped and looked over the circuitry, "Not bad, but it could a little touch." He slipped off his gloves, revealing boney fingers that were also on fire. Without warning, he placed them on Arcee's side, a strange energy filling her.
She suddenly cried in pain as her wheels lit on fire and black highlights spread across. Ghost Rider cackled like a maniac until the change was complete. He revved her engine before riding off, moving at unimaginable speed. Bumblebee immediately transformed and pursued. He made sure to avoid the flames left by the Rider.
By activating "Maximum Overdrive", he caught with the Rider. Ghost Rider whipped out his chain and threw it under 'Bee's tail pipe and tugged. Though everything remained intact, Bumblebee was thrown from the road, crashing into the sand. Ghost Rider stopped and approached the Scout.
"Road Kill," he snickered, pulling his chain for another strike. The ground bridge opened and Ratchet fired at the Rider with the immobilizer, stunning him.
The Rider
Ghost Rider couldn't move his body as he was taken back to the Autobot base. Normally, technology (human or otherwise) couldn't affect him, but somehow that device had. Fowler rolled Arcee into med bay where the others tried to figure out how to change her back.
"Quickly," Ratchet placed a cable in her monitor, "We must transfer Arcee's consciousness to the human bodies I developed." Activating the process, Arcee woke up in her human body. She had short blue hair pink highlights. She dressed in denim jeans that hugged her thighs and blue long sleeve shirt. She shook her head and looked at her body, still in vehicle mode.
"Where's Jack?" she asked. Ratchet pointed to where the Ghost Rider was, still frozen. Arcee ran over to him and tried to reason with him, "Come on Jack, take back control."
"Jack's not here," Ghost Rider replied, "Can I take a message?"
"Come one, partner,"Arcee urged, "I've seen you take back control once already, do it now!" Ghost Rider began struggling again, not even the Immobilizers effects could keep him still. Breaking the device bindings, Ghost Rider thrashed around, screaming like a demon. His black outfit was changing back to Jack's clothes and his flaming skull disappeared yet again. Jack lied on the ground, panting heavily.
"Jack!" Arcee rushed over to him.
Tears streamed down the young man's face, "I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize Jack," She glared at the other 'Bots, "Happy now?" She helped him to his feet and they went to her quarters.
The Rider
Arcee sat Jack on the bed on laid down next to him, trying her best to soothe, "It's alright Jack. I'm okay."
"I failed," he mumbled, "Just like with Julie." Arcee looked at him in confusion. What did he mean and who was Julie?
Reading her expression, he explained, "Julie was my girlfriend a few years ago. Whenever I was with her, I felt like I was on Cloud 9. She was always happy and very religious. One day, she fell ill with a terminal disease."
"The doctors couldn't treat her?" Arcee guessed.
"No," Jack said sadly, "They could, but Julie's parents refused. The medicine that would be used went against their beliefs. They said God didn't want them to use the medicine." Jack was crying now, "I had never felt so angry and sad in all my life. That night, a stranger came to me and said he could cure Julie. He asked me for a deal; he would cure her if held on to something for him." Jack took another moment to wipe away tears, Arcee gently rubbing his back.
"The next day, she was cured. Her parents were so happy, praising God for the recovery." Jack smiled slightly at the warmth of the memory, "However, when finally got to see her, all of her memories of me had been completely erased. That stranger had taken away our love and now I was alone."
"Can't her memories be recovered," Arcee asked, her spark breaking for her partner.
"She's already met someone else and moved on." Jack replied sadly, "She's forgotten about me and the love we shared. It was only later that discovered that man who cursed me wasn't even human. He cursed me with the Ghost Rider spirit and the rest is history." Arcee gently laid her head on Jack's chest.
"I'm sorry," she cried silently, Jack rubbing her back.
The Rider
A/N: Chapter 4; done! I know Bulkhead and Ratchet seem like jerks right now, but they're just desperate to get Optimus back. Next time: the 'Bots locate the 'Cons and mount a rescue attempt.
