A/N: I apologize for updating at my usual speed. My ROTC class has Annual Inspections next Thursday and we've been unable to practice for it! Anyway, thanks to all those who reviewed. On a side note; Did anyone see the new trailer for Season 2? If I'm not mistaken, Jack goes to Cybertron!

Chapter 7

It had been a month since Jack had been taken by the Decepticons. Miko and Raf couldn't stop thinking about what the 'Cons might be doing to Jack. June was distraught, the Autobots thought it best she stay at base with them, making sure she made no rash decisions. Optimus eyed the monitor intently, hoping to catch a sign of Decepticon activity. Inwardly, the Prime was full of rage and grief. He agreed to Megatron's proposal of a truce to defeat Unicron in order to save the Earth. Also, part of the Prime felt happy to once again fight alongside the mech he once called "brother."

But now, Optimus was filled with anger and hatred for the Decepticon leader, as well as himself. He should've just had Ratchet bridge Megatron to a far off location, then gone to help his troops. But again, that part of Optimus wanted the peace between him and Megatron to last just a bit longer. And now, because of his selfish thoughts, Jack was in Decepticon hands, along with the Key to Vector Sigma. Luckily, not even Soundwave could get passed the Key's security precautions.

However, that was a double-edged sword. If Megatron couldn't access the Key, he would most certainly take out his rage on Jack. The Prime shuddered at the thought, "May the Allspark protect you Jack."

Web of Shadows

In the month that Jack had spent on the Nemesis, he'd learned more and more about the Decepticons' daily routine. When they weren't fighting with the Autobots over energon, it seemed like a day at an office building. Though there were surprises. Two weeks after Jack had been staying with them, Starscream returned. The seeker seemed to be bolder than before, standing up to Megatron, telling him he'd only return if he was made leader.

Of course, Megatron told him no, but said he could have his old position back. Though Starscream expected to be mistreated by his leader, Megatron was surprisingly welcomed the seeker's return. All of the 'Cons were, in a word, stunned by their leader's new found leniency. For eons, Megatron had been known to have little tolerance for failure, and zero tolerance for treason or desertion. In all likelihood, Starscream expected the large mech to kill him without a second thought.

But he allowed him back into the Decepticons, and treated him like a true SIC. In the following weeks, Megatron's new found kindness became more apparent. He'd allow injured Vehicons to seek treatment for any critical damages; he let Soundwave play music (Breaking Benjamin, which Jack enjoyed) over the intercoms, and today, his kindness showed yet again when he summoned Breakdown to the command center. "Ah, Breakdown," he rasped.

"You summoned me Lord Megatron," he stood at attention.

"Yes," he said, "I've decided to let Knock Out replace the optic you lost to those human terrorists."

"I see Lord Mega-" Breakdown's jaw dropped open. Megatron was actually letting him replace his missing optic? When he returned, he'd gotten an audio receptor full of insults and berating from the Lord of Decepticons. He told Breakdown that his missing optic would be a reminder of what will happen to anyone who let themselves be captured by the enemy, humans no less. For months, Breakdown endured Megatron's constant lack of faith in his abilities, and now, he was actually going to get his optic repaired with the Lord's permission?

"Something wrong?" Megatron raised an optic ridge.

"No!" Breakdown squeaked, too choked up to say anything else, "Thank you for this most gracious gift my Lord. I promise to ensure you won't regret." With that, Breakdown headed straight for med bay. Megatron turned to find his troops, Jack, Airachnid, and Starscream, all staring at him in complete shock.

"What?" he shrugged.

Web of Shadows

"I can't believe we just saw that," Jack said to Soundwave. The 'Con in question had been left in charge of Jack by Airachnid while she was on a scouting mission. "Isn't Megatron supposed to be a real hardass?"

Soundwave turned to the human and played back a scene of Megatron and Optimus in battle, the Lord of the Decepticons having a clear advantage.

"I'll take that as a yes," Jack chuckled. "I never would have expected Megs to let Breakdown have his optic repaired. Or, for that matter, let Ol' Screamer back into the 'Cons without beating the scrap out of him."

"Ahem," Jack turned to find Starscream behind him, "I'll have you know that I'm not the same seeker I was a few months ago."

"Yeah, you're shinier," Jack snickered.

Starscream growled at the human youngling, "If you weren't Airachnid's mate, I'd-"

"Oh come on Screamer," Jack laughed, "Don't be like that!" Honestly, Starscream needed to learn to loosen up every now and then. The only one who seemed to like him was Steve, a Vehicon who admired the seeker.

Starscream merely exited the room. He honestly didn't mind the human being there. When he learned that Airachnid and he were mates, the seeker's optics almost flew out of his head. Why would Airachnid choose a puny human as her mate? It made no senses.

There were plenty of Decepticon warriors more capable of such a title, but the seeker didn't really care. As long as Airachnid didn't try to usurp his position as SIC. The only reason Starscream disliked the human was because of that ridiculous nickname he bestowed up him. Screamer sounded like the name of some weakling who couldn't defend himself. Starscream was no such mech.

"Jack," Airachnid entered the room, "I hope you haven't been waiting long." She placed Jack on her shoulder and headed for her quarters. Since realizing their feelings (however quickly they developed), they'd spent all of their time in there together. Jack remembered the "talk" he and Megatron had over the "Space bird and bees." Like it wasn't already uncomfortable when he and his mother had this conversation.

"I wasn't," he answered, "It was actually kind of nice 'talking' with Soundwave." As he and Airachnid enter her quarters and sat on the berth, Jack's thought drifted to the Autobots. It had been a month since he'd seen them, a month since he'd seen Arcee. Knowing her, she must've been worried sick about what Airachinid was doing to him (if only she knew.) He missed her and his mom a lot and something told him Airachnid knew.

At first, he could sense the jealously seething from her, but as time went on, she understood. She realized the bond he and Arcee had formed couldn't (and wouldn't) be easily broken. She and Jack finally sat down and talked about it. Together, they'd agreed to let him contact the Autobots next month. Airachnid activated her soligram and snuggled close to Jack.

"You okay," she rested her head on his shoulder, "I know you're probably thinking about Arcee right now." Saying the cycle-bot's name no longer had a menacing tone behind it. Airachnid knew that if she wanted to be with Jack, she'd have to end her rivalry with Arcee. She knew that wouldn't be an easy task, given the blue femme's hatred for killing her partner, Tailgate. After reliving that moment for the last few days, Airachnid came to startling realization: The was the exact same way she'd seen Tarantula die.

She'd killed him in front of someone who cared about him, probably loved him. These last few years of war made Airachnid no better the Sentinel Zeta Prime. She'd taken a sick joy in killing hundreds of Autobots, killing them without a hint of mercy, just like Sentinel did to Tarantula. She knew that trying to convince Arcee to forgive her would be next to impossible. But with Jack at her side, it would be worth a shot.

"Air," Jack nudged her, "Are you okay?"

"Fine Jack," she sighed, "I'm just thinking about what I'm going to when I meet Arcee a month from now." "I just realized that after all these years of war, I'm no better than Sentinel. I killed Tailgate in front of Arcee, just like he did to Tarantula. I've slaughtered without mercy, just like him."

"That enough!" Jack grabbed her shoulders, "Listen to me Air. You're nothing like Sentinel. Sentinel was a disgrace to the Autobots." He couldn't stand to see his mate like this, so broken, so sad. Sure, Jack should still be afraid of her after all she'd done. But Jack's heart couldn't help but swell with love. They shouldn't be feeling this way for each other though.

They had just fallen in love in a matter of days. While that was not uncommon in most cases, Jack was still baffled. He continuously thought what would happen when the others found out. The Autobots would definitely be stunned and Miko would never let him hear the end of it. And then there was Arcee.

After finally being accepted as her partner, Jack knew this would crush her. Airachnid had killed Tailgate, her first partner in cold blood, something that would forever change her. To find out that Jack had developed a relationship with the spider-bot would be a betrayal to her. She would hate him, and Jack didn't want that. He stilled cared about Arcee, still wanted to be her partner, but Jack knew once this came out, she would never forgive him.

But he loved Airachnid, of that he was certain. He loved her more than life itself. He knew that as long as he was with her, being Arcee's partner would be impossible.

Web of Shadows

"Optimus!" Ratchet yelled, "I've located the Nemesis!" The Autobots quickly assembled at console.

"How did find them?" the Prime asked.

"Who cares," Arcee snapped, "We have to get Jack out there!" The thought of Airachnid might be doing to Jack had been on her mind all month. No doubt the spider-bot was torturing him, waiting for the moment to kill him right in front of her, like she did to Tailgate.

"You are correct Arcee," Optimus rumbled, "Ratchet activate the ground bridge." The medic nodded and did as instructed. "Autobots, roll out!"

Web of Shadows

"Attention all Decepticon warriors," the intercom blared, "The Autobots have arrived. Battle stations!"

The 'Cons quickly mobilized and engaged the Autobots, who managed to breach the ship's exterior and were tearing a path through. Arcee managed to pin a Vehicon to the wall, "Where's Jack?"

"Airachnid's quarters," he whimpered.

She dropped him and ran for the spider-bot's room, marked by a black widow on the door. "Arcee to Optimus," she commed,"I'm outside of Airachnid's quarters. Do you have a visual on her?"

"Affirmative Arcee," the Prime radioed, "Proceed !"

She entered the room, quickly searching around for her partner. "Jack!" she called, "Jack! Where are you?" She quickly began searching the room, turning over everything in her sight until she found him. "Jack!" she cried, pulling him into a hug, "I'm so glad you're in one piece?" She looked him over and was surprised to see he didn't have a scratch on him.

"I don't understand," she kept searching him, "I was sure Airachnid would have been torturing you all this time."

"Um," he mumbled, "Megatron didn't want to risk anything happening to me until he figured out how to access the Key."

"Lucky you then," she picked up Jack ran to rendezvous with the others.

"Ratchet!" Optimus radioed, "Bridge us back, now!" The portal opened and everyone went through. Jack's heart sunk as he entered the base. Though he was happy to see his mother and friends again, he couldn't help but think back to Airachnid.

"Air," he thought, "I'm sorry."

Web of Shadows

Upon hearing that the Autobots had retreated, Airachnid raced to her room, a feeling of dread swelling in her spark. "Please," she begged to no one in particular, "Please let Jack be there." She arrived in her room to find in shambles. "Jack!" she shouted, "Are you here?" No answer.

"Jack!" she whimpered, "Please answer me!" Still no answer. She collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face. The Autobots had done it again. They had taken her mate from her.

Web of Shadows

A/N: There we are, Chapter 7! Hope you all enjoyed it. Next time: Jack and Airachnid deal with their separation. When Jack reveals the truth to the 'Bots, what will their response be?