This chapter's a bit short, sorry! But I wanted to say thanks to all who reviewed the last chap!

Now, this chapter is dedicated to the awesome reviewer, youngjusticefanatic (sorry if I got that wrong x.x) Happy (belated) birthday!

Sorry if there are any spelling errors in this chap or previous ones, everyone. My 'X' button keeps going on the fritz!

Enjoy!


"I managed to get the video feed from the M.E.C.H base before we left." Robin said as he and the YJ wrapped up their report to the Justice League. He offered the flash drive he held to Batman, and the dark knight uploaded it. Soon, a hologram appeared.

First the file M.E.C.H had on Jack was shown. The mention of 'Project Biotect' came up as it had the first time, and the League exchanged confused looks.

"Project Biotect?" Canaray asked, looking at the YJ.

Robin shrugged.

"No file on it was there. We have no clue what it is. We asked Jack, and he doesn't know either."

"The base we went to was most likely not their main place of operations." Kal added.

Megan moved forward, tugging at Robin's arm.

"We should show them the video feed you got! Jack did really well, they should see!" She insisted, eyes shining with excitement.

The others smiled at her and Robin nodded, leaning forward and entering a comand. The projection changed, and the video feeds he'd downloaded appeared. It was when the YJ were surrounded, right before Jack revealed his presence.

"It really is impressive. I think you'll all find this interesting." Dick stated, starting the vid.

The expressions of the League members became intrigued. Some leaned forward in their seats to get a better look, while others rested their elbows on the table in folded their hands together, watching intently.

They watched as Jack distracted the soldiers, then as he helped fight off the agents without ever killing or causing perminate damage. The arguement between Jack and Dick, then as they all left together, very few injuries sustained.

"That kid's got wicked aim." Green Arrow stated as the vid ended. "I'm jealous!"

"He never hesitated, yet he also never killed." Canary mused quietly.

Dick grinned at Bruce.

"Told you that you should train him." He said smuggly. Bruce gave him a look, making the boy wonder fall silent.

"And I said I'd think about it. Right now though, I think we should be more concerned about this 'Project Biotect'. If they want to test it on Jack, it can't be good. We need to focus on destroying this project of theirs first."

The teen grimaced as everyone shared their own agreement with nods.

"And next time you go on a mission." Bats added, looking a bit aggitated. "Make sure he isn't following you. Got it?"

While Robin, Wally and Megan laughed, Conner and Artemis smirked, and Kaldur hid a smile behind a hand. Even the Justice League's faces showed amusement.


Jack yawned widely, curling up tighter on the couch he lay on. Mount Justice had the best couches and chairs, and probably the comfiest beds too. It was a luxery that Jack fully exploited on a daily basis.

He jumped with a yelp when a voice announced the arrival of several Justice League members, and this caused Jack to fall off the couch. He landed with a thud, and he groaned in pain as his head knocked the floor harshly.

Robin, having heard the sound, jogged over to the couch and peered over. He grinned.

"You okay, Jack? You don't look all that traught." He said, laughing.

Jack huffed, scowling at Dick as he rubbed his aching head.

"Oh shut up..." He mumbled.

Robin offered a hand, helping Jack back up. The younger looked around, surprised to see more people than usual.

Instead of just the YJ and Batman, there were several other people. Jack looked at them and recognized them in mere seconds. Barry, Arthur, Oliver, John and Clark. All were dressed in hero attire, and John was now green, but Jack could tell it was him.

Bats went to Jack.

"Jack, these are-"

"You already introduced me to them Bruce, remember?" Jack inturrupted, raising a brow at Bruce.

Everyone stared at Jack in surprise, and the teen sighed, pointing at each man in turn.

"Mr. Barry, Mr. Clark, Mr. Oliver, Mr. John, and Mr. Arthur. So is Ms. Dinah a superhero too?" Jack asked, turning innocent eyes on Bruce once more.

Everything was silent for a long moment, everyone taken aback. They could understand how he could recognize Superman and Aquaman, but John's appearance was different. Green arrow had a hood, and Flash had a mask. How could he tell?

Jack looked confused.

"Is...something wrong?"

Bruce cleared his throat, a bit embarrassedly.

"You're much more...perceptive, than we thought."

Jack shrugged, rubbing the back of his head.

"Well they aren't that different. Mr. Barry still has that silly smile, and Mr. Oliver stands the same as he always does. Mr. John just about radiates intelligence, so..."

"I...see." Bruce said slowly. To recognize someone by just the way they stood or smiled? It took one with uncanny persecption to notice such thing, and Jack seemed to possess this gift.

"So, what's up? Something going on?" Jack asked, eyes shining with interest.

"We were wondering if you know anyone else who has experience with M.E.C.H?" Green Arrow replied, crossing his arms.

Jack tensed, face becoming serious.

"Wh...What?"

Everyone exchanged a confused look.

"Is something wrong?" Clark asked, moving forward.

"Look, I like you guys, and trust you, but the only others who know about M.E.C.H are from my past and I...I'm just not ready to confront them, alright? I just...I just can't."

With that, Jack turned, leaving the room. Tension was left behind him, laying thick in the air.


Jack sat in his room, knees hugged to his chest, eyes on his blankets.

He felt sadness coil in his stomach, and his eyes stung with tears he refused to shed.

Time and again, he'd think about the 'bots. About Miko, Raf, even Fowler.

He missed them all. He wondered if they all were okay, if they were all safe. But he was also angry at them.

When the time came that the government told them that they wanted to send Jack to an orphanage, the 'bots had supported it! His friends had turned their backs on him!

So he'd left. Maybe he wouldn't have if they'd refused to let the government take him away, if they'd tried to do something. But they hadn't.

Yet even though he was furious with them...he couldn't help but worry about them too.

A knock on the door drew Jack out of his thoughts, and he looked up. Wiping his eyes, he attempted to make himself look normal.

"It's open." He called softly.

Bruce entered. He was cowless, and his expression was soft.

"Oh, hey Bruce." Jack mumbled, moving his legs so they dangled off of the bed.

The man gestured to the spot next to Jack, a silent question if he could sit. Jack nodded, and Bats sat down beside the teen.

"Are you alright? You've been in here awhile."

Jack forced a fake smile.

"I'm fine, just wanted a bit of time alone. It's kind of hard to find a place in Mount Justice where you can just sit and think without someone walking in on you."

Bruce nodded in understanding.

"I see. So then why were you crying?"

Jack blinked in alarm.

"What?"

"Your eyes." Bruce explained. "They're red. And your cheeks are wet."

Jack ducked his head embarrassedly, blushing. Bruce rested a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry if you're really that bothered by the question we asked. I didn't think it would effect you like this."

Jack shook his head, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

"It...It's alright, Bruce. I just really, really don't like thinking about...about my past." He replied quietly, voice wavering slightly with pent up emotion.

Bruce nodded in understanding, thumb rubbing soothing circles against his shoulder.

"I can see how it would. Do you want to talk about it?"

Jack took in the slightly uncomfortable expression on the man's face, and grinned weakly. It seemed talking about things wasn't exactly Batman's forte.

"No, I'll be fine. I always am."

Bruce shook his head.

"I hear people say that all the time when they aren't alright, Jack."

The teen gave him a hard look.

"Then I guess you've met the first person who means it."


One year, seven months, five days.

That was how long since Jack had dissapeared. Arcee had counted the days, down to the very second since they'd realized that her partner had vanished off the face of the Earth it seemed like.

They couldn't find him. His face wasn't caught on any street camera's, nor had any reported seeing him. The 'bots, especially Arcee, feared that he was dead.

The femme was shaken from her thoughts when she heard the to remaining human companions laugh.

Miko was now sixteen, almost seventeen, while Raf was fourteen. Miko had sut her hair shorter, and it now touched her upper back with choppy bangs falling slightly in her eyes. Raf now wore contacts instead of his old large rimmed glasses, and he was beginning to get much taller.

It made Arcee wonder what Jack looked like now, if he was even alive. The thought made her spark ache.

There was a beep on the monitor, bringing everyone's attention. Ratchet moved over, squinting slightly. He then gave a sound of alarm.

"Optimus! A M.E.C.H base has been compromised. There are some encrypted files I may be able to open from here."

The Prime moved over, looking at the screen as well. He nodded.

"Then do so, old friend."

Ratchet's fingers darted across the controls, entering comands rapidly before managing to snag a file and show it on screen. His optics widened.

"By the allspark...!"

"What is it?" Arcee asked, interest piqued.

"It's...It's a file on Jack! There's only half of it, the rest was corrupted, but it says...it says Jack is alive."


Jack watched as Dick and Kal sparred under the supervision of Dinah, or Black Canary as Jack had learned.

It was interesting to watch the sparing match. It looked much like a dance in a way. Their movements were graceful, yet deadly.

Finally, Canary called an end to the match, giving each advise on how to improve before looking at the other YJ members.

"Alright, anyone have any advise for Robin or Kalduran?"

Jack hesitated then raised a hand.

Everyone looked at him in surprise. Canary managed to push her own shock aside.

"Uh, yes, Jack?"

The teen looked at his friends.

"It's just...Kal is taller, but he uses mostly hand and arm attacks. But since Dick is shorter, couldn't Kal use kicks and such to not only attack effectively, but keep Rob away? I mean, Kal's legs are longer, and even though Robin's fast, he wouldn't be able to get in close often."

Silence fell over the room, and Jack ducked his head shyly.

"But...Uhm...It was just a suggestion..."

"No, no, you're right, Jack." Canary said quickly. "I'm just...surprised you noticed that."

Jack shrugged, messing with a loose thread on his shirt.

"I was just thinking." He mumbled in reply.

Canary smiled at him, nodding before turning back to Kal and Dick.

"He's right, Kalduran. You need to start using more foot techniques, alright?"

The young man inclined his head.

"Alright."

"Well, that's enough training I believe." Dinah said. "Is anyone hungry?"

Wally's hand shot up, the carrot top grinning excitedly. Everyone laughed at his enthusiasm, and Jack yelped as he was tugged to his feet and pulled out of the room with the others.

"W-Wally! I n-need that arm!" Jack exclaimed, trying to keep up with his friend.

"Not right now you don't!" The redhead replied over his shoulder as they went into the kitchen.

Jack yelped once more as his other arm was grabbed and he was pulled right back out of the room and back towards the training room.

"H-huh?"

"Hey kid! I need to talk you ya." Green Arrow, his new captor, explained.

Jack looked back to see Wally protesting, whining about how the League member had stolen 'the YJs protege'.

"Uh, did I do something wrong?" Jack asked, a bit worried. Oliver shook his head.

"Nah, don't worry. But I saw the vids of you using that sniper. I want to see if you're really that good a shot."

Jack blushed embarrassedly.

"O...Okay..?"

It looked like a snack would have to wait.

They entered the trainingroom once more, and Jack's arm was released as Green Arrow went to a wall where several weapons hung. Jack caught a sniper as it was tossed to him, and Oliver returned to the teen.

"Now, see those over there?" The man asked, pointing to a far wall. Targets stood, waiting for any who wanted target practice.

"Yeah?" Jack half said, half asked.

"Five bullets dead center, first time with a scope, second without."

Jack looked confused.

"Wh...what?"

Oliver simply waited, raising a brow at him expectantly.

Jack licked his lips nervously than lifted the sniper, lower his head slightly to look through the scope.

A twitch of his finger sent one bullet loose, then it was followed quickly by four others.

Green Arrow went over, inspecting the teens handiwork.

"Five out of five. All clustered around the middle. Not bad, Jack. Now, without the scope."

Jack hesitated, sniper falling a bit.

"But I can't-"

The man gave him a stern look.

"Don't even try that. Just do it to the best of your ability."

Jack sighed, giving in and lifting the sniper back up. This time he didn't lower his head, simply locking his eyes on the target instead.

Five shots came in rapid succession. Jack lowered the sniper once more as Green Arrow went to look at the target.

"Damn." The man said, letting out a whistle of awe. "All five hit the same spot, smack dab in the middle! You do better without a scope than with one!"

Jack shuffled awkwardly.

"Uh, cool. Can...Can I go eat with the others now?"

Oliver hummed distractedly, waving him off as he leaned forward to inspect the target more.

Taking it as a yes, Jack carefully proped the sniper against the wall and left the man alone with his thoughts.

Green Arrow straightened, glancing back at where Jack had left.

"That kid..." He shook his head to himself in disbelief. "This is crazy."