I do not own Transformers Prime or any characters it contains. I do, however, own this plot and any twists, turns and OC's it entails. Enjoy! ^_^

A/N: Sorry for the slight delay. I tried updating yesterday, but my computer was being a pain in the ass and wouldn't let me connect to the internet. But as you can see, I'm back! Now without any further delays, LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Chapter 9


Two months later...

"Optimus, Jack Darby and Arcee requesting a ground bridge."

Optimus gave a small smile at Jack's voice over the comlink.

"Ratchet, open a Ground Bridge."

Ratchet nodded and set the coordinates before pulling the levers to activate the Ground Bridge.

After a few seconds, a motorcycle came roaring into base with two figures, both in black, on the back. When they were inside the base, the bike skid to a stop.

The two figures then dismounted the bike before looking up at Optimus.

"Commander," Jack said as he saluted.

"No need to salute, Jack," Optimus said.

Jack gave a grateful sigh before relaxing.

"Primus, it's so tiring to do that all the time," Jack said, causing everyone at base, except Ratchet of course, to laugh. "It's good to be back."

Optimus nodded before looking at Jack's attire.

"Arcee and I are now Covert Operatives," Jack said. "And as such, we had to wear these clothes. Though how she got the shirt over her helm is a mystery."

Jack laughed as he was tackled.

"Watch it, mister," she said with a smile on her faceplate.

Miko, Raf, Sokescrean and Bulkhead laughed at the sight the two were making.

"Jack?"

Jack looked toward the entrance tunnel and saw his mother standing beside her car. She had just pulled in, watching the two.

"Mom!" Jack said. He and Arcee were on their feet and running over to her before gently embracing her.

"Oh, Jack!" June said. "You have no idea how much I missed you these last two months."

Jack pulled back and smiled at his mother. He then looked up at Ratchet.

"Did you finish it?"

Ratchet nodded with a small smile.

"I did. All trials with Earth's vegetation were successful."

June turned to look at her son.

"What is Ratchet talking about?"

"I asked him to run some tests."

Jack looked his mother in the eye.

"Tests to see if we could make you Cybertronian."

June looked up at Optimus.

"Did he talk to you about this?" she asked.

"At length over the course of his stay in training. He has good reasons for it. After all, he needs his mother."

June looked at her son before looking up at Optimus.

"What about my job? I don't think I'd be able to do what Jack does. I don't think I'd be able to stay at base and not go crazy."

"Jack has also talked about this," Optimus said. "Which is why you will be able to continue your work."

"And if someone asks why I have metallic skin and glowing eyes?"

"That's already been taken care of."

June looked behind her. There stood Agent Fowler.

"Jack has talked with both Optimus and General Bryce. When you go to work, you'll be treated like you normally are."

"Even when I'm not human?"

Both Fowler and Optimus nodded.

"I mean, Jack's started walking around without his hologram," Agent Fowler said. "He attracts a lot of attention, but nothing more."

"It would seem that human sized Cybertronians won't attract as much attention as we would if we were to walk out there right now," Ratchet explained. "So with help from Agent Fowler, General Bryce and some walking done by Jack, it has been proven that nothing out of the ordinary would happen."

"And I've taken care of the details if MECH comes calling," Jack said. He flipped out his blasters and held them up. "I'm going turn their rides into scrap."

"Jack!"

"I said their rides. Not the men. I won't take a human life."

"And if they were to come in acting like government agents?"

Jack was already holding out a document.

"With this, we will be able to avoid any and all problems with the law. This and a phone call to General Bryce."

June took the document and read it over.

"Are you sure I won't be bothered once I'm one of you?"

Both Jack and Fowler nodded.

"Positive."

Miko walked over and held up her phone. There was Jack talking to a citizen of Jasper.

"I'm well known now, Mom," Jack said with a small chuckle. "The first robot in town."

June looked at her son.

"Why would you ask Ratchet to create something like that?"

Jack looked at his mother.

"I would rather you live than have to watch you die."

"We live, we die. That's how human life goes."

Jack nodded, his head bowed.

"But I don't want to lose you, Jack," she said as she tilted his head to look at her. "So yes. I accept."

Jack looked his mother in the eye.

"Are you sure? There's no going back after this."

June nodded with a smile.

"You won't get rid of me that easily."

Jack smiled before looking at Ratchet.

"Let us begin."


June sat on the medical table looking over her new metallic limb, her bright blue optics moving up and down.

"This certainly is strange. I don't feel any different from when I was human."

Jack walked over and stood next to his mother with a scanner. He then ran the scanner over his mother.

"Yep. Just like Arcee."

June looked up at her son with a smile.

"And I felt the same way when I was first changed. You'll soon be able to multitask as if it was nothing."

June nodded before getting to her feet and hugging her son. Jack returned the embrace fully for the first time in over two months.

"Thank you, Jack."

"Don't thank me," he said. He pointed at Ratchet standing a short distance away. "I just asked him to do research. He did all the work."

June smiled at the medic.

"Thanks, Ratchet."

Jack nodded.

"Yes. Thank you, Ratchet. I don't think I would have been able to live if my mother had died."

The medic nodded with a smile.

"I was honored to help."

Jack then released his mother to walk over to his future bride.

"I'm ready to get out of here," Arcee said. "How about you?"

Jack nodded.

"Let's get going. I'm in the mood for a KO burger."

Arcee nodded with a smile before walking over to their bike and getting on in front. Jack got on behind her and the two rolled out of the base.

"So, Ratchet... what's the verdict?"

"You're free to go, Nurse Darby."

June nodded and dropped from the table to the floor. She then walked over to her car.

"I'll see you all soon."


Jack and Arcee parked outside the KO Burger and dismounted the bike. They then walked into the restaurant and received everyone's stares.

"Just ignore then," Jack said as he lead the way to the counter.

"Um... Hello and welcome to the KO Burger."

"Hey, Johnny. How's the family?"

The man behind the counter looked at Jack for a moment.

"Do I know you?"

"Jack Darby. I use to work the window."

"I know Jack Darby. And you're not him."

Jack activated his hologram and caused the man to take a step back in surprise.

"Recognize me now?"

"It's really you?"

Jack nodded before letting the hologram fade.

"Yeah. I'm not completely human anymore. But that doesn't mean that I don't get hungry. Hit me up with my usual."

Arcee looked at the menu before looking at Johnny.

"What is his usual order?"

"A double knockout special with jalapenos, hot sauce, and extra onions."

Arcee looked at the menu before nodding.

"Sounds good to me. Double that order."

"Okay. And what to drink?"

Jack pointed at the drink selection.

"I usually get the Blue Mountain Crush. It's good."

Arcee nodded.

"I'll try it."

Johnny nodded and rung up the order.

"$15.74 is your total."

Jack pulled out a twenty and handed it to the man.

"Here you go. $4.26 is your change."

Jack smiled as he and Arcee took their drinks and walked over to a table in a corner.

"I'm glad they have steel chairs," Jack said as he sat down.

"Yeah. I would hate it if it fell out from under me."

Jack looked around at the other customers.

"Do you mind?" he asked. "Just because we're machines doesn't mean we don't mind being stared at."

"Machines don't eat!"

Jack looked over at the man that had stood up.

"We do. We need the food for fuel."

The man sat back down.

"Since when do machines need food?"

Jack ignored the question and took a sip of his drink.

"Yo, Jack!"

Jack stood up and walked over to pick up his food. He then returned to Arcee and sat down.

"Here you go. One Darby Special. Just be careful. It's going to be spicy."

Arcee unwrapped her burger and looked it over. It was a mess.

"This is going to be good."

"I see you've learned the one true fact about food. If it's messy, it's sure to be good."

Arcee nodded with a small laugh.

"Let's see if the Darby Special is all that it's hyped up to be," she said before lifting the burger to her mouth and taking a bite. When she swallowed, she gasped and grabbed her drink, gulping it down. "By the All-Spark! That's spicy!"

Jack laughed.

"I warned you."

He took a bite of his burger, chewing slowly to savor the taste.

"I've missed this," he said as soon as he swallowed.

"Jack?"

Jack turned and looked up at his former employer.

"Hello, sir."

"You're a machine?"

"That day I quit I was. I do believe you remember Arcee."

Arcee looked up at her name, wiping her mouth with a napkin to get most of the sauce that was dripping to her metallic thighs.

"We meet again," she said. "Seen Vince lately?"

The man shook his head.

"I guess you were right. He was here to harass you."

Jack nodded as he dipped a fry in his ketchup.

"I told you. I also told you that he wanted me to pay for his meals. The guy's a jerk and a bully."

The manager nodded.

"Would you be willing to come back to work?"

Jack looked up at the man.

"You want me to take my old position at the window and get insulted, harassed, and bullied again?"

The man shook his head.

"I was thinking along the lines of assistant manager."

Jack looked at Arcee.

"I'll have to think it over. But know this." He looked up at the man. "I'm with a special group that might need me at a moment's notice. If they call, I have to leave. No buts."

The manager nodded.

"Kinda like the national guard?"

"Yeah..." he looked at Arcee. "Kinda like that."

"Done."

Jack looked at the man.

"You're sure? You won't mind having a robot working here?"

The man nodded.

"I'm sure. You were one of my best workers."

"Let me think it over some more. My team might not like the idea."

"But isn't it your choice?"

Jack nodded.

"It is, but I have to take their opinions into account. They are my team, my friends, my family. If I do something they don't expect, then it could throw them off."

"Ah. Well, I will wait for your response."

Jack nodded before picking up his soda and taking a sip. He then set it down.

"I'll talk to you later," Jack said as he picked up a fry and dipped it in his ketchup.

"Have a good one, Jack," the manager said. "And you as well, miss."

Jack nodded before picking up his burger and taking a bite.

"Are you going to take the job?" Arcee asked as soon as the manager was gone.

"No. It would mean that Vince would try using the term 'the customer is always right' against me. And I'm not looking to be fragged by him again any time soon."

Arcee nodded.

"Besides, it would mean less time with you," Jack said as he placed a hand on Arcee's thigh.

Arcee smiled as she placed a hand on his.

"I love you, Jack. Oh, Primis, I love you."

Jack smiled.

"And I love you, Arcee. Til the day my spark fades."


Two months have passed and now Jack and Arcee are Covert Ops.

Next time: The Return of Vince! This is bound to be interesting! ^_^

Talon Earthstone

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