-09-
Big game hunt
Jack was running like a madman. His whole body was aching. His throat was burning. Sweat was coming into his eyes. He almost tripped every few seconds. He wanted to look back, to see the distance between himself and the hunter. This was supposed to be a simple recon. And now his life was at danger. He was ducking after a few energy shots as he continued passing through the tall trees. To make things worse, he was being chased by…
A giant, humanoid form landed before him. Jack looked up to find his pursuer- Arcee. She aimed at the boy, who barely managed to jump aside, avoiding the blast. He continued to run. He ran as fast as he could, hoping to find a safe spot. But she was onto him, running rather slowly. She was about to grab him, when he suddenly jumped into a small cave, while the female Autobot tripped and fell. Jack took a few seconds to rest, to think.
"How did I end up in this mess?" he asked himself.
Few hours earlier
Arcee, Hot Ride and Jazz were having a spar. Jack was fully absorbed as he watched the three doing a two-on-one fight. He recalled how the Autobot second-in-command told him how the femme was still green in comparison to him. He thought it was just an interpretation. But as he watched them, he couldn't believe how the two younger 'Bots struggled, while Jazz wasn't taking them seriously one bit. It was amazing to see him moving so swiftly, so quickly. He was an absolute blur while Arcee and her friend tried their best to land a punch or kick. Sadly, they were nowhere near that. Then Jazz grabbed Hot Ride's servo, when the ladder overreached, and tossed him at Arcee, sending both to the wall. As they were about to get up, the cyber-ninja master pointed his knife at them.
"Class dismissed." Jazz said, folding his blade. The two defeated Autobots got up on their legs, grunting in pain a bit. As they got up, Hot Ride made his way to his quarters.
"So, you learn anything from watching them, Jack?" Miko, who entered the command room to see the epic finish, asked.
"Only that Arcee really is nowhere near beating Jazz anytime soon." Jack commented quietly.
However, Arcee was able to hear him. And she didn't take the comment well. "Oh? Am I to understand you can beat me, kid?" she asked with an annoyed tone, making Jack raise his arms in defense.
"Whoa, hold your horses, Arcee." Jack said hastily. "I only said Jazz must really have a lot of combat experience to take you on like that AND be your master."
"Yeah, he is." She said as she calmed down. She was looking at Jazz, who was now talking with Ratchet. She glanced at her human charge with one optic and smiled at the thought. "Think you could take me on?" she asked.
"W-what?" Jack asked. "Are you kidding me? You'll crush me before I can even scratch you."
"Relax, kiddo. I was just joking." Arcee chuckled. "Besides, what's your best strength anyway? Juggling wrenches?" she joked.
Jack was the annoyed one now. "You'd be surprised to be beaten by I.Q. of…" he murmured to himself. Arcee and Miko wanted to ask what was he saying, but decided to let it go.
"So, Jack, mind telling me what was that 'check-up' you had done last week?" Miko asked. The raven haired teen growled in annoyance. It was about twentieth time this week she asked.
"No, Miko. I do not want to talk about that." Jack answered her as if talking to a five year old.
"Oh, c'mon. Don't be like that. Oh please, oh please, oh please…" Miko kept bugging the older teen, earning a glare from him. Before anything could happen, a signal from Ratchet's terminal caught everyone's attention. Optimus approached the terminal and activated it. And the screen showed a middle-aged African American in a suit.
"Prime! I got some news I believe you would like to know." The man said with a stern tone.
"I am listening, Special Agent Fowler." Optimus replied.
"Our intel says about some strange sighting. We don't have the details aside from what Agent Simmons calls an electromagnetic tornado. Whatever it is, he confirmed it's of alien origin. But no signs of Decepticons as far as we can tell." The federal agent reported, leaving Optimus to wonder.
"We shall dispatch a team for recon." Optimus said. Perhaps it is a part of the Cybertron vessel which fell off the day we crash-landed on your world."
"I'm sending coordinates right now." Fowler informed. "And I need to remind you: should it be a weapon, you are to report it."
"You can't be serious, Agent Fowler!" Ratchet protested. "You've already taken our ship. Our tech. Our Teletraan I! You got us working on this primitive equipment, while the Decepticons just lack the means of interstellar transportation!"
"Easy, Ratchet." Optimus said calmly, gesturing the medic, who grumbled something.
"Special Agent Fowler out." the screen went black. The Autobots were about to discuss the course of action, when Miko asked a vital question.
"Who was that? I thought just the three of us knew about you." She asked.
"Special Agent Fowler is the liaison between your government and us, usually giving us information of alien sighing and/or covering our activity from the public." Optimus explained. Raf nodded in understanding, while the exchange student sighed in a complaining manner. Then The Last of the Primes turned towards the Autobots. "If this phenomenon is not a work of the Decepticons, there is no doubt they will be on to it. Arcee, this mission will be most successful with you." He turned to Arcee.
"Got it, Optimus." She replied, walking over to the ground bridge platform. Before she made it halfway there, Jack ran over next to her.
"Mind if I come with you?" he asked. "I'd rather hear you constantly addressing me 'kid' then Miko asking me for something I don't want to talk about. Besides, these coordinates suggests Yellowstone National Park. And I'm pretty familiar with that particular place you're going to."
The white femme looked at him for a while before turning to Optimus. "This is just a reconnaissance mission. Should anything happen, Ratchet can just open a ground bridge." She reasoned. The red titan was in deep thought, considering it.
"She's reasonable, Boss Bot." Jazz spoke. "She can tell when to send Jack back here."
"Very well. Jackson has my permission to go with Arcee for this mission." The Autobot leader agreed. As Jack showed his gratitude, Optimus kneeled before him. "But I suggest you prepare yourself for this mission, Jackson."
"Just give me 5 minutes." He said hastily, sprinting to the human space.
Meanwhile, Jazz approached the female Autobot. "Stay safe, Arcee."
"No worries, lieutenant. I'll keep the kid from harm's way." She said confidently.
"Hope so. I mean, it'd embarrassing if he was to safe your tailpipe." He smirked, causing her to look at him with disbelieve.
Yellowstone National Park
The vortex closed. Now the team of two was walking along a cliff's edge. Arcee kept her optics on the scanner, looking around every now and then to be sure she would fall. And it was a long way down. It's not like a fall from this height would kill her. But it could cause her some damage and, certainly, pain. Then she looked back at Jack, who's behavior was a bit comical in her opinion. When the two entered the forest, the human teen stiffened greatly. He was pale for a while. He explained how he remembered coming here with dad for camping. Once, the boy got lost in the forest for a few days and nearly attacked by a bear. Since then, Jack was a bit afraid, or at least feeling uncomfortable, in the forest.
Now the kid was waving his hands, trying to chase the bugs, grumbling how he should've taken an insect repellant. "Quite the outdoorsman, aren't you, kid?" she asked with a smile.
Jack smiled slightly, clearly trying not to show how badly he was feeling in this place. "You wouldn't be laughing at my survivor kit." He said.
"Maybe." she commented in a teasing manner.
"I may not have a metal stinger-proof skin, Arcee. But with my Swiss knife, a flare, a compass and some survival skills taught by my parents, I can make it out alive from this place if you were to suddenly abandon me." Jack commented
You've got your tools, kid. I've got mine." She spoke. "Plus, what good could you do with these against the 'Cons? Burn their mesh?" she mocked him. She continued walking, not noticing the teen's scowl.
"You'll be surprised when I kick your aft…" he murmured under his nose.
"Like that'll happen." She commented with a smile. Jack flinched when he heard her. Her audio receptors must've been really sensitive now.
The two kept walking down hill, towards the place where the electromagnetic distortion was reported. They made about three breaks on their way. One for Jack to eat something and another one by the river to drink something. Then the third break was because Arcee felt the need to report their current progress.
Finally, as the sun touched the horizon, they reached the place. And it was a surprise. For the two. For Jack- because this place shouldn't be an open field. On the contrary. It should be full of gigantic trees, dwarfing even Optimus Prime. As for Arcee, the sight of the field with a scorching dirt in the middle made her feel as if someone she knew was around. And it brought some bad memories.
Flashback
Arcee and two more Autobots were racing through the tunnels, avoiding the Decepticon blaster shots. The femme transformed and struck down the Vehicon before her. Then she switched back to her vehicle form and pressed on, leading her friends. As the trio reached some kind of warehouse, they transformed. The Autobot to her right was a green-and-silver female Autobot with violet highlights. She was about the same size as Arcee. Then there was the other femme to her left, who was looking out for any tailing 'Cons. She was taller than the other two, with a purple-and-orange armor. She turned her yellow optics onto her fellow Autobot friends with a warm smile.
"I think we lost them." She said.
"Don't be so sure, Ransack." The green femme said. "The Combaticons don't quit so easily."
"Calm down, Moonracer, sister." Arcee spoke, calming the green femme. "We'll rest for a while. I'll just confirm with my partner where do we need to arrive and we'll be on our way. Okay?"
Moonracer nodded in understanding. "Alright, big sister. Sorry." She said tiredly.
Arcee turned to the Other femme. "Ransack. Keep an optic online." She commanded, receiving a nod from her. Then she activated her comm-link. "This is Arcee. Mirage, do you copy? Over."
"I hear you." Mirage answered. "How's the situation? Over."
"We're 50 clicks north from the Crystal City, partner. But we're being pursued by Combaticons. And I fear Motormaster will cut our only escape route before we can get there."
"No worries, partner. Me and the team are ready for them. The bridge is secured."
"Roger that partner. See you in a cycle. Arcee out." She deactivated her comm-link and turned to her comrades. "The bridge has been secured."
"So Mirage really did it?" Ransack asked with a curious look.
"Of course he did. That's why he's her partner." Moonracer commented.
"Now let's move." Arcee ordered. "We must reach it before Onslaught catches up to us."
As she was about to transform, something got her leg. Arcee looked down to find some greenish webbing holding her foot. She looked up to find a yellow flash, clearly from a visor. Her optics widened in shock. A Decepticon.
"Arcee!" Moonracer shouted in horror, running to her sister and aiming at the 'Con. "No worries. We won't let the 'Cons take you."
"Actually, Moonracer, there's been a change of plans." Ransack said, shooting the green femme. Moonracer flew back so far, she was send falling into the abyss.
"MOONRACER! NO!" Arcee shouted in horror, just before she backed out.
Flashback end
The white femme returned to reality and shook her head. "Arcee?" a young voice got her attention. The cyber-ninja looked down to find Jack looking at her with concern. She quickly made a strong face and approached the scorched spot. She knelt down and analyzed it.
"I know what did this." She commented. "But why here?" she asked silently. Then activated the comm-link. "Arcee to base. Requesting immediate ground bridge, now!" she called. Jack could tell something was wrong. Arcee's optics widened when she got statics. "Scrap. This magnetic distortion is scrambling communication." She stated.
"Arcee? W-what's going on?" the human teen asked, even more afraid.
"Get somewhere safe, kid." She instructed him, coldly. Then she pulled out his gun and moved onward. "Is there any place where you can take shelter at least?" she asked.
"Well, there a ranger station not far south from here. Why?" he asked.
"Head there. If I'm not back in one hour, call for ground bridge and evacuate. Understand?" she gave Jack a hard look, telling him there was no discussion. Then she moved onward, running and leaping.
Jack shook his head. He wasn't going to let her do anything alone. What if she'd need back up? He took a few deep breaths and ran after her. Something told him he would regret that.
Arcee walked, or rather sneaked, through the forest, following some strange tracks. She could tell they belong to something other than local wildlife. The tracks were too familiar.
Flashback
Arcee awoke from stasis. She found herself hovering above the ground, held by the magnetic cuffs. She tried to free herself, but couldn't. She looked around her surroundings. She was in some kind of cell. One she was not familiar with. Where was she? She looked more, finding she was alone. And before she could remember what happened, the doors opened.
"My, my. Our little female Autobot scout is finally awake. How nice." The voice said, chuckling madly. Arcee turned towards the door to find the owner of the voice. A tall, black-and-purple Decepticon with red horn helmet, a face-plate and a yellow visor and what looked like two additional pairs of optics. The 'Con had broad shoulders and torso and three talons for fingers. But the most distinguished feature of his were four arms and two more, spider leg-like limbs on his back. The femme's optics showed horror when she recognized him.
"Tyrantulas." She spoke.
"So you heard of me. I'm flattered." He mockingly accepted the acknowledgement. "But then again, it takes the element of surprise in interrogating you." He approached her, looking into her optics, before grabbing her head and pulling her closer. "Now, I believe you'd like to know that your other female comrade failed to be found. Typical for you femmes. You're all so… scatter-processored." He mocked, laughing madly.
"Moonracer. You allowed her to die. YOU ERROR!" she yelled.
"Now, now. That's no way for a femme to talk. Then again, what I'm going to do with you should be enough of a punishment. For now, let us see what's in that pretty head of yours." Tyrantulas said, reaching for a rod. He started laughing insanely, pressing the rod against the scout.
Flashback end
Arcee shook her head. This was no time for that. She pressed onwards, following the tracks, unaware of someone observing her. But she soon realized that when she found the tracks vanishing. The only way they could end in the middle of nowhere was for one to jump into the trees.
Arcee turned around, aiming her gun, only to have her servo and weapon wrapped in a web. Before she could do anything, she got punched and send flying into the nearby boulder. She was too dazed to react and dodge. She got wrapped in a cocoon.
She finally came to her senses and looked in the face of the one to capture her. A female cybertronian, but with a Decepticon insignia glowing on her chest. She was taller than Arcee, slightly bulkier, with claws on her fingers and two big horns on her helmet. Also, what terrified the Autobot femme, she had spider-like limbs on her back.
"Airachnid?" she whispered. "No, it can't be! I saw you die back then!" she cried, making the Decepticon chuckle.
"Oh my little Arcee. I assure you I didn't die there." Airachnid said with a smile. "though, I admit, it was a close call. Too close for comfort."
"What are you planning?" she growled, preparing to attack. But then she realized she was wrapped in the webbing, unable to move.
"Me? Oh nothing really." She said innocently, as she showed Arcee a small disk-like object she was working on. "Just going to ensure you join me in a little game called… hunt."
"There's nothing to hunt for on this planet." Arcee snarled. Airachnid just laughed.
"Really? And what of these insects called 'hoo-mans'?" she asked mockingly. As Arcee saw the sadistic smiled on the 'Con's face, her optics widened even more. "I think they will prove to be most entertaining."
Airachnid finished working on the device and was planning on placing it on the cyber-ninja's helmet, when a call reached them. "Arcee!" the female Decepticon turned around to find a raven haired teen look at them. She hissed with a huge, predatory smile. Arcee could tell what was going through that head and struggled. Finally, she managed to free her servo by switching on her wrist blade in her servo and punched Airachnid, sending her face first into a small console. The electrocution wasn't great, but would keep her down for a while.
"What are you doing here, kid?!" Arcee scolded the boy, as he approached her and tried to help her get free. "You were supposed to stay in a safe place."
"And make sure you don't get back up?" Jack asked back. "No way. Not like this."
"Let me make this clear, kid. You shouldn't be here. Taking you on this mission was a mistake. You're a liability!" She said coldly. Her tone was so harsh anyone would step back, convinced.
But not Jack. "I don't believe you. I can see it in your optics." The teen said with confidence. This got Arcee by surprise. "You're afraid Arcee. We may not be on best terms. I can even openly say your stubborn and inconsiderate. But there anything positive I am willing to say on you… it's that you never let fear take the better of you!"
As of there was a trigger in his words, Arcee's mind travelled back in time again, to that time in her imprisonment.
Flashback
"You are strong, Manualbot." Tyrantulas mockingly complimented her. "I was perhaps a little too gentle in your torture. But I think I know how to break you." He chuckled madly. He turned around to the door, which slide. Arcee, covered in scratches and leaking energon, looked towards the door, finding two Vehicons dragging someone. "Cuff him on the other side." he ordered. Arcee took a closer look at the dragged cybertronian. At it shocked her. The badly wounded prisoner, whose armor seemed nearly incinerated, was none other than Mirage.
"What did you do to him?! ANSWER ME!" she roared.
"Oh, nothing much, in comparison to what's to come." He answered. Arcee struggle again, wanting to rip out the insane 'Con's spark. "However, the good news is: I'm not the one who's going to toy with him." he stepped aside, a new figure appeared in the door way. The familiar build caught her attention. As well as the voice.
"Hello, Arcee."
"Ransack?" Arcee asked, fearfully. "But… why?"
"We're at war, Arcee. And when you're at war, there will always be a genocide. So it is only logical you'd wanna do anything to survive. Even if it means switching to the winning team." She commented, slowly entering the cell. And to Arcee's horror, the silhouette of her friend's was slightly different.
"Ransack. What happened to you?" the female scout asked.
"Ransack is actually unfitting as of now." Tyrantulas commented, stepping aside for a smaller figure to be engulfed by the illuminating light. "I have perfected her in my image. Allow to introduce you: Airachnid."
As Airachnid revealed herself, Arcee's optics showed horror, anger and disappointment.
"Now, my dear, show the witch how much of the Decepticon you really are." He addressed the now Decepticon femme before turning to Arcee. "Tell us what we want to know, witch."
"I-I don't know where the blaster is hidden now!" she answered, fearing the worst if she was to lie.
"We shall see." Tyrantulas said, motioning towards Airachnid to do her job. The femme hissed with a smile and approached Mirage, who was now glaring at her.
"Do your worst, 'Con." The young Autobot said, smirking.
"No, please. Don't!" Arcee begged, again trying to get free. And then it happened. Tyrantulas Laughed maniacally as Airachnid stabbed Mirage with one of her additional limbs, spilling energon everywhere.
"MIRAGE!"
Flashback end
Arcee returned to reality, to see Jack still struggling with the webbing.
"You're right, kid. I AM afraid. Of you getting killed." She said. Jack looked at her with fear.
"My, you have such bad luck with partners, don't you, Arcee?" Airachnid commented, as she started getting up. "First Moonracer, then Mirage. And I just recently got the news about the passing of Cliffjumper. At some point you really have to ask yourself, little Arcee. Is it really them? Or is it you?" she smiled.
"Kid. She's just interested in hunting other species. And considering she's on Earth…"
"Humans." Realization hit Jack.
"Exactly. Which means YOU!" Arcee pointed out, as Jack was already backing away. "RUN!" she shouted, just as the teen took off. However, Airachnid wasn't chasing after him. instead, she reached back for the disk she made earlier and finally placed it on Arcee's forehead.
"Oh, I do love it when they run. It always warms my spark to see them struggle." She chuckled. "Don't get me wrong. I fully intend to get back for that day. But for now, you're going to be my little toy in hunting the little boy down."
She backed away from the Autobot and switched forms. Now Airachnid's body appeared more like that of a spider. Her three additional limbs turned into legs and were carrying her weight, as she climbed a small tower-like structure. "Like what I made? Now your whole body is mine to command. But even that pales in comparison to having you rip that little human to shreds." She said, typing in some commands. Then she pressed the activation button, as Arcee's mind begun to go wild.
"JACK!" was the last thing she shouted.
Jack was running like a madman. His whole body was aching. His throat was burning. Sweat was coming into his eyes. He almost tripped every few seconds. He wanted to look back, to see the distance between himself and the hunter. This was supposed to be a simple recon. And now his life was at danger. He was ducking after a few energy shots as he continued passing through the tall trees. To make things worse, he was being chased by…
A giant, humanoid form landed before him. Jack looked up to find his pursuer- Arcee. She aimed at the boy, who barely managed to jump aside, avoiding the blast. He continued to run. He ran as fast as he could, hoping to find a safe spot. But she was onto him, running rather slowly. She was about to grab him, when he suddenly jumped into a small cave, while the female Autobot tripped and fell. Jack took a few seconds to rest, to think.
"How did I end up in this mess?" he asked himself. He looked around, to find a small passage. He decided to follow it.
The path was all but pleasant. It was wet, icy water drops dripping onto him. Jack at times thought we got stuck. After about forty minutes or so he finally reached the exit. He looked around to make sure it was clear. He even looked up to be certain. He sighed in relief seeing no one was around. He walked a few steps and noticed something in the tree line.
It was a ranger station. He made his way there. But when he entered, there was no one inside. And judging by the looks of things, this building was abandoned for some time now. Jack turned to find the phone, but it was ripped off the wall. Damn it. So he was alone. With no way to call for back up, as the magnetic distortion was still jamming the signal. His guardian was trying to hunt him down and there was a Decepticon nearby. Scratch that- the worst part was he was in the forest. Jack leaned down the wall, as he started thinking.
"C'mon, Jack." He whispered to himself. "You've got I.Q. 300, man. That's about the only thing you know you can actually use against the spider. So think." He took a few more breathes. He quickly pulled out what he had in his waist pack and looked at it. Then he around what was in the small hut. And he smiled as he got the idea.
Arcee kept walking around the woods. Her purple optics were scanning the surroundings for the human teen. And what she could see, so could Airachnid, her puppet master. She was growling now in annoyance as she couldn't find the human brat. Where was he? How something so primitive and slow escape her. She commanded Arcee to transform and return. She waited for a long while before her puppet finally made it back, but was pleased to know her experiment worked.
"You know, Arcee?" she spoke to the Autobot, "Maybe I shouldn't have been so merciful. After all, it's your fault we ended up here."
Flashback
Arcee was in a state of shock as she looked at the dead form of Mirage. She was unable to speak. Unable to register the sharp blade of Airachnid's limb nearing towards her optic.
But this wasn't her end. A wall exploded. And three Autobots entered the cell. The Autobots she would later come to know as Cliffjumper, Bulkhead and Optimus (the Autobot second-in-command by now). Tyrantulas growled as his spider limbs aimed at the Autobots. But before he could open fire, his lower left servo got shot off. As he yelled in agony, his limbs fired toward the ceiling, causing the place to collapse. He noticed it.
"Oh, oh. Time to take my leave." He whispered, transforming into a motorcycle-like van and driving off into a small tunnel that shut behind him. Airachnid was about to run herself, when the ruble fell onto her, burying her.
The Autobots freed Arcee from the cuffs and dragged her. "I couldn't save him. I couldn't SAVE MY PARTNER!" she started, still in shock.
Since then, she was badly hurt emotionally.
End flashback
"Fortunately, it was just the ceiling, not the whole prison block. And now…" she raised her servo, running her fingers along her face. "I get to claim my delayed prize." She hissed.
"Leave her alone, Decipticreep!" a familiar voice called. Airachnid turned around to find Jack standing by the control station. Airachnid smiled wickedly.
"My, my. So little Jack came out to play." She said in a mocking tone. Then she leaped towards the console and activate it. "Get him, Arcee." She commanded.
And the white femme charged towards the boy. Jack waited for a the right moment… and jumped aside. Arcee stopped in her tracks and leaped at the boy. Jack didn't had time to jump away and got caught. He was struggling against Arcee's grip. The teen noticed Airachnid's sinister smile, as he felt pressure increasing. He pulled out a flare and triggered it. Something shot out of it, blinding Arcee and electrocuting her head. Her body went limp as Jack fell on the ground, grimacing in pain. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
And judging by the look on the female Decepticon's face, it really wasn't a good idea. She growled furiously when her precious puppet wasn't moving. She roared and leaped towards the teen, was unable to move. Airachnid caught him in her servos and lifted him her face.
"That was very clever, Jack." She calmed down a bit. She was actually impressed with the boy's strategy. "You really impressed me. I think I might make you my pet instead."
"Sorry. You're not my type." Jack said, as he pulled off his right sleeve, revealing something Airachnid could best describe as a poorly made miniature rocket launcher. Jack aimed at her face at launched the projectile. It glued itself to her forehead, before flaring. Airachnid dropped the boy, rubbing her face. This time, Jack was prepared and landed in a way he could ran away as soon as he landed.
Airachnid managed to get rid of the flaring device and looked around for Jack, only to see no sign of him. It wasn't that he got far. Rather, whatever he hit her with, blinded her. The 'Con was seeing static or the cut and paused frame. "You're actually making this difficult, Jack. Good. I like it when my preys put up a good fight." She commented, making her way towards the console.
If she could see that clearly, she would see the young Darby opening a small gap in the station and putting in the gasoline canister. The wasn't lot of it. But he hope the improvised bomb would damage the console enough to free Arcee. He pulled used a flint to fire the piece of material he used for a fuse and ran as fast as he could. As but Airachnid spotted him shot her webbing. She managed to get his leg. Jack looked down and felt frightened. As Airachnid was about pass over the station. Explosion took place. It was weak, at first. But then a second one took place. And then a big one, strong enough to cause a shockwave that knocked Jack out. Though freeing him from the webbing, Jack knew his ankle was, while not truly twisted, injured. Plus, he had a headache. He tried to get up, but couldn't. he'd be lucky if he didn't had a concussion.
He managed to get up and tried walk back to the ranger station. It was hard and painful, but he managed to reach the hut. But before he could reach the door, his entire body was caught in a web. He couldn't look to find the familiar Decepticon glaring at him. She switched to her two-legged form and approached him with a sadistic look on her face.
"Now you really did it, Jack." She said. "I'm going to enjoy playing with you." She extended her bladed limb towards him. She was going to cut him into pieces, slowly and painfully. Jack closed his eyes, expecting the end.
"Sorry, Arcee." He whispered.
Airachnid was about to do it, when an engine roar caught her attention. She looked to find a motorcycle leap towards her, transforming into a familiar, though covered into dirt and burn marks, Autobot. She delivered the female Decepticon a powerful blow to the face, sending her flying. Airachnid struggled to get up, but only got another blow. "First one was for Moonracer. The last one was for Mirage." Arcee said. Airachnid tried to slash Arcee, but her limb was blocked and the Autobot delivered a blow to her midsection. "This one's for Cliffjumper. This one's for me!" she deliver an uppercut, stunning Airachnid for long enough. "And this one's for Jack!" she announced, delivering a kick to her chest. The kick was so powerful, Airachnid flew back, knocking down some trees. As the cloud of dust fell, the 'Con was lying unconscious. Arcee wanted nothing more than to finish her off for good.
However, she had her priority.
"Jack!" she called, with great concern. She ran over towards the teen, who was still caught in the web. She kneeled and pulled off the web. She didn't expect the boy to fall, but managed to catch him in her servo. She gently laid him down on the ground. "Are you okay?" she asked, as she saw the boy with his eyes closed. "C'mon, Jack, don't do this to me." No answer came. Sorrow appeared on her face. "Jack, I'm so sorry. After Cliffjumper's death… I didn't want a new partner." If she could, she would cry. "I… never should have… looked back. Come on. Say something!" she begged now.
"T-told you… I could… kick your aft…" Jack said weakly. Arcee was shocked at first. Then mad for what he said. But it quickly turned to joy now that she knew he would live. She smiled warmly when she saw his eyes open.
A loud roar caught her attention. When she turned around, she found Airachnid transformed into a cybetronian jet and taking off. Arcee tried to shoot her down, but couldn't hit her.
"Airachnid!" she growled, cradling Jack in her one servo. As the female Decepticon disappeared out of sight, she sighed. "So much for closure." She looked down in disappointment. Then she turned to look at Jack, who seemed to be on the edge of consciousness. "Are you okay, Jack?"
"I believe… bruises… is all I've… suffered..." he said, grunting a bit.
"I…" the femme started, but paused, feeling guilt and shame for what happened. "I'm sorry you had to face my demons today." Jack looked at her, as she laid him against the hut. Then a smile appeared on her face. "You were pretty fearless there, Jack."
The human chuckled a little. "Honestly… I was terrified." He said, looking to his side. Then back at his guardian. "Mostly for you."
Arcee couldn't help but show how warm she felt at these words. It felt like something she's been missing ever since that day. She reached for her comm-link. "Arcee to base. Requesting ground bridge." She said. She gazed at her human charge, who swapped away an approaching mosquito. She smirked. "Need to get my partner away from any oversized insect." She added.
If only she could see their faces now.
Jack had a smug smile on his face. "Partner, huh?"
"Junior partner. I can still pull ranks on you, Jack." Arcee specified. Then something got the teen's attention.
"What happened to the 'kid'?" he asked.
Arcee's optics widened in realization of that. She looked around, as if trying to come up with an excuse, that it was just a moment. Then she sighed in defeat. Why try and lie to him?
"Well, you really earned my respect, Jack." She answered. "To be honest, I owe you more than one."
Jack just smiled laughed slightly. "Good to know… I'm not such a pain." He said.
Arcee straightened herself. She couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes after what he said. It was true. She used to look at him like a pain in the gear at first. Later, when he returned with Jazz, he was just someone to help kill time. But now… who knows? Jack might prove to be a great partner.
End
A.N.: Wow. I can't believe I manage to write this down in one day. I so thought I was gonna update later, yet here it is. And no, Combaticons have been mentioned, but I'm not gonna end up with this. Though, I'm not really sure whether or not to bring in combiners in season one. Anyway, see you next time.
Cast:
Tyrantulas- Mark Hamill or Alec Willows (voice of Tarantulas)