SPARKZ - Anything but Traditional

by Beez' Nezt

The wedding of the year is here! Miko Nakadai and Rafael Esquivel are ready to walk down the aisle, but will they survive the journey getting there?

10. Chapter 10 - TO THE RESCUE

"Now THAT was some good gyudon!"

"Oh, stop. I just followed a recipe I found online."

"Miko's not kidding, Babs." Jonathan reclined in his chair at the dinner table, gently patting his full belly as he smiled and said, "I've got to hand it to you, wife o'mine…you really outdid yourself."

Babs blushed, "Stop it, both of you! The way you two carry on, you'd think I had cooked a five-star gourmet meal or something! It was just a little Japanese comfort food…"

Jonathan chuckled, "God bless a wife that cooks, Babs."

She winked and replied, "God bless the husband who takes care of the dishes!"

"Oui, Madame Générale!" Jonathan leapt to his feet and snapped a quick mock-salute before leaning down to kiss his wife on the cheek. Babs playfully swatted her husband's backside as he began to gather the dirty dishes.

Miko smirked at the antics of her host-parents, wondering to herself how she could have ever harbored negative feelings towards them.

"I see that Jonathan picked up a little French lingo while you two were honeymooning in Paris."

Hearing his name, Jonathan looked over his shoulder and grinned, "I'm a man of many talents, Miko! Heck, I even learned how to introduce myself in Japanese. Check this out!" He bowed dramatically before saying, "Kon'nichiwa. Watashi no namae wa Jonathan desu."

Clearly impressed, Miko clapped and gushed, "Not bad, Jonathan! You got the inflection right and everything!"

"Wait, there's more!" Jonathan cleared his throat and smiled confidently as he continued, "Watashi wa josei no shitagi o mi ni tsukete iru ma tappudansu ga sukidesu!"

Miko jolted in barely-concealed surprise. Struggling to maintain a neutral expression, she asked, "Umm, you say you taught yourself…?"

Jonathan sheepishly scratched the back of his neck until he confessed, "Well…okay, I admit it. One of the kids I teach at school also happens to be Japanese. Since you weren't available he was kind enough to help me with the proper pronunciation. Nice kid…even offered to show me how to spruce it up a bit so I could really impress the locals if Babs and I ever decided to visit Japan! So, what do ya think?"

While wondering what Jonathan possibly could have done to the student to have earned such ire, Miko paused briefly and debated how best to answer. Eventually she gave Jonathan an enthusiastic thumbs-up and exclaimed, "Sounds great!"

Smiling proudly, Jonathan returned his attention to washing the dishes. Babs inclined her head towards Miko and quietly murmured, "We should probably avoid ever visiting Japan, I assume?"

Miko's pink bobtails did a frenetic dance as she nodded rapidly and whispered, "Ohhh, most definitely."

Suddenly feeling incredibly tired, Miko leaned against the table and rested her chin atop her folded arms. Sitting on the table before her somnolent stare was a modest glass vase holding one of the pink roses from Babs' prodigious flower garden. Miko silently admired its simple yet elegant beauty for several minutes as she pondered her next move. Finally she blew the hair out of her eyes with an undecided huff and sighed, "Well, I guess I've imposed on you guys long enough. I should probably be going."

Babs started, "But what about…?"

Miko nodded, forcing a sad smile. "Yeah, I know. I still honestly don't have a clue what to do yet with this situation with Raf, or even if anything can be done."

"You know, Miko…you're more than welcome to stay here with us until you make your decision." Babs offered Miko a hopeful smile.

Jonathan gave up any pretense of not eavesdropping on their conversation and immediately joined Miko and Babs, supportively standing by his wife's side. "Our home is your home, Miko. C'mon, whaddya say? It'd be just like old times..."

"You guys…" Deeply moved by her host-parents' persistent love and compassion, Miko couldn't help but blush. "I…I guess it wouldn't hurt to stay a little while longer. Besides, no one else knows I'm here."

RING-RING!

Miko facepalmed and groaned, "Kami-sama, when am I gonna stop doing that?!"

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the nearby house phone, an unspoken question on their lips as it continued to sound off.

Could it be?

Babs worriedly looked up at her husband and asked, "Jonathan? What if it's - ?"

Miko shook her head and stammered, "If-if it's him, I-I can't…I can't…"

Seeing the look of near-panic in Miko's expression, Jonathan smiled reassuringly and said, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Miko covered her face with her hands and murmured, "Oh, God…I am so tired of running all the time."

Babs frowned at the bewildering comment. She patted Miko's back and replied, "You don't have to run anymore, Miko. Not now."

Jonathan calmly walked over to the phone and picked it up, placing the receiver to his ear.

"Hello…?"

Babs and Miko held their breath.

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to speak up. We seem to have a bad connection." Jonathan paused for a moment before saying, "Yes, this is he. Is this - ?"

Seeking a source of strength and support, Miko's trembling hand reflexively reached out. It found Bab's waiting hand and tightly gripped it in fervent anticipation.

Silently Miko mouthed, Is it Raf?

Jonathan smiled and shook his head. Miko breathed out a huge sigh of relief.

Babs demanded impatiently, "Well…? Who is it, then?!"

"Hold on for a moment, please." Jonathan lowered the phone and said, "It's for you, Miko. Somebody named…Marcie?"

"Marcie? Who the…?" Quickly putting two and two together, Miko gasped.

Babs saw how Miko had tensed up and quietly murmured, "Jonathan, I'm not sure she's up for this right now. Maybe - "

Miko abruptly shot to her feet and said, "It's okay, Babs. I know her…from the university. Don't worry, she's a friend."

"Well, all right…as long as you're okay with it."

Miko smiled confidently, "I got this, Babs." She nodded to Jonathan who passed over the phone.

"H-Hello?"

"Hey, Miko."

"Hey, um…M-Marcie. H-how did you - ?"

"Find you? Wasn't too hard."

Miko huffed, "What did you do, have me bugged with a tracking device or something?"

"Really, Miko? Sorry to disappoint you, but all I did was look online for your host-parents' new address and phone number. Anyone who really wanted to find you could've figured that one out. I just figured that you'd eventually make your way there."

"Ar - uh, Marcie…I don't mean to sound rude, but - !"

"Hmp. And after all the trouble I went through to wring an answer out of Bulkhead and Ratchet."

Miko tried in vain to hide a smirk.

"Who caved first?"

"Bulkhead, naturally. Big softie…" Arcee's voice paused briefly before taking on a more compassionate tone. "I…heard about what happened with you and Raf. I'm sorry, Miko."

Miko shrugged, "Not your fault."

"Hey, you know what? Back in the day whenever Jack needed cheering up, I'd take him for a quick spin around the block. What do you say? Might do you some good to clear out the cobwebs, or whatever the scrap the human expression is…"

"But-but I can't just…"

"MIko, come on. I'm just going to stay parked out here until you come out."

"Wait, what? You're here…outside? Like, right now?!" Tentatively she pushed back the curtain and looked out the window, revealing a familiar holographic rider standing astride a gleaming sapphire-blue motorcycle. As Miko watched, the front end of the bike smoothly angled towards her peeking face and flashed its headlight in silent greeting.

"There you are."

Miko whispered, "Arcee…look, I - !"

"Get the lead out, Miko. We're burning daylight, here." A note of impatience had crept into Arcee's voice.

Reluctantly accepting defeat, Miko loudly groaned, "Fine. I'll be out in a minute." She hung up the phone, feeling extremely shameful as she slowly turned to face her host-parents. Both gazed back at her with nervous expectation.

She sighed, "Babs, Jonathan…I, umm…"

Babs smiled, "You don't owe us any explanation, sweetie. We understand. Go…talk with your friend."

Miko grabbed her host-parents in a crushing hug. She sniffed, "You guys are the best." Pulling back from the embrace, she wiped away a stray tear and whispered, "Th-thank you for…for everything."

Jonathan chuckled warmly and said, "Just remember to come by for a visit every now and then. Remember, Miko…you always have a home with us."

It was all she could do not to break down and cry. Miko beat down the urge by quickly burying her feelings as she perfunctorily grinned, "I'll see you guys soon! I promise!"

Babs cautiously said, "I…I really hope that things work out for you and Raf."

Miko's reflexive grin faltered just a hair as she replied, "Me too, Babs…me, too." She opened the door and sighed, "Well, I guess this is - !"

"W-wait! Before you go anywhere, I-I need to…oh, just give me one minute!" Babs suddenly turned on her heel and rushed over to the kitchen table, quickly taking the pink rose from its vase. Getting a pair of multi-purpose shears from one of the cabinet drawers, she carefully clipped off the rose's sharp thorns and most of its long stem. Barely a minute had passed before she briskly returned to Miko and presented the flower.

"Don't forget what we talked about."

Miko understood completely.

Trust and happiness.

She nodded as she accepted the rose, whispering, "Baby steps, remember?" With great care Miko tucked the flower into her hair, resting it atop her left ear.

She waved good-bye to her host-parents and ran out the door towards where Arcee waited. Hesitating only a moment before hopping onto the motorcycle, Miko carefully seated herself behind the incorporeal rider as she put on her helmet. Arcee revved her engine once before zooming in the direction of the oncoming sunset.

They rode in silence for several minutes until Miko finally worked up the nerve to speak.

"Y'know, I don't think I've ridden your vehicle mode ever since that one time right after we first met."

"Time flies when you're having fun…" Arcee added darkly, "…or fighting a war."

Suddenly feeling extremely awkward, Miko tried to sound as casual as possible and remarked, "S-sooo, Arcee…if you're here with me, then I assume that Jack is - !"

"You assume correctly."

…

Instantly recognizing the telltale sound of the space-bridge, Raf blinked tiredly and heaved a wearisome sigh even before he caught the emerald vortex's swirling lightshow out of the corner of his eye. He did not bother to turn his head and look, already knowing with an almost unsettling certainty as to who his unexpected visitor was.

"Hello, Jack."

Stepping out of the space-bridge before it closed on itself and disappeared, Jack Darby peered around with considerable trepidation and replied, "Figured this would be the last place you'd want to be, Raf."

Raf shrugged indifferently to Jack's comment and quipped, "I just wanted to go someplace where I knew I could get away from it all."

Choosing to ignore the bleak humor in Raf's remark, Jack couldn't help but wince at the tone of his sullen friend's voice. It was as dry and lifeless as the arid landscape before him. Even with dark sunglasses protecting his glowing blue eyes from the glare, Jack had a bit of trouble focusing his vision and had to squint.

Stretching as far as the eye could see was the seemingly endless desolation of the Sonoran Desert.

Jack had never been here before but vividly remembered the unnerving conversations held over the phone with Raf and Miko about their recent journey through this inhospitable place. Seeing it firsthand was a sobering experience in itself, but it certainly didn't help Jack's nerves to notice how Raf was casually seated atop the roof of the old mission where he had almost died.

Concernedly he asked, "You sure it's sturdy enough for you to be up there, Raf? This place definitely looks like it's seen better days."

"Don't worry, Jack. It may be over three hundred years old but Padre Kino built these missions to last." Glancing over his shoulder, Raf finally trained his penetrating stare at Jack. "So, how'd you track me down?"

Jack proudly puffed out his chest and smiled, "When your Sparkmate is the best hunter-tracker in the galaxy, you pick up a trick or two."

Raf quietly raised an eyebrow at Jack, his intense gaze causing the young human Prime to blink uneasily. After a moment of the unrelenting scrutiny, Jack grudgingly admitted, "All right, you left your com-link on and we traced your signal."

The corners of Raf's mouth twitched and curled upwards slightly as he replied, "That I believe. Your sense of direction sometimes leaves a lot to be desired, Jack. I haven't forgotten how you got lost on Cybertron's dark moon that one time."

"I knew I never should have told you about that."

Raf breathed in deeply and sighed, "Listen, Jack…I know you'll probably think I've gotten sunstroke or something, but I came back here because I find it…peaceful." Before Jack could interject, Raf held up a hand which stopped his friend's rebuttal dead in its tracks. With an eerie calmness, Raf continued to explain. "There's something almost liberating about being in the wilderness. It helps put things in perspective."

Worriedly Jack asked, "H-how do you mean?"

Raf smiled sadly, "I've always been told that during times of trouble when we don't have any answers, God is always there to guide us. If we have faith, then we can make it out of the desert. I…I guess I'm just waiting for Him to show me the way out."

Immensely relieved upon hearing Raf's words, Jack grinned and slowly shook his head in amazement. Even after all these years he still marveled at the depths of his friend's spiritual belief. Raf's faith in the impossible had not too long ago gotten Jack through one of the most harrowing times of his entire life when the Fallen had robbed him of everything he held most dear. Looking back, Jack simply couldn't imagine what would have happened if he had given up on that dark day.

Raf turned his keen gaze back to the distant horizon and murmured, "So…I guess if you're here with me, would I be right if I surmised that Arcee was also currently paying a visit to a certain someone?"

A warm wind billowed through Jack's long raven hair as he nodded, "Right as usual, Raf."

"Then who's watching Orion?"

Jack smirked, "Now there's a story."

"Uh, oh…"

"Don't worry, it's a good story. When Ratchet and Bulkhead finally decided to 'fess up and tell me what had happened, well…let's just say it wasn't pretty."

"You were mad?"

"Oh, I was furious. It was bad enough that Bulkhead let his own personal feelings get out of control. I mean, not only did he actually threaten one of his teammates but then he threw a stupid temper tantrum which ended up with both the com-link and the space-bridge controls busted and out of commission."

Raf's mouth gaped open. "Whoa, Bulkhead did all that?"

Jack huffed angrily, "But what really ticked me off was that nobody bothered to get me involved until hours after the fact. Thank God the world wasn't coming to an end or anything. Ratchet knows better, and that kind of screw-up could have cost us all dearly."

"Wh-what'd you do to them?"

"Me? Not a thing." Jack chuckled and then clarified, "Never got the chance. Arcee was there with me."

"Oh, scrap."

"Yeahhh…I think it's safe to say that Bulkhead and Ratchet have learned the error of their ways."

"Wait, what does all this have to do with who's watching Orion?"

Jack smiled wickedly.

…

"GIDDYYAP, HORSIE!"

Little Orion giggled and squealed a shrill cry of pure joy as he sat atop Bulkhead, who in turn shuffled around Hangar E while on all fours. In addition to the Wrecker's enormous metal body being covered in glitter and colorful detailing adorning his face, Bulkhead also sported a pair of makeshift metal Pegasus wings and a miniature saddle that was the perfect size for Orion.

"C'MON, BU'KHEAD! GET AWONG, WIDDLE DOGGIE!"

"Uhh, okay. Hang on, little guy!"

Taking great care not to accidently dislodge his tiny rider, Bulkhead reared up slightly and let out what passed for a neigh as he channeled his inner equus.

"YAYYY! AGAIN!"

"I have been held prisoner by the Decepticons and forced to do their bidding but as degrading as that experience was, nothing compares to this." Ratchet fumed nearby as he leaned against the hangar wall, similarly dolled up in sparkles and bright pastel hues. However, instead of wings there was a shiny unicorn horn firmly attached to the center of the old Autobot medic's forehead. He hung his head low and muttered, "I have never felt so humiliated."

Ratchet glared pointedly at Bulkhead and grumbled, "This is all your fault, you know."

"ME?! What'd I do, Ratch?"

Ratchet rolled his optics. "Puh-leaze. Arcee took one look at us and you started singing like a canary. The least you could have done was let me do all the talking, and then maybe we wouldn't be in this situation!"

Bulkhead shot back, "Well, maybe you shouldn't have gotten inspired by a private detective from a TV soap opera!"

"Oh, go play with a scraplet." Ratchet huffed, "Unbelievable. Even after everything I did to help the situation, I still got assigned babysitting duty."

Standing in the doorway by Ratchet's feet, June Darby-Fowler groaned to herself as she felt yet another sharp twinge of discomfort lance through her head. The persistent migraine had been bothering her for several weeks now, seemingly with no end in sight. Chalking it up to menopause, June toughed it out and did her best to ignore the pain. Having to listen to Ratchet and Bulkhead's constant bickering wasn't helping.

In spite of the troublesome headache, she smirked, "Far be it from a lowly nurse like myself to offer medical advice to one of your skill and expertise…"

Ratchet sighed, "I sense a 'but.' What is it, Nurse?"

June grinned, "…suck it up and take your medicine, Doctor. Remember, after Bulkhead finishes giving my grandson horseback rides, you're next."

"YAYYY, HORSIES!"

…

"H-horsies…?"

After she had gone into considerable detail explaining Bulkhead and Ratchet's punishment, Arcee was suddenly forced to pull over to the side of the street because Miko had doubled over from laughing. As Arcee's engine idled patiently, her holographic rider Sadie silently continued to grip the handlebars while Miko giggled like a maniac.

"Oh…oh, God…m-my sides hurt…" Miko gasped for breath and clutched at her aching belly, desperately trying to regain some sense of composure. She removed her helmet and wiped away the tears budding in her eyes. "Wh-where did you ever get such a diabolically clever idea, Arcee?"

Arcee tilted her rear view mirrors, the motorcycle equivalent of a shrug. "Jack recently discovered he has a gift for storytelling, which has come in very handy when we're trying to put an AllSpark-powered toddler to bed at night. Well, there was one time when the regular bedtime stories just weren't cutting it. Orion started throwing a tantrum. I didn't have a clue what to do, but then Jack happened to remember this crazy dream I had years ago. Before I knew it he had spun out this yarn about these little multicolor horsies. Some horribly cute nonsense about magical friendship or something…"

"Whoa. That is weird and bizarre."

"Well, Orion loved it. Couldn't get enough of the horsies, and now it's just about the only bedtime story he wants Jack to tell. Thank Primus my Sparkmate has such a creative soul, because we didn't want to take a chance Orion of getting bored again. So, to keep things interesting and break up the monotony, one story became two, then another, and another. Jack started adding more and more characters to the tale and eventually he had a whole slew of stories, all about these little horsies."

Arcee chuckled, "When June got wind of it, she suggested that Jack publish his stories as a series of children's books and go into business for himself. Of course, it was my dream in the first place. I think I should at least get a percentage of the profits."

Miko snickered, "So…Orion's obsession with horsies led to 'Bulk and Ratchet's getting locked up in the penalty stable, huh?"

"Two birds with one blaster shot. After Jack used the Forge of Solus Prime to repair the space-bridge, he then used it to create Ratchet and Bulkhead's temporary new look. Fixed 'em right up. They were so pretty…"

"That's hysterical! What'd you make 'em do next, the trot of shame?"

Arcee groaned, "Ugh. Please, Miko…not with the bad jokes again. I can't - "

Miko winked, "Can't, or canter? C'mon, Arcee…don't act all shocked. You know I've got a lot of gall…op."

Arcee tried not to laugh, really she did. Unfortunately for her, the unexpected barrage of lame puns hammered relentlessly through her steely defenses and quickly found its way to a previously unknown part of Autobot anatomy…the Cybertronian funnybone.

Utterly helpless before the merciless assault, Arcee began to snort with hilarity.

Until now, Jack Darby was the only human on Earth who had heard Arcee laugh and lived to tell the tale. Shocked at first by the strange jarring sound, Miko reacted the only way she could and joined her friend in wild, boisterous laughter. Long minutes passed before their shared mirth finally subsided.

"N-not a word about this to anybody, okay?"

"Heh. I promise, Arcee…not a peep outta me. You're my oneesama, right?" A sudden idea came to Miko and she said, "Scrap, we should take Orion out to visit Raf's family ranch. There are horses everywhere and…a-and…chikusho…!"

Miko's shoulders started to quake as she fought to hold it all in.

"…I-I'm sorry…p-promised I wouldn't…do this anymore…!"

Arcee silently cursed, angrily blaming herself for allowing Miko's fragile good spirits to be upset.

"M-Miko, I…"

Without any warning a compact sports car appeared out of nowhere, careening around the corner at a dangerous rate of speed. The brakes shrieked in protest as the driver attempted to stop, but it was far too late. The car skidded out of control and hurtled straight towards Miko and Arcee, scant seconds away from hitting them head-on.

Arcee braced herself for the impact as Miko screamed.

…

"Jack? Jack, are you all right? Jack!"

"Wh-what…?"

"I said, are you all right? One minute you were telling me about what you and Arcee did to Ratchet and Bulkhead, and the next you were spacing out." Raf's already concerned expression became alarmed. "Jack, I-I know you're still not 100% after your fight with the Fallen. Is…is something wrong?"

Jack blinked rapidly and attempted to snap out of it. He shook his head and smiled sheepishly. "N-no, no…everything's fine, Raf. I'm okay. Just got a lot on my mind, I guess."

Raf knew that Jack wasn't telling him everything. By now the young genius had become quite familiar with the art of ambiguity in a conversation and narrowed his intense gaze, carefully scanning Jack's face for any sign of duplicity.

Uncomfortable under the persistent stare, Jack turned away and watched the distant horizon. He chuckled, "Enough about me, already. This isn't my story, remember?" He chanced glancing back at Raf and asked, "What about you? Is there anything I can do for you, little brother?"

Caught off guard by the affectionate familial term, Raf started slightly and whispered, "Y-you haven't called me 'little brother' since what happened with the Fallen…"

Jack smiled slightly, turning back to look directly at his friend.

"Raf? Do you…want to talk about it?"

Wiping away the sweat that had beaded upon his brow, Raf shrugged, "Not much to tell."

Jack waited patiently until Raf finally felt compelled to continue.

"M-my family…they got into a disagreement with Miko's parents about our wedding. Things just started spiraling out of control and before we realized what was happening, our engagement party turned into this big, ugly fight. Miko couldn't take any more and got out of there. I caught up with her and tried talking things out, but all she wanted to do was run away…elope, like you and Arcee. I-I was tempted to, believe me. It would've been so easy…just leave our troubles and families far behind and never look back."

Raf nervously adjusted his glasses and struggled to remain calm. "B-but I couldn't do it. Things have always been strained with my parents, and w-we...Dios mìo, it was just the other week when we made a real breakthrough! After all these years, we were finally acting like a family again! I couldn't just leave them like that, not after we had all come so far! I-I attempted to make Miko understand that, but…but she wouldn't listen. She…she…"

Raf looked straight at Jack with helpless eyes full of pent-up, unshed tears and rasped, "G-God forgive me, Jack! No matter what I do, I lose everything!"

Jack shuddered, Raf's pain-filled words and the earlier mentions of the Fallen once again causing him to remember the worst day in his life. He suddenly found himself reliving the horrific moment when the maddened Megatronus Prime had forced him to make the terrible choice between saving either his son or his Sparkmate.

Jack had no idea it had been this bad for his friend.

"Aw, Raf. L-listen, I…"

"Don't, Jack…please."

"I haven't even said anything yet."

Raf deadpanned, "'I know you're going through a rough time, Raf. But I promise it's going to work out in the end.'"

Jack muttered, "Scrap, am I always that obvious?"

"Don't get me wrong, Jack. I appreciate it…really, I do." Raf hung his head low. "The only problem is it's not going to work out."

"Why not…?"

Raf exploded, "Oh, COME ON, JACK! I'm not twelve years old anymore! I've seen how the real world works, and I know how this is going to end! I…look…I'm sorry you and Arcee went through the trouble of riding to the rescue and all that, but you're only wasting your time. It…it's over between me and Miko."

He looked around and almost seemed to laugh, "Y'know, I don't think God is going to help me out of this desert, Jack. I-I'm lost, and I just can't find my way anymore."

Jack did not hesitate. He was intimately familiar with the sound of utter despair and recognized it in Raf's voice. In spite of the phantom twinge of pain in his limbs, he immediately began to climb to the roof of the old mission.

"Hang on, Raf. I'm coming up."

…

"HANG ON, MIKO!"

Arcee did not hesitate. The microsecond before the careening sports car slammed into her, Arcee revved her engine and immediately kicked it into maximum overdrive. Engaging her powerful shocks, she managed to bounce the front end of her sleek vehicle mode high into the air even as she spun her wheels at the precise instant of contact. Miko frantically held on for dear life, staring in wide-eyed astonishment while Arcee made the impossible seem like child's play and turned the speeding car into a makeshift ramp.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl. The fiberglass compound of the car's hood melted like hot butter under the intense friction heat generated by Arcee's rapidly rotating tires. In the blink of an eye Arcee propelled herself upward until she had cleared the automobile's roof. Miko's stomach lurched as they went airborne. With a detached fascination she watched below as the sports car roared past them.

Gravity eventually reclaimed its hold on Arcee and Miko, coaxing them back down to the earth. Miko barely had time to brace herself before they slammed to the ground, the strong impact rattling her teeth. Arcee hit her brakes and turned sharply, kicking up an impressive spray of dust and gravel. She whirled about and faced the car as it finally came to an abrupt stop no more than ten feet away.

Arcee asked, "You okay back there?"

Miko gulped and stammered, "Wh-who, me? Y-yeah, I-I'm good. I-I-I mean, sure…I'm gonna h-heave my g-guts out after I calm down, b-but other than that…"

"ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?!"

Just then the other driver stumbled out of the sports car, tightly gripping a cell phone in hand. Miko and Arcee watched as the driver examined their automobile, finding it in somewhat less than sterling condition. Arcee's heavy-duty tires had quite literally left their mark, digging deep into the surface of the vehicle and leaving a smoking tire tread imprint trailing all the way from the car's front end to its roof.

The driver screamed uncontrollably at the sight and angrily turned to confront them.

Miko paused for an instant, finding something unsettlingly familiar about the driver. Unfortunately she didn't have an opportunity to pursue the matter as the driver started shouting again.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"

Although she was highly shaken up, Miko almost laughed. She peered around Arcee's Sadie hologram and struggled to reply, "Wh-whaddya mean, our fault?! Y-you were the one tearing up the r-road like a crazy st-street racer! You almost hit us, r-remember?"

The driver sniffed arrogantly and snubbed Miko, dismissing her comments and acting as though the frightened girl were completely beneath their notice.

Instead, the young female driver propped a hand on her hip and focused her full attention on Sadie. She flipped her long red hair back in a haughty motion and threatened, "You better have insurance, or else I'm going to sue."

It had been years but Arcee never forgot a face. Her voice dripped with venom as she spat the name.

"SIERRA."

Flabbergasted, Miko swore under her breath, "D-d-daaaaamn."

…

Frustrated beyond all reason, Raf sobbed with rage as he shouted to the heavens, "DAAAAAMMMIIIIIT!"

Jack was at a complete loss. In the years he had known Raf, Jack had rarely ever seen him lose his cool. Normally the quiet young genius always kept his emotions tightly reigned in.

Having finally reached the roof of the old mission, Jack said nothing as he quietly eased himself next to his friend and sat patiently. While he waited for Raf to calm down, Jack happened to gaze absently at the horizon, his eyes lingering on the ancient ridge of extinct volcanoes. For some reason, one craggy peak in particular seemed oddly familiar.

Finally sensing Jack's nearby presence, Raf suddenly became self-conscious and wiped at his eyes, not wanting his friend to see any sign of weakness. Embarrassed by his actions, he muttered, "Scrap…I-I'm sorry, Jack."

"S'okay, Raf."

"Y-you probably think I'm acting like a big baby…"

Jack resolutely shook his head, "Nope. Sometimes you just have to let it all out, y'know?"

"What am I going to do, Jack?"

"Well, the first thing you're going to do is stop being so hard on yourself."

Raf shouted, "What do you expect, Jack?! This whole mess with Miko happened because of me…because of what I did!"

"Stop right there, Raf. You can't blame yourself like you're responsible for all the world's problems!"

"Why not? You've been doing it as long as I've known you!"

Jack blinked awkwardly, "Th-that's not…I mean…look, I-I'm just - !"

Raf interrupted, "And please don't sit there and tell me there's nothing special about you, Jack. You're the Prime! You're the leader of the Autobots, for God's sake. Me…? I'm just a spiky-haired nerd who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got caught up in something bigger than I could handle. Now I'm paying for it." Raf turned away from Jack and stared into the rapidly approaching twilight.

Jack sighed, not knowing what to say or do. There were times when even the wisdom of the ancient Primes was useless.

Or was it?

Looking back upon the darkening horizon, Jack once again found his eyes drawn to the striking volcanic landscape. It was a largely undisturbed area, consisting of a wide variety of geological formations. In addition to the huge black and red lava flows and the impressive concentration of craters, there was also a relatively small but very distinctive volcano. Something about the ancient volcano left Jack feeling another definite pang of déjà vu, and he silently pondered over what was so achingly familiar about it. After several minutes of wondering he snapped his fingers as it finally clicked.

Jack nudged Raf's shoulder and said, "Hey, Raf. Does that happen to remind you of anything in particular?"

Raf didn't react or reply at first. Eventually it registered that Jack had spoken to him and he blinked tiredly, managing an exhausted, "Mwuh?"

Without saying a word, Jack smiled and pointed at the distant volcano.

"What are you talking about?" Raf huffed and slowly followed Jack's gaze until he saw what he was indicating. Raf asked, "What, El Pinacate? What about it? It's just a dormant volcanic area."

Jack chuckled, "C'mon, Raf. Don't you remember? Years ago, right before the planetary alignment…?"

Raf narrowed his eyes as he searched his memories for what Jack was referring to. In a rush Raf finally gasped as a light came on and he remembered.

"Thunderwing."

…

"You…know my name?"

Sierra frowned and looked closely at the sapphire motorcycle and its lithe leather clad rider. Recognition flickered as she recalled an incident from years ago at the old KO Burger diner. She narrowed her green eyes and asked suspiciously, "M-Ms. Darby? Is-is that you…?"

Still feeling extremely queasy, Miko didn't budge from her seat on Arcee's vehicle mode. In spite of how bad she felt, Miko clearly heard the question and immediately remembered the tale of how Sierra had once stopped by the KO Burger to visit Jack while he was hard at work.

Miko hadn't been present at the time but Arcee had only been too happy to share all the details of what had happened, in particular of how the stuck-up Sierra had been interrupted in mid-flirt by the sudden arrival of a certain mysterious female rider atop Jack's motorcycle. Arcee's uncertain but undeniable feelings for Jack made her somewhat territorial where he was concerned, but one thing was perfectly clear: Arcee simply didn't like Sierra…not one bit.

Jack's emotions had been just as infuriatingly confused as Arcee's. Torn between his adolescent hormonal crush on Sierra and his growing love for his Autobot partner, Jack had attempted to salvage the situation at the diner by saying the rider was actually his mother. At the time Sierra didn't seem to believe him and subsequently left the diner. After the incident she ultimately lost interest in Jack and dropped out of his life altogether.

However, judging from her most recent words apparently she had believed what Jack had told her that day.

Sierra repeated, "Ms. Darby…?"

Sensing her Autobot friend tensing up, Miko prepared herself for the inevitable fireworks.

Seated as close as she was behind Sadie, Miko couldn't help but notice how the hologram rider's ersatz solidity seemed to ripple for just an instant. Before she knew what was happening, Miko watched with disbelief as Sadie suddenly rose to her feet and dismounted the motorcycle.

Paying no heed to Miko's shocked gasp, Sadie strode purposefully towards Sierra. Reaching up she ripped off her helmet, revealing the beautiful face of a statuesque woman with dusky skin and dark flowing hair. A sparkling bindi shone in the center of her forehead while her piercing eyes blazed with anger. Sadie stopped just shy of stepping on top of Sierra and shouted, "DO I LOOK LIKE JACK'S MOM TO YOU?!"

Sierra stuttered, "Wh-who…?!"

Sadie cut her off, "Who I am isn't important. What you should be concerned with is how you almost killed us while you were texting when driving!"

Sierra's eyes widened comically as they darted down at the phone clenched in her sweating hand. An unsent text message was still displayed on the screen, corroborating the accusation and providing evidence of Sierra's guilt. She swallowed nervously and forced herself to look into Sadie's unearthly blue eyes.

Sadie raised an impatient eyebrow and demanded, "Yes…? You were saying?"

Sierra's voice suddenly lost all its bluster as she murmured weakly, "Y-you can't prove anything."

Sadie grinned savagely and replied, "Well, then…let's just call the police right now and see what they think! I'm sure if they checked your phone records it'd make everything crystal clear. Either that or I could call Jack and get him involved. Oh, did I mention he works for the government now? I'll bet if he looked really hard we could find lots of traffic laws that you've broken today!"

"NO! N-no, wait. Umm, look…j-just…never mind, okay? There's no sense in overreacting. I-I mean, nobody got hurt and that's the important thing, right…?"

Sadie rolled her eyes. "Riiight."

Nervously Sierra ventured, "So, you and Jack…?"

"Uh, yeah. Thought that was kind of obvious. Listen…I don't mean to be impolite but we've got places to go, so if you don't mind…?"

As Sadie started back towards the motorcycle, Sierra asked, "Sooo…you said Jack is working for the government?"

Sadie huffed and glanced over her shoulder. She sighed, "Yeah, so…?"

Sierra smirked, "Oh, nothing. I just thought he was such a loser in high school…never realized he would've ever actually amounted to anything." Seeing Sadie's infuriated expression, Sierra couldn't help twisting the knife and giggled, "Maybe I was being too hasty when I stopped giving him the time of day all those years ago…!"

Sadie shook her head. "Friendly piece of advice: don't embarrass yourself, kid. Jack's way out of your league and always has been. Even if he and I hadn't been together since he was in high school, you wouldn't have had a snowball's chance in hell with him."

Sierra snarled, "Why, you bi-!"

Instantly Sadie whirled about and thrust an immaterial finger in Sierra's face. With a dangerously low rumble she warned, "Finish that sentence and I promise you, no matter where you run I will hunt you dow - !"

Without warning a strange gurgling sound interrupted the remainder of Sadie's threat. Seeking out its source, both women turned in time to hear it emanating from where Miko was still seated.

Miko had turned a sickly shade of green and a panicked look stole across her nauseated features.

Concerned, Sadie asked, "Miko? Are you all right?"

Miko opened her mouth to answer but instead of words, what spewed forth was a spectacular stream of projectile vomit. The partially-digested remains of three breakfast burritos and several large helpings of gyudon combined together and transformed into an unholy gestalt of grossness, launching unerringly towards Sierra and completely dousing her from head to toe.

Sierra trembled, in abject shock from the emetic assault. She said nothing as small chunks of slime-saturated food slowly dripped from her befouled face.

To her credit Sadie also remained silent, maintaining a neutral expression until she had resumed her seat back on the motorcycle. After going through the motion of putting on her holographic helmet, she turned and winked slyly.

"Sorry, Sierra…gotta go. Hey, maybe we can do lunch…?"

The motorcycle's engine revved deafeningly as Arcee put the proverbial pedal to the metal. She burnt rubber, generating a huge cloud of dust and effectively smoking Sierra. The last thing Arcee and Miko heard before they took off like a rocket was Sierra's shrill scream of outrage.

As they left Jasper behind, Arcee sighed blissfully, "I have waited years for something like that to happen. Thank Primus there's still justice in the world. I had almost forgotten what it felt like…"

…

"Can't believe I had almost forgotten that monster…"

Jack nodded, "Yeah, I know. Weird, how we practically never talk about him anymore."

It was five years ago, during the weeks prior to the planetary alignment of 47 spheres mentioned by the dark prophecy in the Covenant of Primus. A gargantuan asteroid comprised almost entirely of Dark Energon had been discovered in deep space by the Decepticons. Megatron intended to bring it to Earth to tip the scales of the war. His plot was discovered by Optimus Prime and the Autobots, who vowed to stop his mad plan.

They battled the Decepticons in orbit, and during the violent struggle the asteroid shattered and broke apart. Its huge fragments rained down to the Earth below, taking the hapless Autobots with it.

While Ratchet and the Autobots' human allies Jack, Miko and Raf tracked down their missing friends, Optimus found himself face to face with an even greater threat than the Dark Energon. To his dismay he learned that contained within the asteroid was a gigantic mechanical monster called Thunderwing, the herald of the chaos-bringer Unicron himself. He had been imprisoned eons ago within that very same asteroid and was now awakened from his slumber.

Thunderwing proceeded to attack Autobot and Decepticon alike, but was eventually forced back into stasis and taken on board the Decepticon warship Nemesis. He was soon revived by Megatron, who offered to repair the damaged titan in exchange for his loyalty to the Decepticons. Thunderwing reluctantly agreed.

His loyalty lasted only until the precise moment when he had been restored to full power. He immediately turned on Megatron and escaped from the Nemesis, traveling to a raging volcano plain where the final battle took place.

The titan's power was too great for the Autobots to handle head-on, but fortunately Ratchet had managed to construct a dampening device that would drain Unicron's herald of much of his Dark Energon-fueled energies. The only problem was that the device had to actually be inside Thunderwing to be effective.

During the earlier action Miko had used her cell phone to take several pictures of Thunderwing. Studying the images she noticed that there was a small gap in the titan's armor. Miko pointed this out to the Autobots, suggesting that they could use it to get the dampening device inside Thunderwing. Unfortunately, it was too small for even Arcee to fit through.

On the other hand, Jack could easily fit and volunteered for the mission. None of the Autobots were willing to risk their human friend's life, but Jack reminded them that this fight was as much theirs as it was the Autobots. Left with little other choice, Optimus reluctantly gave his consent.

Arcee transformed into her vehicle mode and carried Jack along with the dampening device straight towards the monstrous robot, dodging several deadly energy blasts along the way. Quickly reaching their destination, Jack made it inside and activated the dampening device. Thunderwing was staggered, causing Jack to fall. He would have plummeted to his death if it hadn't been for Arcee, who saved him in the nick of time. They both escaped just as Optimus took over and made his stand against the titan.

A terrible battle ensued, finally ending when the last Prime managed to force the weakened titan into a magma pool, causing the nearby volcano to erupt, spewing chunks of Dark Energon high into the air. Thunderwing was defeated.

Optimus Prime later reflected on how their human allies - Jack, in particular - had helped to save the day, and subsequently reaffirmed his oath to continue defending the earth and its people.

Raf visibly shook as he murmured, "I-it was a miracle no one got killed…"

"You're telling me." Jack chuckled, "Looking back, though…compared to some of the stuff we've been through, it almost seemed like one of our old video games."

Incredulous, Raf stared at Jack for a long moment before he cried, "H-how can you joke about something like that, Jack?! When you drove down into that monster's guts, you didn't even blink! H-how the scrap were you not afraid?!"

Jack narrowed his glowing eyes as he studied Raf's agitated expression. It was clear his friend's emotions were on the verge of running wild again. Jack knew he needed a diversion fast.

"Whoa…hang on, Raf. If you think I wasn't scared to death that day, then you don't know Jack." He grinned widely and said, "I was so scared I almost peed my pants. Lucky for me I didn't, 'cause if it had gotten on Arcee she would've been piiiiissed."

Jack's gamble worked. Raf smirked at first, then snorted and finally began to laugh out loud.

Jack waited until his friend's laughter died down before he said, "Let me tell you a little something about fear, Raf. We all feel it. What matters is how we deal with fear whenever it rears its ugly little head."

Raf pondered for a moment before answering, "S-so what's your secret?"

Jack replied, "That day when we were driving straight towards Thunderwing…? I was practically paralyzed with fear. It was only because I was with Arcee that I could deal with it. Even before she and I became Sparkmates, it was almost like I was always stronger whenever we were together." He smiled wistfully, "I guess it's true what they say: being with the one you love brings out your best."

Raf's relaxed expression began to falter. He murmured, "If…if only that was true for everybody."

Before Jack could say anything, Raf continued, "I know a little about fear myself, Jack. Ever since I was a little kid, at one time or another I've been afraid of just about anything and everything. For starters, I used to be scared of anything bigger than me, like people and horses…but regularly hanging with the Autobots quickly took care of that. I also used to be terrified of death, but thanks to my grandfather dying in my arms when I was barely eleven years old and then having to stare death in the face literally every other day, well…I'm kind of past that, too. It also might have helped just a little bit when Orion gave me and Miko Cybertronian sparks and made us practically immortal!"

Raf quickly stood to his feet, balancing precariously on a narrow beam.

Jack warned, "Raf, be careful - !"

Raf laughed, his voice loud and frantic. "Why, Jack? Why are you so scared? There's nothing to be afraid of, remember?!" He crouched slightly, assuming a fighter's stance as he held up his fists. Raf was on the verge of shouting, almost as if he was desperate to be heard.

"That's just it, Jack! I'm not afraid! Right now I think I could take on Unicron himself and it wouldn't even faze me! I'd just walk up to him like this and take care of him…Rafael style!"

Jack raised an uneasy eyebrow.

That was definitely new.

Catching himself, Raf turned back in time to see Jack's startled reaction. As both men stared silently at one another, Raf's stressed mind immediately sobered enough to realize just how out of character he was acting. He lowered his voice back down to its normal calm tenor and forced himself to breathe deeply, slowly regaining control of his emotions.

His body trembled slightly as he smiled sheepishly and said, "A-actually, Jack…there is one thing I'm still afraid of…m-more than anything else in the world, if you want the honest truth."

Warily, Jack asked, "What's that, Raf…?"

Tears streamed down Raf's reddened cheeks as he whispered, "…a life without M-Miko."

Raf's legs began to wobble. Jack instantly surged to his feet and caught Raf just as he began to fall. Raf started to sob again, his clenched fists tightly gripping Jack's shirt like his very life depended on it.

Jack shook his head with pity as he watched Raf's already tenuous sanity slowly unravel before his eyes. All the young Prime could do was hold onto his friend as he rode out the violent emotional storm.

…

Lightning cracked and thunder rumbled amidst ominous dark clouds roiling in the distance. As Arcee drove deeper into the desert, she silently noted Miko's unusual silence. This was definitely out of character for the normally exuberant girl.

Arcee attempted to make conversation and said, "Storm on the horizon, Miko…looks like a pretty nasty one, too. Hopefully we won't run into any rain while we're out here."

Miko whispered something but Arcee couldn't hear over the roar of her engine.

"Didn't quite catch that, Miko. Can you speak up a bit…?"

Slightly louder this time, Miko murmured, "P-pull…pull over."

Arcee asked, "What? What's wrong?"

Miko gritted her teeth and screamed at the top of her lungs, "PULL OVER, ARCEE! UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO GET SICK AGAIN AND RUIN YOUR UPHOLSTRY, I SUGGEST YOU PULL…THE SCRAP…OVER!"

Taking the hint, Arcee quickly swerved off the dusty highway and drove behind a nearby outcropping of rock, out of sight from the main road. As soon as they came to a complete stop, Miko blindly stumbled off and dropped her helmet to the ground. She propped herself up against a huge boulder, sucking in air in great, gasping gulps.

Arcee transformed from her vehicle mode into her default body mode and found a place to sit, leaning back as she waited patiently until Miko managed to calm herself down. After several minutes Miko finally stared up at her and loudly demanded, "Wh-wh-what the scrap was all that, Arcee?! What happened back there?"

"What, when you threw up on Sierra…?"

"NO! I-I mean you…SADIE! Moving and walking around…w-with a FACE!"

Confused at first, Arcee quickly understood and chuckled, "Oh…right. Almost forgot. Sorry, Miko. Several years ago Ratchet made a few upgrades to my hologram tech."

"Upgrades…?"

Arcee nodded, "Yeah, Sadie's got some new tricks up her sleeve now. Not only can she actually move around, but she also has a face with fully functioning features and a few million physical appearance options to choose from. When I picked you up at your host-parents' house earlier, I figured you might not recognize me if Sadie appeared any different than her classic biker look."

Miko shook her head and grinned, "I've said it before and I'll say it again: Coolest. Bike. Ever."

Arcee smirked, "Ratchet even fixed it so I can project the hologram directly onto the surface of my body. We call it a Holocloak. Here, let me show you."

She stood up and transformed into her smaller technorganic body, her eyes flashing briefly as she scanned Miko. Arcee activated the Holocloak and her body began to shimmer with light and color.

Within seconds Miko faced a perfect mirror image of herself.

Miko's reflection grinned and said, "See? I can pass for human now."

"Whoa."

Arcee deactivated the Holocloak and returned to her normal physical appearance.

"Pretty cool, huh?"

Miko suddenly frowned and asked, "Wait, you said Ratchet made these changes years ago. So why haven't we seen you using any of these hologram upgrades since then?"

Arcee sighed, "Unfortunately, all this extra tech comes at a price. Using the Holocloak causes a massive Energon drain on my systems. Almost went offline when I first received the upgrade and got careless…"

Miko thoughtfully pondered Arcee's words before offering, "Has Ratchet attempted to boost your Energon reserves to compensate for the Holocloak's drain? If that doesn't prove to be sufficient, perhaps he should incorporate a slightly more modern version of the core cloaking device. I suspect he may have utilized either the null-field or ghost shield technologies, both of which are well documented for their excessive Energon expenditures. Maybe instead of using those, he could - !"

Abruptly slapped both hands over her mouth, stopping the very un-Miko-like commentary in its tracks. Confused and more than a little frightened, she stammered, "Wh-wh-where the scrap did that come from?!" She didn't wait for an answer and started to giggle, loudly and hysterically.

Arcee looked at her with rapidly growing concern, beginning to suspect that there was something seriously wrong with her human friend. Noting that not even Miko was normally this chaotic, Arcee chose not to say anything on the subject…for now.

"Uh, right. Anyway…after the Holocloak almost extinguished my spark that one time, we decided not to use it again unless it was an absolute emergency."

Miko slowly eased herself to a seated position on the ground. She took a deep breath and asked, "S-so why'd you use it in the first place?"

Glad that Miko was acting and sounding more like her normal self, Arcee's smile rapidly returned. She replied, "Looking back, it sounds pretty silly. Jack and I had a fight about a month after we first got together, and I actually started to worry that we might be too different for things to work themselves out. I thought…I dunno, if I looked human, it might solve all our problems."

"Different?"

Arcee deadpanned, "Miko, really? Have you looked at me and Jack?"

Thinking she had offended Arcee, Miko immediately began to apologize.

"N-no, that's not what I…oh, God. I-I'm sorry, Arcee…I didn't mean - !"

Arcee laughed, "C'mon, Miko…I'm not that sensitive a 'Bot! Even if I was, at least I know you better than that. Besides, Jack and I have kind of gotten used to it over the years…always having to ignore all the whispering and little secretive stares from the military personnel at the base. We know a lot of them are judging us for the differences in our outward appearance, not what really matters on the inside."

"How do you deal with it?"

"Because, Miko! I don't care about what anyone else thinks…because I'm with Jack! How could I not be the happiest femme in the galaxy? Look, I'm not going to lie to you…it's not an easy road. The thing you have to remember is this: At some point in your life you have to make a stand for what you believe in and forget what the rest of the world is telling you." Arcee proudly pointed at herself and said, "I stand by my Sparkmate and my family. That's what I believe in."

Arcee grinned, "Y'know, I just realized. I haven't even told you the real reason I haven't used the Holocloak in all these years."

"I thought it was because you said using it was dangerous!"

"Oh, please. I've been using dangerous equipment ever since I emerged from the Well of All Sparks! No, no…the reason I haven't used the Holocloak since then is because Jack told me that he preferred the real me over anything that Ratchet's best tech could possibly come up with." Arcee's lovely technorganic face blushed unmistakably as she added, "Said it was no contest."

Tears unexpectedly began to stream down Miko's cheeks.

Alarmed, Arcee asked, "M-Miko? What's wrong…what did I say?!"

Miko tried desperately to wipe the tears away, only for new ones to take their place. She sniffed, "It-it's okay, Arcee…really. I-I was just thinking that if I had known about your new hologram tech sooner, I could've asked you instead of Pilar to be my maid of honor at the wedding." She buried her face in her hands and wailed, "Not that there's not going to BE a wedding…!"

As the thunder continued to rumble, Arcee felt completely helpless in the face of this newest meltdown.

…

"C-come on, Raf. Try to calm down, okay?"

Raf was getting worse. His emotional state continued to deteriorate, and Jack was out of ideas.

"Raf, th-this isn't healthy…this isn't you. Y-you've got to stop…!"

If anything, Raf started to sob even more violently than before. "Wh-what do you think…I've been d-doing…all this time…J-Jack?! I-I-I been trying…but…I…c-can't…s-s-stop…!" Raf suddenly reached up and held his trembling hands to his forehead, crying out in pain. He gasped for breath as he rasped, ""Th-this…is s-s-so much w-worse…th-than…the l-last time…!"

"WHAT?!" Jack quickly removed his dark shades and stared hard into Raf's eyes. What he saw there made him take a startled step backward.

Under his breath he murmured, "Son of a glitch. So that's it."

…

"Snap out of it, Miko! You've got to fight this!"

Arcee suddenly held Miko by the shoulders and hoisted her to her feet.

Miko's legs shook as she attempted to stand, even as tremors wracked her entire body. She opened her eyes and whimpered, "I-I can't, Arcee! M'all out of fight! 'Sides, R-Raf's gone…got n-nothing left…to fight for…!" Miko abruptly clutched at her temples and screamed in agony.

Arcee stopped and stared, her eyes widening with alarm. Gazing closely at Miko's eyes, she saw the same thing that Jack had seen in Raf's eyes.

Jack and Arcee both watched in shock as deep within Raf and Miko's pain-stricken eyes, twin flickering sparks danced and writhed about one another erratically. Whenever they actually manage to touch, they surged and set off a tiny flare that immediately caused Raf and Miko to react in even greater anguish than before.

Arcee swore, "Oh, frag me."

…

"R-Raf…I need for you to listen to me very carefully. This is important so pay close attention, okay?"

Something in Jack's urgent demeanor helped Raf to take a deep cleansing breath and focus.

"O-okay."

Seeing that his words had the desired effect, Jack nodded, "Good. Now, what did you mean earlier when you said the last time? Has this kind of thing happened to you and Miko before?"

Hesitantly Raf replied, "Y-yes, but n-not as painful. I-I had some…r-repressed memories…st-started causing…p-problems with our s-s-sparkbond."

"What all do you know about sparks, Raf?"

It was so hard for Raf to think clearly, but he persevered and haltingly answered, "A s-spark…i-is the life-force…of a Tr-Transformer…!"

Jack nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! Scientifically speaking, a spark is an incredibly compact sphere of pure energy similar to a quasar or neutron star, like that one we encountered back on Chaar!"

Raf managed, "H-how is it…s-similar?"

Jack explained, "Well…like a neutron star, a spark emits a rapid pulse of electromagnetic radiation. With Cybertronians, a spark is normally contained within a protective shell or spark chamber. The pulse that the spark produces creates an echo, resonating within the walls of its chamber. It almost sounds similar to a human heartbeat, and it gives each spark its own distinctive frequency. All spark frequencies are unique, no two ever the same…each one possessing its own individual spark signature. Think of it kind of like an electronic fingerprint."

Raf knees chose that precise moment to give out. Jack effortlessly caught him and gently eased his friend down to a seated position on the roof. Raf blinked wearily, looking exhausted as he asked, "J-Jack, I…I don't understand…wh-why are y - ?"

Jack interrupted, "…hang on a sec, Raf. Sorry, buddy…I promise I'll hurry and it'll all make sense." Jack pushed on. "All right. Like I said earlier, each individual spark emits its own unique frequency. Now, when two sparks become one in a sparkbond, their individual frequencies harmonize as they come into alignment with one another and merge."

Jack paused to clear his throat. A slight blush tinged his cheeks as he murmured, "This harmonization creates an audible sound that sounds a lot like…like…" Jack's already low voice trailed off.

Unable to hear the last of it, Raf trained his tired but still inquisitive gaze on Jack and asked, "Like…what?"

Steeling himself, Jack finished. "…humming."

Jack's glowing eyes darted nervously about, desperately trying to avoid Raf's penetrating stare. He could almost hear the gears and wheels turning in his friend's amazing analytical mind. Hoping against hope, Jack gambled that if he acted quickly enough, he might be able to avoid any potentially awkward questions.

"So, yeah. Anyway, these frequencies - !"

Raf interrupted, "Umm, Jack…?"

Jack sighed forlornly.

Scrap. Too slow.

Oblivious to Jack's discomfiture, Raf continued, "Y-years ago, didn't Ratchet mention something about humming? If I remember right, I think it was when he was under the influence of Synth-En and - !" Raf stopped in mid-sentence, his bleary eyes suddenly widening to the size of saucers. His voice dropped to a hoarse whisper as he asked, "D-do you mean to tell me…?!"

Jack sighed and muttered to himself, "…never thought I'd be explaining Cybertronian sexuality when I got out of bed this morning…"

Finally Jack found the courage to look Raf in the eye as he confirmed, "Yes, Raf. They hum. They sing, for crying out loud! During a bonding the sparks hum, and this resulting sparksong in turn creates an intense full-body vibration that is very…umm…pleasurable for Cybertronians." Jack looked out at the horizon, surprised that night had already fallen. He shot Raf a sideways glance and said, "And before you ask, yes…yes, I have. And yes…it's fantastic."

Raf groaned, "T-T. M. I., Jack."

Jack chuckled for a moment. Then his expression darkened.

"But sometimes…sometimes the sparksong can get off-key."

…

Just like that, the pain had stopped. In contrast to the growing storm that continued to threaten them, Miko had ceased crying and was now unnaturally calm, sitting and staring blankly. Arcee watched with worry as her human friend absently brushed her fingertips against the pink rose tucked in her hair, seemingly seeking some measure of comfort from its presence.

Arcee quietly asked, "Where'd you get the flower?"

With a distant, faraway voice, Miko absently answered, "From my host-parents. Got a whole flower garden full of 'em."

"It's beautiful."

Miko slowly nodded before softly murmuring, "Thanks. Always liked pink roses. In Japan they symbolize trust and happiness."

Tentatively Arcee offered a smile. "The bond between Sparkmates is based on trust, Miko. That foundation hinges on being totally honest with one another. There are no secrets." She shrugged and as an afterthought added, "The happiness part usually tends to follow closely behind."

Miko whispered, "R-Raf said something almost exactly like that not too long ago…"

Arcee sighed, hating herself for interrupting Miko's brief peaceful interlude. Unfortunately time was quickly running out. Arcee had to act now.

Time for some tough love. Sorry, Miko…this won't be easy.

"You know, the same thing applies to friends. So be honest with me, Miko. Why did you run from Raf in the first place?"

Miko slowly turned to face Arcee. Her blank expression was gone, replaced by one of wide-eyed astonishment and hurt.

"Wh-what…?"

"You heard me. Answer the question, Miko. Why did you run from Raf?"

"I-I don't know what you - "

"I SAID ANSWER THE SCRAPPING QUESTION!" Lightning suddenly split the night skies as Arcee firmly took hold of Miko's shoulders and shouted directly into her face, maintaining the merciless, unrelenting pressure. "Quit beating around the bush, Miko! What are you trying to hide? No secrets, remember?!"

"S-stop it…"

"So what's your deep, dark secret?"

"Stop it! Leave me alone!" Miko struggled to pull free but Arcee held fast.

"Not until you tell me the truth!"

Miko cried, "Wh-why are you doing this? Why are you being so cruel?!"

Arcee yelled back, "Because you're my little sister, remember?! I can't bear to see you like this and I want to help, but I can't do that until you're honest with me! NOW, TELL ME THE TRUTH!"

"B-BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID!" Miko broke down, her shoulders shaking as she burst into tears. At that moment it began to rain, the torrential downpour soaking Miko to the skin in a matter of seconds. She remained where she was, making no move to seek shelter.

Arcee closed her eyes and exhaled heavily, thankful that this part of the ordeal at least, was over. She let go of her friend's shoulders and watched as Miko sank to her knees.

Miko hid her face as she wept, "M-my whole l-life, I've been r-running away…because I was afraid. D-don't get me wrong, Arcee…I l-love my homeland…b-but all I ever wanted…was to just be m-myself, and when my wh-whole w-w-world was telling me how to think and how to live…I-I had a choice…either conform or run…" Slowly she gazed up at Arcee and murmured, "…and I ran."

Understanding filled Arcee's being. "You got used to running, didn't you?"

"I-I did it so m-much, I started to think it was normal…y'know, not knowing where life was leading me, always running into the face of the unknown…" Miko shook her head and whispered, "…I must've driven you poor guys nuts."

"Yeah, yeah you did." Arcee's expression suddenly became thoughtful. "Wait, does that mean when your families both started making demands to you and Raf about your own wedding…?"

Miko nodded, "…yeah. It was almost like I had never left Japan. So when Raf told me I should try to work things out with our families, I felt like he was siding with them over me. I-I got afraid because I felt like I was all alone in the world, and I ran…again."

"Oh, Miko…" Arcee gracefully crouched until she was at eye level with her friend. Empathy shone in her luminous eyes as she smiled and said, "…surely you know Raf better than that. He's your Sparkmate. You should know what's in his heart. The one thing you've been running from is the very thing you should have been running to!"

Frustrated, Miko cried, "But that's just it, Arcee! I can't tell what Raf is feeling! Believe me, I've tried! I mean, sure…ever since that moment when we sparkbonded in the desert, Raf and I have managed to touch minds a few times, but that's about it! Our connection is nothing like the bond you and Jack have!"

Arcee grinned, "Miko, I think there's been a misunderstanding. My bond with Jack - amazing as it is - is no more powerful than the one that you and Raf possess."

"What?! Then what's wrong with us?!" Miko angrily wiped away a stray tear and asked, "Is-is it my fault, because of what I did…?"

"No, Miko. Look, I don't believe what you two are experiencing is just because you ran. Keep in mind that you and Raf are still new to this. Scrap, we're all new to this! Before Jack was bestowed the Matrix of Leadership and became Prime, there has never been a human with a spark. Now we have five!"

Miko didn't want to offend Arcee but the unspoken question had been burning within her.

"Arcee? Wh-why did Orion do this to us?"

Arcee sighed, "I…I don't know. Our son is barely two years old but sometimes when I look at him, I think he knows more about what's going on than all of us put together! You remember what Optimus told all of us that day…?"

Young Orion possesses the Heart of Primus himself. He is a child of both Earth and Cybertron, and is forever bound to the destinies of both worlds. He can do wondrous things that no one else can, and one day he will inherit the mantle of Prime.

"Jack and I have sat down with Orion and asked him repeatedly why he did what he did…"

Nervously Miko asked, "Wh-what did he say…?"

"He just smiled back at us and said, 'Tallawhun!'"

Miko frowned, "I…I guess we'll all find out…one day."

Arcee sighed, "Anyway, Jack and I are pretty sure we know what's been going on with your sparkbond with Raf."

"WHAT?!"

Arcee thought for a moment and said, "How can I put this…? Think of your bond as one of those electric guitars you like to play. Every so often, something happens and they can get out of tune or off-key.

Miko asked, "Wh-what do you mean…off-key?"

…

Raf asked, "Wh-what do you mean…off-key?"

Jack smiled sadly, "Try to understand, Raf...you and Miko are practically brand new sparks. After emerging from the Well of All Sparks, it normally takes the average Cybertronian a few years before they are able to get a handle on their innermost feelings and emotions."

…

Arcee smiled sadly, "Remember, Miko…I've got a few years' experience of having a spark, plus Jack has the benefit of possessing the wisdom of the Primes. That gives us both a little bit of an advantage when it comes to understanding the way of sparks."

…

"You and Miko have been through the wringer these past several weeks."

…

"You and Raf may be about the strongest humans I've ever met…"

…

"…but even the strongest of sparks would have been sorely tested by what you two experienced."

…

"Anyone would have been affected, and it would've stirred up all kinds of stuff…"

…

"…feelings like sadness, anger, resentment, self-doubt, or even - "

…

" - fear. Even Sparkmates can lose their way, Miko."

…

Jack began, "When this kind of thing happens between Sparkmates, it can be especially problematic. It can cause their joined sparks to get out of sync with one another…"

…

Arcee finished, "…and if that happens, their shared sparksong is thrown off-key."

…

Mesmerized, Miko and Raf both nervously asked, "Wh-what happens then?"

…

"Oh, all kinds of scrap."

"Because their misaligned sparks get all knotted and twisted up…"

"…the Sparkmates' emotions start running wild. They get physically ill…"

"…and sometimes they even begin displaying unique characteristics of one another's personalities."

…

Miko frowned and asked, "In English, please?"

Raf sighed and answered, "They said we could even start acting like each other, Miko."

"Oh. Thanks, Raf."

Miko froze for a heartbeat before it finally registered.

"'THANKS, RAF?!'"

…

Raf's mind suddenly reeled. For just a fleeting moment it felt like Miko was sitting right next to him. In that instant he felt complete again. He blinked uncertainly and asked, "H-hang on, did we just - ?"

…

Jack's words brought Raf back to the here and now.

"It's basically the Cybertronian equivalent of feeling heartsick, Raf…"

Jack sighed, thinking back three years to an almost cliché dark and stormy night…a night spent with Arcee that should have been filled with nothing but love and celebration. It ended up becoming one of the most awful experiences in the young Prime's life, a moment of self-recrimination and a decision made that he still hated himself for.

He looked sympathetically at Raf and said, "…and that heartache is one of the worst feelings in the world, isn't it?"

…

Arcee's words held Miko's rapt attention.

"Nothing feels worse than when you feel absolutely certain that there's no hope and things are over with the one you love, Miko."

Arcee sighed, remembering that same dark and stormy night…a night of being completely cut off from the rest of the world, of crying alone on the floor of a motel in the middle of nowhere. It was an experience that the tough Autobot femme wouldn't wish on anyone.

She gazed compassionately at Miko and said, "Take it from someone who knows…"

…

Jack nodded in agreement. "…you do not want to go down this road. Trust me…trust us when we say - "

…

Jack and Arcee spoke as one. " - we've been there."

…

Raf watched as Jack inhaled deeply, turning his attention heavenward and lifting his gaze to the dark skies.

Jack slowly exhaled as he smiled subtly, seemingly to himself but almost as if he was sharing a private moment with an unseen confidant. He then turned to look directly at Raf, his radiant eyes shining even brighter than usual.

Suddenly Raf knew and stammered, "J-Jack…you…"

…

Arcee smiled serenely, her eyes similarly aglow.

Miko looked hard at her friend, slowly but surely working things out.

Finally she guessed and gasped, "A-Arcee…you…J-Jack…"

…

Raf/Miko said, "…you two have been spark-linked all this time, haven't you…?"

Jack/Arcee winked, "Busted."

…

Miko snickered, "Why, you sneaky - !"

Arcee nudged Miko's shoulder and smirked, "Hey, I learned from the best. What, you didn't think I would've attempted this without my Sparkmate by my side, did you?"

…

Jack chuckled, "You're not kidding, babe." He reached out and lightly punched Raf's shoulder. "Seriously, do you guys have any idea how hard it's been…helping you two both face your fears and break down the emotional walls you put up, then gradually guiding you along until we finally managed to help realign your sparks?"

Raf inquired, "Realign…?"

…

Arcee smiled, "Yes, Raf. On Cybertron when Sparkmates get out of sync like you two did, they usually end up requiring help from another pair of Sparkmates. That's where Jack and I came in. We used the harmonization of our own sparksong to realign your sparks and bring you and Miko back into balance."

…

Miko whispered, "Y-you mean…?"

…

Jack smiled, "Oh, I mean. Can't you feel it, Miko?"

"F-feel what…?"

…

"The missing part of yourself…"

…

"…your heart…"

…

"…your soul…"

…

"…your spark. It's always been there. You can't explain it, you can't understand it…you can only accept it. It's the love you share, and that's the true power that binds you together as Sparkmates. Even now in these desolate, arid places…even separated as you are…you can still sense each others' presence as if they were standing right beside you. Can't you feel it?"

…

Miko closed her eyes and gasped, "Oh, God…it-it's true! I-I can almost see him! Raf - !"

…

Raf began to get choked up, unable to hold it in any longer. "M-Miko…!"

…

"You were made into Sparkmates for a reason. We don't understand how or why, but somehow we know that we'll all find the answers…together."

…

"But time is running out. If you continue to fight this…"

…

"…if you continue to remain divided…"

…

"…ultimately your sparkbond will shatter. If that happens, you risk losing everything you hold dear and then you will feel nothing but a great gnawing emptiness…one that will haunt you for eternity. You will be truly alone…forever."

…

"The choice is yours."

And just like that, the shared spark-link ended.

…

The storm finally began to die down, the rain slowly but surely ceasing. Arcee stood to her feet and asked, "So…what now, Miko?"

It was too much to process all at once. Miko hesitated, suddenly uncertain of anything, of everything. She flushed with embarrassment and shyly looked down.

Filled with compassion, Arcee's spark went out to her friend.

"Since we've been together Jack has shown me that second chances don't happen too often, Miko. My advice to you…? Don't let this one get away. Don't let Raf get away. Hunt…him…down."

Miko remained motionless.

Arcee sighed, "Don't make the same mistake I almost made with Jack, Miko. You will regret it for the rest of your life, I promise you."

Still looking down, Miko timidly whispered, "B-but…our families…"

"No buts, Miko. C'mon, whatever happened to the Junior Wrecker who singlehandedly took on every single bad guy besides Unicron himself? Surely you can handle a few irate in-laws…?"

Arcee could just barely make out the tiny, hopeful smile that began to appear on Miko's face.

"I'm serious, Miko. You never bend, you never break…you seem to know just what it takes. You're a fighter, and you've got to fight for your man."

Almost a full minute went by before Miko finally answered back.

"A-Arcee?"

"Yes…?"

Miko slowly lifted her gaze to meet Arcee's, a familiar glint of unstoppable bravado shining once more in her almond eyes.

She winked and said, "I got this, oneesama."

Arcee grinned. "It's about fragging time." She activated her com-link and in a sing-song voice said, "Oh, Ratchet…? If you and Bulkhead are finished entertaining my son, I have one more itsy-bitsy job for you."

In a burst of static the grouchy old Autobot medic harrumphed and responded, "No. No no no, absolutely not! Find somebody else to torture, Arcee. I'm still trying to clean all the sparkles out of my hydraulics!"

Arcee smirked as Miko stifled a giggle.

"Don't worry, Ratchet. All I need is for you to open the space-bridge for me and Miko. I think you already know our destination."

Ratchet paused for a moment before replying, "Ah. Well, in that case…!"

…

"B-but what if Miko never wants to speak to me again?"

It had been several unbearably long minutes since Raf had felt the touch of Miko's mind. He assumed the worst, nervously removing his glasses as he began to clean the desert dust and grit from the lenses.

He groaned, "Who am I kidding? I must be a fool to think she'd want anything else to do with me…!"

Unable to bear the sound of defeat in his friend's voice, Jack cut him off in mid-rant and said, "Raf, you're nobody's fool. You're at your best when the going gets rough. You've been put to the test but it's never enough. You've got - !"

"Jack?"

"Yeah, Raf…?"

"B-be quiet."

Startled by his friend's unexpected admonishment, Jack nodded and shakily replied, "S-sure, buddy. Whatever you say."

Raf was so distraught with worry that he didn't even notice the space-bridge opening several yards away.

But Jack did.

"Umm…Raf?"

Raf sighed, "Please, Jack…I don't want to - !"

"I think God is showing you the way out of the wilderness, Raf."

"Wh-what?" Raf immediately looked up and saw where Jack's attention was focused. Raf turned just in time to see a familiar sleek motorcycle emerge from the swirling space-bridge vortex. His breath caught as Miko disembarked and stood on the dusty ground before him.

Jack eased back and gazed contentedly at Arcee as she transformed into her fifteen-foot tall default body. He chuckled as his Sparkmate reached down and gently gave Miko a little push.

Meeting Jack's intense gaze, Arcee smiled knowingly and murmured, "Remember what I told you, Miko…don't let him get away. Now go get your man."

Raf was so overcome with shock at the sight of Miko that his mouth had gaped wide open. Shaking his head, Jack smirked as he reached over and closed it for him.

Quietly Jack prodded, "Don't keep her waiting, little brother."

Elated, Raf whirled around and embraced Jack in a surprisingly strong bear-hug before leaping to his feet.

Once again concerned for his friend's safety, Jack cautioned, "Raf, be - !"

There was zero hesitation as Raf jumped from the mission roof, landing effortlessly on the ground at least twenty feet away.

" - careful." Jack huffed with mock exasperation and stood up before making his own way back down. He moved cautiously but quickly, not wanting to miss a single second of this.

Arcee moved to join her stalwart Sparkmate, all the while watching with extreme interest as the two estranged lovers faced one another.

With a pronounced swagger in her step, Miko began to boldly stride straight towards Raf.

Without saying a word, Raf silently started to make a brisk beeline in Miko's direction.

Miko was all bluster and bravado as she breathed in deeply and loudly announced, "Raf…before you say a fraggin' word, I've got something I need to say…!"

The remainder of Miko's words was lost forever as Raf suddenly reached out and took hold of her hand, sweeping her into his arms. With his touch she instantly forgot everything including the need to breathe, finding herself helplessly staring deep into his dark eyes which crackled with barely restrained electrical energies. They both felt the sparks within them begin to sing, louder with each passing second. The hairs on their bodies slowly stood on end as a concentrated electrostatic charge began to build in intensity. Raf leaned in closer, ever closer…his lips only a hair's breadth from Miko's own, until finally, at long last…

…contact.

There was an explosion of blinding light that could be seen for miles away in the dark night. Jack didn't expect it to be so powerful and was knocked flat on his back. Arcee ran over to help him to his feet.

"Jack! Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. What about them…?"

As the light faded and the smoke began to clear, Jack and Arcee could just make out the shadowy silhouettes of their friends, their lips still locked together in a seething kiss. Tiny arcs of lightning continued to crackle between them, the faint acrid taste of ozone in the air. The sand on the desert floor underneath their feet had been fused by the intense heat generated by their sparks into an impressively large glassy fulgurite. The hair on their heads was hopelessly frizzed, and a shimmering nimbus of ghostly blue light eerily surrounded their bodies.

Arcee smirked, "…I think they're going to be just fine."

When it became painfully obvious that Raf and Miko weren't planning on stopping anytime soon, Jack reflexively cleared his throat. They reluctantly broke contact with one another and sighed.

Miko leaned her head back and groaned in utter bliss.

"Whoooooaaa. That was tinnnnngly."

Raf blinked, equally stupefied. Fighting the impulse to giggle like a loon, he stammered, "Wh-what was that?"

As he dusted off his pants, Jack replied, "Sorry, guys…guess we forgot to mention that when things get, umm, intense between Sparkmates, there's usually a release of electrostatic energy. It can be pretty spectacular, too…depending on how heated things get."

Raf stared in wide-eyed amazement as he examined his still-glowing hand. "I assume that's why we're surrounded by St. Elmo's Fire?"

"Thanks, Raf. I was wondering about that." Miko experimentally poked at her frizzed pink bobtails, the pointed edges of which appeared to be shooting tiny jets of blue flame.

Suddenly remembering Jack and Arcee's words on sparkbonding, Miko and Raf both looked at one another with a look of sheer panic.

"D-did we just…?"

"Oh, God…how are we gonna explain this to our parents?"

"I know! After all that waiting until we were married, too…!"

Realizing that Miko and Raf assumed they had inadvertently broken their vow of chastity before marriage, Arcee snorted, "What, that? Pfft. That was nothing. Just wait until you - !"

Jack rolled his eyes and sighed, "Arcee. Not helping."

Ignoring his Sparkmate as she blew him a Cybertronian raspberry, Jack contritely held up his hands and soothed reassuringly, "Don't worry, you two. Sometimes it even happens just from kissing. You still have your…innocence."

Miko suspiciously narrowed her eyes and demanded, "How can you be so sure?"

Jack smiled, pointing at his own luminous orbs. "Your eyes aren't glowing, for one. When you and Raf are ready to take that last big step together, plan on investing in sunglasses…lots of sunglasses."

Raf nodded before he turned to face Miko and urgently whispered, "I love you, Miko Nakadai. I have always loved you, and I always will."

Blinking back tears, Miko sniffed, "I-I love you too, Raf-kun!"

Raf asked, "Can you forgive me?"

Miko pressed a finger against Raf's lips and gently shushed him, answering, "Only if you forgive me first."

Raf and Miko embraced tenderly, both struggling not to break down and cry.

"I assume the option to elope is still off the table, then?"

"Don't tempt me."

"Glad we got that out of the way." Miko got serious again and sighed, "So what now? We're basically back where we started. Even though we're back together again, our families are still fighting tooth and nail about the wedding. What are we gonna do?"

Raf smiled.

"Uh, oh…I know that look."

"I've had some time to ponder our little dilemma, Miko. I think I might have an idea or two."

With that, Raf pulled out his cell phone and hit speed-dial. It didn't take long for someone to answer.

"Hello? Yes, this is Agent Esquivel calling." After several moments Raf sighed, quickly realizing that he wasn't going to get a word in edgewise. He whispered to Miko, "They're giving me the proverbial runaround again."

Miko giggled, "Mind if I listen in?"

"Sure." Raf immediately pressed speaker and the cool desert air was filled with the tinny voice of a slightly pompous Unit: E agent.

"…and as I've already explained, we are doing everything in our power to locate your Miss Nakadai. So, if you don't mind…"

Raf smiled as he took Miko's hand in his own. "You can call off your search, sir. I've already found Agent Nakadai, very alive and very well."

Miko smiled back at him, her eyes twinkling as they reflected the stars in the nighttime skies.

"That is certainly a relief. Good job, Agent Esquivel. Well! In that case, unless there is anything else…?"

"Actually, there is. If you would be so kind, please put Agent William Fowler on the line."

"Sir, I've already told you. Special Agent Fowler is in the middle of - !"

Suddenly out of patience, Raf cut him off. "Listen, Agent…I'm in the middle of a little crisis of my own and I don't have the time for this, so I'll be brief. If you don't connect me with Agent Fowler within the next 30 seconds, you are going to be held singlehandedly responsible for causing an international incident of epic proportions!"

"Y-yessir! Right away, sir! H-hold, please."

Miko unconsciously fanned herself, finding this new side of Raf extremely attractive.

Even Arcee was impressed. "Scrap…faster, stronger, studlier. When did Raf get so take charge?"

Jack looked up at his beloved Sparkmate and replied, "When he realized how close he came to losing everything. That would change anybody, Arcee."

She looked down at him and smiled, "By the way…nice work, partner."

"Didn't do too bad a job there yourself, babe."

Jack winked slyly as he reached up and gently caressed the side of Arcee's leg. She raised a gleaming metal eyebrow at the unexpected but most definitely welcome touch. The rest of the world seemed to fade into the distant background as they both beamed adoringly at one other.

Jack quipped, "So, how is it humming, 'Cee?"

Arcee snorted and rolled her eyes, ignoring the loaded question. She muttered, "Wonderful stuff, that Synth-En." Deliberately avoiding eye contact with her Sparkmate, Arcee smirked, "Really, Jack? I thought you were still on the mend. I didn't realize you were up for anything…strenuous quite just yet."

She finally glanced back at Jack out of the corner of her eye, amused by his unabashedly hopeful expression. She sighed before leaning down to murmur in Jack's ear. "Oh, all right…enough already with the cute puppy dog eyes." Arcee added huskily, "I only hope you're as durable as I remember, my sexy little Sparkmate!"

A familiar gruff voice suddenly cut in, unceremoniously ending all thoughts of later.

"This is Fowler."

Momentarily overcome with gratitude, Raf exclaimed, "¡Gracias a Dios!" He self-consciously cleared his throat and calmly continued, "Agent Fowler, this is Rafael."

"Raf! Congratulations on finding Miko, son. Hey, just for the record...have you two patched things up yet?"

Miko loudly demanded, "How does he keep doing that?! It's almost like he's got a spy satellite in orbit secretly watching our every move or something!"

Fowler couldn't help but hear the comment and chuckled, "Now, Miko…you should know that I can neither confirm nor deny that accusation. Remember, it's a matter of national security. However…just between us agents, I have been known to use the odd drone every now and then."

Raf huffed at Miko and got back to the matter at hand. "Th-thank you for asking, sir. We have, by the way. Patched things up, I mean."

"Good to hear."

Raf swallowed nervously and said, "S-sir, do you happen to remember telling me and Miko that if there was anything we needed - anything at all - to contact you?"

There was a brief pause before Fowler finally answered.

"I do."

Raf steeled himself and went for broke.

"Well, sir…I'm calling in that favor."

Raf hurriedly covered the phone with his hand and murmured to Miko, "This isn't going to be easy, you know."

Miko smiled, "Nothing worthwhile ever is."

Jack spoke up and offered, "Listen, if there's anything we can do…"

Arcee nodded, "…what Jack said. We stand beside you every step of the way."

Raf grinned, "Th-thanks, you guys. Miko and I are going to need all the help we can get."

"Scrap, I almost forgot!"

"Wh-what is it, Miko?"

Miko held out an outstretched hand. She locked eyes with Raf, waiting impatiently for him to cotton on.

Raf didn't disappoint. He smiled before reaching into his pocket, pulling out the glittering diamond engagement ring. Without a word he slipped it onto Miko's waiting finger. She admired its beauty for a moment and then beamed back at Raf.

Miko joyfully chirped, "Okay. Now we're ready!"

Once more Fowler overheard and demanded, "Ready? Ready for what?!"

Raf answered, "For the wedding of the century, sir. Miko and I are getting married, and nothing's gonna stand in our way."