A/N: Here goes another chapter! I apologize if anyone was a little disappointed with the last. That'll teach me to update after waking up.
Chapter 11
"You see Optimus," Megatron began, "Since arriving on the Nemesis, Jack has had a profound effect on Airachnid. And for that I am thankful. Don't tell anyone this, but Airachnid is like a daughter to me and I worry for her sometimes."
"I see," the Prime responded, "But why do you wish for her and Jack to be together when you yourself have utter contempt for his species? For years, you and the Decepticons have tried to conquer this world and kill the humans. Why have you changed your mind?"
"Jack has a surprisingly charismatic personality," he began, "And after observing these humans instead of trying to kill them, I realize that we are not that different after all. You see Optimus, like you , I can see they have the potential for great good and great evil."
"Much like ourselves," the Prime finished.
"Exactly, and Jack has managed to heal the wounds around Airachnid's spark left by the death of her sparkmate."
"Sparkmate?" Optimus raised an optic ridge, "I wasn't aware she had one."
"She doesn't anymore thanks to Sentinel Zeta Prime," Megatron growled, "You recall the medic Tarantula, correct?"
Optimus nodded. He remembered Tarantula, a medic who was unique amongst most Cybertronians. Unlike the inhabitants of Iacon, who could assume vehicle modes, Tarantula, as his name implied, could transform into a large spider-like creature. He ran a small clinic in Iacon, treating anyone who would asked for treatment, whether they could afford it or not. When the war began, Tarantula made the decision to remain neutral in the conflict.
He treated Autobots and Decepticons alike, regardless of the opinions of many in Iacon, especially the Autobots. Optimus remembered being treated there at one point during the war, having been injured by a Decepticon named Shockwave. One night, a Decepticon who had also been receiving treatment there made an attempt on the Prime's life. In his weakened state, Optimus would have surely been defeated by the Decepticon warrior. However, Tarantula managed to subdue him, saving the Prime's life.
Optimus admired the medic, for standing firm in his beliefs, something that wasn't common in war. "I thought he and Airachnid were somehow connected," he said.
"She loved him deeply," Megatron sighed, "They were happy, but Zeta Prime didn't like the fact Tarantula treated both sides, regardless of living in the Autobot capitol. He staged a bomb and captured Tarantula."
"And then had him executed," the Prime replied, optics dim. He would never forget that day. The Autobots were close to victory in the war against the Decepticons and would have finally brought the rebels down if not for that execution. Many in Iacon were enraged by the death of Tarantula, someone who was merely exercising his right to choose sides by not supporting either. On that day, many Autobots left Iacon and became Decepticons.
"It's an ironic thought isn't it?" Megatron chuckled, "Tarantula's death, as tragic as it may have been, prolonged this war. We would have lost if not for his execution. "
"Indeed," Optimus sighed, "And Cybertron might still be alive."
"In any event, since his arrival, Jack has returned Airachnid to her old self, a kinder, gentler femme who wouldn't hurt a fly. And I have grown fond of him as well. But if you're still not sure, then here is a peace offering," Megatron pulled out the Key to Vector Sigma and held it out for Optimus to take.
"Megatron," he gasped, surprise evident in his tone. Never in a thousand years did he think that the Lord of the Decepticons would willingly hand over such a valuable artifact. Like he himself said, the knowledge of the ancients could be a powerful weapon in this war. Hesitating at first, Optimus took the Key from the Megatron.
"Now do you believe I am serious about peace?" he asked.
Looking at his arch-nemesis, Optimus smiled, "Very well, Megatron. I accept your terms for peace."
Megatron was about to respond when a whoop from out of nowhere caught both of their attentions. Looking over his shoulder, Megatron saw Breakdown, Knock Out, Starscream, and Soundwave, each looking happy.
"You all followed me?" he raised an optic ridge. They all shrugged in embarrassment.
"Megatron," Optimus spoke up, "Before we continue, there is something you must know."
"What is it?"
"When we overheard Jack confess his feelings for Airachnid, Ratchet had him detained."
"WHAT?" they all gasped.
"He believed that Jack would betray us if he was allowed to roam free," the Prime lowered his head in shame. Had he known this would happen, he would've had Jack released right then and there.
"I see," Megatron sighed, "Then let's return to base and explain our new found peace to them. The fact that the Key is in your possession will be more than enough to convince them."
The Prime smiled, "Ratchet, activate the ground-bridge. I have a surprise that everyone needs to see.
Web of Shadows
Surrounded by fog, Arcee stood, shocked at the person before her. Julie Widowski, Jack's lost love. She remembered Jack telling her about her after their first encounter with Airachnid. He had tried to comfort her, help her by getting her to talk about it. But being her stubborn self, she rebuked him, saying he couldn't understand what she'd been through.
How she had been so wrong. She remembered her spark breaking after Jack told her about the night Julie died. How they had gone to the Prom (whatever that was) together. How Jack had planned to confess his feelings for her on that night. He found her kissing his arch-nemesis, Vince.
Angry and heart-broken, Jack ran off. Julie went after him and they had gotten into an argument, Jack, too blinded by anger to listen to reason. Riding in silence, Jack had cooled off and decided to apologize. But it seemed fate had other plans. That night, a truck had hit Julie's motorcycle, injuring Jack.
After three days, Jack had woken up from his coma to the worse news possible: Julie was dead. Even worse, he discovered that Vince forced Julie to kiss him. Even after all this time, Jack still couldn't think about her without crying softly.
"Jack mentioned you before," Arcee said finally, "He told me just about everything about the two of you."
"Just like Jack to remember the good old days," Julie said dreamily, but quickly returned to glaring at Arcee.
"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be dead? You can't be talking to me if you're dead."
"In the land of the dead, we are not bound the laws of science. I assure you, the impossible is quite possible." She gestured to the fact she and Arcee were the same size again. "Now you've got ten micro seconds to explain yourself for hitting Jack before I beat you to death."
"If you were watching our argument, then you know why," Arcee hissed, "Jack betrayed me, falling in love with Airachnid after all she had done to me."
"Boo hoo," Julie sneered, "Must be so lonely in that pity party of yours."
Arcee glared, "How dare you? Do have any idea what Airachnid did to me, to my partner Tailgate? She killed him, right in front of me!"
"I know," she replied, not at all fazed by the venomous glare of the blue femme, "I've been watch you and Jack for a while now. I know about everything that's happened, at least for the past two months."
"So she doesn't know about Jack's feelings for her," Arcee thought.
"Besides, you're in a war," Julie continued, "What did you think was going to happen? Just like with Starscream. Do you think Megatron would have let Cliffjumper live?"
"It doesn't matter," Arcee growled, "They took the two most important people in my life from me and they will-"
Once again, Julie punch Arcee in the face, this time with even more force, "You're such an idiot!"
Arcee got back to her feet and whipped her blasters. She no longer cared who this person was, no one was going to treat her like some punk and get away with.
"Oh please," Julie scoffed, "Do you honestly think those weapons will have any effect here?"
"Better than letting you cheap shot me again."
"Don't you think Jack wanted bash Vince's head in for what happened to me?" she asked suddenly.
"What?"
"Vince forced me to kiss him at the Prom," she told her, "Jack walked in and assumed the worse. He ran off. I went after him, but he wasn't in the mood to listen and he some things he didn't mean. I got angry, but I knew he was just upset, so I let it slide. I was still mad though, and when I'm mad, I'm not the safest driver. Before I knew it, I was dead ."
"Sounds to me like the only people you have to blame for that is Vince for kissing you, Jack for getting angry and refusing to listen, and yourself for being reckless."
"I don't blame Jack," she sighed, "He probably felt the same way you're feeling right now. Hurt and betrayed. The fact that he was still alive was the one bit of comfort I got."
"If you're dead and can enter people's dreams," Arcee started, "Then why haven't you entered Jack's?"
"Because he hates me," she replied sadly, "He probably thought I was some cheap floozy who deserved to die." Tears were running down her face. She was about to say something more when Arcee slapped her.
"Now who's being the idiot?"
"Why you," she growled.
"If you're gonna hit somebody, be prepared for them to hit back," she smirked, "Besides Jack doesn't hate you."
"What are you talking about?" she perked up.
"You said you've only been watching us for the past two months. A few months back, Jack told me about what happened to you. He didn't hate you Julie. In fact, Jack had been planning to confess his feelings for you that night."
"He what?" she gasped. Jack didn't hate her? He was in love with her? He was going to profess his love for her, but Vince just had to ruin it. Now, Julie wanted to beat Vince to bloody pulp, but of course, she couldn't now.
"He loved you," Arcee said, "When he found out Vince had forced you against the wall, he fell apart. He was heart-broken that the last words between you were harsh and untrue."
The tears wouldn't stop flowing from Julie's eyes. Here she was, about to knock some sense into this femme for her actions when she discovered that Jack returned her feelings for him. "Stupid Jack," she smiled, "Thank you for telling me this, but that doesn't change the reason I'm here."
"I know," she sighed. After thinking about it for a while, Arcee realized that she should talk to Jack. And to Airachnid. She would the 'Con a chance to explain herself. If Arcee didn't like her answer, she'd blow her circuits all over the place, even if it meant destroying her partnership with Jack.
"I'm glad you're thinking that," Julie smiled, "Now if you excuse me, there's someone I need to talk to." With that she disappeared.
Web of Shadows
A/N: Another one down. I hope it was to your liking. Next time: Still locked in confinement, Jack gets a surprising visitor. Meanwhile, the Autobots are met with a few surprises of their own.
