My recklessness was always my worst quality, but I loved it.
I loved the thrill, the fight, the adrenaline...
I must have really worried everyone.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Jenna took a deep breath, closing her optics, then she looked up with a wicked smirk.
"Sorry about this, Sari - but you're going down."
"Tch." Sari's optics narrowed. "Not happening, Darby."
"Hm." Jenna rolled her shoulders back. "This is the beginning of the end, Sumdac - and I can't wait to watch you burn... On the tarmac!"
"Nerd." Sari deadpanned as she and Jenna stood at one end of the landing-strip just outside of Hangar E. Miko stood in front of them, holding a checkered-flag.
"Ready?" She asked, grinning excitedly. The Autobots and other humans were watching from the sidelines, and the techno-organic nodded in confirmation as Jenna spread her wings and Sari fired-up her jetpack.
"I was protoformed ready." Sari announced smugly. Jenna rolled her optics, chuckling.
"Hope you're hungry, Red, because you're gonna eat my dust!"
"You've got this, partner!" Wheeljack shouted, grinning. Bulkhead scoffed, looking over at his friend.
"You're really taking sides, 'Jackie? They're both Autobots."
"Sorry, Bulk." Wheeljack looked up at him, smirking. "Only one's my partner."
"Fine." Bulkhead rolled his optics... "TAKE HER DOWN, SARI!" The two engaged their helmets.
"Here's how it goes." Miko stated, smiling deviously. She really shouldn't have been given a position of authority, even if it was just for a race... "This is supposed to be training exercise, just to see which of you would make a better spy or scout if need be. You need to be fast, you need to be agile, and you need to have high-endurance. You will take off, do a lap around the warehouses, and touch back down here."
"You got it." Jenna nodded, getting into a stance like she was preparing to leap forward. "Let's do this."
"On your mark... Get set..." Miko raised her flag, then swept it down. "GO!"
Sari blasted off with her jetpack, leaving Jenna blinking in surprise, then Jenna scoffed and ruffled her wings before giving them a mighty flap and shooting into the air like a bullet. In just a few flaps, she had caught up with Sari and they were soaring around the warehouses with unbelievable speed.
"Whoa!" Raf adjusted his glasses as he watched them go. "I can't believe that Jenna's keeping up with Sari's jetpack!"
"AT'A GIRL!" Wheeljack cheered, pumping his fist. "Show her who's the top techno-organic, kid!" Elita raised an optic-brow, and Wheeljack blinked. "... Human techno-organic."
Sari started to pull ahead of Jenna, and the girl in blue armor blinked before her optics narrowed and she smirked. She suddenly took a sharp turn that Sari could have never managed with that jetpack and folded her wings, going into a steep descent as she neared the tarmac. Just before she hit the ground, Jenna's wings snapped open and flapped, and she shot past Miko so fast that there actually seemed to be a sonic boom that knocked the human over.
"Whoo!" Miko sat up, her eyes wide as Sari landed next to her and helped her up. Jenna shot into the air above the warehouses, smiling deviously as she crossed her arms, her wings suspending her in the air.
"Best two out of three, Sumdac?!" She asked, and Sari looked up at her with wide optics. "Or have you had enough?!" Sari slowly managed a crooked grin.
"I'll pass... Wow."
"Yeah." Wheeljack grinned as Jenna flew over and sat on his rotator-cup. "With those wings, kid, you really are a force to be reckoned with." Jenna sighed, collapsing her wings into her back.
"Yep." She beamed, proud. "The 'Cons really screwed up, letting me figure this out... They won't know what hit them."
/\/\/\/\
The next morning, things were a little tense at the base - Optimus was out showing Elita-1 around the area and catching her up to speed on what Team Prime has been up to, so Ultra Magnus was in charge. He seemed incapable of finding a way to occupy his time - he kept pestering Ratchet, then he seemed to upset Arcee, Smokescreen, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Sari after they returned from patrols. Then the two big troublemakers entered Hangar E, both of them covered in green liquid.
"Soldiers, I don't recall giving you permission to leave the base." Ultra Magnus announced, his optics narrowing. Jenna looked up, surprised, and Wheeljack rolled his optics.
"Because you didn't, sir."
"Why are your hands smeared with coolant?" Ultra Magnus had found that, occasionally, the other members of Team Prime would refer to the parts of Cybertronian anatomy by the names of their human counterparts. At this point, he was getting pretty desperate to fit in...
"We recalibrated your ship's engines." Wheeljack replied smugly as Jenna reached up and grabbed a clump of her hair, twisting it to wring some of the coolant out. "You can expect a ten-percent increase in vectored-thrust."
"But be ready for a fifteen." Jenna advised, grinning. "Just to be safe." Ultra Magnus blinked, then focused all of his willpower on keeping his optic from twitching as he tried to remain calm.
Suddenly, Optimus Prime landed just outside the hangar. Elita-1 drove up behind him and transformed, and everyone was suddenly running to greet the two. Ultra Magnus blinked, surprised, then sighed and looked down.
"Decepticon activity is at a lull."Optimus announced, looking around at his allies. "I fear that Megatron may have gathered the specimens he requires to-" Optimus noticed Ultra Magnus and paused, becoming concerned. "Clone his army..."
"... Well, shit." Jenna deadpanned, crossing her arms. "We're screwed, unless we can find the lab where Project Predacon is going down." Optimus looked down at her. "So... What do you want us to do, Prime?"
For once, Optimus Prime was at a total loss for words.
He really didn't know.
Outside of the hangar, Jenna sighed and braced herself.
"Alright... Hit me."
"You got it, kid." Wheeljack smiled deviously. He was soaking wet and holding a the hose-end of a power-washer, and he'd turned up the pressure to as high as it could go. The machine was turned on, and Jenna yelped as the pressurized water hit before quickly spinning around around to make sure the coolant was washed off.
"O-okay, 'Jackie - you can stop, now!"
"Nah." Wheeljack grinned, and she looked up at him with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "I think I missed a spot." He sprayed her in the face, and Jenna shrieked as she fell over before laughing as he kept hitting her with the water. What would have bruised a normal human was tickling the little techno-organic.
"S-stop, stop!"
"Say 'uncle'."
"No!"
"Say it..."
"N-no!"
"Say it!"
"Uncle!" Jenna laughed, and Wheeljack finally relented, chuckling as the girl sat up and looked at him with a grin. "Not funny, Wheeljack-ass!"
"Oh, you know that was great." Wheeljack teased, then he blinked as he noticed a glint of silver at Jenna's side. "Don't-"
"Revenge!" Jenna cackled as she threw the bomb, and it exploded pink and orange paint all over the white Wrecker. The paint mingled with the water, and Wheeljack deadpanned as the watery pigments ran down his body in streams and his partner laughed before his smile returned.
"Heh... Nice one, Snow Queen."
An alarm sounded from a monitor in the base. Wheeljack and Jenna were just returning from cleaning themselves off as Ratchet looked back, his optics narrowed.
"Optimus, our scanners are picking up exposed Energon."
"... With our reserves at a critical low, we cannot afford not to investigate." He announced, his battle-mask sliding into place, then he looked around the room. "We may very well need everyone. Stealth Team, Wreckers-"
"Me?" Elita-1 asked, crossing her arms. Optimus blinked, then he nodded.
"If you feel that you are ready... Yes, Elita - you, as well."
/\
The Autobots and techno-organics stepped out of the ground-bridge atop a cliff. Just below, Decepticons were carting massive containers full of Energon out of a cave. Optimus stepped forward, his optics narrowing.
"Decepticons! Step away from the Energon and surrender!" The Prime raised his voice as he delivered the order. Of course, they didn't surrender. A battle broke out and Wheeljack and Jenna were immediately at the front lines, Wheeljack drawing his whip as his partner zipped around with the help of her wings and blasted Decepticons.
"Have I made the joke yet where I note that you're always carrying that whip around before I ask if you're imitating Indiana Jones or just kinky?!" Jenna asked, briefly flying near Wheeljack's helm as he fought. The white Wrecker rolled his optics.
"For Primus' sake, kid-!"
"Whoa!" Jenna blinked as Elita-1 suddenly lashed out with one of her fists and punched clear through a Decepticon's chest. "I wanna do that! Can I do that?!"
"Just get back to work!"
The battle ended rather quickly, and the Autobots had the spoils.
"Look at all that sweet fuel." Smokescreen grinned as he picked up a crystal. Optimus looked around at his Autobots, seeming proud.
"Stealth Team, transport the cargo back to base." He told Arcee, Smokescreen, Sari, and Bumblebee. Then, he looked at Bulkhead, Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus, Jenna, and Elita-1. "Wreckers." Elita-1 blinked, surprised, then looked up at Ultra Magnus as he gave a small smile and nodded. She blinked again, then slowly smiled back. "Reconnoiter the mine."
"I've always wanted to roll with the Wreckers!" Smokescreen suddenly spoke up with excitement, and everyone looked at him. The blue and yellow mech blinked, then quickly saluted. "Uh... Sir!"
"... Look at him, he's like an excited puppy." Jenna grinned from Wheeljack's rotator-cup, gesturing to the young mech. "Let Smokey tag along." Optimus ooked over at Smokescreen and nodded, and the rookie looked over at Jenna thankfully.
"You've gone soft." Wheeljack looked up at Jenna with a small smirk. Jenna looked down at him, rolling her optics.
"Shut up, 'Jackie."
/\
The Wreckers made their way through the caves. Bulkhead held up a scanner, frowning as he moved it around.
"No Energon signals."
"And no additional security." Wheeljack added, his optics narrowing. "Something doesn't smell right." The Wreckers came to a fork in the path, and Ultra Magnus looked around.
"Divide, three and three." He ordered, frowning. Elita-1, Bulkhead, and Smokscreen went down one path, leaving Ultra-Magnus, Jenna, and Wheeljack to go down the other.
"Want me to scout ahead?" Jenna asked quietly, still perched on her partner's rotator-cup. "See if there's trouble?"
"Soldier, you get into enough trouble as it is." Ultra Magnus replied sternly. "I would recommend that you stay in place and let more-experienced warriors take the lead on this." Wheeljack frowned, his optics narrowing.
"Kid's experienced and a top o' the line fighter, Commander. I trained her myself."
"That would explain her recklessness and lack of discipline." Ultra Magnus announced coldly. "She's not ready for this conflict, and I doubt that she ever will be." Jenna's optics widened, then she looked down. "A techno-organic, one of the most powerful beings in the history of Cybertron... And she had to fall in line with you."
"Hey!" Jenna suddenly looked up, her optics narrowing. "Take that back!" Wheeljack sighed, shaking his helm.
"Calm down, kid. It ain't worth-"
"Like Hell it is!" Jenna spread her wings and flew over to face Ultra Magnus. "I learned everything I know about fighting 'Cons because of Wheeljack! He trained me, and he did a good job of it! I'm not some crazy, reckless, unstable mess because of what he did - that's what I was before! Now, I'm a Wrecker - and I'm proud of it! I fight 'Cons just as well as you do, and I am a bonafide member of this team!" Her optics glowed brighter. "So stop treating me like I'm a child, a mistake! I don't get into trouble for the fun of it, I get into trouble because I am trying to help you win this goddamn war and I'm usually running into it right alongside some of the best fighters we have - Wheeljack included!" Ultra Magnus' optics narrowed.
"You dare to speak to a commanding officer like this, soldier?!"
"Yes, absolutely!" Jenna snapped, and he blinked. "I didn't fall in line with him, he didn't corrupt me - I went with him, and that was the best choice I ever made!" Her fists clenched. "I've seen galaxies that the people of Earth could only dream of, I've saved lives, I've crushed 'Cons, I've stared death in the face time and time again! I'm strong now, but it's not because I'm a techno-organic - it's because of Wheeljack! Wheeljack did that!" Wheeljack blinked, surprised, then gave the faintest grin. "All you've contributed to Earth's Team Prime so far are a few weapons and a complete and utter buzzkill! You judge us and everything we do, but here's the thing: you don't know us! You don't know a thing about us, you just showed up and started ordering us around without even trying to get to know us - and you wonder why we haven't reacted well! This isn't Cybertron, this is Earth - and this isn't a combat unit, this is a f-!"
"Alright, enough." Wheeljack grabbed Jenna and shoved her into his chest-compartment. "Time-out!" A loud banging sound rang out, then the girl groaned.
"You suck, 'Jackie."
"I..." Ultra Magnus slowly blinked, then he shook his helm and turned away. "Let's keep moving."
When Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus arrived at the next cavern, they immediately engaged in a firefight with none-other than Shockwave. Once they had managed to chase him off, Wheeljack recalled that his partner was still in 'time out' and opened his chest-compartment. Jenna popped out, looking a little dizzy, and Wheeljack sighed as he picked her up.
"Just... Try not to cause any trouble." He told her, setting her down on the floor. Jenna blinked, surprised, then her optics widened as she looked around. "That's right, kid... We've found Project Predacon." The cavern was lined wit containers holding Predacons, and the liquid surrounding the creatures was slowly draining away. Some were trying escape...
"Whoa."
"Yeah, whoa. That's a good word for it..."
"... You can sorta tell what mythological creatures these guys inspired, for humanity." Jenna noted as she looked around at all of the creatures. "Dragons, griffins, basilisks, hydras-" Jenna blinked, surprised, then she walked over to one of the containers. "Fenrir."
"What?" Wheeljack asked, looking back. Jenna placed a hand on her hip.
"Norse mythology." She explained, frowning. "One of the sons of Loki was a massive wolf named Fenrir." Jenna gave a small smile as she examined the wolflike Predacon. "Well... Aren't you a beauty?" The creature's optics glowed brighter, and Jenna took a step back. "You can hear me?"
"Kid?" Wheeljack looked back again, his optics narrowing as he saw his partner placing a hand on the glass. "Get away from that thing."
"I..." Jenna blinked as the glass suddenly cracked under her hand. The container broke open, and the wolflike Predacon lunged and tackled her to the ground. Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack quickly raised their weapons, their optics narrowing...
"Hahahahaha!" Jenna started laughing, and the two paused as they realized that the techno-organic wasn't being mauled - the mostly grey, white, and silver Predacon was licking her. "Easy, easy! Ah!"
"Kid?" Wheeljack asked, and Jenna sat up, still laughing as the massive wolf whined softly and pawed her lightly - like it was upset that the game hadn't continued. "Uh... How to Train Your Predacon?"
"I didn't train her!" Jenna told him, standing, and the wolf wagged its tail. "She's just friendly!" Jenna looked up at the wolf as the creature leaned over to look at her, and the techno-organic beamed as she gently pat the creature's head. "Aw, aren't you a sweetie?"
"How did you know it would not attack?" Ultra Magnus asked, his optics narrowing. Jenna looked up at him, surprised, then she gave a small smile.
"I didn't." She admitted, and the two mechs blinked. "It was one of those weird, gut-feelings... I had to let her go." The wolf suddenly whined again, and it trotted over to another container and pawed at it. Jenna blinked, then she followed the Predacon to the container. "Them, too?" The wolf sat down, gazing at the container, and Jenna looked up at it. "... Yeah, I get it."
"Kid, don't." Wheeljack advised as the girl readied an energy-blast. "You can't trust that thing." Jenna looked back at Wheeljack, frowning.
"But you can trust me, right?" She asked quietly. Wheeljack blinked, surprised, then he sighed.
"You had to say that... Alright, kid. Let 'er rip."
"Absolutely not!" Ultra Magnus protested, but it was too late. The container cracked before shattering, and the Predacon yawned as it emerged and stretched before looking down at the techno-organic.
"Whoa." Jenna stared up at the lioness as it purred and gently nudged her with its nose. "I think I know where the myth of the Nemean Lion came from..." Now that both creatures were free and side-by-side, Jenna got a good look at them.
The wolf was the smaller of the two, about Wheeljack's side when sitting down, and it was mostly grey with hints of white, black, and silver. Her eyes seemed less-sinister than they did on the dragon - instead of hateful yellow, they were a sweet amber.
The lioness was closer to Ultra Magnus' size, and her color-scheme was composed of soft browns, yellows, and a bit of gold. Her optics were yellow, but it still wasn't evil-looking - instead of looking evil, she looked absolutely fierce.
"Kid?" Wheeljack asked, frowning. "They cool?" The wolf looked up at Wheeljack and whined softly, its ears flicking back. Jenna blinked, then she looked up at the Predacons and slowly pointed to Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus.
"They're okay." She told them, and both creatures looked down at her. "Friends." The lioness didn't really react, but the wolf looked up at Wheeljack and wagged its tail. "We need to get you guys out of here in case the 'Cons come back..." Jenna pulled out her phone and turned her back to the Predacons, beginning to film a video. "Hey, Optimus! It's Jenna, and it's kinda a long story - but these two Predacons are friendly and I need you and the others to keep them safe! I know it probably looks kinda sketchy, but trust me - these guys won't hurt us! See you in a bit, gotta blow up some baddies! Peace!"
"Soldier?" Ultra Magnus asked, confused. Jenna took the phone and set it to remain on, and she left the screen on the paused video. Finally, she looked up at the Predacons and held her phone up.
"Give this to the big, red one." Jenna told them slowly, and they blinked. "It has a video on it, telling them that they need to take you someplace safe. They'll be scared of you at first, but the video will calm them down... Okay?" Slowly, the wolf gently picked up the phone in its teeth and bobbed its head, then it and the lioness turned and ran off into the caves. "Ah, they grow up so fast..."
"Soldier, what were you thinking?!" Ultra Magnus asked angrily. Jenna looked up at him, frowning.
"Those guys are alive. The 'Cons may have created them, but they don't own them... I was supposed to save them, I can feel it."
"They are dangerous!"
"So am I, and I still get the freedom to choose who I want to be!" Jenna snapped, her optics glowing brighter again. "Unless you want to kill me just because you know what someone like me is capable of before I even get the chance to prove you wrong!"
"I..." Ultra Magnus once again found himself incapable of a proper response. Jenna clenched her fists, looking away.
"I'm not a monster... And neither are they."
"Well, that was a thing..." Wheeljack drew a grenade, looking up at Ultra Magnus. "Permission to employ a grenade in a confined space, sir?"
"If the three of us are all that stand between these monsters and the natives of this planet, then by all means..." Ultra Magnus nodded, his optics narrowing. "Blow these beasts back to the Rust Age!"
Wheeljack threw the grenade, and he, Ultra Magnus, and Jenna fled the cavern as the timer ticked down. The arrived just outside, only to find a massive mech in shades of coppery-orange, brown, and silver. He had burning yellow optics filled with anger.
"Who's this guy?" Wheeljack asked, confused. The mech regarded him coldly.
"The very same who has previously allowed you to live, but will not today."
"... He's the Predacon." Ultra Magnus realized, and Jenna and Wheeljack's optics widened. Suddenly, the grenade went off an an explosion rocked the cave.
"What have you done to my brethren?!" The mech demanded, looking over at Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
"... Predacon!" Jenna snapped, and he turned to her. "Remember me?!" She engaged her helmet, and the Predacon blinked before snarling.
"Pest! You kept me from my first quarry for Lord Megatron!"
"And now I've wiped out your buddies!" Jenna activated her wrist-blades. "What are you gonna do about it?!" The mech yelled and charged at the girl, his fists clenched as he raised one, and she stayed in place right up until he arrived at her location and threw a punch down at her.
"What?!" The mech asked in surprise as the girl leapt up onto his arm. Jenna wanted no time in jumping up, yelling as she slashed with her blades and left a wound in his shoulder and a shallow cut in his face. "Wretched insect!" Jenna leapt down, her optics narrowing as the Predacon tried to squash her beneath his ped. "Go to the dirt, where microscopic mutants like you belong!"
Jenna ducked underneath the Predacon, spinning around and slashing her blades at the back of his legs. The mech growled as he began bleeding Energon, and he looked back at the girl as she smirked.
"I may be tiny, Smaug, but you're still beneath me!" She announced, then she dodged another punch and spread her wings, her optics narrowing. "And you're not going anywhere near my friends. Not while I'm here."
"Your friends? You mean your wranglers, creature."
"Wranglers?" Jenna asked, then she blinked. "Oh no, you didn't."
"Uh-oh." Wheeljack cringed, taking a step back. Ultra Magnus looked over at him, confused.
"What is it?"
"He called her a-"
"Grr..." Jenna's optics began glowing brighter. "I'm... Not... A... PET!" Jenna flapped her wings, yelling as she lashed out and slashed her blades. The right horn of the Predacon's helmet fell to the cave floor with a clatter as the techno-organic landed and collapsed her wings, looking absolutely livid as the creature cried out in outrage.
"She's actually hurting it..." Wheeljack grinned, shaking his helm. "Way to go, kid." Ultra Magnus grabbed the white Wrecker's rotator-cup, his optics narrowing.
"She can't hold out forever. We need a plan."
"I'll tear out your spark for that!" The Predacon growled, and Jenna's optics went to Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack as they began talking. Then, she looked back up at the creature and spread her wings again.
"You'll have to catch me first, fatty!" She shouted, running forward and leaping into the air. She darted through the cave, and the livid mech followed her. She easily dodged pillars and stalagmites while he smashed through them, the girl sometimes looping an obstruction to allow him to catch up. She had to keep his attention...
"Autobot coward!" The Predacon snapped, and Jenna suddenly looped around a stalagmite to arrive at the creature's side, raising her hands and firing her blasters at the creature. The Predacon raised an arm to shield his face, then he suddenly lashed out with his free servo and batted her aside. Jenna yelped as she flew across the cave and struck the floor, rolling a few yards before coming to a stop.
"Ah..." She pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, wincing. She could hear several sets of approaching footsteps - two fast and one slow -, and she looked up to see Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack running towards her. The fast steps...
"Kid!" Wheeljack shouted, his optics wide. Jenna blinked, dazed, then she looked up to see the Predacon's ped raised above her. The girl gasped, and she quickly stood and raised her hands to catch the ped as it fell. Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus stopped, stunned, as the ground cracked beneath the girl's peds.
"Agh..." Jenna took a deep breath, then she looked up at the Predacon with a glare. "You aren't taking me down that easily, Puff." The two Autobots finally shook out our their astonishment, and Wheeljack drew his blades.
"Hang on, kid! I'll-!"
"Run!" Jenna ordered, then she grunted in effort and closed her optics, gritting her teeth as the Predacon applied more force. "Go, now! I'll be fine!"
"Your overconfidence is your undoing!" The Predacon snarled, and the techno-organic yelped as a claw was raked against her abdomen. Wheeljack froze, Ultra Magnus looking over at him in confusion, and the Predacon suddenly picked the girl up and slammed her into the cave wall hard enough to make it crack.
"Ah..." She winced, looking up wearily. She could feel herself bleeding Energon, and the Predacon scowled as he pinned her to the wall.
"I'm told that this is how you were defeated, the last time you fell to a Decepticon." The Predacon announced coldly. "A mere cut across your abdomen." Jenna looked up, her optics wide. "This time, you shall not be resurrected. This time..." He raised a clawed servo, and the girl woozily thought she heard rapidly-approaching footsteps... "You shall perish, abomination!"
"No, she won't!" Wheeljack's ped suddenly slammed into the side of the Predacon's helm, the dragon-'bot being sent flying through the cave in the wake of the powerful kick. Wheeljack glared as the beast began to recover, then he looked down at his partner. She was once more pushing herself up into a kneel, an arm wrapped around her stomach. "Just stay down, kid. Ultra Magnus and I have got this."
"'Jackie, I can still-"
"I said stay down!" There was a snap in the white Wrecker's voice, his optics narrowing. Jenna blinked, then she looked down at her wound before looking up at her partner again.
"I..."
"... It's our turn, kid." Wheeljack said quietly. "You did alright, now stay." Jenna frowned as Wheeljack ran off to confront the Predacon, falling back to sit on her legs.
"I'm not a pet, and I'm not gonna die on you again." She whispered, bowing her head and closing her optics. Then, she looked up in surprise as Ultra Magnus stepped between her and the battle. "Sir?"
"Are you alright, soldier?" Ultra Magnus asked quietly, looking back and frowning down at the girl. Jenna blinked before she winced, forcing herself onto one knee.
"I'll live..." She looked up weakly, and she blinked as she watched Wheeljack and the Predacon battle. "Whoa. I haven't seen him this angry in ages..."
"I have." Ultra Magnus told her, and she looked up at him again. "When you vanished, he flew into a rage like I hadn't seen from him since the war for Cybertron... Your partner cares about you very much." He looked down at her. "Keep that in mind, little one."
"... I will." Jenna agreed, nodding, then she gasped as Wheeljack was suddenly thrown across the cave. "'Jackie!"
"Soldier, don't!" Ultra Magnus warned, but she was on her feet with her wings spread before he could even attempt to stop her. The Predacon approached the white Wrecker, readying a punch, then he let it fly.
"Look out!" Jenna flew over and got between Wheeljack and the Predacon's swing. A sharp blow, and she was suddenly flying back, then she struck the cave wall and everything went black.
/\
When Jenna Darby came to, everything hurt. Her whole body was sore, and she was so tense that she couldn't even groan. She gritted her teeth, then took a deep breath as she tried to focus. She could hear familiar voices, she was in the base...
"So, I carried her out in the ol' storage-compartment." Wheeljack was saying, striking his chest plate twice with his fist. "She got tossed around a bit, no doubt - but I couldn't leave her out in the open with that thing on a rampage."
"... So, that's why I feel like a sock that just went through a dryer." Jenna opened her optics, giving a weak smirk. Wheeljack blinked, surprised, then he looked down at her. "Hey, 'Jackie."
"Hey, kid." Wheeljack smiled as everyone seemed to become relieved. "You okay?" Jenna sat up, wincing lightly, then she looked down at herself. Not a bruise...
"Well, I think it's safe to say that I can take a hit." The girl noted, surprised. "Wow." Ratchet rolled his optics.
"You are more durable as a techno-organic, Miss Darby, but that does not mean that you can run around fighting beings of unknown power alone."
"You were very reckless." June walked over, placing her hands on her hips. "Which seems to be becoming more and more of a trend." Jenna blinked, then she looked down.
"I... I didn't know what else to do." She said quietly, and all went silent. "That guy was the Predacon, a-and I knew how much it had hurt everyone in the past... If we had fought together, things could have gotten crazy. I'm inexperienced, not as coordinated as Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus - I didn't want to get in the way or hurt someone by accident. I didn't know what else to do..." Her optics slowly narrowed, and she looked up. "So, I did the only thing I could."
"... You did good, kid." Wheeljack rested a servo around her back, nodding. "Fought like a Wrecker until the end, just like Ultra Magnus." Jenna blinked, then her optics widened as she looked around.
"Oh God, where is he?! Don't tell me-!"
"I'm fine, soldier." A voice commented tiredly, and Jenna looked up. Ultra Magnus was on the 'bot-sized medical gurney, and she blinked again before spreading her wings.
"Jenna, I wouldn't-" Wheeljack sighed as the girl flew up to the commander anyway, cringing as she landed on the gurney before standing up straight. "Stubborn kid..."
"I know what I did was dumb, sir - but I was just-..." Jenna's optics widened as they fell on Ultra Magnus' right servo... Or, what was left of it. "Oh, God..." Ultra Magnus looked down at the injury and sighed.
"After you were defeated, Wheeljack and I faced the Predacon. The battle was fierce... It was only thanks to Optimus that we made it out alive." The mech spoke quietly. Jenna just stared at him with wide optics, then she looked back at Wheeljack. She saw his injuries, how he was cradling one of his arms...
"... I'm sorry." Jenna looked away, crossing her arms. "I tried to protect you guys from that thing, and I failed." She looked back at Ultra Magnus. "You were right... I'm not ready."
"... Soldier." Ultra Magnus sat up, frowning. "You stood your ground against that creature for several minutes, alone. You did not lose control of yourself or your mods, and you bought time for myself and your partner to come up with a plan. Its failure was not your doing... You have proven yourself a capable warrior, and a formidable Wrecker." Jenna looked up, surprised, as Ultra Magnus smiled and gave a small nod. "You are ready... I look forward to serving alongside you, again."
"Whoa." Wheeljack looked at Jenna, his optics wide. "I'm pretty sure that's the nicest thing this guy's ever said." Elita-1 nodded in confirmation before Optimus lightly nudged her.
"... Thank you, commander." Jenna beamed, nodding as she let her hands fall to her sides. "Until the next brawl..." She raised her right hand and saluted.
Apparently, Optimus had received Jenna's message. The two young Predacons perked up as they noticed Jenna walking across the floor of the empty hangar they had been placed in, their tails swishing in their excitement.
"Hey." Jenna greeted quietly, smiling as she paused her steps and let the creatures come to her. The wolf bounded over while the lioness came at more of a jog, and they both circled her and sniffed her. The girl snickered quietly, forgetting for the most part that she was being observed by all of Team Prime from the door. "It's okay, it's okay... Now, what should we do with you?"
The wolf sat down like an obedient dog, still wagging its tail and even panting softly. The lioness sat down and just gazed at the techno-organic with its big, amber optics. Jenna looked between them, smiling.
'They're gonna need names...'
"You are Leona." Jenna pointed at the lioness, who simply blinked in response. "And you..." She pointed at the wolf. "Are Lupa." The wolf's tail wagged faster. "You two wanted to get away from the Decepticons for a reason. You were different from the others, kinder than the others... You don't have to be afraid, anymore." She placed her hands on her hips. "We're gonna look out for y-Whoa!"
Jenna yelped as Lupa suddenly tackled her and began licking her face. Wheeljack started laughing as his partner groaned in annoyance and disgust between laughs of her own, and Optimus managed a small grin.
"We may have suffered losses on this day, but the gaining of two new allies is something to be appreciated." He announced, and Jenna looked up as Lupa let her go. "Thank you, Jenna, for your quick thinking."
"Heh." Jenna stood, smiling awkwardly. "It just seemed like the right thing to do." Sari flew over to get a good look at the Predacons, curious.
"Lupa really likes you." The techno-organic in orange spoke, then she blinked in surprise as Leona nudged her foot with her nose, the lioness purring quietly. "Uh... Hi, there."
"I never knew you were a cat person, Sari." Jenna smirked as Lupa nuzzled her shoulder, the techno-organic in blue reaching back and patting the side of the wolf's face. Sari blinked again, then she looked back at Leona.
"Good kitty..."
/\
Jenna didn't sleep in the room she was given.
That was okay, though. All of the Autobots had come to accepted that fact over the passing months, and it made things easier when Elita-1 arrived and she needed a room to stay in. Jenna's room was untouched, abandoned because- well...
She stayed with Wheeljack.
Some nights, he'd enter stasis on his platform and she'd fall asleep on his rotator cup. Other nights, nights when he was so injured that he didn't think he'd be able to stay upright on his platform, he would enter stasis in his vehicle-mode while his partner slept safe inside.
This was one of those nights where Wheeljack spent stasis in his vehicle mode. Jenna was curled up in shotgun, wearing her techno-organic clothing under her green hoodie. She was fast asleep, dreaming...
...
Jenna stood in a white room, frowning as she looked up at Primus.
"Why am I here, again?"
"There is something you must know." He told her quietly. "The mission I have laid out for you draws closer, now. You will have to be ready, as much relies on it."
"I'm ready." Jenna assured, giving a small grin. "Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack say I'm strong, I faced that Predacon alone and held my ground. Whatever you want me to do, I can do it - I'm a Wrecker, after all."
"... Leave the Wreckers." Primus ordered, and Jenna blinked before her optics widened. "You place yourself in danger far too often. I cannot protect you, little artist - and your life must be preserved until the time comes for your mission."
"I... I can't." Jenna protested, her optics narrowing. "I won't! The Wreckers mean everything to me, to my partner! I won't betray Wheeljack like that, not ever!"
"Then, you doom him and yourself." Primus told her, and Jenna blinked. "If you remain a Wrecker, little artist..."
The room began to spin and darken, and Jenna felt herself become dizzy. She fell to her hands and knees, closing her optics and groaning, and she slowly fly the room stop spinning and come to a complete stop. She opened her optics and looked up to see that she was now in a black room. Wheeljack stood there with his swords drawn, facing away from her, and Jenna blinked.
"'Jackie?" She asked, and the Wrecker looked back at her with glowing red optics and raised his swords. Jenna stood, her optics widening in disbelief. "What? No!"
"You will die." Primus' voice announced, and Wheeljack began walking towards her. "And he will be lost." Jenna shook her head, stunned.
"No, this couldn't happen." She said, then she looked up at the white Wrecker. "'Jackie-" He suddenly lashed out and stabbed down.
...
Jenna woke up with a scream, her armor activating as she sat up. Wheeljack woke with a start and quickly transformed, Jenna ending up in his servos as he looked down at her worriedly.
"Kid?" He asked, and she looked up at him with pure terror as her helmet disengaged. "Kid, what's-?"
"I-I've gotta go!" Jenna shouted, spreading her wings and flying over to the human-sized door. She pressed a button and opened it, quickly flying out of the room and out of the sub-level, exiting the hangar and flying off into the night sky.
Jenna sat just outside of the Jackhammer's cave, looking up at the sky. She blinked as she heard a familiar sound behind her, then sighed and looked back as the ground-bridge closed.
"You really need to find a better hidin' spot, kid." Wheeljack announced, walking over and sitting down next to her. "You're becoming predictable." Jenna blinked again, then she looked down. "... Nightmare?"
"... Yeah." The techno-organic answered quietly. "It was bad, this time." Wheeljack raised an optic-brow.
"Were you in Jasper? The school?"
"No." She shook her head. "Not this time."
"Then, what was it?"
"... Do you ever get the feeling that, if you try to do something good, you'll just screw it up?" Jenna asked, looking up at him. "Like you could have the best intentions, but you know something really bad will happen if you try to do it - even though you know it's the right thing?"
"All the time, kid." Wheeljack frowned at her. "I've screwed things up more times than can be counted. You've seen some of those things, first hand - Dreadwing, Hardshell... What are you thinking about?"
"It's one of my gut-feelings." She told him, looking back at the sky. "The ones I've been getting more and more of recently, the ones that are always right. It started with that wire in Dreadwing's bomb, then finding Elita-1, then freeing those Predacons... I've got another one, Wheeljack - and I can't do it, not this time."
"Hey." Wheeljack nudged her lightly. "You don't have to do it, y'know? If it's freaking you out this much, it can't be anything good."
"... If you had to choose between betraying someone you loved or having that same person betray you - maybe even kill you -, what would you do?"
"Well, that depends... Would the someone live, either way?"
"Yes, but they wouldn't be the same."
"I'd expect not..." Wheeljack looked up at the moon. "I'd have someone betray me, to be honest." Jenna looked up at him, surprised. "They'd probably have a good reason, even if they killed me... They'd get to walk away, thinking they did the right thing - and I'd have nothing to worry about." He looked back at the girl. "If I betrayed someone I cared about, I don't think I'd be able to live with myself."
"... What if I told you that it was my choice could end in two ways: you getting in trouble. HUGE trouble... Or me leaving the Wreckers?" Jenna asked quietly, and he blinked. Then, his optics narrowed slightly.
"You think I'd consider you leaving the Wreckers as you betraying me, kid?" He asked, and she slowly nodded. "You think that you being in the Wreckers or not would make or break us, being partners and all?" Jenna nodded again. "... What's this trouble?"
"I don't know, exactly. I just... It's coming, and I think that the only way to avert it is to distance myself and stop being so reckless - or something bad is going to happen." She looked down. "But I don't want to stop being a Wrecker... I don't want to stop being your partner." She closed her optics. "I hate to say it, but... I'm scared, 'Jackie - and I don't know what I'd do if I had to go it alone. You can do that sort of thing, but me? No... I'm not strong enough, but I'm expected to be."
"Expected? Kid, you're just a kid. You're learning, no one's expecting you to be any sort of gift from Primus to make all of our problems go away... Whatever this trouble is, we'll face it together like we always do - you don't have to worry about a thing."
"I..." Jenna opened her optics and looked down. He said he'd rather be betrayed than betray, that someone he cared about would probably have good reason... She saw the dream, saw those glowing red optics and those gleaming swords.
'I don't want to die...' She looked up at him. 'But if that's the price I've gotta pay for even a few more hours of this, I will. It's not to hefty a price to pay, having friends and being a partner... Fuck Primus and my "destiny" - I'm a Wrecker, and I'm not giving that up for anything.' She gave a small smile. 'Primus can't protect me, but I can protect myself. And what I saw, it might not have even been real - Primus might have been trying to scare me, for all I know... 'Jackie would never hurt me.'
"Okay." Jenna nodded, grinning. "I trust you, 'Jackie... We've got this."
-0-0-0-0-0-
Recklessness was my worst trait.
It was an addiction, I couldn't give it up for anything. I still won't, even now.
But I would like to think that my best trait was my courage, once Wheeljack helped me find it.
...
...
...
Whew... That was fun.
I like this chapter much more than the original version. There was more action, more detail, and just more fun and character-development all around.
I only own my OCs. Please read, review, check out my other stories, etc. Thanks! :)