Driver 21
Beloved
A Transformers Prime Fanfiction
"I just don't understand it," Ratchet muttered shaking his helm.
"Perhaps it would be best to not question such a blessing too deeply," Optimus replied softly as he watched the battered white mech interacting with the children.
The medic glanced in shock at his commander but the Autobot leader was focused on the scene before him.
Driver sat on the silo floor facing Bumblebee, the two helms bent over watching the children put the finishing touches on a chalk mural that now covered at least half the concrete. It had been Jack's idea, something to keep Miko busy and Raf occupied while the miner recovered. Though the human had repeatedly assured the Autobots that they didn't mind if the chalk was smeared the Cybertronians were going out of their way to avoid defacing the colorful work of art. . Ratchet had appreciated the diversion for Driver's sake as well. The hard working mech was being driven batty by the forced inaction imposed by his injuries. It was not however the project that confounded the medic.
"Optimus, don't get me wrong. I am grateful," insisted Ratchet. "But the rate at which Driver is healing is simply inexplicable. If he were consuming tremendous amounts of energon that would be one thing, but he takes even less than a healthy mech should yet still shows results."
"It is a mystery my friend," the Autobot leader admitted with a smile on his face and let his optics linger a moment on Jack. "Speaking of energon;" the red and blue mech tapped the computer consol with one servo.
"Oh joy," the medic muttered; his attention successfully diverted, "more reports."
"Driver!" Arcee called out as she rolled into base. Sadie flickered out of existence and the cycle-bot transformed. "How are you feeling?"
"Reasonably well," the miner replied, tilting his head curiously. "My vital stats are available on the medical computer if you interested."
"That's," Arcee hesitated, "thank you, I'll take your word for it."
Now that she was actually interacting with the white mech on a regular basis she was running into the odder aspects of the miner's personality. Having had little contact outside of his gestalt where all sensations were shared, Driver had never developed the ability to easily express feelings; emotional or physical except through physical contact.
"Are you feeling up to transforming?"
"I believe I am able," the mech glanced at Ratchet for confirmation.
"You will be fine for a base transformation into your primary alt mode," the medic said without looking up. "Just don't try anything fancy."
"Why do you ask?" Jack inquired of his partner.
"Remember Old Mrs. Macreery?"
"Our neighbor that always yells at us for going too fast no matter what speed we're traveling at?"
"That's her. Well your mother volunteered to help her take some junk to the dump."
Jack smiled and stood up brushing the chalk dust from his hands.
"And that means she volunteered me," he said with a resigned sigh and shake of his head.
"Even better!" Arcee grinned cheerfully as she knelt to examine the children's work. "She volunteered you and Driver."
"I'd be glad to help any way I could," the white mech offered immediately.
"Hey! A way for you to escape Doc Hatchet," Miko added her two cents to the conversation. "No more listening to his nagging."
"I heard that," the medic growled.
The slim Asian merely stuck out her tongue in the red and white Autobot's general direction. He had spent some time berating the miner for the rashness of his rescue attempt. Miko had offered her condolences, and a suggestion for revenge, to Driver once the tirade had petered out but the white mech had refused both.
"It is just how he shows that he cares," the miner had explained to the confused child.
As they prepared to roll out, only Jack caught the tight look that flickered across his partner's face. He brushed a shoulder against her knee as he passed. They had talked about this. The Autobot was struggling still to overcome her jealously, but she had now recognized it for what it was and was fighting. The human felt her servos brush softly through his hair before she waved him into Driver's cab. The faux diesel engine growled to life and they rolled out of the base.
O
O
"Are you sure this is the last load Mrs. Macreery?" Jack asked about six hours later. "No more hidden stashes?"
The Nevada sun had set and the last traces of orange were fading from the desert sky. They had made no less than eight trips back and forth between the recycling center and the low ranch house that the elderly woman lived in. She assured them, for the fourth time, that this really was the last and they started for the dump one last time. Jack had just tossed the last bundle of magazines into the bin when he sensed Driver stiffen.
"What is it?" the human asked softly laying a hand on the battered white metal.
"A low level scan just crossed us," the white truck said.
"Decepticon?"
"I don't know. Could have been human," Driver replied uncertainly.
Jack's blue eyes narrowed. It was highly unlikely that anyone would bother scanning a dump outside of Jasper, Nevada; but it could be. He glanced nervously around at the deep shadows thrown by the halogen lights. Driver rolled away from him and transformed. The white mech let his blue optics scan the immediate area. He glanced at Jack and shook his helm.
"So how about we just clear out?" the human suggested.
"Maybe you're…"
Driver trailed off as the sound of an engine approached. He crouched between Jack and the oncoming vehicle until a familiar shape rounded one of the trash piles.
"Arcee!" Jack called out in relief as she rolled into the light.
"And company," she said in amusement as the figure on her back dismounted gracefully. "What's got you so worked up?"
"I detected an unidentified scan signal abit ago," the mine informed her. There was still a hint of worry in his voice. "Was that you?"
"No," the Autobot said shortly as she transformed. "But this planet is crawling with electronic devices that are constantly searching for signals. Most likely there's just an old iPhone someone accidently dropped in their recycling out in this trash," she indicated the surrounding piles, but despite hr assurances Jack noted she had a plasma rifle out and ready. The two mechs split up by silent agreement and began to circle the trash piles. The two humans moved closer together and Jack quickly herded the other into the shadows, picking up a handy lead pipe as he did.
"Nice leathers Mom," he said with a hint of surprise in his voice as he glanced over the gleaming black outfit with blue trim she wore.
"Thanks," she whispered back with a smile. "Arcee got them for me."
"Really?" Jack asked in surprise. Not that the cycle-bot wasn't generous; but there was something in his mother's eyes that hinted at a secret, and that rarely meant anything good for him.
"So Jack," the woman murmured letting her eyes run over the improvised weapon in his hand, "just out of curiosity, at what point did hiding in a junk yard while two aliens run recon become a perfectly normal evening out for us?"
Jack let out a laugh that sounded unnaturally loud in the darkness.
"I think it was when you agreed that I could start looking for a motorcycle."
"Oh, so this is my fault?"
"Yep, hold on." Jack raised a finger to his Bluetooth and his eyes lost focus. "Okay Arcee, I'll meet you there." He smiled up at his Mom. "They couldn't find the source of the signal but it looks like an all clear. They are headed back to the gate. If you want to run ahead and meet them I'll be right there."
"Ah, did my son the scrounger fine another treasure?" June asked as they walked out into the open and Jack dropped the lead pipe.
"It's called being frugal Mother," the young man shot back lightly, "and I seem to recall that I learned it from a wise old woman."
"Who are you calling old?" she demanded.
Jack wisely decided to retreat. June smiled fondly at him and continued on towards the gate. The two Cybertronians were chatting as she walked up and the woman handed her helmet to Arcee without comment. She was peeling off the leather jacket when the cycle-bot glanced up in concern,
"What's taking Jack so long?" she asked.
"He stopped to grab something out of a pile," June informed her.
The Autobot chuckled softly to herself. She had hauled home more than a few of Jack's finds. Millennia of running across the galaxy with constantly dwindling resources had taught her the value of being adaptable in acquisitions. The inventible confrontations with June over keeping the garage clear for her car were mild enough to count as entertainment.
"He's been too long," Driver suddenly opinioned. "I'll go get him."
The two females smiled at each other as he walked away from them.
"I thought being overprotective was your shtick," June whispered.
"Oh, Driver has me beat hands down," the cycle-bot replied with a shrug, "at least in that," her voice cut off suddenly as the miner rounded the corner and his frame stiffened as if struck.
*What is it Driver?* she commed, but the mech made no move to respond.
O
O
The strange feeling of being watched that had been prickling at the base of his helm for the past several clicks suddenly intensified as the mech stood with the nurse and the commander. He said something about checking on Jack and began to circle; trying to determine the source of his discomfort. It wasn't a lie at all. If there was something bad out there he wanted the human close. The miner stepped around the pile separating him from the young man and felt his spark seize up.
She stood there grasping Jack in her servos, snarling out a question at the human. She wanted to know his whereabouts. Despite the terror that clawed at his spark the white mech stepped forward into the light.
"Airachnid," he called out softly.
O
O
Her spark stopped pulsing. For just a moment, as her optics fell on him, it seemed as if everything froze, around and within her. Then a rush of emotions she had nearly forgotten filled her spark chamber to bursting.
"Beloved," she whispered as the human fell unheeded from her hands and scurried away. "You, you are online."
"I am," he replied softly, his faceplates an unreadable mask.
"I, have been searching for you," the spider-bot continued, moving towards him gracefully. "I thought you were offline, or I would have come back." There was desperation in her tone as she drew near.
O
O
"Stay close, stay low," Arcee suddenly hissed to June as she went into a crouch and began to advance towards the rigid mech. When he spoke terror spiked through the Autobot.
"Airachnid," so softly the femme almost didn't hear it.
The warrior slid around a corner still deep in the shadow and took aim at her enemy.
"Arcee," and urgent whisper claimed her attention as Jack came scrambling around the pile from another direction.
A good part of the tension in her spark chamber released as her optics settled on her partner; alive and unharmed.
"Jack," she murmured in relief.
Mrs. Darby ran lightly up and embraced her son. The Autobot nodded, they were safe, time to end this, but before she could fire June spoke up, low and intense.
"Arcee. Don't!"
The Cycle-bot looked down in confusion and irritation at the woman standing glaring up at her. There was an intense gleam in June's eyes that made the Autobot pause a moment.
"Stay here," the warrior commanded as she prepared to step out.
"Arcee if you take one more step you are forbidden from seeing Jack ever again," Mrs. Darby stated in a voice both low and dangerous; what Jack called her 'mom' voice.
Arcee slowly turned and focused on the woman in shock. It was a preposterous declaration. Even if Jack wasn't so close to maturity and independence his mother would never keep him for the Autobots, and from the smile twitching at the corners of June's mouth she knew it as well as Arcee.
"June, Driver is facing Airachnid out there…"
"Yes!" the human whispered fiercely. "He is facing her. This is his demon to confront Arcee. Not yours, not now. Please, he needs to do this."
The Autobot opened her mouth to argue, but nothing came out. June was right. As much as she wanted to offline the Decepticon herself; hers was not the only claim on Airachnid's head. The blue femme nodded reluctantly in the darkness. The two humans immediately stepped forward and each rested a hand on her legs. The Autobot felt the warmth and reassurance of their presence and crouched to return the gesture, touching a servo to each of their backs. Together the three stood in the shadows and watched the painful drama unfold.
O
O
She was so very beautiful as she advanced. Every movement was a dance step. Even under the weak human lights her frame gleamed in the darkness. So many cycles they had spent together, so much time spent loving her, so much pain; memories flickered through his processor like spirits from the past. Her arms were around him now; her servos running up his arms.
"Beloved," she murmured leaning into the miners broad chestplates.
Gently he untangled her limbs from his own frame.
"Commander Airachnid," he said firmly.
She flinched at the words at the tone. A sweet pleading smile pulled weakly at her faceplates.
"You called me Beloved too once, my Beloved."
"My designation is Driver."
He watched the flash of jealously burn in her purple optics for a moment and knew its target. She must know he would never take a name for himself. Someone had given it to him, and he had accepted. Something she had never been able to get him to do. In less than a click the emotion had passed to be replaced by spark-felt entreaty.
"Driver," the name sounded awkward coming from her voice box. "I have wanted to see you for so long. I missed you so badly."
The miner's hand rose almost of its own accord to touch the scar on his face. Airachnid noted the gesture and a flinch of pain traveled down her body. She opened her mouth to speak but the white mech gently laid a single servo across her lips.
"No," he said gently. "I already know. It wasn't your fault. The Captain ordered it. You had no choice."
"Beloved," was all she could get out through the rage and pain that burned through her at his words.
"Always my loyalty to the Decepticons was based one thing. You knew that better than anyone. Now that cannot be held over me. Not by you, not by Megatron; no one. I will not return to the Nemesis with you."
"I'm not asking you to!" the femme cried out with relief in her voice.
"What?"
"The Decepticons hold as little for me as they do for you," Airachnid insisted eagerly running her servos over his mesh. "I want to be free of them as much as you did. I succeeded in leaving them, for a time I was free, and now I have a way to be so again! There is a small craft attached to the ship. It is just big enough for the two of us. I can liberate it from Megatron and meet you."
"Airachnid," Driver interrupted her firmly. "You say you were free of the Decepticons for a time? How did you use that freedom?"
The femme's gold trimmed face went blank for a moment.
"How?" the mech pressed.
"You loved me once," she clung desperately to him as he pulled away. "I know you did. You can love me again."
Driver held her servos in his, gently stroking her palms with his thumbs.
"Yes Airachnid," he replied softly, with unbearable pain in his voice. "I loved you before, I love you now, and I will love you until the spark in my chest goes dark. But you have chosen a dark path; one I cannot follow you down."
Her lips parted as if to speak but nothing came out. In the silence she knew he had already made his decision, he knew. Tenderly the miner gathered her up in his arms one last time and laid a lingering kiss on her lips.
"Goodbye," he whispered.
With that he turned and walked toward where the others hid.
Airachnid let out a low snarl and lashed out at the retreating figure. Her talon cut through the sensitive mesh below his shoulder joint and the miner staggered. He turned as he fell so that he was facing the femme. She hovered over him, poised to strike. Driver slowly, deliberately opened the impenetrable armor over his spark, a reminder, an offer. The femme's features were caught in stark relief by the blue glow. Greif and rage chased across her faceplates as she stared down at the mech she had loved, that in some twisted way she still did. With an unearthly howl of pain she fell to her knees beside him. Her faceplate hovered near her audio receptor and the femme whispered something to him before leaping into the starry sky. Driver silently closed his armor, stood, and resumed walking towards his allies.
Arcee stepped out to greet him and he gave her a weak smile.
"Thank you," he murmured, "for letting me handle that."
"Thank June," the Autobot growled as she spun him around to get a look at his injury. "If it was up to me we would have blasted her to Mars and back by now. I."
The femme's tirade was interrupted when the mech pulled her into a fierce hug. She stiffened a moment then realized that he was trembling. With a soft exvent the Autobot returned the embrace and gestured for the humans to join in as well. When June finally murmured that Driver was leaking energon the tangle of limbs disengaged.
"Ratchet," Arcee called out. "Bridge us home."