TRANSFORMERS
Jack, Arcee and Airachnid part. 23
"SERENATAS"
Primus travels through an ocean of stars and through the countless planets heading to the one he has deemed worthy for his gift. The one human and machine that has show more than the ability to stay honorable and yet strong enough to be seen as more human than some monsters born from flesh.
"soon you shall show what you are meant for. What you are. And what you shall become. My strength…. It shall be yours. No longer shall you carry a heavy burden… and a heavy heart."
June sits in the Autobot base. She has no power left to help the cyborg… let alone find him… not after what she said to the poor boy….
She looks through several albums of what Jack use to be.. her flesh and blood son. And such a promising young man. …..
But now. more machine than man. After all these things… she has a family. She has all that she could ever ask for…. But at the cost of her son.
She knows that she managed to get the Optimus Prime to love her. To help her, protect her and love her. And… so much more… but the one and only son she use to have. Has become a machine…
A tear falls from her cheek onto the album picture of Jack riding his very first bicycle at age six. A sad smile comes to June as she closes the album and puts it away in the shelf with the rest of her collection of books, music and games. She walks to her children's room and looks at them as they sleep.
Her hand rests on her chest as her heart hurts a little from the loss and gain of family.
She whispers to herself.
"The cyborg… a human."
Cyborg Jack sits atop a building in construction…. 4am.
Rain hitting his cyborg frame. …. The words of the child to this day pierce his artificial heart.
"Monster."
He speaks to himself.
Closing his eyes and thinking.
"The worst thing that can happen to anyone… is to not have a place in this world. To not know why you're here…. This is just… an awful feeling. To not be needed by someone. For what reason is this body of mine even existing? Do I even matter?"
*He stands up and looks down at the cars driving. Watching the people on the sidewalk. He can see a little boy holding his mother's hand as they exit a store, and walk down the street. He glances down at his own hands and wonders.*
"Why did my creator wish to order me around? I understand that I am a machine right now. But why didn't want to finish building me? I don't remember doing something wrong."
Airachnid sits atop the edge of a mountain. Wondering to herself.
"This whole time. What we all have been through. The death and return of my Jack. He himself is not even truly himself anymore. I still visit the grave of his old human body. The child I had with him. Our little Drusus, never did I imagine that this would be my life. Or that I would be a second wife. Being peaceful with the Arcee. And all the Autobots, being a member of the family. It's nice. But can it really be that this is going to be our happily ever after?"
*She looks to the sky and speaks ever so softly. Her optics bright and filled with love.*
"Primus… if you can hear me. Or even, god of humans. Please hear me. Please let this family stay together and strong. Don't take it from us. If you let this stay, I promise to repay it to you. I have never experienced this sort of life before. Please let this be."
Airachnid hears footsteps behind her. She turns and can see June. A sudden shudder of worry befalls Airachnid. And the memory of what she did to June returns. And all the horrible things that have happen to her arise. She starts to stand and speaks in a trembled voice.
"Sorry June. I'll get out of here and let you-"
June cuts her off and speaks gently.
"no please stay Airachnid. We haven't really spoken since… you know. At the moment i actually really would like to speak with you. Not only this. But also, I feel as though you have been alone mostly before Jack …. Well since he returned. Be it in a robot form but he has returned. But really, I just want to ask you."
June takes a deep breath and exhales. She looks at the worried expression Airachnid has on her faceplate. June can tell with the mood in the air that they both know what the topic will be.
"When you tried to kill me. Why did you do that? And why did you take my son the way you did?"
Airachnid sits down and her head lowers. The look of shame on her face.
"I didn't want to hurt you that bad. I was aggravated and I admit that I didn't care whether you lived or died at the time. I just acted on instinct. I wanted to just snatch Jack."
She looks at June, her voice sincere. She leans down and kisses June on the cheek gently.
"June. Nothing I say can make up for the evils I have committed upon you. and the Autobots. My whole life will be that of atonement. Of just trying to make up for what I have done to everyone. I'm truly sorry for what I did to you. I don't know why I took Jack the way I did. I was just really angry that Arcee had someone that I would have never been able to get. You don't know how lonely a life I lived before this. And to be purely open with you here and now June. I will die to protect what I have. And I would die to protect you. I'm sorry. Please, forgive me. I'm just a pitiful scavenger. I would live in caves and pathetic excuses for ships. Chase after rare species and collect them as a hobby. What sort of creature does that with a clear mind? I don't even remember what was going through my mind at the time. So many wasted years. Yet here on earth, you humans have taught me what it means to live."
June starts to tear up. Her heart starts to race as she covers her mouth. She manages to nod and knows, this side of Airachnid has probably never been seen by anyone. This way that she has been living… no one should really have to live like this. Or carry so much regret and sadness.
"Airachnid, don't be like this. We all are a bit sad right now. I don't really know what words to say right now."
Airachnid stands up and offers her hand to June. A test of trust perhaps?
"Let's go June. I would like to see our children. And perhaps Prime has news of the Cyborg Jack."
June nods and reluctantly walks on her hand. Trust needs to be worked on and mutually after all.
The Decepticons gather together outside the base. Doing final preperations and equipment checks before heading off to the final battle. Now empowered by dark energon and the leadership of Star Destroyer Alpha, this new vision he has just might at long last come to fruition.
His men watch him as he steps out. He speaks confident and with rage.
"Remember soldiers. This is not some battle for this earth. This is a final settlement to prove a point. The targets are the Primes, and the Autobots. Ignore the humans. They matter not in the slightest. If they get in the way simply crush them. This is to show, that we can do what Megatron never could. The destruction of Optimus Prime."
He grins and turns around.
"Transform, and roll out."
Jack sits with his children and Arcee. Watching them play with Ace and Starlit. A warm and comforting mood is around them. This is what a family is and always should be. Arcee leans down and rests her head on his shoulder. He looks over at her and smiles.
Prime walks in from the hall and speaks to them both.
"Jack, Arcee come to the main entrance. I'm getting some high energon readings. And grab your gear, this is looking serious."
Arcee quickly comes next to prime and matches his walking speed.
"What's going on Optimus? Are we looking at another combat situation? Is it Star Destroyer?"
Prime nods, and just then Airachnid and June come in. Arcee's optics meets Airachnid. She quickly walks to her and whispers in her ear.
"Please stay behind and look after the children with June. We might need someone to protect them should the worst happen. Do this for me Airachnid, please."
Aarachnid looks at her, and then at the Autobots. She gets the understanding of what they are prepping for.
"I understand. I'll do my best here Arcee."
The Cyborg walks down the stairs of the abandoned building, he hears some crash outside. He quickly exits out of the old Ford factory and glances in the parking lot to see a female Decepticon standing with a Breakdown. He stays in the shadows and listens as they speak. Breakdown speaks to her in a agrivated tone.
"Well that pathetic excuse for a robot should be here some place."
She responds in an annoyed voice.
"We would know where he was if you hadn't broken the shouter. I told you to let me carry it but no. now we have to waste time searching for him and destroy the obomination manually."
He looks shocked and quickly hides. He wonders.
"destroyed? But… why? I didn't do anything to them? Why can't everyone just leave me be?"
He quickly moves from the location as silent as possible. Picking up his Jacket and hat, and getting out of there as fast as possible. Only to be intercepted by Bumblebee. He speaks to him.
"Get the hell out of here Cyborg. I was wondering why we picked up a reading of Decepticon activaty in this part of the city. Now I know why. Word of advice. Stay low and quiet. I'll check up on you later to make sure your fine. But we really need to talk to you. your creator is worried about you."
The cyborg nods. But wonders "She's worried about me?"
Bumblebee takes off quickly and catches the Decepticons by surprise. Bulkhead comes in from the side to assist his team member. The Cyborg takes off and hides from sight but watches the battle. The sound of jets flying in the air starts to send vibrations… The final battle is about to take place and he is right in the middle of it all.
June sits with the kids, and looks at Airachnid. She asks her.
"Do you think this whole issue that the Autobots are going to is going to end quickly?"
Airachnid not wanting to be brutally honest with June. she sighs and is about to speak when Prime walks up to June and speaks.
"Honey, were going to be back soon. Try not to worry too much."
He leans down and kisses her cheek gently and smiles at the little ones.
"You all be good you hear."
He looks at Airachnid and nods.
"Airachnid, if anything happens, I will contact you with instructions. Were all putting our faith into you. I believe in your abilities as a survivor."
She nods and smiles at the acknowledgement of trust. Prime walks to his members.
"Autobots, transform and role out."
To be continued.
"i'm back at long last."