Hey yo! Here we go again, everyone!
REVIEW REPLIES!
SapphirePrincess1020: Family moments are so cute
IKR?!
gnogueras0610: awe that was a cute moment. I kinda don't know why bumblebee is there but I understood why the others are there
Bumblebee and Talida are brother and sister. When Optimus and Arcee adopted him, they performed the familial bond. Likewise with Talida. When Talida was born, Bumblebee performed the familial bond with her.
VectorSigma101: AWWW! The last paragraph is so cute! :D
It is, isn't it?
devildog452: Hey I've been waiting for you too respond to my comments. Why haven't you responded?
STOP HARRASSING ME!
Girl Supersonicboy: Even BIG Family moment! Now that's what I'm talking about! Now All you need to do is get one with Ratchet in it and then that will be the best Family moment ever. Keep up the Amazing work! I can't wait to see what happens next.
I take it you figured out what episode's next.
Link's Rose: Awww, cute! This was really good, even if a little short. Lol I can just picture their reactions to 'Duckling' on their faceplates XD. And in my last review I meant "I don't hate Knock Out and Breakdown, because they helped Talida." Meaning that by helping Talida they redeemed themselves in my mind.
I understood what you meant. But thanks for clarifying it either way. Man. Knock Out and Breakdown would make awesome Autobots.
Guest: Princess of Dreams
I love family moments too. Optimus is right though. Please update!
Optimus is almost always right!
kiki56: That has got to be the most adorable story I have ever heard. Thanks for posting and I can't wait for more.
You're welcome.
Autobot Shadowstalker: Aww! I loved this chapter. Oh and check your PM inbox. I need to talk to you about something extremely important. UPDATE SOON PLEASE!
Checked. Glad we could work it out.
Jacob Deitz: (1) Then how did you know that Sentinel Prime was a glitch head because the only way to know was to watch Transformers Anime you must have good people to tell you because Sentinel was a glitch head in that show.
(2) When I said transformers anime I mean transformers animated
I knew what you meant. And…well…as to how I knew that Sentinel Prime was a 'glitch head' it was 50% guess work and 50% reading fanfictions.
Abyss Prime: Yes I do hate you for killing breakdown in Rising Storms. But I'm willing to forgive, not forget 'cause you did the brother-sister thing in here… Please tell me your not going to kill him in this story arc… PLEASE DON"T KILL MAH BREAKDOWN *sniffles* I love 'im… *starts sobbing* Help me kill MECH, Screamer, and Spider 'con? You get grenade launcher and an assault rifle… *smiles like the devil*
You had me with Airachnid.
Optimus' girl: OMP! I just happen to LOVE family moments as well! AAAAWWW! Bumblebee is so sweet to Talida! I wish that I had my head on his hand. I would be safe and sound in his hand. Bumblebee has always been like a big brother to me from the start.
Who has been like family to you on Transformers? Knock Out and Breakdown are like Uncles to me.
I come from a very LARGE family! Have LOTS of Aunts and Uncles in my parent's and step-parent's families. I saw your answer for your Transformers horoscope. It could have been worst. You could have bonded with Megatron's SIC, Starscream. *shudders*
I just can't wait to find out what is going to happen in the next chapter of both your stories. This one and your newest story. Keep up the AWESOME work with your stories, buddy!
Thanks! But…it could've been worse than that. I could have bonded with Megatron.
haloangel21: Aw. What a sweet chapter. You just have a specialty for sweet things! Tis one of the reasons I love this story and why it's in my favourites. Keep going! You're doing great!
Thanks! And…what can I say? I like doing sweet moments.
HiyaCodey: Me: *dying of cuteness*
Nova: 'Codey! Oh No! We need Hatchet!
Ratchet: DON'T CALL ME THAT! I'M HOLDING A WRENCH!
Nova: Watch out we got a badass over here. (It's a meme)
RATCHET, DON'T HURT THEM!
Katie Gibbs: -looks at the picture ratchet took-
Awws, family moments! I wish it would stay like that forever for them!
Wonder if ratchet would dare to use this as blackmail against some one? –smiles innocently-
Nah. He doesn't do that.
Autobot Mechanical-operations: more
Enough said.
AlphaTrion3145: I hope you don't say the same again… Because I have given the author permission to use my OC…
I don't know what that means.
Transformers: Prime rightfully belongs to Hasbro and The Hub.
© Talida and other OCs rightfully belong to me unless I say otherwise.
In case you don't know what we're doing, read the lyrics and you'll figure it out…sort of. The name of the episode is somewhere in these lyrics. Hint: it's underlined.
To the right! To the left! Take it back now, y'all! One hop this time! One hop this time! Right foot! Two stomps! Left foot! Two stomps! Slide to the left! Slide to the right! Crisscross! Crisscross!
Still not getting it? Alright. Here's the last hint. That's all I have room for anyway.
Tell me what you want to hear... Something that will light those ears... Sick of all the insincere... So I'm gonna give all my secrets away… This time, don't need another perfect lie... Don't care if critics ever jump in line... I'm gonna give all my secrets away…
ENJOY!
It was late at night when Arcee, Jack and Talida returned home to the Darby residence. While they were hanging out with the other Autobots at the base, they realized that the kids were out past their curfews and went to take them home. When they weren't far from the house, Arcee shut off her engines and Jack and Talida proceeded to walk her up the driveway.
"Thanks for walking me home, Jack. You're a real gentlemen," Arcee said with a smirk.
"I don't want you revved up before bedtime," Jack stated as Talida supported Arcee against her hip while Jack went to open the garage, "Mum's a light sleeper. And I don't think that she'd understand about…"
"Understand what, Jackson William Darby?!"
"Uh-oh," Talida cringed when she and Jack noticed June standing in the garage looking angry, "We are so dead."
"You breaking curfew for the third time this month?" June guessed, clearly annoyed.
"Mum," Jack started.
"Or your boss calling about you missing another shift at work? Or the email I received from your art history teacher who's concerned you've been falling asleep in class?!" June went on.
"Well, two words, mum. Art and history," Jack scoffed, earning nods in agreement from Talida.
"And you, Talida Corrie Darby!" June continued as she turned to Talida, "I've been getting emails and phone calls about you as well! Grades slipping from a perfect A+ to barely an A-! On the verge of passing out at dance rehearsals! Sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night until just before sunrise!"
"How did you hear about that?!" Talida demanded.
Ignoring her adopted daughter for the time being, June turned to face Jack, "Tell me the rumors aren't true. Tell me you're not racing that motorcycle!"
"No, no!" Jack immediately objected before asking, "Wait. Where did you hear that?!"
"Small town. People talk…which is how I learned about YOU – an almost 15-year-old girl – is on the verge of getting intimate with an adult male on a hill outside Jasper!" June snapped at Talida, causing her eyes to widen and Arcee to freeze in shock.
Note to self: have a little 'chat' with Ratchet when I return to base, Arcee thought to herself, already beginning to plan his slow and painful demise in perfect detail.
"Would it kill you to NOT have your friends spy on me?!" Talida screeched in frustration.
"I work in an emergency room, kids. I've seen what can happen. Both concerning illegal street races and teenagers having romantic relations with fully-grown men! So please! Tell me you haven't fallen with a bad crowd," June pleaded.
"What?! No!" Jack and Talida cried.
"Our friends are the good crowd!" Jack promised.
"Seriously good!" Talida piped in.
"I let you have that bike because you convinced me you were mature enough to handle it. But I think you need a gentle reminder," June decreed.
"Message received, mum," Jack reassured her.
"Loud and clear," Talida added.
"We're glad we had this talk," Jack and Talida chorused as they went to wheel Arcee into the garage.
"I meant let's see if a few weeks without the distraction of the motorcycle will do the trick," June corrected, startling Jack and Talida.
"But!" Jack and Talida went to protest.
"No buts! Jackson William Darby, you are grounded from everything but school and work! And if you want to take a bike to either, you'll pedal. And you, Talida Corrie Darby, are grounded from everything but school and dance rehearsals! And I'll be making sure to put locks on your window! Ones that I know you won't be able to break! Also, whenever you leave the house, Jack or myself have to be with you!" June decreed.
"Oh sure. How's that different than before?" Talida grumbled, rolling her eyes slightly.
Jack immediately felt sorry for his sister. She was being dealt a harsher punishment than him. Something that his mother will never be able to understand was that Ratchet is actually what she needed after her kidnapping. Same with Optimus and Arcee. They helped her through her nightmares. Helped her heal. Helped her return to living a normal life…well, as normal as it could be. Separating her from them was something he considered completely inhumane.
"Serious face, you two! If I see that motorcycle out of the garage…," June trailed off as she placed a kiss on their foreheads, "Now go wash up and get some sleep. I love you."
"I'll miss you two while you're grounded," Arcee said as Jack and Talida continued to wheel her towards the centre of the garage.
"Don't worry, Arcee. We'll visit you here everyday," Jack promised.
"Um…guys…I won't be here," Arcee announced, surprising the two of them, "Sitting on my fat tires for two weeks is not an option. Besides, I'm bonded. I do need to actually spend nights with my spark mate."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Mum, you saw her serious face!" Talida stuttered, "Look. We're already feeling bad about having to lie to her all this time! Not just about our involvement in the war! If you're not here, she's gonna think we're blowing her off!"
"Deep breaths, honey. She works late nights. I'll try to be back in the garage before she gets home. But…no promises," Arcee warned.
"Better get some sleep. You look like you can fall asleep on the spot," Jack observed, "I think all that sneaking out's getting to you."
"I'll be there in a minute," Talida promised before letting out a tired sigh.
"You need to rest, Tally," Arcee reprimanded her daughter.
"I'd rather not," Talida objected.
"Nightmares again?" Arcee guessed. However, her words came out more as a statement rather than a guess.
"You could say that," Talida sighed.
Arcee activated her holoform and wrapped her arms around her daughter. Happily, Talida leaned into the embrace. Sighing, Arcee broke the embrace.
"You can't be afraid of it, honey. You have to face your fears," Arcee stated.
"They're always so real," Talida whispered.
"Nightmares tend to be funny that way. You can't let those nightmares control you. Megatron isn't going to come anywhere near you or even Jasper ever again. Not if I can help it. Not if your father can help it. Not if anyone can help it," Arcee vowed as she kissed her forehead, "Now go do what June says. Wash up and get some sleep. You look ready to pass out. …And you just did."
Arcee wasn't kidding. No sooner as she said that, Talida passed out in her arms. Luckily, Arcee still had the strength to carry her through the house to her room. Having been given a tour of the house when June wasn't home, Arcee knew where Talida's bedroom was. Having been in there multiple times helped as well. Carefully, she opened the door and walked into the simple yet elegant bedroom. Gently, Arcee laid her on the bed and rummaged through her drawers for pajamas. She decided to settle on a light pink nightgown with a lace bodice and silk-charmeuse slip.
After dressing her, she gently laid her down fully on the bed and placed the sheet and blankets on her. Placing one last kiss on her forehead, her holoform disappeared into thin air in a small ball of electricity.
Inside the garage before slipping into recharge, Arcee smiled to herself. Many females would agree with her that this was one of the perks of being a mother. There were also a gazillion more. Had she known being a mother would be like this…
She would've begged Optimus for sparklings as soon as they were bonded.
The next day, Jack and Talida stayed true to their words. They pedaled to school. When the day was finished, they pedaled to KO Burger. Talida stayed in the corner booth, using the opportunity to complete her homework and revise the material she needed to know for her upcoming world history exam.
By the time she was done with her revision, Jack had grabbed some dinner for them. The two enjoyed spending quality time having their meals and sharing a laugh. When Jack's break was finished, he resumed his shift
Another two hours later, Jack had finished his shift for the day. However, he'd have to return tomorrow. The person meant to take that shift called saying he wouldn't due to unforeseen circumstances and Jack's been asked to cover for him. As the two walked up to pedal home, Jack's phone began to ring. Talida rolled her eyes as she made a mental note to herself to change Jack's ringtone.
"Hey, ma," Jack greeted as he answered the phone while Talida sat on the handles.
"Jack, I hope you and your sister aren't planning to order takeout or eat at work tonight. I took my break early so I could cook my grounded children a wholesome dinner."
"Organic tofu. Hey. Car beats ten-speed. I'll be home soon. Goodbye," Jack said before turning to Talida who was already dialing the familiar number on her phone, "Is it ringing?"
"Yeah. Come on. Pick up. Pick up. Pick up. Pick up," Talida gritted as Jack pulled off and raced away, "Mum, you wouldn't be in the garage now, would you?"
"Negative, honey. Can we talk about this later?"
"No! Mum's on her way home! If you don't get home right now, Jack and I will be grounded for life and she'll make us sell you for parts!" Talida answered, "And trust me when I say we don't want to deal with dad if that happens!"
"I'm on my way, honey."
"Can you pedal faster?" Talida asked impatiently.
"Do you wanna give it a go?" Jack retorted.
By the time they got home, Jack was panting and drenched in sweat.
"JACKSON! TALIDA!"
"We're dead," Jack and Talida chorused.
"Jack! Talida! I can't believe you disobeyed me! Where is the motorcycle?!" June demanded.
A flash came from the garage and told Jack and Talida what they needed to know. Reaching into his mother's car to open the garage, Jack answered his mother,
"What do you mean? She's right where we left her."
June turned around to the sound of the garage opening and saw he was right. Arcee was sitting in the garage in her vehicle mode where she was left last night. June sighed and rolled her eyes. She knew she didn't see it in the garage before. Immediately, she assumed the worse of her two children.
"Did you get one of your crew to sneak it in? Or did you just walk it up again?" June asked in frustration.
"Nice to know you trust us," Talida said sarcastically with an eye roll.
"Now is not the time to be a smartass, Talida Corrie Darby!" June snapped.
"How am I a smartass for simply stating the truth?" Talida retorted.
"OK, mum. Do you really wanna know?" Jack sighed.
Immediately realizing what Jack was getting at, Talida jumped into action as Arcee edged forward in warning to not say what he was about to say, "Jack, remember the pact."
"Fasten your seatbelts. My motorcycle is a sentient robotic organism from a distant planet part of a team stationed here on Earth fighting a secret war. And…Lida and I spend most of our time after school hanging with her crew," Jack confessed as he walked towards Arcee.
"Jack," June began.
"And the coolest thing: this isn't her actual form. She's really a giant robot who can transform into a vehicle. Talida's also her and her spark mate's long lost daughter from Cybertron," Jack went on.
"Enough, Jack!" June snapped.
"It's OK, Arcee. Show yourself," Jack encouraged, earning no response from her, "She's shy. Arcee…really. No more hiding. No more lies. Oh come on! Roll out already!"
"Jackson William Darby, for the love of Primus, don't…," Talida began, only to finish flatly as Jack did what she knew she was going to do, "Kick the motorcycle."
"So the bad crowd you and Talida have been hanging out with is a science fiction club?" June surmised, missing the point completely, "I have to get back to work. We will continue this when I get home."
When June had driven away en route to the local hospital, Jack turned to Arcee bitterly,
"Thanks for the support, partner."
"Don't blame me. Remember," Arcee began.
"I know. I know. You don't exist," Jack finished in frustration as he walked away.
"He's frustrated," Talida observed, "The whole secrecy's really getting to him. Before we got involved in the war, Jack and his mother told each other anything. From school to work to financial troubles to girl trouble. Everything and anything."
"Then this happened," Arcee surmised.
"Between you and me, I'm glad she doesn't know about this," Talida admitted.
"Why's that?" Arcee wanted to know.
"It's one aspect of my life she can't ruin," Talida said as she walked away.
Hours later, Jack and Talida were coming home from KO Burger. Jack got called to another shift and it was a late shift. And due to the punishments June dealt out two nights ago, Talida had to go with him. Luckily, she had something to do while she waited for him. And that was in the form of reading a book.
Late at night, they were able to go home. When they arrived, they saw Arcee sitting in the garage and no sign of June.
"Arcee, is mum home yet?" Jack asked as he and Talida walked into the garage, "We didn't see her car."
"I don't know. I just bridged from base to beat her here," Arcee answered, "Oh! And there's a package for you two."
"That's strange," Talida remarked, "Aside from bills, army benefits, stuff from school and packages from Aunt May in New York, we never get anything. Wonder what's in it."
Shrugging, Jack ripped open the envelope and tipped the contents onto the desk. It was a radio. One that changed their lives forever.
"Hello, children."
"Silas," Arcee snarled as she transformed into her vehicle mode.
"What is it?" Jack wanted to know.
"What's going on?" Talida demanded.
"MECH," Arcee hissed.
"They know where we live?!" Jack and Talida exclaimed in fear.
"We know things about your family that even you don't know. For example, Jack, have you always known that your 'sister' isn't truly part of the Darby family? But the main example is this: do either of you know where your mother is?"
"What did you?!" Jack began asking.
"Understand, you two. We have no intention of hurting her. In fact, we'd like to reunite the three of you as soon as possible. I just need you and Arcee to follow the GPS coordinates programmed into this communicator. They'll lead you to the temporary facility I've set up."
"Ratchet," Arcee whispered before screaming in pain while clutching her head.
"Mum!" Talida screamed in horror.
"Did I not mention our communicators scrambles the signal and your brains? Any break in communication or attempts to reach the other Autobots and Ms. Darby…well, I wouldn't want to feel responsible for the outcome."
They didn't have a choice. Not that they thought out their options. They saw red. And they were going to do whatever it takes to right whatever wrong they did. While Arcee transformed, Jack and Talida grabbed their helmets. Talida clung to Jack's waist while he held the handles and the communicator MECH provided for them. They followed the coordinates to the facility as Silas instructed. Along the way, they couldn't help but voice their worries.
"If anything happens to her because of my connection to all this…," Jack trailed off.
"Jack, MECH is only interested in me. Once they get what they want, they'll let your mum go," Arcee promised.
"That's not exactly reassuring. Your family too," Talida retorted.
Eventually, they arrived at a disused factory. The equipment and trucks looked like it hadn't been used for several months. As they slowed to a stop, red lasers were on them. Looking up, they saw MECH insurgents aiming their weapons at them. Clearly, they had permission from Silas to open fire if they resisted.
"So…what's the plan?" Jack asked Arcee.
"The usual," Arcee answered with a smirk.
They waited until the right moment. And that right moment was when Silas stepped forward to 'greet' them.
"NOW!" Talida cried.
Screeching tires could be heard as Arcee raced forward and straight through them. Gunfire surrounded them as MECH insurgents kept on shooting to kill. They made it inside the main hub of the abandoned factory where they stopped. Jack and Talida hopped off and began their search.
"Mum?!" Jack called.
"Looking for June?!"
Alarmed, Jack and Talida turned to the wall above the main entrance to the hub. Their eyes widened in horror when they saw just who they were staring at.
Airachnid.
"She's hanging around here somewhere," Airachnid shrugged casually.
"Airachnid!" Arcee snarled as she immediately transformed and jumped between Airachnid and Jack and Talida…only to have her arms trapped against her sides by the web.
"What's she doing here?!" Talida demanded angrily, ready to unfold her cannons and fire at Airachnid multiple times until she was nothing but molten metal on the floor.
"Help them. Please. They're human like you," Arcee pleaded Silas as he stepped forward, "You can't let Airachnid…"
"A few human lives are a small price to pay for a miracle of science like yourself. And from what I've heard from Airachnid, Talida Darby here isn't 100% human. Or should I say…Talida Prime?" Silas corrected with a smirk.
"You don't know me," Talida spat.
"I would reconsider that, my dear," Silas smirked as he grabbed a file and read, "Assumed identity: Talida Corrie Darby. Real identity: Talida Corrie Prime. Date of birth: July 21st, 1999. Place of residence: Jasper, Nevada. Biological parents: Optimus Prime and Arcee. Adopted parents: no record. You assumed their name. But you were never legally adopted."
"What?!" Arcee gasped in disbelief.
"OK. So maybe you do know me," Talida relented, "Now, here's what I know, Silas. June Darby may have never legally adopted me like I thought she had. Years ago, she could have put me in an orphanage or left me on the streets. But…that never happened. She still became a mother to me. I owe my life to her."
"How sweet…," Silas gushed sarcastically, "Stun the motorcycle."
"NO!" Talida screamed.
"ARCEE!" Jack yelled as they watched Arcee fall to the ground unconscious.
"You and I will have a private session later. Promise," Airachnid vowed with a smirk.
"You touch her, I will kill you," Talida threatened dangerously.
"Last I checked, you're not in the situation to make threats or demands," Airachnid said with a smirk as she leant forward towards Talida…only to have her spit in her optic again, causing her to stumble back and hiss, "That wasn't very nice."
"Gentlemen," Silas said.
Numerous soldiers came forward and aimed their weapons at Jack and Talida. Three of them stepped forward and searched the two of them. From Jack, they took the communicator that was sent to him, his wallet and his cell phone. From Talida, they took her cell phone. They went to remove her necklace. However…they couldn't. The chain wouldn't collapse. The clasp wouldn't undo. There was no indication that it was going to come off anytime soon.
"I want the girl set aside," Airachnid requested, "Techno-organics are interesting. She can be your lab rat."
"Get your hands off her," Jack snarled as he went to push some soldiers away.
"Don't harm her too much. I want her unable to put up a fight. But I want her alive," Silas instructed, glancing at a soldier who held a weapon up behind him, "Perfect."
Talida screamed out in pure pain as she felt electricity race through her body. Jack stared in horror at a stun gun that was stuck at the back of Talida's neck. When the job was done, Talida fell to the ground on her stomach unconscious. Shaking in anger, Jack went to attack the soldiers. But he was held back. Another soldier went to tie her up.
"Don't bother. Even when she wakes up, she wouldn't be able to fight back. That there is a modified stun gun. It'll knock her hour for seven minutes. But…the effects of the stun gun will last for another hour. Essentially, she'll be paralyzed. After the hour is up, she will slowly regain feeling in her body. Starting with her fingers and toes and then slowly progressing to the rest of her body. That'll take at least two hours…that is, if she doesn't fall asleep. If Talida falls asleep, she'll be right back where she started," Silas proclaimed with a smirk.
"I'm still trying to learn about humankind. But one thing is clear to me, Jack. You people care deeply about family. Therefore, the sweetest revenge I could possibly devise would be to make you watch as I take your family apart," Airachnid smirked.
"If you hurt my mother or my sister, I'll…," Jack began threatening.
"You remember how much I enjoy sport. Don't you, Jack? So I'll give you the opportunity to save your mother. I've stashed her close by. Only you can do it. That's why I wanted Talida out of her way. Her techno-organic powers and weapons would be too much of an advantage. If you can rescue your mother before the stroke of twelve, I will let the three of you go unharmed. Deal?" Airachnid offered.
"And if I can't?" Jack wanted to know.
"What do you think?" Airachnid smirked.
"Please. Don't let her do this," Jack pleaded Silas as he clung to his chest armor, "You can let us go! We won't tell anyone!"
Silas only responded by knocking Jack onto his back saying, "Enough."
"Yes, Jack. Man up already," Airachnid tormented before glancing at the clock, "Six minutes?!"
That caused Jack to run out of the hub and around the factory screaming, "MUM! MUM!"
Airachnid left after him to make sure that he didn't succeed in his rescue mission. Silas was left alone with his insurgents and the unconscious Arcee and Talida. During that time, he took a moment to think about everything that's happened. He remembered how he first encountered Airachnid in the mountain jungle. They had made a deal. She would allow them to live and give them Arcee after she had broken her….only if Silas and MECH helped Airachnid extract her revenge on Jack and Talida for blowing up her ship and injuring her months ago. Then he thought about something that happened numerous times during war. The amount of times people turn mutual crisscrosses into double crosses.
"Now I know we promised the Spider-Bot that she'd have first crack at you. But something tells me she plans on turning a mutual crisscross into a double cross," Silas muttered to himself.
"Silas, we don't have the means of transporting the robot right now," a surgeon told him.
"We'll have to cut and run. We can dissect the girl when we're at our new facility. As for the robot…open her up," Silas instructed.
The sounds of saws echoed his ears as they began to cut at the web. Another insurgent went to pick up Talida and carry her away, but Silas stopped him.
"Leave her. She can't fight back," Silas pointed out.
11:58:43
Jack continued running around the disused factory. His lungs were burning. His legs were aching. But he wouldn't stop. He couldn't stop. He wasn't even going to think about stopping until he had managed to find his mother and take her away. Glancing around, he would occasionally see the shadow of Airachnid dance around him. Then he saw her. She was standing there so casually. As though there was nothing wrong. Just as casually, she pointed towards a building. Dangling in a web cocoon from the balcony of the building…was his unconscious mother.
"MOM! MOM!" Jack screamed as he ran towards the building.
June began waking up to the sounds of screams. Her teenage son's screams. Immediately wide awake, she looked down and saw him racing towards her.
"Jack?!" June gasped.
11:59:28
Jack climbed the ladder, his desperation fuelling his every action. When his feet touched solid ground, he raced towards his mother.
"Jack! What are you doing here?! Where's your sister?! Who are these people?! How did I get in this…stuff?!" June demanded worriedly.
"Don't worry, mum. I'm going to get you out," Jack promised.
Jack and June froze in fear at the sound of metal clanging nearby. June whimpered as she glanced to her left and saw Airachnid approaching them. Airachnid chuckled at June before jumping up towards Jack.
"Jack?! The robots are real?!" June gasped in fear and disbelief.
"I beat your deadline!" Jack exclaimed.
"Afraid not, Jack! The task wasn't for you to find your mother by midnight! You had to rescue her," Airachnid corrected.
Jack's eyes widened in horror at the realization. It was the deal he had made. If he had rescued his mother by midnight, June, Talida and himself would go free. But that wasn't what made the horror of the realization worse. But rather the time…
12:00:00
"And time's up!" Airachnid decreed, "Now."
Jack cried as he felt himself suddenly fall down. Sitting up, he went to stand. However, he suddenly found the task impossible. Looking down, he saw why. Airachnid had fired web at him and it pinned his hand against the metal floor. Despite his strong struggling, he couldn't free himself.
He and his mother were helpless.
Arcee and Talida were beginning to come through from their respective stunning. Arcee glanced down worriedly at Talida, who was struggling to get up. They heard the sounds of Airachnid, Jack and June talking on Silas' computer. Airachnid's voice made him feel sick.
"Take a seat, sit back and enjoy the horror show."
"Make haste, gentlemen. And don't worry about making a mess," Silas instructed.
"You know, Jack. She's your mum. Why should I have all the fun? So you get to choose. Agenizing or excruciating?"
"NO!"
Talida knew that if her web was trapping Jack, he'd find a way to free himself. She only wished that she could move. Then she remembered hearing something. Even though she was unconscious, with her being a techno-organic, she could still hear everything. She heard Silas talking about the effects of the stun gun. She knew that for another hour, she would be paralyzed and would only begin regaining feeling in her body then. That is, if she didn't fall asleep.
"Jack, your mother wants to know. Don't leave her dangling."
"YOU MONSTER! STOP THIS!"
"We only have time to take one part. Go straight for the heart," Silas requested.
Talida watched in horror as the surgeon activated the drill and lowered it to her chest. Even though she was paralyzed, her voice box was fully operational. So she was able to scream,
"NO!"
Arcee opened her eyes and began her attack. She knocked the drill and the surgeon away before cradling the paralyzed Talida in her arms. Tossing her gently into the air, she transformed into her vehicle mode and caught her daughter before racing away. The gunfire followed her…until Silas ordered them to stand down.
"Let them go. No matter the outcome, the spoils will be ours," Silas proclaimed.
"Well, Jack. If you won't decide, I guess it's lady's voice," Airachnid smirked.
Desperately, Jack forced himself to work the metal bar harder against the web. He needed to open it wide enough for him to slip his hand free.
"Mum, I'm sorry," Jack sobbed.
"NO!"
"MUM!"
June and Airachnid looked down and saw Arcee and Talida racing towards her. Transforming, Arcee placed Talida near Jack on the metal balcony before kicking Airachnid away from June. Glancing at Jack, she used her techno-organic powers to break the web. Staring at it, she used her telekinesis powers to shatter it. Jack looked up in relief and raced to his sister.
"Are you alright?" Jack asked worriedly as he cradled her head, heart shattering at her wince of pain.
"I'm fine. Help mum," Talida pleaded.
"Jack. Your motorcycle!" June gasped as Jack went to pull her up.
"I can explain, mum," Jack promised before stopping, "Wait. I already did!"
"MECH lost Breakdown. What were the chances they could hang on to you and Talida?" Airachnid asked rhetorically.
Airachnid and Arcee kicked each other from building to crane to the ground. However, no matter what level they were on, the fight wasn't going to stop. One of Airachnid's stray shots hit the balcony holding Jack, June and Talida up. Everyone screamed as they felt themselves falling. Jack barely managed to grab Talida on time and throw her back up to safety. However, he couldn't pull himself back up to safety alongside her.
"JACK!" June cried.
"MUM!" Jack yelled.
"JACK!" June wailed as Airachnid came close to her.
Luckily for June, Arcee intervened before damage could be caused. The fight continued. Jack managed to climb up, pushing up one of the levers on the way. Hearing the sound of a machine whirring up, Jack looked around in confusion and saw concrete foundation falling out of the machine into a container below then into a truck on the ground. An idea began forming inside his head.
Arcee was quick to catch on. After nearly falling off a building, she kicked Airachnid into a slab and stood on the pipe the concrete would be coming from. Earning a nod from Arcee, Jack pulled the lever down and started it again. Hearing and feeling the concrete beginning to come through, Arcee kicked it over the slab Airachnid was beginning to come to in.
She cried and sat up when the concrete landed on her, covering her head to toe. Airachnid went to move. But the concrete was made of a quick-drying solution. She was stiff as a statue in seconds. Arcee smiled to herself about her success. After all these years, it was finally over.
Or so she thought.
"JACK! TALIDA!" June screamed.
"Hang on, June," Arcee said as she went to climb up towards her.
However, something grabbed her back and pulled her back to the ground. Screaming, Arcee landed on the ground with a thud covered in web. Airachnid stood over her chuckling, still covered in the concrete that was beginning to fade.
Then she heard the sound of whirring helicopters. Looking up, she saw Fowler coming in to save the day.
"Aim for the creepy crawly," Fowler instructed.
The soldier nodded and began firing along with the other helicopters next to them. Airachnid snarled as she tried to protect herself from the rapid gunfire.
Silas gaped in horror at the sight of Fowler and the army of military helicopters. How did he find out?
"How did they find us?" Silas wanted to know.
Suddenly, his eyes widened in realization. Instantly, he went to feel around his belt. He couldn't find his communicator anywhere. That was when he placed two and two together.
Jack was pretending to be a scared little boy after Airachnid placed the challenge. During his little act, he reached down and took his communicator from him before Silas pushed him away. His shocked face was replaced with a scrawl. Even he had to admit.
Jack Darby was a smart kid.
"Thanks for coming, Agent Fowler," Jack thanked into the radio.
"Had I known 'Cons were involved, I would have called in Prime."
"That might have been too much for mum to handle in one night," Jack remarked.
Even though Jack couldn't see it, he knew Fowler was nodding in understanding. After such a traumatic experience, the fact that her children are involved in an intergalactic war might be too much for her to digest and accept.
Just wait until she finds out her son's motorcycle is Talida's biological mother.
Eventually, the helicopters ran out of ammunition, causing gunfire to cease. Uncovering herself, Airachnid smirked at the 'damage' that was done to her. After all the bullets, the only damage that was caused was the destruction of her concrete suit. Remembering she needed a vehicle mode, she smirked to herself. Glancing at Fowler's helicopter, green lasers came out of her eyes and scanned it in.
"NOT AGAIN!" Fowler moaned.
Airachnid transformed and made her getaway, much to Arcee's annoyance.
"NO!" Arcee screamed.
"So that's how it's done. Genius," Silas smirked after shutting down the computer.
With the click of his fingers, the lights went out.
And Silas and MECH were gone.
Fowler and the soldiers managed to free June and Arcee from the webbing. June was sitting on a crate with a dark blue blanket draped around her shoulders. Jack, who was sitting next to her, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Talida was laying across both their laps. The hour wasn't up yet. So she was still completely paralyzed.
"Mrs. Darby, I'm Special Agent William Fowler. It's time you knew the truth. For the past several months, Jack and Talida have been…interning for me at the agency," Fowler lied.
"Agent Fowler, we appreciate it," Jack began.
"But mum's not gonna buy it," Talida finished.
"They've got that right!" June decreed.
"Agent Fowler," a soldier began as he approached.
"Let me guess. Without a trace," Fowler assumed, walking away in frustration at the soldier's indication of agreement, "God damn it!"
Arcee took that time to step forward towards the group. Jack and June stood up. Jack, being the strongest of the two, carried the paralyzed Talida in his arms. She still had another hour before the process of her regaining feeling in her body began…that is, if she didn't fall asleep. He and June were going to have fun keeping her up all night.
"And she would be your…?" June trailed off.
"Motorcycle. Guardian. Autobot. Friend," Jack listed.
Talida wanted to add that Arcee was also her biological mother. But decided to leave that out for the time being. She had to process enough for a very long night. She could worry about telling the truth of her parentage for another day.
"Call me Arcee," Arcee said.
"Thank you, Arcee," June smiled, earning one in return.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Jack?" Talida asked with a smirk.
"I sure am," Jack nodded in agreement before stepping forward, "I think it's time for that ride you once made us promise."
Here we go, everybody! June is about to find out the truth! I'd write more. But…I'm already on my 20th page and with what I'm planning, there'd be another 5-10 pages. And considering the limited writing time I'm going to have, I don't wanna make you guys wait any longer for a new chapter. Because this week's my first full week back at school and my mother's going to keep my laptop away from me to make sure I do my homework, revision and my music practice. So…it'll be a few weeks until my next update due to the fact that I have to update The Thunderbird and the Doctor and Talida Prime: Rising Storms before I can update Strange Beginnings. Please bare with me!
You guys know the drill. Make sure you review, alert, fave, whatever.
BYE!