Sorry for the long wait, everyone! I've hit a bit of a wall with these next two chapters, but hopefully I'll be able to get them out soon!

When Megatron onlined, he was first aware of a dull ache coursing through his circuitry. The second thing he noticed was that his HUD was filled with alerts. Not detecting anything life-threatening, he dismissed them one by one until his vision was clear. It wasn't until then he recognized that he was unceremoniously sprawled across the main console—a rather compromising position for a warlord. The force of the impact must have flung him forward and triggered a system reboot.

As Megatron peeled himself off of the controls with a grunt, memories of what just occurred began to emerge. So the Nemesis really did crash-land. At least he managed to pull himself from stasis this time. However, it was hardly assuring as he became aware of the chaos around him.

A blaring alarm sounded, far louder and irritating than the first. Many of the monitors before Megatron were blackened, but one screen was still working, informing him that there were several fires burning throughout the ship. There were other messages, but there were too numerous to filter through all of them.

"Breakdown, damage report," he called out, only to find the bulky mech was still pulling himself off the floor.

He was certainly worse for the wear—chassis covered in dents and scraps—but he managed to shuffle to the closest workstation. Only when he pressed the button to activate it, the console erupted in a shower of sparks. Breakdown fearfully winced away and promptly moved to another monitor. It was still operational, allowing the Decepticon to skim over the countless number of glyphs.

"All major systems have received critical damage, master," he reported reluctantly, only to flinch again when Megatron cursed rather loudly.

Perhaps the Nemesis was doomed. Broken and stranded on an alien world, with no resources to repair the ship. Earth's materials were hardly a fitting substitute for Cybernite. It would be some time before it was airborne again, if at all. It did not help matters that they were practically surrounded by enemies. Megatron reaffirmed their location by checking their coordinates, finding they had crashed along the shores of an island nation. He couldn't recall the precise name, but he had been told by Soundwave that they were an ally of the Autobots. Meaning they could be very well involved in this fiasco.

And what of the crew? Did any of them even survive?

Curiosity getting the best of him, Megatron hailed the first frequency that came to mind. "Dreadwing, what is your condition?"

There was a pained groan on the other end of the commlink, but his second-in-command managed a reply, "Functional, my liege."

"Report to the bridge, immediately." Not waiting for a response, Megatron went on to the next officer. "Knock Out, what is the damage to the medbay?"

"Never mind that!" the medic retorted, his voice rising to quite a dramatic wail, "My finish! It's ruined!"

Megatron ended the transmission, determining that Knock Out was just fine. As long as the only medic in his ranks was operational. When he hailed Shockwave, the logical scientist knew what was expected.

"I am well, Lord Megatron," the mech assured.

"Good to hear, Shockwave. You are needed in the medbay. Assist Knock Out with any repairs that are required."

"As you wish."

Megatron was about to continue on to the final member of his High Command, only for the doors to the bridge to open with a hydraulic hiss. After all the excitement, he reflexively bristled, only to sigh in relief at the sight of Soundwave. His third-in-command was calm and collected as ever, like they didn't just have a near-death experience, stepping into the command center with an even stride. Megatron should have expected as much. Soundwave was perfectly capable of taking care of himself.

The Decepticon leader turned to him, asking through gritted fangs, "How did this happen?"

Soundwave only needed a moment to scan through the ship's security systems before a video played across his visor. Megatron recognized the engine room, dominated by the ship's power core. Then he saw a white figure step into frame.

The Autobot. Wheeljack.

There was a prime grenade in his servo. Optics filled with malice and wearing a maniacal grin, the Wrecker tossed it into the power core. It detonated on impact, consuming the power core in a ball of flame and smoke.

Megatron pulled his lips back in a furious snarl. So that how it was. Mirage had not come to assassinate him, but to distract him. Granting Wheeljack enough time to sabotage the ship. Now it made sense. Of course Prime would send the trigger-happy mech to destroy his ship. Wheeljack was known for blowing up several Decepticon operations. Quite literally.

Optimus must have been growing truly desperate, to resort to such drastic measures. He was even willing to endanger—

For the second time that day, Megatron's spark froze. It was then he became aware of the ache in his chassis, particularly the steady throb from his shoulder joint, wasn't his own.

Jack.

The tyrant merely wanted to teach the little brat a lesson, not to have him harmed! Poor thing must have been terrified, trapped in the dark and left alone while the world around him turned upside down and having no idea what was happening.

"Show me the boy," Megatron demanded hastily, and Soundwave did not hesitate.

His visor flickered, changing to an image of the warlord's personal quarters. There was Jack, half-curled on the massive berth. But he wasn't alone.

Megatron let out a ferocious growl at the sight of Arcee, hovering over his pet. He watched, helpless, as she whispered lies into his ear. Jack fell under her spell all too easily, letting himself be carried away as she slipped into a crevice, like some thieving rat.

That wretched femme!

Only coming for Jack whenever it was convenient for her. Or perhaps Optimus saw the boy as something else to take away from Megatron. The Prime wanted nothing more than to see his rival miserable. Megatron wouldn't allow it!

He needed to find Jack and quickly. Arcee could have used a groundbridge to escape, but Megatron was doubtful. She stole the boy merely moments before the Nemesis lost power, meaning that they would have to summon one while the ship was plummeting to the Earth. Which was impossible, without precise coordinates. The Autobots didn't have the technology sophisticated enough for that. Which meant the trespassers had to still be on the ship.

Megatron's fist slammed on the console, activating the Nemesis's intercom system.

"All crew, Autobots have infiltrated the ship! Seize the interlopers, and bring me the human unharmed!"

"He's gone again?!" Breakdown gaped. "Primus, someone's got to put a beeper on this kid!"

It was an idea Megatron would consider. Planting a tracker on the boy, so that Jack would never leave his sight.

He would not let Optimus Prime take the one he valued most.

Not a second time.

Jack flinched as Megatrom's booming voice reverberates the dark walls of the Nemesis.

"I think their onto us," he commented.

"Whatever gives you that impression?" Arcee deadpanned.

The motorcycle sped up with a sharp rev of her engine. Luckily they hadn't met much resistance during their journey through the ship's winding hallways. They encountered one patrol, but Arcee weaved through the drones' pedes before they had a chance to attack. She turned the corner, startled and baffled yelps echoing after them. Jack assumed majority of the crew was still shaken from the crash. That, and they were too preoccupied with repairs. He and Arcee had to take several detours to avoid corridors thick with black smoke. It was a miracle that the energon fuel lines hadn't combusted yet.

At long last, they came to a familiar set of doors, leading to the flight deck. Jack's heart leapt. It was a sight he would commonly see, whenever Megatron took him flying in hopes to cure the boy's depression. The memory knotted his stomach.

"Do you think he values you?"

Did he?

Even after the Autobots left their charges, Megatron had come to him. Visiting him late at night, for nearly two whole months. They would talk about nothing and everything, but Jack didn't mind, as long as he wasn't alone. Then Megatron had saved him from the clutches of MECH. He had cared for him. He did everything he could to make Jack happy.

Yet even now, the long gashes across his cheek still burned. Without a moment's hesitation, Megatron had hurt him. Jack still wasn't sure if the warlord was going to kill him, but he had seen that murderous intent in those optics.

That didn't mean he felt any safer with the Autobots. Megatron would come after him, he was sure. He always did. And every time, someone else got hurt. The 'Bots insisted that they could fend for themselves and protect him, yet how many times had he been kidnapped?

The teenager was ripped from his thoughts as Arcee suddenly slammed on her brakes. The momentum was enough to send him flying forward with a gag, but he managed to keep his hold on the handles. When he unceremoniously fell back to his seat, he looked back up. Only to blanch.

For a split moment, Jack thought it was Soundwave, due to how the dark armor almost blended perfectly into the shadows of the ship. Then he thought it was Megatron, due to the monstrous size of the figure. Then he realized it was neither. It was something worse.

Shockwave.

The scientist seemed somewhat surprised to see the pair of fugitives, his lone optic brightening and his antennas tilting back. However, he recovered from his shock quicker than they did. Like he hypothesized their intent, he shifted his weight so that his bulk expertly blocked off the exit.

"You Autobots are so predictable. There are dozens of alternative hatches throughout the ship, but the simple mind of a grounder can only identify the main hanger as means of escape."

"That's rich coming from you, Shockwave," Arcee snarled.

Recognizing the familiar turning of gears, Jack swiftly slid off the saddle, just as his guardian transformed to her full height. She fluffed out her armor and raised her wings high, trying to make herself look twice her size, and yet Shockwave still towered over her.

She refused to be intimidated, continuing to point out, "After all, aren't you a grounder?"

"I am no ordinary case."

"No, you just ripped your own spark out, all to sate your lust for knowledge!"

"Your statement is incorrect. I erased all unnecessary emotions from my hard drives, so I may carry more data for my research."

"You made yourself a monster."

Jack only stared at the interaction. The Autobots always insisted they were more than just machines, that their minds were more complex than a simple computer. Yet they never mentioned they could just delete their emotions, their personality!

"I made a small sacrifice in the name of science," Shockwave corrected again. "One, I would not hesitate to do so again. But I have not come to banter, Autobot."

At that, the mech lowered himself to one knee. He looked past Arcee so that his optic focused on Jack. A clawed servo reached out.

"Come, Jackson," Shockwave ordered. "I have yet to finish my experiments."

A shiver crawled down the boy's spine at the cold tone. He stepped back, just as Arcee moved in between him and the hulking Decepticon.

"You'll have to take him over my sparkless husk," she growled.

"So be it."

As quick as a viper, Shockwave lashed out, seizing Arcee by the throat with his single servo. She choked as she was lifted into air. She wrapped her servos around her assaulter's wrist, trying to relieve the weight on her neck as her pedes dangled above the floor. Before Jack could let out a panicked shout, Shockwave turned and flung Arcee down the hallway. She crashed into the wall with a horrible noise, sending sparks flying in every direction.

"ARCEE!"

Jack rushed forward to come to her aid, only a massive pes to slam on the ground in front of him. He reeled back as a dark shadow fell over him, looking up to see Shockwave's unblinking optics. The Decepticon leaned down again, his clawed servo extended to swallow the little human whole.

With a startled squeak, Jack spun on his heel and scurried away, like a mouse from a cat. He only made it five feet before he tripped over his own feet, falling face-first on the cold floor. The jarring impact summoned excruciating pain from his ruined shoulder, causing him to let out a strangled shout as he clutched at the limb.

Shockwave paused. Then his optic brightened.

"Foolish Autobot. You damaged him!" the scientist accused.

"That would be your Lord and Master," Arcee spat back through gritted denta.

"Your statement is illogical. Now because of your incompetence I have to delay my experiments to repair him."

Jack flinched when he suddenly felt the sharp tips of talons graze along his back. Just when he convinced himself the mad genius had a hold on him, a shriek filled the air.

"How about you cancel them instead?!"

Suddenly Arcee appeared behind Shockwave's shoulder, hovering in mid-air as she activated her arm-blades. She brought them down, burying them into the base of the extensions on the mech's back. Even though they weren't true wings like a Seeker's, they must have been sensitive, as he let out an agonized bellow.

Shockwave reached up with his servo in an attempt to pry the little Autobot off, but his frame was too large and bulky, completely inflexible. It allowed Arcee time to bore her blades into his protoform before ripping them free. With acrobatic grace, she kicked off her victim to flip through the air, landing perfectly between Shockwave and Jack.

The Decepticon growled, but the army brat wasn't sure it was from pain or growing frustration. Shockwave raised his cannon-arm as if to fire, but he must have noticed Jack was within the blast range and thought better of it, instead using it as a giant club. He swung it at Arcee, whom just managed to dodge what would have no doubt have been a brutal blow.

She countered with a roundhouse kick that usually sent drones flying, but the attack merely bounced off of Shockwave's thick armor. Unfazed, he backhanded the Autobot, sending her back into the wall. Arcee let out a grunt, which was swallowed up by the sickening crunch of her winglets. Jack watched helplessly as she slid to the floor, Shockwave looming over her. Realizing the frail human was in the clear, the mech raised his cannon once again, aiming at Arcee's helm.

"Your mission was most illogical," he droned, the barrel of his weapon illuminated by concentrated energon.

The femme only replied by baring her denta, even as the cannon's violet light illuminated her faceplates. The charge of the cannon grew louder and louder until it reached its apex. Arcee chose that moment to kick Shockwave's arm aside, just as he fired. It sent the blast into the wall, filling the entire hallway in an explosion of smoke and fire. Jack raised his arms to shield himself from the wave of heat that assaulted him. He squinted through the haze to see Arcee darting between Shockwave's legs, not without slicing her blade against a gap in his armor.

The Decepticon grunted, even swaying as his stabilizers were compromised. But he managed to correct himself, spinning around as he raised his cannon once again. Jack froze like a deer in headlights, heart retreating back into his esophagus as he looked down the barrel of the gigantic gun. Then he was ripped away from the terrifying view when Arcee's servos wrapped around his torso and plucked him from his spot.

She cleared over thirty feet in a single bound, a safe enough distance from their assaulter for her to place Jack back onto the ground. Only when he straightened, he realized they were right back where they started—Shockwave between them and the exit. Except this time he appeared far more menacing, his silhouette outlined against the smoke as his hellish optic burned through the haze, like some demonic Cyclops emerging from the Underworld.

The monster leveled his weapon once again. Jack braced, ready to flee from the deadly attack. Yet Arcee did not move. She stood her ground, glaring at Shockwave, as if in challenge. She did not even flinch as the cannon became to sing again.

"A-Arcee," Jack pried, nervously stepping away from the fearsome sight.

His guardian did not heed him. She remained as motionless as a statue, even as the hum grew in volume, just like before. Except this time, she was too far away to interfere with the shot. Allowing Shockwave to fire straight at Arcee's spark.

Time seem to slow as the bolt of energon flew towards the air.

Jack watched, helpless, mouth opening in a scream as the attack neared Arcee's chest. Just when the purple fire illuminated her cobalt armor, she leaned out of the way, raising her shifting servo in the same motion. Somehow she managed to charge a shot before her blaster even finished transforming, unleashing a bolt before Jack or even Shockwave registered the motion.

The blue energon sailed through the air, striking the scientist's sole optic.

Shockwave howled.

His servo flew up to gaping hole, cradling the bleeding wound. But he was far from defeated. With monstrous snarls, he swung his cannon back and forth, trying to find his opponent.

Arcee was hardly fazed by his furious fit, lowering her weapon with a steady glower. She wordlessly transformed into a motorcycle. Jack stared for a moment more until an impatient rev broke his trance and he hastily climbed into the saddle. He hadn't even completely settled in before she took off.

She made sure to keep a wide berth from Shockwave, slipping by him as he continued to assault empty air. His bellows echoed through the corridor. He had to make himself focus on the exit. With no other interruptions, they were outside in a matter of moments.

Jack took in a deep breath of fresh, salty air. When he did not feel the warm sun kiss his face, he looked to the sky to see a gray blanket of clouds. It made the atmosphere cooler, but not as bitter as the interior of the Nemesis. As Arcee raced down one of the ship's spines (were they bigger than usual?), Jack scanned his immediate surroundings. He saw rolling hills as far as he could see, covered in lush, green grass. He wondered where they were, but quickly concluded that they were no longer in the United States. It would make sense that Megatron would avoid the country, after he had ruthlessly murdered an entire legion of American troops.

He was brought out of his musings by a friendly honk sounding behind him. Jack glanced over his shoulder to see a white Lamborghini with red and green markings. He recognized it as Wheeljack's alt mode. Apparently Arcee did, too.

The motorcycle skidded to a stop for the second time that day. Understanding his cue, Jack slipped off, allowing her to shift back into bipedal mode. She whirled around to face Wheeljack, optics blazing. The teenager took a tentative step back. He knew that look.

Wheeljack seemed oblivious as he slowed down before transforming into his root mode, laughing casually as he sauntered over.

"Quite a rush, eh, Arcee?" he cackled.

"Not how I would describe it," the femme growled. "What were you thinking?!"

"I was just completing mission."

At Wheeljack's nonchalant drawl, Arcee's voice grew to a yell, "The mission was to sabotage the ship! Not destroy it! Your stunt nearly got us all killed!"

"Hey, we survived, didn't we? I don't see what the problem is."

"The problem is your complete lack of protocol and regard of others!"

"Ugh, your starting to sound like Ultra Magnus."

The Wrecker's flippant attitude reminded Jack when he would groan to his mom after being told to take out the trash. Arcee, meanwhile, was the exaggerated parent. If he wasn't still shaking, he would have found the argument funny. He was pulled from his musings by movement behind them, from the Nemesis. He tried to get the Cybertronians' attention.

"Um, guys…"

"Maybe that's a good thing," Arcee shot back, not hearing her charge. "Considering he actually has enough sense not to down an entire warship!"

"I get the mission done," Wheeljack retorted, an edge creeping into his voice. "No matter what."

"Right. And you leave it to others to clean up your mess!"

"Hey, guys, we have a problem!" Jack tried again, and once again he was ignored.

"We're a team, Wheeljack!" Arcee continued to rant. "We have to think about each other!"

"All a team has ever done is hold me back," the mech complained. "Alone is how I prefer to roll. I don't play well with others."

"Then why did you bother coming back?!"

"Asking myself the same question."

"GUYS!" Jack shouted.

"WHAT?!" the quarreling duo snapped as one.

Rather than explaining, the human pointed at the squadron of Vehicons racing towards their positions in vehicle mode. Judging by the speed they were going, they were probably angry. Arcee made a noise in distaste. Wheeljack looked almost relieved that he was saved from his scolding before his electric-blue eyes brightened in glee.

Without hesitation, he unsheathed his twin swords from his back as he said, "So, you want to keep talking, or you want to dance?"

"This discussion is not over," Arcee retorted, reluctantly turning towards their enemies. As she raised her arm-blades, she ordered, "Jack, go hide. Stay until—"

"It's safe, I know," the teenager finished in a groan.

He was used to the drill, by now. Every time a fight broke out, he was shoved to the side. He hated it. He hated he could only watch, as his friends got hurt. But he was a human—tiny and fragile. A Cybertronian could crush him as easily as an insect. There was no way he could step into the battle without being stepped on.

Jack noticed a single boulder a few paces away, just large enough to shield his body. He sprinted over to it, slipping behind it just as the Vehicons transformed. He dared to peek out from his hiding place, watching as Wheeljack and Arcee settled into battle stances as the Decepticons made a semi-circle around them. Hums filled the air as the drones trained their blasters on the rogue pair.

Wheeljack hardly seemed concerned, commenting, "You what I love about Vehicons?"

"They're easily distracted," Arcee answered, a smug smirk curling across her faceplates.

She placed her pes in the Wrecker's offered servo and braced herself. Then like she weighed no more than a feather, Wheeljack flung her high into the air. Like Acree predicted, nearly every Decepticon glanced up at the flying Autobot, only to be blinded by the brilliant sun behind her. Allowing Wheeljack to transform his servos into cannons and open fire.

He struck two drones in the helm, sending them crumbling to the ground. The violent crash jolted the other Vehicons into action, immediately returning fire with a volley of red energon. Wheeljack rolled out of their line of sight, all the while peppering them with shots of his own.

Meanwhile, gravity regained its hold on Acree, pulling her back down to the Earth. So focused on their new target, they did not see her until it was too late. She collided into one of drones, sending it to the ground with her momentum and crushing its helm with her pes. She then expertly rolled off of her victim, only to pounce on the nearest Vehicon. She sent a fury of attacks with her arm-blades, practically cutting the poor drone to pieces.

After that, Jack had a hard time following the two Autobots. Arcee flipped from one Decepticon to the next with dizzying acrobatics, slicing them apart. Wheeljack bulldozed his way through his enemies, pummeling them to a pulp. Yet despite their opposing fighting styles, the pair moved in perfect sync. It was like they were perfectly aware of the others' positioning, careful to never get too close or get in the way. Sometimes they would toss an unlikely victim to each other, like children playing catch with a football. Jack was beginning to understand how they survived eons of war.

But it did not mean they were untouchable.

If he had been paying closer attention, the army brat would have noticed one Vehicon sneaking up behind Arcee, blaster primed and ready. By the time he let out a shout of warning, it was too late. His partner let out a shriek of pain as a superheated bolt of energon struck her back. It was enough to send her skidding across the ground, a stream of smoke rising from her scorched plating.

"Oh, no!" Jack cried helplessly as Acree moaned into the grass, unmoving.

He wanted to run to her aid, but the distance between them was too great. Wheeljack was on the other side of the battlefield, still wrestling with a pair of drones. Noticing his fallen comrade, the mech tried to break free, but the enemy form a near-solid wall in his way. Jack could only watch as the Vehicon sauntered over to Arcee, already charging the next shot. Picking herself off the ground with a groan, the Autobot was oblivious as it took aim at the back of her helm.

It was at that moment that Jack realized his worst fear was happening before his eyes. There was no trick up her sleeve this time. His partner was going to die. He opened his mouth to let out a scream, but he never had the chance.

Without warning, high-pitched whistle filled the air, so loud and so sharp that nearly everyone present flinched. Jack glanced up just in time to see a flaming projectile streaking through the sky. Colliding against the Decepticon's chest.

The resulting explosion sent the drone away from Arcee, tearing its chassis into pieces. The debris rained down onto the ground in a shower of metal and sparks. The air was filled with several seconds of silence as fighting ceased, all eyes and optics stared at the pile of shrapnel that was once a sentient being. Acree looked over her shoulder with wide, bright optics, looking completely baffled and disbelieving.

Then a rumble of afterburners thundered from the heavens. Jack craned his neck to look up at the clouds, squinting against the grey light shining through. He didn't see anything at first, until he realized he was looking where the source of the noise was, not ahead of it. He angled his gaze and saw a dark shape against the sky.

At first he was confused at the sight of the flyer, knowing full well that Megatron wouldn't order the termination of one of his troops. It couldn't be from the military—it was all alone. There was no sign of a squadron or at least a wingman. Then who was—

The jet tilted, and then Jack recognized the bright, white plating.

"Hahaha! Skyfire!" Wheeljack laughed. "About time!"

At his shout, Skyfire began his descent. Instead of a controlled, steady spiral, he fell into a dizzying corkscrew dive. Just when Jack thought he was about to slam into the Earth, he made another spin to right himself. He cleared half a mile in seconds, transforming into his bipedal mode just as he collided into another Vehicon.

The poor Decepticon was crushed underneath his weight alone, crumbling with a sickening noise. Skyfire seemed unbothered as he expertly rolled off of his victim. His servos transformed before he even rose to his pedes—one taking shape of a sword, the other a cannon. With a single swipe of his blade, he sliced off the helm of a drone. At the exact same time, he fired his cannon straight into the spark of the another.

In mere seconds, he had cut down half of the remaining Decepticons.

Jack gawked. He had never seen an Autobot fight with such skill and precision—not even Arcee! He thought Skyfire was a mere scientist! Why did Optimus Prime never send him on the battlefield if he was this good?

"Let's finish off these fools, shall we?" Skyfire offered.

"Took the words right out of my intake," Wheeljack grinned.

Without further preamble, the Wrecker sent a sucker punch into the nearest Vehicon. The Decepticon crumpled in a heap, an ugly dent in his helm. By now, Arcee had regained herself. She raised her haunches like cat before launching herself at an unsuspecting Vehicon trooper. After deactivating it with a swift swipe of her blade, she transformed her arms into twin blasters.

As she opened fired on a new opponent, she demanded of Skyfire, "What are you doing here?"

"What? You think I actually came alone?"

At his dismissive reply, the flyer jerked a thumb behind him. Jack followed his direction, only to blink at the sight before him. Up on the far hill, outlined against the horizon was a massive vehicle. It only took the teenager two seconds to recognize the color scheme. Optimus Prime.

More vehicles appeared, each one as familiar as the first. There was Bumblebee! And Bulkhead! But it was not just Team Prime. Ironhide was with them, along with Sideswipe and Sunstreaker and Smokescreen! There were two more colorful vehicles that Jack did not recognize—another semi-truck and some sort of Jeep.

Did… did all of the Autobots come?

Not exactly, he realized, as he failed to find a white and crimson ambulance. It made sense that Ratchet stayed behind. As the Autobots' sole medic, he was too invaluable to send to the frontlines. Furthermore, the war veteran had made a comment more than once that he was too old to properly fight.

So Jack was surprised when he saw more and more and more vehicles appear on the crest of the hill, until the boy lost count in the sheer number of them all. He managed to identify them as military-grade Humvee, each filled with the brim with soldiers. There had to be at least a dozen of them!

Jack remembered what Arcee had told him: that they were launching an assault on the Nemesis. He honestly thought that entailed crashing it in hopes the Decepticons would perish, not sending in an entire army!

There was a faint whine as Skyfire neutralized the final drone, followed by Wheeljack's drawl, "About time the cavalry arrived."

Soon the growl of engines could be heard, becoming louder and louder until it became a roar. The noise became nearly deafening as the mass of vehicles came closer. One of the Humvee's passenger door swung open before it came to a proper halt.

"Jack!" Lennox exclaimed as he practically leaped out of the vehicle. He trotted over to the army brat, tentatively placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

He faltered when he noticed the red marks across Jack's cheek. There was pity in his eyes. It made the teen bristle.

"I'm fine," he replied curtly.

He shrugged off Lennox's hand and turned away so his wound was no longer in view. Last thing he needed was to be seen as some helpless child. He already had a panic attack in front of Arcee. He didn't want to have another in front of an army of strangers. Lennox must have noticed his mistake, opening his mouth to say something, only to be cut off by a sharp whistle.

"Sweet Lady Liberty!" Fowler gasped. "It's even bigger than I thought!"

The liaison stared up at the colossal warship looming over them, eyes as wide as saucers and mouth agape. Lennox turned, blinking at the sight. It took a moment for Jack to remember neither of them had seen the Nemesis in person. Built to house an army of Cybertronians, the gargantuan warship would be a sight to behold to a tiny human.

Lennox he quickly composed himself, declaring, "It might be, but it still doesn't change our mission." Then he added as he turned to his friend, "You really shouldn't be here, Bill."

"If this is the final showdown between Decepticons and Autobots, then it's my job as a representative of Earth to bear witness."

Final showdown? Did that mean…

Jack's train of thought was broken by an orchestra of shifting gears as the Autobots transformed one by one. It was revealed that the cobalt semi-truck was Ultra Magnus and Jack was surprised to see that the strange Jeep was Preceptor. What was the scientist doing here?

He expected Perceptor to be with Ratchet back at base, out of harm's way. Especially considering that research team was banned from combat, so strictly that their location was kept secret from other Autobots. It was unlike Optimus to break his own rule.

Then Jack noticed a disc-like object in Perceptor's servo. An object that made his heart freeze.

The spark extractor.

He remembered the battle in the catacombs of Paris, fighting to claim the device. He remembered Ravage and Ratbat's fear when the teenager merely waved it at them. Though crafted by Zeta Prime, the Decepticons knew what the wicked weapon was capable of. It could rip out their sparks with a single pulse of raw energy.

If it was here, alongside the entire military might of NEST, then…

The grave look in Optimus's optics confirmed his suspicion.

Jack turned to him, murmuring, "You're going to use the spark extractor on the 'Cons, aren't you?"

It was more of an observation than a question. The Autobot leader closed in optics for just a moment, but it was hard to read his emotion. Resolution? Remorse? Indifference? Jack didn't know, but he felt a chill crawl up his spine when that icy-blue gaze settled on him.

"Yes," the Prime rumbled. "While I am deeply reluctant to deploy a weapon of this caliber, this may be our only chance to end the war… once and for all."