A red-haired girl sighed, closing her reddish-brown eyes and sitting back.

"Another day, another town with zero tells," she murmured. "No adoption forms which coincided with odd atmospheric events, no reports of weird events surrounding a single individual, no Energon readings..." She opened her eyes. "Bumblebee, we know that Megatron was hunting techno-organics after Detroit. What if Jenna and I were the last ones left? What if-?"

"Hey." The wheel of her car lit up as a male voice spoke, and the car pulled over at the side of the road without her intervention. "Don't talk like that, okay? That's not the Sari I know."

"Hm." Sari gave a small, sad smile. "Sorry, 'Bee. I guess I'm just tired."

"You don't have to say 'sorry'," the young warrior told her. "I know this is hard on you. It'll happen, okay?"

"Not like she did."

"Yeah, well..." Bumblebee gave a quiet chuckle. "Given how she nearly died in a Decepticon citadel, I certainly hope not. But she definitely knew how to make an entrance... What about those online leads?"

Sari opened her backpack and drew a laptop, opening it and bringing up a chatroom. "Nothing solid. They have no reason to trust me because I have no reason to trust them with anything more than vague questions and even more-vague responses." She sighed, grabbing the top of her laptop. "Our best chance is to keep looking and hope we stumble onto-" She blinked. "Hold the phone."

"What is it?"

"Listen to this." Sari released her laptop and gazed at the screen intently. "Would any of this 'weird stuff' you're looking for have to do with glowing eyes? That question came in from a user named MikkiDucati217."

"That might be something."

"Yeah." Sari's hands flew to the keyboard, her eyes narrowing. "Maybe."

...

BumblebeeKey143: That depends, Mikki. What kind of glowing eyes?

MikkiDucati217: On a person. Like, one day, their eyes were just different.

BumblebeeKey143: Was it after their eighteenth birthday or a moment of high stress?

MikkiDucati217: High stress. The glow can be hidden under contacts and sunglasses.

BumblebeeKey143: Wouldn't that look suspicious?

MikkiDucati217: Not always.

BumblebeeKey143: Why not?

MikkiDucati217: Six months ago, I couldn't see.

...

Sari froze, her eyes widening as her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

"Oh, shoot."

...

MikkiDucati217: When I was eight, I was blinded in the car accident that killed my mom.

MikkiDucati217: Six months ago, something happened. I got upset I did things I shouldn't have been able to do.

MikkiDucati217: Now, I can see. Not like I used to, though. It's complicated. And weirdly enough, that's not even the weird part.

MikkiDucati217: Can you tell me what's happening to me?

...

Sari blinked, then her expression softened.

The keys of the keyboard clicked.

...

BumblebeeKey143: Yes, I can.

BumblebeeKey143: You are not alone.

...

And just like that, five different group-chats opened on Sari's profile and users began describing their experiences.

Sari's eyes widened, then her face lit up. "Bumblebee, I think we've got something!"

"I was about to say the same thing," Bumblebee said, and she blinked. "I think we're getting a long-range comm."

"Cybertron?"

"Yeah."

"Well, let's hear it!"

:Sari, Bumblebee,: Optimus Prime's voice spoke through the speakers. :It has been some time. How fares your mission?:

"We might've just made a breakthrough, actually," Sari replied, but her smile had slipped away. "What's the matter, big guy? You sound exhausted."

:Much has happened since you two have been away,: the Prime confessed. :And... I fear I have something to ask of you.:

"Optimus," Bumblebee chided. "You never have to be afraid to ask us for anything."

Sari nodded in agreement. "Yeah, big guy. Whatever you need, we're on it."

:Your mission-:

"Is still in the communications phase," Sari cut in, closing her laptop. There was a pang in her spark, but if her family needed her, this had to wait. "I can maintain it wherever, so don't even worry. What's going on, Optimus?"

:... Starscream is on the move, and he may be trying to organize a new movement and stage a coup,: Optimus said, and Bumblebee's engine stuttered as Sari's eyes widened. :And... Wheeljack's condition is deteriorating, again.: He sighed. :Believe me, I would not call unless-:

"Send a bridge, Optimus," Bumblebee said, and Sari reached up to her face. "We're coming to Cybertron."

Sari lowered one of her hands to set one of her custom contact-lenses aside, looking up as her exposed left optic narrowed.


/\


When Sari and Bumblebee passed through the ground-bridge, Sari decided to try and dispel some of the tension.

"What's up, losers?" The armored girl asked, striding across the otherwise empty main hall of the Iacon Hall of Records to face the majority of the old Team Prime, and she gestured to Optimus with as genuine of a grin as she could manage beneath her helmet, hoping that it carried to her voice. "What do we have to do to get this guy some sleep?"

"Hm." Optimus produced a small smile of his own in spite of the weight on his rotator-cups and the sadness in his optics. "Sari, Bumblebee... It is good to see you both. I only wish that the circumstances were better."

"Oh, boy," Bumblebee murmured as Bulkhead walked past with Ratchet by his side, the green Wrecker carrying a familiar figure in his arms as he and the medic made their way towards the infirmary. "Wheeljack."

"Wow," Sari agreed, her optics wide as she gazed at the unconscious Autobot. "When you said 'deteriorating'-..."

Bulkhead looked at the techno-organic, frowning. "Yeah."

"What did it?" Bumblebee asked, he and Sari starting to walk with Bulkhead, Ratchet, and the rest of the team towards the infirmary.

"Field trip to old stomping grounds," Arcee replied, crossing her arms. "We pushed him."

Sari sighed. "We can't baby him forever."

"Yeah?" Bulkhead's optics narrowed. "This is what not-babying did!"

"... What's the plan, then?" Bumblebee asked quietly, picking Sari up and setting her on his rotator-cup. "What do we do, just-..?" He glanced at Wheeljack, his expression grim, then he looked at Optimus. "You mentioned a coup. Do we handle that first, and-?"

Optimus shook his helm. "No."

"What?" Sari questioned the Prime, surprised.

"We will continue our observances for Starscream and any potential followers as planned," Optimus told the two new arrivals from Earth. "And I will ask you two to remain here to provide additional, subtle security... But right now, I wish to direct my personal focus upon making this right." The Prime looked at Wheeljack as they arrived at the infirmary, his expression falling to become forlorn. "The war is over. I will not allow it to claim anyone else."

"... Optimus, there's somethin' you should know," Bulkhead said quietly as he set Wheeljack down on a medical berth. "On the Jackhammer, where we found 'Jackie, there was a video playin'."

"A video?" A voice asked, and Bumblebee and Sari glanced at the source. It was an Autobot they had not noticed before, a rough-looking yellow and green mech holding a pair of broken goggles. "What of, Bulk?"

"The-... The kiddo," Bulkhead admitted, and everyone tensed. "I think Jenna left messages—mostly old videos—but... I can't help but wonder of one of 'em might tell us somethin'."

Elita-1 raised an optic-brow. "Like what?"

"Jenna knew Wheeljack," Bulkhead insisted as Knockout walked over to the medical berth and started working on his friend. "I hate to admit it, but she knew him better than any of us before the end... What if she left us somethin' we could use to help him?"

"You think she'd plan ahead like that?" Smokescreen crossed his arms, frowning.

Ultra Magnus looked down. "She did have months in advance to plan for her demise. It is possible that she could have prepared in ways that we are unaware of."

"And we wouldn't have found them, even after a year?" Ratchet questioned his teammates.

Bumblebee sighed. "Well, we... weren't exactly looking."

"... You can look, now," Knockout said, and everyone looked at him. "I have this handled." He gestured to Wheeljack with his helm. "You go and examine his ship, while he is still out of it. Try and come up with some sort of plan, while you're at it."

"I don't like the idea of leavin' 'Jackie alone," the yellow and green mech quickly protested.

Knockout sighed. "Soundwave should be here shortly. I'm certain that we will be more than capable of watching over-" He blinked, then he looked down and shifted uncomfortably in place, giving an awkward smile. "Oh. Yes. Right..."

"Hmph." Ratchet's optics narrowed. "Springer, I assure you that Knockout means no harm. If he had intended any, I guarantee that he would have had much better opportunities over the last year than this one."

"You really expect me to just up and trust a 'Con, after everythin' they've done?" Springer scoffed. "Yeah, no. You go watch your videos. I'm stayin' here."

"... No, you aren't," Ultra Magnus decided, and Springer blinked. "You don't have to follow us, but you are not staying in this infirmary—not unless Soundwave arrives before we leave."

"What?" Springer's optics narrowed. "So, I'll be outnumbered when they turn?"

"I'm not worried about them turning," Ultra Magnus stated coldly. "I didn't watch them betray the trust of their friend, today."

Springer blinked, then his face fell. "I was just tryin' to-..." He looked down, then he sighed and closed his optics. "... Fine." He looked at Knockout, his optics narrowed. "One scratch on 'Jackie, and you'll wish you were never protoformed."

"Been there, done that. Happy hunting," Knockout drawled, picking up a scanner, then he frowned. "Oh, and... Prime?"

Optimus, who had been leading the walk out of the infirmary, paused and looked back. "Yes?"

"Hm." The crimson medic looked at him. "If you do find anything, just... remember what we discussed, will you?" He turned his gaze to Ultra Magnus and gave a nod of thanks. "Good luck."

Ultra Magnus returned the nod, then he kept his gaze on Springer as the former leader of the Wreckers left the room.

Soundwave was just arriving, and he gave a polite nod as he passed Springer before looking at Knockout.

"I'm going to need to ask you a favor," Knockout said quietly, lowering his scanner after finishing a thorough scan of Wheeljack, and Soundwave nodded. "As soon as they're back and Prime is secure, I need you to go to Wheeljack's apartment. We need to clear out any stash of high-grade he may have there, immediately."

"Status: unwell?" Soundwave questioned his ally, and Knockout held up the scanner for him to see. "The -Wheeljack- must -not- be destroyed."

"Agreed," Knockout affirmed, frowning.

The Autobots had all paused briefly to watch this, then Ratchet closed the door and left the two former Decepticons with Wheeljack.

"... Pit." Springer sighed, closing his optics, then he opened them again and looked at the others. "So..." He gestured to Sari. "Anyone gonna tell me what that is?"

"I'm not a that, I'm a she." Sari huffed, crossing her arms, then she deactivated her helmet and frowned at Springer. "And I'm a human techno-organic. My name is Sari Sumdac."

"A human techno-organic?" Springer walked over immediately, his optics wide. "You're what that Jenna kid was. Wheeljack's partner... Whoa." He tilted his helm. "You're just a little thing, huh? And real young..." His expression softened. "Oh, Pit... She was your age?"

"Younger, really," Sari admitted quietly. "I stopped aging after I realized what I was, and that was years ago. She only learned what she was-..." The techno-organic in orange looked down, then she looked up at Springer with a frown. "She was eighteen."

"Million? Geesh."

"No."

Springer blinked. "Thousand?"

"No."

"... Hundred?"

"No." Sari shook her head. "Her protoform was probably older than the war, or who even knows? But..." She closed her optics, then she looked up at Springer again. "She was eighteen years-old."

"Oh." Springer just looked at her, stunned, then he closed his optics. "Eighteen... Son of a-..."

"... Let's go," Bulkhead said quietly, then he turned and started walking, the others following him.

Springer hesitated, then he joined them, lagging behind so as not to overstep what was probably a very reluctant welcome.


The Jackhammer was a small ship, so it took some maneuvering before everyone was able to settle down with a view of the screen both inside and outside of the ship.

Arcee, Ratchet, Smokescreen, Bumblebee, Sari, and Elita-1 were able to squeeze inside without obstructing the view to the rest, who had to make do with their view from outside.

"Okay," Arcee spoke as she brought up a menu screen, her optics narrowed. "I'm Jenna, and I'm trying to leave a message. I've left a bunch right where Wheeljack can find them, but maybe there's one I don't want him to find. Maybe there's one that someone's meant to come looking for..."

"... Left," Optimus noted, and everyone looked at him. "Jenna was ambidextrous, but she still tended to favor her right hand over her left when she had to choose between them." He looked up, frowning. "The day she became one with the Allspark, she favored her left hand. She made certain that I saw it."

"Okay, so..." Arcee looked at the screen. "Left side, maybe? Something hidden?"

"If those last few minutes were hints..." Sari looked down, then she looked up and blinked. "Her optics. She kept opening and closing them so much, it was almost kinda weird."

"Okay, left optic," Arcee decided, and she clicked the Autobot emblem's left optic.

The emblem's optics suddenly snapped shut, and the screen went black. Then, an image appeared.

:I was wondering when you guys might show,: a voice spoke, and all optics widened as a bitter chuckle rang out. :God, if Wheeljack's the one who found this, this is gonna be pretty awkward... but I'm gonna count on movie-logic bullshit and assume that you losers can take a fucking hint.: Jenna Darby raised a hand, closing her optics and smiling awkwardly. :So, hello! Jenna, here!:

"Oh, Primus." Elita-1 raised a servo to her mouth, stunned. "She actually planned ahead."

:If you guys are watching this, it means that things have gotten so bad that you did some digging and eventually came looking for help,: the techno-organic in blue began. :You'd have to be grasping at straws to pick up on all of the hints I'm gonna try and drop. That's the whole point.: She took a deep breath. :That's why I made this video so hard to find...

I didn't want you to find me unless you really needed me.: She crossed her arms. :Fact is, I'm dead. You have to handle these things without me, now...: She gave a small, sad smile. :But you idiots are still family, and odds are that you're only looking for me because you're trying to do the one big thing I asked of you, so... I guess I can leave behind a few cheats, for old time's sake.:

"Heh." Sari's optics were shining as she shook her head. "You jerk..."

:... Wheeljack's not doing good,: Jenna decided, her smile slipping into a grim frown. :And by 'not doing good', I mean that my dumbass is in trouble.: She deadpanned. :First off: you assholes had one job.: She held up an index finger. :Just the one.:

Bumblebee winced. "Ouch."

:Second off...: Jenna sighed, looking away. :You know that I wouldn't have made this video if I hadn't seen this coming.:

"Called it," Bulkhead said, perking up. "Come on, kiddo."

:I know my partner,: Jenna said, closing her optics. :I know that, when someone he loves is in trouble, that guy will move Heaven and Earth to try and make it right.: She crossed her arms again, her fingers digging into the gaps between her armor plates. :And if he can't make it right and you don't know how to handle him... he'll start destroying himself.: She shook her head, her messy brown and blue hair shifting around her. :That's just how 'Jackie is, guys. It's awful, but that's our boy.:

Springer gazed at the girl on the screen, completely transfixed, and Ultra Magnus glanced at him before looking back at the video. "Hm."

:And now, I'm gonna give you guys your mission again—up-front and zero-sugar coating,: Jenna stated, then she opened her optics and looked forward with a serious face. :Save him.: She shook her head. :Save him, guys, because...: She turned to face the camera, her hands falling to her sides. :I'm not gonna be able to, anymore.: She looked down, her fists clenching, then she closed her optics. :The truth is, I don't know if I'm gonna get to stay in the Well once my job is through. Primus wouldn't tell me.: Her fists fell open. :So... you really can't count on me to come and help 'Jackie. Not this time.:

Optimus's optics widened. "What?"

:I'm gone,: Jenna pressed. :It's up to you, now. Wheeljack is counting on you.: She raised a hand to her spark. :We both are.:

"Oh, kiddo..." Bulkhead gazed at the screen forlornly.

:So... I'm gonna tell you what to do,: Jenna said, righting herself and letting her hand drop. :I'm gonna teach you how to save my partner, and you better listen.: Her optics narrowed. :If you fuck this up and he goes to the Well before his time, you better hope I'm not there.: She raised an eyebrow. :Got it?:

Springer managed a smile. "I like her."

"Heh." Smokescreen looked at the old Wrecker, shaking his helm. "She was something else, that's for sure."

:Hm.: Jenna failed to maintain her serious expression and relaxed into something softer—still sad, but just that. :Okay. The first thing you need to know is that... Wheeljack is fucking terrified of vulnerability.: She shook her head. :Trust me on this, guys. You will not get him to open up by battering him and confronting him, 'cause he does not do well under pressure—especially when that pressure comes from someone he cares about and he feels like he's upset or disappointed them. You will make him have some sort of episode, which is... not good.:

"Now, she tells us," Springer tried to joke, but everyone just shot a brief look of annoyance at him before turning their attention back to the screen.

:The only way to make Wheeljack open up is by making yourself vulnerable first,: Jenna continued. :When Wheeljack and I got close, it was while I was at my lowest. He opened up to help me.: She shifted in place, taking a deep breath. :So, if you're going to save him... Hello, Sherlock reference... You're probably gonna have to make him save you first.:

"... What?" Ratchet asked, perplexed.

:Wheeljack doesn't know how to put himself first.: Jenna glanced to the side, her optics going half-lidded as she seemed to slip into her thoughts. :Not how you think. It's difficult to try and explain... See, you guys look at him sometimes like he's this selfish loner, but you've got it all wrong. He always kept his distance before because... he was scared. Once he starts caring about someone, he becomes attached and loyal to the point where it's frightening.

You saw all of the shit I put him through.: She looked forward again, her expression forlorn. :He should've ditched my ass a thousand times, and he would have had every right... but that's not 'Jackie. He's moody and difficult and he's terrified of commitment, but he's also emotional and kind and he does get committed and he can't and won't get out once he's in.: She shrugged. :He can't help it.

As much as he tries to act the part he knows everyone sees him playing, as much as he says 'alone is a lot less complicated'... Wheeljack really, really hates being alone, guys.: Jenna closed her optics. :I think he's got history, stuff he won't even tell me, stuff from before he left Cybertron and even before he left the Wreckersbut even if it was only those things... he's spent too much time alone, and I don't think he can stand it like he pretends to.

That's why he brought me with him, that day. I know it is.: She opened her optics, giving a small smile. :I think, somehow, he must've realized I was lonely too... and as much as it scared him, he took a chance on me.: The techno-organic gave a soft laugh. :I'll never stop being amazed by how brave my partner can be, or how reckless. I mean, come on... I'm kind of an idiot.: Her expression softened again. :But that's where that kindness comes in...

Once he cares about you, 'Jackie will never give up on you, no matter how much you hurt himhowever you hurt him, physical or emotional—and he's smart enough to realize that, and smart enough to be scared of it.: Jenna looked down again. :I mean, this is the guy who never stopped believing Bulkhead would heal up to perfection after his nervous system got shot and sat by my bedside for over a month. That's incredible, but it's also pretty terrifying. It all turned out, but... you've gotta wonder how long he would've gone on like that.:

Springer blinked, surprised. "Huh."

The green and yellow Wrecker glanced around, and he saw the others' expressions.

He saw confused expressions slip into wide-opticed disbelief before falling into dismay and forlornness—all at their own pace, but one-by-one all the same. All of them, all of the others, they all seemed to be coming to the same conclusion.

"... She knew," Ultra Magnus murmured. "She knew we would need her help to figure this out in time."

"Then, why didn't she tell us in-person?" Smokescreen wondered. "She had months."

Bumblebee sighed. "Didn't you hear her, at the Well? She thought she had more time."

"These are last-minute preparations," Sari realized. "But... just how last-minute? When did she do all of this?"

:There's more you should know,: Jenna went on, regaining their attention. :He-... He has nightmares, sometimes. I used to think they were about the war.: She shook her head. :No. There's something he won't talk about, something that makes his voice sound so small when he cries out—'Don't hurt them, please'. I think it's old, before he was a Wrecker.: She closed her optics. :Whatever it is, I'm not telling you to find out what it is. I'm just suggesting that it might explain why he's hidden so much, and why he's still hiding things. He's lost before, a lot... I think it's where a lot of that fear comes from.

The other big one...: The techno-organic opened her optics. :He told me about it once, and only once. It's not a night I like to remember, but... it was while we were on the road, and we'd pulled over for the night. I got woken up suddenly, 'cause he just transformed and dumped me out and fell to the ground and... he looked scared, and sadlike he wanted to cry but wouldn't let himself.: She sighed, her shoulders slumping. :It was the day he left them, the Wreckers.

And it's his biggest regret, especially now that he and Ultra Magnus are okay.: She shook her head again. :But he was miserable, and he was tired of having to be something he's not—not just for Ultra Magnus, but all of them... but he still wishes he stayed, 'cause he thinks what he needed shouldn't have mattered.: She looked away. :He blames himself for everything that happened to them after he left, for the scattering and the deaths. I almost think that's why he goes for revenge so often—so he can go after someone else, blame someone else...

But once it's over, he still ends up blaming himself. He blamed himself for Bulkhead.: Jenna looked at the camera again. :He blamed himself for me... God knows how much Energon he thinks he has on his hands.: She bit her lower lip, then she sighed. :God knows he's gonna blame himself for me... and that's my biggest regret.: She closed her optics. :So, you guys better fucking be paying attention so that you can fix this... please.:

"Oh, no." Optimus gazed at the screen, absolutely devastated.

Ultra Magnus placed a servo on the Prime's rotator-cup. "She's giving us vital intelligence. We'll be able to do something... I know we will."

:So... that's 'Jackie.: Jenna pulled herself together enough to look up, her optics a bit glassy. :He'll never be the one to reach out unless he thinks that the other person's the one who needs to be pulled from the water, even though he's drowning. So, guys...: She took a deep breath. :I need you to fake a cramp and start to sink, maybe flail a bit for theatrics, and then I need you to grab that self-sacrificing little shit and haul him out of the drink.:

Springer managed a new smile, shaking his helm. "This kid..."

:I need you to do that for me,: Jenna pressed, then she blinked. :Oh, and... I need to do this.: She managed a weak smile. :Arcee.: Everyone blinked, surprised. :Thanks, for looking after my family. I know we were never too close, but... I've always thought of you as the second adopted Darby. Welcome to the family. You fit right in with the rest of us emo losers and mom-friends.: The girl hugged hersle a bit. :Just... hang in there, 'Cee. Things will get better. I... have something in store for you, if Primus keeps his word.:

Arcee stared at the scree, stunned. "What?"

:Bumblebee,: Jenna went on, then she snorted. :I'm glad you didn't die on the Nemesis, loser. Or the day we met... You're a Hell of a leader, Stripes. Keep up the good work.: Her shoulders slumped again as she relaxed. :And say 'hi' to Raf for me, and bring him souvenirs from your adventures. He likes that.:

"She's... saying 'goodbye'," Bumblebee realized, astonished.

:Bulkhead.: Jenna let her hands fall and rest on her hips. :I know you couldn't have exactly been thrilled when Wheeljack told you he wanted me in the Wreckers, but... you always seemed cool and accepting of me anyway. Thank you, for that.: Her optics were shining. :Look after our boy for me, okay? And tell Miko not to worry. When I see Primus, he's gonna know who sent me. Call it spite, or... pride in my sister.:

Bulkhead looked ready to cry. "Kiddo..."

:Ratchet.: Jenna paused, then she smirked. :Doc.: She raised both eyebrows. :Sunshine..~!: She broke off into a weak chuckle, then calmed herself. :Heh... Thanks, for those first few weeks at base. You were the closest thing I had to a guardian before Wheeljack showed, and you were there for me on the phone when that 'Con had me and-... Hm.: Her expression became soft but fond. :Don't think I didn't notice you trying to help me during the phony's infiltration, way back when. Big softy... You don't have to be afraid of showing people you care, y'know? It's the best side of you, Ratchet. Remember to take care of yourself, and let everyone take care of you. You deserve it. Hang in there.:

"Oh." Ratchet stared at the screen, then his expression fell and he closed his optics, raising a servo to his face. "Oh..."

:Smokescreen!: Jenna perked up, grinning. :My favorite dipshit!: She pointed, smirking. :Make good choices. Don't get yourself killed.: She lowered her finger, growing a bit serious. :You surprised me. You grew up. Keep moving forward, and don't be afraid of responsibility... but don't lose the kid in you, okay?: Her grin returned. :War's ending. It's gonna be okay. You don't have to grow up too fast. Not anymore.:

Smokescreen blinked, his door-wings bouncing a bit, then he gave a small smile. "Aw."

:Lupa, Leona.: Jenna tilted her head, crossing her arms again. :You guys are 'Bots. Stick with the team. They'll look after you if you look after them. That's family, for you.:

"... Backstory?" Springer asked, confused.

Bulkhead waved him off. "Later."

:Elita,: Jenna went on. :When we first met, you were miserable and alone. I hope that I managed to make sure you never had to feel that way ever again.: She gave a small smirk. :Keep the baby names I came up with in mind, m'kay? Just think about it.: She gave a small laugh. :Come on, 'Parker' is adorable! And a reference! References are cool.:

Elita-1 crossed her arms and shook her helm, smiling. "Hm."

:... My mom had to raise Jack and I alone. I saw how hard that was on her and on Jack,: Jenna admitted, kicking a foot at nothing as she rested her hands on her belt and tucked her thumbs beneath it. :I didn't care that I didn't have a dad, I was just grateful to have them... but I saw it.: She looked up, frowning. :Optimus.:

"Mmph." Optimus looked like he was in pain as his name was spoken, but the screen had his full attention.

:You take care of your family, and the team, and yourself,: Jenna instructed, then she smiled. :You can do this. I know you can.: She shook her head. :But please, don't try to do it alone. It'll be too much, even for you.: She stood up a bit straighter. :So, um... To make things a little easier, I'm just gonna remind you not to blame yourself for what's gonna happen to me. I made my choice.:

Optimus's optics widened. "Jenna."

:I made my choice, and I don't regret it,: Jenna insisted. :I'm scared, but I'm going to do this. I'm going to do it... because I have faith that, after I'm gone, you guys will be okay.: She paused, then she snorted and gave a weak grin. :Eventually. Wheeljack's apparently in trouble, after all. Get on that, Prime, or your ass is SO haunted.:

"I-..." Optimus just stared at the screen for a moment, then he actually managed a frail smile. "Hm."

:Hey, Sari?: Jenna tilted her head, raising an eyebrow, then she smiled. :It's gonna be okay, okay? I know it's gonna be hard, but you've gotta have faith that you and I are not alone. You're gonna find more of us, and you're gonna take care of them just like you took care of me.: She closed her optics, beaming as her shoulders raised slightly. :Thank you for everything, Sari.:

Sari's optics teared up a bit. "Jenna..."

:Ultra Magnus.: Jenna opened her optics. :I'm gonna find a way to talk to you, before I go. I know I will. There's a lot I have to say, and... aside from Wheeljack, you're probably the Autobot I trust the most.: She shrugged her shoulders. :I never expected that, and I bet you'll be surprised, but... it's the truth.: She gave a small smile. :It's the truth, and... it really makes me wish I hadn't always been such a pain... but I was always genuine, Ultra Magnus.: She winked. :That much, you can always be sure of.: She hesitated, then she stood up straight and saluted. :Sir.:

Bulhead glanced at the commander. "Ultra Magnus?"

"I'm alright," the hammer-wielding mech insisted, but his voice was hoarse.

:Hm.: Jenna crossed her arms, looking away again. :I left a 'goodbye' for Mom, Jack, Miko, Raf, and Agent Fowler back home. If they haven't found it yet, please tell them that it's in my desk in my room. It's important.:

Arcee blinked. "... Have they ever mentioned-?"

"No." Bumblebee shook his helm.

Ratchet's optics widened. "By the Allspark."

:So... I bet you're wondering,: Jenna went on, wiping her optics with her arm. :'Jenna, since you are so wise and all-knowing, how can we make Wheeljack think that he has to save us so that we can save him? Well... it depends on your definition of 'save'.: Jenna snorted quietly. :War's over—and unless you've screwed-up real bad, it's not like you can just wait for a crisis to damsel yourselves into.:

Bulkhead glanced at Optimus, smiling awkwardly. "Heh..."

:That means we have to do this my way,: Jenna said, the she pointed. :But y'all are emotionally constipated, so we have to try and find a way to cripple you enough to make you vulnerable.: She gave a devious smirk. :Good news is, I think I have a few plans.:

Smokescreen cringed. "Oh, no."

:Plan A: trigger Arcee,: Jenna began, though she was clearly joking. :Have her talk about partners. Miko says it works wonders.:

The blue and pink femme scoffed. "Hey!"

:Plan B: intervention,: Jenna suggested. :Group up, non-confrontationally bombard him with all of your heartfelt emotions, and force him to crack and give something back. He'll hate it, but it might get him going. He believes in reciprocity, and he won't shut down if he believes you're hurting—not upset, not disappointed—because of him.:

Ratchet blinked. "That's... not a terrible idea."

:Plan C.: Jenna paused, then she sighed. :This is the weird one, but... I have a bad feeling. I don't know why, but there's something just not right with all of this vagueness and secrecy, and... I need to make sure that it's put right, so why not kill two birds with one stone?

If Primus hasn't kept up his end of the deal at this point, it might be time to force him to.: Her optics narrowed. :I can guarantee that the results will cause some SERIOUS emotional breakthroughs... Go to the Well. Hold Primus accountable. If all else fails...: She gave a small smirk. :Hm. Hopefully, I will be in there. And I might just take matters into my own hands.:

Sari became confused. "What is she talking about?"

"I am not sure," Optimus admitted, frowning.

:... I have to go, now,: Jenna said quietly, and everyone went tense. :I want to try and ask Primus about my fate, one last time. I want to know where I'm going. I want to know if I'll see you guys again.: She looked down. :I hope I will... but I only need you to save 'Jackie, so just worry about that.: She looked up, giving a tired grin. :Do that for me, okay?:

Ultra Magnus blinked, then he sighed. "Jenna..."

:Hm.: Jenna glanced to the side again. :Nighttime on Cybertron is beautiful. I wish I could see this planet restored, humming with life... but something has to happen before that, and that something is me.: She looked forward, shrugging. :Go figure.: The girl broke into a nervous chuckle, shaking her head. :Sorry, sorry... I owe you all so much better than that. Good last words, good last words... Hm.: Jenna looked up, smiling softly. :I'll see you in the morning, okay? Good night, guys.:

The screen went dark, then the video title-screen returned and the Autobot emblem opened its optics.

Silence fell as Arcee turned off the monitor, her servo trembling as she pulled it back.

"... Good night, soldier," Ultra Magnus murmured, and the others looked at him in surprise before looking back at the screen.

Ratchet maintained his composure for about ten more seconds before he began blinking rapidly and covered his optics with a servo, bowing his helm as his rotator-cups trembled, and Sari covered her mouth with her hands as she began to sniffle.

Bumblebee cupped a servo around Sari, and he placed his other servo on one of Ratchet's rotator-cups, trying to put on a brave face.

Optimus leaned against the Jackhammer, barely able to stay standing as grief overwhelmed him, but Bulkhead grabbed the Prime's servo and gripped it.

Optimus looked at the green Wrecker, surprised, and Bulkhead gave a solemn nod. "You heard her, Prime. If you can't believe any of us, believe her... It was not your fault, okay?"

"... No," Optimus said, shaking his helm. "It is not... okay."

Smokescreen gazed at the screen sadly, crossing his arms as his door-wings drooped. "She's just... gone, again."

"Like... really gone," Springer noted, frowning. "Kid might not even be in the Well."

"... I know what to do," Elita-1 decided, and everyone looked at her. "We're killing a lot more than two birds with one stone." She raised a servo to her spark. "It's just about time, anyway..." She looked at Optimus, frowning. "Whatever the deal was, Jenna obviously believed we would know it when we saw it. It isn't here, yet... So, tomorrow, I want us to hold an intervention for Wheeljack—and then, I want him to come with us to the Core."

"To get your newspark, and... face Primus," Ratchet realized, lowering his servo to look up, his glassy optics wide. "But Wheeljack very well may do something rash."

"I know," Elita-1 said, then her optics narrowed. "That's what I'm counting on. He's going to hold Primus accountable, make him fulfill the deal he made with Jenna, and get the closure he needs... Tomorrow, we're going to find out what's become of the spark of Jenna Darby."


On the way back towards Optimus's office to begin planning, Bulkhead seemed to grow more and more tense.

Ultra Magnus noticed, and he eventually addressed the problem. "Soldier?"

"... Guys?" Bulkhead spoke up, stopping in his tracks, and everyone paused and looked at him. "If-... If we're gonna do this to 'Jackie, there-..." The green Wrecker looked down, shifting uncomfortably. "You see, um..."

"What is it, Bulkhead?" Optimus asked, frowning.

"There's something you need to know," Bulkhead murmured, closing his optics. "I already told Ratchet, Ultra Magnus, and Springer some of it." The three named mechs' faces lit up in recognition. "I promised I wouldn't tell, but..." He opened his optics and looked up, sighing. "... Wheeljack's worse-off than you know."

"What do you mean?" Smokescreen questioned him, growing worried.

Bulkhead looked down, then he looked up again. "There have been a few... incidents."


/\/\/\/\


When Wheeljack woke up, his processor was killing him.

"Ugh..."

"Oh, be quiet. It should be a lot worse," a voice scolded him, and Wheeljack opened his optics and blinked. He immediately regretted the decision, as the light surrounding him sent a searing pain through his optics and into his already-aching processor, and he quickly raised his servo to his face to block it out. "Hmph. Serves you right, worrying everyone like that."

"What the-..?"

"Just a heads-up: they were planning for hours last night, and you are not going to like what they have in store for you," the voice stated, and when Wheeljack lowered his servo, Knockout was smirking at him. "But it's what you deserve, so have fun with that."

"You're the worst." Wheeljack sighed, sitting up. "And still fraggin' evil."

Knockout hummed, grabbing a tube which was attached to Wheeljack's arm and pulling it free. "Mmhm. Yes, yes." He welded the detachment-point shut. "Evil." He used a tool to sand the weld-spot down. "Worst of the worst. Irredeemable." He sprayed white paint over the spot, watched it dry, then buffed the finish until Wheeljack's arm was good as new. "Spot-on observation."

"What was that?" Wheeljack asked, raising an optic-brow. "And why-?"

"I took the liberty of reducing the high-grade concentration in your systems forcibly rather than allowing it to burn off on its own," Knockout informed him, and Wheeljack blinked. "That's why you're not currently still dead to the universe."

"Oh, uh... Thanks."

"Still evil, though." Knockout chuckled, offering a servo, and Wheeljack took it and let Knockout help in sit up. The Wrecker cringed, raising a servo to his helm, and Knockout frowned. "Easy. You should take things slowly, today."

"Yeah, yeah. Sure." Wheeljack huffed, then he sighed. "Sorry, 'bout what I said."

"We've all been where you are." Knockout informed Wheeljack, giving a sad smile. "Between us... I know that, if I could have gotten away with this much after I lost my partner without ending up just like him, I would have likely been the same way."

"Your partner?" Wheeljack raised an optic-brow, then he blinked. "Breakdown." Knockout nodded. "Um... Can I ask what-?"

"I would tell you the story, but I wouldn't recommend that you hear it now," the crimson medic said softly. "You've already got a processor-ache. Best not to add in nausea, yes?"

Wheeljack's expression softened. "That bad, huh?"

"Yes... That bad."


Soundwave eventually entered the infirmary and gave a silent nod which Knockout returned, and the medic ended up helping Wheeljack to his peds and escorting him out of the room and towards Optimus's office.

"Gee, am I gonna get a detention?" Wheeljack drawled as they approached the door, his arm around Knockout's rotator-cups and Soundwave at his other side. "Gettin' escorted by the nurse and the hall monitor ain't exactly encouragin'."

"Hm." Knockout rolled his optics, smirking. "Remember when we used to intimidate each other? Those were the days..."

Wheeljack snorted. "Each other? Speak for yourself, Country Roads."

"SHE TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT?!" Knockout shrieked, his optics wide, and Wheeljack chuckled. Then, they both blinked and Wheeljack looked away, but Knockout hummed quietly. "Hm... Those were the days." Wheeljack looked back at the medic, finding him smiling, and Knokcout gave a nod of approval. "That girl enjoyed her jokes, didn't she? She would be happy to know that she's still making you laugh, so don't be ashamed of it."

"... But it still hurts, after," Wheeljack mumbled, looking down.

Knockout nodded. "That's because nothing hurts more than absence." He lowered his voice. "I remember always expecting to hear Breakdown laughing with me. I still do, sometimes. He liked to laugh, so... nothing is more-deafening than the quiet. It creates its own sort of ring." Wheeljack looked up at Knockout, his optics wide, and the medic gave a weak grin. "Like I said, I've been there. And I'll always be here to talk, alright?"

"Th... Thanks." Wheeljack nodded shakily. "That... means a lot."

"I'm glad." Knockout opened the door. "Because, as humans phrase it, this next part is going to suck."

Wheeljack blinked again, then he looked forward and found the entirety of Team Prime—minus the Predabots, the humans, and Jenna (of course) waiting for within. They were all looking at him expectantly, and Wheeljack felt his rotator-cups slump.

"Uh-oh."

"Yes, I tried to warn you." Knockout cringed, ducking out from under Wheeljack's arm but remaining close just in case. "You have my deepest sympathies."

"Hey, 'Jackie," a voice greeted, and Wheeljack looked to a corner of the room Springer was there, frowning as he stood in front of Moonracer, Kup, Rodimus, and Jetfire. "Before we start, we just want you to know you're not in trouble."

"We just want to get some stuff out in the air," Sari agreed from where she was standing on Optimus's desk. "We have a few concerns we'd like to talk to you about, and we really want to get your opinion."

"... An intervention?" Wheeljack scoffed, looking around. "Guys, I-"

"Wheeljack." Bulkhead walked over, his expression grim. "We've all noticed how you've been acting. It's the same old story, and we want to try and give it a better ending this time around."

"When Dreadwing killed Seaspray, you became reckless." Arcee crossed her arms. "Your actions nearly got Jenna, Bulkhead, and Optimus killed. When Hardshell attacked Bulkhead, you went after him and nearly got yourself, Jenna, and Miko killed... Jenna is gone, now—and there's no one you can blame besides her and-... And Primus." Her expression softened. "We just need to make sure that you're not going to do something you'll regret."

"I'm fine," Wheeljack spat, his optics narrowing. "Just let me deal with this on my own."

"You're not dealing with it." Smokescreen shook his helm. "You're always hiding out in your room or in your ship, and yelling at 'bots and storming away when you do go out in public... and Bulkhead's told us about your incidents. You're really not okay." Wheeljack looked over at Bulkhead with a mixture of anger, hurt, and betrayal. "Look, we all miss her—but we've all moved on, and you need to too. I mean, if she saw you like this, what would she say?"

Wheeljack's rotator-cups raised as he gritted his dentas. "Does it matter?"

"What would she say?" Ratchet asked, suddenly urgent, and Wheeljack looked over at him with a blink of surprise. "I think that you need to acknowledge it, Wheeljack. What would she say to you if she could speak with you, right now?"

"You knew her better than anyone." Bumblebee frowned at the white Wrecker. "You know."

"... Kid'd probably just stand there and look at me, for a while," Wheeljack began awkwardly, not making optic-contact with anyone and instead looking at the floor. "She'd be tryin' to figure out what to say, forcin' herself to keep calm ever though she'd want to shout... When she started talkin', she'd go with my full name instead of 'Jackie—that'd mean I was in trouble, since I was always 'Jackie unless somethin' went really wrong...

She'd start spoutin' some scrap about how I'm wasting my life and how she did what she did because she thought it would make everythin' better for me, and that I should go out and keep swingin'." Wheeljack's optics narrowed again as he clenched his fists, trying to keep them from shaking. "And the second she'd stop talkin', I would explode on that stupid girl."

Bulkhead blinked, then he sighed. "'Jackie-"

"I would." Wheeljack looked up at him, shrugging. "I would explode. She knew that she was gonna die for months, but she never said anythin'. That girl led me on, Bulk; she let me think that she was always gonna be around, that Cybertron was back for all of us. I actually thought we'd survived...

Then, what does she do? She leaves a few videos, thinkin' that'll somehow make me feel better, then she absorbs the Allspark before spoutin' a few half-afted goodbyes and takin' a dive. I-" Wheeljack stopped and shook his helm, closing his optics and mentally counting to five a few times. "I-... I should have noticed that somethin' was wrong. She was my partner, and she was always awful at keepin' secrets... Why didn't I notice?"

"'Jackie." Bulkhead frowned, and Wheeljack looked up at him with another weak glare. "What happened wasn't your fault. You're right, she never came to you. You had no idea that it was gonna happen, so there is seriously nothin' you could have done... You really do have to move on. It's the only way you'll ever be able to live your l-"

"No."

"'Jackie..."

"... She was right there, Bulk," Wheeljack spoke quietly, and his friend blinked. "Why didn't I stop her?"

"You couldn't have, Wheeljack. She absorbed the Allspark," Sari tried, and Wheeljack looked away. "She said it, herself—she was already gone. When you tried to reach out, you couldn't even touch her... She literally made it impossible for anyone to stop her."

"No, you don't get it." Wheeljack turned away, crossing his arms. "After the ship crashed, she pulled me out. She said goodbye. She was standin' right there, and I got the most awful feelin'... I had her hand. I had her, but I let her get away... Why didn't I stop her?"

"You were hurt, Wheeljack," Ultra Magnus told him. "You need to stop this, now... Please. You are destroying yourself, and we cannot stand by and watch any longer."

"... Then, don't." Wheeljack shrugged again. "It was always just me and the kid, anyway. We were the outsiders... I'm not your problem, so just stop-"

"Wheeljack." Ratchet walked over and grabbed his rotator-cup. "You are not a problem. You and Jenna were never problems... You are family, and we will not be abandoning you."

"Doc-"

"Push us away all you like, kid," Springer pressed. "You'll just find yourself rememberin' that we can be just as stubborn as you are."

"More," Kup corrected him as Jetfire crossed his arms and nodded. "You learned from the best, after all."

Moonracer's optics narrowed. "And we already made the mistake of letting you get away once."

"We won't do it again, 'Jackie," Rodimus insisted. "Promise."

"We will never stop trying to save your life," Optimus agreed, nodding.

Elita-1 crossed her arms. "We owe that to you... To both of you."

"You need help, Wheeljack," Ratchet said gently. "Please, let us try... We cannot lose you, too."

Wheeljack looked around at all of them, stunned, then he closed his optics and lowered his helm.

His spark was pulsing so rapidly in his chest, just seeming to grow bigger and bigger to the point where it hurt and he felt like he was choking on it, unable to scream... He felt ready to explode, or cry, or both.

Probably both.

And when he opened his optics, his vision was blurred, and Knockout was grabbing his arm to steady him. Soundwave's servo was resting on his other rotator-cup. Even former 'Cons were trying to support him...

Just how scared had he made them?

This wasn't what he wanted.

"... What do you want me to do?" Wheeljack sighed, closing his optics again. "I'll... try, for you losers."

"I have to go down into the Well and get a spark from Primus," Elita-1 admitted, resting a servo on her spark. "It's time. I can tell..." She looked up at Wheeljack. "Optimus and some of the others will be coming with me, and we agreed that... if you want to face Primus and ask for answers... we want to be there for you when you do." She gave a small smile. "Maybe then, we can all get a fresh start together."

Wheeljack opened his optics and blinked, both out of surprise and a feeble attempt to try and clear up his sight, then he huffed out a soft laugh. "You're havin' your kid, already?" He glanced at Optimus. "Freakin' out yet, chief?"

"Perhaps." Optimus gave a small smile, then he grew serious again. "You do not have to come with us if you are not ready, Wheeljack."

"Hey, I said I'd do it," Wheeljack reminded the Prime, his optics narrowing again. "When do we leave?"


/\


The journey to the Core of Cybertron was simple enough.

The members of Team Prime, plus Knockout, and the Wreckers walked through and arrived in a tunnel close enough to Primus's spark to see the brightness of its light. Soundwave had stayed behind to man the ground-bridge.

"I've never been this close, before," Smokescreen noted, and Optimus shook his helm. "What?"

"You have been much closer." Optimus looked at the young mech, giving a small smile. "This is where we all began, and it is ultimately where we will all return." He glanced over at a certain white Wrecker. "Wheeljack?"

Wheeljack gazed at the light, frowning, then he sighed and started walking. "Let's get movin'."

The others exchanged glances, then they followed him, and they eventually arrived at the Core and the resting place of the spark of Primus. From the massive spark, small multicolored lights poured forth at a slow but steady rate, passing through the barrier-light and flying past the Cybertronians to enter the tunnel so that they could be sent soaring up and out into the world.

"... In a way, she's still painting," Sari decided quietly, watching the sparks fly overhead, and Wheeljack glanced over at her. "Look at all of the colors..." She gave a small smile. "I know no one else probably sees it this way, but... I see this as Jenna's work. Her art."

"That's a nice way to think about it, Sari," Elita-1 told her gently. "None of this would be possible without her, so I don't see anything wrong with it. I think she'd like it."

"Me, too," Sari agreed, then she looked at Wheeljack as they arrived before Primus's spark. "... Now or never, Wheeljack."

"Sari," Bulkhead chided, then he looked at his friend. "No pressure, 'Jackie. When you're ready."

"... Just a minute." Wheeljack closed his optics and took a deep 'breath', regaining his bearings, then he opened his optics and looked at the spark. "... Look, I know you created me. You created all of us. Everyone with a spark I've ever known or loved, they only existed because of you. Jenna existed because of you... but that didn't give you the right." His fists clenched, his optics narrowed. "You had months, damn it. You had months, and you told her-...

You told her she had to die." The white Wrecker shook his helm. "I don't care how you spin it. I don't care how you twisted it around inside her head to make her agree to it, to make her think there was no way out... There's no spinning it. You killed her." His fists shook at his sides. "You killed my partner, you primordial bastard... She was eighteen years-old." He shook his helm. "She was eighteen years-old... and did you even know her?

Was she just a pawn to you, or did you know what you were takin' away from us? 'Cause I don't know what's worse." Wheeljack felt something prick at his optics. "I don't-... I don't understand why someone had to die, and I don't understand why you put it all on her. I don't, I just don't. That girl, she-..." He closed his optics. "I knew her better than anyone did. I know how she thought, how she always put everyone else first even when it killed her.

She never wanted to make her problems someone else's. She always felt like she had to do everything on her own, 'cause everyone else had their own problems and she didn't want to make things worse. She cared about everyone so much..." Wheeljack opened his optics and looked up, a tear slipping down his face as he shook his helm. "But that's why it was her—wasn't it, you son of a glitch? You chose her because you knew she wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice herself when you told her it would save us.

You gave her that big spark, you threw her into this war and let her get close to us so that she'd let it be vulnerable, and then you crammed the Allspark into it and made her take the leap." The white Wrecker stepped forward, his optics narrowing. "That brave, smart, kind, amazing girl who went through so much... who I had to teach to love herself after she felt the world had abandoned her... who I trained, who I cared about, who became my partner and my best friend...

You made her jump. You killed her... but it's worse than that." He closed his optics. "All those awful thoughts in her head, those thoughts I tried to teach her to fight like she fought MECH and 'Cons... and you made her take the Allspark and jump, 'cause you gave her no choice. You told her it would save us." He opened his optics again as more tears started to fall from his optics. "YOU MADE MY PARTNER KILL HERSELF, YOU FRAGGIN' BASTARD!"

The accusation echoed off the walls of the chamber.

Wheeljack glared up at the spark of Primus, his whole frame trembling in rage, then he closed his optics and turned his helm away as he reached up and wiped his face with his arm.

"... Wheeljack?" Arcee asked worriedly, crossing her arms.

Wheeljack opened his optics, then he looked up at the spark with a frown. "... Nothin' to say for yourself, huh?" His optics narrowed, and he walked up to the barrier. "If she's there... you tell her somethin' for me."

"Wheeljack," Springer tried, but Ultra Magnus held up a servo.

"You tell her..." Wheeljack took a deep 'breath'. "In all honesty... I mean it, from the bottom of my spark... I don't blame her for what happened. I blame you." His face fell. "And I blame me... 'cause I knew her better than anyone. I knew what kind of person she was and what kind of choices she'd make, and I didn't realize I was losing her until it was too late. I was too slow to stop you from taking her... That girl was my responsibility. I should have stopped her, and I should have stopped you. Everyone should have lived."

"'Jackie." Bulkhead grabbed his friend's rotator-cup, but Wheeljack shrugged him off.

The white Wrecker gazed up at Primus's spark, then he closed his optics. "Was that what you guys wanted?"

"That's not the point," Moonracer said, frowning. "Was it what you wanted, 'Jackie?"

"... I want my partner back." Wheeljack opened his optics and looked down at the floor, frowning. "But I tried begging once... It doesn't work." The white Wrecker turned his back on Primus's spark, sighing. "Let's just... get Prime and 'Lita's kid and go home."

Wheeljack took a step, but something suddenly burst beneath his ped and sent him staggering back.

Bulkhead quickly stepped forward and grabbed his friend to steady him, his optics wide, then they both looked down at Wheeljack's ped in confusion.

"What the-?" Wheeljack's narrowed optics widened as he saw the blue, black, green, and white liquid dripping from his ped. "What?"

"Is that..?" Rodimus squinted. "Paint?"

"Yeah," Sari agreed, then she activated her jetpack and flew over, landing on the grounding and starting to walk across it. She kicked something and sent it rolling a few feet, and she blinked before getting down on one knee and grabbing it, her optics widening.

The techno-organic in orange stood up and activated one of Jenna's light-weapons, the glowing blue blade shining in the darkness, and Wheeljack stared at it in disbelief.

"Why would Jenna's possessions be scattered about like this?" Ultra Magnus wondered aloud, confused. "She became one with the spark of Primus. There should be nothing left."

"Maybe the current within pushed them out?" Optimus suggested, gesturing to the light, then his optics narrowed. "No. They would not be so far away..."

Wheeljack started walking again, looking around with narrowed optics, then he suddenly froze as his optics landed on something on the chamber floor. "No."

"'Jackie?" Bulkhead asked, growing worried again.

"I-I..." Wheeljack seemed unable to speak, his optics wide and unblinking as he stared at whatever had captivated his attention.

The other Autobots blinked, then they slowly walked over and looked down as well.

"... Oh, no." Springer sighed as Elita-1 raised her servos to her mouth. "Is that-..?"

"It's her," Ratchet confirmed quietly, then he kneeled and gently picked up the little body in his servos.

The broken wings drooped down from between his fingers, and one of her arms fell to hang.

"No decomposition, after more than a year," Knockout noted, his optics wide. "Remarkable..."

"Knockout." Optimus looked over at the former Decepticon, visibly shaken. "Please."

Knockout blinked, then he looked away with an expression of shame. "Apologies." A soft shuffling sound, and he looked up with the others to see Wheeljack taking a step back. "Wheeljack?"

"She-..."

"'Jackie." Bulkhead quickly made his way over and rested a servo on his friend's arm, his expression filled with concern. "Easy. I need you to stay calm, and-"

"H-Her optics, they're open," the white Wrecker whispered, not seeming to hear his friend, and Bulkhead blinked. "Was-..? Was she down here, Bulk? D-Did she make it out, and were we supposed to-..?"

"... 'Jackie, don't do this to yourself," Bulkhead warned softly.

"Don't do-? Don't you get it?!" Wheeljack asked, looking up at Bulkhead with wide optics. "She was alive! She was alive, a-and she was waitin' for us to come and help her! She was waitin' for me, countin' on me!" He raised his servos to the sides of his helm, closing his optics as his frame started to tremble. He did not have lungs, but he seemed to be struggling to try and breathe. "And she died! She died, a-and it's all my-!"

"Sorry, 'Jackie!" Bulkhead's servo turned into a wrecking-ball, and he suddenly brought it down on top of the white Wrecker's helm. Everyone watched with wide optics as Wheeljack fell to the ground, unconscious, and Bulkhead sighed as he shifted his wrecking-ball back into a servo. "I-I couldn't-... I couldn't let him do that to himself. Not again..."

"... We should have never brought him here." Ultra Magnus looked down, clenching his fists, then he blinked as Elita-1 took Jenna's body from Ratchet. "Elita?"

"Quiet," Elita-1 told him, kneeling and laying Jenna's body down where she had been. Elita-1 positioned the wings so that they were spread out, then she carefully folded Jenna's hands and positioned her body so that it looked like it was laying in a massive tomb. Her pointed fingers gently moved the hair from the artist's face, then Elita-1 sighed as she gently closed the techno-organic's optics. "There... She can sleep, now."

"... We shouldn't tell anyone else about this," Arcee decided, and everyone looked at her. "As far as they know, it was quick and... as painless as it could have been... They're at peace. We should let them stay that way."

"Jenna's family deserves to know," Smokescreen protested, and everyone looked at him. "They-... They can have a body to bury!"

"A broken body that doesn't decompose even though the spark is gone?" Ratchet asked, his expression grim. "No... It will only upset them. And bringing the body to Earth will only place it at the mercy of ghouls like those in MECH." Ratchet looked back at the corpse. "We should let her remain in her final resting place. Primus placed her here for a reason."

"... She's so far from the sky, all the way down here," Bumblebee spoke quietly. "It's not right."

"None of this is right." Bulkhead looked down at Wheeljack, his expression forlorn. "None of it..."

"None of it," Optimus repeated, then the Prime looked up at the spark of his creator with an unreadable expression. After a moment, he approached it, his fists clenching. "... Jenna Darby made a deal with you. She honored it." His optics narrowed. "It is your turn, now... Honor it."

At first, nothing seemed to happen.

Then, the spark of Primus started to glow brighter—and Optimus actually closed his optics and braced himself...

"Hey, do you see that?" Sari asked, and the Prime opened his optics and blinked.

Within the spark of Primus, thousands of multicolored lights could be seen swirling about within the brightened light.

However, one light—one which was a single color, green—seemed to have broken free of the current and was approaching the barrier, bobbing clumsily as though it was having trouble staying afloat.

"That's not a spark," Ratchet noted, his optics narrowing. "It's too... small."

From behind the green light, two larger and multicolored lights—one black, gold, and silver and one green and blue—floated forward and to the edge of Primus's spark, and while the green light stayed behind, the larger lights passed through the barrier and floated up and through the tunnel which would take them to the surface.

The green light did a swirl in the air, almost as if to celebrate, then it clumsily retreated until it could no longer be seen.

"That was odd," Knockout remarked, then he blinked before pointing. "Look. Another one."

A small blue light was shakily leading a larger, red and silver light to the barrier, and it too remained behind and seemed to watch as the larger light passed through and floated up and out of the chamber of Primus before retreating back into the creator's spark.

After a few moments, a bobbing light which oddly seemed to be black arrived with two sparks: one blue, yellow, and orange and one that was blue, yellow, gold, green, orange, and silver and seeming to split apart at times—separating to become just blue, yellow, and gold and then green, orange, and silver together. The black light watched them pass through, then it retreated like the others.

Lastly, a flickering white light led a red, blue, and gold spark to the barrier. This time, the larger spark paused at the barrier as though hesitant, but the white light gently nudged it forward, and the larger spark finally passed through... and it simply hovered before the barrier, as though it was waiting for something to happen.

"Optimus," Elita spoke, her optics widening as she raised a servo to her chest, and the Prime looked at her with wide optics before carefully reaching out and cupping the spark in his servos before walking over to his sparkmate.

He held out the spark, offering it to her, and Elita-1 reached out before hesitating, biting her lower lip and cringing a bit as she seemed to feel her fanged dentas with extra sensitivity.

"Are-..? Are you sure I should be the one to carry them?" She looked up at Optimus worriedly. "I can transfer the program to you. It'll only be until the protoforming, a-and they'll be more like you than-"

"Elita." Optimus gave a small smile. "There is nothing our sparkling can inherit from you that I will not love with all of my spark." He grew serious. "I will carry the spark, but only if that is what you truly want. My only concern is with the Matrix, but I am certain it would be alright if you do not wish to do this."

"... You're sure it's okay?" Elita-1 asked quietly. "Even if-..?" She reached up and brushed her pointed fingers over one of the spider legs which remained even in her biped-mode, sighing and closing her four optics. "You don't have to say it's okay just to try and make me feel normal. This is our sparkling, Optimus."

"I know." Optimus nodded, and she opened her optics and looked at him. "Not just mine. Ours... And I think that any sparkling of ours would love you exactly as you are, and everything they get from you." He actually gave a soft chuckle. "However, Primus help us if they inherit your downloading power. I am uncertain how much I will be able to take if I must chase a sparkling who has gone and copied one of my cannons around every time I try to pick them up."

Elita laughed, raising a servo to her mouth, then she beamed and held her servos out, gently taking the spark from her sparkmate and looking down at it. "Hm. Hey, sweetspark. A year from now, you and I are going get to laugh when that big lug sees you for the first time and starts getting all choked up—'cause, sappy and melodramatic as he is, that idiot's really excited to be your father.

Still, won't that be fun?" Her expression softened. "I'm not perfect. I've made a lot of mistakes... but being with Optimus Prime and having you? That's not one of them. That might just be the best thing I've ever done... and I promise, I'm gonna get it right." She closed her optics. "I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to love what I am, but... I love my family, and I love you. And I love you so much, I sometimes forget to hate myself... and I think that, somehow, that might be enough."

Elita-1 opened her optics and looked at the spark in her servos, then she carefully raised it to her chest as her spark-chamber opened, and she winced slightly as the spark shrank and entered her spark-chamber, beginning to spin rapidly in all of its vibrant colors as a ring around the core that was her spark.

Elita-1 closed her spark chamber and faltered slightly, suddenly exhausted, but Optimus quickly supported his sparkmate. The techno-organic femme opened her optics and looked up at the Prime tiredly, and he smiled softly and rested his forehead against hers.

"One day at a time," he murmured, and she smiled and nodded back, then he helped her stand up straight before all of the Autobots regarded the spark of Primus again, finding that it was still glowing brightly. "... The deal?"

"The deal," a booming voice spoke, and all optics widened. "Has been fulfilled."

"Oh, scrap. He's responding, now," Rodimus cringed, then he frowned and stepped between the spark of his creator and the unconscious form of Wheeljack. "No smiting, please."

"The deal has been fulfilled?" Jetfire asked, stepping forward, then he gestured to Jenna's lifeless form. "What was this deal that cost one so young her life?"

"Cybertron's total restoration. The life of Optimus Prime. The safety of Sari Sumdac. The return of that which was lost and could be restored."

"That which was lost and could be restored?" Ratchet looked down, his optics narrowed, then he blinked before his optics widened and he looked up in disbelief. "Oh." He glanced back at the tunnel. "That which was lost and could be restored... And she said-... She said serious emotional breakthroughs... By the Allspark."

"Ratchet?" Optimus questioned his medic. "What is it?"

"I thought I recognized-..." Ratchet looked back at the spark. "I understand. She surmounted your will. She bypassed the system, told you when-..." The older mech paused, then he frowned. "But if he could return, then... what about her?"

"Look." Knockout pointed into the light again, frowning. "Those four... guide-things... are back."

That was true.

The four clumsily floating lights which had led sparks to the barrier—blue, green, black, white—were near again, barely upright and dipping, struggling. They actually seemed unable to join the others in the spiral around the inside of Primus's spark, as if they were too weak to stay up and seemed destined to fall to the bottom of the Well. They stayed close together now that their job was done and even bounced off of one another but always moved away from the one they had made contact with after.

"Whatever these are, they must be new," Optimus stated, frowning. "Before the war, I visited this place on several occasions. There were never any guides."

"... That's because there were never any deals." Sari noted, then she hopped down from Bumblebee's rotator-cup and approached the spark of Primus. "And..." She hesitated, then she reached out and rested her right hand on the barrier, gazing at the four lights. "Something happened since you were last here, Optimus, something that's never happened before."

"Sari?" Bumblebee asked, confused. "What are you saying?"

"... The colors," Sari whispered as the lights drifted close to her, like they wanted to be near her. "Blue and black, like her armor. Green, like that stupid hoodie... White, like those last few minutes." Her optics teared up. "They were her favorite colors, weren't they? The ones she used most? And one of them was Wheeljack's."

"Her favorite-?" Smokescreen froze, they all did. "Oh."

"... Oh, no." Optimus shook his helm, horrified. "No... It cannot be..."

"It might be." Sari closed her optics, her brow furrowing as she tried to focus. "Is that you?" Sari's hand suddenly passed through the barrier, and her optics flew open and widened. "Ah!"

Bumblebee reached down and grabbed ahold of the techno-organic, trying to pull her free, but some unknown force tugged Sari in further until she was in up to her elbow.

Bulkhead grabbed onto Bumblebee and pulled, trying to help, but the girl would not budge. "It's pullin' her in!"

"Sari!" Bumblebee shouted, his optics wide.

Inside the barrier, the four lights were swirling around frantically, and Sari suddenly stopped struggling and became fixated on them, her whole body shaking as she sank in up to her shoulder.

"Jenna," she managed, trying to keep her voice clear. "It's me, Sari. If that's you... help me." Her optics narrowed. "Help me, or I'm going to die."

The four lights froze, then they suddenly came together and started swirling around Sari's wrist.

Rodimus activated one of his cannons and took aim. "Okay, that's bad!"

"Wait!" Sari shouted just before her head passed through the barrier.

The techno-organic in orange blinked as her audial-sensors were suddenly filled with muddled voices and everything seemed to go numb yet sensitive and slow yet fast all at once.

It was like being caught underwater, stuck in a current and an inch from death, that moment of realization when the world went still even though everything was so fast and the end was close.

Then, Sari saw her.

Her body was composed of white light while her armor was composed of the black light, and her hair was primarily green with streaks of black and blue. Her eyes shone blue, and she seemed... different, somehow—like she had gotten a little bit older.

She looked sad as she gazed at Sari—and as Sari watched, her form seemed to flicker and some invisible force seemed to be trying to tear her apart. Watching her, it was like watching a sand sculpture in the wind and something semi-solid being sliced by something bladed all at once, like she was being battered at all sides and constantly having to reform.

She looked tired, and hurt and sick—weak, like she was about to give in to those invisible, battering forces at any moment. But then, those glowing optics narrowed and her brow furrowed as she looked down, and Sari looked down as well to see that the figure seemed to be considering reaching out—her hands extended, but hesitating just beyond the blue light which had encased Sari's hand and seemed determined to pull her to an untimely death.

Sari looked up, and the figure looked up at her as well, her brow still furrowed in deep thought and an expression like that of confusion on that sorrowful and exhausted face, then the other girl blinked before her optics widened and she looked down at Sari's hand again, reaching out and grabbing her wrist.

The blue light that had been pulling Sari dissolved before the figure's hands, retreating even as the battering forces attacking the figure seemed to intensify with the obvious goal of shredding the figure before she could continue, but the figure just nodded shakily in self-affirmation before she looked up and met Sari's optics with her own again.

The figure hesitated, then she glanced down at their hands and gave a weak smile, then she closed her optics briefly before looking up at Sari with a determined expression. Her double-handed grip on Sari's wrist tightened, and she suddenly exerted a massive amount of strength and pushed.

"Ah!" Sari shouted as she was suddenly thrown out of the barrier and back, all of the Autobots who had come to help her falling over each other as Bumblebee scooped her up and clutched her to his chest, flat on his back and shaking but immediately sighing in relief.

"Oh, thank goodness," the former scout said, opening his optics and looking at Sari, then he blinked. "Sari?"

The techno-organic stared at him through tears, then she looked back at the barrier just in time to watch the four lights separate and fall uselessly to the bottom of the Well before the bright glow faded and the chamber was returned to the state in which it had been in when the team arrived.

"What in the Pit just happened?" Springer demanded, his optics narrowed.

"Sari." Bulkhead helped Bumblebee up, looking at the girl in the yellow mech's servos worriedly. "Are you-?"

"It was her," Sari managed, and they all blinked before their optics widened. "She came to help me. She pushed me out." She looked up, tears still slipping down her face. "... She's hurt."

"Hurt?" Optimus questioned her, frowning.

Sari bowed her head, closing her optics. "It's like-... Well, you saw it." She looked up, her expression forlorn. "She's been torn apart... When I was in there, I could see her. And when she looked at me, for a while... it was like she was struggling to figure out who I was and if she should help me." Sari shook her head. "And she looked sad, and tired, and sick... and something in there just kept pulling her apart." She looked back at the spark of Primus. "It got worse, when she reached out. Whatever strength she had left... I think she just spent it, helping me."

Ratchet blinked, then his face fell. "Oh, no."

"It wasn't even that much, and it's just... gone," Sari went on. "And the lights, they-..." Sari looked down. "She's just... gone." The young techno-organic closed her optics, then she raised a hand to her necklace. "But... what if-..."

Optimus shook his helm, his expression grim. "Sari."

"Why can't I try?" Sari demanded, opening her optics and gesturing to where Jenna's body laid. "She's right there. Give me one good reason."

"If what you say is true... this isn't about her body," Knockout tried to explain, and Sari looked at him. "This is something that truly cannot be fixed... Not like that."

"... In those last few seconds, she knew me," Sari whispered, letting her hand fell. "She knew... and she smiled." She wiped her optics with her sleeve, and she looked up at the Autobots sadly. "... She's really not coming back, is she?"

"No." Ultra Magnus shook his helm. "With her spark's condition... I do not think so."

"Damn it." Kup crossed his arms and looked down at where Wheeljack was still laying, thankfully unconscious. "What's he gonna think of all of this?"

"... We can't tell him," Ratchet said, and everyone looked at him in alarm. "If he knew..." The medic closed his optics. "I hate to say it, but it might be better for her fate to be an unanswered question than for Wheeljack to know our creator put his partner's spark through... a woodchipper. It might be... kinder, for him and the humans."

Optimus seemed hesitant, then he sighed. "Given Wheeljack's current condition-"

"More secrets?!" Smokescreen asked, frustrated. "They can't have a body to bury, they can't know what's happened to her?! Guys, this is sick!"

Arcee crossed her arms. "Smokescreen-"

"No! Look, I'm sorry—but this is Wheeljack's partner, this is Jack's sister and June's kid!" Smokescreen's optics narrowed. "We don't have the right to make these decisions! We don't have the right to decide what they're allowed to know! Compared to them, we know nothing about this girl—so, why don't you stop deciding what's best for them, here?!" He gestured to the spark of Primus. "Do you honestly think she'd be cool with this, with any of it?! She expected us to look after each other!"

"We are looking after Wheeljack," Ratchet attempted to explain. "If he were to find out what's happened, what would become of him? You saw what seeing her body did."

"I saw Bulkhead knock him out rather than let him work through it, 'cause Bulkhead decided that Wheeljack made him uncomfortable while Wheeljack was mourning the loss of his best friend and understandably freaking out after finding her fragging body laying open-opticed in this pit!" Smokescreen pressed, glaring around the room. "So now, Wheeljack's probably gonna think that showing what's going on in his head around us is gonna get him a smack to the helm and a splitting processor-ache. Did you even think of that?!"

"I-..." Bulkhead stared at Smokescreen, stunned, then he groaned and raised a servo to his helm. "Oh, Pit..."

"... I agree with Smokescreen," Ultra Magnus said quietly, and everyone looked at him. "We do not have the right to keep what we have learned here today from the rest of our family."

Optimus blinked, then his optics narrowed and he nodded. "Agreed."

"Thank you!" Smokescreen threw his servos up into the air, then he sighed as he dropped them and let his rotator-cups and door-wings slump. "It must be end-times when I've gotta be the rational one, right?"

Bulkhead went to pick Wheeljack up, but Ultra Magnus stepped in and did it himself, holding the white Wrecker and looking down at him with a grim expression before looking at Smokescreen. "Can you retrieve... Miss Darby?"

"Yeah," Smokescreen said quietly, nodding, then he walked over and picked up the little body. He held her with his arm, tucking her against his chest with her wings beneath her body. She almost looked like she could be sleeping, and Smokescreen gazed down at her sadly, then his optics narrowed. "Her limbs and wings are broken... She wasn't like that." He gritted his dentas. "He hurt her."

"Let's get out of here," Knockout suggested, then he raised a finger to his commlink. "Soundwave, we need a bridge. Please, open one in the port closest to the infirmary." A ground-bridge opened, and the crimson medic lowered his servo. He went to speak, then he glanced at the Wreckers—who were watching him intently—and steadied himself before righting his posture. "Dr. Ratchet, Commander Ultra Magnus? Would you go on ahead of me, please?"

"Um... Alright," Ratchet agreed, passing through the ground-bridge.

Ultra Magnus walked over, then he glanced down at Knockout. "You can go on ahead."

"I think it would be best if you went first, sir," Knockout disagreed. "I would not wish for there to be any concerns."

"Concerns?"

"About being... outnumbered." Knockout looked away awkwardly. "Sir... Dr. Ratchet and Soundwave will be waiting."

Ultra Magnus blinked, then he glanced at where the Wreckers were still watching before looking down at the former Decepticon with a frown. "Hm... Together, doctor?"

"Hm?" Knockout looked up, surprised, then he gave a light smirk and looked away. "I suppose that's one solution... Very well."

With that, they both passed through—Ultra Magnus still carrying Wheeljack. Smokescreen went to follow, but a servo grabbed his rotator-cup.

"May I take a look?" Jetfire asked, frowning.

Smokescreen blinked, then his optics narrowed. "She's our friend, not an exhibit."

"I just noticed something," Jetfire pressed. "Please, it will only be a moment... I think I've recognized something here." He looked down at the body, his expression conflicted. "Those wings remind me of-..." He carefully took one of her wrists between his index-finger and thumb, and his optics widened as one of her blades briefly flickered to life before going dark again. "By the Allspark... This was one of the thirteen protoforms of Project Solus."

"Project Solus?" Arcee asked, her optics narrowing.

Optimus had suddenly gone rigid, his optics wide, then his whole body shuddered and he actually took a staggering step back. "Oh, no."

"Optimus?" Bumblebee placed a servo on his rotator-cup. "What is it?"

"... I know where they came from," Optimus murmured, then he looked at Sari. "You must complete your mission."

Sari blinked, then her brow furrowed. "What about your security?"

"It matters not." Optimus shook his helm. "Not in light of this... The techno-organics must be found, and swiftly."


/\


Wheeljack was laid out on a cot, and Jenna's body was carefully laid down on different cot nearby.

Optimus glanced at the tiny form once more with a grim expression, then he looked at the infirmary computer again as he finished bringing up a heavily protected and encrypted data file.

"Megatron had these records," he noted. "They were part of the Iacon Database. It seems we finally know why he was so desperate to retrieve these protoforms despite having an army." His face fell. "Why Jenna's first family had to die, and why techno-organics had to be 'destroyed'."

The Prime looked at Soundwave, who just nodded in confirmation.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Knockout admitted. "It must have been above me."

"No one knows what's being talked about," Bumblebee tried to reassure him, then he gestured to Optimus and Jetfire. "Aside from these two, that is."

"That's because the project was pre-war and top-secret, and dismantled," Jetfire explained, crossing his arms. "I had honestly forgotten about it, until I saw those modifications on your friend." He glanced at Sari. "I should have seen it sooner."

"You know where we came from?" Sari asked, and he nodded. "I thought that techno-organics were from the crashed Decepticon ship on the moon, or maybe just protoforms jettisoned from Iacon with the relics. I didn't think there was anything special about us."

"Have you encountered any other Cybertronian with all of the abilities you possess, aside from your fellow 'techno-organic'?" Jetfire raised an optic-brow, and Sari slowly shook her head. "That is because there would not be any. 'Special' does not even begin to describe what you are, young one."

"Project Solus saw the creation of thirteen highly-weaponized protoforms just before the true outbreak of war," Optimus cut in, stepping away from the monitor as several documents rapidly flew across the screen. "It was ordered by the council, before conflict erupted and before I was a Prime." The document flashes slowed down as the search arrived at the images of detailed schematics. "Each of these protoforms was forged unique and imbued with state-of-the-art technology to give them certain traits which would garner support to the Autobot cause."

Ratchet frowned at his old friend. "What traits?"

"... They were meant to be warriors reminiscent of the Thirteen Original Primes," Jetfire confessed, and optics widened. "Prima, Vector, Alpha Trion, Solus, Micronus, Alchemist, Nexus, Onyx, Amalgamous, Quintus, Liege Maximo, Megatronus, and Optimus." He noticed how Sari looked at the Autobot leader in confusion. "The original." He looked around the room again. "These protoforms were forged with the use of the Forge of Solus Prime, wielded by Sentinel Prime, and imbued with dormant sparks so that they would be ready to awaken at the first sign of conflict. They were to be the Autobots' greatest warriors."

Smokescreen raised an optic-brow. "So, what happened?"

"... Me," Optimus said, and everyone blinked. "Alpha Trion and I, both of us... Once we learned of this plan, after I had become a Prime, we stood against it." The Prime shook his helm. "We could not allow lives to be started for the sole purpose of war. It would have been all they knew. I would not doom sparklings to that fate, I would not sacrifice them to this conflict." He glanced at Jetfire. "It almost went terribly, as our dispute caused the council to begin talking about the fate of some of those who had been working on the project. They spoke of destroying the protoforms." Optimus looked forward again. "But I refused to allow that to happen, as they were already alive. So, they were sealed away here at Iacon... and before Iacon fell, Alpha Trion must have saved them."

"He sent them to Earth, where they became techno-organics," Ultra Magnus realized.

Sari seemed to be trying to process all of this. "So... each of us was modeled after a Prime's legendary abilities?"

"There were some base abilities you all shared, but then there were special abilities unique to each protoform," Jetfire told her.

"... My hammer." Sari's optics widened, and she briefly glanced at Ultra Magnus before looking up at Optimus and Jetfire. "I'm the Solus-inspired protoform, aren't I?"

Optimus nodded. "You are, and it is not just your hammer which marks you as the protoform inspired by her. Solus was an intelligent, optimistic creator with a fierce temper, a strong sense of justice, and a deep capacity for loyalty and love." He gave a small smile. "I should have seen it the day we met. You were our first and likely greatest ally on Earth, Sari, and between your key and your ability to inspire us, we would not have survived without you."

"See, I'm still stuck on the temper bit and wondering where I managed to trick you into believing I was intelligent," Sari joked, smiling back at the Prime, and he let out a soft huff which might have been a laugh. "Huh. Neat..." She raised an eyebrow. "And Jenna... Who was she?"

"... Given her possession of wings, her unique ability to communicate with Predacons on an empathic level, and her strong spiritual connection to this planet even while it was dormant?" Optimus began, growing serious again. "A threatening or off-putting presence at times but truly good and kind at spark, and also a dear friend to the elder Solus... with whom he helped to create the Well of Allsparks, after her death and in his dying act." He closed his optics. "I believe that Jenna was the Onyx-inspired protoform."

"Whoa." Bulkhead blinked. "Cool."

"But also... not-cool," Smokescreen decided. "'Cause she ended up... y'know? Partially to save-" He gestured to Sari. "Y'know."

"So... that leaves Prima, Vector, Alpha Trion, Micronus, Alchemist, Nexus, Amalgamous, Quintus, Liege Maximo, Megatronus, and Optimus unaccounted for," Jetfire announced. "Eleven of thirteen unaccounted for."

"... Six," Sari corrected him, and everyone besides Bumblebee looked at her in surprise. "Maybe. I have five leads."

Optimus regarded her with wide optics. "Five?"

"Five." Sari nodded. "And I can stay here while I scout them out."

The Prime frowned. "But-"

"This is important," Sari told him. "But so are you. Family protects family." She paused, then she glanced over at where Jenna's body was laying. "Um... Speaking of which... Should we put her someplace else, before-?"

"Too late," Springer said, his optics on something, and everyone else followed his gaze.

Wheeljack was sitting at the edge of his cot, gazing at Jenna's body blankly as his servos gripped the cot's edge.

"... Whoever closed her optics," he spoke. "Thanks... but it doesn't change the fact that they were open."

The white Wrecker slid off of the platform and started to walk away, and Bulkhead sighed. "Wheeljack." The other Wrecker did not respond, so Bulkhead walked over and grabbed his arm. "Wheeljack!"

"Don't touch me," Wheeljack grumbled, shoving Bulkhead's servo away. The green Wrecker tried to grab his friend's rotator-cup, but Wheeljack suddenly grabbed his wrist and turned to him, scowling. "Don't. touch. me."

Bulkhead blinked, then his face fell. "'Jackie."

"... Just stay away from me." Wheeljack released Bulkhead and stepped back, glancing around the room. "Seriously, I'm done... I'm not your problem. You're all off the hook."

Bulkhead sighed as his friend turned and started walking away from him again. "'Jackie, there's some stuff we've gotta tell you-"

"NO!" Wheeljack snapped, stopping in his tracks and clenching his fists. "No, Bulk! I'm done!" His rotator-cups slumped and he rested one servo on his hip while he raised the other to his helm, shaking his helm as he kept his back turned to the others. "I'm done, I'm done, I'm done..." Wheeljack looked back at them over his rotator-cup, frustrated. "You guys don't have time for this, okay?! You have a planet to run and a coup to stop and all of this scrap to take care of!" The white Wrecker looked away again. "... You've been fine without me before. You'll be fine now."

Ultra Magnus's optics narrowed. "Where are you going?"

"For Pit's sake, just leave me alone!" Wheeljack shouted as he arrived at the door and opened it.

"No," Optimus protested, and the white Wrecker paused. "Alone might be 'a lot less complicated', but you hate it. I know you do." A moment passed in silence, then Wheeljack looked back as the Prime stepped forward. "I also know that it too late for you to protect yourself, Wheeljack. You already care. Leaving now will only hurt you more, and-"

The Prime went silent as Wheeljack looked away, his fists clenching again as his rotator-cups slumped.

"... Leaving won't help us, Wheeljack," Elita-1 said softly, and the others looked at her in confusion before looking back at the white Wrecker. "You might think it will, but it won't."

"I-... I don't want to leave," Wheeljack said quietly. "I wouldn't-..." He glanced back at Jenna's body. "... I wouldn't do that to you guys."

"Then, why do you keep pulling away?" Ratchet questioned him, but there was no response. "Wheeljack, why do you keep pulling away?!"

"I'm not pullin', I'M PUSHIN'!" Wheeljack snarled, turned back. "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, ALREADY!" The infirmary was stunned into silence, and Wheeljack blinked as he saw all of the astonished expressions before his optics widened and his face fell. His clenched fists fell open. "Just-... Just leave me alone..."

"... You're not leaving," Springer decided, his brow furrowing. "That's why you haven't flown away, yet. That's why-..." He tilted his helm to the side. "You don't want to leave us."

"You are trying to give us reasons to leave you," Optimus put it together, his expression grave, and Wheeljack just stared at him. "... Why?"

"It-... It won't hurt so bad, that way." Wheeljack's voice would have been barely audible had the room not been so quiet. "Whenever-..." He glanced over at where his partner's body laid again. "I don't wanna-..." He closed his optics. "I wouldn't do that to you guys."

Sari shook her head. "Wheeljack..."

"... Just leave me alone," the white Wrecker pleaded. "You don't have to force yourselves to try and take care of me just because you feel bad." He took a deep 'breath'. "I'll figure things out, eventually. I always do. Just... leave me alone."

Ultra Magnus started walking forward. "No."

"Why not?!" Wheeljack demanded, opening his optics, only to find himself into the last hug he would have expected.

"... I miss her, as well," Ultra Magnus said quietly. "Don't make me have to miss you, too." Wheeljack's optics were wide when the commander pulled away. "You are the brightest mind in this room, Wheeljack. You know your plan won't work... There is nothing you can do to make us stop caring about you." Ultra Magnus shook his helm. "No one cares if you are broken. All of us are."

"All of us have suffered, and lost, and changed who we are because we felt that it served a need in ourselves and those around us," Optimus agreed, walking over to stand beside Ultra Magnus and look down at Wheeljack. "At the time, we thought that to change was to do what was right. Sometimes, it was... But not this time, Wheeljack.

Call it what you wish, rationalize it however you will... At the end of the day, loss is loss." As Optimus went on, Wheeljack looked away. "However you leave this team, you are still leaving and it will still hurt all of us. There is nothing you can do to change that... You would not do us harm?" The white Wrecker shook his head, and Optimus nodded. "Then, do not."

"Where would you go if we somehow lost our sparks and left you alone, anyway?" Ratchet asked, frowning. "What is the plan?"

"I don't know," Wheeljack said, still not looking at anyone. "I just-..."

"Just what?" Arcee pressed, resting her servos on her hips.

Wheeljack looked up, and he grew agitated again. "I just want everyone to stop lookin' at me like that!"

"Like what?" Rodimus asked, unknowingly pulling the pin.

"LIKE THEY'RE ALREADY PLANNIN' MY FUNERAL!" Wheeljack exploded, stepping forward as his expression twisted in rage, and everyone immediately moved back. Wheeljack blinked, then his face fell and he stepped back again. "You-... You've been lookin' at me like that since the day she died, like-..." He shook his helm. "Like you think I'll run out there and jump in after her."

Bulkhead sighed. "'Jackie, we-"

"Yeah, I might've thought about it at first," the white Wrecker admitted, and the others' optics widened. Wheeljack looked like he regretted the confession for a moment, then he took a deep 'breath'. "But... how would that help?"

"How-..?" Bumblebee recomposed himself. "How would ending up alone help?"

"I wouldn't be makin' everyone miserable just by being around," Wheeljack replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

"You aren't making us miserable," Moonracer told him, exasperated. "We're worried, you idiot."

Bulkhead stepped forward. "You haven't been acting like yourself, and-"

"And?" Wheeljack actually laughed, and the room went silent. "Well? And?!" He gestured to Optimus. "You heard him... Have any of you been the same since you got 'broken'?" He raised an optic-brow. "You're expectin' me to -what?- just snap out of it and move on like none of it ever happened?"

"We want you to accept it and grow from it," Elita-1 insisted. "You're spiraling."

"... Wheeljack," Springer tried, glancing at Ratchet before looking back at his friend. "If it was one of us... what would you tell us to do?"

Wheeljack looked away. "Tch."

"What would you tell us to do?" Springer pressed, stepping forward. "Come on, 'Jackie. Focus." He looked down, then he looked up at Wheeljack with a frown. "If-... If you were watchin' someone you loved drown themselves, like we're watching you... Pit, if you were watching her pull something like this..." Wheeljack blinked, then he looked at Springer with a frown. "What would you do?"

A minute or so passed.

Everyone expected an argument, or for Wheeljack to just turn and leave.

Finally, the white Wrecker turned his optics back to the tiny, broken body still resting upon a medical berth.

"... I did watch her pull somethin' like this," he said softly. "I just didn't understand in time... But-..." He looked up at Springer, who had been looking hopeless but immediately perked up at the 'but'. "But... if I could do it over again-... If-... If I was lookin' at... someone else..." Wheeljack took a deep 'breath'. "They obviously have been caught in a flux between the 'anger' and 'depression' stages of the five stages of grief.

They're either always angry and shoutin' and snappin' at everyone around them even when they're just trying to help... Bargainin' by makin' deals that typically go 'if I do this, they won't miss me so much when this happens' and 'if I wasn't here, maybe this would be easier on them' and 'if I had done this, maybe this wouldn't have happened'...

Or... depressed... and they shut down either on their own or with a little help, drinkin' or... panickin'... until they pass out." Wheeljack looked away again, not meeting anyone's optics. "They're not takin' enough Energon or havin' enough stasis, and that's eventually gonna take a toll on the body just like the high-grade.

It'll start with an overall tired feelin', then aches and pains, then always feelin' sick... and then, with their immune system compromised, they'll really get sick." The white Wrecker closed his optics. "And if they don't make any changes-"

"We lose you," Ultra Magus concluded. "Only, it's not sudden... We have to watch you waste away."

"... No, you don't," Wheeljack insisted, opening his optics, then he finally stepped outside and slammed his fist into the controls, causing the doors to slide shut behind him.


Wheeljack sat on the floor of the Jackhammer, behind the passenger seat. One of his knees was pulled to his chest, his arm wrapped around it, and his helm rested against the wall as he gazed blankly at the ceiling.

:Hey, 'Jackie?:

:What, kid?:

:Why'd you ask me to come with you, after Bulkhead said 'no'?: Jenna tilted her head to the side on the screen, raising an eyebrow as she held her camera out so that it showed both her face and Wheeljack's. They were in the Jackhammer, out in space. :Not that I'm not grateful, y'know. I'm just curious. I mean, I'm kind of an idiot.:

:Tch.: Wheeljack's recorded self looked over at her, smirking. :You tasered a 'Con while he was holdin' you, kid. 'Kinda' might be an understatement.:

The girl snorted, then she shrugged. :Fair enough.:

The video ended, and Wheeljack closed his optics as the next one cued-up and the countdown started. He could stop it within the next minute, if he wanted to.

The Jackhammer's ramp suddenly lowered, and Wheeljack sighed as he heard several sets of ped-steps approaching. "You guys really don't know how to take a hint, huh?"

"Come on, 'Jackie," Rodimus's voice chided. "It's just us."

Wheeljack shook his helm. "Don't care. Leave me alone."

"Nah," Moonracer responded immediately. "Why miss Movie Night?"

"Tch." Wheeljack opened his eyes and scowled at his fellow Wreckers. Kup, Rodimus, Jetfire, and Moonracer were right there while Bulkhead, Springer, and Ultra Magnus linger just outside to watch. "It's not-"

"After all..." Kup cut him offer, lowering his cygar from his lips. "Tried leavin' you alone once, and look atcha."

"Kup." Jetfire glanced at the gruffer Wrecker, then he looked at Wheeljack with a frown. "... Springer told us what he knows about your friend, and what happened yesterday."

Wheeljack looked away, and Springer sighed and stepped into the small ship. "Wheeljack."

"... I was used to bein' on my own," Wheeljack said quietly, closing his optics. "That didn't mean I liked it... I saw a chance to make it stop."

"So, you did whatever it took," Rodimus concluded, frowning.

"And I thought I learned my lesson." Wheeljack opened his optics. "Alone's a lot less complicated... Then, she came along." He glanced at the glowing screen. "She made videos while we were travelin'. I think she just wanted to remember, but... they became her 'goodbye'."

:Okay, so... My name is Jenna Ann-Marie Darby, and if you're seeing this... Hiya,: Jenna greeted as the next video started, giving a little wave as she held a camera before her with her other hand. :This is gonna sound really, really crazy—but I'm in space.: The wide-eyed girl tilted her head. :Don't believe me?: The girl turned so that the pilot-seat of the ship she was on as well as its occupant could be visible over her shoulder. :That's the robotic space-cowboy I just ran away with.: She gave a light grin as she looked back. :Say 'hello', robotic space-cowboy!: He looked back, grunted, then looked forward again, and Jenna snorted before looking back at the camera. :That's Wheeljack. He's great. Kind of a jackass, though.: She blinked. :Hm. There's a bit of an idea, there...: The girl smirked. :Better keep that tabbed.:

"Heh." Wheeljack found himself smiling despite himself, then he noticed the curious expressions sent his way by those who never knew his partner. "She, um... She called me 'Wheel-jackass'."

Kup nodded. "... I want twenty."

"Kup, no." Moonracer sighed, closing her optics.

:At least he doesn't ignore me like the other 'bots seemed to,: Jenna went on. :I mean, I guess Ratchet and I got along well-enough and Bulkhead thought I was cool enough to ask me to look after Miko, but... the others weren't really fans.: The girl rolled her eyes, sighing. :And they all were real quick to talk about me when they didn't think I could hear it. Same story, different planet's sentient species.: She paused, then she gave a small smile. :Wheeljack actually seems to be interested in some of the stuff I do—at least, more than the others were. He brought me with him, so-...: She glanced back over her shoulder. :Hm. He's a weird one. I think we'll get along, just fine... If he can actually start talking!:

:Better not talkin' than talkin' to myself!:

:I'm not talking to myself!: Jenna insisted, then she looked back at the camera. :I'm talking to them. I'm gonna be the first human to ever go beyond Mars!:

:That the red one?:

Jenna raised an eyebrow. :Yeah, why?:

:Passed that twenty minutes ago,: the recorded Wheeljack informed her, and Jenna's brown eyes widened. :Heh. Come on, kid. We've got galaxies to see.:

:... Sounds like a plan.: The girl's eyes were shining as she looked back at the camera, a wide grin on her face. :Jenna Darby, signing off. I guess I'm gonna be a Wrecker... and so far, it looks like it's gonna be the best choice I ever made.:

The video ended there.

"Some girl, 'Jackie," Springer said, breaking the deafening silence which followed the clip's end.

The white Wrecker nodded. "Yeah."

After a few moments, Wheeljack cursed softly and rested his helm on his raised knee, his rotator-cups shaking, and Springer made his way over and sat down next to the younger Autobot. He wrapped his arm around Wheeljack, pulling the smaller mech closer.

"Let it all out, kid," the former leader of the Wreckers insisted quietly. "It's okay. You'll always be the strongest Wrecker any of us are ever gonna know."

Wheeljack shook his helm but did not raise it. "I let it out, the day she died."

"And you think that was enough?" Springer asked, raising an optic-brow.

"... No," Wheeljack admitted. "It'll never be enough for me."

:No, no. That's not the point,: Jenna's voice insisted, and Wheeljack looked up at the screen. :It's more-fun to do it like this.:

:Why?:

:Because it's needlessly complicated and requires a grossly-impractical skill yet is highly-supported by popular culture,: the girl replied, picking up a plastic cup and starting to move it around in order to produce a rhythm. :I.E., the common stipulations for 'fun', if you are going by common definitions.:

:You're a weird one, kid,: the recorded Wheeljack told her.

:I know.: Jenna snorted. :But you love me.: She took a deep breath. :

I got my ticket for the long way 'round,

Two bottle of whiskey for the way—

And I sure would like some sweet company,

And I'm leaving tomorrow. What do you say?: As the girl sang, she kept up the beat as the recorded Wheeljack watched with a raised optic-brow. :

When I'm gone,

When I'm gone..!

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone!

You're gonna miss me by my hair,

You're gonna miss me everywhere! Oh!

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone!: She took a deep breath, maintaining her focus on the rhythm. :

I got my ticket for the long way 'round,

The one with the prettiest of views!

It's got mountains, it's got rivers,

It's got sights to give you shivers—

But it sure would be prettier with you...

When I'm gone,

When I'm gone..!

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone!

You're gonna miss me by my walk,

You're gonna miss me by my talk! Oh!

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone..!:

Jenna set the cup aside and looked up at the recorded Wheeljack, smirking, and he sighed. :Okay, okay... Not bad, kid.:

:I'm awesome, and you know it,: she teased, then she frowned. :Hey, um...: She crossed her arms. :Last night, you kinda had a mini-meltdown when I told you about how humans age. Is this about -well- that thing we don't talk about? The nightmare?: She stood when he stood and turned away, leaving only her ankles in-view on the seat of the Jackhammer. :'Jackie, come on: talk to me. I'm your partner, and I really think we need to talk about this.:

:Why?:

:'Cause -well- I'm not gonna be around forever, and I wanna make sure you're okay,: the girl insisted, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. :It's my job to look after you.:

The recorded Wheeljack scoffed. :You, look after me?:

:You betcha, Wheel-jackass,: Jenna replied, sounding smug, then she sighed. :I'm your partner, after all. That's how it works.:

:... Sixty years?: The recorded Wheeljack finally asked.

:Probably more, as long as I don't fuck-up too badly,: Jenna replied, and the current Wheeljack snorted. :I'm pretty healthy, 'Jackie.:

:Yeah, but you're kind of an idiot.:

:You knew this when you picked me up.:

:Heh. Yeah, I did.:

:... Ever regret it? Taking me with you, I mean.: Jenna scoffed as the recorded Wheeljack snorted. :What? I'm a pain in the ass.:

"Yeah, you are," Wheeljack spoke with his recorded self, surprising everyone as he gave a small smile. "But I don't regret this, kid... And I never will." The recording ended, and the white Wrecker sighed before looking up at the rest of his former unit. "... Screw it." He raised an optic-brow. "What do you guys wanna know?"


In hindsight, Wheeljack should have expected the response he got.

He really left himself open to it, and his astonishment left to a lapse in judgement which let the others half-coax, half-carry him back to the infirmary and sit him back down on the berth he woke up on.

But they asked for everything, so everything was what they got.

Jenna would have laughed at the look on his face, but then her hand would have been on his servo the entire time he spoke.

He knew there was a way he would have told her his story. He rehearsed it a hundred times in his processor. That was not the way he told it to the others.

He didn't tell as jokes to lighten things, make references, or allude to things only she would understand because he knew it would make her smile so that he would be able to smile.

Wheeljack just told it to them straight, started at Point A and ended at Point Z. No padding, no fluff—just facts, details where they asked for them, the occasional clarification.

He began with where he -well- began and went right up to the moment he arrived in Autobot Outpost Omega One and knocked Jenna Darby from Makeshift's servo into Bulkhead's.

Night had fallen by the time he ran out of things to say.

"So... that's it," Wheeljack said quietly. "That's everything... unless you want to hear about... y'know." He took a deep 'breath'. "I don't know how much I have left in me right now, but I'll tr-"

A servo rested on his rotator-cup, and he looked up to see Ultra Magnus. "Wheeljack."

"... It's not so bad, right now," Wheeljack told him, then he hung his helm and closed his optics. "After gettin' it all out, I'm just... tired."

"Then, perhaps it is time for you to get some rest," Optimus suggested. "If you would like to talk about Jenna, it can wait for another time."

"Yeah. Okay." Wheeljack nodded numbly. "Can-..? Can someone bridge me home?"

"No," Ratchet replied, and Wheeljack opened his optics. "One more night here, Wheeljack, at least."

"... Fine," the white Wrecker relented, then he blinked as everyone seemed to settle in. "Oh, great. A slumber-party."

Knockout snorted, then he walked over to where Jenna's body still laid and retrieved a tarp from his storage-space, laying it over her body to cover her. He noticed Wheeljack watching and sighed.

"It was the only thing I could find," he said, glancing away. "And it-... It didn't feel right, just-..."

"Hey." Wheeljack gave a small smile as Knockout looked back at him. "Thanks, Country Roads."

Knockout blinked, then he rolled his optics and gave a light smirk. "Why do I even try?"

"You're one of those," Soundwave played a recording of Starscream, then he switched to one of Jenna: "Good guy."

"Shut up," Knockout scolded the other mech, deadpanning, but Soundwave merely put up his smiley emoji.

Sari snorted at this as she settled on Bumblebee's rotator-cup, then she looked up. "... Wheeljack?"

"Yeah?" He looked at her, raising an optic-brow.

"... Remember when Jenna got stuffed full of transwarp energy, and she got eaten by that Sandakan fire-snake?" The techno-organic ventured, giving a light grin even as Springer, Jetfire, Moonracer, Kup, Rodimus, and Knockout grew alarmed. Soundwave merely tilted his helm. "That was fun."

"Heh." Wheeljack found his smile not faltering. "Yeah, it kinda was." He shook his helm. "Dumb kid... She kept the tooth, y'know? It's in the apartment."

Bulkhead tilted his helm. "Do you still have the rock?"

"Yeah," Wheeljack replied, glancing over at the tarp. "It's on my ship."

"... Maybe, when we go back to Earth and see everyone, you can go and see her paintings," Bulkhead suggested, and half of Team Prime sent him warning glances. "The ones she put in your room."

"Bulkhead," Arcee spoke up, and the green Wrecker's expression became apologetic.

"Sorry, it was just an id-"

"Yeah," Wheeljack cut him off, glancing at his friend. He was still giving that small smile. "Maybe." With that, the white Wrecker sighed and laid down on his berth. "Just shut up and go into stasis, alright?" He closed his optics. "You guys are givin' me a processor-ache with all of your... chick-flick moments."

Ratchet rolled his optics. "Fine, Doc."

"... The Pit did you just say?" Wheeljack asked, opening his optics and looking at the medic in disbelief.

Ratchet just looked at him. "You heard me."

"... Heh." Wheeljack's grin returned, then he closed his optics and started to chuckle.

The others seemed relieved by the sound of their friend's laughter, but Ultra Magnus still seemed concerned. "Wheeljack?"

"I was just thinkin' about... how hard she would've laughed at that," Wheeljack admitted, opening his optics and looking up at the ceiling with a grin. "Pit... If she ever put two and two together and realized I was Doc too, she would've been a fraggin' nightmare."

"Oh, 'Jackie." Bulkhead sighed, shaking his helm. "You-"

"I'm right there with you," Knockout remarked dryly. "Between me, you, and Ratchet we would have been Doc Country Roads, Doc Demolition, and Doc Supreme—or something of that ilk."

Wheeljack wheezed as Ratchet sputtered. "Why would I be Doc Supreme?! Wheeljack was her best friend!"

"That is true," Knockout agreed. "But all us Docs flee before the ferocious Ratchet and his mighty wrenches. Megatron himself had a title for you..." He glanced at Soundwave. "What was it? He mentioned it to Orion Pax."

"The Doctor of Doom," Soundwave played a recording of the Decepticon warlord. "Designation: self-assigned."

Ratchet looked absolutely mortified. "I was on SYNTH-EN when I said that! He REMEMBERED, and HE TOLD ORION?!"

Wheeljack was positively cackling, and his laughter proved infectious; soon, most of the others had joined in with laughs or smiles of their own and even Ratchet huffed before smiling at the merriment in the room.

Eventually, Wheeljack calmed down and sighed, smiling. "Alright, now... What's this you guys wanted to tell me about the kid, earlier?"

Just like that, the room went silent.


...

...

...

Well... I'm awful.

I know I say that a lot, but I'm really awful.

However, because it's Christmas, I gave y'all a long chapter with some big Jenna momentsas a treat.

I wanted this chapter to be where the plot started to build up again. It might not have the most in the way of action, but I got some more of the lore I'm trying to develop out there and started moving us forward with some of the important pieces for Part 3.

In the original version of "The Artist", there was a lot I left unexplored: Wheeljack's mental state and backstory, Jenna's time in the Well, the team dynamics without my OCs, Sari's search for the techno-organics and their origins, and the state of Cybertron as it began to stabilize after the war. Exploring all of that now has been a blast, and I hope you're as excited about the other things I intend to show you as I am.

I'm also having a lot of fun developing my version of the Wreckers (I'm having a lot of fun with Springer, I'll have more fun with the others as things progress but I need them introduced now), and having Knockout and Soundwave hanging around has been pretty fun for me as far as exploring how Decepticons and Autobots would handle working together after the war. A lot of tension and old wounds there, but also a lot of effort and understanding. No one wins in war.

Next chapter's gonna take us to a place I bet you all have been itching to see. It's been over a year since Jenna Darby became one with the Allspark.

What's changed on Earth?

I only own my OCs. Please read, review, check out my other stories, etc.

Thank you so much for reading, guys. Merry Christmas. :)

...

...

...

Comments Hall of Fame!

redemption295

"I put this off for A Long time because I just didn't know how to phrase it, but here we go, Thank You So Much. Like this was amazing, the chapter was amazing and well you did answer my questions, so thank you guys for that, sorry for the invasive questions guys."

(Please, don't apologize.

You're being so nice and polite, and you don't have to be worried about commenting. I love when people comment.

You're doing just fine, okay? :) )

"I have another question, although you may not like who it's for."

(I love it already.)

.

Starflower525

"This is great! So much action, drama, and humor throughout the entire story."

( *gestures to Jenna* This is a chaotic disaster goblin. She's trying her best.

*gestures to a fantastic narrative* This is "Transformers: Prime". I took one look at it and decided I wanted more character development and I'd go out and make it myself, because I am also a chaotic disaster goblin.

*gestures to another fantastic narrative* This is "Transformers: Animated". It was my childhood.

I threw all of those things into a thought-blender, set it to "fuck it", and here we are! XD )

"I read the whole thing in one sitting it was so amazing! Thank you for this amazing story, and I can't wait to find out what happens next and how it will conclude!"

(Oh, my Lord. This is awesome. Thank you. :) )

...

...

...

Ask a Character!

redemption295: "Jenna I know your probably not ok, and your probably worried sick about them but how are you doin' with the whole dead thing? Sorry I have no tact what so ever."

Jenna: *smiling awkwardly* "You wanna talk about 'no tact'? Preaching to the choir."

Wheeljack: *deadpans*

Jenna: *sighs* "Yeah. Um..." *deep breath* "I can't say much 'cause spoilers, but... um... I'm really tired, and sorta..." *raises hands to sides of head and waves them around* "Mixed-up, up here. It's kinda hard to focus on much, right now. It's hard to think." *lowers hands* "But I haven't really... felt much, since that day. Physically, I mean. It's hard to explain..."

Wheeljack: *blinks* "Kid?"

Jenna: "I guess it's sorta cold, and I feel... heavy, and there's the tiredness I mentioned. But it's mostly-..." *closes optics* "I feel kinda dizzy, and I can't really remember things as well as I should. Everything's muted or far away, and I'm too tired to-... To do much about it." *opens optics* "And every time I tell myself 'get it together, you're just tired, it's never stopped you before', I-... I can only pull that day back. I feel the Allspark, and I remember what I did and who I hurt, and... it's suddenly just a whole lot better to be tired and far away."

Wheeljack: ... *deep 'breath'*

June: "I've already got my gun. Let's go fight robot-god."

Miko: *running past in the Apex Armor* "UNDERWORLD JAIL-BREAK..!"

Jack: *smiling cheerily as he walks by*

Smokescreen, leans over to be closer to Arcee: *concerned, whispers* "How is he holding that many knives?"

Arcee: *shrugs her rotator cups, wide-opticed*

Elita-1: "Just where do you two think you're going?"

Optimus, holding the Star Saber: "... Out."

Ultra Magnus, holding the Forge of Solus Prime: *shakes his helm*

Elita-1: "Without me?!"

*everyone starts preparing to leave*

Jenna: "This won't affect the story at all, but it's still sweet. I love you guys."

Bulkhead: *cringes* "Sparkless Jenna is kinda creeping me out."

Jenna: *deadpans* "I'm not sparkless, I'm non-canon! And THIS is why I save sappy shit for when I'm dying!"

*Sari flies in with Bumblebee running in right behind her*

Sari: "We got Jenna's spark fragments!" *holds up a jar* "Anyone got some super-glue!"

Ratchet: *scoffs* "That would never work!"

Smokescreen: "I've got it!" *takes jar and starts shaking it* "It works for human salad dresses-"

June: *shaking her head* "Dressing."

Smokescreen: "So, it'll work here!"

Ratchet: "No, it won't!"

Jenna: *stumbles around dizzily, falls over*

Smokescreen: *blinks* "Jenna?"

Miko: "Can-? Can you kill someone who is already dead in a non-canon comedy segment?"

Wheeljack: *sighs, walks over, gets down on one knee, pokes Jenna*

Jenna: *groans*

Wheeljack: "Inconclusive." *looks at Smokescreen* "No more shaking."

Ratchet: "Thank you!"

Wheeljack: "Let's try a hydraulic press."

Bulkhead: "Yeah, there we go!"

Raf: "After that, we can try a vacuum-sealer."

Miko: "OOH, OR WE COULD MELT HER BACK TOGETHER IN A MICROWAVE!"

Jenna, opening her eyes: *whispering* "I suddenly feel very unsafe."

Arcee: "What about one of those blender or mixer things? Those put things together."

Knockout: *ready to get in on the chaos* "I could try a centrifuge*

Ratchet: *visibly twitching* "You are about to get some conclusive results."

Optimus: *blinking* "Is that a notice or a threat, old friend?"

Ratchet: "I am still deciding."

Jenna: "Pfft-..! Ha!" *starts laughing, calms down after a little bit* "... I can't really think too well, right now. But..." *smiles* "God... I know I miss this."

.

redemption295: "one more question and it's a completely out of left field question, so yeah, sorry, but do y'all have favorite songs? Yeah sorry again I have no tact what so ever. Sorry."

Optimus: "I am afraid I have not been exposed much to music, so I may not be able to-"

Miko: *holding a hand up* "My time has come."

Jack: *concerned* "Miko?"

Miko: "I made playlists for all the 'bots. HAND IN THE AIR IF YOU DON'T HAVE A FAVORITE!"

*Optimus, Ratchet, Ultra Magnus, Arcee, & Elita-1 awkwardly raise servos*

Miko: *puling her phone out* "Give me just a minute! I'VE GOT THIS!"

Jack: *shrugs* "Well, I guess that the rest of us should answer while we're waiting."

Bulkhead: "Honestly, I like pretty much everything Miko's played for me while we've been out driving. Slash Monkey really gets the Energon pumping, but she's played a bunch of other heavy metal bands for me and even some other genres. Girl's got an ear for it. But my favorite... Huh. Why are you making me choose..?"

Miko: *smirks* "It's You've Got Another Thing Comin' by Judas Priest, Bulk. You ask me to play it at least once a day."

Bulkhead: "Right... Yeah, that's the one."

Jack: *snorts* "I'm a Billy Joel kind of guy myself, but you do you."

Miko: "Billy Joel? Really?"

Jack: "Yes, really! Piano Man and The Longest Time are CLASSICS!"

June: "He gets that from me. My Life is a favorite, just because of how blunt it is. And I dance whenever Uptown Girl comes on." *chuckles* "Jenna never liked our Billy Joel sessions much, but she would smile whenever My Life was on."

Jack: "And she got me my first harmonica, so I could try and learn how to play Piano Man."

Smokescreen: "I never really went looking for music, but... a while back, Raf showed a movie at the base and I got to see a bit of it, and I really liked one of the songs: What's Up Danger. It was just really fun."

Raf: *lighting up* "Oh, Spider-Verse! Yeah, that soundtrack is amazing. Sunflower and Scared of the Dark are my favorites, and I know Bumblebee liked Way Up and Save The Day. But... I actually really like The Beatles. Their songs just really help me relax, especially after school's been tough or things are crazy at home." *laughs quietly* "I, um... I've been listening to them and the Spider-Verse soundtrack a lot, since Cybertron. It keeps me calm and helps me remember."

Sari: "If anything ever happens to this kid, I will kill everyone in this room and then myself."

Jenna: "Honestly, 'Ri, that's just the general vibe. Raf is off-limits. Anyone who touches him dies."

Bulkhead: "Does it count if they came back?"

Jenna: "Excuse me?"

June: "Did-? Did no one tell you about Megatron shooting Raf with Dark Energon."

Jenna: "... I need the Jackhammer and a shovel."

Bumblebee: "Shotgun." *notices how Raf and Optimus are looking at him* "Kidding! Kidding... Raf was right about those songs he mentioned; I like them, and I kinda like High Hopes."

Jack: *surprised* "Raf plays Panic! at the Disco?"

Bumblebee: "No. Sari does."

Sari: "Guilty! Techno, psychedelic stuff kinda started freaking me out after the Soundwave incidents..." *looks across the room* "I'd say 'no offense', but-"

Soundwave: *waves it off*

Sari: "See? He knows it was creepy." *shrugs* "So, I branched-out. I had a lot of time on my hands with the 'bots gone and trying to hide my abilities, so I kinda looked into everything. I still know all of the lyrics to Welcome to the Black Parade, I listed to Green Day, Linkin Park, Imagine Dragons, Fall Out Boy, All Time Low. I'm not picky. If I like it, it sticks around."

Miko: "Okay! I have selected a song I feel best-represents each of our musically-challenged 'bots! Arcee!"

Arcee: "Oh, here we go."

Miko: "I'm gonna go with How to Save a Life by The Fray."

Jena & Sari: "RUDE!"

Miko: "AM I WRONG?! AM I WRONG?!"

Jenna: "No, but RUDE!"

Miko: "Elita-1 gets Broken Ones by Jacquie-"

Sari: "NOT NICE!"

Miko: "I KNOW! BUT IT FITS, DOESN'T IT?!"

Sari: "ABSOLUTELY!"

Miko: "THANK YOU! Now, the obvious choice for Ultra Magnus would be Soldiers by Otherwise."

Jenna: "Oh, yeah. That's obligatory."

Miko: "But he could've also gotten one that I know is an old favorite of yours, Jenna: I'll Be Good by Jaymes Young."

Jenna: *thinking* "... OH, THAT'S SO GOOD!"

Miko: "I know, right?!"

Wheeljack: *thinking* "... OH!"

Jenna: "It took you a minute."

Wheeljack: "Yeah, but that's Ultra Magnus alright! Pit, how did we miss that?!"

Jenna: "I don't know!"

Ultra Magnus: *look of genuine concern*

Miko: "I could've given this to a lot of folks, but I think that Ratchet deserves Carry On, Wayward Son by Kansas. Let this man rest."

All of the Children: *together* "Let this man rest."

Ratchet: *raised optic-brow*

Miko: "I'm also giving him One More Light by Linkin Park."

Jenna: "OW, WHY?!"

Miko: "Because IT FITS! Now, we have Optimus!"

Optimus: *bracing himself*

Miko: "... More by Tyrone Wells. Saturn by Sleeping at Last. Where We Belong by Thriving Ivory."

Jenna & Sari: "..."

Miko: "... I could have given him Carry On on top of all of those instead of giving it to Ratchet, so you should be thanking me for my mercy."

Sari: *deep breath* "For More alone, Miko..."

Miko: "Yeah, yeah. I know, I'm going to the Bad Place."

Wheeljack: "Okay, my turn. At the risk of relating to Doc, I like Carry On, Wayward Son. I, um... I also like Just One Yesterday, that's a good one."

Jenna: "I have clearly imbued you with my excellent music taste."

Wheeljack: *checks* "Right. This isn't canon... There's a song I heard once that reminded me of the kid. It came on the radio, and... it was called Ghost by Jacob Lee. DON'T GOOGLE IT!"

Jenna: *looking down at her phone* "TOO LATE!"

Wheeljack: "Damn it, kid!"

Jenna: "Heh." *pauses* "... Damn it, 'Jackie."

Wheeljack: "Sorry."

Jenna: "Don't be..." *smiles* "It's a good song."

Sari: "Your turn."

Jenna: "My favorite song? Well... I like Angel With a Shotgun and Other Side-"

Miko: "Shippers, do with those what you will."

Jack: "Miko!"

Jenna: "AND! And... I See Fire and The Last Goodbye hit different because I'm Tolkien trash. Also, I'll Be Good."

Miko: "You really like to suffer, don't you?"

Jenna: *squints* "What story have you been reading?"

Miko: "Well, I'm gonna make you suffer worse! I know everyone likes to give you and Wheeljack Angel With a Shotgun and Rewrite the Stars-"

Jenna: "Please, stop-"

Miko: "But I raise you Flares by The Script!"

Jenna: "... You sick, twisted little-"

Miko: "Have fun making a playlist, folks. It'll be at least sixty-percent suffering."

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Thanks for reading! See ya! :)